Join Ash, Twilight and all their friends as the journey continues in a unified world
After making the ultimate wish, the two worlds have been united at last. The journey continues as a new day dawns for them all. The Wonderful World of Pokemon has yet to be fully explored not when there are many more wonders to behold for Ash Ketchum, Twilight Sparkle and all of their friends as the journey continues once more.
The most wonderful and spectacular creatures imaginable. Populating a world that almost defies description with its absolute brilliance. How grand it can be? Grander than anyone can even comprehend. The Strange and Wonderful Creatures that live in it are truly abundant with no signs of slowing down.
Flying high In the heavenly skies, swimming under the luminescent sea, roaming the rolling expanse of the verdant lands and even dwelling in the boundless existence of space. No matter where you go, there will always be a Pokemon around and more are waiting to be discovered.
And alongside the Pokemon are the Pokemon Trainers. Bonded with these stupendous creatures, they share their collective lives with each other, living in harmony in this world they call home. And that bond only grows with every new world that's found. From the humans that have been with them from the very beginning to the ponies who are still learning more about these creatures from another world. Which brings us to one trainer who aims to be the very best.
A young man by the name of Ash Ketchum who hails from Pallet Town.
.
Alongside his partner Pikachu, they travel the world in its entirety, growing and learning together. Ash's goal to become a Pokemon Master continues and burns on brighter than the Sun itself. And of course, Ash and Pikachu have a long assortment of friends who support them and even receive support back from the electrifying duo.
Hailing from Equestria was Princess Twilight, along with her own massive assortment of friends, she and everyone else in her world continue to explore the seemingly endless knowledge of Pokemon.
There have been twists and turns on the road to becoming a Pokemon Master. Many adventures that branch off in different ways and many more to come until that final path is found. And with two worlds to explore, no matter how long it may take, the journey continues with high spirits.
Kanto. Pallet Town. Ketchum Household. Day.
At the Ketchum Household, there slept Ash Ketchum. But not a moment later when the Sun would gloriously pierce his windows and shine on his face, he would awaken.
"Pika-Pi." And there to meet him was Pikachu, gazing into Ash's eyes. Pikachu would soon hug Ash's face, prompting the Alola Champion to sit up, feeling a tad bit bewildered.
"Morning Pikachu..." Ash yawned as it took him a bit to recollect himself. Despite having a seemingly great sleep, he was slightly dazed. "Oh, man...What happened? Wait!" It took him a few seconds to remember what happened earlier. Or rather, yesterday. He vividly remembered the wishes that he made towards the billions of Jirachi that were trapped within that strange dimension. His wish was to unite the two worlds forever and free the Jirachi from their imprisonment.
"Pika?"
"Morning, Ash. You slept well." Entering the room was Delia, greeting her son on this somewhat bewildering morning. For Ash, it was afternoon just moments ago. And now, it was a new day.
"Hey, mom...What day is it today?" Ash asked.
"Only the best day possible." Delia already knew what to share that would bring joy to Ash's bewildered expression. "Great work making that wish. It made me pleased when I saw you return home in your bed in one piece."
"Wish...So then...I did it?!" He would hop off the bed as his beautiful smile would emerge. Delia didn't even need to say anything. All she needed was a nod to confirm it. Overjoyed, Ash would run out of his home as fast as he could to see this for himself.
Or rather, he would rush out to meet with his friends on the other side. Delia wouldn't even try to tell him to be careful when going down the stairs. Not when he was this excited. Pikachu would follow him, passing by Mr Mime as the dynamic duo burst out of the Ketchum Household, entering the sunny outside.
Lo and behold, the gateway was still here. Granted, it only felt like a day has passed and the Rift itself hadn't done anything yet. Delia practically confirmed it earlier. That white light she saw was proof of it. Eager to see his friends again, Ash would approach the gateway, hopping through it.
Equestria. Ponyville. Day.
And upon arriving, the first pony he saw, waiting for him was Twilight. She expected his arrival, standing beside her partner Espeon. Ash would almost stumble when jumping through the gateway, only for Twilight's magic to catch him and maintain his balance.
"Welcome back, Ash!" However, Twilight wasn't the only one waiting for him. Pikachu would run ahead before standing next to Espeon. Once Ash could glance at Ponyville in its entirety, he would notice that an event was going on. A celebratory event. Ponies and Pokemon could be seen cheering and partying to their heart's content with many if not all of Ash's friends being spotted. And to really settle things, Ash would notice the banner that would represent this celebration. The banner, in all blue, would say "Wish Granted".
All would celebrate the unification of their world once the wish had been granted. What they truly hoped for had come true, all thanks to Ash and his friends.
"You're just in time!" Pinkie Pie, who was being carried by both Mews, would wave over to Ash. "You were out of it when you showed up back home!"
"I showed up back home? Oh did Jirachi take me home?!" Ash clicked on how he was able to show up in his bed despite not remembering leaving the Strange Dimension. "Thanks...Jirachi."
"We were worried you would be trapped in there. Every last one of us found ourselves being forced out of the dimension. Our suits started breaking apart, especially when some of that energy leaked out into space." Twilight explained what happened while Ash was out of commission. "We feared we would've perished in space."
"So, how'd you survive then?" He asked.
"Funny story.." Pinkie Pie would giggle before being dropped by the Mew. "Turns out, we didn't need the suits!"
"We didn't?"
"Well, we needed them for all that protection, yeah. But for outer space? Nope! Arceus' light saved us. We didn't suffocate for a second once our helmets broke! It's all thanks to those stairs!" Pinkie revealed that Arceus' protection was present in the stairway.
"Arceus' light allowed us to breathe in space. That's how we managed to survive. And after that, we saw your Aura explode out of the passageway." Twilight continued. "And once we saw a huge flash of light approach, that's when we knew you did it. So that's why we're here right now."
"You did an excellent job keeping things together. Now we have little to worry about!" Mayor Mare would walk up, vigorously drinking some Apple Cider. "Aaah!"
"That's great to hear. And awesome to wake up to." Ash's heart was satisfied and relieved from hearing that. From now, the memories of everyone and the coexistence of both worlds would continue forever. From this day on, they would all live in a world filled with Pokemon and other mysterious entities of vast wonder. "Time to party! I can't wait to visit everywhere else! Should we check out Castelia and see if they're having a party too?"
"Well...Your wish kind of had a second effect." Twilight cleared her throat. "No doubt, you've permanently kept our memories but..."
"But?"
"The Earth is way bigger than before!" Pinkie Pie finished Twilight's sentence. "And we mean way bigger."
"Eh? It grew?!"
"It's not just our world. Well..now it is our world. Ash. The two Earths fused together." Twilight revealed what truly happened with that wish. The secondary effect was unexpected. "The Earth is now 50x bigger by merging with us."
"50x Bigger?!" Ash was flabbergasted and astonished by the words he heard. It seemed that his wish wasn't hyper-specific. Then again, whenever someone makes a wish towards Jirachi, it is rarely specific. And in this case, Jirachi went the extra mile in fusing both worlds to make a larger one.
They all lived on a Super-Earth now. Grander than any of their worlds could ever be. And even with this increase, the Sun still appeared as the larger force, seemingly growing as well per Jirachi's universal effect.
"Jirachi ended up affecting both universes, changing the size of our Earth and even the Sun." Fluttershy would join in, surrounded by all of her beloved Pokemon from the Pokemon House. "Isn't that great? At least, I think it's great."
"I freaked out when I first heard about it." Twilight shuddered. "Every cosmic force has been multiplied and now...there's only one gateway in the world."
"Only one?" Ash would then face the Ponyville gateway as that was the only one he could currently see. From what Twilight was describing, not only did they now live on a Super-Earth and the entire universe had been expanded in size, but the gateways were all gone except this one.
"All of them except this one." Mayor Mare continued before finishing her drink. "You won't get to Castelia so easily anymore. Mainly because the Unova Region is now elsewhere in this new world. That brings us all back to standard travelling. Which is a shame. I'm going to miss the gateways."
"Jirachi probably wiped out most of the gateways because of what the Rift did to all of them." The Princess of Friendship theorized. "I wouldn't blame them all after how long they've been trapped there. But it's strange...For some reason, this is the only one left."
"Huh...I guess we're gonna have to get used to it now." Ash chuckled as this new development was shocking but something he could adjust himself to. "Where's Equestria on the map?"
"Cartographers are working on it probably. But for now, we'd like to stay here for a bit and party. Because now we don't have to worry about the Rift leaving and wiping our memories!" Twilight's energy would rise as she wanted to get back into the celebratory event.
"Ditto! I wanna see what new food you've got!" Ash tossed aside any complicated thoughts to focus on this party. He would soon join all of his friends. From Rainbow Dash to Spike.
"I could get used to having a whole other region next to ours!" Rainbow Dash found no problem with the altered world. For someone as fast as her, she welcomed it.
"It's gonna blow for some though." Applejack knew very well that some might not take too kindly to this shift in geography. Many still haven't gotten used to how the Pokemon World appears.
"Hm. True. It also means I have to readjust my sleeping schedule for PokeStar Studios now that Unova is elsewhere." Rarity would be an example of someone who had to really adjust to this since she had a role at PokeStar Studios.
"How long is going to take for us to know where we're going now that everything's changed?" Goh asked.
"Hopefully not for long. We've only started getting used to the Pokemon World." Starlight responded. "But...since the Jirachi are now all free, do you think we can just wish for them to fix the gateway problem?"
"Let's not worry about that now. For now! Let's celebrate! I'm so excited for what could come next!" Ash would rather party instead of thinking about all of these issues to try and overcome them. Everyone else felt the same way.
"Pikachu!"
Unova. Ghetsis' Castle. Day.
Of course, learning about this universal development would be Team Plasma, especially Colress. Colress would instantly turn all of his research into the changes that were made via Jirachi's wish. Because of that wish, some of Team Plasma's plans would have to be readjusted solely due to the geographical impact.
As for Ghetsis, he would stare out into the blue sky while sitting on his throne, unaware of all the changes. Especially the disappearance of so many gateways and the remainder of one.
"They've succeeded in getting their wish." Ghetsis spoke. "This benefits us as well. It would be a shame if all of this were to be forgotten. After all, the Rift owes me after what I did to it."
"Lord Ghetsis. The Jirachi are probably free as well since they've managed to find them. I can imagine they broke them out somehow. Whether by their own power or by another wish. Perhaps now is the best time to go after them and their respective universes?" Colress suggested that they pursue the Wish Pokemon now that all of them were free.
"Not now. Let's wait. We have other things to tackle before we can go after Jirachi. Like how the Dread League is still a problem even with that wish going through. How goes your Pony-capturing Poke Ball Plan?"
"By now it's complete but I still want to make more. Assistants!" Colress snapped his fingers as he now had his own assistants. Entering the throne room were two people who would bring over a large cart with Poke Ball moulds. And in those moulds, dozens of Poke Balls of different aesthetics could be seen.
"Hmm..." Ghetsis would glance at the cart, seeing how there were newly designed Poke Balls that his eyes have never witnessed before until now. Some of them had wing patterns on them while others also had magical sparkles and a symbol that greatly resembled the Changeling Symbol. "What makes these ones so special?"
"I figured if we'll be catching certain ponies, why not go further? This one is for those swift pegasi." Colress would hold up the Wing-patterned Poke Ball. "I haven't decided on a name yet but with the magic embedded within them, they will act as heat-seeking Poke Balls, chasing down the pegasi."
"And it's all made out of Dynasite!" The assistants spoke with chipper voices while Ghetsis stoically viewed the rest of them.
"I know that." But Ghetsis already knew what they were made out of. The Nigh-Indestructible metal from Pegalysium. Dynasite.
"And for those with magic...These Poke Balls will nullify their magical abilities by sending out an arcane pulse." Colress held out another Poke Ball. "So if they think about holding it back with their magic or whatever tricks they have, they can forget it. This ball would reach them no matter what."
"And what is this one?" Ghetsis would then eye down the one with the Changeling Symbol on it. "Who is it for?"
"Ah. These are for the Changelings. Just in case. The speciality about these ones is not just that they can catch Changelings effectively but that it replicates and bypasses their shapeshifting abilities. If they transform into anything, the ball will react and change shape as well into what will work best. It's a multi-purpose versatile Poke Ball! Amazing, right?"
"It's all impressive. What else can I say?" Ghetsis said. "Keep it up. But I doubt Daybreaker will ever approve of this. What about Reshiram? Any news on him?"
"Nothing yet. We're in the same spot as Celestia. That Light Stone is eluding us. Even Team Rocket. But rest assured, we'll find that stone. Granted...now we have an expanded Earth and Universe to worry about but I'm sure it's fine."
"Getting around will be harder without those gateways, but that won't stop us. And plus...we can take advantage of this Grander World." Ghetsis would aim to take full advantage of the larger combined Earths before anyone else would. All for his penultimate goal of becoming the ruler he so desired to be.
Aside from that, for many across this combined world who had formed otherworldly bonds, they would celebrate until the Sun would set and even when the Moon rises. The future was looking brighter than ever for them. Of course, they all knew that there were still some more obstacles to overcome.
The ever-lurking presence of the Dread League and their threat to all life. Now that both worlds became one, the Black Crusade could have a greater effect. Team Plasma and all of its allies were not to be ignored, especially when the Empress, the greatest invader they've had, was still present with a burning vengeance.
They've had their fair share of obstacles and now there were more challenges to face. In this Super-Earth, a whole bounty of new and wilder adventures is about to begin as the journey continues.
With both worlds united and now forming to make one Super-Earth, it was only natural for a new map layout to be formed. And the one to oversee this was Princess Celestia. The moment the two worlds found themselves becoming one united world, the cartographers got work, taking what was already established with their world and trying to add on the Pokemon World.
"So, Equestria is right between Unova and Kalos." Celestia viewed the first map that was given to her, spotting Equestria's current position. Unova was the closest while Kalos was the furthest. "That's easy enough to understand but everything else..."
The rest of the map and previous locations that were closer to Equestria had been switched up thanks to Jirachi. Places outside of Equestria were unknown at the moment. For now, only the location of Equestria was known but even that had its own problems thanks to this expanded Earth.
"This only means it'll be harder to find Reshiram, unfortunately. But perhaps, with Starmap's help, we can get the new layout of the world." Celestia added before spotting Luna flyby with three saddlebags on her. "Luna. Where are you going?"
"To explore this brand new world, of course. Now that both worlds have become one, I can multitask as a Pokemon Trainer and control the moon as well! The best of both worlds!" Luna only saw positives with this change. Previously, when being active as a Pokemon Trainer, heading over to the Pokemon World was rare since she could get caught up in the excitement and forget about her duties. Not anymore.
"Oh. Well, have fun then. As for me...I think I'll set out as well. To find Reshiram. Zekrom is already out there searching as well and yet there's still nothing about him."
"You will find him eventually. Reshiram trusts you enough to the point where he will most definitely come back when he leaves his recovery state. Anyways, I'm off!" In a flash of magic, Luna would transport herself out of her via teleportation, leaving to explore this new world.
"She's right. He'll find me. Whenever he shows up. Right now, I have a lot of work to do...." Celestia couldn't slow down now. Not when she had to sort everything out thanks to Jirachi's power.
Out in the Marshlands.
Somewhere in a marshland, the two Rift Humans, Lucien and Sienna could be found. Being that they are what the Rift originally looked like before merging to become one cosmic entity, it was only natural for them to be flabbergasted by the success of Ash and his friends.
They beat the Rift before it could even leave this connected world. And yet, the Rift wasn't gone. Not yet at least. Not when it promised to show them all something grand later on.
"So, they won. Now what? What do we do?" Sienna asked. By this point, there was no reason for them to try and prevent them from getting to Jirachi because they have already done so. Not only that, but all Jirachis are now free once more.
"Well, we're still here. The Rift hasn't called us back yet. Not because it trusts us, but because we're it. I hope I said that right." Lucien replied. "Not much we can actually do except be little troublemakers as always. But by this point...they've gotten stronger and the Dread League is a whole other can of worms I'm too afraid to tackle."
"Bah. So we're stuck, are we? That blows." Sienna sighed, resting on a mushroom. "We can at least wait for the Pillars to show up again and see how that turns out. But I don't wanna do nothing for a while...Cold and Jade are so lucky to have all the fun they want with them."
"I'm not gonna be friends with them if that's what you're thinking. Instead, we can try something else." The Rift Human would then turn his head, putting on a devious grin. "I think it'll be even better than that body swap we did with Ash and Ghetsis."
"Doubt it but...go ahead." Sienna would summon some popcorn in her hands. "What is it?"
"You and I both know this. The true ace in the hole." Lucien would then put his hands together, forming a pulse of Rift Energy before then expanding his arms. From this expansion, he formed a Rift Oval. "It might be time for us to use this. Or at least, after that whole Dread League thing gets sorted out."
"Still rooting for them, huh? But are you talking about..."
"That's right. We can ask the Rift to try and bring this back if it wants to. Before the worlds crossed over, just before the light enveloped them all, the Rift already did what every single Jirachi did but differently. It made a custom universe where everything was already together. And that universe had two power players there."
"Those two? I don't know...Bringing that world back along with those two would just make things bloated."
"I get that. But we're not gonna do that. We'll let that world remain gone. But, what do you think about bringing those two into the fray? Sounds fun, doesn't it?"
"Hmm..." She had to ponder for a moment. In her mind, they were taking another huge risk that would affect many. But by now, they were used to it. Sienna's own Desires are proof of this. "I've got something better!" She would stand up, having a brainstorm.
"Yeah? What?"
"How about we bring back his spirit? And after his spirit comes back then maybe his whole body will show up. The same goes for her. But she'll be a bit harder to find."
"Good idea. But there are only four of them compared to the other eight. And yet they'll be harder to reach. But it's settled. We'll ask the Rift to bring back their spirits. Let's hope it's not occupied."
"They're in for a big surprise..." Sienna giggled. This mysterious plan of theirs was yet another attempt to throw the world off balance just for the fun of it. And now that both worlds are combined, it would be easier to spread whatever chaos they wish to do.
Ponyville. Twilight's Castle.
Speaking of counterparts, back at Twilight's Castle, she received some gifts from her own counterparts across different worlds. They were mainly for how their own worlds had been freed from Empress Twilight's control. By far the most devious of them all.
All of these gifts would be stacked up by her, Espeon, Starlight and their Pokemon, placed next to some of the bookshelves. These gifts just ended up being more books as each Twilight knew exactly what the other wanted.
"Late Hearth's Warming gifts but I'm grateful to them," Twilight said, viewing all the unique books from each world. Since most of them had different origins and were of different species, each book would have something new to offer, making Twilight all too eager to check them out.
"How come I don't have a counterpart that shares something with me? All I have is an evil one." Starlight felt jealous that Twilight had these counterparts to support her.
"Ah, I'm sure you have good ones out there. We just haven't seen them yet. Anyway, now that it's a new day in a new world, how about we get out there?" The Princess of Friendship suggested that they start exploring. "Starlight. With both worlds now as one, it'll be easier for you to catch a Pokemon."
"I guess so. I kept thinking that I wanted one from the Pokemon House but...nothing piqued my interest. I've never been all that into Pokemon honestly, except for Hatterene. But what about you? What are you going to do with all of this?"
"What will I do? Well...I'm still just a Pokemon Professor now. But this whole time, I've been thrust into this role because of BigTime Ben. I still want to learn more about Pokemon in this role. Even if I'm...not a well-known professor. I want to help my own human counterpart as well with her whole Alpha Pokemon mission. And there's more. I want to see those aliens and learn more about that space city that's hidden at Pegalysium. I also just want to visit every other world out there. There's so much for me to choose..."
"Hm. Sounds like a hoofful. Personally, I couldn't keep up with all of that. But that's why you're so good at it. Pick whichever one you like and I'm sure it'll turn out great."
"Thanks, Starlight. Which is why we're continuing on as research fellows. Let's get rolling and research the Holon Region! There are more Delta Pokemon I wish to see!" Twilight found what she wanted to do next. The Holon Region was chosen.
"Back to Holon? Ah, that place is a bit surprising. It'll just change the types of our Pokemon again and we'd just end up battling with the wrong Pokemon."
"I know. But I'm prepared for type switch-ups. Plus, we might find something about Reshiram there. He's still missing and his last appearance was at Holon when he tried to stop the Dread League from capturing Yveltal. I think we can find out what happened afterwards with the Time Flower."
"Oh. So that means Ash is coming along, isn't he? I guess this isn't an excuse for you to bring him along this time." Starlight grinned, teasing Twilight and her previous moments where she would make excuses to stick around Ash.
"Fair play...If we can find out what happened to his Light Stone once he took that form, we can possibly track him down. Where is Ash, by the way? You were outside previously, Starlight."
"He said he was going back to the Rota Kingdom. It's about Sir Aaron's Staff."
Kanto. Rota Kingdom. Cameran Palace.
The Rota Kingdom. Located in Northern Kanto and near a mountain range where Pewter City and Mt. Moon could be found, this medieval-style town was home to the prestigious Queen Ilene and where the Legendary Aura Guardian Sir Aaron once lived. Over at Cameran Palace, Ash, along with Goh, arrived at this castle concerning Sir Aaron's Staff.
"Here. It's kinda in a bad shape." Holding out the staff to Queen Ilene was Ash. Previously, he used the Staff as a way to combat the Strange Dimension's Rift-powered attacks. The staff had suffered the most damage possible to this day. "Sorry about that."
"Don't worry, Ash." Ilene would hold the staff next. "You did what you had to do. It was for the sake of everyone's happiness and memories after all. It was only natural that the staff would suffer from something like this, unfortunately."
"Can you fix it? Is this the first time something like this has happened?" Goh asked, wondering if there was a way to reverse the damage. "We tried using magic to fix it but...that didn't work either. The crystal on top isn't damaged but the wooden parts are."
"That's because the wood here's been enchanted to bypass any magical effects. It can't be damaged by magic but it also can't be affected by it in any other way." Ilene explained, revealing the specialized immunity of this staff. "But there is a way to repair it. There's an Aura Chamber for something like this."
"Aura Chamber?" Both would repeat. This was also new to Ash. He had never heard of an Aura Chamber when he first showed up here.
"Come with me and see." Ilene would gladly show them this chamber that kept with the consistent theme of the Aura Guardian. The Staff and the Time Flowers weren't the only Aura-Related forces out there.
Naturally, since it was a chamber, it would be located at the lower levels. But it was lower than what Ash and Goh were expecting when looking at this castle in its entirety. Deep within the castle, there would be an old dungeon. A wide granite door with moss covers the entrance to this dungeon.
Beyond the granite door lies an unused dungeon that had no prisoners whatsoever. It was covered in crawling Bug-Types and the cobwebs of a Spinarak and Ariados family. With a torch out from Ilene, it allowed them all to see a broken statue part of a fountain, busted and spoiled by time itself.
"These dungeons haven't been used for a long time except for when my ancestor Queen Rin was in power. For the longest, the Pokemon have made this their home. The chamber itself has also been unused for a long time."
"So what was it for then?" Ash asked. "Is there Aura in there?"
"It's said that Sir Aaron would try and look ahead to the future. Knowing about the sudden number drop of Aura Guardians, Sir Aaron thought of ways to ensure that the Aura would be preserved in the future, especially from the one who would be responsible for the disappearance of the Aura Guardians."
"He knew about that Gardevoir before then?" Goh added.
"He did. But he didn't know of a way to stop her because no one found a way to enter that realm. Not even his only closest relative at the time, Rye. Until you all discovered it. Before you found that realm, he found a way to preserve the Aura in the future, by minimizing it into something new."
Further ahead is a single path. Its twisted trail leads passed long-lost rooms and soon the group entered a dank area. There were several blue braziers scattered around, somehow they were still burning, or burning again. And this was because of the Aura around them. Ash and Goh witnessed how the Aura resembled that of fire instead of its usual wavy appearance.
They would move onwards, deeper into the dungeon's secret passages that many have not witnessed. They passed countless passages, each seeming to go on forever, leading to who knows what. Eventually, Ilene, Ash and Goh made it to the end, standing before one final door that looked cleaner than most.
"This is the final room in the castle and the deepest part as well. Watch." Ready to show them what Sir Aaron left behind, Ilene would open the door, revealing a new kind of Aura sight to them all. The eyes of Ash, Goh, Pikachu and Grookey would light up as they would immediately see the wonder that waited for them.
Inside this chamber were millions upon millions of tiny Aura Spheres. They had a lighter appearance than the usual Aura Spheres, only appearing as a light blue instead of Azure Blue. These spheres were constantly floating, perfectly lined up in an orderly fashion. The sound they exuded differed from what Aura Sphere usually sounds like. To Ash, it almost sounded like the song from Samiya. The signature song that the People of the Water sing.
"Awesome! Look at all those Aura Spheres!" Ash gawked with amazement.
"Pikaaaa!"
"These aren't Aura Spheres, Ash. But I suppose anyone could see them as such." Ilene blew out the torch as the Aura was bright enough to provide light. "These are Sir Aaron's own creations of Aura. He called them Aura Wisps."
"Aura Wisps?" Ash would approach one, gazing into soothing light. Being near them felt like being near an open fire on a wintery night.
"Sir Aaron wasn't one to let his fellow guardians suffer. After learning about the Aura Vampire Gardevoir, he made sure to converse a piece of those who perished. What you're looking at are the Auras of all those who suffered from Delayed Aura Ataxia."
"A-All of this?!" Goh was stunned by this. He knew a lot of Aura Guardians were affected by the Ataxia but not to this extent. Something about this felt spectral to him.
"To ensure that she'd never fully have her way, these spheres were made in retaliation. To those who have come and gone, the remaining Aura they once had is kept here."
"Huh...But I thought they were all free after we beat that Gardevoir." Ash pondered why these were still here if they were made to retaliate against the Shiny Gardevoir.
"Delayed Aura Ataxia still exists, so these will remain until it's completely gone. But you've done an excellent job at stopping her. Though that place was her prison, she still managed to affect the outside world. Have you been suffering from Delayed Aura Ataxia recently?"
"Not really. It doesn't show up a lot anymore when I use Aura. It's still there but I can get back up sooner than before."
"Does this mean she's weaker when she's outside?" Goh questioned.
"That's right. From what you shared with me, she was gathering as much Aura from the remaining Aura users in the world, such as yourself. Since she was sealed away, it's likely Gardevoir would've found a way to break out and use what she's stolen to her advantage. But by forcing her out of the realm and locking her out, she can't access her own creation anymore. You successfully held her back."
"Huh. She never did show up there again now that I think about it." It clicked with Ash. He hadn't seen a slither of that Gardevoir ever since. On top of that, cases of Delayed Aura Ataxia have only been targeted towards him mostly but that was via his own actions. "I didn't think that place would give her strength. I thought it was the other way around, ya know."
"Pikachu."
"It was. Until Sir Aaron changed that. He knew that if she were to return to the real world, she would have an easier time stealing Aura for her own lifespan. Sir Aaron and Lucario reversed what would've been. Their Aura was just that powerful."
"Man! Those two were so cool!" Ash got all giddy. "I'm glad to have met Lucario when I did! What a duo!"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Now, about your staff. These wisps can also heal them. Just hold the staff near it and the Auras would recover it all." Ilene revealed that these wisps were the key to mending the broken sphere.
"Gotcha-" But before he could do so, an Xtransceiver call came through. Quickly digging into his pocket, Ash would see that the Xtransceiver call came from Twilight Sparkle. This was centred around Holon. There was even a subject underneath Twilight's name that specifically said 'Head to Holon'. "Oh. Looks like we've got something else to do after this."
"Back to Holon?" Goh looked over at the subject. "Eh, that place again? Catching Pokemon there isn't what it's cracked up to be from what I've seen and heard..."
"All the more reason why we gotta keep exploring it!" Ash was eager to check it out compared to Goh.
A new adventure in this combined world was waiting for him as he would answer the call. This was only the beginning of something amazing. No matter how short or long each adventure would be. "Hello. Twilight?"
The Holon Jungle. Located near the East of Settlement Alfa. Arriving here were Ash, Goh, Twilight and Starlight with two clear goals. The first was to obviously explore the Holon Region some more and the second involved knowing what happened to Reshiram's Light Stone.
And of course, being that this was a jungle, it was prone to an abundance of trees and plans, more so than any other biome. Cutting through a large pile of plants was Pikachu with his Iron Tail, allowing Ash and everyone else to pass through.
"So, that's what you found in that chamber?" Along the way, Twilight spoke to Ash about what he and Goh discovered over at Rota thanks to Queen Ilene.
"Yep. Those little Aura Wisps helped repair the staff for me." Ash explained. The staff he possessed could only be healed by Aura as all magical enchantments were ineffective. "I had no idea that Gardevoir would be weaker outside instead of inside the realms."
"It was a good call to break her out then, wasn't it? Even if we thought about it for a moment." Starlight added as they would approach a hill that went downwards, covered in bushes. "But where is she now by the way? We haven't heard from that Shiny Gardevoir in a while now."
"No clue!" Ash would then slide down a hill, bringing some momentum to his exploration. Pikachu would soon join him as the duo would go down a bush-covered hill. "Woohooo!"
"Pikaaa!"
"Wait for us!" Twilight would soon follow. Usually, she would choose a different way to approach something compared to Ash's wild and high-paced decisions. But after being with him for so long and going through many adventures, Twilight has evolved to a point where she would do the same. She would slide down the hill along with Espeon instead of just using her wings to do so.
"Ah, you two! Wait!" Starlight and Goh weren't exactly like Ash and Twilight, however. They were less hesitant to take these risky pathways. But if it meant getting around, then the risk needed to be taken. Although, they would take it slower compared to Ash and Twilight.
Sliding down the hill, they would pass by various Pokemon, startling them with their rapid movements. Ash would then look up while sliding to see how the Delta Storms gave certain Pokemon access to things they could never normally do. He saw how a group of Graveler were flying thanks to the Flying-Type energy that was now bestowed upon them. They would find out about this via their Pokedexes which they were constantly holding out due to how the Holon Region works.
In the air, the Graveler would curl up as they could be seen with whirlwinds underneath. This was the only way for them to fly as the Delta Energy allowed them to conjure these whirlwinds. Taking pictures to research this was Twilight, along with Goh and Starlight. Both would see just how Delta Energy formed new rules for these Pokemon.
"Awesome! How's that happening?!" Ash would slow down his sliding momentum to view the Flying Graveler for a bit longer.
"All of that energy from the Delta Storms seems to also transform how the Pokemon interact with their surroundings." Twilight deduced. "Look over there! At those Aipom!"
"Aipom! Aipom!" Twilight would focus on the Aipom as the Dex revealed them to be Poison-Types. And with this Type Change, the Aipom would jump around in a nearby poisonous lake, unaffected by the poison at all. But not only could they freely jump around in it, but the Aipom would also even gain poisonous tips around their tails. All three of their tail fingers could be seen with poison tips as they would carelessly swing them around.
"They don't seem to be careful with those poisonous tips though." Starlight gulped, fearing that the Aipom have already poisoned some Pokemon in this jungle because of their personalities.
When adventuring further, they would see more unique adaptions that the Pokemon have taken on thanks to the Delta Storms. And by this time, their own Pokemon have been affected. The Pokedex would show Pikachu now possessing the Fire-Typing.
"Pika?" Pikachu would notice how his running speed would kick up flames. His feet were on fire yet the flames didn't hurt at all. "Pikachu!" Intrigued by this, Pikachu would start jumping frantically around with his scorching feet. He was truly a Hotfoot right about now.
"Don't get too close!" Starlight backed up when Pikachu would jump near her.
"How come this area has the Delta Pokemon react differently than the others?" Goh asked. "I didn't see anything like this before."
"I'm not sure. The storms could just be stronger here. I'll have to find that out myself." Twilight wasn't able to give a clear answer. But that only increased her interest to find out about it. "Maybe...there's a small chance, it might have something to do with Reshiram's disappearance."
"Really? Do you think one of the Pokemon took his stone or the Delta Storms did something to him?" Starlight questioned.
"Only one way to find out. Let's keep going until we reach those cliffs." Ash would move on as Pikachu led the way by unleashing fire trails from his feet.
"When we get back, I want to have at least one Delta Pokemon. How great would it be if I had a Pokemon that doesn't appear as its usual type?" Goh fantasized about that possibility. "That'll throw them for a loop if I have more!"
"It would. Makes me wonder if Mew can do the same thing. Both of them..." Starlight would then think about the Mew that originally came from Holon. "Holon's Mew, I mean. I'd love to see how she interacts with this place. And every other Mythical we have back home, which isn't a lot. They must have unique interactions for how rare they are."
"It's only Mew and Phione. But...pretty soon it'll just be Mew." Twilight replied. "Because now that the stairway's completed..."
Equestria. Ponyville. Carousel Boutique.
"Y-You're leaving?!" Back at the Carousel Boutique, Sweetie Belle was hit with some shocking news. But she somewhat expected something like this. Phione was set to depart. "Seriously?!"
"Seriously." Standing next to Phione was Princess Celestia, who had arrived at Carousel Boutique. "Now that the Golden Stairway is complete and the wish has been made, Phione's fulfilled the mission Arceus set out for her."
"I'm afraid this means she has to return home, Sweetie Belle." Rarity added. "Her home back at Chocovine along with all the other Phione are waiting for her."
"Aw. Phione. Do you really have to go?"
"Phi." Phione nodded in confirmation. This was the expected outcome as she treasured her home the most. After all, it was thanks to the Rift that she lost some of her power in the beginning, only for Arceus to bestow her with something new.
"Alright. I guess that's fair." Sweetie Belle felt gutted by this along with rarity. "But we really enjoyed having you here when we did. Thanks for making that stairway...and oh! Viewing my Contests! I always love the extra support. Your real home is back at Sinnoh but you can always call this place home too."
"And you're always welcome back here." Rarity replied. "If you can, come by and view her contests here and there, why don't you?"
"I'm heading to the Grand Festival next so she knows where to go. Back to Canterlot." Sweetie Belle would then embrace Phione for a hug. Phione would feel gutted as well as she did grow fond of not just this family but also this town and all of its ongoing. It was all so eventful for her.
"Phione."
"You're taking this better than I thought you would." Celestia was impressed by how Sweetie Belle took this news. "Well done. I wish and hope that the other universe's Flurry Heart can overcome her pain at the moment."
"Oh, right. She has to say goodbye to Giratina, doesn't she?" Rarity said, bringing up how Giratina also had to return to his original home. But compared to Phione, who would only return to Sinnoh over at Chocovine Town in this united world, Giratina would have to return to another universe in another Distortion Realm, making him greatly distanced from the young alicorn.
"Sadly, yes. It's far farther than what Phione has. But it's for the better. We've already worked so hard to keep this world safe and many others. We can't just leave another world to perish because of Giratina's absence. That whole world or even universe could collapse. Flurry Heart knows this but saying goodbye to Giratina...that is conflicting to her. And I'm afraid Giratina is leaning more towards what needs to be done."
"Huh. That sucks." Sweetie Belle felt for Flurry Heart, crossing her hooves and pouting at this unfortunate fact. "Is that why Giratina was out there and we didn't see her?"
"I've heard about how hard it is to release a Pokemon." Rarity added. "None of us have done so to our own have we?"
"It's been 2 days now. I haven't heard from Flurry Heart recently, but she did go back to her own universe. My own counterpart from that universe should be talking to her. Or, Shining Armor and Cadence are back at the Crystal Empire, knowing where she really is. I just hope she can overcome this."
The Crystal Empire.
Over at the Crystal Empire, Giratina could be seen sitting outside the castle, still present here. And with his enormous size, he would glare into the castle windows, eyeing down Flurry Heart. Speaking of Flurry Heart, this world's Flurry Heart would enter her room alongside Cadence and Shining Armor, approaching the slightly older alicorn.
Flurry Heart was facing away from Giratina and everything else. Right now, what she needed was some peace. But for two days, she's received peace and quiet, thinking about Giratina's departure and the fate of Giratina's own universe.
"Flurry. Are you okay to talk right now?" Cadence asked.
"Sure...sure." She replied with a slightly low voice. "Sorry about...what I did back there two days ago."
"Ah, don't apologize. It's okay since it came out of nowhere." Shining Armor shook his head. This didn't warrant an apology especially since Flurry Heart was so unprepared for this.
"I should. That's a whole other world that could fall." Flurry Heart thought otherwise, using her magic to bring over some tissues. "I have my own world that was in jeopardy once and I'm still looking for my real parents over there. No offence."
"None taken." Cadence and Shining Armor said in unison.
"I'm just not ready to say goodbye to him. And I don't think I'll ever see him again..."
"Well, Jackie didn't exactly say you wouldn't see him again but..." Cadence grumbled, trying to put a positive spin on this. There's still a chance you two can meet up again. Maybe. I'm not sure actually."
"But I don't want another world to perish so...I know what I have to do." The young alicorn could be seen trembling. "But I don't know if I have the strength to do it...I don't even know if I wanna go through with it."
"Oh, Flurry..." Feeling their alternate daughter's pain, Shining Armor and Cadence would gather around her for a comforting group hug. Flurry Heart, unable to hold back her tears, let it all out. It was for the best. Even with these two days to think about it, it was impossible for her to fully power through it. It was best that she had someone by her side during this time.
Despite how the two worlds had merged to make a Super-Earth and an even larger Universe, there would be one valuable member missing. Or rather two. But also comforting her was none other than her baby self from this world. The far younger Flurry Heart would crawl up to her older self, hugging her by the face.
And of course, the one who was always been there for her ever since the news broke out. Giratina himself. Flurry Heart would gaze at her younger self, her alternate parents and her Pokemon, seeing how much they loved her. And though Giratina could never express it with the way his face was built, his slightly quiet cry was enough to speak powerful emotions.
"Thank you all...I think I'm ready to do it." She sniffled, prepared to send Giratina back to his original world. And that would mean heading to the Ranger Union, where they would find Giratina's original universe.
"Alright. And we'll try and find an ultimatum by speaking with the Ranger Union. After this, let's focus on finding your real parents next, okay?" Cadence suggested.
"O-Okay...!" With a slight whimper, she would swallow her fears, at last, putting on a confident yet weeping expression.
Giratina's release was nigh. Both Giratina and Phione would return to their respective homes. But one would be farther than the other. But there were was one consistent wish from both sides. That both Pokemon would show up again someday. For Phione, that could easily be done. But for Giratina, that had yet to be seen.
Either way, parting ways with a close friend was heart-wrenching to many. But with a new bond comes a new farewell that they would have to face. As the journey continues.
After spotting their fair share of Pokemon that have been uniquely affected by the Delta Storms, Ash, Twilight, Goh and Starlight would take a small break. By this point, their Pokemon have already swapped types thanks to the Delta Storms. Pikachu still kept his hot feet after becoming a Fire-Type, playing around with them. He would interact with Espeon and Grookey who had now become Water and Rock-Types. Espeon felt a bit wobbly thanks to her Water-Typing. This was somewhat reminiscent of her fellow Eeveelution Vaporeon. Meanwhile, Grookey didn't notice any changes at all.
"Careful with those feet, Pikachu. You'll start a fire at this rate." Twilight warned him. "But you might change types soon."
"So. Figured out why the Delta Pokemon are acting differently now, Twilight?" Ash questioned while stuffing his face.
"Nothing yet. I figured I'd try and contact Professor Pine but she didn't respond. She might be busy trying to figure this out as well. Or she could be over at the site where Reshiram went missing. Maybe many others are as well because it's oddly quiet here at Holon."
"It's a small region, so it would be quiet. But, we didn't even approach here by going through one of the settlements. I haven't seen any of them either. Do you think they're adjusting to this new world for a place so small?" Starlight wondered. Indeed, they mainly showed up in the jungle without going through any of the settlements. Only the biomes were used for their arrivals as they have yet to see other trainers
"Maybe. We should be close to those cliffs by now, right?" Goh spoke. "But we haven't seen any unique Delta Pokemon yet, like Applejack's Riolu."
"This map I've got shows what kind of Delta Pokemon we can expect here. A Delta Foongus, Croagunk, Dwebble and apparently a Kabuto." Twilight received a digital overview of the jungle and the type of Pokemon that reside here.
"A Delta Kabuto!?" Goh stood up after hearing that. "That's a double rarity! A Delta and a Fossil!"
"A double rarity would be Rarity's own Pokemon. An Ultra Beast and a Milotic." Starlight joked, giggling at her own humour as it worked in tandem with Goh's words.
"You know...there might be a chance that with this expanded world, Reshiram's Light Stone was affected too," said Twilight, thinking about Jirachi's effect on other Pokemon. "Since the Earth and the Universe are bigger than before, the landscapes were obviously altered. Which means, Reshiram's Light Stone, wherever it originally was, ended up elsewhere."
"But if we use the Time Flower, we can still find out what happened before that," Ash added. "Right after we finish up, we'll head out and-" Right as Ash was ready to grab the nearest cupcake, it would suddenly burn up in front of him. The cupcake was lost, incinerated in a flash which prompted Ash to pull his hand back "Eh?!"
"Pikachu?!" Noticing this sudden incineration, Pikachu, Espeon and Grookey would turn to see the ones responsible for this.
"Croagunk." A Delta Pokemon. Specifically, a Delta Croagunk. These Croagunk appeared differently from their standard Sinnohan counterparts. For the most part, they had the same build, however, the colours were now purely orange with spurts of flames being around their hands and feet, replacing the poison as these were Fire-Types. They even had two small horns extruding from their hands while also possessing red eyes instead of yellow eyes.
"A Delta Croagunk!" Ash and everyone would hold up their Pokedexes to these Delta Variants.
"Delta Croagunk. The Flame Mouth Pokemon. Its cheeks hold large amounts of fire. It generates thick smog to sneak up behind its opponents and attack them. They have high domain over the jungle compared to most Pokemon and are more mischievous than their Sinnohan Counterparts."
"So cool!" Ash's eyes lit up, completely ignoring what the Croagunk did to that cupcake and only admiring their appearances. "A Fire Croagunk!"
"High domain over the jungle?" Starlight repeated what the Pokedex shared. "I can see why. Maybe the jungle's evolved to resist flames as well?"
"Listen. Whatever mischief you're planning, we don't want any part of it." Twilight would rather not deal with whatever the Croagunk had planned. "I've been down this road before. Not as much as you, Ash."
"Ah, let's just try and talk to them. They've got full control over this place, right? We don't wanna be rude to them. They might even know something about Reshiram." Ash wagged his finger, approaching the Delta Croagunk. "Hey there."
"Croa?" The Croagunk would gaze at Ash's hand which was offered up for a handshake. That bright smile on his face also made him inviting. The Croagunk looked at each other as this wasn't the response they were expecting. After all, they incinerated a cupcake from afar, expecting Ash to show irritation. "Croagunk." Deciding to shake his hand, one of the Croagunk would gladly oblige after witnessing Ash's kindness.
"Gyaahaha!" But of course, since they had flames on their hands at all times, this was a scorching handshake that made Ash grimace but also made the other Croagunk chuckle. "T-That was my bad..."
"Croa-Croa-Croa!"
"Phew..." Starlight sighed as she was glad this didn't turn out how she was expecting. She expected either a chase or an immediate Pokemon Battle. But thanks to Ash, that was avoided along with any potential conflict.
"If they have high domain over this jungle, doesn't that mean there's a main boss? Delta Toxicroak?" Goh said, believing there to be a Delta Toxicroak somewhere around.
"Probably. But it isn't shown on the map at all." However, Twilight could not fully confirm the existence of Delta Toxicroak in the jungle. It was only Croagunk. "I would ask Professor Pine, but she's not responding. Or anyone really..."
"It's only the jungle that's lively and the Mirage Forest we passed by. It's a bit too quiet, don't you think?" Goh felt uneasy with how silent Holon currently. At least, when it came to the settlements which weren't in sight.
"Settlement Alfa's the nearest to the jungle from what I hear. Did any of you see it?" Ash asked, but he would soon receive headshakes from his friends. "Hmm...Something's up."
"Croa. Croagunk." A Croagunk would then grab Ash by the arm, holding back the flames to inflict no damage on him. The Delta Pokemon would then tug on his arm as if it needed something from Ash.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Pika?" Pikachu would approach the Croagunk, choosing to be the best translator he could possibly be.
"Croa...Croa-Croagunk."
"Pi?!" From hearing Croagunk's words, Pikachu would suddenly jerk back along with Espeon and Grookey.
"What is it, Pikachu?" Ash asked, wondering what Pikachu heard that would spark a reaction from him and the other two Pokemon.
"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu would then run ahead, prompting Ash to do the same. Ash knew that Pikachu was right on the nose to lead him somewhere based on what the Croagunk shared. It was proof of their almighty bond.
"Ash! Wait!" Twilight stood up before using her magic to wrap everything as fast as she could. The Croagunk would follow Ash and Pikachu, knowing something of great value that was too eager not to discover. Twilight, Goh and Starlight would soon follow them to whatever the Croagunk had found.
With one Croagunk being ahead to lead the way and Pikachu being behind, they would pass by familiar areas, retreading their steps. From what Ash and the others could make of this interaction, it could relate to the eerie silence in Holon at the moment. Only the Pokemon made it lively, enjoying their Delta abilities and using them in whatever which way they could.
They would jump over lakes and pass through vines with the strength of Pikachu's Iron Tail and the flames from the Delta Croagunk who would torch them upon contact. Naturally, since this was a jungle, a colossal waterfall could be seen nearby. Ash's group would carefully scale upwards on the higher parts of this jungle, hearing the crashing waves from the waterfall.
The higher they went, the more they noticed how the clouds were closer than expected. Twilight would be the first to notice this before everyone else did. "We're getting closer to those clouds than we thought...We haven't been travelling for that long, have we?"
"Not really. Maybe this part of the jungle is just that high?" Goh shrugged, unable to clearly answer this. The higher they went, the closer they got to the end as they were just near the waterfall from this distance. The Croagunk, thankfully, weren't leading them to their doom or even leading them to a Delta Toxicroak. Instead, it led to something far greater.
They reached the summit of the jungle which was nestled between a large palm tree and a Tropius that was peacefully sleeping next to it. And upon reaching this summit, they would witness the grandiose yet warped sight before then.
Settlement Foxtrot, Settlement Oscar and other Settlements could be seen at a lower level. The settlements had been found but they were not placed in their usual locations. In fact, the Holon Desert was not where it was supposed to be. It was at the East, housing the Holon Pyramid as always while the Holon Grasslands were at the West.
These two biomes had been stretched out while the settlements were misplaced, surrounded by what seemed to be a spiral of magic with strange symbols emanating out of them. Something was definitely not right.
"W-What is this?!" Twilight stammered. "When did the main Holon Settlement get down there?!"
"They're all surrounded by some weird magical force...and look at that great crater!" Starlight would even notice how they were all within an astronomically large crater. "And how did these biomes all end up here?"
"Is this because of the world and universe expanding?!" Goh gasped.
"No. It's something different." Ash shook his head, gazing at the magic. "That might be our answer. All of that weird magic around it...Croagunk. If you do have a Delta Toxicroak...is it there?"
"Croagunk." The Croagunk confirmed it. The existence of the Delta Toxicroak could be found over at that assortment of settlements and the larger crater.
"That must mean Professor Pine is there too!" Twilight took out her Xtransceiver, attempting to call the professor once more. However, not only did she receive no response at all once again, but the cause behind it was revealed. The Xtransceiver would glitch out in response to the sudden flare of magic from that massive crater. "So...That magical field's been blocking communications."
"Who did this?" Starlight wondered. "Is it someone we know? Maybe a vampire?!"
"Only one way to find out. Don't worry, Croagunk. We'll get your boss back and find a way to put everything back to how it was." Ash reassured as he and the Croagunk would now work alongside each other. And with the help of the Delta Croagunk, they might possibly find out who is behind this.
"We can't ever catch a break, can we?" Starlight sighed. "Well, we had a few months of peace until Hearth's Warming passed so I can't complain. But how are we going to get down there? That spiral of magic looks pretty aggressive and we could risk falling in that massive crater."
"Leave that to me." Twilight smiled as she would deal with the magical spiral that shielded the massive area. "I'm not sure what those symbols are, but with Rift Magic, I can sort this out. As for when we get in there...let's head for the main Holon Settlement first."
"Gotcha! Let's go, Dragonite!" Ash would send out his Dragonite for aerial control.
"Dragonite!"
"Go, Flygon!" And Goh would go straight for his Flygon.
"Flygon!"
"Croagunk. You'll all be with me." Twilight would outline the Delta Croagunk in a telekinetic hold to bring them down. Meanwhile, Espeon and Grookey would hop on the backs of Dragonite and Flygon while Starlight would levitate herself. They were all set to enter this mishmash of settlements and the massive crater.
But unbeknownst to them all, they were being watched. Right near the waterfall, an eye would pop out of the rocks, spotting Ash's group while hiding in plain sight, blending in with the environment. This eye would then multiple, camouflaging on whatever it appeared as multiple eyes would be viewing this group and their eventual descent into the areas.
The eyes would then turn into draconic mouths, giggling eerily without any nearby Pokemon noticing. Afterwards, the many mouths that were scattered across the jungle would speak.
"Finally, they've found it. The famous Ash Ketchum and Princess Twilight Sparkle will arrive here after all. Oh, and I suppose their two lesser-known sidekicks as well." The voices said, referring to Goh and Starlight as sidekicks. Though they could not hear the mouths, Goh and Starlight would sneeze, feeling like someone was talking about them. "I can't wait for them to show up. We're going to have a truly fun game when they get here."
This mysterious voice would then vanish along with the mouths. Likely, it came from the same area where all the settlements could be seen. No one knew why this was the case. At least, no one at the higher biomes. This was certainly not Jirachi's doing but another powerful force. Ash and his friends would get to the bottom of this as the journey continues.
The Holon Region's settlements had been found and were revealed to be misplaced. Spotted in a massive crater while being surrounded by a spiral of magic with strange symbols coming out, Ash's group which was assisted by a few Delta Croagunk would investigate this strange misplacement. After all, this magical field was blocking out the Xtransceiver.
Breaking through the spiral of magic right at the top of it was Twilight who was utilizing Rift Magic to make this possible. The Rift Magic pierced through the magical field, forming a hole of entry. Once there was an entrance, they would all descend with Dragonite, Flygon and some magical levitation as their means of transport.
The main settlement, which was named after the region itself, was the first destination. Ash's group found themselves at the town. When arriving here, for the most part, the buildings looked normal, apart from the ambience from the magical spiral which made everything appear slightly dim.
Everything was in one piece even within this massive crater which was taller than everything else here. Sounds from the crater would continuously howl, giving it an ominous presence, as if something was in there.
"We're here." Ash hopped off Dragonite. "Everything looks fine so far. But this mist..." And immediately, after they arrived, they were met with company. Up ahead, a few people would approach Ash's group, moving through the somewhat concealed mist.
"Good afternoon! Welcome!" The voices of the people cried out as their silhouettes were starting to vanish to show their full appearances.
"Oh hey! Goo-" Twilight froze up. It was a good sign to see some people here but she definitely couldn't predict what they would appear as when moving through the mist. Ash, Goh, Starlight and all the other Pokemon would have the same reaction as Twilight. Stunned and caught off guard by what they were witnessing.
Once the people left the mist and showed themselves, they were revealed to have new parts to them. Pokemon Parts. Their bodies had been altered, possessing traits from different Pokemon that had merged with these humans. One of them had the arm and claw of a Beartic. Another had the tail of an Aggron. The horns of a Houndoom. The jaw of a Mawile which was connected to the ponytail of a woman and many other strange mutations.
"W-What the...?" Goh stuttered as he was stunned by what his eyes had witnessed.
"Mutations...?!" Starlight immediately thought of the first thing that this could be. Mutated People that happened to receive Pokemon parts. But they certainly didn't have these the last time they visited Holon.
"Apologies for our appearances...We should've warned you at first." An old man with the teeth of a Sharpedo said.
"This is new...What happened here?" Twilight questioned. "Why do you all have Pokemon Traits on you?"
"I think it might have something to do with that magic around the area. And maybe those weird symbols." Starlight uttered, relating it back to the magical spiral. "Most likely. What else is there?"
"So...It's a curse!" Twilight gasped, immediately thinking about the possibility of a curse. "Or an infection?"
"It's a curse...without a doubt." A lady with an Omantye Arm would reply, waving her tentacle around. "It's a very efficient one that's lasted for quite a while."
"It feels like it's been a year but it's only been a few months." A little boy who had the feet of a Blastoise spoke.
"This has been around for a few months?!" Flabbergasted by this duration, Twilight's eyes nearly flew out of her face. "How did you live like this...?"
"Our Pokemon are very helpful. They are experts when it comes to living like them after all. Bahaha!" The old man would chuckle but not everyone else would laugh with him. Ash and the others would view the rest of the town, seeing how everyone had been affected by this magic. Seemingly, no one was spared from this effect as they would all receive unique parts in different places that were most likely uncomfortable and hard to live with.
"This is...So cool!" But Ash loved this. Instead of fearing these mutations, he was starstruck by them. This confused the People of Holon. Twilight, Starlight and Goh were certainly freaked out but not Ash.
"...Huh?" The people of Holon would collectively gawk in disbelief. Somehow, Ash's response was far more surprising than this mutation phenomenon.
"It's like you fused with the Pokemon! Or you're turning into Pokemon! Or anything like that! You've got horns and stuff! I bet you can shoot out ice with that Beartic arm! Or even control that Mawile jaw too! There's a lot to think about with this!" He got giddy as his brain sparked up a plethora of ideas.
"Well...We appreciate the compliment." The people said. "It's not what we were expecting..."
"Of course you'd find this appealing, Ash. But that's probably for the best, isn't it?" Twilight shrugged as this was all natural for Ash. No matter what someone looked like, he could always appreciate them in some way. No matter how sudden it may be.
"Who did this to you? And why?" Goh asked.
"Well...We'd be rather hard-pressed to say his name. He's a very avid listener and probably knows about your arrival, I'm afraid." The old man trembled. By his words, it was confirmed that whoever was behind all of this was currently present in Holon.
"Say the word and we'll meet with him." Ash was eager to encounter this mysterious individual.
"Well, his name is rather difficult to say. How do you say it again?" The old man, unfortunately, was unable to speak his name properly. "Nyu...Ny...Nylon? Nyun? What was it? It started with an N and Y."
"No clue..." The others had no idea how to say this mysterious name. The best they could do was the first few letters of it.
"I barely remember it. He only refers to himself as the Trickster Dragon." A lady revealed the title of this individual. "That's what he prefers to be called since it's easier that way. He's the one who mutated our bodies."
"A Trickster Dragon? Is that a Pokemon?" Goh questioned, wondering if that was just a species name for this mysterious entity.
"I'm afraid not. He is not a Pokemon. Instead, he is apparently a demon from what he shared with us." The old man explained, revealing this entity to be a demon.
"Demon? 100 Demons?!" Only one category of demons came to mind for Twilight and Starlight. The Box of 100 Demons that the Dread League owned. Most likely, they were dealing with another Dread League case.
"What about Professor Pine?! Is she alright?!" The Princess of Friendship would then ask about the Holon Region's Professor, looking up at her lab in the distance.
"She's safe. The Professor tried her best to keep that demon entertained with whatever she could, but it wasn't enough. The demon decided to find new entertainment and started causing chaos. This is just an example of what he has done." The old man continued. "That demon...it was stuck to her like glue."
"But Professor Pine got the worst out of all of us. She almost looks like a full-on Pokemon." Another one of the people added, revealing that Professor Pine was apparently further into this Pokemon Mutation than everyone else here.
"Full on?" Twilight repeated. And in the blink of an eye, she would teleport away, going straight for Professor Pine's lab to see this for herself.
"But Toxicroak's here somewhere too, right? Croagunk. Did you see Toxicroak anywhere here before?" Ash asked the Croagunk. Unfortunately, the Croagunk have not been here at all to confirm it. All they knew was that their boss was dragged into this mess by the Trickster Dragon. "Hmm...Okay. Just tell us everything, and we'll get right on it!"
Professor Pine's Lab.
"Professor?!" Twilight entered the Professor's lab in a flash. Like everything else, it was all intact. No damage had been done to Professor Pine's lab even though a demon had been in here. All her essentials were in one piece, untouched.
Twilight would move into the next room, wanting to see if the Trickster Dragon was present here since he apparently stuck around Professor Pine more than the others. Her assistants were spotted in the next room, also receiving some Pokemon mutations. The mutated scientists would turn to see the arrival of Twilight Sparkle as the eyes of a Joltik would focus on her.
This was the one oddity the scientists could not solve mainly due to it being magical in origin. Their mutations were unable to be studied with science. The only professor who could delve into this was Twilight herself she was an expert in both magic and science, but mostly magic.
As for Professor Pine herself, when passing by the mutated scientists, they would pale in comparison to what had become of the main professor. Her lab coat and long hair could be seen from the back but that was only natural. Everything else, not so much. Poking out of her lab coat were the wings of a Gliscor as that was the first sign of her full mutation.
"Oh? Twilight?" The rest of Professor Pine would be revealed once she heard Twilight's voice. With a swivel, her full mutated appearance was shown as she truly did get the worst out of everyone. The skin of a Nidoqueen replaced her natural skin. Her eyes were now Beedrill eyes as her singular glove had been slightly damaged thanks to her new nails. These nails and even both her hands belonged to a Salazzle. She had a mixture of four different Pokemon on her as she truly appeared as a different person.
"They weren't kidding...You're leaning towards an actual Pokemon." Twilight spoke before covering her mouth with her hooves. "Oops! Sorry!"
"Ah, so they've already told you." Professor Pine giggled. "Yes. As you can see...I've been mutated. All around but not fully."
"I heard everything. About how a Trickster Dragon did this to you." Twilight approached the mutated professor. "Sorry I didn't hear about this before."
"Ah, it's fine. No one would've known. Not with how occupied he kept this place. Plus, Holon is a relatively small region after all." Professor Pine modestly said. "But it's wonderful that you showed up and even managed to get past that barrier."
"Where is he? Is the demon still here?" Twilight looked around, searching for this Trickster Dragon Demon.
"I'm afraid not. He left the moment he got bored with me. It's a shame too...I thought my ideas were entertaining enough but for a Draconequus, I guess not."
"Draconequus?!" Hearing that word sparked a loud reaction from Twilight. "As in...Discord and Cosmos' species?"
"Oh, he did bring up two others with that name." Professor Pine casually nodded. "But yes, he's only partially a Draconequus. The other half is a demon. A being who spreads nothing but chaos and I assume you already knew about that."
"I did. I just didn't think it would be this kind of problem." Twilight wasn't expecting a Draconequus to be involved. The chaos was raised to an all-time high because of this. "You don't seem too bothered though, Professor Pine. The same goes for everyone else here."
"It scared us in the beginning, but after a few months passed, we got used to it. It's not easy though and we'd prefer to return to our original forms. Do you perhaps have a spell for this?"
"She probably does." One of the assistants spoke. However, his voice was suddenly warped, gaining two different voices. Mainly because one of these voices wasn't his own. This assistance would suddenly grow a second head, startling Twilight. This second head had a relatively long neck that was similar to that of a dragon.
After this second head was revealed, Professor Pine recognized that face. It was none other than the Trickster Dragon, making his entrance and revealing himself to Twilight Sparkle for the first time.
"Hello, Princess." The Trickster Dragon spoke as the main head was currently unconscious. Right now, the demon had full control over his body. "I've been expecting you. Or someone like you. Mainly anyone from your friend group since I've heard so much about them."
"You must be the Draconequus that's responsible for this." Twilight's tone and expression instantly changed upon setting eyes on this dragon.
"My name is Nyzzaghaidenunxulbiad if you must know. But you can call me the Trickster Dragon. It's easier that way." He revealed his long and difficult-to-say name. "Already caught up with everything you need to know?"
"I have everything I need. You were sent here by the Dread League, weren't you?"
"Yes, but it's been a while. I've been away from every other demon for a few months now and I couldn't be happier." The demon continued. "Those vampires might not even know that I'm absent from the box and I'd like to keep it that way. Anyway, do you like what I've done with the place? Well...the buildings aren't exactly different, are they?"
"Why do this? Why turn them into Pokemon? Or at least, give them Pokemon Traits."
"Why not? I can do whatever I want. For the most part. I was running a bit dry on ideas and then I figured that the best possible idea was to mix and match parts of Pokemon with humans. And I'm satisfied with how things turned out! I think I'll do something better than this eventually. I just have to come up with it."
"As if." Twilight scoffed. "Your visit's gone on long enough. You'll turn everyone back to normal or else we'll have to force you to do it in the best way we know how."
"Bah. You don't scare me." The Trickster Dragon blew his tongue at her. "This is the most freedom I've had for so long and I can't let you and your friends stop that. Why would you ever want to stop entertainment in the first place?"
"Where are you? Unless this head of yours is physical?" Twilight's horn lit up, aimed at the Trickster Dragon's head.
"I'd love for you to try and find me, princess." The dragon giggled before descending into the assistant's neck. His entire head would vanish as the only thing remaining for a few seconds would be his voice. "Good luck. I can't wait to see what you'll do."
"Gah!" The assistant regained consciousness as he was startled by this sudden awakening, having no recollection of what happened to one side of his body. "What? What happened?"
"It's just like the Rift..." Twilight sighed, knowing that a handful was coming her way. "This kind of entertainment is pushing it. Alright...Holon's a pretty small region so there won't be too much to cover, thankfully. But if he's anything like Discord, it'll be a headache trying to find the right spot. Professor Pine. Any clues?"
"Well...I have talked to him for a while so I know a bit about him." Professor Pine replied. "Judging by how he acts and what he says, it's hard to say. He's quite unpredictable. I barely got any sleep because I tried so hard to keep him entertained for as long as he could. I couldn't tell you where he usually hangs out that isn't my lab."
"That's fine. We'll find him." Twilight would look out the window, witnessing Ash's prolonged conversation with the people of Holon. It wasn't long until she saw him and the others bolt off. They already decided that they would find this Trickster Dragon as soon as possible even if they had minimal information about where he was.
There were a few settlements to choose from. Settlement Foxtrot. Settlement Oscar. Settlement Alfa and the final settlement, Juliet. But even though the biomes were not surrounded by any magic, Twilight considered those locations as well.
"Alright, I'll be right back. Wish me luck-" But right as Twilight was ready to depart, a tail would suddenly wrap around her. The young alicorn found herself being held back, prevented from teleporting out of the lab by this interruption. "W-What?!"
"Sorry, Twilight." Professor Pine spoke as she was revealed to have another Pokemon trait on her. The tail of a Haxorus as the other assistants would gather around the Princess of Friendship. All of them had one thing in common. Eyes of silver that were constantly flickering. "But I'm afraid I can't let you do that."
The first action of the Trickster Dragon had been revealed. Attempting to keep Twilight back and preventing her from solving this issue was the first action. And when looking outside, Twilight noticed how the eyes of the people would also start flickering. The Trickster Dragon was already ahead of them by this point. Now, it was all a matter of catching up with this draconequus that had a few months of chaos at his disposal as the journey continues.
The entirety of Holon had been warped. Not by Jirachi but by one of the 100 Demons that never returned to the box. Ash's group would set out to find this Trickster Dragon, unaware of this demon already being present all around them. The silver glowing eyes from the mutated people had yet to be seen.
Only Twilight noticed it as she was currently being held back by a fully-mutated Professor Pine and her assistants, recently speaking with the Trickster Dragon.
"So, which settlement do you think he's at?" Ash asked as there were a few settlements to choose from. "It couldn't Settlement Juliet. It's a cold settlement."
"Or maybe that's what we think. But since he's a trickster, he might actually be at Settlement Juliet?" Starlight replied. "You know...just a possibility."
"That would make sense, wouldn't it?" Goh agreed with that possibility. "Plus, Delta Toxicroak is obviously a Fire-Type so it could be at Settlement Juliet too, ignoring the cold. Makes it all sound so easy, right?"
"Hm-hm." Ash nodded in agreement. "Can't be too easy though. "Let's go north and see what we run into! We could bump into him along the way."
"Great, great. But before you find him...do you think you could show off your musical talents?" The townsfolk said with a slightly ominous tone. The Trickster Dragon already had something planned and had the victims of his magic speak what he was thinking.
"Instrumental musical talents?" Ash repeated, swivelling to face the mutated townspeople. "Uh...Not really. Never really played any instruments all that much in the past."
"I haven't played any at all." Starlight shook her head. "Is music important?"
"Grookey has an instrument." Goh referred to Grookey's stick. "Does that count?"
"Well, even if you aren't all that skilled, we'd love to hear something fresh and new." The mutated people continued before having magic flash out of them. The magic would envelop the town, blinding Ash and the others. The light could be seen even past the magical spiral, reaching the Holon Jungle.
It didn't take that long for the light to settle as its effects had been revealed. The blinding light wasn't all that effective on their eyes. Not with what it graced them. Ash would open his eyes to find a slight change in scenery to the main Holon Settlement and a minimal change to what he was holding.
"Oh?" In his hands, he was currently holding a guitar. A heavily stylized guitar that resembled a lightning bolt with a Pikachu symbol at the very top. "Oooh! Check out this guitar!" Right after seeing the Thunderbolt Guitar, he would then see how the Holon Settlement got brighter all of a sudden.
Neon lights would be flaring out of the buildings which had also been transformed slightly to take on a new appearance. The town of Holon found itself being turned into a musical area. The neon buildings matched towers now, losing the original style that they had.
"Pika?" Pikachu remained unaffected by the light. He was completely fine along with the Espeon, Delta Croagunk and Grookey. Nothing visible had changed about them as it was seemingly only the buildings and Ash. But Ash wasn't the only Pokemon Trainer affected.
"What is this?!" Goh found himself glued to a drum set right as he opened his eyes. "I-I can't move!" He would try to force himself out of this seat, only to be stuck in one place. He could still control his entire body but only in a sitting position.
"Play something for us!" The voice of the people roared out as they were currently seated, still having those silver glows in their eyes. By the Trickster Dragon's request and with how this was all set up, it wished for one thing. Music. And the best option was by choosing new victims to play it.
"Music?" Over at Professor Pine's lab, Twilight viewed the scenery change and what the Trickster Dragon requested. It wasn't exactly what she was expecting. She had something far worse in mind.
"Yes, music." Professor Pine spoke for the Trickster Dragon. In unison, the people over at the town would speak the same words to Ash's group, making sure both sides heard this. "Great start, right? He wishes for a musical scene. But...any form of singing is out of the question or choice. Let's hear something enjoyable, especially with what's coming their way."
"Esp? Espeon!" Espeon would soon face the building where Twilight was currently trapped in. Her eyes would be assaulted by the neon lights but she still managed to focus on the windows. There, she saw her trainer being held back by a tail from Professor Pine. "Espeon!"
"What about the dragon?" Goh asked, wondering what this had to do with the Trickster Dragon. "What's going on?!"
"Mind control." Instantly, Starlight, whose voice was the only thing that was present and not her appearance, replied to Goh, revealing what this was before anyone could take a guess." I know a thing or two about it after all. But this doesn't look like full-on mind control. Sounds like they can still speak for themselves."
"Right...by the way. Where are you Starlight?" Goh navigated his head, searching for Starlight. But he didn't have to search for too long as Starlight received the most visible change compared to everyone else. Right behind Goh and the others, Starlight appeared as a giant.
Not just a giant. But a holographic giant. Starlight was exceedingly colourful, having bright eyes with stars inside. Her holographic projection had star sparkles constantly flying out of them which resembled her Cutie Mark. The real Starlight was seen within the Holographic projection, completely bewildered by this. But her projection seemed casual and unbothered.
"This isn't so bad." The Starlight Projection shrugged it off but the same couldn't be said for the real Starlight. Starlight attempted freeing herself with a quick magical beam, only to find that a large musical note would fly out instead. It would emerge from the projection's own horn, flying to the ground.
It wasn't all safe and sweet as it seemed as the musical note would suddenly combust upon touching the ground. It left a musical note crater mark as a result along with a bit of smoke.
"Oops." Both Starlights would say. But right afterwards, the Holographic Starlight would eye down Ash and the others, keeping those bright and starry eyes that also packed an ominous aura. Ash could feel it. Pikachu could feel it. Everyone could feel it. There was nothing bright about that face.
"W-Why are you looking at us like that?" Goh stammered, intimidated by this aura. "I still can't move here!"
"Do something about it then. Why do you think you have those?" The people spoke through the voice of the Trickster Dragon.
"So, all we've gotta do is play music, huh?" Ash looked at his guitar before gazing at the Starlight Projection. "Okay. It's a battle then!"
"Wait...You're not seriously gonna battle me, are you?" Starlight grimaced as she had no control over what would come next. Right now, this Holographic Form of hers was in control and currently showed signs of hostility. "Not like this! Where's Hatterene in all of this?!"
"Yes! Play!" The people were all eager for this while Twilight was still a bit taken aback by this confrontational choice. At the same time, Espeon would bolt off to her trainer's side while she had the chance.
"Never played the guitar before..." Ash looked at his instrument which he had zero experience with. This was a first for him. The same went for Goh. "But Pikachu. You're still looking active. So let's do this! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika!" By leaping into the air, Pikachu would spark up a fierce aura of electricity. However, nothing happened. The electrical aura would vanish as Pikachu was unable to release his attack. "Pi?" Pikachu, naturally confused, lost his airtime before dropping back down.
"What's wrong, Pikachu?!" Ash gasped upon seeing Pikachu abruptly end his Thunderbolt without even fully finishing it. Right as Pikachu failed to use Thunderbolt, the Starlight Projection would make the next move, shooting out smaller musical notes from her horn that would rain from above. These notes caught on fire as they would rapidly litter the ground, sending out flaming sparks.
"Hot hot!" Ash would jump around as the sparks were certainly very effective on him. Poor Goh couldn't move from his spot, leaving him wide open for all of these sparks. Only the Croagunk were fine with this thanks to their Delta Forms.
"This is the worst!" Goh yelled as the only thing protecting him was the large drumset around him.
"Can't you two do something?" Starlight groaned, unable to stop her massive projection from unleashing more of these destructive musical notes.
"Alright...What if I do this?!" Ash figured that this guitar had to be here for a reason. Plus, music was supposed to be playing right now and the only one producing any music was Starlight's Projection. Though he has never played a guitar before, that wouldn't stop Ash from doing his best.
With one stroke of the strings, the first sound would resonate with Pikachu. A burst of electricity would emerge from the Mouse Pokemon without his own will. "Pika?"
"Oh...I get it!" Upon seeing Pikachu shoot out electricity, Ash figured out what needed to be done. "Then, let's try one more time! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...!" A second attempt. Pikachu would unleash his second Thunderbolt and this time with greater success as he would once again take to the skies. But now, right as Pikachu brought along his electric aura, Ash would play the strings with poor skill. But that poor skill was enough as it was just what Pikachu needed. "Chuuuu!"
Finally, he could properly use Thunderbolt. A blast of 100,000 volts came rushing out, breaking through the rain of notes before then striking the giant projection which wasn't fully holographic at all. It had some tangibility to it.
"Ooof!" The Starlight Projection cried out after finally being hit. She would then pout at them while the real Starlight was just waiting for this to be over as soon as possible. "Ouch...You were actually gonna hurt me? Rude! I'll pay you back for that then."
"So that's how it's done..." Goh gawked before looking at his drumset and Grookey. "Okay, Grookey. I'll let you handle this. You're the expert, not me."
"Grookey!" Grookey would gladly take control of this drum set. Goh was inexperienced after all. With an eager spirit, the Grass-Type would smack his branch at the drums frantically.
At the same time, the Starlight Projection would throw out a string of musical notes that produced a legitimate song. This projection was clearly the superior musical artist here as even Grookey was lacking in that category, only randomly hitting the drums without much consistency.
"Croagunk!" As for the Croagunk, they weren't held back by anything. There weren't any instruments for them to hold as they were free to act without needing musical assistance. Together, the Croagunk would each use Fire Punch on the approaching strings, already knocking away the remaining falling notes.
However, the notes proved to be far greater than what came before, unleashing strong soundwaves that would leave the Croagunk stunned for a bit.
"Quick Attack!" Ash yelled while also quickly playing a singular note to replicate Pikachu's speed.
"Pika! Pika-Pika!" Pikachu would dash, leaving behind white afterimages of himself while moving at blinding speeds. The Mouse Pokemon would jump on the musical strings, using them as platforms to approach the Starlight Projection.
However, some of these notes would deviate from the string, catching Pikachu by surprise. Pikachu would be struck by these deviating notes which would throw his balance off guard. "P-Pika!" And right as Pikachu received a blow, Ash felt some pain as well. More specifically, his guitar would end up electrocuting him.
"Ghhh!" Ash groaned after being shocked. Another effect of this guitar and the entire challenge had been revealed. Not only does the guitar allow Pikachu to unleash his attacks, but any pain Pikachu received would result in electrical punishment to Ash.
"Ash! Are you alright?!" Goh exclaimed before witnessing a musical string heading his way. The Croagunk did their best to fend off these strings, burning them away with each Fire Punch that was thrown. Grookey would drum as hard as it could to try and prevent any direct collision, but alas, the drumming didn't show any major effects so far. At least, not when Grookey was the one drumming.
"Croa!" The Delta Croagunk barely managed to intercept the strings, saving Goh from that impact.
"So, that's what's up with this guitar," Ash said while having his body smoke from the electrocution. "No need to worry, Goh. I've had my fair share of electric shocks. Isn't that, right, Pikachu?"
"Pika!" Pikachu would recover, agreeing with Ash. He should know. He is responsible for all of those shocks.
"This is pretty interesting..." Ash grinned, finding himself enjoying this challenge. The uniqueness of it is what intrigued and kept the Alola Champion eager for more. Goh, not so much. "Okay. Now that I've got a hang of this, we can go all in. Hang on, Starlight! We'll get you out of there!"
"Please make it quick...and grab Hatterene's Poke Ball if you can!" Starlight would speak from within her projection.
"Gotcha! Pikachu! Let's go! Iron Tail! Croagunk! Back them up!" Ash would go all in now that he had a full understanding of this challenge. Pikachu's tail would harden as he would have all of the Delta Croagunk assist him.
The Croagunk would stay afar this time, using Ancient Power and Incinerate to back Pikachu up. Fossilised rocks of primal energy would be ripped from underneath by the Croagunk before being flung forward. Pikachu would use the rocks to his advantage, swinging his tail at some of them as a way to get an early hit in without connecting with Iron Tail. By striking some of the rocks, Pikachu would accelerate them, delivering swift yet heavy blows to the projection's face and hooves.
Afterwards, scorching scarlet flames would fly out, bypassing the remaining rocks and Pikachu to reach the Holographic Starlight.
"Mm-mm! I don't think so!" The Starlight Projection would wink with her bright eyes, suddenly summoning a large projection of her Cutie Mark. This Cutie Mark would act as a barrier, shielding the projection from the incoming rocks and flames.
"Pika...!" Pikachu's tail would crash into the Cutie Mark, attempting to slash right through it. By putting his all into this Iron Tail, Ash would feel the pressure too as the sparks of electricity would already start appearing around him.
"Croa...!" The Croagunk attempted burning through the Cutie Mark with Incinerate, pouring what they could offer. The only one who was exempt from this was Goh.
"Gotta do something...Sorry, Grookey. But let me take a shot at this!" Goh would finally chime in. The drum set already offered him everything he needed, especially drumsticks. He was definitely not confident in his drumming skills since he didn't have any at all. But since Ash didn't have any guitar skills and that was still working out, what was the harm in doing the same with these drums? Apart from the response if Goh's Pokemon would end up taking damage.
Goh played the drums poorly, closing his eyes and frantically hitting every part that he could. His bad drumming was only overshadowed by the superior music that the Holographic Starlight managed to make. However, this poor drumming made a difference as its main effect had been shown.
Pikachu and all of the Delta Croagunk suddenly found themselves being graced by a blazing green aura. The green energy would flare thanks to Goh's drumming as it did more than just give them fancy auars. "Pika...!" Pikachu felt a rise in strength as he would suddenly cut through the Cutie Mark with Iron Tail.
"Oh m!" The Starlight Projection dramatically cried out as her body wobbled from the shock. The Croagunk also felt a rise in adrenaline before suddenly witnessing their streams of flames grow in size. The true power of these drums was similar to Ash's guitar but with a wider effect. Every Pokemon felt a gift of power.
"So that's what it does...!" Goh gawked.
"Nice support, Goh!" Ash praised, giving an energetic thumbs-up as Pikachu would smack the Starlight Projection's face with his hardened tail while the flames would crash into the rest of her holographic body. "Let's keep at it then!"
Now that they had a clear way of approaching this battle, they could ramp things up from here and continue trying to free Starlight without worrying about any setbacks. The Starlight Projection didn't look like she was taking this seriously at all. In fact, she had a rather childish disposition so far, even going as far as to pout from being hit.
Back at Professor Pine's lab, Twilight, after watching this musical scuffle in its full effect, would focus on freeing herself next instead of just watching in amazement. "This is a nice view and all, but I don't want to miss out on this."
"You want to be involved in that?" Professor Pine spoke before having her tail tingle from a sudden flare of magic from Twilight. "Ow!" Professor Pine pulled her tail away as Twilight built up enough Rift Magic to heat up, becoming a walking radiator.
"I'm a bit jealous. I feel left out." Twilight smiled as the Rift Magic would beautifully leave her body before bringing back her original magical colours. "I don't want to hurt you, Professor Pine, but I can't exactly break his control from you or anyone else."
"That's too bad." Professor Pine added. "But if you want to be included in this...he can grant it at any time." Her eyes would once again light up as the Trickster Dragon replied directly to Twilight.
The Princess of Friendship braced herself for whatever challenge the Trickster Dragon had ready for her. At the same time, her trusted partner Espeon was racing up the lab, coming to Twilight's aid. None expected this to be a musical scuffle of all things but when it comes to a draconequus, expecting the unexpected is necessary. After all, Ash and his friends have all the experience with that as the journey continues.
Back at Canterlot, Princess Celestia still found herself occupied with the most pressing matter at the moment. With the combination of both worlds, regulations were needed. More importantly, Celestia was thinking about how Equestrian Magic would work.
"Nothing's happened yet." Celestia was in the midst of doing a full report. She spoke about this with the Ranger Union, her most trusted Pokemon Officials. "But something will happen. For the most part, both of our worlds only had their respective magics interact thanks to the Rift. Now, it's a different story."
"Good point. But it's helped us out a lot in the past, hasn't it?" The Ranger Union replied, mostly seeing this as a positive. And why wouldn't they? Previous experiences have shown how well Pokemon Magic and Equestrian Magic go together. Celestia and Gardevoir are a prime example of that unity when they become Celestial-Gardevoir.
"That's true." Celestia herself knew that to be the case. "But now, they're forever together. I'm mostly worried about what that means for the Pokemon. We have our fair share of magical creatures that originate from here."
"It could change a lot. But we'll get on that and watch out for anything off. Right now, we're expecting your nieces to show up with Giratina. It's about time that it returned to its universe. Is there anything else we should look out for?"
"Nothing at all, but I'll call you as always. Ah, but...since you'll be taking Giratina back, do you think Flurry Heart could keep his Ultra Ball?"
"Keep Giratina's Ultra Ball?" The people at the Union repeated. Celestia wished to find a way to sweeten the eventual departure with something to make her niece from another universe smile. "Hmm...Well, nothing's stopping her from doing so. The Ultra Ball would mean that Giratina is still her Pokemon. Whenever a trainer releases a Pokemon, they still keep the Poke Ball but some do end up giving the Poke Ball away depending on the circumstances. The distance between the Ultra Ball and Giratina's home will be vast though."
"That's fine with me. Giratina is only going there to maintain the Distortion Realm, right? So there's a chance he'll return."
"The best we can do is tell her that Giratina will always be her Pokemon. Whether Giratina returns has yet to be seen but we'll keep in touch with that universe, Princess."
"Right. Thank you." Celestia felt a bit relieved that Flurry Heart would get to keep Giratina's Poke Ball at least. That would be a sign of them being as close as possible to two different worlds. But it was at that moment that Celestia thought of another world that could be affected by this unification. A world that was always connected yet had its own portal. "Wait!" Her eyes lit up, thinking about Sunset Shimmer and her current home. "Um, thank you for this chat as always!"
She would finish the call with the Ranger Union, instantly thinking about the Human World. The outcome of that world had yet to be seen. Arcanine, who was peacefully sleeping, was immediately startled by Celestia's elevated voice.
"I'll be right back. I just need to make sure of something." Celestia would leave in a flash in front of Gardevoir and Arcanine via teleportation. This moment of realization made Celestia fear for what could've happened to that world. Granted, Jirachi mostly did it as a positive outcome but with everything positive, something negative is bound to sprout up eventually.
Such is the law of the Universe.
Holon. Holon Settlement. Afternoon.
By taking on a musical challenge by the Trickster Dragon, Ash's group found themselves going up against a Holographic Projection of Starlight. Meanwhile, the real Starlight was trapped within her own projection. Espeon, who was rushing to the aid of Twilight, would run up the stairs of Professor Pine's lab as fast as she could. The lower levels of the lab were for most of the research assistants. The crux of it all was at the very top and thankfully, Espeon knew her way around this place.
However, something was amiss. The more she ran, the more she noticed how she wasn't getting anywhere. The stairs were not originally this long and the further she went, the longer they became. It didn't take long for the Psychic-Type to spot the obscurity as she came to a screeching halt. Tricks were being played on her.
"Keep going." Suddenly, a mouth would pop out of the walls next to her, jump scaring the Sun Pokemon. This was the voice and mouth of the Trickster Dragon once more, speaking to Espeon from the walls. "You're not too far."
"Esp?!" The Psychic-Type stopped in her tracks, watching how high she managed to get despite the lab not being that large in the first place. The neon lights from the altered scenery were also present here, annoyingly flaring in Espeon's peripheral.
"What? Is this annoying for you? It doesn't seem to bother anyone else. It fits the mood and everyone is fine with it. Is it annoying if I do this?" Purposefully annoying Espeon, the Trickster Dragon would flash the neon lights repeatedly.
Espeon growled, closing her eyes to avoid this irritating flicker of multiple colours. The Trickster Dragon's multiple mouths would then laugh at the Sun Pokemon, only upping the intensity and abundance of them. Espeon's legs would nearly slip her off this elevated staircase, only for her Psychic fortitude to warn her.
"Espeon...!" Espeon managed to keep her balance even with her eyes closed but it only ended in her bumping her head directly at the walls.
"Hah!" The mouths all wheezed and cackled at her, further agitating the Sun Pokemon. Espeon would finally open her eyes, showing off a violet glow. This gaze was followed by Espeon's Psychic, which would grab one of the nearby mouths. The mouths would immediately shut up once they saw one of their own held down by a vigorous Psychic hold. "Mmm?!"
"Now, hold on!" One mouth from the Trickster Dragon spoke out. "I'm joking! Stop! Stop!"
"Espeon!" But it was too late for that. It was already too late once she saw Twilight's current predicament. Espeon would then throw this mouth into the others, causing a domino effect. Mouths would fall onto each other, all collectively saying the same thing with rising tones.
"Ow!" Eventually, the chain reaction would end once the Trickster Dragon erased his mouth from every wall. "Alright. If you want to reach Twilight so badly, then start running. You can have the musical challenge just like them."
"Eon?" Espeon would take one look behind her to see how the stairs received another change. Piano keys. The Trickster Dragon altered them to become piano keys, keeping with the musical theme. However, the stairs that Espeon already ran across had been triggered. The piano keys would start off by playing a random tune before suddenly dropping, leaving a gap that was rapidly approaching Espeon. "Esp!" Espeon started bolting for the top with how the piano keys were all falling apart.
She was now part of this challenge, playing an ascending melody with each rapid step she took. But much like everyone else, it wasn't very consistent. Espeon managed to outspeed the falling piano keys but the distance was still a problem as the Trickster Dragon had not removed that little annoyance.
"Play something better than this if you want to get to her." The Trickster Dragon spoke, insisting that Espeon went for a better melody that was pleasant to hear.
"Esp...!" Espeon growled before using Quick Attack to move faster than before, zooming past the other keys. She wouldn't trigger these keys, finding a way to keep some of them stable.
"Bah." The Trickster Dragon scoffed at Espeon's clever tactics. She refused to play him anything at all. Only focusing on reaching Twilight more than anything. The Trickster Dragon was growing rather disinterested in Espeon at this rate.
Espeon's Quick Attack made a difference in the speed she managed to gather. However, even if she had this speed boost, it didn't mean much when the top still looked so far away. So, she figured that if she couldn't just run up to the end, she might as well make a new entryway.
And that was done by using Dazzling Gleam. Espeon surrounded herself in an incandescent sphere of multiple colours before then launching herself. She would have to apologize to Professor Pine after this as she broke through the walls of the lab to quickly reach her destination.
That was the best choice she could've made as she found herself in the main research room. Right where Twilight could be seen standing before Professor Pine and her assistants who had all mutated. But not as badly as Professor Pine.
"Eve!" Twilight happily said once seeing her tried and true partner emerge from the cascade of broken walls and floorboards. Eve would catch Professor Pine's mutated tail nearly going for Twilight, only for rainbow rays to drop from above. After forcing the professor's tail back, Espeon would make a smooth landing as she was a cat-based Pokemon, getting in front of Twilight.
"Espeon!"
"Nice entrance!" Twilight praised. "Usually it's Absol who makes these entrances."
"You couldn't have just used the other Pokemon?" Professor Pine held her tail which was smoking from Espeon's Dazzling Gleam.
"I'm capable on my own. But it does feel nice when my Pokemon help out." Twilight added. "Eve. The professor and everyone in here aren't in their right mind at the moment. Don't go too hard on them. I need you to help me free them all."
The Professor, after healing her tail would then use what the Trickster Dragon granted for this musical challenge. Everyone here would use some form of music. And for her, she had a sold musical bar in her hands while her assistants all carried drumsticks.
"Oh!" Twilight would close her eyes and cover her ears, knowing what was coming. Anything that involved music involved strong soundwaves and she was right on the money for that. Professor Pine and her assistants would play a melody that was immediately pushed to the highest volume. This was immediately met with a soundproof barrier from Twilight which would cover herself and Espeon.
The music did not reach Twilight's ears at all and only managed to crash into her barrier, which stood strong. Twilight confidently stood there, knowing that this was the perfect barrier to block out any unwanted sounds.
"No fair!" Professor Pine groaned once she saw the music had no effect on them both. In extension, this would also annoy the Trickster Dragon since Twilight could just ignore this challenge with this barrier.
"Alright, Eve. Dazzling Gleam!"
"Espeon!" Within the barrier, Espeon would unleash a blinding light of magic. The light was strong enough to reach out of the barrier, catching the eyes of Pine and her assistants. They would all feel the blinding light of Dazzling Gleam which would stun them.
Now it's Twilight's time to try and free their minds. The music was put to a halt, giving her the chance to lower her barrier and take action. Magical rays would flow out of Twilight's horn, touching the foreheads of the Pokemon Researchers. The researchers found were paralyzed by Twilight's contact, dropping their musical weapons in shock. "Sorry about this..." Twilight apologized before soon entering their minds. Her eyes would illuminate a vibrant to show her connection with each of their minds.
Twilight got a successful connection, gaining an astral body to move around the first mind she would come across. The Princess of Friendship's Astral Body would view four different minds, each belonging to Professor Pine and her assistants. Professor Pine's mind would be Twilight's first choice before clearing up the rest.
However, when going for Professor Pine's mind, something already stood in her way. A fifth mind. This fifth mind would appear in front of her, acting as a brick wall that the Princess of Friendship would crash into. "Gouh! W-What...?" When floating back, she discovered that this fifth mind was fractured and disorganized compared to every other mind which all had bubble appearances to them.
The Trickster Dragon's mind was what she came across instead as she could already hear that familiar voice coming from this frantic mind. "Oh, seriously?!" The young alicorn growled as this mind stood in the way, appearing larger than all other minds here. It was a massive blockade that took up mostly everything around Twilight, making it impossible to see anything.
"Mm-mm! You won't get anywhere near them. Try mine instead." The Trickster Dragon reached Twilight within this mindscape. "It's more entertaining and full of surprises If you dare..."
"Pass." Instantly, Twilight passed on entering the Trickster Dragon's mind. The demon would flinch and twitch at Twilight's instant rejection.
"You didn't even consider it..." The demon uttered slowly. "You'd gain a lot from getting in my mind. You didn't even think of going after that first. Eh?"
"Thanks for the offer, but I already have a way to stop this. Plus, I know better not to mess with a Draconequus' mind. I wouldn't even dare touch Discord's mind." Twilight was already highly cautious of the mind of a draconequus. She immediately knew that her own mind wouldn't even compare to the vast array of imagination that this species possesses.
"Not his? Bah. He's not even that creative." The Trickster Dragon scoffed at those words before revealing his head from his mind. His head would extend to reach Twilight, looking her in the eyes with a visible semblance of jealousy.
"Not creative? Sure, whatever you say." Twilight would pull her head back. "Every draconequus I've met so far knows how to be unique. Discord's not an exception and neither are you."
"It's not even that many. You've only met three in your life." The Trickster Dragon would then encircle his long head around Twilight. "I bet you aren't even aware of how many there are. I don't blame you though. We are a rare species and I'm not even a full-on draconequus. But you won't find a simple-minded draconequus, I'll give you that. Plus, since I'm half, I have more to offer with my other side. Being a demon and all."
"That doesn't exactly change my mind...Actually, if it came down to it, I'd probably go for Discord's mind before yours." Twilight jeered, further rejecting the Trickster Dragon's suggestions and offers.
"Why's that? You trust him?" The demon questioned.
"He's a hoofful, but I do trust him. He's helped us out a lot." Twilight could show her appreciation to Discord. She's done so on a few occasions. "Especially with those Unown. That was his biggest moment yet."
"Mmm..." The demon showed a doubtful personality this time around. "Yet he didn't help you out later on, did he? Where was he when the Dread League launched a huge attack? I was unleashed during that time, remember? He didn't show up at all."
"Well, no, he didn't but-"
"Oh and that stairway. These months I've been here, I've been keeping up with things. He didn't do anything to help with that whole debacle. Where was he?"
"I-" Twilight paused for a moment before pondering the same thing. "Where was he, actually? He's rarely ever around now that I think about it."
"That's right." The head would then sprout hands from the side of the demon's neck, nudging Twilight. "He's only helpful when it counts. I bet you he'll only help in events that are sparse from each other in the future. Am I wrong?"
"Nice try." Twilight smacked his hands away. "But Discord's still a friend of ours. And an even greater friend to Fluttershy, Ash and the Unown. Try all you want, your badmouthing won't work. He'll help us, no doubt about it."
"Mmmrgh...You trust him too much." The Trickster Dragon pulled back, crossing his arms. "Why not me?" But one look at Twilight's eyes and this whole situation already answered that. "Oh, right."
"For a demon who was made in the box, you know a lot about Discord. And you're pretty jealous of him, aren't you?"
"I am jealous! I'd even say I'm jealous of Cosmos but maybe not now since you sent her away." The Trickster Dragon continued. "I mean, I barely look like a draconequus compared to them. They're multiple creatures put together and I just look like a dragon. It's even in my name. And being in that box...well, I've already shared my grievances with you."
"You have. These past months are the best form of freedom you've had. There's nothing much going inside of that box and the Dread League doesn't even know that you're gone."
"That's right! Well, their boss probably knows by now, but she won't find me." The Trickster Demon giggled. "And I plan to keep it that way. Plus, this Holon place isn't so bad and I'm thinking of reaching the other regions in this new world. By the way...was it really a good idea to merge them?"
"Jirachi's not the specific kind. Anyway, if you want freedom, what about the realms where Discord usually roams about."
"Eeehhh!" The Trickster Dragon mimicked the sound of a Game Show Buzzer. These kinds of places are better. I like a world with more life to it. It gives me more room to play. My creator had no idea I was even and while multiple demons were added from her imagination, the place itself had no creativity. It is nothing but a jagged mountainscape with a red sky. And that is about it. With our powers suppressed in that box, nothing new comes from it. The few demons who have the intelligence to form words and more, such as myself, yearn for something like this aside from the lesser ones who seem to be fine with their dull surroundings."
"You just want to be free..." Twilight said to herself. It was too clear that this demon wanted freedom.
"That's right. And I know a few more who would love to come out to all of this. You understand, don't you, princess? The joy of freedom. You fought for your freedom by reaching Jirachi. The freedom to be friends with whoever without worrying about a memory loss or a complete reset."
"I did...but that also means I want a peaceful world. Nothing like what you're shooting for." Twilight replied, revealing her form of peace. "Even though what you're doing is just mischievous at best."
"Yeah, but that's never going to happen." The Trickster Dragon chuckled. "Do you think a peaceful world is truly possible? Evil always shows up. It's necessary and needed to keep things steady. Peaceful worlds will never exist in any universe out there. The only way to get around that is-"
"To make the most of it." Twilight interrupted the Trickster Dragon, finishing his sentence. She knew of a way to almost reach peace. The best way for that was to make the most of what she had. The same goes for everyone.
"Ah...T-That wasn't what I was going for." The Trickster Dragon had something else in mind though.
"I get what you mean. You want to be free. Everyone wants to be free. But sometimes, that only leads to chaos and eventually, anarchy. Which is why I'm still set on stopping you, even after all you've said."
"And what? Send me back to the box?" The demon scoffed. "That won't happen again. Even if you do, I'm sure to show up again by choice. And what will you do when you eventually beat the Dread League? That box isn't going anywhere after all."
"You're not going back to the box." However, Twilight refused to let the demon return to the box, surprising the Trickster Dragon. She had something else in mind. "And I'll show you after we're done here. Where you return everything to normal!"
With this mindscape, Twilight would unleash an outburst of magic that radiated beautifully. The Trickster Dragon gasped before seeing the light rapidly expand at the speed of light, engulfing him and every mind in this place. Twilight added Rift Magic and Horizon Storm's magic into this expansion as she would reveal the higher points of her magical capabilities.
"Ugh!" The power of her magic affected the outside as Professor Pine and her assistants all had their minds captivated by Twilight's flash. The control of the Trickster Dragon left them but also resulted in each of them dropping to the floor.
Twilight's radiating eyes would simmer as she would release the barrier at last. Espeon would witness Professor Pine and the others drop with a beautiful array of purple sparkles flowing everywhere. Twilight did what she needed to do.
"Oh..." The assistants were not unconscious but they might as well be with how dazed and bewildered they looked, especially in their mutated bodies. Professor Pine looked the most out of it as her Beedril eyes were barely moving. If Beedrills had eyelids, Professor Pine would be blinking repeatedly right about now.
"Esp?" Espeon would turn to face Twilight after the outburst of magic.
"I'm fine, Eve," Twilight assured her partner that she was fine after that sudden outburst. "I got their minds and freed them. And more...I took the opportunity to reach the Trickster Dragon's mind."
Indeed, with five minds being within her reach, Twilight's light caught each of them, sparing none. Even the Trickster Dragon's mind had been interacted with. She would look outside to see Ash and the rest of his group still facing off against the Holographic Projection while the people enjoyed the musical feud. They also needed their minds free from the Trickster Dragon's lurking grip.
"And since I covered his mind, I might know where to find him." Twilight had a set location on where she could find the Trickster Dragon.
After all, the demon even gave away the fact that he would never enter strange reals. The outside was more his style, making it easier to search for him. Twilight was set to put an end to this as the decision she would make with the Trickster Dragon had yet to be revealed as the journey continues.
"Ooh..." Just recovering from a bit of a mind blast were Professor Pine and her assistants. Their faces said it all. Though Twilight freed them from the Trickster Dragon's grip, they needed some time to recover. Professor Pine would also gaze at a slight bit of destruction on her walls. But that was mainly thanks to Espeon making her own entrance when faced with seemingly endless stairs. She would then gaze at a nearby mirror which showed her bed hair and how out of it she currently felt. "My lab...Oh, but I think I like my hair like this."
"Sorry, professor. Maybe I harmed your minds a bit too hard." Twilight helped each of them up once they were in better condition to stand.
"Ah, it's fine, Twilight. Do what can, after all." Professor Pine chuckled. "Did you find that demon though?"
"I have a pretty good guess. I enveloped his mind as well and got the chance to see a few things. That involves the inside of the Box." Twilight explained as she managed to catch a glimpse of the Box of 100 Demons' insides. "For this...I'll take a page out of Olympia's book. Having Eve as a partner gives me access to a few Psychic-Type tricks after all. Right now, there's one other problem just outside."
The Holographic Starlight was still an issue but certainly led to some entertaining music. Mainly from the hologram and not from Ash's group, who were all inexperienced with instruments. Pikachu would slide back after nearly being struck by a cascade of musical notes from the Holographic Starlight.
"Pika...!"
"We're getting some hits in, but that hologram is still up," Ash said. "Wonder what it's made out of?"
"It's obvious why you aren't doing that much to be." The Holographic Starlight playfully giggled before summoning a large conducting stick that she would hold. "Your music is just downright awful. If you maybe had a bit more talent, you would get a decent groove going on. Otherwise, what good is those instruments you were given if they can't be used to the fullest?"
"I can't play the drums though..." Goh sighed, slamming his head on a drum. "Or anything! This is so not fair! Why can't Grookey manage these but I have to?"
"So we gotta play better to do more damage. After this, I think I'll ask Rainbow Dash or Roxie for some guitar lessons," Ash added. "But I'm pretty sure even if we aren't that good, we can still take you on. Just gotta hit that sweet spot."
"Just try and show something new!" The people shouted. "Put your Heart and Soul into it!"
"Easier said than done." Ash looked down at his Electric Guitar. "I can think of a few tunes, but I can't pull 'em off that well."
"Too bad. You're looking at a genuine musical expert here. I once played the Xylophone with style!" The Holographic Starlight bragged.
"Unfortunately, she's right." The real Starlight would vouch for her projection who was keeping her trapped. "Just hurry up and defeat her already!"
"The pain you receive is only going to get worse from here so be careful, okay?" The projection teased.
"Hmm...I got an idea!" Ash found a better solution to all of this. At least, in his eyes. And judging by that grin on his face, Goh and Starlight were expecting another one of his wild tricks. Suddenly, Ash would run, approaching the Starlight Projection with his guitar still playing.
"Wait! Ash! How come you're rushing in?!" Goh questioned.
"Just watch! Pikachu! Croagunk! Help me out here! Use Quick Attack!"
"Pika!" Pikachu and the Delta Croagunk would join Ash who had yet to reveal his wild plan. The Starlight Projection would sway her conducting stick, creating new notes that strung together an energetic melody. With it being upbeat, the notes were faster, fast enough to keep pace with Pikachu. "Pi! Pi!" Pikachu would zig-zag past these notes while the Croagunk would stick to using Fire Punch.
Goh would provide support by drumming away. However, with such poor drumming, the full effects of these instruments could not be unleashed. However, they would make do with what they had. Especially with what Ash was planning. Ash would get ahead of the Pokemon, getting up close to the Starlight clone by using the surrounding rubble as pedestals.
"P-Pika!" Pikachu would then grin before suddenly slowing himself down. He allowed some of the incoming notes to hit instead of evading them. This was followed by Ash's grin as he and Pikachu planned this. Once Pikachu took the notes and Ash got close to the projection, the effect of Pikachu's damage would come back to Ash.
Just like before, the Electric Guitar would shock Ash. But this time, the Starlight Projection would receive some of those volts too. And compared to everything else, this looked to be the most effective as the volts would leave the projection more stunned than before. Ash's plan worked in exchange for his own well-being.
"G-Gotcha...!" Ash grinned once his plan worked. The effect of his own pain was larger than anything that had been thrown at the projection. "Worked like a charm!"
"That worked?!" Goh gasped as Ash nearly dropped to the ground before being caught by the Croagunk.
"Ghhh! Mmm!" The Starlight Projection would suddenly jitter constantly with magical sparks flying out of her. Clearly, that shock worked better than expected. Even more so than Pikachu's Thunderbolt.
"This guitar's pretty handy." Ash laughed a bit. "Those shocks I felt are pretty strong. So I just used what Pikachu felt from all those notes and gave it back to her. Whatever I take...I'm just gonna make her feel it too!"
"That's risky...but it works!" Starlight agreed with this approach. The previous one was a bit safer and more straightforward but this one seemed to have extra efficiency with greater risk. "Keep doing that!"
"Y-You shouldn't! Tha-That's not safe!" The projection stammered before attempting to regain her smooth words. Thanks to Ash's interruption, Pikachu and Croagunk successfully struck the projection with Quick Attack and Fire Punch, going for the hooves, mainly. It was Pikachu's job to take the hits and let Ash take the pain as well. That would then lead to a direct collision with the projection.
"Pikachu! Electroweb!"
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu would follow up, throwing an orb of lighting which would soon form into a web, quickly wrapping around the giant's hooves. The large Starlight Projection found herself losing balance thanks to Pikachu's Electroweb before nearly dropping her conducting stick. In response, the stick would shoot out heavy and low tempos that were as heavy as steel.
"One more time!" Ash was going in for another self-harming attack. Even against these heavy notes, Ash would take the risk. And the same went for Pikachu. "Quick Attack! Croagunk, get me close!"
"Pi!" Pikachu left the ground at light speeds, approaching the heavy notes. At the same time, the Croagunk would come together to pick up Ash, while being powered by Goh's drumming. The Croagunk would then throw the Alola Champion right at the Holographic Starlight.
As if he was a missile, right as Pikachu collided with the heavy notes, Ash felt his pain, causing the guitar to act up once more. This time, it was right in the middle of the projection. The Croagunk, after throwing Ash, would be knocked down by these heavy notes once they touched the ground with their staggering weight. But it was worth it as this tactic from Ash was working out for the better.
"Well, I can't argue against Ash's tricks..." Goh chuckled slowly after seeing the Starlight Hologram stumble and bump into the neon-coloured buildings.
"Knock it off..." The hologram groaned before summoning a protective music sheet around herself. But this sheet would soon be burnt away by the flames of the Coragunk who would use Incinerate.
Appearing in the scene was Twilight who was just about finished with her own musical problem which didn't last long at all for her. She mainly focused on the mutated townspeople who were enjoying this musical battle. Though, it wasn't much of one. Only Starlight's projection generated pleasant music while Ash and his group were just playing frantic sounds that had no consistent beats at all. But that did not stop them from taking control of this battle in the strangest way thanks to Ash's many bizarre strategies.
The people looked too focused to even notice Twilight's appearance behind them. Just what Twilight wanted. She could always count on Ash and Pikachu to make a scene. "Just stay right there..." Twilight had her spell ready before unleashing a stream of magic which would soon divide into multiple streams, latching onto the backs of everyone's heads. The people suddenly found themselves frozen in place by Twilight's magic, unaware that she was right behind them.
"Oh...Oh." The Starlight Hologram held her head, attempting to recover her digitally-magic self as soon as possible. "Why can't we just jam out together? At least with pleasant sounds from both sides."
"Croa!" Three Delta Croagunks would then hit her hoof with Fire Punch, knocking the conducting stick off. The stick would fly up as the projection attempted to recover it as soon as possible.
"Okay, Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Ash saw the moment to attack naturally. From all those shocks he took, his clothes were smoking along with his hair. One of his eyes even looked half-open. But to Ash, it was all necessary to get the job done and he was ready for that pay off.
"Pika...!" Pikachu, who also looked tattered from the damage he intentionally took, would take to the skies with impressive air-time, ready to use his best Thunderbolt.
"Here goes nothing!" Goh would give out the most support that he could. He would continue to hit the same two drums continuously for a more consistent effect, going as fast as he could. This would boost Pikachu's Thunderbolt as the real Starlight was slightly worried. She wanted to be free, of course, but from the way this was building up, this Thunderbolt could strike her as well. Not just her holographic projection.
"H-Hold back a bit!" Starlight grimaced.
"Chuuuu!" Pikachu released Thunderbolt which would crack through the azure skies, going straight for the Starlight Projection's chest. A direct hit. But it was more than a direct hit. The Thunderbolt broke through the Hologramm, causing a piercing effect. And with an extra drum from Goh, he guaranteed that the Thunderbolt would leave a stronger effect before finishing things off.
The Starlight Projection's bright eyes would suddenly turn off, losing those stars. The projection would have one frozen pose before failing to keep herself visible. "Aw..." The projection made a disappointed sigh before fizzing out with electrical jolts flying out from all directions. The real Starlight would find herself floating in midair for a bit before dropping. The Holographic Starlight had been taken out with a little bit of self-injury on Ash and Pikachu's part.
If it works, it works. That was the way Ash and Pikachu did things. Starlight levitated herself, preventing any harm. The unicorn could rest easy knowing that this musical scuffle didn't last as long as it needed to. As for everything else, Ash's hands would finally feel something else. The welcoming air. The Electric Guitar, drums and neon buildings would cease once the deed was done. The buildings returned to their normal appearance instead of vanishing like the guitar and the drums. The only thing remaining was the sound of a quiet melody, fading into the background.
"Guess that's that." Ash looked at his hands which were free once more. He fiddled with the air, still imagining himself playing that guitar. Though he sucked horribly at it, he found enjoyment in playing with it. And like what he said earlier, taking lessons from Roxie doesn't sound like a bad idea with how much of an expert she was. Ash wished that Roxie was here to really spice things up.
"Ah, finally..." Starlight sighed. "I thought she was never gonna go. But she did have nice eyes...and more energy than I could ever muster. Thanks for saving me you, two. But your musical talents are horrible. At least...when it comes to instruments. Ash, you're a pretty good singer. Goh, I can't say much about you."
"Gh!" Goh flinched once he could properly move instead of being stuck to a drumset. "You don't have to say much at all..." But Goh himself wouldn't try and change her mind.
"Croa..." The Croagunk helped put a stop to this obstacle, it still wasn't their main boss, Delta Toxicroak. Everything here was about to wrap up nicely with Twilight finishing things off by freeing the minds of the townsfolk. However, there was still no way for her to undo their mutation.
"Well, we're just about done here," Twilight said after casually bewildering the townsfolk with a magical flash. But they would recover, thankfully. "Almost. That Trickster Dragon's the last problem."
"And finding Delta Toxicroak," Ash added. "We gotta deal with that too, ya know."
"Pikachu."
"Oh, I think we can do two in one," Twilight smirked, stepping forward before looking at the azure skies. "I know where he is. We'll skip ahead and find our target right away."
"You do? where is he?" Goh asked.
"Settlement Juliet. He's hot-blooded instead of cold-blooded it looks like. Plus, Settlement Juliet's a blocked-off area that only Professor Pine can grant access to."
"Only from her? It really is a small region..." Starlight whistled. "And wait! Goh, you were right about the Settlement Juliet part!"
"I-I was!" Goh stuttered, realizing he suspected the demon to be at Settlement Juliet earlier. "Hm-hm! Don't I have great perceptive skills!"
"We're heading to Settlement Juliet, then? Okay! We're ready!" Ash pumped his fists, ready to enter a new settlement.
"Nope. We aren't heading to Settlement Juliet. I had a chat with the Trickster Dragon in the mindscape and I figured I'd speed things up." Twilight chose to do it from this spot instead of heading elsewhere. But technically, she would be elsewhere. "I'm grabbing his attention and stopping him from here."
"Here? How?" Goh questioned, wondering how Twilight would even pull something like that off.
"Watch. Eve. Help me out here." Twilight closed her eyes along with Espeon as the two would synergize for this. Everyone stood back, allowing Twilight to work whatever magic she had cooked up. With such vast magical knowledge, she could go for anything.
However, for this, Twilight would take a page out of Olympia's book who was also her teacher. She fixated on her bond with Espeon which resulted in a pool of Psychic energy that was waiting to be used. Now was the time. Twilight used her Psychic Abilities, gaining the same blue flare that Espeon has in her eyes. Both of them would open their azure eyes, currently synced.
And with this vision along with the usage of Rift Magic, Twilight would pick up on the Trickster Dragon's presence in the distance by homing in on it. The Rift Magic allowed her to detect the magical power of the Trickster Dragon which was naturally vast for both a demon and a draconequus. Settlement Juliet's wintery appearance wasn't too far thanks to how the Trickster Dragon switched up the settlements and biomes. It was to his own detriment and to Twilight's advantage.
The Trickster Dragon's visage was spotted hanging around the cave of Settlement Juliet. The Trickster Dragon's eyes were suddenly caught by the combined might of Twilight and Espeon working in unison.
"Oh!" The demon gasped once she was found. His eyes would also flare from this reach. It was mainly the Rift Magic behind this feat and the benefit of Holon being so small. With the Rift Magic, she could enhance her vision to great lengths while also adding a Psychic Boost. "You found me?!"
The Dragon suddenly felt stuck in place, mainly with his eyes. It felt like a chain was holding him back, or in this case, a chain around his eyes. Twilight and Espeon growled, using two different forces to keep him where they wanted him. Twilight would even use telepathy to speak with this dragon once he spoke back.
"Your freedom only troubles others...!" Twilight strained as keeping the Trickster Dragon in place while using Rift Magic was responsible for this. "I saw everything I needed to see when I enveloped your mind, so I'd rather stop this before you suddenly make this worse than what's inside the box!"
"As if! Anything is better than that place!" The Trickster Dragon attempted pulling his own eyes out to be free, only for Twilight to force them in as if she was smashing a nail in with a hammer. The dragon would squeal and twitch from this direct push before bumping into the back of the cave. "Plus, you still aren't the best with that Rift Magic of yours. Do you want to keep using it right now?"
"Of course!" Twilight would gladly use a lot of it right now. The Trickster Dragon would soon remember that he was dealing with a persistent group of friends who would go to extremes to get something done.
"Whatever! You honestly can't expect me to stop what I love doing, do you?! You said you weren't taking me to the box, which means...there's something worse. I can't have myself locked up in any place! Not at all!
"I wouldn't!" Twilight exclaimed as her hooves dug into the ground from this struggle which felt like a tug-of-war game. The Trickster Dragon would even elongate his body to resemble a rope. "You told me that there are more demons in that box as intelligent as you...that want more. Eventually, they'll reject going back into that box whenever it's their turn."
"And your point?" The demon attempted sawing off his own eyes as Twilight was going somewhere with this.
"I want to find a solution for that. A way for you to have all the freedom you want without being fearful of that box. That goes for all those other demons in there since that's what they want. Of course...there's still a lot to consider, but demons are their own species, just like everyone else on this planet. Who am I to ignore that?"
"You would grant me a way to have freedom without knowing what it is?"
"I would. I suppose the best thing I could do...is have you meet with Discord. You haven't met another draconequus before. You've only heard of them and yet you've been stuck in that box of centuries. Discord is the one you want to talk to you. He'll understand."
"He will?" The demon paused for a moment.
"He will. The best kind of freedom is the one with those you can talk you. Friends." Twilight would then look back at Ash, Pikachu, Espeon, Starlight, Goh, Grookey and even the Croagunk who were still new. "You're jealous of Discord, aren't you? Why don't you go and tell him that yourself?"
"The other higher demons are the only ones I could ever talk to when trying to pass the boredom. But in that box, it was all so dry so what else could we do with our powers suppressed?"
"You can change that with Discord. Next to Ash, he knows how to get around." Twilight sighed as her eyes were starting to turn red from straining them. "Please. Just consider it. You're not that bad, are you? I mean you are..."
The Trickster Dragon took the time to hear Twilight out. And after everything she told him, there was one consistent choice. He would never return to that box. More importantly, he feared the Dread League finding him, especially Rosa Maledicta. Discord was a big option for someone so similar. He also knew a thing or two about freedom.
"Anything is better than that box...Never again do I wish to enter it." The Trickster Dragon would choose anything over the box, without a doubt. "I will take up your offer and try that. But you honestly can't expect to defeat me. Do that...and I will return to the box."
"I know of a place...You'll only return if you take major damage, just like every other demon we've met and known about so far. So...maybe this will be better!" Twilight found something better than major damage. With this Psychic connection, attacking the Trickster Dragon's mind was the better option, even if it meant harming herself.
Ash harmed himself for an advantage and Twilight was no different. She would unleash a Psychic blast to herself and the Trickster Dragon, causing them both to feel a sharp pain. The two of them would grimace before having their eyes return to their natural colours. Just as she expected, by harming herself with this mental power, Twilight would drop to the ground, except for Espeon. But it was worth it to down the Trickster Dragon.
"I-I didn't even show you what I did with the other settlements..." The Trickster Dragon gave his last telepathic comment before passing out. "It was about to be a massive band...."
"Hey, Twilight!" Ash rushed over along with the others. When picking Twilight up after seeing her drop, the young alicorn had a stunned expression on her face which was still capable of forming a smile. That was the smile of someone who did what she needed to do to succeed. And that success would further show itself eventually.
The mutated townsfolk, who were still feeling fuzzy and out of it, would look at their mutated bodies for a moment, still remembering that they had these thanks to the Trickster Dragon. However, these past months of having these mutations and trying to get used to them had been expired. With the demon downed, his magical focus and effects went along with him.
The old man would gaze at his arm which would soon return to what it originally was. The same went for others who would lose their claws, tails, horns, wings and other Pokemon limbs and attachments. The magic was dropping now that the main victim was not maintaining it.
"Great work, Twilight." Ash would look down at the stunned and passed-out Twilight, congratulating her. While his group managed to deal with the giant projection, Twilight essentially handled everything. There's a trainer for every situation. Or in this case, a pony.
Returning to its original form was the Holon Region. After the Trickster Dragon had been downed, all effects had worn out after all these months and the standard Holon Region could appear once again. This involved the biomes that had been sent upwards while the settlements were misplaced at lower lands. The townsfolk had their bodies return to normal as well after being stuck as mutated people with Pokemon parts. But some wouldn't lie when they say they would miss some of those parts.
As for the Trickster Dragon. recently found at Settlement Juliet, he had been brought over to the main Holon Settlement where he was restrained from trying anything else. Twilight had called for Equestrian Guards to come for this demon as she still had business here in Holon regarding Reshiram.
"Well. What now?" The Trickster Dragon had magical restraints around his arms. He would gaze at Twilight, waiting for her next action.
"Sorry. Restraining you was the logical thing to do. Especially after what you did. But since you won't be heading back into the box, I figured Discord's Realm is good enough. Trust me."
"So, what's it like in that box, anyway?" Goh asked. "Is it really that boring?"
"Trust me...It is." Twilight nodded in confirmation. What she saw in that box was without a doubt uneventful and dry in so many ways. "Anyways, Discord will know what to do when he meets you."
"Fine...But I'll remember this, Twilight Sparkle." The Trickster Dragon would then be carried away. Much like how he was in the box his magic would be suppressed. But soon released once he gets to Discord, who was above him.
"What about Delta Toxicroak? We haven't found your boss yet, Croagunk." Ash kneeled to face the group of Delta Croagunk who assisted his friends.
"Croa..."
"It's fine. With the biomes back to how they were originally placed along with every location in Holon, Delta Toxicroak should be back in the jungle. No need to go any further you all." Twilight reassured them. The Croagunk would look at each other for a moment, pleased with this news. They would happily nod their head to respond to this. "What was Toxicroak doing here in the first place out of the jungle? You know...since it has the most domain over the jungle."
"Oh, that Toxicroak!" Professor Pine gasped. "You see...That Toxicroak and another trainer made a promise one day. One day, they would become partners when they were both ready for each other. Toxicroak must've thought he showed up again and came here, ready to meet at their best. But, that wasn't the case. I'm not sure he's ready yet. After all, being a Gym Leader takes a lot of work to reach a certain level."
"Oh, right. You still don't have Gym Leaders here." Starlight added. "How many have you gathered so far?"
"Only 3 Gym Leaders, sadly. We need 5 more. Well, thank you for your help, Twilight. All of you." Professor Pine thanked Twilight's group. "Just so you know, you have my full permission to go anywhere."
"You're welcome, professor. But right now, we should be getting to the site where Reshiram was last spotted." Twilight replied. "Ash, get the Time Flower ready."
"You're heading to the Mountain Range. Be careful. The aftermath of that conflict still has some aftereffects." Professor Pine warned. "I doubt that with this whole Super-Earth thing, not much has changed with it. I mean, we're still a small region even with this universal change. But I can imagine the larger parts of the world received some changes if you've seen them already that is. Whether it'd be Johto, Equestria...or anywhere."
"That reminds me...I gotta check up on everyone back at the Human World." Ash would soon think about Sci-Twi and Sunset Shimmer and how their world was affected by this. "How cool do you think it looks now?!"
"We can check that out later. Come on." Twilight went along as Ash, much like Princess Celestia, was set on viewing the Human World and how it had changed. They bid their farewells to the Delta Croagun, who would return to the jungle. They had the Croagunk to thank for this, had they not shown them what happened to the Settlements and biomes thanks to the Trickster Dragon.
Holon Mountain Range.
The Mountain Range. They had arrived. And the damage from the previous battle remained to this day. Even the entrance to the hidden island where Yveltal's Cocoon used to be was out in the open, no longer concealed by Yveltal's Dark Illusion. But there was no point to this mysterious island's mystery now that the cocoon was gone aside from the crystals that could be found there.
Once here, Ash would bring out the Time Flower, ready to view the events after Rosa Maledicta managed to capture Yveltal. He would place the right at the crater, letting his Aura interact with it. Ash made clear what he wanted to see from this place And the flower would immediately respond, letting out a pulse of Aura which would envelop the area.
The flower formed a memorial projection of only Reshiram and no one else, showcasing the area when it was still suffering from the heavy destruction. Flames were sprouting from every part of this range, even burning away parts of the cliffs.
As for Reshiram, there he was, lying on the ground. The outburst of energy visibly harmed him, forcing the Vast White Pokemon to fall on his face. Reshiram was currently alone because of this. There was no sign of Rosa Maledicta, the vampires, Daybreaker or any of her troops. They all left while Reshiram was on his own. After all, he took on this mission by himself.
After lying there for a bit, the Dragon-Fire-Pokemon would let out a small cry which was followed by his body emanating a light that was as white as his coat. Even as a projection, the brightness of it forced Ash and everyone to squint from the blinding power it gave off. After the light enveloped him, Reshiram would shrink, returning to his restorative state.
This was the moment when he went into a status of recovery as his body morphed into the Light Stone. This much was expected when witnessing Reshiram take on this form. However, what truly mattered was what happened to the Light Stone. They would receive this answer fairly soon.
Once Reshiram ended up as the Light Stone, the ground beneath him would suddenly flare up with flames. Blue flames, to be exact. Even in such a weakened state, Reshiram could still generate power. But it was minuscule, fleeting. Reshiram didn't have much power left so this was all he could muster as the ground and his stone were lathered by the azure flames. Afterwards, Reshiram's stone would vanish once the flames dispersed. The only thing left was a large hole in the ground that did not match the size of that stone. Afterwards, the Time Flower would end the memory projection. That was the last of Reshiram's presence.
"So that's what happened." Ash picked up the flower. "Do you think he went underground with that hole?"
"It's patched up now. Maybe he's still down there." Goh kneeled, searching for this hole which was nowhere to be seen.
"It's been months so the hole's been covered by the recovering land and the altered landmass because of Jirachi. And even so...that was made by Reshiram's Blue Flames instead of the stone itself. It was far too large." Twilight replied. "Which means...Reshiram is somewhere else right now."
"So, he just vanished? Now we really don't know where he is. What now? We came out here to try and find a trace and now we don't have a trace at all." Starlight asked.
"I don't know..." Twilight sighed as the sudden disappearance of Reshiram's Light Stone certainly made it harder. "But that doesn't mean we shouldn't stop trying. Reshiram's still out there. Whether near or far. So let's put our heads together and think of something. Right now...I don't have anything."
"Nothing for me either. Guess we can't do much now." Ash had nothing that came to mind. Something like this required further questing to solve. "Wanna head home now?"
"Sure." Three of them sighed once they were disappointed with the outcome. But there was always another time for them to find Reshiram, no matter how many times it may take.
"You made a good point about the Human World though. Is it gonna be okay? Did Jirachi even know about it?" Goh said.
"All those Jirachis were probably thinking of their own worlds and getting back. When they used their collective powers, I don't think they realized there was another version of our homeworld. Maybe...possibly...I don't know." Twilight shook her head, unable to give a clear answer. "The wish was pretty straightforward."
"Hmm...Yeah." Ash looked at the sky for a bit. There was one possibility with Jirachi's effect. If the Human World was exempt from that wish due to what it was hidden by, it was possible that the friends he made there were out of his reach. But that was one possibility Ash wasn't about to let come true. For now, it was off to another world, even though there was only a major world that existed thanks to the power of Jirachi.
Equestria. Canterlot. Nightfall.
Nightfall had come. The moon had been risen by Luna who was not even present at Canterlot, taking the time to explore this new world. She could now do her royal duties and be a Pokemon Trainer at the same time. For some, this wish brought more benefits than problems.
But some of these problems could be substantial depending on what has changed. Mainly when it came to geographical formations and in this case, portals to parallel worlds. Sleeping next to the mirror that led to the Human World was Arcanine who was joined by Gardevoir. Both were waiting for their Trainer Celestia, who had yet to return after having the same thought as Ash.
Speaking of Ash, he would enter this room, prompting the attention of Gardevoir and Arcanine, awakening them. "Sorry, you guys. Is Celestia here?"
"Garde...!" Gardevoir yawned before lifting Arcanine off her with Psychic. This whole, time, from the early parts of today, she had been waiting before eventually falling asleep. The presence of these two Pokemon practically confirmed that Celestia hadn't returned yet. However, they were not worried about her safety for a moment. "Voir."
"Not yet, huh? I just wanna see if everything's okay over there." Ash approached the portal. "Jirachi probably only put these two worlds together. But there's another Earth right past this portal. I'll meet up with Celestia. Human Form and All."
"Arcanine." Arcanine barked in response. But that bark was enough for Ash to hear. Gardevoir would even give an encouraging thumbs-up, supporting Ash to guarantee the status of the Human World, even if Celestia was still there.
"Thanks, you two. I'll be right back!" Ash adjusted his hat before lunging through. The mirror was still functioning even after the wish came through. The magic never left at all as Pikachu would follow after his partner. However, by this point, Gardevoir and Arcanine had waited long enough.
They have yet to see Celestia's face or even hear from her for what was supposed to be a quick check-up. If the Human World was doing fine, Celestia would've returned eventually and now Ash and Pikachu were the next ones to pass through. Knowing those two, they will most definitely stay behind. Curious, Gardevoir and Arcanine would follow, wondering if something had come up to garner Celestia's absence. Gardevoir even thought that Celestia might have come across her human counterpart and went too deep into a conversation with her.
The Human World. Canterlot High. Nightfall.
And immediately after entering, Ash, Pikachu, Gardevoir and Arcanine would collectively bump into each other from behind, starting with Ash bumping into something and causing a domino effect right afterwards.
"Oh! I'm sorry for that!" The one Ash bumped into was Princess Celestia. She was right near the portal this entire time, appearing in her Human Form as to be expected. "Hm? All four of you passed through?"
"Hey, Celestia." Ash held his head, nearly dropping before him, Pikachu and Arcanine were caught by Gardevoir's Psychic. Ash would then spot some familiar faces around Celestia. This world's Twilight Sparkle along with Sunset Shimmer. The faces of Hisuian Zorua and Spike were spotted as well.
"Gardevoir!" Gardevoir would then release Psychic, dropping them before rushing to hug Celestia.
"Sorry for taking so long! I got caught up in this world." Celestia apologized, embracing the Embrace Pokemon. "It's been a while since I tried out my human form after all so...you can imagine my excitement when I came back here. Oh, and of course, the Pokemon."
"Ash! Pikachu!" Sci-Twi would greet them both, prompting Pikachu to jump over Ash and into the arms of Twilight.
"Pika!" Excited to see that nothing had changed at all, Pikachu could happily embrace Twilight who would closely hold and hug the Mouse Pokemon.
"Jirachi really knows how to make miracles, huh." Ash sat, having a satisfied smile on his face. Arcanine would run up to further amplify his ease, licking the face of the Alola Champion. "Aw, Arcanine!"
"So you all came running here after that wish went through." Sunset Shimmer approached Ash. "Gee, we're touched. And thanks for getting that wish off. Princess Celestia told us everything."
"Yeah. Guess that almost settles everything. But I couldn't find Reshiram, Princess Celestia. We tried looking at Holon with the Time Flower and nothing came up."
"That's fine, Ash," Celestia replied. "We'll just keep looking as always. He's out there somewhere. And I know he's waiting for us to find him as well. For now...let's enjoy this new world of ours some more. After I'm not busy with how everything's turned out. You need updated maps for everything after all."
"Ooh! Can I get one!?" Sci-Twi's eyes lit up as she most definitely wanted the map of the new world. "What do you call it now? Is it Super-Earth or is normal Earth just fine? Cause it's not normal that's for sure."
"Earth is fine." Celestia laughed as the name of the New Planet would not change. After all, they all lived on this beautiful blue planet out in the vast expanse of space known as Earth. And frankly, none of them would have it any better. Whether it'd be this Earth, the various parallel Earths of the Pokemon World and beyond, this planet was always a constant. A constant that will never fade away and was as prominent as the many Pokemon that populate this world as the journey continues.
A map of the new world has been made for all to use. At least, how it appears now. Cartographers worked hard to make this possible. And now that both worlds have come together to make one world, whatever happens in the future had to be tracked.
And of course, the maps that Starmap from Pegalysium had made would come in handy. With her special talent, this world and everything it now entailed would not be missed by the Pegasus Cartographer. Gazing at this new map was Fluttershy along with the many Pokemon from the Pokemon House.
"Look at this. Some places are a bit farther away from each other than before." Twilight noticed how certain areas had been slightly distanced thanks to the change in landmass. "Maybe with how things have changed, new Pokemon will show up here, right? I think Snowdrop had one Pokemon that I heard about. Cetoddle, was it?"
"Audino." Audino, with her perceptive hearing, also had great memory thanks to this special trait. The name of that Pokemon's cry did not escape her.
"Any of you can put this up your walls. If we ever get lost, we have these to rely on." Fluttershy offered up the map as it was taken by Throh. "But I'm curious...Now that everything's done, what about the stairway? Is it going to stay there forever?"
"It's slowly fading away." Here at the Pokemon House were the rest of Fluttershy's friends, interacting with the various Pokemon that called this place their home. Twilight would respond to her. "Now that Phione's gone home and the wish has been granted, there's no need for the Golden Stairway. Although...I am going to miss it."
"Yeah. It was pretty cool, wasn't it?" Ash said, surrounded by various Electric Rodents that were family members to his partner Pikachu. "But we've still got pieces of Arceus with us. Twilight's got her Z-Ring. Sci-Twi's got that pendant too."
"You haven't used it at all, have you, Twilight?" Rarity, who would grant some of the Pokemon decorations and glamour added. These Pokemon would prefer to look fancy and they could rely on Ponyville's Fashionista for that. "You only used it once when battling Olympia correct?"
"That's right. And no one else. But it's a strong Z-Move that works differently from others." The Princess of Friendship brought out the Twilightium Z, placing it on her hoof. "Which means, it has more room to grow for something so new. When I first used it, it felt like I was working alongside Arceus. Like he was chiming in. After all...We're all friends of Arceus, even if he doesn't show it."
"I think he shows it." Pinkie Pie spoke, sliding over. "He just can't emote with how his face is built. Arceus totally sees us as friends. He's already friends with Ash and Pikachu."
"You could ask him yourself." Rainbow Dash hovered next to Pinkie Pie. "I mean....if you can reach him, that is. Phione's gone so our only way to reach him is out of the picture."
"It is? Can't Twilight's Z-Crystal do it?" Pinkie referred back to the Twilightium Z.
"I guess..." Twilight shrugged. "I met him in a different Z-Crystal and he could occasionally show up here. What about my counterpart's pendant? Baraz and Meray told her quite a bit after all."
"I don't think she can hear anything yet," Fluttershy added. "But maybe that's the best way to reach Arceus. Baraz and Meray might have a way of doing it over at Arche Valley."
"Everyone there's so lucky. They probably get to speak to Arceus anytime they want." Applejack nodded, believing everyone over at Arche Valley speak to Arceus more than anyone.
"Well...It's not just them." But Ash knew someone else as a smile graced his face, grabbing the attention of his friends. "I know someone who can talk to Arceus. The same goes for Dialga, Palkia and Giratina too. She's got a special talent for it that no one else does."
"A special talent? Who?" Spike asked.
"Her name's Sheena," Ash revealed the name of another good friend of his in the vast Pokemon World. "How do I put it...She has the power to read the hearts of Pokemon. Even Arceus. It's thanks to her and Kevin, I heard and learned about Arceus for the first time."
"Read the hearts of Pokemon? Like a...metaphorical or physical?" Pinkie Pie questioned.
"More like Spiritually. It's so cool!" Ash's eyes lit up after thinking back to Sheena's special ability. "Man, the way she says it too! With that power, she can calm down any Pokemon! Unless their rage is too strong, that is."
"Spiritually?" Twilight and her friends imagined how that was done. The pictured a hypothetical visage of Sheena, sending out a spiritual wave that would interact with a Snorlax. They weren't sure how it was done so this was the best that they could do.
"It'd be great to see her again. I wonder what she's doing now..."
"Pika..."
"Where is she?" Twilight brought a few maps over, showing each of them to Ash. Any one of them could show Ash where Sheena was residing. Thankfully, he knew where she could be fun.
"Hmmm..." Ash raced his finger around the map of Sinnoh, which had also been expanded thanks to the power of Jirachi, searching for a specific town. "She lives over at a place called Michina Town. That's it right there. Ah, but it's too far..."
"Too far? How far are we talking?" Goh asked.
"I mean far..." Ash laid back on a tree. "Michina Town's definitely one of the farthest places I've ever had to reach. We set our sights on it and arrived there 7 days later. It's not a quick trek. Not even a plane could help us if we use it."
"Pika-Pika." Pikachu nodded in agreement.
"Is it really that far?" said Fluttershy. "But you still want to head there anyway, don't you?"
"Yeah." Ash chuckled. Not even great distances were enough to keep him having a good adventure
"Well, stay sharp as well. You should know that this new world isn't favouring some Pokemon." Twilight added. "I mean, we saw it coming anyway. But some Pokemon have been disturbed this change. Reports of unrest from different Pokemon have been flying in."
"I can only imagine. It all happened so fast for them." Rarity shook her head. "I'd love to come with you to Michina Town, but I will be busy at PokeStar Studios."
"Same here. I'll be occupied." Applejack and Pinkie Pie said in unison.
"Don't worry about it. We'll go another time." Ash stood up. "I got my own stuff to take care of too. Goh and I heading off to Hoenn for a bit. See ya around."'
Everyone would part ways, setting off on their own activities for the rest of the day. But at least they all agreed on heading to Michina Town one day. The Pokemon here would bid their daily farewells to these common visiting friends. As for Fluttershy, when preparing to continue her daily routine, she would receive a surprise encounter with Team Rocket.
"Oh! T-Team Rocket. Did you need something?"
"Mhm! We heard you were heading to the Sinnoh Region, right?" Jessie would hold Fluttershy close, shifting her eyes in numerous directions. "Good call. Do you remember what we told you about what we heard a few months back?"
"A few months back? Oh, you mean about the rest of Team Rocket?"
"Not just that. You remember, Cresselia, right?" James nudged.
"Oh, right. They were going for Cresselia afterwards. How did that go?" Fluttershy asked. Team Rocket referred to the Matori Matrix and how they set their sights on the Legendary Pokemon Cresselia during the Pokemon Festival, hunting that Pokemon down.
"Looks like that wish had a lot of benefits. Get a load of this." By holding out her Rotomphone, it showed news reports about Team Rocket being spotted in the Sinnoh Region. This news report revealed a failed mission by Team Rocket when they attempted to capture a Cresselia. Cresselia made the news because of this as it was shown that the result of them failing to do so was because of Ash's wish.
Because of the Jirachi, the expanded landmass led to Cresselie being distanced from Team Rocket when pursuing the Legendary Pokemon. Officer Jenny and the police were involved which held the Matori Matrix back from achieving their goal. A lot went into this news story as Matori's group managed to escape, still after Cresselia.
"Oh, that's great!" Fluttershy applauded. "But Cresselia's still being hunted down by them. Do you know where we could find it?"
"Mmm...Nope." Jessie shook her head. There was no lead on Cresselia. "But we'll let you know. It's only been 6 days after this change after all. If I know her, she's already scrambling to find Cresselia again." Jessie grizzled her teeth once she thought about Matori.
"We were thinking of messing up whatever they're planning next with Cresselia. But...if we get involved, the twerp might get suspicious and mess us over as always." James sighed.
"It's fine. Ash will understand." Fluttershy thought otherwise. "You and him may have your clashes here and there and you may be sent blasting off, but he'll know."
"She's not wrong," Meowth added. "There's a been buncha times where he's helped us and we've helped him. So a common enemy ain't nothing new. Unless he mixes us up with her group."
"I'll be heading to the Pokemon School tomorrow. We're reopening now after so long. I'm going to trust you all as always to keep things safe here." Fluttershy patted Jessie and James on the back, prompting Audino to hug them all.
"Audino!" Audino's hugs weren't as strong as Dragonite's but they certainly carried weight to them, making Team Rocket puff their faces before they soon melted with love.
Canterlot. The Pokemon School.
The Pokemon School was once again open. Those that still had a lot to learn about Pokemon would return. And they certainly did. It wasn't too long ago when they realized another fact about Mega Evolution that was completely new to them.
Meeting up in the staff room would be the teachers, AKA the various Gym Leaders. Roxanne, Brawly, Roxie, Drayden, Valerie, and Olympia had gathered here. Of course, not all of them were present in the staff room or the Pokemon School. Some were still busy as Gym Leaders and even some Elite 4 Members.
"Feels pretty great to be back. But it's a bummer...now we don't have fast travel." Roxie said, sitting on the many desks with her guitar. "That gateway to Canterlot helped out a lot. Now there's only one and it's all the way at Kanto."
"Sounds like you had trouble getting here, Roxie," Drayden replied. "Equestria is now in between Unova and Kalos, so the distance shouldn't too intimidating."
"Mhm. It's easy for us." Valerie nodded as she and Olympia would have an easy time getting here due to where Equestria was now placed.
"Not for us though." But then there were the Hoenn Gym Leaders. Roxanne and Brawly. "I do wish we had another gateway here. This means I'll have to travel back and forth from Hoenn to Equestria constantly. I've never had to move this far."
"Ah, it's not so bad." Brawly shrugged. "It's great exercise too. Haha!"
"For you." Roxanne pouted as Brawly managed to benefit from this mainly because of his physique and outgoing personality.
"Princess Celestia said she's handling that," Olympia spoke. "Besides, some of us have our ways of travelling don't we, Mr Mayor?"
"Mm." Drayden nodded. Being the Mayor of Opelucid Town meant that he had many ways to travel quickly with enough money to do so. Everyone else here either had a way of travelling fast or had to find ways to do so. "Everyone else will find a way. No matter which region they may be from. Cynthia and I have received their messages and they'll be here shortly for the new semester."
"I haven't gotten any from Fantina though," Roxie added. "Not for a while, anyway."
"Fantina? Haven't gotten in touch with her either." Brawly also revealed that he received no word from Fantina as well. "I wonder what she's doing lately?"
"None of her messages have come through compared to everyone else's," Drayden grumbled, pondering for a moment. "Has anyone heard from her for a while?"
"I spoke with them earlier about it. Volkner hasn't." Roxanne checked her Rotomphone, confirming in an instant. She would scroll through more messages. "Neither has anyone. In fact, no one's gone over to Hearthome to check up on her."
"She almost invisible. Like a Ghost!" Brawly made a quick joke. "But seriously. What's up with that? Is something up?"
"If something was up, she would have told us or any of her fellow Gym Leaders. She has been silent for quite some time now." Drayden crossed his arms. "No one's heard from her for a while. Especially after the Pokemon Festival and a few months have already passed by."
"Worse...No one's managed to advance to the Pokemon League as of recently." Roxanne, who continued using her Rotomphone, confirmed another oddity. She would show it to Drayden and everyone else, revealing the shocking news. "No one can get Fantina's badge at all. In fact...no one can get to Hearthome City at all."
"Yeesh. Did Jirachi's power affect Hearthome that badly?" Brawly gasped.
"Everywhere else seems completely fine, doesn't it?" Valerie uttered. "Nothing's happened to my gym or the town at all. Why Hearthome?"
"I don't think it's Jirachi's power." Roxanne shook her head, revealing more about it. "It says here that this happened during the Pokemon Festival. So this is way before that."
"Does this mean Fantina has been unresponsive since the Pokemon Festival?" Olympia added. "That doesn't seem right. She loves festivals. Something is not right." For Olympia, she immediately deduced that something was very off.
Fantina was unresponsive. No one had heard from her. No trainers from Sinnoh could advance to the Pokemon since there was one Gym Leader missing along with one Gym Leader. And on top of all of that, Hearthome City was going through its own mystery as well.
None of them have yet to discover what was the cause of this. But Drayden was already set on solving this. His eyes narrowed as he knew this was not the result of something as simple as a break or hiatus. Or anything similar to that. This was something more. With his mind made up, he would face his fellow Gym Leaders, speaking these words.
"We'll do our duties as teachers here. And after that..we're going to Hearthome City."
Hidden past the Hyperborean Island was Magehold. Home to the Dread League which consists of vampires and skeletons. Dark Magic and Curses could be found here along with other ominous and horrid forces. Ruled by the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta, this hidden nation and its inhabitants had one goal. Destroy all life with the power of the Destruction Pokemon Yveltal. This was the Black Crusade. Spearheaded by Rosa Maledicta, all that would remain would be her, the vampires and skeletons and a new world of skeletal beings. All for Rosa to command.
But aside from that, there was one individual who was different from the rest that lives here. A human who once had a life at the Sinnoh Region's Hearthome City as a Gym Leader. The Gym Leader and Contest Expert Fantina. For months, she had been living here, unaware of her true home and only having memories of her Pokemon along with the remains of her skills. Everything was a blur. Just as Rosa Maledicta intended.
There was no sunlight in Magehold. Only the view of the moon as its rays would pierce the windows of Fantina's home but she would not awake from that. Instead, her alarm clock was a draconic crow that would roar as loud as it could, awakening the Hearthome Gym Leader.
"Oh!" Fantina gasped, sitting up after the alarm clock did its job. "Hah...I don't think I can get used to that..." She sighed, sitting there for a moment as she looked out to view the endless night sky that only existed here at Magehold at all times.
Fantina would prepare herself for the day which always the night. For this place. Here in Magehold, she was brought here for one reason. To be a teacher for the vampires here when it comes to Pokemon. And since she is a teacher at the Pokemon School, she was a perfect choice in the eyes of Rosa Maledicta.
However, though a few months have passed. Most have not warmed up to Fantina or even accepted her presence here. She would step out of her home and immediately gain the sharp and judgemental eyes of the vampires. Mainly because of how she affected the children. The children certainly grew attached to Fantina because of her Ghost-Types and some of her own traits. They feared that Fantina could weed out their ways from the young ones.
But Fantina was not mindful of them. She even seemed oblivious to them all as she would skip along the crooked streets of Magehold. Despite how ominous this place was, she was still her happy self, even if she had no idea of her memory loss and how she came here in the first place.
"Today, I get to explore the rest of this place instead of teaching," Fantina said. "I haven't gotten that chance all that much. I've mostly been teaching the young ones and visiting that school more than anywhere. And maybe visiting old sites. That changes today though~" Fantina was looking forward to today. She was eager to check out the rest of Magehold.
It was a large place after all, despite being hidden behind an island that was somewhere near the Crystal Empire. A place this large was impossible to miss and yet no one else could enter it or find it due to what masks it and resides outside of it.
"So...This is a good place to start!" Fantina entered a shop, opening the door with high energy. But the second she did so, a vicious plant with electric eyes, multiple fangs and blades on the side would fly in her direction, hissing with poison around it. "Gyaaah!" Fantina screeched, performing a stylish but terrified twirl that would allow her to evade this massive plant. Pure instinct.
The plant would crash into the walls, sinking its sharp teeth into them and spreading its virulent poison all around. Fantina would freeze, pulling off a pose even in the face of fear. Everything she does, she does with style. Though her expression wasn't exactly stylish as it showed a startled expression.
"Ah, nice evasion. Not many can avoid her when they enter." The botanist at this shop would speak, grabbing Fantina's attention. She would glance over to see a vampire covered in various thorns with poison points around them, using them as pillows.
"Ah, thank you..." Fantina said with a light chuckle, shifting her eyes towards this plant. The plant would then face Fantina, quietly growling at its new prey.
"She won't bite. Not when you've managed to dodge her when entering. But she will try again." The botanist giggled as Fantina could expect another surprise attack from this plant. "Fantina, right?"
"Yes, that's me. I just came by, visiting this place first on my day off. I'm not teaching the young ones today." Fantina explained.
"Great choice coming to my shop. You're the one who's been teaching my daughter and well...I should thank you." She would close her eyes, manipulating one of the thorns to slide towards the Hearthome City Gym Leader. "The eagerness she brings has been elevated."
"Oh, has it?" Fantina said while eyeing down the thorn as it would approach slowly, slithering like a snake.
"That's what the other parents have said anyway. It's all because of you they're so chipper. More than usual. I would say it's the Pokemon that are responsible for this. But they do bring you up a lot of the time. My daughter has grown her fair share of plants at a more abundant level."
"Ah, it was my pleasure." Fantina giggled before witnessing the thorn wrap around her. "Ehh..."
"It's just what she needed, since she rarely takes things seriously, calling gardening boring. So that's one change I greatly appreciate. Since you're visiting here for the first time, take a gander at what we have. How do you find my Despair Plants? You can only find them here at Magehold?"
"They're interesting," Fantina replied, gulping at the poisonous thorn. Eventually, it would slither away, freeing her from any harm. "Ahh..."
"One of a kind. The Lich Queen herself uses magic that summons and controls these. These plants are the pride and joy of Magehold. At least when it comes to Plant Life. We have other pride and joys here. Would you like to shop here or even do a test run with these?"
"Test run?" Fantina repeated.
"Mhm. I sometimes let new customers have a free sample and make them grow their own flowers. But..." The botanist thought for a moment. "Since you've helped out my daughter, I'll make it free immediately. Fantina. Why don't you make a special flower of your own?"
"Ooh? Of my own?" Fantina approached the counter as her interest in these deadly flowers have been raised.
"Yes, yes." The botanist would have the thorns lift her while also grabbing a flower pot and a seed. This seed was as black as the night sky, emanating an ominous black aura around it. "Go ahead. I'll tell you all you need to know."
"How exciting!" Fantina did not mind the ominous energy coming from the seed at all. She was too eager to grow a plant of her own. And judging by what the botanist was saying, it would be relatively swift.
"The most important thing...is envisioning it!" The botanist exclaimed, widening her eyes which would sharpen. "Her Majesty is one of the few to master this, but these plants can have their own unique appearances."
"Unique appearances?"
"That's right. It's such a shame that we rarely, if never get to see the true form of her majesty's plants. They always appear so standard but there's something so amazing hidden behind them!" The botanist bit on the thorns, agitated by this. "No one else seems to get creative here either! So many of their plants look the same! Large mouths with poison and maybe fire! Is it too much to ask for something new?"
"Hmm...So you need variety." Music to Fantina's ears.
"Of course! My daughter doesn't even have that kind of uniqueness when it comes to making her own. They all appear identical that it's become the common choice at this point." The botanist sighed, greatly disappointed by the lack of unique Despair Plants. "I mean...it doesn't make the plants weak. I just like quality over quantity. But I suppose a mixture of both is the obvious choice."
"Envision what I want the plant to look like." Fantina would hold the Black Seed, gazing at its ominous aura for a bit. Fantina was already brewing something. Something that would stand out from a plant that just had a big mouth with deadly claws. The botanist was patiently waiting for Fantina's next move.
"Oh? Miss Fantina?" Coming down the stairs was one of the students over at the Magehold School, spotting her Pokemon Teacher.
"Je sais!" Fantina had something as she snapped her fingers with excitement. After deciding on what she wanted, she would drop the seed into the flower pot as the dark soil would instantly suck it up as if it was a black hole.
And right as she dropped it along with the little filly's arrival, the Black Seed and the Soil would react instantly. The botanist's eyes lit up as this was faster than even she expected. Before she knew it, there was an outburst of plant life that would grow out of this pot, blowing her, Fantina and the filly vampire back.
But it went further. What looked like a tree would break through the shop, startling everyone nearby, which was a lot. This massive tree would ascend to great levels, already overtaking the shop while surpassing many buildings in Magehold. With their jaws dropping, everyone would bare witness to a new kind of tree. It had a unique shape to it. One that was almost human-like.
Opal Vivacity, who was doing her mane, would glance outside, witnessing the titanic tree. "W-What in the-?!" She dropped her accessories in disbelief. Many would stop what they were doing as the tree would quickly reach its end.
The height of it was so large that it nearly matched the castle of the Lich Queen. The full appearance of the tree had been revealed. Cherry blossoms would drop from the very top, which would resemble the head of a human with beautiful hair. In fact, this hair seemed to resemble Cresselia.
This whole tree had the appearance of a beautiful who was gracefully resting, putting her hands together. There was no sugarcoating what it appeared as. Fantina was covered by the cherry blossoms while everyone stared in awe.
"T-That'll do...That's the best one I've seen yet." The botanist said, feeling dizzy.
"Thank you. Apologies for your shop...I didn't expect it to grow so large..." Fantina apologized for the mess she made. It was a rather towering mess.
"Wow, Miss Fantina..." The little filly crawled out of the cherry blossoms, admiring this mysterious woman. "Is that you? Compensating much?"
"No, my little pony." Fantina laughed, shaking her head. This woman was certainly not her. "This is not me at all. I envisioned something great. And that something, was Cresselia."
"Cresselia?" The filly repeated, hearing Cresselia's name for the first time.
"More specifically, it's who Cresselia resembles." Fantina softly smiled before closing her eyes while resting on the soft cherry blossoms. "Legend has it that Cresselia resembles a Heavenly Maiden who created the Milky Way. I remember that story vaguely. So, I decided on this. Cresselia is a beautiful Pokemon and this Heavenly Maiden is usually drawn to be as well."
"Well...You've granted my wish." The botanist barely managed to crawl out of the cherry blossoms. "That's the fastest anything has ever grown from that. A bit too bright for my taste but...it's impressive, Fantina. You have an eye for creation. Next time, do you think you could make something more our style?"
"I will try. But I do love grace." Fantina grinned as she certainly earned the respect of this family. It started with the daughter and now the mother.
As for the Heavenly Maiden Tree, no one would ignore it. Despite the fact that the cherry blossoms were the opposite of everything dark and grim in this place, there was something about its presence that completely captured the eyes of the vampires.
"She's beautiful..." And the beauty of this maiden would be acknowledged without a doubt. It was not the cherry blossoms that caught their attention but the maiden herself. And to an extent, the size of the tree since it was now the second tallest structure here.
"Who made this?" The vampires would speak, keeping the topic around the tree.
"It must've been that Fantina. Those colours are definitely not it."
"It's already eye candy to some of them here. Do you think she's actually trying to change things up here?" Discussion about Fantina would continue about her running the Magehold way of life. And this massive tree only accelerated that discussion further.
"Look at that Miss Opal. Isn't she beautiful?" Back with Opal, a few vampires would gush at this Heavenly Maiden, enamoured by her appearance, even if they were just looking at a tree.
"Hmph. She's not that beautiful." Naturally, Opal Vivacity was rather jealous of this tree's appearance. She would prefer if she was the only beautiful pony around. "I can't believe I'm getting jealous of a tree...Where did this thing even come from? And who is that supposed to be anyway?"
Fantina would continue her day, waving farewell to the Botanist Family. She could stand proud knowing she had now left an impact on Magehold in the form of this tree. Her next destination would be one with some familiarity. She had made a few friends here. And one of them was an excellent potion maker.
Ebony Rhyme. Magehold's special potion maker. She took this role due to her lack of magic, making her oddity in the eyes of Magehold when it comes to vampires. Not a semblance of magic was within her, thus, potions were her only source of magic.
"She said this was her home. I never got the chance to visit it until now." Fantina would look up at Ebony's home, which was distant from most other buildings. It was rather isolated, surrounded by nothing else. Just looking at it brought a sense of loneliness to this house. Just then, the door would automatically open, welcoming Fantina inside.
The darkness within that masked the indoors of this building would clear up, showing glowing eyes from within. These eyes belonged to Ebony Rhyme, who would stare at Fantina with her blank and expressionless eyes. But upon seeing Fantina, the only thing that was expressive was her mouth, which formed a smile.
"Fantina. You actually showed up." Ebony said. "It's been months and you haven't been in here before."
"First time for everything. It's my day off, so I'm feeling adventurous. Fantina would enter. Immediately, she would be smacked in the face by the scent of various potions. This whole room was filled with potion scents of all kinds, startling the Gym Leader.
"Like it? They all go well together." Ebony uttered, unbothered by the scent.
"It's super-effective..." Fantina twitched before shaking her head, recollecting herself. "Anyways, I just dropped by to spend time with you. After all, we're friends."
"We are. By the way...what's up with that thing outside?" Ebony would fixate on the Cherry Blossom Tree of the Heavenly Maiden. Even in this isolated home, the tree was impossible to miss.
"Ah. That's my creation. I visited a botanist and she gave me a free test run." Fantina explained. "Beautiful isn't it? It's of the Heavenly Maiden who's said to have created the Milky Way."
"Impressive. You made that? Today?"
"She said it was faster than usual. I didn't even plan for it to be this big?" She would laugh. "Maybe you have some potions in here that will bring about something big as well?"
"Not really. Not yet, anyway." Ebony shook her head before having something crawl up on her head. That would be a Salandit. Her own Pokemon. "Would you like something to drink? Some Henbane?" Ebony would then bring over a glass drink that had a very obvious black skull on it, emanating a poisonous smoke.
"H-Henbane?" Fantina shuddered. "Ah, that's fine. Say. We went to catch some Pokemon for you. Why don't we just get out there and spend some more time as friends? The whole of Magehold to ourselves."
"Mmm. No." Ebony denied the offer. "I'd rather not explore Magehold."
"No? Oh, but it's so vast and interesting." Fantina thought otherwise, wanting to view more of this eerie place. "But you've already seen all of it if not a lot of it, probably."
"I've seen enough of it," Ebony replied. "If I try and venture the place...the number of eyes I'll get will be too plentiful to count."
"Ah. I see." Fantina knew why Ebony rejected the offer. It was mainly for her lack of magic and how many vampires viewed her. Ebony refused to go across most of Magehold just for that sole reason. "Ebony. I don't have any magic of my own, remember? You've already proved that having magic isn't everything."
"I know. But you left an impression." Ebony Rhyme turned away. "That tree's the newest impression with how everyone's looking at it."
"You can leave an impression too." Fantina leaned on the desk, doing her best to encourage Ebony Rhyme. "The children are certainly impressed by your potions."
"I have you to thank for that. But really, for everyone else, I'm not just an oddity, but I might as well be invisible. I haven't done much at all except pass on healing potions or anything that they need to satisfy their destruction. I'd prefer not to make an impression, honestly."
"Hmm. I understand." Fantina nodded in understanding, respecting Ebony Rhyme's decision. She wasn't set on leaving a big impact that would make everyone gawk and gaze at her.
"Besides, my existence to them is already enough to garner some attention. Not the best kind of attention." Ebony Rhyme continued. "But you...You do things differently. You know that they hate you, right?"
"I do." Fantina was already aware of the looks she received from the other vampires. "But I do not mind or pay any attention to it. I just go on about my day, Ebony, enjoying what I can."
"I see. That must've been even better for you back home. You didn't have to worry about strange looks, probably."
"Back home?" However, due to Rosa Maledicta's magic, Fantina had no recollection of her home over at Hearthome.
"You remember...right? You didn't just pop up out of nowhere, Fantina. You obviously have a home that's the original instead of the one you have now." Ebony leaned forward.
"I do...Don't I?" Fantina scratched her hair, unsure of her words. Nothing about her home was managing to spark up in her mind, even if she tried. "Don't I?"
"Hmm..." This was peculiar to Ebony Rhyme. More importantly, it was the first time, she witnessed Fantina's confusion about her original home.
"Ah, my head hurts." Fantina would then feel a slight pain in her head, but it would soon subside. "A-Anyway, what do you wish to do, Ebony? How about we make potions together? I'd like to hone my skills after all~"
"Right. We'll do that." Ebony replied but with a different tone. She would choose to make potions with Fantina, however, her suspicions about Fantina's origin were now starting to brew. It was strange to her that Fantina had no memory of her home and just appeared one day. But there was one thing that was obvious. Rosa Maledicta was the one who brought her here.
Speaking of Rosa Maledicta, still to this day, she was still healing after her scuffle with Yveltal. Yveltal himself was also being contained until the time to use him was ready. But that time would only come when the Lich Queen was up and ready. But even though she was immobile and kept within a healing chamber, the Lich Queen still had some power.
Right as Fantina attempted to remember anything about her home, that sharp pain would come from Rosa Maledicta's magical influence, preventing those memories from emerging.
"I can't have you remembering, Fantina. Not until the Black Crusade is over, anyway. Besides...you're leaving an impact on Magehold, so it's too soon for you to start heading home." Rosa Maledicta spoke before staring at the massive tree that was seen by all.
The way the tree was positioned made it look like the Heavenly Maiden was staring at everyone with a welcoming and loving smile. The cherry blossoms even brought a welcoming presence each time they would drop. The tree was beautiful to the point where even Rosa Maledicta couldn't deny its beauty.
"I would've preferred something sharper." But of course, the vibrance of it was not her style. "But apparently, this of a Heavenly Maiden? It seems that Arceus isn't the only force in the Pokemon Universe that I have to watch out for. Or perhaps...our universe now. Now that the two worlds have become one, that makes things easier for me. Less work...but I do feel a further distance from us. Roseluck."
Indeed. To this day, she still had her sister on her mind. Her little sister Roseluck who resides in Ponyville. But just as she was about to think about her sister some more, something else came up. A new visage entered Rosa Maledicta's mind. The visage of Hearthome City.
"Hearthome?" Rosa Maledicta uttered. "This is a future vision. This means...someone's trying to enter very soon? Again? Interesting...But it will probably end the same way it did for many others who've tried."
Sinnoh. Above the region. Afternoon.
By now, Drayden and a few other Gym Leaders noticed Fantina's disappearance and the silence that was around Hearthome City. Lessons at the Pokemon School over at Canterlot would go by as usual. And once all the students would depart, the teachers would leave, but not to their respective regions.
Drayden, Roxie, Brawly, Roxanne, Valerie and Olympia had already decided to head out and investigate this for themselves. This was another Gym Leader who they had not heard from for a while. They would arrive at Sinnoh, nearing Hearthome City.
They would take a plane to this region, courtesy of Drayden. And being high in the skies, they would get a good look at the region itself. But more importantly, the view of Hearthome from afar.
"Hey...What's up with Hearthome?" Brawly was the first to notice the oddity around Hearthome City. The city itself had lost its colours. And not in the sense of the electricity being shut down. More in the sense of it being completely devoid of any form of vibrance. Bleak and dull.
"It looks so...dead down there." Valerie gawked as her eyes would flicker at this dull sight. "What happened to it?"
"Something is definitely wrong here..." Olympia placed her hand on her chest as she shuddered for a bit. As a Psychic-Type specialist, she was already sensing ominous vibes just by looking at the city.
However, if they wanted to find Fantina, whatever was up with that city, Hearthome was the perfect place to start. But most definitely, neither were looking forward to visiting this once vibrant city that was famous for having a vibrant Pokemon Trainer as the journey continues.
Hearthome City. The fifth-largest city in the Pokemon World. Or in this case, just the World. This friendly city started as a place where people and Pokémon gathered, then grew into a centre of commerce. It is also known for being so warm and kind. Hearthome City was always a child-friendly city; where there are many families and young mothers living there, some of whom could be seen with prams. Most of the buildings use elevators instead of stairs so that small children and Pokémon can move through the houses. The citizens scrupulously keep their city clean. But now, that was no longer the case.
Now it appeared devoid of colour. Cold and seemingly desolate in terms of the energy that would usually come from it. There wasn't even a sound of any contests going on. And there definitely wouldn't be a Pokemon Battle over at the Gym, mainly due to Fantina's absence. Drayden, Olympia, Brawly, Roxanne, Roxie and Valerie approached Hearthome City, witnessing the dull atmosphere.
"Well...all we have to do is pass through and find out what's going on," Brawly said as they stood before the city. However, Valerie would spot something else that not everyone else could. Her body shuddered after witnessing what looked to be a form of energy that surrounded the city in a dome-like shape.
"What's wrong, Valerie?" Drayden would notice Valerie's shocked expression after what she witnessed. Just by looking at it, her emotions responded in the only way they knew how to something like this.
"Oh my..." Valerie shuddered. "I can see it. Whatever is around the city, it's full of dread."
"I can't see it. But I can feel it." Olympia had a sim "Similar reaction, feeling the dread coming from the city. "I'm afraid there might be magic involved in this."
"Magic? That explains a bit." Roxie added. "Well, if everything's dull in there, nothing a good jam can't fix!"
"Be cautious when passing through. Once we enter, we have no idea what could happen. Reports on Hearthome City have been scarce and rare after all." Olympia warned, sensing that entering the town would only lead to unpleasant outcomes. Of course, these outcomes could potentially be avoided depending on what they encounter.
They would advance, ready to enter the city at last. And just as Valerie feared, this would mean interacting with this magical dome. Brawly, Roxie, Roxanne, Drayden and even Olympia were not nervous when approaching the magical field but Valerie certainly had her fears. She was hoping that this would just be a quick visit and they would sort things out with Fantina as soon as possible.
The moment they passed through the magical field which was invisible to almost everyone, an eerie pulse would pass through them. The only ones to feel it were Olympia and Valerie but a slight breeze would affect the others.
And the moment they entered the once-vibrant city, they were met with absolute silence. There wasn't any sound coming from it when they were out of the city in the first place, but even when entering, it was dead silent. Not even the howling of the wind would be heard.
The dull colouring was now even more visible to the eyes once they were within the city. But adding to this silence was the sudden absence of anyone. There wasn't a single person of Pokemon to be found.
"Where is everybody?" Roxanne wondered as her voice managed to generate the first bit of sound here. The rest of her fellow Gym Leaders would bring some audio afterwards.
"How come all the colour's gone?" Roxie walked up to a bench which was now grey and dry. "Do ya think everyone left?"
"Left? Why would they leave the whole city?" Brawly asked, unsure of why anyone would suddenly depart from Hearthome, even with this low saturation.
"This must be why Fantina hasn't responded." It was clear to Drayden and everyone else. How could Fantina respond when Hearthome City turned out like this? When advancing through the town, the lack of people and Pokemon was only growing. None could be found within their homes or any buildings here. The Contest Hall was obviously unresponsive.
"There is no sound here. It's only our voices." Valerie observed the absence of sound. The lack of it was enough to intimidate her. "Olympia?"
"I can feel something..." Olympia replied before picking up on something. "It's from Amity Square."
"Amity Square? That place is always lively," said Brawly. Amity Square was the one place they haven't viewed yet. And potentially, due to what Olympia felt, they could find someone there. They were mainly hoping for Fantina or any clues about Fantina. They would all approach Amity Square, which was a park where Trainers and their Pokemon would grow closer.
However, despite this dead silence, there was something else that they had yet to see. Hidden in the darkness and blending in with the dull colours, roots and vines would peek out, not making any sounds whatsoever. This made them fully invisible with these various forms of protection as they would descend back into the darkness before Drayden or any of them could spot them.
Drayden would obviously have to make a full report on this when he gets back. Something like this couldn't be ignored. Even if they manage to solve this, finding out how and why this happened in the first place would be a top priority. Meanwhile, Roxie was growing tired of this silence. This was the most silence she has ever heard in her life and the fact that there was nothing to give this once-lively city some new life was irritating her. She would already feel the need to play a tune to break this awkward silence and breed some life into the city.
But before that could even happen, they arrived at Amity Square, shocked, stunned and appalled by what they were seeing. Each of them had different reactions but the visage was horrible in every way. They found people and Pokemon, but not in the way they hoped or even expected.
Amity Square was now populated by everyone in this city who were all stitched and glued together. However, they all looked soulless. Their eyes were hollow, their mouths were constantly open as they all had limp positions, appearing completely static while some of them received slightly purple skins. A place where people and Pokemon can be closer to each other and it was taken in the worst literal sense. They all formed to make a large ball of Pokemon, Humans and Ponies, which was downright terrifying to look at, considering none of them had any pupils. Even the Pokemon that didn't have pupils were not exempt from this creepy sight.
"W-What is this...?" Brawly backed away, falling on his back from disbelief. Valerie would get on her knees as her strength to read emotions had kicked in at the worst possible time. She could already feel one emotion coming from it and it was one of absolute pain.
"I can feel it...It's been like this for months." Valerie's heart would accelerate out of fear. "No one's been able to do anything because of this. Most of them don't even come from Hearthome. Some even come from Equestria..."
"Everyone else who came here must've suffered the same fate," Drayden added, clenching his fist. He would obviously feel for the people but also feel scorn towards whoever did this. If he would ever know or find out. He could even see a few Officer Jennys. Different Jennys from different towns were stuck, appearing soulless as each of them failed to save everyone, becoming victims to this haunting amalgamation. "Who did this?"
"Are they gonna be okay?" Roxie asked, nearly dropping her guitar out of shock before swiftly catching it.
"I'm not sure...Judging by how they appear, they seem to be soulless." Olympia observed the appalling scene. The way they appeared was already a clear sign of something missing within them. "And I'm afraid that is in the literal sense..."
"Are you saying that they have no souls anymore?!" Roxanne couldn't believe what she was hearing. This was bigger than she was expecting. No one expected this. All these innocent people, ponies and Pokemon were not only stuck like this, but they have most likely lost their souls. The looks on their faces spoke volumes. Some had yet to return even after the two worlds had come together as one. They have been here since the Pokemon Festival, unable to enjoy the rest of it and what this new world has to offer.
"Well...Even if they lost their souls, we still can't let them stay like this." Brawly gasped before approaching the massive ball of creatures. He would think about saving them all if he could, despite how attached they appeared. Brawly took the first form of action, grabbing onto a Staraptor and a Trainer.
He attempted to pull them both out, already needing to put his full strength into this. However, he wouldn't even budge them for a moment. "Come on...! Help me out here, Machamp!" Brawly would see that his own strength was failing to even pull two of them in. With one arm, he would send out his Machamp.
"Machamp!"
"Perhaps we can free them if we try and see what we can do." Drayden and the others would chime in. They still had to save these people to the best of their abilities. Even if they looked somewhat beyond saving. But none of them wanted to believe that they were beyond saving right now.
"Would you like to join them?" Suddenly and unexpectedly, a voice would thunder through the atmosphere and the air, speaking to the Gym Leaders. It made them all pause for a moment as this voice would leave a prominent echo. This was the voice of the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta.
"Who's there?!" Roxanne cried out, searching for this voice. But with how potent it was, it was from every direction instead of just one.
"My Despair Plants have been waiting a few months for new prey. Thank you for showing up. Gym Leaders will be a fine addition to this."
"Are you the one who did this?!" Drayden questioned. "What have you done with these people, ponies and Pokemon?!"
"That's right. And I've been thinking of going for another city...but issues have prevented me from doing so in the meanwhile. But rest assured, you will all be consumed in the coming crusade. In the meanwhile, enjoy your time with my plants. Scorpio. Cordyceps. Cobra. Have fun."
Rosa would call out the names of these plants as that was when the hidden roots and vines would show themselves at last. But they certainly did not appear as just roots and vines. Olympia and Valerie would be the first ones to feel the approaching presence of these plants. Machamp was thankfully strong enough to free the people and Pokemon with his stellar strength, which was impossible to beat out most of the time.
Right as they were managing to pull away some of the people and Pokemon from their compromised positions, the plants revealed themselves in the form of creatures as a chilling roar would be unleashed from them. "Look!" Valerie cried out, alerting the rest of her fellow Gym Leaders.
These were the appearances of these plants. The Despair Plant Cordyceps had sharp eyes that correlated with its fangs. On the back of its stem, it had massive leaf wings that allowed it to fly. As for the Despair Plant Cobra, it was as to be expected. A cobra-like plant that had a girthy and sharp flytrap tail with it. This flytrap tail was even sentient, making it a double-sided creature. And finally, for Despair Plant Scorpio, its entire physique resembled a scorpion with the stinger being a large plant. But this tail came with multiple stingers instead of just one.
"Machamp! You should keep them all safe and get them out of here! I know those muscles will do the trick." Brawly ordered before holding out another Pokemon. He trusted Machamp's supreme strength to defend the innocents, even in their current states.
"Machamp!" And indeed, he was right to count on Machamp as the Superpower Pokemon would pick up the ball of innocents with only two of his arms instead of four. Even in this scenario, he couldn't help but show off.
"Thanks, buddy. And for you...You'll take over! Hariyama!" Brawly would then send out his next Pokemon which was his ace. Hariyama.
"Out, Druddigon!" Meanwhile, Drayden would send out his Druddigon as the other Gym Leaders would take action. The Despair Plants looked to be the main problem to overcome.
"Come out! Meowstic!" Olympia sent out both of her Meowstics as they worked at their best when in a duo after all.
"Let's do this! Scolipede!" For Roxie, it would be her Scolipede.
"Go, Probopass!" Roxanne went straight for her own ace, Probopass.
"Please help out, Mawile!" And finally, Valerie would choose Mawile.
"Hariyama!" Hariyama, Druddigon, the two Meowstics, Scolipede, Probopass and Mawile would all enter the scene. All were ready to weed out these terrifying plants that originate from the darkness. However, the Despair Plants would instantly display their viciousness against their new targets, starting with Scorpio. The stingers on Scorpio's tail would shoot out thick streams of poison, aiming to infect its targets as that was an easier way to subdue them.
"Meowstic! Psychic!"
"Meowstic!" Of course, neither of the Meowstic would allow that to happen. They would flip over Druddigon and the others with grace before then putting their minds together, forming an invisible Psychic force. The duo managed to restrain the poison streams that approached their allies, using Psychic's advantage over Poison flawlessly. Afterwards, they would disperse the streams, causing them to fly elsewhere.
"Great! Now, use Earthquake, Druddigon!"
"Go, Hariyama! Use Stone Edge!"
"Drudd!" Druddigon would attack next, stomping on the ground to generate a golden light. This light would form cracks in the ground which would aggressively approach the Despair Plants. Hariyama would join him by using Stone Edge, unleashing blue crystals from the ground by simply slamming his massive hands down.
Cordyceps would simply use its wings to evade the Earthquake but the crystals were certainly harder to avoid with how rapidly they would rise to great heights. Despair Plant Cobra would slither past the crystals with its snake-like physique while also shooting out a powder from its Flytrap Tail. This powder would rapidly spread across the air, causing combustion in the process.
"H-Hari!" Hariyama and Druddigon were struck by this explosive powder from the Cobra's Flytrap Tail, which had yet to sink its fangs into something. This combustion would form a smoke cloud that favoured the Despair Plants as it would mask their appearances. Cobra and Scorpio would advance while the smoke was still up. The Flytrap tail from Cobra would be sent out first, showing its sharp self. Scorpio would crawl up to use its stingers are a closer range.
"I see you! Helping Hand and Shadow Ball, Meowstic!" But Olympia could see them coming first with her perceptive senses. And so would Valerie.
"Mawile! Use Crunch!"
"Meow!" The Male Meowstic would clap his hands, sharing his power with the Female Meowstic. A golden aura appears around the Male Meowstic, as he transfered his aura to the Female Meowstic. With this boost, the Female Meowstic would jump over Scorpio's stinger as it nearly grazed after. After evading the multiple stingers in one-go, Meowstic would form a blob of shadows while in midair, slamming them down onto the Despair Plant from this position.
"Mawile!" Mawile would enter a vicious clash with Cobra. The two of them were facing away from each other while their other sentient body parts would due it out, attempting to gain the advantage. It was two massive mouths biting at each other with only them having the chance to pin and gnaw the other. However, with Cobra unleashing a loud hiss, it would make Mawile flinch from how vigorous and sharp it was, allowing for Cobra's Flytrap to gain the advantage. "M-Maw!"
Mawile's maw ended up losing the clash with Cobra's Flytrap gnawing on it and as an extension, keeping Mawile's entire body restrained. Now that Despair Plant Cobra had Mawile stuck, the main body would slither along, ready to lunge at its pretty.
"I don't think so! Megahorn, Scolipede!"
"Scolipede!" Scolipede would come to Mawile's aid, using its two massive horns. The horns were enveloped in a beautiful green light as the Megapede Pokemon would smash them right into Cobra's Flytrap Tail. However, Scolipede would then feel the sharpness of the Flytrap tail as it also had a strong defence. The horn failed to stab into the steel exterior, prompting Cobra's main body to tackle Scolipede while the Flytrap Tail would swing Mawile around. "S-Scol!"
"Oh, no! Mawile!" Valerie gasped as Mawile was dragged across the ground by the tail, taking continuous damage constantly.
"Probopass! Power Gen!"
"Proboooo!" Saving Mawile and Scolipede would be Probopass, who would unleash sparking rays that resembled gemstones. These rays would batter the Cobra and its Tail, freeing Mawile from all that dragging. And then there was Cordyceps, who would start dropping seeds from above, using the skies to its advantage. That prompted Drayden to handle this one.
"Pursue it, Druddigon! Use Dragon Claw!"
"Drudd!" Druddigon would take flight, approaching Despair Plant Cordyceps. He used his draconic claws to slash at the seeds that would drop from above, only to find out that they were also explosive, similar to the powder that Cobra unleashed. "D-Druddigon...!" Druddigon growled as he was enveloped by yet another explosion, but he didn't let these combustions slow him down.
He simply powered through the explosions, flying out of the smoke and slashing at Cordyceps, Cordyceps hissed after receiving a lethal slash from the Cave Pokemon. But even being hit would have an after-effect. Seeds would fly out of its body, summoning smaller Despair Plant Cordyceps. Druddigon looked around him as these smaller Despair Plants entered this world relatively quickly. But they would leave just as quickly as they would also combust, throwing more explosions at Druddigon.
"Meow?" Meanwhile, the Female Meowstic, who managed to slam Scorpio with Shadow Ball, would find herself receiving retaliation. While stepping on Scorpio to pin it down, the massive plant tail that kept its stingers would then expand like a balloon, pushing Meowstic off. After pushing Meowstic off, two stingers would separate from the tail, unleashed like rockets.
The Female Meowstic would be struck by these two stingers as two new ones would grow back out of Scorpio's Plant Tail as if nothing happened. Poison would instantly seep into the Female Meowstic's body because of this. After being struck by the stingers, the Female Meowstic would be caught by the Male Meowstic who was quick to notice another pair of stingers ready to be shot out.
"Use Protect, Meowstic!"
"Meow!" The Male Meowstic would hold the Female Meowstic close to her while using one hand to form a protective barrier. Right in the nick of time as the next two stingers were shot out. They would stab into Meowstic's Protect, nearly going through it, only for the Normal-Type move to successfully block them.
"Ice Punch, Hariyama!"
"Hariyama!" Hariyama would then move in, approaching Scorpio with a chilling aura around his arms. Right as Meowstic shielded himself and his teammate, he would smile, making way for Hariyama. Once Hariyama had a clear path, he would throw his massive hands at Scorpio.
Retaliating, Scorpio would thrust its stinger at Hariyama. Out of the stingers, poisonous streams were thrown out, forcing Hariyama to clash with those instead. The stinger was only a few feet away from Hariyama's hands while the poison streams met with the chilling aura of Hariyama's Ice Punch.
"Hari! Hari!" Hariyama would rapidly thrust his hands, attempting to push back the streams, only for the Despair Plant Cobra to up the volume of poisonous streams, making them thicker.
"Help him out, Scolipede! Rock Slide!"
"Use Flash Cannon, Probopass!"
"Scoli!" Thankfully, Scolipede and Probopass were there to assist. A barrage of rocks along with a silver beam of light energy would fly out, intercepting the rest of Scorpio's poison. Despair Plant Scorpio found itself being assaulted by these two attacks. This allowed Hariyama's Ice Punch to push through the rest of the streams as a triple attack had been unleashed on Scorpio.
The chilling blow from Hariyama and the hard, rugged impacts of Scolipede and Probopass were enough to send this demonic plant flying. And the same went for Cordyceps, who despite having assaulted Druddigon with constant explosions, would be sent downwards either way.
The two Despair Plants would roll and tumble from the damage they received, but not before leaving something behind. Both Meowstic and Hariyama had been poisoned thanks to Scorpio and Cobra. By now, Machamp was already gone, thankfully. If the people, ponies and Pokemon were still here, they would be caught up in the battle after all.
"That should do it." Brawly breathed in and out. "Are you alright, Hariyama?"
"Hari...Hariyama." Hariyama hung in there even if he was poisoned. The Female Meowstic also had some strength left as she was being supported by the Male Meowstic who kept her balance up.
"Is that it for them?" Roxanne wondered after witnessing Scorpio and Cordyceps take a tumble. Even Cobra had been forced back recently. The three Despair Plants would appear out of the dust and smoke as it hard to tell if they had taken any damage at all. But one thing was for sure, they were still active.
"Not bad." Speaking once more was Rosa Maledicta, who got their attention. "As expected from Gym Leaders. No one else here could put up that well of a fight against them. But your experience with battling many opponents has so many benefits, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. Might as well call it quits here. And tell us what you did with everyone else and why they look like that!" Brawly exclaimed.
"You took their souls, didn't you?" Olympia questioned. "Why? Who are you?"
"You're right about that. Their souls have left their bodies. You should've been there to see it. The way they thought the needed to lie down and rest and the next thing they know, they became soulless and make a wonderful art piece. My darlings made it themselves if you must know." Rosa cackled, revelling in the pain of these innocents.
"If they lost their souls...then we can get them back!" Valerie gasped, realizing that there was still hope to bring these innocents back.
"I was about to say that but...thank you, very much, Valerie," Olympia added. "Their souls can be retrieved. Not all is lost here."
"If you can make it out of this mess. Of course...I haven't sent all of my darlings. I only needed three for this town and they did an excellent job these past months. But their true potential should be shown to you. My babies...Time to Fuse!"
"Fuse?!" The Gym Leaders repeated. Right then and there, the further extent of these Despair Plants and their abilities had been revealed. They had one unique trait that would be shown off.
In their damaged states, two of them would be enveloped in a dark light. Scorpio and Cobra to be exact. Their bodies would then crash into each other at full force, causing a trembling presence to flow through the area, which kept the Gym Leaders alert, nearly knocking some of them off balance. Only Cordyceps was exempt from this, but it was still able to continue perfectly.
The two Despair Plants would fuse, forming an energy whirlwind once their bodies would alter to form something new. The Gym Leaders watched in awe as out of it came a new Despair Plant that would be introduced by Rosa Maledicta herself.
"Say hello to Despair Plant Chimera!" Emerging from the dark light was an even larger Despair Plant that was twice as large as most of these buildings.
Having the physique of a Weepingbell, this demonic plant had two large arms with mouths on them along with a multitude of sharp roots around it. The face of this plant had a flower mane with the centre being a black hole that possessed numerous fangs. These roots would latch onto the buildings to support the weight of this gigantic plant as it was drooling poison as its final effect. Cordyceps would hover over Chimera, ready to assist.
"By this point, it should be over for you. But I think you all should have a different fate compared to these no-bodies. I'll be seeing you soon. Farewell, Gym Leaders." Right then and there, Rosa Maledicta's voice would vanish. She left it all to her plants which were certainly capable of being as destructive as her. As they looked on in awe at this massive plant, they were ready for the worst.
And in a flash, this large plant would lean in at great speeds, using its massive mouth to try and consume the Gym Leaders and their Pokemon. Valerie looked up in awe as the next thing she saw was nothing but darkness.
A new day had arrived at the Pokemon School. And currently, it was lacking teachers. Twilight and her class found themselves sitting in what was meant to be Brawly's class, only to find that Brawly was absent. The students all lounged around, waiting for the Fighting-Type expert to show up.
"He's not here yet..." Twilight grumbled, waiting patiently for Brawly. "Where is he? Come to think of it...not many teachers are in today."
"Maybe they're running late?" Rainbow Dash yawned, bouncing an empty Poke Ball on her hoof constantly. "Not all of 'em are used to how this new world turned out."
"That can't be right." Rarity thought otherwise. "They made it here yesterday with plenty of time to spare. Maybe they're just ill."
"Or something got in their way. You did say that some Pokemon are riled up from how the world has changed." Fluttershy said to Twilight. "Maybe they're just dealing with some Pokemon."
"I don't mind if they don't show up soon. This takes me back anyway." said Amethyst Star. "I remember back at the Ponyville Schoolhouse, we'd meess around when the teacher wasn't around."
"I remember that!" Roseluck added, sitting up. "Usually, we'd be the ones to start something. Good times...Maybe we should do the same here until they show up?"
"Sounds fun!" Applejack was all for that. "I always joined in when that happened."
"All of you went to the same school?" Twilight faced her friends from Ponyville.
"Not all of us, but enough for some familiarity. "Applejack would be the one to start all the chaos, actually." Roseluck revealed that Applejack was a bit mischievous back then. Only when the teacher was absent from the classroom, that is. But that was only natural for children.
"Well, glad I wasn't there." Twilight crossed her hooves. "Everything back at Canterlot was smooth-sailing, even with the teacher gone. In any case, who's going to teach us now?"
Twilight had to wonder if a substitute would show up. And if it would be very soon. But none were aware to the true reasons for these absent teachers. Some were obviously not here, busy as Gym Leaders and Elite 4 Members. But for others, it involved Magehold.
Entering the classroom was Volkner, as he surprised everyone with his appearance. The entire class would stop what they were doing just to respond to Volkner's arrival. So much for goofing around.
"Volknery, you're here!" Twilight stood up with glee. "Are you our substitute?!"
"No. If you're wondering about Brawly and the others...they're fine. Well, as fine as they can be." Volkner said, revealing that the other teachers were still around. "Right now, they're a bit busy and healing."
"Why? What happened?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I'll tell you what I heard." Volkner was ready to share the whole story. At least, what Drayden and the others managed to tell him. And it involved Hearthome City and the disappearance of Fanatina.
Magehold. Afternoon.
Speaking of Magehold, Rosa Maledicta, who was still in her healing chamber, would open her eyes as for the longest, she had kept them closed. The Lich Queen took a deep breath, relaxing herself. But she still could not move her hooves at all. Only her eyes could be controlled.
"Ahh...It's a new day. And by now, I can trust that my darling Despair Plants had dealt with those Gym Leaders. I could use some new help over here at Magehold when it comes to Pokemon knowledge." Rosa rambled. "Not everyone here uses Ghost-Types or even Dark-Types."
"Are you feeling better, your majesty?" Fractured Note, her loyal servant asked.
"A bit. But I still cannot move. Yveltal's power is exactly what I hoped for but obviously, it's just as dangerous to us as it is to anyone else. It will still be some time before I can move."
"The Black Crusade will still happen relatively soon, right? Until then, should we launch another full-scale attack on the rest of this new world while we wait?" Fractured Note suggested.
"No. But keeping causing anarchy. That's always lovely. In this new world, we need to expect the worst. It's already been a week and we have yet to fully know what this new combined world has brought us. In the meantime...Let me check up on Hearthome." The Lich Queen closed her eyes, using her magic to view Hearthome City even from this distance.
With her amazing magic, so as long as she had been to a destination and left an impact on it, it was impossible for this location to escape her sights. Hearthome was one of the few Pokemon locations she could view from Magehold. Similar to how Lucario senses Aura, Rosa Maledicta's vision would accelerate.
And there it was. Hearthome City. Still devoid of colour and absent of sound. Rosa was expecting to see a new addition of victims to the ball of innocents. However, the moment she viewed the city, she would find that Amity Square, the location where all the victims could be found, was empty. Not a soul could be found here.
However, something was left behind. Droplets of poison had been scattered everywhere, most likely from the Despair Plants. None of the plants could be seen. Not Chimera or even Cordyceps. "What...? Where are my darlings? I can still see Hearthome so one of them has to be around somewhere. But where are the Gym Leaders?"
The Gym Leaders were gone as well. Rosa Maledicta could not find a trace of them anywhere. The only thing that her eyes managed to grab was the large crater that was formed underneath Amity Square. She would send her vision to that crater, looking through its massive size to see what was lying within.
Lo and behold, Despair Plant Chimera had been found. It lay there in the massive crater, still active as its multiple mouths were moving. This one Despair Plant was enough for Rosa Maledicta to view the city for herself. "My darling Chimera. You're still here...But the Gym Leaders...Did they escape?!"
This annoyed Rosa. This was a clear sign that the Gym Leaders managed to escape but failed to take down this Fusion Plant. And of course, this meant that the many victims had managed to escape.
Yesterday.
It all happened yesterday. Drayden, Brawly, Roxie, Roxanne, Valerie and Olympia had witnessed the true power of the Despair Plants. They had the power to fuse into an even deadlier Despair Plant. In this case, Cobra and Scorpio had fused into Chimera, stunning the Gym Leaders with its horrific appearance. However, this is where things turned for the Gym Leaders via their own efforts.
"D-Druddigon...!" Druddigon caught Chimera's large mouth with his bare hands, holding back the plant from consuming him and his friends. Right in the nick of time as the plant was only one inch from doing so. However, Despair Plant Chimera's ferocity was far worse than what the lesser Despair Plants had to offer.
From its main mouth, it would unleash a purple light that would connect with the ground, pushing Druddigon and everyone back. The light would send out a pressure that ended up letting out a roar. This was an odd way for the Despair Plant to let out a roar but it was efficient and fierce. The sheer volume of this pressure was difficult for any of them to keep their balance.
"W-What strength...!" Drayden growled as he just barely managed to recover after being pushed back. Roxie and Roxanne would both crash into the rubble of benches while Brawly, Valerie and Olympia found themselves hitting the walls of the buildings.
Their Pokemon didn't fare any better. The two Meowstics and Mawile with their small bodies would be sent the farthest, bumping into their respective trainers. Druddigon recovered in the air, only to fly through a few lamp posts when trying to maintain his momentum. Hariyama would crash into Brawly, who was already trying to recollect himself. Scolipede would try forming a circular shape as a form of recovery, only to be too late to do so.
Each Trainer and Pokemon had already suffered damage just from this attack. But Chimera, along with Cordyceps, would not let up. The massive vines around it would be swung around along with the rest of its mouths. Having yet to recover, the vines would hit their targets, starting with the Pokemon which would lead on to the trainers. The vines cleaved off the sides of different buildings, spreading more destruction along the way. Cordyceps wouldn't help, dropping seeds from above which would only combust to put the pressure on some more.
Since Hearthome was devoid of much life, the Despair Plants were free to cause as much destruction as possible. And that even involved Fantina's Gym along with the Contest Halls, both having their roofs blown off. The roofs would fall, crashing into lesser buildings, leaving them in shambles. Asserting its dominance, Chimera would roar while being surrounded by the combustion.
"Ugh..." Crawling out of the rubble was Brawly, who now had tatters and scratches all over him. Everyone else here received the same treatment. They all had a battle with the Despair Plants earlier and now it seemed like it continue. Some were already starting to feel exhausted. "Oh yeah...It's strong. Kinda wish Machamp would come back soon...I can trust that he's put them all somewhere safe."
"Absurdly strong..." Olympia groaned before getting on one knee. The smoke and dust would mask her appearance as her cosmic-like cape had received some damage and yet the stars within would remain. "If we are to return the souls of everyone in whatever way we can...stopping these Despair Plants is a top priority. Otherwise...we may not leave Hearthome at all."
"Fantina could be with those innocents...It's horrible that they've all been stuck here." Valerie helped up her Mawile before returning the Steel-Fairy-Type. "Why would someone do this?"
"Only one possibility...The Dread League." Drayden growled. "They only seek total destruction of our world after all. Which means Fantina, unfortunately, got caught up with them."
"That sucks." Roxie looked at her guitar, which had received major damage, causing the Posion-Type expert to gasp. "My guitar...! That plant's gonna pay!" At this point, Roxie had an even bigger reason to defeat these Despair Plants after her guitar suffered damage.
"We should worry about ourselves as well." Roxanne held her arm before kneeling, grunting at the damage she received.
"Are you alright?!" Brawly ran over to Roxanne before feeling his knee ache, slowing the Fighting-Type expert down. "Gh!"
"How about you look after yourself first before someone else?" Roxanne chuckled. "For now, I'll be fine. We'll all be fine unless we stop that thing."
Chimera and Cordyceps would approach their prey. These predator plants would not relent as there was a different fate waiting for the Gym Leaders compared to the innocents. And it was the same fate as Fantina.
"Then, let's hurry." Drayden stood up tall along with his Druddigon. "Our students are waiting for us. With this new world, we have more to teach them and more to see."
"Agreed." Olympia would remove her cape as her two Meowstics, even if one of them was poisoned, would gather the strength to continue until the Despair Plants had been weeded out. Brawly, Roxie, Valerie and Roxanne would collect themselves as well.
If they do not stop these Despair Plants, they might never seek the answers for where Fantina may be or even help those who have lost their souls' thanks to Rosa Maledicta. Valerie would send out her Sylveon as all the Gym Leaders that all shared similar regions in pairs would once again unite their strength.
It would start with Drayden ordering his Druddigon and soon, all the others would follow after that. Another clash with the Despair Plants would begin over at the ruined Hearthome City.
The Pokemon School.
"That's what they shared." Back at the Pokemon School, during the present, Volkner shared what he learned. "They were out searching for Fantina. Unfortunately, they didn't find her, but they did find those that lost their souls back there."
"That's horrible! I-Is there a way to bring their souls back?!" Fluttershy stammered.
"You're lucky that most Gym Leaders are experts in a ton of things instead of just one Type." Volkner continued. "Olympia's already trying to sort it out. But as for Fantina...She wasn't with those who lost their souls. She's currently missing and Drayden figures that it's the Dread League that's behind this."
"Oh yeah...Back at the Pokemon Festival, Scootaloo and the others mentioned how some crazy vines and roots attacked them over at Mt Coronet." Rainbow Dash added as the Cutie Mark Crusaders had a run-in with Rosa Maledicta's magic. "It was Galaxy Master who saved them."
"The vampires got Fantina? That's horrible!" Rarity screeched, fearing that the worst was happening to Fantina at the moment. She feared that the Contest Specialist was being tortured in various ways. "They might ruin that unique hair of hers that she has...And her dress too!"
"We don't know yet. But we won't stop searching for her." Volkner took a seat. "For now, stay calm. We'll figure it out. But Hearthome City's currently off limits. The battle between those weird plants and the others left a big impact on what was already an empty city.
"Hearthome City's in that state?" Twilight said to herself, looking to the side. Already, thoughts about where she wanted to go were coming up.
"As for everyone else they're back at Olympia's city. Anistar. You can expect to see 'em again. That's all I gotta say. And as for your lessons...I'm not supposed to teach you today or yet, so do whatever." Volkner finished.
"Uh...I don't think I'm in the mood anymore." Amethyst Star sighed as her chaotic mood had been killed after what Volkner shared. The same went with everyone else who were ready to goof off.
But as they all spoke about the situation, the one who stayed silent was Roseluck. No one noticed it yet but she moved to the corner away from everyone. After hearing about the possibility of the Dread League being involved along with these demonic plants, Roseluck already knew the truth.
Being that she was the little sister of Rosa Maledicta, Roseluck knew that her sister was behind this. And yet, no one else but Princess Celestia as well as Applejack knew about this. Speaking of Applejack, she would notice Roseluck in the corner, looking down with disappointment and sadness in her eyes. .The thought of her sister performing all these wicked acts was something she did not wish to think about. But with how things currently were, it was impossible to ignore.
And unfortunately, for Applejack, despite being so honest, she had yet to share the truth with everyone. Mainly due to what the Memory Demon once said to her.
Your Sun Princess knows by now what kind of consequences that could have if they knew about Roseluck's sister. Who knows what others would do to her? Maybe this town will be fine with it but everywhere else is another story...Not that she's as bad as the Lich Queen, not even anywhere near that level but what's stopping them from making the worst assumptions? This world has a reputation for doing that. So...how's that? Let me free for her sake?"
"Uh, Volkner. Sir. Permission to head to Hearthome City?" Twilight suddenly spoke, wishing to visit the city that had been ruined by Rosa Maledicta and her Despair Plants.
"Didn't you hear the Off-Limits part? No one's going. Not yet anyway. Those plants are still around and we haven't dealt with them yet." Volkner shook his head. "You'll stay away from there, princess. Sorry."
"I-I got it. I just wanted to see if there was something I could do." Twilight sighed as Volkner already put his foot down, even if he did so with little effort and energy in his voice.
"I can do something." Roseluck suddenly spoke, deciding to chime in as she raised her hoof. Everyone would soon face her while Applejack scrunched her face out of fear. "Those plants...I can do something about them."
"I said no." Volkner refused. "Right now, it's way too dangerous."
"Just give me a chance. I know a lot about plants myself." Roseluck insisted. "Those um...Despair Plants. I think I can get how they act. They're similar to Flytraps but they take it a step further. I have something that renders them immobile or even lures them away."
"Yeah. Why not leave it to her?" Rainbow Dash added. "She's the plant expert here."
"It'd be a lot of our backs if we got rid of these plants." Rarity spoke. "Even though the Gym Leaders struggled with it...Perhaps we won't need to battle them."
"Sorry, but I'm gonna have to decline. Unless...you're gonna do it even with my rejection." Volkner smiled as he already predicted what these ponies would do. He saw through them instantly. "You're all still young, so that's the obvious thing to do."
"So...I get to do it?" Roseluck leaned forward.
"I can't stop you. But listen up. Drayden and the others managed to escape, so those plants are gonna act differently now that they've lost someone they couldn't trap. They might even decide to go elsewhere now that I think about it."
"I can guess how the plants would act." Roseluck stood up, feeling more confident in herself. "Leave it to me, please."
"Okay then. You're the expert here. And the Gym Leader." Volkner stood up, shrugging in response. "Who am I to judge a fellow Type Specialist?"
"Thank you so much!" Roseluck thanked him greatly. "But uh...this method I'm gonna use. I'm gonna have give need a bit of magic for plants these large. And let's not head to Hearthome instantly. I'm thinking that we prepare first, however long it may take."
"And if they come from the Dread League and are that tough, should we ask Galaxy Master for help? Where even is he right now?" Starlight asked.
"Mmm?" Twilight shrugged as the location of Galaxy Master was a mystery. "His light was effective on those roots and vines apparently. That light would help out a lot...But we might have a way to get something similar!" The Princess of Friendship gasped, realizing that there was another light that could be greatly beneficial. And thankfully, it was a light that everyone knew. "Now might be a good time to take up Ash's offer about meeting Sheena."
Recently, news about Hearthome City had been spread further. Twilight and her friends were aware of the Despair Plants after the Gym Leaders managed to escape from the city. However, those plants remained at Hearthome with Chimera being active.
"There's also the Sea Temple Crystals. Galaxy Master came to life because of those. Why don't we use them?" Rainbow Dash asked, referring to how the crystals from Samiya gave Galaxy Master this amazing light. This light was the only known thing that could fully destroy the Adaptable Roots that Rosa Maledicta created and were possibly just as effective on the Despair Plants.
"It's easier to find Sheena since we know she's at Michina Town. The Sea Temple's always travelling with the water flow, so we don't exactly know where it is right now. Plus...I'd like to meet Sheena with her special talent too." Twilight Sparkle answered.
"Fair enough. It'll take us a while before we can reach Michina, according to Ash. Equestria's not exactly close to Sinnoh either." Rainbow Dash gazed at the map. Speaking of Ash, he was currently present with them after being called up by Twilight once she took his offer.
"We'll get there and it won't be too late," Ash replied. "So about those plants...Roseluck's got something for them?"
"Apparently so. But she needs magic. It's not something natural that she can use." Twilight explained. "But we can count on Roseluck. I'm sure she knows what she's doing. As for us, we should head to Sheena."
"Maybe later we can check up on Valerie and everyone else?" Fluttershy suggested. The condition of the Gym Leaders and even the people, ponies and Pokemon they saved were important. "How do you think they're going to restore everyone's souls? What do you think, Ash?"
"Pikachu and I had our souls taken away before." Ash nodded along with Pikachu. Indeed, he and Pikachu have had their souls stripped from their bodies once but returned to normal right afterwards. "You can put it back, so there's no need to worry."
"Of course, you'd casually bring something like that up..." Goh grimaced after hearing Ash's short sentence about his soul being taken away.
"Ghost-Types are pretty good at putting souls back. But Fantina's the one who they were looking for." Ash pondered. "Well! It's a good thing we've got a lot of Ghost-Type Specialists as Gym Leaders, right? I've got Gengar with me to boot and Rarity's got Froslass. Olympia's probably going for that."
"Yes, a good thing. But I hope Fantina's not actually with the Dread League," said Rarity. "She's always so sweet to Sweetie Belle when giving her contest advice. It'd be a shame to lose her in any way."
"Yeah. Next to Dawn, I'd really like to see her at the Grand Festival. It'll be coming up over at Canterlot." Sweetie Belle added, wishing to see all of her Contest Mentors there when that day comes. "Tell me everything when you get back from Michina Town since it'll take you a few days."
"Bah. I'm not worried about that distance." Rainbow Dash shrugged off the Michina Town distance. But she then realized that despite how fast she may be, it wouldn't matter if she didn't know the right direction to reach this town in the Sinnoh Region.
"Oh! Oh! Could you maybe find Galaxy Master too? He's gotta be somewhere in the world now, right?" Scootaloo asked, wishing to bring Galaxy Master into this. It has been a while since he's been seen and his last known appearance as at the Galaxy Tower where a large battle broke out.
"That'll be much harder. Sorry." Twilight apologized. "The only way to find him is if the Rift takes us to him. But we'll see him again, most definitely. Anyway, let's get going. By the time we get back, Roseluck might've probably found what she was looking for and it'll be great to get some advice from Sheena."
"Do you think we'll get something from her?" Pinkie asked as everyone would start departing for Sinnoh. "What are we gonna get, Ash?"
"Hmm...Well, all I know is that she's got that special talent of hers. It was pretty big of you to mention her probably using some light from Arceus, Twilight." Ash replied. "I didn't think of that. I just figured that's something she always does."
"She's an Arceus expert, so I'd say it's a pretty guess." Twilight theorized. "If not, we can still learn something valuable. Plus, any form of light is good against vampires, after all."
Roseluck's Home.
Over at Roseluck's Home, keeping to her word and promise about having a way to deal with these Despair Plants, she would start rummaging through her collectables and various items in her home. Something in her home had magical properties despite the fact that she was an Earth Pony. While Ash's group were heading elsewhere, Roseluck would prepare something for the Despair Plants that only someone of her expertise could cover. Fitting, considering who her older sister was and what her occupation was.
"Where is it? It's been a while but it stands out." Roseluck said while searching for this object. She would have her Roserade, Bounsweet and Roselia assist in searching for this item. Each of her Pokemon that were used for Equestria's First Gym would move around, shuffling as many objects as they could. Bounsweet was doing her best despite having no arms whatsoever.
And when looking, Roseluck would think back to a moment with her sister that involved this specific object.
Another memory within her that related to Rosa Maledicta had been unlocked, even if Roseluck did her best to keep her older sister out of her. She always came back, somehow, in some way, much to Roseluck's chagrin. But this memory did make her chuckle as it had something rather humorous within it.
"Ew! Get it away!" A young Roseluck was plastered onto the wall of her own volition, absolutely terrified by what she was staring at. Right next to Rosa Maledicta was a Flytrap which was bigger than Roseluck but shorter than Rosa. Looking at this carnivorous plant made her tremble at hypersonic speeds as she refused to get down, believing that the flytrap was eyeing her down for an eventual bite.
"What? It's just a Flytrap." Rosa was casual around the Flytrap. "One day, you'll be able to grow these. Of course, not to this level. A bit of my magic's been added into this."
"Does it have to be so massive? And I think it's looking at me even without eyes..." She squirmed, hearing the Flytrap growl. It didn't help that the Flytrap would lean in, slowly approaching the filly with some drool dripping from its mouth. "Sis...!" She screeched for her sister who would end up petting the flytrap.
"It only eats insects. It's far too weak to eat a pony anyway. Even if it's a child." Rosa chuckled, bringing some relief to Roseluck.
"Hah..." Roseluck slid off the wall, sighing greatly before landing flat on her face. Right then and there, the Flytrap would get close to her, startling the filly. "Geeeh!" She was afraid that she had let her guard down, allowing the Flytrap to get an advantage. But that was not the case. Instead, the Flytrap would nudge her head playfully, showing no hostile intentions.
"But, on the off chance that they can ignore their limitations, I always come prepared. These Flytraps of mine aren't as natural as the ones in the wild. They're mostly influenced by magic, which means they have more room to grow. But they won't last that long even with that difference."
"How long do flytraps last, sis?"
"In the wild, they live for 20 years. Possibly longer. But that's only in the wild though. Even with the magic I gave them, they still need to live in the wild to really prosper, so I can't keep them around here. It's better to let them live freely out there...But I am working on something."
"Something to make them live longer?"
"That's right. Quick thinking. I've already started working on a magic that'll affect flytraps. No. All plants, actually. It'll come as a nice elixir that'll help soothe plants as if they were being sung to sleep. Rabid flytraps will be slowed down by this magic, without a doubt and plants will react differently to this elixir." Rosa Maledicta would show an example of this elixir by revealing it to her little sister.
It appeared with a mixture of blue and green colours within. The elixir was constantly glowing and radiating a vibrant aura for something that was not yet completed. "Oooh..."
"Beautiful, isn't it? Most plants don't have magic but I'd like to change that myself. Magic can do a lot to everything after all. Sucks that you don't have any magic." Rosa smirked, teasing Roseluck for her lack of magic.
"Hey! I have magic!" The little earth pony vehemently replied. "Mom and dad said that Earth Ponies help grow the world so, hah! That makes me super important to the world."
"Alright. Fair enough. Now...how about you take further steps in learning how to make Flytraps?" Rosa leaned in, nudging her little sister.
"Uh...They creep me out! No thanks!"
That was where the memory ended for Roseluck. It did get a laugh out of her, but she quickly remembered what her sister had become. And it didn't help that these plants of hers were now weapons of destruction that threaten cities and all forms of life.
Right as the memory finished, she found the item she was looking for, hidden in a pile, was an old chest. Within that chest, the elixir appeared. To this day, it was still there. However, it lost its vibrance. The colours became pale and saturated, much like how Hearthome City currently appeared as.
"It's gone. The magic's all gone." Roseluck uttered, holding the elixir close to her. The magic that once resided within the Elixir was no more. Now it was only the liquids which had most definitely expired. Her Pokemon stayed silent, wondering what Roseluck would do now. She wished to use this on the Despair Plants but it seemed like that wouldn't happen anymore. Rosa Maledicta was gone, eliminating the chances for a new elixir to be made.
"Roserade?" Roserade walked up to Roseluck, placing her bouquet on her back for comfort. It looked like Roseluck's promise had instantly been shattered right on the spot. However, Roseluck did not give up that easily.
"It's fine." She recollected herself. "I can fix this. All it needs is a magical touch. And we have plenty of magic to go around in Equestria. I just have to ask for help, that's all."
Though the elixir was lacking magic, Roseluck knew that she could just request help from somepony else who had magic. And thankfully, a lot of ponies here had access to magic. But the question was if any of them had magic that was on par with what her sister could produce in the past.
However, there was someone else that came to mind for Rosa. She did have one fear. That somehow, everypony could find out about her family ties. Not wanting to take the risk, she would turn to the one individual who was in that very situation. She could be found at the Pokemon House, waiting for a certain forest to heal before she can truly head home.
"I'll just ask Zecora for help." Zecora would be the one Roseluck would go to. Once she sorted that out, after returning all of her Pokemon, she would leave her home with the elixir. However, waiting for her outside was unexpected company. "Oh!" She was jumpscared by the appearance of her dear friends.
In this case, Amethyst Star, Lyra Heartstrings and a few other unicorns specifically. "Hey. Sorry for the scare, but did you find what you were looking for?"
"Uh, I did," Roseluck replied. "Thanks for stopping by to check up on me."
"You said that magic was involved. We figured we'd help out with that. We kinda know a thing or two about magic, after all." Amethyst grinned, poking her horn.
"Oh, sorry. I appreciate the help, but this requires an extra punch of magic. It's relatively big." Roseluck rejected their offer for obvious reasons. However, Amethyst and the others assumed that it was just the elixir being too much for them, when in reality, Roseluck wouldn't let anyone find out about her family ties.
"Too much? Aw...I guess that's fair." Amethyst sighed as she truly wished to be of some help.
"I can count on Zecora to have that punch that I need. But thanks for the offer. If I ever need magical help, I'll come to you all next time." Roseluck would leave, rushing off to the Pokemon House while her unicorn friends would watch in disappointment. None of them had contributed. But then again, Roseluck wouldn't have let them contribute in any way from the start.
The Pokemon House. Day.
"You want me to add some of my magic into this?" Arriving at the Pokemon House, Roseluck already began speaking to Zecora, who could be found within the Flying-Type Room. "And why is it that you came to me first, but not anyone else who uses magic?"
"Oh, you went to that first, right?" Roseluck said. "Well, I just figured you'd be a good choice. After all, you helped make the Golden Stairway, didn't you?"
"I did, but that's not the only reason why you came here." However, Zecora instantly saw through Roseluck, knowing that there was another reason for this. "There's another reason why you chose me...isn't there?"
"Maybe you're too perceptive..." Roseluck shuddered, impressed that Zecora could already predict what she was thinking. It intimidated her. "Maybe it's my body language, isn't it? But you're right. I came here to you for one reason. I couldn't go to anyone else because I was afraid of what might happen. Zecora. You've been judged before, haven't you?"
"I have, but it all turned out well for me in the end." Zecora nodded. "For you, you don't have much to worry about, unless there's something secretive that you're hiding from all of your friends?"
"I am. I...I'm hoping that you can keep this a secret. And uh...Even from the Pokemon themselves." Roseluck leaned in. "You don't go to the Pokemon School, so you wouldn't know about this, but there's someone in my family who isn't well-favoured. I'd like to keep her a secret so that everypony doesn't find out. If they do then..."
"Then you'd be seen differently by many of them." Zecora finished Roseluck's sentence. "That's understandable, but not trusting any of them? I would put my faith in some my chums."
"Eh? Seriously?" Roseluck pulled back. "I don't know about that. I mean...I know I'm not even telling you her name but still. I can't tell them."
"Cold Colt was similar to me and he now lives with us. You were one of the ponies who welcomed him to this town and now you're suddenly seeing something like this as superfluous?" Zecora narrowed her eyes. "Unless this is serious, this shouldn't be too difficult for you to do. But, don't worry. For this elixir receiving a punch, I can still help you."
"It is serious..." The truth was that Roseluck's situation was critically serious considering who her older sister was and the impact she and the nation had left on Equestria. So much so that even when putting her trust in Zecora, she held some of that trust back, not revealing the name of this mystery pony to her. "Just, please help me. Hearthome City is kinda overrun with horrific plants."
Zecora nodded as she would assist Rosa Maledicta. But her suspicions were now elevated. Zecora had to wonder who this mystery pony was to the point where Roseluck threw away her accepting nature and feared what would happen to her.
Ash's party would travel to Michina Town to meet with Sheena while Roseluck would bring along an elixir made for these types of plants. Both sides had a part in this and yet, neither were any close to finding Fantina or even knowing of her current condition as the journey continues.
Still to this day, the Despair Plants populated the city with Chimera and Cordyceps being the only ones around. Seeing that their prey had vanished, Despair Plant Chimera had no reason to take on this fused form anymore. Now, it was truly only the Despair Plants that populated this city. Chimera would defuse, forming a dark light that would reveal Scorpio and Cobra, who were the original two vessels for that fusion.
However, despite being creatures of senseless destruction that only seek anarchy, the Despair Plants felt something else. Something that irritated them each. Their prey managed to escape. Not only that, but they also ended up fighting back with maximum efficiency. Scorpio, Cobra and Cordyceps could not forget how the Gym Leaders held them back. The moment when this crater formed was the moment the Gym Leaders received an advantage.
With its memory, the Despair Plant recalled how Druddigon, the two Meowstics, Sylveon, Probopass, Hariyama and Scolipede combined their strength to form a massive wave of Infinity Energy. That wave crashed into the Despair Plant, dealing massive damage in the process. Cordyceps was even caught in the explosion with how destructive it was.
After that, the Gym Leaders managed to escape after engaging in such a long struggle against the Despair Plants. The plants despised the fact they failed to stop them, hissing and roaring in frustration.
"Frustrated? I know. No one is supposed to evade your clutches at all." The voice of the Lich Queen, Rosa Maledicta spoke to them all the way from Magehold. "Which is why no one will. You know what you must do. You've battled those Gym Leaders and their Pokemon. You now have their scent. Permanently. Hunt them down and finish off your prey. It'll be nice for you to explore the rest of the world, after all."
By Rosa's command, the Despair Plants would depart. They would hunt Drayden and the other Gym Leaders down out of hostility and fulfilment. Hearthome City would no longer be populated by them. Now, they would spread out, targeting three specific regions where these Gym Leaders could be found.
Hoenn, Unova and Kalos.
Sinnoh. Jubilife City. Afternoon.
During their journey to reach Michinia Town, Ash and his friends arrived at Jubilife Town. While they had a set destination, there was no shame in having fun in any location they can find and end up in. On top of that, Michinia Town was extremely far away, requiring multiple days to reach it, considering how scarce it was.
And when entering Jubilife, Rarity was already swarmed by a few people as she had a proud smile on her face. "It pays to be a PokeStar Studios Star." Rarity happily said as this was due to her status as a PokeStar Studios Actress. The fame of a movie star was something that couldn't be ignored.
"You don't mind the lack of free space?" Twilight said to Rarity, seeing how surrounded she was. Anyone else would do whatever they could to escape the crowd gathering that was prone to paparazzi.
"Are you kidding?! I've been waiting for this for a long time, Twilight. PokeStar Studios is one the best things that's ever happened to me. And by extension, Sweetie Belle could reach that status with her contests."
"Fair enough. But how come we don't have anyone swarming us?" Rainbow Dash pouted, noticing how no one would recognize her and the others but only Rarity. Fame was powerful but highly specific at times.
"At least it's going well for Ash." Spike would point out how Ash was gaining some eyes. But it was mainly due to the battle he was currently having. It was another Pokemon World Championships Battle which was a way to help him reach the Strongest Trainer in the World. Champion Leon.
"Pikachu! Use Quick Attack!"
"Pika! Pika-Pika-Pika!" At blinding speeds, Pikachu would take off, leaving a silver trail behind while moving across the concrete ground.
"Stop him, Torterra! Use Earthquake!"
"Tor...Terra!" Torterra would raise its legs, smashing them against the concrete ground and forming golden shockwaves that were prone to deliver a super-effective blow to the Mouse Pokemon.
"Jump Pikachu! And then zone in!"
"Pika!" Pikachu would then leap from the ground, taking to the skies. This allowed him to evade the Earthquake before then zooming through the air as if he was a rocket. And with the speed of a rocket, he would crash into Torterra by smashing his head against the Grass-Ground-Type, managing to get the first hit off.
"Go, Ash!" Cheering him on and watching this battle was Fluttershy along with Pinkie Pie.
"Ra! Raboot!" Raboot would jump around, flailing his arms in excitement of this battle while encouraging Ash and Pikachu.
"Solar Beam!"
"Tor...Terra!" After receiving a Quick Attack to the head, Torterra would quickly retaliate by unleashing Solar from its mouth. And thanks to the intense sun, the attack was instantly unleashed, approaching Pikachu, who hadn't gauged a good enough distance yet.
"Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" In the nick of time, Pikachu would harden his tail, swinging it at the beam of solar energy and initiating a clash. Now it was a matter of overpowering the beam with Iron Tail.
"Boot! Raboot!" Raboot yelled, attempting to pump Pikachu up so that he could power through this. Hearing the cries of his friends, Pikachu would exert more of his strength into this Iron Tail.
"Pika...Chuuu!" With brute force, he absolutely sliced through the Solar Beam, cutting in half. Solar Beam would combust from being cut in half, enveloping Torterra in its own attack.
"Tor...!"
"Now, Iron Tail, once more!"
"Pika-Pikachu!" Pikachu would then move through the smoke, using Iron Tail yet again. With Torterra being stunned by the explosion, this gave Pikachu the opportunity to strike at full force, swinging his tail at the Grass-Ground-Type and delivering a strong blow to its face. "Pika!"
"T-Tor..." And with that staggering Iron Tail, Torterra would fall over, shaking the ground slightly. Torterra had fainted, meaning this battle went to Ash and Pikachu.
"Torterra is unable to battle!" The Rotom Drone that spectates the World Championship Battle said. "Pikachu Wins! Thus, the winner of this battle is Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"
"Nice! Great job, Pikachu!" Ash pumped his fist upwards in celebration as Pikachu would do the same.
"Pi-Pikachu!"
"Type Disadvantage doesn't matter to those two, doesn't it?" Fluttershy applauded along with many others who viewed this battle from start to finish.
"Due to this battle's outcome, the Pokemon World Championship Rankings will be updated." The drone would then leave, heading off to distribute the current rankings of each trainer after Ash's victory.
"Pretty soon, he'll be very well-known," Twilight said after taking a glance at the battle. "Ash will be known worldwide. Mark my words on that. When he becomes the World Champion, it'll bring a massive crowd that's even bigger than what goes on over at Equestria. Hopefully, it's not too overwhelming."
"It'll be overwhelming without a doubt," Starlight replied. "So, about Michina Town. How close are we to it?"
"It's been two days now." Twilight showed off the map of Sinnoh to her friends. "The Map of Sinnoh's changed a bit thanks to the new world. The expanded landmass makes the journey slightly longer and creates a few inconveniences here and there, but it's fine. Michina Town was definitely affected by it, so it'd probably take us...not sure how long it would take for us to reach there. Unless we can find a shortcut."
"Weird. How come it's this one place that takes so long to reach?" Rainbow Dash wondered. Compared to every other location, they manage to reach their destinations fairly quickly. But most of it was due to the gateways, which were now gone except for one. Then again, taking a plane was also a swift way to get around along with other vehicles. But for Michina Town, it seemed to ignore all of those advantages.
"Without the gateways, all our fast travel options are done for." Applejack sighed, missing the easiness of travelling from place to place. "Cold and Emerald said they can't open any gateways up at all."
"They can't? So we're stuck with the Pallet Town gateway forever?" Rarity uttered, pondering for a moment while posing for pictures. "Hmm...Well! I'm sure that can be fixed immediately. Why don't we check the news? Everyone's working hard to manage this new world after all."
"I did...And you won't like this. Look!" Goh spotted something of crucial attention. He would soon show it to his friends on the Rotom Phone, revealing a news update. But it wasn't about the management of this new world. Instead, it was centred around the Despair Plants.
"What?!" They all gasped as the situation with these Despair Plants had changed. The news revealed that the Despair Plants were seen elsewhere across different parts of Sinnoh.
"The Despair Plants are on the move." Twilight read the news article. "Looks like they ditched Hearthome after all these months? But why so soon?"
"What's up?" After finishing his battle and thanking the opposing trainer, Ash and Pikachu along with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie would return, just in time to hear the news. "Did you find something new?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Those Despair Plants have been spotted elsewhere. Take a look." Twilight answered as the rest of her friends would lean in. "It's mainly the wild but they've even made appearances near other towns and cities. But they haven't launched that many attacks on them or stayed around for that long. It looks like they're in a hurry and only doing brief attacks rather than long-lasting ones compared to Hearthome."
"That'll ruin Roseluck's whole plan if they keep moving," Applejack added, realizing that Roseluck's plan would fall apart because of the Despair Plants suddenly leaving Hearthome City.
"What's up with that?" Rainbow Dash spoke. "Did they get bored or something?"
"It says here that three of them were spotted two days ago. By now, they could be anywhere in Sinnoh. Whether near or far. But on the bright side, that means Hearthome's free from them, right?" Twilight brought the positives up, even though it was a singular positive.
"So, they could be anywhere huh?" Ash crossed his arms as there was a chance that on their quest towards Michina Town, they could run into those Despair Plants. "Alright. If we run into them, we'll beat 'em. Simple as that."
"You make it sound simple, but Drayden and the others struggled with just three of them. Or I guess, two since they can also fuse." Goh replied. "Let's just avoid them at all costs if we can and let Roseluck work her magic."
"Yeah. If she can find them." Applejack shook her head. "But those plants gotta be heading somewhere if they just left Hearthome suddenly. Where though?"
The sudden movement of the Despair Plants was troublesome. Though they have not attacked any towns or cities yet, it was clear that they were still a major threat. However, none knew their true intentions. The Despair Plants had set their sights on a few preys that managed to escape their horrible clutches.
Nightfall would come as Ash and his friends would clock out for the night. Sleeping in the wild wasn't the style for some of them. Ash and Pikachu are fit for this due to their many adventures but for Twilight and the others, with how far Michina Town was, they would have to get used to it.
But of course, knowing that they would be travelling great distances, they already came prepared for this. And each of them prepared for this in the best ways they knew how. Rarity brought along a portable bed that was set up for her to sleep. It even had all of her sleeping essentials on them as she would place it near the peaceful water just for that serene aura.
Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie brought sleeping bags while Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Applejack brought tents. All essentials for sleeping in the wild. Ash already had his own sleeping bag along with Pikachu. Of course, they had nothing to worry about with a reliable bodyguard. That bodyguard was Absol, who was always awake at night just to keep a watchful eye for any potential threats. Whether by his natural senses of the power of his horn.
They would all sleep in their respective objects, dozing off peacefully and waiting for a new day to come. But some would stay up for a while. One of those being Raboot, who thought back to Ash and Pikachu's battle earlier.
Raboot would think for a moment. He certainly enjoyed battling. That much was clear. Out of all of Fluttershy's Pokemon, which was only three, he is the most prone to engage in a battle. But due to Fluttershy's nature, Raboot realized he doesn't partake in many battles unless it involves a dangerous threat. He's only really battled for fun during the Canterlot Tag Tournament where he teamed up with Ash's Pokemon.
Battling for fun was right up his alley as he wished to do what Ash, Rainbow Dash and Spike do instead of just taking on another threat. And the Despair Plants looked to solidify that, unfortunately. Seeing all of Ash's battles inspired the Rabbit Pokemon to take on a similar path.
"Raboot..." However, there was a caveat to that. Fluttershy wasn't exactly shooting for the goal of being a powerful trainer or participating in any leagues. Thus, battles for fun would be limited to just the Pokemon House via Raboot's own decisions. While that was fine and all, Raboot yearned for it. "Boot. Raboot."
"Absol?" Absol turned to Raboot, hearing his words. Raboot requested a battle with Absol since he was in the mood. "Sol." But Absol refused. Mostly because a battle would wake up Twilight and the others and he needed to protect them from any incoming threats. Especially the Despair Plants.
"Raboot..." Raboot was disappointed by this. The best he could do was wait until tomorrow morning or even find a random Pokemon in the wild to battle. The Fire-Type was hoping that while heading to Michina Town, he could throw down with multiple Pokemon along the way. However, he was still in that battling mood.
To fulfil his urges, Raboot would bolt off, leaving this nice lakeside. Absol already saw his departure but so did another Pokemon from his friend group. Sleeping on the trees was Sceptile as he opened one eye to spot Raboot's rapid movements.
"Sceptile?" Awake, Sceptile would take notice of Raboot leaving the area, wondering why this was the case. And why Absol wasn't going with him. The Forest Pokemon would generate vines from his arms, using them to swing along the trees. Absol would see them both off, refusing to pursue but instead, staying behind to guard everyone else.
"Ra! Ra!" Raboot wanted to get some good exercise off as he would jump over rocks and logs to boost his athleticism. While moving rapidly through the forest, he would think of Ash and Pikachu once more along with Rainbow Dash. They were so lucky to be such battle-hungry trainers, in the eyes of Raboot.
Ash set his sights on defeating Leon and becoming the World's Strongest Trainer which would take him closer to his ultimate goal of becoming a Pokemon Master. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash had the dream of being Equestria's first Pokemon Champion and the strongest possible trainer. Both had large goals centred around battling. Raboot also had a goal that was focused on battling but it was something that could be achieved at any time. Really, he just wanted to battle as much as he could and improve.
"Sceptile?" Sceptile called out Raboot's name while pursuing him. He would swing beside Raboot, asking him where he was headed.
"Boot? Raboot!" Raboot looked over at Sceptile, seeing this as a perfect opportunity. Absol was too busy guarding everyone, so Sceptile was the perfect choice. After requesting a battle with Sceptile, Raboot would lunge forward, going for a High-Jump Kick while Sceptile was still swinging.
"Tile?!" After hearing Raboot's request, Sceptile gasped as the foot of the Rabbit Pokemon came flying in, nearly hitting his mark. However, Sceptile would swing out of the way, narrowly evading the kick. "Sceptile!" Sceptile would then descend, bellowing at Raboot for that surprise attack.
"Ra?" Raboot pulled back after receiving a bellow from Sceptile. The Forest Pokemon did not instantly take Raboot's request as he was certainly not in the mood for a battle right now. "Raboot..." Raboot apologized, realizing he got a bit too ahead of himself there. The adrenaline rush certainly made him act on instinct.
However, that drive was still there. Raboot would quickly explain to Sceptile while he would suddenly request a battle and go for a surprise attack. It was really just a way to try and fulfil his urges more than anything.
"Scep...Sceptile." Sceptile understood Raboot, only punishing him with a slight nudge to the head once he approached the Rabbit Pokemon. Sceptile himself wasn't someone who craved battles, but he was known for being relatively good at them. But he had a more relaxed nature in reality. While he couldn't relate to Raboot, he understood Raboot's urges greatly. The only way Raboot was going to satisfy them was by having a chat with Fluttershy. That was all.
"Boot." Raboot figured that was for the best. But knowing how Fluttershy wasn't one for battling, he wasn't sure what would happen. That was when the worst kind of thoughts kicked in for Raboot as he gasped at the possible outcome. "R-Ra!"
"Oh. That's what you want? Alright then. I guess this is goodbye~" One of his thoughts involved Fluttershy releasing Raboot to pursue his goal. The thought of leaving Fluttershy forever to fulfil his goal of battling many opponents as much as he wanted was shocking to the Rabbit Pokemon. He could see himself being distanced from Fluttershy.
"Sceptile..." Sceptile facepalmed. The Grass-Type knew that was definitely not a possible outcome. But that was only Raboot's young mind jumping to conclusions. "Tile." The Forest Pokemon assured Raboot that would not happen. All Sceptile wanted Raboot to do was talk to Fluttershy and the response she would give was something to prepare for, even if Raboot was jumping to conclusions.
Raboot sat down, taking a moment to relax. By now, he should be asleep but aspirations do tend to keep someone awake. Sceptile would join Raboot as both would fall asleep around this part of the forest for tonight. The night would pass on peacefully with no disturbances from anywhere. Everyone could rest easily.
But not for long. the three Despair Plants continued tracking down their pretty, moving across Sinnoh as fast they could to reach the other regions. With the scent of Drayden and the others, no matter how far they were, the Despair Plants would not give up.
And at the moment, the closest was Scorpio, who was not alone. It was not joined by Cordyceps or Cobra. But rather, more of itself as under the moonlit skies and on top of a hill, a nest of Despair Plant Scorpios had eyed down the land below them, seeking destruction while on their quest to find the Gym Leaders. And right now, Scorpio, from this distance, saw some civilizations it could briefly terrorize as the journey continues.
At last. Michina Town. A riverside town surrounded by flourishing nature that has lasted for centuries. When entering this town, the sun would beam through the clouds, basking its wonderful light on this land. Moving through the leaves, Ash and his friends would gaze at the town before them. This prosperous town with striking agriculture that was filled with numerous fields that grew crops such as corn and watermelon. This was certainly one of the more ancient locations in the world alongside Arche Valley and Samiya.
Even though it was a town, it was still staggeringly large to look at.
"Here it is." Ash introduced them to Michina Town as they got a stellar view of it by standing on top of a hill. This town was theirs to explore. But more importantly, the woman known as Sheena could be found here. They wasted no time approaching the town.
Finding Sheena and requesting her help was the top priority but nothing was stopping them from glancing at this scenery and greeting the people here. Not much has changed here at Michina Town. Even with two worlds merging as one or even before that when there were multiple gateways everywhere, this ancient town remained the same. Untouched by the events of the world.
Much like Arche Valley, this location that once received Arceus' presence on more than one occasion, flourished to such stupendous lengths to the point where it looked like it wasn't even from this world. A place this vibrant, clean and welcoming with such a warm aura was astronomically amazing.
"Why does this place feel so nice?" Pinkie Pie asked, almost melting just being here. "It's just like Arche Valley."
"That's because this place has a lot of Arceus' power in it," Ash explained before sharing some bread with her. "Twilight. You found out about Michina Town way back, remember?"
"I did. I saw you in ancient artwork in one of the books I found. I didn't know it was a result of time travelling back then. So this place has Arceus' power within it. Even more so than Arche Valley?" Twilight added.
"That's right. Ya see, long ago, this whole place was a wasteland and it didn't look like it would grow into anything at all. But then, that's when Arceus used his power. Or I guess in this case, the Jewel of Life."
"Jewel of Life?" Each of them repeated. This was news to them. None of them have ever heard about a Jewel of Life.
"Ah, guess you don't know about it. Well, you're in luck!" Ash rubbed his hands together, eager to share this information with them since he was one of the few people in the world that truly knew about the Jewel of Life. "This whole land was boosted up by the Jewel of Life which helped it live for so long. Arceus took some of his life plates to make that jewel. Water, Grass, Ground, Electric and Dragon are all in here."
Ash would pat the ground. While nothing came out, it was obvious from how this town flourished, Arceus' power was well-embedded in here. The Splash, Meadow, Earth, Zap and Draco Plates were no longer physically here at Michina Town but they left an impact that helped this town live. Of course, Ash and his friends had to go through a world-ending event to make it possible, but it all worked out in the end.
"Hmm..." Pinkie pressed her head against the ground, trying to see if she could feel something. "I don't feel anything down there. Or hear anything."
"Arceus took the Jewel of Life back with him. That's a whole other story I haven't shared yet. But even though they're gone, the town's been doing great." Ash continued. "No one leaves an impact better than Arceus."
"What about those ruins over there?" Goh eyed down the ruins. which was the centrepiece of Michina Town. It could be seen at the peak of a huge, rocky mountain in Michina, where a beautiful lake was nearby as well as multiple waterfalls that cascade down the mountainside. "Any rare Pokemon there, maybe?"
"Michina Ruins? That's where Damos built a shrine for Arceus. Not in the best shape anymore but at least Sheena and Kevin guard it and keep it safe. No rare Pokemon, but there's a sweet Time-Space Axis in there. It's what helps monitor all those time-space disruptions that go on whenever Dialga and Palkia battle."
"Look at you...holding this much knowledge that isn't about battling." Twilight nudged Ash, impressed at this knowledge of Michina Town. He wasn't just a clever battler. Ash's knowledge about certain places was plentiful because of how wild his adventures have been.
"Hehe. Yeah..." Ash chuckled, even realizing how much he was spewing out. "But we should find Sheena and even Kevin first."
"You're looking for Sheena and Kevin?" A citizen spoke to them, grabbing the attention of Ash's party. "Ah, sorry, sorry. You won't find them here, unfortunately. At least, not right now."
"No? Where are they then?" Ash asked.
"They've been gone for a while. At least 3 years now and we haven't seen them since. But I'm positive they're fine. Those two are rather resilient."
"3 years?! That's nearly the entirety of our world's meeting!" Twilight gasped as the one they were looking for was long gone by now. Right around the time her world was still getting used to living with the Pokemon. Not exactly the full 4 years but it was just around that time frame.
"Hmm...That's a problem." Ash realized that his objective has been slowed down greatly because of this revelation. Not expecting them to be here was one thing, but to be gone for 3 years, was on another level. "But that means they're doing something pretty important, huh?"
"Oh, very. Our town was nearly attacked by some sort of Flame Behemoth 3 years ago. It was then that they both decided to set out and get to the bottom of this."
"Flame Behemoth? Um, do you mean the Storm Behemoth?" Rarity asked as the Storm Behemoth was the most known Behemoth that they've seen. The Tree Behemoth also happened but did not last as long or even reappear as much as the Storm Behemoth. It didn't even leave an impact.
"Oh, no, no, my little pony. It was a behemoth of flames At least 500ft tall." The man continued, describing this behemoth which had a similar height to the Storm Behemoth. Seemingly, the only difference was that it was made out of flames instead of lightning. "A single step was enough to cause a wildfire. Our whole town would've been consumed in flames if no one did anything about it."
"That's just like the Storm Behemoth. There was another one we weren't aware of?" Twilight looked up for a moment. "So, is that why they're gone? Are they investigating events across the world?"
"They didn't say, honestly. Only that they were heading out. You could wait for them though but that would take a while."
"Hmm..." Ash thought for a moment. "So they're gone right now. But it's probably for everything else happening right now, no doubt. I wonder where they are now?"
Johto. Lake Lucid. Afternoon.
A large Lake that was in the middle of Ecruteak City and Olivine City. Home to three generations of Nurse Joy who are famous for their methods of cleaning and purifying the waters of the lake. There existed only one Pokemon Center that was surrounded by trees while sitting next to the lake. Though it was in between these two large cities, not much goes on here aside from all the Water Pokemon that will usually head to Nurse Joy if they ever feel uneasy.
Some of these Pokemon was certainly uneasy. A boiling rage within a sea of Remoraid was starting to build as they were viciously eyeing down their fellow Water-Types. The Water-Types who were intimidated by this rising rage would slowly back away, not wanting to find out what this school of Remoraid could do despite being so small.
And standing next to the lake was not Nurse Joy, but rather, the one that Ash and his friends have been looking for but were far too late to meet. Sheena.
"Transcend the confines of time and space." Already, she was showcasing her unique ability that was passed down by her ancestor Damos. By clasping her hands, a powerful aura would flow through the area, reaching the School of Remoraid. She would immediately reach the hearts of these agitated Pokemon, grabbing their attention with their soothing aura.
"Remo..." The School of Remoraid would be mesmerized by this aura and how it welcomed them. By reaching their hearts, Sheena would maintain their anger, calming them down with ease. The Remoraid would cease all agitation after Sheena spoke to them with just her aura. All of their rage vanished like that. Not much was said by her to even do it. The Water-Types were relieved as they saw the Remoraid swim away.
"Apologies for the intrusion," Sheena spoke while standing before the lake. She would kneel to face the Water-Type, giving a small wave to greet them. "As for this place...This lake should be fine. So far, most of the lakes around the world will remain safe."
She would then stand up, bidding farewell to Water-Types here. She would already depart from Lake Lucid, continuing on her unnamed quest. However, Kevin was nowhere to be seen noticeably. While moving through the forest, Sheena thought to herself, focusing on this mission that she was on for 3 years.
"That vision I had 4 years ago...There's a good chance it could be true. More than that, there's a chance it could show up again." She would stop next to the trees, leaning against one of them. "How do you think we should let everyone know about this? Keven already suggested that we should break it to everyone."
However, Sheena was not alone. From the way she was speaking, someone else was here. It was not Kevin, but someone who she could safely have a conversation with and who was also involved in her mission. This mysterious person would move through the shades of the trees, revealing himself in the golden sunlight.
It was none other than N.
"That's up to you. I don't mind sharing it, even if most won't believe it. And why would they?" N replied. "Even when thinking about it, it's a bit out there and hard to believe. There isn't even any evidence of it, is there?"
"I guess you're right. No one would believe that moments before the two worlds met, their original world was replaced by a new one." Sheena continued. "The Rift had enough power to erase that original world and bring a new one, and yet it doesn't look like it can do so anymore. Even after everything that happened to it."
"Your vision gave us a hint, Sheena. Whoever those two were, one of them managed to weaken the Rift before we were all thrust into this new world." N added. "That lost world lasted for a long time despite only being around for a split second. The flash that enveloped both those worlds was also that fast and yet no one remembers what happened in that split second."
"What do you think, N? Will it come back or is it lost forever?"
"It's only lost if it completely escapes our memories forever. But since you've had visions of it, I'd make a safe bet and say that there's a chance that we'll see it again. Elements from that short world haven't shown up here yet anyway."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Sheena would shake her head. "N. Just months ago, I heard about someone named Red and Ethan. I think those elements are already making their appearances."
"What about Equestria?" N questioned. "It had its fair share of counterparts that have shown up. That Empress hasn't appeared yet and my father's been silent."
"No. Equestria seems fine. Nothing unusual's happened yet. But it could. With both worlds now connected, this could make our mission a bit easier. Time and Space depend on it, after all."
"I'll head to Galar next and see what I can find. Let's meet up back at Unova in a while. I have a feeling the one named Hilbert will make an appearance again with how things are currently." After exploring Galar next, N was set to head back to his home region, Unova. Not only that, but he was expecting Hilbert, who comes from another Unova Region.
"Right. And I'll continue through Johto. Kevin and I will see you in two weeks over at Castelia City." Sheena promised that she and Kevin would be at Unova to reunite with N. And with that, they would go their separate ways.
Olivine City.
Sheena would stop at Olivine City, sitting at Olivine Cafe for a bit. Instead of ordering from here, Sheena was still fixated on her mission. This was all because of a vision she had. 4 years ago during the earliest days of these two worlds meeting. Sheena and N knew something that not many knew.
In her mind, she could remember a split-second flash. The same flash that enveloped both worlds and started this whole crossover in the first place. However, there was something else. Sheena saw something that happened right as the flash was about to fizzle out.
"I can still see it..." Sheena said to herself, gazing at the table in front of her. "The world that no longer exists and what it looked like." In her vision, she saw a colourful and futuristic city which had hovering vehicles and virtual objects while sharing many general similarities to Equestria. The whole city was a perfect mixture of the two worlds, combining the older style of Equestria and the modern style of most Pokemon cities and towns into one.
Humans, ponies, changelings and other species could be seen in this short vision, living in this massive city which also seemed to have what looked to be Canterlot Castle there. Sheena's vision of this place even included sound. And the one sound she heard was chanting. Constant chanting of something. Or rather, someone. She could just barely see the appearance of someone standing in a massive Pokemon Stadium, surrounded by a huge crowd of different species from across the world.
"Prisma! Prisma! Prisma!" She heard the name Prisma go around and yet she couldn't figure out who this was.
"If it does return, I wonder what would happen?" Her vision ended as she stood up. "There is only one gateway left in the world. But my vision still tells me that those counterparts will show up again. I have to figure this out. I think the first one I'll try and meet with is Red.
Sinnoh. Michina Town.
"A shame we didn't find her here." Back at Michina Town, Ash and the others would stay here, eating the delicious hot bread that was offered by the citizens. "Oh well. At least the bread is so good that it's all worth it!"
"Pika-Pikachu!" Pikachu greatly agreed with Ash as his fellow Pokemon would absolutely chow down at this hot-piping bread. "Pika..."
"I really wanted to see what she could do." Fluttershy sighed. "Reading the hearts of the Pokemon sounds so amazing."
"Better luck next time, I guess." Starlight guessed. "I guess we're heading home now?"
"We're already at Sinnoh. Should we check up on Hearthome City since all those plants are gone? Maybe everyone's back home." Rainbow Dash suggested. With the Despair Plants gone from the city and there being a solution to recollect everyone's souls, Hearthome should return to how it was.
"Hearthome sounds good. And after that, you all can come over next week to see which movie I'll be starring in soon." Rarity gave her own suggestion. As a PokeStar Studios Star, she would invite her friends over to see her performance and what major movie she would be involved in.
"I want to see that Time-Space Axis in the ruins first." Twilight already had something in mind. The Time-Space Axis that could be found over at the ruins after Ash told her about it. Twilight was fully interested in Michina Town due to its mythology. It was similar to how Sheena and Kevin researched the town extensively because of that mythology.
The young alicorn was already on her way to the ruins, finishing up her hot bread. Ash and the others would be left to savour this Michina Town delicacy. Some more food was waiting for them before they would depart as Starlight and Goh would quickly follow her. Goh was mainly curious about any rare Pokemon that could be found here.
Getting to the ruins meant scaling that massive mountain. But neither had time for scaling. Twilight would simply take flight for an easier time and whatever ways Goh and Starlight had of travelling in the air, they would choose that instead. Such as magical levitation and Goh's Flygon.
"But how come there was a Flame Behemoth? Do you think there were other behemoths out there that we didn't know about?" Applejack asked, wondering if there were more variants. Such examples that she thought of were the possibility of a Poison Behemoth, Water Behemoth, Rock Behemoth or even a stranger one such as a Fairy Behemoth. The thought of that last one was too hard for her to even fully imagine with how unorthodox it was. "Eeugh..."
"Maybe, but they're probably all gone by now." Rainbow Dash shrugged. "I don't know if that storm one was the toughest or what but I don't wanna deal with the other behemoths."
Meanwhile, with Twilight, Starlight and Goh, they would finally enter the Michina Ruins after taking the easier option of reaching this old shrine. This temple that was made to honour Arceus, despite being so old, still had a sense of grandeur to it.
Twilight's eyes lit up just being in this ancient place that had a lot of history to go off. And of course, she was too excited to witness the Time-Space Axis. Exploring these ruins to find this specific thing was all too exciting for the Princess of Friendship. Goh had his own excitement, wanting to see if there was a rare Pokemon for him to find. Starlight was mildly interested in the Axis as well.
However, they were not alone. Someone else had already entered these ruins already. When walking through this ancient structure, above them and concealed in the shadows, a creature with no visible eyes had locked onto them.
With unnerving skitters on the wall, this was none other than Despair Plant Scorpio. Out of the few civilizations it spotted last night, Michina Town was one of them. And of course, the other Despair Plant Scorpios were eager to start some anarchy on their quest to find the Gym Leaders who managed to escape.
"Hm?" Twilight and Espeon would promptly stop. They were the only two to sense that something was amiss. Espeon's tail would sway back and forth as the Princess of Friendship would slowly look up, trying not to make any sudden movements. And from the corner of her eye, she could see it. She could see Scorpio.
A Despair Plant had appeared over at the Michina Ruins. During Twilight, Starlight and Goh's exploration of the Michina Ruins where the Time-Space Axis could be found, Twilight and Espeon spotted Despair Plant Scorpio.
"Is that...a Despair Plant?!" After spotting Scorpio from the corner of her eye, Twilight would do a complete turn, seeing the real deal above her. Scorpio stood on the ceiling ruins, hissing at Twilight Sparkle and Espeon. It didn't take long for Starlight and Goh to notice Scorpio. Not just one Scorpio, but multiple Despair Plant Scorpios.
"W-Why are there so many of them?!" A startled Goh would back up, gazing up at many Scorpios that would gather. Really, it was the abundance of them and their eerie skittering that intimidated him as he and Starlight would both grimace, grabbing onto each other.
One by one, each of the Scorpios would pop up from the walls and ceilings, infesting this part of the ruins. And of course, since they were all here, that meant one thing. The Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta's voice could come through as she saw everything through the non-existent eyes of the Despair Plants.
"Hello, Princess Twilight." For the first time, Twilight Sparkle heard the voice of Rosa Maledicta. And of course, Goh and Starlight would be aware of this voice as well.
"Who is this?!" Twilight navigated her head across the area, searching for that echoing voice.
"I wasn't expecting my darlings to encounter you now. Especially here of all places. My darlings can spare some time to terrorize you before heading for their prey."
"You...You're the Lich Queen, aren't you?!" Putting two and two together, Twilight immediately figured out that this was the Lich Queen speaking to her. This news didn't help Goh and Starlight ease down. "Where's Fantina?!"
"Don't worry about that. You should be worried about yourself. It'd be a shame if Equestria was suddenly down a princess. Especially someone as important as you, who helped make this combined world possible." Just as she said that, the Despair Plant Scorpios would all ready their massive three stingers that was connected to their bulb-like tails.
"These are things that gave the Gym Leaders such a hard time..." When swivelling to face each Despair Plant Scorpio, Twilight already knew how volatile and risky this could get. The Gym Leaders, who are top-class trainers, struggled against these plants and just managed to escape from them.
"Correct. You should feel at least pleased that this town isn't their main target. My Despair Plants will be gone soon, leaving it a complete wreck. Anything to better my chances at finishing the Black Crusade."
"As if that would happen." Twilight replied, scoffing at Rosa Maledicta. "Michina Town will be left in one piece. A place like this just feels like it would."
"Maybe let's not argue against the Lich Queen..." Starlight pleaded, fearing what the Lich Queen could do after learning about all the things she's already done. The vampires by themselves caused massive damage and she didn't want to imagine what kind of damage Rosa Maledicta could cause.
"And how are you going to stop me? You should know what happened to your precious Gym Leaders. They're lucky to have escaped but they won't be lucky a second time."
"I don't mean to diss them, but I have access to magic, if you haven't figured it out." Twilight put on a cocky smirk. Though she could not see Rosa Maledicta, judging from the abrupt silence, she could tell that the Lich Queen had a rather grumpy expression on her face.
And she would be right. Back at Magehold, where the Lich Queen was still healing up, a disgruntled and disdainful expression appeared on her face in response to Twilight's words. She hated the fact that Twilight had a point. None of the Gym Leaders had access to the vast array of magic that Twilight Sparkle had.
"Tch." Rosa finally spoke after these few moments of silence. "Let's see how useful that magic of yours is when my darlings poison you from all fronts!"
With those words, the many Despair Plant Scorpios attacked. They all used their triple stingers at once, utilizing the poison from within to unleash poisonous streams. From the sides and above, these poisonous streams would all converge, closing in on Twilight, Espeon, Starlight and Goh for a quick finish.
"Quick, Eve! Psychic!" Acting quickly on her hooves, Twilight, alongside her partner Espeon would form a telekinetic field that would instantly hold the poison streams.
Once again, a Psychic-Type had stopped Scorpio's most deadly trait via the advantage over Poison. But this time, it was redirected at them. Twilight redirected the streams of poison back at the Despair Plants, giving them a taste of their own virulent medicine. However, some of the Scorpios would skitter away to evade the incoming poisonous streams before then closing in on their prey.
"Now's a good time as ever to have a Fire-Type out! Go, Cinderace!" Goh would step back, quickly sending out his Cinderace.
"Come out, Hatterene!" And for Starlight, her only Pokemon was still Hatterene. But she was reliable thanks to her strength.
"Cinderace!"
"Hatterene!"
"Fire?" Judging by Rosa's voice, the presence of a Fire-Type wasn't all that favourable. The power of Pokemon was so vast that even creatures that were not Pokemon were susceptible to the Type Advantage and Disadvantage. It was only natural and in this combined world, it would matter even more.
"Go, Cinderace! Pyro Ball!"
"Hatterene, Psycho Cut!"
"Cinder! Cinder!" The fact that this was an ancient place meant that there were plenty of rocks to go about for Cinderace's Pyro Ball. Cinderace repeatedly kicked a rock, igniting it into a flaming soccer ball. It then performed a full-throttle sideways kick to the fireball, launching it. This was followed up by Hatterene's claw being swung around so aggressively that tearing blades of Psychic Energy would come rushing out.
The Despair Plants used their large stingers against the incoming attacks, attempting to pierce them. However, when trying to pierce Cinderace's Pyro Ball, a Despair Plant would only find themselves receiving a blazing explosion. Making direct contact with Pyro Ball was a terrible idea.
The body of this Despair Plant was set ablaze. It was still a plant after all and it didn't help that it was also a bug, making it highly vulnerable to flames. Some of the stingers intercepted the Psychic Blades of Psycho Cut but some of them managed to knock over the Despair Plants.
"In that case...Go, Ninetales!" Seeing this advantage, Twilight would send out her next Pokemon. Her nine-tailed friend, Ninetales.
"Ninetales!"
"Ninetales! Charge through them all with Flare Blitz!"
"Nine!" Once Ninetales entered the battle, he would exert a blazing aura of flames that erupted violently. After unleashing them, the Fox Pokemon would launch himself like a rocket, leaving behind a scarlet trail. Ninetales crashed through some of the Despair Plant Scorpios with Flare Blitz, sending them flying and knocking some of them over as if they were bowling balls. This was followed by Twilight using her magic to zap at as many Despair Plants as she could.
Rosa Maledicta witnessed how Twilight's group were so far, managing to keep these Despair Plants at bay. But the Lich Queen knew that would not last. Not for long. Altogether, the Scorpios would unleash their stingers, separating them from their bodies. The stingers would fly in, threatening to pierce and poison their targets in the same way they poisoned some of the Pokemon from the Gym Leaders.
However, this time, the stingers would multiply. No longer coming in pairs of three, these stingers would be extremely abundant, littering most of this part of the ruins. Twilight and her friends had their eyes widen at the number of flying stingers. Immediately, they all had the instinct to either dodge or knock them away. Twilight would take flight, using her flight to fly back from these stingers. But she would soon find out that these stingers already had homing properties as they would immediately pursue Twilight in the air, having the ability to fly.
"They can fly?!" Twilight gasped before increasing her flying plant. But those stingers would only keep pace with her speed instead of letting Twilight get ahead.
"C-Cinder!" And from all the battling, it was hard to keep a track of all the Despair Plants. Cinderace found that out when one of the stingers struck its back when attempting to evade all of them. These evasion tactics didn't take the Striker Pokemon far with how some of these stingers pincered. He even received a sting on his knee.
"Ah! Cinderace!" Goh gasped before receiving a stinger to the back of his leg as well. "Ngh!"
"Goh!" Starlight gasped before sensing one of the stingers coming her way. She would quickly put up a protective shield, guarding herself and Hatterene against these stingers in the nick of time. Twilight would zap away at these stingers, destroying them with each consecutive magical ray.
However, with so many stingers, some of them would eventually hit their mark. And in this case, the ones from above that managed to get over Twilight. She was too late to look up and retaliate as these stingers managed to hit the back of her head. "Gah!"
"E-Esp!" Espeon, when trying to hold them back with Psychic, would find herself being stabbed by the ones that came later, hitting her tail. So far, almost all of them had received a poisonous jab. Seeing Twilight and Espeon receive damage sparked a reaction in Ninetales.
"Ninetales!" Ninetales would flare his body up with a blazing aura once again. This time, he used it to burn away the stingers that would approach him. This was an effective tactic as the stingers were unable to go any further. They would all disintegrate from Ninetales' aura. Not only that, but Ninetales' heat would even force some of the Scorpios to back up.
Afterwards, Ninetales would use Flamethrower, unleashing a scarlet stream from his mouth. These flames would strike the nearby ground, blowing away the Despair Plants. All the stingers would melt and drop from the presence of these flames as Ninetales managed to stop this assault.
"T-Thanks, Ninetales." Twilight stammered before slowly descending. The poison was already affecting her by this point along with the others. Goh and Cinderace got on their knees while Espeon would breathe in deeply. There were visible holes in all of them with poison leaking out.
"Does anyone have a Refresh...?" Goh groaned before feeling his leg twitch. Standing up was tricky at the moment because of the poison that was at the back of his leg.
"Hang on, you two!" Starlight quickly rushed over. "I can heal Espeon and Cinderace with antidotes, but you two might need a Refresh since they won't work on you."
"That's fine..." Twilight uttered. "It's a good thing Audino can handle that." But their worries were not yet over. The Despair Plant Scorpios were still active, even with these effective flames around.
Ninetales would growl at the Scorpios with all nine of his tails standing up, showing hostile intent. These Despair Plants had already received Ninetales' hostility the moment they poisoned Twilight.
"Impressive. But the Gym Leaders did better, as to be expected. So much for magic as an advantage, Twilight Sparkle. However, I shouldn't be wasting time letting you survive for this long. I'll weed you out, leaving this town vulnerable to whatever comes next. You won't be there to stop it at all, Princess Twilight." Rosa spoke after witnessing this display. It was mainly Ninetales who held the Despair Plants back because of his flames. However, he couldn't do anything about his poisoned friends.
"And what's that...?" An injured Twilight said as the holes in the back of her head didn't just allow the poison to spread, but the wind that blew into it made her twitch. After all, those stingers were sharp and left a visible wound that was not to be ignored.
"Witness!" Just as her voice boomed, the Scorpios would each glow, emanating that dark light once more. Twilight and the others attempted to stand tall in whatever could come next. However, not all of them could stand tall in their current states. Mainly Cinderace and Espeon, who were suffering from the poison.
The Scorpios were about to fuse once more. But this time, it would be with Cobra but with the same species as the lights would all come together, initiating a multi-fusion.
"Abandon all hope when my plants unleash the extent of their capabilities! Their true strength is unleashed when they fuse to form unstoppable predators that you could never hope to overcome! Appear, Despair Plants Amelidies and Chimera!
"F-Fusion?!" A stunned Starlight gasped. Multiple fusions of two different Despair Plants had appeared. The first one was something they were all familiar with. Chimera had returned but this time, it was joined by another species. Emerging from the dark light was a four-legged creature that had a massive stalk on its back followed by red markings on its green body that resembled that of flames. The end of its tail was a massive stinger that was closer to what the Scorpios all had.
Despair Plant Chimera and Despair Plant Amelidies. With how many Scorpios fused, there were now multiple fusions present here. Granted, it was fewer than the Scorpios since they all merged but it was still an overwhelming amount.
Twilight would grit her teeth, attempting to stay strong in the face of these fused plants, despite her poisoned condition along with the numerical disadvantage. The only ones able to continue without much of an issue were Ninetales, Starlight and Hatterene, but even that wouldn't be enough.
"Want to call it quits?" Rosa suggested. "I'll be kind enough to try something with you, princess. Your friends...maybe not so much. You should know when you're on the verge of losing."
"W-What do we do? Do we stay here and keep going?" Goh asked with one eye closed. This whole time, while the Despair Plants were fusing, Starlight took the time to use Antidotes on the Pokemon, removing the poison. Ninetales certainly had the strength to go on, ready to torch these plants.
"It's best that we make a run for it!" Twilight chose the most logical thing to do now. Flee. Flee while they had the chance. Most were in agreement. Maybe not Ninetales but still had to follow Twilight and keep her safe. He would stay behind everyone to guard them against any incoming attacks.
Thus, they would all make a run for it. At least, those who could. Starlight would use her magic to carry Goh while Hatterene used her claw to pick up Cinderace. Hatterene wasn't known for being fast so it would take Starlight to drag her and Cinderace along as well. Twilight still had the strength to fly as she would soar through the air.
"Run all you can! Your scent is already theirs and there's no way you'll escape!" Rosa cackled as all of the Despair Plants immediately chased Twilight and her friends down. It was now a full pursuit through the rest of these ruins. The Amelidies' were certainly the fastest thanks to their four legs. Chimera's build did not allow it for swift movements.
But what it lacked in speed and versatile movement, it made up for one of its devastating abilities. Each of the Chimeras would slam their massive vines onto the ground, sending a vicious spore that would rapidly spread across the room, pursuing their targets. Everything about these plants was all about pursuit, from the way they could track scents, the stingers and now this spore that had electricity crackling out of it.
"This is similar to that move, Stun Spore. That's what it's called right?" Rosa said as this move was identical to Stun Spore. Not just from the way it appeared but by what it could do. When holding back the Despair Plants with Flamethrower, Ninetales would be the first to receive the spore.
"N-Ninetales!" Ninetales cried out as his entire body would feel a strong paralysis come through. His body would freeze on the spot, throwing his balance off immediately. He was now paralyzed but unlike Stun Spore or any other paralysis effect, this spore had a stronger punch to it. Ninetales' vision would be attacked by this electrifying force, making him lose sight of his opponents for a bit.
This allowed one of the Amelidies to slap him with its massive tail with the stinger at the end. Ninetales would find himself being knocked back, unable to retaliate or evade in any way. And with his body paralyzed, he wouldn't be able to recover for a safer landing.
"Ninetales!" Twilight would catch Ninetales with her magic, still having the strength to use her spells. The poison hadn't rendered her powerless after all. After catching Ninetales, the Princess of Friendship would blast the ceiling above. This was a way to form a temporary blockade as a large pile of rubble would come crashing down.
It pained Twilight to harm this historical building but she would be in even bigger pain if she didn't heal up and evade these Despair Plants. She managed to form a temporary blockade with the rubble, blocking off the Despair Plants. With what she could utilize, she would add a layer of magical protection onto the rubble, giving them extra durability to spare some time. Now that they had some time to take a breather, it was all a matter of making the next move. And they had to think fast as the Despair Plants were already starting to break apart the rubble.
"Now what?!" Goh asked.
"There are other rooms in here...but those plants will track out scents down. Let's just keep moving!" There was no choice but to keep moving. The plants would track them down anyway so it was best to evade them until something could be done. There were other rooms in these ruins and the ones that stuck out to them were the stairs that lead to the lower parts of the ruins.
Looking at those lower parts gave Twilight an idea she hoped would work as her friends would all rush downstairs. The rubble along with the magical protection was being smashed and obliterated by the raw power of the Despair Plants as one of them looked through the gaps, spotting Twilight and her friends heading downstairs.
When downstairs, they would come across many other rooms. One of which was an old kitchen that was unusable at this point with all the utensils rusting over.
"Hah..." Twilight sat down as the poison on the back of her head was slowing her down as much as it slowed down Goh, Cinderace and Espeon. "Alright...I may have something that could work."
"Hopefully it does work. What about Roseluck though? Is she finished with whatever she was working on?" Goh questioned before being helped up by Starlight. Starlight would also use use a Full Restore on Ninetales, curing him of his paralysis immediately. So far, Starlight was the healer in this situation. Bringing on protection and carrying an assortment of healing items. Unfortunately, there was none for Twilight or Goh.
"Roseluck wouldn't be able to make it here in time, sadly." Starlight shook her head. The distance from Michina Town to Equestria was far too great. It wouldn't matter at all and would take a whole week or more for Roseluck to show up here.
"We came here to see if we could get Sheena's help against those Despair Plants. But in reality...we've had a piece of Arceus with us this whole time. And now's a good enough time to use it." Out of her saddlebag, Twilight revealed her Twilightum Z. Made up by the power of Arceus and a dash of her own magic, this was one of the few items in the world that were connected to the Alpha Pokemon.
"Oh yeah! It's got Arceus' light in it! That has to work, without a doubt!" Starlight grinned. There was always something that could come in handy and with the bond that most of her friends have with Arceus, the light of the Creator Deity was always close. Even if Phione was gone, there was always something to bank on. And in this case, it was the Twilightium Z.
"Hopefully. And I hope I have the strength to do it. But all this battling should alert Ash and the others." Twilight stood up, ready to place on her Z-Ring. "With Ash getting involved that should give me enough time to-"
But unexpectedly, right as Twilight was ready to gear up, from above, an elongated tail would drop in, grabbing her Z-Crystal. It was the tail of a scorpion. Or in this case, Despair Plant Scorpio. With an audible gasp, everyone looked up to see that there were already other Despair Plant Scorpios around here.
The one that stole the Twilightium Z would be guarded by the other Scorpios, preventing anyone from getting close to it. Not only that, but the blockade from upstairs was falling apart rapidly. The roars of the Despair Plants could be heard as they were almost through the magical protection.
"I always keep a few standard Despair Plants around while the fused ones deal most of the damage." Rosa Maledicta spoke through the Despair Plants once more. "So...this crystal has Arceus' light in it? Interesting. I can't have that around. Crush it, my darling!"
"No!" Twilight cried out, spreading her wings out. But that only caused her further harm, slowing her down yet again. Espeon, Starlight and Cinderace would try and act as fast they could. Espeon used Dazzling Gleam along with Hatterene, Cinderace used Pyro Ball while Ninetales used Flamethrower.
They all targeted the Despair Plants that shielded the singular Scorpio, using themselves as meat shields. And with how many of them appeared, they were set to fully guard that one Despair Plant, removing any chance of their opponents retrieving the Z-Crystal. The singular Scorpio began tightening the Twilightium Z with its pincers, ready to shatter it into pieces.
"I won't let you!" Twilight's body flared with magic, ready to use whatever she could to stop this from happening. She had her options and all that mattered was how she could execute them.
"Arceus' light is too valuable to keep around. There will be no remaining light of this kind in the world I will create. And I will see to it!" Rosa laughed maniacally as the Pokemon were doing their best to get past the wave of Scorpios while the one that possessed the Twilightium Z was crawling away to gauge some distance. And at last, the fused Despair Plants had broken through the blockade, immediately tracking down Twilight and her friends as vicious footsteps from Amelidies were approaching rapidly.
"No, you won't...He won't let it happen either." Twilight said, referring to Arceus. She would then use her magic to affect the Twilightium Z from afar, not needing to touch it. After all, it was her Z-Crystal and was closely tied to her as she managed to get a telekinetic hold on the crystal.
"Right you are, Twilight."
Suddenly, with a mightier voice than Rosa Maledicta's, someone took action before Twilight did. It was none other than the voice of the Alpha Pokemon himself. Rosa gasped as she could feel this mighty voice coming from the Twilightium Z, affecting her from Magehold even at this distance.
It was none other than the voice of Arceus. The Twilightium Z would glow, unleashing a potent light that immediately enveloped the Scorpio along with the other Despair Plant Scorpios in this room.
"Arceus!" Twilight gasped as the light would stun the Despair Plants, making them cry out. "A-Are you...are you here?"
"I am not fully here. You and I formed a bond on that night. The strength within your Z-Crystal harbours my strength as well." Arceus spoke. "My power is your power as well. That has already been established, remember? However, not all of my power is within it. This crystal is made up of the crux of your power. By doing this, your crystal will lack some power for a bit, so not all of my strength will emerge from it."
"I-I understand!" Twilight nodded in understanding. She was just grateful for Arceus doing this for her, even if it was momentary. The Scorpios would all drop from Arceus' light as Twilight's theory was correct. Much like how Galaxy Master's light greatly affected the Adaptable Roots, Arceus' light greatly affected the Despair Plants.
"My darlings!" Rosa gasped after seeing her Scorpios drop. The intensity of the light was so strong that even the Despair Plants that were approaching this area couldn't help but stand back for a bit. A great sense of caution and danger was sensed by them. "So, this kind of light is what it takes to threaten my darlings. I can take some solace knowing that, I suppose."
"Now, Twilight Sparkle! Smite your foes with the symphonic blaze of the stars!" Arceus commanded as the Z-Crystal would float to the Princess of Friendship once the Despair Plant was blown back by it. It would gracefully descend, placing itself within Twilight's Z-Ring.
"Thank you, Arceus. I'll do just that!" Heeding Arceus' command, Twilight would slide the Z-Ring on flawlessly before standing upright. Even with the poison that was within her, she wouldn't let it stop her. "Eve! Ninetales Get ready!"
"Do you worst." Rosa was feeling confident in herself despite what was about to be unleashed. Perhaps it was eerily confident as she didn't sound worried at all.
The lights started flowing in the direction of Espeon and Ninetales. Twilight moved her hooves around in two different ways. The motion of water, swishing from left to right as well as making an arch shape with her hooves. After making the arch, she then spread her wings out as they became a part of the pose too. The Princess of Friendship had then put both her hooves forward.
Espeon and Ninetales would feel their bodies light up with the Magic of Friendship exuding out of them along with drops of Arceus' power. Twilight's eyes opened as her voice suddenly echoed throughout the ruins. That's when the golden figure of Arceus materialized behind her, growing to such a height that it even went outside of the ruins.
All of Michina Town would be seen the sudden emergence of Arceus' figure, glowing beautifully in the azure skies. This involved Ash and his friends who had yet to know about the scuffle happening within the Michina ruins. Twilight then pulled off the star pose by putting both her front hooves out, maintaining her balance. That was the end pose as the lights then reached their peak.
"Eve! Ninetales! Harmonic Twilight Starblaze!"
The attack had been initiated. Millions of Cutie Marks that represented Twilight's had shown up in small sizes, flowing into the sky before then merging. They combined to form a gigantic version of Twilight's Cutie Mark.
Espeon and Ninetales then jumped into the air as they were pulled into the Cutie Mark. Their bodies resonated with it as the star started vibrating rapidly, letting out stardust. The Despair Plants would arrive once they tracked down their prey, only to encounter the potent light that threatened them.
"Espeon!" Espeon and Ninetales had cried out with all of their might as a devastating purple blast was shot out of them with brilliant radiance, blazing through the air.
"Two can play at that game! Go, my darlings!"
The Despair Plants had their own response. With so many of them around, they combined their strength once more, using the poison from Scorpio to form the largest poison stream yet. It was a direct clash between the massive streams of poison along with the magical beam.
The streams were holding back the Z-Move, startling Twilight. She didn't expect them to successfully keep it at bay, but then again, there were so many of them that they had the collective strength to fight back. After all, the Gym Leaders struggled against them and even with this Z-Move, Espeon and Ninetales were struggling.
"It's not working?!" Starlight gasped, shocked that the Z-Move didn't instantly win this. "How come!?"
"It has to work!" Twilight whimpered from all the pain she was receiving at the back of her head. "Go, Eve! Ninetales!"
"E-Espeon!" Espeon and Ninetales put more of their strength into it. The beam would shine brighter than before, growing in size to push back the stream. The Despair Plants were forced to put some more effort in as well as this Z-Move was a genuine threat thanks to Arceus' light.
But there was another factor they had to worry about. Twilight's magic. After all, the Magic of Friendship was embedded within the Z-Crystal. And with Twilight pouring her own magic into this beam, it only helped boost the Z-Move. The crux of the Z-Move had been added, giving it an extra flare of power.
However, in such a small space, this amount of energy was highly volatile and destructive for both sides. Eventually, the clash would end as the resulting effect ended up forming a gargantuan dome-shaped purple explosion that then turned into a tall purple pillar that pierced the ceilings of the ruins. Everyone here would find themselves being blinded by this expanding light.
Rosa Maledicta's vision was immediately forced out of it as a dash of Arceus' light got in her eyes. Back at Magehold, she would gasp once she got a taste of that light. As for the Despair Plants, being exposed to some of Arceus' light would greatly affect their bodies, even more so than what Ninetales and Cinderace could do with their flames.
The Michina Ruins would suffer some damage from this, but there could be only one result. And with the light enveloping Twilight, she was hoping that it swung her way.
"Twilight?! Guys?!" Rushing in here, minutes later, was none other than Ash and the rest of his friends. If they weren't alerted by the massive Arceus figure in the sky, the loud explosion from within was enough to do so. Audino had heard this explosion that was caused by the Z-Move as all of Twilight Sparkle's friends would rush into the ruins, following the trail of destruction.
By following this destructive trail, they ended up downstairs, coming across the aftermath of this battle. And the result wasn't what either expected. Neither Twilight nor the Despair Plants won.
It was a tie. The Despair Plants were on the ground along with Twilight and the others. The aftermath had knocked them all over as both sides received after effects. Twilight and Goh were still poisoned while the Despair Plants had something radiating out of them.
"What happened here...?" Rarity gawked, glancing over at the Despair Plant fusions. The light of Arceus was starting to flow out of them eradicating parts of their bodies. Suddenly, moments after Ash and the others arrived, the Despair Plants would start sinking. As if they were intangible, these demonic plants would sink through the ruins mysteriously. They would not make any more sounds.
"D-Did we do it...?" An injured Twilight said, looking up at her friends as the Z-Crystal powered down after working its magic. That was all the energy she could use for today.
"Not sure what's happening to them...but you did good, it looks like." Ash and the others helped them up.
"Sorry, we didn't show up. Audi and I didn't hear it all happen over here at the ruins." Fluttershy apologized. Even with Audino's stellar hearing, being around a crowd of people in this town while minimal noise came from the ruins until the big moment as a drawback of hers.
"It's fine. As long as you're here." Starlight, who was in a better condition than the others, would stand back up. "We just managed to withstand that. That Z-Move of Twilight's is something else..."
"Wish we used it before." Goh struggled to get up thanks to the poison on his leg. Thankfully, now that Audino was here, they could rest easy knowing that a Refresh was coming.
"Listen...By extension, we had a run-in with Rosa Maledicta. Those were her Despair Plants. And they're just as dangerous as expected. I was right about Arceus' light being effective but it looks like it didn't do enough to overpower them. They were still so strong and capable of stopping us. If it wasn't for Arceus..."
"Don't worry about it, Twilight," Ash added. "You stopped those plants and you confirmed your theory. The next time we see those Despair Plants, we'll give 'em another surprise."
"Thank you, Ash. But I'm more fixated on Roseluck. Her way is still a possibility. If my Z-Move can't surpass these Despair Plants, then I'm hoping her way is effective." Twilight replied, hoping that Roseluck's plan was efficient.
"Gotcha." Ash helped Twilight up. "Let's head home now."
Now was a good time to head home. But if the danger of the Despair Plants wasn't clear enough, it has certainly been elevated. Michina Town was safe thanks to the efforts of Twilight, Starlight and Goh. It was a struggle since there were only three of them but thanks to Arceus' power, it felt like they were being assisted by multiple forces.
However, the sinking of the Despair Plants was not to be ignored. No one knew what this meant. Some assumed that was their way of being defeated as they did not leave a trace behind. Rosa Maledicta's voice was gone, along with her vision of this place. And yet, Twilight couldn't help but sense an ominous presence in the air.
"Ah...Much better." After being healed up by Audino's Refresh, Twilight felt like a new pony. She and Goh received much-needed healing after what happened over at the ruins. The poison within her was erased but the holes in the back of her head had to be patched up until they were ready to be removed.
"So they just sank? Do plants do that or is that part of this shrine?" Rainbow Dash asked, wondering where the Despair Plants went.
"I don't know. Those Despair Plants are strange as they are strong. I'm glad I used my Z-Move." Twilight explained. Her saving grace was the Twilightium Z. But not because of the power it contained but because of Arceus' light. Galaxy Master's light came from the Sea Temple's Crystals which were tied to Arceus' light.
"Well, if it's anything like what happened back at Mt Coronet, those plants should be running off to their queen, crying." Rarity said. "I bet they're absolutely terrified of you now."
"But there's more of them out there. Not just that scorpion-looking one," said Goh, bringing out the fact that there were two other Despair Plant Species in the world. Cordyceps and Cobra.
"Roseluck should have whatever she's prepared ready," Applejack added, hoping that Roseluck completed what she needed. Only Applejack had a good guess that it was related to Rosa Maledicta. Keeping Roseluck's family ties was something she didn't want to hide from her friends but the risk was still prominent.
"Well, we should head home now." Ash stood up, ready to head back home. "But did you at least get a good look at that Time-Space Axis?"
"Ah, right...That's what I was most excited for." Twilight remembered the reason she came to these ruins in the first place. The Time-Space Axis. All she wanted to do was gaze at it but thanks to the Despair Plants, that was all interrupted. However, if there was a chance for her to get a good look at it, now was a perfect time.
Basement of the ruins.
The one place that was still somewhat neat. The basement of Michina Ruins. This was where the Time-Space Axis could be found as Ash led the way. And thankfully, there were no interruptions. No sign of the Despair Plants anywhere.
"Here it is. Get a good look at it." Ash would open the door, showing all of his friends the Time-Space Axis in its entirety. And upon entering, Twilight and everyone else got to see the axis for what it was. A large device with golden textures that had five massive and small spheres attached to it.
The shape of this device was unlike anything they had ever seen. It was hard to describe and looked like it came from another world that was beyond Earth. And the five spheres that were a part of it represented time and space along with something beyond that. Or someone.
The sphere in the centre was protected by this strange egg-shaped object. All the spheres were surrounded by these slow-spinning objects that had minimal gaps and rings constantly moving around them as if they were planets. The only one exempt from this was the one at the bottom which was caged up, not spiralling at all.
"What is that thing...?" Spike was having a hard time making out what he was looking at. "An hourglass?"
"I don't think so. It's nothing I've ever seen." Starlight shook her head. "No one could figure it out. But that only made this thing wonderful in their eyes.
"Awesome! Professor Cerise is gonna love this!" Goh would immediately start taking pictures, making sure to permanently keep something like this within his memories.
"It's so beautiful, isn't it?!" Some admired it for its beauty. Such as Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Although, Pinkie Pie also saw it as a rather fun device due to how obscure it was. Since it was unlike anything her friends had ever seen before, Pinkie could only imagine what it would be like if something else like this existed and how much fun she would have with it.
"What are these spheres over here? Blue, Orange, Green, Light Blue and Purple. Or is that pink?" Twilight observed the orbs that were constantly moving around and within the device. "I can't believe I'm asking you for all this information, Ash. Usually, I find out with all the books I can find, but I haven't seen anything like this in what I've read."
"Glad to share!" Ash grinned, popping up his collar and adjusting his hat. "See this one right here?" Ash aimed at the green sphere that was below everything else. "That's our world. It still looks the same even with both worlds combined. And our world's supported by that light blue sphere here." He raised his arm slightly, pointing at the much smaller sphere.
"Is that another planet?" Pinkie Pie asked as she gazed at the light blue sphere.
"That's Giratina's dimension. The Distortion World." Ash explained, recollecting his memories. He used all of his memories to remember which sphere belonged to which dimension and Pokemon.
"That's it? It's so small." Rainbow Dash pointed out how Giratina's sphere was incredibly small. Smaller than everything else. By extension, she thought that the Distortion World was smaller than anything in this world.
"It's way bigger when you get there. Trust me." But looks can be deceiving. Ash would know. He does get around a lot. Not just on Earth. "And the blue one here is Dialga's dimension." He continued, pointing at the large blue sphere before shifting to the pink sphere. "And that pink one is Palkia. That's where all the big stuff about Time and Space exists."
"And...what about this one? Is that Arceus' dimension?" Twilight asked, focusing on the orange sphere that was protected by this egg-shaped object. It only added up since Arceus was said to have come from an egg. Fitting that his dimension would be shaped like an egg.
"That's right. The Big 4. All here." Ash crossed his arms. Despite how complex this object looked, it was simple and straightforward to understand. After all, each one of them have seen these Pokemon and encountered them before.
"Oh. So then...what's this really small one?" That's when Fluttershy noticed something new. Something that no one else spotted until she brought it up. By squinting her eyes and using some of her Fairy Magic, Fluttershy spotted something smaller than Giratina's sphere.
A prismatic sphere that had no singular colour compared to the rest was spotted, just next to the Earth's sphere. Ash kneeled to spot this sphere as well as this caught him by surprise.
"Oh...I never saw that one before!" Ash gasped. "Or even heard about it. Sheena and Kevin didn't bring it up at all."
"Pikachu..."
"Never? Do you think it's new?" Goh questioned. Since Ash had already been told about the other dimensions, this one escaped him. It had never been brought up to him at all. The prismatic colours it radiated were faint but still had the opportunity to let out radiant lights.
"It has more colours than the rest. A prismatic colour..." Twilight observed. "What dimension has prismatic colours? Ultra Space? Maybe it's the Human World that's parallel to ours."
"A Prismatic Dimension. Not sure..." Ash would stare into the Prismatic Sphere for a bit. He stayed silent as his eyes were captivated by the light. Everyone else would talk about it while he didn't say anything else. Something about it made Ash silent. It didn't take long for him to snap out of it with a blink. "Gonna have to ask Sheena about that." Ash scratched his hair. "But there you have it. The Time-Space Axis. It's pretty cool to look at but I have no idea what it looks like."
"Pika-Pikachu."
"I'll keep that." Rarity took a picture of the axis, just like Goh. "I could model something after this. This is a splendid inspiration! Well...we should be getting back now. We all have busy things ahead of us, after all."
"Right. I should be checking up on the Pokemon back at the Pokemon House. Krookodile's already doing his best to defend them after all." Fluttershy said.
Everyone was ready to depart at last. They didn't get to meet Sheena but they still got something great in return, minus the attack of the Despair Plants. However, when leaving the area, Twilight still couldn't help but wonder why the Despair Plants sank into the floor. Something about it made her uneasy. And she had every right to be with how unpredictable the Dread League were. So far, everything that they have thrown at Equestria seems to come back. The 100 Demons was the biggest example of that. And potentially, the same could be said for these Despair Plants.
Equestria. Ponyville. The Pokemon House. Nightfall.
Back at the Pokemon House, everything was peaceful. All the Pokemon were sound asleep, resting without anything to bother them. Keeping watch of everyone was Krookodile, as usual along with a few nocturnal Pokemon.
And staying here for the night was Roseluck. She could be seen sleeping next to a group of Pokemon which would cuddle with the earth pony. This entire time, she was still working on that magical elixir that her sister once made. But this time, with Zecora's help. Zecora was still awake, trying her best to get this elixir right.
Rosa Maledicta's elixir wasn't that easy to replicate at all, making this a challenge for Zecora. Roseluck didn't have much experience with it either. All she knew was that it had a soothing effect on plants, being able to calm them down. But even though Zecora was hard at work trying to get this right, Roseluck was still awake. She wasn't asleep at all. Mainly due to her thoughts.
Thoughts about her sister. By doing this, Roseluck knew that she was actively going against her sister. To her, it was the right thing to do considering everything she had done. But it was still so off for her. It was all of Equestria against her sister who she saw differently. She never expected Rosa to go down this route and become a massive enemy of Equestria.
Looking up at the night sky, Roseluck thought about the future. She had full faith that her sister's horrible plan would be snuffed out. But the consequences she would face struck fear into Roseluck's heart. Roseluck feared that the worst could happen to Rosa if she was caught. The most that she would want was imprisonment but the chances of that happening seemed impossible to the Earth Pony.
Roseluck would toss and turn slowly, trying not to wake up the Pokemon. The earth pony wished she could rid her mind of her thoughts. But when it comes to family, that was impossible. Roseluck even wished that she never heard about the Dread League and the best possible outcome was that she never knew what happened to her sister. Even if it meant never seeing her again. But with how things are turning out, Roseluck could reunite with Rosa but not on the best of terms.
Zecora saw it all while working on the elixir. Roseluck's movements were enough to speak a million words. Zecora saw through Roseluck the moment she came here for assistance. But even so, Zecora wondered how severe Roseluck's family ties were for her to be silent about it when she accepted Zecora and Cold Colt into this town. This situation, unbeknownst to Zecora, was far larger than that as it depended on the lives of many.
No. The lives of all.
Magehold.
"First Galaxy Master...and now Arceus..." Back at Magehold, Rosa thought about what happened back at Michina Town. Her adaptable roots and the Despair Plants all shared a common weakness. Light. Fitting, considering that Rosa rules over vampires. However, this wasn't just standard light. "This light...I wish I could snuff it out. But that's easier said than done, isn't it?"
"Would you like that to be our next goal, your majesty? From what my sister Opal learned, it seems that Galaxy Master's light comes from a place known as the Sea Temple. Perhaps it wouldn't be too hard to snuff one of these lights out." Fractured Note explained, revealing the Sea Temple Crystals from Samiya to the Lich Queen.
"Hold back for a bit. Until we're comfortable with this new world. Then again, it'll have a new do-over when we're done with it." Rosa chuckled. "So far, our enemies have proven that they can hold their own against my darling plants. They've sunk into the Earth and will sprout anew. What about Xerneas? Did Opal not say she was searching for that Pokemon?"
"She did. But the expanded world has changed that up a bit."
"I see. She was right to think about Xerneas. The complete opposite of Yveltal. Our entire Black Crusade could be ruined by the sheer existence of Yveltal. The power to bring life goes against it all. Not only that...but there are other Legendary Pokemon that are a threat to the Black Crusade."
"Oh, that's right." Fractured Note nodded, knowing which Pokemon were threatening to the Black Crusade. "Pokemon like Dialga could reverse everything we've done with the domain it has over time. Your majesty. There are far too many Pokemon that can stop our Black Crusade. Perhaps we should think things through and switch it up."
"I know that. It's why I intend to get rid of every last one of them. But..." Rosa thought for a moment. "Much like Yveltal, there are some Pokemon that we could keep around. With all the other worlds out there, it isn't a bad idea to add some extra Legendary firepower."
"Which Pokemon should we set out sights on this time, your majesty?"
"Let me think..." Just as Rosa Maledicta pondered the next powerful Pokemon to capture, her eyes would flash open as a piece of her chamber would come off. She would groan before raising one of her hooves which ended up shattering bits of this chamber. Her healing process was finally starting to show effective results as she could move parts of her body. "That's why we have Fantina."
"Fantina?"
"I may have stripped away memories of her original home but I made sure to keep everything about her knowledge of Pokemon intact. And I do mean everything." With her eyes opening, Rosa Maledicta gained a spectral green aura. "We can just rely on her. After all, with how things are at the moment, Fantina is one of us. And when the Black Crusade is over, she'll fully be one of us."
"Okay! Line up, gang!" Up at Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash sent out all six of her Pokemon. It was time for a line-up as simultaneously, each of these Pocket Monsters would show up, whether on the concrete road or the azure skies above. Minus Castform who stayed within her saddlebag, Whirlipede, Braviary, Luxray, Altaria and Mienshao would appear. Rainbow Dash had a perfect mix of Pokemon that are experts in the skies and on land.
"Looking good. Listen, you guys." Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. "Pretty soon, we'll be taking on that Eight Gym and getting our final Gym Badge. And if the previous Gym Battles have taught me anything, is that losing is definitely a possibility. I don't have a clue who this final Gym Leader is. It could be anyone. Someone super strong, obviously. But I don't know who. So let's train up before that day comes. You're already looking good with your new evolution, Mienshao."
"Mienshao!" Mienshao would perform a stylish split-second frontflip in response.
"Nice, nice. Keep that energy up." Rainbow Dash nodded in approval, loving the energy that Mienshao was exuding.
"Rainbow Dash!" Flying this way was Fluttershy who approached her fellow pegasus. Audino, Raboot and Bayleef would be carried by a Swellow that came from the Pokemon House in order to get up here. Once they managed to reach the skies, Swellow would stop by a nearby cloud, waiting until it was time for Audino and the others to return to Ponyville.
"Hey, Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash greeted her back. "Well. Are you ready to set out today?"
"Mhm!" The pegasus nodded confidently. "I have the map and everything. We should be fine."
"Nice. Because today..." Rainbow Dash would take out an extra Poke Ball. "I'm thinking. of catching a new Pokemon! With this new world, maybe some Pokemon are closer! Maybe. Hopefully. And I'm shooting for fast Pokemon!"
"Only fast Pokemon?"
"Well, yeah. Most of my team is all about speed. Except for Altaria, who's all about defence." Rainbow Dash patted Altaria's cloud wings, making her giggle. "Castform's all about getting those surprise attacks in. Reflect-Type is so great with how Castform's cells react to them. Whirlipede, Braviary, Luxray and Mienshao are all about speed. And I guess Mienshao hits hard too so that's covered.."
"Okay, I get it. But any Pokemon you catch will still be good at something else even if it isn't speed, strength or durability." Fluttershy added.
"Really? Aren't those three the only important perks of a Pokemon? Is there a fourth one I don't know about?" Rainbow Dash scratched her mane, trying to figure out if there was something past the three perks that would be beneficial. "Oh well. It doesn't matter who I catch. So as long as I can outpace Princess Luna. She got ahead of everyone when it came to tackling the Gyms. Including me. She even has more Pokemon than me since she went on a catching spree that one night. So I'm gonna beat that out."
"You'll be going on a catching spree?" Fluttershy gasped as Rainbow Dash wasn't just going for one new Pokemon. She was aiming for multiple.
"That's right!" She raised the Poke Ball into the air as the Sun reflected beautifully off of it. "And I know just where to start! Watch out, Pokemon! Here I come!"
Out on a hillside.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy travelled to a hillside. It wasn't too cluttered but it wasn't too small either. A perfect balance between a mountain area and a forest. And upon arriving here, Rainbow Dash was already prepared to go on a Poke Ball Throwing Frenzy.
"Whimsi..." And one of these fast Pokemon was Whimsicott. It was relatively speedy because of its light body as Rainbow Dash would eye down the Windveiled Pokemon. She found the first Pokemon that she wanted to catch and in the distance, more options were available.
"I see some great Pokemon that I could add to my team, Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash said.
"Be gentle with them, Rainbow Dash. At least ask first." Fluttershy suggested that Rainbow Dash took a simple approach to this instead of rushing in.
"I know. Hey, you!" She would jump out, calling to Whimsicott and grabbing its attention.
"Whimsi?" Whimsicott, who was about to throw a piece of its cotton over at a nearby Bonsly, was stopped by Rainbow Dash. Bonsly would soon dash off once startled.
"I'm gonna challenge you to a battle." Rainbow Dash held out her Poke Ball. "And after that, you and I will-" But before she could finish her sentence, flying at her at top speeds was a piece of cotton from Whimsicott. The cotton smacked Rainbow Dash's face at high speeds, causing a puffy explosion to go off which knocked the pegasus over. "Gouh!"
"Oh my!" Fluttershy gasped after seeing Rainbow Dash get knocked over by what was possibly the hardest cotton hit ever.
"Whimsi-Whimsi-Whimsi!" Whimsicott chuckled, spiralling in the air out of its own amusement. It planned to do this to Bonsly earlier but thanks to Rainbow Dash, this prank had failed. So, the prank was restarted and redirected towards Rainbow Dash, turning out successful.
"Well, at least you found a prankster of a Pokemon." Fluttershy shrugged as Rainbow Dash would set up with narrowed eyes after being clobbered by cotton.
"Okay...you wanna be a prankster, huh?" Rainbow Dash removed the cotton from her face. Whimsicott would then blow its tongue out at the multi-coloured-maned pegasus, having removed another piece of cotton from its body. "Fine then. You won't be laughing after I win this battle! Let's go! Whirlipede!" She would launch the Poke Ball upwards as it beautifully spun in the air.
"Whim!" Suddenly, Whimiscott would intercept this Poke Ball by throwing some cotton at it. This knocked the Poke Ball off course and even prevented Whirlipede from coming out.
"Huh! Hey!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as the Poke Ball flew back into her hooves. She witnessed the first time a Poke Ball had been intercepted and since her own Pokemon was within it, she would rightfully scowl at the Windveiled Pokemon, grizzling her teeth. "Why you...!"
"Whim-Whim!" Whimsicott would laugh once more.
"Maybe it's a full-on prankster," Fluttershy observed. "I think it's more interested in playing tricks than battling, Rainbow Dash."
"Yeah...well, it's getting a battle, no matter how hard it tries to stop me." Rainbow Dash cleared the cotton off of Whirlipede's Poke Ball.
"Boot! Raboot!" Raboot attempted to jump in, wanting to battle Whimsicott, only for Bayleef to hold him back with her vines. This was not his battle. "Ra?"
"Once more! Go, Whirlipede!" This time, Rainbow Dash would slam the Poke Ball down on the ground so that Whimsicott couldn't intercept it. Right next to her, Whirlipede had emerged.
"Whirlipede!"
"Heh. How's this Whimsicott? You should be pretty scared of Whirlipede. He's double super-effective on you! i guess that makes it...4x!" Rainbow Dash bragged about the start advantage that Whirlipede had over Whimsicott. A Bug-Poison-Type against a Grass-Fairy-Type was a clear-cut outcome depending on how it goes.
"Cott..." Whimsicott would eye down Whirlipede for a moment. There was a slight moment of silence before Rainbow dash make her first move. Suddenly, Whimsicott would put on a cheeky grin, up to something mischievous once more. In a spurt of speed, it would leave behind a puff of cotton that would instantly blow up to catch Whirlipede by surprise.
"Ah! Hey!" Rainbow Dash growled.
"Whirl...!"
"Rainbow Dash! I heard her! It sounds like it wants you to chaser it." Fluttershy translated. Judging by how Whimiscott was backing away while looking at Rainbow Dash and Whirlipede, Whimsicott was anticipating their next move, staying afar but just close enough for them to see the Windveiled Pokemon.
"A race? Okay..." Rainbow Dash grinned as Whimsicott's suggestion was right up her alley. This mischievous Whimsicott was highly playful. All the more reason Rainbow Dash aimed to catch it. "If I win, I'm catching you! You're fast...and a tricky one. That's just what I need. It's a like perfect mix between Castform and all my fast Pokemon."
"Wait. Can I even keep up?" Fluttershy feared that she wouldn't be able to keep up, thus resulting in Rainbow, Whirlipede and Whimsicott leaving her in the dust.
"I'll pull you!" Rainbow Dash grab Fluttershy's hooves as immediately, Audino would have the instinctive reaction to hold Fluttershy's tail so that she wouldn't be left behind. Bayleef would latch onto Audino's back while Raboot would stay on her head. "Just try not to fall off."
"Um...This doesn't look safe!" Fluttershy laughed nervously as this already looked like it could turn out messy. "But I don't want to miss it so..."
"Whimsicott!" And without warning, Whimsicott was off, zooming through the air.
"Oh! There it goes! Let's go, Whirlipede! Chase her down with Rollout!"
"Whirlipede!" Whirlipede would go next, building up speed on the spot before taking off. And finally, it would be Rainbow Dash who went last, dragging Fluttershy and her Pokemon along. Fluttershy screeched as Rainbow Dash didn't hesitate to go at high speeds. When following two fast Pokemon, this was necessary.
Thus began a race battle.
Whimsicott flew up one of the hills, already aiming to get an advantage point. However, not only could Rainbow Dash fly but Whirlipede's momentum was a factor as he approached the hill that Whimsicott flew over. "Whirl...!" Whirlipede rushed in, rolling up the hill while leaving a dust trail behind.
But Whimsicott was prepared for this. Expecting Whirlipede to roll up the hill with his speed, the Windveiled Pokemon would generate cotton with each of its movements, unleashing them in spurts of speed. Once Whirlipede reached the top of the hill, he was immediately met with this cotton puff that instantly blew up in front of him.
"W-Whirlipede!" Whirlipede cried out as he was forced back, rolling down the hill and nearly losing his momentum.
"Oh, no! Whirlipede!" Rainbow Dash gasped as Whirlipede rolled past her. The impact of that cotton explosion was certainly heavy for it to push him back this far but his own momentum was used against him as well.
"P-Pede...! Whirlipede!" But Whirlipede wouldn't let this stop his flow for one second.
"Rollout, again!"
"Whirl!" Whrilipede would continue pursuing Whimsicott. And thanks to his ability Speed Boost, he was faster than ever. He drifted once he recovered his balance, using his increased speed to boost back to where he was originally. Faster than before, Whirlipede would approach the hill once more, despite time with a smaller time window.
With this speed, he reached the top of the hill yet again. Whimsicott was ahead by this point but with Speed Boost, Whirilpede could catch up depending on what Whimsicott does next. After reaching the top of the hill and passing by a nearby flock of Pidgey, just barely managing to miss them without harming this flock, Whirlipede was at the next part of this hillside, spotting Whimsicott up ahead.
"Nice, Whirlipede! Keep at it! Use Sludge Bomb!"
"Pede!" While rolling at high speeds, Whirlipede would shoot out poisonous bombs to try and knock Whimsicott out of the air. Whimsicott gasped once it looked back. This could spell major trouble if those bombs managed to connect.
"Whim! Whimsicott!" Refusing to let Whirlipede get an advantage, Whimsicott would use Tailwind, generating a powerful wind pressure from its body. The flow of the wind would be reversed by Whimsicott's power as it was also meant to slow down Whirlipede while giving the Grass-Fairy-Type a greater advantage.
The bombs of Sludge Bomb would be redirected thanks to this shift in the wind, flying elsewhere. As for Whirlipede, he would be held back by the Tailwind that blew in his direction. His acceleration was dialled back because of this. "W-Whirl...! Whirlipede...!"
"Tailwind?!" Rainbow Dash pulled back. Whimsicott was determined to keep him back at all means. "Yeah, right! Speed Boost has something to say about that! Whirlipede! Use Rollout, again!"
"Pede!" Switching back to Rollout, Whirlipede's Speed Boost would kick in once more, accelerating his speed. He would fight against the Tailwind with this increased speed, forcing Whimsicott to keep moving. Tailwind was still slowing him down a bit but the advantage of Speed Boost could change that.
Whimsicott would then approach an acre of trees, zigzagging past them while continuously throwing cotton at Whirlipede to throw him off balance. Whirlipede would zoom past some of the trees even with the Tailwind holding him back. He would drift past the trees while also evading the puffs of cotton that came his way. As for Rainbow Dash, she was keeping pace with this battle by flying above the trees, getting a birds-eye view of them both. Fluttershy and her Pokemon were still holding on. Though Fluttershy could fly, she wouldn't be able to keep up with this with her natural speed.
"There!" Rainbow Dash then spotted an upwards hill slope that also curved to the side. She was about to take full advantage of that. "Roll to the right, Whirlipede!"
"Whirl!" Whirlipede would drift away from the acre of trees, focusing on a nearby slope. After approaching that slope at hyperactive speeds, Whirlipede would gain some air time by flying off of it.
"Whim?!" Whimsicott gasped, looking above to see the Curlipede Pokemon take flight once more. And once again, Speed Boost would raise his speed, pushing back against Tailwind's effects.
"Now, home in! Rollout!"
"Whirl!" A second Rollout was used. This time, in mid-air. One common tactic of Whirlipede was using his aerial advantage to zone in on his opponents. And now was the perfect time for something like that. He used Rollout yet again and this time, he acted like a missile, shooting out of the sky with a shockwave being left behind him. He would even become a purple blur with the spurt of speed he performed in the air.
"C-Cott!" Whimiscott would finally receive a hit from Whirlipede as he crashed into the Windveiled Pokemon from above. Whimsicott would be pushed back, nearly spiralling through the air and bouncing off some trees with all the cotton around its body. "Whimsi!" But it didn't take long for Whimsicott to also recover, maintaining its momentum.
"Yes!" Rainbow Dash pumped her hooves as Whirlipede would then land perfectly on the ground, moving across the curved part of the hill. "Now, use Sludge Bomb!"
"Whirl! Whirl!" After landing back on the ground, Whirlipede would unleash a follow-up attack. Sludge Bomb would be shot out and this time, at greater speeds. These speeds were fast enough to push through the strong winds of Tailwind, approaching Whimsicott without being thrown off course.
"Scott!" Not if Whimsicott had anything to say about it. Seeing the bombs of poison coming its way, the Windveiled Pokemon would then use its own spurt of speed, zipping past one of the Sludge Bombs. But it still had to evade the rest. To do this, Whimsicott would continuously shoot out cotton from its body, using it as a way to slingshot herself. The Windveiled Pokemon evaded the second one by summoning a cotton puff which ended up being obliterated by the poison.
"Oooh, amazing!" Fluttershy gawked. "It's using the cotton to recoil herself back and guard against the poison! That way, it won't ever take a hit!" This was further proven by how each spurt of cotton would shoot Whimsicott in different directions while each of the cottons would be taken out by the rest of the bombs.
"That is amazing..." Rainbow Dash's eyes lit up. "And a pretty good strategy...I gotta catch it now more than ever! Whirlipede! Kick it up some more! Full speed ahead! Rollout!"
"Whirlipede!" Whirlipede's speed had reached an extreme level by this point. He left multiple afterimages of himself once he rushed on ahead. By this point, he had surpassed the Tailwind and could now catch up to Whimsicott at easier paces. Not only that, but there was one other factor that had to be taken into mind.
"Cott...! Whimsi!" Seeing that Whirlipede was improving with each successful move, the Windveiled Pokemon was starting to lose its advantage as the fastest Pokemon here. Whirlipede was swiftly overtaking that title. Thus, a stronger move was needed. And for Whimsicott, that would be Solar Beam.
The sun was not extra strong today, thus, Whimsicott was forced to charge up Solar Beam. This had a drawback. Whimsicott ended up slowing itself down when needing to charge up, allowing for Whirlipede to get in close.
"Now! Strike!"
"Pede!" Whirlipede got another direct hit with Rollout. Not quite a super-effective hit since Sludge Bomb has yet to hit its mark. However, there was a catch. Thanks to the constant use of Rollout, the natural ability of this attack had kicked in multiple times. The more it is used, the stronger it becomes. And at this stage, Rollout hit like a train, having enough power to stagger the Windveiled Pokemon while a verdant light surrounded it.
"W-Whim!" This time, this Rollout was stronger than the previous one, leaving the Grass-Fairy-Type slightly bewildered.
"Yes! That should do the trick! I can probably catch it now!" Rainbow Dash saw this as an opportunity to catch Whimsicott thanks to that staggering blow.
"Whimsicott!" However, having an extra bit of strength, Whimsicott would unleash Solar Beam as the recharge time had come to an end. Right in front of Whirlipede at the closest distance possible, the Windeveiled Pokemon put on a devious smile before releasing a massive beam of solar energy that would envelop Whirlipede's entire body.
"W-Whirli!" Whirlipede cried out after the Solar Beam struck him. It wasn't super-effective either but the impact of it was not to be ignored as a verdant explosion went off. At this close range, both Whirlipede and Whimsicott were blown back.
The two speedy Pokemon would roll and tumble on the ground with Whirlipede crashing through a tree while Whimsicott stopped near a pile of rocks. Both Pokemon came to a screeching halt as their momentum had ceased. But one of them certainly received the worst from this.
"Whim...Whimsi...!" Whimsicott would twirl once it got up from the pile of rocks. It felt dazed and dizzy from the collision it face while Whirlipede could still move, readjusting his circular body. Whimsicott, seeing that it was bewildered, attempted to get another attack in by taking out a piece of its cotton.
"Now's my chance! Go, Poke Ball!" Rainbow Dash would throw the Poke Ball from above as it came crashing down like a meteor.
It looked like it would be a direct hit, only for Whimsicott to smirk. That bewilderment didn't last that long as it had another trick up its sleeve. Psychic. It did a fake-out, pretending to take out cotton from its body, only to reveal that it was using Psychic in its hand the entire time, catching the Poke Ball right before it had the chance to touch it.
"Say what?!" Rainbow Dash pulled back, surprised by what she had witnessed. It wasn't every day that a trainer would witness a Pokemon pull a juke like this. The Poke Ball levitated above Whimsicott who still had the strength to continue. And this Psychic certainly threatened Whirlipede, who was weak to it.
"That is one clever Whimsicott." Fluttershy was impressed. The cheeky and mischievous nature of this Whimsicott made it tricky to overcome. It always seemed like Whimsicott had something in-store that could swing things in its favour.
"Cott!" Whimsicott would then throw the Poke Ball away with Psychic, sending it back to Rainbow Dash via an invisible blast.
"Pede...!" But along came Whirlipede to change that. With his maximum speed, he would lunge through the air, intercepting the invisible blast and the Poke Ball with Rollout. And in an astonishing turn of events, Whirlipede would hit the Poke Ball right back at Whimsciott's direction at full force while also taking damage from the Psychic blast. "W-Whirl!"
"Whirlipede?!" A stunned Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
"Whim-" Whimsicott was also stunned by this. It wasn't the only one that could intercept at the right time. This was essentially payback for what it did to Whirlipede's Poke Ball earlier. The ball would smack Whimsicott's face, nearly knocking it over before shrinking the Windveiled Pokemon's body.
At the same time, Whirlipede would crash into the ground after taking the Psychic Blast. The Poke Ball would then drop as the traditional rolling and countdown could begin.
1...
2...
3...
Gotcha! Whimsicott was caught. Granted, it was caught in an unusual way that involved an interception but a catch was a catch and no one could deny that. In a way, Whirlipede was the one who caught Whimsicott. This was signified by his slight chuckle once he heard the signature click from the Poke Ball.
"Oh, we did it..." Rainbow Dash hovered there, frozen for a bit before a smile formed on her face. "Yeah-hahaha! We did it!"
"Great work, you two!" Fluttershy would applaud but her hooves were still occupied at the moment. But that wouldn't last long once Rainbow Dash would descend, finally coming to a halt. This allowed Fluttershy and the others to freely move once more.
"Whirlipede! Are you alright?!" The multi-coloured-maned-mare rushed to Whilripede's side, seeing if he was still conscious. And indeed, Whirlipede was conscious. He didn't faint even after taking all those hits along with that heavy Psychic blast.
"Whirl..."
"You're so awesome, Whirlipede! Great job!" The Element of Loyalty would hug her very first Pokemon after helping him up. She would then fly over to Whimiscott's Poke Ball, ready to declare her victory in this battle race. "Alright! I caught a Whimsicott!"
"Here you go, Whirlipede." And here to heal up Whirlipede was Fluttershy along with Audino. A Heal Pulse was already coming right up. There might be more Heal Pulses considering what Rainbow Dash aimed to do from the start. Immediately, Whimsicott would be let out of her Poke Ball.
"Heh. I won." Rainbow Dash nudged Whimsicott as the Windveiled Pokemon was next to be healed up.
"Whim." Whimsicott crossed its arms. A part of it wished to wind that race but the results did not lie. Granted, it could've potentially gone differently if Whirlipede did not intercept it. "Whimsi-Whimsi."
"What's that? Rainbow Dash managed to win over someone else?" Fluttershy translated as Whimsicott had something to reveal.
"What? Win over who?" Rainbow Dash asked. "I mean I won the battle but...is there someone else here?"
"Whim! Whimsi-Whimsi!" Whimsicott explained, flailing its arms.
"Sounds to me like someone else tried to catch Whimsicott just yesterday. He was a pegasus just like you." Fluttershy continued. "His Corviknight came pretty close too and even swore to come back the next day to try again."
"Corviknight...Soarin?" Rainbow Dash mainly knew about one pegasus trainer who had a Corviknight. "Did he talk about pies?"
"Cott." Whimsicott confirmed this with just a singular nod. Indeed, Soarin was here and did try to catch Whimsicott as well, but failed to do so so and promised to show up tomorrow. But alas, Rainbow Dash shut that possibility down.
"That's him alright. So that means...I beat him to it! Hahaha!" The pegasus proudly laughed. "Wait till Soarin hears about this! He's not here yet, is he?"
"Whim! Whimsicott!" Unexpectedly, Whimsicott would then fly, leaving behind another spurt of cotton that would smack Rainbow Dash in the face.
"Gouh!" Rainbow Dash fell over a second time, failing to see the cotton coming as Whimsicott would chuckle right afterwards. It was up for another race. Even after all of that, Whimsicott wished to race with Rainbow Dash and Whirlipede for a second time.
"Another race?" Fluttershy translated. "I'm not sure that's a good idea after-"
"You're on!" But Rainbow Dash immediately agreed to race again with Whimsicott. So did Whirlipede, who wanted to get back into action after being healed up.
"You too, Whilripede?" Fluttershy said.
"Let's go for a second race, Whirlipede! This time, we'll have Whimsicott chase us and we'll beat her when reach that distant hill over there." Rainbow Dash aimed her hoof at a faraway hill that looked like it was the end of this hillside.
"Pede!"
"Oh well." Fluttershy shrugged, unable to stop this. "At least meet back with us here so we can heal you up, okay?" She would stay here, along with her Pokemon instead of going with Rainbow Dash. Probably for the better.
Rainbow Dash, Whirlipede and Whimsicott would partake in another race. Thanks to Whimsicott's playful personality, it bounced off well with Rainbow Dash and Whirlipede. Choosing a speedy Pokemon always seemed to go well for Rainbow Dash and Whimsicott was no exception.
Although, perhaps they went on for too long. While they were racing each other, hours had gone by and the sun was already starting to set once it reached the later afternoons. Eventually, Rainbow Dash was too caught up in her enjoyment with Whimsicott to keep track of time or even focus on her main goal.
But for now, a part of her goal had been achieved. Whimsicott was her newest teammate and possibly her most hyperactive one by far. But rest assured, Rainbow Dash's ambition to become the first Equestria League Champion was prime for stronger allies in the future.
"Whimsicott?" Soarin had been searching for Whimsicott this entire time as the moon had already set. Once he showed up, he was already far too late. He spotted Fluttershy, who shook her head. That was enough communication to confirm to Soarin that he failed to catch Whimsciott. Rainbow Dash beat him to it, unfortunately.
Peacefully, Rarity was in a healthy sleep, unbothered by anything. She was having her beauty sleep, surrounded by various accessories that were meant for PokeStar Studios. Sleeping outside of their Poke Balls would be some of Rarity's Pokemon. Ampharos' body was giving off a faint light. In this instance, he was a lamp for everyone, still being able to control his light even when asleep. All was calm for Rarity and her home.
At least, that's how it would seem for a while. It started with the sound of some strange rumbling, followed by the sound of her pet cat Opalescence crying out. "Ugh...What is it?" She would sit up, interrupted from her wonderful sleep. The sound of this rumbling would continue as it sounded as if something was starting to grow.
But Rarity wasn't the only one disturbed by this. Others across Ponyville would wake up to this sound. This disturbance would prompt them to either look out of their windows or head outside to see for themselves. Absol, along with other Pokemon who stayed awake during the night, were the first to witness and hear what was truly going on. However, Absol's horn did not tremble. This was not something that warranted a disaster.
Rarity and all of her Pokemon would gaze at the event that woke so many of the townsfolk up and it was an event that was long overdue. Over at the Pokemon House, Zecora was the most stunned and excited about this. Still working on that elixir, she would halt all work to witness the home she once knew return.
The Everfree Forest had finally finished healing.
The roots and ivnes of this forest would add the finishing touches, making the earth itself tremble. At last, Zecora could return and rebuild what she had lost.
"Isn't that wonderful, Zecora?" Fluttershy, who awoke to the emergence of the Everfree Forest said. Judging by the look on Zecora's face, it was already wonderful.
Granted, some would consider the Everfree Forest as the least-hospitable place to live in. But for Zecora, she preferred it that way. Apart of this new combined world, the Everfree Forest was finally back to how it was after months of healing.
"Oh, is that all that was? Alright then..." Rarity groaned before shutting the windows. She thought it was something of great importance. For her, it wasn't all that important. It was back to bed knowing what all the fuss was about.
Seeing that Zecora's home had returned, Roseluck was waiting for the elixir to return before Zecora could head back. After all, she'd rather not head into the Everfree Forest.
Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
Over at the Pokemon School, lessons went by as always until the late afternoon came by. By this time, many would return home but some would stay behind.
Such as Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. They would show up for Valerie's afternoon classes, mainly focused on Fairy-Type Magic. Valerie was looking better after the events over at Hearthome City.
"You're looking better, Valerie." Fluttershy pointed out. "You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"
"Not anymore. I was healed up, thankfully." Valerie added. "As for everyone else, we're glad to have so many Ghost-Type specialists. It took us two days to return everyone's souls to their bodies but thanks to Grimsley of the Unova Elite 4, it worked out well for us."
"Those weird plants are still around though. What about them?" Pinkie Pie asked, bringing up the Despair Plants. They were still ever-present and should not be ignored in any way, considering how much trouble they could cause.
"I haven't seen them yet. But what about your friend Roseluck? She said she had a way to stop them. She hasn't even shown up to school because she's still busy working on it."
"Roseluck? Well, she said that Zecora's the one really making it. It's not as easy as she hoped it would be." Fluttershy explained. "It's been a few days and she's still working on it. On the bright side, we know what it does."
"That's right!" Pinkie exclaimed. "It soothes the plants and calms them down! Isn't that perfect? Those freaky plants won't be flailing around anymore when they get a dose of that elixir."
"Is that what it does? Oh, that's wonderful then!" Valerie clapped her hands. "I wasn't sure myself what that elixir could do when I heard about it. But...I hope it works. Those Despair Plants might be too difficult to soothe."
"How come?" Pinkie Pie questioned.
"When I encountered them, the amount of aggression that came from those plants was unlike anything I've ever felt before. Without even saying anything, I knew that I wouldn't be able to calm them down no matter how hard I tried. I didn't even bother to try because of that. This elixir...how big is it?"
"Umm...It's pretty small." Unfortunately, Fluttershy revealed that the elixir was not that big at all. She held her hooves out, picking up a nearby pen. This pen was around the size of that elixir. And considering how large the Despair Plants were, especially when they fused, this did not bode well.
"Oh, my." Valerie gulped. She didn't have high hopes for this elixir if it was that small. Unless there were multiple of them, only one of the Despair Plants could be affected. And that wasn't good enough.
"But I'm sure she has it covered. We should never underestimate Zecora. And with the Everfree Forest back, she can get back to rebuilding her old home and gathering whatever she can from that forest." Fluttershy tried reassuring Valerie, bringing a brighter look into this. "Hopefully."
"Hmm...Those plants haven't stuck around other cities compared to Hearthome City." Valerie turned, looking out of the window to witness some foals playing around with their Pokemon. "That worries me. They occupied that city for so long and nowhere else is worth their time at all."
"Is that a bad thing?" Pinkie scratched her mane. From what she could gather, the Despair Plants and their constant movements weren't as horrifying as how they stayed in Hearthome for months.
"I already spoke about it with Olympia. But there's a chance that they're not finished with us. Those plants could be coming for us." Valerie revealed before taking a seat, shuddering for a bit. "Because we managed to escape compared to everyone else, those plants are like predators, attempting to find us and finish what they started. And unless they find the right city or town, they won't stop."
That made Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy stay silent for a bit. Valerie, despite healing up, wasn't fully feeling safe at the moment for obvious reasons. The possibility of the Despair Plants finding her again was one of them. "Ever since that...I haven't been able to erase it from my memory." The Kalos Gym Leader would hold herself for a bit, unable to get the plants off her mind at all. "We barely managed to escape from them...They were just so powerful. More so than what we ever expected. If they find us again then-"
Fear was approaching Valerie. The Despair Plants and their existence were enough to inject it into her. It was a reasonable fear to have. At the moment, only Cobra and Cordyceps were seen as of recently with Scorpio supposedly being out of commission after what happened back at Michina Town.
"Hey, cheer up!" Pinkie Pie would immediately get behind Valerie, forming a smile by touching her face. "Those plants aren't gonna hurt you anymore."
"They aren't?"
"Nope! Because I've got an idea! Why don't we just pour all of that elixir on you and you'll be free from any harm! Those plants aren't gonna wanna hurt you if they feel calm!" Pinkie Pie suggested. "Not a bad idea, huh?"
"Uh...That's nice but I don't think it would last that long by the time they find me. Whenever they find me." Valerie chuckled as Pinkie Pie managed to lighten her spirits with that suggestion. "Good idea, though."
"Get your mind off of it then." Fluttershy was ready to throw in her own suggestion. "This week, Rarity invited us to see her act in an upcoming PokeStar Studios movie. We could bring you along or is there something else that could work for you?"
"PokeStar Studios? Well...I guess so..." Valerie pondered about it for a moment. "It wouldn't be too out of place for me. After all, I am a fashion designer."
"You are?" Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie both said as this was new information to her. Valerie wasn't just a Gym Leader, much like every other Gym Leader.
"Mhm. I originally come from Johto, actually but I came to Kalos to pursue my career. But...I haven't designed for any movies but it would be fun now that I think about it." Valerie added. "So, yes, please! I'd love that! I might have to ask for a day off then if it's on a weekday. That includes my Gym."
It was decided. For Valerie, to get her mind off of those Despair Plants, it was off to PokeStar Studios when that day comes. However, despite being eager to get there, a frown formed on Valerie's face while her students babbled on. That fear was still there and Olympia's words should not be taken lightly.
Hoenn. Dewford City. Nightfall.
Nightfall had graced the Hoenn Region. Especially for Dewford Town. A tiny island in the vast blue sea that is the Hoenn Region. New trends are always the rage among the inhabitants of this small island town. This was home to Brawly. Dewford City's Gym Leader.
Brawly had just finished up for the day. And judging by the number of water bottles beside him, he worked hard, as usual. He would leave the beachside before gazing up at the beautiful night sky and the moon. After a hard day at work, Brawly would clock out at last.
With mostly everyone asleep for the night in this town, tomorrow was ready to be tackled by Brawly. However, not everything was how it seemed. When heading back to his home, carrying his surfboard, Brawly could hear a violent sound for a split second. He swivelled his head as that sound came from the sea. But very soon, it would vanish. The tired-out Brawly scratched his hair, wondering what on earth could've made that sound. It certainly wasn't a Wailord. It came from underwater, thus, its cry was somewhat obscured and hard to recognize. Once he returned home, that's when something poked out of the sea.
One of the Despair Plants had arrived. It was Cordyceps. Tracking down Brawly's scent had led to Cordyceps arriving at the Hoenn Region. After battling Brawly and the other Gym Leaders, all Gym Leaders were now trackable. And Cordyceps wasn't alone.
Emerging out of the sea was a swarm of Cordyceps. Much like how Scorpio duplicated, Cordyceps was not an exception as the night sky was flooded by these demonic plants, ready to strike at the unsuspecting people and Pokemon of Dewford Town. And of course, Rosa Maledicta had a clear vision of this place thanks to her control over the plants.
She eyed down the town, seeing how peaceful it was. But the Lich Queen could care less about the peacefulness of Dewford Town.
Rustboro City.
It wasn't just Dewford Town. The nearest city, Rustboro City, would be targeted as well, home to the Gym Leader, Roxanne. Roxanne was involved with that event that happened over at Hearthome City, thus, her scent had been traced as well. The city that was known as the main hub of industry in the Hoenn region, with the Devon Corporation as its beating heart, was now a target for these Despair Plants.
And as for Roxanne, since she was asleep, she was unaware of what was coming her way as one of the Cordyceps had already eyed down her home.
Sleeping peacefully, it looked like Roxanne couldn't be interrupted by her wonderful slumber. But the Despair Plants could certainly disrupt it. The swarms of Cordyceps were all that filled the skies of Hoenn tonight, approaching these two locations with explosive seeds ready to be dropped.
Roxanne's home was the first target as most of the Cordyceps would hover over it. The same went for Brawly's home once he was ready to lie down. Above their respective roofs, these seeds would be dropped by the Despair Plants as a barrage of explosions was seemingly imminent. No one could predict it and no one could react to it in time. Both civilizations looked like they would be set ablaze by the seeds.
At least, that's how it seemed at first. A large field of magic would appear over both cities from great distances. These fields of magic appeared the moment the seeds got within the range of some of the taller buildings. Explosions went off, only touching the shields instead. But the sounds of these explosions couldn't be ignored. Not when they were loud enough to wake up the citizens.
"What...?" Roxanne woke up from this as to be expected. Her pleasant dream had been interrupted along with many others. A barrage of commotion would go across Rustboro and most likely, Dewford Town as well.
"Who dares?" Rosa Maledicta's voice echoed through the sky once she saw that this barrage of explosive seeds had been blocked.
"We do." Three voices spoke out to the voice in the sky. While Rosa Maledicta was not here, her expression would most likely show confusion and possibly even a stunned expression. Mainly due to the three voices that replied to her. Or in this case, technically two.
The ones responsible for this had shown themselves by flying high above the rest of the Cordyceps. The swarm of Despair Plant Cordyceps would gaze up to see the radiant figure of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Rosa Maledicta, all the way from Magehold, gasped once she saw the Two Sisters appear before her.
But it wasn't just those two. There was one more pony responsible for protecting Dewford. That would be Nightmare Moon, who was split from Luna, becoming her own entity that only shows up during the night. And this was the perfect time to show up as her barrier shielded the town from the explosive seeds.
"You two..." Rosa growled. "How did you anticipate this?"
"You can thank the combination of Xatu and the Hyperdream for that," Luna smirked. "Ever since that stunt you pulled on Hearthome, the nightmares that these people had involved a vicious attack on their homes. I couldn't ignore that, especially with what Twilight encountered back at Michina Town."
"As for me...I just tagged along." Celestia shrugged. "We can't have things going wrong in this new world, after all. Everything's still so new and the last thing anypony needs is a sudden attack, Lich Queen." The Sun Princess called out Rosa Maledicta's title.
"Tch. Fair enough. First I met Princess Twilight and now I've met both of you. You're already shaping to be grave annoyances, just like her."
"You'll call off your plants and their rampant attacks," Luna ordered. "They're not as indestructible as they seem after all."
"My darlings won't stop until they've found their targets and currently, you're in the way of two of them and are only adding yourselves to the list of prey that they can claim. In this case, I'll have them bring you to me. How wonderful would it be if I had both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna over at Magehold?"
"They'll stop. After all, we now have certain ways we can shut them down. And as a bonus...Roseluck's elixir seems to be coming up nicely from what we hear."
"What did you say?!" By mentioning Roseluck and the elixir, Rosa Maledicta would roar, making not just the clouds wobble but also causing the Despair Plants to shake just from her exclamation. Celestia definitely struck a nerve there.
"You should call it off soon before it's completed or we can just finish it here." Celestia continued before facing Luna. "Luna. You know what to do."
"I know, sister." Luna nodded. "Nightmare Moon should as well. We should keep all damage at a low level when dealing with these plants. But are you positive that your magic will be fully effective on them?"
"It's not Arceus' light but it should do something." Celestia looked over at her Boundless Cutie Mark, which had her main Cutie Mark visible while every other Cutie Mark was incredibly small and repeatedly cycling at high speeds.
"Just for bringing those two up...I'll see to it that you're crushed from the beginning!" Rosa Maledicta yelled as Celestia definitely chose a strong pair of words to rile her up. So much so that she chose to have her plants go all out from the start. That same dark light surrounded their bodies as they would crash into each other.
Fusion was arriving once more.
"Is this the fusion they spoke about?!" Luna squinted at this horrific light that emerged from the Despair Plants.
"You'd best believe it! My darlings...By the darkness of those summoned, I call upon you! Shatter the light and smother the world, make them bask in your dreadful glory! Come hither and descend into beautiful chaos! I fuse all of my Cordyceps to create this! Despair Plant Triphyophyllum!"
New fusion Despair Plants had emerged on both sides. Celestia, Luna, Nightmare Moon and the citizens from Dewford Town and Rustboro City would witness this unification and the emergence of this new Despair Plant species.
This Despair Plant had the stature of a dragon, more akin to that of a Garchomp's stature. Two large heads appeared from its neck while the main neck in the middle stood tall. It almost looked like a hydra with this appearance. With its entire body being made out of hard and rugged plants along with the wings on its back, it had two flytraps on the top of its wings while possessing thorn-like claws. This Despair Plant was the closest to a dragon and by far the fiercest looking.
"Is that even a plant anymore...?" Celestia gawked at this Hydra-like plant. With these Cordyceps all fusing, there were fewer Despair Plants but they still had a ton of deadly strength to exude.
"Prepare yourselves, princesses! Try and stop what comes next!"
Equestria. Ponyville. The Pokemon House. Nightfall.
It was another night at Ponyville. And compared to what was happening on the other side of this new world, they were lucky to have zero targets on them. Zecora, who was eager to return to the Everfree Forest now that it was fully restored, kept focusing on this elixir that Roseluck had brought her.
"This elixir is unlike anything I've ever dealt with..." Zecora said, sweating while working on the elixir with everything she had, trying to get the rind kind of magic. "But...I can still work around it even with this obscure magic." Zecora would persist. Though the magic was odd to her, she would continue. And so far, her hard work was starting to show.
When working inside the Ghost-Type Room, the elixir began radiating a light glow. It was faint but it was there, appearing as the colour blue. Zecora was getting somewhere without a doubt. It was all a matter of getting it done in time before the worst could potentially happen. But at least, Zecora was getting somewhere.
Team Rocket would peek into the room, watching Zecora work hard. She has been at this for days now while Team Rocket handled everything else over here at the Pokemon House.
"How important is that elixir anyway?" Jessie whispered to her friends. "So important that she's been coupled up in there."
"Those plants are probably worse than what we can imagine," said James. "On the bright side, it'll be back to the Everfree Forest once she's done."
"Bright side?" Meowth thought about it for a moment. There was nothing bright about the Everfree Forest at all aside from Zecora's old home. "Mmm..."
"If I were any good at magic, I'd help out and get this over with." Jessie leaned in further, pressing her face against the cold window that appeared non-existent at first. The window was well-disguised thanks to the Ghost-Types. Anticipating that someday, someone would do this, they anticipated this correctly as Jessie would shiver, nearly screaming at the top of her lungs before James and Meowth covered it for her, preventing anyone from waking up.
"We'll just leave her alone," James replied as he would pull Jessie away, leaving Zecora to her work. During these times, it was best not to interrupt her. Especially when there are violent plants running around, hunting down certain Gym Leaders and launching attacks on towns and cities.
Hoenn. Rustboro City. Nightfall.
Over at Hoenn, two locations were threatened by the Despair Plants. Rustboro City and Dewford Town. Celestia and Luna occupied Rustboro while Nightmare Moon would be at Dewford. Another Despair Plants species had appeared before them in the form of a hydra-like entity.
With all of the Cordyceps fusing into one, Despair Plant Triphyophyllum was born. With Rosa having a view of the two cities and speaking through them, she instantly merged them after Celestia's words struck a nerve. At the moment, Canterlot Guards were present here, helping the confused people and Pokemon leave the scene before things could worsen.
"Celestia...You'll be the first to be plucked out of the sky by my darlings. I've already had a run-in with another you, so you're a prime problem."
"Now, Luna!" But instead of engaging with the Despair Plants, Celestia and Luna would descend to Rustboro City. The Despair Plants would immediately pursue them with their rugged plant wings. However, as Celestia and Luna entered the field of magic, the Despair Plants would find themselves being hit by the field instead.
A radiant light exuded from the barrier with a hint of darkness within it. Celestia's magic was used as a way to inflict damage on these Despair Plants. Once they touched the field of magic, the light would not only push them back but also send shocks throughout their bodies.
Despair Plant Triphyophyllum was held back promptly by this massive shield as it was constantly unleashing rays of light. And as for Luna's magic, it would keep Celestia's magic going by adding energy to it.
"See? I told you it would affect them." Celestia nudged Luna. Her light was potent enough to get a strong reaction out of these Despair Plants.
"Yes, yes. But maybe not for long. Let's hurry." Luna replied as they now had the chance to get a lot done while the field kept the Despair Plants at bay.
"Princess Celestia? Princess Luna?" Leaving her home and gazing at the presence of the Royal Sisters was this town's Gym Leader. Roxanne. "What's going on...?"
"Sorry for the intrusion, Roxanne." Celestia flew over. "But right now, it's important that you should all evacuate here at once before things can worsen."
"Is that...a Despair Plant?!" Roxanne looked up, noticing the horrific Despair Plant army in the sky who kept on bashing their bodies against the field, trying to break through it.
"Afraid so. One of these attacks was launched on not just your city but Dewford Town as well." Luna said.
"Dewford...?" A tired Roxanne repeated before her eyes opened up fully. "Oh no...What Olympia said was true." Reality had kicked in for Roxanne as she slowly backed away while looking up the swarm of Despair Plants. "They are coming for us!"
"Coming for us?" Celestia and Luna repeated before looking at each other and then back at Roxanne.
"They're here for me and Brawly. When we managed to escape...Olympia foresaw something. She foresaw that our encounter with these plants wouldn't be over." Roxanne explained. "And she was right...They tracked us down to our own homes."
"Tracked you down? Is that why they've made little attacks on other places?!" Celestia swivelled her head back to face the Despair Plants. The fewer attacks on other civilizations made sense now. They only made them brief just to get to the places that mattered. For Roxanne and Brawly, it was Rustboro and Dewford. "Olympia and the others might already be dealing with them right now!"
"We'll worry about them later. Right now, you should leave here as soon as possible." Celestia replied. Evacuating everyone so that collateral damage could be avoided was a top priority.
"No. I won't leave." But Roxanne chose not to leave. Instead, she would stay behind. "I didn't flee when I encountered them over at Hearthome and I won't even at my own home."
"Hm...Fair." Celestia couldn't really debate that in any way. After all, Roxanne's strength was nothing to toss aside. "Alright. That field we made should weaken them the more they try."
"That light...It's so efficient on them. Look!" Roxanne pointed out how effective Celestia's light was against the Despair Plants. Each time they based their bodies against the field, the light would burn away parts of them.
"Of course...I'd expect nothing less from Princess Celestia." Rosa Maledicta said with her voice echoing throughout the city, startling everyone. "After all...your magic is one of the few things that I have to worry about. You are to become Daybreaker one day."
"Daybreaker?!" Luna gasped at the mere mention of that name while Celestia merely scowled at it. Indeed, Celestia and Daybreaker, while counterparts, were still the same pony. And that magic potential was still within the Princess of the Sun.
"That's right...Which is why I need to get you out of the way before anyone else! Your field won't keep my darlings back for long! Not when I can throw my influence in!" With parts of her body being healed up after so long, Rosa Maledicta could at last do more than just speak through her Despair Plants and see the locations they have been at.
The Despair Plants would then cease their constant bashing, seeing that was ineffective thanks to the light around the field. With Rosa Maledicta's influence, an aggressive darkness would flare out of their eyes. From their arms, which also resembled mouths, they would then generate a flow of darkness that would start pushing back against the light.
It was another clash between Light and Dark as the darkness started drowning out the light. But there was another form of darkness assisting the light. It wasn't just Luna's magic but also Darkrai, who emerged from the shadows. By using Dark Pulse, Darkrai would throw out a beam imbued with Dark thoughts to help boost up the field.
"Wait...Where is Gardevoir?" Roxanne would soon notice how Celestia's Gardevoir wasn't with her at the moment while Darkrai was helping power up this field.
"We didn't come with small numbers. The guards along with Passion are helping everyone else evacuate both Rustboro and Dewford." Celestia revealed. "But once everyone is out, Passion will be free to chime in with this field. Right now, Darkrai needs our help."
Celestia then turned her attention to the magical field, unleashing a golden beam from her horn. Luna would then follow, unleashing her own beam. These two beams of different colours would fly upwards, meeting with the field. The field would be instantly powered up by the rays, expanding in size as the darkness would be pushed back by the growing light.
The more the Triphyophyllums were exposed to the light the more their hard and rugged bodies would feel the heat grow. Drowning out the light wasn't as easy as they hoped but Rosa Maledicta already knew the challenge that would come with facing the Royal Sisters.
As the people and Pokemon started fleeing the area, they would all turn to witness the dazzling and ominous sight in the sky. The clash between light and dark would a spectacle to witness. Whether it was Celestia's group creating beautiful flares in the sky or even the darkness swallowing all that it could, it was clear that this exchange wasn't something anyone can just be near as it was seemingly intensifying.
Compared to the previous encounters with the Despair Plants, this was the most distant exchange by far as it was all a matter of how could push the other back.
Rosa Maledicta, using the eyes of the Despair Plants, would mainly focus on Princess Celestia more than anything. Her previous comment about how Celestia was an obvious threat to her mainly to Daybreaker's existence. By this Celestia's magical capabilities had grown far beyond what she originally had thanks to a plethora of events.
"Actually...With all of that magic, she could be staggeringly close to bringing out Daybreaker." Rosa commented while witnessing the back and forth between both sides. "In Daybreaker's world, she was unleashed because of a tragedy and the Dread League there had been wiped out. Including me. Perhaps, it wouldn't be idea to bring out this world's Daybreaker either."
Rosa Maledicta thought about it for a moment. Celestia could possibly be the biggest threat she would ever have to face. More than anyone simply because of what she learned from Daybreaker. All it would take was for something to push Celestia over the edge and for Daybreaker, that was the loss of her sister. It was certainly an ominous sight to see Luna here as well.
"That won't happen." Rosa Maledicta refused to let Daybreaker be unleashed. "That kind of pony should never be allowed to exist. So...I think I'll do Celestia a favour and spare her the tragedy. I'll remove Daybreaker from her entirely. And by extension, her large pool of magic."
A new plan came up in Rosa Maledicta's mind. Something that would benefit her greatly. She aimed to remove Daybreaker from Celestia while also drowning out Celestia's magic. And the Lich Queen certainly had the means to do so. By using more of her magic, her power over the Despair Plants would alter.
With more and more aggression trying to break through this field, the magical barrier was showing signs of cracking apart. Darkrai would feel a pushback when attempting to keep up his Dark Pulse. The Pitch Black Pokemon groaned before being pushed forward suddenly.
"Probopass." This was done by Roxanne's Probopass. Probopass ascended to add its weight onto Darkrai, keeping him from flying away and with great succession. Having a Steel-Type support him was the best possible option for Darkrai.
"Gardevoir!" Flying back to her trainer was Gardevoir. Rustboro City had been cleared for the most part as everyone was heading to the port.
"Great work, Passion. Now, use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Garde...Voir!" Gardevoir would finally add her strength into this field, going for Dazzling. With both arms out, rainbow rays would fly out in swift succession. An extra form of light joined the struggle as the field expanded once more.
By now, the field was suffering from all of this pressure being put on it. It was growing but the size increase only meant that it was prone to fall apart fairly soon. Celestia and Luna could see that, but unfortunately, the Despair Plants refused to slow down at all.
That was when Rosa Maledicta would make her move. One of the Despair Plants would fly back, ceasing its attack. Out of this Despair Plant, a shadow hoof had emerged from its mouth. The hoof of Rosa Maledicta to be exact.
The shadow hoof would then fly out, moving past all of the Despair Plant Triphyophyllums that were in the way. It blended in perfectly with the darkness, going undetected. As for the field, much like a ghost, Rosa Maledicta's Shadow Hoof would pass through with intangibility, having an advantage that the other Despair Plants didn't.
However, though it managed to pass through the field, once it was within Rustboro City, the light had exposed it. It was no longer undetected as Luna would instantly spot this hoof.
"What is that?!" Luna cried out, causing everyone else to glance at where she spotted this Shadow Hoof. Soon, they would all spot it, exposed to the light but also unaffected by it. However, Rosa Maledicta knew that one Shadow Hoof wasn't enough. By using her magic from a far distance once more, the Shadow Hooves would multiply instantaneously.
They had one target and no one else. Celestia and only Celestia. They swarmed the area, flying at high speeds to reach the Princess of the Sun to rip out what could be unleashed.
"Gardevoir!" But intercepting these shadows was Passion. Sensing her best friend in grave danger, Passion would use Psychic to try and push these shadow hooves back. She managed to hold some of them, however, there were some Shadow Hooves that managed to slip past her control. The ones she held would try and fight back
"Probopass, use Flash Cannon!" Probopass and Luna would try and stop the rest as well with Luna zapping as many as she could. Probopass would use Flash Cannon, generating its own light to intercept the shadows. But though they manage to hit some of these Shadow Hooves, more would pass through with enough numbers to spare.
But even though they were after Celestia, they didn't hesitate to retaliate. The ones that Gardevoir tried holding back would fight back. The Shadow Hooves would fly at the Embrace Pokemon, pummeling her from afar. "G-Garde!" Gardevoir would find herself being rapidly struck by these Shadow Hooves as they were akin to flies. But packed more of a punch.
"Sister! They're coming your way!" Luna yelled before dealing with some of these Shadow Hooves that would strike back at her. When shooting down a few of them, more would slip by, blindsiding the Princess of the Night.
"Probopass wasn't moved by a few blows from these Shadow Hooves but the more that came its way, the more Probopass' weight would start to fail it. Despite having intangible appearances, these hooves still had some impact on them.
But a majority of them still went to Celestia more than anything. And with the Shadow Hooves distracting them, the Despair Plants could take advantage of this scenario, containing to drown out the light. Focusing on both the Shadow Hooves and the Despair Plants was troublesome due to how aggressive both were and the numbers that they brought.
"Golurk!" Thankfully, for the Despair Plants, once the guards evacuated everyone, the Golurk that they all had would arrive, using their jet boosters to soar through the air. The Golurk caught the Despair Plants by surprise with their own intangibility, soaring out of the ocean. The Automaton Pokemon would all grab the Despair Plants from behind, restraining them and throwing them off their balance. Soon, the Despair Plants would find themselves facing the numbers of Golurk. They weren't the only ones who could gain a numerical advantage over their forest.
Celestia faced these Shadow Hooves, using her light to vaporize them. Whether it was from the front, above or even the ones that tried sneaking up from behind. However, with each takedown, more would show up.
And the closer they got to Celestia, the stronger they would grow. The last batch of hooves would then transform, appearing as claws as they would then increase in speed. These claws would rush in with a few of them being sliced apart by Celestia's hooves, only to eventually hit their target.
"Gh!" A direct hit. Celestia's chest was caught by these claws as they went in there. Her eyes opened after being struck by these vicious claws. The Sun Princess was stunned for a moment with everyone being flabbergasted by what they had witnessed. "Gaaah!"
"Gardevoir?!" An occupied Gardevoir gasped after seeing the dark claws enter Celestia.
"Sister!" Right as Luna called out her name, some Shadow Hooves would come from above, forcing her face to the ground to keep her quiet.
"Celestia, allow me to do you a favour!" I'll rid that massive threat from you at once!" Now that she had a hold of Celestia, Rosa Maledicta would use the claws to pull out everything Celestia had to offer. The claws grabbed the essence of magic within the Ruler of Equestria. And the essence was certainly colossal and impossible to miss.
With brute force, the claws began tearing out her magic. But for Rosa Maledicta, what she truly cared about was the essence of Daybreaker. And by digging deep, Rosa Maledicta could feel something greater than Celestia's natural magic. Something fierce and hot.
"I found it...!" Rosa Maledicta's ominous voice would laugh across the skies of Rustboro. "Daybreaker. She was always a part of you. And now, let me do the honour of ridding her from you!"
With a painful scream, the claws would move back as an orange and golden energy stream could be seen flying out of Celestia's body as she tried to keep herself steady. That stream of magic unleash flaming sparks that would immediately light up the area. No doubt within Rosa Maledicta's mind, she found a semblance of Daybreaker and now it was all a matter of taking her out along with all of Celestia's magic as the journey continues.
"I'll rid Daybreaker from this very existence with this!" Roaring out was the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta, whose voice echoed across the night skies of Rustboro and even Dewford. Using her power even all the way from Magehold, these vicious Shadow Hooves attacked along with her Despair Plants. And with this attack, she ended up grabbing into Princess Celestia, aiming to rip out the potential presence of Daybreaker and all of her magic to boot.
"Ghh...Gaaaaaaaah!" Naturally, this was painful to Celestia as a part of her was being ripped out thanks to these Shadow Hooves which had now transformed into claws. A golden and orange stream of magic could be seen appearing out of Celestia's body as that was her own magical essence being held. And within that stream, a flare of flames could be seen sparking out constantly.
"Sister...!" Forced into the ground with her face being dug was Luna. She would gather the strength to raise her head, pushing the hooves off of her, only to be held back by more of them. "Let me go!"
"Gardevoir...!" Gardevoir was in the same boat, trying to reach Celestia after seeing the state she was in. Witnessing Celestia in such a condition was enough to rile Gardevoir up as that latent rage could be brought out once more.
Not only that, but Darkrai would instantly spot one of the Despair Plant Triphyophyllum pass through the field. The mouth arms of this demonic plant had broken through a part of the shield since not many were keeping it active, resulting in the Despair Plants overtaking this struggle by drowning out the light. With one of the mouths passing through, explosive seeds were shot out immediately.
Darkrai would knock away the Shadow Hooves before intercepting the seeds, using Thunderbolt to do so. A stream of 100,000 volts would obliterate the seeds, only for more of then to hit Darkrai from behind. More of the Despair Plants managed to stick their arms through the field the more they drowned out the light.
"Probopass...!" Roxanne yelled while being held back by the Shadow Hooves. "Use Discharge!"
"Probopass!" Probopass was the only one in a less compromised position mainly due to how it was built. The Shadow Hooves couldn't quite find a way to restrain the Rock-Steel-Type at the moment. With its body, Probopass managed to use Discharge, emanating a violent flare of electricity that blew away the Shadow Hooves.
After blowing those hooves away, Probopass would then use Flash Cannon, unleashing a light beam which would cleave through the Shadow Hooves that held Roxanne back. Roxanne would be freed with the hooves dispersing. However, Probopass would not be ignored by Rosa Maledicta at all. The seeds from the Despair Plants would continue dropping from above, interrupting the Compass Pokemon's next move.
"P-Probopass!" Probopass was hit by this barrage of explosions from the Despair Plants. More and more, rescuing Celestia was being postponed by Rosa Maledicta's influence and her terrifying Despair Plants.
Speaking of the Despair Plants, with the field no longer being supported by the alicorns and the Pokemon, even with all of the Golurk in the sky trying to keep them back, it didn't take long for them to remove the field. The magical field Celestia and Luna put up shattered with all of the light being dissolved into nothing.
Now, Rustboro City was vulnerable but the Golurk would still keep trying, even with the power of Rosa Maledicta leaking out to stop all of Celestia's allies even all the way from Magehold.
As for Princess Celestia, the pain of having a piece of her being slowly and vigorously removed was too colossal to put into words. She tried resisting, using her own magic to hold herself in place. Celestia had the power to resist but with more Shadow Hooves spawning, resisting was seemingly a pointless endeavour at the moment.
"I'm doing you a favour, Celestia. For all of us!" Rosa Maledicta bellowed. "Cease your resistance, unless you want her to continue existing!"
"I won't...let you...!" A persistent Celestia protested. Even if she was in so much pain, she had an unrelenting drive to retaliate. The clash between her magic and the claws was so tremendous that the rubble around Celestia would start rising. Celestia herself would ascend with a mix of gold and black magic outlining her body, showing her intense struggle.
Everyone looked up to see Celestia ascend as she made her own field of magic to protect her. The Light and Dark would flare out with the intensity of a thunderstorm. The essence of magic within her would come to a standstill.
"Gardevoir...!" This was only aggravating Gardevoir even more. The same feeling she experienced back at the Galaxy Tower was starting to reappear. And it mainly occurred whenever Celestia was in grave danger or at risk of being critically harmed. However, Gardevoir did not wish to experience that once more and yet, if there was ever a time she could use a power boost via her own emotions, now was the perfect time.
"Nightmare Moon...if you can hear me, I would really appreciate your help in Rustboro right now!" Luna yelled, using the Royal Canterlot Voice to boost her volume so that it extended past Rustboro City.
Dewford City.
Over at Dewford, the people and Pokemon there had been evacuated as well thanks to Nightmare Moon. The alter-ego of Luna had also put up a magical shield, defending the town from the attack of the Despair Plants. Noticeably, Dewford was under attack by fewer Despair Plants compared to what was going on over at Rustboro.
Nightmare Moon still had to keep the magical field active for the safety of Dewford while the other Golurks on this side would keep the Despair Plants occupied. And even from this distance, Nightmare Moon could hear Luna's cry.
"Luna?" Nightmare Moon spoke out her name once she heard the cry for help. Immediately, she would cease everything here. It wasn't even a second thought for Nightmare Moon. Her true self was in peril after all and for her own safety, Luna's survival was crucial. And the survival of everyone else after all. Nightmare Moon looked up to see how there was one Golurk for one Despair Plant.
She could leave it all with the guards and the Golurk, quickly spreading her wings out to rush to Luna's aid. The Despair Plants were the most abundant over at Rustboro after all. For obvious reasons.
Equestria. Ponyville. The Pokemon House. Nightfall.
Over at the Pokemon House around Fluttershy's cottage, Zecora's work on the elixir was improving without a doubt. The colours within the elixir were starting to return with some vibrance finally showing. However, despite all of her sweat and tears being poured into making this elixir return to its natural state, something dawned on Zecora. Something troubling.
"Though I can maybe return the elixir to how it originally was, it wouldn't matter all that much," Zecora said. "For such large creatures, an elixir isn't enough."
Indeed. Despite what Roseluck shared about how this elixir could soothe the plants, it wouldn't matter all that much if the elixir was around the same height as a pen. Considering the size of these plants, especially when they fuse, something larger was needed. The same kind of magic along with something bigger than what Zecora currently has.
At this rate, this elixir could maybe temporarily soothe a Despair Plant for a bit before it gets back into its destructive mood. Knowing how vicious they were, Zecora needed something that could shut them down for good. However, replicating this kind of magic already took days and a ton of work. Making more that was around the size of at least a chariot or anything larger than what it is now was needed.
"I can't hope to make something massive." Zecora closed her eyes as her amazing magical knowledge had its limits. But her eyes would soon open with a smile gracing her face. "But there is one way...A dash of Rift Magic."
Bingo. Zecora found a solution. The one thing that could help guarantee that she had the right size for the Despair Plants. Rift Magic. Specifically, the Rift Cauldron. Within it, liquified Rift Magic could be found as she once had this cauldron before giving it to Twilight Sparkle.
Zecora set her sights on Twilight's castle, aiming to request the usage of the Rift Cauldron once more. With Rift Magic, creativity was the crux of it. And there was certainly never a better time to have this creativity be utilized to the best of its abilities especially since Zecora's idea was simple enough for anyone to come up with.
Of course. she would have to finish making the elixir before anything else. And with how things were progressing, Zecora was hoping and expecting it to be at least tonight.
Within Celestia's Mind.
Amidst the struggle of trying to keep her magical essence active, Celestia found herself elsewhere. Her physical body was still out there, fighting against Rosa Maledicta's horrific clutches. Entering her mindscape, Celestia would gasp slightly, appearing in a white void.
There was no solid ground so there was nothing for Celestia to land on. But she could recover by floating. Once she was in her mind, Celestia recollected her thoughts as within her Mindscape, she was safe for the meanwhile. But on the outside, she was still in great peril along with Rustboro and even Dewford City. Her sister and friends were all in peril, really.
"Where am I? Oh right...I'm in my mind." She instantly figured out where she was. "All of my magic...It's being pulled out to the point where I can't keep my head straight. What is she thinking? Removing Daybreaker from me? All of my magic is being involved so it's not just Daybreaker at all."
"Correct!" Even in here, she wasn't safe. Rosa Maledicta managed to reach her Mindscape. The Princess of the Sun gasped with her eyes widening and her heart racing at high speeds. She was perplexed to hear Rosa's voice in here. But not only that, seeing Rosa herself.
From the white void, a dark crack would form. The Lich Queen was ready to enter Celestia's mind, doing whatever she could to overwhelm the Ruler of Equestria.
"You can't hide from me...I've mastered every form of mental magic thanks to my dark talents that were never appreciated!" Rosa's hoof would then break through the cracks as her face was then revealed.
"Rosa!" Celestia yelled out her name before being met with a strong pressure from Rosa Maledicta's entrance once she fully passed through the cracks.
"We're finally meeting face to face, Celestia. Well...mentally anyway." Her voice no longer had that powerful echo now that she was fully within this mind realm. She even returned to her natural size. "Please tell me you remember this face clearly."
"I do. I never forgot your face even after all these years. Then again, I've never forgotten anyone's face with how long I've lived." Celestia replied, narrowing her eyes at the Lich Queen. "Rosa. I can't believe you became the Lich Queen..."
"I made it big. I always felt that I could reach new heights. Becoming a queen was unexpected but I'm not complaining." Rosa Maledicta shrugged. "I can only imagine what everyone else back at Equestria who doubted me must be thinking once they learned I've become a queen of my own nation hidden in the shadows. They're probably afraid I might exact revenge on them. And honestly...I plan to do just that. I am picky when it comes to my victims. Maybe not you, Celestia, despite what's currently happening."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Those that shunned me never saw me for my dark talents. They feared it all too much. But Magehold accepted it. It's why the promises of greatness were so worth it once the magic there called for me. But then there's you. You always saw my talent, didn't you?"
"I did. You were a great student back at my school for Gifted Unicorns." Celestia reminisced about the past. "I even wanted to make you one of my personal students much like how I did for Twilight, Sunset and Radiant Hope. But before that could happen, you were already gone."
"I'm glad I left. It's better in Magehol after all. But I'll admit, I'm thankful that you saw me for what I could do. You never feared my dark talents in the first place, right? When I was just a filly in that school, I deviated from what my fellow students made and you simply watched what I was capable of. You always were the best when it came to seeing the potential in others. But maybe that's one of your greatest weaknesses, Celestia. You can see the potential but you have no idea how hard it will come back to bite you. Has it already happened?"
"Not in this world anyway...And I don't plan to let it happen here either." Celestia said, referring to Sunset Shimmer who was a prime example of what Rosa Maledicta referred too. "It's a shame what happened to you. You could've helped Equestria in so many ways. But now, after everything you've done, I'm not sure I can ever forgive you."
"You don't have to. Because very soon, Equestria's Prime Ruler will be me!" Rosa Maledicta declared. "And then, once I spread the Black Crusade across other worlds, I'll be a Multiversal Lich Queen? I could start a Yveltal army with every universe out there! Learn all the unique Magehold abilities from each respective world! Doesn't that sound wonderful?"
"That won't happen." Celestia sternly said, vehemently refusing to let something like that happen. Her magical aura would show, in all of its grand golden brilliance. But in response, Rosa Maledicta's aura would also appear to combat Celestia's as it was jet black with green highlights within it.
The two auras would clash with the force of two meteors crashing against each other. A loud thundering boom came from the impact. The white void would be illuminated with multiple colours as this clash was just as fierce as what was happening on the outside.
"It won't happen. Because you're too dangerous, Celestia. Even more-so than me. Your current state is threatening but not threatening enough." Rosa Maledicta spoke while the two magical auras were clashing. "It's Daybreaker. I know she's in you. I felt her after all."
"Daybreaker is not apart of me and she never will be." Celestia protested.
"Wrong. The same kind of magic that unleashed Nightmare Moon is the same kind of magic that lives in you. Everypony has it. That dark side that they want to keep out but could be released. It's just that us prodigies are most likely to have personifications of these dark sides. I've already embraced mine and I'd rather you not embrace yours." Rosa leaned in, attempting to overpower Celestia's aura.
"I've made peace with myself long ago. Passion is an example. It's because of her and everyone else that I can be at ease and have faith, even with your cruel attacks on Equestria and even the Pokemon World." Celestia would push back, refusing to let Rosa's aura get ahead of hers. "I will never become Daybreaker so as long as I have my friends!"
"Except I can take them away from you! And before I do that, I should take Daybreaker away from you first." Rosa grinned with a maniacal stare. "Then, everyone you know and love will be gone and that magical rage within you will never be unleashed. Not like you'll have any magic left anyway!"
The auras would intensify in response to their voices. The louder they got, the stronger the magical auras would become. Suddenly, A third sound entered the scene. The clash of magical auras was postponed immediately once both of them heard this voice. The auras dispersed as neither won this struggle. The area around them would suddenly heat up as Celestia heard a flicker of flames. Hearing that flicker made her gasp for a moment. She didn't want to believe what she hearing as that could only imply one thing.
But Rosa Maledicta already knew it was as true as it could be. With a slow turn of her head, Celestia would look behind her to witness a third aura enter the mix. Or rather, a flame. A vibrant yet ominous flame appeared in this white void, flaring with the intensity of the sun. Emerging from it was the figure of an alicorn, strikingly akin to Celestia. There was only one pony who could emerge from this. Or rather, made out of it.
A flame figure of Daybreaker had appeared. Indeed, she was within Celestia the whole time. She didn't have her full body. Only a body of flame. But that flame burned with great intensity that not even magma could match.
"Told you~" Rosa Maledicta taunted. "Then again...it was my magic that helped reveal her so I suppose I had to bend things to force the truth out."
"It can't be..." Celestia shuddered. "You're actually here..." Just looking at this flame body of Daybreaker was enough to leave the Ruler of Equestria perplexed. This part of her that was highly destructive was within her even with all that she's been through. All of her faith and love were not enough to get rid of this alter-ego. It was a part of Celestia for thousands of years. For how long? Celestia herself has been around for so long. Daybreaker most likely has been around just as long, waiting to show herself one day.
"It'd be better for the both of us if she was completely wiped out of existence, don't you think? Because Daybreaker...is nothing like Nightmare Moon. I saw and felt it for myself when I encounter her months ago." Rosa continued. "Do you have any idea what she's capable of? Nightmare Moon was born out of jealousy. Daybreaker is born out of rage. And rage is by far the most powerful force when unleashed with barely anything being able to stand in its way. But controlled rage? That's another kind of monster that I'd rather not try and overcome. I doubt I'd even overcome it."
"But I thought..."
"We both don't want this to happen, Princess Celestia. She's too dangerous for both sides because of what she can do. My offer doesn't sound so bad after all, doesn't it? Well, not as bad as how the Black Crusade will leave all of your subjects once I'm done. But when you're a skeleton, I'll make you a herald. Not exactly a ruler but a respectable position. Really, I just want Daybreaker gone. There are some forces in this world I'd rather not have stick around because of how much they threaten my plan. Daybreaker is one of them. And after I get rid of this one, my Black Crusade will weed out the rest and even go after Arceus himself. I won't let the Creator Deity be exempt from the Black Crusade at all. Everyone will be wiped out and become a part of Magehold!"
Right as Rosa Maledicta exclaimed and rambled on, that was when the flame figure of Daybreaker finally responded. Louder than what Rosa Maledicta could make, the sound of the Sun itself came from Daybreaker's flaming body. Celestia and Rosa Maledicta were both silent once the flames came their way. The heat of the Sun was even formed, not just the sounds of it.
Celestia could feel it. She could feel a tremendous amount of rage coming from this Daybreaker Apparation. It was unlike anything she had ever felt. Her body along with Rosa Maledicta's was being pushed back by the sheer rage from Daybreaker. This rage was dormant within the alicorn. Celestia got a feel of what her bottled-up rage was like.
And with this pressure, she was given various visions of certain horrific moments. The moment Ghetsis attacked Saudi Arabia and when she battled against him. Most of it involved Ghetsis' attacks. Empress Twilight's own attacks and horrific actions were sprinkled in there as well. From how she treated Skyblue Shine and Premium Polish to even sealing away Flurry Heart's parents and sheltering the young alicorn for most of her life.
The Pokemon Festival and the attacks that followed with it and even seeing her sister go through so much, ending up in the hospital repeatedly along with recent events such as the Despair Plants and Hearthome City which had the victims of that city lose their souls. Even those that were only visiting Hearthome during the Pokemon Festival.
All of these were enough to enrage Celestia, who for the most part, kept her cool during those events. But deep down, this part of her wanted to come out. Daybreaker was the pure embodiment of Celestia's rage
"T-This is too much...!" Rosa Maledicta yelled as she was even unable to handle this. The heat of the Sun started torturing her as she could feel all of the unbridled and bottled-up rage that was far too overwhelming to stay around. "This is exactly why I must get rid of her...!"
Rosa Maledicta yelled before being forced out of Celestia's mindscape just by the intensity of these flames. They didn't even physically touch her to do so. As for Celestia, even she was forced out of her own mind because of Daybreaker's rage.
Hoenn. Rustboro City. Nightfall.
Back outside, the effects were starting to enter reality. The powerful flare of flames would emerge from the stream of magic as Daybreaker's rage managed to reach Rustboro City thanks to the claws that Rosa Maledicta made. Pulling out Celestia's magic had its consequences. But only because of how Daybreaker had been provoked.
"W-What in the...?" Luna looked up in awe, seeing the flames expand. Everyone near and far were stunned by what they were witnessing. It was as if the Sun itself had come to Earth.
The heat from Daybreaker even affected the city. The Shadow Hooves were blown away by the expanding heat, unable to withstand it. Then again, Rosa Maledicta wasn't quite at full strength either. Luna, Gardevoir, Darkrai and everyone else would feel the solar heat as they would all collectively grimace.
The Despair Plants were not exempt from this. In fact, they were getting the worst of it. Being that they were plants, the heat was very effective against them. And with this kind of solar heat, their bodies were starting to burn up faster than anyone else's. The Despair Plants all yelled in pain as the Golurk backed away, barely managing to resist the heat thanks to their Typing.
The waters of Hoenn would start boiling up, even all the way over at Dewford City. Daybreaker's heat did not spare Dewford either as it was within range of her rage. Celestia was still screaming in pain before the flames of Daybreaker destroyed the claws that went within her. Once the claws were blown away, Celestia would fall. She dropped to the ground with the essence of her magic trailing out of her chest.
But the rage still persisted, shooting up a towering flame that pierced the clouds. Right now, Daybreaker may still be dormant within Celestia, but at this rate, the provoked rage was enough to leave a number on either location.
Rosa Maledicta, all the way from Magehold, saw that now wasn't the best time to engage with this kind of heat. Not when her Despair Plants were not only starting to burn up but they even started defusing. One by one, they would defuse rapidly, unable to handle the heat to stay within their fused forms.
"Unbelievable...This might be worse than Universe 11's Daybreaker..." A stunned and even intimidated Rosa Maledicta said. She expected this world's Daybreaker to be dangerous. But she was already sensing something far worse than what she dealt with months ago.
"G-Gardevoir...!" Finally free from the Shadow Hooves, Gardevoir would rush to Celestia's side. However, this rage was too rampant to the point where not even close friends were safe around it. The Embrace Pokemon immediately felt the heat of the sun come her way, stopping her dead in her tracks. "V-Voir...!"
"It's...so...hot...!" Roxanne got on her knees, holding herself as the heat was getting to her.
"It feels like the Sun itself is attacking us from up close!" Darkrai groaned, attempting to sink into the shadows to resist this. In the distance, Nightmare Moon was approaching to come to Luna's aid. And from afar, she could see this solar light vibrantly flash and overwhelm Rustboro. From above and afar, she could feel the heat.
"Gardevoir!" But even if the flames were powerful enough to perplex everyone, Gardevoir would not give up. After all, she has been in this position before.
A position where her rage was so strong that it would threaten everyone. And now, Celestia was experiencing the same thing. Celestia already vowed to help Gardevoir get through her massive potential that could be too great for even her to handle. Now it was Gardevoir's turn to help Celestia contain her rage no matter how dangerous it was. As the journey continues.
"Gardevoir...!" Held back by the intense flames of Celestia's magic which was being influenced by Daybreaker, Gardevoir attempted to help her Trainer in her current condition. Thanks to Rosa Maledicta's dark magic, Daybreaker had been provoked. While she hadn't been released, even when lying dormant within Celestia, this alter-ego's power was tremendous.
Celestia herself was lying flat on the ground with a stream of flames emerging from her chest, piercing the clouds and illuminating the night sky. The light was so vibrant that even the people and Pokemon from Dewford Town could see it. Gardevoir persisted. She would try and power through the heat.
"Passion! Wait!" Luna cried out for the Embrace Pokemon but it was too late to stop her. Passion was fully going through with this, putting her arms up to try and overcome this pressure. "Curses...What did you do, Rosa?!"
"I only planned to remove Daybreaker from her entirely and eradicate that part within Celestia. My Magic tapped into Celestia's darkest parts and immediately found Daybreaker, lying dormant within her. But I never expected her to be far worse than the Daybreaker I've gained. Perhaps she has more to lose."
"More to lose?" Luna repeated. In Rosa's words, this version of Daybreaker was potentially far more powerful than the Daybreaker everyone else knew solely because of what was on the line. Luna could already see it. With this combined world and everything that's happened so far, losing it all would spark a colossal amount of rage.
"It's so bright!" Nightmare Moon could barely reach Rustboro with the potent light that was coming from Celestia. The heat could still reach her even from this distance and height. She wasn't even sure if Luna was in peril from the Dread League by this point since the Despair Plants were also suffering.
"Voir...!" Passion could already feel herself melting by approaching the stream of magic. If she wanted to save Celestia and prevent the awakening of Daybreaker, Passion would have to tap into some mind hijinks herself.
Each step meant colossal pain would follow immediately. To protect herself, Gardevoir placed a Psychic shield around herself, hoping to nullify the heat. It barely worked. Even with this shield, the solar rage from Daybreaker passed through. But once she was close enough, Passion pushed her hand through her shield, placing it on Celestia's open chest where all of the magic was being unleashed.
"That foolish Pokemon...She'll be torched alive soon." Rosa commented, seeing this as a pitiful endeavour on Gardevoir's part.
With that touch, Gardevoir created a Psychic Link between herself and Princess Celestia. This link has always been there thanks to their bond and now it was time for their bond to overcome this overflow of anger. A golden and pink aura would flare from Passion's body as she winced from touching the stream of magic which was akin to touching magma. Or worse. The Sun.
Celestia's Mindscape.
Gardevoir would also enter the Mindscape, coming to Celestia's rescue. The white void from before was given a new visitor in the form of the Embrace Pokemon. Elegantly, Gardevoir would drop from the cracks above like an angel.
However, the white void was no longer just a blank slate. It already underwent some changes. The flames from Daybreaker had changed up the place, adding land. Now, there was a vast land with flames spurting out from every gap. It resembled a mountainside but on its last legs with all the flames that were scattered and flowing.
The cracks in the ground would breathe out solar flames as it was nigh impossible to see through all of this. It was as if multiple volcanoes had shown up in one place. The skies above were dark red with not a hint of blue to be seen. Once Passion landed, she would feel a sharp burn on her legs that made her grimace. She just couldn't escape the heat, unfortunately.
"Garde! Gardevoir!" When putting a shield around herself once more, Gardevoir called out for the Ruler of Equestria. However, she would find someone else standing amidst all of the flames. With a singular glance, Gardevoir saw a flaming figure.
There she was. Daybreaker. She hasn't moved one bit. She has been in this same position and stance from the very beginning. But even with this minimal movement, the power she was exhibiting was absolutely colossal and impossible to ignore. Though she wasn't fully awakened and was merely an apparition, she was a fierce apparition.
"Gardevoir?" For the first time, Gardevoir got a glimpse at what Daybreaker could truly look like. A flaming mane on an elegant pony. It was both beautiful and terrifying to gaze at. Celestia was practically in the eye of the storm right now, closer to the intense flames than anyone.
Daybreaker's presence intimidated the Embrace Pokemon to a level she had never felt before. When attempting to take a step, Passion would move back, feeling an unholy presence threatening her. She felt if she went any further, she could be obliterated. Was that simply Daybreaker's dormant rage? All of it was correlated to everything Celestia had gone through and will go through. That involved moments with Passion.
However, Gardevoir would still go further. It would mean going against these overpowering flames. All she had to do was try and overpower them. "Garde...Voir!" Gardevoir attempted to do so by using Dazzling Gleam.
Putting her hands together, a flash of rainbows would appear before being shot out as multiple rays which travelled at blitzing speeds. But immediately, they would be consumed by the flames. Her rainbows were absolutely crushed and incinerated the moment they came across Daybreaker's flames. Gardevoir unleashed more, only for all of them to lose in the end. Dazzling Gleam was ineffective while the Daybreaker Appration just stood there in a static position.
"Voir!" Passion would try again. This time with something that is considered hotter than the surface of the sun. She would use Thunderbolt, sending a flare of bolts from her hands which had enough force to slightly push her back. The lightning bolt cracked through the air before meeting with the flames. These bolts fared slightly better than the rainbows, but that wasn't saying much as they didn't last long.
When shaking violently to try and push through the flames, the struggle that the bolts faced ended with the solar flames of Daybreaker consuming them as well. And once Thunderbolt was defeated by the Solar Flames, Passion would receive some retaliation.
She gasped as the flames would strike her with the force of a whip. The Embrace Pokemon was knocked back, flying through the air with a sharp burn mark already emerging on her.
"G-Garde...!" But even after being knocked away, Gardevoir would find an opportunity to retaliate as well. She recovered in the air via levitation before fighting back with her own flames. The Embrace Pokemon used Mystical Fire, unleashing a spiral of scarlet flames to try and surpass these flames.
But those flames were no match for these Solar Flames. Even though the scarlet flames from Mystical Fire ended up holding the Solar Flames back for a bit, forcing Passion to pour more of it in to try and break through, it didn't take long for Daybreaker's might to absolutely crush Passion's Mystical Fire. The flames shattered as if they had become solid, shocking the Psychic-Fairy-Type. After being stunned by witnessing her flames being broken, the Solar Flames from Daybreaker would then erupt from underneath, forming a pillar that would engulf Gardevoir.
"Gardevoir!" She screamed after the Infernal Pillar caught her. Unfortunately for Passion, since this entire landscape was a Fire Hazard, resisting the flames was out of the question. And yet, she would try. With the pillar furiously burning around her, Passion would fight back by using Psychic around herself. A Psychic field emerged as she managed to blow away the flames around her. But the damage had been done. Multiple burn marks appeared across the Embrace Pokemon's body. Though this was only within the mind, Passion could still feel the pain.
"Garde...Garde..." She would breathe in and out before slowly descending. The heat was getting to her to the point where she might as well pass out. The Daybreaker Apparation said nothing in response. It would only act out more than anything. Acting out in violence was all that it knew to do. Passion held her burnt arm which was sizzling. So far, all of her moves have been ineffective with Psychic only acting as a way to blow away the weaker flames.
Gardevoir was struggling to reach Celestia and save her from this potential awakening thanks to this stark difference in strength. But Passion still had more to offer. A combination of moves. The Embrace Pokemon would separate her arms before allowing a surge of flames and lightning to flare out of her.
She would use Plasma Bolt. A signature move that was made by her and Celestia. With a thunderous yell that even caused an echo, Gardevoir would smash her hands together with Mystical Fire and Thunderbolt, creating a pulsating burst of two destructive elements.
The impact of them both being mashed together was so colossal that it created a thunder-like sound effect. And yet, the Daybreaker Apparation was not phased by this. Passion would then form the element of plasma. It was certainly hot enough to surpass that of fire.
Passion managed to create her own ferocious and overwhelming heat before then unleashing it in the form of a bolt that raced forward. The Plasma Bolt met with the Solar Flames and this time, a stark difference was shown. The Plasma Bolt lasted longer against the flames than anything she had tried so far.
"Gardevoir!" The Embrace Pokemon entered a full-force struggle against the flames, using all that she could to overpower them. It was a fierce back and forth against the Heat of the Sun and the Heat of Plasma. The ground below was starting to be scorched to pieces by this constant struggle.
"G...!" Gardevoir got on her knees, struggling to win this struggle. The flames were still too much for her. Passion could feel her hands tremble when trying her best to beat out the Solar Flames. It felt like they could fall off at any moment. But for Celestia's sake, she had to press on. However, it was clear as day that Daybreaker would be the one to win this clash.
"G-Gardevoir..." Passion lowered her head, thinking of what she could do in this instance. If she couldn't think of something, Gardevoir would be forced out of Celestia's mindscape, possibly unable to stop the awakening of Daybreaker. The Embrace Pokemon wished she could use Mega Evolution but that was impossible considering where she was right now. There was no other power that she could utilize.
The flames from Daybreaker were already starting to wrap around the Psychic-Fairy-Type, on the verge of winning this struggle while Passion's Plasma Bolt was starting to shrink, soon to be lost to the flames.
Gardevoir knew of another power. But it was a power that she hated and feared. And yet, it was strikingly similar to what was within Daybreaker. A power that focuses on rage and sorrow, bringing out the full destructive capabilities of her Infinity Energy but at the cost of losing sight of who she originally is. It was all too familiar to what Daybreaker could become. Or rather, what the current Daybreaker from Universe 11 had become.
Gardevoir saw no other power that could get past this. So to beat out the Solar Flames, she had to unleash her own anger as well. And there was a lot to react to. Mainly Rosa Maledicta. This was all her fault after all. Even when the two worlds merged to make a new world, she just couldn't help herself. The Dread League were the most recent problem, causing so much despair across the world just for the fun of it. And of course, Rosa Maledicta's ultimate goal of wiping out all life. There was everything else that could rile up Gardevoir. From Ghetsis to Empress Twilight and so much more.
That was enough to spark rage within Gardevoir. Her eyes flared up as her vast pool of potential had been opened up once more but focused more on what she tried to bottle up. Once more, Passions' anger would overtake her but this time, willingly.
"Gardevoir...!" By embracing the darkness that was within her, a flare of Infinity Energy would fly out of the Embrace Pokemon increasing her Plasma Bolt. As a meteor hit the land, the clash of Plasma and Solar Energy would end in an outburst.
That terrifying power that Olympia once saw within Gardevoir when she was still getting used to her evolution had shown itself, altering Gardevoir's appearance. The green hair on Gardevoir would flare, catching on fire as the beautiful flowing gown that she had would also be affected. It was as if Gardevoir herself was turning into a Fire-Apparation. Her pink eyes lit had embers within them as a stream of flames flowed out from her gown.
Gardevoir managed to match Daybreaker's power by embracing her own anger. The Daybreaker Apparation had finally been moved before being enveloped by this while light which surrounded every direction. The skies had been cleared by the expanding light with the dark red vanishing out of sight.
"Voir..." That was as far as Gardevoir wanted to go. She may have allowed that overwhelming rage to come out but she certainly didn't want it to overtake her. She would pant heavily before returning to normal. The flames around her would disperse and diminish as everything fell silent for a bit.
With a ton of energy within her being spent, Gardevoir would look ahead to see if she managed to win this struggle. Seemingly, yes. In the distance, right where the Daybreaker Apparation originally stood, someone else had taken this Flame Apparation's spot. Someone that wasn't made out of flames at all but natural flesh.
It was Princess Celestia. Or rather, Celestia before she became an alicorn. Gardevoir saw her Trainer in a much younger state. She had a pink mane with no other colours on her unlike what Celestia currently has. She was no longer the tall alicorn that she regularly appears as. She was no longer an alicorn at all.
This was Celestia before her rise. But right now, she looked like she was suffering a massive fall. Reacting to Daybreaker's rage sparked something within this prodigal filly. Celestia could be seen weeping while surrounded by leftover flames. Not only that but there was a large aura coming out of her. That aura was in the shape of her adult form.
Gardevoir attempted to figure out what this meant. Why was there an Aura of the current Celestia over the younger Celestia and they were both taking on the same curling position? It didn't take long for the Embrace Pokemon to figure it out. Though she was looking at a younger Celestia, the current Celestia was weeping as well, releasing her emotions.
Seeing this reminded Gardevoir of herself. In fact, this whole scenario was eerily familiar. Not just the part where her rage was being unleashed. It took Gardevoir back to when she was a Kirlia. Her potential and power have always been so vast and as a Kirlia, she struggled to control what she couldn't handle.
And yet, it was Celestia who helped her overcome it. It was Celestia who saved Gardevoir during her hardest time. Now, it was Gardevoir's turn to repay the favour. Celestia helped her through such trying times, even when it looked like everything would fall apart. Figuratively and literally.
This was Gardevoir's chance to reach her. The Psychic-Fairy-Type stood up, approaching the young princess. Celestia had yet to see Gardevoir approach her, continuing to cry without looking elsewhere. But all of that weeping would cease once the Embrace Pokemon embraced her.
"Huh?" The filly and the aura would look up, spotting Gardevoir. The embrace of Gardevoir was extraordinary. She wasn't called the Embrace Pokemon for anything. Being hugged by her not only ceased all of Celestia's weeping but it soothed her soul. "Passion..." The voice of a young Celestia called out Gardevoir's name, resting her head into her arms.
"Gardevoir." She didn't need to say much for Gardevoir to understand how she felt. She knew it all thanks to her previous experiences. All Gardevoir wanted Celestia to do was rest and let it all go. All of this was not her fault. Gardevoir did not want Celestia to think that much like how Celestia knew that Gardevoir's outburst was not her fault either.
Both of them still had ways to go with what lies within them. Which is why they were all in it together. The skies would turn blue once more, giving way to the sun's rays. And with that, the light of the sun would consume them both in its warm embrace. No longer was its aggressive heat punishing Celestia.
And that went for outside of the mindscape. Out in Rustboro, the effects carried over. Everyone watched in awe as the aggressive heat had vanished, only bringing a welcoming warmth. Gardevoir succeeded in her goal as the essence of magic within Celestia would fly back into her. The hole would patch up, returning what was originally tampered with. The last thing that entered her chest with a tiny ember which would soon vanish.
"She did it..." Luna uttered with a smile slowly forming on her face. Passion helped Celestia up as the Ruler of Equestria regained consciousness once more.
"Thank you...Passion. I suppose we're even now?" Celestia chuckled before regaining her balance.
"Gardevoir~" Gardevoir nodded in response.
"Tch. All that just for Daybreaker to return...I believe I'm done here. But I still aim to rid her from you, Celestia. You and I both know what would happen if she showed up again after all." Rosa Maledicta scoffed. Her Despair Plants had suffered massive damage thanks to the outburst that Celestia felt. The Lich Queen chose to cease her attacks here considering what had become of the Despair Plants. All of the Cordyceps had defused, unable to handle the heat at all.
The Cordyceps that already succumbed to the heat would drop to the sea with some of them slowly sinking into the ground. The Golurk would watch as the Despair Plants all left the scene in either sea or land. The voice of Rosa Maledicta would drown out, signifying her departure. Not just from Rustboro but also from Dewford.
"Sister!" Luna rushed over to Celestia's aid. "Are you alright?! Feeling better?!"
"I'm fine...Luna. All thanks to Passion." Thankfully, Celestia was in one piece. Despite all of that, major damage was not on her at all. Minus the pain she felt when her essence and Daybreaker were being pulled out. "What about everyone else? I didn't harm you all, did I?"
"We're fine," Roxanne reassured. "Thank you very much, Princess Celestia. Even though the buildings have been harmed a bit from the flames...it'll be fine."
"Good. But now, Rosa's certainly pushed her luck too far." Celestia's eyes suddenly narrowed with her tone changing instantly. She focused on Rosa Maledicta, who was now mute along with the disappearance of the Despair Plants. "Time and time again, the Dread League found some way to terrorize us all in the worst possible ways. And trying to force such a power out of me which threatened everyone else is what has settled it for me. Then again, their ultimate goal is enough."
"What does this mean, sister? What will you do?" Luna asked.
"Soon, we'll put a stop to the Dread League once and for all. " Celestia looked up at the night sky which would be clear of any clouds, only showing the stars. "If she wants to make this personal, then so be it."
Following the attack of the Despair Plants, daybreak had come for Rustboro City. and Dewford Town, both locations could rest at last. Granted, this event did leave both locations with some damage but repairs could be made. Leaving this city and town were Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Nightmare Moon had already left the scene once the Sun had come up.
"So, it happened to your city too, huh? I'm never gonna doubt Olympia ever again in my life." Brawly said as he had come to Rustboro, speaking to Roxanne on a bench. "Talk about unsatisfied...They really tracked our scents down just to finish the job?"
"Mhm. That means Olympia, Drayden, Roxanne and Valerie are both at risk too. But I'm pretty sure, Princess Celestia and Luna know about that already." Roxanne replied. "They left once it was all over and Princess Celestia had that fire in her eyes. Apart from the fire that she was already exuding."
"Yeah, I felt that. So that kind of magic is in her?" Brawly whistled, shuddering for a bit. "Scary...It's a good thing Gardevoir stopped it, right?"
"Very. It even had Rosa Maledicta flee out of fear. At least, I think she fled because of that. I didn't get the chance to ask her about Fantina and I'm afraid we might never see her again." Roxanne, despite managing to protect her home, cared more about finding Fantina.
"Never say never." Brawly wagged his finger. "We'll get her back, Rox. If she is at Magehold then...that would mean we'd have to head straight for that creepy place. But we've been in creepier places before, right?"
"Only what Hearthome used to look like when the Lich Queen ruined it. Magehold itself is without a doubt far worse than what we encountered back there. We might run into a plethora of curses in just under a minute!" Roxanne yelled, fearing the kind of horrible things that would be thrown at her if she were to enter Magehold. Thinking about it made her grimace.
"Now you're creeping me out..." Brawly did not wish to think about it for a moment. "Well...How about a surf to clean those worries away? Eh?"
"Please...I can't surf." Roxanne shook her head, refusing immediately. "And I'd get my dress wet anyway."
"Come on. I can teach you!" Brawly immediately held out his surfboard, insisting that Roxanne would give it a try. "You're pretty awesome when you try out new things. Like when you sang with Roxie back at that Poke-Con. I didn't even know you were that good of a singer."
"Well, it was fun but...athleticism is not my style, unfortunately. I'll leave it to you. But it could be calming to see you perform and put me at ease." Roxanne shrugged. "Plus, you're not that great with music either so let's stick to our respective fields for now."
"Hm. Fair enough. Be my supporter and spread the word about these sick tricks I'm gonna make!" Brawly eyed down the seas of Hoenn. "This is gonna be so good. I wonder if anyone from Equestria's seen my tricks yet? Do they even surf there? Can they even surf?"
"Hm-hm." Roxanne chuckled before placing a frown on her face, fixating on Fantina. "Fantina...Where are you? And are you okay?"
Equestria. Ponyville. Twilight's Castle. Day.
Over at Twilight's Castle, Zecora, after working so hard on this mystical elixir for days and nights, realized that the current size of it was not enough to stop the Despair Plants. It needed to be bigger. So big that the drops were the size of trees. And of course, there was only one way to make it possible.
The Rift Cauldron. Placed within Twilight's Castle after Zecora entrusted it to her, the random magic within could make that a possibility as Zecora brought the elixir over, standing before the Rift Cauldron.
"Alright. Super-sized. But not too big, right?" Twilight said as she had Cold Colt, a Rift Pony by her side. "Just big enough for the Despair Plants to receive a shower of it."
"You know...it's random at the end of the day. You'll need my help to make it official." Cold Colt warned. Despite how useful the cauldron was, the magic was still unpredictable.
"I know that but I also wish to use it as a way to speed the process." Zecora held the potion over the cauldron. "A size and increase along with a finished elixir are all I need to end this verdant distress."
"She's right, ya know," Spike added. "I think we should've used this first and we would've gotten a head start, don't you think?"
"Maybe," Starlight said. "But we don't know what kind of liquid is in there that affects all plants in the first place so the best the cauldron could've done was enlarge it, honestly."
"Got it. If we control it, it can help you solve this mysterious magic." Twilight caught on. "We learned how to properly use Rift Magic and maintain its randomness, so this should be a lot of help. Go for it, Zecora."
With those words, Zecora would drop the elixir into the cauldron. Right as the elixir would fall, instantly, Twilight and Cold unified their respective Rift Magics, shooting them at the cauldron. The cauldron would receive a boost of Rift Magic, losing its randomness for this one moment.
The elixir would fall in as the cauldron would then unleash a pillar of Rift Magic that illuminated this room. Watching this unfold was none other than Roseluck. She entered the castle, watching her sister's elixir undergo some changes. This whole time, for these past few days, she's been waiting for a moment like this.
Within the cauldron, the elixir's shape was changing at rapid speeds. It stuck out of the liquid, growing in size while also letting out more vibrance than it previously has during these past days and more akin to how it appeared when Rosa once wielded it.
Zecora backed up as the size of this elixir was growing rapidly to the point where it was outsizing the elixir in seconds. Carefully, Twilight and Cold Colt would raise the elixir out of the cauldron as it was now the size of Twilight's bookshelves. The light show ended once the elixir reached a manageable enough size. The weight had even been added to the size. Twilight and Cold would cease their magic as there was now a super-sized elixir that could be utilized.
"Phew...That should do the trick." Twilight, stepping back. "It's the right kind of size. But does it work now?" They would all observe the elixir and its vibrance.
Unfortunately, this magical vibrance did not last long. While it was beautiful it would quickly dim down, losing some of its saturation. That was enough to confirm to them that even the Rift Cauldron was not enough. This strange elixir and its contents were still mysterious enough to elude the cosmic power of the Rift.
"No way!" Cold Colt gasped. "It didn't work?!"
"It's not like it didn't work..." Twilight brought the massive elixir over to her. "It's more like it wasn't enough. We managed to grow it and elevate the contents inside. But it looks like whatever this liquid is, even Rift Magic just won't do."
"You're kidding...Right?" Showing herself was Roseluck. She decided to make an appearance instead of hiding after hearing about the Rift Cauldron's inefficiency. "The cauldron couldn't do it? Rift Magic isn't enough?"
"Roseluck? How long have you been standing there?" Starlight questioned.
"Sorry, Roseluck. This is way harder than we expected. Zecora wasn't kidding." Twilight shook her head. "What's inside this elixir anyway that makes it so hard to replicate or even fully complete?"
"It's...um..." Hesitation struck once more. Roseluck knew why this elixir was so hard to perfect. And it was all tied back to Rosa Maledicta's talents. "I'm...not sure." She would not reveal it to Twilight or anyone in here. "It's been too long since that elixir's been used anyway."
"That just makes me eager to see it completed." This only drove Twilight's passion. "The more mysterious it is, the more I'm intrigued. I'll chime in and help you with this Zecora. But, I'll be a bit busy from time to time." Twilight chose to assist Zecora in solving this mysterious elixir's contents. More help meant that there was a higher chance to get it done.
Roseluck was at least hoping so. She wasn't sure how long it would be until her sister's creations and everything she's involved with will launch a full-scale attack on Equestria. She at least wanted to try and stop the Despair Plants as that was the one thing she had some experience with.
"Well...I'll be at the gym. I should be getting new challenges." Roseluck turned around. "Good luck, anyway."
"Wait, Roseluck." Before Roseluck would depart, Twilight would call her name, freezing the earth pony. "When we're done...how about you use the elixir?"
"Me?"
"Mhm. You thought of this idea and found out a way to beat out these Despair Plants before we got any ideas. So if anypony should have the offer, it's you. When that day comes, hopefully soon, I know you'll be ready."
"Thanks, Twilight." Those words were enough to put a smile on her face. So as long as her sister wasn't brought up, Roseluck could smile. But of course, with how things are turning out, Rosa Maledicta's name will be brought up frequently as the earth pony left the castle.
White Tail Wood.
The first Gym of Equestria AKA the Grass-Type Gym could be found over at White Tail Wood. Prior to a proper Equestria League being made, the first true Gym Leader of this Gym was Gardenia but that only lasted for a few weeks until Roseluck took that position.
Roseluck sat outside of her gym on a log, holding out two of her Poke Balls. Standing beside her was her ace Pokemon Roserade who unfortunately had to see a constant frown on her trainer's face. Roseluck hasn't quite been her cheery self ever since the Dread League debacle continued to worsen over time.
"It ain't done yet?" Showing up here wasn't a challenge. But rather, Applejack alongside her partner Sceptile as she brought up the mystical elixir.
"No. At least it's bigger now." Roseluck replied as Applejack would take a seat next to her fellow Earth Pony. "I just have to wait until they can perfect it. It's not easy, sadly."
"I hear ya. But you're seriously gonna let it get you down so much, Roseluck? I mean I get it but..."
"Get me down? Wait...what do you mean by that?" Roseluck asked as she was unaware that Applejack knew about her family ties.
"I already know. A little demon told me one night." Applejack smiled, lowering her hat as she was already ahead of the curve. It didn't take long for Roseluck to realize this, making a light gasp.
"You knew...You knew?!" Roseluck exclaimed, almost falling off the log before being supported by Roseluck. "You know who my sister is?"
"I mean, ain't no way you could've made that elixir when you were a filly unless you were really talented at it. I knew when one of those 100 Demons told me about who your sister was. The Lich Queen. But...I've stayed quiet about it for months, just like you." Applejack revealed that despite knowing who Roseluck's sister was, she has not said a word.
Nothing came out that would reveal Roseluck's family ties at all, making this knowledge scarce once more and hidden by very few. Hearing this brought solace to Roseluck's heart.
"You know that she's my sister. And...you're not afraid of me?" Roseluck questioned as she was expecting a different kind of reaction when Applejack found out. "You kept it from everypony else too?"
"Why would I be? It's not like you have any magic like your sister. No offence." Applejack chuckled. "Besides, I'm not a stranger to something like this. Cold Colt and Emerald Aura...They're both Rift Ponies and they've caused their own fair share of trouble but they're not so bad. They're both a part of this town after all, even if the Rift's messed with us a lot."
"Even though you knew and you're afraid of me, why haven't you told anyone else yet then?" Roseluck wondered.
"Truth is...I've been kinda scared myself." Applejack squeed as she had the same flaw as Roseluck, despite having a stronger sense of honesty. "Telling 'em got me kinda spooked too. I haven't even told my family about it. So much for honesty, right?"
"Right!" Roseluck found it rather humorous that Applejack would be the one to keep it at bay. Both of them would laugh at this ironic predicament as there was something humorous to be found in all of this, despite how serious it was. "Hah...I needed this, actually. Thanks for talking with me, Applejack. It's just like before when I was still a new Gym Leader."
"Well, you're not Easy Pickings anymore, are ya? I hope no one's gone crying home after you beat 'em." Applejack joked. "But if you're ever feeling down, you can talk to me or any of your friends."
"Sceptile!"
"I know. I'm just nervous to tell them. And so are you so we're in the same boat." Roseluck sighed. "This does feel nice though...letting it all out. Eventually...we'll both have to reveal it to everypony when we're confident enough."
"I hear ya. But her. How about one more thing to cheer you up? Even before you can battle another train that comes over here." Applejack hopped off the log before landing on Sceptile's hand. "Roseluck. How about a battle? Third one so far."
"A battle?" Roseluck looked up as she was issued a battle before she could take on any new challengers. "Hmm...Alright then. I could use a warmup and it's always fun when it's with you, Applejack."
"Love to hear it!" Applejack exclaimed. "How about we use all of our Pokemon this time? Minus most of my Golett. That'd just be against the rules, wouldn't it?"
"Sure. And I wouldn't mind a crowd watching." Roseluck would even go as far as to bring others here to watch. Mainly her friends. She would look at Roserade who clapped her bouquet with joy and glee from seeing Roseluck in a better mood. And with a Pokemon Battle, that mood can be elevated. "Let's do it, Applejack."
Though the secret of who Roseluck's sister was still being kept, both agreed to one day share it. They were hoping that it wouldn't be too long before that day can come. Until then, they can clear their mind off it with a Pokemon Battle as the journey continues.
Accepting a challenge from Applejack, within the White Tail Wood Gym, a Pokemon Battle between Applejack and Roseluck would take place. To further boost their happiness, the two of them agreed to a battle and this certainly isn't their first time going at it. It would be their third time.
Being that she was the first Gym Leader of Equestria, Roseluck would have to face this battle as if it was another Gym Battle. The only difference was that Applejack was far past a rookie trainer and already has experience battling Roseluck's Pokemon. Mainly her Roserade and no one else, so Roseluck already knew what to expect.
Watching this battle would be many of their friends from Ponyville and even those who don't come from Ponyville such as Ash and Goh. Roseluck would prefer a crowd of her friends despite keeping such a crucial secret from them. Apart from the fact that Applejack knew about this secret and was also keeping hush about it until the time is right.
"Alright. Let's make it just like a Gym Battle. Two of my Pokemon against yours." Roseluck suggested. "How does that sound, Applejack?"
"Sounds fine to me. Short but sweet." Applejack agreed to it. "I'll be choosing Sceptile and Riolu for this."
"Then for me..." Roseluck held out a Poke Ball before then looking at her ace Pokemon, Roserade. She could never go wrong with the Pokemon that's been by her side since day one. "I know who I'm choosing."
"Is Twilight not gonna show up for this?" Rainbow Dash noticed the absence of Twilight Sparkle.
"She's busy working with Zecora on that elixir," Spike answered. "She's gonna miss out on it but we can always just record this battle anyway."
"Already on it." Goh had his Rotomphone out, ready to record every bit of this battle.
"You know, we've been watching all these Pokemon Battles and we haven't even viewed the Equestria League yet." Amethyst Star pointed out. "When is that going to happen? It's been a long time now..."
"Only when everyone gets past that Eight Gym," said Starlight Glimmer. "But I hear it's extremely difficult because that final Gym Leader's just too strong. It'll be a while before we can see the Equestria League start."
"After this, it's off to PokeStar Studios." Rarity uttered. "Valerie is still coming, isn't she Fluttershy?"
"Mhm." The pegasus nodded. "She's free. And there's nothing to worry about when it comes to those plants. I think Princess Celestia scared them off. At least, those ones. I'm not sure about the rest."
"Okay. Just two Pokemon." Acting as the ref would be Pinkie Pie. "And remember, in a Pokemon Battle, there's always an opportunity for blows below the belt. So hurry and send out your first Pokemon!"
"Go for it, Riolu!" For Applejack, she sent out her Delta Riolu first. Out of the Poke Ball emerged the Embalming Pokemon as he stuck a stylish landing after showing up.
"Riolu!"
"Go! Roselia!" And as for Roseluck, Roselia was her first choice, elegantly twirling onto the scene. With spring flowers flying out of her.
"Roselia!" The aroma from Roselia's body already affected the Gym due to how powerful it was. The plants here along with other Grass-Types that were alongside their respective trainers would find themselves smiling at this aroma.
Both Pokemon eyed each other down even though Roselia rarely, if ever, opens her eyes. But they both stayed silent, waiting for the first batch of commands to come flying in. At the moment, the same thoughts were going off in Applejack and Roseluck's head. Battling each other, even if it hadn't started yet, brought some sense of satisfaction. Mainly because of how it would help ease Roseluck's worries. It's why this battle was even arranged in the first place.
A battle between friends compared to rivals or anyone else carried that strong aura. And speaking of Aura, it resonated with Delta Riolu as he could immediately feel a change in Applejack's Aura. This would encourage the Dark-Type because of what Applejack was currently feeling.
"Alright..." Pinkie suddenly appeared with a small gong to hit that would initiate the battle soon. But the moment she went to strike it, Mew flew out of her mane, hitting it himself. "Start!"
"Okay, Riolu! Get in there and use Power-up Punch!"
"Riolu!" Riolu would make the first move, surrounding his paws in a vibrant orange aura. The Embalming Pokemon then approached Roselia before lunging through the air.
"Roselia, use Magical Leaf!"
"Rose...!" Roselia would cross her arms, immediately countering Riolu's attack with an emergence of glowing leaves. These leaves would be thrown, forming a spiral that would force the Dark-Type to clash with them.
"Rio!" Riolu's paw met with the rapid-fire leaves as he was prevented from reaching Roselia. The leaves even managed to batter him the more they were unleashed, knocking the Delta Variant out of the air. "Lu!" After being knocked out of the air and prevented from using Power-up Punch, the Embalming Pokemon would tumble before recovering by jumping back up.
"Use Toxic Spikes, Roselia!"
"Selia!" Following up her attack, Roselia would twirl on the spot before shooting out poisonous spikes from her bouquet hands. Riolu and Applejack would look up as these spikes flew across the battlefield, sinking into it. Now, the field had been altered to benefit Roseluck's Pokemon and bog down Applejack's. Treading carefully was the correct approach as Riolu and Sceptile could be poisoned. And since both of Roseluck's Pokemon were Poison-Types, they were immune.
"I'd watch your step. Once they sink in, it's impossible to know how fast they've spread." Roseluck smirked as she planned to keep Applejack and Riolu highly cautious and nervous.
"That ain't gonna be a problem. Now, use Dark Pulse!"
"Rio...!" Riolu would then hold both his arms out, unleashing a pulse of darkness that was embedded with dark thoughts.
"Magical Leaf!"
"Roselia!" Magical Leaf was used once again. This time, against Dark Pulse. A clash of darkness and nature ensued with the leaves rapidly beating against the dark beam, trying to overcome it. The result was a tie. Both attacks cancelled each other out, filling the middle of the arena with a dust cloud.
"So far so good! Keep it up, sis!" Apple Bloom cheered on her little sister.
"Now's our chance. Grab him, Roselia!"
"Roselia!" Much like her evolved form Roserade, Roselia also had thorns hidden within her bouquet hands. Though they were smaller, they were still vicious as they moved through the large dust cloud, attempting to snatch Delta Riolu. Once the thorns were spotted by Applejack she would think fast.
"Dodge to the side! Quick!"
"Ri!" Delta Riolu gasped as he just managed to evade the thorns by rolling to the side. Another pair of thorns came flying in right as Riolu dodged the first one. Unfortunately, he couldn't evade the second one in time. It managed to wrap around his tail, making the Embalming Pokemon squeal. "Rio!"
"I heard that! It means I got you!" Roseluck exclaimed as the dust was finally settling. The previous thorn would return, holding Riolu's arm to further restrain him. The only good side to this was that Roselia's thorns were not poisonous, unlike Roserade's thorns.
"Break free, Riolu! Quick! Power-up Punch!"
"Ri...! Rio!" But that was easier said than done. Roselia had an impressive grip with her thorns. He only had one free arm as he would continuously beat down on the thorns with Power-up Punch. The thorns would wobble as the impact of each blow would make Roselia tremble.
"I don't think so! Now, Roselia! Swing him around!"
"Roselia!" While she had the opportunity, Roselia would use pure strength to raise Riolu off the floor, breaking his focus. Riolu gasped before then receiving an instantaneous swing from the Grass-Poison-Type.
"Rio...Riolu!" Riolu yelled before being swung across the battlefield by these thorns as he felt the wind batter his face. And of course, Roselia focused on the ground, aiming to poison Delta Riolu. And with how fast the Toxic Spikes had spread out, she managed to accomplish that.
Riolu's legs came in contact with the poison from Toxic Spikes, immediately afflicting the Embalming Pokemon.
"Oh, no! Riolu!" Applejack cried out once she saw the toxic effect enter Riolu. This was shown by the purple spot on top of his muzzle along with a trace of sweat.
"This should do the trick! Slam him down, Roselia!"
"Rose...!" Roselia would then raise her arms to deliver a critical hit, lifting the Delta Variant through the air, reaching such a length that she almost touched the ceiling of this Gym. She would make sure this would be the decisive blow.
"From that high up?! I didn't even know Roselia's thorns could go that far!" Rarity's jaw dropped.
"That might do him in!" Goh said, believing this to be the end of Riolu. Such a fragile and small Pokemon being slammed from that high up while also being poisoned only spelt defeat in his eyes.
"Not gonna happen! Riolu! Hidden Power!"
"R...Riolu!" But Riolu had another way to break free. So as long as he had an arsenal of moves, he could find a way. And that way was by using Hidden Power. Correlated with his Aura, Delta Riolu would unleash a flare of energy from his body. The expulsion of Aura blew away Roselia's thorns, freeing the Embalming Pokemon.
"Yes! He broke free!" Apple Bloom cheered as that instance nearly had her going for a while.
"Now, Riolu! Aerial Ace!"
After breaking free, Riolu would then zoom through the air, approaching the Thorn Pokemon while leaving a white trail behind him.
"Uh oh! Roselia! Cotton Spore! Quick!"
"Rose-" But it was too late. Riolu moved at confounding speeds before striking Roselia with his foot. "Selia!" The Grass-Poison-Type gasped after receiving that super-effective hit. She was pushed back to the point where she rolled on the floor.
"Dark Pulse! Don't stop, partner!"
"Lu!" Riolu would follow up. After sticking a superhero landing, he would generate a sphere of darkness in one paw before unleashing it as a sphere.
"Seeee!" Roselia would be engulfed by the spiralling black wave of dark thoughts, dealing some more damage to her. Now it was Riolu's time to make a reversal.
"I won't let you get ahead of me..." Roseluck said to herself before roaring out her next command. "Magical Leaf!"
"Rose...Lia!" Within the black wave, Roselia would generate magical leaves that would blow it all away. The leaves spiralled around her, acting as a shield before being thrown at the Embalming Pokemon.
"Aerial Ace!"
"Riolu!" Riolu zoomed in, approaching the leaves. With great speeds, he would strike at the leaves while also evading them. However, the poison was also holding him back from going all the way as a sharp sting from it made him stutter for a bit, allowing some of the leaves to strike him. "Lu...! Rio!" But Riolu persisted, closing in on Roselia. Afterwards, he would strike his paw at the Thorn Pokemon, moving past her in the end.
"R-Ro...!" Roselia gasped as there was a mild shockwave appeared around her body. Afterwards, the leaves would dissolve. The Thorn Pokemon fell on her back, groaning as she did not have the strength to continue. Roselia had fainted. "Roselia..."
"Ouch..." Pinkie Pie went up to Roselia, checking her status. "That's it for Roselia. She's done for. So Riolu wins this one!" Pinkie declared this victory goes to Delta Riolu as everyone cheered.
"Ri...Rio..." But right as Rioly had been declared victorious, he succumbed to the poison. Moments later, she would also drop to the floor, face first. "Riolu..." Riolu had fainted.
"And I guess...Riolu's also down! But she did fall first so that's his victory."
"Thanks. Return." Both Applejack and Roseluck would return their pre-evolved partners. Both fought hard. Roselia dealt continuous damage while keeping Riolu at a distance while Riolu dealt heavy blows to achieve victory.
"Well...It's just down to one." Applejack said. "Even though this is gonna be short, it's been great as always. Next time, let's battle with more to offer."
"I know what you mean. I don't have much to offer myself, do I?" Roseluck chuckled. "But Roselia, Bounsweet and Sunkern are still growing. No pun intended. If I'm being honest, you're still way ahead of me, Applejack."
"I am?"
"Mhm. I mean, you're the one getting out there and facing all kinds of foes. Everyone else here sometimes gets involved with whatever's going on. I'd rather keep things how they are, personally. Getting out there and encountering an otherworldly foe isn't my thing." Roseluck explained. "So that's why I'll say you'll always be ahead of me even if we battle tomorrow or months from now."
"That so?" Applejack smiled with her eyes closed. "I should feel honoured, Roseluck. But...You're not so bad yourself. You could beat me even if I'm ahead, ya know."
"I can?"
"She can?" Carrot Top and the others said in unison as Roseluck had a point in the beginning only for Applejack to say otherwise.
"She can." Ash said but with full confidence and agreement with Applejack's words.
"Uh, how do I say it?" Applejack scratched her mane. "You're a Gym Leader so that speaks for itself, right? You've backed into a corner before so don't downplay yourself, Roseluck."
"I guess you're right. If by chance I do improve, I can't wait to beat you. Or maybe...today is that day. Go for it, Roserade!" Roseluck bellowed, aiming her hoof forward.
"Roserade!" Jumping forward and entering the battle was Roserade.
"Swing into action, Sceptile!" Meanwhile, Applejack went for her tried and true partner, Sceptile.
"Sceptile!" Swinging into action from the ceiling was none other than the Forest Pokemon. Sceptile was resting above everyone else until it was his turn to battle. "Tile!"
"Rose..." Roserade eyed down Sceptile. These two certainly have had their fair share of back and forth. Their bond was as close as Applejack and Roseluck's just for that sole reason. For that reason, this battle would certainly explode. It already did when they both went at each other the first two times.
"Roseluck seems different lately, don't you think? From then to now?" Lyra spoke. "She was all down before and now..."
"I see what you mean," Fluttershy replied. "I know Pokemon Battles usually cheer you up but this feels different from the rest, doesn't it? What do you think, Ash?"
"There's always something going on. And it looks like only Applejack understands it. That's why she's the best one to battle with Roseluck. Battling can even be seen as helping." Ash explained. "And sometimes, it's the fastest way to help."
"Let's go, Sceptile! Leaf Blade!"
"Scep...Tile!" The four leaves on Sceptile's wrists glow light green and form into two, extending to match that of a sword as he would use his swiftness to rush in.
"Poison Jab!"
"Rose...Rade!" Roserade would meet Sceptile's Leaf Blade with Poison Jab, covering her bouquets with a virulent aura. Roserade allowed Sceptile to approach her instead of rushing in as well. Once Sceptile got close, it was a direct collision between Leaf Blade and Poison Jab.
The impact made the leaves within the Gym would rustle thanks to the shockwave that came from it. After a physical struggle with both Grass-Types trying to push each other back, they would jump back. But it wouldn't be the end of their clash. A back-and-forth Leaf Blade and Poison Jab scuffle ensued.
Sceptile moved in once more, going for a slash, only for Roserade's graceful moves to kick in, allowing her to flip over the blade. Sceptile gasped looking up to see Roserade going for an overhead attack. With the speed advantage, Sceptile managed to raise his other arm, blocking the incoming Poison Jab with his second blade. "S-Sceptile...!"
"Roserade...!" Roserade growled as she was unable to land the Poison Jab. But she wouldn't let up. With a devious grin on her face along with Roseluck, they both had the same idea.
"Unleash your thorns!"
"Rade!" Roserade could unleash her thorns no matter what position she was in. The thorns flew out, attempting to grab Sceptile, in the same way, Roselia grabbed Delta Riolu earlier.
"Not again! Push her away!"
"Sceptile!" Right as the thorns would wrap around his legs and arms, with brute force Sceptile forced Roserade off his arm, fending off the thorns as well. Roserade would gain some air time, retracting her thorns while flipping in the air for style points. Today, the Pokemon were certainly feeling stylish.
"Now! Dragon Pulse!"
"Scep...!" Sceptile would then hold his breath in, tapping into his latent draconic potential as his chest would puff up.
"Extrasensory!"
"Rose!" While still in the air, Roserade's eyes flashed, releasing a multicoloured circular beam of energy with white rings of energy around it at the Forest Pokemon. At the same time, Sceptile's Dragon Pulse was released as a dragon-shaped blast came raging out.
Dragon Pulse and Extrasensory would meet, initiating yet another clash. The rings of Extrasensory wrapped around the dragon, attempting to push it back at Sceptile. However, the dragon would resist, refusing to let the Psychic powers overcome it.
In the end, both of them ended up hitting each other. A piece of Dragon Pulse would split off while the rest ended up being reflected. Sceptile and Roserade both received a draconic blow, causing them to fly back. Roserade was already high in the air as she would soon drop back to the floor, only to smoothly recover. "Rade!"
"Sceptile!" Sceptile had his own way of recovering. He used his vines on a nearby branch, managing to maintain his balance.
"It ain't over yet! Smack her with Frenzy Plant!"
"Tile! Scep...!" Sceptile hopped off the branch, slamming his hands onto the floor. Instantly, his impact would summon gigantic roots which would rapidly grow out of the ground, towering over everyone here.
"I don't think so! Roserade! Rush in and use Poison Jab!"
"Roserade!" Surprisingly, Roserade would approach these giant roots. She started zooming, jumping over the first massive root that came crashing down. The Bouquet Pokemon would then use these roots as platforms, running across the first one before jumping onto the next one which she managed to dodge. Roserade would even use the roots against each other each time she swapped places.
After moving on and evading the roots, she got closer and closer to Sceptile, seemingly managing to close the gap between the two of them. But that wasn't the case. There was one more root that waited to show itself, eventually erupting from the ground.
This root would fly up the moment Roserade got closer to Sceptile. The Grass-Poison-Type gasped before quickly slamming her poisonous bouquet onto the massive fauna. She managed to destroy the root with Poison Jab, dissolving it within seconds.
"Ain't no way!" Applejack gasped, stunned by Roserade's performance. This was all due to what Roserade had seen when being around Roseluck. Her love for her trainer correlated very well with her strength and it was showing as even Sceptile was amazed. "Fine then! Use Thunder Punch! Paralyze her!"
"Tile!" Sceptile's hand would then spark as he was ready to slug his fellow Grass-Type with Thunder Punch now that she finally got in close. Both would swing at each other with Roserade coming from above.
It was an exchange. Sceptile did manage to hit Roserade in the air with Thunder Punch, socking her chest. But Roserade also landed a hit in, smashing her bouquet onto Sceptile's jaw. Both had their eyes open as these hits were incredibly heavy. Sceptile wasn't even expecting such a meaty blow from Roserade who was usually so delicate and precise. This felt brutish instead as the two of them would stagger back after initiating that exchange. And at the same time, they both unleashed status conditions on each other.
Sceptile was now poisoned while Roserade suffered instant paralysis. Both would have performance drops because of this but it wasn't enough to keep them down.
"I'm going to win this!" Roserade declared. "I'll stop those plants myself and keep my promise! Roserade! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Rose...Rade!" From her body, an incandescent light would emerge, forming into a sphere as it looked like Roserade was charging up. Out of that sphere, a barrage of rainbow rays would come flying out.
"Frenzy Plant!"
"Tile!" Once more, Sceptile summoned those gigantic roots by simply stepping on the floor to make it possible. Once the rainbow rays came in, the roots would intercept them. This time, it was a short struggle as Frenzy Plant managed it win it out. The rays did manage to beat on the roots for a bit, only to them fade away as they would slap Roserade.
"R-Rose...!" Roserade gasped after being slapped by these heavy plants. The impact of this slap was crushing as well, knocking the Bouquet Pokemon off her feet.
"No! Roserade!" Roseluck cried out after witnessing Roserade take a heavy slap.
"Rose...Rade!" But after hearing Roseluck's cry, Roserade found the strength to recover as fast as she could. By gritting her teeth, Roserade managed to grab the roots before they could hit her again. With her arms and bouquet, she grabbed all of the roots, focusing on raw strength once more.
"Would ya look at that..." Applejack whistled, amazed by what she was seeing. Roserade's new style made her greater than ever and more resilient without a doubt.
"Let's finish this! Petal Dance!"
"Roserade!" Roserade would then throw the roots away after using her raw strength to stop them. She would finally unleash her strongest attack. Petal Dance. Roserade spun around quickly and released pink petals from all around her body, becoming a floral tornado. She would force herself into Sceptile instead of allowing the petals to go on their own.
"But this is where it ends." Applejack adjusted her hat. "Sceptile! Leaf Blade!"
"Scep!" Once more, Sceptile would show his blades, extending them as he stood still when the whirlwind of petals came his way. With a precise swing, he slashed through the petals so hard that not only did he go past Roserade in the blink of an eye, appearing on the other side, but all the petals would be cut in half. The mere speed and force of it were enough to do so.
Petal Dance came to an end because of this. Roserade's elegant moves had also ended too. Her eyes whited out before closing as she tried to maintain her ballerina-like stance, only to fail in doing so. Roserade was bound to fall over. But Sceptile did not let her fall. Instead, he caught her, using one extra root from Frenzy Plant to do so, saving Roserade from falling.
"Roserade..." Roserade had fainted as Sceptile brought the Bouquet Pokemon over, holding her.
"That's it!" Pinkie Pie yelled. "Battle over! Sceptile won it! Which means Applejack won it all!"
"Thank you...Thank you so much, Roserade." Roseluck smiled, approaching the Bouquet Pokemon. Sceptile would place her down gently, allowing her to see Roseluck from a different angle. Cheers and applause would fly in after witnessing this short and sweet battle. Never let it be said that a Pokemon Battle couldn't be extremely entertaining even with minimal time and Pokemon.
"Roserade..."
"This battle spoke to us." Roseluck helped her up. "I suppose that's what Pokemon Battles are for, aren't they? They're just another way to talk things out. A whole other language everyone can understand."
"Got that right." Applejack walked over. "And I'm glad we had it. It gets better every time, Roseluck. And...do ya think ya can outdo this one the next time we battle?"
"Of course, I can. Applejack. Please wait for me when I'm better. Roserade's my best but I want the others to grow. I might have a second Roserade come to think about it." Roseluck squeed.
"I'll be waiting." Applejack held her hoof out. "But we can go at it any time you want. Just say the word and I'll be there. Ain't that right, Sceptile?"
"Sceptile!"
"Mmm." Roseluck shook Applejack's hoof with her own. "And I guess...I feel even more confident than before. I think it's time I told them."
"Eh? Eh?!" Applejack's eyes opened up as her hat flew off her head. Sceptile was also shocked as he knew what was coming. "Y-You're gonna say it now?! I thought you were gonna wait a few more days or weeks or something!"
"I should get it off my chest while I have the chance." Roseluck turned to face all of her friends who kept clapping their hooves, hands and whatever limbs they had. The moment of truth had come. Instead of Applejack, it would be Roseluck who would share it all with them.
"What are you going to share with us?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Go ahead. Don't be shy." Fluttershy encouraged as no one had any idea what was coming their way.
"Right. You should all hear this. I can be put at ease when I say this..." The earth pony held her breath in as her heart was racing. But there was some joy in her heart too as she uttered those words. "My sister is the Lich Queen, Rosa Maledicta."
"What?" It started with a light response from Fluttershy.
"What?!" Then a slightly elevated one from Goh.
"WHAT?!" And soon, the entire crowd within this Gym would all roar out the same word after it all processed in their ears and memory. Roseluck, after finishing up her battle with Applejack, immediately revealed who her sister was.
"Uh...Surprise?" A nervous Roseluck said while Applejack could be seen slowly backing up. "I figured now was the best time to share it thanks to that battle."
"She's your sister?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Huh?! How?!"
"Wait! Are you part vampire?!" Pinkie Pie gasped, believing Roseluck to be a half-vampire after revealing who her sister was.
"She's not actually a vampire herself, she just rules over vampires," Starlight replied. The reaction to this was rather loud with many of them being blown back by this.
"It's out there now..." Applejack sighed. "But this ain't as bad as I thought it was gonna be."
"You knew this whole time, sis?" Apple Bloom unexpectedly appeared next to Applejack, leaving her seat.
"Gaah!" Applejack was jump scared by her sister's sudden arrival. Not only that, but she already heard Applejack's words, making the older earth pony grimace.
"Uh...Eeyup! Totally knew!" Applejack nervously laughed after jumping back.
"You didn't tell us? Why?"
"I was afraid...Afraid of what would happen if I ever revealed it to you all." Roseluck explained. "After everything my sister and Magehold had done to our world, I couldn't bring myself to share it. Even if I didn't have to. I could've kept it a secret forever..."
"You didn't have to." Entering this room was a surprise guest. Everyone turned to see Mayor Mare entering the Gym, late to witness this battle from start to finish and only showing up once it was all over and the big reveal had been made. "It's alright, Roseluck. It's great that you let it all out."
"Mayor?" Roseluck uttered.
"You did it before I ever could. Good on you. And thankfully, it didn't go the way I thought it would." Mayor Mare would then look at the crowd. "After all, we're past this. We've had our fair share of unique characters and yet they're welcome here. The difference is that you don't have to feel ashamed about your family ties, Roseluck. You're not the one at fault here."
"I...You're right." Roseluck closed her eyes. "I never did anything but because she was my sister, I thought..."
"That we'd go against you? No way!" Rainbow Dash flew over, nudging Roseluck. "You'll always be our friend!"
"And you don't have any magic too...No offence," Lyra added.
"Don't beat yourself up for it, Roseluck. Telling us was the best thing you could've done." Carrot Top approached her. "Wish you'd have done it earlier though but I understand. I'd do the same thing. Maybe not challenging someone."
"Mhm. You aren't any different after telling us that. I mean, we all have our own secrets, don't we? It's best we let them all out." Berry Punch spoke.
"You're cool to us, Roseluck. So no need to worry." Ash said, giving an encouraging thumbs-up along with Pikachu.
"Pikachu!"
"Thanks, everyone..." Hearing this made Roseluck tear up. She was incredibly blessed to have such great friends in this town. She allowed her emotions to flow as Roserade would put her bouquet arms on Roseluck's face, letting her soak her tears into them. She would stutter and stumble over her words as this was just what she needed to hear. All of her fears had been staved away. "Y-You're...You're all...Y-You're the best...Wait a second..." But that promptly ended the moment she recalled something. "Mayor Mare?! You knew?!"
"Wait, you knew before us?!" Amethyst Star gasped as everyone faced the Mayor of Ponyville. From how she spoke, she was already aware of Roseluck's sister.
"...I'm the mayor. I knew from the start. Rosa isn't that old." With an unimpressed face, Mayor Mare casually revealed that she always knew about this family tie from long ago. Even before any of them would've figured it out. Everyone collectively laughed as they realized they should've known that Mayor Mare was ahead of them.
Knowing that Mayor Mare knew the entire time and chose not to say anything brought more happiness to Roseluck. Once again, she was truly blessed. It was all resolved. Well, almost all of it. Though she was happy to still be safe despite being related to the Lich Queen, Rosa Maledicta was still an issue that had yet to be dealt with.
Ponyville. Twilight's Castle.
"Phew!" Back at Twilight's Castle, she would lie on her back, feeling greatly exhausted. "Making Technomagic was easier than this. Just what kind of magic is this elixir made out of?"
"I know, right?" Cold Colt also exhausted himself along with Zecora. This massive elixir had yet to be completed even with extra help.
"You know what...we should call it a day. We'll sort it out next time." Twilight vowed as she raised her hoof, waiting for a response. Cold Colt and Zecora would also raise their hooves agreeing to call it a day.
As for the elixir, now that it was super-sized, it needed to be placed somewhere safe. They wouldn't want to lose the contents within after all. Twilight would use her magic to place it in a safe room where there were minimal bookshelves to worry about. This castle did have many rooms despite how few individuals lived within it. The elixir was then locked up until it was time to use it once more as it was resting against the wall.
Zecora could finally rest. She would leave Twilight's Castle, heading back to the Pokemon House. It was not yet time for her to return to Everfree since her home hadn't been fully rebuilt. But rest assured, she would once again live in the forest like she used to.
"Well, that's that. Just in time to set off to Virbank City," said Twilight. "We get to take a gander at what Rarity's doing for the next PokeStar Studios film. "I'll be seeing you, Cold."
"Right. But uh, be careful. Roxie was among one of the Gym Leaders who ran into those plants so they could show there, ya know."
"I know. I'll be careful. The elixir isn't ready to be used yet anyway, but we do have one method of harming them. The Twilightium Z." Twilight added. "Then again...There haven't been any updates on them recently ever since the battle that happened over at Rustboro and Dewford."
"Oh! I bet they ran away, scared of Princess Celestia!" Cold Colt yelled. "That has to be it! By the way, what's Princess Celestia gonna do now?"
"Well, the main problem with trying to stop the Dread League is that Magehold is extremely well-protected. Princess Celestia's been trying to find a way to get around that obstacle. But I'm sure she'll figure it out. Catch you later!" Twilight would then depart with Espeon following afterwards.
"Yeah. Figure it out. Hopefully soon." Cold Colt said to himself. "If she's gonna get rid of everything, what does that mean for me and everything about the Rift? I mean...there's no way she can take the Rift out. Right?" That was a terrifying thought for Cold Colt to even imagine.
He had to wonder what that would mean. If the Rift were to perish, what would become of him and everything involved with the Rift. The Rift Pony shook his head, taking his mind off of it. He had the rest of the day to enjoy himself after all.
Unova. Virbank City. PokeStar Studios. Afternoon.
Virbank City. The City of Falling Fog and Rising Stars. Located in southwestern Unova, this port city is often covered by clouds and smoke, with very active residents. And the beauty of this city was without a doubt PokeStar Studios. The beautiful movie-making studio that anyone was free to use without any limitations, making it one of the most beloved places in the Pokemon World.
Rarity had brought many of her friends along including the Gym Leader Valerie. She mainly brought them here so her friends could see her recent role and possibly assist her. Valerie was brought along by Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie solely for relief after the fears of the Despair Plants were born.
"So, here it is. This is what I'm acting as in the movie Psychedelic Sunday. If you can help out in this film, I will greatly appreciate it. After all, even assisting in high-budget movies are free of charge." Rarity revealed, holding the script out. "I especially need you to make sure everyone doesn't run low on energy, Pinkie Pie."
"I gotcha! You need me to make enough food for everyone. Does it run out that fast?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Oh, believe me, it does. Someone just can't help but bring their Munchlax to work. But that Munchlax is so adorable to be mad at." Rarity gushed. "So let's change that please and hopefully forever. Fluttershy?"
"Well, I'll be with Valerie the whole day," Fluttershy said as she would stick by Valerie instead. "Good luck, anyway."
"I'll be fine on my own, Fluttershy," Valerie replied. "I'd like to meet with Roxie actually, to see if everything is alright with her. She might even be here. After all, Roxie did co-star in PokeStar Studio once."
"Roxie? An actress?" Rainbow Dash thought about it for a moment. She wondered what kind of role Roxie would play. Only one thing came to mind. A musical. Specifically, Rock. It just seemed right. "Hmm...Yeah. Nothing else to think about there. Oh, but I could totally make a rock movie! If I knew how to play the guitar..."
"I do!" Scootaloo ran off with the Cutie Mark Crusaders as they already scrambled to make their own films. It was a pretty big group of friends that Rarity brought along as there was one more individual who rarely comes along. Roseluck. After telling the truth and feeling as free as ever, Roseluck could now enjoy herself without worrying about anything else.
"Thanks for suggesting to bring me here, Applejack. PokeStar Studios is our canvas to use and I know just what I want to make! What about you?" Roseluck asked Applejack.
"Go ahead, Roseluck. I'll just follow what you do. I ain't got nothing else in mind right but uh...always keep it down. A big movie's gonna be made with Rarity over there."
"Come along. And watch your step. This room is higher up compared to the rest." Rarity would guide some of her friends as the rest of them would separate to make their own movies. And if they didn't want to make movies, the amusement park that Virbank City also had was free to use.
Really, Virbank City was just an enjoyable place all around. And with the worlds now combined, despite there being a long distance to travel now instead of the easy gateways, more and more species from Equestria were bound to come here as there was a whole new world to explore.
And right now, somepony else here that was not a part of Rarity's group. Standing near the alleyways of Virbank which was close to PokeStar Studios, there was a hooded pony who was masked in the darkness. A purple hoof would show as something within the hands of this cloaked pony.
The hoof held out what looked to be a large necklace. The same kind of necklace that is around Celestia's neck as regalia. This neck guard, however, was lacking something. Vibrance. It appeared dry and saturated, much like how Hearthome or even the elixir used to look like when the Dread League were involved. However, this pony had no issue getting the sunlight as purple eyes gazed at this crown.
"She was attacked by them the first time at Michina Town." A feminine voice spoke while looking at the crown. "It's only been a few weeks and she was nearly defeated by those Despair Plants. Virbank is another place where these plants will want to show up. I can't let a second attack go through."
Whoever this mysterious pony was, she came here for a reason. Putting the necklace away, she was aware of the Despair Plants. More specifically, she knew where they would show up next. This pony would remove her hood for a bit, entering the sunlight as she quickly galloped over to PokeStar Studios.
Her presence was unknown by Rarity's group. Besides, they were too busy enjoying themselves. The CMC found themselves a studio to work at. Being that they were the youngest, the possibilities were endless for them. They collectively grabbed a large box of props and costumes that they could choose from. Of course, despite having such boundless imagination, choosing something was still tricky. They may be kids but they do love theming.
"Have we all agreed on something?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Not yet. It's all too much fun. Mixing them together doesn't sound like it would work out though..." Scootaloo grumbled.
"I say we wing it!" Apple Bloom suggested, picking up a massive Hariyama hand.
"Nah, we've gone past winging it." Scootaloo shook her head. "Ash is helping Rarity out so he's unavailable which is a bummer. Who can help out?"
"How about something we all like?" Sweetie Belle said, shuffling through all the props and dresses. Each of the dresses would fly everywhere with some of them burying Apple Bloom in a sea of clothes. "But we've done that already, right?"
"Sequels! We haven't done sequels!" Apple Bloom blew away the sea of clothes, emerging out of them with a Tyranitar head which had a function that allowed a Tyranitar roar to come out.
"Oh, sure!" Scootaloo gasped as the idea of a sequel struck her intrigue. "Let's do that! A sequel to what we enjoyed the most! Great idea, Apple Bloom!"
"Hm?" When diving into the box of props, Sweetie Belle found something that piqued her interest. With a deep hoof dig along with her magic, she managed to pull it out. However, she found out that it had some weight to it. "Woah!" She would fall back after pulling this item out.
This item was revealed to be a massive seed. This seed was found at the very bottom of the box despite being so large. Everyone else would turn to seed. But it wasn't instinct. Rather, something else. The seed would hover in the air. But it was not by Sweetie Belle's magic. Instead, it was by itself. The seed hovered on its own, spinning slowly.
The fillies all gazed at the seed as was emanating a nearly-invisible aura. But they could at least see what it looked like. Ominous and mysterious, carrying a jet-black colour to it. This definitely did not feel or look like a prop. It felt like something else as the ominous aura around it was responsible for captivating them.
"What kind of seed is this?" Sweetie Belle slowly approached the seed, feeling compelled to touch it as the seed would descend, allowing the unicorn to get close.
"Don't touch that!" A voice roared, entering this studio. The moment Sweetie Belle's hoof went up to make contact with the seed, a blast of magic would come flying in at full speed. The magical beam would pierce the seed, startling Sweetie Belle and the others.
Once it was pierced, the seed would suddenly hiss and cry out. This cry sounded just like the Despair Plants as the CMC were free from this compelling aura. As for the seed, it would then hover back, reacting to this blast that pierced it. The little ones would then turn to see who was responsible for that surprise ray.
It was none other than that hooded pony from before as she walked through the curtains. The sun rays from the windows nearby would beam at her, giving her a silhouetted figure before showing her full self. At least, a bit of herself. The hood still protected her.
"The three of you are still so reckless even to this day." She said to them while passing by the bewildered fillies. "But the aura is to blame for this. Not you three."
"Um...sorry but...who are you?" Scootaloo asked, greatly confused.
"Stay back and do not touch that seed. Or else, you would've become a Despair Plant yourself."
"Become a Despair Plant?!" The three of them equally yelled. Just like that, this mysterious pony had shared a critical fact that shocked them. She didn't even waste any time to reveal what would've happened to them if they touched it. Sweetie Belle shuddered as she imagined plants growing all over her body and taking her over.
"Gross, gross, gross!" She pranced on the spot, feeling disgusted just thinking about it. "I touched it too! I don't wanna become a plant!"
"You won't. I'll make sure of it." The mysterious pony would then remove her hood, tossing it aside at once. At last, she would reveal her true self and immediately, it was a face that the three fillies knew all too well. And that only surprised them as it wasn't someone random at all. Instead, it was the familiar face of a fairly important figure. From the eyes, the front of the hair, the tail and before all of that, the voice.
It looked like Twilight Sparkle.
"T-Twilight...?" Scootaloo stuttered as she could see the spitting image of Twilight Sparkle in this pony. She wouldn't be crazy to suddenly call her Twilight just because of the resemblance.
"Twilight Moonlight to you." The pony revealed her real name. Indeed, she was Twilight. But the last name was a deviation from what they originally knew. "Sweetie Belle. You won't become a plant. I can expel it from you since you touched it earlier."
"You can? And why's that thing here?!" Sweetie Belle screeched. "Just when we were gonna have fun...this shows up."
"Don't worry, It's not a threat yet. If I get rid of it as a seed, it'll never be a threat. Besides...I need to make sure she isn't harmed at all." Twilight eyed down the seed which would also focus on her. With hostility, the damaged seed would hiss at Twilight Moonlight before patching up the hole that she made.
"Of course you can heal...but I'll put an end to this at once." Suddenly, from her hood, she would use her magic to bring something out. And it was none other than a Poke Ball. This meant only one thing in the eyes of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. This Twilight look-alike had a Pokemon. That wouldn't be too out of the ordinary but it was the appearance throwing them off. "Show yourself! Umbreon!"
"Umbreon!" Once the Poke Ball was launched by her magic, out of it emerged the Moonlight Pokemon, Umbreon. But it was the Shiny Variant instead of the Regular Variant. The Dark Eevelution would flip through the air before sticking a landing.
"Wait...Are you...another Twilight from another world?" Sweetie Belle asked, immediately fixating on a separate world. And she wouldn't be wrong to think that. After all, the existence of multiple Twilights have already been confirmed thanks to Empress Twilight, Sci-Twi and the other Twilights that are now seemingly impossible to reach because of the disappearance of the gateways except for one.
"I am. But I'm not like the others." She replied but her response only raised more questions than answers. What did she mean by that? "Let's finish this up and keep the Despair Plants away from Virbank, Umbreon!"
"Umbreon!"
Who was this mysterious Twilight Moonlight? It was clear that she was another Twilight but according to her, she was not like the others. And she certainly knew about the Despair Plants and their destination towards Virbank City along with their previous attack on Michina Town. A new mystery emerges as the journey continues.
"Oooh! They have this?!" Over at PokeStar Studios, Ash held up a cape that had a unique pattern to it that made it stick out from the rest. It resembled a certain character. In his hands, a cape with stars could be seen as it was modelled after Galaxy Master's cape. His popularity was clearly present, especially with how he appeared. "Sweet...!"
"He got some faster than we did now that I think about it..." Twilight said while holding up a Galaxy Master head from the prop box. The potential for a Galaxy Master film was there because of his popularity rise and the equipment that had been found.
"Ash, you should 100% take advantage of this. He is your creation. That goes for everything surrounding him." Rarity said while being suited up for her film scene. "Copyright it."
"Nah, it's cool." Ash didn't mind at all. "Plus, I don't know how copyright works."
"Do you think he'll show up since he's getting so popular?" said Pinkie Pie, setting up a plethora of food for everyone to eat in case that Munchlax Rarity mentioned comes storming in to consume it all. "Where'd he even go?"
"He'll show up. Probably when something big goes down." Rainbow Dash said. "But do you think he'll be the same? He's still technically on our side, right?"
"For me, he is. He did save my sister and her friends, after all." Rarity said. "Applejack feels the same way too after all. Even if he was being lied to by the Rift, he's good at heart. That's why he was made after your father, Ash."
"Alright, Rarity. You're on." A voice called out to Rarity as it was her time to act. Just in time as her makeover was completed while this discussion about Ash's father and Galaxy Master went on.
"Yeah. I wanna meet both of them again someday. But meeting Galaxy Master again would be just like meeting with my dad." Ash placed the cape on as it fit him surprisingly well. "I bet he's out there helping as much as he can."
"Wait, he's your father?" One of the workers here who was dressing Rarity up for the next scene obviously heard it all. Everyone did. The staff here saw an opportunity since the son of this trending character was right before their eyes. Unbeknownst to them, Ash was also rather popular for various reasons.
"Don't worry about it." Ash grinned before spinning with this cosmic cape. He would then fall on his back, laughing afterwards "Yeah...I know I'll meet them both soon someday."
Appearing at PokeStar Studios, saving the Cutie Mark Crusaders from a seed that could turn them into Despair Plants was a Twilight Sparkle Counterpart. Her name was Twilight Moonlight and she had sent out a Shiny Umbreon to face this seed.
"Let's make this quick and head home." Twilight Moonlight said. "Umbreon! Dark Pulse, now!"
"Umbreon!" By leaping into the air, Umbreon fired multiple black orbs of energy with a purple outline from in front of its head at the black seed, aiming to finish this as soon as possible as the orbs had black rings of energy, imbued with dark thoughts.
The seed would be very defensive in this scenario, immediately flying to the side to avoid the devastating pulse of darkness that came this way. The pulse would miss, hitting the wardrobe of clothes instead. The wardrobe was blasted apart with the clothes being obliterated in the process.
"You won't get away from us! Again!"
"Umb! Umbreon!" Umbreon would eye down the Despair Plant seed, having a clear view of it. It would unleash repeated Dark Pulses, pressurizing the seed to keep dodging in this small room. With minimal room to move in, this would make things easier for Umbreon and harder for the seed. The Despair Plant Seed kept zipping and zooming around, using various objects as cover while Dark Pulse started obliterating everything.
"This gonna ruin a lot of what we need...Let us help and it'll be quicker!" Scootaloo felt the urge to help out. So did her friends. Collectively, they would all take out their Poke Balls, ready to chime in.
"Stay out of this." Twilight Moonlight said with a rather harsh tone, shutting them down immediately. They would lower their hooves as their Poke Balls would not have the opportunity to be thrown.
"But..." Sweetie Belle uttered, wishing to help. But judging by the stare she gave them all, it was probably for the best that they do not act in this instance, much to their chagrin. Twilight Moonlight faced the seed once more, seeing that it was losing space to flee. Eventually, the seed would find itself at the corner of the room
"I've cornered you. Use Psychic!"
"Umbreon!" Now that the seed ran into a corner, Umbreon had used Psychic, telekinetically holding the seed in the place. Now it was truly stuck. The seed found itself being held back, struggling to move.
"This will finish you." Using her magic, Twilight Moonlight brought out another Poke Ball from her hood, throwing it. "Go! Lilligant!" Twilight Moonlight called for another Pokemon. This time it was a Lilligant. However, it wasn't the usual Lilligant that everyone knew.
"Lilligant!" Emerging from the Poke Ball was a Lilligant with a different look to it. Something was missing from it as the eyes of the fillies lit up.
"What's up with that Lilligant?" Sweetie Belle took out her Pokedex, immediately collecting the data of this unique Lilligant.
"Lilligant. The Spinning Pokemon. Hisuian Variant. This Lilligants' well-developed legs are the result of a life spent on mountains covered in deep snow. The scent it exudes from its flower crown heartens those in proximity."
"Oh! That's a Hisuian Pokemon?!" Scootaloo gasped as yet another Hisuian Pokemon had been seen at last. Surprisingly, it came from another Twilight, making this a double-shock with different layers.
"Use Solar Blade at once, Lilligant!"
"Lilli...!" With all of this strong sunlight, Hisuian Lilligant gathered light energy which then formed into a massive blade that it held above its head. "Gant!" With a downward swing, Lilligant brought the massive blade of nature down on the seed which was completely immobile and unable to move at all.
Thus, the seed was sliced in half along with whatever was near it. The ceiling, props, clothes and other things for PokeStar Studios when it comes to design had been cut in half. The one that suffered the most was the Despair Plant Seed. After being cut in half, it could be seen disintegrating, leaving behind a horrific screech afterwards. Nothing was left of the seed. Not even tiny pieces once it disintegrated. It was like it never existed. The CMC watched the ruthless display of power that this Twilight Sparkle Counterpart presented. And frankly, they were rather intimidated.
"That's done with. Return, you two." After clearing it up, she would return Umbreon and Lilligant to their Poke Balls. They did what they needed to do. The Poke Balls would return to the hood which would also be placed back onto the unicorn.
"Um...Thanks for saving us." Sweetie Belle thanked Twilight Moonlight. "That could've gone pretty badly but...I still touched it though. Am I going to turn into a Despair Plant?!"
"No, you won't. Since I took it out, all of its effects are gone with it." Twilight Moonlight revealed. "You'll be you."
"How'd you take it out though? I thought you needed something specific to really hurt a Despair Plant." Scootaloo asked, pointing out how Twilight Moonlight didn't use anything special on the seed.
"That was just a seed. They're far weaker than the full-grown Despair Plants so they're easier to take out." Twilight Moon explained. There was one weakness for the Despair Plants and that was their vulnerability when they were seeds. "This area's clear now, so I'll take my leave." Now that she did what she needed to do, Twilight Moonlight would trot away while this room was in shambles.
"Wait!" Scootaloo cried out. "How'd you get a Hisuian Lilligant!"
"You don't have to worry about that." Twilight Moonlight continued walking. "The important reason is that Twilight is safe." Those were the last words they heard from this counterpart before she would leave. A box would drop after she left the room, breaking apart.
No acknowledgement of the damage or her appearance. She only explained her name and a few things about the seed and that was it. The fillies were left there feeling a bit perplexed.
"That just happened." Apple Bloom said. "So...are we still gonna make that movie?"
"I don't think so..." With how the room turned out, Sweetie Belle shook her head.
"Girls! What happened?!" Rushing into this room was none other than Twilight. Their Twilight. Twilight Sparkle. Showing up with Espeon on her side, Twilight came sliding in to see if the little ponies were alright.
"Twilight!" They collectively yelled her name.
"Uh..." After entering the dressing room, she would see the destruction that befell it. Ruined clothes, shattered boxes and wardrobes, an entire ceiling being sliced in half along with a large mess on the floor. There was a lot to take in here as the fillies innocently stood in the destruction. "W-What happened here...?"
"It wasn't us!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, immediately fearing that the blame would be placed on them. "Honest! It was you!"
"Me?!" Twilight pulled back after that response. To her, it didn't make a whole lot of sense.
"Yeah! Well, not actually you! It was a counterpart of you that showed up and totally cut a Despair Plant in half!" Scootaloo continued the explanation, giving some context.
"I'm sorry what? Despair Plant!?"
"It was actually more a seed." Sweetie Belle added. "I almost got turned into one which would've been super gross! But it's a good thing it's gone now, right?"
"..." Twilight and Espeon stood still with static poker faces. There was quite a bit for them to process. Twilight would then hold her face, recollecting her mind. "Um...okay then. I can tell a lot happened so...just tell me again and we can clean up this mess."
"Aw, but we didn't make it!" Scootaloo groaned. It would be unfair if they had to clean up this mess since it was Twilight Moonlight who was responsible for this.
"I'll do it myself." Twilight sighed offering to fix this mess. "Just...head out while I clean it all up."
"Thanks a lot, Twilight! We'll tell you all about it later!" Sweetie Belle said as she would run out with her friends, leaving Twilight and Espeon to clean this all up. Technically, Twilight would be owning up to the damage she caused. It just wasn't the correct Twilight that would do it. With another sigh, Twilight would get to work at once.
"Hah...They have a lot of explaining to do."
Outside and back at the alleyway that she hid in, Twilight Moonlight once again concealed herself, leaving PokeStar Studios after doing her job. In the shady alleyway, she would take something else out of her hood. This time, it looked to be a scroll. And alongside that was the colourless necklace from before. The scroll would glow purple as the unicorn spoke into it.
"I've gotten rid of that Despair Plant Seed. It won't be growing anymore. I'll leave the remaining ones to them unless she heads to those locations." Twilight Moonlight said. Immediately, a voice from the scroll replied to her.
"That's good, Twilight. You'll have to return here soon one day. I have a feeling. Keeping your counterpart safe is imperative and with how both worlds have come together, the risk has gone up. What about the necklace? How does it look?"
"It's the same." She looked at the necklace. "There's no colour to it still. I haven't seen her but I doubt that would've given it some colour unless something would've happened."
"It's not yet time to put that pendant back on unless they're all together. As for him, we cannot let his counterparts reunite or else the worse possible outcomes will come true. Return home and we'll continue from there."
"What about this world's Twilight? She'll figure it out because I ran into the Cutie Mark Crusaders."
"Don't worry about it too much. She'll just see you as another counterpart. But I suppose she'll wonder how you entered this universe despite the lack of gateways. If something comes up, we'll handle it. Right now, let's focus on getting that necklace back to how it originally was."
"I got it." Twilight Moonlight nodded before her body started flashing. Particles of energy emerged out of her as she would close her eyes, groaning for a bit. This did not look comfortable judging by her expression. After particles took over her entire body, she was gone.
There was no sign or her and no trace. Twilight Moonlight had returned to her universe. Wherever it may be.
Hours had passed until the morning sun was starting to set, letting out a deep orange glow. By now, Rarity had done all of her work, acting out scenes while her friends watched and chimed in. And thankfully, there was enough food to spare despite the fact that there was a Munchlax devouring everything it could.
But it didn't help that Pinkie Pie and Mew were doing the same, practically working alongside Munchlax to chow down all the delicacies that were meant for the actors. Today was a fine day at work at the PokeStar Studios, despite many being oblivious to the battle that happened in one of the dressing rooms.
"So, that's what happened? A counterpart showed up and took out a Despair Plant you say..." Twilight was finally filled in by the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who by extension, shared it with Ash and the others once they were ready to depart.
"Mhm. She didn't stay behind which is a bummer." Scootaloo pouted. "She had such a cool Lilligant too and I wanted to see more!"
"She was pretty harsh though." Sweetie Belle scratched her mane.
"How'd she even get here? There's only one gateway left in this world and that's the one that goes from Pallet Town to Ponyville?" Starlight asked. "Are we missing one?"
"No clue." Twilight shrugged. "But that's got me curious. She stopped a Despair Plant from growing and said something about me being safe. I mean, I'm obviously safe now thanks to what she did."
"We haven't seen much from all your other counterparts, Twilight." Rarity replied, packing up all her things in her bag. "It's nice to know that we can still see someone from another world even with the lack of gateways. Maybe next time, we can greet this other Twilight."
"I don't know...She looked like she wanted to be out there as fast as possible." Sweetie Belle shook her head, knowing how serious Twilight Moonlight was. Twilight Moonlight certainly didn't feel like someone who was willing to stick around and chat for a long time.
"Welp. I'm just glad we didn't have to deal with those plants." Applejack smiled with Roseluck nodded in agreement. "I'd say that Twilight did a great job handling it for us."
"Right. But how'd she even know there'd be one here? She'd have to know that Roxie was there at Hearthome City with the others." Fluttershy wondered.
"It's a mystery until we find out. But...let's leave that for another time. I've got an elixir to work on tomorrow." Twilight uttered, stretching her hooves. "What about you all?"
"I'll be over at the Human World tomorrow helping another Twilight out." Ash would assist Sci-Twi by tomorrow. "Who wants to come along and transform?!"
"Oh! Me!" Pinkie Pie raised her hoof, wishing to head back to the Human World just for the fun of it.
"Right here!" Rainbow Dash raised her arm. "I've been thinking...I could catch myself an Alpha Pokemon too, ya know. I mean, they're only showing up there so why not?"
"I thought we were going to leave it to Sci-Twi to catch all the Alpha Pokemon?" Goh asked.
"Eh. There's probably more of the same species that are Alpha, so it's all good." Rainbow Dash shrugged. "She won't mind, right, Ash?"
"You'll have to find out tomorrow!" Ash replied before dashing off, prompting Rainbow Dash to also speed up. They all walked off into the sunset, letting today pass by and ready to embrace tomorrow.
However, it would be impossible to forget this day. From the battle between Applejack and Roseluck to the arrival of another counterpart of Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Moonlight. Twilight Sparkle herself had to wonder about this counterpart of hers. The CMC shared everything after all. Especially with how Twilight Moonlight mentioned how she differed from her other counterparts. What did that mean exactly? Twilight Sparkle had yet to figure that out and hoped to see her again one day herself as the journey continues.
The Human World. The only world that had its own separate Earth compared to the new Super-Earth that was made by the power of the Jirachi. And yet, Pokemon still existed here as if nothing had changed. And living with these Pokemon was this world's Twilight Sparkle. And most of her Pokemon were predominantly Alpha Pokemon, minus her Hisuian Zorua. Speaking of which, there was a ruckus coming from her home.
"Okay, settle down, please!" Sci-Twi said as she was currently moving around, speaking to all of her Pokemon who were around the house. "No, Munchlax, that's not for you!"
"Munchlax?" Alpha Munchlax could be seen grabbing a serving of food, at least having the decency to grab a plate instead of using his bare hands. Without him even seeing his arrival, Alpha Pikachu came swooping in, grabbing a bottle of ketchup from the plate.
"Pika-Pikachu!" With the ketchup bottle in his hands, Pikachu would jet off with it.
"Just take a few and not everything this time, please." Twilight pleaded before shifting her attention to another predicament that was caused by her Pokemon. This time, it was her Alpha Heracross lifting up Zorua with his horn, using her as a weight. "Oh, Heracross! Put her down!"
"Hera?" Heracross looked over before witnessing Twilight swoop in to catch Zorua. Hisuian Zorua shuddered as Heracross certainly didn't flex with a gentle pace. In Twilight's arms, her rapid jittering would soon slow down as her trainer would rub her head for safety.
"Lift this instead." To compensate, Twilight would quickly place a stack of dictionaries on Heracross' horn just so he can continue flexing his strength. This pleased Heracross but not even a minute later and he was already eyeing down something else to lift. The fridge was within his sight.
"Rapidash, don't run too quickly indoors, you'll hurt yourself or someone else! Mainly the latter!" She would then shift her attention to her first Alpha Pokemon. Rapidash. The Fire Horse Pokemon was galloping indoors, exhibiting her freedom and excitement for running. "We can run out in the park later, okay?"
"Rapidash?"
"Until Ash and Sunset get here, that is." Twilight sighed while hearing the sounds of her Pokemon causing minimal chaos. But it was still chaos.
Equestria. Canterlot. Canterlot Castle. Day.
Arriving at Canterlot Castle, just to pass through the mirror to enter the human world were Ash and Pikachu. But they would soon be joined by two more of their friends instead one like always. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash respectively.
Rainbow Dash was especially eager to catch herself some Alpha Pokemon which was the main reason for her coming here while Ash was only showing up to assist his friend who was still a new Pokemon Trainer.
"You know, we've been seeing a lot of Twilight's counterparts. What about ours?" Rainbow Dash asked. "I really wanna see my own counterpart one day."
"Same here!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "It's kinda not fair that we haven't seen everyone else. We saw...just Twilight and Spike I think. I wonder what mine's like?!"
"Well, we'd have to find a way to use the gateways again. The previous Twilight that showed up yesterday found a way to show up in this world after all," said Ash. "Celestia still has that Universal Alliance of hers. I wonder how that's gonna work since there's only one gateway left."
"Pikachu..."
"I'm working on that." Right on time, Princess Celestia replied to Ash, showing up next to the mirror. "It's still an alliance even if I can't reach them all."
"Celestia? Are you heading over too?" Ash asked.
"No, not today. As for that Twilight counterpart, I heard it from Twilgiht later this night which was passed on to me by Luna when looking into her dreams. So, she showed up here despite there being no sign of a gateway anywhere?"
"Can't Flurry Heart return to her world? They sent Giratina back after all, didn't they?"
"They did send Giratina back. And everything related to gateways has been diminished to one. But it seems that even after Jirachi's power took away all of the gateways, even though all the Travel Spheres shut down, they managed to salvage one, but it was low on power. That singular sphere is what returned Giratina to its world. After that...we're stuck with the Ponyville Gateway."
"Bummer..." Rainbow Dash sighed.
"But you could find something in the Human World. It's been completely unaffected, remember? Perhaps, there is a gateway that still exists since it has remained as its own separate planet."
"Oh, you're right!" Ash and Pinkie Pie collectively gasped. Princess Celestia raised a stupendous point. Since the Human World had no visible changes, there was a very good chance that the gateways never left.
"Only one way to find out! Yahoo!" Ash would jump in, going first as always. This was then followed by Pikachu and Mew who would fly out of Pinkie Pie's mane.
"Mew-Mew!"
"Wait for me!" Pinkie Pie cheered, bouncing into the mirror portal. And finally, it would be Rainbow Dash who zoomed in, leaving a rainbow streak.
"As for me, I need to find a way past that protective magic that's around Magehold." Once they were all gone, Celestia could focus on what truly mattered right now. Magehold and the Dread League. "If we can get Yveltal out of there, we can prevent one disaster from coming true. But how are we going to break that magic...?"
The Sun Princess pondered. There had to be a way. And there was. Daybreaker was the only one who actually ended up reaching Magehold in her respective universe. Therefore, she was the answer. But Celestia shook her head, refusing to think about Daybreaker after what happened back at Rustboro City. And yet, it seemed like there were minimal options. What was she to do?
The Human World. Canterlot Town. Twilight's Home.
"Hah...Finally. That took a while." After finally calming all of her Pokemon down, Twilight could sit back and relax. The only one that wasn't moving around constantly was Luxio, who was by far Twilight's most well-behaved Pokemon compared to everyone else. Heracross seemed to value his strength as seen by when Twilight first encountered him, Rapidash was still a bit stubborn and Munchlax is bound to cause a famine in this home. Zorua was also calm but that was mainly because of her timid nature.
Right as she sat on her couch, her phone started ringing. Quickly, she would lift it up to see that Professor Oak was calling her. "Yes, Professor Oak?"
"Morning, morning, Twilight." Oak greeted. "Are you doing well?"
"I'm doing fine...A bit busy when handling all of my Pokemon though. They like being out of their Poke Balls to mess after all but they sure do cause some trouble. I can't even take them to the park all the time..."
"If only you had enough space to let them roam free. Just like with what I have. And the number of Alpha Pokemon is only going to grow for you, after all." Oak chuckled. "Speaking of which, you have three Alpha Pokemon to try and reach this time."
"Wait, three?" She sat up. "I can barely handle one...Now's there's three?"
"Don't worry. They're all in individual locations, Twilight. You don't have to worry about them being in the same spot. Thanks to Jirachi combining the two worlds, with the expanded landmass, some Pokemon are seeing unrest. You can imagine that their homes have been disrupted by this."
"I thought Jirachi was supposed to make everything better. I mean everything is better but..."
"Oh, it certainly did but combing two worlds into one to make a Super-Earth does come with its consequences. Let's not rag on Jirachi for this. After all, each of the Jirachis from every world had been locked up in that dimension for 4 years. As for the Alpha Pokemon, this unrest correlates with them. The Alpha Pokemon and the unruly Pokemon have been going at it and since they're also so hostile until caught, this all doesn't help."
"So it's like there's a constant turf war going on?"
"That's right. It'll only stop unless those Alpha Pokemon are calmed down and the Pokemon can find a way to salvage their homes. I can trust that they can salvage it. After all, Pokemon are expert landscape artists, especially those Tyrantiar. Though it is a pain for those poor Cartographers. These are the Pokemon that I've found."
On her screen, Professor Oak would show Twilight the three Alpha Pokemon she had to find as they popped up rapidly. Kricketune, Lopunny, Scyther.
"Choose whichever and I'll pay your expense as always to send you to that region. You can find Kricketune over at Hoenn, Lopunny at Galar and Scyther at Unova."
"Alright. I think I'll go with Lopunny this time."
"Excellent. I'd recommend wearing protective armour to shield yourself from Lopunny's kicks. You can find Lopunny at the Wild Area of Galar. That in itself needs heavy amounts of protection. But I can trust you'll be fine with your Pokemon and my good friend, Ash."
"Mhm. Sunset's coming with me too, so I'll be safer that way." Twilight nodded before hearing a knock on her door. "Perfect timing!" She would hop off her couch, quickly rushing to the door while Professor Oak was still on the call. Heading to the door with Spike following her, she would open it to see four of her friends. It wasn't just the ones she was expecting to see today.
Ash Ketchum. Sunset Shimmer. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. "Hey, Twilight!" All four of them cried out along with their Pokemon. Pikachu, Castform and Mew respectively.
"Wait, four of you?" Twilight said, surprised to see Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. And by looking at their outfits, she could tell that they came from Equestria instead of this world. "What brings you here, Pinkie? Rainbow?"
"Thought we'd tag along. I've been itching to catch myself an Alpha Pokemon." Rainbow Dash slid over, nudging Sci-Twi. "I mean, it's cool with you, right?"
"You want to catch Alpha Pokemon just like me?"
"Well sure! You can't be the only one catching them, right? Plus, having an Alpha Pokemon on my team would be the best because of how strong they are. I'm closing in on my final Gym Battle and I'm gonna need all the help I can get, especially when the Equestria League finally starts."
"Well...Nothing's stopping you from doing so. As long as they're safe from Hunter J, then it's fine with me." Twilight answered. That's just what Rainbow Dash wanted to hear.
"Great! I can't wait! Where are heading to first?!"
"Well, I chose Galar first. There's a Lopunny over at the Wild Area. It'll be a bit of a long trip because of this."
"Hang on. Is the gateway that leads to Eindoak still there?" Ash asked. "I think Jirachi left this world alone."
"Eindoak Town? I'm...not sure. I haven't visited it in quite a while. And I guess that's one way to enter your world. Is there still only one gateway back at your world?"
"Seems like it." Professor Oak spoke on the phone. "Unfortunately, the chances of Eindoak's gateway being there are incredibly low. Reports from all over the world say that there aren't any gateways in the world left. Then again...only the most crucial places received this information. It doesn't hurt to check out."
"I hope so...I'm not ready to turn into a pony just yet." Twilight prayed. While she found ponies adorable, she would prefer to stay how she is.
"Since we're going somewhere far, I've brought a lot of food for everyone!" Pinkie held out a bag that was already letting out a delicious scent. "So, don't worry about starving."
"You should hurry before your classes start next week. You can find this Wild Area in between Motostoke and Hammerlocke. If Eindoak still has its gateway, use it to get around faster. I'll be seeing you later. Farewell." Professor Oak said before hanging up.
"Um...You wouldn't happen to have a Shift Stone on you?" Sci-Twi squeed, hoping that there was a Shift Stone to help maintain her original form.
"I've got you covered." For backup, Sunset Shimmer knew Twilight very well. From her jacket pocket, she would hold out a Shift Stone. Relief was brought to Twilight's heart because of that.
"Alright. Let's go!" Getting ahead of his friends, Ash would stroll along, ready to find Eindoak's gateway. If it was still there, that is. Twilight would quickly return all of her Pokemon, minus Zorua to their Poke Balls until it was their time to shine and face whatever Alpha Pokemon there was. But with three adept trainers and one advanced trainer, Twilight's safety was at an all-time high at the moment. Especially since she was around well-known friends.
Kanto. Pallet Town. Professor Oak's Lab. Day.
"Now that I think about it..." Back at Oak's lab, after finishing his call with Twilight, something came up. "There are those Time Rifts that still bring out Alpha Pokemon. Those ones might have stayed open instead of vanishing, unlike the gateways. By now, numerous Alpha Pokemon should have dropped from those Rifts, ending up in the present day."
Oak would then look over the list of Alpha Pokemon that Sci-Twi has managed to catch and the ones that are currently known in the world. One of them was currently with the Kalos Elite 4 Member Siebold. Alpha Snorlax, to be specific.
"We still don't know how to close those ones. But should we close the?" Oak wondered. "Probably. Some of those Pokemon have been taken from their own times after all." Oak thought about the possibility of sending some of the Alpha Pokemon back to their original timelines.
So far, the ones Twilight has caught do not seem to mind staying with her at all. However, there were bound to be those who wished to return home. And since they came from the past, certain locations may not be the same at all thanks to the ever-growing world of Pokemon. And just like Oak said, Pokemon like Tyranitar can change up the map.
"We've already succeeded in keeping both worlds connected forever. So now, they're a part of our world and its history. Maybe it's time to consider the leftover problems. Hopefully, Twilight will understand when a day like that comes."
The Human World. Out in the forest near Canterlot Town. Afternoon.
"Woah, woah, woah...What is this?!" They came across the spot where the gateway to Eindoak Town would usually remain, ready to test their theory and see if there was still a gateway here. And they did not believe their eyes when they got there.
There was a gateway here. That was confirmed. But the way the gateway appeared was a bit different. The gateway to Eindoak Town was split in two.
One side showed the Castle while the other side showed the Town. But more importantly, even though it was split, it made a specific shape. The Shape of Infinity. The two halves made the Infinity Shape with the vision of the town being angled differently thanks to this. On the bright side, there was one more gateway that still existed in the world. But the way it appeared was rather concerning.
"Awesome!" Not to Ash and Rainbow Dash though. Their eyes lit up from this Infinity-Shaped Gateway. It had a rather smooth and clean appearance along with the incandescent and majestic cosmic aura that surrounded it.
"S-Should we be worried...?" Sunset Shimmer nervously said after gazing at this gateway. While the shape was impressive, the fact that it appeared differently compared to Pallet Town's gateway was rather odd and a bit concerning. And Twilight felt the same along with the Arceus Pendant around her neck.
"Huh?" She held the pendant, seeing it flash slowly. It certainly didn't do that before until now. She would then glance at the gateway and back at the pendant. "My pendant is flashing now? What does that mean?" Unfortunately, Twilight wasn't sure what this meant. But the fact that it was glowing now when they came across this Infinity-Shaped Gateway was something to take note of.
"Hmm...I'm getting bad vibes from this thing." Pinkie Pie pouted, crossing her arms as her mane was vibrating from this. Even in this form, her obscure Pinkie Sense was still present. "But it's not that bad of a vibe. I think we should give this sweet new gateway a name! Infinity Gateway!"
"Works for us." Ash and Rainbow Dash approved of the name.
"But should we go through it? I mean, we can see Eindoak but this shape is a bit odd. Why is it like this?"
"Well...A Pokemon Trainer is all about taking risks, right?" Twilight gasped. "My pendant seems to be trying to tell me something though and I can't tell what."
"Let's give it a try then." Ash would choose to go through, ready to take the risk. If there was a risk. He faced the gateway as the cosmic sounds from it would reverb across this singular spot in the forest.
"Be careful, Ash." Sunset Shimmer pleaded for him to be careful. Though, with Ash, you won't always get a careful pace with him. With a deep breath, he would approach the gateway. Mainly the one on the right that left to the town.
Just like any other gateway, an aura would flare out once he passed through it. It seemed normal so far as Ash fully went through the gateway. This was followed by his partner Pikachu who would hop in. Musting the same amount of courage, Rainbow Dash would also join Ash, passing through the Infinity Gateway. This was followed by Pinkie Pie and soon Sunset Shimmer.
All that was left was Twilight Sparkle. She would hold her pendant close to her while Hisuian Zorua locked up the bag that she was staying inside, preparing for the worst. But a bag certainly couldn't give full protection. Whatever the pendant was trying to tell her and whatever this shape meant, Twilight would also muster her own courage, walking through. Soon, they had all disappeared from the human world, entering this mysterious Infinity Gateway as the journey continues.
Waking up to a new day at Eindoak Town was Carlita. In this new world that was free to explore with how it was bigger than ever, Carlita, alongside her Hydreigon were sitting atop a hill that was near the town and the Castle. Looking over at her home, Carlita spotted it.
One of the few gateways left in this world. The first was the one that went from Pallet Town to Ponyville and that was seemingly the only one left. However, there was another one here at Eindoak. But more importantly, it had a different shape. Dubbed the Infinity Gateway by Pinkie, this gateway got its name because of its shape. Since it has been a few weeks since the Super-Earth was formed, this gateway was just as recent as this new unification. And yet, it had a lot of mystery behind it. Why exactly is it shaped like Infinity? That was something Carlita wanted answers to.
"Hm?" Leaning in, something was finally happening with this Infinity Gateway. Someone was coming through. And that would be Ash who made his arrival at Castelia City. "Oh, it's Ash! Is it actually safe to go through it?"
"Pika!" Joining him was Pikachu who had also jumped through. But that wasn't all. Taking this risk, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Sunset Shimmer and Sci-Twi had also shown up. Safely, they had all made it to Endoak.
"Alright! Safe and sound!" Ash raised his arms after still being in one piece. All of them were untouched.
"Ah...I'm still here!" Twilight kneeled, feeling relieved. "Thank goodness!"
"Aw...I was kinda expecting something. Just a bit." Rainbow Dash crossed her arms, disappointed that nothing special happened when she passed through the Infinity Gateway. The gateway was thankfully safe even with its obscure shape.
"Welp, here we are." Ash helped Twilight up. "But we've still got ways to go until we can reach Galar. The nearest airport is over at Castelia City, so it was a good call to come here."
"Can we go by boat this time? I'd love to take the Royal Unova again!" Pinkie Pie jolted up with her eyes gaining stars, wishing to tour the Royal Unova for a second time. She and her friends only went in it once during the second Pokemon Festival and it was such a wonderful time.
"That sounds fun but Professor Oak's already paid for my flight. I wouldn't want to waste his money." As enticing as it sounds, Twilight would stick with the plane.
"Hey, you guys!" Approaching Ash and his group was Carlita. And she would do so by sliding down the hill nearby. Hydreigon moved ahead of her, stopping place as the Dragon Trainer then hopped off the hill, landing perfectly on the Brutal Pokemon's back.
"Oooh!" Pinkie Pie would applaud that trick as Carlita pulled it off effortlessly.
"Hey, Carlita!" Ash waved back with Pikachu hopping on his shoulder to get a better view of the Dragon Trainer and the Dark-Dragon-Type.
"Where are you going this time?" Carlita asked before descending with Hydreigon. "And you really passed through that weird-looking gateway?"
"Nothing happened. It's totally fine, see?" Ash aimed his arm at the gateway which hadn't brought any strange effects. "It just looks different, that's all."
"But why does it look different? It's the first time we're seeing it like this." Sunset Shimmer wondered. Even though it was safe, the appearance still threw her off. Never before has a gateway appeared this differently. The only exceptions were different-sized gateways but they all had the same consistent shape. This was an unorthodox one.
"Searching for Alpha Pokemon?" Carlita approached them after hopping off Hydreigon. Hydreigon would greet Pikachu, allowing the Mouse Pokemon's tail to touch one of his head-arms.
"We're going for three. The first one's over at Galar's Wild Area." Replying to Carlita, Ash held three fingers out. "But there's also one here at Unova. Are the ones from before still here?"
"Nah, they're long gone by now. Good luck finding them again though." Carlita shrugged. "I'd say you'll need even more luck over at Galar since that's further."
"Oh, are you Carlita?" Pinkie Pie slid over to meet with Carlita.
"Uh, we've met before, Pinkie. Or...are you the other one from Equestria?" Carlita caught on to which Pinkie Pie this was. With a nod from Pinkie and an appearance from Mew within her mane, she got all the confirmation she needed along with a jumpscare from Mew. "Wait, Mew?!"
"Don't worry about that." Rainbow Dash pulled Pinkie Pie up, rapidly moving her arms to tie up her mane just to hide Mew. Pinkie Pie now had a stylish ponytail. Courtesy of Rainbow Dash.
"Mew?" Mew's voice came from within the mane as he transformed himself into a Tynamo. Appearing as a smaller Pokemon, he poked his head through the mane, gazing at Carlita and Hydreigon with Tynamo's blank stare. "Tynamo."
"Uh...M-Maybe we should worry about that!" But there was something to genuinely worry about, as seen by Sunset Shimmer who alerted her friends. Everyone would swivel, facing the issue that Sunset Shimmer spotted. And it was a shocking one.
The Infinity Gateway had suddenly ascended, leaving the spot that it was previously at. Their jaws dropped as the gateway then pulsated before zooming off, leaving behind a blue and purple trail.
"Wait! No! Stop!" Sci-Twi bellowed, attempting to run after it but that was a pointless endeavour as the gateway already got a headstart over everyone else here. It would then flash in the distance, disappearing after gaining an impressive buildup of speed.
The Infinity Gateway was gone. It had travelled elsewhere becoming a glitter in the azure skies for a moment. The way to Twilight's home was gone as she dropped to her knees in shock. Twilight's glasses nearly fell off as she was bewildered by what she had just witnessed.
"That was my ticket home..." Twilight uttered with a weak voice. The way she travelled from her world to this world had just left. At least they found out why the gateway was shaped like that. That Infinity Shape might be the reason why.
"It just got up and left like that..." Rainbow Dash whistled. "Weird. Didn't that happen when Red and Blue showed up and then they left?"
"That did happen." Ash nodded after Rainbow Dash brought it up. "I guess the same thing happened with this one. It's been a while since we've seen a gateway move away.
"So where do you think it went?" Pinkie Pie wondered while playing with her new hairstyle.
"No clue." Carlita shrugged as neither were taking this seriously. Well, except for maybe Sunset Shimmer who was also stunned by this. And especially Twilight.
"We need to have a clue!" Twilight stood up. "It's gone and that was my way home!"
"It's not your only way home though." Pinkie Pie nudged the Human Counterpart of Princess Twilight Sparkle. She would wink at her, referring to the other way that Sci-Twi could head back. "Eh? Eh?"
"Mmm...!" Twilight's face scrunched up as she would have to pass through the Pallet Town gateway, entering Equestria and appearing as a pony just to return to her original home. She would then lower her head, holding her arm out to Sunset Shimmer. Understanding the body language, Sunset Shimmer would pass the Shift Stone to ScI-Twi just for this kind of predicament.
"If it's gone somewhere else, we could find it again someday. Come on, let's hurry to Galar." Ash would continue despite the departure of the gateway. "See ya around, Carlita."
"Pika-Pika!"
"Hold it!" Before everyone could fully get going to Galar, Carlita would stop them in their place. "You can just show up here and expect me to just greet you for a few minutes. As if."
"Oh? Do you want to come along?" Sunset Shimmer questioned.
"I don't have School like you all. Neither does Ash and that's why we're so free since we finished our School. Well...as free as I can be. I don't get around that much. It's mainly only Unova after all."
"We don't mind if you tag along. The more the merrier." Ash didn't mind at all.
"But! Since you're not taking the Royal Unova...I will." Carlita pointed at herself. "You're heading to the Wild Area, right? So by the time you get there, I can count on the ship to get me there first. Let's make it a race."
"A race? Deal!" Ash and Rainbow agreed on that. That was music to their ears. They loved a good challenge with how competitive they were.
"Please. If you see the gateway anywhere, tell us." Twilight pleaded. "Uh...Do you have an Xtransceiver or any kind of phone by the way?"
"Nope. Not in Eindoak." Carlita was exempt from that. With her arms making the shrugging gesture, they were unable to contact her by usual means. They would have to wait until they meet up with her, much to Twilight's chagrin. After talking with each other, they would all leave for Castelia where each of them would take different means of transport.
Hoenn. Southern Island. Afternoon.
South Island. Located in the south of Hoenn, This small island is surrounded by a mysterious veil that makes approaching it impossible for many. At least, that's how it usually seems.
At this very moment, startling the Pokemon nearby, especially those in the air, a large airship had approached the island, appearing above it. This airship reached this unreachable island, using its jets to blow away the wind and fog.
This airship belonged to none other than Pokemon Hunter J. Another one of the few trainers who was searching for Alpha Pokemon. Then again, She and Sci-Twi were the only ones.
"Kricketune should be here." And much like Sci-Twi, she knew about the location of an Alpha Pokemon. Kricketune was said to be spotted at Hoenn and while Sci-Twi was headed to Galar for Lopunny, J had shown up at Hoenn for Kricketune.
In fact, over the past months, she had been busy, avoiding her greatest enemies and getting her jobs done. And it paid off for her. Right behind Hunter J was a collection of Alpha Pokemon that she managed to turn into stone with her arm cannon that were being kept within cases that differed in size based on the Pokemon inside.
Stantler, Bibarel, Tangrowth, Pachirisu, Carnivine, Skuntank, Roserade, Raichu, Rhyhorn and even a Sligoo that looked different than what it usually appears as, having a shell underneath it instead of behind it. By this point, she had captured more Alpha Pokemon than Twilight had.
And from this height, within her sight, she spotted it. The Alpha Kricketune. It was unfortunate that Alpha Pokemon had to be larger variants of their species. That only made it easier to find them as they stuck out easily. The airship would descend with J getting ready to set out along with her men. She would try and add another Alpha Pokemon to her list while racking up some other Pokemon.
In both her arms, she had her reliable gadgets. Her arm cannon which turns Pokemon into stone and the Protean Gauntlet that could cover different types. However, the gauntlet had received some changes. Now, it looked more like a vambrace than a gauntlet.
"Kricketune?" Kricketune looked up, spotting the airship just like every other Pokemon that was alerted by it. And coming down from the airship instead of waiting for it to land was J as she used a mobility bike that acted as both a motorcycle and a glider. It had jets coming from underneath as she now didn't need to keep using Salamence to get around in the air.
"You're mine, Kricketune!" J held out her Arm Cannon, immediately planning to end this as soon as possible.
"Tuuuneee!" But sensing the threat and hostility that came from Pokemon Hunter J, Kricketune acted accordingly, doing what it does best. It used Bug Buzz, vibrating its wings with enough intensity to generate a damaging soundwave which would emerge from its body.
The soundwave rustled the leaves on the trees as most of it was targeted at J. Hunter J gasped as the irritating sound from Bug Buzz was loud enough to reach her from this height, especially when she was descending. She would halt the bike, keeping it in the air for a bite while grimacing at this sound.
"Ghhh!" The Pokemon Hunter growled as she was even being pushed back by this sound.
"Why don't you just cancel it out with an equally elated noise?" Speaking to her was the Desire of Twilight Sparkle. To this day, it was still around, residing with Pokemon Hunter J and acting as her partner and even advisor.
"I know that!" J yelled at the Desire within her before using the Protean Vambrace. With all of these types, she had many to choose from. But if she wanted to cancel out the noise, she needed something loud. J gazed at two options. Electric and Dragon.
That was when another feature of the weapon that was made by Colress of Team Plasma had been revealed. This gauntlet didn't just have the power to shoot out elements of different types, but with the tap of the Dragon Crystal inside of it, it could emanate sounds.
And in this case, the sound of a Dragon. A dragon's roar came from the vanbrace, powering through Kricketune's soundwave. It resembled that of a Salamence which was fitting for what her Ace Pokemon was. The roar of the Salamence even intimidated Kricketune as it was louder than its cry. The Pokemon of this island that heard this roar would also feel intimidated, fearing that a fierce Salamence was nearby.
"Thank you for the upgrade, Colress." It was revealed that this upgrade was done by Colress himself. J was working with Team Plasma at this point after Colress found out about his Protean Gauntlet and what became of it. This kind of unity was terrifying.
Hunter J would then hop off her bike once it was low enough as her jacket flowed thanks to her descent. After landing, her eyes through the visor would give off an intense glare. Kricketune, despite being an Alpha Pokemon, couldn't help but feel like it wasn't the biggest force here now. Whenever Hunter J enters the scene, the mood always swings and it feels like the worst kind of predator has emerged.
"Here. I'll humour you." Hunter J would then quickly hold out a Poke Ball. "Alpha vs Alpha. By throwing the Poke Ball upwards, Pokemon Hunter J revealed that she didn't just catch and petrify the Alpha Pokemon, but knowing how powerful they were, she knew that using their strength would be incredibly useful. Thus, she took advantage of the Alpha Pokemon and their strength. And emerging from the Poke Ball was an Alpha Dusknoir.
"Dusknoir!"
"Dusknoir! Let's wrap this up quickly! Crush Kricketune with Fire Punch!"
"Noir!" With its hand being held out, a blaze of flames would engulf the Gripper Pokemon's powerful hands. After that, Dusknoir would approach, going in for a close-up hit.
"Tune!" Kricketune was aware enough to avoid something like that. The Bug-Type swiftly jumped over Dusknoir's Fire Punch once it was swung at it. Dusknoir looked up, missing the Cricket Pokemon. Above, Kricketune would then take the chance to attack. And that was by using Night Slash. A flash of darkness appeared around Kricketune's arms, ready to deliver its own super-effective blow to the Ghost-Type.
Unfortunately, when it comes to Hunter J, playing fair was nonexistent to her. The moment Kricketune dodged and was ready to retaliate, J would use the Protean Vambrance to intercept the Cricket Pokemon She went straight for the Fire-Type, shooting out a stream of flames.
"Kri!" Kricketune was interrupted by this stream of flames which would engulf it. The Bug-Type received a super-effective attack at the end of the day, tumbling on the ground after being intercepted. "Kri...Kri!"
"Now, Dusknoir! Grab it at once!"
"Dusk!" Dusknoir moved in one Kricketune was bewildered by the stream of flames from Hunter J. With its powerful hands with would lean in, going in for a direct grab.
"T-Tune!" Kricketune found itself being gripped by the Gripper Pokemon. With the strength of multiple canes, Dusknoir had the Bug-Type in its grasp, raising it into the air.
"I've got you now!" Now that Kricketune was restrained, J would go for her Arm Cannon. Kricketune attempted to use Bug Buzz to damage their ears, but unfortunately, Dusknoir's hands held onto the wings as well, making that impossible.
Kricketune still had options. In this case, it was by using Sunny Day. By manipulating the Sun, Kricketune would intensify the brightness of the great star in the sky, using it to create blinding light.
"D-Dusk!" And it was certainly blinding to Dusknoir as the rays beamed into its eyes. But not J's. She had her visor to protect her from blinding lights. Dusknoir's grip had weakened, allowing Kricketune to break free. However, this moment of freedom would not last.
"Dusk!" Dusknoir would persist, using its other arm to quickly grab Kricketune's leg before it could fly off. Once again, Kricketune was held back by Dusknoir.
"Kricke...Kricketune!" Another attempt to escape was made. This time, with more options since it was only its leg. Bug Buzz was a prime option to try and bewilder Dusknoir.
"Now!" But that was when J found her chance to strike. A beam came flying out of the Arm Cannon, hitting the Cricket Pokemon's head. Kricketot's Bug Buzz was promptly interrupted and ceased once the beam shot its head. The Bug-Type went silent for a bit as the effect of the cannon kicked in immediately.
From the very bottom, Kricketune's body was perishing under the effect of this cannon, rapidly turning to stone. Dusknoir would drop Kricketune, allowing it to fully succumb to this energy as once it was dropped, the full body of Kricketune was consumed by the stone. It failed to defend itself from Hunter J's clutches.
Unfortunately, another Alpha Pokemon had been caught by the Pokemon Hunter. And it was one of the Pokemon Sci-Twi learned about and was definitely too late to reach at this point.
"Return, Dusknoir." J returned to Dusknoir before approaching Kricketune's perished body. "Kricketune. Welcome to the team. You'll join the lineup of your fellow Alphas now."
J had done what she came here to do. Fairly quickly too. This was one of her quicker captures. Ever since she was brought back by the Rift, the Pokemon Hunter had made a strong comeback, receiving the attention of the Officer Jenny family once more.
The stone body of Kricketune was brought back up to the Aircraft, placed inside a canister as it would become another one of J's Collection. And by extension, another Pokemon for her to battle with. And without the limitations of school that Sci-Twi has, J would have an easier time getting ahead of her foes.
That was another Alpha Pokemon off her list as there were more to catch. But more than that, J was aware of the most crucial thing that was known by everyone across the world by now. It was this new Super-Earth. When returning to the ship, she would gaze at the news to see what it had to report. This was how she could reach any potential Alpha Pokemon after all.
And of course, on the news, the unruly Pokemon along with the appearance of Alpha Pokemon in this new world is what she took advantage of and she certainly wasn't going to slow down even if everyone was celebrating this beautiful unity. But with J around, the beauty could be tarnished or even taken away.
"That's Kricketune done. So far, only two have been spotted this time. Lopunny and Scyther." J looked over at the list of Alpha Pokemon. Only Lopunny and Scyther were on it. No updates yet on any new Alpha Pokemon but she would definitely stay alert.
After catching Kricketune, she would open up a cabinet that was right next to the control panel. When opening this, a plethora of Poke Balls could be seen. Standard, Great, Ultra, Quick, Dusk, Timer and more. But most notably, the newest Poke Ball that was made by Colress could be seen.
The Poke Ball that had the capability of capturing ponies. And this wasn't just thanks to Colress, but also J. After all, she was the one who thought of it in the first place, mainly due to how she once captured Sweetie Belle. But that was only with the Arm Cannon. Now, these Poke Balls had been duplicated by Colress and it was a terrifying reality for Hunter J to have some at her disposal. But she wouldn't use it just yet. Right now, only a Poke Ball would be used on Kricketune.
"Set a course for Galar." J ordered while assigning Kricketune to this Poke Ball. She had her next destination in mind and her next Alpha Pokemon. This time, it would be Alpha Lopunny. Now two of them were travelling to meet with this Alpha Pokemon at the Wild Area. Ash's group and J's group.
It was all a matter of who could get there first. And definitely a matter of which aerial machine could move faster. The plane or the air carrier. Despite agreeing to have a race with Carlita, there was a third contender in this race. An utterly horrifying contender.
Hulbury Town. Located in Central Galar, this was a bustling seaport that many visit to see its lively market stalls and famed restaurant. But at the moment, some were about to rest. Either from the arrival of the moon or arriving at this town from another region entirely.
In this case, Ash's friends Equestria and the Human World were the ones who showed up. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie had come from Equestria, appearing in their human forms after passing through the mirror portal and a peculiar Infinity Gateway that had suddenly vanished. Its current location was unknown. For the Human World, Sci-Twi was with them along with Sunset Shimmer who did originate from Equestria.
After coming here from Unova to Galar, the moon had already come up and of course, they experienced jet lag. Luckily for them, Hulbury gave them a small hotel to stay in. And with Professor Oak's money, all expenses had been paid.
"Whew...!" Ash was glad to feel the comfort of a bed, even if it wasn't his. "Well, we're here. But maybe now's not the best time to head to the Wild Area, right?"
"Right..." Sci-Twi sighed. "We're now far from home at this point. Way more than ever now that the number of gateways has dropped to two." Indeed, this was the furthest Twilight has ever been from home. Mainly due to the absence of so many gateways that used to allow simple transport that would usually take days. But now, it would all certainly take days.
"Since we're gonna be humans for a few days until we finish finding an Alpha Pokemon, we'd better get used to it." Rainbow Dash said before lying on her back.
"Where did that gateway go though? And why did it suddenly leave?" Sci-Twi said, worried about the Infinity Gateway's sudden departure. "How long is it gonna take for me to head back home too..."
"Oh, it's not so bad when you think about it." Sunset Shimmer replied. "After all, the mirror portal's not the only way to head to the Human World. Ghetsis found a way to reach here after all. But I don't know if that was by the gateway or Equestrian Magic."
"You'll get home just fine, Twilight. Plus, you can take a shot at being a pony. I mean, Discord did it to me once." Ash Ketchum added. "It's not that bad. It'll freak you out for the first time though."
"I guess so. I'm not ready for it yet. Let's just get some rest and find Lopunny by tomorrow."
"Before that, I've always wanted to do this!" Pinkie Pie would quickly grab a remote that was near a TV. She needed some entertainment in her eyes and for everyone else as well as she switched would rapidly move her fingers, trying to properly press the correct buttons on it. "Umm...Which is which?"
"It's this one." But having a TV herself thanks to the Hearth's Warming/Christmas Gift she received, Rainbow Dash pressed it for her. And the first channel shown was an Entertainment Channel. The group would take the time to enjoy the televised entertainment that the Pokemon World has to offer. Ash, despite knowing this world more than his friends here, has never watched much TV ever since he left on his journey for the first time.
And immediately, one of the first things they saw was a show that featured a certain figure here at Hulbury who was currently doing an interview.
"So, it's a bigger hassle getting to the Gym in Dodge Junction is harder than it's been, right, Nessa?" The news reporter said to a lady named Nessa.
"Multi-tasking both Gyms from Galar to Equestria wasn't this difficult before. I only recently received the position as the Water-Type Gym Leader for Equestria. It used to be at Dodge Junction, but not anymore., so now I have a longer distance to travel."
"Oh, that's the new Gym Leader who replaced Misty?" Pinkie Pie pointed out, remembering that Misty was the one who temporarily filled in that second Gym Leader Spot. Ever since the Gym Leader, adjustments had been as the Equestria's Leagues management had changed.
"How is it so far? Ever since the Dread League attacked, you didn't really get the chance to head there as much for a few months thanks to the damage." The news lady asked.
"The trainers there have a lot to learn. But they're still new to Pokemon, so I don't blame them. But I'd say it's partially because of me that most of them are being held back and have yet to reach the 2nd Gym." Nessa revealed that many trainers from Equestria had failed to get past her so far. "They're all adorable though but that won't let me go easy on them."
"They are, aren't they? But maybe holding back a bit isn't so bad. I mean, I know that's what Gym Leaders do but..."
"Sorry. I can't do that." Nessa shook her head in disapproval. "The Equestria League needs at least 80 Competitors to enter the preliminaries. And they won't get there with those skills, I'm afraid." She gave honest criticism to all trainers from Equestria who have yet to reach the 3rd, 4th or even 5th Gym.
"Wait, she's the reason why the Equestria League hasn't started yet?!" Rainbow Dash gasped. She did hear about how the Equestria League couldn't start because there was a Gym that many struggled to get past. Turns out, Nessa was the reason for doing so. And because of her, the road to becoming Equestria's first Champion wouldn't come sooner.
"Maybe I'm being too harsh." Nessa twirled her hair. "But I want to see them succeed. That's all. Us Gym Leaders exist to help bring out the best in Pokemon Trainers."
"Maybe a switcharound?" The newslady suggested. "The Equestria League isn't shy when it comes to rearranging things, right?"
"I'd like that." Nessa put on a confident smile. "I wouldn't mind being the 6th or 7th Gym Leader to really push them some more. As long as I'm ahead of Milo. He hasn't gotten a role in the Equestria League yet."
"Well, aside from your job as a Gym Leader, what about your job as a model? Is that being held back by this long trek you have to make?"
"No. Equestria is rather model-friendly actually. But, eventually, I won't be a Gym Leader there forever. They need to find their footing after all. They'll have Gym Leaders that come from Equestria and can help push trainers. But to those who still can't get past me, I'll encourage you while I give you a hard time." Nessa said, looking at the camera with smirk. "If you feel like exacting revenge, you can find me at Dodge Junction or my home, Hulbury. Good luck."
"Hulbury? Oh, that's here!" Pinkie Pie gasped as Nessa was this town's Gym Leader.
"Yeesh, that's rough." Sunset Shimmer shook her head. "But I guess I should be grateful somewhat. Because of her, I'm able to attend school without going back and forth."
"Oh, right. You would already know her, Sunset." Sci-Twi said, referring to the fact that Sunset Shimmer was Equestria 3rd Gym Leader. "How is she?"
"Haven't met her yet. I've only met and chatted with Misty when she was Equestria's 2nd Gym Leader for a while. Itl looks like Misty went a bit easier on them than Nessa, huh?"
"Harsher than Misty?" Ash thought about it for a second. Could there really be a Water-Type Specialist that was somehow harsher than Misty from Cerulean? Thinking back to his many experiences with Misty, he shook his head, still believing Misty to be at the top. "Nah..."
"Besides, I'll go above and beyond those roles. When I win the Pokemon World Championships, I won't have to worry about any of that." Nessa then revealed her other ambition. And of course, it involved beating Champion Leon.
"Her too?" said Ash. Then again, he should've expected this. He had already met with Bea, who was also a Gym Leader from Galar that aimed to beat Leon just like everyone else.
"If she's here, then challenging her is free game after what she said." Rainbow Dash went up to the window, pressing her face against it while gazing at the Gym. The Hulbury Gym was one of the bigger structures here, practically impossible to miss.
"Right, but you don't need to face her. You've already got your 2nd Gym Badge, Rainbow Dash." Pinkie replied. "Maybe you do, Ash, since you're in the Pokemon World Championships."
"Yeah, you're right. Anyway, let's clock out for tomorrow." Rainbow Dash yawned, stretching her hooves while attempting to fly, only to remember that she didn't have wings in her human form. "Oh, right..."
Everyone would call it a night but Pinkie would still leave the TV on for background noise. She preferred it that way. Each would sleep in their respective ways. Since this room was rented for Twilight, the bed as all hers. Everyone else would find ways to make themselves comfortable.
Ash and Pikachu didn't mind sleeping against the wall. Travelling the world has adjusted them to sleeping on hard surfaces. But most would prefer if it was soft. Mew had transformed into a Snorlax just to give Pinkie Pie a soft place to rest her head while Rainbow Dash dozed off sitting next to the window. Tomorrow would be a new day of intrigue. It wasn't just the Alpha Lopunny but also Nessa, who they had just learned about.
A new day had come with the brilliance of the Sun showing itself in the blue skies above. Getting up, the group would continue to their set destination. The Wild Area.
Since they were heading to such a vast area with a plethora of Wild Pokemon, the right essentials were needed. Twilight went over what she currently had. Ever since Ash brought Poke Balls of different kinds, she was stacked up with options. The most common was the Quick Ball for obvious reasons.
"I think we're good to go here." Twilight zipped her bag. "How about everyone?"
"Just a bit longer!" Pinkie Pie was seated on the bed as her eyes were locked onto the TV. A show had caught her interest, gluing her to the bed. An entertaining animated show is what captured her eyes.
"Maybe later." Rainbow Dash would try and turn off the TV, only for Mew to use Psychic, holding the remote away from here. He was also interested in it.
"Woulda ya look at that..." Ash held out his Rotomphone as a notification came through. And it was something he was expecting since last night.
"A World Championship Battle is near." The Rotomphone said as the chance for a Pokemon World Championship Battle was nearby. He would then see who it was as the image of the specific trainer would appear. The Gym Leader of Hulbury, Nessa. "And it's Nessa. I guess she's online now. Lucky us, Pikachu!"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Uh, maybe later, you two." Sci-Twi slid over, placing her hand on Ash's shoulder. "I'd like you to be there at the Wild Area, please. I-If it's not a hassle. I can always go with the others."
"Ah, don't worry about it. We'll finish the Wild Area first before I challenge Nessa." Ash stuck to the main objective. "How are we gonna do this? By foot or boat? Carlita took a boat from Unovaa to try and reach here, so I think we're ahead right now."
"If I could fly even like this, that would be so great." Rainbow Dash jumped, trying to unleash hidden wings. She was already aware of her counterpart being able to do so despite not being born as a pegasus or even a pony. It was simply the magic.
"There's always the best way to travel." Pinkie winked, pointing her thumb over at Mew. Mew would then grin as his various transformations allowed for various forms of travel.
But knowing Mew, he'd probably be bombastic and go for Lugia. Despite all these options, they would go by foot anyway. Ash would keep the Pokemon World Championship Challenge on hold until he was ready to accept it. As seen on the map, the Wild Area was between Motostoke and Hammerlocke, so there was ways to go, even if they were to use the trains here, they would still have to trek there by foot.
Meanwhile, away from Ash's group, the Gym Leader Nessa was currently in her Gym. But there wasn't a Gym Battle going on at the moment. Instead, Nessa held her own Rotomphone out as the same notification that Ash received went off. Nessa would see Ash's face along with his rank as well.
"Oh, that's him?" Nessa recognized the face of Ash. "He's been making a name for himself over at Equestria. And with a such high rank too...I could rise the ranks with this."
Since Ash had a relatively high rank, defeating someone with this number is a good opportunity for any trainer to ascend. Nessa even knew that in the case of Ash, this was a huge chance. Ash wasn't extremely popular in the Pokemon World, even with his achievements and status as King of the Sea. But in Equestria, he was well-known by almost, if-not everyone, granting him a grand status.
And since Nessa now heads back and forth to Galar and Equestria, why dodge a chance like this? With a smile on her face, Nessa was ready to strike.
"I wonder if I beat him, I'll become just as popular, if not more popular than him." Nessa had another ambition. As a model, popularity was certainly a factor, especially since she was also aiming to take down Leon. It was safe to say that Nessa was an opportunist.
She accepted the World Championship Challenge. However, even though she accepted it, she would have to wait thanks to Ash's current decision. "Your World Champsionship Battle is put on hold until your challenger is ready to accept." The Rotomphone said as Ash put it on hold.
"Fine. But you're near, Ash. I hope you're ready for me."
Wild Area.
The Wild Area. The vast expanse of the Galar Region that adjoins the cities of Motostoke and Hammerlocke. This was a place where a majority of Wild Pokemon call their home. No one will find a shortage of Pokemon in this area. 18 Sub Areas in total. Each with unique shapes. Ash's group had left Hulbury, passing through another area to reach here. That would be Motostoke as it was the closest.
"Woohoo!" And already, Ash and the others were enjoying themselves, mainly with Ash and Pikachu sliding down a hill just for the fun of it. This was also done by Pinkie Pie who was travelling down the hill differently. Mew had turned himself into a Carracosta, allowing Pinkie Pie to ride on his back while he descended the hill.
"Pikaaa!"
"Can you two wait up?!" Sci-Twi cried out while standing at the top of the hill. "Maybe now is a good time to let Rapidash and the others roam freely. The Wild Area is big enough for that."
"I can help you find Lopunny easier with one of my Pokemon." Rainbow Dash said, holding up a Poke Ball. And out of it emerged her ace Pokemon, Braviary.
"Braviary!"
"If you want to find Alpha Lopunny, try a place where most Pokemon don't gather." Sunset Shimmer suggested while carefully climbing down the hill. "After all, Alpha Pokemon are very hostile, which should also make them territorial."
"That's a good point. Try to keep up, okay?" Rainbow Dash gave a thumbs-up before also sliding down the hill, joining Ash, Pikachu, Pinkie and Mew.
"Alright then." Twilight replied before looking at the hill and its height. It wasn't that tall the more Twilight looked at it but heading down this hill should be taken with caution. Compared to the others, she would take the most care in climbing the hill.
But thankfully, since Sunset Shimmer was nearby, she would help Twilight descend it, holding onto her arm to guarantee some safety. If only Twilight had an aerial Pokemon to help her through this.
"Ribom! Ribombee!" While descending from the hill, the sight of various Ribombee flying by would occur, startling Sci-Twi with how close they were and the sound of their buzzing. It even startled Hisuian Zorua who was still within the bag.
Ash himself would come to a screeching halt next to a group of Hippopotas who were crunching down at large berries. While staring at the Ground-Types, this resulted in Pinkie Pie crashing into Ash's back, causing them both fall while Mew reverted to his original form.
But despite the crash and Pinkie on top of Ash and Pikachu, they simply laughed it off. It was just friends being friends in the most chaotic way they knew how. And when searching for Alpha Lopunny, they certainly wouldn't take it seriously. They were determined to finish this objective but they were certainly loose and free as they can be.
However, above the skies of Galar and gradually approaching the Wild Area was someone who threw away the concept of freedom. A strange ripple in the sky kept going off, distorting the shape of the clouds and confusing anyone who would take a gander at the azure skies above.
This was none other than Pokemon Hunter J's Airship and its invisibility function.
Much like her old airship, this one came with an invisibility feature that allowed her to mask herself from the authorities, moving across the skies of the Pokemon and only letting it down when necessary. But right now, even when heading to the Wild Area, J couldn't help but notice something.
"Hm?" She leaned in, looking at her screen which gave her an overview of the Wild Area. She too was searching for Alpha Lopunny. She had only recently caught Alpha Kricketune and went for the next target. And when spotting the various Pokemon below, some familiar faces showed up.
The faces of Ash and Pikachu.
"Of all the rotten luck...Those two?!" J gasped as seeing Ash and Pikachu certainly sparked a reaction out of her. And not a pleasant one. After all, no one has gotten in her way and ruined her plans as much as Ash has.
"And would you look at that..." The Desire of Princess Twilight Sparkle within J spoke, also spotting a familiar face. "My true self's counterpart seems to be here as well. These two are normally together when you're involved, aren't they?"
"Right. The novice." J scoffed as the screen had also shown her Sci-Twi along with other faces. "I swear this must be some sort of cruel fate. They must be here for Alpha Lopunny as well."
"It's a new age and a new world J. I believe it's time I took care of one of them. Mainly my Human Counterpart." The Desire suggested.
"You? Finally doing something about this? What can you do?"
"Avoid Ash Ketchum at all costs. Take care of my human counterpart. After all, though she may be a counterpart to my true self, essentially, they are the same being. And the best part is...this one is full of issues that my true self previously has. The Princess has grown out of it but the Scientist hasn't."
"Ooh...I see." J caught on immediately. Taking advantage of Sci-Twi's weaknesses was a now an option. And another one of these options was avoid Ash at all costs if they could, only capturing Alpha Lopunny. "If she thinks she can catch Alpha Pokemon to try and outpace me, she has another thing coming. I'll crush her spirit right her and now and take all of her Pokemon!"
The search for Alpha Lopunny continues over at Galar's Wild Area. Two sides were currently at the Wild Area with different intentions in mind. Ash's group and J's group. Hunter J's Airship stayed invisible, concealing herself from many.
A tip that Sci-Twi received from Sunset Shimmer was that Alpha Lopunny could most likely be in an area where few Pokemon can be found mainly due to how territorial and hostile Alpha Pokemon are. No other Pokemon would bother being next to them because of their aggression.
But even with this search, they took the time to enjoy themselves. At the moment, Rainbow Dash, who had also sent Braviary out to search from above, was fishing for Pokemon. In her human form, she could finally wide and Fishing Rod as she sat at North Lake Miloch. The northern portion of Lake Miloch, plus the land area north of the lake and south of the river.
"Oh!" When fishing, she felt something tug on the rod. "I've got something!"
"Nice! Reel it in, Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, cheering on her friend. Whatever this Pokemon was, it was certainly forcing her to add some oomph to her arms.
"I've...Got you!" With all of her strength, Rainbow Dash managed to reel in the Pokemon that got a strong bite on the rod. She expected it to be a huge Pokemon. Instead, it was a school of Basculin that were each biting onto each other's tails. That explained the weight that Rainbow Dash felt. "Eh?"
"Basculin!" The Basculin collectively unleashed streams of water from their mouths once they separated, attacking Rainbow Dash. Rainbow found herself being splashed in the face by multiple Water Guns.
"Ugh..." Rainbow Dash groaned as her head and face were now all wet. The Basuclin would then laugh before dropping back into the water. Rainbow Dash then growled, shaking all the water off her head before vigorously shaking her fist at the School of Basculin. "Laugh now! I'll get my payback on you for sure!"
"You're not gonna see them again, Dash." Pinkie placed her hand on Rainbow Dash's shoulder, suggesting to let it go. Rainbow Dash's reasoning for fishing was tied to her current mission to catch more Pokemon. The Final Gym Battle was within her sights after all.
Meanwhile, Ash was with Twilight and Sunset, located over at West Lake Axewell. One of the many subareas in the Wild Area just like North Lake Miloch. The western half of another known Lake Axewell, plus the bridge across its narrowest point and the land north of the bridge. And while searching for Lopunny, they were surrounded by various small Pokemon.
Pancham, Joltik, Natu, Bounsweet, Bounsweet, Vulpix, Growlithe and so many other Pokemon were around them as the cuteness factor certainly hit Twilight and Sunset, making them screech. Meanwhile, Ash simply laughed when they surrounded him and Pikachu from all sides.
"Okay, you guys! That tickles!" Ash chuckled as the plethora of small Pokemon against his body was enough to make him ticklish. The same went for Pikachu who was bombarded by them.
"Pika! Pikachu!"
"So cute! This isn't as dangerous as Professor Oak made it out to be!" Twilight squealed while hugging as many small Pokemon as she could. Her partner, Alpha Pikachu was in the same boat as Ash's Pikachu, who was his many-great-grandson.
"I know right?!" Sunset Shimmer agreed. "We should come here more often? And it's this expansive?"
Wanting to capture this moment, Sci-Twi would take out her phone for a picture. She would adjust herself, focusing on her face and mostly the little Pokemon that were around her. All the Pokemon weren't sure what they were looking at but the fact that they were all gazing into the camera was just what Twilight needed. And joining this photo via a Photobomb were Ash, Pikachu and Sunset.
"That reminds me...This is a perfect chance to let them all out!" Sci-Twi would then hold out all of her Poke Balls. By throwing them all upwards, the rest of her Alpha Pokemon would emerge. Alpha Rapidash, Luxio, Munchlax and Heracross.
Upon arriving, Rapidash would immediately asses the area. For a Pokemon who loves running, the scenery is what truly mattered and nothing else since she needed to know how far she could run.
"See? Look at how vast this place is Rapidash." Sci-Twi showed off the Wild Area to the Fire Horse Pokemon. And the size of it wasn't something to scoff at. Granted, Sci-Twi had no idea what Rapidash's original home looked like but this was certainly large enough to roam around. "I promised you. So go ahead, Rapidash. It's all yours."
"Rapidash!" Bingo. Rapidash already loved what she was seeing. With a strong neigh, the Fire-Type took off, galloping to her heart's content. Twilight put on a proud smile. It was rare for Rapidash to listen to her but now, she's grown closer to the Alpha Pokemon to a point where something like this was possible. Luxio and the others would simply stay next to Twilight instead of roaming the Wild Area, choosing to converse with the other Pokemon here.
"Braviary!" Up in the skies, Braviary would cry out, grabbing the attention of everyone below.
"Oh? Did you find Lopunny, Braviary?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed once she heard Braviary's cry. Braviary nodded his head in confirmation before then soaring off. All they had to do now was follow Braviary and they could find Alpha Lopunny. Ash and the others bid farewell to the Wild Pokemon here but not before Twilight left them some treats.
However, J was also on the move. And with her gadgets, she had her own way of searching for Alpha Lopunny. By now, she had left the airship, going undetected thanks to the invisibility feature.
Hunter J, along with a few of her men, showed up the Giant's Cap. An inclined area that stretches along the eastern edge of the North Wild Area. Searching for Alpha Lopunny, they wanted to stay away from Ash at all costs. But at the same time, getting rid of Sci-Twi and taking all of her Alpha Pokemon was another objective. And thanks to the Desire of Princess Twilight that was still within J, all of Sci-Twi's weaknesses were free to exploit.
"It's still technically winter, isn't it?" Hunter J said before holding out her Protean Vambrace. "We'll lose them in the snowstorm." By using the Protean Vambrace, she selected the Ice-Type. Out of it, a light blue beam shot out, going straight for the clouds.
The beam of concentrated Infinity Energy touched a group of clouds, stopping there. The extent of the Protean Vambrace's potential had been shown yet again. The energy from the beam would affect the group of clouds with the Ice-Type Infinity Energy within it as the weather was being altered.
Hunter J had changed the weather, shifting from a sunny blue experience to a soon-to-be furious snowstorm. The clouds started gathering with the temperature rapidly dropping. Braviary, who was leading the way, immediately felt this change in the weather. As a Flying-Type, how could he ignore this?
"Braviary?" The Valiant Pokemon looked up, seeing all the clouds suddenly gather. All other Flying-Types took notice as well, slowing down immediately.
"It's getting chilly all of a sudden, isn't it?" Sci-Twi pointed out, holding her arms for warmth. But that wouldn't matter as the cold was only going to start growing. Soon, the Sun was starting to be blocked out by the amassing clouds.
"Yeah...It wasn't like this before." Sunset Shimmer noticed.
"Pika..." Pikachu looked up as his tail started moving back and forth. A bad feeling was bestowed onto his senses once he looked up. And instantly, without even having the time to finish a full-build up, the snow exploded unexpectedly.
A snowstorm had been brought on, immediately summoning a strong wind pressure as millions of snowdrops would descend from the clouds. Braviary and all Flying-Types would be the first to suffer from this as their wings were hit by the rapid bombardment of snow. Their momentum had been cut off as other Pokemon would be jump-scared, scattering at this noise.
"It definitely wasn't like this before!" Rainbow Dash yelled, groaning with everyone once the snowstorm appeared. "What's going on!? Snowstorms don't show up this fast!" And Rainbow Dash should know.
"Is this a Pokemon doing this?!" Ash had to wonder if this was by the power of a Pokemon. It would only add up since they were powerful enough to start instant snowstorms. Little did they all know, while this was the result of Infinity Energy, it certainly wasn't a Pokemon that was behind this.
"I-I-I'm starting to freeze here!" Pinkie Pie shuddered along with Mew as both of them started to gyrate from the decreasing temperature.
"Ah! Braviary!" Rainbow Dash gasped, soon noticing Braviary drop from above. He couldn't handle all of this snow as it was not safe for a Flying-Type to be in the midst of this. "Return!" She would return Braviary as that was the best option at the moment.
"It's too cold for you all...Return!" Twilight returned Luxio and the others to their Poke Balls aside from Pikachu. Noticeably, Rapidash hadn't returned yet. Mainly because she was still galloping around in the Wild Area freely and most likely, she had noticed the snowstorm. Who hasn't?
"Here, wear these!" Ash quickly dug into his bag, taking out the necessary objects to shield his friends from this rising snowstorm. "I've only got two so...here you go!" Ash suddenly took out two jackets, holding them out to his friends. Specifically, it ended up being his Sinnoh Jacket that he would only wear during cold instances. It was certainly large enough to fit everyone too. Unfortunately, since he had only two, he couldn't give more to all of them.
"You carry two jackets with you?" A shivering Sunset Shimmer said with visible confusion in her face and tone.
"Always carry two of everything, just in case. But I guess I should've brought two more, right?" Ash said as Sci-Twi and Sunset Shimmer would take the jackets.
"Thanks anyway, Ash..." Sci-Twi sighed after putting on Ash's jacket. However, even after both of them wore the jackets, it wasn't enough. J made sure this was a powerful snowstorm that would sense an unrelenting chill onto them all.
"We need heat...Come out! All of you!" Thankfully, since she was the Fire-Type Gym Leader of Equestria, Sunset Shimmer had blazing allies on her side. Specifically, Braxien, Volcarona and Fletchinder. With all three Poke Balls being held out, all Sunset needed to do was throw them.
However, the snowstorm worsened. Not only did it keep on coming, but all this snow would eventually start masking the scenery. The beautiful lush and green parts of the Wild Area would be covered in a white sheet, freezing over the grass. But it was only for a few small areas. As for J, she kept the energy coming before finally lowering her arm. The Protean Vambrace had done its job, starting up this snowstorm.
"I can't see anything here!" Pinkie Pie had her vision obscured. Everyone did. It became increasingly difficult to see anything at all. Just what J wanted. And more importantly, she wanted them all separated from Sci-Twi. Especially Ash. The pressure of this snowstorm would push some of them away along with the sheet of snow that would pile up to create a physical force.
The snowstorm would then reach its zenith, blanketing everything in its way with snow to the point where there was nothing but white. Sci-Twi's ears could only hear the violent sound of the cold wind blowing vigorously and not the voices of her friends at all. All she could do now was close her eyes and hope to power through it.
Eventually, the vicious snowstorm ended. Or rather, the intensity of it had died down. It was still strong but now it was at a point where no one would have their vision obscured. Sci-Twi could finally open her eyes, seeing clearly. Alpha Pikachu held onto the leg of her trainer, still shivering as he didn't have anything warm around him.
"Ash..? Sunset?" Twilight cried out their names as she would soon notice the disappearance of her friends. The moment the snowstorm ended, they were gone. Her head navigated the area, only to find no sign of them in this snow-covered area. "W-Where are they?"
"Pikachu?!" Alpha Pikachu called out for his Many-Great-Grandson, hoping to hear a response from him.
"There you are." A voice cried out, alerting Twilight. She was hoping that it was one of her friends who ended up finding her after the snowstorm had ended. But that voice was not friendly. Through the snow, a beam would fly out, targeting the counterpart to Princess Twilight Sparkle.
"Pikachu!" Instinctively, Pikachu pushed Sci-Twi out of the way in time, using the full weight of his body to do so, tackling her leg. Sci-Twi grunted from that but it was for the better as she just managed to witness the beam pass by her. Sci-Twi dropped on the snow with Pikachu saving her life from a horrible fate.
"Thanks, Pikachu. But that beam...She can't be here now, can she?!"
"Oh, I missed my shot." Moving through the snow with a wave of fire was none other than Pokemon Hunter J. She used the Fire Infinity Energy to warm herself, creating a constant ring of fire behind her as if she had a halo.
"J?!" Twilight Sparkle gasped upon seeing the Pokemon Hunter emerge.
"Pika...!"
"Worked like a charm. I have you all to myself, girl." J said with the most devious look on her face. "It's been a while, hasn't it, brat? How goes things? Especially our shared goal."
"I don't want to share any goal with you." Sci-Twi stood back up, still shivering from all the snow and the decreased temperature that J created. "But you...You did this?"
"I certainly did. Your friends aren't around because of me. A controlled Snowstorm is the best kind of snowstorm when you can choose what happens with it." J showed off her Protean Vambrace. "As you can see, I've received some upgrades these past months. What have you been doing exactly while I rack up Alpha Pokemon?"
"I..." Sci-Twi didn't have a strong answer for that. Realistically, she hasn't been doing much. Neither did she have that many Alpha Pokemon. The most recent was Heracross and he was caught during the Pokemon Festival.
"Ah. Not that many? Hahahaha!" J laughed at Sci-Twi's failure to keep up with her. "Are you kidding? I've been on a spree, using the best of my abilities to catch as many Alpha Pokemon! Were you just lounging around? And here I thought you wanted to help them so much."
"I do! And I'll free them all from you!" Sci-Twi yelled back at J.
"As if. I'll take Alpha Lopunny for myself. And of course...your Alpha Pokemon as well." J pointed at Sci-Twi, declaring that she would capture her Alpha Pokemon. "Our reunion will be our last one once I've taken them off your hands. I'll make sure you never go for the Alpha Pokemon ever again. A young girl like you should stay out of this."
"I'm not staying out this...!" Sci-Twi rejected. "I made a promise and I won't let you ruin that for me. Not when I'm finally finding myself."
"Finding yourself? Oh, right. You still have a glaring weakness. That's fine." J shrugged. "It just proves that you're incapable of seeing this all the way through."
"I'm fully capable! And to prove it, I'll defeat you here and now, J!"
"You? Beat me?" J scoffed at that declaration. "As far as things go, you're still just a novice, brat! Don't get too cocky." Hunter J would then take out a Great Ball from her jacket pocket. "You only got lucky the last time because of that Rapidash. But not this time."
"Call me a novice if you want." Sci-Twi gulped before adjusting her glasses. "I can't turn back now." A Pokemon Battle between Hunter J and Sci-Twi was about to ensue. And the stakes were certainly high for Twilight.
"Oh...I'm going to have fun crushing your spirit. Then you and by extension, your world, will learn never to touch Pokemon ever again." Hunter J was looking forward to that very reason. She planned to utterly crush Sci-Twi's spirit in every possible way. And taking her Pokemon was one of those ways.
As for Ash and the others, thanks to J's controlled snowstorm, they found themselves elsewhere in the Wild Area. The Hammerlocke Hills is where they ended up, far away from Sci-Twi at this point. But they weren't at the Hammerlocke Hills, they were almost buried in the snow thanks to what J had done.
Ash sat up from the snow pile along with everyone else, still feeling bewildered by what had just happened. "Ugh...Twilight?" Ash would notice that not all of his friends were present as the snow kept blowing. Twilight was exempt from his sight. but of course, knowing how threatening Ash can be, J didn't stop at just bewildering him with a snowstorm.
"Look there!" Sunset Shimmer exclaimed. Hunter J's men had also shown up at the Wild Area to not only capture rare Pokemon but also block Ash and his friends from reaching Sci-Twi. J wanted the counterpart all to herself after all. They showed up past the mask of snow, menacingly approaching with creepy looks on their faces. A stunned Pinkie Pie hadn't yet noticed them until Rainbow Dash shook her senses back.
And yet, the Alpha Lopunny hasn't been found yet. And in this snowstorm, much like most Pokemon, Lopunny was on the move. The search for Alpha Lopunny was not over yet with the risk of other Alpha Pokemon being taken away heavily on the line.
A powerful snowstorm had come and gone, startling and catching many of the Pokemon in the Wild Area by surprise as no one saw it coming. This was thanks to Pokemon Hunter J's Protean Vambrace as she completely bewildered many of them. Especially Ash's group. By controlling the power of the snowstorm, she managed to separate most of them from Sci-Twi. For one reason. To obtain her Alpha Pokemon. And as a bonus, take advantage of her weaknesses. Now, Sci-Twi was alone, ready to face off against Hunter J.
"I'm going to have fun crushing your spirit!" Hunter J exclaimed, holding out a Great Ball. She would then launch it, revealing yet another Alpha Pokemon. This time, it would be an Ursaring.
"Ursaring!" The Alpha Ursaring unleashed a powerful roar, creating a mild gust that would reach Sci-Twi and Alpha Pikachu.
"An Alpha Ursaring..." Sci-Twi shuddered at this intimidating combination of categories. As if Ursaring needed to be any more terrifying than it already is. "But I'm not scared!" Twilight would quickly throw a Poke Ball upwards, summoning one of her Pokemon. "Please help out! Heracross!"
"Heracross!" Alpha Heracross would emerge. An excellent pick on Sci-Twi's part as she immediately went for the Pokemon that could deal the heaviest hits to Ursaring. However, prepared for something like this, by using the Protean Vambrace, J used the Ice-Type function yet again.
"Ghh...!" But even though she was equipped to challenge Hunter J, the chilling snowstorm was a problem. Even though it died down, it was still powerful, causing Twilight, Heracross and Pikachu to shiver. As for Ursaring, J made sure it was kept warm, using that ring of fire on the Normal-Type's back. "It's still too cold!"
"Too chilly? Unfortunately for you, Ursaring doesn't need to hibernate from this. Attack, Ursaring! Hammer Arm!"
"Ursa!" Along came Ursaring, putting most of its strength around its arm before then charging at Heracross.
"Oh! Heracross, use Megahorn!"
"Hera!" Once Alpha Ursaraing approached for a swing, Heracross would immediately meet that with his horn. It was a strong collision between two highly-physical Pokemon. The snow around them would be blown away and tremble at the might of these two Alpha Pokemon. They struggled against each other, locking eyes in the process.
"Here you go." Hunter J used the Protean Vambrace once more. But this time, for another purpose. She revealed another feature of it that was made by Colress' genius. The brilliance of the Team Plasma scientist had brought out the best in this object since he originally made it and the extraordinary things it could do were shown as J would aim it once more at Ursaring.
From the Normal Infinity Energy, a stream of white energy flew over to Ursaring while it was still locked trying to overcome Heracross. But the two seemed equal as far as it went. But that all changed once the Normal Energy would enter Ursaring's body, filling the Hibernator Pokemon with a sudden surge of strength that made its eyes glow white.
"Ursa!"
"W-What is this?!" Sci-Twi pulled back once Ursaring's eyes flashed white. And because of this interruption, it was Ursaring who managed to win this struggle, pushing through Megahorn.
"C-Cross?!"
"Ursaring!" After winning that struggle, Ursaring would knock Heracross away, causing the Single Horn Pokemon to spin through the air.
"Heracross! Are you alright?!" Sci-Twi gasped as Heracross managed to recover by using his wings. The Single Horn Pokemon was still overwhelmed by that. He was on the same level of strength as Ursaring and all of a sudden, that changed once Ursaring received that boost.
"What did you just do?" Sci-Twi uttered. "A boost?"
"Clever girl. I'll always give my Pokemon a boost depending on what type they are. It's always a massive bonus on my part."
"No fair..." Sci-Twi puffed her cheeks as J was resorting to these sorts of tactics to gain an advantage. First, it was the snow and now it ended up being this ability to power up her Pokemon depending on what type they were.
"I use whatever I can to get an edge, brat. But don't get confident thinking you're better than me because of this. I'll show you why you're still beneath me! Ursaring! Fire Punch!"
"I'll beat you and it'll prove that I am!" Sci-Twi was determined. And thanks to what J had done, she wanted to win more than ever now. "Heracross, please use Brick Break!"
"Hera!" Heracross would approach Ursaring who would also advance. This battle would mostly be an up-close and personal battle with these two currently out. Heracross went for an overhead strike with Brick Break, only for Ursaring to suddenly move faster than before. This was thanks to the boost as the Hibernator Pokemon would zip to the side, evading the Brick Break. "Hera?!"
"Saaaa!" Ursaring would then land Fire Punch from the side, dealing a super-effective blow to the Single Horn Pokemon. Heracross grimaced from this blow as he was once again pushed back. But this time, it would be an unrelenting attack.
"Once more!" And by J's command, Ursaring would begin an assault on Heracross, moving in for another Fire Punch while the Bug-Fighting-Type was still bewildered from Fire Punch.
"It's faster too!? Fly up, Heracross! Quick!"
"C-Cross!" Heracross would then unleash his wings once more, this time, using them to ascend once he recovered. But it was a close call as the recovery was a bit delayed thanks to the Fire Punch dealing such a super-effective hit. He rose up, evading the next Fire Punch narrowly as the flaming claw of the Hibernator Pokemon would smash into the ground, melting away the snow.
With a deep breath from all of this snow, Sci-Twi recollected herself. She couldn't let this speed increase get to her, even if it was unexpected. "This will keep us safe for now. Night Slash!"
"Hera! Hera!" Heracross would then use the alternate form of Night Slash. With his horn coated in darkness, he would swing it, sending out dark crescent-shaped attacks.
"Ursa!" Ursaring would begin deflecting them with Fire Punch, crushing as much of the Night Slash as it could.
"I-I've got this..." A chilly Twilight said while holding onto Pikachu to try and keep him warm. Standing out here in the middle of this snowstorm was dangerous but with J's presence, everywhere was dangerous thanks to that Vambrace and all the options she had with it. Sci-Twi has already witnessed what it can do after all.
"I have you to myself, girl." J suddenly eyed down Sci-Twi, aiming the vambrace at her as well as the Arm Cannon. She was going for both Twilight and Alpha Pikachu.
"Pika...!" A chilly Pikachu growled at Hunter J, ready to pounce out of Twilight's arms to intercept whatever was coming next.
"Wait, Pikachu!" But Sci-Twi saw the risk that came with that. There was a chance that Pikachu would be turned to stone thanks to the Arm Cannon. J would go for the Electric Option.
"Heracross?!" As for Heracross, he noticed the impending danger approaching his friends. He would immediately cease his clash with Ursaring just to rush over. Heracross would ignore Ursaring, soaring to Twilight's side. A stream of electricity flew out of the vambrace along with that beam that could perish Pokemon who were unfortunate enough to be hit by it.
Thankfully, Heracross avoided that but he didn't manage to avoid the stream of electricity. The Single Horn Pokemon shoved Twilight and Pikachu out of the way, taking the hit for them.
"No! Heracross!" Sci-Twi yelled after being pushed back, stumbling as she managed to recover. The same couldn't be said for Heracross as he found himself being shocked by a vicious number of volts.
"Pikachu!"
"H-Hera...!" It was worth it though. Protecting them both was too important to ignore as Heracross slid on the ground, tasting the cold snow.
"Bad call, bug!" J scoffed as she was hoping to land her beam at least once. So far, that hasn't happened. "Ursaring, get them! Fire Punch!"
"Ursa!" This time, both hands were coated in flames as Ursaring would go for not just Heracross but also Sci-Twi and Pikachu. Heracross was just now getting back up while Ursaring's boosted speed allowed it to get close. And with Twilight within range of Ursaring's massive arms, this Fire Punch could hit its mark.
"Chu...Pika!" However, Alpha Pikachu would intercept this. By this point, the natural rules had been thrown out of the window thanks to Hunter J. She certainly doesn't bother with a standard Pokemon Battle at all. Thus, this was fair game. Alpha Pikachu would use Quick Attack, moving at lightning speeds while leaping out of Twilight's arms.
"R-Ring!" Ursaring was interrupted by this Quick Attack. It was a direct hit to its face, dealing the most damage to its nose. The Hibernator Pokemon grimaced and was even slightly pushed back by this surprise attack. Just enough time for Heracross to stand back up.
"Pikachu...Thank you." Twilight sighed as Pikachu would stand in front of her, flaring his red sacs with electricity. Pikachu felt the need to chime in now thanks to J's various surprise attacks. "But...It's still too cold here. I hope Ash and the others are doing better than I am."
"You don't have to worry about them. They'll come back and see you in the worst possible state." J said before holding out her Protean Vambrace once more. "But I'll give you this. You're not half bad, brat. But you're still lacking something!" Just then, J would use the Ground-Type Infinity Energy, slamming her hand into the ground.
The energy from the vambrace would travel into the ground, immediately interacting with the Earth. And with this massive sheet of snow, it would all be manipulated as well. Sci-Twi and her Pokemon felt the ground shake a bit, expecting an Earthquake to come along.
But that wasn't the case. Instead, the ground behind Sci-Twi was starting to descend. J had manipulated the shape of the ground, transforming it from a flat land into a hill. It was extraordinary to see J accomplish such a feat as the immediate transformation of the hill meant that it went downwards. And the height was exceptionally high as cracks started forming at the lower levels, bringing about gaps in the Earth.
"Woah...Woah!" Sci-Twi stumbled once more. She was the closes to the edge, nearly falling over. Behind her was a plethora of gaps that led to the underground of the Wild Area. And from this height, it would be a hard fall. Hunter J would then raise her arm before looking at her Vambrace.
After manipulating the ground, she saw each of the Type Crystals flashing suddenly. They would all go off, flashing continuously. "Tch. I used up a lot of its strength it seems. A quick recharge will do." Indeed. After what J had pulled off, the Vambrace had its limits.
It couldn't last forever and needed some time to recover. But even without the Vambrace as an advantage, J still had a lot to offer, unfortunately. Ursaring was one of them.
"But I suppose I can throw in one more Type before it recharges!" Despite the vambrace needing time to recharge, Hunter J would use it once more, going for another Type. And this time, it was Ice yet again. By shooting a light beam into the ground, she would manipulate all the snow around this area.
The snow would rise up from J's control, towering over from behind. Sci-Twi and her Pokemon looked up to see this giant sheet of snow rising and resembling that of a maw. It was clear that Hunter J was going for an avalanche. And from this close to the edge, disaster was written all over this. Most of the snow had gathered, bringing back some of the lush green environment.
"Not good...Pikachu! Use Thunder! Heracross, Night Slash!" Sci-Twi desperately shouted, seeing what could stop this massive avalanche that was coming.
"Go, Ursaring! Hyper Beam!"
"Ursa...!" And to add to that, Ursaring would use Hyper Beam, only adding extra pressure to this. From the Hibernator Pokemon's mouth, a powerful beam of destruction would be shot out, having the width to engulf Sci-Twi, Pikachu and Alpha Heracross.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu would ignore the avalanche and only focus on the Hyper Beam, unleashing Thunder onto it. Meanwhile, Heracross would only handle the Avalanche, swinging his horn as fast as he could to cut all the snow apart.
The struggle between Thunder and Hyper Beam was fierce. Two powerful moves going at it and at such a risky position. It wasn't like Sci-Twi had many positions to choose from. Near the edge was the only area she could choose from thanks to what J did to the ground.
"You two can do it!" Sci-Twi cheered her partners on. "I have to win...I just have to!"
"Ridiculous! You should learn when to quit!" J bellowed as the avalanche was still being held back by Heracross who thankfully had the strength to do so. But thanks to the boosted power from the Protean Vambrace, Ursaring's Hyper Beam was too difficult to overcome. With an extra push, Pikachu only managed to tie with the Hibernator Pokemon.
Hyper Beam and Thunder cancelled each other out. But this was the worst possible for them to tie. The ground around Sci-Twi would be affected by this equalizer while also summoning a strong shockwave. While Heracross was swarmed by the snow, Sci-Twi and Pikachu would find themselves being pushed off the edge of the hill. And with this snow, Sci-Twi inevitably slipped off.
"Ah...Aaaaah!" After realizing what had occurred, at the top of her lungs, Sci-Twi would screech. Pikachu would also scream as the two were prime to either crash into the ground or fall through the gaps that J had made. Either way, either result would turn out poorly for them.
"Heracross...!" Heracross heard the cry of Twilight and Pikachu. Yet again, he would come to their rescue. With his brute strength, he moved away from the avalanche, going for Sci-Twi and Pikachu, being the only Pokemon in her team that could fly.
"Not this time." But J was expecting Heracross to go after them. And with only one weapon available to be used, she would aim her Arm Cannon at the Single Horn Pokemon, using her visor to get a clear shot. Once Heracross was within range, she unleashed the beam from her arm cannon.
"Hera!" Heracross' arms were wide open as Sci-Twi would raise hers while falling to her potential doom. And this left him vulnerable. From behind, the beam would hit one of his legs. And that was all it took "H-Hera?!"
"Gotcha." J deviously said. The process had begun. It started from Heracross' leg and was only going to start growing from there. And yet, that wouldn't stop Heracross. He would persist in trying to save Twilight, using all of his strength before the stone could envelop him.
"Cross!" Heracross managed to grab Sci-Twi and Pikachu, holding them both close to him. At least he ended up reaching them even with the stone taking over his body. But he would do more than that. Heracross wanted to cushion the blow. The Bug-Fighting-Type would rotate himself, putting Sci-Twi and Pikachu above him while he would be underneath, acting as a shield.
"Wait a minute...No! Heracross!" That was certainly something Sci-Twi didn't want. But it's what Heracross wanted and saw as the best option. Heracross would shake his head, essentially telling Twilight not to argue against this. They were already close to the ground by now. With his actions speaking louder than words, this resonated with Sci-Twi.
A tear would form in her eye as she was about to witness a full-on sacrifice from one of her Pokemon. This wasn't the result she was hoping for. She wanted to defeat J after all. But now, it seemed like that wasn't the case. J had done so much to turn everything in her favour and succeeded in doing so. Poor Twilight didn't have the options she had and that difference showed as it would potentially cost the well-being of Heracross. And just like that, Heracross' entire body was turned to stone.
Hunter J reached the edge, waving her arm at Sci-Twi while she descended, speaking out while raising her visor. "I'll take the Poke Balls off you once you're finished. And if you fall through...Oh well. It is what it is. So long, little one!"
J would give her farewell to Sci-Twi, seeing this as the end. She did say she would make this their final encounter and J certainly wasn't stretching it. No matter what, she wanted all of her threats out of the way. All Twilight could do now was hold on for dear life while keeping Pikachu close to her. And even when his body was nothing but stone, Heracross was still embracing them both, having a strong grip.
But nearby, with a mighty gallop, a Pokemon with greater speeds than any of the others would swoop in, melting the ice just from the velocity. Coming to Sci-Twi, Pikachu and even Heracross' rescue was none other than Alpha Rapidash. She had been allowed to roam free earlier by Twilight, being lost in the snowstorm. But with the flames on her mane and tail, the snowstorm was nothing but a mild nuisance.
"Rapidash!" Rapidash appeared, taking a nightly lunge as she caught them all on her back. All the snow around her would melt away instantly as a trail of her warm hoofsteps had been made. Responding to Twilight's cry, the Fire Horse Pokemon responded just like how Heracross would.
"Rapidash!" Sci-Twi gasped as she, Heracross and Pikachu were saved. In the nick of time too as they were exceedingly close to the ground.
"Tch. That Rapidash from before..." Hunter J scoffed as she saw Alpha Rapidash once more. The first Alpha Pokemon she ever failed to catch was the one to save her enemies a second time.
"Dash!" With a quick glare that had hostile intent behind it, Rapidash would look up at the Pokemon Hunter before galloping off. She did not stick behind to exact some payback. Instead, Rapidash knew that the best thing to do was get Sci-Twi and the to hers out of here.
After being saved and nearly experiencing her doom, Sci-Twi ended up fainting from the shock and rush of instances that went down. From Heracross being turned to stone, the high height and Rapidash appearing. Rapidash would disappear into the snowstorm, using her heat to keep her friends warm.
"Hmph. Return, Ursaring." Hunter J would return Ursaring to its Poke Ball before witnessing Rapidash vanish. However, thanks to her warm body and all of the snow, her hoofsteps were still visible. "That's a killjoy. I didn't get to finish things off. But I bet her spirit has been hit by this battle. She'll think twice before taking me on again."
"I doubt it." The Desire of Princess Twilight Sparkle that was within Hunter J spoke at last, staying quiet during this entire battle. "You may have only petrified and potentially scarred her. But her spirit hasn't broken just yet. Not when she has them by her side."
"Bah. Whatever." Hunter J scoffed. "At least there's not much she can do now in that state. I still have an Alpha Lopunny to catch. As for that nuisance Ash, he's been perfectly occupied this entire time. It feels great to have him away from this." J would walk off, continuing on her mission.
She failed to retrieve all the Alpha Pokemon Sci-Twi, even after turning Heracross into stone. But there was still one more Alpha Pokemon for her to catch. Alpha Lopunny. And with Sci-Twi fainting, she expected the assistant of Professor Oak to be unable to continue for a while, giving the Pokemon Hunter all the opportunity in the world to catch Lopunny before it was too late.
Rapidash looked back at Sci-Twi while her flames staved off the harsh ice that affected her body. Unfortunately, the Wild Area did not have any caves for them to rest at. But Rapidash knew that the best option was to take her to more of her friends. As far as how this battle turned out, unfortunately, the winner of this one was Pokemon Hunter J as the journey continues.
"Oh..." Falling over while feeling the shock of 100,000 Volts from Pikachu were Hunter J's men who had the sole objective to occupy Ash and the others. And they certainly succeeded. Occupying them long enough for J to do her work. They were the perfect meat shields in this instance. The last grunt would fall flat on his face while another rolled down a hill.
"Worked like a charm..." One of the electrocuted grunts said as this was the whole point. Getting hurt was worth it since it kept them all away from Sci-Twi. The snowstorm raged on. It wasn't as bad as before but it was still harsh and if it wasn't for Sunset Shimmer's Pokemon, they might have frozen over.
"That's all of them..." Sunset Shimmer sighed, feeling slightly exhausted. "What was up with that though? First a snowstorm and now this?"
"At least it's over. Return, Altaria." Rainbow Dash groaned before returning her Altaria. Sunset Shimmer had three of her Fire-Types just to keep herself and everyone warm from this altered weather that was done by Hunter J's Protean Vambrace.
"Twilight? What about Twilight!" Ash immediately focused on what truly mattered. Once that vicious snowstorm came about, he lost Sci-Twi in the chaos and soon found himself facing off against Hunter J's men. "She's not with J, is she?"
"Pikachu..."
"Look over there!" Pinkie Pie would point in the distance, being the first to spot someone. A bright blaze in the middle of this snowstorm was approaching, lighting a path while also melting the snow that was nearby. Flaming hoofsteps were even left behind as only one Pokemon was responsible for this.
"Rapidash!" Ash wouldn't have to search for Sci-Twi. Instead, Sci-Twi would come to him. Or rather, Rapidash would bring her over. In the distance, Alpha Rapidash could be seen galloping in the distance, having Sci-Twi, Alpha Pikachu and a petrified Alpha Heracross on her back. Some relief came to them after seeing their friends but they weren't exactly in the best conditions right now.
Heracross had been turned to stone while Sci-Twi ended up fainting from nearly crashing at such a high height. The only one conscious was Alpha Pikachu. She ran up the Hammerlocke Hills but with caution since she was carrying delicate passengers. Once she was up the hill, the Fire Horse Pokemon would gently place them all down. Alpha Pikachu felt a bit perplexed but he would recover.
"Twilight! Heracross!" Ash rushed over to the downed duo, nearly slipping on the ice. An unconscious Twilight Sparkle would be kept warm by Rapidash's presence as all the snow would start melting away. Seeing Heracross in this state confirmed to them that Hunter J encountered them. But as a caveat, Heracross was not taken away. "Rapidash. Are all your friends alright too?"
"Rapidash." Rapidash nodded in confirmation. Heracross was the only Alpha Pokemon that was turned to stone. By checking Sci-Twi's pockets, the other Poke Balls were still there with only Heracross' being empty. Now it was all a matter of getting Twilight somewhere comfortable to rest. Not all of the Wild Area had been hit by the snowstorm thankfully but there wasn't anything comfortable to rest at.
As for Hunter J, Ash had to wonder where she was right now. She failed to retrieve Heracross after all and her men were only here to distract her. There was only one possibility. She was focused on finding Alpha Pokemon.
Indeed, she was still on the hunt for this Alpha Pokemon. Much like Sunset Shimmer's suggestion, J would focus on areas that were solitary and had fewer Pokemon around since Alpha Pokemon were so territorial. But while looking for Alpha Lopunny, she would think back to her encounter with Sci-Twi and how it turned out.
"I didn't quite break her spirit like I wanted. But now, she'll learn twice than to mess with me." J said to herself. She was banking on Sci-Twi hesitating to battle J again. At least, that was the main expectation.
Hunter J arrived at the Lake of Outrage. Another subarea in the Wild Area. A small lake that isolates a large bluff and a small cove from the rest of the Wild Area. Much like the few areas here, this place was untouched by the snowstorm J had created. Right as she arrived there, she would receive a call. Straight from her visor, she had her own way of communicating without using a Rotomphone or even an Xtransceiver. It was from her men and their report of what happened with Ash. This was straight from the airship as not all of them went out there to occupy the Alola Champion.
"Boss. They've kept him and his group occupied long enough. But it looks like that girl is back with them."
"Good work occupying him. Retrieve the others while I try and retrieve Lopunny."
"But I think you should hear this...I think one of them has a Mew as a partner." He revealed a shocking revelation that Hunter J did not expect. The existence of Mew was here. Specifically, the Mew that Pinkie Pie had.
"The Mythical Pokemon Mew?!" J gasped. "That's even better than an Alpha Pokemon..." J hit the jackpot. Despite how much she hated Ash's friends, they had something valuable. From Sci-Twi's Alpha Pokemon and now recently, Mew. "Hmm...Don't engage with them. I'll finish up here and we'll leave and talk about it later."
"Yes, boss!" He would hang up as J needed a new plan after hearing about Mew. She would have to leave eventually as the Protean Vambrace was still recharging. It was by far her most powerful weapon. Even more so than her arm cannon.
"As soon as I catch that Lopunny." J sighed. "Just where is that rabbit?"
"Lopun!" J would receive an answer via the cry of a Lopunny. Her eyes would turn to where she heard the direction of that cry, quickly preparing her arm cannon. That is if she was fast enough to find Alpha Lopunny. The moment she turned around, any sight of the Rabbit Pokemon was non-existent. She could've sworn the moment she turned her head a brown blur could be seen. It definitely wasn't her eyes playing tricks on her.
"Where did it go?!" Or rather, unbeknownst to J at the moment, Lopunny just wasn't within Ground-Level. Instead, the Normal-Type was currently in the skies.
A powerful leap had led to Alpha Lopunny reaching a stellar height. The Lopunny Species already had powerful legs that allowed them to jump at great heights and for an Alpha Lopunny, that was elevated to a whole new level.
Alpha Lopunny reached a height that gave it a ton of air-time to the point where it anyone could see it as flight or even levitation. The shadow of Lopunny was even hard to see because of this mighty leap. It might as well be invisible. Hunter J had no sight of Lopunny at all as the Alpha Pokemon even managed to gain some amazing distance because of this, reaching an area that would take a few minutes to reach in a few seconds.
After that, Alpha Lopunny would leap away once more and Hunter J would never see these strong and swift movements either.
Hours passed and Sci-Twi was brought next to a train station was thankfully exempt from the snowstorm. She would recover from the warmth of Rapidash, gaining consciousness once more.
As for Heracross. Not all was lost. After all, there was a way to free Pokemon that were turned to stone by J's Arm Cannon. Hidden Power was the answer. But even with this fact, once she woke up, Sci-Twi didn't exactly have a bright smile on her face. Sure, Heracross would be alright, but the battle from before was something she couldn't forget.
"Slurpuff." One of Pinkie Pie's Slurpuff would do the honour of freeing Heracross from his prison.
"Thanks a bunch, Slurpuff. Return." Pinkie thanked one of her Slurpuff for freeing Heracross, returning the Fairy-Type promptly. Having a lot of Pokemon of the same species can have its benefits with different moves to cycle through and this was one of them.
"So that's what happened, Professor Oak." Meanwhile, Ash spoke with Professor Oak on the PC, catching him up on what he's learned so far.
"I see. I knew the Pokemon Hunter was a problem but goodness." Oak replied. "All of that at her disposal spells horrible news for any Pokemon that comes her way. I've read up on Hunter J and she seems to have received an upgrade after her disappearance many years."
"Yeah. She's got more than when we encountered her a few times ways back in the Sinnoh Region," said Ash, recalling how his encounters with J went. She was still a threat there even with minimal gadgets. But now, she had more options up her sleeve. And unbeknownst to Ash and Pikachu, Team Plasma was mainly to thank for one of these upgrades.
"And it's so unfair too!" Rainbow Dash roared out. "She doesn't even battle fairly too. Using something like that just to get an advantage is lame!"
"Yeah! So lame!" Pinkie Pie greatly agreed. They've become so adjusted to the natural rules of Pokemon Battling that J's tactics were just outrageous.
"What can we do about it though? That's how she operates." Sunset Shimmer shrugged. She knew that it was impossible to really argue against it since that's how J and others like her did things. And it certainly wasn't going to change even with how awful and unfair it can be.
"But still. That's proof Twilight could've definitely beaten her! Right, Professor Oak?!" Rainbow Dash zipped over, believing that Twilight could've won that battle had J not used so many cheap tricks.
"Well, yes. Generally, the one who has the skills to win by battling and nothing else is the better trainer." Oak agreed. "Gadgets aren't usually used in Pokemon Battles aside from a few exceptions. I'm afraid that Pokemon Hunter will keep throwing cheap things at you when you run into her again. Perhaps this Alpha Pokemon search is too dangerous and-"
"It's fine you guys..." Just then, Sci-Twi finally spoke, grabbing everyone's attention. "You don't have to bring up the danger about this. I chose to do it myself. I knew there were going to be risks." Indeed. Twilight was the one who came up with the idea to catch every Alpha Pokemon. "I already knew how dangerous J would be once I first met her. And I promised I'd never let her get the best of me and I'd stop her. But...I didn't win against her." Knowing that she lost to J, Sci-Twi would start tearing up, taking off her glasses to let the tears flow smoothly.
"But you were at a disadvantage though." Rainbow Dash begged to differ. "It wasn't your fault that you lost, Twilight. Plus, you got away with Heracross still around, right?"
"Heracross." Alpha Heracross walked over to comfort his trainer.
"I know that. But it still...it's still so horrible! I hate it!" Sci-Twi wasn't oblivious to it at all. It's the fact that she lost to J that saddens her. Whether fair or not, a loss was a loss and it could've been an even greater loss had it not been for Alpha Rapidash coming to the rescue.
"Twilight..." Ash spoke her name, knowing how she felt. He's seen this before with most of his friends. It was best to let Twilight unleash her emotions now. Expressing sadness and even anger towards Hunter J. No one would try and stop her.
"But..." However, that's when she stood back up, wiping her tears and placing her glasses back on. "Even though I lost, I won't let it stop me from going on."
"You won't stop?" Professor Oak repeated.
"No. J wanted to break my spirit. So that I'd never try catching Alpha Pokemon ever again. Or even be involved with Pokemon at all. But I've managed to make some great friends because of Pokemon. These are some of the best moments in my life." Sci-Twi would then out a Poke Ball before then looking at Alpha Pikachu, Rapidash and Heracross. "I'll keep going. I'll catch them all and beat out J. Ash."
"Yeah?" Ash replied.
"You're a mentor for everyone back at Equestria. You're already taught me a lot to know about Pokemon. But I want you to teach me more. I'm used to learning and growing on my own. But you're the best teacher I could ever ask for when it comes to Pokemon. Help me get stronger, please. Just having Alpha Pokemon doesn't automatically make me strong enough."
"You got it." Ash fully agreed to continue helping her, especially when it came to strength. Pikachu would be there to support her as well, hopping on Ash's shoulder and giving her a thumbs-up.
"Pikachu!"
"Good call, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash zipped over, placing her arm around Twilight. "Ash is the best teacher I know! I mean, he taught me a lot of things and look at me now!"
"We'll be glad to help out as well." Sunset Shimmer offered her hand in assisting her friend.
"Hm. I see. Well, I can't stop the youth. I'm too old now to do so." Professor Oak nodded in understanding. "Good luck then. I'd say you only have one Alpha Pokemon left to catch. Unfortunately, there are no signs of Kricketune anymore from what I've learned."
"What about Lopunny? Is it still here?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Lopunny? Not sure. But it would be difficult for both sides to catch it. Some have said that they've witnessed a Flying Lopunny around the Wild Area after all. The power of an Alpha Pokemon plus the power of Lopunny's legs is a strong combination, enough to make any Lopunny fly."
"It's fine. Even if she catches Lopunny or not...I promise I'll get them all back." Sci-Twi said. "All the Alpha Pokemon she's captured. From then to now and later on."
"Dash! Rapidash!" Rapidash would suddenly interject, neighing as loud as she could to get some words in.
"What is it, Rapidash?" Sci-Twi asked.
"Oh? It seems Rapidash has something to say about that Lopunny." Oak uttered.
"Oh yeah...I did send you to roam the Wild Area freely. Did you...see Alpha Lopunny?"
"Dash! Ra! Rapidash!" Rapidash would vigorously nod her head. Indeed. She saw Alpha Lopunny. But not only did she see it, she saw what it had done and would demonstrate it with her own movements.
Rapidash had powerful legs just like Lopunny. Both are capable of delivering powerful kicks with them and can jump at great heights too. All Lopunny has to do is bounce while Rapidash uses her running speed to gain some momentum to perform stellar jumps.
"High jumps?" Ash observed Rapidash's constant jumps. "Oh, so you saw what Lopunny did! I guess you didn't get informed about which Pokemon were looking for too."
"Rapidash!"
"Thank you, Rapidash." ScI-Twi went to hug the Alpha Pokemon, expressing her gratitude for this embrace. Saving her life and sharing this was truly wonderful in the eyes of Twilight Sparkle. While Alpha Rapidash was taken aback by this hug, she did not stop. Instead, she allowed it.
"Well? Do we head back in there and try and find Alpha Lopunny again?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I won't give up. Rapidash. You can jump just as high, can't you? Please. I need your help to find Lopunny before J potentially does." Sci-Twi requested Rapidash's help.
"Dash!" Rapidash agreed to help without a second thought. This brought a smile to Twilight's face.
"What about J? What if she finds you again?" Sunset Shimmer questioned.
"If she does, we'll get in her way this time. If she's gone occupy us from reaching you, then we'll occupy her from reaching Lopunny." Ash would gladly do a reverse of what J's men had done. "We'll stay on the lookout for you Twilight."
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"You'd best hurry. It's getting rather late now." Professor Oak said. "And I'd like for you all to get some rest."
"Understood. We'll make this quick, Professor. Come on, Rapidash. Let's find ourselves Alpha Lopunny!"
"Rapidash!"
It was decided. Another shot at the Wild Area would be attempted even after everything that went down. Sci-Twi would go for it again and hopefully, avoid J at all costs. But even Hunter J was having trouble finding this Alpha Lopunny because of those powerful jumps. Professor Oak would see them off before speaking to himself.
"That girl. She would still go for it. It's all of those friends around her that she was to thank, much like her Equestrian Counterpart." Professor Oak made a slight chuckle. "She's growing into her own right now. What an Unyielding Spirit she has."
Nightfall had come to the Wild Area. And the vicious snowstorm from before that Hunter J created had finally come to an end, leaving behind white sheets. The newly developed hills were a thing now because of Hunter J.
"No sign of that Lopunny anywhere." Failing to find Alpha Lopunny, Pokemon Hunter J returned to her Airship. The powerful jump of this Alpha Pokemon eluded the Pokemon Hunter until the moon came up. "It's as if it just left the scene."
"Our overview monitors haven't gotten a single sight on that Alpha Pokemon yet, boss." J's men said as none of them had spotted the Alpha Lopunny either.
"Tch." J scoffed. Nightfall had already arrived and there was still no sign of Alpha Lopunny at all. The airship moved across the whole Wild Area and there was nothing. "Fine then. Let's call it a night. Then we'll advance to Unova and find ourselves that Scyther." Hunter J and her men would promptly leave the Wild Area, focusing on the next Alpha Pokemon.
And that would be Alpha Scyther. But of course, clocking out for the night was needed after the work they've done today. As for Alpha Lopunny, J hadn't given up on it at all. She was going for all of them after all. And neither was Sci-Twi. After resting up and having her Pokemon healed, she was determined to also find Alpha Lopunny even after that horrific battle with Hunter J. Only Sci-Twi knew of Alpha Lopunny's special trait that it had as an Alpha Pokemon. A greater jump than any other Lopunny that made it go so high that there was barely a trace of it.
However, Sci-Twi had her own way of matching Alpha Lopunny's jumps, at least in her theory. And that was with her Alpha Rapidash. Growing closer, the two agreed to help each other out once more. Alpha Rapidash certainly wasn't as stubborn as she was in the past.
"Okay. If you run fast enough, Rapidash, you'll gain enough momentum to jump at great heights." Sci-Twi said while also wearing a helmet. "Just...be careful, okay?" The helmet was for safety reasons. After all, Rapidash would be running at stupendous speeds and jumping at great heights.
"If you jump high enough, you could find Alpha Lopunny up there as well." Sunset Shimmer said. "Rapidash was the only one to see it since she's incredibly fast much like Lopunny. So this is a perfect decision."
"I don't see J's airship anywhere." Pinkie Pie looked up. "Then again, we didn't see it before, right?"
"It's got an invisibility feature in it so she uses it to travel around without being seen," Ash explained, recalling the invisibility feature that the Airship had. "It must've gotten a huge upgrade cause this is the longest it's been hidden. Or maybe it's not here anymore?"
"Pika?"
"Whatever the case. I'll find Alpha Lopunny. Are you ready, Rapidash?"
"Rapidash!" Rapidash scraped her hoof on the ground, ready to build up some speed.
"Don't feel too intimidated being on Rapidash." Rainbow Dash nudged Sci-Twi. "Just let her do all the movements and you'll be fine, okay?"
"Mhm. You can trust Rapidash's speed." Ash gave a reassuring thumbs-up to her. He should know. He's been on a Rapidash before after all. "Good luck. And we'll stay on the lookout for you."
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Right. Thank you, everyone. Alright, Rapidash. Let's go." Twilight gulped, readying herself for a high-speed rush. After all, there is no instance where Rapidash would ever slow down when running. With her sights set on the night sky, Rapidash would ready herself.
And with a spurt of speed, the Fire Horse Pokemon took off, creating a large dust cloud. Immediately, Twilight felt herself jerk back a bit. Rapidash was already gone from this spot, becoming a blur for a few seconds. Ash and the others would see their friend off while staying here for any signs of Hunter J.
"Oh...Oh!" Twilight would hold on to dear life as Rapidash blazed across the Wild Area, moving at confounding speeds that were on par with Quick Attack, Aerial Ace or even Extreme Speed. Possibly even more so. Twilight had never experienced this much instant speed in her life as this was the second overwhelming thing she's had to experience so far. But at least this one was with a friend who would keep her safe.
Rapidash, despite moving at great speeds, would still focus on keeping Twilight Sparkle safe. Twilight shuddered while on Rapidash as that helmet of hers certainly wouldn't be enough to protect her. But Rapidash would be enough. Twilight opened her eyes as she looked to see if she was still in one piece.
Perfectly. The flames of Rapidash kept her warm during the night and she could still feel the Fire Horse Pokemon. Rapidash would never let her fall after all. Even with all of this speed she built, the Fire Horse Pokemon prioritized Twilight's safety. And while running, Twilight got to see the sights of the Wild Area.
Even after the snowstorm and the altered earth, the Pokemon here still knew how to live with joy. All the small Pokemon from before noticed Twilight, waving at her even though she was too fast to keep up with. And yet, Twilight still found the chance to wave back at them too. She would then spot multiple Flying-Types soaring at decently lower levels before ascending once more. With the snowstorm gone, they could freely fly once more.
Rapidash would then pass by the bridge, allowing Twilight to gaze at Water-Types that populated it. This was both a mission and a moment of fun. Everything that Twilight went through with J was being drowned out by the wonderful world of Pokemon. Just seeing it all play out was enough to lighten her heart and mind.
"Dash!" Suddenly, without warning, Rapidash would finally take the opportunity to lunge into the air. Twilight screeched as she was taking to the skies. With all of this momentum and her powerful legs, Rapidash took off, entering the skies. This was to match what Alpha Lopunny was capable of.
She passed by all other Flying-Types, reaching incredible heights immediately. Up in the sky, it looked like a fireball was ascending with how Rapidash's flames would flow gracefully with each movement. In the night, the flames were at their brightest and could shine more than ever.
"Wow..." And with this amazing jump, Rapidash would gain so much airtime to the point where it looked like she was flying. Sci-Twi even felt like she was flying. Everything from the Wild Area was available to see in its entirety at this birds-eye view. She could even see Ash and the others who would gander at the fireball in the night sky This was a truly magical feeling. How often can a moment like this come for Twilight? That's what she wondered. But with Rapidash by her side, it could be forever. "But I still don't see Alpha Lopunny anywhere."
"Lopun...!" Right on cue, the cry of the Alpha Pokemon could be heard, alerting Twilight Sparkle. Now that the cry of Lopunny came out, Twilight had to wonder where it came from. There was only one possibility. The sky. However, despite how high up Rapidash was and the air time she received, Lopunny was much higher.
Much higher. With just a singular head raise from Sci-Twi and Alpha Rapidash, they spotted the Rabbit Pokemon at last. And it was way ahead of them. Not because it was jumping higher than them but because of what it was doing to get the edge over everyone, being incredibly elusive. What Lopunny was doing was stunning to Sci-Twi's eyes but it was something that pegasi from Equestria are capable of and even alicorns. Especially her Equestrian Counterpart.
Alpha Lopunny was jumping on clouds. Twilight was flabbergasted. Alpha Lopunny's method of avoiding everything from seeing it was by jumping from cloud to cloud, using its powerful legs to the fullest. This was the best a Lopunny has ever been as it looked down, spotting Sci-Twi and Rapidash.
"Lopunny!" Alpha Lopunny then let out a bellowing cry that all Alpha Pokemon were capable of.
"Rapidash!" Rapidash would unleash her own Alpha cry, replying to Alpha Lopunny. This cry was essentially a challenge to Alpha Lopunny as Rapidash saw that reaching this Alpha Pokemon would take a few more steps. Literally. However, Alpha Rapidash then found herself descending.
"Lopun-Lopun!" Lopunny then laughed at them. This Alpha Pokemon did not launch any hostile attacks mainly due to how there was no point since no one could seemingly reach it. At least, not yet. After seeing them descend, Alpha Lopunny would then continue hopping away, heading to who-knows-where.
"Well...we're not reaching that one. Not yet, at least." Sci-Twi already knew this. And even with this fact, a smile was placed on her face. "Thanks anyway, Rapidash. Let's try again someday though."
"Rapidash." Rapidash was pleased to have helped. Though they failed to reach Lopunny, an enjoyable ride was given to Twilight Sparkle. And as a bonus, Hunter J was oblivious to what Lopunny was truly doing.
"Seriously?!" After returning to her friend with Alpha Rapidash, Ash and the others heard about what was up with Alpha Lopunny.
"Seriously. My mind was being thrown for a loop after I saw it. It was jumping on the clouds, going higher and higher." Sci-Twi explained. "I don't think I can reach that one yet. And who knows where it's heading?"
"But that's not possible!" Rainbow Dash yelled. This went against everything she knew about clouds and how those who can fly can stand and interact with them. But then along came Alpha Lopunny, breaking that natural law. "You can only stand on clouds if you've got wings or even fly! It's just jumping really high and stuff! Wait...is it possible?" She had to think about it for a moment. Could there be Pokemon that could achieve such feats without even needing to fly?
"Well, you did your best. But that only means we're gonna work harder to reach Alpha Lopunny. Nothing a good flight can't handle. All we gotta do is get ahead of her, right?" Ash said, looking at the options that were available to reach Alpha Lopunny.
"You're right. It's not impossible. But I'm tired now. And I think I'm okay with leaving things how they are now. " Sci-Twi stretched, wishing to call it a day. "It's good to know that Lopunny's safe. It's found the best way to keep itself safe too."
"Yeah, let's call it a night." Sunset Shimmer was in agreement. "And you know...Hulbury might be the best place to return to. You have a World Championship Match waiting for you, Ash." She brought up the battle with Nessa that he put on hold just to help Sci-Twi out.
The Alpha Lopunny objective was done for now. But most definitely, they would return to it. But by now, it was best that they all clock out. They've done enough and if anyone deserved to rest up, it was Sci-Twi. But for now, Rainbow Dash was going to be thinking about Alpha Lopunny's impossible feat in her dreams once she falls asleep.
"Hey, guys!" But before they could return to Hulbury, someone called out to them. Moving across the water by using a small boat was none other than Carlita. She did say she would race them to Galar and at last, the trainer from Eindoak Town had arrived.
"Oh, Carlita! You're a bit late, ya know!" Ash exclaimed, stunning Carlita.
"I'm late?!" Carlita gasped. This race wasn't even close. Ash and the others showed up during the afternoon while Carlita showed up once the moon had come up. "Aw, man...I knew I shouldn't have stopped to visit that Dragon Gym...Did you at least catch Alpha Lopunny?"
"No. But I have a lot to share." Sci-Twi squeed while having the brightest smile on her face that could illuminate the night. But now, it was time for them to rest. It was back to Hulbury.
Equestria. Canterlot. Nightfall.
Back at Equestria, it was a silent night for them as well. Currently, at Canterlot, Princess Celestia was still awake, too busy to sleep at the moment. Mainly because of how she had to manage a lot of things that came up solely because of the two worlds merging as one.
At her disposal, multiple maps from Starmap of Pegalysium were given to her. She already had a base map of how the world looked like now. Equestria was right in between Unova and Kalos. However, the fact that she was holding more meant that it wasn't that straightforward.
"The Dragon Lands have been slightly raised." Celestia pointed out how one of Equestria's locations had received a slight change in location. But not by much. The Dragon Lands had been elevated on the map. Not exactly the worst change. She wasn't sure if it was a bad change even for the dragons. But Pegalysium as a whole has been sent higher into the air. That doesn't matter as much since the Earth is larger than ever. Which means the skies are even bigger than what they used to be."
"Gardevoir." Passion looked over at the map, pointing at the Alola Region.
"You're right, Passion. The seas of Alola have grown too. Not only that but the same goes for the seas of Hoenn. But there's something else on my mind..." Celestia closed her eyes, moving away from the expanded world and thinking about something else. "That other counterpart to Twilight. Twilight Moonlight, right? She said that she wasn't like the other counterparts. Just how much did Jirachi change?"
New questions had propped up. Who was this counterpart of Twilight and what made her so different? Aside from the fact that she had her own Pokemon compared to the others who were still new to it. Not only that but Celestia was still fixated on reaching Magehold just to retrieve Yveltal. Cycling through all of these were tricky but being the Ruler of Equestria, Celestia could handle it all.
"Hmm...What to do first? Twilight Moonlight? Dread League? Handling the new world? Aaah...!" Celestia placed her hooves on her head, cycling to choose one to focus on. "Hm! The Twilight Moonlight thing can wait. She'll show up again if she's so fixated on Twilight Sparkle and keeping her safe. Getting to Yveltal is what really matters or else we won't have a new world to enjoy. But I won't use Daybreaker's strength for this. I'll use my own strength. But how am I going to reach Magehold?"
The problem with stopping the Dread League was the fact that no one could find them or even enter their land. Both were major inconveniences. And it didn't help that they weren't on the map. Not even Starmap's expertise showed Celestia the location of the Dread League even though they were said to be around the Hyperborean Island which was hidden near the Crystal Empire.
"No. There is someone who can help us find them. Chrysalis knows. And by extension, so does her mother, Mellifera." Celestia knew of two changelings who could find Magehold. They've been there already after all. "But it's far too dangerous to have Chrysalis go there. But Mellifera..."
She had someone who could help her. Mellifera, the former Changeling Queen. Her whereabouts were unknown. And even in this Super-Earth, she might be even farther than ever before. But anything to preserve the future had to be done when it came to handling the threat that was the Dread League as the journey continues.
It was a new day in the Galar Region and waking up in this region was Ash. And with this new day came a battle he put on hold until now. The battle against Hulbury Town's Gym Leader. But before that, some morning consumption was needed. One of the restaurants over at Hulbury which was known as The Captain's Table offered some options that were exclusive to this town. Noticeably, there was a common occurrence of eggs within this restaurant. Everyone currently seated there had eggs on their food in some way. Whether big or small.
"Ah...Great. Great..." Ash patted his belly along with Pikachu and Pinkie Pie. Their stomachs were satisfied by what they had consumed.
"Pika..." Pikachu slumped over on the floor as he felt like he could rest here just from how good that morning meal was. As a bonus, a full stomach meant that he could battle without any issues. Ash and Pikachu are at their best when their stomachs are full.
"Sorry that I couldn't catch Alpha Lopunny, Professor Oak." Meanwhile, while still having her morning meal, Sci-Twi was currently speaking with Professor Oak, using her phone to do so. "But next time, I'll try again. Hopefully, I have enough airtime."
"I still don't get it. How come Lopunny can stand on those clouds just by jumping high?" That still boggled Rainbow Dash. Lopunny was not a Flying-Type at all and yet, it could jump on the clouds as if they were solid.
"Strange, isn't it?" Professor Oak replied. "That makes it all the more thrilling to reach Lopunny. That Alpha Lopunny's unique trait to stand on legs might apply to other Pokemon."
"Like?" Sunset Shimmer and Carlita questioned, wondering which Pokemon could also perform such a feat without needing to fly.
"Twilight. Theoretically, your Rapidash could do the same thing. Much like Rapidash, she has incredible speed and can use it to jump at stupendous heights with those powerful legs."
"Rapidash tried but she couldn't exactly touch one of the clouds. Not yet at least. What other Pokemon could do it?"
"Dare I say...Magikarp can do it?" Professor Oak chuckled, bringing up a Pokemon that no one would expect. "After all, what it lacks in power, it makes up for strong jumps. Even if they never go beyond seven feet on rare occasions. On the bright side, at least this makes it harder for even the Pokemon Hunter to find. This also means that catching up to Lopunny will take some time."
"Do you think it's because both worlds came together?" Sunset Shimmer asked. "Maybe that's why Alpha Lopunny can stand on clouds."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Professor Oak couldn't give a clear answer. "You'll have to find out the next time you meet this Alpha Lopunny. Right now, the last Alpha Pokemon you should focus on is Alpha Scyther over at Unova. Really, why didn't you start there?"
"I guess we should've started there..." Twilight giggled.
"Sucks that I got here a bit too late. If you ask me, if I showed up, that Pokemon Hunter would've been stopped by yours truly." Carlita confidently said, putting one leg over her other while crossing her arms.
"Yeah, if your Hydreigon could handle the cold." Rainbow Dash put on a smirk as Carlita had a stunned expression from that. The snowstorm that Hunter J made would've spelt massive trouble for Carlita's Hydreigon. "Then again, my Altaria did fine even if she was out for a few minutes."
"Good luck on your next Alpha Pokemon search." Oak bid Sci-Twi farewell. "And stay safe out there, alright?"
"Got it. I'll keep you updated, Professor Oak." Twilight finished the call.
"Alright. Now, about that challenge." Ash stood up, holding out his Rotomphone. There, the Pokemon World Championships challenge that he put on hold was still available. Now that he had a full stomach, Ash accepted the challenge.
"Challenge Accepted. Please head to your opponent's location by following this map." The voice from the Rotomphone said, showing a digital map of Hulbury. And the distance between Ash and Nessa wasn't far at all.
"You won't have to head there." However, moments after Ash accepted the challenge, Nessa had already shown up, opening the doors to this restaurant, wearing casual clothes under this bright sun and catching everyone's attention. Especially the customers who knew about her.
"Oh! It's Nessa!" A fisherman said as multiple words came flying in after Nessa made her appearance. If it wasn't clear already, she was exceedingly popular here at Hulbury. Being a Gym Leader and even a model. Especially a model.
"Nessa! I'm a huge fan!" A young girl said, screeching out Nessa's name. Others were huge fans of this Gym Leader/Model, expressing their adoration for her. Soon, the whole restaurant was flooded with praise of Nessa.
Nessa waved at them, giving out a soft smile to her fans which was complimented by those sharp eyes that she had. There was both a serious and soft presence about her.
"Guess she came to me." Ash put the Rotomphone away. "Hey there. My name's Ash."
"So you're Ash?" Nessa gazed at the Alola Champion, observing him for a bit. She would get a good look at his entire appearance from his outfit, looks and overall disposition. "Hmm...Well, you don't look all that impressive. But you do have a consistent getup."
"Really?" Ash tugged his jacket as Nessa complimented his outfit. "Gee thanks."
"Pikachu!"
"I've heard about you from my friend Sonia. Then again, I've heard about you a lot when I visit Equestria here and there. You've made a name for yourself, haven't you?"
"He sure has!" Pinkie Pie zipped over, holding Ash's shoulder and leaning him forward. "Ash is our resident mentor and hero, ya know! Of course, he's super famous over there!"
"Pikachu too," Ash added as he couldn't leave Pikachu out of this. He was just as popular. "That goes for everyone. Plus, you guys are heroes too, right?"
"Me? I don't know about that, Ash." Sci-Twi laughed as she didn't see herself as one.
"You took their world by storm when it was all separate." Nessa approached Ash. "I can see why. I actually wish I could've gotten involved earlier on. Equestria's modelling scene is some of the best I've seen. On par with the ones here."
"Uh, really?" Ash replied while watching Nessa observe him. "Well, it's never too late, ya know. You can be super popular at Equestria with that. I mean you already are since you're the 2nd Gym Leader."
"And you're the one who's been giving trainers a tough time. Plus the one who's holding me back from entering the Equestria League." Rainbow Dash pouted, referring to the fact that Nessa was a massive blockade as Equestria's 2nd Gym Leader. Being a double Gym Leader meant that neither Galar nor Equestria would have an easy time going up against her. Especially Equestria.
"And the best of them all." Nessa confidently crossed her arms, feeling proud about her strength and how it's blocked so many trainers from advancing.
"Yeah, she is!" The crowd in the restaurant hyped Nessa up. In a matter of minutes, they already held up fan apparel of Nessa. From shirts that say 'I Love Nessa', flags of her face and other accessories. She had an entire groupie brigade that knew how to keep their distance thankfully.
"And I plan to be the best in the world once I defeat Leon and become the World Champion. As much as I encourage those little ponies to get stronger, I won't let anyone get ahead of me on my quest to true stardom. Being the best in the world means that I'm the biggest star in the world.
"Even more than your modelling career?" Sci-Twi questioned.
"That'll only help me reach the top of my modelling career too. The best trainer and the best model. Both are just too promising for me." Nessa continued. "It really doesn't matter which one I complete first. Because I know I'll succeed."
"Cool. But you see...I'm the one who's going to beat Leon and become the World Champion." Ash would immediately reply, declaring himself to be the future World Champion by pointing at his chest.
"Pikachu!"
"You? The next World Champion? Bold of you to say that in front of me." Nessa smirked while narrowing her eyes. "Do you think you have what it takes?"
"Oh yeah! Ash totally has what it takes!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "He's got all of Equestria to back him up after all!"
"Hm. All of Equestria? That's impressive. You have quite the following, Ketchum. But is it as passionate as all my followers and fans? With them, I feel like I can do anything."
"Same here. I have all my friends to give me strength." Ash certainly had more than just Equestria on his side. "I'm ready for our battle, Nessa. Let's do this!"
"Right, right. But let's make it something for many to gander at." Nessa offered a presentation for this battle. "I don't want this to be a small World Championship battle that a few people see. I want many to see this."
"Uh sure. Where do you wanna go?" Ash asked.
"Recording and broadcasting across Galar and even other parts of the world, there's a stadium that's large enough to make that possible. My Gym will do just fine and I'll make sure Equestria sees it as well." Nessa was going big for this Pokemon World Championship Battle.
"All of Equestria's gonna see it?!" Sunset Shimmer gasped. "Wow...You really wanna make this big, huh?"
"Of course I do. Because taking down the most popular trainer in Equestria will give me a boost." Nessa also did this just to really make Ash's defeat bigger than ever. "Ash. No hard feelings, but I plan to take your throne as Equestria's Shining Star. It's for my goal."
"Sheesh. She really hypes herself up a lot doesn't she?" Rainbow Dash said to Pinkie Pie.
"Yeah. Kinda like you." Pinkie Pie replied with Rainbow Dash nodding in approval. She had no shame in agreeing to that fact. Nessa was a bit like Rainbow Dash in the way she would boast and boost herself.
"Now, Ash. Let's get going, shall we?"
Hulbury Gym.
The Hulbury Gym. Currently, many had gathered here after Nessa spread the word along with her passionate fans. The seats here were all occupied by those who were eager to see Nessa battle. And of course, most were rooting for Nessa. It was all in her favour in this stadium. Most from Galar knew who she was.
More of her fans had shown up to Hulbury instead of the ones that lived here. This groupie brigade was certainly large and it was possibly larger than ever with these cameras around. By Nessa's request, this battle would be recorded just for many across the world to see. And now that this Super-Earth involved Equestria, those in the magical land would get to witness this.
How exactly? Magic, of course. A magical aura had been imbued around some of these cameras, sending mystical transmissions to Equestria. It was much like how the musical performance on the last day of the Third Pokemon Festival made many near and far witness it.
Over at Equestria, the stadium was shown via a large magical projection. This went from Canterlot, Manehattan to even the Crystal Empire. Nessa wasn't kidding when she wanted to take Ash's spotlight. And those at Ponyville definitely saw it from above with Scootaloo frantically aiming her hoof up at it.
"Oh look! Ash is about to battle!" She pointed out from across the world.
"Isn't that the Gym Leader that's slowing the Equestria League down?" Starlight Glimmer pointed out, recognizing Nessa as that one Gym Leader that was hard to get past.
"Mhm. Heard about it from my cousins at Dodge Junction." Applejack added. "Experience beats spirit though. But for Ash..." All of Ash's friends from Ponyville would be watching. This would be a wonderfully convenient entertainment to view.
"You got this, Ash!" While Nessa had her passionate fans, Ash had fans here. He had a shared Fanclub with Rainbow Dash after all. While they all couldn't show up, they were certainly going to cheer him on, being just as passionate as Nessa's fans.
"GO NESSA!" And back at Hulbury, with all of Nessa's fans having various objects and giving out thunderous cheers to show their love for the Hulbury Gym Leader, Pinkie Pie would do the same, holding out flags of Ash's face.
"We're here for you Ash!" Pinkie Pie roared. All 5 of us! And adding the Pokemon that makes...uh...It doesn't matter! All of us are cheering you on!"
"If you win here and everypony back at Equestria watches it, then they'll get the confidence and strength to finally get past Nessa!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "My spot as the future First Equestrian Champion depends on it!" And of course, she just wanted a way for the Equestria League to progress. And Ash was seemingly the one who could fix that.
"Sorry. Is this spot taken?" Arriving to sit next to Pinkie Pie's group was none other than Sonia. A good friend of Nessa as she showed up to view this battle.
"Sonia?" Pinkie Pie said her name.
"I couldn't help but notice the fan appeal you have of Ash here." Sonia would find a seat with Sci-Twi scorching over. "We meet again but...you all look rather different."
"Uh, don't worry about this." Rainbow Dash replied. "We'll explain this new look later. But are you here to cheer Nessa on or Ash?"
"Oh, right. She's a good friend of yours so you'd want to see her battle. Especially with something this large." said Sunset Shimmer.
"I did. But I'm not really rooting for either side. It doesn't matter who wins this one. Though, I guess the outcome depends on who's more passionate about winning this battle."
"Nessa sound pretty passionate when we met her back at that restaurant," Carlita added. "Apparently, she's making a big deal about this just to overthrow Ash."
"Ah, I see. That makes sense. Nessa's always been chasing stardom. She's always been competitive when trying to be the best at something. But it always lurks beneath her. You'll always see her calm and collected side." Sonia explained.
"Looks like a mix of both if you ask me." Sunset Shimmer saw both sides in Nessa with how she spoke to her friends back at the restaurant.
"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet. Trust me. Me and Nessa go way back and I've seen what she can do." But being Nessa's friend meant that out of everyone in this stadium, Sonia knew the most about her. "You can even ask Milo if you get the chance. I wonder if your friend Ash can keep his fame after this."
"He totally will!" Rainbow Dash roared, confident in Ash. "She wants Equestria to see this too and they're gonna see her lose this. Go for it, Ash!"
"This Pokemon World Championships Battle will be between Gym Leader Nessa from Hulbury Town and Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. Both Trainers may use 3 Pokemon Each. And the battle will be over when all Pokemon on one side are unable to battle." The Rotomdrone who could also act as the referee stated. And also, a battle of this size would be accompanied by an announcer who would commentate this entire battle for many to really get into it.
"Prepare yourself, Ash," Nessa said to the Boy from Pallet Town. "You're looking at the next Shining Star in the world. My fame's going to skyrocket to the height of a tsunami with this."
"Bring it on, Nessa!" Ash adjusted his gloves, ready to begin. "Time to throw down!"
"Pikachu!"
"Both trainers, send out your first Pokemon!"
"Sirfetch'd! I choose you!" Ash's first decision was Sirfetch'd as he vigorously threw the Poke Ball, summoning the Wild Duck Pokemon.
"Sirfetch'd!"
"Go, Golisopod!" As for Nessa, Golisopod was her choice as she elegantly launched the Dive Ball in her hand.
"Golisopod!"
"Oh? Who's that?" Sci-Twi took out her Pokedex to read up on Golispod at once.
"Golisopod. The Hard Scale Pokemon. With a flashing slash of its giant sharp claws, it cleaves seawater—or even air—right in two. It will do anything to win, taking advantage of every opening and finishing opponents off with the small claws on its front legs. They live in sunken ships or in holes in the seabed. When Golisopod and Grapploct battle, the loser becomes the winner’s meal.
"Just so you know, I know a few things about you and your Pokemon. So there's no way you can get ahead of me with what's out there." Nessa said, even having knowledge of Ash's Pokemon.
"Heh." Ash grinned as he was eager to see if she could truly stop him even with this knowledge. "We'll see about that."
"Battle Start!"
"Golisopod! Use First Impression!"
"Pod! Goli!" Golisopd would go first, using the move that works excellently during the beginning of a battle. Golisopod quickly dashed at such great speeds that he seemed to have disappeared for a second.
"I knew this was coming...Detect!" But Ash was already aware of Golisopod's signature move. And he had the right move to ignore such a powerful attack.
"Sir!" Sirfetch'd's eyes would flash blue as the second Golisopod would reappear, having his arms up for a powerful chop, Sirfetch'd spotted him. As Golispod swung his arm down, Sirfetch'd would just slide out of the way, leaving behind blue afterimages in the process. The chop from Golisopod would only smash into the stadium floor.
"Goli?"
"Missed!" The announcer yelled. "Golisopod's best move has been a bust by just that one Detect!"
"Tch. First Impression missed on the first go..." That did annoy Nessa. First Impression did not land at the beginning of the battle, unfortunately. "But it's fine! Golisopod! Use Liquidation!"
"Pod!" Golisopod would continue using up-close attacks and this time it would be Liquidation. The Bug-Water-Type ended up creating a sword of water in between his hands before rushing at the Wild Duck Pokemon.
"Let's meet it with Fury Cutter, Sirfetch'd!"
"Sir!" Sirfetch'd would retaliate with his own natural blade. With a verdant glow surrounding his leek, Sirfetch'd would stand still, allowing Golisopod to approach him. Fury Cutter and Liquidation would be smashed against each other as these two blades clashed.
"It's a sluggish yet heavy clash between these two Pokemon and their respective weapons!"
But very soon, they'd speed up, going from sluggish and hard to fairly quick and sharp. A flurry of slashes from both Pokemon went off as green and blue streaks could be seen. However, Sirfetch'd had one edge. His shield. While Fury Cutter and Liquidation kept going against each other with both Pokemon moving across one spot. Sirfetch'd managed to block an incoming Liquidation with his shield, promptly slowing down this up-close encounter.
"Do you think that shield will keep you safe? Break it apart with Shadow Claw, Golisopod!"
"So! Pod-Pod!" Golisopod would then switch moves, this time, summoning a shadowy aura that manifested into a claw. Afterwards, the Hard Scale Pokemon would start vigorously slashing on the shield with streaks of shadows emerging this time. Sirfetch'd would block continuously with his shield, keeping it up at times. But with each hit, the shield kept trembling.
"Okay, Sirfetch'd! Push Golisopod back and strike!"
"Sir...Fetch'd!" With brute force, Sirfetch'd pushed his shield forward with prompted Golisopod to slide back, halting the next Shadow Claw for a moment. After that, Sirfetch'd lunged in, going for a powered-up Fury Cutter which only grew stronger the more it was used.
"Lisopod!" Golisopod would try and strike back at the right time Sirfetch'd came in close. But this time, it was Sirfetch'd who managed to get the first hit in, slashing Golisopod's chest with Fury Cutter. "Pod!" And with such a hit, Golisopod was not only knocked back but also stumbled from it, receiving a strong stagger. "G-Goli...!"
"Direct hit! Golisopod's stumbling from that one!"
"Yeah!" Ash pumped his fist. "You've got it down perfectly, Sirfetch'd! Let's keep it up! Night Slash!"
"Sir! Fetch-Fetch-Fetch!" Sirfetch'd would then move in for another flurry of attacks. This time, it would be Night Slash. His leek was coated in darkness, taking advantage of Golisopod's stagger.
"As if! Golisopod! Swords Dance!"
"Golisopod!" Golisopod had another physical attack to show off. With his arms being enveloped in a white light, the Bug-Water-Type would not only increase his strength but also swung them at the Wild Duck Pokemon. Once again, Sirfetch'd's leek and Golisopod's claws would meet.
"Keep at it, sirfetch'd! Swing as wildly as you can!"
"Sir!" Sirfetch'd would then jump back. He would then use the variation of Night Slash which involved him slashing the air wildly, summoning black waves, giving him some distance.
"Stop them at once, Golisopod!"
"Pod! Goliso!" Golisopod would use Swords Dance to knock these black waves away. The waves would fly everywhere with how fast Golisopod was knocking them aside. He would even try to knock some of them back at Sirfetch'd. However one of these waves managed to hit Golisopod directly due to how many of them there were. But Golisopod did end up bouncing back one of the waves, causing Sirfetch'd to receive some damage as well. "Go!"
"S-Sir!"
"An exchange between both of them with the same move!" The announcer exclaimed.
"Are you doing okay, Sirfetch'd?" Ash asked. Sirfetch'd was completely fine even if he was surprised by that one Night Slash that came back to hit him.
"Goli...Golisopod!" But as for Golisopod, his ability would immediately kick in. Emergency Exit. Feeling like he took too much damage here, he decided to immediately return to his Poke Ball, retreating for a bit.
"Hmph." Nessa closed her eyes before swapping Dive Balls. "Alright. You pushed back my Golisopod. If only that First Impression actually landed."
"Hehe. Sirfetch'd's got amazing defence so there was no way he was gonna let that surprise him." Ash said, with a wide grin on his face.
"Sir!"
"That's it, Ash!" Pinkie Pie cheered on, waving the flag around. "You've definitely got her on the ropes since Golisopod went back itself!"
"I think that's just it's ability, Pinkie." Rainbow Dash said, knowing about Emergency Exit. "But still, it doesn't take away that Golisopod's close to going down. Keep it up, Ash!"
"Let's see how you handle this next Pokemon! Go, Bararskewda!" Out came Nessa's next Pokemon. This time, a Galar-native Pokemon. Barraskewda.
"Barraskewda!"
"Who's that Pokemon?" Ash would immediately take out his Pokedex as Barraskewda was new to him. The same went for ScI-Twi and the others.
"Barraskewda. The Skewer Pokemon. This Pokémon has a jaw that’s as sharp as a spear and as strong as steel. Apparently, Barraskewda’s flesh is surprisingly tasty, too. It spins its tail fins2 to propel itself, surging forward at speeds of over 100 knots before ramming prey and spearing into them."
"Contestant Nessa's next Pokemon is Barraskewda!" The announcer exclaimed. "This will be a bit hard to keep up with now that Barraskewda is out!"
"You heard him, right?" Nessa smirked. "Try and keep up with what's coming, Ash. Barraskewda! Drill Run!"
"Bara...Skew!" Immediately, Barraskewda rotated its body quickly, with white lines swirling around its body. Afterwards, Barraskewda took off, moving at great speeds.
"Woah!" Ash was stunned by this sudden speed. "Use Detect!"
"Sir!" By the skin of his teeth, Sirfetch'd managed to pull off Detect. It was a close one as Barraskewda was insanely close to hitting him. The Fighting-Type slid to the side with Detect, barely evading Barraskewda's spiralling body.
"Again!"
"Bara!" But after Sirfetch'd evaded the first Drill Run, Barraskewda would simply use it again, swiftly changing directions. The Skewer Pokemon closed in with Drill Run, closing the gap in mere seconds. Sirfetch'd's eyes widened right as the Water-Type was in front of him.
"F-Fetch!" Sirfetch'd was hit. The speeding Barraskewda struck and passed by him with Drill Run. He would nearly fall over, only to recover on his feet. But that Drill Run definitely bewildered him as he stumbled for a moment.
"Look at that speed!"
"Don't think that's the end of it. Keep going!" By Nessa's command, another Drill Run would come. And this time, it would be a barrage of Drill Runs from this speedy Pokemon as it hadn't yet stopped spinning, moving in for a third attack.
"Block it, Sirfetch'd!"
"Sirfetch'd!" The only thing Sirfetch'd could do now was defend himself. By putting up his shield, he would block the next Drill Run. It was a hard block as Drill Run had a lot of weight to it with all of the velocity that Barraskewda gathered. Barraskewda bounced off the shield but did not lose any momentum.
But now, Sirfetch'd had to focus on other sides. He tried turning around as fast he could, only to be hit from the side by the next Drill Run. It wasn't until another turnaround that he managed to block another one. It would be back and forth for both of them. Sirfetch'd would keep blocking with his shield while Barraskewda would get one hit in each time Sirfetch'd managed to block one, only to be tackled by another, being too slow to turn around as fast as he needs to.
"Sirfetch'd is doing its best to block all of Barraskewda's attacks from all sides but there's still a window that it can't seem to close!" The announcer roared as the sounds of Nessa's fans would boom once she started gaining the advantage.
"That's one of the fastest Pokemon I've ever seen!" Even Rainbow Dash was amazed by the sheer speed of Barraskewda. "And it's doing all of this without being in any water?!"
"That's a problem!" Sunset Shimmer grimaced. "Sirfetch'd can only back once and ends up getting afterwards!"
"What's wrong, Ash? Too fast for you? I've never used Barraskewda in a Gym Battle. Especially against trainers in Equestria and no one there's ever gotten the chance to see my second Pokemon. So this shouldn't be too surprising for you to lag behind."
"No way I'm letting this beat me out!" Ash protested. "Sirfetch'd! Let's wait for the right moment! Keep an eye on Barraskewda!"
"Sir...!" Sirfetch'd would eye down Barraskewda while blocking some of these incoming Drill Runs. But Sirfetch'd was accumulating a lot of damage because of these rapid hits. Ash would also eye down the Skewer Pokemon, focusing as hard as he could. He watched as Barraskewda would bounce off Sirfetch'd's shield each time it crashed into it but it did not lose any momentum from doing so.
That's when Ash found something. He couldn't have Sirfetch'd dodge it. That'd be impossible, even if he managed to get off one Detect, it wouldn't work in succession the next time. So, Ash would stick to keeping it physical.
"Here it comes...Kick your shield, Sirfetch'd!"
"Sir...!" Sirfetch'd would hold out his shield in front of Barraskewda's next Drill Run. But instead of just holding it out, Sirfetch'd would smash his feet onto the shield right when Barraskewda crashed into it.
This would greatly disrupt Barraskewda's momentum. It bounced off the shield like before, but this time, it would be thrown off course, spinning through the air. The pushback from the shield cut off any rebound momentum the Skewer Pokemon had.
"B-Bara?!"
"What?!" Nessa pulled back as something like that ended up stopping Barraskewda's kick. A simple push of the shield. Granted, it was a strong push
"Now's our chance! Night Slash!"
"Sir...Fetch'd!" After slowing Barraskewda down for a while, Sirfetch'd found his opportunity to strike. By swinging his leek in the air, black waves from Night Slash were sent out instead of getting in close. For an opponent like Barraskewda, it was best to keep some distance.
"Skew!" Direct hit. Barraskewda took some hits from Night Slash as all the black waves would slice the Water-Type.
"Sirfetch'd countered Barraskewda's speed just like that! It's lost all momentum and takes Night Slash!"
"Kicking the shield? That's just silly!" Nessa kissed her teeth, surprised that such a trick worked to slow down her speedy Barraskewda. "Poison Jab!"
"Barra!" But Barraskewda would attack once more, gaining its balance back in a few seconds. Afterwards, Barraskewda charged in with poison around its entire body.
"Night Slash!"
"Sir...!" Sirfetch'd would then ready his leek, keeping his shield up just in case he needed to push the Water-Type back again. With a thrust, Sirfetch'd's leek with Barraskewda's body, creating a strong collision which brought along a black and purple smoke cloud. Both Pokemon were knocked out of the smoke cloud, suffering some damage. But the one who took the most damage was undoubtedly Sirfetch'd.
He slid on the ground while Barraskewda still managed to recover by hovering. Sirfetch'd had fainted at last but he put up an amazing fight against both Pokemon. "Sirfetch'd..."
"Sirfetch'd is unable to battle! Barraskweda wins!"
"Good work, Sirfetch'd. Return and rest up, okay?" Ash would have Sirfetch'd rest promptly, returning him to his Poke Ball. "Your friends will take it from here."
"It took two Pokemon for Contest Ash's Sirfetch'd to fall. Right now, Nessa is in the lead but her Golisopod did retreat from major damage!" The announcer said while the crowd shouted out Nessa's name.
"It's fine! He just needs to get past Barraskewda and Golisopod's easy pickings!" Carlita stood up. "It's all a matter of pressure here!"
"Pika-Pi! Pikachu!" Just then, after Ash returned Sirfetch'd, Pikachu would speak out. From how he stood up, Pikachu wanted to get in on the action as soon as possible.
"You wanna go next? Alright then...Pikachu! I choose you!" Ash agreed to have Pikachu take the initiative, picking up where Sirfetch'd left off.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu was glad to hear it as he jumped into the battle. The moment he arrived, his red sacs would flare electricity.
"Contestant Ash sends out his next Pokemon! Pikachu! Pikachu here holds a large advantage over all of Gym Leader Nessa's Pokemon. But is it enough?"
"I'll beat speed with speed. And when it comes to Pikachu, I can always trust his speed." Ash adjusted his hat.
"We'll see about that." Nessa scoffed. "You still have to get past two of my Pokemon who haven't fainted yet."
"Check this out! Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
"Pika...Pikachu!" In a flash, Pikachu was gone, leaving behind a white glow. He would then reappear in front of Barraskewda, tacking the Skewer Pokemon's head. Pikachu already showed off his speed, moving as fast as a lightning bolt in that instance.
"I-I didn't see it!" Nessa stuttered before shaking her head. "Drill Run, Barraskewda!"
"Barra!" Another Drill Run was due. This time, it would be used on a faster Pokemon. But how fast was Pikachu exactly?
"Pika...Chu!" Much faster than Sirfetch'd. Immediately, Pikachu would duck the Drill Run, being able to see Barraskewda's speed. After evading it, Barraskewda would redirect itself for another Drill Run, much like how it unleashed a barrage of Sirfetch'd "Pika! Pikachu!"
But Pikachu managed to dodge each Drill Run, jumping and running across the stadium with his nimble body. Barraskewda found itself struggling to catch the Mouse Pokemon as it wasn't the only swift Pokemon here. Nessa growled as she was waiting for Barraskewda to land one super-effective hit on Pikachu. But that didn't look like it was happening any time soon.
"Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" The moment Barraskewda went in for another Drill Run, Pikachu would stay in one spot this time. But this was for him to use Iron Tail, swinging his tail at the incoming Water-Type. While it wouldn't be very effective, it would still be heavy as Pikachu used Barraskewda's velocity against it. Iron Tail smashed into the Skewer Pokemon, dealing a heavy blow that even made Pikachu's tail shake.
"What an impact! Barraskewda is trembling from that blow! Its momentum has been stopped again.
"Darn it...Poison Jab!" Nessa switched moves immediately to try and get the advantage.
"Barra...! Barraskew!" Barraskewa would use Poison Jab. But instead of heading in, Barraskewda would stay back this time. By swishing its tail forward, it managed to send out poison tendrils that still had physical power behind them.
"Dodge and use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika!" Pikachu would jump over this Drill Run, taking to the skies. By slapping his face, Pikachu would gather electricity before performing a twirl in the air to reposition himself.
"Barra!" Barraskewda repositioned the Poison Jab, shooting the tendrils into the air. Pikachu would then unleash a bolt of 100,000 volts that came crashing down from above.
Thunderbolt met with Poison Jab but immediately, the bolt would crash through the tendrils, consuming them. Thunderbolt would then smite Barraskewda, dealing super-effective damage. The impact then caused an explosion which enveloped the Skewer Pokemon. Pikachu would then descend, sticking a stylish landing for style points.
As for Barraskewda, once the smoke cleared, it failed to stand or even float back up. That Thunderbolt did the trick along with the damage that was racked up previously on this Swift Glass Cannon. Barraskewda had fainted.
"Barraskewda..."
"Barraskewda is unable to battle! Pikachu wins!"
"The next knockout comes from Contest Ash!" The announcer exclaimed as Nessa's fans were hit by this first loss. They weren't too happy to see Nessa's Pokemon go down. But that only prompted them to cheer for Nessa some more.
And while this stadium was filled with support for Nessa, over at Equestria, support for Ash was even louder. Even those from the Pokemon House would give their support. That went for every Pokemon that Fluttershy watched over. So in reality, Ash had a tremendous number of supporters who just weren't here.
"Rest up, Barraskewda," Nessa said. "Well, you're way stronger than you appear. I'd be disappointed if you weren't."
"Thanks, Nessa. You're pretty strong too. I've been missing out on battling Galar's Gym Leaders." Ash replied.
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"But I refuse to lose! Golisopod! Return to the scene!"
"Golisopod!" Golisopod returned to the battle.
"Just two more and he's got this!" Sci-Twi said with high confidence in her voice. "You don't seem all that worried though, Sonia."
"Ah, it's fine. But it's entertaining to see Nessa react like this. Not many can get a reaction out of her like this. It's way different from when she's a Gym Leader." Sonia replied.
"This time...it will work! First Impression!"
"Goli!" Now that Golisopod had returned to the battle, First Impression could be used at its full potential once more. Golisopod once again disappeared, going for his strongest move and was hoping to land it.
"Block it with Iron Tail!"
"Pika!" Pikachu held his tail out, ready to block the First Impression. Once Golisopod reappeared, the Hard Scale Pokemon chopped onto Pikachu's hardened tail. However, the full strength of First Impression managed to beat out Iron Tail the moment they collided, knocking Pikachu away. "P-Pika!"
"Excellent! Now, use Shadow Claw!"
"Pikachu! Iron Tail on the ground!"
"Pikachu-pi!" Pikachu would then roll to recover before continuing to use Iron Tail. After recovering, the Mouse Pokemon would slam his tail onto the ground, propelling himself upwards just from the impact. It was a great way to evade as Golisopod missed Shadow Claw thanks to Pikachu's ascension.
"Not this time! Chase him down!"
"Golisopod!" But nothing was stopping Golisopod from also jumping. He would leap, pursuing Pikachu into the air.
"Pika?!"
"Pod!" After chasing Pikachu into the air, Golisopod would land Shadow Claw at last, slashing the Electric-Type. With brute strength, Golisopod sent Pikachu crashing back to the ground.
"Ka!"
"Pikachu! Are you alright?! Ash asked before seeing Pikachu tumble on the stadium floor.
"This will do the trick and finish you! Shadow Claw, once more!"
"Goli!" Golisopod would then drop down, going for yet another Shadow Claw. This time, from above and with both claws being utilized instead of just one.
"Dodge with Quick Attack!"
"Pi!" But at lightning speeds, Pikachu would move out of the way, evading the incoming Shadow Claw which would then hit the ground, missing its target. But Golisopod would not relent. He would chase down Pikachu immediately. "Pika?!"
"Swords Dance!"
"Lisopod!" He quickly switched attacks yet again, this time going for Swords Dance which would raise his already high strength.
"Electroweb!"
"Chu...Pika!" But the moment Golisopod got too close for comfort, Pikachu would prepare an Electroweb. By swinging his tail, Pikachu threw the net of electricity which would expand in front of the Hard Scale Pokemon.
"Goli!" Golisopod went in for a strike, only to be stopped by the web that stood in his way. "So?!" The Bug-Water-Type was stuck, having his speed drop as the web perfectly fit his size.
"Golisopod's stuck within this net! Super-effective damage and a decrease in speed is punishing Nessa's Pokemon!" The announcer yelled.
"Oh no! Get out of there now, Golisopod!" Nessa yelled. "Cut through!"
"Now's our chance! Thunderbolt!"
"Pika!" After trapping Golisopod, Pikachu would prepare a Thunderbolt. He would first backflip before then summoning an electrical aura around himself.
"As if I'll let it end like this! Golisopod! Break free at all costs with Swords Dance!"
"Goli...Sopod!" Thanks to Swords Dance, Golisopod's strength allowed him to muscle through the web, cutting it to pieces. Right on time as Pikahchu's Thunderbolt had been unleashed. Golisopod would move out of the way just in time as it was a close call. After dodging that Thunderbolt, Golisopod would lunge forward, taking the opportunity to land a hit in.
"Pikachu?!" Pikachu gasped before receiving a strong mack from the Hard Scale Pokemon. He went be sent upwards, grimacing at this heavy blow. The Mouse Pokemon was surprised to see Golisopod still standing after all of that
"Goli...Golisopod..." After landing a hard hit on Pikachu, Golisopod breathed in and out. Clearly, he was worn out for obvious reasons. That Electroweb didn't help at all.
"That thing's still not going down?!" Carlita exclaimed. "What happened to its signature ability anyway?!"
"It might not want to return any more," said Sci-Twi. "But it's suffered a lot of damage to keep going, honestly.
"Man, that's one tough Golisopod." Ash grinned, impressed by Golispod's resistance. "Pikachu. Return for a while."
"Pika? Pikachu." Pikachu would run back, taking a moment to rest.
"It's your turn! Dracovish! I choose you!" Out came Ash's third Pokemon in this battle. Fitting that he would send a Water-Type out in this battle.
"Dracovish!"
"Gh! What is that thing...?" Upon seeing Dracovish, Nessa was a bit stunned and blown back by this Fossil Pokemon. "No matter. It's going down. And soon all of your Pokemon will drop! Show them everything, Golispod! Shadow Claw!"
"Goli...Sopod!" Golisopod would go in for a Shadow Claw, using all of his current strength to make this attack count. Ash simply narrowed his eyes before yelling out his next command.
"We'll end it in one attack! Ice Fang!"
"Draco...!" Dracovish watched Golispod approach, coating its fangs in an icy blue aura. Golisopod landed a hit, striking Dracovish's chest. But while this Shadow Claw had exceedingly heavy with a lot of power behind it, it wasn't enough. "Vish!" Dracovish immediately bit Golisopod's head.
"G-Go...!"
"Dracovish!" And now that the Apex Predator of the past had Golisopod in its clutches, the ice from Ice Fang would spread across the Bug-Water-Type's body. Afterwards, Dracovish would toss the frozen Pokemon away with its fangs, dropping Golisopod.
The ice would then break apart after Golisopod was dropped. And that was enough to do the trick. Suffering too much damage, Golispod ended up fainting within the ice instead of a big attack to do the trick. Just as Ash said, he finished it in one shot.
"Golisopod is unable to battle! Dracovish wins!"
"That's two Pokemon from Gym Leader Nessa down! Contestant Ash tips the scales back in his favour with this ancient Pokemon!" The announcer said as Ash took control of this battle, gaining the lead.
"No way!" Nessa's fans screeched as they couldn't believe what they were seeing and hearing. It was all favouring Ash now.
"Thank you, Golispod. Rest up, please." Nessa returned Golispod. "You're one heck of a blockade, Ash. I guess I know what the trainers from Equestria feel like now. You're definitely in my way of reaching stardom."
"Hey, you've been giving me some problems. Don't sweat it, Nessa." Ash replied.
"But this last Pokemon will change everything." Nessa held out her final Dive Ball. "My greatest partner will stop your streak here and now, Ash! I hope you're ready."
"I'm always ready, Nessa!"
"Then...Come on out! Dreadnaw!" Nessa sent out her Ace Pokemon. The one Pokemon she was banking on winning this for her. Dreadnaw.
"Drednaw!"
"So it's Drednaw, huh?" Ash uttered as this would be his second time ever facing a Drednaw. But the lack of battling or knowing much about this one Pokemon wouldn't stop or bother him. "Stay sharp, Dracovish. This one's got one heck of a defence."
"Draco!"
"I've got my sights set on greatness. And I won't let you stop me! I'm going all out from the start! Stone Edge!"
"Dred...Naw!" Drednaw started off strong, slamming its front legs onto the ground, resulting in pointed light blue rock pillars appearing out of the stadium ground as they would rush with the ferocity of a wild beast.
"Water Gun!"
"Dracovish!" Dracovish would use Water Gun as a way to retaliate, blasting out a strong stream of water. The water stream would obliterate some of the rocks but a few managed to slip through. Those that slipped through would uppercut Dracovish, sending the Fossil Pokemon back. "Dra!"
"Earthquake!"
"Dred!" Following up from Stone Edge, with another stomp, Dreadnaw would create a powerful tremor which generated cracks. Out of those cracks, a golden shockwave emerged.
"Look out, Dracovish! Jump as high as you can!"
"Vish...! Dracovish!" Dracovish would try and evade Earthquake by jumping. And with these powerful legs that were so useful in the far past, it could certainly leap at great lengths. The Water-Dragon-Type left the ground, barely avoiding Earthquake as the golden shockwaves almost touched its feet.
"A close call! Dracovish narrowly evades the Earthquake!"
"Now! Water Gun from above!"
"I think not! Liquidation!"
"Naw!" The entire body of Drednaw would be enveloped in an aqua aura. Right as Water Gun was unleashed, Drednaw would also enter the air in its own unique way. The two Water-Type attacks would meet with Dreadnaw charging through the stream of water.
"It's pushing through?!" Sunset Shimmer gasped. Everyone watched as Drednaw powered through the Water Gun, crashing into the Fossil Pokemon.
"C-Co!" Dracovish fell, tumbling and rolling on the ground after being bewildered by that brute force charge from Drednaw. Dracovish wasn't the only Water-Type here with pure power on its side. Drednaw seemed to fit that category, even carrying a jaw that was not to be underestimated.
"Hang in there, Dracovish! Fishious Rend!"
"Co...Dracovish!" Dracovish used its entire upper body strength to jolt back up, getting back into the action. With the full strength of its legs, Dracovish would charge in, moving at 40 mph, just as the Pokedex said.
"Use Crunch, Drednaw!"
"Dred!" Drednaw roared before receiving a bite from its fellow Water-Type. Before it could get the chance to use its attack, Dracovish's speed allowed it to get the next hit in. Dracovish bit down on the Water-Rock-Type's head as its lower jaw glows light blue. Dracovish had a grip on Drednaw before Drednaw could grip it. And with this grip, Dracovish would raise Drednaw into the air, causing the Bite Pokemon to flail its arms and legs around.
"D-Dred?!"
"Oh! Dracovish is the one who's got Drednaw! It's lifted up Nessa's ace and has it stuck!"
"Slam Drednaw, now!"
"Dred...Naw!" With Fishious Rend, Dracovish smashed Drednaw into the ground, dealing a heavy blow. And even when slamming the Bite Pokemon down, Dracovish still held onto it, not letting go at all.
"As if! Stone Edge!"
"Dred...Drednaw!" Even when stuck in this poison, Drednaw had a way to retaliate. And that was by using Stone Edge. Its entire body would glow blue as instead of summoning rocks from below, it would instead summon them around its body.
"D-Dra!" Dracovish's eyes opened as its mouth was suddenly attacked by an expanding rock. Multiple expanding rocks to be exact. All the rocks would rapidly appear, smacking and damaging Dracovish's mouth. "Draco...!" And of course, this made Dracovish's grip on Drednaw weaken. The rocks staggered Dracovish, causing it to back up.
"Now, finish it with Superpower!"
"Naw!" After breaking free, Drednaw would channel all of its strength into the head. With its head glowing, it would tuck its neck into its shell before popping out. Dracovish would be blown back by this vicious head strike from Drednaw, being sent flying so far it nearly reached Ash's spot.
"Dracovish..." After sliding on the ground, that Superpower was enough to put Dracovish down. It had fainted.
"Dracovish is unable to battle! Drednaw wins!" And with this knockout, both were down to just one Pokemon each. Nessa quickly balanced things out with her ace Pokemon. And fittingly, Ash's own ace was left.
"Thanks, Dracovish. Return and rest, alright?" Ash would return Dracovish, thanking the Fossil Pokemon. "Well. Looks like it's coming down to this. You're getting pretty close to that popularity throne, Nessa."
"That's right, Ash," Nessa smirked as her fans were at their loudest once she took down Drednaw. "Again, no hard feelings. But I wonder what everyone back at Equestria's thinking when looking at this."
"They're still cheering me on. I know it." Ash pointed at himself. "I've got a lot of friends there and since this is being shown in other regions, I know my other friends I've met before are watching this all go down. So I've got nothing to fear. Right, Pikachu?"
"Pikachu!"
"You say that now...But you won't be once I take you down." Nessa confidently said. "So send Pikachu forward so I can end this battle already and shoot up into the ranks."
"Yeah. We're ending. Pikachu! One last time!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu was back in the battle, ready for the final round.
"It comes down to this! Pikachu vs Drednaw! Let's see if our resident Gym Leader can pull off another victory here against Contest Ash from Pallet Town!"
"Oh, I will. And I'm finishing this with Drednaw's full strength! Get ready to be sunk, Ash! Pikachu!" Nessa suddenly returned Drednaw to its Poke Ball. This was for one reason and that Dynamax band on her hand said everything. "Flood the stadium and make it our ocean! Drednaw! It's time to Gigantamax!"
Gigantamax was about to make an entrance. The Dive Ball would suddenly expand, responding to the Dynamax energy from the band. Nessa would then throw the super-sized Dive Ball into the air, bringing Drednaw back out. But this time, bigger and better than ever.
Growing three times in a row, a familiar form that Ash and Pikachu had seen before had arrived. Giganatmax Drednaw, in all its glory, was here.
"DREDNAW!"
"It's Gigantamax!" The announcer yelled. "How will Contest Ash respond?!"
"Deja Vu..." Rainbow Dash said as this felt very familiar since the first Dynamax Pokemon Ash ever fought was a Gigantamax Drednaw. Fitting that in this new world, it happened again.
"Heh. Looks like it's round 2 against this one. But we're not gonna super-size for this." But Ash would not use Dynamax. Instead, he was sticking to how Pikachu currently appeared.
"No Dynamax? You must be crazy if you think you can win without it. I'll quickly teach you why that's a huge mistake! Drown Pikachu at once, Drednaw! G-MAX STONESURGE!"
"DRED!" Gigantamax Drednaw slammed its forelegs into the ground, creating a shockwave that travelled across the ground. From the shockwave, a strong wave of water bursts out of the ground, approaching Pikachu while summoning large rocks from all the destruction.
"Run, Pikachu! Jump on those rocks!"
"Pika!" Pikachu would dash in, approaching the large cascade. He would jump to land on one of the rocks, using it as a platform. After landing on one, Pikachu would jump from rock to rock, evading the powerful bursts of water. At least, for the most part. Some of them managed to reach him, sending shockwaves to propel him upwards. "P-Pi!"
"Max Darkness!"
"DRED...DREADNAW!" Once Pikachu was in the air, Drednaw would take the opportunity to unleash Max Darkness. Out of its body, massive black tendrils came flying out viciously, threatening to grab the Electric-Type.
"Here it comes! Electroweb!"
"Pika...! Pikachu-Pi!" In the air, Pikachu managed to throw out an Electorweb. This web defended him, growing large enough to contain the tendrils from Max Darkness. The web held the dark tendrils as they would combust, bringing out a colossal outburst of light and darkness.
The barrier that shielded everyone from these massive Dyanamax battles would shake just from the explosion. Nessa even closed one eye as her hair was blown by the shockwave.
"Now, Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Ash raised his fist, yelling as loud as he could.
"Finish him, Drednaw! Max Quake!"
"Pika....!" One final Thunderbolt to put an end to this battle. Pikachu lit up like a star in the night sky, bringing out a strong level of electricity that would even mimic the sound of lightning.
"DREDNAW!" As for Drednaw, out of its body, it would affect the ground, summoning a massive tremor that brought upon a titanic golden wave that would try and reach Pikachu. Both Pokemon unleashed their attacks with Thunderbolt crashing through the air.
A direct hit. Thunderbolt, with its superior speed, reached Drednaw before Max Quake could reach Pikachu. The Bite Pokemon received a disgustingly powerful jolt of 100,000 volts that enveloped its whole body, making its eyes widen. Max Quake would dissipate from this powerful impact, failing to reach Pikachu in time.
Stunned and perplexed, Drednaw would suddenly start shrinking which made Nessa's heart skip a beat. With Pikachu dropping from above, Drednaw would also drop but it wouldn't be a graceful one. The Bite Pokemon fell on its back after returning to its original form. The time for Giganatmax had ended. But more than that, Drednaw's strength to continue had also ended.
"Drednaw..."
"Drednaw is unable to battle! Pikachu wins! Thus, the winner of this Ultra Class Battle is Contestant Ash!"
"It's over!" The announcer said as the fans of Nessa were gobsmacked. "Today's winner over our Gym Leader is Contest Ash from Pallet Town!"
"Hahaha! Told ya!" Pinkie Pie jumped for joy as she and Rainbow Dash hugged each other. So did Sci-Twi and Sunset Shimmer once Ash claimed victory. "He did it!"
"I lost?!" Nessa held her hair, gritting her teeth as she was stunned to have seen herself lose in her own hometown. "I was the one who got washed away?! Impossible!"
"Oh yeah! And that's game!" Ash gave a thumbs-up before running over to Pikachu. "Awesome stuff, Pikachu!"
"Pikachu!"
"It can't be! Say it ain't so!" Nessa's fans teared up, cried out and bellowed for their favourite Gym Leader/Model. As for everyone over at Equestria, those who failed to get past Nessa felt at peace once they saw Ash claim victory. This was why he was their icon. It was reasons like this.
"Due to this battle's outcome, the Pokemon World Championships Rankings will be updated." The Rotomdrone said before flying off.
"Well, that's that." Sonia stood up. "Nessa won't take it all that well, but she probably had fun. I've never seen her like this for a long time. It looks like Ash brought out an old part of herself that was gone for a while."
"Grr...How can this be...?!" Nessa clenched her fist before looking over at Ash with narrowed eyes. Ahs would simply grin back with the most innocent smile possible. Nessa then sighed, accepting what had happened. "Hah...It is what it is...Looks like that throne isn't going anywhere any time soon. Thanks for the battle, Ash. And thank you for a job well done, Drednaw."
"Thanks as well, Nessa. For a Water-Type specialist, you sure know how to fire things up. Ash joked, holding his hand out for a handshake. Showing good sportsmanship, Nessa would shake it.
"Right...But this isn't over. This loss won't slow me down, you know that?" Nessa continued. "Even when I lose my fans will be there to keep supporting me onwards. And that will only give me the strength to win our next battle."
"And I've got my friends too. See ya around then, I guess."
"Oh no. You're not leaving yet." Nessa put on a devious smirk.
"Eh?"
"I have a few things I want you to do now that you're here. You're popular enough to give me a boost in a few things. So I'm gonna need you here in Hulbury for a bit. Got that?"
"Uh sure..." Ash chuckled as he didn't expect this kind of response. "I'm all ears."
Another Pokemon World Championships Battle had been completed. And it was once again another step closer to reaching Champion Leon. The World's Strongest Trainer. Much like the Raging Wave that is Nessa, there were other powerful Traienrs waiting to be challenged just for that Number One spot.
After a riveting Pokemon World Championship Ultra Class Battle between Ash and Nessa with Ash emerging as the victor, the afternoon could be seen slowly setting. And yet, despite this battle coming to an end, interactions between these two did not end.
Nessa's fans were heartbroken that their favourite trainer had lost to Ash. But they would soon recover. As for Nessa, losing to Ash did irritate her but she could accept it either way. And after their battle, she brought Ash and his friends along to a modelling area.
"Wait, why are we here, Nessa?" Ash asked.
"Even in defeat, I'm still chasing my dream. And I hope you don't mind but I need you to promote me."
"I don't know how to do that though..." Ash scratched his hair as this was lost on him.
"Don't worry about it, Ash." Sunset Shimmer wasn't so lost on it, however. "I think she just needs someone to get her more recognition and all you need to do is just be here, doing whatever."
"You're famous back at Equestria and you did beat me. Here's the thing. As a model, I'm doing whatever I can to get my name out there. It's fine back here at Galar but since I recently got involved with Equestria, my name needs to pop some more. And with you, who's going to resist noticing me?"
"Using Ash though?" Pinkie Pie squinted. "Hmm...Ain't that a bit fishy? Heh. Get it?"
"Yes, very funny." Nessa smiled. "It's only for a bit though. Just for promotion. Pictures of us will be taken, which will mostly be about me of course. I'll do all the talking while you just be you. Okay?"
"Sure, sure." Ash agreed to it. "If that's all, then it's fine with me. Let's try and look cool for the camera, Pikachu!"
"Pikachu!"
"As for you all, you can chime in, if you want." Nessa looked over at Sci-Twi, Carlita, Sunset, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, offering them a spot.
"Wait, really?! We get to be models?!" Sunset Shimmer's eyes lit up. "Seriously?!"
"Pass." Carlita instantly passed on that suggestion. But the others seemed interested. Especially Sunset Shimmer.
"But! I won't let you steal my spotlight." Nessa was still shooting for the top spot. "Get dressed in whatever you prefer. You can have your Pokémon join if any of them are Model-Worthy. I'll be getting ready in the meantime." She would walk off to prepare herself.
"Ash, we should give you a suit too!" Sliding over was Sunset Shimmer.
"Ah...Not that big of a fan of suits though..." Ash groaned. "I'm cool wearing this outfit. Ever since Rarity made it, it's the best one I've worn so far. Plus I got copies back home and in my bag. Sweet, right?"
"You have been wearing it longer than the previous ones. It suits you too much to change. Blue and all." Pinkie Pie nodded as changing Ash's look was out of the question. It had become too iconic to change. "But as for us, I know what I wanna wear. Do you wanna get involved, Mew? You can look like a model with just an easy transformation."
"Mew!" Just for the fun of it, Mew would get himself involved. Why not? And with his power to transform into so many Pokemon, he could be a model in a heartbeat.
"Being a model is about looking pretty, right? I think I'll pass too." Rainbow Dash said. "Although...Maybe one of my Pokemon wouldn't mind."
"Oh?" Suddenly, without Sunset Shimmer needing to do anything, one of her Poke Balls acted on its own. Or rather, her Pokemon. Out of it emerged her partner Braixen who caught wind of all of this.
"Braixen!" Upon arriving, Braixen would frantically jump up and down while looking at Sunset Shimmer, expressing her reaction to this.
"Do you want to get involved that badly?" Sunset asked.
"Brai!" Most definitely, she wanted to get involved. It's why she showed up after all. This was one Pokemon who definitely wanted to do it the most.
"After this, we're heading back to Unova for Alpha Scyther. Are you gonna stick around Carlita?" Ash questioned, facing the girl from Eindoak.
"I could just head back home to Unova and find that Alpha Scyther first but...I had a blast watching that battle between you and Nessa. Might stick around a bit. But nothing's stopping me from vanishing all of a sudden and beating you all there."
"I still wanna catch an Alpha Pokemon of my own too." Rainbow Dash added as that was the main reason she tagged along in the first place. "Maybe not that Lopunny. I'll leave that to you, Twi."
"Okay, Braixen! You're going to look both beautiful and adorable pretty soon! I mean you already are anyway." Sunset said as she and Braixen would leave to dress up. Ash would simply stay here with Carlita and Rainbow Dash while Twilight and Pinkie would join Sunset Shimmer.
Mellifera had arrived. After wishing to speak with the former Changeling Queen, Celestia would spot the arrival of Mellifera wo was also joined by Chrysalis, who escorted her here.
"So. You wanted to speak to me?" Mellifera said to Celestia.
"Mother...!" Chrysalis nudged Mellifera, wanting her to speak to Celestia with some respect.
"Oh please. I'm royalty too." Mellifera scoffed. "I can speak however I want to her."
"Ahaha...It's fine. Really." Celestia chuckled as she didn't mind Mellifera's tone at all. "Thank you for coming anyway. I wasn't sure that you would show up after hearing my request."
"I showed up because my daughter relayed your message to me. And I couldn't refuse to add my hoof in it because the Dread League are involved."
"My mother has already cut ties with the Dread League. But she still has knowledge about them that I also have." Chrysalis added.
"Great! So you all can share a lot with us. But what I really need to know the most is how to enter Magehold. It's protected by a powerful magical force that makes it difficult to enter or even find within the Hyperborean Island. Is there a way?"
"Only if you're an ally to them. The only reason I could enter was because by then, I wasn't going against them. The same goes for my daughter, Chrysalis. As it stands now, there is no way to enter it. Unless you had something unbelievably powerful enough that could break that magical force. It's straightforward but the Lich Queen won't make it that easy for you. You have no idea how far her magic can reach."
"I do." Celestia sighed. "Even when she's not there, Rosa can still speak to us and interact with the surroundings."
"Even when she's injured. It's something that all previous Lich Kings and Queens were capable of. They can interact even in the worst conditions. And with Rosa, she might be the best Lich Queen so far." Mellifera explained.
"But still...We just can't break through it because of her magic and we don't have anything strong enough to so far?" Chrysalis said.
"Daughter. She's a prodigy. One of the best prodigies I've ever seen. Far better than you." Mellifera shook her head while Chrysalis pouted at that response.
"Thank you for the response, mother..."
"Plus, that magical force has been there since the first Lich King. And the next Lich Rulers would add their magic to it, only increasing its defences more and more. And since Magehold is so dependant on those that have long gone, the magic of the previous Lich Rulers had been preserved for so long. While each of them weren't as talented as Rosa Maledicta, they were still powerful in their own right. So you are dealing with a magical force that has numerous Lich Kings and Queens powering it even from the great beyond."
"That many?!" Celestia and even Chrysalis gasped. The difficult entry to Magehold made way more sense and seemed reasonable now. Years of protection are what kept it from either being found or even broken into. And this would most likely be the case for future generations.
"Intimidating, isn't it? But it's inevitable. The one who is chosen to be the next Lich King or Queen is told this." Mellifera continued. "Even if she is not from Magehold."
"She was told this?" Celestia leaned in. "By who?"
"Who else? The previous rulers and their souls. I can still remember how I witnessed the 5th Lich King enter power by listening to the voices of the previous four." Mellifera would flash back to centuries ago when she witnessed the emergence of another Lich King and how it played out.
Magehold. Centuries Ago. Nightfall.
A pony who came from afar showed up to Magehold, just like Rosa Maledicta. And much like Rosa, there was a voice that called out to him, promising this pony a wealth of power for what he was capable of."
Mellifera was there, still existing as the current Changeling Queen. She stood in the dark and grim land of Magehold, surrounded by thorns that her locusts would devour. Mellifera would see this pony who was invited to Magehold stand there with a soulless face. His face was devoid of any expression.
His pupils were desaturated, lacking any irises as he was as stiff as a statue. This was due to the voice that spoke out to him. And Mellifera definitely saw it. It was a strange mass of mystical energy that permeated through the ground and the air, speaking into the ears of the pony who was about to come into power.
This was made by the Lich King and Queen from the past, using their power even from the great beyond to interact with the land of the living. Mellifera did not say anything about this. Why would she? She watched as the voices of the previous Lich Rulers tempted this pony.
"The voices that called for Rosa Maledicta to come to Magehold were all the previous Lich Kings and Queens. The 5th Lich King was already set to live in Magehold but the temptation of the previous rulers brought him to newer heights. They most likely see the potential in someone and choose them as the next Lich King and Queen. And I was even invited to see the coronation of these new rulers constantly."
Mellifera even recalled how she would show up to Magehold over and over again, witnessing new rulers rise. And there was one consistent them. They were all tempted by the voices from beyond. The voices of the previous rulers were everlasting within Magehold, knowing exactly what to say to the ponies who happened to stumble here. And even when one Lich Ruler's time was up, Mellifera would be there to see their fall. Time passed with each ruler she saw and met.
"I had so many connections with each of them even if they were just earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi. Seeing a new Lich King or Queen rise would only make me think about how they were just destined to become one with Magehold, whispering into the ears of the next pony that is dragged here."
Present day.
"Is that what this!?" Celestia stood up, startling Mellifera and Chrysalis. "So...all of them have just been ponies from Equestria?!"
"Y-Yes..." Mellifera stuttered. "Every single Lich King and Queen are not originally from Magehold. Some come from Equestria and others come from places not associated with Equestria. This will be the case for the next Lich Ruler."
"So this whole time...they've been bringing in ponies from afar, appointing them as the new King or Queen..." Celestia stuttered as Magehold has been growing behind her back, taking many ponies and making them apart of this vampire-filled nation.
"Almost all of them." But with Mellifera's next words, there was an exception. "The First Lich King was not a pony who was dragged here. Neither was he a vampire."
"He wasn't? Then what was he?" Chrysalis questioned.
"Unfortunately, that is all I can share. It seems the origin of the first Lich King is the only thing that I have no knowledge of. But now you know, Princess Celestia. In the future, someone else from your land could be taken away from here. Maybe the next in line for the Lich Throne is one of your students. Twilight Sparkle, right? Can you imagine an alicorn as a Lich Queen?"
"Manners, mother...!" Chrysalis nudged Mellifara, wanting her to adjust her tone. But Mellifera could care less.
"No, Chrysalis. She's right." Celestia kept her cool, closing her eyes as she agreed with Mellifera. "It could happen again. Unlike the vampires, most ponies don't live for thousands of years unless they are alicorns. But with how there are more alicorns appearing, that could happen."
"It's the Lich Cycle. There must always be a Lich King or Queen. And thanks to what the first Lich King did, that cycle is permanent. Unless you were to find a way to root out the problem." Mellifera shrugged. "Of course, you'd have to get there first."
"There is something strong enough to force through it. But I refuse to ever use it after what happened back at Rustboro City." Celestia referred to Daybreaker as the magic of this alter-ego was deep within her. It was nearly unleashed because of Rosa's actions and even startled the Lich Queen. In Rosa Maledicta's own words, this world's version of Daybreaker was far more dangerous than the one from Universe 11.
Knowing this, Celestia would rather not unleash a stronger version of Daybreaker. The one her universe has to deal with is already a problem after all.
"The flames of Daybreaker, right?" Mellifera was aware of what Celestia was trying to contain. "I say go for it."
"What?! Mother!"
"What? Didn't it work for Princess Luna?" Mellifera didn't see the issue here. "Would it hurt to have two alter-egos out in the open? One in the day and another in the night."
"Nevermind..." Celestia would put the Daybreaker discussion to an end immediately. "I'll find a way. And without any massive destruction involved. Just tell me more that I might need to know and I could work with it."
"I can tell you a few things that can maybe get you into Magehold or even find its well-concealed spot." Mellifera still had more to share. Much more. Her years of knowledge could pay off here. Anything to help enter Magehold and retrieve Yveltal would be greatly appreciated.
Hulbury Town. Afternoon.
The time had come. Sci-Twi, Sunset Shimmer and Pinkie Pie found themselves wearing dresses that fit models. Sci-Twi found herself wearing a gown, Sunset wore a nifty street-style outfit while Pinkie Pie was rocking a spring outfit. It all fit them excellently. Especially Braixen.
Braixen was all giddy, wearing a classy dress that also fit her perfectly. Rainbow Dash's Altaria had been involved, rocking a beautiful sunhat. Altaria was exempt from a dress simply for how she was built. But she did have some bracelets. Mew transformed himself into an Arcanine just to put on a bowtie and a top hat, appearing just as classy as Braixen.
As for Nessa, she was obviously wonderful, wearing a white dress and fancy red boots while adjusting her hair slightly. The only one involved n this shot and exempt from wearing anything special was Ash. He would simply as himself.
"Now...pose!" The camera crew said as Ash stood next to Nessa just to promote her popularity. They all stood on a colourful stage with multiple lights going off. While Nessa posed for beauty, Ash posed to look cool, pulling off poses that someone as energetic as him could do.
And even with the look of a model, Pinkie Pie would be her usual self. Sci-Twi struggled to find a good pose, speaking to herself at great speeds while Sunset Shimmer already found a pose.
"You were serious about these kinds of poses?" Nessa said to Ash, watching him pull off poses that could be found in a comic book.
"Yeah! Pretty cool, right?!" Ash grinned before adjusting his hat. Pikachu was also involved, pulling off ludicrous poses as well.
"You're an odd one, Ash." Nessa smiled. "To think you're the one who beat me. But then again, I should've expected you to be like this. Sonia already mentioned you along with Leon. I'm rather glad to have met you, Ash."
"Gee thanks, Nessa. Glad to have met you too!" Ash replied. "Maybe one day, I can show you to Rarity for some outfit advice. She's the one who made these awesome clothes after all."
"I've heard Bea goes over to Equestria often for a reason. So...I might as well try it as well."
Another friendship was formed today. But it could also be seen as a rivalry. And that was between Ash and Nessa. Nessa respected Ash greatly now. From battling against him to having this small conversation with him. And yet, that drive to defeat him and become insanely popular was still there. But for now, they were all simply enjoying the photo shoot in the only ways they knew how as the journey continues.
The moonlight once again graced the Galar Region. Nessa had finished up her modelling part after Ash and the others were involved. It was all to boost her popularity after all. In her hands, she had a photo of her, Ash, Pikachu, Sci-Twi, Sunset Shimmer, Altaria, Braixen, Mew and Pinkie Pie, pulling off their respective poses while Sci-Twi never did find one that matched her.
Seeing how much of a contrast there was from Nessa's dazzling and glamorous appearance to Ash and his friends being young ones who just love a good chunk of fun, it made her smile.
"I guess it went well?" Sonia arrived to meet her good friend, who had recently watched Nessa battle Ash.
"It did. This'll do great favours for me back at Equestria. And I'm glad you brought him up." Nessa replied to Sonia. "And maybe now, they'll muster the courage to get past me. Not that I'd ever make it easy for them."
"Do you think you could hold back just a bit, Nessa?" Sonia requested that Nessa hold back some of her strength against Equestrian Trainers. "I know Gym Leaders do but..."
"Hmm...I'll try." Nessa shrugged. "Not great at doing so. "
"So, Ash is your rival now, is he? What about Milo then? Is he out of the picture?"
"He can try and hide it all he wants...!" Nesse clenched her fist. "I know what he's hiding! But admittedly, Ash is a bigger problem. I can't have him get in my way towards the pinnacle of stardom. I won't let anyone else beat me ever again. I never lose that much anyway."
"But you've lost to me, haven't you?" Sonia chuckled, making Nessa grimace and twitch. Indeed, Sonia had battled Nessa once, claiming victory over her friend. "See you around though. Good luck with your roles."
"I won't need luck." Nessa immediately went back to boasting. "Just watch me. My next battle with Ash will be a blowout. Count on it.
Skies of Galar.
Above the Galar Region was a plane that was heading to the Unova Region. And on that plane, Ash and the others could be seen. Most of them were asleep though, mainly Sci-Twi, Sunset and Pinkie Pie. Only Ash, Rainbow Dash and Carlita stayed awake.
"So all that's left is Scyther, right? Maybe I can catch that one as my first Alpha Pokemon. Just imagine the look on Spitfire's face when I show up with an even bigger Scizor than hers." Rainbow Dash said, thinking about catching Alpha Scyther just for that evolution.
"Yeah, maybe. But you gotta get ahead of Twilight for that to happen." Ash replied, holding Pikachu in his arms, who was asleep. "Couldn't quite get Alpha Lopunny though..."
"Bah. Nothing a little flying can't solve. But that's still so weird." Rainbow Dash added, still thrown off guard by how Alpha Lopunny could jump on the clouds. "Anyway. This has been pretty fun so far. Watching you battle and exploring the Wild Area. We don't get to explore your world...or I guess our world more often. Not the Pokemon parts unless it's the Pokemon Festival."
"What are you talking about? You've been to some places, Rainbow Dash. You've sure seen a lot these past 4 years after all." Ash uttered, begging to differ.
"Not enough of it. But you've seen a lot, Ash. Way more than me." Rainbow Dash would raise her legs, getting comfortable on the plane. "I'm a huge fan of Daring Do and I haven't been to many places in the first place. And now she's a big fan of you, collecting knowledge about your adventures."
"Oh? Really?" Carlita leaned in, joining in on this conversation. "Look at you, Ash. You've not only beaten Nessa in battle but also in fame."
"Well, I haven't told her anything yet though." Ash chuckled. "But there's a lot for Daring Do to write about. But she could write about you too, Rainbow Dash. You and I have been through and explored some crazy stuff. And when you enter the Equestria League..."
"When I enter and win, I'll...hmm..." Rainbow Dash had to ponder for a moment. "I'll..." Rainbow Dash thought about what to do next after she becomes the first Equestrian Champion. "Hm. What am I gonna do? Just defend my title? Nah, I don't think I'd have time for that..."
"Why not just explore the world?" Carlita suggested. "And I'm talking above and beyond what we already have. You guys already know that there are more worlds out there after all. I mean...you have to find the other gateways, after all."
"Easier said than done. There's only two of them and that Infinity Gateway's gone." Rainbow Dash sighed. "Might have to wait for that counterpart of Twilight to show up and tell us about that. I wonder where she is right now...?" Rainbow Dash would then wonder about the current whereabouts of Twilight Moonlight. A direct counterpart to Twilight. As if there weren't enough already.
An unknown mountainscape.
Unknown by many and hard to know if it originally existed within the Pokemon World or Equestria and other locations near and far from it, was a massive mountain. And this mountain had a different shape compared to the others. It had the shape of wings with the edges of it sprouting rock-hard feathers. They perfectly resembled the wings of a pegasus.
Rocks cover virtually every surface that could be seen, which makes traversing this landscape tricky and dangerous for anyone who wishes to. Who knows what secrets this massive winged mountain holds and why it was shaped like this. Which universe did it even originate from in the first place? Unfortunately, no one has really seen this mountain. But someone was here to investigate.
And it was none other than Twilight Moonlight. She had returned to this universe. The unicorn stood before this massive mountain of pegasus win, taking a deep breath.
"It's here as well. Winged Mountain." She spoke the name of this mountain as if it was already well-known. Twilight Moonlight was not speaking to herself. Instead, much like before, there was someone else that she spoke to while holding out that mysterious necklace that was lacking colour. The voice would speak to her once more.
"Look at you, being right again, Twilight. Winged Mountain was never here until both worlds were merged as one. Now it as exists as a brand new location yet it's all too familiar to us."
"It's just as I thought. When Jirachi put everything together, bits and pieces from that short-lived world ended up coming back." Twilight Moonlight continued. "But how did Jirachi know about this? It couldn't have. The Rift would also have no reason to do this. Then again...it barely has a reason."
"No one else here can answer that for us, Twilight. Not even your counterpart in this world."
"What? I'm not smarter than her?" Twilight Moonlight put on a rather intimidating scowl. The voice speaking to her from afar would twitch, feeling intimidated even from this universal distance.
"I-It's not that. No one from this world would have ever heard about Winged Mountain. Memories of the short-lived world are rare after all. Only we know about it. All of the Pokemon that live on this mountain should be around as well, possibly."
"I hope not. The Pokemon from Winged Mountain once worked alongside him. I'd hate for them to make a comeback. The same thing could happen here...where Groudon showed up under his command. If you ask me, I say we should just destroy it until it causes trouble again." Twilight Moonlight then held out a Poke Ball, throwing it upwards. "Appear! Hisuian Samurrot!"
"Samurrot!" Samurrot had shown up. But it wasn't an average Samurott. Much like the Hisuian Lilligant Twilight Moonlight appeared with, she had another Hisuian Pokemon with her. In this case, it was a Hisuian Variant of Samurrot.
"Just to avoid what could come next...Samurrot! Destroy this mountain! Use Ceaseless Edge!"
"Samu...!" By holding out its two swords that were on its front legs, a dark energy would erupt from Hisuian Samurrot's body as its blades looked sharper than usual.
"Wait! Wait!" The voice suddenly cried out, wishing for Twilight Moonlight to cease her current actions. "Just a moment, Twilight!"
"Hm? Wait, Samurrot," Twilight spoke, causing Samurrot to pause its attack.
"This might not be the same as before. This is a new world after all. Plus, we can't just cut down this mountainside. The Pokemon here aren't with him after all."
"Hmm...You're right." Twilight Moonlight replied. "Return, Samurrot." She would then return Hisuian Samurrot, who lost the opportunity to use its move due to Twilight Moonlight being hasty. "This still rubs me the wrong way. Everything about this new world rubs me the wrong way."
"I know how you feel, Twilight. Keeping your counterpart safe just became a top priority after all. Not only that but old locations from that short-lived world returning means that everything involved with them could potentially show up. But that's no reason to start attacking them. Winged Mountain was harmless before until he went out of control. But there are some places we should look out for."
"I'll head to the next one to see if anything's different. This world may look safe for now, but because of what Jirachi did, all of our problems from the short-lived world will come right back and might even be worse."
"Remember to keep a low profile. Try the Everfree Forest next. Even if everything seems fine here, that forest could start the web of terrors we had to deal with. You could even stop by to greet your counterpart, don't you think?"
"I'm scared of what the necklace could do if I got too close to her." Twilight Moonlight shook her head, holding up the necklace. "I'll stay away from there for now unless she's elsewhere. You don't mind if I go for Manehattan next, right?"
"Go ahead. Manehattan is where the first major attack happened. Since Jirachi's power dragged things from that non-existent world here, you could find a lot there."
"I should. I'll be there as soon as possible." Twilight Moonlight would take out another Poke Ball, throwing it into the air. And this time, showing up was a Noivern.
"Noivern!" Once Noivern showed up, Twilight would hop on the Sound Wave Pokemon's back. Noivern was Twilight's way of travelling at the moment.
"Noivern. We're heading to Manehattan this time. Since it's nightfall, you'll be perfectly concealed in the dark so don't worry about anyone spotting us." Twilight Moonlight said. "Now, let's go."
"Vern! Noivern!" Noiven would take flight as it was off to Manehattan. For what purpose though? Twilight Moonlight and the voice that spoke to her from afar knew something that concerned this mysterious world that, according to their words, was Short-Lived.
Winged Mountain was apparently an example of that. It was a newly form location thanks to Jirachi putting the two worlds together, forming new terrain in the process. However, Winged Mountain apparently came from this mysterious world and was related to an equally mysterious individual.
While soaring through the air and heading to Manehattan, Twilight Moonlight would fittingly, gaze into the moonlight and the night sky. This time, she would work in the shadows, arriving at this world for a different reason than keeping her counterpart safe. In her mind, memories would appear. These memories showed a city.
A city that greatly resembled what Sheena once saw in her vision.
This city was a utopia. Even Twilight Moonlight recalled it. She saw more of it than what Sheena did. Of course, it was the usual, however, something else sprouted from this memory. The sound of people, ponies and other species crying out the name of someone named Prisma were also recalled by Twilight Moonlight. But in her memories, she saw this Prisma character in action.
This tall figure of a man was seemingly giving out commands, most likely in a Pokemon Battle due to the stadium that was seen. However, he was not commanding a small Pokemon. Rather, it was a staggeringly large Pokemon. This large unidentified Pokemon was then seen building up something before Twilight Moonlight ceased her memories.
"He could still come back." Twilight Moon said while also speaking to Noivern. "Prisma. Even though the trainers here are far different from how he was...I'm worried about what could happen to them now that this world is one, Noivern."
"Noivern..."
Sinnoh. Michina Town. Michina Ruins.
The Time-Space Axis. Located in the basement of the Michina Ruins, it was currently active. That new mysterious part of the axis that radiated a prismatic shine was going off.
Prismatic colours would flare out of the sphere. This prismatic sphere, as theorized by Twilight Sparkle, was a dimension that no one knew of. Not even Ash, who had been here before. But whatever it was, it was different from the other dimensions that represented Arceus, Earth, Dialga, Palkia and Giratina. The sphere would start moving while letting out these prismatic colours in rapid succession.
This Prismatic Sphere would float next to the sphere of Earth, just being right above it, letting its colours illuminate this green sphere. The sphere would then descend, dropping onto the larger sphere of Earth. This collision made an audible sound that no one from Michina Town would hear. And after making a light collision with the Earth's Sphere, the lights from the Prismatic Sphere would only intensify. They were starting to grow. But for what purpose? The Prismatic Sphere would stay above the Earth Sphere, lighting up this room with various colours that befit a Prisma.
Unova. Mistralton City.
It was back to Unova. And now, they had arrived at Mistralton City. A city that was strewn with Windblown Leaves while located in Western Unova, directly North of Chargestone Cave. The last Alpha Pokemon that was currently known here was Alpha Scyther.
But of course, the curse of jet lag hit some of them as they still felt tired, needing some more time to rest.
"I hope you slept well. I made your plane show up at Mistralton City because of Scyther." Professor Oak said, speaking through Sci-Twi's phone. "You'll find this Alpha Pokemon somewhere around either Chargestone Cave or Celestial Tower. Either location could work."
"Right, right...Just let me rest up a bit. Jet lag..." Sci-Twi yawned along with Sunset Shimmer and Pinkie Pie.
"Boy...We've never taken planes that back to back before..." Pinkie Pie grumbled, scratched her hair which in turn, scratched Mew's back, satisfying the Psychic-Type.
"Celestial Tower? Isn't that where Spike went when he did his small journey...?" Rainbow Dash uttered, remembering how Spike's Druddigon was from Celestial Tower. "Bingo!" Her eyes lit up with stars. An opportunity for catching another Pokemon was here. "Thanks for bringing us here, Professor Oak! What kind of Pokemon are here?!"
"Well, you'll find rare Pokemon that you've already seen before. Celestial Tower is situated in central-western Unova. A burial ground for deceased Pokémon, it can be considered a counterpart to our own Kanto's Pokémon Tower, Hoenn's Mt. Pyre, and Sinnoh's Lost Tower. So expect to see a lot of Ghost-Type Pokemon." Professor Oak explained. "After all, some call this place the Tower of Heaven."
"It shouldn't be too bad! I've always wanted to explore here anyway!" Carlita exclaimed with joy.
"Be careful though. That Alpha Lopunny had powerful legs that allowed it to jump on clouds, more so than an average Lopunny. This Scyther is most definitely many steps above its original species, so those blades are going to be sharper than ever."
"We'll be fine, Professor Oak. Okay, let's get going!" Ash went ahead, leading the way to Celestial Tower.
"Wait for us, Ash!" Sci-Twi gasped before she and the others followed the Alola Champion. They were glad to have an amazing guide as Ash who had been to so many locations with such vast knowledge.
"Something about that place...feels familiar." However, while everyone was excited, Hisuian Zorua had a different feeling. But it wasn't her being shy. Instead, Hisuian Zorua felt like a form of familiarity was returning to her. Specifically, Celestial Tower.
She wouldn't say anything to Sci-Twi or the others. Rather, Hisuian Zorua would wait until they get there. For the first time ever, with her eyes peeking out of the bag, the Hisuian Variant of the Tricky Fox Pokemon wanted to see this mysterious location. There was something about it that prompted this slight change.
Celestial Tower. A tall tower with a large bell whose tones are said to purify the spirit. According to what Professor Oak found out, Alpha Scyther was either here or at Chargestone Cave. As a bonus, Rainbow Dash was eager to find some eager Pokemn here since Spike once found a Druddigon during his small journey. But for Hisuian Zorua, showing up here brought some familiarity to her mind. She felt as if she had been here before but couldn't quite put her paw on it.
But perhaps, the surroundings here could. Celestial Tower and its surroundings were ancient. Ancient enough for Zorua to stare at it for a while with a rather frozen expression. Inside the bag where no one else could hear her, she spoke to herself. "I remember this place."
Over at the tower, there were open gaps for anything to take a peek through. And in this case, the eyes of a Golurk. A Golurk looked through the hole, taking a gander outside. Within its sights, the first thing the Golurk noticed was Ash and Pikachu. Two familiar faces. But beyond that, there was another that it fixated on. And that was Hisuian Zorua. After spotting the Hisuian Variant of a Unovan Pokemon, Golurk would move away from the gap, no longer taking a peek.
"Okay. If it's not here then it might be at Chargestone Cave. But Celestial Tower's got a few floors to choose from." Ash said as they all entered the tower, standing on the first floor. There, they witnessed the large stairway that twisted to the next floor while a few gravestones were placed there.
"Then again...why would an Alpha Scyther show up here of all places?" Sci-Twi wondered. "A bit strange, right?"
"On the bright side, at least it isn't creepy." Pinkie Pie added. "I heard from Spike that Celestial Tower's actually a comfortable place to be around. The Pokemon here are pretty friendly too."
"Elgy? Elgyemn." Some of the Pokemon that lived here were Elgyem. Strange Pokemon that presumably came from the stars. They would poke their heads out of the corners of the walls and gravestones, spotting Ash and his friends.
"Mew!" Mew would fly out of Pinkie Pie's mane just to meet with his fellow Psychic-Types. The moment he showed himself to the Elgyem, he would transform. Mew decided to appear just like the Elgyem, taking on the appearance of these otherworldly Pocket Monsters. "Elgyem!"
"El?!"
"Just be careful in here, you guys," said Ash. "This is a place where many come to rest. And there's more higher up except for the very top."
Poking out of Sci-Twi's bag before showing her entire head was Hisuian Zorua. Upon taking a peek, instead of focusing on the Elgyem, her eyes were focused on the gravestones. She had a good view of all of them, viewing the names of those who have moved on.
And she specifically focused on the names, shifting her eyes at each gravestone here. But for the first floor, there weren't many at all. That's when the Spiteful Fox Pokemon would show more than her head from the bag. "Twilight...Can I walk out for a while?"
"Of course, you can. Nothing's stopping you, Zorua. Go right ahead." Sci-Twi allowed it but she really didn't need to make that call anyway. Hisuian Zorua was free to do so even if she spends most of her time inside this backpack. "What's up?"
"I just...I need to look for someone." Zorua then jumped out of the bag before taking off. It wasn't a walk at all. Rather a run and a fairly swift one too. She would pass by the Elgyem, instantly going upstairs.
"Oh! Zorua, wait!" Twilight Sparkle cried out, holding her arm out. "Where are you going?!" Down here, Zorua couldn't find what she was looking for. But the second floor could change that as she went up the twisting stairway.
"Well, we're here searching for Scyther so we might as well follow her lead." Carlita shrugged. That much was true so it was best for them to keep moving. But Zorua wasn't looking for Alpha Scyther. Instead, it was someone else.
When running up the stairway, Hisuian Zorua would look at her surroundings, seeing what she could gather. Gaps in the tower showed the outside of the tower with the sun's rays beaming through. She already felt a sense of familiarity thanks to the surrounding nature. And from this angle, it was only resonating more. Her memories helped conjure up a mirage vision.
And that vision showed two individuals. A human and a Pokemon. Specifically, a Zorua. But it was this region's native Zorua. Black, red and all. Hisuian Zorua saw this Unovan Zorua in her memories, chatting and playing with this mirage of a human. Going up these stairs, other Pokemon here would gander at the Ghost-Normal-Type from the walls. Mainly the Golbat that reside here.
Once the Golbaat spotted Zorua, she was immediately a target. In reality, most of these Pokemon were friendly and would not engage with others unless needed. But for Golbat, they would always engage once someone new was within their sights. And poor Zorua just happened to be a target.
"Golbat!" They descended from the walls, holding out their claws as they went for a diving attack.
"Huh?" Zorua looked up before then squealing out of shock, flailing her little legs. They instantly surrounded her from all sides with how many walls they were latching onto. Going on her own all of a sudden might've not been the best call. And with how swiftly she left to run up these stairs, she was already ahead of Ash and the others.
"Golurk!" But intercepting the Golbat was a Shadow Punch that flew in, knocking these Flying-Poison-Types away. And that someone was a Golurk. It retracted its arms after slugging the Golbats.
Upon arriving, Golurk would stand before the Golbat, giving off a strong presence to intimidate them. The Golbat were successfully intimidated by Golurk's hulking presence. So much so that they immediately retreated. Whatever attack they were planning to launch on Zorua had been ceased by this Golurk. Zorua, who was currently shaking rapidly after being startled by the Golbat, wasn't exactly feeling at peace with the stature of Golurk being shown to her.
But soon, Golurk would stand casually instead of trying to appear as menacing as possible. After saving Hisuian Zorua, Golurk held its arm out to its fellow Ghost-Type. Seeing that Golurk intercepted to save her, Zorua's shaking would cease. There was no hostility coming from Golurk. Not when this species was built to be a gentle giant most of the time.
"T-Thank you..." Zorua thanked the Golurk before bringing on a sigh of relief.
"Zorua! Are you alright?!" Crying out for Zorua was Sci-Twi as she and the others finally caught up to the Spiteful Fox Pokemon. "I heard you screaming! And-" Right as Sci-Twi showed up, her eyes would shift from Zorua's figure to the larger figure that was close to the Normal-Ghost-Type.
That would be Golurk. Even if it wasn't trying to be as intimidating as possible, Sci-Twi still found this Pokemon to be menacing as she came to a screeching halt, grimacing. Sci-Twi nearly fell off the stairs, only for Carlita to keep her steady.
"Slow down there. It's just a Golurk." Carlita said, knowing how gentle a Golurk can be. Her mother has one as well and there was enough proof across the world. But since this was her first time coming across a Golurk, it was easy to see why she was intimidated by it.
"Golurk." Golurk would then turn to face the next room. But it wasn't ready to leave just yet. The Automaton Pokemon swivelled its head to face Hisuian Zorua, calling out to her. "Lurk."
"You want to show something?" Zorua repeated what Golurk said. Afterwards, her eyes widened once Golurk explained what it was to her. "Really?!"
"S-Show you what?" Twilight asked. "What's going on?"
"Golurk." Golurk would advance and before Twilight knew it, her partner was off, following the Ground-Ghost-Type. It was up to the second floor now with Golurk being the guide in this instead of Ash.
"Did this happen before, Ash?" Sunset questioned, wondering if Ash experienced something like this before, just for some clarity and safety.
"Nope. But looks like Golurk knows something that interests Zorua." Ash replied. However, he could tell that Golurk was doing this for Zorua and only Zorua. After all, those words were directed towards the Spiteful Fox Pokemon.
"I couldn't tell you either. But it's obviously something in this tower." Carlita added. "After all, that Zorua of hers is originally from this region."
"Yeah, and it's only just a variant. Do you think..." Rainbow Dash paused for a moment as her mind instantly thought about what this was implying. But she shook her head, not wanting to come to that conclusion just yet.
The second floor of the tower which was one less from the very top of it. And here, the most gravestones could be found. The twisting stairway went even higher and had more steps until they could reach the very top. And yet, they still have not come across Alpha Scyther. There was not a sign of this Alpha Pokemon anywhere.
Zorua's eyes once again focused on these gravestones, only looking at their names. This mysterious individual's name was still within her sights.
"No Alpha Scyther. It could be at the top but...I didn't see a bit of it when we approached this tower." Rainbow Dash pointed out. The chances of them finding Alpha Scyther here had dropped dramatically. Which meant that there was one other option. Chargestone Cave. "But uh...what did Golurk want to show Zorua anyway?"
"Gol." Suddenly, Golurk would place its hand on the walls, staying there for a moment. With a slight push, Golurk showed off a secret entrance as this part of the wall acted as a door, making everyone gaze in wonder. Even Ash had no idea this was here before.
"Lurk," Golurk spoke, entering this secret room with everyone else following. This room was staggeringly dark, having little light to support it. Thankfully, Pikachu and Alpha Pikachu would act as lightbulbs, bringing light to the darkness. Zorua would stand next to the Automaton Pokemon to then see something rather disturbing and unsettling. Everyone else would gaze at this unsettling sight as well as it threw them all off guard.
The gravestones in this dark room had faces instead of the usual shapes that gravestones appear in. Downright unsettling, these faces were all varied and unique in how they appeared. They even had hairstyles while having the names of these people and Pokemon on them.
"W-What is this...?!" Sunset Shimmer's teeth were rapidly chattering. Just looking at this was uncomfortable in so many ways. No one had ever seen a gravestone like this, especially with so many of them being varied and distinct, minus the ones that had Pokemon within them.
"Why are we here?!" Twilight shrieked. "Why do they all have faces as their moulds?!"
"No clue." Ash shook his head. "I didn't even know this room was here before. But they've gotta mean something if they look different from everything else here."
"Pika..."
Just to make matters worse, the eyes from some of these gravestones would move. One would open up, gazing at the group who ended up in this room.
"GYAAAAAA!" Twilight and her friends yelled at the top of their lungs once they saw the eyes move. Poor Ash and Carlita had their ears assaulted by this. Ash received the worst of it as Twilight gripped onto his arm with impressive strength, making him grace.
"Ow-ow-ow!" Ash cried out. And it didn't help that multiple of them were opening their eyes within this dark room. At this point, they believed that these gravestones were sentient since they could move these faces.
Sunset Shimmer backed up, only to bump into something. She would turn to see more of these gravestone faces being plastered on the walls as well. The light would reveal their eyes to her, making her heart beat rapidly. Sunset squealed before nearly falling over, only for Carlita to catch her. That was the second catch for Carlita today.
"This one...That's him!" Zorua was the only one unphased by this uncomfortable scene. Instead, she exclaimed with a different tone compared to the rest, spotting a gravestone with the one she was searching for.
"Wait! Zorua, don't get close to them!" Sci-Twi yelled while still holding on to Ash. Terrified to go any further, she would shake Ash's body violently, making his hat fall off as it landed on Pikachu's face.
Zorua found what she was looking for. None of the other rooms had the right gravestone aside from this secret one. And it was the one Golurk was standing next to. A gravestone of a man was found who had the name 'Raine'.
"D-Do you know him Zorua?" Sci-Twi asked before finally letting go of Ash's arm which was now shaking from all the holding that Twilight did.
"Wait...Why isn't his opening up?" Zorua nudged her face on the gravestone, noticing that Raine's Gravestone was not reacting. Out of every other gravestone here, this was the only one that did not open its eyes. "Raine?"
"Oh yeah. It is the only one that hasn't opened up. What gives?" Rainbow Dash wondered. The mystery of this one gravestone not opening up as enough to at least calm everyone down. But the fear factor was still there. There was just something so unsettling about all of these eyes staring at them. It didn't help that they followed their eye movement as proven by Pikachu, Alpha Pikachu and Mew skittering across the place.
Zorua would continuously nudge the gravestone of Raine, hoping for a response while the other gravestones watched her. But there wasn't a thing.
"Zorua. Who's Raine? Was he your trainer back in the day?" Twilight asked, wondering if Raine was Zorua's partner before she found her. Judging by how Zorua was reacting to this gravestone, that seemed to be the case.
"He wasn't my trainer. Just my friend..." Zorua confirmed it herself. This Raine character was not the trainer of Zorua but rather a good friend that Zorua knew. And of course, being that she originated from Unova, this friendship was definitely present within this region.
Everyone could see that this was a case of Time being a major factor. By this point, Raine was gone. Hisuian Zorua came from the past after all where Sinnoh was once called Hisui. But to Zorua, this didn't surprise her. It was the expected outcome. Despite the fact that she lowered her head, subtly shaking with her eyes closing, she knew that being flung this far into the future was to be expected. ' That didn't stop her from tearing up. No response from the gravestone definitely made it worse as one of Zorua's friends from the past and most likely many others before she became a Hisuian Variant, was gone.
"Golurk." However, Golurk had something to say, kneeling to face Zorua. The Automaton Pokemon grabbed Zorua's attention immediately, making her gasp after what was spouted.
"W-What?" The saddened Spiteful Fox Pokemon uttered. "You mean...he's out there right now?!"
"Out there?!" Everyone repeated. This greatly implied that Reine was still around even to this day despite the massive time gap and even the regional gap considering where Zorua ended up to become this Hisuian Variant.
"Lurk. Golurk." Golurk continued, pointing at Raine's gravestone and everyone else's gravestone. It was wonderful that Zorua could translate for everyone here otherwise this could've been hard to figure out.
"What's it saying, Zorua?" Carlita asked.
"All of these face Gravestones...they're from people and Pokemon who are waiting to reincarnate into new Pokemon." Zorua translated.
"Reincarnated?!" Twilight gasped. But this shouldn't be surprising to the others but it certainly was to Twilight considering how new she was.
"Oh yeah. Some Ghost-Types used to be human." Ash nodded, understanding immediately. It certainly wasn't uncommon for the deceased to reincarnate as Pokemon, especially Ghost-Types. "So then...what's up with Raine's Gravestone?"
"Golurk said that Raine already reincarnated into a Pokemon. So his is closed and at peace. Everyone else here is waiting for their turn to reincarnate." Zorua explained. "Which means...I can go and find him! Golurk! Which Pokemon did he become!?"
"Amazing...so when are they gonna reincarnate?" Sunset Shimmer looked at the other gravestones of these people and Pokemon. Judging by how far into the future Zorua was sent into, it was safe to assume that Raine reincarnated many years back. Potentially, that meant that these people and Pokemon had only passed away not too long ago.
"So...He's a Dusknoir now?" Zorua found out from Golurk which Pokemon Raine returned as. And it turned out to be a Dusknoir. "Okay...I see. Thank you, Golru, Thank you so much!" Just as much as she shows love for Sci-Twi, Zorua would show her love for Golurk, hugging the Automaton Pokemon.
"Gol." Though it was incapable of showing emotion, Golurk was glad to have helped.
Twilight...Everyone. Please help me find him. Please?!" Zorua faced her friends, pleading that they all chime in to find Raine.
"Of course, I will. Just say the word of where we can find him Golurk and we'll get there. Alpha Scyther can wait." Sci-Twi did not hesitate to help. The search for Alpha Scyther was halted just because of this. It was for Zorua's own happiness. And once Golurk tells them what they need to hear, it was off to find a reincarnated Dusknoir.
Recently, the Golurk of this tower had revealed something stupendous to Ash and the others. Mainly, Hisuian Zorua, who was the most taken aback by this. An old friend from the far past had been reincarnated as a Dusknoir by the name of Raine. Now it was all a matter of finding him.
"So, he's still in Unova. That's good to know. We would've had to travel elsewhere if he wasn't here." Sunset Shimmer spoke as Golurk confirmed the whereabouts of Dusknoir.
"By the way Golurk...Why did you help us? And how did you know about this?" Sci-Twi asked, wondering how Golurk immediately knew to bring Zorua to this very room.
"Yeah, that's a good point. It's not like Zorua's been here before," said Rainbow Dash. "That's gotta be some expert-level perception right there."
"I have been here before. Unova used to be my home." Zorua replied. "Raine and I used to play near Celestial Tower. That's why this place is so familiar to me."
"Golurk." Golurk nodded in confirmation. Indeed. It knew about this. It even explained to Zorua and the other Pokemon how and why this was the case.
"What's it saying now? Man, I wish I could translate Pokemon like Fluttershy..." Pinkie Pie questioned, leaning in to hear Zorua's words.
"Oh that. You don't need Golurk to tell you that. I already knew." In reality, Zorua already knew about this. "All of the Golurk are guardians of these gravestones and this tower too. They know everything. Even where someone goes after they reincarnate."
"They know all of that? Yeesh..." Carlita and the others were surprised by this impressive feat of the Golurk. This implied that those within Celestial Tower who ended up reincarnating, their whereabouts were known by the Ground-Ghost-Type.
"Golurk here also said that Raine's close. His home used to be near Celestial Tower. It's how we met each other all the time." Finally, Hisuian Zorua gave off the location of Dusknoir. "Thanks for your help, Dusknoir."
"So it's not that far at all. Good to know." Sci-Twi said. Raine's location wasn't too far from here. As revealed by Golurk, the reincarnated human wasn't too far. Looking through the gaps of the walls, a good option to start was the nearby forest.
Just west of Celestial Tower and through the few trees, a forest could be found. They wouldn't have to go too far just to find Dusknoir. They only had to crest a few hills. As for this nearby forest, it was rather compact and verdant. Its canopy was claimed by hawthorn, redwood, and magnolia, and cascading lights bouncing between the leaves allowed for a variety of ferns to dominate the stony grounds below. Silent branches clung to many trees, and a hodgepodge of flowers, which desperately tried to claim the last remnants of light, stuck out against the otherwise amber view. A medley of wild noises, belonging mostly to critters, echoed in the air and were out of sync with the occasional sounds of birds of prey gliding in the air.
"So, what was Raine like Zorua since you were such good friends with him?" Sci-Twi asked, wondering about how Zorua got along with Raine, especially considering this was before she ever became a Hisuian Pokemon.
"Yeah. You went to Sinnoh to become this Pokemon so what was it like before that?" Carlita questioned as the others wanted to know. Most could already suspect a dramatic change in energy compared to Zorua then and Zorua now.
"Oh, that. Well...I had more energy back when I was with Raine. I played with him more than I did anyone else. Then again, he was the only one I ever played with." Hisuian Zorua began recalling her time with Raine. Far back in the past of Unova.
Unova. Around. 200 years ago. Day.
The truth is, no other Pokemon ever wanted to play with me that much. Maybe it's because I was too energetic so I would often transform just to find some enjoyment. But that wasn't doing it for me. That's when I found Raine and his hometown.
At this time, Zorua was vastly different from how she recently appeared, moving around with a lot of energy to spare and being extremely outgoing. Very much a contrast to the timid and shy behaviour she exhibits.
During her journey to fulfil her excitement, that's when she found it. Found on the left side of a grove, the township that exists in Unova could be found at the west of the region with the view of the Celestial Tower being in the distance. This township wasn't built by a grove by accident, as it has escape routes, which is of great importance to the people of Perthlochry and its success. The township itself looked unexciting. With its decaying rooftops, galvanised steel walls and whistling wind, this small town had a peculiar atmosphere.
And calling this place home was the boy named Raine, who sat on the outskirts of it, meeting with Zorua. Raine would watch as Zorua transformed into various Pokemon from Unova before his eyes. And with each transformation, Zorua would use the opportunity to play around in different ways that she couldn't before.
"Wonderful! So...you can really turn into any Pokemon, Zorua? I've never heard of something like that before." To this young man, the concept of transforming into various Pokemon was outlandish to him. But of course, Zorua wasn't the only Pokemon capable of this.
"Only if I've seen them." Zorua giggled. "I can be anyone! Even you!"
"Even me...?" Raine pointed at himself. "You can become a human too? I'm not sure about that."
"Oh yeah?" To prove Raine wrong, Zorua would do just that. With a cheeky grin, she would instantly transform into the spitting image of Raine, startling the young boy.
"Gaah!" Naturally, Raine was taken aback by this, falling off the log he sat on.
"See?" Zorua laughed before spinning around by standing on one leg. "I can do anything!"
"Right but...Something is a bit off there." However, Raine was quick to point out one flaw in this Human Transformation that Zorua had not noticed until Raine pointed at it. "Zorua. Your tail is still showing."
"Huh?!" Zorua turned to see that her tail was still a part of her body. She then scrunched her face before reverting back to a Zorua. "Alright. I guess I'm not used to turning into humans just yet. That's embarrassing."
"Still though. That's a great talent." Raine sat back up. "But I have noticed you only turned into Unovan Pokemon. What about the Pokemon that come from other regions? I have never seen them before but I have heard about them."
"Other regions? Sorry. I don't know about that..." Zoorua grumbled, looking to the side and scratching her ear. "But...I could definitely do it if I saw any of them just once. Oh, wait...I have an idea!" Zorua gasped as an idea struck her mind. "Why don't you just travel and see them all?"
"I wish." Raine shook his head before timidly twiddling his fingers. "I'm not old enough for that, Zorua. Plus, it's far too dangerous, honestly. And my town might not allow it."
"Too scared to travel?"
"Well, it's because of you that I've gotten to see more Unovan Pokemon that I wouldn't have seen outside of my hometown. But the truth is...I would like to travel out there and see other Pokemon. The tales I've heard from other regions are so wonderful to me and the kind of Pokemon that call those regions their home are still a mystery."
"Then we should go together, Raine. What do you say?"
"On a journey? I don't know...The world is too big, Zorua." Raine held his arm, feeling a bit reluctant about it despite wishing to also explore other regions.
"Ah, it's fine!" Zorua would then jump onto Raine's body, making him stumble a bit. "With my power, you'll always be safe! No one's going to wanna come close to you if I appear as a Hydreigon!"
"I guess that's true." Raine chuckled. "Your illusions are something else. It's a promise then?" He held his a finger up as a way to seal a promise for the future.
"Mhm! It's a promise!" Zorua would return the favour by putting her paw on his finger. That promise was now officially made between the two. This was certainly one of the earliest cases of a potential Pokemon Trainer and a partner exploring the world.
But...I never got the chance to make up for that promise. By then, I left Unova. My illusions were so uncanny to people and Pokemon that I couldn't stay here.
Unfortunately, as proven by the massive gap of time and how Zorua turned out, that promise never came to be. Zorua could be seen standing on top of a hill during a dark night over at the Unova Region. This hill allowed her to see most of Unova as it was 200 years ago. And from this view, the town that Raine lived in could be seen.
Zorua thought back to her time with Raine and the promise she made to him. But from here on, that promise would never come to fruition as Zorua migrated from Unova to Sinnoh which was Hisui back then. As for Raine, Zorua never quite knew what he did later on once she left to Sinnoh.
As far as it goes, the two of them never spoke again or knew how the other was doing. But in Zorua's case, being flung from the past to the future gave her a different outcome than what Raine received.
Present day.
"I remember. Your Pokedex spoke about that." Sci-Twi recalled what the Pokedex said about Hisuian Zorua.
"Yeah...And, it's honestly my fault." Zorua suddenly stopped walking as everyone went past her. The group would also stop once Zorua ceased all movements. The Spiteful Fox Pokemon shuddered after recollecting her memories of Raine.
"Your fault?" Pinkie Pie repeated.
"I...I was warned back then. Everyone always hated my illusions in the first place. Especially the people and Pokemon from Raine's hometown." Zorua closed her eyes. "It's why I left for Sinnoh because I couldn't handle it. And...I didn't want Raine to get involved with it too since we were so close."
"So you left him and the region?" said Sunset Shimmer.
"I didn't mean to but I had to. I was chased out and they would've found out that Raine was with me and I didn't know what I was going to do." Zorua was starting to whimper. "I blamed it all on my illusions. I always knew that it caused so many others a lot of trouble but I couldn't help myself. Illusions are all I know..."
"Zorua. It's okay." Sci-Twi kneeled to face her partner. "I can suspect that back then, they were all just scared of you and every other Zorua. That's why so many of them migrated in the first place. You shouldn't blame yourself for what you're capable of."
"I know that but...I broke my promise to Raine too. I should've stopped when I had the chance." Zorua turned, feeling guilty for this. After all, she broke the promise that Raine and her made and now more than 200 years had gone by. "Things are different now, but it's not enough to change what happened."
"It is enough." Ash said otherwise, grabbing Zorua's attention. "You can still fulfil that promise, Zorua. It's not yet broken."
"Pikachu!"
"I-It's not...?" Zorua stammered.
"He was reincarnated as a Dusknoir, right? That means only one thing. Once he joins us, he's got the whole world to explore." Ash revealed that Raine's dream to explore the world could still come true. "Sure, it's gonna be a bit different now that he's a Dusknoir, but a view's a view and a journey's a journey. That goes for all Pokemon."
"Ash is right." Twilight nodded in agreement. "Zorua. I plan to fulfil that promise for you. You'll be with Raine together again and on our quest to find other Alpha Pokemon, he'll tag along. So you still have the opportunity to make up for what you couldn't do back then."
"Twilight...Everyone." Zorua's promise with Raine lived on. In reality, it just had a momentary halt in progress because of how things turned out. But now, in this current time, that promise could reach its conclusion. Not in the way both were expecting but it is what it is.
And knowing this, Zorua's emotions would show. She would let the tears flow as they were filled with gratitude. Such blessed friends she had. Willing to do whatever they can bring her happiness. It started with Sci-Twi finding her on that snowy day and it would continue with the reunion of an old reincarnated friend.
"Let it all out, Zorua." Twilight picked up the Spiteful Fox Pokemon. "This forest is where Raine should be so let's find him, okay?"
"Dusknoir..." Suddenly, the cry of a familiar Pokemon echoed across the forest. This cry alerted everyone immediately, making them all jolt. It was the cry of a Dusknoir. The very Pokemon that they were all searching for that was a reincarnation.
"That cry...It's a Dusknoir! Do you think it's Raine?!" Rainbow Dash gasped, navigating her head to try and find Dusknoir's visage. It sounded like he was nearby.
"It has to be!" Zorua exclaimed. "Dusknoir isn't native to Unova at all! Trust me...I know personally."
"Oh, you're right on the nose about that, Zorua. But where is he?" Ash wondered as everyone starting looking in various directions. Dusknoir's voice would echo through this forest once more as the clouds above were starting to close in.
"Aah...It's another Ghost-Type trick as always!" Carlita growled. "They always do this just to stay hidden and it leads to us trying to find them."
"That's how it always goes. Which means we're going to have to find the source of that cry." Ash replied, knowing the drill by now. It wasn't uncommon for Ghost-Types to do this. "It could be from any direction...Should we split up?"
"It could cover more ground for us." Sunset Shimmer replied. "I say we should. And if any of us find Dusknoir, we should call Twilight immediately. It's your call to catch him after all."
"I got it." Sci-Twi would be the one to catch Dusknoir, adding him to the team just to rekindle this promise and fulfil it. Of course, finding Dusknoir was the main challenge as his voice was coming from all directions.
"Raine...doesn't sound happy." However, the more Zorua listened to this cry, the more she realized that it carried something behind it. She could sense a sense of sadness behind this cry. And as an extent, a bit of anger. That made Zorua shudder once she heard the tones of the cry.
They would split up into groups, going in pairs. Ash and Sunset would go together. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash would tag team while Carlita would stay with Sci-Twi. Each would take different pathways to this forest which was starting to darken from the clouds above. Dusknoir's cries continued as it was only until now that they were heard by them. None of it was heard when they entered this forest earlier.
Carlita and Twilight took the right side of the forest, listening in on the echoes. They also noticed the absence of Pokemon around this forest. However, the more they advanced, the more they saw that this wasn't just a forest. The number of trees around here were surprisingly low. They could still mask parts of the rest but compared to everything else, most were ever cut in half or even wilted. That was when remnants of what looked to be building parts were also spotted, lying next to the broken trees.
"I know this pathway." To Zorua, this was very familiar. "I would always run down here to come and see Raine...This is the pathway to his hometown."
"It is? Then those parts must be from that town." Sci-Twi replied, seeing more rubble appear that was covered in moss from the passage of time. This rubble told a story and judging from how it was unfolding from what Zorua shared and the more parts of buildings and objects that were seen in this rather empty forest with a lack of Pokemon, Sci-Twi was afraid that it was not a pleasant story.
Eventually, they reached the end of this road that led to this old town, coming across it. But by now, there wasn't much of a town left. Instead, Sci-Twi, Hisuian Zorua, Alpha Pikachu and Carlita came across a Ghost Town.
The now quiet road that led to this old town was now a network of vines, grasses and roots that had taken hold of every bit they could get. Broken branches and leaves cover the roads inside the town while the tall grasses of the unkempt gardens sway in the wind. Most doors were either completely gone or mere remnants of rotten wood and rusty metal. The open doorways looked eerie as only darkness showed within. This town 200 years ago, once a growing town on the rise to a better future was now partially reclaimed by nature.
Despite the decay of the buildings, there was a certain charm about the town. Everything was greener as nature grew wild and the quiet during the day was almost peaceful. But even with all the animals that lived here now and made this town their new home you couldn't escape the feeling that so much had been lost forever.
"It's all gone?" Carlita commented as this town did not survive to exist within modern day Unova.
"Pikachu..."
"Raine..." Zorua whimpered. Seeing the town in this state only made her think that she had some involvement in this. This town was ruined at this point with no one left.
"Dusknoir..." Once again, the cry of Dusknoir rang out, alternating Hisuian Zorua and the others. This time, the echo was closer than ever.
"Raine. He must be here. He has to be here." Zorua said, hopping out of Sci-Twi's arms. "Raine! Where are you?!"
"Do you think he continued to stay around his hometown even as a Dusknoir?" Twilight asked.
"Maybe. But there isn't much to do here anymore. This town's nothing but a ghost town at this point." Carlita added. "Perfect for Ghost-Types to show up and live in but..."
"Pika? Pikachu!" But before anyone else could spot him, Alpha Pikachu was the first to do so. By pointing ahead, the Mouse Pokemon spotted someone else here.
Just near what looked to be a farm, the familiar silhouette of Dusknoir could be seen, cloaked by the shadows and the dark clouds that appeared above. Speaking of those clouds, with how close they were to each other, masking parts of the Sun, raindrops were already starting to appear. A small drizzle would begin as all eyes were on this silhouette.
"Raine!" Zorua said with an uplifting tone. Immediately, without hesitation and with pure instinct, the Spiteful Pokemon took off, rushing over to reunite with an old friend. At last, she had the opportunity to speak with him once after all these years. And yet, it didn't feel like it had been that long since Zorua came from the past.
However, upon staring at Dusknoir's visage, Carlita noticed that it was rather static. Eerily static. As if he didn't have any movements to go off of.
"Wait a second...Zorua, stop!" Carlita yelled, realizing that something was wrong. Zorua's eyes widened as the moment she got close to the visage of Dusknoir, it would finally react.
"Dusk!" It did exhibit some movement but it wasn't the kind that was welcoming at all. Instead, with another cry that had a louder echo, Dusknoir unleashed a spectral flare from his body. This flare blew away the rubble on the ground as well as Zorua herself.
The Spiteful Fox Pokemon was sent flying through the air, whimpering as she did not get the chance to even embrace her old friend. But right now, it didn't seem like there was a friendly nature with Dusknoir.
"Zorua!" Sci-Twi held her hand out, thankfully grabbing Zorua in the nick of time before any damage could be made.
"Dusknoir!" The visage of Dusknoir moved out of the shadows, revealing the rest of his body. Just like what Zorua heard earlier, this cry lacked any happiness within it. And judging by the spectral energy coming out of Dusknoir's body, hostility was very much present.
"Raine...?" Her old friend targeted her. This was not the reunion Zorua wished would've happened. With the drizzle soon turning into a full-blown downpour of rain, Dusknoir's reaction raised a few questions. But right now, it wasn't a matter of answering them. It was a matter of withstanding what Dusknoir would try and do next.
Dusknoir had been found. But the meeting came with a dash of hostility from the Gripper Pokemon. Raine, an old friend of Hisuian Zorua, had been reincarnated as a Dusknoir as revealed by the Golurk of Celestial Tower. However, while Zorua was happy to see her old friend from 200 years ago, Raine did not share the same feelings.
"Dusknoir!" A spectral flare left the body of Dusknoir as it was packed with rage. Rage that Zorua felt minutes ago when hearing Dusknoir's cry.
"Pika...!" Alpha Pikachu immediately flared his red sacs once the hostility was shown.
"Wait, Pikachu!" But Sci-Twi would rather de-escalate whatever could come next. Already, things were shaping up to be rather confrontational which is something Hisuian Zorua and Sci-Twi wanted to avoid at all costs.
"Are we sure this is Raine?!" Carlita questioned, unsure if they had the right reincarnation and this was just a random hostile Dusknoir that just so happened to be in Raine's hometown. "If it is, he doesn't look so happy to see you!"
"It is him." But Zorua confirmed it. She did not hesitate to do believe that this was her old friend. "Raine! Can you hear me?! It's me! Zorua! I look a bit different now and this isn't a new transformation of a Pokemon I saw. This is who I am now. Can you recognize me?" Zorua pleaded that Raine recognized her.
The Hisuian Variant wasn't that different from the Unovan Variant anyway to be so different. However, Dusknoir didn't take a moment to analyze Zorua's appearance. Zorua trembled as she could feel the increasing rage coming from Dusknoir's spectral flare.
"Dusknoir!" Dusknoir replied with a thunderous roar before then using Shadow Ball. From his hands, an orb of shadows would emerge. With pure power, Dusknoir would launch the sphere of shadows at Sci-Twi's group.
"Pikachu-Pi!" Pikachu did not hesitate to intercept this Shadow Ball, using Thunder to do so. A stream of lightning crashed out of Pikachu's body, stopping Shadow Ball in its tracks.
"Raine...?" Zorua was shocked by how Dusknoir just outright attacked everyone without a second thought.
"Dusknoir!" Dusknoir didn't stop there. He would attack once more, going for a Hyper Beam.
"Hyper Beam too?!" Sci-Twi gasped before holding Zorua close to her. Pikachu and everyone would duck for cover as Dusknoir unleashed a devastating radiant beam. The beam missed its targets, crashing through the remnants of this town. Hyper Beam would even take out some nearby trees, continuously moving until it reached an end.
"Fine then! If that's how it's going to be...!" Carlita would hold out her Poke Ball, choosing to engage with Dusknoir instead of letting him attack her friends so freely.
"No, Carlita!" Sci-Twi would stop Carlita. Once again, she did not want to battle Dusknoir. "Please! Don't do it!"
"Don't do it? Can't you see he's trying to take us out?!" Carlita thought otherwise. Being threatened wasn't something she could ignore considering how instant it was. "If that really is Raine, then he's not in his right mind and needs a wake-up call for trying to attack us. Especially an old friend."
"That's the thing. This probably is Raine. But I think I know why he's reacting like this. He's-" Right before Twilight could finish her sentence, Dusknoir finished recharging after using Hyper Beam, suddenly appearing in front of the group. In his hands, he prepared a Thunder Punch, ready to slug them all with an electrifying fist
"Pikachu-Pi" Though they could not fight back against him, that didn't stop Alpha Pikachu from defending everyone else. He would stop Dusknoir's Thunder Punch with his own Thunder Punch, colliding both electrifying physical attacks. Sci-Twi and Carlita promptly backed up once the clash emerged, making a mild shockwave that would blow their hairs, neck accessories and skirts.
"Dusk...Noir!" Dusknoir growled before blowing Pikachu back with superior physical strength, sending the Mouse Pokemon flying.
"P-Pi...!"
"Noir!" After knocking Pikachu away, Dusknoir would approach Sci-Twi and the others with another Thunder Punch in store. And noticeably, he seemed to focus his sights on Zorua more than anyone. Sci-Twi and Carlita would make a run for it, fleeing from the Gripper Pokemon since Twilight did not choose to battle him.
Moving through the town, they would have to move past ruined walls that were either high or short, jumping over the short ones while Dusknoir would smash them to bits with his amazing strength. This ghost town was suffering more damage than before thanks to Dusknoir's fury.
"Curse it...!" Carlita growled while running from Dusknoir, desperately wishing she could fight back with her Hydreigon. But accepting Twilight's plea, she did not engage. But Carlita definitely wanted to deep down. "Twilight! If you have a plan, please say it!
"I'm trying to say that Raine's harbouring a strong sense of animosity towards Zorua!"
"Towards me?"
"Seeing you again must've made him explode with this amount of anger for him to attack so instantly!" Sci-Twi started explaining while moving through the different pathways of the town, trying to lose Dusknoir. However, Dusknoir would catch up, phasing through the walls with his intangibility to avoid crashing into anything.
"Dusknoir!"
"Pika-Pika-Pikachu!" Pikachu would rush back to Sci-Twi's side, using Thunder once more. This time, Thunder would pass by Dusknoir instead of hitting him. Alpha Pikachu also accepted Twilight's plea, choosing not to attack but rather hold back the Gripper Pokemon. Dusknoir would then scowl at Alpha Pikachu who would stick his tongue out at the Gripper Pokemon, taunting him. "Pika! Pi...!"
"Zorua! You said that you left Raine after making a promise to him and never showed up again until 200 years later, which is now! Please tell me the gap between making that promise and leaving to Sinnoh wasn't that short!"
"I-It was..." Zorua looked down. "It was only two days later. We made that promise and then I was gone after that."
"A 2-day gap?!" Carlita gasped before then feeling a sudden tremor through the ground. This was the result of Dusknoir using Hyper Beam on the ground. A large explosion emerged from this impact which would make Pikachu lose his balance. Everyone else lost their balance, falling over from Dusknoir's terrain attack.
"Gh!" When falling over, Twilight scraped her knee against the rubble of this ghost town., grimacing in pain while also dropping Zorua who would tumble over. As for Alpha Pikachu, he would fly through an old assortment of tables after the Hyper Beam's shockwave launched him. Upon scraping her knee, Sci-Twi would start groaning as the rubble dropped from the injured spot. Against this old rocky land, the scrape was relatively harsh.
"Twilight?!" Carlita noticed this knee scrape on Twilight. That was enough to spark an immediate retaliation. "That's it!" Carlita threw away Twilight's plea, choosing to engage with Hydreigon at last. "If that's how it's going to be, then knocking you out and chatting will do instead! Go! Hydreigon!"
"Hydreigon!" Emerging out of the launched Poke Ball was Hydreigon. Carlita's trusted tried and true partner.
"Carlita...Wait!" And yet, Sci-Twi still wanted to take a different approach. But before she could say anything else, she would hold her injured leg, trying to suck up the pain.
"Take this! Dark Pulse, Hydreigon!"
"Hydreigon!" From all three heads, Hydreigon would use Dark Pulse, unleashing black and purple beams that were imbued with dark thoughts. That was three different attacks from Dusknoir to worry about.
"Dusknoir!" Dusknoir would promptly respond with Shadow Ball. Two of them. In both hands, he would hold out two blobs of shadows before slamming them against the beams of darkness. He managed to stop two of them from the two side heads that Hydreigon possessed. However, it wasn't enough to do anything about the middle beam as it landed a direct hit on Dusknoir's chest. "D-Dusk!"
Dusknoir AKA Raine finally suffered some damage, being blown back this time instead of his targets. Sci-Twi wished it didn't have to come to this but Carlita already initiated it anyways. As for Hisuian Zorua, she would get back up, spotting Twilight's knee injury along with Raine being struck at last.
While it was only two things, it was still a lot for Zorua to process. Mainly because a good friend of hers from the past was suddenly attacking her along with her new friends of. But thinking back to what Twilight said, there was a reason behind this. Animosity and anger were the cruces of this. The spectral flare from before proved this.
"Raine's mad at me?" Zorua said to herself as Dusknoir got back up, ready to engage in battle with Hydreigon since the situation turned out like this. Zorua could see that there was only one reason for this anger. The promise that was made was broken but prior to them encountering Raine here, Sci-Twi vowed that she would fix that promise and put an end to it. However, to Raine, with how long Zorua was gone and the fact that he had already passed away, the anger that he exhibited was one of betrayal.
"I knew it was my fault..." Zorua looked down, blaming herself once more. She already blamed herself for running away, migrating to the Sinnoh Region and never returning to meet with Raine ever again. Even when she was dragged from the past to the present, she never thought about heading back due to her transformation as a Hisuian Zorua.
"No, Zorua..." But Sci-Twi still wished for Zorua not to blame herself as she started sitting up. "Neither are you are to blame for how this all turned out. That's a fact. It's just the circumstances that led to this."
"But Twilight..." Zorua whimpered before hearing a staggering impact from Dusknoir and Hydreigon duking it out. Two Hyper Beams were unleashed against each other with both Pokemon taking the time to recharge. This Ghost Town could potentially be lost if this would keep up.
"I want to speak with Raine. I can tell how mad he must be." Twilight got on her only knee that wasn't injured. "Catching him won't be easy unless he calms down. Raine!"
"Dusk?" Dusknoir turned his attention to Sci-Twi. As if this wasn't enough to confirm that this wasn't Raine, speaking that name alerted the Gripper Pokemon.
"Just listen to us!" Sci-Twi raised her voice while Hydreigon and Carlita ceased whatever attacks they planned next. "If you won't listen to Zorua then hear me out. "I know you're upset. I get that. Zorua left two days later after you made that promise together. A promise that you'd explore the world and see more Pokemon that Zorua can transform into."
"Noir...!" Hearing that would only aggravate Dusknoir some more. He would tighten his fist which prompted Pikachu to run in, standing next to Hydreigon as support. Just in case things get too out of hand.
"But that can all change." Sci-Twi fully stood up even with her injured knee. "Zorua's only returning to you now because she wants to make up for what was missed out for those 200 years. The truth is...she was chased out of Unova. Much like most Zorua at the time when they migrated to other regions. It isn't her fault that you never saw her again."
"Dusknoir!" Dusknoir greatly disagreed with that notion, unleashing that spectral flare from his body once more which was identical to a strong wind pressure. Pikachu stood on all fours, attempting to resist this powerful pressure. Even Hydreigon had to maintain his balance from this.
"Raine!" Zorua also called out his name. "I'm sorry! If I could've come back then, I would've! Truth is...I couldn't..." Zorua shuddered, letting out what she needed to say. At last, Dusknoir would stay still and hear them, even though his time to recharge for Hyper Beam was gone. "I couldn't come back at all. I was too scared that I would make things worse for you. After all...I'm the reason why your town turned out the way it did?"
"You are?" Carlita turned to face Zorua. "How?"
"Those illusions of mine...Those are the reasons why I left for Sinnoh. I always knew that they caused the people and Pokemon of the town so much trouble. But one day, the ones I already messed with in the past found me. And when they found me around the town, they attacked it."
"What?!" Sci-Twi and Carlita gasped. There was more to this story than they thought.
"Dusknoir..."
"It's true. I always managed to end up making enemies with the worst Pokemon. I never went far from any areas, so it didn't take long for them to find me." Zorua whimpered, throwing more guilt onto herself. "I used to have a home but it was destroyed by those Pokemon too. I ran from my old home and found Raine along the way. I thought I could feel safe where he was but...I only ended up losing another place I could've called home."
"Noir." Dusknoir lowered his arms, ceasing all attacks before turning around.
"I'm sorry, Raine. I didn't mean for it to happen."
"Raine's face on the gravestone..." Sci-Twi then thought back to Raine's face in that secret room that Golurk showed her. In that room, the faces of the people and the Pokemon, mainly the people had varying ages on them. And noticeably, Raine's face was relatively young for someone that wasn't been around for 200 years. "That means...Raine passed away at a young age...?!"
It was all adding up. Raine passed away at such a young age instead of living his life to the fullest. It was cut short. Most likely by the Pokemon Zorua led to Raine's hometown. And when looking at this town, the old age of it was not a sign of nature and the passage of time. It was a sign of destruction from a wild attack of Pokemon.
"Dusk...Dusknoir...!" Dusknoir growled while facing away from Zorua and the others, punching the nearby wall which would startle Pikachu and Hydreigon.
"W-What's he saying?" Carlita asked Zorua.
"He says that he found out after he became a Dusknoir...The Golurk told him everything." Zorua translated. "Raine, you knew that I did it...But I'm sorry. Really, I am. I should've never come here and found you in the first place and this wouldn't have happened. I said that with me around, you'd feel safe...but I never kept you safe since I left so long ago. I get why you're mad at me..."
"Dusknoir." Dusknoir took all of this in, hearing the cries of Hisuian Zorua.
"But I came back here because Twilight promised that we could fix that promise. We could still travel the world together and see all sorts of new Pokemon from every part of the world. B-But if you don't want to, I get it. I just wanted to say I'm sorry now that I'm here."
"Raine." Twilight wanted to get her own words in, causing Dusknoir to look back at her. "It's not too late. Even if you are a Pokemon now, there's always a chance. And with this chance, Zorua could make up for what happened if you want."
"I hear you, Zorua." Just then, the voice of Raine emerged from Dusknoir which could be heard from Zorua only. Only Zorura heard his words and no one else. Well, no one except Sci-Twi. The Arceus Pendant would suddenly glow in response to Dusknoir's next words. The visage of a transparent Raine suddenly appeared, standing in front of the Gripper Pokemon.
"Raine?" Zorua gasped.
"I hated you for what you did when I found out." Raine spoke in his normal voice which was also made by Dusknoir. "Truth is...everyone in this town got a second chance. A second change to reincarnate as a new Pokemon. But even though they're all gone, probably in the wild or even with their own trainers, I never left this place. I was too hit by what you did. But...You only left because of the pressure put on you didn't you?"
"I did. Maybe if I was still in my original form, I could've come back but...I didn't have the strength too. And it was so cold for me over at Sinnoh. I didn't want to bother any one again when I emerged as this. It was probably for the better that I stayed out of everyone's business. But then I met Twilight and everyone else. They're my new friends and with them around...I don't have to worry about that."
"It can't change what happened, Zorua. You were my only friend back then. Everyone else saw me as crazy when I shared my dreams. You were the only one who would help realize it for me. And you were gone."
"But it's never too late, right?" Sci-Twi spoke after understanding Dusknoir's voice thanks to the Arceus Pendant. She would then hold out her hand, inviting Dusknoir. "Let's travel the world, Raine. I have two good friends of mine who know all about it."
"She's right." Zorua nodded. "Please trust Twilight. I trust her. And I don't want the same thing to happen to her just like what happened to you, Raine."
Raine grumbled before thinking about it for a moment. He looked into the eyes of both Sci-Twi and Zorua and got two different emotions from them. One was of regret, guilt and a drive to make amends for what happened. Another was filled with hope, happiness and a drive to fulfil an old promise. Both exhibited different emotions but the reasons behind them were identical. It was all about mending what was once lost.
"I'm not going to be the same as I was before," Raine said. "Now that I'm a Dusknoir. But...is it a promise? One that you'll keep forever this time?" Raine wanted to make sure this promise wouldn't be broken.
"It's the same promise as before. And with this, we'll put an end to it so you don't have to ever worry about it, Raine." Sci-Twi replied. She wouldn't make a new promise. Instead, she found it better to finish an old one.
And with that, a smile came to the young man's face. His rage subsided after hearing out Hisuian Zorua and Sci-Twi. "Alright, miss. Zorua. I'm putting all my trust into this."
"Thank you. Wait...Miss?" Sci-Twi realized that Raine was stuck as his younger self for having his life cut short. Because of this, Sci-Twi was technically older than the Gripper Pokemon who was much bigger. Dusknoir would approach, passing by Pikachu and Hydreigon without any hostile reaction. He held out his hand as this would be the way to put an end to this promise.
Sci-Twi held out a Poke Ball, tapping it against Dusknoir's finger. The Poke Ball would then shrink Dusknoir, sending him in as it would wobble in Twilight's grasp instead of the ground.
1...2...3 Gotcha! Dusknoir was caught.
Instead of bursting out with joy, Twilight would gently hold the Poke Ball close to her. A new friend had been found. And for Zorua, it was the reunion with an old friend. Zorua would jump on Sci-Twi's shoulder before nuzzling her nose against the Poke Ball. She made amends with him even with this time leap. Due to how far in the present she was thrown into, it was like she wasn't gone for that long at all.
"Well...Looks like Ash has been rubbing off on you more than I thought." Carlita said before returning Hydreigon. "Return, Hydreigon. "Ash and the others might still be searching for Dusknoir I bet..."
"Just watch Dusknoir. There's so much for you to see. Especially in this Grander World." Sci-Twi said to the Poke Ball. This old promise would finally be fulfilled. And in this current day where the Unovan Zorua are finally free to do whatever they want, neither had to worry about vendettas and revenge. Especially Zorua, who felt safer around her new friend group. And to her, it felt safe with Dusknoir on their side.
Up above, the rain had ceased. It went in correlation with Sci-Twi managing to catch Dusknoir, who was a friend of Zorua named Raine before reincarnating into a Pokemon. However, during the moment when Twilight and Zorua did their best to talk to the enraged and vengeful Dusknoir, something else occurred in the other parts of the forest.
"What was that noise?" This whole time, while Sci-Twi and Carlita were dealing with Dusknoir, Ash and Sunset Shimmer came across something else of interest. The sound of Dusknoir's fury managed to reach them from afar.
"Oh, check this out!" Ash cried out. When searching for Dusknoir, who had already been found, this forest had more than just the old town that was once attacked by some Pokemon.
More of this town and what it used to have could be found elsewhere instead of just the heart of it. Ruins of the town were scattered across the forest as seen earlier when advancing through it. Ash would move the pile of rubble to see something glistening vibrantly. It looked like a Time Capsule once Ash held it up.
"A time capsule?" Sunset Shimmer said after observing the shape of this object.
"Looks like it. But I'm not sure this is related to Dusknoir. Unless..." Ash had to give it a try. When holding the capsule, he would push the sides as they were interactive, closing in once he pushed them. After being pushed, the capsule would open up. And within it, only one object could be found instead of many. This was a relatively small Time Capsule. This object in question ended up being some sort of map. But it was rather poorly drawn when Ash took it out.
"A map?" Sunset leaned in, looking at the childishly drawn map. She noticed how there were only three familiar locations noted on it. Mistralton City, Celestial Tower and the word 'Unova' which was supersized. It was just two locations and the entire region with different regions everywhere.
And on it, the imagery of two individuals had been spotted. A drawing of Zorua. Unovan to be exact. And the one next to Zorua was none other than Raine. Fittingly, only he and Zorua were well drawn. And to confirm that this was them, their names were even written underneath, showing the words 'Travel Partners' next to their names.
"Oh, this is Raine's!" Ash gasped, realizing who would've drawn this. "He must've made this to hype up his potential journey with Zorua."
"Aw, it's cute." Sunset Shimmer gushed at the adorable artwork. "But looks like he really didn't have much knowledge outside of Unova."
"Well, that's gonna change, right?" Ash added. "Raine's gonna see the world with Zorua now. All thanks to Twilight."
"Pikachu!"
"But do you think he's seen more now that's he's reincarnated as a Dusknoir?" Sunset Shimmer wondered. "Plus, I don't see many Pokemon around this forest."
"Yeah. They haven't shown up all that much, honestly." Ash scratched his hair before placing the map in his bag. As for the Time Capsule, it was almost broken with how long it's been buried here. Unfortunately, nothing else could be found in it. It was just the map after all.
Minutes later, back at that old ghost town, Sci-Twi managed to catch Dusknoir, adding him to the team. And after successfully doing so, she would sit down, still having injured her knee once it was scraped on the ground. Thankfully, Carlita was there to tend to her injury.
"That should do it." Carlita patched it up perfectly. "Well, guess we're done here. What's next, Twilight? Do we keep going for Scyther?"
"That's the plan. But...maybe later." Twilight replied, keeping still to let this injury heal even when bandaged. "By now, I should be getting back home."
"Ah, right. School and all that." Carlita nodded. "Must be tough. Having to go to school and be an assistant to a Pokemon Professor while trying to catch every Alpha Pokemon you can."
"It is, but I make it work. And so do my friends. Spike's being taken care of by Fluttershy right now so he's fine. I can get through school in no time. And by then, I would've hopefully caught every Pokemon. But that only means that gives J a lot more chances to catch any Alpha Pokemon while I'm back home." Sci-Twi rambled.
"Pssh. You don't have to worry about that. I mean, that Alpha Lopunny looks like it can handle itself with all of that sky-bound jumping, right? I doubt she can get all of them. And if something comes up, I'll try and get on it."
"You'll get involved, Carlita?"
"Of course!" Carlita exclaimed, crossing her arms proudly. "I've been getting out more instead of just staying at Eindoak all the time. I promised to help you with your Alpha Pokemon search after all. And when I see Hunter J, well...Hehe. It'll be a different story. Isn't that right, Hydreigon?"
"Hydreigon!"
"Well, I should be getting back home now for tomorrow. But the only problem is that...the Infinity Gateway's still gone. Where did it go? And why did it look like that?"
"No clue. But hey. At least you've got that stone to help keep you in your standard form. But what's up with you not wanting to show up as a pony? Wouldn't it be fun?"
"Showing up as something else and trying to adjust to the way that body works isn't something I'm ready for. I like the way things are for me." Twilight explained. "It'll be a pretty long trek back home. But Castelia shouldn't be too far from here anyway. I just wish there was another gateway I could use."
It was time for Sci-Twi to depart back home. She was still a student that couldn't afford to miss classes. And if only the gateway from Eindoak to her world wasn't gone to who-knows-where. Perhaps, if she never passed through it, it wouldn't have left suddenly.
Equestria. Manehattan. Afternoon.
Manehattan. One of Equestria's largest cities and has definitely seen its fair share of wild events when the two worlds were separated. Over at Manehattan, while the sun was setting, a visitor from another world was currently around, searching for something while choosing to keep herself rather hidden from many.
That would be Twilight Moonlight. Showing up here not too long ago, this counterpart to Twilight Sparkle has been on the move. Specifically, for something of interest that related to a short-lived world that only a few were aware of.
"Nothing's changed here." Twilight Moonlight observed the city, seeing that it was relatively normal except for the presence of Pokemon. "Maybe Manehattan was left out when Jirachi put both worlds together. It doesn't seem affected by anything."
"Nothing? Well, looks like we got lucky here." The voice that Twilight Moonlight spoke to replied once more. "Are you sure there isn't anything?"
"I looked at everywhere that was important in that short-lived world. And there was nothing. Nothing here that can really shake things up. Manehattan's completely harmless, unlike the Winged Mountain. I still think we should do something about that mountain."
"Lay off of it for now. Well, if Manehattan's fine, then we can move to our next location. Whatever it takes, any sign of Prisma returning needs to be dealt with it. So, how about Everfree? Now, will you go?"
"I'll pay a visit to Everfree." Twilight Moonlight held out the mysterious desaturated necklace once more. "But...I'm staying clear away from this world's Twilight. Got it'?"
"I know, I know. You don't have to be so sharp about it. Just keep your distance, find out anything and-" The voice suddenly paused before speaking once more. "Oh?"
"Oh? What do you mean 'Oh?'" Twilight Moonlight questioned. "What's happening?"
"Right now...someone's managing to figure out Rift Travel aside from us." The voice explained. Whoever this was that Twilight Moonlight spoke to was already well-versed in dimensional walking as that was how the unicorn showed up here. Clearly, adept in this cosmic power that was responsible for the many events that befell this world that used to be separate.
"Someone else is using the power of the Rift?!" Twilight Moonlight exclaimed before putting her hoof over her mouth, fearing that she might attract attention. "Who? And where are they going?"
"It's not from any of our worlds. It might be one of the Pokemon Worlds that could be behind this. They might've figured out how to return here even with the lack of gateways."
"Well, they should think twice about coming here. Who is it? Is it one of his counterparts?"
"Not sure. But if it is, you should investigate at once. Once I figure out where they are, you can head there, but stop by Everfree while you're at it, Moonlight."
"I understand. And if I run into any one of them, I'll do what I need to do." Right before Twilight Moonlight could finish her sentence, she was caught off guard once she turned around. Standing in her way were foals that startled her. "Gaah!"
"Princess Twilight!" They called out her name as if she was this world's Twilight. "What are you doing here!?"
"Uhh...!"
"You were talking so quietly behind this alley. Plus you were creeping around last night like this." A foal would mimic Twilight Moonlight's movements. He saw her last night, snooping around quietly, trying not to alert anyone. But it seems like someone did hear her.
"Wait, you saw me?!" Twilight Moonlight backed up as she didn't go fully undetected. Someone saw her and it just so happened to be a child. Truly unfortunate.
"We all did!" The foals grinned. "Are you doing something important? Is it another Pokemon Problem or something about the Rift? Can we help, Princess?!"
"I'm not a princess!" Twilight Moon protested. She claimed herself to not be a princess. The lack of wings backed that up perfectly.
"Huh...Yeah, where are your wings?" The foals would notice the absence of wings. "And why are you so different today?"
"She dyed her coat. Is she going through a phase...?" One of the foals whispered, pointing out Twilight Moonlight's alternate coat colour compared to Twilight Sparkle.
"I like your new manestyle! It's very pretty!"
"So, can alicorns hide their wings or something? That's weird."
"What's up with you and Ash?"
"Awkward..." The voice who spoke to Twilight Moonlight found this to be a rather unfortunate position for someone who wanted to be so secretive. "But they are just children. I doubt they'll take this too seriously."
"I still can't afford to take any chances..." The unicorn grizzled before being bombarded with a barrage of words from these foals. They would show their love for the princess, asking for autographs, an opportunity to hang out or even see her Pokemon if they could. If only if this was the right Twilight Sparkle. But this Twilight wasn't so eager as her teeth were grizzling together, followed by a growl."I need to go! Move aside! Now!" Twilight Moonlight yelled, startling the colts and fillies with her thunderous voice.
The children would separate with Twilight Moonlight walking off. She managed to give herself free space by bellowing with such intensity in her voice. The foals were taken aback by this before watching the unicorn depart.
"She sounds more aggressive than usual, doesn't she?" A filly pointed out how serious Twilight Moonlight's tone was. Every foal here would agree, slowly nodding their heads.
"You could've been a bit nicer to them or even give them some time. Why are you the way that you are, Twilight?" The voice questioned.
"I don't need to hear that from you." Twilight Moonlight groaned, holding her head in agitation. "I don't have time for something like that. Besides...I'm not the best around kids anyway."
"I know. Growing up in that academy, you never took the chance to converse with your fellow students. Too busy growing as a Pokemon Trainer but you could still take that opportunity even today."
"I didn't take that chance because it was unnecessary. Everyone else in that school would've held me back too much. That's all I need to say." Twilight Moonlight finished her conversation with the mysterious voice before departing to the Everfree Forest.
The Everfree Forest. Nightfall.
And it wouldn't be too long for her to get there. Using her Noivern, she would soar through the skies of Equestria, still aiming to keep herself hidden from many without blowing her cover. But she didn't mind sharing her name as Twilight. Although, it was only around children so far.
As for the Everfree Forest, it had fully healed at last after so long. And by extension, Zecora would have her original home back as it was currently being rebuilt. Soaring through the night skies, Twilight Moonlight would spot the reconstruction of Zecora's home, spotting nothing different so far. Her main objective here was investigating the many oddities of the forest to see what was different and how it related to bits of the short-lived world showing up.
Zecora was currently at the Everfree Forest, being behind this reconstruction as only she could know how her home looked. She wanted it back to the way it was with a few touches. And helping her out were some of the Pokemon from the Pokemon House. However, once more, Twilight Moonlight failed to be completely discreet. She was still noticed. And in this case, it was by Zecora and a few Pokemon who looked up.
When looking up, Zecora spotted a familiar face. It looked to be Twilight Sparkle's face but the differences were also visible. The different manestyle and the coat came into question. Zecora's eyes narrowed as curiosity caught her attention, taking her focus away from rebuilding her home.
And her first destination ended up being the Mirror Pool. Passing by the eyes of many so that she would not be found, Twilight Moonlight and her Noivern descended in front of the cavern that leads to this enchanted pool. Once again, after a few hours had gone by, she would speak to the voice from another world yet again.
"Safe and sound. I wasn't recognized by anyone from Ponyville since I came from another direction. Hopefully." Twilight Moonlight said, returning Noivern before then entering the Cavern. "I'm heading for the Mirror Pool first."
"The Mirror Pool. Good call. When he used that pool, it created greater complications for us. We already struggled trying to deal with just him. Having to deal with that many was a problem."
"Which is why I think we should get rid of it." Twilight Moonlight, much like the Winged Mountain, wanted to eliminate the Mirror Pool.
"This again? Why are you so destructive, Twilight?"
"You said it yourself. Prisma gave us so much trouble with what he unleashed on the world. He used every asset available with his vast knowledge and that's what made him such a problem. He's not even that much of a Magical Genius in the first place." Twilight Moonlight explained, bringing up the Mysterious Prisma once more. "I wouldn't want doubles of him showing up again if he comes back here."
Continuing on her way through the cavern which was connected to the surface via a tunnel, she expressed her reasons for wanting to destroy the Mirror Pool. Entering the now-regenerated location, the cavern walls surrounding everything here, including the pool were covered in luminescent flowers and mushrooms.
"I suppose so. But be discreet about it. Just make the destruction quick. Perhaps just sucking out all the liquid would do, right?"
"Right. As for his counterparts, those are another issue we have to deal with." After moving through the cavern, she finally appeared at her destination. There it was. The Mirror Pool. Everything magical here at the Everfree Forest had returned. It was only natural. The magic in Equestria refused to let such a place be lost without its eerie charm. "For now, destroying the Mirror Pool will get rid of one problem."
"And why would you want to destroy the Mirror Pool?" A voice grabbed Twilight's attention. And it wasn't the one she was constantly speaking to. Instead, by turning around, she would see that it was none other than Zecora. Along with the few Pokemon who spotted her. "With a better distance...you look like Twilight. Who are you?"
"Tch. Zecora." Twilight Moonlight scoffed after facing Zecora. "Followed me down here? You always were rather surprisingly stealthy. I guess the same goes for this universe."
"Zecora?" The voice gasped. "So much for being discreet...Again. You're lacking a bit recently, Twilight. What happened?"
"This doesn't concern you, Zecora." Twilight Moonlight spoke. "You should leave right now. Unless bits of your other self from that world are there."
"I don't think so no." Zecora shook her head. "But hearing that you want to destroy the Mirror Pool and the fact that you appear as Twilight Sparkle is something I want to know."
Zecora demanded some answers. Already, she was rather cautious about this. She knew that this wasn't the Twilight she knew just by appearance alone. The similarities were there but there was a distinct difference to make them separate. But they did share the same voice.
"We definitely can't let Zecora know about this." The voice said. "If she does, it could turn our plans upside down. I'm with you on this one. You should get her out of here."
"I'm already planning on it. Get lost, Zecora. You won't get any answers from me and you never will." Twilight Moonlight would utter, narrowing her eyes at the zebra. But Zecora would also narrow her eyes at the unicorn.
Zecora certainly wasn't leaving. Not when the destruction of the Mirror Pool was apparently a possibility with how this Twilight Sparkle lookalike suddenly came here to do just that. She didn't need much of a reason to find this utterly concerning.
What will become of this encounter that was taking place at the Mirror Pool's Cavern? At last, Twilight Moonlight ran into someone who took her presence seriously, compared to the younger ponies who were easier to be around. As the journey continues.
Twilight Moonlight had arrived at the Everfree Forest with one objective. Destroying the Mirror Pool. But showing up before she could even do so was Zecora, along with a few Pokemon who were helping rebuild her home. Confronted by Zecora, Twilight Moonlight suggested evacuation, only for Zecora to have a few questions that needed answering.
"If you won't leave, I'll force you to leave." Twilight Moonlight uttered with her horn already radiating magic as a threat. "This is for your own good. Everyone's good. The Mirror Pool and whatever is here at the Everfree Forest needs to be dealt with. Everything here was used to its full destructive intent by him."
"I know I'm up for getting Zecora out of here but...please don't be so rough like you always are..." The voice from another world said to Twilight Moonlight, wishing that she would take things easily.
"Why would you want to do such a thing?" Zecora questioned. "What are you trying to prevent from happening?" Around Zecora, the Pokemon were greatly confused. They were hearing such a harsh tone and collection of words coming from what was presumably a friendly face. But it was not the Twilight Sparkle they knew that would come by to the Pokemon House often.
"You have no idea. The unification of both worlds brought some benefits and greatness, sure. But a bigger world means bigger problems and one of those problems happens to be the potential return of Him. Prisma. If you ask me...uniting these two worlds as one was the biggest mistake possible. Because something big could return again, far worse than whatever you could encounter. The Dread League are nothing compared to what I had to experience back then. So to prevent that from happening, I'm cutting off everything that can lead to it."
"That is not an excuse for you to destroy the Mirror Pool or whatever exists here at Everfree." Zecora shook her head. "But you make it sound like your existence is the worst that it can be."
"It is. Or rather, it was. I may be a Twilight Sparkle counterpart, but in reality, I...and her as well, come from a world that was once short-lived." Twilight Moonlight brought up that mysterious world to Zecora. "You don't remember. Not many do but I certainly remember. At least, parts of it."
"Then share it with me then. I'd rather avoid a battle with you as I don't wish for this to take the worst possible turn." Zecora wished to talk it out despite how strange this seemed. She wanted to know why Twilight Moonlight was truly doing this. Talking it out was her ideal choice.
"Well...If she wants to know, what would that result in?" The voice wondered. "We're keeping things as discreet as we can, even if that's been failing. Zecora was fairly important back in that world. If she does know, I'm still worried that our plans could stumble here."
"She was. But she doesn't know a thing about it at all, much like everyone else in this world. I'd rather not harm you so...here's what you'll get from my own memories and what my superiors tell me. And for your sake, whatever I tell you, you should take seriously."
"Go ahead." The voice allowed it. "I'm already planning on a backup plan just in case."
"What I recall was that this world was a wonderful utopia. Before the Jirachi put everything together, it was an Earth that was unified with Pokemon, ponies, humans and more. However, it only lasted for a split second. And yet, in those split-seconds, millenniums, decades and centuries gone by thanks to the power of the Rift."
"That much went by in such a short time?!" Zecora gasped, stunned at this fact. This mysterious world lived on as long as any other world but only happened for a split second. "I can see how something like that be forgettable and pass us by."
"It was the Rift. It made that world as an experiment. To fuel its entertainment, it altered our worlds by reshaping them into something new. But quickly, it changed its mind, opting to go for the second option that you all saw today. If it didn't, then we would all be living in a combined world already. But I'm glad we're not. Because Prisma, at least for now, is gone."
"Who is this Prisma character? If I knew I would but...it all seems like a blur." Zecora questioned once more.
"Unfortunately, that's all my memories can gather. But I certainly know more than what most do." Twilight Moonlight shrugged. "Prisma was a powerful trainer from that world. Possibly the best. From what my superiors know, Prisma was a titan when it came to Pokemon Battles and quickly gained advantage on the battlefield, soon becoming an undefeated Champion across that world and widely known as a Superstar. No one was above him. But...perhaps that was one of the biggest problems." Twilight Moonlight then looked down, having a vivid vision of that world.
That same topic city that was a mishmash of different regions and Equestria came to mind. And once again, the visage of this Prisma Character was spotted. In her mind, Twilight Moonlight saw the city in the worst-possible state. Utter destruction.
And in that destruction, many species were fleeing in terror from what looked to be gigantic Pokemon. And on top of these Pokemon was the silhouette of Prisma. Of course, this is all Twilight Moonlight could envision based on what she was shared about this Prisma Character.
"What I do know is that his battling went too far. So much so that it led to the destruction of that city. He strived to be the strongest and accomplished his goal. But at his absolute peak, he wasn't satisfied. Being at the top meant that there was nothing for him to strive for. So out of pure boredom, he decided to destroy the world."
"!" That threw Zecora off guard. It was a lot more serious than she thought it was and the description of this Prisma Character was rather devious.
"Not too uncommon from what Rosa Maledicta wants to do. But I'd argue one is more terrifying than the other. This world can focus on stopping the Dread League. As for me, I plan to stop Prisma from returning. He used everything he could to bring the world to ruin and the Mirror Pool was involved with it."
"How are you so sure that Prisma will return? And is everything in Everfree truly of great concern?" Zecora asked.
"Because the ones who will make Prisma return are still around. After I deal with everything that could repeat that short-lived history, my superiors will decide what to do with the crux of Prisma. Very soon, I'll have to deal with Ash Ketchum."
"Ash?! Why did you bring up Ash?"
"He's one of the eight that is related to Prisma. Whatever happens to him...as long as it means that Prisma can never come back, it must be done. And unfortunately, thanks to what the Jirachi have done, Prisma's return is likely. So now you know quite a few things, Zecora. I need to do this. It's my mission. I don't know how long it will take for him to return but the sooner I can prevent it, the better."
"I understand what you saying and what this all means. But the fact that it involves Ash in a less-than-pleasant topic is worrying to me."
"You don't have to worry about that. There are 7 more out there that we also have to deal with if they can even show up in this universe again with how things are. I've read up on Ash and he's a rather famous figure here. It won't take long for me to find him since Ponyville's a hot spot for the guy. Just know this, Zecora. When I come across him, whatever my superiors say, it has to be done."
"You'd better do it quickly, Moonlight. You've already been in this world for almost another day. We can't keep you in this universe and you'll return automatically. Wrap it up before the machine fails to keep you here." The voice from beyond warned her. Twilight Moonlight had a time limit. A time limit to how long she could be here. It was seemingly nearly two days. She had been in this world since yesterday after all and with the moon coming up, the next day was about to arrive.
"I refuse to let you harm a friend of mine." Zecora put her hoof down. After hearing everything, she made up her mind. Judging from Twilight Moonlight's words, even Ash was being threatened. "I've made up my mind." Zecora chose to stand against Twilight Moonlight even after all of that. When a friend was being brought up in that way, how could she not?
"Bad call, Zecora." Twilight Moonlight's horn would flare up as she would focus her attention to the ceiling. She unleashed a magical beam upwards, blasting the ceiling above.
By doing so, Twilight Moonlight would create a blockade of large rocks that came crashing down, startling the Pokemon and Zecora. The rocks aligned just as Twilight Moonlight wanted as they would block off the way to the mirror pool for Zecora and the others. After creating a massive blockade that blocked off the entrance to the Mirror Pool, Twilight Moonlight focused her attention on the magical pond, ready to eliminate it from this world. "Alright. Let's get this over with as soon as possible."
However, blocking off Zecora was a pointless endeavour. Immediately, the rocks were all blown away by an electrical blast. This stream of electricity would pass by Twilight Moonlight, making her mane flow from the force. And the one who blew these rocks away was none other than Zecora's Zebstrika.
"Zebstrika!"
Twilight Moonlight sighed. She expected something like this to happen and she didn't quite finish her job fast enough. Zecora would truly get in her way just for her friend, while Twilight Moonlight would focus on the potential return of a dangerous individual.
"Fine then...If that's how it's going to be...!" Twilight Moonlight would use her magic to hold out one of her Poke Balls, throwing it upwards. "Go, Samurott!"
"Samurott!" Emerging from the Poke Ball was none other than Hisuian Samurott. As for the other Pokemon here, intimidated by Twilight Moonlight's presence, they would steer clear away from whatever would unfold from this. Most were just small Pokemon. Zecora stood in front of these Pokemon, being their guardians for the worst. However, it didn't seem like Twilight Moonlight wished to harm them.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm just going to force you out of here. But if you want to truly do this, then I won't apologize if someone gets hurt." Twilight Moon warned. But the look in Zecora's eyes said otherwise. "No? Okay...Samurott! Get them out of here with Ceaseless Edge!"
"Sam!" By removing the two shell blades on its front legs, Hisuian Samurott would envelop them in darkness. A battle had begun as the Formidable Pokemon approached with impressive speeds.
As for Zecora, her way of battling was unique compared to others. Instead of constantly shouting out commands, she would communicate with her Pokemon on a mental or even spiritual level. They would always understand what she was trying to say without rhyming. And this was once of those instances as Zebstrika looked back at Zecora, nodding in understanding.
In a flash, Zebstrika would zip out of the way, evading the downward slash from Samurott. The blades struck the ground, causing a cutting wave of darkness to emerge, slicing through the cavern walls. Zecora would move some of the Pokemon out of the way of this attack as it cut apart whatever stood in its way, even the pathway that led to the exit of the cavern.
"While they're doing that...This is my chance!" Twilight Moonlight would then turn her attention to the Mirror Pool, taking the opportunity to destroy it while Samurott was dealing with Zebstrika. However, after evading Ceaseless Edge, Zebstrika would use Thunderbolt, exuding a violent flare of electricity from his body.
"Strika!" The flare of 100,000 volts would not only race towards Samurott, but it would also reach Twilight Moonlight, being a way to prevent her from getting close to the Mirror Pool. Twilight Moonlight gasped as the bolt nearly struck her, blasting the ground and leaving a visible smoking dent. As for Samurott, it managed to deflect the attack by using its blades to do so.
"You...!" Twilight Moonlight growled, turning to face Zecora and Zebstrika. By looking at Zecora's eyes, it was clear that she wouldn't give Twilight Moonlight the opportunity to interact with the Mirror Pool.
"Zebstrika!" Zebstrika would use Thunderbolt once more, unleashing those 100,000 volts at greater speeds.
"Fine! Samurott, Aerial Ace! Now!"
"Samurott!" Samurott would then cover its blades in a white light. These blades would once again deflect Thunderbolt, knocking them elsewhere that would destroy another part of this cavern. After deflecting it, Samurrot would approach Zebstrika, moving at confounding speeds with Aerial Ace.
"Z-Zeb!" The Electric-Type would be smacked by the blades, receiving hits to the head that made him open his eyes. Samurott would make sure that these hits would last, making the Thunderbolt Pokemon stagger and stumble.
"Zebstrika cannot do this on his own." Zecora gulped before holding out two more Poke Balls. "Weavile! Ninjask! Go!" From these two Poke Balls, Weavile and Ninjask would appear. Another batch of speedy Pokemon had arrived to assist their teammate.
"Weavile!" Weavile cried out, using Ice Shard the instant it showed up. Summoning a shard of ice in its hands, Weavile would throw them at Twilight Moonlight but not as a direct target. Instead, the shards would form an ice blockade in front of the Mirror Pool, freezing parts of the ground over instantly. Twilight Moonlight groaned as she moved back from the blockade of ice that emerged before her. She was now moving further from the Mirror Pool at this rate.
"Ninjask!" As for Ninjask, it came zooming in, intercepting Hisuian Samurrot's attack, using X-Scissor to do so. A super-effective blow as Samurott did not see it coming at all.
"S-Samu!" Samurott yelled before being pushed back by Ninjask's surprise attack. Now, Twilight Moonlight had three Pokemon to deal with. And each of them were considerably fast considering the kind of Gym Leader Zecora was.
"Samurott! Blow them all away with Water Pledge!" Twilight Moonlight roared.
"Rott!" Rings surround Samurott's eyes, unleashing a strong surge of water from its body. With just a stomp, Samurott summoned massive pillars of water that would sprout out, swamping a majority of this area.
Zebstrika, Weavile and Ninjask would scatter, moving in different directions. Zebstrika would take the right, Weavile went for the left while Ninjask would go above. The Bug-Flying-Type would avoid the pillar by moving higher than it could currently reach while Weavile and Zebstrika zig-zagged past them.
After avoiding them, Zebstrika would use Wild Charge, enveloping his body in an aura of lightning before using that to propel himself at even greater speeds. Weavile would join him, using Night Slash while still managing to keep up without needing something like Wild Charge.
"Intercept with Ceaseless Edge!"
"Sam!" Samurott would hold out its blades yet again. This time, it would block Weavile's Night Slash which would appear first, hitting Hisuian Samurott's shell blades which resulting in a clanging noise emerging. Samurott pushed Weavile's fragile body away before then fixating on Ninjask, who was going for another X-Scissor. It also had to focus on Zebstrika's Wild Charge.
Samurott barely managed to stop Ninjask with Ceaseless Edge, overpowering its X-Scissor and launching the Bug-Flying-Type. But it was far too late to stop Zebstrika who struck at the right moment, dealing a super-effective blow to the Formidable Pokemon.
"S-Sam!" As it stood now, Samurott was certainly strong, but it could not keep up with Zecora's speedy team. At best, two were manageable but three was definitely difficult. The fact that all three of them were fast was tricky for the Formidable Pokemon as well as Twilight Moonlight.
"You can stop this now before the worst can happen to this cavern and Everfree," Zecora suggested. "Your Samurrot cannot possibly keep up with my Pokemon and their amazing speed.
"Don't you think have the upper hoof here...!" Twilight Moonlight's eyes flashed a dark blue before thrusting her hoof into the air. "I came here to complete my mission and I won't let you stop me!" Suddenly, a strong pressure came from both Twilight Moonlight and Samurott. It was as if their reactions to this battle were giving them strength.
"Samurott!"
"Zeb...?!" Zebstrika and the others gasped. Before their eyes, something was emerging from Twilight Moonlight. A visage of a pony had emerged in correlation with her outburst. This pony seemed to have both a horn and wings, much like an alicorn. It was faint but Zecora could definitely see the appearance of alicorn. But she wasn't sure what this meant.
"Keep up with this since you're so sure of yourself, Zecora! Ceaseless Edge! Once more!"
As if Samurott got a boost, the Formidable Pokemon moved faster than before while holding out its weapons. Zebstrika and the others prepared for Samurott, only to be the ones who were caught by surprise. Samurott slashed Zebstrika first with Ceaseless Edge, moving faster than the Thunderbolt Pokemon could see it. Zecora was even stunned as Samurott was not this fast earlier.
She watched as Zebstrika was sent flying, hitting the walls of the cavern. Zebstrika cried out from this staggering blow as he made a dent in the walls that came in his body shape.
"Weavile?!" After Zebstrika was bewildered and sent flying, Weavile was the next target. Weavile managed to jump away from the next Ceaseless Edge. The attack was also aimed at Ninjask who would zip backwards. However, that wouldn't be enough, Samurott's tenacity showed along with Twilight Moonlight's.
"You won't escape from us! Go, Samurrot!"
"Rott!" Samurott moved in, slashing its blade down at Ninjask who had just managed to gauge some distance. Ninjask would find itself being slashed by Samurott's blades, unable to avoid the next Ceaseless Edge. Instead of being launched, Ninjask was brought to the ground by the blade.
"J-Jask!"
"Weavile!? Weavile!" Weavile growled before using Dark Pulse to try and push the Formidable Pokemon away. A wave of darkness that was imbued with dark thoughts emerged from Weavile's claws, smashing into Samurott's face.
"Sam!" But Samurott barely moved from it. It did not even flinch. Instead, after pinning Ninjask to the ground, it would shift its attention to the Sharp Claw Pokemon, throwing one of its blades at its fellow Dark-Type.
"Wea?!" Weavile gasped as the blade nearly struck it. It would pass by Weavile's face while also moving past Zecora who nearly found herself being a target. She stumbled after being startled by the shelled blade, nearly falling over as Samurott's weapon stabbed into the walls.
"Her Samurott wasn't this fast before!" Zecora was flabbergasted by this sudden change. It was as if Samurott was only now showing this off and Twilight Moonlight was just keeping it hidden until now. "That alicorn visage behind her must be the reason for this evolution, I'm sure!" But it seemed that the brief visage of the alicorn was possibly responsible for this.
"Don't mess with me, Zecora! Water Pledge!"
"Rott!" By removing its blade from Ninjask, it would then swing the only one it still had in its hand, summoning a stream of water that flowed rapidly. Weavile attempted to freeze the water over with Ice Shard, only to be too late.
The Water Pledge would blow Weavile away, covering the Ice-Dark-Type in a swamp of liquids. All three of Zecora's Pokemon found themselves either launched or slammed. And in Weavile's case, it would fly through some of the pillars of this cavern, breaking them.
Zecora's eyes trembled as her Pokemon had all suffered major damage from Samurott's sudden outburst. She would then look back at Twilight Moonlight who only had a viciously serious scowl on her face. Not a single smile would emerge from her face even with this vast advantage.
"Call it quits, Zecora. Now." Twilight Moonlight declared. "And next time, don't ever stand in my way and prevent me from what I need to do."
"I'm sorry but I refuse to do so, even if I lose." Zecora closed her eyes before turning to face the Pokemon. With a singular head nudge, she told the Pokemon here to leave the cavern at once. "My friend is too important for me to give up to you."
"Forget that. Your friend is just the catalyst. Maybe that wasn't the case when the two worlds were separated but now that they're combined, it's guaranteed. It doesn't matter what you tell me. I'm going through with this."
"Samurott!"
"Hm." Zecorao smiled before then slowly backing away. Twilight Moonlight narrowed her eyes, wondering what she was up to. Right then and there, Weavile would take action under Zecora's facial understanding. By using Night Slash, the Sharp Claw Pokemon threw a blade of darkness at one of the pillars in this cavern.
Samurott saw it as pointless to intercept this since it would not hit its target. But for Zecora, it was the jackpot. Previously, the other pillars were taken out by Samurott's Water Pledge. And this one pillar was what started bringing everything down. It was the foundation of this very spot as the entire ceiling was coming down.
"What?!" Twilight Moonlight gasped as everything crumbled rapidly thanks to this one pillar breaking apart. This is what Zecora wanted to do. It was risky but she was willing to shoot for the payoff. All the Pokemon here had already fled thanks to Zecora, gaining a safe distance. The only ones not a safe distance were Zecora, her Pokemon, Samurott and Twilight Moonlight. "Are you crazy?!"
"If it means preventing you from getting the Mirror Pool...Then any chance to make sure that happens will do." Zecora smiled while massive rocks would land next to her. She would then return her Pokemon, keeping them safe as the exit way was gradually being blocked off by these gigantic ceiling rocks.
"This won't stop me! I-" Just then, Twilight Moonlight's body would flash, emanating the aura of the Rift. Her time was up in this universe. "No...! Not now! Darn it I wasted too much time!"
"You've been here since last morning. It's time to return, Moonlight. We can put a bookmark on this and try again later." The voice from another world said.
"Darn it all...! Zecora! I'll remember this! You're not gonna stop me from doing what needs to be done, you hear me?!" Those were her last words here before then vanishing in a flare of Rift Energy. Her voice echoed through the cavern as a reminder.
As for Zecora, she would gallop as fast as she could, avoiding the rocks that came crashing down. And as for the mirror pool, it would be flooded by these rocks which only ended up duplicating them. Even the rocks were affected as duplicates of them would fill up the pool, covering whatever could be seen by it. The exit was still available but Zecora had to hurry. She managed to exit the cavern at the last moment before the last rock blocked it off. It was a safe exit and a close call.
After escaping, Zecora and the others would look at the cavern which had been thoroughly damaged thanks to the battle that took place and Zecora's risky move. But it was all worth it as it burned through Twilight Moonlight's time while also keeping her from destroying the Mirror Pool.
The Mirror Pool itself was still intact, despite being covered in duplicated rocks. However, Zecora knew that this wasn't over. Twilight Moonlight would return as proven by her last words.
"That was a most troubling turn of events that turned dire..." Zecora said while gazing at the cavern to the Mirror Pool. "This Twilight Moonlight character will return...and I fear it might be with a greater ire." Zecora also feared what Twilight Moonlight would do when she returns.
Yet, it was strange. Despite what she planned to do, Zecora could see that there were no malicious intentions behind her words. If anything, Twilight Moonlight was dedicated to that goal for the sake of something better. Something that would prevent the worse from happening. And in her words, just as bad as the Dread League or even worse.
Returning from Universe One was none other than Twilight Moonlight. Her body rematerialized in what appeared to be a laboratory. It had the usual clean white appearance that most labs possess but with a dash of magic involved. Magical energy flows were across the lab, mixing well with the white colouring. A large machine was behind the rematerializing unicorn, possessing the recognizable Rift Energy within. The Rift Energy had a liquid-like appearance to it, bubbling up in response to Twilight Moon's appearance.
When returning, Twilight Moonlight once again felt a strain on her body with this form of transportation. She gasped, nearly falling over before managing to recover. The Rift Energy would cease all bubbling before powering down. The vibrant colours of the Rift would drop dramatically, appearing dry and bland.
"Curse it...I could've done it there..." Twilight Moonlight, frustrated that she failed to destroy the Mirror Pool, scowled and growled the moment she showed up, ignoring her pain. "Zecora...How annoying..."
"Well, at least you tried. Let's put a pin on the Mirror Pool for now. And maybe most of Everfree. Are you alright though?" Approaching Twilight Moonlight was none other than the voice that was constantly speaking with her from this universe to the other, having a ton of banter along the way. She showed herself after Twilight Moon returned.
"I'm fine, Silver." Twilight Moonlight spoke her name before taking a seat. "The rocks didn't harm me. It was just my return. But this time...it hurt more than usual."
"Maybe bringing up Ash's name wasn't the best option." Silver Swirl said as she wasn't alone. Others were here with her. Rather, other humans, ponies and Pokemon. This universe housed these three recognizable species as well. It seemed that Universe One was not exempt from this hodgepodge of species. "But, we're not yet going through with it, Twilight. Let's not bring up Ash to anyone until then.
"I know...But it seems so likely anyway. It wasn't when they were all separate but because of Jirachi, all signs point to him returning." Twilight Moonlight replied before holding her hoof.
"Ah. We also shouldn't use the Rift Transporter for a while as well. You were out there longer than what it needs." Silver Swirl faced the giant machine which was packing Rift Energy. "Let's be careful next time. This way of Rift Transportation is the only transportation we have. Any way to reach the other worlds is impossible now that the gateways have vanished. We're still working on a way to reduce the pain for when we use the transporter so hang in there."
"About that...You said you detected someone else using Rift Travel." Twilight Moonlight brought up a crucial moment that was brief. "What happened with that?"
"Oh, right." Silver then turned her attention to the large screen that was next to the Machine. This screen was made up entirely of magic, having that ethereal flow to it. By using her own magic, Silver Swirl interacted with it, showing off four orbs of different colours. Black and White along with Yellow and Green.
"It looks like four life signs were entering that world as well. We're not sure who those four were, or even where in that world they've shown up. But we'll find out, don't worry about it. You should take this time to rest up because of this. So does the machine."
"I don't need rest." Twilight Moonlight denied that chance. "Not with how things could turn out. Everything could come together in the worst way possible for that world. But I have a feeling they'll prioritize something else. Zecora did end up battling me because I brought up Ash but she doesn't know the full truth yet."
"Eventually, they'll have to. Only a few of us remember anyway. I'm not sure what their reaction will be though." Silver Swirl would also take a seat. Running up to her were a group of small Pokemon. Silver Swirl would pet these small Pokemon while Twilight Moonlight would give off an unimpressed expression once these small and strikingly adorable Pocket Monsters gathered around her. "But still, let's not bring Ash into the picture just yet, alright?"
"Why not? Even Zecora will be thinking about him after what I said."
"Now, now...I get what you mean. But in that world, Ash is way too big. Plus, he's harmless. At least for now. But with more of his counterparts around, that's when we need to start worrying."
"All eight of them are a problem. And I'm afraid most know each other." Twilight Moon replied, bringing up 8 individuals. And going by this conversation, they all had a relation to Ash.
"On the bright side..." Silver Swirl would remove the curtains, revealing both the windows and the outside, letting in the moonlight. The outside only led to another part of the lab that had an open ceiling. This lab was rather massive instead of being rather confined and small. The large machine was proof of its size. "I have pretty good faith that they'll be just fine. They've all gone through a lot after all. They can handle it thanks to their experience, so we should mainly focus on everything else."
"I get what you mean. I just don't want to take any chances, that's all." Twilight Moonlight sighed before having her face licked by a Vulpix. As for Silver Swirl, by using her magic, she would interact with the magical screen once more, bringing on a new image.
The magic perfectly projected eight different figures as Silver Swirl carefully formed this projection with an artistic touch. And on it, a familiar face was starting to show up. The face of Ash Ketchum along with his entire body. But it wasn't just him. Eight more would appear. Red. Ethan. Brendan. Hilbert. Individuals that have once met Ash. However, five more showed up.
"Ash. Red. Ethan. Brendan. Lucas. Hilbert. Nate. Calem. Elio and Viktor." Silver Swirl called out their names. "So as long as they keep up that stride they've always had, then Prisma can't return. If you ask me, neither look like they would falter, don't you think?"
"Mmrrgh..." Twilight Moonlight grumbled before getting off the seat. "It's creepy that they're all the same height. Well, I get to take a break, I guess. I'll be in my room. Please don't bother me." She would depart from this laboratory.
"Sure. We'll be out of your mane for a while. We'll call you back when we get things up and running again." Silver Swirl and the other Pokemon would wave farewell. "Hopefully, nothing escalates while we're not focusing on that universe."
"Why does she have to be so harsh?" One of the ponies asked, commenting on Twilight Moonlight's no-nonsense, serious demeanour that she always carried with her.
"Ah, don't blame her for it." Silver Swirl faced the others while watching Twilight Moonlight walk off alone. "She's been trained largely in Pokemon and Magic only, staying confined in that castle since her childhood. Her social skills aren't the best, sure. But she means well and only wants the best for everything. Especially since Prisma could show up again. But let's not dawdle on something like that. Come on, let's get to fixing that machine."
Silver Swirl and everyone else would focus on fixing the Rift Transporter now that it had been spent up thanks to Twilight Moonlight's duration being in that universe. In this lab that was made up of humans, ponies and Pokemon, they all had one common goal. And that goal was to stop the return of this Prisma character. But what of the projections of these 10 Pokemon Trainers that were still on the screen?
Unova. Castelia City. Day.
And speaking of one of these trainers, Ash and his group were currently at Castelia City, taking the time to stuff their stomachs. By now, it was time for them to return. At least, for Sci-Twi and Sunset Shimmer to return to the human world. They still had school to attend. The same went for Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie but they only had the Pokemon School for 3 days Max.
"Out you come!" Sci-Twi would bring out all of her Pokemon to partake in this delicious moment. This involved her newly caught Pokemon, Dusknoir. Lining up were her Alpha Pokemon who all varied in size but were still juggernauts nevertheless.
"Dusknoir!" Upon emerging, Dusknoir's eyes were fixated on his surroundings first. Since this was the reincarnation of a young man by the name of Raine, exploring the world was his dream and the first sign of that had been shown to him thanks to Sci-Twi.
"So here's Castelia. Next to Pallet Town, it's the one place I show up at the most." Sci-Twi introduced Dusknoir to Castelia City. "You might have heard about it back in your town all those years ago. I'm not sure. But there's more to see."
"Dusk...Dusk...!" Deep down, Dusknoir was still technically a child that was trapped inside a full-grown Pokemon's body. And that showed from how Dusknoir would use his amazing strength to hug Sci-Twi out of gratitude, expelling tears from his singular eye which would drop on Rapidash's flaming mane, almost putting her flames out.
"Rapidash?!"
"Y-You're welcome... Dusknoir!" Sci-Twi said while having her face turn red from the Gripper Pokemon's strength.
"Yeah but...I didn't get the chance to catch a single Alpha Pokemon." Rainbow Dash sighed, weakly holding up her spaghetti. She came here in hopes of catching an Alpha Pokemon herself.
"Whim! Whimsi!" Whimsicott, her newest Pokemon that she caught, he would hold out some cotton to try and cheer Rainbow Dash up, pushing it against her face.
"It's not hopeless yet. Scyther's probably still out there somewhere in Unova." Pinkie Pie said. "There's still Chargestone Cave for us to explore. It might be there."
"Even if we didn't find Alpha Scyther, we got something better. A reunion between friends." Sunset Shimmer saw the reunion between Hisuian Zorua and Dusknoir to be an excellent trade-off. When friends reunite and mend a broken promise, it is truly an amazing feeling.
"If you want, we can check out Chargestone Cave while you guys head back home," Ash suggested that he, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie stay behind to find Alpha Scyther in the meanwhile.
"I'd like that." Sci-Twi agreed. As long as her friends are the ones who find the Alpha Pokemon. "Carlita's already off doing it instead of returning to Eindoak."
"Speaking of returning...the ship's gonna be here soon, so you'd better get going." Ash stood up. "I'll make a quick stop by Equestria. Rainbow Dash. Pinkie. I'll be right back."
"We'll be here waiting. There's a movie festival coming to Castelia soon anyway so we'll be stuck here just because of that." Rainbow Dash replied.
"I still only have five Pokemon and there's quite a handful of Alpha Pokemon to search for." Sci-Twi looked at her Pokedex, focusing on the Alpha Pokemon. "And I'll have to find a way to fit them all in my home too...Maybe Professor Oak can build me something at my home. Just like what he has in his lab."
"You'll need all the space you can get for that. Otherwise, it's only gonna be Poke Balls from now on. I'm lucky that my apartment home is enough for the little Pokemon I have." Sunset Shimmer chuckled as the sound of the ship blaring its horns could be heard over at the Unity Pier. That was the call for anyone needing the ship to show up.
And that would be Sci-Twi, Sunset and Ash's cue. Two would return home while another was making a quick stop. As for Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, once they got their fill, Chargestone Cave was within their sights. This would possibly the last chance for them to find Alpha Scyther if it was even around. There was not a single trace of this Pokemon, much like Alpha Lopunny. But at least Alpha Lopunny had the gift of being able to jump on clouds to gain grand heights. Who knows what Alpha Scyther is doing?
Equestria. Ponyville. Afternoon.
"In ya go..." Passing through the gateway first was Ash, followed by Pikachu. And currently, he was helping Sci-Twi through the gateway to Ponyville. It was the only gateway that was still around and easy to access. Sci-Twi held onto Ash's hands closely while also using the Shift Stone to keep her human appearance. When entering Equestria, she still appeared as her regular self.
"Ah..." Sci-Twi sighed after entering. Though this wasn't her first time, it was still rather nerve-wracking for her. "Much better. So, it's all the way to Canterlot from here, right?"
"Sunset will show you the way. This is where we part ways for now." But Ash would not come along with her to Canterlot. He would leave that with Sunset Shimmer, who showed up in her pony form.
"Mhm. Just follow my lead, Twilight. You haven't fully seen Canterlot in its entirety so I can be your guide. Born and raised there with my cousins too." She spoke while having Sci-Twi look at her. And by looking at Sunset Shimmer, Sci-Twi couldn't help but puff her cheeks, making a slight scoff. "What? What is it?"
"S-Sorry...I'm so used to seeing you as a human that you look pretty silly like this." Sci-Twi found this rather amusing. "Look at you! I could pat you!"
"Uh-huh..." Sunset Shimmer was definitely the smaller one as she put on an unimpressed expression. "See ya, Ash. What are you here to do anyway?"
"Just helping out at both the Pokemon House and PokePark. It'll be a busy day for me until tomorrow. Then I'm gonna have to keep exploring all the new areas that showed up on the map." Ash explained.
"New areas?" Sunset and Sci-Twi both said.
"Mhm. There's a mountain that looks like the wings of a pegasus that showed up a whole lot more awesome landmarks!" Ash spread his arms out. "This bigger world means that there's something new to see. It's just another reason for me to explore the world!"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Well, good luck with that. You're so lucky to have your world merged though." Sci-Twi said as she and Sunset Shimmer bid farewell to the Alola Champion. "I wish our world had that."
"Maybe some other time. Jirachi's a free Pokemon now after all." Sunset Shimmer responded as her voice was drowning out the further she went.
"Let's not keep Twilight and Fluttershy waiting, Pikachu. Uh...Which first though?" Ash shifted his head in the direction of the Pokemon House and PokePark, wondering which location to head to first. PokePark ended up being his first option eventually as he would jet off with Pikachu.
But from afar, watching Ash leave to the PokePark was none other than Zecora. Appearing here at Ponyville instead of the Everfree Forest where she was rebuilding her home, she was only looking at Ash for one reason. It's what she recalled back at the cavern where she encountered Twilight Moonlight.
"Because the ones who will make Prisma return are still around. After I deal with everything that could repeat that short-lived history, my superiors will decide what to do with the crux of Prisma. Very soon, I'll have to deal with Ash Ketchum. He's one of the eight that is related to Prisma. Whatever happens to him...as long as it means that Prisma can never come back, it must be done. And unfortunately, thanks to what the Jirachi have done, Prisma's return is likely. So now you know quite a few things, Zecora. I need to do this. It's my mission. I don't know how long it will take for him to return but the sooner I can prevent it, the better."
And that stuck with Zecora. Despite the battle she had with Twilight Moonlight, the intentions were not malicious and it sounded like her objective was dedicated to preventing the worst possible event. Strangely, it seemed that Ash was smack-dab in it which was rather curious and strange to Zecora. Aside from focusing on her hut, she now had to know what this all meant as the journey continues.
A new day had come for this world. The beauty of the Sun would flare in the azure skies once more. As for who was raising the Sun, well typically, it was Princess Celestia. But that was the case when the two worlds were separated. Now, it goes further than that. And the appearance of the Sun backed that up as something was amiss with it that no one had noticed up until now.
"Doesn't the Sun look bigger now?" Moondancer would be the first to notice something different about the Sun. She prompted her friends to look up as this was indeed true. The star in the sky was much larger than how it always appeared for both worlds. Now, in this combined universe, the Sun reached a new size.
"Oh, you're right! Did the two suns merge as well?!" Minuette gasped. That was a very probable outcome. After all, it wasn't just the world that was bigger since they merged, but the entire universe as well. They all had separate universes with their own respective planets, stars, galaxies and such. And of course, their own Sun.
Now, that was no longer the case. Now they all shared one Sun and one Universe. And it was vastly larger than what they both previously had while still keeping everything in check.
"That's a bit worrying..." Another pony said. "There's alien life up there...Do you think that..."
"They got caught up in it? Nah, Nah. I don't think so." Minuette shook her head before scrunching her face. That was also a possibility. "Uh...Maybe the planets are bigger too since we all shared similar planets, right? Yeah, that might be it."
"But what about the Sun? Princess Celestia still moves it but can it move on its own?" Moondancer needed an answer to that. For both worlds, they had their own ways of raising and lowering their respective Suns. The Pokemon World did it traditionally while Celestia did it herself in her world. As seen by how she raised the Sun today, yesterday and the days before that existed during this unified world, she had the power to move this larger star.
"Hah..." But after raising the Sun, Celestia would lay back on her throne. It wasn't just raising this Super Sun that tired her out but everything else. The new locations that have popped up, reaching Magehold and rescuing Yveltal and finding Reshiram were on her plate. Thankfully, because of Rosa Maledicta, knowledge of the Dread League had been shared with her.
"Great news, your majesty. Now we have the definitive map of the world. Starmap has given us another update."
"Great to hear. That's one issue done with." Celestia was relieved to hear that. "Just a bit more to go. I wish I could find Reshiram next. It's been so long since we've seen him." Celestia thought about the Vast White Pokemon, wondering just where he could be. All she knew was that he was currently resting in his stone form, potentially unbothered by anyone.
"About the Dread League, your majesty. Have you found a reasonable way to reach them without using...you know...That." The guard nudged his head, referring to Daybreaker.
"Well, yes. I have found a way. Fittingly, Reshiram's involved and so is Zekrom. Daybreaker had the means to reach her universe's Magehold and I refuse to use that power. So, Reshiram and Zekrom can make up for that. But we only have Zekrom and he might be enough. Hopefully. If not then maybe two can fix that. For now, we just have to get past the Hyperborean Island. According to Mellifera, if we were to enter, it would be unforgiving to us much more than it was to her and Chrysalis when they entered."
Reaching Magehold was harder to find it since its location was known. And at the Hyperborean Island, a chilling force would be waiting for Celestia and those on her side. It was already cruel to Chrysalis and Mellifera despite the fact that they were changelings. Celestia feared what that island would do to her or any of her allies.
"I was thinking of using my own magic without having Daybreaker show up. As much as I hate to admit it, we're identical so I can do what she does. But maybe with a little less mass destruction behind it." Celestia aimed to break that protective magic with her own magic instead of using Daybreaker's magic. Although, technically, it was still her magic even if an alter-ego was involved. "I-"
"Hi, Great Aunt!" Interrupting Celestia was none other than Flurry Heart. Both of them. She would fly in but not by her own volition. Instead, she was tackled by a Skitty who managed to gather enough force to push this young alicorn along with her infant self as they both slid on the floor.
"Oh, Flurry Heart." Celestia stood up. "Ah, seeing family does ease things up for me. If you're here, then so are Cadence and Shining Armor.
"Just outside." Flurry Heart would raise her younger self and Skitty into the air, laughing with them. The presence of Princess Flurry Heart from another universe had its own story. Due to the absence of gateways, she also had no way of returning to her original universe. Therefore, in this universe, there were now two Flurry Hearts. The infant that was still growing in this world and the one who comes from another universe.
"I see you've caught your own Pokemon now. A Skitty. Truly an adorable choice." Celestia pointed out the Skitty that was with this young alicorn.
"Mhm. We met a few years back, actually." Flurry Heart added. "So we already knew each other pretty well. What about you? Any new Pokemon aside from Kommo-o."
"Ah, no, no. No one yet." Celestia shook her head. "But you never know when that opportunity comes."
"Oh...What about Reshiram?" Flurry Heart questioned, bringing up the Vast White Pokemon. "Don't you think he's a great choice as a partner? I always thought you two were partners."
"Reshiram? Uh...No. Not at all." Celestia shook her head before looking down, putting on a mild smile that was tempted to form into a frown. Thinking about Reshiram did that to her. "But...it wouldn't be a bad idea. I wouldn't mind that at all. Reshiram has helped out a lot in Equestria.
"Right, right?" Flurry Heart flew over, holding her younger self.
"But, unfortunately, it wouldn't last. Reshiram will one day have to return to his respective world, much like Giratina. The only problem with that is that we have no way to reach the other worlds now."
"That's a shame. On the bright side, you get to stay with Reshiram longer. W-When you find him. But on the even brighter side, there's always Cobalion."
"W-What do you mean by that?!" Celestia pulled back after that response, nearly falling off her throne.
"You know what I mean. If not Reshiram, then maybe Cobalion. After all, mom already saw it working out. She said that you could totally catch Cobalion and it would work out."
"Ah...That's what she meant. Hahaha..." Celestia giggled, getting the wrong idea.
"Mhm. It's because you two are together." But she didn't interpret it the wrong way. Instead, it was the correct way, making Celestia freeze for a moment. "Are you two still a thing by the way?"
"Oh. Cobalion and I are...well, it's a wonderful thing that we're both novices to love, don't you think?" The Princess of the Sun nervously chuckled, rubbing her ethereal mane. "Could you imagine if one was better than the other? That'd be awkward. But since that's not the case, I thankfully don't have much to worry about when it comes to being around Cobalion. We're taking it slow anyway."
"Hm-hm. I see." Both Flurry Hearts nodded. "That's probably for the best, even if it's slow. I guess that way, no one makes that many mistakes, right? And when you both really share each other's feelings at last, you should totally call it official."
"Getting there..." Celestia scrunched her face. "I haven't seen him in a while either. This larger world means that we're at greater distances from each other. That's very annoying..."
"Yeah, that's a shame. But about that official thing. How about this?!" Flurry Heart used her magic to make a large chart that was made out of a magical aura, drawing Celestia's attention to it along with the guards here. "Ahem. I'm proud to call myself my mother's daughter cause I'm a bit of a love expert."
"Are you now?" Celestia had her doubts about that, especially considering how young Flurry Heart was. She doubted that with her upbringing in her respective universe, it would be that easy to fully understand love much like her daughter. This universe's Flurry Heart doesn't even fully understand it either.
"My mom even recommended this. You should use a Poke Ball as a ring. Just imagine it!" Flurry Heart's eyes lit up before then using her magic to show Celestia a projection of how that could turn out. She perfectly replicated Celestia and Cobalion's appearances as it felt like Celestia was looking inside someone's mind. In this case, it was Flurry Heart's young mind. "It'd be a double whammy! You would hold out your Poke Ball to him to declare that you'll catch him. But really, that's a double meaning for you marrying him!"
"Is it now?" Celestia watched it play out, seeing her magical protection hold out a Poke Ball. The Poke Ball would open up, showing a ring in it. Unfortunately, that ring was not big enough for either. "I'd like it to be the other way around though..."
"Silly auntie!" Flurry Heart nudged her great auntie. "A Poke Ball can't catch ponies! That doesn't exist!"
Unova. Ghetsis' Kingdom. Day.
"Achoo!" From a stark distance, Colress felt that. He sneezed the moment Flurry Heart mentioned the impossibility of such a Poke Ball existing. Fittingly, he was making copies of that very Poke Ball that solely existed to catch ponies. "Ugh..." A great disturbance was definitely felt by him.
"But if it did then that would be just as, if not more romantic!" Flurry Heart gushed. "Then after the Poke Ball opens up, Cobalion would poke it and immediately go in. It'd be an instant catch too! No shaking at all."
"That is amazing..." A few of the guards here were guardsmare. They reacted to Flurry Heart's idea with flaring eyes, high-pitched screams and flustered faces. The male guards didn't exactly react the same way but they were already writing this down, taking what Flurry Heart said and planning it for the future. "How romatic! Aaaah!"
"Write that down. All of it." The guards said to each other, making preparations for that special day.
"Of course...it'd be pretty weird if you're married to someone that goes inside a ball, but Cobalion's not gonna stay in it all the time." Flurry Heart shrugged. "I mean, unless you two would stay in the same room then that could work but he's too outgoing for that, right?"
"You have no idea how wonderful it would be for him to be in my room...!" Celestia closed her eyes as her hoof was trembling. Thinking about it made her rather agitated that it hasn't happened yet.
"But it can. Just take my advice, great aunt. Oh, but if Cobalion's so outgoing...then that means..." Flurry Heart's projections would change once again, showing Cobalion walking away from Celestia after being caught. "It'd be a long-distance engagement, wouldn't it? That's what they call it! You'd never see him that often."
"Well, that's how it always is though..." Celestia added before being drowned out by Flurry Heart's next words.
"It's worse if you have someone to take care of!" Flurry Heart pulled her mane. "That'd be the worst...A child never knowing who their father is!"
"Hold on! I'm not planning on having-" Celestia gasped at that concept, holding her hoof out. But yet again, Flurry Heart drowned her out. A projection of a hypothetical child showed up, standing next to Celestia and away from the already distanced Cobalion.
"Ghhh! It'd be the worst! What would happen to that child?! Ah, but it's fine. If they're being raised by you, they'll turn out great...but might hate Cobalion for that! And when they reunite when Cobalion shows up again, they could be jaded from each other!"
"Why'd it suddenly turn out like this?" Celestia questioned as she didn't expect this result. Suddenly, Flurry Heart was essentially playing out an entire story, even thinking about the worst possible outcomes.
"It would take forever to patch up that relationship! And then...and then-" Flurry Heart was beginning to project a horrible outcome that Celestia picked up on. Now was probably the best time to stop this.
"Okay, I think that's enough daydreaming." Celestia would use her own magic to remove the projection, putting an end to Flurry Heart's rambling. But it got to everyone else, making the guards tear up at that possibility.
"Please don't let them grow apart, your majesty!" The guards cried out, getting a bit into it to the point where they believed it already happened or feared that it had a high chance of happening.
"I haven't even done it yet," Celestia uttered before shaking her head. "But thank you for thinking ahead, Flurry Heart. Way ahead, actually."
"Gee thanks. I try my best!" Flurry Heart put on a beaming grin. "It'd be even better if mom was telling you what to do. Then we'd solve it easily.
"I'd love to get engaged to Cobalion. Very much so. The times we spent together when our worlds were separated were wonderful, especially when it came to visiting different locations."
"Mhm! Mhm!" The young alicorn frantically nodded her head.
"But...maybe not very soon." Celestia's next words would shock Flurry Heart, making her expression change drastically. "I don't have time for it, unfortunately. Not right now anyway. There's too much to focus on."
"Not enough time? Aw but..." Flurry Heart pouted. "But it won't be too long, right?"
"With how things are, I'm afraid so. I've only just recently sorted out maps of this new world. But that was the easy part." Celestia would approach the windows, looking out at it to gaze at her subjects and the wonderful time they were having under the Equestrian Sun. "I still have to reach Magehold and put an end to that Black Crusade plan for the safety of everyone in this world. Not to mention finding Reshiram and even your parents from your respective universe. That's another problem that overlays it. Getting to the other universes is harder than ever with only one gateway around when I also need to one day return Reshiram and Zekrom to their respective worlds."
"Well, when you bring all of that up..." Flurry Heart said, realizing the mountain of issues that the Ruler of Equestria had to sort out before she could properly spend time with Cobaliion to further grow their blooming relationship.
"And even more so, I have my counterpart from another universe, Daybreaker to deal with and that whole Necrozma issue and to this day no one has managed to find Universe 11 where she can be found. And she's with Team Plasma, who are always a thorn in our side that will keep coming back. And who knows what the Rift is up to along with the disappearance of Galaxy Master?"
"Yeesh. That is a lot, isn't it." Flurry Heart looked at her younger self and Skitty as they nodded in agreement.
"So, I'm afraid that will all have to wait until I've finished everything that needs sorting out. I don't have time for Cobalion. Unfortunately..." It hurt Celestia to say that.
"I get it. I should've thought about that too. Well...at least Cobalion lives for a long time too, doesn't she? So, it can be long-term? Maybe?"
"Maybe. Just not anytime soon." Celestia would then face her fellow alicorn. "Thank you so much for thinking about us though. But perhaps you should also start thinking of your own future."
"Ah, right. Well, I'll head out now since you're busy. Come on, you two." Flurry Heart would bring her older self and Skitty along with her, leaving the throne room.
Once she left, Celestia would take some time to stay silent. More importantly, some time alone. The Canterlot Guards would also leave the throne room, seeing the look on their ruler's face. After everything that was said, Celestia thought about Cobalion and her future with him. Once everyone was gone, Celestia could have some alone time to herself. But surprisingly, it wasn't in her throne room. Instead, Celestia would prefer to be elsewhere as she teleport herself out of the throne room.
Rather, the Canterlot Gardens are where she wished to be. It was a tranquil place. Then again, most of Canterlot is tranquil, especially the castle. But in the case of the Canterlot Gardens, it was closer to nature, adding to that peacefulness. Plus the bench here was always nice to sit on.
Celestia would prefer here, sitting under the glorious Sun that she raised. Surrounded by the lush beauty of the Canterlot Gardens, Celestia would continue to think about Cobalion.
"Ah...What do I do about this?" She said to herself. "That's another problem for me to handle but...it's not much of a problem in the first place, is it?" She grinned before using her magic on one of the large grass pillars in this garden.
Celestia would take the time to dabble in some artistry, using her magic to trim the hedges into a specific shape. Of course, that shape was of the one who she couldn't get out of her head. Cobalion. She managed to make Cobalion's shape perfectly. How could she not, considering how much affection she has for him?
After making this Cobalion hedge, Celestia took the time to gaze at its wonder. Making art about the one she loves was definitely satisfying to her. And yet, it couldn't change what currently was. Celestia sighed, knowing that her chances of seeing Cobalion were slipping away.
Even if she would handle one problem, a new one was bound to pop up. It was expected by this time. Peace was impossible to reach with these constant situations. But it was all a matter of making things better for everything. Such was the role and responsibility that the Ruler of Equestria had. Especially in a world that has more to offer thanks to this unity.
"Responsibility before anything else." Celestia knew that her position was far more important than what she had with Cobalion. "That's what really matters anyway."
And saying that was rather crushing to Celestia. Though she knew what was important, the fact that it meant being away from Cobalion was a rather painful trade-off. But for the betterment of the future and a chance to keep seeing Cobalion, she had to do this.
But before she could do anything else, the Princess of the Sun would stay here at the Canterlot Gardens, taking some time to slow down. Minutes passed. Hours passed. The Sun and its radiance move along in the blue skies while the distant sounds of her subjects went off, barely reaching the Canterlot Gardens.
Everyone got on with their day while Celestia hasn't done much at all. And with all of this time passing, Pokemon from nearby would show up. Mainly from the Deerling Forest and even the Pikachu Highlands. They all came here to play in the Canterlot Gardens, finding it to be an enjoyable and relaxing area. Celestia always allowed Pokemon from near and far to come to the Canterlot Gardens. They were always welcome. Some of the most calming moments come from here. As calming as they get whenn the Pokemon play around.
A few Pokemon would surround the Ruler of Equestria, recognizing her instantly. But by now, Celestia relaxed herself so much that she looked like she was on the verge of clocking out this early, having her eyes half-closed to even notice most f the Pokemon close to her.
"Tired?" A voice called out to her.
"Mhm...Just a bit but..." Celestia grumbled, replying to this voice. It didn't take long for it to register for her. This voice was all too familiar to her. Enough to make her wake up and toss away any form of exhaustion she had. "Wait!" Turning around, she saw the one who was on her mind hours ago. "Cobalion!"
"You've been here for a while, haven't you?" Cobalion spoke. "Good afternoon, Celestia."
"Oh...Was it that long? The Sun is still up though...then again, I haven't lowered it yet." Celestia groaned, holding her head.
"Well, not long enough for nightfall to arrive anyway. I came here via the request of my student." Cobalion referred to Shining Armor. Celestia recalled the method that Shining Armor and Cobalion use to call out to each other. All it took was a form of light from either side. Mainly Shining Armor and Aegislash would start it off and wait for a response if they could even see it. "Oh...That. Is it really that effective?"
"It's only effective on my part. My sword can reach a brightness so strong that many can see it from a great distance." Cobalion explained. "This was also a request from your great niece. I came here as soon as possible." Cobalion revealed that Flurry Heart was also behind it. But that wasn't that surprising to Princess Celestia.
"Was it now? Well...I didn't expect you to show up so soon. Unless you run exceedingly fast." Celestia was rather surprised that Cobalion showed up so quickly. It wasn't even a new day by now. "And you came here for me?"
"I did. But to tell you the truth..." Cobalion cleared his throat, prepared to reveal something while looking to the side. "I was rather close. Around the Deerling Forest to be exact."
"You were? You were there at this time? Why's that?" Celestia squinted her eyes, curious about Cobalion's reasoning for being so close to Canterlot.
"Well...You know by now about the unruly Pokemon that are bothered by how their homes have been affected in this larger world. The other Swords and I took notice of this, doing what we can to prevent any conflict from sparking up. And well...I figured that I would show up here next just to make sure nothing happened to you."
"Oh..." Celestia put on a cocky smirk once Cobalion revealed the reasoning for being so close. "And it hasn't been that long since we've unified, hm?"
"Only a month by now. It does me pleasure that you're safe. Well, in terms of physicality. But everything else is a different story, isn't it?"
"Mmm. It is. So much on my plate but that doesn't bother me at all. What does bother me is...well, our chances of quality time have dropped, haven't they?" Celestia looked down, twiddling with her hooves. "I suppose this is natural for couples from what I've heard. In all my thousands of years, I've never had um...a long-distance relationship as they call it. I always manage to see those around me with my status but..."
"Don't fret." Cobalion spoke. "I'll be honest. I have grown to enjoy our quality times together. It's my duty to protect others as a Sword of Justice. But at the same time, you've shown me what lies beyond that and the enjoyment I can have. Much like you, I was gutted when I realized the lack of time we could have with how things have turned out."
"But your face doesn't show it, does it?" Celestia teased Cobalion for his singular expression.
"Correct. I do wish I had a more varied face but it is what it is." Cobalion chuckled along with Celestia. "Well, this our newest quality time in this new world. So I wouldn't say we can't have these moments."
"They just won't be frequent at all. That's a shame. But...when I finally manage to sort everything out...that can change. I'm not sure when or how long it would take but I'm hoping it's soon. And when that happens..." Celestia scrunched her face, feeling a bit hesitant to say her next batch of words. "Well, I'm not sure you want to settle down. You'll be too busy out there, right?"
"I can't settle down at all. I'm sorry." Cobalion apologized. It was impossible for him to settle down with the type of Pokemon he was. Always moving. Always working. Especially as the Leader of the Swords of Justice.
"It's fine. I saw that coming anyway. But we can still be together forever, don't you think? Our future together is still up in the air." Fittingly, Celestia would also look up in the air, staring at that bright ball of fire in the sky.
"That's up to us to make that future possible. Especially when we're on different sides of the world. However, I can promise you one thing. When that day comes, I'll be there."
"What day?" Celestia questioned.
"The day the engagement happens. What else?"
"GAH!" Celestia gasped after Cobalion casually brought it up. Not once has she ever considered it. She's mostly stuck to just a non-marital relationship. But in reality, marriage was an extension of that. If anything, it was the ultimate form of that relationship. Naturally, Celestia got heavily flustered by that, stumbling and stammering on her words while also trembling. "W-Well...I-I didn't have any plans for that! I haven't had any plans! Or anything beyond that! I mean, Flurry Heart considered a lot of things! From how I'll propose and well...when we...have...you know....!"
"Let's hold off on that until now." Cobalion calmed her down. To do so, she caught her off guard once more. This time, by putting her head against Celestia's. Celestia stayed silent with her eyes lighting up in wonder. Her horn connected with Cobalion's despite the different shapes that they both had, creating a gentle touch. Everything about this was gentle.
"R-Right..." Celestia smiled as her eyes had an incandescent sparkle. She would then close her eyes, taking the time to keep this horn connection steady. "Well....you'll be leaving now, right? I have a lot I need to do as well."
"Mm. And I'll be helping from afar. Just say the word, Celestia and I'll be there. I promise." Cobalion replied as they both separated heads.
The Leader of the Swords of Justice would then take his leave. And thankfully, he left Celestia in a pleased mood. Gutted that she couldn't see him again, this was the best moment for her so far. Celestia giggled with excitement, looking forward to that bright future as she would prance around. The Pokemon would join her in her gleeful prancing, sharing Celestia's enjoyment.
It was safe to say that the future was looking bright for both of them. It was all a matter of what they both could do. The promise for the future had been made. A promise that would guarantee true happiness for them both.
A silent night here in the Sinnoh Region and for most of the Pokemon World. At least, that's how it seemed. It didn't take long for something to occur. Up in the skies, the sound of helicopter blades going off could be heard. The trees below would shake. Following that was the flicker of light in the night sky that seemed to resemble lightning bolts. These bolts flew through the air, rapidly moving as they seemed to be targeting something. Or rather, someone.
These bolts came straight from none other than a Team Rocket Ship. Specifically, the ship of Matori and her Matori Matrix. The secretary to Giovanni was busy once more and as always, she and her group were hunting down a Pokemon.
The Pokemon in question was none other than Cresselia. The Lunar Pokemon. The Psychic-Type flew through the night sky, doing her best to evade the bolts from Team Rocket's Helicopter.
"Cress! Cress!" And it certainly wasn't easy for her. Already, Cresselia had taters and scratches on her as signs of her desperate flee. Matori and her group were persisent. After all, this was a Legendary Pokemon. Catching Cresselia was a plan that her group had for a while and would finally try to execute. And with so many bolts, she would be bit hit by some, causing the Lunar Pokemon to cry out. "Sselia!"
With a bellowing cry, Cresselia would descend, heading for the forest below to try and lose her pursuers. A small lake where the moon could beautifully reflect off of it was seen and chosen as Cresselia's place to hide.
"Don't let it escape! Take us lower!" Matori exclaimed, ordering her men.
"Yes ma'am!" They would also descend with the helicopter, not slowing down for a bit when trying to capture this Legendary Pokemon. But despite her injuries, Cresselia still managed to get ahead, already entering the forest before they could descend.
The Lunar Pokemon, despite her vibrance appearance and size, managed to conceal herself. Even when Team Rocket descended, getting a better look at the forest, Cresselia was out of sight. The Matori Matrix would exit the ship, already having their Pokemon out which consisted of Croagunk, Purugly and Rhyperior.
The search for Cresselia continued as the Matori Matrix would try and occupy this forest from every direction. As for Cresselia, managing to evade the eyes of her pursuers, she would carefully fly away, quietly dropping into the lake and making a mild splash in the process. For now, Cresselia was safe, floating away to lose the Matori Matrix. However, Cresselia wasn't the only rare Pokemon around here. There was another.
Darkrai.
Sensing the presence of the Pokemon that was its antithesis, the Pitch Black Pokemon would ascend from the darkness. Masking itself perfectly to remain hidden in the night, Darkrai would eye down a nearby city in the distance. By appearing with the moon, Darkrai sensed Cresselia's presence over at that city, advancing towards it. The Dark-Type caused a large stream of water when it moved across the lake which led to a sea that connected to this city.
Equestria Ponyville. SugarCube Corner. Day.
Meanwhile, a new day had come once the Sun arose. And at the moment, in contrast to what happened last night, an exciting moment for Ash and his friends was occurring. They were just having fun. Nothing more, nothing less. And this fun was centred around food. Specifically, their favourite kinds of food which had been served by Pinkie Pie. They would even pass their favourite foods to their friends to let them have a try.
It was practically a gourmet here as even the Cake Family was partaking in this delicious moment. This was certainly a unique way to enjoy themselves and it was the most delicious way as seen by how satisfied their faces were.
"So, you couldn't find anything at Chargestone at all, huh?" Ash said, speaking to Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie who had just returned from Unova.
"Nope. I Guess Scyther's not there. Oh well..." Pinkie Pie shrugged. "But...we did see some pretty sharp cuts on those crystals. Which means Scyther was there. It might be gone now."
"Bummer though...I was really looking forward to having my own Alpha Pokemon." Rainbow Dash grumbled. "Oh well. At least the food's good enough to cheer me up and get me ready for my next Gym Battle."
"It should be. And as for these..." Pinkie Pie would turn to hold a large box of sweets that was twice her size. She would be assisted by Rarity who used her magic to raise it. "This'll cheer up Bea as well. All these sweets...It's tempting not to eat them all here..." She held her tongue out, wishing to snack down on these sweets. But they were all for her friend Bea.
"Guys! Guys!" Rushing in here was none other than Goh as he came to a screeching halt. "Big news!"
"What's up, Goh?" Ash asked before devouring a croquette that was made by his lovely mother, Delia Ketchum.
"Update from Professor Cerise. You'll want to see this one!" Goh showed his Rotomphone to everyone. On it were notes that Professor Cerise had given out to Goh to share to specifically Ash but everyone else would see it. These notes were focused on none other than Darkrai. "It says here that people across Sinnoh have been experiencing nightmares all of a sudden. It's only over at cities more than anywhere else." The phone would then show images of people with bags under their eyes, yawning while the Sun was shining beautifully. But that beautiful Sun was only keeping them awake some more.
"Is it a Pokemon doing this?" Applejack asked.
"It is. Take a look at this." Goh showed the main crux of this information and the reason he came dashing in here. On the screen, Darkrai had been seen. "It's a Darkrai."
"Oooh, a Darkrai!" Twilight and the girls collectively cooed. How rare was it for them to see another Darkrai? The only one they knew about was the Darkrai that was with Princess Luna. Other than that, no other Darkrai had been seen.
"That's what I said," Goh replied.
"Darkrai huh..." Ash uttered. "Wouldn't put it past that possibility. No one can spread nightmares faster than Darkrai."
"But, Professor Cerise noted that Darkrai usually stays at a place called Newmoon Island. So it's kinda weird that it's going all over the place since the Darkrai all rarely leave their homes."
"Newmoon Island? Do uh...more Darkrai live there or something?" Rainbow Dash questioned. Twilight was already on it, leaving SugarCube Corner and returning to it via teleportation.
"You're right on that." She had the book she needed to confirm this. "It says here that Newmoon Island is the home of Darkrai. It's A small, round pond that lies inside a closed-off forest. Presumably, every Darkrai can be found there but only one can ever be spotted. And if anyone comes close to spotting more than one, nightmares will be placed upon them and they never get that chance again."
"Well! Sinnoh it is, today!" Ash stood up, declaring a new destination. The wonderful Sinnoh Region was the next place to journey towards.
"Wait, we're going to Sinnoh?" Rarity asked. "Ah, I wish we could just make more gateways. But that doesn't seem to be the case, otherwise, I would've found all the time in the world to head to any region and come back home for my main job."
"It is what it is," Fluttershy replied. "Maybe we'll get lucky and run into that Infinity Gateway that Pinkie and the others found last time. It can't be too hard to miss with its unique shape, right?"
"Well, we don't have many gateways left, but we still have planes. That's good enough, right?" Goh shrugged. "I've already told Starlight about this and now all of you. I'll meet with you over at Vermillion City."
"We haven't travelled together in a long time, now that I think about it. There was that time over at Vermillion City previously but aside from that...It's been a while." Twilight realized how long it had been since her entire friend group have travelled together across the world. Previously, with all the gateways, it was incredibly easy to go wherever they wanted so they wouldn't have to worry about wasting time.
"It's always great to do it again, right?" Applejack nudged. "Getting out there...seeing all the sights...Tasting the food..."
"Yeah...the food..." Pinkie closed her eyes along with Applejack, thinking about all the delicacies that the various regions had. That was one of the main appeals of the regions despite the Pokemon themselves.
"I need to get ready then!" Rarity stormed out of SugarCube Corner to prepare herself.
"I should probably tell Krookodile and the others about this." Fluttershy would head out to inform the Pokemon House of her departure once more, leaving everything in Krookodile's care. Everyone else would go ahead, already being as ready as they could be.
It was off to the Sinnoh Region to investigate. And the fact that this was centred around a new Darkrai was an even bigger attraction. Anything to see a rare Pokemon. News travelled fast across the world about this as the events over at Sinnoh were available for many to see.
Especially those at Equestria. They would receive their news via newspapers instead of Rotomphones or any other amazing technological device that the Pokemon World has crafted. And of course, there was one pony who was fixated on this.
Princess Luna.
Luna was currently away from Canterlot for today, still focusing on her growth as a Pokemon Trainer with every chance she can get. Becoming Equestria's first-ever Pokemon Champion was her top priority. In her hooves, she received the newspaper, courtesy of a Pelipper who would drop it from above.
"Nightmares across Sinnoh? This all seemed to happen so fast." Being the Princess of the Night, Luna's duty was to stave nightmares away for everyone. So obviously, this was of great importance. "Did this happen after we left the Dream Realm?"
"I think so." Darkrai would slowly emerge from the shadows behind Princess Luna, hearing the news report. "Whoever did this must've done it once we were done in the Hyperdream."
"Who then?" Luna wondered.
"Look." Darkrai then pointed at the people at in the paper, pointing out their baggy eyes while the Sun was up. "They're still awake in the morning despite their nightmares. Whoever's doing this must've left behind one nightmare each for them instead of multiple."
"Only one nightmare? That would be repetitive unless that singular nightmare was the absolute worst that they could have..." Luna pondered before gasping. "Do you think that-"
"Only another Darkrai can do that." Darkrai finished her sentence for her. The Pitch Black Pokemon already deduced that another one of his species was behind this. Now that another Darkrai had been mentioned, Luna definitely had to check this out. She was already planning to ever since the reports of the Sinnoh Region came through.
Kanto. Vermillion City. Professor Cerise's Lab. Day.
"No vacation!? What are you talking about?!" Over at Professor Cerise's Lab which was also his home, the voice of Chloe could be heard booming out as she was in her pyjamas, having bed hair and everything.
"Sorry about that. We can't go on our family vacation since we took a delivery of some Pokemon Eggs at the lab and they need to be taken care of." Cerise rubbed the back of his head. A promise had been made to her daughter that his whole family would go on a family vacation trip. That meant her mother Talia and her brother Parker were exempt from this family vacation as well. "I'm afraid I just can't leave now."
"Why can't you leave?! Aren't Ren and Chrysa going to be here to take care of that?!" Chloe questioned, referring to Professor Cerise's assistants.
"You're right. They are going to be here. But I've been working diligently to hatch these eggs. I want to make sure it's done right. My goal is to face them head-on and show those Pokemon what's in my heart!" Professor Cerise boldly and proudly said. But judging by Chloe's narrowing eyes, she wasn't all for it, which made Cerise gasp and flinch. "I mean...! Oh, Chloe! Please forgive me!" Cerise asked for forgiveness.
"Me too. I received a rush job on an important illustration." Talia spoke. "Sorry."
"You're kidding..." Chloe lowered her head as this was not the outcome she was hoping for. "We planned our vacation a long time ago. And here I was looking forward to our big family trip! School's only on a break for two days and it's gonna be wasted like this! Parker! Weren't you set on going too!?"
"Hm?" Her younger brother Parker, who could be seen playing with Yamper swivelled his head. "I don't have to go." But he didn't seem too bothered by it. "My friends invited me to a summer camp so I can go with them."
The odds were greatly against Chloe. Her entire family would be too busy to go on this trip, focusing on something else. It was safe to say that she was distraught by this. "You've gotta be kidding me..." And with only a few days of break for school, that trip was impossible now.
"I know." That is until Professor Cerise had something to suggest. "Chloe. You don't regularly visit Equestria that often. It was only during the second Pokemon Festival now that I think about it. And you've never really got the taste to journey with Ash and Goh. They're currently set to do some research in the Sinnoh Region. I can guarantee you that their friends from Equestria are there too."
"And what does that have to do with me?"
"It's a chance to do something while we're all busy and you have a break. Don't you think this is a great chance to meet up with them there? It's a big world, Chloe. Even bigger thanks to Jirachi."
"Well...There's nothing else to do and you want me to just contribute to your research?" Chloe grumbled at Cerise.
"Gh! Uh well...Not like that! I just thought you could go and have fun, that's all. Not only that but you'll meet all kinds of new Pokemon. What could be better?"
"Pokemon...Pokemon...That's all that's on your mind, huh? I just wanted to spend some time with my family."
"Well...I..." Cerise tried reaching an understanding with her.
"Well, fine! I'll head out!" Surprisingly, Chloe would choose to go. Of her own volition but with some agitation towards the fact that her family couldn't come along with her. She would walk off to get dressed while Cerise lowered his head, sighing. Chloe would depart to the Sinnoh Region but with Eevee on her side. That way, she wouldn't be alone when venturing off.
Sinnoh. Jubilife City. Afternoon.
She had arrived. The Sinnoh Region. And the first location was none other than the massive Jubilife City. The most modernized city in the region and the largest in Sinnoh by far.
"We're here!" Chloe arrived, gazing at the bountiful city that was Jubilife, putting her arm over her head to block the sunlight. "This is actually exciting, I'll be honest. Let's have fun, Eevee!"
"Eevee!"
There were many distinctive buildings in Jubilife City for her to explore and experience, including the TV Station which was the central network of Sinnoh's entertainment. There was also the option of the Pokétch Company, where the developer and manufacturer of the famous Pokétch could be found. And there was more to see.
With so many options, Chloe wasn't sure where to start. Even when holding a magazine which was specifically made for trainers with no direction. But even that wasn't all too helpful. "Uh...Where to go...Eevee, what do you think?"
"Oh, a tourist?" A boy passed by Chloe, noticing her lack of direction. "Ah, travelling solo with just your Pokemon, eh?"
"Y-Yes. I'm a bit lost on where I want to go." Chloe stuttered.
"Ah, I bet you're here to take on the gyms." He immediately assumed that she was looking for a Gym Battle and emerge as the Sinnoh Champion. He would then hold out a Poke Ball, believing that to be the case. "How about a battle then?"
"Uh...Sorry! No thanks!" Chloe instantly declined it before she bolted off at high speeds with Eevee, leaving the boy confused. She was still lost even when taking off to another side of this city. Such was the flaw of entering a new region and the first location just happened to be the heart of the region.
By now, she wished that she came with someone who was well-experienced and packed with knowledge about this region. An example would be Ash. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Sure, Ash was here, but finding him and the rest of his friends would be challenging.
"Is there a tourist info centre anywhere?" Chloe wondered, looking for anything to lead her.
"Today's feature guest is a Legendary Pokemon Coordinator." Catching her attention was a broadcast that was being shown to Jubilife. A large TV could be found on one of the buildings, showing this broadcast as it was currently about a Pokemon Showcase. "She's claimed victory in countless contests with her Pokemon. Please welcome Johanna."
The featured guest was none other than Dawn's mother Johanna, who was incredibly known for her past as a Pokemon Coordinator. Though she was retired, that hasn't stopped her from receiving colossal notoriety. Alas, Chloe had no idea who this was but she would keep on watching.
"Johanna. I hear a Pokemon Contest is starting soon in Eterna City."
"Mhm. It's shaping up to be a lively contest." Johanna replied as video footage of different Pokemon pulling off contest moves had been shown. "I'm looking forward to seeing these performances."
"Eevee! Vee!" Eevee would suddenly jump frantically after witnessing this Contest Footage.
"Eevee? Are you interested in a Pokemon Contest?"
"Vee!" Most definitely she was excited by it.
"Oh. Well, I guess we have something we can head to. Finally..." Chloe was relieved to hear that there was a set destination instead of aimlessly wandering around.
She would much rather prefer having a fixed position that moving around with no sense of direction whatsoever which could lead her into rather surprising and potentially unfavourable positions. She was only here for a bit before School could start again, after all. She wasn't Ash.
Speaking of Ash, his group was also here, located on another side of Jubilife during their investigation. For this group, they could care less about any sense of direction considering why they were here. But even though they showed up to investigate the nightmares, they took the time to enjoy themselves.
"Looks like everyone in Jubilife is A-Okay!" Ash exclaimed before dashing off along with Rainbow Dash and Pikachu who were ahead of their friends. "This way, you guys!"
"Wait for us!" Goh panted, trying to keep up with them.
"Did you hear about that Pokemon Contest that could start at Eterna City?" Fluttershy overheard the announcement along with Audino. "Maybe Eterna City is completely fine too."
"I hope so." Rarity nodded. "It'd be a shame for those coordinators to be sleep-deprived. Then again...perhaps Sweetie Belle would be immune to it."
"She does stay up late at night practising her moves, doesn't she? Guess she wouldn't mind one bit. Nightmares or not." Applejack said which prompted the others to laugh about it.
The group would continue chatting, choosing to head to the next city since Jubilife was fine at the moment. They didn't have to worry about any towns, thankfully. It seemed like Darkrai was only going for large-scale locations. Surprisingly, Jubilife City, which was the largest city in Sinnoh, hadn't been hit yet despite being so rich with people.
Ash's group and Chole weren't the only ones here at Sinnoh. Sharing Ash's group's goal of investigating these nightmares was none other than Princess Luna. Instead of heading to the city, she would appear out in nature instead, located at Route 218, which was relatively close to Jubilife City.
"Tonight, we'll wait for it to appear. You will stay out here Darkrai while I shall enter the Dream Realm, just in case." Luna said as the only time to really swing into action was nightfall. No other time was necessary. "In the meantime...they say that Route 218 is a great fishing spot."
To kill some time, Luna would fish for some Pokemon, turning her attention to the lake. Darkrai would simply descend into the shadows, waiting for his fellow Darkrai to show up when the time was right. Three sides with only two of them sharing a common goal.
All the while, the location of that Cresselia was unknown or even unaware by many. Except for Cresselia's pursuers. The Matori Matrix of Team Rocket.
Time passed. On her way to Eterna City, Chloe and Eevee entered a forest, following a map to lead them there. And at this time, the clouds were starting to gather, darkening. This was due to the incoming rain. Raindrops descended from above, forcing Chole and Eevee to take shelter somewhere.
A shame there wasn't a cave to hide at. Only the trees would suffice as a means of cover. Short trees to be exact. They would stay under the tree until the rain would subside. Unfortunately, for them, the map was caught up in this already. Chloe gasped as her means of reaching Eterna City with a guide had been battered by the rain, tearing up the paper of this map. Complete disappointment.
Thus, it came all the way back to aimlessly moving around, but at least Chloe received some memories of the map and could go a few distances. More time passed until the Sun was slowly setting. The rain would pass, only lasting for a while before the clouds gave way to the sun's rays. But soon, the rays would vanish and bring in the light of the Moon.
And when moving along, Chloe and Eevee were fortunate to come across a beautiful lake. Sinnoh was known for having an abundance of lakes. Whether it was the three famous lakes where the Lake Guardians could be found or even the lesser-known ones, they were all beautiful either way. "Oh...it's so pretty!" The two of them watched the sparkling water of the lake as a group of Drifblim flew by. "If we didn't come here, we would've never seen this beautiful lake. I'm glad we did."
This was paying off for Chloe. Sure she was still a bit lost and wet from the rain. But the sights of Sinnoh certainly made up for that. Her father's suggestion wasn't so bad at all. Then again, to many, it would be an amazing suggestion, but for Chloe, who doesn't get out that much, it was something else.
After viewing the wonderful lake and moving along, the Moon would soon rise. Most definitely from Luna who was also around. Even she had to raise this super-sized Moon that was made via the combination of two moons that used to exist in separated worlds. But not before the Sun left behind an orange glow that connected beautifully with the dark part of the Moon. In a way, it looked like Celestia and Luna were sticking alongside each other despite the time gap.
Ready to rest up for the night, Chloe would try starting a fire, pushing two sticks against each other to get somewhere. Unfortunately for her, she failed to do so. She could only get sparks.
"Hm...It won't light. There's a lot of stuff in my bag, but I'm not sure what they would do." Chloe dug into her bag. She had a plethora of items at her disposal, courtesy of her mother. But since this was her first time journeying, she was a rookie at everything that many were well-versed at.
"Vee..." Eevee's stomach would rumble, craving something to eat at this point. Thankfully, Chloe had a pot with her along with many items to make some food. It would take a while though as the Moon would finally show itself in all of its silver glory.
At least Chloe had some experience cooking and last, after minutes of pushing the sticks against each other, she managed to start a fire, placing it underneath the large pot where a stew was cooking. "This looks good...Just hold on a bit, Eevee. I know you haven't eaten in hours now."
"Eevee!"
"So this is where we're sleeping now...I would've preferred if it was at Jubilife honestly." Chloe sighed while looking at her surroundings. "Oh well...at least this forest doesn't have any dangerous Pokemon around. So honestly...I think we'll be fine."
As soon as she said that, some rustling could be heard from the leaves, making Chloe and Eevee scrunch their faces. Chloe was hoping that she hadn't jinxed herself. Thankfully, it was the best kind of jinx. One that wouldn't result in a bad outcome. A Pokemon would show up, attracted to the scent of the stew.
"Piplup!" It was a Piplup. He ended up crying out, diving his face into the stew without any second thoughts. That was definitely the wrong move as the stew was currently piping hot. And even though he may be a Water-Type, the heat was nothing to scoff at his face was turning red. "Luuuup!" Piplup screamed, jumping out of the pot after receiving a powerful burn.
"Hey, Piplup! Wait!" Someone else could be heard, shouting in the distance. Chloe and Eevee were altered once more as it came from the same direction that Piplup showed up at. Arriving here was none other than one of Ash's many good friends and the one who calls the Sinnoh Region her home.
Dawn.
"Oh!" Immediately after showing up, she tripped over, landing flat on her face, joining Piplup on the ground.
"A-Are you okay?!" Chloe gasped after seeing them both drop in their own respective ways.
"I-I'm fine...No need to worry..." Dawn uttered as her face was now a mess. A truly chance encounter. Chloe didn't come here to meet with Ash's group and only focused on her own journey.
But alas, as fate would have it, she met with someone that was affiliated with Ash either way. And it just so happened to be Dawn alongside her partner Piplup. Now Chloe had something else to focus on rather than just heading to Eterna City, much like both groups. All the while, Ash and Luna's respective groups would be extremely busy at this time, looking out for Darkrai. Nightfall was the time for the Pitch Black Pokemon to appear. And the time for each group, mins Chloe's to make their moves. Especially the Matori Matrix as the journey continues.
A chance encounter had occurred during this night in the Sinnoh Region, where nightmares were popping up frequently across different cities. Dawn and Piplup had run into Chloe and Eevee.
"Thanks for helping me cook. You're a huge help." Chloe thanked Dawn, to who she had been introduced to. The stew that Chloe made was in a better condition now that Dawn was here to assist her.
"No problem. We were looking for somewhere to camp, but then we realized we forgot to buy food." Dawn chuckled. "That's when Piplup and I were attracted to that wonderful smell!"
"Thank goodness. I thought I was being attacked by a Wild Pokemon..." Chloe was relieved to know she was still safe out here in the wild.
"Sorry about that. My name's Dawn. And this here is my partner Piplup." Dawn fully introduced herself and her tried and true travelling partner, Piplup.
"Piplup!"
"Nice to meet you, Chloe. Eevee. So, so, so. Where are you headed? Pretty fancy clothes to be walking out in the wild."
"Oh, I'm heading for Eterna City. I had a map to help me but...the rain took it away." Chloe shrugged. "Now I'm just moving aimlessly at this point with little direction. That's how it was in the beginning, anyway."
"Are you heading there for the Pokemon Contests? If you're taking part in them, then so am I!"
"No, I'm just there to watch. But you're a coordinator?"
"Sure am! I've been to pretty much every contest venue in Sinnoh!" Dawn proudly said. "Plus Hoenn, Unova and Johto venues. I've been all over the place."
"Even Equestria?"
"Well, I haven't actually taken part in any contests over at Equestria." She shook her head. "I only watch them. I chose not to take part in those. It'd be a bit unfair to come storming into those contests with all that experience when everyone there is still so new."
"Oooh...And you do this all by yourself?"
"Sometimes myself and sometimes with friends. But I'm never alone when I have my Pokemon with me. I remember when I journeyed across Sinnoh with my first group. We were a Titanic Trio. A group of three!" Dawn smiled, referring to Ash and Brock.
"Huh...Well, for me, this is my first time travelling alone." Chloe replied. "It's not so bad, so far."
"Hey, Chloe. How about we go to Eterna City together? How's that sound? I'll be your guide since I know the way." Dawn suggested, being the perfect person to guide Chloe there.
"Really?! Oh, that's what I wanted to hear!" Chloe was all for it. Dawn couldn't have shown up at a better time. "Many thanks, Dawn!"
A City in Sinnoh.
Meanwhile, those that watch over the dreams of all were ready to swing into action now that the moon was out. Luna and Darkrai were prepared to find this other Darkrai and put a stop to the nightmares that it was spreading across the cities of Sinnoh.
Luna had already entered the Dream Realm which soon extended into the Hyperdream. Darkrai would simply wait out here until his fellow Darkrai was forced out by Luna. Cleverly, Luna's Darkrai stayed away from the city to avoid taking any blame for what this other Darkrai was up to.
Luna noticed how the bubbles all had a dark aura around them, indicating which ones Darkrai managed to affect. And there were certainly a lot of them. Noticeably, Luna would spot the familiar bubbles of Ash, Twilight and the others who had also shown up to find this Darkrai.
Luna passed through Ash's bubble, entering his dream which could potentially become a nightmare. And of course, a part of her was curious as to what this nightmare could be. "Let's see...Can this Darkrai enter the realm as my own or perhaps it is already outside?"
Luna wondered when entering this dream, curious as to how this Darkrai would operate when it came to spreading nightmares. She doubts that it knew about the Dream Realm and yet she couldn't take chances. However, when entering this dream, Luna was met with something rather terrifying. Something overwhelming ominous.
A vicious wind would blow in her the direction the second she took a step into Ash's dream. With a grimace on her face, her ethereal mane would flow from this heavy and violent wind. As for the scenery, Luna found herself a city. Specifically, a city in ruins. It greatly resembled that of Canterlot.
"W-What is this?!" Luna gasped, recognizing the familiar scenery of Canterlot. The wonderful city that she was born and raised in was littered with cataclysmic destruction on a colossal scale. Scarlet flames of destruction are the new colours of what was once a hectic city, which has now become the stage of ruin and loss. Luna's eyes trembled at what she was viewing.
The more she looked at it, the more horrors she saw. Especially when there was an array of Poke Balls on the ground. She felt herself step on Poke Balls which were already broken or even shattered. The Princess of the Night raised her hoof, moving away from the destroyed Poke Balls. Alongside the flames that tore everything to pieces, the Poke Balls littered the scenery.
The air which would normally be filled with the scent of fresh food and the sound of ponies and Pokemon is now a barrage of sounds of endless burning. A sight of pure nightmares. The city that was once rich in the scents and sounds of hard work is now carrying a thick, black smoke and small embers, something no survivor would ever forget. And the one standing in the midst of this ruined area was a human. Luna spotted this human as she didn't recognize him at all.
It was none other than Prisma.
Or at least, the back of Prisma. That was all Luna could see as this mysterious character appeared once more. This time, in Ash's dreams of all places. "Who is that..."? Luna quietly said. Her quiet voice wasn't enough to ignore Prisma's ears. The mysterious trainer would slowly turn his head, startling Princess Luna. Luna shook her head, having no time to wonder who this was. She had a job to do. And that involved eliminating these nightmares.
Before Prisma could fully spot her, Luna would unleash a flare of magic that also had some of Lunar Ire's power within it. The dark blue magic from her horn expanded rapidly, enveloping this entire nightmare to try and force Darkrai out. If it was here.
And when enveloping this nightmare, that's when Luna saw it. A glimpse of Prisma's face. It was brief but visible. In that instance, she saw the face of someone she knew, making her gasp audibly in shock before eliminating the nightmare completely.
"Ah!" Ash gasped upon waking up. His friends all stayed in this city for a bit to get some shut-eye tonight. Each of them collectively woke up after receiving specific nightmares. Waking up with startled reactions would end up startling Pikachu and the others who hadn't received the same treatment. "Oh, man..."
"That was horrible!" Twilight exclaimed, nearly falling out of her bed before being caught by Absol.
"Darkrai got us...So is it close?" Fluttershy questioned.
"It has to be if we just got these nightmares," Goh said. Everyone else rubbed their eyes, dazed and bewildered by the nightmares they had. Judging by how they received nightmares the moment they entered this city to rest up for the night, Darkrai had already shown up here.
"Are you alright?!" Jump scaring them was none other than Princess Luna, who appeared into this room by accessing Ash's dream.
"Gaah!" Ash and his friends would yell once more. This time, Twilight would fully fall from her bed, landing on Absol who fell flat on his face. All of them would end up falling once Luna appeared out of nowhere when they were this perplexed after those nightmares.
"S-Sol!"
"Princess Luna...?" Twilight groaned, raising her head as everyone else would grumble, wishing to head back to bed at this point.
"Apologies..." Luna apologized, looking down at Ash. "I didn't think you'd be here of all places. I expected to be back at Pallet Town or Ponyville honestly. What brings you all here?"
"We're just here to investigate the whole nightmare problem that's been going around the cities of Sinnoh..." Ash grumbled before sitting up. "And it's only the cities, actually. That's what Darkrai's going for."
"Ah. So you have seen the news as well. I plan to rid any nightmares that Darkrai will form by entering the Dream Realm. Meanwhile, my Darkrai will stay outside, waiting to catch the other Darkrai in the act." Luna explained.
"We got our nightmares just recently...Which means..." Ash stood up, finding the strength to energize himself during the night. "Darkrai's around."
Ash was right on the nose with that. The Darkrai from New Moon Island wasn't done with this city just yet. A dark portal would appear next to one of these buildings as the Pitch Black Pokemon had emerged from it, finishing spreading a nightmare to another innocent person.
However, before it could continue, the Dark-Type would immediately sense something that was behind it. Or rather, someone. "Dark?!" Darkrai gasped, turning to see another one of its species there.
"Found you." Luna's Darkrai had arrived. Fitting that another Darkrai would know when to find one of its kind. Luna's Darkrai eyed down the Newmoon Island Darkrai, already sensing that it was prepared to spread another nightmare. "This is where you stop at once."
"Darkrai...!" The opposing Darkrai didn't expect to see another of its kind here. After all, it is incredibly rare to see two Darkrai in the same area together. As for when two Darkrai meet, a double dose of nightmares certainly wasn't bound to happen anytime soon. Not when Luna's Darkrai came to stop those nightmares.
When the Newmoon Island Darkrai attempted to move away, Luna's Darkrai would mirror its movements. Trying to escape, it was met with a mirror of itself by Luna's famous Darkrai, who already predicted what the opposing Darkrai would pull. Trying to leave here as soon as possible, the Newmoon Darkrai would narrow its eyes, only for Luna's Darkrai to do the same.
Rapid movements were made. The opposing Darkrai would try and zip away, only for Luna's Darkrai to match its speed, zipping at the same pace and appearing next to it. Yet again, the Newmoon Island Darkrai would fly to a different direction, only to be pursued by Luna's Darkrai. Luna's Darkrai seemed to be on the same page. Fitting since they were the same species. Due to how secretive and lone they like to be, they naturally share many characteristics and thoughts.
"Dar...Krai!" Seeing that Luna's Darkrai was going to be at the same pace, the opposing Darkrai would try and change that. It ended up using Ice Beam, shooting it into the ground. The chilling beam of ice would then form a vicious blockade of ice which would race in Luna's Darkrai's direction.
"Hm?!" Luna's Darkrai gasped before flying out of the way, barely evading the sharp blockade of ice. This momentary evasion gave the opposing Darkrai a chance to flee. But the famous Darkrai wouldn't let himself fall behind. After evading the blockade, he noticed how the opposing Darkrai would form a portal from the shadows, ready to depart.
A Thunderbolt was unleashed, moving at lightning speeds to intercept the opposing Dark-Type. The Newmoon Island Darkrai had been stopped as the lightning bolt blew away the portal. "K-Krai!"
"Stay here," Darkrai commanded. "It's not like us to just go out and afflict nightmares on others without a reason. Why are you doing this?"
"Dar!" The Newmoon Island Darkrai responded. Not only did it reply to him, but it would launch another attack, this time using Dark Pulse.
"Is that so?!" Darkrai understood those words before then using his own Dark Pulse. The two beams of darkness that were imbued with dark thoughts would clash against each other, causing a small shockwave that rippled the air itself.
Hearing the battle, Luna immediately rushed out to see how her own Darkrai was doing. She came at a brilliant time to see the conflict between the two of them. The opposing Darkrai was planning on leaving this city instead of continuing to spread nightmares while her own Darkrai was doing everything in his power to keep him here.
"Darkrai!" Luna cried out as she was joined by Ash and the others who came here for that reason. How lucky were they to see two Darkrai? They were the only ones considering the city was currently asleep at the moment with some suffering from nightmares.
"Dar...Darkrai!" Suddenly, the Newmoon Darkrai's Dark Pulse was beginning to win, growing in size and moving ahead.
"Hm!" Luna's Darkrai gasped. He could feel the power increase from the opposing Dark Pulse. "Is that it..." Darkrai's eyes widened as he wasn't surprised by how he was being overpowered. Rather, it was why he was being overpowered. Once he figured that out, he emitted a bit more power into his own Dark Pulse, barely managing to cancel the attacks out. The two attacks would explode with Luna's Darkrai receiving the worst of it due to how close it was. "Gah!"
"Dark!" Both were blown back at the end of it all, whirling through the air. But while being pushed back, the Newmoon Island Darkrai managed to create a portal behind itself. With one eye open, it would eye down Luna's Darkrai and the rest of the ground before sinking itself into this portal, heading elsewhere.
Anywhere but here.
"Darkrai! Are you alright?!" Luna quickly rushed over. Thankfully, Darkrai would be fine. He held his head, feeling a bit of blowback from that dark outburst.
"I'm fine...I was just...surprised by what I felt." Darkrai groaned, shaking his head before recollecting himself.
"Surprised. By what? Did something happen with that Darkrai?" Ash asked.
"That Dark Pulse clash. We were even at first but I soon felt the greater power behind it. Greater than I expected. Dark Pulse is an attack that is always imbued with Dark Thoughts. It's tied with our emotions." Darkrai looked at his claw, generating a small pulse of darkness. "And the emotions behind that one attack were exceedingly strong."
"They were?" said Fluttershy. "How come? Is that Darkrai feeling okay?"
"Those emotions are probably the reason why it's been moving across the cities, spreading nightmares. We Darkrai don't just set off to afflict bad dreams on others. We always have a reason behind it. And this is no different. There was always something more going on than just a hostile Darkrai."
"So what's it all about then?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "Is it mad at someone or something?"
"Only one way to find out. We'll keep searching for that Darkrai." Luna said. "But...since you know your species far more than any of us combined...I can see that we should try a different approach. Whatever that Darkrai is experiencing, perhaps we can sort it out before these nightmares spread out some more."
"Mm." Darkrai nodded before descending into the shadows, already moving out. Luna would then prepare herself to enter the Dream Realm once more just to keep up with the opposing Darkrai.
"I guess we're heading to the nearest city then," Ash spoke as he and his friends would have to find the next city their own way. "Audino. We'll need all of your hearing capabilities for this one."
"Audino!" Audino saluted. They could all count on her. All she had to do was listen in for any grunts depending on which city they find.
"I wish I could head back to bed though..." Starlight and Goh collectively grumbled, wishing to sleep some more.
"Later. After this is all done." Pinkie Pie would push them both as this was not the time to be sleeping unless they wanted more nightmares to emerge.
Out in a forest. Day.
Hours had passed. And as a result, a new day had come. Dawn and Chloe fell asleep in a tent with Chloe being the first to wake up. Lucky for them, they were not afflicted by any nightmares from Darkrai, simply because they weren't in any cities. But for Chloe, she had her own nightmare upon waking up.
It was her hair. "What do I do?! What to do?!" Bed hair was one of her nightmares as she wasn't exactly the biggest fan of it due to how messy it appeared. Her naturally simple hair was now big and fluffy. Perfect for a small Pokemon to live in.
"Mmm...Wha?" Dawn would soon wake up thanks to the cries of Chloe.
"Don't look at me!" But Chloe would prefer that no one should ever see her with this hair. Even though Piplup and Eevee, who were already awake with Piplup nudging Dawn, had already seen it.
"What's wrong?" Dawn asked before revealing that Chloe wasn't alone in this. Chloe gazed at Dawn, noticing how her bed hair was on par with hers. Large and frantic. Although, Dawn didn't seem to mind as much. For Dawn, this was natural thanks to her adventures across Sinnoh.
If this was her first time out in the wild, this would be worrying to her. But with how much time has passed, it was all-natural and nothing to worry about, as opposed to Chloe who would worry about it. After all, it was her first time.
"Piplup-lup!" Piplup would have both of their backs, using Bubble Beam. The bubbles would blast the hairs of Dawn and Chloe, acting as a refresher. And it was highly effective. With just this single barrage of bubbles, something that would take some time and care had been solved in seconds with their hairs returning to their original styles. Well, for the most part. Chloe had a massive hair strand at the top that was sticking out.
"See? Piplup's extremely helpful when it comes to things like this."
"You're right! Thank you, Piplup!" Chloe marvelled at how quickly her hair had been cleaned up.
"Lup..." Piplup blushed, appreciating the praise he received. Now that they were clean, they would gear back up, continuing on their journey to Eterna City together. All the while, completely exempt from interacting with Darkrai or anything involving this Pokemon at all. At least, for now.
"We'll sleep at the Pokemon Center tonight at this pace," Dawn said while leading the way. But of course, when moving along, the further they went through the forest, the more she and Chloe would see. Previously, not many Pokemon could be found here.
Now that they were getting somewhere, Pokemon would start popping up. And catching Dawn's attention was a Budew as her eyes lit up. "Aw! A Budew!" She would rush over to the Grass-Poison-Type just to admire it. "Sooo Cute!"
"Is now really the time for that?" Chloe questioned if it was necessary to suddenly zip over to view just one Pokemon instead of advancing. But it wasn't just a Budew that caught Dawn's attention. A beautiful and sparkling spring was right next to this Budew as Dawn gathered water from it.
"It sure is! Come over here and feel this spring water, Chloe!" Dawn threw the water in the air which prompted Piplupl and Eevee to leap into it, giggling together. Chloe shrugged as she might as well indulge in it. It's not like it would take away too much time for her journey. But she still had to return eventually once school break is over. And the distance from Sinnoh to Kanto was something that no one could scoff at.
However, along the way, Chloe would notice how Dawn would constantly stop once something caught her eye. She would frolic in a bed of cherry blossoms next which was also surrounded by beautiful flowers that could warm the heart in every way.
Chloe would rather hurry along, even if the scenery was stunning. But Dawn had a different approach. She would once again find something to do, grabbing berries from a tree to consume while also consuming more time. Lying on the soft grass was next. Climbing a tree to spot a Pokemon on top of it that was hard to see and so much more.
And with all of these actions, each time Chloe told her to hurry, Dawn would respond with her signature catchphrase. "No need to worry!"
"There's a lot of reason to worry!" Chloe bellowed, growing rather tired of these delays.
"Oh! How about saying 'That's when I worry the most'"?" Dawn giggled, suggesting an alternative to her catchphrase that was more on the negative side.
"Dawn, if we keep stopping, the day will be over before we know it!" Chloe exclaimed, wanting to get a move on instead of stopping at whatever seems eye-catching.
"If you're travelling there's no shame in having some fun, ya know," Dawn begged to differ. "The scenery's all around you to see. That's something no map can fulfil."
"I am having. I'm just saying we should keep moving." Chloe replied. "Geez. You're being too thoughtless, don't you think?"
"Nothing wrong with that. Sometimes the best journeys come from that. Just saying." At this point, the two of them had differing opinions. The Sense of Freedom and the Sense of Objective. Eevee and Piplup would watch their respective trainers' babble at each other because of this split, sparking up some unfortunate tension.
Further into the woods, while Dawn and Chloe kept moving, the Sun was already beginning to set once again and there was seemingly no sign of Darkrai anywhere. But that was to be expected. Nightfall was the right time to strike.
All the while, Princess Luna would be patient, waiting for her older sister to finish lowering the moon. By ascending and hovering in the skies she could already see the nearest city. Playing the waiting game was crucial when it came to finding Darkrai.
Luna couldn't help but wonder what her own Darkrai meant by what the opposing Darkrai felt. The Dark Pulse Clash was seemingly going to be one-sided depending on what either was feeling. "My Darkrai was not feeling any sort of emotion at that time so his Dark Pulse didn't have that same boost. Then what has become of that Darkrai?" The Princess of the Night wondered while flying through the skies. "Something must be bothering it. Does it have to do with its home or..."
"It's not so bad. We can still make it either way." A voice grabbed Luna's attention. A rather familiar voice. One that she hadn't heard in quite a while. A few years but still around the timeframe of the Pokemon World being introduced to Equestria's inhabitants. It was none other than Dawn's voice as she was still chatting with Chloe about this.
"I would've preferred to be there earlier." Chole puffed her cheeks as the two looked away from each other. "Geez...I'm going to be so late when school starts up again. The sun is already starting to set..."
"Oh, it's Dawn." Luna recognized Dawn, preparing to approach her. However, she would soon notice that Dawn and Chloe were not the only ones being approached. The Moon Princess spotted a charging Pokemon nearby, unknowingly heading in the direction of these two trainers and their Pokemon. "Hm?"
"Rhydon!" It was none other than a Rhydon, viciously rushing through the forest, knocking some trees over as everyone's attention had been grabbed by it. Below and above.
"Huh?! W-What's that?!" Chloe was startled by the sudden appearance of Rhydon as it put an end to this bickering.
"A Rhydon!" Dawn exclaimed upon seeing the Drill Pokemon. Unbeknownst to her, Luna had also shouted the same words as her, having the same reaction.
As for Rhydon, it came to a screeching halt upon reaching this area. This Rhydon had something peculiar on its face. At least, peculiar to Dawn and Chloe but not to Luna who spotted it as well. Bags were under the Rock-Ground-Types eyes. Bags that belonged to someone deprived of sleep.
"It's been affecting Pokemon too?!" Luna gasped, realizing that this opposing Darkrai's nightmares were not fixated on just humans. It seems that even Pokemon were hit by it even if that didn't seem to be the case earlier. And this Rhydon was a victim of it.
Deprived of sleep, this Rhydon was naturally agitated. So agitated that it warranted a rampage to try and tire itself out. Alas, the fact that Sun was already close to leaving meant that this was a failed attempt, only fueling its agitation and anger some more.
Chloe shuddered as encountering a large Pokemon was one of the many things she wished to avoid during her brief travel. Unfortunately for her, when it comes to a Pokemon Journey, short or long, a big Pokemon is bound to appear. Somehow in some way.
"It looks exhausted." Dawn would soon notice Rhydon's status. "Stay back, Chloe!"
"You heard her!" Replying to Dawn was none other than Princess Luna who immediately came soaring down. She made quite a powerful entrance too, causing a small wind pressure that would blow the hairs of these two girls while she left marks in the ground from how powerful her landing was.
"Princess Luna!" Dawn gasped upon seeing the little sister to Equestria's prime ruler.
"Princess Luna...? Huh?!" Chloe's eyes shrunk as this was rather unexpected. So unexpected to the point where the arrival of Rhydon paled in comparison and wasn't startling any more. Now, it was Luna that was startling.
"Those eyes. I did not think that Darkrai would go for the Pokemon as well but...It might be growing unruly as time goes on, perhaps." Luna observed, believing that this Rhydon was only recently experiencing these nightmares. Even more recent than what many cities across Sinnoh were feeling.
"Darkrai? What's a Darkrai?" Chloe had a few questions she wanted answered. For Dawn, this wasn't a big deal at all.
"Don! Rhydon!" But Rhydon would rather not stand around. Not when it wished to desperately sleep at last. Aggravated, the Horn Pokemon would charge in with Megahorn, eyeing down Dawn and the others.
"Piplup, use Bubble Beam!"
"Go Frillish!" Luna would send out her own Water-Type. And in this case, it would be Frillish as both her and Dawn were focusing on super-effective attacks. Luna's Poke Ball flew alongside Piplup, moving at the same pace as the Water-Ghost-Type had entered the fray.
"Frillish!"
"Piplup!" Piplup would instantly shoot out bubbles from his beak but this time to deal some damage instead of refreshing and cleaning her friends.
"Hydro Pump!"
"Lish!" Following that was Frillish's Hydro Pump. From his body, he unleashed a powerful stream of water that had a high volume as it travelled alongside the bubbles. Both Water-Type attacks would crash into Rhydon, dealing super-effective damage twice.
"R-Rhy!" The power of these attacks would launch Rhydon, sending it flying past the trees it had already taken down. Luna would then ascend, wondering if she could spot more Pokemon that have been affected by Darkrai's power. Before that, she would have to free Rhydon of this horrible sensation by giving it the freedom to sleep peacefully once more.
Luna would fly on ahead, pursuing Rhydon even after sending it afar. Dawn and Piplup would soon follow as Chloe would stay still. A part of her definitely didn't want to go along with something so dangerous going on but another part of her wanted to. The latter ruled out the first part as Chloe mainly felt intimidated if she were to be alone like this.
"W-Wait for me!" Chloe and Eevee followed them as it was better to stick with these powerful trainers than to be alone where another agitated Pokemon can show up.
"I'll have a lot to fix unless I can find that Darkrai," Luna said while flying through the forest with Dawn and Chloe trailing behind her. "We can-" Just then, Luna would abruptly stop her sentence. Something forced her to stay silent and even come to a screeching halt.
"What is it, Princess Luna?!" Dawn asked once Luna just stopped, no longer pursuing Rhydon. It was rather fitting that Luna was now the next trainer to stop and gaze at something that caught her attention. Much like Dawn. And Dawn would be in the same boat, having an identical expression to the alicorn. Chloe, who was a bit behind, would catch up, managing to spot what they each spotted ahead.
Lying there on a large rock, emanating a beautiful pink glow was a Pokemon that was said to resemble a Heavenly Maiden. The one who was the complete antithesis of Darkrai, using her crescent feathers to dispel nightmares. Injured and resting to stave the pain away was none other than the Lunar Pokemon.
Cresselia.
Dawn, Luna and Chloe have found this Legendary Pokemon of Splendid Dreams in the forest. All the while, the pursuit of the opposing Darkrai continued and the unravelling of its true intentions. What fate lies in store for each of them? As the journey continues.
In the midst of investigating nightmares occurring in Sinnoh, Ash and his friends are in pursuit of Darkrai. Meanwhile, Luna, who had come across the duo of Dawn and Chloe, had a stunning encounter. Cresselia, the Lunar Pokemon, had been found out there in this forest. Retreating from the Matori Matrix, she could be seen lying on a rock, attempting to rest away her injuries if she could. Fitting that they would find the antithesis to Darkrai, but while Darkrai was currently on the move, Cresselia was static due to her injuries.
"It's a Cresselia...!" Dawn gasped.
"That Pokemon...That's Cresselia?" Luna had only ever heard about Cresselia from Darkrai and the way the two Pokemon oppose each other. She would instantly take out her Pokedex to read up on the Lunar Pokemon.
"Cresselia. The Lunar Pokemon. When it flies, it releases shiny particles from its veil-like wings. It is said to represent the crescent moon, being an incarnation. On nights around the quarter moon, the aurora from its tail extends and undulates beautifully. It leaves a brilliant line of light in its wake as it flies across the night sky. Some even say it resembles the heavenly maiden who created the Milky Way."
"She should be on Fullmoon Island," Dawn said, revealing the home of Cresselia. Another difference between Cresselia and Darkrai were their respective homes. Newmoon and Fullmoon.
"Fullmoon Island?" Chloe repeated.
"Yeah. I met her there once." Dawn reminisced about the time she encountered Cresselia at Fullmoon Island. It was all so clear to her. It was even the day when her Swinub evolved into a Piloswine.
"Hm?" Looking closer at the Lunar Pokemon, Luna would spot various injuries on her. The lightning bolts from before were still prominent, sending faint but visible cracks of electricity around her body which kept her in a constant state of paralysis. Not only that but other elements were involved. Burn marks could be found on her wings along with a bit of frostbite at the end of her body.
Each were detrimental to her and it was truly Legendary for her to withstand all of this. However, one affliction stood out from the rest in Luna's eyes. And that was the emanation of Rift Particles that were around Cresselia's body. Team Rocket, having access to Rift-related objects thanks to Team Plasma, was the cause of this.
"This damage is unbelievable!" Luna was stunned by what Cresselia had to go through. "On top of that, there are Rift Particles around her." At this rate, if nothing was done, either one of these afflictions would finish off Cresselia for good. Refusing to let that happen, Luna would approach the Lunar Pokemon, aiming to remove those afflictions for good, especially the energy of the Rift.
"Cresselia..." Cresselia would hear the voices of Luna, Dawn and Chloe, turning her head. Upon seeing this trio, she was on full alert. And for a good reason. Being chased down and hunted which led to these injuries would warrant heavy caution from the Lunar Pokemon. "Selia!"
Despite being badly injured, Cresselia still had enough energy to unleash a warning to those who would get close to her. From her body, a pink wave was shot out, having Rift Particles within it. The wave would rustle the leaves of the trees, giving off a mild wind pressure that was only strong enough to launch pebbles and sticks off the ground.
"I-I don't think she wants us to get close!" Chloe stammered, stepping back once Cresselia unleashed her cry, flinching from the pink wave.
"That's too bad for her." Luna did not flinch at all, however. She was unphased by the wave and didn't even show any signs of moving. "If we don't then she'll succumb to all of those afflictions."
"No need to worry, Cresselia. We're not enemies." Dawn said, trying to convince Cresselia that they all came in peace. But once more, Cresselia was heavily cautious, sending out a Psychic Blade from her body. This blade stabbed into the ground, acting as a way to try and intimidate them. It certainly intimidated Eevee and Chole while startling Dawn and Piplup.
"Cresselia...!"
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Suddenly, Luna would reply to Cresselia's words, surprising the Lunar Pokemon with her response. Even if she couldn't understand the language of Pokemon, emotions and reactions were Luna's expertise without a doubt.
"Selia?"
"Look at you." Luna approached the Psychic-Type. "You're lying here alone with horrible afflictions. Someone with the power to harness the Rift in some way did this to you. With that kind of power around you, even you'll struggle to make it."
"You're kidding...Is it that bad?" Dawn questioned. Luna was making the Rift affliction to be the worst kind, even for a Legendary Pokemon.
"If something isn't done about it then yes. And it's worse when the energy is unpredictable." Luna replied before facing Cresselia once more. The pink wave failed to keep her back as it was only an intimidation method. And she certainly wasn't intimidated in the slightest. "Cresselia. I want to help you."
"Cress?" Cresselia gasped once Luna revealed her true intentions.
"I have the means to cancel out Rift Magic now. It was always a challenge getting over this cosmic power." Luna raised her hoof, alarming Cresselia who was too weak to move out of the way.
"Selia..." That pink aura was still being kept up,p even if it was fading with how much power Cresselia was spending. It wasn't exactly the wisest move as the Lunar Pokemon would whinge while using it.
"Don't use anything." Luna softly placed her hoof on Cresselia's injury. Cresselia winced, as to be expected with this contact. However, Luna would quickly mellow it out with her magic. During this sunset, her ethereal magic that perfectly represented the night would emanate beautifully, wrapping around Cresselia's wings.
"Dawn. I assume you have potions for this? Unfortunately, I haven't come with my own this time." Luna requested some potions. "My mistake. I can enchant those potions to break through the Rift Particles."
"I do, Princess Luna." Thankfully, as an experienced Pokemon Trainer, Dawn always had potions on her, no matter what. Piplup would do the honours, taking out various potions from her bag.
"Excellent." Luna would instantly use her magic on the potions. A mixture of her standard magic and Lunar Ire's magic had been unleashed. At her level, Rift Magic could be interacted with thanks to the magical growth she experienced during the journey to the Sea Temple and the third Pokemon Festival.
"Be careful!" Chloe was still nervous about this.
"No need to worry. She's got this." Dawn reassured Chloe to stay calm. "Princess Luna has a lot of Pokemon, so she knows what she's doing. All those Pokemon to take care of and she's so earnest with them. That's one way we trainers understand one another."
"Here you go." Luna would unleash the enchanted potions on Cresselia's injuries with Dawn doing the same. Both worked in unison to remove the afflictions, especially the particles of Rift Energy. Luna's magic was mainly responsible for dispelling the Rift Energy from Cresselia's body until there was nothing left.
Cresselia closed her eyes, feeling relaxed by Luna's Aura, letting the potions and magic work without putting up any resistance. The Lunar Pokemon, upon being closer to Luna, sensed no hostility at all.
"Come on, Chloe. Come close." Dawn encouraged Chloe to approach Cresselia. Dawn already had the courage to do so, helping heal the Psychic-Type Pokemon. Chloe would take a gentle step, only for Eevee to go all in. The Evolution Pokemon wasn't as nervous as her trainer.
Cresselia would look up at Chloe while being tended to, losing her serious and hostile expression. With how Dawn and Luna were currently treating her, the Lunar Pokemon was feeling rather peaceful at the moment. Peaceful enough for Chloe to come close. Chloe stood near Cresselia before raising her arm, wondering what it felt like to touch such a rare and powerful Pokemon. Her first time out and already she came across a Legendary Pokemon.
Just a touch. And nothing happened. Chloe felt the head of Cresselia, smiling afterwards. There was absolutely nothing to fear. But with all the damage she's received, it would take a little bit of time for Cresselia to fully recover as the Moon was beginning to rise. Courtesy of Luna, of course, after Celestia lowered the Sun.
Once the moon was up, Luna, Dawn and Chloe all sat around Cresselia with Luna and Dawn still healing the Lunar Pokemon. But by now, they were finished. All afflictions were gone as well as any areas that were heavily injured.
"So...You're the one who raises the moon," Chloe said as she had witnessed Luna's amazing power to raise and lower the moon.
"And lowers it." Luna added. "Pleasure to meet you. But I'm afraid we won't be seeing each other for long."
"Eh? Why not?" Chloe asked as it sounded like Luna would make a quick departure.
"The moon is up which means the time for many to sleep has come. And time for my duties as the Princess of the Night. Isn't that right, Darkrai?"
"I'm already getting ready to-" Darkrai would emerge out of the shadows, revealing himself to Chloe and Dawn. Both collectively screeched with Chloe's scream being louder out of pure shock from seeing the Pitch Black Pokemon for the first time. But they weren't the only ones who had a startled reaction. "Hm!"
Darkrai himself was startled. Once he emerged out of the shadows, he would spot a certain figure next to Princess Luna. The figure that was the opposite of him and every Darkrai out there knew about and had one that would oppose their power. The Lunar Pokemon Cresselia.
"What's wrong, Darkrai? You look a bit bewildered." Luna noticed Darkrai's rapid expression change. Well, as much as he can express with the face he was built with.
"Cresselia?" Cresselia would then recognize the name Darkrai, raising her head to spot her opposite. The Pitch Black Pokemon that spreads nightmares.
"I didn't expect to see her here..." Darkrai grumbled before descending into the shadows. But only halfway. Half of his body was there was he gazed at the Lunar Pokemon, who gazed back at him. The two Pokemon stared at each other for a bit with Darkrai being rather distant. More than usual since it was only around one Pokemon. But this one Pokemon was rather crucial to his species.
"Selia..." As for Cresselia, she was also rather shocked to see Darkrai. And the reasons for that are strikingly identical to why Darkrai was surprised.
"What's up with those two?" Chloe noticed how the two of them were eyeing each other down.
"Oh, right!" Dawn exclaimed, raising her finger. "You see...Darkrai and Cresselia are opposites to each other. Darkrai brings nightmares to people and Pokemon. And Cresselia is the one who dispels them, bringing pleasant dreams as well. I actually saw this first-hand when they battled against each other once."
"Really? So it's almost symbiotic in a way? Well, I guess no one is benefiting from this." said Chloe, understanding the kind of relationship these two species of Pokemon have.
"Ah, right...Darkrai did mention how the two of them do not get along with each other. That refers to any other Darkrai and Cresselia out there." Luna recalled Darkrai's brief comment about the Cresselia. The two of them do not got along so well because of these differences.
"Right...I'll just stay here." Darkrai slowly moved back, keeping his distance from the Lunar Pokemon.
"Darkrai. You have nothing to worry about." Luna chuckled. "You aren't spreading any nightmares to anyone after all. Why should you fear Cresselia? Especially when she's trying to rest at the moment."
"I'm not afraid of her...!" Darkrai grumbled. "I'm not afraid of anyone."
"If you're not then what is it?" Dawn squeed, putting on a bright grin. This only made Darkrai's grumble even louder while also putting a smile on Cresselia's face. This was rather amusing to Cresselia, seeing her opposite react in such a way.
"Are you sure? You've faced a lot of terrifying forces and this is what makes you steer away?" Luna raised an eyebrow. "Is it perhaps that Cresselia is just as threatening as little Flurry Heart?"
"I can get close to her if I wanted to." Darkrai crossed his arms while blending in with the shadows. "And that baby only caught me by surprise, okay?"
"Come on. Cresselia won't bite. I'm not sure she feels the same way. Then again, I don't know if every Cresselia has their own Darkrai to keep an eye on." Dawn scratched her hair. "If that's the case, then you're not the Darkrai she's looking for."
"We aren't assigned to anyone." Darkrai scoffed. "Plus, why would I be worried when I don't spread nightmares that often. If anything, you're asking for a nightmare with all of this teasing."
"Gh!" Dawn grimaced before putting her hands up for a truce, not wishing for any potential nightmares. "Alright, I get it. It's just pretty funny how you reacted like that, that's all."
"Piplup!"
"You can pat her on the head if you want, Darkrai. You and your big meaty claws." Luna would only add to the teasing. "If you have any meat on that shadowy body anyway."
"Selia-Selia." Cresselia ended up laughing. Laughing about this staved more of the pain away and brought a comforting feeling to her heart.
"You're not helping..." Darkrai understood what Cresselia said, turning away. "This is embarrassing. And shouldn't we be searching for the other Darkrai by now? By now, others should be sleeping."
"Other Darkrai?" Chloe repeated. "There's another one around?"
"Another Darkrai? Is...that the one that did this to Cresselia?" Dawn would then turn to face Cresselia, wondering if that Darkrai was responsible for her injuries.
"Impossible." Luna immediately shut that possibility down. "The Rift Particles debunk that possibility by a mile. The damage done to Cresselia was most likely done by perhaps multiple individuals with Pokemon. Most likely a team. Cresselia, who did this to you, exactly?"
"Selia...Cresselia." Cresselia had to share this. She needed them to know who was responsible for this vicious damage. And it would be Darkrai that would translate it for everyone.
"She didn't get the name. But the group wore black outfits with a Red 'R' as their symbol, using all sorts of elements to attack her." Darkrai translated. "That sounds all too familiar."
"That does..." Luna shuddered, knowing who wore such outfits with that specific symbol. She was even reminded of the one that gave the Pokemon House and even Nightmare Moon so much trouble. The Matori Matrix. Specifically..."Team Rocket."
"Team Rocket?!" Dawn gasped. "Why are they always so troublesome? And are they everywhere nowadays?"
"So, they are still in pursuit of you if you're lying here," Luna said. "And with Rift Weapons at their disposal. Even if we have only one gateway left in this world, usage of the Rift's powers have not faded away. Cresselia. You are not safe here. Out in the open."
"What do we do then, Princess Luna?" Dawn asked.
"Hmm..." Luna pondered for a moment before then thinking up something. "Darkrai can enter the Dream Realm and Hyperdream with me because of his Nightmare Powers. "I wonder...Cresselia. Can you do the same?"
"Selia?"
"Oooh!" Dawn's eyes lit up before vigorously nodding her head. She was clearly all for this decision as it also sounded wonderful as well. "Entering the Dream Realm's a great idea! It should totally work for Cresselia!"
"Cresselia. Hide in the Dream Realm until then. Your body will be away from the real world, concealed from Team Rocket. In the meanwhile, we should continue searching for that other Darkrai." Luna declared. "There is no possible way for them to enter it."
"There certainly isn't it!" Just then, a familiar voice replied to Luna's words, echoing through the air. Recognizing that voice, Luna and the others would look up to see a helicopter above them. Cresselia noticed that helicopter as she did everything in her power to try and escape from it, leading to the injuries she received and the rock she was currently lying on.
Matori and her group had appeared. The Matori Matrix couldn't have shown up at a worse time.
"We meet again, Princess Luna! Or should I say, Nightmare Moon!" Matori grinned with that devious look on her face as always. Chloe wasn't a fan of how this was starting to turn out as she stayed close to the Princess of the Moon and Dawn for safety. "You won't be entering any realms with this!" Immediately after spouting a few words, Matori took action without wasting too much time.
And she did so by holding out one of the many Rift-related weapons she managed to possess. This time, it ended up being something that resembled a Travel Sphere that was used to travel across universes. But it wasn't quite that. For one, this sphere had multiple holes within it that emanated Rift Energy.
Once it held out, a blinding flash of Rift Energy came out, letting out a rather ominous and haunting sound that resembled that of a ghost. It didn't do anything to Luna and the others. Only make them flinch for a bit with how bright the light was.
"What kind of bluff was that...?" Luna growled after opening one of her eyes.
"A bluff? Oh, let's see if you call it that pretty soon. Since this is our second time meeting, I'm expecting to see Nightmare Moon again. I'd say I humiliated her. But I don't have time to see her or you. I'm just here for Cresselia."
"Back off!" Dawn yelled, standing in front of Cresselia. "As if you'll ever get Cresselia! She's returning home to Fullmoon Island after this!"
"But is it safe there?" Matori shrugged. "After all...what's stopping us from going back there if she managed to head home. Not that she will after this."
"She raises a good point, Dawn." Chloe gulped.
"You won't get her. Not when she's in another realm!" Luna's horn flared as she was ready to enter the Dream Realm to try and conceal Cresselia, even if the Matori Matrix knew what she was up to. However, when attempting to enter the Dream Realm, nothing happened. Not a flash, not a flicker, nothing. Luna's horn did react but it unleashed nothing. "W-What?"
She would try again when she had the chance, but yet again, nothing happened. Darkrai would try entering the Dream Realm too, only to fail by being pushed out of the shadows. "What is this?! Darkrai gasped. "I can't seem to enter the Dream Realm!"
"Think it's a bluff? You won't be hiding in your little realm any more thanks to that Dream Disruptor." Matori grinned as that sphere from before had served its purpose. Luna's access to the Dream Realm had been severed. "Cresselia thought she could hide from us but not with this power..."
"So, you used that against Cresselia too." Luna grizzled her teeth as it was revealed that Matori had used this sphere on Cresselia already. And now that it was used on her, she found it impossible to enter the Dream Realm at least for now. "No matter...We cannot enter the Dream Realm, but you are fools for coming here."
"Oh, I don't think so, princess. Fire!" With a bellow, Matori ordered her group to attack Luna's group. And that was from the aerial vehicle that they had. The same things that attacked Cresselia before would be used yet again. Flames, Electricity, Ice and of course, Rift Magic. The cannons from the ship were unleashed at once, raining down these elements from the night sky.
Luna would put up a shield around Dawn, Chloe and the Pokemon, protecting them from the raining elements and cosmic power. The elements were blocked successfully. However, the Rift Ray didn't abide by those rules. It wasn't an ordinary ray. The chaotic nature of the Rift had been revealed once more as the ray would transform parts of Luna's shield to disrupt it.
Luna gasped as her shield suddenly gained fangs without her own control. With the power of the ray, the top part of her shield had been transformed while everything else remained the same. And unfortunately, these fangs were not on their side. Soon as they were made, the fangs would have their first instinct. And that was to chomp on Luna's head.
Luna quickly lowered her shield to avoid this, barely doing so as the fangs took a strand of her ethereal mane. However, even though she managed to lower the shield, the power of the Rift kept a bit of it intact. And that would be the one with the fangs. Soon, it became its own separate being as a Barrier of Fangs had been born. It even started taking shape, using Luna's own magic to do so. Gaining the dome shape of Luna's shield, four more fangs would grow. Two from the sides, one at the front and one at the back.
"Rift Energy is destructive...but we've realized how beneficial it can be when the unpredictable and random nature of it is utilized," Matori spoke. Team Rocket, thanks to Team Plasma's contributions, were taking full advantage of this cosmic power for their own deeds.
"Dawn...Chloe. Take Cresselia away from here at once!" Luna ordered, prioritizing Cresselia's safety. "The Darkrai we are searching for must be connected to this Cresselia if they are both currently in certain situations!"
"Okay!" Dawn understood, feeling confident enough to leave this to Princess Luna and her Darkrai. "It'll be hard carrying you, Cresselia. Can you manage?"
"Selia." Cresselia had regained some strength thanks to the healing she received from Dawn and Luna. Enough strength to finally get off that rock and move. But she would have to book it at once while the Matori Matrix were eyeing her down.
Finding that other Darkrai would have to wait. With the Matori Matrix involved, Darkrai was the least of their problems. Even with the gateways being reduced to one and a mysterious Infinity-Shaped gateway, the power of the Rift remained. And for a group like Team Plasma, now that the worlds have been united, there was more to gain and more to take advantage of since the power of the Rift never left all as the journey continues.
Arriving to try and capture Cresselia was the Matori Matrix of Team Plasma, led by Matori herself. Shutting down Luna's access to the Hyperdream via another Rift Weapon, the Matori Matrix have closed in on their target. With Luna ordering Dawn and Chloe to take Cresselia elsewhere, the Princess of the Night found herself encountering the Matori Matrix yet again.
But at the moment, Luna was also dealing with her own barrier, transformed by the Rift Weapons that the Matori Matrix used, forming a sentient barrier with sharp jaws on all sides. Dawn and Chloe picked Cresselia up, using all of their strength to carry the Lunar Pokemon.
"Don't worry, Cresselia! We'll get you away from here!" Dawn promised while already feeling the weight on her arms. "Ghhh! Geez, you're heavy!"
"Piplup!" Piplup and Eevee would also chime in, attempting to lift the Lunar Pokemon. But even with this added help, Cresselia was still extremely heavy for all of them.
"Darkrai, use Dark Pulse!" Luna shouted while flying back, managing to evade the Barrier's Fangs once it went for its first bite. The fangs of this Barrier were unlike anything out there due to how unique they were. Even when she ended up dodging those fangs, the magic from the barrier would leave something behind. It was still made up of Luna's magic at the end of the way, letting out a pulse that would further push Luna away. "W-What!?"
Intercepting the barrier's next action was none other than Darkrai, unleashing a pulse that was imbued with Dark thoughts. However, the barrier was still a protective force despite how hostile it now was. One of the jaws ended up biting onto Darkrai's Dark Pulse, crushing it with brute strength.
As for the Matori Matrix, they left it all up to the barrier, focusing on Cresselia only and ignoring Princess Luna. They would ready their weapons from the helicopter, prepared to use the power of the Rift once more.
"Cress...!" Cresselia noticed how Dawn and Chloe wouldn't get anywhere quick enough thanks to her weight. This wasn't enough to avoid what was coming. Thankfully, with the strength she recovered after resting up, Cresselia managed to use Psychic on their arms, strengthening them.
"Oh! I feel a bit stronger now!" Dawn gasped after receiving a physical strength increase. "Thanks, Cresselia!" And with this increase in strength in their hands, they could carry Cresselia with ease. At least, for as long as Cresselia can keep it up.
"You won't get away from us!" Matori cried out as the sound of the weapons could be heard charging up.
"Not good...Gliscor! Xatu! Appear!" Luna wished to deal with the Matori Matrix while also stopping this rabid barrier of hers. With two Poke Balls being held out by magic, she would throw them into the air, summoning her Xatu and Gliscor.
"Gliscor!"
"Xatu!"
"Stop those weapons, you two!" Luna yelled before putting up her own shield to defend against what was once hers. The fangs viciously bit onto Luna's shield, attempting to tear it into pieces. The way it rapidly moved its mouth was utterly disturbing as it had no sense of slowing down.
"Scor!" Gliscor and Xatu would fixate their attention on the Team Rocket Helicopter with Gliscor using Acrobatics to ascend even faster than how he normally could. Electricity came out of the ship once the weapons were used, only for Gliscor to shut it down. He got in front of the bolt of lightning, being completely immune to it.
As for Xatu, he would use Psychic on one of the ship's weapons, attempting to break it apart. However, though Gliscor was immune to this, the Rift Particles within would travel through the bolt, suddenly changing that common immunity. Gliscor cried out as the electricity damaged him.
"Idiots!" Matori exclaimed. "With the power of the Rift, there's nothing that we can't beat out. Your Ground-Typing doesn't mean anything to us!"
"G-Gli!" After being harmed by what he was supposed to be immune to, the weapons from the cannon would unleash the other elements, shooting them at the Ground-Flying-Type for extra damage. Xatu focused on those instead of the main weapon, using Psychic to manipulate the elements. It was a lot to control, but he managed to pull it off, saving his friend as the rays of elements crashed into a pile of rocks.
The Barrier Fangs meanwhile were only growing more vicious, forcing Darkrai and Luna to think fast. Each side of this sentient barrier would attack, crushing their attacks easily. Darkrai's Dark Void failed miserably, unable to knock out this sentient barrier while also witnessing how it tore its attacks into pieces. Luna's own magic, which is what originally made this barrier, had also been devoured.
"It just eats everything that we throw at it! Absurd!" Luna shouted while backing away from the constantly-moving barrier. This was a peculiar opponent to beat. With all those fangs from every side, it could crush any attack that was thrown at it. And they certainly didn't want to get close to it, unless they wanted to lose something from their body. All the while, this gave the Matori Matrix the chance chase down Dawn and Chloe, leaving behind Luna and her Pokemon.
"They're already ahead of us by now, Luna!" Darkrai said while Thunderbolt to try and overload the Sentient Barrier. But it seemed to relish this, endlessly absorbing the electricity with its fangs. "I can't overfeed it either! It doesn't seem to care at all!"
"If only I could enter the Dream Realm prior to this..." The Princess of the Moon growled. The only way for her to re-enter the Dream Realm was potentially by destroying what the Matori Matrix had used. If she could get to it, that is. Luna watched as the helicopter advanced. Gliscor would drop to the ground after being hit with Xatu quickly flying to his side. With the Matori Matrix going ahead, Luna had to get past the sentient barrier first while also catching up to Team Rocket.
"Wait...There's nothing underneath it." Luna then saw one visible weakness that could be exploited. The Sentient Barrier was originally in the shape of a dome since Luna stood on the ground while using it to defend against the Matori Matrix's assault. Because of this, it had fangs on every side except for one. The bottom. This Sentient Barrier was essentially scraping on the ground to move instead of rolling or even flying. If it had been a spherical barrier, this would've been harder to try and overcome.
Seeing this weakness, Luna would try and capitalise on it, looking at Darkrai. Darkrai already understood what needed to be done. The Pitch Black Pokemon descended into the shadows while Luna would focus on distracting his barrier. Darkrai vanished from the sight of the Sentient Barrier. But then again, it had no eyes to speak of in the first place.
Luna would constantly zap magical bolts at the barrier while backing up, distracting and feeding it while Darkrai would try and strike from below. And he had to be precise when doing so as this Sentient Barrier had no concept of slowing down, biting at great speeds while scraping across the ground. Luna would then move past some trees, instinctively avoiding them when backing up. But the barrier would end up destroying these trees with each bite. And despite the trees being its way, it still did not slow down. If anything, it was starting to speed up, getting closer to Luna.
"I should feel somewhat proud that this is my barrier." Luna smiled as the barrier would close in on the Moon Princess. She would then cease all of her movements, deciding not to move back any further, allowing for the barrier to strike. But this was part of Luna's plan. Constantly moving meant that the Sentient Barrier would also keep moving. But by staying still, it wouldn't get too far.
This gave Darkrai his opportunity. Just as the Sentient Barrier was ready to gnaw on Luna, going straight for her head, the Pitch Black Pokemon would emerge from the shadows underneath it. He used Dark Pulse, unleashing the pulse of darkness inside the Sentient Barrier. It had no way to protect itself from this position due to how it was originally made.
The Sentient Barrier would howl after the pulse enveloped all of its insides. Luna flinched at this horrifying howl and the fact that she was one inch away from receiving a bite. The pulse would then grow by Darkrai's command, properly overloading the barrier as he wanted originally. The Sentient Barrier, unable to stop this, would be destroyed, combusting from over-expansion.
The creation of Luna's magic would be obliterated with only drops of this magic being scattered. The Rift Energy within it had been taken out because of this destruction as well. Darkrai would then emerge from the dark smoke after successfully taking it out. That was one major problem dealt with it.
"Hah...Finally." Luna sighed, relieved that the Sentient Barrier had been destroyed at last. "Well done, Darkrai." Now that this had been sorted out, the next problem was at hand. The Matori Matrix. By now, they were already ahead with Xatu and Gliscor pursuing the helicopter. Not only that, but the second Darkrai was still someone they had to take into account. Luna could only hope that Dawn and Chloe managed to get somewhere safe for the time being.
Thankfully, they did. Thanks to Luna and her Pokemon occupying them for a bit, that was enough for them to get somewhere safe. The sparkling lake near this forest was their choice as it was surrounded by an abundance of trees. Enough to conceal themselves and Cresselia. But they had to keep on moving, otherwise, they would be found either way.
"Where do we go now?" Dawn wondered where they would go now. "Princess Luna stayed behind for us..."
"I'm not sure." Chloe shook her head, clueless as well. For now, they were both directionless, unable to decide on their next action. As they stood there pondering, footsteps were heard by Dawn.
"Someone's coming!" Dawn exclaimed, swivelling her head as hard as she could. She feared that Team Rocket had shown up once more, this time, going by foot instead of using the helicopter. However, she had nothing to fear. Being at the ready wasn't warranted at all. At least, not now.
Because the ones to appear before Dawn's group, emerging from the many trees was none other than Ash Ketchum and his group.
"Yeesh, this forest is huge. Did you hear this way, Fluttershy?" Ash spoke before coming to a halt. All of his friends did so as a familiar face graced their eyes. Dawn also saw this familiar face for herself as they all stood silent. Meanwhile, Chloe was rather confused by this sudden silence and static posing from them all. "Oh...Dawn? Chloe?"
"Ash! Everyone!" Dawn said with a bright smile on her face. Another friendly face had been found tonight. Many friendly faces after all. Excited to see them again, Dawn would rush over to give her greetings. "It's been a while, hasn't it?!"
"It sure has!" Ash and Dawn did their signature greeting, high-fiving each other. As for how Dawn greeted the rest of her friends, she would put her arms around the ponies, going for a massive hug.
"I didn't see this coming! This is a nice surprise!" Dawn excitedly said, rubbing her face against the ponies who would hug her back. "Ah, it's only been 2 or 3 years since we last met, hasn't it?!"
"Has it? I couldn't tell." Fluttershy said. "Either way, everyone back at the Pokemon House has missed you so much, Dawn, so it's great to see you and Piplup again."
"I didn't think we'd see you here, Chloe." Goh pointed out. "Are you out searching for a Pokemon of your own?"
"Not really. I was just told to come here by my dad. I expected to eventually run into you but...I wish it was under a different circumstance. Not this. But...you all know each other."
"Mhm!" Dawn vigorously nodded. "Ash and I used to travel across the Sinnoh Region together and I even showed up to help with the creation of the Pokemon House. Plus, taking care of some Pokemon there."
"This is cool and all but what's up with that giant croissant?" Rainbow Dash questioned, fixating her attention on Cresselia as this would be her first time laying eyes on the Legendary Pokemon. Most of them would be seeing Cresselia for the first time.
"That croissant is Cresselia!" Twilight gasped, recognizing the Lunar Pokemon. "Why's she here?!"
"Probably for the same reason Darkrai's here," Starlight added. "They're both usually around each other, aren't they? Well...except for Princess Luna's Darkrai."
"Oh, right! Princess Luna!" Dawn quickly switched her attention back to what mattered. "Uh, well, you should all know this. A lot happened recently. Cresselia here's being chased down right now. We found her injured in the forest after being attacked by Team Rocket. Not the ones we usually know."
"Well, we're here investigating the nightmares that Darkrai has been causing." Rarity spoke. "Have you seen it?"
"Only Princess Luna's Darkrai. I'm not sure about that other Darkrai. Princess Luna spoke about how Darkrai was looking for someone. I think it might be Cresselia that it's looking for, so by now, it should've come to her. But there's no sign of it." Dawn explained.
"Is that why Darkrai's been on the move?" said Ash. "But why go after all those cities then?"
"Princess Luna's Darkrai said that the other Darkrai's Dark Pulse was strong because of the emotions behind it. Cresselia might have something to do with it." Twilight recalled what Luna shared with her friends.
"Maybe Cresselia fought with Darkrai and later Team Rocket, took damage and ran away. It might be some form of revenge. I think." Goh theorized on why this could potentially be the case.
"Mm-mm." Dawn shook her head. "That's definitely not it. She didn't react like that when seeing Princess Luna's Darkrai. It was only Team Rocket that was behind this."
"Hmm..." Fluttershy and the others thought deeply about this. If that was the case, why was Darkrai just going around spreading nightmare sand Cresselia just so happened to also be around at the same time?
"Maybe..." Twilight put her hooves on her head, drawing a conclusion. "Maybe it's out of anger. Dark Pulse is only filled with dark thoughts so the only emotion that Darkrai was feeling was probably anger. Cresselia and Darkrai are opposites to each other and from what I've read, they will battle with each other often. But Darkrais don't just spread nightmares without a reason. Even if they battled, Darkrai would only take it out on Cresselia and no one else. The power to dispel nightmares is rather easy for Cresselia just as much as it is for Darkrai to spread a nightmare, even if she's injured."
"So Darkrai's taking it out on the cities?" Starlight replied. "Why? Does it think they did this to her?"
"I believe so. Darkrai doesn't know who's responsible for this, so it's probably looking for the culprit. But it's actually Team Rocket." Twilight nodded.
"Aw, that means these ones are friends. Isn't that sweet?" Pinkie Pie uttered as this meant that this Darkrai and Cresselia were not exactly against each other. "Oh, is that rare?"
"Not really. The two of them don't interact that much." Twilight shook her head in response. "The reasons they have for battling are straightforward but rarely happen as long as they keep to themselves."
"Darkrai." Just as they started to piece things together, the cry of the Pitch-Black Pokemon echoed out. Cresselia and everyone would swivel their heads, looking up to spot the one who was the opposite to Cresselia. Darkrai.
"Darkrai!" They all collectively said as Darkrai and Cresselia had encountered each other at least. Upon arriving, Darkrai would narrow its eyes, gazing at Ash's group. Fluttershy gulped, sensing the hostile aura from the Dark-Type.
"Maybe it doesn't help that we're next to Cresselia..." Fluttershy said as Darkrai didn't too fond of them being this close to the Lunar Pokemon. It was certainly sparking a reaction.
"Wait, Darkrai," Ash spoke to the Pitch Black Pokemon before anything could happen. "All those nightmares you caused...you were just searching for whoever did this to Cresselia, right?"
"Pikachu!"
"It's just like what I experienced back at Alamos Town..." Ash reminisced about the past. "You were probably doing it to look into the dreams of others. So you could find out who went to Cresselia, right?"
"Oh, right. You did say the Darkrai back at Alamos Town warned you about what would happen between Dialga and Palkia that day." Dawn would also recall that moment from years ago. "Darkrai's nightmares act as warnings too and a way to look into the future."
"We weren't doing anything to her. Honest!" Pinkie put her hooves together as the other ponies would collectively nod. Just for safe measure, Rarity, Goh, Starlight and Pinkie would shimmy away from Cresselia.
"I don't think you're convincing it at all..." Applejack said as it was pointless to move away.
"Huh? Up there! Look" Goh cried out, bringing everyone's attention to something else. Something far more intimidating than the Darkrai that hovered over them. Even Darkrai had to look up. The real threat had arrived, tracking down Cresselia endlessly without resting for a bit.
The Matori Matrix. "Cresselia located. Along with some annoying individuals with her." Matori said after noticing Ash's face.
"It's you!" Ash roared out after noticing Matori's face through the window.
"Pikachu!"
"Cress..." Cresselia whimpered after spotting the Matori Matrix for a third time. They were truly relentless in their pursuit of her. Cresselia feared that the chances of the Matori Matrix capturing her were still high with how they were constantly managing to find her.
"And look at that...the extremely special Pikachu that our boss has been trying so hard to find." Matori would also eye down Ash's Pikachu. "I'll make it a triple catch. Cresselia, Darkrai and Pikachu will be brought back to headquarters. Fire!"
The weapons would be used once more. The power of the Rift had been built up, shooting out of the cannons, but this time with only the intent to injure and not pull off anything strange. And the one to be hit by the ray was none other than Darkrai. "D-Dark!" After being blasted, Darkrai would be pushed down, tumbling on the ground next to Ash and the others.
"Darkrai!" Ash gasped, kneeling to face the Pitch Black Pokemon. "Are you alright?!"
"Pika?!
They would stop there. More of the ship's arsenal would be unleashing, shooting out the various elements at Twilight and her friends. Twilight, much like Luna, would put up a protective shield around her friends. A quick save. The shield blocked the other elements that were thrown at them, but that would only prompt for the Matori Matrix to keep up their assault. More of the Rift Energy would be used, planning to turn Twilight's own barrier against her.
"Push it back, Twilight!" Dawn yelled out, knowing of what happened to Luna's own barrier. "Or else they'll turn against you!"
"O-Okay!" Twilight stuttered, taking Dawn's suggestion. She would reverse her barrier, pushing back the elements that bombarded it. The elements were thrown off course, flying elsewhere as a bit of Twilight's magic would also reach the ship.
"Kh!" Matori gasped as the pressure from Twilight's magic generated some wind that made her flinch. The threat of alicorn magic was something that couldn't be ignored. They already acknowledged it with Princess Luna. "Darn alicorn...!"
"Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Piplup, Bubble Beam!"
"Sceptile, Dragon Pulse!"
"Castform, Weather Ball!" Taking action against the ship and what it would throw against them, Ash and the others would yell out commands.
"Pika...Chuuu!" 100,000 volts, a flurry of bubbles, a dragon-shaped blast and a sphere of energy were collectively shot out, intercepting the elements that the cannons threw out. The collection of attacks clashed with the Matori Matrix's weapons, cancelling each other out in the process. Not quite enough to push through. That went for both sides. Compared to Luna, Ash and his group had greater numbers in this instance.
"Nothing but obstacles." Matori and her group would suddenly leave the helicopter, leaping out of it while a few more would stay behind to utilize the weapons. "Eliminate them!"
"Yes ma'am!" Team Rocket exclaimed before sending out their respective Pokemon. Toxicraok, Skuntank, Glameow and Rhyperior to be exact.
Staying close to Cresselia as protection would be Chloe, Fluttershy and Goh. With how many Pokemon were here, Cresselia could be harmed once more. And there was also the helicopter above that they had to worry about. Darkrai would then raise its head, finally understanding who it should worry about. Ash's group and by extension, the people over at the different cities across Sinnoh.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Castform, use Energy Ball!"
"Chu...!" Pikachu moved in, using Iron Tail as his tail would glisten in the night while Sceptile's Energy Ball was thrown alongside him.
"Skuntank, Flamethrower!" The Team Rocket grunt yelled out as Skuntank would shoot out a stream of scarlet flames to intercept these two Pokemon. However, it only managed to stop Castform's Energy Ball, incinerating it into nothing. This allowed Pikachu to move ahead, slamming his tail on Skuntank's head to deal the first bit of damage.
"Dazzling Gleam!" Twilight and Starlight both said to Espeon and Hatterene, who had just been sent out. Two Dazzling Gleams were used with rainbow rays flying out of their bodies. Unfortunately, the dual Dazzling Gleams were stopped by a rain of fire that came from above via the helicopter. The flames blocked off the Dazzling Gleams from going anywhere while giving Team Rocket the chance to launch another attack.
"Toxicroak! Sludge Bomb!" After the flames dispersed, the group of Toxicroak would collectively use Sludge Bomb, bombarding Espeon and Hatterene with these toxic bombs.
"E-Esp!"
"Now, Piplup! Use Whirlpool!"
"Sceptile! Frenzy Plant!"
"Pip...Lup!" From his beak, Piplup would form a whirlpool that he would then throw with his arms. Joining this whirlpool of water was a giant barrage of plants that would erupt from the ground via Sceptile's power.
"Stone Edge, Rhyperior!" Attempting to block these attacks would be the Rhyperior, generating large crystals in front of them. The crystals would block some of the plants, only for a few to press on while Whirlpool would carry away the rocks.
"Go for Cresselia! Now!" Matori ordered them to focus some of their attacks on Cresselia before she could fully recover. After all, she was looking better than when they first pursued her.
"Yes ma'am! Hyper Beam!"
Unexpectedly, most of these opposing Pokemon had Hyper Beam in their current arsenal. Mainly Rhyperior and Purugly only. They would collectively charge up this destructive attack. And all of it would be directed towards Cresselia while the Pokemon who did not use Hyper Beam would only focus on the opposing Pokemon.
"Oh!" Fluttershy gasped. "Audi! Quick, use Protect!"
"Audino!" Audino would form a green shield around herself and those next to Cresselia, defending against the beams of destruction that came this way. It was a successful Protect since most of those Hyper Beams hit it at the same time. And as a bonus, they had to recharge because of this.
But that wouldn't stop one of the Rhyperior from waiting, using Stone Edge to try and surprise them. The crystals popped out of the ground, attempting to hit Fluttershy and the others. Intercepting these crystals was none other than Darkrai. This Darkrai, understanding the situation, would also chime in, using Dark Pulse to block these crystals from even touching Cresselia.
"Oh, Darkrai!" Fluttershy gasped after noticing the swift save from the Pitch Black Pokemon. "Thank you so much!"
"Cress..."
"Hmmrrgh...!" Matori growled at how much time was being wasted. "How about you all receive a dose of this?!" From her pockets, she revealed another Rift Sphere that was slightly different from the rest. This one seemed to resemble a Poke Ball, having the same design with a few holes around it. "Everyone of your Pokemon should just return to their Poke Balls!"
Out of the sphere, rays of Rift would come flying out, striking a few Pokemon. Specifically, Sceptile, Castform, Espeon, Hatterene and Pikachu.
"P-Pi!" Pikachu gasped once the lights hit him. But no injury was done to him surprisingly. He didn't feel any pain at all. Rather, this sphere had a different purpose. Sceptile suddenly found himself shrinking, returning to his Poke Ball which could be found in Applejack's saddlebag.
Espeon would also shrink as if she was being called back by Twilight. But it wasn't by Twilight's own will. Instead, it was the Sphere. Piplup and Eevee would also find themselves heading back to their Poke Balls. However, Pikachu and Castform remained outside.
"What just happened?" Applejack shouted once as Sceptile returned to his Poke Ball.
"It returned our Pokemon! It can just do that?!" Twilight looked inside her saddlebag. Team Rocket now had access to a Rift-powered object that could send Pokemon back into their Poke Balls against their trainers' command.
The only ones immune to this were Pikachu and Castform due to the absence of their Poke Balls. But the same couldn't be said for the others who still had their Poke Balls with them thanks to their trainers.
"That's not all!" Matori smirked. "For now, you've been locked out of using any of your Poke Balls. That'll drop your numbers and teach you to think you stood a chance."
"Curse it!" Rarity held out her Poke Balls, unable to send out any of her own Pokemon. Everyone else tried sending out their Pokemon once more, only for the Rift Energy around the Poke Balls to deny them access. "So unfair! You're just afraid, that's all!"
"We're still here though." Ash and Rainbow Dash said, still having their Pokemon who were immune. "You won't get rid of Pikachu and Castform.
"Pikachu!"
"Castform!"
"Darkrai." Darkrai would suddenly appear in front of Pikachu and Castform. It wouldn't be just these two Pokemon on their own.
"That's right. It's just the three of you." Matori shrugged. "Why should I worry? Destroy them!"
"Hyper Beam!" Another Hyper Beam would be used. This time with fewer Pokemon to worry about. Even though they could not send out their Pokemon, there was still a way to protect themselves. Specifically, Twilight, Rarity and Starlight had their magic which can still come in handy whenever they needed it to.
"Gliscor!" Suddenly, the cry of a Gliscor could be heard nearby. Matori would shift her eyes elsewhere. Swooping in was none other than Gliscor. Luna's Gliscor to be exact. The night was perfect for him, as much like Darkrai, he used it to conceal himself. Gliscor are known for hiding in dark areas until they can properly strike and this wasn't any different.
"You-" Matori gasped as Gliscor was coming straight for her. She didn't have time to do anything. But instead of going for Matori, Gliscor focused on the sphere.
The Fang Scorp Pokemon used Knock Off, slapping his claws against the Rift Sphere that nullified the Poke Balls. Gliscor shattered the Rift Sphere while also harming Matori's hand in the process with Knock Off. Matori's pupils shrank once the sphere had been broken.
With this, the seal around the Poke Balls had been broken. Gliscor made an excellent save, only to be then struck by a Purugly who had used Night Slash on him. But it was worth it. Even if Gliscor took damage, he managed to get rid of one of nuisance.
"Too bad for you." But really, it was Luna who was responsible for this action. All of this battling led the Princess of the Night to this area. Luna smiled after destroying one of Matori's weapons as the explosion of Hyper Beam would go off, making her ethereal mane flow along with Matori's hair. The magic of the unicorns had successfully blocked the Hyper Beams.
"Luna...! Why aren't you firing!?" Matori then looked up at the helicopter, wondering why they suddenly ceased their weapons. And it wasn't because their weapons had been damaged. Far from it. It was something else.
Within the helicopter, Luna's Frillish had appeared, phasing through it. Staying intangible, he had used Hydro Pump, interfering with the devices within. The Team Rocket grunts gasped as their electronics were sabotaged by this high-volume blast of water. The water would even carry them with how it would flood the helicopter. Staying out of sight because of his intangibility, Frillish would descend from the helicopter, becoming tangible once more.
"Thanks, Luna." Ash gave a thumbs-up to the Princess of the Night for her stupendous save. His face would then intensify, focusing on the remaining Team Rocket Grunts. "Okay. Let's finish this! Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...Chuuu!" Pikachu jumped up, slapping his red sacs to generate electricity. Joining him was Castform along with Darkrai who would use Energy Ball and Dark Pulse. The opposing Pokemon use Flamethrower, Stone and whatever they could to stop these attacks.
"C-Cress..." Cresselia closed her eyes before gaining the strength to stand up own her own. Enough time had passed for her to move on her own. Recently, she could only use Psychic. Now there was more she could offer. Joining Ash and everyone, she would use Moonblast, unleashing a sphere that was gathered by the moon itself.
The moon would even show sparkles that descended from above, filling up Cresselia's sphere. The Lunar Pokemon would throw the sphere, combining it with Pikachu, Castform and Darkrai's attacks. They would all meet with the attacks from Team Rocket's Pokemon, attempting to push through. Ash's team succeded as their attacks crashed into the opposing Pokemon. With the extra power of Darkrai and Cresselia, these attacks were certainly heavy to deal with. Team Rocket's Pokemon would find that out the hard way as they ended up fainting.
"Now, Darkrai!" Luna yelled, calling for her own Darkrai to take action. Her Darkrai had been absent from this battle for a while and for a good reason. He had blended with the shadows, appearing once Luna called out his name.
From above, the Pitch Black Pokemon would use Dark Void. He put his claws together, forming a sphere that looked like it came straight from the void. Now that the opposing Pokemon were down, it was time for them to join their trainers, courtesy of Darkrai.
And just to add more insult to injury, Newmoon Island's Darkrai would do the same. A dual Dark Void had been used. One from above and one from the side. Matori and her group found themselves being enveloped in two domes of darkness that would spread out at the same pace. They had no time to worry about which one to avoid as it was too late for that and too difficult to even avoid them in the first place. The voids would converge with each other, engulfing the Matori Matrix to put them into a deep sleep where nightmares were inevitable.
"Im...Impossible..." Matori would drop to her knees, irritated that she managed to lose the edge this quickly. Her grunts would already drop, falling asleep from Darkrai's energy. Matori was the only one still awake but would fall asleep eventually. "I refuse to lose here..." Using the last Rift Object at her disposal, Matori held out a third sphere. This one closely resembled the Travel Spheres that were used to get around to other universes.
In this case, Matori would use it to return to headquarters, without the rest of her matrix. This mission to capture Cresselia was a failure after all. Right as she would drop to the ground in this dark void, her body would suddenly dissolve instead of a gateway appearing. It dissolved in the same way Twilight Moonlight woulda also use a form of Rift Travel. The Matori Matrix had been defeated, with only their leader managing to escape. The helicopter would drop, landing in the acre of trees as the grunts inside were currently trapped.
"Guess that's that," Ash said as this confrontation was over. Darkrai would then look over at Cresselia, who was breathing slowly after using Moonblast. The Pitch Black Pokemon would then clear the clouds for her. But for what reason? Cresselia would find out once the clouds were clear by Darkrai's own manipulation over the weather without even having to move any of its limbs.
"C-Cress..." And after it was over, Cresselia would drop to the ground, lying down. She used up a ton of her power in that one Moonblast. It was worth it as it contributed to the victory of Ash's group and her own safety. But with the last of her power, she managed to pull off Moonlight. A beam of moonlight shined down on Cresselia, causing her body to sparkle and restoring her lost health. It was as if she was receiving a blessing from above and since it was nightfall, Moonlight was more effective than ever. But this was also thanks to Darkrai, who cleared the clouds away for Moonlight to really shine.
"Is everyone else alright?" Luna asked. Thankfully, everyone else was still in one piece. "Excellent. Those Rift objects of hers were powerful but fragile. Cresselia. Are you feeling better now?"
"Cresselia." Cresselia was better than ever. She once again had the strength to float.
"Good. Well, that settles that." Luna was ready to close the book on this event. "It was rather foolish of me not to sense what that Darkrai was feeling. But I guess I only know what my Darkrai feels."
"It would've taken me some time to do so as well." Darkrai crossed his arms. "We're not the best when it comes to expressing our feelings."
"Cresselia!" Cresselia laughed before flying next to Luna's Darkrai. She just wanted to get a scare out of him like she did before. Darkrai was definitely startled once Cresselia got close to her, prompting everyone else to laugh.
"I will deal with these ones over here." Luna looked over at the Matori Matrix. "As for your Cresselia and that Darkrai...they should be returning home by now."
"Yeah. To Fullmoon and Newmoon," said Ash. "Team Rocket might try and find them again...but I think they have each other's backs."
"They will. But just to be safe..." Luna approached the Lunar Pokemon. "Cresselia. If it's not too much trouble...perhaps sometime, you can visit us in the Hyperdream."
"Cresselia"?
"Mhm. You have your own dreams. If you are ever in need of help, you can count on us to be there. I'm not sure how often you bring sweet dreams to others by dispelling nightmares, but I hope we can see each other again. In the Dream Realm."
"Cress...Cresselia." Cresselia would nod her head, agreeing to that offer. It was official. Cresselia could count on them for help. Whether it was Luna, Ash and especially Dawn and Chloe, who helped nurse her back to her health. The Lunar Pokemon would then look at the other Darkrai as they both agreed to return home.
"Darkrai," Darkrai said his last words as two Pokemon of the Night would ascend. Newmoon and Fullmoon were located at different directions while still being close to each other. The Psychic-Type and the Dark-Type would fly off, leaving behind a beautiful trail of sparkles along with a trail of darkness.
"Maybe they've been searching for one another this whole time..." Fluttershy gawked. "Even though all the Darkrai don't see each other that often...do you think Cresselia will be there for it."
"Mhm. I think so." Chloe was sure that this Darkrai wouldn't have to face solitude. Not when it had a good friend on its side. All Darkrai and Cresselia may be opposites of each other, but there was always more to their relationship. Whether it was how the Darkrai from Newmoon came for her or how Luna's Darkrai reacted to her presence. It was certainly something to wonder about with how deep it truly goes.
Day.
Morning had come. They all stayed behind in the same forest with the sparkling lake instead of returning home. By now, Chloe had missed her classes, but it was all worth it. "I'm late for classes by now...but Ii'll have something great to share that'll get me good grades."
"Here you go!" Meanwhile, Ash and the others were playing by the lake while their Pokemon would rest on the soft sands on the beach. They splashed water against each other, playfully, having the time of their lives.
"You've done it now, Ash!" Dawn laughed as she and Dawn would bombard Ash with a stream of water. Ash would find himself falling over from this.
"You know...we should be getting to that contest in Eterna City by now." Chloe said to Dawn.
"Oh, right!" Dawn gasped. "Piplup, we'll be going soon. Just after I do this!" Dawn would continue playing in the lake, deciding to burn some more time just for the sake of enjoyment.
"Oh geez..." Chloe sighed.
"You gotta relax." Pinkie Pie rolled on the sand. "When summer comes along, you can join us more often, Chloe."
"I guess so. After all...this was rather enjoyable." Chloe smiled as this was truly an enjoyable journey, despite how brief it was. Why not take another chance? Something amazing could happen next time, as was the natural occurrence in this wonderful united world. "Let me join in on the fun!"
Chloe would get up, joining everyone in the lake. No shame in doing it. No shame in having fun. Before Chloe knew it, the actions and carefree lifestyle of Ash and his friends rubbed off on her. All of them have yet to truly expand their horizons. Whether with standard Pokemon or Legendary Mythical Pokemon. There was more to see and more to do in this Grander World as the journey continues.
Following the event that involved Darkrai and Cresselia, at last, Fluttershy returned home, meeting with her animals and Pokemon. But along the way, travelling from Sinnoh to Equestria, she returned with gifts that were being carried by her, Audino, Bayleef and Raboot.
"Here you go! I brought you all something!" Like a grandma giving her grandchildren gifts after coming to viist, Fluttershy would grant these to the vast majority of Pokemon within the Pokemon House. And the Pokemon were elated. Elated to see her again and to receive some gifts. They all stormed over to the pegasus and her teammates, ready to receive whatever she got them, frantically crying and jumping about. "Okay, you'll all get one."
"Oh, let me get one!" Something was out of the ordinary here. Someone spoke with the crowd of Pokemon. That was none other than Scootaloo as she raised her hoof through the pile of Pocket Monsters. Her friends could also be seen within the crowd. Sweetie Bellea nd Apple Bloom.
"Sorry. But I only brought gifts that cater to Pokemon." Unfortunately, nothing that caters to ponies were here for the three of them, making them collectively pout.
"Aww..."
"It's great to be back. You'll love what I have to tell you about Darkrai and Cresselia. By the way...are Team Rocket around? I haven't seen them recently." Fluttershy navigated her head across the area, searching for Team Rocket. "They're the ones who told me about Cresselia too."
"Mm-mm. Haven't seen them anywhere." Scootaloo climbed up a Snorlax. "Their ship is even gone. Maybe they went back with Zecora since she's teaching them, right?"
"I guess so. I'm going to miss them when they head back. They've been a lot of help here." Fluttershy smiled as a large part of her would miss Team Rocket. "But...I think I'll be seeing them again. They just can't take their minds off Pikachu, can they?"
"So anyway! Tell us about what happened with Cresselia and Darkrai!" Sweetie Belle yelled, wanting to hear about this story as soon as possible.
"Then I'll tell you my story. I just got my 5th Gym Badge." Scootaloo proudly said. "It was a close one, but I pulled it off. Just three more to go."
"Alright, alright. Let's make it quick though before we head to the Pokemon School today. So...Here's what happened." Fluttershy cleared her throat, preparing to share her short journey across Sinnoh which took a few days and had a rather explosive ending.
Rainbow Dash's Home.
Speaking of Gym Battles, Rainbow Dash was currently holding her badge case, observing the badges she's managed to collect during her career as a Pokemon Trainer. The Veld Badge. Earned by battling Gardenia, who was the temporary Grass Gym Leader for Equestria until Roseluck took that position.
The Soak Badge. Earned by taking on Misty, who was also a temporary trainer there until another Water-Gym Leader by the name of Nessa took the position. The first two were straightforward but the third was the first major obstacle she had to get through. The Blazing Badge. When she first lost to Sunset Shimmer and managed to win a second time, earning her this third Gym Badge.
The Velocity Badge. A badge that perfectly fit the pegasus as it was against Zecora, who used swift Pokemon as her theme. Rainbow Dash, being adept in speed, managed to come out on top, earning her this badge. The Climate Badge. Focused on both Double Battles and the Weather. When battling a fellow Wonderbolt by the name of Soarin, she was victorious with the perfect synergy of her Pokemon when they teamed up.
The Capricious Badge. Focused on unpredictability. When encountering Ms Harshwinny, she had lost the first time, slowing her down a bit and managed to win a second time. And so far, her hardest battle, despite winning it on her first go was none other than the Stache Badge. When taking on Mayor Mare who battled with facial hair Pokemon, this was the penultimate Gym Badge before the final one.
A remarkable achievement. Hard work and growing with her Pokemon led to these victories. She even grew from the losses, improving as a Trainer. Now, there was just one final Gym Badge that was a complete mystery. That final Gym Badge was the ticket to entering the Equestria League and with the opportunity to become Equestria's first Champion.
"Just one more Gym Badge to go." Rainbow Dash said before closing her Gym Badge Case, which had one empty spot. "I just have to get past whoever it is."
"Whim! Whimsi!" Appearing with an energetic voice was Whimsicott as she latched onto Rainbow Dash's head. "Whimsicott!"
"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya, Whimsicott. You want an opportunity. Well, don't worry. I'll have you battle in the final Gym." Rainbow Dash understood Whimsicott immediately. The hyperactive Windveiled Pokemon was eager to take a crack at her first and final Gym Battle. "But you gotta be ready. You haven't battled as much, have you?"
"Whim?"
"Let's head over to the Pokemon School. We can fix that. And then, it's off to the final Gym." Rainbow Dash would hold the Grass-Fairy-Type.
Canterlot. Canterlot Castle. Day.
Arriving at the Pokemon School on this day were many students from across Equestria, here to further expand their knowledge of Pokemon. Watching them all gather in the school for a new day was Luna, who was a part of it, but rarely ever shows up.
She pressed her face against the window with her eyes rapidly moving, eyeing down everyone.
"Aren't you going to join them, Luna?" Celestia asked, approaching her sister who was glued to the window. "Then again, I don't think I've ever seen you there."
"I was given a private teacher, but I am my own teacher. Currently, I'm watching for potential challengers who I'll have to eliminate on my path to becoming the Equestrian Champion." Luna explained, bluntly explaining what she was up to.
"Hm. Alright then." Celestia went with it. "How close are you, actually? Until the League has enough contestants for the preliminaries, I can already predict that you've cleared all the Gyms and are ready to enter the League?"
"No. Not at all." Luna shook her head. "I've yet to challenge that final Gym. I've been holding out on it for a while, actually until I was ready. I've been watching everypony grow as Pokemon Trainers since then and growing myself. And the growth levels are tremendous."
"Hm. They are." Celestia smiled, closing her eyes as the strength of Equestria's Pokemon Trainers certainly shot up. Though a majority of them were not battles, they managed to show off some impressive skills. "Perhaps it's the Cutie Marks. Maybe those are a factor in how fast they've grown. Maybe."
"But I think I've wasted enough time." Luna looked back at Celestia. "The worlds are united now and I believe this is the perfect opportunity to challenge that Final Gym. What better time is there?"
"I'll be rooting for you~" Celestia used her magic to generate a flag with Luna's face. Perfectly constructed and made out of an ethereal aura. "So, who is the final Gym Leader exactly? It has to be someone who is strong enough for practically anyone. We don't exactly have an Elite 4 yet after all. We'll be installing that once the first Equestria League Champion is born."
"Apparently..." Luna would use her magic to unveil a sheet of paper. On it, the Eight Gym Badges were shown along with the Gym Leaders. Roseluck, Nessa, Sunset Shimmer, Zecora, Soarin, Ms Harshwhinny and Mayor Mare all had their faces next to their respective Gym Badges. And there was one final face with one final badge, right next to the face of this individual. It was none other than the expert Pokemon Doctor and even Breeder. "It seems to be Brock."
"Oh, him?" Celestia leaned her long neck forward, glancing at the roadmap. "I didn't think he'd be the last one. He works at the Pokemon School, doesn't he?"
"A Pokemon Doctor back at Kanto and a Breeder here at the Pokemon School," Luna replied. "He was a Gym Leader in his day though. The very first that many challenge as well."
"Careful. Ash's travelling companions are veritable juggernauts in their own right. Especially since this is the Last Gym before the League, I'm positive Brock will use everything against you. More than what everyone else previously used."
"I have nothing to fear. I have all of my Pokemon with me." Luna wrapped up the sheet. "All my years of training are going to pay off for this very moment. Four years but still a good enough amount of time, even for an alicorn such as myself. I shall burn off a bit more of my time to train before I encounter him. Wish me luck!" Luna would then depart from here via teleportation, excited to take on the final gym.
Over at the Pokemon School, classes would occur with Brawly and Roxanne being the primary teachers for today. Roxanne was mainly focusing on the history of the Pokemon World, diving deeper into it since there was still so much to learn.
"Ransei is in the shape of Arceus for a reason," said Roxanne, teaching them about the Ransei Region. "The people that found it once saw Arceus in a vision. Most of Ransei's inhabitants are descended from the people of Arche Valley, but they share a connection to the Creator Deity differently."
"Mmm..." Meanwhile, while this lesson was going on, Rainbow Dash was twiddling her hooves. Her tail was wagging rapidly, brushing against Carrot Top's hoof, which was visibly annoying her. The pegasus was eager to leave as soon as possible just to challenge that Final Gym. Much like Luna, she was too elated.
Twilight noticed Rainbow Dash's frantic twiddling with her tail moving constantly. To at least free Carrot Top from this annoyance, Twilight used her magic to hold Rainbow Dash's tail in place. A smile graced Carrot Top's face, relieved to be free from that irritating brushing.
"But shaping a region in a shape of a Pokemon is easier than it looks, actually." Roxanne continued. "Granted, not many actually do it but it's possible."
"Really? Can we make a region that looks like a Pokemon one day?" Fluttershy questioned.
"I say it's easy but it all depends on its inhabitants. Ransei was a rather empty region until it was found. The descendants from Arche Valley poured all of their faith and belief into Arceus and the shape of that region was made. It's certainly bigger than Arche Valley to warrant this kind of shape." Roxanne explained. "The shape was already there but it wasn't until it became populated that it matched Arceus. In this world, belief can get you pretty far."
"So...could I have a region that looks like a Milotic?" Rarity asked, bringing up her own Milotic as she already imagined how beautiful it would look. "That'd be wonderful!"
"It could happen. It'd be a strange region to be in with how Milotic is shaped though. Not many pathways when I think about it. For the future generations, I'd suggest thinking of a Pokemon that stands on all fours. Much like Arceus. You'll have more space and less to worry about. Ransei once had 17 Kingdoms because of Arceus' shape."
"What about amorphous Pokemon? Like Ditto?" Twilight asked.
"Then that's just a normal region." Roxanne shrugged as a Ditto-shaped Region wouldn't be any different from most other regions due to how blob-like the Normal-Type Pokemon was. "Now, we're going to be learning about each of these 17 Kingdoms and all of their Warlords. From the Aurora Region to the Dragnor Region at the very end. Let's go through only one. Just one kingdom has a lot of story behind it. The rest will be gradual over the days."
"That's not so bad..." Rainbow Dash said as she could deal with one kingdom for a day. As long as it wasn't multiple. Her excitement to get to that Final Gym Battle was also making her rather impatient. Despite this, she paid attention to her lesson. Anything that involves Pokemon was too good to ignore.
Hours passed. Knowledge of the Aurora Region had yet to be fully understood by everyone. There was a lot to unpack, meaning this lesson would transition into the coming days. All the while, Princess Luna was busy getting some extra training in. She was training around Deerling Forest. Not too far from Canterlot. As for Rainbow Dash, the Pokemon School had their break sessions, giving Rainbow Dash the opportunity to practice as well.
While Rainbow Dash's friends went to chatter amongst each other, the pegasus chose to stay on her own, getting in some training with her Pokemon. Both trainers were practising intensively for this. Whimsicott, who was among Rainbow Dash's fastest Pokemon now despite being new, was being chased by Whirlipede. Both were growing their speed together as Rainbow Dash could always depend on that factor. The Curlipede Pokemon would roll across the field when chasing Whimsicott. The two had raced before which ended in Whimsicott joining the team after all.
Luna had every single Pokemon she caught over the past 4 years train together in ways they only knew. The Pokemon from Deerling Forest would gather to watch these Pokemon train, having something enjoyable to gaze at. Darkrai was exempt from this training, noticeably, staying in the shadows as always. But one could argue that his concentration and connection with the shadows are what makes him so consistently skilled. All this and the afternoon would soon become young.
"Alright! We're ready!" Together, across different parts of Equestria, Rainbow Dash and Princess Luna collectively said the same thing, feeling that they were finally ready.
Winsome Falls. Afternoon.
The location of the final Gym was known to many and yet no one has ever approached it, mainly due to the massive obstacle that was the 2nd Gym. And that location was Winsome Falls. A verdant and bright location composed of multiple rainbow-coloured waterfalls. The final destination for Equestrian Pokemon Trainers and the way to Brock.
Immediately after finishing her time at the Pokemon School, Rainbow Dash would waste no time, rushing to Winsome Falls with her friends following.
"You were in a rush back there, Rainbow Dash. I've never seen you so impatient." Twilight pointed out, recalling Rainbow Dash's movements back at Roxanne's class. "And yet, you still got down a lot about Aurora."
"I know. I'm too psyched for this! This is it!" Rainbow Dash trusted her hooves into the air. "Just one more victory and the Equestria Leauge is as good as mine!"
"That's the Gym right there!" Ash noticed the Gym up ahead. Next to the waterfalls, this Gym shared the same shape as most Gyms. Dome-shaped to the core. However, when looking at it, Ash noticed how it resembled a Kanto Gym more than Equestrian Gym which had varying designs depending on the theming. Being out here at Winsome Falls, which can sometimes be seen as a camping sight, a few ponies could be found here. But none of them were here for the Gym.
"Excellent. I'll close things off just like how I started it." Rainbow Dash grinned, rubbing her hooves together. This meant only one thing. Rainbow Dash was the first to ever approach this Gym as a challenger. Much like how she was the first one to take on the very first Gym, she would be the first to take on the last. Fairly fitting.
"I think not, Rainbow Dash." At least, that's how it would appear. Someone else was on her level. And that someone was the Princess of the Moon, Luna. She descended, flying next to Rainbow Dash at the same pace. "I'll be taking on that Gym first. That way, you can learn from me and make no mistakes."
"Princess Luna? You're just now about to challenge it?" Rainbow Dash said. "I thought you already did. You blazed through most of the Gyms after all."
"I stumbled a bit towards the end. But now I'm her to finish things. And I was already expecting you to be here, Rainbow Dash. I've been viewing everyone's growth and you've certainly grown to substantial heights." Luna replied. "I actually expected either Spitfire or Daylight Blazer to show up here first, but both seem to be occupied."
"Yeah well, I'm going first. I wanna be the first one to win it since I was the first to enter a Gym Battle. Maybe you could take some pointers from me, Princess Luna." Rainbow Dash proudly said, lifting her head in front of royalty.
"Hm?" But it wasn't the fact that she was acting high and mighty in front of royalty that made Luna narrow her eyes. Far from it. Luna could care less as she saw Rainbow Dash and her friends as equals. It was the fact that Rainbow Dash was planning to outdo her in this upcoming battle. "We shall see. I would love to spearhead the beginning of the Equestria League, being known as the trainer that outdid all of the Gyms. If you must know...I haven't lost once."
"It's true." Twilight Sparkle confirmed this instantly. "Everyone's at least lost to some of the Gym Leaders, Rainbow Dash. Even you. Princess Luna here has a perfect track record, winning in all of her Gym Battles."
"Yeah, I know that." Rainbow Dash grumbled.
"I'll admit though. The second one caught me off guard when I first challenged it and the fifth was definitely hard on the eyes. My Pokemons' eyes, I mean." Luna added. "Here's what I propose. The first Equestria Champion should have a perfect streak, wouldn't you agree? I'd love to become an idol. A symbol for future trainers who wish to reach the top. Not that I'd let them beat me."
"Yeah, because I'll beat you." Rainbow Dash flew ahead, giving a strong retort to Luna.
"Hoh? I expect us to face each other in the Pokemon League when we get there." Luna would then speed up as the two of them were flying at an equal pace once more. "And by that, I mean I will defeat you in the quarterfinals before anything else. If you're lucky, you could end up as an Elite 4 Member. Just shy away from the Champion."
"As if." Rainbow Dash would reply once more as the two of them were pressing against each other. Both were trying to get ahead, competing vigorously even if they were in a battle at the moment. Ash and the others could see how determined they were to emerge victorious. A rivalry between the two of them had been shown and it was only for Pokemon Battles and nothing more.
"It would be highly embarrassing if they both lost in the league..." Rarity chuckled while the bickering of the pegasus and the alicorn nodded. Her friends agreed. If they both ended up losing in the end, then it would be a striking blow to the gut. But if anything, that would only fuel their rivalry and drive to be victorious the next time.
"It'll be me that wins!" In unison they roared at each other, declaring who would win it all. The moment they both barged through those doors, the final Gym Leader was there, waiting for them.
"I've been waiting for the first challenger. It's about time." The voice of Brock said as he stood there with arms crossed, wearing his doctor uniform.
"Oh...No way!" Ash couldn't believe his eyes. Like many, he had no idea who the final Gym Leader was until he saw him for the first time. A good friend who he's travelled with for so long and a highly-skilled Pokemon Doctor and Breeder. "Brock!"
"Pika-Chu!"
"Hey." Pewter City's Brock the Rock. When meeting with his friends who were thrown off by who ended up being the Final Gym Leader, aside from Luna, he gave them a bright smile. But that smile was also something to exhibit an aura. An aura that basically told the two challengers that they had entered a dangerous zone. Everything was riding on this. The Final Gym before the Equestria League.
"Brock!" Calling out the name of his old friend was Ash as the Final Gym Leader had been revealed to him and his many friends. Rainbow Dash and Princess Luna had shown up here to receive their Final Gym Badge and their final opponent just so happened to be another one of Ash's friends. And a fairly experienced trainer at that.
"Pika-Chu!"
"Hey. Been a while, hasn't it, you all?" Brock greeted them with his arms crossed. Of all the possible trainers that could emerge as Equestria's Final Gym Leader, most were stunned to find out who it was.
"You're the final Gym Leader?! Awesome!" Ash ran up to his old travelling companion. "So you've got like three jobs now, huh?"
"I've always had three jobs, Ash. It's been a while since I've been a Gym Leader too. After leaving the Gym with my brother Forrest, I thought my Gym Leader days were over. But it looks like I still have more to offer. At least, for now. And how lucky I am...to have you as a challenger!" Brock would suddenly speed by Ash and Pikachu, making them both spin. Within her sight was Princess Luna. "What a royal beauty! Princess Luna!" He would slide on the floor with his knees, holding his arms out with glee.
"Eugh!" Luna grimaced upon seeing Brock approaching her with hearts in his eyes. She was yet another lady that Brock managed to grow an attraction to. Instinctively, she would use her magic to grab him, flipping the Gym Leader over. Brock would end up on the other side of the Gym thanks to Luna's levitation, landing flat on his face while also sliding along the solid yet soft floor, going past Rarity and the others. "Apologies. You just startled me there."
"Hey uh...Could I have a crack at battling you first?" Rainbow Dash slid over to the downed Gym Leader, requesting the chance to battle him first before Luna.
"I would prefer if you battled me first," Luna interjected. "You seemed like you were going straight for me, after all. It would be a great honour to have the first challenger be me, wouldn't you agree?"
"I started this whole thing and I'm gonna finish it." Rainbow Dash replied as she and Luna eyed each other down once more. Sparks flew out of their eyes, clashing against each other.
"It's best that you pick one of them fast, Brock. They could be at this for a while." Ash said, kneeling to face his downed friend.
"They've already been at it when arriving here." Twilight added.
"So, you both want to challenge me as soon as possible." Brock sat up. "Well, that can be arranged. A battle with both of you at the same time can be done."
"Wait, what? Here at a Gym?" Twilight gasped. "I've heard of a Gym Battle that does Double Battles but it's usually with only one trainer. Are you saying both of them will challenge you? Is that possible, Ash?"
"Uh...First time I've heard of it." Ash scratched his hair. "That's a thing Brock? Just you and them at the same time?"
"Of course. With how new this league is, gyms get lots of challengers frequently. The organizers realized that it would be tough having the Gym Leaders take on trainer after trainer consecutively. Especially if it was a large line. So, a solution was made. To make things easier for everyone, a double battle for some gyms can be arranged."
"Double Battle? Wait. That means I have to..." Rainbow Dash and Luna would look at each other, realizing what this was leading to.
"Two trainers against the Gym Leader. Saves up time and satisfied everyone." Brock nodded as a Double Battle rule had been installed. "This Gym is originally a Single Battle Gym. Only the 5th has Double Battles as the norm. How about it? Princess Luna. Rainbow Dash. You can form a team and take me on. We always have duplicates of Gym Badges after all."
"That's a great idea!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, immediately encouraging it. "Do it! That'll be fun to see and easy for both of you! You've got great synergy though."
"Teaming up with you to earn a Gym Badge is rather unheard of." Luna pondered. "I suppose I could go through with it. Rainbow Dash, are you willing to swallow your pride for this?"
"Gaah...I came this far." Rainbow Dash groaned. "It's best if I get it over with. I can team up with you, I guess, Princess Luna. Besides, this'll make things quicker. There's no way you can stand a chance against two trainers at the same time, Brock."
"Hoh? Is that so?" Brock smirked as he certainly wasn't going to make it easy for them. Since he was the final Gym Leader, he would exhibit the most power, holding nothing back.
"A Team Gym Battle?! That's so cool!" Ash got giddy. "I wish I had this back in the day! That would've been so much fun to go through. I wonder who I would've partnered up with though."
"Just be careful though." Brock had something else to share, halting them before they could get started. "The rules of this battle are straightforward except for one. "Since you're both battling me for the Gym Badge, if one of you loses first and the other is still in it, only one Gym Badge will be earned. So neither one of you can afford to drop out."
"If either one of us loses?!" Luna pulled back. "So...We are still competing even if we're about to team up."
"Synergy is key here. But don't worry. You two have battled alongside each other for these past 4 years now. I'm sure you'll be fine." Brock walked off, ready to take his position. "But since I'm the Final Gym Leader and there's no Elite 4 in Equestria yet...It doesn't matter who you face in the Equestria League and who emerges as the champion. Because as of now, I'm the hardest opponent you'll ever have to face."
The truth behind this was hard to argue against. Luna was already warned about this by Celestia. Any of Ash's travelling companions from the past would be tough obstacles to go through. And Brock seemed to be a prime example of that. At least, from the aura he carried.
"My Gym is all about Absolute Defence and Durability. My Pokemon and I will take as many hits as you can. But can yours?" Brock revealed the theme of his Gym. In a way, it was somewhat similar to his original Gym back in Pewter City.
"Absolute Defence? That's not so bad." Rainbow Dash shrugged. "My Pokemon and I can hit through whatever defences you have." The pegasus was rather confident with this. After all, she had some hard-hitting Pokemon. Mainly Braviary, Mienshao and occasionally Whirlipede.
"The Battle will be a 2 on 2 Team Battle with the challengers being Princess Luna and Rainbow Dash against the Gym Leader Brock. If either Trainer from the Challenger Team have Pokemon that are unable to battle, then she will not receive the Gym Badge. If both Trainers manage to win at the same time, the two Gym Badges will be earned." The referee spoke. "Both trainers, please send out your Pokemon."
"Here I go! Let's do this Mienshao!" Rainbow Dash had her first pick. The Martial Arts Pokemon Mienshao.
"Appear, Aurorus!"
"Mienshao!"
"Then for me...I can count on Blissey and Forretress!" For Brock, Blissey and Forretress were summoned. Both were reasonably durable Pokemon in their own rights. Forretress had the benefit of being a Steel-Type while Blissey just had a colossal amount of endurance.
"Hm. Oh, yeah. We've got this." Rainbow Dash eyed down Blissey, feeling confident in her victory. Already, it was clear that she would have Mienshao go after Blissey first.
"Just so you know, these are the only Pokemon I'm going to be using for this battle." said Brock. "I'm only allowed to have two since I'm the Gym Leader while you two will have an advantage. Both your Pokemon combined makes four after all."
"So all we have to do is defeat Blissey and Forretress? Hah!" Luna cackled. "Excellent."
"I would've thought the last Gym would have six Pokemon only," Starlight commented. "Why only two?"
"It's all about pressure with these last two gyms. It also helps trainers cycle through their Pokemon more often without relying on the same one most of the time." Twilight explained. "At least, that's how I see it.
"Battle Start!" The referee gave the call for the battle to begin.
"I'm landing the first hit! Mienshao! Use Aura Sphere!"
"Shao! Mien...!" Mienshao would be the first Pokemon to attack, holding her arms out and generating a concentrated ball of Aura.
"Hmph. Blissey! Mega Punch! Forretress, use Spikes!"
"Bliss!" Blissey's fist would shake for a bit before being surrounded by a black orb of energy that would pulsate violently."Blissey!" The Happiness Pokemon would then swing her fist at the incoming Aura Sphere, using her brute force to strike it. And Brock's Blissey's physical power was nothing to ignore.
By hitting it, Blissey made a shockwave emerge just with her strength alone, making Rainbow Dash and Luna's manes flow from the pressure. Both of them had stunned looks on their faces once it came in their direction. Afterwards, Blissey would then knock the Aura Sphere away, sending it straight for Aurorus as she was able to redirect.
"What?! Aurorus, dodge! Quick!" Luna yelled as it looked like Aurorus would be the first to take damage via Friendly Fire.
"Auro!" Aurorus gasped, swaying her head to the side as she narrowly avoided a super-effective blow. The Aura Sphere would fly off, hitting the walls and coming to an end. With the challengers and their Pokemon being amazed by what they witnessed, this gave Forretress a ton of free time to use Spikes. From his body, he scattered sharp spikes that would descend into the floor. No one was able to stop him thanks to Blissey's Mega Punch.
"That strength is absurd..." Luna looked back at Blissey. She could sense a great ordeal of power from this usually friendly and cheery Pokemon. But in reality, Brock's Blissey was just as powerful as she was happy. Luna shuddered as even Lunar Ire plus Nightmare Moon, who were within her, were intimidated by what they could feel. In their eyes, an overwhelming black aura was flowing out of the Happiness Pokemon. It was as if they were being threatened by a force greater than them in every way. "Aurorus! Ancient Power, now!"
"Auro!" By stomping her feet, Aurorus managed to summon ancient rocks from the Earth below, harnessing their primal power with a purple aura surrounding each of them. With a majestic cry, she would launch these rocks, going for both Forretress and Blissey.
"Mienshao, use Acrobatics!"
"Shao!" Mienshao would attack once more, leaping off the ground with high agility. She would move past the rocks that Aurorus summoned, getting ahead to land the first blow. This time, successfully.
"Forretress! Rapid Spin! Blissey! Use Flamethrower!"
"For!" Forretress, who would constantly levitate there, fought back by spinning its body, using it to move since it wasn't that fast naturally. As for Blissey, she would hold her breath in, building up flames from within. Mienshao would focus on Blissey, only to be blocked by Forretress.
"Mien?!" Mienshao's knee met with Forretress, who prevented the Martial Arts Pokemon from reaching its teammate. Mienshao growled before jumping back, failing to get in close. But Forretress didn't stop there. By using its durable body along with Rapid Spin, the rocks from Ancient Power were broken.
Bits of the shattered rocks would fly everywhere, attacking Mienshao and Aurorus with how many came flying out at rapid speeds. Once again their own attacks were used against them.
"S-Shao!" Mienshao would be pelted by a few rocks, grimacing in the face of them. Aurorus would also grimace once her own attacks came back at her in smaller but larger numbers. No heavy hits were dealt but they still took damage with Mienshao even being pushed back.
"Blissey!" And there was still the issue of Blissey. She managed to finish building up her attack, unleashing a mighty blast of fire that came crashing out of her mouth. The fire blazed through the atmosphere and air, appearing wide enough to engulf both Pokemon.
"I think not! Aurorus! Aurora Beam!"
"Rorus!" Acting quickly, Aurorus managed to pull off Aurora Beam, releasing a rainbow-coloured beam that could intercept and clash with the scarlet flames. Aurorus barely managed to save herself and even Mienshao from the flames as an explosion would emerge from this clash.
"Gee. Thanks, Princess Luna." Rainbow Dash thanked the Moon Princess. "That was a close one."
"You are welcome. But we have yet to land a proper hit on just these two Pokemon." Luna narrowed her eyes. "Their defences are rather consistent and on spot."
"It's not just their natural durability and endurance you have to worry about. It's also their attacks that give them their defence!" Brock exclaimed. "The best offence is a good defence after all! Blissey! Mega Punch! Forretress, use Gyro Ball!"
"Blissey!" Blissey and Fortress would finally come on the offensive. Both were slow but they made up for it with their defences. And Blissey even had her titanic strength as another benefit.
"Here they come! Mienshao, use Force Palm!"
"Stop them both, Aurorus! Earthquake!"
"Mienshao!" Mienshao would become a blur when taking off, going for Blissey once more. She disappeared and reappeared in front of the Happiness Pokemon, finally having the chance to approach her. Forretress was no longer in the way. "Shao!"
Force Palm and Mega Punch would collide, generating an incandescent flash that also resulted in a shockwave. Upon colliding, Mienshao attempted pushing through as her fist was pressed against Blissey. However, it didn't take long for Mienshao to find out that even she would have trouble trying to overcome Blissey's overwhelming strength when being up close to her.
"Ssey!" Blissey's strength was so colossal that even a Fighting-Type's physical strength was something she could hold back. Not just hold back, but also start pushing back.
"No way!" Rainbow Dash gasped. "She's pushing her back?!"
"Auro!" Meanwhile, Aurorus had used Earthquake, raising her hind legs before slamming them. A powerful tremor would erupt from below, forming cracks that then led to golden shockwaves emerging from below. These shockwaves raced through the cracks, going for both Forretress and Happiniy.
"For!" At last, Forretress took some damage. The Bug-Steel-Type would be forced out of its Gyro Ball, flying back while still managing to spin along the way.
"Yes! They got a hit in!" Pinkie Pie cheered. "All that's left is to get one in against Blissey!"
"Bliss!" But it didn't look like that was happening anytime soon. Blissey noticed the shockwaves approaching her as she refused to let them hit her. Thus, she overpowered Mienshao, using nothing but her brute strength to win this clash of fists. By overpowering Mienshao, she would shatter the aura of Force Palm as if it was made out of glass, sending the Martial Arts Pokemon back.
"M-Mien!" A flabbergasted Mienshao, who couldn't understand how this Egg-Shaped Pokemon was managing to beat her out in terms of physical skill was pushed back. But this was part of Blissey's plan. To put an end to Earthquake, she sent Mienshao into the golden shockwaves. "Mien!"
"Oh no! Mienshao!" Rainbow Dash bellowed as Mienshao was the one who took the Earthquake, crying out.
"Mi...!" Mienshao growled, sliding and rolling on the floor. Being struck by Blissey's devastating Mega Punch while being consumed by the golden shockwaves of Earthquake would certainly leave her bewildered.
"Aurorus!?" Aurorus gasped, rushing over to the Martial Arts Pokemon to see how she was doing. Blissey would do the same, going for Forretress instead. "Ro? Rorus?!" Aurorus asked if she was alright.
"Mienshao...!" Mienshao could continue. But she'd be lying if she said that she wasn't feeling some major damage by now.
"The real problem is that Blissey. I can't believe she beat Mienshao in pure strength." Twilight's jaw dropped. "I thought Blissey was just a durable Pokemon and that's all. Why is this one so freakishly strong?"
"That's just how Brock's Blissey is," Ash answered. "Every other Blissey I know aren't that skilled in physical attacks. But Brock's Blissey, especially when she was a Happiny, was also awesomely strong. I've never seen her struggle to lift anything once when she was just a baby."
"Pikachu."
"When she was just a baby? She was always this strong?!" Rarity was in disbelief. So were the rest of her friends.
"Rainbow Dash. I believe we should switch things up a bit." Luna suggested. "Our performance is rather lacklustre and we are struggling to get past this. All we need to do is beat them both and the battle will be over but..."
"I know. That Blissey's throwing me off for sure." Rainbow Dash said as she and Luna had a bit of a team talk while they had the chance. And while they were ready to discuss a new approach, Blissey could be seen healing Forretress.
"Bliss. Blissey." The egg in Blissey's pouch exuded a vibrant and magnificent yellow as she raised her arms into the air. When she did, a yellow glow in the shape of Blissey's egg rises from her pouch into the air. It then gently hovered over to the Bug-Steel-Type and melted into its body. As it does, Fortress' body became outlined in yellow, healing it. That damage from before had been erased.
"...Blissey's going down first." Luna and Rainbow Dash reached an immediate agreement. Not only was Blissey absurdly powerful but she also had the power to heal her allies. And with this being an endurance gym, they couldn't allow that to happen.
"Hoh? Try it." Brock confidently said. "Let's see that teamwork at work, you two."
"Gladly! Ancient Power, Aurorus!"
"Mienshao! Acrobatics!"
Knowing how dangerous Blissey was, Luna and Rainbow Dash would only focus on her and no one else. Forretress wasn't important to them at the moment. When the primal power of these fossilized emerged, Mienshao would use them to her advantage. The Martial Arts Pokemon used Acrobatics to leap and dash, utilizing the rocks as platforms. This gave her an extra boost as she became a white and purple blur, constantly moving against the rocks.
"Gyro Ball!"
"Forre!" Once more, Forretress would not allow her to approach Blissey. The Bug-Steel-Type would use its minimal speed to its advantage with Gyro Ball. By using its slow speed, it managed to clash with Mienshao, having a ton of power behind it.
"M-Mien...!" Mienshao growled as Forretress could show a tremendous wealth of power too. Not just Blissey. But Blissey's was just more consistent.
"Jump off Forretress and kick the rocks!"
"Mien!" Mienshao would leap off Foretress' body, using it as a platform as well. After gaining some distance, the Martial Arts Pokemon would kick the rocks, boosting them ahead. The rocks would fly in, rapidly bombarding Forretress. Much like before, Forretress could break them with all of this spinning. And Gyro Ball was certainly stronger. However, thanks to Mienshao's assistance, the bombardment of rocks managed to overpower Forretress, knocking it away.
"F-For!"
"Aurora Beam!"
"Aura Sphere!"
"Aurorus!" After successfully pushing Forretress out of the way, Aurorus and Mienshao would both use their respective Auras. A rainbow-coloured beam and a concentrated ball of Aura.
"Flamethrower, Blissey!"
"Blissey!" Blissey would attempt to intercept these attacks with Flamethrower. From how this was building up, it would be another ranged clash with a potentially larger combustion than before.
"Not this time..." Luna grit her teeth, refusing to let Blissey overpower her Pokemon once more. "Rainbow Dash!"
"I know what to do! Leave it to me! Mienshao, throw it now!"
"Mienshao!" Mienshao would be the first to throw her attack, launching the Aura Sphere. This prompted Blissey to unleash her Flamethrower. Aura Sphere and Flamethrower met with the strength of two trainers crashing against each other. But in this case, Blissey was always the larger train.
The sphere would spin when fighting against the scarlet flames, trying its best to push through. But it was no use. The sphere could not break through. It could only hold the flames back. But that was enough for Aurorus to strike.
"Rus!" Aurorus finally unleashed her attack right after Mienshao used hers. She would attack while Blissey was wide open, sending the beam of the northern lights from the side.
"Bliss!" Blissey was thrown out of her Flamethrower clash as the Aurora Beam connected from the side. Finally, Blissey had been hit. The Happiness Pokemon was pushed back, closing her eyes for a moment. Blissey would recover by sliding on the floor.
"Alright! They found a way past Blissey!" Goh cheered. The terrifying Blissey was not invincible as they managed to damage her at last. But how long could they keep it up? Rainbow Dash and Luna weren't going to slow down for a moment now that they had this opportunity.
"Go! Force Palm!"
"Ice Beam, Aurorus! Now!"
"Shao!" Mienshao moved in, continuing her assault. She appeared in front of Blissey, delivering an energized swing from her paws. Another hit on Blissey had been made as Force Palm smashed against the Happiness Pokemon's egg-shaped body.
"Bliss?!" Blissey would be sent upwards by Mienshao's palm swing which then prompted Aurorus to go next. The chilling beam of ice would be unleashed, going upwards to try and freeze Blissey in midair.
"Not bad. How about this then?! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Bliss!" Blissey's final move had been revealed. Dazzling Gleam. Her eyes would flash while she was spinning in midair. The Happiness Pokemon cried out, unleashing a blinding light of Fairy Magic from her body which also allowed rainbow rays to come out.
The Ice Beam was stopped by only one of these rays, failing to reach the Normal-Type. This then prompted the other rainbows to fly down after stopping Ice Beam with just one rainbow ray.
"Auro...Aurorus!" Aurorus and Mienshao yelled as they were bombarded by the rainbow rays that came from above. If anything, being sent upwards was an advantage for Blissey as she was able to pull Dazzling Gleam off in this style. It was raining rainbows as they engulfed a majority of the area where Mienshao and Aurorus stood.
"Mien...Mienshao!"
"No! Mienshao! Aurorus!" Rainbow Dash and Luna collectively yelled as the dazzling explosions came to an end, spreading sparkles everywhere afterwards. The smoke would clear as Blissey even found the opportunity to stick a clean landing, still looking healthy.
Everyone gasped, leaning in to see what had become of Mienshao and Aurorus. After trying their best to overcome Blissey's raw strength, they did their best, but ultimately, failed to succeed in taking either of these Pokemon down.
Mienshao and Aurorus had fainted.
"Mienshao..."
"Aurorus..."
"Both Mienshao and Aurorus are unable to battle! Blissey and Forretress win!" The first double knockout of the battle. Rainbow Dash and Princess Luna were already down to two Pokemon.
"They both went down from that?" Fluttershy uttered. "I thought for sure they would've at least defeated one of them. Forretress isn't even down yet either."
"And not only that, Blissey can heal any damage, meaning this is really an endurance Gym," Ash added. "Brock's not even using his most durable Pokemon."
"Wait! Blissey's not the most durable?!" Applejack gasped as Ash's words only made this scenario more frightening. Since Brock was only stuck to using Forretress and Blissey, he couldn't use any more of his Pokemon for this battle. There was one other Pokemon who had stellar defence just like Blissey and that was frankly terrifying to think about.
"Impossible...Even after we both attacked it once." Luna's jaw dropped before glancing over at Blissey. "What an utterly terrifying Pokemon..."
A battle that was seemingly looking to be short, ended up becoming a rough one for both Rainbow Dash and Luna. In this Team Battle against the Final Gym Leader Brock, they were facing a foe that was the ultimate roadblock. With both their Pokemon down, they only had two more to go. And if either one loses a Pokemon, that Gym Badge would slip away from them. That is if they could defeat these two juggernauts as the journey continues.
After entering a Team Battle against the Final Gym Leader Brock, Rainbow Dash and Princess Luna already found themselves at a disadvantage. Two of their Pokemon had fainted. Mienshao and Aurorus. And it was done by Brock's Blissey and Forretress. Mainly Blissey, who was an absolute juggernaut when it came to defence and raw unbridled power that no one apart from Ash and Pikachu were expecting to witness for something so focused on healing.
"Return Mienshao..." Rainbow Dash would hold out her Poke Ball along with Luna, ready to return Mienshao and Aurorus after they fell.
"Bliss! Blissey!" But before they could do so, Blissey rushed in. Luna and Rainbow Dash would grimace at the advancement of the Happiness Pokemon, intimidated by her. Reasonably so, as she was responsible for giving their Pokemon such a hard time. However, Blissey was only approaching for one reason. She would stop in front of Mienshao and Aurorus, placing her arms in her pouch where her egg was resting.
"W-What is she doing?" Luna stuttered, fearing that Blissey would launch another attack. It was unusual for a Pokemon to run up to another downed Pokemon after taking them out unless the entire battle between both trainers had ended.
"Blissey. You don't have to heal them now. We're in the middle of a Gym Battle." Brock said, revealing that Blissey was only there to try and heal them. Despite being absurdly powerful, Blissey was still a healer and helper at heart.
"Oh is that it...?" Rainbow Dash and Luna sighed in unison. They could return their Pokemon without having to worry about anything else. Well, apart from winning this battle.
"Alright. You're down to just one Pokemon each. Let's make it count you two." Brock confidently said. Rainbow Dash and Luna had to go above and beyond for this last battle. It was the final Gym after all and the way to truly enter the Equestria League.
"Well...It's a good thing Brock's only allowed one Pokemon each since it's just him." Pinkie Pie scrunched her face. "But I'm pretty worried about that Blissey over there. She can heal and hit like a train?"
"Forretress is also a problem. It laid out those Spikes earlier. So whoever shows up next will take some damage from the Spikes." Twilight observed, recalling how Forretress used Spikes earlier on in the battle. "But it's fine. Rainbow Dash still has a Pokemon that can damage both of these types and Luna has a lot to choose from."
"We cannot afford to lose this one," Luna spoke to Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow Dash. We shall stick to the plan from before. Only go for Blissey. Then, we can deal with Forretress."
"Gotcha." Rainbow Dash held out her next Poke Ball. "That egg's going down. And I know who can do that for us! Let's go! Braviary!"
"Braviary!" Emerging into the scene was Rainbow Dash's ace Pokemon. Braviary. With Braviary out in the scene, this was proof that Rainbow Dash was going to all-in.
"Since this is the last Gym, it's fitting that I use my tried and true partner. Appear, Darkrai!" Luna commanded as emerging from the shadows behind her was none other than the Pitch Black Pokemon Darkrai. He was hiding this entire time, waiting for his time to spring into action. And that time was now. More than ever to be honest.
Darkrai ascended, crossing his arms before spreading them out, revealing his sharp claws. The Pitch Black Pokemon eyed down the Pokemon he was about to face. But really, he's already seen what Blissey is capable of. This battle would not be kind to him or Braviary. The Dark-Type could already tell. And of course, the Spikes struck them both. Braviary and Darkrai suffered some damage upon entering the battle thanks to Forretress. Even when Darkrai ascended from the shadows, the Spikes still got him.
"This tension...She could use that to summon Rainbow-Braviary." said Rarity after feeling the tense atmosphere. "Now would be a perfect time for him to show up, right?"
"Alright, Braviary! Focus all your attention on Blissey! Aerial Ace, now!"
"Darkrai! Dark Void!"
"Braviaray!" Immediately, both Pokemon took action, fixating their attention on the Happiness Pokemon. Braviary took off like a missile, leaving behind a white trail while soaring through the air.
"I don't think so! Blissey, use Mega Punch! Forretress, Gyro Ball!"
"Bliss! Blissey!" Blissey would use her absurd strength once more, summoning a black orb on her fist while Braviary would approach her. But there was also the Dark Void to watch out for as all attacks were focused on her. "Blissey!" Right as the Dark Void got close, Blissey would use Mega Punch on it, demonstrating more of her titanic power.
With just brute force alone, she not only struck the Dark Void but by preventing any afflictions, she would knock it away, much like she did with Aura Sphere earlier in the battle. And just like at the start of the battle, she attempted to hit another Pokemon with it. In this case, Braviary.
"Even Dark Void?!" Luna was flabbergasted. She could understand why Aura Sphere would be knocked back, but an attack like Dark Void, which could even go through opponents with the properties it possessed, had never been deflected before. With so many opponents, none have deflected Darkrai's Dark Void. The best they had done was either evade it or were immune to it. This was on another level.
Blissey knocked Dark Void away, sending it in the direction of the Valiant Pokemon. Braviary gasped before flying over the void with swiftness, barely managing to evade it. After dodging the Dark Void, the Normal-Flying-Type tackled Blissey.
"Bliss!" Blissey received damage once more. But it wasn't that frequent in this battle and on top of that, she had the means to heal herself. However, this was where Forretress came in. Forretress struck the moment Bravaiary landed an attack, crashing itself into the Valiant Pokemon with Gyro Ball.
"B-Bra!" Braviary took Gyro Ball which was powered by Forretress' lack of speed. The Valiant Pokemon found himself being pushed back and spiralling through the air.
"Braviary! Are you alright?!" Rainbow Dash gasped. Braviary recovered in the air, having his eyes spin for a moment. That Gyro Ball certainly carried a ton of weight behind it.
"What a stubborn duo of Pokemon. Their defences aren't helping at all..." Luna grizzled her teeth. "Blissey is mainly dangerous in an up-close encounter. Then we shall do our best to keep our distance. Darkrai! Dark Pulse, at once!"
"Well, I'm pretty confident in Braviary's strength! Use Superpower!"
"Viary!" Braviary didn't have any ranged attacks to choose from. That wasn't his speciality after all. Even if Blissey carried a great ordeal of strength, Rainbow Dash and Braviary wouldn't let her win in that category. By gathering energy in his talons while Darkrai would generate a spiral of dark energy in his claws, Braviary would once again, head in the general direction of the Happiness Pokemon.
"Hm. Leave this one to Blissey, Forretress." Suddenly, Brock allowed Forretress to stay back for a bit, allowing Happiny to take the initiative for now. "Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Bli...Ssey!" Blissey had her own ranged attack in the form of Dazzling Gleam. By engulfing herself in an orb of rainbows, magical rays of Fairy Magic would jet out of her. These rainbow rays immediately met with Darkrai's Dark Pulse and Braviary himself. The Darkness and Rainbows clashed against each other for a bit while Braviary's talons were pressed against them. Neither side had gone forward just yet because of this collision.
"Using only Blissey against us? Are you making fun of us?!" Luna growled, feeling a bit insulted that Brock decided to keep Forretress back for a bit. "Push through, Darkrai!"
"Go, Braviary!"
"B-Braviary...!" Braviary did his best to try and push through the rainbows, pressing his talon onto them as hard as he could. With a glint in his eyes, he managed to succeed in doing so, diving downwards while breaking apart the rays of rainbows. Darkrai also succeeded, having his rays of darkness consume Blissey's rainbows.
"Oh!" Brock gasped, stunned for a moment that they managed to get through. "In that case...Mega Punch!"
"Blissey! Bliss!" Blissey would meet with both attacks, lowering her rainbow shield. By using Mega Punch, she would encounter both Superpower and Dark Pulse as they were flying alongside each other at the same time.
"This is it!" Luna declared, holding her hoof out, believing that this next collision would be the decisive blow that takes out Blissey.
"That Blissey's going down! Hit her hard, Braviary!" Both Pokemon Trainers yelled. It was a close collision with all three attacks managing to collide at the same time.
Mega Punch hit both Braviary's talon and the beam of darkness from Dark Pulse. A momentary struggle emerged but it did not last long. This was not the decisive blow. Instead, Blissey managed to overpower both of them at the same time. With just Mega Punch, she blew Braviary away and shattered the pulse of darkness with such force that a shockwave travelled through the darkness, reaching Darkrai.
"Braviary!" Braviary yelled after being blown back while Darkai received some shockwave damage which would also push the Pitch Black Pokemon. Both Braviary and Darkrai hit the floor, outclassed by one Mega Punch. And just when it looked like they were getting somewhere.
"This cannot be...!" Luna shuddered. "How can she be so strong?!"
"This isn't looking good..." Rainbow Dash bit her hoof. Braviary and Darkrai could still continue but so far, they were struggling against this one Pokemon, much like their previous teammates.
"Alright, Forretress. You can get back in the action now." Brock spoke as Forretress could act once more. But just on her own, Blissey proved that she could take on two powerful Pokemon.
"Oh yeah? You'll wish you never did that once we do this!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Braviary! Now's a good time to use it!"
"Vi. Braviary." Braviary looked back at Rainbow Dash, nodding in agreement. There was only one thing left for them to do and it was fairly obvious to guess what that would be. The time for Rainbow-Braviary was now.
"You're strong but you won't beat us in speed!" Rainbow Dash declared as her spirit and Braviary's spirit would sync up. The equivalent to the Bond Phenomenon, the Harmony Phenomenon had triggered. A pillar of rainbows shot down from the skies above, entering the Gym and engulfing the Valiant Pokemon.
"Braviary!" With a majestic cry, Braviary would transform. His eyes changed colours, matching that of his trainers while rainbow tips would start forming on his wings. His hair would intensify a bit from this transformation as would look a little bit like Rainbow Dash. Emerging from the pillar of rainbows was Rainbow-Braviary.
"Oh?" Brock raised his eyebrows. He had to pay attention to Rainbow-Braviary who had everything regular Braviary possessed but amplified. And with Rainbow Dash being synced with him, he could pull off more skills and tricks.
"Here it is!" Scootaloo leaned forward. "His attacks should be much harder like this!"
"They should. But I don't think we've seen everything from Blissey yet." Twilight had a gut feeling that they all haven't seen the rest of what Blissey could do.
"Darkrai! Advance and use Poison Jab!"
"Go, Braviary! Aerial Ace!"
"Vi!" Braviary took off once again, faster than before in this state. It was as if his speed and Rainbow Dash's speed merged as one as he left behind a rainbow trail.
"Brace yourselves!" With this speed, Brock would have his Pokemon brace the hit. The endurance of these Pokemon, which went with the theme of this Gym, would truly be tested now.
Braviary, in a flash, reappeared in front of Blissey, hitting her with a high-speed Aerial Ace that was powered up by the velocity Braviary gained. Blissey barely moved from her spot. She stood strong as her endurance was just as staggering as her strength. But then there was Darkrai, who would fly in with poison around his claws. A poisonous affliction was on Luna's mind. Even if Blissey was hard to take down, poison could also finish that for her.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Bliss!" Blissey would stand in one spot, using the brightness of Dazzling Gleam to her advantage. The rainbow aura flashed out of her body, creating a blinding light that was spraying random rays everywhere. The rays missed their targets but they did succeed in blinding Darkrai for a bit, forcing him to back away.
"My eyes!" And unfortunately for Rainbow Dash, this meant that she would take the blindness as well since she was connected with Braviary. Rainbow-Braviary would suffer from the overwhelming light as well.
"Gyro Ball!"
"Forretress!" This gave Forretress the opportunity to attack. While Rainbow-Braviary was stunned, the Bagworm Pokemon smashed its body against the Valiant Pokemon. And of course, with this blow to the body, Rainbow Dash would suffer as well.
"Gh!" Rainbow Dash felt the force of steel hit her body which was enough to make her cringe and stagger. Her friends certainly felt that pain as the pegasus held her right hoof while stumbling.
"Are you alright?!" Luna asked after witnessing Rainbow Dash stumble and stagger. Rainbow Dash would manage. For now, at least. But any more hits could do more than just stagger her. "Forget it! That Forretress is still a massive threat! Darkrai! Thunderbolt!"
Luna acknowledged Forretress as a problem. Even if it wasn't as powerful as Blissey, it could still pose as a threat that could cost her and Rainbow Dash the battle and the Gym Badge. Darkrai would ball his claws together, generating a bright flash of electricity before unleashing it with an arm thrust. 100,000 Volts were unleashed, flying rapidly through the atmosphere before crashing into Forretress.
"For!" Forretress closed its eyes once those volts electrocuted it. The Bagworm Pokemon was no longer exempt from this battle since most attacks were directed towards the physical juggernaut that is Blissey.
"Finally putting some respect on Forretress? Nice. But it's too late for that." Brock pointed at them. "You were too focused on Blissey, taken aback by her strength to really think about Forretress. Now it's gonna come back and bite you. Sorry about this! Blissey! Dazzling Forretress, Gyro Ball!"
"Bliss!" Blissey would finally approach them both. The Happiness Pokemon would use another way to travel instead of just running, Suddenly, she would jump on Forretress' head, using him as a way to travel.
"What?!" Luna and Rainbow Dash collectively gasped as Forretress would begin spinning while Blissey was on top. Blissey would spin too because of Forretress' movements, generating a rainbow aura around herself. Brock, much like Ash was well-versed in pulling off interesting tricks. Ash rubbed off on him after all.
"Brave Bird, Braviary!"
"Darkrai, use Dark Pulse! Keep your distance!"
Braviary ascended straight into the air as his body would be welcomed by a fiery rainbow aura. He then soared straight at the Spiralling Duo as the Rainbow Fire around his body would intensify in correlation with his speed. As for Darkrai, he would move back, waiting for the right moment to use Dark Pulse.
Braviary made a sonic boom upon taking off, going for a direct tackle. He was hoping to knock both of them off balance. However, with these spinning tactics, Blissey's Dazzling Gleam was more dangerous than ever. The rays were no longer rays. Now, they were whips, constantly spinning instead of flying and taking off.
The Valiant Pokemon smashed his aura against the whips, managing to break through one of them, only to have another smack him back. Rainbow Dash felt her face being slapped by the rays, causing her to cough for a bit. But she persisted along with Braviary who would charge in once more to try and break those whips. When he broke another whip, the next would hit him, damaging Rainbow Dash once more.
"That's an amazing defence!" Starlight gasped. "She turned Dazzling Gleam into a wall of defence that hits back hard too! How do you get past that if one hits you back when you break the other?!"
"We'll go into the eye of the storm then! Now, Darkrai! Fire!" Luna gave the order for Darkrai to unleash Dark Pulse. This time, from above. Darkrai would fly higher, targeting the very top of this Dazzling Gleam Hurricane. And that was the eye of the rainbow storm.
Darkrai had the target. He would then unleash the beam that was imbued with dark thoughts, going straight for the centre. A successful hit. Darkrai managed to hit the eye of the storm. The impact resulted in a dark explosion that engulfed both Pokemon, consuming the light that Blissey generated.
"Excellent!" Luna thrust her hoof into the air after that successful hit. Endurance or not, that was a brilliant blow that got them both. Blissey and Forretress had their spinning tactic broken up by Darkrai. It was short-lived but it was effective in harming Braviary, that much was true.
"Did that do the trick?" Rainbow Dash leaned in, hoping that the Dark Pulse knocked them both out. Alas, that was not the case. The best it did was make them both tumble and roll on the floor. They were still able to continue.
"Blissey hasn't even healed herself or Forretress for a second time..." Fluttershy observed. "And they're still up."
"If they heal again, then all of that hard work will be wasted," said Twilight, fearing that Brock's Pokemon were unstoppable walls that were hard to break through.
"It's fine!" Luna exclaimed. "Have no fear! They are on the verge of defeat! I can feel it! These next hits will finish it! Rainbow Dash!"
"I gotcha, Princess! Braviary! Let's finish this! Superpower!"
"Use Poison Jab at once!"
Both Pokemon would charge in. And once more, they would focus on only Blissey. This time, they took her healing properties into account. Superpower would form a rainbow aura around Braviary's wings and talons instead of the usual fiery orange while Darkrai's claws were once again, laminated in poison.
Both flew in, soaring alongside each other while eyeing down the Happiness Pokemon. From how determined their eyes appeared, these next hits would be absolutely devastating. All because of one Pokemon.
"Heh." Brock would then put a smirk as he had something else that he had yet to reveal. And that was Forretress' final move that was hidden until now. "Explosion!"
"Forretress!" Unexpectedly, Forretress would reveal its ultimate attack. Getting in front of Blissey, the Bagworm Pokemon's entire body would light up. Luna, Rainbow Dash and their Pokemon gasped upon hearing and seeing this attack that was not to be taken lightly.
The best thing to do now was pull back. If they had the time to do so. Forretress would unleash all of its Infinity Energy, summoning a fierce explosion that would burst out of its body. A fierce gale emerged, covering most of the arena in a white light.
When pulling back, Braviary and Darkrai would find themselves being caught up in this light, along with Blissey. Every Pokemon was caught up in it. No one was spared from it. Rainbow Dash cried out as she could feel the explosion hit her body. Forretress would faint from this attack, as to be expected. But the damage it left behind was monumental.
After the smoke cleared, Braviary and Darkrai failed to get in close. Rainbow Dash, who was trembling, was trying to get past the pain of an explosion hitting her. One of the many differences between her and a Pokemon. Braviary's durability was significantly better. But even if he had better durability, the explosion still stunned and bewildered him. Both Darkrai and Rainbow-Braviary were groaning while on the floor, taken aback by the explosion.
"Well, at least they're both still up. But Blissey still looks healthy." Applejack observed how Blissey, despite being caught up in the explosion, was looking sharp still.
"T-That was close..." Darkrai groaned..."What a troublesome duo..."
"Thanks, Forretress. Return." Brock would return his Forretress. "Alright. It's time for us to finish this, Blissey! Mega Punch!"
"Darkrai! Dark Void, quick!"
"B-Braviary...! Superpower!" A staggered Rainbow Dash yelled. Both Pokemon would have to get up as soon as they could. Darkrai would generate a ball of darkness in his claws, ready to throw it at Blissey, but it was too late.
Blissey managed to reach them both as Forretress' explosion had certainly left them perplexed and damaged. But Blissey did not immediately punch them. Instead, she would grab them both. She picked Braviary and Darkrai up by their necks, having that innocent look on her face even after all of this.
"What is she doing?!" Luna gasped as Blissey would suddenly jump in the air, bringing Darkrai and Braviary with her. Everyone looked up with their eyes widening and jaw-dropping. What was Blissey planning? Judging by how high they were ascending, they could guess what her approach was.
"Bli...Ssey!" While high up, Blissey would then let go of them for a second before slamming both her fists into the chests of Braviary and Darkrai. It felt like being hit by two trains as the duo would be launched downwards at such speeds that they became blurs of their respective colours.
The impact on the ground was tremendous, generating the largest dust cloud yet. Even larger than what Forretress made with his Explosion. Rainbow Dash coughed and gagged as she felt that chest blow, falling on her back. Luna closed her eyes, growling after the dust would rage in her direction.
"This...This can't be...!" Luna bellowed as the force of the impact and dust would push her back.
It had been decided. With Rainbow Dash and Luna both falling on the floor, they would be just like their Pokemon. The dust would settle once Blissey stuck a graceful landing. Shockingly, on her own, Blissey claimed victory. Braviary reverted to his original form as he and Darkrai had fainted.
"Both Braviary and Darkrai are unable to battle! Blissey wins! Thus, the winner of this battle is the Gym Leader Brock!"
"W-We lost...?" Luna sat up, shocked by what she had heard and even witnessed. Many of her friends were shocked too. This was not the outcome they expected.
"That sucks..." Rainbow Dash growled, holding her chest before looking up at Blissey, who kept that gentle and jolly smile on her face. But behind that smile was a Titan of Strength. "Blissey."
"That's that." Brock walked over to them. "Sorry if I went too far. As the Final Gym Leader, I have to bring everything."
"We both lost. I thought for sure victory was within our sights." Luna sighed, holding her head before looking over at Darkrai. It was rather uncommon to see Luna's Darkrai in this state. No one had ever defeated him before. But now, that had all changed once Blissey made her debut.
"That Blissey was something else." Darkrai got back up, also holding his head. "And yet...I don't feel so bad about losing."
"Yeah. Neither do I." Despite how they lost, neither the trainer nor their Pokemon felt gutted at all. "But it still kinda sucks...I can't believe that happened."
"You're officially the first ones to challenge this gym. You've gotten a taste of what a Final Gym Battle looks like. Across every region, the last Gym is always the true test of how far you've come as Pokemon Trainers. It may fall short of the Elite 4 and even the Champion, but it will always push you to your best." Brock rambled, explaining the weight of the Final Gym. "Princess Luna. Rainbow Dash. Never forget this moment."
"How can we?" Luna chuckled. "I was so full of bravado in the beginning. So this is what a Gym Leader's true strength is like...It's amazing."
"Yeah. Which is why I need to win the next time we meet!" Rainbow Dash immediately stood up along with Braviary. "And that'll be very soon!"
"Rainbow Dash is right." Luna helped Darkrai up. "We will not make the same mistakes tomorrow. We will return and claim victory."
"Oh. You'll battle me tomorrow? Well then. I'm looking forward to it." Brock chuckled. "Blissey will be waiting. Right, Blissey?"
"Blissey!"
"Right...Geez, you're intimidating..." Rainbow Dash pulled back when looking at the Happiness Pokemon. She struggled to figure out how this Pokemon invokes happiness when it utterly crushed her Pokemon.
"Rainbow Dash...Perhaps we were not working as a team properly in the beginning." Luna faced Rainbow Dash. "Tomorrow, let us fix that as soon as possible. We will both achieve that Gym Badge together. So it wouldn't be right for either one of our Pokemon to faint and force one of us to drop out."
"I hear you, Princess Luna." Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement. Their teamwork would grow because of this. And it was already amazing. Ash and the others cheered for them for a battle well down and were looking forward to tomorrow's battle.
And since Brock lived in Kanto, it was fantastic that the one gateway that remained and was consistent was the one that led to Pallet Town from Ponyville. Not too far from Pewter City as said by many others. Utterly destroyed in this Gym Battle, Rainbow Dash and Luna vowed to return for their rematch. And Brock would be here, waiting. And so would the Terrifying Blissey.
They got a taste of what it was like to battle the Final Gym Leader. A Paragon of Strength for Gym Leaders and the hardest obstacle to get past before they could enter the league. But it was this paragon that they had to overthrow and become the superior trainers as the journey continues.
Another day at the Pokemon School and a gathering at the school's hangout zones was made. A place where Pokemon Battles and other Pokemon-related activities can occur. The first is always the most common for obvious reasons. This was all before classes could begin.
"Oh? So you lost to Brock? Both of you? Even with Darkrai on your side?" Minuette spoke to Rainbow Dash, who revealed her Team Battle with Luna. Both lost to the Gym Leader Brock, who won with his Blissey and Forretress.
"I know. But it was all because of that Blissey. I mean, I thought Blissey was all about taking care of others and bringing happiness. But whoever faces her next isn't gonna be so happy." Indeed. Rainbow Dash and Luna were the first victims of the final Gym since they reached it before anyone else.
"We already struggled with Nessa...How are we supposed to get past Brock then?" A pegasus asked, fearful of the final Gym. Many were chatting about how they could stumble at the very end. And for good reason. They all had ways to go.
"I don't know. But I'll be waiting for you all at the Equestria League." Rainbow Dash bragged, even though she hadn't entered the Equestria League yet solely because of Brock. "W-When I win that is."
"You and Princess Luna should be ready for today's rematch. How much practice did you get in?" Twilight asked.
"Just enough. This afternoon, things are gonna be way different. I promise." Rainbow Dash held out her Poke Ball, believing in the strength of her partners.
"Great. Then you can also have some time to get your lesson done, right?" Twilight nudged the pegasus, bringing up the lessons of the Pokemon School. Rainbow Dash scrunched her face.
"Uh...Really? I was planning on putting in some more training time, honestly. I was even gonna ask Drayden to help out..." Rainbow Dash uttered, wishing to back out of this.
"It won't take long. We have more to learn about the Ransei Region. We can probably finish off Aurora before the next lesson starts. Plus, you wouldn't want to upset Roxanne now, would you?"
"No..." Rainbow Dash closed her eyes before scrunching her face. "I'd rather lose to Blissey again than receive a scolding from her. She rambles on longer than you, Twilight."
"Hm?" Twilight narrowed her eyes, making a slight grumble that would startle Rainbow Dash as the two would head over to the school's library, where they had tons of knowledge from across the world for them to access. With all the gateways being gone except for one, knowledge about the Pokemon World for Equestria could be easily accessed in the Pokemon School. Or even back at Twilight's Castle and lab.
As for Brock, he was currently within the school, having the role of the Pokemon Doctor and Breeder here. And being a Pokemon Breeder, tons of eggs. Some Pokemon here have already hatched and found themselves living within the Pokemon School for Brock to take care of. And if he wasn't here, someone would have to take this role.
"Hmm...Maybe I was too hard on them." Brock said, thinking back to yesterday's battle. "Ah, but it's only right for the final Gym. Even if this is Equestria's first taste of the Pokemon League. What do you think, Blissey?"
"Blissey!" Blissey, who was responsible for defeating Rainbow Dash and Luna, didn't have much to comment about it. All she could really do now was tend to the Pokemon here.
"Right...At least I didn't upset Princess Luna. That could've gone badly!" Brock laughed, pleased that Luna's reaction to her loss wasn't one that would affect him greatly. Just then, a delicious and enticing scent would enter this room, wafting through the atmosphere.
This scent would soon attract all the small Pokemon here aside from Blissey would have their eyes open, reacting to it. The enticing and wonderful scent was pleasant. Pleasant enough to grab their attention as it was coming from outside of the room. This was the result of a Sweet Scent.
And the ones causing this Sweet Scent to come through would be a few foals who held a bottle to the room, attracting the Pokemon. They would all move away from Blissey and Brock, heading for the bottle of Sweet Scent instead.
"Hm? Hey!" Brock was alerted by this. "You kids again?!" Upon spotting them, the foals would jet off with the bottle of Sweet Scent. And following them would be the Pokemon who were attracted to it. With so many of them, Brock would fall over with the stampede of small Pokemon knocking his legs.
The sound of the foals laughing would echo through the room before fading out. Brock, who was helped up by Blissey, would sigh for a moment. Upon getting back up, the Pokemon Doctor scratched his hair, not even chasing after the children and the Pokemon yet.
"Kids...Four years and they're still enamoured by the Pokemon. They have a lot to learn." Brock couldn't blame the children for being like this. This was their youth taking control and the wonder of Pokemon only amplified that. To children, Pokemon was the greatest thing ever. "I still do need to bring them back though. Come on, Blissey." Despite not blaming the children, it was probably for the best for the Pokemon to return before they cause chaos. After all, all of them were babies as well.
The baby Pokemon all spread out across the school. Some continued to follow the Sweet Scent bottle while others wandered off when something else caught their fancy. And with so many younglings moving around, they were bound to mess things up. A few ponies who were walking through the hallways would scooch over once the parade of Baby Pokemon came rushing through.
"Oh. Careful there." Olympia would carefully move past the Pokemon, spreading her cosmic cape out as she was not bothered by the sudden presence of many Baby Pokemon running across the school.
"Oho! Miss Olympia!" When following the Pokemon, Brock's eyes would light up with hearts upon spotting Olympia. By gazing at her, he was immediately distracted, causing him to trip over and crash into the walls. "Gouh!"
"Blissey?" Blissey would run over to Brock who would then drop to the floor. Olympia would just carry on with her day while the rest of the Baby Pokemon would only get further from Brock's reach.
Of course, with so many Baby Pokemon, most didn't mind. In fact, this was disgustingly adorable to them. When minding their business, they would turn their attention to the Pokemon, taking the chance to interact with them. Most of these interactions involved hugs. Brock had his work cut out for him as it was only him and Blissey that were planning to bring these Pokemon back. No one else had this in mind. And why would they? Fluttershy was especially happy about this as it was like she was back at the Pokemon House. And when encountering them, she would take the time to feed these Pokemon.
Back at the library, Rainbow Dash was waiting patiently for her time to battle Brock once again. And with this rematch imminent, teaming up with Luna was guaranteed. By this point, the first two Gym Battles with the Final Gym Leader ended up having a completely different ruleset because of Rainbow Dash and Princess Luna wishing to be the first to complete all the Gyms. However, she still found something of value when learning with Twilight and the others.
"Look at you, Rainbow Dash." Approaching Rainbow Dash and Twilight would be Brawly and Roxanne. Two Early Stage Gym Leaders from Hoenn. "Lately, you've been rather focused, haven't you? More so than usual."
"I have?" Rainbow Dash looked up at Roxanne.
"Mhm. Well, you've always found interest in classes since they're mainly about Pokemon. But never the past." Roxanne pointed out. "What's gotten into you lately?"
"It's because of the Final Gym and this new world we live in," Twilight answered. "She's just one Gym Badge away from finishing all the Gyms and getting full entry to the Equestria League."
"Oh yeah. You battled Brock yesterday. Didn't go so well, did it?" said Brawly.
"Nah. That Blissey is something else. But things are gonna be different next time." Rainbow Dash pumped her hoof, promising that this next battle would be in her favour. "I don't care how freakishly strong she is. She's going down."
"But what does this have to do with you being so attentive?" Roxanne questioned.
"Well, after I win this Final Gym, it's gonna be a while until everypony reaches the Equestria League. So until then, I can chill and not worry about anything else, exploring what this new world has to offer. Learning about these other regions is worth my time since some cool stuff can be found in it. That's all."
"Hm, so that's the reason. Well, it's ironic for me to say this, but you would probably find more value being in the actual region itself." Roxanne added, suggesting that Rainbow Dash visited the Ransei Region. "Of course, that's one of our assignments in the future. Visiting Ransei. But in your free time, you could explore it and write about it before all of that."
"Yeah. If you can beat Brock." Brawly grinned, causing Rainbow Dash to eye him down. "You got a taste of what the Final Gym is like. You're pretty lucky there's no Elite 4 established yet. But those are usually optional. And I would know. I battled the Final Gym Leader of my region once before I became a Gym Leader myself."
"He's right. I was there and you did put up a great fight." Roxanne nodded. "I used to follow Brawly around when he challenged the Gyms. I saw him through all eight Gyms when we were both young and he was aiming for that league title as well."
"Didn't pan out though." Brawly shrugged. "But things still turned out pretty great for me. And for most Gym Leaders actually. After all, we all wanted to be the very best at one point. But being Gym Leaders or even Elite 4 Member was what we ended up getting."
"All Gym Leaders wanted to be the best?" Twilight spoke.
"Who doesn't? So many trainers are always striving for the top. But of course, it's only a small percentage of trainers. Rainbow Dash, you should take this advice. Unless you want to end up like Brawly here. Don't get too ahead of yourself, or else every opponent is going to feel like battling Blissey."
"I don't get ahead of myself." Brawly and Rainbow Dash said in unison. But the fact that they both replied at the same time made Roxanne and Twilight realize that Rainbow Dash could run into that same trap if she wasn't careful. After hearing themselves say the same words, Brawly and Rainbow Dash looked at each other. There was some silence before followed by laughter from all four of them. Just genuine laughter. Nothing else.
"Well, good luck with that." Brawly would fist bump Rainbow Dash's hoof. "I know you'll do great. You've got a lot of potential that I saw when we met earlier on."
"When the Equestria League finally begins, we'll be watching you. All of your teachers and peers will be there. Well..." Roxanne's smile then formed into a frown, thinking of Fantina. "Hopefully all of them. Fantina would be elated and energetic when she sees it."
"We'll find her. The only place she can really be at is Magehold." Twilight promised Roxanne that Fantina would return to them all. "Princess Celestia's thinking of the best way to break that protective spell that's around Magehold. It might just be the best protection spell I've ever heard of."
"If only Reshiram was still there. Him and Zekrom would finish that spell off in no time!" Rainbow Dash bellowed before being shushed by the Librarian. "Sorry..."
"Reshiram is also unknown. We have him and Fantina that we need to worry about. Reshiram's Light Stone is missing and Fantina could be experiencing horrible things over at Magehold."
"Well, it's been fun chatting, but I gotta get going." Rainbow Dash closed the book she was focused on this whole time. Princess Luna should be heading for Winsome Falls now. "How about you come and watch with me, Roxanne? Brawly?"
"Oh, we would-" Right before Roxanne could give an answer, along came the Baby Pokemon as they flooded the library next, disrupting the peace. The students would find themselves being swarmed by these little magical creatures. The children have already caused some chaos just by using a single Sweet Scent. But when used on a baby, a result like this was to be expected, especially if it was multiple of them. "Eh? What is this?!"
"So cute!" The students would gush over the flood of Baby Pokemon. The Baby Pokemon would instantly go for the books as those were what stood out in this library. They would either jump on some books that were open or grab the nearest ones they saw.
"Kid! Elekid!" Elekid would try and flaunt its strength, lifting as many books as it could. Specifically the heavy ones.
"Ty!" Tyrouge could be seen hitting a stack of books as if they were punching bags, ferociously battering them with all of its might.
"Woah there!" Twilight pulled her book away once a Munchlax tried taking a bite out of it. "This isn't food! It's a book and it's not edible!"
"Well, technically, Munchlax can eat anything and it'll be totally fine. That stomach of its is something else." Brawly interjected. But he wasn't helping the scenario around. It was utter chaos in here. The Chingling would only elevate the noise by unleashing its cry which was audible to everyone. It didn't help that were duplicates of these baby Pokemon roaming around.
"Twilight! Rainbow! Isn't this fun?!" Fluttershy approached her friends, loving this. The school was in utter disarray and most were loving it.
"Sorry! So sorry!" All except for Brock rushed into the library as he and Blissey were seen holding a few Baby Pokemon. Blissey had the babies latch onto her or even inside her pouch where her egg was lying. "Oh, when I find those kids..."
"Magby!" Magby would start spraying fire when dashing around the library as Twilight, Roxanne and the Librarian all had their eyes burst open. Fire inside of a library was the biggest red flag of all. Everything here was flammable.
The safety of the books was a top priority. Especially since most of these baby Pokemon were unable to control their powers and abilities at such a young age, compared to their future evolutions. When trying to catch Pichu, Brock would find himself being electrocuted since the Baby Electric-Type had zero experience controlling so many volts within it.
The stacks of books were still being assaulted by the Tyrouge who had a high probability to ruin them. One of the Tyrouges had already left dents within the books, crumpling the papers.
"Iggly! Igglybuff!" When laughing at all of this, Rainbow Dash would find herself being tackled in the head by a rapidly bouncing Igglybuff, causing her eyes to nearly pop out. All the while, Mime Jr was mimicking the movements of as many Pokemon and students as it could spot. Many of the Mime Jrs would mimic everyone, reenacting the chaotic scenes before them.
"Rainbow Dash! I trust you are ready to-" Entering the room while all of the chaos was going on was none other than Princess Luna. And upon showing up, she was frozen and taken aback by the chaotic scene that laid before her very eyes. Rainbow Dash and Brock were a part of this ballistic baby outbreak.
One of the Tyrouge would grab onto Luna's leg once she showed up, trying to flip her over, but lacked the strength to do so. Luna would look at the Tyrouge then back at the scene which was not deescalating.
"Just a second!" Brock exclaimed. "We'll be at Winsome Falls once this is all sorted, Princess Luna!"
"V-Very well." Luna stuttered before departing from this room via teleportation. Clearly, Brock was confident that this would be sorted out. But how soon? Well, definitely not soon enough since lessons should be starting now. But the students certainly didn't mind.
On this day, there was a little bit of chaos in the Pokemon School. But it was the kind of chaos everyone enjoyed, even the beauty of the books was being threatened. Later on, the rematch against Brock was imminent. Just as soon as he gets all these Baby Pokemon back.
And watching all of the chaos go down from afar was none other than Princess Celestia. She saw through the windows over at Canterlot Castle, witnessing this small event occur. Celestia smiled, knowing very well that she could put an end to this if she wanted. But chose not to. The fun factor was truly a powerful force that many could not resist.
"Your majesty!" Just as Celestia was watching the chaos, rushing over to her was one of the guards, coming to a screeching halt as he had something to say.
"Yes? What is it?"
"There's been a strange sighting at the Galar Region! From the description...It might the Dread League!" The guard revealed as the Dread League had been brought up.
Just what Celestia was waiting to hear. She was ready to take this chance now that it was here. A chance to reach Magehold. And what better way to do so than to encounter one of the vampires themselves? The Ruler of Equestria, despite enjoying what she was seeing, would return her focus to what truly mattered. Entering Magehold, rescuing Yveltal and potentially Fantina along with the abolishment of the Black Crusade. Now, it was all a matter of what Celestia would do next.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
"Phew. That's all of them." After a chaotic mess of Baby Pokemon running around, Brock managed to retrieve them all with the help of Blissey and a few others. And just for good measure, each of them were put to sleep.
The library suffered the most. Many books have been damaged thanks to the Baby Pokemon. Books either had dents, were smoking because of rampant electricity or had a few pages burned thanks to some erratic flames. But it was salvageable and simple to reverse.
"If you wish to play with the Baby Pokemon, next time, do it outside or ask permission." As for the children that caused this, speaking to them was a rather upset Roxanne as they would all incur her rather gentle wrath.
"Glad that's over with. So about that Gym Battle..." Rainbow Dash flew over, nudging the Pokemon Doctor and part-time Breeder. She was eager to hop into that Gym Battle rematch with Luna.
"Uh, yeah. I'll remember it. But maybe later. I have to take care of these little fellas after all of that." Brock held a baby Wynaut next to him. "Late afternoon sounds good. I'll be ready by then. You should use that time to train up, Rainbow Dash."
"Right. I know just who to train up for this." She would hold out a singular Poke Ball, leaving the specific Pokemon amibigous. The library would find itself being healed as everyone else would depart for their classes. Not Rainbow Dash though. Thanks to this disturbance from the Baby Pokemon, she had the opportunity to be on her own. That way, she could catch up to Luna, who was already practising prior to this, having more free time than the pegasus.
Discussions about their respective lessons have been cut short due to how long the chaos lasted. Their classes hadn't even started yet since it was so early in the morning when this outbreak occurred. Usually, some would see this as a blessing, but when it comes to Pokemon, learning about these Strange and Wonderful Creatures and their history was worth every second.
During all of this chaos, over at Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia was alerted to something crucial. The Dread League had been spotted once more. This time, over at the Galar Region. Naturally, when trying to reach Magehold, where the Dread League could be found, entering that land was rather difficult. But this was an opportunity that could change that.
"If they're at Galar, then let's watch them." Celestia gave out orders on how to approach this new Dread League appearance. "This is our one chance to try and enter Magehold without needing to get past that barrier. It doesn't affect the vampires except for us and the barrier is as dangerous as it is defensive. And here is what we will use."
Celestia held out a Shift Stone. An object that was made of Rift Energy was originally founded by Trixie Lulamoon. Since then, these cosmic stones have been rather useful, having the properties of both a Zoroak and a Changeling, changing not just the user's appearance, but even their biology. The only disadvantage was that no moves from any Pokemon could be learned.
"With this, either one of you will have the biology of a vampire. So I suggest that you stay away from the sunlight. You can find the Hyperborean Island this way by following them, going unsuspected." Celestia continued. One of the main issues with reaching Magehold was the fact that it was hard to find the Hyperborean Island, which was where Magehold could also be found. So as long as that island remains hidden from their sights, Magehold is forever hidden. But the Shift Stone could change all of that.
"Unfortunately...because of how this world turned out, we have very Shift Stones left." Celestia looked at the Shift Stone which was emanating a rather weak cosmic aura. "Not only that, but their transformations won't last forever. At most, they can last for 2 days. So be careful and use them sparingly."
"Yes, your majesty!" The guards all said as they were each given Shift Stones. And with how few Shift Stones were left, fewer guards would be going with them. After receiving the stones, the guards would all place them within their armour.
"And of course, use it to transform into other beings just in case. If you find yourself in a predicament with water, a Water-Type will be beneficial. Head to the Galar Region at once." With that Celestia sent off her forces to the Galar Region, wishing them her best. She had to since this was the Dread League. They would go to extreme lengths just to achieve victory.
Celestia's seen it. Everyone's seen it. Whether it's their many curses or the Box of 100 Demons that was now down to only 99 after one of them reverted to its original biology. Anything the Dread League does was critical and had to be dealt with immediately.
Magehold. Afternoon.
On the topic of the Dread League, over at Magehold, with some of the Dread League heading out to cause more trouble, Opal Vivacity, a well-known vampire was too occupied out there. Instead, she took the time to do her massive mane which possessed the power to change fate. This was her example of being occupied as her mane was being tended to by other vampires.
As for her whereabouts, instead of the castle where she usually lurks around, she was residing in a massive manor that was only south of the Lich Queen's Castle. Having her mane done in this large manor while raising her head in a posh manner made her uppity and pompous. Then again, she always was, but this elevated it.
In this room were various jewels and flash accessories that were perfect for any fashionable appearance. Next to them were pictures of Opal Vivacity herself in various poses, trying to look her best. If it was not clear already, this was her home. But it wasn't just her and these other vampires that were in here.
"Sister?" Entering the room was none other than Fractured Note. The servant to the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta. He called out for his little sister upon entering. "Hm. Smells like Rift in here." Fractured grimaced for a bit when the scent of Rift Energy passed through the room.
"Yes. The cosmic power coming from my mane is splendid, isn't it? It makes me feel grandiose, honestly." The vanity vampire would brag about her beauty. "If I could harness it into the form of a perfume, I would most definitely give it a name. I'm thinking Cosmic Opal. How does that sound, brother?"
"Anyway...you missed another request from the others. They're probably over at the Galar Region by now."
"Another one? Oh, I pity them. My mane's stellar ability to change fate is so wonderful and prized that they want me on every mission for a guaranteed chance of success." Opal would arrogantly chuckle. "They've become too dependent on me. And I love it."
"Of course you do. Then again, maybe you've become too dependent on that power you stole." Fractured Note gave his retort which immediately made the other vampires scrunch their faces, ceasing their work on Opal Vivaicty's massive mane.
"Hm?!" Opal reacted to that reply. "Jealous of my sudden growth, brother?"
"No not really. Nothing a good haircut can't fix. It's not like it's infallible anyway. But since you're still here and haven't left in a while, we still have work to do. Her majesty's starting to recover and we're just about this close to starting the Black Crusade." Fractured Note explained.
"I will go at my own pace. The Necropillars I planned will be done soon and the complete control of Yveltal is inevitable. Among other things. Allow me to relax, alright?"
"You've relaxed for many years. We've been hidden from Equestria for so long that we haven't done much. You at least put in a lot of effort during the past few months but that's about it." Fractured Note shook his head.
"That's right. The past few months. So now I'm going to take a break from that...Even if I'm striving for revenge!" Opal suddenly exclaimed, slamming her hoof against the table, chipping a piece off. "Khh...I'm still rather bitter about how my previous plan failed. Most of Equestria was supposed to receive colossal damage and they just so happened to have the means to stop it."
"That was your own fault. Just saying." Fractured Note said which prompted his little sister to grizzle her teeth at him. "Even with that mane, you're still shy of what you want to be."
"Silence! The power to change fate is nothing to scoff at!" Opal roared at her big brother. "I am at least focusing on finding Xerneas, which is harder than it looks by the way! What have you even done recently? All you've done is stay here, next to the Lich Queen!"
"I'm her loyal servant, that's my role. She will only send me out when I am absolutely needed. Recently, I've been tasked with a few things. I'm the one keeping an eye on Fantina and her actions and even overseeing Yveltal's actions. I'm here to keep things from falling apart from the slightest bit of scrutiny that might show up."
"Keeping an eye on Fantina is an important task? What can she even do? Aside from that?!" Opal scoffed before aiming her hoof at the large cherry blossom tree that was outside. The tree that resembled the Heavenly Maiden of the Milky Way who even looked like Cresselia was the only major impact Fantina had left so far.
"Is that not important enough? I quite like it." Fractured Note, much like many others, liked the Heavenly Maiden tree. "Sure, it doesn't fit here and it sticks out like a sore wing, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't beautiful. Isn't she something?"
"Hmph. Nothing compared to me." Opal grumbled, finding herself to be more attractive than the Heavenly Maiden.
"Well, it's time for dinner. Merry's already waiting there." Fractured would leave the room, waiting for Opal Vivacity to join him and his even younger sister over at the dinner table.
Before she would leave her room, Opal would look back outside, gazing at the Heavenly Maiden Tree. When looking at it, all she could think about was Fantina. Despite the murmurs and disdain for having a human here, who especially got along well with the vampiric youth, Fantina left an impact that stunned many. Her presence here wasn't as hated as it was before but the hate was still there. Especially from Opal Vivacity.
As for her manor, it was, as to be expected, absolutely beautiful. The dark aesthetic it had complimented the manor well. Laurels and wreaths of thorns hung from the walls which were all next to various paintings. These paintings appeared to be of other vampires who bared strong resemblances to Fractured Note, Opal Vivacity and Merry Dread. Similarities in their appearances compared to these modern-day vampire ponies were very present with some deviating from that.
While walking down the stairway, bats would fly past Opal Vivacity before then transforming into other vampire ponies. Waiting for her in this dark room was her family, which consisted of only Fractured Note and Merry Dread. The dinner table for this family was unnecessarily long as it stretched to great lengths. Fractured Note sat at the very end while Merry Dread sat on the side. Which meant that the other end was for Opal. But right as she went for the dinner table, her eyes were stunned by the sight before her.
"What is this?!" Opal gasped after witnessing multiple Pokemon suddenly on the dinner table. Ghost-Type Pokemon were frantically moving across the dining room, getting up to their usual mischief. "Oooh...Merry!" Immediately, all of her attention was pointed at Merry Dread.
"What? They're hungry too. I was surprised to learn that Ghosts need food. I didn't think they did since...ya know..."
"Merry. Remove them from the table at once." Opal ordered. "Pokemon shouldn't be on the dinner table. Especially when they're moving around like this."
"Says who?" Merry questioned.
"Says me," Opal replied before ducking her head, evading an incoming Misdreavus that was flying about. "You brought them all here? And when did you even catch so many of them?"
"I've been busy. I took the time to catch some Pokemon of my own. I only had one and after that everything that happened back in Manehattan, I got inspired to catch more. Multiple Pokemon have a lot of benefits, ya know. And I learned that the hard way."
"They do have their benefits...but they still should not be on the table. It's not like they'll be here forever."
"Yes, they will. Ghost-Types live forever. Duh. As far as it goes, they'll be here longer than us." Merry shrugged, receiving a piercing stare from Opal.
"She has a point. By the time we're gone, they'll be eating the food in here for future generations to witness." Fractured Note agreed with Merry Dread, much to the chagrin of Opal Vivacity.
"Don't back her up! Opal yelled. "One of these days you'll listen to my orders, Merry."
"Baha! Keep dreaming!" Merry wheezed. "You're only the middle child, which means you have no power over me!"
"Ugh..." Fractured Note sat down as a family squabble had begun. "It's always these two..."
"You're the one who introduced Pokemon to us. You used to snoop across Equestria, bringing in information for us and now all of a sudden Pokemon aren't cool? The Ghosts can phase through things so it's not that big of a deal."
"Stubborn girl. I hope you realize that the reason you'll never see these Pokemon again is because they'll be skeletons by the end of it all." Opal smirked, making Merry's pupils shrink.
"S-Skeletons...?"
"Obviously. The Black Crusade involves everyone aside from us. Every Pokemon out there will be swept up by Yveltal's dark wave, losing their lives immediately. That will leave her majesty to bring them all back as skeletons. So in a way, you'll see them just not in their proper forms. And without all of this annoyance flying around."
"But...I thought we were going to keep the Pokemon because they're so strong!" Merry Dread sat up. "Is this true, big brother?!"
"It's true." Fractured Note confirmed it. "The Black Crusade will consume all aside from us. It's mainly because of our long lifespans that the Black Crusade also exists."
"There you have it." Opal gave a smug smile to her little sister. "So don't get cosy. After all, the Black Crusade is fairly close so these will be some of the last moments you see them. You weren't supposed to get attached to them anyway."
"Well, I did okay!" Merry slammed her hooves on the table, startling Opal. By slamming her hooves, one of her Curse Magics went off, affecting the table by slowly melting it. "I caught all these Ghost-Types because they have no bones, so I'll always have an easier time against my opponents! They'll be stuck, unable to do anything while my Ghosts do all the work!"
"Genius, I'll give you that. But as if you needed them for that in the first place. Going solo back at Manehattan wasn't exactly your smartest play, sister."
"It's because of what happened in Manehattan that I got them. Plus, they're a lot more fun to be around than you!" Merry bared her vampiric fangs. "At least the Pokemon will spend time with me!"
"That time is limited. And as if I'd indulge in your childish acts anyway." Opal flipped her mane. "You still play around as if you are a child. Grow up. Then again, the Pokemon suit you because of how rooted in child-like behaviour they are."
"Ohh...You always want to ruin things for me Opal!" Merry Dread closed her eyes as she was already riled up. Her blood was boiling due to this heated conversation between the sisters. "Why can't you just butt out for once! You have Pokemon of your own, don't you?!"
"Only temporarily. Eventually, it will no longer be mine. End of story."
"Technically..." Fractured Note would finally say something in all of this as the older sibling. "Not all Pokemon will have succumbed to it."
"What?!" Opal and Merry both said as Fractured Note knew something they didn't.
"I mean, you should've known this from the start." But in reality, in his words, it was something that should've always been known. "The Black Crusade is meant to affect all living things. And unfortunately, not all Ghost-Types are full-on spirits. Some are still living things but most are spirits that can have physical forms. So in the end, you'll still have some Ghost-Types around but some will be gone. Is that good enough for both of you?"
"So...there's a chance!" Merry had a bright smile on her face before pumping her hooves into the air. "Woohoo! I mean it's gonna suck when some of 'em are gone but still!"
"Way to ruin the enjoyment, brother." Opal crossed her hooves, upset that Fractured Note brought some balance to this, even though it was in the favour of Merry Dread. "Enjoy it while you can. Let us eat already."
"Hah..." Fractured Note was glad that he managed to put an end to this conversation. Right as his sisters went to eat the food that was waiting there, the older sibling would turn around, facing the picture behind him. This picture was larger than the others in this house as it was wide enough to take up an entire wall.
And on that picture was another pony who resembled the three siblings. But this time, she was the closest to them than the others across the wall. She had Opal's elegant manestyle before she stole Bayleef's ability with a bit of a ponytail on it. Fractured Note's coat and Merry Dread mane colour pattern.
"Mother. What am I to do with these two?" Fractured Note said as the pony in that picture was none other than the mother of these three vampires, thus granting her the biggest picture in this house.
Eating in here would be rather silent as there was still tension between them. Merry Dread was eating like there was no tomorrow, and for her Pokemon, it felt like it since only some of them would be exempt from the Black Crusade. Thinking about it, Merry Dread would not see all of them again. Only a handful. While she would have that handful with her, it was still rather disheartening to know that some would perish. And that made her rather upset while consuming her delicacy.
"If you wish for more knowledge on Pokemon, Merry, then you should go and meet with Fantina." Fractured Note saw her sister's expression change, suggesting that she went to visit Fantina.
"Visit Fantina? Why bring that up?" Opal questioned as another conversation had been born.
"If anyone knows more about Ghost-Type Pokemon, it's her. She's the expert, being a Gym Leader and all. You caught these Pokemon for battle advantage, Merry. So go to her and gain some pointers. There's a lot about Ghost-Types that you should know and it would be embarrassing if the children knew more. Which they do."
"Oh, you're right!" Merry Dread stood up, realizing how useful that would be. "Duh. I should've done that first. Not one for being taught but...just this once."
"Be careful around that Fantina character though." Opal halted Merry Dread. "Even though her majesty has altered her memories and brought her to our side. I don't trust her one bit."
"That's exactly it. I've seen it firsthoof. Even before they knew of our existence. Fantina and those like her have this innate ability to break free of whatever is holding them back. Who's to say she won't find a way to free her mind?"
"Don't judge her majesty's power. It would take someone of her calibre to free Fantina's mind." Fractured Note shook his head. "And besides, the children love Fantina. Some have started to see her impressive talents."
"Hmph. They can't be that impressive." Opal looked to the side. "It's all about Fantina nowadays. That rather irks me. Sure she stands about but...must all the attention be on her?"
"They've even complimented her beauty. Not as much as the tree but still. And she's an amazing dancer, stylist and hairdresser." Fractured Note continued.
"Hang on...Those sound an awful lot like my skills!" Opal gasped.
"They do. They've even compared you to her. I don't blame them. Even if she's been around a small group, I can imagine she can get out there and dazzle the others. If they wish to. Not everyone is too keen on her apart from the children and even the potion maker, Ebony Rhyme."
"Bah! Makes sense that a defect like her would be around Fantina! I'll go and pay her a visit for the first time..." Opal narrowed her eyes as they would flash dark blue. "Since these claims are flying in. Comparing her to me? I should remind them who I am. I am Magehold's Most Fashionable Pony!"
"Good luck with that. But I wouldn't underestimate Fantina...whatever it is you're planning." Fractured Note warned his little sister.
"Why should I worry? What can she offer? Apart from maybe knowledge about Xerneas. Maybe I can use that." Opal Vivacity would walk off just to meet with Fantina.
"You're gonna let her go through with it?" Merry Dread looked over at Fractured, surprised by his choice of words. "Why?"
"Why not? It'll be fun won't it?" Fractured put on a soft smile. "Opal hasn't been competitive after she used her magic to decrease the competition. And Fantina is an interesting one. All humans are interesting to me, just as much as the Pokemon."
"Fair enough. I gotta see this if it's public. Oh...I can't imagine what'll happen!" Merry Dread cackled, already thinking of the best possible scenarios in her head.
"But it is also my duty to watch over Fantina. Before I get there...whatever my sister pulls, be careful, Gym Leader."
Living here was the Gym Leader Fantina. Stripped of most of her memories apart from her knowledge of Pokemon, she was forced to work here at Magehold, becoming the teacher for the young vampires. And despite how she stuck out from everyone else, the children grew close to Fantina, mainly due to how she saved their lives and teaches them about Pokemon.
However, Fantina's lessons branched off from just teaching them about Pokemon. More of her interests snuck in. Currently, the young vampires were being taught how to dance by the Hearthome City Gym Leader, who was a master in dancing, Contests, Battles and more.
Naturally, for these young vampires, dancing was not their speciality, as seen by how many were stumbling, tripping, slipping and tumbling when dancing on their own or by themselves.
"It's alright, children." Fantina would pick up one of the downed ponies. "It will take time, but you'll get used to it. Dancing isn't what you usually do here, but it's something that entices everyone, I can guarantee it. I should be expecting Ebony Rhyme to show up soon as well."
"Wish there was a spell that could just do it for us." A colt vampire said, looking at his hoof which had become a bit sore from a case of poor balance and hoofwork. "Does anyone have a curse for that?"
"You want a curse? Here's this!" Reacting to his question was a filly vampire, zapping the young colt with her unique Curse Magic. The hooves of this little colt would suddenly grow talons, the ones that belonged to avians.
"Hey-hey!" The colt bellowed after witnessing both his front hooves and back hooves being turned into the talons of an avian. From the looks of these talons, they seemed to belong to crows. All the other children would laugh as the crow-hoofed boy would start stumbling about, having even more poor balance than when he tried dancing.
And because of her actions, the others would start using spells on each other, trying to see what they could do to make dancing easier. But in reality, nothing would help them at all. The level of dancing Fantina had was something that had to be taught extensively. And of course, they just didn't have access to such a spell.
"Children, play nice. Tearstrings, turn your brother back." Fantina ordered. But she would do it in a gentle and calming way rather than a stern command. After all, Fantina knew how the vampires were and what they enjoy. And with this calming aura, she could communicate well with the vampires without much issue. "Now...Let's try another dance step. This will-"
"Fantina." Entering the room was another vampire. This time, an adult vampire as she walked in on this dancing activity. A few other vampires showed up, meeting with the Expert Coordinator.
"Ah...Um, who are you?" Fantina questioned, trying to figure out who these ponies where exactly since they showed up.
"Hm. You haven't seen us for these past months, haven't you? The actual teachers of this school." The rather tall and slim pony said with an uppity tone. "You have only been coming in and out of the school constantly. With such short hours too..."
"I'm rather jealous that she gets shorter hours than us..." A vampire whispered to another.
"Ah, the teachers. Nice to meet fellow teachers." Fantina kneeled, holding out her arm to greet them all. "I thought I was on my own, honestly..."
"Miss Fantina." The tall vampire did not greet her back. "What have you been teaching the children? Dancing? Really?"
"Mhm." Fantina nodded in confirmation. "I decided on it a few weeks ago. One of the children caught me dancing in my room and passed it on. So I figured I would teach them how to dance."
"Mmm...No need for that. No need for everything else you've shown and taught them." The tall vampire shook her head before scoffing. "You were sent here to teach them about Pokemon. Not this. You have been getting rather comfortable here...especially since her majesty, the Lich Queen hasn't done much at all about this."
"It must be too merveilleux for her then." Fantina giggled before twirling. "I assure you, they don't just have to learn about Pokemon."
"Miss Fantina, we've been getting some complaints from the parents because of this. They've been constantly saying that their children have been acting differently at home and even elsewhere." The tall pony continued. "Obviously, this is because of your influence on them. That much is clear since you have been tasked with teaching these children more than us. The Lich Queen sees Pokemon as crucial for you to take up most of their time. And that leaves us with almost nothing."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Fantina apologized sincerely. "I didn't know you weren't able to work because of me. But I took a small break and everything."
"We do not need your apology. We said almost nothing. Our chances have come but the children are less focused on their magical capabilities and more on which Pokemon of theirs can eat the fastest. Are you taking this job seriously?"
"Mm-mm." The other teachers were inclined to disagree. Each of them saw Fantina as too carefree. In this school, where the children are raised to have powerful curses and grow to be mighty vampires, something like this was frowned upon as seen by the synchronized frowns on their faces that were all identical.
"Of course I am. I take everything to heart." Fantina stood tall, putting her hand on her chest. There was no mistaking her actions. Fantina did everything with full effort. She was just that passionate, especially since she is a coordinator. "And the children rather enjoy it, don't they?"
"We do!" The children all bellowed at the same time, startling the ears of the other teachers.
"The fact that her majesty is allowing this is rather confusing...For this many months?" The tall vampire held her head, rather confused as to how this came to be. The dreadful aura around this school was starting to lessen because of Fantina's presence. "Surely this will all pay off, somehow."
"It'd better." A voice echoed through this room, grabbing everyone's attention as they would look everywhere for the source of this voice. But the source would come to them.
Appearing into this classroom with a dark purple and blue flash of magic was none other than Magehold's Diva and Fashionable Vampire, Opal Vivacity. In her fashionable mane, she appeared to meet with Fantina after what her older brother, Fractured Note had spouted at the dinner table.
"Miss Opal?" The teachers all said before backing up, making way for this vampire. And from the way Opal was walking with her head and chest held high, she was rather important to them.
"Fantina." Opal Vivacity spoke her name. "I finally get to meet you up close. I'm surprised it took this long, honestly. So you've been making waves across Magehold recently. Small waves but still..."
"Bonjour. It's nice to meet you. Judging from your massively elegant hair...you must be Opal Vivacity, oui?"
"So you already know about me. Off to a good start." Opal proudly smiled, taking any form of recognition to fuel her pride and ego. "What's this about dancing?"
"Listen to this, Miss Opal." The tall pony walked over, whispering in the ears of the fashionable vampire. She would share everything that's been said here so far to Opal for her to gather. And judging by Opal's face reacting to the news, she wasn't too pleased with what she was hearing.
"Is that it? My, you've certainly made quite an impact, haven't you?" Opal looked back at Fantina with a rather condescending tone. "It's almost at the same pace as how I stuck out..."
"Well, I do my best." Fantina giggled. "Honestly, I've been meaning to speak with you as well after I hear about how fashionable you dress. By any chance, do you dance as well?"
"Oh, you won't catch me dancing. Not for one bit. We don't do that here at Magehold. Though I may be fashionable, you won't be seeing anything bombastic involving it, apart from when I enter the scene with my stunning looks."
"Hmm...No fashion shows? This place doesn't strike me as one for it though..." Now that Fantina thought about it, Magehold's whole ambience and aesthetic said otherwise. "Well! There's always a place for us to start!"
"I'm sorry what? You're not seriously planning on having one, are you?" Opal pulled back as judging from Fantina's words, she wanted to make it happen.
"Children!" Fantina swivelled, facing the young vampires. "Here's something we can plan on~How about we surprise your parents with a fashion show?"
"Oooh!" The children all cooed. That suggestion piqued their interest. The fillies were most definitely interested and the most excited to get into it.
"Wear whatever you think suits you. If you have anything to wear." Fantina continued as the children immediately started babbling and speaking amongst each other. They were already discussing what they would bring to this show. Fantina herself would focus on making this possible.
But the children would already scatter, going for whatever they could find in this classroom. And thanks to Fantina's presence and influence, the ratio of dark and ominous decorations and objects to light and flashy decorations and objects ad been balanced out. There was a perfect balance between them. Fantina managed to find this balance without making the room lose too much of its darkness.
"Hang on. You're not allowed to make these orders." The tall pony halted Fantina. "That responsibility is on us. Not you."
"I can't?" Fantina looked over with a puzzled face. "It's only a small thing. And it will be outside of the school, I promise you."
"Oh. I'm afraid it doesn't." Opal stepped forward. "You're the equivalent of a substitute teacher here. We are your superiors, Fantina. And what we say goes. But you haven't exactly been around us for that long for you to realize that. You've been far too busy spending time with the children, teaching them whatever it is you know. That is to be expected."
"Hm-hm." Fantina smiled at Opal's pompous tone. "Well, you've been too busy with your mane to truly take care of these children, so that makes us even in a way."
"Ah!" Opal gasped as Fantina replied by targeting Opal's mane. Opal, being full of vanity, didn't take too lightly for that. The other vampires would scrunch their faces after hearing that response, wishing Fantina never said that. "Watch your tongue, human...You're already getting far too comfortable and familiar here..."
"And I'm starting to like it here." Fantina crossed her arms before looking outside of the window which showed the Heavenly Maiden Tree. "Magehold is an interesting place and I wish to see more of it. But I haven't gotten that chance. Perhaps I am too busy around the children. Hahaha!"
"Eventually, that'll come to an end..." Opal said, referring to the Black Crusade and how Fantina would become a part of it down the road. "So take it all in while you can. Unless something here catches you by surprise and finishes it off early."
"Well, said. Well, said." The other teachers nodded in approval of Opal Vivacity's words. Opal was obviously hinting at the fact that many things in Magehold were intensely dangerous to Fantina in every way.
"But don't take my words too seriously. Please. Do whatever you please, if you can even get the permission to do so." Opal continued to taunt the Hearthome City Gym Leader. "The children will have to leave school behind one day, so you'll truly be a substitute teacher from start to finish. And I doubt you'll even see that defect of a vampire around anytime soon."
"Defect...?" Fantina repeated, wondering who Opal Vivaicty was referring to. It didn't take long for Fantina to realize who it was about. Her friend Ebony Rhyme, the Potion Maker. "Ebony?! She isn't a defect!""
"Is she not? Apart from her lack of vampiric Curse Magic...She doesn't have long. Well, compared to us anyway." Opal used her magic to bring over a dark-coloured apple, feeling a bit peckish. "But you don't know, do you?"
"Know...what?"
"She's more than just lacking in Curse Magic. She doesn't have the same lifespan as ours. How pathetic is that?!" Opal cackled, revealing a shocking truth about Ebony Rhyme. "She came out with such flaws! She's far younger than us as we've been around for centuries. I wouldn't say she's younger than the children here, but even they will outlive her. Her life is just as short as yours. How fitting that both of you share that?"
"So what if I'm a defect?!" Shouting at Ebony Rhyme after entering this room was none other than the pony herself. Everyone stopped what they were doing, even the children, to glance at the potion maker. She finally arrived after Fantina waited for her.
And when standing at the door with her massive carriage of potions, the usually deadpan vampire had a rather agitated face that also made her eyes twitch. Those twitching eyes along with the trembling of her mouth made her look like she was on the very of whimpering. It was unknown how much she heard or when she got here.
"Look who it is." Having a minimal filter, Opal would speak to Ebony Rhyme with that cocky tone even after pointing out her disadvantages. "How long have you been there? Heard everything, or should I go into further detail for your friend here? Your lack of wings is something we can talk about."
"It doesn't matter...So what if I'm a defect? I don't care if I don't live as long as you all..." Ebony Rhyme as her tone was starting to shift from the usual monotone version. "At least it means I won't be around you all for much longer." She would immediately leave, refusing to be here any longer.
"Ebony, wait!" Fantina yelled after seeing her vampiric friend rush out of her. She didn't even bring her carriage with her. It was too heavy for her to run with.
"You're just as fragile as her to whatever lurks here...It's honestly surprising she's lasted that long. Those potions must grant incredible luck, if that's the case. Not as great as my mane though." Opal laughed along with the teachers, revelling in Ebony Rhyme's negative emotion. They knew they had annoyed her and they loved it. They have been looking down on her all these years after all.
Fantina watched the door where Ebony Rhyme ran out, staying silent while the sound of the teachers laughing was the most prominent sound. Not even the children wanted to say anything about this. After all, they had also grown a bond with Ebony Rhyme, attending her classes and brewing potions with her. The sound of these vampires laughing her friend's sadness rubbed Fantina the wrong way. Though Ebony wasn't full of many emotions, running away like that while having a slow-shifting tone gave it away. If she could see Ebony Rhyme now, tears could be forming at this moment.
"Miss Opal..." Fantina said Opal's name, giving some formality to it.
"Hm? Yes?" Opal would cease her laughing, letting out a slight chuckle before proudly looking over at Fantina. "What is-" Opal was suddenly caught off guard by the stare that Fantina gave her.
Fantina had shadows over her eyes as her pupils gave a piercing stare that startled the other teachers when they caught a glimpse of the Ghost-Type expert's face. Even the students backed away slowly as they had not seen Fantina with this expression before. She was always so gentle and lively. But this face was the opposite of that.
And upon a closer look, Fantian even resembled that of a spectre with how chilling the look in her eyes were, making her pupils even seem nonexistent.
"W-What are you looking at me for like that..." Opal stuttered, feeling a strong sense of intimidation. "Why am I feeling intimidated by her all of a sudden?"
"I believe I can ask your brother for this permission." Fantina turned away, leaving the scene as she brought up Fractured Note.
"My brother? Hah! I doubt he'll even let you go through with this!" Opal scoffed, nearly wheezing. But there was a visible sweatdrop on her after Fantina gave her that look. She would wipe it away, feeling rather glad that Fantina was out of here. Her attention would then be drawn to the children. "Alright, children. Toss away whatever Fantina was suggesting. You're here to become better vampires for the future. Your curse magic is untapped and we can't have things like this slow you down, apart from the knowledge of Pokemon. Hurry up and get back to work."
"Yess Miss Opal..." The children all said with low and disappointed voices. It was very clear how they viewed both Fantina and Opal Vivacity.
Fantina would start searching for Ebony Rhyme, wanting to comfort her friend. She ran through the dark hallways which had various eyes poking out of them, following the Hearthome City Gym Leader. Fantina could only think of one place. Ebony Rhyme's home.
"Fantina." Stopping Fantina's movements was the voice of Fractured Note. Or rather, his presence. Fantina would dash past the figure of Fractured Note who blended in well with the dark, despite having a dark coat. He expected her to see him, casually standing by the windows.
"Ah. Fractured Note!" Fantina gasped. "I want to speak with you after I found Ebony."
"You can go and do that as soon as you can, Fantina. Because I'll allow it." Fractured Note walked out of the shadows where the light of moon would shine down on him.
"Eh? Allow it? Are you referring to..."
"I am." The servant to Rosa Maledicta nodded, showing more respect to Fantina than the other vampires aside from Ebony Rhyme. "That idea of yours can pass through. My sister may be famous, but I have high authority over her and everyone else due to my status as the Lich Queens' servant. That Fashion Show of yours will be allowed."
"Oh! Merci!" Fantina was elated to hear that, putting her hands together. "That's wonderful of you to say, Mr Fractured Note!"
"It's just Fractured. Or Sir Fractured. And before I send you off, here's a suggestion. Invite Opal to it." Fractured Note gave out a shocking bonus to this now-approved fashion show.
"Invite Opal!? Why?"
"Well, not to the whole thing. I'd suggest near the end." Fractured Note suddenly generate a list right in front of him and Fantina. "Here are the guidelines I've already thought of. You are free to do whatever you want in this Fashion Show to the best of your abilities. I trust you will execute it perfectly. However, there is one mandatory rule. You must have a Pokemon Battle at the end. And I suggest that you battle against my sister, Opal."
"Alright...But why would you want me to battle against Opal, exactly?" Fantina asked.
"Just something I'll do for my sister. Don't worry too much about it." Fractured Note put on a smile before passing the guidelines to Fantina. "Good luck. It's best that you and the children make the decorations than anyone else. That will leave you with maybe a day or two. But do take your time."
"Righ! I'll do my best~" Fantina said before going on her way to meet with Ebony Rhyme.
"And plus...it would be a great way to see the look on her face..." But Fractured Note obviously did this for a reason. There was a reason why Opal Vivacity would be involved in this. And frankly, he was looking forward to the end more than anything.
Currently, a fashion show was being set up. A rather childish one since it would only involve children. As such, it would not match the sheer scale of most fashion shows. Originally suggested by Fantina, many vampires would obviously deny this. That is until Fractured Note, the loyal servant to Rosa Maledicta allowed it, making this possible.
And the ones to set it up were the vampire children that Fantina taught. Using what Fantina left behind, the children did their absolute best to try and make this stage possible. Fractured Note had even sent vampires to also work on this show as he had the highest authority over all of them except for the Lich Queen herself.
"Ebony! Ebony!" Meanwhile, Fantina was out searching for Ebony Rhyme after the insult she received from Opal Vivacity. She immediately came to Ebony Rhyme's home which was distant from most other buildings here. "Ebony?" The door was locked as seen by the various chains around it and an eye in the middle. Ebony Rhyme kept herself locked up.
However, the moment Fantina went to put her arms towards the locks, the magic around it would suddenly glow, flowing through Fantina's arms. Fantina stayed stunned for a bit before being read by the magical eye. After reading Fantina, the locks would suddenly pull back, vanishing from plain sight. Afterwards, the door was opened, allowing Fantina to enter. If there was one individual Ebony Rhyme would let in, it was Fantina, without a doubt.
"Ebony?" Fantina called out her name while entering the room. And sitting there on her lonesome, without having any of her Pokemon out was Ebony Rhyme.
"I forgot my carriage...Not like I could run with it, anyway. Unless I used a strength potion."Ebony spoke while facing away from Fantina. And from the tone in her voice, she was still gutted about what was said about her. But it wasn't anything new and yet it still stung.
"Ebony. Sorry about what happened back there. You can't listen to them at all. Like you said, you are not a defect at all." Fantian approached her vampiric friend.
"I know that." Ebony Rhyme grumbled. "But it never gets across...And I might as well be considered a defect every time I storm off because they always get the last laugh."
"You've stormed off multiple times from them?"
"Always." Ebony looked back at Fantina with a disgruntled face. Even after all that, she has yet to show an expression of sadness. "Much like every child here, when a vampire is born, their scanned for their magical capabilities. Obviously...I had none. There was no trace of Curse Magic within me or any form of magic. I was labelled a defect by everyone for my lack of magic and wings. And even my lifespan..."
The more she went on, the more her voice weakened. Although she was strong in keeping any form of sadness in check, it didn't stop her voice from changing and face from twitching a bit while speaking at a much lower tone than she already does. And Fantina could tell. The Hearthome City Gym Leader wished that Ebony Rhyme would let it all out right now.
"But you still have those who care for you, don't you?" Fantina sat next to Ebony. "You can't let someone like Opal take that away from you."
"That's why it's not the absolute worst. You, your Pokemon, my Pokemon and the children from the school are all I have. But that's about it, Fantina. Compared to the size that is Magehold, what good does it matter?" Ebony shook her head as she was also strung-up on the sheer size of Magehold and how many vampires label her as a defect. Taking the children out of the equation, it would be everyone.
"Hmm..." Fantina thought for a moment. How could she comfort and cheer up her monotone yet sometimes expressive vampire friend? That's when a realization came to Fantina's head. "Well...Even if the odds are stacked against you...you have the best favour possible."
"What's that?"
"The Lich Queen, of course. She's the ruler of Magehold, after all and she trusts you." Fantina brought up an excellent point. The Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta was not a vampire. If anything, she was just like Ebony Rhyme, who was so devoid of any vampiric traits that she might as well be a normal pony.
"She does. But that's only because Queen Rosa's not a vampire herself. From all the vampires and skeletons she rules, being the only standard pony her means that she could care less who she's talking to. But I won't like...Queen Rosa does trust in my potions more than anyone until you showed up." Ebony replied, thinking back to the times when Queen Rosa Maledicta needed her potions.
Especially months back when Ebony Rhyme was the one who managed to heal a bit of the Lich Queen after Yveltal injured her. It was a rather colossal achievement. But even with that achievement, it did not earn the respect of every vampire, even if it involved the Lich Queen.
"I guess the Lich Queen is an exception...if she doesn't show it. But I did tell you about my old friend, didn't I?"
"You did. You met someone when you were little who loved to make potions with you." Fantina grabbed some of the potions in this house. "What was her name?"
"Potion Nova." Ebony Rhyme revealed her name to Fantina at last. "The only other normal pony I know from far away. Before you came along and encouraged the children, there was her. But I haven't seen her in a long time."
"Oh, but you might, right? What's stopping you from seeing her again?"
"Fantina...We can't leave here. We have limitations to where we can go in Magehold. I highly doubt I'll see Potion Nova again." Ebony Rhyme sighed as it hurt her to say such a thing. "But you...You're even more bizarre than me and even the Lich Queen. You're a human. All things considered, you shouldn't be here."
"Why not?" Fantina questioned as her memories were that badly affected to the point where she didn't even question her presence within Magehold.
Ebony Rhyme looked down for a moment, knowing that there wasn't anything to convince Fantina to leave Magehold at all. Nothing has come up for that and nothing has happened that has made her want to do so. Fantina seemed more than fine with this place.
"Well...I should probably give you this. I should've done so in the beginning." Ebony Rhyme got back, going for one of her potion cabinets. When opening this cabinet, there was one potion that seemed almost invisible compared to others, having high transparency.
When picking up this potion, Ebony Rhyme would unleash most of it onto the table, using up a lot of the potion. But for a good reason as a black pulse would suddenly fly out of it, enveloping the room. Fantina gasped as she was caught by this pulse which turned everything into nothing but darkness. The furniture and potions had been masked by it.
"What is this?!" Fantina gasped upon seeing this room of darkness. The potions she previously held had also been hidden as only her and Ebony Rhyme were visible. Everything else was hidden in darkness. Everything except for one potion. Ebony Rhyme's strange transparent potion was there, now having a pitch-black appearance while still being visible. "Ebony? What are you doing?"
"This way, the Lich Queen can't hear us. Thanks to this potion. Fantina, I think you should hear this." Ebony Rhyme walked up to her with the Pitch Black Potion. "This is a Devoid Potion. It's one I've been working on for a few months. In secrecy compared to the others. As you can see, everything about is not only pitch black but the only voices and thoughts that can enter this small dark room is ours."
"Only us? No one else can hear this? But can they see it?"
"It's a powerful potion with limited space. I can only make it reach room size at best. I started making this potion a few months ago. Right after her majesty started healing from the struggle with Yveltal. And really...it's meant for you."
"For me? I'm not sure what I would do with this potion, Ebony." Fantina chuckled.
"You're not keeping it. I made it so that we can speak alone without anyone listening in on us. The Lich Queen has an amazing presence that makes her aware. And with this potion, I had to be discreet about it, making it as if I was making any other potion. I'm lucky that not everyone is into potions to know all the ingredients. But listen, Fantina. About you being here...You really shouldn't be here. At all. You're a human, after all. This isn't your home."
"Then...What is my home?" A confused Fantina asked, losing knowledge of her home thanks to the Lich Queen.
"I'm not sure. That's the problem. But I know that you weren't born and raised here. You were brought here. By the Lich Queen. Most likely, her magic was used to rob you of most of your knowledge. That involves your own past. But you actually come from the lands beyond here, where many Pokemon of all types can be found except for the ones we're so crucially limited to. You should at least know that."
"I...Don't know..." Fantina scratched her hair, trying her hardest to remember something. But her knowledge was limited to only Pokemon and a bit of her childhood. It was not enough. "Why tell me this now?"
"I've been working on a memory potion as well. It will help bring back your memories, but it isn't yet complete. I wasn't sure that I wanted to go through with this. You've been so kind to me, Fantina. More than anyone here." Ebony held the Devoid Potion close to her. "And I'm glad you're here with me, Fantian since I've never had anyone so close to me before. So, I never thought about it. I was only thinking of what we could accomplish in the future and thinking back on it...I'm sorry."
Ebony Rhyme apologized. It was for trying to keep Fantina here. But why wouldn't she? From how she described her experiences here and how she was viewed, someone like Fantina was who she needed in her life. Someone who could spend time with this potion-making vampire.
"You always thought about me and problems...Especially on the day we first met. Now, I want to do the same for you, Fantina. One day, you have to remember and return home. To where you belong. It's definitely not here." Ebony Rhyme pleaded. "I hope that memory potion is strong enough to break past the Lich Queen's magic. That's already a tall order for me to overcome."
"Ebony." Fantina kneeled to face her vampiric friend. "Thank you. I may not remember much...but I love that you're doing this for me. It's rather dangerous going against your queen, isn't it?"
"I know. I'd do anything for the queen but...I think it's best that you deserve this." Ebony put Fantina over the Lich Queen. The Bond of Friendship managed to overrule loyalty to the Ruler of Magehold. "What will you do now that I've told you this? It's not like you can just walk out of here anyway..."
"I won't do anything, my friend." Fantina stood up tall with a proud face, unbothered by this news. "I will keep living my best life here in the only way I know how and I will wait for you to achieve your goal. Good luck on that potion."
"Wow...Nothing gets past you does it?"
"Of course not~!" Fantia giggled before twirling. "Now, I have a fashion show to prepare. Please come by and watch it when it's ready, alright?" Fantina winked. "And work on that potion while you are at it."
"I will. I'll do my best." Ebony Rhyme put on a smile as a tear was finally forming. But with her monotone expression returning, she would suck the tear back up, refusing to let it fall. "For this potion, I have to make it the best possible potion that can exist. It'll take longer than what I did with the Devoid Potion and I will need some time to myself. But I can make it work."
"How long does this room last for, by the way?" Fantina asked, wondering when the Dark Room that was devoid of anything else but these two would end.
"It doesn't last very long. It should run out right about..." Right as Ebony said that, the void would disappear, bringing Fantina and Ebony Rhyme back into the clear but still grim and dark land of Magehold. "Now. Everything's all clear for us."
"Anyway, don't let those words get to you, Ebony. Show them that you're not a defect, okay?" Fantina would prance away, giving her farewells to Ebony Rhyme.
Ebony Rhyme could smile knowing that she had a good friend who could lighten her spirits. No one did it better than Fantina. Really, she was the only one who knew how to do so due to how she viewed Ebony Rhyme. Now that Fantina was gone, Ebony Rhyme's goal would have a ton of passion poured into it. For the sake of her friend's own happiness, she would risk breaking her loyalty with the Lich Queen. But for someone like Fantina, the risk was worth it.
Ebony Rhyme would be discreet about this but that was something she was already skilled at. After all, she managed to evade the Devoid Potion from the Lich Queen, having a way to bypass her powerful magic that could communicate with all vampires.
And when leaving Ebony Rhyme's home, heading for the school, Fantina had to wonder about her true life and what would happen when she remembers it. All she remembers was that she was a Top Pokemon Coordinator, an excellent fashion model, a powerful Gym Leader and now a teacher among a few things. The Gym Leader part was surprisingly the most bizarre part of her that she still recalled. This entire time, nothing involving Gyms has even sprouted up in Magehold. That was one thought that had Fantina the most curious as in reality, being a Gym Leader tied back to the Sinnoh Region.
Winsome Falls. Late Afternoon.
Speaking of Gym Leaders, the rematch was now. Enough time had passed to the point where it was very late in the afternoon, showing off the powerful orange glow of the golden sun in all of its glory. And arriving here for that rematch against the Final Gym Leader Brock were Rainbow Dash and Princess Luna.
With their friends coming to watch, the two Trainers stood before Winsome Falls' Gym, taking a step forward.
"Well, we've both prepared for the worst, haven't we?" Luna spoke to Rainbow Dash, hoping that she was prepared for the battle ahead. And more importantly, the Dreaded Blissey that was a nightmare to try and defeat.
"Oh yeah. I've burned enough time." Rainbow Dash said with a confident nod. "Brocks' already going to use Blissey. We know that much. But he might use a different Pokemon instead of Forretress."
"Indeed. But let's make sure this is not a repeat of the last battle. I would hate for us to have a third retry."
"Good luck you two," Ash said to them both. "Brock knows how hard you were working to beat him after yesterday. He'll double up his efforts in response to your strength. "
"Pikachu."
"We're ready for this, Ash." Rainbow Dash confidently said before she and Luna looked at each other, nodding in unison. Their confidence was greatly overflowing but not to the level where they think they can win this without much of a struggle. They knew what was waiting for them.
A Pink Demon was beyond those doors and whatever Pokemon Brock decides to use alongside her. If they slip up, it would be another loss for them and they could not afford for that to happen. Together, they would both open the door to the Winsome Falls Gym.
And standing there was the Rock-Solid Pokemon Trainer himself. Brock from Pewter City. Expecting Rainbow Dash and Luna at this time, he smiled at the moment they showed up. "Welcome back. A bit late, but this is fine."
"Just enough before I can raise the moon," Luna replied to him. "Let's have this rematch begin as soon as possible."
"Yeah. And this time, we're winning, for sure, Brock." Rainbow Dash declared before gulping slightly.
"We'll see. If not, then the third time's the charm, right? Unless you two want to battle separately and take turns so it's less harsh on one of you?" Brock smirked, suggesting a handicap. But of course, the two of them would not take it. They were aiming to win this together and become the first ponies to advance to the Equestria League.
Ash and the others would take their seats, excited and a bit worried to see how this would play out. To Rainbow Dash, Luna and all the other ponies, Brock was the strongest trainer they've had to ever face. Rainbow Dash had already faced Ash and that was her toughest battle but Brock was enough to fill up that spot. Compared to all their opponents that they've faced, good or bad, this Final Gym was not only a test of how far they have truly come as Pokemon Trainers that were new to the entire world of Pokemon but also their spot as Future Champions.
"Okay." Brock held out two Poke Balls in his arms. "Let's see who you'll bring out for this battle. I can already guess the last two. you can guess who's joining this battle on my side. But who's gonna be up first?"
"The Pokemon that'll stop that juggernaut of yours." Rainbow Dash said before also holding out her Poke Ball along with Luna's. Each Trainer held out their respective Poke Balls as the orange glow of the sun pierced through the windows, shining off these objects. The Rematch of the Final Gym would finally begin. As the journey continues.
The rematch against Brock was now underway. Rainbow Dash and Luna would team up once more to try and take down the Rock-Solid Trainer. The Final Gym just had to be cleared even if they suffered a loss previously. But considering what they were up against, it only made sense that they'd be back for a second round.
And this time, the juggernaut that was in Brock's Team would have to be taken down. Both trainers took their positions with the referee immediately rushing to the middle to kick things off. "The battle will be a-"
"No need to say them." Brock suddenly stopped him from going any further. "They were here yesterday. They know the drill and I'd like to get things started."
"Agreed!" Rainbow Dash and Luna would immediately speak in unison, wanting to get this show on the road.
"Oh. But that's the rules though..." The guard scratched his mane as the usual rules that had to be stated out were immediately dismissed. Everyone knew them by now, especially for this battle. "Then uh...Send out your first Pokemon, challengers."
"This time...I'm going with you! Whmsicott!" Rainbow Dash threw her Poke Ball into the air, summoning her newest Pokemon. It ended up being the playfully energetic Windveiled Pokemon Whimsicott.
"Whimsicott!"
"Then it shall be you! Gliscor!" Luna sent her first Pokemon out as well. Her Gliscor.
"Gliscor!"
"Then for me...you two are perfect!" Brock sent out his two Pokemon. One was expected while the other would be a surprise. Emerging from the Poke Ball was the Pink Demon Blissey. The Pokemon that harboured amazing strength along with high endurance. This was the Pokemon that Luna and Rainbow Dash struggled so ferociously with. Upon seeing Blissey, sweatdrops formed on their heads. But joining Blissey was someone else. It was not Forretress this time. Rather, it was Brock's first Pokemon and his true ace.
Steelix.
"Steelix!"
"Blissey!"
"It's his Steelix this time?!" Rainbow Dash gasped. "I should've known...Steelix is a problem!"
"Be careful of both of them! Steelix is just as dangerous as Blissey!" Twilight yelled, warning them both. They already had tons of warnings that came their way thanks to Blissey's presence. But with Steelix in the fray, those warnings have been multiplied and amplified to the next level.
While not having the titanic strength that Blissey possess, Steelix made up for that with his equally amazing defence that made this Pokemon almost impossible to defeat. Now, Rainbow Dash and Luna were dealing with two defensive masters.
"Yikes! Steelix is in the Upper Echelon of Defensive Pokemon!" Goh squeaked after using his Pokedex to check Steelix, comparing him to other defensive Pokemon. Mainly the ones his Pokedex has caught. On it, the Pokedex would line up various Pokemon that were known for having amazing defence and of course, the most prominent typing was the Steel-Typing with Steelix being in the Top 10. Steelix took the Number 2 Spot, making him all the more intimidating.
Despite that, the number one most defensive Pokemon was a Rock-Type, AKa Shuckle. "Well...at least he doesn't have a chuckle, right?" Goh laughed nervously. But even if there was no presence of a chuckle, Brocks' Steelix could make up for it.
"Shuckle!" Jumpscaring Goh by landing on his lap was Mew, transforming into a Shuckle in response, just for a laugh. And it was certainly effective as Goh screeched upon seeing a Fake Shuckle show up.
"These are some great options for their first Pokemon," said Twilight. Speed, Immunity and Resistance. But..."
"Alright, Rainbow Dash. We both agree that we should not just focus on Blissey. It was our mistake underestimating the other Pokemon from before. But with Steelix out here, both cannot be underestimated." Luna spoke to Rainbow Dash, gazing at the Steel-Ground-Type. "Both of us should go for each of them."
"Got it. I'll go for Blissey. You can go for Steelix." Rainbow Dash replied, fixating on Blissey. With Whimsicott out, she was going to rely on his speed more than anything.
"Battle Start!"
"Okay, Whimsicott! Use Moonblast on Blissey!"
"Go Gliscor! Acrobatics on Steelix!"
"Whim! Whimsicott!" Whimsicott would go first, holding her hands out to draw power from the moon. Since it was late in the afternoon, despite there being a sunset, the Moon was nearby, giving Whimsicott a great ordeal of power. But moving ahead was Gliscor when he used Acrobatics.
"Gli!" The Fang Scorp Pokemon rushed in, zigzagging while moving forward and creating afterimages in the process.
"Blissey! Dazzling Gleam! Steelix, Stone Edge!"
"Steel!" Steelix!" Steelix would slam his tail onto the ground, summoning massive crystals from below. Following that was a barrage of rainbow rays that were sent by Blissey as the Stones and Rays would appear in abundant numbers, enough to hit both Pokemon.
"Whimsicott!" Whimsicott would then throw her Moonblast, nearly falling over. The Moonblast travelled, meeting with the rays of Dazzling Gleam. Moonblast managed to stop these rays in their tracks, causing both attacks to combust, destroying some of the stones from Stone Edge as well. By destroying the stones, this gave Gliscor an easier time, allowing him to zigzag and evade past the remaining crystals.
"Scor!" Gliscor would then reach Steelix after evading the stones, smacking the Steel-Ground-Type with his claws at a high velocity. It was not very effective, even if the velocity hit made Steelix close his eyes for a bit. But a Pokemon that was just as durable as Blissey, if not more, some of the heaviest attacks were needed to try and overcome this. "Gli?!"
"Hmph. Push Gliscor back, Steelix!"
"Lix!" With Gliscor too close, Steelix would retaliate by simply pushing his head forward. The weight of his body was enough to launch the Fang Scorp Pokemon back, even dealing him damage.
"G-Gli!" Gliscor cried out while rolling in the air. Luna gasped before grizzling her teeth. Steelix's weight was something to take into account as well.
"Are you alright, Gliscor?!" Luna yelled as Gliscor would manage to recover in midair with a small bruise visible on his head. Nothing he couldn't handle. "Not many of my attacks will be very effective on Steelix as compared to Blissey. Is what I would say...but I have something waiting for that snake."
"Keep your distance away from Blissey at all costs, Whimsicott!" Rainbow Dash warned as getting up close and personal with Blissey was rather dangerous considering her amazing physical strength. "Use Solar Beam! Ascend and charge up!"
"Whimsi...!" Whimsicott would ascend, beginning to gather solar energy. Though the sunset was strong, Whimsicott would have to take some time charging it up.
"Then it's just you, Gliscor! Stone Edge and Dazzling Gleam once more!"
"Blissey!" The same attacks would be used once more. This time, all of it would be on Gliscor who would take on both Pokemon until Whimsicott was finished charging.
"Just us...?!" Luna pulled back before thinking quickly about her hooves. "Gliscor! Dodge them!"
"Gli!" Gliscor would soar away instead of trying to take these attacks head-on. The Ground-Flying-Type would turn around, fleeing from the rising crystals and rainbow rays that came his way, flying as fast as possible while Whimsicott was building up solar energy.
Gliscor flew around the arena, doing the crystals each time they would show up from the floor. He would fly higher to avoid them or swerve to the side. But the same couldn't be said for Dazzling Gleam. He tried avoiding Dazzling Gleam, evading a few of them, only for some of them to strike him with how they moved around more frantically than Stone Edge.
"Gliscor!" Gliscor yelled as he had been slowed down by the stray rainbow rays. And with that, the other Stone Edges smacked him, dealing further damage to the Fang Scorp Pokemon.
"Not good! He's practically caught up in it!"
"Excellent! Now is your chance, Gliscor! Counter!" Luna found an opportunity to use this move. Gliscor taking a double dose of damage would be used to his benefit.
"Gli...Gliscor!" Gliscor had used Counter. His eyes flashed orange along with his entire body as he spun through the air, immediately gaining aerial balance once more. With this orange aura around him, he would charge in, breaking through the other crystals with this counterattack.
"But I thought Counter only works on physical moves?" Apple Bloom asked, wondering why Counter was working considering Gliscor was not hit by the Pokemon in an up-close fashion.
"Stone Edge is a Physical Move, even if it's used from a long range. Which means Counter is eligible to be used here!" Twilight explained with her face getting excited. "If this hits either Steelix or Blissey, this is going to be amazing! And as for Whimsicott..."
"Whimsicott!" Whimsicott had finished charging up her Solar Beam. Gathering enough energy, the Grass-Fairy thrust her hands forward, releasing a verdant beam that would come crashing down from above. This went well with Gliscor's Counter.
"Fly into that beam, Gliscor!" Luna ordered before looking at Rainbow Dash. Both nodded at each other as this was just a showcase of their teamwork after their many battles together. Now that they were battling with a different resolve compared to yesterday, their great synergy could be revealed at last.
"Gliscor!" Gliscor would then zip to the side, entering the Solar Beam. A unison attack had been performed as an orange glow entered the verdant beam.
"Woah!" Brock was startled by what he was witnessing. Any of his Pokemon would suffer a chunk of damage depending on who would receive it. "Quick, Steelix! Dig! Blissey! Mega Punch!"
"Blissey!" Blissey would finally use that amazing strength of hers. With a black orb of energy appearing on her fist, the Happiness Pokemon would take on this unified attack. As for Steelix, he would burrow his way underground, using this to evade the attacks. His own natural speed wouldn't be enough so this was the best option.
With Blissey being on her own for the moment, she would throw Mega Punch at the unified attack, forming a strong shockwave from the collision that would blow away the rocks and rubble formed from the earlier parts of this battle. Once again, Blissey showed why she was a champion of strength as her Mega Punch was holding both Counter and Solar Beam back.
"Even that?!" Luna bellowed with her eyes expanding. She was sure that the combination of Counter and Solar Beam would win out. But it seemed that Blissey's strength was the ultimate roadblock. The Wall Standing Stall that was nigh impossible to overcome.
"If they can't get past Blissey's strength in any way, this will just be a repeat of the past." Rarity bit her hoof, nervous that Blissey was just far too strong for them to overpower. "Is Blissey just unstoppable?!"
"Oh! Princess Luna! Watch out for Steelix!" Rainbow Dash quickly remembered that Steelix had used Dig and could pop out at any moment. And the fact that Gliscor and the Solar Beam were clashing with Blissey's Mega Punch, he was very vulnerable.
"Right! Pull back at once Gliscor!" Luna yelled. At this moment, there was a rumble on the floor as Steelix was about to emerge. This struggle was meaningless as neither side was winning, even if Blissey was gaining the edge.
"Gli...Gliscor!" Gliscor would try flying back as soon as soon as possible, planning to put an end to this clash. However, Blissey would not allow that.
"Bliss!" Blissey held her strength back a bit just to let Gliscor move ahead a bit. Gliscor was surprised to see that he was managing to win the struggle at the last moment, even though it was a bluff. It was at that moment, that she baited him, allowing Steelix to get a hit off.
"Steelix!" Steelix emerged from the floor, causing a massive earth eruption before then hitting Gliscor, going through the verdant beam of Solar Beam.
"Scor!" Gliscor was knocked up as the Solar Beam had been shattered into pieces, ending Whimsicott's attack. Gliscor would then find himself dropping to the floor, tumbling and rolling while groaning.
"No! Gliscor!" Luna leaned forward, distraught by how Gliscor had dropped. Thankfully, Gliscor hadn't fainted just yet. But that whole instance was perplexing for him.
"Maybe if the Sun was stronger...that Solar Beam could've mattered," Scootaloo grumbled, rubbing her hooves together, worried about how this battle was going. "Maybe..."
"Brock's Pokemon may be slow but they make up for it with such amazing strength. I can't think of much than get past them. Especially with their even greater defence."
"All that and we haven't landed clear hits on Blissey or even meaningful ones on Steelix," Luna uttered, lowing her head in disappointment. So far, this wasn't going as well as they hoped. If anything, it was starting to look worse than the previous one already.
"I know...Gotta think of something." Rainbow Dash smacked her head, attempting to come up with something new just for a stellar advantage.
"What we need to worry about is also Blissey's ability to heal. Her Soft-Boiled is what slowed down our progress the last time." Luna recalled another strength of Blissey. Her role as a healer. "Gliscor does have something that can at least give us a sign of victory. I just need to pull it off. And that unfortunately means getting close to Blissey."
"I'll make Whimiscott give you that way. I know just what she can use to help out." Rainbow Dash nodded.
It's my turn! Blissey, Mega Punch! Steelix, Gyro Ball!"
"Blissey!" Blissey and Steelix would be the ones to approach as well. Blissey would take off while Steelix would slither, much like a snake. Despite being slow Pokemon, they've had enough battle experience to still be as fast as they can be. And that was not to be taken lightly.
"Here they come! Whimsicott, let's go! Fly in and use your cotton!"
"Gliscor! Poison Jab!"
"Gliscor!" The method had been revealed. Gliscor would try and poison Blissey, summoning poison tips on his claws. Poison was an excellent effect to weaken an enemy gradually. And assisting him would be Whimsicott, who flew ahead of the Fang Scorp Pokemon with her superior speed.
Whimsicott would use her cotton, summoning them from her body as a way to hold back Blissey and Steelix. Rainbow Dash used Whimsicott's trick methods that she experienced upon first meeting the Windveiled Pokemon to her advantage. By summoning large balls of cotton, they would get in the way of Blissey and Steelix, acting as obstacles.
"Bliss! Bliss!" Blissey and Steelix would break through the pieces of cotton with her brute strength along with Steelix. But even though the cotton wasn't that strong it was certainly holding them back, keeping them occupied. One hit of cotton would make the blink as it was more of a confounding and stunning effect than a hard-hitting one. Whimsicott would keep throwing more of them out while flying back, already being ahead of Gliscor.
"Now is our chance! Go, Gliscor!" Luna found her opportunity. With so many cotton balls flying everywhere, Blissey and Steelix were occupied as they were also struggling to gain on Whimsicott because of her superior speed. With a cheeky giggle, Whimsicott flew to the side, paving the way for Gliscor to make his appearance.
"Gliscor!" Gliscor moved past the cotton balls, going straight for Blissey with Poison Jab. A direct hit. Gliscor slashed past Blissey with his claw, stunning the Happiness Pokemon. With his claws scraping by, Gliscor injected poison into Blissey's body, pulling off the affliction.
"He got her!" Twilight, Starlight, Applejack and Pinkie Pie collectively yelled with many of them cheering after Gliscor got a successful and fairly hard hit on Blissey. And with the poison now within the Happiness Pokemon, a way to weaken this titan of strength has been made. All thanks to the efforts of Gliscor and Blissey combined. With a smile on his face, Gliscor was ready to take the initiative against Blissey.
"Steel!" But this came with a cost. The spiralling body of Steelix would hit Gliscor once he slashed Blissey, knocking him away. Gliscor gasped with his pupils shrinking. This Gyro Ball was far stronger than what Forretress had previously made.
"G-Gli..." And in midair, Gliscor ended up fainting while being knocked away. The Fang Scorp Pokemon dropped to the ground, sliding on it while on his face. Gliscor fainted but left behind something that could be beneficial. "Gliscor..."
"Gliscor is unable to battle! Steelix Wins!"
"A-Ah..." Luna's mouth and hooves trembled before she then closed her eyes, biting her lip, accepting the outcome that came from this. "Thank you, Gliscor. Return."
"That's a shame. Right after he pulled it off too." Starlight sighed. "At least the poison is still there. That's all that matters, right?"
"It is. The poison will eat away at Blissey bit by bit. And not only that, it'll weaken her performance because of how sharp it can be. Gliscor left something big behind." Goh brought on the positives. "I don't think Soft-Boiled can even stop the poison from finishing her off."
"It's all a matter of if they can beat Steelix. He wouldn't have been poisoned because of his immunity at all." Fluttershy pointed out how Steelix was still sitting pretty, having such a strong durability that poisoning him was out of the question. Only Blissey was eligible for that.
"Gliscor. You were excellent in this battle. And you've paved the way for our victory. Get yourself some rest." Luna praised him before placing the Poke Ball away. Gliscor put up a good fight for the time he had here. But now, Luna was the one down to her last Pokemon while Rainbow Dash still had her Whimsicott out. "Then it's up to you once more. Darkrai."
"Emerging from the shadows was Darkrai once more as she showed up in front of Luna. Darkrai would pick up from where Gliscor left off. Her final Pokemon and already, her chance to obtain the Final Gym Badge was at its climax. Because of this battle, whoever loses both of their Pokemon first, loses the chance to earn the Gym Badge.
"Bliss...Blissey!" And Gliscor's effects were starting to show. For once, Blissey looked a tad bit winded. There was a poison streak on her face, showing that Gliscor's efforts were not in vain.
"There's one more affliction we can cause." Luna smiled with her confidence shooting up some more. "We've poisoned Blissey. Now, all we have to do is put that snake to sleep."
"You can try. But even if you do, Steelix can take as many hits you throw at him." Brock pointed at Luna and Rainbow Dash, believing that afflictions were not enough to stop his momentum.
"Oh, you'll see! Steelix is gonna break apart after we're finished with him!" Rainbow Dash declared.
"Then...I'd better get serious." Brock decided to up the ante at this point. By crossing his arms, he suddenly flexed his muscles, breaking his shirt from pure strength alone. Luna and Rainbow Dash gasped after his shirt just flew off, showing his well-built upper physique. But more importantly, around his neck was a necklace. And on that necklace was a Stone.
A Mega Stone.
"You know what this means...! It's time for Mega Evolution!" Brock held out the Mega Ring, preparing to unleash the full force of Steelix's strength.
"Mega Evolution?!" An intimidated Rainbow Dash screeched with a face of utter shock and horror. This already tough and bulky Pokemon was about to receive a massive upgrade.
"I'm a strong rugged man! So I have to use my very best! It's time Steelix! Mega Evolve!" Brock's voice echoed through the room to elevate how intense this was going to turn out.
"Steel...Steelix!" Enveloped in this bright light that formed into DNA Symbol, Steelix was beginning to change. The light almost blinded Luna and Rainbow Dash, causing them to squint and put their hooves over their eyes. It would then shoot out of his body as if it was a blast of electricity before then forming the Mega Evolution symbol. After enveloping him, Steelix had transformed, emerging in his final form. Mega Steelix. "Steelix!"
"Mega Steelix...!" Rainbow Dash would step back for a bit, gazing at Steelix's evolved form which had a foreboding presence behind it.
"It's even more durable than before...And everyone else will have to challenge this eventually?!" Luna was absolutely appalled by this. How could such a powerful Pokemon be the final Gym? Then again, with no Elite 4 System of Champion, as far it goes, Brock is the equivalent to the Equestrian Champion.
"Brock's Mega Steelix is even scarier than Blissey," Ash said. "I've seen it. He can even take a Z-Move head-on and still went on after that. Getting past that defence is gonna take a lot of work."
"Pikachu."
"You're kidding! "Twilight and everyone looked at Ash. "Brock kept this from them yesterday? He was going easy on them the entire time?"
"Then...H-How are they going to win?" Pinkie Pie stammered as the odds were once against stacked against them. Brock just seemed to keep piling on the intensity.
"They might need a miracle for this."
"I-It's fine!" Luna shook her head, refusing to falter. "It still lacks the speed. I'm afraid that even if I land Dark Void, it won't be enough. The endurance on that Pokemon could take an obscene amount of time...
"Are you afraid?" Suddenly, speaking to her was none other than Nightmare Moon from within, sensing Luna's fears.
"I...I am afraid..." Luna was seemingly speaking to herself. But it was actually Nightmare Moon. "Why is this what scares me more than anything I've faced? I don't understand."
"I'm not afraid." Rainbow Dash gulped. She did exhibit signs of fear but she quickly swallowed them. "I've got this. I can win this."
"I shouldn't be afraid either..."Luna rubbed her eyes. "I've faced many nightmares before after all. If I can just overcome this, then there's nothing else I can't fear at all." Luna would also swallow her fears, knowing that this could be over, so as long as she can pull it off successfully.
But that was a tall order. Both figuratively and literally. This was the last stretch for both of them. With Brock Mega Evolving his Steelix, the difficulty had reached an all-time high. As far as battles go, for Rainbow Dash and Luna, this was their roughest one by far.
"Steelix!" During the rematch against the Final Gym Leader Brock, Mega Steelix had appeared after undergoing Mega Evolution. It was only going to get tougher from here for Rainbow Dash and Princess Luna. The only benefit they had was the fact that Gliscor managed to poison Blissey but at the cost of fainting.
"If you won't come to us, then we'll come to you," Brock said after a moment of silence between them. Rainbow Dash and Luna would grit their teeth, expecting the worst from Brock at this point. This whole time, he had been going easy on them since yesterday.
"We won't defeat Mega Steelix for a while. Our best option is to keep him still. Nothing a good Dark Void can't handle...Victory is within our sights now."
"Luna!" Calling out her name was none other than Princess Celestia. The Sun Princess had shown up and she was not alone. Joining here were a few Canterlot Guards as they were all here to support the Moon Princess.
"Sister?" Luna would look back, hearing the voice of her older sister. Ash and the others were shocked to see Princess Celestia and a few guards show up. Celestia has never shown up for any Gym Battles before. But this seemed to be the only exception. "Why are you here?!"
"To cheer you on, of course! This is the last gym and you will absolutely crush it this time!" Celestia was here for that reason. Supporting her little sister was the crux of it all since this was her final Gym.
"But shouldn't you be focusing on what has happened in the Galar Region?"
"It will take until tomorrow until my forces can reach Galar. I'm here to support you until this is over and it's back to work. Plus, can't I show up to my sister's big moment?"
"Sister..." A smile graced Luna's face. Seeing her older sister here to cheer her on during this Gym Battle when she has never done it before was a wonderful feeling. The guards were all equipped with flags that had Luna's face on, most likely commissioned by Princess Celestia. "Now I have a greater motivation to win this."
"Oh wow! Princess Celestia too!" Brock's eyes were elated, transforming into hearts after seeing Princess Celestia. He would then focus on the battle, shaking his head. "Right! I'll come to you! Blissey! Mega Punch!" Steelix, use Gyro Ball!"
"Here they come! Whimsicott! Fly back and use Moonblast!"
"Gyro Ball can deflect the Dark Void just like how Forretress did before. I won't make the same mistake again! Keep your distance, Darkrai! Use Dark Pulse repeatedly!"
"Whimsi!" Whimsicott and Darkrai would both keep their distance, unleashing the power of the Moon and the power of Darkness. These different attacks would fly out while the opposing Pokemon approached. And as to be expected, Gyro Ball seemed to be an effective way of blocking Darkrai's attacks as his Dark Pulse was being held back by Steelix's spinning.
With Steelix being so slow, Gyro Ball's power was amplified, making it hit so hard the Dark Pulse would even be sent flying elsewhere. And to get an extra boost, Blissey would hop on Steelix, using the same tactic from when she was teaming up with Forretress. But this time, she would leap off Steelix once on him, using the Steel-Ground-Type as a platform. With that leap, Blissey covered a great distance, using Steelix as a way of momentum, smashing the Moonblast until it would combust. After the Moonblast blew up, Blissey would move through the smoke, appearing in front of Whimsicott.
"Yeah, right! Use your cotton, Whimisicott!"
"Whim!" Whimsicott would once again throw out some cotton at Blissey, using it as an extra form of attack and protection. While the cotton itself doesn't do any damage, it does combust, leading to some delays depending on who gets hit by it.
"B-Bli!" And at last, Blissey was starting to show some flaws. The poison from Gliscor's Poison Jab came in handy, making her stagger for a bit as the cotton blew up in her face. Blissey would then fall back after being smacked by the exploding cotton.
"Yes! Way to go!" Rainbow Dash pumped her hoof after that successful cotton hit. "Now, use Moonblast again!"
"Whimsicott...!" Whimsicott would follow up by using Moonblast once again. This time, while Blissey was on the floor.
"I don't think so! Hit the Dark Pulse in her direction, Steelix!"
"Steelix!" Mega Steelix would then forcefully redirect one of the Dark Pulses in a specific direction, using Darkria's own attack against his teammate. With the power of his Gyro Ball, he managed to send the Dark Pulse flying.
"Whim!" Whimsicott's Moonblast had been interrupted. The Dark Pulse engulfed her from the side, forcing the Windveiled Pokemon to the floor. Whimsicott would then bounce on the floor thanks to her cotton body, cushioning her damage. She took minimal damage overall since Dark-Pulse did nothing to this Grass-Fairy-Type. As for Darkrai, he failed to break through Steelix's Dark Pulse. He would then ascend, making it impossible for Steelix's Gyro Ball to hit him now. Both reached a stalemate at this point.
"I still haven't found my opening just yet," Luna said, waiting for the right moment to use Dark Void. One dose of it should buy her and Rainbow Dash enough time to lay the smackdown on Steelix. "But if we want to make our assault possible, then getting rid of Blissey is our next goal."
"We're going back to that? Okay then." Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement. With Blissey poisoned, she would have to go down eventually. But for them, getting rid of her while focusing on putting Steelix to sleep was too important not to try and pull off. If they could pull it off.
"Not if I do this!" Soft-Boiled!"
"Blissey!" However, Blissey had the means to reverse the damage. The egg in Chansey's pouch had been thrown into the air. Upon entering the air, it would unleash a golden pulse that would rapidly reach Steelix's body and her own. It then floats over to the target and melts into its body. As it did, both Pokemon were rejuvenated. Not exactly free from the Poison though. Blissey did not have the means to erase the Poison Status from her body, making her still vulnerable to the gradual virulent damage.
"Well, seems we have to start over again." Luna sighed before cracking a confident smile. "But I'd gladly go for another round. Isn't that right, Darkrai?" Darkrai greatly agreed as he held his claws out in enthusiasm.
"Let's make this next one count! Whimsicott!" Rainbow Dash's hair would flow after she made her next command with great vigour in her voice and hoof moment. "Solar Beam! Ascend and leave cotton behind!"
"Whimsi!" Whimsicott would ascend, twirling through the air before then leaving behind balls of cotton with each ascent she made, essentially forming a tower.
"What's up with that tower of cotton?! What's she planning?!" Scootaloo gasped as everyone's eyes followed Whimsicott's movements as she kept going, leaving more and more cotton puffs behind.
"Not if I have anything to say about it! Steelix, use Stone Edge!"
"I won't let you! Stop them, Darkrai! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Steelix!" Steelix would try and ruin whatever Whimsicott was planning, summoning a barrage of stones around his body. These stones glistened like crystals as Steelix would shoot them out. But not before Darkrai made his own interception. The Pitch Black Pokemon put his claws together, forming a flare of electricity which was packed with 100,000 volts. Darkrai would then thrust his hands forward, unleashing the bolt.
There were multiple stones and only one Thunderbolt. However, Darkrai would make it work. With this one bolt, hitting a singular stone would cause a chain reaction. The volts would spread out, latching themselves onto the other stones to slow them down. Stone Edge and Thunderbolt cancelled each other out, much to the chagrin of Steelix.
"Mega Punch! Dig!"
"Steel!" Steelix would take a different approach. He burrowed underneath the floor while Blissey would jump high into the air. Both would try and reach Whimsicott in their own ways. Blissey would first meet up with Darkrai though, having a black orb in her first.
"Dark Pulse!" It was up to Darkrai to give Whimsicott enough time so that she can pull off whatever she was planning without any setbacks. It was essential to reach closer to victory. Darkrai would fire this pulse of dark thoughts right as Blissey was inches close to hitting him. Dark Pulse and Mega Punch collided in an up-close collision, forming a pure black explosion. Darkrai would be forced back as Blissey's Mega Punch won out despite the combustion while Blissey was looking fine, despite being poisoned.
"Princess Luna! Use Whimsicott's cotton!" Rainbow Dash bellowed, insisting that she used the cotton puffs to her advantage.
"Oh? A-Alright! Darkrai, grab the cotton!" Hearing Luna's words, Darkrai would hold his claws out, placing them on the cotton. He came to a screeching halt when flying through the air while also snatching a piece of cotton. And with pure instinct, Darkrai already knew what he wanted to do with it.
The Pitch Black Pokemon would launch the cotton puff at Blissey, retaliating immediately. The cotton puff flew at great speeds thanks to Darkrai's throwing strength. Blissey would receive another cotton puff to the face, pushing her away once again.
"Ah! So that's why you had Whimsicott ascend!" Luna finally understood Luna's approach. The tower of cotton puffs acted as a way for Darkrai to hold his own while leaving Whimsicott to build up her Solar Beam. And it looked like it was going to be a mighty Solar Beam with how much solar energy she was gathering.
"Steelix!" But there was also Steelix to worry about as he finally emerged from the ground, having his mouth wide open. Darkrai would look down as the Iron Snake Pokemon had consumed some of the cotton puffs Whimsicott left behind when ascending.
"Feed it the lot, Darkrai! Use Dark Void with it!" Luna found her opportunity. The time to use Dark Void had arrived. And what better way to do it from within? Darkrai's eyes flashed as he grabbed as many cotton puffs as he could. The Pitch Black Pokemon would then embed one of them in the aura of Dark Void, using the puffs as an extension of his attack.
The puffs came raining down, moving at high speeds. Steelix would find himself being smacked by the puffs which had a bigger oomph to them now. Thanks to Darkrai rapidly throwing them, their velocity meant that they would hit harder against Mega Steelix. And while they didn't affect him as much as Blissey, they were still enough to keep him a bit staggered in split seconds, but it wasn't enough.
But what was enough was the one cotton puff that had Dark Void within it. This one puff entered Steelix's mouth, immediately spreading the energy of Dark Void in him as it would expand. Steelix's eyes widened as he knew what had just happened.
The darkness enveloped his insides before then reaching outside as the Iron Snake Pokemon would suddenly fall, losing his momentum after using Dig. Steelix would then fall to the floor, causing a big impact that shook the arena. He had been put to sleep.
"They did it! They put Steelix to sleep!" Fluttershy wooed and cheered.
"Now they're free to deal with just Blissey for the meanwhile!" Twilight exclaimed as it was just Blissey now. "And as for Whimsicott...!"
"Now! Fire!" Rainbow Dash gave the order for Whimsicott to finally use Solar Beam.
"Whimsicott!" She took much longer than what a normal Solar Beam would take, just to gather enough power. And this power was amazing as it came in the form of a colossal beam of solar energy that Whimsicott would unleash.
"All or nothing, Blissey! Mega Punch!"
"Blissey...!" Blissey would even try to stop this with her physical strength as well. By throwing her fist at the Solar Beam, she would clash with another ranged attack once more. But this Solar Beam was not to be underestimated. Whimsicott made sure this one was strong enough for even Blissey to be on her non-existent toes.
"W-Whimsi!" But alas, it was not enough. Even with all of that buildup, Whimsicott was struggling. But because of the poison, Blissey found herself twitching, trying to power through the pain.
Seeing that she was struggling to focus this way, Blissey would redirect the Solar Beam with Mega Punch, sending it elsewhere. She attempted sending it to Darkrai but missed it because of her disrupted focus. Solar Beam would fly upwards, hitting the ceiling.
A large hole had been blown through the ceiling by the Solar Beam, causing some rubble to drop from above. The beauty of the Sun's final moments of the day shined through this massive hole before soon shifting into the beauty of the Night.
"How does she still have the strength to fight back like that?! Where did this Blissey come from?!" Rarity was finding it hard to believe that Blissey could still pull off such splendid feats despite her conditions. It seemed impossible, especially with how powerful that Solar Beam appeared.
"It's fine!" Rainbow Dash replied, looking back at Rarity. "What matters is that Steelix is down and out and Blissey here's asleep. Let's make these moments count before Steelix wakes up again."
"Agreed. This is our chance! Victory is within our sights!" Luna excitedly bellowed.
"Hmph..." Suddenly, startling everyone, Brock would put on a devious smirk. "Don't think you'll gain the advantage because of this. Blissey has one more trick up her sleeve. And it involves Steelix. Grab him, Blissey!"
"Bliss!" Blissey would shift her head to her teammate before then surprising everyone once more with her spectacular physical strength. More of what she was capable of it had been revealed. She placed her hands on the end of Steelix's tail, involving the Iron Nail Pokemon in this battle even if he was asleep.
Then, with everyone's jaws opening, a long shadow would rise up over them. That shadow was none other than Steelix and the one raising him up was Blissey. One of the heaviest Pokemon out there and yet Blissey picked him up as if he was a feather, shocking everyone. Just how far did her strength go?
"Inconceivable!" Luna, Celestia and the Canterlot Guards collectively bellowed.
"Steelix and Blissey prepared themselves for something like this! Thanks for giving them the opportunity. Go, Blissey! Swing Steelix around!"
"Bliss! Blissey!" Blissey ended up using Steelix as a weapon. Steelix would still get to battle anyway. Not only was he made out of steel, but he was incredibly heavy and had an impressive length that made him eligible to reach most opponents from great distances.
"Not good! Bail out, Whimsicott! Quick!"
"Retreat, Darkrai!"
"Whimsicott!" Whimsicott and Darkrai would immediately fly off as fast as they can. They were reasonably stunned by this sudden usage of strength. Brock managed to transform a disadvantage into an advantage, quickly turning the tides of this battle in his favour.
Blissey was no slouch when it came to swinging Steelix either. She was able to perfectly adjust Steelix's body when using him as a whip. The force of Steelix being swung in the air was also intimidating as it created a strong wind pressure that blew towards Whimsicott and Darkrai. Ash held on to this hat as everyone else felt this wind pressure.
"It's reaching us from here too?!" Twilight groaned as her hair would hit her face. "How must it feel for them over there?!"
"My mane! Not my mane!" Rarity screeched after seeing her mane affected by the strong winds.
"W-Whim...!" And the one to get the worst of this was Whimsicott. She had a light body, making her vulnerable to this pressure as she was struggling to keep her balance and momentum with each swing. And unfortunately, she couldn't avoid them for long. With her balance being disrupted, one of the swings managed to reach her. Whimsicott's eyes widened after witnessing the large body of Steelix coming her way.
"Whimsicott! Look out!" Rainbow Dash yelled but it was far too late. A direct hit. The weight and durability of Steelix had been smashed into Whimsicott's smaller body, sending the Windveiled Pokemon flying. And even though a move hasn't been used by Steelix when he was swung, being a Fairy-Type, the steel texture of Steelix might as well have dealt super-effective damage to her.
Whimsicott crashed into the walls of the Gym, leaving the arena completely. Whimsicott had left a crater on the wall as that massive hit from Steelix's body did her in. Whimsicott had fainted.
"Whimsicott..."
"Bliss..." Blissey smiled before then freezing for a moment. The poison also finished her off. All the damage accumulated from this battle had finally shown its true effects as the Happiness Pokemon would fall on her back. And even when falling over, Blissey still had a happy smile on her face. Steelix's body was then dropped by Blissey after she fell over, hitting the ground once more. "Blissey..."
Whimsicott and Blissey are both unable to battle!" It was a double knockout. A knockout from a weaponized Steelix and a knockout from gradual poisonous demise. Not even Soft-Boiled could stop what was coming. Both Pokemon did excellent in battle.
Whimsicott was amazing in keeping her opponents at bay, pulling off her cotton tricks for Darkrai to use and paving the way for her teammates as seen with Gliscor earlier. And as for Blissey, much like yesterday, her strength was astonishing to everyone, shocking them in so many ways, especially just now when she used Steelix as a weapon.
"Return." Rainbow Dash and Brock would return their Pokemon. Rainbow Dash was now down to just one Pokemon. And so was Brock who was stuck with Steelix. Luna was also stuck with Darkrai as everyone here had reached the climax of this battle.
"You were awesome. I knew I could count on you to give us enough time." Rainbow Dash thanked the Windveiled Pokemon.
"Get some rest, okay? You deserve it." Brock placed Blissey's Poke Ball away. "Well, looks like this is it."
"Indeed it is! Our chance!" Luna grinned with glee.
"They can do it! It's just Steelix1 And he's still asleep!" Pinkie Pie stood up, getting all giddy.
"It won't easy though. They need a lot of firepower to break through Steelix's amazing defence, especially as a Mega Steelix. Thankfully, Rainbow Dash has the options. But which one is she gonna choose?"
"I know who I'm choosing! Let's go! Braviary!" The obvious pick but also possibly the best one. Her ace Pokemon Braviary was sent out as her last Pokemon.
"Braviary!"
"You've made it this far. If you win this, you'll be an even bigger inspiration to the trainers out there." Brock crossed his arms. "That is...if you can get past my Steelix. Can you do it? Before he can wake up?"
"What is the approach, Rainbow Dash?" Luna asked. "We need one good plan to guarantee Steelix's defeat."
"Yeah...I've got a plan. It's the best one." Indeed, Rainbow Dash had something planned. Something that she believes would carry her to the top and finish this Gym Battle once and for all, taking her to the Equestria League. "We just have to hit him really hard!"
"I-Is that it...?" Luna stammered along with many others who made light chuckles. "Well, you aren't wrong. That is the only way to defeat such a strong wall."
"Somehow that plan works..." Twilight uttered. "If you can even call it a plan."
"Yeah, good call, Rainbow Dash!" Ash saw it as an excellent approach along with Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Hitting Steelix hard was the way to go in their eyes.
"Then...do your worst!" Brock pointed at them as the moonlight would reflect off his muscles.
"I'm using everything right now! Let's go, Braviary!" Rainbow Dash hit her own chest before intimating the Rainbow Braviary transformation. Her body would light up as a pillar of rainbows crashed through the broken ceiling, engulfing the Valiant Pokemon. Emerging from this pillar of rainbows was the transformed Valiant Pokemon. Rainbow-Braviary. Bonded with Rainbow Dash, his full strength would be unleashed. And now was the perfect time for that to happen.
"Bra...! Braviary!"
"Darkrai Dark Pulse, go!"
"Braviary, use Superpower!" Immediately both trainers would attack while Steelix was still asleep, hurrying before he could wake up.
"Braviary!" Braviary and Darkrai began their assault. Darkrai would release a continuous stream of Dark Pulses in succession while Braviary would fly in with talons engulfed in an orange light. The Valiant Pokemon stomped his talon into Steelix's head, dealing super-effective damage. The first super-effective hit out of everything here.
The Dark Pulses definitely mattered as they dealt neutral damage but not as much as Superpower. Steelix's eye twitched in response to this blow. Brock stayed silent, waiting for Steelix to wake up. He would not yell, knowing his partner would awake.
"Again!" Rainbow Dash stomped her hoof to be in sync with Rainbow-Braviary.
Bra!" Braviary would also stomp his talon, using Superpower to hit Steelix's head. It was a continuous stomp that led to massive shockwaves. Each hit made the floor crack with Steelix's weight being pressed onto it. Each hit was devastatingly strong, dealing constant super-effective damage.
"Is it gonna work?! Is Steelix close to going down?!" Goh bit his thumb, hoping that these repeated Superpower blows were enough. They should be considering how strong Rainbow-Braviary's hits usually are. Everyone scrunched their faces, waiting for that moment when Steelix was completely unresponsive. The Superpower and the Dark Pulse barrage were strong indeed. But was it strong enough?
"Steel...!" That was unknown for now. But what was known was that Steelix's eyes woke up after all of those impacts. At last, he was awake.
"Screech!"
"STEEELIX!" Steelix would instantly retaliate with a powerful yell from his body, causing an ear-splitting screech. The sound travelled through the ears of Braviary and Darkrai, stunning them with how painful it was. It even caused a field of pressure that would push Braviary away.
"G-Gaaaah!" Rainbow Dash felt the pain too due to her synergy with Braviary. Her ears had been damaged by the Screech too, causing her to get on the floor.
"After all that, he can still continue?! This really is an Endurance Gym..." Starlight shuddered as the theme of this Gym lived up to its name.
"We'll just keep hitting him hard then! That'll work!" Rainbow Dash stuck with her plan.
"Steelix! Stone Edge!"
"Steelix!" Steelix slammed his tail onto the ground, causing pointed light blue rock pillars to appear out of the ground and violently rush at the Normal-Flying-Type and Dark-Type. Braviary and Darkrai would take off, using their aerial advantage to try and evade these incoming crystals that would rapidly ascend.
There was an abundance of crystals growing out as they move at menacing speeds, keeping up with Braviary and Darkrai despite the fact a slow Pokemon was using them. Rainbow Dash could see what Braviary saw, using her own reaction time to evade as many crystals as possible. Darkrai was having a harder time dodging them compared to Braviary as he was grunting at each crystal he had to try and dodge. Some of them nearly grazed his body with how close this was getting.
"Not good! Rainbow Dash! Throw Darkrai at him! I will try and put him to sleep again"
"Understood! Braviary!" Rainbow Dash looked over at Braviary who already knew what to do. Darkrai only had two options. Dark Pulse and Dark Void. Thunderbolt and Poison Jab were out of the question when facing off against Steelix. "Use Aerial Ace!"
"Braviary!" Braviary manoeuvred past one of the crystals to reach Darkrai, placing his talons on the back of the Pitch Black Pokemon. With Braviary grabbing him, Darkrai managed to avoid a few crystals that would've struck him if Rainbow-Braviary hadn't picked him up. "Viary...!" Braviary would then use the strength of his talons to launch the Dark-Type, allowing him to get closer.
"Quick, Steelix! Use Gyro Ball!"
"Lix!" Steelix was ready for them. Darkrai came flying in with Dark Void already in his hand, ready to shove it wherever he could. Steelix's mouth was still such a big target for him. But with Gyro Ball, Steelix would manage to put up the only counter to Dark Void that he could think of. All of Steelix's spikes illuminated light blue and spun around with the speed of a drill as a light-blue ring surrounded the Steel-Ground-Type.
Darkrai would slam his claws and the Dark Void into Steelix's body, failing to put him to sleep once more. But Darkrai would not give up. He would try and push through, keeping his Dark Void active as he was pressing against a spinning Steelix who was using the spikes and rings to shield himself from the attack.
"Go, Darkrai! Push through and end this, please! Use Dark Pulse on the other side!" Luna yelled as Darkrai would use another attack from his other claw. This claw would have Dark Pulse on it as he pressed it against the spinning Pokemon, trying again to break through. Now, Dark Pulse was also being pushed against Steelix who would keep spinning. Darkrai groaned, putting everything he had to make it through.
"I'll help out! Go, Braviary! Brave Bird!" Rainbow Dash spread her wings out as did Braviary.
"Braviary!" With a flash of rainbows masking his body into a silhouette for a split second, Braviary appeared in the air, summoning those Rainbow Flames from yesterday. Instead of immediately flying in, Braviary would fly back, gaining some distance.
Braviary would then take off at least, using this distance to gain greater speed than before. Braviary made Sonic Rainboom after taking off with this speed, homing in on the Iron Snake Pokemon while having a rainbow aura streak through the air. It would even shine beautifully in the night sky when exposed to the ceiling above.
Braviary would crash into the wall that was Steelix as Rainbow Dash's head would shake just from this collision. She was essentially feeling steel on her body. And yet, she would persist. Sparks flew from this struggle. Braviary and Darkrai kept pushing as much as they could.
And with their efforts, they were managing to push Steelix through. Rainbow Dash poured more of her strength into this, risking her own safety for the sake of overcoming this powerful foe. Steelix found himself slowing down because of this. Braviary and Darkrai were actually managing to push through with sheer force of power alone.
"Oh!" Brock gasped, surprised that they managed to reach this point. Steelix was suddenly thrown into the air by the force of Darkrai and Braviary. Dark Void failed to put Steelix to sleep, but what it did was help in the efforts of stopping Steelix's Gyro Ball.
"Stone Edge!" Steelix found himself in the air and yet that wasn't enough to stop him. From above, the crystals would emerge around his body as he then launched them from above in great numbers. It was raining crystals which were a massive threat for Braviary.
"Superpower!"
"Dark Pulse!"
"Viary!" Braviary took flight once more, using Superpower around his wings. And in sync with Rainbow Dash's motion, both of them covered their faces with their wings as a method of blocking the stones. The many crystals would drop down Braviary's wings, harming him and Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash's wings twitched as Braviary still took damage from this.
This method was not enough as Braviary failed to block all of them with his wings which were starting to get sore. Braviary would then find himself being bombarded by a barrage of stones that would stab into the floor. It looked like Braviary would be forced back to the floor as well.
"Catch him, Darkrai!"
"I got you!" But not before Darkrai chimed in. With one claw, he held out his Dark Pulse and the other was used to grab Braviary. This was Darkrai's way of repaying the favour minutes ago. He would push Braviary back up, but not before using Dark Pulse as a shield. The pulse of darkness would envelop Braviary's body, blocking the stones from hitting him.
"Thanks, Princess Luna! Darkrai!" Rainbow Dash thanked them with a bright grin before intensifying her eyes. "Braviary! Now's our chance! Superpower! One more time!"
"Braviary...!" Braviary cawed as Darkrai would then throw him through the air. Now Braviary was the one being thrown and with his speed, this was greatly beneficial. Braviary would take to the skies, surrounded by an aura of darkness. But that darkness would be joined by a rainbow aura which would gleam out from the sides.
Braviary was now a comet of Rainbows and Darkness before he then slammed his talon into Steelix's face, crashing into the Iron Snake Pokemon. Braviary pressed his talon against Steelix's face with all of his might. And yet, Steelix was starting to push back, still having the strength to do so.
"I'm going to win this!" Rainbow Dash cleared as her own hoof was starting to tremble. "No matter what! You won't stop me from reaching my goal! Come on, Braviary! You can do it!"
"Bravi...Braviary!" He was truly trying his best. The full force of his Superpower was enough to keep Steelix from going down but not enough to knock the Iron Snake Pokemon away. But even Steelix was trying to win out this struggle. Everyone stood up as the sparks would drop from above. It felt like thunder was rumbling from this intensive struggle.
"Dark Pulse!" But there was one more player in all of this. Darkrai. Moving through the shadows, the Pitch Black Pokemon would get even higher than Braviary and Steelix combined. He used this opportunity to strike from a different angle.
"Oh!" Ash and everyone gasped, spotting Darkrai at the very top. Darkrai appeared menacingly, having his claws out as his body was in the middle of the moon's view while the night sky was his canvas. With a burst of darkness, Darkrai unleashed Dark Pulse from above, going for Steelix's back.
"Steel!" And with no way to defend himself, Steelix would have to take this blow. Superpower from the front and Dark Pulse from the back. Steelix cried out as the Dark Pulse mattered, allowing Braviary to find his moment to fully go through with Superpower. But only for a bit. He would pull back once Rainbow Dash's hoof was taking too much damage.
Rainbow-Braviary flew to the side, allowing Steelix to finally fall. But instead of falling at a normal pace, thanks to the Dark Pulse engulfing him, he would fly down with the speed of a rocket. A heavy hit graced the floor as it had already suffered a tone of damage at this point. Brock put his hands over his eyes while Rainbow Dash and Luna were almost knocked off the floor from this hit. It felt like a bus or a train had suddenly crash-landed.
A pillar of dust and smoke emerged from the crash, going so high up that it pushed through the ceiling. At last, everything settled down. Rainbow Dash and Braviary both breathed in and out, feeling exhausted from all that effort they poured in. The Rainbow-Braviary transformation would end just to keep Rainbow Dash healthy. But Braviary was still conscious instead of just fainting.
And as for Steelix?
"Steelix..." That's all she wrote. Steelix had fainted, returning to his original form and bringing this intense battle to a close at last.
"Steelix is unable to battle! Braviary and Darkrai win! Thus, the winners of this Gym Battle are the challengers, Princess Luna and Rainbow Dash!"
"Yeahahaha! They did it!" Ash jumped for joy along with Fluttershy and the others. "Alright! Way to go, you guys!"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"They actually won! Oh, that was stressful!" Twilight was so glad it was over. That entire battle had her friends on the edge of their seats. Booming sounds of applause and cheers came from everyone, especially Celestia and the Canterlot Guards. They were over the Moon after witnessing this stunning victory. Even if they showed up later in the battle, they got to witness one of the most amazing displays of persistence there was when it comes to a Pokemon Battle. And that seemed to be the key to winning this Final Gym Battle. Persistence. A perfect response to Endurance.
"We won..." Darkrai groaned before finally fainting. He had expended his energy as well. So did Braviary. The Valiant Pokemon would faint in midair as both would descend.
"Braviary..."
"Oh!" Rainbow Dash and Luna came to their rescue, catching them both. The two of them would've fainted at the end of it all, but they were lucky to have defeated Steelix before that happened. In the end, all three Pokemon did their best and it truly could've gone either way.
"You're the best, Braviary!" Rainbow Dash hugged the Valiant Pokemon.
"Thank you! Thank you so much, Darkrai!" Luna was elated by this, laughing as loud as she could while also digging her face into the Pitch Black Pokemon. "We won! We can enter the Equestria League at last!"
"Thanks for everything, Steelix." Brock walked up to his Ace Pokemon. "We still have ways to go. This new generation of Trainers is proof of that. So let's work hard as usual."
"Steelix."
After winning that intense battle, the Gym Badge was theirs. Two copies of them were brought over to Luna and Rainbow Dash, handed out by Brock himself.
"Here you go. The Endurance Badge. You've earned this without a doubt. And now, you're both eligible to enter the Equestria League Tournament." Brock handed out the Final Gym Badges.
"Yeah! We got the Last Badge!" Rainbow Dash raised into the air to show off her victory as all her friends applauded for her. "Haha! I did it! I'm so close to winning the whole thing I can almost taste it!"
"Hah...I need to rest after this..." Luna lowered her head, feeling exhausted.
"Let's get you home them." Celestia placed her hoof on her little sister's back. "You've earned it. That was an amazing battle from you."
"Equestria League, here we come!" Rainbow Dash yelled, essentially calling out everyone else that would eventually join the League. But for now, it was just her and Princess Luna. The first two to win all the Gym Battles and the first to enter the Equestria League.
Now, it was all a matter of waiting for more trainers to pass all the Gyms. And only then, can the Equestria League truly begin and the position of the first Equestrian Champion can be claimed. But who will claim that title? Only time will tell.
"There we go." Rainbow Dash took the time to admire her greatest achievement to date. By placing her Gym Badge Case on the table, all eight badges were now hers with the most recent one being the Endurance Badge. Earned by defeating Brock, she had completed all the Equestria Gyms.
From the Veld Badge all the way up to the Endurance Badge. Truly, she has grown as a trainer. Even though the final Gym required the assistance of Princess Luna in the form of a Team Battle, it was still worthy of the pegasus.
"Alright, you guys. With this, we can enter the Equestria League!" Rainbow Dash turned as all of her Pokemon were currently out of their Poke Balls, here to witness this crowing achievement. "Are you ready?!"
"Whilripede!" Whirlipede and all of Rainbow Dash's Pokemon unleashed their signature cries in response, moving and jumping around in Rainbow Dash's room. This group of colourful monsters felt exceedingly proud of themselves.
"I'm so glad I met you guys. It's because of you and all my other friends that I made it this far. Pokemon, I'm glad I met you. It's made my life all the more awesome and fun ever since you all came along. You're the best. And here's to winning the Equestria League and becoming the Champion! You're all gonna be Champion Pokemon after that!"
"Now uh...We just gotta wait for everyone to get there. I'm gonna give them the best of luck for when they reach Brock. That's gonna be rough." All Rainbow Dash had to do was wait for multiple trainers to make it past all eight Gyms. "And plus, there's a party waiting for us over at SugarCube Corner just for this. It's time to celebrate!"
Rainbow Dash would depart from her home with her Pokemon to further celebrate her achievement. Over at SugarCube Corner, a party was waiting for them. It was for all of her Pokemon. After all, Rainbow Dash would not have made it without the help of all 7 of her Pokemon.
Braviary, Castform, Altaria and Whimsicott would all fly out while Whirlipede, Luxray and Mienshao would be carried or hitch a ride on some of them. And outside, on this bright and sunny day, news about Rainbow Dash's achievement has already been spread out.
Multiple pegasi and their Pokemon spotted Rainbow Dash, waving and cheering her own. A storm of applause came in the direction of the multi-coloured maned mare. "Great job making it this far!" A pegasus said to her. It was a big deal. Just as much as when she first took part in a Gym Battle four years ago.
"Gee, thanks. I was pretty great, wasn't I?" The pegasus proudly crossed her hooves while flying by. This kind of praise was enjoyable her and filled Rainbow Dash's thirst for greatness. She could only imagine what it would be like when she emerges as the first Equestrian Champion.
"So, you had to get past Brock by battling him again? Isn't that a bit of bad luck for us?" Another pegasus asked, worried that this might be too difficult for him to achieve due to how strong Brock was. He was so strong that it took the combined might of Princess Luna and Rainbow Dash a second time to achieve victory.
"Yeah, sorry. That's kinda how it is." Rainbow Dash shrugged as that was the harsh reality. "But hey, keep trying. Those defences are tough, but you can get through them. Hopefully." She laughed before thinking to herself. "I hope enough of them can do it. I know for sure Spitfire can make it through. And so can Daylight Blazer. But everyone else..."
Rainbow Dash would then think about the other trainers who were well-known in Equestria. Spitfire and Daylight. Both have been troublesome opponents for Rainbow Dash. Which is why Rainbow Dash had full hope that they could make it to the Equestria League. Hopefully soon.
Ponyville. SugarCube Corner.
"Congratulations!" Upon appearing at SugarCube Corner, her friends were there waiting for her. Many of them. Not just hr main friend group but those were part of the Rainbow Dash Fan Club. Organized by Pinkie Pie herself, Rainbow Dash's achievement was further celebrated. Noticeably, Princess Luna was not here, and neither has she been brought up.
"Nice work, Dash!" Ash cheered. "All Gyms are done for the first time and You're off to the League now!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu would run up to Rainbow Dash's Pokemon, congratulating them as well.
"How does it feel? Beating every Gym that's out there?" Rarity asked. "That's even before we can have our own Elite 4."
"Best feeling yet..." A satisfied Rainbow Dash put on a proud smile while grabbing a cup of cider. "I mean, nothing's gonna beat when I become the Champion but this is just the best."
"Don't get too ahead of yourself." Twilight warned Rainbow Dash. "It's great to revel in something like this, but you shouldn't underestimate who else is taking part in this. You never know who can catch up and grow in strength."
"Yeah, yeah I know. But I'm feeling pretty good about myself, Twilight. So do Braviary and the others. For now, I'm sitting pretty." Rainbow Dash drank her cider proudly, laughing afterwards.
"That's right my protege." Suddenly, a voice replied to Rainbow Dash which made her spit out her cider. Her head swiftly turned as she recognized that voice. So did Ash and his friends. That voice belonged to only one individual who was much prouder than Rainbow Dash and had gone to great lengths.
They all turned to see an unexpected face in SugarCube Corner, who managed to slip by them completely. It was none other than Hilbert. A Pokemon Trainer from another Universe.
"Keep your head high! Haha!" Hilbert laughed, lounging on a seat while drinking some cider as he if was here the entire time. But no one even knew he was here.
"Hilbert?! You're here?!" Ash gasped.
"When did you get here?!" Twilight and a few others questioned, wondering where he came from. They would've noticed him since not many humans visit Ponyville consistently unlike Ash and Goh. "How did you get here?!" There was also the fact that Hilbert left his own universe despite how there were no more gateways except for the one at Ponyville and the mysterious Infinity Gateway that hasn't been spotted yet.
"Why are you here?!" Rainbow Dash sat up, demanding questions as to why Hilbert was here all of a sudden.
"What? I can't celebrate my protege's big moment?"
"I'm not your protege...!" Rainbow Dash grizzled as Hilbert still made her his unofficial protege. "Why'd it have to be now of all days that you show up?"
"Gahaha! You're one step closer to greatness, Rainbow Dash!" Hilbert hopped off the seat, nearly spilling his cider. "Not as great as me, but still. Keep at it, alright? And one day, you can prove yourself."
"I don't need to prove anything to you!" Rainbow Dash vehemently pointed her hoof at him. "You could've at least shown up for the Gym Battle instead of here!"
"Nevermind that. Hilbert, who did you make it here? After what Jirachi did, it should be almost impossible to reach here from other universes." Twilight asked. "And is Hilda with you?"
"Oh yeah. But Hilda decided she wanted to explore on her own. So did I. But we'll meet up again. As for how I got here...the good people back in my universe figured out a way to bring us back without gateways. But...it's not as easy as gateways." Hilbert shrugged, dropping the cider from his movements which prompted Mew to consume it by intercepting the falling liquid. "Gotta go through this whole process of standing still, letting the machine read you and yadda-yadda-yadda-yadda."
"Oh, so you have something that can bring you here? It might be similar to what my counterpart pulled..." Twilight theorized that Twilight Moonlight was possibly using a machine to also reach here. "Is that the same for Red and the others? Now that I think about it...do you all come from the same universe or separate ones?"
"The same. Why'd you think it was separate?" Hilbert would then consume an apple. "Anyway, what's next, protege? You've beaten all the Gyms but you don't have an Elite 4 System just yet. And everyone else here is uh...not exactly making waves with their battles or even getting that far."
"Hey, we're taking our time." A pony who was participating in the Equestria League spoke out. "It's pretty tough too."
"I'll be challenging the 4th Gym soon." Another pony spoke, revealing where he was in terms of Gym progress.
"Mine's the 6th." More would reveal where they were progressing on their path to the Equestria League. Hilbert would hear various answers from them all and he would find that all of them were either halfway there, nearly there or still at the early stages.
"Hm. Well, you've got all the time in the world to chill out, relax and take a load off, Dash." Hilbert said. "Or, you could keep training. That's my choice."
"Yeah. That's what I'm gonna do. I still have more Pokemon I wanna find and catch. I'll have a ton of Pokemon to help me through the league. I can't have everyone know which Pokemon I'm gonna battle with."
"Good call!" Hilbert exclaimed. "Glad I came to check up on you and celebrate your big moment. Man, I'm proud of you." He would then tear up, flicking his tear away.
"But you weren't even here for all of them..." Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes, confused as to why Hilbert was getting so emotional all of a sudden. He hasn't even known her for that long. It was only during the Pokemon Festival after all. "Oh well. At least you're here to congratulate me. Whatever that's worth."
"So, Hilbert. How are you going to get home now?" Fluttershy asked. "You said the machine brought you here but is it also here somewhere?"
"They'll bring us back with that same machine. I don't know how, honestly. And I don't know how they're gonna communicate with us from here...Oh well! At least we get to check out this new world! I'm ready to explore Unova for the second time in a row. But for now, let's just celebrate!"
Aside from boasting and hyping himself up all the time, Hilbert would celebrate Rainbow Dash's achievements. They didn't mind having Hilbert here at all. Even if he talks a lot. Mostly about himself and sometimes about Rainbow Dash. And they celebrated to their heart's content, looking forward to the future in which the Equestria League could show the best that Equestria has to offer.
"I wish Luna was here as well. We even prepared it for her as well." Ash thought about Luna, who was not present for this celebration. He had to wonder what she was doing now that she won all Eight Gyms.
Canterlot. Canterlot Castle. Day.
Luna was back home, of course. And much like Rainbow Dash, she would admire her achievements. But as for Luna, she decided to go above just displaying her badge case. She wanted something bigger. And with her being royalty, that was made possible immediately.
All 8 Gym Badges had been displayed on the walls, super-sized to match that of curtains, drapes and windows. Luna had them placed individually in the hallways as they glistened beautifully with the Sun reflecting them. Visiting the castle to admire these badges were residents of Canterlot. This right here was a way to let everypony know of Luna's accomplishments.
And as a bonus, a way to admire the stylization of the badges. Not many really appreciate the Gym Badges for their appearances and only see them as a means to advance to the Pokemon League. But for some, the way they were designed was wonderful, especially for the artists who came to view this.
"Hmm...The way the Climate Badge appears has a wonderful double meaning to it." A posh-sounding artist said when reviewing the Gym Badges. All of them had something to say about each of these badges, focusing more on their style rather than what it took to get them.
After all, with all eight of them on display, only two trainers have managed to achieve the very last one and the last two. The others are still ones that many trainers have yet to accomplish. Really, there was no deeper meaning behind these Gym Badges when they were made. It was all for the sake of creativity but that didn't stop the artists from trying to find it. In a way, the way they were creatively made could be seen as deep by some.
Luna herself was in her room, resting peacefully. After winning all of her Gym Battles, the Moon Princess wanted to take the time to relax. She would still train her Pokemon but now was not the time.
"Nice display there, Luna." Entering Luna's room was her big sister Princess Celestia. "You even put some in your room."
"Mhm...I've been thinking after deciding to place them on the walls." Luna spoke with her eyes closed. "When we do install an Elite 4 System, perhaps we should also commission some sort of badge for those battles. Do Elite 4 Battles involve badges, actually?"
"Not at all. But for other battle facilities in Equestria that could come, we can have whatever reward they give out placed on the walls for all to see. If that's what you want." Celestia suggested and Luna's slow nod confirmed that it would be wonderful.
"Truly...I would love to have our own Battle Frontier one day." Luna opened her eyes, raising her hoof as she was planning out what she wished to see next in her career as a Pokemon Trainer. "I've heard how special they are. Perhaps that Battle Carnival that was meant to be a Battle Frontier could work. Oh, and those Battle Clubs over at Unova are always so fun to watch, despite how niche they may be."
"I get it. Battle Facilities of all kinds." Celestia walked up to her, understanding what Luna wanted. "With this new world, Equestria has room to grow when it comes to Pokemon Battles. I can envision what it will look like in the future. I for one am all for a Pokemon Eating Contest Facility."
"That? That has a larger niche than the Battle Club?" Luna looked over at Celestia with her eyes squinting. "Is it for the cake?"
"It's for the Cake." Celestia confirmed why she wanted such a facility. "And other delicious delicacies that can come from it."
"Of course...Well, I look forward to it. And when I become the first and only Champion, I can sponsor those facilities. But aside from that...what of the Dread League? Are they still at Galar?"
"My forces have reached Galar by now. They should be using the Shift Stone to transform themselves into vampires. We'll use this opportunity to try and enter Magehold or at least find a fault." Celestia focused on what truly mattered right now. The Dread League. "But there is one consistent way to get past that barrier. And it just happens to be the highest amount of power we can gather."
"What about what they're up to? What are the Dread League planning now?"
"They can't seem to stay away from their plants. It seems that they're forming some sort of garden." Celestia gave out what her forces have shared so far. "I can only guess that it involves the Despair Plants if that's the case."
"Those things? Ugh..." Luna groaned, pulling on her sheets. "Those Despair Plants are the newest thorn in our sides."
"Heh. Good one." Celestia got the joke as she and Luna laughed in unison. "But seriously. It might be the Despair Plants again or something completely different. But this time, we're ready for those plants."
"Are you referring to what Roseluck has suggested?" Luna sat up, bringing up Roseluck's special potion that was once used by Rosa Maledicta before she became the Lich Queen.
"That's right. We've been saving it until the time to use it on those plants would come again. Courtesy of Zecora and Twilight, of course. "We only have one bottle of it now. A fairly large one. But it can be of great use when utilized. For now...we just have to wait and see what they plan to do with this garden of theirs."
Galar.
In the far north-west coast of mainland Galar was a bay area. A mile-long sandy beach is what was the most prominent part of this bay area. Isolated and rather quiet as barely any Pokemon could be seen here. But, such is the law of the Pokemon Universe, there is always a Pokemon somewhere. And while it may be a small amount, they were still here, mainly in the oceans.
And with such a quiet and isolated area, this garden of theirs has already made an impressive amount of progress as the Dread League had all the room in the world to make it grow without seemingly any interruptions. And it was truly one that was befitting of Magehold.
An overrun bed of dark grass was surrounded by well-kept flower bushes and shrubs which also had mouths of their own. A fountain stands near the left edge of the garden, spouting poisonous water in the air as they took the time to add these decorations. The smaller flower bushes are forming a miniature world of their own, full of mysteries and wonder; they're full of hidden potential. Various stones hint at paths around the garden, almost taking people by the hand in order to show them the best sights. Direful plants and ghoulish, sharp flowers are seemingly content with their positions in the garden, none trying to reach beyond, at least not yet.
"Queen Rosa will love this. Her newest garden will spread out much larger than what we have now." And this was all for the Lich Queen, Rosa Maledicta. She was known for her plants after all and this was a garden in her name.
"It'll take some time until the Despair Plants can grow here." And indeed, Despair Plants were involved in this. In her hooves, a vampire held out a bag that had multiple seeds within them. These seeds were then planted into the ground of this growing garden that had yet to reach its full potential.
When placed in the soil of the garden, the seeds would make howling and roaring sounds before then cutting up the soil itself. These were some rather vicious seeds with how they reacted to being planted. Truly unusual but befitting of the shuddersome Dread League.
And watching these were the Canterlot Guards. Or rather, disguised vampires. Thanks to the power of the Shift Stone, they could perfectly blend in, having the physiology and biology of a vampire in this condition. But none of their special abilities carried over. That was the only flaw of the Shift Stone.
But who exactly were they? Not even the vampires knew as quite a handful of them had shown up in this area. They all blended in well with each other, hiding in the shades away from the Sun and wearing whatever they could to protect them from the light.
Staying silent, they would simply go along with what the Dread League were doing. And that was by gardening. To make this garden grow, the Dread League were involved in working on this garden. The Canterlot Guards would have to throw in some gardening skills to try and fit in, much to their dismay.
And the only way to stay disguised was by copying those who actually knew what they were doing. The ones who were disguised eyed down the real vampires, following their every movement when growing the garden.
"How long will this take us?" A vampire asked.
"Since a week ago, it's grown this large. But we haven't covered the whole bay area yet. I'd say 3 or 4 weeks and we can have this garden branch out. The Despair Plants will grow well here." Another vampire spoke, knowing what he was talking about.
"Hm-hm." The vampire who asked him nodded in understanding. With a smile on his face, he was without a doubt a Canterlot Spy. This Canterlot Spy would eye down his fellow spies as they all would nod together. Gathering information was crucial but there was also the goal to try and sabotage them.
"Now, if only we could head to Magehold next...I hope won't have to wait long." With the Shift Stone on them, the power to do whatever they can was theirs with some limitations. All it would take was for them to utilize whatever transformation they can think of to the best of their abilities. For now, they were stuck here, working for the Dread League unsuspectedly while passing on information to the Sun Princess. As for entering Magehold itself, so far, nothing has come up from it.
The preparations for Fantina's show were being made. 2 days ago, It had been planned out and by now, the stage had been set. Made by the children who have some rather impressive creative skills, this stage for the Fashion Show had a mixture of the dreadful aura that Magehold possesses, giving it some familiarity. But thanks to Fantina's influence, a bit of brightness had been sprinkled in.
"Miss Fantina...Can I talk to you?" A little vampire walked up to Fantina.
"Sure. What is it, little one?"
"Um...Do we have to dance with this fashion show? Cause...you were teaching us how to dance last time."
"Oh, well...Dancing is sure to wow the crowd. Especially if it's something unique. But you all don't usually dance here at Magehold from what I've heard. If not, ever."
"Yeah, but...that's a bit embarrassing. We suck at it and it wasn't all that much fun for me."
"It was for me!" A filly vampire raised her hoof, excitedly shouting as she would prefer to dance at the Fashion Show.
"Me too!" All the fillies seemed to be eager for this. They rather enjoyed the thought of dancing as it was something they've never really done before. The small session they had with Fantina gave them a taste of what was possible.
"Aww...Do we have to?" The colts weren't too fond of it though. Both sides would babble and chatter, expressing how they felt about it.
"They don't approve of dancing, but we can show them just how amazing it can be!" Fantina pumped her fist, eager to show the vampires how wonderful dancing can be. After all, the teachers scoffed at it and there was a high possibility that everyone else did. Fantina wished to show them how enjoyable dancing could be, even if it was for a moment. "They don't have faith in us, but I say otherwise."
"But can we really get it done? The show's nearly here." A colt asked as the Fashion Show was nearing at this point. The schedule was only for two days and by now, they've managed to get everything done except the moves.
"Of course, we can. With me as your teacher, you can learn quickly. But, here is something important to know, my little ponies. Dance in whatever way you feel like. You don't have to be elegant and graceful with it."
"We don't? But you dance so beautifully Miss Fantina. We would love to dance just like you do." A vampire filly uttered as she and a few others wished to be as skilled as Fantina, even if it would take a long time to reach this level, especially for ponies who were exempt from knowing about dancing until two days ago.
"Thank you, but something like this still takes some time." Fantina kneeled to face the little vampires. "If only we had more time to perfect some of these moves. But we can work with what we have."
"Can we use magic?! Will that make it easier?!" The colts all said, going for the easier route. And that was by using magic to get ahead.
"Well...I won't stop you from doing that. The important thing is that you must always have fun when dancing." Fantina passed on some lessons to them about dancing, going beyond just being graceful. Enjoyment was a big factor in it. "Each of you have untapped potential when it comes to dancing. For you girls, you have an elegant Swanna in you, waiting to take flight. And for you boys, a fierce Pyroar is waiting to prance. Let's give an example. Laughjack? If you would?"
"M-Me?" A colt by the name of Laughjack stuttered as he was picked out of his classmates.
"Mhm. Then again...You aren't exactly tall enough for me to dance with." Fantina chuckled. "If only I had a tall enough dance partner for me and you. Ah!" The Hearthome City Gym Leader would then dig into her pockets, taking out one of her Poke Balls. She had the answer. "Appear, my friends!" Out of her Poke Balls came Dusknoir, Gengar and Mismagius. Pokemon that were both large and medium-sized. And yet, they still weren't enough to match the small size of young ponies. Fantina would try and make it work despite these differences.
"Dance with the Pokemon? Are you sure?" Laughjack asked.
"My Pokemon sometimes take after me. They have their own way of dancing and as Ghosts, they can get creative." Fantina winked, promising that her Pokemon could give out inspiration. "Gengar the others will tutor you. I will perform physical dancing compared to what they can do."
"I'm still not tall enough so..." Laughjack shrugged, believing that he would be able to avoid embarrassing himself by dancing with Fantina.
"Here!" Not if any of his cheeky classmates have anything to say about that. A vampire quickly shot Laughjack from behind, using her curse against him.
"H-Hey!" The curse affected Laughjack's small body, quickly changing his hooves. Everyone laughed as Laughjack suddenly grew taller with this Curse Magic, increasing his height rapidly. "Oh...this is awkward."
"I can work with this. Come, Laughjack." Fantina would hold her hooves out as Laughjack was tall enough to dance with Fantina at this height. Granted, it was only his hooves that have been lengthened. His entire upper body was still the same, making him look mutated. "Just place your right hoof on my waist and follow my movements.
"Ooohooo~" When Laughjack's elongated hoof touched Fantina and Fantina would grab one of his hooves, all the boys would coo and whistle, already revelling in Laughjack's awkward situation.
"This is the worst..." Laughjack groaned while Fantina would guide him. "Oh well. At least it's with Miss Fantina, so it's not all bad." He grinned as he felt somewhat lucky to be dancing with everyone's favourite teacher at this school.
Gengar, Mismagius and Dusknoir would also show off their own unique way of dancing, using their Ghostly attributes to do so. Dusknoir would twist and turn his body which wasn't too outlandish for the children. Their curses could perform various tricks that could create some form of dance. Granted, they wouldn't be as elegant as Fantina, but Fantina truly wanted them to dance in the way they find most unique instead of making them as talented as a Roserade or an Oricorio.
The students would follow the Ghost-Type Pokemon, seeing how erratic their moves were and yet they were still interesting to watch. The Pokemon would even use their moves to bring their dance moves to life. The children would use their curses to try and do the same, seeing what they could come up with.
All of this dancing had yet to be noticed by anyone else within the school. Not even the teachers have seen it and they would rather not due to how much they disagreed with it. However, they could hear the sounds of dancing nearby. Hooves being tapped on the floor constantly, the sound of magic flickering and most importantly, the sound of children laughing. They would shake their heads after hearing this. They didn't even need to see it.
As for those following Fractured Note's orders, promotion for this show had been spread out. Bat-winged papers were sent across Magehold as they carried a dark aura when they flew. The vampires across Magehold would notice the winged papers, grabbing them to read what was promoted.
"Magehold's Junior Fashion Show?" A vampire read out. "What exactly is a Fashion Show?" Due to being in Magehold for so long and having little interaction with the outside world or even experiencing other activities, the concept of a Fashion Show seemed rather alien to them. They knew about fashion since Opal Vivacity makes sure to dress better than anyone just for the sake of vanity. But a show? Not at all.
However, it did catch their interest. Seeing the children perform in this strange event was a good way to kill time seemingly. And thanks to how Fractured Note ordered the promotion papers to be worded, keeping in line with that Magehold dread, it would draw them in.
Speaking of Opal Vivacity, she was one of the few vampires who knew about fashion shows. Mainly because of how much she went out into Equestria in secrecy, acting as a spy and gathering as much information as possible. It's how she came to know about Pokemon after all.
Sitting in her manor, drinking grim but to her, delicious henbane drink, she would grab one of the Bat-Winged Papers to see what it entailed. "What?!" Opal almost spat out her drink. "This Fashion Show thing is actually going through?!"
"Ooh! Sounds interesting!" Merry Dread had her own paper, entering the same room as Opal Vivacity. Both had different reactions to this revelation.
"That brother of mine...!" Opal Vivacity already knew who was already behind this approval. Her older brother Fractured Note. Grizzling her teeth, she would crush the paper with her bare hooves.
"Is this like those Pokemon Contests they have?" Merry Dread wondered. "I have to check this out. What about you, Opal?"
"Obviously, you would want to view it. But something like this is nothing but a time waster when we have more important things to do. Not to mention the impact it will have on the children. We need them to be powerful vampires when they grow up. There are other universes out there are after all and we cannot afford to falter. Besides...who else besides you would want to view something like this? The teachers have already made it clear that they wouldn't."
"Everyone else doesn't see it that way." Merry Dread said, looking out of the window to see droves of vampires flying towards the school. Opal would rush to the window, spotting these vampires who were also holding the promotional papers. "If you'll excuse me...I'll be with them." Merry Dread would soon depart, leaving Opal behind.
"Tch. Ridiculous." Opal narrowed her eyes sharp eyes. "The only reason this is happening is because most of these vampires have been too comfortable for all these centuries, living carefree without having to do anything else. The previous Lich Kings and Queens never made a move on Equestria or anywhere else. But her majesty, Rosa Maledicta is different. She can at least go the distance."
The fashionable vampire despised how the normal vampires were. Compared to her and other vampires who were chosen to take missions and cause as much chaos as they can, a majority of vampires simply lived their lives without much of a care in the world. Being only in Magehold for years with no worries of having to attack somewhere or go into battle definitely affected them. But not Opal and other vampires.
"And that brother of mine...how could he approve this?" Opal was more confused by the fact that Fractured Note would even go through with this. The average vampire, she could understand. But her older brother, who was the servant to the Lich Queen, was outlandish.
"Wait...Is he doing this out of spite!?" The fashionable vampire gasped, realizing why Fractured Note might've approved this. This could be another case of sibling squabble but it was clear that Fractured Note was already ahead. Vexxed by this, Opal would decide to visit the Fashion Show. And as a fashionable pony, she wished to see how disastrous this could turn out for Fantina's class.
The time for Fashion Show had begun. The vampire's all entered the courtyard of the school to see the stage itself. The left side of the circular stage was an assortment of bat wings and a dark aura that would ominously flow, followed by the flicker of eerie eyes that were masked in the darkness.
And on the right side, where Fantina's side would show, a bright purple aura would flow instead. And with the massive Heavenly Maiden Cherry Blossom Tree Fantina created, those cherry blossoms were around the aura in contrast to the wings and eyes. The Cherry Blossoms were something that the vampires did not mind, simply because of the fact that it stunned many of the vampires who once saw it.
"Bonjour, my little ponies!" Along came Fantina, twirling in to make her entrance. "Welcome to this Junior Fashion Show! Prepared by the wonderful children from my class and with help from Fractured Note, we can bring you this show. This is something special that I believe you should all watch. And with the children...just watch the fun they can have from this."
Hearing Fantina's announcement, Opal would stand from afar when watching this, crossing her hooves with a disdainful look on her face. Meanwhile, her other siblings would watch from different angles when listening to Fantina. Fractured Note watched from a balcony over at the castle while Merry Dread was within the crowd.
"There will be some dancing involved. Keep in mind, they are not the most graceful dancers, but they know how to make things interesting." Fantina winked. "And they will be joined by my lovely Pokemon. And by the end of it, we will have a Pokemon Battle just for the fun of it. So enjoy!" Fantina would then jump back, allowing the children to take the stage
And what of their clothes? What could a vampire pony possibly wear as fashion? Well, influenced by Fantina and her Pokemon, the clothes that the little vampires chose were incredibly bombastic and messy. The first group of vampires to show up wore clothing that resembled some Pokemon. A Skarmory, Ludicolo and a Seviper respectively.
"Check me out!" In a fashion show, usually, words from the models themselves are never said. But since these were children and their first time being in a show, they were bound to blabber and speak whatever they had on their minds. These kids had no filter after all. The girl in the Skarmory dress would show off, twirling on the spot with a single hoof.
And when twirling, the wings on the dress were made to perfectly resemble Skarmory's wings. Perfectly. With her own magic, she managed to make them actual spikes as they would then fly off her costume when she performed this spiralling dance move that made her move across the stage.
The spikes would erratically fly out, going over the heads of the vampires. Normally, this would be seen as highly dangerous, but despite living rather peaceful lives for centuries, the vampires never lost their dangerous side. This entire civilization was proof of that. And with these spikes flying around, one of the would latch onto the Ludicolo costume, pinning the other vampire against the wall.
"Ugh..." The filly vampire wearing the Ludicolo clothes groaned after being pinned against the wall. "Nice aim..."
"Whoops. My bad. I didn't think they'd fall off so easily." He giggled, holding up his spikes.
As such, laughter would ensue. Already, this was amusing to the vampires. Seeing a slip-up from the children was rather enjoyable. And of course, the spikes were greatly enjoyed as well.
"Alright, it's my turn. This is how snakes usually dance!" The colt wearing the Seviper outfit would take his turn. His entire body was within the suit to the point where he looked serpentine. Replicating the movement of a snake, he would slither on the floor, to the best of his abilities. However, he barely got anywhere, staying in the same spot and just wriggling. "If I could just...move."
"Here, I'll help." The boy wearing the Skarmory outfit grinned, chiming in by throwing one of his spikes at his fellow vampire.
"Oh!" The vampire in the Seviper outfit would grimace as that reaction managed to make him move. The Skarmory-clad vampire would throw more spikes near him, just to make him move some more. And it was working, surprisingly. He started slithering and wriggling, evading the spikes with close calls. More and more, the crowd would laugh as they found this hilarious rather than beautiful. But that was a merit in its own right. So far, they were not dazzling at all but their antics as vampires are what made them amusing.
"Okay, it's my turn! You three have shown off enough!" Moving through the curtains were long stylized Dodrio heads that were made to have a more menacing look compared to the original Pokemon. These heads acted as hands as they grabbed the two vampires wearing Skarmory and Seviper clothes.
The vampire wearing it would drag them away, making the duo scream as they wished to show off some more. The one wearing the Ludicolo clothes would still find herself stuck on the walls as no one had let her down yet. That is until Dusknoir came through. The Gripper Pokemon phased through the walls, removing the spike and freeing her.
Fantina's Pokemon would finally make an appearance. And they would carry some style with them. Joining Dusknoir were Gengar, Drifblim and Mismagius. To add some music for this fashion show, Mismagius would start chanting incantations in a melodic tune.
With these incantations, she would affect the area. Massive mouths would appear out of thin air via Mismagius' incantations as they all had bright grins. More importantly, they had the fangs of vampires, just to keep with the theming. And with her power, Mismagius would make the mouths laugh, going with the beat of the sound she made.
Now, this show certainly had wonder to it. And adding to that wonder was Gengar, who managed to make an illusion that enlarged his body. With his round body enlarged, it looked like Gengar had multiple mouths on him. He fit perfectly with the various sharp fangs in the air, laughing along with them.
As for the next group of children, they would start dancing to the best of their abilities. Using their magic, they would form a light show, using their respective auras. Their spells would even pass through, mainly affecting their classmates. They would wear clothes of the different types and fittingly, their curses would respond to these types well. For those who wore Sharpedo clothes, a Curse Magic would affect their bodies, making them wobbly. Much like water.
For those with Fire-Type outfits, someone would start a fire underneath the others, making them prance frantically from the rabid flames that suddenly spawned. That was one way to get them to dance. Other elements would be thrown out depending on which type was seen as they would rapidly fly across the stage with Drifblim being in the middle of it, unphased. Next to the beautiful showcase from the Pokemon, the chaotic and erratic mess from the children was playing out.
It was a bizarre contrast between beautiful and messy. And yet, it was still brilliant to watch as the crowd would continue cackling, laughing, wheezing and even slapping their hooves. Some would even spot their own children in the fray, mucking about. This went on for minutes but not for too long. The number of students in Fantina's class wasn't that abundant after all. It would be a short fashion show, but a worthwhile one.
"Hmph. It's already a disaster." Opal confidently smiled, believing this to be a failure of a show due to how it was going.
"Are you sure about that? Those were laughs of enjoyment." Appearing behind Opal Vivacity was Fractured Note, startling his little sister.
"Brother!" Opal gasped. "This is only possible because of you, isn't it? You approved of this just to spite me, didn't you?"
"Did I? I just found Fantina's idea to be amusing. But you certainly don't. They do as you can see by their reactions." Fractured Note nudged his head over to the crowd. Opal Vivacity would take a closer look at the crowd, seeing how much they were reacting to this.
They preferred how disorganized this was. While Fashion Shows are usually clean and straightforward, this was neither of that. But that added to the charm of it.
"How can this be?!" Opal's jaw dropped. "Why has this been happening recently...?"
"It's a lot like the tree that Fantina made. The ponies here are looking for something new. Centuries here will do that to you and wit the Black Crusadae not yet executed, this is a nice way to kill some time for them." Fractured Note said before swaying his head to avoid an incoming lightning bolt. "Plus, the chaotic nature of it fits, doesn't it? Fantina knows us and what we enjoy. That much is clear."
"Hmph." Opal crossed her arms. "Ridiculous. How could she pull this off? Honestly, I could do better since I know what actual fashion looks like. It should be me running that show. Not that I would want to run it in the first place."
"And now! Let's begin our battle! And the one to take part in that battle with me!" Fantina jumped in the middle of the chaos as this show was nearing its end.
"Well, if you're feeling that bitter, how about an explosive ending?" Fractured Note suggested. "Battle against Fantina and you could maybe scratch that itch."
"I was already planning to do so when I heard about that part. I'll make an explosive end alright." Opal held out her own Poke Ball. Fractured Note was hoping for this but her sister already had it in mind before he suggested it. "Embarrassing her is what I plan to do."
Opal Vivacity would approach the stage, going through with what Fractured Note planned. Just as the children were readjusting themselves, they would grimace upon seeing Opal Vivacity appear. There was a bit of silence when this Fashionable Vampire appeared. All the other vampires would make way for her as Opal Vivacity certainly carried an air of importance due to her reputation.
Watching this from afar was Ebony Rhyme who would prefer to stay away from everyone else. When watching this show, she would stand up to see Opal Vivacity approach Fantina.
"Well, Fantina. You've certainly surprised everyone again." Opal stepped onto the stage, flipping her massive mane. "First the tree and now this."
"I have, haven't I?" Fantina giggled. "This has been an enjoyable show for everyone, as you can see. But what would make it better is a battle. Everyone loves those after all. And how about having another one of these next time? What does everypony think?!" Fantian raised her arms, wanting to hear the reactions from the crowd.
And it was a thunderous reaction. They all loved it for how chaotic it was. The vampires would most definitely love to see another one of these shows again. Whatever it ends up being. Fashion or not. And of course, the one they could trust to deliver was none other than Fantina. After all, she's surprised everyone twice in a row. From the Heavenly Maiden Tree to this Junior Fashion Show.
"W-What...?!" Opal gasped as everyone approved of it. Without a doubt, this was bound to happen again, much to her chagrin.
"Splendid! I shall plan out what we shall do next time. Maybe next month or a few months. Or even next year. So...do you doubt me now, Opal?" Fantina put on a proud and cocky smirk that agitated Opal Vivacity. "
"I don't doubt you, but I am looking forward to crumbling this and whatever you have planned next!" Opal would suddenly throw out a Poke Ball, summoning her Salazzle into the fray.
"Salazzle!"
"Hm. Then...Mismagius! Appear!"
"Mismagius!" Phasing through Fantina, Mismagius would show herself. Everyone gasped as the final part of this show was about to play out. A Pokemon Battle. And it would be between these two which was rather surprising. The crowd got one more surprise and it was in the form of what some would say 'A Dream Match'.
"I'll make this quick! Crush them, Salazzle! Use Dragon Pulse at once!"
"Sala!" Out of her mouth, a beam in the shape of a dragon would fly out viciously, baring its fangs at Mismagius.
"Mismagius, Dark Pulse!"
"Mismag!" Mismagius would respond with her own beam. That would be Dark Pulse. However, Salazze was targeting both Mismagius and Fantina. With smiles on their faces, Fantina and Mismagius would gracefully twirl, evading the pulse in unison, making everyone wow in amazement. And to add to that amazement, Dusknoir would uppercut the pulse into the air, making it explode to create some draconic fireworks.
"Huh?!" Opal bellowed while looking up at the Draconic Fireworks. Even during a battle, Fantina found a way to dazzle everyone.
"Behold! We shall be the ones to end this quickly!" Fantina pointed at Opal as Mismagius would finally unleash Dark Pulse after evading the Dragon Pulse.
"Sa! Salazzle!" The beam of darkness reached Salazzle, engulfing her completely. The beam would tear through the floor of the stage before then carrying Salazzle off of it. The dark beam passed by Opal making her move to the side as it managed to clip her massive hair.
Everyone watched as the Mismagius made the beam fly into the air, which in addition, brought Salazzle into the air. Salazzle found herself airborne while trapped within the Dark Pulse as Fantina and Mismagius were ready to make a show out of her.
"And finally...!" Fantina raised her fingers which prompted Mismagius to send Salazzle higher. "Finition!" Fantina snapped her fingers which made the Dark Pulse combust immediately, finally dealing damage to Salazzle.
Stunningly, it was a one-hit Ko. The last batch of fireworks went off. And that was with dark fireworks which surprisingly stuck out despite how dark the skies constantly were. Opal's jaw dropped. Fractured Note and Ebony Rhyme had smiles on their faces while Salazzle dropped to the stage floor, fainting after just one attack. "Salazzle..."
"And that is all," Fantina called this all to a close. "Thank you for watching!"
"I-Impossible...One hit...?" Opal Vivacity backed away before falling off the stage, being a bit too close to the edge. After dropping just like her Pokemon, the crowd of vampires applauded this wonderful show that they got to witness. It may have been short but it was stunningly enjoyable and humorous.
The children would all gather, hearing the applause that was thrown their way. Fantina and her students would all take a bow after granting the many vampires a good show, just as promised.
"And that will do." Fractured Note nodded his head in approval while looking at his defeated sister. "I think more of these will work."
"Curse it!" Opal got back up, quickly returning her Salazzle. "Fantina! I'll remember this! You can't just embarrass me like-" But she was cut off by the thunderous sound of the crowd cheering. Her voice had been drowned out and yet Fantina could still hear her. "Ugh!"
Annoyed and frustrated, Opal Vivacity would walk off as she found no reason to be here anymore. She's already embarrassed herself and with someone as beautiful as her, she'd rather not.
"Thanks, Fantina..." Ebony Rhyme also knew that Fantina did this for her by extension, dishing out some payback as Fantina was a good friend to her. It didn't quite get rid of the insults, but it scratched an itch for Ebony Rhyme.
The Fashion Show was a success. Behind all the darkness of Magehold and even the wicked acts that they were getting up to outside of Magehold, lay a semblance of happiness. And that happiness was being revealed by none other than Fantina. Though she may have been taken away from her home, stripped from most of her memories, the lovable and eccentric part of Fantina never died out.
Whether that was intentional by the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta or not was unclear. But either way, it was a part of Fantina. And hearing the happy sounds of Magehold made her rather hopeful of what could come next As the journey continues.
"Everyone! Line up!" Calling out for the ponies of Ponyville was Hilbert. He recently arrived at this universe despite the lack of gateways now, showing up to celebrate Rainbow Dash's achievement of winning all Eight Gyms. And with Hilbert's boastful energy, he would certainly attract a crowd, who were eager to hear what he had to say this time.
"You're doing this again? I thought you were gonna head to Unova by now." Applejack spoke as she was within the crowd.
"Not yet. First I gotta clear some things up here. After all, it's my protege's big day, passing all the Gyms and she needed to try a second time just to win. After hearing about where you all are, I thought I'd catch you all up to speed. Those late Gyms will rough you up."
"That's cool and all but we have Ash to teach us." Apple Bloom said as Ash was already fulfilling that role, giving pointers and training with those who were shooting for the Equestria League. "Well, not me but everypony else."
"Is he now? Well, I wouldn't expect less from him." Hilbert nodded his head in agreement. "Apparently, he's my counterpart, so I expect him to be a great teacher. But why not learn from the Number One Trainer in the world? Eh?"
"You're still on about that? Leon's Number One in this world." A pony spoke, pointing out how Hilbert's claim of being the Number One Trainer was already occupied by the World Champion Leon.
"Hm-hm-hm. For now." The Unovan Trainer smirked, crossing his arms in confidence. "World Champion is definitely a title that's worth having when you're the world's strongest trainer, that's for sure."
"Y-You're not gonna participate, are you?!" Applejack gasped, fearing that Hilbert would join the Pokemon World Championships which how much he hyped himself up to be the best trainer ever.
"Nah. I'm leaving that up to Ash." Surprisingly, Hilbert would not participate in the competition. "I figured that I'd let my counterpart fill in my shoes. I'm already the best back in my universe. Unova Champion by the way. So my full support is going towards Ash. By the way, where is he? And my protege?"
Hilbert would notice a lack of Rainbow Dash considering how thrilled she was winning all eight gyms and how there was a celebratory part for this. Right now, Rainbow Dash was simply enjoying her time on this bright and sunny afternoon, moving through the skies before Hilbert could spot her.
Currently, she and Ash could be found at the Pokemon House with Fluttershy. Spotted in the Water-Type section, the two of them were partaking in some sort of surfing. And the one joining them was none other than Brawly, the Hoenn Gym Leader and teacher at the Pokemon House.
"This is a pretty nice lake you got here, Fluttershy!" Brawly said, using his signature surfboard. But for Ash and Rainbow Dash, they would have Mantine and Lanturn help them surf.
Moving through the beautiful blue lake that was home to the many Water-Types that lived here, they would make strong waves that would nearly catch Fluttershy. The water barely missed her, somehow splashing in between Fluttershy.
"Ra! Raboot!" Raboot nudged Fluttershy's hoof, grabbing her attention as he would move like a child wanting something from their parents. That's how this could be viewed and Raboot's eagerness when looking at the lake and all the surfing only proved that.
"Want to give it a try? Alright. Audi, can you take him?"
"Audino!" Audino was already on it, standing near the lake as she would force herself to fall forward. Making a rather strong splash, Audino was lying flat on her face, staying afloat on the water. She would be the surfboard despite not being a Water-Type.
"Oh. That's not what I expected but...okay!" Fluttershy went along with it as Raboot would excitedly jump on Audino's back.
"Raboot!" With Audino being his surfboard, the Fire-Type would yell, wanting to start surfing along Ash, Brawly and Rainbow Dash.
"Dino!" An underwater blurb of Audino's voice passed through as she would stroke her arms. Audino moved along the lake but not exactly at the fastest pace. Raboot lowered his eyes immediately after Audino moved at a slow pace. This isn't the speed he was looking for.
Thankfully, the Water-Types would change that. A group of Staryu would spin as fast as they could, generating water pressures underneath. The water pressures would be strong enough to move Audino forward at a much faster speed. A speed akin to that of surfing. With a smile returning to his face, Raboot would get his wish with just a push.
"Pika!" Pikachu, meanwhile, dug his head underwater when surfing his head. There, he would see the face of Audino staring right at him, startling the Mouse Pokemon as she was approaching rapidly. "Pikachu?!"
"Up we go!" Ash exclaimed as the momentum and waves that he gained with Mantine made him and Pikachu enter the air, leaving the body of the Water-Flying-Type for a moment. "Woohoo!"
"Pikaaaa!" Pikachu yelled with excitement once he and Ash got some impressive airtime. It was so impressive that they went above the trees, being spotted by other ponies from Ponyville from this distance and height. And just to be cheeky, while in the air, Pikachu would use Quick Attack, moving at lightning speeds as he smashed his body into Ash's stomach.
"Gouh!" Ash's eyes opened as he was then forced back down by Pikachu's playful tackle and thankfully, Mantine would catch them both. "Nice one, buddy!"
Passing them by were Brawly and Rainbow Dash when racing alongside each other. Of course, these two would turn this into a race, moving across the lake and passing by as many Pokemon as they could. All the while, Audino was gaining momentum, surprisingly. And now that Raboot got to experience surfing, it was more intense than what he expected as he held onto Audino's back for dear life.
When watching this, Fluttershy and a few other Pokemon would laugh with joy in their hearts. Seeing this only brought joy in so many ways. Whether it was the slip-ups, sweet tricks from Brawly or the reactionary faces when something unexpected happens.
Also watching this was none other than Zecora. Although she was repairing her hut now the Everfree Forest was fully healed, she would still come by to the Pokemon House. But right now, it wasn't just to hang out and take care of the Pokemon living here. Rather, Zecora had something important that she needed to figure out. And it related to Ash and the recent arrival of Hilbert. And by extension, the encounter with Twilight Moonlight back at the Mirror Pool.
"Still, there's no sign of Twilight Moonlight." By now, Zecora felt that enough time has passed to the point where Twilight Moonlight hadn't shown up or done anything at all. "But even so, I've wasted enough time."
Zecora would approach Ash and the others, taking her mind off of the hut for a moment and focusing on what truly mattered. The experience she went through not too long ago. If anyone needed to hear this, it was Ash since he was essentially being threatened.
"Hey, Zecora!" Ash greeted Zecora upon spotting her, causing a big splash that would fly in Zecora's direction. "What's up?"
"First of all, what an excellent display of moves." Zecora spoke as some of the water landed on her. "More importantly Ash, there's something I need to tell you."
"Huh...That so?" Zecora sat them down, sharing what she learned. And with what she shared with them, Ash's reaction was not as shocking as his friends thought it would be.
"You don't seem that surprised after hearing about this, Ash!" Brawly gasped. "I'm pretty shocked about it. You have your own counterpart?"
"Why'd it have to be Hilbert though...?" Rainbow Dash groaned, preferring if someone else besides Hilbert was Ash's counterpart. And yet, she could still see parts of Ash within Hilbert. That much couldn't be denied, much to her chagrin. "But why would she wanna get you? I mean, I can only think of one Twilight that would be out to get you." She chuckled, referring to Empress Twilight.
"I guess it's to prevent this Prisma guy from showing up again? I've never heard of him or seen him before." Ash was rather lost on the concept of Prisma. Really, most of it was lost on him.
"Twilight Moonlight's intentions seemed well-meaning from what I could gather from her," Zecora replied as she did not immediately dismiss Twilight Moonlight's intentions considering what they were for. "But the way she is planning on going about it is off and every other detail about his return is a blur."
"Well, you'd better look out for her then, Ash. She'll show up again and try to get you. And maybe Hilbert too, I guess. It's kinda weird how she wants to keep our Twilight safe though and wants to deal with you." said Rainbow Dash.
"Yeah, I guess. But I'm wondering if she showed up here the same way Hilbert did. We don't have many gateways left but it looks like someone's figuring out how to get past that if Hilbert and Hilda can show up again. Thanks for telling us, Zecora. The next time we meet, I wanna talk to Twilight Moonlight. I've been meaning to meet with her after all."
"Is talking with her the best option since it sounds like she wants to destroy you? You'd have to be very approachable to have that work." Brawly shrugged, unsure if Twilight Moonlight would hear Ash out. "Maybe...our Twilight can talk to her."
"Huh. Yeah, that works too." Ash nodded in agreement. There was a good chance she would hear her counterpart out. "But still...who do you think the others are? Zecora, you mentioned how Twilight Moonlight brought up more than one counterpart. So there's more of them? Who are they?"
Zecora unfortunately could not answer that. She didn't get everything from Twilight Moonlight. Truly, most of it was a blur. However, this information was incredibly helpful. Ash had something to anticipate even if it threatened him. The character known as Prisma was also a curiosity in all of this.
As for Hilbert himself, he hadn't been informed at all. Far too busy rambling on about his strength and passing on knowledge to the trainers of Ponyville. He may be cocky and full of himself, but not only could he back it up but he also had a hefty amount of experience that was worth listening to.
Looking outside and watching Hilbert's frantic actions was Princess Twilight Sparkle. Hilbert's voice was loud enough to reach the castle as he somehow had something new to say every time, despite it relating to him being strong and the supposed Number One Trainer in the world.
She would then turn her attention away from him, focusing on what truly mattered at the moment. The special elixir that was made specifically for the Despair Plants. Passed on by Roseluck, who had it back home and originally belonged to her older sister Roseluck, this elixir, which was enlarged by the power of the Rift Cauldron, was a way to deal with the vicious Despair Plants.
But it was not yet completed. The properties of this elixir were difficult to understand with the only known creator currently taking the role as the Lich Queen over at Magehold. So that was an issue. But that didn't stop Twilight from trying to figure it out.
"So far, so good." Twilight used her magic to hold up the enlarged elixir. "I'd say that if we pour this on any of the Despair Plants, it'll cause a reaction. But because it's not completed, it won't be guaranteed."
"How about we use it now, though? Princess Celestia reported that a garden's been growing over at Galar. Those plants are gonna show up again and I say we test this elixir out for the first time." Spike suggested, patting his claws on the giant elixir as he was all for using it as soon as possible.
"Hold on. What we do know is that when they're just seeds, the Despair Plants are vulnerable, so we have that to bank on. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves." Twilight halted Spike. Even if she was making progress with this elixir and it could be used in some way, the risks were still there. "But Princess Celestia does want the elixir as soon as possible, so we can't be tardy at all. I hate being tardy anyway."
"I guess so..." Spike could see the argument there. No debating at the moment, especially with an incomplete elixir.
"But! It's time for a test run." Twilight grinned, rubbing her hooves together as she already had something in mind that did not involve the Despair Plants. "Let's use it on real plants!"
"Real plants?!" Spike gasped as Twilight's eyes lit up. She was all for this approach as it would be a good way to test out how effective the elixir is.
"Oh yeah. Let's head over to Saddle Lake, Spike. We're gonna see what this baby can do." Twilight pranced along, bringing the elixir with her via magic. Spike would soon follow as it was off to Saddle Lake to see just what the elixir could do in its current state.
Saddle Lake.
They had arrived at the beautiful Saddle Lake. With the elixir at their disposal, Twilight and Spike would have a few plants to choose from. However, to keep things safe, Twilight and Spike chose an isolated area, away from most Pokemon
"Alright. Just two drops on two plants. And that's about it. After we see what this elixir does, we can write a report on it and maybe know what we have to do next. Let's hope this is the miracle elixir that Roseluck spoke about." The Princess of Friendship took a deep breath, preparing the large elixir.
"It's gotta be good. That's why it exists, right? What else could come from it?" Spike questioned.
"Considering that Roseluck and Rosa Maledicta are sisters and used to live together...It's safe to say who originally made this. But this was before she became the Lich Queen so..." Feeling a bit optimistic, Twilight would remove the top of the elixir, finally letting it feel the air after so many years of being closed.
And upon being opened, a bright magical flash would emerge from the elixir, catching Twilight and Spike off guard. It was safe to say that neither expected a sudden flare of magic that would then shoot in to the sky. It didn't seem harmless despite how bright it was. It was more of a bewildering surprise than a physical one, illuminating the area. Afterwards, the light would depart from this world, but not before leaving behind bits of itself in the form of sparkles.
These were not here before. These sparkles were new to the elixir, glistening beautifully with a marvellously incandescent appearance. The young alicorn and the baby dragon looked at each other in amazement. This looked promising. But would the results be pleasing?
"Okay...Here goes nothing." Twilight would then tilt the elixir, focusing on a daisy and a paradise flower. Two drops of the elixir would emerge, dropping onto these two plants. Spike would instantly zip away just to feel safe in case the worst happen as Twilight would quickly close off the elixir, placing the top on it once more.
Lo and behold, a reaction did occur. The elixir would affect the plants as intended by Rosa Maledicta. The sparkles from the elixir showed themselves around the Daisy and Paradise Flower, wrapping the flowers in the same way as a blanket would wrap around the body.
Stepping back to watch this process, Twilight would stay silent, witnessing a magical phenomenon take place. The Daisy and the Tulip. Then, the light from before would return to this world, making one final entrance as it would flash in an outburst, catching Twilight and Spike's eyes off guard. The two would grunt at this flickering light, closing their eyes immediately, but keeping them open.
And they were glad they did. With one eye open, they would witness a transformation like no other. The Daisy and Paraidse Flower were beginning to transform. The transformation would take their original flower shapes and form something new out of them. Something that brought new life into this world. The plants were already alive, that much was true. But this took it to the next level.
The flowers ended up forming the shapes of ponies. They took on the form of Equestria's most common species. Two ponies would emerge, both appearing as mares with approximately the same stature and shape. The elixir certainly affected them, but no one expected it to turn out like this. They expected the flowers to be put to sleep or anything akin to that. This was proof that the elixir's main intention was not completed, but its main purpose that Rosa Maledicta had was. And it was done by Twilight Sparkle of all ponies.
The light would fade, showing two ponies that were made out of flowers. One was made entirely out of Daisies while the other was a walking Paradise Flower. Both had unique colours that represented their flower types.
"Incredible! This is way better than what I expected!" An elated Twilight Sparkle yelled, flabbergasted and amazed by this revelation. A new magical discovery had been found. "This is big! Big for history! Flower Ponies!"
"Flower Ponies?" Spike repeated.
"Or Flora Ponies. That works too. Either does. And I coined it!" Twilight claimed this immediately. Since she and Spike saw them first, coining the name of this newfound species was instant. "Flora sounds better actually. But I can't believe this is what the elixir is capable of now. It created a new species of ponies. It might be the Rift Energy that was involved or even an example of the Harmony Phenomenon. Or maybe this is what Rosa originally planned to have."
"C-Can they speak?" Spike wondered if they were fully sentient. Right now, he and Twilight could see movements. Confused movements to be exact. The heads of these two ponies would move around as they were reasonably confused.
After all, they were just brought into this world but at the same time, they've always been here. Made up by two plants that managed to multiply into multiples, they might as well be newborn infants. Their eyes would then meet with Twilight and Spike as those were visible compared to the flowers around their body.
Their coats were just flowers and nothing more, making them defined in their own way. And when looking at them, Twilight would notice how one of these Flora Ponies looked familiar. One of them seemed to resemble Roseluck just a bit. And the other, while Twilight has not yet seen the Lich Queen, looked a bit like Rosa Maledicta. But they still stuck out to appear differently from those two.
"I don't think they can speak...Maybe not yet." Twilight didn't get a response from them as she would approach the two Flora Ponies. "Hi there. My name's Twilight Sparkle. And you two shall be called...Daisy and Paradise. Yeah. That works for both of you." Twilight Sparkle would name them on the spot.
It was only fitting that they were named after the plants that they were made out of. So far, there wasn't a reaction from them at all. Barely any emotions sparked from their faces or bodies. It was rather awkward for Twilight. And yet, she couldn't help but keep staring at them. She would then stare back at the elixir, realizing what this could mean for the future.
And more importantly, what it could mean for the Despair Plants.
The birth of a new pony species has been found on this day. The day that Rainbow Dash celebrated her major win over the final Gym and the day that the Garden in Galar was continuing to grow.
Created by the elixir that was originally made by Rosa Maledicta, two new species of ponies had been created and brought into this world due to Twilight Sparkle's test run with the elixir. Classified as Flora Ponies by Twilight, these two ponies had the coats of the flowers they were based on. Daisy and Paradise. They were even given those names.
"They don't seem all that reactive...but welcome to the world. Daisy. Paradise." Twilight greeted them both and yet she didn't get a proper reaction from the Flora Ponies. "Spike! This is one of the best discoveries we've made so far! It was a good idea to test this elixir out."
"Yeah but...now I'm convinced we can't use it yet. It brought those flowers to life. So what's it gonna do against the Despair Plants at this rate?"
"That's why we won't use it right now. It still needs work. But for what it gave us, the potential is great. To think that Roseluck's family had this with them...But this could be the Rift Energy, Equestrian Magic, or the Harmony Phenomenon at work. Or all of them."
"What about these two? What do we do with them?" Spike asked.
"Well..." Twilight pondered as Daisy and Paradise were anomalies now. What purpose do they serve now that they've been made? While thinking about it, the Flora Ponies would suddenly move, alerting the Princess of Friendship and the Dragon Trainer. They looked at themselves, raising their hooves to see what they truly were.
Being made out of flowers was rather bizarre despite the fact that they were originally flowers. One could say that they still were at the end of the day, just taking on the shape of ponies. The wind would blow, affecting their bodies as they finally showed some emotion. They were as fragile as actual flowers, affected greatly by the wind as they would close their eyes, grimacing and twitching. Once they felt the wind against them, they knew what had to be done.
After their usual aura of silence, the two Flora Ponies looked at each other and then at Twilight, viewing her appearance and how it brought out her purple coat. After a synchronized nod, the Daisy and Paradise Flower bodies that they had would suddenly rustle before emanating that same incandescent light from before. Twilight and Spike had to squint for the third time in a row due to how bright the light was. Judging by this, it looked like they were going through another transformation. And it was so soon.
However, the transformation was not much. They retained their original statures but with something clearer. Their slight similarities to Roseluck and Rosa Maledicta would fizzle out a bit while still being somewhat existed in their mane styles. For the most part in the front. Emerging from the light, the flowers that they were made out of had vanished but were still present as the full transformation of these Flora Ponies was complete.
"What just happened?! They transformed again?!" Spike gasped. The Flora Ponies would then look at themselves, seeing how much clearer they were as their Cutie Marks were now the flowers they originally were.
"I think they bloomed!" Twilight exclaimed, believing that this was an example of flowers blooming. And it was an impressive bloom. One of the best, if not the best that she's seen so far. "They look more like average ponies but...look at their eyes and manes."
Twilight and Spike would notice the green glows in their eyes as they were as verdant as the grass itself and even the trees. Glistening beautifully in their pupils,
"You two look beautiful! You'll fit right in at Ponyville or anywhere else. I mean...if you want to. You practically live here. Saddle Lake's your home after all." Twilight suggested, hoping they would say something this time now that they have full appearances.
And yet, they stayed silent. However, they would finally start showing emotions, showing more reactions rather than just staring at each other. No longer did the wind harm them as they had the solid body of a pony. The Flora Ponies would get adjusted to their new bodies, flailing their hooves around. And when doing so, their respective flowers would fly out.
A swarm of daisies flew out of Daisy's hoof, passing by Twilight as they would fly elegantly through the wind. Twilight and Spike watched as the daisies took off into the air, followed by the Paradise Flowers. And the way they left their hooves was another form of magic. The flowers did not materialize. Instead, they looked like they came straight through their hooves and yet there wasn't a hole or anything that would pave the way.
"Oh...I need to know more about you!" It was safe to say that Twilight would find herself being occupied on the day, fixating on these Flora Ponies. And she always came prepared. When she arrived at Saddle Lake earlier, she brought a pen and paper with her to jot what she would discover with the elixir. This went beyond what she originally planned.
The Flora Ponies, after shooting out flowers, continued to waddle around just to get a good sense of movement. Thankfully, with how they changed their appearances, they could walk just fine.
"Alright. One burning question. Can you understand me?" Twilight questioned, hoping that the Flora Ponies, despite their lack of speech, could understand Twilight. "My name is Twilight Sparkle. You can hear and understand me, right?"
In response, Daisy would walk up to Twilight, eyeing the Princess of Friendship down. Twilight watched Daisy's movements, wondering what they meant and if she should be careful. But Daisy's appearance and whole demeanour didn't seem to warrant any caution so far. Finally, one of them would reply to Twilight and that would be Daisy herself. All it took was a singular head nod.
"Oh, you can hear me!" Twilight exclaimed as her voice was truly heard by these Flora Ponies. "Okay, so they can understand my words. But they can't speak...Unless they haven't been taught to speak yet."
"Espeon?"
"I know that doesn't add up, Eve. They look like they're my age at least. I didn't think they'd show up like this after all." Twilight giggled. "Alright. Daisy. Paradise. Those are your names. I bet you can recognize those if someone was to ever call for you. And about the flowers you sent out...Are your insides flowers?"
"That's...kinda gross." Spike grimaced, realizing how disturbing it must be to have someone's insides be flowers. "But I guess it's not that out there." However, after thinking about it, compared to some Pokemon, this wasn't that strange.
"This isn't exactly what we need to stop the Despair Plants, but we're getting somewhere. Princess Celestia will love this though even if it's not what we were looking for. Back to those flowers...you have magical abilities of your own, shooting those flowers out. I wonder what else you can do. Could you show us something else?"
Paradise would suddenly turn away, looking at the Pokemon nearby instead. She would turn her attention to something else instead of listening to Twilight any further. She's been doing this for a bit now. But Daisy seemed to be all ears.
Daisy would then spot the lake that was up ahead, deciding to approach it. But instead of walking, prancing or any other form of common movement, she would surprise Twilight and Spike with her own unique form of movement. Something that seemed new to the Flora Ponies.
Her whole body would dematerialize back into flowers. A vast quantity of daises appeared, being around the same size as her statue as there was no trace of her pony body to be found. She travelled via this stream of daises, moving from Twilight's spot all the way to the lake. After reaching the lake, her whole body would return to her pony form.
"What kind of movement was that?!" Spike's eyes would almost pop out of his head.
"Oragnic Transporation! They're not made out of the same genetic makeup as us, Spike. On the outside, they have solid bodies like us but on the inside, they must made out of flowers. That has to be it! I mean, I could always have Rainbow Dash's Luxray confirm that but still! What an amazing way to travel, Daisy!"
Proud to hear that, after dipping her head into the lake, Daisy would look back at Twilight, putting on a bright smile. From what Twilight and Spike could gather, Daisy was rather bright and curious. Which made sense considering how she was just brought into existence as a Flora Pony. But as for Paradise, that was a different story. She was still curious but was less engaged with what was being said by Twilight. It was until Espeon nudged Twilight that she spotted Paradise walking away.
"Huh? Ah! Wait, Paradise!" Twilight bellowed, quickly getting in front of Paradise. The rather stoic plant would stop once Twilight got in front of her via a quickly spread of her wings. "We didn't talk to you yet. You were just wandering off there, weren't you?"
Paradise would then shrug, showing that she could emote various emotions that were common. And judging by how she pulled off this emotion flawlessly, Twilight could see the contrast between her and Daisy. It was even in their expressions. Daisy seemed to be jolly while Paradise was rather stoic.
"Okay...I think we should let you get out there. How about we head to Ponyville, you two?" Twilight suggested. "Not sure how that would go...I'm not sure anyone would notice that you're a completely different species of pony. A new one too that I made up. What do you say?"
Once again, the only way for them to confirm things was by nodding. The most common gesture they knew. And it would take Daisy and Paradise looking at each other. After confirming that they would accept that offer, together, both of them used their unique travelling method. In unison, they would dematerialize back into their plant forms with Paradise obviously taking on the form of a Paradise Flower.
The two of them would move as fast as they could in these forms, which was impressively fast as seen by how quickly Flora reached the lake. Spike would come in contact with Daisy's movement as he would find himself being spun by the wind pressure she made. "Woah!"
"Wait for us! Do you two even know the way!?" However, they would go without Twilight leading the way. It was hard to tell if they even knew where Ponyville was. Quickly, Twilight would follow them. "Come on, Spike!"
"I-I'm coming..." A bewildered Spike would hold his head before smelling the air, which had a different scent to it now. "Smells like daisies all of a sudden..."
Ponyville.
Surprisingly, they knew where Ponyville was. When passing through Saddle Lake and by extension White Tail Wood, the stream of daisies and paradise flowers had found Ponyville. Perhaps it was the size of it that also helped them find it. And at the speed they travelled, it didn't take long for them to find this lovely town of ponies and Pokemon which was always lively during the day and in some cases the night.
Arriving here by following them were Twilight and Spike and by the way they were running, it looked like they were just randomly chasing flowers that were carried off by the wind.
"Twilight? Spike?" Ash spoke as he was the first to notice them chasing these flowers, followed by Pikachu. But soon, after reaching Ponyville, the flowers would return to their pony forms, materializing within Ash and Pikachu's sights. Daisy and Paradise had shown themselves once more beyond just Twilight, Espeon and Spike. "What the?!"
"Pikachu!"
"Finally...Hoh, they move fast in that state..." Twilight panted along with Spike and Espeon. They caught their breaths after pursuing these Flora Ponies. "That's another thing to note down. In that state...they move incredibly fast. As fast maybe a Staraptor...I'll call that Floral Movement."
"Sweet name as always." Spike sat down after catching his breath, complimenting Twilight's naming methods once more. Simple but effective.
"Anyway...Welcome to Ponyville. It looks like you two knew where it was from the start." Twilight welcomed them to Ponyville, which was currently moving for two reasons. One, it was either because of Hilbert and his boastful behaviour that would always get a reaction out of someone. Or two, further celebration of Rainbow Dash's big win. Both brought further life into this town.
Daisy and Paradise took a gander at the scenery, witnessing the flourishing life that was as bright as it could be. The movement of Pokemon that would help their trainers in their day-to-day lives or even how they could be seen running and playing with the children. Some were taking part in Pokemon Battles which were always enjoyable past times. A flash of different elements would go off, captivating their eyes.
But something else would captivate them. The presence of an Aura could be felt. Within the atmosphere, this Aura was extravagant, even if it was not visible at the moment. When feeling this Aura, a smile would grace the faces of these Flora Ponies as it was rather calming. Their tails would swish in response to this Aura. And who else would possess it than the one who was approaching Twilight's side?
"Hey!" Ash and Pikachu came over after witnessing the Flower Transportation. Flora and Paradise felt it from Ash Ketchum, who had a great ordeal of Aura. "What was that?! That was really cool?!"
"Pikachu!"
"Oh, Ash. I guess you saw it for yourself." Twilight spoke, getting in between the two Flora Ponies. "You're going to be shocked with what Spike and I discovered."
"Mhm." Unexpectedly, catching Twilight off guard, Daisy would finally exude a sound. It was a simple sound but it was something that involved language.
"Wait!" Twilight's mane and tail stood up as a prolonged gasp emerged out of her mouth. "You can talk now?! Did you just evolve!"
"Sorry for the scare." Indeed, Daisy could now form proper sentences. Her gestures would improve, bowing her head as an apology.
"You seem pretty freaked out about it, Twilight," Ash said, unaware of what Twilight experienced back at Saddle Lake.
"They couldn't speak just yet, Ash. These are Flora Ponies. Ponies that I created back at Saddle Lake by using Roseluck's elixir." Twilight explained, introducing this new species to Ash and Pikachu.
"Flora Ponies?! Sweet!" Ash and Pikachu's eyes lit up with stars. "A whole new species as well?! Nice stuff, Twilight!"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Well, it looks like they're learning as time goes on. Just minutes ago, they couldn't speak at all. I could only understand them with gestures and they could only hear my voice and understand what I was saying." Twilight sighed. "Congrats on learning how to speak, you two. There's more about you that I have to learn about.
"The Aura helped..." Paradise would finally speak next. And her first words were about the Aura, glancing over at Ash.
"It did? What?" Twilight would also glance at Ash. "With just these few words, she could understand what Paradise was suggesting. After looking at Ash, her attention would draw back to the two Flora Ponies. "Hold on...Are you saying that the Aura is what made you learn how to speak?"
"Mhm." Daisy would confirm along with Paradise's silent nod. After confirming this, Twilight would quickly jot this down. A new revelation has been made once again. "Note...Aura seems to affect Flora Ponies. At least, for now."
"Well, nice to meet you." Ash held his hand out. "My name's Ash. And this is my partner Pikachu."
"Pikachu!"
"We know. We know who you two are." Daisy held her hoof out, placing it on Ash's hand. "We've been watching your battles whenever you showed up at Saddle Lake."
"Eh?" Ash uttered as he could feel the softness of Daisy's hoof. Despite having the normal appearance of a pony on the outside, holding her hoof felt like touching actual flowers. "You have?"
"Wait, you have?!" Twilight exclaimed. "You already knew?! Are you telling me every battle that's happened over at Saddle Lake, you remember them?!"
"Of course, mom," Daisy replied, catching Twilight off guard once more.
"Look at you, Twilight. You've already got yourself some daughters. How neat is that?" Ash would giggle, teasing Twilight and going along with Daisy's claim.
"T-They're not...!" Immediately, the Princess of Friendship would pull back, blushing as Spike and Espeon would also giggle at this sudden callout from Daisy. "Why'd you say that all of a sudden?" She would grizzle her teeth. "Is it because I brought you into this world?"
"Mhm!" Daisy would give out another 'Mhm', this time with more emphasis in her voice.
"Okay then...So you know everything that's happened back at Saddle Lake. Which means you've seen everything that's happened there. At least, from your point of view as flowers, which is pretty limited. Umm...Any concept of food?" They stayed silent from this. Daisy and Paradise did not grant Twilight any new answers. The looks on their faces made it clear that they weren't sure what to say.
"Mmm..." Paradise muttered as no clear concept of food came to her.
"Ah...We saw um...what do you call it again? A picnic?" But Daisy had something that she managed to say. From her own mouth, she spoke about a picnic, having a concept about it.
"A picnic? Oh, you must mean the time when everyone gathered at Saddle Lake to see a Suicune!" Twilight recalled that moment. "I wish I was at Saddle Lake by then...but thanks to Ash over here, I got to see Suicune anyway."
"Well, welcome to the World, you two. You're gonna have a lot of fun, see a lot of stuff, do a lot of stuff and so on." Ash spoke. "And you've already done something cool by travelling like that."
"Oh, what's that?" Daisy would focus on something else that grabbed her attention as she used her Flower Movement once more. Dematerializing into daisies she would head further into Ponyville.
"Oooh..." A curious Paradise would also find interest in something. "What is that?" Soon, she would also dematerialize into Paradise Flowers.
"Ash. I still don't know what to do with them. They're new to the world, after all, and I don't know where to take them. And they're also very curious despite only ever seeing Pokemon Battles."
"Why not have them live with you?" Ash brought up an obvious suggestion that Pikachu, Spike and Espeon agreed with.
"Live with me? I don't know...My castle's getting occupied at this point. I don't think I have enough rooms in my castle to have them stay over."
"Come on. You're the mom. We can arrange that." Ash brought up the fact that Twilight was viewed as their mother because of how she created them. "You can always squeeze in a new room for them with Rift Magic."
"Why'd they have to call me, mom? It's weird...But I guess I am. And I do have a lot to teach them." Twilight vehemently sighed while shaking her head. "Even though it looks like they reacted to your Aura. It's because of that, they learned how to speak."
"Yeah. The elixir made them. But do you think it's the Rift Energy inside or something?" Ash asked.
"Maybe. I'll figure that out eventually. But you know..." Twilight twirled her mane before a smile graced her face. She was ready to capitalize on something and it involved Ash. "I don't mind them calling me mom...It makes sense anyway. But it would only make things better if they had a father...Just saying."
"Oh yeah...That would make a full-on family." Ash nodded as Twilight grinned, believing that Ash would say some words that would satisfy her. "Spike!"
"Eh?" Twilight's pupils shrunk. That was not the response she was looking for as she was hoping that Ash would've seen himself as the father, but instead, it was Spike that he chose, kneeling to face the Baby Dragon.
"You were there with them. That makes you their dad, right?" Ash brought a logical point. Spike was there with Twilight after all.
"I guess so. I'm slightly older than them too. But I know more." Spike proudly said. "I'm gonna raise them to be Dragon Traienrs just like me. If they want, that is. No pressure."
"Nevermind..." Twilight sighed as her head and wings would drop. "Ash. Spike. At least help me find them. Just in case something goes wrong. And by tomorrow, I'll have to figure something out since by then, I'll be at the Pokemon School."
Twilight, Ash and Spike would go after the Flora Ponies, who had already travelled away, entering the rest of Ponyville. So far, the Flora Ponies seemed rather harmless. Perhaps it was the fact that they came from gentle plants. Perhaps it was the Aura around them.
However, being incredibly sentient to the point where they are akin to actual ponies, their reactions would vary. Daisy's interests brought her to a table of food that had been made because of Rainbow Dash's celebration. She would creep up on the table, raising her head before resting her neck on it.
"Oooh..." The concept of food to her had been further expanded as she saw more kinds of food compared to what was viewed during that picnic. Granted, she was not aware of their names but she could care less. It was their appearance that made her so curious.
And how would she interact with these? With no one at this table currently, Daisy would tilt her head, opening her mouth as she attempted to eat the food in front of her. And already, she was failing at it. She would clamp her teeth together, at leasting having a concept of biting. But it wouldn't do her any good if she couldn't reach the food. Right now, Daisy was only tasting the air.
"Mmm...Tastes as good as the Sun." And yet, she still tasted something as she brought up the taste of the Sun. At the end of the day, she was a plant at heart, benefitting from the radiance of the sun." Daisy would look at her hoof before realizing she had these to her advantage. "Aah..."
After learning she had hooves to grab, she would do the most logical thing. At least to her. Once again, the daisies would fly out of her hooves as she used those instead of grabbing the food. The stream of daisies would fly over, grabbing chunks of food on the table. After grabbing the food, Daisy would control the flowers to drag the delicacies her way. She would taste the food after dropping it in her mouth, having her own way to grab what she needed.
"Those things can grab as well?!" Twilight gasped after witnessing Daisy using her flowers. And even though no one else was at the table, that didn't stop some ponies from witnessing Daisy's usage of flowers.
It wasn't just Daisy showcasing what she could do. Paradise found herself coming across a line. There was a line for those who took Hibert's advice and were lining up to be taught by him. Curious, Paradise wanted to get involved immediately, but she was a bit too late for that. Many had already gathered, forming a long line that would draw out some time.
"Hmm..." Paradise grumbled as just looking at this long line bothered her. Her eyes would twitch as she certainly wasn't willing to wait that long for the line to shorten. Wanting a quicker process, Paradise would also use her respective flowers. With her hoof out, she summoned a stream of Paradise flowers. The flowers would then move around the legs of everypony, going underneath them.
"Huh? Hey!" A pony cried out as she was dragged away by the Paradise Flowers, moving her to the back of the line where Paradise was now ahead of her. The same would happen for everyone else as they would be swept from their position from these Paradise Flowers.
With each pony being moved out of the way, Paradise would move ahead, heading further into the front. Soon, it would be just her.
"Hm?" Hilbert rubbed his eyes, seeing the order of the line change drastically in a few seconds.
"Hey, no cutting!" The ponies would rant, noticing how their positions have changed thanks to Paradise. All of a sudden, she was now the one in front.
"Uh, Paradise." Ash arrived, kneeling in front of the Flora Pony. "That's not the best way to go about it. You gotta wait for your turn to line up."
"But I don't want to." She said with a blank and monotone tone. Clearly, she had her own feelings about lines that she expressed by moving everyone else out of the way.
"Well, since you're interested in this, how about you come with me? It'll make things quicker for you?" Ash suggested. Judging from how Paradise approached this line, something like this piqued her interest. To save up time for everyone else who lost their positions, Ash would bring Paradise with her.
"What was that all about?" A confused Hilbert said before shrugging it off.
Ash and Twilight would bring the Flora Ponies to Twilight's Castle, where Twilight agreed to keep them at. These two didn't exactly have a home even though Saddle Lake could be considered their home, despite how static they were for many years.
Upon entering, Daisy would immediately gallop inside, using her Flower Transporation to move around. Paradise would take a quick look at the place before also using her unique form of travel.
"Okay. They might be a little chaotic, but that's fine. They're learning. They can stay here for a while until I figure something out. I have a lot to teach them and a lot to research about Flora Ponies. They have a different physiology fro mus and maybe a different set of magic. I'll be stuck in here for a while researching them."
"And I wanna get involved." Ash pointed at himself, wanting to stick around as well. "But you should probably find them first now that they've scattered. After that, Fluttershy and everyone else have gotta meet them."
"Oh, right, right!" Twilight gasped, realizing the mess they could cause inside the castle. "Daisy! Flora! Slow down for once!" The Princess of Friendship would take flight, pursuing after them. But since they scattered, she couldn't choose both locations at the same time. Thankfully, that's why Ash and Spike were here as they would follow the Flora Ponies.
This new species of ponies was certainly curious and fantastical. They carried a ton of potential without a doubt. Daisy and Paradise both had a lot of curiosity within them and both so far had their own way of reacting to things. Considering Twilight Sparkle their mother, the Princess of Friendship had more on her hooves to deal with now.
As for the elixir, it was not yet ready. Granted, it was impressive what it was capable of doing, but to stop the Despair Plants, the elixir didn't seem like it would help stop them at all.
Flora Ponies were currently within Twilight's Castle. Going by the names Daisy and Paradise, they roamed around Twilight's castle with high levels of curiosity. Following them in case something goes wrong were Twilight, Ash and Spike respectively, following the trail of flowers that these Flora Ponies left behind when using their Flower Transporation. Eventually, Daisy and Paradise would converge in the same room, reuniting Ash, Twilight and Spike.
And with Daisy being rather unaware of the rest of the world, she would eye down a pile of Poke Balls that were laid on the table. Her head was raised to the level of the table with her special eyes locking onto these revolutionary objects. She would pause for a moment, recognizing the Poke Balls as she has been multiple of them being thrown back at Saddle Lake when she was just a plant.
"Hmm..." Observing the Poke Balls, Daisy immediately thought about how everyone would throw them and a Pokemon would emerge from it. Curious about them, she would raise her hoof, summoning flowers out of it once more instead of grabbing it. She had her own way of grabbing whatever she wanted and that was with a stream of daisies.
Raising the Poke Balls up with her flowers, Daisy's next instinct was to devour them, for whatever reason. Lost about what she wanted to do since she was so new to the world, consuming the Poke Balls seemed like a logical option here.
"Oh, wait! That's not food!" Twilight would quickly drag them away from Daisy by using her magic. "Geez...Why was that your first instinct? You've seen us use the Poke Balls before and you want to eat them?"
"You're not? Sorry, mom. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with them. I'm still feeling happy after all that food I ate." Daisy apologized, lowering her head before pouting. Twilight grimaced as Daisy put on a rather disheartening look on her face.
"Uh..." Twilight scrunched her face as she felt a bit of guilt speaking to Daisy that way. "Well, you're still new to the world, so I don't blame you, Daisy." It's just that the Poke Balls aren't for eating. They serve other purposes." Twilight gathered the Poke Balls. "And I'm not your mom."
"But you are." Daisy rubbed her hoof, still insisting on calling Twilight Sparkle her mother. Twilight would put on a poker face right afterwards before shaking her head.
"Okay...I guess that's not changing." Twilight sighed. "Alright. Since you're going to live here, we need to lay some ground rules first. You've already tried eating a lot of things when you get here and you almost got my pen. Not everything here is food and I can tell you what it is and what isn't. Understand?"
"I understand." Daisy nodded. "But what am I supposed to do? I don't know why I'm here..."
"Same here." Paradise walked over. "I mean...I don't know what I'm doing here but I know what I wanna try."
"Well, I would say I made you two by accident but that would be too harsh. I'm the one who put the elixir onto the flowers in the first place. You don't exactly have a purpose in life rather than just pure curiosity..."
"And it's a lot of fun...I can do almost anything!" The Flora Pony excitedly said before slamming her hooves on the table. Suddenly, Daisy would touch the table where the Poke Balls rested, suddenly enveloping them all in flowers. Twilight gasped as her tables were full of daisies, completely coated in them.
"Gaah!" Twilight screeched after the table had been consumed by the daisies. There was barely a semblance of it left except for the shape. Now there was a flower table within her castle and it wasn't even minimal decorations. Every side and surface had been covered.
"Oops." Daisy pulled back, looking at her hooves. "I didn't mean to do that..."
"Okay...the ability to cover things in flowers. Good to know..." A stunned Twilight Sparkle said before writing down new notes about the Flora Ponies. "Um...Let's be careful with that, please? I don't want everything being covered in daisies, even though that would look beautiful."
"You can make a pretty sweet garden with something like that. Same with you, Paradise." Ash said to Daisy and Paradise. "You can do it too, right?"
"I think so." Paradise looked at her hoove before touching a window. That window would be blocked off by an array of Paradise Flowers.
"Sweet!" Ash loved this but Twilight had a different opinion.
"My window! Ash!" Twilight growled at Ash as another part of her castle had been covered in flowers. Thankfully, they weren't being replaced by flowers. It was only a matter of them being covered.
"Hehe!" Ash giggled, rubbing his hair while looking to the side.
"Alright. New rule. Please don't just cover everything in flowers." Twilight would share some more ground rules for the Flora Ponies. "And that goes for outside too. Unless you're in a field, garden, forest or anywhere with a ton of flowers. Be careful with that kind of magic. If that is magic."
"Yes, mom." Daisy and Paradise both said with low tones, heeding Twilight's rules.
"But if you wanna make something look good, go ahead. Just make sure it's the right thing and then go wild." Ash encouraged them to use it whenever they felt like beautifying something.
"Ooh!" The Flora Ponies would have their eyes shoot up after Ash brought some encouragement their way.
"You must use your abilities responsibly. That way, you can keep yourself and others safe." Twilight continued. "That involves no pushing, Paradise. Unless it's absolutely necessary. Understood?"
"Yeah, yeah I get it," Paradise replied. "Ash already told me that. But I wanna hurry and do something already."
"Same here!" Daisy pranced on the spot, either to get involved with something. All these two have been doing is moving around, looking and occasionally trying to eat something. "What about those Pokemon? We see them all the time whenever you showed up at Saddle Lake."
"Mhm. We'd love to try our hooves with them. The way you throw them and a Pokemon flies out is so amazing!" Daisy giggled with glee. "Especially you, Ash. Your battles are so much fun!"
"Glad you asked." Granting them their wish, Ash held out two Poke Balls. "Here you go. Two Poke Balls for you two." The two Flora Ponies would then excitedly grab the Poke Balls as fast as they could, this time with their hooves. "There aren't any Pokemon inside. Those are empty ones. But you can get started with catching your first Pokemon."
"Really? Thank you so much!" Daisy would happily hug Ash's leg, having impressive physical strength that caught him off guard, making his leg twitch.
"Gh! N-No problem...I can teach you a lot of stuff about Pokemon while you're here. Let's make that the first thing you can really get involved with."
"I've got something better," Twilight spoke. "Tomorrow, I'm heading over to the Pokemon School. I think now is a good time to let these two join it. That's where they'll see a lot about Pokemon."
"Aw...But we wanna learn with Ash." The Flora Ponies groaned, shifting their favouritism to learning with Ash. "We don't wanna go to school..."
"Eh?" Twilight pulled back. She was surprised that they even knew about the concept of school. But then again, with how many ponies show up- at Saddle Lake, the Flora Ponies, despite being new to the world, have a lot of vocabulary on them. This made them easier to chat with but they also had child-like tendencies and mannerisms to them. "But you can learn a lot more over at the Pokemon School and get a ton of information there. All the teachers will help."
"Come on, Twilight. Just for today, we can teach 'em some stuff and they'll be ready for tomorrow. We'll drop them off together too." Ash insisted, choosing the side of the Flora Ponies.
"Fine...Just for today and tomorrow, it's off the Pokemon School. Which I also attend." Twilight sighed. "It's just that this kind of education can't be missed. I remember how excited I was when I first went to school. I wanted to be the best student I could possibly be."
"Have two more." Ash dropped off two more Poke Balls to them. "An extra pair, just in case." At this point, the contrast between how Ash and Twilight treated the Flora Ponies was stark. Ash was encouraging, ready to spoil them with everything related to Pokemon and indulge in their quest of curiosity. Meanwhile, Twilight, knowing how special these Flora Ponies were, wanted to keep things safe for them and her own castle. But she would still show kindness to them, only wanting the best.
"Make sure you don't spoil them, Ash." Twilight chuckled. "Anywhere...I'll whip up a new room for you two to sleep in. You um...can sleep, right? I mean, I don't know if flowers sleep so I'm not sure about Flora Ponies."
"Even if they can't sleep, they'll have a room that they can hang out in," Ash added. "How's it gonna look since it's gonna be both of them? Are they gonna share a room or..."
"They'll share. It's best to keep them together since they understand each other. It'll look like every other room here, Ash. Full of crystals." Twilight rubbed her hoof on the walls. "Glistening beautifully in the moonlight."
"Oh! I want mine to be pretty like that!" Daisy bellowed, startling Twilight. "C-Can we choose what it looks like"?
"Yeah, I wanna choose!" Paradise nodded with great enthusiasm. "Can we choose, Ash?"
"Sure you can. Say the word and we'll make it happen." Ash agreed. "Whatever you two wanna have, we'll make it possible."
"We will." Twilight smiled as she was on the same page as Ash, finally. "You have a lot of catching up to do and you'll have us and your teachers to help you through it. That goes for our Pokemon as well."
"Pikachu!"
"Espeon!"
"Hmm..." Spike chose to observe this for himself, staying silent in all of this. When seeing Ash and Twilight's ways of interacting with the Flora Ponies, he couldn't help but see how perfect this was. Ash's sense of freedom and fun combined with Twilight's sense of education plus cultivation was a good balance. They needed it for new they were to everything.
Ash and Twilight would immediately get them started. The Flora Ponies did have some knowledge on Pokemon after the events that constantly take place over at Saddle Lake but they had a long way to go.
Nightfall had arrived at last. And for the Flora Ponies, they would find their new room that Twilight made for them. Right now, it was merely a blank slate, resembling every other room here. But soon, it would be decorated into something that would suit them.
"When you're at school tomorrow, by the time you get back, this room's gonna look the way you want it to look. Get some rest first though. If you can..." Ash scratched his face, pondering for a moment. "You guys eat sunlight, right?"
"Mhm." Daisy and Paradise collectively said.
"So what about the moon? Do plants eat the moonlight?" Ash wondered.
"Plants don't eat moonlight, Ash. It's only Sunlight. Moonlight just isn't bright enough for them. But I don't think that'll be an issue for you two." Twilight confirmed. "Have a wonderful first night's sleep, alright?"
"Uh...How do you do this?" Daisy went up to the bed, poking her head against it. The concept of lying down seemed to escape her. That also applied to Paradise who stand on the bed instead of lying down.
"They'll get used to it." Ash said. "If you can't sleep, talk about what you guys love to do. I gotta head home. " "You're not going to stay, Ash?"
"Nah. I've got my own home back at Pallet Town. But you'll see me again." Ash reassured. "I'll always be around when you need me. And we'll have a ton of fun the next time we meet. For now, Twilight, Spike and their Pokemon are gonna be around you. And Starlight and Hatterene too. You can count on them. See ya tomorrow."
"Pikachu."
"Sleep tight, okay?" Twilight would be the last to leave as it was now just Daisy and Paradise in this room. Silence entered the room with the remaining sounds being Twilight's hoofsteps.
On their own, it was just these two Flora Ponies. While their day hasn't been the most eventful it could be, it was a curious one. Brought into this world by the power of the elixir, they may appear as adults and have been around for a long time when they were just regular flowers, there was still a lot to learn and take in.
Stuck to Saddle Lake their entire life, they've seen a handful of battles, ponies and Pokemon show up. And now with the ability to move, their freedom reached new heights.
"Hey, Paradise...Can I call you sister?" Daisy asked before finally learning how to lie down, mimicking the Pokemon when they fall over.
"Sister? I guess we are, aren't we? What's up?" Paradise would soon fall asleep as well.
"What do you wanna do after this? I mean...what can we do?"
"Anything. Anything we want. We get to walk, run, grab, jump and do whatever everyone else can do. We're pretty free right now, Daisy." Paradise brought out all the positives from this. And they were hefty and abundant. "It's still weird being here, isn't it?"
"It is. But I love it." Daisy smiled before closing her eyes, attempting to put herself to sleep. "I get to finally speak with those who were so interesting to watch. And they're so wonderful. Especially mom and Ash, right?"
"Mhm. Ash is pretty cool, giving us these." In Paradise's hooves, she would hold up the Poke Ball Ash lent her. "I can't wait for tomorrow."
"Same here..." Daisy would yawn as she was truly capable of falling asleep. After yawning, the Flora Pony would put herself to sleep. Soon Paradise would fall asleep minutes after her sister clocked out.
When falling asleep, the beds they rested on would start blooming, slowly being covered by their respective flowers. Daisies and Paradise Flowers would bloom on the beds without them knowing and with no control over this. The sheets would be decorated beautifully by these flowers before they then spread across the floor.
Perhaps this blooming mess was perfect for the peaceful sleep they had. It was truly a Flower Bed at this point, befitting these Flora Ponies.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Day.
A new day had arrived and it was another to learn at the Pokemon School. And for Daisy and Paradise to start their first day. Bringing them here would be Ash and Twilight as it would be on Dragonite instead of the Canterlot Train.
In the skies, Ash's Dragonite would carry Ash, Pikachu, Twilight and the Flora Ponies, showing these newly-created ponies the beauty of the world from a wonderful angle. The rolling and verdant fields along with the forests that dotted the land were theirs to witness.
"That was the best ride ever!" Daisy cheered as she and Paradise enjoyed that greatly. "I know right? Having Dragonite bring us here was a good call.
"I was going to choose the train which would've introduced you to everypony else but...this works too." Twilight shrugged. Originally, she would've had them go on the train as usual, but Ash wanted to show them wonders on their first day to school. And what better than on a Dragonite? Granted, this meant that Daisy and Flora would not meet Ash and Twilight's friends along the way, but they would in here.
"Thanks, Dragonite. Return." Ash would return Dragonite afterwards. Upon arriving, Daisy and Paradise would face the school that stood before them. Entering this school were many students, young and old, having a lot more about the Pokemon World to learn. There was never enough.
"Take this you." Ash would then hold out his bag, lending it to both Daisy and Paradise. "I had my mom make some food just for you. You don't have your own bags, so share this with each other. You'll find a lot to eat inside. Just go after the food only, okay?"
"Are you sure?" Paradise asked after being given Ash's bag, which even surprised Twilight. "This is yours...Don't you go everywhere with it?"
"Until you get your own, which might be tomorrow, this is yours. So go ahead. And have fun too. I'll be nearby the school, okay?" Ash backed away, giving his best luck to them all. Twilight, who was also here to attend, would lead the way, being the perfect guide for them.
As for the ongoings within the Pokemon School, away from the Flora Ponies getting ready to experience their first day, most of the teachers had gathered in the library where other students could be found. Drayden, Roxanne, Roxie, Brawly, Olympia, Valerie and Volkner had all shown up for today.
"Well, after what Princess Celestia reported, I think we're getting closer to reaching Fantina at this point," Roxanne spoke, bringing up Fantina, who was still missing. How could they not bring her up considering how beloved she was? "I can't wait...And I hope when we find her, she'll be in one piece."
"Of course she will," Olympia reassured. "Fantina may not look like it, but she is a survivor. In her own unique way, of course. And when she returns, it will call for some celebration."
"Indeed. Though, she may be perplexed by the changes that have been made. Getting back to Sinnoh won't be easy for her. But I trust you can escort her back, Volkner.
"Yeah, I can do that." Volkner casually said. "I mean, it took me a while to get here. I'm lucky to be the last Gym Leader in my region. Same goes for you, Drayden."
"Well, we won't have to worry about that for long." The Mayor of Opelucid shook his head. "Changes have been made now that this new world exists...And soon the Pokemon School will have to go through those changes as well. Without us."
"Hm? What do you mean by that?" Roxie was lost on this. "What do you mean without us?"
"This school was made to be a place for species across Equestria to come and learn. A stronghold of our worlds uniting before Jirachi made that a reality." Olympia explained. "The truth is...by the time we showed up, everyone here already had their fair share of Pokemon knowledge."
"They have Ash to thank for that," said Valerie. "That also applies to Hollow and a few others. They were caught up with a few things but there is still a lot for them to learn. But maybe that can be found on their travels."
"Precisely. Most, if not all of us expanded our knowledge of Pokemon by exploring the world. Maybe in our own regions or even other regions. Ash certainly has. As such, some of these ponies will have to do the same. Actually, they already have, now that I think about it. Of course, this doesn't apply to the younger ponies and new species that will show up." Drayden crossed his arms, going into further detail but had yet to bring up his previous sentence.
"Yeah, I get that but what do you mean without us?" Roxie asked.
"Well..." Drayden stood up. "We won't be teachers here for long, Roxie. The distance from our regions to here is vast, as you can already tell. But even before that, we wouldn't have been teachers in this school for that long."
"Cynthia herself hasn't been around here for that much, even after accepting the position as principal. She's too busy getting out there to be here most of the time. Jasmine is too busy with herself to even bother showing up and who knows what Candice is up to. The same goes for all of us." Olympia continued Drayden's sentence. "This school was assigned to us Gym Leaders and Elite 4 Members because of our knowledge, but eventually, there will be new teachers who will take our positions. Possibly from Equestria."
"No way...We won't be around them anymore?" Roxie was shaken up about this, nearly dropping her guitar. "That blows...A lot."
"It does." Brawly sighed. "But I guess it makes sense. We're exhausting ourselves trying to make it here constantly. Who's gonna take our spots though?"
"Anyone well-versed in Pokemon and lives within Equestria. Truthfully, I believe Twilight herself would make a great teacher for the future generation. Wouldn't you all agree?" Olympia suggested Twilight. There was some bias there since she did teach Twilight a few tricks.
"Whoever they end up being, I can trust that they will take good care of the school for us," said Drayden. "But before any of that can happen, let's continue to teach everyone here what we know. And when the time comes for us to retire and leave it in the hooves of capable Equestrians, we'll be ready to depart. But that's not to say we won't come back. Equestria is far too interesting to just leave behind."
"Indeed." Valerie vehemently agreed. "Some unique memories have spawned from this land. The Pokemon School itself will grow into something bigger one day. Bigger for students and bigger for Equestria."
"And hopefully, before that happens, Fantina will show up again." Roxanne stood up. "I suppose we're all fine with the future now, right?"
"If it means I get to come back here and rock out with them, then sure." Roxie held her hand out. "I'm fine with it. It's not like I'm never gonna come back, after all."
"Same here." Brawly placed her hand on Roxie's. "I can find some sweet waves in this place. I mean, I've yet to try out Pegalysium and the Sea Cloud that they have. I wonder what that's like..."
"Then it's settled." Drayden and the others would add their hands, coming into full agreement. "For now, let's stay with our students and teach them everything they need to know. And more importantly, keep them safe."
"Right." The other Gym Leaders would say in unison, coming to a full agreement. One day, they would no longer be teachers here due to their occupations as Gym Leaders, the other jobs they have and the distance from their regions and Equestria. An understandable flaw but it wouldn't bother them too much, even if it did sting. They've grown to love it here, coming to this school back and forth to meet with everypony and teaching them new things.
The torch would have to be passed on as always. And that torch would burn bright for those born and raised in Equestria, holding a great ordeal of Pokemon Knowledge. After coming to that agreement and before they could split up, Volkner's Rotomphone would start ringing.
"Hold on. Volkner took out this Rotomphone, seeing what it had to share today.
"An Ultra Class battle is nearby. Do you accept?" The Rotomphone asked as this was another Pokemon World Championships match in the waiting.
"Well, would you look at that..." Volkner smiled before seeing who his nearby challenger was. Someone who was already in the Ultra Class for a while since last year. It was none other than Ash. "Looks like it's about time I challenged Ash. I picked a great time to show up here and for him to be nearby. I hope you're ready for our second match, Ash."
Volkner would accept this. And now it was a matter of Ash accepting this nearby World Championship Match. But knowing Ash, how could he deny it?
With a limited time of them being at the Pokemon School, paving the way for new teachers and more species to learn about the wonderful world of Pokemon, the Gym Leaders would make the most of their time. And for some, an imminent battle such as this was one way to do it as the journey continues.
A global tournament that will determine the World's Strongest Pokemon Trainer and the one sitting at the very top above all was Champion Leon, the undefeated Champion. And the one claiming to take that throne is Ash. Ash currently sits at Rank 95 after defeating the Ultra Class Trainer Nessa, which means he's worked his way up to the Ultra Class. And for his first Ultra Class battle, the Sunyshore City Gym Leader Volkner would be his opponent.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Day.
"Alright, class, settle down." Teaching today's lessons at the Pokemon School would be Olympia as she settled the students down. For this class, all of them had gathered instead of them sharing separate classes. "Two things today. We'll be having some new students join us today. And secondly, we shall be starting our lessons a bit later today."
The students would then chatter amongst each other after receiving this news. Two new students along with a later lesson start were enough to spark up some conversation. Some believed that it was the two students that were the reason for this. But that was not the case, even if Twilight knew that the Flora Ponies would be the new students.
"It's a rather special day because we will be viewing a Pokemon Battle right at the Canterlot League Stadium. It shall be a Pokemon World Championships Battle between Ash and Volkner. It's already been arranged to take place in that stadium."
"Really?!" Many of them exclaimed, startling and harming Olympia's ears.
"Yes...really. For that, we shall all view that battle for ourselves. Our lessons can wait and I don't expect this battle to be that long. So, let's all make our way to Canterlot Stadium, shall we? This is one of the rare opportunities for you to see the championship matches up close."
"A battle between Ash and Volkner?! Sweet!" The younger ponies were elated by this news. Many were interested as it was a Championship Match. And as seen by Ash's battle with Nessa, they can get heated and exciting very quickly. And what made this better was the fact that it was between two known figures. The ever-popular Ash and another teacher of this school, Volkner.
"I wanna see it!" They would all hop off their seats, standing up and putting an end to whatever they were doing. As to be expected, a Pokemon Battle is far more interesting than most things due to how exhilarating they can get.
"Hang on...Where are they?" But while everyone was excited to view this battle between Ash and Volkner, Twilight noticed the absence of Daisy and Paradise, the two Flora Ponies. They were the new students and yet they were nowhere to be seen. Twilight was even planning on introducing her friends to them. "How did I lose them? I was the one guiding them here..."
It threw Twilight for a loop. How could they suddenly vanish from her sight? No one had even noticed or wasn't even aware of their existence until now. With everyone getting up to leave and view the World Championship Match, Twilight immediately thought about what the Flora Ponies were up to at this moment.
Canterlot League Stadium.
Already, Ash and Volkner met up at the Canterlot League Stadium after accepting the World Championship Battle. They both picked a great day to be near each other. They went through a hallway which would lead to the Canterlot Stadium, quickly having a chat before they would enter the arena.
"Well, I'm glad I got the chance to battle you again. I was expecting this after all, ever since you got into the Ultra Class." Volkner said to Ash.
"So am I, Volkner!" Ash replied, sharing his enthusiasm while also raising his arm. On his arm, he would reveal his Z-Ring along with the Z-Crystal that was planted within it.
"Oh, so you're bringing that with you?" Volkner smirked. "Are you sure...you know what you're up against so something like that might not be the best option."
"Oh, yeah. I know. But that's not gonna stop me from trying. Right, Pikachu?"
"Pikachu!"
"I see. Well, this battle will be viewed from beyond Equestria. Let's give everyone here a good show, alright?" Volkner held his hand out which made Ash shake it in response. The two of them would make sure everyone watching would be entertained. Humans and Ponies would be viewing this battle after all.
Ponies from Canterlot had gathered around to watch this battle, even those that weren't originally from Canterlot. Among them were the students of the Pokemon School. At this moment, Twilight was still searching for Daisy and Paradise, moving her head around to see if she could spot a sign of them anywhere.
The rest of her friends were too focused on what was about to happen to think about the Flora Ponies. Then again, they haven't met the Flora Ponies yet to be aware. The only ones that stuck out here were Olympia and the other teachers of the Pokemon School.
"Well, I guess I'll try and find them later." Twilight sighed, deciding to search for them both at a later time. Definitely, after this battle ends.
"Try and find who?" Unexpectedly, Daisy spoke to Twilight, catching her off guard. She wouldn't have to find the Flora Ponies as they found her. Both Daisy and Paradise sat behind Twilight Sparkle.
"Daisy?! Paradise?! H-How long have you been here!?" Twilight gasped. "Where were you two?!"
"Sorry. There was something delicious nearby and I had to find it." Daisy apologized as the scent of food is what drew her away from Twilight. "It was worth it. I got to see and eat quite a lot."
"And I had to bring her back," said Paradise. "But it was worth eating all of it."
"Oh...you found the canteen," Twilight uttered, lowering her head. "Okay then. "At least you're safe and here. I haven't introduced you to all my friends just yet.
"Who are these two, Twilight?" Rarity asked as all of her friends would turn to see the Flora Ponies. At last, they have met. And of all times they could've met, it had to be during this big battle. Immediately, once Ash and Volkner entered the arena, all the attention was drawn towards the stage. "Oh! It's starting!"
"It's time for a Pokemon World Championships Ultra Class Battle here in the shining city of Canterlot!" The announcer turned out to be a human who showed up for this. He showed up just as fast as those Rotom Drones that announce the World Championship Battles from time to time. How he got here so fast? No one knew and cared to know for the time being. They just wanted to see a battle take place.
"Here are our two trainers going head to head in this Ultra Class Battle. Presenting Rank 27 in the Pokemon World Championship, the Strongest Gym Leader in Sinnoh. Volkner!" Those were fans of Volkner would reveal themselves, cheering as loud as they could for him. "And facing him is a newcomer in the Ultra Class. Currently ranked 95, it's Ash!" And the cheers for Ash went up higher since most in Equestria knew about him.
"Oh, wait. Is that what's happening?" Paradise soon realized that a Pokemon Battle was taking place. And Ash would be involved with it. "Great timing, right?"
"Mhm!" Daisy greatly agreed.
"Today's battle will be a 3v3 Battle. Now, will both Challengers please bring out your Pokemon." The Rotom Drone said, acting as the referee for this. "3, 2, 1, Go!"
"Alright, Lucario! I choose you!"
"Luxray! Go!" Their first Pokemon would be unleashed into the battle. For Ash, it was the Aura Pokemon Lucario and for Volkner, it was the Gleam Eyes Pokemon Luxray.
"Lucario!"
"Luxray!"
"Boy...for once, I don't recommend using that crystal of yours." Speaking within Ash was Sombra, who decided to share some words before this battle could truly begin.
"Nah, it's fine." But Ash would use the Z-Crystal either way. "You're the one who told me to carry it around all the time and use it when needed, so I'm gonna do just that for this battle."
"Battle Start!"
"Electric Terrain, Luxray! Go!"
"Lux...Ray!" Luxray went first, releasing multiple bolts of yellow electricity from its body, causing the surrounding area to illuminate an electrifying yellow. All Electric-type moves were now powered up because of this field and that greatly benefitted each of Volkner's Pokemon.
"Alright! We'll hit first! Lucario! Aura Sphere!" Ash punched the air, deciding to deliver the first blow.
"Ca...!" Lucario put his hands out, generating a concentrated sphere of Aura in the middle of his palms. Afterwards, he would thrust his arms forward, sending the sphere flying. The Aura Sphere travelled.
"Use Rising Voltage!"
"Ray!" To capitalize on the boost that Electric Terrain granted, Luxray releases a series of upwards-rising lightning bolts from its body as they flare out like whips. When the bolts reached the Aura Sphere, they combined together into a pillar of electricity. And since this move benefitted the most from Electric Terrain compared to other Electric-Type attacks, it was strengthened greatly.
The Aura Sphere would find itself smashing against the pillars of electricity each time it went forward. Each hit slowed it down some more as the plethora of pillars were strengthened enough to keep this attack at bay. They did more than just slow it down. Aura Sphere would combust, failing to push through and reach Luxray, making Ash and Pikachu gasp.
"Lu?!" Lucario would growl as the pillars of electricity reached him, engulfing his whole body in a burst of lightning. "C-Ca...!" The lightning raged on while Lucario was within it, putting his arms up to block the attack.
"Lucario! Are you okay?!" Ash asked as the lightning did not end. It kept raging on when engulfing Lucario, punishing him with multiple volts. Eventually, the attack would end, blowing up on the spot. And yet, Lucario still managed to keep his guard up, even if took a consecutive stream of damage.
"And it's a direct hit from Rising Voltage which is greatly powered up by Electric Terrain!" The announcer yelled. "Aura Sphere didn't make it through!"
"I'm gonna have a tough time getting close. Unless...Okay, Lucario. Return for now and rest okay, pal?" Ash would then return his Lucario, switching things up. Luxray would roar, essentially letting Ash know that he wouldn't be getting close anytime soon. "Alright. How about this?! Gengar, I choose you!"
"Gengar!" Gengar was up next. And immediately, he would get in Luxray's face, sticking his tongue out, bouncing around and taunting the Gleam Eyes Pokemon in other ways. Gengar did manage to get close mainly thanks to the speed he had as a Ghost.
"Lux...!" Luxray growled at Gengar's taunts.
"Use Snarl, Luxray!"
"Ray!" By barking with great intensity in its voice, Luxray released multiple purple and black rings of energy from its mouth. But immediately after they were shot out, Gengar would start dodging them, still taunting Luxray. By swooping and zipping to the side, he would avoid the Snarl which went in a straight line mostly.
"Gengar dodges the Snarl by taunting Luxray in the same way it showed up!"
"Cocky little...!" Volkner would also snarl after seeing Gengar use such petty moves to evade Luxray's attack.
"Use Psychic, Gengar!"
"Gen! Gengar!" Gengar would finally attack, zooming in as he would pass by Luxray. Disappearing and reappearing behind Luxray, the Shadow Pokemon's eyes would flash purple as he already outlined the Electric-Type in a purple aura.
"L-Lux!" Luxray gasped as it was lifted off the ground by Psychic, unable to do anything now that Gengar had it within his mental grasp. And after raising Luxray, Gengar would shoot it down like a missile, causing the Gleam Eyes Pokemon to hit the ground hard, leaving behind a purple trail afterwards. "Ray!"
"Nice hit!" Brawly cheered for that strong hit. The buildup to it and the impact would leave any Pokemon bewildered and damaged from it. If they had immunity, that is.
"Luxray!" But even after taking that hard hit, Luxray would immediately recover, sliding on the ground as his claws dug into the marble surface of the Canterlot Arena, leaving claw marks behind.
"Night Shade!" Gengar fired a dark crimson beam, outlined in a deep red from his eyes, following up the Psychic as it would be a continuous assault against the Gleam Eyes Pokemon who had just recovered from the hard-hitting Psychic. And with no window to do something, Luxray would be struck by the shade of darkness which would combust and engulf within with the dark explosion.
Luxray was sent flying, emerging out of the smoke after the dark explosion subsided. And yet, despite all of that, it could still get on its two feet, using those to recover. Cats always land on their feet and the same goes for Cat-Based Pokemon such as this electrifying lion.
"Great work as always Gengar!" Rarity applauded. "Even if that Luxray is still standing, you've left it winded without a doubt!"
"Gengar is always a good choice for when Ash wants to trick and confound his opponents," Olympia said. "Especially against swift Pokemon."
"Mhm. He's even doing it right now." Roxanne pointed out how Gengar continued to taunt Luxray, disappearing and reappearing with every taunt, just to try and fake Luxray out.
"Return, Luxray." Volkner decided to return Luxray, ceasing Gengar's taunting.
"Everything feels so different when looking at the battle with these eyes..." For Daisy and Paradise, viewing a Pokemon Battle like this was much different than how they viewed it when they were just flowers.
"It does, doesn't it? I don't know what it was like to watch as flowers," said Twilight. "But seeing it like this is amazing. It was to all of us when we first witnessed a Pokemon Battle. What an amazing sight.
"That Gengar of yours is tricky. Not much can bewilder my Luxray. You yourself experienced that back at Sinnoh, Ash. But it's nothing I can't handle. Go! Rotom!" Volkner sent his next Pokemon out. This time, it would be a Fan Rotom.
"Rotom!"
"We'll bewilder Rotom as well then." Ash smirked which was followed by Volkner putting on a smirk as well. "Electric Terrain or not."
"Gengar!" Gengar greatly agreed as he would try and taunt Rotom, doing what he did to Luxray by disappearing and attempting to reappear. However, Gengar was in for a massive shock as Rotom would do the same. Fan Rotom would vanish and reappear, showing up in the same spot as Gengar. "Gen?!"
Gengar would try again, zooming to another side of the arena, only for Rotom to show up there as well. Rotom followed Gengar's every movement, matching him pace-for-pace.
"Gengar can't seem to taunt Rotom the same way as it did against Luxray! Rotom can see every one of Gengar's movements!"
"Use Air Slash!"
"Roto!" Fan Rotom's fan blades flashed light blue, releasing multiple light blue glowing saw disc-like energy blades from its fan at the Shadow Pokemon. Its entire body would even spin to increase the speed of the blades.
"Intercept with Night Shade!"
"Gar!" Those dark crimson beams would be unleashed once more to counter the incoming air blades. It was a direct clash. A struggle between Night Shade and Air Slash. The continuous Night Shade against the rapid barrage of air slashes made for a fierce struggle as both Pokemon were moving across the arena when trying to 1-UP each other.
"Oh! Both of them are gliding through the air like it's nothing when clashing!" The announcer gasped with amazement.
"Ice Punch, Gengar!"
"Gen...!" Ending the struggle, Gengar would fly out of the way of the Air Slashes, quickly switching moves. On his hand, a chilling aura of ice would emerge as he pulled his arm back for a powerful swing.
"Thunder Wave, quick!"
"Rotom!" But Rotom would also end its attack, switching from Air Slash to Thunder Wave at impressive speeds. Within its fan blades, a golden light would illuminate, crackling electricity as it was ready to unleash this wave. But not before Gengar would try and slug the Electric-Flying-Type before that could happen.
However, Rotom would fly out of the way, preventing Gengar from slugging it. Gengar frowned, pursuing the Fan Rotom with Ice Punch, trying to land a hit in. But Rotom was just as speedy as him, flying away while still facing the Shadow Pokemon.
"Unfortunately for Gengar, most Electric-Types are too fast, even for him," Drayden commented when seeing Gengar trying to strike Rotom. Rotom just managed to be ahead by a slight difference.
"Gengar's still fast! Come on, Gengar! Catch up!" Rainbow Dash bellowed. Gengar certainly had the potential to do so but Rotom was still one step ahead. But there was an instance where it looked like Gengar would land a hit, only for Rotom to evade the attack at the last second.
"Tom!" After evading that attack, Rotom would finally release Thunder Wave, shooting a spiral of electricity out of its fan. The spiral would smack Gengar down, causing him to crash into the floor.
"G-Gen!" And on top of that, a guaranteed paralysis had come through. Getting back up, Gengar would have blue electricity crackle around his body as his cheeky grin vanished from his face.
"Gengar's been paralyzed! That Ice Punch just couldn't land!"
"You're prime for major damage." Volker clenched his fast while holding it out. "Hex!"
"Roto!" Dark purple wisps of energy appear around Fan Rotom as Gengar would find himself surrounded by enigmatic purple energy. Double damage would come through, spelling bad news for Gengar. Not only was he a Ghost-Type, making him vulnerable to this attack, but Hex's main advantage by working with status effects would kick in.
"Gar!" Gengar would be struck by the energy which would then flare out of his body, making him scream. A flare of purple energy combusted on the spot where Gengar stood, making Ash hold onto his hat.
"Oh, no! Gengar!" Ash cried out Gengar's name. He let go of his hat once the dust would settle. A foot would stomp out of the smoke which was obviously Gengar's foot. The remains of Hex would fizzle out in a purple light, coming to an end but leaving behind a major impact. "Are you okay?"
"Gen." Gengar's frown would transform back into a smile, attempting to reassure Ash. But it would soon return to a frown as his pupils would vanish. The Shadow Pokemon fell on his back suddenly with the last thing coming out of him being volts of electricity. "Gengar..."
"Gengar is unable to battle! Rotom wins!" The first knockout of the battle had been decided. And it was Gengar who fell first out of the four Pokemon that have battled so far.
"Oof. First knockout and not a single hit on Rotom. That's rough." Applejack grimaced.
"It was fairly quick too. And that Electric Terrain is still up." Rarity observed before squinting her eyes. "This yellow colouring is also hard on the eyes...!"
"Return, Gengar." Ash would return Gengar to his Poke Ball. " Thanks, Gengar. You did well out there."
"Pika..." Pikachu looked up at Ash and the Poke Ball. Suddenly, his red sacs would flare electricity for a bit before ending. This was in response to the Electric Terrain since he was also an Electric-Type. Just as Rarity commented on the Electric Terrain, it would fade out, bringing back the original colours.
"Electric Terrain's run out, huh?" Ash observed. "That's a shame. I was gonna use it pretty soon. But...that's not gonna stop me from letting Pikachu get in there." He would then kneel to face the Mouse Pokemon. "Pikachu. We'd better not let Gengara down, right?"
"Pikachu!"
"Alright! Pikachu! I choose you!" For his third Pokemon, it would be Pikachu that would join the battle.
"Pikachu!" The Electric-Type ran in with high amounts of energy to burn.
"Electric Terrain had to vanish right as I brought it up, eh?" Rarity pouted with a disgruntled face. "Pikachu would've benefitted so much from that."
"It's odd to pick Pikachu as his final Pokemon considering who he's up against. But who am I to judge Ash's picks? He always overcomes visible disadvantages." Roxanne shrugged. "But I'm afraid he might have trouble against Volkner's final Pokemon."
"Indeed." Drayden nodded, knowing which Pokemon Roxanne was referring to. "With Gengar down, he only has two Pokemon left and one of them can properly deal with that Pokemon. Unless..."
"Check this out! Use Electroweb, Pikachu!"
"Pika! Pikachu-Pi!" Going first, Pikachu would summon a burst of lightning on his tail while jumping in the air. That burst would then transform into a web once it was thrown, coming from above.
"Intercept with Air Slash!"
"Rotom!" Rotom would try and cut the web into pieces by using Air Slash, sending blades of air as fast as it could. But that was not enough. The blades did not manage to break past the web, only managing to slice some parts of it off. The rest of the web would land on Rotom, encasing it. "R-Rotom!"
"With Rotom caught in the web, it's speed has been dropped!" The announcer bellowed. "Is Pikachu now faster?!"
"Thunderbolt!"
"Return, Rotom!" Right as Ash cried out for a Thunderbolt, Volkner would quickly return Rotom in the middle of the attack name. Pikachu was already charging up the attack as Volkner had a second Poke Ball in his hand. "Now! Electivire, let's go!"
"Electivire!" The third and final Pokemon ended up being Electivire. And with precise timing as well. Upon entering, Pikachu's attack had finished charging, coming in hot. Intercepting the Thunderbolt was Electivire and it didn't even need to use an attack to make that happen.
It was purely by its own body that it stopped Thunderbolt. Even when being engulfed by a strong burst of 100,000 volts, it did nothing. And that was all thanks to its ability and the antennae on its head that was gathering up the electricity.
"He switched out his Pokemon right as the attack was coming through?!" Pinkie Pie and many others were stunned by this. That was a rare instance of switching. "And it was that fast?! Against Electricity?!"
"Volkner has always been the fastest thinker out of every Gym Leader. It's what makes him so strong." Roxie said, complimenting Volkner's skills. It was fitting that as an Electric-Type Gym Leader, speed was also his forte when it came to his own body. That instinctive swap was truly impressive as many witnessed what it was like to switch that fast.
"Motor Drive, huh?" Ash grit his teeth as the ability Electivire used was Motor Drive.
"As expected from Gym Leader Volkner! Intercepting the Thunderbolt is his Electivire who absorbed the attack with Motor Drive! What speed! And speaking of speed, Electivire is much faster now because of that absorption!"
"Surprised?" Volkner narrowed his eyes. "Take a look at how much faster Electivire became! Fire Punch!"
"Electivire!" With flames sparking around its hands, Electivire would jump in with Fire Punch, going for a downward strike against Pikachu.
"Look out, Pikachu!" Dodge it, quick!"
"Pika!" Pikachu would try and dash back, only to be caught by the Fire Punch before that could happen. The speed boost that Electivire gained was that impressive. For a Pokemon of its size, it managed to move at great distances so swiftly, smashing the Fire Punch on the floor, right where Pikachu stood. The impact summoned a giant flare of flames that would push Pikachu away, sending him through the air. "K-Ka!"
"Volkner knows how big of a threat Pikachu is. And with Electivire out, he wants to make all of Pikachu's strongest attacks useless and take him out as fast as possible." Olympia spoke as it was clear and obvious why Volkner made that quick switch in.
"Mhm. And the same goes for that Z-Crystal." Valerie pointed out the Z-Crystal and how it passed a move stronger than all of Pikachu's attacks. "And now Electivire should be as fast as Pikachu which will make it harder on Ash."
"This is making me nervous..." Daisy bit her hoof as Paradise was trembling. "Is this what it feels like for every battle back at Saddle Lake?"
"It is. Seeing someone you root for struggle in a Pokemon Battle can do that to you." Twilight looked back at Daisy and Paradise. "But no need to worry! Ash has got this!"
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" Pikachu would regain his balance, hardening his tail to match that of iron. His tail would instantly glisten thanks to the sunlight reflecting off the metal.
"We'll use Iron Tail too!"
"Vire!" Surprisingly, Electrivire also had an Iron Tail of its own. A double dose of it. The two tails on its back would harden as it had an extra tail advantage over Pikachu. But would that matter in the battle? Both trainers would have to find out as their Electric-Types would approach each other.
It was an aerial clash between two Iron Tails. Electivire swung first, using one of his tails, only for Pikachu to flip through the air, having aerial control to evade the incoming tail. The second one would come through as Pikachu just barely managed to avoid that one by flipping over it once more. "Pika!"
"Strike, Pikachu!"
"Pika...!" Pikachu would take this opportunity to land his Iron Tail. And to do this, he landed on one of Electivire's tails, getting an extra jump boost. High in the air, Pikachu was going for an overheard Iron Tail which was then met with Electivire's upward Iron Tail.
The attacks would finally connect as sparks would fly from their first impact. It felt like two swords hitting each other. However, Electrivire managed to push Pikachu off with both of its tails before it could evolve into a continuous clash. Pikachu and Electivire would descend with Pikachu landing flat on his belly.
"Pikachu can't seem to get close enough! That Twin Iron Tail really does make a difference!" The announcer roared as the two tails did matter in the end. With two tails, Electivire's Iron Tail had a slight edge over Pikachu's.
"Okay, Pikachu! Come back for now!" Ash would recall Pikachu. Hearing this, the Mouse Pokemon would run back. It was rather difficult approaching Electivire in this way. Ash knew that clearly so a switch-up was required. "Alright. Hold back for a moment while I figure something out for us."
"Pikachu."
"Well, Pikachu is still up but any longer and Ash could've lost him," Brawly said. "I didn't think it'd get that fast after absorbing Thunderbolt."
"Rotom doesn't have Motor Drive does it?" Fluttershy questioned, wondering if Ash had to deal with a double Motor Drive.
"Surprisingly, it doesn't. Despite the reversed name." Olympia shook her head, confirming that Rotom did not have Motor Drive, which was rather ironic.
"Lucario! I choose you!" Ash would send out Lucario next, bringing the Aura Pokemon back into the battle.
"Lucario!"
"Let's go all in, pal! Aura Sphere!"
"Luca...!" Once again, Aura Sphere would be used, generating that sphere of concentrated Aura within his paws. This time, there was no Rising Voltage to stop him or an Electric Terrain.
"Fire Punch!"
"Elec!" But there was a Fire Punch, which was also a threat to Lucario. With another dose of fire around its arms, Electivire would fly in one more. It was an up-close encounter. Electivire got close to Lucario in seconds with that lunge, showing just how much faster it truly became after that speed boost. The light of Fire Punch and Aura Sphere reflected off both Pokemon who stared intensively at each other.
"Ca!" But even with Electivire being up close, Lucario still found a time window to unleash his Aura Sphere, shooting it out at a short distance.
"Vire!" Electivire would swing at Aura Sphere as the collision was incredibly close. Aura Sphere did not leave Lucario's palms as he held it out, using it as both a weapon and a shield. The Fire Punch smashed into Aura Sphere, creating a blue flare as it tried breaking through the shield of Aura.
"What an impact! Lucario's Aura Sphere is blocking the Fire Punch while also trying to get through!"
"Rrrr...!" Lucario couldn't quite get through the Fire Punch as much as he could defend against it. And neither could Electivire push through with Fire Punch. The attack and defence for both attacks cancelled each other out, resulting in an immediate explosion that would engulf them both. "Ca!"
"Elec!" Electivire and Lucario would both be sent flying, damaging each other. An equalized exchange as both Pokemon slid on the marble ground to recover their momentum and balance.
"Wild Charge!"
"Electivire!" After recovering, Electivire did not waste any time going for another attack. Wrapped in a wild flare of lightning, Electivire's body was given an electrifying aura before he then charged in, leaving an electric trail behind.
"Double Team!"
"Lu! Lu!" Responding to this incoming charge, Lucario use Double Team, immediately duplicating himself. Multiple clones emerged as they would all approach Electivire instead of waiting for it to get close.
"Vire!" Unable to tell which one was the real Lucario, Electivire would go all-in, boosting itself through the air. Alas, it failed to hit the right one as the group of Lucario it managed to hit would fizzle out. It hit nothing but thin air as the real one had yet to be seen. "Elec?!"
"Aura Sphere!"
"Luca!" The remaining clones would attack, collectively jumping into the air to charge up their Aura Spheres. Electivire would have to deal with multiple Aura Spheres which were building up and it was up to the Thunderbolt Pokemon to determine if they were real or illusions.
"Hit them back!"
"Vire!" It wouldn't need to. Not with this tactic helping it out. Once the spheres all came flying in, Electivire would spin its entire body as fast as it could, using its tails to deflect them. The tails did most of the work, being long enough to occupy two spaces when Electivire spun around. And it was a great bonus that Electivire had two tails.
"Lu?!"
"Oh, man!" Ash, Lucario and Pikachu collectively gasped after Electivire stopped every single one of them. Not a single Aura Sphere went through, even if they were all real.
"My turn! Thunder Punch!"
"Vire!" With electricity travelling from its antennae to its fist, Electivire would gain an electrifying physical attack. The Thunderbolt Pokemon would once again be the aggressor, deciding to come in close instead of standing back, except for the Aura Sphere instance.
"Counter with Force Palm!"
"Lucario!" Lucario would meet with this with his own physical attack. With Electivire approaching, Lucario would throw his palm forward the Thunder Punch. With the two attacks meeting with each other, Thunder Punch managed to win the clash just by an inch. Electivire's attack had more momentum behind it, giving it the edge. A fierce electrical explosion came from the collision, pushing Lucario back as his feet would slide against the ground. "R-Rr...!"
"Are you alright, Lucario?!"
"Lu...!" The Aura Pokemon growled before twitching for a moment. That twitch was the cause of the electricity that emerged from his body. For the second time in a row, a Pokemon from Ash's side had been paralyzed. And this time, it was Lucario.
"Oh! Lucario is also paralyzed thanks to Thunder Punch!"
"Return, Electivire!" Afterwards, Volkner would swap out Electivire. There was only one reason that he took the Thunderbolt Pokemon out of the battle for a while. And for everyone else, it was obvious why. "Go, Rotom!"
"Rotom!" Fan Rotom was the obvious choice for how Lucario had all this electricity around him, slowing him down.
"Not good! He's gonna get the same treatment as Gengar!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as everyone figured out why Rotom returned. It was to capitalize on Lucario's paralysis.
"Now, Rotom! Hex!"
"Tom!" And immediately, Rotom would Hex the Aura Pokemon, conjuring that same destructive purple energy around Lucario's Body.
"Lucaaaa!" Lucario yelled after being punished by the ominous aura, raising his head as he felt the crushing pain of a million curses beat onto him. "Rrr...!"
"Lucario keeps getting pressured! And Hex only adds to it!"The announcer yelled as the Hex would explode on Lucario. With the smoke emerging and diminishing later on, Lucario could be seen standing there with one eye closed. That wicked Hex certainly left him perplexed.
"Is Lucario okay?!" Fluttershy gasped. Lucario was frozen stiff, having his head and arms down. Reasonable as he took quite a beating from Electivire and received a pain amplifier from Fan Rotom.
"It's now or never! Reversal!"
"Lu...Luca!" Indeed, Lucario could still continue. Even with his head down and seemingly stuck in place, he had the strength to continue. An orange energy would rise, surrounding him as it was all the damage he accumulated in this battle being channelled into pure power. "Lucario!" He yelled as loud as he could, letting his energy explode on the spot.
"Air Slash!"
"Ro! Rotom!" Rotom would try attacking Lucario while he was charging up, attempting to break his concentration. However, once those air blades came flying in, a shocking sight befell the eyes of everyone who saw this battle.
Lucario's Reversal Aura was blocking the air blades. Each time the blades would come flying in, attempting to slash the Aura Pokemon, the energy would block it, preventing any damage from going through.
"Amazing!" Olympia gasped. "He's using it as a way to defend himself! I was sure that all of that damage would make him a bit sluggish!"
"That's the way, Lucario!" Applejack raised her hoof.
"Caa!" Lucario roared as the energy would then combust after stopping all of the air blades. Lucario could finally unleash Reversal as it was intended to. With the energy being brought into his paw, Lucario would then move at blinding speeds. Speeds so great that not even Rotom saw it coming as the Aura Pokemon appeared above him in a split-second moment. Even when paralyzed. it didn't stop him from gaining such a momentary boost.
"Ro?!"
"Lucario!" Lucario with his full force smashed Reversal onto the Electric-Flying-Type with the weight of all of the damage he took in this battle.
"Rotoooom!" Rotom was truly spinning now, flying through the air and going so far as to nearly hit Volkner. Rotom crashed near Volkner's feet. All of that punishment was worth it as Lucario transformed it into a truly devastating attack. Truly a spectacular blow. And it showed as Rotom couldn't take it at all. It had fainted. "Rotom..."
"Fan Rotom is unable to battle! Lucario wins!"
"Challenger Ash manages to even things out at last!" The announcer bellowed which prompted the whole crowd to cheer for Ash's first knockout. It was tough getting to this point, but he got there, as usual. Ash always manages to catch up somehow.
"Wow...So this is a Pokemon Battle...How exciting! Isn't it, Paradise?!" Daisy pranced on the spot, accidentally spreading daisies across the seats. The daises would rapidly move, covering the seats and startling those who did not expect to see these flowers appear.
"It is! It very much is! It's just as how we envisioned them back at Saddle Lake!" Paradise vehemently agreed.
"I stand corrected." Drayden nodded. "It seems that was not an issue for him, despite the setbacks. But there are still two Pokemon left and the one that's a genuine problem is still around."
"Yeah, but that Lucario's a durable one," Brawly uttered. "All of that and he can still stand? If I was Volkner, I'd be worried about what he can do next."
"Thanks, Rotom. Rest up after that great display." Speaking of Volkner he would return Rotom, thanking it for a splendid battle.
"Sweet stuff, Lucario! Can you keep going?" Ash asked if Lucario could continue the way he was.
"Lu!" Lucario was confident that he could. He would sway his arm, removing a bit of electricity from his paw.
"The Aura Pokemon lives up to its name." Volkner smiled, complimenting Ash's Lucario. "It even shook off the paralysis in that devastating attack. I can see why Cynthia talked about your Lucario so highly a while back. That's some potential. But I'm gonna slow him down, no matter what! Let's go, Luxray!"
"Luxray!" Luxray was back into the fray.
"Only two left." Ash adjusted his hat. "Time to finish this quick and move on to Electivire!"
"I agree! But you won't be moving on to anyone! Electric Terrain!"
"Lux! Luxray!" Just like how this battle started, Luxray would set up Electric Terrain, bringing back that yellow hue that changed the colours desperately. Those sensitive to this colour would squint and rub their eyes.
"This time, Aura Sphere will go through!" Ash was going for that same strategy again, making this a repeat of the very beginning.
"Luca...!"
"Again? Don't count on it! Rising Voltage!"
"Ray!" Luxray would do the same as this was strikingly similar to the start of the battle. However, instead of standing back, Lucario would instead approach Luxray. Holding the Aura Sphere in his paws, the Aura Pokemon would lunge in while Luxray unleashed those pillars of electricity.
Everyone gasped as Lucario and Luxray's attacks were close to each other, wondering how this would turn out. With one arm out, Lucario would slam the Aura Sphere into Luxray's head, but not before some of the pillars struck the Fighting-Steel-Type.
A double collision. Both Pokemon managed to get their attacks off successfully and the result was a golden outburst with azure rays flashing through them. Ash and Pikachu would protect themselves with their arms up as a streak of energy passed by them, making Ash's jacket and hair flow violently. It felt like two jet streams were flying by them and they were at risk of being shocked. The same went for Volkner as the streams came towards him as well.
For such a strong clash, it was amazing that once the smoke and dust settled, both Pokemon were still standing, looking into each other's eyes. The Jackal and the Lion were truly impressive with how they could just land those attacks and stand in the middle of the explosion. Alas, even they had to falter. And they did.
"Lucario..."
"Luxray..." Both Lucario and Luxray would faint, failing to stand up as they expended themselves. It was a double knockout as they tied. And they fell with Luxray being at the bottom and Lucario resting on top of Luxray.
"Lucario and Luxray are both unable to battle!"
"An incredible double knockout! Now it all comes down to just Pikachu and Electivire!"
"Even if Luxray fainted, it still went in Volkner's favour!" Roxanne gasped. "It's just Pikachu and Electivire, which means Ash's options have been cut short now!"
"The Electric Terrain is still out since not much time has passed with its second usage," said Olympia.
"Thanks, Lucario. That was awesome." Ash thanked Lucario after he returned him along with Volkner returning his Luxray. The Champion of Alola would then glance over at Pikachu, knowing what was coming next. "This is the last round, Pikachu. Let's make it count."
"Pika!" Pikachu confidently pumped his fist, reassuring Ash that he would throw everything he had to offer at Electivire. He would jump back into the fray, feeling powered-up thanks to the Electric Terrain. "Pikachu!"
"Let's go! Electivire!" And finally, Volkner would send out Electivire for the final time. Both were Electric-Types. Electric Attacks would do that much to either of them even with the Electric Terrain. However, Electivire did have that advantage with Motor Drive which would only make it faster.
"Pikachu might be in for a bad time...He can only use Quick Attack and Iron Tail." Twilight said, gulping for a moment. "Even then, Electivire can gain a boost with Motor Drive and that Twin Iron Tail is hard to get through."
"But Ash always makes use of what he can do," Fluttershy said, bringing to light Ash's many skills when it comes to facing difficult odds.
"Iron Tail!" Ash shouted, making the first move.
"Pika!" Pikachu hardened his tail, going in for an Iron Tail. And Volkner's response?"
"Wild Charge!" Instead of his own Iron Tail, Volkner chose Wild Charge instead, capitalizing on the Electric Terrain.
"Electivire!" Electivire rushed in with that large aura of Electricity, performing a shoulder bash as well. Iron Tail and Wild Charge would collide, creating a fierce flash of sparks that would stun the eyes of those who saw it.
With this strong collision, Pikachu and Electivire pressed against each other for a while, but ultimately, Electivire won the clash, pushing Pikachu away with Wild Charge. "Pika!" Everyone winced at the hit Pikachu took and even more when he hit the ground afterwards. As a trade-off, Electivire would take recoil damage from using Wild Charge. However, even with red sparks appearing around it, it barely looked phased at all by the recoil. Afterwards, the Electric Terrain would vanish, running its course. For that one instance, Electivire's Wild Charge got in some heavy damage thanks to the terrain.
"Hang in there, Pikachu!" Pinkie Pie and a few others yelled, cheering for Pikachu.
"The power gap between them might be too huge. Just look at Electivire." Rarity added. "What now, Ash? Quick Attack is not as strong as Iron Tail but everything will be eaten up by Electivire."
"If he can use Quick Attack and Iron Tail in succession, he could pull it off," Drayden said, believing that Ash could gain the victory that way. "But that's a tall order and would take a lot of stamina for Pikachu to pull off."
"Iron Tail, Electivire!"
"Vire!" Electivire would use its Twin Iron Tails once more, ready to overwhelm the Mouse Pokemon.
"Meet it with Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" Pikachu would gladly get up close with Electivire again. He leapt off the ground, kicking some dust along with two shockwaves coming out of him. And this time, the clash between Iron Tails wasn't so one-sided. Pikachu knew what to expect with those Twin Iron Tails after all and he refused to let it throw him for a loop.
The two Iron Tails met once more, this time, properly clashing. And it was a fast and strong clash. Both tails went back and forth with Pikachu managing to hit the first and second one once they took turns. The air would shake from this iron clash. Both Pokemon moved swiftly through the air when smashing their tails against each other, zipping to the side and becoming yellow blurs in the process.
Pikachu could finally keep up with Electivire's Iron Tail by anticipating the second one at all times. Pikachu swung his tail wildly, becoming purely aggressive as the clash went on, forcing Electivire to think fast. Electivire's second tail was struggling to keep up with how much aggression Pikachu was pouring into this.
"Pikachu!" Eventually, Pikachu found an opening, smashing his tail against Electivire's head. The Thunderbolt Pokemon was forced back to the ground as Pikachu was the one to win this clash. A magnificent blow, even if Electivire recovered on the marble ground via a backflip. But Electivire did end up stumbling.
"Awesome!" Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo collectively said. The cheers became louder from the rising tension and heat of this battle.
"You're quite the opponents. Ash and Pikachu." Volkner said. "Your intensity...your ferocity...all of that just makes us stronger!" Volkner was truly enjoying himself. It was Ash who rekindled his love for battling all those years ago and he was reminded why. Ash was seemingly the only one who could give him this thrilling battle that he's longed for because of how he battles. "Battling other trainers never felt the same. They were either too weak or too strong. But you...You're just right."
"Thanks, Volkner. But now..." Ash suddenly took off his hat with a golden glint appearing in his eyes. He would then throw his hat in the air for everyone to follow. With Pikachu jumping into the air, putting on the hat with that jump, everyone apart from the Flora Ponies knew what this meant.
"Pika!"
"It's about time I used this! Pikachu's been itching to use Electric Moves, so here's his chance!" Ash was ready to use a Z-Move, raising his arm up as the Z-Crystal would glow. Everyone gasped, stunned that Ash would go for that choice.
"He's gonna use a Z-Move?!" Many ponies exclaimed in disbelief.
"But why?!" It won't work on Electivire!" Twilight sat up along with Olympia. "What's he thinking?!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu would then fist bump with Ash before then performing a double high-five slap. Both were fully confident in this attack despite everything thinking otherwise.
"The Z-Move...I've been waiting for this." And yet, Volkner was excited about this attack.
"Hm!" Ash would then strike a series of poses with Pikachu as both of them would generate a golden aura that was shined as bright as the Sun itself. Cloaked in a sparkling golden aura of electricity, Pikachu would be powered up to the max. "This is far greater than 100,000 Volts! It's going up to 1,000,000 volts!"
"Pikachu!"
"No...much higher than that!" Ash's hair would rise up as he clenched his fist, putting on a grin of absolute confidence. "It's our absolute best! This right here is me and Pikachu's full power!"
"Pika-Pika!"
"Pikachu! 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt!" Ash called out his strongest move by far.
"Pika! Pika-Pika-Pikachu!" Pikachu leapt into the air, absorbing electricity from a dark storm cloud that formed above him. Pikachu then fires seven bolts of electricity, each a different colour of a rainbow, at the Thunderbolt Pokemon. "Pikachu!"
"Sweet Arceus..." Volkner was rather stunned by this. But not as much as Daisy and Paradise. "So that's 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt...Too bad we're gonna absorb it all! Suck it all up with your Motor Drive, Electivire!"
"Elec...Electivire!" Electivire opened its arms, welcoming this attack as it would be possibly the best meal it will ever have. The electricity crashed into Electivire, already being pulled in by its Motor Drive. The impact was so strong that it broke off the marble that was on the ground, causing rocks to fly up.
"It ain't gonna work!" Applejack lowered her hat, fearing that Electivire would become monstrously powerful after this. "Motor Drive's gonna gobble it all up!"
"Wait...Look!" However, it wasn't as obvious as everyone thought it was. Roxie pointed it out as the stand-off between the 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt and Motor Engine wasn't as clear-cut as they thought it was. Despite the fact that Electivire was absorbing it all into its antenna, Pikachu kept going.
"Pika...Pikachu!" Pikachu bellowed with the intensity of thunder which caused the many lightning bolts to intensify. Suddenly, Electivire's legs were shaking. its arms trembled as it groaned, struggling to keep all of this lightning in one place. To everyone's shock and surprise, the Z-Move went through, combusting on the spot and engulfing in Electivire in an array of colourful explosions.
Pikachu would descend as the hat nearly fell off him. Everyone's eyes bulged out as they did not expect Pikachu's attack to explode. They all thought it would just fizzle out after being absorbed by Electivire. The smoke cleared and Electivire was still standing. It seemed like it was just a minor inconvenience for the Thunderbolt Pokemon.
But it was not.
"Elec...!" Electivire groaned before suddenly dropping to the ground. It fell on its back, failing to stand up. Jaws dropped at what just happened. It was outlandish. Motor Drive did not win out as most, if not everyone expected. Electivire had fainted. "Electivire..."
"Electivire is unable to battle! Pikachu wins! Thus the victor is the Challenger Ash!"
"Alright! We did it!" Ash jumped for joy after that resounding victory. And the sound of the crowd cheering was just as resounding and wonderful to listen to. Pikachu would run into Ash's arms, hugging his tried and true partner. "You're awesome, Pikachu!"
"Pikachu!"
"He beat out Motor Drive?! How?!" Twilight was in disbelief.
"Simple. Electivire couldn't handle it all. It may have the power to charge an entire city, but that Z-Move goes above and beyond that. Overloading Motor Drive was the best option after all." Drayden explained. "Honestly, what a duo."
"Based on the results of this battle, the Pokemon World Championships Rankings will be updated." The Rotom Drone said before flying off.
"Taking down the Gym Leader Volkner rises Ash to 64th in the Ultra Class!" Ash's rankings had been declared by the announcer.
"You battled well, Electivire." Volkner helped Electivire up, thanking it for a splendid battle.
"Elec."
"I...I wanna be just like him!" Paradise had found her motivation at last. And all it took was viewing this Pokemon Battle in all of its glory.
"Great work, you two!" Roxie strummed her guitar before applauding. "I don't know how you guys do it but you've done it again!"
"You're getting closer to Leon, Ash!" Pinkie Pie yelled, excitedly bounding on the spot.
"Well, I expected that Z-Move and got something greater than I thought I would get," Volkner said after approaching Ash and Pikachu with Electivire. "Congrats. Overloading Motor Drive...Nice one."
"Well, when I heard I was gonna be battling you, I wanted to show you the strongest Electric Move there is." Ash held his fist out, showing the Z-Crystal. "Neat, huh?"
"Pikachu!"
"You might become the eye of the storm that shakes up the Ultra Class. No...Even the Master Class." said Volkner, picturing Ash's growth. "I can tell. And waiting for you there will be Cynthia."
"Cynthia?" Ash spoke her name. It was to be expected that Cynthia would be there at the Master Class, where the strongest trainers were residing.
And speaking of Cynthia, this entire time, she was within the Pokemon School, watching from the windows. The whole battle was viewed from this distance without anyone even knowing she was here. After seeing that battle, a smile was put on Cynthia's face, pleased with what she saw.
And with this battle being shown to everyone, not just Equestria, trainers in the World Championships were watching. Especially Champion Leon. Each time he watched Ash, promising strength kept showing itself. Ash has overcome this battle in the Ultra Class Match. But more powerful opponents were waiting for him, becoming powerful obstacles and walls for him to try and overcome. Who will he face next? As the journey continues.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
After witnessing the Ultra Class Battle between Ash and Volkner with Ash emerging victorious, lessons at the Pokemon School would finally begin. But classes would be shorter than usual and most of them were doing their own thing. Research and knowledge about the Ransei Region was still the main topic.
Joining this class would be the Flora Ponies, having their first day at the Pokemon School. For this newly created species of ponies, they had a lot of catching up to do. Twilight would finally introduce the Flora Ponies to her friends and involved the fact that they were new to this world.
"So you made them with that elixir? How does that work?" Rainbow Dash questioned, wondering how that was possible with this elixir. "Was it the Rift Energy you added to it?"
"It was just a test run," Twilight explained. "I just wanted to see what the elixir was capable of at the moment. And well, it works but not in the way we expected. Bringing life to a daisy and paradise flower was the last thing I expected. But I'm glad it turned out that way because I got to meet these two."
"It's a wonderful thing. Thanks for bringing us into this world, mom. And it's a pleasure to meet all of your friends."
"Please don't call me that in school..." Twilight grumbled as Daisy and Paradise still referred to her as their mother. And for a good reason.
"Mom? Pfft!" Rainbow Dash snickered as all of Twilight's friends reacted differently to Daisy's words. Rainbow Dash would burst out laughing, wheezing for a moment while Twilight had an unamused face.
"Twilight, I had no idea you became a mother so quickly." Rarity's jaw dropped to the floor before she clapped her hooves. "Congratulations! Rather quick, don't you think?"
"Ugh..." Twilight knew this was coming. And alas, she was powerless to stop the reaction from her friends. "Yeah...It is quick. I know, it's strange but...I don't regret it."
"Well, it's alright. Weird stuff like this happens." Applejack shrugged. "We'll just do what we did when Pokemon first entered our lives. Go with the flow."
"Going with the flow is always a good option for scenarios like this," Fluttershy added. "Even if we were just following Ash back then."
"Yeah! And we should have-" Before Pinkie Pie could finish her sentence, she felt something. On her tail, someone was chewing on it as if it was a delectable waiting to be consumed. And that someone ended up being Daisy, who snuck up behind Pinkie Pie just to chew her tail. "Oh!"
"Mmm?" Daisy looked up at Pinkie Pie before pulling her head and mouth away. "Oops. Sorry. I thought that tail of yours looked like that pink thing that you all sometimes eat. Um...What's it called?"
"You mean Cotton Candy? I don't blame you. I'd eat myself too if that was true." Pinkie Pie chuckled, harbouring no hard feelings to Daisy suddenly chewing on her tail. "I kinda tried it when I was young!"
"Daisy, I thought we talked about this. Not everything is food. Especially not my friends." Twilight walked over as Daisy once again attempted to consume something that was not meant to be consumed. "You sure do have a bad eating habit..."
"Sorry, mom. But...I haven't eaten that much in my life before. Even when I was just a flower." Daisy would apologize once more for her eating habit, twiddling her hooves. "All the food I've seen just looks so good that I've wanted to eat them for so long. Now I've got that chance."
"I guess when you eat sunlight forever, you do get a craving for something else. Well, at least as a sentient pony." Twilight sighed. "All the food is yours to eat, but not everything is food. I have to teach you what is and isn't food. I'm surprised Paradise doesn't have the same issue."
"That would suck." Pinkie Pie nodded, feeling for Daisy. "Eating sunlight only? I mean, it probably tastes nice but now that you're here..."
"Oh! But Ash did give us his bag!" Daisy quickly remembered Ash's bag which was lent to her and Paradise by Ash himself. As a way to keep themselves full for the day, the food he had within was theirs to consume. Daisy used her special movement, transforming into an array of daisies to move around quicker.
Pinkie Pie and the others opened their eyes, witnessing this special movement for the first time. The way Daisy suddenly became her original flower and started moving at great speeds just to reach the bag was stunning to the eyes. And seeing her materialize back into her pony form threw them off guard as well.
"Here it is!" Daisy opened the bag, revealing the food that Ash had lent for her and Paradise.
"Well, as you can see, I have my hooves full with these two." Twilight said as Daisy pulled out all of the food that Ash packed. And with how Ash was also a big eater, the options were plentiful, much to the delight of Daisy's eyes and stomach. "They still act young despite how they look. I'll be taking care of them and I have more about Flora Ponies that I need to learn about."
"If that's the case, we can help." Rarity suggested. "I have a little sister and I know how to take care of her. Applejack can vouch for that."
"Mhm If you're having trouble with 'em, just call for us and we'll be there. I mean, they can't be that bad, right?" Applejack replied.
"No. So far, they're just curious and tend to shift their attention elsewhere. Daisy can't help but eat whatever she can and Paradise...well, I think she might be impatient? I haven't kept an eye on her as much. Only Ash has. But it's fine. I'm sure they can bloom into their own. Get it?" Twilight chuckled at her own joke.
"Cool, but have you told Roseluck about this?" Rainbow Dash then brought up an obvious point that needed to be addressed. The elixir did originally belong to Roseluck's sister Rosa Maledicta meant that she had ties to this.
"Come to think of it...When the Flora Ponies first showed up, they looked a lot like Roseluck and Rosa Maledicta." It was then that Twilight recalled the first time she saw the Flora Ponies. She remembered how they were only made out of their respective flowers instead of the full-body ponies that they appear as. It lasted for around 2 minutes but she still remembered their floral appearances.
The Princess of Friendship remembered how Daisy had Roseluck's manestyle while some of Rosa Maledicta's manestyle was found on Paradise. Until they fully blossomed, the similarities diminished and they became rather distinct. But that front part of Daisy's mane did remind Twilight of Roseluck.
"Daisy looked like Roseluck and Paradise looked like Rosa. It shocked me for a moment, but I didn't think too much into it. But it might have something to do with the fact that Rosa Maledicta originally made that elixir. It was made to affect plants in various ways and Roseluck only knew of one example."
"Do you think she was trying to bring them to life before or is that how the elixir is now because you and Zecora worked with it?" Rarity questioned, wondering if the Rift Energy within it and Twilight plus Zecora's actions made this possible. But no one could answer that just yet.
Realistically, the only one who could answer that Rosa Maledicta herself, but no one here would dare do so unless they end up encountering her. For now, it was an oddity and the elixir still had some work to be done. But for what it offered, it was truly amazing. Bringing new life into this world.
"By the way...where is Paradise? She should be in for today's lesson." Twilight would soon notice the absence of Paradise. Daisy was here, but Paradise was nowhere to be found. Once more, the Flora Ponies snuck past her.
Canterlot Castle.
Back at the castle, developments on the Dread League and their current location continued. Celestia still had some of her forces over at the Galar Region, watching over the Dread League and the garden they were growing that involved Despair Plants being planted.
So far, their cover hasn't been blown thanks to the authenticity of the Shift Stone. The only drawback was the fact that it did not give her forces everything a vampire needs. Celestia, looking down at a map, was still focused on breaking through that magical field that required the highest amount of power possible to destroy and she still wished to do it without using the part of Daybreaker that lived within her. She also read reports on what her forces sent over.
"Hm. It's getting harder for them to keep this up. The Shift Stone doesn't grant them the access to vampire magic. At least they've learned gardening skills." Celestia commented on the report. "If they can find just the right time to destroy the seeds without anyone noticing, then that garden will lose the crux of it. But the Dread League are always there which is a problem. And they've found a spot where a plethora of clouds gather to block the Sun. Not for long though. Perhaps I should get involved now."
"You're heading over to Galar, your majesty?" A guard asked.
"I still need them to lure us towards Magehold. I will have to wait for them to finish their garden and then I can act. Much like the Despair Plants that were left behind at Hearthome City, they're planning on letting it flourish on its own once its done. Those Despair Plants already did so last year. So yes, I'll be heading to Galar. And I will bring Zekrom with me. I may not have Reshiram by my side since we can't find him at the moment, but Zekrom can be extremely helpful. I can never doubt the strength of a Legendary Pokemon. Right, Passion?"
"Gardevoir."
"We'll create a diversion. A diversion that will distract the real vampires and have our fake ones destroy the Despair Plant seeds while they're busy. But we cannot let them know we are the ones behind it." Celestia explained. "I just need to figure out the right diversion..."
All she needed was a diversion. A diversion that would buy her forces enough time as possible before those Despair Plants could fully grow. And it might have to involve her heading to the garden itself. But Celestia couldn't give herself away.
Galar.
Speaking of that garden, it had already grown to exponential lengths, covering a majority of this area that used to be full of sand. But not anymore. Now it was a dark garden for the Dread League which brought a cold and cruel atmosphere.
The Dread League loved it but Celestia's undercover forces weren't exactly fans of it. They worked hard to make this garden a possibility and the result was rather dreadful for them. And yet, they kept their composure. As guards, they were always destined to keep their composure, no matter what. It worked here but their stamina might not be as strong as their composure.
"How long until this is over..." The undercover ponies said to each other, taking a break. "I would've thought the Despair Plants being planted were enough to leave it there but they want to grow it even further?"
"We might not head home until it's just right." Another sighed. "Let's just keep going." Of course, they had to be discreet about what they say. After all, now that they were in the presence of the Dread League, this also meant that they were within Rosa Maledicta's sights even all the way from Magehold.
Much like how she interacted with Celestia and Luna back at Rustboro, the Canterlot Guards were no exception. It was wonderful that the Shift Stone kept them this safe for now. And their excellent choice of words also helped them stay safe, not giving anything out while still managing to say what they needed to say.
"Alright!" A vampire exclaimed, grabbing everyone's attention. "This is a nice advancement from yesterday and the day before! I'd say we've done a wonderful job making this dreadful garden! I barely recognize anything from what this place used to be. But we're not quite done yet."
"Is it time for the Despair Plants to appear?" Another vampire asked.
"Not yet. Give it a few more days or so. But let's not waste any time and let it spread out some more." Suddenly, magic would fly out of his vampiric wings, entering the garden grass. "This'll make sure that it latches onto the nearby locations. I would wait for the Despair Plants to do it but I want to get a head start."
"Same here." More vampires would do the same, unleashing their magic on the ground. Feeling destructive despite the fact that the garden hasn't been completed yet, they would cause some destruction either way. The vampires were just feeling that mood after the progress they made.
The Canterlot Guards gasped as they did not expect some destruction to happen at this time. They were just taking a break until they would work on the garden later on to let it reach its full potential. But that would have to wait. The black aura around the garden would spread thanks to the vampires, moving rapidly across the ground.
The way it moved resembled that of a snake, slithering around while also mimicking a worm, tunnelling and reemerging from underneath. This whole time, the Dread League have been playing it slowly. Now, they've suddenly decided to take action. And just when the most recent news had reached Celestia as well.
"Not good!" The Canterlot Guards collectively said as the nearest location was a small town in Galar. Not known by many since it was just small. But even if it was lesser known, innocents still reside there. And from the speed the aura from the garden was moving at, the guards could not stop whatever was about to happen to the town due to the aura's unknown properties. But they did have one way to try and stop this.
"Here's our chance then. Go-" Before they could call for their Golurk, something else came up. Something that shocked both the Dread League and the Undercover Canterlot Guards.
Interrupting the guards was a beam of light that shot through the skies, piercing the dark clouds and revealing some of the sunlight. This light would crash down, intercepting the dark aura. The sound of a supernova going off had occurred as the light would burst out with the intensity of flames, pushing back the darkness for a moment. The vampires all screeched and hissed at this sudden emergence of light, stepping back to protect themselves.
"What is that?!" A vampire bellowed her skin was burning up. From the light, a figure could be seen, completely made out of the energy that intercepted the darkness. A cape would flow elegantly as the light would then fizzle out, sending stardust and sparkles into the wind afterwards. Someone truly made a grand entrance and it looked to be in the shape of a human. But it was no ordinary human.
That cape belonged to a certain someone who hasn't been seen in a while. From the striking mask that was shown to the bodysuit that he carried with him along with that mighty pose that made him stand tall, the one born from the Sea Temple Crystals and Ash's old comic book had returned.
It was none other than Galaxy Master.
He had finally returned as the symbol of a galaxy would flash behind him once all of the light had vanished. And alongside him was his own trusty Pikachu. After many months that soon entered this new year, Galaxy Master had shown himself once more.
"It's you!" The Canterlot Guards and the Dread League both exclaimed. They couldn't believe their eyes. They thought he would never show up again due to how absent he was. That was no longer the case.
Samiya. The Sea Temple.
And this did not go unnoticed. The room where the Sea Temple Crystals could be found responded to his return. Specifically, one crystal did. The crystal that brought him into this world. Only that crystal would flash the signature beautiful golden light that all of them do. None would respond to Galaxy Master's return.
"Oh?" Alo, the one who was Ash's Royal Advisor and essentially a substitute King of the Sea Temple would notice this. So would the guards that defended the crystal. They stood back, staying alert at the crystal's actions as all of this flashing would even attract the citizens.
It didn't just let off a bright light, it also brought some noise into the mix. The noise it made was similar to the song that the People of the Water sing, however, it had its own tone, pitch and volume to it, differing from the others.
"Mana?" Manaphy, the Prince of the Sea that lived here, would hop out of the water, pulled towards the sound of this singular Sea Temple Crystal. Soon, this room became crowded with people and Pokemon who were drawn to the sound of the crystal and why it was constantly flashing.
"What's going on?" The young girl by the name of Enola asked, trying to see for herself as she ran through the crowd that blocked the way for her.
"The Crystal is crying out. And it's for him. His majesty might need to see this..." Knowing who this was for, Alo immediately brought up Ash. With Galaxy Master making a return, if anyone needed to know about this, it was Ash himself. After all, he was made after his own father.
A stunning and shocking return of Galaxy Master. He certainly made an entrance, piercing the darkness that threatened a nearby town. Parting the cloud, he revealed rays of the sun as they threatened the vampires here. Even the fake ones that were just Canterlot Spies.
"He's back?!" A vampire gasped, stepping back to avoid the sunlight. All watched in awe at this Real Life Fictional Character making his reappearance. It certainly has been a while since both sides have seen him and his Pikachu.
"We picked the worst time to appear as vampires...!" The Canterlot Spies grimaced, fearful that Galaxy Master would come after them. "But we can't blow our cover...And this might be rather helpful."
With Galaxy Master's interference, the aura that the garden spread had been held back, preventing it from going any further. He stayed rather silent, which was ominous. Usually, he was known for speaking a lot and narrating his and everyone's actions with high amounts of enthusiasm. But now, that didn't seem to be the case.
Once one of the Canterlot Guards backed away, making a light step, Galaxy Master finally made his move. From his body, a cosmic flare would emerge, intimidating the Dread League. The lights from his body lit up the area which only proved to be a larger threat to the Dread League than expected.
"Y-You don't scare us!"
"Is that so?! Then let me remind you who I am!" At last, he spoke. And that high energy in his voice was back. That awkward silence was no more as he spoke his signature line. "A flash in the cosmos! A light appears before the world to heed its sorrow and plea! From spacetime itself, I appear!" The light around him let off explosions behind the visage, resembling that of supernovas. "The Superstar! Galaxy Master!"
"Pikachu!" And of course, Pikachu was there to pose with him. His entrance was as bombastic as ever, creating a strong light show that would also affect the vampires. Galaxy Master himself was a walking light show.
"Now!" He pointed at them with vigour in his arms. "Your cruel and wicked acts will stop here! I'll put a stop to your streak for good! The Garden of Gaunt will be wilted at once!"
"Not good...We didn't expect to run into him!" One of the vampires was reasonably afraid of this due to what Galaxy Master was capable of. "What do we do?!"
"Uh..." No one was certainly going to engage with him. Thus, another approach was chosen. "Move the garden! That's what we'll do!"
"Move it?" The Fake Vampires collectively said. Just as the real vampire said the garden would suddenly tremble, making the Canterlot Spies lose their balance. Ripped from the earth itself, this Dark Garden would start leaving the ground, bringing its soil with it.
Surprisingly, it was actually moving. With the garden moving from the ground, it would attempt to head elsewhere. Anywhere away from Galaxy Master. The Canterlot Spies would have a lot to share with Celestia after this. If they return.
"Great Nebulas!" Galaxy Master gasped once the garden left the earth itself. "The Garden can move?! Does it have a mind of its own?!"
"Nope! It's just our own dash of magic! So long!" The vampires cackled, teasing Galaxy Master. "So much for that dramatic comeback!"
"Hm. I'm afraid it isn't over. Observe!" Galaxy Master raised his arm. With just one arm up, most knew what this meant after experiencing it multiple times. A summon was imminent. "Come to me, my friend!"
With the clouds above swirling, a cosmic light would shine down, hitting the garden due to its position, startling the Dread League. With the cosmic light hitting the dark grass, it would soon form into a Pokemon, as to be expected from Galaxy Master's summons.
And with this summon, the sun would start showing itself some more thanks to the dispersion of the clouds. The Dread League hissed at the further exposure of the Golden Star in the Sky. As for the Pokemon that emerged, it appeared to be his Bayleef, making her return. Upon returning, the sun had completely enveloped most of the garden, giving the vampires little space to hide themselves.
Even the garden was starting to fall due to Bayleef's arrival. The Canterlot Guards field onto dear life with the descending garden as it already gained an impressive height when taking off, meaning this fall was going to be a hefty one. And it certainly was. The garden crashed back into the earth, making the trees rumble and all the vampires within the Dark Garden jump and bounce.
Galaxy Master crossed his arms after the garden crashed, looking cool as his cape would blow in the wind from this impact. He successfully brought the garden down with just a summon, preventing it from going anywhere.
"Report this back to her majesty at once..." A Canterlot Spy looked at another one of the undercover ponies as this had to be sent back to Celestia as soon as possible. And of course, using that formality meant that it could also refer to Rosa Maledicta, perfectly shielding their identity once more.
And with Galaxy Master's return and interference, it was most likely that Rosa Maledicta was watching this from afar as always. The one individual who managed to harm her powerful vines and roots had returned, much to the dismay of the vampires. From every force they've faced, Galaxy Master posed a great threat due to what he was capable of.
"Now then...Where were we?" Galaxy Master uttered as Pikachu and the now fully materialized Bayleef collectively grinned, more than eager to bring this dark gardening to an end.
Equestria. Deerling Forest. Afternoon
Over at Equestria, time at the Pokemon School had come to an end. And that also meant that Daisy and Paradise finished up their first day without sticking out too much. The real highlight of today was the battle between Ash and Volkner after all. After finishing classes, the friend group would head over to Deerling Forest.
Everyone's Pokemon were currently playing with each other while also involving the common Deerling that live here. Their trainers would converse with each other amidst all of this high-octane interaction between the Strange and Wonderful Creatures.
"Hm. You didn't learn that much because of our battle, huh?" Ash spoke to Daisy and Paradise. Thanks to Ash and Volkner's battle, lessons ended earlier.
"Yeah. But it was worth it." Paradise shrugged. She had no regrets. She and Daisy got to witness an amazing Pokemon Battle today, so missing out on a lot of knowledge wasn't a big hit for them.
"And you went on your own again." Twilight looked over at Paradise who snuck past her once more. "You can at least tell us where you're going."
"My bad." Paradise rubbed the back of her hair.
"We'll teach you what we know. That'll save up a lot of lost time," said Rainbow Dash. "I mean, Ash already agreed to do just that so you have all of us to do the same."
"And you can see the sights too. That way, you'll learn more." Fluttershy brought up an excellent point. "We used to adventure a lot back in the earlier days. Saw a lot of regions...met a lot of people that Ash has already met and so on."
"Yeah. The journey is the best experience if you ask me." Ash greatly agreed. "If there's anywhere you wanna go, just let us know. Oh! Like when we first met Brock and Roark?!"
"Oh yeah! I remember! There was that whole Weavile problem Cold Colt made! Good times." Rainbow Dash nodded, reminiscing about the early days. "It hasn't been that long yet it feels like it has."
"Oh! I know which one was my favourite!" Pinkie Pie stood up, already having something to display her personal favourite times journeying the world. On the ground, she placed an assortment of papers that all had different drawings on them. Drawings that were meant to represent her friends and the locations they've been at. "I loved when we visited that Mega Evolution Camp! Well, you guys took part in it, not me."
"Right. All of our Mega Evolutions came from there and it was worth it." Applejack agreed. "What about...This one?" Her hoof then pointed at another drawing. "When we went to Holon for a while? I met Delta Riolu that day."
"Holon was fun. We should really go back there. That whole type switch-up thing was so much fun!" Rainbow Dash squeed, recalling the random yet enjoyable moments that came from Holon and its Delta Storms.
"It was. My personal favourite was this." Rarity found her favourite moment. "When we first went to Undella Town. Simple but sweet. Some of these moments, I wish I could relive."
Everyone had their personal favourite moments from all the adventures they've had. These stuck with them from the thrills and the calming moments. And most definitely, they would make more. Not too long ago, they travelled to Sinnoh. And for the Flora Ponies, they could soon gain those same memories.
Already, they've travelled on the back of Ash's Dragonite, viewing parts of Equestria along the way and even got the chance to visit Deerling Forest. But there was more to see and certainly do. As they continued speaking with each other, the lake that was nearby would ripple suddenly. The ripple was not ordinary as it happened consecutively in rapid spurts.
"Audino?" The one to hear this was Audino and her excellent hearing. While hugging two Deerlings, her ears were pulled to the sound of these odd ripples. She looked over at the lake before anyone else, witnessing these rapid ripples popping up constantly.
"Ninetales!" Interrupting Audino's focus was Ninetales, who would wrap all nine of his tails around Audino's face for fun. Mew would turn himself into Ninetales as well just to do the same to Gengar, who would immediately phase through it, making the New Species Pokemon fall over.
"D-Dino?!" Audino stuttered as she completely missed the moment where the ripples would suddenly form into bubbles. Relatively large bubbles. Thankfully, everyone else would take notice, especially the hyperactive Ninetales. With the ripple growing, everyone wondered what this could possibly be. Their eyes opened with wonder, witnessing these massive bubbles appear.
Emerging from the ripple and the bubbles was none other than the Sea Temple, Samiya. It made a gigantic splash upon emerging. A splash so great that it could envelop most of Deerling Forest and even potentially reach the Pikachu Highlands. Thankfully, that was avoided as only a part of the forest had been hit by the splash, missing any nearby Pokemon. But that didn't stop everyone from getting wet from the remaining splashes that managed to reach them. This was to be expected with such a massive temple roaming the world and entering the seas. It could make a splash as big as a Wailord, no doubt.
"Oh man..." Ash shook his head before taking off his hat. Twilight and a few others would groan a bit. "Nice splash there."
"Pikachu."
"My mane!" Rarity groaned as her mane had been ruined. She shook her head as violently as she could, trying to get all the water out. Droplets would fly everywhere from her rapid shaking, hitting the back of Applejack.
"At least the drawings are safe." Pinkie Pie said, holding up the drawings she made as they miraculously survived the splash with only a few drops landing on the edges. "I could've always just drawn them again, so no biggie."
"Daisy? Paradise? Are you alright?" Twilight faced the Flora Ponies. Since they were as soft as plants, she wondered how they would react to large amounts of water. And when turning to face the Flora Ponies, Twilight saw that Daisy and Paradise got the worst of everyone. "Gah!"
"What?" Daisy spoke as parts of her body fell off. The same with Paradise. Their respective flowers were on the floor, covered in water and turning yellow afterwards. They seemed completely calm and unbothered by it despite the fact that bits of them were scattered on the ground.
But they were unbothered for a good reason. With the sun beaming down on them, the damage had been reversed, regenerating the bits that they lost. Twilight's eyes opened as she saw a healing process occur on these Flora Ponies, bringing back what was gone and making it new once more.
"Of course...Sunlight." Twilight should've seen that coming. These ponies benefitted from the sunlight. Completely opposite to the vampires and identical to Grass-Type Pokemon and Fire-Types, of course.
"Ninetales!" To cool everyone off, Ninetales would use his body heat. A soothing and warm aura came from the Fox Pokemon's body as he acted as a heater for his friends, warming their bodies and evaporating the water. Everyone sighed, glad to have Ninetales around. And by extension Mew, who was still using Ninetales' form, copied his body heat just to boost the process.
"Your majesty!" Of course, there was only one reason for the Sea Temple being here. Or rather two reasons. The most obvious one was how it was constantly moving thanks to the moving seas and the light-speed travel they possess. But there was another reason and it involved Ash. Samiya Guards would be standing at the entrance of the temple which was perfectly docked onto the lake.
"Well, looks like that's my cue." Casually accepting this, Ash would approach the Sea Temple, which placed a pathway that touched the end of the lake. "Wonder what they need...?"
"Pika?"
"Wow?! What is that?!" Daisy exclaimed as her eyes were practically popping out of her head in amazement at this giant temple. The same went for Paradise and even the Deerling of Deerling Forest. The Deerling had just witnessed an entire civilization pop up around their lake so naturally, they were bewildered by this.
"You can come along if you want." Fluttershy would speak to the Deerling, seeing the amazement in their eyes. Samiya was a wonderful place to look at from up close and afar. Entering it was tempting. There were plenty of reasons to visit the Sea Temple after all.
Sea Temple, Samiya.
The Sea Temple. Beautiful as ever even after all of these years. From the ancient past to the current day. And of course, receiving some upgrades once the People of the Water had returned. Greeting the King of the Sea Ash were many guards, making way for him and other Water-Types that roamed this area.
Ash waved back at them with fast movements around his arm. Very much the opposite of a King's usual mannerisms. But that's what made Ash so unique and beloved here. He wasn't like other kings for obvious reasons. It was hard to tell if he even considered himself a king at all.
"Welcome back, your majesty!" The People of the Water welcomed their King back. Ash was met with heavy praise that only made him chuckle. Being a king of an entire civilization was still shocking to him, even if he achieved it many years ago and was only recently recognized as it.
"Mana!" Hopping out of the water was the Prince of the Sea, Manaphy. Upon seeing Ash, he would hop into his arms.
"Hey, Manaphy!" Ash embraced Manaphy. "Been a few months, hasn't it?"
"Mana!"
"Your majesty. Welcome back at last." The Royal Advisor Alo, who helped keep things stable at the Sea Temple with Manaphy while Ash was gone, would approach the King of the Sea. "We're glad to have found you."
"How'd you find me, actually?" Ash wondered. "You did it back at Christmas and Hearth's Warming too."
"Ah. Well, we already knew about your condition back at the hospital. But as for how we found you now, we simply listened to the Water Pokemon." Alo explained. "That is how we managed to find you."
"The Water Pokemon?" Applejack repeated.
"Yes. Since you are the King of the Sea, Water Pokemon are under your command, your majesty. A majority of them, anyway. The ones here at Deerling Forest have travelled the seas much like the Sea Temple. You could see the temple as one big fish, actually."
"Heh! That's a good way to describe it!" Ash chuckled as that comparison was perfect. Moving across the world with the seas guiding the way was much like a Fish. "So, if you were looking for me, what do you need?"
"Ah, right. Well, it's the crystal, your majesty. One of them is active. Very active."
"Let me handle this." From within Ash, a voice would echo out. It was none other than Sombra's voice. Deciding to show himself at last, Sombra would emerge out of Ash's chest as dark smoke. That smoke would soon transform, bringing out King Sombra's true form. Naturally, Daisy and Paradise were shocked once more.
Sombra does occasionally take over the Sea Temple by just sitting on Ash's throne. Anything to become a king again. But this wasn't exactly the kind of kingdom he was hoping to rule and yet, he didn't mind it at all. A kingdom was a kingdom, no matter how obscure it may be.
"Ah. Substitute King Sombra." Alo said, calling Sombra a substitute of all things, much like a substitute teacher that only showed up when the actual teacher was not present.
"Sub-" Sombra grimaced at that. That struck a nerve which made Twilight and everypony giggle. Sombra was still acknowledged as a king but lesser than Ash. Being lesser than Ash rubbed Sombra the wrong way, even if he had respect for the True King of the Sea. "Wonderful...Anyways. What about this one crystal?"
"Ah, right? It's been crying out. Something that no other crystal has done before. We believe it might be the crystal that belongs to that Galaxy Master character."
"Galaxy Master?!" Ash gasped as now this was crucial to him. Modelled after his father, Galaxy Master was important to Ash in many ways. It was the closest he got to see his father, even if it wasn't actually him. Merely a fictional representation of how he viewed his father when he was a child. "He's back?!"
"Possibly so. There is no other reason for the crystal to be acting in such a way. Come, your majesty. Donoma has also foreseen what could happen with this revelation." Alo would guide the way to the Treasure Room where all the crystals were located.
"Donoma?" Ash repeated, speaking the name of this mysterious character.
"Yes. Donoma. When the crystal went off, Donoma had a vision. She is still trying to make sense of it, so it's best that we hurry and view it for ourselves, your majesty."
When moving across the Sea Temple, they would pass by many beautiful rooms and stores built by the People of the Water. The stores all sold food that was exclusive to the Sea Temple and nowhere else. They would be a bit occupied without a doubt.
Stopping by to have a bite were Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Daisy, who could not resist the food. Rarity would also find herself being distracted, entering a room where bio-luminescent lights radiated with such splendour and amazement. The People of the Water were also partaking in some fashion, wearing special clothes that were made here in Samiya.
"Ooh! How did you do that?!" Rarity watched as these clothes all had unique water patterns on them. And they weren't just decals. Not at all. The clothes actually looked like they were made out of water, flowing in the same way as this ever-present liquid. Rarity had to know how this was possible. Water clothes? Now she was pulled in, much like Pinkie Pie and the other gluttons.
All the while, Ash, Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy and Paradise were heading to the treasure room, but also taking the time to view the scenery. Paradise was the most struck by this, staying silent the entire time. The Sea Temple had gone through some changes during these past months, even if it hasn't been that long. It seemed that this temple was always changing, always developing.
That could be because of how Ash revived the People of the Water, bringing back their innovative minds and inventive spirits. The People of the Water knew they had to evolve, much like a Pokemon does.
"Oh! It's really you!" Just as they were heading for the Treasure Room, someone ran up to them. In the distance, someone from Samiya was moving at great speeds, becoming a light blue blur before having his full appearance shown. "It really is you, your majesty!"
"Eh?" Ash froze as he was met with someone who once again looked up to him. And it was a tall individual this time who immediately grabbed his hand.
"King Ash! It's a pleasure to meet you! Really!" The man rapidly shook Ash's arm, pleased to meet with the King of the Sea. "I am Adriel! Oh, I've wanted to see you for a while but I never got the chance! Many of us haven't but now that all changes!"
"Really? That's great." Ash said as Adriel was rapidly talking, spilling out everyone he wanted to say when meeting with the King of the Sea.
"You've saved us twice! Bringing us back to life and saving our temple once more! Oh, you're wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!" Clearly, he was a major fan. One of the more enthusiastic fans that Ash has encountered. "It's an honour!"
"Adriel." Alo would whack his staff on Adriel's hand, forcing him to pull back.
"Ow!" Adriel cried out, holding his arm after receiving a smack from Alo's hard staff. "Oooh...
"Please do not overwhelm our king like that. Sorry, your majesty. Adriel here is rather enthusiastic about you. So are many others but..."
"My bad. I got very excited. After all, my little sister was lucky to have met you first before I could." Adriel grizzled his teeth. "Darn that Enola..."
"Enola's your sister?" said Ash as he noticed the similarities between Enola and Adriel. "Oh...I can see it, actually. Yeah. She was the first one we met when we came here. And when I showed up at the temple for the second time in a while. Glad I did."
"So? Do you need anything, your majesty?! I'm fairly skilled at Water Weaving!"
"Water Weaving? What's that?" Ash asked, curious.
"Ah. It's a unique skill here at Samiya. We, the People of the Water, can weave the waves themselves with our hands." Alo explained. "Of course, it requires the crystals as always. And Adriel here is a very skilled Water Weaver."
"I've been meaning to show you the special clothes I weaved for you, your majesty! I made sure to use the clearest water possible so that it only befits you!" Adriel grinned. "I should've brought it with me...but we can go to it at once!"
"I do wanna see that!" Ash's eyes lit up as he had to see an example of Water Weaving, even though Rarity was the first to see it. "But I gotta check out the crystal first. It's about Galaxy Master. I'll be there though."
"Right, right. I'll be waiting, your majesty! Meet me at the spire!" Adriel saluted, letting Ash and his friends go on their way. Adriel felt incredibly lucky, meeting the King of the Sea. Many do as there hasn't been a king for so long. The closest they had was Manaphy, who was the Prince of the Sea. Starved of a king for so long, it was great to have one and yet there was no queen. Although, Delia did consider herself the Queen of the Sea and the People of the Water didn't seem to mind it all.
But Adriel wasn't the only one who had eyes on Ash. Standing atop the many hallways of the temple, crimson eyes were watching him. Most, if not all the People of the Water had golden eyes, combined with blue, light blue or even silver hair. But not this character.
Along the way, they arrived at another room and have yet to reach the Treasure Room where the crystals were resting. In this room, it was rather isolated and a bit dim. But once they entered, the entire room would light up.
"Ah. Welcome." In this room, there was only one table, one chair, a few lights and two exits. Nothing more, nothing less. This made it a bit empty to be in as there was one lady sitting there, greeting the King of the Sea and his friends. "I've been waiting, your majesty."
"Your majesty. This is Donoma. The one who had the vision." Alo introduced the one known as Donoma.
"Pleasure." Donoma held what looked to be a crystal ball. She would put one finger on the ball, spinning it on the table while keeping it in one spot. "I'm incredibly lucky to meet with his majesty at last."
"Oh! Are you a fortune-teller?!" Ash's eyes lit up after seeing the crystal ball within Donoma's grasp.
"I'm a Seer, your majesty. The Seer Donoma." She introduced herself.
"So you're the one who saw something related to the crystal. What was it?" Twilight asked. "Did you see Galaxy Master's return?"
"Not exactly. I foresaw something else, my little pony. We came to our majesty because we knew how important Galaxy Master is to him. The closest thing to his father. When the crystal started glowing, that was when my vision kicked in, showing me what was to come."
"What did you see?" Ash approached Donoma. "I wanna know what's up with him? The last time...and only time we saw him, he was being controlled by the Rift. I didn't get to see the real him, which blows."
"It's unfortunate how that played out, your majesty, even if you won. But do not fret." Donoma waved her hands around the crystal ball. "The crystal is connected to Galaxy Master and it only went off when he returned."
"It went off when returned? Sweet!" Ash excitedly said.
"But it showed me something else. With his return, his true self came back, no longer possessed by the Rift because of how you defeated it when up in space. "This vision hasn't been fully realized yet, but it seems that you will meet again."
"Yeah?" Ash leaned forward, looking into the crystal ball.
"The Rift did plan that, didn't it?" said Twilight. "That's why it sent Galaxy Master away instead of leaving him behind at the Galaxy Tower. It's planning something with it. And whatever it is...with Galaxy Master showing up again, the Rift might be ready to enact its new plans."
"Why don't you take a look for yourselves." Donoma invited everyone to look inside the Crystal Ball to see what kind of future was waiting for them. And they all would, gathering in a group with their heads and eyes locked onto the enigmatic crystal ball. "Keep in mind...this ball does not work the same way as the ones you expect."
"Not the same? What do you mean by that?" Applejack questioned.
A smile graced Donoma's face after that question came her way. "A different future will be shown, depending on who looks into this crystal ball. I wonder...what will all of you see? Only one way to find out. Look to the future and gaze at what could be."
Looking into Donoma's Crystal Ball, different futures shall be shown to whoever gazes into it. Ash, Twilight, Applejack, Paradise and Sombra each gazed into the Crystal Ball to see what future could become a reality. And it was all centred around Galaxy Master's return.
All four of them showed up together, having ethereal forms due to the vision they were seeing. "Aren't we supposed to be viewing different futures? Why are we in the same spot?" Fluttershy wondered, expecting everyone to be elsewhere.
"The future might be in the same location," Twilight answered. "
Ash's vision showed him the man he wanted to see most. Galaxy Master. There stood the fictional character, standing in what seemed to be an unidentifiable city. This city looked rather obscure compared to what was known. For starters, most of them appeared as domes than the usual square or rectangular buildings that exist. The tallest buildings that matched skyscrapers even had domes at the top. A large motorway that was shielded by glasses was also seen, acting as a bridge that was above the ground. Everything about it looked rather futuristic.
"Woah...Sweet city. It kinda looks familiar." Ash scratched his hair, feeling like he's seen this city somewhere before. At least the style. But the main attraction was none other than Galaxy Master as his eyes focused on him.
Galaxy Master struck a strong pose, seemingly facing someone as the wind was blowing elegantly with his cape. And the one that was facing him off was none other than Ash himself. Ash saw his future self which was just his current self as to be expected. Both were staring each other down, having their respective Pikachu's also facing each other.
"This looks so cool!" Ash grinned as his future was rather positive in his eyes. It meant that he could meet Galaxy Master as he truly was but there was still a showdown involved.
And as for Twilight's vision, it was roughly the same but with a different scenario. Galaxy Master was sitting on the ground, having an assortment of books around him. Books that Twilight immediately recognized since they came from her own library.
And Twilight could also see herself sitting with Galaxy Master, reading these books with him. The two of them were having some knowledgeable enjoyment, even though Galaxy Master looked like he was struggling to keep up with it. "Is that what might happen? He doesn't quite look like he's that good at reading though..."
Applejack's vision was very different from the other two. She saw Galaxy Master having a taste of apple pies. However, there was a massive tease in this vision. For the first time, she witnessed Galaxy Master without his helmet on, spotting his hair as it did resemble that of Ash's.
However, Galaxy Master was facing away from Applejack, meaning that she couldn't see his face at all when stuffing it with apple pies, that were given to him by a future Applejack. At least she got to see his face. It was another positive future. "Dang'nabbit! I wanna see his face!"
Fluttershy also had a positive future shown to her. With Galaxy Master's amazing ability to summon Pokemon, it was no surprise that her future showed a plethora of Pokemon that Galaxy Master would call for. Fluttershys was simple. Very simple. Surrounded by many Pokemon that Galaxy Master managed to summon just to have a fun time with the pegasus and her own Pokemon. Fluttershy would even watch Galaxy Master summon a new Pokemon.
"I wish I could have that kind of power..." She even wished for something like that. Her love for Pokemon stretched that far.
Paradise had an odd vision. She had only seen Galaxy Master once when he showed up at Saddle Lake and faced off against Luna. She was still a Paradise Flower back then and did not emerge as a Flora Pony. All she saw was Galaxy Master in Saddle Lake and nothing more.
"Hm. I'm not getting anything that interesting..."
But the one who had the most striking future was none other than Sombra. Instead, what he saw was himself possessing Galaxy Master. But it was a double dose of possession. He was possessing both Ash and Galaxy Master at the same time. The dark magic from Sombra was pouring out of their bodies as he managed to affect two of them, gaining double sentience.
And with these two bodies, he stood atop one of the buildings, cackling at those beneath him. And the ones beneath him were various ponies with the likes of Twilight Sparkle being involved. The skies crackled with green lightning from Sombra's magic, hitting the ground and buildings.
"Hm. Not a bad future..." Sombra nodded his head, liking the way this future turned out. Possessing two bodies was rather promising, even though he has never possessed Ash's body before. He hasn't even tried to do so in the first place which made him realize how odd that was.
"So...What have you all seen?" Donoma asked them as everyone collectively pulled their heads away from the crystal ball.
"Seemed pretty cool. But how come we all had different visions?" Ash questioned.
"This Crystal Ball shows you the future that your heart prefers," Donoma explained. "And the best part is that whatever future you see can be turned into a reality, no matter how obscure it can be. It all depends on what your heart wants and the best possible outcome you desire."
"So it's a lot like the Crystal Heart," Sombra spoke as this greatly reminded him of the Crystal Heart. "Nothing special."
"But it's still wonderful, isn't it?" Fluttershy said with a soft grin while Sombra just shrugged in response.
"You all saw the same location but with different outcomes. The futures you all saw can go either way. Some of them might happen in unison. It all depends on what you do. The vision I had within my Crystal Ball was of this Galaxy Master character facing off against your friends, your majesty." Donoma continued.
"Yeah. That was my vision too but it was just me and Pikachu that I saw." Ash replied. "But judging from this, we've gotta meet up with him. I gotta see Galaxy Master again. There's so much I wanna do and it's the closest I'll ever get to seeing my dad again."
"Same here. We want to meet him without being controlled by the Rift," said Twilight. "From what we heard about him before the events on the Galaxy Tower went off, he wasn't bad at all."
"Then, we shall do just that, your majesty," Alo spoke. "With your call, we can take you to Galaxy Master. The crystal that responds to him is the key to that."
"It is? Can we find him that way?" Applejack asked.
"Of course. The crystal is connected to him and with it, we can locate his whereabouts. All we need to do is have the crystal lead the way and the temple will follow."
"In the meanwhile, you can gaze into the crystal ball as many times as you want," Donomoa suggested. "Different futures can come from it depending on what is on your mind."
"We'll get something else instead of Galaxy Master?" Twilight's attention turned back to the crystal ball. "That's one helpful crystal ball."
"It is, isn't it?" Donoma giggled before twirling the Crystal Ball. "I'll admit, I've used it in my spare time. My job as a seer is important but what's stopping me from just continuously looking into it. I'll admit I've used it for my own interests."
"She certainly has." Alo nodded. "I remember when you were younger, you would constantly use it to um...Rig games."
"Did she now?" Twilight and the others glanced over at the Seer.
"Well...Hm-hm-hm..." Donoma blushed, scratching her head while looking away. She wasn't exactly disputing it, making everyone believe that she exactly used the crystal ball to gain unfair advantages.
"Well done." Sombra applauded that immediately. Though it may be unfair, it was right up his alley and he saw no issue with it. "An excellent use of your resources.
"Really? Let me look into that thing some more." Applejack was fully interested in the Crystal Ball considering it could be used to view any future.
"You're welcome to do so." Donoma welcomed Applejack to take another look.
"We should be heading to the Treasure Room now, your majesty." Alo would focus on heading to the Treasure Room once more. After all, that's where the crystals could be found and a way to find Galaxy Master. As far as things are now, everyone within the Sea Temple that weren't originally inhabitants were in for a ride this afternoon. A ride across the planet.
Meanwhile, Rarity was rather occupied in this wonderful activity that she discovered in Samiya when passing by. Water Weaving. After seeing the People of the Water wear clothes made out of water, her interest was piqued. Naturally, she would want to try this out for herself.
"Drat! How do you do this?!" Of course, this was rather tricky for Rarity considering that this was a new level of dressmaking that she's never explored before. Water was not like fabric and interlacing sets of it was seemingly impossible, at least to her. Her hooves would pass through the water when trying to hold it. The People of the Water could perfectly grab the water but not Rarity. She stood in front of a cauldron of water that she would use to try and weave something but was failing miserably.
"You might need the help of the crystals for this one." A lady said. "That should be the only way you can weave these clothes."
"Perhaps." Rarity sighed as her hooves were completely wet from trying to weave the water. "Can you do this naturally without the help of those crystals?"
"Long ago, we used the crystals to use them but we've evolved to the point where we can hold water naturally." A man dug his hand into one of the cauldrons, picking up some water. In his hands, the water appeared solid as he would bounce it up and down. And not once did it a single drop fall. All the liquids within remained, amazing Rarity.
"Amazing..." Rarity's jaw dropped. All the more reason she had to learn this. She could only imagine what kind of clothes she could make with this skill. "I must master it!"
"Well, if you're having so much trouble, there is an alternative way." The lady replied, bringing up something new for Rarity to try. "We may have evolved to touch them in such a way, but Water-Types are capable of water weaving."
"Oh? They are?"
"Yes. But only within the Sea Temple. Not exactly everywhere else unless they have the crystal with them. If you have a Water-Type, perhaps you can get the clothes you want that way."
"I certainly do!" Rarity stood up with a prolonged gasp. She was lucky to have a Water-Type in her team. By digging into her saddlebag, she took out a Poke Ball that obviously belonged to her Milotic. By throwing it into the air, out came the Tender Pokemon Milotic.
"Milotic!"
"Milotic, I require some assistance from you. Or rather, I will be assisting you." Rarity spoke. "Both of us will help each other. It's about Water Weaving."
"Milo?" A confused Milotic cried out. What was Rarity talking about? Those were the words and thoughts that Milotic had. Water Weaving was obviously new to her as much as it was to her Pokemon Trainer.
"Just...bear with me. You've seen me weave clothes before. Constantly. I believe it's your turn. You can weave something with water itself. Your own speciality since you're a Water-Type."
"Milotic?" Milotic would then look at her tail as that was the only thing from her body that she could. "Milotic."
"For Water-Types, whenever they wish to weave water, we usually share our strength with them. Let's do exactly that with Milotic." The fashionable People of the Water approached Milotic, holding her hands out. They wished to help Milotic and even Rarity get through this Water Weaving process. Thus, they shared their power with Milotic, sending a golden light from their hands.
"Lotic..." Milotic cried out softly as her body was being blessed with the Light of Samiya. It felt comforting to be touched by this light. A truly wonderful feeling that made Milotic twirl for a moment.
"Feeling magnificent?" Rarity questioned. Milotic would twirl once more, practically confirming that to be the case. "Wonderful! Go ahead. Give it a try and follow my lead. Here, I'll try and weave a scarf as an example." Digging into her saddlebag once more, Rarity pulled out a piece of fabric.
Being the fashionable pony that she was, it didn't hurt to come prepared at all times. Rarity would be the baseline for what Milotic could copy. She's watched Rarity design multiple times so that was also a benefit. The Tender Pokemon then dug her tail into the cauldron of water before lifting it. Lo and behold, she managed to solidify the water to the point where she would raise it without spilling anything.
"Milo!" Milotic was taken aback by this. She didn't expect this kind of result. But now that she had the water in her clutches, she had to figure out how to weave it with just her tail which was rather tricky. And yet, inspired by her trainer, she had to try. Milotic would use her tail to the best of her abilities, bending it as it would squish the ball of water.
The People of the Water gazed as Milotic would start twisting her tail which would also caused the water to twist. They nodded approvingly as Milotic had her own unique way of weaving the water. She was grateful that it was solid and not as fragile as traditional water. Then again, this was still traditional water but manipulated in a different way. All the while, she was following Rarity's movements when weaving a scarf.
By focusing Rarity's hooves and manipulating her tail, Milotic was in a deep state of focus, one that should not be disturbed. The People of the Water would stay silent, not saying a word. They would simply observe.
The Treasure Room.
At last, they reached the Treasure Room. Ash and the others witnessed how this one crystal was going off, constantly glowing while the rest were not responsive.
"With this, we will find Galaxy Master as soon as possible. Light-speed travel will not help in this, unfortunately. We must let the crystal guide us. But the speed isn't so bad." Alo explained while standing next to the crystal.
"Gotcha. Twilight, everyone. Are you okay with travelling the world in the Sea Temple?" Ash asked as this would mean that they would travel the world for a while before they could reach Galaxy Master.
"Mmm...I don't mind." Twilight shrugged, accepting this. "We travelled to Sinnoh recently in our spare time. Why not do the same? I want to meet up with Galaxy Master too. For your sake, of course."
"It'll be fun! Can you imagine all the Water-Types we'll meet along the way? Or any Pokemon." Fluttershy agreed, mainly to see some beautiful sights while travelling the seas. "It'll be just like how you travelled with Princess Luna and the others when trying to find the Sea Temple."
"I should probably tell Apple Bloom about this. Gonna be gone for a while. Where's my Xtransceiver?" Applejack would quickly try and inform her younger sister about her sudden departure. That was confirmation that she would come along. Most of this was for Ash. After all, Ash wished to see his father and his friends would be there to support him.
"These crystals are something else...What else can they do?" Paradise wondered, amazed at what the crystal could do due to what she's heard so far.
"Oh, a lot!" Ash exclaimed. "I bet we haven't even scratched the surface of what they're capable of."
"Pikachu!"
"You'd be right about that, your majesty. Each of these crystals were made to perform wonderful feats that would advance our civilization. Of course, most of it was done with our own hard work but the crystals have helped out in instances." Alo replied before facing all the crystals.
"You even have those exclusive crystals. The one for the People of the Vale and the one that Princess Luna made." Twilight added. "It's so beautiful how it resembles the night sky. How many personal crystals are there?"
"Hmm...I believe there are at least 3 personal crystals. At least, for what we all know." Alo answered and yet, he wasn't sure if that was the maximum amount of personal crystals.
"Three?" Fluttershy held her wings out, counting the personal ones. The first was the one for the People of the Vale. This involved someone like Carlita and those related to her. And the second was the one Luna made specifically for Galaxy Master in case things go south, unmaking the fictional character. But as for the third one, she wasn't so sure. "Which is the third one?"
"Yeah. Does it look different from the others or the same"? Ash asked.
"Pika?"
"Ah. The third one. It looks like the rest with no unique appearance." Alo twirled his beard before then searching for that third personal crystal. "Truth is...we don't believe this third personal crystal has much of a purpose anymore."
"It doesn't? Does it work anymore?" Twilight questioned, wondering about this mystery crystal and its purpose.
"It should but the one who requires it is no longer around." Alo continued before finding that very crystal, taking it out. "Here it is. This is the crystal that has no purpose anymore. It can still be used for other things much like the other crystals but it's main purpose is practically non-existent now."
"Who owned it?" Fluttershy asked before she and the others leaned to view this crystal.
"Why it was this man." Alo would then harness the power of the third personal crystal, letting the light flow. Everyone followed up the light as it started forming a projection. In that projection, the visage of a man was materializing, showing Ash and the others who once owned it.
"Oh! No way!" Ash gasped as his eyes shrank at the one who showed up before him. It was a familiar face that only he and Pikachu recognized. Or rather, a familiar figure. Ash thought he would never hear about him again but he came back, having ties to the Sea Temple.
"Pikachu?!"
"The one who commissioned this crystal was none other than the King of Pokelantis."
"The King of Pokelantis?! This is his crystal?!" Ash and Pikachu were in disbelief. An old name had returned to their ears. And more than that, his appearance had been fully shown to them. The King of Pokelantis.
"Oh yes. He commissioned it. And it's been kept here ever since." Alo explained. "I believe that's all of the personal crystals that we know about but there might be more somewhere within the temple."
"Ash. Pikachu. Do you know who that is?" Twilight asked after seeing Ash and Pikachu's reaction to the King of Pokelantis.
"Yeah. We do. I met him before but not in person." Ash would face Twilight before looking back at the light projection of the King of Pokelantis. "It was back at Hoenn. I had my body possessed by his spirit way back then and I only knew about his voice. I barely had control over myself but thanks to May and the others, I broke free."
"Oh. Then you can already guess and answer why he commissioned his own personal crystal then, your majesty," said Alo.
"Mhm. He wanted to take over the world once and planned to use Ho-oh to do just that. But Ho-oh ended up destroying his entire empire. I guess he had another way of trying that if that failed." Ash explained what he recalled from years ago. "But since he's gone that didn't work out either."
"So you got experiences with having evil kings within you," Applejack said, referring to how Sombra was identical. Sombra would even eye Applejack down, which resulted in the Earth Pony putting on a cheeky grin.
"How'd someone like him even get to Samiya in the first place?" Twilight questioned. "And what was that crystal even for?"
"The King of Pokelantis once had a treaty with our previous king from long ago. Thus, he and his subjects could enter the Sea Temple without any issues. We believed there were no issues at all. This was before we became protective of our home. The King of Pokelantis has always had an interest in the crystals and the wealth of power they had to offer. Of course, he would want that power for himself. So, he asked for his own crystal, receiving the trust of the old king. And I do say, he was relatively skilled in keeping that trust. I believe these are the words that he said when making that crystal."
Alo would interact with the crystal once more, using its power to make the light projection of the King of Pokelantis speak, showing more of what these crystals can do and why someone would want them so much. Once more, Ash heard the voice of the King after all these years.
"I require a crystal that will grant me everlasting life. Since there is no way to stop this enigmatic disease, I must keep myself alive for as long as possible." The King of Pokelantis demanded. "This crystal shall be placed at the epicenter of my castle, becoming a source of immortality for me and my subjects."
"He just outright asked for something like that?" Applejack uttered. "Pretty gutsy."
"He always strived for immortality. That way, he would rule the world forever, going through every event and knowing everything throughout the ages. But our previous King of the Sea was ahead of him, despite seemingly going along with what the King of Pokelantis requested. He went through with making the crystal but made sure the King of Pokelantis would never get his hands on it. The crystal I'm holding now does not even grant immortality."
"It doesn't? Then what does it do?" Fluttershy asked.
"Truth be told, I have no idea. All I know is that crystals lose their purpose when the crux of their existence is gone. With the King of Pokelantis gone, their full potential is locked away and they can only perform what other crystals are capable of. But our previous king made sure that immortality would never come from this crystal, even if we had it for ourselves."
"The King of Pokelantis is still around though. Well, he's trapped in an orb but I guess that's enough to lock away the true power of this crystal," said Ash as he recalled how the King of Pokelantis was only sealed back in an orb. Technically, he was still around to this day, managing to evade his passing, albeit now being trapped within something that he could not control.
"Pikachu..."
"He's still around?!" Twilight and the others gasped. They believed he was long gone by now but in reality, the King of Pokelantis was still alive in the form of a spirit. His body may be gone but not his spirit.
"Even in the modern day, he still manages to strive for immortality it seems," Alo replied. "Well, that only means that this crystal's potential is still there but it's laying dormant. If the king does ever return, then we can see why it truly exists."
"Let's hope that never happens," Paradise said, preferring that the King of Pokelantis stayed sealed.
"No need to worry about that. Brandon's keeping a good eye on him. It's still pretty crazy that he showed up here before. Samiya's got a lot to offer, huh?" Ash nodded his head, amazed by all the history Samiya held.
"Oh, isn't it?" Alo chuckled with a proud tone in his voice. "We've been through quite a lot. Most of it has been troublesome but...it is what it is. The King of Pokelantis opened our eyes to the kind of threats that would come for our crystals. And from how his empire was, we're thankful that none of them ever came back here. I'm not even sure if the King had anyone to take up his throne due to his ultimate goal. Anyway, shall we get going? We will find Galaxy Master as soon as possible, your majesty."
"Oh yeah! Another trip around the world!" Ash raised his fists into the air, excited to travel the world in the Sea Temple.
"Pikachu!"
"Make yourselves comfortable and we shall be heading along. With the crystal guiding us, we should move as fast as perhaps a Sharpedo at best." Alo faced the crystal that created Galaxy Master, poking his staff against it. The light would then reflect off the staff, shooting a beacon into the air as it then touched the ceiling. With the light becoming a beacon, the power of the crystal would affect the entire temple. Only a further demonstration of what these crystals were capable of and why someone would want them.
Spreading the light across the entire Sea Temple in a matter of seconds, the Sea Temple would start moving. Leaving the waters of Deerling Forest, it would follow a set path that would lead the Temple and everyone within it to Galaxy Master. Things started off slower than expected but this was merely the buildup.
For now, they would all have to spend their time in the Sea Temple now that it was on the move. It would be just like taking the Royal Unova or any ship but on a much larger scale. To kill some time, Ash and his friends would discuss about the Knig of Pokelantis for a bit after the story Alo told them.
"You have a habit of letting others possess you, Ash," Twilight said, bringing up the fact that Ash has been possessed multiple times from what she's seen and heard.
"I do?" Ash looked up, thinking about how many times he's been possessed in some way. Thinking back on it, it was quite a lot. "Yeah, you're right about that. I should keep count."
"At least it doesn't get out of hand when you're possessed," Applejack added. "That King sounded like he came pretty close to doing so."
"Yeah. He had a Pokemon Battle with my body when he took over. Wasn't exactly the best at it too. I got to see what he looks like at last and boy, he's pretty fierce-looking, right?"
"He reminds me a bit of Ghetsis, doesn't he? But that hair of his is a much darker shade of green." Twilight recalled how the visage of the King had slight similarities to Ghetsis. From the green hair to the red eyes. And if she wanted to push it even further, the black clothes.
"Those piercing red eyes...They looked just like his." Fluttershy replied. "And I guess yours too, Sombra. You both have that intensive gaze."
"Hmph." Sombra scoffed, appearing in his shadow form while traveling next to Ash. "My gaze is fiercer than whatever this Ghetsis character has. But I will admit it is impressive. We even have a name for something like that."
"Yeah? What is it?" Ash asked before stopping to pet a group of Spheal that rolled over to his group.
"It's called the Gaze of the Supreme King. It's only meant for those of royal status who have such a gaze. Some say that the gaze can cause many magical reactions in whoever sees it. And don't even think about considering yourself to have that gaze. Your eyes are not red. Even though I've never seen any reactions from it..."
"Yeah. I can't have it. Haha!" Ash chuckled.
"But perhaps I do." Suddenly, someone would reply to him, joining in on this conversation. When looking up, someone sat on a ledge, looking down at Ash's group. Those same crimson eyes from before were staring at Ash's group, but specifically Ash himself.
There, the group would spot a girl sitting on the ledge before hopping off of it. And it was a high jump as well, making her landing even more impressive. Sticking the landing, she revealed herself.
"Green hair...Red Eyes...Deja Vu." Applejack rubbed her eyes. She found it rather disturbing that someone else with a shade of green and red eyes had shown up, having a scowl on her face. It even shocked Twilight and Fluttershy while Paradise was unphased. Those intensive red eyes were certainly prominent today. From the King of Pokelantis, Sombra, and this girl. The girl would even glance in the direction of Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack, making their hearts jump.
"Ah, Diadora. Landing on your feet again from such a high place?" said Alo, speaking the name of this girl. "You haven't met the king yet, have you? Such an entrance to make in front of his majesty."
"It's cool. That's a sweet way to make an entrance. Name's Ash. Diadora, right?" Ash greeted himself to her.
"Pikachu!"
"Hm. So of all people...it had to be you that became king." Suddenly Diadora spoke in a rather disdainful tone that went with her scowling face. "That's disappointing."
"Eh?" Ash and Pikachu blinked. The nearby People of the Water heard Diadora's words, gasping and stopping what they were doing. Diadora had just brazenly spoken to their king in such a way, essentially calling him a disappointment.
"Diadora...You mustn't be rude to his majesty." Alo slid over, clearing his throat after Diadora spoke those rather disdainful words. "Especially when the substitute king is here."
"I heard that!" Sombra heard Alo's words as he was once again called a substitute king, which he did not prefer. Sombra saw himself as an equal to Ash and perhaps even higher.
"She's certainly different from the rest, isn't she?" Twilight whispered as so far, Diadora carried a different aura and mood than the rest of the People of the Water. As seen by the People of the Water, they were all jolly in many ways, happy with themselves while being protective of their home.
"Ash Ketchum, right? I didn't want to believe that you'd be the King of the Sea." Diadora continued.
"Well, I am." Ash laughed. "Pleasure to meet you. You've got that look in your eyes for sure. I know it from anywhere."
"You should know it. I'd expect you of all people to." Diadora crossed her arms, continuing to speak to Ash in a rather distasteful way.
"Uh...Wait, do I know you?" Ash scratched his hair. The green hair and red eyes weren't exactly helping even if he noticed that combination.
"Forgive her, your majesty. Diadora is a rather brazen girl..." Alo bowed. "Diadora. Must you be so rude? We've spoken about this. In front of royalty, you must be respectable."
"Not to him." Diadora jeered. "I figured I'd meet you at last when I got back to Samiya. I was gone during the attack of the Dragon Force and when I heard you showed up again...That was just annoying."
"What's your problem?" Twilight grumbled, finding Diadora's attitude to be rather rude for no apparent reason.
"Ash saved your home if ya haven't realized." Applejack joined in. "You're talking pretty wild for someone who just met him."
"If anyone deserves to be on that throne, it's me." Diadora pointed at herself. "Not you, Ketchum."
"You see...Diadora here is also royalty." Alo revealed. "Her parents are unknown but she does have royal blood within her. We found her years ago as a child, alone near an island that was on the verge of sinking. Thus...she became one of us." Alo explained, revealing something truly outstanding about Diadora.
"She's royalty!?" They all exclaimed. A true royal was standing before her. Not just royal in name but also by blood.
"Indeed. Unfortunately, she has nothing to rule over. We're not sure what kingdom she originates from. Neither does she. But we enjoy the company either way and I promise you she's not usually like this."
"That's enough out of you, Alo," Diadora said, suddenly forcing Alo to freeze and keep his mouth closed. Diadora had this rather commanding voice to her. Fitting since she was known to be royalty. She just had the natural voice of a ruler. More so than Ash. "I've been wanting that throne for a long time. That was taken from me ever since we were all sealed with the Sea Temple. And along you come, freeing us all and becoming the King of the Sea. You're not even actual royalty. Neither do you have royal blood in you? You're just some kid from the boonies."
"Take that back!" Applejack stepped forward, growing tiresome of DIadora's insulting words.
"It's fine Applejack." But Ash would stop her, preventing Applejack from doing anything. He appreciated that his friends would stick up for him, but his rather silent reaction to this made it clear that he was hearing Diadora out.
"It should've been me." Diadora closed her eyes before turning around. "And what's worse is that it had to be a Ketchum of all people. Black hair, dark eyes and an annoyingly optimistic look on your face. That's the Ketchum Trademark." Those were her last words in this conversation before she walked off.
She left Ash's friends feeling a few reactions. Twilight and Applejack had cross faces while Fluttershy was rather perplexed by this. Sombra simply laughed at this, loving every bit of it while Paradise was completely neutral.
"Oh, dear!" Alo held his hair. "I'm terribly sorry for that, your majesty! She just showed up and insulted you! Please! Forgive us for that level of rudeness!"
"Bahahaha!" Sombra cackled. "What an interesting girl! My boy, you've made yourself quite the enemy!"
"Huh. Well, that was something. I get where she's coming from though..." Ash said as he wasn't that struck by Diadora's words. Instead, he understood her.
"You do?" Twilight tilted her head in confusion.
"Your majesty. She, unfortunately, cannot become the new ruler of the Sea. Becoming the King or Queen of the Sea is different from how most monarchies are formed. You've experienced it yourself when you obtained the Sea Crown. There have been only two kings and queens who have worn the Sea Crown. and you are the third king."
"It'll be rough traveling with her..." Applejack groaned. "But Ash. You're really gonna let her get away with that? I've got a bad feeling of what she might do."
"Applejack's right. She wants that throne for herself. And even though there's only one way of getting it, who knows what she might try now that you're here." Twilight shared those same worries and so did Fluttershy.
"I hear you guys. I'll keep an eye out. And when we meet again, I'll take to her." Ash reassured his friends, staying completely calm while most of them, apart from Paradise, were worried. "For now, let's focus on meeting with Galaxy Master, okay?"
"Pikachu!"
After that surprising interaction, they would get on with their day, exploring more of the temple while it was moving across the seas. After leaving Deerling Forest's lake, the Sea Temple would enter the wider waters of Equestria, which allowed it to speed up. The momentum boost was certainly felt and yet everything was safe within it. With crystal being the guiding beacon, it was only fixated on one location.
Galar.
Galar.
Speaking of Galar, Galaxy Master's interception of the Dread League was over. The Dark Garden that the Dread League made had been completely destroyed. The garden was in shambles with all of its plants being sliced and wilted. All thanks to the light of Galaxy Master which also came from the Sea Temple Crystals.
He stood over the destroyed garden with a heroic pose alongside his Pikachu and Bayleef. More of the Sun had been shown, beaming down on the beautiful land that was now free from the garden.
As for the vampires, most were dazed and some were planted into the ground itself. Some were still standing, scowling, growling and hissing at Galaxy Master after he ruined their plans.
"That puts an end to your Brutal Botanic Behaviours!" Galaxy Master bellowed, speaking in a triumphant voice. "I'd suggest surrendering since you have nothing else to grow here."
As for the Canterlot Guards, they did not engage in battle with Galaxy Master. And for a good reason. They were merely undercover. When getting away from the battle, they took the time to hide while Galaxy Master spoke in his usual heroic tone.
Free from Galaxy Master and his Pokemon, they took the time to immediately write about this to Princess Celestia. She had to know about this time. A letter was being made by the Canterlot Guards, quickly reporting what they had experienced. From Galaxy Master's return to the destruction of this Dark Forest.
"You caped nuisance!" A vampire thundered with veins popping out of his head. "You realize you've alerted our majesty! She's obviously been watching our battle even from afar, and you've made a horrible mistake interfering with us!"
"Hmph! Good. Your Lich Queen should feel annoyed. And she should be wary. Everything she plans to do will come to an end as long as I am around! The Superstar! Galaxy Master!" He would strike a pose once more, creating a galactic-colored explosion behind him.
"Galaxy Master! Galaxy!" A voice cried out to him after he struck his pose. He would quickly swivel his head, seeing someone run down the hill nearby. But it was someone that he had familiarity with judging by the way he reacted.
"Ah! My trusty sidekick! You're a tad late to it all, but that's fine." He spoke to a pony who was apparently his sidekick. After all these months, he shows up with a sidekick. As if his Pokemon weren't his sidekicks already. As for this pony, she would reveal herself when moving through the sun's rays. "Did you bring enough, Potion Nova?"
"I always bring enough. But if you're leaving like that...bring me with you instead of just vanishing." Potion Nova sighed. "I don't think there should be any Despair Plants growing from this. You might've destroyed them all with how the garden turned out."
"Hm-hm. You're the expert here, Potion Nova. Then...we can apprehend these vampires and finish things up here."
"I'm not going in because of this guy..." One of the vampires grimaced as she did not want to meet her end in this fashion. None of them did. Seeing that Galaxy Master had them outclassed, the vampires would suddenly retreat. They would use the one method of retreat that was rather destructive and was shown first by Night Sprout back at the Canterlot Junior Cup.
Self-Combustion.
The bodies of the vampires would glow all of a sudden as the magical energy within them was being unleashed. They grinned maniacally, knowing that they would regenerate back at the Necro Chamber afterward. Not only that, it was an easy way to cause some damage. Galaxy Master stood at the ready while Potion Nova hid behind him for safety. The explosions went off, encasing the area in a dark and green paroxysm of Curse Magic.
"Pulsar Barrier!" Galaxy Master yelled as she created a barrier of pulsar energy, shielding himself and his allies from the explosion. A quick and easy save as they were all left untouched. The same couldn't be said for the garden. All of the vampires were gone, combusting themselves to make a quick getaway. And there was seemingly no way to stop them from performing such a destructive act. "They're gone. APprehending them will be rather difficult if they just do that."
"What now? I think we should head back and call it day, Galaxy." Potion Nova recommended.
"Hm. You're right. We'll look out for the Dread League once more. No doubt, I've got the attention of their Queen." Galaxy Master would then walk off with Potion Nova, quickly returning Bayleef as an array of star particles.
The Canterlot Guards peeked around the corner, witnessing the departure of Galaxy Master. It was less bombastic than when he became a beam of light to travel around. Whether it was by making an entrance or leaving. With their letters being written, they also had no reason to be here anymore. Not when Galaxy Master cleared the area for them.
They could be seen as a positive, however, it could also be seen as a negative. With the vampires gone, they could not find Magehold, so they were back to where they started. However, judging from Galaxy Master's words, they can expect to see the Dread League somewhere in either region once more.
Equestria. On the seas. Sea Temple. Samiya. Late Afternoon.
Travelling the large seas of Equestria was the Sea Temple, Samiya. In search of Galaxy Master while also being guided by one of the crystals, Ash and his friends were currently onboard. And of course, this gave way to some amazing sights.
With the afternoon sun nearing its end, Daisy and Fluttershy stood on a balcony, where they viewed the seas of Equestria and all the Pokemon that passed by it. Swimming in droves was a group of Mantine, leaving streams of water with their speed. The streams they left behind would cross paths, making multiple 'Xs' before jumping into the skies.
Water droplets would glisten beautifully with the orange sun, leaving sparkles behind with each leap that the Mantine performed. The Mantine would even find the time to wave at them while soaring through the air for a bit.
"Do you think I could swim like them?" Daisy said after catching the wonderful view of the Mantine. And there were more views for her to see.
"I don't think so, unfortunately. You remember what happened when water got on you back at the Pokemon School, right? You still have the texture of a flower."
"Oh right..." Daisy slowly nodded.
"Your majesty, wear this!" Meanwhile, Ash was rather occupied with the People of the Water. Sitting on his excellent throne, the King of the Sea was met with various clothing options that would only fit on a king such as himself. With the right size, of course. Many of them gathered around the throne, holding out royal clothing that was in the style of the Sea Temple.
"Looking uh...almost good, Ash!" Pinkie Pie shrugged as each royal clothing Ash tried on didn't exactly hit that mark for many eyes. Great in concept, but when on the King himself, it wasn't as amazing as they pictured it to be. But that didn't stop many of them from sharing more clothes.
"Gee...This is a lot..." Ash scratched his hair as his hat was currently away from him at the moment. Pikachu was taking good care of it as always before he then put it on Espeon's head.
"You'll be truly presented as a full-on king after this, your majesty," Alo said, seeing the array of clothes pass by. His voice was almost drowned out by the constant chatter and yells of the People of the Water, who kept speaking about the clothes they made for Ash.
"I made this in your likeliness, your majesty!" A lady exclaimed, holding out a robe that had edges on the side, resembling Ash's hairstyle.
"This is fit for a king! How about this wonderful Gold Staff?!" One of them brought an accessory instead of clothes. It was a golden staff that had Ash's face on it. Although, it had a goofy appearance to it when being modeled after Ash's face. His tongue was sticking out which didn't exactly replicate high royalty that much.
"Geugh..." Twilight, who was watching Ash receive all of these fashionable gifts, grimaced and shuddered when spotting the staff. Something about it made her wince.
"Accept at least one of them, boy," Sombra spoke, crossing his arms as he steered clear away from this mess despite being the substitute king. "Otherwise, it'll keep coming back."
"Make way! Make way!" Moving through the crowd of people was none other than Adriel. He would rush in as fast as he could to reach the King of the Sea, being possibly his biggest fan and all. "I have something that trumps all! Here, your majesty!"
His Water Weaving skills had come in the form of royal clothing for Ash. In his hands, a royal mantle was held out, flowing elegantly with the familiar motion of water. The water itself was as bright as it could be, moving in a consistent pattern with small ripples happening everywhere within the mantle.
"This is more like it, right, your majesty? A Mantle that was made by Water Weaving. You won't have to worry about getting wet. Water Weaving ignores those issues."
"Oooh! This is what Water Weaving does?!" Amazed by the Water Weaved Mantle, Ash would hold it in his hands. Naturally, he was flabbergasted by this. "It does feel nice. Not wet at all. Awesome stuff, Adriel."
"Mhm!" Adriel rapidly nodded his head, feeling delighted from hearing Ash's praise. "I knew I made the right call to make your own royal clothing!"
"But, I'll pass." However, Ash would pass on it. "Thanks anyway, guys. These clothes are nice and all, but I'm cool with how things are."
"Huh?" Adriel and many others were stunned by this. Ash would not wear any royal clothing to make himself truly look like a king despite how many gifts were thrown his way. "T-Then...What will you wear, your majesty?"
"What I'm wearing now is fine with me." Ash preferred his current outfit. "And anything I wear on my journeys works for me, honestly. Especially this. This is my Royal Outfit. Made by Rarity."
"Aw, I'm flattered, darling." Speaking of Rarity, she would arrive on the scene with Milotic, loving Ash's compliment. And around her and MIlotic's neck was another piece of fashion that was made from Water Weaving. Water Scarves.
"Nice scarf ya got there," Applejack said, complimenting the Water scarves and how they had the motions of a tsunami on them as opposed to the mantle which had ripples only.
"Why thank you. MIlotic made them herself after being taught how to Water Weave. It's a rather difficult skill but it pays off excellently, as you can see. I believe I'm going to thoroughly enjoy myself here at the Sea Temple with these opportunities. So, how about Galaxy Master? Are we close?"
"The temple is moving relatively fast now. We should be entering another region fairly soon. Apart from all of these clothing options and the Water Weaving, what other activities do you wish to partake in, your majesty?" Alo asked.
"Anything there is. I'm actually itching for some exploration! And maybe some battling! Ash pumped his fists. "You got any battling-related stuff here?"
"Well, I believe you should come with us then. There are more famous figures from the Sea Temple aside from just our previous rulers." Alo certainly had something else to show Ash. The Sea Temple had various surprises that were waiting in store.
An unknown Area. Galaxy Tower. Late Afternoon.
Galaxy Tower. Home of Galaxy Master. The previous one had been destroyed after the conflict in the stars last year and now a new one had been made. No one was aware of another one existing after what happened to the last one and neither did anyone know where it could be found.
This entire area was rather unknown. The tower could be found around a group of mountains with multiple spring trees next to it. However, these spring flowers were constantly glowing, letting the light of the stars each time one of the flowers would drop. The sky itself was a lighter shade of blue, looking rather obscure.
Highly specialized plants, which closely resemble the corals of Earth, cover nearly everything on the mountainside, only adding to the obscurity of this place. Their colors are bright and numerous, something they share with the Earth corals. But their shapes and sizes are far beyond anything ever seen on Earth or anywhere else we've discovered. They looked rather titanic. Not as large as the mountains, but still rather colossal. And at the moment, Galaxy Master was not the only one within it. His Pokemon and the pony known as Potion Nova were with him.
"Alright. We can't apprehend the vampires at all. If we do, they'll just self-destruct and return to their headquarters." Galaxy Master said, sitting on his chair while going over the Dread League, which he recently confronted back at Galar.
"No way to stop it either. Well, there is possibly one way." Potion Nova said, walking up to Galaxy Master with a plethora of potions that she carried with her magic. "The only way they're able to explode is by unleashing all of their magical energy, becoming bombs in the process. All we have to do is prevent their magic from leaking out."
"You have a potion for that, don't you, sidekick?"
"Why do I have to be considered your sidekick? I'm helping you out but...not like that." Potion Nova grumbled. "Anyway, I can try and make it. I've never made a potion that just...shuts down magic. I mean I love magic too much that I barely even think about doing such a thing."
"Hm. But it is necessary. Magic in its entirety has never been about good or evil. It all depends on how it's used and who uses it. For better and for worse. And for the Dread League, it's the absolute worst. Their Black Crusade is rather outlandish. Wiping out life across all universes is the worst possible outcome. But since they mostly rely on Dark Magic, shutting some of them down will slow their progress."
"Sure, but there's one problem...Yveltal's with them. I'm not sure we can stop that. Can we?" Potion Nova questioned, placing the potions on the table which prompted Pikachu to crawl up to them.
"Pokemon are Magical Creatures. Yveltal is no exception. But it will be difficult dealing with such a Pokemon, especially since they've captured it. All we have to do is free Yveltal and their Black Crusade will miss another massive player. Shall we move on to our next mission?"
Galaxy Master interacted with his monitor, searching for activities across the world that were worth paying attention to. Specifically, the Dread League.
"I should be heading back home. I can help out later. Next time I show up, I'll be sure to help you out and won't be too late. Unlike-"
"Great Nebulas!" Galaxy Master yelled, cutting Potion Nova off as something urgent came up that sparked such a reaction.
"What?! What is it?!"
"Seems they took my interference to heart. Another garden is resurfacing! And fast!" Galaxy Master pointed out as on the screen, another Dark Garden could be seen forming yet again. Just when he got rid of the previous one.
"So soon?! But we just stopped one of them and that took days for them to make!"
"Pikachu?!"
"There's something about this one..." Galaxy Master took a closer look at the screen, seeing the garden forming up in the sky. For starters, the fact that it was in the sky is what was rather odd. Specifically, within the clouds. The crux of it seemed to be growing from the clouds themselves. When zooming in, Galaxy Master found out what was truly growing in this new Dark Garden. "Despair Plants!"
Despair Plants were the crux of the Dark Garden, growing it themselves. Fangs were sprouting from the garden in response to the Despair Plants' physiology.
"Well, we have one more piece of work to do, Potion Nova. Let's head out at once! It looks like it's forming over Equestria instead. So we'll be close to your home either way."
"So soon...?" Potion Nova sighed. "At least let me get new potions before we head out. And some rest..."
"Justice never sleeps!" Galaxy Master would jump out of his seat, ready to take action. So were his Pokemon who would soon join him. Once more, the fictional character would intercept another Dread League plan for his grand return. "It's off to Equestria as soon as possible!"
Alo lead Ash and his friends to a hallway that was surrounded by multiple fountains. And at the end of this hallway, a gallery of statues could be found. Statues of Humans and Water-Type Pokemon that stood next to them, pulling off triumphant poses.
"Oh, what's this? Who are they?" Paradise asked.
"The Sea Temple's famous figures extend past royalty. Some people have made names for themselves in the past. Some of which were excellent warriors. We may be protective but there was a time when our ancestors would be rather interested in a thrill of a battle. An example of this is the Hallway of Heroes. Brave People and Pokemon who have done heroic acts that gave them a name here."
"Sweet!" Ash and Rainbow Dash collectively yelled before rushing up to these statues.
"Built many centuries ago even before my time, these statues at this quiet hallway shore are here to act as a reminder of the struggles and sacrifices made during the cruel revolution that changed Samiya forever. Its position within this community is meant to represent the intertwining of all lives in this community and the strength that comes with unity."
"So as time went on, you stopped having warriors around, right?" Twilight said, noticing how these figures came before Alo's time which was around the time the Sea Temple become rather protective.
"Right, Princess Twilight. Time has gone on and that has been changing a bit. But we do prefer the peaceful times we have now. Perhaps, we should give some statues to those who helped save our temple for the second time in a row. Princess Luna and um...who else?"
"Adagio, Shining Armor, Flash and all the Canterlot and Crystal Empire Guards that came with us," Ash spoke their names. "You already gave me a statue when I first came here, so they gotta have some of their own, for sure."
"Right! I still remember their faces. That one certainly had a playful hairstyle." Alo chuckled, referring to Adagio's massive mane and how Kricketot would pop out of it constantly. "As for battling, we let the temple handle that as seen by our traps. Our battling days are over after the generations went by. Plus, being sealed within the temple for so long does do that. But if you wish to battle now, we can arrange that, your majesty. The way you battle is always so excellent and captivating."
"Yeah! I'm ready for one!" Ash grinned with excitement. "Who am I gonna throw down with?"
"Your majesty! There's something above us approaching" Suddenly, rushing into the room was a group of guards, having urgency in their voices.
"Huh, what's up?" Ash asked before nearly touching one of the statues.
"It seems to be some sort of flying garden..." The guards said, trying their best to describe what they had just witnessed. In their words, there was a flying garden above them that was approaching the Sea Temple despite the pace it was moving at.
"Garden?" Ash and many others repeated. Above them, a loud howl passed through, equally as strong as the howling winds. Some of them close their ears in response to this powerful howl as it could be felt from above. Quickly looking up, a large shadow was being cast over the Sea Temple. And yet, this shadow was of something that was rather far away but spoke volumes to how gigantic it was.
It was the Flying Garden. More specifically, the Despair Plant Garden. Spawned within the clouds of Equestria, this garden started moving across the azure skies. Everyone rushed to see this for themselves and with the windows of the Sea Temple, they caught a glimpse of what was coming their way.
From this distance, it looked like a massive meteor was approaching them. They've seen their fair share of floating lands before. Pegalysium was proof of this. But this was unlike the floating islands of Pegalysium. This Flying Despair Plant Garden had something far more malicious to offer.
"No way...It is a Flying Garden!" A stunned Ash Ketchum shouted.
"Pikachu!"
Magehold.
And speaking through it was none other than the Lich Queen herself. Rosa Maledicta. Speaking of which, she has been recovering as of recently. However, at the moment, her hooves were trembling uncontrollably with dark magic leaking out of them. That also involved her horn, which is where most of her magic comes from. Rosa would rest her entire body once again in the chamber, groaning in the process.
"Are you alright, your majesty?" Fractured Note asked.
"I'll be fine. I've wasted a plethora of magical energy making this possible. It was easy to have them plant the seeds in the cloud but only this level of magic can keep it there and make it grow as if it was on land. This Despair Plant Garden will suffice for now. But that Galaxy Master...I didn't expect him to return. I believed he was out of our way with how absent he's been."
"Apparently not. What should we do about that, your majesty? Now that he's back in the picture and everything..."
"As if I'd leave him out of this. His light is threatening to us. That goes for my Despair plants. I'm sure of it. And most definitely, he will come for this garden as well."
Naturally, Rosa Maledicta was rather annoyed by this. Galaxy Master put a massive wrench in her plans. Along with Xerneas and other factors, her Black Crusade was being held back further and further, having issues that could ruin everything for her.
The Dread League may be persistent in their pursuit of destruction but their enemies share the same level of persistence when it comes to protecting their homes. Fractured Note would leave the room so that the Lich Queen can heal on her lonesome and vent out some frustrations. Once he was out of there, Fractured Note spoke to himself with no one around to hear him.
"Frankly, I'm hoping for the best outcome from this. I wonder how long that garden will last for. And how long until Fantina gets involved."
A massive Despair Plant Garden was above the skies of Equestria's seas. Seeds had been planted within the clouds themselves and with Rosa Maledicta's magic affecting them from afar, this Dark Garden had been formed. From how massive the shadow was, reaching the Sea Temple, the Garden was colossal. Possibly more so than the Sea Temple itself which was large in its own right.
"Sweet Celestia! Is that a flying garden?!" A bewildered Rarity said, almost dropping her Water Scarf. "It's massive!"
"Looks like it! It's got fangs all on its sides there!" Applejack exclaimed, witnessing the fangs before anyone else and how they were grinding against each other.
"What kind of garden is that? And how come it's flying?" Paradise wasn't as taken aback by this floating island unlike her sister Daisy who was starstruck.
"Your majesty. It seems to be moving at the same pace as the temple." The guards pointed out. This Flying Garden was relatively fast, keeping up with the Sea Temple. From the way it was following the Sea Temple's pace, it looked like the Despair Plant Garden was fixated on it. "It could be following us."
They weren't wrong to think that. However, the actions of this garden were rather strange, mainly due to how it was still technically growing, having not yet reached its full potential. Even with Rosa Maledicta's magic involved, it still needed time to develop and blossom into its most terrifying state.
Thus, it was an incomplete garden. And yet, it still had the ability to not just move, but also unleash vines from it. These vines fell from the garden, immediately dropping into the water. And when entering the water, they would immediately halt the progress of the Sea Temple.
The temple found itself coming to an abrupt halt, making most of the residents within it lose their balance. This was due to the large vines meeting with the temple. The vines dug deep into the water at such quick speeds even though no one else but the Water Pokemon that lived underneath it were there to witness it.
The seas trembled and strong waves crashed onto the temple as the Despair Plant Garden had also come to a stop. Everything halted for a moment.
"Woah!" Ash held onto his throne after nearly falling over. Pinkie Pie would fall over, rolling on the floor while some would either slip, landing flat on their faces, or even slide away. "Oh, man...! I think it does notice us!"
"Pikachu..."
"What kind of garden is that...? Surely it isn't the one that the Dread League were making! That one's supposed to be at Galar!" Twilight shuddered, fearing that it might be that same garden from Galar. Granted, it wasn't but it was certainly made by the Dread League.
"The Dread League?!" Fluttershy and the other ponies gasped in shock. That was a name they weren't hoping to hear right now. The People of the Water caused a commotion after their wonderful temple suddenly rocked. Thanks to the Despair Plant Garden, progress toward Galaxy Master was held back.
But despite having massive vines that paused the Sea Temple, the garden did nothing else. it was motionless, just like the Sea Temple. No further actions had been made, despite catching everyone by surprise.
"It's not doing anything...Is that it?" A man said, confused as to why the garden just stopped so abruptly. Everyone believed that it would make advances on the Sea Temple, especially with those fangs that were on the side, still grinding against each other.
Everyone stayed silent, waiting to see what else the garden would do. But nothing else came from this interaction at all. It was almost like this garden could only perform one action aside from just flying. Even now, it was just hovering over the Sea Temple more than anything while still growing.
"What now?" Rainbow Dash asked. "What do we do about this? Do we keep going or...?"
Rather indecisive at the moment, the two Flora Ponies, Daisy and Paradise, would have vacant looks on their faces when gazing at the garden. Through all the commotion, they heard something else. Different voices that did not come from the Sea Temple. Rather, they heard these voices from above.
And the only thing above them at the moment was the Despair Plant Garden. Voices entered their ears, drowning out the sound of everyone speaking, even though there were so many of them around. It was then that the Flora Ponies would finally speak after hearing voices from the garden.
"It's telling us...to go up there." Ominously, Daisy and Paradise would speak in a rather monotone way, having her eyes minimized. Everyone would turn to the Flora Ponies after their rather eerie voices came through. And for someone like Daisy, it was most disturbing, especially with the expression she was making. She seemed completely locked onto the Despair Plant Garden.
"Daisy? Paradise?" Twilight uttered before the two of them returned to their respective expressions. Daisy being cheery and Paradise being rather laid-back and relaxed.
"Oh, sorry about that. We were just told by the flowers up there. They're just telling us to come up with them." Daisy giggled. "That's all."
"Mhm." Paradise nodded in confirmation. "No big deal. Sounds pretty inviting too if you ask us."
"Told by the flowers? Can you understand Flowers?!" Twilight gasped as she might have learned something new about Flora Ponies.
"Yeah?" Paradise confirmed that to be the case without sugarcoating anything. She made it seem casual and appeared rather confused as if Twilight didn't know. And she didn't. Until now.
"Amazing! But it makes sense! You two used to be flowers! Or I guess...you still technically are flowers even with these new appearances." Twilight replied. "So...you heard the flowers up there? They want us to come up?"
"I don't know...Sounds fishy." Pinkie Pie rolled back to her friends, looking up at the Despair Plant Garden.
"Not like we can go ahead right now," Applejack said as they were currently stuck because of the Despair Plant Garden. "Ya think we can cut these vines down? It looks like this garden's still growing too. What's up with that?"
"Oh?" But while everyone was trying to decide, Alo read the crystal from the Treasure Room due to the light it was giving off nearby. The light from the crystal was still going off because of Galaxy Master and with this sudden encounter with the Despair Plant Garden, it seemed to intensify its light. "It seems that...we should advance. Not forward. But rather upwards."
"Go up there?" Ash looked back at Alo. "If it's telling us that...then we're closer to Galaxy Master, right?"
"Uh? Is that right?" A nervous Fluttershy asked. "Why would it want us to go up there? Is Galaxy Master up there?"
"The crystal responds to Galaxy Master. So, with this response, it means that we are closer to the one we're seeking out. This garden is what stands before us in this wide sea. Or I suppose, above us."
"Alright. We're heading up there. Plus, I'm kinda excited to see what we can find." Ash smiled as his thirst for adventure was also tempting him to explore further.
"If you two can speak to flowers...maybe you can big a lot of help up at the garden. You can probably ask it to let us go. If they can hear you as well." said Twilight when facing the Flora Ponies.
"Oh, I...guess we can try." Daisy shrugged. "We did hear them after all."
It was decided. After all, their goal was to find Galaxy Master and with what the crystal was telling them, it seemed that they were all closer to their goal, even if it seemed rather dangerous to approach this garden. Even with Daisy and Paradise hearing voices from the garden, it was still rather ominous, carrying a haunting aura with it. And in response to that decision, another vine came down. But it was a rather thin one as opposed to the thick ones that were blocking the Sea Temple.
These vines would transform into ladders, inviting everyone up there. Obviously, not everyone would take it but some certainly would. At the same time, the crystal's light would only get brighter and brighter. Anything this crystal did involve Galaxy Master since it was the one to bring him to life. These crystals certainly haven't failed them before and it would be rather odd for them to fail now.
"Up we go!" Ash was the first to go up, feeling no fear whatsoever. "Woohoo!" Ash climbed up the garden."
"Hey, wait! Ash!" Twilight yelled before spreading out her wings. She would prefer to fly than take the vine ladder, feeling heavily cautious about this. Many guards would follow their ruler to guard him as the rest of Twilight's friends would also advance.
Magehold.
"What's this?!" Suddenly, Rosa Maledicta, while in her healing chamber, would open her eyes, gasping afterwards. Being connected to the garden, she was shocked by what she had discovered. "Ash Ketchum...? Princess Twilight? Why are they here? I was sure that Galaxy Master would be the one to appear first but..."
She was aware. Much like how she was aware back at Hearthome City, Rustboro, Dewford and that bay out at Galar. The Despair Plants were heavily connected to her after all. However, the Lich Queen was shocked to see them here, especially out in the open sea.
Nedding to understand their presence here, she would communicate with the garden itself. In her mind, a powerful link was going off, showing a projection of the Despair Plant Garden and herself in a black space. In this black space, green magic would pulsate in between them both as the Lich Queen took it all in. Much like Daisy and Paradise, voices passed through her ears. Voices from the garden.
"What? They're attracted to someone...Somepony." Rosa read the Despair Plants that were planted within the garden. "Is that why? Is it Princess Twilight? No. it must be someone else. It surely can't be her. Curses...I must wait for the garden to grow more to understand...And for myself to recover enough."
The Lich Queen needed to find out why this was the case. Frankly, she was shocked to learn that the garden was attracted to a pony, to the point where it would let them on. It was rather puzzling to the Lich Queen as all she could do within this healing chamber was watch and wait for the garden to grow.
Despair Plant Garden. Nightfall.
It was a rather lengthy climb for some of them. Those who could fly would just use their aerial skills but kept an eye on those approaching this ominous garden. The vines were tall after all and the garden spawned from the clouds as well. But once they got up there, they could see the first part of the garden for themselves.
A neglected bed of grass is enclosed by a sundry of sharp hedges and bushes. A few, thick and crooked trees stood to the right, their bark and branches looked like they could offer home and shelter to whoever chooses to live here. Though, perhaps only vampire ponies would prefer a place like this. Being so new and without someone to make them bloom, the flowers and plants were in need of some care and love, but look great nonetheless; they're rich in species, even with their obscure and dark appearances. A path of obsidian stones loops around the garden, beckoning people to explore the garden and showing them the best sights at the same time, even if it was rooted in darkness. Roots were continuously emerging around every part of the garden, always searching for new places to grow and expand.
"Wow..." Ash and Pikachu gazed at this garden for what they could see now. In a way, this was their first glimpse at a Magehold Location.
"It's actually rather good-looking." Rarity nodded her head. "A bit creepy but I can see the style choice."
"An obsidian pathway?" Twilight placed her hoof on the pathway, feeling the obsidian from it. "How can there be obsidian here? And in the sky no less..."
"This is a nice garden. But I've never seen these flowers before. What's up with them?" Pinkie Pie approached one of the flowers that had multiple sides to it.
"They all look new. Do ya think it came from Pegalysium instead of the Dread League?" Applejack wondered.
"If so, then they're missing an island. I wonder if that happens often. Islands dropping from PEgalysium and ending up here." Twilight replied as questions about this garden were rising. It was even more surprising that they were all in one piece, unharmed by anything here.
"It feels safer than I thought it would." Fluttershy greatly enjoyed that, preferring the safety that she felt up here as opposed to how she viewed it from before. "It even looks...somewhat nice."
"It's still growing though." Rainbow Dash, who was up in the air, viewed the garden from afar, seeing new land and plants emerge as if something was weaving them. This garden did not have anyone to help it grow as opposed to the one back at Galar, leaving it to handle itself. And for what it made so far, it was rather impressive.
"Wow! And this is just here for us to explore?!" Already interacting with the environment was Enola. Ash recognized her voice, seeing the young girl standing on a tree while holding onto a vine. "Oh! Hello there, your majesty!"
"Hey, Enola!" Ash greeted her back. "It's been a while hasn't it?"
"Enola! Get down from there!" Adriel, her older brother exclaimed. "We don't know much about this place after all!"
"It's not so bad, brother!" Enola would twirl on the tree while holding onto the vine.
"So, where do we start?" Ash moved his head around, wondering what would be a good place to start at. He was only at the beginning of the garden when there was more to view. For Ash, walking along and seeing what he could find was the best option instead of choosing. Aimless wandering was his speciality. As for Twilight, she would try and observe this garden while also being surrounded by Daisy and Paradise.
"It's good that you two are sticking next to me this time instead of moving along. You two can understand this garden, so you'll be really helpful here. What else do you hear?"
"Nothing much, mom. They're resting right now." Daisy answered. "So they're not saying anything at the moment."
"Resting? How can you tell? This whole garden is still growing." Twilight wasn't sure about that. The garden still looked rather active with how it was still growing new parts just to fully bloom.
"They are," Paradise added. "Just let them rest now, mom. No one should bother them at all and it looks like everyone's taking a swing at viewing instead of touching."
Indeed. Apart from Enola, who was hanging off the trees, not everyone was interacting with the scenery. They were just standing around, viewing what they could and observing the strange plants that came from the Despair Plant Garden.
Applejack would fixate on what looked to be a pair of fruits that were hanging from the trees. She noticed how the fruits resembled that of apples due to their shape. But right in the middle, there was a sharp line that made it look like the fruit had swallowed something too big for it. Applejack would have Sceptile grab this fruit from the tree, holding it by the pointed end.
"Funny-looking apple they got here." Applejack was then given the fruit. "I wonder who owns this place?"
"I don't see anyone else." Rarity walked over, sitting next to a bed of strange flowers that resembled tubes and lollipops. At least, that was the shape Rarity could make out when lying next to them. "Oooh, this bed is rather comfortable, isn't it?"
"This part of the garden feels pretty comfortable too," Ash added, laughing with Enola afterwards. So far, everyone was having a good time. A wonderfully splendid time with seemingly no issues. This made it eligible for the children of the Sea Temple to start running around frolicking in the garden.
This was a stark contrast to the Sea Temple since that was connected to the Water. This one was the opposite as it was all about the grass. And to an extent, the sky. The People of the Water were out of their element at the moment but it was not too much for them at all. There were people rolling on the fields, admiring the hedges and how they were already built to have specific shapes that they didn't quite understand. The Pokemon were already moving around as much as the people and ponies. If not more.
And this greatly confused Rosa Maledicta. Watching all the way from Magehold, she could not believe her eyes. The Despair Plant Garden did nothing. Nothing at all. It was all peaceful. With her eyes twitching, the Lich Queen was starting to feel aggravated.
Why was the garden allowing this? Why aren't some of the Despair Plants within the earth taking action? These were the questions she needed answers to, especially since Twilight Sparkle was here. Many popular figures from Equestria were here along with an entire civilisation from the Sea.
Her anger was so great that the windows around her would shatter. And after that, Rosa Maledicta would finally speak, using what was left of her magic to do so.
"This is absolutely repulsive!" Rosa's voice boomed through the air, startling everyone. She got their attention as they all stopped what they were doing immediately. No one recognized this voice apart from one pony. But even if they didn't know who this was, the intensity behind it intimidated the children and some of the Pokemon.
"That voice...The Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta!" Twilight instantly recognized that voice.
"That's the Lich Queen?!" An alerted Ash yelled as the identity of Rosa's voice had been revealed to him, his friends and his many subjects.
"She's here!?" Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie screeched, fearing that the Lich Queen was currently in the garden as they held onto each other.
"No...This is just her voice being spoken all the way from Magehold. I was right to think that this belonged to the Dread League...That's the only way her voice can even show up here." Twilight gulped as now they have all gotten themselves involved with the Dread League yet again.
"Right you are, Princess. But it's rather annoying what's transpiring at the moment. Why is the garden allowing you to roam freely without anything done? Why is it that it chooses to stay adamant and not take action? What have you done to my garden?"
"We haven't done anything! All we did was get on this thing!" Rainbow Dash yelled back at her voice.
"She's right though. It's odd that it's allowing us to do this. Daisy. Paradise. Do you know why?" Twilight looked back at them, only for the Flora Ponies to shake their heads.
"There's something here...Someone here, I should say. One of you is doing this...preventing my darling plants from doing anything about your presence to the point where they would rather rest. It must be a form of magic that is behind this. What have you done, Twilight Sparkle?"
"I haven't done anything though!" But Twilight was not used magic once when she showed up in the garden. "I don't think anyone's done anything to this garden yet except explore and hang off trees."
"Whatever the reasons...This kind of opportunity will not be wasted because of this inactivity. I expected Galaxy Master to show up here first so I could have this garden deal with him."
"Galaxy Master...he's coming here?!" Ash gasped as the one he was looking for was said to come here. And of all the ponies to say so, it had to be Rosa Maledicta. "The crystal was right to bring us up here then."
"Indeed. But you all seemed to beat him here. But I know he'll show up again like the nuisance he is. And when he does, I hope you're all destroyed before that can happen."
Right as Rosa Maledicta was going on a tangent, a streak of light would suddenly blaze through the skies, passing by Rainbow Dash to the point where she almost didn't see it. "What the?!" The pegasus gasped. The streak of light would crash into the garden, far away from everyone else.
When hitting the ground, it would generate a flare of light that grabbed everyone's attention. And as for the light, it was incredibly identical to the light from the Sea Temple Crystals. Aside from the King of the Sea and those who join him, only one individual can travel like that at all times.
"Well, looks like he's right on time." And even Rosa knew just by the entrance alone. Galaxy Master was here. "My darlings! Wake up! Ignore whatever it is that's keeping you at bay!"
Responding to Rosa Maledicta's voice, the terrors that lie within the garden would finally take action. And they did so by erupting from the ground. Dark energy would shoot from the ground, bringing more of that ominous aura here. The terrain would alter as well, elevating and diminishing on different sides with no consistency.
A rather shocking turn of events and revelation. From the garden being harmless until Rosa Maledicta spoke to the sudden arrival of Galaxy Master, Ash and his friends had no idea what to expect now. But Ash did have one idea on his mind. Reuniting with Galaxy Master.
And of all the times to reunite with him, this was the worst time and did not match with what Donoma's Crystal Ball showed him. But before he could that, whatever was emerging from the ground with the dark magic could possibly ruin and prevent that reunion as the journey continues.
Equestria. Up in the sky above the seas. Despair Plant Garden. Nightfall.
What was once a garden that seemed harmless and acted harmless was actually a Despair Plant Garden that immediately took action once Rosa Maledicta forced it to. What made the garden so calm initially was unknown, but with the dark magic bursting out of it, that had come to pass.
From the Dark Magic, the Despair Plants that were resting and growing would reveal themselves. Relatively early too due to how new this garden was. However, they weren't as bombastic as they usually appear. They were much smaller in size. No longer being around the levels of houses but still being relatively bigger than everyone else, these Despair Plants burst out of the Dark Magic that Rosa generated.
Not only that, but with the garden finally taking action, the terrain would react, wobbling and rocking while changing itself.
"Woah! Woahoho!" Pinkie Pie yelled, slipping and bouncing on the rocking terrain. "It's like a bouncy castle, actually!" She immediately found enjoyment in this despite the voice of Rosa Maledicta being heard.
"The terrain's changing!" Twilight screeched while using her magic to pin herself to the ground, preventing any balancing issues. The same couldn't be said for everyone else who were struggling to keep themselves steady. Parts of the garden turned into slopes, causing some of them to slip and slide downwards, screaming along the way. They would be rescued by those who could keep themselves steady, grabbing onto the arms, hands and legs of those who fell. The first sign of them was a massive claw that resembled that of a mantis, bursting out of the Dark Magic.
"What is that?!" Ash gasped after witnessing the emergence of a claw and arachnid-like legs.
"Arise! Triantis! Arachnorchid!" Rosa Maledicta called for the two Despair Plants that were emerging. They would fully emerge from the magic, resembling their names perfectly.
Triantis was a Mantis Despair Plant, having the usual Mantis build but with a texture of grass. Rough grass, to be exact. It had 5 eyes on its face. The usual two on the side, two more in the centre and a final one above the middle ones as they all looked like bulbs. Along with its sharp claws that looked like the mouth of another creature, on its back was a blooming flower with thorns coming out of the side.
As for Arachnorchid, it was just like a spider which was already intimidating to many but with the additional features of an orchid. The orchid was its entire body with its legs being made out of what seemed to be bones. The centre of its orchid body possessed a sharp, horrid mouth with eight eyes next to the array of sharp teeth. Truly, these were fierce creatures despite being smaller than the previous Despair Plants.
"Are those...Despair Plants?!" And for Fluttershy and a few others, this was their first time witnessing Despair Plants in the same vicinity as them.
"Young but still deadly. They'll suffice in dealing with you while the rest of this garden grows to new heights. This one involves my magic so all of you including Galaxy Master shall perish here. Except for you, Fluttershy."
"Me?!" The pegasus pulled back as she was singled out.
"Perhaps you're the reason my garden was inactive when you all showed up. It must be the remaining vampire bat essence within you. I'll make sure you're kept around and if you perish with them....oh well."
Triantis and Arachnorchid would immediately spread out, targeting their prey. Both were rather swift Despair Plants due to the creatures they were based on. They targeted the group while they were still struggling to keep steady on this active terrain.
"Hey! Hey!" Applejack exclaimed, holding onto her hat while a Triantis came her way. The ground she stood on kept wobbling violently, preventing her from properly focusing. However, the wobbling ground somewhat helped in her favour. The moment Triantis came close with those sharp claws, Applejack would fall backwards, narrowly evading the slice. A piece of her mane had been clipped and cut off by the swing of Triantis' claws.
Her hat would fly off when falling over and accidentally evading Triantis' claws. Applejack grimaced before quickly grabbing her hat, placing it back on. Triantis would try another slash, only for Sceptile to come swinging in with his vines, intercepting the Despair Plant.
"Sceptile!" Sceptile had used Leaf Blade as two sharp blades of grass had interacted with each other, creating sparks in the process.
"Nice save, Sceptile! Oh...Woah!" But Applejack couldn't say much else as she kept moving back with the changing terrain, moving away from Sceptile.
"Tile?!" The Forest Pokemon quickly swivelled his head, witnessing his trainer tumble away. He took his eyes off Triantis for one second, nearly receiving a sharp slash from the Despair Plant. With another close call, Sceptile managed to block the incoming slash with one arm while using the other arm to create a vine. The vine quickly raced downwards, pursuing the tumbling Applejack before she could find herself in a rather painful position or predicament.
And with the vine wrapping around her hoof, Applejack was now dangling.
"Why is it still moving like this...? Triantis and Arachnorchid are acting like normal but the garden isn't. Why? Something is not right." And yet, Rosa Maledicta still noticed that something was amiss with the Despair Plant Garden. It wasn't as violent as she was hoping it would be. Almost as if the aggression of it was being held back by something. She still believed it was Fluttershy and yet, Fluttershy hasn't done anything that would make the Despair Plant Garden act this way but something was certainly affecting the garden in this way.
As for some of the Triantis and Arachnorchids they scattered, going for those who managed to split up, attempting to pick them off one by one. With how chaotic it was, the Despair Plants were doing their best to try and keep up with their prey. Arachnorchid had used webs like any spider would, shooting well-built and thick ones out. One of these managed to grab Sceptile, who was still facing off against Triantis.
"S-Sceptile!" Sceptile found himself in his own predicament. With one arm dealing with a Triantis and another one holding Applejack, he was struggling to keep it together. His one arm couldn't keep up with both of Traintis' claws and the web certainly didn't help, holding onto his arm.
"Hang in there, Sceptile! I sure am!" Applejack cried out as she was still dangling from Sceptile's vine. And from this position, her blood was definitely rushing to her head while she was trying to keep her hat on. Another web from the Arachnorchid would be unleashed, seeking to restrain Sceptile more, as if he wasn't struggling already.
"Leavanny, Use String Shot!"
"Leavan!" Coming to Sceptile's save was a string shot from one of Rarity's Leavanny. A strong stream of string would fly in, blocking the other web from reaching her. Rarity was currently being carried by some of her many Leavanny. 4 of them were currently out of their Poke Balls for this. WIth this numerical advantage, two of the Leavanny would jump in, using X-Scisscor to cut the web in half, freeing Sceptile.
"Scep!" Finally free, Sceptile could move once more. And on top of that, the Triantis would jump back from its fellow bugs. As for the 4th Leavanny, he was helping Rarity reach Applejack who was still dangling in a rather uncomfortable position. It didn't help that Sceptile's movements also affected the vine she hung from.
"Applejack! Are you alright?!" Rarity yelled while being brought down by the 4th Leavanny.
"Guhhh...!" Applejack groaned, feeling rather bewildered and dazed from her position. Sceptile would finally pull her up once the Triantis was outnumbered by three. However, it would soon be joined by the two Arachnorchids that went for Sceptile in the first place. With Sceptile pulling Applejack back up, he would hold the Earth Pony next to him, having his fellow Grass-Types to back him up.
"Where's everyone else?!" Because of this confusion, Rarity noticed how she and Applejack had been separated from the rest of her friends. The hyperactive terrain and abundance of Despair Plants are what caused this separation. Right now, most of them were in other locations in this ever-growing dark garden. But right now, they had these two Despair Plants to worry about.
With Ash, he was currently sliding on the ground with the rocking terrain, having Pikachu, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie holding onto him. Raboot was holding onto Audino who was also holding Bayleef as Audino was also sliding. Ash held onto his own hat while moving across the ground at relatively swift speeds.
"Ash! Keep steady!" Pinkie Pie bellowed as the wind was punishing her face, making her cheekbones wobble.
"Trying! But this feels slippery for some reason!" Ash was truly trying his best here to keep himself as steady as possible. But right now, that was a tall order with how the terrain was acting. It didn't help that there were some Arachnorchids pursuing him and his friends.
The Despair Plants would swing from tree to tree, using their webs to do so as they were gaining on Ash. With each momentum they achieved, they would shoot out an extra pair of webs that weren't focused on the trees but rather on Ash and his friends. These webs came in the shape of spheres, flying through the air before missing the group. But they were lucky they missed as these web balls would then explode once they hit one of the trees.
The group gasped after witnessing the combusting web. When it comes to DEspair Plants, they are far more violent and destructive than the creatures they resemble. More of them would fly over, attempting to hit Ash's group while they were sliding on the garden. It felt like they were being attacked by bombs that were raining down from above.
"Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!"
"P-Pika...! Chuu!" Pikachu would find the time to use Thunderbolt, letting go of Ash. 100,000 Volts of electricity were burning within him, ready to be unleashed, but he certainly couldn't hit all of the Arachnorchids that were coming this way. As a solution, Pikachu would target his Thunderbolt on the ground instead of the Despair Plants.
The lightning would combust, sending a fierce flare of electricity which would not only block off the other web bombs but also hold back the Despair Plants. In return, the explosion would also push Ash and the others away with how strong it was, giving them a boost. If anything, it was helpful as it would keep them away from the Despair Plants.
"Gaaaah!" Ash and his friends screamed as they were flung through the air by Pikachu's Thunderbolt. They gained some impressive airtime because of it but landing safely was something else they had to consider. Up ahead, one of the shelters that the garden made when growing could be spotted, unphased and untouched by all of this rumbling and wobbling. "R-Right there!" ASh would point over at the shelter while moving through the air.
The only one who could properly recover was Fluttershy, using her wings to do so. The same couldn't be said for everyone else who were still falling, but on the bright side, the Arcachnorchids were far behind now.
"Mew! Transform into anyone!" Pinkie Pie yelled, needing Mew to pull off the most successful save possible.
"M-Mew...!" Mew would think quickly on his feet, flying out of Pinkie Pie's mane which he was safe within. Unfortunately, he could not think of a Pokemon in time that could save them, but he did have his own way of saving them without needing to Transform. Psychic. By using Psychic, Mew would telekinetically hold all of his friends apart from Fluttershy, freezing them in midair.
"Woah!" Ash would find himself coming to an abrupt halt because of this. All of them did without any blowback or recoil of the sort. They were thankful to have Mew around who was strong enough to hold all of them.
"You could've done that any time...But you enjoyed the sliding, didn't you?" Pinkie Pie made an exhausted giggle, looking up at Mew.
"Mew!" Mew grinned as he was guilty of it. He could've stopped their momentum with Psychic at any time but was too invested in the sliding to do so. Such a playful Pokemon. But right now, being playful wasn't the key. Quickly, Mew would bring them all to the shelter.
The Arachnorchids would continue swinging, searching for their prey after the flare of electricity subsided. The destruction Pikachu made was momentary but effective, especially since tracks of Ash's shoes sliding across the ground had come to an end thanks to Pikachu and Mew. And because of Mew, he managed to conceal them all within the shelter by moving them himself.
"Phew...Alright." Ash sighed once they all reached this shelter within the garden. "Things really took off all of a sudden, huh? Is everyone okay?"
"We're fine here." Pinkie Pie rested her head on a flower bed. "That really came out of nowhere. The Lich Queen's watching us too...That's pretty scary...At least we got away from those spider plants for a while. Not like we can do much to them."
"But she's got a point though..." Ash would immediately think back to Rosa Maledicta's words. "It didn't start acting like this until she showed up. And the garden knew we weren't vampires, didn't it?"
"I know," said Fluttershy. "But she even said it's not acting in the right way. She thinks it's either me or Twilight that's doing this. But I haven't done anything yet."
"Whatever it is, I'm glad it's around. That means we've got opportunities." Ash stood back up. "There's something up with this garden, not just because it's made by the Dread League. Plus, Galaxy Master's here, so I gotta see him as soon as I can."
"Maybe we can ask Daisy and Paradise. They can talk to plants after all." Fluttershy suggested. "It's how they spoke to the ones in this garden before."
"Yeah, if we can find them. Stay close, you guys." Ash would walk out of the shelter once the coast was clear. There wasn't anything happening around here just yet. It was off to find the rest of their friends while also searching for Galaxy Master. After all, he was going to be a ton of help in this instance because of how his power affected the magic of the Dread League.
Magehold.
Back at Magehold, over at Rosa Maledicta's Healing Chamber, the Lich Queen would close her eyes once more. She ceased any chatter with those over at the Despair Plant Garden, needing to recover before she can do anything else.
"This is rather agitating...I've already wasted enough magic making that garden grow in the sky...and now I've had to use it once more to make it attack." Rosa Maledicta growled as she has recently spent a lot of her magic these past minutes. And she had yet to fully recover as well.
Growing the garden certainly made her use a plethora of her magic due to what Galaxy Master did previously. And the interference of Ash and his friends didn't help at all, forcing her garden to take action with how peaceful it was. Rather odd for a creation of the Dread League. Rosa needed answers as much as she needed to recover. Why was it that her garden was so peaceful early on until she gave the command? And more importantly, why wasn't it as violent as Rosa Maledicta was hoping it to be? Truly, someone was behind this.
"It has to be Fluttershy...Or could it be Twilight Sparkle? Neither of them seemed like they believe it to be them. Which means it might be someone I have not taken into account. Ash? No...His Aura would've been recognized by now. It certainly isn't Galaxy Master."
Images of different individuals would pop up in her head, trying to figure out who was keeping her garden from reaching its full strength. Rainbow Dash was immediately dismissed along with Pinkie Pie and Applejack. The People of the Water did not last in Rosa's mind at all as she was struggling to find the answer.
The visage of the only two unfamiliar ponies would pass by. Daisy and Paradise. But even with those being up at the garden as well, Rosa Maledicta wasn't sure either.
"Curse it...I can't exactly figure it out. I won't get anything done with the condition I'm in. But I must sort this out at once with so many major players there. Fractured."
"You rang, your majesty?" Instantly, Fractured Note would appear, emerging from the shadows without even using the door.
"The garden...and that temple. They seem to be somewhere around the west judging by those seas. Since they are all within Equestria's seas, we can reach them easier as opposed to any other region. I must recover after the magic I've spent. I'm entrusting you to sort this out. And suss out the one who is holding back my precious garden from reaching its full potential."
"Hm. I understand, your majesty. Is Galaxy Master there as well?"
"Indeed. He's shown up...along with that potion-carrying pony sidekick of his. Those two will be a problem, just as much as Ash and his band if something is not done. Until I can recover enough magic, I am counting on you and whoever you send to deal with this. I shall rest until I am ready."
"Understood. leave it to me." He would once again disappear, walking back as the shadows concealed his appearance. It was all on Fractured Note. The loyal servant of the Lich Queen. Rosa Maledicta would rest, fully closing her eyes, allowing her mind to turn off for a bit. Never has she had to be held back this much.
As for Fractured Note, everything was his call. Whatever he said goes as he had the highest authority out of every vampire being the servant of the Lich Queen after all. And with this opportunity, a rather devious smile graced his face. When away from the Lich Queen's chambers, he would speak to himself casually with no one being near him at all. This was because of the shadows that enveloped him, making him rather solitary from everyone.
"I know just who to bring for this. If potions are involved, then someone else who specializes in them can help." Fractured note already had his decisions.
With his mind being made up and him taking charge of this whole operation, what shall become of the Despair Plant Garden, those on it and the Sea Temple blow? As the journey continues.
Over at Magehold, while wild events were happening around the seas of Equestria, most of its residents were getting on with their night. This involved the only Human in Magehold, Fantina. And in Fantina's case, she's been making waves in Magehold, especially after that junior fashion show she put on.
Fantina's reputation was filled with less disdain than it used to have but that presence was still there. However, her skills had been acknowledged by the average vampire residents. Being fearless in the face of the grim and dark and having a special charm that kept vampire ponies focused on her. Good or bad.
But right now, Magehold's rising star was currently goofing off with her closest vampire friend, Ebony Rhyme. In Ebony's Home, potions were being used as always.
"Fantina. Looks like you've got a request." Ebony Rhyme said, holding a winged newspaper. Here at Magehold, news travelled via wings and sometimes communication from the Lich Queen herself. But at the moment, Rosa Maledicta was resting thanks to the amount of magic she used to interact with the Despair Garden from a colossal distance. Bat wings were on the newspaper, constantly flapping even when being held by the receiver. "That fashion show of yours was a smash hit."
"That's wonderful to hear!" Fantina exclaimed with glee while holding two potions up in the air, nearly spilling them. "What for?"
"They want you to put on more shows...Lots of them. News about what they want to see are plentiful here but that's a tall order, isn't it?" Ebony viewed the many requests that came from many ponies.
"Oh, no, Ebony. It's not a tall order at all." But for someone like Fantina, it wasn't that overwhelming. "I'd love to entertain them as much as I can. Besides, I've also been receiving plenty of notes outside my window so I already knew and am up for the challenge~"
"Really now? Well, not much deters you anyway, so go on ahead."
"That's why she was chosen in the first place." Someone had joined in on this conversation. Catching both Fantina and Ebony off guard was a tower of shadows that touched the ceiling. Fantina and Ebony stood there frozen at this tower of shadows which let out an echoing voice despite how small this house building was. Emerging out of it was none other than Fractured Note.
"Ah! Good evening, Fractured!" Fantina greeted him. "You're just in time to see me try these two potions." Fantina would then return her attention to the potions she held out. Immediately, she drank from one of them without hesitation. Fractured Note watched as the effects of the potion already kicked in for Hearthome City's Gym Leader.
A Fire Protection Barrier emerged from Fantina's body, giving a flaring sphere. Fantina would glance at her shield as it made her clothes light up, gaining a fiery orange dress. Fantina would then twirl with her Fire Barrier, briefly creating a spiral of flames.
"Wonderful!" Fantina would then poke her finger through the fire barrier, finding herself completely immune to the flames. On her finger, she held a wisp of flames, twirling with it. "If I ever come across a fire problem, this will be most helpful!"
"Evening. And that's why I came here. Ebony Rhyme, you're needed." Fractured Note immediately focused on Ebony Rhyme, bringing up what truly mattered right now.
"M-Me?" Ebony Rhyme stuttered. "You need me for...what?"
"That's right. Her majesty is resting at the moment and a problem has come up that she's taken a break from for the meanwhile. Therefore, I am appointed with the task of handling the rest. And with that, I immediately came to you."
"Ah, look at you, Ebony!" Fantina nudged the stunned Ebony Rhyme, glad to hear that her friend was being taken seriously by Fractured Note. Then again, Fractured Note did seem rather approachable compared to the others.
"Our problem involves potions. And I figured that the best pony for this would be the one who was the most well-versed in potions. Does that not make sense?" Fractured Note smiled.
"I guess. But doesn't that mean I'm leaving Magehold? This problem isn't within Magehold, right?" Ebony asked.
"Not at all. It's out at sea instead. Not exactly on land but still within Equestria. What we're dealing with is one of our majesty's gardens. And there are quite a few things that threaten in. So, you will have to get involved, heading outside of Magehold with whatever potion you believe with get the job done."
"I see..."
"Isn't this great, Ebony? You get to go beyond Magehold?!" Fantina brought up the positives. Ebony Rhyme has never had the chance to leave Magehold with how busy and isolated she was. This was a major opportunity. "This is also a chance to prove everyone wrong. You can be amazing even if you aren't like them."
"I know that...I've been wanting a chance like this. But why am I so shaken up right now?" Ebony Rhyme grumbled, unsure as to why she was so shaken up by this considering how big this was for her.
"Perhaps it's because you will still be joining the other vampires in this mission." Fractured Note replied, guessing the main reason as to why Ebony Rhyme was trembling. He already knew how the others treated her. "Is that why?"
"I'd rather not be with them. For a second there, I thought I was going on a solo mission more than anything. I guess not." Ebony Rhyme turned her head as Fractured Note read her like a book.
"In that case...Take Fantina with you." Fractured Note aimed his hoof at the Hearthome City Gym Leader, immediately choosing the one person who could be around Ebony Rhyme without any animosity.
"Hm? Me too?" Right as Fantina was ready to drink the next potion, she was chosen to go with Ebony Rhyme.
"You're perfectly fine around her and she seems to enjoy your company. The synergy between you two can work out. And this will also be your chance to head outside, Fantina. As the highest authority behind the Lich Queen, you must accept this."
"But won't the Lich Queen-"
"She's resting. Meaning she cannot do much. Her previous spells have greatly drained her so now is your chance. And I'm allowing it." Fractured Note cut Ebony Rhyme off. "You will return here without any issues, I can guarantee that."
"Magnifique!" Fantina clapped her hands as she was all for it. "We will take it! Don't worry, Ebony. With me here, you won't have to pay the others any attention. I can help you with whatever you need."
"Thanks, Fantina...Even though you're not that skilled in potions, it'll be nice to have you around." Ebony smiled as having a good friend around was rather comforting to her. "Whoever we're dealing with anyway...Who are we actually dealing with?"
"An ancient civilization. And a Superhero. It's a bit of a strange combination, but what isn't, nowadays? Head to the west at once. You will find the civilization at sea and the garden right above it."
"We'll be on our way! I need to get ready!" Fantina would rush off. "I'll be right back, Ebony!" With Fantina gone, it was now just Ebony Rhyme and Fractured Note in this room. The two vampires would look at each other as silence fell this room. Ebony narrowed her eyes for a moment, noticing how supportive Fractured Note was about this.
"What's going on? Why are you doing this? Especially behind the Lich Queen's back during the one time she can't hear us all?" Ebony Rhyme was rather curious about Fractured Note's decisions.
"Why are you also going behind her back?" Fractured Note clapped back with an equal response. Ebony Rhyme gasped as she was shocked to hear that Fractured Note knew this already. Even with Ebony Rhyme making the potion to conceal herself and Fantina from the Lich Queen, Fractured Note knew.
"How did...?"
"That potion of yours does a good job making shadows to conceal yourself. It's a shame I'm rather adept in the shadows." Fractured Note chuckled. "I wondered why it took you so long to do that. And why it's taking even longer for you to make that Memory Potion for Fantina. But I suppose it needs to be at its best for the Lich Queen's magic."
"You know about the Memory Potion too? And everything about Fantina? That too?" Ebony Rhyme stepped back as Fractured Note was catching her off guard with these revelations.
"I'm pretty sure everyone knew about Fantina and where she came from. The Lich Queen didn't exactly keep that one concealed from everyone except Fantina herself."
"Hmm..." Ebony Rhyme narrowed her eyes as this was a lot to take in for her. "You...Are you trying to help us? Why now? Especially with who your family is."
"The one time the Lich Queen needs to rest and I'm not allowed to speak my mind clearly about rather taboo things?" Fractured Note shrugged before creating a seat out of shadows. "I suppose I can tell you a few things before the Lich Queen wakes up. I do enjoy a good reaction out of anyone. Not so much on the despair side like Opal but rather how dumbfounded they look."
"I have a feeling I'm gonna look dumbfounded..." Ebony muttered.
"Unless that potion of yours can be remade anytime soon, I'll say something that no one else knows. Not even her majesty. Whatever I say next...take it as you will. The truth is, my little pony. I'm not exactly the big brother of Opal Vivacity and Merry Dread."
"Y-You're not?!"
"Technically, I am. Body and all. But...this isn't my first time living life in Magehold. No, no, no." He shook his head. "I've lived a previous life here. From the very beginning as well, when Magehold was so young and had yet to thrive. My previous life was rather long and it's only carried over to my new self. Or should I say...Reincarnation."
"Reincarnation? Who are you exactly...?" Ebony Rhyme questioned as the loyal servant to the Lich Queen was being rather cryptic.
"You see...My authority dates back to who I originally was. I came before Rosa Maledicta and any King or Queen's rule. I was there when Magehold was new. I am the First Lich King."
"What?!"
Equestria. On the seas, above the skies. Despair Plant Garden. Nightfall.
Despair Plants were currently running around. Triantis and Arachnorchid were the only ones present at the moment, engaging in conflict with those who ended up in the garden. With the garden still growing and messing around with its terrain, it had yet to reach its full strength. And yet, there was something here that was keeping it from doing so, as said by Rosa Maledicta.
Twilight Sparkle had also been separated from most of her friends with only Daisy and Paradise being next to her. So far, no Despair Plants were near their area as Twilight kept the two Flora Ponies close to her.
"Alright...This area sounds peaceful so far." Twilight said, stopping near an archway of grass. "Are you two alright?"
"We're fine. Nothing's happened to us yet." Paradise confirmed that nothing had befallen her and Daisy.
"What's going on though, mom?" Daisy asked the Princess of Friendship. "The garden here doesn't seem like it's too happy with what's going on."
"I'm sorry what? It's not happy?" Twilight squinted as Daisy blindsided her with a surprising choice of words. "You're listening in on it again? Or can you always hear the sound of nature..."
"Always." Daisy and Paradise collectively said with differing tones. Cheery and dry.
"Right. I should've figured." Twilight sighed. "If it's upset then it definitely doesn't want us on here...But the one we're looking for is on this garden so there's that. If we can just find Galaxy Master first, then we can sort everything out and get out of here as soon as possible."
"That's not the reason why." Daisy was quick to debunk that. "It's not upset because we're here."
"It's not? W-Why else would it be?"
"Sounds to me like it's upset because of this attack. One part of it does." Paradise added, explaining just what she and Daisy were picking up from the Despair Plant Garden. Having these two here was rather beneficial due to their connection with nature. They may be new to the world but they had quite a set of skills with them.
"Mom, we're pretty sure it didn't want to attack us until that voice said it could."
"Lich Queen Rosa. Yeah, I heard. If it wasn't for her, we would've been exploring this garden safely without worrying about these deadly plants moving around. And the terrain too..." Twilight scraped her hoof on the ground, flicking some flowers. "I guess it's an even bigger surprise that it didn't attack us right from the start despite us...being...familiar..."
Suddenly, Twilight's words slowed down as her mind was currently processing something. She slowly raised her head, looking over at Daisy and Paradise, having a rather vacant yet bewildered stare. It then hit her. The confusion in Rosa Maledicta's voice and how she assumed that it was either Twilight or Fluttershy that caused the Despair Plant Garden to be so peaceful in the beginning or even lack its full potential, holding back some of its strength. Many words flew by Twilight's head as she processed them all. Each came from different points in time. New and old.
"Why is it still moving like this...? Triantis and Arachnorchid are acting like normal but the garden isn't. Why? Something is not right." The first one came from Rosa Maledicta who needed to know why the garden was acting so strange except for the Despair Plants.
"Yeah but...now I'm convinced we can't use it yet. It brought those flowers to life. So what's it gonna do against the Despair Plants at this rate?" Spike's words came through when talking about the creation of the Flora Ponies when they first entered this world. And of course, that was also related to the Despair Plants.
"Just give me a chance. I know a lot about plants myself. Those um...Despair Plants. I think I can get how they act. They're similar to Flytraps but they take it a step further. I have something that renders them immobile or even lures them away." And then finally, Roseluck's words entered her mind.
"Wait a second...Are you two the reason why?" Twilight put it all together. Immediately, she believed that Daisy and Paradise were the reason the garden was acting like this.
"Huh?" The Flora Ponies were rather confused. They weren't exactly on the same page as their mother.
"You're made out of that elixir. I thought that it was incomplete but...it might've actually been complete this entire time!" Twilight gasped. "It might've been the RIft Magic now that I think about it. That elixir was only meant to make plants react differently, but the elixir brought you to life. Only Rift Magic is capable of doing that so consistently."
"I don't get it. Do we have something on us?" Daisy looked at her hoof and her entire body, spinning to see just what Twilight was talking about.
"It might be around you but just invisible. The magic from that elixir could be your own Aura. Your special Aura that no one else has. That would make you different from standard ponies yet again. Perhaps when you arrived at the garden is when the elixir's true magic took place. Or maybe when you touched those vines. Or maybe...it was your aura since you spoke to the garden back at the Sea Temple."
"So what? We're walking repellents for this temple?" Paradise spoke. "That's...pretty sweet, actually."
"Not repellents." Twilight paced back and forth, beginning to add more things up. "Roseluck or I guess Rosa Maledicta, originally made the elixir to bring different forms of happiness to plants. And one of those was meant to soothe plants. Perhaps, that's the effect that's taking place. You're soothing the garden or at least, presenting yourself as friendly to them. That's why it's holding back. That's why it hasn't reached its full strength."
"Esp...Epseon?!" Espeon was obviously here to listen to it all and she was obviously as taken aback as much as Daisy and Paradise were. The two Flora Ponies were stunned to hear how important they were.
None of them expected their existence to immediately reach this level. The essence of Rosa Maledicta's elixir was supposedly brimming out of them. And their presence was what kept the garden in a weaker state than what it originally was.
"I didn't think we were that important..." Paradise scratched her mane. "I was just gonna try and catch a Pokemon later on. Not this."
"That's great! But...what about those Despair Plants? They aren't affected by us."
"Maybe not yet. They're the reason any attention was brought back to that elixir. Maybe you can also affect them, but that's a risky job and it will have to involve us getting close to them."
"Aw, but I don't wanna!" Daisy screeched, vehemently refusing to get close to the Despair Plants. "Do you hear the things they say?! It's so...vulgar!"
"Of course you can understand the language of Despair Plants too..." Twilight sighed as she wasn't surprised by that either.
"I'll gladly get close!" Paradise was once again the opposite of her sister, being eager to confront the Despair Plants. "Just let me get my hooves on them! They're gonna pay for calling my sister that!"
"What did they even call you? You know what...I don't want to know. Let's just sort this out as soon as possible. And that's by keeping you safe. The garden is practically going easy on us right now and that's great but the Despair Plants certainly won't. And I know you don't want to see them harmed...do you, Daisy?"
"Mm-mm!" Daisy shook her head. Twilight could already suspect that Daisy wouldn't want to see any harm done to the Despair Plants, despite the fact that they were hunting them down.
"Eh. I won't mind." Paradise would prefer to harm them though. That much was to be expected.
"Got it. Well, that means my Z-Crystal won't be used now. Here's what we'll try...Listen up." Twilight would gather the duo, ready to share a plan that was crucial to stopping this attack. The end goal was to make everyone happy. And with the power Daisy and Paradise possessed, that could be achieved.
Elsewhere, Rarity and Applejack were currently on the move. Recently, they encountered the Despair Plants first, entering a scuffle with them for a bit. But now, they were free for them, at least in the meanwhile.
The duo would explore the garden, attempting to find anyone. Whether it was the People of the Water or their friends. Any would do. And the luckiest find would definitely be Galaxy Master.
"Sceptile..." Sceptile was high atop the trees, being the scout. He also searched for any Despair Plants that would be nearby. Sceptile would see sparks fly in the distance, most likely from a Despair Plant or a Pokemon Move. Either one was responsible for it. With how many people and Pokemon entered the garden, this was to be expected even if they were all separated into smaller groups or larger groups.
"Oh...My legs." Rarity sighed, slowing down as she would soon stop near a flower bed. "Goodness. It's already nightfall and I need to sleep."
"Right now?" Applejack turned back to face Rarity. "You weren't like this when the invasion happened back then."
"That's because we were knocked out when Zekrom suddenly showed up so we had some time to relax and heal before getting back into the conflict. And we certainly went out more back in the day. I was hoping that things would slow down ever since Jirachi put everything together."
"Well, we can't slow down now. Those plants could show up."
"I know but I'm feeling exceptionally tired today. I suppose I can keep on going but I'll probably need Pheromosa to carry me." Rarity groaned. "I would've preferred to stay at the Sea Temple for more Water Weaving."
"We'll get back there. Just gotta find our way out of this forest." Applejack adjusted her hat. "And if that Lich Queen wants to show herself by being here, I wanna have a rough chat with her."
"Chat with the Lich Queen? Why exactly? I doubt there's much to say to her." Rarity shrugged as that seemed like a pointless action. "I'm not one for conflict but if we ever meet her then that is the most likely and best option."
"I know. But she's Roseluck's sister." The truth behind Applejack wishing to talk to her was because of Roseluck. "Ain't no way she can just abandon her little sister like that and become some crazy queen of vampires. That's just crazy!"
"It is but I'm not sure talking to her will do anything, Applejack. Her goal is to wipe out all of life after all. I'm not sure you can reason with somepony like that. I'd rather take my chances with the Empress."
"Yeah...I figured as much." Applejack grumbled as that was most likely the right outcome. Rosa Maledicta was too far gone at this point. So much of what she's done pointed to that truth.
"Scep? Sceptile!" Sceptile would suddenly cry out to Applejack as he spotted something worth paying attention to. And it wasn't the sparks. Grabbing Applejack and Rarity's attention, the two ponies would look up to see Sceptile drop from the tree.
"What is it Sceptile?! What'd you find, partner?!"
"Huhah!" Zooming into the scene with a trail of stars blazing through the grass was none other than the man of the hour. The main reason everyone was even travelling the seas, following the guidance of one of the crystals in the first place. A shockwave came from his entrance, making Applejack and Rarity's mane flow. Applejack held onto her hat as it nearly fell off from this pressure.
Flowers and other plants would fly away just from this stunning entrance that was followed by an array of stars. The stars soon dispersed as the fictional character had made his appearance, meeting with Rarity and Applejack.
Equestria. Out at sea, above the Sea Temple. Despair Plant Garden. Nightfall.
"Found you...villains." Arriving in a flash with many stars leaving his body was none other than Galaxy Master. On this Despair Plant Garden, he was by far the biggest threat to it all and the biggest helper to Ash's friend. At least, he seemed like a helper, until those words left his mouth when encountering Rarity and Applejack.
"You!" Gasping together were Applejack and Rarity. They ended up finding Galaxy Master before anyone else, still feeling the wind pressure he made after this stunning entrance. And judging by how he immediately mentioned villains after encountering these two, they feared that they weren't exactly around. Sceptile got in front of Applejack and Rarity immediately, having the instinct to protect them both.
"Nebula Beam!" Just then, with a singular point that was seemingly directed towards Rarity, Applejack and Sceptile, a ray of light would fly out of Galaxy Master's finger. However, that was not the case.
Instead, the beam would fly past Sceptile, Applejack and Rarity, completely ignoring them. The look on their faces when they saw the beam pass by them was shared. All three were stunned before swivelling their heads. Right behind them, the beam had struck a Despair Plant that was nearby. Specifically an Arachnorchid.
The Arachnorchid was sniped and struck down by Galaxy Master's immaculate finger blast. The Despair Plant cried out before tumbling down a hill, failing to sneak up on and reach the trio thanks to Galaxy Master's arrival.
"An excellent shot if I do say so myself. How have you all been?" There was nothing to fear at all. Galaxy Master stood tall with his arms crossed, greeting the Earth Pony, Unicorn and Forest Pokemon.
"Oh..." Soon, Applejack's face would transform as she could feel the positive aura coming off of Galaxy Master. She knew there was nothing to fear at all."Pretty great!"
"Hm? Ah!" Rarity would soon realize the lack of hostility from Galaxy Master and Applejack's chipper response. "Yes! Splendid! T-Thank you very much for the save. For a moment there, I thought you were targeting us."
"Hahahaha!" Galaxy Master laughed bombastically. "Sorry about that! My entrance was rather stunning! Now then. This is the first time we're properly meeting each other, isn't it? So allow me to reintroduce myself."
"Uh, we don't need that really..." Applejack shook her head.
"I'll upgrade it then!" Galaxy Master went through with it but switched things up. "A gallant flash in the cosmos! A light appears before the world to heed its sorrow and plea! From the depths of spacetime itself, I appear at the speed of light!" His entrance catchphrase was altered for this one moment as the light around him let off supernova explosions once more. "The Superstar! Galaxy Master!"
"Pikachu!" Posing next to him was his Pikachu as always.
"Aha! Amazing!" But Rarity enjoyed that, clapping her hooves. "Splendid light show!"
"Thank you. So, you're all here, right? Usually, you're with most of your friends, correct?"
"Oh, yes. Our friends are up here. Including some of the People of the Water. Really, we were all together just to come and find you but we didn't expect it to be up here."
"Well, coming across a Despair Plant Garden in the sky is a new one, isn't it? Have no fear. Now that I am here, you will be perfectly safe. I've come here to put an end to this garden before it can grow too troublesome."
"Many thanks. But while you're doing that, perhaps you should meet with-" Before Rarity could speak her next words, Galaxy Master would suddenly dash off the ground in an instant, spotting something that they haven't just yet.
The unicorn gasped as the fictional character grabbed both trainers, moving them out of the way of what appeared to be a speedy stream of webs. Sceptile would narrowly avoid some of these webs that came his way as this was done by none other than the Arachnorchids. More of them showed up, swinging from the trees and crawling across the garden. Their numbers seemed to increase as they were rapidly approaching the group.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu would immediately get on all fours, flaring his red sacs at the approaching swarm of Arachnorchids.
"No time to chat, I'm afraid! These plants are still ever present as you can see! Pikachu! Hold them back with 100,000 Volts!"
"Pika!" Pikachu leapt into the air as Galaxy Master obviously referred to Thunderbolt. By spinning in the air, he would unleash a flare of electricity that flew out of him, meeting with the ground. Much like how Ash had his Pikachu use Thunderbolt on the ground, Galaxy Master did the same with his Pikachu but with a bigger emphasis on attacking his opponents.
The electricity would then rapidly flow across the ground, sending all of its current to great distances. The distances were grand enough to easily reach the Arachnorchids, shocking them. The volts raced up the trees, punishing these Despair Plants with 100,000 volts. Even the ones swinging from the trees were not safe as the lightning passed through their webs as well. The Despair Plants found themselves dropping from their positions thanks to Pikachu, but more would continue to approach.
"Sceptile, use Frenzy Plant!"
"Sceptile!" Digging his hands into the ground, Sceptile would interact with the garden with his own plants. From below, massive roots would burst out violently, forming together to create a massive barricade of roots. These barricades of roots would not only act as protection but also as a way to attack the Arachnorchids.
However, it was not that easy to get past a Despair Plant. The webs they created had an alternate method. The explosive web spheres were used yet again, this time on the plants. The explosive webs would combust when coming into contact with the roots, blowing parts of them to bits. With a barrage of them flying in, constant combustions would go off, breaking the roots at a rather quick pace.
"They explode?!" Rarity gasped, witnessing the extent of these Despair Plants and how they were far more destructive than their counterparts in every way, having new tricks and traits that made them powerful predators.
"Great nebulas! Explosive webs! It's best that we head...this way!" Galaxy Master would take off with the ponies, leaving the scene as quickly as possible while the Frenzy Plant was being torn apart. It would buy them all some time, thankfully. Galaxy Master would jet off, leaving behind a trail of stardust from his feet. Sceptile would soon follow, using his vines to travel.
The Arachnorchids would pass through the broken bits of Frenzy Plant, quickly swarming over to the next area while some would swing over the large roots that stood in their way. Already, they were starting to gain on them thanks to their destructive web spheres being exceptionally efficient.
But explosive webs were not their only speciality. Not at all. Once they broke through the roots, the Despair Plants would reveal something else that surprised their targets. More webs were thrown out, but these ones would immediately hit the ground instead of just travelling through the air.
When touching the ground, they would transform into nets, spreading across the garden ground. They would cover up every plant they could, replacing it with these destructive webs as they switched how they would target their prey. And it was a rather effective one too.
"P-Pika?!" Pikachu found himself slowing down all of a sudden. His feet would jitter, failing to move forward like normal. This was due to the web that managed to reach him. "Pikachu?!"
"Oh!" Galaxy Master soon felt this sudden momentum decrease. His feet were caught by the webs as well, slowing him down as they had a sticky substance that would keep them both down. The same went for Rarity and Applejack who were legging it, only to have that cut short. "By the 5th Quadrant! They've managed to alter their webs to cover most of the ground! My movement has been disrupted!"
"Darn it!" Applejack growled before immediately biting on the webs, trying to rip them off.
"Disgusting!" Rarity squealed, wishing to prance on the spot because of this uncomfortable feeling. But that was impossible with how her hooves were stuck. She was even more disturbed by how Applejack instinctively bit into the webs. "Applejack, don't bite into it!"
"Tile? Sceptile!" Sceptile would quickly swing back to the group since he was ahead of them. Attempting to save them, Sceptile would hold out his other arm, sending a second vine out. He would need to wrap each of them around Applejack and the others, using all the strength he can muster to pull them up.
If he could get the chance.
Another Despair Plant showed up, immediately cutting the vines that Sceptile had made. Specifically, the one from the tree and this was done by one of the Triantis. With its powerful and sharp claws, it easily sliced the vines off, making Sceptile lose his balance immediately. "T-Tile!"
Dropping to the ground, Sceptile would also come across the webs. And unfortunately, he got the worst out of everyone here. By dropping into the webs, he landed flat on his face, ending up in the worst position.
"This is a problem..." Galaxy Master uttered as his group would soon be surrounded by Despair Plants. From many Arachnorchids to the single Triantis that showed up.
"Jokes on them...I can still do this!" Even when restrained, Rarity could still do something. This was thanks to her magic and the benefit of being a unicorn. With her magic, she would telekinetically grab one of the Poke Balls from her bag.
"Wait, Rarity!" Galaxy Master immediately stopped her once one of the Poke Balls had been taken out. "If you send a Pokemon out, the webs will still be an issue to overcome, unless you have someone who can fly, levitate or any of the sort."
"R-Right...I don't exactly have someone like that." Rarity soon realized that any of her Pokemon would be trapped in the webs if they were sent out. "Applejack?"
"Don't look at me." But Applejack certainly couldn't fulfil that role either. All of her Pokemon were ground-based. Especially the Golett.
"But there is this. Hmmm...!" Galaxy Master already had a solution. Immediately, he would flare his body with the colours of a galaxy, seemingly unleashing another light show. If so, this was the worst time for a light show, especially with how the Triantis and Arachnorchids would strike while the iron was hot. Webs were sent their way, attempting to restrain the group even more. And with Triantis, those sharp claws could cause some devastating damage with seemingly no one to protect them from it.
"Pika...Pikachu!" To buy them some time, Pikachu would use Thunderbolt, unleashing a discharge of lightning from his body. It would defend against some of the webs, either knocking them off course of destroying them. The Triantis would jump back upon seeing one of these frantic volts fly in its direction.
"Excellent work, my yellow friend! Now it's my turn!" The light around galaxy Master would not only intensify, but it would also heat up. Applejack and the others suddenly felt an increase of heat in the atmosphere unexpectedly. Since it was nighttime, this shouldn't be possible at all, especially when they were this high up.
But it was. With Galaxy Master, almost anything was possible. With his light, he was starting to melt away the webs that restrained him and his allies, having the perfect counter. Rarity could feel herself gaining more control over herself as the webs were tearing apart. She immediately raised her hoof, feeling lighter. Applejack was able to move freely soon as well, having no need to bite into the webs. Not like it was that efficient in the first place.
"The heat of a galaxy did the trick. Now for our retaliation!" Galaxy Master revealed that he utilized the heat of a galaxy to his advantage and it worked out perfectly. Everything about him had to do with space and that already brought all kinds of advantages. "Ladies. If you will."
"Gladly." Rarity smiled, finally having the chance to use her Poke Ball. "Come out, Pheromosa!"
"Pheromosa!" Emerging into the scene without worrying about any webs was Pheromosa. The Lissome Pokemon stuck a stylish landing upon showing up.
"Now...I'm counting on Potion Nova's potions to slow this garden's growth down." Galaxy Master said to himself, bringing up Potion Nova, who did show up with him. However, both were not in the same area.
Far from the Despair Plant Garden and the Sea Temple.
While the events at the Despair Plant Garden continued, approaching here was the Dread League. Under the orders of the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta, they were tasked with keeping the garden active while stopping those who would dare put an end to its growth.
Moving through the skies were a handful of vampires, sent here by Fractured Note. And among them was none other than Ebony Rhyme, alongside her good friend Fantina. But they weren't exactly flying like the other vampires. Ebony Rhyme couldn't use her wings at all and Fantina certainly wasn't a vampire.
The only way for them to travel was by a Hot Air Balloon. But this balloon had its differences from a standard one. Powering this balloon was a flare of spectral fire as it moved across the skies at an impressive pace. Just as impressive as the vampires, even if it was right behind them.
"This reminds me of my Driflbim! This feels wonderful!" Fantina was already enjoying herself within the hot air balloon as it did share some similarities with Drifblim. Mainly due to the spectral flames that were being used to power it. This was Fantina's first time out of Magehold at last and yet, it was still in Equestria. She had yet to show up at any Pokemon Region, especially not Sinnoh. But in this case, with how the worlds have united, Equestria might as well be a Pokemon Region.
Ebony Rhyme also showed up outside of Magehold for the first time as well, having a box of potions by her side. However, while Fantina was taking in the fresh air, flying through the night sky in this hot air balloon, Ebony Rhyme was way too focused on something. Something that blew her back.
Ebony Rhyme knew something truly crucial and involved Fractured Note himself. The revelation that he was the first Lich King blew her back and still had an effect on her mind even after leaving Magehold. But before she came on this blimp, she her conversation with the former rule did not stop there.
1 Hour Ago. Magehold.
"You're the first Lich King?! Seriously?!" Ebony Rhyme was at her loudest. And for a good reason. To any vampire, this would be shocking. Sitting in front of her was the one who started this line of Liches.
"Seriously. And the current Lich Queen doesn't know that. No one does. Only you, Ebony. And with my former status, I kept some of my old magic with me, as seen by my concealment shadows. Similar to that potion you made. And much like that potion, it doesn't last as long as it used to when I was in my original body."
"Did you reincarnate on purpose or...?"
"I did. This isn't something fate or the universe decided. I chose to reincarnate myself. My last trick before my passing." Fractured Note uttered. "Reincarnating myself as someone else was rather odd, especially since my sisters are Opal Vivacity and Merry Dread. One is more pleasant than the other, I'm sure you can tell. And now that you know, what do you make of this? Especially with everything I've told you."
"You...If you started it all, then you're here to take back your throne right? Is that why you're being like this?" Ebony Rhyme theorized on why the Lich Queen's loyal servant was being rather supportive of Fantina and Ebony as of recently.
"My time is up. I'd rather not take my throne again. Truth be told, there shouldn't be a Lich Queen. And there should've never been any previous Lich Kings or Queens. I'm simply focusing on ending the line of the Lich."
"But weren't you the first one? Why would you want to end it all of a sudden?"
"I was the first Lich King yes. But I never expected this legacy of Liches to turn out like this. When I passed on, I left behind a shred of my magic which would permeate the land of Magehold. A last-ditch effort to spread my influence. You're aware of the Lich Cycle, aren't you?"
"Yes. When one Lich finishes ruling, another will take their place with the influence of the magic within Magehold. That's how it's always been."
"That's right. I started that influence but something happened. Something got to my magic and twisted it, changing its original purpose. I'm not sure what caused this, but it started forming dark thoughts within those who had either been shunned, rejected or denied by many others. And I knew this. I made that magic to gave them confidence. Magehold was never meant to be just exclusive to vampires and skeletons. Truthfully, any species would've been free to enter."
"Oh..." Ebony Rhyme sat down as now she was fully invested. This former king that had been reincarnated had a lot to share.
"Much like the rest of Equestria, it was supposed to be fully known to everyone and loved. That was my goal as king. In fact, it's how I became a Lich Pony."
"A Lich Pony? Hold on. I thought a Lich was a title. It's a species?"
"And a rare one at that. Liches are powerful ponies skilled in necromancy and are in pursuit of true immortality. Unlike zombies which are often depicted as mindless, liches are very much sentient revenants retaining their previous intelligence and magical abilities. Liches are often depicted as holding power over lesser mindless undead soldiers and servants. I'm not the first ever Lich but I was the first Lich King, even if I didn't rule over any other liches. A Lich only comes into existence by will itself. And with my dream, I wanted to make sure I could live it out and I didn't have much time left in this world. So, I searched for immortality and became a Lich."
"If there are others out there like you...where are they?"
"Don't worry about that. What you should worry about is the Lich Queen. She may not look undead, but she is. When becoming a lich, your soul is essentially tied to Magehold. She is no longer a regular pony. One might even argue she's not even among the living anymore. It's a horrific cycle that completely changes the life of the pony who comes across this flow of magic. It was meant to encourage those who were down and show them that they still have a future, but that never came to fruition. Rosa Maledicta is another example of that."
"So all of their souls are in Magehold?" Ebony Rhyme looked down as the souls of the previous Liches were present. This was already known to many due to how the Lich Cycle works.
"But it looks like the cycle has taken a liking to Rosa. More than any of the previous rulers. Because of her involvement with Dark Magic, when she showed up here, the magic favoured Rosa greatly, unlocking her true potential. I can safely say she is the best Lich thus far. But it also confirmed to me that whatever messed with my magic is also responsible for the Lich Queen and other previous Liches wishing to destroy all life. It's the complete opposite of what it was meant to be. But that's when Fantina showed up."
"Fantina? What did she do? Did she get hit by the magic as well?!" Ebony Rhyme gasped, fearing that her good friend was affected.
"Well..." Fractured Note smiled before giving these rather reassuring words. "I can say that she put a wrench in it. When Fantina showed up to Magehold, a part of my original magic's true purpose awoken. The arrival of a human shook things up without a doubt. I was also pleasantly surprised by this when I learned about her arrival. That's the only positive thing Rosa Maledicta has done for this place, honestly. The remainder of my magic's true part was crying out when Fantina arrived, knowing there was another chance. Fantina is our one hope. Our hope to restore Magehold for what it truly was meant to be."
"Seriously? Fantina can do all of that?"
"Well, not by herself but she's certainly a key player in all of this. Fantina shouldn't be here...Her mind has been affected by the Lich Queen and so are most of her memories. And yet, she chooses to stay here despite what she's faced with. She smiles through it all and brings joy. Even if it was for the children for the longest, the fashion show only elevated it."
"Hm. She did." Ebony Rhyme greatly agreed with that notion. Fantina did leave quite an impact on this place. Especially on Ebony Rhyme herself.
"I know she had an impact on you. The Cherry Blossom Tree of that Heavenly Maiden and the presence of her Pokemon only help that. I would've expected the Pokemon that Opal Vivacity brought over to awaken that part of my magic but it wasn't enough. Fantina was the one to give it that push, truly. Listen, Ebony. I need you to work with me. In absolute secrecy at all times, away from the Lich Queen."
"I-I understand, your majesty."
"Just call me Fractured." He preferred his current name. He was no longer the King after all. "You must free Fantina from the Lich Queen's control one day. My ultimate plan is to put an end to Rosa Maledicta's reign...and the Lich Cycle in its entirety. I've been working on this for centuries ever since my reincarnation and this current millennium seems like the breaking point. With everyone going on in the world, there's a huge chance we can succeed."
"But you're still powerful, right? You used to be the previous ruler." Ebony leaned forward, believing Fractured Note to have magic that was close to Rosa Maledicta's level.
"I am. But not anywhere near what Rosa Maledicta can do. The previous Liches were also terrifyingly powerful for me to do anything yet. So all I had to do was wait and be their loyal servant. And to keep that loyalty...that is why you must go to the Despair Plant Garden. Cause as much trouble as you can...but perhaps not for Fantina. The enemies there aren't exactly the kind she would want to go up against."
"Then...what should I do?"
"I have another solution for that. There's one vampire pony I can count on. I'll have you take her with only you knowing about it. She will act as a threat to those in the garden and to an extent the other vampires. Use your potions as well. I know they can do wonders."
"Got it. I'll do my best, your maje- Fractured." She corrected herself. Fractured Note would then give an approving nod, feeling like he chose the right pony for this.
"Excellent. I knew I could trust you. You're different from the others and that's what makes you special. Honestly, you're the type of pony that my magic was meant for in the beginning. Now, hurry. The Lich Queen will wake up so you must be quick." Fractured Note would then disappear into the shadows once more, saying his last words and exiting Ebony Rhyme's home.
"Wait! There's still so much I want to ask!" But that was all she got to hear for the night. And it was a lot to take in.
Current day.
Remembering it all, Ebony Rhyme had a lot to accomplish. Taking it all in, the potion maker was now a part of a massive plan to put an end to the Lich Cycle and by extension, help those who went against the Lich Queen. But really, it was for Fantina, who Ebony Rhyme was close with.
Up ahead, the Despair Plant Garden was seen. At least, they were nearby as the vampires started cackling with bright grins on their faces, excited to start causing some chaos once they get there. "Hurry up before they ruin it!" A vampire yelled, accelerating through the skies to try and get there faster.
"You're not the ones that'll stand in their way though..." Ebony Rhyme quietly said to herself before looking back at her box of potions. "It'll be her. Not you." The one Fractured Note spoke about was being referred to. And yet, she was nowhere to be found seemingly.
Not a sight of this mysterious pony at all. But Ebony Rhyme would still carry out this secret mission for the former Lich King and more importantly, for her former friend.
Arriving at the Despair Plant Garden was the Dread League. Most were the usual vampires but the odd ones out were Ebony Rhyme and Fantina. Especially Fantina. While most of the vampires flew with their wings, Ebony Rhyme and Fantina took a Hot Air Balloon powered by spectral flames.
"Alright. This garden looks healthy as it is. But it needs that extra push so it can get rid of these interlopers." A vampire commented, scraping her hoof on the soil of the garden. Immediately, they would spread out, searching for those who were trespassing on Magehold property. With the vampires here, Ash and everyone else were their targets as assigned by Fractured Note but truly, it was from the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta.
However, unbeknownst to all of them, EBony Rhyme was carrying secret information that would shake everything back at Magehold up. And more importantly, something secret that would apparently replace the vampires and the actions up here. After Fantina exited the Hot Air Balloon, Ebony Rhyme received a personal telepathic message from Fractured Note.
"Remember. She'll be the one to spearhead things up here. After all, despite our plan, we still need to convince the Lich Queen that you're on her side."
"I get that...If it's for Fantina's safety, I'll do it." Ebony Rhyme said as she was only going through with this because of Fantina. The Hearthome City Gym Leader wasn't exempt from the Black Crusade and the horrible actions it could lead to after all and with the bond she developed with her, despite her loyalty, Ebony Rhyme was willing to put Fantina first.
"Excellent. Now, release her. And let's make it quick before the Lich Queen wakes up."
"Alright...Here goes." Digging into her box of potions, Ebony Rhyme would search for something. Or rather someone due to what she and Fractured Note have been speaking about. Digging further and further, she came across what she needed with a momentary pause.
"Ah...Can you feel the air, Ebony?" Meanwhile, Fantina was taking in the wonderful air. Being outside of Magehold was truly refreshing for her as she twirled on a flower bed. "It feels so new...And this flower bed is absolutely beautiful!"
"Mhm. Yeah." But Ebony wasn't quite focused on the scenery. Rather, it was what she pulled out. In her hooves, she held a black cube with a star on each of its faces, appearing vastly different from all the potions she had with her. "Alright...I just have to unleash her. Whoever she is."
This mysterious individual could be found within the cube instead of just being out there. The fact that she wasn't seen at all only confirmed that. And with a simple toss, the cube would touch the ground, reacting to this impact. It was almost like a Poke Ball the way it shot out of a dark light upon being thrown. From this dark light, the figure of a pony would be unleashed, grabbing the attention of Fantina. Ebony stepped back from the pulsating light which would summon a pony into this world. That mysterious pony would finally show herself at last.
"Oh? Who's this?" Fantina approached the mysterious pony.
"This is Dimstar. She'll be the one to cause some trouble for them. When the Lich Queen wakes up, she'll think everything is smooth sailing from here. And now that she's shown up, you should drop some potions behind and find time to leave as soon as possible."
"Dimstar?" Ebony Rhyme spoke the name of this vampire from the cube. "W-Why was she in a cube in the first place?"
"She's been resting for centuries. Just a few months after my rule ended. Since you're the one who released her from her prison, she answers to you. And only you, Ebony Rhyme. Use that to your advantage and you won't be disappointed. I'll leave things up to you now."
"So Dimstar is your name, is it? Bonjour. My name is Fantina." Fantina held her hand out, greeting the vampire with a friendly aura.
"There are at least 40 trespassers on this garden." Dimstar completely ignored Fantina's greeting, focusing on the garden instead. And impressively, she spouted out the potential number of people, ponies and Pokemon on the Despair Plant Garden. "Shall I eliminate them at once?" She would then turn to face Ebony Rhyme instead, still ignoring Fantina.
"Um...S-Sure." Ebony Rhyme stuttered. "Go on ahead and do what you can. Make sure this garden grows to its full potential as it should be. That's my order."
"It'll be fulfilled." Dimstar bowed to Ebony Rhyme. Fractured Note certainly wasn't joking about how she would listen to only Ebony since she released her. "The intruders here will be eliminated as soon as possible. Excuse me."
Without saying much else, this vampire got to work at once, spreading her wings out as bits of it would fly out, landing on Ebony Rhyme's face. Ebony blew the air, causing these bits to fall off as the next thing she knew, Dimstar was gone. And without any visible sight of her. Ebony shifted her eyes in the sky, seeing no sign of Dimstar. It was like she vanished out of thin air once she took flight. "H-How did she...?"
"Strange. I didn't see her leave either." Fantina didn't even see her despite having her eyes fully on Dimstar. Her disappearance was certainly swift. Swifter than most ponies anyway. "Well, now that we are here, let's enjoy ourselves!"
"Fantina. We're not here to enjoy ourselves. We came here for a mission, you know." Ebony Rhyme would then look back inside of her box of potions. "And this one is more important than I thought it would be..."
"I suppose. I'm just thrilled to explore. How about we do both? Have fun and succeed in what we need to do. Well, I'm only here to support you as said by Fractured Note."
"I guess I can have some fun. It's not every day I get to try my potions out on someone outside of Magehold. In fact...It's not any day at all. This is the first time." Ebony Rhyme soon realized this massive opportunity that she had before her. For the longest, her potions have been secluded in Magehold, never used on someone outside of a vampire apart from Fantina who was living there. But here in the garden, that could all change. "Hmm...Alright. You're always smiling through everything so I guess you know what you're talking about."
It was decided. Ebony Rhyme would take some enjoyment in this. As much as she can anyway. Fantina would always take enjoyment in whatever she does. Whether it's against an opponent or with her friends. However, neither knew exactly who was in the garden and had yet to find out.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Mew, Aura Sphere!" Meanwhile, with everyone else, the conflict against the Despair Plants continued. The Triantis and Arachorchids were still very present, moving across the Despair Plant Garden with seemingly no end. And with the garden growing, completely centred around these deadly plants, it might as well be endless.
"Chu...Pika!" Blocking a slash from a Triantis was Pikachu using Iron Tail. When clashing with the Triantis, sparks would fly. Knowing that not much could harm the Despair Plants, engaging in a battle with them was incredibly risky. However, there was one thing that was troublesome to them, much like how it was troublesome to many powerful forces in the world. Aura.
"Mew!" Mew would have access to that Aura being the ancestor of so many Pokemon after all. The Arachnorchids that came his way would be met with a sphere of Aura that was thrown at them. The sphere would combust, enveloping the Despair Plants in an azure flash. The Despair Plants would fall back thanks to this and even though Pikachu didn't have access to that same kind of energy, he still had the strength to push the Triantis back with his Iron Tail, winning the clash.
However, Triantis would quickly rush back in, going for another slash with its powerful claws. But Pikachu and Mew weren't the only Pokemon Triantis had to look out for. There was also the presence of Fluttershy and her own Pokemon. Audino, Bayleef and Raboot.
Once Triantis attempted to slash both Pikachu and Mew, the Mouse and the Cat would jump out of the way, giving a clear path for Audino to strike. And the perfect attack for this was Hyper Beam.
"Audino...!" Audino would put her hands together, forming a flare of infinity energy which would soon form into a beam that was shot out. Triantis' body lit up once the beam approached, instantly enveloping it. The beam tore through the grass and the ground, moving towards the Arachnorchids that were just now getting up after the Aura Sphere.
The Hyper Beam crashed into them, combusting upon impact, forming a mighty explosion. Without a doubt, Hyper Beam would leave a mark on the Despair Plants. The power of this attack could not be denied at all.
"This way!" But Ash and his friends couldn't afford to just stand around and watch what happened to the Despair Plants. They had to keep moving to find the rest of their friends. They immediately left the scene once the explosion and smoke lingered.
Across the Despair Plant Garden, more battles were beginning to start once more Despair Plants were showing up, encountering everyone. One of which was Rainbow Dash, who was with Enola, Adriel and a few other People of the Water. When trying to find everyone else, they ended up only finding Despair Plants, unfortunately. Enola stayed close to her big brother Adriel with all of the People of the Water staying behind Rainbow Dash. Alas, none were protective of themselves since they had nothing to defend themselves with. The only defence they had was Rainbow Dash and her Pokemon.
"Altaria, use Dragon Pulse! Mienshao, Force Palm!"
"Mienshao!" Her Mienshao and Altaria were currently the ones out facing the Despair Plants. With swiftness, Mienshao would find herself going up against two Triantis. Two rapid swings from these mantis Despair Plants were unleashed, forcing Mienshao to think quickly on her feet. She was an excellent choice since she had rapid strikes of her own. Her arms would fly, becoming white and purple blurs as they would meet with the claws of the Triantis.
Mienshao's eyes rapidly moved from side to side, focusing on both of them at the same time. Mienshao was being pushed back by them but she wasn't letting the Triantis win the struggle for one second. She soon found herself being interrupted by one of the Arachnorchids that decided to sneak up on her, using a string of webs to do so.
"Taria!" Thankfully, she had Altaria to assist her. With Dragon Pulse, she unleashed a dragon-shaped beam that would not only intercept the web but hit the other Arachnorchids that were approaching. The spider-based Despair Plants would tumble after Dragon Pulse approached, rolling down a nearby hill.
Mienshao was saved but that didn't stop the Triantis from landing some hits in after she had been interrupted by that one Arachnorchid. Mienshao growled after receiving these sharp claws to her body. And the weight of them was nothing to scoff at. It felt like being struck by not two, but ten blades at the same time.
"Mienshao...!" Immediately after staggering and stumbling, Mienshao would quickly regain her focus, seeing the Triantis go for another swing. Impressively, she caught both of their claws, refusing to let them get the advantage. "Shao...!"
"Ice Beam!"
"Altaria!" Helping Mienshao once more, Altaria would use Ice Beam, unleashing the chilling beam of ice onto the grass. This was for a reason. She would flash-freeze the ground, turning most of it into ice. This favoured Mienshao as she already knew about this tactic, experiencing it multiple times in a battle. In Ash's friend group, next to the Counter Shield, this was the most common tactic that everyone uses to try and switch things up.
"Mienshao!" And Mienshao took advantage of this, leaping into the air. She let go of the Triantis' claws, leaping into the air to evade their next attack. Right on time as the Triantis would try and pursue Mienshao, who performed a rather stylish frontflip to get over them. The Despair Plants would find themselves slipping immediately. After falling over while Mienshao landed on her feet without any issue, the Triantis would tremble.
Their bodies would quiver upon coming into contact with the ice, especially when on their backs. The flowers on their backs would gain an icy blue tint that was starting to spread around them, only increasing this quivering tension.
"Hehe! You're still plants so you're weak to ice!" Rainbow Dash pointed out another glaring weakness of the Despair Plants. Ice was a major problem for any kind of plant. And the Triantis found that out the hard way.
In their current position, they were unable to get up, try as they might. It started with their flowers being frozen and soon their legs. The Despair Plants were practically frozen stiff by this. Literally. When moving their claws, they found themselves slowing down greatly while sliding down the frozen hill, joining the Arachnorchids.
"Time for the big one! Aura Sphere!"
"Mienshao!" Mienshao would be the one to deal some serious damage thanks to her access to Aura Sphere. For some payback, she would throw lob the sphere. The attack struck the frozen ground, dealing damage to the ice but also to the Triantis most importantly. The energy of Aura Sphere would combust, enveloping the two Despair Plants in its power. With some of the ice breaking apart, the Despair Plants would be knocked away from the hill, gauging distance from Rainbow Dash's group.
"Nice!" Enola applauded. So did the People of the Water. They were kept safe by Rainbow Dash and her Pokemon's efforts despite the numerical difference. And yet, Rainbow Dash could close that gap with her remaining Pokemon. "That was great Miss Rainbow Dash!"
"It was, wasn't it?" Loving the praise and applause, Rainbow Dash proudly put on a smile. "I could've done that quicker if Altaria was Mega Evolved or if Mienshao used a Z-Move. So it wasn't that tough at all. Are you two doing okay?"
"Mienshao!"
"Altaria!"
"And everyone else? No one's hurt, right?" Rainbow Dash turned to face the People of the Water.
"We're fine. Thank you for defending us. We're sorry for being such a bother to you..." They immediately bowed their heads, apologizing to Rainbow Dash since they weren't defending themselves. They were only relying on Rainbow Dash to protect them.
"Don't worry about it. If you guys came prepared, this wouldn't be an issue. But I'm always prepared when I've got my Pokemon by my side. The same goes for my friends. I just gotta find them really soon but I know they're smacking around those Despair Plants without a doubt. Maybe some of you should head back down."
"It's a bit hard to return to the Sea Temple now. The height from here is rather intimidating and it seems those vines vanished the moment the garden took action..."
"What are you talking about? I can take you back. I've got wings after all." Rainbow Dash flapped her wings. "So can, Altaria, Braviary and...maybe Castform."
"Castform!" Castform spoke, peeping his head out of Rainbow Dash's saddlebag.
"Just stay next to me, alright? As soon as we find everyone we'll be-"
"Miss Rainbow Dash! Behind you!" Enola yelled as she and the People of the Water stepped back, having shocked expressions on their face. Confused, Rainbow Dash would quickly turn her head to see what exactly stunned them and prompted Enola to shout out. With one turn, she saw her.
Dimstar.
"What the?!" Jumpscared by Dimstar's appearance, Rainbow Dash would instinctively fly back. And at the right time. She felt something invisible pass by her, grazing her the side of her mane. A strand of her hair was clipped off by this invisible force which was felt but not seen.
"Mienshao!" Mienshao and Altaria would quickly rush to Rainbow Dash's side, just now seeing Dimstar as Castform nearly flew out of Rainbow Dash's saddlebag because of the sudden reaction. The pegasus slid on the ground, regaining her balance as her heart was racing a bit after that scare.
"W-What was that all about?!" Rainbow Dash sighed, holding the side of her face which felt rather chilly from whatever force nearly hit her. When looking at Dimstar, who made quite the silent entrance, Rainbow Dash spotted a fang and vampiric wings. One look at her and it was already clear what she was.
A vampire. While for the most part, only Despair Plants have shown up, it was only a matter of time until a vampire made an appearance. In fact, multiple of them were currently moving across the Despair Plant Garden but Dimstar certainly stuck out, trapped within that cube for centuries.
"You're a vampire...So the Dread League showed up!" Rainbow Dash growled as the situation had only escalated. It was already rather dangerous with the Despair Plants populating this garden but now the involvement of vampires increased it greatly.
Especially with Dimstar standing before her. Her presence was rather foreboding while under the night sky. Her sharp eyes were piercing, grabbing everyone's attention as she stood with such confidence and mystery as well.
"You shouldn't be on this garden, intruders. Especially with how you're soiling it." Dimstar spoke to Rainbow Dash. "Inferior creatures."
"I-Inferior?!" Rainbow Dash pulled back as she was already hit with a harsh insult from Dimstar. She was also referring to the Pokemon and the Humans. Not just the pegasus. "Oh yeah...?"
"So that's a vampire...?" Enola held onto her big brother.
"Hmph. Is it just you that showed up?" Rainbow Dash confidently smiled. "If it's just one vampire, then I've got nothing to worry about. That sunlight's gonna break through later on so if you wanna keep us occupied, go ahead."
"I did not come alone. But the other vampires will be irrelevant and insignificant after I'm done here." Dimstar replied. "After I'm done with you, they will not matter afterwards. You yourself won't be an issue, Rainbow Dash."
"You know my name? Oooh, I'm so scared." Rainbow Dash said sarcastically.
"By looking at you, I know everything about you. But no one here knows anything about me. Especially this." Dimstar simply stood there but something emanated from her body. It was that invisible force again. But even though it was invisible, it could be felt.
"It's coming again! Look out, Rainbow Dash! Duck!" Mostly by the People of the Water. They were the ones to warn Rainbow Dash of what was coming and soon the pegasus would sense this force approaching her rapidly.
"Oh!" Ducking her head, Rainbow Dash evade this strange force thanks to the People of the Water. The force would then approach the People of Water who would quickly move out of the way. The trees near them would have holes blown through them by this force, leaving a strong impact behind. "What was that...?"
"You don't need to know. But I'm surprised you all can sense it." Dimstar continued, not moving an inch. It seemed that she was relying on an invisible power to do her work that did not require much movement.
"It's coming for Mienshao and Altaria too!" Adriel exclaimed as the People of the Water were the ones to point it out once more.
"What are you guys seeing?! Ugh, whatever! Dodge you two!"
"Mienshao!" Mienshao wasn't sure where to dodge. She only heard that it was coming from the side and that was it. Taking that into consideration, she leapt into the air while Altaria was still trying to figure out what to do. The invisible force was felt underneath Mienshao's legs as she did manage to evade it despite not seeing it.
"Tari!" The same couldn't be said for Altaria. The force struck her, knocking the Humming Pokemon to the side. Altaria cried out as she found herself crashing into the trees. Thankfully, her durable body that was correlated with her wings gave her some resistance but she still felt the damage.
"Altaria!" The multi-coloured-maned-mare yelled for her Dragon-Flying-Type who could not evade this force. Whatever it was, it was rather intimidating, being invisible to the eyes but not to the other senses. That definitely made Dimstar rather mysterious as she has not moved an inch yet. It didn't help that she suddenly appeared without a sound, even nearly getting the jump on Rainbow Dash. "Why you...!"
With the involvement of vampires, things were starting to worsen. Everyone was still moving through the garden, focused on one thing. Finding each other and Galaxy Master. But some had different goals that all lead to one objective. Rushing through the garden in different directions were Ash's group and Twilight's group. And with Twilight's group, she had the key to weakening the Despair Plant Garden. Daisy and Paradise. The two Flora Ponies. Their presence was taken into account, holding back the garden with their aura. However, with a box of potions, Ebony Rhyme was ready to drop some of her own magic into the mix. And yet, she wasn't the only one here with potions. As the journey continues.
Twilight, Daisy and Paradise were still on the move. Compared to everyone else, they've run into minor conflict on the Despair Plant Garden. The Flora Ponies were most responsible for how things were turning out. Specifically, the fact that the garden's true potential was being held back because of their presence. A semblance of the elixir that brought them to life was serving its true purpose, affecting plants in unique ways.
If it wasn't for them, everyone on the garden would have a harder time without a doubt, feeling the full wrath of the garden the second they set foot on it. For the most part, Twilight's group was safe with no one attacking them or anything threatening them. Twilight simply chalked it up to the Flora Ponies being around her.
"Did you hear that?" And with how things were escalating, sounds of battles would echo through the garden as Daisy could faintly hear them.
"Esp! Espeon!" Moving through a curtain of flowers, Espeon would jump on the spot, crying out for Twilight and the others.
"You sense someone nearby, Eve? Excellent!" Twilight understood the Sun Pokemon, quickly galloping to her side. Espeon would lead the way as at last, she was getting something. They have been wandering for a while, searching for anyone else in this garden. Twilight had to share what she theorized and figured out as soon as possible while also finding Galaxy Master in the process.
They would notice how the number of flower curtains had increased as they moved through as many of them as they could. Twilight cleared the way with her magic, using it to control the flowers as it felt like removing actual curtains from a window. And this open window led to something that could be seen up ahead.
Espeon would slow down at once, prompting everyone to do the same. No one new had been seen despite ESpeon's sudden cry. It seemed like they still weren't there just yet when it came to finding someone else. Instead, up ahead, something rather massive was lying there on the dark grass where an array of thorns were decorated and organized in the shape of wings.
And these winged thorns could be seen wrapping around this massive object which captivated the eyes of Twilight's group. A large pod was sitting in the middle of this area with all the thorns around it. And it was an open one too. For a garden, this was normal, even if it was colossal. But the inside was truly shocking. Within this massive pod were Despair Plant Seeds. An abundance of them. So many of them were piled up in this pod, perfectly stacked.
"Sweet Celestia...Is that a pod of Despair Plant Seeds?!" Recognizing the appearance of these seeds thanks to the Cutie Mark Crusaders' experience, Twilight was bewildered by the monstrosity that sat there.
"Espeon?!"
"Aw, isn't that adorable?!" Daisy gushed at the sight of this, surprisingly. Paradise simply gave an approving nod and not much else as input while Twilight was just flabbergasted and rather intimidated.
"So these are Despair Plants that haven't grown yet...There's more waiting for everyone." Twilight approached the Despair Plant Pod. New Despair Plants were bound to show up. Most likely the same Triantis and Arachorchids that have been active recently. Daisy would also get close and without any hesitation, she would place her hoof on it, feeling the Despair Plant seed for what it was. Rugged, hard and uncomfortable.
However, the moment Twilight got close, one of the Despair Plant Seeds would tremble, prompting the Princess of Friendship to stop in her tracks. It was the seed that Daisy just recently touched. This one seed would nudge itself forward from the stacks of other Despair Plant seeds. Cracks formed around the seed with a dark energy piercing through it.
Twilight readied her horn for the worst and so did Espeon. But Daisy and Paradise were completely unmoved by this, still showing no signs of fear when in this garden. With the energy piercing through, life was brought into this world. And compared to what Despair Plants are, this one was rather small.
Popping out of this seed was a tiny Despair Plant Triantis, smaller than the others while having bigger eyes as well. The baby Despair Plant shook its head, removing the energy from it before looking up at Twilight.
"Wait, they can show up as babies?!" Twilight gasped. She believed Despair Plants only showed up as fully grown as seen by the amount of large Despair Plants that have been recorded. The fact that they can appear as babies was shocking when she believed they skipped past that stage. "Wait..."
However, Twilight would suspect that this wasn't just something that's always been this way. Her eyes narrowed as her attention was focused on Daisy. Daisy giggled, meeting with the Triantis Despair Plant and interacting with it, connecting her hoof with its claws.
"Hello!" Daisy greeted it as Paradise would soon walk up, gazing at the other seeds to see if they would do anything else.
"Unless...Daisy must've done this." Twilight theorized that Daisy was behind this. After all, she did touch that very seed earlier. "Right. The elixir around them. The Despair Plants from before were hostile as always but this one doesn't seem that way. Daisy, Paradise. Try touching the other seeds. As many as you can. They haven't opened up yet so I'm expecting them to do so with your influence."
"Us?" Paradise looked at her hoof. "Okay, sure. I can just do this." To make it easier, Paradise would slide her hoof across some of the Despair Plant Seeds, speeding up the process. As for Daisy, she was too focused on Triantis, spending time with this baby Despair Plant.
"Oh, really? That's interesting. So that's what's inside of that seed." Daisy spoke with the Triantis, understanding every sentence due to her special trait as a Flora Pony. And as she spoke with the Triantis, thanks to Paradise's interaction, the other seeds would start opening.
It was true. The Flora Ponies did have an effect on the Despair Plants and the garden itself. The magic they possessed truly affected in different ways. And in this case, with the seeds all opening, multiple Despair Plants were born immediately. Triantis and Arachnorchid were the only ones present in this garden. No other species could be found.
It was surprisingly beautiful. Despite how much terror and destruction these plants bring, seeing them bloom out of their seeds as babies was rather wonderful. And these Despair Plants carried less dread than the others due to how they appeared and acted.
"Oh yes. These two are special." Twilight slowly nodded, knowing that Daisy and Paradise were truly the trump cards of this scenario. Their influence on this kind of plant life was a stark game changer. Twilight saw that there was no need to battle against the plants, not when these two can bring peace, soothing the Despair Plants. In the end, the true purpose of the Despair Plants came into fruition after all. Roseluck would be especially proud of this if she were here.
"There you are!" A voice bellowed from above. Interrupting this sweet moment between the Despair Plants and the Flora Ponies was none other than the Dread League.
Vampires had appeared, spotting Twilight's group from above. Their wings of darkness would blend in with the sky as they would drop simultaneously. Daisy and Paradise gasped, staying close to the Despair Plants while Twilight simply got closer. With the vampires finally showing up, they would quickly shift the tides of this scenario.
"Who are they?!" shouted Paradise.
"Vampires...!" Twilight answered, growling at the subspecies of ponies. She hoped that she wouldn't have to deal with vampires now of all times. But alas, with this garden existing, it was inevitable, especially during the night. "Daisy! Paradise! Stay behind me!"
"That's one of the princesses, isn't it?" A vampire immediately recognized Twilight Sparkle. And soon, so did everypony else.
"Oh, yeah. It is her. This is a big find! Can you imagine what the Lich Queen would think if we bring her in!?" Already, plans to bring Twilight in were spouted. For someone as important as her, it was inevitable. Daisy would stay behind Twilight, keeping close to the Despair Plants but Paradise had a different reaction. She was practically the opposite of Daisy.
"I wish I caught myself a Pokemon. That'll be so helpful right now." Paradise uttered as she wanted in on the action. "But there is something else I can do..."
"You two should stay out of it. Now that I know what your magic is capable of, I need you to be safe." Twilight immediately shut Paradise down from getting involved. "Otherwise, we're all potentially doomed up here."
"B-But..." Paradise stuttered, gutted that her mother figure would shut her down so instantly. But it was for her own safety and the magic she possessed. It was because of her and Daisy's magic that everyone up here were still in one piece.
"I'll just make this quick as possible and find the others. Ready, Eve?!"
"Espeon!"
Elsewhere, a vampire by the name of Dimstar had also arrived, encountering Rainbow Dash's group. Dimstar was summoned by the cube given to Ebony Rhyme by Fractured Note. Her purpose was simple. Rid the garden of the intruders at once. And she already proved to be quite efficient at getting the drop on others, surprising Rainbow Dash and possessing an invisible force that could not be seen. However, the People of the Water behind Rainbow Dash seemed to know.
"I don't know what you're using but you're not gonna get us again. And it's just you, so this is gonna be quick." Rainbow Dash smirked.
"As expected. Reading you from the beginning confirmed everything about you. Especially a colossal level of cockiness that has only been boosted ever since you won your Final Gym Battle. You are too full of yourself."
"I'm not that cocky!" Rainbow Dash roared, shaking her hoof at Dimstar who knew quite a bit about her already, just by looking at her.
"Miss Rainbow Dash! She's using something that you can see! Be very careful!" Enola yelled, warning the pegasus.
"How are you all seeing it? What is it anyway?"
"I'm not sure how you can see my weapons, but it won't matter if you cannot survive them," Dimstar commented as that same pressure from before would emanate from her body. That was a clear sign that she was about to attack once more.
"Quick, Mienshao! Use Force Palm! Altaria, use Hyper Voice!"
"Mienshao!" Leaping in was Mienshao, covering her paws in an orange light as Altaria would ascend. Mienshao attempted to get the first hit in which would then be followed by Altaria's voice. However, when she swung her arm, her paw came in contact with something else and it wasn't Dimstar. "M-Mien?!"
Mienshao felt that invisible force as well. Her attack had collided with it, immediately preventing her from reaching the vampire. Mienshao could feel herself pressing against this force, trying to break through as not only was it powerful in terms of destruction but also defence. Whatever was there was efficient in blocking Mienshao's attack. Dimstar opened her eyes just a bit as that invisible force would then push Mienshao back, putting a stop to her movements.
"Altaria!" Altaria took a crack at it, singing a beautiful melody that formed into a visible shockwave. Her own force was sent out, attempting to reach the vampire. Alas, that same invisible force guarded her yet again. The collision between Altaria's soundwave and the Invisible Force occurred, creating sparks that made parts of the ground shake. Hyper Voice also failed to get through, unfortunately.
"Oh come on! What's there?!" Rainbow Dash growled. "How about this then?! I bet you're not fast enough for this! Use Acrobatics!"
"Shao!" Mienshao would leave the ground once more, gaining some strong agility in the process. She approached Dimstar yet again, leaving behind afterimages from her movements as she flip in the air. "Mienshao!"
However, that force was there to interrupt her once more. Mienshao could feel it. And the People of the Water could see it. They saw what was coming and immediately yelled out to Rainbow Dash and Mienshao. "It's trying to grab her!"
"Mien?!" Hearing it, Mienshao would try and predict where this force was coming from and from what was said, she could make out what she was potentially going up against. It was something that had the capability to block her attacks and grab her at the same time. Predicting the position, Mienshao flipped to the side as a pressure blew past her leg. She guessed right indeed as she got closer to Dimstar.
"Hm?" Dimstar was slightly surprised before keeping her composure. It looked like Mienshao would get a hit in, sticking her foot out. But that failed as well. That force grabbed her leg anyway. Mienshao felt herself coming to an abrupt halt as her foot was only two feet in front of Dimstar, almost reaching her face.
"M-Mienshao!" Mienshao would then be thrown against the ground by this force with a hefty amount of weight. Rocks would emerge from the blow as the Martial Arts Pokemon cried out.
"No, Mienshao! Quick, Altaria! Ice Beam!"
"Altaria!" Adding her own attack in, Altaria would use Ice Beam, focusing it on the ground instead of directly at Dimstar. It was already frozen from the previous battle and now it would receive another layer to it. Dimstar took notice of this as the ice would flash-freeze the ground yet again, heading in her direction. Mienshao would then lift her leg out, managing to break free of whatever was holding her leg as she moved over the forming ice.
But even that had been stopped as the invisible force crushed the ice the moment it got too close to Dimstar, shattering it into pieces. Another flash-freeze had been prevented by Dimstar's strange power. "Nice try. But that won't do you any good. I'd like to see you keep up now since you're so crazy about speed."
The invisible forces could be sensed once more by Mienshao and a bit by Rainbow Dash. The feeling of them moving frantically was felt while the People of the Water could only see. Mienshao and Rainbow Dash both had the same instinct to move out of the way of whatever was coming for them.
The ground was smashed by this invisible force as Mienshao rolled to the side, narrowly evading this attack while Rainbow Dash took flight with Altaria. Both Rainbow Dash and Altaria would start flying around, feeling strong pressures nearby which prompted them to keep moving across the air. Being unable to see the force made it all the more irritating to deal with as they might as well be dodging randomly. Mienshao had her agile body to count on, but even that was difficult. She relied on the ice, sliding against some of it to evade the invisible force.
"T-Tari!" Poor Altaria just couldn't keep up as she was smacked in the face and wings by the force, crying out. Rainbow Dash gasped as she felt her tail get struck by this force, clipping some of it. The pegasus grimaced before descending, managing to evade one of them that came for her head, blowing against her mane when missing. "A-Altaria!"
Having enough of being the punching bag, Altaria would hum once more, creating a powerful soundwave that would defend her from the next pair of hits. This invisible force was pushed back by Altaria's outcry which had a wonderful melody behind it. But it was also a vicious melody as well, fitting for a Dragon. Dimstar narrowed her eyes as the flailing of this invisible force had come to an end after the outcry.
"Geez...This is harder than it needs to be...!" Rainbow Dash was getting rather annoyed by this. Just how could she do this and what was there exactly?
"I get it now!" Adriel exclaimed, finally seeing what Dimstar was truly doing. "She must be using some kind of tendrils to help her! But they're invisible!"
"Yeah? How come?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"It seems to be blending in with the night. These tendrils are perfectly camouflaged within the night sky and everything around it. Even the grass and other elements of the garden cannot expose it." An older man said as the People of the Water were finally getting it, revealing everything to Rainbow Dash.
"So it's blending in with the night? That's a problem. And it's still pretty early in the night too so daytime's not coming anytime soon."
"So you figured it out. How are you people capable of doing that? I've only read your personalities, not your capabilities." Dimstar questioned. "But how can that be?"
"It's all in the eyes! Hehe!" Enola grinned as she and the People of the Water pointed at their eyes. They all had one thing in common. Yellow eyes.
"Our golden eyes allow us to see things others can't. It's how the Sea Temple was invisible to the eyes of the mortals unless we willed it. It's something our entire civilisation has always possessed. Minus Diadora who seems to come from somewhere else." Adriel explained.
"Awesome! I wish I had eyes like that!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed with amazement. The golden eyes of the People of the Water are what also made them special. She saw how all of them here had those same coloured eyes. That involves those back at the temple and across the garden. The only exception was Diadora.
"So that's how they're able to see them. I did not know that. And frankly, that is rather annoying." Dimstar commented. "But, you have no way to handle this since you yourself cannot see it, Rainbow Dash. The People of the Water are too weak and your Pokemon have already suffered major damage from my power. It is the power that is connected to the Lich that lives within me.."
"The Lich?! You mean the Lich Queen?!" A stunned Rainbow Dash blurted.
"Not the Lich Queen. The Lich King. I am all that is left of the first Lich King. My power is proof of his existence and you are experiencing just a fraction of what his power was truly like. Be thankful that I am weaker than him. Otherwise, this would've been over sooner even with this gained knowledge."
"Wait a second...I can't see it, but I know someone else who can!" That's when it hit Rainbow Dash. She had a Pokemon who was essentially a perfect counter to Dimstar. At least, she hoped so. She quickly dug into her saddlebag, throwing another Poke Ball out. "I'm counting on you, Luxray! Go!"
"Luxray!"
"Luxray! Use your X-Ray Vision! See what we can't see!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"Ray!" With a flash of his eyes, Luxray would use his unique special ability. His X-Ray eyes. And of course, Rainbow Dash was right to bring Luxray out. With his power, he saw it for himself. The invisible force was truly coming out of Dimstar's body. He saw vicious tendrils emerge from Dimstar's back as they matched the colour of her coat. In fact, they were part of her in the physical sense rather than the magical sense, making it all the more disturbing. "Lux!"
"Alright! You see it!" Rainbow Dash pumped her hooves. "That's awesome! Now we've got a chance! How do you like that, vampire?!"
"So? It's no match for the power of a Lich." Dimstar was still greatly confident in herself, paying no mind to Luxray seeing through her invisibility. "You're bound to lose here, Rainbow Dash."
"Oh yeah? Have some of this! Light up, Luxray!"
"Luxray!" Luxray would use his electricity, unleashing it from his body. With this exertion, Luxray lit himself up, becoming a walking flashlight that shined beautifully in the night. And against a vampire, that was greatly efficient.
"Ngh!" Dimstar groaned as she flinched at the sight of Luxray's light. No matter how big she talked, she was a vampire at the end of the day. Light was her greatest weakness.
"Now, let's go, you three! Discharge! Aura Sphere! Moonblast!"
"Lux...Ray!" All three of them would attack together, aiming to defeat Dimstar in one go. And with Luxray continuously lighting himself up, he was making sure that Dimstar was focused on his aura. From his body, a flare of electricity would fly out before transforming into a devastating beam. For Mienshao, a ball of concentrated Aura was thrown and for Altaria, she gathered the power of the moon, which was very visible tonight, forming it into a pink sphere.
All three of them were sent to Dimstar, who actually made some movements at last, no longer in the same position. This was something she had to take into consideration. The vampire stood tall in the face of these three attacks, attempting to defend herself. Luxray saw these tendrils from her body form together as a shield.
All three attacks crashed into the shield of tendrils, making a rather thunderous sound that shook the nearby trees. The attacks managed to break through her tendrils as the light from Luxray's Discharge affected her. Parts of the tendrils would burn when faced with Luxray's Discharge as that was the biggest factor here.
Despite breaking through, Dimstar would still retaliate, using more of her tendrils. This time, it was offensively when going up against this trio of attacks. The tendrils would constrict the attacks while the vampire flew back, finally leaving that one spot she stood on for minutes. The attacks were all crushed by the tendrils, combusting in the process.
"That didn't work, but we made you move! Keep it up, you guys! Acrobatics! Ice Beam! Wild Charge, go for it!"
"Luxray!" Luxray would approach Dimstar with another electric attack. This time, it was WIld Charge which also lit him up. Joining him would be Mienshao, approaching with Acrobatics while Altaria would prepare for another Ice Beam. Surprisingly, she stood there, allowing the attacks to hit her.
She was tackled by Luxray which prompted Mienshao to slap her afterwards. Dimstar was then pushed into the air, followed by Altaria using Ice Beam, this time on the vampire. While in the air, she would be hit by the Ice Beam which summoned an icy explosion after it hit. It seemed like a successful hit with all three attacks landing without any issues. The People of the Water cheered for Rainbow Dash and her Pokemon afterwards.
"You inferior creatures. You shouldn't even be approaching a lich. I'll give you a taste of what a Lich is capable of." Dimstar scoffed at them as her voice could still be heard. Everyone gasped as the smoke was clearing, but Dimstar did not emerge from it all.
"Huh? Where did she...?" Rainbow Dash was confused. Dimstar was gone after the smoke vanished. And it sounded like she was still healthy. But she was nearby, just not next to Rainbow Dash at all.
A screech came from behind, alerting the pegasus and her Pokemon. It originated from the People of the Water who was screaming at what emerged before them. It was Dimstar. She not only took the attack but she retaliated at once, but on the wrong group.
Enola and the People of the Water were caught within Dimstar's magic as seen by Luxray. He saw them all restrained and being held up by these tendrils which seemed to have grown in size and numbers despite Dimstar's average-sized body.
"Hey! Let them go!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "They're not the ones who hit you!"
"I know that. But my goal is to get rid of all of you from this garden, remember?" Dimstar replied as the People of the Water cried out due to the powerful grip of the tendrils. They had a grip strong enough to harm their arms, legs and the rest of their bodies, making it difficult for them to move around or break free. "As for you, Rainbow Dash...Taking those attacks was worth it."
"Worth it? What are you talking about?"
"Because now I can return them to you. Like this." Another surprise had emerged. With a glare, Dimstar's eyes would form something out of thin air. Something eerily similar to what Rainbow Dash's Pokemon had done. Her dark magic would form a replica of Wild Charge, Ice Beam and Acrobatics. "Get lost."
Specifically, a dark construct of electricity that was incredibly dim, a flurry of sharp and fast shadows that were meant to replicate Mienshao's acrobatics and a chilling ray of ice that was obviously meant to be Ice Beam, but the ice was also darkened.
"No way!" Stunned, Rainbow Dash couldn't believe her eyes as Dimstar copied the attacks of her Pokemon with slight alterations and without any Pokemon of her own.
"A-Altaria!" Altaria, Luxray and Mienshao each received damage from these attacks which were variations of what they had used. All three of them unleashed a vociferation of pain as dark magic erupted from the shocking collision. And unfortunately, Rainbow Dash caught up in it. The outburst was strong enough to reach her without needing to go the full distance. It was the shockwaves and aftershocks of magic that got to her.
"G-Gaaah!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she was blown back along with all of her Pokemon. And with this blowback, she and her Pokemon would collectively down the large hill that she previously sent the Despair Plants down at.
"No...Miss Rainbow Dash!" Enola yelled while still being restrained by the tendrils, witnessing Rainbow Dash, Luxray, Altaria and Mienshao all drop, leaving her sights.
Rainbow Dash's eyes were heavily squinted when falling as she saw the night sky. The pegasus instinctively attempted to fly, but the damage was so great that even her natural talent was slipping. Apart from the night sky, she previously saw the stoic face of Dimstar gazing at her as if to taunt her.
"N-Not like this!" Rainbow Dash yelled before her voice faded out with a slight echo when falling with her Pokemon.
Dimstar, from what she has said, possesses a power that was related to the first Lich King. And with what was known of the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta, this kind of power was something that not many have faced off against, making it all the more dangerous. Rainbow Dash realized that the hard way but she wouldn't let it intimidate her. However, with how she was falling, her retaliation might not come to her as the journey continues.
"Ugh..." Landing in a bed of flowers was Rainbow Dash after she and her Pokemon took a rough fall. Thanks to Dimstar, she found herself in the lower levels of the garden. The pegasus got a taste of what the magic of a Lich was capable of from Dimstar the Vampire. This flower bed was relatively large, appearing in the shape of bat wings as they held Rainbow Dash. But even though the flower bed broke her fall, it didn't take away from impact.
"Tari. Taria..." Altaria got back up as her stellar defence saved her once more. But the damage she received recently was still present, taking a toll on her. The rest of her teammates, Luxray and Mienshao, were also conscious but suffered from that fall. Altaria got back up, walking to Rainbow Dash's side. "Altaria?"
"Darn it...I didn't see that coming." Rainbow Dash groaned, looking up at Altaria. "So she's a Lich...? But she looks like a vampire. What's up with that? Oh well, it doesn't matter now...I need to get back up there." However, that was relatively difficult with how injured she was. She was lucky that the flowers caught her fall but the damage was still there. Feeling badly injured, Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, struggling to stay awake.
And in this state, Rainbow Dash was defenceless. The Despair Plants from before that she knocked down were starting to gather, but it was only the Arachnorchids. These Despair Plants creeped out of the darkness with their eerie legs that moved across the ground and trees, gazing at the downed pegasus. With her Pokemon injured and her unconscious, the Arachnorchids had a strong opportunity in front of them.
"Luxray...!" Luxray would slowly stand up, snarling at the Despair Plants that threatened his trainer. Mienshao would get on one knee, finding the strength to continue while Altaria got in front of her allies, having the most strength left. However, in their current conditions, the number of Arachnorchids here would be hard to deal with but they were willing to throw everything they had.
"Aura Sphere!" Two voices bellowed nearby. Two very familiar voices that was soon followed by the appearance of an Aura Sphere which flew in. It dashed by Mienshao and the others, going straight for the Despair Plants. The Aura affected their bodies as always, making the Arachnorchids screech when the sphere combusted. They were fended off by the Aura which burned hotter than any flame.
The ones responsible for this were Lucario and Mew. And by extension, Ash and Pinkie Pie. Ash slid down one of the hills to make his appearance with Lucario with Pinkie Pie on his back. Fluttershy was still with them, descending from above with her wings while Audino, Raboot and Bayleef would also slide down, but Raboot certainly had more style than them. The Arachnorchids, already suffering damage from another Aura Sphere, first Mienshao and now Lucario plus Mew would crawl away immediately back into the shadows of the garden.
"Rainbow Dash! Are you alright?!" Fluttershy immediately went for her fellow pegasus who she knew since she was small. She came over to find that Rainbow Dash was unconscious and injured from the fall she took and the magic that Dimstar used against her. "Audino, use Heal Pulse!"
"Good work, you three. Let Audino and Fluttershy heal you up too." Ash looked back at Rainbow Dash's Pokemon. Rainbow Dash herself was being healed up as a verdant light would overtake her body.
"Ngh..." With the healing properties of Heal Pulse, Rainbow Dash's injuries would be swept away by the beautiful green light. She groaned once more as her eyes opened to see the welcoming and hopeful faces of Fluttershy and Audino. "Hey..."
"Thank goodness." A relieved Fluttershy said. "I thought you would've taken some time to get back up."
"I fell pretty high up...but this flower bed caught me. Rainbow Dash grunted before sitting up, feeling her hooves once more thanks to Audino's Heal Pulse.
"We've been moving across the garden looking for someone else. It's great that we found you in time. What about everyone else?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I was with Enola and some of the People of the Water back up there. But I got knocked down by some vampire who-" Upon saying that, Rainbow Dash recalled what was happening back at the higher levels of the garden. "Oh man! They're still up there with her!"
Indeed. With Rainbow Dash sent downwards, Dimstar was free to deal with the People of the Water who recently had the pegasus to protect them. With her tendrils that were masked within the night sky and atmosphere, becoming invisible, Dimstar held up them all up. And yet, the People of the Water would still resist her.
"Stop resisting. You don't possess the physical strength to break free." Dimstar said while tightening the tendrils to grip them all harder. "Unless you wish to be dropped off the garden and into the sea, I can make your demise fitting for your people."
"N-No thank you!" Adriel groaned while holding onto the tendrils that were around his neck. Many of the People of the Water were doing what they could to prevent the tendrils from crushing them brutally. Relying on their physical strength here is key. "Besides, we have our own way of defending ourselves against you!"
"That doesn't seem to be the case, now does it?" Dimstar found that hard to believe from how she was holding them all up. "At least you have good physical strength to keep yourselves around it seems. I'd expect this from how hard your civilization works."
"All together now...!" An old man said as each of the People of the Water opened their eyes in unison all of a sudden. Their golden eyes would light up, focusing on Dimstar. The vampire who possessed the magic of a lich looked at them with confusion in her own eyes.
And that's when she was taken aback by what the People of Water had done. From their golden eyes, that signature light that resembled the crystals had emerged. The light met with Dimstar's eyes, stunning her while also taking advantage of her weakness to light. Dimstar was hit with multiple flashes of light from the People of the Water, making her hiss.
The tendrils were weakened by this stunning gaze, prompting some of the people to loosen themselves while Dimstar's eyes were burning. Enola and the younger ones let themselves free first thanks to their small bodies.
"Light from their eyes...?!" Dimstar grunted before opening up one of her burning eyes. She saw how they managed to break free. "Not so fast!" Alas, Dimstar would recover incredibly quickly, using her tendrils once more. They would slam against the ground, causing a tremor to pass through. This tremor knocked over the People of the Water.
"Oof!" Enola fell over, sliding on the ground which led to her bumping into one of the trees. Everyone else would slide, roll or crash into something because of this tremor.
"I don't know what you did but you won't do it again," Dimstar said while closing both of her eyes, still feeling the burn from the light. Getting hit with that many light rays to the eye was certainly bewildering to her as even she was struggling to recover from it, squinting her flaming eyes.
"Our golden eyes aren't just common for us People of the Water. It's not just a way for us to see what is invisible but also light things up in a dark room. But on a vampire, it's very efficient it looks like." Adriel smiled while on the ground.
The golden eyes of the People of the Water had another secret. Apart from seeing the tendrils, they could also emit light from their eyes. And judging from Adriel's words, this was the first time it was used in such a way. And for what it was, it was amazingly efficient.
The People of the Water took this opportunity to run as fast as they could, helping their fellow Samiyan off the ground while DImstar was still recovering.
"Fools...With the power of the Lich, I can gain resistance to the light." Using the power of the first Lich King once more, Dimstar would cover her eyes in a dark magic while the People of the Water made a run for it. And with the advantage of their golden eyes, they could see the tendrils coming.
Dimstar was back in action that quickly. That light was merely an annoyance to her, much like how Luxray's light held her back for a bit. She sneered at the People of the Water, spreading out her wings while her tendrils moved with her motions. Absolutely vile and vicious.
She pursued the People of the Water, taking into the air as her tendrils were flailing around from above. They would lash down, smashing against the acre of trees within the garden that the Samiyans ran through. The tendrils would blow holes through them with their immense force, gripping onto some of the trees to rip the from the ground itself.
For the People of the Water, this was downright terrifying in every way. The feeling of being chased by these vicious tendrils during the night was horrifying, especially for the younger ones. Enola would be on one of these trees, using the vines to try and swing away from Dimstar's wrath. The old man was on the slower side which prompted Adriel to carry him.
One of the vines would break apart once the tendrils got to them, causing Enola to fall over, screaming. Thankfully, she was caught by her older brother Adriel, who made sure to always stay by her side. And the way he caught her was by his leg. He raised his leg, allowing Enola to land right on it.
Naturally, this was painful to his leg once his sister dropped her full weight on to it. He stopped running because of this, having only one leg on the ground as he put on a grimacing face. Adriel would nearly fall over because of this, not really thinking this through. Thankfully, he had an older sister who was hyperactive enough to make quick actions, such as jumping off Adriel's leg to continue fleeing as she crawled on the ground when jumping off.
Dimstar broke through the rest of the area with her tendrils, leaving nothing but destruction in her path while pursuing the People of the Water. "If only his majesty were here right now!" Adriel yelled, wishing that Ash was here. "This would be a different story, I bet!"
"Have faith in our king. After all, we have more help on the way." The old man said before yawning. "Now...I shall take a nap on you for a quick recovery
"You're feeling tired now?!" Adriel exclaimed before feeling a nearby shockwave from the tendrils hitting the ground. The People of the Water essentially kept Dimstar occupied for the meanwhile. But for how long will this last?
Meanwhile, with Twilight, Daisy and Paradise, they've come across their own vampire issues. The rest of the vampires who showed up here had arrived where Twilight's group could be found. Right next to the large pod that held many Despair Plant seeds. The baby Despair Plants of Triantis and Arachnorchid had been born faster than expected and with no signs of hostility thanks to the Flora Ponies and their magic. And they were born just in time to see conflict emerge.
For the vampires, coming across Princess Twilight was an excellent find, especially since some of them planned to take her back to Equestria. And when seeing the vampires, the baby Despair Plants would suddenly hold onto Daisy and Paradise, flocking to them as they could already feel the intimidating aura coming from the vampires.
"Where are you lot going?" A vampire pointed out, spotting them skitter over to the other side.
"Hang on...What happened to them?!" It took a minute for some of the vampires to notice that something was wrong. "Why are they babies?!" Stunned by what they were seeing, they were taken aback by the fact that these were baby Despair Plants.
"They should be fully grown like the others. All of them from the pod should." Another vampire uttered. "What did you do to them, ponies?!"
"Uh! N-Nothing...!" Daisy stammered while holding some of them close to her. They were so tiny they could be mistaken as toys.
"Don't yell at my sister!" Paradise didn't take too kindly to the vampires yelling at her sister.
"So even they didn't know..." Twilight said to herself, looking back at Daisy and Paradise, who were responsible for this. This only further proved that their power over plants was something to be reckoned with. But more importantly, right now, their safety was something that needed full focus.
The Despair Plants would whimper at the bellowing sound of the vampires and Paradise's own voice. It intimidated them, prompting Daisy to hold these plants even closer. "Paradise, not so loud. They're sensitive to this loud noise."
"Maybe they need an extra oomph if they're going to grow up." A vampire said, summoning magic around her wings as she was ready to make the first move. So were the other vampires, spreading out their wings.
"I don't think so! Eve! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Es...Peon!" Espeon releases a bright white light from her body, using the vampires' weakness against them once more. Everyone seemed to have a counter to the vampires, but that was only because Light Energy was so common. The vampires hissed at this bright light as it was more effective on them than it was on Dimstar. They would step back, having their coat burn up.
Espeon then leapt in the air as rainbow-coloured rays of light erupted from the white light, raining down on the vampires. The vampires would then scatter when faced with this bright light, narrowly evading the raining rainbows. Twilight would also chime in, shooting magic out of her horn continuously.
But the vampires would retaliate immediately. And it would be a combined retaliation. Twilight's next attack was promptly interrupted by a rumble in the ground. She looked down to see a piece of the ground beginning to move. And these movements only went up. The ground was lifted by the magic of the vampires as they removed a sizable chunk of it from the ground, also carrying Daisy and Paradise with them. "Woah...Woah!" Paradise gasped, stumbling on the levitating chunk of earth.
Afterwards, more of them would fly out of the ground, going past the ones Twilight's group were on. Once above them, the vampires would soon drop the large chunks of earth onto them.
"Psychic!" Twilight yelled as she and Espeon performed the same type of move together. Twilight's telekinesis and Espeon's Psychic. Both would hold the boulders in time, preventing them from crashing into them. Daisy and Paradise watched in awe as the Princess of Friendship and Sun Pokemon sent the rocks back at the vampires.
The vampires would take flight, deciding to approach Twilight at an up-close distance this time. But when approaching her, some of them would find themselves being smacked by the rocks that were thrown back at them. They would fall out of the sky thanks to this retaliation.
"This way!" Twilight would decide to back up, not wanting to risk any harm done to the Flora Ponies. Following the Princess of Friendship, the Flora Ponies would leap off the large rock that they stood on while looking back to see the vampires soar through the night sky with their menacing wings.
The vampires would continue lifting more of the garden off the earth, sending large chunks of rocks at their prey. The rocks would come raining down, breaking apart each time they failed to hit them. The baby Despair Plants closed their eyes, fearing the worst with how hyperactive things turned out. Twilight would shoot some rocks out of the sky with her magic while running behind the Flora Ponies. Espeon would do the same, using Dazzling Gleam to do so as rainbow rays would come flying out, assaulting these bombarding rocks.
The vampires were still managing to keep up even with all of these obstacles getting in their way. They did move relatively fast with their wings. Seemingly faster than a pegasus which made them all the more intimidating.
"Flee from this!" One of the vampires maniacally exclaimed before ascending into the air. She would then use her curse magic, deviating from the other vampires who were using the terrain. Her curse magic revealed itself as she would summon ethereal spectral skulls from her body. These skulls would fly down, passing by the vampires and howling at their prey. These skulls would phase through Twilight's magic, catching her surprise.
The terrifying skulls appeared in front of Twilight and Espeon after easily avoiding her magical attack. However, that was where Espeon stepped in, using Shadow Ball to try and retaliate. Shadow Ball was the right call as she summoned a blob of shadows right in front of her and the skull when it got too close, attempting to bite the Princess of Friendship. A strong collision happened when Shadow Ball and this Spectral Skull connected. An ethereal outburst occurred, knocking TWilight and Espeon away.
"Agh!" Twilight yelled as she and Espeon slid on the ground with a spectral aura trailing out of them. They would bounce off the sides of some trees when flying back.
"Mom!" Daisy and Paradise collectively said after witnessing their mother figure take damage for the first time. It shocked their eyes to see Twilight actually receive damage and it was mainly due to how she wanted to protect the Flora Ponies.
Twilight groaned, stopping near an archway of thorns. Espeon would land next to her as the sound of the vampires laughing at their slip-ups would ring through their ears. The Princess of Friendship shook her head, snarling back at them.
"You won't be laughing when Absol makes an entrance..." Twilight got back up, using her magic to hold out two Poke Balls. One of them was obviously Absol while the other was a mystery for the moment.
"Mom, are you okay?!" Daisy asked, worried.
"I'm fine." Twilight gave a reassuring smile while looking back. "I get hurt quite a lot when it comes to things like this. No need to worry."
"Espeon."
"You should be worried, princess." A vampire said with a mocking tone, laughing at her. "If you're lucky, we'll have you in pieces when we get to Magehold. If not...at least we have a vampire princess to roam our home."
"You wish." Twilight scoffed as her purple eyes would glow in the dark. "As much as I would love to meet your Queen so I can smack her silly for what she's done to our home, I'm not going anywhere. I'm tired of you vampires already..."
Her anger was rising and it was certainly on purpose. Twilight would take everything the Dread League have done recently, channelling that into strength. Her magical aura was showing in correlation with her anger, flowing like flames as the vampires would all suddenly stop flying and walking.
This wasn't Twilight's standard magic. This was Horizon Storm's magic. The power of Sorrowful Rage Magic would erupt from her body, being used in this instance and Twilight certainly had a good reason to use it. Specifically, the rage part. Twilight smiled, knowing that she had the vampires right where she wanted them with this exertion of magic.
Suddenly, she would use all of her Sorrowful Rage Magic, expanding it from her body as it would fly out in a dome shape. The vampires would gasp, closing their eyes once the flare of magic came their way. Daisy and Paradise would do the same while Espeon only stood there, knowing what this was.
The light from Twilight's magic was so potent that it illuminated many parts of the garden, reaching far enough for many to view. If anything, this was like a flare to call for her many friends, if they could find her.
The light was viewed by many as it was rather dazzling to look at. Now it was all a matter of it Twilight could keep her position when facing off against the vampires. But some were ignoring the light. Such as Ebony Rhyme, who was carrying her box of potions with her.
"The core of the garden should be nearby. I can speed up the process that way." Her objective was to make the garden reach its full potential. With what she had done, she had to gain the Lich Queen's trust when she woke up and that was by helping the garden grow.
The middle of the garden, the very core of it was her target. And of course, she had the potion for it since she was so confident. At the moment, Fantina was not with her, wandering off on her own. All the vampires were busy in a conflict while Ebony Rhyme chose to stay away from any conflict.
With her being away from everyone else, she had the chance to move peacefully with zero interruptions. And thus, that lead her to the centre of the Despair Plant Garden. The core of it was as terrifying as it could be. It had a hollow part in the middle, full of dark magic that was seeping out of it, sending out multiple cries and howls that sounded sad and terrifying at the same time. It was resting near massive thorns that were the size of the trees themselves which were also covering the large hole in the centre.
"This should do the trick." Ebony Rhyme dug into her box, picking out the very potion that she needed. However, while she stayed away from the conflict, she wasn't the only one moving without any issues.
Hoofsteps were heard nearby, galloping rapidly and stepping on piles of leaves. Ebony Rhyme would quickly turn her head, holding the necessary potion as she wondered which pony would it be. An enemy or a vampire? Then again, to her, the other vampires were her enemy, minus the children. However, it was one pony she did not expect to see. And this one pony felt the same way.
She had a frozen expression on her face and an open mouth. Her eyes couldn't believe what she was seeing. Who she was seeing. With the wind blowing, the two ponies would have their minds and eyes process the appearances before them.
The one pony standing opposite to her was Potion Nova. Two ponies that were specialized in ponies had met with each other, but from the looks on their faces, this was not the first time. Their appearances were familiar to each other. Familiar to the point of nostalgia as they both spoke at the same time.
Two potion makers had come across each other and both saw familiar faces before them. Both took the time to process this as one of them had a smile form. That one would be Potion Nova, who recognized her childhood friend. Ebony Rhyme would also recognize her childhood friend, but a smile did not form on her face.
"It is you!" Potion Nova excitedly said before rushing over to her old friend. "I haven't seen you in so long"
"I...I didn't think I'd see you here at all." Ebony was just as surprised as her, backing away when Potion Nova approach. "I thought I'd never see you again after all these years."
"It's only been around 20ish years. But here we are, seeing each other again. We were separated long ago and I even had that same thought of never joining up with you again. What are you doing here?"
"Eh, I'm tagging along with someone, that's all." Potion Nova laughed. "Here on important business. I was expecting a lot, but I wasn't expecting this, that's for sure. How have you been?"
"Oh, I...I've been better. Recently, anyway." Ebony replied as her time at Magehold was mostly full of downs but has recently been gaining ups thanks to Fantina. "Being separated and living in different locations threw me for a loop back then, especially with where I ended up. After all...I'm the one who left. You stayed behind."
"I did stay behind. I was gutted when you left all of a sudden. You never said why actually. Why did you leave?" Potion Nova questioned as the reason for Ebony Rhyme leaving was never explained to her. All she knew was that Ebony left one day and never came back. "The ponies back home at Mareflower said you had to move, but where?"
"You can probably guess. You've been keeping up with the news of the world lately, haven't you?"
"Of course! I've been keeping up like crazy! Pokemon are the best, aren't they? They're just as enjoyable as potions. About that...remember when we used to make potions back then together?"
"Obviously I do." Ebony finally cracked a smile. "Best moments of my life right there." She would immediately reminisce about the past, way back when she was just a filly. And a time before she ended up in Magehold, despite being a vampire.
20 Years ago. A town called Mareflower.
Positioned on the Eastern side of a forest, the crossroad of a town known as Mareflower was home to mostly normal ponies. The crossroad itself looked stunning. With its willow wood rooftops, birch wood walls and rows upon rows of luscious trees on each building, Greenflower has a fascinating atmosphere.
And living here was a young Ebony Rhyme, who was not a normal pony at all. She was a vampire, of course, but the only visible vampiric features were her wings and fang, which was not sticking out like most vampires. And inside one of these lush buildings, potions were being played with.
Ebony Rhyme and her childhood friend Potion Nova were being as childish as they could be, playing with the potions that they made. Granted, they were just as childish as the ponies themselves. That involved potions exploding in their faces when testing them out since they were still new to making them. But they were certainly learning together, even if it was without any adult guidance.
"I don't think this one will do anything for us." Ebony looked at her hooves as she had multiple eyes on them, blinking and looking around. That was the effect of the potion she just made. Impressive, but it gave way to many weaknesses and made things rather bewildering for the little vampire. Her vision had been tampered with as she was struggling to look in multiple directions. "Oh geez..."
"At least the beauty potion will do something for us." Potion Nova said, surrounded by a sea of potions. Some of them had fallen over, leaking potion liquid everywhere.
"You know Nova...Why do you study potions?" Ebony Rhyme asked. "You have magic, don't you?"
"Hm? Why?" Potion Nova uttered as Ebony brought up a good point. Potion Nova already had access to magic since she was a unicorn.
"I don't have magic. That's why I study potions as a substitute. But you have magic and you study them too. Why?"
"Why not? I love potions so much, that's why!" As a child, Potion Nova had the most simple yet effective answer that could be given out. "Plus, I saw you making potions on your own and I couldn't help but help you out. And it was worth it, cause then I wouldn't have gotten the chance to meet you."
"I guess so. Thanks for sticking by with me." Ebony was glad to hear it. She didn't need something long and complex. That's all she wanted to hear.
"But your wings could still be a sign of magic, don't you think?" Potion Nova giggled while bursting out of the sea of potions, making them fly everywhere.
"I don't think so." Ebony shook her head with a smile before having her face hit by potion liquid, forming that smile back into a frown. Flowers would immediately grow on her face due to the potion's effect. The liquid dropped as her smile returned. Back then, this was the most she ever smiled.
"Good times...And now that we've met up, that can continue, right? I was looking forward to a day like this." Potion Nova said.
"Right but...That's not important right now. Potion. You know that I'm a vampire, right?"
"Yeah. I figured. After remembering what your wings looked like after news about the Dread League spread, I found out that you are a vampire." Potion Nova revealed that she knew. Not exactly as a child but when news about the Dread League started growing constantly. "But what does that matter?"
"Huh?" This took Ebony by surprise. Potion Nova knew yet it didn't matter to her at all. That much was clear when she met up with Ebony Rhyme here at the centre of the Despair Plant Garden.
"When I found out you were a vampire, it didn't really change much for me. I always knew there was something different about you when we were young but even then, I didn't care. We had so much fun together that it wasn't something I ever cared about. We were just making memories after all."
"You don't care if I'm a vampire, huh? Even though you know..." EBony lowered her head, biting her lip which was trembling. Hearing all of this from Potion Nova, who once again kept it simple for her, was stunning. It was perplexing to her heart but also soft.
With a smile forming, Ebony Rhyme was glad to hear that her childhood friend never denounced their friendship. She feared that would be the case if they were to ever reunite and here they were, with Ebony's predictions being flipped upside down.
"It's just like how you came to me back then when you saw me make potions. You're way too approachable, you know that?" Ebony Rhyme uttered which prompted Potion Nova to laugh.
"Oh! Anyway, I can't chat now. I came here for that terrifying thing." Potion Nova focused on the mission. "This is the centre of the garden and it's a good time to shut it down with this." She would dig into her bag of potions which was smaller than what it could initially carry. Ebony Rhyme saw tiny potions within as one of them would soon enlarge once taken out. "Stand back, Ebony. This might get dangerous."
"Sorry, but..." Frowning with her heart slowing down, Ebony would suddenly hold her hoof out at Potion Nova's own hoof. "I can't have you do that. I'm the one who's dropping potions down there."
"Huh? Well, why don't we just do it together if we have the same idea." Potion Nova said, believing that Ebony was also here to stop the garden. She had full faith in her friend's heart after all.
"Well, we don't actually have the same idea." Ebony Rhyme feared that this would happen now that they've met up once more. "I came here to finish this garden. Help it reach its max potential as soon as possible."
"Y-You are?" Potion Nova stuttered. "But Ebony...I thought you were..."
"That's one of the things I feared, Nova. You know that I'm a vampire and you don't care. And that's great. But you should know what I'm a part of. I'm a member of the Dread League. That's where my loyalties lie after all." Ebony Rhyme was still a member of the Dread League and was carrying out a mission after all.
"Oh. I see." This gutted Potion Nova but a part of her expected this. It was rather difficult for both of them since they had opposite goals. And these objectives conflicted with their sweet reunion, swiftly souring it. "Well, I can't let this thing continue. The things it'll do when it reaches its full potential are too terrifying, so I need to stop its growth at once, Ebony."
"I can't let you do that, Nova." Ebony Rhyme denied it. In reality, this was for her own safety along with Fantina's. It all tied back to the Lich Queen and the First Lich King. "I'm sorry. It's been wonderful meeting you again, but I need to do this. For my sake, my friend and for Magehold."
"Well...Well then..." This was hard for Potion Nova to stomach as she was struggling to finish her sentence. How could this turn so quickly? Both potion makers looked at each other for a moment. There was a moment of silence with the only sound being the wind blowing. Their manes would blow in the wind as the silence was then disrupted by the sound of a Pokemon attack going off in the distance and the crashing waves below.
Ebony Rhyme had already made up her mind. And it was swift too, but she was only doing this to stay loyal to the Lich Queen. She had always been loyal to Rosa Maledicta but recent events have tampered with that. And it was all thanks to Fantina. However, even with Fantina lighting Ebony Rhyme's light, that drive to gain the Lich Queen's trust was still there, even if she was also working for the first Lich King in secrecy at the moment.
"I-I'll do it before you can stop me!" She decided to make it quick, using the potion she needed to try and shut down the garden. She would levitate it with her magic, quickly attempting to pour it into the centre of the garden.
Ebony Rhyme would react at, using her cloak to grab one of her own potions. She would quickly intercept Potion Nova's potion with her own as the lid would already open up being thrown. Ebony's potion smashed into Nova's.
The liquids from the two potions collided with each other, having different reactions. One was meant to shut down the garden, having a powerful flare of magic erupt from it while the other appeared to be some kind of lightning potion, sending bursts of lightning.
Potion Nova and Ebony squinted at the sight of this outburst as sparks would fly. Vicious lightning bolts came crashing down, hitting the garden violently as some would reach Ebony and Potion Nova. Potion Nova backed away along with Ebony Rhyme until the light came to an end.
"I have a whole bunch of potions with me too as you can see. You won't be stopping this garden from growing, Nova. Sorry about that." Ebony Rhyme said as she had her cloak carry many potions with her.
"Okay then...How about we have a challenge like we used to back in the day?" Potion Nova carried multiple potions with her magic. "But instead of making potions as fast as we can, it all depends on who can get theirs in first." She issued a challenge, which was odd considering the circumstances for this.
"I'll accept it." Ebony accepted the challenge anyway. Immediately, she took a drink out of one of her potions which would affect her body. Potion Nova did the same as both potions would have different effects. The one Ebony drank allowed her to paralyze, sending a paralyzing beam from her eyes. She was willing to keep Potion Nova in place just to stop her actions.
"Yikes!" Potion Nova grimaced as the effect of her potion kicked in right as this paralyzing beam came soaring out. The effect of this potion gave her afterimages, allowing Potion Nova to juke Ebony Rhyme out. The potion was originally meant to psyche Ebony out so that she would be too distracted by all the afterimages.
The afterimages would vanish as Potion Nova stepped back, narrowly evading the paralyzing beam as it would hit a nearby tree. That tree would find itself receiving a strong case of paralysis, even if it did nothing to something that was already stationary.
Ebony would quickly drink another potion as the effect kicked in. Her hoof would extend, obviously being used to try and reach the centre of the garden as soon as possible. In response, the next potion that Nova used was actually done on the terrain itself. This potion would touch the grass, manipulating the surrounding area.
The ground itself would light up, gaining dazzling colours that were blinding to the eyes. And they certainly surprised Ebony Rhyme, stunning her eyes with how bright they were. And as a vampire, this was also a problem for her as she backed away, retracting her extended hoof. Growling at this, Ebony Rhyme would use the next potion on her cloak as soon as possible.
And this one would also interact with the terrain. She threw it against the ground as the effect would retaliate against the light. It would immediately summon a swarm of darkness that overlayed the light, rapidly spreading across this part of the garden. It was similar to that one potion she used to block out sound and communication from the Lich Queen with darkness, but instead of creating a sole space and blocking out the sound, it would darken the area and nothing more.
Potion Nova gasped as everything turned dark for her. The hedges, flowers, plants, trees and many other parts of the garden were masked in darkness, making it hard for her to see anything else but herself. The light she made was gone because of this darkness swarm.
"For a vampire like myself, seeing through the dark is easy." Ebony Rhyme's voice was heard within the darkness as this was used to her advantage. And with this advantage, she would have the chance to move towards the centre of the garden.
"It's a good thing I'm always prepared then!" Potion Nova also had a counter to this. She would soon drink another potion as fast as she could, granting her the much-needed effect. Night Vision. Her eyes lit up, allowing her to see through the dark easily. And with this, she spotted Ebony Rhyme heading for the centre. Quickly, she would use her own magic to stop this, sending out a beam that would affect a nearby rock.
She had normal magic, after all, using that to her advantage. The rock would enlarge in front of Ebony Rhyme, going from a pebble to a tree-sized boulder. Ebony came to a screeching halt, nearly crashing into this boulder as it blocked her path to the centre.
"Maybe if i block it off with this!" Potion Nova then gained an excellent idea. She would try and block the centre of the garden with this large rock, quickly throwing another potion at it. This potion would break against the rock, spreading its liquids onto it. The effect worked on the rock as well, but only for one purpose. Duplication.
The rock would duplicate once, allowing Potion Nova to have an extra rock. One was meant to block Ebony Rhyme while the other would be used to plug the hole. And of course, this required Potion Nova's own magical strength. She used her magic to hold the extra rock, using all of her might on something so large.
However, Potion Nova had a response to this as well. Two responses. She drank a potion that gave her Super Strength, allowing her to easily smash the rock into bits with her hooves, startling Potion Nova. And the second one required extra assistance from someone else.
Her Pokemon. One of her Pokemon showed up and it ended up being her Banette, who would phase through the shattered rock. Potion Nova gasped upon seeing Banette, who could easily pass through this other rock even if she did manage to plug the hole. And not only that, Banette was the one holding another potion.
"Drop it in, Banette! Go!"
"I don't think so! Out you come, Rapidash!" Potion Nova threw out her own Poke Ball with her magic as she had a partner Pokemon as well. But nowadays, who doesn't? And out of it came a Galarian Rapidash instead of the standard Kantonian one.
"Rapidash!"
"Psycho Cut!"
"Dash!" Rapidash would instantly intercept Banette, shooting out tearing blades of Psychic Energy from its horn. The blades would get in Banette's way, rapidly hitting the Ghost-Type.
"B-Bane!" Banette cried out as the potion had also been damaged. One of the blades would cut the potion in half, causing its liquids to drop. However, with a smile forming on her face, Ebony Rhyme predicted something like this would happen. And so did Banette, who also put on a smile. After the potion dropped on it, the Marionette Pokemon would be under its effects as it actually meant for it.
Rapidly, Banette would grow in size, expanding past what it usually appears as. Potion Nova and Rapidash dropped their jaws in the face of this Giga Banette. The giant Banette looked down at them both, standing high and tall, surpassing most of the garden. The other rock would be destroyed once Banette grew, smashing it apart.
"Sweet Celestia..." Potion Nova gulped.
"This will finish things. Use Confuse Ray!"
"Bane!" A gigantic Confuse Ray was imminent. Banette formed a purple ball of energy in between its hands that were as big as its head. The ball then multiplies around the Marionette Pokemon's body as all of these balls were thrown downwards to both Rapidash and Potion Nova. This was certainly something to try and defend against.
"Here goes nothing!" Potion Nova would use her own magic as well, forming a barrier around herself and Rapidash. Right on time as the balls crashed into the barrier, nearly hitting their targets. But with Potion Nova's magic, she not only shielded herself against these attacks, but she pushed them away by expanding her barrier. The energy balls would fly away, heading into the sky before dissipating after failing to hit their targets successfully.
"Are you kidding me?" Ebony Rhyme growled as Potion Nova was keeping pace with her, having the advantage of magic on her side.
"I can do this all day, Ebony. I have all kinds of potions to help me out." Potion Nova smiled. "I think I'll give my Rapidash wings next. She's not exempt from the potions either."
"Rapidash!"
"I can't let this continue..." Ebony Rhyme uttered as she was on a time limit. Fractured Note told her to make this quick after all before the Lich Queen wakes up to see Fantina here. Ebony then climbed up Banette before opening one potion bottle. She was planning to end this as soon as possible, no longer wanting to play around. "Banette! Shadow Ball! I'll throw this in at once!"
"Bane!" Banette would prepare an extra large Shadow Ball. Two of them. At the same time, this potion that Ebony Rhyme held would be the one to help grow it.
"I have a spare, so here goes nothing!" Potion Nova also had the potion she needed to shut this garden down. Since she was working with Galaxy Master, she needed all the spares she could get. "Rapidash, stop that potion with Dazzling Gleam!"
"Dash!" Rapidash would prepare a Dazzling Gleam while Potion Nova readied her own potion. In unison, both attacks were unleashed. Two large blobs and a ray of rainbows. As for the two ponies, both would launch their potions at the same time, going for the hole.
Ebony Rhyme would launch it downwards while Potion Nova used the force of her magic to rocket the potion. Both flew at the same speeds as the only things standing in their way were Shadow Ball and Dazzling Gleam. But once both attacks clashed, the potions would be caught up in them.
The outburst of Infinity Energy engulfed the two potions instantly, forming a flare of both light and dark. Potion and Ebony closed their eyes together along with Rapidash and Banette. All of this energy would be blinding to them as it was even over the centre of the garden. The outburst reached the centre which was soon followed by a howl. One way or another, the garden's very core had been tampered with. But in what way?
The howl was heard by many as the flare of light and dark shot into the sky for many to see. That involved Dimstar, who was still pursuing the People of the Water. They managed to hide from her in the meanwhile which made it all the more terrifying for them.
"You cannot hide from me forever," Dimstar spoke with her voice echoing, still flailing her tendrils around which were knocking over obstacles just to try and find these people. "You are trespassing on Magehold Property. There is no excuse for you at all."
"Hold it!" Finally, she would come across someone. She expected it to be one of the Samiyans, but that was not the case. Instead, encountering Dimstar was none other than Ash's group which consisted of Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and of course, Rainbow Dash. For Dimstar, this did not matter. Her goal was to get rid of all the intruders after all. Ash and his friends were no exception, obviously.
"I'm back for another one. This time, you won't catch me by surprise!" Rainbow Dash declared.
"I thought you met your demise when you fell. I should have double-checked. That was a mistake on my part but it won't matter once I thoroughly deal with you all."
"You're in our way. I gotta meet up with Galaxy Master as soon as possible," said Ash. "I've come this far just to see him and I won't let you ruin that and hurt others along the way."
"Ash Ketchum. Even with your presence here, this is nothing to worry about. Not when the remnants of the Lich King are with me." Dimstar uttered.
Interrupting their conversation was the howl from the middle of the garden, grabbing their attention. The flare of magic from before would suddenly explode, reaching a critical level that was unexpected. Ash and his friends gasped at the sight of this outburst wondering just what could've caused that.
Dimstar narrowed her eyes at the magical outburst, being curious herself. From how titanic this was, it could spell different results for the garden. Good or bad. No one knew for now. But for Dimstar, before she could figure that out, eliminating Ash and everyone on here was a top priority and what truly mattered more than anything as the journey continues.
"Oh...That might've been a bad call..." Holding her head after a confounding collision of potions and attacks was Potion Nova. She sat up alongside her Galarian Rapidash. Both of them had their eyes roll, feeling truly bewildered in many ways. Potion Nova readjusted her head quickly, attempting to stand up tall. But standing up was even more difficult as she would stumble and wobble. Her mane also appeared differently, being frizzed because of the outburst. Surprisingly, it was a nice fit for her in a way.
As for the aftermath, it was rather uneventful. For such a massive outburst, the surrounding area looked the same. All of the gardens' decorations were still together from the trees, hedges, flowers and thorns. There was seemingly no trace of the potions left. Not a drop of their liquid. The only thing different was some mild destruction here and there but that was about it.
"Ebony. Are you alright?" Even after going up against Ebony Rhyme, she still saw the vampire as her friend.
"I'm fine...But..." Ebony Rhyme was also still in one piece despite the outburst. Her Banette had returned to its normal size, lying flat on its face. "That didn't go according to plan."
"I guess we tied." Potion Nova took a deep breath as she and Ebony looked at each other. Both realized that all of their potion squabbles led to them being equal. Both were reactive in time, both had answers to everything and neither could 1UP the other. If anything, this struggle was pointless as they both failed to win the challenge.
Afterwards, the duo of potion makers would chuckle. To them, that back and forth was rather enjoyable. Both got to test out their potions and see what emerged from this encounter.
"I can't believe my first time testing my potions outside of Magehold turned out like this!" Ebony Rhyme laughed. "But it only makes sense that you'd be the one to do it. How are you so quick to react like that?"
"I should say the same for you. I have magic and you don't but you threw out potions like it was nothing. Great going!" Potion Nova laughed. "You've improved greatly since we last met."
"As a vampire, I just come with the natural physical advantages. That also makes up for my lack of magic." Ebony Rhyme shrugged before helping Banette back up. "And yeah. I improved on my own back at Magehold without anyone to help me. It was rough learning on my own since nopony else would want to come near me but...it paid off it looks like."
"Mhm. I knew you'd improve. It's way different than when I first saw you and we first made potions together. I'm glad after all these years, you never stopped. Neither did I."
"Right. Throwing those potions around with you...was really fun. It reminded me of the old days." All of that was rather nostalgic to Ebony Rhyme because of how messy things got. It was like they were children once more but with better accuracy and aim now. "But...that still doesn't change the facts about all of this."
"I know." Potion Nova lowered her head. "You're still with the Dread League. But do you have to be? You were never like that Ebony. This only proved that." The unicorn did not see Potion Nova as evil. Not in the slightest.
"You can think that but I know where my loyalties lie. At least for the most part." Ebony replied, staying loyal to the Lich Queen but also swaying towards the side of Fantina, aiming to free her. "I'm not the biggest fan of Magehold or the Dread League at all. But I'm doing this for a reason and I have to succeed or else."
"Or else what? You can tell me, Ebony. I'd like to understand if that's okay with you."
"Well..." Ebony Rhyme thought about it. Fantina wasn't her friend. It has always been Potion Nova. And much like Fantina, Potiion Nova did not care for EBony being a vampire and only saw her as a friend. "You always were one to hear me out and listen to me more than anypony back at Mareflower. So...I'll tell you. But there's one thing I want to know from you as well."
"What's that?"
"My parents. Where are they? Back at Magehold, when two ponies have a vampire child, one is a vampire and the other is an average pony. There's a lot of half-vampires running around and I know have the same. You still live at Mareflower, don't you?"
"I do. There's records of them being there. Their names are Steel Road and Lila Love. But...I haven't seen them at all. They left the same day you left Mareflower."
"That's a shame. Oh well...At least I got something out of that. But as for the core of the garden..."
"I've spent up the necessary potions for this since I didn't expect to show up for this. I planned to clock out for the night until this garden came about." Potion Nova sighed, gazing at the core of the garden. "What did our potions even do? It looked like they went inside of the core."
"The effects should kick in soon. But I'm not sure what those two potions can do when smashed against each other. I'm just hoping for the better and I need to leave as soon as possible. I should tell you the reason why I'm doing this. It's for another friend I made back at Magehold. Her name is Fantina."
"Fantina? You mean that Fantina!?" The name Fantina was recognizable to the ears of Potion Nova. "The Top Coordinator?!"
"R-Right. That one. You know about her?"
"Well, I know she's skilled at contests and shows up to watch them. And she's apparently a Gym Leader too. What's up with her? And how'd you to meet in the first place?"
"About that...What you need to know is that I have to get Fantina's memories back. If anyone deserves to be free from Magehold it's here. She shouldn't be there. Even if she's made everything livelier than it used to be." Ebony Rhyme grumbled, focusing on bringing back Fantina's memories so that she can live her life once more. The way it's supposed to be."
"Her memories? W-What happened?!" Potion Nova stood up. And the moment she did, the effects of the two potions had finally kicked in as a terrifying roar and howl came from the core of the garden, startling them both.
One potion was meant to shut down the garden while the other was supposed to grow it. And these two different elements had caused a colossal reaction to the garden, especially since it was at the core. They felt the garden rock and shake, throwing them off balance. Potion Nova would fall flat on her face.
"What's going on?!" Ebony Rhyme gasped, attempting to stand straight. The effects of these two potions have certainly impacted the garden, but in what way?
Sea Temple, Samiya.
Back at the Sea Temple, the large vines from the garden that were holding it back were starting to shake. This was related to the effects the potions left behind on the garden. The Samiyans gasped as the vines were gyrating violently, having lights flare out of them.
Naturally, they were greatly confused by this sudden outcry from the vines and the garden above. The large vines would then start moving at last, rocking the seas themselves with their strength. With the seas being affected by the strength of the vines, this made the Sea Temple rock as well due to how connected it was to the Sea.
"What is going up there?!" Alo, who was at the Treasure Room, exclaimed after feeling the trembling. With the seas shaking at the might of the roots, strong waves were rising, splashing onto the Sea Temple. Many backed away when the waves splashed inside but since the temple was so used to the water, it wasn't that big of a deal. But getting hit by a strong splash of water was a big deal.
"Alo! Sir!" Running into the room was none other than Donoma, the Temple's Seer as she had her crystal ball in her hands. "We have a problem! You need to see this!"
"What is it?! Did you see something?!"
"I did! I looked into my crystal ball and saw some outcomes that originate from the garden above us. It seems that the Sea Temple will be swished violently across the seas." Donoma explained what she foresaw. "Another one is that the temple will be launched from the sea, crashing elsewhere. Something's happening up there."
What Donoma saw involved the Sea Temple getting involved and potential harm to those on it. Alo found this rather uneasy before looking back at the crystal that guided them here. It stopped glowing long ago after they came across the Despair Plant Garden.
"Perhaps...something is upsetting the balance of the garden?" Alo theorized. "It was not like this before so that must mean something set it off. Whatever did this will bring dire consequences to us, unless we hurry and try to stop it."
Despair Plant Garden.
Feeling this too would be Ash's group and Dimstar as well. Pinkie Pie would immediately lose her balance, slipping over and falling on her back with Mew dropping out of her mane. Ash would hold onto Fluttershy and Audino, keeping them steady while DImstar used her tendrils to maintain her balance.
"I'm not sure what's going on, but I fear that the garden could be ruined before I can have the chance to eliminate you all," Dimstar commented. "The garden might be unsalvagable with all that's happening so far."
"So you'll leave us alone then?" Fluttershy squeed, believing that Dimstar would simply just leave because of how much damage the garden was receiving, along with all of this rocking.
"Eventually, I will leave. But I will be taking you as well, Fluttershy. I sense a vampire within you after all." Dimstar eyed down Fluttershy, referring to the one time she became a Bat Pony. Even to this day, the Dread League have not given up on trying to recruit Fluttershy. Fluttershy gulped, hiding behind a stumbling Ash.
"With how the garden is turning out...it might be hard to recover. But that won't distract me. Not one bit." She then raised her tendrils, ignoring the trembling just to attack Ash and his friends while she had the chance. "If anything...that means I can get as destructive as I want against you all!"
"Here she comes! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Luxray, Discharge!"
"Pikachu!" Together, Pikachu and Luxray would release volts of electricity from their bodies against the tendrils. In Luxray's case, it was a flare of electricity that moved like a whip. With the attacks colliding, a visible white shockwave emerged from their impact. It was quite off the scale with how vast it was, lighting up the area and blowing the trees themselves. With all of this rocking, the battle only elevated that, forming cracks in the ground.
Both Pikachu and Luxray would slide back after the outburst with the tendrils of DImstar being pushed back as well. Some of them even managed to be destroyed by the light of the Electric-Types.
"Darn Electric-Types...!"
"This getting more than just rocky!" Fluttershy gasped, noticing how parts of the ground were splitting up. Cracks continued to form, separating parts of the garden and leaving gaps in the process. Dimstar scoffed before putting her invisible tendrils together. They weren't invisible any more thanks to Luxray's X-Ray Vision, allowing him to see the tendrils that were masked within the night sky.
With those tendrils put together, in the middle of them, a violent sphere of magic would form. It would crackle with the intensity of thunder before growing in size. Dimstar narrowed her eyes, putting some effort into this. The destructive force of this sphere was already showing itself with how it was rumbling parts of the area.
"She must be nuts if she thinks we'll sit back and watch! Use Discharge!"
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Mew, Aura Sphere!"
"Pika-Pikachu!" Once more, Pikachu and Luxray would attack and this time, they had Mew to back them up. Lightning and Aura flew at the vampire who possessed the powers of a Lich, attempting to interrupt her buildup. But surprisingly, that buildup was also a defence mechanism.
The sphere that was in the middle of the tendrils would grow to a size where it absorbed the attacks. The Aura Sphere, Thunderbolt and Discharge were all pulled in by this dark sphere, surprising Ash and the others. They didn't see that coming and what made it worse was that it allowed the sphere to grow even larger than it originally was.
Dimstar strained when increasing the size of this sphere some more. Clearly, it was taking a lot out of her and that only made it all the more dangerous. After reaching a size she could muster, the vampire would use her tendrils to throw the sphere at them all.
The gigantic sphere of Dark Magic would burn the ground, lighting up the area with its colours as the grass would be incinerated into nothing. Nearby trees would even start cracking and falling apart just from the energy this sphere radiated.
"Yikes!" Rainbow Dash screeched as this sphere would certainly leave quite the damage on them if it landed. And throwing something else at it could potentially make the sphere grow.
"Oh! Quick, Audi! Protect!" Fluttershy, who managed to regain her balance, quickly blurted out.
"Audino!" Coming to their aid was Audino as she got in front of her friends. She did what she does best. Protect those she loves. With her hands out, she would gather all of Infinity Energy into one point, forming a barrier that covered everyone. The moment the Dark Sphere arrived, it crashed right into the barrier. The collision would form a violent smoke cloud, creating a pressure equal to that of a tornado.
"A-Audino...!" Audino groaned as the sphere was so powerful that it was managing to stay around even when Protect had been pulled off. She felt her hands tremble as this form of magic could potentially get through her shield, which, for the most part, always works when pulled off the first time. But now, it looked like the first time wouldn't be enough. "Audino!" Audino knew she couldn't keep it in this position forever, so with her own strength, she would raise her arms and in addition, also raising the sphere since she was so close to it. Audino was practically holding the sphere.
The sphere would be launched by Audino, who also expanded her barrier to give her a boost. She managed to get rid of the sphere as it ascended once pushed back. Audino's hands were smoking. With the sphere flying into the air, it seemed like they dodged a bullet there.
But with a smile on Dimstar's face, something was off. The sphere above would suddenly stop in midair, no longer ascending. It didn't even explode. It just sat there. Suddenly, the sphere would descend and that was all thanks to the tendrils Dimstar used to grab them, fixating her attention on this destructive form of magic. Many of her tendrils would grip the sphere, forcing it back down for an even bigger impact than what it would've originally done.
Each of them grimaced at this sight before running as fast as they could to avoid this incoming sphere from above. The sphere would crash back down to the garden, leaving behind a catastrophic combustion.
This part of the garden was lit up by the sphere's colour, reaching nearby areas and even being seen by the Samiyans back at the Sea Temple. The sphere dug into the earth of the garden before finally blowing up, being as destructive as Ash and the others thought it would be.
Dimstar simply stood there while the explosion went off, smiling deviously at her prey. Ash and his friends managed to gain some distance, avoiding the outburst, thankfully. But they knew more of this was bound to come with how destructive Dimstar was. And it was mainly due to the powers of the Lich she possessed.
Ash was the only one who managed to stand tall when the garden was rocking, gazing back at the devious Dimstar with a serious look on his face. The night sky, which was already dark, started darkening some more because of the energy sphere. The power of it was so stellar that it changed the atmosphere and skies completely. The stars themselves were being masked by the emerging darkness as only the clouds and the Moon remained.
"What's going on?! If this is a dream, I'm ready to wake up!" Nearby, Adriel and the other People of the Water were screaming when witnessing this destruction and changing atmosphere. They found a hollow path that allowed them to hide from DImstar for a bit. But in reality, Dimstar was only occupied by Ash's group, focusing on them instead.
"Is that her doing? Did she find her majesty?" Enola said while peering through the acre of trees that were rumbling and shaking. More of the ground would split apart, making this whole garden even more dangerous than it was originally meant to be.
On her own was Fantina. She was the only one going solo in all of this, just enjoying the garden for what it was. The flowers were the most appealing to her as she had already picked some of them, holding the flowers in a bunch. The Hearthome City Gym Leader walked across the garden happily, only to soon recognize all of the rumblings.
But for Fantina, the rumbling wasn't too close to her. She got off lucky, appearing in an area that wasn't as disturbed as the others but the tremors were still nearby. Fantina sat down, looking up at the darkened sky where the stars had been covered and masked as she placed the flowers on her lap.
"Oh dear... the stars are all gone." Fantina sighed as the beautiful stars were no longer seen. During the night, the stars and the moon were the most beautiful things to witness. At least the moon was still out. "Hmm...Something is amiss here. I should probably check up on Ebony. She would love a flower decoration."
Fantina, who had no care in the world at the moment, would try and reach Ebony Rhyme, who was partially responsible for this titanic shaking. The Gym Leader would start interacting with the flowers, attempting to form something for Ebony Rhyme to wear. She had such a sweet smile despite the atmosphere and sky changing and all of the shaking across the garden.
Not only that, but the sphere Dimstar unleashed also caused lightning to spark out. Dark lightning would fly out of the clouds, roaring with volatile intensity. Even then, Fantina did not mind it at all. Perhaps that was her greatest strength. Her happiness was truly grand, being only rivalled by few others. For the most part, no one would notice Fantina since she was so alone and away from the destruction for the most part.
That is until someone was nearby. Up in the skies, a Dragonite was soaring through the darkness.
But that wasn't just any Dragonite. That was Galaxy Master's Dragonite. On Dragonite's back was Galaxy Master himself and his Pikachu, of course. But then, there was also Rarity and Applejack, who had also taken a ride with him. Meeting up with Galaxy Master was a blessing as they had a spectacular defender with the.
"Oh! Down there! Isn't that Fantina?!" And when moving through the skies, Rarity would be the first one to spot Fantina, sitting around a group of flowers.
"Oh, my stars! It is Fantina!" Applejack gasped as Fantina had quite a unique appearance. No one had an appearance quite like Fantina which is what made her so recognizable in the first place. And the fact that she was here stunned them. It has been a long time since they've seen Fantina.
The last time they saw her was before the third Pokemon Festival began. Ever since then, her whereabouts were unknown, but it was theorized that she was at Magehold, captured by the Dread League. And at last, she had been spotted by those who knew her.
"Is that a friend or foe of yours?" Galaxy Master asked.
"Friend! Definitely friend! Could you please take us down there?!" Applejack requested.
"You can count on me to help out, ladies! Let's go, Dragonite!"
"Dragonite!" Dragonite descended, changing his direction as he would approach Fantina. Fantina herself would hear the wing flap of a Dragonite along with that signature cry.
The presence of another Pokemon was felt and for once, it was not a Ghost-Type. It has been quite a while since Fantina has seen other Pokemon of various types due to how Magehold prioritized Ghost-Types and occasionally Dark-Types. So with her head being raised, she saw the arrival of the Dragon Pokemon and those on it.
Dragonite would make a clean landing, coming to an abrupt halt in front of the Hearthome City Gym Leader. Galaxy Master would immediately hop off the Dragon Pokemon, sticking a superhero landing just for style points. Rarity and Applejack would simply hop crawl off the back of the Dragon Pokemon who once powered through their Pokemon back at the Galaxy Tower. Mainly Rarity. But now, Dragonite was an ally now that Galaxy Master was back to his true self.
"Fantina! Oh, it's wonderful to see you again, darling!" Rarity excitedly said, running up to the Hearthome City Gym Leader. These two did have a bond. They shared the same interests and Fantina did tutor Sweetie Belle with Contest tips so that connection was definitely there.
"Oh. And who might you be, my little pony?" Fantina said, catching Rarity off guard at once more. Rarity would gasp, sliding on the ground and falling over after hearing Fantina's response. She fell past Fantina, rolling on the ground.
"W-What...?" A stunned Rarity said. "Who am I?"
"Are you alright? Is your beautiful mane okay?" Fantina asked, acknowledging Rarity's dazzling mane. Both shared the same hair colour and had unique hairstyles so of course, she had to complement it. But really, Fantina has always known about it before she was sent to Magehold.
"Fantina! You're looking better." Applejack went up to her. "What are you doing up here? And what's going on?"
"I'm just here for a friend. But who might you all be? You're...very different to the ponies I've seen." Fantina noticed how none of them had vampire wings or fangs at all. She noticed how Rarity had a horn which no other vampire had, except for the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta.
Her memory was affected that badly. Knowledge of her other friends have been stripped away because of the Lich Queen.
"Fantina, it's us. Rarity!" Rarity stood back up, crying out her name. "You know...The one who has a sister you help out from time to time? Mm? You would often pass tips to her and come and view some of her contests."
"Mmm?" Fantina shrugged, having no clue about that. Rarity's jaw dropped. "I do love contests though! I'm glad to hear someone else bring them up before I can start my own!"
"She doesn't remember?" Applejack uttered, scratching her hair. "That doesn't seem right. We meet her again after all these months and she doesn't remember us. What happened to her after all these months?"
There was a lot they do not know at the moment. Everything Fantina has done at Magehold has yet to be blurted out. And at such a destructive time, this reunion is not what they expected when meeting up with the lost Gym Leader of Hearthome City. The Despair Plant Garden was seemingly on its last legs with all the destruction that was going on. And the effects of the two potions were certainly the cause of it. With Donoma having a vision of the outcome, just what will happen to the garden and by extension, the Sea Temple? As the journey continues.
Chapter 77 End.
Longone Memories! A Garden on the Brink of Destruction!
"Fantina. You don't remember us at all?" said Rarity. She, Applejack and Galaxy Master had come across Fantina, who has been missing for months ever since the third Pokemon Festival. However, when they finally found her, they were shocked to hear that Fantina did not recognize them. Not even Rarity, whose little sister Sweetie Belle had received tutoring from the Hearthome City Gym Leader before.
"Terribly sorry. I'm not quite sure." Casually, Fantina shrugged it off. She didn't have much to say about this, failing to recognize Rarity and Applejack. She certainly didn't recognize Galaxy Master at all.
"Oh, this can't be!" Rarity screeched, holding her face out of pure shock. "All these months of wondering and she doesn't even remember us!?"
"Memory loss? Oh, that's a shame." Galaxy Master shook his head, not too worried about this issue since this was his first time meeting Fantina. "But, as a hero, I'm willing to sort this out."
"Can ya fix this?"
"Unfortunately, I cannot fix memory losses with my natural skills. But something can be done."
"But...Ebony did mention something about memories to me." Despite this, Fantina recalled how Ebony Rhyme was dedicated to bringing her memories back. That clicked with her. "Curious. Do you know something about my past then?"
"Yes! Yes, we do!" Collectively, Applejack and Rarity shouted out. With Fantina bringing this question up, they would answer immediately and had a lot to share. Not exactly about her past but about what she has done.
"Ah, splendid!" Fantina clapped her hands with glee. "I always knew something was missing! I only remember so little of my childhood and yet there is something there I can't reach."
"Ooh. Childhood. I'm not sure we've stepped into that territory." Rarity grit her teeth, failing to mention anything about Fantina's childhood. "But we know about what else you've done! For starters, you're the Gym Leader of Hearthome City. I believe that's where you were born, right?"
"Hearthome City?" Fantina uttered, tilting her head. "Mmm...I'm not sure that is my home. I come from somewhere else." Despite lacking most of her memories, even Fantina knew that she was not born in Hearthome City. In fact, she wasn't born in Sinnoh at all. She came from somewhere else that escaped Rarity and Applejack's minds.
Unfortunately, despite how eager Applejack and Rarity were eager to make Fantina remember, they didn't know that much about her. All they knew was that she was a Gym Leader and a Top Coordinator. Fantina herself remembered herself being a coordinator as well but that was as far as it went. Currently, they were rather stumped, struggling to find something to jog her memories. If only they knew more about her.
"Well, there's..." Rarity scrunched her face before twirling her mane, pausing her sentence.
"Mmm?" Applejack shrugged as she just admitted that she didn't know anything else. The memories Fantina kept were the same things she and Rarity already knew about, making this much harder than it was. "I ain't got nothing. But I'm pretty sure we can figure something out."
"I'm sure you can. You seemed happy to see me so I must know you from somewhere." Fantina kneeled. "My friend Ebony back at Magehold is trying her best to make a memory potion, so you two are not alone in this. I'll tell her abouts your efforts when I get back."
"Magehold? You're living in Magehold, now?!" Rarity was shocked. Her suspicions were correct. She first thought that the vampires abducted Fantina and took her to Magehold. She was right on the nose with that but Fantina certainly didn't look or act like someone who had been abducted.
Before they could think of something else to try and jog Fantina's memories with or even process what Fantina just said, tremors from the garden were starting to reach this area. With all of this destruction, it was inevitable as Rarity would fall over immediately, only for Fantina to catch her.
"We can't stay here forever! This garden might be on the verge of collapsing!" Galaxy Master exclaimed as it was wise to keep on moving. Cracks were rapidly approaching the area with magical energy bursting out of them. They all made a run for it. Well, some of them did. Fantina would run with Rarity in her arms while Galaxy Master would get back on Dragonite. Applejack quickly took out her Poke Ball, throwing it to summon Sceptile back into the scene. She could also count on Sceptile's vines to travel across the garden. Not everyone could fit on Dragonite after all.
"Fantina! You have to come back with us at once!" Rarity shouted while being held by Fantina. "Back to Hearthome, not Magehold of all places!"
"Come back?" Fantina repeated. "I'm not sure I can do that right now..." But she's grown so attached to Magehod and formed quite a few promises to the point where that was hard to do at the moment. And of course, the memory loss played a major part in that.
The crash of dark lightning from above would also reach this area, targeting the ground and showing off its fury. By now, it didn't matter who was winning this confrontation. The garden would potentially take everyone out with how it was starting to fall apart. And the same went for the Sea Temple, which was also threatened because of this.
Magehold.
And with everything going on over at the Despair Plant Garden, it was only a matter of time until the one who grew that garden would take notice. At last, the Lich Queen would wake up. Her eyes were opening slowly, finally recovering from that massive usage of magic that she performed in her current state.
Fractured Note, who was secretly the first Lich King, gasped after seeing Rosa Maledicta wake up. He was hoping that she wouldn't wake up this soon, especially when Fantina was still on the garden, away from Magehold.
"No! She can't wake up now! They haven't returned yet!" He thought to himself. This would certainly bring about new problems he was hoping to avoid. For now, he had to play along.
"That should be enough for now," said Rosa Maledicta, recovering enough magic after resting. "Never have I had to rest before. I must be careful using my magic continuously while I'm still healing."
"Evening, your majesty. You weren't asleep for that long despite your magical usage." Fractured Note bowed.
"I'm a natural when it comes to reversing my magic, even if I go overboard. But after this, I'll need to rest for a few more days before I can do more. For now, I must know how the events over at the garden have played out." Now that she was awake, Rosa Maledicta was ready to view the garden from afar, making Fractured Note narrow his eyes.
He feared this would happen but there wasn't much he could do about this. All he had to do was stand back, watch and speak when necessary. After all, Rosa Maledicta did leave him in charge of this mission before she started resting. And of course, the first thing that caught her attention was none other than Fantina.
She spotted the Ghost-Type Specialist with Galaxy Master, Rarity and Applejack, fleeing from a stream of destruction that was tearing through the garden. Already after viewing the garden, Rosa Maledicta saw its current condition and the surprising appearance of Fantina.
"Fantina?!" Rosa Maledicta gasped. "What is she doing out there?! And what is becoming of my garden?! Has it failed to reach its full potential in its entirety?!"
"Apologies, your majesty." Fractured Note saw this as the best time to say something. In his own words, of course. "I originally sent Ebony Rhyme and other vampires to take of things. Ebony Rhyme would've used a potion to accelerate the garden's growth. But it seems that Fantina slipped by. Probably, she used Ebony as a partner to leave the area." He was almost telling the truth. Everything he said was true but he spun it to make it look like an accident.
"Did she now? She slipped through using Ebony Rhyme. Why? And what has happened while she has been there?!"
"They might be a bit too attached to the hip. Most likely, she's there to help Ebony Rhyme. She is the only one Ebony trusts. No other vampire is that close to her, even though Fantina isn't a vampire. I apologize for this oversight, your majesty."
"And my garden...what caused this destruction? Why have they not yet returned at this point. Just what is going on?" Rosa Maledicta's eyes twitched. This was the most annoyance she has ever felt simply because it was out of her control at the moment. But with her magic restored to a certain level, she could once again interact with the garden.
But at this rate, how could she interact with it?
Despair Plant Garden.
Back with Ash's group in the garden, they narrowly avoided a devastating attack from the vampire Dimstar, who possessed the magic of Lich. Her attack was responsible for this atmosphere and only added to the destruction of the garden. Ash and Dimstar stared at each other while the black lightning sparked from the clouds.
"You've been fooling around for far too long now." Interrupting their staredown was none other than the Lich Queen and her voice. She had enough magic to interact with the garden once more, surprising everyone.
"That voice...The current Lich Queen?" Dimstar spoke, reacting to Rosa Maledicta's voice. Since she was around when the first Lich King was established and in power, she only has a semblance of his magic and now the current Lich Queen.
"Ash Ketchum. Twilight Sparkle. Galaxy Master. All of your friends that are scampering around my garden and below it. You've tried my patience even though I have just now awoken. Oh, how frustrating it is to be in such a condition. If it were not for Yveltal...the things I would do." She expressed her frustrations. "But that doesn't mean I'm powerless. I will bring you all down at once."
She was speaking to practically everyone here, expressing her frustration and irritation. This was the most powerless she's felt and it was all thanks to Yveltal and by extension, Galaxy Master's sudden involvement in all of this after being missing for months.
"Wait, your majesty! Let me-" Dimstar cried out, wishing to deal with things here since she was ordered by Ebony Rhyme.
"Silence!" Rosa immediately shut Dimstar down. "I'm not sure who you are, but much like the others, you are failing to get things done here. Unless you can prove something and get it over with, I will be taking over."
"I can. I have a semblance of a Lich in me!"
"You do?" That caught Rosa Maledicta's attention. "If that's the case...then show me. But that will not stop me from getting involved. With the garden in this state...I will bring everything down!"
Expressing her fury, Rosa Maledicta used her magic to shake the surrounding area and the skies themselves. It felt like a hammer had just hit the sky and the garden at the same time. An invisible one. She would encourage the destruction of the garden, only for the sake of bringing the others down with it.
"I cannot afford to disappoint the Lich Queen." Dimstar would turn to face Ash and his friends once more. She needed to impress the Lich Queen at once, showing her just what she could with the magic of a Lich. Her tendrils, which were her main weapons, would be used once more as Dimstar sent them flying towards her targets.
"Use Iron Tail!"
"Force Palm!"
"Pikachu-Pi!" Pikachu and Mienshao would engage these tendrils with their own physical attacks. A hardened tail and energized paw would meet with the tendrils, generating a white flash from the collision. Fluttershy closed her eyes from the collision as sparks would fly from this. After the collision ended, Ash saw this as an opportunity to move in.
"Use Quick Attack, Pikachu!"
"Pika-Pika-Pika!" Pikachu would advance on Dimstar, taking off at such speeds that he leave white afterimages and a trail of energy from his body, zigzagging in the process.
"Get back!" Dimstar roared, flailing her tendrils out at Pikachu to try and stop his hyper-fast movements. Pikachu would zip and dash from side to side, evading as much of the tendrils as he could. Each time the tendrils lashed the ground, they left marks that were scorching hot, prompting Ash and the others to back away.
"Pika!" Pikachu got in close, zooming through the air before headbutting Dimstar's face. He landed a successful hit in, making Dimstar flinch for a moment. However, it was only for a moment as one of the tendrils managed to catch Pikachu once he got in. Not even Quick Attack was fast enough to get ahead of her. "Pika?!"
Pikachu gasped as he was caught by one of the tendrils which would immediately raise him into the air. And when raised into the air, one of the tendrils would suddenly affect his body, sending a chilling aura around him that made the Mouse Pokemon grimace. This chilling aura let out a howl that sounded just like crying white also letting out black sparks which made Pikachu twitch and squirm.
"You'll feel the cold touch of the undead. How does it feel?" Right now, Dimstar was using the coldness of the undead on Pikachu. And it was uncomfortable, as to be expected.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...Chuuu!" Pikachu would retaliate with Thunderbolt, unleashing a violent flare of 100,000 volts from his body, generating light energy that was strong enough to affect Dimstar's vampiric body and coat. The vampire hissed at the light Pikachu emitted, but she wouldn't let this stop her. She used her tendrils to smack Pikachu against the ground, interrupting his Thunderbolt while also sacrificing one of her tendrils for this attack. The tendril had been blown away by Pikachu's energy but in return, Pikachu took some damage as well.
"Raboot, use High Jump Kick!"
"Freeze her, Altaria! Use Ice Beam!"
"Boot...Ra!" Along came Raboot, getting in on the action. The Rabbit Pokemon leapt into the air, performing a few flips before going for a dive kick. He zoomed through the air, managing to evade some of the tendrils that came his way. he even smashed his feet against some of them, knocking the tendrils aside. However, he couldn't stop all of them as a barrage of tendrils formed a shield, blocking his High Jump Kick. "Raboot!?"
"Freeze me?" Dimstar scoffed before turning her attention to the incoming Ice Beam. It was a direct hit. The ice would crash into Dimstar's body, forming an icy blue explosion while Raboot jumped off the shield of tendrils that he failed to get through. This also helped free Pikachu, who slipped out of the tendrils, feeling a bit wobbly from this. It looked like it was a successful hit, however, that was not the case. Immediately, the tendrils would blow away the icy smoke, revealing Dimstar who was completely fine.
"She didn't freeze?!" Rainbow Dash pulled back.
"If I were an ordinary vampire, I would. But with the power of a Lich, I am immune to such trivial afflictions. My body is already cold from the power of the undead on my side." Dimstar smiled, revealing that she was immune to being frozen. And judging by the fact that she put a plural in one of her sentences, other afflictions possibly counted.
She would return the favour to Altaria and everyone else, putting her tendrils together to form some magic once more. This time, it was a morose and cold wave of magic that resembled that of the northern lights. But it moved with the intensity of a thunderstorm, racing toward its targets and carrying an ill-tempered aura with it.
"Ngh!" Ash and his friends felt this. The horrific chill of the undead was something they've never felt before. For the most part anyway. Ash has felt a semblance of it with certain Ghost-Types but this was on a whole other level. It felt like a swarm of the undead were breathing in his direction, causing him to hold his hat from all the pressure.
"It's...So cold and horrible!" Fluttershy felt uncomfortable as she and Audino held onto each other for warmth. Audino's weight allowed her to stay in one position without being blown away.
"What is this?!" Pinkie Pie shuddered as her teeth were rapidly clattering against each other while Mew immediately turned himself into a Torkoal, attempting to keep himself warm.
"Your transformations won't save you from this. The chill of the undead is something no one can ignore. Because it comes for us all." Dimstar said, approaching with her tendrils while sending the cold closer to them. "Very soon, you will all feel morose and cold one day when the Black Crusade is complete. Actually...perhaps today will be that day!" With a vicious grin, she would send the tendrils towards them while they were this thrown off by the cold.
"Y-Yeah, right! Been there, done that!" Ash begged to differ, having the strength to retaliate and having experience with a cold body before. More than he would like to admit. "Pikachu, Countershield!"
"Pika...Pika-Pikachu!" Pikachu would snarl before getting on his back. An old favourite was used to counter the tendrils and that would be Countershield. He spun around, using Thunderbolt as a shield as it would expand to great heights. And as a shield, it was always successful.
The tendrils were not only blocked by the shield of electricity, but they also ended up melting from the light energy they gave off. Dimstar gasped after she got a taste of the Countershield. Her tendrils attempted breaking through but the shield was too effective with how rapid and erratic it was, more so than the tendrils themselves.
"A shield of electricity just by spinning? Amazingly impressive yet simple!" Dimstar growled as she was finding it hard to get past this.
"Allow me to give you some assistance." The voice of Rosa Maledicta came through as she decided to get involved in this one instance. Her magic would affect one of the tendrils, giving it more power than what Dimstar could muster. It already had a semblance of Lich within it but with Rosa's involvement, that was doubled greatly.
"Gaaah!" A scream came afterwards. One of the tendrils phased through Pikachu's Countershield, passing by everyone. Everyone except Fluttershy. Her friends all gasped to see Fluttershy caught by one of these tendrils that were protected by the Lich Queen.
It knocked Audino out of the way immediately, picking up the pegasus while only holding onto her upper body. This one tendril would then separate from Dimstar's body, forming a new extension once it was away from the Countershield.
"No! Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"Gh...!" Fluttershy, who was restrained by this tendril, could then feel something being ripped out of her. Not figuratively, but literally. The tendril would begin to pull something out of Fluttershy's body. Pikachu would stop his Countershield to hear the cries of his good friend.
"I'll remove any trace of an average pony out of you and make you a full vampire!" Rosa Maledicta was aiming to make Fluttershy a full-blooded vampire and that was by removing everything that made her Fluttershy in the first place.
"Do not interefere with her majesty's actions!" Dimstar yelled, moving more of her tendrils as one of them caught Pikachu.
"P-Pi!"
"Pikachu!" Ash bellowed before seeing one of the tendrils come after him. He would back away, only to have one of them grab his arm. He was too late to fully escape them. Rainbow Dash, who was already focused on saving Fluttershy, would take flight with Altaria and Castform, only to have the tendrils get in their way.
Specifically, it was the tendril that was holding onto Fluttershy. With Rosa's magic, that tendril would spit up, immediately catching them both by surprise and wrapping around them. Rainbow Dash and Altaria would be stopped but not Castform, who managed to slip through thanks to his small body.
"Cast?!"
"Woah! Wait! Wait!" Pinkie Pie was trying her best to avoid the tendrils, having Mew transform into all sorts of Pokemon. Mew would turn into a Seviper, having the right body shape to slither through some of them. When more came, he would transform into a Voltorb, rolling past them. But he couldn't keep up without many were starting to spawn as he was caught midway in a Solosis transformation. So was Pinkie PIe. Bouncing couldn't save her as her tail was what failed her in the end.
"M-Mew!"
So far, they had all been restrained with Fluttershy still having a piece of herself being slowly ripped out of her. The only ones to avoid this were Bayleef and Castform. Bayleef's leaves would kick in, landing on her back as she managed to change fate, avoiding the tendrils from hitting her. The tendrils that tried to grab her would fly elsewhere once one of the leaves came off. If only she could've used it on Fluttershy seconds ago.
"Ah. You must be the one that Opal stole from. The Fate Changing Leaf." Rosa spoke to Bayleef. "I'll deal with you especially, dinosaur."
"Bay...!"
"It's not gonna end here!" Ash growled while holding onto one of the tendrils with the remainder of his strength. "Ya hear me?!"
"Oh, but it will! You have all the energy in the world and ton of spunk but that can only take you far! Eventually, you have to know your limits! All of you! Especially when you're facing off against those above you."
"Then we'll just break past our limits then! Just you wait and see!" Ash replied in a heartbeat, not sparing Rosa Maledicta any chance to gloat and have the last laugh. With his teeth clenched along with his hands, Ash's Aura would emanate in response to these tendrils.
Ash's Aura was fighting back against the tendrils as the struggle was continuing from here. Bayleef and Castform were the only ones free while Fluttershy was still in pain from having a part of her being slowly ripped out, just like what Rosa tried to do with Princess Celestia back at Rustboro.
Ash and Dimstar looked each other in the eyes intensively. So did all the other Pokemon. Their drive to resist would keep burning. Some were very literal in that sense, such as Raboot, who was generating an aura of fire around his body. The chill of the undead was still getting to them with only a select few being able to resist it. The ground beneath them was beginning to shatter from this destruction as the trees in this area would drop one by one while the wind howled viciously. It felt like the world was ending when it was really just this one garden.
And of course, this fierce battle grabbed the attention of those nearby. That would be Enola, Adriel and the People of the Water. They peered through the remaining trees in the darkness, barely holding on due to the collapsing environment around the garden. But even so, they could see Ash and the others in this heated struggle.
With the Lich Queen involved and Fantina finally found, the climax of this confrontation of the Despair Plant Garden was near as it was all reaching its boiling point. But the question was how it would all turn out. Each side had their own goals and at this point, it seemed like one only one of them could be achieved.
"What did we do?!" Ebony Rhyme said with high alert in her voice. She and Potion Nova had caused quite the stir here as seen by how the garden was falling apart, forming cracks, shooting out dark lightning and splitting apart the ground itself in different directions and areas. For two small potions, they certainly left a major impact. Potion Nova stood by her Rapidash while Ebony Rhyme held Banette close to her along with her box of potions.
"That was a bad call for us to do it at the same!" Potion Nova gasped, quickly explaining the reasoning for this. "The two potions and their effects are conflicting with each other, which in turn is making this happen. One part wants to grow while the other wants to falter."
"So what do we do?! I don't have a potion for this with me at the moment!"
"I don't think there's anything we can do! That was the last spare I had for the night." Unfortunately, both Potion Nova and Ebony Rhyme were out of potions that could work here. The damage they had done was too grand for anything to sort this out. All they could do was leave at once, backing away from the source of destruction.
However, they would pay attention to the core of the garden where most of the howling was coming from. The centre of it, where there was an open hole that led to an unseen darkness, was now brimming with magical energy from both potions, completely masking the darkness that once existed within it.
Potion Nova and Ebony Rhyme had left the scene, but both looked at each other, knowing they were going their separate ways. They would slow down their galloping to take a moment of silence before one of them spoke.
"You're still going back to Magehold?" Potion Nova said, stunned that even after the reunion and rather enjoyable potion feud they had, Ebony Rhyme would choose to go back to Magehold and stick with the Dread League. Unfortunately, with Rosa Maledicta now aware, she could no longer answer Potion Nova.
Ebony Rhyme didn't want to risk anything, thus, she left without saying a word with Banette following her. Potion Nova was rather gutted that Ebony Rhyme didn't answer her when leaving. The friendship she built with her seemed rather rocky now, which was a shame. Galarian Rapidash nudged Potion Nova's face, trying to comfort her as the Unique Horn Pokemon could feel her disappointment.
But before they could linger on this moment, a fierce eruption came from the ground, startling them all and separating more of the garden. That was a clear sign that they needed to leave at once. This was quite the reunion, but not the one any of them wanted.
Restraining Ash and the others were the combined efforts of Dimstar and a bit of Rosa Maledicta's magic. Dimstar's already vicious tendrils have been powered up thanks to Rosa, making this harder for Ash and his friends as Fluttershy was currently having a part of her being ripped out. The only ones free were Castform and Bayleef while the rest of them were trying to fight back and free themselves.
"Castform...! Try using Weather Ball! Save Fluttershy before us!" Rainbow Dash groaned as her neck was caught by the tendrils which were also exuding this chilling force that resembled that of the undead, courtesy of Dimstar. The only thing keeping her and the others active was their resilience. The same couldn't be said for Fluttershy.
"Castform!" Castform, aided by Bayleef, would focus on Fluttershy, choosing to save her first. She was in the most peril after all. He ascended into the air, gathering the power of the weather itself which was rather stormy thanks to the collision of potions. Helping Castform out would be Bayleef's unique ability to change fate with her leaves.
When one of the tendrils came after her and Castform, she would remove two leaves, making them touch her and Castform. With both being touched by the leaves, fate was changed, causing a bright flash that would reverse the movement of the tendrils. Dimstar found her tendrils being brought back into her body as if they never left.
Weather Ball was safe to travel because of this, going after the tendril that held Fluttershy. But it did not work at all. At best, it only managed to slow down the tendril's movements instead of removing it. Fluttershy was still being held up by it.
"Your ability is impressive, Bayleef. It's obvious why Opal chose to steal it. But since the Sun isn't up, you have no way to recover them, isn't that right?" Rosa Maledicta pointed out the crucial weakness of her special ability. Since the Moon was out, Bayleef had to be very careful with what she does, otherwise, she could lose her leaves rapidly and they would fail to regenerate afterwards.
"I-It's alright, Bayleef!" A strained Fluttershy said as her magical essence was gradually leaving her. It was only because of her own resilience that it wasn't done sooner, much like how Celestia resisted Rosa's attempts to pull Daybreaker out of her. "Don't think about it too much!"
"Bayleef!" But Bayleef would rather risk it all for Fluttershy as she extended her hidden vines from her body, sending them towards the pegasus. But the other tendrils would simply get in her way, knocking her vines to the side and bringing her further away from Fluttershy. Castform could only rely on his small size to evade the tendrils which was an annoyance for both Rosa Maledicta and Dimstar.
Watching this struggle were some of the Samiyans, hiding next to the remaining acre of trees that haven't been destroyed just yet. That involved Enola and Adriel as they witnessed the ferocity happening nearby. Even with everything collapsing around them, they couldn't help but admire their king, even if he was in a predicament right now.
"You think you're invisible, eh?" Catching them by surprise was the voice of Rosa Maledicta as she could also see the Samiyans. Startled by her voice, they were certainly not safe hiding in between the trees. And with her magic, shadows would burst out of the trees, grabbing ahold of the Samiyans.
These shadows were cleverly masked in the darkness, more than the People of the Water. They were still not free from this, despite managing to avoid Dimstar. With Rosa Maledicta having the full vision of the garden, it was impossible to avoid her. Thus, they were caught once more, this time being pinned down and restrained by the shadows.
"Man...!" Ash groaned as he was managing to resist with his Aura, utilizing it in this instance. However, with no one to assist him, the struggle was reaching a critical level for him. Eventually, with Rosa Maledicta's magic, one of the tendrils pushed through, latching onto Ash's chest. "GH!"
"No! Ash!" Rainbow Dash noticed Ash's chest being latched by the tendril as if it was a leech, making the King of the Sea wince.
"Hoh? There's something within you..." That's when Rosa Maledicta felt something within Ash, much like how there was something in Fluttershy. For Fluttershy, it was the remnant of her time as a bat pony who loved snacking on apples. For Ash, Rosa had to find out what it was now that she got a hold of him.
"P-Pika-Pi!" Pikachu cried out for his trainer while sparking his body with Thunderbolt constantly, using it to push back against the tendrils each time they grabbed ahold of him.
"Let's see what it is!" Rosa exclaimed before expanding the magic around that tendril to fully engulf Ash in a veil of darkness. Ash found himself caught by whatever magic Rosa was using as his vision was being altered immediately. It felt like he was going somewhere else with how the magic affected it.
Ash found himself in a landscape of darkness thanks to Rosa Maledicta. He was still in that uncomfortable position where he was fighting back against the tendrils but without them being anywhere at all. Instead, this was in a different space, much like what Celestia went through when Rosa tried interfering with Daybreaker.
Speaking of Rosa, she would enter Ash's mind, appearing as an ethereal force this time with her full body and everything. She had blackened Ash's mind, making it devoid of bright life as it usually was, thanks to those vicious tendrils. Ash felt weak, sweat covering every inch of skin and hands trembling out of control. Panic slowly took over as, for a moment, a way out of this pain began to seem more and more unrealistic with how powerful the Lich Queen's magic was when involved with seemingly anything.
"What's in you, Ash Ketchum? You were already interesting before and now you've elevated that." Rosa Maledicta said before looking at the projection of Ash.
"Whatever you're gonna find in me...I'm not gonna let you mess with it." Ash said, looking up at the Ethereal Force of Rosa Maledicta.
"But you can't do much about it, can you?" She said with a smirk. "Unlike Celestia and her Gardevoir, you don't have anyone to help you through this. But compared to Daybreaker, I Wonder if what lies within you is just as dangerous, if not more. I have a knack for sensing things like this. Things that can bring great ruin which I benefit greatly off of."
"I don't have Gengar out right now so no...There's no one." Ash groaned, before lowering his hands, no longer holding onto anything both in her and the real world. However, a smile would then meet his face. "But I've got someone in me who can help with that."
"Hm? Who might that be?" Rosa questioned before sensing that exact individual. She moved out of the way, avoiding a black smoke that was perfectly masked within the darkness which was rather ironic in a way, considering the circumstances. Rosa Maledicta narrowly managed to avoid this smoke which would soon take form after redirecting itself.
"He has me." Forming into his physical form, at least in this black landscape, was none other than King Sombra himself. The one individual with Ash who was using his body as a vessel and a way to stick around.
"King Sombra." Rosa Maledicta scoffed after seeing the former King of the Crystal Empire materialize. She didn't take him into account at all. No one did, honestly, except for Ash. Currently, two Kings were standing before a Queen, even if Rosa Maledicta did not know about Ash's status as a King.
"Lich Queen. It's a pleasure to meet you at last." Sombra bowed, appearing to be respectful of the Lich Queen, despite the fact that she threatened Ash, which by extension, threatened Sombra's life.
"Nice save there, Sombra." Ash panted before holding his chest, thanking the former King of the Crystal Empire.
"Why are you helping him of all people?"
"I need this one alive. I'm tied to him after I ended up entering the body of the wrong King. So, you won't be destroying him in any way."
"Gee. You're still on that?" Ash laughed, knowing that Sombra was keeping him around because he did make a friend out of him. But Sombra certainly wouldn't admit that. "Anyway. We gotta force her away from everyone else, especially Fluttershy. I don't think we have much time until this whole garden comes crashing down."
"Obviously. But she still has her disadvantages at the moment. Her magic can only be influenced by the environment and others instead of fully utilized. She's far too weak to come here at the moment." said Sombra.
"But look at what's happening. Is that too weak for you? You can only imagine what I would do if I could leave my healing chamber and come out there physically. But alas, circumstances have prevented me from truly going all out. But that won't stop me from taking every opportunity I can to complete my goals."
"What were you even planning with this garden anyway?!" Ash questioned. "It's not that impressive anyway."
"This garden, and the one before, would've served as the basis for a new civilization and landscape for the Dread League, but Galaxy Master just had to go and ruin the first one. And I'm not sure what is wrong with this one and why it did not attack you all in the beginning, but these are just slowing me down more than anything. The Black Crusade will happen but not before I get my licks in and crush those before me. Understand?"
"Listen well, Ketchum," Sombra spoke. "Your Aura is a good bet against her, that much is obvious. Especially if your Lucario is out. But right now, we don't have much time for that, so I'm offering another form of magic that's perfect for this. My own."
"I hear ya, Sombra." Ash adjusted his gloves. "What have you got?"
"I am an Umbrum. We have our connections to the Dread League and those at Magehold?" A cocky Sombra grinned with a devious look on his face. "I have the magic necessary for a Lich!"
"Hahaha! Don't be ridiculous, Sombra!" Rosa simply laughed at that statement before shooting out a powerful beam of magic from her ethereal horn.
Sombra would respond with his own magic horn, shooting out a black beam that met with Rosa's deep green and purple beam. It was an immediate clash of two within Ash's mind which was still darkened by Rosa's magic. However, once they both clashed, that would change as the darkness was lit up by this collision, even by Sombra's own magic which was initially dark.
Rosa Maledicta was shocked that Sombra was keeping up with her magic, despite his own condition. Sombra smiled, knocking he caught the Lich Queen off guard as the struggle between both beams was fierce and not instant like how Rosa thought.
"What?! You shouldn't have this level of magic at all, especially after your downfall?! What is this!?"
"Foolish of you to think that my magic decreased with my condition! I'm nothing like you, Lich Queen. This is your chance while I have her like this, Ketchum! Do what you did back at that Cosmic Wall!"
"Oh yeah? Good call!" Ash nodded in agreement. It was time to let his Aura shoot out while he had the chance. There were rare instances where his Aura was used as a weapon without Lucario. This was one of them. Ash dug deep into his own Aura, even deeper than his mind before letting the azure energy flare out of his body.
The Lich Queen gasped as a fierce outburst of Aura came out of Ash like a crashing wave. This flare of Aura would completely remove the darkness that she created within Ash's mind, bringing it back to life. Sombra pulled back from the magical clash, distancing himself from the flare of magic that emerged.
Rosa Maledicta would close her eyes as her ethereal form was suddenly smoking as if it was starting to sizzle. She screeched after being exposed to the Aura. And in return, Ash injured himself yet again but it was always worth it for the sake of his friends.
Outside, the Aura would expand from Ash, pushing away Rosa Maledicta's magic from the tendrils. And in addition, Sombra's own magic would fly out, influencing the outside. In fact, Sombra decided to finally show himself, appearing in his own ethereal form as always.
Ash only managed to free himself from the tendrils thanks to Sombra's help, but everyone else found themselves still stuck.
"As expected from Aura...It's incredibly versatile for something so simple." Rosa Maledicta spoke, impressed with the Aura. But with Aura out, Ash did not lower it. Instead, it was still visible and flowing, growing each second. This was all thanks to Sombra's involvement.
Sombra forced Ash's Aura to grow, allowing it to spread across the tendrils. Since most were connected, this made the Aura latch onto the others easily. Naturally, Ash was alright with this control since it meant saving his friends. Pikachu had felt his restraints loosen thanks to the spreading Aura, quickly slipping out of the grasp.
However, this came at a risk. Delayed Aura Ataxia. Sombra was pushing that risk with this control but with Ash allowing it, this was the only way seemingly and Sombra took full advantage of this. He pushed the boundaries of Aura, which were ever potent as always while mixing his own magic into it. The Azure colours of Aura were met with the darkness of Sombra's magic, creating a rather unique synergy between the two. The Brilliance of Ash's Aura and the Darkness of Sombra's Magic were carried by the Tyrant King, using its power on the smoke he left behind. In exchange, Ash would groan each time the Aura was pushed and yet, he would not fight back.
"Ash! You're okay!" Pinkie Pie said with joy before having both her hooves squeezed by the tendrils. Mew was managing to keep himself and Pinkie Pie around by using Psychic, retaliating against the powerful grip of the tendrils.
"I'll go after the pegasus," Sombra said before using his ethereal form to fly over to Fluttershy. Tendrils would obviously focus on him as well, just like how they were holding back Castform and Bayleef. However, the tendrils would soon phase through Sombra, failing to hit the Former King of the Crystal Empire. They would pass through him as Sombra would slither through the skies like a snake, passing by even Castform.
With this advantage, he could reach Fluttershy easier than most, placing his hooves on the tendrils that held her in place. And with his own magic, he combated against the Lich Queen once more.
"You dare defy the Umbra, Sombra?! Especially after the connections they have to the Dread League?!" Rosa roared at Sombra with a booming echo.
"Of course I do! I have no need for them anyway! My purpose is long gone now and I have a new one!" Sombra retaliated vehemently before exerting more of his magical power. "And unlike you, I've had enough time to recover my magic!"
With his magic, Sombra would bring his own darkness onto the tendrils, replacing Rosa Maledicta's magic immediately. This moment of control was beneficial in helping Fluttershy as Sombra removed the tendril from her. Fluttershy groaned as that magical essence from her had been greatly damaged.
"Her magical essence has already been damaged because of her," Sombra said before holding the pegasus with his hooves, descending gently with her. "But it's better than having a part of her leave her body."
"Thanks, Sombra." Ash smiled, adjusting his hat before then gazing at Dimstar. "The garden's only one area, so you're free to go anywhere. We'll take it from here."
But before anything else could happen, the destruction of this part of the garden had reached its critical point, immediately switching things up. One-half of the ground was descending. It was the half where Ash and his friends all were while the other half where Dimstar stood was beginning to combust with magic.
Dimstar gasped before backing away, avoiding a part of the ground being destroyed narrowly. "It is far too late to save it after all," said Dimstar. "What shall we do, your majesty?"
"There's no point to this garden anymore." Rosa Maledicta replied. "It's beyond saving. And frankly, I believe making them all perish in this destruction will do just fine. And with my magic, it certainly will be."
"Your majesty!" Crying out for their King were the People of the Water. They were still being held by Rosa Maledicta's shadows, unable to free themselves, even with the light from their eyes. When attempting to look at the shadows, they failed to break through them at all. Their light simply tickled the shadows more than anything.
"Everyone..." Ash heard their voices and cries before narrowing his eyes. A powerful splash of water would suddenly erupt into the scene, hitting parts of the garden. This was due to the seas being disturbed by this destruction. With the black lightning growing more and more vicious and abundant, Dimstar would start leaving the scene to avoid the destruction. She had a Cube to return to after all.
"Hey! Get back here!" Rainbow Dash yelled after witnessing Dimstar depart.
"It's pointless to stay here. Live with the fact that you failed to stop me." Dimstar uttered. "I will certainly live with the fact that your drive to resist is impressive. All of you."
"Fall with the garden. Perhaps your bodies can be retrieved afterwards." Rosa Maledicta cackled as the boom of thunder went off. Even if Dimstar would leave, the Lich Queen would still decide to throw her influence in here for more chaos.
"I don't think so! We're getting out here! Pikachu! Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...Chuuu!" Finally free, Pikachu would use Thunderbolt once more, leaping into the air to generate 100,000 volts of electricity. But what was the approach for this Thunderbolt? With the electricity flying out of his body, Pikachu shot it right in Dimstar's general direction.
"You still want to-" Dimstar's sentence was cut off once the Thunderbolt passed by her. It was instead fixated on the People of the Water. The light from Thunderbolt surpassed the ones the People of the Water possessed, piercing the shadows. The volts spread across the trees before fizzling the shadows. Enola and the others gasped after feeling the electricity pass by them. They only received mild shocks from this attack.
"Even with the garden falling, you'd still choose to fight back against me?" Rosa Maledicta uttered, surprised to see Ash still resist her.
"It's for my friends. I'm gonna get 'em all out of here and I won't let you stop me." Ash replied before another half of the garden fell off. But he did not flinch at this destruction.
"Ash! Now's a good time to get going!" Pinkie Pie yelled as she was already leaving the area with how much destruction was spreading.
"Yeah! I wanna get back at them but now's not the time!" Rainbow Dash yelled before returning Luxray, Mienshao and Altaria back to their Poke Balls. Mienshao and Altaria had already fainted from the damage they received during this entire confrontation with only Luxray being active.
"I'd listen to your friends if I were you. But it's not like you have enough time to leave here."
"Watch me. You guys go on ahead! I can catch up!" Ash exclaimed before rushing off with Pikachu. He was focused on the People of the Water specifically. He was determined to save them especially since they had been injured thanks to Dimstar and Rosa Maledicta.
"Alright! Be careful, you guys!" Full trust was put into Ash and Pikachu. Rainbow Dash knew she could always trust those two, especially when it came to these daring moments. Trusting them, she would leave the area with Pinkie Pie as Sombra was carrying Fluttershy with her.
The seas from below were growing ever more violent, finally reaching heights that could touch the garden. These fierce crashing waves would beat on the garden and by extension, the Sea Temple, which was used to strong waves by this point. But the People inside were still vulnerable. Not as vulnerable as those on the Despair Plant Garden though.
"Well, time to go!" The other vampires figured that now was the best time to depart, choosing not to engage any further. They were previously facing off against Twilight Sparkle, her Espeon and by extension, Horizon Storm, who Twilight allowed to get involved with thanks to Sorrowful Rage Magic. At the same time, Twilight was protecting Daisy and Paradise.
The vampires left the scene once the destruction was getting too serious to deal with. This was all before Twilight could send out another Pokemon. However, some vampires were left behind, knocked out and slumped on the ground because of their battle with Twilight.
"Wait! You're just going to leave them here?!" Twilight yelled after seeing the vampires abandon their own.
"They'll be brought back to the chambers anyway! Sucks to be them!" They were right. The vampires would simply be brought back to Magehold by those chambers. They could easily blow themselves up to return and this destruction would only add to that.
"Mom...We can't leave now." Daisy suddenly said, spouting out a shocking batch of words.
"What do you mean?! It's not safe up here now! Is this about the Despair Plants?" Twilight questioned.
"It's not just them." Daisy looked down at the baby Despair Plants that she held in her hooves, including the ones at the Despair Plant Pod. "It's the garden itself. We can't leave it like this."
"I'm sorry, Daisy but with how things are...there's no saving this garden. It's great that your magic made it hold back its full strength, but we should go."
"We can't mom." Paradise stepped forward, sticking with Daisy. "Because we can still save this garden."
"We can?" There was a reason for them choosing to stay up here. In Paradise's own words, she and Daisy could save the garden. And by the looks on their faces, they seemed rather confident in that. "H-How?"
"You said we had a special form of magic that allowed us to affect the garden. It's the same thing that made these Baby Despair Plants, right? Well, if that's the case, then we want to use more of it. The garden is the one that invited us up here in the first place. It felt us." Daisy explained. "I'd hate to leave it like this, mom. Paradise and I could try something if you would give us a chance."
"We can save it from being fully destroyed. Whatever's left of it, anyway..." Paradise looked at her hooves. "So, please. Give us a shot, mom."
"You two..." Twilight paused for a moment, looking in their eyes. The two of them were very determined to make this possible, having full faith in their magic now that it's been brought up. Twilight sighed as despite being so new to the world, they were this eager to make great leaps. "Alright. Let's give it a shot. But how are you going to do it exactly?"
"The garden's telling us to go to the core. That's why it's crying. It needs someone to stop this pain." Daisy replied. "If we can get to the centre we can do something to stop it."
"It's been crying for minutes now, telling us to come for it," Paradise added. "But no one's done so yet or even knows why it's really crying."
"The centre, right? Okay then. If that's all then let's make it quick." Twilight nodded before throwing two Poke Balls out, summoning Togekiss and Absol.
"Absol!"
"Togekiss!"
"Togekiss. I need you to carry this pod of Despair Plant Seeds. Absol. You'll lead the way through the destruction. You're quite the expert when it comes to that." Twilight laid out instructions.
"Toge!" Togekiss saluted. She and Absol knew what to do. Protecting the pods and leading the way through the destruction of the garden. But they had to hurry. The garden was already being evacuated by everyone else who knew it was too dangerous to be up here.
The only place to flee now was the Sea Temple and for the vampires, it was back to Magehold. The only ones staying up here were Ash, Pikachu and Twilight's group. Crucial time was pressurizing them. They had to finish everything they could as soon as possible. It was a race to not only save the People of the Water in time but also the Despair Plant Garden itself, which also needed saving as the journey continues.
Equestria. On the Seas. The Sea Temple, Samiya. Nightfall.
There was only one place to flee during this destruction. And that was the Sea Temple. It hadn't faced any destruction yet and the raging seas were ineffective due to how the Sea Temple was built, but the garden above would certainly prove to be an issue since the Sea Temple was below it.
Massive rubble from the garden would start dropping onto the temple, leaving it vulnerable. The People of the Water all collectively ran to avoid the falling destruction. As for how everyone else would get back to the Sea Temple, it seemed like the only way to do so was by utilizing the destroyed garden to their advantage. Large chunks of the garden were already ripped, leaving holes in the process.
Some of these chunks fell into the sea, causing wider and larger splashes that seemed to be getting closer each time. Donoma kept looking inside of her crystal ball, seeing what visions of the future could come from this and the outcomes were plentiful. Any of them could be possible depending on how things go.
"His majesty and the others haven't returned yet...Can they even return?" A man said, worried about Ash and everyone in the garden, fearing that they may succumb to the destruction soon. So far, no one has even shown up at the Sea Temple at all.
"Donoma? What are you seeing in that crystal ball?" A woman asked Donoma, who sat there with her crystal ball for a while after the visions came in.
"Too many outcomes..." Donoma grumbled, showing visible sweat on her disgruntled face. "And I'm afraid most of them are rather destructive for us and those up there."
"Can't we do something?" The People of the Water wondered what they could do in this instance. Their own lives were at stake along with the lives of those up at the garden after all.
"There is. I can see an outcome that involves our safety. But..." Donoma saw a positive outcome, but judging by her last words, that outcome would be harder to achieve compared to the easy and destructive outcomes she saw.
Despair Plant Garden.
Up at this collapsing garden, only two groups stayed behind to finish things up here. Ash's group and Twilight's group. But Ash's once large group had been split once he and Pikachu decided to help the People of the Water while the others went along. Enola, Adriel and other Samiyans had been badly injured by the Lich Queen and Dimstar, finding themselves weak until Ash noticed them.
Coming to their aid, he helped up some of the downed Samiyans while the garden was being struck by dark lightning and combusting in different areas.
"Your majesty...You should leave here while you have the chance." An injured man said while being helped up by Ash.
"No way. Not until everyone's outta here." Ash refused to leave when there was an opportunity to save everyone else. He looked at them all, seeing the respective injuries that Rosa Maledicta gave them.
Thanks to Rosa Maledicta's shadows, a burning sensation radiated from their chests. Some had clamped their fists onto their skin, nails digging deep into the flesh in search of relief from this agony. What if there was no end to this pain? What if it got worse? These thoughts alone were enough to get their heart racing faster, never mind the pain itself. For a moment they focused on the pain, honing in on every sensation. Where it came from, how badly it hurt and how badly they wanted it to stop. The shadows would still exude from their body even after Pikachu blasted most of them away with Thunderbolt.
They all took a deep breath, then another and then another. A state of calm returned to their minds for a moment. On any other day, the Samiyans probably would've gone to bed and rested to make sure they'd heal well and fast, but not today. Especially when everything was falling apart and threatening their home below.
Little Enola was held by Ash, breathing into his embrace to calm herself but it wasn't enough. Not when neither of them have managed to heal up.
"I'll need extra muscle. Come out, everyone!" Ash held out all of his Poke Balls, throwing them into the air. Out came Dragonite, Gengar, Lucario, Sirfetch'd and Dracovish. "Help me out here. We're getting everyone down from this garden and back to the Sea Temple."
With Ash's call, Dragonite and the others would pick up as many of the Samiyans as possible, having their advantages. Ash would carry Enola on his back while Pikachu was trying his best to lift some of them. Alas, he wasn't strong enough for that. But his teammates were.
Gengar used Psychic to raise some of them up while Dragonite and Lucario used their arms. Dracovish used his powerful jaws to lift the Samiyans from the ground, making sure to hold back his bite since they were already in pain and as for Sirfetch'd, he would simply act as the guardian.
"Sir!" Sirfetch'd would protect everyone since they had their hands, teeth, paws and claws full at the moment. With everyone being held, Ash and his Pokemon would advance, searching for a way out of here.
"Try as you might, you won't escape with this baggage." Still eyeing them all down was Rosa Maledicta, speaking to Ash's group. "Either the garden takes you or the seas do. Or I do."
"Not gonna happen!" Ash replied while rushing through the garden with the others.
"We shall see about that." Rosa Maledicta cackled with malicious intent before using the remainder of her magic to interact with the gardens once more. All she could do was spread shadows at the moment and that was about it. But those shadows were rather vicious, bursting out of the ground.
Ash and his group were being chased down by shadows that came rising out of the ground continuously, attempting to grab them all. These shadows resembled vicious claws that could dig into the skins of those it managed to grab ahold of. These erupting shadows only left more holes in the ground as some of them appeared in front of Ash's group, ready to stop their progress head-on.
"Sir...Fetch'd!" Sirfetch'd would slice through the shadows with his Leek. He did it with stunning elegance, dispersing the shadows with a single strike.
"Nice one, Sirfetch'd!" Ash praised as Sirfetch'd led the charge, holding his Sword and Shield out at any more shadows that would come this way.
"Lu? Ca!" Lucario was also helpful in this, using his Aura to detect danger. He would leap over an incoming shadow while carrying some of the younger Samiyans, predicting where it could come from to protect them all. Rosa Maledicta growled as, despite the circumstances, Ash and his Pokemon still found a way to slip on by and challenge the odds. However, with her view over the entire garden, something else caught her attention in the meanwhile.
"Oh? What's this?"
As for Twilight, Daisy and Paradise, they had come across the centre of the garden, where the roe could be found. And at the centre, it was by far the worst-looking spot out of everywhere else. Since it was where the destruction started, it was the most damaged with only a small piece of the very middle intact.
The centre now appeared as a group of scattered garden platforms that were crumbling and surrounding the howling hole which unleashed a plethora of magic. With the way the two conflicting magics were bursting out of the centre, it looked like they had come across the most destructive force that could possibly exist and will ever exist with how perplexing it was to look at. And with Daisy and Paradise here, seemingly the only way to stop this destruction was with the power of the Flora Ponies.
"There it is." Twilight gulped while looking at the chaotic magic storm at the centre. "You two have full confidence and that's great but...how exactly are you going to calm it down?"
"We affected it when we got in the garden and our magic is still doing the same with us around, right? So touching it is what we might have to do." Paradise said. "That means we're gonna have to touch that centre."
"Um...M-Maybe we didn't think this through." Daisy was looking a bit hesitant, closely holding the Baby Despair Plants next to her. "That looks way too dangerous for us to even approach."
"You brought it up first." said Paradise. "We have to go through with this since we have that weird elixir magic around us. If we do it together, we could sort it out."
"Right. Together." Daisy nodded before gently placing the Despair Plant babies down. "It'll be just like how we woke up all the babies. Just touch it."
"Your magic seems to be potent even if there's no visible essence of it. You have a lot of potential and now is the time to show it off. If there's any destruction coming your way, Togekiss, Eve, Absol and I will protect you. And the babies, of course."
"Espeon!"
"Ah, so it was you two." Rosa heard it all once she switched her attention to this part of the garden as she startled Twilight and the Flora Ponies. That included the Baby Despair Plants. "You two are the ones that weakened my garden. You are the reason why it's so weak now...I should've known that you two would be responsible for it due to how out of place you looked compared to these familiar ponies."
"Rosa...!" Twilight snarled, looking up at the sky where Rosa's voice was the most prominent.
You have a special form of magic that affected my garden, eh? One so powerful that it can make my garden so...so pitiful."
"Hey! It's not pitiful!" Daisy puffed her cheeks, not taking lightly to Rosa Maledicta's insults to her own garden.
"Yeah and we're pretty great for being able to hold back something you made." Paradise grinned, feeling confident in herself.
"I understand that you said elixir...That sounds awfully familiar. If I were mistaken, it almost sounds like you borrowed the magic of an elixir that affects plants. Much like my own..." Rosa Maledicta recalled her elixir which had recently been used by Twilight to bring life to the Flora Ponies. "No matter. What can you possibly do now with how things are turning out?"
"Just watch. Together, Daisy!" Paradise went ahead, prompting Daisy to do the same.
"Ah! Wait!" Daisy ran ahead while Twilight and her Pokemon readied themselves for whatever Rosa Maledicta would try and pull. Of course, Rosa's magic would appear in the form of shadows, flowing out of the broken garden platforms and approaching the Princess of Friendship and her Pokemon.
All the while, Daisy and Paradise were hopping from platform to platform, attempting to reach the centre of the garden in time. Each time they leapt on a platform, it could crumble and fall apart. Daisy squirmed as she took delayed jumps once she felt the platforms fall. Paradise was more daring and agile than her sister, taking leaps every second without any fear. She would quickly look back at Daisy who was absolutely terrified yet fully going through with this.
The platforms would start falling apart faster and faster with each jump as Daisy was struggling to keep up with her sister. Her hoof slipped on one of the edges as her lack of speed brought drawbacks. However, for that drawback, there was Paradise to cancel it out, quickly holding Daisy's hoof. She would pull her sister up from the crumbling platform before moving along.
As for Twilight, she and her Pokemon fought against the shadows that swarmed them. Rays of magic and rainbows flew out along with slashes of darkness, trying to fend off against the shadows. They could damage and destroy the shadows but they seemed endless with how many would appear each time one batch was destroyed.
Twilight growled, trying her best to keep up with these shadows as some of them were getting incredibly close. Each time a batch was destroyed, the next batch grew faster and stronger.
The Flora Ponies arrived at the centre, eyed down by Rosa Maledicta, who was curious to see how this would turn out while attacking Twilight and her friends. Standing close to the centre means that they would feel the most pressure. With their bodies being soft and fragile as flowers, the pressure would make their respective flowers burst out of parts of their bodies, making them wince.
In a heavy storm, plants were at risk and these two were no different even if they had the build of ponies.
"Mom knows we have a special talent that only works on plants...Let's make it count!" Paradise groaned before holding her hoof out, touching the ground near the centre. She would finally make the first move, using her hidden magic that was also exuding out of her, even if it wasn't visible at all. When touching the ground, she felt her face wobble from the pressure as more paradise flowers would start flying out.
Helping her out was her sister Daisy, putting her hoof next to Paradise's. She would feel the same punishment but went through with it either way. The magic around them synergized as they were the only ones who possessed it and could use it unknowingly. But this time, they were using it with knowledge.
"Interesting. But I'd rather see your demise." Rosa Maledicta would try and destroy them either way, summoning flowers from beneath them while Twilight was too occupied with the others.
"No! Daisy! Paradise!" Twilight yelled before being slapped in the face by one of the shadows, losing her focus for a moment. It looked like no one could save them from the shadows that would try and destroy them.
No one except the Despair Plants. The Baby Despair Plants would suddenly jump in, taking the hits for them instead as the shadows would strike the newborn plants, failing to reach the Flora Ponies.
"Impossible! You've influenced Despair Plants as well?! And since when could they become infants?!" A stunned Rosa Maledicta uttered in disbelief at what she had just witnessed. Daisy gasped, seeing the babies take the hit for them. Her heart skipped a beat because of this. Already, she had formed a bond with these babies in this garden and seeing them take damage was shocking. She was new to this world just like them after all. Daisy looked away, knowing that she had to keep focusing.
The Despair Plant babies would tumble and roll on the ground, having the sentience and choice to choose a side. And surprisingly, they chose the side of the Flora Ponies which meant they were against Rosa Maledicta. Rosa had never seen this before. How could the plants defy her? She certainly missed out on a lot because she was resting that whole time
Their respective flowers would suddenly bloom, surrounding the centre of the garden in a beautiful circle. The Daisies and Paradise flowers multiplied at lightning speeds, soon decorating the destroying circle of the core before stacking on top of each other. With their eyes glowing a verdant green, the Flora Ponies were fully focused, having blank looks on their faces.
This correlated with the sudden uprising of magic. An abundance of flowers suddenly wrapped themselves around the magical energy bursting out of the core, decorating them and hiding the destructive colours in a tower of Daises and Paradise Flowers. This beautiful rise even masked the horrific sound coming from the core as they each covered every part of it.
Afterwards, the energy bursting from the core would fizzle and wobble, attempting to break free from this Floral Hold. But it failed to do so. The combined magic of Daisy and Paradise would then gracefully dissolve the magic, transforming it into flowers of their type.
Twilight and the group gasped in awe as the final hurrah of this magical feat was a new burst of magic. But one that was rather brilliant and peaceful, resembling the colours of the two flowers. This burst would create a bright light was enveloping the area, rapidly forming flowers from it.
"W-What is this...?! Creation?!" Rosa Maledicta was in awe as well as the clouds were hit by this expanse of magic.
Seeing this was Galaxy Master, Rarity, Applejack and Fantina. The new outburst of magic brought no destruction at all. Instead, it brought life. A tower of magic pierced the dark clouds, bringing about a bright blooming aura as this magic replicated what Rosa Maledicta had also done.
Flowers were blooming within the clouds themselves. Something that seemed impossible but wasn't. Life bloomed in the night sky, welcoming back the beautiful stars and more of the Moon.
"Marvelous..." Rarity gushed at this dreamy and rather romantic sight.
"Great Nebulas...Flowers in the Clouds?" Even Galaxy Master was taken aback by this as they all stopped to admire this.
"Fantina!" Ebony Rhyme yelled, spotting her friend up ahead, ignoring the flare of magic. She was too busy fixated on her friend to admire the beauty as she galloped over as fast as she could.
"Ah! Ebony! Excellent timing!" Fantina waved at her. Ebony Rhyme would soon come to a halt once she saw that Fantina was not alone. Alongside her was a Superhero, an Earth Pony and a Unicorn. Neither were vampires. This was a rather awkward encounter for Ebony Rhyme as she was hoping to avoid anyone else entirely. Galaxy Master, Applejack and Rarity would take the time to look at the vampire immediately, only adding to this awkwardness.
"W-We...We need to go. Now." Ebony Rhyme uttered, not trying to look the others in the eye, only focusing on Fantina. "It's best that we leave. You should be back in Magehold by now."
"Hold on! Fantina isn't going anywhere!" Rarity objected, refusing to let Fantina return as she stepped in front of the others. "Fantina will be returning to her home instead."
"I don't have time for this...!" Ebony Rhyme bared her fangs, hissing at Rarity like a vampire would. Rarity pulled back, feeling rather appalled at this sudden hiss. "I'm taking her back now! Move out of the way!"
"Yeah, right!" Applejack added. "We came this far to find Fantina and everyone else's worried about her. So we ain't leaving without her, ya hear?"
"Girls. I believe I should be leaving." However, they were overruled by Fantina's own decision. She walked past them, approaching Ebony Rhyme herself.
"What!? F-Fantina!" A stunned Rarity stuttered with an audible gasp. She knew that Fantina lost her memories but the fact that she was willing to go back to Magehold was shocking.
"I wish I didn't have to do this though..." Ebony Rhyme thought to herself, knowing this was her one opportunity to set Fantina free. However, the Lich Queen and the lack of Fantina's memories made that difficult for her. Thus, this option was the one she chose. Her eyes trembled as she hated to bring Fantina back when she was trying to free her. Her one chance and it was ruined because of Rosa Maledcita waking up.
And Galaxy Master saw it. He saw the reaction in her eyes, knowing about her decision. "Wait." He stopped Rarity and Applejack from advancing, surprising them. "Let them go."
"What? But-" But before Rarity could say anything else, Fantina and Ebony Rhyme were already fleeing the scene. Fantina would look back at the three individuals she met tonight. Alas, she still had no memories of Applejack and Rarity, especially Rarity's younger sister Sweetie Belle. She was truly devoid of those pleasant times as she left with Ebony Rhyme.
"Why did you let them go?!" Rarity questioned.
"Just this once, she has to. Trust me." Galaxy Master said calmly. "Trust in your friend. The next time you meet will be the full reunion, I promise. For now, it's best to let her go. For her sake...As for us, we should be leaving as well, but not before I make sure everyone else is okay."
"How are we gonna get down from here? There's no other way back down with all those roots gone."
"Ah, but there is! Behold! The source of where this magic is coming from!" Galaxy Master did a stylish pose while pointing ahead. He was focused on the blooming flowers that were continuing at this moment, bringing life to the Despair Plant Garden, especially the source of it. But it was doing more than just bringing life, it was repairing it.
Areas that were once destroyed were being replaced by the beautiful flowers, reassembling what had been lost and adding a unique change to them. Holes were patched up by the flowers, trees were lifted back up and redecorated. Nature was working its magic. Literally. Daisy and Paradise were essentially embodying nature itself.
And as for the way down, a stream of flowers would descend from the garden, dropping onto the Sea Temple. The Samiyans backed up to see this dazzling and gorgeous stream of flowers that now replaced the vines that originally led up to the garden. The garden itself was showing more vibrance as the horrid howling was now gone. It died down, no longer crying out in pain for the suffering it was enduring with this back-and-forth struggle.
Instead, it was silent and at peace thanks to Daisy and Paradise. With a new appearance, A neatly trimmed patch of grass was accompanied by various hedges and bushes. A pond was built in the front of the garden, buzzing with floral life, and always tinkling thanks to the small waterfall. The rows of flowers are bordered by the larger ones, but have no difficulties claiming a spot of their own; they're attention-grabbing. Vines and roots compete with each other for the best and the most land in the garden, each keen to claim it all.
The massive pond claimed all the glory within the garden as it outshines all others. The rows of flowers were surely a sight to behold, and the hedges and bushes are nothing to sneeze at, but everything dwarfs in comparison to the pond. And with how far their magic spread, there was more to see.
"Daisy! Paradise! You did it!" Twilight exclaimed with wonder in her eyes. "You two are more amazing than I thought! You restored life to this garden and remade it!"
But they were silent. No response came from the Flora Ponies. After bringing new life into the garden. Instead, what followed afterwards was them falling to the ground. Daisy fell on her back while Paradise fell to the side. And with those drops, Twilight saw the looks in their eyes.
They were unconscious.
"Daisy!? Paradise?!" A shocked Twilight yelled. The two Flora Ponies had seemingly expended their magic and with how large-scale this was, it made sense.
"Amazing. They truly must be from the elixir I once worked on...They brought life to this garden and made it their own." Even the Lich Queen had to compliment this. "But of course...this is no longer a garden fit for the Dread League or Magehold. It's been tainted with this vibrant magic...A Magic I abandoned long ago and it seems like it has been revived. No matter. These two will be disposed of for how much of a threat they are."
"Don't you dare touch them!" A furious Twilight bellowed, unleashing some of Horizon Storm's magic as she blew away the shadows. Daisy and Paradise were in grave danger now that they were unconscious as Twilight flew as fast as she could with Togekiss and the others following her.
But with those shadows destroyed, new ones would appear, this time in front of Twilight. These massive shadows would form a blockade instead of just flying at their targets, blocking the Princess of Friendship and her friends. Twilight crashed into this shadow blockade which caught her and abruptly stopped her movements.
"Rosa!" Twilight growled, calling out Rosa's name with anger as Absol would immediately use Night Slash to try and cut through this dark blockade as fast as he could. He was the only one who sensed it coming but the same couldn't be said for his friends who had also crashed into the blockade that trapped them. But Absol wouldn't be fast enough to reach the Flora Ponies.
The blockade was too thick and strong to cut through in time to reach them, leaving Rosa Maledicta with a ton of free time. The shadows grip and crash into the unconscious Flora Ponies, harming their fragile flower bodies as Rosa Maledicta already had her grasp on them and there was seemingly no one to stop her.
Seemingly. Until a flash of light appeared. Bursting through the blockade was a golden beam of light, passing by Twilight and piercing the shadows that Rosa Maledicta held the Flora Ponies with. Rosa Maledicta gasped as this light would then form into a familiar figure.
Galaxy Master, that is.
"Fear not, my little pony!" Galaxy Master said after sliding into the scene. "Like a Shooting Star, I show up at the speed of light!"
"Galaxy Master!" Twilight exclaimed happily as this was the most pleased she was to see the Fictional Character. His light would obliterate the darkness, freeing TWilight and the others from it.
"Twilight! This way!" And coming along with the Superhero were Rarity and Applejack, spotting their friend. "Hurry!"
"Hup!" Galaxy Master would then pick them both up. "Have no fear. These two will be safe and...Are surprisingly soft and fragile."
"Galaxy Master. I was waiting to get to you."
"And now you have me." Galaxy Master spoke to Rosa Maledicta. "I understand that you are responsible for all of this, correct? You fiend!"
"Most of it anyway. But don't worry about that. They may have brought new life to this garden but that doesn't stop the fact that the raging seas are also a problem." Rosa Maledicta laughed as the magic of the Flora Ponies didn't exactly touch the seas themselves. They were still destructive and splashing violently. "That's all thanks to my own magic! So if I can't have the garden blow up...I can at least have you all drown in the deep blue sea!"
Even with this vibrant turnaround, the Lich Queen always had something to say and something to do, laughing in the face of whatever would dare try and fight back against her. She truly brought a sense of dread that was always present and could keep coming back constantly.
"Not happening. Take them with you, my little ponies! Starlight Road!" Galaxy Master would quickly pass on Daisy and Paradise, holding his arm out to create a road of stars. This road of stars would quickly materialize as Daisy and Paradise would slide on it, still unconscious and not feeling anything.
Deadly shadows would rise up, attempting to catch the Starlight road, only to miss with how fast they slid on it. The Starlight Road would burn the shadows, keeping them at bay while the rest of the were focused on the Superhero and his partner. Galaxy Master and his Pikachu would face off against the remainder of Rosa Maledicta's magic as Twilight and Absol managed to catch Daisy and Paradise.
"You're not coming?!" Applejack questioned, noticing how Galaxy Master would stay behind.
"The garden itself is fine but that doesn't mean my work here is done!" Galaxy Master uttered. "You have a way to leave! Take that exit and I will deal with the Lich Queen's magic!"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"It'll do me a great service destroying you here, Emissary of Light! I can't have you roaming around ruining my creations any longer!" Rosa Maledicta roared, dedicated to destroying Galaxy Master who was also a massive threat. Galaxy Master would stay behind while everyone else fled the scene.
A flare of Light and Dak would emanate from the two opposing forces as they would soon enter a clash that no one else would ever witness.
The stream of flowers was the way to escape. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and others would descend from these safe flowers which were also assisted by the remade Despair Plant Garden. Even though the garden was no longer in peril, the seas begged to differ, splashing against the Sea Temple as all the Samiyans were huddled in one spot away from the crashing waves.
More and more would approach the stream of flowers that welcomed them, especially Ash's group as he came down with multiple Samiyans. Gengar, Lucario, Dragonite and Dracovish brought them all safely down with Sirfetch'd being behind to see if any threats were nearby. But none at all.
"Oh! You're all back!" Alo said with glee as the People of the Water were thrilled to see the return of everyone else.
"Yeah...That got rough." Ash said with a smile before placing Enola gently down. "But we got out safely. I don't know what happened but...the garden started blooming all of a sudden."
"We're not out of the clear yet!" Twilight said, being the last to show up with Applejack, Rarity, Daisy and Paradise. "We still have the seas to worry about! Galaxy Master's staying behind to hold Rosa Maledicta back!"
"He's staying behind?!" Not the words Ash was hoping to hear when he was searching for Galaxy Master this whole time. But if it was against Rosa Maledicta then staying behind was the best option for their own safety.
"Rosa Maledicta might gain views of the Sea Temple if she somehow spreads her influence here and we can't have that." Twilight shook her head. "We need to leave, now!"
But her influence, even though it was outside, was already powerful. The waves had reached a powerful level, suddenly rocking the Sea Temple as if a massive hammer was being smashed against it. The Samiyans down here already had to deal with the crashing waves and now there were the turbulent waters that were meddling with the temple from underneath.
With the force of a typhoon, the seas were beginning to carry the Sea Temple, moving it from its location at last. The Sea Temple does usually travel with the motion of the waters, but not like this. Just when they thought they had escaped a rough scenario, another one hit them. And it was the final rough scenario.
Ash and many others held onto whatever they could with all of this rocking as the Sea Temple was out of control at this point. All they could do at the moment was hang on. It would be a rocky ride as the Temple was rapidly travelling, wobbling across the violent seas.
And while many were trying to hold on for dear life, Ash looked up at the garden now that it was being left behind. After all, Galaxy Master was on it. And the last thing he saw before the Sea Temple accelerated was a final flare of Light and Dark that enveloped the whole garden. After that, it was back to focusing on these rocky seas. The Sea Temple was massive and well-built to be this durable. Everyone relied on that well-built nature at the moment as it was certainly doing well to defend them.
For the most part, they had avoided the Dread League. And the raging seas were the final problem they had to endure. Twilight held onto the Flora Ponies closely who were at risk of being drenched by the water with the flowery bodies. As long as everyone was safe, that was what mattered to Ash.
Eventually, the Sea Temple left rough waters once it moved far away. The spot it was previously on was far from here, no longer violent and rough. The temple would find itself coming to an abrupt halt.
With the durability of the Sea Temple, they all made it away from the destruction that threatened them, avoiding the Lich Queen at last. Peace finally befell the area. The gentle sounds of the waves were heard once more. But in return, many were drenched and wet thanks to the rough waves that kept hitting the temple.
"Oh, man...Is everyone okay?" Ash asked after the rocking came to an end, golding his head.
"I think so." A dizzy Pinkie Pie uttered as her eyes were rolling. Many others felt perplexed and bewildered in many ways "Did we make it?"
"We did," Ash confirmed before looking out. The Sea Temple had stopped because it had docked somewhere. And that somewhere appeared to be a beach out in a region. The region at the moment was not known by any of them but they would take any of those regions over what just happened. "Hah..." Relieved, Ash fell on his back. No one had gotten any sleep after all because of this event. "Glad that's over with..."
"Pikachu..."
"Indeed...That got out of hand incredibly fast..." Rarity faceplanted. "My beauty sleep is already overdue.
Everyone sighed and groaned now that it was all over. The amount of relief they felt was stellar. What started as a quick search for Galaxy Master turned into that fiasco. Thus, it was fitting that a peaceful beach was the last place they ended up at.
"Galaxy Master...I still didn't get to see him..." Ash sighed as his chances of seeing Galaxy Master had been taken away once more. It was rather irritating that the Dread League had ruined it for him. Yet, a smile graced his face. There was still a chance. To Ash, there was always a chance. He just had to seize it when the time is right. But right now, the best thing to do was rest.
Everyone would rest near this beach. They certainly needed it. And while getting ready to rest, Ash knew that Galaxy Master, who was based on his father, was out there doing his best to keep everyone safe. Another fierce confrontation with the Dread League ends as the journey continues.
The beaches of Hoenn. This was where the temple stopped after the seas attacked it. Everyone on it managed to escape from Rosa Maledicta's attack, finding a safe area at the beaches of Hoenn. And best of all, it was when the Sun was waiting to rise up as a light blue tint was starting to appear. Daybreaker was upon them as the sunlight gradually rose out upon the sea.
With them away from Rosa Maledicta and the Dread League entirely, they had time to clean up the mess that came from the Despair Plant Garden. Thanks to the Sea Temple being very durable, it was able to avoid some massive destruction. The most damage that could be found were crumbled pillars and platforms.
"Looks like everything's fine here. Even after all that, the temple's still alright? How come?" Pinkie Pie questioned now that everything was peaceful here.
"It was built to resist destructive power from the seas. The most damage we can ever receive is the temple being sunk. But I suppose the Dragon Force is one of those forces that can change that." A guard replied to her.
"We wish we could've helped you above, but we were too focused on the destruction coming from above and protecting everyone else here." Another guard added as they were backed down here during that mess. "Give our apologies to his majesty for not being by his side, if you will."
"Bah, I'm sure Ash won't mind." Pinkie shook her head, knowing her friend very well and how he would truly react. "You were just keeping everyone else safe down here. Right, Twilight?"
"Daisy. Paradise. Are you two alright?" But Twilight was more occupied with something else. She looked down at the unconscious Flora Ponies, who showcased more of their special magic, leading them to this unresponsive state. At last, they would wake up once a bit of sunlight broke through. Once a bit of sunlight met their bodies, they would instantly sit up at blistering speeds, startling Twilight Sparkle. It was like their bodies were levers that had been pulled, taking no time to build up or give them time to rest.
"Oh...Y-You got up fast." Twilight stammered. The two Flora Ponies seemed to wake up faster than the average pony. Another special trait that this newfound species had. "Are you feeling any better?"
"Just a bit dazed." Paradise yawned before taking in the sunlight. repairing parts of her body that were removed. "Nothing a good sunlight can't fix."
"Oh thank Celestia." A relieved Twilight uttered. "It's great that you're alright so quickly. You recover surprisingly fast too even after that. You two just dropped after using all of that magic."
"Right. I didn't think we would. It all happened so fast." said Daisy, still feeling the effects of the magic. "But we did it, didn't we? I had full faith that we could do it!"
"Yeah, right. You were shaken up once we showed up at that core." Paradise begged to differ.
"The garden's feeling a lot better, right? W-Where is it by the way?" Daisy looked up as the view of the garden was no longer there. They were all far from it after all.
"We left it behind. Right now, Galaxy Master's on it, going up against the Lich Queen. I'm not sure what'll become of the garden because of those two, but you did an excellent job at healing it." Twilight explained. "But, I made sure we wouldn't leave without something from the garden."
"What's that?" Paradise asked.
"These little ones." Twilight had a surprise for the Flora Ponies. A wonderful surprise. She would step to the side, revealing a box that was made out of Sea Temple material, resembling marble. And in that box, the Baby Despair Plants from the Garden had been revealed. The Baby Triantis and Arachnorchids were kept within the box, poking their little heads out to see the two ponies that brought them to life.
"Oh, you brought them?!" Daisy immediately jetted over to the box of baby Despair Plants, spinning Paradise around. "The little ones!"
"I figured I'd bring them along since you were already so attached to them. Even the Lich Queen was surprised to learn about their existence. Despair Plant Babies are new to the world it seems."
"You seriously kept those? Is that a good idea?" Rainbow Dash questioned, reasonably worried about the presence of Despair Plants within the temple. "I mean, I know the ones back at the garden weren't so tough, but still."
"It's fine. These ones were made by Daisy and Paradise's magic. They've never been babies before. Without the Lich Queen's magic or the Dread League getting involved, they're on their own path that leads to Daisy and Paradise.
"Despair Plants on our side? Very wonderful." Rarity approved of this. "They are rather adorable when they're this small. By the way, where is Ash?"
"His majesty went out to the beaches to think for a moment." Alo approached, answering Rarity's question. "After all, he missed his opportunity to see Galaxy Master because of the Dread League's involvement. The crystal has even stopped glowing."
"That's a shame. He was all kinds of excited to see him. It's the closest he has to his dad." said Applejack, shaking her head. All of it was ruined by the Dread League. Specifically, Rosa Maledicta, who awakened the garden in the first place. Ash's chance to meet up with Galaxy Master on friendlier terms was taken away yet again. And by extension, the visions from the crystal ball did not come true. An entirely different outcome played out. Twilight would head out to check up on Ash. Daisy and Paradise were doing well now but what about Ash? He hasn't suffered any damage except for the missing opportunity to meet with Galaxy Master.
As for Ash, with the sun rising up, he sat on a rock, appearing to be in a deep state of thought. The waves crashed near him as he had never had such a serious look on his face before. But it was also somewhat relaxed, being a mixture of the two emotions. While he was pondering, he had all of his Pokemon out, allowing them to roam freely on this beach. But Ash would not roam freely, instead, it was all about Galaxy Master for him right now as a Corphish would move past him.
But it wasn't just Galaxy Master. News about Fantina had been revealed to him thanks to Rarity and Applejack's experience.
"Thinking hard? That's not like you." Someone spoke to Ash, approaching him. A voice of familiarity was currently on this beach and who better to show up in the beaches of Hoenn than Dewford Town's Gym Leader? Brawly.
"Oh, hey Brawly." Ash greeted the Dewford Town Gym Leader, who was most likely here to surf, especially this early in the morning when the Sun was just starting to rise. "Yeah, I've been thinking about some stuff."
"What's got you looking like this? Is it about the Pokemon World Championships or something?"
"Nah. It's about Galaxy Master and Fantina." Ash took off his hat, ready to get into what he discovered. "I was so psyched to meet up with him again but...the Dread League got in the way of that. But I guess getting on the garden was on us."
"Fantina?! You saw Fantina?!" Brawly gasped as at last, Fantina had been seen after many months.
"Yeah. Well, Rarity and Applejack did. But she didn't come along with us. Fantina's with the Dread League now, missing some of her memories. Not sure how but, she didn't recognize them at all. Not even her time with Sweetie Belle." Ash explained. "That's two things that happened up there."
"Oh boy. That's rough." Brawly sat next to Ash, feeling the impact of this. "Roxanne's gonna pretty bummed out when she finds out that Fantina's at Magehold. So, all that happened where?"
"On a garden. A Despair Plant Garden. The Dread League made a new one after Galaxy Master took the last one out. But..." Ash stretched his arms. "No matter how rough it is, I've still got a good feeling, ya know."
"Even after that look on your face, you're still feeling good? Not bad..." Brawly nodded, impressed that Ash could just get back up after that.
"Yeah. It's a shame I didn't get to meet him this time. He's the closest thing to my dad and I don't even know where my dad is right now. But I know we'll meet up again someday." Ash smiled, looking back at the Fighting-Type Gym Leader. "It's a lot like my dream to become a Pokemon Master."
"Really? How?"
"It's what my dad used to say. Or I guess sing. It was a while back but I still remember it." He tapped his head. "It's something that my family line used to sing long ago. I think it was...Chase your Dreams, keep them close and eventually, they'll come true. So I've got all the time in the world to wait."
"Fair enough. We'll get Fantina back, especially since we know where she is. Magehold...That's a rough place to be at."
"It didn't sound like it. Sounds like Fantina's enjoying herself there and already made a friend. For all those months, she's probably been doing good for herself even with little memories." Ash grinned. Over at the temple and through the windows, Twilight watched how Ash powered through this disappointment once more.
Years of experience are what led him to having such a nature. That nature was even how he connected with others.
"You're not the only one that remembers that song." Another reply came his way. This time, from an unexpected guest. Looking up, Ash and Brawly would spot none other than Diadora, sitting on one of the Sea Temple platforms, looking down at the King of the Sea. It wasn't just Twilight watching him.
"Hey, Diadora!" Ash greeted her with a wave despite the intense stare she gave him. Twilight just lowered her eyes, knowing Diadora would just start spouting nonsense out of spite towards Ash.
"Gh!" Brawly had a different reaction, pulling back when looking at Diadora. "Green Hair...Red Eyes...That reminds me of someone too much." It was natural for Brawly to react like this since Twilight and the others had the same reaction when seeing her. She shared some similarities with Ghetsis that were rather intimidating.
"Oh, you know about the song too? Was it sung to you once?" Ash asked since Diadora also brought it up.
"Too many times to count. You Ketchums love to sing about your dreams..." Diadora sneered, bringing up Ash's family line once more.
"Right, right. You know a lot about my family too since you've been around for a long time. Can ya tell me something about my ancestors?" Ash figured that the next best thing were his ancestors. The Ketchum line seemed to be rather relevant to Diadora's family, whoever they were.
"They were as annoying as you. That's all you need to know." Diadora replied, refusing to go any further. "Honestly, I was hoping you would meet your demise on top of that garden and I would take the throne, but yet again, you Ketchums manage to slip past destruction."
"We're pretty good at that, aren't we? That goes for Pikachu." Ash said, standing proud.
"Hey, that's uncalled for!" Twilight watched it all, appearing on the scene after Diadora's harsh comment. "Ash and everyone else up there risked a lot to make sure the People of the Water were safe! Your people!"
"They're not my people." Diadora narrowed her eyes at Twilight. "Don't let these markings fool you. I may wish to become Queen of the Sea, but I'm from somewhere else as you already know. Even if my heritage is lost, I know I should be the newest ruler of the Sea. But against all odds, it had to be someone who doesn't even have royal blood."
"So what if he doesn't have royal blood?" Twilight got in front of Ash. "I'm a princess but I don't have any royal blood in me!"
"That's what separates me from you. You're just a lowly princess while I'm set to be a Queen. Far beyond that title." Diadora put on a cocky smile that immediately pushed Twilight's buttons.
"Why you...!" Twilight growled with magic slowly flaring from her horn. However, she would quickly recollect herself before putting on a confident smile. "Well, I guess we're even since you're also a princess, aren't you? Miss Lost Royalty."
"Kh!" Diadora received a taste of her own medicine. Twilight was right on the spot as Diadora was technically a princess since she had royalty within her. Twilight put her on the same pedestal, using her own logic against her. "You dare...?!"
"Uh, this looks personal so I'll just..." Brawly decided to back away, not wanting to get involved in this heated dispute.
"Seems like after all these years of being sealed away, you never did get the chance to become Queen." Twilight shrugged. "Ash quickly accomplished what you haven't in...how long have you all been sealed up?"
"Hmph! It's fitting that you would stick up for him. Why does he even bother coming back here at all? He's barely a king with how he's constantly moving across the world. He only rarely sits on that throne anyway." Diadora addressed more of her complaints.
"Well, I'm not too sure about that either." Ash laughed. "Everyone at the Sea Temple still see me as a King. And from what I learned, I guess it's who gains the Sea Crown that becomes the King."
"What an awful way to achieve power." Diadora sighed, hating how the Sea Crown is what dictates the next Ruler of the Sea, not anything else. Ash just happened to be the one to save the Sea Temple from its demise and revived the People of the Water.
"But hey. Don't give up on it." Ash threw some optimism her way. "If you wanna be Queen, then one day, you'll earn the Sea Crown, I can bet. I guess something crazy would have to happen again."
"I don't need your sympathy, Ketchum!" Diadora roared at Ash. "I would never want sympathy from a Ketchum."
"What's your problem? Why do you hate Ash's family so much?" Twilight asked, curious as to why Diadora harboured this much negativity towards Ash and his family line.
"You're the smart one. Go to a library and see if you can find it." Diadora would have those be her last words before walking off, returning to the Sea Temple.
"You're the smart one... Oooh, she's a right piece of work!" Twilight mocked Diadora. "She just comes up to you and says all of that? For what? Jealousy?"
"Something must've happened way back then if she knows about my family." But Ash was still seeing this from another perspective. Diadora did have her reasons and she had to know. "Or maybe she really is just jealous.
"I'm opting for the second option," said Twilight. "Anyway, we should be getting back home now. I think we need some more downtime, don't you think?"
"Yeah. But you can go on ahead and return with everyone else. I'll stay here for a while. You can get back home pretty fast with the Sea Temple's light-speed travel."
"You're not coming with us? Why?" Twilight asked, wondering why Ash was choosing to stay behind here instead of coming along with all of his friends and subjects.
"I just wanna hang around here first. That's all. But I'll be back soon, okay? No need to worry." Ash reassured.
"Alright then. You know what you're doing. And I'm sorry about Galaxy Master. You didn't get your chance again because of the Dread League and now we know Fantina's with them. If only we could find it and break past that barrier then this would all be over."
"It's fine. We'll get there. But you've got some Flora Ponies to take care of, right? After what they did, you've gotta keep an eye on them for what other awesome things they can do."
"Right. I'll be occupied with them and I guess some Despair Plants too." Twilight scratched her mane. "I should really get new rooms since they might grow up later on. Anyway, see you tomorrow or later!" After that, the Princess of Friendship would depart from the beach, waving goodbye to the King of the Sea.
Ash would wave goodbye once more as the sun would finally rise, showing its golden brilliance to the world once more. There was a brief moment of silence, followed by the sound of the waves moving against each other. And after that, Ash would turn to face all of his Pokemon, ready to tackle this new day now that it can truly begin.
Yesterday's problems were history. Today was full of excitement and tomorrow was another adventure waiting around the corner. Ash would rush to the side of his Pokemon and Brawly, wanting in on the action now that he's cleared his mind. Every moment of his life was worthwhile to him. Whether it was the friends he made along the way, the enemies that appear before him and seem to keep increasing or the journey he takes that focuses on becoming a Pokemon Master, Ash is always constantly moving, much like the Sea Temple.
Moving towards that goal he's sought out for so long. And by addition, Diadora's words even made him curious about his ancestors since they sounded a lot like him in many ways. It seems to run in the family, especially with his father. Whether it was the real deal or Galaxy Master.
When running through the beaches of Hoenn, Ash would take one last moment to look at the Sea Temple and those within it. The People of the Water, Ponies of different species and of course, Pokemon. If anything, this massive group of characters were the perfect culmination of his adventures all balled up into one. Every foe, and every friend have made him who he is today. And he wouldn't have it any other way.
Peaceful Ponyville. At last, Twilight and almost all of her friends had returned, courtesy of the Sea Temple and its lightspeed travel. The one town that has a gateway which connects to Pallet Town and was the only gateway that stuck around after the wish. The Sea Temple could be seen from afar, near Lapras Lake with its towering height. By this point, the invisible temple was no longer invisible. At least, to allies and friends, and Ash certainly had a lot of them here, if not all of them.
"Ah! Feels great to be back! Even if it was just one day. Or I guess two." Twilight said with a grand sigh of relief, entering her home. She had a lot to report on and process. Entering the home with her were Daisy and Flora along with some new smaller additions that would most likely fill up the castle. The Baby Despair Plants, of course. They were kept in a box before leaping out of it to explore the castle. As far as it goes right now, this was their home. "Now, to just-"
"Twilight! There you are, dear!" Suddenly, her mother appeared. Out of nowhere, she was just suddenly within her home, startling her daughter and rushing towards her.
"Mom?!" Twilight gasped, pulling back and nearly falling over, only for Espeon to catch her with Psychic. "You scared me...I thought I'd see Spike or Starlight first."
"Ah! I was waiting for a while! So was your father!" Twilight Velvet screeched with an excited tone as right behind her was Night Light.
"I was dragged along." Night Light gave an immediate honest answer. It seemed that he was brought along by Twilight Velvet for one crucial reason that Twilight Sparkle herself hasn't realized yet. That is until her mother spouted it out.
"I've been waiting for this day...!" Twilight Velvet's eyes were tearing up with joy. "I finally have Grandfoals. It's about time...Even if they are already old in appearance. This is one of the best days of my life!" She was obviously happy about the existence of Daisy and Paradise, seeing them as her grandchildren, much like how Daisy and Paradise saw Twilight Sparkle as their mother.
"Oh, so that's it..." Twilight Sparkle lowered her eyes, chuckling lightly.
"Are you our grandparents?"
"We sure are!" Twilight Velvet moved past her daughter to meet the Flora Ponies. "I'm elated to finally meet my grandchildren! Even if it isn't by blood! Or I guess it is because an elixir was used by my daughter. Right? Ah, who cares!"
"Oh, great!" Daisy shared Twilight Velvet's enthusiasm as they both held hooves.
"I expected this to happen." Twilight Sparkle shrugged as this was inevitable. This was the kind of spirit her mother carried. Really, most mothers look forward to a moment like this. "She does in my dreams...interfering with them just to ask me." Twilight Sparkle added.
"At least that puts her to ease. I know she would've started going off and on about wanting Grandfoals, no doubt." Night Light said. "Congrats by the way."
"Thanks, dad. Sorry that mom dragged you along but I would've brought them to you anyway. I'm glad to have them around. But mom looks happier than me."
"Mhm. Now all that's left to do is find the father, but it was you who made them. Any ideas?" Night Light questioned.
"Don't ask..." Twilight sighed, knowing that was already attempted with Ash but became a bust instantly. "It's pending though..."
"We have so much to do! If you were babies, I would pass on Twilight's old objects and clothes. But since you're this big, we'll skip ahead! How about we go shopping together?!"
"Yes, please!" Daisy greatly agreed.
"Oh! Can we buy some Pokemon Equipment, grandma?!" Paradise asked, more interested in things that had to do with Pokemon.
"Hang on! You're not leaving until we figure out what to do with these baby Despair Plants!" Twilight Sparkle halted them, focusing on important matters. "They may have been made by you but-"
"We'll be back in a bit!" Twilight Velvet cut her off. "Don't worry, dear! You've already spent quality time with your daughters so now it's my turn. Every grandparent's duty after all!" The mother of the Princess of Friendship laughed before using her magic to teleport out of the castle.
"Mrrgh...Mom...!" Twilight Sparkle grumbled before sighing, knowing it was pointless to do anything about that. "Oh well. It is what is. See you around then, dad. I have quite a lot to do after that wild moment at Sea."
"What happened at Sea?"
"Eh...Lots of stuff. It involves the Dread League, unfortunately. And there are a few things I want to read up on. The King of Pokelantis and the mystery with that colour combination of green and red. That Diadora, as annoying as she has, has me curious about something." Twilight pondered about Diadora. "If I remember correctly, the Witch comes from a group of people from the past who had that colour combination who are related to Ghetsis. Green Hair and Red Eyes."
"Good luck with that. I'll catch up with your mother." Night Light wished her the best before leaving the castle. "I'll have them back if things go south."
"Thanks. Bye, dad!" She would bid farewell to her father before focusing on Diadora once more. "Alright. A few mysteries I need to sort out. And as much as I hate to admit it...I would like to read up on this old Ketchum line myself. If I wanted to find out, I know what I can read! It's time I read books I haven't touched yet." Twilight knew exactly where to go.
Twilight had just the book. And it could be found in the back areas of the massive book collection she had. At the back, lesser-known books were spotted. Books that Twilight hasn't read about yet. She's barely scratched the surface of the Pokemon World after all.
And among these books was one about groups across history. And in the case of Ash's family line, which wasn't that well known, this was the best place to start. She would grab the book seeing and reading the title. "Tales of Odd Groups through the Years. This is the one."
By opening the book, she was already smacked in the face by some of the strangest-looking groups out there. A group of Merchant Deliberd were joined by what seemed to be a Heatran. That made Twilight's eyes open as she found it hard to believe that something involving a Legendary Pokemon was considered lesser-known.
She kept flipping the pages, viewing more and more unique and interesting groups that have been around in the past such as family lines, guilds, clans, teams and so on. Espeon would yawn while Twilight went through this rather hefty book, waiting for her to get to something good.
"Aha! That was easy!" And she did. She found exactly what she was looking for. The fact that this is all she needed to do was proof of this book's minor importance. But to Twilight, every book was important, especially with what she found on the 25th Page.
"Espeon?" Espeon got up to see this for herself now that Twilight made such a sound.
"Take a look, Eve. It does exist. The Ketchum Family Line." Twilight found the page of the Ketchum family as there was even an image to accompany them. And indeed, the resemblance to Ash was uncanny as it felt like looking at a bunch of Ash clones.
"They all look like him. Black hair, dark eyes and that signature Thunderbolt Birthmark on their faces. And those smiles of course. That's his family line. But let's see what it says here..." She narrowed her eyes, seeing what was said about the Ketchum Family line.
"The Ketchum Family is by far the closest to ordinary out of all of them. Sporting a unique Thunderbolt Birthmark on their faces, this group of people from a small village in Kanto aren't that much special. At most, they're rather ordinary. But what makes them stand out is their colossal level of optimism and energy that they carried with them. One skill they had was the ability to throw objects, specifically Apricorns and round fruits with skillfully."
"Well, I guess this and his time as a baseball player explain the catching skills," Twilight said, pointing out how Ash was skilled at throwing, never missing his aim. It runs in the family it looks like. She would continue reading, seeing what else this book had to share.
"Not much is known about this family aside from those traits. But what is known was that they managed to diverge more than any family in known history. But there is the fact that they all had an impact on others more known than them. Some would say their energy is contagious."
"Aw, that's it..." Unfortunately, that's as far as it went. That was all Twilight learned about Ash's ancestors. "But...I don't know what else I was expecting. If anything, for Ash's ancestors, it makes sense, right?"
"Espeon."
"Now all that's left to do is find out about Ghetsis' family line if it was somewhere here." Twilight would continue reading, seeing what else she could find. Hopefully, something relating to Ghetsis.
Hours passed and everyone returned to their daily routine. Pinkie Pie would start baking at SugarCube Corner once more. Applejack returned to her family back at Sweet Apple Acres, being greeted by all the small Grass-Types Apple Bloom had by her side. Rainbow Dash didn't have much to do except wait until enough challengers have passed all 8 Gyms for the Equestria League to truly begin.
And Rarity would get back to work, thinking about the Water Weaving trick she learned back at the Sea Temple. Speaking of the Sea Temple, it was still here, seen over at Lapras Lake. It wasn't going anywhere anytime soon by the looks of it, much like how it stuck around the Crystal Empire. Speaking of which, with this opportunity, they would leave the temple to explore the place. Mainly the children. Ponyville was now met with a few Sea Temple visitors but without a king to be with them at the moment. Life went on until the late afternoon came by.
But as for Fluttershy, she was more focused on a certain group who would usually help out at the Pokemon House. "Has anyone seen Team Rocket?" Fluttershy recently has been searching for Team Rocket as their presence was nowhere to be found at the Pokemon House and her cottage.
While searching for them, her friends would gather at the Pokemon House to hang out with each other while the Sun was giving an orange glow to the sky. Twilight found nothing about Ghetsis' family line and only found something about Ash, which she would soon share with her friends who were snacking on foods that Pinkie Pie and Applejack made.
"Still pretty tired here..." Rainbow Dash yawned. "Who's thinking of sleeping over here?"
"At a place with plentiful Pokemon and some that are nocturnal? Sure." Rarity answered. "Having a sleepover at the Pokemon House would be enjoyable. Imagine the sights we get to see that not many do at night, especially with all of these Pokemon around."
"Feeling the need to sleep right now." Applejack sighed, lying on Sceptile's stomach. "Feeling pretty lazy today...Or tomorrow."
"Yeah...Yesterday really drained us. By the way, Fluttershy. When are you gonna get new Pokemon here?" Pinkie Pie questioned.
"Hmm...They're probably with Zecora now since the Everfree Forest's been healed." Fluttershy believed since they were technically Zecora's students still.
"Looking for us?!" The voice of Jessie echoed, grabbing Fluttershy's attention.
"Ah, there you-" However, once she and everyone else turned around, they were stunned to see the Rocketship that once belonged to Empress Twilight and now Team Rocket, hovering above them. Very close to them as well.
"Feast your eyes on this!" Meowth cried out as the Rocketship was suddenly undergoing a transformation. Parts of this aerial creation would start shifting and morphing, extending in certain parts to touch the ground as all the Pokemon and the ponies gasped in awe.
Standing before them was a Transformed Rocketship that was now a Giant Robot that had the Team Rocket Symbol on the chest. It struck a powerful pose for its first appearance and it was certainly an impressive one.
"Introducing the newly constructed Team Rocket Mecha!" James exclaimed. "Made by yours truly with some adjustments here and there!"
"Awesome!" Rainbow Dash's eyes lit up along with Pinkie Pie's.
"It is, isn't it? But what's more awesome is how we can get a lot of things done with this baby! Such as nabbing all the Pokemon we can from Ponyville!"
"Right, that's...Wait a minute, what?!" Twilight gasped, shocked to hear that Team Rocket were still attempting to steal Pokemon even after the time they spent with Fluttershy. "But I thought-"
"Thought we wouldn't? Get real, twerpette! The Pokemon House is off-limits but everyone else isn't!" Jessie laughed.
"Don't get us wrong. It's been wonderful working for Fluttershy and helping her as much as we can. Even sharing info on that whole Cresselia thing. But aside from that, we're Team Rocket through and through!"
"And we do it all for the boss!" All three of them collectively said. Team Rocket truly was loyal to Giovanni. If only they were around Fluttershy a bit longer.
"That's a shame..." Applejack sighed, facehoofing afterwards. "When does it end?"
"After we get Pikachu, of course!" Jessie exclaimed as a magical flare came from the mech. It still had magical energy within it, allowing it to be versatile in science and magic. "Our life's work will be completed!"
"Ngh!" Twilight and the others grimaced as the flare would blow their manes. Of all times Team Rocket chose to take action, now was the worst time, especially when they were all tired this late into the afternoon. "Gah...We don't have time for this, Team Rocket! We're too tired for this as well!"
"Can't you pick another time?" Pinkie Pie groaned.
"And ruin the moment? No way!" Jessie refused. "We'll make it quick and snag your Pokemon. Bonus points that you're tired and you won't have the twerp to back you up!"
"Are you sure about that?" Right on time, that 'Twerp' had made his appearance. All of them collectively turned their heads and raised their eyes to see the King of the Sea standing in the middle of the horizon, sticking out as always.
"Pikachu!"
"Ash! Pikachu! You're back! How'd you get here so fast?!" Twilight said with joy also wondering how Ash and Pikachu got here so quickly when Twilight and the others had to use the Sea Temple's lightspeed travel to show up here.
"The Sea Crown, that's how. Alo passed along one crystal for me to use if I wanted to make a quick return." Ash adjusted his hat. "You all look pretty tired, don't you?"
"We do..We don't have time for this but that is an impressive-looking machine that they've made. Or altered." said Rarity.
"It is! That's awesome!" Ash was amazed by the mech. "Alright. I'll take it from here!"
"Get lost, twerp! It's only meant to be between us and them! You're supposed to come in later!" James yelled at him as Team Rocket would then reveal arm cannons from this giant mech. These arm cannons would build up magic, using that as the main source of attack for the moment.
"Check this out...We'll finish it in one go! Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Ash thrusted his fist into the air, delivering a powerful command that made his hat nearly fly off.
"Pika...Chuuu!"
Pikachu responded to that powerful shout with an equally powerful attack as he jumped into the air as a start. By slapping his red sacs, Pikachu released releases a powerful bolt of yellow electricity from its body at the opponent that moved at blinding speeds.
Before the arm cannons could do anything, the entire mech was hit by this singular Thunderbolt and by extension, Team Rocket themselves.
"Gaaahaaa!" They screamed as the stream of electricity was greatly affecting the machine's functions, rapidly overloading. Team Rocket would feel the punishment of 100,000 Volts which would then combust. An electrifying explosion went through, launching the Rocketship Mech and Team Rocket themselves into the air. Impressively, the mech was still intact after that.
"I...I didn't even get to use the cannons!" Jessie growled, kicking and punching the air out of frustration. "Why was this one faster than the rest?!"
"At the end of the day, Electricity beats machines. Powers them too." James shrugged, accepting the outcome. "But this feels rather special, doesn't it? It's been a while since this has happened."
"Right. Let's soak in this familiar feeling." Meowth nodded in agreement. "And the next time will be business as usual but in our favour."
"Oh well. If that's how it is, so be it." Jessie would soon accept it as well.
"We're blasting off again!" They cried out with their voices fading in the distance after their defeat.
"Hm. I wonder if we'll see that mech again." Ash commented after seeing Team Rocket off. He would soon turn to face all of his friends, putting on that bright smile. "Everyone doing okay?"
"Just tired, that's all, darling." Rarity laughed. "Way to steal our thunder."
"Yeah. I was gonna have Mew Dynamax and clash with that giant mech. It would've been so much fun to see." Pinkie Pie added.
"Aw! That would've been cool to see!" Ash gasped, realizing the missed opportunity. "Oh, but we can make that happen! Mew, can you transform into that mech by becoming a Ditto first?"
"Mew-Mew!" Mew could make it happen without a doubt, fulfilling any wishes they all had.
"Maybe later. How about we get some rest? I imagine you would want some rest too, Ash." Twilight suggested.
"Yeah, you guys are tired. Maybe next time." Ash nodded. "Besides, I gotta get home and check out the present my dad left."
"Your dad came by?! Seriously?!" The Princess of Friendship and her friends all shouted once Ash's dad was brought up. It wasn't Galaxy Master. It was the real-deal Mr Ketchum.
"Nah, it was by Pelipper, unfortunately. But that's okay with me. I gotta check it out! See ya tomorrow! Come on Pikachu!" Ash would immediately bolt off, bidding farewell to his friends as Pikachu would follow.
"Pika-Pika!"
"He didn't even hear our sleepover recommendation. Or even see about his family line either." Rarity tilted her head. "Must he always be in a rush far more than Rainbow Dash?"
"Ah, that's who he is." Twilight and the others expected this by now with how much they hang around Ash. "That's how he lives. And it rubs off on us a lot, doesn't it?"
"Mhm." Fluttershy and the others nodded in agreement vehemently.
"And we wouldn't have it any other way. I'm looking forward to whatever adventure we have with him next time." Pinkie Pie would pet some of the Pokemon here after replying.
"Maybe we'll see him as a Pokemon Master on the next one, huh?" Applejack added, bringing up the Pokemon Master title. "Or is that too soon?"
"No." Twilight would shake her head before looking at the Pallet Town Trainer once more before he left the horizon. "In my eyes, he's already one."
Entering Twilight's Castle were Twilight Velvet, Daisy and Paradise, who had been out shopping since yesterday. And upon returning, they got busy in buying whatever they wanted or rather what Twilight Velvet wished to get her grandchildren. But when returning, Twilight Sparkle was there with a cross look on her face.
"There you two are! Where have you been?!" An upset Twilight Sparkle yelled, facing Daisy and Paradise. The two Flora Ponies were joined by Twilight Velvet who was essentially their grandma, holding and wearing an assortment of objects. "You were gone for an entire day! I was worried!"
"W-We were just shopping! That's all, see?" Daisy showed off her new clothes that were in bags while wearing Starmie-shaped glasses.
"Mom! You were out with them for too long!" Twilight Sparkle faced her mother.
"But we had a great time though. I got too eager to go out with my grandchildren." Twilight Velvet grinned. "You didn't have anything to worry about, dear. With me around, they would've been safe. Plus, they moved like flowers to get around which tells me they can avoid most danger! Literally!"
"Yeah, and it was worth it! I got myself a Pokedex! A very stylish one too!" Paradise would show off her Pokedex which was in the style of Fire, having flame patterns and the Fire-Type Symbol on it. Twilight simply looked at her with lowered eyes.
"...Paradise. You could've just come to my lab and I would've given you the essentials." Twilight sighed. "But whatever. With you two gone, I've been having trouble handling the Baby Despair Plants. They're all kinds of chaotic. Only Ash and Roseluck have managed to calm some of them down."
"This way!" Speaking of which, running past Twilight and the others were Ash and Pikachu who were being chased by the baby Despair Plants who were crawling on the floor and walls to pursue the duo. As for the rest of the Despair Plants, they had exhausted Twilight, Applejack and Rarity, being incredibly frantic and hard to control.
"Well...They've got their attention, is what I should say." Twilight grumbled. "I figured that they'd calm down around you since you brought them into this world. The best I've gotten is for Ash to play with them and Roseluck to tend to them for these past hours. They made quite the ruckus last night."
"Sorry about that, mom. But we had so much fun, didn't we?" Daisy faced Paradise.
"It was! Now I can start my career as a Pokemon Trainer." Paradise replied with excitement, looking down at the bag of Poke Balls, potions and map. All of it had been spent on Twilight Velvet's money when really, she could've just come over to Twilight Sparkle's lab and got it for free. But for her, it was all about style. "Now I just need the look of a Trainer!"
"If you want...I can make something for you." An exhausted Rarity uttered.
"At least you had fun. But give me a heads-up afterwards. Poor dad probably struggled to get you home thanks to mom." Twilight shook her head, noticing that Night Light was not here.
"Oh, I should take you to meet my son next and then my daughter-in-law!" Immediately, Twilight Velvet focused on something else, wishing to go to the Crystal Empire with the Flora Ponies. "What do you say, dear? Do you think that would be okay with you?"
"You just got back with them. And aren't you tired?" Twilight Sparkle questioned with confusion on her face. How could they just leave after showing up since they were gone for a whole day yesterday? "It'd be nice if you stayed here for a while and we spent some time."
"We can do it together." Twilight Velvet suggested. "What's stopping us? And how long has it been since we've had a family outing together?"
"Well, I still have work to do, mom. Including today. We'll do it another time, okay?" Twilight pleaded.
"I get it. You're a busy princess. How about I just hang around with you all in the meanwhile? Then we can drag your older brother here later on." Twilight Velvet winked, followed by some silence from Twilight Sparkle.
"Fine, fine. Just tone it down, okay? First I need these Despair Plants to calm down. Those Triantis may be small, but their claws can tear something up. Especially all of my books."
"Got it! We're on it, mom!" Daisy saluted before using her Floral Travel, turning into an array of daises to travel. Paradise would soon do the same, turning into Paradise Flowers.
"I wish Starlight were here...She might've had something." Twilight sat down, exhausted herself on this bright day. "I wonder where she is at the moment though...Even she's been gone since yesterday."
Rattata Steppe. Day.
Starlight was currently elsewhere, doing her own thing even when the event at the Despair Plant Garden took place. But she wasn't alone. Joining her was none other than Goh. And if Goh was with her, that meant they were out doing one thing. Catching Pokemon.
And it wasn't just Goh catching Pokemon. Currently, she just had Hatterene by her side. And that was fine, but having more than one Pokemon was always a great feeling to many. At the moment, they were stopping to have a bite to eat while Goh was looking over the map of this place on his Rotomphone. An assortment of food had been set up on a table that has yet to be touched. Courtesy of SugarCube Corner, the food was bright and colourful, mainly being sweets and other pastries.
"Most are just Rattata's but that makes finding the rare Pokemon all that more fun," Goh said while looking over the map and which Pokemon could be found here. Considering the name of this grassland-like area, Rattatas were the most common Pokemon. "Anyone that catches your eye, Starlight?"
"Uhh...Umm..." Putting on a judgemental face, Starlight looked over the list of Pokemon that can be found here aside from just Rattata. There was Seviper, Maractus, Wormadam, Corsola, Dratini and Clobbopus. Not many. "I don't know...I don't think any of them catch my eye."
"Why not? You said that about some other Pokemon recently."
"I guess I just like the way Hatterene looks. I'm a bit picky, honestly." Starlight scratched her mane, being honest about her preferences. "I like the mysterious Pokemon. The ones that carry a lot of mystery and enigma around them."
"Like Zoroark?" Goh replied, bringing up a Pokemon that carried mystery around it. "What about Ghost and Dark-Types then?"
"Hatterene just has that nice feeling," Starlight said with a smile. "You know what I mean? That's one of the reasons I connected with her."
"Okay then. I'm not picky with my choices though. Well...not in the beginning anyway." Goh turned his phone off. "Anyway, catching Pokemon needs a full stomach, so let's eat!"
However, the second they turned around, the food had been smashed to bits. Most of these delicious and bright pastries were now nothing but mush. Goh and Starlight were blown back by this. It was as if a hammer came out of nowhere and pulverized their food to the point where it was all mushy and splattered across the table.
Their food for today was unsalvagable and no more. The strange part was that neither had noticed this before or even heard such a sound.
"What happened to the food!?" Goh bellowed with disbelief. It looked like someone just came up and smashed them. And indeed, that was the case when they saw the culprit who made quiet but powerful sounds.
"Clobbo! Clobbo!" It was a Pokemon. One that was smacking against the remaining food with its tentacles.
"Who's that Pokemon?" Starlight immediately took out her Pokedex while Goh was still stunned and distraught by the destruction that befell the pastries.
"Clobbopus. The Tantrum Pokemon. It’s very curious, but its means of investigating things is to try to punch them with its tentacles. The search for food is what brings it onto land. Its tentacles tear off easily, but it isn’t alarmed when that happens—it knows they’ll grow back. It’s about as smart as a three-year-old."
"Oh, so you're the one responsible for this," Starlight uttered. "And if you're curious...something like this would've grabbed your fancy since it's also food. Did it have to be hit though?"
"You ruined our food!" Goh bellowed, facing Clobbopus. "Why?! What's up with that?"
"Clobbo?" Clobbopus looked up, gazing at Goh after he raised his voice. Unexpectedly, this little Pokemon took a massive leap, striking Goh's chest. "Pus!"
"Gouh!" Goh coughed after receiving an impressive strong strike from this baby Pokemon. He was surprised to be hit that hard as Clobbopus would then fall on its back after jumping that high, failing to recover on the ground. Speaking of the ground, Goh would also fall on it, getting on his knees first.
"Oh my gosh, Goh¬! Are you alright?!" Starlight gasped after Goh received that devastating blow.
"Mrrgh...What an impact..." Goh squirmed while on the ground, trying to resist the pain.
"That was uncalled for!" Starlight uttered, facing the Tantrum Pokemon while using her magic to help up Goh.
"Clo"? Being the curious Pokemon that it is, Goh's shirt and what was in the middle raised a bit of curiosity. But it wasn't just Goh. It was also Starlight. Looking at Starlight brought some more curiosity to the Tantrum Pokemon. Starlight looked interesting, very different from Goh as her colours helped illustrate that.
For a Pokemon like Clobbopus, these kinds of colours were attractive to the eye. But before it could go after Starlight next, its tentacles tore off all of a sudden, just like what the Pokedex stated. They fell off Clobbopus' body thanks to the powerful blow it gave to Goh, dropping to the ground and rolling.
"Eugh!" Even when knowing that they could tear off easily, seeing them come off was downright disturbing, especially since it was on a baby.
"A-Are you alright?!" Starlight worried for the Tantrum Pokemon, wondering if it was feeling any pain before the tentacles could grow back.
"Clo." Clobbopus was not alarmed at all. For someone so young, it was amazing that this species was so nonchalant about this. But perhaps its young mind is what makes that possible.
When waiting for its tentacles to grow back, it would continue to look at Starlight, attracted by her bright colours, as opposed to Goh's dark colours thanks to this clothing. The only thing that stuck out was the symbol on his shirt. Starlight scrunched her face while looking back at Clobbopus. Suddenly, she was approached by the Tantrum Pokemon who would try and hit her, but to no avail.
"I don't think you can hurt me with those missing tentacles," Starlight said before using her magic to lift Clobbopus into the air.
"Clobbo?"
"What was all that for...?" Goh breathed in and out after being helped up.
"It's a baby, Goh. It's just like the Pokedex said. If something catches its attention, it'll try and hit it. And just like babies, we look interesting enough." Starlight explained, having some good knowledge on babies. "And in our case, we look pretty colourful to it and babies love bright colours Just like the food that was on the table."
"You look colourful, you mean." Goh groaned while still holding his chest. "I would've thought Clobbopus would've eaten it instead of hitting it. Isn't that why it comes out of the water?"
"So, are you also hungry then?" Starlight asked the Tantrum Pokemon.
"Clobbopus!" Very much so! Clobbopus would most definitely want something to eat as its tentacles would grow back.
"Great. But...You kind of destroyed everything that we needed to fill our hunger." Goh pointed out the destroyed mush of food that was everywhere. It took Clobbopus just now to realize this destruction. Granted, it was a baby, so that was its first instinct.
"It's fine. Babies can eat mush. But maybe not this since it's been splattered on the table." With her magic, Starlight revealed that there was an extra piece of food within her saddlebag. A single cupcake had been revealed as she then crushed it with pure mental force.
Goh felt a piece of his heart shatter after seeing that cupcake get crushed, becoming mush in the process. His stomach could be heard growling afterwards. With this cupcake mush, Starlight would hold it up to the Fighting-Type, ready to feed it.
"Eat up." She said. And much like a baby, Clobbopus would take a bite. It snagged a bite of the mush from its hard-to-see mouth, not even hesitating for a moment. Once its tentacles grew back, Clobbopous would flail them around with excitement, confirming that it enjoyed it. "Great! Tastes good even when crushed!"
"That could've been ours..." Goh sighed as any semblance of remains of the food they brought along was gone.
"Don't worry, we'll get our fill. This place has some fruits we can choose from, so let's go for those instead." Starlight gave out a second option now that all of their food was gone. Fruits from the Rattata Steppe. "Hopefully, with all of these Rattata around, they don't run out of that either. And we'll catch ourselves a Pokemon along the way."
"Clobbopus!" But the moment they decided to get a move on through this forest while also focusing on their goal to catch some Pokemon, Clobbopus would suddenly jump on Starlight's mane, hitching a ride.
"Is it coming along with us?" Goh asked Starlight Glimmer upon seeing the Tantrum Pokemon hitch a ride.
"Looks like it. Babies will do that if something makes them happy. I think it's expecting me to give it more of those mushed cupcakes. But maybe mushed fruits will do the trick as well."
When exploring the rest of this forest, they saw nothing but Rattata along the way, swarming every part of this area with the rare Pokemon being truly rare. And most likely, a Dratini would be even rarer compared to the rest. Just as Starlight predicted, most of the food here was taken by the Rattata since this was their home. Fruits of all kinds were being munched on by these scampering little Normal-Types.
"Clo?" And with the Rattata here, Clobbopus' eyes were focused on them too, itching for a good smack. But its attention would be diverted elsewhere as it could not focus on one thing long enough, always curious and aware of its surroundings. Much like a skilled fighter, fittingly.
"A lot's happened actually..." Goh said while holding out his Rotomphone, checking out the news of what's been happening in the world. Princess Celestia's still working on reaching Magehold and it looks like the Dread League's actions have been slowing down recently. And a garden's been spotted in the sky too that's not from Pegalysium. I'm just waiting for them to free Yveltal so that Black Crusade doesn't happen."
"It could still happen. They were planning it to pull it off before they even knew about Yveltal." Starlight replied Clobbopus would then focus on her hair, playing around with it.
"Aha! We should be near the lake by now, which is where Dratini should be!" Goh exclaimed. "I'm surprised that it's not Part-Water because of this. Pretty soon, Dratini's gonna be with us!"
"If you can find it. They can sometimes blend in with the water, you know." Starlight joked around which made Goh chuckle afterwards. But she had a point. The fact that they were as blue as the sea made them rarer to find.
"If we're gonna look for dragons we should-"
"Out of the way!" Someone interrupted Goh, yelling in the direction of him and Starlight. Both stopped to hear this powerful shot before looking ahead. Coming their way was none other than a Dragon-Type. But not the Dragon-Type they were looking for.
"Gabite!" A Gabite was launched across the area, coming straight for Goh and Starlight.
"Woah, Woah!" Goh bellowed before he and Starlight moved out of the way. Right on time as Gabite would crash into a tree, taking a fairly hard impact. "A Gabite?!"
"Gabite, are you okay?!" And the trainer of Gabite would rush in, moving through the grass and acre of trees. It was none other than the current Dragon Lord Ember. She quickly ran to Gabite's side after that damaging crash.
"Ember?" Starlight uttered. "What's going on?! Are you in a battle!"
"Were. We were in a battle." Ember responded. "But the blowback to that was bigger than I thought it would be. Are you alright, Gabite?"
"Gabite." Gabite shook his head after being helped up. He did feel a bit bewildered, stumbling and wobbling afterwards. But he would be fine. Ember would then pat him on the head afterwards.
"If you're here...then you're after Dratini too, aren't you?!" Goh put two and two together, knowing that Ember was a Dragon Trainer. Coming for Dratini was an obvious choice.
"After Dratini?" Ember looked back at him with confusion on her face. "I already have Dratini."
"A-Already?!" Goh stammered as she and Starlight were shocked. So much for catching Dratini. Ember already beat them to it, having Dratini in her party. "Beaten to it and no food too...That sucks." For Goh, this was just blow after blow of disappointment.
"Well, guess that shuts that down. Maybe the other Pokemon will do. Dragon-Types are hard to get and find after all."
"Hmph. Not here. Well, almost." Ember smirked before healing up Gabite with a Super Potion. "It's not just met that's out searching for Dragon Pokemon at the moment. There's more Dragons from the Dragon Lands nearby."
"There are? I would've noticed if that was the case but the skies look pretty clear to me." Starlight shrugged, failing to see any more dragons around. "And it's pretty silent too if they're all here."
"It's near the Rattata Steppe, across that lake where I found Dratini. It's a place us Dragons knew about compared to others so I'll share this neat little fact with you." Ember smirked. "Way past the lake is a mountain path that leads to area with plenty of Pokemon. Specifically, those that belong to the Dragon Egg Group."
"That exists?!" The two of them yelled with amazement.
"It does. And it's hard to reach unless you're a dragon. So it's not like it's a secret but who else is gonna try and get through there? Dratini was only found here though. The Mountain Pass called Mareidlin Path has a lot more to offer. You'll just see most of the same species but I'm not complaining."
"How many Dragons have you caught now then?" Starlight asked, curious about Ember's team due to this area of Dragon-Type Pokemon. "I'm guessing you have Pokemon that only belong to the Egg Group instead of being actual Dragons from what you just said."
"Check this out." From her bag, she would hold out seven Poke Balls before throwing them all into the air. One by one, all of her Dragons and Non-Dragon-Types would show up.
Drakloak. Dratini. The four-legged version of Appletun. Helioptile. Dragalge, Scrafty and Sandaconda. Some of these options were surprising to Goh as he used his Pokedex to see if they were a part of the Dragon Egg Group. Sure enough, Scrafty, Sandaconda and Helioptile belonged to that group.
"No way! They actually count!?" A surprised Goh said.
"It's the same thing with Sceptile. That's a Dragon too and that Mega Evolution backs it up. I guess if they're part of the egg group and resemble lizards, then they're dragons." Starlight shrugged. "Can't argue with that."
"Yeah, yeah. Everyone knows that." Ember shook her head. "But I decided to really make them feel like Dragons. Not all Dragons fly sure, but I always loved that part. Being so free in the air and feeling the rest of the world is great." She would walk over to Helioptile and Dratini, petting them both on the head.
"Make the feel like Dragons? What did you do then?" asked Starlight.
"Here's one final surprise." By digging into her bag, Ember revealed one last object that Goh and Starlight would get to witness for the first time. And when taking it out, it would emanate a familiar colour. A Rift Colour. The colours of the Rift were shown as they were surrounding what looked to be a claw. "It's this."
"Woah...What is that?" Starlight and Goh leaned in, entranced by the Rift-Covered Claw. Fittingly, it resembled that of a Dragon's claw the more they looked at it.
"I got caught up in my own Rift Mess as you can tell. This right here is a claw that gives them wings. Like this." Ember would then toss the claw into the air as Scrafty would leap in response.
"Scrafty!" Wasting no time, Scrafty would take a bite out of the claw, crunching it. And upon consuming this claw, the Rift Energy within would react. From Scrafty's back, a burst of Rift Magic appeared, lighting up its body The light from the Rift Energy would fluctuate, keeping Scraft in the air for a bit. Afterwards, the energy transformed into Dragon Wings. And just like that, Scrafty was airborne. "Scrafty!"
"Amazing! Just amazing!" An elated Starlight exclaimed. "Real wings! Well...Energy Wings at best!"
"Clobbopus..." Clobbopus' curiosity was off the roof. It had seen so much recently. From Gabite's appearance, Ember's colourful body and the other Dragon-Types. And now this.
"Mhm. It works the same way Rift Magic always works. Whatever the user imagines, the Rift can make it possible in some way. And this is what came out. When they eat that claw, those that don't have wings can take flight."
"Scrafty! Scra!" Scrafty would zoom across the air.
"When did you find this?!" Goh questioned. "How did you find this?!"
"It's actually pretty recent..." Ember scratched the back of her head. "About 1 week ago, really, so there's not many of them right now. It came about from Helioptile's wishes, actually. You see...She was pretty infatuated with me and my Dragons. Every Dragon, really. Living with us meant that she was amazed by all of the flying in the area and wished to fly herself, but she couldn't."
"Helioptile!"
"So it's just like what a Bagon goes through before it becomes a Salamence?" Starlight noticed the similarity between this and Salemence's progression.
"About that...I found this RIft Energy in the same area where Spike found Salemence." Ember took out another one of these glowing claws. "I only explored it out of curiosity and all of a sudden, I found this thing hanging around there. Then I figured that it was Helioptile's desire to fly like everyone else which made this possible."
"That makes sense. Rift Energy does respond to the imagination of someone. And I guess remnants of Salamence's imagination was left behind there and Helioptile just followed in his footsteps."
"Helioptile is definitely the biggest dreamer back at the Dragon Lands. Since then, it's been the best addition to my team. When they wanna fly, they take a bite out of one of these things. Not a full bite like what Scrafty did. Just half. But they're pretty limited though."
"How many do you have then?" Goh went up to Ember's face, taking a peek. Currently, she saw around 12 of these Glowing Claws inside which wasn't enough if she wanted to have them all fly as much as they wanted to. "Yikes. That's small."
"It is. I'm still aiming to make more of these and I think that Helioptile's wishes are the key. I'm just waiting for more of them to pop up if they can. And when they do, I'll go wild with as many as I can. And I definitely wanna pass some on to Spike. It'd be pretty great to see his Haxorus and Goodra fly."
"Clobbo! Clobbopus!" Clobbopus would then lunge off of Starlight's mane before going straight for Ember's Dragons, attempting to hit one of them.
"Wait, Clobbopus, no!"
"Clo!" Clobbopus went for Drakloak, which resulted in an immediate failure. It phased through the Ghost-Dragon-Type, tumbling on the ground afterwards. "Clo-Clob!"
"Drakloak?"
"Are you okay?!" Starlight would rush to Clobbopus' side, worried that this might've truly hurt it due to how much of a failure it was.
"Anyway...I can take you there if you're looking for some rare Pokemon." Ember suggested that she take them to Mareidlin Path. And along the way, I'm looking to make more of these claws for my dragons. Spike's waiting for us as well."
"Spike's there too?" Starlight was thrown with one final surprise for the day. Spike was added to the conversation, apparently in this area of Dragons and Non-Dragons.
"What Dragon wouldn't want to head there? Come along and stay close to me if you don't wanna get obliterated." Ember smiled before returning all of her Pokemon.
Goh and Starlight looked at each other before realizing the massive opportunity before them. This fulfilled both of their wishes. Goh was all for catching as many Pokemon as he could while Starlight was all about mysterious Pokemon. And no type worked better than the mysterious and powerful Dragons. It was off to Mareidlin Path which would lead to this special area. And they had a rather rambunctious Pokemon to tag along with them. Clobbopus.
During their search for new Pokemon, Starlight Glimmer and Goh have come across Ember, who was currently on the way to show them a rather special area. Hard to access because of what was protecting it. Joining them was a curious Clobbopus who was only coming along because of how Starlight fed this baby Pokemon. A Place that could be found near the mountain pass called Mareidlin Path was their destination.
"All we have to do is get past that." They came across Mareidlin Path which was a massive mountain pass and the last and only stop towards this Dragon Area. On the Mareidlin Path which had a long rock bridge with large gaps, there was a colossal flux of wind that went off in a unique direction. Wind gales were formed in the shape of two arms on both sides. These gales were blocking the chasms below with how visible and powerful they were and there was even one final gale that was at the end of this Mountain Pass.
"We have to get through that?!" Starlight exclaimed before feeling the hot wind blowing in her direction. She didn't even expect the wind to be that hot.
"That's what every Dragon had to do," Ember confirmed. "We had to wrestle against the wind to make it through. You can imagine that Spike had to do the same thing. Every other Dragon's waiting for us past there."
"H-How did you get past something like this?" Goh questioned, failing to see how anyone could pass through, especially with the chasms on the side.
"Easy. Brute force. That's all that matters. Follow my lead, okay?" Ember smiled before holding out a Poke Ball. "Out you come, Gabite!"
"Gabite!" Gabite was chosen as a candidate for brute force.
"There's no way I can fly through this, so Gabite's my best bet." Ember got on Gabite's back. "I'd recommend you send out a Pokemon who can power through this...or wait 5 hours until the wind calms down a bit. But they're still fierce even then."
"5 hours? Mmmrgh..." Goh grumbled after being given these two options. He could wait or go for it. The gales were fierce but Ember obviously has some experience through them and could use that to enter this Dragon Area. "I really wanna see this place as soon as possible though! If it's brute force, then I know just who to count on!" Goh held out a Poke Ball before throwing it, making up his mind.
"Golurk!" Golurk was chosen as Goh had made up his mind. A great choice considering how bulky Golurk was. But would it be enough to withstand the fierce gales of Mareidlin Path?
"Follow me and don't fall." Ember went onwards with Gabite. Goh would then hitch a ride on Golurk's back with Starlight doing the same. But she would end up being held by Golurk's arms instead. Ember was already ahead as the fierce gales were around her in a second.
The Dragon Lord narrowed her eyes as Gabite had used Dragon Rush, enveloping himself in an azure light that allowed him to charge in. This was a great method of using brute force, but even then, Gabite wasn't moving as fast as he wished to. The biggest risk was having the gales push him and Ember to the side, prompting in their demise. The arm-like gales were practically crushing against the rock bridge, attempting to throw anyone off them.
"Okay...Counting on you, Golurk!" Goh gulped. "Get us through those gales!"
"Golurk!" Golurk nodded before immediately going for the wrong action. If there was one thing that shouldn't be done here that Ember already stated, it was flying. Flying was the worst approach here. And unfortunately, Golurk's quickest way of travelling was flying as it would ascend into the air, using its jet boosters.
"Wait, Golurk, no!" Goh bellowed out with fear in his eyes but it was too late. The gales had already gotten ahold of Goh, Starlight, Golurk and Clobbopus, disrupting the jets of the Automaton Pokemon. "Aaaaah!"
"G-Gol!"
"Already!?" Ember looked back to see Goh and his group already being messed up by the gales of Mareidlin Path. The gales would smack them around, refusing to let them fall at all. The gale arms were practically playing around with them as their screams would be cut off each time they went all over the place. On the bright side, at least they weren't falling, which was a surprise to Ember. "Hah...Alright then." Ember and Gabite would try and assist in saving them before they could go ahead. And immediately, she had one option that she immediately went for. "Use Stone Edge."
"Gabite!" Gabite would unleash a swarm of stones from his body, shooting them at Goh and the others. But Gabite would make it specific. Instead of making the rocks ascend and hit them out of the sky, he would make the rocks go above them first. These rocks would swarm in the air before being dropped, raining down on Goh's group.
"Oof!" Goh received a smack in the head by the descending rocks. He has certainly received a lot of pain today. From Clobbopus to the Gale Arms and now the Stone Edge from Gabite. Starlight received the same punishment but she did manage to keep Clobbopus safe, who was trying to hit the stones.
Golurk received some damage because of the Stone Edge as the fierce barrage of stones was working, bringing them all down. Soon, they would crash into the ground with Golurk being the first to land and everyone else ended up on top of the Automaton Pokemon
"Ugh..." Goh and the others groaned as they were free from the fierce gales. At least in the air. It was safer on the ground but not by much. Afterwards, they would continue on their way, following Ember's lead if they wanted to be safe. With her guidance, they could get past a lot of obstacles on Mareidlin Path.
Scaling mountains wasn't easy either. After they got past the bridge, the fierce gales even littered the mountainscape of Mareidlin Path, threatening to push them off and send them back to the ground. It took Golurk's brute strength to help them scale these mountains.
With the large rocks falling from the mountains, Clobbopus was itching to strike those as well, only for Starlight to restrain him. The Tantrum Pokemon was eager but this three-year-old curiosity is what could lead him into some major and painful trouble. And along the way, Goh could feel his stomach growl. He had yet to eat at all thanks to Clobbopus, making this journey quite the struggle for him. He was hoping that this Dragon-Type Area had all the food he could eat.
Drake Volcano.
Eventually, they reached their destination. When they all climbed the summit of this massive mountain pass, they witnessed the land before them, nestled in between a volcano-shaped area. The way it was formed looked like the structure of a volcano from the inside and the outside.
And of course, plenty of Dragon-Type Pokemon and Pokemon that belonged to the Dragon Egg Group could be found. Big or small, rare or common, there was Dragon here in some way, shape or form. And there were also the Equestrian Dragons that were here with their respective Pokemon.
"Feast your eyes on this." Ember showed off the area known as Drake Valley. It was practically a counterpart to the Dragon Lands but with a bigger emphasis on the Pokemon instead. But noticeably, instead of magma, a familiar energy was spurting out of the ground in large craters. It greatly resembled that of Dragon-Type Energy, specifically Dragon Pulse or even Dragon Claw as there were varying colours. The colours of Dragon Magic were just that distinct from other forms of magic due to how arcane and fierce it appeared.
"Oh, it was worth coming up here! Look at all the food!" But Goh was focused on the food instead of the Pokemon. The Dragons had to eat something and despite having the appearance of a volcano, there was still some other form of nature within here. Trees were present, holding fruits on their branches. It was rather ironic that there were no flames at all in this area despite the appearance.
"There he is! Spike!" Starlight would fixate her attention on Spike, who she managed to spot. Neither her nor Goh were fixated on the Pokemon at all. By yelling out Spike's name, he got the attention of the Baby Dragon who was seen with his Axew and Goodra. He would wave back at them once Goh and Starlight were spotted as Ember would descend to the land after returning her Gabite.
"Clobbopus!" And for Clobbopus, his curiosity was rising once more. He laid his eyes on all of these Dragon Pokemon, feeling the powerful urge to punch all of them. Starlight would levitate herself and Clobbopus to head back down while Golurk would carry the starving and exhausted Goh.
"Mmm! Finally!" At last, Goh got to eat something, tasting the fruits from the trees. His stomach was filled with joy once more after the travesty that happened earlier today. "I needed this..."
"So. Are you here to catch some Pokemon like everyone else?" Spike asked them.
"We are. For Goh, it's standard but for me, I'm taking a huge leap in this. It'd be great if Hatterene had more friends in the party, after all." said Starlight as her eyes navigated across the lands, seeing which Pokemon were here. "Convenient that a place like this exists. Makes it easier for Dragon Trainers to get started in their career. Well...if they can get past here. We were wrestling with the wind earlier."
"It is, isn't it?" Ember agreed. "But it's quite limited. There's not that many species of Dragons here and not every Dragon is here. If only most of them weren't Legendaries..."
"Still a great place to start. I mean, Dragons are always the best addition to any team if you ask me." Spike proudly said, holding his chest high along with Goodra and Axew. "You're in good hands, Starlight. Catching them might not be that easy though..."
"That's gonna make it all the more worth it if it's challenging," Goh said. "I gotta show Ash this later on. How are you gonna approach this though, Starlight? I'll do what I do best."
"I don't actually have a way of approaching it. Hatterene's the only Pokemon I ever caught and that was by us meeting instead of any real action." Starlight shook her head as her method of catching Pokemon was practically non-existent. Hatterene was her only Pokemon and that did not require any effort at all.
"Fair enough. But you'd better not be timid about this. Especially around Dragons." Ember narrowed her eyes at Starlight Glimmer. "Because these Dragons won't make it easy on you at all. If you fail to catch them, they'll retaliate with greater force and up the difficulty. They're fierce after all."
"Uh...R-Right." The unicorn stammered after seeing Ember's serious expression and hearing her warning. "I'll try. But everyone here looks so lively though..."
"What's wrong with that?" Goh asked before attempting to finish off his food, only to see Clobbopus swoop in and snag it. "Ah! Hey!"
"Clobbo!"
"Well, I'd rather them not be so lively. That's all." Starlight squeed. "Not many Pokemon fit that bill, unfortunately. And the ones that do are hard to come by."
"Do you even wanna catch another Pokemon? Sounds picky to me." Ember questioned.
"Well, no. It's not that I don't want another Pokemon. You won't believe how much I wish to have as many Pokemon as everypony else." Starlight sighed. "Twilight has her own Pokemon and the ones at PokePark. Fluttershy has everyone back at the Pokemon House. Pinkie Pie practically has a whole catalogue of Pokemon because of Mew and she even has a group of Slurpuff, just like how Rarity has multiple Leavanny and Applejack has multiple Golurks. Everyone's got more Pokemon with them and I really want that as well."
"So what's holding you back then? It's gotta be something big." Spike requested an answer. Whatever was holding back Starlight from catching more Pokemon must be potent.
"It should've been easy to figure out but...I guess I should say it now that i've got this chance. It's Hatterene. Hatterene's the reason why. My choices have been picky because of how she is." Starlight finally gave an answer. "The Hatterene species hate strong emotions. You all know that. And unfortunately, finding another Pokemon that isn't packing any strong emotions is tougher than it looks."
"Oh, so that's why." Goh, Ember and Spike all collectively said. The reasoning for Starlight not having another Pokemon on her team was revealed. Hatterene was the main crux of this issue because of how violent she can get if strong emotions are present.
And that was the greatest strength of the Pokemon World. These Strange and Wonderful Creatures are all packing powerful emotions. Good or bad. Whether it was the fiery passion of Infernape, Incineroar and other Fire-Types or even the mischievous and cunning natures of Ghost and Dark-Types, they were all harbouring emotions that were potent.
But for Hatterene, even though the only emotion she's shown was hostility, she was still exempt from most other emotions, being mostly deadpan due to how well Starlight has kept her away from her friends. Which was a shame since Hatterene never had the opportunity to spend as much time with her friends because of this.
"It sucks too. Hatterene's practically alone because of that." Starlight looked down. "I've been keeping a low profile myself around her. I've never let her out of her Poke Ball that much unless we're working at Twilight's lab or it's just us back at the castle. It's scary knowing how she'll lash out if any strong emotions are shown but at the same time...I feel really bad for her. I don't want Hatterene to be alone but it's hard finding a solution to this."
It was rather saddening. Her own tendencies held her back from making many friends. As far as things go, Hatterene's only friend was Starlight even if she has teamed up with Pikachu, Espeon, Audino and the others in battle against terrifying foes. She was willing to help them in those instances but everything else was non-existent.
"Huh. I never thought about it that way." Goh said after realizing this massive issue.
"Yeah." Ember scratched her hair. "Uh, I take back what I said then. That sucks. I can't think of any Pokemon that can work with her. And you haven't tried finding another Hatterene or something?"
"Believe me...I've tried. But it looks like her species is rare in their own right." Starlight grumbled. "That's why I need to find the perfect Pokemon. Someone Hatterene can be around at all times. But I just don't know."
"Hmmm..." Spike thought for a moment, trying to see what he could think of. How can this be solved so that both Starlight and Hatterene were satisfied? Truly a predicament that wasn't easy to solve with how violent Hatterene can be. And most have seen this violence at its peak. Some can still remember seeing a giant Hatterene in the sky, furious about the love that was being spread during Valentine's Day and Hearts and Hooves Day.
That was the kind of destruction Starlight was trying to avoid. And unfortunately, because of this fear, Starlight has made it difficult for herself to catch another Pokemon.
"Maybe...you can ask Hatterene herself?" Spike suggested but he wasn't even sure about that. He was just shooting for suggestions at this point.
"I guess so." Starlight would use her magic to hold out a Poke Ball. Out of it came the Silent Pokemon Hatterene.
"Hatterene."
"Clobbo." After finishing the food Goh was trying to finish up, Clobbopus, now having a full stomach once more, was itching to get into some action. And all of these Dragons were prime candidates for some swinging. And the first one that caught his attention was Spike's Equestrian Axew. However, once Hatterene was sent out, his attention changed. "Clobbopus!"
"Hatt?" The Psychic-Fairy-Type looked up to see a baby suddenly approaching her as this was the first thing she saw. "Hatterene?!"
"Not this again!" Starlight gasped as her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"Puss!" Before anyone could stop him, Clobbopus swung his tentacles at the Silent Pokemon, catching her off guard before she could do anything. And it was a direct hit too, straight to the face with a powerful smack.
"GAH!" Starlight and her friends collectively bellowed with shock before covering their mouths. They couldn't express their shock because that would spark a reaction out of Hatterene, so their screams were suddenly cut. However, judging by what Hatterene received, a reaction would be imminent.
"It's all over..." Starlight thought to herself as Clobbopus managed to turn things upside down in a matter of minutes.
After receiving that powerful smack to the face, Hatterene's eyes would open for a bit. Even she was bewildered and amazed by what just happened. Starlight put her hooves together, praying for whatever came next. But to the Dragons who saw this, they had to applaud Clobbopus for delivering such a swift and hard blow at the same time for being a baby.
"Hatterene..." Hatterene would then look back at Clobbopus with her fierce eyes, witnessing how the Tantrum Pokemon would spin his tentacles around, itching for another blow.
"Clobbopus, please don't do this...!" Starlight silently said, pleading for the Fighting-Type to cease whatever action he would pull off next.
Ember and Spike looked at each other, readying themselves for the worst. Hatterene may be a Fairy-Type but that won't stop them from retaliating if needed. After all, this seemed like a strong instance of Hatterene lashing out. She can sense hostility after all.
However, after a moment of silence, nothing happened. Nothing except Clobbopus delivering another powerful swing onto Hatterene's lower body. "Clo! Clobbopus!" The Tantrum Pokemon would continuously punch Hatterene, dealing little damage because of the Type Difference.
All the while, Hatterene would simply look down at the baby, doing absolutely nothing about this. She did not lash out, she did not grab him with her tentacle, she did not unleash a Fairy-Type or Psychic-Type attack at all. She did nothing but watch him swing at her, much to the shock of Starlight.
"Eh?" Reasonably, Starlight was blown away by this. How can this be? After everything she spoke about to her friends and the worries that were brought up, all of a sudden, Hatterene wasn't lashing out at this assault.
"She's not doing anything?" Spike narrowed his eyes, showing visible signs of confusion. What was the point of all of that if Hatterene was just standing there, doing nothing?
"Yeah? What's up with that?" Goh scratched his hair.
"I'm totally lost about this. What's going on?" Ember needed an answer as well.
"Hatterene." Hatterene would then look back at Starlight, having an unchanging expression before then turning her eyes back at the Tantrum Pokemon, who wasn't getting tired of smacking Hatterene.
"Clo?" But of course, all of this swinging meant his tentacles would drop once more. And indeed they did, right in front of the SIlent Pokemon. Clobbopus ceased his swinging once he saw his tentacles drop, knowing he couldn't do any damage with this. It's not like he was doing substantial damage in the first place.
Ember and Spike wanted to squeal after seeing Clobbopus' tentacles fall off but they would risk alarming Hatterene if they did. Silence and a strong composure was the key here to avoiding any conflict.
"Hatterene." Suddenly, Hatterene did something, using her claw to pick the tentacles that came off. After grabbing them, she would hold the tentacles out to Clobbopus, offering them back to him. In a way, she was trying to get him to put them back on, but that wasn't how it worked obviously. Clobbopus could just wait for them to grow back.
"Oh...I get it." It was then that Starlight received a powerful realization as to why Hatterene wasn't lashing out at Clobbopus even after that right hook to the face.
"You do?" Spike, Ember and Goh said in unison, wondering what Starlight had spotted.
"It might be because of two things. Either it's because Clobbopus is a baby or because he's not showing off any strong emotions at all."
"Uhh...Are you sure? He just punched her out in the open, the moment she showed up." Ember wasn't too sure about that.
"I'm serious. It's in the Pokedex entry. It says that Clobbopus is very curious, which is what leads to it punching whatever it can find. But it doesn't seem to be from a place of strong emotions. Then there's how he isn't alarmed when his tentacles fall off because he knows they'll grow back. He has the mind of a three-year-old which means that there isn't much to show off. No offence, Clobbopus."
"Clobbopus." But Clobbopus wasn't listening. Instead, he was resorting to headbutting Hatterene while waiting for his tentacles to regrow.
"So which is it?" Goh asked. "The baby part or the curiosity part?"
"Curiosity is an emotion. A complex one once a baby matures and gets a hang of it. But I think it might be both. Clobbopus just doesn't give off strong emotions at all. He's just a baby. Which means...He's perfect!"
"That's the perfect Pokemon?" The two Dragons collectively uttered. It was hard to believe considering how they've seen Baby Pokemon in action. Most Baby Pokemon are hyperactive and can never sit still, radiating emotions of all kinds.
Most. Clobbopus seemed to be the exception. Whether it was this one Clobbopus or the entire species of babies, it was a perfect response to Hatterene's nature. Hatterene would then pick up the Tantrum Pokemon, placing him on top of his head as she still showed no signs of hostility. But being around here any longer might spark something up.
"Clo?" Clobbopus looked down before attempting to put his arms on Hatterene's eyes but failed to do so because the tentacles have not regrown yet.
"Hm. Not exactly what I had in mind though." Starlight held out a new Poke Ball. "But...I don't mind. Hey, Clobbopus."
"Clobbo?" Clobbopus would turn to face the unicorn after his name was called out.
"How about it? You can have all the food you want and punch as much as you want with how many places we get to explore. Would you like to come with us?"
"Clobbopus?" Clobbopus pondered for a moment before looking down at Hatterene.
In response, Clobbopus would lunge off the Silent Pokemon's head, going straight for the Poke Ball that Starlight held out. She had him at Food. That's all she needed to say. With an impressive lunge, he would headbutt the Poke Ball, immediately having his body shrink with the signature red light. Afterwards, the Poke Ball would drop to the ground before performing some shakes.
1...2...3...Gotcha! Clobbopus was caught.
At last. A piece of Starlight's heart had been restored. Her second Pokemon and it was a Pokemon that could be safe around Hatterene. "Finally..." Starlight laid on her back afterwards. She was at peace as she now had another Pokemon. "I'm glad that's over with it."
"Great work, Starlight. So I guess...the answer was babies the whole time?" Goh said, wondering if Baby Pokemon were the key to this issue.
"No. Any other Baby Pokemon would've been a problem. It had to be someone who wasn't harbouring any strong emotions at all but wasn't emotionless either. Clobbopus just happened to be that exact baby with only one thing on his mind. Punching. Not much went into that I guess...How are you feeling, Hatteren?"
"Hatterene." Hatterene simply shrugged as she didn't have a proper response to this. Surprisingly, even for her, this wasn't anything too special. It's like she didn't care at all about this.
"Y-You don't care that much?" Starlight's face looked like it broke. "Are you telling me I was worried for nothing?"
"I wouldn't say anything." Ember walked over. "You were just worried about what would happen to your other Pokemon, that's all. Perfectly reasonable. But now you've got the right Pokemon to sort that out."
"Yeah..." Starlight put on a soft smile, satisfied with this decision. She now had a rather rambunctious Pokemon on her side but it wasn't rambunctious to the point where it got on Hatterene's nerves.
"Now you just gotta pray that he doesn't evolve." Ember immediately shot Starlight with a horrifying batch of words that she didn't take into account at first. Clobbopus' evolution.
"I'll...worry about that when I get there. For now..." She lifted the Poke Ball, releasing Clobbopus from it. "Let me rest."
"As for us, we've still got business here." said Goh. "This whole area can't go to waste. And I'm surprised we haven't heard about it until now."
"That's because this place is pretty recent," Spike answered. "It showed up after the worlds merged is what I heard. So it wasn't here before."
"And there's a good chance there's more like this out there. I saw a Mountain that looks like Wings one time." Ember added, referring to the Winged Mountain that had shown up recently. "Look out for anything that looks new.
"Clobbo!" Now that he was on Starlight's team, he had a punching bag in the form of Hatterene. His tentacles regrew the second he showed up out of the Poke Ball, going for a second round against the Silent Pokemon. Once again, Hatterene would just take it before using her claw to pet the baby Pokemon.
"Maybe it is just the fact that he's a baby...Maybe..." Starlight uttered before putting herself to sleep. After stressing about this Hatterene issue and finding the right Pokemon, she most certainly needed it. Other issues will show up and overcoming them will be an obstacle, considering the Pokemon she has. But much like today, her friends will do their best to come up with something, even if Clobbopus was the one who solved it. Then again, he was now a friend of Starlight from now on.
"Pinkie Pie? Hello?" Currently, standing in front of SugarCube Corner this early in the morning, knocking on the doors was none other than Bea, one of Galar's Gym Leaders. There was only one reason that she would be here. The delicious and enticing sweets of SugarCube Corner that were mainly given to her by Pinkie Pie. "She said I should show up at this time. Where is she?"
Bea was itching for some sweets. It was quite the addiction she had and she was hoping very few people and ponies knew about that. So far, only Pinkie Pie and some of her friends had knowledge about Bea's sweet tooth. She even brought empty bags for storing these sweets. Showing up this early in the morning was perfect since not many ponies would be awake by now. But that didn't mean there weren't ponies roaming the streets. Bea made sure to keep a close eye on them.
"Well? What are you doing here?" A voice replied to Bea as she wouldn't go unnoticed at all. She feared that she had been caught by one of Ponyville's residents, but that was not the case. One quick and sharp turnaround and her eyes locked onto a fellow Galar Gym Leader. In this case, it was Nessa. "Why are you just creeping on this building?"
"Oh, it's just you." Bea sighed as she wasn't worried about Nessa spotting her. "Better question is...What are you doing here? You should at least know why I would be here."
"Still eating sweets? I thought you would've grown out of that or at least dialled back your Sweet Tooth by now." Nessa chuckled, pointing out Bea's rather childlike attraction to sweets.
"Never." Bea was adamant in her love for sweet-tasting foods. "And it's sweet-tasting food, not just sweets like toffees and marshmallows and..." Saying those foods was making Bea's stomach growl along with a starving look on her face. "All the great pick and mix options, macarons, Black Forest Cake and Pop Tarts..."
"Alright, I get it. I can't stop you from liking those after all. I'd have to get my hands dirty for that." NEssa cut her off.
"What about you? You're all dressed up casually and showing up at Ponyville of all places. Shouldn't you be managing one of your gyms? Dodge Junction is elsewhere.
"I'm here for one thing. I've been shooting for my spot to stardom and I fell behind when Ash beat me in a Pokemon World Championship Match. That'll change soon enough."
"Oh, right. You went through all the trouble of broadcasting that match to so many and ended up losing." Bea said, making Nessa twitch. "That's embarrassing. But at least it raised your popularity for how Ash defeated you."
"Whatever. You shouldn't overlook his strength or else you'll end up losing to him as well." Nessa flipped her hair. "I figured if I'm going to take his stardom in Equestria, I might as well branch out. Ponyville seems to be the one place he shows up to the most. What makes this place so special anyway?"
"You're about to find out." A smile met Bea's face as the door was beginning to open. At last, her Sweet-filled Paradise would be opened up once more. And indeed, it was a paradise. Pinkie Pie had everything prepared for her indoors as the vibrancy practically made the building glow.
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies. Cookie Dough Ice Cream with the cone being cotton candy. Angel Food Cake. Banana Split. Sandwich Cookies, Cakes of different kinds and so much more. Beautiful. Even Nessa was impressed, witnessing what it was like to gaze upon SugarCube Corner's food. That other side of Bea that was rarely shown to many had been unveiled once more in the face of this Pastry Paradise.
"T-This is what you're getting?!" Nessa stuttered, baffled by the tasty gourmet that Bea was free to eat at. And considering she was friends with Pinkie Pie, she ends up getting the best of the best. And once everything was seen, at the corner of Bea's eye, she would spot somepony already snacking on one of these foods while Pinkie Pie's voice went off.
"Oh! Daisy, that one's for Bea! Slow down!" Currently, Pinkie Pie was speaking to the Flora Pony Daisy, whose habit of eating whatever interests her has never quite fizzled out. She was still new to the world after all.
"Oh, hey, Bea!" Pinkie Pie greeted as Daisy would immediately stand tall once Bea's name was mentioned. If she hadn't shown up. "And...Nessa?"
"Morning, Pinkie. I've been looking forward to this." Bea smiled before entering the building. She would then be greeted by the Cake Family who were passing by, attempting to manoeuvre past this hodge-podge of sweet-filled foods.
"Just a tad bit late to this but it's worth it, alright. I was gonna have this for when the worlds merged but better late than never." Pinkie Pie explained. "It took a while to make this so it's all yours to eat! And for anyone else who wants to join in."
"Oh, so I can keep eating then? Sweet!" Daisy cheered with glee in her voice. "I bet mom and my sister would love to have some of this as well!"
"By the way, Nessa, why are you here? Looking for Ash?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"That's right. Where is he? He's quite the figure here at Ponyville more than anywhere else so I need to know what he's up to."
"That's a bit obsessive, don't you think?" Bea commented on Nessa's obsession to overcome Ash. That loss she received was certainly impactful due to how big of a deal she made it.
"It's not obsessive." Nessa crossed her arms, denying the obsession behind it. "Not one bit."
"If you're looking for Ash, he might come here with the scent of this delicious food. I had my Slurpuff use Sweet Scent on it to make it all the more attractive. But there's no way you're gonna dethrone him here."
"What makes you so sure?" Nessa questioned. "I have the skills to make it work. I've even been branching out more across Equestria, trying to get my name out there. To be the best Trainer in the world, all obstacles need to be overcome."
"True that, which is why Ash is gonna overcome everyone!" Pinkie Pie grinned, boosting Ash while Nessa put on a disapproving face. "Sorry, but Ash isn't gonna show up until he catches a whiff of this. So, wait here and chow down! There's enough food here to last for hours!" Pinkie encouraged Nessa to give it a go.
"Eat this..."? Nessa grimaced at this overwhelming sight of sweet-filled food. "How can anyone finish this? They'd have to be as gluttonous as a Snorlax."
"Princess Celestia certainly can." Mrs Cake commented after re-entering the room. "If she puts her mind to it. So can Pinkie Pie and even Ash. Unfortunately, the princess has been a bit busy as of recently, trying to reach Magehold where all the vampires can be found."
"That so? I suppose someone that tall can get it done. Maybe someone else from Ballonlea. After all, this looks like something Opal would make."
"Opal? Y-You don't mean...?!" Pinkie Pie shuddered with fear immediately striking her heart. She knew two individuals with the name Opal and both of them were rather terrifying.
The first was the Gym Leader from Ballonlea Opal, who targeted Pinkie Pie for her love of pink. Pinkie Pie would never forget that day. How can such a sweet old lady move at such speeds? It must've been Pinkie's appearance that gave her the strength to do so. And then there was the Vampire from Magehold Opal Vivacity, who has already proven to be quite the issue, causing harm and terror to many others for the sake of fulfilling her cruel desires.
And the extra Opal was Rarity's cat Opalescence but she was fierce in her own way. Vastly different from the other two Opals. And since Nessa was here, Pinkie assumed that she was referring to Galar's Opal.
"Hoh? You seem to know her." Nessa smirked. She saw the fear in Pinkie Pie's eyes when Opal's name was brought up. An opportunity was given and she needed to snatch it at once. "Then, you'll hear my demands. Unless you don't want Opal to come here, you'll bring me Ash at once. I can easily bring Opal here!"
"Mmmm...?!" Pinkie Pie pulled back as Nessa pointed at her.
"You're scared of her too, huh?" Bea said to Pinkie Pie. "I don't blame you. She terrifies us all. I'll never forget that day..." The Fighting-Type specialist shuddered, failing to consume the next pastry as memories of Opal came flooding in. She was a victim too of Opal's Pink Rampage.
It was all so memorable. Opal showed up at Bea's Gym, immediately dressing her and all of Bea's Pokemon in pink. It was a horrifying sight for something to so simple and Bea certainly didn't enjoy this colour, despite her love for sweets, which sometimes appear with pink.
Nessa closed her eyes, shaking a bit as she even had memories of Opal. She knew this from how Pinkie Pie reacted and could never forget the day that Opal swarmed her with pink. She may be fashionable but pink certainly was not her style.
"Hey, what's everyone talking about?" Interrupting the memories of Opal was none other than Ash himself. Just as Pinkie Pie said, he would come solely for the scent of the food. "Mmm...That smells good."
"Pikachu!"
"W-Well...There's no need for that, I guess." Nessa cleared her throat. "Glad you could show up at this time, Ash. "
"Hey, Nessa. Here for a rematch?" Ash greeted one of the Galar Gym Leaders.
"Not at all. I need to change my ranking for that to happen. But if I could have the chance to rematch you right now, I would. I'm here to do other things and Ponyville's practically your hotspot, isn't it?"
"Uh, I guess it is?" Ash scratched his hair. He does come to Ponyville more than most areas in Equestria. The closest was Canterlot. "Wait, you're still going for that popularity thing?"
"Of course I am. I already shared my goal with you and the others, so you should expect this. But again. Don't take it personally. Stardom's what I do. And I'll do whatever I can to usurp you. Before you showed up, I brought up Opal and thought about getting her involved if it meant getting to you."
"She's the uh...That one lady who loves all the pink colours." Pinkie Pie uttered. "I mean, I love pink. Iam pink! So are all of my Pokemon! Well, Spinda's lighter red than pink but you get what I mean."
"Oh, I'd love to see her." But surprisingly, Ash was all for meeting with Opal. "We didn't get to chat that much back there. Plus there was that Galarian Rapidash we saw too which was neat, wasn't it? And I guess wearing all of that pink too."
"Pika-Pika."
"I'm not sure she's that into sweets though. She has a Pokemon for that but aside from that, it's all about pink with her," said Bea.
"Are you sure you want to do it now of all times? Ever since our worlds became one, you won't believe what's happened to most of us Gym Leaders. Well, you already know about the hassle of handling two Gyms at once in my case. But for someone like Opal, she's gone crazy."
"How so?" Mrs Cake asked.
"She used to use the gateways to travel here since Equestria has the most amount of pink that she can think of. I can't image what she did when those gateways were around. But now that they're gone and there's only one left, she's been doing everything in her power to come here frequently." Nessa explained.
"Why's she obsessed though?" Pinkie Pie questioned. "I mean, I love pink as much as the next Trainer but..."
"She's looking for the next Gym Leader. Preferably a Fairy-Type Trainer. Opal's old so she won't be a Gym Leader forever obviously. Equestria's the jackpot she's been waiting for. And unfortunately for you all...you just had to be so colourful." Nessa smirked, revealing the true reason for Opal's obsession.
"Oh joy." Pinkie Pie gulped. This meant that out of everypony in Equestria, there was a good chance she could be singled out. She had 6 Slurpuff which was enough for a full team of six Pokemon. She practically radiated pink and the only ponies she could think of replacing her were Berry Punch and Cheerilee, but they had purple colours more so than pink.
Opal was looking for the standard, full-on vibrant pink that Pinkie Pie unfortunately had. And when she gets here, Pinkie's safety was not guaranteed.
"But I'll admit, Opal is also good at making pastry." Bea smiled, giving props to Opal. "On that same day, she dressed me up in pink, she did entice me with some cake first. That's how she managed to lure me in. I'd recommend trying some of her baked goods. I'd even say they're as good as this."
"I agree." Nessa agreed, implying that she's had a taste of Opal's food before. "Behind that obsession is some of the best food out there."
"Are they that good?" Mr and Mrs Cake collectively said, surprised to hear that this Opal character had food on par with SugarCube Corner. And if it came from Bea's mouth, then her baking had to be outstanding.
"Oh man, now I wanna try it!" Ash and Pikachu's eyes lit up, eager to get a taste of Opal's cooking. "Should we head to Ballonlea then?"
"I think it's best that we bring her here. Leave that to yours truly." Nessa would swiftly whip out her phone from her stylish handbag. Ash, Pikachu and Daisy were rather eager to see what Opal had to offer and by extension, so were Pinkie and the Cake Family.
It has been a while since someone else that was skilled in sweet-filled cooking had shown up. Donut Joe and a few others have been doing their own thing for the past years but SugarCube Corner always managed to get ahead in some way. But this was food from another region, made by humans that weren't Slowpoke Tail, which was a favourable dish among many species. Humans, ponies and Pokemon.
Galar. Glimwood Tangle.
Glimwood Tangle. A Luminous Forest with several, maze-like paths. Though perpetually dark, luminescent mushrooms provide small circles of light at various points on the paths. And currently, three individuals were here. One was familiar due to the nearby town of Ballonlea and the other two were rather big, in terms of fame.
"Oh? Is that so?" Opal was here, speaking to Nessa on the phone. "Well, I was actually planning on doing that myself later down the road. But now is a good time either way. I've had my eye on that town for a while now and have been itching to head there but those gateways just had to vanish at the worst time."
"I'd love to meet up with you again, Opal! I hear you've got some great food!" Ash's voice bellowed through the phone.
"That voice? Oh, isn't that Ash?" And the one with Opal at the moment was none other than Champion Leon. The World's Strongest Pokemon Trainer. He was currently alongside Opal, surrounded by multiple Fairy-Types who were playing with him. Swirlix and Spritzee specifically with one Ghost-Type getting involved. A group of Phantump. "Oh, that tickles, Spritzee!" He would laugh afterwards.
"Is your cooking really that good?" Pinkie Pie's head came into the frame of the Rotomphone, catching Opal's attention.
"Well, well. If it isn't my greatest candidate." Opal's eyes flared after spotting the Pink Pony. Pinkie Pie's entire body shuddered once Opal eyed her down. She was still a candidate for the next Gym Leader of Galar. "I have a bigger reason to come over there. And yes, I do take pride in my skills. What about you?"
"I'd say I'm pretty good at it! So are the Cake Family! Best in Equestria, I promise!" Pinkie Pie said with confidence.
"Then I will have to see this for myself. And then that will only prove that you are the perfect one to take over my spot. I shall come with Leon and a few others if that's alright."
"Leon?! Leon's with you?!" Ash gasped after hearing Leon's name. That was a bombshell of a Trainer he didn't expect to suddenly hear, let alone related to Opal.
"Him and another powerful individual. I'm sure you wouldn't mind joining in, right?" Opal turned to face Leon and the other trainer that was standing next to him. It was someone whose colours were the complete opposite to Opal's.
Exiting from the shadows with a Hattena on his shoulder was none other than the Legendary Trainer from another World that was similar to this. Pokemon Trainer Red. Two powerful trainers were in the same area together and as always, Red stayed silent. But his face spoke a million words as he smiled, immediately accepting this. He heard Ash's voice and that encouraged him.
"It's settled. We will be there as soon as we can. And this time, Leon. You are sticking with us."
"I get it, I get it. I won't get lost this time." Leon scratched his hair. "But it's fun when you're lost. You get to explore some more, right, Red?"
"..." Red nodded in agreement. He could relate. Red's journey has most likely involved him getting lost in certain instances but that only made his journeys all the more fun.
"And when we get there, I propose this. A competition of sorts. A Sweet-Filled Competition. Prepare yourself because I will bring my best. And I expect you and all those new to it to do the same." After that, Opal would hang up the phone.
Equestria. Ponyville. SugarCube Corner.
"Uh, what did she mean by those new to it?" Daisy asked once the call between everyone and Opal came to an end.
"It's one of those things she does. She's so dedicated to getting a new Gym Leader that she'll go the distance to train others in baking. Apparently, one of the job applications for her gym is that you must know how to make delicious pink treats to get in. She did it to us once and...I wasn't that great at it. It made my dress messy but it was fun, I'll admit."
"Ah...That so?" A nervous Pinkie scrunched her face. Just her luck. She was only setting herself up for success. She fit every category that Opal was looking for. Pink, had Fairy-Types and was great at making pink treats. Her specialities were cupcakes and cakes.
"Alright! Leon's coming here so I can expect some great things!" Ash raised his fists. "And I'm gonna make the best food I can possibly make!"
"But Ash. You're horrible at cooking." Mr Cake pointed out,
"Terrible. Dawn came over 3 years ago and shared that with us." Mrs Cake added as they gave Ash the truth. But this was something he knew. He tasted his own food after all.
"I know. But now's the time to improve." And yet, the Alola Champion was ready to rectify that and go beyond what he previously had. That was his speciality. Always improving and being better than what he is. "Just watch. I'll make something awesome and sweet that everyone in Ponyville can enjoy!"
Preparing for the arrival of Opal with some extra guests, Pinkie Pie and those at SugarCube Corner were preparing for a competition against the Ballonlea Gym Leader. It was all making the best sweet-filled food they could muster to match that of Opal, who was said to be a great cook. And since it came from the mouth of Bea, who greatly enjoyed SugarCube Corner's food, they should not take that lightly at all.
"Okay, Ash. We'll make you a better cook. I can teach you right away." PInkie Pie said, opting to train to Ash who was determined to improve. Because Ash, in all honesty, is a terrible cook. He can make an appealing appearance but the taste is rather abysmal. And he knows this himself. "I'll make you the best cook you can be."
"Thanks, Pinkie," Ash said, already having an apron on. "What do you want me to do first?"
"Well...I mean it can't be that bad, right?" Pinkie Pie looked over at the Cake Family who shook their heads. It was that bad since Dawn told them but Pinkie Pie was rather judgemental. "Try making those poffins that you know how to do."
"Okay. I can do that! I'll be a Cake Master in no time! Watch me!"
Ash would get to work, recalling the recipe for poffins. He would use all the ingredients at his disposal, attempting to make the best batch of poffins he could muster. Pinkie Pie, Nessa, Bea and the others watched as Ash was rather clever in remembering the ingredients to making this delicacy.
However, Pinkie Pie would notice the fault in this. Ash tended to go overboard. This would cause the poffins to taste different than what they usually are. Her eyes widened as Ash would stir the mixture, making some of it spill everywhere. Nessa would sway to the side, attempting to avoid her clothes being sullied by Ash's cooking. Pinkie Pie had an incredibly bad feeling about this with how Ash was baking these muffins.
"Done!" Ash finally finished his poffin. In the bowl, they appeared nice and squishy, but they also had an ominous purple aura emanating from them. This aura was intimidating Pinkie Piwe and the others as they could see it with their own eyes. No special magic or ability required. And just by looking at this aura, they could feel the horror of these poffins. "Exactly like how I remember them."
"Pi...Pikachu..." Pikachu stepped back, scrunching his face.
"Well, let's see what they taste like." Pinkie Pie would be the one to take the risk. So did Mew, who was always curious and did everything Pinkie Pie did it seems. Both grabbed themselves a single poffin with Pinkie Pie tossing it into her mouth and Mew taking a single bite.
Just one consumption and bite out of these poffins and a reaction already came through. With their eyes opening, they had a vision to perfectly explain how this tasted and felt. It felt like a meteor had suddenly crashed into the planet, destroying everyone and everything that lived there in a matter of seconds, leaving the planet as nothing but Ash and space dust. That is how it felt to them.
"Mmm...Yeah. This is bad!" Pinkie Pie grimaced before stumbling. The taste of Ash's poffins were just that abysmal.
"So he sucks at cooking...Yes!" Nessa pumped her fist. That was one thing she could beat Ash in to overtake his fame. If this mattered that much. "I can take advantage of this without a doubt!"
"Alright..." Pinkie placed her hoof on Ash's back, trying to stand tall after that devastating taste. "You really need that training. Let's get it done before Opal gets here."
Ash would undergo training from Pinkie Pie, learning from her to become a better cook. He had the appearance down but it was all about the taste more than anything. All the while Opal was on her way with her guests. Since this was bound to be a contest of cooking Opal suggested, some would come by to see this for themselves. Twilight, Fluttershy, Applejack and many of their friends gathered with some too busy to show up but they would be saved some food depending on how this goes.
Even Goh and Chole, passing through the Pallet Town gateway, would show up at SugarCube Corner. "I'm hoping we get to taste some of this food," said Chloe. "How long do you think it'll take for them to get here to Equestria?"
"Oh, I think that's them right now," Fluttershy spoke, spotting the arrival of the competitors. And their way of showing up was in a car. Specifically, a Charizard Car in the style of the Flame Pokemon itself. Everyone watched in amazement of this Charizard Car as it caught them off guard. Especially with how well-crafted it was to resemble the Fire-Flying-Type.
"Oh, that's so cool!" Ash, Rainbow Dash, Pikachu and Scootaloo had their eyes light up at the sight of the Charizard Car. It may just be a stylized car but the presentation is what made it so unique.
"Well, it seems like you're ready." Arriving at the scene was none other than Opal herself. And of course, Leon and Red were with her, with the extra guest being none other than Raihan. Each of them stepped out with Leon being the last, confirming that this was his car since he was at the helm. Some would've confused it for being Red's since he has a Charizard as well.
"Red? You're here too?" Ash spotted Red, who nodded in confirmation. He would then turn to face Raihan, trying to recall who he was. "And uh...Raihan."
"Glad you remembered me. But why am I here?" Raihan groaned as he wasn't too big on showing up here at all. The expression on his face said it all.
"Why is he here, actually?" Bea asked Nessa, curious if she knew.
"You see...Opal's not only obsessed with pink, but it seems she's also focused on wiping out dragons as a whole. She tried getting Raihan to become a Fairy-Type Gym Leader as well, even dressing him up in pink." Nessa explained, knowing quite a lot about Opal. "She might as well be a full-on Fairy in human clothing."
"Talk about dedication..." Bea uttered with disbelief.
"Look at you all." Opal observed everyone here at Ponyville, giving them her signature stare. "You all would look good in pink. Every last one of you." Her eyes then intensified, intimidating the citizens. Opal now had them on their mind.
Pinkie Pie gulped, trying to mask herself within SugarCube Corner so that Opal doesn't notice her at all. However, with just one head turn, Opal spotted her as she failed to hide from the Ballonlea Gym Leader.
"No way!" Pinkie Pie screeched.
"I was right to choose this place and it was worth the travel. You all will be needing these." Her hand would suddenly unveil a few Poke Balls. By dropping them, the Pokemon would emerge, being of the same species but with differences.
"Milcery."
"Alcremie!" Multiple of the same Pokemon showed up. Specifically, this Pokemon known as Alcremie as there were eight of them here, having different colours on them.
"Oh, who are they?"
"Milcery. The Cream Pokemon. This Pokémon was born from sweet-smelling particles in the air. Its body is made of cream. They say that any patisserie visited by Milcery is guaranteed success and good fortune."
"Alcremie. The Cream Pokemon. Vanilla Cream Flavor. Alcremie can produce whipped cream, which becomes richer the happier Alcremie is feeling. Desserts made using this cream are invariably delicious, so many pastry chefs strive to have an Alcremie as their partner. When it trusts a Trainer, it will treat them to berries it’s decorated with cream. When Alcremie is content, the cream it secretes from its hands becomes sweeter and richer."
Other Pokedex entries came in for the other Alcremie flavours that stood before them. Ruby Swirl, Ruby Cream, Matcha Cream, Rainbow Swirl, Lemon Cream, Salted Cream, Caramel Swirl and Mint Cream. "How about it? Who wishes to become a Fairy-Type Gym Leader?" Opal questioned. But no one here was looking to be a Gym Leader.
"Uh, pass..." Applejack said as many of them passed up on that offer. They were fine with what they had. But Opal would not give up. Not when so many prime candidates were here.
"No matter. You might be convinced after this. After all, most of you will be competing."
"What do you mean most of us?!" The residents of Ponyville all gasped as Opal instantly dragged them into this.
"You all have the perfect aura for it. You're just missing pink aprons and pink all over but we can sort that out." Opal smiled, intimidating them all. "And just you wait, Red. Those colours of yours will be lightened eventually."
"...!" Red, still having that serious look on his face, twitched for a moment. Unfortunately for him, since he was the opposite of pink, he was a target of Opal the second they met. Now Ash and the others knew why Red was here.
"How'd you and Red meet by the way, Leon?" Ash asked, curious about Red and him being present in the same area.
"We met up not too long ago. I think it was about 4 weeks after that wish went through. It's a long story." Leon replied.
"No time for that story. Prepare yourselves for this bake-off." Opal interrupted.
"Well, I-" Before Rarity could say anything, she noticed how Raihan was staring at her and everyone else, cutting her sentence off with this singular glare.
"Don't say no...!" Raihan eyed them down, pleading that they do not deny Opal's request. From the look in his eyes, he was doing this for their own safety. "Trust me."
"W-We can try." Rarity stammered, taking Raihan's words to heart. He seemed genuinely worried about this and no one could escape Opal's request.
"Splendid! Now, I don't exactly have enough Alcremies for all of you. So you will have to share Alcremies back to back and decorate a cake together. An Alcremia flavour chooses the trainer based on that flavour, so I wonder what it'll be like for all of you. Will your cake be Powerful? Gentle? Energetic? Mysterious? I'm expecting delicious foods that perfectly capture your personalities.
"Okay. Time to put what Pinkie Pie taught me to the test." Ash held his hands out, looking at them.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Twilight looked at her hooves, trembling at what could come from this. Especially if it was Ash's cooking.
"..." Red lowered his hat as it looked like he didn't want to be here at all. At least, not participating in this. However, one look at Opal made him realize that running away was pointless.
"This sounds fun!" Out of the other citizens here, Fluttershy was eager to try it from the start, clapping her hooves. The Alcremie would all scatter at once, trying to find the trainers that work with their flavours.
A Vanilla Alcremie would go straight for Fluttershy, choosing her first. This Alcremie had a heart-shaped sweet on its head to signify its attraction to the pegasus. Rarity was selected by a Salted Cream Alcremie with a star-shaped sweet and Rainbow Dash received a Rainbow-Swirl with a flower-shaped sweet.
"Oh, that smells like Caramel...That's the one for me!" Ash said, choosing the Caramel Alcremia which also had a star-shaped sweet. This Alcremie would also gravitate itself towards Applejack. Since there were many cooks, each of the Alcremie would also focus on different trainers to try and share them. Now that everyone had an Alcremie, it was time to get this competition started.
Canterlot.
Meanwhile, over at Canterlot, Celestia was still busy with her work, doing everything in her power to try and break through Magehold's defences. However, when in deep thought, her eyes would flare open. What was this feeling? This sensation? Her thoughts about Magehold and the Dread League were immediately thrown to the side as if something of greater importance had come up. Well, not exactly in the sense that it depended on everyone's well-being but more along the lines of her own cravings.
"I can feel it." She hopped off her throne before closing her eyes. "That feeling...How long has it been since I've sensed it? Probably only a few months but still. I know this feeling."
"Gardevoir?" Passion, who was playing with Arcanine and Philomena, noticed Celestia's rather sudden reaction.
"Oh, I do know what this is! With a bit of Sweet Scent added on...That to me sounds and smells like cake! Excellent!" Celestia exclaimed with joy ih her eyes and heart. Cake. Her favourite food. It was as if she had a sixth sense for cake as she already detected the sudden emergence of many cakes. And there was only one area where that was possible.
Without a second thought, Celestia had to see this for herself. She hadn't come up with anything for the Dread League yet so this was a nice way to kill some time. When looking at Celestia's expression, Gardevoir, Arcanine and Philomena already knew what was about to come. Perhaps this is the bad feeling that Twilight felt earlier.
They had a plethora of ingredients to choose from, chosen by Opal and SugarCube Corner as well. Droves of tables were laid outside since there wasn't enough room in SugarCube Corner for these to fit. Not everyone here was skilled at making cakes. They could cook but cakes were a different class of cooking. And yet, they would try their best, specifically using guides to help them out.
"Cremie!" The Alcremie would make things easier for them, pouring cream from their hands into their bowls to finish one part up. But everyone else would have to handle the rest.
"Hm, I wasn't taught how to make a cake but this'll do!" Ash grinned, rubbing his hands together. He grabbed the necessary items, using a knife to spread the cream all over the base of the cake. Already, he was making a mess, moving his hand too quickly as the cream would fly elsewhere.
"..." Red looked at his cake as he received a star-shaped Vanilla Alcremie as well. The Trainer from another world scratched his har, not sure what to do next. All he could do was observe everyone else and copy them.
"Hmph. I know what I want to make." Rarity said, already having a plethora of decorations on her side as she wanted her cake to be as beautiful as it could be. She would throw as many gemstone decorations onto the cake with the Salted Cream Alcremie cheering her on.
"Cakes are like pies, right?" Applejack grumbled, trying to figure this out herself. "I'll just wing it and do what I do best."
Everyone else tried their best when looking at the guides, hoping that they wouldn't mess up horribly. But some did want out of this so they wouldn't take it too seriously. But the ones who did take it seriously made some progress. Especially the Cake Family, who were working in perfect sync with each other. They knew how to make a cake so this wasn't a problem for them at all. The same went for Pinkie Pie. Those from SugarCube Corner were fine from the very beginning.
"This is fun, isn't it?" Twilight said after using her magic to whip up this cake. Speaking of whipping, cream would fly out because of Ash and Rainbow Dash who were rapidly spinning their cake mix around.
"It is," Leon said, being surprisingly good at this for someone who tends to get lost and loves battling a lot. Not many would expect this from the World's Strongest Trainer.
"I'm gonna whip up the world's best-tasting cake ever! Watch me!" Raihan was certainly passionate about it. If Leon was competing, then he had to do so while also trying to 1-up him.
"Come on...!" Rainbow Dash growled as her cake mix was stuck from spinning it too hard. The stickiness of this mix became an issue as she attempted to pull it off. Some were also having problems with their cakes. The problems ranged from playing around with the cake mix too much as these were mainly done by foals or even missing some ingredients and putting them in a tad too late. The Cutie Mark Crusaders and other foals were just having fun playing with this cake, slowing their progress down while those with no baking knowledge fumbled their ingredients horribly. And with so many to choose from, it's no wonder.
"W-What's Ash doing?" Roseluck said as she and many others noticed Ash's method of baking. It was rather intense. More intense than everyone else here. The same went for Red as he decided to wing it, using brute force to make this cake.
"Oh? Such passion." Opal, who was also getting involved, noticed the passion flaring out of Ash and Red. One was passionate about finally get something to taste right while the other was just doing what he could to make a decent enough cake. Opal would then feel that same passion brimming out of Rainbow Dash and Raihan as they had rather disgruntled faces. "That kind of passion works well for the energetic colour that is pink!"
However, the longer they stared, the more they saw Ash going overboard with his baking, making Pinkie Pie gasp. Everyone else did add decorations but no one went above and beyond more so than Ash. Pinkie bit her hoof at this as Ash put every decoration under the sun in this cake.
Chocolate, Pokemon-shaped flavour decorations, biscuits, icing, sweets and so much more. Ash's approach was certainly on the more rambunctious and lively side. As for Red, he was always a silent person so his cake would perfectly represent him. As mute as possible with minimal decorations. But even if there were so few decorations, much like Red, this cake could pop as the progress was slowly showing it.
"That looks grim..." Berry Punch spoke after looking at Ash's cake and how it was developing.
"I feel sick just looking at it..."
"Umm...Uhh..." Applejack was still struggling as her side of the family wasn't known for making Apple Cakes. By now, she was wishing that the family member that knew how to make Apple Cakes was here right now. That would save up so much trouble. Nevertheless, she would persist.
"Hmph. This'll be easy." Nessa confidently said, believing that she had beaten Ash in this category before it was even over. Judging by everyone's reactions, she might as well have won. At least she had experience with baking cakes thanks to Opal.
"I doubt even I could stomach that..." Bea grimaced.
Arriving at the scene was none other than Princess Celestia. She couldn't wait to see this so teleportation was what she ended up using to get here immediately. The Sun Princess jumpscared everyone, appearing without warning. But some expected this. If many cakes were involved, then Celestia would be involved. It was only a matter of time before she found out.
"Made it on time!" Celestia said with joy before rapidly moving her head around, making afterimages with it. "Where are the cakes?"
"Oh. The Ruler of Equestria. She would also look splendid in pink." Opal gazed at the Ruler of Equestria. "But...I won't try my luck." However, for the first time, Opal held herself back. She was fearless in front of everyone, including Leon. But when it came to Celestia, she'd rather not take her chances against the ruler of this entire land and nation.
"Ah, it's only in the process of being made?" Celestia leaned in, looking at Twilight's cake and how it was still being made.
"Just a bit longer, Princess Celestia. Then all of these cakes will be available for you." Twilight squeed before seeing cake mix fly into the air by those struggling and playing around. "M-Most of them anyway."
"I can't wait! Why didn't anypony tell me about this sooner? Oh well, it doesn't matter." Celestia giggled, watching everyone work on their cakes. She was absolutely eager to see how each of them would turn out. To her, it was a buffet or a gourmet. Fit for a Princess
Eventually, most would finally finish their cakes, all having unique designs to them that fit them perfectly. Most were based on their Cutie Marks which were also based on their names. The Cutie Mark Crusaders didn't have names that fit their marks, so they unified their skills to end up making one single cake together. A Shield Cake. Perfect for their marks.
Twilight's cake had multiple stars around them for her own Cutie Mark. Rarity, as seen before, had gemstones around them. Even the shape of the cake resembled that of a diamond. Fluttershy kept it simple since she also had baking knowledge. This was thanks to her time with the Pokemon at the Pokemon House, feeding so many of them that all had their preferences. But to honour her Pokemon, she had decorations of Audino, Bayleef and Raboot on it.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash did everything in their power to make these cakes possible. And for what they could muster, it wasn't so bad. They made passable cakes that were generic at best. Applejack went the extra effort to put one of her apples on top while the Rainbow Cream perfectly fit Rainbow Dash. Raihan made an impressive cake as well that had mainly fruits on top of it. Leon's cake fittingly had a crown decoration on top. Chloe's cake looked stylish as well with all those lemons on the side.
Unfortunately for Goh, his Grookey licked everything off the cake, having a full stomach and lying on the side. All of the cream was gone as Goh could not complete his cake. The same went for those who were struggling from the beginning. Mr and Mrs Cake along with Pinkie Pie made the biggest cake here, outclassing the rest in size.
Nessa and Bea added style to theirs as well. But in Bea's case, it was all about aggression. Her cake looked bulkier than others, fitting her Fighting-Type style. Nessa had a lavish cake that could only be matched by Rarity's.
"Impressive. Even though most of you have no experience, you still managed to pull it off. I'm impressed." Opal complimented them all. "And to those who couldn't, well done for trying your best. Now, let's see what-"
"Ta-dah!" Ash showed off his cake which made everyone's jaws drop. Opal even had a surprised look on her face when looking at this mess. Everyone at least kept a consistent theme with their cakes but Ash went crazy with his.
"Well, that's certainly Ash..." Twilight uttered with a slight chuckle. The chaotic nature of this cake did match Ash perfectly even if it was rather odd to look at it. To many, it looked unedible with how much was thrown against it. There was no consistency at all.
"..." Red finished his as his cake was the complete opposite of Ash's. But his also didn't look at that edible at all. It just looked dry. Completely dry. Both Ash and Red managed to come out with the strangest cakes by far.
"Now! For the moment of truth!" Opal exclaimed. "It's time for you all to get a taste of each other's cakes. Go around and don't be shy to rate and criticise." The time to taste all of these cakes was now.
Many went around while some would take a breather to recollect their energy. Opal went straight for the cakes that Pinkie Pie and the Cake family made, curious about their amazing skills. PInkie and the Cake Family had the same sentiment. Both sides dug in with Opal using a spoon and the ponies using their mouths. Mew would simply dive in head-first to get a bite.
"Hmm...Mmmm!" Opal obviously loved it, spinning around with joy. "Marvellous! I knew it would be good but I didn't think it would be this good! SugarCube Corner lives up to its expectations and more! The perfect sweetness has been here all along!"
"Mmm-mmm!" Pinkie Pie jumped for joy. "Oh, I take back everything I thought! This is great! It feels like everything I've ever loved eating is in this cake!" She would then start snacking on the cake just like Mew, not slowing down for a moment.
"It is, isn't it?" Mrs Cake vehemently agreed after taking a bite out of this cake. "I wonder why we were so worried in the first place?"
"No clue." Mr Cake replied as they both forgot why they were worried about Opal's skills. They completely missed the fact that it was because she was so good that they could be outdone. But there was nothing to fear. Both were great. In fact, they might as well be equal.
"Applejack's yours isn't that bad. But it does taste like your apple pies a bit too much though." Fluttershy said, noticing the apple in it.
"I did what I could...Apples are what I know best." Applejack sighed before taking a bite out of Twilight's cake. "Mmm...Nice."
"Oh yeah! This is the flavour of a champion! Such a colourful aroma and sweetness!" Leon's cake was complimented by Princess Celestia. "I love it!"
"Gee thanks, your majesty." Leon thanked Celestia who would move on to the next cake. She couldn't sit still for a minute, too focused on all of these cakes and wanting a bite out of all of them. She was moving so fast and become a white blur that she didn't even need teleportation. It looked like her speed had exceeded her teleportation magic in this instance.
Raihan had a showy cake and Celestia could tell. So could Opal. But to Celestia, it didn't matter if it was showy. It tasted good and that was all that mattered. Opal even gave him points for the taste with Raihan standing proudly. Even if Goh's cake was ruined by Grookey, the fact that the Grass-Type devoured it all proved that it did taste good. And if it was finished, it would've tasted even better. Goh still got some points for that. Rainbow Dash, who went wild and struggled, made a decent cake too, having a different clash of flavours thanks to the Rainbows. But it fit her perfectly as there was one domination flavour that satisfied the mouths of many.
Sufficed to say, most of them had good-tasting cakes. Ranging from decent to splendid. Celestia was a happy pony but there were two cakes that have yet to be tasted. Ash and Red.
"Hmm...Now what do we make of these?" Opal said as she and Celestia stood before the cakes of clashing personalities. Spirited and Silent.
"I wouldn't eat that at all..." Twilight grimaced at the sight of these cakes. Everyone else looked more horrified at Ash's cake. No one looked eager to try it except Celestia and Opal. The question was, who would eat what first. Red even looked at Ash's cake, surprised by its appearance before gazing back at his. He wondered which was the odd one out here.
"..." Red would try a bite out of his own cake, using a spoon to do so. By quickly placing it in, the Silent Trainer would freeze for a moment.
"Oh? Tasting your own cake? How is it?" Opal asked.
"...!" Red gave his response. Immediately, he would punch the table in front of him, lowering his head. Everyone gasped, fearing that Red's cake was terrible from the way his fist was trembling. Celestia and Opal would then take a bite out of it.
"Ah. You're just disappointed it's not as tasty as you thought it would be." Opal spoke as Red's cake was not half-bad at all. He just wanted it to be better than what he wanted. "But it's still a satisfactory taste. Take pride in that, alright?"
"Mhm. You did your best." Celestia said. "For the most part, Red's cake tasted good and was serviceable. But now came the monstrosity that was Ash's cake. Celestia, Opal and everyone eyed it down, still mortified by it.
"Alcremie and I put our all into this!" Ash said proudly along with Alcremie. "I wanted to match Alcremie's cream and so I tried making the tastiest cake I could do! So dig in and have fun!"
"Alcremie!"
"Well...Looks can be deceiving." Celestia did look a bit hesitant in front of this cake, which was very uncommon. The fact that she was giving off such an expression proved that this cake was something else. Everypony feared what could happen if Princess Celestia took a bite out of this. What would happen to their princess? They bit their hooves, putting them together as they started praying to Arceus himself. Now that the worlds were unified, Arceus was at the top of them all so putting their faith in him was the best option now.
They took a bite. And much like Pinkie Pie, they both had a certain reaction to it that made everyone gasp. Pinkie pie closed her eyes, fearing that she hadn't taught Ash enough if this was the case. However, it was the complete opposite to Pinkie PIe's reaction.
"Oh my goodness..." Celestia and Opal uttered with disbelief as they had a vision of what this tasted like. They envisioned the blossoming of a new world. Nature was growing at high speeds with a bounty of life emerging. The Sun flared through the azure skies, blessing this new world as the stars above could also be seen. A beautiful new world had been opened up for them both.
"This...This is the best cake I've ever tasted!" Celestia shouted, surprising everyone.
"IT IS!?" No one expected this. How could that behemoth of a cake be the best thing here? Let alone the best cake that Princess Celestia has ever tasted, even surpassing that of SugarCube Corner.
"It has an unusual flavour that makes me want more!" Opal said gleefully, taking another bite. "Fantastic! Absolutely Fantastic!"
"It's that good?!" Pinkie Pie was flabbergasted. "I only taught him for a few hours though! How'd he get that good so quickly?!"
"Oh, let me try!" Soon, everyone would flock to Ash's cake, wanting a bite out of it since it was that good. If Celestia loved it, then it must be otherworldly. Mr and Mrs Cake were also surprised to see this. How could someone learn that fast and be so good?
They all took a bite out of Ash's cake and it was as amazing as they expected. Bliss and harmony met their hearts. They felt like melting as they all had visions of what this cake felt like to them. No other cake managed to make them feel this way which made this one all the more special. Even though Red was still keeping his composed and silent face, his smile confirmed that this was amazing as well.
"I don't believe it...He beat me again?!" Nessa cried out in anger, shocked and infuriated that Ash beat her in this category as well. And she was so confident this would be the one as well. But her anger soon turned into happiness after tasting the cake. "Oh but it's good though...I've never felt such pleasure!"
"Mhm!" Bea and Daisy greatly agreed, stuffing their mouths with Ash's cake.
Ash rapidly went from being a horrible cook to a stunning one. Ironically, his worst-looking food was tastier than his best-looking food. Perhaps that was the trick to it that Pinkie Pie spotted. Now Ash could cook for himself. But it was only one thing.
"It's decided! You are the one I will battle!" Opal pointed at Ash, declaring a battle. "Any trainer that can create that flavour, must be equally as interesting in a battle."
"Awesome! I've been itching for a battle!" Ash cheered. "Let's get this going, Opal!"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
They took their positions, using Ponyville as a battlefield. Now that so many of them had gathered, they would watch this battle after filling their stomachs with joy. Some would even choose to eat while watching this battle, mainly focusing on Ash's cake more than any other. Since Ash had the best-tasting cake, he was chosen for this.
"Wait does this mean Ash is eligible to be the next Gym Leader that replaces Opal?" Scootaloo asked.
"I don't think so." Twilight shook her head. "Maybe. Hopefully. Not sure."
"I'm glad it's not me though..." Pinkie sighed with relief.
"Very well. I'll be the ref." Standing in as the referee was none other than Champion Leon. "Bring out your Pokemon, both of you."
"Alright, Pikachu, I choose you!" Ash chose his tried and true partner, Pikachu.
"Pikachu!"
"It's up to you, Alcremie!" For Opal, it would be one of her Alcremie. In this case, a Ruby Cream Alcremie.
"Alcremie!"
"Let the battle begin!"
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
"Pika! Pika-Pika!" With a flash of light, Pikachu took off, approaching the Cream Pokemon at lightning speeds. Before Alcremie can react or even hear what Opal has to say, Pikachu tackled it.
"Cremie!"
"Now, Iron Tail!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu would immediately follow up his first attack with an Iron Tail. By hardening his tail, he would swing it upwards, striking Alcremie yet again. And once more, Opal hasn't said anything. She was simply watching.
"Why's she just watching him?" Rainbow Dash noticed, wondering why Opal wasn't giving out a command or fighting back at all. She was just letting Ash and Pikachu attack freely.
"More and more!" Ash suggested a continuous Iron Tail Attack.
"Pika!" And Pikachu would deliver, continuously striking Alcremie with Iron Tail.
"Yikes, he's fierce with it," Raihan observed. "And that Pikachu has some pretty good speed actually."
"Awesome, Pikachu!" Ash cheered. "Let's switch it up now!"
"Now that reminds me of an impatient child." Opal finally spoke with a smile on her face, seemingly not worried at all about this. "It reminds me of Red and Leon, actually."
"Cre...Alcremie!" Suddenly, Alcremie shook off the damage like it was nothing. All those super-effective hits and it was standing strong and healthy.
"Woah!"
"Now...take a look at your own Pokemon closely," Opal suggested as Pikachu and Ash would focus on one of thing. Pikachu's tail. On Pikachu's tail, there was cream on it thanks to all those continuous Iron Tails.
"Pika?!"
"She reduced the power of Iron Tail with all of that cream building up!" Twilight gasped, figuring it out. "It's a lot like Cinccino's scarf!"
"Now, it's my turn! Use Attract!"
"Cremie~!" Alcremie would twirl before winking at Pikachu. Out of it came a swarm of hearts. The hearts would rapidly spin around Pikachu, who closed his eyes to try to avoid it. But it didn't work. The hearts got a hold of him and put their full effect into motion. Pikachu was now infatuated.
"Pika! Pikachu!"
"Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Alcremie!" Now that Pikachu was like this, Alcremie took the chance to strike, unleashing an outburst of rainbows in the shape of a dome. This rainbow dome blew Pikachu back, managing to knock the attract out of him with how powerful it was. The Mouse Pokemon rolled on the ground before sliding to recover.
"Pi...! Pikachu!"
"That cream's a way to defend? Awesome..." said Ash as Opal was finally going on the offensive.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Mie!" Along came another rainbow dome from Alcremie with Ash ready to respond.
"Electroweb!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu would interrupt this by using Electroweb, throwing out an electric orb which soon turned into a giant net. This net grabbed the rainbow dome, trapping it in place before crushing it.
"You do know how to use your resources to your advantage," Opal said before holding her Poke Ball out. "But are you prepared for what will happen next? Equestria still has that energy within it."
"What energy?" Ash asked, tilting his head.
"The power of Dynamax, of course. It never went away at all even after the worlds merged. It is still here and prime for us to use."
"Dynamax is still in Equestria?!" Pinkie Pie gasped along with many others. This power was still present within their land. Not just Galar.
"I'm going to have some fun with this!" She returned Alcremie as her Dynamax Band would instantly go off. The Poke Ball would find itself lightning up, expanding to a larger size than what it usually is. The Fairy-Type specialist would then launch the ball into the air, summoning the super-sized Alcremie from within. But it wasn't just a bigger Alcremie.
This Alcremie had a Gigantamax Form. A dark purple cloud would emerge above as Alcremie emerged with a new form, gradually growing in size. Lightning burst out of her body along with the sky as her body now resembled a towering, five-tiered cake. The apical tier of the cake resembles Alcremie's regular body, though it's wearing a bow and its whipped-cream hair is styled into a flamboyant swoop. Each layer of the cake features a variety of sweets that can be used to evolve the pre-evolution Milcery. The bottom tier of its body is frosted yellow and adorned with an alternating row of star sweets and dotted frosting. The second tier is frosted pink and features a magenta bow topped with a clover sweet. The third tier is frosted blue and encircled with a row of flower sweets featuring a berry sweet arch. The fourth tier is frosted pink and encircled with love sweets and three red clouds, with the central sweet being larger than the rest. Lumps of whipped cream surround Gigantamax Alcremie's body between each of her tiers. It was the perfect representation of the Pokemon's flavours.
"ALCREMIE!"
"It's beautiful..." Celestia was the most amazed by this. A giant cake? Truly a wonderful sight. Her eyes were locked onto Alcremie as she wished that this wasn't a Pokemon. Then, she would start going to town, devouring every tier as Rainbow Dash and a few others used their Pokedex on this new form.
"Alcremie. The Cream Pokemon. Gigantamax Form. Cream pours endlessly from this Pokémon’s body. The cream stiffens when compressed by an impact. A harder impact results in harder cream. It launches swarms of missiles, each made of cream and loaded with 100,000 kilocalories. Get hit by one of these, and your head will swim."
"Huh. There's no barrier for this place, I just realized." Leon spoke, startling everyone as usually, Dynamax Battles in stadiums have shields to protect everyone from the colossal damage. But not here.
"You're saying this now?!" Twilight bellowed at Leon.
"I can handle that." An entranced Celestia instinctively put up a protective shield around everyone, choosing to be the replacement for the Dynamax Barrier.
"G-MAX Finale!" Opal yelled with greater intensity in her voice. Very surprising despite her age.
"CREMIE!" Gigantamax Alcremie caused giant cream projectiles to fall down from the dark purple Dynamax sky and onto the Mouse Pokemon. The cream would splatter, making a mess out of the place as Pikachu was struck by one of them dead-centre.
"P-Pika!"
"Oh, no! Pikachu!" Ash yelled as Pikachu was being bombarded by a seemingly endless stream of cream. Pikachu was no longer seen as he was covered in it all. The only thing sticking out was his tail. "Are you alright, Pikachu?!"
"Pi...Pika! PIKA!" Unexpectedly, Pikachu was starting to grow. The cream around him would expand as his body was growing in size. Everyone watched this sudden turn of events as the mouse Pokemon was growing wider and wider by the second. Ash hadn't even used his Dynamax band which was in his bag at the moment.
"Impossible!" Nessa looked up with amazement. "Don't tell me that he...!"
No. This was the cause of Pikachu's own action. He had eaten the DYnamax Cream, allowing the energy from it to affect his body. He ate his way out, resulting in him taking on his Gigantamax Form. Gigantamax Pikachu, in all his bloated glory, was here.
"PI!" And the second he reached his Gigantamax Form, with his mouth open, he ate one of the cream projectiles from G-Max Finale, nullifying the damage. "PIKA-PIKA!" He would then slap his tummy, making a bouncing sound as it jiggled around. Just this action made everyone laugh at how goofy and adorable Pikachu was.
Pikachu was just like Ash. Both of them knew how to turn the tables in the wildest way possible. No one expected Pikachu to Gigantamax in this way.
"W-Well...This is certainly a development!" Opal was flabbergasted, much like everyone else.
""PIKA!" Pikachu thanked Alcremie for the taste and Alcremie was indeed grateful for the compliment, even if it was not on purpose.
"CREMIE!"
"I can work with this! G-MAX Volt Crash!" Ash struck his fist forward.
""PIKACHU...." Unfortunately, Gigantamax was still not Pikachu's style. And with this bloated and full state, he could only pat his belly, too full to attack.
"That was too much food for him it seems!" said Bea. "What a drawback after that effort of Gigantamaxing!"
"That's not an ordinary Gigantamax." Leon shook his head while holding onto his hat. "It just got big eating all of that cream. Pikachu just Feastamaxed! That's what I'll call it!" Leon gave a name for this method of Gigantamaxing.
It was certainly unique, making everyone confused and laugh out loud, but it looked like it was only possible if facing off against an Alcremie. At least in this state. Right now, Pikachu was too full to do anything else. He wanted to savour this taste more than anything.
"My goodness...I suppose I'll call off this battle." Opal chose to end the battle between her and Ash. "What a unique and humorous duo you two are." Ash rubbed the back of his head while Pikachu sighed with relief, especially in his stomach. A truly strange battle that had an abrupt ending. No one saw it developing in this way but this whole day has been quite the event.
Afterwards, with Pikachu returning to normal, everyone would wrap, eating the rest of the cakes here. There was still plenty to go and some would even try taking them home with them.
"Ah, that was fun, wasn't it?!" Leon laughed. "I had a blast watching that all play out!"
"Yeah. It was. I guess the reason I came here was overshadowed by that." Nessa added. "It's been a while since most of us from Galar have hung out like this. We rarely meet up, don't we?"
"Right," Raihan replied. "Maybe we should do this again sometime."
"If it means I get to eat more sweet-filled foods, so be it." Bea smiled, only in it for the food.
"Leon! I can't wait to battle you again someday!" Ash declared to the World's Strongest Trainer. "Because I'm climbing the World Championships Rankings!"
"I'm looking forward to it," Leon said, waiting for Ash at the end.
"If you can make it." Raihan shrugged. "I doubt you can get past me if you manage to get that far."
"He won't once it's me that overthrows him." Nessa would then get in front of Raihan, declaring that she would be the one to beat Ash and drop his rankings.
"I'm afraid that opportunity will be mine." Bea even chimed in. Ash certainly had quite the competitors from Galar.
"I'll take you all on." Ash grinned. "I'll beat everyone for sure!"
"Pikachu!"
"..." Red smiled at this response from Ash. Just the kind of response he was looking for. And in Red's case, he was hoping to battle Ash again someday. They still had to complete their battle from before. But at the moment, Red would wait until Ash was ready.
"What now?" Pinkie Pie asked. "What are you gonna do?"
"Heading back to Galar. But...I'll give you a recommendation. Come over to Galar sometime. Not too far from now, we'll be having a special event there. Maybe around the time the next Pokemon Festival comes along and we'll add that event to it."
"Oh, we'll be there," Celestia reassured. "Right now...I'd love one of those Alcremies. Why didn't anyone tell me such a POkemon existed? I could have as much cake as I want with an Alcremie with me..." Celestia closed her eyes, dreaming about having an Alcremie.
"Then come to Galar tomorrow or today, your majesty," Opal suggested. "You'll find an Alcremie there. But it must be an Alcremie that chooses you. Not just one that you spot."
"Well, I know what I'll be doing tomorrow then."
A fun day has come to an end. And everyone here received a bliss of paradise with the cakes they managed to consume. Ash has grown as both a trainer and a cook and everyone might've received a sweet tooth for a moment. It was all worth it, even if Opal is rather ominous. Pinkie Pie was just glad to have dodged her grasp thanks to Ash's cooking and Pikachu's Feastamax as the journey continues.
Yesterday was a rather delicious day for many, especially Princess Celestia. A plethora of cakes that were made by Ponyville was one of the happiest days of her life. It was a day she would never forget. She even brought some of them home with her, especially the remnants of Ash's cake, which was officially the best cake she's ever tasted.
Celestia discovered that there was an opportunity for her to eat as much cake as she wanted. And that was by having an Alcremie of her own. A Pokemon that could make cream to start off baking a cake was revolutionary to her. Only to her though.
However, she also had to work, focusing on recent world events. From the Dread League to the growing pains of this new world. But the thought about Alcremie hasn't left her head and the Galar Region was the one place she could find this species of Pokemon.
For her main intake of Magehold knowledge, she had the help of Chrysalis' mother Mellifera for that, writing down everything she knew about the Dread League and what they could do. With Celestia having such a great mind, she got everything down on many sheets of paper, prepared to expect the worst kinds of magics.
"Hah...I wish I could go to Galar right now." Celestia sighed, wishing to visit the Galar Region for Alcremie. "But that can wait. I need a way to push through that barrier." Celestia continued her work for the day, eager to get out there once more. Nothing was stopping her from doing anything else.
And she was a fast worker. At least, with how things have been developing. Gathering all this knowledge on Magehold gave her insight as she started looking into certain spells that could work well against what the Dread League has to offer. Watching as the time goes by were Gardevoir and Arcanine, staying by Celestia's side while she worked.
Guards would pass by, and so would Premium Polish and her Pokemon as the Sun would move on. Celestia instinctively controlled the Sun, deeply focused on her work. It has been like this for the past days and no one bothered her. Just a bit more and she could head to Galar for that Alcremie. But she also took Opal's words into consideration.
The Alcremie chooses the Trainer. It was all based on their personality as seen by yesterday's competition.
Ponyville.
Back at Ponyville, where the competition was originally held, Ash was ready to set out once more. This time, to the region where Leon, Opal, Raihan, Bea and Ness all come from. He and many others were recommended to come to Galar during the fourth Pokemon Festival for a special event, but Ash was itching to head there either way. The event can wait.
"You're heading to Galar now? What about the event that Leon spoke about?" Twilight spoke to Ash while surrounded by her friends.
"Ah, I can't wait. I'm gonna head to Galar for the fun of it. Might even end up in a World Championship Battle. You wanna come along?" Ash asked.
"I'll pass. But I think Applejack and Rarity are free, right?" Twilight would face the Earth Pony and Unicorn.
"I'm not doing anything any the moment." Applejack was a free pony right now. She had finished up her work for today and was just relaxing at Ponyville. "So...I guess so?"
"Neither am I. But a few days from now, I will be making new dresses for Sweetie Belle's Grand Festival. It shouldn't be too far from now." Rarity added.
"I'd love to come with you to Galar!" Fluttershy was eager to come along. "Not many Galarian Pokemon come over to the Pokemon House so I need to see them as soon as possible!"
"Great! I wanna visit some of the towns there more than anything right now," said Ash. "Plus, I never did get the chance to compete with Nessa. That's why she came here, right?"
"She did try and compete with you when it came to making those cakes. But you beat everyone. If I had to guess, I'd say she's planning on finding something else to beat you at, before her rankings go up." Twilight speculated Nessa's next move. "Or, she might show up at Ponyville again. She did try and observe what you do here but Opal distracted everyone."
"I guess so. Which is why I'm not gonna lose to her!" Ash pumped his fists. "And I can't wait to see what other Galar Gym Leader I can meet! So far, all of them have been pretty fun. And their Elite 4? I can't wait for that!"
"Actually, I don't think Galar has an Elite 4 from what I heard," Goh said. "It's just the Gym Leaders and Leon. I heard that the reason for this is that they're so strong that they don't need an Elite 4 system at all."
"Oh!? That's so cool!" Ash and Rainbow Dash collectively said in awe. The Galar Gym Leaders were that strong. Ash has seen this strength for himself.
"Their strength backs it up too," Ash added. "I can't wait to battle one of them again. Maybe I can take on Bea for a second time. We tied last time and I wanna battle her as she is now. I know Lucario wants a go at it. The next time we met, we'll be using all of our Aura and winning it!"
"Best not go through with that." Twilight shook her head. "You and your Aura shenanigans have been growing, Ash. The more you use it, the more you'll hurt yourself. Just look at this!" Twilight used her magic to bring over a sheet.
A long sheet materialized in front of him and everyone else with the end of it dropping to the ground. On that sheet, there were faces of Ash that had been drawn on it, each having different expressions. Alongside these faces were depictions of Aura waves, appearing as their natural azure blue.
"Look at this. This is how your Aura's acted each time you pushed it. The first time you used it, it was natural and acted the way it was supposed to. But onwards?" The first Ash face at the top had him happy and bright as always, showing a smooth Aura frequency.
However, the second face showed Ash being rather disgruntled with his Aura starting to rise. This was when Delayed Aura Ataxia first hit him. The further down it went, the more the faces were starting to change into a rather upset and stunned Ash with Aura signatures that were going off the charts, especially the one that involved the Aura Vampire Gardevoir.
"Huh. That's pretty bad." Ash leaned in. "Looks like it's getting better down here though."
"Pika."
"That's because it hasn't been as worse as it used to be. Ever since we stopped Gardevoir, your Aura was safer but Delayed Aura Ataxia still exists. It isn't just going to go away unless something is done about it."
"Ash hasn't passed out as much though," said Fluttershy. "I'm worried when he might but now he's starting to use his Aura like it's a normal thing."
"Yeah, don't sweat it." Rainbow Dash flew over to the Princess of Friendship, holding the Aura sheet. "It's slowed down so Ash knows what he's doing. Lucario just wants some more get back with Bea so it's probably gonna be just that battle where he pushes himself."
"The Pokemon World Championships might have something to say about that," Twilight warned. "The trainers are only going to get stronger from here, Ash. Cold COlt told me this wasn't a problem in the original timeline so the fact that it exists here means that every opponent you face, Good or Evil, will force you to use your Aura."
"I'll be careful, Twilight. And if something goes wrong, I'll always have my friends to back me up." Ash confidently said, asking that Twilight had some faith in him.
"I guess...But I'm still cautious. Aura is so great but so dangerous because of that Gardevoir. So there has to be a way to regulate it. And I think I know how." Twilight smiled as something came up in her mind. Or rather, she recalled something. "I remember when it was back at the Pokemon Festival last year. Bertha told me something about helping you with your Aura."
"Yeah? What'd she say?" Ash asked.
"She might've been on to something. She said that you should try your hand at Mega Evolution. Specifically, for Lucario." Twilight remembered Bertha's words from that day. "Then it hit me! Lucario was said to be the first Pokemon that ever Mega Evolved at the Tower of Mastery. The Aura coming from Mega Evolution is off the charts. So, if I had to guess, if you use Mega Evolution, you might be safe."
"Hang on. I'm not even allowed to Mega Evolve my Ampharos and Lopunny at the same time." Rarity spoke. "If I do, I'll hurt myself without a doubt. Doesn't this sound dangerous either even if it's just one Pokemon?"
"Bertha might be on to something though, Rarity. Ash. I think you should try your hand out at Mega Evolution." Twilight suggested. Mega Evolution was seemingly a prime factor in dealing with Delayed Aura Ataxia.
"Hmm..." The Alola Champion thought about it for a moment holding his chin. Pikachu would do the same thing. "Alright. If it means I'm gonna be safe and reassure you, then sure. I'll shoot for Mega Evolution." Music to Twilight's ears. She and her friends were happy to hear this. If Ash was safe and healthy, they were happy. Delayed Aura Ataxia was just that dangerous and they were glad it hasn't been popping up as much, but it was still a major threat either way.
"I know just who to ask for that. Korrina, of course." Ash immediately focused on Korrina as she had a Mega Lucario back at Kalos. "We're not gonna be battling Bea right now so let's stop by Galar and then tackle Mega Evolution."
"Right. Have fun travelling and see what Galarian Pokemon you can find us." Twilight thanked him as Ash and those that were coming along with him would set out to the Galar Region. And thanks to Professor Cerise's budget, they could travel across the world quickly. Not as fast as gateways but planes always did the trick.
Galar. Stow-on-Side Gym. Afternoon.
Speaking of Bea, back at her Gym at Stow-on-Side, she was once again practising with her Pokemon. This is what she mostly does she isn't eating sweet-filled foods. And on her mind was also Ash. Much like the Trainer from Kanto, the Gym Leader from Galar was also thinking about their next match.
"That Ash...He grows fast. I always keep up my training and yet he goofs around and somehow manages to stay consistent. I only ever take breaks like that if I'm hungry and that's only once a day."
"That's just his speciality." Someone else was in the same room as Bea. Fittingly, it ended up being Korrina, another one of her friends, who also sends her sweet-filled foods. Both Fighting-Type Gym Leaders were once in the same room as elsewhere at Equestria, both were being brought up by Ash himself. "I don't know myself but that's unique to him. You can't afford to slow down when your next match comes. Uh...When is it, actually?"
"Very soon. Our rankings are close to each other. And this time, I'm knocking him down from the World Championship Rankings." A determined Bea said. "And after that, I'll have him bake me that special cake from yesterday."
"Sounds harsh. How good is that cake, anyway?" Korrina laughed. "I'm looking forward to that battle. You'd best believe I'll be there. Because most likely, this next battle of yours could be the deciding factor. One of you is going to move up to the point where you'll be close to the Masters 8."
"You haven't gotten there yet, have you, Korrina?"
"No. I'm behind, sadly." Korrina shrugged, not seeming too affected by her ranking which she showed off on her phone. Her ranking was currently 205. Not a bad ranking but compared to where Ash and Bea are, she was definitely behind. "I still need to grow as a trainer myself. I'm not strong enough. But you and Ash are. Strong enough to climb the ranks and maybe make it to the top where Leon, Cynthia and the others are waiting. I wish I was up there with them to show just what I'm really made of."
"Mm. I promise I'll win for you then. No one will stop me at all." Bea nodded before making a promise to Korrina. For her friend, she would try and win the entire Pokemon World Championships. And to that, her biggest obstacle would have to be taken down. None other than Ash.
And speaking of Ash, he was already heading to Galar. And perhaps soon, Princess Celestia at some time, when she is available, that is. Both trainers had their motivations but their goals were the same. Bea refused to let Ash get ahead of him even when he mostly hung around his friends, messing around and exploring the world, as opposed to her constant training. It wasn't that Ash was a prodigy. He just seemed to be excellent at catching up. All the more reason why she couldn't let him gain a victory in their next battle.
Over the horizon, stronger trainers were waiting for Ash and Bea, depending on who makes it through. And only one of them can really stand on that horizon where the Sun shines the brightest as the journey continues.
Galar's Wild Area. Home to different landmarks that benefit some Pokemon. From sandstorms, snow, bright sunny weather and rain, this area was tailored to the Pokemon and their every needs and replicates their habitats. The area was just that wide enough for that to be possible. It was just another example of how bizarre and wonderful this world.
"Cremie!" And at the snow-filled lands of the Wild Area, there was an Alcremie to be found. It was a Vanilla Alcremie, but there was no sweet on its head at all. Usually, every Alcremie has a sweet, but not this one. Not native to the Wild Area since there was nothing here that benefitted the Cream Pokemon. Alcremie was the odd one out since it did not have a natural habitat compared to the other Pokemon that live here. "Alcremie?"
The Cream Pokemon was shivering, feeling the chill of the night. Her body appeared to be unbelievably cold, covered in icicles. And she wasn't even in the snowy area but it didn't help that the Moon was up, only elevating that chill. "A-Alcremie...!" Trying to keep warm was difficult as she was trembling.
And from her body, she would emit a sweet aroma that was exclusive to her. The vanilla flavour of Alcremie was starting to spread, sending a delicious and enticing aroma through the atmosphere. And of course, this powerful aroma, which went further than what Alcremie was expecting, attracted some Pokemon.
Some Pokemon would wake up from the scent of Alcremie's aroma, attracted to it. The nocturnal Pokemon were already alerted. That delicious scent was too enticing to them, making it impossible to ignore.
"C-Cremie..." Alcremie simply wanted warmth but from the way her body was so cold, she has been like this for a while. A trail of frozen cream was behind her as it was only now that she showed up at the Wild Area. The Alcremie would simply continue on her way, attempting to find warmth somewhere in this cold night. Galar was a rather cold region at times, making this rather unfortunate for the Cream Pokemon compared to the other Alcremies that were just fine.
However, when trying to find somewhere else to keep warm, her scent attracted many Pokemon towards her. Alcremie paused for a moment, hearing a barrage of footsteps and wing flaps nearby. With just a head turn, she witnessed a swarm of Pokemon pursuing her, all itching for a bite.
"Alcremie!" Gasping from pure shock at this fierce swarm, Alcremie would try and jet away as fast as she could. Unfortunately, Alcremie was not that fast due to how she built. She couldn't run fast enough if her life depended on it. So, she simply hopped. She hopped with all of her might, using that to her advantage.
And she was fairly good at it, gaining some great distance. With her feeling like her life was in peril, she could leap spectacularly. But even with this escape, Alcremie's beautiful scent would be left behind. It wafted in the air, still waking up more and more Pokemon, even if she wasn't near them at all, showing just how powerful it was. Most definitely, wherever she came from received that delicious scent as well.
Circhester.
Circhester. A relatively large, old, peaceful city situated in a cold, mountainous part of the northeastern Galar Region. Buildings from an age long gone still stand about the steaming hot spring that covers the town. Arriving here at Circhester were Ash, Goh, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. And in such a cold area, all of them kept themselves warm with jackets, hats and scarves.
"Yeesh! It's even colder here!" Ash said after embracing the chilling atmosphere of Circhester, wearing his Sinnoh Winter Clothes.
"Piiika!"
"How is it that some areas can be so cold to the point of snow with other places exempt from it?" Rarity wondered.
"It's Pokemon Don't question it." Applejack gave the best possible answer. In the world of Pokemon, it was best not to try and figure out why certain forces don't add up naturally. "But Galar's pretty cold on its own, ain't it?"
"Mhm. Which means we can view some Ice-Types and those are just as rare as Dragon-Types. There aren't that many Ice-Types now that I think about it." said Fluttershy. "What do you think we can find here?"
"Hmm...There's that restaurant again." Ash spotted the familiar restaurant that he saw in other cities and towns. He would then spot some hot springs up ahead even when standing at the very end of the city. The steam coming from those Hot Springs were rather visible for such a cold area.
"What's with everyone though?" However, Goh would be the first to notice something about this city and it wasn't the hot springs up ahead. Grabbing everyone's attention, they all viewed the people and Pokemon here, seeing how they were acting.
Strangely, they all had ecstatic looks on their faces. The people and Pokemon displayed signs of happiness that were only akin to tasting something delicious. Ash would know something about that, recognizing the looks on their faces. Some were drooling while others were laying around, looking like they were experiencing the greatest moment of their life.
"They sure look happy," Fluttershy said. "What do you think happened here?"
"They look pretty hungry though." Ash narrowed his eyes after spotting those faces. He and his friends would advance further into the town to investigate it and immediately, when looking through the window of the restaurant known as 'Bob's Your Uncle', the food in there had not been touched.
The people had left the food untouched, only resting their elbows on the table while having those pleased looks on their faces. Truly strange. They looked hungry yet there was a plethora of food right in front of them to fulfil their stomachs. Even the chefs had the same looks on their faces. Noticeably, they would pick up on a scent. And that scent was rather enticing. Strikingly enticing. It was also familiar to their noses as they felt like they have sensed this before. And it was not too long. Approximately 2 days ago to be exact.
"What's going on? Why's everyone so hungry and not touching any of the food at all?" Goh wondered. "Something's not right."
"It must've been something good to make them look like this. I know I would. Mom's cooking is just that good." Ash would soon have the same look on his face, thinking about his mother's cooking.
"Hmm...Whatever they're thinking of...Must be wonderful." Rarity was slowly starting to gain that same look on her face as well. The beautiful scent was reaching her and soon her friends. Applejack picked up on it too as her face would slowly transform as well.
But before any of them could get involved in this pleased expression, stepping outside of what appeared to be a Gym was someone was holding a Megaphone. And from that megaphone, a lady would shout as loud as she could.
"GET UP! ALL OF YOU!" The booming sound of the Megaphone elevated her voice, attacking the ears of everyone here. Some would fall off their seats or even when they were standing as they were all taken out of this trance. Windows would shatter at the force of this sound too.
Ash and his friends received the soundwave as well as they weren't even enchanted by this beautiful scent. Fluttershy and her Audino got the worst of it, having sensitive ears. Especially Audino, who was rapidly gyrating from what she heard, feeling the urge to fall over.
"A-Audino..."
"Oh. That's better." The lady who made that thunderous sound uttered before lowering her megaphone. "I thought I lost you all there."
"S-Sorry Mrs Melony." A woman said before dropping to the ground. "Ah but I still want to try it though..."
"This is just sad." Melony looked down at those who were on the ground. "I might need to whip everyone here into shape, get your mind off the scent."
"Say, uh, what's going on here?" Ash went up to Melony. "What's with here?"
"Oh?" Melony turned to face Ash and his friends, pausing for a moment. By staring at them, specifically Ash and Fluttershy, she would drop her Megaphone, forming a wide-open smile and a gasp. "It's you two! What a surprise?!"
"Um!" Fluttershy pulled back as Melony approached her with open arms, coming in strong all of a sudden. Just like that, she picked up Fluttershy, embracing the pegasus for a hug. The stunned Audino couldn't do anything about this due to how she was still feeling the effects of that Megaphone. Right now, her trainer was being hugged by this tall white-dressed woman. "D-Do I know you?"
"Ah, my apologies!" Melony would then hold Fluttershy up. "I've just been eager to meet both of you! I've heard so much from you! Fluttershy, isn't it?"
"That's me, yes."
"My daughter absolutely loves you! And so do I! This is a welcoming surprise." Melony would place Fluttershy down.
"Oh, really. Well, I don't blame you for that. I sometimes do that with some new Pokemon I meet." Fluttershy held her head as she was guilty of suddenly hugging someone. Her love for Pokemon causes such a reaction and Melony's reaction was no different since it was the same feeling.
"And you must be Ash. I can tell from that signature look. I've heard a lot about you from Bea and the others." Melony turned to face Ash next, also recognising him.
"Yeah, that's me," Ash confirmed. "I'm guessing by your outfit...you're a Gym Leader, right?"
"Indeed I am! Welcome to Circhester. I am Melony. This city's Gym Leader." Melony fully introduced herself as the Gym Leader of this city. "And I'm pleased to meet both of you. For you, Ash, it's all about your strength."
"You don't recognize us though?" Applejack asked wondering why Melony hadn't pointed her out along with Rarity.
"Right. Aren't we familiar just like Fluttershy?" said Rarity.
"Oh, you are. But I just prefer her. Sorry~" Melony apologized, shutting them both down. Applejack and Rarity were gutted by this. Melony and her unnamed daughter preferred Fluttershy over them. "But you're still popular. It's only because of the news that spreads fast, especially back at Equestria."
"If you're focused on my strength, you're in the Pokemon World Championships, aren't you?" Ash replied.
"That's right. I'm up there and I've been looking forward to challenging you." Melony winked. "I've heard great things from my fellow Gym Leaders after all. Climbing those rankings at a smooth pace, aren't you?"
"Oh yeah!" Ash pumped his fists. "And pretty soon, I'm gonna have another battle with Bea! I can't wait! Do you wanna battle now that I'm here?"
"Hm-hm-hm!" Melony would chuckle before patting Ash on the back impressive strength. "Ah, not yet! I'm higher than you and Bea at the moment so you'll have to get past her to get to me!"
"Oh!" Ash felt Melony's strength, stumbling and nearly falling onto the snow. "Huh. Alright. I'll remember that."
"But I can't wait to battle you either way. You're promising and I heard you're strong while also being carefree. That does stump me a bit." Melony placed her finger on her chin. "How's that possible?" She had the same question Bea did. How was it that he improved while also lazing around? "It's certainly not like my teachings or anyone."
"Just having fun, I guess." Ash gave a nonchalant answer. "That's how I teach myself. What about you?"
"Mrs Melony here has quite the strict teachings..." One of the people got back up after his ears finally recovered. "She's a coach and a harsh one at that. In Galar, she's the only known Gym Leader to have ever beaten Raihan, who is Galar's Strongest Gym Leader."
"I-Isn't he in the Masters 8?!" Goh and the others gasped. Melony here was stronger than they thought as she managed to defeat the p[owerful Raihan who was among the best in the world at the moment. Most likely, this was in the past as Raihan still maintained that position.
"Correct!" Melony herself confirmed it. "I teach myself and that's how I was able to win. Sometimes, you're your own best teacher, wouldn't you agree?"
"Maybe she's too effective with her work..." A woman said, slightly criticising Melony. She would then shudder after sensing Melony looking at her. The Circhester Gym Leader had a chilling aura coming from her body and face that looked gentle but packed great ferocity. Naturally, the woman would tremble in fear, not from the cold.
"If you want, I could coach you some time. But you seem like you can help yourself. If not, then you can be my successor and become Circhester's next Ice-Type Gym Leader. My son Gordie certainly won't take on that icy mantle. Neither will my daughter and three sons."
"Uh, no thanks. I'll pass." Ash passed on it. "By the way, why was everyone acting like that? And what's that tasty smell in the air?"
"Oh, this? This is fairly recent in Circhester but it's been going on for a few weeks across Galar." Melony would start explaining. "It seems that a Pokemon has left behind a strong delicious scent that entices everyone who picks up on it. They can't help but think about that taste and having a bite with it."
"It smells like an Alcremie, doesn't it"? Ash recognized the Alcremie scent. "Is that what that is?"
"Oh, it has to be. But this is strong. Terrifyingly strong." Melony pointed out how potent this scent was. "Across Galar, they've been hit with this enticing scent and it's rendered most town and cities inactive until something snaps them out of it. But the scent doesn't disappear. It stays around, bringing bliss to them. There's not wrong with such a wonderful smell but it's far too distracting. Especially when I'm coaching."
"Did you resist it? You managed to snap everyone out of it with that megaphone." Goh asked.
"Hohohoho! Only someone with a strong willpower can go on with their day while admiring the scent!" Melony let out a rather bodacious and mighty laughter. "It's a lovely scent and I do admire it but I can most definitely go on with my day.2
"That is a problem though. Inactive cities and towns never lead to great results if everyone is doing nothing." Rarity pointed out the drawbacks. "How could one Alcremie do this? The ones Opal showed us haven't left behind powerful delicious scents when they left, even when they were at Ponyville for a while."
"No clue." Applejack shook her head. "Must be a rare flavour of Alcremie then."
"No, no. It's most definitely a standard Alcremie. Vanilla is the most common after all. But that Alcremie's flavour is truly strong. Wherever it came from, it must've left quite an impact. It's my duty to keep everyone active even if the taste is still in the air. I certainly can't get rid of this scent by myself."
"Where's the Alcremie then?" Fluttershy asked.
"It came by here last night, so it made its appearance in Circhester recently. It looks like it's just moving along with how it leaves behind that enticing vanilla aroma. The only you can hope to find it is by following the scent. I would follow it but I have to take care of this city."
"Hmm...I can handle this one then." Applejack proudly said, stepping up. "I can make something just as tasty that'll toss that vanilla scent out."
"Oh, your apple pies do taste wonderful." Rarity nodded in agreement. "Splendid idea!"
"Really? Every other food here doesn't seem to grab their attention at all though."
"Don't worry about it. I've got full faith in my apples." A confident Applejack uttered. "I've got what I need in my saddlebag right here. Ash. Do ya think you can make that cake of yours that everyone loved?"
"I don't think so. I don't have the ingredients for that. And that restaurant's not for baking." Ash was unable to make his magnificent cake. "It's up to you then, Applejack. Do you want us to stay behind and help?"
"Ya'll can go ahead and find that Alcremie if ya want." The earth pony would approach the restaurant. "I'll make enough for everyone to notice."
"How wonderful!" Melony clapped with glee. "I'd love to try some authentic food from Equestria! I, unfortunately, didn't get the chance back at the Pokemon Festival which is a shame."
"We'll look for that Alcremie and see where else it goes. There's gotta be a reason why it's got such a wonderful aroma." Ash, Goh, Rarity and Fluttershy would choose to go on ahead, leaving everything to Applejack.
"You're leaving so soon? I thought you would've stayed behind at Circhester a bit longer?" Melony pouted, rather disappointed that they were leaving.
"We'll be back! Just gotta check this out for ourselves! See ya soon! "Ash promised that he and his friends would return as soon as possible. Besides, she had Applejack to keep her company and the chance to try her apple pies.
"Alright! But when you get back, would you mind joining my son's fan club?!" Melony bellowed while they bolted off. "It would be truly wonderful!" She then turned her attention back to everyone else who caught a whiff of the scent. Ash and the others didn't fall for the enticing scent, still being able to function.
They certainly had some willpower behind them. But to get everyone's will back in action, Melony would have to use the Megaphone once more. And Applejack seemingly had the method to fix that.
Route 10.
Ash and the others weren't the only ones looking for an Alcremie. Someone else came searching for one but not a specific Alcremie at all. Arriving at the Galar Region was none other than the Ruler of Equestria herself. Princess Celestia.
And she found herself in a cold area as well. Route 10. A route in Northern Galar that connects a train station known as White Hill Station to Wyndon. She found herself on a long snowy mountain road in the northern Galar, searching for Alcremie. Why? For her own personal satisfaction and her love for cake. The Cake Competition 2 days ago solidified that and the existence of Alcremie changed her worldview completely. The main challenge was finding an Alcremie, which was not that easy to do.
"Hmm...There's no exclusive location to find a Wild Alcremie at all." Celestia had a map, holding it with her magic. Unfortunately, there was no specific location for Alcremie as coming across a wild one was not that easy. Like some Pokemon, Alcremie are rather confined in civilization. Meanwhile, Arcanine was currently keeping Celestia and Gardevoir warm thanks to his body heat, making sure that they wouldn't have to shiver.
They had been moving for quite a while, leaving behind footprints on this mountain while spotting White Hill Station up ahead. Fittingly, despite being a cold area, the Sun would beam in their general direction, focusing on the Princess of the Sun.
"Gardevoir?" Passion leaned in, trying to see if she could spot anywhere an Alcremie might show up.
"Hmm...It looks like the only way to find an Alcremie is to find its pre-evolution, Milcery. And then we can give it a sweet to make it evolve. Route 4, Bridge Field and Giant's Mirror are good locations. Going by train is the best option, without a doubt."
"Al! Alcremie!" Suddenly, the cry of an Alcremie boomed nearby this snowy mountainside. Celestia's ears were alert. The Pokemon she was searching for could be heard. That was a surprise and the timing couldn't have been any better.
"An Alcremeie?!"
"Cremie!" But for this Alcremie, her situation couldn't be any worse. Spotted by Celestia and her Pokemon who looked over the horizon of this mountain, this Alcremie was the same one without a sweet on her. She was still bouncing as hard as she could.
Even after the night had passed and she left the Wild Area, she was still being chased down by the Pokemon. The Pokemon from the Wild Area were pursuing the Cream Pokemon, having that same ecstatic expression that the people over at Circhester had. It was safe to say that they did not have the willpower to resist but definitely the strength to move since the one causing that scent was within their vicinity. Alcremie was hopping for life, having her ears bawl out creamy tears as she has been fleeing since night.
And as for these Pokemon, despite looking incredibly happy, they had bags underneath their eyes. Clearly, some of them needed to sleep but Alcremie's scent negated that possibility and made them all ravenous and persistent, much to the dismay of the Fairy-Type, who was just trying to escape and avoid being devoured.
When in the air, one of the Flying-Types finally managed to reach her. A Noctowl opened its beak, trying to bite Alcremie. It grazed Alcremie, causing the Cream Pokemon to lose her balance when in the air. Her momentum had been disrupted as other Flying-Types would zone in, using their beaks to try and catch a bite out of her. But her falling saved her surprisingly as they missed her completely. That didn't mean they wouldn't give up. Alcremie would soon roll down the mountainside, gathering snow around her body.
"Oh my!" Naturally, Celestia was taken aback by this. She found the Pokemon she wanted but not in the way she thought. At this moment, Alcremie's life was in peril and it certainly was not her fault as the swarm of Pokemon was now approaching Celestia and her Pokemon thanks to Alcremie heading this way. All of these Pokemon were enough to fill the entire town of Ponyville with how many there were.
Her visit to Galar was already off to a surprising start. Searching for an Alcremie was easier than she thought but what followed behind Alcremie was a different story. Just what was with this Alcremie and its potent scent? As the journey continues.
"Alcremie!" An Alcremie was currently being chased down by a swarm of Pokemon that reached the hundreds easily. Possibly even more with how Alcremie has been moving across Galar. Celestia and her Pokemon witnessed this swarm of Pokemon chasing down Alcremie, who was currently a snowball. Celestia had to think fast on her hooves now. As for Alcremie, she was rather dizzy with her face poking out of the snowball that she was unintentionally forming. This snowball would soon gain the delicious scent of this Cream Pokemon as it affected even the environment.
"Goodness!" Celestia would quickly move out of the way, avoiding the rolling snowball that was Alcremie. However, avoiding the swarm of Pokemon was another story. Quickly, Celestia used her magic to hold Alcremie and the snowball, preventing her from going any further.
The snowball stopped, no longer growing in size. Alcremie's eyes spun, trying to process what just happened. Gently, Celestia would bring the snowball back as it would melt in the presence of Arcanine, who was using his body heat at the moment.
"Are you alright? I didn't think I'd meet one this quickly and like this..." Celestia asked as Alcremie was now free from the snow. And yet, she was still shivering. Alcremie tried recollecting herself as she would immediately see the faces of Celestia, Gardevoir and Arcanine. But that was soon shifted to the swarm of Pokemon that were still after her.
"C-Cremie!" She bellowed with horror in her eyes.
"Bol! Boltund!" A Boltund got ahead of every other Pokemon, looking extremely happy and hungry. The only way this hunger could be satisfied was by consuming the cream from Alcremie. The Flying-Types kept up with Boltund, approaching at a faster pace than most Pokemon.
Celestia pieced it together as quickly as she could, looking back at Alcremie and the Pokemon. She would pick up on the delicious scent Alcremie gave off, figuring out that it was the cause of these Pokemon being so rampant. The Pokemon got too close at this point, prompting Celestia to put up a shield. This golden shield formed instantaneously, blocking the Pokemon that came zooming in.
Boltund crashed into the shield, pressing its face against it before sliding down. All other Pokemon that were eager to get a bite out of Alcremie were stopped by the shield as well. However, even after being stopped by the shield, they were persistent.
Passion was the first to feel it thanks to her ability to sense emotions. She immediately sensed the powerful emotions coming from the Pokemon as they were all tied to hunger. Alcremie's scent was so potent that it drove them mad and they had to take a bite out of her. Celestia grimaced as the Pokemon were all acting crazy, pressing themselves against the barrier even if they could not break through it.
"That has to be at least 100 Pokemon or more! They're completely entranced by this scent!" Celestia exclaimed.
"A-Alcremie." A terrified Alcremie hid behind Celestia, having a moment of safety, even if her pursuers were close. However, this swarm of Pokemon that originally came from the Wild Area weren't the only ones chasing Alcremie down.
More Pokemon would approach. Specifically, the ones here at Route 10. Alcremie's delicious vanilla scent was strong enough to affect a town or city after all but within a wide radius. At least, this Alcremie had that speciality, which was a massive detriment.
"Darumaka!" A group of Galarian Darumaka would rush up the mountain, followed by some Klang that hovered across the air. Behind these Pokemon were a Rhydom, Glalie, Snover and Beartic. All of them wanted a bite as they came from different directions.
Alcremie grimaced as she was in great peril just because of her enticing aroma. But it didn't stop there. Tremors came through that originated from White Hill Station. Celestia gasped as some Pokemon broke through the Train Station, coming straight for Alcremie.
Celestia was flabbergasted by the number of Pokemon that were showing up. It wasn't just Pokemon from the Wild Area or even Route 10. Since she's been through different parts of the Galar Region, her aroma has racked up plenty of pursuers that would not stop until they got a bite. They were certainly more active than the people who were just daydreaming about Alcremie.
Speaking of the people, even after some Pokemon broke through the Train Station, the people there were daydreaming about Alcremie, ignoring the damage. Just as Melony said. The aroma was so strong that it rendered cities and towns inactive and it was certainly showing here.
Rosy cheeks, flustered faces, crooked smiles and closed eyes. Those were the common traits of those under Alcremie's delicious aroma. It was like some form of mind control but without any of the horrible traits. This was the most pleasing form of mind control ever even if it was giving the controller trouble that she didn't ask for.
"It's not safe here." Celestia shook her head as the best thing to do now was to flee the scene. This many Pokemon would certainly push through her shield eventually. But since they were coming from different directions, especially through train stations, the only way to exit was underneath. "Arcanine! Use Flamethrower on the ground!"
"Arca...Nine!" Arcanine would aim his head at the ground, unleashing a fierce flare of scarlet flames. The flames not only melted away some of the snow, but a hole was made. It was strong enough to create a deep hole that they could exit through.
Arcanine would then jump through the hole, followed by Passion. Celestia would be the last to enter as her shield would drop. But in exchange, she used her magic to patch up the hole that Arcanine made, reinforcing it. Her magic would replace the snow that had been melted away as the Pokemon broke through, trying to enter that same hole. However, the magic Celestia left behind would repel them, having an elastic nature to it. The moment a Corphish tried jumping in, the magic would rebound, launching the Water-Type into the air as if it was on a trampoline.
"Corphiiiish!" Corphish yelled while flying through the air. However, as proven by the shield from before, they could care less about what stood in their way. It was all about getting a bite out of Alcremie. With this many Pokemon and the aroma of Alcremie being potent enough to last for a long time, eventually, this magical patch would not last. But it would give Celestia and the others some time.
Circhester.
Back at Circhester, the aroma that Alcremie left behind here was also still present, leaving the People and Pokemon absolutely inactive for the most part with Melony being the only one snapping them out of it from time to time. However, even if she yelled with her megaphone, it was not enough to break the trance that they were all in. Something else was needed.
And Applejack seemingly had the solution. The earth pony figured that making something else that was delicious would do the trick. After all, this vanilla aroma put them all under a spell or mind control due to how they were acting. But in Applejack's case, she would be the controller, using her food to try and sway them to her side. Only then would she be able to cancel the aroma out and satisfy these stomachs. They haven't eaten at all because of Alcreime's aroma, leaving all of the food within Circhester untouched, especially within the restaurant.
Speaking of the Resturant, Applejack was currently working there, using what she could to make some apple pies. She had full faith in her apple pies, believing that they would be delicious enough. As for the aroma, Melony stated that someone with a strong willpower can resist it while also enjoying the scent. Applejack couldn't take any risks, so she had a mask on her face as protection. As for the ingredients, Galar was not short of apples at all. She had the Applin to thank for that.
With the apples present here at the restaurant, Applejack got to work, baking apple pies. With her skills, she already managed to make a plethora of them, placing them on the table while the actual cooks of this restaurant were daydreaming. They didn't even care that Applejack was suddenly working here.
There were enough apple pies here to feed a town. But not a city. Applejack wiped some sweat off her head as she exhausted herself making this many. Usually, she has her family to help her out when it comes to making plentiful apple pies, but she went solo for this one. If only Sceptile knew how to make them.
"Ah, that looks lovely!" Melony gazed at the three Apple Pies Applejack managed to make. She would use her Rotomphone to capture a picture of the food in its purest and cleanest form. "I'd love a bite out of it as soon as possible!"
"Thanks. But..." Despite making three already, it wasn't enough. She looked over at the cooks who did not acknowledge Applejacks' Apple Pies at all. They had Alcreme on their mind. "It ain't working right now unless we make 'em know about them."
"How can it not?" Melony bent over to get close to the Apple Pies, already wishing to have some. Applejack nodded her head, allowing Melony to have one Apple Pie. The Ice-Type specialist would not hesitate, immediately grabbing the pie with elated eyes.
It was time to spread these pies out to the people and Pokemon of Circhester. Applejack would first send out all 12 of her Golett to spread the pies faster along with her Delta Riolu. "I need ya'll to help me share these pies with everyone here. Get it all up on their faces, alright?" Each of them were assigned to hold the pies and share them with the citizens of Circhester.
"Riolu!"
"Golett!" They saluted Applejack, immediately getting to work. Riolu would leap onto the table, snagging an apple pie. The Golett, in an orderly fashion, would march, picking up the pies one by one. However, being out of their Poke Balls meant that they were susceptible to the aroma. Sceptile already felt the aroma minutes ago and was doing his best to stay strong, having some impressive willpower. He's always had good willpower ever since he was a Treecko.
"R-Rio...?" Delta Riolu felt it as he paused his moments immediately. The Embalming Pokemon had a flustered face, gaining those rosy cheeks as well. "Riolu..." Such a wonderful feeling. It made him want to stop everything he was doing and think about the vanilla. Riolu would then shake his head, having the will to press on, even if the aroma was enticing. He used his Aura as a means to resist, walking along with the Apple Pie. The Golett unfortunately fell weak to the aroma, sitting down.
"Not you guys too!" Applejack gasped as her little helpers have been enchanted by the vanilla aroma. The only ones resisting were Sceptile and Delta Riolu. Quickly, Applejack searched for more masks to give them but the one she had on her face was the only one.
"S-Sceptile." Luckily, she had Sceptile who could rectify this. The Forest Pokemon used his vines, grabbing all of the Golett and the Apple Pies. It was up to him now to carry them all outside.
Applejack would then hold up one of her pies up to the noses of a cook, hoping that he would respond. She had to feed the entire city and if they couldn't be attracted to her pies, then snapping them out of Alcremie's trance would be harder than it appears.
"Hm, that smells good." He did acknowledge it as his eyes opened for a moment. Applejack smiled, believing that her pies would have an effect. "But I wonder how Alcremie's cream would taste on it? It would be so much better in every way."
Dissappointment. Alcremie's cream was still the dominant factor here. Despite the fact that Applejack's apple pies were fully made and ready foods, the vanilla cream flavour, despite just being a flavour, was favoured. And the same went for the outside. Sceptile managed to spread the Apple Pies to everyone here and yet they would not bother.The pies might as well be invisible to them. Across Circhester, it was only Alcremie that mattered and nothing else.
They would either shove the pies away, ignore them or look to the side, much to the disappointment of Sceptile and Riolu. These two Pokemon have tasted Applejack's pies before and they wished everyone else could know just how wonderful they truly were. Alas, this one Alcremie had an iron grip over their noses and minds.
And the worst part of it all was that there were other locations that were going through the same thing. Circhester was just one area and it was already hard to conquer. Dealing with every area Alcremie has been at was a challenge that no one expected to deal with.
"Rats!" Applejack swung her hoof. "I gotta do better. Might have to make more apple pies and take a book out of Granny Smith and my family."
"Mmm. Granny Smith Apple Pie." Melony gushed, thinking about the other apple pie variants. "I think Milo knows how to make those. Hopefully he's not afflicted either. If you can make enough that can snap them out of it, then you'll need to work even harder for every area Alcremie's been at. After all, this has been going on for 5 days now."
"5 days?!" Applejack gasped. Alcremie has been wandering for five days and that did not install confidence. She would have to work hard enough to the point where it would take her five days. And five more when travelling across the Galar Region.
"Lucky for you, I know which places have been hit. But it will still take a while." Melony shrugged while continuing to devour the apple pie. "Mmm! Splendid!"
"I might tucker myself out before that. I can't make all those pies on my own for that many days." Applejack pondered. "I'm gonna need all hooves on deck for this one. The whole family! At least, most of them." Applejack was going all in. She would take her Xtransceiver out, immediately calling for Apple Bloom.
The entire family was needed. Applejack didn't think she would have to do this but with how things are, this was the best option. Her family was coming to Galar.
Wild Area.
"W-Where are the Pokemon?!" Ash bellowed. The Wild Area, a place once bustling with Pokemon at every area and corner, was empty. Completely devoid of these Strange and Wonderful Creatures. The Rolling Fields, the Giant's Cap, Axew's Eye, Lake of Outrage, North Miloch and everywhere else. All of them were devoid of their respective Pokemon.
"This place is always busy. What happened?!" Goh gasped.
"I can only see footprints here. They must've all left." Fluttershy gazed at the plethora of footprints that could be seen at the Wild Area. Many of them overlayed each other but Fluttershy could easily identify them because of how many Pokemon she lives with back at the Pokemon House.
Her eyes followed the footprints, seeing where they led to. From what she could see so far, they led to the path of Hammerlocke which was in the distance, but Fluttershy wasn't too sure at the moment. It was rather odd being here at the Wild Area now. Without any Pokemon, it was awkward.
There was an uncomfortable silence. The sound of wingbeats were gone with all airborne Pokemon elsewhere. Not a cry came out and not a howl or squeak, big or small. The only things that stuck out here were the Dynamax Power Spots and the light they emitted.
"Minccino!" But there was one Pokemon left here. A Pokemon that has yet to leave the Wild Area but also had that flustered and pleased look on its face, attracted to the Vanilla Scent. That Pokemon ended up being a Minccino. Audino would be the first to hear its little footsteps approaching.
"Ah! There's one! They're not all gone!" Rarity pointed out, alerting everyone else to the Minccino.
"Um, excuse me!" Fluttershy called for the Normal-Type, getting its attention. Minccino, who was swooning around for this delicious scent, would face the pegasus and her friends.
"Ccino?"
"Where are you going?" This was her chance to ask one of the Pokemon of the Wild Area what exactly happened.
"Ccino! Mincino!" Minccino would jump around, explaining the wonderful scent that it and many others have discovered. It made it short, wanting to head for Alcremie as soon as possible. The only way to do that was by following the footprints the other Pokemon left behind.
"Oh my. That's not good at all!" Fluttershy scrunched her face after hearing what Minccino said. The contrast between Minccino's happy tone to Fluttershy's dismayed tone was stark as it did not bode well for her friends.
"What? What's wrong?" Rarity asked.
"All the Pokemon here are following the scent from last night since it showed up here at the Wild Area. That's why they're all gone. And the worst part is that they really want to take a bite out of Alcremie." Fluttershy translated, revealing why all of them were gone. "Right now, all of the Wild Area Pokemon are out there somewhere."
"Since last night?!" Goh exclaimed. "T-That's way worse than we thought. Where are they?"
"Wherever Alcremie is," said Ash. "They've just gotta follow that scent and most Pokemon are pretty great at tracking down scents. I didn't think it'd get that bad. But if we can follow that Cinccino, then maybe we can find Alcremie. Hopefully she hasn't been bitten yet."
"Dino..." Just then, Audino's ears would react to another sound. She would focus as hard as she could as her eyes also followed the Minccino. She saw that the Minccino was heading for Hammerlocke. And the sound she heard came directly from Hammerlocke. From what Audino could hear, something was going on over at Hammerlocke. And most likely, it had something to do with the Alcremie Scent. "Audino."
Underneath Route 10.
At the moment, Alcremie was safe. Celestia brought her underground where no other Pokemon could be found. The Cream Pokemon at last had some time to breathe and relax, no longer having to worry about being chased by many Pokemon.
"You're safe for now." Celestia said to the Fairy-Type. "That was a frightening sight, wasn't it? Those Pokemon looked dedicated and relentless in reaching you."
"Cremie..." Now that she was at peace for now, she would look up at Celestia before bouncing towards her. "Alcremie!" The Cream Pokemon was grateful. Very grateful. No one else had managed to free her from this pursuit until now as she would hug the neck of the Sun Princess.
"Oooh! Alright!" Celestia felt a sensitive reaction when Alcremie hugged her neck. After all, she was still cold and Celestia certainly felt the chill. "You are freezing, aren't you?! Y-You're welcome by the way!"
"Arcanine." Arcanine would do the honours of heating Alcremie up. He continued to use his body heat, melting away the frosty ice that littered her body. Alcremie would close her eyes, allowing the body heat of Arcanine to rise up and envelop her.
"Al..." Alcremie sighed, feeling the cold energy leave her body. This was very much needed as she had been cold even when she showed up at the Wild Area and Route 10 didn't make it any better. Alcremie was practically melting at this heat. Thankfully, not literally, as she would slide down Celestia's neck, dropping to the ground. "Alcremie."
"Great work, Arcanine," Celestia uttered before nudging the Legendary Pokemon with her head. Arcanine would pant, nudging her back as Celestia got a faceful of his fur. "But I'm curious...How did this happen exactly?"
"Cremie?"
"From what I could tell and picked up in the air, the reason they're chasing you is because of the delicious vanilla scent you let off. And well, I've met Alcremie's exactly 2 days ago and neither let off such an aroma before." Celestia brought up the Alcremies that Opal had.
None of those Alcremies left behind a powerful aroma that left everyone starstruck. The best they did was help make many of the cakes back at Ponyville taste absolutely wonderful, especially Ash's cake. But this one Alcremie, who did not have a sweet on her head, surpassed them all to the point where she was being hunted down by those who wanted a bite out of the Cream Pokemon.
"A-Alcremie." Alcremie twiddled her fingers as judging by her reaction, there was indeed a reason for it. And Alcremie was aware of it.
"So something did happen. And you don't have a sweet on your head either." Celestia noticed the lack of a sweet on this Vanilla Alcremie. The Ruler of Equestria then turned to face Gardevoir as the two would nod at each other. Gardevoir already knew what she needed to do.
She would take a crack at her Psychic abilities, attempting to use that to understand what Alcremie went through and how she got to this point. She kneeled, facing her fellow Fairy-Type before placing her hands on Alcremie's face. "Aaaa...!" Alcremie squealed with a bright smile on her face, giggling after Gardevoir touched her.
With her Psychic power, Gardevoir shared a telepathic message with Celestia, allowing her to know everything. Information flooded her head as it was limited since it was only what Alcremie knew. Celestia closed her eyes after the messages came through before reopening them. It was a rather swift transference as Gardevoir's hands were now messy.
"Garde?!"
"Ah. So you come from a place known as the Isle of Armor." Celestia said to the Cream Pokemon. "Along the way, you passed a chilling area known as the Crown Tundra and eventually, you ended up here at the mainland of Galar. As for your taste, you said that it happened on the day you evolved from a Mlicery."
"Cremie! Cremie!" Alcremie nodded in confirmation before pointing at her head. She pointed directly at the place where a sweet would normally be.
"Right. Milcery does need a sweet to evolve into an Alcremie and you evolved without one. All you had to do was spin without it." Celestia uttered with curious eyes. "And this happened at the Isle of Armor first, right?
"Alcremie." Alcremie nodded in confirmation. But Celestia still wasn't sure how this Alcremie managed to bypass one part of its evolution method. One thing was for sure. This evolution was responsible for her scent, making her distinct from every other Alcremie out there.
"Hmm..." Celestia thought for a moment, taking it all in and what to do next. "I see. I see. And I imagine you want to rectify the damage you caused here. But that's difficult since everyone else is after you."
"Cremie." Indeed. Fixing this was a challenge for sure. Alcremie sat down, taking in what she's caused. The Cream Pokemon has already passed by different areas and rendered them inactive. The further she went, the harder it would be to stop this. It doesn't matter what she went. "Alcremie."
"Ah, don't sulk, little one." Celestia walked up to the Fairy-Type, here to comfort her. "This can be undone, I assure you. It is rather shocking how much of an impact something like this made but it can be salvaged."
"Cremie?" She looked up at her, unsure as to how Celestia could fix this. Gardevoir and Arcanine would also look at her with those confident eyes. If Celestia had something in mind and planned to fix something, then her Pokemon had high levels of confidence that she could get it done.
"They want a bite out of you and I imagine that's the only way they can be satisfied. So I believe that a way to stop this might be-" Before Celestia could continue, she was interrupted by the walls on the underground being blown apart.
"Rhydon!" The Rhydon from before had found its way underground. Even when enchanted by the cream, the Pokemon did not lose their natural advantages and skills.
"Diggersby!" Joining Rhydon underground were other Ground-Types such as Diggersby, Piloswine, A Galarian Stunfisk and more. Eventually, the Pokemon would catch and they certainly did. The ones above would follow the path Rhydon make, using it to reach their target faster.
Celestia, Gardevoir and Alcremie squealed after being surprised by the Pokemon. Seeing how they were all travelling through the underground, they were getting closer by the minute. It was time to keep moving as Gardevoir would pick up Alcremie.
Rhydon would pave the way, using its body to widen the hole, allowing other Pokemon to pass through easily. But immediately, Rhydon and the others were met with an outburst of fire that was made by Arcanine. "Arcanine!" The Legendary Pokemon used Flamethrower on the ground once more, this time creating a wall of fire that covered this part of the underground. The flames were fierce, startling those who nearly got close to it as Arcanine gave Celestia and the others enough time to flee as well.
So far, nowhere was seemingly safe for Alcremie. Everyone wanted to eat her but Celestia would not give up on her. And despite the fact that she loved cake with all of her heart and vanilla was even her favourite flavour, she had the willpower to toss that aside for the safety of this Pokemon.
It was a rather delicious mess. The people and Pokemon yearned for one thing. A bite from Alcremie. But there were so many of them that wanted the same thing that it'd be impossible for them all to be satisfied. And this singular Alcremie just had to have the most powerful and unique vanilla scent out there. Plans to put an end to this problem before it gets too out of hand were already being hatched and thought of. For Applejack, it was those apple pies and her family chiming in and for Celestia, her plan had yet to be revealed when on the run as the journey continues.
Hammerlocke was currently flooded with Pokemon. Not every Pokemon managed to find Alcremie or track her down. The best they could do was end up in areas that Alcremie has been to. Her delicious vanilla scent has lasted for such a long time that it was hard to tell where Alcremie was now. This left Hammerlocke in a predicament.
"W-What is this?!" Raihan and many others in Hammerlocke were caught in this mess now. It was seemingly unavoidable. With no sign of Alcremie, the Pokemon were growing restless, desiring to consume something. Unlike the people and the Pokemon who lived within cities, these Pokemon were active and showcased it by gnawing on what they could find to try and satisfy their hunger.
They mainly focused on furniture, digging their teeth into them as the people here did not care at all. They were too busy thinking about Alcremie's vanilla scent, meaning that Hammerlocke didn't have much protection at the moment. Except for Raihan, who was barely managing to resist the scent.
"Hey!" Raihan exclaimed as there was a Mudbray chewing on his shirt. It seemed that even clothing wasn't safe. As long as they were starving, everything was free to consume and with many of the people here so flustered by the scent, not many could stop them. "I need some help here!" Raihan would quickly take out of his phone, requesting help. Any of his fellow Galar Gym Leaders would do. But immediately, after turning on his phone, he went straight for Leon, having high hopes and faith in him.
"Hello, this is Leon. If you're getting this, then this is just voicemail. I'm busy at the moment, so leave a message after the Charizard Roar." Unfortunately, Leon was not available. Raihan lowered his eyes as this meant that Leon was most likely somewhere else and lost thanks to his horrible sense of direction. With Leon not available, Raihan would turn to the other Gym Leaders.
But before he could do that, up ahead, he spotted some familiar faces. Following a Minccino that was also searching for Alcremie was none other than Ash's group, which was comprised of Fluttershy, Rarity and Goh. However, Minccino would stop here at Hammerlocke. The clear direction of the scent was hard to follow now that Alcremie's vanilla aroma had covered many areas.
Minccino would simply stop to sniff the sweet air, desiring to chew on something to gain satisfaction. But no matter what it would chew on, it and all the other Pokemon here, wanted Alcremie's vanilla more than anything.
"Yikes! It's worse than we thought!" Goh exclaimed after witnessing all of the Pokemon here chewing, gnawing and biting down on whatever they could find to satisfy their hunger. "They're chewing on things now?!"
"It's getting worse!" Fluttershy observed. "Without Alcremie, they're reaching the point where they need to eat something!"
"Well, don't you have anything?!" Rarity questioned as a Skowvet crept up on her, biting her tail. To the Skowvet, Rarity's tail looked like a candy swirl, prime for consumption. "Ouch!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that. What they want more than anything is Alcremie's cream." Fluttershy sadly shook her head. "Mainly that one Alcremie, but we don't know where it is."
"W-Well...!" Rarity grimaced before using her magic to remove the Skwovet from her tail. "We're counting on Applejack for this! Those apple pies of hers will work out and solve this issue."
"But it's across so many locations and who knows how far Alcremie's gone?" Goh questioned, bringing up the realistic possibility of Alcremie's scent affecting too many towns and cities to feed. By this point, without Alcremie, the Pokemon were sure to eat whatever they can to try and satisfy themselves, but nothing will satisfy them so as long as Alcremie's cream was out of their reach.
And to illustrate the severity of this, news of the situation had been developed as a large screen on one of the buildings, acting as a public TV but more of a news board than anything. On it, a woman would share an update on the Alcremie Situation for many to hear. But not everyone would hear since they were too busy enchanted by the cream.
"It's been 5 days since the powerful vanilla scent has spread across different areas in Galar. Pokemon that are craving the taste of this Vanilla have been showing up, causing a ruckus and eating whatever they can. Scientists say that with the towns and cities being inactive, society might crumble. It could be that this is worse than the Darkest Day. Jokingly, Professor Magnolia and Professor Sonia are thinking of titling this as the Tastiest Day."
"She might be right when you think about it. They might end up destroying each other faster than what Eternatus nearly did." Rarity added. The Darkest Day was something that nearly destroyed Galar but was once stopped. But this could go beyond that, mainly because this seemed like something no one could prevent due to how far the scent has spread and how many were enchanted.
Route 9.
But for some of the Pokemon who managed to find Alcremie, it wasn't out of their reach. At the moment, Celestia was with Alcremie, protecting her from all the Pokemon that tried to devour the Cream Pokemon. As such, Celestia was being pursued by hungry Pokemon with flustered and happy faces. She's used to looking at serious faces when confronting someone, making this rather odd for her as there was still a sense of danger.
She ended up on Route 9, still running from the Pokemon which continued to pop up because of Alcremie. A Corvisquire came swooping down from above, attempting to swipe Alcremie away from Gardevoir's arms.
"Garde!" But with impressive athletism and agility, Gardevoir would leap over the Normal-Flying-Type, using Psychic to levitate while holding onto Alcremie. However, the swarm of Pokemon could cover many areas due to how many picked up on the vanilla scent. Gardevoir couldn't stay in the air forever with how many Flying-Types were rampant, so it was back to the ground but even that wasn't safe as she slid on the snow when descending. Alcremie closed her eyes, feeling the adrenaline rush when Gardevoir started sliding as if she was performing extreme sports.
Celestia gasped as a stampede of Bouffalants were now approaching, passing by everyone else. The Bouffalants all had hearts in their eyes, using that to increase their speed while also causing mild earthquakes. Thinking quickly, Celestia would repeatedly shoot magic on the ground, creating large ditches with each blast, attempting to slow them down.
"Bou!" The Bouffalant would collectively fall into these ditches. Their stampede would come to an end as the ditch was large enough to fill all of them. The tremors would also stop but that didn't end deal with the massive swarm of Pokemon that was still approaching.
"Speaking of swarms, many Bug-Types would buzz around, attempting to overwhelm Alcremie. That is what Bugs do best. Overwhelm their enemies with greater numbers and annoyance. And with how many of them gathered, they managed to reach Celestia's group.
Combees were the most dominant Bugs here, being attracted to the vanilla instead of honey like they usually are. This Alcremie's scent was just that good. To combat this, Arcanine unleashed a flare of flames from his body, pushing the bugs away. The flames would erupt in the form of a flame tower, melting some of the snow away while also managing to force some of the Pokemon to stay back from the heat.
Celestia and her Pokemon were doing well in protecting Alcremie, but they knew they couldn't keep it up forever. Celestia needed to find a way to gauge some distance from all of these Pokemon. At least for a while since they would not let her breathe, consistently pursuing Alcremie.
"You're all so infatuated with Alcremie's scent then why don't you turn your attention to that for now?!" Celestia used a rather powerful spell that is rarely used but can be highly effective. The Want-it-Need-it Spell. She focused the spell on a nearby rock, shooting it with her magic.
That rock was now the most desired item, at least for now. Even when the swarm of Pokemon would turn their attention to the rock, Celestia knew that wouldn't last either. But it would give her some time. The Pokemon gathered around the rock, still affected by Alcremie's scent.
Now that they were Double-Enchanted, they had the urge to eat this rock since it was the new desired object. And thus, the Pokemon would fight over it as that was the biggest drawback to the spell as proven by Twilight Sparkle's actions in the past. Celestia looked back as the Pokemon would start fighting over this one rock, each of them desiring to eat it. Their fighting would make the snow fly everywhere, forming a smoke cloud from their scuffle.
At least, some more time to breathe now that they were all distracted. They had to stop moving for a while to avoid Alcremie's scent going any further. They've already affected Route 9 when fleeing from the Pokemon and Celestia would prefer to put an end to it as soon as possible.
"Okay..." Celestia breathed in and out before sitting next to a tree. "That should keep them occupied. The spell will only run out if the object of interest is destroyed. I wish I chose something more durable than a rock, honestly. Are you all okay?"
"Gardevoir." They were all doing fine. None have been harmed after this pursuit, especially Alcremie.
"Cremie..." Speaking of Alcremie, the Cream Pokemon was rather overwhelmed right now. Being chased down by so many Pokemon just because of something she couldn't control was outrageous. Her life was in peril and even more so than that, Galar was essentially on the verge of a crisis with how many cities and towns she has rendered unresponsive.
Knowing this, Alcremie started tearing up. Vanilla-flavoured tears would run down her face as she desperately wished for this to end so that she could go on with her day. But she knew no matter where she went, she would bring trouble. It's how she ended up in mainland Galar when she originally came from a place known as the Isle of Armor.
"Hey, don't cry." Celestia put her hoof on Alcremie's face, catching the vanilla tears. "I promised you I'd figure this out. And I have found a way."
"A-Alcremie?"
"That's right. It's the only way I can think of, honestly. This won't end until they are all satisfied. They all need to have a taste of your vanilla but that would put you in peril." Celestia was all for everyone having a taste of this special vanilla without putting Alcremie in danger. That seemed difficult, but she recalled something that could change that. "We have to Dynamax you."
Dynamax.
Celestia remembered the Cake Competition from two days ago. Specifically Opal's Alcremie. Her Alcremie unleashed a G-Max move known as G-Max Finale that sent massive vanilla from above to try and attack Pikachu, only for Pikachu to eat through it and Gigantamax with the energy. Or as Leon titled it, 'Feastamax'."
"That's right. All we need to do is Dynamax you. Unfortunately, I don't have a Dynamax band." Celestia looked at her hoof which lacked a Dynamax Band. "But I will have you Dynamax and this can all be over, okay?"
"Cremie! Alcremie!" Alcremie put on a wide smile before rapidly nodding her head in full agreement with this. This might be the opportunity she was looking for.
"There's one place we can pull it off. We'll have all the Pokemon come to the Wild Area. Then, we'll use your increased size to spread vanilla everywhere." Celestia laid out the plan. "Here's what we'll do."
Circhester.
Back at Circhester, Applejack had already tried her hoof at putting an end to this Vanilla-crazed event. She made some apple pies but knew they wouldn't be enough. Mainly the numbers weren't enough as she could not feed everyone, especially with how many places Alcremie has been to. Which is why she requested assistance from her family.
"Alright. Thanks to BigTime Ben, we got them here as soon as possible. Glad I could count on him." Because of BigTime Ben, the foods her family makes had managed to reach the area. By train, of course.
Apple Crumble, Cobbler, Apple Fritters, Apple Dumplings, Apple Crisps, Apple Butter, Candy Apple, Caramel Apple, Cider Doughnut, Apple Pudding, Brown Betty and much more. With her large family, she had a ton of options to choose from as they all came in boxes that had BigTime Ben's company logo on them. It was already getting late in the afternoon as these apples did arrive after hours. But the point was that they were here either way.
With all of these apple delicacies, this was enough to at least go past Circhester. At least for today. This was all her family could bring over when it came to feeding one city. For everywhere else, they would all have to work hard and make more of their specialities.
"Eat! Eat!" A loud voice bellowed, startling Applejack. It was none other than Melony, who was force-feeding some of the apple pies to the people to snap them out of it.
"But I want vanilla! Alcremie's vanilla!" A woman cried out, preferring the vanilla as she tried moving her mouth away from the pie. Sceptile was even getting involved, trying to have them all eat the other apple foods by using Frenzy Plant to do so. Large roots would carry the foods, holding them out to the people and Pokemon here.
"Too bad! It'll be worth it!" Melony said with a smile on her face while trying to force it down her. She wasn't just strict when it came to coaching but also when trying to snap everyone out of it. Eventually, she managed to shove the pie in, allowing the woman to get a taste of Applejack's speciality.
Sceptile's roots even managed to do the same by using brute force to make everyone else eat the delicacies, whether they liked them or not. They had to like them. For the sake of Galar continuing as a land otherwise, it might as well be a Ghost Region, devoid of activity.
"Mm-" The woman's eyes then opened once she got a proper taste of this. She paused for a moment, getting a good feel of the apple pie before expressing how she felt about it. "Mmm...Mmmm! This is good!"
"Isn't it? It was worth eating it now, wasn't it?" Melony said as this woman managed to experience how great the apple pies were. Applejack had a smile grace her face after hearing that. Thanks to Melony's rather aggressive and forceful action, there was a chance to fix all of this.
"But it'd go better with vanilla." Only for it to come crumbling down. Despite how good it tasted, Alcremie's vanilla was the preferred delicacy. Applejack was gutted by this, lowering her head. The people and Pokemon could definitely enjoy the taste of the Apple Pie but the Alcremie Scent was still superior. All of them agreed that vanilla would work better with it. This all seemed rather pointless in the eyes of Applejack.
To catch up with her friends, she would use her Xtransceiver, calling for Ash to see how he and everyone else were doing at the moment while the earth pony was disappointed. "Please tell me ya'll are having better luck than I am."
"Well, not really. We ran into Raihan here at Hammerlocke." Ash spoke as he was currently with Raihan. "And that's about it. All the Pokemon here are starting to chew on what they can find since they don't have Alcremie's vanilla. I don't think we're getting anywhere with this. What about you?"
"I've got my family to help me. BigTime Ben helped ship all of their foods over to Circhester as soon as possible. The moment I called Apple Bloom to tell Granny Smith to tell everyone else, they got to work. But all that hard work in making what they know best might not be enough. My apple pies and everything my family made weren't enough to satisfy them. They still look all rosy." Applejack looked over at the people of Circhester who only took mild bites from the Apple Delicacies thanks to Melony and were not satisfied with them at all.
"That's a shame. Your pies are really good." Fluttershy said. "What do we do now? If this keeps up, Galar might not function properly anymore. And we don't even know where the Alcremie is."
"Hmm...Well...The only thing we can do is have Alcremie put her vanilla on some food." Ash thought of something. "I mean, we've gotta find her first that is."
"I guess vanilla on the rest of it would fix things, right?" Applejack held her hat. "No other Alcremie's gonna do the trick. Just that one. Where'd it even go?"
Suddenly, before anyone could think of something else, the skies above would begin to darken. A familiar energy was building up as it was mainly seen at Hammerlocke. For Circhester, it was hard to see from this distance, however, it was easy to know what this was.
It was none other than a Dynamax Cloud. The skies turned into their usual mix of red and dark purple, shifting the clouds and hiding the Sun for a while as well as giving everything a dark pink aesthetic.
"Oh? Someone has the opportunity to Dynamax at a time like this?" Melony would notice the Dynamax cloud. It was rather surprising since she figured not many would have the strength to Dynamax, especially with how things were.
"Hm? Where are they going?!" From Ash's side, he and his friends noticed that the Pokemon that were tearing through Hammerlocke were suddenly leaving. They stopped what they were doing the moment the clouds appeared as something else grabbed their attention. But it was the same scent that they were focused on and Fluttershy could definitely tell that it had gotten stronger.
A few seconds ago. The Wild Area.
This happened seconds before the Dynamax cloud emerged. The ones at the Wild Area were none other than Celestia, Gardevoir, Arcanine and Alcremie. Currently, they were the only ones here as they all stood in front of a Dynamax Power Spot.
"Alright. This is the only way I can help Dynamax you," said Celestia. Without a Dynamax Band, this was the second-best option. Either that or Eternatus forces her to Dynamax. "Alcremie. You will have to take the Dynamax energy from this Power Spot and grow. But since you're a Wild Pokemon, you'll become hostile. Are you ready for it?"
"A-Alcremie!" She did not hesitate. Anything to put an end to this so she can live her life peacefully. If it meant satisfying everyone's stomachs then she would gladly become hostile when Dynamaxing. She trusted Celestia after all. This whole thing was built on trust.
If Celestia never found her, most likely, she would've been eaten by now. But because of the Sun Princess's perfect timing and her will to defend the Cream Pokemon, Alcremie could proudly take this risk. She would approach the Power Spot, bouncing onto it as the Dynamax energy within would immediately envelop her.
Just making contact with the Power Spot gave off an instant reaction. There wasn't even any time to let it simmer and build up. Alcremie was enveloped in a flare of Dynamax Energy which would burst out of the power spot. Celestia and everyone moved back as the clouds were shifting in response to this transformation. This was the cause for the Dynamax clouds in the sky.
She looked at Alcremie, ready to enact her plan once she was fully grown. The only way to pull it off was to have Alcremie's cream be as big as it needs to be. However, Alcremie wasn't simply Dynamaxing. She was going beyond that. When growing, her body structure was being to morph as well.
She wasn't just Dynamaxing. She was Gigantamaxing. Celestia gasped as she was standing before a Gigantamax Alcremie. She simply thought it would be a regular one. With three outbursts of energy, she would reach her Gigantamax state. However, the sweets were no longer on her tiers since this Alcremie did not have a sweet at all, making her rather bare. Either way, Gigantamax Alcremie was here.
"ALCREMIE!"
"You're a Gigantamax Pokemon?!" Celestia pulled back. "W-Well, I suppose that works in our favour! You're bigger than ever in this state! And with this size, your scent is sure to reach a wider radius."
That was also part of the plan. With this size, Alcremie's sweet vanilla scent would go even further than what it originally was meant to be. That was a huge risk but one she was willing to let happen. All that mattered was that everyone managed to eat from something that wasn't her.
With this size, it wasn't long until those at Hammerlocke noticed the Gigantamaxed Alcremie in the Wild Area, especially Ash's group. Alcremie's towering height made her visible, especially since she was out in the open instead of one of the dens. Now all they had to do was find the right food for this. Before that, Alcremie's hostility was beginning to build up. Without a Dynamax Band, she was hostile in this state.
The spirit of Eternatus resides within the Dynamax Energy after all, attempting to break out and cause as much destruction as it can. Alcremie growled as red lightning would crash from the skies. And following this were droves of Pokemon, heading in this direction. Some of them even originally came from the Wild Area.
However, despite the spirit of Eternatus trying to break free, Alcremie was fixated on what truly mattered. She would rather satisfy others than cause destruction. G-Max Finale was the only way to spread the vanilla cream. Alcremie simply had to tap into that power and unleash it. The red lightning would even shoot from her body as she turned to face Celestia and her Pokemon. They were the only ones here, meaning they were targets for Alcremie, even if a part of her did not wish to harm them since they protected her. But the part that was Eternatus definitely wanted to harm them.
"Princess Celestia?!" Calling out her name was none other than Fluttershy and everyone else who followed the Pokemon here to the Wild Area. They stood atop a mountain, looking down at the Sun Princess. "What are you doing here?!"
"Is that the Alcremie that's causing this?!" Rarity gasped after seeing the Gigantamax Alcremie.
"It is. But we're working together to put an end to this. This is the only way I can think of stopping this. They have to get a taste of Alcremie's vanilla but without harming her and this is the one way that makes sense, even if I saw it just once."
"Oh yeah!" Ash realized that he and Celestia had the same idea in mind. Granted, they had a different approach. Celestia was going for just vanilla while Ash was thinking about putting vanilla on the food.
However, that needed to be done as soon as possible as the Pokemon were approaching rapidly. Alcremie had yet to unleash G-Max Finale, still fighting against Eternatus. With this size, Alcremie certainly wouldn't be eaten in one bite but she was still in danger.
"Alcremie! It's alright!" Celestia spoke to the Cream Pokemon.
"C-CREMIE?!"
"We'll be fine! Just let it all out!" Celestia encouraged Alcremie to attack, shocking the Cream Pokemon. But Celestia was confident that she and her Pokemon would be fine. After all, they've taken far worse. "Go for it. It's the only way to make you happy and end this. Whatever happens next, as long as you're safe, that's all that matters."
"AL..." Those words from Celestia hit Alcremie deep in the heart. This connection she felt with Celestia was powerful enough to give her an edge over Eternatus. The destructive power Eternatus emanated was being held back by this connection. Because on this tasty day, a new friendship was born. One that was born out of protection and love. That's really all she wanted now was to feel safe and no one granted that better than Celestia herself.
"ALCREMIE!" Alcremie was herself in this instance. Her eyes flashed as she used all of her strength to pull off the one move that mattered most of all. With all her might, she used G-Max Finale. Gigantamax Alcremie shot a ray of Fairy Magic into the air, causing it to hit the clouds.
"Now's our chance!" Celestia took advantage of this, adding the final part of her plan into the mix. With her own magic, she shot a golden beam into the sky as it joined with Alcremie's Fairy Magic. Both light energies touched the eye of the storm up in the clouds as two effects occurred.
The first was the traditional one. G-Max Finale caused giant cream projectiles to fall down from the sky. But with Celestia's magic, that was altered. The number of cream projectiles had been greatly doubled and more importantly, more widespread.
Over a hundred cream projectiles were raining from the darkened sky, being so abundant to the point where they went above and beyond the Wild Area. Celestia wanted to make sure everyone who had sensed Alcremie's scent got a taste. Thus, she cast a spell that multiplied the number of Cream Projectiles.
Ash and everyone marvelled at this as all of the Pokemon stopped to look up. It was a cream paradise right now as the projectiles would hit the ground. However, thanks to Celestia's magic, the projectiles were softer than before. There was no earth-shaking collision or anything of the sort. Instead, it was incredibly soft.
Hammerlocke was met with these cream projectiles, however, the brilliant ruler of Equestria made sure that they landed in front of the city's entrance instead of on the city. She didn't want to harm anyone. Other locations would receive giant cream projectiles that landed right in front of them, making squishy noises upon contact.
As for the Wild Area, it was flooded with vanilla cream. Ash and his friends ended up getting some on them but thankfully, without any harm. Celestia made the right call to make the cream soft, showing why her magic is truly stupendous.
"Mmm! I can see why everyone was going crazy for this!" Ash licked his finger as he got a taste of the vanilla cream. And indeed, it was amazing. So amazing that he felt like blasting off. Pikachu and the others tasted themselves to have an equally excited reaction.
"Oh, I would definitely hunt her down as well!" Rarity gushed, prancing at the spot in response to this vanilla cream. "Ash! You must put this on your cake! Both of them would work so well with each other!"
"It feels so divine..." Fluttershy sighed with happiness. And all the Pokemon felt the same way too. The Pokemon of the Wild Area had received the cream once it dropped on them. It also acted as a way to slow down the Pokemon the same way Opal's Alcremie restrained Pikachu, even if it was for a moment. And like Pikachu, they would start eating through the vanilla.
Many of the Pokemon devoured the vanilla, finally getting the opportunity to consume that flavour they craved for. They got exactly what they wanted, revelling in the taste as their rosy faces became rosier than ever. All they really wanted was a taste of it. Granted, they did it in the worst way possible, nearly eating Alcremie in the process.
"C-CREMIE..." Alcremie spent her energy on that one attack, feeling drained. Thus, she shrunk down, returning to her original form. "Alcremie..."
"Alcremie! Are you alright?!" Celestia ran over to the Cream Pokemon who expended her energy relatively quickly.
"A-Alcremie?" The Fairy-Type looked up at the Sun Princess, the Embrace Pokemon and the Legendary Pokemon who came to her aid.
"Well done." Celestia congratulated the Cream Pokemon. "You did well to resist Eternatus there. You can rest easy knowing everyone's getting a full stomach. This is enough cream to last for a long time."
"Alcremie." Alcremie was glad to hear that. But she really had to thank Celestia. If it were not for her, she would've never pulled this off or even thought about it. For that, she was grateful as she would then hug Celestia's face.
"You're welcome. Now, let me handle the rest. I just have to figure out how to get rid of this scent. It's not going to go away on its own." Celestia still had work to do. Yes, the amount of cream that had been spread was great but the scent was still there and will entice anyone who senses it. Getting rid of it was a top priority.
"C-Cremie. Alcremie." Alcremie spoke out once more, grabbing Celestia's attention. The Cream Pokemon would point at her head, specifically where the sweet was meant to be.
"Garde. Gardevoir." Gardevoir would be the translator for this, passing on what Alcremie said to Celestia so that she could understand.
"Oh! It's the lack of a sweet! You need a sweet on your head to stop this?!" Celestia uttered.
"Cremie." Alcremie nodded. More than anything, she needed a sweet. She was the only Alcremie that didn't have one at all, making her stand out. And that lack of a sweet was also what caused her to evolve without needing one, making her truly special. After putting all of that together, this was not a normal Alcremie in any way shape or form.
"Do all Alcremies do the same thing if they don't have sweets on their heads?"
"C-Cremie." Alcremie deconfirmed it. All Alcremies would not let off powerful scents without their sweets. It seemed to be just this one.
"Alright. I think I have something that you can put on." Celestia opened her saddlebag, taking out a small paper bag. "This is a sweet bag that Cynthia gave to me one time. It has plenty of delicious sweets inside. And I think this one is my favourite."
Out of the bag, Celestia revealed a Sun-shaped Sweet that was given to her by Cynthia. It was obviously her favourite since it reminded her of her own Cutie Mark. After taking the Sun-shaped sweet out, she would drop it on Alcremie's head. Finally, the Cream Pokemon had the complete package.
But even after finally having a sweet, she still stood out. Because now, she was a unique sweet on her head. A Sun Sweet. And after receiving it, the Fairy-Type greatly enjoyed it, having the brightest smile on her face. Alcremie truly felt complete.
"Alcremie!"
Circhester.
Back at Circhester, all the apple delicacies that Applejack's family brought over were covered in vanilla. Just what the people wanted. Ash and everyone returned to Circhester to see the people and Pokemon eating vanilla-flavoured apple foods. Even the foods that already had flavours on them.
But the way this vanilla tasted worked well with the apple delicacies, even if some of them clashed. Satisfied stomachs were made today and Melony certainly seemed satisfied when having Apple Fritters with the vanilla.
"Oooh! Marvellous! I should've gone after that Alcremie earlier!"
"Well, that settles that. Thank goodness." Rarity sighed with relief. "Any longer and that could've turned out for the worst. Galar was almost destroyed by that which is outlandish."
"The lack of a sweet is what caused this delicious scent to appear and linger for so long," Celestia explained. "But it was also how Alcremie evolved, even if she needed a sweet to do so. She's obviously a special one, aren't you?"
"Alcremie!"
"Mm. Bummed out my food wasn't enough but...this does taste good." Applejack said while having an Apple Pie with Vanilla Cream on it.
"Well, perhaps we should be heading back now. A day will soon pass." Celestia suggested. "Perhaps I can find another Alcremie."
"Eh. You don't wanna go with this Alcremie?" Ash said.
"I believe she wants to be at peace right now after all of that. She fled from a place known as the Isle of Armor after all the second she evolved. Now that her scent will vanish, she can live peacefully at her home without having to worry about being chased down." Celestia surprisingly preferred to let Alcremie go. She put the Pokemon first before anything else, throwing aside her own personal interests. "I'm sure I can find another Alcremie that I can partner with."
"Alcremie!" However, by hugging Celestia's leg, Alcremie rapidly shook her head, sending cream projectiles flying. "Cremie..." The Cream Pokemon then looked up at Celestia, giving puppy-dog eyes. Those were the eyes of someone who rejected her words vehemently. Instead, Alcremie felt the opposite. She felt it back at the Wild Area when Celestia encouraged her and even back at Route 10 and 9.
"Hm? You want to come along?" Celestia translated just by looking at her eyes. With a double head nod, Alcremie confirmed it. She would much rather prefer to be with Celestia. It was all about safety. Heading back into the wild was not her style. As a Milcery sure but as an Alcremie, that was a different story. Plus, the time she spent with Celestia, despite being small, was wonderful due to how safe she made her feel.
"Alcremie?"
"Alright then. You'll be safe at Equestria." Celestia smiled before holding out a Poke Ball with her magic. "No matter what happens and what threats we face, I will keep you safe, Alcremie. And we can make all the cake in the world together~"
"Cremie!" With a fist bump on the Poke Ball, Alcremie would shrink, entering the object as it would drop to the ground.
1...2...3....Gotcha! Alcremie was caught! And with that, Celestia had a new friend with her. A delicious one who shared her enthusiasm with cake. Alcremie. No doubt, new adventures would come from this. Whether they are as bizarre and chaotic as this, only time will tell. And with Melony, who watched this all unfold while eating, she was waiting for her time to battle Ash when that moment comes as the journey continues.
It's been one day since the Alcremie incident at Galar. It has been a rather tasty few days ever since the Gym Leader Opal showed up. And now, it was all shifting into what could be a beautiful night soon. The Grand Galloping Gala was this year. It has been a while since it's come up thanks to what recent events have done to Equestria. But under Celestia's order, it would return and it would be tonight.
"Alcremie!" Alcremie was a rather lucky Pokemon. She now lived with a princess. Not just any princess, but Princess Celestia herself. The Ruler of Equestria. For that, Alcremie felt proud and on top of the world right now, similar to how Gardevoir felt when she was a Kirlia. And the benefits that can come from this were on another level that Milcery never expected, making her feel like the most important Pokemon in the world.
"Gardevoir." Gardevoir knew how that felt, appearing next to her fellow Fairy-Type, telling her not to get too carried away with this.
"Slept well?" Celestia approached the Cream Pokemon. "You're getting used to this quickly, but I suppose Alcremie's are always indoors more than anything."
"Cremie! Cremie!"
"Great. Save up some of that energy for tonight. It has been a while since we've had one and this will be your first one. And for this one, I'm hoping to invite Cobalion over. But he might be busy, especially during the night." Celestia added. "And for tonight's Gala, I believe we should have cake for everyone for the list of foods that'll be there. This is where you come in, Alcremie."
"Alcremie!" Alcremie held her arm up before shooting out vanilla cream from her hand. She was prepared to make a cake already. After all, her evolution was rather recent and she was a wild Pokemon just yesterday. She was fresh to the cake-making scene. Her addition to the Grand Galloping Gala would be splendid and despite it being tonight, it was already set up.
The usual decorations for the Grand Galloping Gala were up and ready for tonight. All that was left to do was send out the invitations. And of course, Celestia would do what she could to spice up tonight's Gala since she lived for some excitement in her life. And thanks to Pokemon, she's been getting that excitement and couldn't wait to see what could unfurl from this.
Ponyville. Twilight's Castle.
Invitation tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala had been spread rapidly, faster than usual. Many across Ponyville and by extension Kanto, were invited. With the gateway to Kanto being the only one here available, the invitation could only go so far. And even then, it was most likely that only Pallet Town residents would show up.
"Oh, I get to go?!" Holding a ticket in her hooves was none other than Daisy. This would be her first Gala as well. The same went for Paradise who also received a ticket.
"Eh...I'll pass." However, Paradise refused immediately, throwing the ticket aside. "I'm more interested in Pokemon."
"You're not coming, sis? Won't it be fun?" Daisy pouted. Daisy was interested in the glamour and beauty of the Gala while Paradise was more interested in Pokemon. The two sisters were of differing interests as to be expected, even when being so new to the world. They were already well-developed as ponies to have such preferences.
"But we'd have to do dancing though." Paradise grimaced, preferring not to dance. Another difference between the two was how Paradise would rather stay away from anything dazzling and glamorous.
"You're not obliged to go, Paradise," Twilight spoke to her. "I'll take Daisy with me and you can go off and do your own thing. But I would like you to go with someone else for safety. Maybe Ash."
"Is Ash not going there as well?" Daisy asked.
"Sadly...No." Twilight sighed. In her mind, she was punching the air out of frustration and anger. "Not this year. But it'll be fun either way. You can go on and have fun with Ash and you can show him your new Pokemon I gave you."
"Right. Come on out," Paradise was given a Pokemon by Twilight, who had a Pokemon Lab. Appearing out of it was a Froakie as her first Pokemon.
"Froakie!"
"If anyone knows a thing or two about training a Froakie, it's Ash. You'll have lots of fun together." Twilight reassured. "As for Daisy and I, you can find us at Canterlot tonight if you need us. Let's get you something to wear, Daisy."
"Oh! Could I have one that's made out of daisies?!" Daisy asked for one based on her respective flower.
"Well, I'm sure Rarity could whip up one that has a Daisy pattern and-" But before Twilight could finish her sentence, Daisy did something that caught her off guard. Daisy would hold her hoof out, summoning a stream of Daisies. This was expected from a Flora Pony, but what came next was brand new.
The daisies would spin around in one spot, clashing against each other as they seemed to be forming something. Twilight squinted her eyes before witnessing a dress being formed by the daisies themselves. Her jaw dropped as Daisy was assembling her Dream Dress. It was exactly what Daisy wanted that Rarity would've taken some time to make but this was done in a few seconds. A dress that was made out of daises had been made.
"Great! I'll take this!" Daisy went up to her dress, holding it up. Despite being made out of daisies, it was well put together just like an actual dress made of fabric.
"Arceus above..." Twilight was stunned as she discovered something new that the Flora Ponies were capable of. They kept surprising her with what they were capable of. "You have the power to create dresses with flowers?! Or does it go beyond just flowers?"
"Uh, I don't know." Unfortunately, Daisy wasn't sure. She seemed to have pulled it off by pure instinct and desire alone.
"Gotta write that down." Twilight's magic would instantly bring over a notebook and a pen. In that notebook, she had notes about the Flora Ponies, researching them and everything they were capable of. "The power to create dresses and maybe something else. It might be out of pure will and desires. Maybe."
"Yeah, have fun figuring that out. I'm out of here." Paradise would be on her way, leaving to find Ash and indulge in the love of Pokemon with him. It would be quite the long day since the Gala would take place during the night. Mostly everyone was getting ready to head out. Suits and dresses of all kinds were being grabbed, even ones for Pokemon. At least, the ones that wished to wear them. Not everything could fit on a Pokemon.
Canterlot. Canterlot Gardens. Afternoon.
As for Ash himself, as to be expected, he would be exempt from this, focused on other things, even though he was at Canterlot at the moment where the Gala is always held. Such as his upcoming battle with Bea. But more things were on his mind. He had some friends he had to visit thanks to this unified world. The Human World was still the odd one out with Sci-Twi and both Sunset Shimmers living there. He thought about this while watching Pikachu play around with Froakie.
"I wonder how she's doing right now? It's been a while since I've visited that prison too." Ash said with curiosity before seeing Paradise run up to him.
"Hey, Ash! What are you thinking about? Aren't we going to practice some more?"
"Sorry. I'm just thinking about a few things right now. Might just head over to the Human World for a bit just to check up on a few friends. We'll practice some more down the road. I've also gotta get myself a Mega Stone. For Twilight's sake."
"Mega Stone? Oh, that thing. I thought you had one. Everyone else I know seems to have one. Except for Pinkie Pie."
"Yeah, I never got one on my own, even during my journey through Kalos. But I got something just as great. Better late than never, I guess."
"But it's never too late for you, is it? I heard from Twilight and everyone else that you could journey for a long time." Paradise added. "It's something about a bird, I think?"
"Ho-oh. And yeah, I get what they mean. It does feel like an endless journey but I'm not complaining. It's so much fun just exploring every length and breadth of the world. Especially stuff I missed. I was always in such a rush to get to my next Gym Battle and enter the Pokemon League that I never stopped to admire a lot of the things each region has to offer. I've got Alola to thank for that. Paradise, if you're ever planning to explore the world, don't be in such a hurry."
"Huh? But aren't battles the most important part of Pokemon? That's what I've always seen anyway." Paradise saw Pokemon Battles as the top priority in this world and she couldn't be blamed. Battles take up everything, beating out contests, showcases and other sports and activities.
"It's the most exhilarating part but everything else matters too." Ash grinned. "I know one thing's for sure, I'm not gonna stop exploring. I've got more regions to visit and explore with stuff I've never seen before."
"Oh." Paradise scratched her mane. "What if you've seen everything though? Then what? What are you gonna do after everywhere's been explored and seen?"
"I'll try it again." Ash gave a simple answer. "The world's always changing. All the places I grew up at and the folks that I know might stay the same or won't. That's the best part of it all. So I keep on going and see what else can pop up. That's how I roll."
Paradise thought about it. She was much like Ash when he was younger and starting his journey. But as time went on, Ash's way of exploring started to change. And with Paradise, revisiting places just to see what was new wasn't such a bad idea. After all, in such an expansive world as the Pokemon World, the next time anyone revisits a region, something bombastic can happen. The Flora Pony would take Ash's words to heart. He was the expert here. And even more than an expert, Ash was an important figure to Paradise. Whether as a trainer or something else, she needed someone like him to guide her in this brand-new world.
The night of the gala came by. Everyone was dressed in what they loved and what made them stand out. And tonight's Gala would go on with a breeze. With the involvement of Pokemon, the Gala would be livened up. Dancing was fun and all but it could be rather tedious if that was all that was done. Celestia was the one who felt that way the most.
And tonight's visitors extended past just ponies and Pokemon. Delia Ketchum obviously came to visit after receiving an invitation along with some of the residents of Pallet Town. And of course, with Daisy here, the excited Twilight Velvet gushed at her granddaughter's dress.
"So you just made that out in the open? Impressive." Delia said as she was told about Daisy's ability to make dresses with a stream of flowers. And presumably, Paradise could do the same thing with Paradise Flowers if she wanted to.
"Ah! My granddaughter is an expert Dress Maker as well!" Twilight Velvet squealed with happiness. "She's already doing great things!"
"Thanks, grandma," Daisy added. "But mom thinks I can make more than just dresses. Not sure what else I can do but I'm hoping it involves food, cause I'm hungry. And with that hunger came the food of the gala which was always abundant. But this year's gala had one consistent theme. An array of vanilla cakes were set up on the table, all thanks to Alcremie.
"Alcremie!" Speaking of Alcremie, she could be seen conversing with other Pokemon. Mainly the ones belonging to the Mane 6. Being that she was Celestia's Pokemon now, her friend pool would skyrocket. As such, Alcremie and the other Pokemon would head off, deciding to play around in the castle while this gala went off. It started with Pheromosa leading the way thanks to her amazing speed and everyone else following her. Usually, it was Pikachu who led the way, but with Ash not attending, that was not the case.
While the party went on, Ash was currently in Canterlot Castle, heading for the room that held the mirror. The mirror that would take him into the next room. He heard all the ruckus from the gala, knowing everyone was having the time of their life right now. And most of that ruckus most likely came from the Pokemon who knew how to cause chaos.
"Heading off to the next world now?" Appearing in this room was none other than Luna. She was involved in the Grand Galloping Gala, wearing a dress and everything that went with her ponytail hairstyle. "This late at night too?"
"Yeah. It's just to check up on everyone there," said Ash. "Sorry I couldn't stick around for this year's Gala. Not like i do much here anyway."
"Pikachu."
"You do enough for us anyway. You aren't tied down to Equestria even though you show up here so many times."
"Equestria's just so different from everywhere else. Just like Alola, I think I can call this place my third home with how much I love it here." A happy Ash smiled, facing away from the mirror. "I haven't seen everything Equestria has to offer which makes it all the more exciting. And then, I wanna go beyond Equestria and see what else is there. All the magic makes it so much fun."
"And that is why you have so much freedom, isn't it? You think so much like a child and yet that's what improves you, funnily enough. Lucky." Luna laughed. "It makes me rather jealous. I'm far older than you yet I don't even have the slither of freedom you do. You and Pikachu are the freest individuals I know."
"Ya never know. You could be as free as you wanna be, Luna." Ash winked. "It's a big world out there. And you've got a League to get ready for, don't you?"
"I do. When I become a champion, I'm not sure much will change. Champions don't do much as princesses, princes, kings or queens. So...I suppose nothing will change." Luna shrugged, realizing the end goal of being a champion. "I still wish to have that title with me."
"Well, if you've got enough free time, we can explore the world together," Ash said, catching Luna off guard.
"T-Together?!" Luna stammered before putting on a wide smile. She interpreted Ash's words differently than what he said. "I-I'd love to! Very much! Very much so! Together would be absolutely wonderful!"
"Awesome! Well, see ya tomorrow, Luna. Or maybe in my dreams. Come on, Pikachu!" Ash would then jump through the mirror with Pikachu.
"Pikachu!" And just like that, they were gone, entering a new world as if it was something casual. It was rather strange to Luna. Indeed, Ash was the freest person there could ever be. He moves around the world freely with no boundaries or limitations, making new friends along the way. It wasn't a matter of how far he could go but where else he could go. In this world, the possibilities are endless. And the worlds beyond that go even further.
"You should just say something to him already." Nightmare Moon, who was only present during the night, would emerge from the shadows, perfectly masking herself there. "And yet you hesitate."
"I'm sure it's fine," said Luna. "He might already know judging by that one conversation he had with Twilight Sparkle tonight. What about you?"
"I'm too busy to focus on trivial things like that." Nightmare Moon scoffed, holding her head high as she put herself above Luna yet again.
"Busy doing what? You only show up late at night?" Luna called Nightmare Moon out who was only available during the night and hasn't been sealed away for a long time. The alter-ego of Luna scrunched her face, followed by Luna laughing afterwards. "Anyway, come along with me. We can give everypony a scare if they see Nightmare Moon out in the open."
Thus, the Gala would continue while Ash went off to do his own thing at the Human World, free as he can be. The night was still young for them all. The Pokemon had already caused a mess within the castle halls, playing with old toys that Celestia and Luna had as children. Cream from Alcremie was shot everywhere. Pheromosa couldn't help but put on jewellery to make herself look fabulous. And her other half Froslass did so as well. Meanwhile, it was up to Gardevoir once again to keep them all steady but she was far too late for that.
And with everyone else, they were just as chaotic. Daisy and Pinkie Pie had collectively devoured most of the food here with their appetites, followed by Mew doing the same. The hall was a bit of a mess, no longer appearing as the clean and dandy place as it was with all of its posh nature. And that was probably for the better. Spices things up, much like how Discord spiced things up in the past.
And as the silver moon of the world shined down on this land, the gala itself was another way to escape the threat that was looming over them all. The Dread League. They weren't forgotten at all. But these enjoyable moments settled down their fears. Vampires? Curse Magic? All of it might as well be an afterthought with the happiness that was brought here. And they had their Strange and Wonderful friends known as Pokemon and those who teach them to thank for this as the journey continues.
Equestria. The Human World. The Big City. Juvenile Detention Center. Day.
The Big City. Much like the rest of the Human World, it appeared unaffected by the unification of the two worlds despite being a parallel world. And yet, the Pkemon still existed here. Granted, not many could be found at the Big City as not everyone here has gotten used to Pokemon just yet. They didn't exactly have the same advantage as Equestria when it was introduced to the Wonderful World of Pokemon.
Even still, some Pokemon would still appear here but in small numbers. Pidove would sit on top of the tall buildings while some Lillipus and Purrloins were running around without any trainers, mainly appearing in the back alleys were a Trubbis could be occasionally seen. They were akin to stray cats and dogs in this world but carried mystical powers with them that the people of this world still did not understand.
Ash had arrived at a place he hasn't visited in a while. It took him an entire night to show up here until the sun finally rose up. He stood before the Juvenile Detention Center which was just a jail for younger people. Ash and Pikachu were mainly here to meet an old friend who was a counterpart to someone else in this world, originally from Equestria. Sunset Shimmer. This world's original Sunset Shimmer, who wasn't as into magic as her Equestrian counterpart.
"Pyroar! Pyroar!" And rushing out to meet with Ash and Pikachu was none other than a Pyroar. Specifically, a Female Pyroar.
"Pyroar?" Ash spoke the name of the Royal Pokemon before being tackled. Pyroar performed a mighty pounce, prompting Pikachu to jump off Ash's shoulder before the initial impact. Of course, this was only because Pyroar was friendly, belonging to this world's Sunset Shimmer.
"Hey, Pyroar! Good to see you! How have ya been?" Ash laughed after being licked in the face multiple times by Pyroar. Naturally, this was seen by the workers here at the Detention Center. They outright witnessed Pyroar pounce on someone and that person was doing just fine, being completely casual. Anyone else would freak out at the sight of a lion approaching them, let alone one that generates fire.
Ash would then get up, petting Pyroar as a way to return the favour for that pounce. Needless to say, she was happy to see him again after so long. These past months have felt like years to the Royal Pokemon.
"Is that you?" Walking out of the Detention Center was none other than the Warden who runs it. This world's Tempest Shadow. Alongside Warden Tempest were her two Owl Pokemon. Noctowl and Dartrix. "Ash. How long has it been since you've been there?"
"Hey." Ash looked back at her while continuing to pet the Normal-Fire-Type. "Sorry it took me a while to show up again. I've been pretty occupied."
"Well, you're the one young person who comes by here that isn't convicted. But I'm glad you did. Things sure have changed around here a bit after that whole Double Sunset Fiasco."
"Yeah, how much?"
"For example, Pyroar has been a surprisingly great guardian. Since Sunset is still here, she stays around the Detention Center just to be close to her trainer. And it's done us some favours, intimidating anyone who wants to try anything funny. We do get attempted break-ins and break-outs but Pyroar's presence changes that."
"Awesome stuff, Pyroar!" Ash praised the Royal Pokemon.
"Pyroar." Pyroar proudly raised her head as she ended up becoming a guardian of this Detention Center. She was perfect for that as her intimidation factor was incredibly effective for anything that approaches the Detention Center or tries to flee from it.
"I've been lenient myself." Tempest lightly hit her rubber stick onto her hand. "The girls here have been well-behaved as of recently. But I just think that's because of Pyroar and there's no way I'm missing this opportunity. I took advantage of it at once. Perhaps I was a bit too harsh with my words, but whatever works."
"By the way, how's Sunset doing? It's been a while since I've seen just her." Ash asked about Sunset Shimmer.
"She's fine. Better than everyone else here. In fact...she's better than she used to be. Come with me." Tempest would gladly show Ash the developments of the Detention Center, mainly how Sunset Shimmer was currently doing. Judging by Tempest's words, Sunset changed since the fiasco that occurred months ago, causing her to face the consequences.
Inside, the number of Pokemon here had increased. It wasn't just Dartrix and Noctowl that were a part of the Detention Center. It ended up being those tricky and playful Pokemon that caused a ruckus at the mall for the greater good. Aipom.
"Aipom!" As always, these Pokemon were moving around frantically, swinging across the Detention Center without a care in the world. It was recently discovered that Aipom make for surprisingly good bodyguards. Because of their rambunctions nature, any criminal would immediately be caught up in their actions unwillingly, forced to play with the Normal-Types.
And when entering, there she was. Sunset Shimmer. However, she stood out from the rest of her juvenile mates and that was the fact that she was wearing her casual wear instead of the orange clothes. With Ash showing up here, he decided to mess around with Sunset Shimmer quickly.
By grinning at Tempest Shadow and Pyroar, Ash and Pikachu crept up on the Human Counterpart of Equestria's Sunset Shimmer, making himself seem unseen.
"Hm?" Sunset had yet to notice but she felt like someone was behind her. When she tried to turn around, Ash and Pikachu swiftly moved to the side, appearing behind her once more. Sunset tried again, only for the duo to expertly elude her sight once more. "Hmmrgh...!" She growled, attempting to figure out who was behind her. This went on for a few seconds with rapid movements from both sides going off.
This did get a chuckle out of Tempest and everyone else who saw this. "Alright, what's going on?!" Sunset Shimmer bellowed as she finally managed to catch them. Or rather, they stopped for her. "Oh...Ash! Pikachu?! You're back!"
"Yeah. How's it been, Sunset?" Ash greeted her, giving a fist bump to the Human Counterpart of the unicorn. Sunset would then reply with her own fist bump.
"Finally. I've been waiting so long for you to show up again. It's felt like years." Sunset Shimmer sighed. "Glad to see your faces again at least."
"Mhm. You're looking great. And ready to go somewhere too." Ash observed her getup and how different she appeared from everyone else. "What's the occasion?"
"You see...Sunset here is close to being free." Tempest approached. "She's served her time here and she's even decreased it. You've been quite the helper here, haven't you?" The Warden would then nudge Sunset Shimmer, placing her hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah well...There wasn't much to do in this place anyway." Sunset Shimmer looked away. "I had to be free eventually and do other stuff. Not what I used to do. I'm way past that now."
"That's right. I was blown back by it when I saw you develop," said Tempest. "These are some of the most peaceful moments in this place, even without me needing to pace myself across each room. And it's the most amount of times we've stopped arguing against each other."
"You still try and start something." Sunset crossed her arms. "Trying to bring back the good old times?"
"Hm-hm." Tempest would chuckle before eyeing down Sunset Shimmer. "I do somewhat miss our interactions. As for the rest of you..." Tempest Shadow would then face the other juvenile girls here. "You could learn a thing or two from Sunset Shimmer over here. I can't believe I just said that, honestly."
"Why do I have to learn from her?" One of the girls said as many of them were upset at the fact that Sunset Shimmer was getting this much of an advantage. She was certainly proving to be better than them.
"She's only lucky because she's got that expert from another world or something. I don't know."
"It's not fair at all..." Needless to say, they shared their grievances about this while Sunset Shimmer smirked at them, knowing that she managed to be free before any of them.
"So, you're ready for the world again, huh?" Ash questioned. "This time, you're set to go with Pyroar."
"Pyroar!"
"I am. But um...I don't know where to go, actually." Sunset Shimmer sighed, sharing her own grievances at the moment. "I only had that group to fall back on whenever I was out of juvie. Now I don't really have anything. Ever since that fiasco I did, my apartment's been taken away from me."
"S-Seriously?" Ash stammered as that was the most shocking thing he's heard today. Sunset Shimmer's home was no more thanks to that debacle. "Your home's just gone?!"
"Pika?!"
"I tried appealing for her apartment to be given back, but that was a bust." Tempest Shadow shook her head as she did try to help Sunset Shimmer out but even a Warden was unable to help out. "I went out of my way to give her some money, but it's up to her to spend it wisely."
"It's my fault entirely though. I should've just done my original time when I first came here." Sunset Shimmer looked down. "Then this wouldn't have happened. I've only been getting food for Pyroar and myself and not much else with this money. I literally don't know where to go now and they won't let me back in that apartment, I just know it. News about what I did broke out too."
"That was my bad." Tempest Shadow nervously laughed. "I had to give a report after all and that crippled her chances of getting an apartment. People can only tell you apart from the other Sunset by your clothing."
"Hmm...Well, you gotta stay somewhere." Ash wouldn't give up on Sunset Shimmer, deciding to sort this out. "I know just who to ask. You've got your counterpart to count on."
"H-Her?!" Sunset Shimmer gasped as Ash recommended Equestria's Sunset Shimmer. Quite the option.
"Oh, yeah. She's got one spare bed. "Plus, you two buried the hatchet once you met up, remember? If you two are side by side, then that'll sort things out."
"That's an interesting choice." Tempest Shadow pondered. "It could technically work. If they're alongside each other, any judgemental eyes will just become confused. You might be classified as twins actually."
"Are you sure? I haven't even visited her ever since then. We just made up for what happened and never saw each other again." Sunset held her arm, feeling a bit weary about this. "Are you sure that's the best option?"
"Sunset will understand. She knows where you'll be coming from. Plus, she's technically also you so..." Ash shrugged, bringing in some factors as to why this could work. "And don't worry. If it all goes south, Pikachu and I will be here for you. So will Pyroar."
"Pika-Pika!"
"Pyroar!"
"I'm glad to hear it. If it's coming from you then, I'm confident enough." Sunset smiled once more, having full faith in Ash. After all, she was right to put her faith in him during the Identity Debacle. "Alright. I'll go and meet her and see what happens next."
"I'll miss you surprisingly," Tempest said. "But I have a gut feeling I'll see you again."
"A-Again?!" Sunset Shimmer gasped before facing Tempest Shadow with widened eyes. "But...!"
"Not as a juvenile, silly." Tempest Shadow laughed after getting a scare out of Sunset Shimmer. "You'll just wait and see. For now, take care. We may run into each other again sometime."
"R-Right. Thanks." Sunset sighed with relief wiping some sweat off her forehead. "Ash. Before we meet with my counterpart...I'd prefer to spend some time with you, Pikachu and Pyroar before that. You know, just us."
"Sure, sure. We can check out some Pokemon." Ash agreed to it. Nothing beats the sights of Pokemon. And in this world, the sights are unique due to how new everything felt to both the people and the Pokemon that have shown up here.
And on this day, Sunset Shimmer would leave the Juvenile Detention Center, a free girl. She was no longer tied down to it and had no reason to fear it anymore. She did her best to make it through the months and it certainly paid off. Now it was time for her to continue her life but she still needed guidance, unaware of where to go. But in this case, there was one place to go. Her counterpart's home.
The Big city wasn't the best place to view as many Pokemon as they wanted. There was only one place. Canterlot's Local Forest. It was once home to a gateway to Eindoak before that gateway suddenly moved. But that didn't take away from the forest's beauty with how many Pokemon have called it home.
Ash would lead the way for Sunset Shimmer, who was rather nervous being in a place with multiple of these Strange and Wonderful Creatures. They are cute but some can be very dangerous. However, she had Ash, Pikachu and Pyroar to protect her.
"Emolga!" Swooping by with two apples in its hands was an Emolga as it went over Sunset Shimmer, startling her for a moment. It didn't help that Emolga would shock the apples afterwards to fry them, making an alarming electrical noise. "Emol!"
"Hoothoot!" And as a reminder of Warden Tempest Shadow, a Hoothoot would pop its head out of a hollow from a nearby tree, jumpscaring Sunset Shimmer once more. "Hoot?" So far, she was getting caught off guard by these Pokemon and the way they lived. She wasn't used to wild at all but Ash, Pikachu and Pyroar certainly were.
"This way!" Ash cried out, continuing to lead the way as a group of Ducklett ran by him, having pots and pans on their heads. Most likely stolen from somewhere in Canterlot Town.
"Ducklett! Ducklett!" As the Ducklett ran by Sunset Shimmer would giggle a bit at how jumpy she was with all of these Pokemon showing up. And it wasn't going to stop there, that's for sure.
"Pyroar." Pyroar was surprised as well. She went for a quick sip at a nearby lake while Ash hopped right over it. But as she went for a sip, jumping out of it was a Magikarp, splashing water all over her face. "Py?!"
"Magikarp!"
"Ya know, it's gonna be pretty confusing calling you both Sunset," Ash said while moving along. "We came across that same thing when we met this world's Twilight."
"What? Are you saying I'm not the only counterpart?" Sunset Shimmer replied before spotting a Florges nearby. Florges would wave over to Sunset Shimmer, spreading flowers in her direction as the wind would carry them.
"Florges!"
"Everyone here's got a counterpart from what I can tell. There's Twilight from this world and the one from Equestria. We call the one from your world Sci-Twi. She's great with science after all."
"Huh. So...are you going to give me a nickname too? I mean I wouldn't mind if you did. Nicknames are cool. Just...don't call me anything cute and frilly, like Sunny."
"Guess so. But I can't think of anything at the moment." Ash shrugged as a flock of Swanna flew over him. "You're pretty rough and tough though."
"You know it. And I'm proud of it. Even if it...connects to those bad times." She nervously rubbed the back of her head. Her entire hot-headed and rough personality is what put her in juvie. Or at least, it helped with it due to her surroundings.
"Well, that's who you are. I know friends just like you and there's no shame in that. You're pretty fiery too." Ash sat down, thinking for a moment. "That's nice. Very nice."
"It is? Oh. D-Do you like fiery girls maybe?" Sunset held her hair, lowering her voice for a moment. Judging by what Ash said, it sounds like he prefers and likes the way the Sunset presents herself. However, Ash did not answer that. Instead, another reaction came out of him.
"I got it!" Ash exclaimed, coming up with a nickname at last. "Fiery Shimmer! How's that?! Or maybe Fiery for short!"
"Pyroar! Pyroar!" Pyroar certainly enjoyed it, shooting fire into the air from her mouth by using Flamethrower. It worked well with the Royal Pokemon since she was a Fire-Type.
"Fiery? I mean, I guess that's cool." She found it decent. Granted, it replaced her first name but it was rather unique to her. And the fact that Ash gave it to her made it all the more special. "But I should be called Sunset Shimmer and she should receive the nickname. I mean...this is my world, technically."
"Good point." Ash nodded as Tailow would land on his head. "Sci-Twi should be just called Twilight. But you've both got your own worlds, even if Equestria's Sunset's choosing to stay here."
"Hmm...Well, I wanna feel safe so, I'll take it. She can be Sunset with all the news that came from it and I can be Fiery. Even if someone might recognize my face." Sunset would take the nickname. "But...I'd like for you to call me by my true name sometimes, okay?"
"You got it!" That was something Ash could easily promise, giving a thumbs-up. "So. Wanna pay her a visit? I'll be heading back soon, so I won't be there tonight."
"Eh? You're leaving so soon?"
"I'm gonna get myself a Mega Stone. And then, a Pokemon World Championships Battle will be waiting for me." Ash stood back up with the Tailow still on his head. "But I'll be back to check up on you and hang out. I've always got the means to do so."
"Pika-Pika!"
"Right. You'll be back. It's just that I enjoy spending time with you, that's all. It's different from what I've experienced." Sunset uttered, scratching her face nervously. "Aside from Pyroar, I'm not sure anyone else can make me feel that way."
"Oh, but there are. Sunset and everyone else. Trust me. They'll be great friends to you. Just like Pyroar, you'll have friends who'll be there for you. It's an awesome feeling." Ash walked by Sunset Shimmer, ready to meet with Equestria's Sunset. She could trust Ash as always. His years of experience have led him to always bring great faith along. Even in some of the darkest times. And in Sunset Shimmer's case, these were her darkest times without a doubt but were soon brightened by Ash and Pikachu's appearance.
With a knock on the door, Sunset Shimmer would answer to see who it was. Alongside her were her Pokemon. Braixen, Volcarona, Litleo, Fletchinder and even Shuppet, who was involved in that Identity Debacle.
"Hello? Can I help you?" Sunset Shimmer asked before spotting Ash and Pikachu. But right behind them was her Human Counterpart of this world.
"Hey." She greeted her counterpart with a bright grin, hiding behind Ash. "Long time no see?"
"Uh, right. It has been a long time." Sunset said, eyeing down her Juvenile Counterpart. "What's up?"
"Just gotta ask you something. Ya see, this Sunset's kinda lost her home, so now there's nowhere else to go for her, even though she's free now." Ash explained.
"Oh, you're free? So you served all that time until the very end, huh?" Sunset smirked. "Great going with all that willpower."
"I had to do a lot to decrease my time." The other Sunset, now having the nickname of Fiery, crossed her arms. "Besides, I couldn't think of anywhere else to go now that my home's gone. Ash was the one who thought of something before anyone else." She was ready to pour her heart out with these next batch of words. "I...I need somewhere to be. And I also need friends too. I know I apologized for that whole identity thing and there's no more hard feelings about it but-"
"You don't have to say anything else." However, Sunset would suddenly stop her from saying more. "The answer is yes. If Ash recommended it, then it was a good idea from the start."
"Huh?! Y-You'll seriously do it?! That fast?!" She was blown back by this instant approval. Ash hadn't even fully explained everything just yet and Sunset Shimmer just predicted and accepted it in a few seconds.
"That's right. It's why Ash brought you here. Right, Ash?" Sunset looked over at Ash, knowing him very well and how his actions correlate well with Sunset's empathy. "If you don't have anywhere else to go, you're always free to be around me and my friends. You'll always have somewhere to go and someone to be around. It wouldn't be the first time we've had a counterpart in our friend group."
"Ah...That's so refreshing to hear..." She was greatly satisfied by this. Tremendously. It was like all of her worries were fizzling out at last. She was truly at peace.
"But! You're gonna have to take the apartment room next to me. I'd like to keep my room to myself." Sunset pointed at the apartment room next door. "No one's using it, so it's all yours. I'll handle getting the key for it."
"Okay. Works for me. It'd get too hot in there with all these Fire-Types anyway. Come on, Pyroar!" She would instantly dash over to the opposite apartment, ready to enter her new home.
"Pyroar!" Pyroar would run up to Litleo, immediately recognizing one of her. So did Litleo. These two would catch each other's attention already as they were already friendly around each other. Way more than their trainers when they first met and heard about each other.
"I'll leave everything to you, Sunset." Ash would high-five Sunset Shimmer. "I'm off for a Championship Battle. See ya around."
"Do you think we could come and view your battle, actually?" Sunset Shimmer requested. "The girls and everyone back at school would love to see you battle from what they've heard and I've told them."
"Sure. Just like with what Nessa did, I'll make sure everyone here gets a good view. Till then. Best Wishes, you guys!" Ash bid them farewell as he and Pikachu went on their way. It was time for their next objective. Obtaining a Mega Stone for the sake of Ash's own well-being and having the third battle with Gym Leader Bea at last.
On this day, Sunset Shimmer gained a new friend. Herself. And a new home as well. She was a free girl now and with new friends in her life, her path would stray away from what it once was. And to this once juvenile-held girl, it was for the better as the journey continues.
Returning from the Human World since yesterday, today would be a rather special day for Ash and his Lucario. A day that would help stave away the ever-present problem of Delayed Aura Ataxia. And to receive this, he could trust one individual with this and that was none other than Korrina. He was already calling for her and in a heartbeat, he received a response. But not exactly the most gentle or happy response came from Korrina's voice.
"Ash! You're very late!" Screaming through Ash's phone was Korrina, who seemed to be rather upset. Her voice was so powerful it reached the outside "My grandpa was expecting you yesterday at Shalour City! Where have you been?!"
"Sorry. Took some time to help a friend out." laughed Ash after receiving a roar from Korrina. "But better late than never, right?"
"Pikachu?"
"It's fine." Gurkinn showed up on the screen. "It's not like it's a top priority at all. But there was something wonderful planned over at the island that lost its suspense." He grumbled, appearing let down by the one-day delay. "Oh well. I've heard everything about Delayed Aura Ataxia by now. From your friends and the Queen of Rota. It's been something most Aura users haven't been aware of for a long time until recently. Twilight and Bertha are right when it comes to staving off that problem."
"So, Aura really can prevent Delayed Aura Ataxia?" Ash asked.
"It can. You won't even notice it's there. It might have something to do with Mega Lucario's existence and the phenomenon of Mega Evolution. Despite being older than us, it's still rather young compared to other phenomenons in the world." Gurkinn continued.
"Is that so? Because I figured it would be the opposite." Rarity spoke, getting some words in. "I haven't even Mega Evolved both my Pokemon at the same time. I use Mega Evolution on one Pokemon only. Won't this just harm Ash even more?"
"Yeah. And I only use Rainbow-Braviary and Mega Altaria separately. I know that'll mess me up if I do both at the same time."
"Fair enough. That's only natural for how much power they use. Don't worry about that for now. Make your way to the Kingdom of Rota Ash. There, you will receive one part of the Mega Stone. Of course, the Lucarionite will be out of your reach. We waited for you at Shalour since yesterday but that led to nowhere." Gurkinn sighed. "It'll be easier to appear at a place within your region. Queen Ilene will be there waiting."
"Ilene too? Got it. We're on our way." Ash would begin to make his way to the Kingdom of Rota. Before that, he would hold out a Poke Ball, throwing it into the air. Out of it came the Pokemon of interest for today. Lucario.
"Lucario!"
"Well, Lucario. This is it." Ash approached the Aura Pokemon. "We're about to a put a pin this whole Ataxia thing pretty soon. Mega Evolution's the power we need to do just that."
"And you'll join the club too. See?" Rainbow Dash uttered as she, Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity held out their Mega Stones. "We'll be an almost-full band of Mega Evolvers. Minus Pinkie Pie, of course."
"It's fine! I have Mew with me so that's no big deal!" Pinkie Pie grinned. She didn't need Mega Evolution at all. The only thing she had was Dynamax and that was given to her by Bea. "But it would be cool though..."
"Lu..." Lucario narrowed his eyes after looking at the Mega Stones his friends all had. From the look on his face, he was determined to achieve that power. For every Pokemon that is capable of Mega Evolving, a dormant power lies within, waiting to unleash their full potential and go beyond their final evolution.
Kanto. Rota Kingdom. Afternoon.
Ash and his friends had arrived at the Rota Kingdom. Waiting for them there was Shalour City's Gym Leader Korrina and her grandfather Gurkinn. But they weren't the only ones.
"Ah, Ash." Here to greet Ash and his friends was the Ruler of Rota. Showing up to Rota was fitting considering what this was all about. Not many places in the Pokemon World focused on the power that is Aura, and Rota was one of the most important places where the knowledge of Aura can be shared. "Glad you could make it. This could be a rather momentous day and I see all of your friends have shown up too."
"Mhm. We're here to see this because of how troublesome that Ataxia is, Queen Ilene." Twilight said. "It's been a rather rough experience when it first came up and it just kept on growing. I mean, we found out that a Gardevoir was behind it but still."
"But this will completely erase it, right?" Rarity questioned. "Mega Evolution will be the thing that ends this whole Ataxia issue?"
"That depends on what happens. No one has ever suffered this much Ataxia before, let alone Mega Evolved. But your friend Bertha might have been on to something when she recommended Mega Evolution." Gurkinn added.
"I haven't had to deal with that myself." Korrina held out her hand, showing off her Mega Stone. "But I'm counting on you to make sure no one else has to feel the Ataxia."
"That's why we're here." Ash nodded in response.
"And you..." Korrina put her hand on Ash's Lucario while he was looking at Korrina's Lucario. "Grow stronger with Ash, okay? I know that two of you can do it."
"Well, here you go to start things off. The Mega Stone that you will need." In Gurkinn's hand was the Key Stone. Only one part of Lucario's path to Mega Evolution. The final part was the Lucarionite, which was currently not present in this area.
Ash gazed at the stone before receiving it in all of its shiny glory. By touching it, he could already feel the energy coming off of it. This was his first time laying hands on a Key Stone after only ever seeing it. And the feeling he got from it was truly special.
"Wow...But uh...Where am I gonna put it?" All Ash needed was something to put the Mega Stone in. He was expecting a Mega Ring or any other accessory to help with that.
"I've got this. Can you hold still for a moment and put your hand out?" Twilight would approach him, having the solution to that. Ash would do just that as the Princess of Friendship would use her magic. With her magic, she affected Ash's glove, turning the middle part of the top completely solid for a moment. Ash gasped at this impressive usage of magic as Twilight had formed a mould in Ash's glove. A mould that was perfectly in the shape of the Key Stone.
"Awesome!" Ash was amazed before dropping the Mega Stone into the mould. It fit like a glove indeed. And immediately after putting it on, Ash raised his arm as the stone sparkled gracefully. The Sun helped to illustrate its beauty as well.
And with the stone sparkling, Lucario's Aura would suddenly rise up., emanating from his body in response to the Key Stone. Everyone gasped as it looked like Lucario could Mega Evolve at any second with how he was reacting to it.
"Oh! Is he going to evolve right now?!" said Goh with widened eyes.
"No, no. He certainly couldn't." Gurkinn quickly shut it down. "Ash only has the Key Stone right now and all that's left is the Mega Stone for the Pokemon. Only then will Mega Evolution be fully complete. They must resonate with each other. The Lucarionite is the final piece of this phenomenon."
"Okay. So where is it then?" Rainbow Dash asked, navigating her head to see if she could spot the Lucarionite.
"Well, there's two of them that come to mind. I was planning to lead you to Mega Island where you can find that very Lucarionite but yesterday threw a wrench in that. And now that we're here at Rota, the Lucarionite here will be quicker to find." Gurkinn explained.
"Wait? Is it here in Rota somewhere?" Fluttershy asked, suspecting that the Lucarionite was here in the Rota Kingdom somewhere.
"No." Ilene quickly replied. "But it does have some connection to Rota. There exists a place known as Goldebron Mountain Pass. Somewhere at that mountain pass, the Lucarionite can be found. It's said to have shown up after Sir Aaron's passing but the energy there was faint, only appearing as a ball of energy. It was until Lucario also passed that it finally grew and materialized into a stone."
"It started off as energy and become a stone afterwards?! Our stones never did that!" Twilight gasped with wonder before looking at her Key Stone.
"Yes. But no one has claimed it. Not even those that have become Hero of the Year each time with had our annual Pokemon Contest. Ash. Lucario. You two might be the ones to finalize that Key Stone since it has been waiting for someone to claim it." Ilene shook her head as no one had managed to claim it to this day despite how many competitions came by.
"The Key Stone you have and Sir Aarons' staff are enhancing Lucario's Aura but the Lucarionite will complete it," Gurkinn explained.
"Oh okay." Ash understood before looking at the stone in his glove. Afterwards, Lucario, who still had his Aura flowing out, would start walking. He passed by Ash and Queen Ilene, facing away from everyone here. The Aura Pokemon looked into the far distance, gazing at the mountains.
His sight had been enhanced because of the Aura, allowing him to see beyond here. From what Lucario could gather, he managed to spot a mountain pass that was hidden by the other mountains which stuck out more. That was the mountain pass where the Lucarionite could be felt as it had a deep blue Aura compared to every other mountain he felt.
"Oh, he can sense it." Gurkinn noticed. "He's sensing Goldebron Mountain Pass already because of these enhancements. Follow him and good luck."
"Come back safely, please. Goldebron Mountain Pass is home to some powerful Pokemon because of the energy coming from it." Ilene pleaded.
"We'll be back in one piece. I've got my friends here to guarantee that!" Ash gave a thumbs-up to Ilene, guaranteeing that they would all appear once more.
Goldebron Mountain Pass.
Finally. They stood before the mountain pass. It was cleverly hidden past these larger mountains and the clouds, seeming invisible and non-existent. But not the power of Aura. The appearance of the mountain pass was just like any other. It was nothing special but the object that was residing here is what made it the place special compared to the other mountains around it.
"Remember. Wild Pokemon that are capable of Mega Evolving will show up here. They've even made this place their home, growing from it. You'll be faced with fierce Pokemon but they will only be testing you." Gurkinn questioned. "For centuries, no one has managed to make it here until now. And to the rest of you heading in there, be careful. You won't be there for Mega Evolution but that won't stop the Pokemon from targeting you."
"We'll be fine. I can have a chat with the Pokemon if things go wrong," said Fluttershy.
"We're here to see it through to the end with Ash, anyway." Rarity added.
"Yeah. Plus...there's lots of Wild Pokemon there too!" Goh's eyes lit up, eager to catch some of the Wild Pokemon that reside in Goldebron Mountain Pass.
"Just in case...Korrina. Watch over them, alright?" Gurkinn requested that her granddaughter go along with them. She was free to enter Goldebron Mountain Pass.
"You got it, grandpa!" Korrina winked. Afterwards, they would all approach the mountain pass, beginning their search for the Lucarionite. Since this was a mountain, they would have to do a lot of scaling. Well, those who couldn't fly anyway. Those that could just used their wings to traverse the area.
The mountain pass itself was cloaked in mild darkness with all the dark clouds that appeared above it. As such, this area was rather ominous, barely having any sunlight to pierce through the grey clouds. Lucario would hop over a pathway of jagged spikes, trying to use his Aura to find his way to the Lucarionite. But alas, it wasn't that easy.
"Altaria!" Soaring above nearby were a flock of Altaria who hadn't noticed Ash and his friends just yet. They were certainly capable of Mega Evolving.
"Sableye!" But a Pokemon that did notice them was a Sableye. In a nearby cave, its eyes would glimmer and sparkle, grabbing their attention. They thought they already found the Mega Stone with how it was sparkling in the darkness but it only took Sableye crawling out of it to debunk that. They would continue on their way, traversing and exploring more of this mountain pass.
"Hm?" Rarity would stop for a moment as something caught her eye. At a curved part of the mountain, she spotted a pathway of gemstones sitting next to a lake. All of these gemstones radiated colours slightly similar to Mega Evolution. "Ooohoo! Do you think this could lead the way?!" She giggled as she was also eager to snag some of these gemstones for herself.
"Maybe." Ash looked over at the pathway of colourful gemstones.
"Rrr...Lu." However, all it took was Lucario shaking his head to disprove that. These just seemed to be decorations for the mountain pass. Nothing more, nothing less. But that wouldn't stop Rarity from trying to take some with her. The moment her hoof went to touch one of the gemstones, along came a Wild Pokemon.
"Sharpedo!" The gemstone pathway was right near a lake, meaning that any Water Pokemon could travel next to it. And one of those Pokemon ended up being Sharpedo, another Mega Evolution Candidate. But it appeared to be more than just one Sharpedo. Quite a few were zooming through the lake.
"Gyarados!" But this was mainly due to the fact that they were being chased down by Gyarados. Ash and the others gasped at the sight of fierce and ferocious Pokemon, speeding across the lake with their fangs bearing. And of course, they were headed this way.
"Gyaaaah!" Rarity screeched as her mane stood up. She immediately moved to the side, narrowly avoiding the incoming Sharpedos.
"Gyara!" Gyarados would then use Hyper Beam, attempting to catch its prey in one attack. With a burst of Infinity Energy, the Atrocious Pokemon would fire the Hyper Beam straight at the Sharpedo.
The Sharpedo, with all their swiftness, managed to evade the Hyper Beam, which in turn, nearly affected Ash and his friends. The beam would crash into the nearby ground, setting off a violent explosion. Some of the ponies would fall over because of Hyper Beam's outburst, landing flat on their faces or backs. The Sharpedo then leapt out of the lake, retaliating with a synchronized Dark Pulse.
It was a fierce confrontation between the two that Ash and his friends were caught up in. The Dark Pulses would fly, going over their heads before hitting Gyarados. Safe to say, they wouldn't find the Lucarionite here. But what they did end up finding was trouble. One of the Sharpedo would notice Ash and his friends, eyeing them down.
"Sharpedo!" The Sharpedo that spotted them would go in for an attack, jumping out of the water once more. And its first target was Rarity, who was the closest to the lake.
"Force Palm!"
"Luca!" Intercepting Sharpedo's attack was Lucario. With a flare of energy in his paw, he would swing at the Brutal Pokemon in midair, dealing a super-effective blow. Sharpedo was then sent flying, tumbling and skidding across the lake.
This interception caught the attention of the other Sharpedo. After they blew away the Gyarados, they would also turn to face the ones that launched their fellow Sharpedo. Fierce eyes locked onto Lucario and everyone else as they were now targets of the Sharpedo.
"W-We should go!" Twilight suggested as she backed away as fast she could, spreading out her wings. The Sharpedo would then approach the group, zooming through the sparkling seas.
"Good idea! Aura Sphere!" But before leaving, Ash and Lucario would leave something behind.
"Luca!" By holding his hands out, Lucario slammed down a sphere of Aura right in front of the lake. The Aura would combust, sending a beautiful azure explosion. This azure light would hold back the Sharpedo as it rippled the lake, causing a mini-tsunami to occur. The Sharpedo found themselves losing their balance of this. This gave Ash and his friends the opportunity to leave, disappearing from the sights of the Sharpedo.
They continued on their way, searching for the Lucarionite. And the further they went, the more abundant the Pokemon appearances became. The Altaria from before were above them, finally spotting Ash's group as they were scaling one of the mountains.
"Tari? Altaria!" The Altaria all collectively used Ice Beam, unleashing chilling beams of ice as they were focused on the mountains. The unified Ice Beams would immediately flash-freeze the mountain they started scaling, attempting to throw them off. Truly, these Pokemon would try and mess with Ash and Lucario when they had the chance. They knew what they were here for and wouldn't let them get to it so easily.
"C-Cold!" Korrina grimaced as her hands immediately felt the harsh cold hit her. Ash, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie felt it too. The way the mountain froze so quickly meant that they would start slipping, failing to grip onto something. Korrina's fingers couldn't dig through the ice and the ponies certainly couldn't do anything with their hooves. As such, they started screaming while sliding down the mountain.
"Ninetales! Togekiss, go!" Twilight, who was in there, threw two Poke Balls out. Out of them came Ninetales and Togekiss. One was meant for the ice and the other would rescue Twilight's falling friends. "Use Flare Blitz!"
"Ninetales!" With a flash of fire around his body, Ninetales would descend from the skies, crashing into the ice. With this mighty impact, he broke apart the ice instantly. The shattered ice would fly everywhere as the flames immediately started melting away parts of the frozen mountain.
"Toge!" Togekiss would come swooping in, catching Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie on her back. The three of them bounced for a bit on Togekiss but thankfully, none of them fell off Now there was the issue of ASh, Pikachu, Lucario and Korrina, who were still sliding even when the ice was melting away.
"Luca!" However, Lucario used the spikes on his hands to save himself, stabbing them into the ice and piercing through, connecting with the mountain. Ash then held onto Lucario's arm after he stabbed into the mountain. Following that was Korrina latching onto Ash's leg and Pikachu staying on Ash's hat.
"Phew...That was close." Ash sighed at that rather close call. Thank goodness his friends were fast thinkers and had a way to solve some of the most perilous scenarios.
"Altaria!" But the Altarias weren't done. They attempted to use Ice Beam once more to try and freeze the mountain again, just to hold them all back and prevent them from reaching the Lucarionite.
"Again?!" Applejack gasped as the chilling beams of ice were shot out for a second time.
"I don't think so! Go for it, Altaria!" Rainbow Dash would send out her own Altaria to deal with these troublesome Dragon-Flying-Types. The Pokemon flew through the air, sending out the Humming Pokemon in an incandescent light which moved faster than the ice beams travelled.
"Altaria!" And upon emerging, Altaria would use Moonblast, gathering power from the moon itself. With it, she intercepted the Ice Beams with just one attack, managing to overpower them. The icy blue smoke would soon become pink because of the Fairy Magic within Moonblast. And through the smoke, Altaria would show herself, roaring at her fellow Dragons by using Hyper Voice. "Taria!"
"A-Altaria?!" The other Altaria gasped at this mighty Hyper Voice, feeling the force behind it. As such, they were intimidated by her, flying elsewhere to avoid further conflict. They were only really here to try and slow the group down, not battle with them.
Ash and the others could catch a break yet again but they knew more Pokemon would show up to try and stop them. They all managed to climb back up the mountain once all the ice had been melted. Once they reached the top, already, something new was waiting for them. With Ash helping Korrina up the mountain, he and his friends all turned their heads to see magma. Of all things they had to run into next, it had to be magma.
And with magma, Camerupt could be found here. Another candidate for Mega Evolution. And compared to the others, Camerupt looked rather peaceful here, grazing on some grass that could be found on this mountain pass. Miraculously, the grass hasn't come into contact with the nearby magma pools. Two caves that were nestled here also seemed to be safe from them.
"How much further until we find this stone?" Rarity questioned. "We didn't have to go through this when we were going for our own Mega Stones. I honestly wish we chose that Mega Evolution Camp instead of this."
"We just have to keep going," said Ash. "It wasn't gonna be easy and that's gonna make it all the more satisfying once we get that stone. It's gonna stand out from everything else here so let's look out for that."
"Maybe it's at the very centre." Fluttershy theorized. "We could try and find the middle of the mountain pass and maybe find the Lucarionite there. What do you think?"
"I hope so. I tried flying high up and couldn't spot that stone anywhere." Rainbow Dash shook her head. "I mean it's pretty small so that makes sense. We could-" Before anyone could continue on their way, they were all interrupted by yet another Pokemon attack. This time, a powerful tremor is what interrupted them. And the one responsible for that was an Aggron.
"Aggron!" Aggron roared, stomping its legs on the ground to summon tremendous ground shockwaves. These shockwaves affected those already on the ground but not those in the air. And unfortunately, Rainbow Dash was the only one airborne at the moment. Thus, her friends were being thrown off balance, wobbling and shaking at the presence of this earthquake.
"Hey!" Rainbow Dash looked over at the Steel-Rock-Type. Immediately, she took action, throwing another Poke Ball out as Mienshao was summoned.
"MIenshao!"
"Use Aura Sphere!"
"Mien...Shao!" Mienshao swung into action immediately, wasting no time to build up a quick Aura Sphere. It wouldn't be as powerful as a fully charged one but it would be strong enough against Aggron, who was very vulnerable to this kind of attack. A hyper-fast Aura Sphere was thrown, striking the Iron Armor Pokemon with heavy super-effective damage.
"A-Aggron!" Aggron stumbled back from the Aura Sphere but it wasn't the only one stumbling and falling. Ash and the others fell from Aggron's Earthquake, rolling down the rocky hills of this part of the mountain.
"Oh, wait!" Rainbow Dash held her head as she couldn't exactly do anything about this problem as opposed to the Aggron encounter. As such, Ash and his friends went sliding down with some of them going in different directions. Around the area where Camerupt was feasting on grass, the two caves were their only destinations. Each of them slid into different caves as one seemed to go lower than the other. Quickly, Rainbow Dash would try and pursue them but she had two caves to choose from. She would choose the right one, flying through it to try and catch up.
As said by Gurkinn, the Pokemon would not make this easy for them. And Queen Ilene did pray for their safe return. Everything about this place was dangerous, mainly because of how the Pokemon reacted to the energy that exists in this Mountain Pass. The quest for the Lucarionite was ramping up faster than any of them expected but for Ash and Lucario, this would only fuel their spirit to obtain this Mega Stone as the journey continues.
On a quest to retrieve the Lucarionite, Ash and his friends found themselves in Goldeboron Mountain Pass. An area that was related to the Rota Kingdom. The Wild Pokemon here are all candidates for Mega Evolution, attacking Ash's group as a means of testing them. Mainly Ash and Lucario. And with these attacks and sudden surprises from all the Mega Evolution Candidates, one of them caused some of his friends to separate and end up in two caves apart from each other.
The cave had a rather slippery slope despite being made out of rocks and being near magma pools. Ash held onto his hat with Twilight, Korrina and Applejack tumbling on their way down. The only one managing to keep steady was Fluttershy while everyone else lost their balance. Fluttershy would slow herself down but she was unable to stop them all from going down this slippery slope. It was a long way down too. The entrance to the cave was already out of their sight with how long this slope was but eventually, they would come to the end as Ash would be the first to fly out of the exit. This cave had the same gemstones that were coloured after the Lucarionite, plastered on the walls and parts of the ground.
"Ow-ow-ow...Geez..." Ash rubbed the back of his head after crashing face-first into a wall. The Trainer from Pallet Town recollected himself, wobbling while getting back up. He then raised his fists triumphantly after withstanding such a fall. "Phew. Still in one piece!"
"Gah!" But his moment of triumph was interrupted once Korrina fell on him, causing Ash to drop on his face. This was followed by Twilight falling onto Korrina, taking damage as well, followed by Espeon and Pikachu landing together. Applejack would then join the pile of her downed friends with Fluttershy being the only safe one yet again.
It was a pile of humans, ponies and Pokemon with Fluttershy lightly descending, standing next to them all, hearing them groan. "Are you all alright?" She asked after descending next to them. Eventually, they would all get off each other, ending the pile.
"Yeah...Still doing great here." Ash stood up, adjusting his hat while Korrina helped Twilight and Applejack up. Pikachu slapped his face a few times. It was a rather perplexing drop, but they would all manage either way.
"Doing fine here." Korrina would get back up she was only with Ash, Pikachu, Twilight and Fluttershy. But noticeably, no Lucario. In this dark cave, some of their friends were not here with them.
"Lucario?! Where's ya go?!" Ash gasped, noticing the disappearance of Lucario. He had most likely fallen into the other cave that was outside, joining with Rarity and the others. "Ah, man...Split up."
"They should be at the other cave," Fluttershy replied. "So at least we know where they went. But I don't think we're that close to the Lucarionite. It might be in the centre still but the Pokemon here are making it hard for us."
"Let's hurry and find them then," said Korrina. "Just on the other side, right? They might've gone down a slope as well."
"The other cave looked higher than the one we're in actually." Twilight managed to observe the opposite cave, seeing how both of them differed in positions. This one went to a lower part of the mountain pass while the one her group was in had a lower pathway. "Wherever they went, they might at a higher point of the mountain pass."
"Alright then. Let's head up." Ash raised his head before moving along. His friends would follow as now they had to focus on reuniting with all of their friends.
And just like what Twilight figured, they did end up at a higher point of the mountain pass. The cave that Lucario, Rarity, Goh and Pinkie Pie fell through only led to more magma pools that were nearby. They might as well be inside of a volcano. Rainbow Dash would soon follow them all into this volcano after pushing away the Aggron that sent them all tumbling down the mountain. Here, more Camerupt could be found.
"Camerupt?"
"Geez..." Pinkie Pie's eyes spun after she got up. "Oh, my back..."
"Mew-Mew." Mew felt that sentiment as he transformed into a Dusclops for a moment to make a singular eye spin instead of both of them. After he regained his vision, he would transform back into his original form.
"Now I really wish we had gone to that camp instead." Rarity groaned as she and her friends all got back up. But there was no time for everyone to process what just happened and where they were. In this part of the mountain pass, the magma was violent compared to the pools outside which seemed peaceful.
Lava would burst out of the ground, startling them all, not giving them the time to think or recollect themselves.s In the presence of magma, they had to think fast and move fast. However, this part of the cave looked cramped so far, having a tighter space compared to the one at the lower levels. There would even be some lava that flew out of the walls at a vertical angle, going straight for Goh's group. Already, they were in immediate danger.
"Not like this! Appear, Milotic!" Rarity would quickly throw out her Poke Ball, summoning her Milotic.
"Milotic!"
"Take out the magma! Hydro Pump!"
"Mii...Loooo!" From her mouth which made a beautiful sound, Milotic released a powerful jet of water, shooting at the violent lava. The jet of water clashed with the stream of lava, intercepting it. It was a mild struggle but Milotic managed to win, taking out the lava by fully consuming it. The lava would simply become steam afterwards, overtaken by the water. However, more would show up in this destructive part of the mountain pass.
As such, they all started moving along while the magma flows approached. And in such a hot place, a Steel-Type like Lucario was feeling the heat already, sweating from being here. It was bad enough that he had to be separated from Ash. They fled from the continuous magma flow that was seemingly chasing them down, attempting to leave the cave as soon as they could.
They searched for the way they came in, moving through different passageways. Lava would continue to fly out of the walls and ground, startling them as Milotic would continuously use Hydro Pump to put them out. The Tender Pokemon had to stay alert each time, spraying water at every lava burst.
Rainbow Dash caught up to them, witnessing Goh and the others running for their lives. Even if she was in the air, the pegasus was also at risk of being consumed by the lava. Without a doubt, Ash's group was having an easier time.
Rota Kingdom. Cameran Palace.
Back at the Rota Kingdom, Queen Ilene patiently awaited for their return, sitting in her throne room, where the portrait of Sir Aaron and Lucario hung high. Ash and the others promised that they would all return in one piece with the Lucarionite from Goldeboron Mountain but Eileen certainly knew about the dangers of that mountain.
"Oh...Maybe I shouldn't have said anything back then." Eileen said to herself. "I've gotten Ash and his friends tangled up in a rather violent issue. Perhaps it would've been better if I didn't tell him more about Delayed Aura Ataxia. Then again, he would have found out earlier."
"Mime?" Ilene's Mime Jr. looked at her, seeing how troubled the Queen looked when thinking about Ash and his friends.
"That mountain pass, your majesty. You sent the boy there because the Lucarionite was waiting for him and his Lucario, correct?" Her maid asked her. "Is it Sir Aaron's will that manifested it and that's why it was waiting?"
"No. Not at all. Anyone is worthy of receiving that Mega Stone, but no one has gotten this far. That stone is connected to Sir Aaron and Lucario though and Ash and his Lucario are the only ones who I can see being fit to hold it. I just hope that they don't end up like Sir Aaron and Lucario. They were gone too soon. Aaron give up his life for the betterment and safety of our kingdom and Lucario did the same. With Delayed Aura Ataxia, Ash might be going through the same thing. He's constantly putting his own health at risk with this drawback. And even though he's gotten better at regulating it, that problem still exists."
"That's true. If only there was a remedy for something like that. But do you think they'll really end up like Sir Aaron and Lucario?"
"I hope not. I hope that retrieving the Lucarionite and completing the Mega Evolution is the answer to all of our problems. I fear that there'll come a time when his Aura completely destroys him. But...I have faith." Ilene put her hands together in a praying gesture before then looking at Sir Aaron's picture. "Amazing faith in both of them. Isn't that, right Aaron?"
Goldeboron Mountain Pass.
Eventually, Goh and the others made it away from the violent lava bursts, all thanks to Milotic. And along the way, Goh managed to catch a Camerupt, adding its data to his Pokedex. For now, they were safe, with no other Pokemon in sight. And from all over Milotic's Hydro Pumps, all of them were now wet and drenched in water.
"Thank you so much, Milotic. Return, please." Rarity thanked the Tender Pokemon after she successfully saved their lives.
"Rrr..." Wanting to waste no more time, Lucario closed his eyes, allowing his Aura to flow. It became visible once more, making his dreads rise.
"What's he doing now?" Pinkie Pie wondered after looking at Lucario's Aura rise.
"Mew?"
"I think he's trying to sense Ash's Aura. It should be pretty big. It's bigger than all of ours after all." said Rainbow Dash, observing Lucario's concentration. Indeed, Lucario was trying to call for Ash. Their Auras were heavily connected after all so this was the right call in Lucario's mind. And to his friends, it was a good call.
But in this mountain pass, Lucario wanted to make sure Ash came straight to him, letting his Aura flare out some more to the point where it was almost blinding to the eyes. Rarity and the others would squint when Lucario's aura brightened. He wasn't just trying to sense Ash, he wanted Ash to sense him.
And Ash certainly did. When running along the cave with the rest of his friends, his Mega Stone suddenly had a mystical reaction. He felt this reaction tingle through his hand, looking at the Key Stone. "The Key Stone's acting up..." Ash uttered.
"It must be Lucario's Aura. He's calling for you, Ash." said the Shalour City Gym Leader. "Ash. Try sensing his Aura in return."
"Good idea. You don't usually do that so now might be the best time." Twilight insisted on that.
"Alright. I'll give it a shot." Ash nodded as he never really tried sensing other Auras that much before. He can only recall a few times when he's done it but they were very few. With how things are developing, it might just become common for him. The Alola Champion closed his eyes, allowing his Aura to flow naturally through him. It had the same vibrancy as Lucario's as they forged a connection that quickly.
"T-That was fast?!" Korrina gasped at how quickly the vibrancy of Ash's Aura appeared. It was practically instant.
"That's only natural. Ash and Lucario had a strong bond on the very first day they met when Lucario was just a Riolu Egg." Fluttershy replied, thinking back to that day when Riolu's egg first hatched. Even before that, when they all came across the egg. "Riolu's Egg had been closed off for so long until he met Ash, waiting for someone like him."
Just then, a pulse would fly out of the Key Stone and through Ash. And for Ash, everything went deep blue. He entered a deep state of mind because of this deep concentration with no one to disrupt him. His mind became clear with only the Aura existing around him. And in the darkness with his eyes closed, he saw a blue light in front of him. And in that light was the Aura Pokemon Lucario, raising his arms to search for Ash. "Lucario...Lucario." He spoke the name of the Fighting-Steel-Type, calling out for him.
Ash didn't even need to shout for Lucario. All he needed to do was speak casually and the Aura would handle the rest. And it certainly did, taking Ash's voice and transporting it across the Mountain Pass at lightspeed so that Lucario could feel and hear it.
In return, Lucario would also see a blue light in the darkness with Ash standing in it. He saw Ash nod, knowing that he was picking up on Lucario's presence. Both of their Auras expanded, showing the rest of their friends and all of their Auras. Before Ash knew it, he was able to sense everyone else.
Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Goh had been sensed. Even those around him as well. Twilight, Fluttershy, Korrina and Applejack respectively. And Korrina and Applejack were letting out large Auras because of their connections to the Riolu and Lucario line as well.
Ash was surprised. He managed to push his Aura capabilities even further. Now, he had the power to sense others. It didn't matter who it was. He could pick up on their Auras and decide who to focus on. This quest for the Lucarionite also managed to hone his skills.
"It's Lucario! And everyone else!" Ash said after opening his eyes. "I can feel them! All of them!"
"Sounds like someone improved greatly," Korrina commented, knowing that Ash had received a vast improvement after concentrating. All he needed was the suggestion of his friends to pull this off.
"Ca!" And at Lucario's side, he knew where Ash was. Now that both of them sensed their Auras, they knew where to go. In unison, Ash and Lucario would start running. Their friends would all follow them as guides. With this focus on their Auras, they had a clear path in mind.
Through the trees and the hills, they advanced, racing to one spot where they would reunite. All the while, Lucario had his eyes closed as a way to continue focusing. And because of this, Lucario improved as well. Just like Ash, his Aura capabilities increased thanks to the connection they had.
And the great increase they gave him resulted in Lucario sensing something else. It wasn't another one of his friends. Instead, it was a sparkle of light that belonged to an object. Ash saw it too, noticing this sparkle as it had the colours of the Lucarionite which were easily identifiable thanks to Korrina. Prior to this, Lucario couldn't sense the Lucarionite at all. But thanks to the deep focus and honing his skills, now he could and so could Ash. They could now reunite and find the Lucarionite together, being one step closer to their goals.
"Aggron!" However, the Aggron from before had suddenly returned. The same one that sent them all tumbling into the caves as it broke through a nearby corner, startling everyone with that thunderous noise and sudden appearance.
"You again?!" Rainbow Dash and her friends gasped after the Iron Armor Pokemon made its return to try and stop Lucario and everyone else.
"Rrr!" Lucario growled, agitated that Aggron would stand in his way again. With Aggron returning, it would try something else to slow them all down. This time, by getting physical. Since it appeared right in front of them, jumping out of the corner, it swung its massive arms down to try and knock the group over. "Ca!" But this time, Lucario came prepared.
He clashed his paws with Aggron's arms, preventing him from harming any of his friends. The collision between them was heavy as a mild shockwave emerged, pushing the ponies and Goh back a bit. "A-Aggron...!"
"Luca...!" Lucario and Aggron growled at each other as it was now a strength contest. They both looked each other in the eyes, wrestling for dominance as the ground beneath them would start cracking thanks to this struggle. Aggron did have the advantage thanks to its weight, starting to push Lucario down a bit. The Aura Pokemon's legs would start breaking through the ground as he was beginning to lose the struggle because of this weight difference. "Lucario!" Lucario roared before letting his Aura explode, wanting Aggron out of the way.
A burst of Aura left his body as he overpowered Aggron in that instance, startling the Iron Armor Pokemon. Aggron gasped before being thrown in the air by Lucario. "Agg?! Aggron!"
"Luca!" To finish things off, Lucario would use Aura Sphere, putting his paws together to form a powerful sphere of concentrated Aura. By throwing it upwards, he would shoot at the Steel-Rock-Type, going straight for its chest. With that direct hit, the Aura would explode, sending Aggron flying, much like how Team Rocket sometimes blasts off. With that, Aggron was out of the way.
"Oh, nice one, Lucario!" Rainbow Dash gawked in amazement at that raw display of power. Lucario then stood tall before continuing on his way. He had to keep moving just so he could meet up with Ash again. There was no time to admire his feats. There was only the thought of the Lucarionite and Ash. Rarity and everyone felt safer now with Lucario's sudden development.
Ash and Lucario understood each other, knowing where to reunite. They would meet up where the Lucarionite was since they both knew where it was. The more they ran, the closer the sparkle was. Now that they both had the Lucarionite within their sights, they could only focus on that, strengthening their concentration.
At last, they met up once more. By following the Lucarionite's Aura, Ash and Lucario reunited, along with all of their friends. And when reuniting, they came across a field that was clear and devoid of any obstacles compared to what they encountered. No magma pools, no high mountains to scale and no Pokemon to disturb them. The place they sensed the Lucarionite was surrounded by these crystal mounds that also replicated the colours of the Mega Stone.
"There you are. It was a good call having the Auras do it. I think that worked out better than Xtransceivers usually work out." said Twilight once they all reunited. She had Ninetales heat up those that have been drenched in water, fixing their hair and coats in the process.
"Well, we reunited. Now what?" Applejack asked. "Did ya'll find anything? Maybe the stone?"
"Apparently, Ash sensed the Lucarionite. And it should be in this field somewhere," uttered Korrina. "But I don't actually see anything. Are you sure you sensed it here?
"Yeah. It's here somewhere. Lucario." Ash walked up to Lucario, who already knew what needed to be done. The Aura Pokemon would approach one of the crystal mounds that surrounded the field. With his Aura still flowing, Lucario placed his paw on the mound. Everyone stayed silent, watching as Lucario focused on this crystal.
Suddenly, his Aura would envelop the entire crystal before then latching onto the others. An Aura String started moving, engulfing the other mounds in a perfect circle. All of them would light up once Lucario connected against one. The mounds then began moving from their spots, dragging across the ground. Everyone watched in awe as the mounds smashed into each other, letting out a flare of Aura. The mounds were no more once engulfed by the light.
And from this light, it could be seen. The Lucarionite. In all of its glory. It hovered in the sky, surrounded by the remains of the crystals. The way it shined so beautifully, illuminating in the darkness of this Mountain Pass.
"Is that it?! The Lucarionite?!" Goh asped.
"Why isn't it falling though?" Rainbow Dash wondered as the stone was simply hovering there, not showing any signs of dropping.
"Ohohoho! Correct!" Suddenly, a voice would reply to Goh, laughing in a strange manner. Everyone looked past the Lucarionite to see someone hovering over it. Someone that looked very familiar to Korrina's eyes the second she looked up, seeing this strange individual with a strange laugh descend. "The Mega Evolution Sage! That would be me!"
"...G-Grandpa?" Korrina saw through that instantly. It was her grandpa wearing a disguise, covering his eyes with his eyebrows and styling his hair. But even with that style change, Korrina still recognized her grandfather along with Twilight. "Seriously?"
"Awesome! A Mega Evolution Sage?!" But Ash, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie didn't see through it, amazed by the existence of such a character. "And he's floating!?"
"Is this what he wanted to do at Mega Island?" Twilight asked.
"It is." And Korrina confirmed it, already knowing about this since yesterday.
"Oohohoho! There's a new face! So, so! You've come for the Lucarionite, have you?! You've gone through a lot. I've seen it. Encountering Pokemon and strengthening your Aura. But if you cannot get past me, you cannot possibly hope to achieve the stone!" The Sage said as an Alakazam would suddenly appear behind him while he was descending. Obviously, this was Gurkinn's Alakazam.
"But that wasn't enough?!" Rarity exclaimed.
"It's fine, Rarity. I wanna do this so Lucario and I can earn the stone for real!" Ash was all for it. "We'll take you on, Mega Evolution Sage and go home afterwards!"
"Luca!"
"You got it." Korrina moved out of the way, allowing for this to happen even if she knew it was her grandfather. The battle for the Mega Evolution Stone would begin and Ash and Lucario's future of stopping this dangerous force known as Ataxia was on the line.
"Behold! The Mega Evolution Sage shows his strength!" The Sage held his hand out, revealing a Mega Ring. And from that ring was the Alakazamnite. It would react to Alakazam, beginning the process of Mega Evolution. A flare of Infinity Energy burst out of Alakazam, enveloping him in it as he went through a transformation.
"Alakazam!" Out of it emerged Mega Alakazam. And of course, Pokedexes would be taken out to read about this Mega Evolved Form.
"Alakazam. The Psi Pokemon. As a result of Mega Evolution, its power has been entirely converted into psychic energy, and it has lost all strength in its muscles. Its hidden psychic power has been unleashed. A glance at someone gives it knowledge of the course of that person’s life, from birth to death. When attacks completely miss Alakazam, that’s because it’s seeing the future.
"Here we go, Lucario! Aura Sphere!"
"Luca!" From his paws, a quick Aura Sphere was thrown like a baseball, zooming through the air as Lucario attempted to get the first hit off.
"Psybeam!"
"Ala...Kazam!"
Alakazam manipulated each and every one of its spoons, releasing a multicoloured beam from them at the Aura Pokemon. It was a direct clash of two opposing forces as the Aura and Psychic Energy clashed against each other before reaching a stalemate. Both attacks blew up, forming a blue and purple smoke cloud.
"Double Team!"
"Rrr!" Lucario would then advance, summoning clones of himself that would mimic his movements. All of them jumped out of the smoke, focusing on the stone and not Alakazam.
"Hoh? Fire the spoons!"
"Kazam!" Alakazam would fire all of its spoons, attempting to stop Lucario from reaching the Lucarionite. Each of the spoons rained down, taking out the clones and making them fizzle. However, the real Lucario simply knocked the spoon out of the way, continuing to advance.
"Yeah! Go for it!" Ash cheered as Lucario held his paw out. Just then, his paw suddenly acted like a hand, separating all three of them as if they were fingers.
"Those things can act like hands?!" Pinkie Pie gasped as she and many others thought that Lucario's paws were just that. Paws. Not actual hands.
"Tri Attack!"
"Aa!" Mega Alakazam formed an orb of yellow electric energy, light blue ice energy, and orange fire energy around its body, harnessing the three elements. It then fires each orb at Lucario in succession.
"Rrr..! Ca!" Lucario cried out as he was bombarded by the three elements, forcing him back down to the ground. The Aura Pokemon crashed into the earth, sliding afterwards.
"Lucario?! Are you okay?!" Ash gasped.
"Lucario...!" Lucario would be fine, only suffering fall damage. However, one of the effects of Tri Attack managed to affect him and it ended up being paralysis. "Rrr!"
"Ohoohoho! Is that all?" The sage chuckled. "Don't tell me that was your best."
"It ain't! Just watch! Strike the ground with Force Palm!"
"Luca!!" With a mighty roar, Lucario would bellow, smashing his paw into the ground. The sheer force of his fist hitting the earth would send him upwards, causing a powerful shockwave. Lucario used this to advance into the air, continuing to pursue the Lucarionite. He twitched as the paralysis was holding him back from going any higher.
"You can't seem to reach that point with that paralysis! Ohohohoh!"
"Oh yeah?! Aura Sphere!"
"Rrr! Ca!" Lucario cried out as he prevented himself from falling by using Aura Sphere. He would turn around, holding his arms out to generate the sphere. And fixating on one point, Lucario put most of his strength into this attack, unleashing it. This Aura Sphere had enough force to send Lucario into the air.
Everyone marvelled at Ash and Lucario's usage of the air, doing what they could to stay airborne. The Sage AKA Gurkinn had to respect this but he wouldn't let them reach it so easily, preparing to shout out his next command. Thanks to Mega Alakazam's power, it could predict what move could be used to stop Lucario. "Oh?!"
"Ala!?" At least, that seemed to be the case. Ash and Lucario spoke to each other with Aura, choosing a different route. Instead of going straight for the Lucarionite, Lucario would suddenly grab Alakazam's beard. Alakazam didn't see that coming as Ash and Lucario said it between themselves. And this kind of tactic was odd considering what the goal was.
"Lucario!" But that was just part of the goal as Lucario used Alakazam as a booster, launching off the Psi Pokemon after grabbing its beard and stepping on its beard. Disrespecting Alakazam, Lucario got the height he needed.
And with style and effort, powering through the paralysis, he swiped the Lucarionite. The Lucarionite had been retrieved at last by a slippery and determined Lucario. He and Ash grinned as everyone's jaws dropped. To top it all off, Lucario descended to the ground, knocking some rocks into the air. It was done. With a proud look on his face, he held the stone up, revealing it to Ash and everyone.
"Yeah! Way to go, Lucario!" Ash pumped his fist into the air. "We got the Lucarionite!"
"Yes! Finally!" Goh and all of his friends cheered for Ash and Lucario's achievement. All of them jumped of flew for joy as the supposed method of getting past the threatening force that was Delayed Aura Ataxia had been achieved.
"Hm. I was hoping that would last longer." The Sage smiled. "But it's fine...They've earned it already. Even before this."
Ash and Lucario ran at each other for a hug, celebrating their achievement. And the best part of this was the fact that Delayed Aura Ataxia did not rear its head once. Twilight noticed this. Despite today being so focused on Aura, the Ataxia was nowhere to be seen. With a smile on her face, Twilight could already guess why this was the case. The growth Ash and Lucario gained together was already gaining an effect. And this was without even using the staff of Sir Aaron.
Ash and Lucario's newfound power, Mega Evolution. At last, it had been attained. For the Pokemon World Championships and bringing true peace to those that would suffer from this dangerous force. As the journey continues.
Kanto. Rota Kingdom. Cameran Palace. Late Afternoon.
"Ilene! Check it out! We got it!" Returning to the Rota Kingdom were Ash, Lucario and all of their friends. And in Ash's hands was the Lucarionite. With it, Mega Evolution was now possible for his Lucario as he held it triumphantly in the air to Ilene.
"Wonderful." Ilene was relieved. She feared the worst because of Goldeboron Mountain Pass but she had nothing to fear anymore now that they had returned. "I'm glad to see that you're all safe."
"I wanted to stay there a bit longer though. All those Pokemon that can Mega Evolve? And they were all so strong too but I didn't get to see all of 'em. Not even a Salamence." said Rainbow Dash as a part of her wished to stay a bit longer at that Mountain Pass.
"That Mega Evolution Sage would've been a genuine problem if it continued any longer." Gurkinn, who was actually the sage, spoke. Only Twilight and Korrina saw through his disguise.
"Grandpa, that was obviously you," Korrina said, exposing him immediately instead of just keeping it a secret.
"Gh!" Gurkinn twitched after Korrina revealed his identity. And the way he reacted only gained the attention of the others, who had an inkling that it could be Gurkinn, mainly by his voice and those unique eyebrows.
"It was?!" But of course, Ash, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were blown back by this, having the biggest reaction out of everyone.
"You spoiled it, Korrina..." Gurrkin grumbled. "B-But anyways...Nevermind that. Congratulations on your achievement. Ash. Lucario. With this, that annoying Ataxia won't even be noticeable. The Aura you and Lucario share will pin down Delayed Aura Ataxia with an iron fist. After all, it's the usage of Aura that made it so difficult for your body and with Mega Evolution, those difficulties will be gone. But Ataxia will live on."
"Yeah. That's what I really wanna focus on. The Pokemon World Championships is cool and all, but this is more important. We're talking about everyone here." Ash looked at his Mega Stone and the way it glistened. As for the Lucarionite, it was currently within Lucario, only appearing when needed.
"You've already brought peace to those who suffered from the Ataxia long ago. And now it is time to bring peace to those who could suffer from it in the future. I know you can do it, Ash. For now, let's celebrate. I have a feast prepared right now for this occasion. Anything that has to do with Ataxia's disappearance deserves some sort of celebration."
"A feast? Yes!" Music to Ash's ears. Many of them would enjoy a feast here at Cameran Palace. And in the case of royalty, the feast was tremendous and appealing to the eyes. And of course, this feast was catered to everyone. Humans, ponies and Pokemon.
The presence of Hayburgers was a surprising but welcome one, especially for Twilight as Equestrian Food could be found here. The chefs of Cameran Palace already knew just what to serve up. Apples and other fruits had been made into dishes along with the existence of that ever-enticing Slowpoke Tail that was beloved by all species for how delicious it was. Aside from that, there was some delicious spaghetti that Ash would immediately slurp up, joined by a tower of chocolate chip ice cream that was stacked in a bowl, representing a tower.
The stylistic choices of the chefs had also been shown with how they modelled castles out of food just for extra style points. Pies, salad, sandwiches, corn, cake and more. One of the main appeals would be the pizzas without a doubt and all of their variations. This was a rather hefty feast for such a group even though they didn't compare to the number of people that live in Cameran Palace. They were eating like Royalty right now. But even then, the people weren't exempt as they were invited to feast on Queen Elise's treat.
"If you eat too much, you could be put in a food coma," Gurkinn said, having small bites compared to what everyone else was doing.
"Bah, I'm sure it'll be fine! If only Bea were here! She'd love this!" Pinkie Pie devoured the Ice Cream scoop tower, feeling satisfaction.
"Speaking of, Bea, your match with her is pretty soon, Ash." Korrina said. "Best get ready."
"Oh yeah, I'm ready! Right, guys?!" Ash held up a pizza and wing, prepared for battle even this late at night. "We're coming in full force!"
"Pika!" Pikachu and all of Ash's Pokemon agreed, prepared to bring their all against Bea tomorrow. Of course, they might as well stay the night here at Cameran Palace with how late it was. And by tomorrow, the battle with Bea would take place. Whether at Equestria or Bea's Gym over at the Galar Region.
Magehold. Nightfall.
It has been a while since the events that took place on the Despair Plant Garden. Rosa Maledicta was still in her healing chamber, needing to recover some more after what happened with Galaxy Master. In her chamber, she could remember that interaction with the fictional character and how it completely turned things around for her.
In her memory, she recalled the flash of light and burst of darkness that she and Galaxy Master made while clashing. As a result, the garden itself vanished from its original location. At this very moment, the garden was unknown to Rosa Maledicta. No longer could she find it as its existence has completely left her.
"That accursed character..." Rosa Maledicta uttered. "Because of his light, I can't see the garden anymore. But it might also be because of those two ponies who remade it. "I've yet to speak with Fantina and the others about what happened up there. Even if it was an accident, Fantina should have never left Magehold. Now she is aware of the others."
And speaking of Fantina, she even recalled the moment when she spoke with her and Ebony Rhyme after they returned. The same went for all of the vampires. By this point, Rosa Maledicta's irritation was growing. She was usually calm but recent events have stirred her up. The walls around her would crack with windows falling apart. Gathering everything together, the Lich Queen decided on something.
"I can't waste any more time. I'll have to move things forward at this rate." Rosa had decided to speed up her plans. She saw that her opponents were only getting slipper by the second, gaining an edge over her. "It might be time for me to call for the help of the Pony of Shadows."
And hearing this from the other room was Fractured Note, who was secretly behind tearing down the Lich Cycle that his magic accidentally started after being mysteriously corrupted. His eyes opened as Rosa Maledicta's patience was wearing thin. She had been provoked enough at this point with her opponents finding ways to stop her seemingly unstoppable flora and continuing to slip away from destruction.
And just then, a stream of shadows would pass by Fractured Note, phasing through the doors and entering the healing chamber of the Lich Queen. This ominous shadow carried a foreboding presence around it, appearing out of nowhere. It didn't even spawn from the shadows around the area. It just seemed to appear out of thin air. Fractured Note could already sense that the Lich Queen was prepared to kick things into high gear.
He would take the moment to peek through the gaps of the door, seeing what passed through. And he could just barely make it out from this angle and viewpoint. Appearing next to the Lich Queen was this mysterious shadow which was then forming into the head of a pony. But that was all Fractured Note could see. Fractured Note would listen closely to this, wondering what Rosa Maledicta would have to spout out. Anything that the Lich Queen says has to be memorized and the only one who has that much memory of the Lich Queen was Fractured Note.
Meanwhile, over at Ebony Rhyme's home, she was busy making a memory potion. It was all for Fantina, attempting to restore her memories ever since Rosa Maledicta captured her. Alas, for this to work, she'd need to find a way to overpower Rosa Maledicta's magic which was a tall order in every way. Seemingly no one in Magehold could even compare to such a feat.
She was already working on it in secrecy as if it was just like any other potion. This way, she wouldn't draw too much attention from Rosa Maledicta, which was the preferred option. But by now, Ebony Rhyme thought about what could happen next after what occurred in the Despair Plant Garden. She had finally reunited with her old friend Potion Nova and now they were enemies on different sides. Even though they bonded again after all these years, they still had to go against each other.
If anything, this would help solidify Ebony Rhyme's decision to end the Lich Cycle. She already wished to help Fantina by freeing her from Magehold while still following the orders of the Dread League. However, with her new decision, she might as well be straying away from the Dread League and Rosa Maledicta. And that was a rather terrifying thought to the Potion Maker.
She gulped, knowing she was in a difficult scenario right now. And most likely, after speaking with Fractured Note, there could be other vampires in Magehold attempting to break this cycle as well. Whatever happens next, she feared that the Lich Queen would do something about it and that was a most terrifying thought. Just then, there was a knock on the door. And the magic around the door would instantly remove the lock, sensing a friendly presence.
"Evening, Ebony." It was none other than Fantina. The person of interest.
"Oh, it's just you, Fantina. You always show up at the most convenient times, don't you?"
"Sorry for disturbing your work this late at night. I just came to tell you about what I'll be doing next. Do you remember that fun Fashion Show that I had with the children?"
"That thing. I mean yeah...It was fun and humorous to look at." Ebony smiled, recalling the enjoyable Fashion Show that Fantina and the young vampires put on, remembering all the happy faces there. Even Ebony enjoyed it.. "And pretty satisfying to see Opal get beaten like that."
"It was fun. Many vampires did enjoy it and it only encouraged me to do more. Well, I would've done more either way but I would've needed permission." Fantina chuckled. "Everyone is looking forward to what I can do next. And I don't want to disappoint by never doing anything else.."
"Well...What are you planning next? Considering everything that's happening, you sure are gung-ho and jolly to keep doing what you love." Ebony Rhyme questioned.
"Why not?" Fantina hopped onto a table, sitting on it. "The best moments of my life are experiencing the things I love to do and seeing so many love and get involved with it." The Hearthome City GYm Leader was truly a happy individual but Ebony wondered if that had something to do with Rosa Maledicta's magic. "Which is why the other day, I had a chat with Fractured Note. I will be bringing what I love the most here to Magehold!"
"And that is...?"
"Pokemon Contests, of course!" From her pockets, Fantina would reveal a poster. And on that poster, an announcement for a Pokemon Contest had been made. On the poster, Fantina and her Pokemon could be seen, posing and being their elegant and spooky selves.
"Pokemon Contests? Those things? IN Magehold? I mean the Fashion Show I can kinda see but contests?"
"It will be wonderful!" Fantina giggled. "I was eager to get back into them and now is the perfect time. The stage will be set and it will resemble that of a Contest Stage in no time!"
"She's speaking about this extensively, even recalling how the stadium looks. Maybe she does remember more than just her childhood and her Pokemon...". Ebony Rhyme had to wonder if Fantina's memories still had something else that was leaking out. "Well, I'm eager to see that too. You talk so highly of them."
"Mhm. And would you like to join it too, Ebony?"
"M-Me?!" Ebony Rhyme would suddenly pull back after being asked that question. Fantina offered her a spot in this upcoming Pokemon Contest. "Uh...I think I'll pass. I don't think I'm fit for something like that. It sounds too extravagant and I have my potions to work on. I'll just watch it like how I watched the Fashion Show."
"I understand. The whole thing will be organized by yours truly. I know everything there is about contests. The stages and the splendour that goes into them! Of course, the children will be new to this. I'll be teaching them how to make their Pokemon moves do more than just attack and defend. There's a fabulous and dazzling way to use all of those moves that their Pokemon possess."
"I can't wait then. I know you'll do a great job at it." Ebony nodded. "But you have rather odd timing too. After what just happened, is now really the best time to have a contest?"
"I know. Which is why I want to lift everyone's spirits up. That's why I love doing things like these, Ebony. It's all about making everyone have a good time. Because the thrill of entertainment is possibly the greatest joy in the world." Fantina cemented her love for entertainment once more.
Whether it was Fashion Shows, Dancing, Pokemon Battles, Teaching or even Pokemon Contests, Fantina knew how to have good time. And the people of Hearthome City were so lucky to have had someone like her and it was a shame she was missing. But it was also a blessing to Magehold. A place so dark and dreary, devoid of much enjoyment except horrific acts. But ever since Fantina arrived, that was swaying the other way.
The Hearthome City Gym Leader would depart, leaving Ebony to her own devices. And after having that chat with her human friend, Ebony Rhyme had a stronger drive to help her. If anyone deserved the help it was Fantina, even though she was the one helping to lift everyone's spirits. Right now, Ebony didn't care about how strong Rosa Maledicta's magic was. She just had to overcome it with her memory potion.
Hopefully, it's not too late.
Kanto. Rota Kingdom. Cameran Palace. Nightfall.
And after such a delicious feast, Ash and his friends fell into a food coma. Well, some of them. Pinkie Pie was definitely out cold for the time being along with Rainbow Dash, Applejack and even Korrina. But even with that food coma, they could not wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow was the day that the third and seemingly final battle with Bea would take place. Watching them all sleep in the royal guest rooms were Gurkinn and Queen Ilene as they were currently speaking to each other. Most definitely about Aura.
"When he actives Mega Evolution for the first time, that's when things will tilt for Delayed Aura Ataxia," Gurkinn said. "It all depends on Ash and Lucario now."
"It does. And the goal Sir Aaron sought to complete among other things will be completed. But what about that Gardevoir? As long as she is around, Ataxia will continue to exist, won't it?"
"We can't trap her back in the realm she was sealed in. Otherwise, Delayed Aura Ataxia would emerge once more. It's how it built up over the years and caught up to many Aura Guardians. Because of her, so many of them failed to work at their best performance and that would add to why there are very few Aura Guardians in the world left."
"I see. Letting her out in the real world is the best option right now." Ilene nodded in understanding. "What about Sir Aaron's relative descendant? What was his name again?"
"You mean Riley? Oh, Korrina and I Have met him. He knows quite a lot about Ataxia and has done everything in his power to keep it away from him. It still exists but Riley is extremely skilled at conversing every ounce of his strength.
"You're right. Sir Aaron's brother Rye was lucky enough to retrieve knowledge about Delayed Aura Ataxia." Ilene added. "His descendant Riley is one of the best hopes we have. But tomorrow morning could bring that hope to us."
"Well, let's let them sleep. I need it myself as we'll be heading to meet with Bea afterwards." Gurkinn would walk off, leaving Ash and everyone to sleep peacefully. So would Ilene as she quietly closed the doors.
It was already a big day hours ago with the quest for the Lucarionite. But tomorrow will be even bigger. Pokemon Battles can guarantee that. The fate of every Aura user's health and Ash's position at the Pokemon World Championships Rankings was on the line. Tomorrow shall be the true deciding factor of what happens with Ataxia.
A trial to crown the World's Strongest Trainer. Standing at the very top of them all is currently Champion Leon and the one hoping to battle Leon one day is Ash, participating in this Championship and taking on many fierce opponents. Old and new. And at this moment, his next match has been decided. Ash shall face off against Bea for a third time. And this battle would indeed be their last.
Galar. Stow-on-side. Day.
The battle would take place at Stow-on-Side Gym. Perfect for their final battle. And at the moment, Bea and her Pokemon were training hard. Machamp, Grapploct, Hitmonchan, Falinks, Hawlucha and Pangoro respectively. Ash and his friends watched Bea train intensively without her even noticing that they've shown up. She was far too focused to even acknowledge their existence until now.
"Hey, Bea!" Ash greeted her, finally grabbing her attention.
"Huh? You're here so soon?" Bea said before facing her Pokemon. "Halt!" With her command, all of her Pokemon ceased their actions. "I thought you would have showed up in the afternoon with the distance between Kanto and Galar, let alone Stow-on-side, Trainer of Lucario."
"We woke up pretty early. Must've been the Food Coma. Plus, Gurkinn helped bring us here by boat. Anyway, I'm here to finish up our battle and everyone else is up for it!" From his pockets, he would throw the Poke Balls into the air. All of them summoned each of his Pokemon. Lucario, Gengar, Dragonite, Dracovish and Sirfetch'd. The whole gang.
"You're this early. Do you wish to train together?" Bea asked, putting her hand out as she offered Ash and his Pokemon for a chance to train.
"Nah, it's fine. We're supposed to be meeting with Korrina pretty soon. I think she stopped by to buy something quickly." Right as Ash said that, appearing in the Gym without making a sound but grabbing everyone's attention was none other than Korrina.
"Korrina?" Twilight spoke her name as they all saw how Korrina was standing. Something was rather off. The way she stood looked rather menacing as her helmet was covering her eyes as she held a bag of unknown items. Looking at her some more, they saw how sharp her eyes appeared and they seemed to be locked onto Bea. Everyone looked rather stunned at Korrina's expression.
"Wait...Didn't she lose to her that one time? Bea didn't exactly see her in high regard." Rarity questioned, recalling how Bea essentially called Korrina weak and soft during her first battle with Ash. And of course, how Bea beat Korrina one time.
"She did, didn't she?" Rainbow Dash would soon recall it along with everyone else. Once they realized this, they all collectively gasped as Korrina approached Bea on her roller skates. But Bea looked completely unphased when seeing Korrina approach.
"Wait, Korrina!"
"Bea...! I'm sorry!" But that was not the case. No hostile intent was shown. Instead, she seemed rather upset, trying to stave away the tears that suddenly showed up by hugging Bea. "I tried! Honestly, I did but they sold out on Miare Galettes." In reality, Korrina was just upset that she failed to get some of Bea's favourite treats.
"They are? Well...It's not that much of an issue." Bea was nonchalant about it.
"So, in return, I brought my latest obsession. Please forgive me." She would hold out the bag to Bea, showing off her own personal favourites.
"Hm. Alright then. Would you all wish to eat with me?" Bea requested.
"Actually...We've been eating a lot recently ever since Opal showed up. I think we'll pass." Applejack and the others would kindly refuse. Food was good but they've been having too much of it back to back. From the Cake Competiont to the Feast that Queen Ilene gave them.
"More for me then." Bea would gladly stick to having most of it since everyone else would skip it. And of course, after this snack, the battle between her and Ash would begin. Korrina revealed all of her favourites, sharing them with Bea who was the only one willing to eat right now while everyone was still recovering from the Food Coma.
"As for this battle...Sunset wants to see this for herself but the lack of gateways messed with that." Ash said, bringing up Sunset Shimmer. Specifically, the one that originally comes from the Human World. "You told Spike about it, right, Twilight?"
"I definitely did. The only way they can watch the battle as soon as possible is by recording it, right? Sunset passed this through and Spike retrieved it." From Twilight's saddlebag, she revealed that she had a phone in it the entire time. And it came straight from the Human World even though it slightly resembled something that would've come from this world instead.
"Great. Goh, I'm leaving it up to you to record it. That way when Sunset gets this back, she and her counterpart are gonna be sitting pretty watching this." Ash turned to Goh.
"You got it. I'll use my Rotomphone as a backup too." Goh held out his Rotomphone, already prepared to record this.
"I'm glad that didn't go the way I thought it would." Rarity was just relieved that Korrina did not lash out at Bea. "The way she stood there and approached was rather menacing."
"It was? How?" Korrina asked while snacking on a box of chocolates.
"Bea called you soft, didn't she?" said Rainbow Dash. "I figured you'd be pretty heated about that and wanted payback since she beat you and all that."
"Ah, Bea's just a sourpuss sometimes. But I don't mind that side of her." Korrina shrugged it off as she was used to this and couldn't really do anything about that side of Bea. "Ah, Ash. Did you tell her about what happened back at Goldeboron Mountain?"
"Oh yeah. That Ataxia's going down today. It'll happen in our battle so that me and Lucario can go all out without having to worry about too much."
"Luca!"
"Is that so? So you've found a solution to Delayed Aura Ataxia then. I'm surprised I've never had to go through it and I'd rather not. Are you sure today is the day?"
"Yeah. Well, at least for me. I'm still focused on getting rid of it for everyone." Ash looked at his glove which now had a Mega Stone in it.
"Well, since you're so dedicated to that, it would be rather embarrassing if you were to lose right then and there. And that is what I will guarantee." Bea spoke, focusing on the battle and defeating Ash. "And if I win...I'll force you to make that delicious cake of yours for me every week." Bea was also looking forward to having that wonderful cake Ash managed to bake that everyone loved. She could still remember it and how wonderful it tasted.
"Oh yeah? We're the ones who are gonna win this!" Ash confidently said, hitting his chest.
"Pikachu!"
"We'll see. Get ready. In a few hours, everyone will be here to watch us." Bea stood tall as she and Ash looked at each other with a fiery passion. Both were fired up for today's match and only one of them could emerge as the victor. And whoever wins this one will advance in the Pokemon World Championships Rankings while the other will fall behind.
2 hours later.
2 hours had passed. And already, the Stow-on-Side Gym was packed to the brim with a large crowd. Many people and Pokemon gathered to view this battle while a select few ponies, AKA Ash's friends, were sitting in the front, getting the best view.
"The Pokemon World Championship. Ultra Class. Striving to be the World's Strongest Trainer, here we have today's contenders!" The announcer of this battle exclaimed. Bea would walk into the arena, making herself visible to the crowd here as this was her gym. "Ranked 30th, a Galar native, Challenger Bea! Equipped with her Dynamax Band as always!"
Indeed. For this battle, since it was in Galar, Bea would stick with Dynamax as that was the only power she had at her disposal. But considering how strong Bea was, Dynamax in her possession made her all the more intimidating and fierce for anyone who would dare challenge her. Which is why her opponent is just that daring.
"And the recent trainer who, in a recent Ultra Class Battle, took down Sinnoh's Strongest Gym Leader Volkner with an outstanding Z-Move...The one who everyone has their on...Ranked 64th, is Challenger Ash from Kanto!"
"Let's go, Ash! You too, Bea!" Korrina violently pumped her fist into the air. It was a good thing she was in the front otherwise someone would've been struck by this forceful fist pump.
"You've got this, Ash!" Twilight and all the other ponies cheered with Pinkie Pie waving a flag with Ash's face on it.
"The gleaming stone on Challenger Ash's left hand is a Key Stone. He seems to have brought Mega Evolution into this instead of Z-Moves like before." The announcer pointed out. "In this tournament, you are allowed to use one of either. Dynamax, Mega Evolution or a Z-Move. Only one. Today's battle shall be a 3v3."
"Do you think he'll use Mega Evolution right away? You know...to see if it works." Applejack asked.
"Knowing Ash, he'll save it for the very end or when he really needs to." Twilight shook her head. "If he pushes himself with Lucario again, then he'll probably unleash it. But we'll see."
"I'm sure they'll be fine," said Fluttershy. "Queen Ilene and Gurkinn seemed very confident in the stone doing the trick. That's why Bertha recommended it and why we set out to find that one Lucarionite.2
"Alright! Both sides, please send out your Pokemon at the same time!" The Rotom Drone said, acting as the referee once more. "3...2...1...Go!"
"Pikachu! I Choose You!"
"Appear, Grapploct!" Both trainers selected their first Pokemon. For Ash, it would be his partner Pikachu, who leapt off Ash's shoulder to make his appearance, landing on the arena. And out of Bea's Poke Ball came her Grapploct.
"Pikachu!"
"Grapploct!"
"Battle Start!"
"Check this out! Quick Attack!"
"Pika!" Pikachu would start things off, going for one of the fastest attacks out there. Quick Attack. In a flash of light, Pikachu was already moving, leaving behind afterimages.
"Detect!" However, there was a counter to swift moves such as Quick Attack and one of those was Detect as Bea did a fighting pose to bring out more of her Pokemon's power, syncing with them.
"Grapp!" Grapploct was already ahead of Pikachu, having his eyes flash blue. As Pikachua approached, attempting to ram into Grapploct, the Tantrum Pokemon evaded it, detecting his attack and moving to the side.
"Electroweb!" But Ash wouldn't waste any time, wanting to put the pressure on Grapploct and Bea already. He expected Detect to come in and capitalise on that immediately.
"Pika...Pikachu-Pi!" From his tail, Pikachu would form an electric orb, leaping into the air and throwing the orb as it transformed into a web. Grapploct certainly couldn't detect this as the web landed on it.
"G-Grapp!? Loct!" Grapploct cried out as the electricity both shocked and trapped it while Pikachu stuck a stylish landing after overcoming that pesky Detect.
"Nice! We trapped it!" Ash pumped his fist.
"That Electroweb was only pulled off successfully because that Quick Attack was only a feint," Korrina explained. "Ash never lets moves like Detect get past him."
"Gra...Grapp!" Just then, without Bea saying a word, while Grapploct was trapped in this web, it would suddenly slide one of its tentacles through the gaps in the web, attempting to break free.
"Alright, Pikachu! Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" Pikachu would leap in, going in for an Iron Tail. But at the same time, Bea would give a command to try and quickly counter Pikachu's next attack.
"Close Combat!"
"Grapploct!" The Tantrum Pokemon managed to slip its tentacles through the web even when the rest of its body was currently trapped. The tentacles approach Pikachu, who was in the air, ready to slice at the Fighting-Type.
"It got through?!" Ash gasped, surprised that Grapploct managed to still retaliate even when it was being held down by the Electroweb.
"Pika?!" Pikachu was also surprised by this as one of the tentacles went past him. But that one tentacle was only used to grab him, wrapping around the hilt of his tail and interrupting the attack. "K-Ka?!" With Pikachu's Iron Tail being stopped, he was now the one restrained. As such, Grapploct was free to start attacking, striking Pikachu with the rest of its tentacles.
"Nice catch! Grapploct completely ignored the Electroweb with all of that toughness and is wailing on Pikachu!" The announcer exclaimed with the same level of shock as the crowd.
"It didn't even slow it down that much!" Goh gasped in awe. With all of these hits, Pikachu was eventually knocked back. This was only because Grapploct wished to free itself. It still had the web over it after all.
"P-Pika!" With Pikachu falling on his back, Grapploct would then use all of its tentacles to grab the rest of the web, harming itself in the process. But with its strength, it managed to rip apart the Electroweb, finally being free.
"Are you okay, Pikachu?!" Ash asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu was doing fine. He got back up, holding his face as he was just a bit perplexed. But he would manage. One thing he and Ash had to manage was getting past Grapploct's toughness. It was the third battle with this Pokemon and it was proving to be their most formidable one out of Bea's entire team once more. At least for now.
"Come back, for now, buddy!" Ash would call Pikachu back, going for a switch-in. Quickly, Pikachu would return to the side of his best friend. "Okay. Just hang on for a bit. Go Lucario!" Ash's next Pokemon would be sent in and it was the one of great importance in this instance. The Aura Pokemon Lucario.
"Lucario!" And when making his appearance, Twilight and the others were reminded of when Lucario was a Riolu and took on Grapploct. The first time, he lost but the second time, he managed to tie with the Tantrum Pokemon. With this being their third battle, Lucario was looking to make this their last. But with him coming out as the victor.
"Lucario! This time we're gonna beat that Grapploct!"
"Luca!" Lucario roared in agreement, preparing himself. He knew what to expect from Grapploct but it would not be easy. Not one bit.
"Hmph. Liquidation!"
"Grapp!" All of Grapploct's tentacles became covered in water, approaching Lucario.
"Double Team!"
"Rrr!" But once Grapploct approached him, Lucario would form multiple clones in the blink of an eye, using them to confuse Grapploct. Suddenly, Grapploct was surrounded by multiple Lucarios from every side.
"Ash doesn't want to get too close to Grapploct, doesn't he? He's not going for his usual hard-hitting choices like always." Rainbow Dash noticed.
"He's wary about Octolock, isn't he?" Rarity added. "It is a bit dangerous to get too close to Grapploct, especially with all those tentacles. But any other opponent right now would receive the usual approach."
"Spin, Grapploct!"
"Grap!" With all of these clones, Grapploct had a way to get rid of them. By spinning them around as fast as it could. With this spiral tactic and speed, Grapploct sent out the water as blades at high speeds in multiple directions. Each of the Lucario clones went into blocking stances, only to be fizzled out once the blades hit them.
Bea managed to find her way past the clones as soon as possible. Being a Fighting-Type Specialist, getting up close and personal was her best option and she certainly wouldn't let anyone prevent her from battling at her best and trying to put a handicap on her. However, there was the issue of the real Lucario since the ones that fizzled out were all clones as Grapploct was searching for it.
"Aura Sphere!"
"Luca!" Appearing behind Grapploct, Lucario would prepare an Aura Sphere, unleashing the ball of concentrated Aura from his paws.
"Detect!"
"Loct!" Unfortunately, enough time had passed for Detect to be successful once more. With another glint in its eyes, Grapploct would perform a limbo move, pulling its head and upper body back, narrowly evading the Aura Sphere. Just short of another hit for Ash's team.
"Return, Grapploct!" And after that evasion, Bea would return Grapploct, choosing to switch out.
"Gah. She's holding out until the end." Goh sighed.
"Oh, they're just barely getting started," Korrina replied. "That was just those two checking each other out, no?"
"I guess so. I'm so used to seeing Ash's battles explode in the beginning. That's what they're all about, right?" Pinkie added as all of Ash's battles tend to have an explosive start and end explosively as well.
"Go! Hawlucha!" Bea's next Pokemon would make its appearance. This time, it was her Hawlucha, appearing in the sky and descending afterwards just to strike a pose.
"Hawlucha!"
"So it's Hawlucha next, huh?" Ash smirked, having a blue glimmer in his eye that was reflected off the sun's rays. "Now I can finally lay it on 'em! Lucario! Rush in!"
"Rrr!" He would do just that. The Aura Pokemon approached Hawlucha, moving relatively fast as Ash had yet to choose a move.
"High-Jump Kick!"
"Hawlu!" With its knees glowing white, the Wrestling Pokemon took flight for a moment before descending, going straight for a knee attack. But Lucario had the instinct to block it, putting his arms up. He successfully blocked the knee with the only thing he received being a pushback and nothing more.
"Wing Attack!"
"Lucha!" Still in the air, Hawlucha's wings glow light blue as it went in swinging. But once more, Lucario would simply block them, however, Wing Attack had more pressure behind it that than Wing Attack as they were consecutive hits instead of just one. Continuously, the wings would hit Lucario's arms, trying to break through.
"Knock its attacks, back, Lucario! Fist for fist!"
"Luca!" Lucario would retaliate, using his paws to hit the wings. It was suddenly a close-quarters clash between Hawlucha's Wing Attack and Lucario's fists as sparks were flying. Neither Pokemon managed to land a truly decisive blow against the other but it was still a strong and fierce blow-for-blow encounter. And Lucario was just simply using his fighting capabilities instead of a move.
The two Fighting-Types then leapt into the air, continuing their clash, swiftly striking against each other as their arms became blue and red blurs. Lucario would receive a strike on his chest while returning the favour to Hawlucha each time they clashed. They were far too even, clashing their legs against each other in an X-Position. Afterwards, they both leapt off each other's legs, returning to the ground and ending their clash.
"Brave Bird!"
"Hawlucha!" With some build-up, Hawlucha's body became surrounded by a gradually intensifying light blue aura that looked rather divine once it gathered enough energy.
"Force Palm!"
"Ca!" Lucario would try and interrupt this, approaching the Wrestling Pokemon. He slid on the ground before thrusting his palm out. But right as he did so, Hawlucha built up enough energy, evading Lucario's attack and ascending into the air. Once the aura flared up and enough energy was gathered, Hawlucha came crashing down on the Aura Pokemon at high speeds. "L-Lu!"
Enveloped in a bright blue explosion, Lucario was sent flying back, tumbling on his back as Ash gasped. "Ah! Lucario, are you okay?!"
"Rrr!" Lucario growled after being dropped onto his back with smoke from the explosion trailing out of his body. Lucario was still able to continue.
"So now she's not giving me the chance to attack...!" Ash narrowed his eyes at Bea. He got back up, growling at the Wrestling Pokemon, having way more strength to share than this. He also had incredible toughness.
"Is he gonna use it now?" Goh asked.
"Not yet." But Twilight knew that Ash wouldn't go for Mega Evolution just yet. He wasn't being pushed that far. Not just yet. But if there was someone to push him, it would be Bea. "But if I was Ash, I would because I have a feeling the next Pokemon will make it harder for him."
"Return, Hawlucha." Bea would soon return Hawlucha, opting for another switch-in. Ash and Lucario prepared for who else could show up. "Go...Machamp!"
"Machamp!" Out came Machamp, joining the fray. And of course, she arrived with a show of determination, much like every Machamp out there. "Champ! Machamp!"
"As expected. She brought her true ace into this since it's Ash she's facing." Korrina said.
"True ace?! I thought it was Grapploct?!" Rainbow Dash gasped before looking at the Dynamax Band. "But then again...that would explain the Dynamax Band. Is she going for a Gigantamax Machamp?"
"Gigantamax Machamp?!" The ponies collectively gasped, recalling the appearance of Gigantamax Machamp. Because of how Big Mac's Machamp accidentally Gigantamaxed himself, they all got a taste of Machamp's other form and the raw power that form possesses. And that was just a confused Machamp. Bea's Machamp was more capable, making that all the more terrifying.
"Bullet Punch!"
"Champ!" Machamp ran rushing in, having all four arms out.
"Force Palm!"
"Luca!" Lucario would also approach her as it would be another close-quarters altercation. With both Fighting-Types approaching each other, Machamp managed to get the first hit off, smacking Lucario's face. For a moment, Lucario flinched but managed to regain his momentum, blocking the next hit from one of Machamp's upper arms. Soon, Machamp would be the one getting attacks off, swinging her four arms at Lucario who could only block, unable to get Force Palm off.
It was one heavy blow after the other, specifically targeting Lucario's head as he kept blocking it. But with these mountain-shattering punches, one of them broke through Lucario's defences, creating a shockwave as the Aura Pokemon stumbled back for a bit. But Lucario was a persistent one, still managing to put his arms back up to defend.
"Oh! All Lucario can do is defend against Machamp's fierce assault! It hasn't even gotten off its Force Palm at all!" The announcer said as Machamp was pushing back Lucario with each rapid blow.
"Ma...Champ!" Machamp got off a decisive blow with her heaviest punch thus far. Once again, Lucario's defences were broken through but this time without a chance to continue blocking as a golden flash of energy occurred from the impact, sending the Aura Pokemon back.
"L-Luca!" Lucario growled, managing to land on his feet. He truly was a tough and resilient one. He refused to let himself go down here so soon.
"Rush in, again! Force Palm!"
"Ca!" But much like Ash, Lucario wasn't going to let this stop him. He would once again rush in for another Force Palm. And this time, he was dedicated to get it off. And with his synergy with Ash, he suddenly caused a wind pressure from the speed he threw his arm at. Machamp caught his fist, as another golden flare emerged, showing just how much force was put behind these attacks. It felt like lightning bolts were flying from how hard and fast these arms moved.
Truly staggering to the core as Lucario pulled his right arm just to throw both his fists in, only for that one to be caught by Machamp's other two arms below as well. It was now an arm wrestle with two more of Machamp's arms being free.
"Bullet Punch!"
"Champ!" And with this position, Machamp had an advantage. And that was with two of her arms being free. Then again, this was a natural advantage of the Machamp species and she was ready to capitalise on it while holding onto Lucario's paws, refusing to let go. And Lucario was already struggling to break free of this double grip considering the strength of the Machamp species. "Machamp-champ-champ!"
"C-Ca!" Lucario found his entire face and head being slugged by Machamp's fists repeatedly. The first two hits felt like being hit by a train from both sides, truly punishing and tremendous. Twilight and the others felt it and they weren't even the ones in the battle. "Rrr!"
But even after being slugged in the face by the first few hits, Lucario had the strength to move his head, avoiding the next hit, refusing to let himself take so much more punishment. He would then duck the next punch, finding his footing before managing to break one of his arms free with his own brute strength. There was still his other arm that was stuck as he used the only free one to block Machamp's incoming strike. Even when blocking, it still felt like a building was being dropped on his body, making his arm tremble.
However, Machamp's fists would smash into his face even after that successful block, delivering a crushing jaw strike. And he was still unable to get his other arm free to block the rest. Practically mocking Lucario, Machamp kept slugging Lucario's face, while holding onto his only arm. Even so, Lucario would still find opportunities to keep blocking.
"Come on, Lucario! You can't let her humiliate you like that!"
"It's no use! He can't break free!" Applejack held her hat, raising it as Lucario was getting absolutely thrashed out there by Lucario. In response to this violent beatdown, Delta Riolu would suddenly exit his Poke Ball, surprising Applejack.
"Rio!" Delta Riolu watched his Sinnohan Final Evolution was being clobbered by the Superpower Pokemon. "Riolu!" He cried out for Lucario, cheering him on as well.
"Champ!" At last, Machamp, after slugging Lucario multiple times, would decide to grab both his arms. Lucario gasped as he was then pulled in by the embrace of the Superpower Pokemon. And for extra measure, she tightened her grip on him, harming his arms.
"Lucaaa!"
"Now Machamp's got Lucario trapped!" shouted the Commentator. "Can it even get away from it!"
"Cross Chop!"
"Machamp!" With two of her arms holding Lucario, the other two on the top were free to strike down on the Aura Pokemon. In a way, Machamp perfectly represents Bea. Having so many opportunities for fierce attacks with these four arms. Machamp crossed the top two arms on her to form an 'X', letting off a bright orange light. She then struck Lucario's head with her hands as it felt like a hammer was pounding on his face.
"Rrr!"
"Bullet Punch!" And Bea would just continue to the assault, not letting up at all, being truly unrelenting.
"How come Ash isn't doing anything?!" Goh grimaced.
"He's thinking about what to do next! Getting trapped by a Machamp is a tough one!" But Rainbow Dash knew exactly why. Ash was just waiting for that moment. A moment to break free. But he had to think fast as Machamp was continuing to strike Lucario relentlessly.
"Gotta break free. Maybe now I should..." Ash had one way he thought off. And that was by raising his arm, looking at his Key Stone. He was planning on using Mega Evolution now to break free from Machamp's powerful grip. Bea was getting ready for this, leaning her head back a bit as all of Ash's friends did the same, expecting Mega Evolution to make its arrival here.
"Oh, that might be a good way!" Fluttershy gasped.
"Lucario! Let's go!" Ash tapped on the Mega Stone, ready to go through with it.
"Ca!" Suddenly, Lucario yelled at him with a thunderous voice. So thunderous it startled Machamp, making her cease her attacks for a bit. "Lucario!"
"Lucario?" Ash understood Lucario clearly as the light from the Mega Evolution Stone would not flow out just yet. Bea even understood him as well as his words were clear along with his mannerisms. He did not wish to Mega Evolve just yet.
"No?! Why not?!" A confused Pinkie Pie blurted out.
"I don't get it either!" Even Korrina was surprised by this, having a Lucario of her own who was sitting next to her. Speaking of Korrina's Lucario, it looked intensively at Ash's Lucario, waiting to see what he could do to break free since he did not wish to Mega Evolve just yet.
"Luca...Rio!" Lucario found his own way. And it was the most brutish and straightforward way possible. He smashed his head against Machamp's own head, having impressive force behind it as it made a shockwave reverberate through the Superpower Pokemon's head.
"C-Champ!" With that staggering headbutt, Machamp flinched, letting go of Lucario who would also kick off the Superpower Pokemon's chest.
"Just like that?!" Bea gasped as Machamp even fell on her back.
"Rrr...Rrr..." Breathing in and out was Lucario and that was to be expected. He just spent an entire minute or so getting absolutely slugged, clobbered, socked and struck by Machamp's attacks repeatedly. He was winded and yet, he could still continue.
"Lucario's own strong will resisted the light of the Key Stone? That's impossible though..." Korrina's jaw dropped.
"T-That can happen?" Rainbow Dash uttered as she and the other Mega Evolution users learned something new today.
"Okay, Lucario. I got it." Ash understood Lucario's wish, respecting it. He also decided that the time wasn't right, fully trusting Lucario with this. "I was kinda losing my temper there. Not really thinking ahead there, huh?"
"Lu." Lucario nodded in understanding, not blaming Ash for it. After all, all Lucario needed to do was headbutt to break free. That didn't require much thought as it was rather common for someone to try that. But against a Machamp? Well, that was rather gutsy even if that is the only option.
"They're on such equal footing with each other..." Bea observed the communication between Ash and Lucario and how unified it was. For that, she put on a smile. "That's the ideal I aspire to achieve. I never thought they'd be the ones to show it to me."
"Mega Evolution hasn't gone through!" The commentator in the booth exclaimed. "I-Is the bond between Ash and Lucario not strong enough?!"
"That's not it." Suddenly, someone replied to the commenter, appearing next to him in the booth casually. It was none other than Champion Leon. The World's Strongest Trainer. "It's far from that. It's perhaps that their bond is just too deep. That's why this happened."
"C-Champion Leon?!" The commentator gasped, nearly falling off his chair. That name passed through the microphone, which in return, reached the ears of everyone here. "I was worried you wouldn't show up for this like you said you would."
"Sorry about that. I got lost!" Leon laughed, having a poor sense of direction as always, making him a bit late for the battle. But not too late since it was just ramping up from here.
"Leon's here?!" Twilight gasped as everyone turned their heads to the booth, speaking about Leon's presence. Ash and Bea would also focus on the screen that showed Leon's face.
"Their deep bond means it'll happen when it's necessary." Leon continued, speaking through the microphone for everyone to hear. "That's what Mega Evolution is all about. But now was not the time. Lucario knew that and stopped his trainer right then and there. Sure it would've broken the bind and given him a massive power boost, but it's the timing that matters. Can't you feel how close they are?"
"Hmph. It's obvious he saw through it." Bea looked back at Ash. "I'd expect him of all people to. But don't think that'll save you, Ash."
"Since Leon's watching, I gotta show him that I'm getting close to throwing down with him!" Ash smiled back at Bea.
"No, It shall be me!" Bea roared back at Ash, ready to continue this battle. Both Trainers would resume their battle, having their fighting spirits light up some more.
With Leon here, they had to give it their all and show him what they were made of as they both had the goal to take on the Undefeatable Champion. Their goals are on the line once more, rekindled by Leon's presence as the journey continues.
The battle between Ash and Bea in this Pokemon World Championships Ultra Class Battle would continue. So far, neither have lost a Pokemon in this fierce battle but with the presence of Champion Leon spectating, their fiery spirits would eventually lead to one of them losing a Pokemon and emerging as the victor in this 3v3 Ultra Class match. Only one shall be the victor.
"Use Strength!" Continuing the battle, Machamp and Lucario would approach each other with Ash and Bea shouting out commands.
"Reversal!" Immediately, Lucario and Machamp entered an up-close confrontation with Lucario attempting to use all the damage he's suffered in this battle into strength, only for Machamp to grab his shoulders with her lower two arms. But Lucario wouldn't let himself be trapped by Machamp yet again.
"Lu...Ca!" Lucario channelled the power of Reversal as the orange aura of the attack would flare around his body. The energy then moved from his paws to his legs since his arms were being restrained. With this, Lucario would smash his feet into Machamp's stomach and chest with the power of Reversal, running up her before then striking her chin.
"C-Cha!" Machamp cried out as Lucario found a way to break free once more, knowing how dangerous those four arms of the Super Power Pokemon were. Thus, he used the one thing Machamp couldn't reach when holding the Aura Pokemon. His legs. It was truly a Reversal. In return, the power of Reversal affected Machamp greatly due to how much damage Lucario had taken in this battle.
"Oh! It lands! Lucario put its strength into its legs to counter having its arms restrained! An amazing reversal!" The announcer bellowed as the crowd went wild due to Lucario's method of breaking free.
"Return, Lucario!" Suddenly, Ash would return Lucario, opting for a switch-in while Machamp was still shaking her head from that Reversal Run-Up. Lucario had done some excellent work in this battle, taking massive punishment and still managing to retaliate. But for now, he needed to conserve his strength and let his friends get in on the action. "Sirfetch'd! Let's go!"
"Sirfetch'd!" And the third Pokemon of this 3v3 ended up being Sirfetch'd. For his entrance, Sirfetch'd swung his leek, sweeping the dust off the arena floor before aiming it at Machamp.
"Huh. I thought he'd pick Dragonite or even Gengar for this." Goh uttered. "But he went with Sirfetch'd?"
"Ash never takes the easy way out though." Rainbow Dash added.
"That's right. He's facing her head-on. Ash wants to beat her with Fighting-Types even if he only has two. That's just the kind of trainer he is." said Korrina.
"I'm loving this. Usually one of them would be down about now and they've yet to use Mega Evolution or Dynamax. What do you think, Champion Leon?" The announcer asked.
"Hang on. I'm enjoying this battle from the very bottom of my heart right now. Let's just sit back and watch what happens next."
"Alright! Use Fury Cutter, Sirfetch'd!"
"Sir! Sir...!" Approaching the Superpower Pokemon, Sirfetch'd's leek sword was enveloped in a light green energy, ready to swing consistently at Machamp with a gradual increase in power.
"Bullet Punch!"
"Machamp!" Right before Sirfetch'd could get close, Machamp threw out rapid-fire strikes with her arms as they left behind afterimages from the speed they were moving at. However, Sirfetch'd was prepared, holding his shield out to block the incoming strikes. He postponed his Fury Cutter, blocking the Bullet Punch with his leek shield, waiting for the right time to strike. "Champ-Champ-Champ-Champ!"
"Sir!" And Sirfetch'd certainly did find an opening. After having his shield block all of Machamp's strikes which were pushing him, he found a window to take advantage of. Sirfetch'd would thrust his leek repeatedly as it would clash with Machamp's fists. Soon, a high-speed clash would ensue with Bullet Punch and Fury Cutter going up against each other.
This fierce up-close altercation made everyone see only grey and green afterimages from how fast these attacks were going and it looked like Sirfetch'd and Machamp were equal in this instance. However, Sirfetch'd had an advantage. Fury Cutter's effect was kicking in. With each strike, Sirfetch'd's leek gained more and more power, pushing back against Machamp's fists. With this power increase with every strike, the Wild Duck Pokemon won the clash of strength, striking the Superpower Pokemon's chest.
"C-Champ!" Machamp cried out as she was pushed back by the leek, sliding on the arena floor.
"Yeah! They overpowered Machamp!" Applejack cheered. "I thought that was impossible!"
"That Fury Cutter along with Sirfetch'd's swordsmanship makes up for that power gap!" Rarity put her hooves together in excitement at this development. Sirfetch'd already managed to impress everyone, gaining the advantage with his perfect mix of offence and defence.
"Come back to me, Machamp." Bea would then return Machamp, deciding that now was the best time to swap Pokemon. With the next Poke Ball in her hand, she would launch it upwards. "Go, Hawlucha!"
"Hawlucha!" Hawlucha had returned, ready for another round.
"Use Flying Press!"
"Haw...Lu!" Going for its signature move, Hawlucha took flight, advancing towards the Wild Duck Pokemon. It was then outlined in white energy, ready to crash into its fellow Fighting-Type. However, this was where Sirfetch'd was ready.
"Sir!" Right when Hawlucha came close, the Wild Duck Pokemon swung his leek in a split-second, interrupting the Flying Press.
"Lucha!" Hawlucha was then pushed back by Sirfetch'd's split-second slash. Flying Press failed to get in for heavy damage as Hawlucha would recover by landing on its feet.
"Night Slash!"
"Sir!" The Wild Duck Pokemon leapt into the air as his leek becomes surrounded in light blue streaks of energy, building up power with it before then lunging at Hawlucha.
"Leap into the air, Hawlucha!"
"Hawlu!" However, Hawlucha would use its powerful legs to leap into the air, evading Sirfetch'd's powerful leek swing. The leek only hit the ground, causing dust to rise.
"Throw your shield! Brutal Swing!"
"Fetch'd!" With a glimmer in his eye, Sirfetch'd would swivel, ready to strike once more. However, instead of just swinging his leek sword which was enveloped in a red aura, Sirfetch'd would throw his leek shield, which was also covered in the red energy. The shield was launched, spinning rapidly through air, prompting Bea, Hawlucha, Leon and everyone else to look in awe.
"Oho! It tossed the shield with a swing! What an inspired Brutal Swing!" The announcer cried out as the leek shield would almost strike Hawlucha in the air. Hawlucha narrowly evaded it, performing a backflip in the air as the shield would fly off in the distance.
"Sky Attack, Hawlucha!"
"Lucha!" Hawlucha built up a divine-like aura around its body, preparing for a powerful strike that was sure to leave a devastating number of Sirfetch'd. After all, this was one of, if not, the strongest Flying-Type move out there, with Brave-bird being a common rival to it.
"Launch upwards! Night Slash!"
"Sir!" The shield came back to Sirfetch'd like a boomerang as the Wild Duck Pokemon already gathered the white energy from Night Slash onto his leek. However, by Ash's command, Sirfetch'd would suddenly launch himself with his sword, stabbing it into the ground and using it as a way to gain some amazing height and airtime that he couldn't do with his normal jump. The Fighting-Type would approach from above while Hawlucha had finished building up Sky Attack, clearing the dust around it.
Sirfetch'd would thrust the sword downwards with impressive power, summing sparks of lightning from the amount of force that was put behind it. Meanwhile, Hawlucha would ascend, approaching Sirfetch'd directly. Night Slash and Sky Attack connected, causing a blue explosion to occur in the air along with mighty wing pressures. It was a fierce collision as only one Pokemon fell out of it. And that Pokemon was Sirfetch'd, who dropped to the ground.
"S-Sirfetch'd..." Sirfetch'd groaned while on the ground as the Rotom Drone flew over to check up on his status.
"Sirfetch'd is unable to battle! Hawlucha wins!" said the Rotom Drone The one who lost a Pokemon first was Ash, giving Bea an advantage here. The knockout blow from Sky Attack gave her that edge.
"Return." Ash would return Sirfetch'd before looking at the Poke Ball. "Thanks, buddy. You did your best, now rest up. So...it's time for you to get back in there, Pikachu. You're up."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu was the next choice in this battle, returning to throw down and take Sirfetch'd's place.
"Come on, Pikachu! If anyone can take a Pokemon down, it's you!" Twilight exclaimed with a determined grimace on her face after Ash lost his first Pokemon.
"Sky Attack!"
"Lucha!" Once again, Hawlucha would try and use Sky Attack, summoning that bright aura once more by building up a huge amount of energy.
"Use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika!" With a slap on his face, Pikachu would also build some energy, summoning 100,000 volts around his body. In a flash, Thunderbolt was unleashed, flying out at high speeds. However, Hawlucha would leap over it with Sky Attack with impressive speed once more, making the Thunderbolt miss. "Pika?!"
"Ah!" Ash gasped before thinking quickly on his feet. "Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" Pikachu understood Ash clearly. There was a trick with Iron Tail that would perfectly here. Pikachu would suddenly stab his tail into the ground. Hawlucha descended, ready to crash into the Mouse Pokemon, unaware of what he was actually planning.
"Quick Attack!"
"Pika...Pika-Pika-Pika!" Once more, Pikachu would combine some moves with each other. And it was a strategy that has worked for him and Pikachu ever since their earlier days. Pikachu utilized the hyper-fast energy of Quick Attack around his body while his tail was stuck to the ground. Powerful Ultrasonic Vibrations were emerging because of this, making Pikachu's body shake violently. These vibrations involved shockwaves and wind pressures so fierce that Pikachu gained an aura of sound.
"H-Haw!" Hawlucha still managed to crash into Pikachu, but there was a catch. The moment it came into contact with the Mouse Pokemon, it was the one who went flying, bewildered and perplexed by what just happened. Pikachu only got on all fours, not flying back at all but still receiving damage.
"What?!" Bea roared in shock and amazement.
"In a stunning turn of events, Pikachu shook off the Sky Attack that finished Sirfetch'd off!" The announcer exclaimed.
"W-What did he just do?" Rarity questioned as she and her friends were all confused by what Ash and Pikachu just pulled off.
"Ultrasonic Vibrations. He used Quick Attack's speed while his tail was in the ground. That way, he took less damage from Sky Attack and dealt even more damage in return." Twilight answered.
"You astonish me. Trainer of Lucario." Bea said. "Are you always using moves like these?"
"I just come up with stuff when I'm battling someone!" Ash laughed. "My head heats up and explodes with ideas! It practically goes boom! Ya know what I mean?" Ash raised his arms, expressing his wild imagination and how he uses that in a battle to really amaze his opponents.
"Without any planning?" Bea closed her eyes, respecting Ash's way of battling. "You impress me with these improvised tactics. But your Pikachu impresses me even more by pulling them off. I can see why Nessa is so determined to try and defeat you. Unfortunately, it shall be me that defeats you here and now and this victory will certainly grant me great insights. Hawlucha! High Jump Kick!"
"Hawlu!" Hawlucha came in at full force, running off the ground, leaving sparks from the sheer power and speed it was moving at, preparing for a rather hefty and staggering High Jump Kick.
"Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaa...Chuuu!" However, by staying in one spot, Pikachu's whole body would be enveloped in a golden aura. With all of his might, he zapped Hawlucha with Thunderbolt at a close distance, managing to outspeed the Wrestling Pokemon this time with how instant the attack was.
"Cha...Chaaaaaaaa!" Hawlucha screamed after receiving the fierce Thunderbolt which occupied its entire body. A super-effective blow once it hits its mark, bringing out a powerful outburst as the Fighting-Flying-Type dropped to the ground, sliding on it. And it stayed there for a while, prompting the Rotomdrone to fly over. "Hawlucha..." Hawlucha had fainted.
"Hawlucha is unable to battle! Pikachu wins!"
"Yeahaha! We did it, Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed with joy.
"Pika!"
"Yes!" Twilight thrust her hooves into the air as all of her friends cheered. Ash tied it up already as he and Bea were now down to two Pokemon each.
"Return to me, Hawlucha," Bea recalled her Hawlucha, already having the next Poke Ball out, launching it. "Grapploct! I need your help!"
"Grapploct!"
"Pikachu. Can you keep going?" Ash asked his tried and true partner if he could keep this up some more.
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded, choosing to stay in this. Grapploct was a tough wall to overcome as proven by Ash and Bea's last two battles. But one thing was for sure. The way to defeat this Pokemon was by wearing it down. Pikachu would have to do just that as he was also hoping to defeat the Tantrum Pokemon. And at the start of this battle, he already did so for a bit.
"Quick Attack!"
"Pika!" Starting off strong was a Quick Attack, allowing Pikachu to move at blinding speeds.
"Octolock!"
"Grapp!" Grapploct prepared to grab Pikachu, only for Pikachu's speed to win it out, smashing into Grapploct's head. A direct hit from Pikachu's Quick Attack, but that was only used to Grapploct's advantage. The Tantrum Pokemon opened its eyes, using its tentacles to grab Pikachu who was above him after he pulled off Quick Attack. "Loct!"
"Pika?!" Pikachu was now trapped within Grapploct's mighty tentacles.
"Not again!" Goh grimaced. "How come it always manages to catch its opponents so easily!?"
"You won't get out so easily this time!" Bea narrowed his eyes with intensity.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaa...Chuuu!"That wouldn't stop Pikachu from trying. Lightning began flaring from his red sacs, attempting to burst out, only for Grapploct to tighten his grip some more. By doing so, the Thunderbolt fizzled out, unable to exit Pikachu's body.
"Grapploct's grip is too strong it seems! Thunderbolt can't be released!" The announcer shouted.
"Pikachu can't do much against this like how Lucario had to deal with it when he was a Lucario. That Octolock is an ugly move to deal with." Rainbow Dash commented.
"No good, huh? Pikachu! Struggling won't work! Relax all your muscles and give in to Grapploct!" Ash opted for a calmer approach. A similar approach that Lucario used when he battled Grapploct for a second time.
"Pika? PIka..." Pikachu would do just that, recalling what Lucario pulled off once.
"That won't work! Close Combat!" However, Bea was already expecting this ever since their previous battle.
"Loct!" The Tantrum Pokemon suddenly threw Pikachu into the air, surprising him. Pikachu gasped while in the air, unable to relax his muscles this way as Grapploct interrupted him before that could ever happen.
"P-Pika?!"
"Grapp! Loct-Loct-Loct!" With Pikachu descending, Grapploct would start unleashing a barrage of high-speed and powerful strikes at the Mouse Pokemon, knocking him across the arena with each strike. These fierce strikes were then finished with one more hit that sent Pikachu flying.
"PIkaa...!" Pikachu would roll on the ground like a ball, attempting to recover on his feet. Alas, he failed to do so with how fast he was rolling back. Thus, Pikachu would fall over with his eyes closed.
"Pikachu is unable to battle! Grapploct wins!" With the Rotom Drone making the call, Ash was now down to just one Pokemon. His Lucario.
"Darn. Bea saw right through it ever since their last battle." Fluttershy pouted. "He could've broken through that way."
"At least he wore him down," said Goh. "All that's left is Lucario but he's taken a lot of punishment previously."
"You did great. Thanks." Ash went over to pick up Pikachu, gently placing his partner down to rest, away from the arena. "Yeah. Bea really is strong. But..." Ash would then look over at the booth where Leon was. "We're gonna win this!" Looking at Leon gave Ash the spirit to try and win this, just so that he could face Leon one day. "Lucario! I choose you!"
"Lucario!" Back into the fray was Lucario. His final Pokemon.
"I won't settle for a draw again, Grapploct. Be careful." Bea said to Grapploct knowing how much of a threat Lucario was.
"If this drags on, Lucario won't have any strength left to face Machamp." Ash thought to himself before narrowing his eyes. "We'll finish this in one blow!" Ash was determined to finish Grapploct off as soon as possible as the two Fighting-Types were slowly walking up to each other.
"It's a staring match between the two sides." said the Commentator. "Which one will make the first move?!"
"Liquidation!"
"Grapploct!" Grapploct went first, lunging in with sharp water blades on each of its tentacles while Lucario just stood there. However, it was a matter of patience. In his paw, he had a spark of Aura appear as Ash found an opportunity.
"Aura Sphere!" With all of his might, he clenched his fist, synergizing with Lucario in this instance.
"Luca!" From that same paw on the right, Lucario's Aura Sphere appeared. He threw it with just one arm as this Aura Sphere had greater power than the previous ones, crashing into the blades with its wide size. A violent clash occurred, sending blue lightning from the collision.
"G-Grapp...!" Grapploct put its all into this attack trying to pierce through the azure-coloured sphere with its water blades.
"Rrrr...! Caaaa!" But Lucario overpowered it, enlarging the Aura. The Aura Sphere obliterated the Liquidation, smashing into Grapploct's chest. The Tantrum Pokemon gasped as it was rocketed into the air by the attack. It was like a shooting star had struck its body from how dazzling this Aura appeared, even making an azure shockwave in the shape of a ring.
"Grapploct..." Grapploct had fainted as Lucario avenged Pikachu, finishing this battle in just one strike.
"Grapploct is unable to battle! Lucario wins!"
"Just one hit?! Amazing!" Pinkie Pie bellowed as a thunderous cheer resounded across the arena. Ash had now tied things up once more.
"He finally beat Grapploct! It's just Lucario and Machamp now! You've got this, Ash!" Applejack roared.
"Rio!" Delta Riolu would cheer alongside her, giving all of his support to his Sinnohan Variant.
"This is the last stretch then." said Twilight. "That breathtaking exchange was something else but it all comes down to this. And I think Mega Evolution and Dynamax will decide it. And the future of the Ataxia too."
"I give you my thanks, Grapploct." Bea returned her Grapploct. At this point, she knew that it was coming down to the wire with how quickly Ash equalized things. He seemed to be an expert in always catching up to his opponents. "It's time to dig in our heels! I'll give this everything I've got! So, I ask for your aid, Machamp!"
"Machamp!" Machamp was sent out as her final Pokemon. It was now a final confrontation between Fighting-Types.
"It all comes down to this!" The announcer bellowed. "Both Lucario and Machamp have taken heavy damage so far, so any staggering hit could do either one in."
"Hm." Ash then held his arm up, suddenly showing his Mega Stone within his glove. Lucario would look back as Ash was waiting for Lucario's input. It was all a matter of what Lucario thought.
"Rrr." And with a nod, Lucario approved. Now was the time to finally use it. Mega Evolution was imminent. And Bea had a similar thought, suddenly returning her Machamp. The time for Dynamax was also imminent since this was the final stretch. A smile met Bea's face as her hand tightened on the Poke Ball.
"I can't recall the last time a battle made me so excited." Bea was enjoying herself. Truly. It seemed that Ash was the only one who managed to make her feel this exciting rush of a battle. The way he was on par with her, keeping up with her every move. That kind of battle is what she thrived for, what most Fighting-Type specialists thrive for. A fair battle with both trainers on par with each other.
She thought back to her battle with Korrina, Red and other trainers. She was either too stoic to truly enjoy the battle with how easily she defeated them like with Korrina or even too gutted when she was the one being absolutely destroyed like how she battled Red once.
But with Ash, it was in the middle. And that is what she loved. "Fine then! Let's destroy everything!" Excited and finally deciding to use everything she had, her Dynamax Band would glow, enveloping the Poke Ball in its light. "Ash! Your skill is truly worthy of respect! Machamp! Gigantamax!"
With the skies above turning purple, the Dynamax energy would appear once more, forming a dark cloud. Purple lightning would crash into the ground as emerging from it was a super-sized Machamp who kept growing and growing, taking on a slightly new form. And with overwhelming power and ferocity, the Gigantamaxed form of Machamp had arrived.
"MACHAMP!" With a roar so strong it made a mini-tornado, the full power of Bea's Machamp had been unleashed as Ash was deemed worthy of such a power.
"Prepare yourself, Ketchum!" At last, she called him by his name. Well, his last name at least as she put on a fighting pose. And syncing with Bea, Machamp would pull off that same pose, causing an earthquake in the process.
"It's been a while since we've seen that...Why does Bea's look somehow bigger than Big Mac's..." Applejack gulped at the sheer size of this form. Everyone was in awe at this juggernaut of a Pokemon which was already outrageously strong in her normal form.
"Oh, I'm always ready! Let's go, Lucario!" Showing no fear in the face of this Titanic Enemy, Ash tapped into the Key Stone.
"Luca!"
"The bond between us..." By tapping into the stone, the Infinity Energy would begin pouring out. "Let's finish this! Mega Evolve!"
"Lucaaaaa!" Lucario found himself encased in a beautiful azure light as the Lucarionite would show itself, leaving his body and appearing in front of him. His roar was so powerful it caused an echo that overpowered the crashing thunder above as the two energies from the stones clashed with each other.
Enveloping in a majestic Aura, Lucario undertook a transformation while letting his power absolutely explode. It felt like something massive, even bigger than Gigantamax Machamp was approaching. And dispersing the energy and emerging from it was none other than Mega Lucario.
And the second he appeared, his Aura went flying everywhere, completely larger than what it originally was. It was as if a tornado or hurricane or Aura had entered the arena, threatening to destroy everything around it. The waves even went far enough to reach Machamp, who looked unphased by this.
"There it is! Mega Lucario!" The announcer and everyone else went wild after the appearance of this Mega-Evolved Aura Pokemon. "It's Mega Evolution vs Gigantamax!"
"I can feel it..." Ash felt the change. The moment he used Mega Evolution, something within him felt different. The energy from Mega Evolution connected with his Aura, specifically the Ataxia. Ash's hands trembled as he then clenched them, putting on a wide grin. "Oh yeah! I can finally cut loose without worrying about anything! Thanks, Bertha! Now, Lucario! Aura Sphere!"
"Lu...CA!" Lucario raised his hands, suddenly creating a gigantic Aura Sphere larger than anything he had made so far. His Aura was exploding with such ferocity that he could gather this much power in an instant.
"Max Steelspike!"
"CHAMP!" Gigantamax Machamp struck the ground with an equal amount of force, creating a series of jagged grey spikes that extended forward, approaching the Aura Pokemon.
"RRR!" Lucario would then launch the super-sized Aura Sphere as it crashed against the steel, summoning a violent blue explosion as they equalized. The powers of Gigantamax and Mega Evolution collided in a truly destructive way, making the barriers of the stadium react, attempting to protect everyone.
"Geez!" Twilight and her friends all had their manes flow from the force that came this way. Even with the barrier, it could still be felt from here. "C-Can Ash tone it down a bit!"
"It's a bit too late for that!" Korrina held onto her helmet from this pressure. "He can feel it! The Ataxia isn't burdening him anymore. Now he can go all out as much as he wants!"
"Force Palm, let's go!"
"CA!" Lucario would suddenly leap through the smoke that came from this destructive explosion, appearing in the air close to Gigantamax Machamp.
"Max Strike!"
"MACHAMP!" Immediately, Gigantamax Machamp stomped the ground with one of her feet, creating glowing cracks on the ground underneath Lucario. A burst of energy then erupts from the cracks, enveloping Lucario's body before he could get a hit in.
"RRR?!" Lucario snarled after having this gigantic energy hammer into his body from below. With the attack landing, Lucario flew back.
"Lucario! Keep going with Force Palm!" Ash's Aura would pulse out of him as he was really using everything he had now that he could no longer feel the drawback of Ataxia within him.
"LUCA!" While in the air, Lucario recovered, pulling off a backflip before then leaping back into the air, going for another Force Palm. This time, without anything to stop him. Lucario still took on the offensive even after the Max Strike. He challenged the power of Force Palm, however, it did not appear in its usual orange energy.
This time, the energy was azure, much like Aura. His power was exploding so much that his raw Aura was showing in his attacks now as he thrust his arm forward. Machamp quickly put her arms up to block the attack, only to then receive a pulse of Aura so titanic that it was almost as big as her. Everyone was amazed by the gigantic Aura Pulse that managed to push the gigantic Machamp bach. She still managed to endure the hit.
"I-Is that even Force Palm anymore?!" Rainbow Dash was flabbergasted, putting her hooves over her head at the sight of this development. They all knew Mega Evolution would boost Lucario greatly but they never expected it to be at this level.
"You're not the only ones who can increase their power! Machamp! Increase all of your Dynamax Power!"
"MAAAA....!" Suddenly, Machamp began charging up all four of her glowing fists, building up all the energy she could to try and overpower Lucario.
"Here it comes, Lucario! Get ready!"
"Lu!"
"I'll use Karate along with my partner's move, acting as one!" Bea shouted, pulling off a pose that would soon prompt Machamp to do the same. "G-Max Chi Strike!"
"MAAAA....!" After building up enough power, Each of Gigantamax Machamp's fists becomes surrounded in an orange fist-shaped energy as she then thrust them forward. Afterwards, Machamp's muscles expanded in size as she was going attempting to pinpoint and hit the Lucario's weak spots more easily. Lucario stood tall in the face of this overwhelming attack, fearless while some were quaking at it.
"That move's the entire reason Bea and Machamp have been on a roll!" Korrina exclaimed.
"That looks like it'll hurt no matter what! Get out of there, Lucario!" Pinkie Pie yelled, fearing that this attack might be too much for Lucario. Many agreed as it was truly overwhelming, bringing wind pressures in every direction.
"Rrrr!" However, Lucario would simply block it instead. The ground beneath him would crack with chunks of the arena floor flying up thanks to the sheer power of this G-Max attack.
"Hold on, Lucario!" Ash shouted as Lucario was hanging in there, blocking with all of his might while the arena was being obliterated by Machamp's full power.
The sparks of energy would fly everywhere, tearing the ground apart and going along with the thunder that was booming above. It felt like the entire Gym and Stow-on-Side were on the verge of destruction. Soon, everyone squinted their eyes as a blinding light enveloped the entire arena with the echoes of Lucario and Machamp's cries going through.
Lo and behold, Lucario blocked it successfully. None of his weak spots had been struck. "He withstood the attack? I don't believe it..." A stunned Bea spoke before putting on a smile.
"Jump, Lucario!"
"Luca!" After blocking the attack, Lucario would enter the skies once more. And with this mighty leap, he landed right on Machamp's massive fist since she was still pulling off the pose for G-Max Chi Strike, amazed that Lucario took it without a scratch on him. Lucario swiftly ran up Machamp's massive body, targeting her face. Machamp would raise one of her arms, trying to hit Lucario off. "Ca!" However, Lucario would lunge off her arm, evading the slap that was coming.
"Aura Sphere!"
"RRR!" With a fierce dash, Lucario summoned an Aura Sphere right in front of Machamp's massive face, increasing its size once more. With all his might, Lucario would then lob the sphere as it smashed into the Superpower Pokemon's head. With that collision, the sphere blew up, knocking Machamp back.
It didn't just knock her back, the explosion made her fall slowly to the ground. With his own pure power, Lucario managed to push down a giant, causing a tremendous earthquake that was held back by the barriers. Usually, Dynamaxed Pokemon can only make this possible but that wasn't the case for this battle. And with this, all three opportunities with Gigantamax had been used. Time was up as the energy would start leaving Machamp's body.
"C-Champ?" Machamp, completely bewildered, was back to her normal form, but not out of the battle just yet.
"Splendid! He took down that giant!" Rarity said with joy in her heart.
"It's not over yet though," said Korrina. "This is where things get scary."
"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked as her friends all looked back at the battle, wondering just what Korrina meant by that. They would soon see for themselves once Machamp got back up rather quickly despite that powerful knockdown.
"Machamp!" Suddenly, Machamp had the energy of G-Max Chi-Strike in her fists.
"No way! It carried back the enhanced power of that enhanced power into its normal size?! That can happen?!" A stunned Twilight shouted.
"Rush in, Lucario!"
"LU!" Lucario would run in. And with each step, he unleashed a pulse of Aura which would soon engulf his whole body.
"Right now, Machamp can strike critical points with unmatched accuracy!" Bea explained.
"Champ!" Machamp's pupils suddenly shrunk when eyeing down Lucario. With this gathered energy, she eyed down the Aura Pokemon, searching for his weak points once more. And with this boost, there was a chance she would land a successful hit this time.
"Bullet Punch!"
"Machamp! Machamp!" Machamp threw her fists as fast as she could, targeting Lucario's weak points. Over 1,000 Punches were thrown at blinding speeds, backing up Machamp's Pokedex entry for everyone to see. However, even with this ludicrous speed, Lucario would lunge in with all of his Aura exploding from his body.
"Lucario!" Ash then synced up with Lucario to the point where they had the same movements. He held onto his right arm with all his might, prompting Lucario to do the same. All of the Aura from his body would gather into one point, allowing Ash to go beyond what was previously holding him back. "Force Palm! GO!"
"LUCA!" Lucario and Ash both thrust their arms forward, clashing with the fierce fists of the Superpower Pokemon. An air-splitting clash ensued, sending hundreds of sparks flowing from the collision. Lucario's Aura acted as a shield while his Force Palm attempted to break through. Machamp gasped as she could see the visage of Ash appearing with Lucario. It was as if she was battling both of them at the same time.
It was unbelievable that she was feeling this much pressure. Without the boundaries of Delayed Aura Ataxia, everything that Ash was holding back ever since he passed out, all the strength he had to conserve could finally be unleashed. And it shows just how much he was keeping back for the well-being of himself and his friends' concerns. Machamp was the one who felt all of that strength as Lucario's paw was beginning to push through. A white light would emerge from his paw, different from the azure aura he was letting out. The light would then fly out, striking each of Machamp's fists
"Oh! It's Steel Beam!" Leon recognized this attack. In this burst of strength, Lucario had learned Steel Beam, completely overpowering the Superpower Pokemon. The attack then struck Machamp's chest after breaking through all of those attacks.
The attack erupted to such a level that it blew a hole in the Gym, ignoring the barriers completely but thankfully, it missed the crowd. It was a truly devasting blow. The crowd was left in awe by what they just witnessed. Some of them felt their lives flash before their eyes with how destructive this battle turned out.
"L-Lu...!" Lucario growled, landing on his feet after that fierce clash.
"M-Machamp...?" Machamp tried to get back up, looking over at Lucario. The Aura Pokemon snarled, ready for more action if Machamp was willing. "Machamp..." But she wasn't. Machamp used up all of her strength, falling flat on her face to the ruined ground. She had fainted.
"Machamp is unable to battle! Lucario wins! Thus, the victor of this Ultra Class Battle is Challenger Ash!" From the words of the Rotom Drone, it had been decided. The fierce battle was over and it was truly awe-inspiring for everyone. From start to finish this battle was a ride and it had an explosive end to it. Literally.
"Hah..." Ash sighed before falling on his knee. "W-We won...We won. And I don't feel that hurt at all!" With a smile meeting his face, Delayed Aura Ataxia was not felt for a moment. Ash felt like himself once more. Granted, he was tired but that was just natural after the intense battle he just had. "Alright! You rock, Lucario!"
"Rrr." Afterwards, Lucario would revert to his original state as that was the end of Mega Evolution. It left him winded, making his body wobbly as Ash quickly rushed to his side. He then caught Lucario before he could fall over.
"Are you alright, Lucario?!"
"Luca." Lucario would be fine. A bit bewildered but fine.
"You guys are awesome!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed with all of Ash's friends and the crowd cheering and applauding this battle.
"Not a sign of Ataxia in sight! You love to see it!" Pinkie Pie was glad that Ataxia wasn't present at all. Just like what Bertha, Ilene and Gurkinn said. Mega Evolution was the key.
"Based on this battle's results, the Pokemon World Championships Rankings will be updated." said the Rotom Drone.
"Challenger Ash emerges victorious over Challenger Bea and shall now rise to the 36th spot in the Ultra Class!" The announcer announced, revealing Ash's ranking on screen. He received a massive ranking boost because of this battle and it was indeed worth it.
"He actually beat Bea?" Korrina spoke with amazement while the rest of her friends were celebrating, jumping and hugging each other for Ash's stunning victory. "Just how strong are you gonna get, Ash?"
"Machamp. That was a good battle." Bea helped Machamp up. "You have my gratitude."
Then, Leon would join in with the applause that resounded across the arena, truly loving this battle. "Man. I wish I could've seen more." He loved it so much that he wished to see more of it. He even wished he wasn't slightly late so that he could've witnessed the very beginning.
Nightfall.
Eventually, nightfall would come and everyone would've gone home except for Ash and his friends, who were outside of the Gym. Ash and Pokemon had their Pokemon healed up already.
"Ash! You seriously don't feel it anymore?!" Pinkie Pie asked, bringing up Delayed Aura Ataxia.
"Not a sign of Ataxia anywhere. I'm better than ever." Ash nodded. "You won't see me passing out anymore, that's for sure."
"That was pretty explosive though. I didn't think you were keeping that much Aura in you. You could've destroyed the arena and the barriers, you know?" Twilight uttered.
"My bad. I was so psyched with what I was feeling, that's all. Plus Leon was watching so I had to give it my all and get fired up like that. But I wish he stayed around a bit longer."
"Ash." Bea walked up to him. "During our bout today, I realized my heart was dancing. You're the best opponent I've ever had the respect to battle with. And for that...I wish you the best of luck in the future battles of this tournament." She held her fist out.
"Yeah." Following that, Ash would reply, giving a fist bump to Bea.
"I won't be throwing in the towel though. Someday, let's battle again, Ash. Even if you are out of my reach." Bea requested.
"You got it. Come by to SugarCube Corner and I'll be waiting for another chance to throw down with you."
"Mhm. But I still wish to eat that cake of yours again. It was just as wonderful as this battle. And I wish I didn't have to travel such a distance to Equestria now."
"No need to worry. I'll promise this. We'll try and find a way to bring back those gateways for everyone. Count on it."
"Pikachu!"
Ash and Bea's Ultra Classh Battle came to a close with Ash emerging as the victor. And in return, Delayed Aura Ataxia had been nullified at last. But the path of Champion Leon remains a long one with many more fierce opponents down the road waiting for him.
It has been a day since Ash received his Mega Evolution. The presence of Delayed Aura Ataxia was practically non-existent now because of this. And with that, Ash was free to cut loose as much as he wanted but the threat of Ataxia was still lingering. At this moment, he was at Carousel Boutique, conversing with the two sisters Rarity and Sweetie Belle.
"So, how's the movie business going? Anything sweet going on?" Ash asked Rarity.
"Well, it's been going fine so far. I haven't had the chance to head to Unova as much because of the lack of gateways, so I haven't been in many roles so far." Rarity explained. "Truth is...I believe I only had one film that I was the main star in."
"Just one? I thought it was multiple?"
"I was only a side character in most of them." Rarity closed her eyes, trying her best not to summon tears but they would flow either way. "That one role as the protagonist was wonderful and I haven't gotten one ever since. At least everyone recognizes me since I'm the only pony in those other movies."
"I've got all the movies that she was in right here!" Sweetie Belle would suddenly place down a large cardboard box that made a loud thump on the floor. And in that box, with Meowstic using her Psychic powers, posters of movies were sent out. All of these posters were placed on the floor for Ash and Rarity to see as they all involved Rarity in them.
"Oh, there you are!" Ash noticed her in a few of these posters with multiple characters in them. But some didn't have Rarity on them.
"I did enjoy this one. I got to play as a duchess and I'd say I pulled it off wonderfully. Along with that Gothitelle next to me." Rarity pointed at one of the posters, complimenting her own performance in that film and vividly remembering it. "But it has been a while since I've starred in a film. Supporting roles are what I'm mainly doing now but I'd love to be the centre of it all once more. If only the gateways didn't all vanish except for one."
"Well, I did say to Bea yesterday that I'd try and find a way to bring those gateways back. Jirachi didn't want them around but it kept that one gateway. We can't make more either." Ash pondered. "But! Red, Hilbert and Hilda found a way here."
"Yeah. How about we ask them?" Sweetie Belle suggested. "They used some kind of machine to get here right?"
"I wish I knew where they were." Ash lowered his head as he couldn't possibly know where they were. "There's that Infinity Gateway though. It just moved all of a sudden when we first passed through it. I don't know what that was all about."
"Pika..."
"Well, I'd prefer if we still had those gateways with how easy they made travelling. I could simply go back and forth to PokeStar Studios if I ever wanted to spice up my role with my outfits. But alas...It's a long trek there." Rarity sighed. "Pheromosa isn't even fast enough herself which gutted her when she found out about it. The thrill of being in those movies again..."
"I've got something that can patch that up." Ash would then stand tall, already hatching something in his mind. "How about we go and visit the Human World? By now, Sunset and everyone should've gotten that video recording of my battle with Bea. They wanted to see it after all and I think the next best thing is having them watch some movies from our world."
"I thought you'd never ask." Rarity smiled before using her magic to pull something else out of the box. It wasn't just posters but also DVD boxes and tapes that were given to her by PokeStar Studios. "How about we give them some of these?"
"Oh! You're going to the Human World!? Can I come along?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I've always wanted to go there!"
"You only want to go there because of how you'd appear as a Human. And that is the same reason I wanted to go there." Rarity nodded. "What's stopping you from coming along?"
"Yes! I'm going to throw as much as I can when I get there!" Music to her ears. Sweetie Belle was excited about how much she gets to grab and throw, even though her magic can already do that. But this time, it would be physical. And of course, there were other things to look forward to. For the sake of media entertainment, the three of them would head to the Human World.
Equestria. Canterlot. Day.
Over at Canterlot, Princess Celestia could once again be found in her throne room, busy with current world events. And this time, some developments were starting to appear, grabbing the attention of the Sun Princess. And at this moment, she was about to receive a massive update.
"Sister!" And this time, it came from her younger sister Luna, who rushed into the throne room. Alcremie, who was chilling with Gardevoir, Arcanine, Kommo-o and Philomena, was startled by this, spilling cream over her friends. "Are you here?!"
"I'm here. What is it, Luna?" Celestia questioned after seeing her sister burst in here.
"Y-You have to hear this at once..." Luna breathed in and out. "It's of great importance that you do. It was last night when Darkrai and I were patrolling the Dream Realm. Darkrai and I saw his dream. Reshiram's dream"
"Reshiram's dream?!" That was something that caught her interest greatly. A good friend of hers who she hasn't seen in a while. Reshiram. He was simply just an orb, resting and recovering from the damage he received from the Dread League. But for months, his dreams have been missing with Luna being unable to find them. "Are you sure?!"
"I'm very positive. When Darkrai and I were patrolling the Dream Realm and the Hyperdream, we spotted one dream that stuck out from the rest. It looked rather faint." Luna recalled what she saw in there.
Last night. The Hyper Dream.
It was only just last night and Luna was already exhausted. She spent most of her time watching over the many dreams in the Dream Realm, making sure everything was fine. And for the most part, it was all smooth sailing. The dreams that they patrolled over were as chaotic as they can be and the involvement of Pokemon only increased that.
Luna had ice cream cones stuck to her mane and horn before she removed them. Obviously, the dream she left was a rather delicious one that soon transformed into a messy one. Still delicious as she took a bite out of one of the cones. Nothing was amiss here as Luna just left a dream with Darkrai, finishing things up there. However, before she could return to the real world, that is when it caught their eyes.
"Wait...What is that?" Luna spoke as she noticed one Dream Bubble that stuck out from the rest. She could spot it at the very end of this long string of dreams. All of them were so vibrant but this one dream seemed to be the opposite. it was rather dull.
Luna and Darkrai flew over to inspect this bubble that stood out from the rest. All the Dream Bubbles were perfectly organized and symmetrical while this one was lazily hanging off to the side, not aligning with any other bubble. On top of that, its colours weren't as bright as everyone else's and it seemed to be smaller than the rest. But not small to the point where it was impossible to see.
And when approaching this dream, that's when Luna saw what was being projected from it. This dream that was hanging off to the far side had the visage of Reshiram within it. Reshiram was currently asleep, seeming peaceful while resting in a field of flowers where the Sun was at its brightest.
"Reshiram?!" Luna gasped after recognizing the Vast White Pokemon. "How long has it been since we've seen his dream?! Why now though?!"
"That must mean he's beginning to dream again. That orb form of his is meant to rejuvenate his health and strength. Whatever the Dread League did to him obviously made it so that he took this long to dream once more." Darkrai replied. "But his dream looks faint."
"It does. It almost looks non-existent." Luna held onto the bubble, using her magic to shrink it so that it could fit into the grasp of her hooves. "I've never seen the other bubbles do this. If Reshiram is beginning to dream again, this must be a Young Bubble."
In the Hyperdream, all dreams were the same age as they occupied dreams from the past, present and future. But this one seemed to be younger than the rest. It was a fresh dream from someone who always used to dream. But thanks to the Dread League, he was essentially shut off from both the world and the concept of dreams, only existing as an orb that was there to heal.
"Reshiram! Can you hear me?!" Luna cried out for the Dragon of Truth, hoping that he would hear his voice. "Reshiram?!" She continued to shout his name, even sticking her head through the bubble, slightly enlarging it.
Her head would appear as an astral body within Reshiram's dream, making her voice louder than before. She even used her Royal Canterlot Voice to elevate it. And yet, Reshiram did not respond. He simply slept there in his own dream, unresponsive to his name being called out.
"Drat. This means he's still not fully healed." Luna said, pulling her head out of the dream. "Usually, anyone can respond to voices in their dreams but this doesn't seem to be the case. Reshiram's dreams are only now coming back to him so there's not much we can do yet."
"We can still try and find his stone. Zekrom is still out there looking for his opposite," said Darkrai.
"We can. But we'll need Reshiram to be awake for him to tell us. For now, we'll just have to wait and see."
Present Day.
"So I suggest that we wait for Reshiram to heal up some more and then he can tell us where his stone is. Since he's within the Light Stone, he should know where his location is. Hopefully, no one else has found him by then." Luna suggested.
"Ah...That's wonderful to hear." A part of Celestia's heart was relieved by this revelation. "But...I still wish we knew where the stone was. And you're sure that's all you saw?"
"That is all. I shall be checking up on Reshiram's dream every night to see if that bubble of his grows. As long as it grows and becomes as vibrant as the others or even slightly close to them, I can speak to them. Otherwise, I fear Reshiram will forever be out of our reach."
Not exactly what Princess Celestia wanted to hear but she knew that could be the case. She was hoping that Reshiram was getting enough strength. All that mattered was that he was free to heal up as much as he could. No other method has been successful in helping them find Reshiram. Zekrom was still out there searching for his counterpart and prior to this, that was the best method since Zekrom could fly incredibly fast and knew what the stone looked like.
There were still those in the world who knew what the stone looked like, such as Giovanni and it terrified Celestia. The fact that someone like Giovanni, who knows what the stone looks like, could be in their clutches. All she could was pray that Reshiram's dreams grew big enough and that he was safe.
The Human World. Canterlot High. Afternoon.
An hour after Celestia was informed of the update on Reshiram, Ash, Rarity and Sweetie Belle had already shown up at the Human World, bringing with them some movies. In this case, Ash was carrying them but he was holding more than just a box. He had a cart where the box was placed in, in which there were multiple boxes.
"Hurry along, Ash. They don't want to miss this." Rarity spoke, appearing in her Human Form while ASh did all the heavy lifting.
"Check me out! I have fingers!" Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle was too busy admiring her appearance as a Human, trying to get adjusted to it. Standing on two legs was a difficult task since she was so used to four legs. But that was a challenge everypony who passed through here had to face the first time.
"Coming. You kept all of these copies of your films? I thought it was just the one box." Ash said while pulling the cart. It didn't help that Pikachu added extra weight to it, sitting on one of the boxes.
"Pika."
"That's right. I might as well go above and beyond. Think about it, darling. Pokemon here is starting to gain popularity in this world, isn't it? As to be expected. So now would be a good time to capitilize on that ever-rising popularity." Rarity also wished to gain some fame by sharing Pokemon Movies with the people of this world.
"Are you gonna show them just your movie where you're the main character?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Oh, that will be the one they see first!" Rarity laughed. "Which is why for my first major role, I asked if they could give me multiple copies of that film. And not just that, but I also have films that I personally made at PokeStar Studios with me and Pokemon as the centre of attention. And after they've gotten comfortable with me and my Pokemon, they can take a gander at all the other films in here. But I think the rest should be given to our good friends here. Make sense?"
"I guess." Ash attempted to follow it all. "If that makes you popular then sure. It's gotta work now that I think about it."
"Oh, it should. Picture it!" Rarity raised her arms with her eyes glimmering with stars. "They'll be so enamoured with me and my performance with all the films they've seen to the point where any other film I show up in, they'll be caught by surprise. They'll say, 'Oh isn't that Rarity from that one film?!', and point out references to my previous roles! It will be the equivalent of a cameo but with me standing out since I'll be the only pony there. And even though I appear as a human right now, who else has this amazing and beautiful appearance? Aside from my human counterpart."
"That's a bit complicated though, don't you think?" Sweetie Belle asked as her head was spinning at this.
"Pah! It's simple to understand. Make yourself stand out and steal the scene in other movies. What makes that so complicated?" Rarity shrugged, not finding it all that confusing. "Ash. You know what I mean, right?"
"Hmm...I get what you mean. It's a lot like how popular Galaxy Master's been getting, right?"
"Something like that. Just watch. I'll treat them all to my films and they'll be amazed by the wonderful world of Pokemon!" Rarity said with glee before opening the doors to Canterlot High, focusing there first. She wanted to start small after all and this was as small as it gets when first showing up in this world.
However, the moment she opened those doors, she was met with the surprising appearance of Twilight. Not this world's Twilight but her world's Twilight Sparkle, who turned to face her friend. "Hm? Rarity? Ash? Sweetie Belle?"
"Oh, Twilight. You're already here?" Ash spoke, spotting Twilight who was hanging around Sunset Shimmer and her many other friends. IN her hands was her phone that was used to record yesterday's battle. Twilight obviously showed up here to return it so that this battle could be enjoyed by them. Their request had been granted since two days ago.
"There he is!" But before he could chat with Twilight who was also here with Spike, the students here took notice of Ash's presence. "Hey, Ash!"
"Eh?" Ash pulled back as he suddenly witnessed a storm of people approaching him with bright faces of amazement and intrigue. They completely passed by Rarity, making her spin around while Sweetie Belle moved out of the way. As for Ash, he was facing plenty of familiar faces here who reminded him of Ponyville and Canterlot.
Unfortunately for Rarity, Ash already garnered popularity here. Mainly at Canterlot High. He was already incredibly popular back at Equestria and he was just gaining more here. "That was an amazing battle you had! I thought you were going to destroy that place for sure!" And obviously, this was focused on the battle he and Bea had.
Everyone saw it. Not just Sunset Shimmer and the others. Word of Ash's achievement got out to the students of Canterlot High, who have already previously seen Ash in action but that battle with Bea elevated it to new heights. As such, he was bombarded with questions from everyone. "What was that blue thing around you?!"
"Can my Pokemon do that?! I mean I don't have my own but..."
"How can you still stand after that?"
"Don't you ever get hit by those elements flying all over the place?"
"I thought only Sunset and her Human Counterpart wished to see it." Rarity said, holding her head as she was a bit dizzy from how many people passed by her.
"It got out fast." Twilight scratched her mane. "But there's nothing wrong with this."
"Well, my counterpart shared it and that's how it really took off." Sunset Shimmer explained. "Turns out, she has a channel and she's been posting videos about Pokemon recently."
"No shame in that." The other Sunset, who had the nickname Fiery commented, holding out her phone. She was shared the video, which in turn, made her turn the video into a public one. Plenty of views were showing up on this video as it was going viral. It fittingly had an extreme title to really make it stand out. Since Twilight was the one who recorded it, it only had one angle but it was a wonderful angle, managing to focus on both the Trainers and the Pokemon. "I'm going to get so much traction from this! Well, not as much as him."
"Well, maybe we can take their mind off of it with one of my films. I brought along many of them that I did over at PokeStar Studios. Most are made by me, of course." said Rarity. "Wouldn't you agree, Sweetie Belle?"
"Sure, sure."
"But you and Ash should probably hear this right now. I would've returned to Equestria by now but something caught my attention." Twilight had something important to share with Ash and Rarity. By now, she would be back at Equestria as all she needed to do was give Sunset her phone back, but something came up. "It's a gateway. Another one's been spotted."
"Another gateway?!" Rarity gasped. The existence of another gateway had been discovered. And that was certainly something that could be of great interest at the moment, especially with what Rarity was aiming to accomplish.
But right now, with Ash's presence, he was the greatest interest with people gushing over his battle. Indeed, the popularity of Pokemon has afflicted them and the battles that come with them only elevate that. For their time in the Human World, they were going to expect quite a lot of this. But mostly Ash as the journey continues.
Visiting the Human World, Ash found himself surrounded by many of the Canterlot High Students. Thanks to the video recording of his battle with Bea, his popularity skyrocketed. Rarity was already shooting for popularity when she showed up at the Human World with Sweetie Belle, only for this to happen. But there was still an opportunity. Aside from that, information about a new gateway has been dropped.
"A new gateway? Where? How did you hear about this?" Rarity asked before looking at her Human Counterpart. "Oh, my apologies. I didn't see you there."
"You should've seen me here. I saw you." The other Rarity said. "Someone that beautiful has to be noticed eventually and you just got here, so I won't blame you."
"Then it's my fault for not doing the same." Both Rarities would laugh, complimenting each other as their similar personalities went perfectly together. "Anyway...What about the gateway? Please tell me it connects to Unova."
"Right. Take a look at this." Sunset held out her phone, showing Rarity the news. "It's not just a new gateway, but it's actually a piece of the Infinity Gateway. See?" On her phone, the gateway that had shown up hit the news as it had one-half of it cut apart. This half had a curved end to it instead of being completely circular like an ordinary gateway. It was missing another half that would match Infinity.
"Oh, you did speak about something like that." Rarity replied. "Are you sure this is the same one?"
"Another part of it would make the Infinity Symbol. Some people even said that they saw the symbol earlier before this happened. So it must have split off somehow. There's probably two gateways randomly around this world now." Twilight added.
"We were wondering where it went after it flew away. Now it looks like it separated." Sci-Twi said. "But it's not staying in one position as always which is a shame."
"Which is why we're going to look for it!" Twilight raised her arm, pointing to the air. Her voice was drowned out by all the students speaking about Ash. "If we can get to that gateway, I won't hesitate to investigate it!"
"Hm. Wonderful. Anyway. I believe the only way to free Ash from this crowd is by showing them my wonderful movies~" Rarity held up one of the films. "I'm sure you'd love to see what I made over at PokeStar Studios."
"Oooh, I do!" Human Rarity said with glee. She'd obviously love to see it. "But I'm not sure we can save Ash from this."
"You have to teach me how to use that blue thing around you!" Ash was still being bombarded by praise and adoration from everyone. He already gained notoriety previously thanks to the Friendship Games but that battle has only boosted it.
"Look at this guy! So cute!" And of course, Pikachu was famous since he was always with Ash, being held by this world's equivalent of Roseluck.
"Pika..."
"Ahem." Suddenly, grabbing everyone's attention was the voice of someone who was above them all. They all recognized that voice, staying silent before laying their eyes on Principal Celestia. "Please. Everyone, give Ash and Pikachu their space and get to class, why don't you?"
With her command, they all scattered, going on with their day. Ash and Pikachu were free from the publicity thanks to the principal's supreme power. While they enjoyed interacting with them since they were identical to their Equestrian Counterparts, some space was needed.
"Good to see you again, Ash." Principal Celestia greeted him once all the students minus Twilight's group had cleared the area. "I take it you're not here to join my school, are you?"
"Nah." Ash rubbed the back of his hair. "I'm kinda past school by now."
"Ah. What a shame. Maybe one day." Celestia shrugged. "But your assistance is something I'd love to have here. It's your knowledge of Pokemon that is so rich and interesting and it can help us keep up with this ever-changing world. I've even been planning on adding a classroom dedicated to Pokemon."
"Wait, really?!" Pinkie Pie gasped as everyone was taken aback by this revelation. Granted, it was only a plan in Celestia's mind.
"A classroom...about Pokemon?!" Fluttershy was especially happy to hear about that. She loved Pokemon as much as her Equestrian Counterpart and ASh obviously and a classroom dedicated to these Strange and Wonderful Creatures would be wonderful. "Oh, Ash! You just have to join so you can teach us!"
"Why not just go to Equestria then? The Pokemon School can cover that." Human Rarity shrugged. "It's in the name,"
"I'm not sure everyone's ready to turn into ponies, ya know." Sunset Shimmer added.
"It's only a classroom. They won't have to go to another world at all and instead learn at the comfort of the school. Twilight...um...Our world's Twilight. You are rather knowledgeable in Pokemon, aren't you?" Celestia turned to face Sci-Twi.
"Well, not enough to be a teacher," Sci-Twi replied as her knowledge wasn't that extensive. Not yet. She was still just a student and an assistant to Professor Oak from time to time. And that's when it hit her. "Ah! That's it! Why don't I just bring Professor Oak here?!"
"Professor Oak? Oh yeah..." Ash nodded, thinking about it for a moment as that wasn't a bad idea at all. "He sure knows a lot. And thanks to my Pokemon back at his lab, he'll be the best teacher ever! But that means he'll be going back and forth too...Man, I miss all those gateways."
"Well, we'll see what he thinks about this. Do tell him, why don't you? And if you're wondering about those gateways, news about them have resurfaced. There's been reports of an infinity-shaped once moving haphazardly and all of a sudden, it split in half."
"I'll try and check it out soon. Where'd it go then?" Ash asked.
"The most recent sighting was somewhere around the east and that's about it. It could move somewhere else again. We're not sure why it's moving around so randomly." replied Sunset Shimmer as there was essentially a rogue gateway on the loose. Where did it lead to? That is what they wished to find out.
"Now then. How about those films you have in that cart of yours?" Celestia's eyes were fixated on the films. "We do have Film Days here at Canterlot High and those are always enjoyable. Do you mind if some of them are shared to the students here?"
"Absolutely!" Music to Rarity's ears. Principal Celestia was just as fun-loving as Princess Celestia despite the high-ranking status on both sides. "Sweetie Belle. This is-" Before Rarity could get started with sharing some films, she noticed that Sweetie Belle was gone. "Hm? Where did Sweetie Belle go?"
Sweetie Belle was off doing her own thing, already exploring the school. And already, it stuck out compared to the Pokemon School since it wasn't fully based around Pokemon. It was even different from the Ponyville Schoolhouse. In fact, this was her first time inside a High School.
She whistled at the school of this school as it surpassed the size of both the Ponyville Schoolhouse and Pokemon School. Then again, the Pokemon School was still in its infancy and could continue growing with how much traction it was getting and how valuable the knowledge of Pokemon was. But it would take a while for it even reaches a size like this.
"Oh yeah...This is nice." Sweetie Belle found herself in the library, sitting on a comfortable couch. And in this library, she too would recognize some familiar faces here. A few came from Ponyville while most came from Canterlot inside the library. The Ponyville counterparts were the most recognizable to her.
However, the one who stuck out the most was Cheerilee, who was the librarian of this place. Sweetie Belle would recognize her teacher anywhere, even if she was a human. It was at this moment that Sweetie Belle had to wonder why the Humans of this world were like this compared to the Humans from the many regions of her world.
"There you are, Sweetie Belle." Suddenly, walking up to her were two more faces that she knew instantly. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. "We'll be late and miss it. It's just around the school, so let's hurry."
"Huh?" Sweetie Belle uttered before being grabbed by Scootaloo and Apple Bloom who pulled her arms. "Ow-ow!"
"That rare Pokemon showed up again and it might leave if we don't hurry." said Apple Bloom.
"Oh?" It took a while for Sweetie Belle to process what was going on but she figured it out immediately. She was looking at the Human Counterparts of her best friends, who obviously believed she was their Sweetie Belle. This world's Sweetie Belle was obviously somewhere else in this school and had been mistaken for this one. At that moment, Sweetie Belle began to think.
"Hmm...Should I just tell them I'm not actually her...Or do I mess with them?" She actually decided to think about this. One part of her saw it as the sensible thing to do and clear up any confusion. After all, the concept of counterparts isn't too unusual considering there were now two Twilights and Sunsets in the same area. And now there were two Rarities.
However, the child part of Sweetie Belle wanted to mess around for a bit. After all, it was too enticing not to do so and the reactions that she could get out of them both when she shows them that she has more to offer than her Human Counterpart was too rich not to try. Otherwise, she may never get a moment like this ever again.
"Uh, yeah." She went with the second option, deciding to have some fun with this. "And I know just how to approach it, no problem."
"You do?" Scootaloo replied as they left the library. "I don't know about that..."
And almost a full minute later after they left, the Sweetie Belle of this world had now shown up. Alas, she was too late. Her friends were already gone, hanging out with her Equestrian Counterpart and even skipping school just to see one Pokemon.
"Hm? They're usually here..." A confused Human Sweetie Belle uttered, navigating her head around the library, searching for her friends. "Where'd they go all of a sudden?"
The location of this Pokemon could be found near Canterlot High and the town of Canterlot which was up ahead. Nestled in between them but being the closest to Canterlot High. The girls found themselves approaching a tunnel that was underneath the road above them, gently walking down a hill to find this Pokemon.
And they weren't too late to see it. Sounds were coming from this tunnel that had grafitti on it. Inside and outside. Sweetie Belle couldn't exactly make out what sounds were coming from it. She has heard plenty of Pokemon sounds but this one sounded new.
"There it is...It's still around here." Scootaloo spoke in a gentle tone as she, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle laid their eyes on the Pokemon within the tunnel. And for Sweetie Belle, it was her first time as it was a Pokemon she has never seen before. It looked like an ostrich but it was hard to tell with how dark the tunnel was. Only the Pokedex could give her the full appearance of this mystery Pokemon.
"Who's that Pokemon?" She said with amazement, immediately revealing her Pokedex. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom would soon take notice of Sweetie Belle unveiling a Pokedex. Judging by the look on their faces, they knew that their friend never had this in the first place.
"Espartha. The Ostrich Pokemon. It immobilizes opponents by bathing them in psychic power from its large eyes. Despite its appearance, it has a vicious temperament. It emits psychic power from the gaps between its multicoloured frills and sprints at speeds greater than 120 mph."
"It does?" The girls all said in unison. And with the Pokedex making an audible sound, Espartha would notice them.
"Espartha!" The Ostrich Pokemon swiftly turned its head, locking onto the young girls. They all flinched and grimaced at Espartha's hypnotizing and mysterious glare. Just like what the Pokedex said, this appearance was not to be taken lightly. There was already a vicious aura coming from it. But more than that, the gaze in its eyes were in full effect, sending a seemingly invisible energy at the girls.
But Sweetie Belle could definitely see it. Faster than how Scootaloo and Apple Bloom could perceive it. She ran out of the way, narrowly evading the Psychic Power. The same couldn't be said for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo too. "Ghhh!" They were completely taken aback by the Psychic Power, immobilized.
"I-I can't move here!" Scootaloo stuttered, unable to move. She and Apple Bloom had experienced a usual Psychic-Types power for the first time. But for Sweetie Belle, this was her first time even finding this kind of Psychic-Type so it was a new experience for all of them.
"B-By the way, where you'd get that thing?" Apple Bloom still had the time to ask Sweetie Belle about the Pokedex even when immobilized.
"Partha!" Espartha would see that Sweetie Belle wasn't immobilized like the other two. Thus, it would go for a more physical action. And that was by getting up close and personal with her. It already started slowly walking to try and intimidate Sweetie Belle before gradually picking up speed. And the Pokedex already gave a hint as to how fast it can get.
"Yikes! Quick, Meowstic! Come on out!" Quickly, Sweetie Belle would throw the Poke Ball, unleashing Meowstic. She surprised them both again.
"Y-You have a Pokemon of your own?!" The two immobilized girls collectively said, stunned that Sweetie Belle had her own Pokemon and Pokedex. They had yet to know about her true identity.
"Alright, Meowstic! Use Shadow Ball!"
"Meow!" Meowstic put her arms together, generating a power from the shadows themselves. At the same time, Espartha would pick up speed as its beak was glowing. The Ostrich Pokemon was going for Drill Peck as its speed was beginning to match what the Pokedex originally said.
"Stic!" However, Meowstic had all the time in the world to prepare. She would leap into the air, holding the Shadow Ball at the same time as Espartha's head followed the Constraint Pokemon. It was right as Espartha went to strike, only to miss Meowstic despite the speed gain. "Meow!" She would then slam the Shadow Ball on Espartha from above, causing a shadowy explosion to go off.
"Espa!" Espartha cried out, receiving super-effective damage. The Psychic-Type would slide back after that stylish Shadow Ball, bewildered by it. Meowstic would even taunt her by landing with style, smirking at her fellow Psychic-Type. "Esp? Partha!" It was then that Espartha would use Dazzling Gleam, unleashing beautiful rainbow lights from its body.
"Okay, Meowstic! Return the favour with your own Dazzling Gleam!"
"Meowstic!" Meowstic would also use Dazzling Gleam as multiple rainbows were flying out from both sides. It was a clash of Fairy Magic as they would rapidly beat against each other, fighting for dominance.
"When did she get so good at this...And when did she get a Pokemon?" Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were still flabbergasted by this. Sweetie Belle decided that it was right to not tell them the truth just yet and let them watch in wonder. Meowstic's rainbows managed to win the clash, breaking through Espartha's Dazzling Gleam and bombarding the Ostrich Pokemon.
"E-Esp!" Taken aback by Meowstic's power, Espartha realized that it wasn't dealing with just inexperienced trainers who were barely even Pokemon Trainers at all. Only one of them had experience and that allowed her to keep up with the Ostrich Pokemon. Deciding that Sweetie Belle and her Meowstic were a problem, Espartha would retreat, running as fast as it could. As such, its grip on the girls would cease to exist, making them mobile once more.
"Hm. Got away. But that was a pretty unique Pokemon though..." An amazed Sweetie Belle said. Meowstic would then scoff before being brought back into her Poke Ball "So. What do you think? Pretty neat, right?"
"That was amazing! When did this happen!?" Apple Bloom appeared next to Sweetie Belle in an instant along with Scootaloo, amazed by what they just saw.
"You were like a pro out there! A real pro!"
"Oh, it was nothing. I'm still learning." Sweetie Belle grinned, being humble about her skills. She was indeed still learning but in the case of this world, she might as well be a pro.
"You didn't even have a Pokemon before or even that Pokemon dictionary thing!" Scootaloo exclaimed, bringing up those points. "I don't even have one of my own...which sucks." She lowered her head in disappointment.
"Truth is..."
"That's not me!" Before Sweetie Belle could answer, the Human Sweetie Belle already did so, shouting in the general direction of them all. The group turned to face the Human Sweetie Belle who was obviously in a different outfit than her Equestrian Counterpart.
"Huh? Two Sweetie Belles?" Apple Bloom had visible confusion on her face, looking back and forth at the two Sweetie Belles, starstruck by the double appearance.
"Hang on." But it was all in the clothes. The clothes they both wore were different from each other. One was recognizable while the other was new. Scootaloo already knew which clothes were cognizable and it belonged to the Sweetie Belle that just showed. "Is this another counterpart situation?!"
"Hehehe!" A cheeky laugh came from Sweetie Belle as she had a lot to say. And most likely, she was going to stick around with them mainly due to the connections she had with her friends back in Equestria. "Well...Get this~"
Elsewhere.
The gateway. One half of it was the Infinity Gateway, missing the other half and being only half of a gateway. It was currently moving across the skies of the Human World, having no sense of direction considering how gateways always have a set direction unless they rarely change.
However, it would soon stop, no longer randomly moving. Half of the Infinity Gateway had ceased all movements, stopping above a nearby shopping mall. But it did more than just stop. Within every gateway, a visage of the location could always be seen. Everyone will always see Pallet Town when coming across Ponyville's gateway and the first thing within their sights was the Ketchum Household.
That was how it was for every gateway before the majority of them vanished. And for this one, the visage of its location was also visible, leading to what seemed to be a tower. But not anymore. After it stopped, the gateway would suddenly morph, manipulating the cosmic energies that created it.
With almost no one here to see it except for a few Pokemon, the gateway suddenly changed locations. It no longer showed that tower that was surrounded by mountains. Instead, with a ripple and wobble, it showed what looked to be Alola's Humilau City. The gateway had changed locations on its own. And as a final effect, the energy that made it up would suddenly split up, forming a new side.
It finished the missing part of the gateway, once again creating the Infinity Symbol. The Infinity Gateway returned, replacing a part of it that was ripped away. That one part was still out there. However, this new Infinity Gateway would not last.
"Pidove!" A Pidove would fly through this Infinity Gateway, showing up from the Alola Region. And much like how the Infinity Gateway was first interacted with, it would go through the same reaction to something passing through it.
The Infinity Gateway would not last in this location. It would once again move, leaving this spot and heading elsewhere as fast as it could. The Pokemon witnessed this gateway leave to who-knows-where. It was on the move again. But this time, with its full appearance. However, that was still a mystery, as well as to how it split apart as the journey continues.
Back at the Human World, Ash was still conversing with his friends while setting out to find that one gateway which was somewhere in the east. At the moment, he was speaking with Sunset Shimmer's Human Counterpart who was given the nickname Fiery along with Sci-Twi. They could be found outside the school instead of inside and right now, noises were coming from it thanks to Rarity's films, which had their volumes raised.
"So. Your new home's treating you good, right, Fiery?" Ash questioned her.
"It is. I mean it's not complete yet. All it needs is a TV and some music and it'll be just right. I miss jamming out to my tunes as loud as I can." Fiery Shimmer added. "I'm sure Pyroar would love to hear it. She's back home right now, keeping guard of it. I can't let anyone try and mess up my new home. Plus, I'm thinking this video I posted will get me enough money to buy something."
"But she still doesn't go to this school. She only showed up for today to pay a visit." Sunset Shimmer explained. "Not sure what you're gonna be doing here, other me."
"Whatever I want. I'm a free girl now." The Human Counterpart to Sunset Shimmer said with a smile, having her arms behind her back, feeling as free as she could be. "Well, as free as I can be. I still get looks here and there thanks to the news but at least it's not in the Big City."
"It's a good thing it isn't too confusing for everyone when they see doubles of us. Not everyone from Equestria's passing through here and eyeing down their counterparts." Twilight added. "That'd be utter chaos actually."
"Right..." Sci-Twi agreed. "Maybe it wouldn't be such a problem if we still had gateways. Even before all those Jirachi unified your worlds, we only had gateways that led to the Pokemon World. It was just the portal over at the statue that led to Equestria."
"Rarity. Aren't you coming along?" Twilight turned to face her world's Rarity, who was currently pressing her face against the windows. Rarity was eyeing down those within the classrooms to see how they were reacting to her films that she made in PokeStar Studios.
"Hold on...What do they think?" Rarity replied. Just as she expected, the students here had a unique reaction to these films since they featured Pokemon and also Rarity who was a pony. One of the students ended up being startled by Rarity's face with how creepily she was looking at them. "Excellent. I believe my plan's working out just fine." She gave a thumbs-up to her friends.
"Don't you think you should've recorded yourself as a human? They could mistake that pony for their world's Rarity." Sci-Twi then hit Rarity with something she didn't think about.
"Ooh, she's right!" The Human World's Rarity laughed as Equestria's Rarity scrunched her face, realizing that one mistake that could easily be spotted. And right now, it couldn't be avoided since everyone's eyes were glued to the movies. Her plan was currently working but could potentially backfire on her soon.
"Drat. Oh, well." Rarity pulled her face away from the window. Afterwards, Rarity would follow her friends, leaving Canterlot High before then taking out her Xtransceiver. Rarity knew very well that Sweetie Belle was wandering around in this new place. Thankfully, the Xtransceiver could stave away any potential issues that come with that by tracking her sister down.
Speaking of Sweetie Belle, she had recently fooled this world's variant of Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, pretending to be their friend for a while before revealing that she came from the other world. The three of them recently encountered a Pokemon known as Espartha that ran once Sweetie Belle and her Meowstic retaliated.
"Oh? So you're something known as a Pokemon Coordinator back in your world?" Scootaloo said as Sweetie Belle was sharing information and knowledge about her world, what it was like and what she does there considering she was a good Pokemon Trainer compared to everyone else here.
"That's right. I'm looking to be a Top Coordinator and me and my Pokemon are gonna become world famous because of it." She explained before holding out each of her Poke Balls to reveal her Pokemon. "Here they all are!" Out of the Poke Balls came Meowstic, Prinplup, Pluse and Minun and Teddiursa. Nearly a full team of 6 even if Plusle and Minun like to come as a duo in Pokemon Contests.
"Wow, look at all of them! You just have them come along with you?!" An amazed Apple Bloom expressed her wonder, looking at these Strange and Wonderful Creatures.
"What about us then?!" Scootaloo then asked about her and Apple Bloom's counterparts. "What are we like back there?!"
"Oh, you two? Well..." Sweetie Belle rubbed her hands together, feeling how different it was from rubbing hooves. "Oh, this is nice. Anyway! Scootaloo, you're a lot like Ash. You wanna win all the Gyms and become the Equestria League Champion. You've got a nice team too. And Apple Bloom? Well, you're just taking care of Pokemon and you have a lot of Grass-Types with you."
"That sounds nice." Apple Bloom didn't mind that at all. In fact, it sounded wonderful, being surrounded by so many Pokemon, even if it was just one Type that sometimes came with a secondary Typing.
"Aw, that sounds awesome..." Scootaloo gushed. "I wish that was the same here. But...We suck at catching Pokemon."
"Mhm. It's been like 4 years, I think." Apple Bloom shrugged. "Still nothing. We were thinking of catching that one Pokemon that just ran off. What's it called again? Espa...Es..."
"Espartha!" Sweetie Belle gasped. "Oooh, I should've gone after it! It's just roaming around now and it's pretty dangerous." It was just now that Sweetie Belle noticed how dangerous it was for Espartha to roam around. There was no telling what it would do when catching someone in its Psychic Gaze or if it's already done it to someone before.
"There you are!" Eventually, this world's Sweetie Belle had caught up to them. She came bolting over, calling out to her two friends after they mistook her for the Sweetie Belle from another world. Speaking of which, it didn't take long for their Sweetie Belle to notice her counterpart.
"Hiya!" Equestria's Sweetie Belle would greet her counterpart with a wave, causing her to come to a screeching halt. She would almost crash into Apple Bloom and Scootaloo only for Meowstic to save each of them with her Psychic abilities. "Nice save, Meowstic."
"Meow."
"I caught up with you two. And you're hanging out with another me? What's up with that?" A rather upset Sweetie Belle uttered as she was not only mistaken for someone else who was also her, but she completely missed Espartha as it was long gone by now.
"Our bad." Apple Bloom rubbed the back of her head. "We were so eager and it could've been gone by then. And we just thought this was you..."
"I'm not even wearing the same clothes as her." She pointed out that Equestria's Sweetie Belle had a completely different outfit that was automatically given to her once she entered this world for the first time. "We saw each other today too. I never even had that bag on me!"
"Hm?" Equestria's Sweetie Belle would take a look at her saddlebag which had been enlarged a bit and morphed into a side bag, better fit for a human instead of a pony due to her new stature. "Oh, right. I'm surprised you all didn't see that."
"You couldn't have at least told them you weren't me? I mean you are but you're not me." Sweetie Belle grumbled at her Equestrian Counterpart, who knew she could tell her but chose to trick them instead.
"Yeah, we goofed up on that part." Scootaloo sighed. "But it's fine! We got to see a Pokemon Battle, even if it was short. Plus, isn't it great seeing another one of you and all of these Pokemon?"
"I mean...I guess." She pouted. She may have missed Espartha but at least she had these Pokemon to view. Speaking of the Pokemon, it was rather surreal seeing another version of their Trainer. "This does make up for it. These are some of the cutest Pokemon I've ever seen!"
"But that Espartha...How long have you known about it?" Equestria's Sweetie Belle asked. "It sounds pretty dangerous with that gaze it has."
"Oh. For a bit." Scootaloo answered. "It's been running around, jumping on people's cars and all that. It's a pretty wild Pokemon."
"I'm pretty sure they're all Wild," said Apple Bloom.
"I hope no one got hurt from that." Equestria's Sweetie Belle scratched her face before receiving a call from Rarity via her Xtransceiver. Quickly, she answered it. "Hey, Rarity! How goes that movie thing?!"
"Eh...It's going well, but I may have not taken a few things into account, but it's fine." Rarity replied with a bit of worry in her tone. "What about you? Where are you?"
"Just hanging around with me and my otherworld friends. That's all~"
"Ah. I see what you mean. Well, as long as you're safe. Right now, we're off to see if we can spot that gateway. It should be at the east of here."
"Gateway? Oh you mean that blue thing that was flying by a few minutes before I got here?" The Human World's Sweetie Belle replied, surprising the ears of her Equestrian Counterpart along with Rarity.
"What did you say?!" She and Rarity collectively uttered. "You saw it?!"
"Y-Yeah. It went that way, I think." Sweetie Belle pointed in the distance. "It's not at the east anymore. I'm not sure where it's going."
"It changed directions again? Strange." Sunset Shimmer spoke through the Xtransceiver as her face appeared on it. "Where did you see it go?"
"Ahh?" She shrugged, having no clue about where the location of the gateway was. She only saw it move elsewhere and most likely, it was somewhere around Canterlot Town or Canterlot High.
"We should hurry before it gets too far. And I know just how to do that." Rarity would take out a Poke Ball, throwing it into the air. Out of it came her fastest Pokemon and one of the fastest Pokemon of all time. Pheromosa.
"Pheromosa!"
"Pheromosa. I need you to look for the gateway. It might be close by. And if anyone can spot that gateway it's you. I'm counting on you, darling."
"Mosa!" Pheromosa saluted. She certainly wouldn't let Rarity down, believing in her speed.
"T-That Pokemon is tall!" Rainbow Dash stuttered at the absolute height of Pheromosa. And before she knew it, the Lissome Pokemon was off, leaving behind a powerful dust cloud. Her take-off speed was so great that the sound waves even passed through the Xtransceiver from how loud it was. "And fast too..."
Pheromosa would dash through the land, already leaving Canterlot High by now, seeing if she could find the gateway. And that would mean passing by Canterlot Town. She became a white blur, being invisible to the eyes from how fast she was moving.
"Say Aaahh~" A couple would completely miss Pheromosa when trying to feed each other as a white blur passed by their home, leaving behind a small wind pressure. Pheromosa could also scout the area with her eyes despite her tremendous speed, being able to keep up with everything around her.
She would hop over buildings, taking large leaps to get around through the air. The people of this town barely even saw her. All they managed to spot was a white figure in the sky, moving ridiculously fast before vanishing. They had to wonder what was that. Pheromosa kept looking, leaving behind a dust trail that followed her, making a unique pattern with how she was navigating the town. Eventually, she would leave the town, ending up elsewhere.
Pheromosa would then enter the road, running alongside the cars. The people in those cars would spot Pheromosa running by, having their jaws drop at this strange creature. Pheromosa, being the distinguished, lady-like and gentle Pokemon that she was, waved at the people in the cars before accelerating.
They were flabbergasted by what they were seeing. This Pokemon was easily outpacing their vehicles, going ahead of them. She would even stylishly and carefully avoid hitting any of the cars before soon entering the highway. She hadn't spotted the gateway just yet and she was far away from Rarity by this point. But she had to keep moving either way.
And as a bonus, Pheromosa got to view the world for free, seeing the sights for herself in this parallel world. It wasn't like Equestria, lacking all the magical and fantastical properties. It was more akin to the many regions but even those regions had magical areas of the dozen. This, for the most part, was just an ordinary world with a bit of magic hiding in specific areas.
"Mosa!?" Eventually, Pheromosa came to a screeching halt. She saw what she needed to see. By stopping at a nearby gas station, the Lissome Pokemon witnessed the gateway in the sky. She found the other half of what used to be the Infinity Gateway, floating across the world.
And from the speed it was moving at, it wasn't that fast. At least, compared to Pheromosa. The Ultra Beast eyed down the gateway, watching its every movement while she was also being eyed down by the people in the Gas Station. She was ready to chase it down when needed. But there was the issue of having it stay around.
Pheromosa would follow the movements of the gateway, wishing that she could quickly head back to Rarity and her friends to tell her. But would she be fast enough for that? Even Pheromosa doubted herself on that part. However, she would soon stop once she noticed something strange happening with this gateway.
It was once again wobbling, sending energy ripples out of it as it was undergoing another change. Just like before, the gateway would suddenly extend, coming to a halt as it was creating a part of it that was missing. Pheromosa watched in awe as the Infinity Gateway gained a new part. She saw it for herself how this gateway worked as it once again made the Infinity Symbol.
"M-Mosa..." She was taken aback by this but did not fully understand what this meant. However, when looking at the gateway, she saw where it led to. It previously led to the Alola Region's Humilau City. But this time, the visage of the gateway's location was now Jubilife City in the Sinnoh Region.
Pheromosa had a hard time figuring out what this meant. The best that she could think of was the fact that this gateway could change locations. That made it rather inconsistent as no one could possibly know what else it could show them. This used to be a gateway that led to Eindoak after all.
At least Pheromosa could share that information with Rarity and the others when she gets back. She could also leave it to Twilight to figure this out since she's been researching gateways. Now the Lissome Pokemon wished she brought Twilight along. For now, the Infinity Gateway was staying there, motionless.
"Phero"? However, before Pheromosa could head back, the gateway was reacting once more. She would try and keep a close eye on this development instead of leaving so soon. And this development brought some familiar faces into this.
Hopping out of it were four humans who stuck their own landings. One was cool and professional, the other was sloppy and resulted in this human falling on his back, another was almost as sloppy as the second one but with some balance being maintained and the final one was just for flair and showboating.
"P-Pheromosa?!" Pheromosa gasped after seeing who came through this gateway. Four familiar trainers who all reminded her of Ash had shown up.
"Haha! Stuck the landing!" The one who was showboating was none other than Hilbert which was to be expected with how much he hypes himself up.
"Ow...ow..." The one who fell on his back ended up being Ethan.
"Phew...That was close." The one who nearly fell over was Brendan.
"..." And the one who stuck the most professional landing was Red. Silent as ever and up at the front. All four of them found their way here, passing through the Infininty Gateway.
"Mosa!" Pheromosa now had a lot to share about as these four trainers from the same world made their way here, discovering the Infinity Gateway. However, much like the Pidove that passed through the gateway and how Ash and his friends first went through it, it would not last here forever.
Once more, the Infinity Gateway would leave. No one else was coming through it after these four made a quick travel from Jubilife to here. Thus, it would leave to find a location.
"Huh. It's leaving again. How come it keeps doing that?" Ethan looked up at the Infinity Gateway as this wasn't the first time he's experienced this. None of them looked surprised as they have all seemingly witnessed this before.
"That gateway sure does act differently from the others." Brendan, who was the smartest out of his friends here thought for a moment. "So far, it splits apart after it leaves, makes a new Infinity Gateway and repeats the cycle. It might have something to do with when someone passes through it."
"Oh, hey there!" Hilbert would swivel to face Pheromosa. "Pheromosa?! And a Shiny one at that too!"
"I-Is it a wild Pheromosa just out here in this world?!" Ethan gasped before sitting up, wondering if this was a random Pheromosa since she didn't have a trainer nearby.
"Mosa! Phero!" Pheromosa would rapidly talk. She hoped that they would recognize her as Rarity's Pokemon.
"Ah, it's just Rarity's Pheromosa." Thankfully they did, with Ethan being the first to do so. "Ah, what brings you here? This is more surprising than the gateway."
"If you're here then Rarity's here, right?" Brendan asked. His question was confirmed when Pheromosa nodded her head. The Lissome Pokemon was only here to investigate the gateway and its actions and she certainly found something to report. But even better than that, she had Brendan and the others who could report about it.
"Pheromosa!" The Ultra Beast pointed at the distance, wanting them all to come with her so that they could explain it better than she could.
"..." Red understood her, walking past the Lissome Pokemon. Despite being a man of few words, he could understand Pokemon very well. All of them could which is what made them such great Pokemon Trainers. Red looked at Pheromosa, asking her to lead the way. Not too quickly though.
"Pheromo!" Pheromosa saluted. She soon realized that Red, Ethan, Brendan and Hilbert were a bit too tall compared to the ponies. Usually, she'd pick the ponies up with her towering stature and run with them. But while these humans weren't that tall, she certainly couldn't carry them all. Thus, it would be a slower trek back to Rarity.
"By the way...Did Lucas pass through?" Hilbert asked while he and his friends followed the Ultra Beast with many eyes being on them. "I thought he was coming with us."
"He said he had something to do first." Ethan shrugged. "I'm sure he'll keep up eventually. But he's gonna end up somewhere soon with that gateway moving around." Indeed. Wherever that gateway goes next, the next individual that goes through it won't be in a consistent location. There was nothing consistent about it at all.
Canterlot High.
"Red! You guys!" And of course, Ash was surprised by their appearances. He didn't expect to see the four of them here today after Pheromosa returned with them. "Man, I didn't think you guys would be here!"
"Hey, Ash! We keep running into each other more often, huh?!" Hilbert greeted Ash back with a powerful high-five. "And what's up with this?" He would soon recognize Twilight and everyone else but in their Human Forms. But even more confusing than that, he was seeing double. Double of Twilight, double of Rarity and double of Sunset Shimmer, however seeing two Twilights wasn't that surprising.
The girls felt the same way. Mainly with Ash and Red. They could see similarities between the two despite their different appearances. They even saw a bit of Ash in Ethan, Brendan and Hilbert but at least they weren't identical to Ash compared to the girls.
"I'm confused. What's going on here?" Ethan approached Pinkie Pie, eyeing her down. "How come there's two of them?"
"Duh, don't you remember?" Brendan nudged Ethan. "That right there's the Twilight Hilbert met at the Pokemon Festival. So this is obviously the counterparts to everyone we know."
"Sharp eye. How did you two get here exactly?" Rarity asked. "I didn't expect Pheromosa to return with you all. Did you come from the Infinity Gateway?"
"We sure did. But it's gone now." Ethan shrugged. "It did that before when we went through it the first time."
"So you've seen it more than once?" Ash asked. "Huh. I guess it just does that whenever someone passes through it?"
"Pikachu."
"But why though?" Twilight thought for a moment along with Sci-Twi. "That's the only gateway that's around aside from the one that leads to Kanto and Pallet Town. But you all have a machine back in your world that brings you here, don't you?"
"Actually..." Brendan had something to share. "That might not be the case. Get this. That Infinity Gateway might be making more gateways."
"More gateways?" Ash and the others collectively said. This piqued their interest greatly.
"Mhm. Whenever someone passes through the Infinity Gateway, it leaves all of a sudden, heading elsewhere. I'm not sure where it decides to go and when it chooses to stop but it always ends up splitting itself in half. The Infinity Gateway's bigger than a regular gateway, so when it splits up, the two halves are just as big as a regular gateway."
"Oh, I see! And then they both leave elsewhere and make more gateways?" Sci-Twi added.
"That's right. Not sure why though." Hilbert's knowledge didn't go that far. There were still things about that gateway he wasn't sure about, especially with how it decides on a new location.
"Well, so much for heading back to Unova. Oh well." Equestria's Rarity shrugged it off, deciding to call it a day for now. "I can at least enjoy my time in this world instead.
"Oh you'll love it here, darling." This world's Rarity walked up, placing her shoulders on her counterpart. "I'm sure your friends here will as well."
"This place is weird so sure." said Hilbert. "I mean, how come you all look like that? It's kinda creepy how you look like your pony counterparts but ya don't at the same time."
"How's it creepy?" Rainbow Dash went up to Hilbert. "I mean, sure it's weird but..."
"But it makes it feel familiar, that's for sure!" Hilbert laughed. "I'm glad to see that my protege's in this world too! But I bet you're even more of a rookie than your pony counterpart, huh?"
"R-Rookie?! Protege!" Those words hit Rainbow Dash like a truck. "I-I'm not a rookie or a protege! I mean I'm still new to this but not that new!"
"Don't worry about it, protege. I, the Number One Trainer in the world, can teach you as well. I'll be known for teaching on both sides then my name will really get out there!" Hilbert was at it again. This time in this world, much to the chagrin of Rainbow Dash. She would soon find out how her pony counterpart felt with Hilbert around.
"..." Red wasn't too interested in this world. It didn't catch his eye or strike his fancy at all, but he would go along with it. He was just roaming the world along with the others.
"We'll have tons of fun. You're Red, right?" Sunset Shimmer approached the Silent Trainer Red. "Sunset, by the way. We've never met before."
"..." Red would greet her back with a slight hand wave, keeping that intensive stare in his eyes. He wouldn't even say Hello back or anything like that. It was all about emotions, mannerisms and eye contact with Red which made him hard to communicate with.
"He doesn't talk much..." Fiery added, pointing out Red's silence.
"Oh, yeah! Tons of fun!" Ash put his arms around Red, Ethan, Sunset and Twilight, prepared to have a blast here at the Human World. Sure, it wasn't as magical as Equestria or that tied with Pokemon like the many regions across the world. But it had room to grow.
And with the Pokemon Trainers that show up here, sharing their knowledge, this world may not hit the ground running but it could get somewhere with these Strange and Wonderful Creatures living in it as the journey continues.
The arrival of Red, Ethan, Brendan and Hilbert was a surprising one. The Infinity Gateway is what led to them and thanks to what they've experienced along with Pheromosa, further knowledge on this gateway had been shared with them. For the time being, these four trainers, along with Ash and Equestria's Rarity, would kill some time here, not too focused on any gateways or anything of the sort. Pikachu, Spike and Pyroar were playing around with the rest of the Pokemon here. Mainly Sci-Twi's Alpha Pokemon who were roaming her home. This world's equivalent of the Cutie Mark Crusaders along with Equestria's Sweetie Belle would mess around with the Pokemon as well.
"So, you come from your own world that's not the one on the opposite side? Weird." The Human World's Sunset Shimmer, also known as Fiery, added.
"..." Red nodded in confirmation.
"And you don't talk much, do you?" Fiery sighed. "What's up with that?"
"Red's not much of a talker, sorry. But trust me. He's a great battler." Ethan patted Red on the back, who did not move from this interaction, staying as solid as a wall.
"Okay then, but why does he look like Ash?" Fiery added more questions. "Come to think of it, you all almost look like. It's in your eyes though..."
"All of us?" Ethan narrowed his eyes before looking over at Red, Ash, Hilbert and Brendan to see these similarities. By taking a close look at them, he could definitely see that something was there. "Hmm..."
"She has a point, you know." Brendan chimed. "Hilbert's classified as Ash's counterpart, remember? I'm guessing if we were up there in that tower, we would've been told the same thing."
"I'm sorry, are you all saying you're counterparts of each other or something?" Sunset replied, hoping she was getting that right.
"That's right!" Hilbert exclaimed. "For a while, I thought it was just me and Ash, but Brendan, being the genius he is, found out more.
"I did. It's only when Hilbert brought it up that I had to know about it. But actually, someone's pointed it out before. That we all look alike in some ways." Brendan continued before opening his bag. "I went over to Mossdeep City and they found something pretty interesting. Here."
Brendan would lay down a sheet that as given to him by the Researchers of Mossdeep. On that sheet, images of Ash and the others were shown in the form of silhouettes. Ash, Red, Ethan, Brendan and Hilbert were all recognizable but there were 5 more silhouettes that Ash and the others did not recognize.
"See. All 9 of us. They found this out just a few days after your worlds united." Brendan pointed at the sheet. "I'm not sure why it's after that day, but it happened. My guess is that this wasn't the case until Jirachi put everything together. We were just ourselves until then."
"But Jirachi's wish didn't affect your world like it did ours," said Twilight. "Are you saying that you weren't counterparts before and Jirachi's behind this?"
"Maybe. That's what Brendan figured out." Ethan wasn't sure what the correct answer would be for this. "But hey. It's pretty cool, right? It's like we're all one in the same. And right now, it's a room of counterparts. Almost."
"The thing is...we're not sure if each of us are counterparts to each other or we're counterparts to one person. It's strange though. We were all born in different places though..."
"Ash. Zecora shared something similar to that. It was about someone named Prisma. Do you think it has something to do with you, Red and the others?" Twilight brought up Zecora's message and of course, another counterpart by the name of Twilight Moonlight. Today was a Counterpart Heavy day it seemed.
"Oh yeah. Twilight Moonlight's out to get me. Not sure if this connects to that or something." Ash scratched his hair after taking his hat off. "All this counterpart stuff's getting out of hand."
"I'll say. Kinda hard to keep up with too." Applejack took her hat off as well as mostly everyone else found this rather mind-melding.
"It is. But don't think about it too much. Leave that to me." Brendan pointed at himself. "If you're ever lost on something, you can ask me. Twilight. Uh...Both Twilights. I can count on you with this too. You're smarter than me, that's for sure."
"I've already been focused on Rift Work for a while now. I mean, I have a student who's a RIft Pony. You don't have to worry about a thing, Brendan." Twilight chuckled gleefully.
"Plus, if there's anything about Pokemon, that's where we come in. I don't know about this whole counterpart thing but Pokemon's my speciality. How caught up are you all?" Ethan asked.
"Umm..." The girls collectively uttered without giving a proper answer immediately. It has been 4 years since their world has been exposed to Pokemon. The same as Equestria. However, there was one stark difference between the two. Equestria was backed up by characters such as Ash, Hollow, BigTime Ben, Dawn and more to help them get up to speed with these Strange and Wonderful Creatures.
This world unfortunately did not have anyone like that on the very first day. As such, they were rather lost and stayed away from the Pokemon for the most part. They've only been around a few. And alas, Ash doesn't exactly come by this world as much as he does for Equestria. The only ones who had something knowledgeable were Sci-Twi and Sunset Shimmer.
"Yeesh. It's that bad, huh?" Ethan already figured it out just from their facial expressions and lack of an answer. Red shook his head, also reading their expressions. "Ah, it's fine. You have us here. Sure it's late but we can teach you what you know."
"That's right. Whether it's Pokemon Battles, raising them, feeding them or even anything beyond just battling alongside with them." Brendan added. "Right, Hilbert?"
"Oooh! These are Alpha Pokemon?!" Meanwhile, Hilbert was too busy on Twilight's Alpha Pokemon. The absolute size of these Pokemon was outstanding to them as they were larger than their standard variants. One can only imagine what they would look like Dynamaxed. "Look at the size of these fellas." Hilbert would walk up to Alpha Rapidash, admiring the scale of such a Pokemon. "Sci-Twi. You're lucky to have these juggernauts with you. I wish I knew about Alpha Pokemon before."
"Anyway...Just let us know what you wanna know." Ethan offered up. "But the best way is to experience it all."
"Yeah! I can make you all my proteges!" Hilbert pointed at himself. "Who wants to get started!?"
"Well, I actually do need the help so..." Rainbow Dash admitted. She was the only one that had Pokemon with her. Specifically Staraptor and Pangoro.
"Great!" Hilbert slid over to Rainbow Dash. "It'll be just like my world with you as my protege. What do you say?"
"Could you knock it off with that protege thing? I mean, you're gonna teach but..."
"Hey, Red. Got something to teach us?" Red was approached by Sunset Shimmer. He would then stand up, staying silent without an answer. At least, an audible one. He would simply look back at them while walking off, essentially telling them to follow him.
"Follow you? Alright then." Sunset understood his response, following Red outside of Twilight's home.
"I'll take you then, pal. You're the smart one, right?" Applejack went up to Brendan, trusting in his intellect due to what she's heard from him.
"Well, yeah. But I'm not like a super genius or something like that." Brendan humbly admitted. He was smart but not that smart. "Things just come to me naturally, I guess. That's how I see it anyway. So, sorry if I end up throwing a lot at you."
"Humble, are we?" Applejack smirked, nudging the Hoenn Trainer. "Don't worry about it. I think I'll do fine keeping up with whatever you know. Think I can't?"
"Not really. I mean, if you're anything like your Equestrian counterpart, you're a hard worker, right? You and your Sceptile. Uh, her Sceptile, I mean."
"I might be like her. Ain't ever met her though. By the way, what's a Sceptile?" She asked before leaving the room with Brendan, ready to learn with him.
"I'm the perfect teacher for you. Who better to teach you than yourself?" Equestria's Rarity said to her Human Counterpart, complimenting her and herself.
"Oh, you!" This world's Rarity giggled after that flatter. These two certainly prop themselves up as much as possible.
"I'm glad we're not like that," Sci-Twi added, preferring the rather standard friendship she and Twilight had despite being the same.
"Ah, that's just Rarity. As for me, I want to know more about this." Twilight would pick up the sheet that Brendan left behind, focusing on these counterparts. Now that it was laid out there for everyone to see, the Princess of Friendship had to figure this out. After all, Ash's life was being threatened by another counterpart of hers and it all came back to a mysterious individual by the name of Prisma.
"Okay, Red. What did you wanna teach me?" Sunset Shimmer spoke to Red as they were just outside of Twilight's home. "I'm a Fire-Type Gym Leader back at Equestria. But I don't know much since I only go back and forth between worlds sometimes."
"..." Red would respond by holding out a Poke Ball, suddenly summoning his Charizard without wasting any time.
"Charizard!" Upon arriving, Charizard would unleash a burst of flames from his mouth that shot into the air, startling Sunset Shimmer. Fitting that he brought a Fire-Type out against the Fire-Type Specialist.
"S-So soon?!" Sunset Shimmer pulled back as she could see Red eyeing her down with intensity. Red was basically encouraging her to send her own Pokemon out, bouncing the Poke Ball in his hand. "Alright then." Sunset understood, throwing one Poke Ball out.
"Braixen!" Out of it came Braixen, who was considered her best Pokemon by far.
"Here she is! Isn't she so cute and pretty?" Sunset kneeled to pat Braixen on the head. Braixen put on a proud smile with that compliment, blushing as well.
"..." Red was not moved by this at all. Instead, his next course of action involved him pointing directly at Braixen. Braixen's eyes shrunk after Red focused on her, prompting Charizard to take action.
"Zard!" Charizard stomped on the ground, causing a slight tremor that nearly knocked over the Fox Pokemon.
"B-Brai! Braixen!"
"Okay, I get it! You wanna battle!" Sunset Shimmer nearly fell over too. She figured out what Red was trying to tell her. Since she was a Fire-Type Specialist, taking care of a Gym, Red would train her. Despite having only one Fire-Type in his team and as his ace Pokemon, he was considered a Charizard Master. "But you'll be surprised with what Braixen and I can do. Right, Braixen?!"
"Braixen!"
"..." Red would be the judge of that. From the look in his eyes, he wouldn't make this easy for her. He never makes things easy at all or even hints at it.
"Go, Braixen! Psybeam!"
"Brai...Xen!" Braixen would start things off, holding her wand out. By gathering Psychic energy into her wand, she would release a powerful pink beam that tore through the grass here.
"Rrr!" However, that didn't matter as Charizard smacked the Psybeam out of the way with his claws. The beam went flying, hitting the ground elsewhere. Sunset and Braixen's jaws dropped as Red hadn't even said a word. The way he battles was silent, making him hard to predict.
"Y-You didn't even say anything though? Is this like a Zecora thing?" Sunset Shimmer stammered before shaking her head. She then noticed how Red did not go on the offensive at all. "A-Alright then. Psybeam, again!"
"Xen!" Braixen would unleash another Psybeam, this time, leaping into the air to get things started. She channelled more of the Psychic power hiding within her into the wand, unleashing repeated, Psychic Beams.
"Zard!" Charizard would then swing his tail, knocking away the first beam while clawing away at the second one when making a full 180 degrees turn. He would repeatedly do this, deflecting all of the Psybeams that came his way.
"Seriously?!" Fine then! Use Fire Spin!"
"Braixen!" While still in the air, Braixen would then unleash a turbulent wave of flames. Charizard would look these flames in the eyes as he was soon engulfed in them. Sunset pumped her fist, finally getting a hit in and it didn't take too long as the flames would spin around Charizard's body.
"Nice hit, Braixen!"
"Charizard!" However, that was quickly dismantled as Charizard blew the flames away by roaring and spreading his wings out. The pressure from this reached Braixen, knocking her out of the sky and ending her Fire Spin. That attack did nothing as the Fox Pokemon landed flat on her face.
"B-Braix?" Braxien got back up, a bit bewildered after that knockdown. How could he knock her down by simply flexing his wings and roaring? Never before had she felt such power.
"Y-You're kidding, right?" Sunset Shimmer was flabbergasted. "He's not even phased."
"Rrr!" Charizard growled at them, still standing on the defensive. And it was definitely working out for him. He hasn't even swung at them yet and he was gaining the advantage.
"Still not gonna say anything? Or even attack?" Sunset Shimmer narrowed her eyes at Red who just stayed silent. This was starting to fire her up which would also apply to Braixen. "You'll be sorry if you keep ignoring me like this! Go, Braixen!"
"Braixen!" Braixen would continue her attack as Sunset Shimmer's form of training was certainly going to be a hard one considering who she was going up against. Some might say she was unlucky to go up against Red. And yet, that didn't stop her from trying as the Fox Pokemon would throw as many of her attacks as she could at Charizard in different ways, trying to push through and deal some considerable damage.
"What kind of training is this...?" Meanwhile, Ethan found himself involved with Rarity's actions along with Ash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Equestria's Rarity had given them all clothes that were inspired by certain Pokemon. Suits and dresses in the style of Pokemon were given to them as all Rarity had to do was use the tools she had in her bag to whip these up.
These suits all had unique textures to resemble the Pokemon. Ethan had a Tyranitar suit which had popped-up edges on the side as well as the end of the jacket being the tail of Tyranitar, touching the ground. Ash's suit was an Empoleon-styled one. The sleeves of his suit matched that of Empoleon's bladed flippers as well as the jacket, making him seem like an emperor.
Fluttershy had on a Gardevoir dress which was self-explanatory. Gardevoir always looks like it has a dress on so there wasn't much stylization there. But Pinkie Pie's dress was heavily stylized as Rarity knew what she wanted. As such, Pinkie Pie had a Mega Steelix dress on and it was certainly something, taking the massive crystal in Steelix's chest and turning it into shoulder pads was a smart move from Rarity. Stones were in the centre of the dress much like the Mege Evolution along wiht her knees and arms, making her glisten more than anyone else.
"You all look wonderful!" Rarity applauded as her Human Counterpart helped out. This was her version of training and being a Pokemon Teacher. "And so do we!"
Of course, she and her Human Counterpart dressed up as well. Equestria's Rarity wore a Milotic, perfectly getting the scales down to a T. She even styled her hair, turning it into a ponytail to match Milotic's head. This world's Rarity had the dress of a Gothitelle, which was just as straightforward as Gardevoir. The Pokemon already looked like it was wearing a dress and she certainly looked good in a gothic style.
"I kinda dig it actually." Ash spun around, making his cape flow. He wasn't always big on suits but he could get behind this one with the coolness factor that it brought.
"This is only the start of it, darling. Back in my world, these are sometimes used for Pokemon Contests and other things. You can only imagine what kind of wonderful creations come from this." Rarity said to her Human Counterpart.
"Oooh...Amazing!" She was amazed by what she was hearing. Her Equestrian Counterpart was promising great things and she was already delivering.
"This is my way of training." Rarity flipped her hair. "I mean, a battle is always exciting and thrilling, but I prefer this. And if any of you are interested in Pokemon Contests, they're free to join. But if you're not willing to turn into a pony, then the regions of the world will do it for you."
Meanwhile, Twilight and Sci-Twi were working together, trying to figure out the sheet of counterparts that Brendan brought along. They skipped out on training just for this. It was hard to figure this out since there wasn't much to go off with this sheet. Only the fact that there were 9 counterparts in total.
"Still nothing?" Sci-Twi asked.
"No." Twilight sighed. "I'm just looking at images at this point. The only way I can learn more is if something important happens. Because right now, they're not doing anything and I'm not sure where the others currently are."
"What about us? We're counterparts so why don't we just base each other on them? Maybe we can find something?" Sci-Twi suggested. "Or is that not the same?"
"I don't think so. Brendan said that they weren't counterparts before while we've always been counterparts from the day we were born. Something happened that made them all related in some way." Twilight pondered for a moment. "It was done right after Jirachi made that wish and the gateways across the world also vanished among other things that changed our world. If I had to guess, it's probably something Rift Related."
"The Rift again?" Spike added. "What did it do this time?"
"The Rift thought about Jirachi in the beginning, locking them all up in another dimension so that no one could reach them. Well, we ended up reaching them and Ash made that wish. So it might have something to do with the Rift. We'll do our best to figure it out and I think the best pony to ask is Twilight Moonlight. She hasn't shown up as much."
"Isn't she out to get Ash though?" said Sci-Twi with a worrying tone. "Should we be asking her?"
"Don't worry. I know how to deal with her when she gets back. She's me. I mean, us. Oh, all this talk about counterparts is tiring, isn't it?" Twilight laughed as she has said counterparts multiple times in one day now and it was thanks to the arrival of Red, Ethan, Brendan and Hilbert. "The best way to continue learning about this is to head back home. It's getting late and I'm worried what Daisy, Paradise and those Baby Despair Plants might up to. Come on, Spike."
"Oh, we're leaving now?" Ash said, overhearing Twilight. "I guess it is pretty late now. Everyone should be done with whatever they're doing now."
"Mmm! This is good stuff!" Entering the room after being given an apple pie was Brendan. He was snacking down on the pie that was given to him by Applejack who left the house just to prepare this for him. His Sceptile would also indulge in this Apple Delicacy, feeling their stomachs melt. "You're great, AJ!"
"Sceptile!"
"I thought you two were training? What kind of training is this?" Ethan asked after seeing Brendan and Sceptile devour the pies.
"Well, about that...I kinda got hungry." Brendan grinned, admitting that he didn't have the strength to train Applejack. "I forgot to eat when we came here so I was looking for something to snack on. Applejack had something and it's sooooo good! Have you guys tried this?!"
"Back at Equestria, yeah. And here too. They taste the same and just as great." Ash confirmed.
"Aw, shucks. It ain't all that." Applejack felt truly flattered by the compliments she received for her apple pies.
"Mind teaching me how to make some of these, Applejack? I get around a lot so I'm always looking for something to eat." Surprisingly, Brendan was the one who wanted to learn from Applejack instead of teaching her. Everyone received their own lessons in some way. For the most part, they were gentle lessons as opposed to what was happening outside.
"Hah...Hah...." Sunset Shimmer was on her knees, panting repeatedly. She was exhausted, lowering her head as Braixen was currently lying on her back, also breathing in and out, holding her wand up. This whole time, they've been attacking Charizard to no avail. Everything Braixen did failed miserably as none of her attacks left an impact against the Flame Pokemon. "You're joking...I couldn't do anything?"
"Braix...Braixen..." It was undeniable that they both lost miserably. And Charizard barely did anything but defend himself. All he did was tire them out and it worked out perfectly.
"Oh, well. At least Red is insanely strong so...this loss isn't so bad. But it still sucks that I couldn't do anything." Sunset gripped the grass out of irritation. Walking up to her was none other than Red, who finally did something. Sunset looked up to see the Trainer from Kanto stand before her with his intimidating gaze. "W-What?" From this angle, Red was incredibly menacing as a shadow was cast over his eyes. Sunset felt rather uneasy with how he stood over her.
"..." But she had nothing to worry about. All Red did was offer a hand up. He put on a smile that brought a comforting aura to him as opposed to the serious one he usually carries. Sunset took his hand before being helped up. She was truly exhausted, needing to rest her arm on Red's shoulders while he assisted her. Charizard would do the same, picking up Braixen by the leg and placing her on his back.
"Please tell me I did well at least. How long did that even go on for?" Sunset Shimmer sighed as Red held one hand out. He showed a watch that revealed the time to her. 2 hours had gone by. Most of it was due to Rarity preparing dresses and suits for her friends while Applejack left with Brendan to get some pies. "2 hours, huh? That's embarrassing."
"Braix..."
"..." However, Red would give her a thumbs-up, approving her efforts, even if she didn't get a successful hit in. She did well as Red could admire her tenacity. She got so fired up in that battle that Braixen's attacks intensified, but they still weren't enough. Red still saw promise in her.
"Thanks, Red. But next time...could you maybe take it easy on me? Or was that you going easy?"
"..." Red smiled in response as that was most likely the case. Sunset Shimmer felt like fainting after hearing that. She'd hate to see him take this seriously.
"Great...I'd like to go home now though and rest. Thanks for this lesson, I guess. You just wanted me to improve and get stronger and this was the best way, wasn't it? Well, it worked, didn't it, Braixen?"
"Braixen." Braixen groaned. A tiny audible laugh came from Red that was hard to hear but he definitely let out a laugh. Soon, Red would help Sunset Shimmer back into Sci-Twi's home, which would soon follow in her heading home with her counterpart.
They now had some unique trainers to teach them. It essentially felt like being taught by the same person but with a different outfit. Even if their personalities were also different from each other in some ways. There was a lot of catching up to do with this world when it comes to Pokemon. It may take months or even years, but with the guidance of those who are so close to these Strange and Wonderful Creatures, there was no doubt that they would pass on this knowledge to the rest of this world.
Equestria. The Crystal Empire. One Night Ago. Nightfall./i]
It happened last night.
A peaceful night at the Crystal Empire. Undisturbed by anything, making it free to live silently until morning arrives. For the most part. A flash of light emerged one night, coming from the mountains of the Frozen North. Cadence, who was asleep at the moment, found herself waking up thanks to the light. It beamed through her windows, catching the attention of the alicorn.
She groaned after being woken up. The Princess of the Crystal Empire would then raise her head, managing to peek over the windows. And what she saw truly opened her eyes. She witnessed the light but the way it appeared was rather familiar. It wasn't just an average flash of light.
This one resembled that of the Sea Temple with how it flowed like water. Cadence's eyes opened up some more as there were multiple flashes of golden lights going off. Seeing this meant something big was going on. At least, for a while. Very soon, the lights would fade out as Cadence missed out on most of it.
But she knew what light was as rubble from the mountains would drop because of the flashes that went off. Silence would fill the atmosphere once more but that moment wouldn't be forgotten as there was only one thing that could make that specific light go off multiple times. Or rather, one person. Galaxy Master. However, Cadence wasn't the only one disturbed at night.
Faye Mountain. Changeling Hive.
At the same time that the lights over at the Frozen North went off, the Changeling Queen Chrysalis found herself being woken up by something. But it wasn't the light of the Sea Temple Crystals. Instead, Chrysalis was woken up by a shock. She gasped, sitting up from her bed which was near Anthophilia's bed.
The Changeling Queen was taken aback by something in the middle of the night. It felt like something struck her heart as her head suddenly felt heavier and heavier. Each pulse of throbbing pain pounded Chrysalis's senses over and over again. What was causing this? Chrysalis couldn't exactly see it. Only feel it. It didn't help that this was during the middle of the night when she was exhausted and weak at the moment.
The sharp, burning sensation was all Chrysalis could focus on. The pain subsided at times, only to flare up again and with seemingly increased intensity. She paused for a moment and took a deep breath. Perhaps if she could shift her focus away from the pain it'd be easier to manage.
She looked over at Anthophilia and Ribombee who were peacefully sleeping. They were completely fine compared to Chrysalis. Nothing was wrong with them. Chrysalis would then walk around her hive to check up on her subjects and they as well found themselves to be asleep without anything to bother them. It was strange. Everyone else was fine but not her. Chrysalis figured that she might just be ill and she was singled out.
Fortunately, there were some calm moments, moments when the pain was easy to manage and even easy to ignore, but it was still recognizable and worrying. Chrysalis would later enter her healing cocoon to try and stave the pain away. Thankfully, the cocoon fended off this pain but it was certainly unnatural, unlike anything Chrysalis had felt before. A part of it was still there, lingering menacingly. Chrysalis would then put herself to sleep within the cocoon for some true peace and quiet.
Magehold. Nightfall.
And in unison with these two instances, something was occurring over at Magehold. Currently, ruptures were coming from Rosa Maledicta's Healing Room where she was still recovering. Feeling these ruptures were the vampires, who saw the walls near them crack and the floors shatter. This was the result of the Lich Queen's powerful magic, still having this level of power in such a weakened state.
"W-What's happening?!" A vampire cried out, backing away from the destruction. The windows were falling apart in different rooms, disrupting the vampires that were within them. It felt like the whole place was starting to come down as dark magic would erupt from the cracks.
As for Rosa Maledicta, even though she was in the Healing Chamber Room, she was currently holding something in her hooves which ended up being free. The Box of 100 Demons. Well, almost 100. The 99th one had been reverted into its original form, making this box short on one demon.
"Her Majesty is currently facing off against someone from afar. It's Galaxy Master again." Fractured Note explained what was going in there. And the cause for all of this destruction was none other than a clash with Galaxy Master. This late at night, across two entirely different lands, the Lich Queen was facing off against the Fictional Superhero.
And it was a fierce clash indeed. So fierce that the energy that Galaxy Master emitted was showing up at Magehold. Bursts of light would fly out of the room, piercing the roof above and leaving a hole in it for many across Magehold to view. The light was sensitive to the vampires, who were cowering in fear of this light energy. But really, it was Rosa Maledicta's fierce clash that was causing the light to act so violently and it was impressive that Galaxy Master had such a reach.
"I didn't expect his mental capabilities to be so impressive...!" Rosa Maledicta growled as it was a mental battle between her and Galaxy Master. The Fictional Character revealed more of what he was capable of and it seemed that abilities from the mind weren't an exception.
She was growing so agitated that her magic was starting to affect the Box of 100 Demons as well. In return, it affected Chrysalis who was tied to the box. At this moment, Galaxy Master was attempting to thwart another one of the Dread League's plans that involved harming the world. This struggle threatened Magehold with how much Rosa Maledicta was affecting the area around her.
This went on for minutes. Almost an hour even. But eventually, it would come to an end. Not many would know what occurred during that night. Only a select few.
"I've driven him and his potion-loving friend away from the mountains." Rosa Maledicta sighed. "But the seed I planted will have to grow somewhere else. The light from the Sea Temple...It's a troublesome thing. Even for the demons inside this box. Any more and it would've been only 98 Demons." She also managed to retrieve one of the demons that was confronting Galaxy Master. Because of that light, it was threatening to the 100 Demons because of how it was tied to Arceus.
"Your majesty. If I may...Should I take the box back?" Fractured Note arrived, offering to take the box with him. Rosa Maledicta would pass it on to her loyal servant, allowing him to send it away since this mental confrontation was over. The box was still missing a demon and Rosa Maledicta could not afford to lose another one. She wanted strength in numbers and the demons certainly had that while also packing a ton of power.
"Listen well, Fractured." She stopped him before he could leave the room. "Your sister and her group have already planned ahead in getting rid of one other obstalce. Xerneas. Due to recent events, I have no choice but to accelerate my plans. I've called for assistance from the Pony of Shadows who already has a vendetta against Equestria."
"You want us to go after Xerneas then?"
"It gives life so it must be snuffed out. If Yveltal's power allows it to destroy everything, then it only makes sense that Xerneas would be immune to this power. That cannot happen. The Pony of Shadows is already working his magic throughout Equestria and I've ordered others to scatter across the different regions but Galaxy Master had to show up with perfect timing as always. I can predict that I shall be at full strength once more and then, I can fully spearhead the Black Crusade."
"Understood. But might I suggest something? If you want to know more about Xernea,s maybe going through the hassle of searching for a book about a Pokemon can be skipped this time. Why not ask Fantina?" Fractured Note recommended Fantina for advice. "She has knowledge of Pokemon and from what I can tell, she might be from Kalos."
"I can't risk Fantina having her memories restored in anyway. But asking her might be our quickest option. Your sister and her group have already left for Kalos since yesterday but I will make sure to relay whatever Fantina can find. Now leave me be." Rosa Maledicta would continue resting, this time, possibly for the final time as she could see when she'll be fully healthy once more.
When leaving the room, Fractured Note would remove the dark magic around the box with his own magic, using what was left of his Lich abilities. After all, he was the previous Lich King centuries ago before becoming a vampire. But with that unicorn horn on his head, there were signs of his past life still around.
He did an excellent job in keeping his plans secret from the Lich Queen, still focused on breaking this cycle before another Lich can be born. He had the support of other vampires who were keeping this a secret but with Rosa Maledicta accelerating her plans and throwing more aggression towards Equestria, he had to also act fast and keep up with her.
Returning here from the Human World were Ash, Rarity, Twilight and Spike. Red, Ethan, Brendan and Hilbert were still over at the Human World, deciding to stay around for a while. Much like Ash, they just went anywhere.
"You're back." Greeting them here was none other than Princess Celestia. "How did things go over there? Anything interesting to note?"
"A few things." Indeed, Twilight and the others had something interesting to share. Mainly the existence of the Infinity Gateway and how it acts. And of course, the information about counterparts but Twilight has had quite enough of that for a day. "A bit exhausted to share it all though."
"I see. I still have enough energy to share something though. And it's something you all want to hear. Just this afternoon, Chrysalis and Cadence came here to tell me something important. It's about what happened around the Arctic mountains near the Crystal Empire."
"Really Does that mean you found something out about the Dread Leauge?" Ash asked, realizing that this would connect to the Dread League since they were hidden somewhere in the Frozen North.
"Maybe. It was only yesterday night. Cadence said she saw a flare of light in the distance. Meanwhile, Chrysalis felt something within her on that same day. She wasn't sure what it was so she came to me for assistance." Celestia explained, sharing what she learned. "Ash. This one involves Galaxy Master. You might want to hear this."
7 hours ago.
Canterlot Castle was occupied with three different forms of royalty. Princess Celestia was the obvious one while Chrysalis and Cadence were the other two. They had gathered here on important matters instead of just spending time with each other as friends. Alas, they wish they could.
"Gardevoir!" But their Pokemon had that freedom without a doubt. Gardevoir greeted Sylveon and Ribombee as it was a gathering of Fairy-Types right now with Alcremie involved.
"Alcremie!2 Alcremie would greet Sylveon by shooting vanilla cream at her. The Intertwining Pokemon was pushed back by the cream stream as that was a rather delicious way to greet someone. Sylveon would even take the opportunity to taste the cream, feeling bliss from its taste.
"So, you wanted to see me? What have you two found out?" Celestia asked, facing the Changeling Queen and the Princess of the Crystal Empire.
"Well, it only showed up for us recently. It was just last night away from our kingdom but near one of the Arctic mountains. Something went off there." Cadence began explaining what she learned. "There was a prism of light that suddenly appeared and it looked a lot like the one that comes from the Sea Temple Crystals."
"Oh, well then that means it's probably Galaxy Master. If I had to guess, he's probably going up against the Lich Queen from afar like before. And you, Chrysalis?"
"Something shocking came to me last night. I wasn't sure what it was so I came to you for assistance. It felt like there was something out there connected to me that gave me harm. I used the Healing Cocoon to try and stave away the pain and it worked but I can still feel it. I couldn't quite figure out what it was at all so I came to you. That's how it felt to me, Celestia."
"And this all happened in one night?" Celestia asked once more, wanting to make sure that these two were connected in some way.
"Mhm." The two of them nodded in unison. Indeed, it all happened on the same night. And there was a connection that they haven't made out just yet.
"Well, then...I'm not sure about you, Chrysalis, but I can guess what's going on over at the Frozen North. Rosa Maledicta's magic is so grand that she can interact with anyone from afar. So as long as they're near Despair Plants or a Despair Plant Garden. Galaxy Master's clashes with Rosa Maledicta aren't surprising, but I wonder why it's only now that this light is appearing from the mountains. Magehold is hidden somewhere around the Frozen North after all."
"If I knew, I'd tell you." Cadence sighed. "It might happen again if he confronts the Dread League somewhere else."
"Well, if it happens, alert me and I will be there. This might be the closest we can get to tracking down the location of Magehold. It's all a matter of getting through that barrier and retrieving Yveltal and Fantina. As for you Chrysalis...I can't help you with whatever you're experiencing. But you could always ask your mother." Celestia suggested that Chrysalis went to her Mother Mellifera for help. "She always knows something with her extensive age."
"I suppose I should've gone to her first." Chrysalis sighed. "Alright. Thank you anyways for your time. I wish I came here under different circumstances though."
"One day you can. You can just hang out with us." Cadence replied, offering a chance for Chrysalis to hang out with her and Celestia one day. "You already did back at the Grand Galloping Gala a few days back and the Pokemon Festival is another opportunity."
"Now that I think about it...If there's light coming from the mountains, could that mean that Galaxy Master's power is affecting the shield as well?" Celestia thought for a moment, wondering if Galaxy Master was the one who could break through the shield with his power. It wouldn't be too farfetched to believe that he was capable of it. After all, with how he was made, he could seemingly do just about anything.
Present Night.
"That's what I managed to get. How is that for development?"
"That was...something." Twilight blinked. "Well, I should be getting home now for some rest."
"You should. Ash. Should we run into Galaxy Master, I'll try and call for you while also trying to speak with him. I believe he may be the key to pushing through that barrier. Actually, I also believe the Sea Temple's Crystals are the key."
"Oooh, those crystals are very powerful, aren't they? So powerful that they're the reason the temple was so secluded for so long," said Rarity, seeing where Celestia was coming from.
"It's a better alternative than what was offered before. I'll never use Daybreaker's power and instead resort to something else. This might be what we need. If we ever manage to find Magehold, I will request help from the Sea Temple to break through that barrier. As King of the Sea, I'm counting on you."
"You got it." Ash nodded in understanding. "Leave it to me."
"Splendid!" Celestia put on a wide smile. "Now get some rest, all of you. Big days are coming ahead. Such as the addition of Pokemon Facilities to Equestria."
"Facilities? Like what?" Spike asked.
"Luna recommended it and with enough talks across the different regions, we've come to an agreement. And of course, BigTime Ben helped out mostly. I know you'll love this, Ash. A Battle Frontier will be coming to Equestria soon."
"A Battle Frontier?! Awesome!" That was music to Ash's ears. He was eager to see that as that would be Equestria's first Battle Frontier. And the other facilities that had yet to be named were exciting as well.
"Awesome, indeed. And we've decided that the Battle Carnival will be that facility after some talks. I'm sure you remember that." Celestia then revealed that the Battle Carnival is what would be the Battle Frontier Facility. It was fitting since it was originally meant to be one over at Hoenn, but never came to fruition.
Now, it could finally fulfil its true purpose by existing here at Equestria. Celestia didn't want to spoil the other facilities, so she left the room to get some sleep herself. Ash and the others would soon do the same. Big days were indeed coming ahead. Good or bad.
Seviper Swamps.
Another day went by. Chrysalis had arrived at the swamps one day later, searching for her mother Mellifera, who never stayed in one position at all. She was constantly on the move it seems. However, she found herself a place to live and call home after the previous one was in shambles.
A swamp that was mainly populated by Seviper and its natural enemy Zangoose along with other Pokemon. It was solitude and eerie enough for Mellifera's taste. And the perfect place for Chrysalis to start searching as she approached the hut.
"Chrysalis? What is it now?" Mellifera opened her doors to greet her daughter. "Still struggling to reach Magehold, are we?"
"It's not like you're being much of a help either way. You've shared a lot with Celestia and I but you haven't found a way to break through that barrier and we're already struggling to come up with something." Chrysalis replied.
"Fair enough. Even if I was younger, there is nothing I could do about that barrier. It truly is powerful, made up of the magic of all the previous Lich Kings and Queens." Mellifera replied. "But what are you here for then if it's not that?"
"I have something to ask. It's about something I felt last night and the night before." Chrysalis entered her mother's home. When entering it, she thought she was in the presence of a witch as Mellifera had already decorated it, making herself comfortable. All sorts of Changeling-based items were here that could only be found at the oldest Changeling Hive in the world which was now abandoned. Bugs were crawling everywhere, also making this hut their home as they fed on the walls and furniture. "I felt an unknown pain. Unlike anything I've felt before."
"How unknown?"
"It didn't feel natural at all, Mother. The cocoon fended it off but I can still feel it somewhere. In fact, it's the same sensation I gained when that one Centipede Demon attacked my hive last year. But that one was filled with anger instead of pain. Even if there was a pain within me due to the destruction that it caused."
"What are you on about? What kind of sensation is that even?"
"That's what I am trying to figure out. Celestia recommended that I come to you since you know so much about Changelings. Even more than me. This pain...it felt like it was connected to something. Something that I don't know. Do you know?"
"..." Mellifera's pupils shrunk. She knew something. "You said it was similar to when a demon attacked you, yes?"
"That's right. That one was based around my anger but this one is just pain in general but completely unnatural. Do you actually know what it is?"
"Hmm...There is a reason for that." Mellifera sighed, knowing the true reason. She already knew about the Box of 100 Demons, revealing it to her daughter and the others. But there was more to it that she never revealed. "But I believe it's best that you don't need to hear about it."
"Oh come on. You're going to do this now?" That wasn't the response that Chrysalis wanted to hear. "I need answers more than cryptic words. Please, Mother, if you know something, just tell me. You can trust me. Your own daughter."
"I know I can." Mellifera crossed her hooves, looking away. "I trust you. However, what I know is rather shocking and I'm not even sure I should say it." Truth is, Mellifera didn't want to reveal Chrysalis' connection to the box at all, fearing what might happen and how she would react.
"I'm sure it can't be as bad as the pain I felt recently. This might be the best way to stave it off, Mother. For good."
"Mmrrgh...That pain you're feeling will go away eventually, but it can always come back if something specific were to happen." She referred to the box being affected by something which resulted in Chrysalis feeling it. "But...do you honestly think you're ready to hear it?"
"I am. Tell me and I'm sure I'll be fine." Chrysalis said with a smile of confidence, truly feeling like she could tackle whatever was shared with her.
"Alright then." Mellifera turned to face her daughter, hoping that she could back it up. She certainly wasn't going to hold back at all. "My dearest child. You are connected to the Box of 100 Demons. You are its original creator."
"...Huh?" That was not what she was expecting. It turns out that Chrysalis was not ready for this revelation at all. This hit her like a truck, making her pupils shrink and her mouth open wide in disbelief. She did not mishear her mother or require her to speak those words again. It was all clear to her. On this day, Chrysalis had been told about a part of her origin that was hidden away.
On the day she was born, the Box of 100 Demons was made. Her life and everything was tied to it, being the original creator of the box. The original creator of all the demons that lie within it. Indeed, she had some knowledge to take back with her that could rock everything greatly as the journey continues.
"What?! WHAT?!" Chrysalis had learned a shocking truth that existed since her birth. She was the creator of the Box of 100 Demons. Made right on the same day she was born in the depths of Tartarus, Chrysalis was deeply connected to it, which was not something she ever thought would be a thing. But here she was, hearing it from her own mother's mouth. "Y-You're joking, right?! Mew?!"
"I told you wouldn't handle it so perfectly." Mellifera shook her head, expecting Chrysalis to react in this way. By looking at her eyes, Chrysalis' pupils were shrinking. "Tsk. Tsk. You're far too confident in yourself, you know that?"
"Never mind that! Is that true?! I-I made it?! How could I have made it if I was just born?! And you knew this whole time and didn't tell me?! Again?!" Chrysalis bombarded her with questions.
"It was without your own conscious. But willpower is what powered it. This is exactly why I was always so determined to bring out your full potential because I knew there was something there. However, I vehemently avoided anything with the box once I learned about it."
"That's the reason why? That's why you raised me in such a way?"
"Absolutely not. I raised you for many reasons but that box was not one of them. If anything, that box was a surprise that I never would have expected." Mellifera quickly denied it.
"B-But this can't be..." Chrysalis was dumbfounded and gutted by this revelation. She looked at her hooves, trembling as she was a product of the Box of 100 Demons. More than that. She was the original creator without her ever knowing until now. And it was truly terrifying to think about. "T-Then, is my life tied to that box? Please don't say that."
"No." Mellifera shook her head. "However, if something were to happen to the box, a part of you will be destroyed. I'm not sure what exactly. When I first went to Tartarus to find the Box, I was told everything I needed to know. And one of them was the fact that if the box is affected by magic in some way, you will feel something. Most of it seems to be pain and for the longest time, the Box of 100 Demons was relatively untouched by any destructive magic."
"But how could I make something like that? And what part of me will be destroyed?" She threw more questions in. "What happened on that day I was born?"
"It's the magic within you, obviously. But I suppose it has something to do with your own desires. You were born a Changeling after all, and the next in line to being a Queen, so you have a lot to desire in your life. Whatever magic lies within you is responsible for making that box. Perhaps it's the conflicting nature of your old self and current self. I'm not too sure. But its obvious that it leads ti violence and destruction, which goes well with the Dread League."
"And you just left it in the care of the Dread League?! Do they even know about this?!" Chrysalis stood up, roaring at her mother. "Why didn't you take it when you had the chance?!"
"Obviously not! I'm the only one that knows about this!" Mellifera roared back at her. "If they knew about your connection to that box, they wouldn't hesitate to destroy it. But it's too valuable to them. And I absolutely refused to go anywhere near that box when I first came across it. I still remember the day I first encountered it. Something truly devious was resting in there that I would not interact with. Only the Dread League would have the courage to go near it."
"T-Then...What about the demons inside? I made them? How could I have made those horrible creatures? The box I can somewhat understand but the forces that live inside?" Chrysalis sat down, holding her head as Ribombee flew to her side to comfort her.
"You remember the Centipede Demon, don't you? That was originally a group of Centipedes and you reverted them to their original form once more. The truth is that the demons that live inside of that box has a semblance of our magic. Changeling Magic. We have the power to shapeshift after all and your hidden magic that also created the box can do the same to other beings but they can only take the forms of demons."
"I can do that?" Chrysalis looked at her hoof in amazement, figuring out something about herself that she did when she was still young.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, my dearest daughter," Mellifera smirked. "It's not everyone. All those demons are the result of your magic and a majority of them used to live in Tartarus. It is a prison for criminals after all and the criminals of that era were caught up in your magic, shapeshifting their bodies into demons. Inside that box lies not just 100 Demons but dozens of Criminals of Tartarus. Think of it as an extra prison for them if that makes you feel any better. Only the centipedes and other creatures weren't criminals. And I would know. I saw it for myself."
"You did?"
"Oh yes. Because the very first Changeling Hive exists near Tartarus. It wasn't a difficult trek for me to make. I saw all those prisoners engulfed in your magic. I still remember how it looked to witness their transformation." Mellifera thought back to the day she arrived at Tartarus to witness the Box of 100 Demons which currently had no demons within it.
Many Centuries Ago. Tartarus.
Tartarus. A location where the evil spirits of the world are locked away for their crimes. And at this point in time, it certainly had plenty of criminals down here. This was a time when Equestria hadn't even been discovered yet and even before Princess Celestia was born. Danger was the most prominent it has ever been in Equestria but a solution to that was already there. Tartarus.
Currently, many criminals were locked here for their crimes, unaware of what would happen to them all. Sitting here at Tartarus, unbothered by anything, was the Box that had no demons within it. The criminals were all behind bars, unable to even reach or interact with this mysterious Box.
All except for one. Arriving here at Tartarus was a younger Mellifera. She certainly looked younger as her mane had some vibrancy to it. The Changeling Queen of this time stood before the Box, already feeling the ominous nature radiating from it. It was still new to this world, just being created minutes ago during Chrysalis' birth.
"So this is it? What an awful presence." She commented on the box. However, it wouldn't just sit around there. The magic coming from the box would eventually react to its surroundings. And only its surroundings. Mellifera gasped, slowly backing away as violent green magic flared out of the box. It opened itself without anyone needing to do so. The criminals all shuddered as a horrific sound came from the box, matching that of thunder.
For these criminals to be terrified and intimidated by the sound and force coming from the box showed how deviously dangerous it was to scare them. These criminals were down here simply because of their actions and this box gave them a feeling of dread that not even Tartarus managed to give out.
Mellifera protected herself with a magical field from the powerful magic as it was spreading rapidly. She witnessed how the criminals down here would have their bodies engulfed by the green magic. They cried out as they could feel their bodies changing all of a sudden. And that wasn't just a feeling. It was a reality. The Changeling Queen gasped as she witnessed how one of these criminals, who was a pegasus, had her body morph horrifically.
The pegasus couldn't understand what was going on. How could her body change all of a sudden and what exactly was it turning into? Other species would gasp in horror at their transformations that would completely change who they were. Mellifera watched as they all took on the form of demons, gaining new body parts that were uncomfortable to them, altered body shapes and many other things that were never there before.
Mellifera witnessed an alternate version of Changeling Magic at play. Her newly born daughter had the innate ability to shapeshift others, but it was unpleasant compared to what an ordinary Changeling can do. The magic grew violent enough to hit Mellifer'as shield. A bit of it slipped through her shield, grabbing a hold of the Changeling Queen's hoof.
"Off of me!" Mellifera bellowed, using her magic to repel it. Despite how violent and powerful it was, Mellifera had the strength to reject it, preventing herself from being transformed into something hideous. And by extension, she also prevented herself from being sucked in.
All of the criminals here would have their bodies pulled in by the Box, carried by the magic it let out. They screamed, unable to resist it unlike Mellifera as they found a new prison that was arguably worse than Tartarus. Five dozens of demons flew inside as Mellifera counted at least 60 of them. That was already a gigantic majority of criminals, making it almost close to 100.
Afterwards, the box would close itself, successfully trapping them inside. On this day, demons were born and locked within the box. Mellifera was the first to witness it all, minus its creation. The box would continue to sit there, no longer letting out that ominous energy. But what it did let out were the slightly audible cries of the demons within.
Present Day.
"This is ridiculous..." Chrysalis held her head. "H-How am I going to tell this to everyone else? I've brought upon a horrible force that terrorized them, especially during the Pokemon Festival.
"Ribombee..." Ribombee would pet Chrysalis on the head, trying to comfort her. This was a lot to take in and Mellifera did not hold back it seems.
"Hm. Well, you didn't completely crumble when I told you about this." Mellifera shrugged. "But if you're feeling devasted by this, why not tell those you trust? Those sappy ponies and that human you know are too understanding, aren't they? It makes me sick."
"I guess I can tell them." Chrysalis scrunched her face. "But...What if everything goes wrong? You said a part of me will be destroyed and you don't even know what it is. What if my violent side shows up again, Mother?"
"I don't know. That's as far as my knowledge goes, after all. I've given you everything you need to know. If you want to stay around some more, go ahead. But now you will have to live with the fact that you created that box and formed 100 different demons. Well, 99 now. If you can overcome that somehow, I'll be very impressed."
"I will!" Chrysalis stood up, startling her mother with her voice being raised. She was still processing everything she learned from her mother as her hooves were trembling in fear of what she possessed. "You think this will crush my spirit but it won't. I swear on it. I'll find a way through this like I always do."
"Hoh? Do you really think so? It's a major part of you, after all, my dearest daughter. It's not just some random part that you can get rid of and it will only have a brief effect. It's incredibly tied to you and who knows what will happen to you if it is destroyed."
"I intend to find that out. I'm with Celestia in wanting to break that field of magic that protects and conceals Magehold. She wants to retrieve Yveltal and Fantina. Well, I wish to retrieve the box from the Dread League."
"Good luck with that," Mellifera replied. She wasn't exactly underestimating her daughter. Rather, from the smile on her face, she had faith in her. Her daughter has proven her wrong before after all and Mellifera has come to accept it.
"Before I go...How did I turn them into demons? I don't even remember doing anything to that group of centipedes from before. You said that it's similar to how we can shapeshift, right?"
"...Mmm?" Mellifer genuinely didn't know, shrugging afterwards. "Figure that one out on your own. Never before has a Changeling been able to turn someone else into something. You've clearly gone above and beyond the average Changeling. You're the Queen after all."
Chrysalis would leave with a plethora of information to take in. She had the most unlikely connection to the Box of 100 Demons which completely blindsided her when it was revealed. With trust in those she's grown close with, she would decide to share it all with her friends and her subjects.
But there was something unnerving about knowing that a majority of those demons were once just regular creatures, transformed by a young Chrysalis who had no concept of what she was doing and how she even did it in the first place.
Manehattan. Afternoon.
However, all of that was unknown for now by those who were simply enjoying their lives at the moment. And currently, they were about to witness the arrival of the newest Battle Frontier. It would be Equestria's first Battle Frontier.
The Battle Carnival would be used as this facility as a massive airship was carrying it, having the logo of Silph Co. on it. The Airship would then gently lower the Battle Carnival at Manehattan, placing it right near the end of the city. And of course, here to see the installation of this Battle Frontier was Ash and some of his friends. He was currently joined by Rainbow Dash, Spike, Applejack and Rarity.
"Nice, nice!" Ash admired the Battle Carnival from this distance, standing on a bridge. "Looks like you've got something to look forward to after all, Rainbow Dash."
"You said it!" Rainbow Dash's eyes flared up with excitement. "While I'm waiting for everyone to finish the Gyms, I can do this in the meanwhile! Maybe not today thought, but still!" Finally, Rainbow Dash had something else to do before the Equestria League can start. And the Battle Frontier was the best choice possible.
And of course, familiar faces were seen there. The workers of the Battle Carnival would be present for this but it was unknown if either of them were the Frontier Brains. The owner of the Battle Carnival could very well be one. Here to see this facility being fully realized was Princess Celestia.
"This will do just fine." Celesti approved, standing in front of the Battle Carnival. "We can call this the Battle Carnival still, even if it's now a Battle Frontier. It's more fun that way."
"Thank you so much for this, Princess Celestia!" The owner of the Battle Carnival would get on his knees, tearing up from this as he was waiting for this moment since the carnival was first made. "I've wanted it to be a Battle Frontier from the very beginning and I thought that would never happen! I'm truly grateful!"
"You're welcome. But remember to have fun, alright? It's what you all do best." Celestia replied with a gentle tone.
"Y-Yes your majesty!" He wiped his tears away before facing his employees. "Listen up all of you! Our travels around the world stop here. Manehattan is our final destination and we need to live up to the expectations of the Battle Frontier. Of course, we need Frontier Brains but we also need to give challengers and customers the most fun they can have!"
"Yes sir!" They all saluted. None of them were Frontier Brains, meaning this Battle Carnival was still missing that vital element. But once it is added, it shall truly be ready. And of course, since it is a carnival, everyone was free to enter and indulge in all the fun activities and events that will take place.
And that is exactly what they did. They came swarming in, wanting to experience the carnival. As always, the workers were always ready to entertain as Ash and many others would approach the Battle Carnival.
Ponyville. The Pokemon House.
Arriving here at the Pokemon House was none other than Chrysalis. She was still taking in everything she learned, coming to Ponyville. She was only here to meet with her friends and the Pokemon House was her first decision. Two of her good friends are usually here. Fluttershy, who was the caretaker of the Pokemon House and Ash, who commonly comes around here.
"Hi! Afternoon, Chrysalis!" Fluttershy waved at the Changeling Queen while taking care of some Pokemon. "What brings you here?"
"Oh, sorry. I thought Ash would be here first since he usually shows up at this sanctuary. Is he here?" Chrysalis asked about Ash's presence.
"Sorry, he's gone elsewhere. But if you're here to talk about something, I'm here." Fluttershy would flutter over with Raboot sprinting with her.
"I just recently shared a lot with my subjects back at the Changeling Hive. I figured I would do the same to everyone else I know. It's simply to get something off my back before it gets out of control. I'd rather not hide it." Chrysalis wanted to reveal it as soon as possible, just for the sake of getting it off her back.
"Really? Is something wrong?"
"Oh, it's not that something is wrong. So far, everything is fine. But I just have my worries and fears, that's all." Chrysalis would sit next to a lake where the Water-Types could be found swimming along with other Pokemon who just wanted to swim, drink or take a dip. "I figured that you, Ash and everyone else here would understand."
"You came to the right place then. If something's bothering you, you can always tell us." Fluttershy was greatly understanding as to be expected. Chrysalis made the right choice coming here. "I'm sure if Ash was here, he'd understand too, wouldn't he?"
"He would. He's the reason why I'm like this now anyway. Thank you, Fluttershy. I'm glad I can move around without having to worry about any suspicious glares like before." Chrysalis said with a relieved heart and smile on her face. "Before I share what I need to...I've decided to confront the Dread League myself."
"Right now?"
"After this. They've been launching consistent attacks on Equestria now. And most likely, they're using the Box of 100 Demons to aid them. And that is what this is all about. Fluttershy. When I was born, I accidentally created the Box of 100 Demons. I'm its true owner and creator."
"You are?! As a baby?!" Fluttershy gasped along with the other Pokemon who managed to hear this.
"I know. It is strange, isn't it? My mother was right about my potential and I already showed a majority of it on the day I was conceived. She told me everything, Fluttershy. How it was made and the demons within it. Some of them are criminals from Tartarus who have been transformed by my magic as if they were Changelings themselves. And the others are innocent creatures who were caught up in it. After learning that, I made up my mind about two things. I would tell everyone so that I wouldn't sugarcoat the truth. And then...I'd do something about the box. I'm planning to take it back with me."
Chrysalis revealed that she wished to retrieve the box. After giving her some time to think about it, she realized that being the creator of the box meant that she was the rightful owner of it. She should be the one to possess it and not the Dread League. Fluttershy blinked, processing what she just heard as Chrysalis did not sugarcoat.
"Oh my," Fluttershy spoke. "Well, it's good on you to share it with us. But there's no hard feelings for all those demon attacks, Chrysalis. You didn't mean it and you didn't unleash them either."
"I figured you'd say that. I was a baby after all. But now that you know, you can also tell why I'm planning on going after the Dread League now that I've been told this. If anyone should have that box, it should be me. The next time they attack, which will be during the night, obviously, I'll be there."
"May I help?" Fluttershy asked.
"Help? Why? It's rather dangerous, Fluttershy. This is the Dread League after all and aren't they also focused on recruiting you?" Chrysalis questioned, unsure if Fluttershy should assist.
"Oh, I'm sure of it." With a smile on her face, she was very sure. "After all, you said that innocent creatures were affected too, right? I'd like to help them out myself. Maybe there's a way to bring them back to how they were."
"A way to bring them back to how they were?" said Chrysalis. It hit her. That was a possibility. She remembered how she reverted the Centipede Demon into how it originally was but that was only a moment of rage. However, it was possible still. She just had to find a way to do it without having such a violent outburst. "Hm. There is a way. That Centipede Demon has been around for many years and when I reverted it, all those centipedes were still alive. So it's not out of the realm of possibility!"
"Great!" Fluttershy clapped her hooves together. "But you do know which ones are which, right?"
"Uh..." Chrysalis scratched her mane. Alas, she wasn't sure which ones were innocent and which were criminals. She was merely a baby and only the Centipede Demon had any sort of familiarity. If she wasn't careful, she could accidentally free a criminal and let them wreak havoc on Equestria once more. "H-How about we focus on getting the box back first? Anyway...Mind showing me around this place for a while?"
"Oh sure! You'll love the new rooms here!" Fluttershy would gladly do the honours, touring Chrysalis around the Pokemon House and its many upgrades.
Chrysalis was blessed to have such great friends. Friends who could still accept her. This is how it has been ever since she met Ash and it continues to exist for her and her many subjects. As such, she'll do whatever she can to protect all of this as this was the most love she's ever experienced. And as a changeling, how could she let this all go? As the journey continues.
Equestria. Ponyville. Twilight's Castle. Late Afternoon.
On the same day that the Battle Carnival became Equestria's first ever Battle Frontier and when Chrysalis learned the truth about the Box of 100 Demons, something else occurred at Twilight's Castle. She had to deal with a plethora of Baby Despair Plants running around the castle frantically.
The blades of the baby Triantis may be small but they pack some power behind them as there were cut marks on tables and walls. Curtains have been damaged because of them but surprisingly, none of the books have suffered from these cuts. But they've certainly taken hits from Arachnorchids and their webs. These webs were scattered across the walls of the castle, forming multiple cobwebs. It wasn't just limited to the walls. The floors were targets too and naturally, Twilight Sparkle wouldn't exactly let this stand.
The Princess of Friendship slid on the ground, attempting to catch the Triantis and Arachnorchid Despair Plants that had no concept of slowing down. "Get back here!" She yelled at these Baby Despair Plants, struggling to keep up with them.
"Cinccino!" Twilight's Pokemon also attempted to stop them with Cinccino appearing in front of them, holding her hands out. However, the Despair Plant Babies still kept their agility and versatility as if they were fully grown. Triantis would flip over Cinccino with impressive acrobatics while the Arachnorchids used their webs to travel through the air. "Ccino!?"
"Ugh! They're too fast!" Twilight groaned when trying to use her magic to hold them. The same went with Espeon when she tried using Psychic. However, they couldn't focus on them due to how fast they were moving, making it difficult for them to be caught at all. "Togekiss! Blind them with Dazzling Gleam!"
"Toge!" Togekiss would soar through the castle when pursuing these babies as she heard Twilight's words loud and clear. She would redirect herself, taking a different pathway to get in front of these Despair Plants. The option she had was to try and blind them and Dazzling Gleam seemed to be the answer. From her body, a blinding light would emerge with Fairy Magic exuding from it. "Togekiss!"
Successfully, the Despair Plants had their eyes mesmerised by Togekiss' light. The blinding light slowed them down, interrupting whatever they were planning to do to evade Twilight and her Pokemon.
"Nice one! Now to just-" With this opportunity, Twilight would try and bring them all over here with her magic. Unfortunately, one of the Despair Plants had avoided the light by just now entering the room. It was another Arachnorchid that ended up shooting webs into Twilight's eyes. "Gah!"
"Esp?!" Espeon gasped after seeing another Arachonorchid fly by, catching her Trainer off guard. The Sun Pokemon snarled, leaping into the air to try and catch this Arachnorchid, only for it to swing away at the right time, causing Espeon to land face-first into the floor. "Espeon...!"
"Ugh...Daisy! Paradise!" Twilight removed the web from her eyes, crying out for the Flora Ponies. After all, these plants were their responsibility since they brought them into this world, just like how Twilight brought Daisy and Paradise into this world.
Her voice reverberated across the entire castle, reaching the ears of Daisy and Paradise. As for these Flora Ponies, they were already holding some of the Despair Plants with them.
"Sorry! Sorry about that!" Daisy quickly ran into the room with Paradise simply walking, not bothered by this. "Are you okay, Mom?"
"I'm fine...So far, anyway" Twilight sat up, groaning as the Despair Plants would soon flock to Daisy and Paradise. "These little ones are a bit too chaotic for the indoors, don't you think?"
"They are?" Paradise replied.
"Yes. They are. I don't think they should be indoors but rather outdoors." Twilight sighed before using her magic to remove the cobwebs from the walls and floors. They're plants after all...Why were they so rowdy today anyway?"
"Oh, we just forgot to feed them last night, that's all. Truth is...they actually eat moonlight instead of sunlight." Daisy apologized. "They get a bit rowdy."
"Excuse me? These plants eat moonlight?" Twilight said while looking at the Triantis that stood next to her. She learned something new about these plants. They benefitted from the Moonlight as opposed to every other plant that benefits off of Sunlight. Perhaps it was the fact that they came from Magehold, thus, they were more adjusted to the moon, even if they had recently been brought into the world. "Well, that's good to know. Anyway, they should still be outside."
"Aw, but why..." Daisy pouted, not exactly loving the sound of that.
"Plants are the best when they're outside. You two can live perfectly indoors and outdoors since you're a combination of ponies and plants." Twilight explained, wanting to be as kind as possible. "But these Despair Plants need to be outside because of how they act. They still come from Magehold and while they're very different to the ones we've encountered and know about, these things need to be considered."
"I guess so. But that would mean we'd have to say goodbye to them." Daisy's eyes suddenly started wobbling, attempting to cry. Twilight would grimace as Daisy's sudden facial expression change. "Please don't do that, Mom. They're our babies."
"Yeah, and they're fun to chase around too." Paradise wasn't as emotional about it compared to her sister. "We can just let them go and never seen them again."
"Well, you could still see them one day and-" Twilight attempted to cushion the blow to them. "And uh..." But that was rather difficult as she didn't wish to disappoint or sadden them. Even though she didn't consider herself a mother figure to them, she was still their mother to an extent. And it definitely felt like talking to her own children. "I wish Ash were here to say something. What would he say?"
"Esp. Espeon." Just then, Espeon would nudge Twilight's hoof, sparking something in her mind. Espeon wished to diffuse this as well and one thing came to mind. "Eon." The Sun Pokemon nudged her head to the side, suggessting at something.
"Oooh, great thing, Eve!" Twilight understood Espeon clearly, knowing what she was going for. "Girls! You won't have to worry about not seeing them for a while. I know the perfect place to let them roam freely."
"You do?"
PokePark. Cove Area.
PokePark. A special park hidden within Twilight's Lab, holding an entirely different location that could be considered its own land. This was thanks to the dimensions that were nestled between the lab and the park, making them compatible. And the first area was the Cove Area. A coastal area which houses many Water-type Pokémon.
Naturally, Daisy and Paradise were amazed by what they were witnessing. An entire massive area was just hidden here in Twilight's Lab. It was actually larger than her lab which made it all the more surreal.
"They'll be fine here," Twilight said. "I would've said the Pokemon House but I think PokePark works best with how expansive it is. What you're looking at is just one area out of multiple. It's perfect for these little guys to run around."
"This is amazing, Mom! How can this even fit in here?!" Paradise questioned.
"Eh. Dimension things." Twilight shrugged. "It's most definitely Rift Energy at play. This is one of the few traces of Rift Energy that exists after everything came together."
"This is great! Perfect for them!" Daisy greatly agreed with this, having no qualms at all. "And you can just show us around and we'll know where to find them, Mom."
"Yeah...If it's just the Cove Area and Arbor Area." Twilight scrunched her face. "I'm not sure about the other areas."
"Huh? But you've been here before, haven't you?" asked Paradise.
"The truth is..." The young alicorn scratched her mane, putting on a nervous face. "I haven't explored all of PokePark. I've barely even been to it that often. I'm a princess, after all. I have important duties to take care of and I can't be a full-time Pokemon Professor. I'll give out Starter Pokemon to upstart trainers sure and research about the Pokemon World but that's about it. I do wish I had the opportunity to spend time with everyone here at PokePark but so much has happened these past years."
"Hmm...That's a shame. "Daisy grumbled. "But do you think we can explore it?"
"You have more freedom than me. And you're young so that's an even greater length of freedom. One day I'll get to fully experience PokePark for what it is and that'll be incredibly satisfying. The Baby Despair Plants can live here freely and choose whatever area they want. And you'll always be close to them."
"Okay then. Go ahead, little ones." Daisy lowered her hooves, dropping the Baby Despair Plants she held. She encouraged them to run wild here as they would have all kinds of freedom. The Despair Plants did not hesitate for a moment. They scrambled in a heartbeat, not wasting any time. Much like a baby, they were too curious. If anything, they were closer to children as they could certainly grow up and develop, much like a young plant. "Make sure to eat enough moonlight, okay?!"
"Cool...But this lab's pretty neat too, actually." Paradise turned to face the Pokemon Lab. "I already got what I need thanks to grandma, but you said you could've given me what I needed here."
"I did. You already have your fancy-looking Pokedex and bag. It's pretty clear that mom's been using my princess money." Twilight Sparkle easily knew that her mother, Twilight Velvet, was using the money she got as a Princess plus a Pokemon Professor as a way to pay for certain things.
"And it looks good, doesn't it?!" She showed off her Pokedex immediately by taking it out of her fancy saddlebag. "Grandma knows how to pick 'em!"
"That's great and all, but what about your Pokemon? That's a different story." Twilight asked. "Ash helped you catch your first one so I'll help you with your second one."
"You'll give me a second Pokemon?"
"Of course. What kind of mom would I be if I didn't? In this evolving world, Pokemon are needed. Believe me." Twilight approached the table where the Poke Balls were kept. Six Poke Balls sat there. Three were based around different regions and were common starter Pokemon that most know about while the other three were always random Pokemon. But they all kept the theme of Grass, Fire and Water. With her magic, Twilight would lift all six of them up before throwing them. Out you come!
Emerging from the Poke Balls were the six starters. The first three were Snivy, Squirtle and Torchic. Different regions but were each Starters in their own right. As for the other three, they had similar typings but were not usually known as Starter Pokemon. Bounsweet, Litwick and Clauncher.
"Here. Six Pokemon to choose from." Twilight introduced them. Usually, young trainers come by here and they all have someone to have on their side. But since it's just you, Paradise, you get one."
"Aw, only one?" Paradise pouted, not too fond of only getting one Pokemon. "Fine...I guess if I had to choose then..." She thought about it deeply. They all looked so adorable to her. Choosing one would be tough without a doubt as they all struck her eye.
"Twilight!" Before Paradise could make her choice, entering the castle were Spike and Starlight. And yet, it did not break Paradise's concentration. "Twilight! There you are!"
"Okay, two things. Uh, one! The New Battle Frontier's been made!" Spike excitedly said. "It's the Battle Carnival, just like what Princess Celestia said!"
"And you wanna take part in it, don't you?" Twilight Sparkle saw directly through Spike judging by how he was spouting this news.
"Heck yeah!" Spike nodded his head with enthusiasm. "I'd love to take on a Frontier Brain! Ash told me how strong they are. It's like taking on a Gym and an Elite 4 at the same time."
"Wait, have you completed all the Gyms yet, Spike? Are you still on that path to the Equestria League?" Twilight asked.
"Oh. I'm still focusing on being a Dragon Trainer. But I'm sure I'll catch up before the league can start."
"And as for the second news, Fluttershy shared this with us." Starlight stepped up. "Chrysalis recently showed up and she has some big news with her."
"How big are we talking?"
"As in...It could turn the tides for the whole Dread League issue 'Big'." Starlight wasn't joking. It was about the Box of 100 Demons which had helped the Dread League multiple times in spreading chaos. No one would forget those demon attacks. Especially the one that nearly destroyed most of Equestria. "Where do I start with this? Because it's a bit of a doozy."
"Uh, just go with what Chrysalis is planning to do," Spike suggested that Starlight cut to the chase. Chrysalis had a plan that was already shared with Fluttershy back at the Pokemon House. And right now, Starlight and Spike, who have heard about it, will share it with Twilight Sparkle.
The Pokemon House.
"Y-You're serious?!" Twilight heard everything. She was told all she needed to know about Chrysalis and her connection to the Box of 100 Demons. She learned that Chrysalis was the creator of the Box and the one who turned many species into demons. "You're gonna take it from them?!"
"I have to. It is rightfully my box." Chrysalis stood tall after saying that. "Therefore, I am the one who must possess it. And it's better that I have it rather than those vampires. Fluttershy's already agreed to help me and I plan to revert some of those demons to their original forms. It will be difficult to know which is an innocent creature and which as a criminal, but I have Fluttershy to count on for that."
"Mhm. Chrysalis has the potential to bring them back to how they originally were. She did it to a Centipede Demon." Fluttershy explained. "Soon, it'll just be down to maybe 60 or 50 Demons."
"On the off chance I can't do it, I need your help, Twilight. You have access to some spells I know nothing of. And you have Rift Magic on your side. If possible, can you help me revert them to how they originally were? Please." Chrysalis pleaded. "Will you help me with this?"
"Do you have to say anything else?" Twilight already agreed. "Of course I'll help. I've been itching to do something about that box myself. It's so troublesome. And if we have it, that can stop once and for all. Do Ash and the others know about this?"
"Xtransceiver and all." Spike held up his Xtransceiver. He already called Ash on it so he was well aware. "You should've seen Ash's reaction to it. He found it cool."
"Did he now?" Twilight looked over at Spike.
"He did. I was rather flattered when I heard it." Chrysalis nodded in confirmation. "I didn't expect my status as the Box's creator to be 'Cool'. But frankly...I'm honoured."
"Good to know. Alright, so you have a plan. How are we going to make it work though? We'd have to let the Dread League come to us." Twilight asked.
"In the dead of the night. My mother told me all I need to know about the Dread League and they are the most active during the night or when the clouds are covering the Sun. Recently, they've been more active than usual, probably accelerating their plans for their Black Crusade. You've already encountered them weeks ago and they could be anywhere. We can't exactly track them down easily, but I have an idea."
"I'll be the bait," Fluttershy revealed a part of the plan. By stepping up, she shockingly revealed that she would be the bait for the vampires. And it was so casual too.
"What?!" A stunned Twilight Sparkle yelled. "F-Fluttershy! You can't be the bait!"
"Oh, but I can. I asked for this, Twilight, don't worry about it." It was of Fluttershy's own will and choice. She wanted to be the bait. Mainly because she knew how the Dread League wanted her. "They consider me one of them because of that Vampire Fruit Bat incident. So, I'll let them come from me and Chrysalis and everyone else can take it from here."
"By everyone else, she's referring to us and the Pokemon here." Starlight added. "The Pokemon of the Pokemon House want to chime in on this. It'll be a great team effort."
"You make it sound so fun for something so dangerous." Twilight sighed. "Alright. You'll be the bait I guess but be careful. After you lure them in, then what?"
"We expose them to the light. And there's one way to do that. Dazzling Gleam." Chrysalis said before looking at Ribombee and Espeon, who both possessed this blinding light. "However, what matters the most is that we need them to use the Box of 100 Demons. I'm not looking to take down any vampires. I just need to get the box back. And the only way for that to happen is if they're pushed far enough to summon it."
"How are we gonna push them to the point that they'll need the box though?" Spike questioned.
"I have that covered. And we'll do this far away from everyone else, so that no innocents are harmed." Chrysalis added. "That way, we can get as wild as we want. That goes for my Changelings. So when that moon shows itself and it's late enough, we'll take action. Understood?"
"It's risky but it could work if we pull it off perfectly. Leave it to me then." Twilight smiled as she lived for situations like this, where everything goes smoothly. "Nopony pulls off plans better than me. I'll make sure it goes according to plan. Ash and the others are already somewhere, right?"
"They're out there getting ready. Apparently, Ash has something planned himself. I'm not sure what it is but I'm looking forward to it." Chrysalis said as they all had a way to approach this confrontation.
The goal was to retrieve the Box of 100 Demons. That's all. If they can get it and Chrysalis can revert some of them to how they originally were, a huge advantage would be given to Equestria, greatly crippling Magehold and the Dread League. It was all a matter of pulling it off successfully. And knowing the Dread League, it wouldn't be easy. Not one bit.
A plan had been put together. It was simple. Retrieving the Box of 100 Demons. And the one who rightfully deserves it was Chrysalis. After all, she did create it and the demons inside. Albeit by accident when she was small. Getting that box would do great wonders for everyone. It was all a matter of pulling the plan off. And this plan had many layers to it. And chiming in on Chrysalis' plan was none other than Ash and his friends. Which meant all of the Changelings would chime.
"Okay! Looking good, you guys!" Ash stood before a group of Changelings, nodding in agreement as his own plan was being worked on. The Changelings were all standing on top of each other, forming a Changeling Tower which was rather difficult to make.
"Will this work, Ash?" Thorax asked after witnessing this tower. "It's a tall order, don't you think? Having us all use our magic like this."
"It's gotta work. Fluttershy's already got something planned so to make sure it goes well, we gotta really blindside the Dread League. Whatever curses or demons they use, we're gonna expose 'em to the light."
"Pikachu!"
"Ugh. Couldn't we have picked better outfits than these ones?" Rarity was with them, currently wearing a deep black suit along with Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Goh. "They're so basic and tight..."
"We'll need this protection though. With the amount of light we're making, these suits are gonna work out just fine. After all, it's the same suit Skyblue Shine used." These weren't just ordinary black suits. These suits belonged to Skyblue Shine and her group, the Umbrage Thieves. The only difference was that these were lacking the green accents and patterns, appearing completely black.
"Indeed. It was wise of you to recommend her home." Princess Luna was also present here, walking up to Ash as she was involved with this plan. "Skyblue Shine left a plethora of things back at her mansion home in Vanhoover. That goes for the suits. With them, you're protected from the light."
Luna was the one to retrieve these thanks to Skyblue Shine's mansion home. She knew that mansion well because of how she crept into it to investigate. "A lot of hands and hooves were involved in this just for one box. But that one box was crucial. "They seem to be made of a material that's only exclusive to the Empress' universe. I'll admit, she does create impressive objects."
"With these Jet Black Light Suits, the light won't harm us. It'll be so bright that even if we're not vampires, it's bad to stick around. You all know what you gotta do, right?"
"W-We know...!" A struggling Changeling groaned. Keeping this tower was relatively difficult with how many of them were stacked against each other. They all had to keep their balance up. "We'll turn into something bright...And shine as well as we can."
"We've got a lot of Pokemon that know how to shine in awesome ways. But I can't think of anyone in Equestria that shines like that...Is there a pony out there maybe? Or even a Dragon...That'd be cool!"
"I'm afraid no such pony or dragon exists. At least from what we know. This amount of light will do more than just scare them off. It will immobilize them," said Luna. "Mellifera already shared it with my sister weeks ago. The vampires seem to rely on something that grants them immortality. It's the reason why they aren't afraid to blow themselves up, only to return to Magehold later. Whatever they have keeps them going for as long as they want as said by Mellifera. So...I believe it's fair to go all out on them, wouldn't you agree?"
"Feels a bit harsh, doesn't it?" Ash scratched the back of his hair, feeling rather sorry for the vampires due to how much light they could be exposed to. "But yeah, I guess we gotta go all out on them. It's gonna get the attention of the Lich Queen when we get that box back, but it'll be worth it, that's for sure."
"Pikachu!"
"This is ridiculous. You're just going to immobilize them." Suddenly, a Changeling in the ground spoke out, moving from his spot. By moving away from the tower, he immediately broke the balance, causing all of the Changelings to fall and collapse on each other.
"Is everyone alright?!" Ash kneeled over to the Changelings who fell over. They would be fine but they were certainly bewildered by this.
"Pharynx. It's just for this one instance. "Thorax approached the Changeling who he was familiar with. "Besides, we can't really take them in and interrogate them like you want us to."
"Yeah, I know. They'll just blow up and leave." He already knew it was impossible to interrogate a vampire because of how they could just leave to Magehold at any time via combustion. "But this game of Cat and Mouse is so annoying. We're just going back and forth with them at this point, aren't we?"
"I know but not much we can do about it right now." Thorax shrugged. "Sorry. Princess Celestia's searching hard and long for a way to reach them and free Yveltal. We just gotta wait, brother."
"Hmm..." Pharynx grumbled as he was revealed to be Thorax's brother. "We'll probably reach the second year and we'll still be going against those vampires."
"We'll get there, don't worry." Ash approached Pharynx. "The Dread League doesn't make things easy for us after all."
"Hmph. You of all people would know a lot about Cat and Mouse. If all of you weren't like this, we would've done something about them long ago." Pharynx shook off some dust from his hoof. "We have connections to them after all. I blame you for this, Ash!"
"M-Me?!" Ash pulled back after Pharynx pointed at him. But Pharynx didn't say anything else after this. All he did was walk off, refusing to be part of this hair-brained scheme that Ash thought of. Ash scratched his hair, slightly taken aback by this. "Uhh...What did I do?"
"Pikachu?"
"You'll have to forgive my brother. He's still bitter and upset about how things are right now. You know...since we left the old ways." Thorax apologized for his brother's tone. "He's not exactly happy with you the most, Ash because he blames you for what happened to our hive. You know...the whole thing with Queen Chrysalis back at the Pokemon Festival?"
"Huh, is that it...?" Ash pondered for a moment.
"We don't have time to dwell on something like that." But Luna cut him off because he could say something else about this. "My sister has forces across Equestria looking out for the Dread League and their next attacks. Some of them have already been spotted, planting their devious seeds into the land, so let's hurry and force them to use that box."
"Gotcha. Let's get that tower ready, you guys." Ash looked back at Changelings who all got up, knowing they had to hurry, otherwise, they could miss the vampires. They all had the objective of transforming into something that gave off a lot of light. And thankfully, there were some Pokemon to choose from. "Mew. Go on ahead."
"Mew!" Mew was the one who would support them with this, using his pool of knowledge to transform himself into Pokemon that emit tons of light. Lanturn and many Electric-Types came to mind mainly with all the forms of light they could make. The Changelings would try their best to mimic these Pokemon and their light auras to the best of their abilities. After all, they couldn't copy unicorn magic when turning into unicorns.
But most of these Pokemon wouldn't need such a drawback as it was a natural part of their body. Lanturn especially. All the Changelings came to an agreement to use Lanturn, of all Pokemon.
Out in the Vast Hills.
Currently, the Dread League were searching for Xerneas, planning to snuff it out since it was the opposite of Yveltal. And being that it was the opposite of Yveltal, it could negate and reverse any damage done by the Black Crusade. The Dread League couldn't have that happen.
However, some vampires from the Dread League were still tasked with wreaking havoc across the world. The best way to do that was by planting seeds from Magehold. Seeds that would form devious gardens which also had the potential to summon Despair Plants. Thanks to Rosa Maledicta's order, they were free to do whatever they wanted to the world as long as it would help benefit the Black Crusade. And everything they did certainly would.
Currently with them was none other than Spectrum Shade. A vampire who was more accustomed to Pokemon than anything else. While her fellow vampires were planting seeds, she was busy looking at the nearby Pokemon. Usually, she'd be with Opal Vivacity, but not this time.
Everyone here was expecting Galaxy Master to show up as he would respond to attacks from the night or even try to stop the incoming attacks before they can happen. And waiting for him would be Rosa Maledicta, who would definitely try and clash with him once more.
However, Rosa Maledicta wanted to get things moving, refusing to struggle with the fictional character forever as that expended plenty of her magical energy. The seeds already started working their magic, generating dark grass. But unbeknownst to them, Chrysalis and the others were ready to take action.
Thanks to Darkrai creeping up from the shadows, he was spying on the Dread League in secrecy, using what knowledge he got off Canterlot's Guards to find them. Speaking of those guards, they were also hiding, looking out for the vampires wherever they can. There were already many of them scattered across the world right now, but alas, they could only focus on one group for this mission.
And once he saw them, Darkrai would descend back into the shadows, reappearing elsewhere. He would reappear to where Chrysalis and everyone else were, waiting for the right time to enact this plan. Once he emerged, Darkrai nodded, confirming that he found some vampires just nearby across these hills.
"That's our cue." Twilight spoke as she and her friends were nearby "Are you sure this'll work, Chrysalis?"
"My mother told me that all the vampires are connected to the Lich Queen by some kind of hivemind. It's how she can communicate with them. What you need to do is grab their attention and focus them on Fluttershy. In whatever way you can."
"I'll be elsewhere nearby." Fluttershy trotted off, ready to take her position as the bait. Audino, Bayleef and Raboot would follow her for protection but they wouldn't reveal themselves to the vampires. It was only going to be Fluttershy who would be out in the open.
And she was fully confident about this. Not being shy at all. Fluttershy would head out there, acting as casual as she can be. Her appearance was granted to grab the attention of the vampires but the threat of the Lich Queen needed to be pushed away. That was Twilight's job. With the Lich Queen always overseeing her subjects, it was hard for the vampires to ignore them unless something special was used. Twilight would try and disrupt that this time.
As for Ash's group, they wouldn't just strike out in the open. Their Light Plan was also about patience. When the time was right, all of the Changelings would unleash a barrage of light that would immobilize the vampires. But the real objective was getting that box. All the vampires needed was a little push to make them use the Box of 100 Demons.
"You know...I'm thinking about signing up for that contest Fantina's preparing." A vampire spoke about the Pokemon Contest that Fantina was setting up back at Magehold. It would be Magehold's first exposure to the wonderful Pokemon Contests and the vampires were certainly interested after the Fashion Show Fantina put up a while back.
"Ah, there might be too much light there. I'd just have a lot of lag respawning back at the Necrochambers repeatedly and-" Before another vampire could reply, she would immediately hear hoofsteps with her powerful senses. An advantage to the vampires was that they had heightened senses. It wasn't exactly vast but it was slightly better than the average pony.
And speaking of heightened senses, Audino overheard their conversation from afar as Fantina's name was brought up along with Pokemon Contests. And if Audino was close, so was Fluttershy. Those hoofsteps belonged to the pegasus was she showed herself at last.
"Fluttershy?!" The vampires all gasped. All except for Spectrum Shade who wasn't all that interested in bringing Fluttershy back. Once Fluttershy showed herself. With this shout, Audino would relay this message to Darkrai, who was popping out of the shadows with only his head.
"Audino..." Audino spoke to him, causing Darkrai to descend and relay this message to the others. Audino was the one who would overhear everyone and be aware of what is said while Darkrai would be the one to send messages to the others based on what Audino hears.
"G-Good evening! Just out for a nightly stroll~" Fluttershy acted as casually as she could, putting on her best act. At least, she was hoping it was a good enough act. She was just the bait. "Wait, aren't you...?"
"Lucky find!" A vampire blurted out. "Don't we need her?"
"EH. She's not even a full-on vampire." Another vampire scoffed, not really seeing Fluttershy as a vampire. "What a technicality..."
"You'd best do it though." Spectrum Shade added. "Opal's been clamouring to bring her in and how lucky are we to find her here?"
"Indeed. Perhaps too lucky..." And speaking through the area as always was the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta, having an intimidating voice as per usual. And judging by her response, Rosa Maledicta saw this as too good of an opportunity. "Hello, Fluttershy."
"H-Hello." Fluttershy gulped, shuddering in the presence of Rosa Maledicta's voice. Audino heard this as the Lich Queen's voice was exempt from her ears either. She certainly had to relay this to Darkrai.
"You're on your own. With no Pokemon beside you at all. Why is that?" Rosa Maledicta was already very suspicious, as opposed to the vampires who weren't thinking about it at all. "You wouldn't come here out in the open in the dead of night like this."
"I wouldn't?" Fluttershy repeated. "Oh dear. She's already onto us. Is my act not good enough?"
"Okay. She's here." Twilight was given information about Rosa Maledicta by Darkrai. The Lich Queen had shown up.
"Her connection to the vampires is strong but she can only speak to one group in one location and cannot multitask. Now that we have her attention in this area, let's disrupt it while we have the chance." Chrysalis said. "Go for it."
"You got it. Here goes..." Twilight took a deep breath, ready to push the boundaries of her mental capabilities. It wasn't just her standard magic that she would rely on, which was already powerful in its own right, but every other reserve. A flare of purple magic came out of her horn which was then mixed in with Rift Magic and Sorrowful Rage Magic. Twilight would decide to rely on Horizon Storm's magic as well.
With this trio of magic, her eyes flared open as she focused directly on the vampires and their minds. Similarly to how she detected the Trickster Dragon, she looked for the biggest source of magic and found a plethora of them in the form of the vampires' thanks to their curses. And of course, the garden was giving off a lot of magic even if it was still growing.
"Espeon..." And assisting her was Espeon. Lessons from Olympia would come into play as she would synchronize with her Trainer, tapping into her Psychic Capabilities.
"Either way, we'll take you in. I was never that interested in recruiting you but numbers would do wonders for us. And for someone who takes care of Pokemon in such a way...perhaps you can be used for Yveltal." Rosa Maledicta continued.
"Me?!" Fluttershy gasped as she was slowly backing away from the vampires who were slowly walking up to the pegasus. Raboot and Bayleef growled, desperately wanting to jump in there and strike at the vampires for approaching Fluttershy like that. But Audino held them back, insisting that they wait and not get ahead of themselves.
"That's right. Calming that overgrown raven was already difficult enough. If I am to completely turn it to my side, someone like you will be needed. Get her." Rosa Maledicta would give the call. The vampires spread their wings out immediately, lunging themselves at Fluttershy. And with their speed, it would be a swift movement that brought them close to Fluttershy in seconds, making her flinch.
But right on time, Twilight's magic came through. She sent a powerful Psychic wave through the heads of the vampires. And more importantly, Rosa Maledicta.
"Ghhh! Gaaah!" The Vampires cringed, grimaced, twitched and cried out once they felt something interact with their hivemind. They would stop right in front of Fluttershy, falling flat on their faces or even sliding away from her, losing focus.
"W-What...?!" Rosa Maledicta certainly felt it. A powerful mind attack came out of nowhere, striking her mind. Twilight used all three forms of magic to make this possible, knowing how dangerous the Lich Queen was. "This magic...! Is it Alicorn Magic?! Rift Magic?! No...It's both of them and something else."
"Oh this sucks...!" Spectrum held her head from the magic that was present there. Not only that, but Rosa Maledicta's voice was starting to fizzle out.
"You-...I-...Pony...!" Her voice was disrupted. By interfering with this mysterious hivemind, the Lich Queen's connections to her vampires in this area were starting to fail. The vampires felt this effect before getting back up. They only felt a slight pain in their head for a few moments. It was really Rosa Maledicta feeling something.
"What did you do to our Queen?!" A vampire hissed at Fluttershy, struggling to hear the voice of the Lich Queen. It felt like a radio was struggling to get a signal at all.
"I-I didn't do anything." Fluttershy shrugged before putting on an innocent smile. "Way to go, Twilight!"
"This could only be done by...Twilight Sparkle!" Rosa Maledicta already figured it out. She thought about the only pony who possessed these three forms of magic within her. "I know it's you, Twilight Sparkle!" She elevated her voice to a point where it caused a powerful echo, reaching past the hills.
"S-She knows, Twilight!" Starlight gulped after Rosa Maledicta's voice flew in this direction. It felt like thunder was crashing violently. If anything, Rosa Maledicta was more intimidating than any thunderstorm out there.
"I know...I just have to keep it up!" Twilight was going to prolong this as long as she could. Rosa Maledicta's attention had already been grabbed at this point so leaving this state would only bring all the focus to this area and nowhere else. "Somewhere out there, Galaxy Master is interacting with the Dread League as well. So I'm hoping she turns her attention to him later on."
"You think you can beat me in a mental battle? You won't have the chance and succeed like your friend Ash!" Rosa Maledicta would gladly take on Twilight's challenge. She had enough magical power to push back against Twilight's magic which had three different powers behind it.
The Lich Queen would grab ahold of Twilight's magic, ready to enter a Mental Battle with her. And with this interaction, there was no doubt they would enter someone's mind. Considering that this was the Lich Queen, Twilight's mind could be the one to be invaded.
"I have her attention right now! Everything else is all your business!" Twilight would choose to handle Rosa Maledicta while everyone else had to finish the rest of the plan. The one who had to retrieve the box and keep it for herself was Chrysalis. And that meant getting out there and confronting vampires. And very soon, Ash's group would spring into action.
"And that's our cue!" Ash said to the Changelings. "Get ready you guys! Shine as bright as you can when you get there!"
"Twilight will struggle indefinitely against the Lich Queen. Allow me to assist her." Meanwhile, Luna would choose to help Twilight, refusing to let her do this alone, even if she wanted to handle Rosa Maledicta by herself.
All the Changelings quickly followed Ash, ready to put up their tower. It would require plenty of stacking but they were willing to make it work in whatever way they can. All except for Pharynx, who simply walked away. And this would be noticed by Thorax, witnessing his brother back away from everyone else.
Back with Fluttershy, she was still in danger thanks to the vampires being active. However, with Rosa Maledicta occupied, some of her friends could show themselves. Jumping out of the bushes was none other than Raboot. "Raboot!" Raboot used Flame Charge, crashing into the ground near the vampires to scare them. They were also sensitive to fire after all. Bayleef would jump out as well, getting in front of Fluttershy with Audino running over. All of her Pokemon were now here.
"Is this a set-up?!" A vampire gasped after Raboot and the others made their entrance.
"I can't hear her majesty as clearly anymore..." Another vampire was struggling to hear Rosa Maledicta. Her voice was there but it was inconsistent and static. "That can't be though! No one can do that can they?!"
"It's fine!" Spectrum Shade exclaimed, getting in front of her fellow vampires. When seeing Fluttershy with all of her Pokemon by her side, a large part of her wanted something like this to happen. "I've been looking forward to something like this! Finally, I get to try these out!" She would then hold out two Poke Balls. It was very clear that Spectrum Shade wished for a Pokemon Battle.
But she might not get it with how the Despair Plant Garden was starting to emerge, growing rapidly as always. With this garden, Fluttershy and her friends would have to focus on more than just the vampires. But they expected this either way and their plan certainly wouldn't be wasted here because of this.
It was yet another confrontation with the Dread League. But this time, only the Box of 100 Demons was the target and nothing more. Afterwards, they planned to high-tail it out of here with the box in their possession. If they could succeed. With Twilight Sparkle entering a Mental Battle with Rosa Maledicta, the Despair Plant Garden growing and everyone else approaching to spring into action, there could potentially be only one outcome as the journey continues.
During a plan to retrieve the Box of 100 Demons, Ash and many of his friends have once again come into contact with the Dread League. They were the ones who possessed the box and the only way to get them to use it was to push them. Pushing them to the point where they would have to call for a demon was the way to reveal the box. The plan had already been put into motion, resulting in Twilight entering a Mental Clash with the Lich Queen.
Already, they had entered Twilight's Mindscape. Twilight failed to get into Rosa's own Mindscape with how powerful the Lich Queen's magic was, even with the usage of three different forms of magic. Of course, her Mindscape was Ponyville with a tiny bit of exaggeration.
"Oh well. At least I've got her attention." Twilight groaned as Espeon joined her within this Mindscape. At best, she managed to get Rosa Maledicta's attention, distracting her from everything else. As such, Rosa Maledicta would make her entrance within Twilight's Mindscape.
"Twilight Sparkle...You have some guts attacking my mind in such a way." Rosa Maledicta spoke, eyeing down Twilight with a sharp look on her face. "Me of all ponies...especially when I haven't been in the best mood lately."
Twilight picked a rather poor time to mess with Rosa Maledicta. After going back and forth with Equestria and having Galaxy Master show up and foil her plans, the Lich Queen wasn't too pleased with recent events. She still had her calm disposition but there was agitation and annoyance behind it, leading to a rather destructive mood. And Twilight felt it. Just the look in her eyes and tone backed it up, making the alicorn gulp and shudder for a moment before she soon swallowed her fears.
"Just you wait and see...Very soon, everyone you know will be swallowed up by the Black Crusade!" Rosa exerted her magic with a devious black and purple flare. "You, your friends and all of Equestria are trying my patience at this point! The Black Crusade was supposed to happen 2 months ago but all this meddling has brought on many complications!"
"I-It's so heavy!" Twilight closed her eyes, feeling the weight of Rosa Maledicta's magic as Espeon was being pushed back.
"But now, the time to start the Black Crusade is near! I've waited long enough!" Rosa Maledicta's magical aura then transformed into massive hooves with veins on them, manifesting her rage. Twilight knew that she had to keep Rosa Maledicta occupied for a while until the Box is retrieved. "Let me assure you this, princess! You might slip away from me once more but I can guarantee you, one of your friends will suffer by the end of this! Pray to Arceus that it isn't you!"
"You won't threaten my friends!" By threatening her friends, Twilight's fears were thrown aside. "Here goes nothing! Eve, Dazzling Gleam!"
"Espeon!" Espeon creates a rainbow-coloured sphere around her body in response to Rosa's darkness. She would also summon a field of rainbow-coloured energy, which expanded outwards. She attempted to overwhelm the Lich Queen with brightness in the same way the vampires were sensitive to the light. However, the moment the light reached Rosa Maledicta, her magic would grab onto it. The hooves clutched themselves around the rainbows, shattering them like glass. The force of it was so great that Espeon even felt it, flinching and stumbling. "E-Esp?!"
"In case you haven't realized, I'm not a vampire." Alas, something like Dazzling Gleam's brightness did not work on Rosa Maledicta for the simple fact that she was not a vampire despite ruling over them.
"Eve! Are you alright?!" Twilight gasped as the Sun Pokemon would suddenly collapse moments later. That shatter affected her far more than she was expecting.
"E-Esp...Espeon!" Espeon would then have her body engulfed by a burst of dark magic the moment Twilight went to hold her. This dark magic grazed Twilight's hoof, causing her to back away while her partner took some cruel damage.
"You only got a taste of a Lich with Dimstar. But what do you hope to do against a full-on Lich?" Rosa Maledicta said before appearing next to Twilight without making any sounds. The Princess of Friendship was taken by surprise with Rosa Maledicta's arrival. She would fly away, barely managing to avoid the shadows she generated. A shadow hoof would swipe at Twilight's hoof, causing her to flinch in response. Twilight managed to use her magic, grabbing Espeon and lifting her off the ground.
Rosa's eyes followed Twilight, having the gaze of a serpent and the fury of a dragon behind them. And just by looking at Twilight, she would form a vortex of magic that rose up from the ground. This vortex would climb, threatening to pull Twilight Sparkle and Espeon in.
"This is my mind...So I should be the one to have all the control!" Twilight took advantage of the fact that this was her Mindscape. She couldn't let Rosa Maledicta be the dominant force here. She would affect the area, causing the dimensions to shift. The vortex would fall to the side by this shift, failing to reach the two of them.
After escaping it, Twilight would fly over to the heart of Ponyville which were all the buildings that populated it. She was glad that it was only in her mind and not the actual Ponyville, otherwise, some horrible damage would've been done. Rosa Maledicta would pursue Twilight, however, summoning thorns underneath her. These thorns would carry the Lich Queen, moving violently across the ground and tearing the beautiful grass apart as a dark cloud was hovering over Rosa's vicinity which would soon consume the bright clouds of Ponyville.
Twilight hid herself in Carousel Boutique with Espeon, managing to escape from Rosa Maledicta for a while. Even if this was in her mind, it sure felt real as the Lich Queen's magic was powerful enough to threaten her from the inside and outside after all.
"It's alright, Eve." Twilight placed Espeon down next to Rarity's couch. Espeon found herself breathing in and out after Rosa's magic violently consumed her. "We just have to hold out. Until everyone can finish the plan, we'll keep the Lich Queen here for as long as we can."
"Espeon?" Espeon looked up at Twilight with one eye closed, already beat up from just one magical attack.
"Don't worry. After this, I'll take you to your favourite place for a few days. How does that sound?" But her attempts to lift Espeon's spirits were cut short once the walls of Carousel Boutique were blown open. Powerful thorns that were as strong as hammers came through as Rosa Maledicta already found her.
Twilight was forcing this upon herself. Truthfully, she could leave at any time but she chose to stay around for the sake of carrying out this plan. With Rosa Maledicta emerging from the dust, she brought her thorns indoors as they slithered across the ground. With Espeon already injured, it would be just Twilight Sparkle and Rosa Maledicta.
Equestria. Out in the Vast Hills. Nightfall.
Meanwhile, the rest of the plan was being carried out on the outside. The vampires failed to hear their Queen as she was occupied by Twilight. As such, Rosa Maledicta was unable to spectate at the moment, giving her opponents all the time they needed to pull off their plan without her presence.
Fluttershy, who was the bait for this, was currently standing before the vampires here who had also started a Despair Plant Garden which had yet to fully grow. But it was already bringing life to the Despair Plant Seeds that were planted within it. Spectrum Shade, who was among the vampires here, was rather excited about this, but for a different reason. Enamoured by the Pokemon, she was itching for a Pokemon Battle instead, challenging Fluttershy.
"I'm glad you showed up! I've been waiting for something like this!" She raised both Poke Balls into the air, throwing them out. Out of them came her Machoke along with another Pokemon she had alongside her. A Bouffalant.
"Now would be a good time for everypony to show up..." Fluttershy would rather not battle them, scrunching her face as the vampires outnumbered her even with Audino, Bayleef and Raboot here to assist her. But Raboot felt differently, wanting a piece of them for himself.
"Sorry for the late entry!" Soaring into the scene was Rainbow Dash along with Chrysalis. It was just these two and no one else. They haven't shown themselves just yet for the sole purpose of having patience and waiting for them to reveal the Box of 100 Demons.
After arriving, Rainbow Dash took notice of Spectrum Shade in an instant. She noticed how this vampire had a rather similar colour scheme to her. She had a rainbow mane too, albeit with a different style and she was missing the rest of the colours. She only had red, yellow, green and blue on her.
"Oh, that's a nice look you have there." Rainbow Dash couldn't help but compliment her appearance solely for the rainbow-theming.
"Same." Spectrum Shade did the same, pointing out Rainbow Dash's colours. She had more than Spectrum which caught her attention. "Nice extra colours you have there."
"That doesn't matter!" A vampire exclaimed. "What have you done with our Queen?! What are you planning?!"
"You don't need to know that," Chrysalis replied with a sneer, keeping the secret of her plan close and away from the vampires. But she still needed them to bring out that box. "That garden of theirs will be an issue. It's practically a replacement for their box."
"I still can't hear her anywhere." One vampire tried her best to reach Rosa Maledicta, but she failed miserably. Twilight succeeded in that part of the plan, at least for now.
"If we're going to push them to bring out the box, Rainbow Dash is a splendid choice. Much like Ash, she'll want to take part in any Pokemon Battle." Rainbow Dash would be the catalyst, as chosen by Chrysalis. She would be the one to try and push them all.
"Go, Mienshao! Whimsicott" Rainbow Dash already knew what to do, choosing two Pokemon in response to Spectrum Shade's two Pokemon.
"Mienshao!"
"Whimsicott!"
"Excellent." Spectrum Shade nodded in approval of this. "I remember both of you back in that Human World. And I even remember seeing you battle that one time, Rainbow Dash."
"Yeah, I know. Pinkie Pie figured it out already. You wanted a piece of it but chickened out in the end, didn't you?" Rainbow Dash couldn't help but taunt her. They were still enemies after all.
"I didn't chicken out!" Spectrum Shade roared back after Rainbow Dash gave that remark. "I'll prove it to you by defeating you! You'll see! Machoke! Dynamic Punch! Bouffalant, Head Charge!"
"Machoke!" Machoke and Bouffalant would make the first move as the conflict between the two sides would finally start. Both of Spectrum's Pokemon would approach Rainbow Dash's Pokemon while the rest of the vampires would scatter, focusing on Chrysalis and Fluttershy specifically.
"Okay, Whimsicott! Ascend and use Moonblast! Mienshao, Aura Sphere!"
"Whim!" Whimsicott would ascend, evading Bouffalant's attack. The Normal-Type attempted tackling into nothing once Whimsicott evaded its attack. Afterwards, Whimsicott gathered power from the Moon itself, which was out in the open at this time, giving her more power in this instance. She would then launch the ball of Fairy Magic, hitting Bouffalant's magnificent damage. The Bash Buffalo Pokemon only moved back slightly but certainly felt the damage.
"Mien!" As for Mienshao, she held her hand up, blocking Machoke's Dynamic Punch. The attack struck Mienshao's arm, causing a bit of light to flare out as well as a shockwave. However, Mienshao easily nullified the impact.
"Machoke?!"
"Mien...!" Mienshao would then use her other arm to charge up an Aura Sphere, thrusting it into Machoke's chest. The sphere was pressed onto the chest of Machoke, sending it flying with a blue outburst. "Shao!"
"M-Machoke...!" Machoke yelled before sliding back, having blue smoke trail out of its chest.
"Is that?" Rainbow Dash smirked. "Mienshao only needed one arm for that. So much for Dynamic."
"I just started! Go again, you two! Use Hammer Arm and Megahorn!" Spectrum Shade yelled out as her Pokemon would approach once more. This time with Hammer Arm and Megahorn as both of Bouffalant's horns would extend, encased in a green light. Rainbow Dash had the task of prolonging this battle. And from what she's learned about SPectrum Shade, she knew that she could keep this vampire entertained.
Meanwhile, the other vampires already approached Fluttershy and Chrysalis but could not get close. Chrysalis put a field of magic which one of the vampires crashed into. "Stay away from me." She ordered as that vampire slid down on the field of magic.
However, the rest of them would use their magic to try and harm them. The vampires and their unique magic were shot out as they all had a green aesthetic to them. Virulent smoke was flying out, tearing through the lush grass of these hills. Chrysalis would swing her horn, using her magic to blow away the destructive smoke.
"Ribombee! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Ribom...Bee!" Chrysalis' partner Ribombee would get in on the action, putting her hands together for Dazzling Gleam as she let out a powerful flash of light. Naturally, the vampires who were near this had their bodies affected by the light while also having rainbow rays rain down on them. They hissed at the light while also being struck by it.
However, some of the vampires defended themselves by using this smoke. The acidic smoke burned away some of the rays that came their way, having defensive capabilities as well.
"Bay!" Bayleef, Raboot and Audino would get in on the action, using Magical Leaf, Flame Charge and Hyper Beam. This area was flooded with different attacks as Hyper Beam stuck out the most, breaking through the defensive smoke while Raboot tackled one of the vampires, using his flames to burn them. Bayleef's leaves would cut through the smoke but failed to get through due to the acid.
Fluttershy would turn to face the Despair Plant Garden which was continuously growing, fearing what could come from this. Daisy and Flora weren't here after all, so the garden wouldn't be held back by anything, free to be as violent as it can. A mouth was already sprouting from the garden, belonging to the Despair Plant.
"Looking good so far." Ash peered over, spectating the battle for himself. He, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Goh and all the other Changelings were hiding, waiting for their time to spring out and unleash a barrage of light. "When that box comes out, we'll flash 'em."
"Okay." Thorax. "Just give the word and we'll be ready."
"Hang in there for a bit you guys..." Ash spoke while watching over their battle, wishing for them to keep it up for a while. They definitely had them outnumbered but they weren't looking to defeat these specific vampires. They were only here for the Box of 100 Demons.
Twilight's Mindscape.
Back at Twilight's mindscape, she continued to flee from Rosa Maledicta, running through Rarity's Carousel Boutique. The thorns tore apart the beautiful design of the building. The clothes, curtains, walls, windows and so much more were falling apart.
And Twilight was fleeing for her life, leaving the boutique as it was starting to crumble. However, the Lich Queen didn't give her a moment to breathe, truly furious with Equestria thanks to recent events.
Buildings of familiar ponies were torn apart by Rosa Maledicta's rampage as they did not last at all. All it took was the thorns rapidly beating into them to destroy them. Twilight couldn't hide in any of them with how fierce these attacks were. She tried shooting magic back at the thorns, managing to deal some damage. The thorns would be blown apart by Twilight's magic, only for more to be made by the Lich Queen.
Twilight would then get on the roofs of buildings, hopping from them while avoiding the thorns. The roofs were cleaved by the thorns, crumbling into rubble afterwards. And Twilight did all of this while holding onto Espeon. She then flew into SugarCube Corner which already suffered from damage from these violent thorns.
The furniture would be pierced and crushed by the thorns, falling apart immediately. It was ridiculous how fast the Lich Queen could tear everything apart. However, there was a caveat to this. Since this was Twilight's mind, she made it so that whatever was destroyed would be regenerated. The table within SugarCube Corner would be rebuilt, catching the thorns midway. Some of the thorns were stuck within the table because of this as Twilight would continue to repair what she could.
The thorns would continuously be stopped by regenerating objects, slowing down the Lich Queen's progress. However, Rosa Maledicta's fury was certainly quick enough to dispose of these obstacles as she continued to stand tall with a powerful disposition.
"You can't run from me forever, Twilight!" Rosa yelled, using her own version of the Royal Canterlot Voice. Although it wasn't the Royal Canterlot Voice, it was similar to how it created a powerful echo. This echo sent a mighty shockwave across the area, shattering dozens of buildings in a matter of seconds while also making the skies rumble.
"Ugh!" Twilight was knocked over by this tremendous yell, sending her flying. She crashed through some of the ruined buildings, holding Espeon close to her so that she doesn't suffer any more damage from this.
She then found herself over at Town Hall, falling through the window. The clouds darkened the atmosphere, blocking off the light that beamed down on Ponyville as Espeon would fall out of Twilight's grasp.
"Eve!" Twilight gasped once she saw how Espeon slid on the Town Hall floor.
"Come here!" Rosa's voice yelled out, moving through the smoke, instantly grabbing a hold of Twilight's neck. The Princess of Friendship groaned in pain once the thorns finally got a hold of her. Rosa appeared through the smoke, using the thorns to lift Twilight up to her. Twilight's grunting and groaning with the sharp barbs of the thorns harming her skin, was up close with the Lich Queen. The closest she's been. "Hmph. I may not look like it but I have many years over you. You're just a brat to me!"
She would then try and use the thorns to pierce through Twilight, going straight for the rest of her body. However, with Twilight having control over her mind, she formed an invisible shield around her, blocking the thorns. Rosa Maledicta scoffed at this before using the thorns to slam Twilight against the walls of Town Hall.
"Espeon!" A distraught Espeon yelled after seeing Twilight hit the walls. Twilight lowered her head after that rather heavy hit before receiving another attack. She was then slammed against another part of the wall once more.
"Free me from your mind at once!" Rosa Maledicta ordered, attempting to break Twilight's concentration. And the best way to do that was by dishing out pain to the alicorn. Without holding back, she would continuously slam Twilight against the walls of Town Hall, going back and forth while Espeon watched there, injured and powerless to help.
"N-No way...!" Twilight vehemently refused. It wasn't time for her to do so even though she wished to leave her mindscape with Rosa Maledicta. Fighting back, Twilight used her magic to create a powerful purple field around her body. This bright field would then expand, blowing away the thorns that held onto her neck and forcing the Lich Queen to step back for a bit.
But right after freeing herself, she was then smacked by the thorns, receiving a hit to the face. Twilight staggered from the face slap, only to then be hit repeatedly by the thorns. She was being whipped furiously by these thorns as each hit was enough to shatter parts of the town hall, sending shockwaves through the area.
"Your mind is strong...Incredibly strong...But it won't stop me!" The Lich Queen bellowed while continuing to pummel Twilight with these thorns. In response, Twilight barely managed to teleport away from these thorns, finding the best moment to do so. "What do you have to say so far, Princess?"
"To be honest. I'm not that impressed so far..." Twilight held her face, smirking at the Lich Queen. "This feels a bit like Tirek honestly."
"You dare underestimate me?"? Rosa Maledicta did not take kindly to that at all. With a flash of her eyes, all of Town Hall would crumble instantly. Twilight gasped, using her magic to propel herself back in the form of a beam. She then grabbed Espeon off the floor, evading the falling ceiling. Affecting her mind, she would open a hole behind Town Hall, leaving it without needing to cause any destruction.
"You're only lucky that I'm stuck at Magehold at the moment!" Rosa yelled, swiping her hoof as she sent magical skulls which appeared out of thin air. These were pony-shaped skulls, howling and crying out at Twilight while leaving a green and purple trail behind. Twilight shot the skulls out of the sky with her magic, only for one of them to reach. This skill hit the ground, unleashing an outburst of magic which would push her away. "All of your meddling is holding me back, but very soon, not anymore!"
Rosa expressed her rage some more as the ground was starting to tremble. The earth itself was being lifted by her magic as the thorns were mainly responsible for this. Afterwards, Twilight would then recover in midair, using her wings to do so as she landed in another house. Rosa Maledicta followed her into this house, tearing the roof off to meet with the Princess of Friendship.
Twilight then stood up, still able to continue even after the thrashing she was receiving. Because she was an alicorn, her stamina was strong along with her durability. Her battle with Tirek showed her for the first time. "Are you sure you want to destroy this one?"
"What?" Rosa Maledicta raised an eyebrow before observing the room she was in. There was a reason why Twilight entered this building and suddenly stopped moving. By looking at this room, Rosa Maledicta already recognized it. This was her home. The home that belonged to her and Roseluck. But currently, it only belongs to Roseluck. "So what?"
"So what? This is your home! That's all you have to say?!"
"If you're thinking about hitting me somewhere, there's nothing in there, princess. "Rosa shook her head. "This house means nothing to me. It pales in comparison to what I have in Magehold."
"What about Roseluck then?! You never came back to her that day and become the Lich Queen afterwards! You don't even remember moments with her?!"
"Oh, I actually remember. I remember those moments quite well." Rosa Maledicta would lower her thorns, finally touching the ground as she walked off them. "I never forgot them even to my rise to power. How could I?"
"Then why do this? Why do you want to suddenly destroy everything and build such a horrifying future?" Twilight questioned. "I don't get it. And if you do...what about Roseluck? Will she be destroyed as well?"
"It is my duty as the Lich Queen. I will succeed where the others have failed. As for Roseluck...She means nothing to me."
"!!" Appalling to the ears. Rosa Maledicta revealed that she did not care for her little sister at all. She was simply just another victim for the Black Crusade. "You'd get rid of your own sister as well...?" And as a sister as well, Twilight hated what she just heard.
"Relatives don't matter in all of this." Rosa Maledicta shrugged. "I've cast aside Roseluck from my life entirely. What good can she even bring to me now?"
"Your own family and you'd just destroy them for someplace you never knew existed in the first place?! You're the absolute worst!" This was everything Twilight hated. Rosa Maledicta personified it perfectly.
"Cry about it. It doesn't matter." Rosa Maledicta scoffed. "Eventually, all of you will become a memory once you're skeletons for the rest of your life. But I suppose I can make Roseluck my maid just to keep my sister close to me. Is that enough for sisterly love?"
"To disregard your family like that...makes you worse than scum!" Twilight expressed her hatred for this. And her hatred correlated with her magic, tapping into Sorrowful Rage Magic. She would unleash a powerful beam of magic, finally attacking Rosa Maledicta herself.
"!" Rosa took notice of this, taken aback by the strength of this beam. It was so powerful that it made her flinch for a moment. Quickly, Rosa Maledicta would reply by shooting her own beam out. Soon, a clash of beams occurred in the middle of Roseluck's home.
The impact of the two beams hitting each other created a shockwave that blew the walls and windows away. The two prodigies fought against each other with their beams rippling, fighting for dominance. But the one who was really putting in all the effort she could was Twilight, gritting her teeth while pouring her anger into this attack.
Rosa Maledicta couldn't afford to underestimate Twilight Sparkle. She showed a great ordeal of strength that could be a problem as she narrowed her eyes when keeping her beam up. The house was coming apart just from this clash along with everything else nearby which was already a mess.
Alas, Rosa Maledicta won this clash, flaring her eyes as her beam expanded in size, beating out Twilight's. The Princess of Friendship gasped as the Lich Queen's beam consumed hers. Soon, Twilight Sparkle would be consumed by this dark green and purple beam, screaming in pain. The magic would then explode, obliterating the rest of the building as smoke came from Rosa Maledicta's horn.
Twilight was downed, lying in the remains of what used to be Roseluck's home. She failed to match her strength, unfortunately. And it didn't help that the real Rosa Maledicta was still recovering and in Magehold. Twilight couldn't even begin to imagine what she was truly capable of in the flesh.
"You've given me enough trouble." The Lich Queen walked up to Twilight. "This experience in your mind is a tease of what is to come. Unless you wish to avoid something like this but on a worse scale, you will submit." She would then use her thorns to pin down Twilight, stomping her hoof in front of her head. Rosa Maledicta was ready to leave Twilight's mind now that she had her in this state.
"Espeon!" Gathering enough strength, Espeon would use Psychic, sending an invisible blast. At last, the Sun Pokemon could fight back, hitting Rosa Maledicta from behind. The Lich Queen snarled after the invisible blast hit her, only for her thorns to then smack Espeon to the ground.
The thorns would then rise up, threatening to pierce into Espeon. The Sun Pokemon closed her eyes, potentially about to leave the mindscape as well. However, something would intercept the thorns, shielding Espeon from any harm. A magical attack as beautiful as the night sky would appear, obliterating the thorns.
Rosa kept an eye out for whoever would dare interrupt her now. She thought that it was only Twilight and Espeon that she had to deal it but someone else was here. Or rather, someone had just arrived at this moment.
"You have some nerve to talk about trouble." The voice of Princess Luna echoed across the Mindscape. Just as she said, she would come and help Twilight Sparkle. Better late than never. She would appear, standing next to Twilight while using her magic to force Rosa away from her fellow alicorn. "You and your Dread League have been a major headache for us. Even more so than Team Plasma and anyone else. Hearing you say that is in rather poor taste."
"P-Princess Luna...?"
"Apologies for being late, Twilight. I had to check if everything was alright outside." Luna apologized, helping Twilight up while destroying the thorns that held her down. "You did well to go up against her."
"What? Do you think you'll fare better? Your sister struggled as well, as you must know."
"I'm not looking to defeat you. I'm merely here to frustrate you." Luna was only here to prolong things. Rosa Maledicta couldn't leave the mindscape just yet. Luna would make sure that was the case until the box was retrieved. "Now, my own mindscape is a part of this!"
"Bring all the help you want, you're still insignificant to me!" Rosa's magic flared out to so much to the point that it enveloped most of Twilight's Mindscape, which was weakened thanks to the damage she's taken. But with Luna here, she would have her own Mindscape as a substitute.
Back outside, the confrontation between the vampires was getting heated. Chrysalis and Ribombee perfectly kept them at bay with flashes of light thanks to Dazzling Gleam while Raboot and the others threw out attacks to counter whatever the vampires would unleash.
As for Spectrum Shade, her battle with Rainbow Dash was going poorly. Mienshao was currently pummelling Bouffalant with a series of sharp strikes. Machoke absolutely struggled to catch up with Whimsicott, who was playfully flying around.
"Come on! Why isn't anything working?!" Spectrum Shade grew annoyed at this. She was failing to keep up with Rainbow Dash and her Pokemon. They were outclassing her team in every way. In terms of strength and speed.
"Is that really all you can do? Lame." Rainbow Dash yawned. "I should be in bed by now instead of having to deal with this. You're decent though. Just not strong enough."
"N-Not strong enough?!" Spectrum stuttered, repeating Rainbow Dash's words. That hit her hard. All those months of practising and she still didn't compare.
"I appreciate you putting her on the backfoot, but she seems to be more interested in winning this Pokemon Battle than anything." Chrysalis flew over to Rainbow Dash, speaking to her while using her magic to fling boulders at one of the vampires. "I would've thought you'd push them all."
"Yeah. Sorry about that. I just wanted to give her a challenge, that's all. But they're pretty stubborn. They haven't used it just yet." Rainbow Dash replied as the vampires had yet to use the Box of 100 Demons. Even with their Queen occupied, they relied on their own strength.
"Indeed. That approach isn't working it seems. So...I believe the other one will have to do. Fluttershy! Do it now!" Chrysalis turned to Fluttershy as there was another part to this plan.
"Okay." Understanding what she needed to do, Fluttershy held her breath while a Hyper Beam from Audino went off. With all of her might, she would whistle all of a sudden. But this whistle was rather special. It wasn't that audible but rather silent and compressed, akin to that of a dog whistle. It served a purpose. And that purpose was to pressure the vampires.
Suddenly, the vampires ceased their battle with the Pokemon to pick up on something. More footsteps were heard but these ones were rather plentiful. Their ears twitched as they could also hear the sound of wings flapping through the air and multiple different cries.
"What is that?" A vampire asked, failing to recognize any of these cries. These were all Pokemon cries but the pool of knowledge for Pokemon was limited for the Dread League. They haven't been exposed to the other types that much and the vast species of Pokemon that exist out there.
Until now.
Appearing from the hills were numerous upon numerous Pokemon. Not just random Pokemon but the ones from the Pokemon House. They promised to help out Chrysalis with this plan after all and they were certainly ready to chime in. The vampires all had their jaws drop at this sheer scale of Strange of Wonderful Creatures.
They had never seen so many Pokemon before as they were coming down from the hills, here to back up Fluttershy, who was their caretaker and essentially trainer. Sometimes, a mother figure.
"Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah! That's too many of them!" One of the vampires absolutely distraught by the number of Pokemon here while another felt like fainting.
"They weren't here before!" Another vampire bellowed, realizing that these Pokemon were not present in the area previously. The fact that there were so many of them of differing types, sizes and species confirmed it. "Where did they all come from?!"
And that was just the push they needed. One of the vampires shook her head, refusing to try and fight against this many Pokemon. They were already a problem and this was just overwhelming. There were enough Pokemon here to fit a town while there were enough vampires here to fit a house at best.
"Yeesh! That's a bit much...Usually, we're the ones trying to overwhelm. But...Nothing a good demon can't solve! I say we bring out at least 5 or 6!" Just what Chrysalis wanted to hear. One of the demons decided to bring the Box of 100 Demons, relying on it.
"Bring it then!" A vampire yelled as they were all in agreement of using it. Minus Spectrum Shade, who wanted to win on her own terms. With this agreement, the Box of 100 Demons would appear at last.
Any vampire could use the box, calling it to them from Magehold with ease. Thus, it was versatile for them as a vampire made it appear in his hooves. Everyone eyed down the Box as that's what they needed to achieve more than anything. Especially Chrysalis now that she knew that she was the true owner of it.
"Alright! Go for it!" With that, Ash gave the order for the Changelings to spring into action. With his command, they all got into position as fast as they could. They wouldn't be quick to stand on each other to form a tower. So, they improvised. They would fly above each other instead of standing on each other like before.
The Changelings all took flight, ascending into the air. And while ascending, they all began transforming. The goal was to become so bright that they ended up stunning the vampires, making them immobile and making it easier to retrieve the Box of 100 Demons.
And the Pokemon they all chose to transform into was none other than Lanturn. They all had the same Pokemon in mind surprisingly and no one else. Soon, a tower of Lanturns would appear.
The vampires would then look up to see a swarm of Lanturns, adding to the number of Pokemon that were here. They never knew that they were outnumbered from the very beginning. And with them looking at all these Changelings, Light would emerge. Plenty of it. The Y-shaped antenna with a spherical orb at each tip went off, unleashing the brightest light that they could as this species of Pokemon.
And with it, the skies above would be pierced with a beautiful brightness, clearing the dark clouds so the moon could truly shine at its best. But more importantly, the way it affected the vampires. Their greatest weakness had been turned up to a million. Aside from the Sun, this was the most exposure to light that they have ever faced.
Ash and the others wore the Jet Black Suits from the Umbrage Thieves, protecting them from the radiance. The light was so powerful and plentiful that it had a powerful radiation, making these suits perfect for protection. Unfortunately for the vampires, they weren't protected by it at all.
They screamed, failing to open the box thanks to this powerful expose to the Lanturns. As such, they were immobilized, unable to move as the Lanturns AKA the Changelings would stay there, keeping their lights on until the box was retrieved.
"Now is our chance!" Chrysalis eyed down the box, flying for it now that the vampires were stuck. She would make this as quick as possible, holding her hooves out and flying as fast as she could.
"I think not!" But unexpectedly, Rosa Maledicta's voice would boom out, sending fear into the hearts of many. Was she out? Did she manage to escape the Mindscape at the worst possible time?
Not at all. Instead, her magic from before enveloped most of the mindscape to the point where it was entering the real world. And once Chrysalis' hooves went for the Box of 100 Demons, the violent dark magic from within would fly out. Despite all of that hard work, Rosa Maledicta still found a way to fight back. The vampires could once again hear their Queen's voice.
"I-Impossible!" Chrysalis groaned, trying to push her hooves through. She was incredibly close to grabbing the box as the veil of darkness was the only thing keeping her from doing so. "You will not rob me of this, Lich Queen!"
"I'm not sure what your plan was but it was rather well-crafted, I'll admit! But I refuse to let you one-up me!" She spoke while confronting Luna within the Mindscape.
"The Box...belongs to me!" Chrysalis refused to let Rosa Maledicta stop her here. She fought hard against the aura of darkness which was pushing her back slowly. The ground below was being eaten up by this.
"Bombee!" Ribombee would use Dazzling Gleam, attempting to push the darkness away with some light. But even with Dazzling Gleam, Rosa Maledicta's magical pressure was still managing to move ahead. The pressure was so vast that it reached the Despair Plant Garden, affecting it. The mouth from before would soon expand, accelerating the process for the Despair Plants to be born.
"Chrysalis!" Ash cried out, sliding down the hill. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaa...Chuuuu!" Pikachu would add his attack into it, unleashing 100,000 volts onto the pressure of darkness to keep it from pushing everyone back. Seeing that Chrysalis was struggling to get the box because of this pressure, Ash and everyone chimed in to make sure that she would push through, unleashing their Pokemon.
"Ampharos, use Dragon Pulse!"
"Sceptile, Frenzy Plant!"
"Mew, Aura Sphere!"
"Hatterene! Psycho Cut!"
"Raboot, Pyro Ball!"
"Salamence, Flamethrower!"
Many attacks were thrown out at them. 100,000, volts, the fury of a Dragon, the power of Aura, sharp Psychic Blades and the element of fire and grass. All came flying in to stop this veil of darkness which was ripping away at the lush hills. Audino and Bayleef would join in, using Magical Leaf and Hyper Beam to try and overcome this. Raboot couldn't do much thanks to his lack of ranged attacks. All he could do was keep an eye on the vampires.
It was a powerful struggle and a team effort that helped them fight back against this veil. Rosa Maledicta was occupied with Luna, after all, clashing against her within the Mindscape. Powerful flashes of magic went off within the Mindscape version of Ponyville with Luna's magic repairing what had been destroyed and Rosa just demolishing what she could. And finally, Darkrai would emerge from the shadows, using his Dark Pulse against the Dark Pressure that protected the Box of 100 Demons.
"You will not beat me!" Chrysalis declared as her horn and eyes would glow. Just then, with her own strength, she pushed through the veil of darkness. Thanks to everyone helping her, Chrysalis got through.
She placed her hooves on the box, finally grabbing what was always hers. The True Creator of the Box of 100 Demons. She succeeded in getting it at last as the plan had been pulled off. The only thing left to do was leave with it.
"She did it!" Ash cheered along with the rest of his friends. The veil of darkness was lowered once Chrysalis broke through it and snatched the box, tumbling and rolling on the ground after such a mighty lunge. This was something worth cheering about. They managed to get their hooves on this item.
Chrysalis laid there on the ground, breathing in and out with a smile after that successful grab. She had a plan and she made sure that it was executed. But it couldn't have been done without her friends.
"I already told Twilight Sparkle...One of you will suffer from this. And with what I can muster right now...It shall be you, Chrysalis!" Unfortunately, Rosa Maledicta's magic still lingered and packed a punch. And the victim of this was none other than Chrysalis.
Chrysalis' eyes suddenly widen as her pupils vanished. The Lich Queen's magic would erupt from her body, making the Changeling Queen unleash a haunting cry. Everyone's smiles soon turned into frowns and open mouths of shock and horror of what they soon witnessed. Magic would burst out of Chrysalis' body as if she was being pierced by it. And the most powerful one went through her chest.
She felt pain in their chest, her hooves and pain in their mind. It was everywhere. Nowhere was excluded. Cold shivers shot through Chrysalis' body and both her front and back hooves were trembling. A sickening pain shot through HER stomach and their arms wrapped tightly around it. The world seemed to spin around them and a sharp throbbing pain took hold of the Changeling Queen. Panic took over for a moment as thoughts of an endless pain crept up in her mind. What if this agonizing stabbing pain would never stop shooting through their leg? Wave after wave kept coming in a matter of seconds. The Changelings all watched as their Queen had taken a truly devasting blow while still holding onto the Box of 100 Demons.
"N-Not like this..." Chrysalis spoke with a weakened voice before launching the box as hard as she could. The box flew through the air, away from her grasp. And the one to catch was none other than Thorax. "Leave with the Box at once..." Chrysalis would then fall over with half of her face and hooves covered in darkness.
"Oh no! Chrysalis!" Fluttershy gasped with her hooves covering her mouth and tears beginning to show. Something awful had happened to Chrysalis. She took a hit from Rosa Maledicta's magic in a horrific way.
Ash quickly rushed over to Chrysalis' side as she was completely unresponsive. With her pupils gone, the Changelings all feared the worst as most of them reverted back to their original forms, wanting to check up on their Queen.
Ash picked Chrysalis up, looking her in the eyes. She looked completely lifeless and Ash was certainly hoping that it wasn't truly lifeless. There was only one thing left to do now. And that was leave. They had the box with them. That was what they came for. But in return, Chrysalis took a truly violent blow. Ash dashed off, placing Chrysalis on his back as he would try and leave the scene as soon as possible.
Everyone would jet away before Rosa Maledicta could potentially recover. As for the Lich Queen, she growled, knowing that the box had been taken from her. It was no longer in possession of the Dread League. Luna felt it. She ended her struggle with Rosa Maledicta, seeing that mission was completed.
On the outside, Twilight would leave her mindscape, finally free from this struggle. She missed out on a lot thanks to this. The Princess of Friendship came back to something truly horrifying. With all of the Changelings returning to their normal forms, the light show would end but the vampires were still immobilized due to how much light they were exposed to. All of the Pokemon from the Pokemon House would follow as it was a stampede of species leaving the scene.
Luna was the last to leave. Thanks to her, she brought enough time to for everyone to leave the hills. That way, Rosa Maledicta wouldn't be able to eye them down or do anything else. Before another attack from the Lich Queen could hit the Princess of the Night, Luna left the Mindscape, fizzling out and evading it. It was time to go.
"You won't get away with this!" Rosa Maledicta's voice came through as thunderstruck from above. "Take this as seriously as you can! Because very soon, you'll all end up worse than her! But I'd worry about what will happen to your precious Changeling Queen! I'd safely say she's beyond saving! You won't even be able to control the demons within either! Your entire world is next!"
Those were her words of warning and they were not to be ignored. Rosa Maledicta's voice faded out the further they went, out of her reach. And yet those words were haunting. They achieved their goal. The Box of 100 Demons was finally theirs. But at the cost of Chrysalis suffering massive damage. And judging by the vicious words from Rosa Maledicta, this was something that threatened her greatly as the journey continues.
The Box of 100 Demons has been retrieved. But at the cost of Chrysalis being greatly harmed. She was brought back to the Changeling Hive, placed within the Healing Cocoon. Her subjects feared for her along with her friends who helped her retrieve the Box of 100 Demons successfully. They spoke amongst each other, wondering what had become of their Queen. Ribombee was over at the throne room, looking at Chrysalis' Healing Cocoon, distressed about her Trainer's current status. Chrysalis had something dark latched onto her hooves, giving her black veins around them as well as her face and horn. She looked rather soulless with her eyes half-open, seeping with Dark Magic.
"How is she?" Fluttershy asked as the Changeling Guards left the throne room. All of them wanted to hear about Chrysalis' current condition.
"We don't know actually. We're not sure what the Lich Queen did to her. We can barely feel a heartbeat coming from her." Alas, they weren't sure. This was beyond their knowledge. "It feels like she's hanging in there from whatever's affecting her."
That wasn't the news they wanted to hear. Panic struck their hearts along with distress. From what the guards shared, it sounded like Chrysalis might not recover at all and would meet her demise. This was truly a stressful scenario.
"I know what it is." Suddenly, Sombra would exit Ash's body, being the only one here to know about Chrysalis' condition.
"You do? What is it, Sombra?" Ash asked the King living within him.
"Your Queen is doomed. Rosa Maledicta managed to pull off one of the most dangerous spells a Lich can ever use but it's hard to pull off. It's an incurable disease that very few know about. I'm lucky to know about it since I'm an Umbrum."
"Uncurable..." Ash thought for a moment, remembering something like that. He recalled how a young colt by the name of Lofty Skies had his mother affected by some sort of disease that came from Magehold that no one could solve. While the young pony came to terms with this fact, the mystery of this disease was still present. But now, it seems like Ash was getting an inkling as to what it may be. "I think I've heard about that before."
"You're joking, right?! There's no way to cure it?!" A Changeling screamed out along with many others.
"Not at all. Well...There is one way that I know of." However, Sombra smiled, giving them all a scare for a moment before rekindling something. "But it's not as wonderful as you think it may be. If you are to save your Queen, it must be her that breaks the disease. This spell is only beatable by the one who's affected by it. None of you can do anything about it. This is why it's a disease that is incurable."
Their hopes were lowered once more. A disease that could only be beaten by Chrysalis. But with how she was, it was hard to tell if she could overcome it at all. The Healing Cocoon was practically prolonging things for her.
"What do we do then?" The Changelings were all left stumped by this, rather unsure of what to do next. This unfortunately reminded them of when Ghetsis attacked their previous hive. While not on the same scale, it was just as distressful, filled with despair.
Meanwhile, back with Chrysalis, she could hear the voices of her subjects and how worried they were about her. She wished she could reassure things to them but that was rather difficult with how things were. Ash and many others would enter the Throne Room to check up on Chrysalis for a moment. And when looking at them, Chrysalis mainly eyed down Thorax.
"T-Thorax..." Chrysalis spoke to Thorax specifically. "Come here.
"Yes?" Thorax replied as he was currently holding the Box of 100 Demons.
"I'm afraid I might be out of commission for a while...I'm not sure how long it will be or if it will ever end or not." Chrysalis groaned. "I can hear all of you...And your distress. I won't be able to rule over you as your Queen with how things are. So...there must be someone who can take my place."
"Take your place as Ruler? Who?" Twilight asked as all the Changelings looked at each other. Chrysalis would try and select someone to be the next Changeling Ruler while she was currently within the Healing Cocoon, suffering from this Dark Magic Rosa Maledicta hit her with. However, Chrysalis already had someone in mind.
"Thorax. It has to be you." Chrysalis chose Thorax to be the next Changeling Ruler.
"M-Me?!" He stuttered and pulled back as everyone snapped their heads to focus on him. He was chosen out of all the Changelings here. "I can't be the next Changeling Queen! I'm not even a Queen!"
"You have it in you though. Do you remember what I said to you back then...? If anyone was eligible to take my place, it would be you. The Hive will always need a Ruler to guide them. And now, they need a Changeling King. Please." Chrysalis put all her faith into Thorax, seeing the potential in him out of any other Changeling there.
Thorax gulped as he feared a day like this would come. However, with how things were, he couldn't fear it anymore. Not when his Queen was in such a condition that made it hard for her to rule and guide everyone else. He would then look at all of his fellow Changelings as some of them were rather unsure if he was fit to be the next Ruler of the Hive. But there were others who did have faith in him as it was Thorax who always showed that inner side of the Changelings that was stored away by their old ways.
Pharynx watched from afar, hearing the news about his brother being appointed as the new Changeling King. His reaction to it brought judgemental eyes as he would walk away.
"Alright. I'll do it." Thorax accepted it. It was for the sake of Chrysalis.
"Thank you." Chrysalis sighed as she would continue to rest. But resting wasn't guaranteed to save her. The only way to defeat this disease was unknown and seemingly hard to achieve. All Chrysalis could do was rest and have the cocoon keep her steady.
Thorax was now the new Changeling King. It was his job to rule and guide the Changelings while Chrysalis was out of commission, it would be a difficult task but he would try and make it work.
"You've got this Thorax." Spike had faith in him, however, reassuring his friend that he could get through it.
"I hope so." Thorax wasn't too sure though. He's already taken the offer and there was no going back now. He would have to make the most of it.
"It's best that we leave now," Luna said. "The Sun should rise soon. Now that you have the Box of 100 Demons, keep it safe and make sure none of them exit it."
"Oh. But how are we going to reverse some of those innocent creatures that were turned into demons?" Fluttershy asked. Chrysalis was the only one who had the power to reverse the transformation since she created the box and those demons inside.
"She said that I could try if she couldn't," Twilight added. "But I'm not sure I can do it either. My Rift Magic doesn't go that far after all. I guess we'll have to wait for now..."
Magehold. A few hours back.
Back at Magehold, right after Chrysalis and everyone took back the Box of 100 Demons, Rosa Maledicta was rather pleased with herself. She left a big impact on a Changeling Queen that was sure to bring despair to her subjects. And she was certainly correct, even if she wasn't there. Now there was one thing left to do. Retrieve the Box.
Rosa Maledicta figured that she could simply bring the box back to her. After all, everyone from the Dread League had the power to summon the box to them and Rosa Maledicta was certainly no exception. However, when using her magic, she soon found out that the Box did not return to her.
"What?" Rosa could not feel the box's presence or the demons within anymore. "I can't bring it back with me...Why? Don't tell me that they've cast a spell on it." Far from it. There was no spell cast on the Box of 100 Demons but it was a mystery as to why it would not return to Dread League. "Curse them. They've found a way to keep it for themselves permanently, have they? No matter. Very soon, the Black Crusade will make sure that the box is brought back to us. Chrysalis will perish under the Corroding Curse. That much is true. And I promised them I'd start the Black Crusade soon and that much is also true."
The Lich Queen laughed, looking forward to Chrysalis' demise and the Black Crusade. It was close. She had already sent the Pony of Shadows off to take revenge on Equestria while some vampires were out there searching for Xerneas to snuff it out. Her plans were already in motion right now and the Black Crusade was the final piece of it.
All the while, she sensed Fantina preparing for Magehold's first-ever Pokemon Contest. Rosa Maledicta could care less about it and everything else Fantina does here, believing that it doesn't affect much. After all, soon Fantina would become a skeletal servant to Magehold, just like everyone in this world. And of course, Rosa Maledicta was looking to go above and beyond her world. Other worlds were within her sights, ripe for the taking.
The Black Crusade was near.
Canterlot. Day.
A new day had come. After a turbulent night that ended with something bittersweet, Luna shared everything with her older sister Celestia. "What?! Will she be alright?!" Celestia bellowed at the top of her lungs, learning about Chrysalis' condition.
"Sombra said that only she can overcome it but no one else has managed to pull it off before," Luna explained. "That's all I can say."
"Curse that Lich Queen...!" The news greatly struck Celestia. Chrysalis was once a former enemy of hers but over time, she became a friend. And hearing what become of her did not bode well for the Ruler of Equestria. She grit her teeth as her magic was rising from her body. Her hooves were even shaking out of anger as the Dread League continued to bring Dread continuously. But, Celestia would soon calm herself down. "We really need to get through that field as soon as possible. I'm still hoping to have Galaxy Master help us with that since he might be the only one who can do it."
"Can he though? The Lich Queen may not be at her best, but she still possesses a great ordeal of magic. I experienced it back in the Mindscape. "He's already rather hard to find with how he's moving from place to place, intercepting the Dread League as quickly as he can. We couldn't even get the Lich Queen to turn her attention to him."
"We'll find him. The only way to do that is to look for the Dread League and their next attacks. That's a tall order since they're becoming present but still." Celestia pondered for a moment. "And when we do, we'll take back Yveltal and Fantina. In one piece, might I add? No one else will suffer at Magehold when we get there, despite how many curses there may be."
"If only he was capable of falling asleep." Luna sighed as Galaxy Master was incapable of having dreams. Then, she might have an easier time reaching him. "Hmm...Perhaps..." Luna was hatching something. The Princess of the Night rubbed her hooves, having something mind that could help greatly.
"I can tell you're plotting, Luna. You can do that while I continue to think." Celestia added before sitting on her throne, sighing. "If only Starswirl were still here. He might've figured out something already."
"Starswirl and the other Pillars are currently unavailable to us, sister. He was a great teacher and had powerful allies. But we have to do everything by ourselves now. But it would be amazing if his magic was with us right now. He always had something that we had no knowledge about. Wasn't he the one who discovered Time Travel before us and he began working on that Boundless Cutie Mark you have."
"He did know a lot." Celestia nodded in agreement. "All those books he's left behind share a lot but there are still things we don't know that he does. I'm not sure if he even knew about the Dread Leauge in some way."
"It would be nice to ask him again." Luna pouted. "Oh well. I at least have faith that Chrysalis will overcome this powerful curse and make it through. Do you, sister?"
"Of course I do. Even if Sombra says it's incurable and hard for the victim to overcome, as Queens know a thing or two about overcoming the odds, don't we?"
"W-We're princesses..." Luna corrected her.
"Ah!" Celestia chuckled. "My bad! But I wouldn't mind being a Queen! It's rather overdue at this point honestly. Anyway, it still counts for us princesses and Royalty. I'm positive Chrysalis will overcome this curse. Even if it seems impossible. And I'll be supporting Thorax and his new rule."
All they could do was put their faith in Chrysalis to overcome this and see what Thorax could do now that he was the new Changeling King. Times were changing indeed. After the worlds came together, things have been getting wilder consistently, mainly with the Dread League. And yet, it also felt like the end was coming. Whether it was the end of the world or the end of the Dread League. That has yet to be seen as the journey continues.
Quite a lot has happened recently. Mainly with how events were increasing. A few days ago, the Changeling Queen Chrysalis has been gravely injured by Rosa Maledicta, potentially nearing the end of her life. And the current Changeling Ruler was now Thorax, who took this role after Chrysalis asked him too. She saw the most potential in her after all. Tensions were growing and from what Twilight found out, the Black Crusade was close by.
"Do you think Thorax will be okay? Taking charge of the entire Hive?" Twilight asked Spike about Thorax's current situation.
"Uh, not sure." Spike shrugged as that was hard to say in every way. "I could try calling him but maybe he's not ready for that. Let's uh, give him a few days or so."
"I'm afraid we might not have that much time, Spike. The Lich Queen's grown so furious that she's speeding up her plan. With Yveltal on her side, any faults in the Black Crusade can be ignored with that much destructive power." Twilight shook her head. "But...Let's forget about that for now. What should we do today? We have our options."
"Well, I'm still focusing on my work as Dragon Trainer. I'll probably head to that special mountain pass where all the other dragons gather up. What about you?"
"I promised I'd take Eve to her favourite place for a while. But she has a lot to choose from and I definitely can't choose." She shook her head, promising to give Espeon some time to relax and take a break from all of this. She did experience what it was like to go up against the Lich Queen after all.
"You'll think of something. Hopefully, you don't run into the Dread League anywhere. That'd be a shame, wouldn't it?"
"It would. But...I have faith that Galaxy Master will show up again. He's on our side now." Twilight smiled as Equestria had a powerful ally in the form of Galaxy Master. "But I would like to meet him again. Apparently, he's got somepony working with him. Not just his Pokemon but another pony."
"Who?" Spike asked.
"She goes by the name Potion Nova. She uses potions to get things done as the name suggests. I've heard about potions before obviously, but for the most part, I never bothered looking into them. I always stuck to these." Twilight poked her horn, relying on standard magic. "Oh! I bet if we ask her, we'll know where Galaxy Master is! She's always with him, isn't she?!"
"Yeah. But do you even know where she is?" Spike questioned as Twilight was eager to head out and find this Potion Nova.
"She lives at a place called Mareflower. That's her hometown and where we can find her. Call Ash since he's been looking for Galaxy Master. I think we can get this over with as soon as possible."
Mareflower. Potion Nova's Green House. Afternoon.
Mareflower. It wasn't just home to the pony known as Potion Nova but it was once the home of Ebony Rhyme, a vampire who now lives in Magehold. Potion Nova and Ebony Rhyme were good childhood friends before being separated. Not much has changed about the place ever since the two of them were children. Other than the fact that Potion Nova had her own base separate from Galaxy Master's base which exists in another dimension.
Bringing Ash along, it wasn't that hard to find Potion Nova's whereabouts. She wasn't exactly secretive apart from her mysterious potion-making skills. And when looking at her Green House, there was a massive Potion Beaker that was also a chimney, letting out potion bubbles. It seemed like something was already brewing in there. It was very easy to find her indeed with something like this out in the open, sticking out from the rest of the buildings in this town.
"Hello?" Twilight would knock on the door, calling for Potion Nova. "Is Potion Nova here?" When knocking on the door, she would get a response. But it wasn't a voice. Instead, her action on the door would reveal something. A potion would drop from above without Twilight and the others noticing, crashing next to her. Twilight pulled back as the effects of the potion kicked in instantly.
The potion affected the entrance, suddenly duplicating the doors. New doors would rapidly appear, covering the different parts of the walls with Ash and the others watching in amazement. They experienced a potion at work for the first time and it appeared to be Entrance Duplication.
"Oh, nice!" An amazed Ash and Spike collectively exclaimed.
"Duplicates?!" Twilight gasped. "Is she trying to juke us out? One of these entrances is obviously fake if she's trying to keep us out or something."
"No, it's just numerous entrances for you to choose from." The owner of this house, Potion Nova herself would finally speak, appearing via a window view. "They lead to different places in the-" She would pause for a moment, eyeing down the individuals beneath her. Her eyes widened before she opened the window. "No way! Aren't you Ash?!"
"Yeah?" Ash spoke as Potion Nova focused on him mainly.
"Great! Come on in, quick!" Potion Nova gladly invited him in. Most likely, it was to do with her partner Galaxy Master. After all, he wished to see Ash as well, but the Dread League have certainly kept him busy. Ash, Twilight and Spike had numerous doors to choose from which would all lead to different areas within the Green House. Feeling adventurous as always, they would each choose a different door, opening them simultaneously. The doors would let off radiant lights that they gravitated towards as if they were entering a new world. It reminded them of the gateways and whenever they would pass through.
And each of them would end up in different rooms that all had potions sitting there. Tables, shelves and cases of potions galore for all of them to witness. Potion Nova had copies of the same potions all perfectly categorized and next to each other to avoid any confusion.
Each room looked the same with these potions all stacked and organized but depending on the room, different categories of potions could be found. Spike found himself in a room full of Emotion-based potions. Twilight walked into an affliction-based Potion room. And Ash ended up in a room full of potions that were based around affecting objects and the environment.
"Great to meet with you, Ash! I thought we'd come to you but you came to us instead." Potion Nova ended up in the room that Ash chose, coming to him. Joining her was her partner Pokemon Galarian Rapidash would gallop into the room. "But here you are!"
"That's right. The one and only." Potion Nova bowed her head along with Rapidash, showing respect. "It's great to finally meet you. You made quite a name for yourself these past 4 years, haven't you? Or has it been 5 years? I've lost track."
"Gee, thanks. Nice place you got here. All these potions...Way different from what we've got." Ash admired the scenery. The potions he mainly knew about were only based around healing Pokemon if they were badly injured or afflicted with something.
"I appreciate it. Years of my craft are here for everyone to see. And boy, it wasn't easy. It took at least 2 years for hooves to stop being so red from making so many potions." Potion Nova held her hooves up. "It was all worth it. I've expanded my knowledge and boundaries on what Potions I can make. But enough about me. Let's focus on why you're here."
"Yeah. You've been working with Galaxy Master this whole time, right? You two show up whenever the Dread League gets up to something and always gets in her way. That's so cool! It's just like what I wanted to add in my story when I was a kid!" Ash envisioned something like this when he was a child, giving Galaxy Master a partner that he would work alongside with. Potion Nova seemed to fit that bill.
"I guess I am." Potion Nova shrugged. "I didn't think it would be me though...Anyway. You've been looking for him and he's been looking for you as well. But he hasn't had the time to do so. Truth is...Galaxy Master could always show up at Kanto whenever he wants."
"Yeah?" Ash would take a seat, ready to listen to whatever Potion Nova had to say.
"The gateway to Pallet Town is the only one that never left compared to the others, so it stands to reason most would know about it. Truth is, I've been working with Galaxy Master right after that whole Galaxy Tower mess that happened up in space. I was working on a potion that would help me travel across dimensions."
"Oh, really! You've got a potion for that?!"
"Pikachu?!"
"I do. But it's hard to make. The hardest one I've done so far and I use it sparingly. I'm not able to go with Galaxy Master on every mission out there since I'm conserving it. When I first used that potion, it's how I found him in another dimension. That's also where his Galaxy Tower can be found."
"So then... what's this other dimension? Does he live there now?"
"Away from Equestria. It's a dimension that exists in our world that's already populated. It looks like it's always been there and Galaxy Master's been protecting it as well. He's actually been alternating between the two worlds, defending that dimension and stopping the Dread League."
"Awesome..." Ash smiled with amazement on his face. Galaxy Master was being a Hero on both sides this whole time. Granted, this also meant that he was very busy for a reason and struggled to meet up with Ash. "So what's up with this other dimension then?"
"You'd think it'd be its own planet, but nope. It's as large as let's say...Maybe the Everfree Forest or even a city at best. Some dimensions are their own worlds but this one isn't. It may be small but it has a big problem that he's trying to figure out. He would visit you if he could, Ash, but he's been so busy with this and that. I hope you can understand."
"I totally do." Thankfully, Ash understood it perfectly. He had no issues with it. "He's just doing his best, that's all. And you're helping him out to handle things. I get it."
"Oh. Wonderful!" Potion Nova squeed. "Glad you understand! Even so, would you like to meet him now?"
"Oh yeah! I really wanna see him! And maybe even help him out." Ash would still love to see Galaxy Master. "He's based around my dad and that's the closest I'm ever gonna see him, ya know. Do you think I can head there right now?"
Sure. But, it'll be tough for your friends to come over. The Dimension Potion's already running low. One drink of it and you can travel through dimensions but I did say it's hard to make." Potion Nova warned. She would then use her magic to summon the Dimension Potion here, giving Ash and Pikachu the chance to look at it.
Lo and behold, the colours of the potion resembled that of the Rift. Blue and Purple with stars continuously sparkling and glimmering from within. "Woah! Is that the Rift?"
"Ah, right. I used Rift Energy to help make this possible. It's the only known way to travel through dimensions aside from the Pokemon that can make that happen. Because of how the world's united, very few traces of the Rift are left. I only discovered dimensional travel during the third Pokemon Festival and even then, I stuck with going through the potions more than anything." She explained. "This is all I have, so share his with your friends carefully."
"Got it." Ash passed the potion, nodding in understanding. His one opportunity to meet up with Galaxy Master was here. All he needed to do was drink this potion and he could enter the dimension that his fictional creation was residing.
"Oh! I should probably check up on your friends!" Potion Nova gasped, galloping away with Rapidash. "Just in case something happens to my potions! Hold on for a moment!"
Leaving Ash and Pikachu to themselves, the duo would stare at the Dimensional Potion. Granted, Potion Nova specifically said that they could cross dimensions. She didn't exactly say it would take them to one dimension. It seemed like there were many possibilities with this potion. It could be considered a substitute for the missing gateways. Ash was this close to meeting up with Galaxy Master once more.
"Amazing..." Twilight was busy admiring all the potions here, being careful not to touch any of them. Despite what she said about never seeing a point in studying potions, she was impressed and interested in Potion Nova's craft.
"Like it?" Potion Nova would suddenly appear behind Twilight, startling her.
"Oh!" She would almost crash into the potions only to instinctively catch herself with her magic. "Y-Yeah...Nice place you have here. All of these potions..."
"This is just the Affliction Room. You haven't seen anything yet. I've got other rooms for specific potions and what they're supposed to do." Potion Nova held up a Patience Potion. "Wanna see the rest of it? Oh, wait, I just promised Ash I'd take him to see Galaxy Master now. Nevermind. Forget what I just said."
"I'd love to either way. Maybe later. But you made all of this? While still using unicorn magic?"
"Best of both worlds." She tapped her horn. "I know I have regular magic but as a child, I was also very interested in making potions. Just the process and all the possibilities that come from them...It's just so much fun. And it was worth diving into Potion Making. Nopony else knew how to do it that I could find so I had to learn by myself."
"Just you? No teachers?"
"Nope. Just me. Well, I had a friend who helped out when we were both kids but...She's doing her own thing." Potion Nova scrunched, referring to Ebony Rhyme. "Anyway, if you're interested, I could always be the Potion Teacher that nopony else ever had. I-If you want, that is. No pressure."
"I'll think about it. So, what about Galaxy Master? You're working alongside with him, aren't you?"
"I am. I told Ash everything, so don't worry about it. All you need to know is that we're heading over to the dimension he's living a right now. Are you ready for that?"
"I'm used to travelling through worlds by now, even with the decrease of gateways. Let's do it." Twilight was ready to enter another dimension. It was casual for her at this point. It was now off to see Galaxy Master and reunite him with Ash. That was all that mattered. And Twilight would definitely do whatever she could to make Ash happy.
Eventually, they all gathered up in the same room Ash was in. There, the DImension Potion, which was relatively low, was within Ash's grasp still. While it was incredibly low, it was enough for most of them to use it. To make sure it wasn't all wasted, Twilight, Spike and Potion Nova would return their Pokemon to their Poke Balls. They would be brought into the other dimension that way without needing the potion.
"Alright. The potion's effect can last up to 10 hours. Drink it and you can cross dimensions. Drink it again and you'll be brought back to the dimension you originally came from. Which is here, so that's straightforward. Galaxy Master can help you get home if we run out too. Be careful though. It took me a while to reach the dimension where Galaxy Master's tower is. There's a powerful ripple that will try and knock you off the Dimensional Tunnel, sending you elsewhere. So follow my lead and stay firm, okay?"
"Okay. Got it." Ash and everyone understood. It was all about being careful since this wasn't as simple as travelling through a gateway. There was some risks here. They would finally begin with Ash being the first to drink the potion, only going for a bit of it so that everyone else can get a chance. Afterwards, he would pass it on to Pikachu, who would also have small drops.
"Pika." Pikachu then passed it on to Twilight, taking small drops as well as the potion was already starting to lose its liquid. Potion Nova scrunched her face when seeing how low it was getting. But she had nothing to fear considering Galaxy Master could also cross dimensions. Then it was off to Spike who took a quick sip and finally, Potion Nova, who drank enough to the point where the bottle was on the brink of being empty. It was barely hanging in there.
And once everyone drank the potion, they felt their bodies suddenly surge. Ash took a deep breath as dimensional energy pulsated through his body, letting out cosmic sparkles. Twilight felt the same with her eyes widening, her pupils gaining the patterns of the celestial skies. Spike's scales were filled with stars too and Pikachu's red sacs received a similar treatment. Potion Nova had her mane light up with stars as they all had different feelings when drinking the potion.
"Brace yourselves!" Potion Nova exclaimed as things instantly changed for them. Their bodies were flung elsewhere at light speed, causing them to vanish from this room and Mareflower entirely. Their eyes only saw one thing next. A tunnel.
A Tunnel of Space appeared in a flash, replacing everything else that their eyes laid upon. It was a rather thrilling and instant sight. Even with the gateways, those are easy to bare with how calm and gentle they usually are. But this was different. It was exhilarating and hyperactive.
And since it was so different, it was difficult for them to stay stable. The Tunnel of Dimensions rippled violently around them. There wasn't even enough time to take all of this in. They were in for a wild ride indeed. And from this point onwards, they had to be careful if they wanted to meet with Galaxy Master, otherwise, they would end up elsewhere as the journey continues.
Ash, Twilight and Spike found themselves travelling in a Dimensional Tunnel. Thanks to Potion Nova's potion, who was also joining them, they were off to the dimension where Galaxy Master could be found. However, travelling through this Dimensional Tunnel was not as pleasant as going through a gateway. It was hyperactive, took some time and was rather rocky.
"Oh, I think I'm gonna be sick...!" Spike was feeling the turbulent effects of travelling through this tunnel, especially since it was forcing them forward.
"Don't worry, it won't be long until we get there! Just be careful not to fall off!" Potion Nova yelled, needing to raise her voice with how the tunnel was generating otherwordly sounds.
"Woah! Check it out!" Speaking of which, Ash and Pikachu were already gathering sights from this. Most of the tunnel was just blue and purple, similar to the Rift since some of its magic was used to make this potion possible. However, there were open holes within the sides of this Dimensional Tunnel. These holes were what they needed to watch out for, mainly due to what was beyond them.
Other dimensions could be viewed through these holes. Each had their own unique appearances. And some of these were ones that Palkia and Cosmos ended up in for a brief moment during their battle. Ash and Pikachu saw a dimension of mirrors, a Gem Dimension, a dimension where the roads seem to pierce the clouds and exist in the skies and a dimension of Limbo with ponies who were living in it. These ponies also dressed differently from what Ash could capture in time. The way they dressed looked rather futuristic. Some of them looked old, older than what Equestria has. Twilight would also get a look at this, amazed by what she was seeing. There were other dimensions that she has yet to even witness and explore.
"Like it?! Those are all different dimensions with their own lives! The one we're looking for is thankfully up ahead! It's the only one that deviates from the side!" Potion Nova exclaimed.
Alas, they could only view it for a little while. Eventually, the Dimensional Tunnel would propel them even further, finally reaching its destination which was right up ahead. They would soon get a view of the dimension that stood before them, enveloped in a cosmic light that would take them there.
Another Dimension.
"Ugh...Man..." Getting here wasn't pleasant. When they left the tunnel, they landed in rather uncomfortable positions. Ash fell flat on his face, landing next to strange flowers that were only exclusive to this dimension. These were the same flowers that resembled corals.
Ash's eyes would open to see these Coral Flowers next to him, feeling rather bewildered after falling from the tunnel. He got up with Pikachu soon doing the same. He and the others were rather shaken up, minus Potion Nova, who was used to this. And once they all recovered and got up, they could feast their eyes on the land before them.
Tall mountains with spring trees next to them, emanating the light of the stars from them which went well with the light blue skies above. Even to this day, the Spring Flowers were still growing in this dimension, becoming so abundant they were now decorating the mountains, mixing with the corals that were already on them. And at the crux of it all was the Galaxy Tower, which found its home here in this dimension. The starry mountain was also an eye-catcher. With how many spring flowers have grown, the mountains all sparkled with an incandescent style to them.
To put it simply, it was impressive to the eyes. Obscure but impressive. "What is this place?" Spike asked before he and Twilight let Axew and Espeon out of their Poke Balls.
"The dimension's still unknown to us. It doesn't even have a name. I'm not even sure we're on another earth. Might be a completely different planet. But either way, it's Galaxy Master's base. He'll be right in there, busy with work as always."
"Oh? What are those?!" However, something caught Twilight's attention that soon attracted everyone else. Past the Coral Flowers, she spotted something up ahead. They were Pokemon but something was different about them.
Passing through the flowers was a group of Furret, frolicking around. Furret was normal and everything, but the way they appeared was strikingly different. They had a rather ethereal appearance to them. Their furry bodies were now Astral and spatial, no longer possessing those signature stripes around them. Instead, they were all replaced with stars.
And it wasn't just the Furret. Above, a flock of Starlys came by, also having the same Astral appearance. And yet, it didn't look like ordinary space. There was something rather different about them.
"Woah! What's up with those Pokemon?!" Ash questioned in amazement. "By looking around some more, he saw other Pokemon that had this astral touch to them. Most were Normal-Types from what he saw so far with a few types sticking out here and there. Vileplume, Hoppip, Sandshrew, Sewaddle and other Pokemon had this special look to them that didn't change their shapes at all, compared to regional forms.
And the way they moved caused the astral energy from within them to let out a trail. What a stellar sight to behold. Here, there were other types of Pokemon yet to be fully discovered. And just when they were learning about Equestrian Variants and Alpha Pokemon. The World of Pokemon was always evolving in some way. Or in this case, another World of Pokemon separate from theirs.
"Ah, those...Those are Subspace Pokemon." Of course, Potion Nova knew, spouting out the name.
"Subspace Pokemon?" Ash, Twilight and Spike collectively said. Gracing their ears was a new kind of Pokemon they've never heard about before. Until now.
"I had the same reaction when I found out. Subspace Pokemon is what they're called. It's become they come from Subspace."
"Uh...What's Subspace?" Ash was lost on this. So was Spike as they both scratched their faces, trying to see if they knew anything about Subspace.
"I can explain. As simple as I can for you guys. It's a form of space that has different physical properties from normal space. Looks identical to normal space, doesn't it?" Twilight explained. "I've heard of Subspace but I didn't think it ever existed. What are they even doing here? And where's their Subspace even?"
"That's the thing. We don't know. They showed up in this dimension not too long ago. I'd say around 3 days after the worlds united. Galaxy Master was able to tell that they were made out of Subspace energy and that they come from a Lost World. We don't know what that world is but...hey. We're still learning." Potion Nova shared what she knew. It wasn't much.
"So what can they do?"
"Uhh...What every other Pokemon can do. From what I can tell so far, they just have Subspace appearances and that's about it. There's probably more we don't know about them and we can continue learning about them. And uh...trying to keep them safe in this dimension. They're clearly not from here."
"So this is what he's been doing the whole time, huh?" Ash saw how much Galaxy Master had on his plate. While this dimension was minuscule compared to the vast world back home, it wasn't without its problems that Galaxy Master chose to combat. According to Potion Nova, there was something here for him to deal with. "So what's he been going up against?"
"Well, this dimension is home to other creatures that originally live here. They can be pretty hostile and the Pokemon here are their prey, so Galaxy Master and sometimes myself fend off these strange creatures from harming the Pokemon. Let's hurry and meet with him now, Ash." Potion Nova would lead the way to Galaxy Master and now Ash and his friends would have the knowledge of Subspace Pokemon in their minds.
When approaching the tower, Ash was immediately recognized, just like before. Recognizing his appearance made him eligible to enter, causing the doors to automatically open. He was always welcomed here.
Galaxy Tower.
Sitting there, working as always, was none other than Galaxy Master himself. His work was currently consisting on crafting new gadgets that would help him in his missions. He wasn't even aware of Ash's arrival. Galaxy Master had to be ahead of the Lich Queen and the Dread League, intercepting and foiling their plans as soon as possible. And if he was late, he'd just go through with it either way. Better late than never.
Sleeping next to him was his Pikachu who also worked just as hard as him. Well, only when they encounter the Dread League. Now, he was just relaxing. However, Pikachu would soon wake up after his nose picked up on a familiar scent.
"Pika?"
"What is my friend?" Galaxy Master asked, taking notice of Pikachu's awakening. The doors would open, showing the StarBots moving in. Galaxy Master managed to make new ones after the previous ones went with the Ranger Union, presumably destroyed ever since those events in space.
Next to enter the room was Potion Nova, however, Galaxy Master was taken aback by who else joined them. Twilight came through. Then Spike. And finally, Ash, who was the last to enter. And the moment he entered this room, he locked eyes with Galaxy Master.
At last, the two of them meet. But this time, Galaxy Master's body wasn't being controlled by anything. It was just him. The real deal. This was their true first meeting. "Oh...Ash!"
"Hey!" Ash greeted him like an old friend. Or in this case, like a father. It only fits due to who this Fictional Character was modelled after. "Great to meet you, finally."
"It is!" He would get off his seat. "I didn't you'd come to me! What a welcoming surprise! What brings you here, anyway?"
"I just wanted to meet with you. That's all." Ash had no other reason apart from that. He just wanted to meet with the character he made when he was a child. "Ever since I learned that you were real, I had to come and see you. A lot of stuff happened that kinda messed it up. But now, we're actually seeing each other."
"Indeed. But...I'm not sure what to do now that I've met with you." They've finally met but what else could be done? Ash had nothing past this apart from seeing him. And Galaxy Master felt the same way.
"Yeah. Same here." Ash laughed. "But I guess seeing you do cool hero stuff works out. It'll be just like how I drew my comics back then, except it's real and looks way better. It'd be like a dream come true!"
"Ah, well...I'm not exactly doing anything interesting right now." He laughed it off. "Apart from protecting the Pokemon from these strange threats here and there, I'm the most consistent when the Dread League are active."
"I guess so." Ash pondered for a moment, lost as well on what to do now.
"How about the two of you just hang out?" Twilight suggested, deciding to get them started somewhere. Ash. He's meant to be modelled after your father, isn't he? He's just wearing an outfit. This is the closest you'll ever get to seeing your dad again. In fact, I'd say you've met him."
"Yeah. It is." Ash knew that. Galaxy Maser was the closest he got to seeing his father. He couldn't waste it now. "Do you...have memories of my dad too?"
"I may not be the real him, but I have some memories." The Hero Born from the Sea Temple Crystal tapped his head. "I know where Pallet Town is. I would've come to you long ago if these problems didn't surface. But a hero's work is never done. It's not everything, but a good amount."
"Awesome! Then let me tell you everything I know!" Ash grinned as this would be just like sharing his adventures with his father. It was a truly thrilling sight. "I've met a lot of Pokemon over the years, seen a lot of places, done a lot of stuff and I can't wait to tell it all!"
"I can take some time off work. Go ahead and tell me." Galaxy Master was willing to hear him. It would be the one time he's not busy being a Superhero. Instead, he was going to be a Father.
"Yeah! I should maybe start with that time I met a Samurai! Or maybe the very beginning! Ah, it doesn't matter! It's all fun!" He blurted with excitement. Twilight, Potion Nova and Spike would leave them to it as Ash was already starting. It was best to give them their privacy.
"While they're at it...what about us?" Potion Nova asked.
"I was gonna ask you about the Subspace thing but it's still new to you. I guess all we can do is research them together before we head home." Twilight suggested focusing on the Subspace Pokemon and what they were all about. So far, they seemed to just be ordinary Pokemon with astral appearances, coming from Subspace. And nothing more. However, there had to be something else about them that no one else knew.
It was all too strange. And the fact that they showed up 3 days after the Jirachi put everything together raised some questions that Twilight wanted answers to. Thus, they would focus on these Subspace Pokemon, heading outside of the Galaxy Tower to meet up with them.
Outside, the Subspace Pokemon were just living their best lives, existing perfectly in this dimension. It seemed to fit their habitats perfectly despite how obscure it was. Then again, not much is known about this place. Twilight, Potion Nova and Spike would observe the Subspace Pokemon, trying to see what else they can do.
Alas, nothing new came from them. They just did what their regular versions would do. For the most part, they were just uniquely coloured Pokemon from another world. And perhaps, it was for the best. But simply observing them and watching these Strange and Wonderful Creatures roam around was fine as well as Espeon and Axew would interact with them.
Twilight and Spike would soon send out the rest of their Pokemon, giving them the opportunity to see the Subspace Pokemon for themselves. And of course, Ninetales was the first to try and play with them with Togekiss making he doesn't go overboard.
"You know...I have something to share myself. Just like Ash. Maybe not any adventures." While watching the Pokemon, Potion Nova wanted to share her own stories. "I already told you about how I learned potions by myself and sometimes my childhood friend would do the same."
"Yes? What else?" Twilight asked, curious.
"I'm not sure if you know this. You were in that garden too when we showed up, but I didn't see you. But I did end up meeting with my old childhood friend. And she's a vampire from Magehold." Potion Nova got straight to the point, revealing the existence of Ebony Rhyme to Twilight and Spike. Twilight and Spike were reasonably shocked by this. "I know. I was shocked too. I always wondered where she went that day and now I know."
"She used to live in Mareflower with you?"
"Mhm. You see...I study potions and use magic. But my friend Ebony Rhyme doesn't have any magic. Even though she's a vampire, there's not a trace of magic within her. You wouldn't even be able to tell if she was a vampire with her lack of fangs and the robe that conceals her wings. Even as a filly, she wore those robes o hide her wings. I believe it was her parents that gave it to her. Anyway, we met at the Despair Plant Garden and it was something..."
"What did you do then?" Spike questioned.
"Well, it was an odd reunion. Just like Ash, I was so happy to see someone from my past. It had been so long." The reunion of Ash and Galaxy Master mirrored the one that Potion Nova and Ebony Rhyme had. "But...since she was working with the Dread League, it was a tough one. We were both happy to see each other but once we had our own missions, we broke out into a fight, throwing potions at each other. We're kinda responsible for that sudden downfall of the garden before it was saved."
"Oh, so that was you two. That must be hard then, having to fight your friend. But you said she left one day and I'm guessing it was from Mareflower. She wasn't born in Magehold?"
"No. She was born in Mareflower despite being a vampire. I'm guessing she left there with her parents once her true identity was revealed. I'm going up against the Dread League, trying to foil their plans and Ebony's supporting them too, having some pretty powerful potions on her. It was tough though...having to fight my own friend." Potion Nova lowered her head. "We went our separate ways after that as you can tell. But...having that Potion Duel with her was fun. I just wish it wasn't under those circumstances."
"I see." Twilight thought about it for a moment. She never looked at it from that angle before, however, there were some signs that pointed to it being possible. She recalled two vampires. Night Sprout and Spectrum Shade. Night Sprout showed up at the Canterlot Junior Cup, not really too focused on a devious plan. Rather, she just wanted a battle, interested in Pokemon. But she still had a plan.
Spectrum Shade was the same, also interested in Pokemon. She wanted a battle, clearly and is looking for that satisfaction while also working with the Dread League to fulfil their goals.
"Despite that, I know we'll meet again. And I'll believe it'll be under better circumstances. After all, Ebony's not a bad pony. I know that." Potion Nova still had high faith in her friend. "I never saw her differently when she was a filly and I won't now." Even back then, though she was a vampire, Potion Nova saw Ebony Rhyme as a friend. "Twilight. Do you think the same goes for the other vampires back at Magehold?"
"The other vampires? Hmmm..." It was something to think about. Twilight has seen the vampires cause dread and havoc across Equestria and other places. They truly exist to cause harm and are also going through with that Black Crusade Plan. They went through all that trouble to find Yveltal after all. From what everyone in the world can gather so far, the vampires are enemies through and through. "Maybe." And yet, Twilight could see past that.
Hidden past those anarchy lovers were vampires who had other interests that didn't involve anarchy. From what she could tell, they were interested in Pokemon. But who wasn't at this point?
"I haven't been to Magehold at all, so I don't know. But since Fantina's there...I'm guessing that not every vampire's as destructive and dangerous as the ones we've met." Twilight continued. "We just haven't met them all yet. This whole Black Crusade has everypony shaken up by this. No one's ever threatened the world in such a way after all, especially since it's so direct. I'm sure we can find some vampires we can just talk to."
"Maybe. It's a tall order though." Potion Nova chuckled. "They won't hesitate to get us." Soon, Twilight would laugh with Potion Nova. The two would continue to babble with each other, discussing what they could. Potion Nova brought up her potions while Twilight brought up her double status as the Princess of Friendship and a Pokemon Professor.
Meanwhile, Ash and Galaxy Maser sat at the top of Galaxy Tower, still talking with each other as well. Ash shared so many of his adventures, going through years of events in the span of minutes with how eager he was. Sitting on the top gave the two of them the chance to admire the sights while both their Pikachus played with each other.
"So yeah. A lot happened. And more keeps on happening. It's a wild ride all the time." Ash said. "What do you think?"
"Haha! You're a hero as well, my boy!" Galaxy Master patted Ash on the back. "You did all of this?! Amazing! My hero career is still new so I suppose you're my superior in all of this! Hahaha!"
"Guess so, haha! But I know you'll do awesome things later on. You already have."
"Indeed! There's always trouble brewing. And I'll make sure to be there. And perhaps, I'll have my own stories to tell. Or maybe you'll be the one to tell them by drawing those books again."
"Nah, I think it's best to let it happen on its own. I'm glad I got to share all of this with you, ya know. I've been waiting a long time for this. Telling my dad about everything is one of the greatest feelings out there."
"I see what you mean. And frankly...I'm rather glad about it. I'm not actually your father, after all. I'm merely just a Fictional Character, created by the Sea Temple Crystal. I'm glad to be alive, honestly. It's odd, isn't it? Knowing what you used to be."
"Yeah. That's pretty wild." Ash thought about it for a moment and it would be perplexing. "I guess Daisy and Paradise know how that feels too. They were just flowers before."
"But, Ash, Telling me all of this...I'm not sure why...but it brings me great joy." Galaxy Master continued. "Perhaps its the memories of your father within me. I cannot truly call myself your father since I only have those slight memories. Much like him, I haven't even been there for you, doing my own thing. It ended up being you that came to me, even though I wished to do it myself. But all of this work has kept me away from you until now and I can imagine the same goes for your father, whatever he's doing."
"It's fine." But Ash had no qualms about it. "You and Dad are both doing what you love. And so am I. And plus...you're still my dad to me." He placed his hands on Galaxy Master's arm. Ash saw him as his father. It didn't matter that he was a Fictional Character suddenly brought to life. He was based on his father anyway."
"Really? You still think that?"
"I know that. It doesn't matter where you came from or what you used to be. The fact that I'm here with you, telling you all this makes me happy. You'll always be my dad." Ash grinned. "Plus, it's like you're working part-time, isn't it? It's also like my dad's in two places at once. How cool is that?!"
"Ash..." The Fictional Character stayed silent for a moment, staring at the Alola Champion. From this day on, he was no longer just a character brought to life. He was a Father. And sitting right next to him, was his Son. His memories may not be everything the real one was, but they were enough to know who his Son was. And it was Ash Ketchum.
And by definition, Galaxy Master was a Ketchum. Thinking about it all made the Superhero laugh. If he could show his face right now, he would have the biggest smile on his face. Right now, Galaxy Master was the happiest he could be.
"I am. I am your dad." Galaxy Master accepted it. Then again, it was always true from the beginning. "Well, I have work to do. I can't slow down for the Dread League after all."
"Yeah, I got it. I'm just glad I got to meet you again. And let's meet again soon, okay, Dad?" Ash and Galaxy Master would get up together. "I'm still shooting to become a Pokemon Master and defeating Leon is one step closer to that.
"I'll always be supporting you." Galaxy Master held his hand out which Ash would soon hold, prompting in a powerful handshake. "Good luck, my Son."
"Yeah!"
"Pikachu!" Both Pikachu would do the same, seeing that it was goodbye, for now. It was time for Ash and his friends to depart. They still had some hours left with the Dimensional Potion before it runs out. So thankfully, they could use it to head home.
Ash and Twilight felt satisfied with today, talking about rather crucial and special things. Ash got to reunite with his Father and Twilight got a new perspective on the vampires that she wished to uncover eventually. After everything they've been through these past weeks, this felt rather refreshing to them. But their adventures wouldn't slow down for too long. Something big was always waiting around the corner as the journey continues.
Returning to their own dimension were Ash, Twilight, Spike and Potion Nova, showing up at Ponyville once more. After spending some time over at that strange dimension, meeting with Galaxy Master, they were ready to call it a day. Ash was certainly satisfied as he technically met his father.
"That was something else. Subspace Pokemon are sweet. I wanna know more about them but there's not much. I'll head home and tell Mom all about this for sure!" Ash spoke, reminiscing about how Subspace Pokemon were discovered in that dimension. Unfortunately, not much is known about them just yet.
"Potion Nova suggested I should come by sometime and learn from her. I'm interested in all those potions she has." Twilight added, interested in Potion Nova's potion back at her Green House. "But that's enough for today, don't you think? Those two are pretty busy thanks to the Dread League. We can be a bit relaxed knowing how hard they're working."
"Yeah. I got pretty caught up in that and almost forgot what I was gonna do today." Spike was so into everything that his plan for today had been dismissed for a while. "I think I'll start by-" However, the second he and his friends passed through that door, two surprise guests were standing there.
"Hey, Spike." Greeting them was Ember, who was right next to Thorax.
"Ember?! Thorax!?" Spike cried out their names.
"You didn't show up at Mareidlin Path. So I came to you but you weren't here either." Ember revealed why she was here, causing Spike to remember. "But, Starlight told me you were pretty busy dealing with something, so that's fine. You're here now though."
"Sorry about that. I was gonna head there but I got caught up in some stuff with Galaxy Master and another dimension. It's neat stuff, honestly. "Thanks for showing up here for me. What about you Thorax? What brings you here?"
"Oh uh..." Thorax rubbed his hoof, appearing to be nervous. "Well uh...I just came here for some help. That's all. It's been a few days since Queen Chrysalis made me King and it's not been easy."
"Struggling?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah..." Thorax sighed as he wasn't exactly doing a great job at being a King. "I know she put me in charge because she saw something in me, but I'm not seeing it. Taking care of an entire hive is hard, even if I've watched how it's done. I came here for some advice...if I can get it, that is. I was lucky to get here as soon as I could with how the terrain's been changing."
"Uh, well...I'm not exactly the right guy to ask about ruling something, let alone a hive." Alas, Spike wasn't eligible for this. "Have you tried asking Ember? She's a ruler and you're both here. I'm guessing you already met up with each other while I was gone."
"Oh, he asked me. But I can't help him with this." Even Ember couldn't help out with Thorax's problem.
"I thought you could though. You're the Dragon Lord, aren't you?"
"Yeah, but, I'm not that kind of ruler. Dragons do things differently and ruling over them counts. It's not like everywhere else where you gotta govern something. They all do their own thing and I'm just there to keep them in check."
"That is true." Twilight could indeed confirm it based on what she's read about dragons. "If you want help with something like that, you might want to ask Mellifera or even Princess Celestia."
"I tried that too but she's pretty busy. Queen Chrysalis being so badly harmed is making her work harder now. So I came here for some help. I was thinking of heading to the Crystal Empire for help until you all showed up. I even tried going to Mellifera first but Arceus knows where she is...Twilight. You're a Princess, right? And Ash. You're the King of the Sea. That's like the majority of the world."
"He's got a point, actually. Ash you own most of the world." Ember looked at Ash, bringing up that fact.
"I do? Never thought about it like that. Well, I'm doing a pretty good job, even if I'm not there. Then again, Alo's the one putting in all the effort since I left him in charge. Every time I go back there, I'm still the King to them." Ash explained, shrugging afterwards.
"And I'm the Princess of Friendship. I'm not exactly ruling over anything." Twilight was not much of a ruler. She wasn't a ruler at all. Thus, she couldn't share anything with Thorax.
"Don't bother asking either of them for help." Suddenly, appearing out of Ash as a shadow before taking on his real form was none other than Sombra, the former ruler of the Crystal Empire. "If you want advice and help from a ruler, here I am."
"Sombra?!" Twilight immediately gasped as bad thoughts were already swirling in her mind.
"I am the one you should be looking to. If you're having issues, then allow me to sort it out." Sombra stood tall. "I'm right here."
"Oooh, you can help out?"
"Of course, I can." He put on a smirk that made Twilight wince. "Hive or not, I can get you up to speed."
"Oh, no! No way!" The Princess of Friendship vehemently shook her head. "You can't have him help you!"
"W-Why not?" Thorax asked, unaware of who Sombra was.
"It's best that you rule in your own way, Thorax instead of having Sombra teach you. You don't want the hive turning into something else. Or worse...turning back!"
"Relax. I'll just give the boy a few tips here and there." Sombra added. "If anyone is fit to tutor him, it's me. I know plenty about being a ruler after all."
"The worst kind." Twilight side-eyed Sombra, not trusting him with this. She was worried that Sombra would change the Changeling Hive back to how it originally was and in return, bringing the Changelings back to their original forms.
"Tch. You're just overreacting. What do you take me for? Aren't you the one who prides on helping others?" Sombra scoffed. "Is that so wrong? Do you think I'll ruin it for the Changelings?"
"Yes," Twilight replied with honesty. That is exactly what she believed.
"I assure you, I won't. I'll simply tutor this young changeling since he's so lost."
"I wouldn't mind it. I really need the help." Thorax would accept it either way, wanting Sombra's help.
"See?" Sombra smirked at Twilight as he already won Thorax over. The former King of the Crystal Empire would then approach Thorax. "You shouldn't have to worry about anything. Listen well, boy. Leave it to me."
"Okay. Thank you, sir." Thorax kindly thanked Sombra for choosing to help him.
"Mrrgh...Ash. You're bound to him. I'm expecting you to keep an eye on him. Spike. I'm counting on you too, okay?" Twilight didn't want to be too safe. Sombra still exhibits a need for power. The only reason why the Sea Temple was safe was because of Ash. But with the Changeling Hive being so vulnerable, Sombra could take advantage of it by using Thorax. That's what Twilight was worried about."
"Yeah, I'll go," Spike said. As for Ash, due to what Twilight knows, he and Sombra were bound to the point where Sombra could only be in the same city, town or other location with him and could never go beyond that. Such was the known drawback of his possession.
"Not this time. Don't you remember?" However, Sombra intervened with that. "Ash was kind enough to give me freedom. Granted, the effects of my magic are still in place and can't be changed, but I'm now allowed to go beyond just the same location he's in. At least for a few hours or so. This is my one chance for that so I won't waste it."
"Y-You actually went through with it, Ash?!" Twilight stammered, surprised that Ash actually gave him that opportunity.
"It happened after we met Radiant Hope. Trust Sombra, okay, Twilight?" But Ash had faith in Sombra, putting his trust in the Umbrum. And if Ash puts his trust in someone, then it's powered by powerful faith. "You'll have Spike there just in case. Don't worry."
"Okay...If you say so." Twilight found it hard to doubt Ash's faith. Reluctantly, she agreed to this. "Spike. Be careful."
Ah, it'll be fine." Spike shrugged. "You don't gotta worry about a thing."
"Boy. Before I leave. I may require one of your Pokemon." Sombra requested a Pokemon from Ash. "We'll be going directly to that hive to see what's become of it."
"Oh, I don't think it'll be directly there," Thorax replied. "It was tough for me to actually get here. The terrain's changed a bit ever since the two worlds united. And the Pokemon are growing unruly because of how their homes have changed. I had to shapeshift a lot to avoid getting hurt."
"Alright then. Gengar and Sirfetch'd will keep you safe." Ash would take out two Poke Balls, passing them to Sombra. A worried Twilight grumbled after seeing Sombra get a hold of some Pokemon.
"So much for today's plan." Ember sighed. "Spike. At least make it up to me by letting me come along."
"Ah, sure sure," Spike said. "Sorry about today though. A lot's happening."
"I shall be back. My time limit away from you are 7 hours at best. You might see me before midnight." Sombra said as he only had 7 hours to be away from Ash's vicinity and location. After that, he will be whisked back to Ash's body. Sombra, Spike, Ember and Thorax would leave the castle, leaving Twilight rather worried.
"They'll be fine, Twilight." But Ash reassured her. "The only thing they really gotta worry about is the Pokemon that are getting unruly."
"Yeah...The only thing."
Along the way, Sombra's group would travel through some fields to try and get to the Changeling Hive. What they had to watch out for were the Pokemon and apparently the terrain. Spike would travel on the back of his Salamence to get around easier. He wished he had his wings honestly, then he could fly side by side with Ember and his other Dragons.
And already, they came across one of the effects that this new world had on the terrain. Days after the Box of 100 Demons incident, the effects reached an area that would lead anyone near the Faye Mountains, which was where the Changeling Hive was meant to be.
One part of the field had been transformed, having its terrain raised to new heights. Standing before them was a blazing mountain that made its own terrain which contrasted greatly with the fields. The fields were lush and beautiful while this mountain was rough and brash.
But it wasn't just the fact that it was this huge. Flames were flying out of the mountain, making it seem like a volcano. One would say its less destructive but still threatening. And the Pokemon here felt the same way. Due to the terrain change, the homes of the Pokemon living on these fields have been greatly disturbed. But the Pokemon that found homes at the fiery mountain were more than pleased.
"H-Hold on?! What's this?!" Spike shouted as this was never here before when heading to the Changeling Lands. It was only a few days ago that he came here.
"See? It just showed up out of nowhere." Thorax said. "It's been hard to get around it since it's been stretching so much. That's actually one of the worries over at the hive. Everyone there's worried that we might have to move again with how things are changing and I'm not sure I'm ready to make that move."
"And you won't make that move. Moving because of something like this? Pah!" Sombra scoffed. "In this day and age, we have the solution for this."
"Came out of nowhere, huh?" Ember pondered for a moment. "It was never here before. Which is a lot like that Winged Mountain."
"Oh, yeah. The Winged Mountain. What's up with that thing, anyway?" Spike asked. "Has it always been there? And how'd it grow so fast?" It was rather odd. And judging by what Thorax was saying, this Fiery Mountain also showed up out of nowhere, affecting the terrain. It was almost as if it was placed here instead of naturally growing.
"Worry about that later. How hard is it to reach your hive, exactly?" Sombra asked.
"Uh...I had to do a lot of shapeshifting to get around it. Flying over it wasn't an option that worked out." Thorax explained what he had to do to reach Ponyville. "When I got past it, I saw that it kept growing and revealing more of itself. There's more of it that won't stop showing up. I'm worried about what it's done to the other surrounding areas. It might be harder to get to the hive now."
"Nothing a good Pokemon can't handle." Sombra wasn't bothered by this at all. He would then hear the sounds of Pokemon crying. Specifically, the ones who were growing unruly at this Fiery Mountain's creation. They tried destroying the mountain, using every move that they could. Streams and waves of attacks would pummel the mountain, causing the Pokemon living on it to take notice.
Their home was being attacked as well. This time, by the Pokemon themselves. Granted, they were failing to destroy it thanks to how sturdy this mountainside was. Incredibly sturdy, even. With all of these attacks flying into it, it barely broke anything off. A group of Houndour were barking at the Pokemon who rejected the mountain. They were yelled back at by some Grass and Normal-Types. "Houndour!"
Clearly, one side loved this while the other hated it. And the effects were showing. The flames from the mountain had torched parts of the field, creating large holes from the destruction while also totalling homes that Pokemon have made. Most likely, this was happening across different parts of the world due to what was being reported.
With a furious fire combusting from the mountain, a Houndoom would come over to try and intimidate the Pokemon who rejected the mountain.
"Shouldn't we do something about that?" Spike asked, pointing at the Pokemon bickering.
"I've seen this before." To Ember, it was very casual to her. This wasn't any different from the Dragon Lands. Even the mountain reminded her of it. "But if we're gonna get there, what are we gonna do about this mountain?"
"Gogoat!" With all of this arguing, it didn't take long for some of them to retaliate. When one of the Hondour used Incinerate, a Gogoat would intercept it with Energy Ball. Soon, a fight broke out between the two sides. It was Grass and Normal vs Fire-Types.
"Houndoom!" Flames would fly out from those living on the mountains, annoyed that the Pokemon would try and destroy their home. But the opposing Pokemon who lived on these fields were losing their homes thanks to the growing mountain.
"Ah! T-This is bad!" Spike gasped once the Pokemon started fighting against each other. "We should maybe do something about this! They could all get hurt!"
"Hm. It does look like a problem." Sombra narrowed his eyes. "I've already begun planning to deal with this obstacle in our way and it seems those Pokemon have tried but failed."
"I'll handle it." Ember would fly over, attempting to calm the Pokemon down the same way she kept all the other dragons in check. As for the mountain, it was still growing even with this argument, showing no signs of slowing down. But noticeably, it was starting to take a shape.
"Huh?" Thorax would notice this first. The very top of the mountain was morphing into something, taking the flames that were bursting out of it. It looked like it was forming a claw with how parts of it would extend out. "It's changing! Look!"
"Hm" Sombra and Spike would look over, spotting the morphing mountain and how it was transforming the top into a claw. The flames would even help outline the claws to give it some flair. However, this wasn't exactly the best sign as this meant that the mountain would keep developing.
"Alright. The time to act is now." Sombra held out a Poke Ball. "Serve me at once!" He threw it into the air, summoning Gengar.
"Gengar! Gen?" But upon showing himself, Gengar saw that it wasn't Ash who sent him out. But instead, it was King Sombra. "Gengar?"
"The boy has left me in your care this time. For only 7 hours. For the time being, you'll listen to me." Sombra explained it as quickly and efficiently as possible to Gengar, letting him know that he was in control. "So...This is what I need you to do."
"Hey! Knock it off, all of you!" Ember got in between the squabble, grabbing the attention of the Pokemon. "You'll only make things worse this way!"
"Houndoom!" Houndoom barked at Ember with the other Houndoom snarling at her. In response, Ember would do the same, using the sound of a dragon which far surpassed that of a dog. Her snarl was so intimidating, letting out flames that it ended up making the Fire-Types pull back, but not Houndoom.
"You guys aren't any better." Ember turned to face the Pokemon living on the field. "Do you think attacking their home is gonna fix it? What's wrong with you?"
"Do! Dodrio!" However, it was the Grass and Normal-Types that would object to Ember's words, surprisingly. They were already expressing how much they hated this mountain. It already showed up a few days ago and ruined their homes and it showed no signs of stopping at all.
"Yeah, I hear you and all. It sucks what happened to your homes. You're not the only Pokemon out there that have had their homes messed up by this." Ember sighed. "I've seen it. But this won't fix anything. Besides...your attacks are pretty lame and won't break through it."
"Go!?" Gogoat and the others gasped. That much was true. The mountain would not break with these attacks. Not at all.
"If you think you can fix this by attacking those living on it, then you're all numbskulls." Ember laid it on them harshly. "You're not making yourselves look good here since they're trying to live peacefully."
"Houndoom!" Houndoom would bark once more, expressing how they've been at this for days now. But not only that, the Fire-Types here showed up to what was once an entire field that stretched incredibly far.
"You also lost your home?" Ember managed to understand Houndoom. Surprisingly, these Fire-Types were in the same boat.
"Houndoom...!" Houndoom would get next to the many Houndours, standing tall with a stout and protective nature.
"Oh, I get it. You were just looking for somewhere new to live. Your home was destroyed by this as well. And these are your kids, right?" Ember figured it out. These Fire-Types only came here because of this mountain's existence, looking for a new home after theirs was lost. And now that they've found one, it was already under attack. "Huh. Okay then...What are we gonna do about this then?"
Ember had to think about a solution to this. She could just leave and find a way past this just to reach the Changeling Hive but she'd rather handle this first before it gets out of control. "Hmm...It's not like me to do stuff like this. Spike and everyone have been rubbing off me. Spike!" She would soon call for him.
"Yeah?" Spike quickly ran over once his name was called. "What's up, Ember?"
"I've talked to them and it's trickier than it looks. The Pokemon living on this mountain came here because they lost their homes too. But it's tough for the ones living on the field since they're losing theirs. I uh...I can't do much past this. I talked to them and gave them an earful but that's about it."
"That's a tough one to get through." Spike pondered for a moment. "I could have Salamence Mega Evolve and slice off a part of the mountains. How's that sound?"
"Do we wanna risk destroying their new home though?" Ember wasn't sure about that.
"Gengar!" But Gengar was already ahead of everyone. By Sombra's order, he phased through the Fiery Mountain, ignoring the flames and everything else thanks to his advantage as a ghost. After phasing through, Gengar already found a way past this massive mountain but he also saw something beneath it. He would soon poke his head out to tell Sombra what he saw. "Gen! Gengar!"
"Ah, so we have our answer then." Sombra smiled. "Obviously this was the correct choice. No obstacle can handle the intangibility of a Ghost."
"Uh yeah. That's true." Spike and Ember collectively shrugged, not even arguing with it.
"As for your mountain problem, it shouldn't be hard to realize that this isn't natural." Sombra approached them before returning Gengar to his Poke Ball. "It seems that Gengar found our answer. A Pokemon is behind this."
"A Pokemon? Just one?" Ember narrowed her eyes. "A-Are you sure? Because it's happening everywhere else. It can't be a Pokemon that's behind this. I mean Jirachi did do this but..."
"Perhaps it's multiple or maybe it is just one Pokemon that's moving everywhere. Either way, this requires heavy action, otherwise we won't get anywhere. I'm vouching for the most obvious answer. Destruction."
"Destruction!?" Thorax gasped.
"We can't destroy anything around here! They'll lose their home!" Ember rejected.
"Houndoom!" Houndoom and the others cried out, vehemently disagreeing with that option.
"Hoh? Are you sure about that?" Sombra eyed them down. "You're so determined to keep your home, but have you thought about the most efficient way to do it? Allow me to show you why the hardest choices require the strongest wills." With a flash from his eyes, Sombra would use his magic.
Specifically, his Fear Empowerment Spell. Sombra could already see the fears of the Pokemon. The fear of losing their home was truly powerful and something he could take advantage of. The Pokemon from both sides would have their eyes glow green, showing them their worst fears and how they can come to life.
"What are you doing?!" Spike shouted, recognizing this magical glow. "You aren't-"
"Calm down. I'm only showing them what will happen if they refuse to make some compromise." Indeed, Sombra was only showing them a possibility. And the Pokemon certainly show them.
Their fears showed their homes being destroyed. However, the cause of it was from their squabbling. Their confrontations and arguing would lead to their eventual downfall. For some of them, their fears showed their mountain getting out of control. The never-ending growth of it along with the arguing could lead them down that path unless something was done.
"The best thing to do is to come to a compromise. This mountain is the result of magic. I know that much. Those other Pokemon had the right idea when trying to destroy it, but we'll go about it in a different way." Sombra explained. "By neutralizing the magic that has been left behind. That way, they can keep their homes and rebuild what was lost when this mountain arrived."
"Huh...That's not so bad." Ember actually saw the reasoning behind that. Soon, the Pokemon would all finish seeing their worst fears, knowing the results that could come from this.
"Wow! That's great!" Thorax was already listening in on Sombra, taking his advice as a Ruler. He was fully willing to have the former King of the Crystal Empire teach him and so far, he was loving what he was hearing.
"It'll be a quick process. But I want it to be focused on where the magic is the most prominent. Who here can destroy a large chunk of the mountain fast enough."
"Salamence can! When he's in his Mega Evolved form, his incredibly powerful!" Spike exclaimed.
"Sala! Salamence!"
"Good...But is it wide enough to take out a mountain from the middle instead of the top?" Sombra saw one problem with that. The mountain was too wide for Salamence to cleave in half.
"Uh...No." Spike and Salamence lowered their heads.
"I can have Zorua try and help." Thorax would hold out his Poke Ball, which had his Zorua.
"I've got something that could work too." Ember chimed in, potentially having something powerful that could get the job done.
"That's what I love to hear. And I will require the assistance of the boy's Pokemon once more." Sombra smiled. "Listen carefully to my instructions if we wish to solve two problems. This mountain and reaching the hive." Sombra had a plan and was ready to spring it into action. The journey to the Changeling Hive took longer than it usually does but that was only because of complications like this.
And most definitely, similar things were happening across the world. But according to Sombra, this was the result of magic from a Pokemon. Whether it was one or multiple was unknown at the moment. Which is why someone as well-versed in magic as Sombra was well-fit to approach this issue as the journey continues.
Equestria. Out in the fields near a Fiery Mountain. Afternoon.
During a journey to the Changeling HIve to help Thorax out with his new position as the Changeling King, Sombra, Spike and Ember have come across a rather pressing issue. A problem for two sides. A massive mountain that shoots fire had appeared only a few days ago, specifically after Chrysalis' devastating injury. The Pokemon that live on the fields along with those that found a new home in the mountains that lost their old ones have seen the potential disaster that could come from this thanks to Sombra's magic showing them their worst fears.
Sombra, with the help of Gengar which was lent to him by Ash for a while, knew exactly what to do, laying out a plan. The plan was to destroy the magic that made this mountain appear out of nowhere. That way, the growth of this mountain would possibly stop, ending any further issues it could prove. It has already ruined the homes of the Pokemon living in this field and made it harder to reach the Changeling Hive.
"Salamence! Mega Evolve!" With Spike raising his arm, he initiated Mega Evolution, unleashing the power from his Keystone which correlated with Salamence's Mega Stone.
"Salamence!" Entering the world once more was Mega Salamence. Mega Salamence's wings were certainly powerful enough to cut through the mountains, it was only a massive chunk. The mountain was too wide for his wings to get the job done immediately.
"Listen well. You need to destroy the magic in its centre." Sombra ordered. "I'll give you this rare piece of knowledge not many know about. In the very centre of any magical item, force or being, the centre is their weakness.
"The centre? For everything?" Thorax said, having his Zorua out for this plan.
"A majority of the time, you will find it at the core. The very middle." Sombra instructed. "It's because of the Primordial Magic. Magic comes from somewhere and it's been around since the beginning. And this Primordial Magic is an Omnipotent power that's the cause of everything. And even it has a centre. So we'll be going straight for the centre."
"How are we sure we're gonna hit the centre?" Spike asked, unsure if they could find it with how massive this mountain was.
"Gengar found it." Sombra answered. "When he phased through, he saw inside of the mountain and beyond. We know where the centre is. Understand this. You must all focus on the core. The impact will certainly level the mountain to a great degree. When it comes to something possessing magic, destroying it will cause a huge effect."
"You're just telling us this now?! How huge are we talking even? It's not like crazy, is it?" Ember questioned.
"Dragon boy. You remember how you and your friends defeated me back then. The spell I cast over the Kingdom was released. The same goes for anything magical that's been defeated. A large effect will come from it. So with how this mountain works, a huge outcome will show itself." Sombra revealed that the stakes were higher than they seemed. When it comes to a mountain, this was to be expected in some way.
"Is this really a good idea, though?" Ember was still unsure of causing this much destruction. If this was something like a hill or a building, she wouldn't mind. But a mountain was a different story, especially one that spouts fire. "Even if we stop it from growing, all this destruction's gonna be huge with something this big. And what about the fire?"
"It has to be done. Remember what I said? You must have a strong will for such hard choices. Are you listening, boy?" Sombra turned to Thorax.
"Y-Yes. I remember." Thorax nodded in response. "But then again...This is a tall order, isn't it? Taking down an entire mountain. The damage that's going to cause is a lot to think about. You're just willing to go through with that?"
"Houndour..." The Hondour and all the other Pokemon here uttered, also realizing the damage this could cause. Things could be rather unsalvageable and they might be forced to find another new home. Sombra looked the Pokemon in the eyes, seeing how their fears he showed them all were slowly getting to them. In instances like this, Sombra would feed off their fears, taking advantage of them. But not this time.
"I'm immune to something like this if you must know. Sacrificing something doesn't have a greater impact on me like you all." Sombra scoffed. "I assume your hive is facing a problem that requires some kind of sacrifice, boy?"
"K-Kind of. It's a lot of things. It mainly has to do with our Queen's current condition and all. But I don't know if I wanna go through with that. Will I really have to do something like this?"
"I'm afraid he's right, Thorax." Surprisingly, Ember would agree with Thorax. "You'll have to do some wild things you're not that good with to make something work out. I've tried it before and it's tough."
"Enough chatter. All of you. Be at the ready immediately." Sombra ordered, looking at Spike and the others. "That goes for you all as well." And he would even look at the Pokemon, requesting their assistance. "If you want to be at peace, you will have to go through with this. Channel all that anger you've felt at the centre."
"Houndoom!" Houndoom barked, understanding what needed to be done. Sombra's magic already showed them all the outcomes that could happen if they did not act. Houndoom, Hondour, Gogoat, Pidgeot, Breloom and many other Pokemon would prepare themselves, focusing on the centre.
"But..." The Changeling King would ponder for a moment while all the Pokemon were at the ready. "What if I just made a better way?" That's when Thorax had a different approach, causing Sombra to raise an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"If no other options are left that are safe, can I just make a new one that's safe for everyone? Can't I just do that"
"You can't just make one. You have to use what's available." Sombra disagreed. In his eyes, there was no opportunity to make a new way. There were only the available options and nothing more but Thorax was suggesting that he could make his own opportunity. "I mean, you technically can but-"
"Safe...Wait! Even though we're going through with this, at least let us evacuate the other Pokemon that live on the mountain!" Spike thought about the Pokemon living on the Fiery Mountain. It wasn't just the Houndoom and Houndor.
"Fine, fine. I almost forget anyway." Sombra sighed before throwing another one of Ash's Poke Balls that he lent him. It was only two. The first was Gengar and this time SIrfetch'd made an appearance.
"SIrfecth'd!"
"I could use a good knight for this. You will help pierce through this mountain. Right in the middle, understood?"
"Sir!" Sirfetch'd understood clearly, not even refusing to listen to Sombra. If he was a Farfetch'd again, he certainly would but he had chivalry and honour now. And speaking to Sombra was like speaking to another King.
"I'll get everyone else off. And I have something strong enough to really damage this thing." Ember would attempt to get all the Pokemon on the Fiery Mountain off as soon as possible. From her bag, she would hold out some Poke Balls and one more thing. A Z-Crystal.
"You've got a Z-Crystal?!" Spike gasped upon seeing the crystal within EMber's grasp. Specifically, the Dragon-Type Z Crystal.
"Yeah, yeah, long story. Are you gonna help me, or what?" She would take flight, carrying her POke Balls along the way.
"Oh, right! Stay here, Salamence and don't forget about that centre." Spike said before throwing his own Poke Ball into the air, this time summoning Flygon.
"Flygon!" After emerging, Spike would hop onto Flygon's back while Salamence stayed here in his Mega Form. This plan required a lot of pieces for it to work out in the best way. Spike and Ember would land on the FIery Mountain which was rather risky. Being on the mountain meant that they were at risk of being hit by these flames.
Unlike Houndoom and its many Houndour children, the Fire-Types that lived on this rock were rather oblivious to it all. That is until Spike and Ember showed up. While they planned to get everyone off, Sombra made sure that everyone was ready to strike at the centre. Sirfetch'd certainly was, steadily and firmly holding his leek sword
To make it easier for them, Sombra used his magic to mark the centre, leaving behind a circle of shadows. That way, they all knew where to strike. SIrfetch'd eyed down the centre, closing one eye while the other Pokemon waited for Sombra's command.
It didn't take long for Spike and Ember to start evacuating the other Pokemon, quickly explaining everything to them. Seeing as they all came here because they lost their homes, straying away from the danger that involves the terrain in any way was a no-brainer. The remaining Fire-Type would climb down from the mountains as fast as they could. They were completely fine when facing the flames but the same couldn't be said for Spike and Ember.
"Gah!" When trying to help a Magcargo down from here, Spike witnessed a vicious flame burst from the volcano, nearly engulfing him. He would step back, only to have another almost hit him from behind. Being up here meant that they were most likely to be struck by the flames.
"Fly!" But thankfully, Flygon was here to protect him. Being a Ground-Type meant that it had splendid resistance to these flames. Spike sighed after Flygon shielded him from any fiery harm.
"Thanks, Flygon...How many Pokemon are left?"
"We're almost done here. Geez, that Sombra guy should've done this first before telling us about his plan." Ember responded while helping a group of Darumaka leave the mountain. "Pretty unhinged for him to almost destroy it with the Pokemon still on."
"Hey. It's better than what he is now." Spike added, giving props to Sombra. "Back then, Sombra was horrible. A full-on tyrant king and all that."
"Really? What happened then?" Ember asked, wondering how Sombra went from being a tyrant to somepony who was still harsh but had good intentions.
"That's easy. He met Ash." Spike gave the best possible answer ever. Ember understood it all once he said that. It was because Sombra met Ash that he was like this. Granted, he still had his old tendencies within him but time with Ash has diminished that. His positive energy does rub off on many.
Afterwards, Spike and Ember managed to get every Fire-Type off the Fiery Mountain, clearing the way. No other Pokemon was left on the mountain, making it empty. And in addition, Sombra's plan had more Pokemon to help make it possible. Fire was a powerful force and it would help in destroying this core.
"Excellent. We've amassed many Pokemon. Perhaps your attacks won't be so pitiful now." Sombra smiled once all the Pokemon had assembled. "You all know what you must do. And for your sake, you all should have a way to defend against the effect, depending on what it is."
"We're ready." Spike said with confidence as Mega Salamence was itching to tear through this mountain already. Houndoom and the other Fire-Types already had flames spurting from their mouths and body, being at the ready.
"Okay then." As for Ember, she had the power of Dragonium Z which was sure to leave a powerful impact. And she also had her Gabite out to pull this attack off. The Dragon Lord would place the crystal into her Z-Ring, causing the aura from within to emerge with great intensity.
"Zorua. Try copying them." Thorax would ask his Zorua to transform into one of these Pokemon and see if he could output a strong move that way.
"Zorua!" Zorua would do just that, turning himself into a Tropius that was right here with everyone else. "Tropius!" Now everyone was truly ready as Sombra could see. All that was left to do was unleash their attacks.
"Now! Use Night Slash, my Pokemon!" Sombra ordered Sirfetch'd who had been waiting this whole time.
"Sir!" And with that command, all the Pokemon would attack with Sirfetch'd running ahead for an up-close Night Slash.
"Salamence, use Hyper Beam!"
"Zorua, Night Daze!"
"Gabite! Use Devasting Drake!"
With these commands coming from the trainers, Gabite struck a series of synchronized poses with Ember to build Z-Power. The Ground-Dragon-Type then formed a purple orb of energy in front of his body and thrusting it with all of his might. The orb then changes into the shape of a dragon, roaring while flying alongside the other attacks.
Salamence meanwhile would unleash a powerful beam with unbridled energy which was enough to burn parts of the ground Flames, star-shaped rays, darkness, the power of nature and other attacks came flying in with Sirfetch'd being at the front. Sirfetch'd then narrowed his eyes Sombra would use his magic, enveloping the Wild Duck Pokemon in it.
With his magic, Sombra allowed the attacks from the other Pokemon to merge with Sirfetch'd. Before Sirfetch'd knew it, he was carrying all the attacks with him as they merged into one. He felt a magnificent increase in power this way, allowing his leek to pack a larger punch than it usually does. Sirfetch'd would then strike the centre of the mountain that was marked with shadows.
And with the combined efforts of everyone here, not only did they managed to critically hit it, but with Sirfetch'd's leek sword having all of this power around it, he managed to pierce through the mountain, going through it and ended up on the other side with splendid speed.
The mountain had been pierced, followed by a gigantic explosion of Infinity Energy. Sirfetch'd would slide on the ground stylishly after coming out from the other side, pulling this attack off perfectly.
But after the smoke settled, that's when they saw it. At the very centre of it was the magical core that Sombra spoke out. It was very much real as Spike and the others saw one for the first time for what it truly was. A single orb of magic was floating there, having a hole pierced through it that made it pulsate violently.
But most noticeably, it has a Prismatic appearance.
"I-Is that it?!" Spike gasped after he and everyone else witnessed the magical core.
"It is but...Why is it prismatic?" Sombra was surprised as well, mainly by the appearance. Judging by what he spouted, it shouldn't be prismatic at all Despite that, they wouldn't see it for long, the core would fail now that it was destroyed. The mountain would howl out all of a sudden with the claws it formed on top earlier starting to dissolve.
They all watched as the core would vanish, leaving behind prismatic sparkles. But the effect was truly huge as parts of the mountain would fall apart. Gigantic chunks of it would fall everywhere, causing earthquakes that obliterated the ones rooted to the ground.
Sombra and everyone pulled back from this massive collapse. The mountain cast a shadow over all of them when falling. Other surrounding areas were threatened by this collapsing mountain as the flames within them would violently flare out, causing the mountains to combust as if they were bombs. Sombra used his magic to shield the others when one of the explosions came their way. They all braced themselves with some closing their eyes as all they could do was wait for this destruction to subside. Truly, it was a massive effect.
The dust settled. All the massive chunks of the mountain were now gone. With Sombra lowering the shield, all that was left was some of the mountain. Now, it wasn't as tall as it used to be, but it still had some height to it. They witnessed how the mountain was scaled down now, now releasing weaker and smaller flames than before.
The surrounding area had been totalled at this point. The homes the Pokemon had were now truly gone thanks to this destruction. But after what Sombra showed them, this was for the best, even if it was hard to look at.
"Well...It worked." Spike said as Salamence reverted to his normal form. "The mountain's smaller now."
"And its growth will stop now that the core is gone," Sombra commented. "Surprisingly...that was the easiest core to find. Most magical items and forces take a lot more than to destroy."
"Gogoat..." But with all of this destruction, the Pokemon who lived in the fields watched the remainder of their home crumble at last. They got rid of the source of their problem but at the cost of their homes. It was rather saddening to the Grass and Normal Pokemon living here. And Houndoom and the other Fire-Types could relate since they lost their home elsewhere, which is why they came here.
"Sorry about your home." Thorax went up to them. "I wish I could've made a safer way as soon as i could."
"Stop your whining!" Sombra suddenly yelled at them. "Why should this be the end even after witnessing this? You can all just rebuild it." Surprisingly, Sombra would encourage them to not give up. There was a chance to rebuild as it was not the end. "You have the numbers to do so and I expect you all to make new homes from the ashes and dust. You there."
"Houndoom?"
"You and your fellow Fire-Types will help with the healing process, understood? Make sure that their homes are rebuilt and can co-exist with yours."
"Houndoom!" Houndoom would howl as it would do so. That would be another way for all of them to work together. All of them would come together to rebuild what was lost in the destruction. That way, both Pokemon from both sides can live peacefully. And with the core gone, no one has to worry about the mountain continuously growing and destroying everything it can.
"Wow...That's what I wanna do!" Thorax was starstruckk. "This was the kind of leadership he was striving for. Learning from Sombra was better than expected.
"Our work here is done. Let's leave at once." Sombra would walk off, returning Sirfetch'd into his Poke Ball. With the problem solved, the path to the Changeling Hive would be clearer. They didn't have to worry about this massive mountain blocking their way. Everyone soon went on their way, bidding farewell to the Pokemon. "But tell me. What problems are you facing over there anyway?"
"Oh, it's just that everyone's worried now that Queen Chrysalis is so badly hurt. Her life's on the line too. It's usually her that handles how everything goes over at the hive, but now that she's resting, I can't make those orders. I'm afraid I'll mess it up, ya know. That's why I needed some royal advice."
"Is that it? You're just struggling to get things going? Tch." Sombra scoffed. "You need to have some confidence in yourself."
"It's not just that. I've also gotta deal with some renegade changelings. They're not really all for the new ways." Thorax revealed more to the problem. "Queen Chrysalis already tried to deal with them but by the time she was getting somewhere, that's when the incident happened later on."
"Ah, you're dealing with that kind of problem too?" said Ember. "I've got something similar back at the Dragon Lands. When keeping them in check, you're gonna find some that like to be pretty defiant."
"I know. My brother doesn't want the new ways either but...he means well. It's tough being a ruler and I came to you all for help. I thought about going to Mellifera, but she's all about the old ways and I don't know if I wanna deal with that.
"It's not just confidence. What you need is some authority." Sombra stopped in front of Thorax, poking him in the chest. "Hard authority to get anywhere.
"I-I do?" Thorax stammered once Sombra got physical.
"Yes. You can't get by with a soft nature like that unless you're running a nursery instead of a kingdom." Sombra instructed.
"A hive." Spike and Ember corrected him.
"Whatever. You have subjects. You must always have a strong sense of authority. Take what I did with those Pokemon over there as an example. Even Equestria's Golden Girl Celestia has that powerful authority that she can show. And I would know. She had the willpower to seal me away. It was rather honourable to be defeated by Equestria's almighty ruler that day, even if I hated losing."
"So I just gotta have more authority?"
"Try what I also do," Ember suggested. "I mean, there's no shame in it. I'm always hard with the other dragons, putting my all into what I say and with my chest. Everyone's always gonna follow someone strong. That's how it's been with us Dragons."
"And it's like a Pokemon too." Spike patted Axew on the back. "A Pokemon responds if you've got that strength within you. That's how some pretty strong bonds are made."
"Axew!"
"Just be more assertive. That's all I ask." Sombra finished things off before continuing on his way. "Come along."
Faye Mountains. Changeling Hive.
They arrived at the Changeling Hive safely without any other obstacles in their way. While it looked the same, many changelings were greatly distressed because of Chrysalis' condition. They feared she might not make it. Next to when Ghetsis attacked their old hive, this was the most stress and fear that the Changelings ever felt.
But also, they doubted Thorax's ability to lead. After all, it's why he went to find some help. Sombra would feed off this fear but he chose not to.
"Well...They all doubt me. I'm doubting myself too." Thorax said while hearing the conversations about him. "I'm still not sure why Queen Chrysalis chose me."
"Must be for a reason," Spike replied. "You've got this, Thorax. It'll take some time I'm guessing but you'll get there."
"Prove to them that they have nothing to doubt," Sombra added. "And if those renegade ones try and sabotage things while your Queen is out of commission, do not hesitate to bring down a wrathful, hoof, understood?"
"Just do your best. That's all." Ember shrugged.
"Thanks. Uh, do you wanna stay behind for a bit? I might need the support." Thorax requested that they stayed here with him for the time being. He did feel better having friends like these around him. Even Sombra counted.
"I still have time before I return to the boy. By the time I'm gone, you'll be a better ruler in no time." Sombra put on a rather devious but reassuring smile. And that's how he was. He always carried that intimidating look on his face but nowadays, it was merely just how he was.
Advice from a ruler was a good idea but no one expected it to be Sombra. Then again, neither expected Sombra to give out this much good advice. Thorax still had a lot to learn when it comes to being a Ruler. But with most of his friends being Kings, Queens and Princesses, he had all the support he could want.
Currently, Celestia was still working hard. With Chrysalis' injury, she would pour more of her heart and soul into this. Hearing that her good friend took such a hit and might potentially perish was rather hard to take in. However, something was on Celestia's mind. Days ago, she spoke about how she wished Starswirl were here, believing he could do something about this. That was when she and Luna thought about trying to find anything that Starswirl could've written about Magehold.
After all, his knowledge of the magical world was gigantic, even studying unknown magical forces that hadn't been discovered before. An example was the Boundless Cutie Mark that Celestia possessed. Knowing this, Celestia started digging to see if Starswirl left something behind that had to do with Magehold. And the one place to look at was the same place where knowledge of the Boundless Cutie Mark was found. And that was deep within Canterlot and its library. A place that Starswirl abandoned along with the objects and words within. Here, Starswirl's abandoned books and spells that he was working on could be found.
"Perhaps Starswirl does know something about it," Celestia spoke, having Passion and Alcremie with her, entering a rugged and rough area of the library.
The array of books that were scattered everywhere along with notes all contained forms of magic Starswirl never completed. Whether it was by creating new ones or studying ones that already existed. The only thing that was seemingly close to completion was the Boundless Cutie Mark and yet, he never revealed it to the rest of the world.
It has certainly been a while since Celestia has been down here and this abandoned part of the library was somehow the safest place in all of Equestria after everything that has happened. Everything Starswirl abandoned was still here and the only ones who knew about this area were Celestia, Luna and some of the guards.
"Even though he taught Luna and I so much, he never did reveal everything. When he left, we had to learn everything else ourselves but there was still so much he never showed. He must have something about Magehold here. Let's get looking."
Celestia and her Pokemon would start searching, going through every book and note that could be found in this dark room. It barely had any light, having rather close walls and a lack of windows that shielded it from anything bright. But with Celestia's magic, light was brought into this room.
"Alcremie?" Alcremie picked up some notes, finding leftover spells that were never finished. One of them was called the Arc of Rhythm while the other unfinished spell was the Archive Eye. Alas, nothing here mentioned Magehold and Alcremie already soiled the notes with her vanilla body before she soon dropped it.
"Gardevoir..." Gardevoir found some unfinished magic of her own as well as magic that was still being studied. One of them was known as the Aria of the Highest Order. Gardevoir read it for whatever information she could gather, hoping it was useful.
It read that it was a powerful healing spell that did not come from Equestria. Starswirl seemed to have found something beyond Equestria which caught Passion's attention, hoping it was from Magehold. Alas, it was not. Instead, Starswirl's notes stated that it comes from a higher plane, belonging to Angels. There was even an artistic sketch of an Angel Pony, made by Starswirl, of course.
"Voir." Gardevoir sighed, putting the book aside as she would try and search for another.
"The best thing to do is to find the ones that are rather dark. That can lead us somewhere." Celestia already had a category in mind. Dark. If she could find something rather ominous and eerie, then Magehold's knowledge could be gathered. "Let's see..."
She would hold up as many books and notes as she could, viewing their contents. With how abandoned these were, it was likely that most were either too hard to understand, too long to complete and continue working or even too dangerous to go into. Celestia was hoping for the latter in this case.
"Let's see...Noblesse Authority...Phenomena Deconstruction...Karmic Elesis, Cursed Grail. Empty Vessel and...hmmm" She said their names out, finding no interest in these spells when reading about them. Even if she did find interest in them there wasn't much she could do as they were unfinished and hard to master, even for Starswirl the Bearded.
With her magic moving everything, Celestia would uncover more hidden books and notes that were covered up by the piles, surrounded by cobwebs. The words on those notes would light up thanks to Celestia's magic, becoming clearer. More spells that didn't seem to do much for her were dismissed as she was making a new pile. At least this one was organized instead of randomly scattered. And when moving all of them, that's when Celestia paused to eye one of them down.
"Maybe...this one will help. The Study of Malebolge. This looks interesting." She found something rather interesting, seeing if it had something to do with Magehold. During my travels, I came across what appeared to be a bubble that was embedded within a flower but it is actually a mysterious, demonic and extremely dense and dark power. Demons have never existed before until the incident at Tartarus. Oh!"
Surprisingly, Starswirl knew about the incident at Tartarus. Specifically, the Box of 100 Demons which meant that he knew about its existence and kept it a secret. But thanks to the Dread League, everyone knows about the box.
"Oh, so he knows about the box. Ah, but it wasn't made in Magehold though." Celestia pouted, realizing that the box was only famous with Magehold since they kept it for so long until Chrysalis, the rightful owner, retrieved it. "But then again...There might be something about this Malebolge that we should know about." Celestia would continue.
"Gardevoir?" Gardevoir and Alcremie would lean in to view what Celestia was reading about.
"However...This Malebolge seems to predate the Box that transformed the prisoners of Tartarus into demons. I also found that it appeared only 9 months after the box appeared, making it rather ancient. I theorize that the origins of Malebolge may be deeply connected to the Primordial Magic. When I encountered it, it was very much sentient but had no purpose. Noticeably, it had the power to create other demons with the mass of darkness within it. It can!?"
Rather shocking to hear. It was only recently that Chrysalis was said to have accidentally created the demons thanks to her latent magic. But apparently, something predates her. By 9 months, specifically.
"I managed to defeat these demons along with Malebolge with ease, surprisingly. They were rather young despite coming from such a terrifying force and exhibiting an intimidating aura. It was surprising since I believed they would be an issue being the first demons to ever appear. I wished to research Malebolge, bringing a remaining piece of it with me. But 9 months later, that piece was erased, dissolving into particles. After that, I ceased research on this demon as it was seemingly one of a kind. Hmm...Is that so?"
This was rather interesting for Celestia to hear. She had now discovered that a demon that predates Chrysalis and the other demons exists. Or rather, it used to exist. According to Starswirl, they vanished.
"If Chrysalis was born 9 months later...this means that when she was born along with the other demons, that Malebolge vanished. Did it respond to Chrysalis and end up being destroyed?" Celestia pondered. "Only Chrysalis can destroy a demon from what we know. And a specific light of course so that would add up. This is good but...Still nothing on Magehold. Keep looking."
The search continued for anything relating to Magehold. So far, Celestia had the right idea going for the darker subjects. Starswirl, being the knowledgeable pony he was, did travel places to expand his horizons. And there could be a chance he must've learned about Magehold and the vampires.
Alas, the only thing interesting so far was the Malebolge.
Ponyville. The Pokemon House.
"Okay, everyone. Gather around." Meanwhile, Fluttershy would call all of the Pokemon from the Pokemon House to gather around. Here at the Pokemon at the Pokemon House were Ash, Twilight and a few others. Here as well was Ember, who recently showed up yesterday and made another appearance. "We'll all come together to make a Get-Well-Soon Gift for Chrysalis. A really big one. I know she'll make it through so let's support her, okay?"
Support for Chrysalis was strong as they were all hoping she could make it. A gift for her would be constructed and judging by how many Pokemon were called to action, there was a good chance it would be a massive one. With Fluttershy's command, they would all get to work, preparing too craft the best possible gift for Chrysalis that they can muster.
"So, Ember. How'd you even get yourself a Z-Crystal? You went to Alola, didn't you?" Spike questioned Ember, bringing up the Dragonium Z that she revealed yesterday.
"Yeah, I went there. And let me tell you, I had to struggle to get this thing." Ember held the crystal. "This crystal just speaks to me. I can use it on most of my Pokemon which makes it all the more versatile. If we ever come across the Dread League, they'll have a taste of this."
"I hope not." Rarity shook her head. "They've been giving us too much trouble. I'm hoping that our next encounter with them is our last."
"It might be. The Lich Queen said that she was accelerating her plans so we might be seeing the Black Crusade soon." Twilight replied to Rarity. "Whatever happens next will kick things into motion. And I can't wait for this to be our last confrontation with them."
"Oh, it will." Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves in confidence. "We've got all the help we need. Those vampires are super weak to the light and struggle with our Pokemon. I mean, if it was just us going up against them, I don't think we'd stand a chance with how much faster and stronger they are than us. Minus me of course."
"But the Lich Queen isn't a vampire, so she's immune to that. And she's absurdly powerful for somepony who's far away from us and still healing. If she ever gets to full strength, there's no telling what she's capable of." Twilight shuddered at that fact. The possibility of a Full Power Lich Queen was rather mortifying.
"Relax. You have us to help out." Ember uttered. "All the Dragons will have your support. We'll torch all those vampires."
"Maybe not all of them," Twilight said. "I don't think we should go after every single vampire. They're not all bad."
"They're not?" Applejack, who has had a rough time with vampires and anything related to them, questioned.
"Some of them are just living their lives or wanting more than havoc. Spectrum Shade and Night Sprout are the biggest examples we know. Both of them are just interested in Pokemon. And from what I learned from Potion Nova, there might be more. We should only focus on stopping the Black Crusade from ever coming true and that's it."
"Easier said than done. They've got a Pokemon that can get the job done as quickly as they want." Spike sighed. "But uh...if Yveltal can just take everything out when its life ends, why haven't the Dread League done it yet?"
"Oh yeah." Spike brought up a good point that his friends commented on. "They would've done it long ago. What's stopping them?"
"It's because of Xerneas," Ash said, knowing exactly why they haven't done it. "They probably know about Xerneas by now. Xerneas brings life and can ignore Yveltal's destruction. If Yveltal destroys everything, then Xerneas can just bring it back like it was nothing. The Lich Queen's probably trying to do something about that."
"So the Dread League are going after Xerneas too?" Pinkie Pie added. What happens if they get Xerneas?"
"They'll probably try and snuff it out. That way, no one will be left to bring life back to the world." Twilight answered, already figuring out the outcome of that. "I hate to admit it but the Dread League are always catching up to us. Or maybe even moving ahead. We failed to keep them from gaining Bayleef's Fate Changing Ability and now one of them has that amazing power with her. We couldn't help Reshiram or even find him and who knows where he is after his battle with the Dread League. Fantina's been taken away from us and Chrysalis took a horrible blow and now her life is on the line and I'm not sure what else they're planning."
When spouting it all out, everyone soon realized how difficult the Dread League have truly been. They always managed to get an edge over Equestria in some way. All these accomplishments made the Dread League stronger and harder to take down without a doubt.
"No need to worry." But Ash wouldn't let that get to him, standing up. "We've proven we can beat 'em and we'll do just that. No time to sulk when their huge plan is coming straight for us. Even if we can't get through that barrier, we can always wait for them to come to us."
"Ash is right. We might have only one chance to make this work. All that matters is that we get Yveltal and Fantina back from Magehold." Twilight agreed. "But I do wish we had a way to bring that barrier down effectively. Maybe something from Starswirl the Bearded but I can't think of anything or find it."
"I bet Flash Magnus could totally find a way." Rainbow Dash said, bringing up another pony new to the ears of Ash's ears.
"Not sure what he would do. But ya know, maybe Rockhoof could do something about. Strong hooves and all." Applejack added.
"No, no. I'm pretty sure we know that brute strength isn't enough. Well, it is but...it must be a tremendous amount of it if we want to break that barrier." Rarity shook her head. "But perhaps if all Pillars were here today then they'd figure something out. All 6 of them would do the trick with how great their coordination was. I believe it was 6, right?"
"Uh, who are they?" Ash asked, curious about these Pillars. It was new to him.
"Huh? You don't know!" Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped. "You've been here for this long and you never learned about these ponies?"
"Nope." Ash shook his head along with Pikachu.
"Pikachu."
"Uh, I don't know either." Ember was in the same boat as Ash, having no clue about these pillars.
"Well, do we have something to share with you..." Twilight rubbed her hooves, eager to spill whatever she could about the Pillars.
"Ya'll ain't alone in this. I don't think Apple Bloom knows either." Applejack shrugged. "Your sis doesn't know too, does she, Rarity?"
"Not at all. Remind me about that. Ash, you should hear this. It's something we all learned when growing up here in Equestria. You're already aware of Starswirl the Bearded but there were 5 more ponies who assisted him."
"Yeah?" Ash leaned in, fully interested in this story and what it had to entail. It seemed like each of them had something to share for the most part. At least, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity had something to share. Fluttershy was still busy and Pinkie Pie was feeding some of the Pokemon here to really share anything. Either way, Ash was about to learn a lot.
Another Dimension.
The Strange Dimension where Galaxy Master's base resides. Still peaceful at the moment but the threats were there, waiting to strike. The fictional character would be ready and at the same time, joy filled his heart. His meeting with Ash had sparked something great that he couldn't but love. Being created after Ash's father made him practically an alternate version of his actual father. And Galaxy Master couldn't be happier about that.
"Alright, I'm here. What's up?" Arriving here was Galaxy Master's good ally, Potion Nova. She had used the Dimensional Potion to arrive here once more. By this point, the potion was at the tipping point, nearly empty.
"Glad you could make it my Potion Brewing Friend." Galaxy Master greeted her with Pikachu running over.
"Pika!"
"You had something to tell me? Is it the vampires again? Have they made a big move this time?"
"No, no, no." Galaxy Master shook his head. "But they are suspiciously moving around the Kalos Region more often. That's beside the point. It's the Pokemon. It seems that knowledge of their lost world seems to be expanding a bit. They recently revealed something to me."
"Really? What is it?" Potion Nova questioned. The Subspace Pokemon have apparently shared something of notice that resulted in Galaxy Master calling Potion Nova over.
"I had to write this name down multiple times since they all kept saying." He pointed at his monitor, showing a single name that was duplicated repeatedly based on how many Pokemon have said it. "Look."
And the name that was said the most was Prisma.
"Prisma? Uh...Who?"
"That's what we have yet to figure out." Galaxy Master shrugged. "They all spoke of a character named Prisma. Possibly from this Lost World that they originally came from. I'm not sure who he is but according to what they know so far, he was a prominent figure in that world."
"So is he here then?"
"Maybe. But strangely, the Pokemon only started talking about Prisma when Ash and the others showed up. Or at least, after they left. It's all they've been talking about since yesterday. He might be here or possibly not. Which is why we need to focus on that as well!"
"Don't we already have enough on our plate?" Potion Nova sighed. "I mean, I know you can't get tired since you're made out of Light Energy but I can."
Ah, apologies my unicorn friend." Galaxy Master apologized. "I won't strain you. But this Prisma thing is worth looking into. But before that, we have some Dread League activity. And, of course, it's over at the Kalos Region. They seem to be looking for something and the ones to find out will be us."
"We're going to Kalos?! Aaah! I hear it's a romantic city!" Potion Nova squealed. "Wish I had somepony to go with since I'm too busy but still!"
"Precisely! You may need to stock up on that Dimensional Potion of yours though." Galaxy Master suggested, already seeing the lack of liquid with this special potion.
"Yeah, I'll figure that out. Until then, you're gonna have to take me in and out of this place. So, where to Kalos next?"
"Wherever justice leads us." He would put his hands on his hips, posing as the Sun in the sky would beam down on him, responding to his comic-book-like nature. It was off to the Kalos Region. Galaxy Master and Potion Nova would be busy once more, dealing with everything else while the world knows about their achievements with how frequently they've been showing up.
There was one only reason for the Dread League being there. It was for Xerneas. Just as Ash suspected, they were going for the counterpart to Yveltal. And speaking of Ash, knowledge of the Pillars were about to be shared with him.
"So which ponies are the Pillars?" asked Ash Ketchum. Recently, his friends brought up not just Starswirl the Bearded who already knew about, but five other ponies who were allied with him. And they were known as the Pillars of Equestria.
"All five of them are Starswirl, Mistmane, Somnambula, Flash Magnus, Mage Meadowbrook and Rockhoof." Twilight laid out their names. "You already know about Starswirl. He was Princess Celestia and Luna's teacher and discovered a plethora of special spells but even he couldn't do everything by himself. That's how it's always been from the start."
"Yeah, no one can do everything on their own." Rainbow Dash shook her head. "I mean...maybe I could. Some stuff I can do on my own."
"Sweet! You gotta tell me about them for sure!" An ecstatic Ash said. "Any one of them will do!"
"Yeah. I'm down to hear it." Ember agreed, interested in stories about them.
"Ahem." Twilight cleared her throat. Well, I'd say we should start with the best of them all and the one who started it off. I know every minute detail about Starswirl so-"
"I'll go first. You're gonna wanna hear this." Applejack stood up, offering to share the story. It was a good save as Twilight pouted, followed by an apologetic grin from Applejack. But this was mainly because Twilight's words would be extremely long and they'd be here all day. "Sorry. This guy's one of my heroes. Rockhoof. Rockhoof was known far and wide for his incredible strength. But he didn't start out that way. You see, Rockhoof was a tiny little fella, the son of a farmer.
Many years ago.
They lived in a village that sat at the foot of a gigantic volcano. And the village was protected by an elite group of guard ponies called the Mighty Helm.
The sound of weapons going up against each other in the past went off. This was done by earth ponies who held up spears, clashing them before one of the spears went flying. It was obviously practice as other ponies within this village that sat next to a volcano were spectating. And the laughter that came from the two ponies also confirmed this.
Being guard ponies meant that they were always training for a potential threat, using as many weapons as they could, at least during this time. Such as axes, which were thrown at targets by using their mouths. And of course, being that there were guards present all over the place, protecting this village, there would be ordinary citizens who would one day become those guards or they might just be related to the Mighty Helm via family ties. And one of those ponies who was just an ordinary citizen was Rockhoof. Young at the time.
And of course, Young Rockhoof wanted nothing more than to be part of the Mighty Helm, looking up to them as most children would. Spotting one of the axes that hit a target, the young earth pony attempted to remove it. He ran up, sinking his teeth into the handle of the axe and pulling with all of his might.
Alas, he was just a child. He flew off after failing to remove the axe. And when falling to the ground, the guards would laugh at his efforts, seeing very little potential within him. Possibly zero. He was told that he was far too scrawny and weak to protect the village.
He was young and his hooves were just average at best but had the strength of a twig at most. The young colt would tear up as the best he could do now was dig with whatever strength he had. Digging holes was common in this village, at least for him. He was a farmer's son after all. But Rockhoof wouldn't take 'No' for an answer.
"Then, one fateful day..." Continuing the story, Applejack skipped ahead to really give Ash, Pikachu and Ember the juicy part. The part where Rockhoof started to make his stride at last. Still a young colt, the volcano next to the village would erupt.
This was to be expected since it was a volcano. It brought along powerful tremors through the earth, ready to burst. Buildings were shaking, threatening to fly out of the ground. And then, it happened. Lava flew out from the volcano's mouth as the bellowing sound drowned out Rockhoof's cry of terror.
The molten lava poured down the side of the volcano...and try as they might, the Mighty Helm couldn't figure out a way to save the village! They had to evacuate.
Indeed, dealing with lava was an issue due to how destructive it was. They chattered amongst each other, trying to find a solution but everypony here didn't have anything that responded to Lava. Despite being warriors, they couldn't exactly slash at the lava or even cut it. Naturally, this ensued panic among the village ponies since lava was practically bound to fall on them all, bringing about a rather horrific end.
But the village ponies didn't wanna leave their homes. They spent their entire lives there. They had nowhere else to go! So Rockhoof decided to do something crazy.
Ships were availabe for them but their connection to their home made it impossible for some of them to leave. Some village ponies did leave by Sea though and it looked like those who stayed behind would try and face the destruction that was coming their way. It wasn't exactly fast. In fact, it was rather slow but it was imminent. That was when Rockhoof took action. No one can exactly combat lava, but they could most definitely avoid it. Or in this case, manoeuvre it.
He thought if he could divert the flow of the lava, he might be able to save his village. He started diggin' a trench.
"No way! He did that on his own?!" Ash's voice blurted out, surprised by what he was hearing. "So cool!"
"Pikachu?!"
"I still find that pretty hard to believe. Moving lava?" Rainbow Dash chimed in. Even though she knew this story, that part was unreal to her. "It'd be impossible for one pony to dig a trench fast enough to stop the lava. I mean, even I couldn't do that."
"Nowadays it's not impossible with what we have but back then, that was unheard of," Twilight added. "It is impossible to think about or even for one pony to pull off without any help.
"Good thing Rockhoof didn't believe in the word 'Impossible'.He continued to work, knowin' the odds were against him, but determined to push through it. Then, somethin' magical happened."
Back to the story, the young Rockhoof watched onward, deciding to do something about this. No one else could come up with something so he ended up, overreaching. But it seemed to be the right call. Quickly, the young earth pony ran to dig up new holes. If there was one thing he was good at, it was digging.
And he dug like his life depended on it. Which it did, considering everyone he knew in this village were in jeopardy of the lava. The approach was a trench. The deepest thing he could think of. And with these digging skills, he was going above and beyond what anypony was normally capable of.
He had all the time he needed but he still had to watch out for the lava which was still flowing down the volcano. To make sure this was successful, he was digging a trench next to the volcano. And of course, this action didn't go unnoticed. The guards and all the townsfolk would eventually take notice of Rockhoof.
Their jaws dropped, horrified as the young earth pony's life was in danger. He was right next to the volcano, potentially making him the first victim of this incoming disaster. The fact that he was going through with this was stunning to watch but also mortifying.
Of course, try as he might, he was just a boy and he had his limits for a body that wasn't fully developed yet. But it was that absolute willpower within him that caused a magical phenomenon to occur. The shovel he held would suddenly glow a light blue energy, rapidly engulfing the earth pony.
Before he knew it, in a matter of seconds, he went from a scrawny child to an absolute powerhouse. Bulky and large like an adult. In fact, he looked like an adult as everypony felt like they were seeing things now. One second he was fragile and weak and now he looked like he could move heavy objects with ease.
With this physical increase, Rockhoof couldn't take the time to admire his new appearance. He had to keep moving. And he started moving like never before. With just one dig, a hole appeared at stellar speeds, making the trench develop faster than what he usually could. One dig was enough to cover many metres in seconds thanks to how powerful he was now. And all he was doing was galloping at a regular pace but everything in front of him was being destroyed so fast.
Afterwards, he managed to find the best place to finish the trench as the lava would be away from the village and anywhere else. The lava would then pass through only the trench's pathway and nowhere else. The trench stopped at a cliff over the sea, making the lava reach a continuous spot. A spot where the lava could constantly flow without threatening anyone else.
And with that, the village was safe from harm thanks to the effort of this one pony. The villagers cheered for Rockhoof's achievement and the fact that he saved all of their lives. And of course, this also grabbed the attention of the Mighty Helm, who had to have someone like him in their ranks. Rockhoof, wishing to join the Mighty Helm, went for it immediately, fulfilling his dream while also being bigger than everyone else now.
Through his extraordinary determination and sheer force o' will, Rockhoof more than earned his place in the Mighty Helm.
"Ah, sweet stuff!" Naturally, Ash loved that story. "Thanks for the story, Applejack. That was something else."
"Yeah. Even if it wasn't about me," said Rainbow Dash who would giggle afterwards.
"I know, I know. I always look up to Rockhoof because of that." Applejack nodded in response. "Come to think of it, I might've spilt some of this story to Apple Bloom before. So she does know something about it. That's just one of the pillars and even before Rockhoof met the rest."
"So, when did they all meet?" Ash asked.
"It's best to warm you up before we come to that conclusion, darling." Rarity rubbed her hooves together. "I believe it's my turn to go next and tell you about Mistmane." Before she could do that, a flash of light went off here at the Pokemon House.
Naturally, this was the cause of the Pokemon working on a Get-Well-Soon Gift for Queen Chrysalis with Fluttershy instructing them. With so many Pokemon working on it, accidents were bound to happen.
"Yeesh. What kind of gift are they making." Pinkie Pie commented. "It's probably something big so I think I can add something to eat in there."
"Some flowers would do. Those always work out," said Rarity.
"Speaking of flowers...I should check up on Daisy and Paradise. I'll be right back." Twilight would depart to her castle to check up on the Flora Ponies. She couldn't be too careful leaving them alone for too long. "Keep on going without me."
"I'd better start baking" Pinkie Pie always had the decision to make something for Chrysalis and it involved food, of course, causing the earth pony to suddenly zip away.
"Anyway, listen to this, Ash." Rarity cleared her throat. "This one is a tale of beauty and how it can be found in everything. If you look closely, you can always find something beautiful. And Mistmane represents that. She used to be the most beautiful unicorn in the land."
Back in time once more, this story took place in an eastern-styled town. And here, the ponies dressed elegantly and with style compared to Rockhoof's home village. And the one who was the pinnacle of beauty was the unicorn Mistmane. Another member of the Pillars who had yet to meet them.
She was as talented as she was beautiful and kind. Everypony loved her and missed her when she was sent to the finest magic school. While she was gone, she was delighted to find out that her best friend, Sable Spirit, was crowned empress. She couldn't wait to return home once she finished her studies. But once she arrived, she was devastated by what she saw.
Mistmane, who worked at a school with splendid talent, earned the respect of everyone there with most aspiring to be like her. One day though, a letter came to her that was of seemingly great importance. Once receiving the letter, her a smile graced her face since her friend has made such an achievement. This required a celebration between old friends.
However, as Rarity narrated, it was rather devastating what followed after her return to her hometown. The beautiful town which carried a great ordeal of vibrancy, now had a toned-down ambience and atmosphere, followed by visible damage on the buildings. Planks of wood covered some windows for protection, the blooming trees had all lost their leaves and the ponies here weren't carrying their bright smiles at all, instead frowning while they swept the ground and carried water in buckets.
"What happened here?" A shocked Mistmane asked one of the ponies sweeping.
"The Empress happened. She makes everypony work day and night on her palace. We don't have time to take care of anything else." He replied, aiming his hoof at the palace which stood out from the rest at this point, keeping its vibrancy.
"But that can't be. I know her! She would never do this." Of course, since her best friend became Empress, this was rather shocking to hear. But there was no denying the sight in front of her. And this only worsened when she saw a foal running with what looked to be a flower.
This flower would soon be taken away from the foal via a red magic. With a gasp, the foal witnessed the flower fly over to a chariot that was also clean compared to everything else. Of course, this belonged to the Empress, who wore all black with red accents and patterns here and there on her dress while her face was masked. Sable Spirit took everything that was beautiful away from anypony else. And Mistmane was sure there had to be some explanation.
With her saddened face transforming into a serious one, she would approach the palace. In all of its beauty and splendour, which also had everything it needed to keep everyone in it healthy. The same couldn't be said for the outside since everypony was being worked to the bone. Mistmane arrived, gazing at the new empress of this place.
"Sable, is that you?"
"Don't tell me you don't recognize your old friend." Sable Spirit replied with a rather pompous tone. And with this status, she was all high and mighty without a doubt.
I don't. My friend would never work our families and friends to the bone for something as silly as a palace." Immediately, Mistmane would share her disappointment, seeing the palace as a waste of time with all the work that was put into it compared to everywhere else.
"Silly? My palace is a beacon of beauty! Anypony who passes will be in awe of its majesty!" Sable exclaimed.
"What good is a pretty palace if it just hides the misery of its ponies?"
"Beauty is everything. You taught me that." Sable Spirit aimed her hoof at the beautiful unicorn.
"What?" said Mistmane, pulling back. She wasn't sure what Sable was talking about when she said that Mistmane taught her about beauty being everything.
"You were always the pretty one." Sable would leave her throne to approach Mistmane. "You got to go to the best magic school. Everypony missed you. Everypony loved you! I admit I was jealous, so I tried to perform a spell that would make me beautiful. You can see how that went!" The mask was there for a reason. When she removed it, she revealed a massive drawback that ended up sullying her face.
Protruding with wrinkles and puffed-up cheekbones, Sable Spirit looked rather old for her age. Way older for her age. A failed spell caused this mishap and also caused Mistmane to gasp in shock. "I found if I couldn't have beauty, I would take it. I wasn't chosen to be empress, you know. I took it! Just like I'm going to take everything else." Sable continued.
"I can't let you do that." Mistmane stood there, immediately refusing to let Sable Spirit go on with this harsh rule.
"Let me?" Sable laughed in the face of this, finding Mistmane's response to be humorous. But after a few moments of laughing, she would suddenly attack, unleashing a spell on the floor. From the lavish floor, thorns would erupt, forming a cocoon around Mistmane. This was to trap her but this did not last.
Right after being trapped by the thorns, Mistmane's magic would radiate, beautifully flaring out of the thorn cocoon before obliterating it. There, she emerged with grace like a butterfly blooming into its adult form. And yet, she did not retaliate.
But that didn't stop Sable Spirit from continuing her attack. Her guards knew what was coming instantly clearing the way for this next spell. And it was a rather destructive one. Her red magic extended from her horn when rising before transforming itself into a crimson dragon.
Mistmane would respond in kind. With her magic forming a spiral beneath her, a skyblue dragon would emerge, going after the crimson dragon.
"No way! That can happen?!" Ash's voice spoke through the narration of the story. That part really made his heart race with excitement. This whole story was exciting to hear. "Can you and other unicorns do that, Rarity?!"
"Unfortunately, only those from Mistmane's land were capable of that. But I'm certain we have something deep within. Now, pay attention. Rarity would continue to the story.
It was a clash of dragons. The two magical forms of energy would smash into each other, headbutting with great ferocity while both ponies exhibited different emotions. Mistmane's was calm, perfectly representing her dragon's colour while Sable Spirit's was hostile, much like how her dragon appeared. They would breathe fire against each other, spiralling and zipping all over the place.
Sable Spirit growled, putting her all into this. Meanwhile, MIstmane was so casual, perfectly in control. And with this control, her dragon would wrap around Sable Spirit's restraining is movements. With this powerful constriction, the crimson dragon would dissipate, making Mistmane victorious.
And for the finale, the sky-blue dragon would zoom over to a nearby pot, hitting it and flinching Sable Spirit, who thought it was after her. But hitting the pot was Mistmane's idea as it elevate the plants within. Sable Spirit, believing that she missed would approach Mistmane for one more attack, only for the plants to fly out and grab her. She was pulled back, receiving the same treatment she gave Mistmane earlier in this conflict.
But her was stronger, keeping Sable Spirit in a root cocoon that she could not break out of. This conflict was over with Mistmane as the winner. And with this victory, the guards from before would show themselves, popping out of two cherry blossom trees that they hid in. Their only response was to cheer for this instead of confronting Mistmane. They wanted this to happen.
"Everypony thought Sable Spirit was defeated, and that was that. But Mistmane knew there was more she could do to help."
Mistmane, still seeing Sable Spirit as her friend, had to do something. Before she left the palace, she took a single flower with her. This was the same flower that was taken away from the young colt for the sake of beauty. SHe would simply plant the flower into the ground, making new soil. Mistmane knew what had to be done.
Beauty and life had to be brought back into this world. And with Mistmane's magic that could be done. With her magic beautifully flowing into the flower, buds would start popping up at rapid speeds. Flowers were returning and the vibrancy of the town had a chance to be restored.
But this came at a cost.
Beauty isn't everything. But Mistmane knew that it does have the power to make ponies smile. She made a huge sacrifice to bring that smile back to her friends' and family's faces. Including Sable Spirit's.
The same spell Sable Spirit had used before which backfired on her was used here but with success. It was incredibly successful, with a shockwave of light, the town had also been restored as Mistmane put her all in to this. The damage done to the buildings which haven't been taken care of was reversed. The trees, ground and even the skies were restored by this Beauty Spell, which was seemingly hard to pull off. But not for Mistmane.
And with the magic spread across the entire town, it reached the root cocoon that Sable Spirit was in, lowering it. And with this widespread magic, once Sable Spirit left the cocoon, she was affected as well. Bewildered, her beauty had returned to her thanks to Mistmane.
"You did this for me? Even after I was so cruel?" Sable said with utter disbelief. The fact that Mistmane did this, sacrificing her own famous beauty just for the sake of the town was outstanding.
Mistmane did not care about her appearance at all, not obsessed with her beauty. Hers was natural ever since her younger years and giving it up did not leave an impact on her. Instead, she saw beauty in everything else and cherished that more than anything. And it showed with how she brought beauty back into this town. And something like this struck Sable Spirit to the core. Her way of ruling on that day changed because of Mistmane's beautiful sacrifice.
Sable Spirit was so touched that she vowed to be more like her friend in the ways that mattered. From then on, she ruled with kindness and compassion. Even though she gave away her physical beauty, she dedicated her life to spreading beauty all over Equestria. Any time you go out of your way to brighten somepony's day by doing something like giving them flowers, you're following in the hoofsteps of Mistmane.
"Man...That's beautiful alright." Ash nodded. He saw the beauty in that story indeed.
"PIka. Pika."
"Sacrificing something is beauty in its purest form. At least to me." Rarity honestly said. And it was special considering what her element was. "It can be hard. I know how it feels." She grimaced as she has sacrificed quite a lot as it all came from a generous heart.
"Hm-hm. Indeed." Rarity proudly said. "Mistmane's legend certainly inspired me through the years and I've seen sacrifices so far that would make her proud."
"All these pillars sound amazing." Ash loved what he was hearing.
"I wish my dad told me about this before," Ember added, also loving these stories. But unlike Ash, she was actually born and raised in Equestria and yet neither of these stories came to her.
"Oh, don't worry. There's something about dragons in all of this." Rainbow Dash said with a smile, surprising Ember.
"There is?!"
"Oh yeah. I've got more than one idol than just Daring Do. There's one pony way in the past who I look up to as well. Before that...it's feeding time." Before Rainbow Dash could share what she knew about one of the pillars, it was time for everyone to have some lunch.
All of them agreed, bringing out their Pokemon for lunchtime. The Pokemon House would get a bit more crowded. And of course, they would also have the benefit of hearing these stories with Ash aiming to catch them up on what he's heard. Meanwhile, the gift for Chrysalis was coming along relatively well.
There were some hiccups here and there with all these Pokemon who had different natures and personalities. Fluttershy laughed, knowing that they were doing their best. She hadn't heard about her friends talking about the Pillars of Equestria. But Audino certainly did with her excellent hearing.
She got everything, hearing about their history and having an equal amount of amazement in her heart and eyes. It almost distracted her from working on this gift.
Canterlot.
Meanwhile, back at Canterlot, after searching for anything Starswirl could have left behind relating to the Dread League, Celestia found nothing. The best she got was about a demon named Malebolge and that was about it. But she would not give up. She would continue searching for her old teacher's secrets.
She would bring over the secret notes and books that were stored away in a dark room, out into the sunshine at last. With a little bit of magic, they were removed of any dust that sullied them.
Entering the room was her little sister Luna, who most likely had something to share. She was also working hard at the moment. While Celestia was searching for a way to find and get past the almighty barrier, Luna was searching for Reshiram, relying on the Hyperdream.
"Any updates?"
"Reshiram's bubble is still growing. But he still cannot hear me." Luna updated Celestia. "However, he seems to be receiving some form of consciousness once more. Reshiram is healing without a doubt. I'm still not sure where to find him just yet but it seems Zekrom has an idea of where."
"He does!?" Celestia leaned in. "What does Zekrom know!?"
"It wasn't until last night that he came to me. Zekrom's travels around the world haven't helped him find Reshiram at all. He might be sensing Reshiram at last."
"Oh!" Music to Celestia's ears. It seemed that the chances of finding Reshiram were increasing. Reshiram was once again dreaming with his health slowly being brought back. His whereabouts may be unknown but with this gradual restoration, Zekrom, his opposite, might find him at last with this development.
Soaring in the blue skies of Sinnoh was none other than Zekrom, the Dragon of Ideals. Currently, he was searching for his counterpart, Reshiram. The two halves of Kyurem may be from separate universes but they were still connected. Zekrom has been at this for months ever since Reshiram went missing during the Third Pokemon Festival. There was no contact or proper way to find him.
But recently, Reshiram's healing process was allowing him to someday break out of his regenerative form. The only problem was that depending on where Reshiram is, could either be a great outcome or a terrible one. With Reshiram healing, Zekrom was starting to sense him. Thanks to Princess Luna keeping an eye out for Reshiram's dreams, she could see some development. The Vast White Pokemon was indeed starting to heal but his whereabouts were still unknown.
He could sense his other half, but it was faint. With this, Zekrom would try and advance on the energy. Of course, many have seen Zekrom in the skies by now, witnessing a black figure pass through the clouds. The Dragon-Electric-Type focused as hard as he could on Reshiram's presence. And by sensing him, Zekrom was about to leave the Sinnoh Region by this point.
It was clear that he wasn't here in Sinnoh but another region. Zekrom accelerated through the skies, leaving behind a sonic boom as the search for his brother continues. Flying-Types would gasp at the sight of Zekrom who outpaced all of them easily. Of course, with Zekrom moving across the skies and many noticing him, bad company would take notice of the Deep Black Pokemon.
Such as the Dread League.
Equestria. Ponyville. The Pokemon House. Afternoon.
"Mmm!" Enjoying a sweet lunch at the Pokemon House were Ash and his friends. Earlier, Applejack and Rarity shared with him a story about some of the pillars. Two of them so far. Rockhoof and Mistmane. Meanwhile, the Get-Well-Soon-Gift for Chrysalis was still being made but looked like it was coming together nicely and nearing its completion at this rate.
While having a nice lunch, Ash couldn't wait to hear about the next pillar. And the same went for Ember plus Audino, who overheard it with her powerful hearing. The best thing to do was to eat and listen to the story at the same time. And since it was Rainbow Dash, could tell that this story would have some action. Both stories from Rarity and Applejack already had some.
"So what about your hero, Rainbow Dash?" Ash asked since Rainbow Dash was set to go next.
"Mine's Flash Magnus." Rainbow Dash replied, before swallowing her food as hard as she could. "Ahh...You gotta hear this. My favourite legend of all time. Alright. Get a load of this. A long time ago, before the Wonderbolts were even founded...Flash Magnus was a lowly cadet in the Royal Legion.
Once again, it was back to the past, but this time, up in the clouds. And moving through those clouds was the cadet at the time and soon-to-be Pillar of Equestria. Flash Magnus.
Flying alongside his fellow pegasi, he would high-five them with his wings as they all had a current destination. A rather fierce and dangerous one that housed a species who didn't take kindly to ponies. At least, at this time. And that would be Dragons at the Dragon Lands, which were right up ahead. The Dragon Lands also existed back then and passing it was a massive risk.
The Legion needed to fly over the Dragon Lands to get to their comrades on the other side. But as they got closer to the dragons, a fierce cloud of ash and smoke came their way, causing them to cough. Eyes as gold as actual gold would gleam through the ash clouds and smoke, eyeing down the approaching Legion.
These eyes belonged to the fierce dragons. All the pegasi gasped, slowing down their movements for a bit once the dragons showed themselves. And these dragons were massive. These were fully grown dragons compared to the dragons that were just taller than the ponies and near the height of an alicorn. These ones were more than taller than them. The dragons unleashed a mighty roar to try and intimidate the ponies and it certainly worked as the commander of this legion would yell at the top of his lungs.
"Everypony, retreat!" With that yell and command, one of the dragons would already try and get a hit in. Some of the pegasi flew away as a form of retreat, but three others flew to the other side while trying to evade the massive tail from above. And among those three was Flash Magnus as the tail of a dragon cut through the clouds.
Flash Magnus and a few other cadets were separated from the battalion. He managed to get away, but the dragons captured his friends and took them back to their lair.
Alas, when trying to flee, the claw of a dragon flew through the clouds, grabbing a pegasus. Flash Magnus gasped as his fellow cadet was snatched, taken elsewhere by the claws of a dragon. Silhouettes of the dragons passed through the clouds before revealing the two other cadets in their claws, struggling and trying to break free. Unfortunately, they could not match the strength of a dragon. Let alone a fully grown one.
Flash Magnus had no choice but to return to the others to spread the news. He certainly wasn't going to go in there himself. Not on his own.
"Commander! We need to save our captured comrades!" He said to the commander of this battalion.
"I appreciate your loyalty, Flash Magnus, but getting past those dragons is going to be impossible. Nothing will work." Unfortunately, the response was not hopeful at all.
Many ponies at this point in time feared the dragons greatly and for obvious reasons. Flash Magnus certainly didn't want to hear it from the mouth of his own commander, who was supposed to be incredibly brave. But when it comes to dragons, outfighting them is an incredibly tall order.
"Huh. So how'd they get past that then? Ash spoke while this story was being narrated.
I don't wanna toot my own horn here, but you can't really beat out a fully-grown dragon. Ember added, being a dragon herself and listening to this story. Believe me. I know.
But there was another way. If he couldn't outfight the dragons, he could out-think them. Rainbow Dash continued narrating as this obviously had a positive outcome for Flash Magnus. She was simply getting there.
"Commander Ironhead, I'm pretty sure I can outfly the dragons. If I can lure them into chasing me, you can all sneak into the lair and retrieve our friends before they get back." Flash Magnus already had something in mind.
"Are you really willing to take that chance, soldier?" Ironhead asked, curious if he could pull it off against those two massive dragons who were enough to take on multiple pegasi. He wanted to make sure that Flash Magnus was willing to go through with it considering what they were all up against.
"I am, sir." Full confidence was radiating from him as he would salute with his wing.
"It's a very brave thing you're doing. You'll need all the help you can get." Ironhead would suddenly remove something from his back. It looked to be a piece of his armour. But it was merely just a shield that was attached to this armour, perfectly blending in.
"Is this... Netitus, the fireproof shield?!" Flash Magnus was lent a famous and powerful shield. One that was strong against the furious element of fire.
"It has protected Legion heroes for generations. And today, I can't think of a worthier flank for Netitus to protect." Ironhead believed that this would protect Flash Magnus from the flames of a dragon. Hopefully, it would. The flames of a dragon were not to be underestimated. "Good luck, soldier."
With a salute from his comrades and commander, Flash Magnus took off to carry out this mission. The lair of the dragons wasn't exactly discreet with how massive it was, so it would be easy to approach it or even enter it. The hard part was getting out or even through it.
After entering it, Flash Magnus took a deep breath, prepared for the worst. But he would have them come to him as after breathing in, at the top of his lungs, he would unleashing a bellowing shout. Hey! Come and get me, fire-breath! If you can! Hey, hey! Come and get me! Hey, I'm over here!" He furiously hit the shield to make as much noise as he could.
And it definitely worked. Those golden eyes would appear once more, shining through the darkness of the jaw-shaped cave. And along with those eyes was a mouth that already had flames burning within. The dragons have taken notice of Flash Magnus and already attacked him as flames came flying out.
The cadent grimaced, closing his eyes and putting the shield in front of him. Lo and behold, the shield lived up to its fame as it defended him from the fearsome flames of a dragon. With this protection, Flash Magnus would zip away, prompting the dragons to chase after him. He wanted this to happen as he left the cave, luring the two of them out.
And with the two massive dragons leaving the cave, the rest of the pegasi were free to enter and retrieve their captured friends without needing to worry about any attacks. These were the only two dragons after all. The commander and his troops would enter the cave while Flash was flying for his life.
He ascended into the air, passing through a large cloud, only for the dragons to easily catch up. They were right in-between him, unleashing flames to try and sandwich him. He quickly flew ahead, narrowly evading the flames which only ended up clashing against each other.
The cadet flew like the wind, moving faster than the dragons while continuing to shield himself from their flames. And just for style points, he would stand on his shield, using it to surf on the fire for a moment. It was worth it even if it was dangerous. Eventually, he was being pressured with each flame that came his way until he managed to block a continuous stream of them with his shield.
He couldn't do this forever. but once again, he had a plan and thought quick on his feet. Meanwhile, the commander had rescued the others from the cave thanks to Flash Magnus' risk as they all saw him struggling above with the dragons. He couldn't do it alone and it was now time for the others to chime in.
They would ascend, grabbing as many clouds as they could for one purpose. They were forming a storm cloud. WIth their control over the weather, they were easily able to cause a storm with lightning and thunder crashing from them. This was the new plan that Flash Magnus wanted to capitalize on. Once Ironhead and his troops formed a powerful storm cloud, they would fly away, allowing Flash Magnus to take care of the rest.
And he certainly did.
He flew straight into the storm cloud, leading the dragons there with him. He was willing to have himself shocked by the fierce storm to retaliate against the dragons. Once they entered, the lightning struck them repeatedly, showing their shadows within the dark clouds as Flash Magnus' was tiny compared to the two dragons.
But it was a success. The dragons themselves formed a retreat after taking the fierce crash of lightning, leaving their bodies smoking. That was certainly enough for today. As for Flash Magnus, he had yet to show himself, making the other pegasi worry. The shield unfortunately was not Lightning-proof so it would be impossible for it to protect him as efficentily as it could.
However, when he emerged from the clouds, he was still in one piece, albeit smoking with his armour messed up. And the shield was even fine too despite its true purpose. The plan worked out at the cost of him receiving some damage.But he also received something else in return for this brave act. And that was the applause, cheers and praise of his fellow cadets who flew up to him.
And it was at this moment that he would also gain notoriety and emerge to become the pony everyone knew about for his bravery. Like me.
"Pretty much the gist of it." Rainbow Dash shrugged after telling that story. "Pretty awesome stuff, honestly. All of them are but Flash Magnus' is my personal favourite."
"Yeah, it is!" Ash nodded along with all of his Pokemon who managed to hear this story.
"Great stuff." Ember applauded that story even if it did involve the defeat of two dragons. But considering what she has to put up with as a Dragon Lord, it wasn't so bad since dragons can be pretty unruly at times.
"I'm sure the rest of our friends have more to tell you about these pillars, Ash." Rarity added. "All six of them are so special in their own way and you could say they influenced us each."
"It's done!" Fluttershy exclaimed as the gift for Chrysalis was finally completed. With all of their hard work, they made the biggest gift that they possibly could. Ash and everyone turned to witness the creation that had been brought into the world.
The best that they could do was a massive diorama which featured everyone Chrysalis has met outside of the Changeling Hive such as Fluttershy herself, Ash, Twilight, Pikachu and more. This large diorama had so many characters on it with Chrysalis being in the centre. Of course, they couldn't fit absolutely everyone on it but it was more than enough.
And the best part about this was how the diorama acted. Fluttershy would knock her hoof on it, causing the diorama to flip some of the images, revealing other characters on the side. Truly impressive and it would certainly bring a smile to Chrysalis' face.
"Thank you Smeargle for doing the art for us." Fluttershy thanked a Smeargle who was responsible for the artwork, creating a simplified version of the characters that made them look pointy.
"Smeargle!"
"And thank you all for helping make this. When she wakes up or even opens her eyes a bit, Chrysalis will love this. We just have to get it there to her.."
"Woo! Check this out." Ash approached the diorama. "We're gonna carry all of this? It's as big as your home."
"I know. I need all the muscle I can get. Do you think Bea is available?" Fluttershy questioned, wanting Bea's Gigantamax Machamp to carry this thing.
"I think a regular Machamp would do. However, Applejack suggested that her brother's Machamp should take it. He would be normal-sized and strong enough to lift this thing. Plus, he had the speed to get there as soon as possible. Ash would love to hear more about the Pillars of Equestria but getting this gift to Chrysalis was his top priority at the moment.
But after hearing these three stories so far, he was amazed. The history of Equestria was always something that captivated him, much like the history of the other regions he's been to, the ties to Legendary Pokemon and so on. It was all so fascinating.
This was thanks to his many journeys across the world, learning more about wherever he goes. And in the case of the pillars, he wished he could see them one day, even if it was just an image or a statue. But little did Ash know, there was a reason why they were called the Pillars of Equestria.
Magehold.
Meanwhile, over at Magehold, Fantina's Pokemon Contest was still being prepared but it was close to completion by now. She had everyone excited for this, ready to spread the amazement of a Pokemon Contest to everyone. Watching and endorsing this contest was none other than Fractured Note, AKA the former Lich King reincarnated.
While watching this contest being prepared, he couldn't help but wonder what Opal Vivacity, his sister would do in this. This also spoke to her in a way. But at the moment, Opal Vivacity was out there searching for Xerneas.
Being the only one capable of concealing himself from the Lich Queen's view of the vampires and Magehold thanks to his magic, he spoke to himself while observing from the balcony. "Now they're going after Xerneas too. Do they really wish to wipe out all life? And even worse, they'll go beyond just this world. They might target forces outside of Earth and in space. And after that, other worlds."
It was rather alarming how violent the Black Crusade was and how far it was willing to go to fulfil this mission. However, being the first Lich King, something didn't sit right with him about the Black Crusade. The purpose of it was obviously off-putting but it was something else.
"Where did it even come from? I never endorsed anything like this." Fractured Note scratched his mane, wondering where it came from and who made it. It certainly wasn't him. "Was it me? I came before them all and it is a corrupted form of my magic. Perhaps the voices within are sharing the Black Crusade with Lich Kings and Queens. That could be it. If only I knew why this is happening. Is it...me?"
Fractured Note wondered if he was truly to blame for this. It was his magic at the end of the day, just a corrupted version of it that he had no control over. He looked at his hoof, fearful that a part of him wanted this to happen. The Lich Kings and Queens that came before him all had twisted mindsets compared to what they usually were and the first one was nothing like them.
"I still have to figure that out. But in the meanwhile, I'm counting on Ebony Rhyme and the others to help finish this cycle." He would once again glance over at the Contest preparations.
And his eyes would also follow Fantina, who was instructing the vampires on what to do to make it really feel like a contest hall. Fantina was an eyecatcher and someone to focus on as well. And judging by her time being here, Fantina had something that was affecting Magehold gradually.
"And honestly, I'm also counting on you, Fantina."
The day for Magehold's Pokemon Contest was near and thanks to Fantina, she managed to excite many of them. Granted, these were all the casual vampires who weren't a part of the Dread League. They had less to worry about, living their lives as vampires. This was the most excitement they've experienced in centuries since Magehold has been rather dry ever since the disappearance of the first Lich King.
However, the day Fantina came here changed everything for them. She ironically brought life into Magehold, giving it more flair with her exuberant personality and actions. And very soon, she was about to show the pinnacle of her style with this upcoming Pokemon Contest.
"Okay, children! You've all done well to practice with your Pokemon." Fantina spoke to the vampiric foals. "Succeed or fail, all that matters is that you make it as grand as you can. And you all seem to be good at that."
"What's the prize, Miss Fantina?" A vampire filly asked. "It's such a big deal after all.2
"The prize? Well, a ribbon, of course. And that will be designed by me." Fantina winked as she would be the one to make a ribbon for the contestants. "And what about your suits and dresses? Do you have them prepared?"
"Not all of us. My mom's too busy wanting mine to be perfect." A vampire colt pouted as not all of them had their outfits ready for the contest. All of them would express what their parents
"Yeah, same here. My mom wants it to be beautiful. The one I wore back at the fashion show isn't gonna fly apparently."
"My dad thinks suits are lame and a waste of time to wear. Are they?"
"Hah! My dad's making mine as scary as it can be! Sucks to be you!"
"Well, you will all stand out in your own way with whatever you wish to wear. Is there anyone here who won't be able to have an outfit? If not, then you can wear what you had back at the Fashion show. Or...I can give you some of my hand-made suits and dresses!"
"Oh, hand-made?!" They collectively bellowed with their eyes opening. Fantina then aimed her hand at the door which prompted it open. Opening it were ponies sent by Fractured Note to help make this contest possible as they were carrying large bags. In these bags were various clothes that were made by Fantina herself.
Spread out on the ground, these suits and dresses were expertly made, deviating from the Magehold style. Since Fantina knew a lot about contests, these dresses were truly exciting, matching the Pokemon that each child had.
"Wow! Look at these!" They gathered around the pile of clothes for the upcoming Pokemon Contest. All catering to their needs, as to be expected from Fantia.
"Some of you requested clothes that really dazzle, so I delivered. But...I know some of you also want the dreary and dark, so I also made those kinds of clothes." Fantina revealed clothes that also matched the Magehold style, satisfying everyone's needs. Now, you can look and choose whichever clothes you want. I will be right back."
Fantina would depart from the classroom. Chatter from the young ones filled the area while Fantina left. They were already scrambling, having their eyes on certain suits and dresses. With Fantina's expertise, everything seemed satisfactory to them. Fantina had a lovely smile on her face, making the children happy. And by extension, she would soon make the rest of Magehold happy once they see the contest for themselves. Fantina's passion was really about to shine, just as much as the Heavenly Maiden Tree she planted outside.
However, before she could continue her work with the contest, appearing in the hallway without making a sound was Fractured Note. The current reincarnation of the first Lich King of Magehold.
"Hello, Fantina." And when meeting with Fantina, his magic would envelops this hallway, being one of the few things that can escape the Lich Queen's eyesight. Right now, he and Fantina were protected. "Mind if I speak with you?"
"Oh, yes? I have time before everything can start."
"Good. Because I really need you right now. The Lich Queen is rather fuming due to everything that's happened but you haven't noticed with how busy you are. Lucky. Anyway, I'm afraid your life is in peril and will end sooner than expected with how things are going."
"Is that Black Crusade thing everyone keeps talking about?" Fantina asked.
"It is. She's moved it up and of course, Yveltal is the ultimate force that can make it a reality. I need to ask you something...Do you know anything about Yveltal?"
"A little bit but...not that much." That was the only answer had could give out. Fantina's knowledge of the Destruction Pokemon didn't exactly go that far.
"I see. Well, I still need your help. I already told Ebony Rhyme everything and you're willing to help her in any way that you can. Fantina. I'm guessing you're not up for the Black Crusade."
"No, no. I couldn't let something like that happen but...who am I to go against the Lich Queen's orders?" Fantina shrugged. Alas, thanks to Rosa Maledicta, she was not defiant against the Lich Queen at all.
"Correct." FRactured Note nodded before thinking to himself. "She's still willing to help her friend either way but she's never directly gone against Rosa Maledicta. I have to be careful otherwise the Lich Queen will deal with Fantina and catch on to my plan."
"So. Is there anything else you need me to do?"
"Well, I need you to come with me. There are other vampires who have escaped the sight of the Lich Queen thanks to my magic. And there exists a place where they cannot be found. Come with me to the Delusion Dungeon."
"Oh?" Fantina was curious. According to Fractured Note, there was a secret location exempt from Rosa Maledicta's view. A safe haven for vampires who were against the Lich Queen. Fractured Note would lead Fantina there while still concealing her from the Lich Queen.
It was known as the Delusion Dungeon.
The pathway to the dungeon was a secret obviously as it was located at the deepest part of Magehold. Specifically, underneath the school itself. This pathway was found beneath the school, unveiled by bookshelves that focused on Magehold's history and other things related to it.
A narrow pair of granite doors marked the entrance to this dungeon. Beyond the pair of granite doors lies a massive, foggy room. Fantina and Fractured Note stood before it as It was covered in cobwebs, corrupted moss and dirt, aged and ravaged by time itself.
They continued onwards, deeper into the dungeon's darkness. Along the way, they passed by some abandoned passages, most of which have collapsed or were dead ends to begin with. She eventually made it to what is likely the final area in this place. An ominous granite door blocked their path. Countless runes are all over it, somehow untouched by time and the elements.
And opening that door was none other than Rattle, the young vampire filly who knew a lot about Fantina. And definitely knew that she wasn't meant to be here. "Oh. Miss Fantina." Rattle greeted.
"Ah, little Rattle! Is there where you go most of the time?"
"Sorry, I haven't been in class lately. I've been busy." She apologized, rubbing her hooves together.
"Young rattle here always knew that you were never meant to be here and knew that you were under the Lich Queen's control. But...your mind has been altered so you don't believe you're under her control. And even my words don't matter right now."
"Nevermind. Come and meet those who have defied the cycle as well." Fractured Note would then fully open the doors, revealing other vampires here. There were a quite handful of them in this dungeon room, all against the Lich Queen. Noticeably, all of them were rather old. Older than what vampires usually are. A vampire can look good for centuries thanks to their long-lasting age and appear rather young.
But these vampires were showing their age with some of them having wrinkles or even white streaks in their manes. They were certainly incredibly old compared to the others. This was practically a resistance of vampires, free from the Lich Queen's eyes, allowing them to speak and plot.
"Ah, is this the lady who has been making waves up there?" An old vampire walked up to Fantina as she was noticed by the others. Fantina's fame even reached here. "My, she certainly is beautiful as they say she is."
"Mhm. So that's what a human looks like." Another old vampire uttered. "What an eye-catcher."
"So much skin on her..."
"Oh, finally! I missed out on seeing you a lot of the time but now you're here!" Even though most of them were old, some were young, including one vampire who ran up to Fantina. "Oh my gosh! I get to meet you now!"
"Ah, hello there." Fantina greeted her. "My fame precedes me, I see."
"Oh! I'm Eccentrick!" The vampire held her hoof out. "I would've met you earlier but I got occupied helping out here. But I get to meet you and I'm so stoked! I hear you're such a glamour queen!" She then screeched at the top of her lungs, nearly harming Fantina's ears.
"Oh, I suppose so..."
"It's true though! Look at how you dress!" Expressing an interest in Fantina's style and passion, Eccentrick rapidly teleported around the Hearthome City Gym Leader. "So much style! It's way better than what Opal has!"
"If you love this, then you'll love the contest up there." Fantina tugged on her dress.
"A-A contest...? Like those Pokemon Contests, I've heard about!?" Eccentrick's eyes widened.
"These ponies here are helping me in trying to stop the Lich Cycle. As you can see, they are rather old, aren't they? That is because these are my oldest and closest subjects. They once served with me at the castle when I was once the Lich King."
"And it was an enjoyable time too." A wrinkly vampire added. "You had quite the nice reign. A shame the ones after you lasted longer and turned Magehold into this."
"Mmmrgh...I wish the new Lich King or Queen wasn't chosen by some random voice in the earth." A grumpy old vampire replied, slumping on the walls. "That voice might as well own the place, looking for the next poor sap to influence."
"They've all known about the cycle and they've been doing everything in their power to stop it. But with how fast it develops, it as a bit too late to fully defeat it. I am already past my prime, no longer having my original body. I'm just a reincarnation now."
"Mr Fractured Note and everypony here are hiding from the LIch Queen. They don't wanna get caught and have their plans exposed so they hid underneath the school, which used to be a factory until the 3rd Lich came along." Rattle explained.
"Good work on your history, little one." Rattle received a pat on the head from one of the elder vampires.
"And it's like so lame too!" Eccentrick groaned before using her Curse Magic to summon a fan. This fan was noticeably made out of bat wings as she used it to heat herself up. Not cool herself. It did the complete opposite. "I mean, I was born during the times when everything was so dry and bleh. And it still is, but I heard from these oldies that things used to be fun around here."
"They did?" said Fantina.
"We knew how to have fun back in our day. As vampires, the only thing keeping us happy was each other. We were still tied to Magehold since we weren't ready for the outside world just yet. But we loved every moment of it." The vampires started reminiscing about the past.
"It was a wonderful time." An old vampire sighed. "We drank from the Crimson Pool for our lovely beverages but that was destroyed ever since the old Magehold became abandoned.
"And that's what it's all about. Who needs destruction when you can just party and chill out?" Eccentrick shrugged before transforming her fan into some sort of camera. "And you're perfect for it, Fantina! I was so psyched when I heard that someone like you as around! Can I get your picture?!"
"I see..." Fantina was starting to understand the situation.
"Really, we wouldn't mind if a new Lich King or Queen showed up. All we care is about getting rid of this Black Crusade and all the tragedy that comes with it. The various generations of Liches have ruined it all."
"Thankfully, with how much Magehold is sheltered from the rest of Equestria, very few perished, but the damage is done. Now, this is a new golden age for Magehold when it comes to action. But it is a rather dark golden age." Another expressed how awful things had become.
"There are others who come down here. Some of the casual residents of Magehold assist from time to time." Fractured Note continued. "But...it's rather hard with Rosa Maledicta's magic. Seeing everything your subjects are doing is something that is hard to evade for sure. And I certainly can't conceal everyone in different places at once."
"You've been struggling like this for centuries because of this magic to see everything."
"Actually, the 5th Lich invented that spell. It was a rather powerful one. We were still fighting against the corrupted magic that made the Lich Cycle and it drove us back. But it is Rosa Maledicta who managed to improve the spell and truly make it her own."
"We've been trying to cut her connection from that spell for years now, but to no avail. In all honestly, if we can just shut that magic down, we have a chance to make a turnaround." The grumpy vampire brought up a good point.
Rosa Maledicta was powerful. That much is true. But what makes her so terrifying is the fact that she was always able to see everything so as long as the Dread League is involved in some way. The same goes for the Despair Plants. With that, she can always know what's going on and capitalize. Very few can evade her sight.
"More importantly, we need to get Yveltal away from here," said Fractured Note. "With how the world is developing, I can guarantee that there are those who can fight back against the Lich Queen with the help of their colourful friends known as Pokemon. But with Yveltal here, that can be an even larger problem. All it would take is for Yveltal to perish."
"Oh, my goodness..." Fantina was taking it all in and it was something.
"I know. It was rough when I found out about it." Rattle said.
"Well, I'd love to help. I don't want anyone to suffer and perish." Fantina shook her head. "It's not right. I'd rather have them dance and join in on the contests! Or even see them! And as for Yveltal...It should be free since it is a Legendary Pokemon."
"Glad you agree. But we have a tall order. Ebony Rhyme is still working on her Memory Potion for you. Your memories must come back to you so that you can leave, Fantina and be free again. You had that opportunity back at the Despair Plant Garden but her control over you is still so powerful. And with her plans being accelerated as well as Xerneas being threatened, things aren't looking good." Fractured Note walked up to her. "Is there anything you can suggest with your knowledge?"
"Oh, I bet she totally can!" Eccentrick said with high confidence. "I mean, she knows a lot about every Pokemon, doesn't she, so it's no big deal!"
"I know a lot. But for this? What Pokemon can deal with this that I can reach?" Fantina thought for a moment. What Pokemon can she reach and help her in this predicament?
"We still have a lot of planning to do." Fractured Note faced the others. "And a lot of action."
"I did meet some interesting ponies back at that garden." She recalled Rarity and Applejack, who had been wiped from her memories thanks to Rosa Maledicta.
"Ah, yes, them. I wish we had better communication with the rest of the world." Fractured Note sighed. "But the Lich Queen will find out about it. We're trapped here until the Black Crusade is unleashed.
"I could totally do something about it, ya know. My magic is all about reversing but I'm not that strong." Eccentrick laughed as she apparently had the answer to this, but lacked the power to make it possible. "Sucks. This is the best curse a vampire can ever ask for."
"Hmmm...What can I do?" The usually optimistic Fantina sat down, pondering for a moment. What could she add to this? She had the knowledge but with how things are, her actions were rather limited.
"Those two ponies you met back at the garden. I saw them thanks to Ebony Rhyme encountering them. They used to be your friends, but you don't remember them at all." Fractured Note responded. "But one thing is clear...their friend group has the highest chance of helping us. No doubt, they're trying to stop the Black Crusade like us. I wish we could also reach them and have them help us."
"That's impossible. No one can leave here without being watched." Rattle pointed out. "The only way for that to happen is if the Lich Queen gets tired again, but she'll know we're up to something if we force her to expend a lot of magic."
"Correct, little one. But there is someone out there fighting against her. We cannot go far and we're mainly relying on ourselves." Fractured Note pondered. "We're also running out of time and even with Ebony Rhyme's skills, she can't make a potion powerful enough. Now you see the trouble we're in Fantina."
"I know." But Fantina knew from a while back. "It's awful. Even if I'm being controlled, I still want to help prevent this. You said that the only chance we have is if someone can avoid her sight?"
"Yes. The Delusion Room is one of those places. It creates delusions in the eyes, meaning the Lich Queen is seeing something else. The magic even radiates through the bookshelves that protect it." An old vampire explained. "This is the safest place in Magehold from her spell, unfortunately."
"That spell is not originally hers. She simply improved on it. But if there was a way to cut off that Overseeing Spell from her, we could have a chance." Fractured added.
"Ah, let me handle that!" Fantina had something, snapping her fingers. "If that is all that needs to be done, I can handle it."
"It's not that easy, Fantina. Cutting that spell away from her is an aggressive task. Realistically, only Eccentrick can do something about it. She can reverse the spell but it will not last. The magic gap between a Lich and a vampire is stark."
"Which like...sucks." Eccentrick pouted. "She's not even a proper Lich, she just became one when she was chosen as the next ruler. She's just a normal unicorn at the end of the day. If I could reverse that spell, I would but I can't get close."
"You cannot get close...But maybe one of my Pokemon can." Fantina held out some of her Poke Balls.
"Oh. Can your Pokemon do something about this?" Fractured Note questioned as they all leaned in to gaze at the Poke Balls.
"Perhaps. My ghosts can play amazing tricks but it might not be enough for the Lich Queen. All I need is a chance. Gengar can possess you if possible. Mismagius can pull off incantations that have many effects. Dusknoir and Drifblim mainly take things away. Dusknoir especially goes beyond our realm."
"Perhaps one of these Pokemon can help us. How about having your Gengar possess one of us and we can do something? Try possessing Eccentrick." A vampire suggested.
"I'm gonna get possessed?!" Eccentrick gasped. "Will that make my magic stronger?!"
"Not really. Gengar will only have control of your body. But my Pokemon can still do something and I know what I must do. I have to make my contest a part of the plan."
"Your contest? Part of the plan? How?" A vampire questioned.
"Hold on. She may be on to something." Fractured Note wanted to hear this. "OF course...there's the protective field of magic that prevents others from getting in. What do you have, Fantina?"
"This will be Magehold's first Pokemon Contest and I want to leave an impression. How about I make this the biggest contest it can be? If that field of yours is so bothersome, then perhaps my contest can deal with it."
"A bunch of light shows isn't going to break that field. Do you know how strong it is?" One vampire didn't see it panning out.
"Oh, I can imagine if no one else has managed to reach here." Fantina giggled. "Which is why I'm going to use everything I know. Those lovely seeds that made that tree out there, Ebony Rhyme's Potions and other things."
"Using every resource is a good idea. We've tried it though and that has failed before." Fractured Note sighed. "But perhaps you have a different way of using them. What is it, Fantina?"
"It has to be something destructive if it's going to break the field," said Rattle.
"Ah, it won't destroy the field. Non, non." Fantina shook her head as that wasn't her plan. "The Lich Queen is fighting against someone, isn't she? Galaxy Master. She uses a lot of magic to deal with him."
"Indeed. It's a struggle every time those two go at it. Bursts of light materialize here and damage the shield. However, the field is so strong that it regenerates incredibly fast. The only benefit is that it keeps the Lich Queen's magic on a stale path, so she rarely gets to regenerate most of it." The Fractured Note explained.
"Brilliant! He will add to the plan! I will make this contest so massive that it grabs her full attention. They go against each other during the night, don't they? That is when you are all active."
"She's not a vampire...She's a lich. Light doesn't work against her." Eccentrick shrugged.
"I know. But it's not the light that will get to her. She needs time to heal...so let's make some noise, everyone." Fantina winked. She essentially wanted to get rowdy with this Pokemon Contest. "There will be more than just performances and battles. How about so music, food and other things?"
"You're trying to break her focus? That is a good approach but Rosa Maledicta's level of focus is staggeringly great." Fractured Note pondered. "It would take a-" He paused for a moment before continuing. "Unless your POkemon is capable of changing that. Which one is it though?"
"Oh, don't worry. I have everything planned out. Listen carefully to this. My contest will have to be moved forward because of this. Make it as big as possible. And it should be when Galaxy Master is going up against the Lich Queen." Fantina shared the plan with them. "If that field regenerates faster than what we can comprehend, let's change that, okay?"
"Alright." Fractured Note smiled, expecting great things from Fantina. "I suppose this field of expertise is what I should've thought about before. What is it going to be, Fantina?"
The day of the Pokemon Contest would have a bit more preparation. For one reason only. The Pokemon Contest would help in damaging and ruining the field that protects Magehold. How exactly? That was for Fantina to execute. She was planning on making this contest as big as possible. It was more than just breaking Rosa Maledicta's focus. The Lich Queen was insanely powerful so every resource Fantina knows about is needed.
And funnily enough, Galaxy Master would be indirectly involved. It was all a matter of what the Lich Queen will do next. The struggles within Magehold are being tackled and the story for it doesn't end here. Not yet. But elsewhere, the Dread League were facing their own struggles in the outside world as the journey continues.
On the same day that Fantina's Pokemon Contest was about to become bigger than what it usually was, another day at the Pokemon School would go by. But this would be the day a change would happen. A change that will effect the Pokemon School later down the road.
Gathering here were the many ponies who had a lot to learn about Pokemon. And the two ponies who were newer to this than anyone else were currently doing whatever they wanted.
"Daisy! Paradise!" Crying out the names of these two specific ponies was Twilight Sparkle, who was essentially their mother. She even yelled their names in the same way a mother would. Currently, streams of flowers had decorated the walls of the school hallway, adding some beauty to it. A mixture of daisies and Paradise flowers were scattered everywhere while the Princess of Friendship was pursuing them.
"Oh, this looks fun." Some ponies rather enjoyed the decorative look that the Pokemon School gained. They walked by to see the two flowers beautify the hallway. And noticing this change was Cynthia, who hasn't shown up here at the Pokemon School for a while now.
"See?! I can make them faster than you can!" The reason for this array of flowers across the school was simply due to a competition of all things. Daisy exclaimed as she was competing with her sister. Around them were flower objects that they made, representing their respective flower. And they certainly made a lot to fill up most of the hallway. Tables, dresses, utensils and more were scattered around them.
"No, you can't. If you could, you would see this coming." Paradise smiled as she held her hoof out. In a flash, paradise flowers would materialize over Daisy's head. They immediately formed into multiple hats, rapidly bombarding Daisy's head.
"Ow!" Daisy cried out, prompting Paradise to laugh. Daisy retaliated by summoning a cup of flowers, holding her hoof into the air. The power to create objects out of flowers was something they were capable of. Daisy proved it when she first made a dress out of daisies. Paradise would quickly summon something else to drop and outnumber Daisy with as it was a flower brawl in the hallways with seemingly no one else caring. Eventually, Twilight found them by following the trail of flowers they left behind.
"Aha! You two!" Twilight roared their names, causing the sisters to grimace. Daisy slowly turned her head while Paradise already saw her mother figure. Twilight had a rather narrow look in her eyes that made them both gulp. It was only a matter of time until something like this happened.
"H-Hey Mom!" Daisy greeted as a flower hat would drop off her.
"Look at this! What are you two doing?!" Twilight bellowed while teleporting over to them. "Why now?!"
"Well, we were just testing this out." Paradise summoned a blanket of flowers that would cover the other flower objects on the floor. "We can do this neat thing where can make anything with flowers."
"But we had a little contest where we could see who was better at it." Daisy continued.
"You couldn't have done this back home? And why did you choose now of all times to do it? and I thought you already knew you had this ability." Twilight questioned.
"I thought I could only make dresses. But one night, I got pretty thirsty and ended up making a mug." Daisy explained how she came across other objects.
"Same here. It just felt like the right thing to do instinctively." Paradise looked at her hoof. "And I think I'm pretty good at it. I can make anything with this kind of power!"
"I can see that...but you're making a mess of the school." Twilight swept away some of the flowers. "It's not destructive damage but it can get in the way. You're here to learn, not mess around like this. This is over the top." Twilight then showed the number of flowers everywhere. There were so many that they might as well be a natural part of the school that have always been here.
"Sorry about that." Daisy lowered her head. "We got a bit carried away, I guess."
"Yeah. I was just excited to show everyone else this." Paradise grumbled. "I mean, everyone else thinks it's cool. Plus, no one's really studying around here that much. The teachers aren't around right now so..."
"Well, not everyone is needed here at the school." Twilight sighed. "Most of us were taught about Pokemon before the Pokemon School came along. I went out of my way to teach myself, visiting Canalave Library and other libraries across the many regions."
"And that's why you were chosen as a Pokemon Professor." Speaking to Twilight and appearing at the scene was none other than Cynthia. In her hands, she held the many flowers that Daisy and Paradise generated.
"Oh, Cynthia?!" Twilight gasped. "I haven't seen you for a while!"
"Sorry. I've been busy. A new world means new things to see and get adjusted to." Cynthia approached them. "But I've been caught up with the news recently and everything that's happened. Congratulations on being a mother, Twilight." Cynthia giggled, bringing up how Twilight was seen as a mother because of how she brought Daisy and Flora into this world.
"It wasn't this bad when Nyx said it." Twilight sighed.
"I believe only Roxanne is in today. But with how things are, I'm not surprised many of the teachers aren't here for today's lessons. They might not show up for tomorrow's either. After all...you've been teaching yourselves."
"We have?"
"Of course you have. Twilight, you got ahead of everyone else in Equestria, so eager to learn about our world. Before the school was made, you learned so much from your new friends. Honestly, I'm not sure why you show up here when you have such a large resource of knowledge back home."
"Right? We don't need to be here." Paradise raised her hoof. "We can just learn at home and it'll be all the more better!"
"But it is fun to get out there though," said Daisy, preferring the expanded horizons of the world.
"I just love learning in any way that I can. Daisy, Paradise. School's a good way to catch up on a lot of things. Plus, I'd prefer that you were all safe when learning about Pokemon. The things I had to go through to learn about certain Pokemon..." Twilight's pupils shrunk along with her eyes expanding.
Indeed, she and many others went through struggles when it came to new Pokemon. Spiritomb, Eternatus, Malamar and many others come to mind. She did learn a lot about them and what they were capable of but she'd rather not revisit them. And with Daisy and Paradise now in her life, Twilight wanted them to be safe.
"I don't want you all getting hurt and going through what I did." Twilight expressed her worries. "So learning in the safety of the Pokemon School and I suppose back home is better than ending up somewhere and fleeing from whatever Pokemon manages to spot you."
"Aw, but that sounds like it would be the fun option!" Paradise groaned. "I wanna do what Ash does!"
"Being chased by a Pokemon sounds fun actually..." Daisy said with a daydreaming face.
"Unfortunately, it's hard to stay that safe." Cynthia laid out the truth. "Part of the fun is experiencing what these Strange and Wonderful Creatures can do. But that can't stop you from learning here either. Roxanne is a teacher back where she comes from so it's only natural for her to be here. I love to teach myself and so do others."
"I guess so. Rainbow Dash and the others are doing their own things right now while I'm in here." Twilight was the only one of her common friend group in school today. "They'll learn all that they can. But you two have a lot to learn compared to us. And I mean a lot. I'm surprised you don't have the mind of babies due to how new you are."
"I know right?" Daisy nodded in agreement. "Lucky us. What's a baby's mind like, anyway?"
"Well, since you've brought this up, I can tutor you while everyone else is doing their own thing. Olympia's class should be available. This is technically the one time where I can have a lot of free time with you two so let's not waste it."
"You'll be teaching us? Right now? I thought you'd do it back home?"
"Lots of things were on my plate but now I'm free. Just leave it to me, okay?" Twilight promised that she could teach them a lot. With her vast knowledge and adaptive mind, she could share a lot in a matter of seconds and Cynthia would take the time to watch this. "But...Could you clean this mess up first?"
Entering Olympia's classroom, Twilight would be the one to teach Daisy and Paradise. The two of them knew a bit about Pokemon. Mainly their types and some of their moves due to how many battles happened at Saddle Lake. When they were still flowers, they got to see a lot of these battles play out and the vast array of moves that existed. But knowledge on these moves needed to be expanded.
"Okay. Here's one thing you should know and one thing I didn't even know. You already know how Pokemon shrink when a Poke Ball connects with them. But...They actually have the power to do that themselves." Twilight explained, already having artwork on the board to express this.
"Wait, they can do that?" Daisy replied.
"All Pokemon can do that apparently. They rarely do thought unless it's inside the ball. But the Poke Ball also helps with that. I've yet to see a Pokemon do that but it is possible. Now, I think I should let you all get comfortable with Pokemon that'll be safe."
"Safety again, Mom?" Paradise groaned. "Aren't we technically old enough to protect ourselves?"
"No, you're still young when it comes to the world and there are a lot of Pokemon that will take some time getting used to. It's not easy. Paradise, you already have two Pokemon but they were friendly towards you. There are many Pokemon out there that won't be so easy to approach. But you can count on Grass-Types. Most of them will be safe. Since you two were originally flowers, I think Grass-Types are perfect Pokemon for you to have."
"Oh, goodie!" Daisy clapped her hooves, loving that idea. "We can just have any!?"
"It's best that you spend time around those that make you healthy. You still benefit from the Sun, after all and a lot of Grass-Types can help with that. Try the Pokemon House or even PokePark. Just the Cove and Arbor Area though."
"This is cool and all but what about the fun stuff? Like types and moves?" Paradise asked.
"I know, I know. You want to get into that the most. Well, pay attention. Now that we're here, there's a lot to go over and I hope you can keep up."
"I hope we can. I can write it down with this!" Daisy summoned a pen that was made out of daisies while also having a sheet of daisies. "Ta-dah!"
"Daisy...I'm not sure that will work. I mean, it looks like a pen but does it function like a pen?" Twilight questioned, wondering if it had the properties of a pen.
"Uh...I don't really know how pens work." Daisy scrunched her face, pressing the pen on the sheet as nothing came out. Not even a dot or a blot. It had no ink.
"Hah! One step ahead of you!" Paradise laughed as she had an advantage. Her Paradise Flower Pen had something that could be written down as she had what looked to be blue text.
"That's not fair, sis! How'd you do that?!"
"How did you do that?! Is your magic developing faster than hers?!" Twilight gasped.
"Totally! That's why we were competing earlier! I told you I'm faster than you, so keep up! Haha"
"I will! As soon as I figure this out." She grumbled, trying to make text come out of her pen. She was slightly behind her sister as there was a visible gap between them.
"Anyways...here's what you need to know." Twilight would get started. And she wouldn't hold anything back while still making it simple for her daughters.
Cynthia watched Twilight go off, sharing her knowledge. And the way she was doing it so expertly in front of the board and her daughters made her seem like a genuine teacher. Twilight wanted the best for them since she was taking care of the duo.
Even if she wasn't ready to be a mother, she was certainly acting like one to them, focusing on their safety. It's a big world out there. One could say it's a Grander World now. And Daisy and Paradise just so happened to be born not too long after the worlds united.
Cynthia's observation of Twilight made her think for a moment. She took in everything Twilight knew and how she expressed it to others. Paradise and Daisy were heavily focused on their mother's words, not missing a beat on what she had to say.
"Excellent. Honestly, she's much more fit for this than I am. I barely show up for being appointed the principal of this. I'm not even sure why I was chosen." Cynthia smiled while thinking to herself. "Roxanne and the others made up their mind already. They know they can't be here forever and that's why they're entrusting these jobs to someone else."
Indeed, the Gym Leaders already told the others what they would do later on. And the same went for Cynthia, who was rarely here, doing her own thing. She was dedicated to the rest of the world and what she could find.
"Much like them, I wish to step down as principal. Someone else is better fit for this role than me. I'd love to have the Dragons and Changelings learn here but I'm not the one fit for that." Cynthia had it on her mind. She wanted to step down and leave it to someone else's care.
"Remember. If a non-Poison-Type Pokemon poisons you, the poison will be strong, yes. But if a Poison-Type does it, it's vicious and even stronger, so be careful. The same goes for other Pokemon Types. Afflictions are better if they're the same type. A paralysis from an Electric-Type is far better than what a Non-Electric-Type can do."
"Twilight was given that Pokemon Professor role for a reason but even she doesn't seem to be too into it as much. She's busy as the Princess of Friendship." Cynthia continued. "But she balances them so well."
"Don't overuse defensive moves. Protect is good but in succession, it'll decrease in quality. The same goes for moves similar to it. Defence is good but know how to use it. I'd suggest having your Pokemon use their natural traits. Umbreon has a secret poison within it so if in a pinch, let's say constricted, it can seep poison into its opponents. You can also use the flower on a Venasaur but be careful how you approach it or it'll backfire on you."
"Oh, is there a lesson happening here?" A few younger students would hear Twilight's voice, peeking into this classroom. Most were just doing whatever they wanted without many teachers around but Twilight was currently acting like one at the moment. It was mainly children who showed up who were also craving for Pokemon knowledge.
"Uh, I'm just catching these two up on things," Twilight explained. "That's all. Do you all have classes to be at right now?"
"Our teachers aren't here today. We've got nothing." The young ponies entered. "We were gonna continue learning about the Johto Region today."
"Oh, that's easy. I have a lot of books about Johto!" Twilight laughed. "You can gain a lot from what I have to say. Have a seat." Twilight would fill that role, choosing to tutor these children. "Daisy. Paradise. You don't mind, do you?"
"No way. Tell us about Johto too. But uh...Go on about that defensive stuff first." Paradise requested as the children would take their seats in Olympia's class.
"Alright. If Pinkie Pie were here, I'd have her give demonstrations on certain Pokemon but it's fine. I should also probably tell you about Infinity Energy and how that helps." Twilight was now teaching a full class. She would make things simpler for the children while still taking the time to give a wealth of information.
This went on for minutes and minutes with all the children glued to Twilight's words and the art she displayed. The Princess of Friendship even got interactive with them. She brought out her own Pokemon for demonstrations as the ponies in front of her were in need of all the knowledge they can get.
She didn't recognize most of them from either Ponyville or Canterlot, meaning these ones came from other towns and cities. All the more reason to teach them. Twilight had one benefit that the other teachers of the school didn't quite have. Sure, they had experience in a lot of things but thanks to the adventures that Twilight has been on, she had a wider experience when it comes to the world. Cynthia would finally interact with her, wanting to say what she needed to say.
"Twilight." Cynthia stood up, approaching the Princess of Friendship. "The reason I came back here was because I wanted to make sure things were right for the new students that will one day show up here. So far, only ponies are learning at this school but other species want to learn more about Pokemon. Such as Dragons and Changelings."
"Yes?" Twilight looked up at her. "Did you see the dragons, Cynthia?"
"I met with some of them along the way and they were thirsting for knowledge. I recommended that they come to the Pokemon School but they aren't that eager since most aren't used to ponies at all."
"That checks out." Twilight shrugged as that wasn't a surprise. "Not every dragon wants to be around us. But I'm sure Ember can sort that out. And as for the Changelings, they're still suffering a huge hit after what happened with Chrysalis. But I guess they might show up here too."
"And unfortunately, I won't be there to get them started. Neither will the rest of the teachers. They already told you what they would do later down the road, leaving the school in the care of someone else. Someone capable."
"I heard. They said they were hoping that it was someone from Equestria that could handle it. It's easier for anyone here to get to the Pokemon School compared to crossing an entire region. I mean...then everyone would have to rely on using the Pallet Town Gateways and that can be very overcrowded fast. But...are you saying that you're also stepping down, Cynthia?"
"I'm not fit to be a principal, Twilight. They actually wanted Leon before me but even he knows he's not cut out for this. None of us are. We've all followed our own path long ago when it came to Pokemon and running a school just isn't it. We were mostly chosen for our status and we do indeed have a lot to share. Just not in the way a teacher can. Except for Roxanne."
"I guess so. You're all so busy with what you've achieved. Then...what's gonna become of the school at this rate? Everyone else in Equestria weren't exactly with Pokemon since the beginning like humans. Teaching will be different than what it used to be."
"Not exactly. I already see someone who has the knowledge to cover decades of information." Cynthia smiled, referring to Twilight.
"Oh...Oh!" It didn't take Twilight long to realize Twilight was talking about her. "M-Me?!"
"You're the smartest pony, I know, Twilight. Perhaps Celestia is tied with you. Your thirst for knowledge is why BigTime Ben entrusted you with a lab and the PokePark. The path you chose when it comes to learning about Pokemon is a long one, especially at your age."
"I know. But it's never too late, you know. Pokemon is one of the best things to ever happen to me." Twilight faced Espeon, petting her on the head as she purred. "And it feels like every day or week, there's something new about them that pops up. I mean...I just found out that Subspace Pokemon exist."
"Subspace Pokemon, eh? Well, that only proves my point." Cynthia giggled. "I hope you understand what I'm saying with this. But I believe you're the best pony to teach them. If anyone can teach Equestria, it's you. I can see it in you, Twilight. You could be the Pokemon School's next teacher."
"Huh..." Twilight pondered for a moment before looking back at Daisy, Paradise and all the other students here. "Are you sure? I mean, I'm not complaining. I love to spread knowledge and gather more but..."
"Apologies if I threw this onto you, suddenly. Honestly, I can't think of anyone else who'll have this opportunity to help make the Pokemon School thrive. It has a lot of potential and I wish I met others who can take the helm here."
"I can do that!" Twilight exclaimed. "I'd love to spread the knowledge of Pokemon to everypony. No, every species. And I know it can't just be me. I have some friends who keep looking into Pokemon too."
"Oh, really?"
"I have no qualms with being a teacher. I'm already a Pokemon Professor, but that means I'll have to balance three roles." She realized that she would be a Princess, Professor and Teacher at the same time.
"You don't have to take it. Think about it, Twilight. Whether it's you or someone else that does it, I want this school's full potential to be realized. There's something rather thrilling about spreading this kind of knowledge and you have plenty of it." Cynthia put her hand on Twilight's back, wanting her to take it easy and not rush.
"O-Okay. Thanks, Cynthia. So...are you going to stay behind?"
"Not today. I have places to be. But good luck. Miss Twilight Sparkle." Much like how Celestia saw a lot in Twilight, so did Cynthia. Twilight's potential was as big as the Pokemon School. Both had room to grow and they were promising.
"Right! Okay, everypony! Let's keep at it!"
"Yes ma'am!" They collectively shouted, enjoying Twilight's lessons.
Cynthia would depart, seeing that the future of this school could be alive and well. With ponies like Twilight, that can be reassured. Even with the current world events and the threat of many dangerous forces, there was still time to learn about the world. And in a way, this can help against these forces. Twilight was rather looking forward to becoming a teacher. But Cynthia saw something more than that which Twilight had yet to discover.
"Hey, Mom!" Ash entered his home, joined by Fluttershy on this new day. And greeting him back was Delia Ketchum long with Mr Mime. Entering the Ketchum Household as well were Fluttershy's Pokemon with Raboot lunging in, attracted to a delicious scent that came from the house. That was Delia's wonderful cooking which could entice anyone. Sitting on the window of the Ketchum Household and on the table were freshly baked pies.
"Glad you two could show up. How is your friend, Chrysalis?" Delia referred to the massive diorama that Fluttershy and the Pokemon from the Pokemon House helped craft.
"She got her gift. We're hoping she wakes up to see it." Fluttershy replied.
"How nice. I'll be giving something back in return. I wish I spent more time with her to know what she likes but I can think of something." Delia was also aiming to give a Get-Well-Soon Gift to Chrysalis, even if she knew very little about her. But she had Chrysalis' relationship with Ash to go off of.
"By the way, Mom. I was hoping to show you to Galaxy Master today." Ash revealed his true purpose of showing up at his household for today instead of just exploring the world. "It'll be like meeting with Dad again!"
"Pika!"
"Oh, yes. I'm glad you told me everything last time. It's wonderful to know that he is indeed your father, even if he was made by the crystal. Perhaps I should take credit for bringing him into this world since it was by accident." Delia giggled as she was the one responsible for causing Galaxy Master to become real. "It wouldn't be the first time. And this will definitely be a wonderful feeling to see him again."
"How long has it been since you've seen your husband, actually?" Fluttershy asked.
"Many years. I think I've lost count. But that's about to change now. Oh, it will be so exciting!" A giddy Delia expressed. "And he'll even look better in that outfit than he did all those years back."
"Better? Wait, has he worn an outfit like that before?" Judging by what Delia was saying, Fluttershy believed that Ash's father has worn a Galaxy Master outfit before. "Even before the crystal made Galaxy Master real?"
"He has. I can show it to you and it's absolutely adorable." Delia had the proof. There was a way to show Fluttershy the past on what exactly happened all those years back. This is also one of those rare instances where Ash's father's face could finally be seen. Fluttershy would be lying if she wasn't a little curious about that.
Delia's way of showing Fluttershy was rather old compared to what exists now. But perhaps not too old for Equestria if it were to ever be there. A VHS tape. Fluttershy gazed her eyes on this old tape cassette that was a bit dusty, but was soon cleaned. It has been sitting away for a while until now. Now it was time for it to be played once more on an equally old device. A VHS Player.
"Ash and his father used to play around a lot whenever Ash wanted to enact a story. It was based around the character and it's just so precious to watch. Have a look." The player would react to the tape, taking its sweet time to prepare itself. This tape housed memories of Ash's experience with his father.
And on this old video, a young Ash Ketchum could be seen. That face and those Lightning Bolt Birthmarks were indistinguishable no matter the age. The Young Ash was wearing a costume which was rather tacky, having a black and red pattern on it. It was simply just a black cape with red accents and patterns along with fake horns that were made out of cardboard while his regular clothes were still on. It could hardly be called a costume.
As for the man standing next to him, that was his father. Mr Ketchum himself. Alas, even with this old video, his face was still covered, mainly because he was wearing the first-ever Galaxy Master outfit before the real one came into existence. And the difference between the two was stark. This Galaxy Master outfit was rugged, corrugated and crumpled. It looked like none of it had been ironed. As for the helmet, it protected his face, preventing Fluttershy from seeing it. One of the helmet's accessories was even drooping down while the other was still standing up.
"Okay, you two! Looking great!" The voice of Delia Ketchum in this video spoke as she was the one who recorded this video. It was essentially from her point of view. "How are my two comic characters feeling?"
"Great and destructive!!" Ash raised his arms before putting on a rather poor evil laugh. If it was not clear already, he was playing the role of the Supervillain as opposed to his father's Superhero role. "Hahaha!"
"This is a bit tacky, isn't it?" Ash's father commented on the outfit, tugging on the cape which had holes in it. "Are you sure you made this, Delia?"
"Oh, no. Ash made it. He did an impressive job for his first time creating a costume, eh?" Delia spoke as Ash put a lot of effort into these costumes. Well, mainly his father's. Ash's was simply and had little going for it. "And that's certainly not the definition of tacky."
"Mom taught me how to make these. Now I can use this for my story! Come on, Dad! Do a pose!"
"Like this?" He tried his best to put on a pose but failed poorly at it. The standard Superhero pose was the hand triumphantly on the hips but the way he pulled it off made it look like he had a back cramp. This prompted laughter from Ash, Delia and Mr Mime. "I look cool, don't I?"
"You always look cool to me, Dad!"
"Get in the centre and pull off those character shenanigans in your books Ash." Delia encouraged.
"Yeah. You're a glutton for action, just like your old man. Show me what you can do, son." So did his father.
"Really? I don't know, Dad..." Ash scratched the back of his hair, knocking on the cardboard horns that were strapped on his head.
"If you're worried about hurting me, don't worry. I can take it. I got kicked by Rapidash when I pet the wrong spot one time so I've got the endurance." He hyped himself up, believing he could take the hit. And plus, Ash was young compared to his father so the impact would most likely be rather weak.
"Oh, okay. Take this!" Ash did not hesitate. He would lunge in, throwing an energetic punch at his father. And it was a powerful blow that struck his father in a sensitive spot below the belt.
"Hmmrgh!" No one could see it, whether it was in the past or present, but they could definitely tell that he was making the most expressive face of pain possible as that punch was harder than he expected.
"Oh, my goodness! Darling, are you alright?!" Delia gasped as Ash's father would start leaning over, becoming a stiff board afterwards that was bound to fall over. Ash grimaced, looking at his fist as even he didn't expect to hit that hard.
"Sorry, dad! Are you okay?!"
"T-That's my boy..." But Ash's father loved the strength that was displayed, proud of his son and saw potential there. He would then fall on his face instead of getting on his knees, taking in the pain.
"Ah, wonderful times." Delia smiled while looking back at this tape. "I'm hoping his memories are far back enough to remember this. I assume they are."
"Aw, look at how small you were, Ash~!" Fluttershy gushed at the little Ash Ketchum, finding him adorable.
"I bet he can take a hit better this time now that he's got a tough body!" Ash grinned with glee. "Who am I kidding Of course he can! I wanna head back there as soon as possible, man!"
"Pikachu!"
"Ah, I need to bring a few things over since we're meeting with him. If there is a face within that body of light, then his favourite foods need to be brought to him. I still remember how to make them." Delia wanted to make this reunion special. She would grab and make whatever she could that was connected to her husband. This meant quite a lot of packing as it was also a trip to another dimension entirely.
Another Dimension. Out in a red space.
The skies of this dimension's earth may be blue but the cosmos were red. They burned with the intensity of many flames and yet, they were small. This space was tiny and compact compared to the rest. It was comparable to at least 50 large stars but that wasn't enough to make it as big as the rest which greatly exceeded it.
And emerging from this small yet fearsome space was a sudden outburst of energy. Creatures were starting to pour out of the red space, only having eyes and arms and no proper bodies of any kind.
Back on the Earth, the Subspace Pokemon felt this outburst. It was familiar to them for one reason. The forces that were hostile towards them were approaching once more. And of course, with this attack meant that their guardians would be there to stop them. And the way they attacked was long distances instead of entering the planet themselves. These arms with eyes would fly out, reaching the world in seconds
Galaxy Master already received an alert thanks to his devices. And for him, this was all casual. Arriving on the back of his Charizard, he intercepted these arms and eyes immediately, preventing them from harming a single Pokemon.
"Twice in a row in one night and now today?! I think not! Charizard! Unleash your flames of Purgatory!" By that, Galaxy Master was referring to Inferno, giving it a different name.
"Char!" Charizard put his arms together as a light blue and blue flame appear in between its mighty claws. He then pulled his arms next to it, dragging the fire with it. Charizard was essentially holding a rope of flames before throwing it.
The flame rope would wrap around the ominous arms and eyes, right as a Subspace Starly was about to be snatched by them. With this grip, Charizard managed to break them apart. The Subspace Pokemon would flee, giving Galaxy Master and his teammates space to take action, unless they wish to be caught up in the mess.
The attackers from above already expected Galaxy Master by this point. He's been going against them for a while now, specifically days after the two worlds united. Their attempts on the Subspace Pokemon have been foiled by this fictional character time and time again. He leapt off Charizard, making his stylish entrance by sticking a superhero landing. Joining him was Pikachu.
"We've been going at this for a few months now, I believe. I'm still not sure who you are, but as long as my friends and I are here, you won't lay a finger on them!" Galaxy Master exclaimed, holding his hand out. From his hand, he would summon a Pokemon to assist him in battle, unleashing a ray of light in the process. Out of that light, two Pokemon appeared. Gliscor and Swellow respectively.
"Gliscor!"
"Swellow!"
"Gliscor! Cut those arms and eyes apart with claws! Swellow! Assist Gliscor with your razor-sharp wings!"
"Gli!" Gliscor would use Night Slash while Swewllow would use Steel Wing. Both Pokemon flew in unison, going in opposite directions. The eyes tracked down the two Pokemon, emerging out of the ominous arms. The way they came out was rather unsettling as black goo would fly out each time a new eye would emerge.
The attackers from the cosmos felt Gliscor and Swellow slash into them, making all of their eyes blink even if they were far away. Pikachu and Charizard would chime in, unleashing electricity and fire onto these creatures with only arms and eyes as their appearance.
These creatures felt all these elements crawl up their arms and eyes, even blinding them. This reaction prompted them to violently swipe and slash at the surrounding area, hoping to hit something. All this wild flailing did succeed in smacking Pikachu and Gliscor with how many creatures were up there, however, it was just random swings at this point.
The Subspace Pokemon stood from afar, watching Galaxy Master and his friends combat these strange attacks from beyond. It was still unknown where they came from and why they were after these Pokemon specifically.
"Just what are they?" Galaxy Master held up his cape to block the fierce dust that emerged. All of his Pokemon slid and flew back once some distance was gauged between them and the creatures above. "Is everyone alright?!" He asked the Pokemon living here. Thankfully, none of the Pokemon received any harm. Galaxy Master came to their rescue in a heartbeat.
Suddenly, the creatures would also stop. Instead of attacking Galaxy Master and his team while they had the chance, they would stay still, only mildly moving their arms. Watching their movements carefully, Galaxy Master waited for the next action. The creatures were waiting for a reason.
These past months have been quite a nuisance for them thanks to Galaxy Master. He didn't even look tired when doing this, meanwhile the creatures had to retreat and prepare for another attack. Deciding that it was getting tiring, the creatures would suddenly reveal more of themselves. Black goo stretched out of their arms, soon forming extra body parts with more eyes. But below those eyes were mouths. At last, they had mouths.
"Galaxy Master. We'd like a word with you." The creatures spoke to the fictional character, surprising him. NOt only did they manage to grow new parts that were closer to an actual body, but they could speak perfectly.
"What?" And at this moment, they wished to speak with Galaxy Master instead of continuing their attack. rather unexepected development that Galaxy Master was not expecting. What exactly could this mean?
Equestria. Ponyville. Afternoon.
"Okay! Let's get rolling!" After a few hours, Delia was finally ready to set out to this other dimension, entering Ponyville. She came prepared, bringing everything her husband loves and more. Various bags were being held by Ash, Mr Mime and Audino because of Delia's love. Wearing a summer hat under the Equestrian Sun, Delia Ketchum, much like her son, was feeling rather adventurous. "I can't wait! This is a thrilling moment for me. It reminds me of my younger years. But instead of chasing Pokemon, I'm chasing after your father. Previously, he was the one that came to me."
"This is way more than what he has back at the Galaxy Tower...!" Ash sighed while holding all of these bags. "What's in these bags, anyway?"
"Mime-Mime."
"Now then. How do we get there? Is there a gateway we need to find?" Delia looked around another gateway, believing that was how she would enter that other dimension.
"If we wanna get there, we gotta visit Potion Nova's home. She's got a potion for it but It's not much." Ash explained the only way to reach that dimension. "Or, we can wait for Galaxy Master to take us there but that's easier said than done. And we all can't go since the potion's running low and it's hard to make."
"Oh, really? That's a shame." Delia pouted at these inconveniences. "Does that mean only I get to go there?"
"I guess so. If it's only you that drinks it, you can go through it. I don't think all of us can drink what's left." Ash shook his head.
"Sorry, Mrs Ketchum." Twilight apologized to Delia for these drawbacks. "That potion is hard to make even for someone as skilled as Potion Nova. It might just have to be you and maybe the Pokemon if you keep them in their Poke Balls. I understand you really want to meet with him though."
"You can go ahead, Mom. Take some of my Pokemon with you if you want." Ash recommended that Delia should go on ahead. He prefers his mother's happiness over his.
"No, no. I want it to be a full family reunion." However, Delia thought otherwise. She wanted Ash to be with her and in the same room as Galaxy Master. "It's usually only me and one of you. I'd prefer if it was all three of us time."
"I guess...We can have Potion Nova bring him here. She can maybe use the last of the potion and Galaxy Master can do the rest." Ash thought of another option. "That's probably for the best, right?"
"I think so." Twilight nodded in agreement. "Potion Nova by now might be working on her potions or even at the dimension already. We can travel there and make it as quickly as possible. Maybe see the sights along the way. A lot's changed after the worlds united, Mrs Ketchum."
"Lovely! I'll take that option~" Delia said with glee. There was a chance indeed. "Just wait for me, dear! And once we meet up, it's off to somewhere romantic! Is Las Pegasus a romantic place?"
"Is it technically cheating if she goes with him instead of Ash's actual dad even though he is Ash's dad?" Fluttershy asked, wondering if this counted as Delia cheating on Ash's father with Galaxy Master or if it was still the same thing.
"It technically is Ash's dad but it's just a recreation of...You know. I'd rather not try and get into it." Twilight preferred not to delve into it.
As far as it goes, Galaxy Master was like a second dad to Ash and that was the best possible compromise in this instance. It was off to Mareflower. Home of Potion Nova. And there, they were hoping that Potion Nova would bring Galaxy Master back.
However, no one, not even Potion Nova currently knew what was developing over at that strange dimension. The train to Mareflower would be taken with all of Delia's bags being thrown inside. At last, Ash, Mr Mime and Audino could rest their arms, slumping on the train seats.
"Aha...Nice." Ash sighed with relief.
"Oh, Twilight. I should tell you about this cute video Delia showed me. You'll love it." Fluttershy said, eager to share what she saw on that VHS Tape. She couldn't get it out of her mind right now.
"Oh really? Do tell."
"Las Pegasus is more of a celebratory place, isn't it? Maybe Canterlot will be a better option." Delia was still thinking about where to go with Galaxy Master once they meet up at last. "A city of romance is all I need. Kalos might be a good pick. What do you think, Ash?"
"I just wanna spend time with him again. That's all." Ash replied as the train doors were closing, ready to leave for Mareflower. "It doesn't matter where. Here or another dimension."
"Pikachu."
"I suppose. That old restaurant I used to run is still around but with a different owner. It's where I decided to pursue your father after I fell for him. Perhaps taking him there will be wonderful. Hopefully, he's not too busy."
"He promised he'd spend some time with me and the best way to do that is with some action," Ash added. "I really wanna do hero stuff with him, ya know. What about you, Mom?"
"Action is always lovely. But after so long of not seeing him, I think I prefer to take things slowly again." Delia preferred the slow approach. "He may be a body of light based on your father, but he still counts as my darling either way. It's a shame both of them ended up becoming so busy but at least we get to meet one of them."
"You're gonna be heading into another dimension though. Are you sure about this, Mrs Ketchum? He's dealing with these strange forces too while also handling the Dread League at night." Twilight warned Delia.
"Twilight. I'm sure of myself. After all, before I met him, I got myself into danger a few times. I can share some more stories of my past with you now that we're on this train. How does that sound?"
"Yes please!" Twilight and Fluttershy collectively said, excited to hear about Delia's past.
"You called yourself the Raging Leaf back in your career as a Pokemon Trainer. What was that like before you met your husband?" Twilight asked.
"Ah...it was something." Delia pressed her face on the train windows, reminiscing about the past. She had something entertaining to share with them indeed. And for her, thinking and talking about it got her heart flustered. It would be a good way to kill time while they were off to Mareflower and by extension, the strange dimension.
Delia was reminiscing about the past, sharing it with Ash, Twilight and Fluttershy on their way to meet with Galaxy Master. And once more, it related to Ash's father and his past with Delia. And this point in her story brought her to a town that was peacefully sitting next to a large lake, followed by a cave in the far distance.
I was still a bit new in my career as a Pokemon Trainer. It was just me and Mime Jr. Your father and I ran into each other rather often. One of my favourites was at a cave landmark known as Fakesea Hollow, where I was looking for a supposedly powerful Rapidash that was spotted there. Of course, I took part in a few Pokemon Battles myself.
"You saw what exactly?!" Delia gasped, speaking with one of the townspeople. Mime Jr didn't even need to copy her amazement after what he just heard. It was that interesting.
"Believe me when I say this. We saw a Rapidash that was as blue as the sky. I believe it had clouds as well. And it caused quite the ruckus the other day, dealing some damage to our town." The old man explained.
"What damage...?" Delia looked at the town, seeing that it was completely fine. It didn't look that damaged that all. "Nevermind! I have to find this Rapidash! Where did it go?"
"Probably to the nearby cave. Ah, who knows how long gone it is by now. You'd best hurry."
"I will! Thank you very much!" Delia sprinted off once she was given a destination. The cave in the distance was where she was headed to next for this Rapidash that was as blue as the sky.
I've seen my fair share of amazing things. I've been to places that have something unique about them and a Rapidash as blue as the sky caught my interest. And it also caught the interest of other trainers who wanted to reach and catch it. But I was always up for a challenge.
Indeed. She was eager for a battle just as much as Ash was before he was even born. Delia was seen standing near the town, face to face with multiple Pokemon Trainers. Her competition consisted of Machoke, Poliwrath, Ninetales, Beedril and Cloyster standing before her. And her only Pokemon to battle alongside her was Mime Jr and to this day, that hasn't changed.
Delia stood there with confidence in her eyes. Her spirit could practically be seen in them, burning bright as she was eager to get past these Trainers and make her way there. The battle between these trainers began and it was already a flash of colours with nearby people spotting it, keeping their distance from the clash which was enough to shake the earth, affect the wind and rustle the trees.
And with this numerical difference, Delia Ketchum came out on top. She would leave with Mime Jr while there was a pile of defeated Pokemon on top of the defeated Trainers. And it went beyond just the ones she first saw. Each of these trainers had used all of their Pokemon in their party, only for Mime Jr to defeat them. Delia beat all of them with Mime Jr looking perfectly fine in the process, skipping along with Delia.
"Thank you for the battle, but I'm in a bit of a hurry!" Delia said to the defeated trainers, thanking them for a fun battle. But with how they were all dizzy and out of it, Delia was the only one who had the most fun, trouncing them all.
After that battle, Delia at this time was searching for a Rapidash she had heard about. News about this Rapidash spread to the nearby town that witnessed this battle, with Delia wanting to capitalize on this. In her hands, she had a map of the area, travelling on a bridge with Mime Jir mimicking her movements and mannerisms, pretending to hold a map.
"It ran through town then past the bridge and then probably through the nearest cave. You don't think it's his Rapidash again, do you?" She referred to her Future Husband, believing that it was his Rapidash.
"Mime-Mime." Mime Jr seemed to think the same.
My darling did always have a rather excited Rapidash. Rapidash was just as adventurous as he was, going wherever he pleases most of the time. This obviously leads to them getting into a heap of trouble but it's always so much fun when it happens. It was like we were being pulled together by fate and Rapidash was the Fate Weaver. And our most wonderful moment happened at that cave.
The bridge was the last stop in front of this cave as Delia already entered it without her knowing. She didn't even have to look which was an accident on her part. A successful accident to be exact. It wasn't until a unique feeling radiated down on Delia and Mime Jr that they would finally take notice of their surroundings. However, the cave did have some unique lightning, making it seem like she was still outside.
"Oh?" When looking up, Delia saw that the cave was filled with bright stones that resembled the skies. It was very easy for her not to notice this until now. The stones even resembled that of clouds to add to that authenticity. Oh, look at how wonderful this is! It's like we're under another blue sky!"
"Mime!"
Interested in this cave, the duo would advance, continuing to look up and see what was different. It did feel like a second sky was above them, just below the wider sky. These stones had the speciality to mimic the sky which raised some questions on what they were.
Delia was willing to study them, taking a piece of the crystals out of the walls. When taking one, she saw how it would change immediately. Now, instead of resembling the skies above, they would match Delia's skin. Her beautiful skin was copied as the stone seamlessly changed itself as if it was being painted. Delia's eyes opened with amazement at this transformation.
They didn't do much else except blend in with whatever they can. She took the time to study these flowers with what she had. Delia would test it out on Mime Jr as it would also blend with him. Both of them looked like the had bumps on each other. They spent their time journeying through the cave to see what else these stones could mimic but there wasn't much considering it was just a cave.
They would encounter Pokemon, however, such as the ever-present Zubats that live in most Kanto Caves. This was to be expected even in the far past and Delia was practically used to it. But for this cave, the stones reacted to the Zubats themselves, giving them an advantage.
Advanced camouflage that allowed the Zubats to hide themselves. Their bodies were given the texture of the blue sky itself instead of their own coating just like Delia and Mime Jr, making them almost invisible until they took action. And they certainly took action.
"Zubat!" They spotted Delia and Mr Mime, ready to pounce as they would drop from the caves.
"Zubats, again?!" Delia bellowed after spotting the Zubats. Their camouflage would end once they left the walls and steered away from the stones. The Zubats would collectively use Air Slash, flapping their wings to summon sharp blades of wind. "I don't have time for you, sorry! Mimey, use Psychic!"
"Mime-Mime!" With his eyes flaring, Mime Jr would flip over the blades of air with impressive acrobatics, smiling through it. After evading the slashes, he used his Psychokinetic power to grab the blades themselves while also levitating in the air.
With impressive control, Mime Jr was now the one controlling the blades, using Air Slash for himself. The Zubats gasped as with a thrust of his arms, Mime Jr sent the Air Slashes at them with a Psychic power being embedded within for extra strength.
It was the Zubat who ended up taking some heavy damage instead as the blades rapidly struck into them. In one hit, the Zubats were all taken out, falling to the ground like flies while Mime Jr would stick a smooth landing, bowing after his impressive display.
"Mime!"
"Sorry, but I have a Rapidash to find!" Delia apologized to Zubat before leaving with Mime Jr. The Zubat would simply lay there, bewildered by the retaliation they received.
Following the map, Delia would continue to pass these Camouflage Stones, becoming somewhat invisible each time. But there was still no sign of Rapidash. Not yet. The best thing she could do was listen for echoes. An echo could give a hint as to where Rapidash may be and all it would take was that signature neigh to pass through.
"Rapidash!" And it came to them after minutes of wandering. The cry of a Rapidash. With their ears completely alert, that was when they saw the Fire Horse Pokemon at last. And he was currently wearing a plethora of these mysterious stones on his back.
The stones completely changed Rapidash's usual coating, making him appear like the sky itself, just like the first batch of stones that Delia and Mime Jr saw when entering the cave. The flaming mane and tail were even clouds instead of fire, adding to that touch. Even still, they kept that fiery motion. It was enough to make anyone see this as a Rapidash. The Fire-Type galloped, enjoying the new look. It even looked like there was a majestic ethereal Pokemon moving around. Anyone could mistake it for that.
"I know that chaotic nature anywhere. That's his Rapidash, alright." Just by looking at this Rapidash jumping and galloping around, Delia could tell that it belonged to her Future Husband.
"Rapidash! Wait!" And a familiar voice rang through her ears as well. It was the voice of a Ketchum. Slipping on the cave's platforms was none other than Delia's Future Husband. And the moment Delia saw him, he was already messing up, WHen slipping, he came tumbling down while Rapidash watched. But noticeably, he had a bag on his head with a Pikachu face on it.
Ash's Future Father crashed right into the walls, appearing rather silly at the moment. After groaning, he would fall off the walls, leaving a body imprint there. Rapidash would then descend, rushing over to his Trainer as soon as possible. He lay there, seeing Rapidash come up to him with an ethereal look.
The bag on his face didn't make him seem all that injured. It was just the face of a Pikachu that was constantly smiling, masking his true emotions. But it wasn't hard to tell that he was in pain after slipping from a high platform, rolling down lower ones and crashing into a wall where his entire body had been dented in. But he did seem fine afterwards. It wasn't anything too serious.
"Well, well. What are you up to this time?" Delia and Mime Jr waltzed on over to him, giggling at his slip-up.
"Delia?" He spoke her name. He didn't even need to see her to know that it was Delia Ketchum. By this point, the two of them had encountered each other a few times.
"We meet again. And it just had to be Rapidash who brought us together like always, eh?"
"I guess so. What are you doing here now?" He groaned after getting back up, having pebbles fall off his body.
"I should ask you the same question. How come you showed up to where I was yet again? Are you following me?"
"N-No. To be honest, I'm not sure why you're always near me. I came here first anyway. At least I think I did. I'm here looking for that Rapidash."
"You mean your Rapidash?" Delia looked over at Rapidash, petting his mane. She felt the cloud-like mane at last, seeing if it was any different from what Rapidash usually has. The result was the opposite, it still felt like fire. Delia was hoping that the mane would feel like clouds, but alas, the stones didn't do that at all. "The people back there said he ran through the town and caused some damage. I suspected that it could be yours."
"Well, there's another Rapidash here apparently. It has the same appearance thanks to these Camo Stones." He explained as there was another Rapidash in play. "Mine just happened to be roaming around as always. He loves running so much after all so leaving him in his Poke Ball is almost impossible."
"I get it. Rapidash can't help it, can he?" She continued to pet Rapidash, who enjoyed this very much, letting out a satisfied neigh. "But...what about that bag on your head?" Delia would then focus on the bag.
"This...Well, I got figured out by the people, so they gave me this bag as punishment." He tugged on the Pikachu Bag. "Apparently, that's their way of punishing others and I do wanna make it up for them."
"The town seems completely fine. Are you sure Rapidash charged through it?" Delia questioned.
"I swear. It's a long story, don't worry about it. I'm just focused on getting that Rapidash, then I'll go back and sort everything out with the town."
"Who said you were going to get that Rapidash? Now that I know it's a completely different one than yours, I'm making myself a new friend." Delia smirked along with Mime Jr as she was aiming to catch Rapidash.
"I figured you'd say that...Too bad I'm already ahead of you!" Just then, in unison, Rapidash and his Trainer would sprint away, leaving Delia and Mime Jr behind as soon as possible. Rapidash would even leave behind a shockwave that would make them flinch, planning to slow them down. The takeoff from Rapidash stunned them for a moment.
"Hey!" This then prompted Delia and Mime Jr to also follow them, refusing to let the duo catch up. Their shoes slammed into the ground from how powerful their take-offs were. However, there was one stark difference. Rapidash was much faster. All it took was Ash's Future Father getting on Rapidash's back to gain an advantage. The Fire Horse Pokemon was greatly adept in speed so this seemed like a blowout.
Rapidash was already way ahead of them with Mime Jr lunging and latching onto Delia's shoulder. Delia would follow Rapidash's footsteps as his hooves were imprinted into the ground. That was the best way to follow him and it would help since a Rapidash was most likely to find another Rapidash, which was perfect for Ash's Father.
"Rhydon!" Other Pokemon that existed in this cave showed themselves. This time, it was Rhydon that was almost invisible thanks to the stones. It managed to look like the walls themselves, being stealthy but soon blowing it once trying to grab Delia and Mime Jr with its massive arms.
"Excuse me!" Delia exclaimed, sliding underneath Rhydon's arms. Rhydon missed completely, nearly falling over since it was going for a powerful grab.
"Ketchum! Get back here!" Delia yelled for him, climbing up platforms in this cave as the stones were starting to mimic other locations. Some of these platforms looked like grass, completely changing the atmosphere of this cave. It was as if Delia was in the grasslands, blessed by the blue sky above. But in reality, she was just climbing rocky platforms.
When traversing these platforms as fast as she could, one of them resembled the ocean. Delia wondered if that was something else entirely or if it was still just a bunch of rocks. She found out soon enough once her foot came in contact with it.
"Wah!" She screamed as she suddenly dropped, no longer moving across solid ground. It wasn't a platform at all but an actual body of water. But instead of an ocean, it was a lake within this cave that Delia and Mime Jr fell into. "Ooh...That's confusing."
"Mime-Mime."
"We can't slow down! Not when those two are ahead!" Delia shook her head, powering through the water as she would start swimming as fast as she could. Delia didn't have a Water-Type to help her traverse the area but that wouldn't stop her.
However, in this cave, Rock and Flying-Tpes weren't the only common types here. With a lake being present here, Water-Types were bound to exist. And indeed, they were here, flying out of the water when taking notice of Delia. Two Tentacruels would fly out of the water, finding new prey. Together, they would use Hydro Pump, unleashing high-volume blasts of water.
"Mimey! Focus Punch!" Delia thrust her fist forward, making water droplets fly out.
"Mime-Mime!" Mime Jr would leap off Delia's shoulder, approaching the two blasts of water. He focused all of his strength into his small hands which packed a ton of power thanks to this attack. Mime Jr punched straight through the blasts of water with brute force, managing to overpower them, much to the surprise of the Tentacruel.
"Go for it!" And with Delia pulling off the hand motions, this correlated with Mime Jr, who was all about mimicking. Looking back at Delia, Mime Jr would do just that with Focus Punch. He reached the Tentacruel, slugging them both in the face with Focus Punch with right hooks and left hooks.
"Tenta!" The Tentacruel went flying, hitting the top of the cave before dropping back to the lake, fainting in one hit. Mime Jr would spin in the air for a while before being caught by Delia.
"Nice one!" She praised her partner, continuing to swim through the cave's lake.
It was a thrilling moment in Delia's life. She was in pursuit of her Future Husband and the Rapidash. Her younger years were certainly thrilling and she was quite the formidable trainer back then. And most of this enjoyment came from spending time with Ash's Father.
When the two of us were together, things would always escalate and give us both adrenaline rushes. It was an exciting time and no one else gave me that thrill as much as he did.
"She caught up?!" Ash's Father gasped as Delia was right behind her, managing to keep up. Delia was breathing in and out, obviously getting tired from all this running as her hair and clothes were wet from swimming.
"You won't get ahead!" Delia roared. "Mimey, Psychic!"
"Mime!" Mime Jr would try and cease Rapidash's movements with Psychic. He just had to focus directly on the Fire Horse Pokemon before he could leave them in the dust once more.
"Quick, Rapidash! Jump!"
"Rapidash!" Rapidash narrowed his eyes as he would take a mighty leap, evading Mime Jr's Psychic before it could grab a hold of him. Mime Jr gasped as his concentration was interrupted once Rapidash went upwards. And with this powerful leap, Rapidash jumped a cliff that was nearby, leading to a deep part of the cave. He passed the gap, ending up on the other side.
"See ya! Try getting past this!" He laughed, believing that Delia wouldn't be able to overcome this gap that was out of her reach.
And soon, Delia would notice this gap, which would be hard to jump with no Flying-Types or Pokemon that would leap great distances like Rapidash. However, she had her ways. "Okay, Mimey, you know what to do!"
"Mime-Mime!" However, there was already an answer to this. All it took was Mime Jr hitting the walls of the cave with Focus Punch, causing large chunks of them to fall out. With these chunks, he would capitalize on them, using Psychic afterwards. With his mental skills, the large chunks of rock were then moved ahead of Mime Jr and Delia, reaching the gap that was in their way.
Delia would then leap, landing on one of the rocks herself. With Mime Jr keeping the chunks of rock steady in the air, Delia had a platform she could utilize. She then jumped from chunk to chunk, overcoming the gap below her and evading any danger. Mime Jr would also drag himself through the air with Psychic, easily avoiding the cliff.
"Now, fire!" Delia, after landing on the other side, would point at the duo that went ahead of them. This prompted Mime Jr to unleash the massive chunks of rocks, sending them forward at great speeds. The Psychic Controlled chunks of rock homed in on Ash's Father and Rapidash, startling them.
"Gh! Kick them away, Rapidash! High Horsepower!"
"Dash!" Rapidash would quickly channel power into his back hooves, slowing down for a brief moment. But that was only to strike the rocks that came at him, kicking them with incredible power. The rocks shattered before the force of High Horsepower.
And the remaining pieces of the rocks would fly back at Delia and Mime Jr was retaliation. Mime Jr gasped as he was hit by the barrage of shattered rocks he originally used, knocking him back. This also made Delia slow down as she put her arms up to block the incoming pebbles. After retaliating, Rapidash would speed up once more. However, there was nowhere else to go as a dead end was right up ahead. The Fire Horse Pokemon came to a screeching halt, stopping in front of the end of this cave.
"A dead end?! Seriously?!" Ash's Father uttered. It baffled him that it suddenly ended here.
"Aha! This is it!" Delia, who got over the pebbles harming her immediately, practically cornered them both. She believed that she managed to stop them in their tracks, but in reality, she also reached a dead end. "Wait...Where else do we go?
"I think this is it." He said, getting off Rapidash's back. "No sign of that Rapidash either."
"Huh? That can't be right...There has to be an exit in this cave unless it's just the entrance." Delia's head navigated the area along with Mime Jr, who would mimic her. The two of them promptly stopped their chase thanks to this abrupt halt. It seemed underwhelming considering how thrilling and exciting it was getting. "It seemed larger from the outside."
"Maybe it already left elsewhere..." He pondered before leaning against the wall. And that was the best possible action he could take. The wall was actually the best level of camouflage that the stones have done so far.
A group of Graveler were on the walls, being so abundant that they perfectly masked it. Then again, it was a rather tight space, allowing the Graveler to occupy it. They already had the appearance of rocks but the stones elevated that, hiding their eyes and everything else that would make them stand out.
"Graveler!" They revealed themselves, dropping the stones from their body.
The Two Trainers screamed after being surprised by the Graveler who hid better than the others. There wasn't a dead-end at all. There was still more and it was past these Gravelers which had to be dealt with if they wanted to advance. It was up to Rapidash and Mime Jr to sort this out as soon as possible.
"Temporary truce, Ketchum?!"
"Agreed!" As quickly as he could respond, Ash's Father would form a truce with Delia to get past these Graveler that were about to pounce on them. "Rapidash, Fire Plast!"
"Mimey, Focus Punch!"
With their commands, Rapidash and Mine Jr took action. It was them against these Graveler, however, the battle from earlier proved that numbers didn't matter to Delia. And it certainly counted for Ash's Father.
A battle broke out and it involved a burst of flames that came from Rapidash, engulfing the Graveler. They resisted the flames but there was certainly some power behind them. Focus Punch definitely left an impact, slugging at the Graveler with super-effective blows. Mime Jr would also protect Rapidash by hitting away any rocks that got near him.
Rapidash returned the favour by having Mime Jr sit on his back for protection. They did well working together, becoming almost symbiotic as both Pokemon knew what to do to keep the other safe. The cave lit up with sparks of flames had parts of it shattered from these heavy blows.
Eventually, after Rapidash and Mime Jr united their strengths, they emerged victorious. With all of them defeated, the rest of the cave could be revealed. However, it was indeed the end of the cave but there was an exit waiting for them. With the last of the Graveler falling, rays would beam through the area, hitting the eyes of Delia. After squinting, she and her Future Husband gazed upon what was waiting for them.
The lake continued elsewhere, appearing at the final part of the cave which led to the outside. And sitting there was the Rapidash. It indeed had the same look. A sky-blue coat along with a cloud mane and tail. And here it sat under the last of the cave which mimicked the night sky instead of the day. It complemented this Rapidash's appearance well despite the contrasting colours.
And alongside the Rapidash was a Ponyta which also gained the sky treatment, running next to what looked to be its parents in this lush area that connected to the cave and outside. The lake certainly went beyond the cave, heading outside to the rest of the world.
"There it is!" Delia said with excitement.
"Rapidash!" But the one who was the most excited was the Rapidash of Ash's Father. He rushed over to the other Fire Horse Pokemon as soon as possible. "Dash!"
"Rapidash?" The two Rapidash started communicating with each other. Ponyta would also take notice of the other Rapidash which would start running around them.
"Oh, is that it? He just wanted to run with her. That's why he wanted to come here as soon as possible." He figured out why Rapidash was so eager to come here in the first place. It was simply for this other Rapidash and how he wanted a good run. "I'm surprised he knew a Rapidash would be here though..."
"Aw, that's so sweet." Delia gushed at this sight. It was warming to see him run around his own kind. Ponyta, being a foal, would do the same, joining Rapidash's run.
The Female Rapidash did not get herself involved, however, simply choosing to sit this one out. But she did not mind this other Rapidash being here. Rapidash was rather simple with what he wanted even though it took a few things to get here. Running with one of his kind was rather satisfactory.
Ponyta wished to have its mother get involved in this race since it was having such a fun time with this Male Rapidash. However, the Female Rapidash shook her head, preferring to rest. Even with a nudge from the Male Rapidash, who came all this way to see her, she would not budge and instead laid her head on the ground. Ponyta would simply continue with the Rapidash that was already here.
"I think I'll pass on catching this Rapidash." Seeing these Pokemon in action made Delia rethink her decision to catch the Rapidash. She was a mother and had a child and Delia certainly couldn't do it.
"That's the same reason you haven't caught a lot of Pokemon, actually." Ash's Father pointed out. "It's kinda funny that most of them you came across ended up being parents."
"Easy for you to say. You only have your Rapidash. I was planning on catching my own but...this just happened." Delia pointed out. Indeed, Ash's Father only has his Rapidash at this point in time, not catching any other Pokemon.
"You're right about that...Usually, it's because we're both competing against each other. But for this, I can see why you don't catch many Pokemon, if not any."
"How could I? Look at how happy they are. It's like they're a family. Your Rapidash adds to that." Delia gushed.
"Does it?" He scratched the bag on his head, observing his Rapidash and the other Pokemon. "I guess so. He just loves running and if it's with his own species, that makes him happier."
"Things do feel better when it's with someone that's familiar. Pokemon can have that benefit and feel like a family. It must be so nice to have a family that you can attach to like a Pokemon." Delia replied. "But that's not how it works, does it?"
"Well, my family line is the closest to something like that." He referred to the Ketchum Family Line, being an obvious continuation of them "I'd like a family but I'm too busy moving."
"Seriously? How long has it been since you've seen your family exactly?"
"I still talk to my Grandpa here and there, so it's not so bad." He shrugged. "What about you?"
"I always make sure I keep in contact with my sister Hillary and such. You should try it too from time to time. I mean, we run into each other a lot, don't we so that's as close as you're getting."
"We're not a family though..." He pointed out how he and Delia weren't family at all. At best, they were rivals who constantly showed up in the same place together.
"Well...That's why I brought up the Pokemon part." But Delia saw something else. Her narration said that he came to her but from how this story was progressing, it seemed that Delia was approaching him, holding onto his hand. "How about one day, you settle down? I know I will."
"Huh?" He looked at his hand which had been grabbed by Delia. "I Don't know about that...I'll still be exploring the world by then probably. There's a lot to see. BUt you're gonna stop?"
"I have a restaurant back home and I want to leave that in the care of someone else. Settling down after enough work sounds good enough to me. And I'd like for it to be with someone familiar, just like with Rapidash. And I'd also like to see his face if he would take that bag off." It was obvious that Delia wanted him, choosing him as her future husband.
"W-Well. I uh..." And he knew this. Delia's words weren't direct but they were obvious. "I'm not sure I'm ready for that just yet, ya know. There's a lot that goes into it..."
"No there isn't." She replied, seeing that he was trying to make up an excuse. Ash's father would sigh, knowing there was nothing he could say. When it came to love, he was more perceptive of it than his son, which led to him being flustered. It was both an advantage and a disadvantage.
"Let's stay here for a bit. We always go our own ways and end up encountering each other again. For once, let's change that by staying here." Delia requested to spend some time with him instead of just leaving.
"Sure." And he would gladly agree to it. Both would look up, seeing how the stones here made the night-sky aesthetic truly beautiful. The Rapidash and Ponyta only added to that beauty. The atmosphere was calm and welcoming to them as Ash's father soon felt that familiar feeling that Delia brought up.
It was certainly there. And it was wonderful indeed. Delia looked back at him, snickering and laughing for a moment as she couldn't take him seriously with that Pikachu bag on his head. But considering who he was, Delia loved him for that and that was all that mattered to her.
Our relationship is something that was built off encounters. It was as if we were both Pokemon in a way. That is just one story of how your father and I bonded. There were so man other instances of us in the same place, getting up to all sorts of hijinks. But this is the one I tend to remember the most when it comes to our adventures.
Equestria. On the Train. Afternoon.
"And I wouldn't have it any other way. But I suppose something else is just as important as that." Delia finished her story.
"Aaaah! That was so beautiful!" Twilight gushed at this story.
"S-So this cave...is it still there? And that Rapidash too?" Fluttershy questioned, curious about the Rapidash and Ponyta.
"Probably. It's not like it was going anywhere. I planned to leave the restaurant regardless but it wasn't until I was about to have Ash that I left in the care of my sister. And I don't regret it. It is nice to get out there in the world since it reminds me of my younger days, but I also love it back home." Delia said with satisfaction. "After all, Ash is the one who gets to finish what we started."
"Oh yeah!" Ash gave a thumbs-up. "And I'm gonna keep on going!"
"Pikachu!"
"Oh, I can't wait to meet with Galaxy Master." Delia giggled. "I still have other stories I've yet to share. You can even ask my friends back at Pallet Town and they'll share with you their own perspectives. You'll love it!"
"We'll be at Mareflower at any time, Mrs Ketchum. But I'm sure there are enough stories for all of us to listen to. I'd like to do the same when I'm older." said Twilight.
"You're already a mother technically. Perhaps you can do that with Daisy and Flora. You, my son and your friends have experienced all kinds of things, haven't you?"
"I guess so. I wish it wasn't so early in my life that I keep getting a mom. A bit weird, isn't it?" Twilight Sparkle laughed in response. The train continued to Mareflower, having enough time for Delia to keep speaking with everyone on the train. The story behind her and Ash's father was a precious one that was originally filled with competition.
But that was where some of the best relationships tend to grow. Rarely is romantic but it was powerful. And the beauty behind their relationship was gradually showing itself as time goes on. And there was a chance the meeting of Galaxy Master would unveil it some more as the journey continues.
Equestria. Mareflower. Potion Nova's Green House. Afternoon.
After an almost lengthy train ride, Ash, his mother and his friends had arrived at Mareflower. And the first destination was Potion Nova's Green House, where they had a chance to enter that other dimension. Ash, Mr Mime and all other Pokemon carried the many bags Delia brought along, exiting the train. Everything in there was meant for Galaxy Master since he would normally have the same tastes as Ash's father.
"Oh? Back so soon?" Potion Nova would exit her Green House to meet with them outside. All it took was a knock for one of the many entrances to open up randomly, just like before. It wasn't exclusive to just her visitors.
"Hi, Potion Nova. We're just making a quick trip back to that dimension. It's for Delia here." Twilight greeted, assisting Ash and the others with the large bags b using her magic. "And it's a huge haul too."
"Delia?" She looked over at the tallest character here as the name Delia sounded familiar to her. "Wait...That Delia?"
"Oh, you've heard of me? Recently or years back?" Delia questioned.
"Recently. Galaxy Master started talking about you after he met with Ash and he brought you up. I'm guessing you want to m meet him right now?" Potion Nova gazed at the array of bags. "Don't tell me you're all going there?"
"No. We know there's not enough for all of us. it's just Delia this time. It'll be a romantic reunion between husband and wife so we'll all stay out of this." Fluttershy replied.
"But I want to bring Ash with me as well. Then it will be a true family reunion. Do you have enough of that potion?" Delia asked, hoping there was enough for her and Ash.
"Well...Take a look." Potion Nova would answer her by bringing over the Dimensional Potion. With how important it was, it was kept close to Potion Nova. But because of its importance, it was incredibly hard to make and the current status of it was rather poor.
The potion was down its final drops. Most of it had been used by Potion Nova who has been going back and forth betwen dimensions, just to meet with Galaxy Master. It would take some time to make a new one as there was only one bottle of it that she ever made.
"It'll barely get two of you through but that's about it. This is the final time it can be used." Potion Nova warned. "But...Ash already knows what to expect when going through that tunnel and Galaxy Master will handle the rest. It'll be just you two." She passed the potion over to Ash. "You don't have to worry about your bags. The potion takes our baggage into consideration."
"I guess we'll be staying here then. Not that I'm complaining." Twilight Sparkle saw this as a positive for her as well. She would have the chance to spend some time with Potion Nova, learning more about potions. "I get to learn more about potion making here."
"I wish i could come and see the Subspace Pokemon with you." Fluttershy did wish to enter that dimension, just to view the Subspace Pokemon. But, she preferred not to ruin this family moment.
"You'll be staying with them, Pikachu." Ash held Pikachu, placing him down next to Fluttershy. Pikachu, unfortunately, could not come along this time. The rest of Ash's Pokemon could since they were in their Poke Balls, but Pikachu's Poke Ball wasn't here and was certainly out of the question since the Mouse Pokemon refused to go inside.
"Pikachu?"
"We'll be back as soon as we can. I'll tell you everything, okay?" Ash promised his electrifying friend.
"It's a shame you can't come along either, Mimey. I'd love to see the look on his face when he thinks you're the same Mr Mime from before."
"Wait...? This is the same one as before, right?" Twilight paused for a moment, processing what Delia just said. "You said you were with him since the earlier days. Your story was proof of that."
"Oh, no no!" Delia giggled. "This is a different Mimey. We met this one at a circus. The one I had in the past was different."
"It is?!" Fluttershy and Twilight received a surprising reveal. They firmly believed Mr Mime had been with the Ketchum Family from the start but that wasn't the case. There was another in the mix that was not here with them. "Where's the previous one then?"
"Two sides of the same coin. I released mine into the circus when wanted to pursue his dream and it's fitting that we befriended a new one at the circus." Delia answered. "I'll still remember my first Mimey. I know he's doing just fine at the moment with his circus career."
"Mime-Mime." Mimey agreed. Even though he hasn't met this other Mr Mime who was once a Mime Jr, he knew very well that his species were experts in what they do. Most likely, he was having a successful career.
"Oh, well. Maybe when he shows up here with us. Come on, Ash. Let's get going."
"You got it." Ash nodded before taking a sip from the Dimensional Potion. After that quick sip, he would pass it on to Delia. This would spell the end for the potion, much to the dismay of Potion Nova. She knew she had to work hard to make another one.
In fact, it was more than just making a new one. With how things are right now, Potion Nova might have to make multiple of these potions and crafting one was already time-consuming. With Delia drinking the last of the potion, that was all she wrote.
"Oooh!" Delia's eyes opened as the potion would affect her in a unique way. Ash and Twilight had their bodies flare and react in different ways when they first drank the potion and the same went for Delia. Her eyes were full of cosmic stars now as the energy within was affecting her dress.
Her dress gained an extension, becoming a full-on gown. A cosmic gown to be exact. It gave Delia that astral look which seemed to be a bit common nowadays. Twilight, Fluttershy and Potion Nova marvelled at the beauty that Delia radiated. Granted, it wouldn't last forever as the two of them would be transported away from here.
"So...How come it does that to you?" Twilight immediately asked Potion Nova about the potion and how it gives the users unique appearances depending on who drinks it.
"Oh, that? I have no idea. But, would you mind helping me make a new potion? You're pretty well-versed in Rift Energy, right, Princess Twilight? Maybe you can speed up the process for me."
"I'll see what I can do. What about you, Fluttershy? Any plans now that we're here at Mareflower?"
"I was hoping to go to that other dimension but oh well." Fluttershy pondered. "Hmmm...Is there a potion about Pokemon, maybe?"
"I might have something that catches your interest. I've been studying Pokemon too and I've already crafted some potions based around them. Come on in and see for yourself." Potion Nova was eager to show the extent of her potion collection to her visitors. Twilight already got a good view of some of them but there was more to be seen. And for Fluttershy, it would be a first.
Another Dimension.
After travelling through the Dimensional Tunnel, Ash and Delia had arrived in this other dimension. Delia got a good view of the dimensional tunnel and the other dimensions that were floating in the background. It didn't last long but it was pleasing to see. As to be expected, all the bags came along with them and the one to receive the bags was Ash.
He successfully landed on the ground, only to be knocked down by the array of bags that had plenty of items inside. He was downed by these bags which were all resting on him. "Ow..."
"Oh, it does feel different than passing through a gateway," Delia commented before removing the bags from Ash. Her eyes were blessed with this odd dimension and its colourful skies. However, it was a bit different from last time. Some development has been made as the skies gained a mixture of red and blue with the red being faint in the distance. This obviously came from the cosmos themselves which were a bit visible now due to how small this world was. Space itself here was very compact and minimized.
But what truly got her attention was the massive tower belonging to Galaxy Master. The Galaxy Tower. Delia was starting to feel like her old self again, exploring new landmarks that went beyond her home. This was definitely way past her home at this point, existing in a completely different space.
All she had to do was look for Galaxy Master and also receive a tour of the tower. But this time, it wouldn't be Ash and Delia that went to him. Instead, Galaxy Master would come to them. Storming out of the tower were each and every one of Galaxy Master's Pokemon. He had plenty with him that always helped out when needed, defending the innocent and foiling any wicked plans from the Dread League.
Delia soon noticed how each of the Pokemon that left the tower were identical to the ones Ash had. Galaxy Master had the same Pokemon that Ash has. The numbers were even as well. Pikachu ran up to Ash after seeing him, lunging into the arms of his trainer's son.
"Pika-Pi!" With all these Pokemon making an appearance, Delia was amazed as it felt like she never left her home at all. Due to how familiar they were, it was as if she was back at Pallet Town, hanging otu with Ash's Pokemon.
"Oh my! Isn't this familiar?" She giggled while being swarmed by the smaller Pokemon, such as Snivy, Oshawott, Totodile, Rowlet and so on. "Haha! Hello, little ones!"
"Yeah! It's pretty neat!" Ash loved it. He didn't question why Galaxy Master had the same Pokemon as he did. He loved all Pokemon that much. "But now that I think about it...how come I haven't seen Rapidash yet?" But he did question why Rapidash wasn't present. That was a Pokemon his father had and it was nowhere to be found in this sea of familiar faces.
"You're here so soon"? Leaving the tower as well as Galaxy Master as he was the last to arrive. "You-" His words came to a halt after seeing more than just Ash Ketchum. Someone equally as important was there, sitting gracefully on the lush grass while holding the little Pokemon next to her.
Delia Ketchum.
Though the real Mr Ketchum was out there in the world, going on his own journey, Galaxy Master was just as real and still considered Ash's father. And this showed by how he reacted to seeing Delia. Galaxy Master has consistently had the same reaction to almost everyone he has met. He always made a grand entrance, spouting out his intro catchphrase and poses, being as bombastic and cool as he could be. A full-on Superhero is what he was when it came to interacting with others.
But for Delia, and even before this, Ash, that wasn't the case. His reactions were reserved and gentle. There was no flair to them at all. Galaxy Master only took this in and when seeing Delia, the memories that were connected to the real Mr Ketchum were kicking in.
His memory pool was limited, only focused on the past instead of the present. But after meeting with Ash, new memories were starting to arise and seeing Delia unlocked the remaining ones. That beautiful smile that could calm many and that comforting and welcoming aura was unparalleled. He could feel it from the entrance of the tower. It was lovely.
Delia could tell how he was reacting. She knew how her husband was even if she was looking at a copy of him. It counts to her either way, much like how Ash counts him as his actual father. Delia Ketchum stood up as the Pokemon would part the way for her.
"D-Delia?" He spoke her name, hoping he got it right.
"Mhm. It's been a while, hasn't it, dear?" Delia replied with a warming look of satisfaction and happiness. "Look at you. You received quite the upgrade, haven't you? Especially with that outfit."
"It is you. I um...I didn't think I'd meet with you so soon. Or even like this." Galaxy Master rubbed the back of the helmet. "I'm not exactly him after all."
"Oh, does it matter? Ash already expressed that. Family is family, even if they are bodies of light. That just makes it all the more fun." Delia giggled before going for a hug. Her warm embrace would catch Galaxy Master off guard as he wasn't prepared for it. "I'm so glad to see you again...It's been so many years since then."
"It has...But for me, it feels like only today we're meeting." Galaxy Master replied as it didn't feel that long at all. It was only recent. But the memories within made it also feel like many years have gone by since they've last met."
"I have so much to tell you, dear!" Delia looked up at him. "Ever since you left, so much has happened! Has Ash already told you everything or is there more to share?"
"He plans to but, I wouldn't mind if you also shared stories with me, Delia. Where's Mimey, by the way?" Galaxy Master asked, referring to the first Mime Species Delia had.
"Out in the circus. But there's a new Mimey with us. When I said I wouldn't catch Pokemon that belonged to families, I was a bit too literal with that when it came to the Mime Species. "I'm sure the old one is doing fine with his new career. But even if he's not here, I brought a few things that will jog your memory!"
"A few...?" Ash looked at the bags as these were more than just a few. Even Galaxy Master's Pokemon sighed at this understatement while Totodile, Gible and Scraggy were snooping inside the bags to see what they could find.
"You're not busy now, are you, darling?" She questioned, hoping to spend some free time with him.
"I hate to say it but...I am." Alas, Galaxy Master was busy right now, having no free time for Delia or Ash. This brought a frown to Delia's face. Even with this new version of her husband, he was still occupied. "I'd love to spend some free time with you, but there's a lot on my plate. Plus, a new development has arrived. The creatures from beyond spoke to me today and I am hearing them out."
"Huh? Are you talking about the ones attacking the Subspace Pokemon? You sorted things out with them already?" said Ash.
"Surprisingly, yes. They seemed to have evolved, wishing to speak with me. They are hostile but not in the way I thought they were. You can come with me to see what has happened so far."
"Oh, alright." Delia puffed her cheeks, blushing out of disappointment. "I was hoping that we could go somewhere romantic right now but...this'll do for now."
Equestria. Mareflower. Potion Nova's Green House. Afternoon.
Meanwhile, Potion Nova had brought Twilight and Fluttershy to a new room within her home. Each room had different categories of potions that all shared some things in common with each other, making it easy for Potion Nova to find them. And currently, she had something that centred around Pokemon, exciting Fluttershy.
The room she revealed was much like any other room in her Green House, but it was the potions that truly mattered. Fewer potions were stacked here compared to the others, but it was still quite a lot from what was seen on the cabinets and shelves.
"Alright, Fluttershy. I've heard how much you love Pokemon. You even made an entire sanctuary for them." Potion Nova said.
"That's right. The Pokemon House. It's just the most wonderful place."
"Luckily for you, I started researching Pokemon not too long after they came into our lives." The unicorn would use her magic to bring over three bottles. "They're so amazing. They seem to be rooted in both Magic and Science, making the perfect creatures in...anything, really?"
"I know, right?" Twilight agreed. "I know a lot about them but there's still so much that I don't know yet. It's so intriguing. I've found a lot these past years. What have you found, Potion Nova?"
"Well...I haven't gotten into much action when it comes to Pokemon. I prefer to observe them and the only one I ever caught was a Galarian Ponyta who's now a Rapidash. But from the Pokemon I got to see and be with, some interesting things came my way. Such as Infinity Energy." The ever-present power of the Pokemon World had been brought up.
Infinity Energy. The cause of practically everything that has to do with Pokemon. Their life force and how they can harness attacks, even evolving in the process. It truly lived up to its name of 'Infinity' as new phenomena were being discovered thanks to it. The most recent was the existence of Subspace Pokemon.
"Infinity Energy is that perfect mixture of Magic and Science, so I had the opportunity to use my skills on them. And what I found was amazing. And one of these amazing discoveries is rather recent. Just as recent as this dimension suddenly showing up."
"Well? What did you find?" An eager Twilight asked.
"I made these potions that take different Infinity Energies from other Pokemon. The three I'm holding up now allow the user to tap into the nature of Pokemon. This one has the power to make you use a Pokemon Move. But it's only one move." She put one potion out that had a red colouring to it. "There are other potions with other moves here and I'm working on them."
"I can use a move with this?" Twilight held the potion. "Which move?"
"I believe it's Flamethrower if I'm not mistaken. Or Inferno. Or Fire Spin. They blend in with each other a lot. But there are other potions that have different moves in them. It's like having my own movepool. And you can bet i bring some of them with me when the Dread League is involved."
"Ah! Does this mean I get to use Sunny Day and Aromatherapy?!" Fluttershy's eyes lit up, wishing to use moves such as Sunny Day and Aromatherapy.
"I think I have a potion for Aromatherapy. Sunny Day's hard to make though but I'm getting there. I'm even planning to try and replicate Pokemon Physiology with my potions but that requires even more work than before. As for this second potion, it allows the user to evolve just like a Pokemon!"
"Evolve?!" They said in unison, amazed by what they were hearing.
"That's right! B-But I haven't actually tested it out on myself yet. I only used it on a Snubbul that wanted to evolve badly. I'm not sure what it'll do to a pony. Or even a human for that matter. So I'm keeping this one at bay for the meanwhile. Just like the potion that reverses a Pokemon's evolution. It might come in handy someday."
"Amazing. So what about that third one you have?" Twilight focused on the third potion Potion Nova had out.
"This one? Ah, it's nothing special. It allows you to speak like a Pokemon. For about...15 hours at best. Use it on a Pokemon and they'll speak like us. Not a big deal."
"Well, it sounds fun either way. I've always wanted to know Eve would sound like with her own unique voice. Nothing special happened when Manaphy used Heart Swap on us so this will be interesting. What do you think, Fluttershy?"
"Oh, of course!" Fluttershy was all for it, obviously. "Let's try it right now! What about you all?"
However, the second they turned to face the Pokemon, there were none. Only Mr Mime was there and nobody else. Pikachu, Espeon, Audino, Raboot and Bayleef were all gone, running off to explore the Green House for themselves.
"Where'd they go?! Mr Mime?!" Twilight looked over at Mr Mime.
"Mime?" Mr Mime, shrugged, having no clue as to where they went or how they even slipped past his view and presence. They went their own way, eluding the others.
"They choose now of all times to roam around?!" Twilight gasped, worried that the Pokemon might cause some chaos within the Green House and set off different potions. "If they knock over or try one of your potions...!"
"Oh, that would be bad if something happened." Potion Nova added. "But it's fine, we can just find them and who knows? It might be fun depending on what they drink." But Potion Nova would be lying if she said she didn't want this to happen.
When it comes to Pokemon, they were curious and playful creatures. Sometimes to their own benefit, sometimes to their own detriment. And right now, four of them were wandering the Green House with so many potions available. Something could go wrong if something wasn't done. Or it could be the opposite. There was only one way to find out as the journey continues.
Equestria. Mareflower. Potion Nova's Green House. Afternoon.
"Pikachu!" Currently, Pikachu, Audino, Bayleef and Raboot found themselves elsewhere within Potion Nova's Green House. And of course, this was a room full of potions. The place was just so wonderful that they had to explore it. Pikachu was only following the others to keep an eye on them.
The room in question was also centred around Pokemon, much like the one Potion Nova showed to Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy. It wasn't just one room. There was another. This was shown by the label at the entrance of the room. Pikachu looked up at these potions, wondering what each of them were capable of. Alas, unlike the entrance, none of them had labels, making it hard to guess what the effects were. But that only added to the excitement.
"Raboot?" Raboot already grabbed some of them. In his hands, he held two potions that had unknown effects. Curiosity truly got the better of him. But this was rather common for his friend group. They were always curious about their surroundings, frolicking about. Canterlot was a prime example whenever the Grand Galloping Gala comes about and the influence Pikachu and Ash have on them was a factor.
"Audino." But Audino was still the level-headed one here, cautious about this and insisting that they return to Fluttershy and Twilight. She was guilty about exploring the place but she didn't quite expect to lose them so soon. It all happened so fast. One second they were with their friends and the next second, they ended up in another part of the Green House.
Audino waddled and fidgeted with her arms, warning Raboot and insisting that he shouldn't drink from the potions. They only had knowledge of one potion and what it was capable of and that was the Dimensional Potion. Everything else was a mystery.
"Raboot!" Raboot was too eager to try one of them out. He opened one of the potion vials, immediately drinking out of it.
"D-Dino!"
"Pika?!" Pikachu and Audino collectively gasped. Raboot went through with it without any hesitation.
"Boot." Raboot sighed, patting his stomach as he looked completely fine. Nothing had really changed about him. Pikachu and Audino sighed, believing they got off easy with this potion. Perhaps the effect didn't matter to Raboot and only focused on a certain Pokemon. Raboot seemed rather disappointed. It looked like that potion did nothing for him.
However, the effects kicked in a few moments later, having a delayed reaction. The Rabbit Pokemon felt a change within him, causing his body to jitter for a moment. Pikachu and Audino witnessed as Raboot's appearance was being altered. Specifically, his colours.
Raboot appeared in his Shiny Form, no longer in his regular common colour. "R-Raboot?!"
"Pikachu!" Amazement filled the eyes of Pikachu and Audino. A potion that could turn Pokemon into Shiny Pokemon had been found. And it worked efficiently. Raboot checked himself out, seeing how his fur was grey now along with the addition of white on his centre body instead of black. The first potion was impressive to him but nothing too crazy as of yet.
"Pikachu." Now Pikachu was curious. What could the other potions do? Especially the second one that Raboot held. Raboot was eager to try the second potion in his hand to see what afflictions could come from it. However, he was kind enough to pass it on to Pikachu. "Pika?"
"Ra." The Rabbit Pokemon insisted that the Mouse Pokemon tried this one out. Pikachu, as adventurous as his best friend Ash, was interested in doing so, even if he wanted to keep everyone safe at the same time.
But the happy-go-lucky nature that he had said otherwise as he would open up the potion bottle. It was a bit hard to dictate what this one would do considering Raboot drank a potion that made him a Shiny. But the best moments come from taking risks and Pikachu is all about taking risks as he took a light sip.
"Pika..." Pikachu rubbed his mouth, getting rid of the remaining liquid. A slightly delayed reaction was expected instead of an instant one. Pikachu couldn't guess in time what this potion could do to him. The one Raboot drank and this one were next to each other so perhaps there was some connection. At the same time, Bayleef came over, only spectating the potions that were nearby. And the moment she got close, the effects of the potion went off. "PIka?!"
"B-Bay!" A bright light came from Pikachu's body which then latched onto Bayleef's body. Audino and Raboot squinted as the Mouse Pokemon and Leaf Pokemon were drawn together by the light. The light would expand, soon morphing them both. Their bodies were practically being moulded together to form something but no one expected the outcome of this sudden combination.
Out of the flash of light emerged a new Pokemon. The potion had surprised Raboot and Audino to their core. Their good friends have been fused into one, forming a new species of Pokemon. The body of a Bayleef along with the colours, tails, sacs and eyes of a Pikachu brought this Pocket Monster into existence.
"Pikaleef?" Pikachu and Bayleef had become one, speaking a new name that mixed their names together. Truly, this potion was the most impressive they've seen so far.
"Audino..." This amazed Audino, prompting her to pick it up. This potion was the best one to them simply because of this stellar effect. It greatly reminded Audino and Raboot of Queen Pyrestar, the alicorn from another universe. She was the fusion of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Another similarity was Celestial-Gardevoir, where Celestia and Gardevoir would fuse via the Harmony Phenomenon.
However, the effect of this potion would not last that long. The Pikachu Bayleef fusion ended abruptly, summoning that mystical light once more. This time, it was intended to defuse them. The body of this fused Pokemon split apart, sending the two hosts tumbling on the floor.
"Pi...Pika?" The outcome was a bewildered Pikachu, who held his head, feeling dizzy and perplexed.
"Bay..." Bayleef felt the same as her eyes were rolling. For a few seconds, she was one with Pikachu and it was a strange feeling indeed.
"Raboot?" Raboot's body suddenly felt a change as well. The potion he drank had also run out, just moments after the potion Pikachu drank ended. He saw his body return to its natural colours, losing the Shiny Aesthetic. It was fun while it lasted but there was still more within the potion.
The Pokemon were amazed by what they had experienced and there was more to see. Other potions were here with different effects that also might be similar to one another. They made the right call to start experimenting with these and they couldn't wait to see what the rest of them could do.
Another dimension. Galaxy Tower.
Meanwhile, Ash and Delia were at the Galaxy Tower, here to see the creatures that Galaxy Master has been dealing with for a while now, but apparently, came to a compromise with them. Delia practically reunited with her husband now. And she received a tour in return. Not exactly the most romantic thing here but she still got spend time with Galaxy Master.
One of the rooms Delia got to see was the Armory, filled with all Galaxy Master's essentials. He had powers of his own so these weapons weren't of much use unless truly needed. But since Ash drew them as a child, they existed. Another room was the Vestibule, which had a statue of Galaxy Master and a Superhero Rendition of Delia Ketchum. It was properly named Quasar Lady by Twilight.
Delia's eyes focused on the tower. It was a bit surreal to see something that Ash drew as a child coming into reality. It felt like Delia was inside the book itself. But these rooms weren't important right now. What truly mattered were the creatures within.
And these creatures could be found in the Trophy Room. One of the larger sections of the Galaxy Tower, this room contained various trophies and souvenirs from off-world adventures that never actually happened in real life. Only in the story. But now that Galaxy Master was real, it could happen.
And waiting there were the creatures that came from beyond. And immediately, they looked incredibly familiar when Ash first saw them. He gasped as these creatures resembled the Unown. Their bodies were in the shape of numbers instead of the arms and mouths they previously appeared.
This was the complete opposite of the Unown who resembled letters. But noticeably, these number-shaped creatures only had double-digit numbers instead of single and double digits. All of them had their bodies connected to make these triple digits, making some of the biggest numbers out there. And much like the Unown, they had those eyes that never seemed to close, always open and staring. The resemblance to the Unown was uncanny.
"Woah...They look just like the Unown!" Ash pointed out. "Are they related to them?"
"I was surprised by this as well. For the most part, they only appeared as arms and eyes. Recently, they gained mouths but those are nowhere to be seen now." Galaxy Master explained. "But they are related to the Unown. These Pokemon also come from the space lost world as the Subspace Pokemon."
"We do?"
"We do." The creatures replied, speaking to Ash. "For you see, we are simply lost variants of the Unown. We come from a world that was once lost and only existed for a split-second, even though it went through centuries of development."
"Really?" Ash responded. "So...You used to be with the Subspace Pokemon. How come you're trying to attack them?"
"We were trying to retrieve them and bring them back into Subspace. Our attacks on them were brought on by instinct, I'm afraid. When we first appeared here, that was all we thought of doing." The Variants of the Unown would float over, circling Ash and Delia. "And our battles with Galaxy Master made us all the more hostile, coming back for more without much of a second thought."
"We only went at it for a few months. Not much changed with our confrontations." Galaxy Master added. "But today was different."
"So, everything's fine with you. What happened?" Ash asked.
"You showed up." The Unown Variants collectively said with an ominous tone, focusing on Ash. Apparently, his arrival in this world led to a sudden development.
"Huh?! Me?! But I just got here today and you're already like this."
"Not today. But a few days ago. When you set foot into this dimension for the first time, we felt a change and a familiar presence come through. Something that made us snap back to our senses. It only took until now for that change to truly develop."
"My son does have that effect on others," Delia spoke. "But I didn't think it was that powerful."
"Ash Ketchum. You remind us of him. That is why we changed." The Unown Variants continued.
"Him...?" Ash wasn't exactly sure who they were talking about but it was apparently someone who was with the Unown before. "What are you talking about?"
"Our memories are weak but the Lost World and the noticeable figures are still there. His name may be lost to us but that face looks exactly like him. You are the one thing from that Lost Universe that we recognize, apart from the Subspace Pokemon."
"So, what's up with the Subspace Pokemon then? They come from the same world as yours so what can they do?"
"The one who existed in that world had the power to summon Pokemon from Subspace. Specifically, he could bring ny Pokemon that he desired, with some exceptions. His power was truly tremendous, as there was barely a Pokemon that was out of his reach. Subspace is its own world that he could tap into."
"Woah..." Stellar words were being processed for Ash. There existed a being who could summon any Pokemon from Subspace. "And I look like him?"
"At least when it comes to your face." The Unown Variants further observed Ash. "Bits of the Lost World are starting to emerge, however, and we have been trying to recover them."
"What else has shown up then?" Galaxy Master asked.
"From what our eyes can see, A Winged Mountain. A Massive Flame Mountain with a Claw on the top, and An Ancient Spire. These are landmarks from the Lost World that have shown up."
"Hey...Didn't you talk about that before, Sombra?" Ash looked at his chest, speaking to Sombra. This sounded very familiar already.
"I have. Your Dragon friends spoke of a Winged Mountain suddenly appearing on the map and it wasn't too long ago that I had to deal with that specific Mountain of Fire. "Sombra's shadow would emerge out of Ash's chest.
"Uhh..." Galaxy Master was naturally taken aback by this. He didn't expect a pony to suddenly emerge out of Ash's body, let alone in the form of a shadow.
"Looks like we have some answers now." Sombra continued. "If I had to guess, this isn't the end of it. This only started happening when those Jirachi put everything together."
"Oh yeah. So there's more that's gonna show up?" Ash questioned. "Did Jirachi do this on purpose?"
"It's likely that the Lost Universe which was once erased is starting to restore itself." The Unown Variants already had an answer to that. "Little by little, everything that once existed within it will appear, situated in where they were originally found. Jirachi must have probably revived it by accident."
"So cool! So we're gonna be seeing even more stuff now!" Ash pumped his fists as this only meant that something new was bound to be seen. He wasn't sure where but he couldn't wait to get out there and find out.
"Unfortunately, this means the most violent parts of that Lost World will inevitably return." However, there was a catch to this. "There was only one horrific moment in that world and we fear that it could return."
"What is it?" Ash's tone changed once it got serious.
"It is what led to that world being erased in the first place. We are not sure if it can happen again as this world has lasted far longer than it. However, we can sense the potential of it occurring once more. Objects and individuals from that lost world have probably started showing themselves by now, revived by Jirachi's power."
"Is there any way to stop this incoming crisis?" Galaxy Master asked.
"There is. What matters is that 8 are never reunited." Suddenly, the room would turn red for a moment as the pitch of the Unown Variants would deepen. A rather intimidating aura filled the area, followed by what the Unown said next.
"8 Souls hold the one who wiped out many and must never be reunited ever again. A psychosis of terrifying sadism will return, unstable and almighty. Their 8 souls conflict against his existence with their respective spirits. A Solemn Spirit. An Empathic Spirit. An Astute Spirit. A Calm Spirit. A Dauntless Spirit. A Stern Spirit. A Courteous Spirit and an Inquisitive Spirit. All go against him. And the desire to revive is burning bright within the almighty one. Should he return, then all shall know what True Power is."
A truly foreboding warning. The Unown Variants warned them about this mysterious individual being brought back. And all it would take was 8 different souls to bring him back. They weren't sure who they were but it was something to take in mind.
"Unfortunately, that is all we can share with you. Our goal is to prevent what happened to that previous universe at all costs. And making sure the Pokemon from Subspace are safe matters."
"Okay, I see. Well, thanks for sharing." Galaxy Master gave a thumbs-up after that ominous warning. "I'll be on the lookout. But right now, we have one problem we've yet to get past. The Dread League. I'm focused on stopping their plans from destroying all life, especially since the Black Crusade is bound to happen anytime soon."
"Oh yeah! Dad! Listen to this!" Ash then had something crucial to tell him. "They could be going after Xerneas! I'm sure of it! The Dread League's got Yveltal with them and they don't wanna use its power since Xerneas can push back against it. At least, that's what I think. They would've done it by now.
"Ah, I see what you mean." He nodded in understanding. "You're not wrong to think that, my boy. Xerneas is the perfect response to Yveltal. They are opposites after all. But I was not aware that they managed to capture Yveltal."
"Do you think you could get to Xerneas before they do, Dad?"
"I can try. I can imagine it will be difficult for me and the Dread League to find the Xerneas. But rest assured, I will make sure no harm is done to Xerneas." Galaxy Master's mission was still the same but now it involved Yveltal. This whole time, he had only been shutting down the Despair Plant Gardens that were being planted across the world.
Now, he had the mission of stopping Xerneas from being attacked by the Dread League. With Xerneas around, the Black Crusade was essentially a bust, otherwise, they would have ended Yveltal by now, which would've then destroyed all life across the world.
"Now hold on. Right now?" Delia pouted. "I thought we would've spent some more time with each other after some important work."
"S-Sorry, dear. But this is a matter of life and death. But I promise this!" He vigorously pointed upwards. "After this whole mess with the Dread League is over, we will spend as much time as we can with each other. I promise."
"Hmmm...Alright. Just don't go and vanish like your other self, okay?" Delia put her faith in him, hoping to have that quality time one day.
"We shall return to our own space and await our time to act." The Unown Variants replied. "The Subspace Pokemon must be kept safely, however. That is why we came here and how we found the will to break through."
"I'll be searching for Xerenas now. I'll gladly take you all back home since you drank the last of the Dimensional Potion. Just sit tight and let me handle it, okay?" He placed his hand on Delia's shoulders.
"I wanna help too! Me and my friends are doing whatever we can!" Ash exclaimed.
"Hah. I believe that. Hopefully, we can work alongside each other. And don't worry. You'll see me show up at Pallet Town someday. Just like old times." Galaxy Master gave one more promise before using his abilities to tap into the other dimension. A galactic glow would flare out of his body along with Ash and Delia as he was already prepared to send them back to their world.
And when Ash returns, he would have something amazing to share with Twilight and the others, who also had something amazing to share based on what they tested at Potion Nova's Green House. The warning of a mysterious figure along with the knowledge of what the Dread League were up to was now involved.
Ash couldn't quite see it, but he felt like something big was coming. And he had every reason to believe that. Everything that has happened so far was essentially holding back an outbreak that threatened this new world. This Grander World could meet its end soon when it was just in its infancy. But only time will tell, as the journey continues.
A warning from Unown Variants had been issued. A threat from a lost world had the potential to appear. But at the moment, the Dread League were the only problems everyone from Kanto, Equestria and beyond had to deal with. Attempts to foil the Black Crusade were still being made as Ash and Delia returned to their dimension thanks to Galaxy Master.
The fictional character brought them over, travelling from the other dimension with ease. No need for any potion when he can do it casually.
"Alright. I'll be focusing on reaching Xerneas before they do. Perhaps I can warn it of what's coming." Galaxy Master said, aiming to protect Xerneas from harm. The Dread League were searching for the counterpart to Yveltal as it posed a large threat to their plan.
"What was the point of these bags then?" Delia pouted as all the bags she brought along were practically pointless now that Galaxy Master was continuing his work. Everything in there was meant for him to bring back some nostalgia, even if he was just fictional for the most part.
"Ah...I-I'll keep some of them with me at the Galaxy Tower if that makes up for it. I'm sure my memories will recall whatever's in there." He stammered a bit before picking up one of the bags. "There'll be something for my Pokemon to enjoy. probably. Maybe something for Potion Nova as well."
"How far do your memories go, Dad?" Ash asked.
"I believe it goes up to the point where I left Pallet Town to continue my Pokemon Journey. You were either 4 or 5 by the time I did so. Everything else is a blur but we've already made new memories, haven't we? If you ever see your real father, tell him everything, alright?"
"You bet! Good luck with the Dread League. We'll be involved as always too." Ash gave a reassuring thumbs-up. This was followed by Galaxy Master doing the same as they would fist-bump afterwards.
"I'll be there to visit you sometimes. I'll be waiting for you to pick me up." Delia approached him, promising that she would come by that dimension when available.
"Right. And if you're ever in trouble, believe that I'll be there at the speed of light. Until then...stay safe. If something new comes up about the Dread League, it'll go to Princess Celestia as soon as possible. Potion Nova has already found something interesting not too long ago."
"Yeah? What'd she find?" Now Ash was curious. Before he could depart with his mother, he had to know what Potion Nova had found out since it was related to the Dread League. And any information of the Dread League was definitely crucial.
Inside the Green House, Twilight, Fluttershy, Mr Mime and Potion Nova were currently searching for Pikachu, Raboot, Audino and Bayleef after they wandered off. Thankfully, they didn't go too far and they never left the same room. Pikachu and the others were too busy with the room they were in simply because of how appealing the potions were with their endless possibilities.
"See? There's too many for them to get too far." Potion Nova said, entering the room where Pikachu and his colourful friends were mucking about.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu already found a new potion to try out as there were many bottles on the floor, showing that they have been occupied this entire time. The colourful liquids of the potions made a mess of the floor as various effects have come and gone for them.
"Ah! You all made such a mess!" Twilight bellowed while Potion Nova looked completely unphased by this.
"Pika?" Pikachu turned to face the Princess of Friendship as he wiped his mouth, removing any remains of the potion liquid. He then put on a cheeky smile, knowing that he goofed off and let his adventurous nature get the better of him. And he didn't regret it one bit.
Neither did Bayleef Raboot or Audino, who enjoyed themselves and wanted to try out some more potions while they still had the chance. "Oh, my goodness," said Fluttershy. "You all look okay but you might have gotten a bit out of control."
"Bay! Bayleef!" Bayleef just had to share with Fluttershy what she had experienced earlier. The one moment that stuck out to her was how she fused with Pikachu, making an entirely new Pokemon.
"You fused with Pikachu?" Fluttershy translated, grabbing the attention of Twilight Sparkle and her partner Espeon.
"I'm sorry, what?" Twilight's words were filled with confusion. "Fused? Like...fusion?"
"Oh, you found that potion bottle." Potion Nova still looked unbothered by this. The mess didn't bother the unicorn one bit as she was completely casual about this. This also confused Twilight as she expected Potion Nova to have the opposite reaction.
"You're not upset about this?" The Princess of Friendship commented.
"Oh, it's fine. I have so many potions along with duplicates of them that it barely leaves a budge in my work. I'm always making potions, ready for the next day and the future. Except for the ones that are harder to make." Potion Nova picked up one of the used potion bottles that was only halfway done. And with her magic, she would immediately replenish it. "I can even replenish some of them."
"Lucky..." Twilight said with amazement. Potion Nova's craft would have this advantage. She has spent years doing it after all.
"Don't worry about it. As for the Fusion Potion, that's a work in progress. Judging by how you're all in your normal forms, it's clear that there's still work to be done."
"So, wait. You made a potion that fuses Pokemon? Am I getting that right?" Fluttershy asked before realizing what this meant. Her eyes opened with wonder as that major part of her that loves discovering new Pokemon was about to burst out. "Oh! Does that mean new species can be born?!"
"That's right. It's a work in progress but at least I got the end result down. It takes both Pokemon and forms a new species that has never been seen before. I actually had this in mind when I heard about the Harmony Phenomenon. It's thanks to that phenomenon that I can pull this off by harnessing it."
"You used the Harmony Phenomenon? How did you harness it?" Twilight asked.
"The same way I harnessed Infinity Energy. But I'll admit, the Harmony Phenomenon's harder to work with. Thanks to my bond with Rapidash, I could tap into it and use its power for some potions." Potion Nova continued, aiming her hoof at a row of potions. These potions she pointed at were influenced by the Harmony Phenomenon in some way. "I haven't quite figured out the fusion one. It only lasts for about 10 seconds or less. But now you've got a tip on making special potions."
"That's an impressive tip. I guess I'm used to harnessing energy. I do that with Rift Energy and I have some of it in me right now." Twilight would showcase this by unleashing a bit of magic from her horn. A mixture of her original magic and Rift Magic would sparkle beautifully, letting out some stardust. "I've never thought about doing that though. Can you do that with anything?"
"Oh, sure. If I put my mind to it, I can harness anything into a potion. Years of work have led me to realize that. And it also gives me a better understanding of that thing and what it's related to. One of which is some magic from the Dread League."
"The Dread League?!" Twilight and Fluttershy bellowed in unison, making some of the potions in here tremble from the volume of their voices. They were completely blindsided by this reveal.
"Y-Yes. The Dread League." A stunned Potion Nova pulled back.
"You have magic from the Dread League?! How?!" In a flash, Twilight would get up close to Potion Nova's face, needing to hear about this. Months of figuring out things from the Dread League and there was finally something to hear about.
"My missions with Galaxy Master are how. All the vampires we've gone against and what they unleash on the world tend to have a lot of magic with them, as you can guess." Potion Nova explained. "But it's very dangerous too. I only managed to get one potion that has magic from Magehold. But I'm not sure if I should use it."
"What is it?"
"Come and see." Potion Nova would lead them to the room where this Dread League Potion could be found. Potion Nova's craft went as far as to harness magic from Magehold, which was incredibly risky. The magic from there was volatile and destructive, threatening everyone. The fact that it was in a bottle didn't make it safer at all.
They arrived at the room where this potion was kept. And it was a rather lone one. It sat inside of a case where many chains were keeping it closed, surrounded by a magical aura. It was clear that Potion Nova was too cautious of this potion and what it could do but her work tempted her to keep it around.
After all, this was the first of its kind. A potion that came from Maegehold while everything else was centred around either Equestria or the other regions and their Pokemon. Potion Nova stood before the chained case, refusing to open it right now.
"In there is the potion. And the effect...? Plagues. A terrifying plague was threatening to consume a few towns nearby, but Galaxy Master and I managed to stop it. But this wasn't an ordinary plague. I've found out that Magehold is home to some of the most terrifying plagues out there. So vicious that there's seemingly no cure for them."
"We've heard. Our friend Chrysalis got hit with one of them. I think that's what the Lich Queen used on her. Not Curse Magic. Although it could've been." said Twilight Sparkle. Her head would then lower, remembering Chrysalis' condition and how dire it was. "She's in peril right now and the only way to repel this affliction is if the victim does it."
"Oh, I heard about the news. That's terrible. And I don't think any of my potions will do anything about it. This one certainly won't. I've actually been wanting to find a cure for the Dread League's plagues. They seem so invincible and the only ones who can stop them are those who are afflicted. There have only been a few creatures who received plagues."
"So, there's no potion for that? Are you sure?" Fluttershy questioned, hoping that Potion Nova had at least something that could work.
"I'm sorry." Alas, she didn't have anything with her. "I guess...the only logical thing I could do is continue working on Pokemon Abilities. I've been working on making potions that are based on the abilities of Pokemon and one of them is Healer. It can restore status conditions, but that might not work. Even my research on Pokemon Physiology will take a long time and I don't know how that will affect Chrysalis."
"It might be too late by then." Twilight bit her hoof. "Sombra knows what he was saying too when he said that only the victim can cure it. But how can Chrysalis pull it off in the state she's in if nothing can heal her? IS there something in the world?"
"Well...I always thought there was something, but I'm not so sure." Fluttershy chimed in, rubbing her hoof as she had something in mind that she wasn't so sure of.
"You do? What is it Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.
"You remember Mage Meadowbrook, right? She was brought up back at the Crystal Empire and even when we first encountered Starlight." Fluttershy brought some memories back to Twilight Sparkle about a pony named Mage Meadowbrook.
"I do. She's one of the Pillars of Equestria. But what can she do?"
"My parents told stories about her and how she was a Legendary Healer. It's said that she could make a medicine for pretty much anything. But I don't know about Magehold magic. Not many knew about that place after all."
"Oh, Mage Meadowbrook. She actually inspired some of my potion work and she was amazing." Potion Nova's work was inspired by this legendary healer. It was unclear which but most likely, healing potions were the answer. "That's a great idea, Fluttershy. But why don't you think her medicines can't-" It took Potion Nova a moment to realize why. "Oh, right. She's not around any more. Got it."
"Does anypony at least know some of her recipes for healing?" Twilight asked, hoping someone out there could remake what Mage Meadowbrook once made, just for the sake of helping Chrysalis.
"I don't think so. No one did it quite like her." Unfortunately, that was a high bar to live up to. There was a reason Mage Meadowbrook was a Legendary Healer and no one else. "Her notes might still be out there but she vanished without a trace one day."
"Sorry that I can't be of any help with Chrysalis' pain. I wish I could do something about it. But for the most part, I'm trying to stop the Dread League from doing anything like this again. Honestly, we've been playing cat and mouse with them for a while."
"Well, we're focused on reaching Magehold and getting Yveltal back. So far, we've only gotten the Box of 100 Demons back and that's with the Changelings. Chrysalis is the rightful owner of it so they can't use it anymore now that it's back with her. Anything for that?" The Princess of Friendship replied.
"Reaching Magehold..." The unicorn would close her eyes, using all of her brain power for this. "Hmm...I heard that's a major objective that Princess Celestia wants done. I'm not sure if I can give out that much power though. Sorry. But I can still provide you with some Magehold knowledge."
"Then it's settled. I'll see if I can get something for you. If I can harness whatever magic they unleash, I can bring it to. Without the Box of 100 Demons, they've been weakened." Twilight had something she could strive towards to now when it came to helping out Potion Nova.
"Lovely! You'd best do it before things get out of control. I don't have much research about the vampires because they keep blowing up." Potion Nova sighed before taking a seat. "That's the perfect way to escape, honestly. But that happens for a reason. If I had something about the vampire ponies aside from their magic, I could get somewhere."
"I can maybe do that for you." Suddenly, Fluttershy would step forward, grabbing Potion Nova's attention.
"Uh...Y-You?" The unicorn stuttered.
"The Dread League wants me because I have a bit of a vampire in me. It was an accident that made a Vampire Pony a few years back and I thought it was gone. But it turns out, a part of that still lives in me but it's locked away. Now might be a good time to have it be used for something for once."
"Fluttershy! Are you sure about this?!" A worried Twilight asked. "You could unleash that side of you again...!"
"Pika?!" So did Pikachu and the others.
"Mhm. Any little thing helps. Will that do, Potion Nova?"
"Oh yes! It'll do perfectly! That's just what I need!" Potion Nova was all for it. This was a huge opportunity. The closest thing she had to a vampire being with her and not combusting out of nowhere. "We can get started right now!"
"I guess it's happening." Twilight shrugged as Potion Nova agreed to it already. Potion Nova and Fluttershy would leave the room together to get things rolling. The unicorn did not want to waste any time at all. And there wasn't much time to waste overall. The Black Crusade and Chrysalis' demise were ticking. "We should try and play our part somehow. Getting some Dread League Magic is the key. But I'd rather it'd be silent and sneaky rather than just out there."
"Espeon..."
Kalos.
The Kalos Region. Famous for many things. Famous for many things. And one of them were the three Legendary Pokemon known as the Aura Trio. Xerneas, Yveltal and Zygarde. However, one of them was captured, absent from its role and was set to be used as a weapon against not just the entire world, not the universe but multiple universes to fulfil a twisted goal.
The only ones that remained were Xerneas and Zygarde, existing elsewhere in the world. And aiming to snuff Xerneas out was the Dread League. For days now, they've been searching for the Life Pokemon, using every source they could gather to do so.
And leading this mission was none other than Opal Vivacity. With her massive mane that had the power to change fate, stolen from Bayleef, she rode a carriage for her leisure. This carriage was being pulled by other vampire ponies while she was sitting pretty, polishing and sharpening her hoof, looking into a mirror at the same time.
Opal Vivacity was going at her own pace but was still dedicated to finding Xerneas as soon as possible. After all, she helped in the mission of figuring out where Yveltal could be, leading to the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta taking action. The carriage was currently being carried along the hills of Kalos.
After enough time passed, the afternoon Sun was starting to call it a day soon, preparing to make way for the evening Moon. But there was still more time before that could happen. The vampires also needed their time to rest as the carriage would stop moving for the vampires to take a break and see what other havoc they could start. But they had to be careful. Galaxy Master could potentially show up in response to their actions, but little did they know, he was heading for Kalos thanks to Ash's knowledge.
"Lady Opal." A vampire walked up to Opal Vivacity, who was still tending to her looks, now smoothing out her mane. "You must hear this at once.
"What is it? Is it Xerneas or another town we can stop by at?" She asked, hoping it was about Xerneas. "Her majesty is listening in as always so this had better be about Xerneas."
"Not at all but...it's equally important. Reports of Zekrom have been made."
"Zekrom!?" Opal's jaw gasped as the second member of the Tao Trio had been brought up. "You mean the opposite of Reshiram? The same Reshiram that I put into a recovery state?"
"Y-Yes. Zekrom. It didn't notice us at all when flying by but it has been moving across the world a lot recently. It's said to be looking for Reshiram after what happened to it."
"Hm yes. He would be looking for his brother, wouldn't he? Reshiram is out there somewhere, healing after the damage he took. I don't even know where he is. But if Zekrom thinks he can find and revive him, he's wrong. Where did you see Zekrom exactly? And is he focused on Xerneas?"
"No...But he might be on to us. He noticed our wings, lady Opal. He knows who we are. Some of our scouts managed to elude him." The vampire said as the others would gulp and tremble. The last thing they wanted was for Zekrom to pay attention to them.
"And?" But Opal was fearless. "I took out a Dragon and I'll do it again. If he thinks he can interfere, he'll join his brother as soon as possible." Opal Vivacity was willing to take out Zekrom as well, banking on her magic. I won't let our mission for Xerneas be interrupted by him as well. Let's quickly deal with Zekrom. He can't be that hard to miss."
With a sinister smile, Zekrom was the second Legendary the Dread League had eyes on. But only for the sake of destroying him. They wanted Zekrom out of the way since the Deep Black Pokemon was onto them. Why else would the Dread League be out here? Zekrom was also another defender of Equestria after all.
Zekrom was now a target but so were Opal's group as Galaxy Master was already planning to head here as soon as possible. As Fluttershy works with Potion Nova to delve deeper into the Vampires, the clouds above closed in on each other with a looming darkness. An ominous aura indeed and potentially a sign of things to come as the journey continues.
Equestria. Mareflower. Potion Nova's Green House. Afternoon.
Fluttershy found herself working with Potion Nova. The trace of a vampire pony resides within her, albeit small. Potion Nova, who's been looking for a way to study the magic of the vampires further, has been unlucky since they tend to combust themselves, making it impossible to keep them around. But Fluttershy was a game changer for that.
"Alright. You're not exactly a Vampire Pony. You're a Vampire Bat Pony. Not exactly the same as the Dread League but similarities are there." Potion Nova explained to the pegasus, who was currently seated. "I don't think there are many Vampire Bat Ponies out there. You might be the only one."
"I am?" Fluttershy replied as she felt like she was inside a doctor's office. She decided to have Potion Nova investigate her so there were zero qualms.
"Mhm. You're full of standard Equestrian Magic that allows you to fly and harness the Elements of Harmony. Not exactly brimming with Curse Magic. But I can trace it back to them. Now..." An eager Potion Nova rubbed her hooves together, greatly looking forward to this moment. "This won't hurt. Not at all. I just need to look into your magic. And all it takes is this potion."
A potion was given to Fluttershy to drink. Once it was lent to her, the pegasus would take a drink. This would be her first potion and it involved looking into her magic, but Fluttershy already had other brews she wished to try. Thanks to the antics of Pikachu and the others, her interest in potions has been piqued.
"Mmm. It actually tastes good." Fluttershy said with a smile, enjoying the taste. "By the way, when do you think your work on Pokemon Physiology will be done?"
"Oh. Are you interested in that?"
"Mhm. I've only been a Pokemon more than once. The first two were inside of a board game and I was an Audino. And the second time was when the Unown turned me and my friends into Pokemon. I became a Meloetta and I have no complaints about that at all."
"That so? Don't you have a friend named Discord who owns some Unown, or am I getting that wrong? Can't he give you something like that?"
"Oh. Right, he can. I usually go over to Discord to have the Unown turn me into a Pokemon. I've been so many Pokemon thanks to them and it helps me understand all other Pokemon some more. Their wants and needs and such. I guess I don't need the potion then."
"I'll still make them. And if you're craving for that change and the Unown aren't availabe, I'll lend you some. I'm still looking into Pokemon after all."
"That's gre-" But before Fluttershy could finish her sentence, a flare of magic would fly out of her body. A mystical yellow and pink magic to be exact as it appeared in the shape of a pegasus. Specifically, Fluttershy. Her shape was shown as a mystical aura, having two spots of light inside of her. Fluttershy looked in awe at this magical projection of herself, investigating the lights. She could figure out what those might be. "Oooh...I-Is that what it looks like inside of everypony?!"
"Not really. I just made a potion that allows me to get an easier understanding of how inner magic works. It's easier this way. And this is your Magical Makeup." Potion Nova answered, having the easiest way to investigate magic instead of going through a long process.
After looking at Fluttershys' Magical Makeup, the unicorn observed closely as to what the two lights were. She already knew one of them had to be Equestrian Magic so it was a matter of figuring out the second one. Fluttershy sat completely still, but not before waving her hoof at her Magical Makeup, causing the aura to flow and pulsate in response.
Once Potion Nova had enough time, she brought over stick with her magic, pointing at the two lights. "These two lights are your respective magics. Equestrian Magic and Pokemon Magic. How'd you get Pokemon Magic exactly?"
"Oh, it's Fairy Magic. I think I first got it when I Mega Evolved Audino. Or was it when I went to the Frenzy Forest? Either way, Valerie taught me all about it since she knows about Fairy Magic too."
"Hm-hm. Nice stuff. I wish I had that with my Galarian Rapidash." The unicorn nodded, wanting a piece of Fairy Magic for herself. "But I'm looking for the third one. That part of you that's a vampire. Where is it...?"
Potion Nova would look closely before using her magic to hold the Magical Makeup. With her control, she enlarged it to see what else could be found. This was rather convenient for her, but what else could be expected from this master of Potions? After enlarging the projection, Potion Nova found what she was looking for. "Aha! There it is!"
"Where?" Fluttershy leaned in before soon spotting that third light. Below the other two forms of magic that burned brightly within Fluttershy, the third form was discreet and faint, as if it was keeping itself locked away. That certainly fit the description of Fluttershy's hidden Vampire Bot Pony presence. "Oooh..."
"Yeesh! It is faint!" Potion Nova was amazed by how minuscule this magical presence was. "You really did keep it locked away, didn't you?"
"I didn't even know it was still there until Opal Vivacity told me about it," said Fluttershy. "I thought it was gone forever after we solved it but the vampires saw through me and want me in Magehold."
"Hm-hm. About that...since they want you in Magehold, don't you think that's an easy way to get in there?" Potion Nova side-eyed Fluttershy, bringing up a dangerous but interesting recommendation.
"Oh, I thought so too. But I'm not sure if I want to go through with that. Magehold's a bit too intimidating for me."
"Fair enough. Alright. We'll be here for a while since I'm gonna use this part of you to investigate vampire magic."
"And that'll help us get into Magehold?" Fluttershy questioned.
"Hopefully it counts for something. We have to get into Magehold as soon as possible and free Yveltal. Being used as a tool of destruction must be horrible. And it's been kept there for months ever since the third Pokemon Festival." Potion Nova would continue to focus her magic on the Magical Makeup.
Fluttershy also had to wonder about it. Her love for Pokemon went beyond just the small ones. She loved all forms of Pokemon. And even though she hasn't met Yveltal, she was not a stranger to the destructive kinds of Pokemon, even befriending lots of them. For that, she feared for Yveltal.
Magehold.
Speaking of Yveltal, he was still unable to break free from his containment. Kept within a sphere, the Destruction Pokemon could only flail around furiously. He knew what he was about to be used for soon and vehemently refused to let it happen. His power and his reason for existing was not some weapon of mass destruction. The roar of Yveltal boomed through the room, but never went any further thanks to the sphere.
And hearing the roar was Rosa Maledicta, who was rather eager to soon use Yveltal's power for herself. By now, the Lich Queen has been careful about how much magic she uses. Her confrontations with Galaxy Master have been draining her. Rosa Maledicta wished to have her magic in a good condition when the Black Crusade happens. And with how much time has passed, she was certainly gaining some more strength back.
"Hm. It seems that Opal and her party are going for Zekrom. A wise but risky decision. I can't have Zekrom ruining things for me either." She commented, knowing about Opal's plan to take out Zekrom, who was also onto the Dread League by now. But that wasn't all she saw. Rosa Maledicta's visions also saw the Pokemon Contest being prepared by Fantina. "And that contest...is it not ready yet?"
The Pokemon Contest was seeing further development. After the secret meeting with Fractured Note and other vampires who planned to break the Lich Cycle, the Hearthome Home Gym Leader decided to be the one to try and break the field of magic. If that field breaks, Magehold won't exactly be fully hidden anymore.
Fantina wanted it to be so grand that it would aid in breaking the field somehow. But she also wanted Galaxy Master's power involved in it, thus, she delayed it until the time was right. And as a bonus, she got to do what she loved the most.
Fantina made sure to have it as big as possible, overseeing the Contest's preparations. She didn't just want to make a Contest Stage and call it a day, she wanted it to be special. Fantina was all about flashiness and style, so simple wouldn't do for her. And already, some impressive progress had been made thanks to her instructions.
An entirely new building was constructed for this Pokemon Contest and since Fantina wanted to mostly keep it tied to Magehold, not planning on harming any vampires with bright lights, it had a gothic appearance to it. Every other Pokemon Contest Building across the regions all have bright and beautiful designs. But not this one.
From how it appeared with its current progress It was shaped like a maw instead of a dome. Specifically, the maw of a wolf and it was tall enough to match those domed buildings. The fangs were even built to a point where they would close in on each other, forming a protective roof. Then again, no one really needed the protection since there was constant darkness in Magehold.
And as an extra bit of flair, vampires hovered over the building, casting their Curse Magic to give it something else. The fangs began moving, grinding against each other and even gently moving back and forth. It made the building look like it was life, grabbing the attention of many vampires. It wasn't complete yet. Other fangs had to be added along with some paint and design on the building.
As for the indoors, the changing room was relatively the same. Nothing much was different considering the purpose it served. The real attraction was the stage itself. Right now, the two versions of the Contest Stages were still being built. The first stage and the second stage. The podium where the contestants would stand for the first stage were all skulls. Tall skulls that had a rather smooth and sturdy surface at the top. This was the closest to being completed by far with only a few skulls remaining for the total number of Pokemon Coordinators.
The second one wasn't ready just yet. Right now, it was just a simple circular floor and that was it. But Fantina strived for more. And she was obviously doing it to drag things out until the time to strike was ready. But she already had something in mind, holing up a drawing of the future stage.
She envisioned it to be similar to a ballroom. Dark crystal chandeliers would spiral down from the arching fanged ceiling, sending a dark aura down the colourless jet-black walls and a floor so polished it might as well be a frozen lake. That was what Fantina envisioned for this Contest Hall.
And to her benefit, because of her glamorous mindset, this was only natural. Fantina knew that if she was anywhere else, her design would vary. Her skills spoke louder than her words.
"Marvelous, my little ponies!" Fantina complimented their hard work. "Make it...I suppose not shine or sparkle." She paused, realizing that would just harm everyone inside. "Make it emanate! That's better!"
"Miss Fantina. The preparations for a band aren't yet ready. Nopony here was any musical experience." A vampire who was sent by Fractured Note spoke to Fantina.
"No musical experience? Nothing at all?" Fantina was surprised to hear that. She wanted there to be some music in this Pokemon Contest and the fact that no one here had any experience was outrageous. "Hmm...I will handle that. What else is missing?"
"Well...The Coordinators are having a bit of a squabble. They're arguing about their Pokemon and how they won't stand out. It's devolving into a bit of a mess."
"Ah, I see what you mean." Immediately, Fantina figured it out. "They all have Ghost-Type Pokemon with a few Dark-Types here and there. But the species aren't that varied." When Fantina thought about it, the pool of Pokemon here was incredibly limited.
Gastly, Haunter, Duskull, Sableye, Litwick, Pumpkaboo and Misdreavus. Those were the most common Pokemon here at Magehold. Despite Opal Vivacity getting out there to bring some Pokemon back for everyone, she did not go that far in what Pokemon she could find. Very few had unique Pokemon from the others, such as Spectrum Shade and her Machoke.
"It will be hard to stand out and those little ones certainly do love standing out." Fantina chuckled. "What about the older ponies?"
"They don't seem to mind at all if they have the same Pokemon as each other."
"I will speak to the children and let them know they can work around this. Thank you for telling me."
"Fantina! Hey, Fantina!" Before Fantina could do anything else, along came the vampire pony Eccentrick. She would slide over by using her magic to reverse the foundation of the floor. It went from hard to slippery, allowing the vampire pony to slide. This, in turn, made other vampires slip and fall when they least expected.
"Ah, Eccentrick. Do you need something?" But Fantina was standing completely still with her heels.
"You're gonna let me join in, aren't you?!" Eccentrick's eyes lit up with stars, requesting that she took part in the Pokemon Contest. "Everything I've heard about you makes me want to impress you!"
"Of course you can join. What's stopping you?" It was a no-brainer that Eccentrick was free to join. Anyone was.
"I just want to be the best, okay? I'll be so good you'll be taken aback by what you've seen! I took the time to learn what I can about your skills and I think I can pull them off. But in case I don't, could you teach me?!" She spoke at high-speeds, expressing her excitement more.
"Ah, I can teach you. I've been teaching the little ones about Pokemon Contests recently. But you can learn as well."
"Great! If I'm taught by you, I'll rise to the ranks for sure!" She said with a bright smile widening her face. "And then, I'll be getting autographs from everypony. Just like how I'm gonna get one from you!" Suddenly, Eccentrick's hoof became a blur as she held out what appeared to be a doll of Fantina.
"Oh? Is that...a Doll of me?"
"Mhm! Made it myself! I bet you'll never guess how I used Reverse Magic to make this~!"
"You used Reverse Magic?" But Fantina couldn't exactly see how REverse Magic was involved with this. It just seemed like crafting skills to her. Either way, she would appeal to Eccentrick's wish, signing the doll's dress with her pen.
"Thanks, Fantina! I'll remember this!" Ecstatic by this, she put the doll near her face, gleefully laughing. At the same time, Eccentrick reversed the flow of the wind, causing her to move backwards while reversing the foundation of the floor back to how it was. That was certainly a way to exit the scene.
"She's a jolly one, isn't she?" Fantina saw Eccentrick as a fangirl. No way else to put it. Someone who was really inspired by her and aimed to please.
"She is. Before you came along, Eccentrick has always been the glamorous one." The vampire explained. "Always aiming to impress everyone and her magic was seen as unique. For Magehold, at least."
"Hm, I can see that." That was easy to tell with how exuberant Ecentrick was. Fantina only fulfilled those wishes and dreams of hers.
"But, because of Opal Vivacity, she hasn't had the best of luck. Opal is dedicated to being on top when it comes to beauty after all. So when she found out, she immediately ruined Eccentrick's chances."
"What?! She did?!" Fantina's tone changed, followed by a gasp that echoed across the hall. Opal Vivacity was involved in this somehow.
"Mm. Opal Vivacity sabotaged her a few times and the worst was when she sealed off most of Eccentrick's magic. The only one that she managed to keep behind was her Curse Magic thankfully, but other than that, she can't fly at all. She's not the first to receive that."
"Ooh..." Fantina would then look back at Eccentrick who was in the distance. Even after hearing about that, Fantina still saw Eccentrick as that happy-go-lucky vampire. However, she had to wonder what happened to the other ponies who were sabotaged by Opal Vivacity and how bad it turned out for them. "Is that the reason why Magehold is like this?"
"It is. Entertainment in Magehold has been dry for so long because of Opal Vivacity. She upstaged them so much that she crushed many of their dreams. You could say that Eccentrick was the last example of that era. But that's until you showed up of course!" The vampire then changed the tone into something more uplifting. "That moment you embarrassed her on stage was cathartic to many, as you can imagine. I know this contest will be enjoyable with you at the helm."
"Right. Thank you." Fantina thanked him before walking off. In her mind, she then thought about the vampires who had their dreams crushed. Magehold was only excited about the Pokemon Contests and everything Fantina brought to the table because of Opal Vivacity.
For a while, Fantina believed that Magehold was only like this because of its aesthetic. The dark and ominous nature of it would potentially lead to little excitement and entertainment. Thus, resulting in a silent and eerie place which was fitting. However, from what Fantina learned, that was never the case. And the existence of the first Lich King proved it.
Old Magehold was potentially bustling and lively after it became a Ghost Town and the current Magehold, even in its past, had the same energy. Now it was gone. And because Opal Vivacity was a vampire, she had all the years to crush it all, giving her the status of Magehold's most beautiful vampire.
Fantina was ready to change that. Life was about to be brought into Magehold.
However, Rosa Maledicta was gearing up to take life away from the rest of the world. And right now, she was hoping to take the life of Zekrom, who was in the Kalos Region where Opal Vivacity's party was.
"This time, I will not get myself involved. I need to converse as much magic as I can." Rosa Maledicta was careful with her magic yet again, wanting to keep it intact instead of wasting it. "Even if Galaxy Master shows up. And I especially don't want that dragon to turn into an orb and escape. Hurry up and deal with Zekrom so that you can get to Xerneas Opal..."
Kalos. Azure Bay. Late Afternoon.
The Deep Black Wings of Zekrom moved across the nearly-night sky. The sound of Zekrom's movements fittingly matched that of thunder rumbling. He was a walking thunderstorm in the literal sense, searching for both Reshiram and the Dread League. The Dread League were the closest by far as the Deep Black Pokemon fixated his attention on them, aiming to see what they were up to now. What other reason would they have to be outside of Magehold?
His journey led him to Azure Bay. A deep blue ocean off Kalos's coast, where Pokémon from distant lands are said to visit. The Deep Black Pokemon would gently lower himself, flying over the seas of Azure Bay to see what he could find, getting a closer look at the place. For the most part, Azure Bay was a peaceful place. Too peaceful in fact. The silence here was rather disturbing as there were no Pokemon in sight. No Water-Types were seen swimming out at sea at all.
"Down you go, Zekrom." With a flash of magic and a familiar yet intimidating voice, Zekrom felt a sudden change in reality. And he was right to feel this change as something touched his back. Before he could even turn around, he found himself rocketing to the ground at high speeds.
The Deep Black Pokemon crashed into the sands of Azure Bay, causing a massive sand cloud to emerge right afterwards. It felt like gravity changed on him all of a sudden. Zekrom's large body left a wide wave of destruction thanks to the seas being affected.
The only positive from this was that there were no civilians around or even any Pokemon around, so his wave of destruction was safe for the most part. However, the massive crater was definitely effective. Zekrom laid there for a while before getting back up, groaning a bit. The damage wasn't anything serious however, he could not ignore that.
"It felt like reality itself suddenly changed...This only means one thing..." When groaning, Zekrom could already figure out who was responsible for this considering he was snooping on this group earlier.
"Following us, are you?" Above him was none other than the Dread League. And Opal Vivacity was the one who spoke to him and brought him down. Her Fate Changing Mane was responsible for this, forcing the Deep Black Pokemon to lose his control over the air. "You're just like your brother. Can't stay out of our business, can't you?"
Zekrom growled at the Dread League as now both of them had each other's attention, meeting at last. These are the ones who harmed Reshiram. Even if both Reshiram and Zekrom came from other universes and were kidnapped, they were still connected either way. Their bond was multiversal no matter what. So naturally, Zekrom harboured anger towards the Dread League and especially Opal Vivacity, who was behind it all.
"Why are you looking at me like that? That's disgusting?" Opal scoffed at Zekrom's menacing glare. "Do you think that will intimidate me? Your brother certainly didn't succeed at it. He should've stayed out of it in the first place, then he wouldn't be in the state that he's in.
"What are you doing here? What are you up to now?"
"None of your business. All you need to know is that you can join your brother as a stone. Is what I would say but the Lich Queen would prefer if you were destroyed. Completely. To the point where you're just a giant skeleton of a dragon. That would look wonderful, wouldn't it?" It was clear what Opal and the other vampires were here to do.
Destroying Zekrom was their temporary goal before they could continue searching for Xerneas. All who stood in the way of the Dread League would suffer that same fate. Ironically, Zekrom stood by ideals but these were not the kind of ideals he could get behind at the moment. Not after what happened with Reshiram and how it threatens all life and the balance of the world. The Dragon of Ideals had his own goal aside from finding Reshiram. To stop the Dread League once and for all.
A confrontation between Zekrom and the Dread League was about to begin here at Azure Bay. And it was also spelling the coming of the Dread League's deadly advances on the world itself. As the journey continues.
The Moon had finally risen. After the Sun said its final goodbyes for the day, the advantage that the Dread League had over others finally arrived and their weakness was gone for now. And speaking of which, Zekrom had encountered the Dread League. Opal Vivacity and her party loomed over the Deep Black Pokemon who was forced to the ground, forming a massive crater here.
And yet, he was completely fine despite the massive fall. From what Zekrom could gather, there were no innocents here. It was incredibly empty here at Azure Bay, so whatever comes next, he was free to go all out. The Deep Black Pokemon narrowed his eyes, trying to see if he could hear Rosa Maledicta somewhere. But this time, the Lich Queen would not join in.
"You'll never get to see Reshiram again once we're done with you. Well, maybe you will once you're both skeletons." Opal taunted, holding her hoof out at Zekrom while hovering high in the sky. Just then, the vampires would all go after the clouds, interacting with them in the same way a pegasus would. With their control over the skies, they would form a massive storm cloud that came crashing down. But this storm cloud would also possess some of their own magic with dark green lightning crackling out of it.
Quickly, Zekrom would ascend, avoiding the incoming tempest as it struck the sands. The sands were elevated, forming a sand tornado. And with Opal's eyes flaring, she would capitalize on this massive tornado, controlling it for herself. All she did was throw a piece of her mane onto the Sand Tornado, altering reality.
Zekrom gasped as the white flash went off once more. He knew that fate was about to change once more, but he didn't seem quick enough to stop it at the moment. The Sand Tornado disappeared before reappearing in a flash behind the Deep Black Pokemon.
Zekrom found himself engulfed by the tornado, filled with dark magic. The magic within and the furious sand would beat on him constantly, refusing to give him time to have some space. However, Zekrom would make his own space. After being pummeled by the sand, his red eyes would glow as blue lightning was beginning to emerge.
With a flash of lightning, Zekrom blew away the Sand Tornado while summoning lightning bolts to fly everywhere. The vampires gasped as the bolts nearly struck them with how frantic and erratic they were. Zekrom appeared with all the sand leaving his body, menacingly glaring at the vampires above him.
Opal gasped as the Deep Black Pokemon would take flight, no longer staying grounded. He wanted to get up close and personal with this. And the best way to do that was by using Bolt Strike. The electric generator inside Zekrom's tail starts to spin and glow light blue with electricity, enough to overpower any thunderstorm. Zekrom then clenched his fists which was then followed by his body being surrounded by a golden electricity with large azure lightning bolts coming off of him as well.
Naturally, Opal wanted to avoid this at all costs and she had the means of doing it. By using the power within her mane, she would quickly change fate once more. A flash went off, sending the vampires to the other side of the sky which resulted in Zekrom missing his attack. Zekrom growled before turning his head to see where the Dread League ended up.
An annoyed Zekrom knew he couldn't do much thanks to Opal Vivacity's special ability. That Fate-Changing Mane was an issue, essentially making Opal invincible for the most part.
"M-Miss Opal...He probably knows about your mane and might go after it." A nervous vampire added, pointing out how Zekrom definitely knew about Opal Vivacity's Fate-Changing Mane
"Obviously, that's what he wants to do. But I can assure you, he doesn't have the means to stop me completely. I-" Before Opal could finish her sentence, Zekrom sent a Thunderbolt her way, attempting to get a quick hit-in.
The beautiful vampire grimaced, moving to the side and narrowly avoiding it. Her mane had been grazed by the Thunderbolt with tufts of it falling out. Zekrom eyed her down as he certainly had the means to damage it. Granted, Opal could just grow it back but Zekrom was already emanating a strong sense of tenacity.
"Cheeky Little...!" This slightly angered and intimidated Opal Vivacity. Zekrom was prepared for another quick hit when necessary. And to him, any moment was necessary as long as he could land one. The other vampires didn't matter much to him except for Opal.
"Your mane...You need time to grow it back, don't you? What's stopping me from electrocuting it all off?" Zekrom said to the beautiful vampire who would grizzle her teeth. Opal quickly regained her composure, acting cocky once more.
"Unfortunately, we don't have the Box of 100 Demons with us anymore, so I can't call upon any extra assistance. But, before we lost it...I already used the Parasite Demon on a few things just for myself. And I know it won't go to waste. Respond to this if you can, Zekrom!"
Opal Vivacity had more to offer. She has already used the Parasite Demon for a few things, mainly on Pokemon to gain their abilities. The most notable was Fluttershy's Bayleef but she has certainly gone above that for her own pursuit of power. With her hooves out, she would summon what appeared to be a Psychic Wave, implying that she has used the demon on Psychic-Types as well.
Zekrom prepared himself, believing that this Psychic wave was coming for him. However, the wave would soon materialize into something. Corrupted Psychic Energy was flowing in the air, replacing parts of the wind. Zekrom suddenly heard the abrupt silence of the wind. No longer was it howling. It was as if it had been cut off.
And the one to thank for that Opal Vivacity who would then close her hooves together. With those hoof movements, Zekrom suddenly felt himself being constricted. The Deep Black Pokemon grunted as his body felt a harsh and mighty grip as if a giant snake was holding onto him.
When in reality, it was Opal's control over the air itself. She would hold the Deep Black Pokemon in place, preventing him from moving while squeezing with a Psychic Air. With Zekrom restrained, the other vampires would take advantage of this. Once again, they went after the clouds in the air, controlling them.
They pushed the clouds towards one spot that was right above Zekrom so that he was the only target of the storm above. The thunder above would crackle as Zekrom looked up to see this fierce black cloud hover over him. The vampires would lace the cloud with their magic before unleashing a dark green lightning bolt that came crashing down.
Zekrom was struck by the lightning, closing his eyes as the darkness within was certainly dealing a heap of damage. Not exactly the lightning since he was immune to it. Continuous streams of dark magic with lightning as the main weapon would continue crashing down on the Deep Black Pokemon, attempting to take him out.
More and more, Zekrom was being battered by the storm while Opal was going an excellent job at keeping him still. Zerkom was struck by three different forces. A Psychic Wave, a storm and Dark Magic, making this a rather brutal beatdown.
"What's wrong, Zekrom?! Aren't the skies your speciality?!" Opal taunted while the vampires all laughed, refusing to cease their attacks on the Dragon of Ideals. "By the time you're crushed, the Moon will still be young!"
But Zekrom did not respond. Not yet at least. He continued to take this beating, showing no signs of retaliation. But the urge to retaliate was indeed there. Zekrom would rather be crushed than let them roam free and cause destruction and harm to everyone else. And in this case, the first option was out of the picture since it was already happening to him.
Shalour City. Nightfall.
The closest civilization to Azure Bay was Shalour City. The City of Awakening. The seaside home of the Tower of Mastery, where the legend of mysterious stones lives on. And usually, it would be a peaceful night for Shalour's residents as they would prepare for tomorrow's light.
But tonight, the peace was being disturbed. Korrina was fast asleep in her bed, was one of the first few to sense the disturbance in the distance. A storm unlike any other was crashing far from here, enough to wake almost anyone up. A crash of dark thunder would alert the citizens, forcing them to wake up.
"W-What is that?!" Korrina looked out of her window, stunned at the event in the distance. It wasn't just the sounds that alerted everyone, it was the view itself. The Psychic Wave was visible, having that signature deep pink aura while also being corrupted and flashes of green lightning were seen too.
What really stuck out was the massive storm tornado. It hid Zekrom from everyone else, who would usually be large enough to see from this distance with how big he was. No one was sure why this storm suddenly appeared but they only thought about how Pokemon could be causing this.
"It must be Lugia! The Sea Spirit's Den is the closest to Azure Bay!" One of the people here suspected it to be Lugia, who was known for causing storms.
However, this was not Lugia's doing. And the more the storm raged on, the further it went. It wasn't just the sound that approached Shalour City, but also the force of it. The vampires added more pressure onto the storm with their magic
Korrina closed her eyes as the gales of destruction could be felt even from this distance. Everyone here flinched thanks to the storm as it didn't seem like it would slow down at all. Not when the Dread League were aiming to destroy Zekrom and they would keep at it until he was down for good.
This was to the detriment of the people and Pokemon of Shalour City, who were unable to sleep because of this. In fact, it looked like they were in a bit of jeopardy now since the storm would keep on raging.
Again and again, Zekrom found himself being pummelled relentlessly, staying silent. If there was one positive in this, it was that he didn't make any sounds that involved pain. And the vampires were loving this. Beating on a Legendary Pokemon was rather satisfying due to how powerful they were. Zekrom seemed powerless here and it didn't even take an hour to get him in this state.
Opal especially loved this as this was only boosting her ego. At the same time, her hooves were twitching. The only reason why Zekrom was truly stuck was because of how Opal Vivacity had to use this to control her Psychic abilities. They may be stolen but she was an expert on them since this kind of control wasn't too far from telekinetic control.
"Hah! You're resilient! But that's to be expected with a Legendary Pokemon. Either way, even Legends can fall! Yveltal can prove that when the Black Crusade is fully realized and Reshiram proved it to us especially when I changed his fate!"
Bringing up Reshiram caused Zekrom's red eyes to flash for a moment. Opal was already in hot water after what she did to Reshiram and the actions she pulled back at the Pokemon Festival, but now she was practically dipping in lava at this point. Having enough, Zekrom's true intentions were revealed.
The storm that struck him was starting to diminish all of a sudden. The clouds that the vampires gathered were being evaporated right before their eyes. The vampires gasped, beginning to lose control over the Dark Storm they created. The lightning within was also beginning to vanish before their eyes.
"W-What's going on?!" A vampire exclaimed. That was when they all saw the reason for this. This whole time, Zekrom hasn't been fighting back for one reason. He had the strength to do it this whole time as the storm didn't seem to bother him one bit. There was just something he took his time with and now was the time to unleash it.
He has been absorbing the lightning instead. All of the lightning from the storm was being pulled into the Deep Black Pokemon, granting him power. Zekrom was a walking storm and this was just beneficial to him. The vampires looked in shock and horror at this, gently flying back as they lost control of their storm. They believed they were in control this entire time, pummelling Zekrom. But in reality, Zekrom was in control, taking all the power for himself. The only thing that truly kept him steady was Opal Vivacity's Psychic Hold.
Once he absorbed all the lightning, Zekrom finally unleashed the power within, letting out his signature roar. Zekrom's roar went to great distances to the point where those at Shalour City could hear it. And speaking of which, it didn't take long for them to spot the Deep Black Pokemon. Zekrom released an outburst of lightning that blew away Opal Vivacity's Psychic Wave and grip on him.
Opal felt a pushback from this, but not as much as the other vampires who got a taste of their own medicine. Zekrom generated his own pressure just from his roar alone and it didn't stop there. The lightning bolts he summoned would hit the vampires as well, knocking them out of the sky.
Over 400,000 volts of lightning crashed into their bodies, leaving them paralysed in an instant. The impact even lit the sky up, letting out a thunderous boom which was bound to startle anyone, dwarfing the previous thunder easily. Opal watched as her fellow vampires would drop like flies, crashing into the sands of Azure Bay and even the water.
All it took was one attack for Zekrom to make it clear who was sitting on top of the pecking order. After knocking out all those vampires, his eyes drew attention to the biggest threat of them all. Opal Vivacity. She was the only one left, breathing in and out after having to hold Zekrom.
And being the only vampire here, Opal knew that all possible attacks would flock to her and her only saving grace was her Fate-Changing Mane. Her first instinct was to gain some distance away from the Deep Black Pokemon and that was done by flying as fast as she could.
This only prompted Zekrom to pursue her, refusing to let the beautiful vampire escape. The Dragon of Ideals was the predator and Opal was the prey. The roles quickly changed once it was just Opal and no one else to assist her. The sands below would be lifted up by Zekrom's movements, representing his anger. Even the lightning that was bursting out of him was full of rage. The seas would rise as well, creating brief tsunamis that washed onto the sands of Azure Bay. The clouds in front of Zekrom were blown away with ease once he charged through them.
It took Opal's flying skills to try and evade the lightning bolts. And she was surprisingly good at doing so. The vampire evaded these bolts which tore through the clouds, burning them until they evaporated. Zekrom couldn't seem to land a hit in, not even on her massive mane.
"You red-eyed freak...you won't law a claw on me!" Opal growled at the Deep Black Pokemon before using her main magic at last. This whole time she has been relying on the Fate-Changing Mane and another power she stole thanks to the Parasite Demon. Now it was time for her natural magic to show itself.
It started with her sensing a wave of magic from her wings, attempting to consume Zekrom in them. Zekrom, refusing to let her get another hit in, blew away the waves with a Thunderbolt. After destroying it, the Deep Black Pokemon used Bolt Strike, zooming faster through the air while Opal Vivacity slowed herself down for a moment just to use her magic.
With a terrified grimace, she couldn't afford to have herself be hit by this attack. Thus, she relied on that reality-altering power once more. By quickly removing a tuft of it and placing it on her horn, she changed fate to how she wanted. And it was a close call too. Zekrom was a few feet away from Opal Vivacity.
Opal ended up on the other side once more but that wouldn't stop Zekrom's pursuit. It was at this point, she wished that she had the Box of 100 Demons with her. "Those darn Changelings are the ones who are keeping it from us. If I ever find them...!"
"Opal." Speaking to her at last was the Lich Queen, Rosa Maledicta. She saw this battle pla out and decide to get some words in.
"Your majesty?!" Opal said with glee. She was glad to hear the Lich Queen's voice as she needed some assistance dearly with the other vampires down for the count. "Ah, you're here to help!"
"Not this time." Alas, Rosa Maledicta was still choosing to stay out of it. "I must conserve my magic. But you won't be able to beat Zekrom on your own. You only succeeded against Reshiram because of my presence and the other vampires there."
"I know...He's incredibly tricky!" Opal Vivacity groaned before putting up a shield to block the incoming Thunderbolt. The shield didn't have much power put behind it since the bolt was so fast it was impossible to prepare something equally as strong. It did manage to protect her from the bolt, but the power behind it broke the shield, knocking Opal back.
Opal Vivacity hurled through the air, feeling a bit of a sting even if the Thunderbolt did not directly hit her. And to try and finish her off, Zekrom went for Dragon Pulse, summoning a blue blast from his mouth that took the form of a serpentine dragon. The beautiful vampire would flap her wings to the side by recovering quickly in the air, narrowly evading Zekrom's Dragon Pulse. Another close call on Opal's part as she didn't even need her Fate-Changing Mane to be this lucky.
"You will need help. But not from me. From the Pony of Shadows."
"The Pony of Shadows?!" Opal Vivacity gasped as a rather big name was brought up in this. Not just the Lich Queen, Zekrom or Reshiram.
"He's getting active recently. He will assist you greatly, by bringing out the shadows in everyone. I've already decided to do one thing only. I already called him here minutes ago. In fact...He's already here."
"Oh, splendid, your majesty!" Opal would gladly do so if it meant she could get out of this mess. Zekrom would approach once more, this time with Dragon Claw in mind. A powerful draconic energy surrounded his claws, ready to tear at Opal Vivacity.
But with a wicked smile, Opal Vivacity knew she would be fine. Realistically, she would always be fine thanks to her ability to return to Magehold by combusting, but the true fear was taking damage from Zekrom and what he could do to her mane. But now, that was not an issue anymore. Not when she had the best backup she could ask for.
In between the vampire and the Deep Black Pokemon, a sharp outburst of pillars would arise, flying out of the seas. Zekrom's attack was halted as these shadows blocked his way to Opal Vivacity. The shadows then began forming the head of a pony with a devious expression, cackling at Zekrom.
The Pony of Shadows was here. At least, a conceptual version of him. He wasn't exactly a full-on pony, missing the rest of the body and only having a head. But that didn't make him all the more intimidating as his shadows coloured the seas black, removing them of their vibrance.
Following the shadow outburst were the Water-Types that were missing. It was no longer a mystery as to where they were. They rose from the water, having a nightmarish energy around them with hollowed-out eyes, not appearing as their usual selves. In fact, they were almost identical to Nightmare Moon or even Nightmare Rarity as shadows were also leaking out of their hollowed eyes.
Zekrom gasped as a sea of Nightmare Pokemon appeared, all influenced by the Pony of Shadows. Zekrom was now outnumbered once more. And this time, it greatly surpassed what the vampires had. Speaking of the vampires, those who fell into the sand and water were brought along. They were free from drowning while also being in control of the shadows.
They returned, but not exactly with their own power at their disposal. Zekrom felt an unusual flow of power coming from all of them. It was rather strange as he couldn't exactly make out what it was.
"I can't afford any slip-ups here. The attack on Equestria and the rest of the world has already begun, Opal. They've all tried my patience and held me back for too long. Now is the time for the Dread League to advance."
"So...The Black Crusade has already begun?!"
"It very much has."
"The Black Crusade is starting?!" Zekrom gasped after hearing what Opal Vivacity said. He didn't think it would be tonight but it has finally arrived. In its infancy though but it was not to be ignored. Rosa Maledicta had officially kicked started the Black Crusade.
And from behind, another shadow would appear, exempt from all the others that had shown up. Zekrom, who was too busy focusing on all the Pokemon and vampires surrounding him, failed to see the hidden shadow that came after him. Before he had the chance to do so, the shadow suddenly struck the Deep Black Pokemon in the back of his head.
Zekrom was alarmed by this as the shadows, like a disease, would rapidly fly around his body, followed by the sinister laughter of the Pony of Shadows. At this very moment, the shadows were attempting to find something within Zekrom.
"Are you trying to gain Zekrom's shadow? I need him gone in case he makes a comeback." Rosa Maledicta stayed behind for a bit just to speak with the Pony of Shadows, who wasn't exactly planning to destroy Zekrom.
"Why not? Let me use one of Equestria's greatest weapons against them. It will only add to my catharsis!" But the Pony of Shadows wished to do this just to exact revenge on Equestria. He wanted full satisfaction and using a great ally to Equestria was one way to do it as he searched for Zekrom's shadows.
And there was certainly something in there. Zekrom was being reminded of an unfortunate event he was forced into. The Invasion of Equestria. Controlled by Empress Twilight Sparkle, Zekrom was tasked with destroying Equestria against his will. He had no control over what he was doing as he was only a mindless force of destruction at that time. It took the combined efforts of Ash and Reshiram to free him.
Zekrom absolutely refused to go through that again. He refused to let a dark force control him once more as these were certainly not ideals. This is not what Zekrom fights for. The Deep Black Pokemon fought back against the Pony of Shadows, sparking electricity from his body. Electricity that was unparalleled by many.
Opal Vivacity squinted her eyes at this flare of lightning which was also a form of light that could threaten her greatly. The Pony of Shadows expected retaliation from a Legendary Pokemon. It would only make sense that such a creature would have such resilience. But that only made the Pony of Shadows more eager to control him.
Seeing that Zekrom was putting up a good fight, the Pony of Shadows commanded all of the Water-Types to attack Zekrom. Altogether, they used Water-Type attacks from all angles, showering the Dragon-Electric-Type. In any normal circumstance, this would mean nothing to Zekrom. But these attacks were fueled by darkness, giving them an edge that made Zekrom alarmed.
And yet, he would still fight back, using his electricity as a shield and a way to counterattack. The shadows around him were being burned away by his lightning each time they attempted to bring out the worst in him. Zekrom's purpose for existing refused to let this kind of power overtake him.
In response, the Pony of Shadows used the shadows in a different way seeing that Zekrom was too resilient to have himself be fully influenced just yet. Some roughening up was needed. And in the distance, he saw Shalour City, having an idea. With the shadows under his control, he used them to launch the Deep Black Pokemon as far as he could. The Water-Types moved out of the way as Zekrom went flying with his only destination being Shalour City.
Zekrom knew what this would mean. The longer this went on, the more destruction will follow. He couldn't afford to let this happen and have some of it guilt him. In his mind, Zekrom thought to himself.
"I have to warn them about the Black Crusade. The only one I can possibly call for...is Princess Luna!" There was only one individual that came to mind right now that Zekrom could reach was Princess Luna. At this time, she was definitely available with how she was patrolling the dreams. Zekrom just had to reach her and inform her while also attempting to recover.
The shadows wrapped around his wings, disrupting his flight which made it hard for the Deep Black Pokemon to slow down. Korrina and everyone at Shalour City gasped and were in shock at what was coming their way. It looked like their city was prone to some destruction which then prompted panic to ensue.
Thankfully, Zekrom's strength allowed him to make a recovery. It was not a full one as he just managed to break the shadows around his wings while near the ground. The Deep Black Pokemon hit the earth, landing right near the city and right on the Route.
It was a powerful fall, even bigger than what Opal did to him earlier. Everyone at Shalour City would run for cover as a giant wave of dust and earth would arise thanks to Zekrom's impact. The Pony of Shadows made sure it was a hefty one too. Roofs of the buildings were knocked off by the flying earth, already showing signs of gradual destruction. This was only one part of the Black Crusade and how it planned to obliterate everything and everyone.
Zekrom was still safe, but a bit bewildered. The Pony of Shadows instantly reappeared, using the leftover shadows around Zekrom's wings to make an appearance here at Shalour City. Zekrom would be rather busy and now it was a matter of keeping everyone safe since he was here at Shalour.
A powerful new enemy appeared in the form of the Pony of Shadows. And to make matters worse, the Black Crusade had begun, starting here in the Kalos Region on this fateful night. It was only the beginning of something that planned to take everything out.
Crashing next to Shalour City was the Deep Black Pokemon Zekrom. The interference of the Pony of Shadows blindsided him greatly, launching him towards Shalour. Shadows loomed over Shalour City with Korrina and every other citizen looking in awe. Not just at the shadows but at Zekrom as well.
The Deep Black Pokemon stood up from the rubble he caused as he just barely managed to prevent any destruction to Shalour City. The only damage done was to some of the roofs here.
"Zekrom?! And what's that?!" A stunned Korrina said, looking up at the Pony of Shadows. He appeared larger than the clouds themselves, blocking the Silver Moon.
The Nightmare Pokemon that the Pony of Shadows summoned would hover over the skies of Shalour, still under his influence after their shadows were dragged out. This involved the vampires that Zekrom knocked out, who were using a power that was not theirs.
Zekrom was now focused on keeping the citizens here safe. The Black Crusade had finally begun and it seemed that Shalour City might be the first victim of this horrid act. The Dragon of Ideals knew that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had to know about this, but he couldn't just leave everyone here when there were so many hostile opponents present.
"Look at you all..." The Pony of Shadows spoke to Korrina and everyone at Shalour City, having a voice loud enough to reach them all. "Everyone one of you sided with Equestria ever since these 4 years. Getting comfortable with your alliance with them?"
"What's it talking about?" The words of the Pony of Shadows were lost on them all. Gossip filled the area, mainly filled with fear and worry since a giant Dragon just crashed next to their city, followed by a figure of darkness with rather intimidating forces alongside it.
"Those wings...They look like vampire wings!" Korrina soon noticed that there were vampires here thanks to their wings. And some of them had fangs that gave it away. "The Dread League's been this close to us?!"
"You can all freely feel the pain I endured as well!" The Pony of Shadows bellowed with all of the Water Pokemon here crying out in response. Each and every one of them had been filled with the pain that Pony of Shadows injected into them.
Zekrom was always ready to confront whatever dared to attack him. However, there was an issue. Shalour City was potentially in peril. If he were to battle here, destruction would certainly ensue, putting the city in jeopardy and harming the innocents. The Deep Black Pokemon could not afford to let anyone get hurt, especially considering the Black Crusade had started, leading to a potential future of skeletons.
For the sake of everyone's safety, Zekrom would stay here until he can figure something out. The Dragon of Ideals was willing to do so, ironically, believing in the truth considering the circumstances. This was more up Reshiram's alley.
"What's wrong, Zekrom? Too intimidated to do anything else?" Opal taunted Zekrom, believing that he was scared of the Pony of Shadows. This whole time, he hasn't gone on the offensive at all. This was only for the consideration of others. And the only one who saw this was Korrina. Everyone else was too busy trying to figure out what to do in the face of these massive forces. Only Korrina saw why Zekrom was so silent.
"Zekrom's trying to keep us safe..." said Korrina to herself. Being a Fighting-Type expert allowed her to know when someone's guard is being heavily shown. And Zekrom was certainly keeping his guard up at all times just for this one city.
"Hey!" Korrina bellowed at Opal Vivacity, grabbing her attention. "You've got some nerve!"
"Pfft. Who are you?" Opal said to Korrina. "Speaking to me in your jammies with that bed hair."
"Hmmrgh...!" Korrina growled at the beautiful vampire above.
"I have no qualms with this world at all. But I refuse to let you side with Equestria." The Pony of Shadows continued. "You're better off without it and everyone there. I will give you a head start."
"What makes you think that?!" Korrina, being the only one brave enough to speak out at the intimidating forces before her, replied, catching the attention of the Pony of Shadows once more.
"You're running your mouth a bit too much there, girl," Opal said, having enough of Korrina's replies while Zekrom was still on guard.
"Don't provoke them. Or get involved." Zekrom replied, wanting Korrina to settle down a bit. Korrina was definitely someone to get involved in a fight when needed and that is something Zekrom wished to avoid, even if it seemed impossible.
"Zekrom?" Korrina said, surprised to hear Zekrom speaking. All of them did. Granted, he was using Telepathy to speak to them all.
"It spoke to us...?" The people of Shalour City said. So far, they were safe but they were certainly at risk.
"I'll make it quick. By bringing out the worst in you!" The Pony of Shadows exclaimed, finally taking action. And when taking action, he did it in a big way. His massive presence was already a large shadow that blocked out the moon and most of the clouds, giving him an abundance of shadows. Everything at this time was dark, giving the Pony of Shadows all the advantages that he needed.
Shadows from the nearby Route that Zekrom landed at were controlled, taken from trees, bushes and wherever a shadow may be. This involved the shadows from Shalour City which were under his control as well. There was too much for Zekrom to focus on. The shadows were everywhere. He just recently managed to get them off him, having a powerful resistance thanks to his Legendary Status.
The same could not be said for everyone else at Shalour City. The people and Pokemon were immediately caught off guard by the shadows emerging from wherever they stood. They would have their bodies engulfed by the darkness.
Zekrom was far too late and unable to protect them all. Those who just managed to see the shadows ran for their lives, fearing that it would harm them. But that was not the case. The shadows had only one purpose and the Water-Types were already victims to that purpose. The pain that Pony of Shadows spoke of would affect them, bringing out the worst in them.
"W-What's happening?!" A lady and many others who were caught by the shadows cried out, feeling the pressure of these shadows. It was strange since they weren't in pain, but a pain of a different kind was flowing through them. The feeling was rather null yet effective.
Their eyes would soon turn hollow as shadows would then pour out.. It was as if black goo was flying out of them, paralyzing them in place. The worst parts of them all would be unleashed and feeling the pain that the Pony of Shadows possessed. Zekrom was already a target as larger shadows came after him.
The Dragon of Ideals would slash at the shadows, cutting them into pieces. Quickly, he tried to see if he could save some of the people and Pokemon here while had the time. The Deep Black Pokemon would rush as fast as he could. This time, he wouldn't use his wings, but his legs instead.
There were still those who hadn't been caught by the shadows yet but were on the verge. Zekrom would shoot out a Thunderbolt, piercing the shadows with 100,000 volts. He would continue this as this was his fastest way of destroying them. Streams of lightning would continuously fly, destroying any shadows that would appear.
Korrina was one of the few who hadn't been caught yet, escaping the shadows that crept up on her. But around every corner, shadows would continue to emerge. So as long as the Moon was up, the Pony of Shadows would have an advantage. And it didn't help that the Water-Type Pokemon would get involved, bringing down a downpour of Water-Type Attacks. It was as if the storm never stopped and only got worse.
And of course, the vampires above would add to that, sending their magic down. And especially Opal Vivacity, who was once again using that Psychic Grip of hers. Holding her hooves out, she tried focusing on Zekrom to hold him once more. He was the biggest one in this crowd so it was impossible to miss him.
However, while Zekrom was busy saving others from the shadows, those that had been caught by it were already feeling its effects. Their worst parts were brought out of them, making them nothing but furious vessels of shadows. They stood up, seeming like nothing happened earlier. They were now as silent as the Pokemon in the seas that were already corrupted.
"I still have the warn Luna of what's coming! I can't afford to sleep now. Not when this city is under attack. And finding Reshiram as well..." Zekrom had a lot on his place. Saving the city and warning Equestria of the Black Crusade. How could he accomplish this as soon as possible? He just had to try.
He used his massive wings to grab as many people and Pokemon as he could, keeping them close to him. He couldn't do anything about those already corrupted, unfortunately. The best he could do was leave them behind. Those who were saved by Zekrom were reasonably terrified by what was happening. Shadows were flying out near their homes and other places that had shows to control. Which was practically everywhere. The Deep Black Pokemon would then look up, past the pouring water and the dark magic dropping from above to see Opal Vivacity.
"If I can't just get rid of that mane of hers..." Zekrom thought once more, planning to destroy Opal's Fate-Changing mane since it posed a big issue in so many ways.
But amidst all the chaos, Zekrom noticed how Korrina was the only one managing to keep herself safe from the shadows the longest while others have unfortunately succumbed to them. But with how many were showing up, eventually, she could be caught by them. Zekrom saw that there was not enough time left to do much about this. He had to do what he could in these circumstances.
The Dragon of Ideals narrowed his eyes to the sky, looking up at the Pony of Shadows, who was relishing in this. The worst in those being brought out pleased him, greatly, summoning rather hostile tendencies. Those corrupted by his shadows would look over at Zekrom, who was the biggest one here.
"He's a persistent one, isn't he...?!" Opal growled, trying to grab Zekrom with her Psychic Abilities, failing to do so with his constant movements.
"He can't resist for long. Wherever there are shadows, I will be there. This city is only the beginning of my vengeance, and I have waited so long for this."
HYperdream. The Dream Realm.
Meanwhile, Luna was patrolling the Dream Realm, unaware of the chaos happening over at Shalour City and the fact that the Black Crusade was starting. Luna was rather focused on Reshiram's dream, waiting to see if any developments would arise. But she also had to take care of everyone else's dreams.
After sorting one dream out, the Princess of the Night flew out of the bubble, ready to head for the next one. But before doing so, her eyes gravitated towards Reshiram's minuscule bubble for good measure. Nothing yet. It was still the same size. Reshiram was barely dreaming, still recovering from his injuries. Luna had to make sure if something else had sprung up, entering his Dream Bubble.
Reshiram was still sleeping, resting around a bed of beautiful flowers, where nothing could disturb him. Not even the presence of Luna as a giant head. "Nothing at all..." Luna sighed. "Reshiram. Just hang in there, please. Wherever you are, you have to be safe."
However, before Luna could leave and patrol another dream, she felt something. Something within Reshiram's dream went off. The Princess of the Night most definitely felt this as it was something she could not ignore. Luna gasped, followed by Darkrai who entered this dream as well. A pulse was felt, but it was faint, incredibly weak. Reshiram still did not have enough strength left.
But there was something there. Luna and Darkrai knew it just from what they felt. It sounded like Reshiram was trying to tell them something. But they were unable to hear it due to how weak the pulse was. "What was that? What did he say, Darkrai"?
"I'm not sure." Darkrai couldn't answer that either. It was obscure to him as well. "Perhaps this is a sign of something. He might be calling out to us since we're the only ones here."
"Then...he must be getting better." Luna thought of the only answer. Reshiram could be healing to the point where he coudl do more. But it was unclear what he was trying to say. To figure it out, Luna and Darkrai stuck behind for a bit to see what developments would arise.
Equestria. On the Train.
"Absol?!" Absol certainly felt it. On the train back to their homes, Ash, Delia, Twilight and Fluttershy had left Mareflower a while back. Potion Nova was back there busy with her work as it looked to be another peaceful night with Ash resting on his mother's shoulder peacefully.
Unfortunately, peace was the last thing that would come from this. Absol sensed a coming disaster. His horn went off, shaking violently as he hopped out of his Poke Ball forcefully.
"Absol?! What's wrong?!" Seeing Absol jump out of his Poke Ball, Twilight Sparkle took notice of his shaking horn. It was hard to ignore as Fluttershy would do the same. Absol's horn meant that a disaster was either about to happen or it was already happening and it was only growing. The latter was the correct one.
Even from within his Poke Ball, Absol felt it. The Black Crusade was one of the biggest disasters he's ever felt. He knew it was coming eventually with how it was spoken of. But now his horn was picking up on it. "Sol! Absol!"
"Hmm...What's going on?" Ash was woken up by Absol's cry. So did Pikachu but Delia was still asleep with a smile next to Mr Mime, unbothered by the sounds that came in the train.
"The Black Crusade?! It's starting?!" Fluttershy translated.
"Wait, what?! Now?!" Twilight nearly fell out of her seat after hearing that. Those words blindsided her and Ash. The biggest threat to them so far had begun and they had no idea where it was. They looked outside the train windows to see where the crusade was happening, however, everything seemed fine from here.
However, Absol's horn always meant that the disaster was still present, just not anywhere near here. This was prime for attention. Heavy attention as they had an idea where it was. Audino couldn't even hear it if she tried.
"Of all the nights they could've started it..." Twilight shuddered. "The Lich Queen did say it would come soon. I just didn't think it would be now!"
"W-What do we do?! It's started and we don't know where it is?!" Fluttershy asked, worried about what could come from this. The Black Crusade was described as something rather horrific considering what it sets out to do. The possibility of her life ending could be swift and she wouldn't even see it coming.
"Canterlot is nearby! I'll get off here and tell Princess Celestia as soon as possible." Twilight Sparkle already knew what she wanted to do. "Maybe she might know where it's happening from. A crusade is something that can show up anywhere. It's a bit like the invasion we had two years back. They'll be coming for us."
"And the closest place to Magehold is...!" It took Ash a few seconds to realize that there was one place at risk due to how close it was to Magehold. Twilight soon realized it as well. Home of ponies that were very close to her. Her brother, sister-in-law and niece.
The Crystal Empire.
Magehold.
"Good..." Meanwhile, Rosa Maledicta was rather pleased with the fact that the Crusade had now begun. And with the Crusade being launched, many vampires were already prepared to head out to the rest of the world and begin their work. This was, of course, the vampires who were associated with the Dread League instead of those who were normal citizens. They would stay behind and wait for Fantina's Pokemon Contest.
Outside, numerous vampires were lined up, standing at the edge of Magehold. Only they could exit the field that shielded Magehold and with the crusade being active, the biggest number of vampires would appear from that field and enter the rest of Equestria, where they could spread as much havoc and destruction as they could.
"Much like the Pony of Shadows, the Wendigoes will be at your command. Take some from the Hyperborean Island." Rosa Maledicta spoke to them all. "On this night, the world will be enveloped in a wave of destruction that will fulfil the mission of the Black Crusade. Even if takes days and nights to achieve, we will succeed. Exact revenge on those who have persisted against us...and take back the Box of 100 Demons from those Changelings. Our alliance with them is truly over now. Now go out into the world at once."
With her order, the vampires would all take flight, revealing their dark wings. The skies were littered with vampires who would soar as fast as they could, leaving the field and Magehold in its entirety. Vampires with numbers unlike anything seen before were flying out, holding dark magic in different forms. And of course, the seeds of the Despair Plants, which were the replacements for the Box of 100 Demons.
Fantina, who was still working on the contest just to try and break the field in some way, looked outside the window of the Contest Hall to see this tide of vampires flying away. Fractured Note saw it too, hoping that this plan to end the Lich Cycle would succeed. And it needed to happen as soon as possible since the Black Crusade, after many delays, had begun.
Equestria, Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, no matter the region or land. All would become victims to the vampires. It was already shown what they were capable of doing back at the third Pokemon Festival, even if it was the demons behind it, but they were still just as dangerous either way. Especially in large numbers.
Rosa Maledicta, who was perfectly conserving her magic at this point, cackled lightly as she waited for this day for so long. Her eyes would be watching her subjects as they were about to bring a wave of destruction to the world. No matter how long it would go on for, she was ready to revel in it all and see that her plan was fit. And right now, one of the first things on her mind was the Box of 100 Demons.
And with the Changelings possessing it, there was only one place to go for that box.
The Crystal Empire. It wasn't quite ready to shut down for the night. The night was still young, leaving opportunities for the vampires to strike. The Black Crusade had begun after all. And on this night, the Royal Family had no clue about the coming tide of destruction that would spare no one.
Cadence was with both Flurry Hearts. Young and old. They were looking at Pokemon Cards together this late at night, oblivious to the disturbance that would soon grab the attention of everyone in the world. The older Flurry Heart from another world expressed her love for Pokemon Cards with her younger counterpart and mother, holding out the rarest ones and her personal favourites.
All the while, Shining Armor and his many guards kept patrolling the place at night. Even when there was no threat, they would always be alert. But now, a new threat was near. Unfortunately, the attack would not come from the inside, but rather from the outside. The vampires stood on top of the snowy mountains, viewing the Crystal Empire from afar.
For some of the vampires, this was their first target. And one of the more notable vampires, Sweet Fang, stood in front of them. "Hmm...I wish I had the box with me. There's this one demon I really want to have." Sweet Fang sighed, wishing that the Box of 100 Demons could be called to her.
"Melody Moon and Bittersweet are already going for the Box over at the Changeling Hive. We might see it again." A vampire said.
"Might. Everyone else in Equestria is stubborn, after all. If we don't get it back, we always have the Despair Plants. And our magic. And speaking of which..." She would rub her hooves, already plotting something devious for the Crystal Empire. "I prefer to have my destruction to be silent instead of bombastic."
Sweet Fang had a preference. She was all for silent destruction. And with her magic, there was only one way she could make it happen. The vampires advanced towards the Crystal Empire in the cold weather. Destruction was coming for the Crystal Empire but it would be discreet and secretive.
The harsh snow was practically responding to their presence, blowing violently on the mountains. Most Pokemon have already taken shelter from the blizzard, all except for one. The most common Pokemon in the Crystal Empire. The Sableye. And with them being so present, Sweet Fang was already eyeing them down, keeping her devious smile up. She already ahd something in mind for the Sableye.
Kalos. Shalour City.
Shalour City was now infested with Shadows. The Pony of Shadows succeeded in infecting a majority of its residents, sharing his pain with them. By doing so, the worst was brought out of them, revealing the inner shadows that they try to keep in. Hollowed-out eyes with shadows around them along with a strange magical aura gave rise to these Shadow People.
Only a few were still fine, thanks to the efforts of Zekrom, who was doing what he could to protect this city. Alas, he could not save them all as they were already infected. Water violently poured down on Shalour City, damaging the buildings with a torrent of Pokemon Attacks from the corrupted Water-Types.
Zekrom soon noticed that they were planning to flood the entire city. It was certainly a violent form of destruction that was gradual but effective. Shalour's buildings were already facing the water at a low level, only going up to everyone's feet at best. But with the Pokemon unleashing more of it, it was only rising at a faster rate.
Korrina was among the few people and Pokemon that escaped the shadows. Currently, she had her Lucario out to assist her, fleeing and defending herself against the shadows which were disgustingly abundant. Zekrom would stand before the sea of people and Pokemon corrupted by the shadows, being vastly outnumbered.
"Done running?" The Pony of Shadows said. "I can't waste my time with you forever."
"I'd rather be elsewhere continuing my mission..." Opal sighed, preferring to continue her search for Xerneas. "The Black Crusade's begun and you're slowing things down for us." The beautiful vampire would then descend, attempting to get closer to Zekrom. The main reason for this was due to her Fate-Changing Mane and how it worked best when in contact with an opponent. "Maybe a change of fate will shut you down for good!"
"I can't do this forever," Zekrom said to the people and Pokemon that were still remaining." Your town is already overrun by shadows. I have a brother to find and a world to protect at the same time. None of you are safe here. Or anywhere else."
"What?" The people gasped. With the Black Crusade active, any place that was safe would soon be stripped away, infested with destructive vampiric tendencies. Shalour City was only the beginning.
"So. Have you given up then?" Opal replied, hoping that Zekrom would surrender. "Let's just call it a night and I'll take you to Reshiram as a skeleton. If we can find him that is."
"I absolutely refuse to give up." Zekrom narrowed his eyes at the beautiful vampire. "No matter what happens here, Equestria and everywhere else will be well protected."
"What? Are those your ideals talking? Because the truth is that this world is doomed now the Black Crusade has kicked off." Opal scoffed. "I bet Reshiram would've agreed with that,"
"Korrina!" Calling out for his granddaughter at the Tower of Mastery was Gurkinn. HE stood at the tower, waving to his granddaughter and everyone else. "Are you alright?!"
"Grandpa!" Korrina yelled out. "It's not safe down here! Or anywhere!"
"Then in that case...I'll take everyone else here with me...And sink this city into a Shadowy Ocean!" The Pony of Shadows exclaimed before unleashing a sound so loud it could match that of thunder. The people and Pokemon he infected had their bodies dematerialised into shadows. These shadow bodies would ascend. Zekrom, Korrina, Gurkinn and everyone else watched as they would all fly towards the Pony of Shadows.
Like a canvas, they would all stick to the Pony of Shadow's massive body which was just a head and plenty of smoke, becoming one with him. The water was also turning black, rising at an even faster rate. The clouds above turned black with the abundance of shadows increasing.
It was as if all the colour in the area was being sucked away, being devoid of anything else. A majority of Shalour's population had been pulled into the Pony of Shadows, leaving the remaining ones on their lonesome. And to make matters worse, the shadows closed in on Shalour. They already engulfed the Route next to it, eliminating it from the scenery. The city was next.
"It's going to swallow everything whole in darkness!" Gurkinn gasped as he was no longer at the safest place in Shalour. The darkness came from every angle, including the skies. And especially the ground. Zekrom saw his legs being covered by shadows, threatening to swallow him whole. Korrina and her Lucario were already caught by them, gasping at the dark sight that uncomfortably crawled up their legs.
"Just to be sure..." Opal Vivacity would take a chunk of her mane out. "Let's make it a guarantee that you'll fall in."
"I might be too late, at this rate." Zekrom thought to himself while the shadows kept rising. Shalour City looked to be on its last legs. "I still have to warn everyone else...And I might have only one way of getting out of this. Reshiram, my brother. If you have the strength left, please warn them all. I might be ending up in your state as well."
"Quick! Lucario, use-" Korrina was prepared to fight back at all costs with Lucario at the ready. Only to be cut off immediately.
"Don't. I'll handle this." But Zekrom decided to do it himself. All of it. With his eyes closing and the piece of mane being dropped into the shadows, the Deep Black Pokemon was going all-in for his next attack. And it would be only one attack.
A flash of lightning erupted from his body, emanating an azure flash. Opal Vivacity hissed at this light, ascending to back away. A fierce outburst of grand lightning would crack and shatter windows just from the sound it made. The lightning would pierce the shadows, fighting back against it as Zekrom would instantly drop the innocents, no longer holding onto them.
"Leave! Now!" Zekrom yelled at them all, wanting them to flee from the scene. The best thing to do was to keep them all safe and no one was safe here at the moment. Not when lightning and shadows were highly present. Korrina and everyone else fled from the scene as fast as they could, with Zekrom controlling his lightning to keep it away from the citizens.
It was a violent struggle between the Lightning and the Shadows. Zekrom held a bit back until everyone in the city was out of range. For now, he just had to keep the shadows at bay until he could let loose. The Pony of Shadows laughed continuously, practically mocking Zekrom.
"You're not getting away!" Opal Vivacity refused to let them leave, however. She spread out of jet black wings, pursuing Korrina and the others.
Zekrom expected this. Opal Vivacity would be the one to take action in the middle of this clash. But he couldn't lose focus on the shadows and think about Opal at all. His legs were already consumed by them, leaving him stuck to the ground. Those who fled looked back to see this beautiful vampire bare her vicious fangs, hissing at them. Her hooves were out while her wings were camouflaged in the darkness.
"Lucario! Use Aura Sphere!"
"Rrr!" Lucario would face Opal Vivacity, putting its paws together. The sphere was then thrown at Opal, spiralling past the enclosing darkness which was at a standstill with Zekrom's lightning. Knowing how dangerous Aura was, Opal Vivacity would sway to the side instead of using her mane to retaliate.
She just managed to avoid it, however, the Aura Sphere blew past a part of her mane which flowed to the side due to how long it was. Opal's eyes widened as her fangs were put together in shock. Aura Sphere blew away some of her mane, eradicating pieces of the Rift Magic that still existed within it.
"Of course, there had to be Aura here...!" Opal's heart skipped a beat for a moment. Aura was the one thing that terrified her since it could put an end to her Fate-Changing Mane if used in the best way possible. Of course, the vampire refused to let that happen, targeting Korrina and her Lucario.
With her hooves out, Opal would use the Psychic grip once more that she ended up stealing thanks to the Parasite Demon. There was a benefit with this ability this time. Zekrom was heavier than Lucario and Korrina combined, making this easier for the beautiful vampire.
The air was gripped by Opal's Psychic hold, showing a deep pink wave that would override the atmosphere. The people and Pokemon who ran felt themselves slow down all of a sudden. Their movements were abruptly interrupted by a powerful force which existed in the air itself.
"I can't move!" They shouted in shock.
"What is this?!" They bellowed in confusion. Opal would then turn her hooves, prompting all of them to turn around as well. She was like a puppet master, controlling her dolls with her bare hooves. However, Opal wasn't looking for any dolls, not when the Black Crusade sought after the destruction of all life.
"Now that I have you...I'll give you a benefit with enhanced eye sight!" It was then that Opal Vivacity finally used her natural magic. Her Curse Magic. Having them at her disposal, the beautiful vampire flashed her eyes, looking straight at Korrina and the others. Her magic travelled freely, safe from the darkness and even Zekrom's lightning thanks to the distance as it appeared as a purplish-blue aura.
The aura then met with the eyes of everyone here. Opal's Curse Magic kicked in, immediately attacking their senses. Specifically, their sight. Korrina and everyone's eyesight had been enhanced to a disturbing degree. Opal brought them to a new level which was too much for them to handle. The sensitivity in their eyes was elevated to create a powerful sensory reaction.
"Gh!" Korrina got on her knees, further enveloped by the shadows. This sensory reaction affected her and everyone else to the point where they were almost immobile. They could no longer move now that the shadows were closer to them, stopped by Opal's interference.
"How does it feel? My Pain Amplification will give you too good of an eyesight. You'll feel pain from even the smallest things, including the air itself!" Opal said to them.
Indeed. With their eyes enhanced to the highest degree, the air itself was painful. The breeze it gave damaged their eyes even if it was just mild and weak. It was enough to make them groan and cry out in pain. They were seeing more than they needed to, unable to take their eyes off everything else.
"It's too much...!" Korrina bellowed. "L-Lucario! Are you alright?!"
"Lu...!" Lucario wasn't doing much better at all. He got the worst of it all. It wasn't just his eyesight that was amplified but everything else. His ears and nose received an elevated treatment that startled and stunned him. Lucario's Aura was unable to make up for it, being a part of its senses. It felt like its Aura was malfunctioning.
"If I were to deprave Lucario of its senses, it would have that annoying Aura to make up for it." Opal grinned, knowing exactly what to do with Lucario. She couldn't take her chances with the Aura. "If I just amplify its senses, it'll be in too much pain to properly focus!" This was out of spite due to her hatred for Aura. "Now, get lost!" With everyone stunned and struggling to move, Opal would unleash a flare of magic from her wings.
Korrina would open her eyes, witnessing the purple glow of Opal Vivacity's Magic racing towards her. Unable to stop it, she and the others who were paralyzed would be engulfed in this magical wave while their eyes were still enhanced. All of them would scream as they were knocked back thanks to the flare.
"Korrina!" Gurkinn, who tried reaching her granddaughter, watched as she and the remaining citizens were blown back by Opal's magic. Korrina tumbled and slid on the ground, crashing into some rubble. She would also kick up some of the dark water which would splash onto others who were downed.
"Hmph." Opal, happy with how she struck them all by ruining their senses, smirked deviously at them. The shadows struggled to try and claim new victims while they were down, but Zekrom prevented that, still keeping the Pony of Shadows at bay.
Gurkinn felt the need to step in absolutely. His own granddaughter was in peril at the moment, down on the ground with dark waters and shadows latching onto her, threatening to bring out the worst in her. Currently, it was just him and Zekrom but the Deep Black Pokemon was occupied, unfortunately. "Please, help! Blaziken!"
"Blaziken!"
"Hm?" Opal turned to face the arrival of Blaziken. Another smirk met her face while the lightning from Zekrom crashed everywhere. "Do you want some too, old man? In the midst of all of this?"
"Black wings and sharp fangs...You must be a vampire. And you're definitely from the Dread League." Gurkinn observed.
"That's right. What you're seeing now before you is the beginning of the Black Crusade. Your city is just the start of it. Whether it's enveloped in darkness or taken underwater, this is only the beginning of the world's end. And unfortunately for you, you just happened to meet up with the most beautiful vampire of all. Opal Vivacity. You've heard of me, haven't you?"
"You're the one who caused so much trouble since last year and beyond." Indeed, Gurkinn has heard of Opal Vivacity. She has made quite a name for herself ever since the third Pokemon Festival.
"Great! Then you should be scared instead of walking up to me like this." Opal flipped her mane. "Otherwise, I'll give you a reverse of what they have. You're an old man, so your senses aren't as great as they used to be. Perhaps eliminating them is better than enhancing them, wouldn't you agree?"
"You will do no such thing! Now, get away from my granddaughter! Blaziken, use Flamethrower!"
"Bla...Ziken!" From its hands, Blaziken generated scarlet flames that were then thrown, flying over the dark waters and lighting up some of the darker areas. Opal would respond by unleashing a magical beam, clashing with Blaziken's Flamethrower. A spark ignited when both attacks met.
The attacks then blew up against each other, making the dark waters splash from the shockwave. Korrina kept her eyes closed, not wanting them to take any pain from the air around her. But from what she could hear, the Fighting-Type Gym could tell that her father was battling at the moment.
"Grandpa?"
"Luca..."
"In your age, any of your senses will do!" Opal cackled while the smoke moved past her. She immediately used her magic to try and affect Gurkinn, this time going for Sensory Deprivation.
"Blaziken! Blaze Kick!"
"Blaziken! Ken!" Blaziken replied to the wave, immediately seeing it once it passed through the smoke. The Fire-FIghting-Type ignited its feet to immediately kick the air so hard it formed a shockwave of flames. This attack would then blow away the magical aura, charring it with its cinders.
"Of course...Your Pokemon has to be out of the way first." Opal grit her teeth. "But that's fine. It's not just Psychic-Types I stole from! Observe!" With her hoof slamming into the water, Opal would reveal what else she used the Parasite Demon on. It wasn't just Psychic-Types.
Electric-Types were victims as well. A current of electricity would reach with the water, immediately creating a violent voltage. This voltage targeted Blaziken while also spreading out to meet with Korrina and the others.
"B-Blazi!" Blaziken took the violent voltage while Gurkinn backed away, just barely managing to avoid it. HE witnessed his Pokemon engulfed in a tunnel of electricity that would soon subside. Korrina and those who were downed unfortunately took the pain as well. They were already defenceless and this was just rubbing salt in the wound at this point.
"I've taken the liberty to absorb as many Pokemon Types as I can with that Parasite Demon! Electric-Types were the hardest with all of their light, but I managed!"
"Does that mean...everything?!" Gurkinn gasped, fearing that Opal Vivacity may have ever single Type at her disposal.
"Not all...I haven't gotten my hooves on a Fairy just yet. But mark my words, that will most definitely happen. You'll be gone though so you won't be able to mark it at all until you're a skeleton. Don't worry though. By the time this is over, you'll see me as the next Lich Queen."
"Lich Queen...?" Korrina repeated.
"That's right. If anyone deserves to be next in line as a Lich, it's me. I won't even need the cycle, I'll become one myself!" Opal Vivacity expressed her greatest ambition. Becoming the next Lich Queen. Once Rosa Maledicta leaves the throne, Opal Vivacity would plan on taking it. And since she was a vampire, she had the lifespan to plan towards it. "Her Majesty has even seen the potential in me and with what I have, I can live up to that position! No more will a cycle choose a Lich Ruler that isn't even from Magehold. I'll be Magehold's first Vampire Lich Queen! A nice combination."
"It sounds to me that you're relying on something that isn't originally yours to get what you want." Gurkinn narrowed his eyes, calling Opal Vivacity out. "With your prolonged lifespan, you haven't even been the Lich Queen once, have you?"
"I don't want to hear it from someone who's nearing his final years! I'll do you a favour and save you some time!" Opal replied with a hostile attack, raising her hoof as darkness would fly out of it. It was hard to tell if this was her natural magic or Dark-Type Infinity Energy. Either way, she was going to make sure that it would be devastating to Gurkinn.
"Blaziken!" Blaziken prepared itself for the worst, holding up its guard. Korrina would slightly open her eyes, seeing nothing but darkness and her grandfather facing off against Opal Vivacity.
However, this was soon disrupted by a grand crack of lightning. And this one shook the earth as it struck the ground. This came from Zekrom who was still clashing against the Pony of Shadows. However, their clash was developing at last. Opal Vivacity lost her balance, looking over at Zekrom.
"Now I have a taste of what a Legendary Pokemon can do." said the Pony of Shadows. "But you're obviously not using everything you have for the sake of everyone around you. How about I make things easier for you by corrupting the rest and placing them within me?!"
"You will do...no such thing!" Zekrom vehemently replied. He would gladly hold back if it meant protecting everyone around him. And that made Zekrom think for a bit. "It's strange. In the past, I've never had to worry about protecting others when I battle. My lightning scorches the earth, bringing about mass destruction in days of old. Collateral damage meant nothing to me. But the day I met those in Equestria...everything changed. They all have such an influence, don't they?"
Knowing that Equestria was responsible for his evolved nature, Zekrom couldn't help but chuckle a bit. And it was at this moment that Zekrom knew he couldn't give everything he had. Not when there were others around. But that wouldn't stop him from doing what he could. And with his mind made up, Zekrom used a further ounce of his electricity, immediately lighting the place up. There was a balance of Light and Dark within Shalour City as the Pony of Shadows felt Zekrom's increase in strength.
Korrina and the others couldn't exactly see what was going on. Only Gurkinn, Blaziken and Opal Vivacity could. And what they saw next was perplexing. By using so much power, both the Pony and Shadows enveloped Shalour in a mix of light and dark. Opal Vivacity quickly used her Fate Changing Mane while she had the chance. The fate of this city was unknown and she wasn't about to take any chances.
Gurkinn and Blaziken closed their eyes in the face of these two approaching forces as this was the last thing they saw before being enveloped. Korrina, the remaining citizens and the entirety of Shalour were consumed by Lightning and Shadows without a single sound being made. Not a howl of the wind not a crack of thunder.
The Hyperdream. Reshiram's Dream.
It was then that within the Hyperdream, the sleeping Reshiram would twitch. Luna and Darkrai kept an eye on him since he was emanating a pulse earlier, but it was faint and hard to understand. And now, at the same moment when Shalour was consumed, Reshiram would make another action.
"Reshiram?!" Luna noticed the twitching. It came from his Vast White Quills. The Dragon of Truth let out another pulse as his mouth was trembling within his own dream. Being that he was still a stone back in the real world, this was the only way to see his full form once more. Alas, his mouth could not say anything. All it did was tremble but the pulses he let out were a bit stronger.
This time, Luna and Darkrai heard the words 'Shalour'. It froze them for a moment, allowing them to take in these words. Shalour. Were those names familiar to them? Just about. Luna knew that name from all the Dreams she's organized within the Hyperdream. Shalour was one of those organized locations that were alphabetical. And the only place like that was Shalour City.
"Shalour...Shalour...Shalour City?!" She spoke the name, recognizing it. And when putting it together, it was clear that Reshiram was trying to tell him something significant about Shalour City. "Is that where you are, Reshiram?!" Luna believed that was where Reshiram's Light Stone could be found.
Unfortunately, that was all Reshiram could say for the moment, needing more rest. He said no more. But even if he was speechless now, he gave something crucial to Princess Luna and Darkrai.
"Darkrai! We're heading to Shalour! Now!"
Equestria. Canterlot. Canterlot Castle.
"Princess Celestia!" Rushing through the doors to meet with the Princess of the Sun was Twilight Sparkle. She came as fast as she could, using the train that was already heading back to Ponyville and stopped right here at Canterlot. It was thanks to Absol's horn that she managed to catch notice of the Black Crusade. Speaking of Absol, he joined Twilight, staying by her side as his horn was still vibrating. Even when knowing a disaster was coming, it didn't stop while it was occurring.
"What's wrong, Twilight?" Celestia said, petting Alcremie who was enjoying it greatly based on the look on her face.
"I-It's...the Black Crusade! It's started!" Twilight bellowed with severity in her tone. At that moment, Celestia ceased her enjoyment with Alcremie as Twilight's words echoed through the throne room.
"It's begun?!" Celestia, Alcremie and Gardevoir collectively gasped. Tonight was the night when the Dread League begin their advances. Shalour was the beginning and the Crystal Empire was next. In fact, Twilight was already thinking about the Crystal Empire since it was the closest to Magehold.
No doubt, vampires were already there. And aside from those in Shalour City, the ones in great peril against the most vampires at the moment were the residents of the Crystal Empire. Shining Armor, both Flurry Hearts, Flash Sentry and Princess Cadence had yet to know. And by now, it was too late to warn them.
Dark forces lurked near the Crystal Empire. Approaching silently without anyone aware. Or perhaps, they were already here. The secrecy of this darkness had not yet reached everyone within the Crystal Empire. Some were asleep and some were awake. The night was still young after all.
And those who were always alert were the guards of the Crystal Empire. Some were still wide awake with energy. Some were tired and couldn't wait to get some rest as soon as possible. And among those who was still wide awake was Flash Sentry, scratching his mane while his helmet was off. It was a rather slow night. Fitting, considering what was occurring. "Hm?" Flash Sentry's ears picked up on a sound. His head would turn to see the common Pokemon of the Crystal Empire. Sableye.
"Sableye!" The Sableye, being their mischievous little selves, were crawling on the walls. This wasn't too uncommon since the Crystal Empire was a paradise for them. They could have as many crystals as they wanted, feeding off of them. But for the most part, they only stay outside. The indoors was hadn't been touched by them yet considering how much was indoors. Not only that, but they were pushing what looked to be a food trolley.
Flash Sentry wondered why they were entering the indoors now of all the times when the outside was still fresh for them. And there was also the fact that they were pushing a food trolley as if they were serving someone. But before he could find an answer, his attention was drawn to another sound nearby. A crashing sound echoed through this part of the castle, followed by what sounded like somepony about to scream, only to be cut off abruptly. It sounded more like a hiccup after being cut off. With that noise, he would rush over to the sound of it.
Since he was the closest, no other guards heard that sound until Flash Sentry informed him, following their fellow Royal Guard. The castle was wide, leaving echoes to travel easily through it. From the direction the sound came from, they tracked it to the castle's kitchen, where all the delicacies can be found.
However, when searching for the source of this noise, they found that it was simply just a case of some of the utensils and plates crashing onto the ground, followed by somepony being harmed in the kitchen because of them. It was rather dark in the kitchen with the lights being off. The only source of light was a lamp here that was placed to give it some shine. Although, it wasn't that strong of a light.
"Sorry about that. We know it's late." A chef apologized as one of the other chefs harmed her hoof. Her hoof was already being wrapped in a kitchen cloth which made her squirm a bit.
"It's fine." Flash Sentry replied, seeing that it wasn't a big deal. Just a minor kitchen accident. "By the way, what's up with the Sableye? Since when do they serve food?"
"Yeah, and can I get some?" Another guard said, already seeing the Sableye pass through.
"Mm. They just showed up in our kitchen and offered to help us. It's not like they're bored of eating crystals. I still think that's their preferred dish." Another chef said. "They won't even eat the food they're bringing along. Saves us some hassle at least."
"That food is meant for the Royal Family tonight...but the Sabeleye might not mind." Another chef replied.
"In that case...Let me get a bite." Flash Sentry rubbed his hooves together, wanting a bite out of the delicacies that the Sableye were bringing along. The guards would leave the kitchen, ready to catch up with the Sableye for a bite. Flash Sentry would look at the kitchen once more, observing the darkness. "Might have to fix that. It's creepy in here..." His last words in the kitchen as he left the scene.
Right after all the guards left, the chefs would reposition the pantry where it was while the pony who was harmed stood right back up, noticeably, tall and strong. She looked fine for someone who had utensils drop on her. The kitchen cloth certainly couldn't have healed her that fast, lacking no magical qualities.
It was then that the chefs inside would collectively smile in the darkness as the kitchen cloth came right off. The bruise this pony had was gone in an instant as if it never existed in the first place. Aside from the lamp, the eyes of the ponies would glow in the dark all of a sudden.
And within the pantry, rumbling could be heard, but it was rather weak compared to the crash that happened earlier. One of the chefs went over to the pantry, opening it up which resulted in the squirming settling down. This was due to the ponies inside who were currently restrained.
Dark magic surrounded these ponies as they had their bodies restrained, seeming nearly unconscious as they looked up at the glowing eyes of the pony. But it wasn't just any ordinary pony. A ripple of magic met with the face of this chef, soon revealing somepony else entirely. Fangs and sharp eyes appeared, belonging to one notable species. Vampires.
A vampire was inside the Crystal Empire. Not just one, but multiple. An illusionary ripple would go over their faces, showing who they truly were. They were all vampires. And the ones trapped inside the pantry were the true chefs of the Crystal Empire.
"Neat illusion, isn't it?" A vampire said as this was the result of Illusion Magic. "Only our victims can see it, making it easy for us to slip by. So sit tight and let the magic overtake you already." She closed the pantry, leaving the Crystal Empire Ponies. They were completely stuck with this ring of Dark Magic threatening to destroy them.
The Black Crusade had reached the Crystal Empire but in secrecy. The chefs never saw it coming. Before they knew it, they were overtaken by the ponies from Magehold. The silence of their arrival was truly splendid, allowing them to enter the Crystal Empire. Their means of entering were unknown by the chefs. Including those outside who were not even aware of them at all.
"So you know Mom...You could have a game with me one day." Meanwhile, on this silent yet ominous night, the older Flurry Heart from another world had just finished showing her Pokemon Cards to Cadence. This whole time while the Black Crusade was going on, granted in its early stages, they've been here relaxing and having some leisure during the night.
"That would be wonderful. You'll have to teach me about it. And I know which card I'll be using more than anything." Cadence would eye down a Syvelon card that was holographic. Since she had a Sylveon, it only made sense to choose this one.
"Sylveon!"
"Alright. The two of you should get to bed soon. You can spend the rest of your time looking at these cards and put yourself to sleep." Cadence prepared to depart, turning off the lights, which prompted the night light in here to come on.
"Just for a while longer. I wanna open this box first." The young alicorn replied before looking at a box filled with new cards. But her eyes soon met with a second one, implying that she would keep at this for a while. "Plus, it's a good way to know which Pokemon I wanna find."
"You prefer every single one here though..." Cadence uttered. Flurry Heart was a fan of the majority of Pokemon she found in the cards. Realistically speaking, any of them were up her alley but that would certainly take an obscene amount of time for her to catch them. At least she had the perk of being an alicorn to make up for that much time.
"Giratina was my first and I really miss him...But I can always make new friends." Flurry Heart thought about Giratina for a moment, making her mouth tremble before keeping her spirits up. "Looking at these cards really helps me out. Plus, they're just so much fun to collect."
"Your majesty." Entering the room with a trolley of drinks was a maid pony. It wasn't just the Sableye moving them. And on that trolley were five cups of appealingly delicious hot chocolate instead of food. "Hot chocolate? There should be another trolley coming here soon."
"Yes please!" Flurry Heart exclaimed with her eyes lighting up. The delicious scent of hot chocolate filled the air, enticing the hearts of the alicorns. Cadence and both Flurry Hearts felt a bliss enter the room. And it was made more appealing with the Spheal-shaped Marshamallows inside. They would gladly take some. There was enough for not just them but their Pokemon. Sylveon and Manaphy included.
This would be something delicious to drink before heading to bed. The pony who came in thought so. Especially with that smile on her face, having a slight shadow on it. She would soon leave the room with the trolley with that innocent look on her face.
And when leaving the room, she would meet up with other ponies that stood in front of her. These ponies also had that same smile on their faces. The pony then passed by the Sableye, who looked right back at her. It was at that moment that the Illusionary Ripple appeared on her face.
It was none other than Sweet Fang, posing another pony. Since she lead the mission to the Crystal Empire, it was to be expected for her to be here as well since the rest were present. And with the ripple showing up, the Sableye were her victims. But they were victims who were free to roam, not even acknowledging the obvious vampire in the room.
The Sableye all stopped their trolleys right at the room where the three alicorns were. And with a small whisper from Sweet Fang's mouth that wasn't even facing them, they went no further. They simply stood there after hearing the word 'Stop'. Like drones, the Sableye followed her orders, under the spell of Sweet Fang's magic.
Canterlot.
Back at Canterlot Castle, Twilight Sparkle had arrived to quickly warn Princess Celestia about the Black Crusade. Thanks to Absol's horn, confirmation of the crusade's beginning was made. The reaction Celestia had was to be expected. Stunned, a bit nervous, but fully serious.
"Somewhere out there the Black Crusade is happening. The vampires are probably already in different parts of the world, starting the crusade." Twilight said. "And I'm afraid the Crystal Empire's the first target."
"It is the closest to Magehold even if we can't find it," Celestia replied. "Cadence and everyone else there could be their first targets!"
"I have to head back to Ponyville to help everyone prepare for what's coming but..." Twilight wished to warn her friends but Cadence, Shining Armor and both Flurry Hearts were just as important.
"I'll do the honours of handling that issue," Celestia said. Since she was the Ruler of Equestria, she could simply tell her subjects. Whether it was Ponyville, Canterlot, the Crystal Empire, Manehattan and so on. "Now is the right time to inform everyone in Equestria about the Black Crusade. We can focus on the Crystal Empire too."
"Right. Ash is already planning to head there too but he's sending Delia back home right now. Fluttershy's going back to Ponyville. I came here to tell you and hoping to go to the Crystal Empire as soon as possible."
"Do it. Go to them and I'll be right behind you." Celestia replied with a smile, reassuring Twilight. That smile was uplifting and did instil hope in Twilight's heart. Celestia was prepared to send some of her forces to the Crystal Empire as soon as possible while also informing everyone.
"Okay. Thank you, Princess Celestia."
"The Crystal Empire would be the first target due to how close it is." Celestia walked out of the throne room with Twilight quickly following her. Espeon, Absol, Gardevoir and Alcremie were all right behind her as the Canterlot Guards nearby already heard everything. "This might be our one chance to reach Magehold since they've started the Black Crusade. The issue of them combusting and leaving to Magehold is still prominent, however."
"Potion Nova is trying to find a way past that field. She has a trace of Vampire Magic at her disposal now, so that might help." Twilight responded while quickly scurrying her hooves to keep up with Princess Celestia. "Maybe we could chase some of them back to Magehold and follow them if it doesn't work."
"That won't do either. They're rather reliant on it, Twilight." Celestia shook her head before meeting up with a majority of her guards. "They will always combust to escape. But now that the Black Crusade has begun, I can imagine once some of them retreat, they'll leave Magehold again to jump back into the action. That is one other way we can find it. After you reach the Crystal Empire, see if you can spot a sign of them appearing. They'll combust if things get too unfavourable for them. If not, head to your friends as soon as possible."
"I will!" Twilight nodded with confidence before taking flight. It was off to the Train Station once more. Another train ride and this time it was off to the Crystal Empire. Now that Celestia was facing her guards, announcements were ready to be made as well as a quick response to this crusade.
The Black Crusade was rather slow at the moment but that didn't mean it was gentle. Two forms of destruction played out. Shalour's fierce clash and the silent actions within the Crystal Empire. Canterlot's citizens were watched over from Celestia's highest balcony, which was usually used for her Royal Canterlot Voice. This powerful voice wouldn't be enough to reach the rest of Equestria, but it would be the start as news will travel fast when it comes to something like this.
Unlike Empress Twilight's invasion, this one wasn't as instant. But just because it wasn't out there and bombastic as the invasion, didn't mean it wasn't as dangerous. If anything, the Black Crusade posed a greater threat to them all due to what it was meant for. Celestia already had plans in advance for this and now it was time for those plants to sprout.
Twilight quickly hopped on the train. Absol would be the one to lead the way since his horn was still vibrating. This kind of disaster was something that wouldn't just last for a while. It was large enough to go on for a long time until it finished its goal.
Twilight sat on the train as it started moving, praying that her brother, sister-in-law and dual nieces were fine. The Princess of Friendship couldn't bare to see or think about them being the first victims of this crusade. She knew that they would retaliate but with how the Black Crusade was the Full Power of the Dread League finally being unleashed, even worse than the Third Pokemon Festival, fighting back would lead to rather disastrous outcomes. Absol's horn was proof of that being a possibility.
"Please be safe, all of you."
The Crystal Empire.
Flash Sentry and the other guards eventually tracked down the Sableye, wanting some of the food they were bringing along. And they weren't disappointed once they came across the Food Trolley. Everything was still available there with the Sabelye standing by. Wide grins met their faces as they rushed to the trolley.
"Lucky us!" Flash Sentry and the other guards said, grabbing what they could. Of course, they kept it to a minimum since it was meant for the Royal Family as well. The closest were the three alicorns while Shining Armor was elsewhere. They stuffed their mouths, gaining some energy for tonight. This would help with their guard duty since they would need the energy.
Aside from the food here, another delicious scent would waft through the air, grabbing their attention. This was the scent of Hot chocolate and Marshmallows. A great combination. Flash Sentry and some of the other guards felt inclined to bring the rest of the food to the princesses. They couldn't hog it all for themselves despite how delicious it was.
"Your majesty. Would you like us to-" But right as Flash Sentry opened the door, he and his fellow guards were met with a shocking sight that neither of them expected.
Princess Cadence, Sylveon, Manaphy and the older Princess Flurry Heart had passed out. The hot chocolate they received had spilt over, dropping the liquid on the table with the marshmallows being half-eaten. They were not asleep. Not at all. The looks on their faces made it clear as well as how still and lifeless they looked. The cups were even slightly chipped, confirming that this was a collapse.
Princess Cadence's head lay on the table while one of the Flurry Hearts had fallen off the bed. The younger Flurry Heart who came from this world was the only one conscious, crying in response to this sudden collapse. Her partner Manaphy had passed out as well.
"Princess?!" The guards all said, rushing to their side. However, they would soon slow down. They felt a sudden pulse go through their bodies, making their visions obstructed for a moment. Before they knew it, the guards collapsed as well. It was an abrupt collapse as they dropped like flies, landing flat on their faces, to the side or their backs.
"W-What is this...?" Flash Sentry uttered, attempting to resist. "Is it the food and the drinks...?!" He immediately thought about how this was happening. The only thing he could think about was what was offered on the Food Trolley. Before he could think it through, just like the other guards, he would collapse.
This only elevated Flurry Heart's crying as she was greatly confused as to what was going on. For a baby, this was rather terrifying. But her sounds were unfortunately blocked off by the Sableye, who would then shut the door to this room once everyone but Flurry Heart was unconscious. But to keep an eye on the baby alicorn, a few Sableye would enter the room.
Baby Flurry Heart held onto her partner Manaphy, who was out cold, unresponsive to the sounds going off. She didn't even respond to Flurry Heart's contact. They stood before the baby alicorn, gazing at her with little response. Only slight cries. Flurry Heart hadn't touched her drink at all, simply because she needed someone else to give it to her. But the only ones who could have passed out, leaving her alone.
Once they all collapsed, the other effect of the drinks and food kicked in. The same magical ring from before would appear. But this time, it formed into a dome, bringing another illusionary ripple into the scene as the alicorns and guards were encased. Flurry Heart was not a victim as she hadn't drunk the chocolate at all. The dark magic was visible but the illusions weren't, only confusing her even more.
And it was even more confusing since the Sableye were always seen as friends to the Crystal Empire. Alas, they were unable to fight back against Sweet Fang's magic, fully under her control. But it wasn't just the ones inside the castle. With Sweet Fang's next command, even when she wasn't near any Sableye, she had absolute power over them.
"Now, go for it." Sweet Fang spoke. And with that command, the Sableye from the outside sprung into action. They became active, no longer standing around there lifelessly as they could catch everypony off guard. Windows were broken once some of the Sableye charged in, waking the citizens up. Their homes were invaded by the Sableye who once lived peacefully with them.
Chaos soon flooded the streets as the crystals were being ripped away by the bare hands of the Sableye. Devouring crystals was their speciality and thanks to the magic of Sweet Fang controlling them, they would not hold back at all. Screams would also fill the streets, soon turning this silent destruction into a loud one. This was to be expected but the earlier parts of it were certainly secretive.
The vampires were already making strong progress within the Crystal Empire, silencing those who could give things away. Some of the Royalty had already been dealt with, including some of the guards. And they certainly couldn't let a baby give it away since her father was still around. Sticking to Sweet Fang's orders, the Sableye would lunge at Flurry Heart. But against their own will.
On the Train to the Crystal Empire.
The train was still a long way there from the Crystal Empire. Twilight sat patiently, closing her eyes in the meantime. Where could the Black Crusade start aside from the Crystal Empire and how big was it already getting? How long until the rest of her friends were targeted? Are the Dread League already approaching Ponyville? These were the thoughts going through her head. She heeded Rosa Maledicta's words, which were full of rage. That night out in the mountains was the tipping point for the Lich Queen, prompting this attack to finally go through.
"I should just check on them to see if they're okay..." Twilight would go for her Xtransceiver, wanting to see how her friends were doing at the moment. At the same time, the train was about to pass through a tunnel, bringing a bit of darkness to the area. However, once it passed through, the darkness never left. Instead, it stayed behind.
Darkness filled the train, seemingly permanent since it was no longer in the tunnel. The lights within the train vanished all of a sudden, making Twilight gasp. Absol's horn would twitch violently, sensing a nearby disaster. And indeed, it was nearby. Even though it was now dark within the train, she was no longer alone with just Espeon and Absol.
Other ponies were in here. Specifically, vampire ponies, who thrived in the dark. With the light gone, they appeared, without any sound to indicate their arrival. Only Absol's horn could help with that.
"What?!" Twilight gasped after seeing the vampires make their appearance. The Dread League have already appeared on the train, bringing their devious smiles with them. "When did they get here?!"
"Absol!"
"Espeon?!"
"Look at that. Princess Twilight Sparkle." A vampire said. "Her majesty's upset with this one."
"I hear she spearheaded the plan to take the Box of 100 Demons. We have her to thank for the Black Crusade being so soon." Another vampire chuckled. "Then again, it's been delayed a bit so maybe it's not off the mark when it comes to the deadline."
"You all showed up on the train...Does that mean you're near Canterlot?!" Twilight feared that there were other vampires near Canterlot. After all, she took the train from the Canterlot and there was no telling how long these vampires have been in here.
"No. We just slipped in here. And we have the Pony of Shadows to thank for that." A vampire shook her head.
"Pony of Shadows?" Twilight repeated.
"With his shadows, we can get into places that are a bit harder to reach for us. During this time, shadows are everywhere." A vampire excitedly said, revealing how he and the others entered the train. "Even if it's moving fast! Like a train!"
"The Lich Queen wants you, Princess Twilight. So you'll get off scot-free compared to everyone else that'll be destroyed in the Black Crusade. I mean, you'll end up as a skeleton in the end but still." The vampires revealed that they came here to retrieve Twilight Sparkle. If Rosa Maledicta wanted her, nothing good could come from it and it was most likely rooted in what happened within Twilight's Mindscape.
"I don't think so!" Twilight vehemently rejected it. "I need to get to the Crystal Empire fast and see if they're okay. The same goes for all of my friends. And I'm keeping them safe from you! Absol! Espeon! Get ready!"
"Absol!"
"Esp!"
But before Twilight could make a command, the train would shake, nearly knocking her off balance. The vampires kept their balance perfectly, appearing casual about it. The train was already at a high point in Equestria when it comes to where the tracks were placed. Danger was practically everywhere, surrounding Twilight from the inside and outside. She looked out the window to see none other than a Despair Plant.
Specifically, Despair Plant Cobra. And joining it were other Despair Plants. Slithering against the train were other Cobras, using their serpentine bodies to damage and hold back the train. The Train's balance would continue to be disturbed along with its speed being tampered with.
Not only did she have to deal with the vampires, but now, the Despair Plants was a colossal issue as well. Twilight Sparkle's mission to reach her extended family and the rest of her friends had been intercepted by the Dread League. Already, they were making appearances when it was least expected. With the alicorns and guards of the Crystal Empire passing out along with the Sableye being used by Sweet Fang, the disaster Absol predicted was only worsening from this point onwards as the journey continues.
Twilight Sparkle had been ambushed. The Dread League had appeared on a moving train that was filled with darkness, courtesy of the Pony of the Shadows bringing them here. A pit of Despair Plant Cobras were also slithering on the outside of the train, slowing it down and disrupting its balance.
"If this train derails or even blows up I could be done for..." Twilight uttered while holding onto one of the seats. With how her circumstance appeared, the outcome could be incredibly destructive. Before she could think of how to approach this, the vampires would all collectively flap their wings, sending out dark magical rays.
Quickly, Twilight put up a protective shield around herself, Absol and Espeon. The rays slammed into Twilight's shield, only damaging the surrounding area. The seats of the train were charred by the flare of magic with some of the rays bouncing off to pierce through them.
"Eve! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Espeon!" Once the shield was lowered, Twilight made her first command. And it was to hit the vampires with their greatest weakness. Light. The one who could grant that right now was Espeon as a sphere of rainbows flew out of her, like a butterfly emerging for the first time. The vampires hissed and moved back at the exertion of light which lit up the darkness within the train. Dazzling Gleam kept them all in check, reminding them of their weakness and how easy it was to exploit it.
"Now, Absol! Night Slash!"
"Absol!" With the vampires stunned, the Disaster Pokemon would lunge in and strike while the iron was hot. He had his own darkness to show as it would envelop his horn. The vampires gasped as Absol swung his horn downwards, expecting to land a hit.
However, that was where the Despair Plants came in. It only took one cobra to burst through the windows and intercept Absol's Night Slash, using its serpentine body to do so. A Despair Plant Cobra was relatively large. Larger than Absol, that was for sure. So this large body took the hit with great durability despite being made out of plants.
"Sol...!" Absol wouldn't let that stop him. With his horn digging into the Despair Plant, the Disaster Pokemon roared out, putting more power into his attack. He disregarded the Despair Plant's size, overpowering it with brute force. Despair Plant cobra hissed before being launched by an outburst of darkness.
The vampires would be hit by the Despair Plant as if they were struck by a large log. The length of the cobra didn't help as it hit the walls of the train, practically catching a majority of the vampires in the way with how much coverage this plant had. The only ones who escaped it were the vampires who took flight earlier, narrowly avoiding it.
Unfortunately, there were more Despair Plant Cobras to deal with. The ones outside were already constricting the train, using their weight to slow it down and disrupt the balance. But others would start slithering in, wanting a piece of Twilight and her Pokemon. These large cobras filled up most of this room, eyeing down the Princess of Friendship with devious hissing. Absol snarled at the Despair Plants, ready to cut them all down.
"This way!" Twilight thought otherwise. The best thing to do was gauge some distance. Twilight shot some magic onto the floor of the train, letting out a sparkle of light that would stun the other vampires and even the Despair Plants for a moment with how blinding it was. This would give way for the group to flee from this part of the train.
But it didn't take long for the Despair Plants to recover, slithering past the smoke and through the train. Massive Cobras chased Twilight and her team through the train, rumbling it even more. Eyes from the other Cobras would appear outside the window, tracking Twilight. These serpentine eyes were following her everywhere. It felt like one individual was gazing at her thanks to how many Despair Plant Cobras were outside.
The minute she entered another train carriage, another pit of Cobras would break in through the window, pursuing the Princess of Friendship. The doors on the previous carriage were blown away along with some of the walls inside. With how the train was being disturbed, Twilight spread her wings out, choosing to fly instead of galloping. Galloping would lead to a loss of balance at this rate.
The vampires would also chase Twilight and her Pokemon down as the furniture was being absolutely dismantled and torn apart by the movements of the Despair Plants. The vampires would take on smaller forms, transforming themselves into bats to avoid being harmed by the erratic slithering.
They managed to get close, nearly biting onto the tails of either Twilight, Absol or Espeon but it was always a miss. Twilight yelped at the vicious bite which had a potent snapping noise to it. In response, she would shoot back at the cobra with a beam of magic, pushing it back. Espeon and Absol would do the same, unleashing Dark Pulse and Dazzling Gleam in repeated instances each time they entered another carriage.
Jets of light and darkness would fly through the carriage doors which were torn apart by the cobras. The Despair Plant Cobras would even power through some of them with their spectacular durability, only being further enraged. The vampires responded by doing the same, shooting their respective magic from above each time they reverted to their original forms. With their bat forms, they could slip into the next carriage as soon as possible, attempting to get the jump on Twilight and her team.
It was getting harder to evade them. More and more would start entering the train, only further damaging the train. It didn't take long for some of the Despair Plant Cobras to appear in front of Twilight, Espeon and Absol, intercepting their movements.
"Not like this...!" Twilight gasped before looking in both directions. In this instance, she was cornered by them and could not advance unless something was done. It was a good thing the Princess of Friendship was a quick thinker. The moment one of the cobras lunged in for a tackle, she would try and capitalise on this in the best way possible. And that was by seeing Absol getting tackled.
"A-Absol...!"
"Absol, Counter!"
"Sol!" With Absol receiving a tackle from the Cobra, this was the perfect opportunity for him to use Counter. He slid on the floor as his horn would glow a fierce fiery orange. The Disaster Pokemon retaliated by unleashing a fierce slash which struck the air itself. A mighty orange light flew out, crashing into the Cobra that tackled him as well as the others that blocked his way.
They went flying out of the train, through the holes that they made before then tumbling and rolling on the ground. This gave Twilight and her team the opportunity to keep on moving now that the ones in the front had been quickly taken care of. However, the chase was still on and there was no way Twilight would want this to carry on. Not when she feared for her family and friends.
"I don't know what's become of the Train conductor right now, but we can't waste any more time! Derail the train, Eve! Use Psychic!" Twilight exclaimed, thinking about the Train Conductor and how he might be during all of this. There was only one way to reach him and that was at the very end of the train. Thus, getting rid of one part of the train had to suffice for now.
"Espeon!" Espeon stood at the end of a carriage, quickly using her Psychic abilities. But she wouldn't target the vampires and the Despair Plants. There were too many for her to hit. Instead, Espeon focused on what kept the carriages together.
The couplers were targeted as Espeon used pure brute force to rip them apart, derailing one half of the train. One of the Despair Plants had its fangs and mouth baring as wide as it could possibly make them, about to bite into the Sun Pokemon. Twilight screamed at the approaching mouth which was horrifying to look into. It looked like multiple mouths in one and each of them could crush their bones.
Thankfully, with the derailment, the Cobra missed falling back into the carriage it was on as well as the other vampires who transformed back into the original forms, thinking that they would enter the next carriage on time. But on this hill, the other half of the train would move backwards, no longer having the rest of it to support it.
The vampires screamed as the train accelerated backwards, picking up greater speed than what was happening on Twilight's side. The Despair Plants that latched onto the train were also brought along with them. Only half of them, unfortunately as the other half were still present outside.
It was back to the hill with the ones they managed to fend off as they ended up derailing before Twilight's group did. The trail of carriages went off the tracks with how much they accelerated downwards, losing any leverage they had. The Despair Plant Cobras on the side would all fall over while some of them were crushed by the falling carriages.
Of course, this wouldn't be the end of the Despair Plant Cobras. Only Pure Light could destroy them. Not even being crushed would work on them. All kinds of punishment could be dished out at these Despair Plants and the only thing that would threaten them was the highest form of light possible.
"Phew..." Twilight sighed, glad she managed to get rid of one half. "Okay. From this direction, the conductor should still be on. Let's head to rear end and-" But there were still others to deal with. And not just other Despair Plants but other vampires. Some managed to get into the other half of the carriage, specifically, by breaking through the roof.
Twilight almost got all of them out of there but some managed to get back on. They broke through the roofs of the train with their bare hooves, startling the Princess of Friendship and the Sun Pokemon. They grinned down at Twilight Sparkle, knowing that she was shocked to see more of them around even after that derailment stunt.
"We'll be completely fine by returning to Magehold, no matter the damage!" A vampire cackled at Twilight. "But you won't be! Don't worry because the Lich Queen needs you and all alicorns, so we'll keep you safe!"
Right as she said that, they would all drop from the roof, aiming to grab Twilight and completely ignoring her Pokemon since they didn't matter. But that only resulted in Absol getting in their way. He held his horn out, blocking the vampires that would approach Twilight and giving them a nasty impact when crashing into Absol's main weapon.
Crashing into a horn was a rather painful experience as the first vampire trembled and grimaced at it. This prompted the others to crash into her, taking some friendly fire damage. Espeon would then capitalize on this by using Psychic, surrounding them all in a pink outline. With her mental power, Espeon launched them away to gauge some more distance.
"Quick! Let's get up there! We can maybe try and stop the train that way!" Twilight said to her Pokemon, aiming her hoof up. The vampires did them a favour by breaking a hole in the roof. Twilight would help carry her Pokemon through the air, entering the top of the moving yet disrupted train.
On top, Twilight was aiming to put an end to these hyper-fast movements as soon as possible. The train was barely hanging in there with the remaining Despair Plants slithering up to meet with Twilight and her team.
"I can maybe stop the train from the outside with my magic. There's only one half of it. But I'll need you two to give me some time, okay?"
"Espeon!" Espeon and Absol would gladly do so.
"And just to be safe...Go! Togekiss!" Twilight would send out one more Pokemon. This time, for aerial support. Togekiss would flash into the scene with a sparkle of Fairy Magic.
"Togekiss!"
"Okay. Here goes..." With three Pokemon to assist her, Twilight had enough room to focus. The Despair Plant Cobras managed to get on top of the train, leaving only a few to continue damaging it. The vampires would fly back up, also standing and hovering over the roof of the train. The life of another within the train was taken into account and Twilight couldn't let the conductor perish in this.
The conflict on the train continued, this time on the roof. Dark magic and Pokemon Moves broke out in the form of Dazzling Gleam and Dark Pulse. A double Dazzling Gleam was rather terrifying for the vampires as their magic was countered by this flash of rainbows followed by a stream of darkness from Absol's mouth.
The vampires just couldn't seem to close the gap thanks to Dazzling Gleam getting in their way. But for the Despair Plants, that was not an issue. They powered through the darkness when it was thrown at them, attacking Absol with vicious tail slaps. The Disaster Pokemon received a barrage of vicious tail slaps from the Cobras, only to retaliate by using Counter. HE lunged back in, cutting their tails with his sharpened horn.
"Absol!" The tails of the Cobras came right off thanks to Absol's terrific strength. It was rather surprising as it seemed that only Pure Light could really damage them. But Absol showed that he could leave behind some substantial damage. However, that did not last long as they immediately regenerated their missing tails, basking under the Moonlight.
The Despair Plants were the opposite of regular plants. Instead of benefitting under the Sun, it was the Moon that they fed off. Their tails grew back, longer than before as they would wrap collectively strike the Disaster Pokemon. Absol snarled back at them, frustrated that his most effective means of damage was only a nuisance to these creatures.
He rolled on the hard surface of the train, almost falling off, only for Espeon to catch him. She couldn't use Psychic on a Dark-Type so the best way to save him was by grabbing his tail. "E-Esp!" She growled, using all of her strength to lift him up. Absol was dangling from the side of the train, just a few feet away from falling next to the other Cobras that latched themselves onto the train.
This obviously left Espeon wide open for the vampires and Despair Plants. Magical waves came flying in from the vampires which targeted the Sun Pokemon from behind. This was where Togekiss came in. With Aura Sphere, she threw a ball of concentrated Aura which clashed with the waves, shielding her teammates. The Aura Sphere violently trembled, trying to hold the magical attacks back. It succeeded, resulting in both attacks blowing up, reaching an equalizer.
"Just hold on you three...!" Twilight knew there was only one way to get rid of them. Her Z-Move. The Twilightium Z was her best option as it had proven to be highly effective when she first encountered a Despair Plant. But right now, Twilight wished to save the other life on board before unleashing that.
She was still doing her best to try and slow down the trail and halt its movements, focusing on the wheels specifically. For the time being, her Pokemon had to hold their own against the Despair Plants. Espeon threw Absol into the air after catching him, prompting the Dark-Type to gain some air time. The vampires who managed to gauge distance from the Dazzling Gleam took advantage of this, throwing their magic at Absol while he was airborne.
Togekiss provided aerial support, using the rays of Dazzling Gleam from above as they would bombard the Cobras. The Despair Plants hissed as the top of the train was illuminated by beautiful sparkles. Unfortunately, not even that was enough.
The flashy smoke would cover them, only to have one of the Cobras lunge out of it with its fangs out. Togekiss gasped as she was bitten by the Cobra. "T-Toge!" A vicious bite immediately brought the Jubilee Pokemon down.
Togekiss cried out as the fangs of the Cobra dug into her body, making her squirm and flail her wings around in pain. Absol and Espeon collectively gasped with Absol especially taking this to heart.
"Absol...!" Absol was still in the air, just about to lose his air time. But instead of letting the natural laws of gravity do it for him, he would bring himself down. And would be with Fury. Absol would use Giga Impact in response.
As if he was a meteor, Absol was surrounded by an invisible energy while descending from above. A bright flash of yellow light appears in front of his face as he then shot himself at the Cobra which bit into Togekiss. That Cobra was still on Togekiss, refusing to let go before then choosing to constrict her.
Channelling his fury into an attack, an orb of light purple energy with spiralling light yellow streaks appeared around Absol's body and he slammed into the Cobra. The Cobra hissed as it was blown back with great force with its fangs leaving Togekiss' body. The Despair Plant Cobra had a shockwave around its body, affecting the other Despair Plants and knocking them off the train.
They would leave the scene, flying off the train and even past some of the terrain which brought them to lower lands. Absol, who now had to recharge, slid on the roof of the train, breathing in and out. He would then quickly turn to Togekiss, who had visible holes inside of her body.
With the size of the Despair Plant, the fangs were larger than her wings, making this bite severely deep. The holes appeared on her neck and upper body, making the Jubilee Pokemon rather weak. A green liquid would spurt out of those holes, indicating at some poison being injected.
"I've got it!" At last, Twilight managed to fully grasp the train. With all of the wheels held, she would use some Rift Magic for a boost in power, allowing her to manipulate the Train's momentum. The train would suddenly slow down, no longer moving in its frantic state with all of the wheels being maintained. Even with all of the Despair Plants constricting in, they weren't the ones moving the train in the first place. They were only disrupting its balance.
But not anymore. Twilight Sparkle successfully stopped the train as it came to a halt out in the middle of the countryside. The Cobras on the train no longer had a reason to constrict it now that it was still. But they still had a reason to target Twilight and her Pokemon.
Only a few Cobras remained since the rest had been blown away by a furious Absol, landing elsewhere, but not too far. Falling somewhere else was not enough to stop the Despair Plants as they would simply get back up afterwards. The pressure was immense for them as the Dread League were by far the most persistent opponents they have had to face. No matter what, they would keep on coming back.
"I did it..." Twilight sighed, lowering her head. For a moment, everything calmed down but it wouldn't last that long. Not with how things were at the moment. Her trip to the Crystal Empire was still greatly delayed and in peril.
"Esp! Espeon!" Immediately, Espeon called for Twilight as she was standing next to the poisoned Togekiss. Twilight's head focused on the Sun Pokemon, witnessing a hard hit on the Jubilee Pokemon.
"Oh, no! Togekiss?!" Twilight Sparkle gasped as her pupils shrunk in horror. The poison from within would suddenly form green cracks around Togekiss' body. She would grunt as it wasn't just ordinary poison. This was from a Despair Plant, making it stronger than the average poison.
"T-Toge...!"
"It's okay, Togekiss!" Twilight cried out. "We'll get you healed up as soon as possible!"
"No use!" A vampire suddenly bellowed, climbing onto the top of the train. She cackled maniacally, just barely managing to get back on. "That poison from Cobra can't be solved by your antidotes. You should already know this by now...Magehold is home to some of the most powerful afflictions and curses out there."
"What?!" Twilight roared. Judging by what the vampire was speaking of, this meant only one thing. Much like a few ponies who have come across the Dread League in the past and more recently, Queen Chrysalis, Togekiss was now a victim of a seemingly incurable curse. This time it was poison. That was a mortifying thought to her.
One of her own Pokemon was now potentially in great peril. Twilight feared something like this would happen but even she wasn't prepared for it. No one was since there was no other cure other than the victims themselves.
"Don't worry. It gets better." Another vampire would reappear, using his bat form to fly back onto the train. "You should see the poison when they fuse. It's even stronger than ever."
"T-Togekiss...!" Togekiss grumbled before forcing herself to get back up. She didn't have anyone to help her. Togekiss stood as strong as she could, not allowing the vampires to get the satisfaction of a victory. Not for one moment.
"Togekiss?! Don't stand!" Twilight pleaded as the green cracks were still prominent on her.
"Kiss!" Togekiss protested against Twilight's words, refusing to sit back down. She had one eye closed but that other open eye was filled with a fierce fiery spirit.
"It stood up after that?!" Even the vampires were amazed by what they were seeing. Togekiss hadn't succumbed to the poison just yet, but it was prominent. She was fighting to carry on with as much strength as she could muster right now.
"W-What's going on...?" Thankfully, leaving the train after it came to a halt was the conductor. He was in one piece, albeit reasonably bewildered by everything that happened. That brought some peace to Twilight's heart. She just wanted to make sure he was alright and indeed he was.
"We can't stay here forever. Return, Togekiss! You too, Absol!" Now was the time to leave. And it had to be as soon as possible. Twilight returned Togekiss to her Poke Ball as well as Absol, allowing them to be safe from harm for the time being. Especially Togekiss, who was now poisoned.
"For the Lich Queen, we can't let you escape!" Unfortunately, the odds were still against Twilight. The vampires refused to let her leave until they had the Princess of Friendship with them. "It's about time you dealt with the best a Despair Plant can offer."
"Fusion!" The other vampire exclaimed as the time for fusion was now. The Despair Plant Cobras would fuse together to form an even more powerful entity.
Twilight had to get moving. She took flight with Absol being carried by her magic. The remaining Despair Plants that were still on the train would respond to the words of the vampires, initiating the Fusion Process. Their bodies would emanate a dark power that resonated with each other, even enveloping parts of the train.
Twilight looked back to see this darkness erupt as the two bodies of Despair Plant Cobras would crash into each other, beginning to merge into a single deadly being. Twilight looked onward, refusing to look back even with the vampires chasing after her in the air.
There was seemingly nowhere safe to be right now. Not until Twilight could find at least one place that she could hide out at. The darkness below would erupt once more, summoning one of the fusions of the Despair Plants into the world. Despair Plant Chimera.
Larger than the train itself, this Fused Despair Plant released its bloodcurdling roar which echoed through the night. Twilight, while she still had the chance, had to call someone. Anyone. With her Xtransceiver out, she had this opportunity before any of the vampires or Despair Plants could catch up to her.
Ponyville.
"Okay, mom. Get home safely." Meanwhile, Ash had shown up at Ponyville, standing next to the gateway that would lead to Pallet Town. Delia and Mr Mime were about to depart, aiming to find safety during the Black Crusade. "Dad, me and everyone else are gonna handle this."
"Oh, please be safe, you all." Delia pleaded. "I wouldn't want you all being destroyed and turned to skeletons. I know Mimey would do a great job at keeping me safe."
"Mime-Mime!"
"Fluttershy's off to warn her Pokemon. Twilight might be a bit busy, so I'll tell everyone else. Do ya think you can warn everyone back at Pallet Town?"
"Of course. Professor Oak can handle the rest. He knows the town rather well. Just don't get hurt, alright? Or too badly hurt." Praying for the safety of Ash, Pikachu and everyone else, Delia would hug Ash before petting Pikachu's head.
"Pikachu."
With that, Delia would enter the gateway with Mr Mime, leaving Ponyville and returning to Pallet Town. It was hard to say if even Pallet Town was safe. The Black Crusade threatened everything and unless something was done, nowhere would be safe at all.
Right as she left, Ash received a call from his Xtransceiver. The Champion of Alola dug into his pockets to see who could be calling at a time like this. Who else but the only pony who was being pursued by the Dread League? Twilight Sparkle. A call of distress came from her, with the message 'Help' being underneath her face and Trainer ID.
It was chaos in the streets. Controlled by the Vampire Sweet Fang, the Sableye, who were once common folk of the Crytal Empire, were now hostile, attacking and raiding the homes of the citizens at night. It was unexpected to see the Sableye turn on them. However, it was unbeknownst to everypony else that it was against their own will.
Some of the Sableye already captured the Crystal Empire citizens, tying them up. It was done by the crystals themselves, which they broke up into smaller pieces, forming crystal ropes and chains just to restrain the citizens. Rather impressive but no one wanted to be impressed right now. They just wanted answers.
"What's going on?!" Shining Armor gasped after witnessing the sudden outbreak through the windows. A truly unfavourable sight, witnessing all the Sableye turn on everyone. Since everything here was made out of crystals, the destruction that befell the Crystal Empire was swift.
The Sableye tore every piece that they could with their bare hands. Claw marks were seen on the buildings with crystal shards lying everywhere. The Sableye spared no expense with what they could grab, mangling the crystals to form more than just ropes and chains.
Shining Armor couldn't exactly pinpoint why this was happening, but he knew he had to stop it before it could get out of control. But more importantly, he had to know if his family was alright. The Sableye also managed to break inside, as seen by the holes within the castle. While searching for his family, he noticed an absence of other guards. Usually, he would see a handful of them by now but the halls were rather empty.
It didn't take long for him to run into some of the Sableye. They were prowling around the castle, crawling the walls and ceiling. "Sableye?!" The ones on the ceiling spotted the Prince of the Crystal Empire, having their eyes glow in the dimmed halls. A The Sableye that stood before him were holding what appeared to be crystal weapons. By grabbing as many crystals as they could, they formed weapons such as swords, spears and even some shields. They were innovative but now was not the time to admire and appreciate their work.
"Aegislash!" Seeing the threats, Aegislash got in front of Shining Armor, having his sword and shield at the ready. All the while, Shining Armor wondered why a majority of the guards weren't here for this moment. This was where their help would be greatly appreciated. Only a few of them were left, dealing with the problems outside, trying to subdue the Sableye.
"Sableye!" The Sableye lunged at Shining Armor and Sableye with their crystal weapons, only for the Royal Sword Pokemon to use King's Shield. Light blue hexagonal shapes then appear one by one in front of Aegislash until they formed a shield, blocking himself and Shining Armor from the spears and swords. They made direct contact with the shield, failing to get through as a blue flash enveloped their bodies.
"Great, Aegislash! Okay, use Aerial Ace on them!"
"Slash!" After blocking their attacks, Aegislash repelled them by moving his shield forward, causing the Sableye to fly back. Afterwards, he quickly shifted into his Blade Forme for an offensive retaliation. With a bright aura surrounding his bladed body, the Royal Sword Pokemon disappeared in the blink of an eye. He would later reappear in front of the Sableye, slashing at them at confounding speeds which left behind white sparks when struck.
The Sableye that were hit dropped their crystal weapons, sliding on the floor. The ones near Aegislash were next, seeing the Steel-Ghost-Type approaching with another Aerial Ace. "S-Sable!" Startled, the other Sableye would quickly hold up their shields, blocking the next Aerial Ace.
Their crystal shields held up well, staying strong when coming into contact with the bladed body of Aegislash. However, the Sableye would tremble from the sheer impact. Their bodies were fragile after all. Aegislash would continuously swing at their shields with Aerial Ace with white streaks appearing constantly.
But the ones in front of Aegislash weren't the only Sableye to worry about. The ones on the walls were a problem too, targeting Shining Armor as he was rather vulnerable compared to Aegislash. Shining Armor gasped as he witnessed the Sableye above throwing their spears at him. With his teeth widening to show a grimace, Shining Armor moved back, narrowly avoiding the spears.
Crystal spears would stab into the ground, nearly grazing Shining Armor's face. The unicorn just managed to dodge the first batch of spears, but more were right above him. The Sableye that stayed airborne continuously threw their spears, attempting to hit the Prince of the Crystal Empire.
And some of them did land, specifically on his armour. The crystal spears rained down on Shining Armor's armour, with some of them cracking thanks to the impact. The closest they came to harming him was by hitting his tail, tearing bits of it off. Shining Armour was thankful that his armour could withstand hits from crystals, but this only prompted the Sableye to try something else.
Dark Pulses and Shadow Balls were thrown down, exceeding the strength of the spears and swords by a wide margin. These would definitely break through his shield and harm him severely. Shining Armor's grin quickly faded as the power of Dark Pulse would combust once it struck the floor, leaving behind a shockwave that would disrupt his balance.
The Captain of the Royal Guard stumbled on one hoof, trying to regain control, only for a Shadow Ball to fly in and knock him over. His armour still kept him safe but the damage was still there. Shining Armor's face slid on the crystal floor, causing him to spin which luckily made him avoid the next Shadow Ball. But that didn't stop the Sableye. Shining Armor got back up, shaking his head which was slightly bruised by sliding on the floor. It certainly wasn't pleasant considering how hard crystals can be.
Quickly, Shining Armor would put up a protective shield against the incoming Shadow Balls and Dark Pulses, having his own way or retaliating. Aegislash didn't just do everything for him all the time. He had his magic to support him.
"Aegis!" Speaking of Aegislash, his bladed body clashed with the weapons the Sableye had, easily overpowering them. His blade work was just that immaculate. Training with the Swords of Justice gave him that big of an advantage in every way. The Sableye failed to beat out Aegislash's rapid swings.
Shields and spears were cut into pieces when facing Aegislash, causing the Sableye to lose their crystal weapons. And the same went for the Crystal Swords which could not hold a candle to Aegislash's. However, the same couldn't be said when it came to other forms of battling, such as the most traditional way for any Pokemon to battle. After destroying their weapons and knocking them over, Aegislash would receive some aerial damage. The Sableye above would throw down Dark and Ghost-Type moves, dealing super-effective to the Royal Sword Pokemon.
"A-Aegis!"
"Aegislash! Are you okay?!" Shining Armor gasped, witnessing Aegislash take a hard hit from two moves that were threatening to him.
"S-Slash...!" Aegislash was still active. He would float back up, continuing to face the horde of Sableye that was in front and above him.
"I don't have time for this! Cadence! Flurry Heart?! Any of them?!" Shining Armor shouted for his family, but with no proper response from either of them. And from the looks of it, the number of Sableye was getting larger.
"Sableye...!" But the only response he got was from the Sableye as more of them were creeping over. The castle was on the verge of being flooded by Sableye in the same way the outside was. The outside had already fallen victim to the Sableye, with the guards trying to fix that, but were obviously low on numbers.
And the one spearheading this attack was none other than Sweet Fang. Arriving here with a few other vampires who were undercover, using an illusion magic, they watched the chaos unfurl. Those that had their identities stolen by the vampires were lost, restrained by the vampires and their Dark Magic. They practically avoided any danger by blending in with everyone else.
Sweet Fang, who controlled all of the Sableye, ceased her maid act for the moment, taking the time to observe the scenery. And already, her eyes met with Shining Armor and Aegislas, who were two steps below her. The controlling vampire was practically safe, having all the Sableye take the blame. None of the Sableye could speak as to why this was happening. They could only do it without any questions asked which only tarnished their image.
"Alright. This is great." A pleased Sweet Fang said as her part of the Black Crusade was going swimmingly on her part. "The Sableye will handle things. And if they lose, they can take the blame and not me. Now, let's focus on retrieving those three alicorns. The magic I put in those drinks will knock out even the strongest ponies. The same goes for the food we made."
"But there'll still be suspicion. That Captain is still around and he won't be in the mood for a bite or a drink with how things are going." A vampire replied, pointing out how Shining Armor was the only important figure in the Crystal Empire still around.
"That's fine. He won't be an issue with all of these Sableye around. As long as we bring them to the Lich Queen. The other alicorns will take some time. The big one is Princess Celestia and second to her is Princess Luna. They'll be harder to get." Sweet Fang commented before entering the room where the princesses fainted.
The vampires were ready to retrieve the bodies of three alicorns. Already, the others were targets, such as Celestia, Luna and Twilight, with Twilight already having to deal with her own vampires who tried capturing her on this dark night. However, when entering the room that the Royal Family fainted in, they found that it was completely devoid of any alicorns.
"Huh?!" Sweet Fang gasped as there was no sign of Cadence or both Flurry Hearts around. The chocolate drinks that knocked them out were still there, damaging and dropping the chocolate liquid on the floor. However, the one that Baby Flurry Heart never drank was still full and hot.
The only ones here were the Sableye that tried to capture the Royal Family. But obviously, they failed as they could be seen on the floor, defeated. Not just the ones in here, but the ones outside of the room that brought the trolley of food, resulting in Flash Sentry and the other guards passing out as well. Even they were nowhere to be found despite dropping after they consumed the food.
"They got away?!" One of the vampires bellowed. The disappearance of the Royal Family didn't bode well for them considering that all the vampires were here. Not a single one was missing. They were all present.
"You lot! What happened?!" Sweet Fang said to the defeated Sableye, questioning them. Since she had them under her control, they had no choice but to answer.
"S-Sable...Sableye..." A Sableye answered before passing out.
"The Baby defeated them?" Sweet Fang translated, managing to understand the Sableye. "You seriously lost to an infant?!"
"The baby? Baby Flurry Heart took them out? How?"
"I heard she had a lot of magical potential even for her age. She's the first Baby Alicorn after all."
"Maybe we should've put some Despair Plants in here first."
"Which is exactly why she's needed. And you all failed to get her." Sweet Fang kissed her teeth in annoyance. "If she's gone, then whoever took the other princesses must've taken the baby as well. Find them!"
Seeking out the three alicorns was their next priority. The Black Crusade, though it involved the destruction of everything else, had other parts to it. With the Lich Queen being the mastermind behind it, her plants involved more than just the destruction of life. The vampires, who kept their disguises up, spread out to try and find the two Flurry Hearts and Princess Cadence, wherever they made be.
Sunburt's Home.
"I think I'll be fine, for now..."Meanwhile, sheltering himself from the attack of the Sableye was Sunburst. His home had yet to be raided by them. This was mainly due to the magical barrier around Sunburst's home, protecting him from the Darkness Pokemon.
He already saw the attack in advance, witnessing how the Sableye turned on everyone else and caught them by surprise. With this surprise attack, dozens of citizens were already captured while the rest were still trying to gather what was going on and fending for themselves.
Sunburst sighed, feeling a bit safe within his home. At least, for the meanwhile. This barrier would certainly protect him but he wasn't sure for how long. And he definitely wasn't sure why there were so little guards out there. The number of guards confronting the Sableye just didn't seem right. The Sableye vastly outnumbered them and the only thing giving the guards a chance were their Golurks.
"The Sableye wouldn't just attack us out of nowhere," said Sunburst. "They have all the crystals in the world that they need. And all of it is on the outside. Other materials that aren't crystals are on the inside, like these books. Something's making them do this." Sunburst figured that the Sableye were influenced by something. His first instinct was that they were being provoked by something.
For now, Sunburst would try to lay low until this simmered down. He trusted that the guards could stop this attack. But right when he backed up, his body bumped into something gently. Something appeared behind in a flash, causing the unicorn to jump.
"Gah!" Sunburst screeched with his glasses nearly flying off. The unicorn swiftly grabbed them, placing them back on his head before then falling over. He wasn't alone. Not at all.
Right behind him was none other than Flurry Heart. Baby Flurry Heart to be exact. She appeared with her mother and her counterpart from another universe. Sunburst already crashed into one of his bookshelves, causing the books to drop on him continuously. So much for him being safe from any harm.
"W-What...?" A confused Sunburst uttered, shocked to see the Royal Family inside his own home. It was even more surprising since two of them were down and out while another was carrying them with her magic. It was Flurry Heart who saved them. Not someone else.
Floating over to Sunburst while gently dropping her family, Baby Flurry Heart babbled at the unicorn, having a tone of distress. Even if she was a baby, the tone of distress was indistinguishable, especially considering the circumstances. The infact Alicorn flailed her hooves up and down frantically, flying around Sunburst as there were already tears on her face.
"What are you doing here? Why did you come to me?" Sunburst asked before receiving a strong hair pull from Flurry Heart. She would coo and exclaim, clearly wanting Sunburst for something. "Ow, ow! Okay, okay!"
Sunburst wasn't sure why she came to him, but he figured that she wanted his help. Especially when seeing the older Flurry Heart and Princess Cadence on the floor. That couldn't be ignored as they were incredibly vulnerable during this attack. The Sableye were already approaching more and more homes with each attack.
Flurry Heart was greatly confused, much like everyone else. But her confusion mainly came from how she witnessed her family pass out on the spot. And right now, she was being hunted by the Dread League.
Ponyville.
Back at Ponyville, Ash had recently received a call from none other than Twilight. He had just gotten his mother and Mr Mime back home through the gateway to Pallet Town, asking them to be safe. Delia returned the favour, knowing her son would be safe, even with the risks involved.
"Twilight. What's up?"
"Ash! Oh, good! You made it back, safely!" Twilight said with distress in her voice. She had just recently been involved in a fierce chase battle on a train with vampires and Despair Plant Cobras. "So Ponyville's safe right now!"
"Yeah, we're safe. What's wrong, Twilight? Is everything okay? Are you at the Crystal Empire?"
"Not yet...I ran into some vampires. They suddenly showed up on the train where it was just me and the conductor. Quite a bit happened and some Despair Plants got involved."
"Seriously?! Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine. But Togekiss isn't. One of the Cobras bit into her and spread a powerful poison through her body. It's apparently just like the afflictions that are hard to get rid of. It's not the same one that Chrysalis took but it's still putting her life in peril." Twilight explained, bringing up the fact that Togekiss fell victim to the Magehold Afflictions.
"And just like what Lofty Skies' mom got..." Ash uttered, shocked to hear that another one of his friends had been caught by these devastatingly cruel afflictions.
"Togekiss is still hanging in there, but I'm worried for her. And right now, I'm running from the Dread League, but I don't think I can escape them. Once a Despair Plant sees you and attacks you, they'll always know where you go. It's how the ones from Hearthome found Olympia and the others."
"They're chasing you?! Where are you right now, Twilight?"
"I'm somewhere out in the countryside. I can maybe get rid of them by using my Z-Move. It has the right amount of light that can actually stop the Despair Plants, but I'm having a rough time finding some space to use it. And it's a one-time thing until it recharges, like all Z-Moves."
"Hang on, Twilight! We'll be right there!" Already, Ash and Pikachu were set to try and come to Twilight.
"Hold on, Ash! You need to warn everyone first. Princess Celestia's already planning to make an announcement of the Black Crusade starting, but I want you to tell everyone else what's going on."
"Are you sure?"
"Pikachu?"
"I want to get to Cadence and the others. If you can just tell everyone about this, then you can come to me. I can't run from the Despair Plants forever and the Dread League want me for something that involves the Lich Queen. I can't afford to have myself be captured."
"Okay, Twilight. Just hang in there. The same goes for Togekiss." Ash understood Twilight's wishes. He finished the call with Twilight, hoping to catch up with her as soon as possible. But first, he had to tell everyone about the Black Crusade. And with a few ponies out at night, only a few would get the news until the rest gathered it by morning. But he'd rather have it spread at this point.
Meanwhile, heading back to her home as well was Fluttershy. She quickly flew over to her home, where the Pokemon House could also be found. With the Black Crusade starting, her Pokemon were certainly in peril. Especially since Rosa Maledicta holds a grudge towards Ponville's citizens.
Citizens from Ponyville as well as Ash, Pikachu and by extension Galaxy Master, who came from Kanto, have been the ones to intercept her plans constantly. It was a guarantee that she'd lash out on Ponyville more than anywhere else. And if not, the wave of destruction would certainly do it for her.
Fluttershy arrived to see her Pokemon, who she treated like her family, completely oblivious to what was going on. But it would only take a few words from Fluttershy to get them up to speed.
"I want to keep them all safe and away from the Black Crusade," Fluttershy said to Audino, Bayleef and Raboot when entering the Pokemon House. But the moment she got there, the Pokemon were focused on something else.
By this time some of them would be asleep with the others being awake either by having enough time left or being nocturnal. However, all of them were kept by something. And it didn't take long for Fluttershy and the others to see exactly what it was. Or rather, who it was.
Sitting on a couch cushion was none other than Zecora. By this time, she would usually be back home at the Everfree Forest, returning to what she once lost. But now, on this night, she was at the Pokemon House, but not in the best state. On her body, reddish-orange spots could be seen, not just on her, but some of her Pokemon. Her Zebstrika and Weavile found themselves having those same spots.
"Oh my goodness! What happened to you three?!" Fluttershy quickly flew over. It wasn't that hard to see that there was something wrong with them, especially since they were lying down while having these spots. "Zecora...Zebstrika? Weavile? What happened? What are these spots?"
"It showed up unexpectedly at the Everfree." Zecora groaned. "Right in the middle of the night and it seemed to only target me."
"What targeted you?"
"A creature with the power to bring out illnesses did this. It's eyes were as black as an abyss...It was one of those Despair Plants but on a smaller scale. It had just sprouted and-"
"A Despair Plant?!" Fluttershy cut Zecora off. She backed away, knowing what this meant. The Black Crusade was near. "Then that means...The Black Crusade's already here?!"
She feared this would happen. It was bound to happen eventually but she never expected it to be so soon. The most realistic place for it to start was the Crystal Empire since it was nearer. But already, it was near Ponyville, sprouting out from the Everfree Forest.
The Despair Plant that caused this was currently unknown by name. But due to what has become Zecora and her Pokemon, Fluttershy could take a guess. With the arrival of a Despair Plant, this was only another part of the Black Crusade approaching Ponyville.
And most likely, a vampire was nearby as the journey continues.
Equestria. Ponyville. The Pokemon House. Nightfall.
Previously, the Crystal Empire's sudden raid was still ongoing with the entire Royal Family in a bit of jeopardy. Whether that was dealing with the plentiful Sableye or the disappearance of the alicorns, the Crystal Empire was out of control thanks to the Dread League. But the Dread League's path of destruction had gone beyond the closest area. Twilight Sparkle was already being chased down by them, including the ever-fierce Despair Plants. And it seemed like the Black Crusade has already gone far beyond Magehold and the Crystal Empire's vicinity.
"A Despair Plant did this?!" Fluttershy returned to see Zecora and some of her Pokemon covered in reddish-orange spots, looking terribly unwell. All of this was the cause of what was apparently a Despair Plant. And the appearance of a Despair Plant over at the Everfree Forest meant that a vampire was near and the Black Crusade had already gone far past Magehold.
"Its appearance resembled that of a frog.." Zecora grunted. "I easily mistook it for an Everfree Creature when seeing it through the fog." She could recall the encounter herself. The Despair Plant's arrival utterly took aback Zecora.
Her memory brought her back to that very moment. Fog covered most of the area on this night, as if to match the imminent threat that was the Black Crusade. And by this time, Zecora was already heading home, having Zebstrika and Weavile beside her. Her two speedy Pokemon were carrying some bags, showing that they had some busy shopping today. However, that would all be sullied after what they witnessed.
There, she saw it. The Despair Plant in its infancy. Its webbed feet were plastered to the ground as if they were roots. Its eyes were as black as the abyss, just as what Zecora said about it earlier. And she was also correct on what it resembled. All Despair Plants resemble some sort of creature and this one easily resembled that of a Bullfrog.
Even with the fog being thick, Zecora could make out what she was seeing. The plant-like textures on its body which was all green with different accents matched the other Despair Plants, along with those sharp additions on its body. A sharp tongue that resembled a spear, red veins on its legs and vicious thorns growing from its back made this a foreboding creature indeed.
Someone planted it here, but it was unknown who. All that was known was that this Bullfrog Despair Plant had the common goal of bringing despair. And its first targets were none other than Zecora and her Pokemon, who already sensed the threat coming their way.
"So is it still there?!" After hearing about Zecora's encounter with the Despair Plant, Fluttershy asked if it was still present within the Everfree Forest. Otherwise, it might be slowly approaching Ponyville.
"It is since it didn't just target us in Everfree. All other creatures there fell victim to its power of controlling what seems to be a disease." Zecora slowly sat up. "I saw it summon other diseases onto their bodies out of nowhere. Most were familiar, but some rare."
"It's okay, Zecora. We'll get you some help. You said it was just familiar diseases, right? That means they can be fixed." There was some light to this. This Despair Plant apparently gave other creatures of the Everfree different diseases and some were familiar. And with them being familiar, that meant they could be treated, as opposed to what Chrysalis was suffering from.
Fluttershy had to hurry though. A doctor had to be called, even during this time. Zecora and her Pokemon needed to be treated, but not just them, the other creatures of the Everfree. They all needed caring for. Fluttershy could think of a few and definitely a lot that were probably affected.
The Manticore, Hydra, BugBear and many more that lurked within Everfree. But he also had to make sure all the Pokemon here were safe. This Despair Plant seemingly had the power to summon diseases and she couldn't afford to have them all be afflicted.
"Krookodile. I'm going to get a doctor. Please, look after everyone for a while just in case that Despair Plant comes over. I'll be going over to the Everfree later on, okay?"
"Krookodile!"
"What?! It's now?!" Meanwhile, Ash had already spread the news of the Black Crusade starting to his friends who were still awake. Rarity was among the few who were still awake on this night. All of them were caught up with what was going on now, even before Celestia's news could spread. The only thing they knew about was the fact that Twilight was being chased down by vampires and the Black Crusade beginning elsewhere in the world.
"Yeah. I'm gonna try and head to Twilight as soon as possible. She's been trying to reach the Crystal Empire for a while now, but the Dread League are slowing her down." said Ash. "I don't know where else this Crusade's gonna show up. There's already vampires in different regions."
"Well, thank you for telling us so soon, Ash. I'm sure Twilight would've wanted to plan something that would have protected us." Mayor Mare had also been informed. If anyone needed to be told about this, it was her. "That's where I come in. Mostly everypony is asleep by now, so they might not be ready for what's coming."
"I can totally count on you all to stay safe. I just gotta reach Twilight in time and see if she's doing okay. I don't know if I'll make it back here as soon as I can. Pikachu and I could run into some vampires along the way." Ash said, clenching his fists as he knew that danger was prone to appear anywhere.
"Are we really safe here though? Just to be sure. I'm fairly tired right about now and I need some sleep." A tired Octavia asked, hoping that she wouldn't have to deal with the Black Crusade at night.
"Same here. I'm not ready to be destroyed and turned into a skeleton." Berry Punch added. "Where's it even coming from?"
"Being a skeleton pony does sound interesting though..." Another pony spoke, thinking about the concept of becoming a Skeleton Pony.
"She's really going through with it?" Meanwhile, Roseluck, who was the little sister of Rosa Maledicta, couldn't believe that the Black Crusade was happening. This whole time, she's been hoping that her big sister was holding back the urge to fully let this plan enact.
In fact, the various delays of the Black Crusade made Roseluck believe that. She believed that Rosa Maledicta was hesitant to execute the plan and was forcefully holding back. Alas, that was not the case. She went through with it either. To say that this gutted Roseluck was an understatement. She was nothing more than another victim for the Black Crusade even if she was family.
All the remaining citizens who were awake babbled on, wondering what to do about the Black Crusade now that it had begun. At any point, it could strike them. There was no clear way to tell where it was coming from and the only one who could do that for them, Absol, was with Twilight. It was all up to what they could do. And of course, the guidance and authority of Mayor Mare.
Ash could count on Mayor Mare since this was her town. The same went for everyone else here. They may prefer their simple day-to-day lives, but recent events have made them into fairly capable Pokemon Trainers. With the Pokemon on their side, they could do things they never knew they could before.
"Ash! Ash!" Rushing over to try and find a doctor was none other than Fluttershy. But along the way, she came across the crowd of ponies and Pokemon standing outside of Town Hall, discussing the incoming Black Crusade.
"Fluttershy? Is everyone back at the Pokemon House doing okay?"
"They're all doing fine. But Zecora and some of her Pokemon aren't." Fluttershy knew she had to lay out what she learned. And unfortunately for Ponyville's residents, it was tied to what they were the most worried about.
"Eh?! W-What happened?!" Ash gasped along with the others.
"Pikachu?!"
"It's a Despair Plant. There's one over at the Everfree Forest." She didn't hold back on what needed to be said. Just hearing the word Despair Plant made the others gulp and freeze.
"There's one at Everfree?! Already?!" Ash leaned in.
"Mhm. But it sounds like it's staying there for now only. Everyone in Everfree's being hit with diseases from this Despair Plant. It already got Zecora, Weavile and Zebstrika."
"T-Them too...!" Ash's fists trembled. This sounded like they were hit with those incurable diseases. First Togekiss and now more of his friends along with the creatures of Everfree.
"It's fine though! Zecora said they're familiar diseases, so we can probably still cure them." Thankfully, Fluttershy brought some hopeful news that released Ash's fist into just an ordinary open hand. "I need to hurry to the local doctor though. I only stopped by to tell you this. Y-You're gonna go to the Everfree Forest now, aren't you?"
"Nah. I'm still going for Twilight." But Ash would choose to find Twilight. "You said it's staying in the forest for now. Pikachu and I will have a lot on our plate."
"You can go ahead and do that." Roseluck suddenly stepped forward. "After all, we still have that elixir. That thing was made for Despair Plants so now's a good enough time to use it on them."
The elixir that was made by Rosa Maledicta long ago and was recently reworked by Twilight Sparkle and Zecora was a factor in this. Roseluck saw this as the perfect opportunity to use it on the Despair Plants. Granted, its first effect was shown in the form of creating an entirely new species in the form of Flora Ponies with Daisy and Paradise being the first and only two. But that wouldn't stop Roseluck from seeing what it could do to something that was already active and very much alive.
"You guys rock!" Ash grinned, knowing everything was in good hands. Or in this case, good hooves. With a Poke Ball out, he would throw it into the air, summoning Dragonite.
"Dragonite!"
"I'll meet back with you guys as soon as I can." He hopped onto Dragonite's back, ready to set out. If anyone could travel fast, it was Dragonite with the capability to go around the globe in 16 hours.
"Dra!" With her wings spreading, Dragonite took off with grace and majesty, making the manes of everypony blow from her take-off. It was off to the countryside to try and meet with Twilight before it was too late. Fluttershy went on her way to reach the town's local doctor. By this time, the hospital would most definitely be open.
As for Roseluck, the only place where the elixir could be was Twilight's Castle. The Despair Plant that lurked within the Everfree Forest could come here once it was done with it. There was no telling what diseases it could bring with it.
Out in the countryside.
Twilight was currently hiding in fear of the Dread League. She managed to escape the scuffle on the train, but not from the vampires and the Despair Plants. Especially the Despair Plants, with their ability to track down their prey just by attacking them once.
Twilight managed to get some distance from the Despair Plant Cobras, which had fused into a Despair Plant Chimera. Its massive roots arms carried it through the land, allowing it to move menacingly.
"I can't go to the Crystal Empire with these things chasing me...If I do, the Despair Plants will leave their mark there as well." Twilight said to herself, hiding behind a vast acre of trees. She was currently devising of a way to stop the Despair Plants all in one go. "My Z-Move will take them out but I need to have them all in one place. That's it. If I miss, I'll have to wait for it to recharge."
Twilight was depending on her Z-Move which possessed a bit of Arceus' light, allowing it to greatly damage and break through the Despair Plant's stellar durability. She held the Twilightium Z in her hoof, banking on its effectiveness. Currently, she had Espeon and Absol by her side and both were eligible to use it.
Since the Z-Crystal had no typing, it was available for all types. Twilight then heard a crack in the sky along with strong slithers that shook the ground. The other Despair Plant Cobras were tracking her down as well as Chimera. Twilight had to keep on moving.
She wasn't anywhere close to the Crystal Empire at this rate since this was the countryside. Twilight also couldn't afford to have those living in the countryside be threatened by the Despair Plants. However, the Dread League were closer than she expected.
The moment she moved past the acre of trees, some of the vampires were already there, appearing from the shadows. Twilight gasped, almost being caught off guard by their appearance. Dark Magic was shot at her, grazing the mane of the Princess of Friendship.
Quickly, Twilight would shoot back with her magic as a purple jet of light struck the vampire that almost got her. That vampire would have her horn receive damage from TWilight's retaliation, falling over. But there were more vampires to deal with it.
It wasn't just their magic she had to worry about, but their strength. A vampire was far stronger than the average pony and this strength showed when one of them ripped a tree from the ground. Twilight's eyes widened as the tree completely left the earth, becoming a weapon for this vampire. She viciously grinned at Twilight before using all of her strength to swing the tree, knocking the others aside.
"Absol, use Night Slash!"
"Absol!" But even with the vampires having superior strength, Absol could easily match that with his horn. The Disaster Pokemon sliced the tree in half, preventing it from striking his trainer.
"Eve! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Espeon!" Leaping over Absol after he cut the tree in half was the Sun Pokemon Espeon. She became a temporary Sun, illuminating her body with beautiful rainbows. The vampire hissed at the sight of this bright light but would also receive some damage from incoming rainbow rays. The vampires would be fended off and knocked back when the rays rained down on them.
This gave Twilight the opportunity to keep on moving. Her plan was still a possibility and it was all matter of how she could pull it off. Espeon and Absol would follow her, continuing to flee from the vampires. But the more Twilight moved, the closer the Despair Plants came.
The Cobras already slithered past some of the trees, hissing ominously as their mere movements knocked down these trees as if they were nothing. Their large bodies certainly gave them staggering strength. Chimera, who was slower than the rest, was approaching as well and could easily be seen in the distance. Twilight could feel herself being closed in by these forces. She's already been at this for a while and each minute that she dealt with the Despair Plants was another minute where she worried about the Crystal Empire.
Twilight searched for a place to gather all the Despair Plants in one, but with how wide the Countryside was, that was easier said than done. The many trees here were her best option but they were already being destroyed by the movements of the Cobras.
And it seemed like the vampires always knew how to intercept the Princess of Friendship. A fierce stream of dark magic blazed in front of them, destroying the trees that stood in their way. Twilight and her Pokemon came to a halt, nearly being struck by this blaze of dark magic which would wither away the beautiful leaves.
But this was merely a distraction from what was actually coming for them. The trees behind them were manipulated by the vampires who would cause them to fall over. "Espeon?!" Espeon swivelled her head to see multiple trees threatening to crush her friends.
Twilight and Absol soon saw it before having their instincts act for them. Only Twilight and Espeon managed to avoid the trees, quickly running to the side. But the same couldn't be said for Absol who was too late to stop them. The trees fell onto the Disaster Pokemon, downing him.
"Oh, no! Absol!" Twilight yelled as the trees shook the earth with how hard they dropped. Each of them covered Absol's body, practically masking him from the sight of Twilight and Espeon.
"A-Absol...!" But this only angered Absol as he could be seen pushing the trees up. He growled viciously as his back had been injured by all these trees falling on him. And yet, that did not deter the Disaster Pokemon as she viciously sliced the trees apart with his horn, roaring afterwards. "Absol!"
A smile formed on Twilight's face, pleased to see Absol back up. After Togekiss was poisoned, she couldn't afford to have another one of her friends receive something horrifying. All Absol received was some damage on his back that also showed a bruise.
But at this rate, the damage could continue raking up, further pressurizing Twilight Sparkle. And that pressure only kept going as the vampires would unify their magic to form multiple walls of Dark Magic. Dark green fire would erupt from the earth, howling out into the night sky and giving this part of the countryside a different green aesthetic than what it usually was. These walls would form around Twilight and her Pokemon, enclosing them in this one space.
The vampires trapped Twilight at this moment, still aiming to bring her in. Against a wall of dark magical flames, Twilight had to think of something else while also having to worry about the approaching Despair Plants. Now that Twilight was in one space, the vampires casually moved through the flames, being the ones who made it in the first place and having immunity
Espeon and ABsol stood side by side with each other, keeping watch of Twilight with a Night Slash already being prepared by Absol and a pre-emptive Dazzling Gleam from Espeon. It was at this point that Twilight wished that she could have all the Despair Plants in one space in the same way the vampires did.
The lack of trees and the tight gap made this rather risky as they didn't say they could return with Twilight unharmed. They were most definitely willing to harm her. But it was thanks to the vampires that she had a way to keep them in one space with her magic. Now all she had to do was leave them in the dust and have the Despair Plants to herself.
"What do you even want with me?" Twilight asked. "I thought you wanted to destroy all life and yet the Lich Queen wants to see me?"
"Why? It should be obvious. Our majesty may rule over all of us, but she's not a vampire." A vampire replied, being rather cryptic about it. Twiligtht wasn't sure what she meant by that.
"You'll be destroyed afterwards, much like everyone else. But not after you make yourself useful. Her majesty is the best Lich Ruler we've had in centuries. No one comes close to what she's done. Which is why she has to continue ruling, far longer than the others."
"Far longer...?" Twilight repeated before clicking on it immediately. It didn't take long for the young alicorn to realize why they needed her. "You're trying to give her my lifespan, aren't you?"
"That's right. An alicorn can live for an incredibly long time. And if we just take that amazing lifespan, her majesty will live as long as an alicorn. Multiple times over!" The vampires expressed. "And of course, that means you'll lose it all."
"Yeah! You'll just be an average pony who lives as long as the others that just so happens to look like an alicorn!" Another vampire taunted as they were planning to make Twilight's lifespan obsolete, giving it to Rosa Maledicta.
It was a terrifying thought and Twilight already figured out that they would most likely want Celestia and the others since they have long lifespans as well. Rosa Maledicta with a long lifespan was mortifying and displeasing to many. The only thing holding Rosa Maledicta back was her lifespan. Even after becoming a Lich, she does not compare to the lifespan of a Vampire.
Somepony like that could cause destruction forever. And considering she was aiming beyond just this universe, with how boundless the number of worlds was, she could have all the time in the world to spread her Black Crusade. Twilight pictured a Multiverse of Destruction, filled with nothing but Vampires and Sekeltons of creatures that once thrived. No longer would they thrive. Everywhere would be catered to Magehold.
"Sorry...But I can't have my lifespan taken away from me. There's still so much to see and do when it comes to Pokemon. I've only scratched the surface and I can take all the time I can with these wonderful creatures." Twilight replied.
She did have her whole life ahead of her. And with her further pursuit of Pokemon knowledge, her lifespan gave her that wonderful opportunity. There was no way she was going to let a land that most never knew about prior to all of this, ruin that for her.
"It doesn't really matter. Once you're a skeleton, everyone is practically immortal, just without some flesh on them. Now hold still and let's get this over with!" The vampires grimaced, ready to pounce at Twilight and show her how much stronger they were physically.
But before that could happen and before Espeon could unleash Dazzling Gleam, the Despair Plant Chimera found Twilight Sparkle. The sound of Chimera roared through the air, alerting Twilight's ears. But this also meant that the Cobras were near. They encircled the wall of dark magic, waiting for Twilight to emerge out of it. Despair Plant Chimera was also patiently waiting, wanting Twilight to be destroyed instead of saving her for the Lich Queen.
"Espeon!" Another Dazzling Gleam was used by Espeon. This was the most amount of times she's used this attack as it proved to be effective on the vampires. But not this time.
With the aesthetic the wall of magic made, the vampires managed to weaken the light that Espeon formed. The Sun Pokemon gasped as her Dazzling Gleam had lost most of its brightness. Espeon was then smacked away by the vampires, crashing into the wall of magic.
"E-Esp!" It even had a solid texture to it despite being made out of magical energy. Espeon hit the magical wall before dropping off of it. As for Absol, he swung his horn at the vampires, managing to keep them at bay. But not all of them.
Some flew to the other side, reaching Twilight, who also tried giving off some light. But the magical energy around this wall of dark magic prevented her from getting the right amount of brightness. As such, Twilight was swarmed by the vampires, being collectively grabbed by them.
"Ngh!" Twilight Sparkle groaned as the brute strength of the vampires restrained her hooves, making her squirm a bit. Absol gasped, taking his attention off the other vampires the moment Twilight was harmed. This only gave them the opportunity to strike the Disaster Pokemon with a sneak attack.
But even when being held by the vampires, Twilight refused to let them succeed. She was already struggling, using her own physical strength to break free. Being an alicorn meant that she was also above an average pony. But compares to a vampire, that was a different story. They were all collectively stronger than the average pony. Twilight fought hard to get the vampires off her and just like how vampires were usually depicted, their sharp fangs were near her body.
They wanted to sink their teeth into her and were very close to doing so. Twilight wasn't looking to have her blood sucked or anything like that, which only drove her will to resist. She used magic around herself to keep herself as safe as possible while also wrestling with the vampires.
"Chimera, come here!" A vampire yelled out, prompting Despair Plant Chimera to arrive. It easily passed through the wall of magic, being highly resistant to it because of its fused body.
Twilight's eyes opened as the Fused Despair Plant arrived, being close to Twilight Sparkle. The other Despair Plants would follow, slithering through the magical wall. Their urge to bite Twilight was as strong as the vampires, but the Princess of Friendship was still needed at Magehold. To make up for it, they would target her Pokemon.
"Y-You're still resisting this much?!" An annoyed vampire said, aggravated at the fact that Twilight Sparkle could still retaliate effectively. Even with multiple vampires around her, she could still stand strong, even if she was struggling.
Espeon, who received a devastating slap and impact afterwards, shook her head before standing up to see one of the Cobras near her. The Sun Pokemon backed up against the magical wall while Absol did the same, trying to find a way to remove the vampires away from Twilight. But first, he had to remove the ones who were surrounding him.
It did look rather dire. The only thing keeping them in here was their will to resist. Twilight could still fight back but with the wall of magic, her own magical capabilities had been weakened. She could count on Absol and Espeon to do something but they had their paws full. The young alicorn tried to think of something otherwise she could be taken away eventually.
"Dragonite!" Just then, a familiar mighty roar bellowed through the sky, pausing everything for a moment. The vampires would look up, wondering what made that mighty sound that pierced through the night sky. But Twilight, Espeon and Absol knew exactly what that was. Or who that was.
"It's Ash!"
"Say what?" A vampire replied before the visage of Dragonite appeared. And indeed, that was Ash's Dragonite, followed by Ash himself and Pikachu, arriving at the scene. It wasn't that hard to miss it thanks to the destroyed train and wall of magic that was seen. Ash, Pikachu and Dragonite had finally arrived at Twilight's location.
And it couldn't have been at a better time as the journey continues.
Equestria. Ponyville. The Pokemon House. Nightfall.
Arriving to sort out Zecora's disease was Ponyville's local Doctor, Dr. Horse, sent here by Fluttershy. After coming down with an illness along with her Zebstrika and Weavile thanks to a Despair Plant, the medical team was greatly needed. This involved the creatures of the Everfree that were also afflicted by this Despair Plant.
"All right, Zecora. Let's have a listen to the old ticker." Dr Horse would begin examining Zecora and her Pokemon. Fluttershy stepped back to watch the doctor at work, hoping that it really was just a common disease that could be cured. After all, anything involved with Magehold that has diseases in them results in something that was difficult to cure.
"Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.." He muttered. Judging by the widened expression on his face, he found something that wasn't to be taken lightly at all.
"Do you think it's serious, doctor?" Fluttershy asked.
Well, that wasn't a good sign. You said a plant did this?"
"A Despair Plant. One from Magehold that ended up in Everfree. Zecora says that it summoned common illnesses all of a sudden. But I don't recognize this one on her, Zebstrika and Weavile."
"Well, this isn't common at all. I'm afraid you have a very rare disease called Swamp Fever."
"Tell me, doctor. What should I do? I've never heard of Swamp Fever, mind you." Zecora asked.
"Unfortunately, very little is known about the disease. Except, of course, its symptoms – change of coat, coughing bubbles, shock sneezing, confusion, and the last stage, the afflicted turn into the very trees that drop the disease-spreading flower. But in this case, this was because of a Despair Plant, so...maybe you'll become one?"
"She will?!" Fluttershy gasped, fearing that Zecora might turn into a Despair Plant.
"Maybe. I'm not sure. But if this thing could summon Swamp Fever onto you, you might want to remove it from Everfree or anywhere near here."
"Well, that's what we hope to do. But Despair Plants are so hard to manage. Roseluck's getting the elixir that can affect them but I'm not sure what it can do to a Despair Plant. What about a cure for Swamp Fever?"
"A cure has yet to be discovered. I'm sorry, Zecora. But I can still tend to the others who've been hit by this plant. They're all in Everfree, right?"
"Right. But it might end up coming to Ponyville next and summon other diseases."
"Oof. Heading into the Everfree Forest...And taking care of the creatures there..." He shuddered. The Everfree Forest was still a terrifying place for many ponies even after everything that has happened. Its legacy was impossible to ignore. "Well, it's my job, so...bring them in if you can. I'll see what I can do. As for Swamp Fever, that's a hard wall to climb. I'll leave you all to it and wait for the other patients to show up."
The Doctor would then walk off, but he would choose to stay here at the Pokemon House. He was expecting the Creatures of the Everfree to show up eventually and it was best to be around here.
"It's going to be okay, you three. At least this isn't something that comes from Magehold, so I believe you'll be fine." Fluttershy said, relieved that this wasn't a Magehold-exclusive disease. "I don't know if it can summon Magehold diseases but I'd rather not test that out. There has to be somepony who can cure you of Swamp Disease though even if it's rare."
"Oh. There's a healer of legend who never would fail. But I only know her from ancient folktales. Mystical and masked, she came in the night and cured everything from hoof cough to fur blight. What became of the healer, nopony knows, for she disappeared ages and ages ago." Zecora added.
"The Mystical Mask! Of course! My parents would tell me about her whenever I was sick in bed." That's when it hit her. Fluttershy's memories struck something thanks to Zecora's words. Her childhood had been brought back for a moment and it involved something rather crucial.
"There's so many accounts of her power to heal. She can't just be a legend. I think she's real." Zecora continued. She certainly had a point. In this world, Legends are usually real instead of being forever shrouded in mystery. The Pokemon were pure proof of that.
"If that's who we need to cure you, then I'm going to find her! And I know just the pony who can help! But...she's elsewhere right now. Ash has gone to see her." Fluttershy referred to Twilight Sparkle, who she could always count on when it comes to a vast array of knowledge. "I can visit her library and try to find the book. Wait right here, Zecora!"
Fluttershy flew off to Twilight's Castle, hoping to find something about this Mystical Mask. Staying behind were Audino, Raboot and Bayleef as they would keep an eye out for this Despair Plant Bullfrog. There was no telling how close it was to eventually going after Ponyville. And with so many Pokemon here, they were all at risk of being infected.
Out in the countryside.
Meanwhile, arriving at the scene was Ash along with his partner Pikachu and Dragonite. They had just shown up to see Twilight confronting the Vampires and the Despair Plants, all of whom were within this dark magical wall that weakened Twilight's magic and Espeon's Dazzling Gleam. Twilight was especially happy to see Ash while currently wrestling with the vampires.
"Dragonite! Use Hyper Beam!"
"Drago...Nite!" Holding her breath in, Dragonite charged up a powerful attack packed with high amounts of Infinity Energy. Her target was that circular wall that enclosed Twilight, Espeon and Absol into a rough spot. Afterwards, a mighty beam came roaring out of her mouth, shooting down like a meteor.
The vampires gasped as the beam broke straight through the Magical Wall, hitting the Despair Plant Chimera. A fierce explosion erupted around Chimera's body, causing it to cry out. The shockwave of the Hyper Beam, as well as hitting it from the outside, blew away the Cobras that cornered Absol and Espeon. The vampires, along with Twilight Sparkle received the same treatment.
The magical wall was obliterated by this outside force as everyone in it would tumble and roll on the ground. Twilight included. She wasn't safe from the force of the explosion, but she would rather take this than anything else. A crater was now formed where the magical circle once stood and yet this level of destruction was not enough to stop the Despair Plants.
The vampires felt their eyes roll as they fell into compromising and uncomfortable positions. Their eyes certainly did not deceive them. Ash was here. And in light of recent events, he was a figure that the vampires always felt like they needed to be careful around. His knowledge of Pokemon is mainly the reason for that.
"Twilight! Are you okay?!" Ash said, descending with Dragonite. He hopped off the back of the Dragon Pokemon, rushing to Twilight's side.
"I am now...Nice aim by the way." Twilight chuckled before being helped up by Ash. With Ash's arrival, Twilight saw her chances elevate. Whenever he's around, she always feels a sense of security and guaranteed hope.
Immediately, Despair Plant Chimera would unleash a furious roar, not taking that long to recover from the explosion. Even though it was the one who took the full force of that attack, it got up faster than anyone else did. Ash faced the Despair Plant Fusion, coming across one for the very first time.
"Ash...I still need to get to the Crystal Empire, but I can't at this rate. The Despair Plants will end up following me there. What I need is a chance to use my Z-Move on all of the Despair Plants and they have to be in one spot. I don't have to worry about the vampires." Twilight pleaded. "I need this opportunity."
"No problem. We'll give you that opportunity. You just need 'em in one spot, right? Got it." Ash grinned, aiming to grant that wish for Twilight.
"Pikachu!"
"Dra!" So did Pikachu and Dragonite. They heard Twilight loud and clear and would do whatever they could to give her an opening for her Z-Move.
"Leave it to us!" Ash then held out all of his remaining Poke balls before throwing them into the air. Entering the scene were Gengar, Lucario, Sirfetch'd and Dracovish. At the ready, they performed their signature poses.
Twilight would get behind Ash as he was now the one in charge of the battle. This was all for an opportunity to have Twilight unleash her Z-Move on every Despair Plant here. Ash and his Pokemon would be vanguards for her.
"Do we need to take him in as well?" A vampire asked after seeing Ash., bringing up the possibility of the Lich Queen wanting Ash in Magehlod as well.
"I've heard he has something similar to the alicorns. But her majesty hasn't requested for Ash Ketchum at all."
"Need me for what?" Ash questioned, unaware of why they truly wanted Twilight before they destroy her.
"It's a lot like what that Gardevoir did, Ash! They're shooting for my lifespan as an alicorn just so the Lich Queen have it!" said Twilight.
"So that's it, huh?" Ash turned to face the Despair Plants and the vampires. The vampires noticeably stayed behind the Despair Plants the same way Twilight shielded herself with Ash's presence. "As if that's gonna happen."
Immediately, the Despair Plant Fusion would lash out at Ash. Its massive root arms that also had mouths on the end of them came swinging in with such fury it forced the other Despair Plants to duck.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt! Sirfetch'd, Fury Cutter!" Ash yelled as two of his Pokemon would take action against the massive mouth arms. Both leapt into the air, intercepting the roots with a blast of 100,000 volts and a leek sword. The Thunderbolt crashed into one of the arms, causing it to stop for a moment whilst Sirfetch'd cut another one in half. This then prompted the Cobras to slither in for an attack, now having Ash and his Pokemon as targets.
"Gengar, Ice Punch! Lucario, Force Palm!"
"Gengar!" Gengar laughed, flying in front of everyone as he stuck his tongue out at the Despair Plants. Gengar taunted them with his tongue out, wanting the Cobras to target him. And it certainly worked as they were aggravated by Gengar's taunt. The Cobras collectively lunged forward, aiming to bite the Shadow Pokemon, only to be met with a nasty surprise.
Gengar utilized his Ghost-like properties, causing the Cobras to phase through him. Their attacks phased through him, prompting Lucario to take advantage of this.
"Luca!" The Aura Pokemon stood behind Gengar, waiting for the opportunity. With his palm being powered up an orange energy, Lucario thrusted it forward, striking it onto the faces of one of the cobras. With this single collision, he expanded the energy of the Force Palm, adding some of his Aura into it. The aura enlarged the energy and formed it into a pulse, blowing the Cobras away.
But it didn't stop there. Gengar followed up Lucario's attack, zipping to the Cobras. With his arms covered in an icy aura, he swung them both onto two Despair Plant Cobras. The impact would cause the grass bodies of the Despair Plants to freeze over while the rest were simply knocked back. Two Despair Plant Cobras were restrained, not destroyed.
Even if they were only highly weak to one form of power, they would still have some of the weaknesses plants share. And that was already proven once thanks to Princess Celestia. And with his knowledge of Pokemon, Ice was a top contender next to Fire and other elements.
"That's the ticket!" Ash grinned, having a way to halt the movements of the Despair Plants. The vampires would soon widen their eyes at this. Gengar rubbed his cold hands together, eager to freeze them all. "Go after the big one, Gengar!"
"Gengar!" Gengar went for Chimera, planning to freeze it all over. The Shadow Pokemon targeted one of the roots that came off, placing his cold hands on it. He expected to freeze the Chimera as soon as possible, but that wasn't the expected outcome.
Instead, the ice only managed to freeze the roots and could not go any further. That was where they stopped, surprising Gengar. Despair Plant Chimera had a greater durability than the regular Despair Plants and it certainly showed here. In retaliation, the Despair Plant Chimera would regrow one of its lost arms thanks to basking under the Moonlight, using it to slap Gengar away.
"G-Gen!" Gengar cried out before recovering in midair with his rather rotund body.
"This one's tougher, huh? Okay..." Ash grinned, up for the challenge of taking down the Despair Plant Fusion.
"While he's busy...let's focus on getting Twilight Sparkle. He doesn't matter at all." The vampires would take the opportunity to try and retrieve Ash while he handled the Despair Plants. They used the shadows to mask themselves.
"Boy...They're trying to evade you." However, another master of Shadows already saw through this. And that ended up being Sombra, speaking within Ash and assisting in his own way.
"Thanks, Sombra." Ash thanked the former King of the Crystal Empire. "Dragonite! Dracovish!"
"Dra!" However, Dragonite and Dracovish refused to let that happen. Understanding Ash's request just by looking at his eyes, the duo of Dragons intercepted the vampires, getting in front of them. The members of the Dread League gasped as they were already caught without much time being spent. With Sombra on Ash's side, the shadows could be capitalized on and observed. The Despair Plants continued their attack, this time with the Cobras scattering to try and strike from different sides. Some of them had already surrounded Sirfetch'd.
"Use Detect!"
"Sir!" With a flash of light in his eyes, Sirfetch'd zipped to the side, evading the vicious lunges from the Cobras which resulted in some of them crashing into each other.
"Now, use Iron Tail!"
"Pika! Pikachu!" Meanwhile, Pikachu would swing his hardened tail at the Cobras, slapping one of them in the face with the weight of steel. That one Despair Plant was knocked to the side before the rest returned the favour by collectively slapping Pikachu with their own tails. "Pika...!"
Pikachu groaned before being caught by Lucario with one palm. The FIghting-Steel-Type saved Pikachu from falling to the ground before throwing him into the air. "Use Aura Sphere! Then use Thunderbolt!"
"Luca!" It was another coordinated attack. Pikachu and Lucario combined their strengths from different positions. Pikachu became a ball of light in the air with another ball of blue energy forming into the paws of Lucario. In unison, Thunderbolt and Aura Sphere were thrown, travelling at the same speed.
The two attacks met with each other, merging to form an Electrifying Aura Sphere which blew through the Cobras as if they were bowling pins. But the attack didn't stop there. It simply knocked the Cobras out of the way while focusing on Chimera, the biggest one here.
In response, Chimera used its root mouths to counter this unified attack. Both mouths would merge to form a large mouth, connecting the two roots as the Chimera bit into the attack. The Lightning Aura Sphere came to a halt in front of these merged mouths which made a larger one. Despair Plant Chimera, after struggling with it a bit, completely crushed the attack with its fangs, causing it combust inside of it.
The Chimera then separated its merged mouths, making them individual once more. Afterwards, both mouths would reveal that they did more than just bite. They unleashed poisonous beams as well, going straight for their targets.
"Luca!" Lucario was perfect for this. He leapt right in front of the attacks, using his immunity to Poison to overrule the attacks. The beams blew up in front of the Aura Pokemon, stopping there. And as to be expected, they did nothing to Lucario. He stood there, unphased by the attacks. Lucario blew away the poisonous smoke before glaring at the Despair Plant Fusion with his crimson eyes.
But his eyes quickly focused on the Despair Plant Cobras that approached him. The Aura Pokemon put his arms up, blocking the next attacks they brought along in the form of strong tackles and tail smacks. The attacks were heavy, even for Lucario. He felt parts of his arms tremble each time the Despair Plants struck at him.
One of the Despair Plants did more than just hit Lucario, it went for something better. The Cobra opened its mouth wide to try and bite into Lucario's body, aiming to poison him. And those teeth definitely connect, pushing through Lucario's furry skin.
"Hah! How do you like that?!" One of the vampires exclaimed after witnessing Lucario receive a bite from the Despair Plant. She and the other vampires firmly believed that Lucario was now another victim of Magehold's terrifying diseases. "Now your Pokemon is-"
"Ca...!" But that was quickly shut down the moment Lucario blew away the Cobra from his mouth with a pulse of Aura. The Aura made the Cobra hiss out in pain as it flew into other Despair Plants. As for Lucario, the bite that entered his skin was non-existent as well as the main effect from the Cobra, showing no signs of poison.
Not a trace of it was leaking out even though that was a direct hit. And not only that, Lucario looked completely fine. He shook his arm for a bit before standing there with his imposing glare and Aura, ready to continue brawling with these creations of Rosa Maledicta.
"W-What?!" The vampires collectively gasped.
"Sorry! But Lucario's immune to Poison!" Ash grinned, turning his hat to the side. The vampires were met with a disappointing fact. It should have already clicked when Lucario took the hit from the Chimera. Lucario and other Steel-Types scoffed at the presence of Poison.
And this only showed how little the Dread League knew about Pokemon Typings. It was at this moment that they wished they actually paid attention to Fantina. The children of Magehold certainly know more about them when it comes to Pokemon and that was rather painful to their pompous and cruel hearts. If only they knew about Corrosion which was something that these Despair Plants certainly didn't possess.
"We're gonna need a bit more if we can try and freeze it. But paralyzing doesn't sound too bad either." Ash adjusted his hat, aiming to go for the second form of elemental restraint. "Ready, everyone?!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu and his teammate were most certainly ready. It was time to go all in on these Despair PLants just so Twilight's chance to use her Z-Move could come.
"Pikachu, use Makeshift Volt Tackle! Lucario, Double Team! Sirfetch'd, use Brutal Swing!"
"Pi!" In a flash, Pikachu advanced, combining Thunderbolt and Quick Attack to form a temporary Volt Tackle without the recoil damage it brings. Following him was Lucario, who duplicated himself multiple times as Sirfetch'd was right behind them both.
The Cobras responded by slithering while Chimera laid out those poisonous beams once more. Even though they don't affect Lucario, they can certainly affect the others. Pikachu leapt over one of the Cobras with his breakneck speeds, avoiding its venomous fangs while only focusing on Chimera. He even zigzagged past the other Cobras, evading them faster than they could bite at him.
The clones of Lucario would occupy some of the Cobras, bashing their shoulders onto them. The Lucario clones would fade away after coming into contact with the Cobras but they were only there to distract them. The Cobras were focused on so many Lucarios that were unable to comprehend the fact that these were just clones.
This allowed the real Lucario to continue moving without worrying about the Cobras all that much. And the same went for Sirfetch'd, who took advantage of this confusion. He swung his sword at the Cobra who had just witnessed one of the Lucario clones fade. The Cobra never saw Sirfetch'd's leek coming, receiving a fierce swing to the face which knocked it over.
Sirfetch'd then raised his shield, seeing one of the poisonous beams approaching him. The Wild Duck Pokemon protected himself from the fearsome poison as it would explode right in front of him. It was a successful defence even if the outburst pushed Sirfetch'd back. His body even trembled a bit, struggling to keep his legs active as they slid on the damaged ground.
"Gengar! Ice Punch on the ground! Everyone, jump!"
"Gen...Gar!" As for Gengar, he kept the Ice approach going. Once more, he used Ice Punch, slamming his chilling fist onto the ground. A flash freeze occurred, quickly freezing the grass and encompassing most of the area. This frozen ground threw off the balance of the Cobras. Their slithering was ruined thanks to the ice, causing them to slide instead.
As for Pikachu, Lucario and Sirfetch'd, they leapt into the air, avoiding the ice while Pikachu kept his speedy momentum. With his Makeshift Volt Tackle still active, Pikachu became a moving lightning bolt, lighting up the sky as he ascended. And as for Chimera, the ice only slightly affected its body, freezing small parts of it, but not enough. It flailed its powerful roots, hitting the frozen ground and cracking some of the ice.
"Aim for the top of Chimera! Aura Sphere!"
"Luca...!" Lucario held an Aura Sphere in his paw, joining Pikachu in his goal to hit the top of Chimera's body which was the flower with fangs in the middle. It was practically asking for something to go through it. Or in this case, crash into it.
Pikachu zoomed through the air, soaring down and leaving behind a powerful flash of lightning that cracked in the air. Joining his descent was an Aura Sphere that was thrown by Lucario. The sphere passed by him, going for Chimera first. Despair Plant Chimera's centre was hit by Aura Sphere as it perfectly fit inside of its massive mouth. The Aura flared within the mouth of the Fusion, lingering there.
It was until Pikachu arrived that it was finally set off. The Mouse Pokemon slammed the full force of his body into the centre, releasing a powerful electric explosion which was then followed by an azure explosion. Aura Sphere and Thunderbolt were both set off, summoning a truly fierce explosion.
This explosion was so fierce that it reached the other Despair Plants that were still down on the ground thanks to the ice. Before they could take the opportunity to get back up, the explosion already reached them in a brilliant flash that Ash and his Pokemon experienced.
Meanwhile, while Ash had his fierce battle with the Despair Plants, this whole time, Dragonite and Dracovish had been keeping the vampires at bay, preventing them from reaching Twilight for even a second. "Dragonite!" Dragonite used Hurricane, throwing off their balance in the air.
With the vampires losing their aerial movements thanks to Dragonite's Hurricane, they would drop like flies, hitting their faces against the ice-cold ground. But those who didn't take flight tried pushing through Dragonite. Alas, Dragonite's strength far succeeded theirs.
She even decided to bless them with her signature hug. Dragonite did love giving out hugs but this one had a different feeling to it. Instead of warm and soft, this hug was fierce and rough. The vampires grimaced, having their eyes nearly fly out of their faces after Dragonite gave them a power hug.
Physical contact with Dragonite failed as she pushed them back with hers. One vampire climbed up Dragonite's back, digging her fangs into the Dragon Pokemon's neck. "D-Dra...!" Dragonite winced. But even this would not slow her down. Dragonite roared, throwing the vampire off her body by performing a swift yet strong spin.
"Draco...Vish!" As for Dracovish, he supported Dragonite from the back, shooting out Water Guns to soak the vampires and hold them back even further. He was definitely far away from the vampires, being the ranged support while Dragonite took care of everything up close.
But the one who was truly far from the vampires was Twilight Sparkle. Ash and his Pokemon had done an amazing job at keeping them away from her. Their tenacity matched that of Absol's, allowing them to fight back against the Dread League and keep them on their hooves.
And this recent attack from Pikachu and the others was the moment Twilight was waiting for. After the explosion settled down, all of the Despair Plants had been paralyzed. Their bodies were twitching as lightning crackled out of their body. The Cobras could no longer slither as fast as they usually could. Not with this frozen ground and the paralysis.
Even Chimera was stunned. The ice may have not worked but the paralysis did. The force of that attack was strong enough to bring the Despair Plant Fusion to a much slower state.
"Okay! Just to be safe, use Electroweb!"
"Pika!" With one more attack, Pikachu created an orange-yellow orb of electricity on his tail which was larger than anything he's made so far. He then flung the orb, which then transformed into a circular net of yellow electricity wide enough to hold Chimera and the Cobras.
As if they weren't slowed down enough, they now had a massive net of electricity to hold them back even further. The next trapped them all, giving them an extra shock in the process. Now they were truly trapped, unable to break free at the moment.
"Okay, Twilight! It's all you!" Ash turned to the Princess of Friendship, giving her the cue to use her Z-Move.
"Okay! Thanks, everyone!" Twilight already had the Twilightium Z out. She had all the time in the world to unveil it and with the Despair Plants trapped, the chance to strike them with their greatest weakness as now. With the Z-Crystal entering her Z-Ring the power of Alola and Arceus would flare out, flowing through her body.
"I'll prove right here and now that these things aren't indestructible!" With her powerful voice, The lights started flowing in the direction of Espeon and Absol. Twilight moved her hooves around in two different ways. The motion of water, swishing from left to right as well as making an arch shape with her hooves. After making the arch, she then spread her wings out as they became a part of the pose too. The Princess of Friendship had then put both her hooves forward.
Espeon and Absol felt their bodies glow with the Magic of Friendship exuding out of them along with drops of Arceus' power. Twilight's eyes opened as her voice suddenly echoed throughout the night. Just like before, the golden figure of Arceus materialized behind her, growing to such a height that it could be seen from afar by anyone from the countryside. Twilight then pulled off the star pose by putting both her front hooves out, maintaining her balance. That was the end pose as the lights then reached their peak.
"Eve! Absol! Harmonic Twilight Starblaze!"
"Espeon!"
"Absol!" Millions of Cutie Marks that represented Twilight's appeared, flowing into the sky before then merging into one super-sized version of Twilight's Cutie Mark. Espeon and Absol then jumped into the air as they were pulled into the Cutie Mark. Their bodies resonated with it as the star started vibrating rapidly, letting out stardust.
After crying out with all of their might as a devastating purple blast was shot out of them with brilliant radiance, blazing through the air. Unable to move, the Despair Plants took the hit. And as a bonus, the vampires were stunned by the light of the attack Both by amazement and the fact that it was harming them even when they were away from it.
The Despair Plants felt the power of Arceus punish their bodies. A light unlike anything they've ever felt before was flowing constantly. They were powerless to stop this or even break out of it. As such, they were disintegrated by the light, vanishing after the attack blew up. And this time, a seed wouldn't emerge from their defeat. There was nothing left to do so. The explosion was fierce but the aftermath was gentle, leaving behind light particles that gently flew away into the night sky.
"T-They destroyed the Despair Plants?! I-Impossible!" The vampires were flabbergasted, bewildered, confused and perplexed by what they had just witnessed. The seemingly indestructible Despair Plants had been destroyed.
And with the usage of the Z-Move, the Z-Crystal's power would fade, needing time to recharge. But if Twilight had the opportunity to use this power repeatedly, she would.
"Hah...That gets them off my back..." Twilight was still greatly relieved with this. The Despair Plants would no longer chase her down now that they were gone. That was one problem that she managed to stave off.
"Awesome, you three. Now..." Ash, after praising Twilight, Espeon and Absol, faced the vampires as they were still there. "I wanna get my chance to finish things off."
Ash and his Pokemon had more energy left in them than Twilight did. The vampires hissed at the group, showing little fear. But it was still there as seen by how they slowly backed up. Pikachu smirked, already lighting his body up with electricity. Espeon even had some more in the tank left with the chance to use Dazzling Gleam once more, this time with full brightness.
"Curses! It's just a strategic retreat!" The vampires would then take flight, leaving the scene instead of confronting them any further. They didn't even need to combust to flee. "We'll get you for this." They chose not to engage further with the group and changed their plans immediately.
"It's not like we were gonna go after them anyway." Ash sighed. "We're just going for the Crystal Empire, that's all."
"Right. There might still be enough time to get there before something awful happens." Twilight went up to Ash. "And I also need to help Togekiss. That poison could be the end of her if something isn't done."
"No need to worry. We'll figure something out, okay?" Ash reassured her. For now, they just had to focus on reaching the Crystal Empire. With no one chasing Twilight down now, she was free to keep moving. And considering where the train was originally headed, all they had to do was follow the tracks via aerial flight.
Twilight's Castle.
Meanwhile, over at Twilight's Castle, Fluttershy had just arrived, counting on Twilight's library to have something involving the Mystical Mask. In Fluttershy's mind, now that she's been brought up, she might have left behind something that could cure Zecora, Zebstrika and Weavile of Swamp Fever. And by extension, Chrysalis. At least, that was what she was hoping for.
But it wasn't Fluttershy that showed up at Twilight's Castle. As said before, Roseluck came here as well. The earth pony showed up to use the elixir that once belonged to her big sister Rosa Maledicta but was now remade by Twilight and Zecora. Fluttershy and Roseluck ran into each other in the exact same room where piles of books could be found.
"Did you get it?" Fluttershy asked.
"I did," Roseluck replied as her partner Roserade was holding the elixir. Since it was larger than what it previously was, Roserade had to carry this with most of her might. This would usually require the magic of a unicorn or alicorn to do so. "All that's left is to pour this thing on the Despair Plant. I don't know what it'll do though. It brought two plants to life and that's about it."
"That was just an accident that happened. And it was a great one too. Twilight and Zecora wanted to try calm them down more than anything." Fluttershy replied. She understood Roseluck's worries since this would be the first time the elixir was tested on a Despair Plant. "Oh! Maybe you can bring Daisy and Paradise with you!"
"Those two? Are you sure?"
"Mhm! They spoke with the Despair Plant Garden once! Since they're Flora Ponies, they're more connected to flowers than anyone. They even made the garden hold back on us which was for the better. If the elixir goes wrong, you can have them help out."
"Okay...I guess that can work." Roseluck nodded in agreement. Fluttershy was greatly onto something. And since she was already in Twilight's castle the Flora Ponies were bound to be here. "I'll ask them for help! What about you though?"
"I'm looking for a book about the Mystical Mask. I hope it's in time since it could give me an answer for the illnesses Zecora and her Pokemon are facing. I really need Twilight here though to find that exact book. She'd know which is which."
"Just ask Starlight and Spike for help," Roseluck suggested before walking off. "I bet they can help you find that book. Celestia knows I really need them to help carry this thing." Those were her last words before she left the room.
Roseluck left Fluttershy with her own good suggestion. Starlight and Spike could make up for this. Granted, they were asleep right now but during this event, sleeping was the first thing that shouldn't be done. The Black Crusade was not a silent event even if it creeps up on others.
But this was just the beginning. This was only the first night of the Black Crusade. It was a young night and the vampiric forces would only continue showing up. All the while, the threat of Yveltal's destruction was lingering in the air. As the journey continues.
Peacefully asleep on this ominous night were Spike, Starlight, Daisy and Paradise. They were so innocent to be oblivious and unaware of the Black Crusade beginning. But eventually, it would be known by everyone else across the world. And in the case of these four, it was sooner than most.
"Starlight...Starlight?" Nudging Starlight was Fluttershy. She showed up here, requiring the help of the unicorn. It wasn't just Starlight that she needed help from. Daisy and Paradise were also crucial in this. A Despair Plant was over at the Everfree, possessing the power to summon illnesses. To find a book about the Mystical Mask, Fluttershy needed all the knowledge she could get.
"Mmmm...Fluttershy? What is it?" Starlight's eyes opened up halfway to meet with the face of the pegasus.
"Sorry. Um, quite a bit has happened." Fluttershy rubbed her hooves together, quickly informing Starlight of tonight's events and how this could be the most dangerous night of their lives. Even more dangerous than when Empress Twilight first appeared.
Meanwhile, Roseluck went over to Daisy and Paradise's room, nudging them both to try and get their attention. She had the elixir with her which was being carried by Roserade, taking Fluttershy's advice from earlier. Daisy and Paradise were able to calm down an entire Despair Plant Garden before, so there was a good chance they could do the same with this other Despair Plant. "Psst. Wake up. Just for tonight."
"Oh...It's you?" Daisy spoke once her eyes met with Roseluck's.
"Sorry for waking you up like this. But I might need you two. It's a Despair Plant issue." Roseluck would also quickly fill Daisy in about the issue that has propped up. Paradise was still snoozing away, enjoying her peaceful rest. Both sides were caught up with the arrival of the Black Crusade and how it has already started rearing its ugly head.
Ponyville wasn't exactly affected by it just yet but the fact that a Despair Plant was lurking within the Everfree Forest raised concerns. The Despair Plant will most definitely come here after it is done with the Everfree Forest. Zecora, Zebstrika and Weavile were already the first victims of this creature from Magehold.
The Crystal Empire. Nightfall.
At this moment, the issue plaguing the Crystal Empire was still very prominent. The Sableye were plentiful in numbers, making the hooves of the guards truly full. The only advantage they had was that they were certainly more skilled than the Sableye.
Hiding from the mess was Sunburst, who was shocked to see the arrival of Princess Cadence and both Flurry Hearts in his home. But at the moment, only the baby was safe as the others were still unconscious now. Sunburst still wasn't sure why Flurry Heart came directly to him of all ponies but now she was here, hiding from the Sableye who were coming after her.
The two alicorns had yet to wake up. They showed no signs of waking up either. Baby Flurry Heart would nudge their bodies, hoping to get a reaction out of them. She would even tickle them with zaps of magic, but even that was pointless. This greatly worried the youngest alicorn ever as she felt the need to cry. Rightfully so.
Eyeing down Sunburst's home were some of the Sableye. Even though he had protection around it, it didn't mean that they couldn't see him. But the Sableye were actually focused on the three alicorns inside. Sweet Fang ordered that they were found and the one place they were in was Sunburst's home. As such, these few Sableye would quickly alarm the others.
"Sableye! Sableye!" The Sableye cried out, reaching the rest of their brethren. The location of the three alicorns has been found. Everywhere else didn't matter considering how important the alicorns were. This message was relayed to each Sableye, going from location to location rapidly. They did this while also pillaging the Crystal Empire and battling against the guards and their Golurk.
However, the Golurk were giving them a hard time. The massive size of these Automatons proved to be rather difficult for the Sableye, but their vast numbers allowed them to be as tricky and swift as they possibly could. And with so few guards remaining thanks to Sweet Fang, the Sableye still had that opportunity to overwhelm the Crystal Empire guards.
This message went all the way to the castle of the Crystal Empire, where Shining Armor was situated. But past Shining Armor, the message reached the pony responsible for this mess and the first one to initiate the Black Crusade. Sweet Fang, among other vampires who joined her.
"So, you found them, eh?" Sweet Fang, who was responsible for controlling the Sabley against their own will, replied to the relayed message. She now knew where she could find the alicorns. "That's great to hear. Focus on that house and get those alicorns. Afterwards, we'll take them back with us to Magehold. It's not that far from here after all."
Sweet Fang's voice was casual but thanks to her magic, she was able to command all the Sableye from a great distance, giving her a power similar to what Rosa Maledicta has, but on a smaller scale.
"What about Shining Armor though? He's still around and could be a problem?" A vampire asked, bringing up Shining Armor.
"She's right, ya know. Wasn't he taught by one of those Legendary Pokemon? The Swords of Justice? If he reaches us, we could be in for a bad time."
"Bah, it's fine." Sweet Fang shrugged. "We just need his wife and kids, that's all. By now, most of the Crystal Empire's residents should be dealt with by the Sableye. The only thing keeping all of them safe are those guards, but we've got a few of them unconscious."
While Sweet Fang continued speaking, phasing through the walls of the castle was one of the Golurk. And during its search for more Sableye that had invaded the castle, it came across Sweet Fang's conversation. "Gol?" The Golurk saw the vampires disguised as familiar Crystal Empire ponies who worked here but that was only a form of Illusion Magic. Alongside them were the Sableye and they weren't even attacking these ponies, raising Golurk's suspicion.
"I'm surprised he's not even an alicorn himself since he's the king of this place. That'd make things a bit easier, honestly. But we don't need him. If push comes to shove, I'll deal with Shining Armor myself. Right now, let's head for that house."
Sweet Fang finished up as she and the other vampires set their sights on Sunburt's home now that the location of the alicorns had been given out. But unbeknownst to them, this one Golurk managed to gather some information. It wasn't everything, but it was enough to know who was behind this. Golurk phased through the walls once more, returning to his own trainer to relay his own crucial message.
Now the Crystal Empire guards would have something to lead on instead of just dealing with the Sableye on their own. All they had to do was follow these specific ponies who were blending in perfectly. But not for long now that their identities were brought into question by this one Golurk.
"They won't wake up at all. Oooh...What are we going to do?" Meanwhile, Sunburst put his hooves in his head, beginning to feel the pressure. He was boxed in with all the Sableye here until they were all dealt with. And unfortunately, his books didn't help that much. He believed that this was just a Sleeping Spell boosted to the highest degree, but it was far from it. Nothing he had could solve this issue.
Baby Flurry Heart was stumped as well. Even as a prodigy, her magic couldn't fix this one problem at all. The young alicorn descended, sitting on the floor to contemplate things.
"Alright...I think we may have to just take them to Captain Shining Armor." Sunburst, clueless on what to do about this, decided to just take them to Shining Armor at this point. But right now, Shining Armor had his hooves full with the attacking Sableye. It would be a blessing to have them reunite though, even if two of them were out cold. "I'm still not sure why you came to me-"
Just then, the Sableye dug their viciously sharp claws into the barrier of Sunburst, trying their best to break through his magic. That was the only thing keeping them safe. Sunburst received a jumpscare as the Sableye were relentless in trying to break through this building. They've already succeeded in damaging most of the buildings here and this one was not going to be an exception.
With Sweet Fang's order, all of the Sableye began swarming to Sunburst's home, appearing in vast numbers. They even ceased their battles with the Golurk and the Crystal Empire Guards just to approach this one building. And with so many Sableye attacking the magical shield, it was obviously weakening.
"Not good! What now?!" Sunburst screeched, using more of his magic to strengthen the barrier. Alas, that was not enough. Even with the barrier growing in strength, the number of Sableye here would switch the odds. Sunburst's magical capabilities weren't that grand. "Ah, let me see if there's something here!" It was at this moment that he continued looking through his books for anything that could work, reading as fast as he could. And it didn't take long for him to find something useful. "This looks good! I can make my shield into a-"
But this quickly changed once Flurry Heart got involved. Her magic far exceeded Sunburt's in every way. She was a natural prodigy and it always showed. Now was not an exception. Flurry Heart instinctively knew what to cast, already seeing Sunburst's magical shield for herself. The baby alicorn instantly replicated it, forming a greater shield. An even more powerful magical shield erupted around the building, replacing Sunburst's and immediately blowing away the Sableye.
"S-Sableye!" The Sableye were launched by the expanding shield, rolling on the crystal floor, tumbling away and even crashing into some of the buildings that they ended up ruining. Now Sunburt's house had even greater protection.
"Oh...Thanks. That was amazing too..." Sunburst said as he dropped the book that contained a different kind of protection spell. Flurry Heart had his back. She looked back at him with an innocent smile, loving the compliment.
Observing this massive shield expansion from afar was none other than Sweet Fang. She stood atop one of the buildings, eyeing down the home that Sunburst lived at. Sweet Fang and the other vampires watched as the Sableye were blown back by a sudden increase in magical power.
"That's the one." Sweet Fang spoke. "Judging by what the Sableye told me, it's the baby that's behind this. Her magical potential is something else. That's how she managed to escape the Sableye in that room."
"Alicorns are a problem for us, aren't they?" A vampire replied. "But it's a baby so it shouldn't be that big of a deal."
"True, but she's the first of her kind. Which is why when she's given to the Lich Queen, her lifespan will skyrocket to the point where she could be immortal. Princess Celestia, Luna and the others are much older than her, either midway through their life or still in their younger years. But as a baby, she has an obscene amount of years too. She's the perfect candidate for the Lich Queen."
Baby Flurry Heart was a major target because she was a baby. Her lifespan was lengthy, of course, but being the first ever Baby Alicorn meant that her lifespan was fresh. And potentially, greater than what Celestia and Luna currently have. Not even an infant was safe from the Black Crusade. All forms of life were its target, even the youngest.
"Now, what to do about that barrier..." Sweet Fang said, wondering how to overcome the magical protection of an alicorn, let alone one with this much potential.
"There they are!" With Golurk informing the rest of the Guards about what it saw, it didn't take long for Shining Armor and his troops to find Sweet Fang's group. They rode on the backs of their Golurks who used their jets to take flight. With all of the Sableye flocking to one building and most of the Crystal Empire's residents being restrained, Sweet Fang and her group stuck out. They weren't as masked as they thought they were. And on Aegislash was none other than Shining Armor, arriving at the scene and looking down on Sweet Fang's group.
"They found us out already? I wanted it to last a bit longer though." Sweet Fang said with visible disappointment instead of worrying about her cover being blown. "Well, it doesn't matter. Most of the Crystal Empire's been neutralized, so I'd say the odds are fair."
With the Sableye being abundant plus the addition of the vampires, the Dread League did have a noticeable advantage. And with that fact, Sweet Fang and the other vampires decided to show themselves. They removed the illusion magic from their faces, revealing their true identities. Fangs and wings included.
Speaking of Sableye, they would crawl up the buildings to meet up with Sweet Fang under her orders. They wouldn't let Shining Armor's group get to her and outnumber her. Then again, they were all outnumbered because of Sweet Fang's magic.
"Well, he's here. I need to get to that baby though. So handle this." Sweet Fang ordered the Sableye and some of the vampires. A few vampires would come along with Sweet Fang, aiming for Sunburst's home. Under Sweet Fang's orders, the Sableye would collectively shoot Dark Pulses in the air, attempting to knock down Shining Armor and his group.
The Golurk only managed to evade a few of these pulses but they were too abundant. Back in the castle, they had somewhat of a fair fight since the Sableye were scattered. But out here, they flooded the place like ants. Dark Pulses filled the air in various directions, dealing super-effective damage to the Golurk.
"Gol!" Each of the Golurks were knocked out of the sky thanks to these blows. The trainers grit their teeth as it looked like they were in for a rough fall. Only Shining Armor was safe as Aegislash had an easier time evading these with his nimble body. Not only that, but he used King's Shield to protect himself as well.
Shining Armor quickly used his magic to try and grab as many soldiers and Golurks as he could. Alas, that was impossible as his magic was not on that level. So, another method of saving them had to be done. "I wish I had more magical experience right now!" He groaned, hating the fact that his magical knowledge was not as extensive as Twilight's or at least wide enough to get creative. "Oh, wait!"
But he did have something in his arsenal. Quickly, the Captain of the Royal Guard used his magic to form a large mat of magic that hovered over the air. That was the best he could muster but it was enough. This mat of magic caught the Golurks and Guards, somewhat cushioning the impact. It was still fairly hard but the most critical form of magic had been avoided. Aegislash would drop Shining Armor, allowing him to touch the roof of the building where the vampires could be found.
"You're vampires! How'd you get in here!?" Shining Armor questioned before releasing the magical mat.
"Illusion magic, duh." A vampire said. "How else would we look like those workers in your castle?"
"But there's no way you've been here before for that to happen...You'd have to have seen their faces first and then transformed into them." Shining Armor questioned, finding it hard to believe that they would've copied the faces of those ponies despite never being here. "Unless you've been here before!"
"Not at all. We just had some outside help bring us in." Another vampire shook her head before nudging it at one of the Sableye.
"Sableye...!"
"You used the Sableye to get in?" Shining Armor would also glance at the Sableye. These once-friendly locals of the Crystal Empire were responsible for getting the vampires in. It was still unknown how they pulled it off but it wasn't impossible to think about. "But why Sableye? Why now of all times? Have you always been helping the Dread League?"
A worried Shining Armor wondered if the Sableye were always planning for this day. He wondered if they had been found by the Dread League during their earlier days of the two worlds crossing over and were doing their bidding.
"That has to be it. This is probably against your own will. It's not like you were here many, many years ago." Shining Armor continued. "But I never expected you to do this to us."
"Ehh...Don't worry about that." A vampire ceased that conversation immediately. Shining Armor and his guards were still outnumbered as the vampires and Sableye circled them. More Sableye were down there, waiting for Shining Armor and the Crystal Empire guards to descend while others kept focusing on Sunburt's home.
Shining Armor thought of what to do in this instance. He was still thinking about the safety of his family, who he hasn't seen yet at all. He feared the worst but didn't want it to overtake him. Unfortunately for the unicorn, he was unaware of where his family was, what had become of them and what was going to become of them later down the road if the vampires succeed.
Twilight's Castle.
"Starlight! I found it!" Back at Twilight's Castle, Fluttershy found what she needed thanks to the help of Starlight Glimmer. With Twilight gone, Starlight would go over the various books here to help Fluttershy find what she needed.
"You did?" A tired Starlight Glimmer said. She didn't have the right amount of energy for this but since the Black Crusade had just begun, sleeping was probably not the best option at all.
"All I had to do was cross-reference a book about masks with another book on ancient Equestrian healers, then use a third book to translate it all from Olde Ponish, and there it was! Zecora was right! The Mystical Mask wasn't just a legend. The Mystical Mask was Mage Meadowbrook!"
"Mage Meadowbrook...Wait, her?!" Starlight gasped, recognizing that name.
"Mhm! The one you said you had the Staff of Sameness that she once made. Remember? It just turned out to be a plain old stick and she never had nine!"
"Y-Yeah...I remember." Starlight nervously chuckled as she didn't expect to have that be brought up again, especially during now of all times.
"Mage Meadowbrook wasn't just a sorceress. She was also a healer, and back then, healers wore masks so they wouldn't get sick themselves!"
"Look at you. I bet Twilight would be proud of you for using your research skills to figure this out! But Meadowbrook lived ages ago, and didn't she disappear?" Starlight questioned.
"What's all the commotion in here, ladies?" All this noise eventually woke up Spike and his partner Axew, who walked into the library with sleeping masks over their head.
"Oh, sorry about that Spike and Axew. It's just really important what we've found here. She's long gone but if we go to Hayseed Swamp, maybe we can find something she left behind! Something that could lead to a cure! And I have a good feeling that Mage Meadowbrook's speciality in healing can even beat out Magehold's Curses!"
"Even that? Are you sure? She was good but...those curses are something else."
"I have to try at least. It's also for Chrysalis. The Black Crusade could hit everypony else with the worst kind of curses that could put their lives in jeopardy and this might be our best option." Fluttershy was dead set on making this happen as it showed in her voice and tone. "By the time I'm gone, there's no telling how many ponies and Pokemon the Despair Plant will affect. But that's why Roseluck, Daisy and Paradise are heading there."
"Wait...The Black Crusade is tonight?!" Spike and Axew collectively gasped. They were completely blindsided by this revelation. Now they certainly couldn't go back to bed, not when the Black Crusade had finally begun on this ominous and eerie night.
Everfree Forest.
Meanwhile, Roseluck, Daisy and Paradise eventually reached the Everfree Forest. The large elixir was brought along as a backup even though it was originally meant to be the main thing. But with Daisy and Paradise having a powerful connection to plants, that changed immediately. Still, in case things go wrong, the elixir was always here.
Daisy and Paradise didn't look the least bit tired compared to Starlight and Spike. Instead, even after being woken up, they looked like they were ready to tackle the day. Or in this case, the night. Being here at a forest meant there were more plants for them to potentially interact with. The sisters have never seen such a forest before. Then again, they used to be two flowers back at Saddle Lake so their environmental experience was very limited. And when entering the Everfree Forest, they already came across a shocking sight.
"Oh, no way!" And Roseluck's words expressed how surprising it was.
A Hydra and a Manticore. Two of some of the most fearsome creatures in the Everfree Forest and even Equestria looked rather weak. Their bodies were slumped over, filled with what appeared to be black cracks and other shapes around them. These black parts were also joined by dark green elements that made them seem rather dreary.
Roseluck never thought she'd see the day where these fierce creatures were in such a state. This meant only one thing. The entity that did this was more terrifying than them. And it was obviously the Despair Plant, which had yet to be seen by anyone besides Zecora.
And with a powerful croak in the distance that echoed throughout the forest, the presence of the Despair Plant was not too far. Roseluck knew she was getting herself into something messy, but to see a Hydra and Manticore look so unwell considering how famous they were, she feared the worst.
An unusual sight befell the eyes of Roseluck, who was joined by Daisy and Paradise. A sight that most, if not everypony would find to be unbelievable. The Creatures of the Everfree, some of the most feared out there, were slumped over and ill thanks to a Despair Plant that appeared here. A Hydra and Manticore found themselves afflicted by a disease that came in the form of black and dark green cracks across their bodies.
"Yeesh. What kind of Pokemon are these?" Paradise, who was completely unbothered by this, mistook these two creatures for Pokemon. Her knowledge of Everfree was non-existent despite being around as a Paradise Flower for years.
"These aren't Pokemon!" Roseluck exclaimed. "They're the creatures from our world way before Pokemon came into our lives. I almost forgot about them honestly..."
Seeing the presence of ponies, the Hydra would attempt to raise one of its three heads, only to fail in doing so. Its eyes appeared dull and tired while the strength of one of its head moving was weak and frail. It felt as fragile as a noodle. It definitely felt like attacking the ponies that appeared before it but was too weak to do so.
Roseluck shuffled her way past the Hydra, whose long neck was no longer strong enough to chase after her. Even the Manticore was sluggish, only whimpering instead of snarling, growling or roaring. The cracks around these creatures would pulsate violently each time they tried to do something.
But these two fierce creatures weren't the only ones Roseluck, Daisy and Paradise would see in weakened states and neitehr was it just the creatures that lived here. The environment of the Everfree Forest had new parts to it that somehow fit into the mysterious nature of the forest, but were never here in the first place.
Massive warts stuck out from the ground and trees, with a murky dark green colouring. Ominous bubbles would pop out of these warts, leaving behind a strange sound afterwards. And next to these warts, also afflicted, were the other creatures of the Everfree.
More Manticores could be seen lying down, trying to stave off the illness as much as they could. But it was not used. This was beyond them. Beyond anything the Creatures of the Everfree Forest had to deal with. Even the fearsome Cockatrice found itself stunned and bewildered, sitting next to a tree with an unknown disease.
"It's worse than I thought..." Roseluck uttered. "To think one Despair Plant did all of this against them. I can't see a single creature that hasn't been affected."
"A-Are we going to be affected by it too?" Daisy stuttered as she feared that she could be afflicted by whatever Despair Plant caused this mess.
"Not if we stop that thing. That's why we have you two and this elixir. If one fails, the other can maybe do something about it." Roseluck replied, looking over at the massive elixir that Roserade was carrying.
"By the way...Where's that Despair Plant anyway?" Paradise questioned. And it seemed like her question would be answered fairly soon. A croak unlike any other moved through the atmosphere, catching the attention of the three ponies and Roserade. Their eyes widened, followed by their pupils shrinking.
That croak lingered for a while, shaking some of the trees that were nearby thanks to its powerful vibrations. The elixir was even trembling with Roserade carefully holding onto it. That kind of croak was threatening and the one responsible for it wasn't even here just yet. It was merely a simple cry.
Just then, a thick fog would close in on them, appearing in the distance. And within that fog, the silhouette of the Despair Plant who resembled a Bullfrog. The Despair Plant Bullfrog leapt into the air from a great distance, receiving a good amount of air time with the eyes of the ponies following it.
Afterwards, it landed right in front of Roseluck, Daisy and Parisde, shaking the earth and making the rocks nearby fly up. The three ponies had their balance disrupted with Daisy falling flat on her face, Roseluch stumbling back and Paradise nearly falling over. The Despair Plant Bullfrog faced them at last.
The size of this thing was half the size of Ponyville's Town Hall which was utterly frightening. It easily outclassed most of the creatures of the Everfree Forest. But it seemed to pack more of a devastating punch than all of them thanks to what it was capable of.
"Sweet Celestia..." Roseluck shuddered, experiencing a Despair Plant for the very first time. And it definitely left an impression on her. The looming shadow of the Despair Plant completely engulfed them.
"Rose...!" Roserade was already at the ready. Both with her thorns and the elixir she was holding. In case this did go very wrong, the Bouquet Pokemon would not hesitate to attack. There was a moment of silence here. The Bullfrog looked down on them with its abyss-like eyes, lacking any pupils or colour to them.
Noticeably, the Despair Plant Bullfrog was gazing at Roseluck instead of the Flora Ponies. The appearance of Roseluck made the Despair Plant freeze on the spot. There was something rather familiar about her. It slowly leaned forward, unleashing a quieter yet still imposing croak that rustled the trees.
"Well...What?" Roseluck whimpered while leaning back.
"Oh, it's fine. I think it's interested in you." It took Daisy's words to confirm that the presence of the Flora Ponies was affecting this Despair Plant. It only made sense. A single Despair Plant could not compare to a Despair Plant Garden, which these two managed to calm down and befriend with their presence alone.
"That's not what I want to hear." Roseluck sighed. She was safe but she still had this Despair Plant close to her. "I guess it was the right call to bring you two here. And there's no need for this elixir."
"Rose?" Roserade looked at the elixir before gently putting it down. It was of no use right now. Or practically ever.
With Daisy and Paradise, it seemed that the Despair Plants would cease their hostile attacks immediately. It almost seemed too good to be true, especially during the Black Crusade. But to Roseluck, it was so good that it was completely true and she'd prefer it to be this way.
"What are you doing...?" However, it wasn't just Roseluck, Daisy and Paradise that ended up here. There was someone else. A raspy and rather weak voice echoed out. And that someone stood within the thick fog, having the silhouette of a pony.
Appearing past the fog was a pony with a rather frail and weak body. Just as weak as the Everfree Forest Creatures that have been afflicted. Her face looked crooked as her hooves were trembling, covered in wrinkles. She wore a hood to try and disguise her crooked face but that failed as it was very much visible. And what was also visible were her fangs that were almost sharp, but not quite.
This was a vampire. A member of the Dread League had ended up in the Everfree Forest, most likely at the same time the Despair Plant showed up. And speaking of those fangs, they were joined by a smile that was equal to that of a Gengar but with a rather meek expression that carried an ominous nature.
"A Vampire?!" Roseluck gasped.
"I knew this would happen...It's those Flora Ponies who'll ruin our beloved Despair Plants." She said in her weak tone, scraping the dirt off the ground. "But it's fine. Her majesty prepared for this..."
"Are you the one who did this?" Paradise said, getting in front of the others. "What's the big idea making everyone so ill?! That thing's gonna spread to Ponyville too!"
"It's the Black Crusade. It doesn't matter what they do as long as they can harm someone," said Roseluck. "You're probably the one who planted the Despair Plant here."
"That's right...You must be her majesty's little sister. I can see the similarities between the two of you." The creepy vampire said, commenting on Roseluck's face. She easily saw a bit of Rosa Maledicta in Roseluck just by facial recognition alone. They were still sisters after all.
"Sister? Who?" Daisy questioned, unaware of who Roseluck's sister was.
"Bullfrog shouldn't be standing around. It's already done a great job infecting the Everfree Forest with these Life Warts. It can't stop now just because two ponies showed up."
"Well, that's too bad," Paradise smirked with confidence, putting her hoof on the Bullfrog. "I guess we can just make friends with Despair Plants in a heartbeat. And you can't do anything about it. Hah!"
"Oh, but I can. It's why her majesty trusts me with this. Bullfrog! Infect them!" The vampire exclaimed which then prompted a flare of magic to fly out of her eyes.
This flare would soon appear in the eyes of the Despair Plant. This was followed up by a menacing croak that came from Bullfrog which soon prompted it to gaze directly at Paradise. Paradise's hoof trembled as she felt the vibrations of Bullfrog's croaking. The Flora Pony then looked up to see the Despair Plant gazing right at her, but it wasn't with friendly intentions.
"Rade?!" Roserade, sensing the imminent danger, quickly used her thorns that hid within her bouquet hands before the worst could happen. Paradise looked up with a confused expression before having her body wrapped by thorns. The Flora Pony was pulled back by Roserade, escaping an incoming attack from Bullfrog which came in the form of a tongue strike.
The tongue of this Despair Plant was so strong that it dug a hole into the ground, leaving a visible imprint behind. Paradise left behind a shocked expression on her face as her natural presence to calm and befriend a Despair Plant had been tossed aside thanks to this Wrinkled Vampire.
"What?! But I thought...?!" Paradise's reaction expressed how she felt about this turn.
"You Flora Ponies won't sully the legacy of the Despair Plants with your presence. I'll make sure Bullfrog gives you the worst possible diseases! So says I! Shrivel!" She revealed her name to them. With Shrivel's orders, the Despair Plant went on the attack.
With a prolonged croak, it would suddenly summon a veil of magic that erupted from the ground itself. Appearing before Roseluck and the others were massive warts, similar to what was seen across the rest of the garden.
"Not good! Let's run for it!" Roseluck could already guess that this was how the Bullfrog infected everyone else here. She definitely wasn't going to let that happen to her, Roserade or the two Flora Ponies. The warts unleashed a strange magic that filled the air and surrounding area, quickly replacing the thick fog that was previously here.
Daisy would soon back away, following Roseluck, Roserade and Paradise who were already on the move. It was clear as day that they were no longer around friendly company. Thanks to Shrivel, the Despair Plant Bullfrog had something else in mind.
"Go past Everfree Bullfrog. We've already infected most of Grogar's creations. Now let's go after Ponyville and bring peace to our majesty's heart by ridding of the ones who gave her so much trouble!" Shrivel cackled, ordering Bullfrog to target Ponyville. It was bound to happen eventually but Shrivel simply accelerated it, ignoring the remaining Everfree Forest creatures.
Bullfrog would take a mighty leap, using it to travel across and performing it better than most frogs. Whether they be Pokemon or animals. Shrivel's cackle was followed by Bullfrog crashing into the ground, causing a rupturing sound to go off along with a powerful dust cloud rising which was wide enough to reach Roseluck and the others.
Twilight's Castle.
And of course, this was noticed by some of Ponyville's residents that were still awake. Including Fluttershy, who had just found out about where Mage Meadowbrook aka the Mystical Mask once was. But before she could do anything about that, the sound of Bullfrog crashing into the ground and kicking up a dust cloud grabbed her attention.
"What was that?!" Starlight and Spike collectively exclaimed.
"That must be the Despair Plant! I think it's starting to go on the move now!" Fluttershy gasped. "Oh, I really want to go to Hayseed Swamp right now but..."
"Maybe that can wait!" Spike suggested. Now he was truly awake thanks to this development. "That Despair Plant could make all of Ponyville unwell if we don't do something!"
"Roseluck went with Daisy and Paradise. Do you think they're okay?" Starlight wondered, worried if those three were already infected.
"My Pokemon!" As for Fluttershy, all the Pokemon at the Pokemon House are what she was most worried about. The pegasus dismissed Hayseed Swamp just for this. She had to keep all of her Pokemon safe from the coming diseases.
"Twilight's still not back yet. Where is she?" Spike had yet to be caught up with everything.
"Fluttershy said something about her heading for the Crystal Empire. Since the Black Crusade has started, the Crystal Empire's the closest to Magehold, so they might go there first. Which means..." Starlight paused for a moment, processing her own words. It all came to Starlight which she wished she picked on sooner. "Sunburst!" She realized her childhood friend was likely in peril at this point. Fears for the Crystal Empire were certainly rising and for a good reason.
Aside from Shalour City, it was one of the first targets. And for the benefit of the Lich Queen, the vampires aimed to grab the three alicorns there just so she can gain their lifespans.
The Crystal Empire.
Speaking of the Crystal Empire, it was still running amok with Sableye everywhere. The number of Sableye was just so abundant and overwhelming for Shining Armor and his guards, which were missing most of their allies thanks to the Dread League.
Shining Armor struggled to keep all of these Sableye at bay. And so did his partner Aegislash. Aegislash swung as hard as he could, easily overpowering the crystal weapons that came at him. But everything else was a fierce struggle. The same went for the Golurks
"There are so many of them..." Shining Armor panted, feeling exhausted. It was late at night too so his lack of sleep added to it.
"Sucks that you've led a peaceful life for so long. Maybe you all wouldn't be so tired!" The vampires taunted Shining Armor and the Crystal Empire guards. They had a point. Since few issues come up in the Crystal Empire, the guards tend to get some rest here and there. Their sleep schedules were most definitely fixed and were being disrupted thanks to the Black Crusade.
"Aegislash...!" Aegislash cried out before seeing the circle of Sableye that was closing in on him. And there were still more Sableye to deal with. They've barely scratched the surface of the number of Sablye that Sweet Fang controlled. This involved the ones outside of the Crystal Empire who lived in the snowy lands nearby
As for Sweet Fang, she, other vampires and some Sableye were focused on Sunburst's home. The magical field that protected his home was boosted by the magic of Baby Flurry Heart. Naturally, this was a tough barrier to break. Multiple Sableye threw as many attacks as they could onto the barrier but to no avail. The vampires couldn't even break through it.
"Accursed alicorn magic!" Sweet Fang yelled after releasing a fierce beam of magic onto the field, only to fail. The magic of a baby alicorn was truly spectacular considering it had room to grow in correlation with Flurry Heart's age.
"What do we do now? We can't break through this thing no matter how hard we try?" A vampire asked.
"It's fine. That Shining Armor is starting to tire out so that's one problem that'll be dealt with. It's just this barrier that's the main problem. None of our magic can shatter it at all. That baby's doing a good job keeping it up and steady." Sweet Fang groaned. "But we'll get them if it's the last thing we do."
"If we don't hurry, we could miss out on all the fun of the Black Crusade. Plus, someone might show up here and ruin that fun for us."
"Pssh. No, they're not." Sweet Fang shook her head. "Even if we run out of Sableye, we have our backup. We haven't destroyed everyone here for one reason. I'll just use them as extra soldiers." The controlling vampire then turned to face the residents of the Crystal Empire who were restrained. Some were still hiding but most had been captured because of the Sableye attack.
Sweet Fang had the idea of making them all work under her. With a devious smile, she was already planning on it. She wasn't really getting anywhere with the barrier. Flurry Heart's magic was an issue and a lot of time was being wasted while the Black Crusade was ongoing. Extra help didn't sound like a bad idea, considering this also meant that Sweet Fang could gain control of other Pokemon. Not just the Sableye.
Shining Armor sighed, putting his hoof on his face to try and keep his stamina strong. But he couldn't do it forever. He wished the other Crystal Empire guards were here right now. The Sableye would've still outnumbered them but perhaps it wouldn't be so overwhelming. There were few options facing him right now.
He couldn't continue this forever and neither did he have a way to get out of this mess. At best, he had to just hope that he could push through somehow, but that seemed impossible. And watching her father struggle this match through the windows was Baby Flurry Heart.
The baby alicorn had tears falling down her eyes and yet she didn't make loud sounds to express her sadness as babies usually do. Not this time. Things felt different for Flurry Heart. She did a great job at keeping the magical barrier up but that didn't matter since she wanted to see the rest of her family safe and awake.
"We're at a stalemate here. But maybe we can still find a way to get out of this mess." Sunburst said. He didn't give up hope so easily. Not when he had all of these books at his disposal. "We can try another form of shield magic. Most shields are used to keep us and anything safe from harm. Sometimes they can repel. But there are other ways of handling it. Different effects for shields are a possibility, but I can't do that. Can you?"
Baby Flurry Heart whimpered. She had the potential to do so, looking at the book Sunburst held out. It was about Advanced Shield Magic. She couldn't exactly read yet but she could make out the images that were drawn onto the book. One of the shields appeared to have fire around them. One drawing of a shield involved electricity, another had magical spikes, one had fangs coming out of it and so much more. Each of these shield variations could be used as a way to fight back instead of just defending.
All of those seemed like good options, but Flurry Heart wanted something for her family instead. Her own shield was good enough and all that mattered was the safety of her father, who was being pressured at the moment. Flurry Heart dismissed the book before looking back at Shining Armor and Aegislash.
"No good, huh...?" Sunburst sighed, doing his best to come up with something else. Then it hit him. He had something wild that came to mind. "I know! You kept your Manaphy safe by keeping it in a Poke Ball, didn't you?! You even took the time to put Sylveon into Princess Cadence's Poke Ball!"
Flurry Heart turned to face him, wondering what Sunburst was getting at. It sounded like it had something to do with Pokemon, but there was seemingly no Pokemon that could handle this mess. At least, not right now. "Try using Manaphy's Heart Swap. If you do that, you can swap bodies with whoever. I'm not sure who's worth swapping with right now, but it could help."
A smile graced the face of the baby alicorn. Sunburst had something. It wasn't a bad idea at all as Manaphy's Heartswap has proved to be quite an effective move. However, that smile soon faded when Flurry Heart realized the one major problem with that. And it was the same problem that befell her alternate universe counterpart, her mother and Sylveon.
"Oh. Manaphy's unconscious too, isn't she?" Sunburst already figured it out by looking at Flurry Heart's frown. Suddenly, their conversation was broken apart by a tremor that passed through the building. The two of them gasped as the barrier should be shielding the building from any harm but something managed to shake it from the outside.
"That can't be! The shield should be strong enough to protect us!" Sunburst exclaimed. However, it didn't come from just the outside, but it specifically came from below.
Flying out of the ground was none other than a Golurk. Three of them. Three Golurks phased through the earth, rising through the floor. But they did more than just pass through it, the third Golurk broke a part of the floor apart, leaving a hole behind. The magical barrier didn't exactly protect the underground, unfortunately.
The Golurk took full advantage of this and the one responsible for making them lash out like this was none other than Sweet Fang. She was seen on the backs of one of these Golurks, using them to enter Sunburt's home. And now with a hole in the ground, this left Sunburt's home vulnerable to the vampires.
"Aha! Idiots!" Sweet Fang cackled after making her appearance. "This is a flaw that our glorious Lich Queen easily avoided long ago. Always make sure every angle is under protection! Domes aren't everything!"
"T-They got in!"
"There you are...!" Sweet Fang deviously spoke, eyeing down Baby Flurry Heart and the other two alicorns. "I'll be taking you three in right now. You'll make great fuel for the Lich Queen. And after that, the big wigs such as Celestia and Luna will be next."
Unable to muster full sentences, Baby Flurry Heart wished she could say something to Sweet Fang right now. But one thing was certain. She wasn't afraid. Rather furious at the vampire. She and the other vampires were responsible for this mess and brought confusion to the Baby Alicorn. She flew in front of Sunburst, allowing her magic to flash from her horn.
Meanwhile, Sunburst was worried about his floor as this would make it easier for others to enter. And already, it was happening. Thanks to the Golurk, the Sableye were starting to crawl upwards. They had experience with underground and dark areas so this wasn't an issue for them.
And even though she was furious at Sweet Fang, a sense of fear still filled Flurry Heart's heart. She was a baby after all but she showed a bit more courage than most babies. Flurry Heart's eyes turned to see her father still struggling with all the Sableye outside, gradually losing steam. She wished she could help but now she had more large problems to take care of.
And meanwhile, approaching the Crystal Empire on the back of Dragonite were none other than Ash and Twilight Sparkle. After solving one problem, they were heading for the next one. Dragonite moved at high speeds, going across various lands just to try and reach the Crystal Empire.
At the speed Dragonite was going at, the Crystal Empire wasn't too far, but thanks to the Despair Plants from earlier, they've certainly missed out on some time and had to catch up as soon as possible. They couldn't afford to slow down for anything else when the Crystal Empire was potentially in peril. And their assumpts are most definitely correct.
"Hurry, Ash! We might not have much time left!" Twilight exclaimed, praying that she could make it in time.
"Yeah, I know! Even if we're late, we'll make it in time to help out...!" Ash said with full confidence, believing that help could still arrive at the Crystal Empire no matter what happens. Dragonite kept going, soon leaving the warmer areas of Equestria and entering the colder areas.
That meant that the Crystal Empire and the Frozen North were near. But the amount of time they had left to try and save them was ambiguous judging by how things go. Will the Dread League snatch up the young alicorns and leave the Crystal Empire a dreary mess or will the Crystal Empire make a turnaround and stave off the Black Crusade? The answer has yet to be decided as the journey continues.
Equestria. The Crystal Empire. Sunburst's Home. Nightfall.
Sneaking past the barrier that protected Sunburst's home was the Controlling Vampire Sweet Fang. By utilizing the Golurk which she took control of, she appeared before Sunburst, Baby Flurry Heart and the two unconscious alicorns, leaving behind a large hole in the floor. Sableye were already crawling towards this hole that was made by the Golurk.
Sweet Fang was close to achieving what she needed to do now that she found the three alicorns that evaded her earlier. It was now all a matter of how she could execute the rest of it.
"How come it was you escaped my little plan? Then again, I wasn't sure if Hot Chocolate was safe for babies to drink but, oh well." Sweet Fang said. Meanwhile, Sunburst was on the verge of panicking and losing it now that the Dread League had entered his home. Baby Flurry Heart was the one who seemed brave in this instance surprisingly. "Now, I want to do more during the Black Crusade so I'm taking you in as soon as possible. Get her!"
"Gol!" Against their will, the Golurk went after Flurry Heart while Sweet Fang was on one of their heads. Sunburst looked in his saddlebag, attempting to get a Pokemon out, only for Flurry Heart to do something. Much like how she refused to let the Sableye take her, she wouldn't let the Golurk do it either since they weren't acting like their usual selves.
The baby alicorn enveloped herself, her family and Sunburst in magic, allowing herself to move from one spot to another. She brought them all with her, disappearing and reappearing elsewhere within Sunburst's home. The Golurk whiffed completely, grabbing nothing but air. They quickly turned their heads, pursuing the baby alicorn.
"Golurk!" Collectively, the Golurk all used Shadow Punch. The Golurk pulled back both of their arms as a purple and black energy appeared around them, materializing into a shadow arm, causing it to turn black and become outlined in purple. The Golurk then brought their fists forward by releasing a black fist that came flying out, attempting to grab Flurry Heart.
Squirming, Flurry Heart would put a shield around herself, blocking the incoming Shadow Punch. But it wasn't aiming to hit her. Instead, it just wanted her close. The Shadow Hand then grabbed onto Flurry Heart's shield, essentially grabbing the alicorn herself. The Shadow Hands then pulled Flurry Heart towards them by using her shield against her, only for baby Alicorn to teleport herself away once more.
The bookshelves that Sunburst had were knocked over by these Automaton Giants as their footsteps rocked the building when they started running. So far, Flurry Heart was only trying to keep herself safe instead of retaliating. This was mainly because of the Golurk. These Golurk were guardians of the Crystal Empire and in Flurry Heart's young eyes, that automatically made them friends.
As such, this held her back a bit but didn't stop the Golurk from using everything they had, even though they were being forced to do this. Sunburst watched as his prized possession were being taken out by the Golurk thanks to their superior sizes and he was completely powerless to stop it.
It was a constant back and forth with the Golurk attempting to catch up to Flurry Heart, only for her to constantly zip around the place. All the while, the older Flurry Heart and Cadence were still unconscious even when this was happening. The same couldn't be said for Sunburst, who was starting to feel sick.
"You're doing a good job resisting, little one." Sweet Fang said. "But my magic isn't solely tied to living beings. Even objects are under my control!" Showing more of her magic, Sweet Fang took control of objects and the most common ones here were books.
Multiple of Sunburst's books were ripped from the shelves, flying so fast they outpaced the Golurk. The books that went by the Golurk approached Baby Flurry Heart, intercepting her movements. The little alicorn found herself facing multiple books. These books lined up to form a blockade from multiple sides. Front, back and top.
"Now...Fly out!" Sweet Fang grinned, putting her hooves together as a further extension of her magic was revealed. Flying out of the books were words. Physical words that were originally texts from the books had shown themselves, becoming weapons in this instance.
The words would wrap around Sunburst and Flurry Heart, acting as ropes. Sunburst's glasses would almost fall off due to how tightly the words restrained his body. The two of them would drop the floor, restrained by all the words that came from Sunburst's books.
And there were still more books to watch out for. The abundance of books would hover over them, making sure that they wouldn't try anything funny. But Flurry Heart would most definitely try something. The most amount of words were around her small body, practically wrapping her in a word sandwich.
"Neat, isn't it? When it comes to objects, my Curse Magic has more variety. I wish it was the same for living beings, but oh well." Sweet Fang flew over to Flurry Heart. Finally having the Baby Alicorn in a static position, she had the chance to take her way, but not before making extra measures. "For a brief moment, you'll be working for me!"
The hooves of Sweet Fang went after Flurry Heart, attempting to control her. If she were to have the power of an alicorn on her side, it would be impossible for Flurry Heart to resist any further. Alas, she was incredibly stubborn and she did resist either way. It was at this moment that Flurry Heart recalled one of Sunburst's books. When trying to improve the shield some more before Sweet Fang broke in, she saw that there were different variations of a Magical Shield that could be utilised.
Before, she didn't plan on using them, only wishing to save her father. But now, she had a good reason to use them and the first one that came to her mind was the Electric Shield. Being the prodigy that she is, Flurry Heart mimicked the spell with ease. While she didn't want to harm the Golurk, Sweet Fang wasn't safe from that at all.
The words that surrounded Flurry Heart's body were blown away by a magical shield which flew out of her body. That shield then came with a flare of blue electricity which surrounded every part of this circular energy.
"Ghhh!!" Sweet Fang came into contact with this shield, having her entire body punished with a fierce voltage. Not only that, but the light that came from the shield affected her body. The Controlling Vampire's mane frizzed up as she stumbled back a bit.
Seeing how effective it was, Flurry Heart would expand the Electric Shield for a wider range. It approached Sweet Fang, threatening her in different ways. But it did not affect the Golurk. The Golurk were completely immune to it thanks to their Typing. The electricity phased through them while attacking Sweet Fang. However, it did still push them back since one-half of it was still pure magic.
The Golurk slid back with some of them breaking through the bookshelves. Flurry Heart, unfortunately, held back once more for the safety of the Golurk, not wishing major harm to them. Sunburst, unfortunately, received a shock thanks to the expanding barrier. But on the bright side, it did break away his word wrapping. Flurry Heart didn't quite have perfect control over it since she was still a baby but it did prove to be effective.
A little too effective. The books were charred and smoked because of this, only ruining their integrity and structures, and breaking Sunburst's heart. Sunburst was free but rather bewildered thanks to the electricity. Eventually, the shield stopped right at the hole where the Sableye were crawling through. Their movements were ruined once the Electric Shield caught wind of them, shocking them violently.
Flurry Heart had to escape as soon as possible and the one escape route was none other than the hole that the Golurk made. She would bring along Cadence, her older self and a paralyzed SUnburst, quickly flying to that.
"I don't think so! Golurk!" Sweet Fang roared while having her body twitch.
"Gol!" The Golurk regained their composure faster than anyone else, using Shadow Punch once more to achieve some reach. The multiple Shadow Arms locked onto the alicorns, soon merging into one larger Shadow Punch. And with this increase, it did manage to grab ahold of an alicorn.
Two. But not all of them. Princess Cadence and the Flurry Heart from another universe had been caught by the Shadow Arm, right when Baby Flurry Heart and Sunburst went through the hole. The Golurk collectively managed to rip them away from Flurry Heart's magical hold thanks to their combined power.
Two Alicorns had been retrieved as Flurry Heart and Sunburst already passed through the hole. Flurry Heart had yet to notice but Sunburst did with his eyes shifting to the side to see the disappearance of the two alicorns.
Sweet Fang smirked while still twitching. She ended up getting some alicorns after all but still wanted all three of them. Alas, that Electric Shield was more effective than she thought as she fell on her back. For now, Flurry Heart managed to escape with Sunburst but with the cost of two alicorns being captured. But the Golurk would still try and pursue her under the command of Sweet Fang who was held up by another Golurk.
"She won't get far..." Sweet Fang uttered. "Since it's practically on the verge of destruction, it's time to block off the Crystal Empire!"
The decision to block off the Crystal Empire had been made. And Sweet Fang, with full confidence in her voice, had the means to do so. She refused to let Flurry Heart go. Even with two alicorns at her disposal, she wanted to make sure all three of them were present with the Lich Queen.
And with so many forces at her disposal, the odds of her finding Baby Flurry Heart seemed incredibly high. The Sableye had already overwhelmed the guards, especially Shining Armor, who was running out of steam. It didn't matter how hard he tried, the numbers spoke for themselves.
An exhausted Shining Armor got on the floor of this ceiling, along with the other Crystal Empire guards who were spent. The only ones with enough stamina left were Aegislash and the other Golurk.
"Aegis?!" Aegislash soon noticed how Shining Armor fell down due to low energy. Now it was just him and the Golurk. The Royal Sword Pokemon looked around him to see more and more Sableye still around. And the vampires had yet to spring into action, saving up their magic for the right time.
As far as it goes now, they've lost this one and were only fighting back for a chance. But there didn't seem to be a chance as the Crystal Empire was currently enveloped in darkness. Both figuratively and literally. Above the empire, the dark clouds that masked the Moon would suddenly unleash some of its darkness upon the empire.
The clouds swirled, forming a large spire of transparent shadows. These shadows closed in on the Crystal Empire, trapping it entirely. The Crystal Empire became a prime victim of the Black Crusade despite the efforts of its protectors.
Shalour City.
Shalour CIty. It was the first victim of the Black Crusade. A fierce confrontation between Zekrom and the Pony of Shadows plus the Dread League occurred here during the earlier parts of the night. Engulfed in both light and dark. And arriving here as soon as possible was none other than Princess Luna.
After hours of travelling, she finally arrived at Shalour City, only to see what had become of the place. She laid eyes on a half-dark city. Half of Shalour had been shrouded by darkness. The Tower of Mastery and other buildings were still in their natural form but the rest of it was lost to the darkness.
She had never seen anything like it. It somewhat resembled a half-moon with one part being completely missing from the sights of many. After receiving a brief message from Reshiram, she came to Shalour, only to find it in a stunning state. Luna wasn't even aware that the Black Crusade had begun. "What happened here...?"
She took light steps into the city, seeing no signs of life anywhere. No Humans or Pokemon to be found. When taking a step into the city, she felt the ground being a bit wet. Luna was unaware of the mess that befell Shalour which involved a mixture of elements. But even though one-half of the city was normal, it was anything but safe. The buildings had all been damaged in some way, making them hard to live in.
But despite the absence of anyone here, there was something here that caught Luna's attention. It stuck out from anyone else due to the sparks of electricity it was letting out. After taking a closer look, Luna spotted a Dark Stone lying in the middle of a crater.
"A Dark Stone...?" She said, approaching the stone. "That's strange. Reshiram's stone is white...unless...!" Luna gasped before hearing a pulse coming from the stone. She thought she would find Reshiram here since he mentioned Shalour City. But this was not the case. When hearing the pulse, a familiar voice met her ears. This wasn't Reshiram.
This was Zekrom.
"Zekrom!?!" Luna picked up the Dark Stone. To her surprise, Zekrom had also reverted to his lesser form. A state where he would recover. But unlike Reshiram, Zekrom had been found and by friendly hooves too. "WHat happened here? Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine..." Zekrom actually replied, speaking through the Dark Stone. "I don't have enough energy to speak to you, Luna...But you need to hear this."
"Alright! What is it?!"
"The Vampires...they're after Xerneas. You have to stop them..." A wounded Zekrom uttered, warning Luna about what the Dread League were going for. After retrieving Yveltal, they planned to get rid of its counterpart Xerneas, who could ruin the entire Black Crusade with ease.
"Xerneas? The Legendary from Kalos? Why?" Luna asked. But unfortunately, that was all Zekrom could say. He had spent himself and only used the last of his strength to speak to the Princess of the Night. But even with this lack of speech, Luna understood clearly what Zekrom meant by that.
It was very obvious. The Dread League were after Xerneas and most likely, after the clash with Zekrom, they continued on their way. Opal Vivacity and the other vampires were far from here, leaving this city in a rather enigmatic state.
"If they go after Xerneas, any chance of bringing life back to the world will be gone just like that..." Luna shuddered before looking up at the darkened sky. It was time to intercept the Dread League, much like how Zekrom did earlier. Luna placed the Dark Stone within her saddlebag, keeping Zekrom safe and allowing him to rest. At least she had Zekrom's stone but Reshiram's stone was still missing. "That can't happen!"
Equestria. Ponyville.
Meanwhile, over at Ponyville, Mayor Mare and the other residents of Ponyville who were still awake, were preparing for any Dread League attacks. Under Mayor Mare's guidance, they set up precautions for the night since the Black Crusade would spread across Equestria.
However, the Dread League were closer than they thought as seen by the sudden dust cloud that emerged far in the distance where the Everfree Forest was. The Despair Plant was on the move, pursuing its newest targets to try and infect. And it didn't take long for Ponyville's residents to notice the Despair Plant Bullfrog as it leapt high into the air with amazing strength.
"W-What is that?!" Amethyst Star gasped upon seeing the Despair Plant that resembled a Bullfrog. And currently fleeing from this hostile Despair Plant, were Roseluck, Daisy and Paradise. They thought they could calm it down and they did for a while. Alas, the vampire known as Shrivel ruined that immediately, forcing the Despair Plant to continue its trail of destruction.
"What happened, you three?! Is that the Despair Plant?!" Mayor Mare asked as her partner Stoutland got in front of it.
"I'm afraid so! The Dread League's here!" Roseluck said after coming to a screeching halt. Preparations for the Black Crusade weren't done in time. Not when the Dread League already made an appearance. And thanks to the orders of Shrivel, the Despair Plant made Ponyville its next target.
Fluttershy rushed out of Twilight's Castle, quickly heading for the Pokemon House to make sure all of the Pokemon were safe and healthy. This Despair Plant had the power to spread diseases after all and with so many citizens here, the effects could be utterly tremendous. With one last leap, the Despair Plant Bullfrog ended up in Ponyville, moving at great distances to reach the town.
Its final landing shook the town, making a few ponies lose their balance and most importantly, waking some of them up. This Dread League attack was not quite discreet compared to what happened with Zecora and her Pokemon. Standing before Ponyville and being nearly as tall as Town Hall was the Despair Plant Bullfrog, in all of its menacing glory.
"What's all the racket?" Rarity was among one of the many ponies who had been disturbed from her sleep. The same went for Sweetie Belle. With how hard the Despair Plant landed, it was easy for many of Ponyville's residents to wake up. And they were certainly in for a rude awakening, unlike anything they've seen yet.
Sweet Apple Acres, despite being further away from the town, still felt the tremors as they vibrated far enough to reach it. And speaking of vibrations, the croak that the Bullfrog made upon entering was audible for many to hear, further disrupting the citizens from their sleep. But perhaps it was for the better as their own was now being besieged by a Despair Plant.
And with no source of Pure Light similar to what Arceus produces, not much could stop this thing apart from the only two ponies who had that speciality but was soon denied thanks to the vampire Shrivel. First, Shalour City, then the Crystal Empire and now Ponyville. The third location to be targeted by the Black Crusade as the journey continues.
Large and vicious with eyes as black as an abyss, the Despair Plant Bullfrog's advancement on Ponyville had been completed. This creature from Magehold made an appearance before the residents of Ponyville on this terrifying night. With a croak so strong it shook windows and trees, waking up those that were peacefully asleep. Led by the wrinkly vampire Shrivel, Ponyville inevitably became the next target for a disease infiltration.
"Sweet Celestia! A Despair Plant is here?!" Rarity, who had been disturbed from her sleep, exited her home to lay eyes on the Despair Plant Bullfrog. Her ears then trembled at the sound of this obnoxious yet intimidating croak.
"I thought you could calm that thing down?!" Amethyst Star questioned the Flora Ponies. From what she'd heard, she believed that Daisy and Paradise could automatically stop the Despair Plants in their entirety by just being near them.
"We did! Honestly! But a vampire ruined all of that!" Paradise exclaimed as her voice was nearly drowned out by the thunderous croak.
"Fools. You won't be sullying the legacy of the Despair Plants with your presence anymore." Speaking of Shrivel, she came along with the Bullfrog, being on its back the entire time. The eerie vampire crawled up Bullfrog's back to then stand on top of its head. "Her majesty's had her eye on Ponyville if you must know. This is where she was born and raised after all and where most of her annoyances come from so there's a bit of bias when aiming to destroy something."
"Rosa would really try and destroy her own home?" Mayor Mare uttered. She still couldn't believe that a previous citizen of her town would go this far.
"She'd prefer to have it be absolutely obliterated compared to everyone else. I just happened to be the first one here and I plan to carry out that goal of hers by first infecting you all. Get them, Bullfrog!"
With Shrivel's command, Bullfrog would attack. But instead of immediately using its unique ability, it would instead swing its massive tongue at Ponyville. This tongue would cause a wind pressure before then hitting the ground. The impact of the tongue striking the ground was packed with plenty of weight, creating a mini-tremor that disrupted the balance of Ponyville's residents. Rarity, who had just exited her home, fell out of her home by falling flat on her face. Daisy, Amethyst Star and other ponies fall because of this tremor as the nearby windows shattered.
"You will not lay a tongue on my town!" Mayor Mare, who adjusted her glasses, immediately yelled at Shrivel and the Bullfrog, rejecting their chance to destroy Ponyville. "Stoutland! Use Fire Fang!"
"Stout!" Quickly, Stoutland would retaliate, ready to defend his home. With his mouth opening, flames would envelop his fangs as he approached the Despair Plant. He then dug his fangs deep into the legs of the Despair Plants, letting out a fiery explosion. The fire was rather effective. Not as effective as Pure Light but it could still deal some noticeable damage. And it showed once the Despair Plant croaked violently, stumbling back after these searing fangs bit into it.
"Unless you have a special kind of light, your attacks will only annoy it," Shrivel commented with her raspy voice, unbothered by the Fire Fang.
"What about our plan to prepare for the Black Crusade?! It's not finished yet, Mayor!" Amethyst Star yelled, pointing out how the plan to prepare for the Black Crusade was incomplete thanks to the sudden arrival of this Despair Plant. They didn't have enough time to finish it.
"It's a shame...!" Mayor Mare groaned as she really wanted this plan to go through. Alas, another approach had to be taken since Ponyville was under attack. The flames on Bullfrog left a deep bite mark, lingering for a moment before fading away. The attack did more than just annoy the Despair Plant.
In response to this retaliation, Bullfrog's croak then prompted large warts to suddenly emerge from the ground, flying up like geysers. The time to infect Ponyville had begun. With the warts spawning in Ponyville, they would show themselves on top of buildings or on walls, choosing random locations on the outside.
Mayor Mare and the others backed away after seeing these warts spontaneously appear. Rarity, who was disgusted by the sight, dashed back into her home to avoid these warts. The only positive was the fact that they didn't affect the inside.
And once these warts appeared, they would unleash their disease-spreading magic. Diseases of all kinds would be brought to Ponyville in the form of purple mists. These mists would fly into the atmosphere, triggering the magic and replacing the air with a virulent energy.
And it didn't take long for the effects of this magic to reach someone. The first victim of this magic ended up being Amethyst Star. When standing there, she felt her head tense up all of a sudden. A sharp pain struck her head before simmering down but keeping the intensity behind.
"Ow...! Ow!" Amethyst Star cried out as a splitting headache emerged within her. This was then followed by black cracks forming around her hoof. The mist contaminated the air, making the disease spread faster.
"Ah...I feel thirsty." Berry Punch suddenly felt thirsty as her tongue went dry. Black cracks soon formed around her tongue, making the berry-loving pony screech. Horrific things were appearing on Ponyville's residents in the most uncomfortable ways possible.
Other residents would feel different diseases afflict them. A cold came up, rashes, even more thirsts, cramps, unknown forms of pox and more than the Despair Plant formed with different variations. Mayor Mare was hit with blisters on her hooves which made her stumble. These blisters released an odd aether-like essence from them, seeming pleasing. But they didn't feel pleasing.
"What is this...?" Mayor Mare looked at her hooves.
"Yes...yes..." Shrivel cackled. "You can either have the diseases torture you or be crushed by Bullfrog. Either way, it won't be a pleasant experience for either of you. And I prefer to see you all suffer like this."
"Not like this!" Roseluck frustratingly said as she had multiple marks on her body. The same went for Roserade, but she seemed less agitated by it.
"This isn't cool at all!" Scootaloo viciously scratched herself, trying to ease the pain that formed on her, only to fail in doing so. The black cracks were irritatingly painful to a point where she felt the undying urge to scratch it.
The only ones unaffected by this were the ones indoors. The mist did not enter their homes but they already saw what it had done to everyone outside. Everyone except Daisy and Paradise. The two Flora Ponies were noticeably unbothered by the disease essence in the atmosphere, standing there casually.
"You two are completely fine?!" An irritated Roseluck said after noticing Daisy and Paradise being completely healthy.
"We are?" Daisy uttered, oblivious to this until it was pointed out. Paradise didn't even notice it as she was too busy snarling at the Despair Plant. "Oh, we are!"
"Hm? That's strange..." Shrivel narrowed her eyes over at Daisy and Paradise, seeing that they weren't suffering in the face of this purple mist.
"Is it because you two are plants?!" Mayor Mare already guessed a reason as to why they were both unaffected by this. She didn't think that their plant biology went this far. These diseases only targeted living beings but it seemed that the Flora Ponies, being that they were once normal flowers, could ignore this.
"If you two are immune, then Bullfrog will have no problem crushing you." Shrivel grinned, seeing the second option of destruction being viable for Daisy and Paradise.
"Not if I have anything to say about it...Roserade! Use Petal Blizzard!"
"Stoutland, use Giga Impact!" But even when afflicted, this wouldn't stop the Pokemon from taking action. Stoutland's nose was dripping, coming down with a cold. Joined by Roserade, the Big-Hearted Pokemon would launch himself forward. His body becomes surrounded by an invisible energy. A bright flash of yellow light shot through the night which was then joined a barrage of petals.
The Bullfrog received a strong tackle to its chest by Stoutland's Giga Impact as it was powerful enough to knock it back. This was then followed up by Roserade's Energy Ball which struck the Bullfrog right after Stoutland's attack hit.
"Okay! I'll-" But when trying to send out her own Pokemon, Amethyst's hooves felt incredibly weak. It was as if she had noodles for arms as they would stay down, unable to go up. "Geez...! I can't feel my hooves right now!"
It was difficult for most trainers to send out their Pokemon. With the diseases affecting them, they couldn't focus properly and only thought about what was harming them. This allowed Bullfrog to attack, slamming its tongue onto the ground. This resulted in a wave of earth that erupted from below, heading for Ponyville's residents.
Taking the hit for them was Stoutland, who got in the way. The pieces of the earth would smack into his body, launching the Normal-Type back as he managed to halt the movement of these rocks but not the rest of the Despair Plant's attack. "S-Stout!"
One of the few ponies who could actually get her Pokemon out was Scootaloo. With all of her might, she summoned Rapidash onto the scene. But this also meant that whoever enters the battle would be affected by the mist. But it was better to retaliate than to just keel over.
Watching this mess occur was Rarity, who was still processing everything that went on. Going out there meant that the purple mist would get her for sure but she most definitely wished to help her friends outside. "Absolutely horrible. If we're going to go out there, we need full-on protection."
"Rarity? What's going on?" Sweetie Belle, who had also been disturbed, asked Rarity about Ponyville's current ongoings.
"Stay inside, Sweetie Belle." Rarity immediately told Sweetie Belle to stay indoors for her own safety. She did not wish to see her little sister get infected by whatever random disease these warts could do.
However, the mist did not get that far. It only covered a surrounding area, similar to what it did to the Everfree Forest. As such, some ponies were free from this mist. But so as long as the Despair Plant keeps on moving, it will surely infect the entirety of Ponyville. And watching this Despair Plant at work was Fluttershy. She finally laid eyes on the Despair Plant that caused all of this as its size was large enough to view from this distance.
And soon, all eyes were on this Despair Plant. Near of far. Sweet Apple Acres and its residents saw it for themselves as well. Applejack rubbed her eyes to see the Despair Plant whipping its tongue around like a whip while a purple mist infected the air and atmosphere. A truly odd thing to wake up to but it could go from odd to horrifying fairly soon.
The Crystal Empire.
At last, Ash and Twilight had arrived at the Crystal Empire. On the back of Dragonite, they reached the colder regions of Equestria. As such, Dragonite would slow down, descending onto the ground. She'd rather not have all of this ice affect her body but she still did an amazing job getting her friends here.
"Thanks, Dragonite. Get some rest." Ash recalled the Dragon Pokemon. His eyes then met with the Crystal Empire but something was amiss. Very amiss. The giant Shadow Spire from before had encased the entire Empire, caging it up and shrouding it in darkness.
"Are we too late...?" Twilight worrying said after witnessing the spire. It was so massive that the gaps that showed the Crystal Empire were incredibly thin. It made it seem like the Crystal Empire wasn't even there at all, but it was still visible to them. "What happened here?"
"No idea. Those shadows look like they're coming from the clouds." Ash pointed out how the shadows matched the shadows and the fact that they started from the skies.
"Pikachu..." Pikachu walked up to the Shadow Spire, wanting to try something out. "Pikachuuuu!" His first instinct was to use Thunderbolt. By unleashing 100,000 volts from his body, he attacked the Shadow Spire, attempting to break through and enter the Crystal Empire. However, this Thunderbolt had no effect on the Shadow Spire. He tried again, unleashing continuous lightning bolts at a rapid pace, only for each and everyone one of them to fail miserably. None managed to break through the Shadow Spire. "Pika?"
"Mmmrgh..." Twilight then looked at her Twilightium Z, which was still dim. It had yet to recharge, unfortunately, and she would have to wait until it was back to full power. But if there was a time when she could use it, now was the time.
"You won't get past it with Electricity." Speaking through Ash was King Sombra. Afterwards, he would reveal his full body, entering the scene. "That blasted Shadow Spire has no reason being this difficult."
"Do you know about this one, Sombra?" Ash asked.
"I do. It's something we Umbrum are capable of doing and by extension, the Dread League. That Shadow Spire is a way to block off any intruders that try to enter whichever location you've shielded. Not much can get past it but it's not impossible."
"Really!? What can get through then?!" Ash exclaimed, eager to know the answer.
"I never used it myself since I didn't anticipate Celestia and Luna arriving. Not even when those Rift Ponies brought my full body back either. But the best way to break it is with Light. Light always counters the Dark, unfortunately."
"Pikachu's Thunderbolt didn't work though," said Twilight.
"Not Electricity. I mean, Light. Similar to what that Z-Crystal of yours does. But instead of Arceus, I'm talking about what was here in our world before these Pokemon came into our lives. The only one who possess it in any capacity is Celestia but I'm not sure she even notices it. There are examples of it and you have definitely seen it. You've used it on me before."
"The Elements of Harmony, yeah. Well, at least I know a lot of things that can get past this. But I need to get there now. Who knows what's happened with Shining Armor and everyone else?!"
"Sombra. Is there a faster way for us to get there?"
"There is. We won't be needing light for this one. I can get you through." Sombra pointed his hoof at himself. "If anyone understands the shadows, it's me. I can easily move past the darkness itself and get anywhere that is blocked off by it. And besides, this was technically my Kingdom first before those two got in."
"Awesome! Then you can totally break whatever's keeping the Crystal Empire caged up!" Ash pumped his fists.
"Pikachu!"
"I can. But you'll be coming with me. And that means I will have to possess your body, boy."
"Possess? Hold on a second!" Twilight exclaimed. "You're gonna possess him?! How much of a possession are we talking about here?!"
"Full Possession." Sombra casually said, making Twilight scrunch her face. Tht wasn't exactly the response she was looking for.
"Full possession? Really? I don't know about that..."
"Ah, it can't be that bad." Ash shrugged. "He's only gonna do it for a moment, after all."
"Not for a moment." The former King of the Crystal Empire shook his head. "My possession will last for a while, boy. Minutes upon minutes. The kind of possession magic I will pull on you isn't as simple as a takeover. This entire time, I was unable to control your body because your own spirit and soul wouldn't allow it. I figured this out on the very first day. If I could, I would've taken over long ago. The only way for me to truly possess your body is if you relinquish your spirit and soul. Only for this instance."
"And that'll help?" Ash questioned.
"It will. By giving it up, I will have full control. Unless, you're willing to let that happen and have me at the helm for a while."
"I don't know about this, Ash...We can try waiting for my Z-Crystal to recharge!" Twilight was highly doubtful of this.
"I've got faith in Sombra, Twilight." But Ash's faith in King Sombra was absolutely staggering. "I trusted him to help Thorax and those other times he chimed in and I can trust him for this. No need to worry."
"Well...Okay. I'm just not sure if it's for the better." Twilight grumbled. "If you have faith in him, then I'll have some faith too. I've also got faith that you can overpower whatever he tries."
"Pikachu!"
"Okay, Sombra. I'm ready." Ash hit his chest, allowing Sombra to begin the possession process. "But uh...how am I gonna give up my spirit and soul exactly?"
"When you're asleep, I still couldn't possess you. It's only if you let it happen. It will make sense once I attempt it." Sombra tried explaining it but it was rather diffiuclt.
"Got it. I'll just wait and see what it feels like and I'll let it happen. It's all yours, Sombra. Go for it."
"Gladly." Sombra smirked before making his entire body explode into shadows. This outburst of shadows would blow the snow away before flying towards Ash. Like a sword through his chest, Ash was stabbed by the shadows, grunting for a moment.
Twilight gasped as she saw Ash's body squirm with shadows leaking out. He held his chest as the magic of Sombra was already reacting with his boyd. It was at that moment that Ash felt what Sombra meant by giving up his Spirit and Soul. It was an odd feeling but something he had felt before. It felt like what the King of Pokelantis and the effect the Prison Bottle had on him but on a stronger level. It was at that moment, he knew what it felt like to give up his Spirit and Soul.
And with that, it was temporarily replaced by King Sombra's own Spirit and Soul. Ash's eyes turned crimson red, similarly to what happened when Ghetsis took over his body. Twilight was reminded of that instance when Ghetsis took over. It was eeriely familiar but with less hostile intentions behind it.
Not only did Ash's eyes turn Crimson Red but his hair even stood up for a moment. Similar to how Sombra's mane would flow, Ash's hair was flowing as if it was made out of shadows. It truly felt like Sombra had taken over Ash's body. And by looking into the sky, the Shadows would flare out of his body similar to how Ash unleashes his Aura.
"Hah..." He took a deep breath before feeling the new body. Ash-Sombra looked at his arms, getting used to this sensation as this was his first time becoming human.
"Sombra?" Twilight said, calling out the name of the unicorn.
"Yes. This will do just fine." He spoke, having a mixture of Sombra's Voice and Ash's Voice. And that is what threw him off. But Sombra's voice was definitely the dominant one here. "Alright. I can bring a few of my Pokemon with me."
"Your Pokemon?" said Twilight, surprised to hear him refer to Ash's Pokemon as his own.
"Of course I-" It was at that moment that he paused for a moment, recognizing how his voice was Half Ash and Half Sombra. That caught him off guard. "Impossible! His voice should be drowned now that I'm in temporary possession?! I can't feel his spirit or soul...but I can still hear him!"
"You can? So you're not in full control?"
"I am in full control. But somehow, he's managed to get a part of himself out of me." He sighed putting his hand over his head. "Ugh. He's a strange one. And the body of a Human is just as strange. But I can manage it. Stay here until I solve something."
"If you get hurt while in Ash's body, I'll never forgive you, you know that!" Twilight said, expressing how she didn't fully trust Sombra to keep Ash's body safe, even if he planned to do so.
"Hmph. It's not like they can hit me anyway." He smirked at Twilight. "Refer to me as Ash-Sombra from now on-" His eyes then widened before putting his hand over his mouth. "I didn't mean to say that...That's a silly name!"
It seemed that a part of Ash was still coming out, unable to stay hidden as opposed to Sombra who stays hidden most of the time. This prompted Twilight, Pikachu and Espeon to laugh, knowing that Ash was still with them even with something in control. Ash-Sombra had enough of this as he would approach the Shadow Spire at last.
And with no effort, he casually moved through the Shadows as if they weren't there in the first place. He was a like phantom the way he moved past it as the were a pulse of darkness that came out of the Shadow Spire afterwards. Ash-Sombra was now in the Crystal Empire and it was just Twilight, Pikachu and Espeon standing outside in the cold. They simply had to wait for what Ash-Sombra could do and prayed for his safety. And the safety of those within the Crystal Empire.
Entering the Crystal Empire was Ash, who was currently possessed by King Sombra. However, unlike most possessions, this one was decided between Ash and Sombra for one reason. This reason allowed Sombra to move through the shadows in Ash's body, aiming to get things done easier. In his current body, he was too weak since his magic was no longer as grand as it used to be. But in Ash's body, he could suffice perfectly. Going by Ash-Sombra thanks to a part of Ash coming out of him even when Ash relinquished control, he stood away from most of the rabble.
Ash-Sombra's eyes met with the scenery, witnessing the destroyed crystal buildings. All of this was done by the Sableye but the one truly responsible for this was Sweet Fang. "My Empire..." Ash-Sombra said with a mixture of Ash and Sombra's voices, looking upon his empire and how it had been sullied by the claws of the Sableye.
However, the castle was fine for the most part. Thanks to its massive size, it would manage. The same applied to the Crystal Heart as it was completely untouched. Even though he was the furthest from the chaos, he could hear and see it from afar. The sounds of Sableye ran rampant here. "Those vampires wouldn't dare to attack here if I was still king. I'll deal with them thoroughly."
"Sableye!" Speaking of which, crawling over the crystal buildings were the culprits of this mess. Ash-Sombra's eyes went up to meet with the Sableye who attempted to creep up on him, only to fail. By controlling Ash's body, the crimson eyes were sharper than before. Far sharper than what Sombra once had.
"You dare approach me?" He said before tightening his gloves. And with this possession, Sombra had full access to his magic in Ash's body as it would flare out of his arms and eyes.
"S-Sable...!" There was a bit of hesitation from the Sableye. Looking at Ash-Sombra brought a sense of foreboding fear. Unsurprising since that was Sombra's speciality.
"Afraid? You should be. This is my kingdom." Ash-Sombra said to them, advising that the Sableye think twice before attacking him. And judging by the presence he gave off, they were starting to think about it. However, some of the Sableye were braver than the rest, sneaking up on Ash-Sombra.
"Sableye!" Three Sableye lunged themselves at Ash-Sombra from behind, attempting to claw at him. Sensing this, Ash-Sombra put on a cocky smirk, knowing what was coming, but did not move out of the way to evade it. He didn't have to. All he had to do was use magic. The Sableye passed right through Ash-Sombra, hitting nothing but shadows instead. Ash-Sombra altered his body to match that of shadows, becoming intangible for a moment as the Sableye fell over.
However, Ash-Sombra would end up catching one of them by the leg. This one Sableye was in the grasp of the Double King. The other Sableye gasped, only reaffirming their fear and were greatly hesitant to get close to Ash-Sombra. The Sableye, after seeing their attacks phase through Ash-Sombra, believed him to be untouchable.
"Why act like this now...You're the ones responsible for the Crystal Empire turning out like this." Ash-Sombra questioned before looking the Sableye in the eyes, wanting an answer. The Sableye now knew what the other Sableye felt when being near the presence of Ash-Sombra. However, this one Sableye was up close and personal. And when looking into the eyes of the Sableye, Sombra already saw why all of this was off.
"S-Sableye?"
"Mind Control Magic. Pfft. Of course." Ash-Sombra said, deducing what magic was causing them to act like this. "Such a common usage of magic, but it's always effective. But I can fix that."
With a flash of magic from his eyes, Ash-Sombra's magic would reach Sableye. Sableye felt a part of himself being greatly affected. The same part that Sweet Fang managed to take control of. Once more, his body would be forced to submit to someone else against his own will and it was arguably the lesser of two evils.
"How about we just release 'em?" Just then, Ash's voice took over Sombra's voice, becoming dominant for a moment and catching Sombra off guard.
"W-What?!" Sombra gasped, dropping Sableye. "Boy?! Is that you?! I thought you relinquished everything, how are you talking like this?!"
"It's harder than it looks. I don't really know how to relinquish my Soul and Spirit and all that stuff. Not that well anyway. But hey, at least I can talk to you now. Or me. It's you in me."
"You're the one who came up with that embarrassing name of Ash-Sombra." He sighed as Ash did speak through Sombra once, giving the duo this name now that Sombra was in control.
"Yeah? Pretty great, right?!" Ash laughed. "It's like we used the Bond Phenomenon! I was thinking of something like Sombrash! How's that?"
"Please don't." He facepalmed, preferring not to be given these nicknames. But Ash-Sombra had already stuck and he was unintentionally going along with it.
"Anyway, I think we should try and free the Sableye from this mind control. That'll switch things up pretty quickly."
"Tch. I was opting for another option. Then I'd have my own army to combat against the Dread League." Ash-Sombra scoffed, crossing his arms in annoyance. "I've already implemented fear into them with my presence but these are only a few Sableye. I could just take out the source of the problem."
"Yeah, that'll do! If we find whoever did this, we can free all the Sableye in one go. And if you need any help with my Pokemon, I'll be here to shout it out!"
"I don't need your help for this! You're back-seating for the time being! This is my Empire and I won't let those vampires sully it." Ash-Sombra roared, wanting to do this on his own. He then eyed down the Sableye, intimidating them. "After this, you will repair the entirety of the Crystal Empire with your bare hands!"
Agitated, Ash-Sombra cast the rest of his magic onto the Sableye. With his hand out, a wave of darkness would envelop this small group of Sableye, restraining them. His process of freeing the Sableye from their control would begin and he did so by immediately attacking their fears. It wouldn't be Sombra without the involvement of fear somehow. By attacking their fears, Sombra saw what they were most afraid of.
And unsurprisingly, they all had the same fear. A lack of crystal. The Sableye shared this fear since crystals were so connected to them. This was easy enough for Ash-Sombra to deal with since their fears were so common. And after showing them their fears, not only would they snap out of their mind control, but they ended up falling to the floor, passing out afterwards.
Now it was up to Ash-Sombra to get the rest of them and that would involve going straight to the source. It was pointless to try and free every single one of them one at a time. Thus, the Duo King would take off, advancing further in the Crystal Empire. And watching this play out was one Sableye who spectated in secrecy, hiding next to a heap of crystal rubble. This one Sableye would crawl away, quickly attempting to relay this message to Sweet Fang.
Underground.
Fleeing from the scene, Baby Flurry Heart and Sunburst ended up underground. By taking the underground path the Golurk made, they hid from Sweet Fang's forces, trying to stay safe. Underneath the Crystal Empire were mines that possessed crystals. Similar to the Canterlot Mines but with extra dazzle. However, these crystals lacked the same dazzle as the entirety of the Crystal Empire, but even that place was starting to lose its dazzle because of the Dread League.
"Hah..." Sunburst sighed, laying his head on a crystal wall. "What do we do now? They've got two princesses already and have overtaken the Crystal Empire by this point. How do we get out of this?" It seemed rather dire. The Crystal Empire might as well be doomed.
Right now, it was just him and Baby Flurry Heart. Both were hiding from the Dread League who had yet to leave even after obtaining two alicorns. But they weren't completely on their lonesome. Technically, there was some extra company. From his saddlebag, Sunburst would hold out three Poke Balls. He threw those Poke Balls into the air, summoning his own two Pokemon. Azumarill and Lampent.
"At least I still have you two."
"Azu?" Azumarill and Lampent were both clueless as to what has occurred. They were in their Poke Balls their entire time and were unaware of the beginning of the Black Crusade and the attack on the Crystal Empire.
Baby Flurry Heart was just as lost. Compared to Sunburst, Sunburst could just go back up there and have his body taken over and no one would think any more of him. He'd just be another victim. But for Flurry Heart, she was being targeted since she was an alicorn. And not only that, a Baby Alicorn. The first one ever. Thus, her lifespan was a goldmine for Rosa Maledicta, who aimed to be the longest-lasting Lich to ever rule to the point where she can be considered immortal.
She couldn't stay down here forever but there wasn't much that she could do. Her mother and other self had been kidnapped while her father was unable to deal with these overwhelming odds. As such, Flurry Heart did what any baby would do in this instance. Cry. She let her emotions out, crying as loud as she could over this helpless situation.
Sunburst and his Pokemon flinched at this sudden outburst which shook the crystals. This response was to be expected as the situation was incredibly dire. And for a child, this was terrifying. But this could be made even worse if this crying alerts the Dread League due to how loud it was. It was already shaking the crystals in this underground and as an alicorn, Flurry Heart's voice could be elevated.
"Oh, don't cry! Uh..." Sunburst uttered. "Azumarill! Make her some balloons!"
"Azumarill!" Responding to Flurry Heart's sorrow, Azumarill would quickly rush over. Trying her best to cheer her up, Azumarill would manipulate the air itself with ease. With her control over the air, she formed balloons out of air, gently placing them in her arms. "Marill!"
Three more were made as Azumarill gently brought them over to the weeping alicorn, attempting to brighten her spirits. Flurry Heart's eyes met with the Air Balloons as Azumarill prayed that this would be enough. But nothing was enough when her family was in jeopardy. Flurry Heart would continue crying, unleashing a louder cry that would pop the balloons.
And poor Azumarill, with her powerful ears that had superb sensors, took the brunt of this as she was the closest to Flurry Heart. Azumarill would even drop to the ground.
"Ohh...What do we do?" Sunburst groaned as the pressure kept coming. He figured that since he was underground, the best thing to do was to keep on moving. "Okay. We just have to keep going until we can figure something out or find something. Come on, it'll be okay." Sunburst said to the Baby, promising her that things would turn out fine. But that was a hard promise to keep right about now.
Lampent's light would bright some brightness to the underground, allowing them to traverse easily without bumping into anything. Flurry Heart, who kept sobbing, would be picked up by Sunburst who carried her. It took a while for Azumarill to get back up after her ears were so viciously attacked.
Back up at the Crystal Empire, Sweet Fang finally recovered from that Electrical Shield. She ended up at the main castle, staying there and overseeing everything. She even took the opportunity to sit on the throne that belongs to Princess Cadence.
And not only that but to rub her own ego, she had the Sableye make crystal accessories for her. On her head, she wore a crystal crown, made from the rubble across the empire. She had a crystal necklace, crystal bands on her hooves and many crystal sculptures around her. Sweet Fang wanted to savour this.
"I could get used to this." She said with a smile, fully confident in her efforts. She has already taken over the Crystal Empire by this point and had both alicorn princesses at her disposal. "I wonder if after this, her majesty will let me be the new Ruler of the Crystal Empire. That'd be fun."
"That's great and all but shouldn't we be getting back now?" A vampire asked. "The Golurk and Sableye have yet to find the baby. She's escaped our sights completely."
"Hmm...It is pretty annoying." Sweet Fang pouted. "But I suppose we can handle that later. We can always just come back here and try again. Let's head back to Magehold with Cadence and Flurry Heart. The Golurk and Sableye will continue to hunt down the other Flurry Heart and-"
"Sableye! Sableye!" Suddenly, bursting into the room was a Sableye. It barged through the large doors, soon crawling on the ground to meet with the one controlling it. Sweet Fang. It was just like a guard, servant or citizen coming up to Royalty. That is exactly what it looked like to Sweet Fang and it was rather pleasing.
"Oh? I presume you have good news?" Sweet Fang leaned in.
"Sableye! Sableye!" Explaining what it saw, the Sableye would frantically jump around, moving its arms and legs rapidly as it sounded like something urgent had come up. ANd it was indeed urgent as seen by the look on Sweet Fang's face.
"Ash Ketchum?! And King Sombra?!" Sweet Fang translated, shocking the other vampires on what they heard. Ash and Sombra's presence had been notified. "How did they even get in here?! The Shadow Spire should've kept any and everyone out!? Are the more outside the Empire?!"
"That's impossible. The Shadow Spire should've kept them both out completely.
"What do we do now that they're here?! They've probably brought an army of them if they caught wind of our actions this soon!"
"Hold it! We're not doing anything! At least, I'm not! We're taking Cadence and Flurry Heart back to Magehold at once. Now that we have them, they need to be there for extraction. Let the Golurk and Sableye handle that mess." Sweet Fang preferred not to engage with Ash and Sombra. She was afraid that the plan could fall apart if more showed up to the Crystal Empire, so it was best to get Cadence and Flurry Heart to Magehold as soon as possible.
Speaking of Cadence and Flurry Heart, they were currently being held up by a Golurk's large hands, still unconscious to everything going on. The Golurk understood the mission, carrying the two princesses away. The vampires would lead Golurk away, making sure to avoid Ash and Sombra at all costs.
Speaking of Ash-Sombra, he was rapidly moving across the Crystal Empire, trying to find the source of the problem. Ash-Sombra ran on top of the rooftops, getting to high ground while eyeing down the castle. That was the most obvious place to be considering how massive it was. And up ahead, he saw how overrun the Crystal Empire had become.
The Sableye ran the streets, jumping around and becoming the new citizens. As for the actual citizens, they were either under Sweet Fang's control or tied up. Some were even still hiding from the Dread League, retreating just in time before the Sableye could find them.
"Sableye!" And it didn't take long for other Sableye to spot Ash-Sombra. The Sableye up ahead that were already on the rooftops threw out Shadow Balls at the Duo King, attempting to knock him down. Ash-Sombra would evade them in response, having his senses sharpened with possession of Ash who was incredibly athletic and sharp to react to other things. Years of journeying helped mould this body.
"You're not going to strike at me!" Ash-Sombra yelled before putting his hand out. A stream of shadow magic would fly out, charging through the Sableye. The Sableye were blown away as if they were bowling pins as the stream went in a straight line with its wide appearance, knocking over various other Sableye. Ash-Sombra then pulled his hand back to keep on advancing once these Sableye were out of his way, but more were bound to intercept him.
And this was quickly proven by the other Sableye that crawled up the rooftops just to approach the Dual King. But this time, they were joined by the Golurk who were doing this against their own will. By using their jets, the Golurk took flight, pursuing Ash-Sombra on the rooftops.
"Gol!" One of the Golurks used SHadow Punch, forming a shadow fist that would extend, being long enough to reach the Dual King.
Ash-Sombra quickly leapt from one rooftop to another gaining amazing distance with his jumping strength. He avoided the Shadow Arms which crashed through the rooftops he was previously on. And without losing any momentum, he continued on his way, focusing on that castle more than anything.
The Golurk and Sableye continued their pursuit with some of the Sableye being up ahead once more, trying to cut Ash-Sombra off and slow down his movements. But of course, he wouldn't allow that to happen.
"You'd be wise not to get in the way of your king!" Ash-Sombra yelled at them before digging into his pockets to reveal a Pokemon and by lunging through the air once more, he would throw the Poke Ball forward, summoning one of Ash's Pokemon into the fray.
"Dragonite!" In this case, it was Dragonite and what an entrance she made. When she appeared, the Dragon Pokemon landed on the roof that the Sableye stood on, creating a strong burst of wind and shockwaves which knocked them over. This was then followed by Ash-Sombra descending from above, landing perfectly on Dragonite's back as if he planned it. And he most definitely did as this was a quicker way of travelling than just running.
"Onwards to that Castle!" Ash-Sombra spoke, giving Dragonite a taste of both Ash and Sombra's voices. She wasn't exactly sure why she could hear them both at the same time, but it didn't bother her that much. What did bother her was what became of the Crystal Empire.
Before she could take off, some of the Golurk got in front of her already, circling the Dragon Pokemon and the Duo King. The two of them looked up to see a circle of Automatons around them, holding their fists out to try and keep them at bay. But they did more than just keep them at bay. They attack, shooting out Thunderbolts, Flash Cannons, Shadow Punches and Stone Edges. One of these was bound to deal major damage to Dragonite.
"Nonsense! Hurricane!"
"Draaaaa....!" With a bellowing roar that broke some of the nearby crystals, Dragonite summoned a fierce gale around her body which soon transformed into a Hurricane. The Hurricane erupted from her body, acting as a shield against the attacks came in.
And with Ash-Sombra's involvement this Hurricane saw an improvement. He raised his arm, spreading his Shadow Magic around the Hurricane. Soon a Dark Hurricane emerged, using its violent power to reflect the attacks.
The Golurk were struck by their own attacks thanks to the Dark Hurricane, falling out of the sky because of this. The only ones who were fine were the ones hit by the Thunderbolt. They had full immunity and kept their momentum in the air. The Golurks that withstood the retaliation would throw their own retaliation into the mix. This time, aiming to get up close and personal with Ash-Sombra and Dragonite. "Gol!"
"Slash at them with Dragon Claw!"
"Rrrr!" With draconic energy forming around her claws, Dragonite would prepare for an up-close encounter. The Golurks all tried different forms of punches. Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Shadow Punch and Thunder Punch were among them. Even a few Hammer Arms came in.
And she did all of this by taking flight. Dragonite flew forward while having her claws out, blitzing through the air and slashing past some of the Golurk with Dragon Claw before they could get their attacks off. The Golurks that received that swift yet heavy slash went falling, crashing into the roof. But the rest of them would keep up with Dragonite, flying alongside her.
A Hammer Arm was swung at Dragonite while she was flying, attempting to bring her back down to the Earth, only for Dragonite's Dragon Claw to clash with it. Dragonite had to swing back at those who struck at her, receiving some hits in the process with how many Golurks there were. But he retaliation was mighty, causing some of the Golurk to crash into each other. With a Fire Punch slugging her face, Dragonite would slug the Golurk back with an equally hard blow.
But with so many Golurks, she certainly couldn't do this alone. And Ash-Sombra knew that this many would jeopardize him and his mission.
With Ash's body, Sombra would zoom through the air, not wanting to get harmed with Ash's body at all. All of those attacks that came in Dragonite's way were rather dangerous to her. He was genuinely trying to keep Ash's body safe but that was also for his own sake since the both of them had their lives tied.
While flying through the air, he took out two more Poke Balls before zipping to the side, evading a Flash Cannon from a Golurk. After dodging the Flash Cannon, Ash-Sombra soared to a lower level, sliding on the ground as he threw the two Poke Balls forward to bring out the next two Pokemon. Gengar and Sirfetch'd.
"Gengar!"
"Sir!"
"Push through them! Night Slash and Shadow Ball!" He pointed at the group of Sableye and Golurk in front of them.
"Sir!" Sirfetch'd nodded before rushing in for a Night Slash, engulfing his blade in darkness. Gengar would giggle, spinning his body to gather some light energy. The Golurk and Sableye were already here to intercept, meeting with Sirfetch'd for an up-close exchange. "Fetch'd!" Sirfetch'd swung his leek, slashing away at one of the Sableye before blocking an incoming Shadow Claw with his shield.
He was then forced to block again once a Golurk swung its massive and heavy fists down, making Sirfetch'ds body shake. The crystal ground beneath him trembled with some cracks forming, showing how strong he guarded against that initial hit. He slid back, quickly blocking against another attack that came from the Sableye. The way they attack was rather rabid and fast, forcing Sirfetch'd to constantly keep his shield up and wait for a moment to strike.
"Gengar!" And Gengar did just that. After spinning around, Gengar released multiple Shadow Balls that flew in different directions. These Shadow Balls would snipe the Golurk and Sableye, blowing them away and giving Sirfetch'd enough space. Once he had his space, Sirfetch'd lunged in for his next Night Slash, swinging his Leek Sword at the Ghost-Types.
As for Dragonite, she would continue her battle in the air, evading the Golurk this time just to have them crash into some buildings. By baiting them out, the Golurk would hit the crystal buildings, either crashing into them or stopping dead in their tracks.
In this instance, both Ash and Sombra were taking charge. The usual bond Ash had with his Pokemon plus the quick-thinking brain of Sombra allowed them both to handle the scenario well, even if the numbers were starting to close in on them.
But they weren't worried about the numbers. The only thing Ash and Sombra focused on was the source. And they knew for a fact a vampire was behind this. But little did they know that the Vampire responsible for this mess was already choosing to head back to Magehold with the two alicorn princesses.
Meanwhile, just outside the Crystal Empire, Pikachu, Twilight and Espeon were patiently waiting. Twilight prayed for Ash's safety, hoping nothing terrible happens to him while he was in there and with Sombra at the helm. She just had to have faith. Not only that, but Twilight was waiting for her Z-Crystal to recharge, just so she could blow past the Shadow Spire at last.
It was a long waiting process as they couldn't even hear what was going on within the Crystal Empire. They just had to wait and hope. But while doing so, something else grabbed their attention. In the harsh snow, footsteps would crunch it up on moving, alerting the three of them. Pikachu already got on all fours, preparing for the worst as electricity would spark from his red sacs.
"Who's there?" Twilight asked. When looking ahead, these footsteps belonged to someone who was clearly heading this way. Where else would anyone near here go but the Crystal Empire? She noticed that the figure of a pony could be seen approaching. With the figure of a pony, there was a 50/50 chance this could be a vampire pony or not. it was hard to tell since it was still nighttime and the darkness within the snow was obscuring this pony.
At least for a while. That is until the pony moved through the darkness of the snow, reaching a vicinity close to Twilight's. That's when she saw who this was. It was not a foe at all. In fact, it was someone who had something in common with her. And that was being a former student of Princess Celestia.
Arriving here on this ominous night was Radiant Hope.
Appearing outside the Crystal Empire and encountering Twilight was none other than an old childhood friend of King Sombra and another one of Celestia's students. One of her oldest. Radiant Hope.
"Wait a minute...You're Radiant Hope!" Twilight recognized Radiant Hope by appearance alone. It was a genuine surprise to see her here, especially during this time. The Shadow Spire was still around the Crystal Empire, caging it up and preventing anyone from entering. Aside from Sombra who was in possession of Ash's body at the moment.
"Princess Twilight Sparkle, right?" Radiant Hope replied, recognizing Twilight just by her appearance alone. It was a rather popular and noticeable appearance, luckily for her.
"Mhm! What are you doing here?!"
"I just came over to the Crystal Empire to see how things are. And I was right to show up here first." Radiant's eyes met with the large Shadow Spire. "The Dread League have already made their move and summoned a Shadow Spire. It's much bigger than what I've heard."
"Eh? You know about this thing?" Surprisingly, Radiant Hope already knew about the Shadow Spire prior to this. Sombra also knew but that was mainly due to him being an Umbrum.
"I do. I've been studying Magehold for a good time now and this is common knowledge to me. Once I heard the Black Crusade started, I had to come here. I was afraid they'd target the Crystal Empire first because it was the closest to Magehold and it looks like I was right. Somepony already put up a Shadow Spire."
"Amazing! You've been looking into Magehold this entire time?!" Twilight's eyes lit up with excitement as stars could be seen in them. "Is that what you've been doing this whole time?!"
"Well, yes. It's why I kept moving. I had to know more about Magehold and the Dread League and I had plenty of years to make it work. Over 1000 years. I'm lucky to just be a Pseudo Alicorn."
"I didn't even know that was possible...But do you know of a way to get rid of this spire then? Since you read up on it and everything."
"I do. It's not a pretty process though. The Shadow Spire has two ways of being taken down. By defeating the source of it or by absorbing it."
"Absorbing it?" Twilight looked back at the intimidating spire of Shadows. "What kind of absorption are we talking about?"
"It's not the one I'm looking forward to but since we're locked out of the Crystal Empire, it's the only option aside from going for the source. And the kind of Absorption is letting the shadows become one with you. The user has to invite the shadows within and take a huge risk. These shadows are tied closely to Magehold and are ridiculously destructive. The cost of absorbing them is threatening in so many ways."
"Y-You mean...Someone will perish?!" Twilight stuttered as the concept of life being lost was possible in this. As to be expected when it comes to the Dread League but it was still shocking to her, Pikachu and Espeon.
"Pika?!"
"Espeon?!"
"That's right. You could perish from it. This is Vampire magic after all and it has a different makeup from most magics. It's because of where the Vampires all come from. They have a different origin from us." Radiant Hope continued. "Vampire Ponies are all direct descendants of Liches."
"Vampires are descendants from Liches?! I thought they were just another evolved form of our old species! What is a Lich anyway?!" Twilight questioned, being hit with a shocking revelation. Just as shocking as what would happen if someone absorbed the Shadow Spire.
"They're still similar to us, but they're closer to Liches. Liches existed long ago, possibly at the very start of our world. This is because of the Primordial Magic. They're one of the few species in the world that are the closest to that magic. The one started every line of magic we know. Liches were born from that Primordial Magic after its essence met with a dead forest. That dead forest was manipulated by the Primordial Magic."
"I heard about a story like that once," Twilight added. "About a forest that brought life. I thought it was talking about something else entirely like the animals that lived there. Not Liches. So vampires are the only ponies closely related to Liches."
"The only ones. Liches came with Dark Magic that became a part of their existence thanks to the Primordial Magic. There are a few things in the world that are nearly as pure as the Primordial Magic. Like Alicorns. And this Shadow Spire comes pretty close to it."
"Hoh..." Twilight gawked, being hit with new information that she was most definitely going to look into. "Well...how are we going to go about this?"
"Unless one of us is willing to take that chance and bite the dust, this is our only option." Radiant Hope sighed. "I wish we could just take the other option but that's locked away from us."
"That's why Ash and Sombra went in. To try and take this spire down as soon as possible."
"Sombra? Sombra's in there?!" Now Radiant Hope was the next one to be surprised. Sombra's name had been brought up to her once more.
"He merged with Ash, taking control of his body in the meanwhile. Since he's an Umbrum, he was able to get inside. I don't know what they're doing in there or what's going on, but I'm hoping for the better. What do you think? Do we wait for them or try it now? Because I'm waiting for my Z-Crystal to recharge."
"If Sombra's in there, then he's probably working as hard as he can to fix this." Radiant Hope put on a smile that brought hope to herself. Fitting that SOmbra brought some hope to her. "But I also want to make sure he's okay. Let's try and take this spire down. And if we can't fully absorb it, then we can at least weaken it."
"Let me try," Twilight uttered, deciding to try and absorb the Shadow Spire.
"You? Are you sure? I was hoping I was the one to try and do it."
"I've done something like this before. I once emptied out all of my magic to make me a vessel for Rift Magic. I can try it again and allow all of the magic from this to find some space. It's all about giving space for your magic. Too much is dangerous for the body."
"You emptied out your own magic by yourself?!" Hope gasped as this concept never came up to any other pony in the world until Twilight went for it for the first time. Usually, a destructive force is what empties everyone's magic as seen by Tirek and many others. And that magic never comes back unless an outside force makes it happen. But to Radiant Hope's surprise, Twilight not only emptied out her own magic but she recovered it and gained something new in the process.
"Mhm. It's all about letting your body get used to it. My natural magic was with me since day one so my body adapted to it smoothly without any issues. And because of that, after I took in the Rift Magic, when my natural magic came back, there was enough space for it to coexist with the new magic. But I'm not sure how it'll work with this since I haven't had that much time with Rift Magic." Twilight pondered.
Rift Magic was relatively new for her. Her body was still getting used to it. After all, the first time she ever got it, she struggled to fall asleep. A common trait within Rift-Created Ponies. Absorbing Dark Magic, knowing how dangerous it can be to someone was the biggest risk possible. But by now, Twilight was used to taking huge risks.
"Your trainer sure is something..." Radiant Hope looked over at Espeon, complimenting Twilight's bravery. Espeon greatly agreed with a nod.
"Here goes..." Taking a deep breath, Twilight prepared for the worst as she showcased to Radiant Hope what it was like to relieve all of her magic from her body. And it was a stupendous sight indeed. From Twilight's body, an aura of her Natural Magic that she's always had from birth along with rift Magic would fly out, forming a tower that would soon disperse and morph into a fountain.
Equestrian Magic and Rift Magic would beautifully fly into the air, dropping stardust onto the snowy ground as Twilight could be seen groaning. Every ounce of her magic was being released and it showed just how much she had in store. It was so plentiful that it was almost as tall as the Shadow Spire that held blocked off the Crystal Empire.
And after emptying all of her magic, Twilight became an empty vessel once more. Now all she had to do was try and pull in the magic from Magehold. She wasn't sure what to expect but she was willing to take the risk. Similarly to how she allowed Rift Magic to enter, Twilight used the very little ounce of magic within her to pull the Dark Magic in her direction.
However, the second the Dark Magic entered her body, Twilight felt a shock go through her. The Princess of Friendship gasped as the Dark Magic already laid out a powerful effect on her. And a good chunk entered the young alicorn in a matter of seconds. Twilight's eyes were pulsating with dark energy as her mouth was open, taken aback by what she was feeling. Espeon stood tall, fearing that the Dark Magic had already gotten to Twilight.
And without hesitating, Twilight pulled back, ending the absorption process. She ceased absorbing the magic from the Shadow Spire, stumbling back and falling down on the snow. "Twilight! Are you alright?!"
"Pikachu?!"
"Esp! Espeon?!" Espeon quickly rushed over to her trainer's side.
"That was...H-Horrible...!" Twilight groaned as her eyes felt bewildered by the amount of dark magic that was around her. She coughed a few times as dark magic would leave her body, soon bringing back her original magic and Rift Magic. "I felt like I was about to meet my end with that."
"I did say it had the potential to destroy anyone who tried to absorb it. But I didn't think you'd feel its effects so quickly." Radiant Hope helped her fellow Student of Celestia up.
"This kind of dark magic is different to what I've experienced." Twilight groaned after getting back up. "Is this what it Dark Magic from Magehold feels like?"
"It is. Dark Magic from Magehold is different from what the rest of the world knows. Dark-Type Pokemon and Sombra's Dark Magic are destructive but they can also be used for good. But Magehold's Dark Magic is seemingly only bent on destruction." Radiant Hope added. "That kind of darkness only exists to destroy. But I never thought that applied to our bodies too."
"It's fine." Twilight took a deep breath. "We can through to this."
"Eh?! Are you saying you'll try again?!" Hope gasped, hoping that Twilight wasn't planning on attempting to absorb the magic a second time. "It's already shown us that it can be highly volatile."
"I know. But maybe...Some inside help can change that." Twilight had another approach to it. Ash and Sombra are already in there trying to take down the Shadow Spire. So I suggest that we help with that. If there's any sign that its weakening then we should strike while the iron is hot. Now that I think about it...how come they've never used this before?"
"Shadow Spires require a lot of magic to keep up. No vampire can keep a Shadow Spire up for an incredibly long time. They're only doing it now because the Black Crusade's started. The vampire that did this will probably ruin the Crystal Empire and then the Shadow Spire will fade away."
"That won't happen. Radiant. I need your help to take this spire away. When it shows signs of weakness, I'll try and absorb the Dark Magic. If something goes wrong, I need you to assist me."
"I get it. Your idea still comes with a lot of dangers but I also need to get in there as soon as possible. Can you reach, Ash?"
"I tried my Xtransceiver earlier but it cuts off any connection to the Crystal Empire. We just have to hope that Ash and Sombra are already doing something about it." It was all about Hope for this. Hope that Ash and Sombra could either weaken or destroy this Shadow Spire in time.
The Crystal Empire.
And indeed, Ash-Sombra was hard at work. Having Ash's Pokemon out for assistance, they were all closing in on the castle, which was where Ash-Sombra figured the vampires would be. Sableye and Golurk were being knocked aside by these Pokemon but the numbers were still vast.
That was exactly why he was only going to the source of the problem instead of tackling every single Sableye and Golurk here. But along the way, Ash-Sombra stopped to notice some familiar faces. Apart from the innocents who were restrained by the Sableye from doing anything else, there were the Crystal Empire Guards.
Ash-Sombra came to a halt with his Pokemon to see the Canterlot Guards lying on the ground, exhausted and defeated. And among them was Shining Armor and his Aegislash. Both were defeated, lying around a pile of crystals as SHining Armor's armour was in a poor state.
"Shining Armor! Aegislash!" Ash's voice took over for a moment before switching control back to Sombra. He spoke in the way Sombra would when seeing this. "This is a rather displeasing display. So much for Canterlot Guards."
"Ugh..." Shining Armor, who was still conscious, groaned and squirmed on the ground as his eyes opened to see none other than Ash's face. But he also ended up hearing Sombra's voice. "Is that Ash...and Sombra?"
"Both. I've only taken control of the boy's body in the meanwhile." Ash-Sombra immediately broke up any confusion that could form from this. "How did this happen exactly?"
"I don't know...So many of my Royal Guard just vanished all of a sudden." Shining Armor uttered with a weak voice. And a weak body in general. It was thanks to Ash taking control of Sombra's body for a moment that he helped the unicorn up. "I couldn't deal with so many of those Pokemon..."
"So, you were sabotaged, eh?" Sombra took control. "Hmph. It's almost as pathetic as when you first dealt with me. But at least you went down fighting this time."
"You don't have to rub it in, Sombra..." Shining Armor sighed. "Aegislash tried his best but was knocked out eventually. Maybe if all of our guards were here with us, this wouldn't have happened. I don't even know what's happened with the rest of my family."
"The alicorns?" Ash-Sombra narrowed his eyes before looking over at the castle. "I have a good idea as to where they might be. I'm heading for the castle. Stay here and contemplate on your failure." He would then drop Shining Armor to the ground, still holding a grudge after he and Cadence took over the Crystal Empire and replaced him. The grudge has died down a bit but it was still present.
"W-Wait!" But before Ash-Sombra could walk off, Shining Armor called out to him. Gathering the remaining strength that he had, Shining Armor stood back up, straining himself. "I have to come with you! I need to know if my family is still okay!"
"Do you honestly think you can do anything in your condition? It's best that you stay down." Ash-Sombra scoffed, suggesting that Shining Armor should just stay down and rest. But quickly, Ash took control, being the dominant voice once again. "Here you go, Shining!"
With his arm out, Ash controlled the shadows, allowing them to reach Shining Armor. The unicorn felt his body being embraced in welcoming shadows instead of violent ones. The shadows wrapped around his body, enveloping him in Healing Magic. By using Sombra's Healing Magic, Ash rejuvenated Shining Armor, giving him some strength.
"Oooh..." Shining Armor sighed, feeling parts of his strength come back to him. It felt like being embraced by a comfortable bed or a calm ocean.
"How did you figure out to use my magic?!" Sombra took control again, yelling at Ash from within.
"It just seemed natural. We're one in the same now, so I can do what you can do. It's pretty neat, right?"
"You intrusive little...!" Sombra groaned. "What else was I expecting? I did put this on myself by taking control over your body. Then again, I'm struggling to see who's actually in control here?"
"Dra! Dragonite!" Suddenly, Dragonite, who was still airborne, called out to Ash-Sombra from below while Shining Armor was getting back up.
"Hm?! Do you see something, Dragonite?!" Ash's voice spoke through his own body.
"Ah! She probably spotted something in the distance from that height! No time to stand around, we need to keep moving." Sombra retook control. If you still think you have enough strength left within you, then come along and don't hold me back." Ash-Sombra would then continue on his way alongside the rest of Ash's Pokemon. After what Dragonite spotted, they had to see for themselves. It was probably too important to miss especially since it was seen from a high height.
Once Shining Armor got back up, he immediately went for his downed partner Aegislash. He can always count on Aegislash and right now, he needed his bladed partner to be healed up to full strength. With Aegislash by his side, Shining Armor always felt that he could continue on and now was the perfect time to keep on going.
As for the Dread League, Sweet Fang and the vampires already decided to leave the Crystal Empire as soon as possible now that Ash and Sombra had shown up. They couldn't risk having the two alicorns being taken away from them. Speaking of which, the Golurk was still holding onto the two unconscious alicorns, carrying them while following the vampires as they would lead it back to Magehold.
However, that was when Dragonite spotted them. By taking to the skies and reaching a high point, the Dragon Pokemon's eyes met with Sweet Fang and her group from afar. She immediately saw Cadence and the alternate Flurry Heart within the arms of a Golurk.
The bellowing roar of Dragonite was so loud that it reached Sweet Fang's group as they were away from most of the buildings with the closest being the castle.
"They've spotted us!" A vampire cried out after being discovered by Dragonite who was the eyes in the sky.
"Darn it! The Sableye and Golurk failed?!" Sweet Fang grizzled her teeth, annoyed that she was spotted before she could fully leave the Crystal Empire. Thanks to Ash-Sombra blitzing through the Golurk and Sableye, not wanting to deal with every single one of them, the vampires couldn't get too far to escape the sights of their enemies. "Bah! Just focus on getting these two back to Magehold!"
"They got in though and they could follow us there! How do we deal with them?!" One vampire wasn't too sure that they could lose Ash and Sombra, wanting a backup plan.
"We already have a way to deal with them. Now that the Black Crusade has been initiated, we have access to practically everything. And that involves the Windigoes. We'll let them deal with those two." To make up for their absence from the Crystal Empire, the Dread Leauge would summon the entities that were the closest to Magehold.
The ghostly-like creatures of Equestria that feed off fighting and hatred. And right now, the Crystal Empire was brimming with forced hatred thanks to Sweet Fang. As such, the Windigoes were called upon. Up in the dark skies, spectral eyes flashed, signifying the coming of the spirits that caused Hearth's Warming to begin.
Aside from assistance from the Pony of Shadows, the Windigoes were another powerful ally to the Dread League during the Black Crusade. And such an ally already proved to be a threat to many ponies who nearly perished in the cold because of their past. However, at the same time, retaliations towards the Black Crusade were only increasing as word of it was spreading out and it started rearing its ugly head. Only time will tell what will become of this first night of the Black Crusade.
Equestria. Ponyville. The Pokemon House. Nightfall.
Ponyville was still under attack by the Despair Plant Bullfrog, led by the wrinkly and raspy-sounding vampire Shrivel. And with this attack came a wave of diseases and illnesses. With the warts spreading disease-ridden mists, the performance of the ponies and their Pokemon was being affected. Except for the Flora Ponies, noticeably.
But away from all of this destruction, Fluttershy appeared at the Pokemon House to see all of the Pokemon plus Zecora still in one piece. Thankfully, the Despair Plant's path of destruction hadn't reached here yet. However, that was still a possibility since it planned to infest the entirety of Ponyville.
"Oh, thank goodness! You're okay!" Fluttershy said with great relief. "The mist hasn't reached you yet but it still could."
"What's going on out there?" Zecora, still dealing with Swamp Fever uttered. "Is the Despair Plant near?"
"It is. It just showed up at Ponyville and everypony else is dealing with it. You weren't kidding when you said it could summon diseases. All kinds of common and unknown illnesses and diseases just showed up on everypony else. I recognize most of them, but some are hard to identify and could be from Magehold. And that greatly worries me."
"Everfree and Ponyville are just stepping stones for the plant. After this, it will bring a slow yet painful demise to the world as quickly as it can." Zecora grunted, instantly knowing that this one Despair Plant will most definitely go the distance, especially since there can be more than one species of the same Despair Plant.
"But here's some good news! It turns out that the Mystical Mask was actually Mage Meadowbrook! And I think I can solve this now!"
"That's marvellous, Fluttershy. I am quite impressed. While you are gone on your journey, I'll try not to be..." That was when the impossible happened. Something Fluttershy and all the Pokemon here never expected. Zecora did not rhyme. "...Worried."
"Oh, no. Zecora, you didn't rhyme!" Fluttershy and the Pokemon collectively gasped as hearing Zecora speak without a single rhyme. "You must be getting worse!"
"Oh. No, no, no, not at all. Something... something... ball?" But even though she tried to deny it, it was very obvious that she was getting worse.
"I need to go now! Hayseed Swamp is the destination we need to be at if we want to find out about Mage Meadowbrook. Krookodile! Please remember to keep everyone safe!"
"Krook!"
"Audi. Raboot. Bayleef. I can't do this alone with you all. And I need all the help I can get. If it's not too late, I think I can reach Applejack and a few others in time to come along with me. It'll be dangerous going to Hayseed Swamp during the Black Crusade but it's for everyone's sake." Fluttershy, knowing that the world was now highly dangerous since the Black Crusade has begun, was willing to head out there and find the cure regardless.
Hayseed Swamp was a rather far trek, but one she was willing to take. The sound of the Despair Plant viciously attacking Ponyville with its powerful jumps and other attacks raged on as it could bring more than just the destruction of diseases. Quickly, Fluttershy got a move on, with Audino, Bayleef and Raboot pursuing her. Zecora just had to wait until Fluttershy was back and keeping watch of her and everyone here would be Krookodile.
Sweet Apple Acres.
Speaking of Sweet Apple Acres, much like the Pokemon House and Fluttershy's cottage, it was away from the mist for the meanwhile. Applejack watched from afar, seeing the warts summon disease-ridden mists. The Despair Plant wasn't hard to miss either with its size and constant jumping.
"Frogs don't cause warts, so what's up with this?" Applejack wondered.
"Is everypony going to be okay?" Apple Bloom, who was also disturbed and woken up from her sleep asked. A part of her wished to head back to bed right about now instead of focusing on this. But it was hard not to focus on this.
"Not if we help 'em out. I'm guessing the Dread League finally showed up here since there's a Despair Plant over there. Stay inside, Apple Bloom. Staying side seems like the best option because of that mist."
"Sceptile...!" Sceptile wished to head out there as soon as possible to help all of his friends, but that mist said otherwise. It was a massive roadblock, instantly summoning diseases onto anyone it manages to reach.
However, Applejack only wanted Apple Bloom and her entire family to stay inside. She already had plans to head outside, despite the mist. Of course, this required protection. The Earth Pony quickly scavenged her home to see what she could use. What mattered to her was getting past that mist and the best way to do that, in her eyes, was with full-on protection. Many masks could be found, free to be used as Applejack quickly bagged them all, just so that she always had a spare with her. Protection for her hooves in the form of Hoof Gloves were taken. Sceptile had gloves that fit his hands perfectly since Protection was a strong part of the Apple Family. He was also given a mask to wear on his face. And of course, Applejack brought her lasso, just in case.
Soon, Applejack and Sceptile were fully equipped with protective gear. To them, this seemed like enough to power through the mist. They weren't sure what properties it held but that didn't stop them from wearing as much protection as they could. Applejack and Sceptile looked at each other, nodding in understanding. Apple Bloom watched as the duo was about to leave the building, ready to get through this Disease-Ridden Mist. But the second they opened the doors, they were met with someone else who managed to show up here, avoiding the Despair Plant's mist.
"Applejack!" It was none other than Fluttershy who came directly to her. Applejack and Sceptile were jumpscared by Fluttershy's sudden arrival. From how things looked, they did not expect to see somepony else pop up here and if they did, it would have probably been a vampire considering there was a Despair Plant in Ponyville.
"Fluttershy?! What are you doing here?!"
"No time! I'll explain along the way. Just please, come with me!" Fluttershy wanted to get a move on as soon as possible. The time for explanations could be given along the way. It was mainly the time for action and there was no better time to act than now.
The Crystal Empire.
Meanwhile, back at the Crystal Empire. Ash-Sombra and the others followed Dragonite after she spotted the Dread League in the distance, holding the older Flurry Heart and Cadence as their captives. They had left the castle by now and were returning to Magehold but weren't far enough to leave the eyes of Dragonite.
However, refusing to have Ash and the others pursue them and foil their plan, the Dread League instantly called upon some of Equestria's most feared creatures. The Windigoes. Already allied with the Dread League, the Windigoes were a part of this Black Crusade. And with all of the Golurk and Sableye being under the control of Sweet Fang, even when she was away from them, the Windigoes only added to this overwhelming number disadvantage here at the Crystal Empire.
While pursuing the Dread League, the skies above would howl with an eerie cry. A cry that belonged to a Windigo. Dragonite was completely oblivious as to what was emerging above her. Spectral eyes that shined blue would peer out of the darkness as a chilling aura filled the atmosphere. The Crystal Empire was already a bit cold but now that was being elevated.
"Dr...Dragonite?" And to someone like Dragonite, that was a massive issue. Dragonite felt her blood being affected by the increase in the cold.
"What's wrong?" Ash-Sombra asked as Dragonite would begin descending, no longer moving at a quick pace. This was the fastest she's ever felt a drop in speed. Dragonite would then descend on top of one of the barracks, shivering in a matter of seconds.
This chill was soon felt by the others. Gengar and Sirfetch'd, who were moving under Dragonite, came to a halt. But their reaction wasn't as bad as Dragonite's since they resisted the cold. Shining Armor felt it too. He was still injured after his previous struggle and was recently healed to try and get a second chance. But this second chance was promptly halted via the presence of the chilling air. And that was when the cries above increased in sound, alerting the ears of Ash-Sombra.
"This sound..." The voice of Sombra spoke, followed by a gasp that led to widened eyes. "I know this sound!"
"What is it?" Ash's voice took control as this sound escaped him completely. Ash had never heard something like this before. It was unlike anything his ears have encountered despite his years of adventuring. And when looking up, Ash-Sombra soon saw the eyes that flashed in the darkness of the clouds appear.
But it wasn't just a pair of eyes. Something else emerged from it. Descending from the dark clouds was the face of a horse. More defined than most and similar to that of a Rapidash. It instantly reminded Ash of the Avus Pegasus but there was more to it. With a ghostly-like appearance, the Windigoes descended, showing themselves to the Crystal Empire. With a translucent body truly akin to that of a ghost, the spirits that feed on hatred and fighting had arrived.
"Windigos!" Sombra and Shining Armor collectively said.
"Windigos?!" Ash's voice spoke through. He's heard of Windigoes before. Mainly thanks to the Hearth's Warming Eve story that was famous across Equestria. But now, his eyes, which were crimson thanks to Sombra taking control, for now, met with the Windigos for the very first time.
Massive in size yet lacking in a lower body, these spirits that appear during the coldest of times, circled the darkened night sky, bringing their chilling presence to the already beaten down Crystal Empire.
"Those accursed vampires probably summoned them here!" Ash-Sombra growled.
"They can summon Windigos?! Seriously?!" This was also new information to Shining Armor. As if the vampires had any other reason to be intimidating and dangerous. And with their presence, the ice was already affecting the empire. The citizens of the Crystal Empire were the first victims of this.
Being restrained, they were unable to escape from the incoming chill that the Windigos summoned. A harsh and punishing wave of ice filled the atmosphere, chilling their bodies. The confusion and confliction they had with the Sableye is what caused the Windigos to spread their magic. And most notably, the Sableye and Golurk were completely fine. Even Golurk, who was vulnerable to the ice, were all unaffected by the Windigos' magic. They were working for the vampires, making those that were under Sweet Fang's control immune.
This did not bode well for the citizens of the Crystal Empire. Their bodies were being slowly encased in an icy prison, unable to move at all. It wasn't like they could get anywhere in the first place. The Sableye and Golurk watched without any emotion, sympathy or empathy as the ice was beginning to take the ponies they were once friends with, interacted with and protected depending on the Pokemon The Crystal Empire seemed to be set on becoming an Ice Prison, further surrounded by the Shadow Spire that restrained it.
"Take a rest, Dragonite." Ash took control, returning Dragonite to her Poke Ball to protect her from the cold. "They probably summoned them here to slow us down from reaching the princesses."
"We have to get past them?! But I need to see the rest of my family as soon as possible!" Shining Armor preferred to continue going after Cadence and Flurry Heart rather than just staying here to deal with the Windigos. And it didn't help that the Sableye and Golurk were closing in on him, Ash-Sombra and the other Pokemon.
"You won't unless you sort this out." Ash-Sombra raised his hand into the air. "The Windigos will freeze you for eternity and this entire empire too now that they've arrived."
"That can't be..." Shining Armor lowered his head. He was not having the best time right now. Everything was incredibly dreadful. Just as the Dread League intended. And with the Controlled Sableye and Golurk closing in, that was only sinking everything in further dread.
"You can't start losing hope now." Ash took control once more, just to speak with Shining Armor. "We're not gonna let all of this slow us down now, Shining. We'll get your family back and find your baby. If we start losing hope and giving up, then we won't get it down. Even if the Black Crusade's in full swing right now, we can do this."
"You say that...But how do we deal with the Windigos? Most of my guards are missing and the Pokemon are still under that vampire's control. She's already fleeing the scene and I don't even know where my little baby Flurry Heart is."
"Then allow me to sort this out." Sombra gained control once more. "The Windigos feed off of hatred and fighting. And it seems that the vampire set it up so that the Sableye and Golurk could give enough of that. The Crystal Empire's citizens are greatly conflicted and confused. They have yet to know about the truth behind all of this."
"So then...What do we do?"
"The previous Sableye I freed won't be enough to convince them unless they're all free. And the Windigos can only attack by freezing us and nothing more. As an Umbrum, this is up my alley. The Windigos will have a field day with my magic and what it serves. Their fears about all of this will be elevated greatly when I get involved."
"You're going to give everyone their worst fears? Why?!" Shining Armor questioned.
"We're not gonna do that." Now it was Ash's turn to regain control. He disagreed with Sombra, having something else in mind that didn't involve everyone's fears and despairs. "I've heard some stuff about the Windigos. It's all about bringing love, isn't it? What better place for love than the Crystal Empire?"
"But Cadence is gone though." Shining Armor sighed. The one who represents love the most was gone and unconscious. "How can we give out love without her?"
"Cadence was always important to you, Shining Armor. It's because of you two that you stopped the Invasion of the Canterlot Wedding and helped defeat Sombra. N-No offence, Sombra."
"But I don't represent love though..." Shining Armor wasn't so sure about that. "It's always been Cadence who represents it the best. Without her, the Magic of Love can't show up."
"You've got more than just Cadence, Shining." Ash approached him. "You've got the rest of your family. And your friends."
"Huh?" Shining Armor, who looked rather exhausted still, looked up at Ash with some lazy eyes. Meanwhile, the Windigos were looking down at Ash-Sombra and Shining Armor listening to their conversation while freezing everything around them.
"Your daughter. Both of them. Even though one of them's not from this universe, you took her in as if she was your actual daughter. I mean she is but...you know what I mean." Ash brought up an excellent point. Shining Armor's love for his family extended past universes. It didn't matter what universe it was. Her daughter was her daughter.
"I did. She's still my daughter and Cadence and I couldn't let her go through that. She still hasn't even found her real family yet." Shining Armor agreed.
"And Aegislash. You two didn't get off the right foot when you first met. But now you're great partners, always sticking together. You've got your sister, Twilight. I already know how much she cares for you after that whole Canterlot Wedding event. And you've got me, Pikachu and everyone else you've befriended. Love doesn't just stop at family. It goes way beyond it!"
"It does but...I'm not sure I have enough."
"You can totally have enough!" Ash stood up tall, seeing something greater within Shining Armor. "I love this world! I love everything about it! Whether it's all the regions or Equestria and what's beyond it. You got with Cadence cause she cares about you a ton and so do you. Even if you're not an alicorn, you gotta show that love inside of you and how far it can spread. Twilight's out there hoping for the best, praying that you and the others are okay. And even though Cadence and Flurry Heart are gone, we can get them back.
"Do you...really think I can generate the Magic of Love without Cadence?" Shining Armor's lazy eyes widened as Ash's words were reaching him.
"No doubt about it. Runs in the family from what I've seen. And if you're struggling, I'll chip in and help out." Ash gave a thumbs up, speaking longer than Sombra in this instance. "And if you can't generate it, we'll still share our love with everyone and get through this. Then it's off to Magehold to get 'em back."
"Yeah! You're right!" Shining Armor exclaimed. "I can do this! These are my subjects after all and I do care for them. I can fix this for sure."
"That's great and all..." After Ash's lengthy speech, Sombra took control and chipped in his own words. "But I'm afraid these Windigos are a bit different from the ones you know."
"How so?" Shining Armor asked.
"They only show up when there is a massive level of hatred and fighting. They didn't even show up during Empress Twilight's invasion because only one side was incredibly hostile and full of hatred. But for this, they're being ordered by someone else rather than their own volition." Ash-Sombra explained.
"I know that they do this on their own. But I didn't think they could be controlled like this.
"It's not control. It's just an order. They'll carry out that order no matter what, even if there's love around. But they are still affected by a strong sense of love. Just not as much as before."
"Then let's make it work!" Ash spoke through his own body once more. "We'll face the Windigos ourselves!"
"B-Battle the Windigos?!" Shining Armor gasped. "Can you even hit them?!"
"Only one way to find out," Ash-Sombr said, using Ash and Sombra's voice in unison as they both had the same thing in mind. Sombra's magic would allow him to levitate and also summon a pillar of shadows that would further lift him up. He would go directly for the Windigos with an up-close encounter. There wasn't much time either. The residents of the Crystal Empire were already about to meet their icy prison at this rate.
As for the Windigos, they heard everything for themselves. Ash's speech to Shining Armor made them pause for a moment. But they did not leave. Not at all. Instead, these spirits above remained, still spreading their frigid presence across the Crystal Empire. And now their eyes met with Ash-Sombra who was currently two souls in one body but one soul was obviously taking control here. And it wasn't the one who was the most friendly despite the appearance. It would soon be an upfront encounter with the Windigos.
Magehold.
Magehold. Sitting pretty during all of this since it was instigating the conflict, the vampires who were not involved with the Dread League were still living their lives, waiting for Fantina's Pokemon Contest to be done and ready. By now, they were expecting it to be done sometime around the Black Crusade or after it. This first night was already fierce and it was only intensifying it seemed.
But aside from that, arriving Magehold with the two princesses were Sweet Fang and her group. With Cadence and the older Flurry Heart in their disposal, the two alicorns were in massive peril. Still unconscious and unable to wake up thanks to the drink they took, the two alicorns were to have their lifespans taken away by them and given to the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta.
And as for where they would be kept? Within the chambers that hold vampires who combust and return to Magehold just to recover. And it was even the same place where Fantina was first kept after being kidnapped. Cadence and Flurry Heart found themselves in a similar position. Their unconscious bodies were resting in these massive tube-shaped containers. Watching over their bodies was Sweet Fang, who still had a Golurk next to her, taken straight from the Crystal Empire.
The liquid magic inside of the containers gave off a virulent appearance. Almost poisonous. The two alicorns wouldn't know what it felt like as they were still unconscious.
"Glad that didn't take too much work." Sweet Fang said. "Her majesty will absolutely love this. The magic within these containers will not only show us how long their lifespans are but it will also leave some of it behind. Just for future purposes. Having a lifespan around as a form of magic will be incredibly helpful."
"Personally, I was expecting us to use the power of an alicorn. Imagine if we could turn them into vampires." A vampire added, wanting alicorns on the Dread League's side.
"Eh. That's not our expertise. Vampiric genes flowing inside of somepony else is hard to accomplish and we certainly can't do it. These two alicorns are expendable anyway when you think about it. The ones we should really be focusing on are Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. And that other Flurry Heart. Can you imagine what would happen if we got them here?
"True immortality." Another vampire answered in an instant. "Queen Rosa is certainly better than the other Lich Rulers we've had and I'd prefer to keep her around."
"We all do. And let's make sure that happens. Pretty soon, these two beauties will be the first to guarantee our wonderful Queen's long-lasting reign." Sweet Fang deviously cackled.
Princess Cadence and the Alternate Universe Princess Flurry Heart. Both were just seen as victims for the terrifying Lich Queen. And with them being here, it seemed like the possibility of them losing their lifespans was imminent. They had no allies around them. Not even the Golurk. It was still under Sweet Fang's powerful control.
If there was one single ally these two had, it would be Fantina or even Yveltal. But alas, Yveltal was also a victim and a weapon for the Black Crusade. And as for Fantina, her role in all of this had yet to truly burst out. The Black Crusade showed just what it can accomplish by bringing destruction and dread to many in a hopeful world as the journey continues.
"Your majesty. We have them here for you." Entering the room where the Lich Queen was healing up were Sweet Fang and the other vampires that managed to capture Princess Cadence and the Alternate Universe Flurry Heart.
After placing them within the tubes that were found in the chamber, they were ready to become victims for the Lich Queen. Both of them had their regalia off, tossed elsewhere as they lost their royal appearances. Rosa Maledicta, who has stayed completely still during the Black Crusade, opened her eyes to see the two unconscious alicorns from the Crystal Empire
"All those Bane Liquids have made it so that they're eligible for absorption. We came here to give them to you as soon as possible." Sweet Fang.
"Excellent work, Sweet Fang. I'll be sure to give youa personal reward after this." Rosa Maledicta spoke. "You said you wished to rule the Crystal Empire if you got the chance, correct?"
"Yes, yes! So that's what I'll get?!" Sweet Fang squeed with glee. Because of her successful mission, she was granted the gift of becoming the Crystal Empire's next ruler.
"Of course. Now...if I absorb their lifespans, not only will I receive a longer-lasting life, but my magic will even be restored. I can't wait. Ith as to be done now." With her eyes widening, Rosa Maledicta's horn would immediately shoot out a stream of magic that divided into two parts.
The magical stream acted like a leech, digging directly into the hearts of Cadence and Flurry Heart. And all it took was Rosa Maledicta's involvement to wake up these two alicorns. Cadence and Flurry Heart felt their hearts being attacked, instantly waking them up from what seemed like an eternity of being unconscious.
"G..GAAAAAH!" Both of them screamed as a vital part of them was being sucked away by Rosa Maledicta's magic. Their pupils shrank as their magical essences were travelling through the dark green stream of Rosa's magic.
"As an alicorn, you have all the time in the world. Possibly longer than any vampire here. Which is why alicorns will be the first obstacles out of the way for the rest of the Black Crusade. I can't have someone who can have enough time to make a comeback." Rosa spoke while absorbing their lifespans.
It was an unusual feeling. Unlike anything they've ever felt before. Every movement sent waves of throbbing pain through their chests and heads. It was highly exhausting and they felt sick, but there seemed to be nothing they could do about it considering their situation. Their head felt eerily light, everything seemed to spin around them in a blur of motion as there was absolutely nothing that could carry them or help them out of this while all the vampires watched this play out.
And in connection to their pain, it brought relief to Rosa Maledicta as seen by the smile that formed on her face. She felt like she was in paradise as the room itself was trembling. Afterwards, Rosa's stream disappeared. Cadence and Flurry Heart would both drop to the floor, bewildered and perplexed in various ways.
And as for Rosa Maledicta, she felt even better than before. After absorbing the lifespans of the two alicorns, she felt a good chunk of her magic return to her. Her hooves could move around some more instead of being mainly static. To test it out, Rosa Maledicta exited the Healing Pod, touching the floor once more to get a good feeling of her rejuvenated state.
"Oh, this is excellent. I still have ways to go if I want to make a full recovery, but for what I have now, it's highly promising. I was right to take the lifespan of an alicorn."
"W-What did you do to us...? Where are we?" Cadence was incredibly confused as she and Flurry Heart started coughing after being woken up so abruptly. Their eyes went up to see the Lich Queen herself along with other vampires next to them. It didn't take long for them to realize where they were and the kind of company they were around.
"Y-You're...The Lich Queen!" Cadence gasped after seeing Rosa Maledicta's face. And the fact that she stuck out from all the vampires, lacking any vampiric wings.
"Mom...I feel light..." Flurry Heart focused on how she felt. A part of her was completely off. The young alicorn slumped her head on the floor, feeling rather limp.
"What have you done to us?!" Cadence questioned, trying to get back up.
"You should know why. It's your lifespan. I took some of them from you. Not all of it. Not yet anyway. You'll need to spend some more time in those chambers if you're to have every piece of your lifespan taken away from you. Luckily alicorns."
"You took away our lifespans...?" Cadence's jaw dropped. Some of it had been taken away but not all of it. However, Rosa Maledicta intended to make sure that all of it was gone.
"It's thanks to those Bane Liquids that I could pull it off. Without it, it wouldn't have been possible, so I need you alive in the meanwhile to fuel me. And you should know how detrimental it is for an alicorn to lose their lifespans...Don't you?"
"Yeah, don't you?" Sweet Fang giggled, taunting Cadence and Flurry Heart. "I guess you don't."
"It can't be..." Cadence coughed. "Lifespans don't mean that much, even if you're an alicorn. I'd still gladly live a short life with those around me even if I don't get that long-lasting opportunity."
"Those are bold worlds, Princess Cadence. Of course, you and your daughter, both of them, are young alicorns. You're not as seasoned as Celestia and Luna." Rosa Maledicta paced around the two young alicorns. "You've yet to live as long as them but I can guarantee that they know how important an alicorn's lifespan is, Cadence."
"What? Why?"
"Why do you think there are so few alicorns in the world? The first ones to become alicorns were Sunlight and Eventide, so the stories say. And following that were their children, Celestia and Luna, who both became alicorns at a young age. None were born as alicorns compared to your daughter over here and the other one, of course. It's because their existence is one of the few things in the world represented by the Primordial Magic. You could say that you, your daughters and the other alicorns are Walking Primordial Magic. A Necessary Existence for the Origin of Magic."
"Seriously? Us?" Cadence uttered, finding this hard to believe. But she had to know more. Even Sweet Fang and the other vampires had to know more about this.
"Feeling proud of yourself? You should. The moment you became alicorns, your lifespans grew to new heights. You weren't like other ponies. You were chosen to be royalty even though you were never one in the first place. The same goes for those Changelings. Chrysalis and her mother are nothing but Gangly Black Pegacorns with how they stick out from the rest."
"If you said our existence is necessary...why are you doing this then?" Cadence questioned.
"I'm remaking everything, can't you tell? The Black Crusade will wipe the slate clean. Not just on earth, or the universe but multiple universes with their own stories to tell. You should know that by now. But even after eradicating all life...I won't be able to change that status quo. Because there will always be an alicorn. You exist in the world because of the first Magic."
"Uh, what does that mean your majesty?" Sweet Fang asked, highly curious.
"The Primordial Magic is sentient. It's its own being instead of just being some random form of energy. And as such, it has its own way of thinking. From it came a chunk of magic that would grant one the power of an alicorn. This magic embedded itself into our world and hibernated, waiting for the day when an alicorn would finally appear. Because of that magic, an alicorn will continue to exist and that correlates with your lifespan. I can't change the status quo because of the Primordial Magic. The best I can do is wipe out all life. And even after that is all said and done, somehow, in some way, it will bring an alicorn into the world."
"So then why keep trying? If you know an alicorn is going to show up eventually in the future, then your plan to eradicate life will be for nothing." Cadence did raise a good question to Rosa Maledicta.
From what she was saying, there will always be an alicorn in the future. And because of the Primordial Magic, it will happen. Life will continue and it would seem that the Lich Queen and all the previous LIch Rulers and the objective that was given to them by the Lich Cycle, would be pointless in the end.
"It's annoying I know. Which is why the only way to stop it is to change the Primordial Magic itself. It is what every form of magic originally comes from. It is the biggest tree imaginable and everything we have are its fruits. It can mould into anything. Alicorns, Unicorns, Earth Ponies, Pegasi, Changelings, Vampires, Liches, objects and so much more. It can be whatever it wants to be. And when I get to it, I will mould it myself and decide everything from there."
"That's impossible!" Cadence saw that as highly impossible. Even if she didn't know about this whole Primordial Magic thing, even she can tell that something so important was impossible to reach.
"Yes. It is impossible. For someone who won't be around for too long. But with your lifespans, I will have all the time in the world to make it happen. It doesn't matter how long it will take, I will be around to make sure that I see it happen. For now, the Black Crusade is my main priority and it's already going well. You two will continue to fuel me until I'm satisfied. And I won't stop at you. You know who I'm going for next, don't you?"
"T-Twilight...! My baby!" Cadence gasped, knowing that Twilight, her younger Flurry Heart and the two Sisters were next.
"Not just them. But also the Changeling Queens. Both of them." Rosa Maledicta revealed more. "Those two are Gangly Black Pegacorns. They are the closest to alicorns and they even share long lifespans as well. Of course, I was planning to do this without my own magic and instead the Parasite Demon. But the Changelings took it from me. Which is why I'll be getting the Box of 100 Demons back."
"And you will your majesty! Melody Moon and Bittersweet took the task of going for the Box of 100 Demons themselves. I'm sure they'll get it back." Sweet Fang spoke.
"Good. As for you two, you now know quite a bit about the Primordial Magic. That won't matter for long since you'll become skeletons later down the road. But if you have any questions for me, go on ahead. I won't be able to answer all of them since there's still so much we don't know about it."
"I don't have any questions for you. I won't be seeing you at all later because my Shining Armor will be here for me!" Cadence was adamant, believing that her husband would show up to save her.
"Tch. As if." Rosa Maledicta scoffed at that. "You put too much faith in him. He's no Knight in Shining Armor. Take these two away back to the chamber. Place more of the Bane Liquids in them and bring them back here."
"Yes, your majesty. Come on, you two." Sweet Fang and the other vampires approached the two alicorns. Cadence and Flurry Heart would try to resist but were too weak to do so, still feeling the effects of Rosa Maledicta's magic and the drink they took. As such, they were picked up by the vampires, unable to fight back at all.
"As for the Changelings, the curse I put on Chrysalis will doom her but I still need her lifespan either way. I'll make sure that Melody Moon and Bittersweet know to bring the Changeling Queen directly to them as well as the box. And she needs to be here before she kicks the bucket." Rosa Maledicta said to herself. "And after I take all of their lifespans, I'll be around long enough to reach the Primordial Magic and change everything. I'll finish what all other Liches failed to finish in the first place."
The Crystal Empire.
Meanwhile, over at the Crystal Empire, Ash-Sombra was about to confront the Windigos. By using a tower of shadows along with some levitation, he brought himself up to their level. This was definitely Sombra's doing as he refused to let anyone be above him in any way.
Ash-Sombra reached the very top where the Windigos could be found. His crimson eyes stared directly at their spectral light blue eyes with no signs of fear. Watching them from above was Shining Armor, the citizens who were slowly being frozen along with the Golurk and Sableye that were still around.
"We meet at last, Windigos. How long has it been since an Umbrum has come across a Windigo?"
"Far too long..." Surprisingly, they spoke back. And the way they spoke matched their spectral and cold appearances. It felt like a blizzard was talking, leaving behind an echo. However, despite how loud their voices were, to Shining Armor and everyone below them, it just sounded like the Windigos were constantly howling. Only Ash-Sombra could hear them speak at this height. "And in the body of a human, no less. You are the most recent Umbrum we've seen in centuries. The rest no longer appear in this world physically in any way."
"That doesn't matter though. Even though I'm not the ruler of this place anymore, this is still my home you're targeting. And I won't let you freeze it all. And not only that, you're letting vampires order you around."
"Much like the Umbrum, we benefit from the Vampires' spoils. It is a symbiotic process for us. Your species brought fear out of everyone around them, leading to them starting conflicts over the smallest things most of the time. It was always delicious to us." The Windigos replied, going off on how they enjoyed the fighting that was caused by the Umbrum sometimes and how much it satisfied their hunger.
"Yes, yes, that's all nice. Even though I never went that route. I prefer a dominating form of fear more than anything."
"But you...You lack that Umbrum Spirit in you. It's gone from you completely, Sombra."
"G-Gone?!" Ash-Sombra pulled back. "Nonsense! I still have it in me! What makes you think it's all gone and I am still an Umbrum?!"
"It is that boy you're with." The Windigos aimed their spectral hooves at Ash-Sombra, referring to Ash. "He completely contrasts you."
"Oh, of course." ASh-Sombra sighed. "The boy. But I am in control now. For the most part anyway. He relinquished his spirit and soul for me to take control...Even though he somehow gets a chance to speak."
"You've grown soft. That is unlike an Umbrum. That boy is to blame. And we have seen it from that speech he gave when took control of his body once more."
"Just because I'm inhabiting his body now, doesn't mean I've lost my spirit! If I wanted to, I could retake the Crystal Empire, but complications have risen!" Ash-Sombra vehemently denied it. "I'm my own Umbrum since I'm the only one around!" He roared at them refusing to let them call him soft or underestimate him despite his current situation.
"You cannot prove to us that you still have it in you. That boy. He represents the complete opposite of what we aim for. If it were not for the Dread League assisting us, we would have vanished just by what he said earlier."
"Tch. Lame." Ash-Sombra scoffed. In that instance, Sombra talked exactly like Ash without Ash needing to take control. A bit of Ash was rubbing off on him. "You do realize that the Black Crusade will leave you with nothing to feed off on! If all life is gone, what is there for you to do!"
"There will always be more life. The Primordial Magic will make sure of it." The Windigos uttered. "We will gladly assist the Dread League if it means that we can constantly feed off hatred. For too long we have been restrained from feeding off hatred due to how the world has developed. We never have the opportunity to appear in the world as much as we wish to. But that can all change now. And what can you even do to us?"
"As if I'd let you go through with that. I wasn't sure how to deal with you since you did not vanish after the brat's speech." Ash Sombra scoffed. "But I've learned by now that there is no force in this world that can be taken out. And I believe I can show you your worst fears and drive you away!"
"No. You will do no such thing. Instead, we will do something similar and bring out the worst in you. And by you, we mean the boy." Suddenly, The Windigos reversed things on Ash-Sombra. Before he could imbue them with fear, the Windigos did it themselves, sending an instant yet powerful wave of blizzards towards the Duo King. But instead of fear, it would be hatred.
Ash-Sombra gasped as his body was immediately engulfed by this powerful blizzard. He closed his eyes as he felt some familiarity with this magic. It was indeed similar to what Sombra produces when digging into someone's fears. The Windigos could do the same but with a different approach and intention.
"If we draw out his worst parts, we can eliminate the boy from the picture." The Windigos saw Ash as a threat to their entire species, wanting him gone as soon as possible. "What drives him to anger more than anything? We already see many options in front of us."
"Oh, man...!" Ash took control. "What's going on?!"
"You'd better not let any of your worst parts get out boy!" Sombra spoke before using his shadows to try and retaliate. Soon a wave of Shadows would clash with the wave of Spectral Magic, beginning the confrontation between Ash-Sombra and the Windigos.
Both of them were trying to bring out something in each of them. And already, the Windigos managed to conjure up something big digging into Ash's memories. Shining Armor looked up to see this powerful clash of two different elements. It was also his first viewing of what Windigo magic looked like. As for Ash, he was unaware of what was about to be shown to him as even though he wasn't in control of his body, he would be targeted from the inside.
From Ash's own point of view, the Windigos managed to conjure up two familiar faces. Those faces ended up being himself. Specifically, his younger self. Ash's younger years when journeyed across Kanto and Johto showed up along with the time he journeyed across the Hoenn Region.
"It's me? Twice?" Naturally, Ash was confused. Why were these two being shown? And noticeably, he was in a dark room. The same dark room that Sombra resides in whenever he speaks through Ash. "But why's it just those two outfits I wore?"
"Everyone has something that brings out the worst in them." Suddenly, the Windigos would appear in this dark room with their spectral heads, speaking to Ash. "Even you. What we found dates back to your younger years. Oh, you were so quick to action back then compared to now. And rather quick to hostility, weren't you?"
The Windigos went further, showing exactly what they meant by that. The projections of Kanto and Hoenn Ash all showed recent memories. Both of these older versions of Ash were rather quick to anger at times. Ash looked at these memories of these moments as the Windigos hovered next to him.
"You have grown since then but nothing is stopping us from bringing those traits out of you again. Especially with what you can become later down the road."
"Gee...I guess I was pretty quick to action back then, huh?" Ash scratched his hair, not really getting much of a reaction out of this. He wasn't really phased by it. The time he tackled Lucario was shown and that had no effect either. His constant babbling during his earlier years didn't even seem to have an effect.
"Not bothered by these, are you? Well, that makes sense considering you are where you are now. But there is one part of you that is greatly tied to Pokemon which can most definitely reappear. Allow us to show you. "The Windigo went further once more, showing Ash another part that could bring out the worst in him.
Appearing right after Kanto and Johto and Hoenn Ash was the next version of himself that travelled across the Sinnoh Region. It was fitting that he was the next one to show up. And as for this one, this version of Ash was less about what he said and did but what he felt.
"What if your methods as a Pokemon Trainer are challenged once more? Your goal is Champion Leon but can you even reach that goal at all?" The Windigos referred to when Ash's way of raising and training his Pokemon was challenged by none other than Paul. Paul was the first one to really bring something new out of Ash, making him rethink things for the first time.
"What if happens again?" Another Windigo said to him. "There are many trainers at the top you have yet to encounter. Can you hope to reach Leon with them in the way? The way you go about things might seem rather...slow to many others. We've seen it. Your losses in the past. The loss you might receive from the World Champion could be larger than ever if you even get the chance to reach it. What if a trainer from the Pokemon World Championships challenges your way of training once more?"
"What if your attempts lead to constant failure? Your rankings plummet and there is only one way to rise back up to the top before it is too late?"
"Perhaps you will take matters into your own hands to try and face off against that Paramount Trainer? Anything to reach the goal you've longed for ever since you were a child."
"It's been too long, don't you think? Becoming a Pokemon Master seems so close yet those who stand in your way will continue to pull that dream of yours away."
Ash simply stood there in silence, closing his eyes as the Windigos went on, trying to bring the worst parts out of Ash. Right now, they wanted to see him doubt himself and take a different path when it comes to training his Pokemon. A path that all of his friends would most certainly reject. The Windigos threw more possibilities at him, speaking about the worst possible scenarios that involved him and all of his friends. They were truly trying to change Ash's way of thinking in the same way that Paul did. They would even summon more projections of these scenarios to show Ash, who wasn't even watching.
Meanwhile, outside, Sombra was struggling to keep the Windigos at bay with shadows. They outnumbered him and their combined might was highly troublesome for the former King of the Crystal Empire. The tower of shadows was beginning to crumble.
"What will it be, boy?" The Windigos questioned, waiting for Ash's answer.
"Sorry. But you're not Paul." Ash gave his response. And it was one that stayed true to who he was now. He did not let the Windigos get to him. "I'm over that stuff now. You're not gonna get any of this out of me ever again. Not when my friends are with me."
"So, you believe you are beyond this at this point?
"Way beyond it? I've got my friends to thank for that." Ash smiled as the Windigos failed to bring out Ash's worst traits from within. Ash had far surpassed all of that thanks to all the friends around him. "It's my friends that I have to thank. There's no way I could've done all of that on my own, ya know?"
"No belief that you would've surpassed that on your lonesome? That is entirely new..." The Windigos circled Ash with their spectral forms, forming a ghost-like gust above him.
"It's true for everyone I've met though. It's always been their friends that helped 'em. And I've got my friends too. And it's gonna be their energy that helps me get through this and reach the top with Leon."
"Such energy and persistence. It reminds us of when those three ponies overcame our power." The Windigos referred to the three ponies who helped form Equestria. Princess Platinum, Clover the Clever and Chancellor Puddinghead. "It has been many years since another being has retaliated against us. Then again, it was only them for the longest."
"Years after our previous appearance and you, a visit from another world that is now one with ours, just so happens to appear and exist. What an annoying coincidence."
"I can see why the Sirens struggled to overtake Equestria for so long. Beings like you are always going to be around, aren't you? Yet there is something about you, boy. The energy you bring is rather...volatile to our species. Yes. Very volatile."
"It is?" Ash replied.
"We would be gone if it were not for the vampires. The energy you carry with you exceeds that of what those three ponies brought back in that cave. How annoying that our presence is so fragile because of something as common as love."
"It doesn't have to be like that though. You didn't show up for so long because nothing like what happened before Equestria was founded happened for a whole bunch of years."
"Precisely. Our species are always waiting. But it is incredibly frustrating how long we have to wait because of how the world appears now. Even when the invasion from that Empress occurred, we could not appear. And all it would take is love to ruin everything for us. In all honesty, it is a rather cursed existence."
"Imagine that. Being so susceptible to such a common force and being hidden away for so long, unable to do anything at all. We always have to wait. And wait. And wait until something happens."
"Huh...You guys live in the Hyperborean Island, right? What happens there?"
"Our existence there means nothing either." Even that island did nothing for them. "Can you imagine that yourself, Ash Ketchum?"
"I can," Ash replied, surprising the Windigos. "It'd be the worst for sure. But it doesn't have to be lik that, ya know."
"But it is. Our love for hatred is what fuels us, much like the sirens. How can you expect us to bypass that?"
"You can always have someone to give that love back in a different way."
"A different way? What are you proposing."
"The best kind of love is the one that comes right back to you." Ash continued as his eyes followed the Windigos above. "It's always awesome when it happens and means a lot to someone."
"We have no one to love but the force of hatred itself."
"Not even each other?"
"Why would we have each other? We are simply spirits. The day we were created, we had no other purpose in life until we found it. Unless you're suggesting you can give us what you speak of?"
"I can try at least. Are ya gonna give me that chance? We've already got this dark room to ourselves. And just like everything in Equestria and beyond, I wanna know all about you." Ash saw past what the Windigos were normally seen as. The spirits stayed silent for a moment, eyeing down Ash. There was absolute silence here. The projections the Windigos made would even fade away. The silence was deafening as not even the howls of the Windigos were heard.
"This conversation is over." At that moment, the Windigos spoke. And they all collectively agreed to end this conversation with Ash. They failed to bring out the worst him in after all.
However, the Windigos were still active on the outside, conjuring their blizzard to go against Sombra's shadows. Sombra was beginning to lose because of the disadvantage he was at. And it didn't help that the body was freezing from all of this cold. It was still the body of a human after all.
"G-Gen!" It was hard for even Gengar to get up there. Sirfetch'd certainly couldn't do it and Shining Armor had no chance either. All they could do was watch as these two elements go up against each other.
"Okay! I'm back!" Ash spoke through Sombra. "Had a chat with the Windigos!"
"You what?!" Sombra exclaimed. "That's what you've been doing while I'm struggling here?! Tell me you can do something to assist me!"
"I got something! Just use my Aura, Sombra! You're using my body so you can use my Aura. It's all yours." Ash encouraged Sombra to use his Aura since it was available. Ash-Sombra liked the sound of that. Utilizing the Aura was rather promising, especially with how impressive Ash's Aura was.
By syncing with Ash, Sombra would draw out the Aura from within, revealing its Azure Blue appearance. The Aura flowed across Ash-Sombra's arms before then entering the shadows themselves. The Aura and Shadows mixed with each other, creating a colour contrast that was pleasing to the eyes but also intimidating.
Soon, the Aura would elevate the shadows, allowing them to push back against the Blizzard. Sombra cackled after using Ash's Aura for himself. The Windigos found themselves losing the struggle now that Ash's Aura was involved. But it wasn't much of a struggle since they were winning for the most part.
And noticeably, the sparks of the Aura would reach the Windigos, making them howl out in response as it made direct contact with them, in the same way, Sombra's shadows did.
"The unity of your Aura and my Shadows are rather impressive!" Ash-Sombra grinned. "Together, we can destroy a Windigo with this!"
"We're not gonna destroy them." However, with Ash taking control, his Aura would overlay Sombra's shadows, masking them. Ash refused to destroy the Windigos. It wasn't like he was planning to do so in the first place.
"What?! If we don't then-"
"It's fine, Sombra. Let me take the helm back for a while." Ash took control for a little while. He continued to use his Aura but as an extension, he utilized Sombra's shadows as well. By controlling both of them in his own way, Ash would use the Aura Shadows to cover the Blizzard. But that was as far as it went. After engulfing the Blizzard in a Shadowy Aura, the Windigos would feel the atmosphere change.
The fierce atmosphere they created was being altered by the mixture of Aura and Umbrum Magic. They would feel this change as their blizzard vanished from their sights. The fierce winds they brought even died down. Ash-Sombra sighed, lowering his arms as his Aura Shadow would then dissipate, disappearing along with the fierce blizzard.
"That takes care of that. But man my hands are cold now...!" Ash-Sombra shuddered before giving control back to King Sombra.
"What have you done, boy?" Sombra questioned, wondering why the Windigos were still here.
"Interesting." The Windigos said. "No one has ever subdued our blizzard in such a way before. Not in such a direct way at all. And our presence is still prominent here for many to see."
"Never before, you say?" Ash-Sombra uttered. "This is a first?"
"Our bodies have remained here instead of returning to the beyond. Not even the Hyperborean Island is within our sights. You have managed to moderate it by coming the Power of Aura and the Power of the Umbrum. You could have sent us back to where we came from if you allowed Sombra to fully take control."
"If there's a chance I can understand you, then I'll do it. It's not usually this high up or in a clash like this." He grinned as the side of Ash was fully showing. "I heard all you said back in there. So that's what I decided to go with."
"Don't tell me you're trying to befriend these things?!" Sombra gasped, picking up on what Ash was trying to do. It was very much like him. "WIndigos are exempt from that, boy! It's far past them due to what they stand for!"
"Sombra is right. However, it is interesting that you still managed to achieve that. The only way to overcome such a blizzard is with the Magic of Love. Yet you found a different way of doing so on your own. Tell us. Do you truly intend to reach us in the way you think you can."
"Totally!" Ash said with full confidence. "It's different from what I'm used to but that won't stop me from trying. If it doesn't work out, then it's fine by me. If we keep going against each other, I'll just do what I can to keep everyone else around me safe."
"We see. In all of our years of existing, no one has ever talked to us in such a way. Or either approached us in such a way. You are willing to give us a chance despite what you know about us. You are honestly taking the chance to challenge fate itself and expect to win?"
"Mhm."
"We see. Then...We shall remember this for ourselves. Wherever there is hatred, we will appear again. In the chance we meet again, Ash Ketchum, we will wait to see what your next interaction is with us. Perhaps it will be soon. You are planning to head to Magehold after all, are you not?"
"That's right. But we've still got this Shadow Spire to deal with though. We haven't gotten past that yet." Ash-Sombra said. "Unless...can you guys get rid of it?"
"You expect us to remove the Shadow Spire? Indeed, we have the power to affect it. The Spire will weaken with our influence but it will take someone else to fully destroy it."
"Awesome! We can do just that! And I know Twilight's out there planning on it with our Z-Crystal! So you'll help weaken it after all?"
"We shall refuse. And instead, we shall return to where we came from. But as we said before, we will remember this, Ash Ketchum." The Windigos did not assist them. "However, Sombra, as an Umbrum can have an influence on it. These are shadows after all and there is a way to weaken them. For now, farewell."
And just like that, the Windigos would vanish from their sight. Like a gust of wind, they dispersed. Ash-Sombra witnessed their disappearance but he firmly believed he would see them again. With the Windigos leaving, the frozen ponies would be freed once more, no longer doomed to be trapped in an icy prison.
"Unbelievable. You managed to steer away the Windigos in your own unique way. It's annoying how good you are at things like this, boy." Sombra sighed, rather annoyed that Ash managed to pull something like that off in his own way instead of the usual way a Windigo is defeated.
"Thanks. Anyway, about that spire. So can you really do something about it?"
"They are shadows, so yes, I can affect them in the same way I managed to pass through them. However, it is still difficult for me. Shadow Spires are on a different level compared to what I can do."
"Then let's use the Aura. Like we did before." Ash suggested. "Your Aura and my Shadows. Let's use them again and see what happens."
"Hm. Not a bad idea. Very well. then. Let's see what comes from this." Sombra agreed to use the Aura once more. The unification of Aura and Shadow seemed to be a rather great combination despite it being the first time it was utilised. Now it was time to see how far it could take them.
They managed to make the Windigos leave. Mainly Ash did. And even the citizens were free from the chilling aura that nearly imprisoned them. There was still a lot to do and one of which was destroying the Shadow Spire. Or at least weakening it enough.
The Shadow Spire. A fearsome form of Dark Magic that has caged the entirety of the Crystal Empire. Difficult to get through unless you have access to such magic, it was also troublesome to get rid of considering the very few known methods that work on it.
Ash-Sombra was prepared to use one of those methods. Sombra was an Umbrum, thus, giving him a strong connection to the shadows. But even Sombra was unsure of his own capabilities when it comes to the Shadow Spire, however, encouragement from Ash would change that as the duo planned to merge Aura and Shadows together.
"Listen. The Shadow Spire is full of the cruellest form of Dark Magic possible. Even to me, an Umbrum, it's incredibly volatile. Anyone would hesitate to deal with this kind of magic. If we want to get rid of it as soon as possible, the very top is what matters. Once this spire is down, the Crystal Empire will be free. And besides, I don't have that much time left when it comes to controlling your body so we can't afford to keep this thing up" Ash-Sombra spoke.
"Got it. The very top." Ash replied, taking control of his body for a moment. "Together!" In unison, Ash and Sombra would unify their respective elements. Aura and Shadow. Aura would appear on the right arm of Ash's body while the Shadows appeared on the left.
With both of these respective powers forming, Ash-Sombra clapped his hands together, allowing the Aura and Shadow to merge as one. Ash-Sombra then elevated the shadow tower, further rising through the air. Ash-Sombra already confronted the Windigos from earlier so he was already close to the top.
The very top of the Shadow Spire resembled that of an eye. And at that very top, the entirety of the spire was held together. But as Ash-Sombra got close, everything became darker. The top of the Spire carried the most amount of darkness, altering the vision of the Duo King.
Ash-Somrba would then raise his arms, sending the Aura Shadow upwards in the form of a stream. With both of these respective powers unifying, they ended up boosting each other in strength. The Aura Shadow Stream struck the very top of the Spire, hitting the eye as a shockwave emerged from it.
And already, when making contact with it, the destructive nature of the Shadow Spire would latch itself onto Ash-Sombra. The darkness travelled through the Aura Shadows, meeting his Ash-Sombra's body and much like how it gave a shock to Twilight, Ash-Sombra was met with an equally shocking feeling.
His body was hit with something truly malicious. Something so vile and horrid that it could make anyone pass out if it lingered too long around them. And with Ash's body being used, it felt that sensation which carried an unbridled amount of malice. He grit his teeth as one eye closed in response to this feeling. His legs trembled and his arms even shuddered. However, with the combination of Ash and Sombra working together, they had to endure it.
"Don't lose your focus! I can use my shadows to raise our durability but it won't be enough to fully overcome this!" Ash-Sombra growled with Sombra being the one to speak. He instantly used magic to raise his durability, allowing him to last longer. Unlike Twilight, who pulled back the moment the shadows came into contact with her, Ash-Sombra would stand his ground, continuing to pour Aura Shadows into the spire.
Waves of throbbing, nauseating pain pulsed within his abdomen as Ash-Sombra's mind raced, half panicked half determined. His head felt heavier and heavier as each pulse of throbbing pain pounded his senses over and over again. An overwhelming feeling of dread took over but that was something neither Ash nor Sombra aimed to let pass. There was no way they'd let the Dread League win in any way. Not when the stakes were this high.
Meanwhile, Shining Armor, Gengar and Sirfetch'd watched as Ash-Sombra combated the shadows above. And with seemingly no interruption. At least not yet. The remaining Sableye and Golurk were still an issue. Prior to this, Shining Armor and his guards managed to subdue a handful of them but eventually lost due to exhaustion.
They were recently held back by the struggle that Ash-Sombra and the Windigos had but now they were prepared to close in once more. Shining Armor, still pretty beat up, decided to try and defend Ash-Sombra from any outside attacks. But the number difference was still staggering. Even with Gengar and Sirfetch'd here, it would be pressurizing.
The Sableye crept up to where Shining Armor, Gengar and Sirfetch'd were standing while some of the Golurks would land to confront them. Even with Windigos gone, this one problem persisted. Sweet Fang's control was truly powerful. Shining Armor attempted to go for his Poke Ball, recalling that Aegislash was still injured and had yet to be healed. He only had two of Ash's Pokemon to help him here.
Or so it seemed. A group of Sableye would suddenly leap out of the shadows, striking at their fellow Sableye and catching them off guard. These Sableye would drop the ground thanks to this sneak attack as they never expected it in the first place. Neither did Shining Armor or the others.
That was because these Sableye were the first ones Ash-Sombra bumped into when passing through the Shadow Spire. Not only that, but they were the first ones to be free from the mind control as well thanks to Sombra's magic.
"Gengar?!" Gengar said to these Sableye, wondering why they were suddenly attacking their own.
"Sableye!" But it quickly took the answer from one Sableye to let Gengar know why this was the case. Ash-Sombra obviously hasn't managed to free every single Sableye. He was focused on going to the source after all. However, he did take the time to free a few of them along the way when attempting to pursue the vampires.
Appearing from above and knocking the Golurks were other Golurks that Sombra's magic managed to free. They were also caught off guard by their fellow species, receiving a swift yet hard smack to the heads. The Golurks descended with few numbers, blending into the scenery and appearing to be under the control of Sweet Fang.
But not any more. With them playing it safe, they managed to land some sneak attacks against the other Golurks, away from the sights of others. However, the number gap was still noticeable, at least when it came to the Sableye. The Sableye surpassed the Golurks easily.
"Oh...Are you back to your senses now?" Shining Armor asked the Golurk and Sableye that snuck on their fellow species.
"Golurk!" To show that, the Golurk would collectively salute at Shining Armor, regaining their loyalty to the Crystal Empire. Well, it always there but under the influence of someone else with completely different intentions.
This brought further relief to Shining Armor. He could smile knowing that were still some hope managing to pour out. But he was still hoping to see the rest of his family first. He already knew where two of them were but the other one, baby Flurry Heart was a mystery.
"That's great and all, but we're still outnumbered here." Shining Armor pointed out the obvious. "And those ones are already closing in on Ash and Sombra up there. At least tell me you know where my baby Flurry Heart is?"
Underground.
Still underground. That was where she was. She and Sunburst were still travelling the underground of the Crystal Empire, evading the conflict from above for the sake of Flurry Heart's safety. With Sunburst's Lampent leading the way, lighting up the place with its flames, they seemed to be going nowhere with how large the underground was. At least they didn't have to worry about any of the Golurk and Sableye showing up here.
"We're getting nowhere with this. Maybe it's already resolved back up there," said Sunburst. While things weren't so vampire-heavy back up there and the attack of the Windigos had subsided, it was still dangerous thanks to the Shadow Spire and the Pokemon that were still under Sweet Fang's control.
However, they weren't the only ones down here. Here in the underground, Lampet's light suddenly showed a face that was staring directly at the group. And it was relatively close, having an intense look. Sunburst saw this face once the light of Lampent revealed it as he was immediately startled, jumping back. The same went for the others who saw this intense face.
And the one who ended up scaring Sunburst, Flurry Heart, Azumarill and Lampent was none other than Ms Harshwhinny. Only she could make such a face. And she wasn't alone. With Lampet's light piercing through the darkness, other ponies could be seen behind her.
"So you made it down here as well?" Ms Harshwhinny said to Sunburst. "Including the Royal Baby?"
"Oh, it's just you all." Sunburst sighed, relieved to see some friendly faces. Especially ones that weren't under mind control. "You came here too?"
"We had to. Out of nowhere, the Sableye started attacking us and caught us off guard. Our homes and workspaces were completely overtaken in seconds. Luckily, some of us fled to the underground of the Crystal Empire." Harshwhinny explained.
"But why's the Royal Baby here with you? Is everything still fine up there?"
"I-I'm not sure. Plus, she just came to me all of a sudden. She did have her mother and other self with her, but they were unfortunately taken away by the Dread League."
"The Dread League?!" Hearing that name made the Crystal Ponies bellow in shock. Vampires were behind this and that only struck fear into their hearts, especially now that they've learned that two of the princesses had been kidnapped.
"Vampires...!" Harshwhinny had a different reaction from the others. "So does that mean that the Black Crusade has started?"
"I think so. They tried taking the baby but thankfully, that didn't happen. And I don't know what's happening up there right now. I was hoping to find something down here but...that didn't pan out. We're sitting Duckletts here." Sunburst sighed.
"Not yet. While we were done here, we were trying to find a way out of this place. But there are these shadows that are blocking us from doing so." Harshwhinny referred to the Shadow Spires. Even down here, it was seen by her and the other ponies. And soon, Sunburst would be shown it as Harshwhinny led the way.
Through the rest of the Crystal Empire Underground which was full of nothing but crystals, Ms Harshwhinny guided Sunburst, Flurry Heart and the Pokemon to another part of the underground. Nothing really changed down here. Unlike the Canterlot Mines, this underground was left alone for so long that nothing interesting formed at all. The best thing the underground could be used for was the constant supply of crystals but no one has even capitalized on that yet. Not even the Sableye.
But now, because of the Dread League's sudden attack, something else formed here. Seeping at the bottom of the Crystal Empire which led all the way back to the top where Ash-Sombra was struggling as the rest of the Shadow Spire. The spire truly managed to encompass all of the Crystal Empire. Not even the underground was safe from the shadows. And since it was rooted at the very bottom, past these spires was the exit of the crystal empire as the final Crystal Walls were seen, leading to nowhere else that was surrounded by crystals. Sunburst's eyes widened at this spire of shadows which stabbed into the bottom of the underground.
"It's been here for a while. But now, it looks like something's happening with it." Harshwhinny added. Little did she and everyone else know that Ash-Sombra was currently doing all he could to destroy this spire and free the Crystal Empire at last.
"Can we get rid of it?" Sunburst asked.
"As if. We tried but no one here is strong enough to break it. Our magic is completely pointless." A pony shrugged, seeing it as a pointless endeavour since none of them could destroy it. And there was quite a handful of ponies here. And when hearing this, that was when Flurry Heart stepped forward. Or rather, hovered forward.
"Princess Flurry Heart?" Harshwhinny looked up at the Baby Alicorn as many wondered why she was suddenly stepping up to the spire. But it was already obvious to Sunburst. Much like how she copied the Electric Shield from the book, the baby alicorn was attempting to throw her own effort into this. She wanted to see what she could do about this spire.
Outside.
Meanwhile, on the outside, Twilight Sparkle, Radiant Hope, Pikachu and Espeon soon noticed this as well. They saw the spire shake as if it was made out of gelatin. The spire rumbled in response to the Aura Shadow that was being fired at it. Not only that, but the energy that Ash-Sombra was outputting was flashing in the sky.
Up above, a flash of Azure light would rumble through the clouds. But this was not the sign of a thunderstorm. And when seeing the spire shake along with flashes, Twilight and Radiant but realized what this could mean.
"Oh! I think they're weakening it now! It's just as we thought, Twilight!" The Pseudo Alicorn said to the Official Alicorn.
"Can always count on Ash to get somewhere. But I guess in this case, I also have to thank Sombra for the help."
"Sombra can be reliable with his magic. For the most part, he's always focused on himself but ever since he met Ash, that's changed. This is our chance to get rid of the spire since they're both weakening it for us."
"Right. One more attempt to absorb that Dark Magic." Twilight faced the spire, prepared to try and absorb the Dark Magic once more. She figured that if it was weaker than before, she would have an easier time. There was only one way to find out. And that required her to empty out her natural magic and Rift Magic.
Once again, the two magics would flee Twilight's body, making her an empty vessel for any magic. It still amazed Radiant Hope at the fact that Twilight came up with this method herself. After emptying out a huge chunk of her magic, the Princess of Friendship use the last bit of magic she had left to absorb the darkness.
Once more, the Dark Magic that was so unspeakably cruel, would gravitate itself towards Twilight's horn. Twilight closed her eyes, bracing herself for the worst. And indeed, even when weakened, the Dark Magic responded to Twilight with a brutally violent force. Twilight gasped once the Dark Magic met with her, making Espeon worry even further about what could become of her trainer.
"Espe?!"
"It's okay, Eve!" However, this time, Twilight didn't pull back. Instead, she stood her ground, digging her hooves deep into the snow as she did not move from the spot. The Dark Magic continued to flow into her horn like a horrific poison stabbing into her repeatedly. "I can do this...!"
Having a strong sense of determination, Twilight continued to fill herself with Dark Magic, taking the punishment for herself. But she'd be lying if she said it didn't hurt. Because doing this for a few seconds or more was utterly dreadful. It was a pain most foul to the point where nothing else could really compare. There was no other pain in the world that could describe or rival the one she was feeling. And yet, she wouldn't let that get her down.
Back at the Crystal Empire, Ash-Sombra was feeling that pain as well. Both of them endured it. For the sake of everyone here. And when fighting against the Shadow Spire with the Aura Shadow, that's when he felt it. Ash-Sombra felt the spire diminish all of a sudden and it wasn't just his Aura Shadow that was behind it.
"Twilight..." Ash said, knowing exactly who was behind this. With how close the two of them are, both sides knew exactly why this was the case, further strengthening their bond. Ash regained control of his body just to grin and mention Twilight's name before focusing on the spire once more.
In unison, from two different positions, Ash-Sombra and Twilight were pouring their soul into this, doing everything they could to destroy this spire. However, the Spire's Dark Magic was so violent that it was actively fighting back against them. It fought against the Aura, the Shadows and the Vessel, refusing to let them destroy it.
At the same time, the Golurk had closed in on Ash-Sombra, attempting to knock him out of the sky. But this was soon interrupted by the Golurk who managed to be freed from Sweet Fang's mind control. They instantly intercepted their fellow Automatons, defending Ash-Sombra and letting him continue his work. Soon, a confrontation between Golurks in the air would begin.
Gengar and Sirfetch'd knew what had to be done. They had to give Ash-Sombra enough time so that he can destroy the Shadow Spire once and for all. Sirfetch'd would be the one to attack and defend thanks to the Leek Sword and Shield he possessed. Gengar already descended into the shadows, ready to surprise his opponents when they least expected it.
Even with the Windigos gone and the Vampires fleeing, the remains of the Dread League were powerful and refused to diminish. Not until everything was covered in dread.
"This is...This is unbelievably tough!" Twilight said to herself, still struggling to absorb all of the Dark Magic. She breathed in and out as she felt her body heating up and freezing at the same time. This was thanks to the Dark Magic and its cruel effects. Even with her strong will, Twilight was still feeling the pressure.
And at this rate, the Dark Magic would most definitely overwhelm her and emerge victorious. That is until Radiant Hope stepped in. All of a sudden, Twilight felt a different magic surround her body. A hopeful and vibrant magic that was rather welcoming. Her eyes shifted to immediately see that it was Radiant Hope that was behind this.
"Radiant?"
"I've got your back, Twilight." Radiant Hope reassured, bringing further levity to Twilight. "We' 've made some progress and we can't have it escape us. I'll use my magic to try and hold back the darkness."
"Thanks, Radiant! Eve! Do you think you could help out too?!"
"Espeon!" Espeon was already on it. Thanks to the Shadow Spire weakening, the Sun Pokemon saw this as the perfect opportunity to attack it. Prior to this, no attack aside from Pure Light would have worked on it. But now, using it when it wasn't as powerful might have an impact.
The Psychic-Type lunged into the air, covering her body in a dazzling aura of Fairy Magic. She became a star in the cold night sky, soon shooting rainbows at the Shadow Spire in succession. The rainbows crashed into the Shadow Spire, making it shake even further. Indeed, thanks to the efforts of Ash-Sombra, Twilight and now Radiant Hope, the Shadow Spire was starting to weaken once more powers got involved.
"Pika!" Pikachu saw this as an opportunity for him to strike as well. Thunderbolt was the way to go for this. He slapped his face before also leaping into the air. Pikachu gathered 100,000 volts from within, creating a thunderous flash in the sky that soon unleashed a powerful lightning bolt which joined Espeon's Dazzling Gleam.
Now, it was a struggle between the Shadow Spire and different elements. Aura, Shadows, Electricity, Fairy Magic and a force that was pulling it in. And yet, it was still putting up a fight, refusing to let itself be destroyed so easily. A storm was brewing above thanks to the clash. Everyone fighting against the Shadow Spire grit their teeth, pouring everything they had. Pikachu unloaded as much electricity as he could while Espeon continued to launch rainbow rays to pierce through the darkness.
"Come on...!" Ash-Sombra growled as his hands were trembling. "This kind of Dark Magic ridiculous. To think it's this powerful. But all the more reason I won't lose to it!" Both Ash and Sombra said this, thinking the same thing.
And it was at that moment that the eye of the Shadow Spire was beginning to crack. The spire felt something new enter the scene. A new powerful had struck it and this one seemed to be just as powerful as the ones that were already beating onto it, if not stronger. And it was simply one power and not multiple.
And the one responsible for this was the natural prodigy and the first Baby Alicorn Princess Flurry Heart. Her magic would also be poured into the Shadow Spire, gaining a reaction out of it. Her magic far surpassed anyone here in the Crystal Empire and beyond. She has already proved it multiple times, even from birth.
The residents of the Crystal Empire watched in amazement as their future Ruler was showing just how much of a prodigy she truly was. What others couldn't do together, she could do by herself, allowing her future subjects to gawk. And with Flurry Heart's involvement, the Shadow Spire felt the full force of an alicorn. Albeit a young alicorn.
Ash-Sombra, Twilight, Radiant Hope, Pikachu, Espeon and Flurry Heart, with all of their might managed to overwhelm the Shadow Spire which trapped the castle in darkness. All of their colours flew into it, meshing with the darkness before beginning to replace it. The Shadow Spire's very top was pierced by the Aura Shadow as it broke through the clouds themselves.
Twilight absorbed what was remaining of it as the Spire shattered as if it was made of glass. One minute it was acting like gelatin and the next, as fragile as glass. With the spire shattering into pieces, the dark clouds above would disperse. The Aura Shadow broke the darkness that covered the Moon, bringing levity back to the Empire.
The citizens who were tied up looked up to see the amazing sight before them. The destruction of the Shadow Spire had been pulled off along with the freedom of the empire. Even the Golurk and Sableye had to look at this for themselves as they were no longer boxed in and stuck here.
It took a combined effort and a suggestion from the Windigos but they succeeded in getting rid of another problem that the vampires had left behind. But this came with some drawbacks. And those drawbacks ended up being the effect it had on Ash-Sombra and Twilight Sparkle.
Sombra's time controlling Ash's body was up. Dealing with that Shadow Spire only accelerated the process as he relinquished control back to Ash's body. His Spirit and Soul had returned. Alas, this meant that the tower of shadows he stood on along with the levitation would fade away. And an injured Ash, who rather tuckered out because of the Dark Magic would fall.
Twilight would also fall on her back after taking the last of the Dark Magic. She was overwhelmed and perplexed in many ways. And after taking it all, she emptied the Dark Magic from her body, wanting nothing to do with it. The Dark Magic would fly out of Twilight's eyes and mouth, howling out in anger as it failed to overcome the opponents that fought against it. Radiant Hope ran up to Twilight while also watching the Dark Magic fade away, failing to do anything else now that it was truly destroyed.
Ash was set to drop on the crystal ground, only for one of the Golurk that had been freed to catch him. The Automaton Pokemon saved Ash who would've definitely become unconscious had it not been for this save. Ash had a smile on his face, knowing that he, Sombra and a few others made this happen.
"I hope you were watching that Windigos..." Ash said, laughing while feeling some pain in his arms. They almost went limp because of that struggle. But now the struggle against the Shadow Spire had ended.
There was still a lot to deal with. The Controlled Sableye and Golurk, the Kidnapping of the Two Princesses and the further handling of the Black Crusade now that it has begun and many other things to come. The vampires truly left an impact that they wanted to linger and last as this was only the beginning of their terrible crusade.
After destroying the Shadow Spire, one problem that the Crystal Empire was facing had been solved. The Crystal Empire was no longer blocked off. Ash, Sombra, Twilight, Radiant Hope, Pikachu, Espeon and Baby Flurry Heart all came together to make this possible.
However, the issue of the mind-controlled Sableye and Golurk was still present and had yet to be solved since Sweet Fang was absent. The freed Golurk gently brought Ash back to the ground as he was still feeling the blowback from interacting with the Shadow Spire's Dark Magic.
"Thanks, Golurk..." Ash groaned as he was let down, getting on one knee. "We've dealt with that but..." There was still a lot on Ash's plate. He looked over at the Golurk and Sableye that were still under control, unable to resist. Ash would even point out something about all of this that was never there when it came to Sweet Fang's magic. "Looks like Sweet Fang's magic got better. Last time, everyone back in Sci-Twi's world were freed once she left. But now, that's not the case."
Ash pointed out how Sweet Fang's magic then and now was different. It had certainly improved to have this strong of an effect when she wasn't here. Ash had to wonder if the same went for other vampires. Have they improved their magical capabilities much like Sweet Fang? A part of it got Ash both excited and worried.
"Ash! Are you alright?!" Shining Armor quickly ran over to him.
"I'm doing fine. But I can't slow down now. Not when things are picking up from here. That Shadow Spire was just the beginning." Ash replied, adjusting his hat as his clothes were slightly tattered thanks to the clash he had while Sombra was in control. "If you wanna go after your family now, then let's do that now."
"No." Surprisingly, Shining Armor did not go with the latter. Previously, he was all about finding his family. But now, his mind has changed. "I want to see them more than anything...But I also know I need all the help I can get. If they're already at Magehold, then I can't just enter there without any support. And all the support that I need is under mind control. So I'll stay here until they're all free."
"Okay." Ash understood his decision. "Let's make it happen. Sombra needs time to rest so he won't be using his magic. But there's another way to snap someone back into their senses." Just then, Ash took out the rest of his Poke Balls, throwing them into the air.
Out of them appeared Lucario, Dracovish and Dragonite. All of his Pokemon minus Pikachu were now present at the Crystal Empire for battle. Ash would go with the more upfront way of freeing someone from mind control. Sombra already used two ways previously when controlling Ash's body. So did Shining Armor and his guards but it wasn't quite enough due to the number difference.
"You can still continue?!"
"Of course, I can!" Ash grinned. Even after all of that, he had the strength to continue battling. "Shining. Now that the spire's down, you can call for the Swords of Justice, can't you? Everything's clear."
"Aegislash needs time to recover though." Unfortunately, with Aegislash being down, Shining Armor could not perform his signature call for the Swords of Justice. Specifically, his mentor. "I'm not even sure that they're nearby thanks to this expanded world."
"Then leave it to us. Only Cadence and the older Flurry Heart were taken away. That means that there's a chance that your baby is still somewhere here." Ash suggested that Shining Armor should focus on Baby Flurry Heart. "Leave the rest to us. Golurk. Sableye. Some of you should go along with Shining Armor."
"Sableye!" The freed Sableye cried out in response. Some would go with Shining Armor to assist him while others would stay behind and help Ash deal with the rest of the controlled Pokemon. And thankfully, because of how Sweet Fang had a clutch on all the Sableye and Golurk, they knew where Flurry Heart originally went to first before vanishing. Sunburst's home.
The Sableye and Golurk would lead Shining Armor, asking him to follow them. If there was anyone who'd know about where Flurry Heart was previously at, it was them. Ash, his Pokemon and some of the freed Golurk and Sableye stayed behind to confront the controlled Pokemon despite the disadvantage.
"Okay! Let's do this! Dragonite, use Draco Meteor!"
"Dra...!" Dragonite was back in action now that the chilling aura that the Windigos brought was gone. The Dragon Pokemon too flight, leaving behind a shockwave before ascending above everyone else here.
Dragonite ten shot out a purple sphere that was brimming with Draconic Energy, sending it upwards. The sphere touched te clouds which were previously darkened but were now clear thanks to the destruction of the Shadow Spire. The sphere formed its own clouds, bringing them together but formed a brighter feel compared to what was there previously. She then fiercely waved her arms downwards, causing purple meteors to rain down.
This attack was the perfect way to strike at multiple opponents. The meteors already struck some of the Golurk that were airborne, forcing them back to the crystal ground. The meteors would go after the Sableye that appeared on top of buildings which had already been ravaged. By this point, with how many crystals that have been ripped off thanks to the Sableye, Draco Meteor surprisingly caused less destruction. But it still dealt heavy damage to its opponents.
The Sabeley scattered, attempting to avoid the meteors from above. Now they were the ones running from something instead of pursuing it. And speaking of pursuing, the Golurk and Sableye who were free from Sweet Fang's control would leap into action, attempting to knock some sense into their own species.
The conflict here at the Crystal Empire continued but now the tables were starting to turn. And meanwhile, entering the Crystal Empire without having to worry about the Shadow Spire were Twilight, Radiant Hope, Pikachu and Espeon. They quickly entered the Crystal Empire, rushing to meet up with everyone else. They looked up to see meteors falling from above. Purple meteors. Twilight already knew who that belonged to as that brought a smile to her face.
Pikachu was especially in a hurry, wanting to see if Ash was okay. The Mouse Pokemon ran as fast as he could, jumping over crystal rubble. Some of the controlled Pokemon stood in their way, surprising Pikachu. "Pika?!"
"Sableye?! Golurk?!" Twilight gasped after seeing the two Ghost-Types charge a Shadow Ball, actually attempting to attack them. There was no time to stop or wonder why they were suddenly preparing to strike at them. Pikachu only knew to take action.
"Chu...Pika!" With a combination of Quick Attack and Iron Tail, Pikachu accelerated, zooming through the air while hardening his tail. The moment the Shadow Balls were collectively thrown to form a larger one, Pikachu would then swing at them, clashing with the Shadow Ball. With impressive strength, Pikachu reflected the Shadow Ball back at the Golurk and Sableye that stood in his way. They would be struck by their own attacks, making way for Pikachus' group.
"Well, looks like we showed up at a pretty hectic moment and missed out on a lot!" Radiant Hope pointed out.
"Hectic is right! What happened here while we were blocked off?!" Twilight had to wonder what kind of chaos played out in the Crystal Empire the entire time the place was caged by the Shadow Spire. A lot happened and there was more to come without a doubt.
Underground.
Meanwhile, back underground, with the Shadow Spire completely gone the very edge of the Crystal Empire from below was no longer blocked off. Alas, that didn't mean much since it was a pointless end. The ponies down here still felt nervous about going back up to the surface.
And they had every reason to. The conflict was still going on as they could hear explosive sounds occurring even from this level. Most likely, that was Dragonite's Draco Meteor at play. At this point, they were conflicted. The Shadow Spire didn't seem to mean much to them now that it was gone. It did seem pointless. However, Flurry Heart refused to stay down here forever. Not when the rest of her family were in jeopardy.
The young alicorn would continue moving, but instead of going past the edge of the Crystal Empire, she would reverse her steps. It was back to where she started. "Hm? Wait, where are you going?" Sunburst questioned. But Flurry Heart had no time to explain. Not like she had the skill to explain at such an age in the first place.
"If she's going somewhere else, it's probably better than here." Ms Harshwhinny said. "We have nowhere else to go and those shadows disappearing might be a sign of something."
"But what? What's even happening up there now that they're gone? Those things went straight through the ground." A pony wondered.
"Well, I'm not staying down here forever. I at least wanna get somewhere." Another replied, wishing to leave the underground as soon as possible. Many of the other ponies wondered. They would end up following Flurry Heart who they witnessed destroy the Shadow Spire, even though she had outside help.
They followed their future ruler, looking for a way out that didn't involve them being attacked. But little did they know, the ones who attack them recently, were searching for them, but with a different intention in mind.
Ponyville. SugarCube Corner.
Back at Ponyville, the Despair Plant was still active, attacking the town and disturbing the peace. For the most part. While it did seem as if everyone in Ponyville was woken up by the Despair Plant's actions, one pony managed to sleep through it. And that was Pinkie Pie. She was lazily sleeping in her bed with Mew right next to her.
She was peacefully asleep, barely disturbed by the sounds outside. They weren't too close to her home but they were still effective enough to reach multiple buildings. It seemed like Pinkie would sleep through the destruction of Ponyville and Mew, who was a lot like her, would do the same.
Well, that is until Jade Skies and the other Mew from Holon showed up. Jade, who was incapable of sleeping since she was a Rift Pony, walked into Pinkie Pie's room to see if she was alright. Pinkie and Mew were more than alright. They were oblivious to this. The powerful leaps of the Despair Plant Bullfrog shaking the ground weren't enough. The ferocious croak it made wasn't enough. The yelling of Pokemon moves and attacks flying everywhere didn't even work.
But what did end up working was the voice of Jade Skies. In such a deadpan and expressionless way, Jade would speak to Pinkie Pie before nudging her slightly. "Pinkie, wake up."
"Mmmmrgh..." That was all it took. Everything that occurred wasn't enough yet a simple and dry word from Jade did the trick. "Oh, Jade? Is it morning already?"
"You're awfully relaxed considering what's going on outside. Mr and Mrs Cake have already left to your secret base to hide from this." Jade explained as a flash of light went off outside.
"Wait, what? What's going on?" Pinkie Pie questioned.
"Ponyville's under attack. It's one of those Despair Plants from Magehold." And all it took was that quick answer from Jade for Pinkie to soon process the scenario. Everything was not so calm. Her mind raced, followed by a bombastic expression that resembled a balloon being inflated.
"The Dread League are here?!" As soon as she yelled that, a rock flew straight through her window thanks to the battle outside.
Speaking of the outside, it was not looking so good for Ponyville's residents. Currently, they were suffering from illnesses and diseases that the Despair Plant summoned thanks to the warts. As such, their performance was waining. They ahd the spirit to do their best but the afflictions were dragging them down.
"I don't know if I can keep this up...I should be in bed by now." Berry Punch expressed.
"This is more than just a cold." Carrot Top sniffled, wanting to lie down just like Berry Punch. Each of them who were outside were struggling to stay active. They wished to lie down and rest the illnesses away as soon as possible. Some of them had common illnesses which could easily be solved with the right treatment. But others had diseases that came from Magehold, making them harder to deal with as their properties were unknown.
Those with Magehold Exclusive Diseases would suddenly drop to the ground, breathing in and out. The same went for their Pokemon who just couldn't keep up their strength consistently. When trying to attack Bullfrog, they were sloppy in the execution of their attacks. This prompted Bullfrog to either perfectly tank their attacks or even slap them away with its tongue.
Pokemon failed to land strong hits in when facing this Despair Plant as these illnesses held them back. The only ones immune to this were Daisy and Paradise since they had the properties of actual plants.
"S-Stoutland...!" Stoutland coughed, trying to go for a Fire Fang, only to slow down and be slapped away by Bullfrog's tongue.
"It's best that you Keel over instead. More of the Dread League will show up here anyway. I'm merely the first one who managed to get here." Shrivel cackled, reminding the ponies that they had more vampires to worry about.
"Absolutely not...!" Mayor Mare groaned, nearly falling over. "Illnesses won't overcome us. But I do wish to lie down right about now."
"Daisy...! Paradise...! Do something!" Roseluck requested, coming down with a harsh rash and cold. "You two are immune!"
"I know, but...I don't know what to do about this!" Daisy cried out, unsure as to how she could tackle this. Even Paradise, who was prone to spring into action more than her sister, had no options.
"If I send out my Pokemon, they'll get ill for sure. This sucks!" Paradise growled, knowing that she couldn't send out her Pokemon since they didn't share an immunity in the same way she did.
"You Flora Ponies might survive to see your home be fully disease-ridden. Even before the others get here, you might see this town perish if you're lucky. You two are proof that her majesty's experiment from the past came to fruition. Even if she does not care for you anymore, the relationship you have with nature is impressive."
"Yeah, right! It was our mom who succeeded in making us!" Paradise yelled back.
"But it was the Lich Queen's elixir in the first place. The same elixir that inspired her to create the Despair Plants! Bullfrog! Take out the Flora Ponies!" With Shrivel's command, Bullfrog would go straight for Daisy and Paradise. Everyone else was rather weak at the moment, leaving the two Flora Ponies to be vulnerable. However, they weren't as vulnerable as they seemed to me.
The unique way that they travel was used once more. By dematerializing their bodies into their respective flowers, they evaded the tongue swing from Bullfrog, taking no damage. On top of that, they manipulated the flowers, causing them to move elsewhere. Every single one of those flowers were their bodies. After evading the swing, they returned to their original forms, gaining distance from the Despair Plant.
Before Bullfrog could continue another attack, a Hyper Beam flew in its direction, interrupting and catching its attention. Bullfrog slid back from this Hyper Beam which was certainly powerful enough for all the right reasons. This was done by a Sudowoodo who needed time to recharge now.
Mayor Mare and other ponies backed away with their Pokemon, also trying to gauge some distance. But that was too late now since they were all infected. The only ones fine from this were the ones indoors. The warts thankfully did not infect the inside.
Rarity was among one of these ponies. She had her mask on, wanting to help out the ponies outside. But she knew that if she tried to leave, the mist would immediately enter the inside of her home. And even then, it wasn't safe inside because of Bullfrog's destructive capabilities. Rarity was stumped on what she could do. The fashionista knew she could fight against the Despair Plant but that would opening the door and having the mist infect her and Sweetie Belle. She wasn't even sure if the mask was safe.
But that was when Rarity spotted the familiar face of Emerald Aura showing up. Another Rift Pony. And surprisingly, she was casually running outside while the Disease Mist was still active. She had no form of protection whatsoever. Not a single mask on her face or any gloves. Emerald Aura looked completely safe and unbothered by the mist. The Rift Pony arrived, sliding on the ground. She watched as the Flora Ponies kept trying to distance themselves from the Despair Plant's attacks was, turning themselves into flowers which allowed them to evade easily. So far, all they could do was just avoid the Despair Plant.
Their natural ability to befriend a Despair Plant wasn't working this time. All thanks to Shrivel, who was on the back of this Despair Plant. And this whole time, she's been sitting pretty, untouched by many considering how effective the Despair Plant's abilities were.
"Darn it! I really wish I could do more!" Paradise groaned, frustrated that this was all that she could do. Evading wasn't really something she preferred to do right now in the face of danger.
"You don't have to keep this up!" Shouting out and speaking, at last, was Emerald Aura once she arrived at the scene.
"Oh? Running into the scene so casually?" Shrivel noticed Emerald Aura. "And you seem to be completely healthy? Are you a Flora Pony as well?"
"Not at all. But somepony who can keep everyone safe. You're all not cut out to continue battling your ill states. You're going elsewhere!" Emerald Aura was the one who came to their safety. With a flash of Rift Magic from her horn, a wide magical circle would appear from below.
Everyone ill looked down at this Emerald Magical Circle appeared as it would continue expanding until stopping near the Despair Plant. With an expanded appearance, the light then unleashed a flare of magic that rose upwards, engulfing everyone it managed to reach. Shrivel hissed as this magic was bright enough to damage her skin. Even when hiding behind the Despair Plant, it was still potent enough to reach her.
And right after the bright Emerald light faded away, Shrivel and the Despair Plant saw no signs of the Ponyville citizens. Just like that, they vanished. Not a trace of them left. Shrivel gasped after the sudden disappearance of Ponyville and its citizens and this was obviously done by Emerald Aura and her impressive Rift Magic.
"Hiding? Well, that won't matter. Bullfrog will find you eventually. Even if it means destroying the rest of your town!" This did not bother Shrivel. In fact, she saw this as a great opportunity to destroy Ponyville while its citizens were gone. She promised that she would find them and she would use every ounce of Bullfrog's most destructive capabilities to do so.
Emerald Aura saved them from going any further. The citizens were ill and more could be infected if they even dared to step out. All except for Emerald Aura, who appeared to have an immunity much like the Flora Ponies. Their whereabouts were currently unknown but what mattered most than stopping the Despair Plant were the diseases that they have contracted.
Coming to the rescue and bringing Ponyville's residents who fell ill thanks to the Despair Plant was Emerald Aura, the Rift Pony. By engulfing them in a flash of magic, she brought them to a rather empty realm that was minuscule but large enough to hold everypony in here. It was just a flat grassland with a clear blue sky and nothing else. But it did look pleasant despite how small it was.
"You'll be safe in here. It's just a small space I made for you all." Emerald Aura said to the citizens. "To think you stayed behind for so long instead of booking it."
"Thank you for your assistance, Emerald Aura." Mayor Mare groaned. "But we're still plagued with these illnesses and diseases."
"You weren't affected by the mist at all. Are you also immune like us?" Daisy asked.
"It's the same reason why I can't get tired. Diseases and illnesses don't work on us Rift Ponies. Well, most of them anyway." Emerald Aura explained. "I can only keep you here for a while since you can't stay here forever after all."
"Hold on...Not everyone is here? Where's Fluttershy? I saw her nearby not too long ago." Roseluck pointed out the absence of Fluttershy. She was nowhere to be found in this space.
"Fluttershy's the one who told me to do this. She's gone with Applejack to help find a cure for this. Right now, she's heading for Hayseed Swamp to find out about Mage Meadowbrook."
"Mage Meadowbrook?" A pony replied, remembering that name as it was rather famous across Equestria.
"Oh, that's nice. Hopefully, it's soon. But is it safe to even be out during this time? The Black Crusade's started.
"Eeehh...!" Emerald Aura shrugged. "There's a good chance they'll bump into a vampire. And if they don't bump into one tonight, it'll be tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? I thought this was all gonna happen in one night?" Scootaloo asked.
"Oh, no, no. A crusade doesn't last a night." Emerald Aura shook her head. "They can go and on. For days. Months. Years. Some of them can last even centuries."
"C-Centuries?!" Many of the ponies pulled back. The thought of the Black Crusade lasting for centuries was utterly terrifying to think about. And considering the fact that the vampires can live for a long time, they can pull it off without a doubt.
"So they can keep at it forever..." Rarity's jaw dropped, removing her protective mask. "For as long as they want until they succeed."
"So even if we beat them now, they can just come back and try again? That can't be!" Berry Punch exclaimed before couging thanks to her illness.
"And we're in no condition to continue this." Mayor Mare looked at her hoof, seeing the black cracks which gave her an unknown disease. It was still eating away at her and her weak posture was proof of that. "Please tell me you know exactly what these diseases are."
"Sorry...I don't have a clue." Unfortunately, not even Emerald Aura knew about these diseases. Some of them, I know. The common cold, headaches, allergies and so on. But a majority of you have Magehold Diseases. It's filled with nothing but Curses of the worst kind. The only way to get through this is for the victim to overcome it, but you can imagine how hard that is."
"We can't go back out there like this." Amethyst Star uttered while lying on her back. "If we do, that Despair Plant will crush us. Our Pokemon can't even perform at their best. And I'm starting to feel a bit hazy here..."
"You're gonna have to wait for Fluttershy to come back with at least something. But your town is also important. It's my home now too." Emerald Aura continued.
"Some of us haven't been infected yet." Rarity said, being one of the few ponies who managed to avoid the Disease Mist since she was inside. "If we go back out there, we'll certainly be afflicted!"
"Yeah and I don't wanna have any diseases on me!" cried Sweetie Belle. Others complained, wanting a way out of this. Those that haven't been infected were highly susceptible to it. In fact, being around others that were infected prompted them to keep their distance.
"Hold on..." Rarity would soon notice that there were some ponies still missing. Along with a Baby Dragon. She noticed that Starlight, Spike and even Rainbow Dash were exempt. What about Starlight, Spike and Rainbow Dash? Did you not bring them along?"
"I actually don't know where Starlight and Spike went. And Rainbow Dash is all the way up there and my magic didn't reach her. Sorry. But I'm sure she's fine. Anyway, as for all of you...I can give you an opportunity to make a comeback."
"You can?" Ponyville's residents said. If there was a way for them to make a turnaround for a better outcome, they were all ears. Some of them were struggling to hear though thanks to the Magehold Diseases.
"Temporary Immunity. I can only give you temporary immunity to the Disease Mist and slow down your illnesses. You'll perform better but it won't last long."
"You can really do that?" Amethyst Star asked. "A chance for us to resist it?"
"How long will it last though?" Mayor Mare asked. "If it's temporary, it has to be enough for us to make a difference otherwise not much will change at all."
"The best I can do is an hour. But even if you have it, you won't be able to damage that Despair Plant without its natural weakness. Pure Light is what it's most vulnerable to. "
"Isn't that just regular light?" Sweetie Belle questioned, confused as to how Pure Light was different from Regular Light.
"No, no. Pure Light is something greater than that. It's the same thing Arceus has or even what Galaxy Master and the People of the Water possess. That's Pure Light. I guess it could have a better name but that doesn't matter. You need something like that to take down a Despair Plant."
"Where are gonna get Pure Light though? Do we have enough time for that?"
"Galaxy Master's probably dealing with the Black Crusade across the world right now. We can't bet on him to show up before the Despair Plant takes everything out."
"Well, there's one way we can fix this," Roseluck said. "Daisy and Paradise calmed the Despair Plant down earlier but it was thanks to that vampire that it quickly turned on us. I opted for the elixir but it got dropped when things escalated."
"Oh, right! The elixir! Where did you drop it?!" Lyra gasped. "I swear I saw your Roserade holding onto it earlier!"
"Roserade and I were trying to find it but it seemed to roll away. We both were hit with diseases right before we could do anything about it It's our best option at stopping that Despair Plant. We just have to find it and splash it on that Despair Plant. All that matters is if I have the strength to move 'cause I'm sure lacking in a lot of strength right now."
"We'll give you all the time you need to get that elixir and pour it on that Despair Plant." Mayor Mare said.
"Hold it." Rarity stepped forward. "Let Pheromosa handle it. If anyone can get it in time, it's her. Just let her grab the elixir with her speed and everything will be just fine."
"Oh, of course. Pheromosa is right for it. We couldn't do much because of the diseases that befell on us, but with this temporary immunity spell, we can fix this as soon as possible." said a determined Mayor Mare.
"Be careful though. That vampire found a way to nullify Daisy and Paradise's natural ability on Despair Plants." Roseluck warned. "Whatever she has obviously affects Despair Plants so it'll difficult to predict what she might do next. It's hard to even predict what the elixir will do to a Despair Plant."
"Well, you won't find out by just standing here. It's time for you all to get back up there. I'll chime in as well, don't worry." Emerald Aura uttered. Ready to cast the spell. Rarity would soon send out every single one of her Pokemon, just so they could gain the Temporary Immunity.
With the usage of Rift Magic, Emerald Aura would envelop them all in her emerald-coloured magic. Diseases that held them back and were eating away at them would be weakened for a bit. Alas, it was not permanent. Only temporary as not even Rift Magic seemed to be the answer. The common illnesses however had been cured.
The common cold and other things that come up in everyday life were cured instantly by Emerald Aura's magic, bringing energy back to those who contracted it. The same couldn't be said for those who were suffering from Magehold Diseases. However, now that some ponies and Pokemon have been cured of common diseases and illnesses and would also have temporary immunity, their chances were starting to look up for them.
It was all a matter of ow they pulled it off, especially when they knew that more of the Dread League could come to Ponyville. After all, it was also the home of the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta.
Magehold.
Speaking of Rosa Maledicta, recently, after absorbing some of the lifespans from Princess Cadence and an older Princess Flurry Heart, she found herself not only gaining a longer lifespan but also recovering her strength. The Lich Queen could now walk instead of staying in one position, however, she still needed time to heal.
For the Black Crusade, there was no better time to be healthy again. And with the two alicorns being held up in the chambers, their lifespans would continue to be fuel for the Lich Queen until she makes a full recovery.
Cadence and Flurry Heart were unable to fight back because of their sapped strength. As such, they were placed within the chamber and its containers once more. The Bane Liquids that allowed the Lich Queen to take their Lifespans surrounded them yet again and this time, they were awake. Awake to see their surroundings and all the containers in these chambers.
Each were meant for the vampires for when they combust and return to Magehold. But at times, they can be used for other species, such as alicorns and even humans. Flurry Heart attempted to break out with her magic but even she had been greatly weakened.
"It's no use...I wanna go to bed right now..." Flurry Heart groaned.
"It's alright, dear. Someone will come for us. Even if we're used as vessels for the Lich Queen, I doubt she can gather everything up in time before help arrives. The lifespan of an alicorn speaks for itself." Cadence looked on the bright side, keeping her hopes up. "Our disappearance has probably already been notified, so they'll obviously come to Magehold. They especially need to rescue Yveltal and Fantina as well."
"If we could break out, maybe we can free Yveltal and Fantina." Flurry Heart added. "If we could. But I don't have the strength to do it right now. Oh...I wish Giratina was still here."
"Have patience, okay? We'll get out of here. I'm sure of it." A hopeful Cadence uttered. Staying patient even when knowing she couldn't do anything about this at the moment. The amount of hope she had was almost large as her love.
And listening in on this was none other than Fractured Note. Servant to the Lich Queen and also the one planning to tear down the Lich Cycle and the Black Crusade as well. After hearing their conversation from outside, Fractured Note would walk off. Now that the Black Crusade has begun, he only had the thought of accelerating his plans. But he was banking it all on Fantina, who apparently had the perfect plan brewing in the form of a Pokemon Contest.
"I hope Fantina hurries with that Contest already. We're already on the first night of the Black Crusade and it won't get any better from here."The contest was still being prepared even when the Black Crusade had finally begun. A worried Fractured Note thought about it being too late to solve this. What if the contest doesn't arrive in time? He had to meet up with Fantina as soon as possible before the worst can truly happen.
The Crystal Empire. Undeground.
Back at the Crystal Empire, specifically underground, Baby Flurry Heart, Sunburst and other Crystal Empire Ponies who managed to escape the attack from above were continuing on their way. Refusing to stay underground forever, tey had to get somewhere even if their home was under attack. The sound of Ash's battle raged on back at the surface, being strong enough to reach the underground.
The ponies all followed Flurry Heart, who was already showing slight signs of being a future leader. She was next in line for the throne after all. But Flurry Heart was only doing what her heart told her. And when it came to family, her heart knew what to do and that was finding them. Even if it was just one family member remaining.
But before she could go any further, a sound came through that prompted the Baby Alicorn to come to a screeching halt. Everyone else stopped in their tracks, hearing those same sounds. It was a mixture of three sounds echoing across the Crystal Underground.
Rapid movements that sounded like crystals were being hit against other crystals, heavy footsteps and even hoofsteps. All three sounds meshed together, putting Flurry Heart on full alarm. That was when they heard a cry. One that would usually be friendly but for this instance, was hostile. "Sableye!"
The sound of a Sableye was near, startling the others. They feared that the Sableye had finally found them. That explained the rapid movement sounds. The claws of a Sableye and the way they move could make that sound. As for the heavy footsteps, the next sound that echoed through the room confirmed who was behind that. "Golurk." Now it was a Golurk. The ponies had their cover blown.
They weren't completely hidden from the surface as the Golurk and Sableye found themselves nearby. Flurry Heart prepared herself for the worst, seeing two shadows emerge from the corner. The shadows of a Golurk and Sableye. However, a third shadow appeared and it wasn't either species.
Instead, it was a pony. A unicorn, to be exact. And once all three shadows diminished once the ones who owned them fully showed themselves, it wasn't a hostile search at all. But rather a hopeful one. Shining Armor had appeared alongside these two Pokemon. Flurry Heart had a hopeful smile form on her face, recognizing his father in an instant. This was a blissful sight to the baby alicorn that was represented by her swift expression.
"Flurry!" His eyes instantly recognized his daughter as he took off as fast as he could. The unicorn galloped, seeing his daughter in one piece and completely conscious.
"Papa!" Speaking words at last, Flurry Heart called out for her father. The two lunged at each other, entering an embrace. Flurry Heart leapt into her father's hooves, using her magic to carry him through the air
"Aaaah, you're okay! Those Sableye and Golurk were right about seeing you down here! I'm so glad you made it somewhere safe!" Shining Armor said as his voice made it seem like he was about to cry. And he had every right to. He found one member of his family but the other two were captured.
"Phew. That's a good sign, isn't it?" Sunburst said, believing this to be a sign that things were better back up there.
"Hopefully. I can still hear rumbling from above though." Harshwhinny replied. But she wasn't sure if things were much better with all the battling happening at the surface. "But to see one of our rulers here is rather pleasing, honestly."
"Is everyone else alright?" Shining Armor asked.
"We are but...what's going up there? Are you winning, your majesty?" A Crystal Pony asked. Everyone else had to know if things were brighter up there. Seeing Shining Armor was giving them hope that it could be the case.
"Well, there are still some Sableye and Golurk that are under the control of that vampire. But thankfully, Ash, his Pokemon and the ones we managed to free are up there right now doing what they can to knock some sense back into them." Shining Armor looked up. "The best way to free them from mind control is purely physical. Not just magical."
"Ash is up there? Oh, that's wonderful to hear." The Crystal Ponies loved the sound of that. Hearing As's name also brought some hope to them. He was well known for saving others when things looked dire and rough.
"Listen. I don't know where the rest of my guards are. But I need all the help I can get. Ash and everyone up there need all the help they can get as well. The number of Pokemon that are under mind control is still massive. And since there's one effective way to free them from mind control, I need you all to help us free them. Knock some sense back into the Sableye and Golurk."
"Oh, that's it? That's all we need to do?" Sunburst replied, surprised at how effective it was to free them from Sweet Fang's control.
"I know right? Makes sense I guess. With these numbers, we can make a difference. And the more we have, the better chances there are to save the rest of my family." He then looked over at Baby Flurry Heart. "Let's go. Alright?"
The ponies were already behind Shining Armor. Anything to free their home. And with Ash up there, they had a morale boost filling up the atmosphere and air. So as long as they came together, they could make a full Reversal. Of course, while these numbers might be enough to stop the attack on the Crystal Empire, when it comes to reaching Magehold, that was a different story and needed more support.
The remaining residents of the Crystal Empire would follow Shining Armor, ready to emerge to the surface and put an end to this part of the Black Crusade. The rest of the Black Crusade was still very much healthy though and right now, they were merely dealing with the brewing storm. The fierce storm that the Black Crusade was capable of was approaching, growing in strength. And especially in size.
"Where are you, ponies?" Currently rampaging through Ponyville was the Despair Plant Bullfrog, led by the wrinkly, creepy and raspy-voiced vampire Shrivel who was on its back. All of them had been saved by Emerald AUra's magic, bringing them to a safe realm for a while. She and everyone else had a plan to overcome their predicament before the entire town could perish. But this absence did not stop Shrivel and the Despair Plant.
The tongue of the Despair Plant would smash into the buildings, leaving holes and breaking walls. Nopony else was inside to take any damage whatsoever. "To those who thought they were safe inside, not anymore." With the buildings being destroyed, the mist would expand its reach, now becoming even more threatening than what it originally was.
Shrivel cackled as the buildings were being ravaged and violated by Bullfrog's rampage, ruining beautiful architecture and furniture. The mist, while it did not affect objects, would make the ambience of certain homes look awfully dreadful. Shrivel watched as her work was paying off for her. For being the first vampire to attack Ponyville, she felt rather proud of herself.
While it was true that other vampires would come here to Ponyville, Shrivel wanted to make herself rather important considering that this was Rosa Maledicta's home before she left all those years ago. Destroying the home of the Lich Queen and the enemies who annoyed her was rather satisfying.
And speaking of those enemies, an emerald flash would emerge from the ground, grabbing the attention of the Despair Plant and Shrivel. The light from the flash was sensitive to Shrivel, as to be expected but did nothing to the Despair Plant. And emerging from this light were the citizens of Ponyville. They had been brought back to their town.
Mayor Mare, Rarity, Roseluck, Amethyst Star and many others reappeared on the scene as some of them had been cured of their illnesses thanks to Emerald Aura. Of course, this only included the most common illnesses in the world which can be treated with ease and some slightly rare ones. However, those who were suffering from Magehold Curses were unable to be cured.
Thankfully, with Emerald Aura's magic, they had temporary immunity to the mist and an effect that would slow down their diseases, giving them a chance to make a turnaround.
"Alright. You only have one hour before this runs out." Emerald Aura said to them. "Use that time well to put an end to this as soon as possible."
"One hour is fine with us." Mayor Mare groaned, finally being able to stand up properly thanks to Emerald Aura's magic.
"Ah, so you're back. Back to see the rest of your town meet its demise." Shrivel said to Ponyville's residents. "How will you act now that your homes are exposed to the mist."
"That's fine with us." Roseluck shook her head as the black cracks had already reached her face. "I can guess this'll be over soon."
"Pheromosa! Go and find the elixir!" Rarity exclaimed, counting on Pheromosa to find the elixir tat was meant for the Despair Plants.
"Mosa!" The Lissome Pokemon was already on it. With a salute, she would take off at breakneck speeds, leaving behind a dust cloud in the process. It was up to Pheromosa to find the elixir and for everyone else to keep the Despair Plant at bay.
"Now that we have some immunity, we can perform much better." Rarity uttered, narrowing her eyes at the vampire and Despair Plant. "And at our best, we can certainly put that plant on the backfoot."
"Just...please don't go too hard on it!" Daisy pleaded. "Even if it's working for them, we had something when we first met in the Everfree Forest. "Please."
"It's fine. It's not like we can even destroy a Despair Plant with what we have." Rarity replied. "Since you can befriend them, we'll make sure that comes by."
"Confident that you can win, even if you don't have the means of attaining victory?" Shrivel asked with her raspy voice. "How pitiful. You should have stayed in whatever location you were sent to."
"I've heard enough from you. I've been staying inside, highly cautious and wishing to do something about this. Now I have that chance." Rarity's eyes glimmered as she then placed her hoof on her pendant. The same pendant that housed a Mega Stone. With all of her Pokemon out, she was prepared to Mega Evolve one of them. And since the pendant had been chosen, Ampharos was the one for this. "Ampharos! Mega Evolve!"
"Ampha!" Ampharos cried out as the light from the Mega Stone and Keystone would fly out. The two lights flew into the air before clashing against each other, forming the DNA Symbol. Ampharos stood there as the combined lights struck down on him, engulfing his whole body. The energies from the lights then granted him further evolution which involved unlocking his latent Dragon Blood and granting him a mane that made Rarity proud. Mega Ampharos had arrived.
"Ampharos!"
"So your Pokemon grew hair? Is that supposed to intimidate me?"
"You'll see that this added beauty of Ampharos is enough to dazzle in all the right ways! Now, Ampharos! Shine!"
"Ampha!" And in this form, Ampharos' light was greater than before. From his entire body, a sphere of light would cover him while also brightening Ponyville during its darkest night.
This amount of light that Shrivel was being exposed to was absolutely overwhelming. If anyone can generate an obscene amount of light, Ampharos could, among a few Pokemon. And this light was so great that even his friends had to squint their eyes. Shrivel tried to continue hiding behind Bullfrog but the light was too strong to fully avoid.
And noticeably, Bullfrog was flinching from this, much to Shrivel's surprise. Since the light was directed at Bullfrog, it was the most exposed to it as its abyss-like eyes stared at it. Shrivel gasped as she saw the Bullfrog slowly back up.
"What?! You're flinching from this?!" Shrivel roared. "That's just regular old light! Isn't it?!"
"Now, Stoutland! Giga Impact!"
"Roserade! Petal Blizzard!
"Ampharos, use Thunder!"
"Ampha...Ros!" From Ampharos' body, a fierce crash of lightning would erupt from his body, mimicking the sound of thunder. When unleashing it, the lightning tore through the ground before crashing directly into the chest of the Bullfrog. Te Despair Plant croaked after that powerful blast met with it, pushing it back to the point where it almost stumbled.
Following up with that were attacks from the other Pokemon. Stoutland got in close as always, using Giga Impact to follow up on that heavy impact. He had his own heavy impact, pushing the Despair Plant further back. This was then followed up by Roserade's Petal Blizzard, pelting it with powerful petals that were plentiful to encompass the entire body of this plant.
Other attacks came in. Energy Ball, Swift, Hidden Power, Hyper Voice, Bubble Beam, Power Gem, Inceinrate and many more from Ponyville's Pokemon. They had an array of elements just for the Despair Plant to taste. The fierce flames made it croak even more, damaging its grass body while the repeated barrage of Power Gem, Bubble Beam and Swift would constantly break its focus.
It had its body soaked in water while also being exposed to blinding lights in the form of Swift and Power Gem which unleashed their own form of light. The abyss-like eyes gazed into these lights which attempted to blind the Despair Plant but failed to do so. But they did succeed in pushing it back.
"String Shot, Leavanny!"
"Leavan!" All 12 of Rarity's Leavanny would use String Shot, using this as an opportunity to try and restrain this creation of Magehold. Thick strings were shot out of their mouths and leaf hands, instantly wrapping around the large legs of the Despair Plant. These strings prevented the Despair Plant from falling over since it almost lost its balance. It was kept on its feet once more but this time, they were restrained.
The Despair Plant had been slowed down for now. Multiple powerful strings kept it from moving for the time being but already, they were struggling to keep it steady. The Despair Plant's weight complemented its size. And considering how its jumps always shook the ground, those legs certainly had the power to resist.
The plant attempted to resist the strings, squirming and struggling while shattering windows with its thunderous croak. The Leavanny all were struggling as well. Even with their combined might, they collectively had to keep their focus and balance, otherwise they would fail to keep it contained until Pheromosa got here with the elixir.
"Keep your light up, Ampharos!"
"Ampha!" Ampharos would shine once more, unleashing that same overwhelming light. Once the light entered the scene, the Despair Plant flinched once more. It seemed that the light Ampharos was producing in his Mega Evolved state was enough to garner a reaction from this creation of Magehold.
"Don't get cocky!" Shrivel snarled at them. "Don't let these short-lifers overpower you, Bullfrog!"
With Shrivel's roar, the Bullfrog would respond by using its tongue. It did this while being exposed to Ampharos' light. By focusing on the strings, it managed to swing its large tongue down on the strings, breaking some of them apart.
"L-Leavanny!" A few of the Leavanny lost control once their strings were cut in half by this downward tail swing. This left a few more Leavanny to deal with the Bullfrog who was using all of its strength to resist the light.
"Meowstic! Use Shadow Ball!"
"Rapidash, use Overheat!"
"Meow!" Together, the Pokemon of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo would come together before this Despair Plant could break free. A blob of shadows formed in Meowstic's arms while Rapidash's flames flared up, building up a brutal amount of heat.
Rapidash's mouth formed a ball of white fire with a red-orange stream of fire spiralling around him. The Fire Horse Pokemon then fired a stream of white fire with red-orange fire that added the orb within it. Joining it was Meowstic's Shadow Ball.
Before it could take out another thread of string, it was met with a fierce flame and a large blob of shadow slapping its face. Once more, it was distracted, losing focus thanks to these constant interruptions. Now that everyone's Pokemon had temporary immunity and had their illnesses slowed down, they could battle at their best. At least, those who haven't been afflicted yet. Those who were afflicted were just given the chance to give what they currently had.
Sweetie Belle's Prinplup and Teddiursa unified their strengths, using Whirlpool and Thunder Punch together. As if they were in a Pokemon Contest, Teddiursa slugged the whirlpool with his electrifying paws, causing it to become a Lightning Whirlpool, increasing its strength.
The Despair Plant managed to break off all of the strings by relying on its powerful legs, knocking back the other Leavanny. All of Rarity's Leavanny were pushed back, unable to match up to Bullfrog's strength. But the second it broke free, it was met with the Lightning Whirlpool. The Bullfrog's mouth opened as the whirlpool crashed right into it, leaving behind a powerful splash. But it did not stop there.
With its body caught in the whirlpool, it was immediately lifted off the ground. Much like a Pokemon, Despair Plant Bullfrog would start spinning inside of the whirlpool along with Shrivel. Since she was still on the back of Bullfrog, she was caught up in this. And they didn't just take damage from this spiralling whirlpool but also the electricity around it with crashed violently.
Once the Whirlpool ended, Bullfrog would fly out of it, landing on its back. And when landing on its back, Shrivel took further damage as the Despair Plant's entire weight fell on her. "Gouh!" She cried out in her raspy voice.
"Nice one!" Sweetie Belle cheered, applauding the unison of Teddiursa and Prinplup. Everyone else cheered once they got this Despair Plant on its back. They were certainly making some progress. Despair Plants, despite how difficult they were to defeat, could still be knocked around with the right amount of firepower. And with so many residents of Ponyville, they had plenty of firepower.
As for Pheromosa, she was already moving from place to place, searching for the elixir. Thanks to the Despair Plant's shattering attack, the elixir had been lost in the chaos and destruction. But considering its size, it shouldn't be too hard to find. Pheromosa quickly kicked away all the rubble, searching for this elixir and wherever it went.
Even with her speed and its size, it was still rather challenging trying to find this one elixir. Ponyville, while being a town, was still relatively large in its own way. The Lissome Pokemon kept zooming and dashing, passing by many homes that have yet to be damaged by the Despair Plants rampage.
Eventually, she found it. It had rolled all the way next to a tree amidst the confusion and chaos, peacefully sitting there. Pheromosa smiled as she appeared next to the elixir. When looking at it, she saw that it was slightly cracked but thankfully, no major damage had been done to it. It was still sustainable with a lot of liquid inside.
The last time it was used was when a single drop of it was unleashed. Now that she had the elixir which was just as tall as her, all she had to do was bring it back. Pheromosa took off once more, quickly rushing back to the scene of the battle before things can get out of hand even more.
"Get off of me...!" Shrivel groaned as the Despair Plant immediately got up. Much to everyone's surprise, despite being rather wrinkly and raspy-sounding, Shrivel had some strength to her which was enough to push up this massive plant. But it did noticeably take a bit out of her and the Despair Plant did let itself up as well.
"After all of that?" Rarity pulled back in amazement to see Shrivel standing once again.
"Shortlifers...! You think you have an advantage just because you managed to knock down Bullfrog...But you still don't have the means to destroy it!" Shrivel snarled and roared at the ponies. She had an insult exclusively for them all, comparing their lifespans to hers which was incredibly short. "And besides...you still have no way to stop the diseases! And you can't stop the other vampires that will eventually show up here!"
"Shortlifers is a bit much, isn't it?" Rarity scoffed at that insult. "It seems that your big rampage wasn't as impressive as it appeared to be. Once the lovely residents of Ponyville have the chance to retaliate, you aren't so difficult at all, eh?" Rarity called out Shrivel and the Bullfrog.
The only reason why they had such a large disadvantage was thanks to the Disease Mist that Bullfrog generated. Because it afflicted so many of its residents, they were unable to battle at their very best. But once they gained temporary immunity and had the chance to do what they can, they were forces to be reckoned with.
"Phero! Pheromosa!" Returning to the scene was the Lissome Pokemon, carrying the entire elixir on her back. She did a great job finding it and getting it here safely, as to be expected from such a speedster.
"Excellent work as always, darling!" Rarity excitedly said. "All we have to do now is drop it on the Despair Plant and see what happens."
"You won't get the chance..." Shrivel took a deep breath as her voice sounded even raspier than before. "Not for a moment, a second or anything beyond that! I'll shrivel up your entire town!"
Shrivel decided to get in on the action herself. She used her Curse Magic once more, furiously slamming her hooves into the ground as her magic would travel instantly. Her Curse Magic was in her name, possessing the power to shrivel anything plant related. And with many plants beneath her thanks to the grass, the magic would affect them greatly.
The moisture around Ponyville was instantly being tainted by the Curse Magic, having its entire being shrivelled away. However, it did more than just shrivel the grass and remove its moisture, it turned it against Ponyville's residents. The grass would suddenly latch onto the hooves and legs of everypony and Pokemon touching the ground. It suddenly acted against them when they least expected it. And no one expected this at all.
"W-What is this!?" Rarity gasped.
"I can't move...! Is the grass alive?!" Roseluck bellowed as the shrivelled grass wrapped around her hooves.
"I'll shrivel everything up...even the moisture in the air! There is no plant that I can't shrivel and command to do my bidding!" Shrivel cackled as the entirety of the grass was under her command thanks to her Curse Magic. It was also how she managed to keep the Despair Plant under her control. "This is why the Lich Queen wanted me here, as you can see!"
"If she takes the moisture out of the air, it could spell the end for us all!" Mayor Mare was more focused on the moisture of the air being threatened. That could lead to a truly horrific scene.
"Let's see how this'll turn out! Will BUllfrog destroy you or will the environment do it? Only one way to find out! Snatch that elixir from the cockroach Bullfrog!" Shrivel focused on the elixir, seeing it as a threat. She wanted it out of the picture in case it did end up defeating the Despair Plant in some way.
As such, Bullfrog's tongue shot right at the elixir that Pheromosa held on her back. Even though it was behind her, the Bullfrog wouldn't mind pulling her off the ground and snatching it. However, even with the grass turning on Ponyville's residents, other forms of nature intervened.
A stream of Paradise Flowers came flying in, intercepting Bullfrog's tongue. The flowers were abundant, wrapping around the Despair Plant's tongue. The tongue stopped right in front of Pheromosa, who was incredibly close to being caught by it. Her eyes widened as she was nearly snatched off the ground but was saved by flowers.
Afterwards, the flowers would throw the tongue of the Despair Plant, causing it to wrap around its body thanks to how long it was. And meanwhile, another group of flowers would fly in. This time, they were daisies. The Daisies and Paradise Flowers would then fly side by side, landing on the roof of Town Hall.
The only ones capable of this were none other than the Flora Ponies. Daisy and Paradise had reverted to their original forms, using their Floral Transporation to intercept the Despair Plant and get the elixir.
"What?!" Shrivell yelled, looking at the roof of Town Hall. "Those Flora Ponies!"
"We got it!" Paradise exclaimed. "It wasn't that hard for us to break free. We can just become what we are and it's as easy as that!"
"Splendid work, you two! Now! Pour some of it onto the Despair Plant now!" Mayor Mare shouted as now would be a good opportunity to use the elixir. Everyone else clamoured for them to use it as soon as possible since they made it this far.
"Get them, Bullfrog!" Shrivel commanded before hopping onto the Despair Plant's back once more. "I'll make sure those two shrivel up first! They obviously will considering what they are!"
"Oh." A nervous Daisy said as now she was a target. Bullfrog took a massive leap into the air, casting a shadow over the two Flora Ponies. Acting quickly, the sisters would use their Floral Transporation once more.
They left the roof of Town Hall, heading elsewhere swiftly. And unfortunately, this meant that Town Hall received some heavy damage. The top of it was destroyed by the Despair Plant's lunge, but that was the last of Mayor Mare's worries right about now.
"Burn away the grass, Rapidash! Quick!"
"Rapidash!" Rapidash and other Fire-Types, would focus their attention on the grass that was now turning against them. Flames would meet with the shrivelled grass, attempting to burn it all away. But even if they do, they'd have to deal with the rest of the grass that was all over the place. And for a Pokemon like Rapidash, the land was his greatest advantage.
Meanwhile, Daisy and Flora ended up on a tree which was having its own moisture sucked away. Bullfrog leapt once more, chasing these two down. Daisy and Flora were looking for an opening just to throw some of the liquid onto it, but they haven't found it just yet. They once again travelled elsewhere, causing the Despair Plant to destroy this tree after crashing through it.
They went at this once more with the Flora Ponies moving from place to place, evading the Despair Plant's advances. Shrivel was already growing tired of this constant chasing. The Flora Ponies were immune to the grass restraining them as they could simply use their Floral Transporation to ignore it. This allowed them to get around freely as much as they wanted, much to the annoyance of Shrivel.
"The mouth! let's just try the mouth!" Paradise suggested. "That might do the trick!"
"The mouth?! Okay!" Daisy nodded in understanding. She held the elixir with all of her might despite how heavy it was. Helping her was Paradise who added her own strength.
"You two won't get the chance!" Hearing their approaching, Shrivel suddenly leapt off Bullfrog's back, deciding to get in close herself. Right when Daisy and Paradise were ready to launch the elixir, not having enough time to remove the top of it, Shrivel appeared.
She actually managed to get the Flora Ponies as opposed to Bullfrog who was too big to ignore. Shrivel lunged at them both, forcing the two Flora Ponies to the ground. As such, the elixir flew into the air, leaving the control of the two sisters.
"Daisy! Paradise!" Rarity gasped as part of her face was already starting to be covered in grass that would not let her go. Not only that but some of it was bladed grass, harming those who were already afflicted and making things worse for them.
"G-Get off...!" Paradise squirmed, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth as Shrivel pinned her and Daisy down with her superior strength.
"You two are plants at your core, aren't you? Then you'll shrivel up easier than most!" Shrivel sadistically said, spreading her Curse Magic onto the two ponies. The fact that they were plants made them vulnerable to this. Highly vulnerable.
The two sisters groaned as the magic was already interacting with their bodies, attacking the very core of their being. Their bodies, despite appearing solid and fleshy, had the same feeling as the flowers they originally used to be and travel as. Shrivel grinned before looking up to see the elixir spinning in the air.
"Victory is mine!" Shrivel yelled as Bullfrog was already going for the elixir with its tongue, shooting it into the air.
"Grr...Roserade! Grab it!" Roseluck yelled.
"Rose!" Using her hidden thorns, Roserade unleashed them at the elixir in the air, racing with the Despair Plant. It was a quick race between the thorns and the tongue as both were seemingly tied. However, it looked like Bullfrog had the advantage since it went first, potentially being the first one to reach the elixir.
That was until string held its tongue together, intercepting its movements. Once more, Bullfrog's tongue was one inch closer to its target but failed to reach it. And it was all thanks to Rarity's Leavanny. And not just the Leavanny but other Bug-Types of Ponyville's trainers.
"Leavan...!" All of them united their strings to hold back Bullfrog's tongue, even if it was for a moment. But this allowed Roserade to win the race. Her thorns caught the elixir first.
"Now, pour it, Roserade!" Roseluck screeched at the top of her lungs.
"Rose...Rade!" Doing what she could, ROserade used her thorns to snap off the top of the elixir, allowing it to open up at last. And now it was open, the liquid within would drop, being free to land on something else at last. And just as Daisy and Paradise wanted, the mouth of the Despair Plant was the target since it was so wide.
The liquid dropped into the mouth of the Bullfrog as the Bug-Types all pulled back their strings. Bullfrog's tongue retracted as its mouth closed afterwards.
Shrivel took notice of this, still pinning the two Flora Ponies down. She failed to keep the elixir away from Bullfrog and now a piece of it has entered the Despair Plant. The elixir was then pulled back towards Roserade as she retracted her thorns. Now all everyone had to do was wait and see what would happen to the Despair Plant. And at the same time, worry about their predicament with the grass.
The elixir had landed. At last, it made contact with a Despair Plant. But is it for better or for worse and how will affect the current event in Ponyville? As the journey continues.
At last, the elixir had entered the Despair Plant. Once, it was made by Rosa Mladeicta as an experiment to see what it would do to plants but was never finished when she left for a higher education. Then, it took the combined efforts of Twilight Sparkle and Zecora to finish up the elixir and tested it out to form Flora Ponies by dropping it on two flowers, bringing life into the world. Now, the elixir has come into contact with Despair Plant Bullfrog.
Despite how long it has been hidden and abandoned, it eventually fulfilled its purpose three times now. Its purpose was to affect plants themselves and now the Despair Plant was seemingly that major breakthrough, next to the creation of Flora Ponies.
Everyone stayed silent. Even when the plants were holding them down, they all focused on the Bullfrog to see what would become of it. Srivel, the one who brought Bullfrog here, looked in shock as she failed to get the elixir away from the Despair Plant while pinning down Daisy and Paradise. Both of them were hit by Shrivel's CUrse Magic which affected them the same way they affected plants.
"Use Thunder!" But while everyone else was looking at the Bullfrog, Rarity was focused on saving Daisy and Paradise. Shrivel was too focused on the Despair Plant to even see what was coming her way.
"Ampharos!" A fierce blast of lightning crashed into the wrinkly and raspy-sounding vampire, forcing her off the two Flora Ponies. Shrivel slid on the ground afterwards, gaining a slightly charred body. Shrivel made a croak of her own after being hit by lightning. Her whole body was sizzling after being exposed to so much light, leaving her on the ground with a twitching body.
"D-Did it work...?" Scootaloo asked, wondering if the elixir even had any effect at all. The Despair Plant was seen to be rather static and still. It wasn't moving at all as the elixir definitely caught its attention.
The silence was almost deafening and the lanc of any reaction was rather ominous. It made most of them uncomfortable with this silence as they expected at least.
"I-I think it worked...It's completely static!" Berry Punch said, laughing with relief afterwards. Many believed that this static reaction was a sign that the elixir ended the Despair Plant's actions. Collective sighs came out of them, even though the grass was still holding them down.
"No, wait! Look!" Sweetie Drops would be the first to notice a reaction out of it. The Despair Plant started jittering all of a sudden and it was a rather breakneck pace. Bullfrog's body would jitter and shake on the spot before suddenly letting out light pulses that resembled the colour of the elixir.
Everyone stayed silent to see what this meant as they might have celebrated too early but they weren't sure. Then, after all of that, it started croaking uncontrollably as its body would unleash afterimages of itself repeatedly. Each afterimage showed the Despair Plant in different positions and angles consecutively.
It looked like the Despair Plant was glitching or malfunctioning. No one knew exactly what they were looking at and they'd prefer not to try and understand what they were looking at. Afterwards, the jittering stopped as Bullfrog would close its abyss-like eyes, dropping flat on its face. And this was one was certainly easier to understand. The Despair Plant had fallen asleep. The sound of its croaks was akin to that of snores as the elixir fulfilled its purpose at last.
"All that to fall asleep...?" Sweetie Belle said, perplexed about how that brief moment of chaos led to the Despair Plant falling asleep.
"Huh...I guess the sleeping part came true in the end." Roseluck commented. "That means we win! We won!" With Roseluck shouting it out, Ponyville's citizens were glad to hear about this. They avoided further destruction by putting the Despair Plant to sleep. Victory was theirs and it only took an elixir to make it happen.
Granted, their town has seen better days and this wouldn't be the first time it has suffered heavy damage or even the worst. Ghetsis, Tirek and many others could vouch for that. And with still many minutes left until the temporary immunity to the DIsease Mist, they emerged with time to spare in case the worst happens.
"I-Impossible...!" Shrivel groaned, getting back up. "You put the Despair Plant to sleep? That can't be. It's impossible for them to be vulnerable to such a small affliction.
"Nothing is impossible when it comes to our town." Rarity smiled at Shrivel and her charred body. "All that's left is you."
"Correction...All that's left are the other vampires that will appear here eventually. You may have claimed victory here, but this is only the beginning of the Black Crusade. Not only that, but you've only put Bullfrog to sleep, so what's stopping it from waking up again?"
"She's right, Rarity. What if it wakes up?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"And as for those who can tame the Despair Plant, they're already being shrivelled thanks to my Curse Magic!"
"Daisy! Paradise!" Rarity gasped before looking over at the two Flora Ponies who were on the ground. Indeed, Shrivel's Curse Magic greatly affected their bodies since they were still plants at their core. Pheromosa attempted to reach them, only to remember that she was restrained by the grass.
The only way to free themselves was by relying on the Fire-Types here. Scootaloo's Rapidash was already burning away the grass along with other Pokemon but each time they advanced, the grass would just latch onto their legs once more.
"I-It's okay..." Daisy uttered, feeling the pain from Shrivel's Curse Magic. "I think we'll be fun...We just need sunlight, that's all."
"But that could take hours! And you could all perish by then!" Rarity shouted. The night was still technically young and waiting for the Sun to appear could take too long until their bodies were completely shrivelled.
"Either way, I still win!" Shrivel saw this as a clear victory. The shrivelled-up grass was under her control and it had already covered most of the bodies of Ponyville's residents. Only the Fire-Types could retaliate in some way but there was just too much grass standing before them.
Rapidash attempted charging through, only for a wall of grass to appear in front of him. The grass had even been manipulated to the point where they could surpass their original heights, forming blockades. These blockades were of course burned down by Fire Attacks but more would show up.
"It'll be okay you two! Roserade! Grab them!"
"Rose!" The one who managed to get the elixir inside of the Despair Plant in the first place would once again use her hidden thorns. These thorns flew around, wrapping themselves around Daisy and Paradise's body. However, that was when the grass was intercepted. The moment the thorns wrapped themselves around Daisy and Paradise, the grass would overpower them immediately.
With their combined might, the shrivelled grass of Ponyville would snap Roserade's thorns in half. A sight never seen before. And once they snapped, Roserade's pupils shrank in response to this interception. She grit her teeth as she felt an unbearable pain go straight through her.
"R-Roseraaaaaade!" Roserade screamed in pain. Those thorns were closely connected to her more than anyone thought and the fact that they were cut in half brought pain to the Bouquet Pokemon.
"Oh no! Roserade!" Roselucl yelled for her partner, attempting to reach her, only to go nowhere thanks to the grass. And by now, it went past her hooves and reached the rest of her body, gradually consuming her.
"You have some time before that temporary immunity of yours runs out, right? So, I say we should play the long game, Ponyville!" Shrivel roared with a devious and scornful tone. "The conditions have changed! The grass will either consume you all and suck you into the soil of the earth or the rest of my fellow vampires will sort things out from here! The fact that you thought had a sliver of a chance is laughable."
"Vampires...!" Mayor Mare growled, frustrated that she could do anything right now. It seemed that no one could overcome the grass since it was so plentiful.
"Mew! Transform into...whatever!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, wanting Mew to transform into the right Pokemon for the job. But what Pokemon could deal with this predicament?
"Mew...Mew..." Mew had to really think about this. The grass had already captured his legs and tail, forcing him to stick while hovering. Even those airborne weren't safe from the Shrivelled Grass. "Mew even tried transforming, but he failed to do so since half of his body had been restrained. "Mew?!"
"No use! Perish, Ponyville!" Shrivel laughed at their failure to break free. It seemed like this was all for nothing as the Grass that they have walked on for so long, played around in, nurtured and took care of, was about to be their end.
"There's only one way for us to overcome this...Outside help. Go, Ampharos! Call for help!"
"Ampha...Ros!" The only way for Ampharos to call for help was by using his light. And in his Mega Evolved state, that was very much possible. His regular form was enough to shine from outer space and this form of his could easily surpass that. Shrivel gasped, crawling away and finding a place to hide as she did not wish to be caught up in Ampharos' light once more.
And like a beacon, Ampharos' light expanded so much to the point where it reached the skies in an instant. It was an SOS for help. Granted, this could also potentially attract other vampires but they were all hoping for outside help. Whether from neighbouring cities or towns or whoever was close to the scene.
On the train.
Meanwhile, Fluttershy, Applejack, Starlight and Spike had all taken the nearby Ponyville train. Fluttershy and Applejack were off to Hayseed Swamp, where they could learn about Mage Meadowbrook, AKA the Mystical Mask. Possibly, the answer to these rare cures and hopefully ones that involve Magehold.
As for Starlight and Spike, they were heading over to the Crystal Empire, unaware of what had transpired there. Both sides had goals in mind while the Black Crusade was ongoing. They would gladly risk their own lives for the sake of their friends. However, the Black Crusade's terrifying first minutes had already intervened with their goals in some way.
All of a sudden, the train would come to a halt, causing the ponies, Pokemon and dragon inside to almost lose their balance and fall off their seats. It's not often for a train to suddenly stop, especially on the tracks when it had yet to reach another station or stop.
"W-What was that?!" Applejack gasped, holding onto her hat. Quickly, everyone took a look through the windows to see why this was the case. This train was interrupted simply by what stood before it.
Or rather, what was used to sit in front of it. The remaining tracks were suddenly missing. And not only that but a train carriage could be seen lying on the side of the fields, completely totalled with shattered windows. This was the same train where Twilight had her confrontation with the Dread League. Alas, this interfered with the train system that was connected to Ponyville.
Fluttershy and everyone couldn't believe their eyes. All of a sudden, there was a destroyed carriage and missing tracks holding them back from reaching their destination. But they could obviously guess why this was the case considering what was happening tonight.
"Did they already get here before us?" Spike commented as the doors opened, allowing them to exit the train considering the predicament the railway was in.
"Great. The train's been stopped so soon." Starlight sighed. "I was afraid something like this might happen. The tracks don't even diverge at this point."
"Oh, but this can't be. I need to get to Hayseed Swamp as soon as possible." Fluttershy bit her hoof as this mild inconvenience really hit her. Granted, it was still possible to reach Hayseed Swamp but the train was the fastest way to do it, considering the fact that many were ill. Now, their quickest way had been ruined thanks to the Dread League. With the train tracks ruined, the train had nowhere else to go. Thankfully, no one had been harmed during this but it was close to becoming a reality earlier.
"Vampires..." Applejack groaned, just knowing that the vampires were behind this. It just made her facepalm. "We'll get there anywhere else. But I sure ain't gonna walk there."
"Well, there's nothing stopping us from flying there," Spike said, opting for the second option. "I can have some of my Pokemon get us to where we need to be. It won't be as fast as the train but it'll have to do for now."
"I guess. We have to-" Before Starlight could say anything else, their attention was averted to something else. A bright flash of light grabbed their attention, lighting up the clouds themselves and making it seem like the Sun was starting to rise.
But in reality, it was just Mega Ampharos. His SOS was certainly a success as it was seen by those who had already taken the train and gone quite the distance away from Ponyville. Fluttershy and everyone laid their eyes on the light in the sky, seeing it flash multiple times while also unleashing sparks of electricity.
"An SOS?" Fluttershy uttered. "That looks like it's coming from the direction of Ponyville! Ampharos?!"
"Did something happen there?!" Starlight gasped as her attention shifted elsewhere. So much for reaching the Crystal Empire to see if her friend was alright. The rest of her friends had already found themselves in some Dread League trouble.
"Just when we left!?" Applejack bellowed, instantly thinking about her family and what could be happening to them.
"What do we do!? Do we go back?!" Spike asked, wondering what the right course of action was for this. Seeing the SOS meant that their friends were struggling and needed some extra assistance. It was unclear to them how bad the situation was and the only way to find out was by heading there. However, there was also the thought of solving the issue that was already plaguing Ponyville thanks to the vampire Shrivel.
"We..." Fluttershy scrunched her face. She already made up her mind and it was a tough one since she was considering everyone Ponyville. That involved everypony and every Pokemon she knew. And it was quite plentiful, especially with the existence of the Pokemon House. "We keep going. I want to find a cure for everyone as soon as possible. It's best that we find out about these cures and come back to help them."
"Ya sure?" Applejack questioned, wanting to make sure that Fluttershy made up her mind.
"I'm sure. But if you want to protect your family, Applejack, I understand."
"I'm coming with you." Applejack surprisingly took the other option. "They could be infected too and I wanna heal 'em up before it gets out of control. Just like before, I'm coming with you to Hayseed Swamp."
"Then it's settled. Out your come, Salamence! Flygon!" Once the decision had been made, Spike threw two Poke Balls into the air, unleashing his two Dragon-Types.
"Salamence!"
"Flygon!" With these two, they could still travel to their destinations, albeit slower than a train. But it was better than nothing. Fluttershy and Applejack would take Flygon with them while Spike and Starlight. would go with Salamence. They had no time to waste. After seeing the destroyed railway and carriage along with the SOS light flashing in the far distance, they had to keep moving even during the time of the Black Crusade.
Both Dragons took flight, having two destinations in mind. Hayseed Swamp and the Crystal Empire. They went their separate ways but Flygon would remember to come back to Spike once Fluttershy's group finished up with what they had to do. It was now a race against the clock. The temporary immunity that Emerald Aura made would not last forever and it was unknown if that elixir would keep that Despair Plant asleep forever or for long enough.
The Crystal Empire.
Meanwhile, back at the Crystal Empire, things were looking brighter. Thanks to the turnaround Ash and the others made, the Crystal Empire was starting to make a comeback. It was still a fierce confrontation against the controlled Golurk and Sableye who were influenced by Sweet Fang's magic.
Thankfully, there was a simple yet painful cure for it. A smackdown and a good beating did the trick. Granted, that led to some fainted Pokemon but once they wake up, they will back to their senses. As for the ones who were still active and under mind control, they were not going down easy. And the ones who were active and had their control ceased were battling alongside Ash and his Pokemon.
Ash's Pokemon fiercely battled against the Golurk and Sableye, throwing everything they had at these spectral foes that were once allies. Sparks of Electricity, flashes of Aura, draconic energy and spectral attacks were appearing everywhere in the Crystal Empire. Some of the Controlled Golurk combined their strength, using it to push down a large building, attempting to crush Ash and the others.
"Golurk! Push up that building!" Ash bellowed, pointing up to the building that was coming his way.
"Gol!" The opposing Golurk would also unify their strengths, retaliating against their automated brethren. They immediately held back the building, preventing it from falling on Ash's group before collectively throwing it away with their combined strengths. And it was right back to the Golurks that pushed it down in the first place. They would find themselves being struck by the buildings they totalled, falling down with it.
"Ash! Ash!" Meanwhile, Twilight managed to find Ash at last. Or rather, Pikachu found him first. Rushing through the rubble and areas of Ponyville, the Mouse Pokemon appeared.
"Pika-Pi!" Seeing his best friend, Pikachu leapt through the air with a swift Quick Attack.
"Pikachu!" Ash cried out his best friend's name, opening his arms for him despite the explosions happening around him. He received a Quick Attack in his open arms which tackled him to the ground.
"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu excitedly cried out, seeing Ash in one piece. He was a bit worried considering the scenery around him.
"You had us worried again!" Twilight ran over with Radiant Hope also joining the fray. "You still look completely fine even with all of this happening."
"Yeah. It's alright here. Well, for the most part." Ash stood back up as Pikachu stood on his shoulder. "Still got a lot to deal with."
"But how did this even happen?" Radiant Hope asked. "And where's Sombra? He came through with you, right?"
"Sombra's just resting right now. A lot happened and I'll fill you in on this later. Right now, I'm gonna need all the help I can get to ger rid of this mind control. It's awesome that you showed up now." Ash looked at them.
"I can do just that." Twilight nodded before throwing up a few Poke Balls in the air with her magic. And emerging out of it were the rest of her Pokemon, minus Togekiss who was suffering from a Magehold curse.
"I have to see if everyone else is okay! I'll be right back!" For Radiant Hope, she was going to focus on the citizens of the Crystal Empire and their wellbeing. She would leave everything else to Ash and Twilight. They would handle the battling part while Radiant Hope was focused on rescuing. Technically, Ash was already doing both, bringing some of the Sableye and Golurk back to their senses.
But they had quite the tall order. While the number of Golurks were certainly decreasing, the number of Sableye was still overwhelming considering how many of them lived in the Crystal Empire and even outside of it. A Purple Tide was coming their way, ready to destroy in the name of Sweet Fang, the Dread League, the Black Crusade and the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta.
"Together?" Twilight looked up at Ash as she also used her magic to bring out her Mega Evolution Pen Holder.
"Together." Ash already understood what Twilight was going for as he showed the Mega Stone in his glove. Both of them had the same idea. They then faced the horde of Sableye and Golurk with their eyes flashing blue and purple, ready to unify their best strengths as one.
"MEGA EVOLVE!" In unison, both of them initiated Mega Evolution. By interacting with the Keystones, the Mega Stones of Lucario and Absol would appear out of thin air. The two Pokemon had their eyes also flash their respective colours. Blue and Black to be exact.
Lucario and Absol felt their energies explode with Infinity Energy brimming. The light from Mega Evolution flew out of each stone and combined to form a DNA Symbol. The symbols then dropped onto the two Pokemon, pushing past their natural evolution and limitations.
This happened while the Sableye and Golurk were approaching them. Afterwards, the Mega Evolution energy would create an outburst, pushing back the Pokemon that got too close as the Mega Evolved forms of Lucario and Absol had arrived on the scene. Stronger than before and powered up for more.
"Let's do this! Lucario! Use Aura Sphere on the ground!"
"Lu...CA!" Knowing he could damage the Ghost-Types, it was best for Lucario to use everything else to his advantage. Such as the environment. With a massive Aura Sphere that would usually take a while to charge up, he slammed it onto the crystal ground, causing an azure explosion to happen. From that explosion, large crystal shards would start flying out. Large enough to be a threat to the opposing force.
"Absol! Use Night Slash!"
"Ab...Sol!" And helping with this was Absol. He used his horn to slash at the shards, rocketing them at the Golurk and Sableye with powerful swings to boost them. The Golurk and the Sableye were met with shards that caught fire from the speed they were travelling at, receiving heavy blows once they came into contact with them.
Some of the Golurk were knocked out of the sky because of this, landing on either the roofs of buildings or the ground. The Sableye would find themselves being pelted and knocked back by the materials they love snacking on, taking damage instead of feasting instead.
"Dazzling Gleam, Espeon!"
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail! Sirfetch'd, rush in with Night Slash! Dracovish, Water Gun!"
"Pikachu-Pi!" Pikachu and his teammates came together with him and Sirfetch'd getting up close. Pikachu swung his hardened tail, smacking the faces and bodies of the opposing Pokemon in front of him. Sirfetch'd would slash past at the Ghosts with his darkened blade, charging forward like the noble knight he was.
As for Dracovish, it stayed back to spray the Golurk with Water Gun, dealing super-effective damage to them from afar. This would allow for Espeon to take action, lunging into the air to form a bright flash of Fairy Magic that made her appear as a star in the air.
And this star unleashed rays that were powerful as they were beautiful. The Sableye received the brunt of this, taking powerful super-effective damage from these rainbow rays. And of course, they were assisted by the Freed Golurk and Sableye who would throw their own attacks at their brethren, giving Ash's group enough room for free hits.
"Strike hard, Gengar! Ice Punch! Dracovish, gnaw on 'em with Ice Fang! Slash away with Dragon Claw, Dragonite!"
"Use Hidden Power Dragon Ninetales! Minccy, Aqua Tail on the Golurk!"
"Dra!" Dragonite and the rest of Ash's Pokemon advanced, slashing at their opponents with claws of draconic energy. This was followed up by another form of draconic energy that came from Ninetales, blazing through some of the Golurk and Sableye. And as for the Golurk, much like how Pikachu was smacking them with Iron Tail, Cinccino would do the same but with Aura Tail.
Cinccino and Pikachu came together, using their tails to strike the Ghost-Types. They flipped over each other, delivering overhead hits to the Golurk and forcing them to the ground. They would then cross each other, slashing past a group of Golurk and Sableye while leaving behind white and blue streaks.
It was safe to say that the unity between this group was leading them to make powerful hits in succession. But little did they know, they would have further assistance from the citizens of the Crystal Empire.
Radiant Hope was focused on the safety of everypony else. She already saw many ponies who had been restrained by the Sableye after their sudden ambush. She used her magic to free these restrained ponies, shattering the crystals that held them down.
She retraced her steps, heading back to those she passed by earlier just to free them. And while freeing them, she saw other residents ad already freed themselves. Or rather, they were never captured at all, but managed to hide before they could get caught up in the most chaotic parts of this ambush.
That would be Shining Armor's group. Of course, Shining Armor did get caught up in them earlier. He showed up with those who evaded the rest of the mess and hid underground.
"Oh! The prince?!" Radiant Hoep said after freeing one of the citizens.
"Radiant Hope, right? You picked the right time to show up." Shining Armor approached.
"Mhm. I had to come here as soon as possible once I learned that the Black Crusade had started. I was right to show up here since the Crystal Empire's the closest to Magehold. A lot happened, hasn't it?"
"A lot has happened." Shining Armor sighed. "We're now working to reverse all the damage done here. Ash is already working hard on that by freeing the Sableye and Golurk from their mind control. We're about to do the same."
"I think we have enough to do it," Sunburst spoke. "There's not that many Golurk since half of the guards are missing. We still don't know where they went. They just up and vanished."
"Vanished?" Radiant Hope repeated.
"Right. The same goes for my wife and my other daughter. But they were kidnapped instead and we know where they are. Magehold. But as for the other guards, they aren't underground or anywhere else at all and it's without a trace, which is strange. I'm hoping to get them back as soon as possible if I can find them."
"Well, if they're gone without a trace, then it's obvious that the Dread League concealed them somehow."
"Concealed them? How so?" Ms Harshwhinny asked.
"I learned a lot about Magehold myself during my travels and I know quite a lot of spells that they possess. I think I can help with your disappearance problem." Thankfully, with Radiant Hope's vast knowledge of Magehold could play a factor here. The Crystal Empire was blessed to have Radiant Hope here. This was her home originally after all and there was no way she'd let it struggle any longer.
Shining Armor smiled, leaving that up to Radiant Hope to solve. As for him and everyone else, they would focus on helping Ash and his friends to retake the Crystal Empire. And by this point, victory was within their sights. However, even though a turnaround was happening here at the Crystal Empire, Ponyville was seeing better days.
They were stuck in a bit of a limbo. They had stopped the main threat but not everything else and were struggling to break past their restraints. Time was of the utmost essence here. Fluttershy had to find the cure to Swamp Fever and other Magehold Curses as soon as possible by relying on Mage Meadowbrook while Shining Armor had to clear things up here to soon reach the rest of his family.
Away from most of the conflict, Radiant Hope found herself inside the castle. The castle had certainly seen better days but it was in a better state than the rest of the empire. The worst it received were holes that have been made by the Sableye. The castle was too big for the Sableye to rapidly destroy, thankfully, leaving it stable even in its condition.
Currently, she was searching for the missing guards of the Crystal Empire. This involved the pony Flash Sentry who was suddenly absent from all of this. Extra help was needed. Not just for all the controlled Pokemon outside but also for the Black Crusade. The Crystal Empire's A-Game was required for this.
She trotted along the castle, searching for the missing Crystal Empire guards. And joining her was Shining Armor, who was prepared to give orders to these missing guards once they Are found.
"If they're missing, then there's one possibility when it comes to the Dread League. Most likely, they used a concealment spell. But this one involves using the shadows themselves." Radiant Hope explained.
"The Shadows? Does that mean that they're covered in shadows or something?"
"It's more like they've sunk into the shadows, your majesty." Radiant Hope stopped to face him. "They sink into the shadows as if it were quicksand or a sinkhole and then those shadows blend in with the environment, concealing themselves."
"Oooh...So you think that's it then?"
"It has to be. They took your wife and kids for one major reason since they're alicorns. But they wouldn't have any reason to take the guards and there's only half of them out there." Radiant continued. "All we need to do is find out what it blended with. It could be any of these shadows."
The walls were a big contender since they gave off their own shadows along with other things within the castle. Furniture could also work but it was all a matter of finding the right spot. "And how do we do that exactly?"
"I've been working on a spell that allows me to reveal concealed shadows. Like so." Radiant Hope closed her eyes, focusing all of her magic on the tip of her horn. Afterwards, the magic would unleash a bright pulse that crawled all over the area. This pulse would continuously pulsate, focusing on the shadows.
Nothing was found but that was when Radiant Hope started trotting that this was meant to cover everything. Not just one area. Radiant Hope would search for the right shadows, seeing which one was affected by Vampiric Magic. Shining Armor would follow behind her to see just how this magic would work and where the guards would pop out of. The castle was large, so they would be here for a while. Shining Armor already requested that the rest of the Crystal Empire's citizens should go out and help Ash's group take back the empire. And a part of him wished to be out there right now doing the same thing.
Radiant Hope focused closely on the shadows with her eyes closed, calmly walking through the castle to see if she could sense something amiss. Currently, she was only on the first floor and there was nothing here that was off. Then, it was off to the second floor and beyond.
Minutes passed and Radiant Hope's pulsating light was still trying to find something odd. It would be rather awkward if nothing of notice was here at all. On the bright side, at least the castle was quieter, no longer under attack thanks to how the events have been developing.
Radiant Hope and Shining Armor found themselves on the highest floor of the castle which immediately prompted her to stop. She sensed something at last. "What do you sense? Are they here?" Shining Armor asked. "This was apparently the room where my family was previously seen before being taken away. All that's left is food and drinks."
"Hold on...Give it a second..." Radiant Hope paused as the light from her horn would then tackle the shadows that could be found right next to the room where Shining Armor's family originally was. The same room where the two alicorns passed out and where Baby Flurry Heart managed to escape in time before she was potentially captured as well.
And once the magic came in contact with this room, Radiant Hope found what she was looking for. Her eyes opened as the pulse then revealed the mysterious shadows. The shadows had been revealed, no longer concealed thanks to the light as they were completely out of place, originally blending in with the corners of the walls.
Now, they just appeared as one big circle that did not connect to anything. And now that she found the mysterious shadow, Radiant Hope's magic would scrape it away, erasing traces of the Shadow Concealment and revealing who was truly hidden within it.
Indeed, it was Flash Sentry and the other missing Crystal Empire guards. Shining Armor gasped as the rest of his guards had been revealed, no longer missing, but were still unconscious.
"Amazing! You found them!" Shining Armor rushed over to them. Radiant Hope sighed, finally finishing the spell now that it's served its purpose. When Shining Armor approached the guards, he saw that they were all unconscious, much like Cadence and Flurry Heart. After all, they were all tricked by something truly delicious which knocked them out. "They're unconscious? Them too? Flash! All of you! Wake up!"
And unfortunately, even with the sounds going off in the distance along with Shining Armor's voice, they would not wake up. They were truly down for the count and the only thing that could wake them up was the Lich Queen, unfortunately. But there was no way that was ever happening. Flash Sentry and the other guards might be stuck in this state forever unless something was done.
"They won't wake up like that." Radiant Hope shook her head before using her magic to grab the food that was responsible for this. "Probably, they ate out of these and passed out afterwards. They've been with magic that makes them unconscious for as long as possible."
"Is that what happened to my family as well?" Shining Armor questioned. "They were unconscious too when I saw them leave."
"They'd want them like that since alicorns are so important. But there's no need to worry. There's a way to wake them up too." Thankfully, Radiant Hope had the answer even for this, bringing relief to Shining Armor.
"Oh...I'm so glad you're here. You sure do know a lot about the Dread League. Like...a lot." Shining Armor couldn't help but be impressed. "Have you always been so well-versed in them?"
"I never focused on them in the beginning. In fact, I kinda came across them when I was learning about the Umbrum. I wanted to learn more about Sombra's species so that I could help him. And that's when I came across the Dread League and vampires. They're very closely related to the Umbrum. There are some ties there."
"There are?"
"As for the guards, I can wake them up going wake them up with a spell that comes from Magehold. You don't mind if I do that, your majesty?"
"I'll take anything, honestly. Right now, I need them for Magehold., Ash and everyone else are doing a good job at handling the Golurk and Sableye outside, so I don't have to worry about that for now."
"Alright. The spell I'm using tackles the spirit so...this might hurt just a bit." Radiant Hope narrowed her eyes, focusing specifically on the centre of these guard ponies. Whatever she was about to do was only meant for those from Magehold. But Radiant Hope seemed to have access to it among many other things, making her truly helpful during this wild predicament.
Back outside, Ash and his friends were suddenly supported by the remaining Crystal Empire ponies sent by Shining Armor. And the entrance they made was certainly welcoming. Right before Ash could say anything else, a streak of light passed by him, knocking over one of the Golurk.
With his head turning, he saw that it came from none other than Ms Harshwhinny's Grumpig. It had used Power Gem, sending sparkling gemstones at such speeds they looked like rays of light. Waving at Ash, TWilight and the others was Baby Flurry Heart who was happy to see another familiar and friendly face here. It was making things slightly better for her as she now believed that she would soon see her mother and her other half eventually.
Ash grinned, glad to see some extra support. He would continue his battle as the horde of Sableye was certainly diminishing. Thanks to Ms Harshwhinny's arrival, the last Controlled Golurk had been defeated, leaving only the Sableye. This left them with less work to do but the number of Sableye was not to be scoffed at.
The group continued their battle against the controlled Pokemon, uniting their strength with new allies. And of course, since the Dread League have already attacked here, the Crystal Empire was now visible in the eyes of Rosa Maledicta. She watched it all play out all the way from Magehold.
Magehold.
"It's obvious. The Crystal Empire has deflected our attack on it." Rosa Maledicta said. "For the most part. It is quite a wreck, but that will not stop them. And neither will this stop us. The Black Crusade will come for them no matter how many times they try and resist."
Now that she had regained some strength, the Lich Queen took the time to move around freely. And this involved standing on the balcony to watch her subjects prepare for Fantina's Pokemon Contest. The Pokemon Contest was insignificant to her in every way.
So insignificant that she paid no mind to it, not even bothering to check up on those working on it with her watchful eye. This was one instance where the Lich Queen chose not to watch over her subjects. Her attention was on the Black Crusade since that was all that mattered now that it had begun.
And her eyes were even focused on Ponyville. Thanks to Shrivel, Rosa Maledicta could finally gaze upon the town she was born and raised in. She saw how the struggle between Ponyville's residents and the Despair Plant played out and especially how her younger sister Roseluck performed.
Rosa Maledicta saw it all without skipping a detail. She witnessed her sister's Roserade successfully throw a part of the elixir into the Despair Plant's mouth, shutting it down with a powerful sleep affliction. Seeing her sister pull that off and stand strong against a Despair Plant was impressive but did not mean much to Rosa Maledicta. The achievements of her sister meant nothing.
"Do your best, Roseluck. Eventually, you'll be consumed by the Black Crusade like all the rest. Even as my sister, you're completely irrelevant in all of this. Only I matter. The Lich Queen." Once again dismissing her own family, she saw herself as the only important figure ever. And she planned to make that a clear reality. "The first night of the Black Crusade could be going but I will make them all see that the Sun will never rise even morning comes."
The Cyrstal Empire.
"Ooough..." At last, Flash Sentry was awake. Along with all the other Crystal Empire guards who were tricked by the delicious delicacies before them. He opened his eyes, feeling a pain in his chest thanks to Radiant Hope's spell. Radiant Hope was the first pony he, gazing into his eyes. "Wha...?"
"Glad you're awake." The next pony to come into his view was his captain and king, Shining Armor.
"Captain...Captain!?!" He quickly had his soldier instincts kick in, prompting him to stand back up with all of his might. The guard propped himself up along with the other guards as they would all salute Shining Armor. They feared that they were sleeping on the job and they had finally been caught by his majesty. "S-Sorry, sir! We don't know what happened! It was so sudden and-"
"It's alright." Thankfully, Shining Armor understood. He understood all too well. "It's not your fault. This whole thing is just one big set-up from the Dread League."
"The Dread League?!" They collectively yelled.
"You have a lot to catch up with. But right now, we need some time to think about what to do next."
"But, her majesties! I saw them pass out in this room and the Sableye, they-" Flash Sentry was ready to spout out what he saw, only to be stopped by Shining Armor.
"You don't need to say much more. We already know. Right now, out there, Ash and everyone else are helping to free those who have been put under the vampire's mind control. You're a bit late to it, but it's alright. I want you all to rest up for a bit and then I'll decide on what to do next. My wife and daughter have been taken away and I want to make sure I have all that I need to free them."
"Oh. Alright." Flash Sentry sighed. "I do feel a bit out of it even when getting back up."
"Well, you don't have to worry about heading out there in a tired state." Radiant Hope commented, looking outside. "It looks like they've sorted out that problem."
"They have?" Flash Sentry and all the guards approached the window that Radiant Hope looked out of. And indeed, she was right. Ash, Twilight and everyone else had succeeded in stopping Sweet Fang's mind control.
Every single Golurk and Sableye that had been overtaken by Sweet Fang's mind control were either free and helped in the battle or had fainted and finally came back to their senses. Either way, the Crystal Empire was a bit of a mess now. Torn buildings that lost some of their crystals either from the Sableye ambushing it or the fierce battle that took place here.
As for the fainted Pokemon, once their senses were brought back to them, they would groan, feeling perplexed and dazed after the sudden beatdown they all received. They could still the effects of certain attacks on them. Either paralysis or even frozen parts of their bodies.
"Phew. That takes care of that." Ash adjusted his hat. "Great work, everyone."
"I wish we could've done it without that much collateral damage," Harshwhinny commented. "But what can you do?"
"That's two problems here at the Crystal Empire that we've sorted out. Now there's just one left," said Twilight, referring to the disappearance of Cadence and the alternate universe Flurry Heart. "But I think we all need some healing. Especially Togekiss."
"Yeah. Say, you guys have a place to heal Pokemon, don't you?" Ash asked, wondering if someone had the equivalent of a Pokemon Center here, if possible.
"After some Trainers finish battling me at my gym or even the Pokemon Contests, they receive healing at the Contest Hall. They heal their Pokemon after their work is done over there." Ms Harshwhinny explained.
"Awesome. We'll get everyone's Pokemon healed up as soon as possible and then it's up to Shining Armor to decide what to do next. I already know what I'm gonna do." Ash pumped his fist, making up his mind.
"You're going straight to Magehold, aren't you?" Twilight already caught on. "That's too risky. Even for you, Ash. Just hold on for a bit until you've got some extra help. A lot of it. Way more than what we have now."
"Everyone. Take your Pokemon to the Contest Hall at once for healing. I took the time to learn about healing Pokemon myself. And that involves the ones that have been defeated." Harshwhinny ordered them. After defeating the Golurk and Sableye, they would help them up just to heal them now that the conflict was over.
The Crystal Empire was the first location to withstand and survive the Black Crusade's attack. Its citizens were still in one piece but the two princesses were still absent.
"Ash, listen. There aren't that many alicorns in the world. The Dread League will want me, Celestia and Luna. Just like how they got Cadence and Flurry Heart. I'm definitely a huge target now and I'm not sure where to go now aside from Magehold where Fantina and Yveltal are."
"Yeah. And I guess you can't say where you wanna go since the Dread League attacked here. The Lich Queen's probably watching us right now, isn't she?"
"We don't have to tell her where we're going. We just need to go to there and that starts by leaving the Crystal Empire." Twilight added. "That much is clear. But wherever I go next, there's a good chance the Dread League will attack it. They're going after the entire world with all of their forces. Minus the Box of 100 Demons though."
"Oh, right! Chrysalis!" Ash gasped. "I gotta make sure she's alright! The same goes for the entire hive. They're gonna want her lifespan too."
"We should be careful though. Even though they don't have the Box of 100 Demons with them, I learned that they have another powerful force assisting them in the Black Crusade."
"Yeah? Who is it?"
"They called it the Pony of Shadows." Twilight revealed the name. "I remember that name. Back then, when me and the girls went to visit the Castle of the Two Sisters, Applejack brought him up. You see...when Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon, traces of her dark magic stayed behind. We've actually somewhat encountered the Pony of Shadows before already. It was from a storybook, but the encounter we had with it back at the castle didn't come from a storybook."
"So you already met the Pony of Shadows way back, huh?"
"Pikachu?"
"Sort of. It was only an outside encounter since its darkness was looming over the castle. I thought it was just a story, but it turns out it's entirely real and is working alongside the Dread League on top of that. And if I'm going by the story that Applejack shared with us, I'm afraid I know who might be a viable target for the Pony of Shadows."
"Luna!" Ash already picked up on it. He immediately thought about Princess Luna and how she could be a major target for the Pony of Shadows.
"Nightmare Moon possesses that same dark magic. It's why the Pony of Shadows loomed over the castle during the night. Most likely, it's also what's within Princess Celestia when Daybreaker was almost unleashed. If it's going for them, it might want to draw out the darkness inside of them."
"That's not gonna happen. There's no way Celestia and Luna will let that happen. Plus, they've got Nightmare Moon as a friend by their side. I don't know how it's gonna draw out that darkness from her at all come to think of it." Ash scratched his hair.
"That's a good point. The Pony of Shadows might not affect Princess Luna at all now that she's made peace with Nightmare Moon. But Princess Celestia is still a target. I'm sure she can handle herself. But right now, it's Chrysalis that I'm the most worried about." Twilight added, thinking about how things could turn out for Chrysalis.
She was already suffering from Rosa Maledicta's curse, leaving her very vulnerable. And she already had to focus on her sister-in-law and niece being captured. But that wasn't all she had to worry about when concerning Chrysalis. The early night had been won for Equestria. Slightly. It was far from over. Not for a moment.
At last. Hayseed Swamp. Fluttershy and Applejack had arrived here as this bayou village was the one place tied to Mage Meadowbrook. A pony from long ago. They arrived here on the back of Spike's Flygon since the Dread League already got to the train during the start of the Black Crusade.
However, it appeared to be more than just a bayou. It looked a bit abandoned. The rugged appearance of this village showed no signs of anypony moving around. The trees looked incredibly old and wilted, unable to care for themselves.
"So...where do ya think Meadowbrook lived?" Applejack wondered as they trotted the lands of Hayseed Swamp which didn't seem to boast any life at all. Pony life at least. Some Pokemon and animals were present here, albeit small. A Kecleon could be seen crawling on the rugged buildings, followed by flys.
"I'm not sure. Maybe there's somepony we can ask," said Fluttershy.
"I think we might be the only ponies here." Applejack found it hard to see if anypony else would live here since it was so run-down. She could only imagine it being active since Mage Meadowbrook once lived here. Their heads navigated the area, looking for a sign. Audino was even listening closely for any sounds.
Her ears could mostly hear the sounds of the swamp and the Pokemon that managed to make it their home. Aside from that, not much else. It was just environmental sounds for the most part and nothing else of importance here.
"Wait! I recognize that tree!" Fluttershy was the one to pick up on something. And that was from a tree that was up ahead. This tree stood out from the rest, being larger than all of them and having some life to it. The leaves still looked a bit devoid of colour but it was better than nothing. "Yes! This has to be it! It's just like the illustrations of her home!"
"Raboot?" Raboot would pat his feet on the tree, feeling the ancient aura it gave off. Considering how abandoned this place was, everything here felt like a relic and it was just now being discovered. At least by those who were seeking out. The Pokemon that made this place their home could care less.
"Nice. But it doesn't look like anypony wants us in right now. Check out that lock." Applejack pointed the lock at the entrance of the door and how large it appeared. Exceedingly large. It would take two or more earth ponies to lift a key big enough to open this door.
Fluttershy attempted pushing the door open, only to fail. It was already clear that it was tightly shut and pushing through wouldn't do the trick. Raboot would even try it out, rapidly kicking the door and leaving white afterimages behind.
"I don't mean to harm their home, but it's for the sake of our world," Fluttershy grunted while pushing against the door. As if it wasn't already obvious, she did not have the physical strength for opening something like this. "Just...have to...overpower it!"
"Or we could try the handle." However, Applejack pointed out the handle that was also underneath the keyhole. It didn't have just one way of entering, making things easier for anyone not capable of using a massive key. Sceptile would grab the handle which had an upside-down C design. After opening it, Sceptile and everyone else were expecting to see someone inside at least. But they weren't expecting it to be guaranteed considering how empty Hayseed Swamp was.
But they were met with something rather startling. A bright flash of light suddenly hit them. A light so bright it lit up the dim parts of this area, especially the tree. Fluttershy, Applejack and their Pokemon all had their eyes assaulted by a barrage of lights. And from what they could make out in an instant, they saw various lamps that gave off light before they backed away and fell over.
"Get back! Outta here, vampires!" And following that was the voice of somepony. Indeed, somepony else was still here. A bearded pony with a burly figure appeared. Alongside him was a Hippopotas that had a lamp on its head. But it was rather difficult to see it considering how much light was coming from inside. It was impressive how it did not radiate from the outside at all. This pony was even wearing a garlic necklace, already aware of a vampire's other weakness. Garlic.
"W-We're not vampires...!" Applejack yelled after her eyes were assaulted." Turn it all off!"
"Ya ain't?" The burly pony said, seeing how Fluttershy and Applejack weren't burning up from all of this light. They were just squinting and covering their eyes rather than hissing or sizzling. And their Pokemon certainly weren't vampires. "Oh, my mistake! My mistake!" He chuckled as he quickly shut down all of the lights.
"Aaah..." Fluttershy sighed as her eyes were free from that overwhelming amount of light.
"Sorry about that. Didn't mean to flash ya. I mean, I did but, I thought ya'll were vampires for a second." He apologized, approaching them.
"Don't worry about it." Applejack groaned before sitting up. "I'm guessing you heard that the Black Crusade's just started, huh? I'd do the same thing."
"I think your counterpart did the same thing from what Ash told me." Fluttershy recovered, shaking her head to recollect herself as the light was potent enough to leave quite a mark on her eyes.
"I heard all about it from Princess Celestia. News travels fast when she gives it out. I just had to get ready in case any vampires came crashing in my home."
"Hippo." Hippopotas would help up the Pokemon who were hit by the light. And while they weren't vampires, Raboot cringed once the garlic around Hippopotas' neck approached him.
"R-Ra...!" Raboot put his paws on his nose and mouth, disgusted at what his nose was picking up on. The garlic got a reaction out of him but not one that belonged to a vampire.
"Nice place you have here by the way. Even though it looks like this place has been abandoned for years." Fluttershy complimented his home and also called out how ancient it appeared. Her eyes then focused on something else aside from the scenery. It was a lilypad. A very specific lilypad. Her eyes lit up instantly, hovering over to this lilypad that sat next to an assortment of objects. "Applejack, look! It's the same kind of lilypad that gave Zecora Swamp Fever! Hmm. I wonder if Meadowbrook was looking for a cure for Swamp Fever, too. Do you think she found it?"
"Hope so. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though. Might have to ask uh..." Applejack turned to face the burly pony. "What's your name, by the way?"
"Name's Cattail. Pleased to meet ya." Cattail introduced himself at last.
"Well, Cattail. This home used to be Mage Meadowbrook's home. I'm guessing it's now yours, right?" Fluttershy questioned. "And that goes for everything here?"
"Oh, I take care of the place. I ain't much of a cleaner, but from what I hear, my kin wasn't neither. So I doubt they'd mind a few cobwebs in our ancestral home. It's just a heritage thing. That's why I'm here."
"You're related to Mage Meadowbrook?" Fluttershy gasped. From what Cattail was spouting, a descendant of Mage Meadowbrook was right here in front of her and her friends.
"Mhm." All it took was his response to get another excited reaction from Fluttershy.
"Oh, my goodness, Applejack, we did it! Not only did we find Mage Meadowbrook's old house – we actually found one of her descendants!" Fluttershy felt like she struck gold. A double whammy. The home of a legend and a descendant too.
"So you're lookin' for some kind o' cure, huh? Well, now, I know Meadowbrook was known to always be writin' in her journals. If she had the cure you want, I reckon that's where it'd be. Come on. I'll show ya the library. If you're up for heavy reading."
"Not really, but whatever helps. We've got a lot of sick ponies back at Ponyville thanks to that Despair Plant. If Mage Meadowbrook has a cure for Magehold Curses, that'll be great." said Applejack.
"Curses? I don't know about that...Haven't checked. Only one way to find out." Cattail would then show them an assortment of books nearby while Raboot shuffled away from Hippopotas who as a bit too close for his liking with that garlic necklace.
Even the books were old as they appeared to have been resting there for so long, untouched by many. Dust covered the covers along with some cobwebs. Audino gently blew on one of the books, sending a wide wave of dust out. And thankfully, these were all records of Mage Meadowbrook. A way to peer into the past.
"This is good. It'll take us less time to go through everything." Fluttershy said before reading one of the words from a book. "'Today, my mom made me eat peas. Peas are yucky.'". And we can probably skip this one unless she found a cure when she was a foal."
"I met a colt today. He pulled my mane, so I put a frog on his head." Applejack read another batch of words talking about Mage Meadowbrooks's past. But not exactly the necessary one. "That ain't helpful, but I do kinda want to see where it goes. Cattail. Do ya have something for curses?"
"The vampires can pull off horrible curses that come directly from Magehold. We were wondering if she was aware of it."
"Mmm?" Cattail shrugged. "Ya gotta find out about that one ya self. There might be a book for it."
"Okay. Applejack. You'll focus on finding a book about Magehold curses and I'll focus on Swamp Fever for now." Fluttershy suggested.
"You got it. Let's get looking, Sceptile. Before the vampires show up here as well." Applejack would start looking for the book covering the rarest diseases. Magehold Diseases.
Meanwhile, Fluttershy continued the book she was reading, seeing what could be discovered here. And while reading it, she envisioned the scenario in her head and what it could've been back then. "Today, I tried again to brew an unsniffle elixir......and I finally got it right!"
The Past.
The past. A time where Hayseed Swamp wasn't that abandoned. And living in the massive tree with some more vibrancy to it was none other than Mage Meadowbrook.
At this time, she was mixing an elixir to cure a common affliction. Sniffling. Rather small, but Mage Meadowbrook was seemingly willing to tackle the smaller things just for the sake of health. And the one under a rather harsh sniffle was a chipmunk that had its nose as red as Santa's clothes. Mage Meadowbrook held up the liquid from the elixir in a ladle spoon, letting the chipmunk sip from it.
And in an instant, the chipmunk was healed. Barely even needed time to heal or even a day or two. It happened just as fast as the chipmunk drank it. And watching this occur was Mage Meadowbrook's own mother. And even though it was such a miniscule affliction, it was still something to take notice of with how effective it was.
"Meadowbrook, I think it's time you had this." So effective that her mother lent her box. Meadowbrook's hooves met with the box, opening it to see what contents it was holding. And within it was a mask that resembled an avian.
"My very own healer's mask! You think I'm ready, mother?" Meadowbrook asked her mother as this was a gift for her based on her achievements.
"Mm-hm." Her mother saw it as a worthy gift for her daughter. But before she could really take in and admire the gift she was given based on what she accomplished as a medicinal expert, a knock on the door interrupted her. Quickly, her mother opened it to see who stood before their home.
A hooded pony with tired eyes appeared, appearing a bit out of it. But she was more than just out of it. When removing the hood, she revealed to have what Zecora had in the current day.
Swamp Fever.
"What caused this?" Meadowbrook's Mother gasped. The afflicted pony would reveal what brought this spotted disease to her body. And it appeared to be a lily flower that possessed spots as well. The cause of Swamp Fever was right before them and the only help this pony sought out was this town's local healer. However, this was far different and rarer than a sniffled nose.
Once it was brought in, the time to test it out was prepared. A cure for this was being pursued already and Meadowbrook's mother dubbed it Swamp Fever. Fitting since it originated in a swamp but it was only until now that it had been made aware to others. The poor pony who came across this flower was the first to be made aware.
"Mother calls it Swamp Fever. We've been tryin' to find a cure, but it hasn't been easy." Mage Meadowbrook wrote down her experience as this was also being read from Fluttershy in the present day.
Speaking of her mother, Meadowbrook's mother was the one testing it out, pouring elixir liquid on it. The immediate reaction was a puffy combustion. The lily would puff some of its near Meadowbrook's mother, causing her to back away. That obviously did not work. And unfortunately, it was only going to get worse from here.
"The fever spread like wildfire." Opening the door once more showed Meadowbrook and her mother more ponies that had been afflicted with Swamp Fever. The number was so vast it might as well be the entire town. And unfortunately, since her mother was hit by the lily earlier, she showed signs of contracting it based on her coughing. Those who already had it could be seen coughing. "I fear if we don't find a cure soon, everypony will be in grave danger!"
Naturally, for Meadowbrook, this was rather pressurizing. To take care of this many ponies, including her own mother while also attempting to find a cure for this was an incredibly tall order.
"Oh?!" Meanwhile, Applejack seemed to have found something of interest while Fluttershy continued her book. Her eyes widened to see the book that sat before her. The title was rather promising as Applejack herself read it out. "Odd Collection of Odd Diseases. This might be it!"
"Sceptile!"
"Find what 'yer looking for?" Cattail asked, leaning over as Applejack opened the book to see what contents it held.
"I think so," Applejack said with a hopeful voice. When opening the book, the first thing that caught her attention were Meadowbrook's comments on diseases she had never even heard of or thought of as a possibility. "I've come across some pretty weird diseases that are past what I'm used to. Some of these can just be downright fatal...Or lethal! I think this is it! This has always been here the whole time?"
"Eh. Never bothered to look into them myself." Cattail shrugged as he wasn't really into books. It showed by how much dust had been collected over the years. "Plus, this place is pretty abandoned. Nopony's coming here looking for any cures to curses."
"I guess. Makes sense why it's so hard to find anything about Magehold Curses. But how come it's abandoned in the first place?" Applejack wondered before focusing on the book. At last, she had something that related to fatal diseases and she couldn't waste the opportunity to miss out on it. "I don't think these diseases are that common. They look like they come from somewhere else that we've never seen before. There were these creepy-looking black cracks around some of 'em."
"With Mother sick, I didn't think I'd ever find a cure. But starin' at those cursed flowers today, I saw somethin'." Meanwhile, Fluttershy continued her story on Swamp Fever while Audino was picking up on both stories, using her amazing sense of hearing to do so. This way, she could know what both sides were saying.
Meadowbrook searched for a cure and her search lead her to the area where the flowers could be found. There, a lily flower containing Swamp Fever but Meadowbrook wasn't sure what to do with it and the others that sat in this swamp. That was when her eyes met with two bees who approached the flower. She had to eye this down, wondering how they would affect insects and other animals.
The flower puffed it smoke once the bees got close, spraying them. However, instead of backing away, the bees approached it. In fact, they even stood on the flower as if they were collecting honey. Meadowbrook paused for a moment before shifting her attention to more of these bees that approached the other flowers. They all did the same thing. Have the flower puff in front of them and land directly on them.
"Flash Bees!" Meadowbrook exclaimed before seeing the two Flash Bees that landed in front of her take off. And after absorbing parts of the flower, their bodies lit up, fitting their names. They became flashes of light, moving through the swamp with an illuminating presence. All the other bees flew off, prompting Meadowbrook to pursue them.
"I realized the flowers' poison didn't affect the flash bees. And if they were immune to Swamp Fever, their honey could be the cure!" Her pursuit led her to a tree where the Flash Bees all entered. Refusing to let this escape her for the sake of health, Meadowbrook would climb the tree. And by climb, that meant jump. She jumped the tree, reaching a higher place with each leap. From branch to branch, followed by a swing that was done by biting onto a vine. Eventually, she reached the top of the tree which had a hole in it.
And in that hole, from what Mage Meadowbrook could see, housed all the Flash Bees. And not just Flash Bees but also a Queen Flash Bee as seen by her rather regal appearance compared to the rest. And the bees here all looked completely fine. Not a trace of swamp fever was starting to kick in for them. They all looked rather peaceful.
That is until that peace was broken once Meadowbrook's hoof snapped a tree branch. This immediately caught the attention of all the Flash Bees as their peaceful eyes intensified, ready to defend their hive. And when they spotted Meadowbrook's face, they immediately went on the attack. Once more, they became bodies of light, dashing directly at the earth pony's face. Meadowbrook grimaced, backing up as she narrowly avoided the incoming bodies of light that nearly crashed into her.
Unfortunately, it didn't take long until one of the bees got her. A swift yet painful sting got to Meadowbrook's hoof. And another one on her back. Meadowbrook already received three stings from the Flash Bees, causing her to feel a bit woozy. Afterwards, she would fall off the tree, landing back on the ground with a perplexed and dazed expression on her face.
But they were so aggressive defendin' their hive, I didn't know how I was gonna get it! Meadowbrook got back up immediately, desiring to achieve her goal. It would be difficult when dealing with aggressive creatures but this as seemingly the only way to deal with Swamp Fever.
Something had to be devised and right now, while everypony else was ill, she had only herself to count on for success. However, a part of her mother would assist her in the form of the mask she was gifted recently. Specifically, the Mystical Mask.
"Here goes nothin'!" She said with full determination, placing the avian-style mask on her face. And when putting it on her face, the Flash Bees all approached her in a rather menacing way. It was up to Meadowbrook to decide what had to be done next for the sake of her mother and her town.
Present day.
"Today...I cured my mother and the rest of the bayou!" And from Fluttershy's perspective, she already reached the part where Meadowbrook did find the cure. There was even an image to illustrate it. On it, Meadowbrook could be seen holding an elixir that had honey inside of it. She took the risk and came out victorious with the cure to Swamp Fever. "It was the greatest feeling I've ever experienced, and I promise to dedicate my life to curing ponies all over Equestria!"
"And she did just that. Right up 'til she disappeared without a trace." Cattail added.
"Yeah, but not before leaving behind something important. It's a shame she just vanished. Nopony else knew about a way to deal with Magehold curses since it's all been here." Applejack said. "I'm guessing ever since she left, that's when this place became pretty abandoned."
"I can see why. If this town came down with something else, Mage Meadowbrook's disappearance would leave a hit on it. Nopony could handle medicine like she could. By the way. What did you find, Applejack?"
"Check this out. I think we got what we're looking for." Applejack brought the book over to Fluttershy. "Meadowbrook talked about black cracks around the body. It looked like they were eating away at not just ponies but animals and other creatures too. Sounds familiar?"
"Magehold Curses..." Fluttershy uttered slowly. "So Meadowbrook found about them as well? And it looks like it was while she was still here at Hayseed Swamp. So maybe, she came across someone that was attacked by a vampire."
"Well uh...that's what it says here." Applejack's hoof pointed at that exact text that Fluttershy uttered. "Says here she ran into some ponies who were running for their lives, escaping from somepony fast and stronger than them combined. They lost this pony once the Sun came up and got away safely. That's when they came across Meadowbrook."
"So vampires already showed up near here..." Faster and stronger than those ponies while also disappearing once the Sun came up sounded a lot like a vampire. "So how did she find a cure? Did she find a cure?"
"Here's this. Says here she worked for months trying to find something but there wasn't anything to go off on. Not like that flower that has Swamp Fever all over it."
"I guess the only thing to go off on are the vampires themselves." Fluttershy sighed. "But there's no way to keep them around since they combust."
"But she did find this." However, Applejack's next words made Fluttershy's ears shoot up. She find out that there were some plants that took in the Black Cracks themselves. They absorbed 'em."
"They took in it? They absorbed the cracks?!" Futtershy gasped. This was incredibly valuable information to them. "What else, Applejack?! What are they called?!"
"She had to really get out there and find the rarest flowers imaginable. These flowers were almost magical since they could absorb the cracks from the body. But...Meadowbrook found the last ones ever. They were called Sunrise Flowers. And she got lucky to grab the last batch that were found."
"The last ones...That can't be..." Fluttershy backed away as that wasn't what she wanted to hear.
"Said that these flowers don't normally ground around Hayseed Swamp. That's what makes 'em rare. But they're even rare across the world. And they even blend in with other flowers." Applejack continued. "Meadowbrook must've also gone out to find a cure for that after her Swamp Fever problem was solved."
"Oh...But I was really hoping we could have the flowers here." Fluttershy sighed, disappointed that the one thing to deal with Magehold's Curses was possibly either extinct or hard to find. "They're almost magical and they blend in with the environment. So does that mean that it could be any flower?"
"Maybe." Applejack shrugged. "We could've passed by some of them during our adventures. Meadowbrook said here there's no way to know what's a Sunrise Flower and what isn't. But it looks like that's the cure for Magehold's Diseases. Either we start looking extra hard for those Sunrise flowers or..."
"That could take forever and I don't know how much time we have," Fluttershy bit her hoof as Audino and Bayleef went up to comfort her.
"I'm sure...I'm sure we'll figure out something." Fluttershy kept herself optimistic. "At least we have an answer for Swamp Fever, so there's that. All we have to do is find those aggressive flash bees and get them to give us their honey! Of course, it doesn't say how she did that..." She stood back up prompting Applejack, Cattail and all the Pokemon to gasp at her. "What? Is my mane messy?"
"Uh...Y-Your hoof, Fluttershy!" Applejack pointed out as her hoof was trembling.
"My hoof...?" Fluttershy would look at her own hoof before seeing what everyone else was seeing. It blindsided her completely as she never saw it coming. Her hoof was plastered with spots.
She had contracted Swamp Fever. And at the worst possible time too. At last, cures had been found. A cure to Swamp Fever and even a cure for Magehold's Diseases. However, for Magehold's Diseases, that was the most elusive as the one thing that could seemingly cure them was incredibly rare.
Disturbingly rare since they blended in with everything. Even so, Meadowbrook left behind a wealth of information about health that was desperately needed. For the sake of Zecora and all of Ponyville, cures had to be found at once. Before it was too late. As the journey continues.
At the Crystal Empire, many Pokemon were being healed up after the fierce event that their empire faced. Thankfully, they made it out alright, but there was still more to deal with. Such as retrieving the two alicorn princesses back from Magehold. Now there were four individuals to rescue from Magehold. 10 technically when counting Fantina's Pokemon.
Repairs would have to be made to the Crystal Empire but now was not the time. Since the Black Crusade was underway, repairs aren't the most pressing thing at the moment.
And at last, appearing here to see the current scenery of the Crystal Empire were Spike and Starlight. Starlight mainly came here to check up on Sunburst to see if he was alright and Spike already knew that Twilight would go here first during the Black Crusade.
"Oh? You two made it here?" Twilight faced Starlight and Spike. "You missed everything that went down here."
"What went down here? The Crystal Empire's a bit of a mess." Spike asked.
"Ah, it was just the Dread League. Turned the Sableye and Golurk against the Crystal Empire when starting their Black Crusade. We managed to free them along with stopping some Windigos, but unfortunately, Cadence and Flurry Heart were captured by them."
"Oh..." Spike uttered as he did not expect all of that to transpire. The Dread League part, he could understand but the rest caught him off guard.
"What about Sunburst?! Is he alright?!" Starlight asked, mostly worried about her childhood friend.
"He's doing fine, just like everyone else here." Ash reassured her. "But we gotta make sure it's everyone. Cadence and Flurry Heart are the only ones left."
"Ah, that's good to know." A relieved Starlight could rest easy knowing that Sunburst was alright. It was worth coming here just to see how he was doing. But there was also the fact that the Black Crusade had begun. "Wait...So it's actually begun for real?"
"I'm afraid so. Tonight is the night they launched it. I got attacked on the train here." Twilight explained. "They wanted me for my alicorn lifespan and they've captured Cadence and Flurry Heart as well, targeting alicorns for their goal."
"That explains why the train tracks were so messed up." Spike nodded in understanding as to why the train tracks were disrupted along with a totalled train carriage. "Oh, right! I think Ponyville's next!"
"Seriously?! It is?!" Ash bellowed.
"Fluttersy said that she saw an SOS light in the distance and it looked like it came from Ponyville. Only Ampharos could pull that off. I think it already reached Ponyville." added Starlight. "Fluttershy and Applejack have also gone off to find a cure for the diseases that have hit Ponyville. A Despair Plant showed up there and started spreading this Disease Mist all over the place."
"It already hit Zecora back at Everfree and now it's hit mostly everypony there." Spike continued, giving Ash and Twilight the summary of what Fluttershy told them. "We were tinking of heading back there after coming here. But it looks lik things are better here than they are in Ponyville."
"What do we do, Ash? There's a lot on our plate. Do we go back to Ponyville? Wait and head for Magehold or go and see if Chrysalis is alright?" Twilight asked, wondering what the best course of action to do was right about now.
"Hmmm..." Ash crossed his arms. "He was always eager to help his friends but now we had too many friends to focus on helping first. The Black Crusade was something that targeted everything and it would not waste time trying to destroy what it can.
He thought of the three scenarios in his head, forming thought bubbles. On the left, Ponyville was being targeted by a Despair Plant but by extension, that also meant that the gateway to Kanto could be the next target. In the middle, rescuing Cadence and Flurry Heart from Magehold and by extension Fantina and Yveltal. And on the right, heading for Chrysalis since she was a major target thanks to her lifespan and the fact that she had the Box of 100 Demons.
Decisions, decisions. All of them involved good friends of Ash. But one of them also involved his mother and the potential jeopardy she could be in. But before he could make up his mind, his Xtransceiver started ringing, prompting him to snap out of it.
"Hm?" By taking it out, Ash saw that he was being called by Applejack. To see her calling him at this time was most definitely important, prompting him to answer. "It's Applejack. Yeah?"
"Ash. Glad to hear from ya. You're not still over at your dad's place, are ya?" Applejack asked.
"Nah. I'm over at the Crystal Empire right now. What's up, Applejack? Is everything okay?"
"I've got great news for ya'll!" Applejack grinned, ready to share some uplifting news that prompted everyone else to lean in. "We've got a cure! For Swamp Fever and Magehold Curses!"
"YOU DO?!" Ash and his friends collectively bellowed the same words, having the same reaction.
"Mhm. Well, at least for one of 'em. That Swamp Fever one's not too hard to handle. But the Magehold one...the only thing that can cure that is pretty rare. They call 'em Sunrise Flowers."
"We're just...going to find some Flash Bees to help out, that's all." Fluttershy, who came down ith Swamp Fever, showed her face to Ash and everyone. "And after that, I'm hoping we can find some Sunrise Flowers. They're so rare because they blend in with other flowers, so we have no idea which is which."
"Sunrise Flowers? What do they do? Any clue?" Twilight asked.
"Well, Mage Meadowbrook found out that they can absorb Dark Magic. She used it to absorb the Dark Magic from ponies who were hit with Magehold Curses, having those black cracks all over them." Fluttershy groaned. "They're said to be almost magical flowers. If only actual magical flowers could do that."
"Magical flowers..." Twilight repeated. "So, wait! It's just those flowers?!"
"I think so. At least, that's what Mage Meadowbrook discovered. I'm guessing during her travels, she also tried finding other cures for Magehold Diseases, but so much time has passed and she disappeared without a trace that not many cures have been found. And those flowers have become so rare nowadays."
"Yeah, that's the part that's a bummer..." Applejack sighed. "How are we gonna find flowers that blend in with the rest? We could've passed by them already."
"Maybe it's not just those flowers." Twilight pondered for a moment. "If she disappeared without a trace all those years ago, then maybe there were other cures she just couldn't find in time."
"Ya think so?" Ash looked over at Twilight.
"It might not just be those flowers. I'm just saying. I've never heard of Sunrise Flowers before until now and I would've never guessed that they could do that. I could really use something like that for Togekiss."
"It's not that uncommon for plants to tie back to Magehold." Radiant Hope joined in on the conversation. "If anything, it's the norm for them."
"It is? What do you mean by that?" Starlight asked.
"Oh, is there something you know, Hope?!" Twilight leaned in, hoping that Radiant Hope's knowledge on Magehold could lead to something hopeful.
"Unfortunately, I don't have a cure for this. That's the one thing I could never figure out when it came to Magehold." Radiant Hope shrugged. "But I have noticed something. Do you remember what I spoke to you about the Primordial Magic back outside, Twilight? About the Liches?"
"I do. You said that the Liches came from a forest from long ago. They're one of the few things that are massive parts of the Primordial Magic." With her memory, how could Twilight not remember? It was also crucial to her since she was a glutton for knowledge.
"Well, from all the research I've done of Magehold, I've always noticed they tie back to plants. The Liches are tied to the forest since that was their birthplace. It's said that their homeplace is a Garden of Wilted flowers. And since the vampires are descended from them, they're said to possess special seeds that can grow vicious plants. I believe those are the Despair Plants."
"Are they that tied to plants?" Starlight replied.
"Here. Look at this." Radiant Hope would gladly show an example. With the bag she brought with her that had many valuables including her research, he showed everyone a book. And this book appeared to be rather minuscule, only to suddenly grow in size once it left the bag. It was similar to how Sir Aaron's Staff had been shrunk, only to enlarge once Ash calls for it.
And once the book was enlarged, it was revealed to be a personal notebook that Radiant Hope made. Obviously, nopony from Magehold would randomly leave such valuable things for others to see, so this was all self-made from Radiant Hope's own knowledge. The book had been opened as Ash held the Xtransceiver over it to show Applejack and Fluttershy. In the book, various images and drawings of odd plants along with vampires were shown along with words detailing, explaining and summarizing why this was the case.
"Through my extensive knowledge of Magehold, I've found out how much of a connection they have to plants. It only makes sense because of the Liches being their ancestors. The gardens, the Despair Plants, the roots and many others show this."
"Come to think of it...They also have some history with Chrysalis' mother. Mellifera." Ash brought up that fact. "Her hive was hidden behind some wilted flowers, weren't they?" That was another connection between plants and Maeghold. Even the Changelings were tied to it.
"They have other terrifying plant-like things at their disposal." Hope continued to show the other pages that possessed more and more plants that Ash and the others have never seen before. "It's a running theme with them. And now I've just recently found out that Sunrise Flowers are tied to them as well. It's all thanks to where the Liches came from. Do you know what this means?"
"It means...That means..." Ahh closed his eyes, thinking of what this could mean. He even pressed his fingers on his forehead, brainstorming the answer along with Pikachu. "Vampires are Plants in disguise!" He roared out.
"Pikachu!"
"That's not exactly what I meant..." Radiant Hope chuckled at Ash's answer. "But you're not too far off from that."
"So plants run in their blood?" Spike spoke. "Woah..."
"Plants as blood? I don't think that's where she's getting at, Spike." Starlight shook her head.
"Actually, it might be." Only for Twilight and Hope to collectively say the same thing, surprising Starlight.
"In fact, it's why the vampires will always come back once they combust. Much like plants, they'll bring new life into the world. But it's always going to be their own life. In a way, almost like what Ash said, Vampires are Living Plants. And when exposed to the sunlight, they don't drink it up the same way regular plants do."
"The Despair Plants also do the same. They soak up the moon and they're actually plants," said Twilight. This made her think for a moment. When putting it all together, from the roots, Despair Plants, gardens and so on, something hit her. "Wait...Daisy and Paradise!"
"What about them?" Starlight asked.
"They're living plants too! Not only that, but they have a strong connection to Despair Plants. They have the amazing ability to calm them down, just like what they did at sea. I mean, they even birthed their own Despair Plants by touching some pods!"
"What about Grass-Types? Aren't they living plants too?" Spike pointed out the Grass-Type Pokemon. "How come they don't do anything with the Despair Plants?"
"It's different with them. Daisy and Paradise seem to truly be connected to the Despair Plants because of where they come from. I'm not saying they're from Magehold since Rosa lived in Ponyville when she was working on that elixir, but it could be similar. Are you thinking what I'm thinking, everyone?"
"Not really, but I'm starting to feel something." Applejack shrugged.
"I do!" Starlight caught on. "We can have Daisy and Paradise deal with the Dark Magic! They're literally Living Plants and they already have an effect on Despair Plants that we haven't seen before. I mean, that garden held back for you just because of them. It took the Lich Queen to get them to attack. And there's still a lot we don't know about Flora Ponies that we keep discovering. They could absorb the Dark Magic!"
"Absorb Dark Magic?" Twilight pulled back. "Uh well...I was thinking about them being the answer to some of our problems but...I don't know about absorbing Dark Magic. It's true that they can do more than what we think they can but..."
"It could work though." Now Spike was catching on. "They might have something like that. I mean, they completely remade that Despair Plant Garden after all, didn't they?"
"I mean, maybe." Twilight scratched her mane. "They've yet to show everything but..."
"You don't want them getting hurt, right?" Ash already knew why Twilight was slowing down with her words.
"Right. I mean, I'm not one to be ready to call myself a mother but...they see me as their mother. And I've already grown to like them. Especially my own mom who can't get enough of her 'granddaughters'. I don't want to see them getting hurt, especially when it involves the Dread League."
"Aww..." Starlight and Radiant Hope gushed at that. Twilight was acting like a mother, not wanting to see her own children be harmed in any way.
"Well, I hate to break it to ya, but they could be in pretty big danger right about now." It wasn't until Applejack reminded everyone that Ponyville was under attack. "Unless we do something, Ponyville's gonna be totalled by the Dread League."
"Oh, right! I've made up my mind! We're going back to Ponyville!" Twilight exclaimed. "I have to see if all of my friends are okay as well as Daisy and Paradise!"
"Okay. Then after that, we'll help everyone else." Ash understood her decision. "You'd better let Shining Armor know about that."
"He'll know. He'll be preparing for the chance to head to Magehold. He'll need Princess Celestia's help for that." Twilight replied, already knowing that her brother doesn't even need to see her off.
"I'll stay here for a while." Starlight raised her hoof. "J-Just in case."
"Same here. If those vampires come back, I'll be the next one to save it. You've had your turn." Spike also opted to stay behind.
"Great. Just hold on you two. I'll be there." Twilight said, referring to Daisy and Paradise. She had to get there as fast as possible and the fastest way was on the back of Dragonite. It was back to Ponyville.
Ponyville.
Unfortunately for Ponyville, it was in a predicament. Even though they managed to put the Despair Plant Bullfrog to sleep, the DIsease Mist was still active and the temporary immunity to it wouldn't last forever. Shrivel was also still active, damaged from the light she was exposed to but also keeping Ponyville's residents tied to the ground via the grass itself. She was using her magic to shrivel up the moisture in the atmosphere, albeit slowly.
And meanwhile, Daisy and Paradise were already hit by Shrivel's magic. They were very much like plants after all. But they showed a greater resistance than most plants. They had the combined durability of a pony and a plant, giving them that special resistance.
"D-Daisy...Listen up." Paradise said as her back hooves were shrivelling. "Even if we're free from the mist, everypony isn't it. They don't have much time until that spell runs out."
"But what do we do...?" Daisy groaned. "My body's shrivelling up here. I need Sunlight...I really need sunlight." The one thing these two craved were Sunlight. It was the only thing that could heal them.
"Let's do what we did back at the Despair Plant Garden..." Paradise suggested something, crawling over to her sister. "Let's remake the grass before it all vanishes."
"That again? On Ponyville? I don't know about that and I don't know if we have the strength to pull it off either..."
"That's what I was afraid of. I can barely feel my back legs. But we have to try or else everypony will perish. Please, Daisy. I don't wanna lose my home already."
"I don't wanna lose it either." Daisy sat up, having her right hoof shrivelled up. "I'll try and do what I can."
"I believe you all don't have much time left until your immunity runs out!" Shrivel cackled while twitching, still feeling Ampharos' electricity around her. "This victory is going to be so grand once I see you all drop like flies!"
"This isn't fair! If I could just move!" Rarity roared out of frustration as the grass had already encompassed half on her body.
"This is gross...!" Lyra grimaced as her face was close to being covered by the shrivelled grass. "Can't someone do something about this?!"
"There's too many for us to burn away." Scootaloo and other Trainers who had Fire-Types, couldn't even burn away the grass since it was so abundant and persistent. The best that the grass did was latch onto Rapidash's hooves since the rest of his body had flames. Rapidash had some form of protection but he was still being slowed down.
"R-Rapidash...!"
"I'm a Rift Pony! I shouldn't be struggling like this!" Emerald Aura yelled, angered that she was helpless here. "If I just had all of my magic back this would be a cinch!"
"Uh...Everypony...!" And already, somepony had been fully engulfed by the grass. The first victim ended up being Amethyst Star. Her friends all gasped as they saw her succumb to the shrivelled grass. Her face and mouth were the last things seen from her.
They all laid their eyes on a Grassified Amethyst Star. She was no different from a hedge bush meant to be modelled after something. It was a horrific work of art. And the next victims were already arriving. Some of the Pokemon had been covered by the shrivelled grass as well.
"T-Teddiursa!" Teddiursa, Plusle and Minun were also covered in grass as Sweetie Belle lost two of her Pokemon already. All that were left were Prinplup and Meowstic. But soon, Sweetie Belle could be the next target since the grass was approaching her face already.
Lyra was taken next, becoming a Grass Pony much like Amethyst Star. Followed up was the consumption of other ponies and Pokemon who failed to break free. Vinyl, Sweetie Drops, Linoone, Sudowoodo, Skitty, Cherrim, Leavanny and many more were overtaken by the grass.
"Not like this...!" Roseluck was one of the few still active.
Shrivel laughed, seeing this as her certified victory. She did want to win the other way but this would have to do for now. "I warned you...Victory was always within my sights. It was bound to come to me eventually. You'll be stuck like this and succumb to the diseases once your immunity runs out!"
"Not yet." But protesting her words was Paradise. Shrivel slowly turned her head to see the two Flora Ponies standing back up. At least, slightly. With two of their hooves shrivelled, it was hard to stand back up. But with them supporting each other, they could manage it.
"And what do you two hope to do now?" Shrivel questioned. But she had no idea what these two were about to pull off. That is, if they could pull it off. They were injured thanks to the magic that had been put around them, but they couldn't afford to let that get the best of them. Not when their home was in peril. In unison, they replied to Shrivel with high confidence and belief in themselves, preparing for what could come next.
Getting back up and gathering some strength, Daisy and Paradise were determined to try and override Shrivel's terrifying magic. Their bodies had already been shrivelled up in some parts while some of the Ponyville citizens were encased in Grass coating, becoming horrific works of art. And with the moisture in the air slowly being shrivelled up, it looked like Ponyville would be another catalyst and possibly the biggest catalyst of the Black Crusade, unless something was done soon.
And in the eyes of Daisy and Paradise, the only way to save them was by pulling off what they did back with the Despair Plant Garden. If they had the strength to do it. And the moment they connected their hooves, the magic lying within them would be unleashed.
A flash of magic soon turned physical and formed flowers. Their respective flowers bloomed in unison, overlaying the shrivelled grass and even bringing new life into it. The Daisies and Paradise flowers multiplied instantly, appearing in the blink of an eye.
The sisters had their eyes glow a verdant green even though they looked to be in pain thanks to their shrivelled parts. However, they were even attempting to affect themselves, connecting their hooves and hoping their magic would rub off on each other. Rarity and everypony else got to finally see this magic up close in all of its glory. it was just as amazing as Twilight described it.
"Unbelievable! You're creating a new landscape?!" Shrivel gasped. "This is what her majesty spoke of. I refuse to let that happen on this night!"
However, this time, retaliation would strike. Shrivel still had magic to spare despite her damaged body. And by her own will, she made the shrivelled flowers fight back. The grass that remained shrivelled would rise and rush towards the approaching Daisies and Paradise Flowers. Soon, it was a confrontation between the three parts of nature.
"I...It hurts..." But this time, Daisy wasn't at her best thanks to Shrivel's magic and the same went for Paradise. Fighting against the Shrivelled grass while combining their strength was taxing to their damaged bodies. Their shrivelled hooves were trembling, slowly coming apart. They still had to focus when pulling off this magic.
"No! They're not strong enough!" Rarity could see it.
"This is nothing...!" Paradise groaned, trying to make herself look tougher. But she wasn't fooling anyone. The pressure of this clash ended up blowing her shrivelled hoof away. And with her shrivelled hoof gone, flowing into the wind, she lost her balance. Now she only had three hooves on her which were also being shrivelled up.
Paradise fell on her stomach, weakening the Paradise Flowers which prompted the Shrivelled Grass to push forward, consuming some of the flowers that stood in its way. Daisy was next, loving her back hoof which prompted her to fall over as well. Her Daises would soon be pushed back thanks to this loss of focus.
"Finished already?! Where's all that bravado you had earlier?!" Shrivel grinned after witnessing them drop to the floor with ease. She saw this as her victory once more. To her, she was only being delayed by pitiful retaliations. From the very beginning, Shrivel was confident that she would win and all signs pointed to her emerging as the victor with what she's pulled.
However, Daisy and Paradise were not so quick to falter. Despite their lost hooves, they would still fight back even with their lost parts. They lost their focus but regained it when remembering what they were dealing with and what was at stake. They still had hooves that could act as they raised them in the air, using them to make a counterattack. The Daisies and Paradise Flowers would make a comeback, blooming across the grass once more. Shrivel's smile faded once she saw the flowers returning, fighting back against her shrivelled grass.
One side of Ponyville was shrivelled while the other was blooming. The blooming flowers attempted to reach Rarity and the others but struggled to do so, just narrowly missing them by an inch. Alas, in their state, their magic could only go so far without straining themselves. And it seemed that fully straining themselves was the only way to achieve victory.
"Rapidash! Quick! Use Fire Blast!"
"R-Rapidash!" Rapidash was one of the few Pokemon that could break through the shrivelled grass. Of course, those few Pokemon were only Fire-Types. The grass could not fully trap Rapidash, only his legs. His flaming tail shielded him from the rest of the grass but he was still being slowed down, unfortunately.
However, when it came to ranged attacks, that was a different story. Arcanine's pupils glowed orange and his whole body was soon enveloped in a fiery aura. He then fires five blasts of fire from its body in the form of a 大 symbol. The Fire Blast came flying in, crashing into the Shrivelled Grass that fought against the Blooming Daises and Paradise Flowers.
With this interference, the Shrivelled grass lost some of its control. This gave Daisy and Paradise the opportunity to gain the edge over this struggle.
"Ampharos! U-Use...Thunder!" A struggling Rarity yelled as her face was being consumed by the grass. Right as she spoke to Ampharos, her face was soon enveloped in shrivelled grass, making her another victim. Pheromosa was next, despite her height. The grass trapped the Lissome Pokemon much like it trapped the rest of her friends.
"Pha...Ampharos!" Ampharos' arms, lower and upper body were restrained but not his face. Not yet. Unable to use Thunder from his entire body, Ampharos would instead use his mouth. A flash of lightning crashed out of his mouth, intercepting the shrivelled grass as well, giving support to the Flora Ponies.
Once more, the Shrivelled grass lost some of its control as Shrivel looked back at Ponyville and its remaining residents. Those who could still act and have yet to become works of art did what they had to do. They threw their own ranged moves at the Shrivelled grass.
Fire, Stars, Grass and streams of Water flew in to help the Flora Ponies, disrupting the Shrivelled Grass' movements. All the remaining Pokemon used whatever attack they had in their arsenal before they were turned to grass sculptures, preventing Shrivel from gaining the advantage.
And in terms of ponies, unicorn magic was used at last. Bolts of magic flew in, joining the Infinity Energy moves and further tipping the scales for the Flora Ponies. Even Rarity, who had her face restrained, still had her horn poking out slightly, having the chance to shoot out one bolt of magic at least before being trapped by the Shrivelled grass. Emerald Aura released the strongest one yet thanks to her Rift Magic, using all she had before being encased herself.
And as for Shrivel, she certainly didn't have the strength to stop this at all. She could only watch in agitation and give out orders to her grass. But giving out orders wouldn't do her any good and the Despair Plant was still asleep. "You can't be doing this!"
"Thanks, everypony!" Daisy thanked her fellow citizens for assisting her.
"You're just one pony without anypony else. You were gonna lose once you met the entire town..." A strained Paradise said, telling Shrivel that her loss was already decided the second she arrived. The unity of Ponyville is what she had to face.
Shrivel grizzled her teeth, looking around her to see the encased ponies and Pokemon who all interfered with her grass and fought back fiercely. Indeed, Ponyville was truly formidable for a place so peaceful. Shrivel experienced it herself. With the bonds they've formed with their Pokemon thanks to guidance from Ash and everyone else gave them strength.
Ponyville wasn't just a random town. Not with all of these ponies and Pokemon here to work together, even in their toughest hours. And it truly showed how much they've grown ever since. Daisy and Paradise were part of that growth, thanks to the life they were given by Twilight Sparkle.
They looked at each other, before nodding in unison. Now that they had this advantage, they couldn't let it slip away from them. The Flora Ponies went the distance to strain themselves some more, unleashing the full force of their magic. And with that, the Shrivelled Grass lost.
The blooming flowers consumed the Shrivelled Grass, replacing them with something truly beautiful. Shrivel pulled back as the Daises and Paradise Flowers were approaching her. She hissed violently, trying to get away, only to be covered by them. She received a somewhat similar treatment to what she did to everypony else.
And with their magic spreading across Ponyville, decorating it with flowers, it would also affect those caught up tin the Shrivelled Grass. The Grass Sculptures were being overwritten by this Creation Magic. Rarity found herself being freed thanks to the Blooming Serenity. And the first thing she felt was not the air but the soft and gentle touch of the flowers that brought her freedom. Rarity sighed, feeling at peace once these flowers touched her.
All those captured by the Shrivelled Grass were freed, feeling the serenity of these flowers. Even the destroyed buildings were being decorated, looking less unsightly with these floral additions. Beauty had been brought back to Ponyville. For the most part. Daisy and Paradise succeeded but they couldn't have done it without the assistance of Ponyville.
"We did it..." Paradise smiled before passing out. She expended all of her magic and passed out like she did back then. So did Daisy as they were both out of it. But they certainly deserved it after doing what they needed to do. And when connecting their hooves, they regenerated parts of their shrivelled body together.
"Daisy! Paradise!" Running through the beautiful, flower-filled and serene land was Rarity, appearing next to the downed Flora Ponies. At last, she could reach them. The unicorn would soon see how peaceful these two looked when passed out, healing each other and the rest of Ponyville.
However, Ponyville was not truly healed. The Disease Mist was still active after all even with the Despair Plant asleep. Not to mention there were vampires still heading for Ponyville but it was unknown how close they were. Once more, Equestria gained the edge but victory was not truly theirs against Magehold.
And speaking of the Despair Plant, the flowers reached everywhere and that included the Bullfrog as well. After the flowers finished what had to be done, the Despair Plant's Abyss-like eyes would open once more. It was finally awake. And it had the flowers to thank for that. Rarity and everypony else gasped, seeing the dreaded creature from Magehold awaken.
This was the worst possible time for it to awaken as it stood up tall once more, casting a shadow over the decorated town, stunning the residents. Some of them had fear strike their hearts, fearing that it would never be over. They were finally starting to know what dread felt like. The dreadful fact that their enemies would not relent until they were destroyed.
Mega Ampharos, Pheromosa, Roserade, Rapidash, Stoutland and Meowstic stood in the front, attempting to protect everyone here.
"E-Excellent..." Shrivel's eyes poked out of the flowers that covered her. Even when covered, her raspy and wrinkly voice was still being heard. "It's just as I said before! Bullfrog...Put an end to this pitiful struggle and crush them at once!"
However, they all soon came to find out that the Bullfrog did not take action. Despite Shrivel's orders, the Bullfrog did not attack. No signs of its tongue being used as a weapon and no signs of it preparing to leap into the air. Instead, it would suck in the air.
The Bullfrog made an odd sound when doing so but it was for a purpose. It did the exact opposite of what it once performed. It wasn't attacking. But rather, helping. The Disease Mist froze for a moment before suddenly redirecting its movements. It was all going in reverse, directly to the source. Bullfrog was sucking in the mist itself, removing it from the atmosphere.
The ponies and Pokemon were once again shocked, seeing this turn of events. Shrivel was the most stunned out of everyone. She couldn't believe her eyes. No longer was Ponyville covered in a Disease Mist. It regained its clean and gentle air once more. And it was saved by the one who caused it in the beginning.
"No! That can't be!" Shrivel roared out of frustration while everyone else cheered with elated happiness. Finally, they were free from the mist. This was done by all of them coming together and working as a town to achieve victory. And ironically, Bullfrog was part of that victory.
"Daisy and Paradise's flowers. It affected it, didn't it?" Rarity suspected that this was Daisy and Paradise's doing. They were the only ones who could calm and befriend a Despair Plant after all. "These two are honestly amazing."
"So...is it over?" A tired Sweetie Belle said, believing it to be the end.
"Not yet. Not when you're all still ill." Emerald Aura shut that down instantly. "My spell will run out eventually. You don't have too much time. Those who came down with common illnesses will be fine now that the mist is gone but anyone with those Magehold curses will still struggle unless something is done."
"T-That's right!" Hearing that, Shrivel, being the opportunist that she was, exclaimed with malice once more. "In the end, some of you are going down! And you have the rest of the Dread League to deal with! I'll be watching your eventual-"
"Mosa!" Having enough of Shrivel's blabber, Pheromosa would smack her on the head with a swift kick. Shrivel would soon pass out, staying silent for once. If only they could keep her around but by this point, they were expecting Shrivel to combust as always and make an exit.
"Now that that's been dealt with, what now?" Rarity asked.
"I'm not sure. We haven't dealt with these curses at all." Mayor Mare looked at her hoof with black cracks. "I'm not sure if we will make it through to the end at this rate. Oh, where is Fluttershy...?"
"Fluttershy will be back. Surely, she has to find something that can help us." Rarity looked up in the sky. "Hopefully. Pheromosa. Ampharos. Get these two to bed, please."
Pheromosa and Ampharos would pick up Daisy and Paradise as they needed something comfortable to sleep on. Their beds would do the trick since they modelled them in their image. Literal Flower Beds. For once, Pheromosa would not move fast to get anywhere. Instead, she would gently walk over to Twilight's Castle.
As for the rest of Ponyville, those that have been afflicted with Magehold Curses were stumped. They won but were still prone to suffering. Emerald Aura's spell gave them temporary immunity and kept them stable for now. At the same time, the Despair Plant would stay behind, being static and inactive with nothing else to do.
Time passed and the spell was weakening. It would reach its end soon and the only thing the ponies could do was help fix up their town. At the same time, arriving at the scene after everything was said and done were Ash and Twilight. Twilight Sparkle came rushing here for the sake of Daisy and Paradise's safety, wanting to see if they were alright. And immediately, she stopped by her castle, riding on the back of Dragonite to get somewhere.
"Daisy! Paradise!" Twilight quickly burst into her castle, not wasting any time. She dashed through her own home, moving through the stairs as quickly as she could with her alicorn speed, only focusing on those two. Ash was way behind thanks to how fast Twilight was moving.
Instantly, the Princess of Friendship burst into the rooms of her daughters, almost breaking the door down with the brute strength she used. She was truly worried for them in the same way a mother would be for her own children. And once she entered their room, Twilight saw Daisy and Paradise peacefully resting there. They had been placed on their Flower Beds by Pheromosa and Ampharos, being at peace after helping save Ponyville from destruction.
A relieved Twilight approached her daughters to see their faces. Both were filled with smiles since they knew how successful their plan was. it was risky considering their conditions, but they pulled it off swimmingly. "Oh, thank goodness. You're okay." Twilight said while they were asleep. She then looked outside the window to see the residents of Ponyville rebuilding their homes after the battle with some of them having black cracks around them. Twilight was rather late to everything and only showed up during the ending.
She even saw the Despair Plant Bullfrog standing there. It was doing nothing at all despite its imposing appearance. Thanks to Daisy and Paradise's magic, the Bullfrog was now an ally to Ponyville, freeing them of the mist it originally made. For now, it was inactive, no longer taking orders from anyone.
"You might be the only ones who can overcome Magehold's diseases," Twilight said while her daughters were asleep. "I don't want you getting hurt but...I also don't want everypony else to suffer. Vampires and their connections to plants are too important to ignore after all. And you two already show so much amazing potential with what you can do to Despair Plants."
"They do." Entering the room was Rarity as she surprised Twilight. Behind her were Pheromosa and Ampharos who ended his Mega Evolution. "They're the ones who prevented our town from being destroyed."
"They already went into action? I thought they were asleep the entire time though..."
"Not at all. Pheromosa and Ampharos put them to bed after they gave it their all. Your daughters are something, Twilight. But are you sure they can cure everypony?"
"I learned a lot about Magehold's Vampires and their connection to Plants. Fluttershy's even found a cure for Swamp Fever. So I'm very sure. And yet, I don't want the worst to happen to them. If this is how they turned out from going into action against whatever was here, I'm scared to know what would happen if they tried absorbing the curses."
"Hm. That is worrying. But we'll have to wait and see. Everpony else here is only safe thanks to Emerald Aura's Temporary Immunity. They don't have much time until it runs out."
"They don't?!" Twilight gasped.
"I'm afraid not." Rarity sighed, shaking her head. "If something isn't done, then the Dread Leauge would have won here either way, Twilight. What do you think we should do?"
Thinking of her daughter's safety, Twilight was truly acting like a mother, wanting the best for them. But at the same time, the rest of the town was on the line. Twilight couldn't just ignore that. She turned to face the Flora Ponies, knowing that the only way to solve this was by asking them.
She wanted them to make the decision. Not to force it on them. But a part of Twilight could count on her daughters. Not much time was left for those afflicted with Magehold's Curses. Time was ticking and their fates were hanging in the balance as the journey continues.
Precious time was fading for the ponies who had temporary immunity to the Magehold Curses. The time they had left was trying to rebuild the damages done to their town. At the same time, Shrivel was still around, covered by the beautiful daises and paradise flowers that brought some solace to the town. She had yet to combust and return to Magehold. But even when unconscious, vampires do tend to combust and return either way.
The only ones who could potentially fix this were Daisy and Paradise. But they had just got done saving Ponyville by unifying their magic. They were also exhausted and needed the rest. Even with the conflict in Ponyville coming to a close, it wasn't over yet. The Black Crusade sought to destroy all life after all and it didn't matter how many loops it had to go through to make it happen.
Signs of ponies slowly losing their immunity were beginning to show already. The way they moved was sluggish, delayed and even static. They didn't have long until the spell runs out. And they certainly couldn't keep this up for long. Twilight looked outside, knowing something had to be done instantly.
"Perhaps one of Fluttershy's Pokemon knows Sunny Day." Rarity suggested a quicker way to bring the Sun. "We could certainly use the Sun right about now. Come to think of it...why hasn't Princess Celestia raised the Sun? Does she know about the Black Crusade?"
"Oh, she knows. I told her that it's started." Twilight faced Rarity. "But she knows that raising it won't fix it. Not when there's an entire world out there and the Moon will still exist in other regions, giving the Dread League the advantage. It's not just Equestria that they're after. But I do wish that she'd raise it here if she chooses to."
"Drat...If only it was the entire world..." Rarity pouted, really hoping for that.
"But, I can ask her either way. Even if it's just for a bit. I couldn't reach Cadence with telepathy thanks to our range but I'll definitely reach Celestia. Ponyville and Canterlot aren't that far from each other." Twilight closed her eyes, using the Telepathy Spell, attempting to reach Princess Celestia. Hopefully, she wasn't too busy at the moment. She hasn't heard from the Ruler of Equestria yet.
She needed the Sun to rise. Even if it was just for a while. But something was telling Twilight that the Dread League might be why the Sun hasn't risen yet, much like what happened back at the third Pokemon Festival. Twilight was hoping she was wrong about the latter.
Hayseed Swamp.
Speaking of Fluttershy, back at Hayseed Swamp, she was still dealing with Swamp Fever. But thankfully, this one at least had a cure that could be obtained. The Flash Bees were the answer. But before Fluttershy could head for them, she had to be prepared. And Applejack, Cattail and the Pokemon certainly came prepared as they collectively wore large face masks.
"These masks will do the trick. Can't risk you getting any sicker! If you don't rest, your symptoms will only get worse! We don't want you infecting us." said Applejack.
"Mm-hmm. You really should rest up before going up against those flash bees. They are nasty critters." Cattail added.
"Um, you don't know this about me, but I'm pretty good with animals. And besides, Dogtail—" Fluttershy confidently said before being interrupted by Cattail, who corrected her.
"Cattail."
"Um, Zecora is counting on me. I have to help her, just like Meadowbrook helped her mother and all those bayou ponies long ago!" Despite the warnings, Fluttershy appeared to be eager in getting this done, not letting a fever hold her back.
"But Fluttershy, as much as Meadowbrook took care of other ponies, I'm sure she also took care of herself." Applejack, while admiring Fluttershy's persistence, thought about her well-being.
"You're not gonna change my mind, Applejack!" Fluttershy showed a strong nature despite her condition. She wanted to get a move on, attempting to push the two Earth Ponies forward with all of her might, only to fail and struggle to do so.
"Ooh. For bein' sick, she sure is strong." Cattail added.
"Always when something like this happens," Applejack said before forcing herself to move on. It was off to the area where the Flash Bees resided. After all these years, more ponies would set foot there thanks to this abandonment.
Flygon was just sitting out there, bored out of his mind since he was only here to drop off Applejack and Fluttershy and then return to Spike once it was all said and done. He took the skies to see if he could spot anything about the Black Crusade happening nearby. But from what he could tell, there wasn't a sign of it being near Hayseed Swamp. However, the longer he looked, he noticed the dark clouds in the distance.
Thunder rumbled within those clouds and Flygon could already tell that they weren't natural. It seemed too convenient for them to show up during the start of the Black Crusade after all. Flygon feared that it might reach here soon, if that truly was the Black Crusade in action. The vampires are known for twisting the weather in their favour just to hide the Sun, even though it was nighttime at the moment.
Eventually, they reached the area where the Flash Bees could be found. Their beehive was seen up ahead along with some Flash Bees buzzing around.
"The Flash Beehive is just up yonder," Cattail spoke, aiming his hoof at the beehive. Still to this day, it was on that same tree that Mage Meadowbrook scaled.
"Okay. Audi will do a great job at protecting me. And if something goes wrong, I can have Bayleef change fate." Fluttershy took a deep breath. "I can do this...Just get the honey." Fluttershy approached the tree in the distance with Audino staying closely behind her. It was a good thing Swamp Fever wasn't something that could be caught by standing next to someone who has it or even touching them.
And as Fluttershy approached the tree, a crack of thunder went off in the far distance. Enough to startle Applejack and Cattail. Even though it was far away, the sound it made was not to be ignored. Standing before the tree where the beehive hung from, Fluttershy attempted to fly for it. Alas, her Swamp Fever held her back from flying. She grunted when trying to reach the necessary height for the beehive, only to struggle. Thankfully, she had Bayleef and Audino to help her. Bayleef used the vines to latch onto the trees while Audino picked up Fluttershy. By using Bayleef's vines, they were able to get to the top, facing the Flash Beehive.
"Hello, flash bees. I was hoping I could get some of your honey." It was just up to Fluttershy to speak with them. Her face met with the Flash Bees who were peacefully standing there with their eyes closed. And it wasn't until Fluttershy spoke that the Flash Bees opened their eyes, intensifying them. It seemed that history was repeating itself here.
The Flash Bees became bodies of light, getting up close to Fluttershy. But instead of pushing her off like they did with Mage Meadowbrook, they simply hovered in front of her, buzzing angrily at the ill pegasus.
"Oh! I see. You don't let others have any. Well, I'm sorry, but I really need it." Fluttershy pleaded. And the only response she got from that was a zap to her nose. "Oof!" With that zap, her nose was a bit red thanks to that as it surprisingly meshed well with all the Swamp Fever spots. I didn't want it to have to come to this, but I'll just have to use... the Stare!" She went for the Stare, believing that it would have some effect. It wasn't really her preferred way of doing things but when it was effective, it was effective.
Unfortunately, this was the one time it did not count for anything. The stare was ineffective to the Flash Bees. And in response, they attacked her by stinging her hooves and body. Fluttershy squeaked before being caught by Audino after nearly falling over.
"You really are aggressive!" Fluttershy coughed, amazed by how aggressive these Flash Bees were. She had to wonder how Mage Meadowbrook even succeeded in getting the cure from them.
"Audino!" Healing Fluttershy instantly, Audino graced the pegasus with Heal Pulse, sending a warming green aura around her. The sting on her nose and entire body was cured, but alas, not the Swamp Fever. She was on the verge of passing out because of the sting but Audino quickly nullified that.
"Bay!" Bayleef angrily shouted at the Flash Bees after they attacked her trainer.
"It's alright, Bayleef." Fluttershy groaned after being brought down by Audino. "We'll try again. But it looks like they won't let us anywhere near it at all. My words and the stare didn't work."
"Audino..."
"Okay. I'd rather not have to retry this multiple times." She took a deep breath. "Not when the Black Crusade is happening. Zecora could be turned into a tree at any moment thanks to Swamp Fever. And I wouldn't mind being a tree myself but...that doesn't matter right now. What can I do here?"
"Bay..." Bayleef scratched her face with her vines. She would then raise her leg, suggesting something.
"No, Bayleef. Your leaf won't work in a situation like this." Fluttershy already knew what she would suggest. But in a scenario like this, the Fate Changing Leaf was ineffective, unfortunately.
"Bayleef..." Bayleef lowered her ears, followed by a head pat from Audino to comfort her.
"That's it!" Fluttershy gasped, coming up with something. "We're not exactly doing everything Mage Meadowbrook did back then. The book I read said that she had the Mystical Mask on as well. That might be what we need!"
"Audino?" Audino and Bayleef looked at each other, unsure as to what Fluttershy was getting at. "Dino?"
"No. She didn't throw a mask at them." Fluttershy translated. "The male bees aren't aggressive around the queen bee, and the mask has the same stripes that she does. Let's get ourselves that mask and that honey!" Fluttershy was back on her feet that quickly. All it took was for her to think deeper and recall Mage Meadowbrook's records.
And at the same time, the skies above were changing. Right as she struck an idea, the Sun was beginning to rise. The Moon saw itself leaving for the meanwhile, showing the brilliant Sun in all of its glory. It seemed that Twilight's telepathic message reached Celestia and the request was indeed made. It was way too early for the Sun to be up but it made sense as to why this was the case.
Fluttershy squinted her eyes before looking at the Sun's warm embrace. It was a welcoming sight considering what was occurring currently. The Sun was also a sign of hope since Celestia was the one to raise it. Looking at the Sun gave Fluttershy the extra spirit she needed to get this mission of hers done.
Ponyville.
"Woooh..." And of course, when reacting to the sunlight, the Flora Ponies opened their eyes, regaining energy. Daisy sat up, feeling absolutely perplexed after what happened minutes ago. Paradise simply rolled off her bed, landing flat on her face. The two of them groaned, stretching their hooves to find further relief.
"I forgot how instant it is for them to get back up." Rarity said once the Flora Ponies were re-energized.
"Thank you, Princess. And hopefully, this keeps the vampires who're approaching here back." Twilight thanked Princess Celestia for bringing the Sun up. While it would mess with the time a bit, Celestia would make sure things were put back to normal after this is all over.
"Mom...? Rarity?" said Paradise after raising her head. "Oh, is it morning already? It doesn't feel like it should be."
"Just some sunlight for you two," Twilight answered. "Sorry if I woke you up from a nice dream."
"It's fine, mom. Seeing you here is like a dream." Daisy giggled before hopping off the bed. And once she did, she used her magic to generate daises below her, using them as a platform. Daisy would then trot down the Platform of Daisies to meet with her mother. "Is everything okay back out there? We used our magic to try and fix everything..."
"It's perfect." Rarity spoke. "You did an amazing job, you two, revitalizing the grass in such a beautiful way. But, it's not completely done yet. Some ponies are still ill thanks to those Magehold Curses."
"Still?" Daisy repeated. "Oh...I thought that our magic would fix that too. Did it at least stop the Despair Plant?"
"That worked like a charm too. It's exactly like how it was back with the Despair Plant Garden. And it looks like Ash is already taking the opportunity to interact with it." Twilight looked outside, seeing Ash and Pikachu next to the Despair Plant. But instead of battling it, they were admiring it.
"That's some pretty tough grass you got, huh? It looks so much like everything else." Ash said, pointing out the Despair Plant's durability. It was stunning since it appeared much like any other form of grass and yet it was impossible to damage without the right form of Light. The Bullfrog replied by croaking at Ash.
"I never bothered to really wonder why you two have such a connection to the Despair Plants. It wasn't until Radiant Hope revealed quite a bit that I started to piece things together. Vampires are closely related to Plants. Almost as if they're living plants. And you two are actually Living Plants."
"Yeah? What are you getting at, Mom?" Paradise asked.
"I hope this isn't too much of a drag and bother since you two just healed up but...please." Twilight put her hooves together, pleading for help from her own daughters. "Heal everypony else if you can."
"Us? Heal?" Daisy pulled back.
"It's something that I thought might work. I thought that you two might have the ability to remove the curses from them. Maybe not with your Creation Magic but with something else. I'm sorry if-"
"Okay." But before Twilight could finish her sentence, Daisy and Paradise collectively spoke, agreeing to it.
"Eh?" Twilight looked up at them, surprised that they took the answer that quickly. "T-That fast?"
"Why not?" Paradise shrugged. "We already made a decision like that earlier. We were trying to save everypony else since things were getting too close to call."
"We'd be glad to help. You don't have to ask us, Mom. This is our home after all and we'd do anything to protect it."
"But...what could happen if you absorb it? I mean, if you can absorb it? What will the magic do to you two?"
"Only one way to find out. And if we pass out, we've got the Sun to help us." Daisy looked outside to where the Sun was shining the most.
"You have a lot of faith and hope for that Sun. I don't blame you though. You two seem to be at your best when it shines." said Rarity. "Twilight, darling. I believe that your daughters have all the confidence possible. And I'll put all of my faith in that confidence.
"Alright..." Twilight nodded before taking a deep breath. She held out Togekiss' Poke Ball as she was the only one of Twilight's Pokemon that had been hit by something from Magehold. "Out you come, Togekiss."
"Togekiss..." Togekiss appeared. She was still poisoned thanks to the vampire. She nearly fell over the moment she exited the Poke Ball, nearly losing their balance. It took Absol and Espeon to keep their winged friend stable.
"TRy and see if you can heal Togekiss. Please." Twilight requested.
"Gotcha." Daisy and Paradise approached the Jubilee Pokemon. It was time to see how far their magic could take them. It has already proven to be stupendous in what it could achieve. But there were still things unknown about the Flora Ponies that have yet to be revealed. Now was the chance to show more of it.
Togekiss groaned when looking at these two, putting on a light smile for comfort. Even when she was in a poor state, Togekiss always wanted to give everyone some form of comfort, truly living up to her status as the Jubilee Pokemon. Daisy and Paradise weren't sure how to approach this. They would simply wing it from here.
In unison, the Flora Ponies placed their hooves on Togekiss, specifically touching the Black Cracks that formed across her body. With their eyes closing, the Flora Ponies stayed silent, seeing what could come from this. All of a sudden, their hooves let out a light when touching Togekiss. That was already a good sign. Now it was just time for the execution of it.
Togekiss grunted as she felt something. Something was being pulled out of her all of a sudden. The light that came from Daisy and Paradise's hooves was the reason for that. Twilight and Rarity gasped as they saw the Black Cracks trembling in response to this contact. The respective flowers of the two Flora Ponies would show themselves, gently moving across Togekiss' body.
Specifically, they were overlaying themselves the Black Cracks, covering their unsightliness. Indeed, the Flora Ponies could interact with these Black Cracks, showing that they could do something about Magehold's creations once more. The cracks were being pulled away after they were covered by the flowers, exiting Togekiss' body. Togekiss felt a bit of pain but that was soon followed by a warm and soothing feeling that calmed her down.
Daisy and Paradise collectively stepped back, bringing the cracks further to them. Togekiss' body was no longer being purged and attacked by those cracks as they were all being stripped from her. However, the moment the cracks all vanished, Daisy and Paradise fell on their backs.
"Oh! Are you alright?!" Twilight gasped after seeing her daughters drop to the floor. On the plus side, Togekiss was cured. The cruel poison had left her body, purifying her and bringing her back to full strength.
"T-Toge...Togekiss!" Togekiss!" And she showed this by flying around excitedly, being energized once more.
"I-It worked..." Daisy said, feeling dizzy. "Oh, but I feel weird..."
"Same here..." Paradise groaned. "What's up with that?"
"Well...it looks like they can cure others of Magehold's diseases." Rarity uttered. "Amazing...So all of these diseases are tied to plants? Is that what this is?"
"Oh, but you two look pretty hurt from it." Twilight placed her hooves on her daughters. "I mean, it's a good thing that you can fix this but..."
"Don't worry about it, Mom...We've only got like the entire town to heal up. I'm sure it'll be fine." Paradise chuckled with one eye closed, trying to hide the pain. "Plus, we've got the Sun backing us up, right?"
"Right. Just take it easy, okay? Take breaks when healing everyone. It might take a while, but I'm sure we can get everyone back to normal by the end of it." Twilight requested. She wanted her daughters to go slowly when healing everyone else, otherwise, they might come down with something soon. But it was good to know that these two could heal others from Magehold's Curses.
But as soon as this was discovered and a grand opportunity laid before them, the Sun was beginning to lower. Everyone took notice of this as it was no longer shining brightly in the sky. Twilight gasped as the Sun left the scene completely and instead, the Moon was beginning to show up. This surprised Twilight as she thought Celestia would keep the Sun active for a while. But it seemed to be rather short-lived. Twilight had to know this was the case.
"Princess Celestia?! What's going on?!" She used telepathy to speak to her from all the way here.
"I'm afraid I'm not doing this, Twilight...It's the Lich Queen." Celestia could already tell who was responsible for this. Only a pony as powerful as her could be behind such an act. And it was a pony who wanted this night to last as long as possible for her terrifying vampiric forces.
The Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta. And with the Flora Ponies only just now healing, the Sun that they could bank on wasn't here to back them up right now, even though they had the answer to Magehold's cures. The Lich Queen was now getting involved, finally interfering with Equestria's actions. All for the sake of the Black Crusade's success.
"Waaah..." Daisy and Paradise had yet to fully heal thanks to the disappearance of te Sun. Earlier, Celestia had raised it to heal the Flora Ponies but thanks to the interference of Rosa Maledicta, who had the same kind of power, they could not full heal. They still had some power left to at least heal someone else, but much like how they cured Togekiss, they would feel a great pushback to their own bodies, harming themselves in the process. And there wouldn't be any sunlight to heal them.
"Is she finally on the move, Princess Celestia?" Twilight spoke to Celestia with telepathy.
"I don't think so. She's most likely still at Magehold but she can manipulate the Moon either way. I can still raise the Sun but she'll definitely interfere just to give her vampires an advantage." Celestia replied while being situated at Canterlot. "I'm afraid there might a back and forth now. Be careful, Twilight."
"Curse that Lich Queen!" Rarity groaned. It's not like anyone can just control the Sun and Moon like that! She's not even an alicorn! How can she even do this?!"
"I don't think that's what matters, Rarity. She's just that strong when it comes to magic. Princess Celestia can definitely bring it back but nothing's stopping the Lich Queen from trying it again. And she picked the most convenient time to interfere. Since Ponyville's been attacked already, the whole town's now within her sights."
"Mom...I don't think I can do it back to back." Paradise groaned. Without the Sun's glorious rays, she and Daisy could not eal and continue their magical abilities. Already using it on Togekiss harmed them so there was no way the entire town would be safe for them.
"It's okay, you two. It'll be alright." Twilight and Togekiss who had just been cured, helped up the two Flora Ponies, getting them back on their hooves. "Rarity. We might have to try that Sunny Day approach after all."
"W-Will it work though?" Rarity stammered. Now she wasn't so sure about her plan since the Lich Queen was now involved.
"It's not like Princess Celestia's been shut down from controlling the Sun. While we have the opportunity, let's try and get it back up. The more Sunpower on our side, the easier it'll be."
"Do we have enough time for that, Twilight?" Rarity questioned. "How fast will those curses take some of them away?!"
"The curses will eat away at everypony. It won't take them out in one night, thankfully. But we can't afford to waste time either. Let's see which of those Pokemon can bring us a Sunny Day as soon as possible."
Magehold.
Back at Magehold, with the Lich Queen feeling the need to intervene a bit now that she has regained some strength, keeping the Moon up was certainly a splendid and powerful way to do so. Granted, the Moon was always present here at Magehold with so sign of sunlight so nothing really changed about this area.
Rosa Maledicta was now being patient, waiting for Celestia's next move. With the Lich Queen active, she wanted to make sure that Equestria's Ruler wasn't getting ahead of her and that meant foiling her actions before she was the one who could be foiled.
However, elsewhere, when searching for Fantina, Fractured Note looked across the Contest Hall for the Hearthome City Gym Leader, only to find nothing. Fantina was not present here. Instead, he found Fantina in none other than Eccentrick's home.
"There you are. Fantina. Your contest. Isn't it ready yet?" Fractured Note asked.
"Sorry, sorry. It will be ready soon. I just have to make sure all the contestants are prepared." Fantina replied as there was currently no sign of Eccentrick in her own home. Speaking of her home, Eccentrick certainly lived up to her name. It was by far the most colourful home in all of Magehold from what Fantina has seen so far.
Eccentrick had stars of various colours plastered all over her walls, followed by draped curtains which resembled that of fangs. Specifically, coloured fangs. And with the wind blowing, the drapes would close the fangs, gnawing at the air. Her room was also filled with posters of what appeared to be herself. Eccentrick had her own posters which showed her in different poses.
"The Black Crusade's just started and at any moment, the mess it'll make could come here and disrupt the contest. I can already guess that much."
"Miss Fantina!" Rushing into the room was Eccentrick herself, coming to a screeching halt in front of the Gym Leader. "Okay! I think I've got the perfect style for my performance?"
"Ah, so you've figured it out? What about your dress?"
"Here it is! In all of its glory!" Eccentrick held the dress out, showing how bombastic it was. It was bombastic in the sense that it was just Fantina's dress but catered to fit a pony and had more parts to it. "I modelled it after yours! You're the only one here who wears a dress and I love the way it looks!"
"Oh, just me? I thought some ponies would have dresses honestly."
"Uh, Just Opal." Eccentrick pouted. "She even wears them to mock us, reminding us that she's Magehold's most beautiful or something like that. But you made new dresses for everypony so there's that problem solved."
"I take it you'll be ready by this morning?" Fractured Note asked. "The Lich Queen is rather busy right now. So busy that she's not even looking over Magehold."
"She's not?" Fantina and Eccentrick collectively uttered as this was new to them.
"The Black Crusade is in full swing. It requires her full attention. Unless the conflict reaches here, that's when she'll be aware. So she won't have time to bother with anything else here. Such as your contest, Fantina."
"Ah, I see. Well, things can carry on as they were before either way." Fantina shrugged. "You don't have to worry about any delays of the sort, Fractured. I believe you'll be seeing the contest in full swing. And Eccentrick. You're practically ready, aren't you?"
"I am! I've been waiting for this day for so long, Miss Fantina. I mean, it's been centuries but...better late than never, right?" Eccentrick grinned. "Thank you for this opportunity!"
"Oh, it's just something I enjoy doing, my little pony. And since it's something that everypony will enjoy after the Fashion Show I put on. I've even been told that many others have been waiting for this just like you."
"Mhm. But uh...what if Opal returns? Will you try it again? She's too busy to show up here right about now." Eccentrick questioned, bringing up Opal Vivacity. "She might tear this one down like she did with everything else."
"Is she that set on being so beautiful?"
"Not just beautiful but also the next Lich Queen." Fractured Note joined in. "And to her, being the most beautiful while also being the next Lich Queen is a double bonus. If she were to ever reach that power, anything that opposes her beauty will be erased. Much like what she did to the events in the past."
"There were other events here at Magehold besides mine?" Fantina gasped. For a while, she hasn't heard about any Magehold Events whatsoever. The only event that was known here was The Black Crusade and that was something that had been built up since the Lich Cycle began.
"There were. Even during my time as the first Lich King. But as the Lich Cycle began and more Lich Rulers came into power, that was the same time Opal's obsession began. She was so vain of herself that every event that involved beauty or style of the kind, she not only exceeded at them...but crushed them to the point where nopony else could contend."
"Are you saying she performed so well they stopped?"
"No. I mean she stripped contestants of their senses." Fractured Note revealed a rather horrifying fact about Opal Vivacity and what she has done.
"Y-You don't mean-" Fantina's eyes trembled as she was hoping that Fractured Note wasn't eluding to what she thought he was.
"It happened to one of my friends too," Eccentrick said as her tone suddenly changed. Usually, it was ecstatic and loud but now it had been lowered. "There was an event once that involved our best looks...but Opal ended up taking away their eyesight. All of my friends were hit by this and they couldn't see at all."
"Over 500 ponies lost their eyesight that day. Or, their eyesight was so elevated to the point where it was hard for them to keep their eyes open. They'd rather lose their eyeballs. Opal has the power to bring them back but there is no way she's letting that happen."
"She just got away with that?! But-"
"She got away with a lot, Fantina. As much as I hate to admit it, Opal was always adept at Curse Magic. She's considered a natural prodigy and some even saw her being a potential Lich Queen in the future. It still carries over today." Fractured Note said. "She even managed to cut something that's not even a sense but her magic seemed to make that breakthrough."
"She cut the ability to sing. And I mean my ability." Eccentrick revealed that she was another victim of Opal's Curse Magic. And for her, it was an ability to sing that was now lost from her. "I was looking forward to a Singing Contest...but that was when Opal ruined it for us." She even recalled that day where her singing ability was taken from her. Vampires do have great memories despite their long lifespans.
It was a time when Magehold was more prone to have competitions and contests. Just for leisure and entertainment. And this was mainly done by the ponies who weren't involved with the Dread League. These were vampire ponies who were only living their lives while the Dread League trained themselves.
A young Eccentrick, who looked relatively the same at this point, was preparing for the opportunity to show off her vocal skills among many other vampire ponies. They were backstage where many other ponies were waiting for them to show up and give their best songs.
"We were all so excited for that day. But Opal, in secrecy, caught us by surprise and revealed the newest evolution of her magic. She made us the first targets of her breakthrough, taking away our ability to sing." Eccentrick narrated. She recalled how Opal appeared backstage, letting the newest evolution of her magic play it out.
It let out a wide wave that encompassed the ponies without them even seeing it coming. She did this from behind, catching them off guard as they felt the magic pass through the, attacking their greatest talent that they felt proud of. But not anymore. With just this expansion of magic, the young vampires of this time had lost their singing voices.
But it never dawned on them until they got out on stage. They just assumed Opal startled them for no reason. And the moment they entered the stage, they tried emitting some music from their mouths. However, it wasn't a case of them singing poorly. Instead, everything was silent. The skill to sing or emit anything that sounds remotely close to singing had been wiped out of their bodies completely.
And it was a truly embarrassing moment for many. And also saddening. Their eagerness had been dropped instantly when no sound came from them. Not a single vocal talent could be found within anymore. The crowd watching was rather confused and saw this as some sort of joke. Why would they waste their time coming out here when they couldn't hear a sliver of music?
Eccentrick and many others were booed after delivering nothing at all to the crowd that came here. And for these young ponies, something like this was crushing. They just witnessed their dreams shatter and the sign of an event that they were looking forward to being torn away. For good.
Eccentrick turned around to see Opal Vivacity standing behind the curtains, eyeing her down. It was obvious that Opal's magic was behind this. Another petty yet cruel act from her had been done.
"It didn't matter if anyone found out that Opal was behind it. She would use her magic to disrupt some of their senses just so they never bring it up again. Many events were shut down because of the lack of a performance from any of them. Opal made sure that those running it would be dealt with too."
"So... you can no longer sing? And your friends?"
"No. I really wish I could. I loved singing..." Eccentric uttered with a disappointed tone. "Anypony else that can still sing won't bother to do it in a big way. Opal will be there to do something about it. And anyone trying to retaliate will lose something. Whether it's sight, hearing or anything like that."
"It's been a rough time for many ponies here. All events are non-existent because of her. Truly cruel. She is definitely a member of the Dread League for a reason. She can bring Dread in less destructive ways."
"That's just petty!" Fantina expressed her anger about it. It was rare for Fantina to get angry but this certainly riled her up. So much so that her voice startled the two vampires. "It's things like that which keep us entertained in life! When we want to enjoy something in the meanwhile! She can't just strip that away from everyone else!"
"I even tried reversing the magic she cast on me with my own magic but...it doesn't work at all. Not even Bittersweet, who has a similar magic type to me can do it." Eccentrick added.
"You can't reverse the spell she cast on you? I thought you could reverse anything."
"Ehh...I'm not that great at it. I can reverse quite a few things. Like this dress." Eccentrick demonstrated her magic, reversing the colours on the dress, changing it from purple to blue. "Or even the texture on things."
"Eccentrick isn't in the Dread League because her magic hasn't been developed to reach that point. It's not really seen as something that can bring dread. Especially when Bittersweet has a similar Curse Magic to hers."
"I've been trying my hardest though! I'm not as good as Opal or anyone like that, but I can still reverse some tings you can't expect. Like this!" Eccentrick flapped her wings, sending a stream of magic towards Fractured Note. He simply stood there, allowing the magic to reach him. And once the magic made contact with the former Lich King, it seemed like not much changed.
Fantina couldn't see a change at all. Fractured Note just looked like himself and that was it. That is until she saw the lack of a fang. Fantina initially thought that Eccentrick just reversed the position or location of his fang and that was it. "Oh, sorry, dear. I'm not sure I see anything different."
"No. She changed something. Despite what I said, she has potential that hasn't been unleashed even for centuries. Right now, I'm just an average unicorn. I'm no longer a vampire."
"Incredible! You changed him into a unicorn instead of a vampire pony!? That's the reverse of a vampire?!"
"Well, we're just opposites of average ponies, aren't we? So my magic would just change everything about somepony and make them the opposite. If I were to use it on a regular pony, they'd become a vampire pony." Eccentrick said. "Pretty neat, right?"
"It's truly an impressive form of magic. It's a shame that despite all these years, you haven't developed it all that much." Fractured Note sighed as he returned to being a vampire pony with his own magic.
"I tried!" Eccentrick puffed her cheeks, barking at Fractured Note. "And I...also did other things in the meanwhile, so there's that, but still! I can turn multiple vampires into regular ponies! Plus, even you since you're part Lich! I can make you either!"
"Can you now?" Fractured Note said with a judgemental tone.
"Oh yeah! I can do it in a wide radius! You just haven't seen it yet since we've been too busy scheming and all that. Plus, I haven't had a good reason to use it since I don't know what I'd use it on."
"Hmm...Reversing pony races as well..." Fantina pondered. Hearing Eccentrick's words and how impressive her magic gave her an idea. A smashing idea. It was so smashing that it made her put on a rather devious grin. "AH, that's it! That's what's missing!"
"What? What is it?" Eccentrick asked.
"Eccentrick. I'll get back to you soon. I need to make sure that the stadium is wide enough. It wouldn't hurt for the Lich Queen to get a glimpse of the contest in some way. Perhaps to lighten her spirits in case something goes wrong."
"Uh...Okay? I can wait." Eccentrick agreed, unsure as to what Fantina was getting at. But judging by that smile on her face, Fantina had truly devised something wonderful.
"About Opal." Fractured Note spoke about Opal Vivacity once more. "She's probably still out there trying to find Xerneas. If she gets to that Pokemon, then there might be nothing that can stop Yveltal from destroying all life."
Kalos. Near Anistar City.
And speaking of Opal Vivacity, she already had something that involved Xerneas' existence. Unlike Yveltal, who was harder to research about thanks to its destructive powers, Xerneas was easier because of its powers. In her hooves, she held a book containing knowledge of Xerneas. Way more than what she got from Yveltal.
Currently, she and her group found themselves near Anistar City. It wasn't exactly where Xerneas could be found, however, Opal already had a way to find this Legendary Pokemon without needing to go somewhere specific.
"Xerneas is the Pokemon that brings life where it's needed. This world already flourishes with life so much that even the Ghosts have life to them. A complete antithesis of Yveltal. So, there is only way to bring it out. Xerneas will surely appear where unnecessary destruction arrives. And thankfully...I just so happen to be good at that.~"
Opal Vivacity's plan was clear. She was about to bring destruction. Mass destruction. So violent that Xerneas would have to be forced out of its slumber just to restore life. And once Xerneas shows itself, that would be when the Dread League make their move.
The action that they were about to perform would be terrifyingly horrific, involving the lives of innocents and their homes. Dark clouds formed above Anistar City, already giving them a warning as to what was coming and it was just a natural presence of the Dread League.
An act so vile was coming to Anistar just for the sake of another vile act which tampered with life itself. But this would not go fully unnoticed. Not when Olympia lived in Anistar City. The Psychic-Type Gym Leader already sensed the coming disaster. Her advanced senses alerted her as she looked up at the darkened sky, seeing how the bright and glimmering stars were being hidden from the city.
Olympia could tell already.
"I have to hurry!" And currently, searching for the Dread League was Princess Luna. In her hooves, she had Zekrom's Dark Stone, housing the Deep Black Pokemon after his fierce battle with the Pony of Shadows and the Dread League. She was hoping that she wasn't too late to catch up with the Dread League, already seeing the dark clouds forming above in the distance. Seeing this, Luna narrowed her eyes, gritting her teeth as she attempted to accelerate through the air, using the magic of Lunar Ire to go even faster. She wanted to make it there in time before the Dread League can pull off something absolutely atrocious just for one Pokemon to emerge.
Fluttershy had discovered the way to approach the Flash Bees after her unsightly encounter with them. The Mystical Mask was the key. The mask that Mage Meadowbrook once wore and left behind after her disappearance. Precious time was fading as the thunderstorm from far away continued to be absurdly loud to the point where it reached Hayseed Swamp. Fluttershy couldn't afford to lose this time, otherwise, all of her friends could perish.
"Okay....here goes." She placed the mask on her face, preparing to face the Flash Bees once more, appearing before their hive. "Mind over matter." And the moment she got close, a Flash Bee would fly out. However, upon appearing out of the hive, it landed on the mask which mimicked the stripes of this Queen Bee. It didn't take long for the Flash Bee to fly off as if nothing happened. It saw this mask as another Queen Bee, acting calm instead of aggressive. Just as Fluttershy predicted.
This was followed by a swarm of Flash Bees looking at Fluttershy with their narrow eyes, only to remain calm moments later. They truly believed another Queen Bee was here. And when seeing the mask, all the bees would clear the way, allowing Fluttershy to shove her hoof inside. Audino and Bayleef gasped as they couldn't believe that worked.
"Audino!"
"Bay?!"
"I got it!" Fluttershy said with glee as she had the special honey in her hooves. The cure was at her disposal. All that was left to do was utilize it on those that had Swamp Fever. Such as herself. "Alright! Let's hurry back to Ponyville as soon as possible!"
Now that the cure had been obtained, it was back to Ponyville. And it had to be as hasty as possible. The thunderstorm in the distance plus the dark clouds were rather grim, potentially the result of the Dread League. Fluttershy would prefer that she returned to Ponyville without encountering any vampires along the way. However, with the dark clouds above expanding in size, it was clear that Hayseed Swamp wouldn't be exempt. Nothing is exempt when it comes to the Black Crusade.
Ponyville. The Pokemon House.
"Oough..." The spell had run out, unfortunately. It ran its course. And immediately, those with the Black Cracks on their bodies would fall weak on their hooves and knees. Mayor Mare was among some of them. She fell to the side of her Town Hall with Stoutland quickly rushing to her side. Others with the Magehold Curses fell over when trying to repair something, feeling the need to pass out.
Time was running out for them. While they would not perish tonight, the curses would still torment them, taking their time and slowly eating away at their bodies in the most vile and uncomfortable ways possible.
Searching for a way to bring the Sun back were Twilight and Rarity. They just needed Daisy and Paradise to heal up and use their amazing magic to remove the curses since they had the cure. But without a Sun to bank on, that would be rather difficult. Thankfully, Celestia was attempting to bring the Sun back, refusing to let her subjects perish to the Dread League in any way.
The Sun was seen attempting to rise up, only to stop halfway. Residents of Ponyville looked up to see this sudden pause. It threw them for a loop. They could see both the Sun and Moon. Both Celestial Bodies were attempting to swap positions, however, two powerful forces were controlling it at the moment.
"What is going up there?" Scootaloo questioned, wondering why the Sun and Moon were stuck in this way. It was oddly beautiful. One part of the sky was bright while the other was dark. The imbalance of the two Celestial Bodies affected the areas they hovered over.
Twilight and Rarity already knew that this meant that Celestia and Rosa Maledicta were clashing at this very moment. And this was further confirmed. The skies above started trembling all of a sudden, even affecting the ground. Ponyville couldn't catch a full-on break at all, unfortunately. And with the knowledge that more vampires were on the way improved the stress even further for this town.
Showing up at the Pokemon House, Ash, Twilight and Rarity searched for the Pokemon that possess Sunny Day. Surely, some of them have to know it. Especially the Grass-Types since they benefit from its radiance.
"Alright. I've called for every Pokemon here that can learn Sunny Day. Including my own. These are our options." Twilight said. Lining up in front of her were Sunflora, Sunkern, Hoppip, Fomantis, Slowpoke, Girafarig, Surskit, Starly and Petilil. Multiple of them. These were the ones who came to the scene once Twilight called for Sunny Day users.
However, she went the distance by also bringing the Pokemon from her PokePark. She was sure that some of them knew Sunny Day and she was right as the ones who possessed it stepped forward, lining up next to the Pokemon House Pokemon. For the most part, the species were identical when it comes to knowing Sunny Day.
"Yeah. I think that's all of them." Ash kneeled to face the Sunny Day users.
"Will this be enough though? Princess Celestia and regrettably Rosa Maledicta are incredibly powerful. Do these darlings have the strength to make a difference?" Rarity asked, unsure if the Pokemon here could truly help considering the two powerful forces facing each other.
"They will. I'm sure of it. What matters the most is that Princess Celestia gains all the help that she can. And this is what we can give her right now. You all can do this, okay?" Twilight looked back at the Pokemon, encouraging them to give it their best shot.
"Surskit!" Surskit and the others cried out. They will try their best.
"Wait!" Rushing to the scene before they could begin was none other than Roseluck. She showed up at the Pokemon House, still having the Black Cracks around herself and Roserade. The two of them were unfortunately hit with Magehold Curses instead of common diseases. "I've got one! I've got a Pokemon that knows Sunny Day!"
"Roseluck? You do?"
"I..." Roseluck took a deep breath before coughing. "I'm the Grass-Type Gym Leader. I need to. I was originally going to teach it to Roserade but my Bellossom is the one who has it. I wish I brought her out sooner when dealing with that vampire but...oh well."
"It's fine, Roseluck. The Despair Plant was the problem anyway. We'd be glad to have you add your Sunny Day to this. You do look awful and need the help too." Rarity replied.
"Thanks." Roseluck smiled as the Black Cracks went up to her eyes just now. Quickly, she would take out Bellossom's Pokemon, throwing it into the air with a weak hoof strength. She didn't quite have the strength to throw it as hard as she could.
"Bellossom!" Out came Bellossom. She hasn't been exposed to the Mist and was doing fine for herself. Now, all the Sunny Day users here at Ponyville were most definitely assembled. Hopefully, this would be enough. Daisy and Paradise would need all the regeneration they could get.
"Okay! Use Sunny Day!" Twilight and Roseluck exclaimed, giving the call for them to use Sunny Day. Roseluck would later cough after yelling like that, almost falling over as the Black Cracks around her body pulsated. She was soon helped up by Rarity's magic. In unison, all of their eyes would shine and their bodies became surrounded by golden energy that matched the Sun's rays.
All of them raised their respective limbs into the air, apart from Slowpoke who did it by just crying out. Afterwards, the golden energy then went upwards, summoning multiple golden rings of energy into the sky. This was the method of them bringing the glorious sunlight and right now, there was only half of it and it could be seen at the bottom. Roseluck, whose eyes had been slightly damaged thanks to the curses, looked up and hoped that the unified Sunny Day would be enough. And she already knew that the Moon staying up was her big sister's doing.
Canterlot.
Meanwhile, Celestia stood on the balcony of Canterlot Castle, focusing on keeping the Sun up. Alas, the Lich Queen refused to let that happen. And with this clash, she was already encountering the Lich Queen elsewhere. Specifically with a battle of minds. Celestia entered her own mind, forming a projection of herself. And when appearing in her mind, joining her there was the visage of Rosa Maledicta.
Once more, the two of them have encountered each other in a land of one's mind. But this time, no one was trying to force Daybreaker out of Celestia. Celestia eyed down the dark green projection of Rosa Maledicta while the Lich Queen deviously glared at Celestia's golden projection.
"You know, if this continues, some destruction could follow for your beloved Equestria." Rosa Maledicta spoke.
"Your destruction. I never imagined you'd control the Moon as well." Celestia added as the destruction part was only thanks to Rosa Maledicta's magic.
"Just the perk of being a Lich. If you think I'm letting you keep that Sun up during the Black Crusade, you're dead wrong, Celestia." Rosa Maledicta scoffed before unleashing a pulse of dark magic. This only slightly pushed back Princess Celestia as she attempted to attack her even in this state. "Ponyville has already been attacked by me, so now, it's completely within my sights and I can influence it. But right now, I think I'll focus on you now that we have the room together."
"You won't touch Ponyville at all with your Dark Magic." Celestia retaliated, sending her own pulse that pushed Rosa's away. Rosa would also slightly move back thanks to this retaliation. "The home that Granny Smith founded from the ground up and you were born in...and you'd just take it all out for the sake of some cycle."
"The Apple Family is behind that town's creation? It's a good thing my sister is good friends with one of them. I'll make sure they perish in a special way when I get my hooves on them." Already, Rosa Maledicta had plans for the Apple Family now that she knew that one part about Ponyville's origin.
The inner clash between the two of them was fierce. So fierce that their magical auras let out constant combustions when meeting with each other. They expanded to such heights that they couldn't help but come into contact with each other. It was like bombs were going off continuously or even supernovas setting off.
The two rulers narrowed their eyes, attempting to get the better of each other. They did all of this while controlling the two Celestial Bodies. Celestia tried to prevent any destruction while Rosa Maledicta was aiming to bring all kinds of destruction because of this clash. A clash between the control over the Sun and Moon was rich in havoc and that delighted the Lich Queen.
The residents of Canterlot all stayed inside as ordered by Princess Celestia who wanted them to be safe. And if that didn't work, the Canterlot Mines were the perfect substitute. They helped out a lot during the invasion of Empress Twilight after all. They looked outside their windows to watch this Celestial Clash. The way the two parts of the sky were twisting, sending cloud formations everywhere was truly stupendous to see. The two rulers were essentially moving the heavens above. Premium Polish and many others could only stare in amazement.
However, the clash that they had suddenly turned in the favour of Princess Celestia. Rosa Maledicta gasped as she was hit by some of Celestia's magical combustions, sliding back and shaking her head. "W-What the...?" Rosa Maledicta groaned. "The Moon! I thought we were equal!"
"We are it seems. But unlike you, I have the assistance of my lovely subjects who have my back." Celestia smiled, knowing that Ponyville's residents were behind this. The Sunny Day from Bellossom and everyone else had come into play. They were not powerful enough to match the power of Celestia and Rosa Maledicta but they could add to Celestia's power over the Sun.
Rosa Maledicta felt it. She felt the Sun brightening thanks to the Sunny Day. Her control over the Moon was just by herself and that was seemingly enough until the Pokemon got involved. With all of them using Sunny Day, Rosa Maledicta was at a disadvantage. And with Celestia having a proud smile on her face, the Golden Sun was beginning to rise once more, letting its radiance flare for all to see. The Pokemon truly made a difference.
All the way back at Ponyville, Daisy and Paradise were indeed feeling the Sunshine. Their perplexed faces were starting to fade, bringing a soothing one to the scene. The injury they took from healing Togekiss was leaving their bodies while the Moon was descending. By this time, the watches that told the time were greatly confused, including those who had no idea that the Black Crusade had begun.
After all, now that the worlds have united to form a Grander World, certain regions share the same timezone as Equestria. And the residents there who were still awake were flabbergasted by what they were seeing. Kanto and Unovan residents shared a timezone with Equestria and their eyes were fully focused on the Moon by this point.
"Do you think you're the only one who can gain assistance?" Rosa snarled. "I may not have anypony that can control the Moon...But there is someone who can lend me the Power of the Shadows!"
"The Power of the Shadows?" Right as Celestia repeated that, Shadows would fly out from behind Rosa Maledicta. Her vicious glare was only rivalled by the intensity of these shadows. Celestia gasped as she felt another presence in this Mindscape. It wasn't just her and the Lich Queen. There was a third.
Celestia raised her head to see the shadows above forming into something. Or rather, someone. The face of a pony formed above the Mindscape. Specifically, the Pony of Shadows. In allegiance with the Dread League, it showed itself before the Ruler of Equestria for the first time.
"That's...the Pony of Shadows!" Celestia instantly recognized it just by the face alone. Of course, the Ruler of Equestria would know about this but she certainly didn't expect to see him here at this very moment.
"This may seem like one...but the servants of the Shadows think differently." Rosa Maledicta continued, raising her arm. In response, the Pony of Shadows, along with its massive shadowy body, would reveal something horrifyingly eerie. The large shadow body it had was starting to protrude out of certain positions.
Out of it came Korrina. The Gym Leader of Shalour City. Not just her, but her Lucario as well. As well as other residents of Shalour City. They leapt out of the Pony of Shadows' massive shadow body, landing here at this Mindscape. All those who were the first victims of the Black Crusade had appeared. They had their normal bodies but with a difference.
They were consumed by the shadows, becoming servants to the Pony of Shadows. Korrina's hair was now flowing as if it was made out of shadows. Her clothes were darkened and her eyes were also hollowed out. She slightly resembled Nightmare Moon. Most of them did. They all received Nightmare Variations of themselves, similar to what Nightmare Rarity was able to do.
"What is this?!" Celestia gasped, recognizing Korrina above everyone else.
"All of these people and Pokemon will eventually be destroyed but there is no shame in having them as an extra army before their demise." Rosa Maledicta walked past the others, standing in front of Korrina. "What matters is that I have control over everything. Once you are all skeletons, you will be powerless to resist my every command. The Dread League is not just about destruction but also control! The best of both worlds! Shalour City was just the beginning!"
"You did this to the residents of Shalour City..." Celestia couldn't believe her eyes. It was better than being destroyed but still horrific for the poor residents of that city. "Rosa!"
"Don't blame me. Blame him." She raised her hoof, pointing up at the Pony of Shadows who was the one truly responsible for this. "And I suppose you also have yourself to blame."
"Myself?" Celestia replied as Rosa Maledicta was suddenly throwing some guilt towards her.
"That's right...It was you that neglected your little sister, Luna, shrouding her in darkness while you stood in the limelight. That is how Nightmare Moon came to be. And ever since her first defeat at the Castle of Two Sisters, a piece of Nightmare Moon's magic was left behind. And that piece had traces of Dark Magic which helped the Pony of Shadows greatly. It's funny how everything somehow comes back around to how it began, doesn't it?"
"We've made peace with Nightmare Moon, so your words do not affect me, Lich Queen." Celestia stood firmly, refusing to let ROsa Maledicta weaken her.
"Of course. That's obvious. And a crying same. But what about Daybreaker?" However, Rosa had not forgotten about Daybreaker's existence. "The Pony of Shadows will gladly bring that out for you even if I can't. I hope you're prepared, Princess. You're standing before a Queen and we could be here for a while. My Dread League will do most of the work, spreading destruction across the world while we're couped up in here. Unless you wish to have a more physical interaction."
"I'll gladly face you here." But Celestia did not waver, even with these odds. Instead, she formed a smile on her face, making the Lich Queen scowl. She didn't wish to see a smile at all. "And besides...I have more friends who can join me in here. Isn't that right, Passion?"
Anistar City.
Meanwhile, it seemed as if Anistar City would be the next target. Hovering over it was a terrifying cloud formed by the Dread League. A cloud so dark that it might as well be an abyss. No sign of the stars of the Silver Moon. However, with the clash of the two Rulers, the Sun and the Moon were having their positions altered, bringing light to certain areas.
Opal Vivacity was planning to cause mass destruction. Destruction so vast that it would go past Anistar City and be so cruel that it would have to force Xerneas out of hiding. And she was planning to make it as vast as possible. Above, many vampire ponies were manipulating the clouds, darkening them with their magic. With the involvement of Dark Magic within the clouds, the havoc they were about to reign would be beyond any natural disaster.
However, unbeknownst to them, their actions would not go unnoticed. Foreseeing this scenario was none other than Olympia of Anistar City. And rushing over to the darkened clouds ahead was Princess Luna, hoping she wasn't too late.
"We need more power behind this!" Opal commanded the vampires above. "If we're going to destroy Anistar and let it reach a wide area, taking out multiple others in the process, I need you to dig in the darkest parts of your magic. I'll try calling for help from the Pony of Shadows if we can't muster that. But with me here, I'm confident that we can do something truly crushing."
"You will do no such thing." Opal's actions did not go unnoticed. Not one bit. She and the vampires all turned their attention to a voice that was rather powerful. It belonged to Olympia, who already appeared out of the city to confront the Dread League. But she did not come alone. Joining Olympia were her students. Olympia's many students who were following in her footsteps and learning about the ways of a Psychic-Type trainer appeared by her side.
"Hoh? And who are you supposed to be? WIth such an impressive looking galaxy cape?" Opal Vivacity said, standing before Olympia and er Psychic Students.
"You're the one they call Opal Vivacity, aren't you?" Olympia immediately surprised Opal by getting her name just by seeing her once.
"Ah. So, I'm already famous? That's what I like to hear. You've clearly heard about me before." Opal loved this as it was feeding her ego, making her seem like she was all that. "Then you already know what's coming. I'll be somewhat generous if that's the case."
"You're known, indeed. Especially your attack on Anistar."
"Hm?" Opal raised an eyebrow.
"I have already foreseen your attack, Opal. Weeks ago, even. The Black Crusade is something that targets everyone so that was not hard for me to figure out. However, it was only days ago that I foresaw you attacking Anistar City."
"So...you're some sort of Psychic? Not that kind." Opal scoffed. "You already knew this would happen, eh?"
"I've already made precautions to protect those living in Anistar City. I'm afraid you won't have your way." Olympia came prepared. By foreseeing something like this, she made preparations in advance, similar to how she foresaw Groudon and Kyogre's' battle, preparing for it. This was no different.
All of her Psychic Students, while they couldn't foresee the future, joined Olympia and went along with her preparations. They could count on her when it comes to opportune moments that many others would be behind on.
"What's your point? In the end, everyone will be destroyed. The destruction I'll bring will strike even those that are hiding!" Opal cackled, refusing to let a single one of them escape. "Stand in my way and you'll end up like those back at Shalour City! But you won't be consumed by the shadows like them, I can tell you that!"
The vampires gathered around Opal Vivacity, halting their preparations just to confront the Psychic-Type students. Another confrontation would be made. This time, here at Anistar. And over the horizon, Princess Luna was approaching. She saw Anistar within her sights and especially the individuals outside of the city.
Kalos. Outside Anistar City. A Balance of Day and Night.
With the clash of Princess Celestia and Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta still going on, there was a mixture of Day and Night. The skies were greatly confused, showing both sides. The Bright Sunny Sky and Dark Night Sky.
Meanwhile, Opal Vivacity and her group of vampires have been anticipated. By none other than Olympia of Anistar City. She foresaw this before Opal even had the idea of coming here. Thus, preparations for the citizens were made in advance. There was already a dark cloud over Anistar City but the city seemed rather silent. No sounds of the people and Pokemon living there could be heard at all. Only the rumbling above.
"If you're so confident that you've prepared for us, specifically me, then prove it." A cocky Opal Vivacity said to Olympia. Already, Olympia and her Psychic students prepared themselves by having their Pokemon out in the open. Of course, this consisted of Psychic-Type Pokemon with Olympia counting on her dual Mewostic. They were all at the ready, staying calm in the face of the Dread League.
Opal suddenly took a few steps, deciding to approach her next victims. However, as soon as she stepped forward, something triggered underneath her. Olympia's eyes glimmered as a screen of light suddenly appeared beneath Opal Vivacity, flying out of the ground.
These screens appeared rapidly, not just beneath Opal Vvacity but also the other vampires behind her. Their eyes widened when exposed to these screens and the light coming from them was of course, unsavoury. Their main weakness was exploited once more as their hooves were hit with light energy. Painful hisses came from the vampires once exposed to the light. And there was only one answer to something like this. Light Screen.
"W-What is this?! What have you done?!" Opal roared out in pain. And to top it all off, the screens all formed boxes around the vampire ponies, trapping them immediately. They tried backing out, only for their bodies to hit solid screens of light, preventing them from going anywhere.
"We've set up Light Screen traps in advance. It will box you in and keep you exposed to your main weakness." Olympia explained. "My students did a fantastic job setting this up.
"Kh...Why you...! Do you think this box can contain me?!" Opal Vicaity bellowed out with fury. Her skin could be seen burning up as well as her mane. Opal gasped, realizing that her mane was also being burned by the Light Screen.
"I'm aware of your Fate Changing Mane by now. Which is why we will not give you the opportunity to use it ever again once it's been burned away. Everyone! Close the boxes in!" Olympia ordered. In unison, all of the Psychic-Types would focus their mental might on the Light Screen Boxes they formed.
The boxes were beginning to shrink. Their size would diminish, attempting to truly box them in and prevent them from escaping. Opal bared her fangs, pressing her hooves against the box to try and overpower it. But even a vampire's strength isn't enough to destroy a Light Screen, not when multiple Pokemon have set it up.
They were perfectly hidden since they caught the vampires off guard. When it comes to Psychic-Types, no Type knows how to truly confuse and fool their opponents apart from maybe Ghost-Types.
Appearing on the scene was Princess Luna. She arrived just in time to see what was becoming of Opal Vivacity and her group. They were boxed in by the Light Screens. Luna was expecting to intercept them. Not this. Someone beat her to it and it was the calculated Psychic-Type Specialist Olympia and her students.
"Amazing! They manipulated the Light Screens in such a way!"
"Oh, Princess Luna?!" Olympia instantly recognized the Princess of the Moon above.
"Don't mess with me, you insignificant creatures!" However, despite her condition, Opal Vivacity refused to let herself be defeated by something was unexpected and instant as this. Her mane could be seen burning up. Holes were appearing within them along with plenty of smoke. All of this light was extremely volatile to the vampires. Most of them could be seen curling up, struggling to resist. The light truly had them stunned. The fact that so much of it was incredibly close to them was enough to do the trick.
However, despite the fact that Opal's mane was starting to burn, it wasn't all gone. It was far too big. And with this size, Opal still had the opportunity to use her Fate-Changing Mane. Her hoof trembled as she showed a greater resilience than the other vampires. With her hoof touching her mane, she ripped a piece of it off, ready to place it anywhere on her body.
"Not good!" Olympia gasped as she did not expect Opal to still have the strength to get a piece of her mane out. "Close in faster!"
But it was too late. All it took was her dropping it on her hoof to immediately change fate. A red flash went off, expanding in and out of the Light Screen Box that held Opal Vivacity. Olympia and her students squinted their eyes at the face of this crimson flash which altered fate itself, changing how things turned out in an instant.
She was out of the box. Opal freed herself from the Light Screen Box that held her captive, breathing in and out as her body was still smoking. Even though she changed fate, the damage was still present around her body. That goes for the other vampires who had been freed thanks to the crimson flash. It took Opal grabbing a large chunk of her mane to make this one possible.
"A good attempt, but it doesn't work on me!" Opal sneered, showing her grimacing smile to her victims. "You won't get me a second time, understand!?"
"Drat. And it seemed like such an effective plan as well. All those Light Screen Boxes were efficient. But that mane of hers..." Luna commented, seeing Olympia's plan as brilliant but the Fate-Changing Mane ignored it, unfortunately.
"That's fine. We had other things in mind." Olympia uttered.
"As if I'd give you the chance to pull more of your tricks off!" Opal refused to let them have a second shot at catching her by surprise. "Get them!" With her command, she ordered the vampires to take action while at the same time holding both of her hooves out.
Magic flew out of her hooves, packed with darkness and some fire as well. This was thanks to the abilities she has stolen thanks to the Parasite Demon. Her Dark Magic came with extra additions.
"We'll need time to execute that next plan of ours if we want to stop them for good! Get ready!" Olympia ordered as her students all nodded in understanding. But before they could make their next move, the magic that Opal sent out touched the ground instead of Olympia and her group.
After touching the ground, they would form Dark Magic Pillars with fire around them in different spots. These pillars would fly out of the ground violently, tearing up the beautiful grass. Luna flew back, almost finding herself struck by one of these pillars. They were like geysers or even a volcano, randomly appearing out of the ground with high intensity, making a rather startling sound.
"Reuniclus! Use Shock Wave!"
"Exeggutor, Leaf Storm!"
"Medicham, use Thunder Punch!"
Olympia's Students said as their Pokemon took action. Each of them used different moves. Electric energy flew out of the hands of a Reuniclus, shocking some vampires and exposing them to light even further. Some other Reuniclus would do the same but instead of sending the Shock Wave out, they would clap their massive hands together, letting out flashes of lightning to try and stun the Dread League.
Some of the vampires ascended into the air, grabbing the clouds instead of engaging their victims on the ground. By interacting with the clouds in the same way pegasi do, they were planning to strike them down with lightning of their own.
"Meowstic! Light Screen and Psychic!" Olympia eyed down the vampires that went to the skies. The Male Meowstic would use Light Screen, forming screens of light in the air. Not just one screen, but two. A second one was formed above the first one while the FEmale Meowstic used Psychic on herself and her Male Counterpart. This immediately allowed them to levitate and land on the Light Screen.
"Meow!" After landing on the screen, the Male Meowstic would make more of them as fast as he could, prompting him and the Female Meowstic to start jumping. They leapt from screen to screen each time one of them was formed over the other. A stairway of Light Screens rapidly formed.
And once they got high enough, the Female Meowstic, along with other Pokemon that went up the Light Screen Stairway, would try and interrupt the vampires. Lightning crashed down from above, hitting the Light Screen stairway and prompting the Pokemon to leap to the side, narrowly evading the magical lightning.
Meowstic ended up using Dark Pulse, shooting a beam of darkness in midair while the Medicham deflected the rest of the lightning with Thunder Punch. As for the Light Screen Stairway, only some of it had been destroyed. The Male Meowstic would just make another after evading the strike, keeping the stairway active and plentiful.
However, this was soon ruined by Opal Vivacity's magic. Those pillars snuck up on them once more, erupting from the ground and going straight for the Light Screen Stairway. The steps were struck by the magic, breaking and shattering into pieces while also engulfing the Pokemon that were on it.
The Medicham above would drop along with the Male Meowstic, taking some damage in the process. Thankfully, Meowstic landed on his feet as did some of the Medicham. The Female Meowstic would also descend, landing right next to her trusty teammate.
The lightning from above would crash down once more, this time, attempting to hit Olympia and the Pokemon Trainers, ignoring the Pokemon entirely. Olympia's eyes widened once she saw the Dark Lightning coming her way, targeting her head. However, this attack was intercepted by none other than Princess Luna. A bolt of magic crashed into the lightning, stopping it in its tracks. It was expected for Luna to interfere now that she was here.
"Forget about them! I want to cause enough destruction so that Xerneas has to show up!" Opal bellowed, focusing on why she showed up here. "But I suppose that'll be difficult with you all in the way."
"As long as we remain, your destruction won't go any further, Dread League," Olympia replied. "That goes for all those who aim to protect the home they love."
"You underestimate just what we can be capable of when we want something done." Opal scoffed. "Even you can't stop what's coming. If Zekrom couldn't what makes you think you can do anything about this?"
"It's only because of that mane of yours." Luna descended, landing next to Olympia. "That massive mane is the only reason why you are still around. You stole that power from Bayleef and made it your own. Mostly everything is not your own. You even had assistance from the Pony of Shadows when dealing with Zekrom. You couldn't have defeated him with just the Dread League.
"Your point?" Opal flipped her elegant mane.
"That was our approach from the beginning. The Light Screen was meant to burn away her massive mane but that failed, unfortunately." Olympia said. Even she was focused on the mane more than anything. It was the crux of Opal's lucky moments. "However, we've devised other ways to erase her mane. It's all a matter of executing it."
"I already have many Pokemon with me that can stop that mane in its tracks entirely. But unfortunately, it's not that easy. Opal Vivacity is as slippery as a mouse. She does do a great job keeping her mane fully intact I'll admit. It's all a matter of destroying that mane."
"Go on, Princess. I need to take you to Magehold either way so this works out for me." Opal cackled. "Allow me to show something else I managed to snag with the Parasite Demon. I've only been showing you the basics but there is so much more in store."
"I'd rather skip out on it! Come forth, Aurorus! Manectric Florges!" Three Poke Balls were thrown out by Luna with her magic. Out of it came Aurorus, Florges and Manectric. And with Manectric out here, the amount of light would certainly improve.
"Princess Luna." Olympia spoke to Luna, using telepathy of her own. "I'm still banking on that Light Screen plan of mine. I've devised multiple ways to use the move just for Opal Vivacity and the vampires. I just need them to interact with that mane but it'll be hard since she can change fate constantly."
"I understand. Whatever you need me to do, I can grant it. My Pokemon and I will make sure your Light Screens stick."
"Brilliant. What I need to do is to have the Light Screens be thrown at Opal Vivacity. The other vampires aren't too worrying to me. It's Opal that is the problem. She can regenerate her mane by polishing and taking care of it. We need to make sure that there is no time for her to repair it. Burn, cut or destroy it until there is nothing left."
"Done scheming?" Suddenly, Opal Vivacity surprised them by using telepathy of her own. Olympia and Luna gasped as they did not expect Opal Vivacity to join in. "Telepathy is something the Lich Queen gives us all. But for me, I made sure to steal the Telepathy of a Pokemon. Truly convenient for planning. Including this plan!"
She already devised a plan by speaking to the other vampire ponies. Opal Vivacity used this momentary break to share the plan as the vampires executed it without anyone being able to hear what they were talking about. But they would certainly see how it would happen. They slammed their hooves into the ground spreading their Dark Magic. This time, they would try and give Olympia's group a taste of their own medicine.
Sharp shadows would fly out of the earth, forming a cage in seconds as they were attempting to box Olympia and the others in as well. The shadows connected against each other, rapidly forming this Shadow Cage around them. But the sharp shadows did more than just form a cage. They also went in for the attack. The shadows targeted the group, sneaking up on them as they whipped one of the Medicham and some of the students. They flinched after being struck by these shadow whips while the cage was forming.
Luna switched her attention to the whips instead of the cage, seeing one of them come straight for her. The Princess of the Night flew back, narrowly evading the sharp shadow as it ended up whipping the ground instead. But more of them were starting to arise, using the shadows of everyone else as a way to sneak up on them. The Psychic-Type specialists were surprised by the emergence of the Shadow Whips as they were too focused on them to even do something about the cage that was forming over them.
"A-Aurorus!" Aurorus was hit by one of these while trying to freeze them over. Manectric zipped from side to side, evading these sharp shadows as they nearly touched his large mane each time. Other Pokemon were trying to evade them but some took hits here and there, being whipped and slapped by the shadows which knocked them back.
The Shadow Cage had already been formed, unable to be stopped in time. Meanwhile, attempting to pierce one of Olympia's students was a Sharp Shadow, going in for a fatal attack. The student was unaware that it was about to attack her from behind and she was far too late to see it coming. That is until Darkrai appeared. Emerging from the shadows was the Pitch Black Pokemon, finally showing himself.
"Darkrai?!" The students cried out after they laid their eyes on the Mythical Pokemon from Sinnoh.
"That guy again...!" Opal grizzled after Darkrai made his appearance. With Darkrai showing up, he instantly grabbed the incoming shadows with his bare claws. The shadows that targeted everyone else were held back by the Pitch Black Pokemon.
In his claws, Darkrai would turn the tides on them. By controlling the shadows themselves, he reflected the attacks of the Dread League right back at them. The Dread League gasped as their own attacks were coming for them. That is until Opal Vivacity interfered.
She took a part of her mane off, placing it on her hoof as she changed fate once more. In a twist, she reversed Darkrai's reversal, instead making the shadows return to where they were originally meant to strike. Darkrai's eyes widened as he saw the shadows coming back for him. Putting his arms up, Darkrai managed to block these sharp shadows which blew up as well. The Dark-Type was pushed back by the explosion while also feeling some pain in his arms after blocking the piercing attack from the shadows.
"Are you alright, Darkrai?!"
"I'm fine." Darkrai would be alright. This was nothing to him. "But it looks like we're trapped in this Shadow Cage now while they're all outside there."
"That's some payback for trapping us. And we'll return the pain you gave us twice as hard! And I know just how to make it happen." Opal smirked, referring to her Curse Magic. Luna, Olympia and the others were all trapped within this Shadow Cage but they weren't finished just yet. They still had a chance even in this predicament. It was all a matter of what they did next.
Opal Vivacity and all the vampires cackled at them, eager to terrorize their victims while also staying focused on bringing about a mass wave of destruction. But in the meantime, Anistar City was safe.
Equestria. Magehold.
"You want me to do what?!" Eccentrick shouted. Her ears had been graced with something shocking. And it came from Fantina's mouth.
"Mhm. That's right. I want you to use your magic on the entirety of Magehold's population. The biggest reverse possible." Fantina asked Eccentrick for the usage of her Reverse Magic. This was involved with the incoming Pokemon Contest and after learning how far Eccentrick's magic can go when it comes to what she can reverse, this was a stupendous opportunity.
"Tha means everypony will become regular ponies though...And I don't know what you'll become Fantina. I'm not sure I can even do that to every single pony here." Eccentrick doubted herself.
"Oh, you can. You very much can. Fractured Note did speak about some potential in you and I hope to see it bloom. When your time on stage comes, you will do your best performance and it will shine as much as possible with all the light in the area dazzling flying out."
"Shine? But we're vulnerable to light. Isn't that dangerous, Ms Fantina?"
"Not to regular ponies." Fantina winked. When winking, Eccentrick soon gasped, realizing what she was getting at. The vampire was amazed by what Fantina was suggesting before putting on a smile.
"Ooooh! That's what you mean...Everypony else will become a regular pony in reverse except for..."
"I see you've caught on," Fantina spoke before Eccentrick could finish her sentence. "This is your opportunity to dazzle everyone there. Bringing entertainment back to Magehold is a big goal for us. You shouldn't have to miss out on it at all. And no one will get hurt once the beauty of this entertainment shines for what it can truly be. Well, I suppose someone might get hurt."
"Okay! I got it, Ms Fantina! If you have faith in my magic, then I'll do my very best! And not only that, I won't let anyone beat me at this. I'll be the winning coordinator in this and win that Magehold Ribon!" Eccentrick bellowed with enthusiasm. "Not even those kids are gonna best me!"
"That's the spirit." Fantina applauded. "Now then...let's go. It's time for us to begin the Pokemon Contest. It will be a long night so get ready."
The time had come for Fantina's Pokemon Contest. The goal was simple. The contest would be a way to help break the barrier that was around Magehold by interfering with the Lich Queen in some way. The Contest Stadium and Hall had been completed. And just as Fantina intended, it was somewhere near the Lich Queen's castle, being a rather large structure. Many ponies had lined up outside, entering the Contest Hall and ready for some entertainment while the Black Crusade was ongoing.
Fantina had everything laid out. Now, it was all a matter of how it was pulled off and she would have the assistance of Fractured Note, Eccentrick and all the vampires participating in this contest. A majority were the children from Fantina's class who have grown a bond with her but some other vampires of older ages appeared. The stage was about to be set as the journey continues.
"Bonsoir, everypony!" Appearing on a stage smack-dab in the middle of the Magehold Contest Hall was Fantina. At last, her Pokemon Contest was ready to begin with her at the helm. She appeared standing on a tower of bones which elevated her. The Vampire Ponies who all gathered here let out resounding cheers for Fantina. These were probably going to be the biggest cheers here since Fantina has made quite the name for herself.
"Welcome to Magehold's first-ever Pokemon Contest! Made by yours truly! It took a while but now it's here and I'm glad you could make it! This is just the first of many! And I can promise you it will be worth the anticipation for another one! The trainers here will do their best to earn the Magehold Ribbon!" She lifted the ribbon into the air, showing it to everyone here.
It was obviously made to match the style of Magehold since this was its first-ever Pokemon Contest. Thus, the ribbon would have to be striking to the vampires and get them excited for the future. That was always going to be Fantina's major goal even with her current circumstances.
"Just to make sure that things are judged fairly, I grabbed some of the finest judges I could find! Three of them are parents of the young ones but I can assure you there won't be any heavy bias here!"
"Well, there might be a bit of it..." One of the judges spoke, rooting for his child. But that was natural for any parent to do. The parents of the children and even the older ponies were all in the crowd, eager to see what their children have managed to spark up under Fantina's supervision.
"Now, this will be a long night, I can assure you. So many of the young ones and even older ponies were eager to try this Pokemon Contest out. I want to thank them for showing up and practising for this moment. You can expect to see the most wonderful of performances and witness what a Pokemon is truly capable of. But for now...let's start with a feast!"
Surprisingly, things started off differently from how they usually do for Pokemon Contests. Fantina took a different approach for the beginning. Popping out of the floor next to the large crowd were pedestals. They emerged from the floor via Dark Magic being utilized as they appeared to have food on them. The crowd were treated to a delicious feast before the contest could fully begin.
All their favourite selections of food were here, bringing smiles to the faces of the vampires. They could chow down on what they loved before the coordinators could show up. The vampires gladly indulged themselves in the feast that Fantina had prepared. Fantina left the scene, letting them all eat without disruption. The Hearthome City Gym Leader entered the backstage as Fractured Note was there waiting for her.
"This looks nice." Fractured Note commented. "You love to go the extra mile, don't you?"
"Mhm. It's only natural for me." Fantina giggled. "I have a good feeling it will all go splendidly well. It's sure to even catch the attention of the Lich Queen, don't you think?"
"It will. Right now, she's in a Mental Battle with Princess Celestia. Most likely, before she has to do things physically, she'll be confronting Princess Celestia more than anything. If she's greatly thrown off by what's about to happen here at the Pokemon Contest, we need it to also affect the barrier here. I've already sent some vampires to try and attack the barrier so that way when that big moment happens, the barrier could break."
"Excellent. Now, I need to check up on everyone else to see how they are doing." Fantina walked off, approaching the coordinators who were all in the Waiting Room or the Dressing Room. Fractured Note would also leave, making sure that the barrier was the main focus of all of this.
The only way that barrier was breaking is if something was interacting with it while Rosa Maledicta was already confronting someone. And so far, that seemed to be the case. At least, one of them. Since she was clashing with Princess Celestia in the Mindscape, she was already focused on something rather important. And when that big moment comes, Fractured Note will be expecting the barrier to shatter in response to Rosa Maledicta being caught off guard by whatever Fantina has planned.
Coming backstage, she saw all the coordinators suited and dressed up for the occasion. Some were even just wearing what they previously had at the Fashion Contest. And already, they were practising even when they weren't out there. The children were certainly the messiest when practising, moving around frantically with their Pokemon. Meanwhile, the older ponies were more refined than them, simply instructing their Pokemon on what to do instead of acting it out.
"Miss Fantina! Check out my magic bombs! Aren't they sweet?!" A young colt vampire said, holding up magical spheres that would combust. The explosions weren't all that destructive. They were comparable to toys and the explosions might as well be glints.
"Lovely. Remember. You're free to use magic with your Pokemon. Sometimes the Trainer can be just as daring as the Pokemon when they need to. Just make sure not to harm them, okay?"
"Okay!" The children bellowed.
"Oh, we're allowed to use magic?" Eccentrick and the other older vampires collectively said. They didn't expect to hear that. They believed that this was entirely up to the Pokemon. But for Fantina's Pokemon Contest, they could go the extra mile and really make the show stand out.
"I know you'll do an excellent job, Eccentrick. I see it in your eyes." Fantina approached Eccentrick, kneeling to face her.
"I know I will. And especially my partner." In her hooves, she held out a Poke Ball, dropping it to the ground as the wonderful creature within would emerge. It was revealed that she had an Inkay. "Isn't that right, Inkay?"
"Inkay!"
"Alright." Fantina then stood up, putting her hands together. Her time around the coordinators would be brief as she had a Contest to oversee once the feast was complete. "Everyone will finish up and then it's showtime."
Within a Mindscape.
Meanwhile, in Celestia's Mindscape, she was not only facing down the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta but also the Pony of Shadows. At least, a part of it. The Pony of Shadows had sent those that it caught from Shalour City against the Princess of the Sun. This included Korrina, her Lucario and Shalour City's residents. Each of them appeared in Nightmare Forms, akin to what Luna once had. Celestia was certainly outnumbered but she did not feel outclassed.
"Gardevoir!" Appearing into her Mindscape in a flash of light was her trusty partner Gardevoir. She appeared as a flash of light above, gently descending next to Celestia.
"I have Passion with me. So I have fairly high hopes."
"Just the one Pokemon?" Rosa spoke. "But to be fair, it is your Gardevoir. I've heard things about you and your Gardevoir."
"What you heard is true. We're much stronger together." Celestia smiled as Gardevoir generated a flare of Fairy Magic in her hands, trying to intimidate the Shadow Humans and Pokemon. "Rosa. Your eyes will be on me fully. You won't be spectating over the rest of the Black Crusade while I'm here."
"Bah! As if that's going to happen. All I need to do is to prevent you from keeping the Sun up and my job here will be done. And with the Pony of Shadows on my side, that is most likely. And are you really willing to harm these innocents?"
"Watch me." Celestia's words surprised Rosa Maledicta as she didn't expect that response from her. It sounded like Celestia was willing to attack Korrina and the others. Then again, it was seemingly her only choice.
"Lucario...Bone Rush!" Shadow Korrina spoke, ordering Shadow Lucario to attack Celestia and Gardevoir.
"Ca!" Lucario puts its paws together and spreads them apart, creating a light green bone or two blue bones of energy. Oter Pokemon were ordered to attack Celestia and Gardevoir since they were all being spearheaded by the Pony of Shadows and his magic.
Celestia was essentially battling against another nightmare variant. The first was her little sister Luna. And now it was Shalour's citizens. But this time, Celestia had someone here to assist her during this Nightmare attack. Celestia and Gardevoir looked at each other for a brief moment, nodding in unison as their connection was strong enough for them to communicate in this way.
"Gardevoir!" Gardevoir slid past Celestia, getting in front of her. The Embrace Pokemon held her hands out, using Dazzling Gleam as it appeared as two spheres in her hands. But those two spheres would generate a vibrant flash of light that was blinding to the eyes. Blinding enough to stun Lucario and the others who tried approaching Celestia and Gardevoir.Lucario's Bone Rush missed Gardevoir completely thanks to this blinding act, allowing the Psychic-Fairy-Type to move aside, letting Celestia perform the next action.
Celestia was already building up some magic. And once the way was clear for her, she would unleash it on Lucario and the others, sending out a golden flash. This golden flash was wide enough to reach all the residents of Shalour City. Lucario, Korrina and everyone were eclipsed by this light, screaming out in pain. Rosa Maledicta squinted her eyes in the flash of this magical flash.
The sound of the Pony of Shadows could also be heard from this as a semblance of him was within these Shadow People and Pokemon. Celestia narrowed her eyes, increasing the intensity of her magic until it completely masked everyone. Rosa Maledicta already saw what Celestia was trying to do and immediately interfered with it. She got involved, using her Dark Magic to counteract Celestia's light.
The Dark Magic creepily stapped into a piece of Celestia's light, only appearing as a small spike. But that spike instantly spread out darkness, sucking the colour out of Celestia's attack. Celestia gasped as her Light Wave was completely drowned out in the darkness. She could stop the spell entirely and pull back before it could reach her.
"Trying to free them, are you?" Rosa Maledicta uttered. "Not one bit! Even if this is all taking place within our minds, I can't afford to let you succeed in this! Get her!"
"Lucario! Bone Rush, once more!"
"Ca!" Shadow Lucario would go in for another attack, using Bone Rush a second time. Celestia wasn't going to easily free them from this Shadow State. She would need to really work for it.
"Alright then...Passion! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Garde!" Gardevoir arms were surrounded in lightning as she kept them there while Lucario approached her. The moment the bones were swung at her, Gardevoir used her electrified arm to block the bone. The impact of the bone hitting Gardevoir's arm was hefty, sending out sparks. But not enough to deter the Embrace Pokemon. Her eyes flared when looking at Lucario, giving an intense presence off. "Voir!" After blocking Lucario's Bone Rush, Passion would then electrocute the Aura Pokemon, sending 100,000 volts through its body. Shadow Lucario yelled out before being knocked back by a swift kick from Gardevoir.
Shadow Lucario went flying while electricity was trailing out of it. Afterwards, the other Pokemon approached Gardevoir, attempting to swarm her with their superior numbers. They appeared in all shapes and sizes. But a common theme was that most of them were Water-Types with a few other types around.
"Thunderbolt, once more!"
"Garde...Voir!" Gardevoir bellowed as she unleashed more of her Thunderbolt. This time as a radius attack, similar to what is done with Discharge. Lightning flew out of her body in the shape of a dome, enough to reach all the Pokemon that tried to attack her. They couldn't get their opportunity at all as they were all electrocuted. The Water-Types got the worst of it without a doubt. But right as the Pokemon were all dropped by Gardevoir's electrical outburst, that was when the Lich Queen intervened.
Moving past the fading lightning was the menacing face of Rosa Maledicta. Gardevoir gasped after seeing her appear. But her shock only increased once she saw Rosa Maledicta's hoof which had been enhanced in size. The Psychic-Fairy-Type received a hit from this massive hoof which had been manipulated to be larger, sending her flying.
"G-Gardevoir!" Gardevoir cried out before recovering on her own, using her levitation to save herself. But she was certainly blindsided by that.
The massive hoof was then followed up by a large visage of Rosa Maledicta. She enlarged herself as well, appearing as a massive giant that loomed over Celestia and Luna. Celestia grit her teeth in the face of this tyrannical titan who brought down a large blast of magic from her horn. The dark green light from the blast coloured Celestia and Passion's bodies before crashing into them, resulting in a fierce magical outburst.
However, this was soon retaliated by a flare of light shooting through the dark green magic, replacing it in an instant. Rosa Maledicta gasped as she was then met by a larger Princess Celestia. Since this was a battle of minds, Rosa wasn't the only one who could increase her size and manipulate things how she wishes.
But it was also Passion had grown in size as well. Once she appeared, she immediately slapped the Lich Queen's large face with her hand, sending a sound so loud that it harmed the ears of the Shadow People and Pokemon. Rosa was quite offended and shocked at that. Of all the things Gardevoir did to her in this fierce confrontation, a slap was rather shocking and disrespectful.
Rosa Maledicta wouldn't let that pass at all. Right after being slapped so hard she stumbled back, the shadows from the Shadow Victims below would rise up. While they weren't enlarged, they could still generate shadows that were enough to match the size of these three giants at the moment. Celestia and Gardevoir looked around them as the shadows lengthened, reachings sizes larger than what they were.
Celestia immediately tried blasting away at these shadows before they could reach her, however, the smaller ones were already ahead of the large shadows. Sent up by Korrina, these smaller shadows were harder to see but were much faster. And once they reached Celestia and Gardevoir, they ended up increasing in size, matching the larger shadows
Celestia found herself being struck by these shadows, right in her neck too. Gardevoir never saw it coming either as they went straight through her arms when they enlarged. They were unable to deal with the other shadows thanks to these staggering blows they received. This resulted in the remaining shadows beating down on them.
"Gah!" The Sun Princess bellowed before being viciously attacked by these shadows. It felt like multiple hammers were being swung at her constantly from each direction.
"Voir!" And for Gardevoir, it felt like she was being cut and slashed by multiple swords. Celestia received heavy attacks while Gardevoir received sharp attacks. Both were painful to them.
But adding up to that pain was a fierce and massive blast from Rosa Maledicta who took advantage of this situation. Unable to defend themselves, Celestia and Gardevoir found themselves enveloped in this blast of Dark Magic. Dark green lightning cracked once they were struck by it.
The Magical Duo fell over, sliding on the dark surface which was covered in shadows. The two of them groaned as the dark surface was rigid. It wasn't as smooth as it appeared. It felt like being dragged along multiple nails and rocks on the ground with how rough they were. The force of the blast was definitely worse though. Rosa's attack had more weight compared to the Shadow Attacks Celestia and Gardevoir received.
"Are you alright, Passion?" Celestia grunted, holding her head as she got right back up. As if this was enough to greatly weaken the Ruler of Equestria.
"Gardevoir." Gardevoir stood up back on one knee, still having lots within her. They both looked up to see Shadow Chains suddenly appearing, threatening to hold them down. These chains were summoned by the Shadow Pokemon who summoned them from the darkened floor.
"I don't have time for you in here. I have a Crusade to get back to. Right now, with this battle, the Sun and Moon's fate has already been decided. But I'm going to make sure that-" Right as Rosa was about to leave, she realized something that surprised her.
She couldn't leave.
Normally, Rosa Maledicta would simply lower her magic, allowing herself to exit the Mindscape with ease. But when trying to do so, the Lich Queen soon noticed that it was impossible for her to do so. Rosa had no power when trying to leave the MIndscape. Her horn would flash violently, desperately trying to leave.
"What is this?! Why can't I leave?!" Rosa roared, seeing her magic fail her. How could the magic of the Lich Queen fail? It seemed impossible considering how powerful she was. But she failed to realize someone just as powerful as her was in the same mindscape as her.
"I told you...Your eyes will be on me and me alone." Celestia put on a rather devious grin when standing back up She let out a small chuckle that caught Rosa's agitated attention. "You won't be seeing your crusade at all. Because right now, you're stuck here with me for the meanwhile."
"Celestia...!" Rosa growled as dark lightning crackled around her body.
"I will give my subjects the opportunity to do what they can without your interference. It's always been you that's given the Dread League massive advantages in a majority of their attacks. But the one time when you're most certainly needed, you won't be there for them at all. But for me, I always have someone for me."
"Tch! All I Have to do is beat you and your spell will be out of the picture!" Rosa thundered at Celestia. "Then, I'll make sure that your entire world is laid to waste in the most horrific ways possible! I also have the Pony of Shadows on my side and he will send me more forces in this mindscape! Expect some familiar faces eventually, Celestia!"
Celestia and Rosa Maledicta were stuck here together. All thanks to Celestia's power. Their showdown in their mind wasn't quite done just yet. Princess Celestia was aiming to drag it out as long as she could. No matter what, she couldn't let Rosa Maledicta harm her subjects.
Ponyville. The Pokemon House.
As for Ponyville, it was also stuck in this odd balance of Day and Night. Because of Celestia and Rosa's clash, the Celestial Bodies were undecided at the moment, creating this juxtaposition of Light and Dark.
Aside from that, returning to Ponyville at last were Fluttershy and Applejack. They could be seen on the back of Flygon, making their comeback to their lovely town with the cure at their disposal. Fluttershy had already taken it as seen by her cured body. No longer were there any spots around her.
"I'm back! I got the cure!" Fluttershy said with excitement, hopping off Flygon's back and rushing over to her Pokemon. Thankfully, they were still in one piece. None of them have been injured or even affected by the Disease Mist. They were as healthy as they can be. But the same couldn't be said for those outside of the Pokemon House.
"Great!" Twilight turned to face Fluttershy, seeing the Swamp Fever cure in her hooves. "But we still have one major problem. Everyone else. But hurry and get this to Zecora."
"Ya'll ain't got a cure for them yet?" Applejack asked.
"We do. Daisy and Paradise are the cure. But if they cure even one of them, they'll received heavy amounts of damage to their bodies." Rarity answered, shaking her head. "We're hoping for the Sun to stay up and heal them but even with all of the Sunny Days, the Moon is still present with it."
"Sorry about that..." Daisy apologized for not being strong enough to withstand at least one cure. "I wish we were stronger."
"Same..." Paradise sighed.
"It's not your fault. No need to worry, okay?" Ash kneeled to face them. "We'll make sure you get tons of sunlight and everyone's cured. We just gotta find a way to do it as fast as possible."
"Pika..."
"The Sun's on one side and the Moon's on the other side. Do you think we could do something about that?" Ash asked the others.
"I don't know." An ill Roseluck replied as she wasn't sure what to make of this. They're constantly moving but never leaving our sights. I'm not sure what it would do to Daisy and Paradise."
"I've never seen the sky like this. There's not enough brightness here or even enough darkness to really make it clear what time it is." Twilight couldn't even tell what this kind of time could be. Day or Night was out of the question. They had to find something fast before Ponyville's residents succumb to the terrifying Magehold Diseases. They all thought as much as they could but nothing was coming up just yet.
"Well, we won't know if we stand around like this," Ash uttered. "We're gonna find all the solutions we can. And I think I've got something that we can use."
"What's that?" Twilight asked, unsure as to what Ash was going for. Ash smiled as there was one place that never left this memory and he knew he'd have to use it again someday.
Equestria. Ponyville. The Pokemon House. A Balance of Day and Night.
"We're going back there?!" Twilight bellowed as Ash hit her and her friends with a shocking answer to their current predicament. In an attempt to heal Daisy and Paradise so that they can heal everyone else, there was one place where everyone could go where the Sun could shine without any interference. The 18 Realms.
A place where Ash and many of his friends were sucked into as a result of Delayed Aura Ataxia being pushed to a new level. It required the linking of Aura and Magic, uniting the two powers while also focusing on the mind.
"It's the only place I can think of. We can't head to another universe like we could before. There's only one place where we can tell what time it's gonna be. Whether there's gonna be a Sun or Moon and that's the 18 Realms."
"But Ash! You just recently found a way to overcome Delayed Aura Ataxia thanks to Mega Evolution! What if that resets everything?!" Rarity feared the worst. She feared that heading back in there would prompt the issue of Delayed Aura Ataxia coming back and all of that progress could be erased in an instant.
"It's been a while since you've been in there. Who knows what'll happen if you head back in there, Ash." Even Fluttershy saw this as a rather perilous act.
"No clue. But that's not gonna stop me from trying. We've got nowhere else to go for a clear Sun. At least, not as quickly as went want. The Dread League are gonna come back here to Ponyville and not everypony's gonna be at their best to protect their home so we can't let that happen." Ash thought about the safety of others rather than his own. It was better for multiple to be alright rather than one. "This is our chance."
"No stopping you when it comes to something like this." Twilight Sparkle expected something like this. She shrugged, knowing it was impossible to stop Ash when he makes up his mind. "Plus, it's not actually a bad idea. There is Sunlight there. In most of the realms, so we have some great options."
"One of these days, you'll put yourself down for good, Ash. But I've thought that for most scenarios so what do I know?" said Rarity, agreeing to this. "Let's make it happen."
"Awesome. And it's not just gonna be everyone in Ponyville. We need to bring the Everfree Forest Creatures over as well."
"Them too?!" Roseluck, Applejack, Twilight and Rarity collectively gasped.
"Ooh, good idea, Ash. They were infected too. No one's treated them just yet." Fluttershy agreed to that in an instant.
"Yeah. So we'll all meet up here at the Pokemon House. Everyone's that's been infected has to be here. And we'll cure them all inside those realms."
"Is it safe to have the Everfree Creatures nearby...?" Roseluck asked, unsure if the Everfree Creatures should be nearby anypony right now even if they were also infected.
"I'll handle it." Thankfully, Fluttershy offered to sort that out. Her bond with creatures extends past just animals and Pokemon. She's bonded with some Everfree Creatures in the past after all. All the infected citizens of Canterlot would be gathered and the same went for the Everfree Forest creatures. They couldn't be exempt from this at all. But before Fluttershy could grab the Everfree Creatures, she had to get this cure to Zecora immediately.
Fluttershy's Home.
Even during all of this mess, Zecora and her Pokemon were still resting up. No one had disturbed them. Not even Shrivel or the Despair Plant Bullfrog. Fluttershy fed the cure to Zecora, Zebstrika and Weavile all at once, having Audino and Bayleef do the rest. Each of them drank the honey slowly, but the result was swift.
All those spots on Zecora and her Pokemon would exit immediately. They faded away from their bodies, relieving them of this stressful disease But it was no longer stressful now that a cure had been found.
"Ohhh, I do feel fine, and this honey is divine," Zecora said as she felt some glee when tasting this honey. Zebstrika and Weavile jumped right back up after they were cured as well, feeling re-energized.
"Zebstrika!"
"Weavile!"
"Oh, you're rhyming again! Welcome back, my friend!" Fluttershy applauded, pleased to her Zecora rhyme once more. There was a strong sense of familiarity whenever Zecora rhymes.
"Thank you, Fluttershy, for all you endured. If not for you, I would not be cured."
"You're welcome. But my work's not done yet. We have the rest of the town to cure and the only way we can do that is by having Daisy and Paradise do it. But they'll need all the sunlight they can get for this. And the 18 Realms is the only place we can head to for that."
"Won't that bring back Delayed Aura Ataxia to us? We did quite a lot try and get rid of that nuisance." Zecora added.
"I know. But Ash is fully confident about this. And I believe in him, Zecora. We're going to make this work even with the Ataxia. We'll be in those 18 Realms while the vampires will be heading here. Hopefully, it doesn't take too long for us to cur everyone. Now all I need to do is to bring the Everfree Forest Creatures over."
Saddle Lake.
Far over at Saddle Lake, just as Shrivel said during her attack on Ponyville, more vampires were approaching. Ponyville was a special target since it was the hometown where Rosa Maledicta was born and raised. It would certainly receive plenty of harsh attacks on it.
And they were already close to Ponyville at this moment. Setting foot into Saddle Lake was none other than Dimstar. A vampire pony who was the closest to being a Lich, only having the magic of one. Behind her were other vampires who immediately brought a darkened cloud near Saddle Lake. That was also slowly approaching Ponyville.
"Ponyville should be nearby. Just a bit more and we'll be there." The Pokemon that lived around here, immediately hid themselves, entering their respective homes. The Water-Types quickly descended into the sea before the vampires could see them. Dimstar's hoof stood right next to the Daises and Paradise flowers, giving off an intimidating presence. The flowers next to her hoof would wilt, dying out instantly.
"Have you heard from her majesty recently?" A vampire asked. "So far, she's been rather silent. We haven't gotten any support from her yet."
"It's strange for her to be this quiet, especially during the Black Crusade." The vampires all agreed. The fact that they haven't heard from Rosa Maledicta while the Black Crusade was going on was rather bizarre. Little did they know that Celestia was keeping them occupied.
"I can't answer that without knowing why. But right now, we have ourselves to carry out the Black Crusade. I am Half Lich so I can give you some of the things that her majesty can. Listen. Ponyville is a major target for us since the Lich Queen finds it to be rather vexing. And also nearby...should be the gateway to Kanto. The only gateway that is currently around."
"How do you think we should attack Ponyville?"
"Drown it. We shall send a fierce storm of water that will drown the town." Dimstar already decided on what had to be done as she faced the lake. The water from Saddle Lake already looked to be a good option. Dimstar approached the lake slowly as her presence was intimidating the Pokemon living inside of it. They stayed quiet, making sure they wouldn't make a single noise that would grab their attention.
With a zap of Dark Magic, DImstar would interact with the beautiful lake. But it was only briefly. A part of the clear blue water would be contaminated with a festering and vile darkness which was also being pulled up from the earth. This darkened water would then be pulled out of the lake, appearing in a black orb. Dimstar gathered a corrupted orb of water as she held it over her head.
This orb, while small, was set to bring about a powerful flood that would attempt to drown Ponyville entirely. The Dread League continued on their way, bringing along this powerful orb of dark water which was sure to bring destruction in its wake. The Water-Types peered their head out the lake, watching Dimstar and the other vampires leave the area. The same went for the other Pokemon living here. They heard DImstar's conversation with the other vampires. Especially with how they planned to drown Ponyville. This news travelled to their ears and made the Pokemon go on high alert.
The residents of Ponyville were known to them. They commonly come around here. Either for a Pokemon Battle or leisurely activities. Hearing that it was going to be drowned was something that even Wild Pokemon could stand to let happen. Thus, they quietly moved on, focusing on warning Ponyville's residents.
The Pokemon House.
Everyone had been gathered around. The ponies and Pokemon that were suffering from the Magehold Curses were brought over to the Pokemon House as some of them had already passed out, struggling to stay conscious or even wake up. Others were trying to power through it but powering through Magehold Curses didn't do them any good.
But it wasn't just Ponyville's residents. Everfree Creatures had been brought along. Mayor Mare gasped as her eyes could believe what she was seeing. A Hydra, Manticore, BugBear and other creatures from the Everfree had been brought over by Fluttershy.
"T-They're here too...?" An ill Amethyst Star questioned, backing up after one of the Hydra's heads eyed her down. Many of the ill residents shuddered as they certainly didn't want to see Everfree Forest Creatures here. Not after they had such a rough time with a Despair Plant and a vampire.
The Manticore growled at what it deemed to be food. It was certainly starving after being ill for hours now and the ponies plus all the Pokemon here looked like wonderful treats to snack on. Most of the Everfree Creatures just wished to eat them. All except for the Cockatrice, who was surprisingly exempt from using its signature magic of turning others into stone.
"It's fine. They're ill just like you all. I brought them over so that they could be healed up as well." Fluttershy said, vouching for the Everfree Forest creatures. "They won't hurt anyone. It's not like they can at all."
"I thought we were past the BugBear..." Sweetie Drops groaned, hoping to never see the BugBear again. Alas, it was right here, present and ill. Fluttershy would pat the creatures of Everfree, trying to comfort them while they suffered from Magehold's diseases. The Cockatrice that Fluttershy once met would even receive a pet, forgiven for what it did a few years back. The Manticore was already on good terms with Fluttershy since this was the same one she ended up helping on the night of Nightmare Moon's return.
But the cherry on top was definitely the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. Their jaws dropped after seeing these two colossal Celestial Bears casually here. They were so massive that they had to be outside the Pokemon House. Just around the outskirts but they were still very much visible. It was hard to believe they had also been infected.
"Even them?" Even Twilight couldn't believe it. That Disease Mist was more serious than she thought if it could affect even these two massive creatures.
"I knew I could count on you to talk with the Everfree Creatures," Ash said, already expecting this from Fluttershy. There was nothing to fear when it comes to Fluttershy's communication with creatures of different shapes or sizes. "Okay. Here's what's gonna happen. We're all gonna enter those realms again. It's the only place where we can expect a lot of Sunlight. There, Daisy and Paradise will heal you all up and you'll be good as new."
"I'm not a fan of going back there but...I'll take what I can to remove this disease from my body." Mayor Mare groaned while lying next to Stoutland who was also severely ill.
"We just have to do what we did previously. But this time, let's control who we bring over. We don't want to leave anyone behind when it comes to this." Twilight recalled how the 18 Realms randomly grabbed individuals from across the world. It was completely unexpected for all of them when it first happened.
"We'll stay out here. Those vampires are gonna try and show up and we'll be ready for 'em." Applejack and those who have already been healed would stay here at Ponyville. Every one who would be in the 18 Realms would have their bodies completely vulnerable since they'll be unconscious.
On top of that, there were a lot of citizens to heal so it would reasonably take a long time for all of them to be healed. They needed all the time they could get before any vampires come swooping in to attack them at their most vulnerable.
"It was Lucien and Sienna who set you up in the beginning. We'll gladly add the same magic they did to make sure you get there." And the cherry on top were the Rift Ponies Emerald Aura and Cold Colt. After all, the main reason the 18 Realms event happened was because of Rift Interference. And right now, they could use Rift Interference.
"Alright. Here goes." Ash would hold his hand out, needing to connect with someone to make this happen. And much like how it happened, Twilight placed her hoof on Ash's hoof, starting that connection. Previously, it was Twilight, Celestia and Luna who helped make this possible. But with only one alicorn here, they were short two alicorns.
However, that did not seem to be a problem anymore. Twilight had improved. Greatly. Her strength in magic has grown ever since as well as her knowledge. All these past events have shaped her into a rather mighty alicorn that allowed her to retain that Princess Status. Her magic was also shining brightly just with this connection.
Ash and Twilight's connection was resounding powerfully. The spell had been initiated as a stream of lights flew out of Twilight's horn, touching Ash's mind. Once it touched him, his eyes opened, radiating a white glow. Pikachu and the others stepped back as two beautiful colours flared out of their bodies.
Azure Blue and Light Purple respectively. Everyone watched in awe as this wonderful light expanded far, lightning up the entire Pokemon House in seconds. Even those who were ill were absolutely stunned by this. Not even the fearsome Everfree Creatures could take their eyes off something so beautiful.
And the final touch was the power of Rift Magic. Emerald Aura and Cold Colt would fire their spells in unison, striking Ash's mind. The connection had been fully established. The entrance to the 18 Realms was made possible once more. And this was shown by how the ill ponies and creatures would suddenly drop to the ground, feeling the need to pass out. Those who were already unconscious wouldn't need this treatment at all.
The 18 Realms.
It was back to the 18 Realms. The spell was a success just like before. Ash and Twilight appeared at the 18 Realms, specifically where all the doors could be found. The ethereal realm and all those doors greeted them once more. Ash would descend into the 18 Realms with speed and force along with Pikachu while Twilight gracefully came down.
But the real success was bringing everyone else here. Everyone that Ash envisioned to bring along had been brought over to the 18 Realms. Those infected found themselves here, either returning or it was their first time. The massive Everfree Creatures
"Alright! Worked like a charm!" Ash pumped his fist after this stunning success. "We're in!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu jumped into the air.
"I've never actually been in here before...Is this what it's like?" Emerald Aura feasted her eyes on this realm that was once a prison for the Aura Vampire Gardevoir. Daisy and Paradise would have the pleasure of seeing it themselves. It felt like they were in outer space itself, standing on a cosmic landscape. Little did they know one of these doors definitely led to outer space.
"Okay. Most of these doors will give us sunlight. But the best one is the Grass one without a doubt." Ash pointed at the Grass-Type door, going for that beyond anything else. If there was one place to expect tons of sunlight, it was that realm. But the others weren't bad options either.
They had to hurry. They couldn't afford to gaze and wonder at this place. Daisy and Paradise certainly wanted to with how amazing it was. Those who were unconscious were picked up by unicorn magic and Pokemon while the Everfree Creatures were guided by Fluttershy.
As for the Grass-Type door. It was relatively large. But was it large enough to fit Everfree Forest Creatures? That didn't seem to be the case. At least for now. Ash was about to change that. This was technically his realm and with the power being focused in his mind. And so, he willed it to happen. He willed the door to enlarge. It grew taller and wider, enough for a Creature from the Everfree Forest to pass through. Any further and he could make even a Wailord pass through it.
Everyone entered the Grass-Type Realm, having a bright flash envelop their bodies the moment they entered it. It was a new world for them as this was the closest they would get to passing through the gateways once more.
Reality. On top of a hill outside of Ponyville.
The vampires had arrived. Almost. They stood outside the wonderful town of Ponyville which had already taken massive damage from their previous battle. Parts of it had been repaired but it had yet to retain its glory. And it seemed like it would never retain its glory now that the Dread League had arrived.
In her hooves, DImstar held the contaminated water. She wasn't just going to drown Ponyville. She was going to drown it with Dark Magic only adding to the destruction. With the orb of Dark Water ready, Dimstar was prepared to unleash a flood of fierce and fatal proportions.
"Skowvet!" However, there was already an interference. And it came in the form of rapid-fire seeds. Dimstar's face was suddenly struck by multiple seeds from what appeared to be a Skwovet. Skwovet leapt into the air, blindsiding Dimstar with Bullet Seed as her focus had been turned.
"Hm?" Bullet Seed barely phased her, doing minimal damage to the Half Vampire Half Lich. However, the next group of Pokemon would definitely bring more to the table. The vampires gasped, believing that they had been found out. But once they saw that it was just a Skwovet, they weren't as surprised.
"It's just a-" However, it wasn't just a Skowvet. Before a vampire could finish her sentence, the other Pokemon threw their ring into this, attacking the Dread League.
"Lombre!" A group of Lombre appeared out of the bushes, collectively using Water Gun. Now the vampires had to worry a bit and were certainly hit with more surprises that far surpassed Skowvet. Skowvet was just the beginning. Everything else was where things came flying at them high speeds.
Literally. The Water Guns rained down from above at swift speeds with how many Lombres leapt out of the bushes. The vampires were met with these blasts of water which soaked them while also letting out aquatic explosions. This also went for Dimstar, who received the most amount of Water Guns. She squinted her eyes, snarling at this as she was merely being hit by nuisances.
"Scatter!" But those nuisances would continue as some Scatterbug had used String Shot, wrapping their silk around the vampires, attempting to restrain them. Dimstar's hooves were restrained along with the other vampires. They were completely blindsided and caught off guard by this. These were the same Pokemon from Saddle Lake who they had missed upon passing by earlier.
These Pokemon absolutely refused to let the Dread League attack Ponyville since the residents there were rather common and friendly to the Pokemon living here. This swarm of attacks would only increase the intensity once more Pokemon joined in. It was hard to keep track of all of them.
"Illumise!"
"Volbeat!" A literal swarm had arrived. A group of Volbeat and Illumise collectively used Infestation, bringing down multiple bugs of a smaller size but in vast quantities. So vast that they blocked off the other Pokemon, masking them from the eyes of the vampires. Before the vampires could quickly do something about this, they were hit with the Infestation which targeted their faces. The face was a vulnerable spot for many and the INfestation would take full advantage of that.
But the Volbeat and Illumise would go even further. Some of them that didn't use Infestation would use their natural trait of light since they were Fireflies. They even had the means of exposing the vampires to their greatest weaknesses.
"What's going on?!" One vampire was greatly confused. It was all happening so fast that it was hard to keep up with. The Wild Pokemon would not slow down or hold back for a second.
Especially not the group of Rattata that came charging in. Adding to the vast number of bugs, the quantity of Rattata was just as overwhelming. They would skitter and dash at the vampires, chittering and lunging as their teeth were ready to start gnawing. It wasn't just vampires who could viciously bite. This species of Pokemon was rather adept at it.
To add up, the vampires were hit with streams of water, bugs, flashes of light from the number of Volbeat and Illumise that were flying around them as well as the teeth of a Rattata. While the bugs focused on their faces, the Rattata went for everywhere else. They would crawl up the bodies of the vampires, grossing some of them out instantly.
Even for a vampire, having rats crawl up the body was unnerving. Once they made contact, the Rattata went to town, rapidly biting at the bodies of the vampires, adding to their pain. It was impossible for the vampires to act in this scenario. They were completely overwhelmed by the Pokemon of Saddle Lake. All they could do was scream, squeal and flail their hooves in this scenario.
All except for Dimstar. She was not as phased by this. She was only irritated. She kept a strong composure as the Rattatas teeth weren't even enough to truly harm her in any way. Not even the light from the Volbeat and Illumise worked but they were certainly bothering her.
"A noble attempt..." DImstar commented, praising the Pokemon for performing this sneak attack. And there seemed to be more of them preparing to attack. "But...You're too late."
Alas, despite their efforts, with Dimstar being fine, she was able to unleash the Dark Water regardless. All it took was a release of her magic to do so. The orb would drop, falling off the hill and crashing which broke the protection that held the water back. The Pokemon gasped as they couldn't stop Dimstar at all. They did their best, succeeding in overwhelming the vampires.
But when it came to Dimstar, that was a different story. The flood had been unleashed. And once the magic within had been released, the Dark Water appeared as a gigantic tsunami with Dark Magic pulsating out of it. This was definitely enough to flood Ponyville. And with a majority of its residents being unconscious within another realm, the town was possibly at its weakest to date.
A massive flood was approaching. Filled with Dark Magic made by Dimstar, Ponyville could not catch a break. Not during the Black Crusade. The orb that the water was kept in was dropped on the ground after the Pokemon of Saddle Lake tried their best to prevent it but failed to do so. Thus, the Dark Water had been unleashed, forming a Dark Tsunami that was approaching Ponyville.
At the same time, Ash, Twilight, Fluttershy and all those who were still infected by Magehold Curses went to the 18 Realms just to cure them. All Daisy and Paradise needed was some sunlight and right now, there wasn't any clear sunlight thanks to the clash of the Sun and Moon.
The pressure of this tsunami was powerful enough to shake Ponyville, grabbing the attention of those who haven't entered the 18 Realms. "What's that?" Applejack wondered. The windows, which already took heavy hits earlier would start shaking violently from the nearby pressure.
She and everyone else looked over the horizon as the blades of grass would sway in one direction only. And it was pointing right at them. This pressure was incredibly intimidating as no one could make out what it was. Sweetie Belle held onto Rarity's hoof, nervous about what was coming.
Before the disaster could even strike, screams could be heard. And they came directly from the other buildings. Screams of the ponies echoed which was then followed by them running or even flying for the hills. With their Pokemon beside them, they started fleeing as fast as they could, approaching the Pokemon House. Applejack even saw the rest of her family heading here while Machamp was carrying the two meteors from Meteor Mountain.
"What is it?! What's going on?!" Rarity asked as Berry Punch passed by. She and the others here at the Pokemon House had yet to see the terrifying force that was approaching.
"It's a Tsunami!" The one to answer that was Cheerilee.
"Tsunami?!" Pinkie, Rarity and Applejack collectively shouted. But it wasn't just an ordinary tsunami. Not at all. It didn't just bring pressure but it also brought a shadow which was being cast over Ponyville. All of Ponyville's remaining residents who have been healed already fled the scene as fast as they could.
And unfortunately for their homes, all that work they did to rebuild it had been wasted. The tsunami could be seen at last. It wasn't towering at all once it reached Ponyville but it was fierce nonetheless. The trees here were struck by the Dark Tsunami, wilting in an instant once the Dark Magic took its effect. The Ponyville Schoolhouse found itself demolished by the wave of darkness.
"What's up with that tsunami?!" Pinkie Pie bellowed, noticing the darkness in it. There was not a hint of blue anywhere.
"It's Dark Magic!" Speaking out and deciding to show himself was King Sombra. He left Ash's body while he was unconscious, reacting to this. Since he and Ash were connected now, he obviously needed Ash alive for this. "Those vampires are trying to drown this entire town!"
"But the others! They're unconscious!" Cold Colt pointed out how most of them were unable to respond. This was the worst time to be in the 18 Realms without a doubt.
"Should we get inside?! What do we do!?" A panicking Apple Bloom asked, unsure of what to do at this moment. The tsunami was getting closer, levelling so many buildings with its darkness.
"Bah! The Dark Tsunami will just wipe you out even if you seek shelter inside! This a tsunami you can't just hide from!"
"Okay, smart guy! You know about Dark Magic! Do something about it!"
"That's the problem...I don't know what to do." Alas, this was the one instance that Sombra was stumped. His Dark Magic knowledge couldn't help him or anyone else this time. The tsunami could be seen taking out Rarity and Sweetie Belle's home, levelling it by attacking the lower half.
The two sisters and their Pokemon watched as their home had been taken out. It came tumbling down from the pressure of the tsunami and the Dark Magic it carried. It had already destroyed many familiar places where their friends usually reside at. The Cake Family, Pinkie Pie and Jade Skies had to watch their own home be swallowed up by the Dark Tsunami.
Applejack and her family already knew that Sweet Apple Acres was probably done for at this point. Poor Town Hall didn't stand a chance in its state.
"Bay...!" Bayleef attempted to step up to the plate. She figured that her leaf would be highly useful right about now. Changing fate was something that would benefit everyone else nearby. However, with the Sun and Moon both being up at the same time, Bayleef wished she was in the 18 Realms right about now to have some Sunlight regenerate her when needed because the number of Leaves she was about to use would be outstanding.
"I can try and take you to that dimension again!" However, that would not come to pass. Emerald Aura suggested heading to that other dimension once more, just to avoid any damage. "Is everyone here?!"
"I think so?" An unsure Scootaloo uttered. Many of the ponies who were healthy fled to the Pokemon House once they saw the Dark Tsunami. But not everyone here. Some were still behind, trying to run from the Dark Tsunami. They could be seen running and flying away with their Pokemon as fast as they could, leaving their homes before they were demolished by the waves.
"Not everyone!" Rarity shouted before looking over at Pheromosa. "Pheromosa! Get them!"
"Sceptile, go with her!" Applejack did the same with Sceptile.
"Phero!" Pheromosa and Sceptile were being counted on in this scenario. They needed speed to save them all and right now, Pheromosa and Sceptile were the quickest. They could afford to waste any time. Not when this Dark Tsunami was approaching rapidly.
Pheromosa took off, leaving behind a dust cloud from her initial speed. Sceptile would soon follow as they were heading straight for the hazardous area. Meanwhile, Dimstar, the one who caused this mess, watched over the gradual destruction of Ponyville thanks to the Dark Tsunami she created.
At the same time, she had used the Shadow Tendrils to grab onto the Pokemon from Saddle Lake who would dare oppose and try to stop her. They did their best, succeeding in blindsiding the other vampires but failed to get the better of Dimstar. Thus, they were all captured and restrained by the invisible tendrils.
Dimstar eyed down Ponyville's watery destruction, watching as its citizens flee in terror. So far, no one had been harmed since they saw the tsunami in advance, plus Shrivel already warned them about another attack. And that second attack had already appeared, being far worse than the first one. But Dimstar had nothing to fear, believing that Ponyville's residents would be swallowed up by the tsunami eventually. That is until she saw the two Pokemon who stepped up to the tsunami.
Pheromosa's amazing speed entered this hazardous area and it was already clear that she was much faster than the tsunami. But what mattered was how she saved everyone. "Mosa!" Pheromosa's tall stature also mattered here. It allowed her to grab multiple ponies with her long arms, saving up time. After grabbing a few ponies, big and small, she would suddenly toss them. The ponies screamed after being launched but it was for a reason. This was where Sceptile pitched in.
"Sceptile!" By using Frenzy Plant, Sceptile summoned multiple massive roots that burst out of the ground. These roots would instantly catch those who were launched into the air, saving them from a harsh fall. The roots would precisely wrap around its targets, catching them in midair. Pheromosa did this to the other residents, rapidly zipping across the town, grabbing as many as she could and throwing them afterwards. The roots were massive enough to catch many of them as well as Sceptile also had an easier way to cover for some time.
But some were using the roofs of their homes to try and stay safe. Their homes had their lower halves covered by the tsunami, essentially trapping them here. Pheromosa noticed this, quickly going for the roofs as well. She would leap high, landing on one of Sceptile's roots, going for the roofs. Those stuck on the roof were met with the Lissome Pokemon who came for their rescue.
"Hmm..." This bothered Dimstar. She certainly didn't want anyone to be saved at this moment. Not when Rosa Maledicta had it out for Ponyville. Thus, she got involved, flashing her eyes with a burst of darkness, influencing the Dark Waters that covered the grounds of Ponyville.
Right as Pheromosa brought down those who were stuck on the roofs, jumping at great distances to further flee from the tsunami, she was met with a shocking surprise attack. A part of the tsunami had been manipulated, summoning a stream of Dark Water that would fly out. It targeted Pheromosa, striking her from behind when she least expected it.
"P-Phero!" Pheromosa cried out after receiving a powerful back hit on her Lissome Body. It was so strong that her grip on the residents of Ponyville had been severely weakened. Sceptile gasped, noticing how Pheromosa was hit by a part of the tsunami that wasn't just a moving wave.
The Lissome Pokemon grit her teeth, attempting to keep her balance. The ponies in her hooves would be quickly thrown as she refused to let them fall over thanks to the damage she took. Pheromosa stumbled after throwing them, losing her momentum and speed a bit.
Dimstar wasn't done yet. She would continue this attack, sending out more streams of Dark Water to assault Pheromosa since she was now the closest. Pheromosa still hadn't retained her balance and was soon struck once more. From behind multiple, a repeated strike of water streams would fly out at her, whipping the Lissome Pokemon and further ruining her swift flow.
"Sceptile!" Sceptile bellowed. His roots already grabbed those that were thrown and now his attention turned elsewhere. No longer was it the residents of Ponyville. Now it was Pheromosa. The Bug-Fighting-Type dropped to the ground, failing to stay strong. It was because of her supple body that she took such powerful hits. After being downed, the tsunami was now volatile towards her.
Quickly, Sceptile would redirect one of the roots, going straight for Pheromosa before it was too late. However, Dimstar interfered with this as well. Manipulating the water once more, she would intercept Sceptile's roots, sending powerful streams of Dark Water which clashed with the Frenzy Plant Roots. Sceptile's roots were being blocked by these fierce streams, attempting to slip through. Meanwhile, Pheromosa's back had Dark Magic pulsating out of it. Those weren't just natural streams after all. The darkness harmed her body, making her twitch as she couldn't instantly get up and dash away.
"No! My little Pheromosa!" Rarity yelled, seeing her beloved Pokemon in peril. She had the instinct to go straight for her, only for Applejack to hold her back. Rarity would most definitely be taken out in an instant if the Dark Tsunami shot out those streams compared to Pheromosa.
"Leavanny!" But while Rarity couldn't do anything about this, the rest of her Pokemon could. All the other Pokemon from the Pokemon House could. With their numbers, they would give it their all and try and overcome this Dark Tsunami.
"Krookodile!" Spearheaded by Krookodile, the Pokemon were ordered to get in there. And the ones Krookodile focused the most on were the Water-Types. They would leap out of their watery homes, getting involved with these darker and crueller waters.
Flying-Types would soar through the air, using the advantage they had in the sky to get the better of this dark tsunami. Sceptile and Pheromosa had a heap of help coming their way which was very much needed. It was all a matter of if they could get there in time. Pheromosa got back up, seeing Sceptile's Frenzy Plant fiercely clash with the Dark Streams. With the darkness beating down on her, she would shiver and tremble a bit before moving her legs.
Pheromosa didn't instantly bolt away like she usually does. She had to essentially build up speed for this. But there wasn't enough time to build up speed when the Dark Tsunami was nearby. Now Pheromosa was the closest to the tsunami and she just didn't have the speed available to evade it. Her pupils shrank, fearing that she could be swept away by it. And with her fragile body, the damage would be truly devastating.
"Lea...!" Seeing her fellow Bug-Type in mortal peril, Leavanny would try and make the best string shot that she could. She closed her eyes, eyeing down the Ultra Beast. She had to get this shot, looking past the many roots and streams that were fighting over her. Leavanny knew she wasn't fast enough to run over to Pheromosa but she was banking on her string to reach her at such a long distance. "Van!" Leavanny took the shot, sending a thick string of silk.
The silk travelled as quickly as it could, moving in one consistent line, not deviating in any way. It was a direct shot and nothing more. The string passed through some of the roots and streams that went against each other as if it was a needle in a haystack. But this needle was sticking out instead of concealing itself.
Pheromosa would see this string from her friend, quickly dropping her frown and raising it into a smile. Seeing something as simple as a string was hopeful to her for all the right reasons. Quickly, she held her hand out, allowing the string to take her. And with that direct shot from such a far distance, the string managed to catch Pheromosa.
"Van!" Leavanny, with all of her might, would retract the string, now needing to bring Pheromosa all the way back. And it was a close call. The Dark Tsunami was just a few inches away from touching Pheromosa as Leavanny's string got there in the nick of time.
Pheromosa went flying after being pulled back, going over the Frenzy Plant and Dark Water Streams which also did not go unnoticed by DImstar. Once more, she would try and ruin this by letting some of the streams deviate, targeting the string. Right as Pheromosa was returning to the side of her friends, one of the streams ruined it in an instant.
A clean cut had broken the string in half, ruining the flow. Pheromosa and Leavanny both gasped after the string was destroyed. Pheromosa still was not close to her friends, unfortunately. And on top of that, the other streams were coming straight for her the second the string had been broken.
"Leavanny!" But that was why Leavanny had the rest of her teammates to count on. The other 11 Leavanny chimed in, using their strings as well to make up for what was lost. A collection of String Shots flew out, quickly shutting down Dimstar's previous attack as if never existed. Pheromosa, who was moving through the air, nearly crashed into the ground, only to have the strings of her friends catch her.
"Pheromo!" Pheromosa's elated voice bellowed out after seeing all the Leavanny come together. Dimstar scoffed, attempting to break them apart as well with her streams. However, there was a stark difference. One string from a Leavanny was strong but could be broken apart by the streams.
Multiple strings together were another story. Stronger and well-built along with more numbers allowed them to truck through. The streams failed to break these ones apart instantly, needing multiple hits to do so since they all came together. However, even when breaking them apart, it would take some more effort to get rid of the rest.
And thanks to this unification, the 12 Leavanny succeeded in saving Pheromosa, fully bringing her over. Together, they all caught Pheromosa in their arms, preventing her from having a hard impact.
"Ooh..." Rarity felt like fainting after seeing Pheromosa's life in such peril. But she had nothing to fear now that she was saved. Well, for the most part. The Dark Tsunami was still approaching after all.
"Tile!" But now that Pheromosa was safe, Sceptile could focus on the tsunami. And he had a rather clever way of doing so. By manipulating his Frenzy Plants, he placed them on the ground, no longer clashing with the streams. Instead, he would use the plants as a shield.
All the plants had been lined up, joined together with no sign of a gap at all, becoming a blockade for the rest of Ponyville. It wasn't a full blockade as there were some sides still exposed but the width of the roots could account for something. And they most certainly did.
The moment the tsunami reached the plants, they would crash. These were much stronger than the trees they had taken down by a wide margin and it showed. The waves crashed violently against the roots as a part of the tsunami had been stopped. The roots did tremble for a moment when taking the hit from the tsunami but they stood strong. However, Sceptile couldn't do anything about the ones that were on the side but at least he succeeded in keeping some of it back and weakening the tsunami a bit.
"It's not enough! It's still coming!" A panicking Apple Bloom said, pulling on her mane as her ribbon nearly came off. The tsunami was still fierce and destructive. Taking off where Pheromosa was, the Flying-Types would now start saving others themselves. Pheromosa did her best sending multiple of Ponyville's residents flying away from the tsunami. Now it was time for the masters of the skies to swoop in, latching their talons and beaks onto those still trying to evade the tsunami. They would find themselves being picked up by the Flying-Types that came by, taking flight. Those on top of the roofs would be picked up with ease since they were the highest.
As for the Water-Types, they would add their own pure water into this. Attempting to stop the tsunami before it got any closer, a plethora of Water-Type attacks were thrown out. Water Guns, Bubble Beams, Hydro Pumps and more were unleashed. Each and every one of Fluttershy's Pokemon united for the safety of their homes and friends and family. They all came together to make their own powerful water pressure.
It was Water against Water. The Dark Tsunami encountered the Water-Type attacks, fiercely trying to break through them. This tsunami was utterly relentless in its attacks. It was as if it was sentient. It was indeed being held back but it was still trying to push through and devour Ponyville in its entirety.
The Water-Types threw everything they had at this tsunami, trying to overlay it with their bright blue colours. Alas, all it took was Dimstar's magic to change the tides. The Dark Tsunami started moving ahead once Dimstar added more of her magical power into it, gradually overpowering the Water-Types. Some of them were blown away once the Dark Tsunami gained a powerful advantage while others tried staying strong.
As for everyone else that had been saved, they were quickly being carried over to the Pokemon House for Emerald Aura to take them away. Emerald needed all of them over here. And that meant all of them. The tsunami broke through the attacks that the Water-Types brought to the table, showing its superiority to them.
They tried their best, succeeding in keeping it back but it just wasn't enough. Not against such a vile form of water. And that was where Krookodile came in, finally stepping up. Krookodile only had one thing in mind when trying to stop the tsunami.
"Krookodile!" With all of his might, Krookodile smashed his fist into the ground, using Earthquake. A powerful golden light flared from the earth itself, causing the ground to crack with powerful tremors passing through. Krookodile would do this repeatedly, smashing his fists furiously into the earth. "Krook! Krook!"
With each it, Krookodile managed to dig a hole. Or rather, a crater. The constant Earthquakes were destructive but unlike the Dark Tsunami, this one was being used for the safety of others. And when watching this play out, Applejack noticed how familiar it looked.
In fact, it resembled that of what Rockhoof of the past attempted but differently. She knew what Krookodile was trying to do and the massive crater that appeared from it showed. Once the crater, formed, Krookodile would back up, calling for the other Pokemon to retreat. "Krook! Krookodile!" The Water-Types were called back, quickly coming to Krookodile's side while Sceptile's Frenzy Plant kept the middle part of the town safe for them to cross.
The middle was the safest since the plants protected that part of the town the most. But everywhere else was still hazardous. The tsunami would begin converging, no longer being split as it would return as a sheet of water. But now, it had something else that would try and get in its way.
The Dark Tsunami came to a halt, stopping once it came into contact with the crater. The massive crater was being filled up by these large portions of water, slowing down and being weakened once more. In fact, it looked like this would be its end. The crater looked to be the final stop for the Dark Tsunami. Alas, even that didn't fully stop its movements. It worked for a bit and did weaken the Dark Tsunami considerably. However, the Dark Magic was still brimming, forcing the tsunami to keep on going but with less power behind it.
Applejack, Rarity, Sombra and everyone else braced themselves for the water as Krookodile put up a blocking stance. He blocked the tsunami which lacked some of its power but was still fierce thanks to the Dark Magic around it. Once it reached the Pokemon House, Emerald Aura finally used her magic.
A massive circle of Emerald Coloured Rift Magic appeared, reaching those that were close enough for the circle to travel. This involved those conscious and unconscious. Emerald grit her teeth as she managed to transport everyone away right as the tsunami would about to crash into the Pokemon House.
They got away. All of them. This left the tsunami to ravage through the Pokemon House but with less power behind it than usual. No innocents living here were caught up in the attack but the beloved homes they housed couldn't be saved at all.
Dimstar narrowed her eyes after seeing them all flee. This agitated her as Ponyville's residents, with their unified strength, managed to avoid another dangerous attack during the Black Crusade. "They got away. But they'll be back. They're merely in another dimension."
Easily, Dimstar knew that they were just in another dimension. She was expecting them to return by now. The Half Vampire Half Lich would take flight along with the other vampires, approaching Ponyville in its current condition. It was incredibly wet now thanks to Dimstar's actions. Dark Magic had ravaged the buildings that once gave off a beautiful feeling.
Dimstar would wait. She descended onto the grounds of Ponyville, waiting for its residents to make a return. The tsunami had finally come to an end after its rampage, no longer moving. It laid waste to the scenery with no remorse whatsoever. Poor Ponyville suffered because of these double attacks. Remnants of packages and magazines still lay at some of the doorsteps, unopened and abandoned recently. Window panes hung perilously from their hinges and here and there drapes had been flung out by the fierce wind that the tsunami brought.
The town was littered with destruction and carnage. Red, black and dark green are the new colours of what was once a delicate, green field, which has now become the stage of a cruel crusade. The air which would normally carry the sounds of birds, Pokemon, rivers and other wildlife was now glowing red with fire and thick with smoke, ash and embers, enough to make even the bravest tremble in fear.
It wasn't beyond repair but it was totalled in horrific ways. From a Despair Plant to a Dark Tsunami. And just as Dimstar predicted, once the tsunami ended and enough time had passed, the emerald light from before would spark around the earth. They were already making a comeback.
Ponyville was nearly beyond repair. The Dark Tsunami had levelled a majority of the buildings here, covering them in Dark Magic. And standing among the rubble was the one responsible for the Dark Tsunami. Dimstar. Currently, Ponyville was empty thanks to Emerald Aura sending everyone to a small dimension. However, Dimstar was expecting them, already knowing that they had all left for another realm entirely and was waiting for their return. Now that the Dark Tsunami had come to an end, they should be expected to reappear soon.
Dimstar witnessed an emerald glimmer that appeared on the ground as she immediately believed that they were about to return. And it did seem that way. However, once the emerald light ran its course, nothing happened. Instead, the light faded away.
"They're not reappearing..." Dimstar commented. It was then that she realized she had been juked. The light was merely a bluff made by Emerald Aura, fooling Dimstar. The Half Lich Half Vampire grit her sharp teeth, feeling slightly annoyed by that. She was prepared to deal with the residents herself but that didn't seem to be the case.
"Where are they?" The other vampires were also lost. Far more than Dimstar who already figured it out. They were very much ready to terrorize the residents some more but with their absence, there was no one to terrorize.
"They've probably fled elsewhere," Dimstar answered. "That light was a fluke from the pony that did this."
"What now? Do you think they'll be back?" Another vampire asked.
"Maybe. For now, while they're gone, we have their entire home to ourselves." Dimstar swivelled, facing the majority of buildings that had suffered. With Ponyville in this condition, we can rebuild. The new world that the Lich Queen is searching for will need a revamp. Ponyville can be the first place where reconstruction of an extended Magehold can begin."
"And if they come back?"
"We'll be ready for them," Dimstar smirked deviously, preparing for Ponyville residents to make a comeback. This was their home after all and it was expected for them to show up. In the meanwhile, Ponyville was about to receive a vampiric makeover. One that would fit Magehold while still being a part of the Black Crusade..
Lapras Lake.
Emerald Aura brought them to Lapras Lake. A place that was relatively close to Ponyville but was also hidden from it thanks to the abundance of trees that could be seen here. The green light appeared on the sands of this area, revealing Emerald Aura and everyone else that had been brought to the dimension.
"Phew...That could've been way rougher..." A relieved Emerald Aura said, lying on her back
"I agree..." Rarity breathed in and out. "You couldn't have made your circle wider though in the beginning?"
"Hey...I'm still not the Rift Pony I used to be thanks to the Rift, okay?" Emerald Aura groaned. "If I had that level of magic previously, this wouldn't be that much of an issue. Now Ponyville's overrun by vampires. I saw a glimpse of them when trying to re-enter."
"Great. Our home's been taken over now. Just when we thought we were getting somewhere!" It was rather frustrating as Scootaloo put it. They previously had a rough battle against a Despair Plant and now this comes along and smacks them in the face, forcing them out of their own home.
"We're gonna have to back there, aren't we? I'm tired though..." And unfortunately, not everyone could keep this up forever. Some wanted to fall asleep since it was way past their bedtime.
"You won't get any rest during the Black Crusade," Sombra added. "Those vampires will capitalise on your home and change everything you know. The Black Crusade doesn't just involve destruction. It plans to remake things in a way that fits Magehold."
"Are homes are being targeted too?! Rebuilt?! That can't be!" Cheerilee gasped.
"What now? What do we do?" Sweetie Belle asked her big sister. Rarity was a bit stumped as well. This whole situation was escalating rapidly. The Dark Tsunami was certainly the tipping point for this mess to really worsen. Everyone awake thought of what to do now. They certainly wanted to head home but that would only lead to more battles. And while they would defend their home without a doubt, just as Shrivel said, more will come. And more did come plus the possibility of another wave showing up since this was the Black Crusade. It would continue relentlessly with no signs of slowing down.
"Hm!" Just then, before anyone could decide what to do next, Ash's eyes suddenly opened up, startling the others. The eyes of the King of the Sea reawakened along with all those were unconscious and in the 18 Realms. Finally, they were active. And more than just active, those who were infected by Magehold Curses had a significant change.
The Black Cracks that affected their bodies, harming and eating away at them were gone. Just like that, they had vanished. Daisy and Paradise succeeded, getting all the sunlight they needed in the Grassy-Type Realm. And once that was said and done, Ash and everyone would prop back up.
"Success!" Ash triumphantly bellowed, pumping both his fists along with Pikachu. Everyone else would stretch their bodies, regaining their composure after being harmed by the curses for a while now. "Worked like a charm, didn't it?!"
"Pika-Pika!"
"Yeah, but you had me completely worried that Ataxia would show up again." Twilight scratched her mane after returning from the 18 Realms. "A part of me even thought that we might run into something there."
"See? It's all better now." Fluttershy would speak to the Creatures of the Everfree who found themselves being cured as well. And to say they were elated was an understatement. They roared with happiness, relieved to be cured of something so painful. Their massive bodies moved around, shaking parts of the earth with how many massive creatures were here. Especially since two of them were an Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, making the most noise.
"You all picked the worst time to wake up..." Emerald Aura sighed as it was a little too late for them to wake up. Her eyes then widened, noticing that the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor were right here, putting on a panicking face. Not because they were present but mainly due to their size.
Quickly, she would use Rift Magic on them without them knowing. Their bodies suddenly turned invisible while they were happily jumping around.
"Emerald? Why'd you-" Fluttershy asked before being cut off by the Rift Pony, witnessing the Ursa Family being concealed by the Rift Magic. They were still here. It wasn't like they were sent away.
"We can't show ourselves! The vampires could see us! Especially with these two here! Probably should've done it earlier while they were still on the ground..." Emerald Aura sighed, only wanting everyone to be safe and out of sight for now.
"Oh, I guess so." Fluttershy understood. "But anyway. It's great that everyone's been cured. Now it should be all fine, right?"
"Not really. It's wonderful that you're all back but...we faced another problem." Unfortunately, Rarity had to break it to them while they were just now feeling good. They very much had to hear this considering their homes were involved. It took a while for them to even realize that they were away from their home in the first place.
Magehold. Magehold Contest Hall.
After a delicious feast, the citizens of Magehold were ready to see the contest in full action. Magehold's first Pokemon Contest could finally begin. Once more, Fantina would be present for it. But unlike the ones she has over at different cities and towns where she was a guest judge, she would instead be the announcer. She would bow to the vampires, greeting them once more and certainly riling up her fans. Fantina did in fact have fans here and there were quite a few factors for that.
Some admired her for her beauty while others for her style and skills. Some even admired her for all of them. On top of that. good things have been said about Fantina when it comes to the children who she teaches. They will never forget how she saved their lives.
"I hope you've all had a good meal! Because now, we can truly begin! It's going to be a long one and there'll still be enough food left to keep you full the whole way through. We'll have over 80 contestants take part in the Performance stage but only eight of them will make it here. I don't want to waste time any longer though since I've been looking forward to this as well. Say hello to the first contestant, Bleak Glint!"
With Fantina giving the call, the plan to destroy the barrier could begin. And the Pokemon Contest was seemingly that very answer. The first vampire pony entered the scene once Fantina kicked things off. This vampire would launch her Poke Ball, summoning her partner Misdreavus onto the scene.
Unlike the Fashion Show, this one would go beyond just showing off, even though that was the main basis of it. But the vampires had no idea what they were about to witness. With each of them being instructed or inspired by Fantina, the tricks they would pull blew their minds.
The vampires saw just how far a Pokemon's skills can truly go. It wasn't all just attacks, defences and power boosts. And this was shown by how Misdreavus used Ominous Wind and Power Gem in unison, sending the sparkling rays flying into the air for all to see. And there was certainly more where that came from.
Once the first contestant finished up, the rest would follow. This was only the performance stage which was just the warm-up for things. But from what the crowd was seeing, it was incredibly promising. So many moves were being utilized in unique ways that vampires have never seen before. Truly stunning to the eyes. And the best part of it at all was the fact that despite it composing of mostly Ghost and Dark-Types, the list of moves and how unique they could be were plentiful. They weren't limited to their types at all.
The judges, who were supposed to rate these, found themselves so amazed that they lost focus and froze there for a while before remembering to judge. This was all just so new and stupendous not to admire. While nothing so far could match the cheers that Fantina received when she first appeared, the cheers here were thunderous indeed. And it was all music to Fantina's ears. Hearing the crowd cheer was pleasing considering how much she loved Pokemon Contests.
This is exactly what she wanted and it was only going to get better once the Battle Stage comes along. BUt the secret plan in all of this was getting that barrier down. And Fantina was currently counting on Eccentrick for the moment that truly mattered. Speaking of Eccentrick, Fantina purposefully put her last. When looking at the list of participants and the order they would enter, Eccentrick was at the very end. She was obviously being saved for when it mattered.
Lapras Lake.
"Seriously?!" Just now, Ash and everyone else who had just returned from the 18 Realms heard everything Rarity and all those who had to deal with the Dark Tsunami spouted.
"Now you see why we had to hide those two." Emerald Aura sighed. "It's pretty rough. It looks like it's gonna be non-stop too. It's a good thing we got everyone out of there when we had the chance."
"What about the Despair Plant?! Is it okay?! And the others from PokePark!" Daisy questioned, deeply worried about Bullfrog and the other Despair Plants over at the PokePark.
"I'm sure everyone back at PokePark is fine, Daisy," Twilight reassured. "PokePark exists in its own space which is still odd to me on how that works. The tsunami can't reach it at all. As for the Bullfrog..."
"It's fine." Emerald quickly answered. "I saw it hop away though. No clue where it is now."
"Nevermind that. I can't let them roam around Ponyville the way it is right now." Mayor Mare interjected. "Our poor town's been through enough tonight and now they plan to redo it? Absurd."
"I say we head over there and take back our home!" Amethyst Star was already opting to start a comeback, reclaiming Ponyville from the Dread League. But it was at that moment that she would suddenly yawn, feeling fatigued. "After some rest though...I need it."
"We can't rest. Not when the Black Crusade is ongoing. Our home isn't exactly comfortable to sleep at anymore." said Roseluck. "I wish we could rest though. All that healing didn't re-energize us."
"Well, I'm going back there." Ash already made up his mind on what he wanted to do. And he didn't look tired at all compared to the others. "There's too much at stake here. I gotta know if mom's okay. The gateway's still there, after all."
"Are you sure, Ash? Are we ready to head back there?" Rarity questioned.
"Yeah. Plus, those vampires could spread more curses. Then we'd have to go back in there and heal everyone up a second time." said Paradise. "I mean, I wanna do it but..."
"I'm sure about it." Ash was always sure when it comes to his loved ones. His mother's safety couldn't be ignored at all. "I know Galaxy Master will show up there to save her...but I gotta make sure the vampires don't do anything else to the rest of Pallet Town."
"I hear you, Ash." Twilight understood Ash, not questioning his decision at all. His drive to protect his family was too powerful and reasonable. "We'll head back there as soon as possible but with something to retaliate."
"You won't have to do so." Shockingly, their foes came directly to them. The voice of a familiar vampire passed through the ears of Ash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and the others. The voice of Dimstar. Their heads all turned to see Dimstar present here, standing on a sandy hill.
"Dimstar!" Ash shouted out her name, remembering it very well ever since their first encounter at the Despair Plant Garden.
"You've narrowly escaped your fates yet again in rather creative yet annoying ways like the cockroaches you are." Dimstar talked down to them, figuratively and literally. "All you've been doing is scurrying around, trying to avoid the Black Crusade's inevitable path of destruction. You've done it again but your luck has run out as I will follow up on my duties and snuff all of you out."
"Why...Why'd she have to show up now?" It was getting too overwhelming for some ponies. They just wanted a break from this. But they couldn't get that much for it. And even if they did, it wouldn't last that long. Ponies held onto either their children or their Pokemon, keeping them safe in the face of Dimstar.
"The Ursa Major and Ursa Minor gave it away." Just as Emerald Aura feared, Dimstar found them by going straight for these two bears. Since they were targets of the Black Crusade too, it was only natural for her to come across this group.
Ash's eyes flared as he used his Aura to see the invisible tendrils that were coming out of Dimstar's back. Was there seemingly no end for Ponyville's residents, including those helping to protect it? It has been a while since Ash and the others have even returned to Spike's group back at the Crystal Empire.
"You will not rest. You will not sleep. You will not have any form of relief so as long as we the Dread League exist and the Black Crusade flows as intended." Dimstar commented, bringing the harsh reality down to everyone. That even included the Creatures of the Everfree, who would snarl at Dimstar.
"Maybe we should run...Or return to that dimension again?" Apple Bloom asked, wanting to leave the scene immediately. Many of the ponies were intimidated by Dimstar's presence and that was mainly due to the morose and cold aura she gave off. This was the aura of a Lich. She had some of it and it was utterly chilling.
It felt like multiple swords near them all, ready to slash them if they made the wrong move. That was how terrifying Dimstar's presence was to most of them. Even with this stark number difference, Dimstar did not seem to fear them at all. Instead, she was instilling fear in them.
"Perhaps I should take you back to Ponyville. That way, you'll see how much it's changed before you perish. With Dark Magic involved, the reconstruction of certain buildings is quite swift and rather fitting to what we envision." Dimstar continued. "The Dark Magic around it will be abundant once complete."
"I'd rather not go with her at all," Sombra spoke out. "If you set foot in that town the way it is now with all of the Dark Magic that's been added, there's no telling what would happen. "
"Ponyville's not safe again? That can't be." Fluttershy's ears couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could this be? All that work for what? Just for another vampire to show up and ruin it with one simple act?
"It's not gonna end like this though." Ash suddenly stepped forward, intensively staring Dimstar in the eyes, showing no fear whatsoever. Suddenly, joining Ash's side were the Everfree Creatures. The Hydra, Ursas and even some Timberwolves stood beside him.
"You all can go ahead," Ash spoke after stepping up.
"What?!" Twilight gasped. "Go ahead?! You're going to stay behind?!"
"I gotta make sure mom's okay. You've gotta save your home before it's fully taken over." Ash looked back at everyone. "And I got more stuff I gotta make sure of right now. Leave Dimstar to me. And I guess the Everfree Creatures too. You're gonna chime in too, huh?" He then looked up at the creatures. They would immediately roar back, agreeing to assist Ash.
Their time in the Grass Realm certainly formed something. These creatures were not as hostile as they seemed. At least not now. Not when their lives had been saved thanks to Ash's idea. If anything, they were thankful to Ash.
"Dimstar! You're gonna be dealing with me if you wanna get in their way!" Ash grinned, challenging Dimstar. "No way we're gonna let you stay around here, ya hear?"
"Pikachu!"
"Hoh? You wish to battle me? You still have multiple vampires to deal with and the Dark Magic that will permeate across the town." Dimstar chuckled as her tendrils furiously trembled. No one else but Ash could see them but their pressure could be felt. "Let it be known that none of you will be leaving my sights. And even if you do, the dark magic will be your next foe to overcome if you even dare try and step in Ponyville."
"That's fine." Ash adjusted his hat before looking at Sombra. "Sombra. I'm counting on you to help everyone truck through this one."
"What?!" Sombra pulled back. "You're asking me to go that far?! If I do, I'll just instantly return to your side, boy! I can't possibly take that distance."
"I know. Emerald. I need you to sort that out. See if you can give Sombra some time away from me."
"Yeah, sure I can do that." Emerald Aura shrugged. "I'll give Sombra some time. That way he won't snap back to you if he gets way too far."
"Awesome. Just leave the rest to me. And if I can't make it to Ponyville in time, at least check up on Mom and Mimey to see how they're doing." Ash pleaded to his friends. The residents of Ponyville saw this side of Ash once more. A mixture of confidence, bravery and safety. Specifically, the safety of others.
"I'm staying with ya, Ash." Suddenly, Applejack chose to stay behind, touching Ash's back instead of heading back to Ponyville. "We're better together. Always."
"Sceptile!"
"Applejack...?" Ash uttered, surprised that Applejack would choose to stay.
"Same here! I'll be by your side all the time, Ash!" Fluttershy bellowed with confidence. "I also have to be here to make sure you and your Pokemon are in tip-top shape after all."
"Audino!"
"Fluttershy."
"Some of us will go on ahead. But maybe we'll need this muscle to help us." Mayor Mare spoke, referring to the Creatures of the Everfree. It was a good thing they were on their side right now. They needed that extra muscle without a doubt. "Just know that we'll make sure your home is safe too. In a way, it's part of Ponyville."
"Mhm! And your mom's cooking only adds to that!" Pinkie Pie expressed. "We'll look out for her!"
"Mew!"
"Aw, you guys..." Ash grinned, loving what he was hearing. More and more Ponyville's residents would spout out what they would do. A majority of them would head back and try and retake their home while a few would stay and support Ash.
"That's touching," Dimstar uttered before slowly descending to meet with everyone else. "Unfortunately for you...your movements will be stopped by something you just can't see."
"Your tendrils, right?" Ash answered, making Dimstar twitch. "I can see them. Oh, yeah I can totally see them. And so can Applejack. Right, AJ?"
"I see 'em clearly, Ash." Applejack saw them as well thanks to her Aura. They did not escape her sight.
"Tch...So you can still see them..." DImstar grizzled her teeth. "Fine then. We have some unfinished business ever since our previous encounter. I'm going to finish it here in the way I wish for it to end!"
"Yeah! With us on top! Twilight! Sombra!" Ash exclaimed as Twilight and Sombra already knew what to do. It was time for the others to jet off and return to Ponyville, evading Dimstar. Dimstar was ready to attack but was immediately stopped by the head of a Hydra which came directly for her.
The Half Lich Half Vampire gasped, flying back as she avoided the headbutt from the three-headed creature which crashed into the sand. After dodging that headbutt, the roar of the Ursas would fly in her direction, sending strong sound waves. Dimstar flinched a bit from the soundwaves, nearly losing her balance in the air.
The Creatures of the Everfree would still go to Ponyville but they would also try and make sure that DImstar goes nowhere near it either. They stood on Ash's side, here to support his group from start to finish. The Black Crusade's victims united under one cause. All hostility and fears were tossed aside for a larger enemy that threatened them all.
"Insolent Creatures of Grogar..." Dimstar said with disgust while the others were already on their way, leaving the scene. Staying behind to help Ash was Applejack, Fluttershy, Roseluck and some Timberwolves. "Fine then. I'll humour you with this confrontation. I'll leave the rest to the others. It's time you faced more of what a Lich can do, Ash Ketchum!"
"Bring it!" Ash put his fist in his palm, eager to throw down with a Lich once more and see how far he can go. At the same time, he would think to himself, which wasn't that common since he always speaks his mind. "Mom. Chrysalis. Please be safe when I show up, okay?"
"Pikachu!"
"Good luck boy." And Sombra only wished the best for his fellow King. He wanted him to succeed. He wanted his friend to come out on top and overcome everything else taking place during the Black Crusade. Everyone was. And Ash wouldn't dare try and disappoint his friends.
Kalos. Near Anistar City. A Balance of Day and Night.
The Black Crusade raged on. However, plans to prepare for it had been made in advance as seen by the struggle near Anistar City. Thanks to Olympia, Anistar City was currently safe, especially for those who lived there. She foresaw this happening after all and had enough time to prepare. But even with this foresight, the Dread League were still menacingly troublesome. Flashes of light and darkness went off on the outskirts of the city, leaving in intact as the conflict against the vampires in this area raged on. Leading this charge was the fearsome and cruel Opal Vivacity.
A Shadow Cage from Opal Vivacity and the Vampires had been made, trapping Olympia, Luna and the others in it for the time being while also using the shadows as weapons. And all of this was done without the Pony of Shadows being present. Darkrai flew back after deflecting an attack from the Dread League while also protecting Olympia's students from fierce attacks. The Pony of Shadows wasn't the only one who had the shadows at his control. However, the Shadow Cage was starting to weaken, having wider gaps that made it less of a cage and more of an obstacle.
"Are you alright, Darkrai?!" Luna asked after seeing Darkai barely reflect that powerful Shadow Strike.
"I'm fine," Darkrai replied, shaking his arm. Shadow steam flew out of it, showing how powerful that previous hit was. He narrowed his eyes, focusing specifically on Opal Vivacity. That massive mane of hers was certainly a hassle, helping her evade crucial hits.
"We've done well to keep them this occupied. But it doesn't seem to be getting us anywhere." Olympia commented. "They don't seem to be getting tired either."
"What now, Miss Olympia? Our Light Screen plan didn't pan out like we wanted it to." One of her Psychic students asked.
"All that matters is that we get rid of that annoying mane," Luna suggested, going for what truly mattered. As long as Opal's Fate Changing Mane was around, it was night impossible to stop her advances.
"I don't have time for this...I need to bring out Xerneas!" Opal would rather be all said and done with this. She was desperately trying to destroy Anistar City's residents and all those who were near or far, just to force the Legendary Pokemon Xerneas out. The loss of life in such a cruel way was seemingly the only way to do so. However, Luna, Olympia and everyone's efforts were keeping her from pulling it off, even with the Shadow Cage around them.
"Maybe we should call for the Pony of Shadows, Miss Opal." A vampire suggested, seeking assistance from the Pony of Shadows. A majority of them were in agreement to call upon him since they were having quite the trouble with this group.
"Maybe...But I have something better in mind." Opal's cruel eyes glistened for a moment. "This will surely work. It's the only way to get these annoyances out of the way. But don't start complaining when I pull it off."
"What?" The other vampires collectively said, unsure of what Opal was referring to. Opal's smile wasn't easy to read. It was vicious but the intention behind it was mysterious when it comes to this unknown plan.
"I haven't exactly given up on Light Screen. We had time to prepare for it previously but in this case, we'll have to make do with the light screens we can make." Olympia stuck to the Light Screen approach. It worked wonders and the only reason why it didn't fully pan out was thanks to Opal's mane. But if that massive mane is out of the way, then the Light Screens, especially at a close distance could seal the deal at last.
"Leave that to us," Luna replied before stepping forward, startling the vampires for a moment. "Aurorus! Earthquake!"
"Auro!" Aurorus would make the first move. By slamming her legs into the ground, she would manipulate the earth and summon tremors. These tremors would appear as golden shockwaves, rapidly zooming across the earth and further weakening this cage, leaving more of it open. Easily, the vampires would simply take flight, avoiding the golden shockwaves. However, Luna expected this, leaving the next attack to the Psychic-Type students, who got Luna's message via eye contact.
"Bronzong! Use Gravity!"
"You too, Starmie!"
"You as well, Porygon!"
"Bronzong!" In unison, these three Psychic-Types would collectively use Gravity right as the vampires ascended. Multiple black circles of energy come out of their bodies, taking to the sky. They would instantly bypass the Dread League, only to hover above them, forming into something larger. Opal and the others gasped, raising their heads to see these black circles form a field. And that field would instantly hit them with gravity. Heavy amounts of it since the move was used by multiple Pokemon.
They attempted to retain their airtime but the gravity said other side, forcing them back down to the ground where another Pokemon move was waiting for them. This time from the combined efforts of Luna and Olympia.
"Aurorus, use Ice Beam! Manectric, Dicharge!"
"Meowstic! Light Screen and Thunder Wave!"
"Meow!" In unison, the two Meowstic would flip over Manectric, who was building up plenty of electricity within his body. That electricity would fly out in a frenzy, missing the two Psychic-Types completely. With their bodies elegantly moving through the lightning, they would use two moves in succession with Manectric's Discharge.
Meowstic tossed a wave of thunder that merged with Manectric's Discharge, adding power to the attack while also giving it a higher chance to paralyze. And that was exactly the approach here. Opal's eyes widened as she tried reaching for her mane, only for the gravity to weigh down her hoof as well.
Her only option was to use her Dark Magic and this time, it emerged from her mouth. Opal would suddenly breathe out a wave of darkness, attempting to repel the lightning that flew her way. The other vampires did the same, breathing out the destructive magic together and showing off what more they were capable of.
The magic met with the lightning, holding it back while the vampires were still descending. A spark of energy flared in the air once the two sides clashed. However, it would not last forever once Darkrai got involved. The Pitch Black Pokemon ascended, staying away from the field of gravity and preparing a Dark Void.
In his claws, he formed a powerful void of darkness which was then thrown out with Dakrai's full strength. It then multiplied, appearing as various orbs of darkness. Unable to stop this due to their current situation, Opal and the rest of the Dread League would find themselves being struck by Darkrai's Dark Void.
One by one, they were all consumed by Darkrai's Darkness, which swallowed them whole, putting an end to their attacks instantly. This then allowed the Gravity to finally bring them back to the earth without any resistance. But before that, the Male Meowstic had used Light Screen, throwing it out along with other Pokemon from the Psychic Students.
A collection of Light Screens were thrown out, landing on the floor for each of the vampires to drop on. With their bodies, asleep they would crash into the light screen floors, hitting the ground fairly hard even with the screen there to protect their fall. It felt like crashing into unbreakable glass even if they couldn't feel it.
"Alright! That worked like a charm!" A student cheered. From what was just done, it looked like they sealed the deal. The vampires were asleep and paralyzed at the same time now the electricity managed to reach their bodies. On top of that, they were lying on the Light Screens which took advantage of their greatest weakness.
"I believe we might have done it!" Luna also thought the same. Many of them were about to start celebrating for making such a successful assault. Granted, it wasn't over since that troublesome mane was still active. And even with the Light Screen on Opal's body, the mane wasn't burning up as fast as they expected.
"Now to just cut that mane off." Darkrai was ready to truly put an end to it. The Fate-Changing Mane had to go. WIth his claws out, he was prepared to use Poison Jab, approaching the downed Opal Vivacity.
"...Wait!" However, while everyone else believed this to be the end, Olympia saw something else. Her foresight kicked on as she had a different reaction to this. A reaction that made her gasp. "It's not over!"
Just as Darkrai was ready to slash at Opal's mane, he was met with a shocking retaliation. Opal, with her vampiric strength, blocked Darkrai's Poison Jab. The cheers from the students came to an instant halt once this was done. They couldn't believe their eyes. Opal was moving.
She was fully awake. The smiles faded away once Opal woke up as her underside was starting to burn up thanks to the light. But that didn't seem to slow her down as an enraged looked appeared on her face. She would then used her strength to grab Darkrai's claws, keeping him here.
"T-That's not possible! She's awake?! How?!" A flabbergasted Luna said as Darkrai tried pulling back from Opal's grip.
"I used the Parasite Demon on a lot of Pokemon...And Insomnia is one of the abilities I picked up!" Opal revealed why this was the case. Among the many abilities she managed to steal, Insomnia was one of them. "I expected to run into Darkrai a few times! He's too notable not to encounter eventually, so I had this planned ever since our previous encounter! How's that?!"
Just then, Opal would breathe Dark Magic out of her mouth, blasting Darkrai with it. The Pitch Black Pokemon went flying as the blast had a weightful impact behind it. Darkrai was bewildered by the attack, going far enough to crash into some Aurorus and other Pokemon.
"So she's immune to something like Dark Void?! That can't be!" A student bellowed out in disbelief.
"I wish I got a few more abilities when I had the chance...but the Box will be ours once more, so I'm not too worried." Opal then stood back up despite having so much light around her body. Her stomach and hooves were burning up, making her groan in pain. However, that was when things quickly took a turn, shifting in her favour.
Shadows appeared underneath her hooves, covering the light from Light Screen. These shadows protected Opal Vivacity, staving the pain away from her. She still had smoke coming out of her body since she was incredibly close to it. But it wasn't as bad as the other vampires who had been downed.
Or at least, they were down for a while. The same shadows rose out of their bodies, covering the Light Screen shields that they landed on as they would suddenly stand up. Luna and the others couldn't believe their eyes. The vampires got back up thanks, ignoring Darkrai's Dark Void.
"And with the Pony of Shadows on our side, they don't have to worry about falling asleep." Opal grimaced as this was the result of the Pony of Shadows getting involved. "Or even having all this light be a massive hindrance to us. It is still annoying though."
"All that work..." Luna grizzled her teeth, annoyed that their efforts were nullified by these two inconveniences. "It's not over yet though! We can still try this again! This time, without any returns!"
"Our previous assault didn't work at all when trying to keep them down," Olympia added. "But...it seems that the light has greatly harmed them." Despite this sudden awakening, Olympia saw how the vampires were injured badly. They still took the damage and were exposed to the light from underneath.
The vampires, aside from Opal Vivacity, could be seen twitching, trying to ignore the smoke coming out of their bodies. It was only because Opal had better durability than them that she appeared to be in a better state. Their attack did matter in a way but it wasn't over yet.
"Then, let's hit them before they can make a turnaround! Go for it, Darkrai! Poison Jab! Manectric, Wild Charge! Aurorus, use Aurora Beam!" Luna would try and strike while the iron was hot. So would everyone else. They couldn't let the vampires try anything else.
"Meowstic! Psyshock!" Together, the Pokemon would go for one more strike. Ranged attacks from the Psychic-Types were thrown out as well as a beam that was as beautiful as the Aurora. Darkrai and Manectric led the charge, going in for an up-close strike.
It was a swift attack, not allowing the vampires to think of their next move. If they wanted to act, they would have to come up with something on the spot. But judging by the looks on their faces, they didn't have anything at all. Except for Opal Vivacity. The plan she brewed up earlier was still up for grabs. And now was the time for her to use it. Most likely, it involved her Fate Changing Mane.
However, there was another part to it that neither Dread League nor even Luna's group expected. All of a sudden, right as Darkrai and Manectric got close, Opal Vivacity would suddenly push a few of the vampires forward with her hooves, sending them in front of everyone else.
An absolute shock for these vampires and even Darkrai and Manectric who saw it for themselves. At the same time, Opal already had her mane in her hair, throwing it at one vampire's back the moment she shoved her. In the little time that they had, the vampires tried looking back at Opal, trying to process why she suddenly did that. But it was too late to finish doing so as the light from the mane went off, enveloping the vampires as well as Darkrai and Manectric.
Luna and everyone closed their eyes as the light reached them too. It was a massive chunk of Opal's mane so the fate was definitely something crucial that Opal would have to use so much of it. While it was shocking how Opal used her fellow vampires as a way to intercept the attacks, what happened next was worse.
Once the light faded and fate had been changed, Luna's eyes slowly opened to see this outcome for herself. What could have possibly happened? One of the worst possible outcomes. The eyes of the Moon Princess widened as her pupils dilated, shrinking after what they had just witnessed.
Darkrai had been struck. Gravely struck. A sharp shadow had passed through the Pitch Black Pokemon, going through his chest. On top of that, the other vampires also had the shadows pass through their bodies, receiving the damage as well. Manectric tumbled on the ground, failing to land his Wild Charge as the other attacks from each Pokemon hit their target. But it wasn't just the vampires. Darkrai took the hit too.
"DARKRAI!" A bloodcurdling shout came from Luna's mouth. She saw Darkrai take an absolutely horrific sight that left her stunned. Olympia and everyone else were taken aback by this as well but Opal had a different reaction. She kept that devious grin on her face, cackling at this.
"Miss...Opal?" The vampires looked back, calling out Opal's name as they were in disbelief. Opal used them as shields to save herself but to also change fate to where Darkrai took a heavy hit from both sides.
"I told you! Don't start complaining when I pull it off! Now, explode!" Opal commanded, raising her hoof as she made the shadows that went through them all combust. Darkrai and everyone else that had been hit by the shadows found themselves enveloped in a dark explosion. And the worst part was that it happened within them too. Not just on the outside.
Darkai's eyes suddenly darkened as he would drop to the ground once the explosion went off. All the other vampires would drop as well. However, Opal's plan didn't stop there. The rest of it reached the other Pokemon since their attacks were involved. The paralysis she received from them was suddenly around their bodies as well.
The Psychic-Types were paralyzed as Opal sent some of it from the vampires onto the Pokemon. The students watched as their Pokemon felt a strong paralysis go through their bodies, sending out sparks of electricity. And it wasn't just the Pokemon. Very soon, the Trainers took the paralysis too. Opal was certainly going above and beyond for this attack. Olympia was unfortunately paralyzed as well, dropping to her knees.
"Ngh...!" Olympia groaned, struggling to stand up. "She...used her own group as a way to send it on us. And deal a devastating blow to them and Darkrai."
"I'm surprised you haven't been paralyzed either, Luna," Opal smirked. "It must be that protection your parents gave you when you struggled with all of that Gravity. Lucky...But now, it's just you, isn't it? What good are you since your Ace Pokemon is now down and out!"
"You monster!" Luna's rage was unleashed after what Opal Vivacity showed. Her eyes flared up along with her ethereal mane. Lunar Ire was being unleashed as well but Luna still had control over this power. In this instance, she and Lunar Ire shared the same sentiment. Her magical aura would furiously fly out, followed by her taking flight. She would go straight for Opal Vivacity herself, no longer staying back and keeping her distance.
"Now! You can finally show up, Pony of Shadows!" Opal called for the Pony of Shadows. And immediately, right as Luna was approaching, the Pony of Shadows showed himself, bursting out of the grounds themselves. He intercepted Luna's actions, forming a wall of shadows which she crashed into. The shadows would then repel Luna, causing her to tumble away.
Arriving at the scene was the Pony of Shadows, towering over everyone else with his elemental form. His face was the only part of him that was easy to make out. He practically became the sky itself, blending in perfectly with the dark clouds. Luna growled, looking up to see the Pony of Shadows for the first time. This was the being that surrounded the Castle of Two Sisters right after Nightmare Moon had been defeated.
In a way, history was almost repeating itself. Olympia and all those that received that paralysis struggled to move, feeling the volts punish their bodies relentlessly. The Pokemon had never felt paralysis on this level before and the Trainers were certainly having a harder time since they lacked the same durability that their Pokemon possessed.
"This is my opportunity! With my magic and yours, we'll destroy Anistar City and all those around it!" Opal took flight, joining the Pony of Shadows in the air. The other vampires who weren't shoved forward would look at each other for a moment with shocked expressions. But soon, they would join Opal Vivacity in the air, continuing their plan.
The Pony of Shadows was now also controlling the clouds himself. The shadows were used for that as it was hard to tell if they were even influencing the clouds due to how dark everything was. But his magic was definitely there and the added strength of the Dread League would only boost that. Their magic was added to the array of clouds, putting their all into it. After the clouds were filled up, the Pony of Shadows could gather them all up into one massive Shadow Cloud.
"I will see the city be levelled. I only want those in the city for my control." The Pony of Shadows expressed how he merely wanted to control the citizens of Anistar City. He'd much rather keep them alive than destroy them even though he helped make this massive Shadow Storm Cloud.
"If you can even find them. I want to see them all gone! Starting now!" Opal approached the Shadow Storm Cloud, being the one to initiate it with just a hoof tap. Dark Lightning crackled within the clouds as a form of destruction so potent was about to go off, certain to demolish Anistar City and even other areas near or far from it. "So long, Anistar and all those near and far!"
"Princess Luna..." Olympia said to Luna while still on her knees. The force of this cloud was building up, creating a wind pressure that felt like a hurricane was about to appear. "You must leave at once."
"W-What?!" Luna gasped. "I can't leave! Not when this is about to-"
"It's fine. We did our best to keep the city safe. The citizens will be safe. They will make it. I promise." Olympia guaranteed the safety of Anistar City's citizens.
"But what about you?! You'll be destroyed by that!" Luna pointed out.
"We'll try our best to do something about this." Olympia then used her full strength to stand up, twitching uncontrollably thanks to all of this paralysis. But she wouldn't let it keep her down. Her Galaxy Cape blew elegantly once she stood back up. So did all of her students who joined their Teacher. "We've come this far after all. We can still make a difference. And if we can't, you must be the one to warn the other Gym Leaders. Please. It'd be such a waste for you to fall here, princess."
"I...I refuse!" However, Luna would not run. She would stay behind instead. She didn't come out here for nothing as well. The Princess of the Moon stepped up to the plate, standing her ground. She would then use her magic to return Darkrai and all the others to their Poke Balls, making sure they were safe. All except for Florges. Florges was paralyzed but she still had enough energy to continue. "I'll protect this city and all those from perishing. I could never live it down if I left!"
"You all are fools choosing to stay behind! You should've run while you had the chance! Farewell!" Opal taunted them as the attack finally went off. It appeared in the form of a massive Black Beam that shot down right in the centre of Anistar City. It was a direct attack.
Once the centre was hit, it would set of a volatile and fearsome black explosion that spread out, enveloping the buildings in darkness. All items outside would be blown away as buildings shattered in an instant thanks to the approaching darkness and the pressure it gave off. The destruction spread fast as all the vampires would fly away, not wanting to be struck by the attack they caused.
Luna and everyone watched as the city was fully consumed, losing all of its beauty in a matter of seconds this Black Beam which even summoned dark flames. From above, it looked like a ring of darkness had gone off, overlaying Anistar. Darkness was all that could be seen. It was so abundant that the city of Anistar might as well be invisible. But in the state that it would turn out, it was far worse than being invisible.
All those near and far would receive the destruction as well as the darkness was not stopping. Not until it reached a certain distance. Luna grit her teeth in the face of this darkness, ready to retaliate in the best way that she can. So did Olympia and everyone else even with their paralysis.
Luna tapped into Lunar Ire's magic once more while using her natural alicorn magic, facing off against this destructive force once it got close. And in an instant, a flash of magic went off from Luna's horn while the darkness enveloped her and everyone else. They had been consumed too. And right as their bodies were taken by the darkness, a flash of Luna's magic plus a small bit of blue lightning went off for a moment.
The darkness carried on, going further and further, destroying everything in its wake. Nature was not safe from this as the grass died out just by the mere presence of this beam. Opal Vivacity, who managed to escape it by using her mane to reach a far distance, laughed maniacally at the destruction she caused. It was lovely to the eyes. Absolutely euphoric to see. Splendid to her sick and twisted pleasures.
Equestria. Lapras Lake.
Meanwhile, Ash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Roseluck and some Timberwolves were at Lapras Lake, facing off against the Half Lich Half Vampire Dimstar. Everyone else would return to Ponyville before their home could be turned into a new spot for Magehold. All luck was thrown to Ash's side by his many friends from that lovely town as they were counting on him to defeat Dimstar, the one who caused the Dark Tsunami which greatly harmed Ponyville.
Lightning cracked in the sky as the eyes of Ash and Dimstar would narrow when looking at each other. They've battled once before but their battle never concluded. And now that the Black Crusade was in full swing, they had the opportunity to do so.
Pikachus' red sacs flared with electricity, the Timberwolves snarled at an enemy that was more fearsome than them while Audino stood behind her allies, prepared to protect them. Roseluck was readying her hidden thorns, just in case and Ash's jacket blew in the wind once the lightning cracked in the sky.
"Oh, I see them."
"You do?!" Applejack gasped. She believed that Fluttershy couldn't see it at all and needed Aura or those Golden Eyes everyone back at the Sea Temple possess.
"It's the Fairy Magic here." But the answer was Fairy Magic. The eyes she had were equal to Valerie's allowing her to see certain things. And it looked like Dimstar's tentacles were among these many things. "I'll be just fine."
"So what if you can see them? Can you stop them?" Dimstar uttered, making the first move. Her tendrils would suddenly move so fast that they became a blur. But they didn't escape the sights of Ash and Pikachu.
"Quick Attack, let's go!"
"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu would move at an equal speed, taking off into the air so fast that he left behind afterimages and a white trail. The Mouse Pokemon and the Body Tendrils would clash, resulting in a surprisingly heavy collision, especially since Quick Attack was involved.
A white flash went off when they both clashed. And inside the light, Pikachu was already striking against the tendrils even if he couldn't see them. He used Iron Tail while in the light that was expanding in the shape of an orb, swinging frantically. Dimstar couldn't see either, only squinting her eyes. But once the light cleared, she capitalized on this. Immediately, Pikachu was hit in the face by a tendril which he couldn't predict at all.
It was a heavy hit too. These tendrils were heavier than they looked, causing Pikachu's body to shake as they indented themselves in his face for a moment."Pi!" Pikachu cried out before receiving another hit, this time ot the chest which made his face puff up. Pikachu's ears were then grabbed by the tendrils, holding him there just to land some free hits. "Pika?!"
"Get out of there, Pikachu! Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...!" Pikachu built up some electricity within his body, only to receive multiple hits to the body from the tendrils while they restrained him. Consecutive strikes from tendrils interrupted Pikachu from doing anything else, laying the smackdown on him with heavy hit after heavy hit. "Pi! Pi!"
"Sceptile! Frenzy Plant!"
"Scep...Tile!" Assisting Pikachu, Sceptile slammed his hands together before vigorously sticking them into the ground, causing giant roots to rise. The roots kicked up plenty of sand, quickly rushing to Pikachu's aid. Right as the next batch of tendrils were about to strike him, the roots from Frenzy Plant wrapped around Dimstar's tendrils, intercepting her next attack.
"Hm?!" Dimstar grunted as she felt the heavy roots touch her tendrils. They were still a part of her body after all. She could feel the contact even at such a distance. The roots would then force the tendrils off Pikachu, giving him the opportunity to break free.
"Pikachu!" And also the chance to use his Thunderbolt at last. Once he was freed, while in midair, Pikachu released a blast of 100,000 volts which passed by the roots and only locked onto Dimstar. Dimstar tried taking flight, only for the Thunderbolt to hit its mark, dealing damage to her and exposing her to light at the same time.
Dimstar slid on the sandy hill she stood on, nearly falling off but she was able to keep her balance and position, making sure she was above her enemies. The roots from Frenzy Plant stayed but they were only here to assist everyone else. The Timberwolves would start using the roots as a platform, wildly running on them to try and approach Dimstar's high advantage point.
"Raboot!" And joining them were Raboot and Sceptile. Sceptile ran on his own roots, outspeeding everyone else as he got the closest to Dimstar in time.
"Leaf Blade, Sceptile!"
"Sceptile!" With the blades on his arm extending, Sceptile went in for a strong slash, one that was focused on the head. Dimstar looked up at the incoming slash before putting on a grimace. This was followed up by her using the tendrils as a shield, placing multiple of them in front of her to block Sceptile's Leaf Blade. The blade dug into parts of the tendrils, making Dimstar squirm a bit.
"Off me!" She would then push Sceptile away with the strength of her tendrils, only to meet with Raboot who leapt over the Forest Pokemon. Raboot came from above, using High Jump Kick as his first attack. And it was a rather successful one, hitting its target square in the face. "Gouh!"
"Boot!" Raboot's attack was a hefty one, making Dimstar put on a rather silly face while her head turned from the initial strike. However, right after she took the kick, the Half Lich Half Vampire would retaliate by wrapping her tendrils around Raboot's leg. He was vulnerable in this instance and Dimstar did not hesitate to take advantage of that. "Ra!"
After grabbing onto Raboot, she would swing the Rabbit Pokemon, sending him flying into Sceptile. Sceptile's arms were wide open when Raboot came his way, attempting to catch him. However, the force that Dimstar used knocked Sceptile over the second he tried to save Raboot. Both of them went flying, crashing into one of the roots.
Dimstar scoffed, knowing what was next. And it was the Timberwolves. Without wasting any time, the Timberwolves lunged in, baring their fangs. Dimstar tried dealing with all of them at the same time, only for the Timberwolves to actually succeed in reaching her before the tendrils did.
Their fangs bit into Dimstar's hoof and back and even some tendrils that they just couldn't see at all. Dimstar felt the Timberwolves bit into her body, surrounding her from all sides. An average pony would find themselves in an ugly and unfavourable position with something like this. But not Dimstar. After being bitten, she merely used the other tendrils to knock off the Timberwolves.
These creatures from the Everfree whimpered after being knocked away. They left the sandy hill with some of them bumping their bodies against the roots when falling. Seeing this, Audino would rush to their side for some immediate healing, being the one to ensure everyone was healthy enough to continue battling.
"No you don't!" Dimstar noticed this advancement from Audino, already aware that was the healer of the group. Refusing to let anyone be healed up in this battle, her tendrils would fly out, passing by the roots and moving over the sand, kicking it up from the pressure alone.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pikachu!" Pikachu interrupted her advancement, cutting the tendrils in half with Iron Tail. This saved Audino from any harm as the tendrils would on the lower levels would drop to the sands, leaving Dimstar to twitch and groan. Having her tendrils be sliced off was rather painful.
"Quick Attack into Iron Tail, let's go!"
"Pika-Pika-PIka!" After slicing off Dimstar's tail, Pikachu would advance on Dimstar with yet another Quick Attack. This time, he moved along the roots instead of zooming through the air. But there would be some of that as he leapt off the roots, becoming a meteor in the air.
Dimstar gasped, looking up to see Pikachu's tail glimmer in the air from how shiny it was now that it had been hardened with iron. Right as they were growing back, the tail had been swung on her, prompting the vampire to use her vampiric strength in this instance. She held her hooves up, catching Pikachu's Iron Tail right as it got near her face. It was a close one. Just one inch away from her face.
"Heh!" Dimstar grinned after catching Pikachu's tail. But suddenly, Pikachu grinned back at her followed by Ash's own grin.
"Electroweb!"
"Pika!" Pikachu used this to his advantage. He wasn't that restrained at all. His tail would let off a flash of light which harmed Dimstar. The vampire hissed, losing her grip on Pikachu's tail which was then followed by a web of electricity flying out. DImstar would her body caught by this web while Pikachu did a backflip to escape.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaaaa!" Knowing that Electroweb wouldn't hold someone like Dimstar forever, Pikachu would just focus on dealing as much damage as possible. A flash of lightning came from his body which then turned into a bolt, flying down at lightning speeds.
The attack hit the Electroweb, causing it to go off. Dimstar was covered in a fierce outburst of lightning which obliterated the sandy hill that she stood on completely. Pikachu stuck a landing on the roots while watching the explosion go off with sparks of lightning flying into the atmosphere. That was a lot of light that hit Dimstar and it was sure to do something to her.
However, seconds after it went off, flying out of the smoke were Dimstar's tendrils. Ash gasped after seeing the tendrils appear but Pikachu certainly couldn't see them at all. "Dodge, Pikachu! Look out!"
"Pika?!" Pikachu would leap into the air, dodging in the best way that he could since the tendrils were invisible to him. That was the right move to make as he managed to avoid the tendrils from below. But they instantly redirected themselves, shooting upwards just to uppercut the Mouse Pokemon.
"P-Pi!" Pikachu cried out before being slapped back to the ground by the tendrils. He was sent so far at such speeds that he broke a part of the roots. The Electric-Type rolled on the sandy ground once he returned to the earth, grunting with each roll.
With the sandy hill gone, Dimstar would fly through the smoke, deciding to get up close and personal with her foes. The Hybrid Vampire closed in on them with her dark wings, baring her menacing fangs as Ash, Applejack and Fluttershy saw her tendrils grow back.
"Here they come!" Applejack held onto her hat. "Sceptile, use-"
"I got this! Roserade! Petal Blizzard!" Before the others could say anything, Roseluck took action along with her Roserade.
"Roserade!" The Bouquet Pokemon slid into the scene, already having her arms out. Multiple pink petals circle in front of Roserade's body before they were fired out at these tendrils that she couldn't see but knew were coming.
The pink spiral of petals met with the tendrils, forming another powerful clash. The blizzard held back the tendrils for a moment, keeping Dimstar from making her next opportune strike on everyone else. However, one of the tendrils struck the ground, digging through the sand just to get an advantage.
This tendril would approach from a lower level, tunnelling through the earth before rising up again. Roserade took the next strike from above. Much like Pikachu, she received a nasty uppercut from the tendril, knocking her back. "R-Roserade!"
"Roserade! Are you okay?!" Roseluck gasped. The Bouqeut Pokemon would recover after that heavy uppercut, still in this. That wasn't enough to put her down but she'd be lying if she said it didn't hurt badly.
"Man, you're tough," Ash commented, complimenting Dimstar's toughness even though she was on her own. "I guess being a Lich and a Vampire at the same time helps with that, huh?"
"You haven't seen anything yet." Dimstar scoffed, descending to the sands at last and meeting everyone at their level. "These tendrils are not the extent of my power. You have yet to witness what I am truly capable of before it's far too late for you."
"We'll see." Ash adjusted his hat while also showing his Mega Ring. "I've got all my friends working hard right now. It's all to protect everything they love so we're gonna be ready for the worst. Even if we don't see it coming!"
"Bold words," Dimstar replied. "You've done a good job backing it up. I must say, you are definitely a formidable foe. I have to give my respects. But I won't encourage you any further. The next moments will be utterly painful for you." Right as Dimstar said that, the lightning above would hit the ground, causing plenty of sand to rise up.
"We'll see about that." Ash grinned at the Hybrid Vampire, strong in his view of winning this. When it comes to the lives of those he loves, victory was only within his sights and nothing more compared to his many Pokemon Battles.
The battle against Dimstar had begun and was raging on. But that wasn't all that was raging on. Elsewhere, not many knew of what had become of Anistar City or even those near it. And no one else would predict the incident that would happen later on. But this incident, and which side it originally comes from, has yet to be seen.
The residents of Ponyville returned to their hometown which had been put through the wringer recently. Whether by a Despair Plant or a Dark Tsunami, it endured all of it just to end up in possibly its worst condition to date. This was to be expected considering the Black Crusade was the reason for this mess. However, its residents wouldn't sit idly and watch their hometown be overtaken.
Alas, when reaching Ponyville by standing on the outskirts, they already saw what had become of it. Dimstar was not exaggerating about how fast they could rebuild parts of it with Dark Magic. The homes that everypony used to live in were being rebuilt to match that of Magehold's style. Magehold did have that gothic look to it and it was definitely showing based on how the upper parts of most homes have been remade in that style.
They were once vibrantly colourful but now their colours have been stripped away for darker ones. And of course, Town Hall was receiving the biggest makeover out of all of them. The only place that looked strikingly similar to its original form was none other than Twilight's Castle.
While it did receive damage from the Dark Tsunami, thanks to its massive size and durability, it fared better than every other building here. It stood as a bastion of Ponyville, not wavering in the face of the Black Crusade.
"Our home..." A saddened Sweetie Belle commented. "I don't think I recognize it all that much.
"They really are making another Magehold. It's an extension of their nation." Twilight Sparkle said. "And they're going to let us live there as skeletons too?"
"What should we do? Do we just jump on there and hope for the best?" Amethyst Star asked Mayor Mare, hoping that she already had something planned.
"Maybe not this time..." She shook her head. Mayor Mare wasn't going to be upfront about it. Looking back, she saw how she had a massive numerical advantage thanks to all the ponies and Pokemon Emerald Aura managed to save. This involved the Everfree Forest Creatures who were massive. The Ursa Family were currently concealed just because of their height, but looking back at this gave Mayor Mare an idea. "I have something in mind though..."
"Are you planning to have the creatures rush in?" Sombra answered before Mayor Mare could. "I was thinking of doing the same thing. It's a clever plan, in all honesty."
"Who put you in charge?" Twilight asked with a sneer on her face.
"Never mind that." Sombra shook his head, continuing his plan which was identical to Mayor Mare's. "We won't be the ones to confront them personally but the creatures will. An Ursa Major and Ursa Minor should be enough but just to be safe, we'll send all of them in as well."
"There's not that many vampires. It could work. Why don't we just swarm them though if we have them this outnumbered?" Emerald Aura questioned, planning on using these massive numbers to her advantage but had to wonder why it wasn't being done already.
"We struggled with one. What do you think multiple will do to us? Who knows what they have in store?" Amethyst Star brought up a good point. Shrivel was a problem for them already even though she had the help of a Despair Plant who did most of the work.
"There's also that Dark Magic to watch out for. They would obviously be expecting your return." Sombra brought up that point as well. "I warned you about the Dark Magic before we got here. All of us ponies will stay back until the Dark magic subsides."
"We're not gonna go in there? Then...what are we gonna do?" Pinkie Pie scratched her mane.
"I will try and rid the area of Dark Magic. I'll have that opportunity while the vampires are all distracted. That way, any trace of it will be gone and it will be safe for you all to enter." Sombra explained, sharing his plan.
"Not without us doing something at least." Mayor Mare interjected, adding to that plan with her own. "Emerald. Cold Colt. Could you do something for us with your Rift Magic?"
"Sure." Emerald Aura grinned, already expecting a request that she could probably pull off with Rift Magic. Cold Colt expected it to even though he hasn't fully mastered his magic just yet. But whatever this plan was, Mayor Mare wanted it to benefit everyone when trying to take back their home.
Twilight's Castle.
Despite Twilight's Castle being intact, that didn't stop the vampires from entering. The Dread League found themselves within her home, wandering around and seeing what they could find here. A castle surely had something important that was worth looking into. And in this case, all the books in Twilight's home were crucially important.
None of them have been hit by the Dark Tsunami thanks to how durable the castle was. All books in here were in perfect condition. And when looking at these books, the vampires took the time to read about them."
"Well, look what we have here." One vampire found a book that was worth reading, bringing the other vampires over. And in this book, there was a page about Xerneas. A Pokemon that was rather important to the Dread League but for another reason compared to Yveltal. Finding information about Xerneas mattered greatly even though Opal Vivacity was already doing something about it in the most horrific and vile way possible.
"Does it say where to find Xerneas?"
"It only says that Xerneas's most common place of rest is a tree. It could be any tree, but particularly larger ones that stick out from the rest. As if that's not obvious."
"Well, which tree does this one say?"
"It seems that it used to live in a tree known as the Tree of Beginning once. That's one of the few trees in the world it resides in." At that moment, they found out about the Tree of Beginning. Other tree locations were being shared with them as they couldn't quite figure out which one Xerneas could be at. For all they know, Xerneas was at a new tree that had yet to be discovered.
But before they could continue reading, that was when they were disturbed by something else. A powerful tremor reached Twilight's Castle, causing the vampires in here to gasp for a moment. This was followed by loud footsteps that came from the outside and very soon, a powerful collection of roars.
Quickly, they would look out to see what caused this. But what else than the many creatures of the Everfree Forest? And the one to unleash this roar was the Ursa Major. A creature so large that it rivals that of a mountain. No longer was it invisible to the eyes. Emerald Aura brought back its visibility. Joined by its child and the Hydra, these creatures of the Everfree bellowed at the Dread League, standing in a Dark Magic Heavy area.
However, when appearing there, they seemed completely fine. The Dark Magic did not affect them at all even though it was permeating the atmosphere. It almost seemed completely casual to them, as if it didn't bother them at all. As for the vampires and their reaction, their jaws dropped upon seeing the creatures appear and only the creatures. No sign of any ponies whatsoever.
"The Everfree Creatures can ignore the Dark Magic? What's up with that?" Twilight asked, wondering why they could stand there without being bothered by the Dark Magic.
"Aside from the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, the other creatures are tied to some form of Dark Magic. They'll be fine while in there." Sombra explained. "But even with their immunity, those vampires have a lot in store. If we're to stop them, we'll have to become bodies of light ourselves. You know what to do, Rift Ponies."
"Yeah, yeah, we got it." Emerald Aura replied. "Everyone, just stay where I can see you. This'll take a while with how many of you there are."
The plan was simple. Have everyone become bodies of light. The vampire's greatest weakness was something they just couldn't bypass. Of course, this meant everyone and unfortunately for Emerald Aura and Cold Colt, it was a tall order since there were so many of them.
Thankfully, they had the Everfree Creatures to buy them all the time they needed. With a zap of magic, Sombra was the first to become a body of light, losing his signature dark appearance for something lighter. His coat was illuminating beautifully with white and his mane was of a golden colour.
"Oooh, you look amazing actually!" Rarity cooed at this altered variation of King Sombra. She quickly stepped forward, wanting a piece of this next. "I'll be next!"
"Alright, alright. You'd better hope that those Everfree Creatures give you the right amount of time." Emerald Aura would zap Rarity next and this would soon be followed by multiple other ponies and Pokemon who needed this change. It was their best defence against the vampires after all and it would certainly help to keep them at bay if they tried getting close. One by one, ponies and Pokemon were being zapped by Rift Magic from Cold Colt and Emerald Aura, gaining shining and incandescent bodies that truly made them sparkle.
Within the Battle of Minds.
It happened. Right as Princess Celestia continued her Mind Battle with Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta, she felt something severe happen that did not occur from the inside. But rather the outside. Celestia gasped, feeling something vital that she couldn't make out. But the one thing that it made her think of was her little sister, Luna.
"Luna...?" Celestia uttered before being slapped by the shadows, dropping to the dark surface.
"Gardevoir!" Gardevoir gasped, seeing her trainer drop after that vicious slap. It wasn't like Celestia to be so careless like that but there was a reason for this.
"You felt it too, didn't you?" Just then, Rosa Maledicta spoke, putting on a grin that was only comparable to Opal Vivacity's devious grin. She caught Celestia's attention, already guessing what she meant by that. The Sun Princess narrowed her eyes while having an open mouth, hoping that Rosa Maledicta wasn't alluding to what she thought she was. "I thought so. The Pony of Shadows already shared it with me but I only care about the juicy details."
"What? You don't mean..."
"You spoke your sister's name. So isn't it obvious, Princess Celestia? She's perished." Without holding back, Rosa Maledicta declared Luna to have been destroyed. That prompted a haunting gasp from Celestia. Those words were absolutely horrid to hear concerning her sister.
To hear it froze Celestia in place. This is just what Rosa Maledicta wanted. A way to gain an advantage and a way to leave this mind at last. She was already using a spell to try and overpower Celestia's which kept the Lich Queen stuck in this mind. Celestia was trying to process what she was hearing before suddenly gritting her teeth.
"You're lying!" Celestia instantly denied it, refusing to believe that Luna had perished. "Luna couldn't have perished!"
"Oh, but she has. It's a shame, honestly. I was hoping to take her lifespan for myself but...you win some, you lose some. In this case, it's the same thing." Rosa mercilessly said, insulting Celestia's little sister during such a shocking moment. And she seemed rather confident in her words. Not a piece of her made her believe that Luna was alive. At least, that's what Celestia saw. From what the Pony of Shadows shared, Luna was the first major life to be lost during the Black Crusade.
And with Celestia in such a shocked state, the spell was beginning to wain, giving Rosa Maledicta the advantage in this instance. At the same time, the Shadow People and Pokemon would approach the Sun Princess at a vulnerable moment with Gardevoir stepping in front, defending her trainer. Gardevoir scoffed as she refused to let them harm Celestia when she was feeling such a blow.
"You'll be next, Celestia. But I'll at least take your lifespan before I take your life. You'll be coming back to Magehold at once and maybe you'll see your sister there as a skeleton!"
"Her sister is always by her side in one way." Interjecting in Rosa's boastful moment was a familiar voice. A voice that caught her and Celestia off guard. Both of them had equal expressions but differing emotions. Celestia's heart skipped a beat as she heard the voice of what sounded to be Luna.
Appearing beside Celestia was a pillar of magic that resembled that of a night sky. Celestia's frown turned to a smile, believing that her sister had returned. Not quite though. While the voice was identical to Luna, there was a technicality to it. It ended up being Luna's alter-ego.
Nightmare Moon.
"Nightmare Moon?!" Celestia gasped.
"Oh, right...I forgot she became her own separate being now." Rosa Maledicta narrowed her eyes.
"Luna is alive." And upon showing up here, she immediately rejected Rosa Maledicta's words, choosing the opposite. "Very much alive."
"She is!?" Those words rang well in Celestia's words as her pupils expanded.
"Of course she is. I am still here after all. I'm proof of her life being in this world still. I may be a separate being now but we are still connected, make no mistake." The Nightmare Variation of Luna would aim her hoof at the Shadow Entities and Rosa Maledicta. "You truly believed she was gone but you couldn't have been more wrong. It's alright, sister. You have me here."
"Tch. Fine, fine. Just leaves me with the opportunity to steal her lifespan either. And then I'll make sure her life's been snuffed out for good. Just an inconvenience, that's all." Rosa chuckled for a bit. "But that reaction is exactly what I needed from you, Celestia...Your spell is weaker! Which gives me the opportunity to break free!"
Just then, Rosa Maledicta's magic blew up with intense ferocity. Celestia and Nightmare Moon felt an ominous and vile pressure fly their way, blowing at their ethereal manes. With Rosa Maledicta gaining the advantage, her magic enveloped this entire mindscape even though it was already dark in the first place.
The Mindscape began shattering as this battle of the minds would come to a sudden end because of this one opportune moment. Celestia could no longer keep the Lich Queen here, failing to keep her occupied for as long as she could. But she still did an excellent job at keeping here for a while.
Canterlot.
It was back to reality. Celestia twitched after leaving the mindscape, stumbling back while on the balcony. Thankfully, Nightmare Moon was there to catch her, being present even out here.
"She's gone..." Celestia sighed. "She got me at my most shocking moment yet."
"It's fine. It wasn't true to begin with. It was merely a tactic for her to break free. You can rest assured knowing that Luna is alright. As long as I am here, she will carry on." Nightmare Moon reassured, bringing solace to Celestia's heart. "But...I'm afraid that the Lich Queen's words might mean that Luna did come across something rather dangerous. She hasn't been seen all night after all."
"That's true...I have no clue where she is and the Black Crusade is ongoing. I don't know what she's dealing with right now since I haven't seen her at all yet. But I can tell she's doing fine for herself."
"But if this continues, then something crucially horrible could happen. What we need to do is go straight to the source. Our goal has always been to try and save Yveltal and Fantina, has it not been?" Nightmare Moon questioned. "With the Black Crusade beginning, the chances for us to finally enterMagehold could be now."
"I doubt that they'll open it up even during this event." Celestia shook her head, knowing that the Dread League wouldn't dare open Magehold up. But that was when something brewed within Celestia's mind. "Unless...There was a way we could make them take us there."
"Take us?"
"I heard what Rosa said. She wanted my lifespan. The same goes for Luna. It's probably identical to what that Gardevoir from the 18 Realms did. And the only way for Rosa Maledicta to obtain it is if she has me over at Magehold."
"Hold it! You're not planning to give yourself up, are you?!" Nightmare Moon already figured that Celestia was going for a rather bold plan. "If so, then absolutely not!"
"It was just a hunch. I'm not giving myself up at all, of course. But it is a possibility. They would want us there for that reason only and they probably know that if we were in there, there's a chance we could make a comeback. There is no way that they can take our lifespans if our lives are already gone."
"So then...what do we do?"
"I'll continue dealing with the Black Crusade. It's my duty as Princess. But at the same time, I'll keep that plan for heading into Magehold up for grabs. As for you, I need you to help find Luna. You two are connected so you must know where she could be."
"I don't know..." The alter-ego of Luna groaned as she wasn't sure at all. "The last place she was at was the Dream Realm ut it's clear she's no longer there. I'll try my best and I'll intervene in Black Crusade actions as well. Good luck, sister."
"At the same time..." Celestia would then look up, intensifying her as she was suddenly focused on the clouds above. "I'll need further help from above. From all angles. This is something threatens us all, just like the Empress' invasion. I can't fail everyone here. Not when I've made so many friends and allies."
Celestia could find relief knowing that her little sister was doing alright now. But the threat of Luna perishing was still present. Luna's whereabouts to her family and friends were completely unknown at the moment. However, what was more unknown was the mass destruction that had been done over at Kalos.
Kalos. Out in a scarred land.
Watching over the destroyed city of Anistar City and other areas nearby was the one responsible for it. Opal Vivacity. She looked over the obliterated buildings and nature that were struck by the Black Beam. Truly, it was utterly devastating as it caused so much damage that it brought an elated face to Opal. It was almost as if she was infatuated by the destruction.
And from what she could tell, there was no one in sight. No one could be seen. Not a Pokemon, human and especially not a pony. Everything seemed to be gone, covered in rubble and a black smoke which blended in with the dark skies. And yet, despite this horrific act, there was no sign of Xerneas, who Opal was hoping to force out.
"So, Xerneas hasn't shown up just yet. That's fine." Opal spoke, stepping foot on the destroyed lands with a pompous posture. She went straight for Anistar City, trying to see if she managed to hit the hidden civilians who were apparently hiding. But Opal believed even they had been taken out by the Black Beam somewhere. And when returning to the scene, she noticed something that caught her attention.
Olympia's Galaxy Cape.
Olympia's Galaxy Cape laid there amidst the scarred land with no one wearing it. It sat there pathetically until Opal Vivacity picked it up. Her magic brought it over as she eyed down the cape in all of its brilliance. She had an elated expression that was equal to the destruction she caused, admiring the cape.
"Ah, but I got a beautiful reward in return. I think I'll keep this one." Opal Vivacity decided to further increase her glamour even during a time like this. And this time, she would wear Olympia's Galaxy Cape, using it to appear more powerful than she wishes to be. And unfortunately, she had the capability of boasting such power. Opal now possed a cape of the stars alongside her massive mane. It was also rather insulting to Olympia, who was nowhere to be seen to say or do anything about this.
"That's one issue taken care of. But we're not quite done yet. We'll keep going until Xerneas shows up. It has to."
Even though the clash between Princess Celestia and Rosa Maledicta had come to an end, the Sun and Moon were still in a state of balance, existing at the same time, messing up timezones everywhere in the world. And currently, the Creatures of the Everfree were attacking Ponyville. But they were doing it for a different reason. It was to try and chase out the vampires that tried rebuilding it.
The colossal Ursa Major which was the size of a mountain already laid its claws on the roofs of these buildings with its entire body overshadowing the town. However, the vampires did not seem too afraid of them. Not at all. Even with the Ursa Major's massive body being enough to catch all of them, it wasn't enough.
"They're sicking them on us?!" By now, they knew that the Ponyville residents were behind this. The Ursa Major was confirmation of this because of this massive size after all. And one of the first big hits of this sudden attack was from the Cockatrice.
Some vampires had already turned to stone or were being slowly enveloped by stone when gazing at it. Their bodies stayed still in the face of this creature's magic, rendering them immobile. But not everyone looked into its gaze. Some were too busy being picked up by some of the Hydra's heads or even slapped away, tumbling and bouncing all over the place. The Ursa Minor wasn't quite as destructive as its mother but it was still large enough to tower over most buildings here, slapping its paws around, hoping it would hit something. All this and Ponyville's residents weren't jumping in.
Speaking of the Ponyville residents, they were currently on the outskirts of Ponyville, preparing themselves. They couldn't enter thanks to the Dark Magic in the area being highly dangerous and abundant. But until they reach it, they were getting a bright makeover. Courtesy of Emerald Aura and Cold Colt, the ponies and Pokemon were each having their bodies light up to the point where they might as well be bodies of light.
Sombra was the first to get this change and immediately, he focused on the Dark Magic. Being an Umbrum, he obviously had expertise in this and planned to remove it from Ponyville while he had the chance. Entering Ponyville wasn't that dangerous for Sombra. Not at all. Much like most of the Everfree Creatures, there was some connection to this form of magic. Thus, Sombra could freely enter Ponyville while the Dark Magic was all over the place, gaining immunity.
Sombra would try and take it away in secrecy. The vampires were too busy occupied with the Creatures of the Everfree, giving Sombra the chance to act while the time was ripe. And the way he dealt with this Dark Magic was by adding his own to it.
"If I can overlay all of it or replace it with my Dark Magic, they'll have nothing to fear. But this is a lot of Dark Magic in one area though..." He said to himself while pouring out all the Dark Magic he could. The amount of it was rather perplexing. Ponyville had been hit with a lot of Dark Magic recently and the Dark Tsunami left some lingering Dark Magic around as well as seen by how it scarred the grounds of this once beautiful town.
He technically stuck out because he was a body of light but he had the Everfree Creatures to count on for this. To further conceal himself, he stood behind SugarCube Corner while using his magic. The walls were still high enough for him to use despite their condition.
As for the vampires, they would already deal with these fearsome creatures with equally fearsome Dark Magic. More of it had been cast here in Ponyville, this time against the Everfree Forest Creatures. And the most common usage of Dark Magic where chains. Each of the vampires would materialize the darkness into chains, wrapping them around the Everfree Forest Creatures, attempting to restrain them.
The Hydra swung each of its heads, only for one of them to be caught by the chains. The middle head found itself caught by these chains, losing its flow completely. The other two heads furiously bashed themselves on the chain, trying to break the middle one free.
These chains all had shadows around them, matching the ones that the Pony of Shadows possesses. The Ursa Minor was immediately caught by these as its actions were abruptly put to a halt. This immediately triggered a response from the mother who unleashed a roar so loud and powerful that it blew away the vampires who placed the chains on her child. The real threat was the Ursa Major who could squish them with her size. And she most definitely tried it, raising her mountain-sized paw and bringing down on Ponyville.
The nearby vampires scattered, eluding the large paw that came down like a righteous hammer, allowing the buildings that were being rebuilt by Dark Magic to be crushed. This wasn't too bad since Ponyville was already in bad shape and if anything, destroying the buildings that were being remade could be redone once all the vampires are out of here.
But even with this titan of a creature around, the vampires wouldn't give up on their chain tactic as that seemed to be rather effective on these creatures. However, some bigger chains were already being thought of for the Ursa Major.
Lapras Lake.
Meanwhile, over at Lapras Lake, the battle against Dimstar was intensifying. Ash, Applejack, Fluttershy and Roseluck found themselves dealing with the combined might of a Lich and a Vampire. Even though Dimstar wasn't a full-on Lich, she was certainly packing some of that fearsome magic with her.
"S-Sceptile...!" Sceptile had just taken a hard hit from the Body Tendrils, rapidly sliding on the sand while trying to keep his balance. Helping him with his balance was Roserade, who used her thorns to catch the Forest Pokemon. Afterwards, the tendrils would rise up, going for another attack and refusing to let Sceptile breathe. The Grass-Type's eyes widened as the tendrils would be swung down with wild force, also targeting Roserade who was behind Sceptile.
"Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika" Coming to his aid, Pikachu would zoom through the air, cutting off some of the tendrils with his hardened Iron Tail. And that was right when they were about to hit Sceptile. Adding to this damage was Raboot, using Flame Charge to burn through these body tendrils. Afterwards, Bayleef would throw out Magical Leaf, only directly towards Dimstar. The Hybrid Vampire would merely receive hits from these leaves which didn't too much when hitting her face.
"Thanks for the save, ya'll!" Applejack thanked them both for intercepting those tendrils just in time. Right as Dimstar scoffed at the leaves that came her way, she would dig some of her tendrils into the ground, going for an underground attack this time.
And she did so by gripping the ground itself, using the force behind her tendrils to raise it up while also adding Dark Magic in it just for that extra punch. And once it was raised, the darkness and the power behind those tendrils would form a large sand wave.
"Audi! Use Protect"
"Audino!" Audino would quickly run up, getting in front of everyone else to be their shield. With her hands out, she would form a protective barrier around herself, the Pokemon and the Trainers as the wave of sand viciously came crashing down with the same force as a tsunami. Everyone closed their eyes once the sand made contact with the shield. And despite how minuscule the many sand grains were, with Dark Magic involved, they might as well hit as hard as rocks.
The barrier pulsated and trembled when the wave hit, damaging it. But it wasn't enough to destroy the shield. All the sand dropped down as Audino successfully protected them all.
"Nice save, Audino," Ash added, thanking Audino before holding his hand out to reveal another Poke Ball. "Alright! Lucario, I choose you!"
"Lucario!" Entering the fray was another friend. This time, Lucario made an appearance.
"Out ya come, Riolu!" And for Applejack, she sent out her Delta Riolu, allowing him to join up with his Sinnoh Full Evolution Counterpart.
"Rio!"
"Go, Bellossom!" And finally, Roseluck sent out her Bellossom for assistance. More Pokemon appeared to help tip the scales. Dimstar by herself was quite the challenge and it showed, even with the added help of some Timberwolves.
"Bellossom!"
"We might have to keep her steady. We'll expose her to all the light that we can but it won't be easy. Even though she stands around a lot." Ash said, wanting to expose Dimstar to as much as light as possible. He could definitely count on Pikachu for that.
"You can try," Dimstar uttered. "I'll admit though...I expected my victory to be assured a while ago but...I can't believe you're this resilient, honestly. It's your Pokemon that are your greatest shields. Without them, I know for a fact you would be done for by now."
"She's got a point. Roserade and everyone have done well to keep us this safe but..." Roseluck was inclined to agree. If any of those tendrils get to the trainers, it would do far larger damage than how it compares to the Pokemon.
"Yeah, but we're tough in our own way, aren't we?" Ash thought otherwise. He believed in the toughness of all of his friends. Pokemon, pony or any other species out there. And it has been shown during the attack on Ponyville without a doubt. "No need to worry."
"I'd like to see how long you can keep it up for though. You've done a good job at showing me that neither of you are slouches." Dimstar closed her eyes, manipulating her tendrils as she began forming them into something. Ash and everyone looked up to see Dimstar's tendrils form into fists. Girthy ones too. She perfectly replicated humanoid fists, using all of the tendrils she had to create them.
Roseluck was grossed out by how Dimstar managed to do it. Seeing all those tendrils move around to make that was utterly disturbing to her eyes. But she couldn't afford to be disgusted right now. Not when the massive Tendril Fist was swung down.
Everyone would move back as these massive arms slammed into the sandy ground, sending most of it upwards and masking it. The impact of it left not just a dent but a crater. Cracks on the ground started moving rapidly after the initial hit, sending yet another sand wave while also creating a pressure that reached the ocean, kicking up the waves. On top of that, large chunks of earth were now levitating in the air after being knocked up. Each of them were surrounded by Dark Magic as well.
"Okay! Pikachu, get in there with Iron Tail! Go, Lucario! Double Team!"
"Sceptile, Leaf Blade!"
"Pika!" Three Pokemon would approach the Hybrid Vampire. It started with Pikachu rushing in while Lucario multiplied himself. And right next to them was Sceptile with his bladed leaf arms extending and glowing.
Dimstar raised her head, which in turn, caused the tendrils to go up as well. The Tendril Fists were then brought down, attempting to hit all three of them at once. But with their eyes flashing, Pikachu and Sceptile would leap to the side, evading the two arms. As for Lucario, only his clones took the hit. The real Lucario already avoided the Tendrils, by jumping up.
"Ca!" But he did more than just evade them, he even took the opportunity to land on Dimstar's Tendril Arms, using them as a platform. The Aura Pokemon started approaching Dimstar by using her own main weapon against her.
"Force Palm!"
"Luca!" Lucario got ahead of his friends, channelling power into his paws as he thrusted his arms forward, leaving behind an orange trail with the speed they moved at. However, Dimstar manipulated the tendrils even further, this time, summoning smaller fists out of them by using a few tendril parts. These tendrils blocked Lucario's attack from reaching the vampire, clashing with his Force Palm. "Rrr?!"
"Sceptile?!" Sceptile would receive the same thing once he got too close. These smaller tendrils showed up, trying to catch him off guard. And they certainly did by whipping him in the chest, coming out from the side of these massive arms. "T-Tile"
"Pika!" Pikachu was hit as well after seeing them make an appearance. As for Lucario, he was then pushed back by the tendrils that stopped him, nearly falling over the arm. Afterwards, these smaller tendrils would race forward, attempting to strike the trainers.
"Dazzling Gleam, Bellossom!"
"Bello!" However, Bellossom would also be their defender, much like Audino. From her body, a flash of Fairy Magic appeared, sending out a bright light which interacted with the tendrils. Dimstar squinted her eyes as her tendrils would start smoking for a while when coming into contact with the light. They were connected to her body after all. If anything, this was just an extension of Dimstar.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Thunder Punch!"
"Pikaaa...Chuuu!" Two forms of lightning were unleashed. Pikachu slid on the ground, lighting his body up with 100,000 volts. It started with those volts flying out, shocking the massive Tendril Fist and punishing the vampire with some more light. It was then followed up by Sceptile who threw his fist at the tendrils with electricity packed behind it.
Dimstar moved back a bit as her tendril arms were sizzling. But it wasn't something that would keep her down. Even when being exposed to light, she would continue. She then swung one of the fists at the opposing Pokemon, going for Lucario and Sceptile first as the pressure behind the swing lifted up the sand.
"Ca!" Lucario and Sceptile evaded it in unison by leaping over the tendril, only for them to be knocked back by two more that snuck out of the massive fists. Both of them received hits to their chests, coughing for a moment as they were sent flying so far that they passed by Bellossom and Audino, landing right next to Ash and Applejack.
After that, she continued her assault, sending multiple tendrils out which reduced the size of these massive fists. They were once again focused on the other Pokemon and the Trainers. Raboot would try using Flame Charge, running right at the tendrils with increased speed. "Boot!" Raboot crashed into the tendrils with his flaming aura and head, managing to struggle with it for a bit. But it didn't last forever as he was then knocked away.
"Hit those fists with Poison Jab, Roserade! Bellossom, go with her and use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Rose!" Roserade would use her hidden thorns to grab Bellossome, dragging her along so she could get around quicker. Joining her was Delta Riolu who jumped into the air and got some impressive air time. While in the air, he would gather up the power of darkness in his paws.
"Lu!" Riolu then launched the darkness from above as this attack would fly alongside Bayleef's Magical Leaf. Both crashed into the fist, dealing damage to it but not enough. That was where Bellossom came in. Roserade would launch her teammate, allowing her to get close to Dismtar just so that she could use Dazzling Gleam effectively.
"Bellooooo!" Bellossom yelled out when moving through the air, already preparing for a Dazzling Gleam as her body was lighting up. Dimstar gasped, quickly shifting her attention to just Bellossom and swinging her large fists at them. This time, it was both of them as she planned to sandwich the Flower Pokemon. "Bellossom?!"
"Thunderbolt, Pikachu!"
"Rose...Rade!" Coming to her aid were Pikachu and Roserade right as she was about to be sandwiched. Roserade used Poison Jab, holding both her bouquet arms out to catch the large Tendril Fists. The moment they touched Roserade, her body trembled at the sheer might of them. The Bouquet Pokemon violently grit her teeth while spreading poison around these tendrils.
"Pika...Chuuu!" Pikachu got back up. And with this opportunity, he would use Thunderbolt right in the middle of these two arms, shocking them both. 100,000 volts passed through each side of Dimstar's massive fist arms while Bellossom's Dazzling Gleam finally went off.
She was free to approach Dimstar thanks to Roserade and Pikachu's involvement. Dimstar grimaced, vibrating from the volts that hit her which let Bellossom unleash the Fairy-Type move. The magical light from the attack was incredibly close to Dimstar. So close that Bellossom crashed into the Hybrid Vampire with the attack.
A direct hit. Dazzling Gleam enveloped and blew away Dimstar to the point where Roserade was relieved from holding the two arms with her bouquet hands. Dimstar was bewildered by this attack as she went from stumbling to then rolling on the ground after being exposed to that much light at such an up-close encounter. The smoke could be seen flying out of her body, burning her up from both the front and the back as she crashed into a pile of rocks at a rather fast pace which made the impact staggeringly hard.
"Amazing work, Bellossom!" Roseluck said with glee. "That was an up-close Dazzling Gleam plus a Thunderbolt too! That had to have stunned her greatly!"
"Wait!" Ash held his hand back to the others. It wasn't time to get too confident and celebrate just yet. Ash could tell. He knew that Dimstar wouldn't fall so easily even though that attack was rather powerful.
Ash was right not to celebrate to soon. The smoke was clearing but a presence could still be felt. Ash and Lucario easily sensed the Aura to know that Dimstar was still there and active. The air went silent for a bit. Everyone readied themselves for whatever could happen next. And after the smoke cleared, Dark Magic would fly out of the earth, filling the air instantly.
And with this magic filling the air, Ash and everyone felt something. Something absolutely mortifying. They collectively gasped as the presence they felt was utterly cold and mournful, causing Audino, Bayleef and Bellossom to shiver and nearly fall over.
Pikachu, Raboot, Lucario, Roserade and Sceptile trembled feeling massively uncomfortable by the presence that came their way. As for the trainers, Fluttershy, Applejack and Roseluck felt their hearts beat faster once this feeling appeared. Fluttershy quivered, sitting down as she put her hooves over her chest while Applejack's pupils shrank in horror. As for Ash, he would get on one knee, gritting his teeth and trying to power through this presence.
"W-What is this...? It's so sad..." Roseluck uttered while taking the uncomfortable and saddening feeling of this presence.
"This is the feeling of all those who passed away long ago around this area before you all came into this world. The ugly feeling of the deceased. Whether it's the fish that lived under the sea or the creatures that once roamed these areas. You will feel their deceased bodies in their entirety. Truly morose and cold, isn't it?" Dimstar explained while walking out of the smoke. She was manipulating the dead. Specifically the aura around their deceased bodies.
"I can feel so many of them...It's horrible." Fluttershy trembled. It was so utterly terrifying that she started tearing up. Knowing that creatures that once used to live here for so long were having their presence be felt. The feeling was just awful in so many ways that each of them could describe it.
And the one feeling this the most was Delta Riolu. With his connection to the dead, this actually angered him instead. Using the deceased in such a way was detestable to Delta Riolu since he was the Embalming Pokemon. However, he couldn't exactly do much with his body being paralyzed by this feeling.
And by using that to her advantage, she unleashed the tendrils on Ash and the others. By thrusting them forward, Ash, Pikachu and Lucario were struck back by the massive fists. It was a direct hit and a heavy one too. But the one who took the heaviest hit by far was Ash. And Dimstar made sure that he took the brunt of it. Ash groaned right after receiving that powerful punch from the Tendril Fists.
"ASH!" Fluttershy, Applejack and Roseluck collectively shouted in shock and horror at their good friend receiving such a blow. Ash and his Pokemon went flying so far that they ended up in the lake, falling right into it. And the others were next. The second fist flew in, this time with a downward swing as it tried to crush them in one go.
"B-Bay!" Seeing this, Bayleef groaned, using her strength to rip off one of her leaves. The leaf touched the back of Bayleef, sending a powerful white flash that enveloped the area right as the fist came down. And in the nick of time, she changed fate, sending herself and everyone to the side while the fist the ground. But even using her leaf felt horrific thanks to the presence that was around here.
Dimstar would casually approach them while tightening her tendril fist, bashing them together as an intimidation factor. She would not cease this horrible presence at all. And as for the feeling it gave her, she had no reaction to it. This was all numb for Dimstar. And most likely, for all vampires from Magehold.
And unfortunately, it was only worsening. Other locations across the world were being hit. And one of them was Vanhoover. The chilly yet comforting location was soon met with the burning cruelty of the Dread League. And it came in the form of dark lightning from above, striking down at the city. The vampires continued to control the clouds, adding Dark Magic in it to summon a corrupted form of lightning.
Another place that took this hit was Las Pegasus especially since it was active even at night. And the other areas were about to be hit next. Dodge Junction, Baltimare, and Fillydelphia were vulnerable to receiving their own vampiric attacks. And it mainly came from the skies. The vampires all focused on aerial attacks, bringing down the thunder. Destruction for all was imminent. And this was all before Yveltal could make a move.
Speaking of Yveltal, he was still resting, unable to break free from his prison. However, now that the Black Crusade had begun, his life was in peril. If it ends, that would mean the end of everything. However, Rosa Maledicta was waiting for Xerneas to be out of the way first. Until Xerneas was gone, the Black Crusade could not be fully completed.
This fact was the reasoning behind Opal's current goal. She was still out there in the world searching for Xerneas. And to do so, she would cause widespread destruction, attempting to take the lives of many innocents just so Xerneas shows itself.
And speaking of Opal, she was still at Kalos, focusing on it since that was where Xerneas originated from. And her path of destruction was utterly cruel. The Black Beam would be used once more, hitting the ground and sending out a vast wave of destruction that would envelop any nearby areas.
Opal laughed maniacally when bringing down this much destruction. And at the same time, she was leaving scars on the land. Kalos as being utterly scarred in every way by these actions. Craters were starting to become a bit common because of Opal's attacks on the land.
"Still no sign of Xerneas? What is this?" Opal growled, failing to see why Xerneas hadn't shown up yet. "I go through the trouble of dealing this much damage to Kalos and that bloated deer doesn't even show up?"
"Opal..." Suddenly, speaking to Opal at last was the Lich Queen. Now that she left the mindscape, she could communicate with her subjects.
"Ah, your majesty! What can I do for you?"
"The destruction you've caused to Kalos is quite commendable. And a clever way to try and force Xerneas out."
"Thank you! It is a genius plan, isn't it? But that deer hasn't shown up at all. It hasn't responded to all this destruction. I was certain that it would." Opal replied. "What should I do, your majesty?"
"It will have to show up eventually. I can't destroy Yveltal yet until Xerneas makes an appearance. And even if I were to do so now, the Pokemon would merely appear elsewhere that we cannot reach in time. Its power to bring life back is equally as powerful as Yveltal's power to destroy it after all. But there are those who are catching onto our goal, Opal. Some already know of our Xerneas approach."
"They do?!" The beautiful vampire gasped.
"It was Shrivel who shared it with me. As soon as I was able to communicate with you all, she told me about how the ponies spoke about Xerneas. I need you to snuff them out at once. They have the potential to stop our Xerneas plan. And as to be expected, they come from Equestria."
"Leave that to me. I can always focus on destroying parts of Kalos later. Those who would try and stop us from reaching Xerneas won't have their way. Where do you need me to go, your majesty?"
"Ponyville is rather vulnerable. And that was where I got this information. Head there as soon as possible. And if not...then head to Canterlot."
"Canterlot or Ponyville?" Opal pondered for a moment before deciding where she wanted to go first. It was away from Kalos and to somewhere in Equestria. Opal's destruction wouldn't stop at just Kalos. The scars she would leave on the world would extend beyond that. "I know which place would be perfect for my arrival!"
After receiving a powerful blow from Dimstar's tendrils, Ash, Pikachu and Lucario found themselves in the waters of Lapras Lake. And in there, the dreadful feeling that Dimstar generated could be felt. With her Lich Abilities, she summoned the horrific aura of those who have long passed when living around this area, way before the worlds crossed over. And underwater was not an exception.
Many sea creatures have come and gone in the past, resting beyond the Earth. However, with the power of the Lich, their skeletons were being used unwillingly. The presence that these deceased creatures gave off sent a gut-wrenching and cruel presence which permeated the lake, affecting the trio. But it went beyond that. Deeper, the skeletons were also being affected. They gave off a similar presence, buried in the seafloor.
"This is what it feels like...? Everyone that's left this world?" Ash shuddered, thinking to himself. His body was still taking in that devious punch from Dimstar which made it hard for him to swim upwards. He was essentially floating there with Pikachu and Lucario who were shuddering. Lucario took the hit better thanks to this Steel-Typing but he'd be lying if he said it didn't hurt.
On top of that, Ash was at risk of drowning if he didn't leave the lake soon. Lucario looked over at his trainer, feeling Ash's Aura diminish slowly. The Aura Pokemon Pokemon couldn't afford to let himself be stuck now. Quickly, he would swim over to Ash and Pikachu, holding onto them both.
Moving was also painful. Lucario felt the deadly presence in the seas when swimming to his friends. It felt like the afterlife was gripping onto him. His Aura could sense it all which made it all the more unfortunate. The Aura picked up on these deceased Auras, confused as to how they could be sensed so clearly. Dimstar's magical influence was greater than Lucario thought as he felt the dread from the Auras.
Lucario shouldn't even be sensing them and yet, he was. The Auras from these creatures that were long gone were sad since most of them came from lives that were taken away by predators of the sea or other events. The Auras were essentially crying out and it was worsened since Dimstar was tampering with them, refusing to let them rest anymore just for the chance to overwhelm her opponents.
And the worst part was that Lucario could not stop this. He couldn't ignore it at all since his Aura was picking up on everything. If anything, Lucario got the worst of it. He never knew that his Aura could go that far to the point where it could involve the dead.
The sounds he heard from all of these presences were filled with rage. This rage stemmed from Dimstar's interference with life. All of them managed to rest at last and now this had occurred, ruining their rest. It was all too much for Lucario to handle as the various mortifying Auras were mercilessly hitting his own Aura, essentially taking out their anger out on him.
"L-Lucario?" Ash would notice Lucario's sadness as seen by the expression on his face. He could tell the Aura Pokemon was being dragged down by the sad Auras around him which filled the lake at every angle. And even though they were underwater, a tear could be seen.
Feeling this as well were the Water-Types and regular sea life that resided here. They were caught completely off guard by these mortifying auras. All motion in the sea essentially stopped just because of this. All motion except for Lucario, who was powering through just to try and get Ash and Pikachu out of here.
Back up at the surface, Delta Riolu was in a similar position. He possessed Aura much like the full evolution of his Sinnoh Counterpart. However, instead of feeling sadness, Riolu only felt anger. The Embalming Pokemon was furious at Dimstar for tampering with the dead.
Especially since he's lost his own parents already. "Rio...!" The Delta Variant growled while feeling the morose aura of the deceased who once lived here. His eyes gleamed over at Dimstar, disgusted at this disrespect for the dead.
"Bay...!" Bayleef also had to use a huge part of her leaf to evade the previous attack by changing fate. And with the Sun and the Moon still up at the same time, it was hard to know if her leaf could regenerate quickly enough. There wasn't enough sunlight at all. Then again, neither was there that much moonlight. It all seemed rather mute.
"Are you willing to have that Bayleef of yours use up all of her leaves at a time like this? I'd be happy to continue attacking just so that she can save you all and waste everything." Dimstar questioned, raising her tendril fists into the air. "That is if you can all manage with the presence of the deceased around you."
"W-We'll be fine!" Applejack groaned with one eye open. She and the others would try their best to power through it but it wouldn't be an easy task. They could barely stand tall at all.
"Bayleef...You have to converse all of your leaves. Don't use them all here." Fluttershy pleaded as she did not wish to see Bayleef use up plenty of her leaves. With no proper timezone, she couldn't rely on the Sun to heal her at all.
"Bayleef?"
"Horrible suggestion," Dimstar added, throwing her two tendril fists as the trainers, their Pokemon and the Timberwolves who were whimpering from the dreadful aura.
"P-Poison Jab, Roserade!" Roseluck stammered as yelling was also rather vexing to the body.
"Catch it, Sceptile! Thunder Punch!"
"Sceptile...!" The Pokemon persevered. They wouldn't let themselves stand around and be punching bags for Dimstar. Alas, that seemed to be the case instantly the moment their hands came into contact with the fists. They failed to hold them back as they came in at full force.
The two Grass-Types were bashed by the fists, gasping as they felt their bodies vibrate. This was the hardest hit by far and it showed with how the duo trembled before being thrown back. But the fists did not stop there. Right as the Grass Duo went flying, they were hit a second time by the fists moving forward as it would push them, targeting the others now by using their friends as weapons.
"Bellossom! Dazzling Gleam, quick!"
"B-Bello...!" Bellossom would try and generate that beautiful light from her body a second time while shivering. However, she was too late. Not only was the light that was about to emerge from her body faint and weak, but it did not have enough time to build up as Bellossom was soon met with these two fists.
"Raboot...!" Raboot, with all of his strength rushed in to try and stop one of them himself. He held his leg out, going for a High Jump Kick which could barely even be called high with how low the jump was. The kick wasn't that strong either once it hit the fists. He was instantly overpowered, unable to use his full power, becoming one of the punching bags for Dimstar.
"Rio!" Riolu managed to avoid it by rolling to the side being the only one to be safe from its blow. But the same couldn't be said for everyone else. Audino immediately used Protect, using whatever strength she could muster in this dreadful atmosphere. The green shield appeared once more, standing in front of Bayleef, Fluttershy, Roseluck and the Timberwolves.
"A-Audi...! Audino!" However, the Protect was not as perfect as it used to be. Not when two of these massive fists crashed into it. The fists smashed Audino's barrier by using her friends as the catalyst, sending a powerful shockwave which rippled her body and almost reached the others. Audino put up her best defence but it was not enough as the barrier shattered, sending them all back.
Each of them dropped to the ground once the Tendril Fists got through them all. Their faces met the sand which also felt cold thanks to Dimstar's magic. All of them fell, rolled and tumbled in their own way which was utterly painful for them. The two large hands hovered over the downed group once they kissed the sand, eerily moving these fleshy fingers that came straight from Dimstar's body.
"That should be it." Dimstar commented before pointing at Fluttershy, lowering one of the fists in her direction. "I'll need to bring you in for the chance to become a vampire like the rest of us. The bat within you is waiting to be unleashed."
"Aura Sphere! Electroweb!" However, with a cry from the lake, Ash's head popped out as he gasped for air. Lucario successfully brought them all up and after he resurfaced, the Aura Pokemon would attack. With two arms out, he unleashed an Aura Sphere which wasn't at its best as it always appears to be.
That didn't stop the Aura from moving rather quickly. And the same went for Pikachu's Electroweb which joined the Aura Sphere. The sphere ended up hitting one of the fists, dealing some damage to it but it didn't matter all that much. However, Pikachu's Electroweb mattered as the dreadful presence did not hinder the web that much.
It was still viable enough to land on at least one of Dimstar's tendril fists. One of them had been caught by the web, receiving a shock that made Dimstar scoff. Dimstar moved back, shaking her fist to remove the web. Her eyes locked onto Ash, Pikachu and Lucario who returned from the lake, where the presence of the Sea Creatures struck them.
"Still up?" Dimstar commented as Ash got back onto land, getting on one knee. "For a human, you are rather durable. That punch should've shattered every bone in your body or anything like that to render you immobile."
"It's not over yet," Ash replied, exhaling a deep and powerful breath while gazing back at the Half Vampire Half Lich. "This feeling...it's just the worst kind of feeling. You're using them as a way to stop us...?"
"This is nothing compared to what the Lich Queen is capable of." Dimstar shook her head. "As a Half Lich, life is something that works in my favour as well. I can use it to my advantage as you can see."
"Rio!" Riolu yelled at Dimstar just for that comment as he stood back up in a better condition than everyone else. Even though he could feel the deceased, it did not deter him as much.
"Honestly, I'm surprised that Riolu of yours is standing up in a much better condition than all of you." Dimstar pointed out how Riolu seemed to be doing better than the others. "Why is that, I wonder?"
"Riolu?" Applejack soon noticed how Delta Riolu stood so strong around this dreadful atmosphere. She gasped, remembering what Delta Riolu did back at the Holon Pyramid. He had some kind of experience with the deceased after all.
"You can cease your struggling. I've already acknowledged you all as formidable opponents. But you can only get so far with your limitations. You cannot compare to a vampire or even a Lich." Dimstar suggested that they should simply give up while they had the chance. She seemed perfectly healthy while everyone else was trembling just from her presence.
"Yeah, right!" Ash bellowed. Giving up was not in his dictionary. The thought of giving up would never cross his mind or even become a possibility. Ash gripped the sand, using his strained strength to slowly stand back up. And this unrelenting persistence and spirit rubbed off on his friends.
It's always rubbed off on them during the earlier days of the two worlds meeting. Applejack and everyone else would try and stand up with the best of their strength. Dimstar witnessed the others get up, not staying down at all as their manes covered their faces, messy and ruined from the battling they had.
"It's unforgivable to mess with life like that...And it's going to be even worse with what you're going to do to Yveltal and everyone else." Roseluck expressed as Roserade helped her get up. Both helped each other up, using their combined strengths to do so. "It makes me so mad that my sister endorses that as well."
"I showed you no special favours even though you are her majesty's little sister. She has already expressed that family is not that important to her." Dimstar shook her head. "Your anger means nothing to her at this point. However, you will not have the opportunity to express it to her with this feeling. The deceased will not rest until I let them. And you will be the ones to feel their pain."
"We can't handle it that well..." Ash raised a Poke Ball into the air before letting it roll off his hand. It looked like he couldn't grip it any longer but he simply let it happen as it touched the ground. "But he can. Gengar...I choose you!" Ash then yelled out, calling for his next Pokemon.
"Gengar!" And when Gengar showed up, he stuck his tongue out at the vampire.
"If there's anyone who can handle it, it's Gengar, without a doubt!" Ash said with confidence. "If you wanna tamper with the dead then deal with Gengar first!"
"Gen-Gen!" And when out in the open around this atmosphere, Gengar looked way better than Riolu. In fact, he looked like his old self. He acted like his hold self as well, laughing hysterically, ready to throw down with his opponent.
"Impossible...Gengar is immune to the presence? How can that be?" Dimstar narrowed her eyes after seeing Gengar casually zip around.
"We're gonna full force for this one! Lucario!"Ash turned to Lucario. "Don't let it get to you. I know you can sense their Auras, but we can fix this..."
"L-Luca?"
"All we have to do is let them continue resting. And that's by beating her. I know it's painful to hear them all so upset and angry. A part of me can hear their Auras too ya know..." Ash lowered his head as he admitted easily that he could sense it to a degree. Not on the same level as Lucario or Delta Riolu but still. "Together, the saddest things won't get us down."
"Rrrr!" Lucario growled, tightening his paw as he greatly agreed with Ash. While he was still sad by what he was hearing, he couldn't let it stop him from putting an end to it. Especially when the reason for it was right there.
"Let's go, everyone!" Instantly, Ash would hold out his fist, revealing the Keystone in his glove. Applejack and Fluttershy would do the same, revealing the hatpin and the bracelet. The time for Mega Evolution was now. Seeing their keystones revealed, Dimstar would immediately try and intercept this, swinging her large arms at them.
"Gengar!" But refusing to let that happen was Gengar and even the Timberwolves. Gengar would fly in, using Psychic to hold back these arms. His eyes unleashed a blue glow as his mental power managed to hold the two fists in place, stopping them from reaching the others. "Gar!"
As for the Timberwolves, they would bite into Dimstar's Tendril Arms, digging their teeth in with a vicious nature. Even though the presence of the deceased made them tense, their bites were not weak at all. Dimstar growled, attempting to move her massive arms by unleashing her core strength.
She managed to break out of Gengar's Psychic, immediately throwing the Timberwolves away by swinging her massive Tendril Arms. Gengar moved back, narrowly evading the swing as the fist nearly struck his body. But Gengar and the Timberwolves succeeded in giving the others enough time to use Mega Evolution.
"Mega Evolve!" All three of them yelled. Together, Lucario, Audino and Sceptile would have the energies within them fly out. Right as Dimstar went to strike the Pokemon, the light from the keystones and Mega Stones would clash, unleashing a radiant light which held her back.
Dimstar hissed as her arms burned up from the powerful light that the Mega Evolution process emitted. All three of them were gently embraced by it but the outburst was vicious as out of it came three Mega Evolved Pokemon. Mega Lucario, Mega Audino and Mega Sceptile.
Stronger than ever, they managed to gain some of their composure back even with this dreadful atmosphere. Mega Evolution helped give them some resistance, thankfully but they could still feel it at all.
"Mega Evolution..." Dimstar's eyes widened slightly upon witnessing these three Mega-Evolved Pokemon. They gave off their own presence upon making an appearance. "You still wish to battle with these conditions? Even if Gengar is immune..."
"We will. As if this is gonna stop us. All we gotta do is beat you and it's all over." Ash said, confident that this one simple task would put an end to it all. And that would be one major player from the Dread League taken down. "I've got my mom that I gotta see after all and you're just in the way right now..."
"Very well then." Dimstar crackled the knuckles from her tendril fists, putting a smirk. "If you're so eager to continue, so be it. But the presence of the deceased will be your downfall. Mark my words."
Ponyville.
Back at Ponyville, the Creatures of the Everfree were doing their best. But the vampires with their Shadow Chains managed to hold them down. The Hydra had all three of its head captured by the shadow chains. Even the Cockatrice had been stopped in its actions because of its chains, no longer turning anyone to stone.
And the same went for the Ursa Major and Minor. Even they were not exempt from these chains. Their necks had been grabbed by the abundance of chains, bringing pain to them. These massive creatures had their attacks held back by the chains, struggling to break free.
The Ursa Major was brought down by the chains, even with its weight. When brought down, it crushed the various buildings, ruining whatever else was left of Ponyville's original structure. So many of them were covered by the Ursa Major's body but it didn't really matter anymore with the state of Ponyville.
However, the Dark Magic in the area was beginning to subside. Thanks to Sombra replacing it with his own dark magic, he was making it easier for everypony else outside to enter. Thanks to the creatures of the Everfree giving him enough time, he could work without that many distractions. The only thing that startled him was the Ursa Major falling over, hitting many of the buildings here.
"There...That should be good enough." Sombra said, finally finishing his process. "Now! Come through!" He raised his voice as loud as he could, letting it reach the residents of Ponyville. It also ended up alerting the vampire ponies too thanks to how loud it was. It was a good thing Sombra was a former king. He certainly had the powerful voice of a king.
"That's our cue!" Pinkie Pie replied after hearing Sombra's bellowing voice. Once he gave them the call, all of them would approach Ponyville, finally being able to enter it safely. The vampires turned their attention to Sombra now that he made himself known to them.
However, the second some of these vampires went for Sombra, they were met with the light that his body generated. The vampires hissed at the mere sight of him, bewildered and unable to approach him. Sombra put on a cocky smirk, knowing he was now unapproachable. And the amount of light he was giving off was just the right amount. Not enough to blind Ponyville's residents but enough to harm the vampires. And he immediately took advantage of this, shooting one of them with his own Dark Magic.
Afterwards, everyone else would enter Ponyville and they came with overwhelming numbers. All of its original residents made a return, swarming the town and surprising the vampires. The Dread League gasped at the sight of this massive light swarm. They put a stop to what they were doing and let go of their shadow chains once the light approached them.
The radiance along was enough to reach the Dread League and force them to hiss violently. They had never been exposed to this much light before and it was absolutely overwhelming in so many ways. They couldn't even find time to retaliate since everyone was one big body of light. And since they all stuck together, their light sources increased in size. The Pokemon even took the opportunity to attack them while they had these light bodies, gaining a larger advantage.
But while everyone was here to take back their homes, Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack were going straight for Ash's home. The gateway to Pallet Town still remained, unaffected by Dark Magic at all thanks to its Rift Properties. Quickly, they would run to the gateway, avoiding everything in their path. They had to make sure how Ash's mom was doing while the Black Crusade was up. After all, the gateway to Kanto was very visible.
Kanto. Pallet Town. Ketchum Household.
"Mrs Ketchum! Mrs Ketchum!" Crying out her name with a bit of worry in her tone was Twilight Sparkle. She and her friends arrived instantly to Kanto when passing through the gateway. The Ketchum Household was always the first thing here. But so was the scenery of Pallet Town.
And speaking of Pallet Town, it looked fine. Completely fine. Everything was how it was. The grass was clean, the trees were healthy and the Pokemon sleeping on top of these trees or around the area were peaceful. Everything was peaceful. Some lights were on, indicating that some were still awake. And that was mainly due to the Sun and Moon issue.
And one of these lights was from the Ketchum Household. Twilight would not hesitate to break down the door at full force, making herself present just to see how Delia was doing. And the moment she opened it, she could believe her eyes. Not one bit.
"Oh, Twilight. Didn't expect to see you tonight." Delia Ketchum was there. Safe and sound. But it was who was next to her that caught her off guard. It certainly wasn't Mr Mime.
But Spectrum Shade.
"Hm?" Spectrum, who was having a bite from Delia's food, looked over to spot Equestrians making an appearance. Her eyes widened, locking onto the eyes of Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. This was quite the odd encounter, especially since Spectrum Shade was casually sitting on the couch with Delia. Truly, neither of them saw this coming.
There was indeed a vampire here but not in the way they expected. Why was Spectrum Shade in this position in the first place, especially since the Black Crusade has finally begun? As the journey continues.
Kanto. Pallet Town. Ketchum Household. Balance of Day and Night.
Coming to see if Delia Ketchum was doing well during the Black Crusade, she was still in one piece and looking as lively and healthy as always. But the look on Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie Pie's faces spoke for themselves as they witnessed Spectrum Shade, a member of the Dread League, sitting on the Ketchum couch and partaking in delicious treats made by Delia herself. And it was so casual too. No damage had been done and there wasn't anything wrong with Pallet Town. It was completely fine. There wasn't even a looming ominous black cloud since a vampire was present here.
"Mmrgh!" Upon seeing them, Spectrum Shade swallowed her food in the wrong way, leading to a choking process. Her eyes bloated as she furiously hit her chest, trying to save herself. It wasn't the loud noise that came from Twilight opening the door that startled her but their sudden appearance. Twilight's group were equally shocked but at least they weren't choking at the moment.
"Oh, drink up." Thankfully, Delia saved her by passing some juice over. The juice was good enough to smooth out the food, saving Spectrum's life, followed by a pat on the back.
"Thanks, Mrs Ketchum..." The vampire sighed in response, slumping on the couch. Her taste buds were satisfied and her health was intact. "Even when choking, it still tasted good though.
"W-What is she doing here?!" Rarity thundered, vigorously aiming her hoof at Spectrum Shade. Pheromosa, Ampharos and two of her Leavanny were prepared to step forward, still appearing as bodies of light. "And she's eating here too?!"
"What?! Can't I eat?!" Spectrum roared back at her. "Plus, I got a great meal out of this! She's really a one-of-a-kind chef"
"Oh, why thank you~" Delia chuckled. "It's my pleasure since you were craving something new, my little pony. But I didn't know you were all friends."
"We're not friends!" Rarity and Spectrum collectively said before glaring back at each other with intense eyes.
"And geez, can you turn that off?!" Spectrum Shade pulled back, feeling the radiation from the light that was around the Equestrians. Her body was slightly sizzling but she managed to weaken it by using her magic, covering her body in a dim multicolour veil.
"Oh, we have quite enough light in this room, girls." Delia sat up, casually walking past Spectrum Shade as if it was nothing. Never had someone looked so gentle around a vampire before. "With the Sun and Moon up at the same time, everyone's active all of a sudden."
"So...everything's fine in here then?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Hm. Didn't see that coming. I thought Galaxy Master would show up here, not her. What's she doing here anyway?"
"Yeah. What are you doing here, actually?" Twilight questioned.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm here to battle Ash." Spectrum Shade's reasoning was clear. And it did not involve the Black Crusade at all. Instead, she just wanted another chance to battle Ash.
"...That's it? That's why you're here?" said Twilight with a rather confused expression. "At this time too?"
"Yeah. Why else would I be here?" Spectrum Shade responded as if this was meant to be known by everyone she's met so far. "It's not that hard to figure ot where he lives thanks to that gateway. I mean, I didn't even come here with that gateway in the first place."
"It's wonderful how my Ash is encouraging so many trainers recently. Everypony back in Ponyville was just the start, I believe. Or were there more? Oh, it's still great either way." Delia happily said. "She eagerly showed up here, looking to battle with Ash, but I told her that he was rather busy at the moment. So, I offered her some food first before she could head out."
"You didn't panic at all?! You knew that the Black Crusade started!" Twilight was absolutely flabbergasted at how calm Delia was about this. She knew that the Black Crusade had begun but didn't seem to be bothered by Spectrum Shade's presence.
"Oh, I know. But she looked so hungry when she got here. I couldn't just let her go on like that."
"Yeah...I came here all the way from Magehold, after all. It was a long trip reaching Pallet Town. Plus, the world is way bigger than it used to be." Spectrum scratched her mane, blushing lightly. "I hadn't eaten for weeks..."
"Without any food for weeks?!" Pinkie Pie gasped as that sounded horrible to hear.
"I can see where Ash's kind-hearted nature comes from." Twilight sighed along with Rarity. They now knew which side of the Ketchums that Ash's kindness comes from. And all signs pointed to Delia since she helped out a vampire during the Black Crusade.
"But I know it's gonna be worth it! My travel's are gonna matter! Ash is just past that gateway after all, right? And since you're here, he must be close!"
"Uhh..." She wasn't wrong. Ash was practically close. Lapras Lake was close to Ponyville and Ponyville was just beyond this gateway. Rarity scrunched her face, not answering that or anything. "E-Either way, we wouldn't tell you. The Black Crusade has started after all and you just want to throw down with him?"
"She did seem interested in Pokemon Battling. Remember what happened with Bertha and Rainbow Dash? She was there." Pinkie Pie brought up the last time they encountered Spectrum Shade aside from the Box of 100 Demons retrieval.
"Yeah, and you were the one who knew she was there in the first place and didn't say anything until the battle was over and she was gone." Twilight shifted her eyes at PInkie pIe who would whistly innocently, knowing that was 100% true.
"I know, I know. I just couldn't do it. Come to think of it..." The pink pony pondered for a moment. "Are you here to help out?! You're so casual with Delia and her food helps with that!"
"A vampire ally? Now of all times?" Rarity gasped, looking back at the vampire. "You aren't going through with the Black Crusade at all."
"If you are here to help us, that'd be amazing!" Twilight expressed how wonderful that would be if Spectrum Shade was on their side. "Potion Nova had a point and I'm guessing those previous experiences had an effect on you! You went this far just to battle Ash since you're interested in Pokemon! And there's no better person to go to than him when it comes to Pokemon interest!"
"Why didn't you say so in the first place silly?!" Pinkie Pie and Mew jumped to this conclusion themselves. Deep within their hearts and from the outside, they believed this to be true. The safety of Delia seemed to back it up a bit and she did butter her up with some food. "If you wanna help us, then sure!"
"...No way." But instantly, Spectrum Shade denied it, shocking them all with her straightforward, quick and direct answer.
"WHAT?!" The girls had their voices explode after the shutdown. It wasn't what they thought at all, alas.
"I don't care about the Black Crusade and I'm definitely not helping you all. I just wanna battle Ash, that's all. But you're right about the 'Interest' part." Spectrum Shade had her priorities straight. It was just Ash and nothing else.
"Y-You don't care about the Black Crusade? At all?"
"Bah. I would've done something to this town by now if I did. But I know what I care about. And it's something that I've been waiting for my entire life. Excitement!"
"Excitement?" Rarity repeated.
"Got that right! I mean, it's not what I had in mind but it's still amazing and something I never knew I needed before. Magehold's totally boring. Living for that long without much excitement is the worst feeling ever!" Spectrum suddenly bellowed, expressing her distaste for Magehold's boredom.
And this all stemmed from Opal Vivacity's actions. Because of her, Magehold was a gloomy and unimpressive place for most vampires thanks to Opal. And even a member of the Dread League had been affected by it. "I couldn't do anything about it at all. Everything fun was just silenced and taken away, turning the place into a snooze-fest."
"For that long?!" Pinkie Pie grimaced as the thought of it was way worse than the lack of food for weeks. Centuries without entertainment and fun was maddening and thinking about it was stressing Pinkie Pie out. Mew couldn't really relate since he always found entertainment despite how long he's been around for.
"I've got Opal to thank for that. Sucks a whole bunch. But! The moment we learned about Pokemon and they came into our world, everything changed. I got my first Pokemon and I knew there was something there. Something new was coming up. It wasn't until I battled Ash in that Human World that the drive for entertainment I lost so long ago came back and since then, I've been wanting to experience it much longer!"
"I see. So that battle you're looking for Ash is a full team battle." Twilight added. "And that's all you want to be fulfilled? Nothing else?"
"I barely even cared about everything else. I just focused on getting my Pokemon stronger than ever. I only went out on missions with the rest of the Dread League in the hopes of battling Ash again if she shows up again. Training with my Pokemon killed so much boredom and it felt like it was going to get better! I mean, I don't have a full team yet but four Pokemon should be good enough if you ask me!"
"I'm sure Ash won't mind how many Pokemon you have with you. You know he has plenty of Pokemon he's caught over the years over at Professor Oak's lab? They all have their fair share of battle experience."
"Really?! Seriously?!" Her eyes widened in wonder. Music to her ears as she had all of these Pokemon to look forward to that great synergy with Ash.
"So, then...after you battle Ash, then what?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I keep going. Ya think I'm gonna let this wonderful world of Pokemon go?"
"You say that and yet your Queen is going extinguish all life until it's just you and the other vampires left alive. There won't be a wonderful world of Pokemon left."
"I know. But...I'm gonna make the most of it. I already saw a lot when travelling the world." Spectrum Shade accepted what could happen. She still wanted to see the Pokemon. "Her majesty's gonna win either way."
"Nuh-uh, we're gonna win!" Pinkie raised her hoof, objecting to that. She believed in Equestria's victory over Magehold. "We've got the greatest friends that ever could be found to back us up!"
"Yeah, right! You haven't been around for centuries so you don't have the experience to deal with all of them!" Spectrum Shade retaliated, trotting up to Pinkie Pie.
"No, but Mew has." The earth pony looked up, nudging her Psychic Partner.
"Mew-Mew!"
"Oh, yeah? Well, I got Pokemon of my own that can mess him up." Spectrum continued, getting close to Pinkie Pie's face. "I've been working extra hard to improve to greater levels. You don't look like the type to put up a good fight."
"You'd be surprised~" Pinkie winked, knowing that she could hold her own in a Pokemon Battle. And it wasn't just with Mew by her side.
"Look." Twilight got in front of them both. "If you want to battle Ash, he's busy. Busy taking on DImstar, that is."
"He's battling Dimstar?!" SPectrum's attention soon turned to Twilight. "Aw, lucky! I gotta get there now then!"
"No way! We won't let you take on, Ash!" Twilight shook her head, refusing to let Spectrum Shade advance. "Not when he's fighting for his life right now..."
"Fighting for his life?" Delia repeated with her ears perking up. The sound of her son fighting for her life had her full attention. She had no clue what he was doing back at Equestria at the moment.
Equestria. Lapras Lake.
"Let's go, Lucario! Force Palm!" With a thunderous shout, Ash continued his battle with Dimstar, now with Mega Lucario on the scene. Mega Audino and Sceptile had also joined him, gaining some resistance to the mortifying aura that Dimstar had permeated the area with.
"Lu...Ca!" With a burst of Aura, Lucario channelled power into his paw. Afterwards, he would lunge in, approaching Dimstar, who already had her tendril fists ready. In fact, she used them to block Lucario's incoming attack instead of hitting back. The Force Palm crashed right into Dimstar's Tendril Arms, sending out a bright flash of energy. "Rrr!"
"Sceptile, Dragon Pulse!"
"Sceptile!" Mega Sceptile got on all fours, opening his mouth and unleashing the power of a dragon at full force. The Dragon Pulse flew out, obliterating some of the sand nearby. The dragon-shaped blast would then hit Dimstar's tendril arms right as she was blocking and the combined force of Force Palm and Dragon Pulse not only pushed her back but harmed her tendril arms.
Grunting at this, Dimstar retaliated by finally attacking with them, going for a heavy strike. And it was indeed heavy as it hit Lucario right in his face, making him grimace and fly back. But Lucario kept his balance, growling at the Hybrid Vampire as he did multiple flips in the air to recover.
"Aura Sphere, Lucario! Pikachu, head in there with Quick Attack and Gengar, use Shadow Ball!"
"Riolu, use Power-up Punch! Sceptile, Thunder Punch!"
"Rio!" Delta Riolu got involved, running ahead as his Sinnoh Variant would descend to the ground next to him, raising the sand from the hard impact he made. Riolu could manage with the morose aura in the atmosphere since he had experience with being around the dead. All of this angered him as he hated how Dimstar was using the dead as a means to gain an advantage.
"Cario!" Joining him was Lucario, who felt all the Auras of the dead crying out in anger. He wanted it all to stop and the only way to make that happen was by defeating Dimstar. Speaking of Dimstar, she would then generate Dark Magic in her massive tendrils, finally using them for something other than punching.
This dark magic was then thrown, going straight for Riolu and Sceptile since they were coming straight for him. But that was where Aura Sphere came in. Lucario's Aura Sphere was already huge, furiously bursting out of Lucario's palm with all the Aura flying out of it.
Aura Sphere intercepted the Dark Magic as it was thrown out, struggling with it for a bit. Both attacks cancelled each other out, forming a blue and black cloud from the explosion which blocked them all from seeing each other. But this gave Riolu and Sceptile a perfect opportunity.
They moved to through the smoke, surprising Dimstar as she received a double hit from two of Applejack's Pokemon on both sides of her face. It was a fierce hook from Riolu who struck her right jaw while Sceptile went straight for the left jaw. She couldn't turn her head either away because of this and it only got worse once Pikachu got it.
"Pika!" Pikachu would then headbutt Dimstar as he appeared in the blink of an eye. Dimstar growled but that wasn't the last attack to get her. That came from Gengar, who threw two Shadow Balls at her. Right as Dimstar was pushed back, she was further launched by a double Shadow Ball that ended up crashing into her. All of this sent her high into the air along with her large tendrils.
"Audi! Hyper Beam!"
"Keep her up there, Roserade! Use Petal Blizzard! "Use Hyper Beam as well Bellossom!"
"Roserade!" Right as she was airborne, Roserade took advantage of this. By putting her bouquet hands together, she generated a whirlwind of blizzards that flew out, surrounding itself around the Half Vampire Half Lich, keeping her in the air. The fierce winds of the Petal Blizzard would continuously push Dimstar up while she was also taking damage.
"Audino!" Following up with that were Audino and Bellossom with Hyper Beam. She put her hands together, gathering up a large portion of Infinity Energy. The energy crackled with lightning flying out, making Audino's arms shake. Afterwards, she unleashed the beam as it lit up the area from how much of it had been gathered. All of that energy flew upwards, approaching Dimstar as the Petal Blizzard had come to an end. Twoo Hyper Beams came upwards as Bellossom released it from her mouth instead.
Dimstar descended but was soon met with the force of two Hyper Beams engulfing her. Dimstar gasped as the attacks covered her entire body, furiously beating her down with all of that Infinity Energy. The attack would combust in the air, shaking some of the palm trees that were around here from the force it generated.
Dimstar would then drop from the explosion after it went off but she wasn't out of it. Instead, she needed up managing to use her arms to block the rest of it. But her arms were currently smoking and her suit had been damaged, showing that the attack still hurt.
"How can this be...?" Dimstar growled. "They should be perishing around the feeling of the deceased. How can they continue in such a way?!"
"Because we know we can put an end to it by stopping you, so it doesn't bother us at all! Bullet Punch, Lucario!"
"Lucario!" Ever since he learned Steel Beam, he tapped into his Steel-Type side. But instead of Steel Beam, he went for Bullet Punch which had recently learned. With both his fists lighting up, Lucario was ready to get airborne. But not without assistance.
"Frenzy Plant!"
"Tile!" Summoning roots out of the ground was Sceptile. Massive roots that could reach impressive lights flew out and formed platforms for all of Sceptile's friends. Lucario would use the roots as a way to get closer to Dimstar, running up them at fast as he could.
"Now, Pikachu! Makeshift Volt Tackle! Back him up with Dazzling Gleam, Gengar!"
"Raboot, use Flame Charge! Bayleef, Body Slam!"
"Sceptile, Leaf Blade! Riolu, get in there with Dark Pulse!"
"Go up, Roserade and use Poison Jab!"
"Pika...Pikachu!" Pikachu would summon Thunderbolt but in a different way. While all of his friends got on the roots of Frenzy Plant, he unleashed a burst of lightning out of his body and at the same time, built up a Quick Attack. The Mouse Pokemon got on all fours, building up some power in his legs as he wanted to make this attack really pack a punch.
Seeing them all appear, Dimstar would use the usual tendrils that she appears with to try and stop them in their tracks. And these tendrils all had darkness around them, giving them that extra power. Lucario would duck from the incoming tendrils, advancing forward while running across the roots. Raboot would use Flame Charge to bash right through one of them, enveloping the tendrils in flames.
Roserade would start hitting at the tendrils with Poison Jab, knocking them aside while approaching the Hybrid Vampire with fiery resolve. Assisting her in knocking them away was Riolu who would shoot a Dark Pulse out to intercept these tendrils the moment they got close to his friends.
"Ca!" Lucario was the first to get close to Dimstar who would quickly shift her attention to him before anyone else. She raised her large tendril arms, engaging in a clash with Lucario. Both of them attacked each other but with Bullet Punch rapidly striking at Dimstar's Tendril Fists.
It was a fierce clash between the two. Both were thrusting their arms as fast as they could as sparks were flying in all directions. Lucario brought on the fury with these attacks as they were all further boosted by his heightened Aura. At the same time, Lucario could hear all of the cries of the deceased from the ground and even the Sea. They would continue on non-stop, not ceasing for a moment.
It still saddened him to hear it but he couldn't afford to tear up right now. He knew that Dimstar's defeat would put an end to it and their cries even managed to boost him. Lucario was fully willing to let them all rest peacefully as that would give him further strength.
Dimstar gasped as Lucario's strength expanded all of a sudden with a flare of Aura flying out of his body. Her fists were being pushed back as Lucario was starting to beat her out in raw strength. "Luca!" Lucario would then deliver a heavy blow to her tendril fists so much that it sent a ripple through them, reaching the rest of her body.
The Hybrid Vampire trembled violently from this rippling shockwave that reached her. She failed the clash against Lucario as her fists opened up to show all those fleshy fingers. And with Lucario's powerful strike, this gave the rest of his friends the chance to get their free hits in.
And they did not hesitate. It started with Sceptile slashing right fast Dimstar with Leaf Blade, becoming a green blur for a moment. Dimstar's eyes opened once Sceptiple passed her, hitting the middle of her body. This was followed up by Raboot bashing his entire flaming body onto Dimstar, further racking up that damage and using another weakness that a vampire possesses.
Right as Dimstar was about to fall, along came Roserade and Delta Riolu with Poison Jab, throwing them down on the Hybrid Vampire. Delta Riolu's Dark Pulse reached her first while Roserade would go in last, striking the vampire with her poisonous bouquet. Each of these hits were bound to send Dimstar downwards at high speeds but not before she met someone along the way.
"Pika!" Pikachu finally took off, finding the perfect time to use his Makeshift Volt Tackle. And with enough power built, he took off at such speeds he made the sound of thunder go off. His body rapidly approached Dimstar as she was falling, moving at lightning speeds. He even made the symbol of a lightning bolt by zigzagging for a moment.
Dimstar did not touch the ground at all. Instead, she was hit directly in the chest by Pikachu's Makeshift Volt Tackle, receiving every bit of it at all full power. Her body was not only exposed to light, electrocuted and hit with a high-velocity tackle, it was also thrown into the air for a second time, keeping her airborne.
"Gengar!" But this allowed Gengar to deliver his Dazzling Gleam. After all of his friends performed a fierce assault on Dimstar, he made his body shine with Fairy Magic, unleashing a beautiful white flash from above. Dimstar went straight for Gengar, unable to recover in the air whatsoever as she was still bewildered.
And that final hit from Gengar's Dazzling Gleam only escalated that. After her body was exposed to the bright light, she would then descend once more. And while descending, her tendrils would return to normal, removing the fist shape that they had.
It was hard fall back down as Dimstar fell to the ground. All the Pokemon would land after dealing so many attacks on Dimstar. And once she hit the ground hard, a crater formed. The feeling of the deceased around them didn't stop them from giving it their all. Not when they were being encouraged to end their suffering.
And indeed, Dimstar had been downed. She laid there in the crater, groaning and squirming as her tendrils weakly flopped to the ground.
"You should've been too afraid to battle..." Dimstar whimpered. "How? How did you get past it?"
"I could hear them too...The Auras of everyone." Ash said while sighing for a moment. "Plus, me and my friends couldn't let that slow us down. We've seen way scarier anyway."
"It's still so sad what's happening here..." Fluttershy uttered. "It feels so heavy hearing them all cry out. But if it means we can make them rest then we had to use everything. And we certainly did..." Just then, Fluttershy would sit down, straining herself greatly. Battling while having this morose presence around certainly did a number on her.
"Yeah..." The same went for Roserade and the other Pokemon. They strained themselves from using everything in this mortifying atmosphere. "I don't think I can continue in this..."
"It's unbelievable..." Dimstar groaned, unable to get her tendrils up at all. Instead, they would simply retract into her body, unable to be used any longer. She then tried crawling out of the crater, attempting to make a turnaround. "I lost...Me. The Hybrid of a Lich and a Vampire. I never thought you'd be this powerful..."
"We've got everyone in the world on the line to protect. We've gotta be this strong." Ash got on one knee. "You've gotta know that. We won't let the Black Crusade take anyone's life. Not for a second."
"You've shown me just how much you can unleash just for this one task...The perseverance of life is that important to you? You're not even aware of what the Lich Queen can do to be ready for her."
"Who cares what my sister can do?" Roseluck spoke. "It sucks that she's doing this but even now I can't let my sister win. You should tell her that when you get back."
"Ngh..." Dimstar would use all of her strength to get up, relying on her physical strength instead of any tendrils. Seeing her get up, Gengar would fly in front of the others, preparing to defend them as he was the healthiest here.
"Rio! Riolu!" Meanwhile, Riolu would bark at Dimstar, wanting her to put an end to this terrifying presence just so the dead can rest in peace. Dismtar looked over at Delta Riolu, hearing his complaints.
"Not yet...I have to fulfil my mission." Dimstar lowered her head. "I cannot give up here. For centuries I've slumbered and now I've awoken to follow the orders of the Lich Ruler. I am the unification of the two species in one, so I must succeed."
"Not while we're here." Ash stood up as well, finding that strength. He adjusted his hat, willing to continue this battle if it meant stopping Dimstar. "If you wanna go again then bring it."
"Are you insane? Even with the Dark Tsunami, the previous attacks and everything, you would still continue?"
"Look who's talking." Ash smiled as he was just that daring enough to continue this battle. "You said we were formidable foes after all, well I haven't shown off everything yet. Right, you guys?!"
"Pika!"
"Luca!"
"Gengar!"
"Kh..." Dimstar scoffed at this. It was absolutely ludicrous that he would continue like this. Fluttershy, Applejack and Roseluck didn't have that same drive but they would certainly back him up.
"I-If you're continuing, then we'll do the same too, Ash." Fluttershy tried standing back up, crawling over to Ash and grabbing his leg. He used his leg as a way to stand back up, using one hoof to wrap around it and give her some balance.
"Right. We told you that we're with you until the end." Applejack groaned.
"Thanks, guys...But man, this feeling's pretty rough, ya know. I can hear them all with my Aura...I don't think they've calmed down at all. Dimstar's still up after all."
"He reminds me of the first Lich King...such a similar drive to him..." Dimstar said to herself, perplexed by this powerful drive that Ash had and how it inspired others. It greatly reminded her of Magehold's first Lich King. Fractured Note.
"Applejack...Applejack!" Just then, crying out to Applejack was a voice. Applejack and Ash both felt it. So did Lucario and Delta Riolu. It was only them that could hear this voice. Not even Audino or Fluttershy could pick up on it. It was exclusively coming to the Aura users.
"That voice...Mom...? Dad?!" Applejack recognized it instantly. Her mother and father Pear Butter and Bright Mac were speaking to her as their voices intercepted all of the cries of the deceased.
"It's alright, sweetie. We'll do the talking from here." Pear Butter uttered.
"Talking?" Applejack repeated.
"You didn't think we'd miss out on this, did you? When it comes to something like this, leave it to us. We can talk to them all for you and settle 'em down." Bright Mac added. These two were already long gone but their spirits remained. Mainly thanks to the Meteors that were brought here from Meteor Mountain. "You won't have to feel all of this anymore."
"We heard them all crying in the afterlife so we had to know what was going on. Don't worry about it okay, sweetie? And it's nice meeting hearing from you again, Ash."
"Awesome! Lucario and I couldn't do it ourselves so that helps out a bunch!" Ash grinned after hearing this. This also brought a smile to Lucario and Riolu's faces. Especially Riolu.
"Heh. I forgot all about that." Applejack chuckled. "We've got the dead on our side the entire time. I've got nothing to worry about at all!"
"Okay, Dimstar! Round 2! Or... three! Let's go!" Ash exclaimed, ready to continue this battle if Dimstar was up for it.
"...Nevermind. "I've lost this battle." Just then, Dimstar lowered her head, giving up entirely. This surprised Ash and the others. They didn't think she'd announce herself giving up. Usually, most vampires combust and leave the scene but not Dimstar. Not at all. She stayed behind. "You are the superior force. I know when i'm beaten."
"She gave up?" A surprised Roseluck said.
"When one side is victorious, it is respectful to acknowledge this." Dimstar would bow her head. "I am beaten...And you've shown me that power that can give you a titanic amount of strength."
"Respect? You can't talk about respect after what you did with the afterlife." Applejack wasn't hearing it.
"Rio!" And neither was Riolu.
"I used every advantage I had against you. And as a Lich, this was only natural. And since you have such a drive to let the dead rest and even gain assistance from it, what more can I do? If you wish to take me in, do so."
"Y-You'd let us take you in?! You're not gonna blow up?!" Fluttershy was flabbergasted by this. For once, there was a vampire who would not blow up and rather take herself in.
"As per the rule that the first Lich King made, I must do this." Dimstar seemed to be following orders from not just the Lich Queen but also the first Lich King who went out of power long ago. "Regretfully, I must do this. It is what I've been assigned to do."
"Assigned?" Ash repeated. "And you've been waiting that long for something like this?"
"PIka?"
"I cannot disobey the orders that my King, or rather, my father assigned to me all those years together. I must carry it out. It is the honourable thing to do."
Unbeknownst to Ash and everyone, Dimstar's father was Fractured Note, who was once the very first Lich King of Magehold. But this process of giving herself up was what threw them for a loop. Dimstar, unlike the other vampires that they've encountered so far, had honour.
Strong honour. Almost like a warrior. She felt like one too. She carried out the objective of partaking in the Dread League that was assigned to her by the Lich Queen ROsa Maledicta, mainly because she was discovered by her at last back at the Despair Plant Garden. But the orders from her father had something else in mind. Something rather honourable. What will happen next now that Dimstar has gone and done this? As the journey continues.
At last, the vampires had been driven back. Unable to handle all the abundant light coming from the residents of Equestria, they were completely overwhelmed. And on top of that, they were being bombarded by Pokemon attacks from all of them plus the attacks of the Everfree Creatures and when adding that all together, it led to a fierce retaliation from this town's residents and the forest that was nearby.
As such, they failed to fully capture Ponyville as their own and the massive number difference was too much for them since so many of them were now bodies of light. Seeing no sign of victory, the vampires would combust. Every last one of them.
Explosions went all over the place, sending the vampires away as a form of retreat. Even the ones who were turned to stone by the Cockatrice were able to combust, breaking their stone prisons and fleeing the scene. Ponyville had been cleared from all vampires, being free once more.
Yet again, Ponyville's residents fought hard to protect the home that they love and succeeded. It took a lot of effort as always but they pulled it off with their coordination.
"That's another one done...I don't even have the strength to cheer." Mayor Mare was relieved. But she and everyone else did not cheer for their victory. They were happy but far too exhausted to cheer at all. A majority of them sat down once all the vampires were gone.
"Same here. We won...Woohoo..." Amethyst Star uttered before lying on her back alongside her Skitty. "Are we sure that's all of them?"
"I think so...I hope so." Emerald Aura replied. The best they could do was hope. All of them were hoping that this was the end. They couldn't even be bothered to repair Ponyville right now. They were far too tired and a majority of them needed some sleep. As for their light bodies, the light would fade away, returning them to normal immediately.
Mayor Mare stood back up, looking over her town and what it has become. From a Despair Plant damaging it, the Dark Tsunami appearing and crashing onto the town along with the final struggle that happened recently, this town, for all of it has been put through was still around. Perhaps that was a testament to how resilient the town and its residents were. They've grown thanks to the Pokemon and were able to keep their town safe with them.
"Mayor. Might I suggest leaving?" Approaching Mayor Mare was Sombra, suggesting something to her.
"Leave? You mean leave Ponyville?"
"Right. It's probably for the best. This town has been completely totalled and taking the time to repair it is rather pointless. Plus, the Lich Queen now has full eyes on this town so staying here is asking for more trouble. We're better off elsewhere until this all ends."
"I'm actually with him on this one. We should be anywhere but here." A Ponyville resident vehemently agreed to this. So did many others. Ponyville was a massive target right now and there was nothing stopping more vampires from showing up here. All they had to do was strike while the residents of Ponyville were tired. It would be horrible for another vampire group to show up and attack them.
"I understand." Mayor Mare sighed as a part of her didn't want to leave the town at all. But seeing how tuckered out her citizens were and the state the town was in plus everything else surrounding it, leaving was the best option. "We'll go elsewhere. The Lich Queen won't find us if we don't state where we're going. She's probably listening in on this conversation but she won't know our destination at all."
"What are we gonna do after we leave?" Scootaloo asked. "Are we gonna bunk somewhere else?"
"The whole world is a hazardous place now because of the Black Crusade, Scootaloo. I'm not sure there are many places for us to hide peacefully. And if there are, the Dread League will creep up on us." Cheerilee laid out the harsh reality.
"If there's something you need to do before you leave, do it quickly. As for me, I will wait for the boy and his other friends to return."
"Come to think of it...Ash hasn't returned yet. I hope he's okay."
Lapras Lake.
As for Ash, his fierce battle with Dimstar had come to an end. Him, Fluttershy, Applejack and Roseluck succeeded but were met with something rather surprising after their victory. Dimstar was still present here even after losing. She did not combust at all and return to Magehold. Instead, she admitted defeat and gave herself up, opting to let them keep her captive here.
"For real? Are you sure about this?" Ash asked, curious if Dimstar was fully confident in this decision. According to her, this was something that the first Lich King prepared her for even though she was carrying out orders from the current Lich Queen, Rosa Maledicta.
"Positive." Dimstar was truly confident. "You've earned my respect with your drive. I will not retreat."
"A bit too welcoming, don't ya think?" Applejack said, rather sceptical about this. "What if she's tricking us?"
"She could be. Or she could be honest about it, you never know." Fluttershy thought about the possibility of her being honest about it.
"It doesn't matter. This is a great opportunity!" Roseluck exclaimed, running ahead to get in front of Ash, facing the Hybrid Vampire. "You're willing to keep yourself here and that means I have the chance to ask you this. Take me to my sister!"
"What?!" Applejack and Fluttershy shouted in unison. Roseluck made a powerful and highly risky demand immediately. She wanted to go straight to the Top Pony herself. The Lich Queen. That obviously meant straight to Magehold and she was hoping that Dimstar could do that.
"Hold it! That's a tall order there, Roseluck!" Applejack ran over, quickly speaking so that Roseluck's hasty decision isn't fully accepted. "You're gonna go there?! All the way to Magehold?! Why?!"
"Are you going to try and talk with the Lich Queen? I mean, it's not the worst idea but..." Fluttershy replied, believing Roseluck would try and reconcile with her big sister if there was a slight chance for it.
"Talk with her? No way." However, Roseluck wasn't planning on chatting with her sister at all. "There'll be talking alright. But I've got a lot of words to throw at her now." Instead, Roseluck made up her mind and decided that her sister was her enemy. Their reunion wouldn't be one of reconciliation but rather anger. Roseluck was certainly furious with how her sister turned out, especially when comparing it to her childhood. "She's causing all this destruction and for what? Some goal that she's just carrying out?"
"You wish to see her? Even though I am allied with the Dread League, anyone can tell you that is a foolish decision." Dimstar added, finding that to be a ludicrous request that would cost Roseluck her life.
"I have to see her! Because I want to be the one to smack her around for doing something like this!" Roseluck also wished to give her sister a good beating. A well-deserved one too. "You just have to take me there, DImstar! Just uh...look at me and think of your Queen!"
"..." Dimstar would look at Roseluck, trying to see if she could spot some of Rosa Maledicta in her. She intensified her eyes, seeing the similarities instantly. They both had the same eyes. While the colours were different, that signature family look was very much present. It was mainly the face where the similarities could be found. "I do see it. But even then...Are you sure about this?"
"I still don't trust this..." Applejack grumbled. Her trust levels weren't exactly that high. Especially since there was a vampire here. She still had a dislike for them and for rightful reasons. Even with Dimstar's honourable personality, Applejack was a cautious pony.
"There is a way to take you there but..."
"I'll be the one to give an example!" Suddenly, out of nowhere, a raspy and creepy voice yelled out, intercepting Dimstar's comment. Hooves flew out of the sand, instantly grabbing Fluttershy's hooves. Everyone's heads turned to face the direction of this voice with Audino being the first.
The one to grab Fluttershy was Shrivel. The vampire who first attacked Ponyville. She never left this part of Equestria at all. She has been here all along, still appearing beat up. But that didn't stop her from taking action as Fluttershy was enveloped in a dark magic.
"Audino!" Audino yelled before being blown back by the Dark Magic field. So were Audino and Raboot as they were the clostest to Fluttershy. All three of them would tumble and roll on the sandy ground.
"Fluttershy?!" Ash roared out, seeing his friend being held by a surprise vampire.
"They thought I combusted and left the scene! But I stayed!" Shrivel cackled before putting her hooves all around Fluttershy. This whole time, she's been hiding, biding her time until the time to strike was right. "I may have lost but I'll take a reward at least!"
"Thunderbolt, Pikachu!"
"Pika...Chuuu!" Pikachu would act as soon as possible, shooting out a Thunderbolt from his body at his best speed. But even though he moved fast, the bolt was stopped by the field Shrivel put up. Not only was it stopped but it was reflected. And its target ended up being Dimstar.
Dimstar took a hit, receiving the 100,000 volts instead. She was already weakened but this only added up some more damage she didn't ask for. The Hyrbid Vampire would fall over from this, heading back into the crater that was made from her hard fall.
"Heard it all, Dimstar! You have no loyalty to us so that's what you deserve! And the rest of you have other things to worry about! Bye-bye now!" Shrivel cackled as the magical field she made out suddenly combusted, enveloping herself as well. It was similar to how the vampires combusted but much larger and this time involved someone else.
Once the explosion subsided, Shrivel was gone. And so was Fluttershy. Their dearest friend had been kidnapped but that wasn't all that they had to worry about, just as Shrivel said. Right after Shrivel and Fluttershy left the scene, the sand was beginning to shrivel. They all felt the sand change all of a sudden, not giving them time to process Fluttershy's disappearance.
Lapras Lake was shrivelling up, starting from the outskirts and turning all the sand rubbery. But right after it became rubbery, the sand would break apart, destroying the foundation of this ground instantly. Everyone instantly fell once the sand had been obliterated after being shrivelled up, falling into a lower part of the lake.
They all screamed after falling as it would lead them back to the waters of Lapras Lake which were still intact. And right as they started falling, Bayleef's leaf would act up, immediately attempting to save them all. And while Bayleef's leaf came off, Ash cried out Fluttershy's name as it echoed through the darker and deep areas of this lake where the water was waiting for them. "Fluttershy!"
Kanto. Pallet Town. Ketchum Household. Balance of Day and Night.
"Yeah, I'm going. And you're not gonna be the ones to stop me." Spectrum Shade meanwhile, still wanted to face Ash. After having a good time over at the Ketchum Household with Delia being a friendly house hos, she was eager to battle her son as soon as possible, even if Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie Pie said otherwise. "Thanks for the food by the way, Mrs Ketchum."
"Oh, don't mention it."
"While it's good that you had a good time here, we still won't let you get to Ash. Not when all of this is going on." Twilight was strong in her decision.
"Tch! Seriously?! If you're gonna stop me then why don't you battle me?!"
"I don't have time for a battle! None of us do! Well, we are battling but it's for a different reason!" Twilight roared at her.
"I'm afraid she's right, Spectrum. I'm sure my son would love a battle but even in this instance, he'd be too focused on keeping everyone else safe. That's just the kind of boy my Ash is."
"So...No battle with Ash? At all?" Spectrum said with disbelief. Since it softly came from Delia herself, she was starting to be convinced as opposed to how Twilight and the others informed her.
"I mean you could just battle him with the intention of the Black Crusade." Rarity shrugged. "If you run into him that is. I'm not saying you should do it but..."
"Hmph! Well, I'll get my battle eventually! Not even the Black Crusade is gonna stop me from making it happen!" An eager Spectrum Shade raised her hoof.
"But you're still going to go through with it?"
"I told you, I don't care for it. Besides, it's not my style. Destroying all life just isn't it for me." She crossed her hooves looking her way as she expressed her disdain for the Black Crusade. It further surprised the ponies with how Spectrum SHade acted. She wasn't like the other vampires and it showed. She had completely different intentions.
And it all stemmed from her lack of entertainment. Of course, Opal Vivacity was the main cause of that. Spectrum Shadhe hadn't even taken part in the Black Crusade at all. To her, the destruction of life was not her taste. It was Pokemon that interested her. However, she also showed no intentions of teaming up with Equestria. She just wanted to battle Ash, that's all.
"Ah, this isn't going anywhere..." Twilight facehoofed. "I was hoping for the latter honestly. So what are you going to do anywhere now that you've learned this?"
"I don't know...I'll just wait." Spectrum Shade chose to wait. "Maybe even check out Ash's Pokemon at that lab. See what the competition holds."
"She reminds me of Rainbow Dash a bit, don't you think?" Rarity said to Pinkie Pie.
"Mhm. I get what you mean." Pinkie Pie agreed as she could also see the similarities. The fact that they both had the colours of the rainbow that is always in the sky was obvious. Very much obvious. And they seemed to have a similar attitude when it comes to Pokemon.
"You're welcome to stay here much longer. It's neither Day or Night right now so we have a lot we can do. Shall I treat you all to some food?"
"We have to get going, Mrs Ketchum, sorry. We have to stop the Black Crusade as soon as possible. And the best way for us to do that is by freeing Yveltal. As long as Yveltal is free, the Dread League will lose a major part of their plan." Twilight explained. "I'm not sure how I feel about having a vampire stay with you while we're gone...but to be honest, she doesn't seem so bad."
"What?!" Spectrum Shade gasped at that.
"Right?" Delia chuckled. "Good luck out there and save us all from destruction, okay? I'll be fine. I promise."
"Hold it! What makes you think I don't seem that bad?!" Spectrum Shade roared at Twilight, clearly not liking that comment at all as it made her seem less intimidating than she wanted to be.
"I'm just saying that-" Before Twilight could continue saying anything else a sudden arrival of a large crowd jumpscared her and everyone in the Ketchum Household. Jumping through Pallet Town were the Ponyville Residents. They all decided where they should go and Kanto was the collective decision.
They all appeared with their Pokemon aside from the Everfree Forest Creatures. Not even the massive Uras could be seen showing up. The streets of Kanto, at least the Ketchum Household's vicinity, were being filled up with their next-door neighbours across the gateway.
And the way they entered was rather sluggish. Since they were all tuckered out, they pathetically passed through the gateway when making an appearance. All except for Sombra who entered without showing any signs of exhaustion.
"Oh, my. Are they all planning to stay here?" Delia said, believing that they were all coming over to her home.
"They passed through here? Why?" Twilight wondered why they all chose to show up here all of a sudden. Little did she know and little did all of them know, something else was happening back at Equestria. And it involved Ash and Fluttershy.
Equestria. Magehold.
Back at Magehold, Shrivel had returned. And when making her return, it was at the deep chamber where all vampire ponies who combust, end up in these millions of tubes to heal up as if nothing ever happened. In Shrivel's case, she brought Fluttershy with her as the pegasus ended up in one of these tubes herself.
Not only did she end up there but she was also unconscious. Damage from the previous battle caused this but also the fact that she was taken in by an explosion. It has only been a few minutes since she got here and her first experience of Magehold was in the tubes. Well, she couldn't experience it at all since she was unconscious at the moment.
"Fluttershy?!" And seeing Fluttershy here were the two alicorn princesses who had also been captured. Princess Cadence and the older Flurry Heart from another universe. They couldn't believe their eyes when Fluttershy showed up in these tubes as well. But she was here for a different purpose compared to these two.
Fluttershy was here to become one of the vampires. More specifically, the Bat Pony magic that lies dormant within her. That hadn't been dismissed at all despite all the failed attempts. But now it was Shrivel who managed to succeed in bringing her here. And with that success, she cackled. She may have failed to take down Ponyville, but this reward was good enough to hr. And unfortunately for Fluttershy, she would become a test subject.
A majority of the ground over at Lapras Lake had been shrivelled up, soon breaking apart and allowing the rest of the lake's water to show itself. This was all thanks to Shrivel who landed a sneak attack on Ash and the others. But right before they could crash into the lake, Bayleef's leaf went off once more. She took the risk even with the Sun and Moon being beside each other.
However, the leaf never touched Bayleef. Instead, the shrivelling sand would consume it. The Fate-Changing Leaf was consumed by the sand, cancelling out Bayleef's special ability. Shrivel planned this. She was well aware of Fluttershy's Bayleef thanks to Opal Vivacity, thus, she prepared for this. And that sneak attack certainly helped.
"Gen!" The only one who managed to avoid this was Gengar as he turned intangible to phase through the falling debris, floating upwards. "Gen-Gen?!"
"Gengar! Use Psy-" But before Ash could utter something, he fell into the lake with the debris hitting him on the way down. But Gengar understood Ash clearly. He wanted Gengar to use Psychic but Gengar already planned for that. With his eyes flashing blue, Gengar focused all of his mental might on Ash and everyone right as they fell into the lake. All of there were underwater, still being struck by the debris that would continuously drop on them as it looked like even the water was being affected by Shrivel's magic a bit.
Roseluck was hit in the head by the sand debris, becoming unconscious instantly. It was horrible for her to be unconscious at this time, especially since she was at risk of drowning. Roserade gasped after seeing Roseluck take a hard hit to the head but would soon feel herself receiving a hit since she opened her mouth. Roserade quickly closed it, trying to receive some air as soon as possible.
"Gar!" Gengar managed to find his focus. From Ash and Pikachu to even the Timberwolves that were already unconscious thanks to the previous altercation with Dimstar. And speaking of Dimstar, she was falling too. Shrivel did not consider Dimstar's own safety, choosing to let her drown as well after she gave herself up, knowing when she had lost.
Quickly, Gengar grabbed them all except for Delta Riolu, who was immune. This was the worst possible time to have an immunity but knowing this, Lucario would grab onto Delta Riolu, using all of his strength as his body was outlined in a Psychic Blue aura. The Shadow Pokemon carefully pulled them all out of the lake, avoiding the falling debris as well.
There was still some land left here at Lapras Lake. Shrivel's magic didn't take everything after all. She wasn't at full power thanks to the beating she received back at Ponyville but still recovered enough to cause this much damage and capture Fluttershy. Everyone would be gently placed on the land of sand that was still intact, away from the land that had been shrivelled and crumpled.
"Hah...Great save, Gengar..." Ash said, taking a deep breath while holding his chest. Some of the debris hit his chest rather hard. So hard that Ash felt the need to curl. He already took a heavy blow from Dimstar during their battle and this only added to it. His shirt was slightly ripped thanks to all this battling he's been doing, showing his injured spot.
Ash looked at his chest to see that there was a hard bruise there. It wasn't enough to make a wound but it was close. The rest of his body had other bruises that could be found across different parts of his body. Sceptile and the others took some hits from the debris too, unfortunately, needing the chance to heal up.
Thankfully, they had Audino here, who could heal them. However, Audino wasn't in the best mood right now. Audino was devastated, along with Raboot and Bayleef. Fluttershy had been captured. They feared that this would happen ever since Opal Vivacity planned to take her in, just to bring out the bat pony part within her which still existed even after the Vampire Fruit Bat problem had been solved.
"Audino...!" A saddened Audino cried out, getting on her knees. She yelled out Fluttershy's name as the trainer she formed a powerful bond with from the very first day they met was gone. And it had to be Magehold of all places. "Audino!" Audino cried once more. She was so distraught by this that she didn't even take the time to heal everyone else of their injuries. Not even her own.
"Fluttershy's gone...They got her! Dagnabbit!" A frustrated Applejack slammed her hooves on the ground but ended up harming herself. Her hooves were in pain so swinging them down so hard brought further pain to the earth pony. "Ngh! That Shrivel...She was waiting the whole time. I thought she left Ponyville and went back to Magehold but she's just been hiding from us."
"I'm afraid some vampires are capable of concealing their magic." Dimstar suddenly said, appearing the healthiest out of all of them but still full of bruises, tatters and scratchers. Her words gained the attention of Ash and everyone else. "We vampires learned how to lower our presence to the point where we might as well not even be there. Shrivel used that exact skill to get the better of you all."
"Well, it's not over yet!" Ash exclaimed, pushing himself by raising his voice. "We're gonna get Fluttershy back and that's final!"
"But it's not just Fluttershy...Fantina, Yveltal and now Cadence and Flurry Heart? We're gonna have to save 'em all." Applejack saw this growing out of control. It did not stop at the two alicorn princesses or even Yveltal and Fantina. Now Fluttershy was in Magehold.
"If you wish to have me take you there still, I can do that. The same that Shrivel pulled it off but-"
"No. Not yet." However, Ash didn't jump into it instantly. As much as he wanted to, he was aware of how dangerous that would be to suddenly show up in Magehold at this crucial moment. "Not until we have everyone helping out. If we've got everyone backing us up, then we can head there. Hear that, Audino?"
"A-Audi..." Audino sniffled, contemplating Fluttershy's disappearance as she looked over at Ash. Her tearful eyes met with his, seeing how they were filled with a fiery passion. Ash kept a serious yet hopeful look on his face. Even after everything that happened, he kept his hope up strong, not faltering for a moment. "Dino?"
"If we act fast, we can get her back before she turns into a vampire."
"That will take some time, thankfully. Those are some good news that you'd love to hear." Dimstar suddenly replied.
"You know how it works? How somepony becomes a vampire?"
"There's a process for it but it has never been done before. Your friend is the first ever Bat Pony that is not a full-on vampire at all. They will try and rearrange her cells and change her makeup and magic so that she becomes one of them. But that will take them days. Perhaps weeks to pull it off. You have time on your side, if you can get there in time.
"That's all I need to hear. Audino. Hang in there, okay? Heal up Roseluck as soon as possible."
"Dino! Audino!" The Hearing Pokemon wiped her tears away, nodding in understanding. That was what she needed. She needed someone to talk to her before the loss of Fluttershy could truly destroy her. Thankfully, Ash was the right person to speak to Audino, sparking up hope in her heart.
At this point, they had all decided on one thing. It was straight to Magehold. The land of the vampires was the final destination for them. Nowhere else but there. However, they would need the forces necessary to enter there before it was far too late to save Fluttershy. They knew they were bound to run into more vampires. The Black Crusade would make sure of that. But first, all of them needed healing from Audino.
Kanto. Pallet Town. Ketchum Household.
"So, you all came here to hide?" Delia spoke to the Ponyville residents. They had all entered Pallet Town by passing through the gateway, stopping over at the Ketchum Household. Some were inside and most were outside, taking the time to sit down. Being here at Pallet Town was just as soothing as Ponyville. It was a peaceful place without a doubt.
"Just to rest and be safe. At least, they wish to rest." Sombra explained everything that happened to Delia Ketchum, catching her up to speed. "All except for Ash, who is back at Equestria and the only reason I'm here is because Rift Magic is allowing me to be this far away from him, even surpassing the gateway.
"Well, if you're in one piece and looking healthy, that obviously means that Ash is okay! Thank Celestia!" Twilight could rest easy, knowing that Ash was fine since Sombra was still around.
"Right, right. Just one question..." Sombra's eyes twitched as noticeably, many of the ponies were shuddering at what they were witnessing. It was impossible to ignore since it was right next to Delia. So casually too. Or rather, she was right next to Delia.
Spectrum Shade the Vampire.
"Why is she here?" Sombra questioned, pointing out the obvious vampire in the room who was just there. Not much has gone on even with her presence here. Funnily enough, this was the safest anyone was around a vampire but they still felt greatly threatened and reasonably so.
"Oh, well she's only here to battle Ash but she might have to wait for a while."
"Oh yeah! I'll get my chance! Just you wait and see!" Spectrum Shade yelled, startling everyone else as they believed she was about to strike. And yet, she did no such thing. "By the way...aren't you King Sombra?"
"The one and only." Sombra proudly smiled. "It's wonderful to know that my name is still being brought up to this day. Obviously, those at Magehold know about me by now."
"So you're saying it's safe for her to be here, Mrs Ketchum?" Amethyst Star asked.
"Of course. I took her in myself and fed her since she was starving, travelling the world for many days." Delia said. "She's rather wonderful if you get to know her more."
"Gh! Don't say that!" Spectrum Shade bellowed as she didn't want her to be talked about in such a way.
"But it's true, isn't it? We had a lovely chat when you sat around here." Delia begged to differ. "You had quite a bit to share when we talked. You're not so bad after all, are you?"
"I should've left when I had the chance..." Spectrum grizzled her teeth while her face turned red. "But that food was so tempting and worth it at the same time."
"As far as things go, she's surprisingly okay right now," Twilight spoke, even deciding to back up Spectrum Shade. "I'm more worried about what's happening on the other side. You all came here but the Everfree Creatures?"
"They're staying behind. They actually chose to defend our town while we're gone, hiding elsewhere." Mayor Mare replied. "As for everyone else here, I want them to rest and heal. And next to Ponyville, this is the safest place I can think of."
"You're more than welcome to stay here and sleep for as much as you want. I'm positive everyone here in Kanto will give you a place to sleep. Most of us are awake because of the Sun and Moon."
"Love to hear it...now I can finally do this..." After hearing that, Amethyst Star would instantly fall asleep, wasting no time. She had this opportunity and she wasn't going to waste it. All of them did. Right now, they were safe here at Pallet Town since it hadn't been attacked yet, even though a vampire was present here.
Spectrum Shade sighed, waiting around a bit longer. She would take a seat back on the couch, having nothing else to do right now despite the Black Crusade being in full swing. Despite being in the Dread League, she was not that active.
"You're just going to sit around and wait until Ash shows up? Still?" Twilight approached her.
"Yeah. I've got the patience. I'm centuries old after all and I had to build up a lot of it." She crossed her hooves while speaking to Twilight.
"You said something about entertainment being blocked off by Opal or something like that? What do you mean by that exactly? Judging by what you were saying, it sounded like Pokemon was the only form of entertainment you managed to get."
"There used to be a lot of things to do over at Magehold. We had all kinds of entertainment to keep us happy in the past. I was born a few years after Magehold was getting its stride with what it could do. But right as I was born, that's when Opal changed everything. Because of her, entertainment's been sucked out of Magehold. Now it's just boring. It sucks that I was born after it had been taken away and I got to witness her destroy more of them."
"All of them?"
"Pokemon's the best thing to happen like I said. And it's been worth it so far. But I don't have anything else to say to you." Spectrum stopped there, simply waiting for Ash. But Twilight heard enough. She got quite a lot from Spectrum Shade now. Beyond just being a member of the Dread League, she seemed to have some good in her. Glaring good to be exact. It could be seen in her and a bit of it stuck out during the third Pokemon Festival.
Noticeably, Spectrum Shade never took part in the vampiric attack during the third Pokemon Festival in any way. She was there but did nothing the whole time. Even when she had the opportunity to attack everyone, she didn't.
Magehold.
"Well now...How are we going to do this?" Staring at Fluttershy in the tube was Sweet Fang. The pegasus appeared to be resting peacefully despite being unconscious, unaware of what was about to happen to her. And the one who would try and bring out the vampire within her would be Sweet Fang.
And already, she had objects around her that were being used on her. While in the tube, Fluttershy had these wires latched onto her, clasping the back of her neck. These wires had dark magic all around them while also connecting to the other tubes here. Noticeably, these tubes all had vampires in them who were also unconscious. Each of them were also being used as test subjects just to bring this one part of Fluttershy out.
The wires pulsated as Princess Cadence and the older Flurry Heart witnessed the process for themselves. They saw how Dark Magic from the other vampires was being sucked away from them and transferred into Fluttershy. Fluttershy was the main target, thus, she would receive what was taken from them.
Fluttershy did not feel this transference at all. She was still resting peacefully. Meanwhile, Cadence tried breaking out of the tube to come to Fluttershy's aid but alas, this was made for alicorns as well. The two alicorns failed to break free as they were still helpless prisoners.
"What are you doing to her!?" Flurry Heart shouted, banging her hooves on the tube.
"Changing her into one of us. This will take a while. A long while. But the payoff will be excellent, I know it." Sweet Fang replied, placing her hoof on Fluttershy's tube. "Dark Magic will help the process quicker but this is the first time anything like this has ever been done. And once I'm done with her, she'll lose her prettiness factor entirely. If I were to be honest, her beauty rivals Opal's and that can't slide here at Magehold."
"You've taken Fluttershy away and that's only going to lead to a disastrous downfall. Her friends will go to the greatest friends to save her!" Cadence warned Sweet Fang, essentially calling this a mistake on her part. But it was very much true that her friends will do the wildest things just for each other. A majority of the time, it was at the cost of their own lives.
"Hmph. Is that so?" Sweet Fang wasn't that bothered at all. "We'll just have to see. If they ever get here that is. I'm guessing by the time they show up, they'll be taken out immediately. There is no way they can handle a continuous onslaught from many, many vampires such as myself. You two should keep quiet when speaking about nonsense. After all, I believe it's time for you to be taken to her majesty once more. More of your lifespan shall be sucked away."
Cadence and Flurry Heart were still being used as tools to give Rosa Maledicta a longer lifespan, unfortunately. They were about to be sent back to her, unprepared to lose more of their strength and life. The tubes they were in were opened up, immediately freeing them. But even though they were free, they were still captured. Their bodies were weaker now thanks to what Rosa Maledicta had done.
The Alicorn Duo dropped to the floor, hitting it hard as they were almost like ragdolls the way they fell. Both of them grunted before witnessing Sweet Fang's hoof in front of them.
Magehold Contest Hall.
However, right now, at this moment, with the Pokemon Contest ongoing and many ponies having the chance to show off their skills and dazzle the crowd, the last coordinator was about to appear. And it was the one who would apparently help bring down the barrier.
Eccentrick.
After the previous coordinator finished up, she was up next. Alongside her was her partner Inkay who she gently held in her hooves. Once she heard her name being called out, she knew it was time.
"Fantina's counting on me. She wants me to really push my Reverse Magic and let all of Magehold feel it." She thought to herself. Since her current idol, Fantina put faith in her, Eccentrick did not wish to let her down at all. This was a moment she's been waiting for ever since entertainment in Magegold was ruined all those years ago.
Fantina looked over to see Eccentrick's appearance, putting on a smile. Fantina had full faith in the vampire, believing that she would pull off a great show. After all, she saw the potential in her when they had that conversation back at her home earlier. It was all a matter of how she pulled it off with Inkay.
Whatever she was about to do in the Pokemon Contest would change the course of the Black Crusade without many even knowing about it as the journey continues.
At last, showing up in Ponyville was Rainbow Dash. She left her home up in Cloudsdale, woken up by some of the Sun's rays that hit her face. The moment she arrived at Ponyville, confused as to what time it was, she saw what had become of the town. It had seen better days. Much better days.
"W-What happened?!" Her eyes opened as wide as they could to witness the lack of anypony else. No one familiar could be seen as the streets were empty with their usual residents. And with so many buildings totalled, it was easy to see how no one would be in there. However, there was still life here.
The Everfree Creatures. They were staying behind, opting to protect Ponyville but to Rainbow Dash, that didn't seem to be the case. Rainbow Dash instantly thought that they were behind this especially since there was an Ursa Major here, looking up at the pegasus.
"What did you do!?" Rainbow Dash roared at the Everfree Creatures, blaming them for this destruction. It wasn't hard to see why she immediately thought this. Rainbow Dash instantly held out a Poke Ball, ready to confront them all. The Everfree Creatures felt threatened by this roaring, growling and hissing at Rainbow Dash as they all misunderstood each other.
The Everfree Creatures did not explain things to Rainbow Dash mainly because they were currently on high alert. And they weren't a fan of Rainbow Dash bringing this tone down on them all. Rainbow Dash was fearless in the face of these creatures. Even when staring at the Ursa Major, she would try and confront them. "You all don't scare me! Bring it on!"
"Wait, wait!" However, arriving to the scene before this could turn into something ugly was Ash. He and his friends had finally left Lapras Lake, ending up here to see Rainbow Dash about to throw down with the Everfree Creatures. "Wait, Dash!
"Ash?" Rainbow Dash paused, ceasing her hoof momentum. Ash showed up just in time to stop this, looking healthier. However, he had noticeable bandages around his arm which were over his bruises that he received during battle. Rainbow Dash calmed down after seeing some familiar faces but noticed how Roseluck was currently unconscious.
"Phew...That was close." He sighed after stopping the potential confrontation. After seeing him casually stand next to the Everfree Forest Creatures, Rainbow Dash needed plenty of answers right now.
"Ash? Applejack? What's going on?! Where is everypony?!" Rainbow Dash descended. Ash took a deep sigh, needing to explain everything to Rainbow Dash. And it would be as soon as possible since eyes were currently on them. The eyes of Rosa Maledicta to be exact since Ponyville had been hit with a Despair Plant attack previously.
Magehold. Magehold Contest Hall.
Meanwhile, stepping onto the contest stage as the final coordinator was Eccentrick alongside her partner Inkay. Introducing her to everypony else was Fantina who was looking forward to this. A majority of everypony here weren't aware that this was not only a fun contest but also a way to break down the barrier around Magehold.
She wasn't nervous about the contest at all. Eccentrick was waiting for something like this and wouldn't hesitate to go for it. It was the trick of pulling off her Reverse Magic at a high degree. Fantina laid out a plan for her and it was up to Eccentrick to pull it off since it would be widespread, serving one crucial purpose.
"Now, for the last part of the Performance Stage!" Fantina exclaimed. "It's all yours!"
"Thanks! Go Inkay!" Eccentrick would then toss Inkay into the air, causing the Revolving Pokemon to flip multiple times. Already, it was pulling off tricks before it even touched the stage.
"Inkay!"
"Use Flamethrower!"
"Kay!" And while flipping in the air, the Dark-Psychic-Type breathed out flames which would immediately correlate with his spiralling motion. Instead of flying in a single direction, the flames would surround Inkay's entire body, turning him into a Living Fireball or even a meteor as he came crashing down.
All the vampires gawked at Inkay's early trick. It got a head start before touching the stage and when it finally did, the flames from Flamethrower would cause a flaming pulse that spread across the circular stadium floor, decorating it. Now Inkay's performance could kick off.
"We're allowed to use magic in this contest so...here, Inkay!" Since magic was allowed to be used, this prompted the coordinators to do whatever they wanted. It made for some truly entertaining performances and Eccentrick aimed to top all of that. She used her Curse Magic, shooting it out of her wings.
The Reverse Magic would wrap itself around Inkay's flames, creating another layer. Once the magic connected with the flames, it would instantly reverse them. But not the properties. Rather, it would reverse the colour. Eccentrick chose to reverse the scarlet colours of the flames, changing them into a bluish colour instead.
The blue flames would flare out, dazzling everyone's eyes. This was the reverse or rather the complementary colour, giving extra flair to the performance. Seeing Blue Flames was incredibly rare. Very few Pokemon can use it such as Reshiram and Mega Charizard X and blue flames are incredibly hot for many magical beings to hold, limited to just the orange appearance. But with Eccentrick's magic, she could easily change it and whatever she pleases as long as she had the capability.
"Blue Flames! How rare!" Fantina gushed at this. "That just goes to show how good her magic is! Not many can casually bring those kinds of flames out! Look at the way Inkay spins with it!"
"Good thing I'm not down there." A vampire said as this was obviously a weakness for them. They were all weak to fire and Blue Fire was another level. However, they enjoyed watching it when they weren't being threatened by it.
"Nice work, Inkay!" Eccentrick cheered as she could already hear the happy voices among the crowd. Just what she wanted to hear. It has been so long since such a sound has blessed her ears ever since Opal's cruel actions. Her time to shine finally showed itself. "This is great...I just have to keep it up until the big moment."
But the time for her to really use the full extent of her Reverse Magic was not yet here. But it was close. Eccentrick wanted to 'Wow' the crowd after all. She wasn't about to let this moment slip away from her now that Fantina has given her and many others this entertaining chance once more.
At the same time, Cadence and Flurry Heart were being brought back to Rosa Maledicta. Their lifespans were about to be absorbed once more. They were already in weakened states because of that act. They were so weak that they had to be brought here by the vampires in chains no less.
Waiting for them was Rosa Maledicta, who was overseeing the areas where Despair Plants managed to show up at. Once a Despair Plant showed up, her eyes would focus on those areas immediately, seeing how everything was going and preparing to interfere. Her eyes were also on Ash and Rainbow Dash who were over at Ponyville, talking to each other.
Once she saw the two alicorns enter the room, a devious smile met her face, eager and ready to steal more of their lifespans which would weaken them as alicorns. "Excellent. It's that time of the night once more. With this next absorption, I wonder how far you'll fall?" She said to them, only receiving a sharp glare from Cadence while Flurry Heart only had saddened eyes.
Once facing them, Rosa Maledicta would not waste any time. With the magic flying out of her horn, that corrupted stream appeared once more, slithering towards the alicorn duo. It first struck Cadence's chest before splitting off to latch onto Flurry Heart. Flurry Heart tried moving away but was far too late for that. Once more, they were latched onto by a dark form of magic.
It felt like something sharp stabbed into them. Their bodies trembled, receiving a chilling feeling that the Frozen North couldn't even rival. Rosa Maledicta's magic was far more chilling in every way. And when they first had some of their lifespans taken away from them, it felt like their hearts were being frozen and they could feel every bit of it without having a way to retaliate since they were still bewildered back then.
However, things were different. Now that they were aware of their situation, even when chained up and weaker, Cadence would act. And she acted by using her magic while Rosa's magic was in action. Her signature magical colour appeared on her horn before resonating with Rosa's horn.
"Trying to retaliate by entering my mind?" It was another attempt to attack the mind as Rosa Maledicta pointed out. Cadence was already on it out at her state, she was not powerful enough to do anything about this. She wanted to try though, hoping that she could take Rosa Maledicta by surprise.
Alas, that wasn't happening but she kept at it still, using her current magic to resist. Cadence could at least try and resist the magic, even if it proved to be pointless. Meanwhile, her daughter from another universe was practically about to fall over. She had a fresher lifespan compared to her mother, still having room to grow even though these two haven't been around as long as Celestia or Luna.
However, while Rosa Maledicta was taking more of their lifespans away, Eccentrick's big climactic moment for the Performance Stage of the Magehold Pokemon Contest was about to occur. And away from those two were the vampire ponies focused on breaking the barrier themselves. Ordered y Fractured Note, they were attacking it from below, knowing that it was pointless since Rosa Maledicta made it absurdly powerful. However, they were only doing this because they were waiting for Eccentrick. Once Eccentrick does what she needs to do, their hits would finally matter. And it appeared that chance would finally come to them.
Inkay was still surrounded by the Blue Flames as it then used turned itself upside down, levitating into the air and bringing the flames with it. Inkay then used Double Team, duplicating himself multiple times. Multiple Inkay's appeared in the air, surrounded by the azure flames as well.
Soon, the air was filled with a spiral of Blue Flames that were in sync with each other while staying in a perfect line. But Eccentrick wanted to create a contrast. She focused her magic on the Inkay clones, reversing their flames. Or rather, bringing them back to their original colour.
Multiple orange flames were next to the blue flames, forming a nice contrast. To everyone here, it looked like a bunch of ellipses in the air. It was safe to say that they were amazed as Eccentrick's magic complimented this greatly.
"Alright! Now's my chance!" Eccentrick exclaimed before building up her Reverse Magic. "Come together, Inkay! Then use Thunderbolt!"
"Inkay!" Afterwards, Inkay's clones would close on it, bringing the orange spiralling flames back to the original body. The orange flames all met with the blue flames as they all combusted in unison. The explosion unleashed a bright light that had an azure colour in the middle and the orange everywhere else, forming an eyeball of some sort. Normally, the light would be greatly threatening to every vampire here, but not this time.
Not with Eccentrick's magic.
She was truly feeling the flow of everything here, invested in what she managed to pull off. Hearing the crowd cheer for her and Inkay brought a powerful light back in her. This was something that was missing for so long and she couldn't be any happier that it had returned. And with that happiness, she would unleash her Reverse Magic in the biggest way yet. The magic went widespread, first hitting Inkay's Explosion which had unleashed Thunderbolt at the same time, bringing a bright flash.
The light from Inkay's explosion was about to reach all of the vampires, being much bigger than they thought it would be. All of them collectively gasped after the light came their way, already beaming out of the windows. But catching up to the light was Eccentrick's magic.
As soon as it passed the light, it reached the vampires here. Just as Eccentrick once said, the opposite of a vampire pony was a regular pony. And it would instantly show. All the vampires had the vampiric traits that they were born with instantly changed. Their fangs shortened to the point where they received regular flat teeth. Their wings turned into normal pegasus wings but with no addition of a unicorn horn of any kind.
And the most important part was their weakness. No longer were they weak to the light. It passed by them, not harming their bodies in any way. Some of them flinched, believing they would be harmed by this but they felt nothing. Instead, they only felt wonder. Their eyes widened as they were free from any sort of pain, finally being able to bask in the light.
This was the one instance where the light was free for them to be near. And all they could was admire it as they hadn't even noticed the lack of their own vampiric traits. They were amazed at how they could be so close to this amount of light and not start screaming violently.
However, there was someone who would start screaming. The light and Reverse Magic did not stop at the Contest Hall. There was a reason why Fantina chose to build it close to the Lich Queen's castle. And that reason showed itself as these two forms of energy reached the castle, not missing out on it either.
The vampires inside of the castle were also reversed, losing their traits as vampires and becoming regular ponies instead as the light passed by them. They also ended up flinching, readying themselves for a potential attack but they felt nothing from it.
The real kicker was what happened with Rosa Maledicta. She was in the midst of easily overpowering Cadence, winning this mental battle which was barely a mental battle at all. At best, Cadence was only slightly entering the mindscape, trying to use it to her advantage but just couldn't since Rosa was the ultimate blockade. Cadence was in pain, unable to truly break through in the condition she was in.
And that's when it happened. The light and magic reached Rosa Maledicta even up here. And it stopped right there as well. Rosa Maledicta had her body hit by the Reverse Magic while she was in the middle of absorbing the lifespans of the two alicorns.
It reversed a crucial part of Rosa Maledicta. She may be a Lich now but a part of her was still a regular pony who just happened to have high amounts of magic. And that regular pony part was what took the hit. Rosa's heart skipped a beat as the light affected her and her alone.
Rosa had become an ordinary unicorn once more. Her pupils shrank the moment she felt herself being hit by something. Her casual concentration was broken as the light began to burn on her body. Now, she was a vampire, vulnerable to the light.
"GAAAAAH!" Rosa Maledicta screamed at the top of her lungs, feeling an unbearable heat hit her body. It was when she least expected it and she certainly never expected this. A bloodcurdling cry the likes of which no one had heard before came out, having multiple voices inside.
It sounded like Rosa Maledicta was screaming with more than just one pony. But her voice was still the most overpowering one. She stepped back, distancing herself from Cadence as smoke was already coming from her body. This was a pain she had never felt before. It was something that only her subjects felt. But right now, they weren't feeling it. They were just ordinary ponies at this point.
Seeing Rosa Maledicta in a stunned state, Cadence would strike while the iron was hot. She immediately used the most of her magic, shooting it at the Lich Queen while the other vampires in the room tried rushing to her rescue once they saw her in pain. But right as they approached the Lich Queen, Cadence's attack went off.
A direct hit to the chest, adding more salt to the wound. And even though she wasn't as powerful as she used to be right now, with Rosa Maledicta taking a sizzling hit, anything would work here. And this hit certainly did as it blew Rosa Maledicta back.
The Lich Queen went through the windows in this room, falling out of it. She looked over at Cadence in confusion, unsure of what just happened. It all happened so fast and it was unlike anything she's seen before. In the time that she managed to process things while being blasted through the windows, she wondered if that was either Cadence or Flurry Heart's doing.
Before she could figure it out, she left the castle and started falling. Cadence dropped to the floor, groaning and grunting after using a huge heap of her magic which wasn't at its best at all, making things worse for her, unfortunately. Some of the vampires would fly out to go after their Queen while some stayed behind to confront Cadence after she just struck Rosa. Even Cadence had to wonder what that was all about. But whatever it was, she was grateful for it happening either way.
Rosa Maledicta had crashed into the grounds near the castle, creating a large dust cloud from hitting the concrete. Her subjects were not fast enough to catch her in time. They were too late for that as a crater had been formed. Noticeably, the crash landing happened right next to her dark garden as it failed to catch, missing Rosa by a few feet.
And once Rosa took some damage from the light, falling from a high place, the vampires working for Fractured Note would have their chance at last. Their hard hits mattered now as the barrier was beginning to break apart. It was no longer as powerful as it used to be because of this Bright Attack.
The cracks were showing now, forming across the barrier and every nook and cranny it encompassed. As for this sudden attack on the Lich Queen, it was unknown to the residents of Magehold as a majority of them were in the Contest Hall, too busy watching the Pokemon Contest go down.
And showing up at the scene was Fractured Note. Right on time too. He only showed up once the Lich Queen had been struck but he was involved with this attack.
As for the contest, the performance stage had come to an end. And the Reverse Magic's effects ran out. But not the pain that Rosa Maledicta felt. That one would linger for a while. Everyone returned to being vampires, unaware of what Eccentrick had pulled.
"And that does it for the contest stage, my little ponies!" Fantina said with high energy, raising her arm. "How did you find it?!"
They loved it. Every second of it. Pokemon Contest always succeeded in marvelling the eyes. But with Fantina's rule of involving magic, it elevated things to a new level. Something that not even the rest of the world that partakes in Pokemon Contests know about. Fantina succeeded once more in wowing the crowd with this event, but it was only going to get better from here since this one had another stage.
"Wonderful wonderful! Now we can prepare for the second stage! All we need to do is look at the judges and their scores to see who makes it through to the Battle Stage! In the meantime, have a short break while we prepare!" Fantina replied before walking off, preparing for the next and final part of the contest.
"Fantina! I did it! I really did it!" Eccentrick, meanwhile, would run over to her idol, expressing how she pulled it off. Inkay flew over, feeling a bit dizzy from all of that spinning. And that was saying something coming from a Pokemon which was known for its upside-down antics. "We did it!"
"Inkay! Inkay!"
"I know. I had faith in you in the beginning. That energy you possess is one of an icon. And you've always had it back then from what you told me." Fantina's faith never wavered. She was right to trust Eccentrick. "But you have a better chance to shine during the second stage. You will be battling against your fellow pony for this one so I hope your dazzling skills can help you in a battle."
"I'll try!" She squeed, happily jumping up and down. "I'm ready to make it through to the end and win that ribbon! Wait and see!"
"Gh..Ghaa..." Meanwhile, Rosa Maledicta was still in the crater, feeling the damage she took. The only thing she could think of that matched this kind of pain was when Yveltal attacked her. But even then, Yveltal only got some of her body. This attack got to the front of her body and the back as well. Essentially everywhere. She sat up, having the smoke continuously fly out of her body while she put on a terrifying grimace.
"Your majesty?! Are you alright?!" Fractured Note came over, as if he wasn't the one who was involved in this, doing it just to lower Rosa Maledicta's barrier which took years to get up and perfect. "What happened here!?"
"S-Some kind of light hit her!" A vampire shouted. "It was so unexpected too but...we didn't feel it at all! And then Princess Cadence shot at her, sending her through the windows!"
"That so? But that can't be. Surely we would've felt it ourselves if there was light. Are you sure it was light?"
"I think...I didn't feel it at all though." A vampire scratched her mane, unsure of that answer. It should be light. But they realized it didn't harm them in any way so they were all rather conflicted on what it was. Just what Fractured Note wanted.
The best part of Eccentrick's magic was only known by Eccentrick herself, Fantina and Fractured Note. No one else knew just how useful it could be when used on two kinds of ponies.
"Whatever it was... someone is going to pay for this insolence!" Rosa Maledicta furiously yelled before slamming her hoof on the ground, supporting herself up. This greatly angered her. No one had damaged her like this before. Not even Yveltal. "I suspect that it might have been either of those two princesses."
"The alicorn princesses? Are you sure your majesty?" Fractured Note asked.
"I'm not done with them yet...I have more of their lifespans to take. And if it was them, I'll make sure they suffer for this!" Her eyes were burning with anger as the smoke would start subsiding but it would still linger around. Her plans were still the same however the damage she felt from this wouldn't go unpunished. Rosa Maledicta wasn't even safe when within her castle.
This threw her for a loop in many ways but beyond just being harmed by this, Rosa Maledicta then felt something off. Something was very off. She felt the field of magic that shielded Magehold being non-existent.
"My field...what has happened to it?"
Ponyville.
"Fluttershy's gone?! And all of that happened? No way..." Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was informed of everything by Ash. Now she was finally caught up to speed.
"Yeah. That's all you gotta know right now. And this time, we're going straight for Magehold." Ash continued. "We're gonna have all the help we can get when reaching there. Everyone back at the Crystal Empire's already gearing up for it and pretty soon, Celestia's gonna send a lot of her forces there next.
"I wish we could go there right about now and crash the whole place!" Rainbow Dash groaned, knowing she could just enter it, unfortunately. "Ugh, this blows!"
"I feel ya. I wanna do the same. But we gotta have a lot of friends on our side. They've all gone through the gateway right now. Just as you said, right, Major?" He looked up at the Ursa Major who confirmed this with a head nod. "We'll meet up with them and decide what to do next. Some of them wanna rest after all."
"I just can't believe Fluttershy's gone..." Rainbow Dash was still taking in Fluttershy's disappearance, descending from the air and sitting down in disbelief. She wasn't alone in this. Ash and the others felt the same way but they did not lose hope. Not when Ash was the one to restore it.
Audino went up to the pegasus, ready to comfort her just like how Ash did minutes ago. Fluttershy was in peril, potentially coming to the side of the Dread League if they succeed in getting the Bat Pony side of her out. Ash wished to see all of his friends smiling and happy once more but that couldn't happen until they tackle the Dread League themselves. He spoke to himself while looking up at the air, thinking of not just Fluttershy but also Cadence, Flurry Heart, Yveltal and Fantina.
"Just wait for us...Fluttershy. Everyone. We're coming."
Equestria. The Crystal Empire. Balance of Day and Night.
It happened.
Right as Rosa Maledicta's was hit by light after becoming a vampire for a short while, the field of magic that protected Magehold had been disrupted. Much like how Galaxy Master disrupts it, this one seemed to be the biggest yet. And it showed. The Crystal Empire was the closest after all and it witnessed just what happened in the far distance.
A burst of Dark Magic suddenly flew into the air, unleashing a howling sound that likes of which no one had heard before. That was Rosa's Dark Magical field being destroyed at last, all thanks to Eccentrick. Spike, Radiant Hope, Shining Armor and Flash Sentry all gazed at this powerful eruption which caused a blizzard for a moment.
They weren't sure what just happened but since it came from such a far direction, they could only guess that it had something to do with Magehold. Little did they know, the way to enter Magehold has finally come. And all it took was for Rosa Maledicta to finally become one of her subjects for a while, embracing the golden light of the Sun.
Kanto. Pallet Town. Ketchum Household.
Many found themselves asleep at Pallet Town, away from the Black Crusade and taking the time to recover. They got the rest they needed, unbothered by anything at the moment. Pallet Town was currently safe even though there was a vampire present. That was of course Spectrum Shade, who was lounging around, waiting for her opportunity to battle Ash.
And it looked like her wish would be granted at last as Ash could be seen passing through the gateway, showing up with the remainder of his friends. Applejack and Roseluck made their appearance, with Roseluck being carried by Sceptile. This time, Rainbow Dash had shown up, being late for everything else.
"Ash! Oh, you made it!" Twilight exclaimed before covering her mouth, remembering that were sleeping ponies. "Oooh, sorry."
"He's here?" Spectrum Shade sat up at high speeds, nearly falling off the couch. She was waiting for this moment at last, flying over everyone else. She and Twilight approached the door in unattempted unison, only to bump into each other. Their own bodies clogged up the door as their faces were smushed. "Move!"
"You move!" Twilight yelled back at her as they both managed to get through by falling over. And when they fell, standing in front of them was Ash. His eyes met with two familiar faces from different sides. Twilight and Spectrum. He paused for a moment when looking down at them as the two ponies would quickly stand back up.
"Welcome home, Ash. Pikachu." Delia greeted them both, acting like nothing was off. Applejack and Rainbow Dash could already see that something was greatly off and all it took was Ash pointing it out.
"Spectrum?" Ash spoke her name, looking down at the vampire and acknowledging her first.
"That's right! I'm here! And I've been waiting for you to show up! Came a long way too!" She grinned, raising her hoof which revealed a Poke Ball, most likely containing Machoke who was her go-to Pokemon.
"Ash...I can explain..." Twilight groaned after standing up. "I know it's strange that a vampire's casually here but..."
"It's alright, Twilight." It wasn't strange to him at all. Ash wasn't surprised by Spectrum Shade's appearance one bit. He figured that out with how Delia greeted him and the peaceful aura around Pallet Town.
"Eh? It is?" Twilight's face went blank for a moment. That wasn't the reaction she was expecting but since it came from Ash, that surprise factor was weakened a bit. He was always full of surprises after all. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Ash! Now that you're here, face me!" She got straight to the point. She wanted her battle with Ash and all that work travelling from Magehold to Ponyville would be worth it. "And show me all of your Pokemon too back at your lab and the ones you have alongside you!"
"Sorry. We can do this later." Ash already had more important things in mind. As much as he loves battling, his friends mattered more than that. Much more.
"Eh? L-Later!" Spectrum Shade stuttered. Even with Ash present, her battle with him did not kick off instantly.
"I've got a lot to do right now. And some distance to cover. Twilight. We're going for Magehold. Fluttershy's been captured." Ash laid it on Twilight Sparkle, revealing a heavy blow of bad news. A great friend of theirs had been captured by the Dread League.
"Fluttershy's been captured?!"
"That can't be!" Rarity and Pinkie would collectively yell. Those who were still awake had a similar reaction. Especially the Pokemon from the Pokemon House who greatly loved Fluttershy. How could their caretaker be taken away? It always seemed rather impossible since she always found a way to stay safe. But now, the vampires had gotten the edge and taken yet another beloved friend of theirs. Now, she was potentially about to become a vampire, losing all sense of her old self.
"But that's why we're gonna go to Magehold as soon as possible. With a ton of help, of course." Ash continued. "I also had to come here to make sure everyone was doing good and that looks like it."
They are. They all needed the rest and sleep." Delia approached her. "They had such a hard time when their town was attacked. Their usual resting hours have been completely ruined."
"No thanks to your group." Rainbow Dash shifted her eyes, facing Spectrum Shade who would do the same to her.
"Pssh. I haven't done anything yet." Spectrum scoffed back at her.
"That's fine. They should all stay here until everything's said and done. As for us, we're going for Magehold right away. I don't know what Celestia's doing right now but I know she'll be there. Shining Armor's already on it too."
"Not a bad approach. Most of the Dread League will be too focused on the rest of the world and not all of them will be back at Magehold." Rarity thought about it for a moment. "But what about everywhere else? Manehattan and other locations are in great peril, aren't they/ Won't we stop by there to do at least something?"
"I wanna. But I'm going straight for the source." Ash would love to help out as many places as he could. Unfortunately, that would take far too long and the lack of gateways only made that harder for him. So, he aimed for the source of the problem. And that source was right at Magehold and nowhere else.
"I take it you'll be leaving soon already," Delia questioned.
"Yeah. Sorry, mom. But I just gotta know...did Dad show up here?" He referred to Galaxy Master who was essentially another version of his father.
"No. He hasn't shown up. But I'm not in any danger so that makes sense. When I am, I know he'll make an appearance as soon as possible. He promised after all."
"I'm tired of everyone underestimating me here..." Spectrum Shade growled as she felt like she wasn't being taken seriously. Then again, that was somewhat her own fault since she wasn't as violent as the other vampires. "Ash. I want that battle from you...but I know I can't have it because of the Black Crusade. So I guess I'll just end up waiting for you..."
"What? Are you saying that we're gonna win?" Rainbow Dash smirked as Spectrum Shade's words made it sound like she was expecting Ash's side to win this conflict.
"As if! You guys are gonna be crushed! No one's beating the Lich Queen and that's final! But I at least wanna request a one-on-one battle with you before everything ends." Spectrum crossed her hooves. "If you've got a problem with what I'm saying, I can throw down with all of you right now."
"That's fine. You've got yourself a promise, Spectrum." Ash laughed. "I'll battle you when this is all over. You showed me that you've got something special after all and I don't wanna disappoint."
"Y-Yeah...I'll be waiting." Spectrum froze for a moment. "By the way...how'd you even beat Dimstar? Isn't she supposed to be half LIch?"
"Well, we beat her. And she's still around, ya know. Gave herself up and everything." said Applejack, startling Spectrum Shade with these words.
"She did what!?"
Equestria. Magehold.
Rosa had been brought back to the castle after receiving a hard fall and a bright flash of light. She faced Princess Cadence and Flurry Heart once more as the smoke finally left her body. She now knew how her subjects felt when exposed to bright light and it was disgustingly painful.
She managed to recollect herself as even though she took some heavy damage, it wasn't enough to put her down. At best, it bewildered and stunned her to the point where she had the hold her head. "What did you do? What was that?"
"I wish I could take credit for that..." Cadence grinned. "But that was neither of us. But it did allow me to get a lucky hit in and send you flying. I heard the crash from here."
"Tch. You'll watch your mouth, princess. I can still take your lifespan. You aren't safe at all and whatever did this won't keep you safe." Rosa walked up to the Princess of Love.
"I'm not too sure about that. The fact that something hit you that hard is proof that I always have some form of help near or far. And there's more coming this way."
"Unfortunately, you're right about the last one. The barrier I made all those years ago has been disrupted. Whatever hit me also hit my barrier it seems." Rosa grit her teeth, smashing her hoof on the ground and forming a crack. "It won't be easy for me to remake it to the fullest."
"S-So we're vulnerable?!" The vampires all gasped while Fractured Note stayed silent. He was involved in the destruction of the barrier after all.
"Very much so. If Celestia and her forces arrive here, they will most definitely manage to enter now that the barrier has been ruined. It took me many years to get that field of magic up to a certain level and now it's all ruined! At best, I can just put up an ordinary barrier but that won't do much."
"I'll see where the issue came from, your majesty." Fractured Note suddenly said. "Perhaps I can find the source of the problem before it worsens."
"Do that. I'm expecting visitors soon. Is everypony still in that Contest Hall?" Rosa Maledicta questioned him.
"They'll be in it for a while longer. I believe they're safe in there at least." Fractured Note confirmed, playing it cool so that his cover wasn't blown. One thing was for sure, he was an expert at pretending. He spoke as if he had no clue why this happened at all, perfectly deceiving Rosa Maledicta.
"In the meanwhile, keep them there. I will continue doing what I can to stop their advances. I was planning on keeping the Moon up for as long as possible but now Celestia has taken that advantage. But rest assured, the Black Crusade will still go strong even in the Sun has appeared."
"Everyone across the world is capable of stopping you, especially with the Sun on their side!" Cadence exclaimed. "You have trainers from all sides protecting their homes so your Black Crusade will fail because of that!"
"Nonsense! They can band together all they want, I'll turn the tides in my favour!" The Lich Queen roared before blasting Cadence with Dark Magic. This was payback to how Cadence blasted her through the window. The Princess of LOve went flying, crashing into the walls of this room. She was rather weak so this crash was heavy on the alicorn.
"Mom!" Flurry Heart yelled as Rosa Maledicta would continue her attack by viciously slapping Cadence with Dark Magic. The magic would send powerful impacts that whipped the alicorn while she was pinned against the wall. Cadence took every painful and searing hit from Rosa's outburst, struggling to break free in the state that she was in.
Thus, she would drop off the wall, leaving a crater in her shape before falling flat on her face. Cadence groaned, having both her front and back greatly damaged. Mainly her front since she took the most punishment there. From the absorption to the whipping.
"My Despair Plants are proof of that. They can defeat one but the more that show up, the harder it is to stop them. They don't have the Light on their side to defeat my babies. Besides...I've already ordered my subjects to plant some Despair Plants seeds when the Crusade started. And even though the Moon was balanced with the Sun, the seeds should grow fine and create some Despair Plants. Take these two away and prepare for another absorption process."
Cadence was picked off the ground via the chains that were around her. She wasn't strong enough to retaliate because of the previous beatdown she received. More and more, Cadence was losing her edge, becoming less of an alicorn at this point. The same went for Flurry Heart.
"A swarm of Despair Plants is coming and I will make sure they are at their strongest when they crush you...Prepare yourself, Celestia! Everyone!"
Canterlot.
"Something's happened to the Lich Queen," Celestia said to herself, feeling that something was off. This whole time, she was still trying to bring the Sun up while Rosa Maledicta kept the Moon up at the same time. Their struggle over the two celestial bodies in the sky seemed to be never-ending until something happened.
She no longer felt the struggle. Rosa Maledicta's magic couldn't be felt at all. Celestia did all of this while managing her next move against the Dread League, intercepting their attacks.
"This is odd...why would she suddenly give up? Unless something's happening on the other side..." Celestia pondered for a moment. But now that she had this opportunity, it would be foolish to waste it. "Never mind that! Now's my chance!"
The chance to raise the Sun without any interference was right in her face. She couldn't afford to waste it at all. She was unaware of what had happened to Rosa Maledicta which made the struggle end but she was more focused on bringing sunlight to the world once more. At least, to locations that could receive the Sun.
With her magic flaring from her horn, Celestia controlled the Sun once more. But this time, there was no one to fight against her. The Moon would descend, giving way to the brilliant Golden Sun above. The clouds parted, revealing the Sun rays as the skies were no longer half. Now, the Sun reigned supreme.
A majority of Equestria had been graced with the Sun along with some locations in different regions. And with the Sun rising, this would change things for the Dread League.
The Sun had arrived, being a great weapon against the attacking vampires. Even though Celestia couldn't see them, she was positive that the vampires across the world were greatly thrown off guard by this. Now that it was up, Celestia could continue her work. And her work involved her heading to the source of the problem, just like Ash.
"I'll try and advance on Magehold. Some of my forces will stay behind and protect the other cities and towns. The Crystal Empire's already decided to tackle Magehold so it's only right that I give them more support. Are you prepared, Passion?"
"Gardevoir!"
"I've got in touch with the Ranger Union and Nightmare Moon is out to find Luna. By the time we get to Magehold, the Ranger Union would have already found themselves some vampires. Everypony else here will be safe in the Canterlot Mines like before."
"Your majesty! Your majesty!" However, right as Celestia was about to continue, a Canterlot Guard would approach her, having a strong severity in his tone. What could it be this time?" "There's a large swarm of Despair Plants close by! They showed up over at Deerling Forest!"
The swarm that Rosa Maledicta spoke of was coming. And it had already been spotted at one of Equestria's more peaceful spots. The Deerling Forest. By using the telescope, Celestia immediately looked in the distance for the abundance of Despair Plants.
And in the far distance, quite a lot of them could be seen. Some familiar ones such as Cobra, Triantis, Scorpio, Cordyceps and even Bullfrog who had already spread that Disease Mist on Deerling Forest. And there were others that were unrecognizable to Princess Celestia.
This swarm of Despair Plants that was incoming represented Rosa Maledicta's anger. While she was still calm, that attack on her pushed her buttons without a doubt. It was the feeling that had been outdone in such a big way that she didn't see coming.
Before Celestia could approach Magehold, she still had a lot to deal with. With her eyes narrowing, Celestia prepared herself. The Despair Plants were vulnerable to Pure Light and Celestia knows that Daybreaker, the being residing deep within her can damage them but she refused to tap into something so vile.
Kalos. On top of a Train.
Meanwhile, Opal Vivacity was on her way to Kalos, unaware of the development back at Magehold. If she found out she would not be happy about it. Right now, she was just taking advantage of the Black Crusade to the fullest. She currently stood on top of a train that was moving, using it to travel around. The beautiful vampire sat on the top, preparing for her next wave of destruction when it could happen. She was certainly far away from the other regions but that didn't stop her from taking every opportunity to destroy whatever she could.
All in an attempt to bring Reshiram's stone out. She hadn't heard from Luna at all either. Opal smirked, glad to see that no princesses would get in her way once more. And to add insult to injury, she took Olympia's Galaxy Cape, putting it on her for extra beauty points, making herself seem more powerful. And considering that she aimed to be the first Vampire Lich Queen, she was certainly making herself seem greatly powerful.
But little did Opal Vivacy and the others vampire know, they were being watched. Specifically on the Train. The conductor stayed silent, knowing that there were vampires on top of the train. But he didn't seem nervous at all. Instead, this conductor would simply smirk, being rather confident despite the scenario. A little too confident.
Dimstar was a captive. Giving herself up, she had been restrained by Applejack's lasso and a few of Sceptile's roots, tied to a tree. Of course, it was Applejack who put her here just to be safe. Applejack wasn't fully sure that she could trust Dimstar. However, she went through the effort of giving Dimstar some protection from the Sun by putting a massive leaf stand over her.
However, Dimstar had to wonder 'Why'. The part where she gave up thanks to Ash and his friends having a great resolve made sense to her. But suddenly choosing to stay behind and agree to take them to Magehold felt greatly off to her. Why would she go through with that as well? It was at that moment that she recalled something from her past. Far back to the point where she hadn't been kept in that cube yet.
It was around the time when the first Lich King was still around. Dimstar recalled it clearly and she remembered what she looked like. Much like everypony, she was just a foal at that time. And of course, she was the Hybrid of a Lich and a Vampire. Her father was the first Lich King and her mother was a vampire.
At that age, she stood before her father in the old Magehold, which still carried that eerie presence but there was something light about it. No bright lights of any kind for the safety of the vampires but it had a more pleasant feeling compared to what it was now. The young Dimstar faced her father with innocent eyes, hearing the words he had to say.
"Dimstar, my child. Listen. That premonition of the Great Evil that the Seer spoke of may possibly become a reality, I'm afraid. It is something that threatens not just Magehold but the world itself.
"What is it, Father?" She asked before being picked up by her father who cradled her.
"I still don't know. But it could end up appearing in Magehold directly. I'm not sure when it will appear though. What I know is that it will target the entire world with something truly horrific. And unfortunately, I might not be around by that time to really do something about it."
"What?!" Dimstar's young voice let out a powerful screech. That is one of the last things a child wants to hear from their parent. "What do you mean, father?! You'll be around as long as everyone else, right!?"
"I'm sorry little one. But despite me being the king, I don't have a ridiculously long lifespan like a vampire. I have an average one at best. Comparable to the ponies on the other side of the world."
"That can't be..." This gutted Young Dimstar. Her father wouldn't be around for centuries, unlike a vampire.
"You'll still have your mother here. She'll live for a long time. I'm only hoping that I'll be here to stop this terrifying evil. It's my duty as King. And if I can't...I suppose I can leave it up to the future Lich Ruler."
"You mean me? You can leave it up to me, Father! I'm next in line, aren't I?!"
"Well, if you want. I wouldn't want my daughter being forced upon it. Magehold is still in its infancy so it has room to grow. The next rulers will dictate how it develops and hopefully by then, that great evil that the Seer predicted will be long gone."
"What if it doesn't go, father? I can maybe deal with it."
"Maybe but it would be highly dangerous and I wouldn't want my daughter tackling it at all. If you ever do become the next Lich Queen, I'm hoping you can stand up to it whenever it appears."
"I'll try, Father. But what else does this great evil have when it'll show up?"
"There's not much else I can tell you, little one. All we can know right now is that the rest of the world will have to be prepared for it when it comes. And since the Seer said that it could come from Magehold itself, I fear that our subjects might end up causing whatever is coming."
"They wouldn't do that, would they?"
"Some of them are rather destructive, I'm afraid. It might be something that drives them." The Lich King approached the window looking outside of it to spectate his subjects at old Magehold. His eyes met with the few vampires that were around, seeing how some just lived their lives.
But others craved something more. The King could see that there was something else that they were looking for. The intense look in their eyes spoke volumes. He even noticed one vampire that carried a fairly menacing aura compared to the others. Strangely, she somewhat resembled Opal Vivacity based on her appearance but with a shorter mane style.
"When I found them, a majority of them were already destructive and violent. And since then, it's been my duty to lead Magehold into a better future. It'll be hard to do since vampires possess that destructive force within, even those who look peaceful. Something wrong can bring it out of them and I want to make sure that never happens."
"What about me, father?" Dimstar raised her head, asking her father if she has it within her since she was a hybrid.
"Well..." The Lich King paused for a moment. Since Dimstar was Half Vampire and Half Lich, it was hard to say if the Lich part would cancel out the destructive vampiric urges. "I want to believe that you don't have it in you, little one. But if that destructive side of you leaves your body, there is something that might help restrain it at least. And it's all a matter of those you meet."
"Those I meet? What does that mean?"
Alas, that was where her memory with her Father ended. Dimstar couldn't think past that. The best that she could do was think about the rest of her childhood. However, the last of her memories involved a cube of some sort. The same cube that she was in until Fractured Note released her not too long ago.
"Perhaps Father expected something like this..." Dimstar said to herself. "I did it of my own volition though...I had to show honour to them after they claimed victory."
Dimstar had to ponder about this. She even knew that Rosa Maledicta was probably watching this but none of her words really gave anything important out. Dimstar tried thinking back to what her father meant by that. She wondered if her battle with Ash was proof of that. She was the one to give up once she saw their resolve after all.
Kalos.
Opal Vivacity was currently on her way to Ponyville along with her group, unaware of the town's absence. But the threat was still prominent since she could easily move through the gateway and continue her destructive rampage there. Even if the Ponyville Residents were gone, they weren't completely safe.
However, even Opal Vivacity wasn't exactly safe either. While sitting on top of the train, she believed no one knew of her group's presence here. But in reality, someone knew they were on top of the train. The conductor. With a grin on his face, he was already aware of them. The train entered a tunnel, seemingly going on its way as usual without the vampires needing to do anything. But the fact that they were so relaxed at the moment was exactly what the conductor was hoping for.
"Alright...I think this should be good enough. We have them right where we want them." The conductor uttered, seemingly speaking to himself. But in reality, he was speaking to someone here. A Coalossal to be exact. Coalossal was the one fueling the train, keeping it moving. "Fuel it up some more, Coalossal."
"Coal!" Coalossal would do just that, adding more fuel to the train by using its own power. All Coalossal had to do was stand there instead of shovelling any coal. It was the coal. And by having flames erupt from its body, it would greatly affect the train.
As for the conductor, he would remove his hat and jacket, revealing his face and more of himself. This wasn't some random conductor. Not at all. He wasn't even a full-on conductor. Instead, he was none other than a Pokemon Ranger. He had the signature ranger top on him along with some goggles to go on.
The Ranger Union already caught light of this thanks to Princess Celestia. Now they were fully aware of the Black Crusade beginning and with so many rangers across the world, it was only a matter of time until one of them ran into the Dread League.
"Hm. I should get myself a crown next. This cape is absolutely divine and makes me feel like I came from the stars. Perhaps I can find someone with that exact crown. A Galaxy Crown sounds lovely." Meanwhile, Opal was thinking about how she could further glamour herself and appear as a supremely powerful being.
But right as she pondered about her next form of fashion, she and the vampires felt the train speed up all of a sudden. Once the train reached the tunnel, the tracks changed. They still went forward but now there was a different angle. The tracks went downwards instead.
This was rather unusual train tracks rarely if never go at a downward angle. And even Opal Vivacity took notice of that. She sat up for a moment, looking at her surroundings to see where the train was headed in this direction. The other vampires soon took notice but the moment they came to light, the train began speeding up before they could say something.
"What?!" Opal Vivacity roared as the train accelerated. She tried grabbing onto the train with her bare hooves, almost failing to do so. Some of the vampires had been thrown off the train thanks to the speed the train moved at. They went flying, crashing into the ground and tumbling away, not having the balance to use their wings in this instance.
And with the train speeding up, it had one destination up ahead. A rather bright destination. The Sun did not shine here at Kalos since the timezone was different at the moment. However, to make up for that, some light was being utilized at the moment. And it could be seen at the train station up ahead. And over at that train station were other Pokemon Rangers, waiting for them.
"A trap?!" Opal gasped as she and her group had been led into yet another trap. Up ahead, some Pokemon that the Ranger Union recruited could be seen generating light from their bodies. They specifically went for Electric-Types since they could generate the best light consistently. A barrage of light was waiting for the vampires, ready to stun them all and bring a vicious burn.
"Now, Coalossal! Burn Up!"
"There was more than one Coalossal on board." A second one was there and it was right above Opal Vivacity. By now, everyone knew about Opal's Fate-Changing Mane and how much of a threat it was. And for such a threat, it needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.
Right as Opal Vivacity was prepared to use her Fate-Changing Mane at the right moment, specifically when getting close to the Train Station, the flames from Burn Up would emerge. The flames burst through the roof of the train, blowing that part off and immediately meeting with Opal Vivacity.
Opal was too focused on what was ahead to notice what came from below. For a split second, she felt something warm on the roof before it was blown off. And soon, her body was engulfed by the fierce flames of Coalossal's Burn Up.
A bloodcurdling scream came from Opal Vivacity as her grip on the train was greatly weakened. She screamed as her body felt the heat, exposing her to another vampiric weakness. But what really mattered was her mane. It was starting to burn away thanks to the flames that reached her, slowly ruining its stylish appearance.
Opal grit her teeth, trying to overcome this. She felt an immeasurable amount of pain with her body being burned. She's been hit by various things before but direct contact with so much Fire in this way was on another level for her. She couldn't do anything at all about this. She was powerless to retaliate and at the same time, the train had finally arrived at its next destination.
However, Opal Vivacity and the other vampires had some outside help in this instance. Right as the train came to a halt, the vampires would be exposed to nearby light which would shine their way. Meanwhile, Coalossal had used up all of its flames, losing its Fire-Typing. But what it did was incredibly effective.
Her body was smoking. It was far worse than when she was hit by light. Her mane was what truly mattered. The rangers all looked onward to see what had become of it. And from what Coalossal did, it managed to deal some hefty damage to it. Not only were the holes in it but some of it had been burned away, lost to the flames and thinning down Opal's magic by liming how much she could use.
"It didn't get rid of it all?!" A Ranger gasped, shocked that Opal Vivacity still had a lot of her mane left. She did specifically style it so that it was long enough to go past the end of her body. It was as if Celestia's long mane was on the body of an average pony.
"It's fine! We've got our chance to deal with the rest!" But they still had an opportunity. Rosa's mane was still burning thanks to all the fire that Coalossal used up so it was still vulnerable and harming Opal Vivacity.
"You...You crafty little...!" Opal grimaced as shadows would envelop her body. This wasn't her magic. This was the doing of the Pony of Shadows. Coming to the aid of the Dread League once more, he used his shadows to cover parts of Opal, essentially soothing her pain. The shadows would also be used to retaliate against the abundance of light, giving the vampires some resistance to it. "I was hit with yet another sneak attack such as this! it wasn't funny the first time!"
"We at the Ranger Union prepared for this ever since the Black Crusade was said to be coming soon. But we were hoping to take out your entire mane in one go."
"Right now, across the world, the rest of our fellow Rangers will be intercepting the Dread League. You won't be snuffing out any lives while we're around."
"Kh! I have somewhere to be right now...!" Opal scowled before having the Pony of Shadows bring her down from the train. "You're just slowing me down!"
"We can't restrain her since she'll just combust. What do we do?" A Ranger asked, wondering what to do now that they had Opal Vivacity here. Unfortunately, the vampires could make an easy getaway by blowing themselves up and returning to Magehold.
"Jackie answered that. He said during one of his missions, he saw a vampire combust and take something with him. That might be the key. We all might have to go with them if they blow up."
There was a collective agreement. And they had Jackie to thank for that. By this point, the fact that the vampires could blow themselves up for a quick exit was well known. It made things frustrating since they couldn't interrogate them or lock them up in any way. However, the answer was seemingly going with them when they combust.
"I don't have time for this! I was going to see if I could still find Xerneas somehow in Kalos, but this is just a big waste of time! We're leaving!" Judging by her bellowing words, Opal Vivacity was already planning on leaving the scene, refusing to battle against the Ranger Union.
The Rangers were hoping that they could at least get rid of her mane, even if they couldn't stop her completely. Alas, that wasn't the case. Opal Vivacity seemed to evade complete destruction of her mane every time, whether by her own magic or with outside help.
The Pokemon Rangers then all looked at each other, knowing what they had to do. They were going for a rather risky plan and that was by getting close to the vampires while they were about to combust. Right as the Dread League prepared to combust, the Rangers would approach them, looking like they were going for hugs.
"What the?!" Opal Vivacity pulled back, shocked by the approaching Rangers. She usually expects the Pokemon to approach her, not the trainers themselves. And since the average human was taller than a pony, the moment they came close, Opal felt like she was about to be picked off from the ground.
However, she had the Pony of Shadows to assist with that. The Pony of Shadows used this opportunity to gather more victims for his dark army. He appeared as a wall of darkness that would soon absorb the Rangers that went in. The Rangers who were caught by the darkness all screamed as they were instantly pulled in as if a black hole got a hold of them.
Some of them couldn't even process it in time. The absorption happened in a heartbeat and all they could see was darkness instead of the vampires in front of them. New victims for the Pony of Shadows had been found, only increasing the forces of the Dread League.
"Hah...idiots..." Opal mocked them after they were pulled in. She took the time to laugh at their failure before she even blew herself up. But that was a mistake on her part. By taking the time to mock them, a Pokemon attack came her way. A Zap Cannon was thrown by a Magneton who struck while the iron was hot.
Right as Opal was about to blow up, the Zap Cannon hit its mark, getting the beautiful vampire. Her cocky smile left her face the moment the Zap Cannon landed. Not only did it mean that Opal was instantly paralyzed but her mane took some more damage. The electricity would zap away at parts of the massive mane, weakening it further. It was already rather vulnerable thanks to Coalossal and this certainly added to it.
This left her a bit perplexed for a moment as the paralysis slowed her down. But it wasn't enough, unfortunately. Damage had been done, yes, but no one could leave with Opal Vivacity and the other vampires thanks to the blockade that was the Pony of Shadows.
The remaining Rangers stayed here, standing before the Pony of Shadows who stuck around while a barrage of explosions went off behind him. All the vampires were now gone, returning to Magehold and leaving the Kalos Region. Their pursuit for Xerneas was still on their mind but now they moved further from Xerneas' most well-known region.
Magehold.
Far past the throne room, the room where Yveltal was being kept could be found. And entering it was Rosa Maledicta, who had recently recovered from a rather painful attack of light earlier. She could still feel parts of her body twitch as the damage hadn't fully left her just yet.
Angered by this surprise attack and unsure of where it came from along with the disruption of the barrier she worked vigorously to perfect, the Lich Queen turned to her greatest weapon. The Destruction Pokemon Yveltal.
"Wake up, Yveltal," Rosa spoke to the Dark-Flying-Type. "You've rested in here for long enough. And since a handful of months have passed...I believe you're eligible to be fully under my control."
Yveltal did not respond. Instead, his expression appeared rather dead. Empty. Soulless. Yveltal simply looked at Rosa Maledicta without doing anything else. He didn't try and attack or fly away, even though he never could once he was captured.
"Good." Rosa smiled. Unfortunately, Yveltal now served the Dread League, lacking anything that made him reject this. Being in here for many months with no help, forced to succumb to the magic of the Dread League greatly changed the Destruction Pokemon. He was now a servant and weapon for the Black Crusade. "Those from Equestria and beyond will try and show up here. But the second they do, they'll be met with your destructive powers, no doubt. I believe now we can take you for a test run. What do you say to that?"
Sweet Apple Acres.
Waiting patiently was Dimstar as she was practically on her own right now. However, with enough time passing, Dimstar had healed herself. She recovered her strength once more, easily pushing away Applejack's lasso and the roots that restrained her. The roots were dropped to the ground with a heavy impact thanks to her brute strength. She even managed to recover some of her tendrils.
That is when she saw Ash once more. And he came with a bigger group this time. A much bigger group. It wasn't just his usual friend group. He almost had a crowd behind him. Joining him was most of the Mane 6. The only one missing was Fluttershy, who had been captured.
With the majority Ponyville's residents tired, they were unable to act on this. However, there were some Ponyville residents that were available and had yet to take action and those ended up being the PokePark Pokemon. Twilight made sure to bring them all with the notable faces of Queen Serperior, BIsharp and Dewott being present. These were mainly Pokemon from the Cove and Arbor Area as Twilight managed to reach them only.
"You brought so many." Dimstar's jaw dropped as she shoved aside the last root.
"Dimstar. We're counting on you to take us there. The same way Shrivel took Fluttershy. We want you to do the same for us." Ash asked. This was seemingly the best way to enter Magehold, ignoring the barrier."
"Please! We have to get to Fluttershy as soon as possible!" Rarity pleaded to her.
"I've already called Shining Armor by now. It'll be fine for them to advance towards Magehold. It's just the Hyperborean Island that they have to get through." Twilight replied. She already informed her brother via the Xtransceiver. With her words, he was free to advance on Magehold with the Crystal Empire.
"When you get there...I hope you realize that you will be around many vampires. While the Dread League are out there, some have stayed behind to protect the place." Dimstar warned.
"Yeah, we know. That doesn't matter though! The Wonderbolts will be joining in soon! Like me!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"We'd rather not travel there by foot or even by air. We want to go to Magehold as soon as possible. It's four friends. Please." The Princess of Friendship also pleaded.
"But how come you're doing this for us anyway? I know it's Honour and everything but that just seems too easy...?" Applejack questioned Dimstar, wanting an answer to all of this.
"I suppose my father is the one who can answer that. If he was still around that is. Now...If you want to go there, you must all gather around me. I will make sure my own explosion is large enough to encompass some of you."
"Got it!" Ash got to it immediately. He stood next to Dimstar, prepared to travel instantly to Magehold. Everyone else would also approach Dimstar. Dimstar found herself surrounded by Ponville's protectors who fought so hard to keep their town safe. And they succeeded for the most part. Their town was still a wreck but they drove away the threats to it. Dimstar took it all in, wondering if her father was referring to this.
A part of her wanted to believe that this was what her father meant. But she wasn't so sure. And neither was she aware of where her father currently was. Once all the ponies, Pokemon and a single human were close to her, Dimstar would try and conjure the biggest explosion that she could. An explosion that would take them all to Magehold.
"This is betrayal...Yet I feel like this must be done. Just like how I was ordered the moment I left the cube. Am I simply following this on a robotic level.?" Dimstar had to think to herself once more. She wasn't sure how to answer this as she then unleashed the explosive magic from her body. Her magical explosion was vastly different from the rest. Vastly.
Dark Magic appeared from her body but with two different powers within. The power of a Lich and a Vampire. The explosion far surpassed the ones the vampires use. It was so massive that it could be mistaken for a bomb or a Hyper Beam going off.
It was off to Magehold at last. They were going straight to the source of the problem. The rest of the world was about to meet a powerful struggle with the Dread League as cities and towns were already under attack or even destroyed at the moment. The fate of this Grander World was about to be decided sooner or later.
Returning to Magehold was Opal Vivacity and her group of vampires that terrorized parts of Kalos. As always, it was back to the tubes, however, they didn't spend too long in it. After entering the tubes by blowing themselves up, Opal and her group left the tubes early, especially Opal, who took massive damage previously. Her body had been hit with a Burn Up from Coalossal thanks to the Pokemon Rangers getting involved, catching the Dread League by surprise.
"Hah...Much better." A rejuvenated Opal spoke after leaving the tube. "Too many close calls lately. Those pesky Pokemon Rangers ruined my mane..." Opal would take a look at her mane, using the tubes as mirrors. They received some harsh burns, even making holes in it.
This was the farthest anyone had gotten to greatly damaging Opal Vivacity's mane but no one had been able to seal the deal just yet. Once back, Opal would simply use her magic to repair her mane. It was good as new with a dash of magic, but even Opal knew that things were getting too close recently. Since her mane was such a massive target, different ways to take it out were popping up and were it not for the Pony of Shadows interfering, she might have lost that mane by now.
"What about Xerneas? Should we go after it still?" A vampire asked.
"Xerneas can wait. Ponyville is still far even when returning to Magehold. Besides, if we continue our path of destruction, we'll surely bring Xernes out eventually. All that matters is that we lay waste to as much as life as possible." Opal still kept Xerneas in mind, wanting to snuff it out as quickly as possible before it reverses all the damage done. Other vampires could be seen returning to Magehold, most likely recently escaping fierce confrontations.
There was no telling how many locations were under attack right now by the Dread League. But nevertheless, as long as one location falls, another will be targeted and so on. Opal was set to head over to Ponyville next and even if she doesn't find anything there, the gateway to Pallet Town was still a possibility.
As Opal was making her leave, she stopped by one of the tubes to see none other than Fluttershy here. The pony she aimed to bring over to Magehold was finally here, but not from her own actions. Fluttershy was still undergoing a change, slowly becoming a bat pony once more.
With a smile on her face, Opal was expecting a powerful ally to the Dread League fairly soon. Fluttershy had a powerful connection with Pokemon, understanding them very well thanks to her already amazing skill of connecting with Equestrian Creatures. Opal would love to have that kind of perk on her side.
"Well...Isn't this lovely?" Opal commented on this, appearing next to Sweet Fang and Shrivel. "You actually got her."
"It was I who managed to bring her here," Shrivel said. "I pretended to be gone, fooling those Ponyville residents completely and stole her from them at the right moment. Not too complicated, honestly."
"Good. How is Ponyville right now? What condition is that town in before I head there?"
"Totalled. They managed to save their town either way but they've retreated elsewhere it seems. They went through that Pallet Town gateway and are hiding from us. But we know their location, unfortunately for them."
"Hmph. Pallet Town, is it? Home of Ash. If I were to go there and deal some damage to it, it would be rather marvellous. The look on Ash's face would be absolutely delicious as he feels a great sense of dread." Opal had plans for Pallet Town already. Specifically, Ash's Mother. She would not hold back when it came to her targets, making sure everyone related to that target felt incredible dread. "I suppose I won't have to do anything to Ponyville at all. But why didn't her majesty tell me about this sooner?"
"About that...Her Majesty received a surprise attack out of nowhere," said Sweet Fang, bringing up the Light Attack from before. She was hit by it and so far, no one knows where it's come from. Your brother went over to the Pokemon Contest to ask everypony else there."
"I'm sorry, did you say Pokemon Contest?" A red alert in Opal's ears went off. Those weren't the words she wanted to hear. Now she caught wind of the Pokemon Contest as well. Already, she figured out who was behind this. "Fantina..."
"I'm guessing you'll be heading there first before anywhere else?" Sweet Fang could already tell where Opal Vivacity aimed to go before anywhere else and that was straight for the Contest Hall which had just been built. This entire time while Opal was in Kalos for weeks, the Pokemon Contest was free from her petty actions.
"But I'm afraid we have another problem that needs to be addressed.. It's that mysterious vampire, Dimstar. She-" Right before Shrivel could finish her sentence, every other vampire here that had left their tubes were disturbed by something. Something rather loud to the ears that they've never heard before but have seen and done before. Just not on this level.
Magehold was about to be visited by its most common enemies. Within the chamber where all the vampires end up after combusting, a destructive explosion went off on the higher levels of this room. This explosion surpassed what most vampires could conjure, mainly because it was done by a Hybrid Vampire.
None other than Dimstar.
She brought Ash and his many friends here of her own volition, giving them an easy way to get to Magehold. They didn't have to go that far at all to show up. It was thanks to the vampire's surefire getaway plan that they were able to appear here at last.
"What the?!" A vampire witnessed this out-of-nowhere arrival for herself. Since the explosion was so massive and different, no one ended up in the tubes. There were far too many of them here to fit them all in as Dimstar simply dropped them off out in the open.
"Okay! We're in!" Ash grinned as he was the first face the vampire saw. Everyone else's faces would show up too. Ponies and Pokemon alike and the majority of them came from PokePark and the Pokemon House. They already filled up a majority of the upper floor with their numbers and they were ready to be as wild as they can in this place.
"T-They made it in?! Here at the Revival Chamber?!" Another vampire shouted, noticing Ash's group appearing here at the Revival Chamber.
"Let's find all of them as soon as possible! Fluttershy or anyone will do as long as we save them!" Twilight ordered, looking back at all of her friends.
"Got it! I'll have my Slurpuff sniff them out!" Pinkie Pie excitedly raised her hoof. As for the vampires who saw them, one of them would immediately try and alert Magehold as soon as possible, bolting away. The other vampires here would stay to confront the intruders.
"Here goes! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted, punching the air and focusing on the vampires in front of him.
"Pikaaa...Chuuu!" Pikachu made the first move. By slapping his red sacs, he unleashed a fierce blast of lightning from his body. The vampires in front of Ash's group would receive 100,000 volts which shocked them all at the same time, latching onto them with its area-wide effect.
And once Pikachu made the first move, everyone else went for it. All the Pokemon were free to go wild. And go wild they did. They immediately spread out, scattering themselves in the upper floor of the chamber, beginning their own rampage. The nearby vampires freaked out as they were not ready for this sudden attack in the chamber. If they were ready, they were expecting them to first enter Magehold from the outside, not directly on the inside.
Ash, Twilight and the others would leave most of the chaos to the Pokemon from PokePark and the Pokemon House. Their friends were on their minds instead. They weren't sure where to go but the chamber seemed like a good starting place. Leading the way was none other than one of Pinkie Pie's Slurpuff, using her powerful nose to track down any one of them. There were plenty of scents here but Slurpuff always remembered which ones stuck out. And of course, the vampires here didn't stick out compared to her friends.
"Bad news! We're under attack!" A vampire quickly rushed to Opal Vivacity and the other vampires on the lower level. "The King of the Sea and the Princess of Friendship have shown up with others!"
"Impossible?! They got in!? So soon?!" Opal roared out in disbelief. Right as she got back, there was already some pandemonium here.
"It was probably Dimstar who was behind this," Shrivel spoke about Dimstar, instantly assuming that she was behind this. And she was most definitely correct.
"Twilight and Ash are here...I knew it." Cadence, who was near Fluttershy's tube, put on a soft smile, glad to know that her friends showed up after all. She never doubted them for a second and could always count on them to make an appearance thanks to how tenacious they can be.
"Tch. Take the tubes and leave with them at once! And make sure the chamber's locked off from any exit or entry!" Opal commanded, knowing that they could come straight for the captives first before anyone else. That was their main goal after all and each of these captives were important in their own way. Yveltal was also important but not in the way Fluttershy, Cadence and Flurry Heart were.
Cadence tried one last attempt to break herself out of this tube, but still lacked the strength to do so. She had to count on Twilight and everyone else to free her now. She was most certainly not leaving this tube now that a ruckus was being made in the chamber.
The tubes that they resided in were suddenly removed from the floor, becoming portable. This was done by Sweet Fang, Opal and Shrivel who tapped what appeared to be a hoof print on the back of the tubes. It read each of their hooves, releasing the three tubes from the floor as they were raised. The vampires here were then tasked with keeping the tubes away from Ash's group, using their strength to carry them.
As for Opal Vivacity, she turned her focus away from Fantina's Pokemon Contest and instead went for the intruders. She would soon be joined by Sweet Fang while Shrivel would oversee the three tubes, making sure that they were completely hidden from the eyes of the intruders.
"Slur!" However, it wasn't the eyes that she had to worry about but the nose. And even the ears. Slurpuff could pick up on three familiar scents while Audino was listening closely for any indication of Fluttershy. Slurpuff had the clearest path, sensing Fluttershy, Cadence and Flurry Heart's scents specifically. Unfortunately, Fantina's scent hadn't been picked up yet.
"Stop right there!" A group of vampires intercepted Ash and his friends from advancing, meeting them on a cobblestone bridge.
"You're in our way! Dazzling Gleam, Eve!"
"Espeon!" Espeon would ascend into the air, generating a beautiful flash of Fairy Magic that the vampires had to are witness to. They hissed at this fabulous light which then threw multiple rays of magic. The vampires were hit by the rays from above which would light up when crash landing.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
"Sceptile, Leaf Blade!"
"Pika!" Moving through the smoke was Pikachu as he approached at lightning speeds, tackling the other vampires that were up ahead. It was a direct hit to one of the vampire's heads, causing him to bump into another member of the Dread League while Pikachu suffered no recoil damage whatsoever.
"Tile!" This was then followed up by Sceptile delivering a swift and sharp Leaf Blade past the Dread League. Since they were in the Rejuvenation Chamber, there was no point in combusting to save themselves if things got ugly. Their opponents would simply find them. Once those vampires were pushed aside, Ash and his friends continued on their way, following Slurpuff. It was a full-on assault on Magehold, at least here in the chamber.
Lich Queen's throne Room.
"What did you say?! They got in?!" And this news instantly met with Rosa Maledicta's ears. She was made aware of this by her forces. Something like this had to reach her first before anyone else. "And it's the chamber no less..."
"They showed up unexpectedly at the chamber and started attacking. We're not sure how they got in here." A vampire explained. "We're positive that they're going straight for the three captives we have back at the chamber."
"Nevermind how they got in. Magehold's best protection has been weakened because of that light so Celestia and her forces might push through. This new field hasn't been nurtured like the previous one at all. Just deal with them all at once and use the Necropillars to nullify their magic if there are any ponies among them."
"Yes, your majesty!" The ponies collectively saluted before leaving the throne room. As for the Lich Queen, she now had to turn her attention to the intruders. This was a rather annoying turn of events as it conflicted with parts of her plan. "It's a good enough time to test out Yveltal's power on these intruders. If things get too out of hand, I might have to resort to another defence mechanism."
Rosa Maledicta would suddenly take out a Master Ball. The same Master Ball that was used to capture Yveltal. Now that Yveltal was fully under the control of the Lich Queen, he became the weapon the Dread League greatly wished for that did not spell great news for the world.
Magehold Contest Hall.
Meanwhile, the residents of Magehold were none the wiser. News about what happened to Rosa Maledicta had not reached them and neither has the news of the intruders. All of them were too busy enjoying the Pokemon Contest, just now finishing the feast they were a part of.
And this was all thanks to Fractured Note. Because he chose to approach them, he stayed silent about the whole time, making sure no one here knew about the attack on the Lich Queen. And the vampires that were alongside him were on his side, also aiming to put an end to this Lich Cycle as soon as possible.
"Things are going great right now," said Fractured Note. "But it seems something else has started over at the Rejuvenation Chamber. Fantina will have to keep this up for a bit longer. The Battle Stage is about to begin soon."
"Alright, everyone!" Speaking of Fantina, she spoke to the crowd once more, ready to begin the next and final part of the Pokemon Contest. "Now that the break is over, we can go on to the next stage! We took all the judges' votes into account and were able to find who will move on to the next stage! Only eight of them will pass this one. Here they are!"
Fantina turned everyone's attention to the screen which would gradually show the qualified coordinators. The first two ponies were shown on the screen. One came from Fantina's class and the other was a random vampire. Watching this intensively was Eccentrick as she was hoping that she made it.
She most definitely succeeded in what she needed to do as she was the one responsible for harming the Lich Queen. But even when accomplishing her goal, Eccentrick was striving for more. The energetic vampire didn't want an opportunity like this to just suddenly leave her because of a simple plan. Eccentrick wanted to win the whole thing.
The second row of trainers were shown as they made it in, but nothing from Eccentrick yet. The third row came in and Eccentrick put on a nervous grimace, afraid that she didn't make it. She scrunched her face, gently holding onto her partner Inkay and bracing for the final row. Eccentrick wouldn't see too much of a loss if she never made it but it would certainly gut her since this was something that she strived for and was taken away from her thanks to Opal Vivacity.
However, her goals were not yet gone. The final row had been shown after the fourth came and went, revealing something pleasing to the eyes. Eccentrick made it. Her amazing display was enough to get her into the battle stage. And it was all thanks to the usage of light. Using the power of light while also not harming anyone in the process certainly helped.
"Yes! I made it!" She would instantly jump for joy, taking flight and hitting the ceiling itself. A part of the ceiling had been cracked thanks to Eccentrick's powerful and excited leap. "Ough!"
"Oh, are you okay, Eccentrick?!" A fellow coordinator asked after she hit the ceiling hard. Eccentrick's eyes would roll as she slowly descended, feeling a little bit of pain.
"Y-Yeah...I'm going to be just fine!" The pain didn't matter to her as it would soon subside. Her happiness trumped it completely. All the while, Fantina put on a smile. This wasn't because Eccentrick was involved with a specific plan, it was because her performance was just that good. If she got through the first stage because of that, it wouldn't feel all that earned. "Okay, Inkay. There's one last thing I want to try for the next stage. But we're going to do it when we get to the final round. And we will get to the final round."
"Inkay!"
Magehold Chamber.
Back at the Chamber, the Pokemon were going wild, attacking all the vampires they came across in this massive chamber. Since there were so many tubes, a plethora of vampires would obviously be down here. A flurry of Pokemon attacks of all kinds were being thrown out, causing continuous damage to the chamber.
The vampires had to try and outnumber the Pokemon since most of them scattered into their own groups, wreaking havoc everywhere. Led by Queen Serperior, they were tasked with giving Ash, Twilight and all the others enough time. Just enough for them to save their friends.
"How close are we?" Meanwhile, Emerald Aura spoke, wondering how close they were to Fluttershy. They passed by multiple regeneration tubes, searching for any of their friends.
"Slurpuff's still sniffing 'em out! I don't know how big this place is though!" Pinkie Pie replied.
"Every one of these tubes looks like they hold vampires whenever they return here! With so many members of the Dread League, this chamber is definitely massive!" Twilight answered, already figuring out that this place had to be colossal just by the number of tubes here. And this was just one of the floors. From what they could tell from Slurpuff's direction, Fluttershy was on another floor away from here.
But right as they advanced, the chamber would retaliate all of a sudden. Right as they crossed a bridge, the bridge would move. It swiftly moved to the side, disrupting everyone's balance. At least those on the ground. Rainbow Dash found herself exempt from this along with Mew. Ash and the others though felt the bridge shift to a different position, attempting to throw them off. And at the speed it went, it certainly managed to do so to some of them.
"Oh! Woah!" Applejack was thrown off the bridge along with Pinkie Pie and Slurpuff, screaming at the top of their lungs. Seeing them fall, the Forest Pokemon held his hands out, quickly using his vines. So did Bayleef as she unleashed them from her body.
However, right as the vines wrapped themselves around Applejack, Slurpuff and Pinkie Pie, they would be destroyed afterwards. Another bridge had appeared from the walls. It was never there in the first place and just suddenly appeared. Right as it appeared, it broke the vines in half, splitting them away from Applejack, Pinkie and Slurpuff, blocking them from Sceptile and Bayleef's sights.
"T-Tile?!" Sceptile gasped as his vines were cut off from this new bridge. But that wasn't the only bridge appearing. More would show up, flying out of the walls as they perfectly blended in with the cobblestone to the point where they were invisible.
Some more targeted Ash's group who were still on the shifted bridge, attempting to strike them from behind. More of them were popping up from different positions, creating an abundance of bridges that would place themselves on the other floors. The sounds of Applejack and Pinkie Pie screaming could be heard as they were seemingly still falling.
"Mew?! Mew...!" Mew would notice this right before anyone else could. Quickly, the New Species Pokemon would transform into the first Pokemon he could think of. He turned himself into a Steelix, using the durable body of the Steel-Ground-Type to his advantage.
"Steelix!" Right on time, he managed to shield Ash and everyone from the incoming bridge as it would shatter the second it hit this powerful body. The material flew everywhere, barely even making Mew flinch.
"Nice save, Mew! You should go after Pinkie, Slurpuff and Applejack! We'll go on ahead!" Ash opted to have Mew go for Pinkie, Applejack and Slurpuff. Someone had to make sure they were alright and he could count on Pinkie Pie's trainer to do that. Unfortunately, this meant that the group wasn't as close as it was before but with all of this ruckus, they believed they were bound to join up with some of the Pokemon here.
"Steel!" Mew was already planning on it. He summoned an Aura Sphere in his mouth, aiming it at the bridge that cut him off from his best friends. After the bridge took some damage from the Aura Sphere, splitting in half, Mew used Steelix's body to hop off the upper bridge, taking a dive. But he would do it with a nimble body.
Right after jumping off this bridge, he transformed once more, this time, taking on the form of a Staraptor for a quicker mode of transportation. "Staraptor!" With Staraptor's body, Mew would soar at swift and agile speeds, passing through the gap in the bridge and following where Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Slurpuff went.
"We don't have Slurpuff with us though! How are we gonna find them now without at least one Slurpuff?!" Rainbow Dash asked, pointing out how Slurpuff's powerful sense of smell was the main way that they could find Fluttershy and the others.
"They'll be back! I know it! We just have to keep going!" Ash continued on his way. Until they met up with their friends once more, they had to keep moving. At the same time, now they had to be careful of the hazards that were present here. There were still bridges flying out, attempting to strike down the intruders as it felt like the chamber had a mind of its own.
Pikachu would use Iron Tail the second he saw one of the bridges flying towards his beloved friends. His hardened tail broke the bridge in half. Sceptile would use Dragon Pulse, destroying some of the bridges in the way before they could emerge, getting an early victory. And right above them, the Pokemon were all going crazy. Everywhere around them, they could hear a plethora of crashes, flashes, blasts and so on, especially Audino. All Audino wanted to do was listen for Fluttershy in some way. But alas, Fluttershy was unconscious, unable to speak at all.
The group entered the next floor, going down deeper levels and seeing more tubes. Their eyes met with other vampires who were inside of this tube, regenerating and unaware of this sudden attack on their home. There was no point in attacking the tubes as only their friends were within their sights, but they were not afraid to battle their way through some vampires.
The Dread League were starting to take all of this in. While the attack from the inside was surprising since the intruders didn't even use the entrance, they knew what had to be done. So as long as the intruders were destroyed, it would all be fine. And Twilight Sparkle's alicorn lifespan was still a target for them.
More vampires appeared, standing in their way once more. But these ones came prepared. They had Dark Magic at the ready, unleashing it at the intruders in the form of collective magical beams. This was met by Twilight's own magical beam which would intercept one of them. The magic from both sides would cancel each other out, damaging the pathway in front of them.
But it wasn't just magic that they had to worry about. The Dread League had a lot at their disposal. Especially the dreaded Despair Plants. Since they were at the home of where the Despair Plants resided, they were bound to encounter plenty of them.
Right as the smoke from the magical clash cleared, some Despair Plants had already made their arrival. Triantis and Cordyceps were the first two species that appeared, creeping around the corner of this floor. Despair Plants were certainly a powerful blockade, only being weak to one thing after all. Luckily, Twilight had that at her disposal in the form of the Twilightium Z, but she already knew that she might have to pull it off multiple times. And there was already the fear of waiting for it to recharge.
More Despair Plants were showing up as all attention was brought to the chamber. Since that was where all the intruders were, the Dread League sent all of their current forces there. The walls suddenly opened up as secret entryways were revealed. This chamber had more to offer than just being a place for the vampires to regenerate.
With the many secret entryways opening, the Despair Plants would appear out of them, including new species. One of which ended up being a Despair Plant that resembled an Aerodactyl but clearly wasn't. This was its own creature based on another creature originally from the far past before the worlds united. This Despair Plant's body was rather rotund and yet its wings were powerful enough to keep it in the air. Its mouth was just one big poisonous trap while the edge of its wings appeared to be thorns. This Pterodactyl Despair Plant roared while appearing above its new prey, having a voice so strong that it even caused some cracks to appear on the walls.
"We can try talking to them. And if something goes wrong, we'll heal you all, alright?!" Daisy said to Twilight. The two Flora Ponies were capable of countering Magehold Diseases were here for support as their presence was enough to soothe a Despair Plant and befriend them. And with the Sun up, they could also heal themselves now, not having to worry about the lack of any sunlight. However, they were in a dark area and not even the Sun could reach this place as the Moon was always up.
And as for the Despair Plants, they weren't being soothed at all with the presence of Daisy and Paradise. Triantis would make a move, lunging in and using its sharp scythe-like claws to attack its new prey. Sceptile already had experience battling these Despair Plants but he wouldn't let the Triantis best him anymore. "Scep!" The Grass-Type used Leaf Blade, blocking Triantis' downward swing. The other Despair Plants would soon attack, especially the one above them all.
"It didn't work?! What gives?!" Paradise gasped, wondering why the Despair Plants didn't instantly calm down when near them.
"Melt away them away, Pterathes! Now!" A vampire ordered, calling out the name of this Despair Plant.
Pterathes would hold its breath in before suddenly coughing something out. It appeared to be some sort of fireball that had a green aura around it instead of the usual orange. Everyone moved out of the way as the fireball would not combust. Instead, it would sink through the floor, having an acidic effect.
Ash and the others quickly realized they were too close to each other, making them vulnerable to being snuffed out in one go. They would instantly space themselves out to avoid that possibility. Pterathres shot another acidic fireball, targeting its prety once more but this time, there was some interception.
"Go, Lucario!" Ash would be the one to intercept this. By throwing his Poke Ball into the air, he summoned a Pokemon that could easily ignore the acid thanks to his Tying. Lucario would emerge from the Poke Ball, meeting with the Acid Fire Ball.
"Lucario!" And instantly, he would bash his body through the attack, nullifying it as all of it covered him instead. And since he was a Steel-Type, Lucario was sitting pretty, completely immune to the deadly attack this Despair Plant possessed. And while in the air, Lucario even took the time to tackle Pterathes, knocking it back into the wall.
"I don't want us to split up at all...but we can't stay like this," Twilight said. "Some of us should try and find either of our friends. Whether it's Fluttershy, Cadence or Flurry Heart. Or even Fantina."
"I'll try and meet up with Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Slurpuff then." Rarity opted. "I have my precious Pheromosa who can certainly get far."
"As if you all are going anywhere." A vampire scoffed. "And even if you did, you have no idea what this chamber has in store for you. The entryways and the bridges are just the beginning."
"That's fine with us." Ash grinned, looking forward to this. While he was serious about saving his friends, he was also willing to take on whatever Magehold had to throw at him. That was his adventurous spirit talking. All of his friends would move out, going in different groups. Rarity would team up with Rainbow Dash while Twilight stuck by Ash. Daisy and Paradise made sure to stay by Ash and Twilight too, adding to their numbers.
They also had to take that vampire's word seriously. They have yet to see what Magehold can truly do. And now that they were within enemy territory, the best of Magehold would be unleashed upon them with no holds barred. As the journey continues.
An infiltration on Magehold had been made from the inside. Ash and many others found an easy way to enter Magehold thanks to the Hybrid Vampire Dimstar. Speaking of Dimstar, she stood at the same place where she brought everyone, unmoving and needing some time to think. Since this was done by her own will, Dimstar had to wonder why she suddenly started assisting her enemies. It didn't add up and the only thing she could think of were the words of her father, the first Lich King.
However, to Dimstar, the first Lich King was long gone, thus, she could not ask him at all. And neither did she do much else. She saw and heard the conflict happening across the chamber but took no action, not even bothering to help her fellow vampires.
"Strange...I should assist them but I'm not doing anything. It's as if I'm compelled not to." Dimstar looked at her hoof, wondering why this was the case. This was just another reason for her to figure out her purpose. Dimstar already knew there was a massive gap in her life since she was Half Lich.
And from what her memories could gather, a majority of it was spent within that cube she was kept in. Dimstar tried searching for some more memories but she was surprised to find that it was rather limited. She couldn't even recall when she was placed in that cube.
"If only Father were here to tell me how...But perhaps the one who released me, Fractured Note can answer that." Unbeknownst to her, her father was still around but simply as a reincarnation. Asking him could grant her that wish without her even realizing it at first. "Mother isn't around either though."
However, Dimstar's mother was absent as well. Despite being a vampire, Dimstar had not seen her mother at all, making the presence of her family seemingly non-existent. The Hybrid Vampire felt like she was the last one of her family left and she couldn't understand why. Before she would try and find Fractured Note, she would recover more of her strength, approaching one of the Rejuvenation Tubes.
Meanwhile, at the lower levels of the chamber, Ash and his friends would continue to advance when trying to find their friends, however, with so many vampires here, they were bound to be held back, especially with the Despair Plants getting involved.
The group weren't one for splitting up but in this scenario, that was the most likely outcome. Ash was currently with Twilight and the Flora Ponies while Rainbow Dash went with Rarity and Emerald Aura but they all had a single destination in mind. They ran through the hallways of the chambers, not having Slurpuff's powerful nose to guide them until they were found. Applejack and Pinkie Pie had already been separated from them earlier thanks to bridges flying out of the walls and the shifting pathways.
"Where are we now?" Rarity questioned while being carried by Pheromosa. Rainbow Dash was keeping up with her while Sceptile, Audino, Raboot and Bayleef were right behind them. They already got far thanks to Pheromosa's speed but now they ended up in a part of the chamber that was large but didn't seem to go anywhere else.
By this point, without Slurpuff's nose, they were lost. This part of the chamber only had one entryway and that was the one they came through. There was nothing else here so it seemed like a dead-end. But this place has already proven to have secret entryways that the Despair Plants use so that was still a possibility.
The group searched for a secret passageway, pressing their hooves and hands on the walls, hoping to trigger something. They strafed their limbs across the hardened walls of Magehold's chamber but haven't found anything yet. Pheromosa tapped her legs on the walls, attempting to cause some destruction in this wide area.
And indeed, that did trigger something. Pheromosa's rapid kicks triggered one of the passageways as it would open up. This passageway revealed more of the chamber, which was showing to be incredibly extensive for just being a place where the vampires can rest.
"Excellent work, darling." Rarity praised her before approaching the passageway. Rainbow Dash descended to pass through this pony-sized entryway but for the others, that was a different story. Raboot could easily pass through it since he was small and Bayleef could do the same even for her size. She was only slightly bigger than the average pony.
The hardest ones were for Audino, Pheromosa and Sceptile. Pheromosa lowered her head as she was far too tall to casually walk through it. The Lissome Pokemon then got on all fours to make it easier on herself, moving across the floor as if she was a snake. "Phe...Phero..." This obviously hurt as the front of her body was feeling a scraping pain. Sceptile did better than Pheromosa but it was still tough for him because of the way he was built. His tail even made it a nuisance for him and Audino's size hindered her as well, forcing her to push as hard as she could when crawling through this passageway that was clearly made for ponies. But despite this annoyance, they got through the passageway and entered the next part of the chamber and all it took was some heavy muscle power.
The next room they found themselves in appeared to be the longest hallway yet. They already saw that it stretched far and wide, housing a long row of tubes while another door was in the distance. It seemed like a straightforward path compared to what they previously found. But still no sign of Fluttershy anywhere.
Sceptile and Pheromosa managed to exit the tight passageway, soon helping Audino out of it. Rainbow Dash and Rarity carefully looked around once more to see if there was at least someone here, but that didn't seem to be the case. This room was empty and free of any conflict. Speaking of empty, it even had an open roof that exposed the skies of Magehold but yet it still felt like they were too far away from the outside.
"That's as far as you go!" But right as Audino was being pulled out of the entryway and Rarity was about to take her next step, someone already arrived here. And it was quite an entrance. A pillar of Dark Magic hit the floor of this hallway, startling Rarity and the others. This came directly from the open area above this part of the chamber as if lightning hit the scene. But really, they were shadows and the one within them was darker than the shadows themselves.
Her smile could be seen popping out of it along with her dark pink eyes that would glow and eye down the Equestrians that stood before her. Rarity narrowed her eyes as her friends looked on with their guards up, ready for the worst. And indeed, the Worst had come to them.
None other than Opal Vivacity.
"You...You're Opal, aren't you?!" Rarity gasped after feasting her eyes on this diva of a vampire who was striving to become the next Lich Queen. Sceptile, Audino, Raboot and Bayleef recognized Opal all too well after their encounter at Alola.
"The one and only." Opal Vivacity responded, flipping her mane which had recently been redone by Opal Vivacity's magic. However, while it was still big, it wasn't as big as it was previously was. Opal hadn't taken the time to fully recover after the Ranger Union caught her by surprise and so her magic only allowed her to repair a certain part of her mane. But it was still rather long, elegantly swaying to the side. On top of that, there was also Olympia's stolen cape, which hid parts of her massive mane, making it seem like her mane wasn't all that large.
"You're the one who started the whole Fluttershy kidnapping plan! And you tried destroying Equestria with that demon from before!" Rainbow Dash called back to OPal Vivacity's fearsome and horrid plans.
"Among other things!" Opal raised her hoof, feeling proud of her actions. She has done a lot. A lot of despicable things which she takes massive pride in. "It's good to know my name is getting out there and so are my achievements. This will all be worth in the end."
"Where's Fluttershy?!" Rarity got straight to the point, wanting to know where her best friend was. "Along with Fantina and everyone else your League has kidnapped!"
"Pssh. I'm not telling you that." Opal scoffed. "You're fools to enter directly into the chamber. You could have at least started from the very outside but oh well. It'll be your fault when you meet your end here. Very soon, you'll be the first skeletons outside of Equestria to be born here. Assuming the rest of your friends haven't already met their fate."
"Raboot...!" A furious Raboot built up flames around his body, shifting all of his rage at Opal Vivacity.
"Ignore her. We'll just keep going until we find Fluttershy." But keeping him from attacking Opal Vivacity was Rainbow Dash, who wanted to continue on her way. "The door's right there so let's just blast through her and get going."
"I'm sorry, but did you suggest ignoring me?" Opal raised an eyebrow, sneering at Rainbow Dash's comment. "Haha! You won't be doing that. When it comes to me, I'm always gaining attention of some sort. You're not getting past me, understand?"
"That's why she recommended blowing past you. I'm all for that right now." Rarity gave some lip back to Opal, moving her hoof forward with prompted Opal Vivacity to do the same.
"Speed won't help you in this. The moment you encountered me, your fate was sealed. The residents of Kalos could testify to that if they were here, that is."
"Hold on...That cape...It can't be!" Rarity saw something familiar in her eyes the longer she looked at Opal Vivacity. Everyone was stunned by what they were seeing as the cape on Olympia's back was too recognizable since once person usually wears that.
"Oh, but it is. This belonged to one of those Gym Leaders you know. Her name was Olympia, wasn't it? She had the most divine cape I have ever seen in my life and I simply had to take it for myself. It looks much better on me than that short-lifer especially since I'm certain her life has been cut short because of me!"
Opal taunted Rarity and the others, flaunting Olympia's cape and even Olympia herself. The skies above her rumbled as her words hit Rarity and Rainbow Dash to the point where they were perplexed by the implications. Olympia had lost her cape, meaning that she lost a battle against Opal Vivacity. And judging by Opal's words, Olympia lost her life in the process and to add salt to the wound, Opal Vivacity made it her own.
"What do you think?! I look truly divine, don't I?! This cape is just another part of my eventual rise to power as the next Lich Queen! I need to look like I stand above the stars in space as well and this is just perfect!" Opal blustered, letting out a distateful laugh and then giving a mortifying grin to Rarity's group who were not having this at all.
"You...You...!" The rage that Raboot felt was now reaching Rarity and the others. Having a friend of theirs squandered in such a way easily riled them up, just as Opal Vivacity expected.
"If it makes you feel any better, whatever you have on you, I'll wear it to honour you. If it's beautiful enough, but no one is more beautiful than me! Opal Vivacity! So prepare to meet your end here, okay?" Opal winked.
"That's enough out of you! Pheromosa! Use Triple Kick!"
"Mosa!" And the one who would try and blow past her would be Pheromosa while also trying to deal damage to her. The Lissome Pokemon dashed past her friends, charging up a majority of her strength in her legs.
"Hoh? Are you sure about that?!" However, as soon as Pheromosa moved, Opal Vivacity took action. She was aware of the speed she was dealing with. Very aware. Her mane would suddenly light up with Dark Magic. Pheromosa went for a direct kick with the first strike, only to find that Opal blocked it with her mane of all things.
"P-Phero?!" Pheromosa kicked Opal Vivacity's mane which suddenly hardened out of nowhere. Pheromosa's leg trembled for a moment, feeling this hard texture ripple across her supple body.
"Move!" Opal shouted before using the force of her massive mane to push Pheromosa back, preventing her from getting anywhere closer. Pheromosa then went in for the other two kicks since the first one failed. Two more kicks were thrown at Opal, only for her to use her mane as retaliation.
Her mane had hardened to the point where it felt like Pheromosa was touching a hard metal the likes of which she's never touched before. But in reality, it was Opal Vivacity simply using Dark Magic around her long mane and it was rather effective. Pheromosa's kicks were all blocked by Opal's mane, failing to properly land. And once Triple Kick ended, Opal would open her mouth, breathing out a fierce beam of Dark Magic that would blast the Ultra Beast back.
"P-Phero!" Pheromosa winced, flying through the air and spinning for a moment. Pheromosa found herself crashing and rolling on the floor, reaching Rarity from the distance she got.
"Pheromosa! Are you okay, darling?!" Rarity gasped.
"M-Mosa...!" Pheromosa grunted, shifting her head over to the cruel vampire, surprised that she had that kind of strength in her mane. It seemed as if it wasn't just used for changing fate.
"Don't even think about trying your light shows this time! I have the Pony of Shadows to help me with that thanks to a veil of shadows. So I'll be free to crush you without too much holding me back and since we're in Magehold now, I can count on that protection for as long as possible!"
"Yeah, whatever!" Rainbow Dash snarled before getting in on the action. Castform, use Hurricane!"
"Cast...Form!" A way to try and get past Opal Viviacity was attempted once more. This time, Castform, who flew right out of Rainbow Dash's saddlebag, would release a powerful gust of wind just breathing it out. This gust of wind expanded to form a Hurricane.
The tornado would rush across the hallway, affecting the nearby tubes as they started shaking a bit. Mainly the glass that was containing them. In response, Opal would make her mane stand up, releasing a wave of Dark Magic out of it. That wave was then morphed into a tornado, copying Castform's Hurricane.
A Dark Tornado came over, meeting with Castform's Hurricane as it was a clash of gales. The attacks cancelled each other out instantly, causing a powerful wind pressure to appear that affected both sides. Castform was blown away by the wind pressure while Opal's mane hit her face thanks to how large it was.
"Now's our chance!" Rainbow Dash would try and use this was an opportunity to blitz past Opal Vivacity who currently had her mane in her face. She quickly grabbed Castform out of the air, kicking it into high gear. Opal's eyes peered through her mane to notice a multicoloured streak moving past her.
"No, you don't!" Opal Vivacity would try and intercept Rainbow Dash as quickly as she could, stomping her hooves on the floor which summoned dark chains. These chains would fly out of the floor, targeting Rainbow Dash who went straight for the only door here. The chains followed her rainbow trail, piercing through it with their dark power and drowning out the colour entirely.
The chains grabbed onto Rainbow's back hoof, ceasing her moments abruptly as she felt her body jerk back from the powerful pull they had. Rainbow Dash nearly dropped Castform, but carefully held onto him, keeping the Weather Pokemon safe before anything else. The chains would then continuously latch themselves onto Rainbow Dash's back hooves, restraining her and holding back her speed.
"Ra...Boot!" But quickly breaking these chains apart was Raboot who used High Jump Kick, appearing from above. He smashed his foot right through these Shadow Chains while also striking the floor, leaving a crack behind.
This was then followed by Sceptile cutting up the other chains with Leaf Blade, giving Rainbow Dash the opportunity to break free. And thanks to them both, she was indeed free even if her hooves had a bit of a bruise around them. "Thanks, you two!"
"You still won't escape!" Opal still refused to let Rainbow Dash leave at all. Her eyes shifted in two directions, trying to focus on both sides. And right as she looked to the other side, she saw Pheromosa approaching her along with Audino charging up a Hyper Beam.
"Close Combat, Pheromosa!"
"Pheromosa!" Pheromosa cried out before throwing out a powerful kick that forced Opal Vivacity to pay attention to that side instead. She quickly put up a magical shield instead of using her mane, blocking the first initial hit from Pheromosa's legs. But since this was Close Combat, there was more to come. Pheromosa would start wailing on the massive barrier Opal created, delivering only kicks and no punches. Her strength was in her legs after all. Each hit was staggeringly heavy, sending shockwaves across the barrier which forced Opal to keep her focus on the Lissome Pokemon's side.
This allowed Rainbow Dash to keep moving as she arrived at the door at the end of this hallway without any further interruptions. Joining her were Sceptile and Raboot who would also make a beeline for the door. All that was left was for Rarity and the others to make it there too.
"Come on! Hurry!" Rainbow Dash yelled before opening the door, shouting at Rarity and the others to quickly make it here. Sceptile and Raboot had already passed through it, standing on the outside and waiting for their friends to advance.
"You won't slip by me a second time, you got that?!" Opal couldn't afford to have the rest of them make it to the end. Right as Pheromosa was about to deliver another blow to the barrier, Opal Vivacity would make her barrier explode unexpectedly. It was as if a bomb went off right on the spot and it felt like it. The explosion consumed Pheromosa, blowing her away along with Rarity and even Audno, who failed to get her Hyper Beam off.
"Rarity!" Rainbow Dash's voice crashed after she was then hit by the crushing pressure that the explosion created. She was then blown back as well even from this distance. Sceptile would quickly catch her, saving Rainbow Dash from receiving a hard crash into the walls.
"Hah..." Opal took a deep breath after making that explosion. Her mane even tingled a bit from pulling that off as she slumped Pheromosa to the side. Pheromosa took the worst of it since the brunt of the barrier blowing up went to her. The Lissome Pokemon was on the ground, greatly injured from that blow. Rarity fell over too, having a scratch on her hoof just by being close to the outburst. "Stay down if you know what's good for you. As for you lot on that side..." Opal then turned her eyes to Rainbow Dash's side.
"Why you...!" Rainbow Dash would free herself from Sceptile's arms, furious at Opal Vivacity for harming her friends even further. She was about to re-enter this room just to try and lay a smackdown on the beautiful vampire. "Hang on, Rarity, I'll-"
"Nevermind me!" However, Rarity stopped Rainbow Dash from saying anything else or even taking another step or even flying. "It's fine, Rainbow Dash. "It's just a scratch, that's all. Yes. You should go on ahead and continue trying to find Fluttershy before it's too late."
"No way! I'll be here with you to help you out!" Rainbow Dash rejected. "She's not gonna get the best of us!"
"Are you sure about that? You could have left when you had the chance. The explosion could've even blown you out of this room." Opal smirked. "But if you wish to meet your end here, then be my guest. The dark skies above will watch your final moments."
"Rainbow Dash. I know you're all about loyalty and that's wonderful. But just this once...leave it to me, alright?" Rarity pleaded. "You can continue staying loyal by rescuing Fluttershy. She's waiting for us, isn't she?"
"Are you sure, Rarity?! I don't wanna leave you here with her! She's a ton of bad news!"
"I'm sure of it. I can beat her." Rarity showed full confidence, declaring that she could defeat Opal Vivacity. "Besides...I'll show her that's not beautiful at all."
"Not beautiful at all? What do you know, hm?" Opal sneered at Rarity.
"More than you even if you're centuries old. Go, Rainbow Dash!" Rarity exclaimed.
"A-Alright! Good luck! I'll meet back with you soon, okay?!" Rainbow Dash heeded Rarity's request, putting her faith in her. Rainbow Dash, Sceptile and Raboot would leave the room, letting Rarity, Pheromosa, Bayleef and Audino take things from here.
"Hmph. You've given yourself a handicap by not letting them get involved." Opal said. "And what's this about you commenting on my beauty? Are you perhaps saying that I'm ugly? Because if you are, you're objectively wrong and you should choose your words wisely unless you wish to incur my wrath, Shortlifer."
"I'll admit, you look good. Especially with that mane of yours." Rarity threw in a compliment, acknowledging beauty since she had a ton of experience with it. "But that's not the kind of ugliness I'm talking about. But if you wish to be ugly, Pheromosa and I can arrange that with a good old bashing."
"Pheromosa!"
"You'll regret that. And after this...I'll wear that Mega Evolution Bracelet and Pendant that you have on. Prepare yourself, Rarity."
A darker part of the chamber.
"Ow...ow..." Thankfully, Pinkie Pie, Slurpuff and Applejack were in one piece even after taking a long fall from the upper part of the chamber. Saving them from a hard fall was Mew, who transformed into a Staraptor to catch up to them before then turning into a Snorlax to grab them. In this part of the chamber, there were fewer tubes compared to the rest as this room was decorated by something else.
A grand pair of worn pony statues in this gloomy room could be seen as this place felt more like a cave with the jagged rocks lurking above. Beyond the pair of worn statues were small, timeworn tubes that looked older than the rest. Much older as the glass was dirty, nearly crackled and the material below the glass seemed rusty. The liquid inside was also rather dry and devoid of any colour. It didn't show the usual green that the other tubes possessed as they were truly ravished by time. This part of the chamber seemed rather ancient compared to everything else and that was rather impressive considering how old Magehold was.
"Nice save, Mew." A dizzy Pinkie Pie uttered before recollecting herself.
"We fell pretty far though...We're away from Sceptile and everyone else now." Applejack commented, placing her hat back on after it fell off, gathering Magehold dust.
"It's fine. Slurpuff can find them too. But. I don't know how far we are from them and it's already pretty tricky trying to find Fluttershy, Cadence, Flurry Heart and even Fantina."
"Slurpuff..."
"Can't slow down for nothing though!" Applejack raised her voice. "Maybe this fall helped us get closer to Fluttershy somehow!"
"Really?"
"I don't know..." Applejack was just guessing and hoping that was the case. She didn't have a massive knowledge of Magehold after all and this place was already throwing surprises at her friends. "This place is just weird...I'm feeling all kinds of goosebumps just being down here. This place is just full of vampires!"
"Slur...Slurpuff?" However, when Slurpuff sniffed the air, she would retain her focus, looking for Fluttershy's scent. It once again came back to her but this time, another scent could be detected. Two of them. "Puff!"
"Oh!? What is it, Slurpuff?!" Pinkie Pie asked, seeing that Slurpuff was onto something.
"Puff! Slurpuff!" Slurpuff detected three scents now. The first one was Fluttershy and the other two also felt familiar. Without wasting any time, Slurpuff would once again lead the way, not slowing down for anything. Nothing escaped the Meringue Pokemon's nose even if it was far away from her. All she needed to do was successfully get there. Applejack, Mew and Pinkie would follow her lead once more, moving across these darker parts of the chamber.
However, right as they advanced, the statues weren't the only things that decorated this part of the chamber. Right in front of them and stopping their advances was the appearance of four pillars that stood in their way. These pillars caught their attention as the moment they saw them, a strange and ominous presence filled the atmosphere. It wasn't there at first until they saw the pillars. But these weren't just any pillars. They were weapons that Magehold had been working on for the Black Crusade.
Manehattan had been evacuated. Completely vacant and devoid of any of its usual life. Thanks to Princess Celestia's warning, the citizens of Manehattan were safe, away from the Dread League. However, that didn't mean the Dread League weren't looking out for them. Even with the Sun up, dark shadows would form above, hiding parts of the Star in the Sky.
The shelter in question was right below the new Battle Frontier. It wasn't just for show but also a way to protect others. Deep underneath the Frontier, there was a massive room that was lavishly decorated. There was also food and water that could be found here, giving them the chance to live healthily while the Black Crusade went on.
But even when down here, they could hear the ruckus above. And there was already something happening while the citizens were all hiding underground. Celestia's forces were already in Manehattan, confronting the Dread League.
"Golurk!" The Golurk unified their strengths, holding up large pillars that had light within them. These tall pillars were slammed into the ground, lighting up Manehattan. However, Manehattan was already lit up even with the citizens hiding. The citizens helped out in their own way by leaving the lights on in this city, forcing the vampires to be highly careful.
The Golurk slugged as many Despair Plants as they could, not afraid to get up close and personal. They used their brute strength to try and hold them back while also turning intangible in some instances. But they didn't have the means to put them down, unfortunately, and the Despair Plants would hit back hard as well.
Speaking of the vampires, they already sicked Despair Plants onto the city before anything else. The Despair Plants entered battle with the Golurk while the trainers stayed back. That was the best they could do when confronting Despair Plants but they could also still put in some work. Not just by battling alongside the Golurk but by stacking up on the pillars.
The Canterlot Troops had more pillars to go that were filled with light as they were being carried by none other than the Grand Equestria which was on the seas near Manehattan. They had a plethora of these Light Pillars which were transparent, allowing the light to easily travel through.
These pillars were stacking up here at Manehattan, keeping the vampires back but doing nothing to the Despair Plants. The light they possessed just wasn't enough to defeat them. But even without the greatest form of Light possible, the Golurk were still powerful enough to hold their own against these fierce creatures from Magehold.
And while doing this, they recalled the words Princess Celestia said to them which led to her forces even pulling this off among many other things that involved stopping the Black Crusade. It was right when Celestia caught news of the crusade.
"I'll imbue these transparent pillars with my own magic. It will give out plenty of light for the vampires but perhaps not the Despair Plants. But to compensate for that, many of the items from the Canterlot Underground Chamber could be useful. Use these pillars to hold back the vampires and at best, trap or restrain the Despair Plants. And tell everypony to keep their lights on. Las Pegasus will have to use every ounce of its energy for this."
"How exactly are we going to trap them though?" A troop wondered, seeing no way of trapping these massive creatures.
"Not sure..." Another pony replied, unsure of how to deal with the Despair Plant. They had to think fast as the Golurk could not keep this up forever. For now, all they could do was keep the pillars coming and have the Golurk fend off the Despair Plants. They had to find a way to subdue the Despair Plants before they gain the upper hand.
Las Pegasus.
Just as Celestia ordered, Las Pegaus had used plenty of energy. Plenty of it. So much that it was practically all of it. It was certainly one of the brightest places in Equestria and now with the Black Crusade in full swing, all the fabulous and dazzling lights could shine to their full potential, fending off the vampires. However, the vampires expected this. Las Pegasus' lights weren't exactly hard to ignore or even acknowledge.
The workers here at Las Pegasus were also hidden along with those who only came here to enjoy themselves, however, not all of them managed to get away. Some were still out in the open and had only recently spotted the Dread League arriving.
"Come on...!" This was mainly due to the addictive nature of Las Pegasus' games and how there were many rewards waiting for them. Some of them who were glued to the casino games hadn't even noticed the Dread League, too dedicated to gaining their reward.
Even the vampires forcing themselves indoors with brute force did nothing to stave them away from their goal. A Golurk crashed through the walls and there weren't any reactions either. Celestia's forces were putting their heart and soul into trying to stop these vampires, knowing they couldn't get too close to them and kept their distance constantly.
Along with that, they shined as much light as they could at these vampiric foes, using Celestia's magic once more. It wasn't just transparent pillars that Celestia gave them but other objects they could use. Celestia had imbued her magic onto their weapons, making sure that the vampires were careful in approaching them. But it was already hard for them since Las Pegasus had been lit up.
However, the dark clouds above were slowly approaching, blocking some of the Sun's light and only sending rays out. But that didn't help with Las Pegasus' vibrancy. So, as a response, they would do what Celestia's Forces did and keep their distance while attacking. And they had the means to do that and then some.
Dark Magic was thrown from afar, reaching Las Pegasus and giving the vampires the opportunity to strike. This was obviously met with the Golurk protecting their trainers, intercepting and blocking the Dark Magic. Hyper Beams, SHadow Balls, Thunderbolts and other attacks were thrown out at the Dark Magic while some of the Golurk would be on the defensive side. All the while, Las Pegasus was taking constant damage from this brawl.
Some of the lights were starting to go out thanks to this fierce confrontation and Celestia's forces certainly couldn't afford to let that happen. Not when this was a splendid advantage for them.
Kalos.
All of this was happening across different parts of the world and was starting to spread out as the vampires made appearances, already stationed at certain cities, towns and regions. And a region that suffered the most so far and was the first victim was Kalos. The damage Opal Vivacity and her group did to the Kalos Region left scars across the world, levelling many areas and ruining the homes of their respective residents.
And there was no better example than Anistar City and its surroundings. Speaking of Anistar, far away from it, there was a heap of rubble that was resting next to a ruined forest that brought about a terrible dark smoke which polluted the air. And in that rubble was none other than Princess Luna.
She valiantly fought to try and protect Anistar City and those near it. Alas, the city had been totalled with the only piece of hope being the fact that its residents were already hidden a while back thanks to Olympia's foresight. But that was hard to confirm thanks to how destructive this attack was. Anistar had been lost, tainted by the Black Crusade.
And as for Luna, while laying there, next to her was Zekrom's Dark Stone. It was difficult to see Zekrom's stone due to how much destruction was all over the place. It was bleak in all the worst ways possible.
However, despite this massive destruction, Luna was alive. Horribly injured but alive. The proof of this was Nightmare Moon still being around. And also the fact that she made some noise. A weak and sad whimper came from Luna in her devastated state. It was so weak that the sound of the dark smoke even overpowered it.
Luna's body could barely move the rubble even a little bit as she was as stiff as a statue. This meant that she couldn't see around her. All she could see was Anistar City in the distance, no longer its beautiful self. Luna wasn't sure if she did a good job protecting those nearby it. She wasn't even able to comprehend everything right now as her head felt like it was splitting.
Her eyes then turned to face Zekrom's Dark Stone which was right in front of her. Her voice weakly cried out to Zekrom, hoping that she could speak with him right now. "Zekrom...?"
But there wasn't a response. She wasn't sure if it was the lack of power in her voice or if Zekrom was unable to respond, completely out of it as well. Luna wanted to recover. But it seemed impossible. Massive rubble held her down, only further harming her already damaged body. She couldn't see anyone else or hear anyone else, feeling completely alone.
At least, she couldn't hear and see anyone the moment her eyes opened. They didn't even open that much, only going halfway. But that was enough for Luna to see someone but not before first hearing footsteps. These footsteps approached the damaged Princess Luna, before showing her a leg.
A human leg. Three more legs appeared in front of Luna as she couldn't make them out at all in her current state. Luna also couldn't keep her strength out at all, passing out once more, unable to know what was about to happen with the entities that have appeared before her.
"Ugh..." That is until she woke up at last. Mainly because that splitting pain on her body was no longer being punished by the rubble. Luna could open her eyes once more, but they still went halfway. When opening them, the scenery changed completely. She was in a place that appeared brighter this time. Colourful and rather inviting. Even the atmosphere was inviting. This was rather soothing to Luna compared to what she was surrounded by earlier.
"You're finally awake, Princess Luna. How are you feeling?" A voice questioned. And that voice was very familiar to Luna's ears. By looking to her side, she saw a face as her vision was starting to heal. And the one standing in front of her was none other than Aria Blaze. One of the Sirens.
"You...You're Aria Blaze?" Luna spoke.
"Don't forget me~" And showing up as well, right next to Aria was her sister Sonata Dusk, the other siren and member of the Dazzlings. Luna now saw two familiar faces standing before her. And there was now a third that soon appeared.
"Give her some space, why don't you? She hasn't recovered yet." The third was the big sister of the group and the leader, Adagio Dazzle. All of them were present here and it has certainly been a while.
"The Sirens...I haven't seen you in a long time now..." Luna groaned while speaking. Indeed, the Sirens were gone from Equestria for a while now and thanks to the two worlds merging to form one world, the gateways were inaccessible to them, essentially stranding them without a gateway to rely on for Fast Travel.
"We sang a Healing Spell on you, so you should recover eventually. But these injuries you have are very much serious." And there was a fourth. Not a member of the Dazzlings but also a Siren. And even more than that. She was their mother. VIvace. Now that all four of them were here, Luna saw where she was at the moment.
She was in a Van that was illegally owned by the Dazzlings but by now, that issue has been tossed out of the window. Luna doesn't even know and she wouldn't even care in this instance. Luna sat up as she felt parts of her body healing up. She did not hear the song that the Sirens sang to her but considering it was starting to heal her, Luna could bet it was beautiful.
"Anistar...Everyone!" Luna then had the strength to shout, recalling what happened earlier as not a single moment of that event left her memory. How could it? She started looking around for Zekrom's Dark Stone. Lo and behold, it was within her sights, resting on the table of this Van that essentially became a new home for the Sirens.
"Safe and sound. We brought it along once we heard a voice coming from it." Sonata approached the Dark Stone, patting on it. Right as she touched it, she received a light shock of lightning that frizzed her mane. "Oooh!"
"That was obviously Zekrom's voice we heard. But what's it doing as a stone?" Aria asked Luna. "And what happened back at Anistar City?"
"Isn't it obvious? The Dread League happened." Adagio answered as she was already spot-on. "They've started their Black Crusade and it doesn't matter what they do, they'll cause destruction in some way."
"Is everyone alright?! What about Olympia and her students?! And the people at Anistar City!" Luna wanted to know about everyone else and their condition. She would even try and go as far as to mention those near Anistar City that lost their home to the beam.
"Look at where we at. That'll answer your question." Vivace nudged her head to the window, referring to the outside. With just a simple turn, Luna saw that she wasn't just in a van, but the van was parked somewhere.
An airport. Luna found herself parked in a Kalos Airport which was currently full of life. At least, in the physical sense. Metaphorically, life here was rather damaged. The students of Olympia were seen here but they were all unconscious, currently lying on the floor with blankets over them. And tending to the Psychic Students and their Pokemon were Nurse Joys, Healing Pokemon and some doctors.
Not just them, but other people and Pokemon were being taken care of as there was a huge influx of doctors and Nurse Joys, many of them came from different towns and cities across the Kalos Region. The airport was packed but not in the sense that anyone was trying to get somewhere.
"They all came here, horribly injured. The doctors and all those Joys said that something came crashing in at a great distance. But somehow, the worst they received was heavy damage. Something ended up saving them from perishing like the environment around them." Vivace explained.
"Yeah, that's weird. And we saw it from far away too. All that destruction and this is all they got." Sonata scratched her hair, trying to wrap her head around it. "I still don't know what saved them from all of that. It was huge too."
"What we saw was a flash of light that managed to pierce through the darkness. It was faint but it was there, reaching high into the clouds." Adagio added.
"That was me..." It took Luna a few seconds to realize that she was the reason why they were all still alive. It was her magic that was responsible for it. She remembered how she used the full force of her magic to try and defend everyone near Anistar City. All she could remember was everything going black as the beam consumed her but she was certain her magic did go off. Sonata's words even helped back that up.
"That only makes sense. Only an Alicorn could pull that off. But what kind of power were the Dread League using that forced you to use all that you had?" Vivace asked. "I mean, look at your horn."
Luna hadn't noticed it yet but her horn took some damage too. It was now chipped. A piece of it was missing as a gigantic amount of magic came from it.
"I don't see Olympia...where is she?" Luna then left the van, searching for Olympia. She already saw her students but where was the teacher? Olympia usually stuck out thanks to her cape, but longer was it out there. Not since Opal took it. Luna moved past the many injured humans and Pokemon that suffered from that beam. Whether they were from the wild or the cities and towns nearby, they all lost their homes and were only safe because of Luna.
That's when she saw her. Olympia. Much like her students and everyone else here, the beam took a toll on her body. So much so that she had black scars all over her face. Her clothes were ruined and her beautiful galaxy cape was nowhere to be found. But much like everyone else here, she was alive but not well.
Luna slowed down, looking over the harmed Gym Leader. A part of her was greatly relieved that Olympia made it. Luna's all-out spell didn't go to waste. But while she saved their lives, the injuries were staggering. Olympia was currently unconscious, unable to see or sense Luna at all. She needed the rest. All of them. But Luna was in the mood for resting. Not at all.
"I have to go after them." The Princess of the Night was steadfast in her goal. She would not rest until the Dread League was stopped for good.
"Already?" The Dazzlings approached her with Adagio speaking. "Are you sure about that? Our spell hasn't fully healed you yet and you want to head there again?"
"I must. Otherwise, more will certainly perish and I won't be there to stop them. I don't know how far they've gotten at all but I have to go." Luna said. "Wherever they are, they still have to be in Kalos, searching for Xerneas."
"Not right now they're not." Someone replied to Luna. And this time, it wasn't one of the sirens. Instead, it ended up being a Pokemon Ranger. Present here at the Kalos Airport as well and in a much healthier state than everyone else was the Ranger Union. They already had an encounter with Opal's group but turned out fine.
At least, most of them did. Some of them had been swallowed up by the Pony of Shadows, becoming Shadow Servants, unfortunately. The ones who avoided that showed up here at the airport.
"Pokemon Rangers? The Ranger Union?" said Luna.
"Sorry, Princess Luna, but they aren't in Kalos anymore. Not after they combusted and returned to Magehold. We tried going after them but...that didn't pan out the way we wanted." A ranger apologized. "Your sister, Princess Celestia, informed us right away and it's a good thing our Union has facilities all over the world. Minus Equestria, of course. And some other places I guess..."
"They left for Magehold? I thought they were going after Xerneas though. Did they find Xerneas?!"
"No. Opal expressed how she was going to try and find Xerneas even after leaving Kalos. So, she's probably gonna show up again."
"And when she does, she'll try that rotten tactic again...all just to force Xerneas out," Luna growled her teeth, disgusted by Opal's vile action and how it affected everyone. She wishes she could find Opal as soon as possible but knowing Opal that wouldn't be easy.
"But you know...if she does it again...or multiple times, she could end up summoning someone else instead of Xerneas." One of the Rangers said something rather cryptic that got the attention of Luna and the Sirens.
"Who? Are you talking about Arceus?" Aria asked, going to Arceus first. That was a reasonable answer considering what the Black Crusade stands for her.
"Zygarde."
"Zygarde?" Luna and the Sirens collectively spoke. At this moment, they learned the name of another Pokemon of Kalos. It wasn't just Xerneas and Yveltal that were important figures here. There was another.
Equestria. Magehold Chamber.
"What the hay is this?!" Meanwhile, back at the Magehold Chamber, Applejack and PInkie Pie came across four surprising objects that stood before them. The Necropillars. Tall pillars with skulls at the very top, giving off a foreboding presence just looking at it. It was so ominous that it made Applejack and Pinkie stop in their tracks entirely.
"No clue...But it's giving me crazy goosebumps!" Pinkie Pie shuddered. Her body felt cold when looking at it. None of them could make out why this was the case when. What made these four pillars to uncomfortable to be around compared to everything else here in Magehold? "Do you think Fluttershy's been around here?"
"Hopefully not." Applejack held onto her hat. "I just wanna get away from these things as soon as possible. It feels like they're sapping something away from me..."
"Ah. That proves they work even when they haven't been activated." Just then, a voice spoke to them, coming from above. Their eyes and heads quickly went up to find the source of this voice. They expected it to be a vampire and there was no surprise there when they saw who was right above them.
Specifically, it was a bat. A bat hung from the top of this cave-like part of the chamber, much like how ordinary bats would. The bat blended in with the darkness around her as only its eyes would glow once they opened. But, it wasn't just one bat, but two of them. Another pair of glowing eyes peered through the darkness, revealing a second bat.
Both of them would drop into the scene, spreading out their wings and quickly undergoing a transformation. The transformation took them out of their bat forms and brought out their true forms. Their vampire forms. And one of them was very familiar.
One of them was Shrivel. She made an appearance once more, showing up a second time. And as for the second vampire, she showed herself as well. It was another familiar face. But not familiar to Applejack and PInkie Pie. It turned out to be none other than Sweet Fang.
"Shrivel!" Applejack called out her name, only focusing on Shrivel.
"They already showed up here so soon? Lucky..." Sweet Fang scoffed.
"It's fine. They still won't reach their friends." Shrivel smirked, knowing exactly where Fluttershy, Cadence and Flurry Heart were since she and Sweet Fangs were the ones to take their tubes away.
"You're gonna tell us where they are right now! We beat you once and we'll do it again!" Applejack declared.
"Perhaps out of my home turf! But now that we're on my home turf, it's clear that things will be greatly different. You honestly should've just let us come to you instead of coming to us." Shrivel replied. "You have no idea how bad things are going to get for you, especially since the Sun doesn't shine here."
"Slurpuff...!" Slurpuff's nose wobbled for a moment, picking up on those three familiar scents once more.
"Slurpuff can sense them. That means they're close. And wherever we are will get us there!" Pinkie excitedly said, eager to reach the three of them as soon as possible.
"Are you so sure about that?" Shrivel suddenly backed away, letting Sweet Fang stand in the front. When backing up, she would approach one of the Necropillars, continuing her speech. "That feeling you got...the Necropillars are to thank for that. The fact that you were stunned by their appearance and received a feeling proves that they work well, sapping away at you."
"What are you on about?" Applejack questioned.
"Let's see your Slurpuff sniff them out...when your magic is shut down!" Suddenly, Shrivel would smash her hoof onto the Necropillar, sending Dark Magic through it. She used this opportunity to activate them at last, focusing the pillar on her targets first.
The pillars would suddenly let out a fierce wave of Dark Magic that would fly out. Sweet Fang casually stood there as the wave phased through her body, doing nothing to her. The Controlling Vampire was completely fine. But Applejack and Pinkie Pie could tell that they might not be fine. They didn't have room to escape from this attack at all as the wave went through them as well.
That horrible feeling that they got when entering here returned but stronger than before. The wave did not blow them away. It did not have a destructive effect. Instead, it did something else. It made them both drop to the floor, feeling weak and colder. That sapping feeling Applejack referred to was stronger than before.
"Ooh...What's up with this...?" Applejack groaned, trying to stand up straight as she was essentially kneeling. The usual strength she had in her hooves were gone. The Earth Pony strength she always possessed was non-existent within her as she would slip on her hooves, falling on her face.
"I feel woozy...So woozy..." Pinkie Pie's body wobbled as she struggled to keep her balance, ready to fall on her back.
"That Sapping Feeling was your magic being taken away from you! The Necropillars were built to completely shut down your magic! But not ours. Our Curse Magic remains while you all lose the magic within you, whatever it may be!"
"I-Is that what that is?!" A weakened Applejack stammered. "Cheap trick, ya slimy vampires!"
"And using light against us isn't?!" Sweet Fang shrugged, giving a quick response to Applejack's insult.
"It'll be bigger than this! All the Necropillars will be used to shut down magic across Equestria and beyond once they're ready! The only ones with power here will be us!" Shrivel was back to her usual cackling, using every opportunity she could to feel superior. "And since I've activated these ones, the energy they send out should reach the rest of your meddlesome friends upstairs! They'll all feel a shutdown once the waves get far enough!"
"Mew...Mew!" However, there was something off. Mew was completely fine. And so was Slurpuff. Both of them were still themselves, crying out as loud as they can, startling the two vampires.
"What the?! Why aren't they affected?!" Sweet Fang was confounded. These two Pokemon were looking like their ordinary self, not showing signs of losing their strength.
"That's impossible!" Shrivel shouted. "That should have shut down their magic entirely! They should be powerless right now!"
"J-Jokes on you...They don't play by our rules...They never came from Equestria in the first place..." Applejack laughed, glad that the Pokemon had their own rules that made them truly special. "Ya can't just shut down a Pokemon."
"But it should be all magic aside from ours that is ineffective. I thought Pokemon were also known as Magical Creatures!" Shrivel slammed her hoof on the ground, annoyed that the Necropillars failed in one aspect.
"Must be the Infinity Energy." Pinkie Pie squeed while appearing weak. "As long as we have our Pokemon by our sides, everything's gonna be just fine."
"Yeah...And we can still help 'em out even without magic. We don't need our magic to beat you." Applejack stood up, revealing a Poke Ball in her hoof. She would drop this Poke Ball, revealing the Pokemon inside. Delta Riolu had returned once more.
"Riolu!"
"Hmph. No matter. We have the other Necropillars that we can count on. And since these ones weakened you and shut down your magic...The rest of them that we've created will take care of everything else. Not before we take care of you first. I may have captured Fluttershy but I still want some catharsis by exacting my full revenge on you!" Shrivel spread her wings out, ready to try and snuff out Applejack's group.
"Not if we destroy them first." Applejack adjusted her hat, ready to thrash those pillars and the ones residing elsewhere in the chamber. It was yet another confrontation here at Magehold, this time at the deeper parts of the chamber. The Necropillars failed to stop the Pokemon but now Applejack and Pinkie Pie knew what they could do to those possessing Equestrian Magic.
The threat of everypony losing their magic was terrifying, considering some of them were alicorns. That couldn't happen since an alicorn used everything she had to save so many lives. The rescue mission and the plan to stop the Black Crusade was heating up as the journey continues.
The Despair Plant swarm that appeared around Deerling Forest had been stopped, by none other than Princess Celestia. And the way they were stopped was by restraining them. The Despair Plants were dropped into a massive crater that had formed near the forest, overlaying that crater was a massive light light dome.
This was made by none other than Princess Celestia and her partner Gardevoir. Specifically, Celestial-Gardevoir. The duo fused, becoming stronger together, allowing them to deal with this many Despair Plants. But they had some help. It wasn't from just Celestia's other Pokemon and the Canterlot Troops but the Pokemon Frenzy Forest.
Delphox, Aggron, Vespiquen and others had shown up, defending their home from the Despair Plants. And the proof of their fierce battle could be seen thanks to the destruction that nearly reached Frenzy Forest. Celestial-Gardevoir had just now unfused, bringing back Celestia and Gardevoir.
"That should keep them there," Celestia commented while looking down on the Despair Plants. They smashed their bodies against the Light Barrier, trying to break free. They threw out all their best attacks at it, causing the barrier to ripple. However, the magical field that Celestial-Gardevoir made proved to be effective enough to take their hits. "Thanks for your help. It made it a bit easier for us." She then turned to face the Frenzy Forest Pokemon.
"Delphox!"
"But this Light Barrier won't do. For every other Despair Plant in the world, even I can tell they all can't be contained." Celestia continued. "At least we stopped the ones that were approaching Canterlot."
"Your majesty. You have a call from the Ranger Union." Approaching Princess Celestia after the battle was over was a Canterlot Guard. And on his back, an item could be seen. It was the only way Celestia could contact the Ranger Union, requesting their assistance. It appeared in the form of a phone that had the Ranger Union symbol on it.
It was brought over by Celestia's magic, immediately being answered just Celestia triggering the button on it. No direct contact was needed. Just magic. Once triggered, Celestia was already expecting to see the face of a Pokemon Ranger or even a member of staff concerning the development of the Black Crusade. However, that wasn't who showed up on the screen.
Instead, it was Luna.
"LUNA?!" Celestia shouted, startling everyone around her. This thunderous shout was well-deserved as Celestia was grealty worried for the safety of her little sister. Even though Nightmare Moon's presence already confirmed that Luna was alive, Celestia couldn't bare to imagine what Luna was going through. But seeing her sister once more was uplifting to her. "You truly are okay!"
"It's good to see you again, sister. I'm calling you thanks to the Ranger Union. We met up at a Kalos Airport recently."
"Where are you now, Luna!? Are you still at the airport?! Your horn is chipped! Do you need to rest?!" Celestia threw rapid-fire questions at Luna, wanting to make sure her sister got the best treatment right now. When she saw Luna's chipp horn, Celestia started panicking.
"It's not a serious chip. It's only minimal so it shall grow back eventually. It was the Sirens who healed me, using a Healing Song to do so. I'm now grateful for them. I'm planning on heading back to Equestria now. One of the planes is available for use."
"You are? Oh, thank goodness. What happened in Kalos, by the way? Rosa Maledicta scared me into thinking the worst had happened to you until Nightmare Moon said something.
"It's Opal. She did something horrific. Something I was afraid I wasn't able to stop. And unless I get back to Equestria on time, she's going to try it again just to bring out Xerneas."
"Opal did this to you?"
"A beam of great destruction was formed by her and many other vampires. It levelled Anistar City and locations near and far. She might try it again and I don't know if I have the power to stop it. Or if I'm fast enough to get there in time."
"It's alright, Luna. Just come back home safely, alright? But where is Opal now?"
"She combusted and returned to Magehold. But she's probably going to cause mass destruction anywhere she can. Kalos doesn't matter to her anymore. All that matters is that Xerneas shows up and wiping out a massive amount of life before Yveltal can even do it is an effective way."
"That's her plan...?!" Now that Celestia heard about Opal Vivacity's plan, it was as horrifying as it can be. So many innocent lives would be lost just to bring out Xerneas, who was also being threatened. "Then we can't let her get too far if she's already heading out there. Right now, I've decided to approach Magehold at last. As long as we can take Yveltal out of there, our advantages will come flooding in."
"Wait..." Just then, a voice chimed in on this conversation. It spoke from Luna's side and showed a blue spark of lightning showing up on the screen. Luna gasped, looking back to see what it was. There was only being she knew that could generate blue lightning. None other than Zekrom.
The Dark Stone that Kyurem was residing in sat near Luna, still inside the Siren's Van. "Zekrom? You're awake?!"
"I needed some more time to recover my strength. I used a lot of it by helping you protect everyone else from the explosion earlier. It was foolish of me to take such a risk but it was worth it."
"I should've known that you had a hoof in stopping that explosion. I wasn't alone at all." Luna softly smiled, relieved by that. And thankfully, Zekrom was recovering, being able to speak to Luna now.
"We can't leave yet...Not when Reshiram needs us." Zekrom prioritized Reshiram being found. He couldn't give up on his other half. "Not when he's near..."
"He's near?! Do you mean it?!" Celestia and Luna both said.
"When I ventured Kalos for a while, I sensed his presence. He's indeed in Kalos. And there's a reason for it. I should've caught on already but Reshiram was ahead."
"There's a reason for him showing up in Kalos? Are you saying that he went missing from Holon because he sent himself there? How?"
"It's Xerneas. Xerneas is why. Most likely, he was already aware of what Xerneas would do once the Black Crusade was initiated. He sent himself to Kalos by using the last of his strength to move there. And for these past months, he's been recovering his strength, much like me."
"So he did travel underground..." Celestia was right. At first, she wasn't sure that Reshiram went underground at all thanks to what the Time Flower showed her. But it seemed like that was the case. "So that means Reshiram anticipated something like this! Right?!"
"I'll admit, no matter what universe it may be, he's always been a bit smarter than me," Zekrom admitted to Reshiram's intelligence. "I'm more about pure power. But yes...Wherever he is in Kalos, he's waiting for us. As long as I can sense his presence, I can lead you to him. So we can't leave Kalos yet."
"Are you sure, Zekrom? Do we have enough time?" Luna asked, wondering if they had all the time they needed to find Reshiram and head back to Equestria before things really spiral out of control suddenly.
"He's my brother. There'll always be enough time." Zekrom and Reshiram had a brotherly bond even if they both come from different universes. The connection was there thanks to them being parts of Kyurem. That answer resonated greatly with Celestia and Luna. They were sisters and they could understand where Zekrom was coming from. That won them both over.
"Alright. We'll go after Zekrom. You said he was close so the last place you were at should be a good lead."
"I wish I could come with you and help. But I have to oversee things from here. Make sure Reshiram gets home safely, alright? And call me if things go awry or something else comes up." Celestia requested.
"Alright. I'll be back as soon as possible. Lead the way, Zekrom." Those were Luna's last words on the Ranger Union Call, hanging up and staying in Kalos for a little while longer.
"Reshiram could be coming back. So I can't afford to let him see the state of Equestria or the entire world. I have to stop the Black Crusade as soon as possible. We're taking a bulk of our forces to Magehold. Queen Vespiquen. Delphox. Will you help us?"
"Vesp! Vespiquen!" Vespiquen was all in for it. She and her subjects of Combee which were plentiful in their numbers agreed. They already teamed up with Celestia's forces and since the Black Crusade involved their own well-being, of course they were going to help. Vespiquen didn't really rule the entirety of Frenzy Forest, just one major part of it but that didn't stop all the others from joining in. A majority of Frenzy Forest's Pokemon would join up with Celestia's forces and head straight for Magehold.
Now the advance on Magehold was ramping up. It was the primary target and the best way to destroy the source of the problem. Or in this case, save the source.
Magehold. Magehold Chamber. Day.
The Necropillars. Insanely powerful skull-headed pillars that had the power to sap away Magic, rendering anyone who is unfortunately hit by its waves magicless. And the first two victims were Pinkie Pie and Applejack. Applejack's Earth Pony Strength had been removed from her as her hooves were trembling, trying to stay strong. Pinkie Pie just felt woozy, unsure which part of her was gone even if she was also an Earth Pony. But her magic didn't come from her physical strength, unlike Applejack.
This worked for the vampires since their CUrse Magic was not affected, essentially making them the only magical beings. And such a terrifying power was already being planned to affect all Equestrians and beyond, rendering them magicless. However, the pillars worked efficiently except for when they came across the Pokemon. Mew and Slurpuff were utterly immune, still being at their very best.
"Riolu...I need ya to break those pillars down. I can't do much so it's up to you." Applejack pleaded to Delta Riolu while trying to keep herself up.
"Rio!"
"Just make it quick, Mew. Slurpuff. Fluttershy could be close after all." said Pinkie Pie to her partners.
"Don't be ridiculous! Look at you! Can you even battle well with your Pokemon in such a condition?" Sweet Fang pointed out, believing that their unified skills would be lacking thanks to their diminished magic.
"We don't need magic. All we need is Aura. Use Dark Pulse on those pillars!"
"Rio...Lu!" Riolu was going straight for what mattered. The pillars. He leapt into the air, putting his paws together and gathering an orb of darkness on the spot. However, stopping that from happening was Sweet Fang, who breathed out Dark Magic from her eyes.
The darkness met with another form of darkness right next to the Necropillars. Sweet Fang would block Riolu's Dark Pulse, stopping it from even touching the Necropillar.
"Drat..." Applejack scoffed, hoping to make it a quick takedown.
"Let me try! Dazzling Gleam, SLurpuff!"
"Puff!" Attempting to stun the vampires was the next approach. As long as they were here, it would be difficult to reach the Necropillars. Slurpuff lit up this dark room by generating light from her body, directing most of it towards the two vampires.
"No use! Not this time!" However, here at Magehold, now that the vampires were the ones being attacked, they were prepared for the abundance of light. The shadows from the Pony of Shadows were their shields, putting a veil around their bodies as the light came their way.
"The light didn't work?! What's up with that?!" Pinkie Pie gasped, flabbergasted since the Dazzling Gleam trick always worked. It was always an effective way to handle a vampire but it seemed that wasn't the case this time.
"You're in our territory now. And the shadows are strengthened here. Much more than anywhere else when the Moon is up. It's not an immunity but it works well when dealing with you intruders." Shrivel explained.
"Just great..."
"You don't have to worry about just us. The entire chamber is also your enemy! Like so!" Sweet Fang raised her hoof as two parts of the walls would extend, becoming weapons. Much like how Applejack and Pinkie Pie ended up down here in the first place, a rectangular piece of hard stone would target them from both sides, ready to bash at them at full force.
"Mew?!" Mew sensed this and quickly took action. And he took action by turning into a Machamp. His body swiftly transformed, giving him two extra limbs and some added muscle. "Champ! Machamp!" Mew successfully grabbed the walls, preventing them from squishing the heads of Applejack and Pinkie Pie, which it came very close to doing so.
"Thanks for the save, Mew! Now, use Aura Sphere!"
"Ma...Champ!" Mew only needed two of Machamp's arms to hold the walls down while the other two would be used for an attack. In the hands of the upper arms, two Aura Spheres were forming as they were then thrown out with little effort thanks to the stellar strength of a Machamp.
"Riolu! Get 'em with Power-up Punch!"
"Rio!" Joining the two Aura Spheres was Riolu, pulling his paw back for a Power-up Punch. Sweet Fang and Shrivel backed away, having the chamber protect them. The walls would once again move, coming together to form a shield in front of Sweet Fang and Shrivel. Riolu smashed his paw into the walls, immediately being pushed back as his arm trembled. Flying by him and crashing into the wall shield were the two Aura Spheres, destroying the defences. The walls broke apart after the Aura Spheres took them out, only to show Sweet Fang and Shrivel preparing something.
With nefarious grins on their faces, they both held their hooves out, summoning a unification of Dark Magic. And this magic appeared rather sharp, forming a dark spear. Riolu gasped after seeing the dark blade coming straight for him, targeting his head.
"Ma...Champ!" However, Mew would quickly rip off a part of the walls with his bare hands, throwing it at the sharp Dark Magic. A great interception on his part as the attack was stopped the moment it came across this stone which was thrown with great velocity behind it.
"Get back and use Dark Pulse, Riolu!"
"Slurpuff, use Fairy Wind!"
"Lu!" Riolu would then back away after Mew saved his life, letting out a quick Dark Pulse which was joined by Slurpuff breathing out a beautiful pink gust of Fairy Magic.
Shrivel and Sweet Fang would unify their strengths once more, forming an X-Shaped Dark Magic attack. This X-Shaped magic was also sharp yet again, slicing through the rubble and this time, it wasn't being stopped by any stone. The magic came into contact with Dark Pulse and Fairy Wind, forming a struggle. But this struggle did not last forever as Dark Magic cut through them both. Dark Pulse and Fairy Wind were sliced in half, blowing up afterwards and making way for the Dark Magic.
"Ri!" Riolu narrowly avoided the attack, rushing to the side. So did Slurpuff who was almost hit by this attack. The next ones in line for this attack were Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Pinkie's eyes felt like they were about to pop out just by looking at this X-Shaped Magic. She zipped to the side as her tail was hit by the magic. A part of her tail was cut off as if it was made out of butter, showing how serious it would've been if it landed.
Applejack was next as she swayed her head, almost taking the attack. A bit of her hat had been cut off as another close call had been made. But not when the final target was up ahead. Mew. Mew gasped after seeing the X-Shaped attack coming his way, attempting to stop it. It was already incredibly close so he had to act as soon as possible, using Machamp's four arms.
"Ma!" The four arms met with the Dark Magic, creating yet another struggle. He tried pushing it back, harming himself in the process. It felt like he was holding multiple blades all at once. However, he successfully managed to throw it away, causing it to hit the walls instead. "Champ!"
"Annoying little...How about I take control of one of your Pokemon, huh?!" Sweet Fang grizzled her teeth at them, planning to use her signature Curse Magic on the Pokemon.
"We ain't getting anywhere with this, Pinkie. We can't break those pillars this way." Applejack said before feeling the part of her hat that was cut off. "You should probably use that Z-Move of yours."
"Genesis Supernova?"
"That's the one...It worked well when we went up against Empress Twilight. There's no doubt it'll do well."
"You have a point there. But I don't think they'll give me enough time for that. But I know a sure-fire way to bring this whole room down." Pinkie Pie already had something in mind. And of course, it involved Mew. "Mew! Transform into a Wailord!"
"Ma!" Mew heard her loud and clear. The best way to bring down something was with a large amount of force. And they didn't get any larger than Wailord.
"Wait! In here?!" Applejack gasped. Right before she could try and stop Pinkie Pie, wanting her to reconsider this, Mew had already gone through with it. He instantly left the form of a Machamp and went for something much, much bigger. It took a while for Sweet Fang and Shrivel to process this themselves but when they did, they soon remembered what Wailord was and how big it was.
Stupendously big.
Mew's body was rapidly growing, already taking up a huge chunk of this room. Applejack, Riolu and Slurpuff all widened their eyes, collectively having the conscious decision to run for it while Mew was still growing. A clever move on Pinkie Pie's part but it was obviously going to affect more than just the vampires in front of her.
"Not good! Protect the Pillars!" The priority of the pillars were still important as Sweet Fang and Shrivel did not flee. Instead, they formed a dark shield in front of them that also enveloped the pillars. They could not stop Mew's transformation as the Float Whale Pokemon was about to make an entrance.
And it was a staggering entrance as he already hit the ceiling based on his height alone. The ceiling felt the light yet powerful weight of Wailord hit it, breaking it apart with ease. And the impact it would have just by starting from this lower part of the chamber would be noticed very much. With a Pokemon as large as Wailord, how could it not? The next thing Sweet Fang and Shrivel saw was a blue and white body coming straight for them and taking up the entire room.
"What's that?!" Up with Rarity and Opal, a tremor managed to reach the room they were in, interrupting their battle. It was none other than Mew using Wailord's massive body to fill up spaces in the chamber that were not large enough for such a Pokemon.
Both of them had no idea what was going on and neither did the Pokemon themselves. Both sides assumed it came from either a vampire or a Pokemon. Either one was capable of creating a tremor in their own ways. This would then reach Ash's group, who were currently powering through as many vampires as they could.
Lucario was using Aura at the moment, trying to find the Aura of his friends. Lucario felt many Auras around him as a majority of them either belonged to the Pokemon or the vampires. He just had to find three familiar auras and that wasn't all that hard. He knew what the Auras of Fluttershy, Cadence and Flurry Heart felt like but the trick was getting there since the chamber was so massive.
His movements were promptly stopped once the tremor came through. But more than just the tremor, Lucario also saw a massive Aura appear out of nowhere. It wasn't exactly the strength of the Aura that was massive, but the one behind it. He saw the Aura silhouette of Wailord, surprising him as neither Twilight nor Fluttershy had a Wailord. He could only assume this was Mew's doing.
"They're really going at it, huh?" Ash assumed it was just the battle between the Vampires and Pokemon that was happening around here. Nearby, a battle could also be seen between these two sides, raging on as it was hard to tell who was gaining the advantage. Standing before Ash's group were two Triantis Despair Plants, sharpening their claws so that they would pack an extra punch. "Lucario, Force Palm! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Eve, Shadow Ball! Absol, Night Slash!"
"Pika-Pikachu!" Pikachu and his friends would quickly try and dispatch these Triantis, sending a fierce blast of lightning and a blob of shadows out while Lucario and Absol got in close. The attacks landed with Thunderbolt reaching the Triantis. The Triantis tried deflecting the Thunderbolt with their claws and soon the Shadow Ball, only for Lucario and Absol to intervene. Lucario and Absol struck the Triantis, knocking them off the steps and sending them flying down into Magehold's lower levels.
They weren't going to bother having long battles with these Despair Plants. Not when their friends were still here somewhere.
The room where Wailord appeared had been damaged greatly, totalling the statues that once resided there. The plan worked despite how simple it was. But when it comes to Wailord, Simple was the best option. Other levels of the chamber had been revealed above as Mew's Wailord increase even knocked some vampires out with this brief destruction.
Applejack, Riolu and Slurpuff avoided the destruction while PInkie Pie was doing perfectly fine. It was as if none of the rubble hit her at all. Whether that was planned by Mew, was unknown but they wouldn't put it past these two considering how in sync they were.
As for Sweet Fang and Shrivel, their barrier broke apart the second Mew's Wailord Body touched it. This destruction actually managed to get two of the Necropillars, turning out as a success. The skulls on top of the pillars had been knocked off with other parts being broken off.
"Yes! It worked!" She may not have her magic anymore, but Pinkie Pie kept her energetic self, especially when it involved something highly positive.
"Could've warned us first..." Applejack sighed while holding onto Riolu for safety.
"They got them?!" Sweet Fang was in disbelief.
"Only two! We still have two more left along with many others! Who cares if you've destroyed these ones!" Shrivel refused to let them have a moment of triumph, stating the obvious to try and keep the pressure on them. "When they go off, all of your friends will be magicless and that will leave only the Pokemon for us!"
"Yeah. But all we have to do is break those two. And I think Mew has another transform he'd love to show you." Pinkie Pie squeed as she was the one who put the pressure on them. Sweet Fang and Shrivel were worried about what other transformation Mew could take on which could take out the remaining two pillars.
"Kh. Just wait until I get the chance to use my magic on you and make you all my servants. But...I've already sorted that problem out." Sweet Fang smirked. "I have one Pokemon who will be enough for you."
"Just one?" Applejack raised an eyebrow, confused as to what Pokemon she was referring to. She was hoping it wouldn't be Yveltal since that was the only important Pokemon in Magehold at the moment.
"You can show yourself and deal with these intruders now." Sweet Fang turned her attention to the darker parts of the chamber. Even with this destruction, the chamber still shrouded parts of itself in darkness. Moving past the rubble and out of the darkness was a Pokemon that was not unfamiliar to everyone's eyes. But to Fluttershy and Applejack, the one who showed herself was a total surprise.
It was none other than Sylveon. Specifically, Cadence's Sylveon. And right behind her were some Golurk. The same Golurk that held Cadence and Flurry Heart when returning to Magehold. And once they showed themselves, judging by the way they emerged from the shadows and stood beside the two vampires, they were not in their right minds. With Sweet Fang involved, they were under mind control.
Sylveon had a slightly noticeable change. Her beautifully sparkling eyes were desaturated, losing most of their life. The ribbons she always had on her were emanating a Dark Magic that took away from her inviting presence. Even her stance was uninviting. Her usual prim and proper stance was now fierce and wild. She bared her fangs which were never that sharp to begin with. It felt like a different Pokemon appeared before them that only slightly resembled the original Sylveon. The Golurk didn't have any chances on them at all though.
"Say it ain't so...!" Applejack removed her hat, recognizing the Sylveon that stood before.
"Sylveon?! Golurk?!" Pinkie's jaw dropped. "What happened to you all?!"
"It was easy taking control of this Sylveon here since she was down for the count. I wished to do the same to the two princesses but her majesty's magic managed to break the mind control, unfortunately." Sweet Fang laughed, loving the looks on their faces. "And the Golurk I brought along still work for me! And since they've been under my influence for so long, the control has strengthened!"
"And that's not all. Sweet Fang went through the effort of enhancing these Pokemon. They're now better than ever, having the influence of Curse Magic within them." Shrivel joined in on Sweet Fang's speech.
"What did you do to them?!" Applejack demanded answers. From what she was hearing, they might have done what they're planning on doing to Fluttershy but with Curse Magic involved.
"It's mainly Sylveon that matters. Show them, Sylveon! Your new Dazzling Gleam!" Sweet Fang ordered, essentially becoming the new Trainer of Sylveon while Cadence was unavailable.
"Sylveon..." Sylveon would use Dazzling Gleam, which seemed rather silly considering the weakness of the vampires even if they had the Pony of Shadows shielding them. However, it wasn't as Dazzling as it used to be. Not anymore.
The Curse Magic that had been injected into Sylveon had been activated. The magic showed itself by mixing with Dazzling Gleam which did not have its usual bright appearance as always. Instead, it was Pitch-Black, devoid of anything that was considered Dazzling. All of its colour had been lost but another change was the power behind it. Thanks to the Curse Magic, the Dazzling Gleam grew to a great size instantly. A field of darkness flew out, enveloping the rubble and masking it from everyone's eyes.
Mew was the closest target thanks to the size of a Wailord as the Dazzling Gleam reached him first. He cried out as the field expanded even more, but only in one direction, avoiding the Necropillars entirely. Applejack, Pinkie and their Pokemon readied themselves when facing this massive Dazzling Gleam.
It was perhaps the biggest one yet. And possibly the most destruction as the sheer force of it was enough to cause pressures that blew their manes and nearly sent Applejack's hat flying off. They flinched at the pressure of this Dark Dazzling Gleam as this entire room was soon hit by the attack, instantly surpassing what Wailord made.
The sounds of Applejack and Pinkie Pie screeching could be heard, followed up by a powerful explosion that blew more of the chamber apart. Another tremor came through but it wasn't as strong as the Wailord one. However, the damage it would deal was greater than the Wailord Tremor.
Mew mainly took most of the damage as his massive body was then sent flying, forcing him to turn back into his original form. He would then fly away alongside Pinkie, Applejack, Slurpuff and Riolu as they all hit the walls at the further reaches of this room while the upper levels were wide open, dropping an abundance of rubble from above.
And standing viciously in the midst of the destruction she caused was Sylveon, not her usual self at all. Sweet Fang would pet Sylveon on the head for pulling off such a wonderful form of destruction.
"Good girl." She said to Syvleon. It truly felt like Sweet Fang had stolen Sylveon away from Cadence and given her power only exclusive to Magehold.
But Sweet Fang wouldn't stop there. She eyed down the Pokemon of Applejack and Pinkie Pie, already having the intention of spicing them up the same way as Sylveon. And the same went for all the Pokemon intruders rampaging across the chamber.
Pinkie and Applejack groaned in pain as it still felt like some form of light had hit their bodies but there was a complete absence of it. They looked over at Sweet Fang and Shrivel's devious and mocking grins, knowing that they had turned the tide with this shocking reveal. A friend of theirs had turned on them and when deviating to the other side, has become a fearsome force that only follows one thing that the Dread League all follow. Destruction.
A close friend, Sylveon, was now working for Magehold all thanks to Sweet Fang's magic. Once belonging to Cadence and now a servant to the Dread League, Sylveon appeared before Pinkie Pie, Applejack and their Pokemon, who she blew away with a Darkened Dazzling Gleam. It wasn't exactly Dazzling as Sylveon's body had been injected with Curse Magic, changing her nature entirely including her attacks.
"I...I can't move..." And unfortunately, the Dazzling Gleam left Pinkie Pie and Applejack seemingly down for the count. All they could do was groan and slightly move their body. Combined with the lack of Magic in them thanks to the Necropillars, they might as well be statues.
"M-Mew..." Mew had been reverted back into his original form, no longer appearing as a massive Machamp. He took the hit well even if it left him winded for a bit. Slurpuff also took the hit and so did Delta Riolu but Delta Riolu's fragile body didn't help him here.
"Rio...!" He got on one knee as he felt this the most since he was a Dark-Type. Despite Sylveon's Dazzling Gleam being altered, it was still a Fairy-Type move.
"I'm actually glad the Necropillars don't nullify the Pokemon." Sweet Fang chuckled. "Otherwise, we wouldn't have Sylveon doing our bidding and Yveltal would be useless. Then again, with some Curse Magic in her, she would've done some good for us either way so..."
"Sylveon!? Don't you recognize us?!" Applejack yelled at the Intertwining Pokemon. But the only response she got was a vicious snarl from Sylveon.
"Sylveon!"
"Don't raise your voice at my Pokemon, okay?" Sweet Fang replied, caressing Sylveon's head casually with Sylveon having no reaction to this.
"She's not your Pokemon though...!" An angered Applejack grunted while trying to stand up on her two weakened hooves.
"Oh, but she is. And very soon, all of your Pokemon will be mine too. Of course, they'll be destroyed once the Black Crusade is finished so I suppose it's only temporary. But I'll make good use of the Pokemon while I still have the opportunity."
"Yeah...Well, all we gotta do is beat her out of it." Applejack replied, knowing of the best way to get rid of Sweet Fang's mind control. And it was the most straightforward way possible that every Pokemon Trainer could get behind. Battling. By total knockout.
"Hm. You're right about that. So I'll just beat you before that can happen. Dazzling Gleam, SYlveon! Bombard them!"
"Sylveon!" Another Dazzling Gleam was unleashed. This time in the form of rays. Dark rays flew out of Sylveon's body, fiercely sending a bombardment to Mew and everyone else. There to protect them was Mew, who used a barrier to shield himself and his friends by getting in front of the rays.
"Mew!" Mew acted as the shield, taking the dark rays as they viciously crashed into his protective energy. Thanks to the Curse Magic, the rays for Dazzling Gleam were stronger than ever and they felt heavier too. The shield Mew put up would shake violently as if t felt like hammers were being bashed onto it, staggering the body of the New Species Pokemon. Some of the rays passed by Mew's shield, swerving and targeting Riolu and Slurpuff.
"S-Slur!" Slurpuff would be bombarded by these heavy rays, taking consecutive hits with none of them missing. It was surprising how accurate they were. Riolu tried fighting back but he was still feeling the effects of the previous Dazzling Gleam, leaving him weakened in this moment. Delta Riolu once again got the worst of it, taking repeated blows from the rays which would whip him fiercely.
"R-Riolu!"
Pinkie Pie and Applejack tried helping out even in their condition but they just couldn't muster the strength. And on top of that, the Golurk that Sweet Fang brought along were also present. But even if they couldn't battle alongside their Pokemon, they could at least change the odds.
Mew saw that these rays were really putting the pressure on him and his friends and will eventually reach the injured Applejack and Pinkie Pie. He expanded his barrier, but he did so by transforming. Mew turned himself into a Probopass, increasing his size and the barrier's size as well. It would catch the other rays, shielding them from Pinkie Pie and Applejack but that didn't mean the barrier was stronger just because of the size increase. It was still taking heavy blows.
"You can't defend forever! Hyper Beam, Golurk!" Sweet Fang shouted, giving the Golurk the opportunity to attack. The four Golurks she managed to keep would step up, holding their massive arms out in sync. Together, they would unleash a powerful blast of Infinity Energy which would fly over Sweet Fang, Shrivel and Sylveon, going straight for the intruders with the only thing getting their way being Mew's shield.
The shield was hit with four Hyper Beams and took the biggest hit yet. Mew's shield shattered, failing to stick around as thei mpact of the Hyper Beams would blow the New Species Pokemon away, sending him hurling through the air. With the body of a Probopass, he would crash into Slurpuff, knocking her down with him.
"No! Mew!" Pinkie Pie cried out.
"Now, Sylveon! Blow them away wth Moonblast!"
"Syl...!" Sylveon growled as she began gathering power from the Moon itself. And since she was at Magehold which had a permanant Moon, never showing the Sun, the power behind Moonblast would be elevated, influenced by the Curse Magic within her as well. As for the Moonblast, it appeared as a Dark Moon instead of the usual bright one that everyone knows of. It truly felt like everything about Sylveon had been fully corrupted. From her mouth, the Dark Moonblast was thrown out, targeting the downed Pokemon. The Moonblast was also larger than what it originally appears
"I don't have all the strength I need...But this'll do!" An injured Applejack shouted before throwing her saddlebag into the air. Her saddlebag would let out 12 different Poke Balls which would immediately trigger once they were launched. And out of them came all of Applejack's 12 Golett.
"Golett!" 12 Golett lined up. The one in the front was the first one Applejack ever caught while the rest were all Golett's made by her many friends. A majority of them were in Magehold at this moment.
"Pro?" Riolu looked to the side, noticing the visage of the Golurk squadron that Applejack had sent out. With their appearance, they quickly took action, seeing that Applejack was weakened at the moment, unable to really give it her all in this battle.
"Golett!" Together, all of the Golett would use different Punch-Based Moves. Shadow Punch, Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, Ice Punch and Mega Punch were the ones they possessed thanks to their physical capabilities. The Shadow Punches would fly out, acting as ranged weapons instead of Golett getting up close and personal. Two of these Golett's would use Shadow Punch, targeting the Moonblast. Two Shadow Punches stopped it for a moment, but it wasn't enough. The wide Moonblast was strong enough to handle them both.
That was when the other Goletts got involved, throwing their own Punches in. Flashes of different Punch Moves flew in, meeting with the Moonblast. The Fairy-Type attack did not fully reach through. It was being held back completely by all of these Golett. All 12 of them. They were pouring in a plethora of their strength, attempting to shatter it.
"Riolu!" Delta Riolu noticed this before gathering the strength to get involved. He held out one paw while still on one knee, using Dark Pulse. The Golett tried their best but didn't seem to cut it with their physical strength. It looked like Moonblast would push through until Dark Pulse arrived.
The attack helped out each of the Golurk, striking the Moonblast dead in the centre. And that addition from Delta Riolu
"Syl?!" Sylveon gasped as her Moonblast was taken out by the combined might of the Golett, breaking it apart. The Moonbalst shattered once all 13 Pokemon came together. Sweet Fang even grit her teeth in annoyance but smirked once she saw that the Golurk has finished recharging.
"Not bad! But how will you do against your superiors?! Blast them with Hyper Beam and Dazzling Gleam!"
"Gol...!" Now that the Golurk had finished recharging, they all went for another Hyper Beam, holding their hands out once more. They wouldn't target the Golett since they were immune to this but everyone else was a prime target for the Hyper Beam. If either one lands, it could cause serious damage or much worse.
"Mew!" Quickly Mew would transform back into his original form, flying over to Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Seeing how serious things were getting, he decided to get them to safety. He couldn't have them lying around in such vulnerable conditions. He used Psychic, lifting them both and carrying them upwards. Quickly, he would launch them through the air with a Psychic push.
"Huh?! Mew?!" Pinkie Pie gasped while passing through the floor that was above them but was already exposed thanks to the damage done earlier. Mew had to make sure they weren't hit by these incoming attacks in any way. Whether it was direct or the shockwaves.
"Sylveon!" Sylveon and Golurk all attacked once more. Hyper Beam and Dazzling Gleam were thrown out together but with no vulnerable ponies around. Standing before the Hyper Beam and Dazzling Gleam were Riolu, the 12 Golett and Slurpuff as they would all confront it in their own way.
Each of the Golett used Shadow Ball while Slurpuff went for her own Dazzling Gleam, countering Sylveon's. This was followed up by Riolu using yet another Dark Pulse. All of these attacks approached each other but it was clear which one had the number advantage. However, the opposing Pokemon had plenty of power with them.
A fierce clash happened at this lower part of the chamber, causing the ground below the centre of this clash to tremble. Both sides entered a struggle, fighting for dominance. But even with the Golett outnumbering them, the enhancements Sylveon had and the power of the Golurk said otherwise as the Hyper Beam Dazzling Gleam combination looked to be the superior force, pushing the attacks back.
"R-Rio...!" Riolu's single arm was shaking as he could barely use his other arm. He felt a great pushback once the opposing side gained the advantage. The Golurk also felt this pushback and while they didn't have bones, their bodies were still trembling.
"Mew!" Once Mew got Applejack and Pinkie Pie to safety, he would quickly get involved. Seeing the fierce power struggle, Mew had to think fast. Surely, this couldn't go on forever. Not when one of his friends was being controlled and more of his friends were somewhere nearby. But from the looks of it, his side was at a disadvantage at the moment even with their numbers.
Knowing how rough this was getting, Mew decided on one thing. Pinkie Pie and Applejack, who were right above them, looked down and spectated this battle's development. It wasn't looking good, not when their Pokemon were losing the clash. To do this, he would ascend, entering the other levels and leaving the sight of Sweet Fang and Shrivel
"This ain't fair...I wish I could do more here..." A frustrated Applejack said, attempting to slam her hooves on the ground but just didn't have the strength to do so.
"Hang on...What's Mew doing?" Pinkie Pie soon noticed Mew was up to something right above her and Applejack. Instead of throwing his own attack in the mix, Mew ent for something different. Something that he hoped would turn the tide and keep everyone safe. He put his hands together, forming an Aura Sphere. With this Aura Sphere in his grasp, he would throw it down but not towards the other attacks. Instead, it was focused on the floor.
Specifically, the ground near Sylveon's side. He took advantage of the fact that the floor was shaking violently from this clash and suffering damage, only adding to that damage. But it was for a beneficial purpose. The floor began breaking apart below from this burst of Aura, disrupting the Golurk and Sylveon. They saw that the ground was beginning to break apart.
"S-Syl?!" The corrupted Sylveon gasped as she couldn't focus on her Dazzling Gleam at all. She and the Golurk all lost their balance as they inadvertently contributed to the destruction of the ground. Sweet Fang and Shrivel quickly flew up to avoid the destruction while the clash quickly took a turn.
The attacks from Riolu and everyone else would win, beating out Hyper Beam and Dazzling Gleam. Mew helped in his own way. Not by adding his Aura Sphere to the clash but by destroying the floor and thanks to the clash, it was vulnerable enough.
"Gol!" The four Golurk and Sylveon fell as the floor on their side began collapsing. This ended up saving them from the incoming attacks that managed to beat their own, going right over their heads. They were safe from the hit but not what was behind them.
"No! The Necropillars!" Sweet Fang and Shrivel gasped, quickly realizing where the attacks were heading for next. The two remaining Necropillars as all of these combined attacks were more than enough to destroy them.
"Mew-Mew!" But Mew did not stop there. He pulled off one last trick with Psychic. The New Species Pokemon focused his power on the combined attacks, selecting a few of them with his mental power. He grabbed Slurpuff's Dazzling Gleam and a Shadow Ball from one of the Golurks, sending them upwards. These attacks were exclusively targeted at Sweet Fang and Shrivel who noticed them approaching while the other attacks were free to keep on going.
Right as Sweet Fang and Shrivel tried going for the Necropillars, their attention was drawn to the Dazzling Gleam and Shadow Ball that were thrown upwards. Sweet Fang and Shrivel both flew out of the way, narrowly evading the attacks as they almost grazed their faces. Mew couldn't exactly hit his mark. But he ended up succeeding in distracting the two vampires, allowing the Necropillars to take a hit with no interruption.
The remaining two Necropillars took a crushing blow once each of these attacks landed. And compared to how Mew turned into a Wailord to destroy the first two and a majority of this room, the energies that came from these attacks did their own destructive damage.
The explosion eclipsed the two Necropillars, destroying them while also expanding to the point where they reached the upper level. This forced Sweet Fang and Shrivel to ascend as the explosion almost reached them. Once again, they managed to avoid any damage but things were getting close for them now.
"R-Rio...Rio..."Riolu breathed in and out as the explosion subsided, giving him time to recollect himself. The Necropillars had been destroyed. At least, the ones down here were. And as for Sylveon and the Golurk, they were already at the lower levels thanks to the destroyed floor. However, all of this destruction was about to reach the other side now since it had only worsened.
"Gol!" Quickly, two of the Golett who would help Riolu up, running as fast as they could before it could reach them. Slurpuff was picked up by them as well, carrying the Meringue Pokemon over their heads as they fled from the scene. Pinkie Pie and Applejack were once again held by Mew's Psychic, leaving the ground.
And speaking of leaving the ground, Sylveon suddenly started returning to the upper floor by swiftly jumping onto the falling rocks, refusing to let them get away from their sight. Everyone was leaving the scene of this crumbling area, except for Sylveon who was trucking on through. The Golurk turned their heads to see Sylveon approaching as she used her agile body to rise back up as if nothing happened. She took one last mighty leap, soaring through the air, essentially flying as she was now in hot pursuit of them.
"Curses! They got the other two!" Sweet Fang groaned as she was greatly annoyed by how all four pillars fell in the end. They failed to protect them and now their best weapon against Equestrian Magic had been cut short.
"It's fine! We have the other Necropillars still! Have those be activated by gathering them in one spot! Then we'll take out all magic from the ponies who've arrived here!" Shrivel uttered, shifting her attention to a better plan. A plan to wipe out all the Equestrian Magic. There weren't many ponies in here but it would still make a difference if they were not at their best.
"Right, right. But there's no way I'm letting them get away! Sylveon! After them!" Sweet Fang would join in on this pursuit. She wasn't going to let them escape so freely. This would soon go from being a battle to a chase.
"Lu...Luca." And all of this was felt by Lucario. By picking up on all the Auras here, he felt a great shift. He saw so many Auras moving around and the ones that really stuck out involved the most fiercest of confrontations. Such as the one Applejack's group had to go through.
But the further he went, the closer he felt Fluttershy, Cadence and Flurry Heart's Aura. They were near without a doubt and with so much concentration on these three Auras, Lucaro did not lose sight of them at all. He would then relay this message to Ash, using a pulse of Aura.
"Oh yeah! They're close!" Ash translated after hearing Lucario's Aura message. "We just have to keep going and not stop for a moment!"
"That's great and all but..." Emerald Aura held her breath in before turning her head to see the absolutely terrifying image behind her. And that was the fact that multiple Despair Plants were chasing them down. "Can we at least get rid of those Despair Plants?! They've been chasing as down for a while now! And how come you two aren't affecting it at all?!"
"Sorry! But it looks like they won't listen to us at all!" Daisy panted heavily while running for her life as she and Paradise were unable to calm down these Despair Plants.
"Nevermind that! All that matters is that we find the others and then we can deal with the Despair Plants later! Right now, we're in hot water!" Twilight shouted as her group would pass by a nearby battle, avoiding it. There was at least the benefit of knowing that there would be a nearby ally to help even if everywhere was incredibly hazardous and dangerous.
"Ca!" Lucario then saw an open entryway that went downstairs, sensing that the Aura was closer in that general direction. After seeing it, Lucario would then use Force Palm, leaping through the air for a quick yet devastating blow. He struck the walls that the entryway was connected to, blowing it away with one strike. The walls came crashing down, revealing the rest of this path as it was enlarged for the sake of those too big to go through it since they were shaped for ponies.
And by breaking through it, he startled the vampires that already entered this passageway, catching them off guard. Unlucky for them, their opponents were heading this way right as they were trying to get around. It was now off to the lower level of the Magehold Chamber.
Back with Opal Vivacity, her confrontation with Rarity continued. She once again used her massive mane as a weapon, swinging it around and attacking Pheromosa, Bayleef and Audino with it. It was not easy getting over her and surprisingly, even without multiple other vampires by her side, Opal was tough to deal with. She was a powerful pony without a doubt but that was only elevated thanks to the stolen power that originally came from Bayleef, allowing her to change fate, among other things she stole thanks to the Parasite Demon.
But during this confrontation. Opal Vivacity received a message. A Telepathic one. And it was from none other than the Lich Queen herself, Rosa Maledicta. Opal, who was in the air at the moment, listened to the Lich Queen while also putting up a magic barrier to defend herself from Audino's Hyper Beam.
"Your majesty!" She spoke out loud. "Everything's fine here, your majesty! The intruders are just being massive nuisances that's all.
"Not at all. The intruders are putting up a fight and I expected this much. But they have yet to submit. Not when their fire burns brightly as much as their magic. Which is why...they need to lose their magic."
"Ah, so it's time for that then?" Opal had a wide smile on her face, already expecting the usage of the Necropillars.
"Precisely. Gather up the current Necropillars and use them at once. Shut down all magic of the intruders. The Pokemon may be unaffected, but the Equestrians will be greatly weakened by this."
"What about the rest of the Equestrians who plan to enter Magehold eventually?" Opal asked while deflecting a barrage of leaves from Bayleef's Magical Leaf.
"We will set them off for them as well. The Necropillars will regain their energy with Equestrian Magic as well. They will always be ready for usage. With the barrier weakened it won't take long for them to realize they can enter with ease. So make sure the current Equestrians are shut down, especially the Princess."
"Understood. I'll be on it." Opal nodded before turning her attention back to Rarity's group. "I'm afraid we'll have to cut this short, Rarity. I have a way to shut you down so that you're not in peak form at all. Our battle will conclude with me as the victor but in a different way."
"What are you on about!? You're not fleeing from this one! Not anymore!" Rarity rejected, tired of Opal and other vampires fleeing the scene as always. This time, now that she was in enemy territory, Rarity was going to make sure that the vampires would stick around and taste the lingering effect of defeat.
"Try and stop me then, if you can!" Opal laughed before ascending higher into the air, moving through the open roof of this part of the room. Despite the fact that it showed the sky, it did not lead to the outside at all, showing just how massive this chamber was and how bewildering it could be.
"Opal!" Rarity shouted her name, refusing to let Opal escape. Now there was another pursuit in the chamber. And this time, Rarity would be the one to pursue Opal. She quickly hopped on Pheromosa's back, counting on her Ultra Beast partner to catch up with the vampire. Even though Opal was in the air, that wouldn't stop Rarity.
Kalos.
Elsewhere, the search for Reshiram continued. And this time, the location of this Legendary Dragon was known all thanks to Zekrom. He was still in the Kalos Region, residing here for a reason even though he was last seen at Holon. It was for Xerneas. Knowing of what the Dread League were plotting after finding Yveltal, Reshiram situated himself where Yveltal's Counterpart can also be found.
The Van of the Sirens moved across the scarred land that was caused by Opal Vivacity, following Zekrom's guidance as he was sensing his Draconic Counterpart even in his current Stone State. And in that van was Princess Luna, who had to find Reshiram and head back to Equestria as soon as possible.
"He's over there. I can sense more of him now."
"There?" Luna repeated before looking onwards. Right ahead as another crater that had been made here in Kalos. But this one wasn't like the others. It didn't seem to be involved with Opal VIvacity's attack. Instead, this crater sat on a mountain of all things, appearing rather deep as well. "In that crater or the mountain?"
"It's the crater deep within the mountain. That has to have been made by him. He's waiting for us."
"After this, it's the first plane back to Equestria, right?" Vivace looked back at Luna. "I'd like to head back there as well."
"We're going back too, mom? What about searching for the other Sirens?" Sonata questioned. "Plus, it'll be tough getting back here and we'll have to start all over again. There's only one gateway left."
"Equestria's our home too, girls. And you've made some great friends there, haven't you?" Vivace smiled as the Dazzlings went silent for a moment. Their mother was completely right about this. "Besides...I refuse to let the Dread League succeed in any way shape or form. Not since they tarnished the old league."
"Hm?" That caught Luna's attention. Vivace just spouted something of great importance that couldn't be missed. Now she had a question that needed an immediate answer and the best one possible as Vivace seemingly knew something about Magehold thanks to her old age. "What do you mean the Old League?"
"What do you mean the old league? Are you saying that there's something that predates the Dread League?" Luna asked as Vivace spoke of something noteworthy. Strikingly noteworthy. The mother of the Dazzlings had more to offer as her pool of knowledge was fairly impressive. Luna needed an answer to what Vivace meant by that.
"Geez mom...How much do you know?" Sonata added.
"I've been around for centuries, I know a lot. And as for the Dread League, they weren't originally called that. And everything they're doing now was never a part of that old league. They were called the Lich's Order and they were led by a Lich King. Specifically, the first Lich King, Greyvine."
"You even know about Magehold's first Lich Ruler? Seriously?" Adagio said, surprised. She knew her mother was knowledgeable because of her age but she had no idea how far her knowledge really went.
"Oh, very well. I've been to Magehold once, girls. Only once." She raised a finger, making sure that the 'Once' was emphasised. "And it was before you three were even born. In fact...I even experienced what it was like to be a pony for the first and only time."
"I'm sorry what?! You went there before we came around!? How and why?!" Now all three of them were enthralled by this, speaking at the same time with the same words on their mind.
"You must have been powerful enough back then to enter." Luna complimented with amazement in her eyes, followed by a chuckle from Vivace.
"Powerful? No, no. I'm flattered though. I was only able to enter it because Magehold wasn't as defensive and hostile as it was before. It was a completely different nation compared to what it is now. Smaller too."
"They just let you in so casually? Lucky..." Sonata whistled.
"The first Lich King was the one who let me in to be exact. A Siren being in a place full of vampires is unheard of. And it will forever be unheard of since I was the only one there and never turned back." Vivace's expression changed and so did her tone. She got serious all of a sudden. "And I never saw the first Greyvine ever again."
"You make it sound like you two knew each other well since he invited you to Magehold in the first place," Aria added. "What's up with that? How come he just let you in and you just left?"
"Oh, we were close. Very close. You see, my first love wasn't with the Lich King."
"WHAT?!" All four of them yelled, nearly shattering the windows of the van. Vivace didn't have much of a reaction to their bellowing voices and neither did Zekrom who stayed quiet. Then again, he was just a stone right now and even if he was to be in his original form, his face would not make any other expression either way.
"Y-You're joking, right?!" Adagio stammered as the thought of her mother being with someone else was rather vexing to her mind and stomach. "You and a LIch?! That has be to a joke!"
"Not at all. I was with him for a while. We were together when I was in Magehold. And I took on the form of a pony thanks to a spell he made. I didn't quite enjoy being a pony all that much. It was fine for what it was. I mean, at least I did it before you three and you've been ponies for a shorter amount of time compared to my time."
"H-How long were you a pony for?" Aria asked as her curiosity already had a tight grip on her. It had a grip on everything Vivace was revealing a lot that neither of them expected.
"Eh. Perhaps 160 years at best. That gave me just enough time to know the Lick King some more. He was a rather charming pony." Vivace then put on a smile, closing her eyes and thinking about the past. "And during that time, we had three kids.
"Three?!" Adagio stood up, pointing at herself, then Aria and finally Sonata, putting things together. And when she realized she and her sisters were a group of three, her mind was accelerating and jumping to conclusions. "Are you saying that we're-"
"No, you're not vampires." But before Adagio could finish that sentence, Vivace quickly shut it down in an instant.
"Oh thank Celestia..." Adagio felt great relief, knowing that she wasn't Half Vampire at all.
"Thank Arceus..." So did Aria, wiping some sweat off her forehead and taking a seat afterwards.
"Aw, man..." But Sonata was disappointed. A major part if not all of her wanted her to be Half Vampire. That would've been truly amazing to experience. But alas, that was not the case.
"No. I had three other children back at Magehold before I had you three. I honestly never expected that to happen in the first place. It happened so fast. Well, the first child we had happened fast as she was around for the majority of our time together. But the other two were born right as I was about to leave Magehold. I never saw New Star again after that. I still remember how it went that fateful day."
Centuries Ago. Old Magehold.
"What do you mean we can't go through with it?" A younger Vivace shouted at the top of her lungs, facing the Lich King in his throne room. This was also technically her throne room as she was the Queen of Magehold at the time, being in a relationship with the King.
"Sorry...But I can't do it. That will just bring out the destructive nature of the vampires that I'm trying to conceal." Greyvine, the first Lich King has now reincarnated as Fractured Note in the modern day. "What you want to do goes against it."
"Bah! I thought we would agree on this!? What was the point of coming here if you turned it down?!"
"Is that all you came here for, VIvace? Just for that?"
"I'm interested in Magehold. The vampires can do something that benefits us Sirens. What they are capable of can cause more than just hatred but all kinds of negative effects that are a goldmine for a Siren!" You know for a fact that we gain our power from negativity. And spreading Dread is the best way to do that. It works in my favour. And their favour too."
"Not for all of them though. That destructive nature of the vampires is probably linked to what the Seer warned me about. You know? The Great Evil that could appear? I want to avoid that as much as I can and the vampires who don't willingly let it out and want to live peaceful lives need to be kept safe. So I cannot change my Order into something like that."
"So you will not go through with the Dread League plan I devised, eh?." Vivace scowled as she was the one who came up with it in the first place, planning to replace Greyvine's Order.
"I can't. I understand you need something like that but...I can't let something like that happen. Not when the future of Magehold and the entire world is possibly at stake." Grevyine was adamant in his decision, absolutely refusing to let Vivace go through with it.
"You should've known that I would've wanted something like this. I thrive off of things like this. And as Queen, I want to form this Dread League of mine, alongside you. Is that why not you fell for me? I thought you also revelled in things like this."
"Vivace, I fell for you, not because of that." Greyvine shook his head. "No. I got with you for a different reason. It's only for who you are and now what you do. But I suppose the latter is what really sticks out, isn't it?"
"You did? You only married me because you genuinely like me?!" Vivace pulled back.
"Well...Yes." He shrugged, surprised that VIvace uttered those words. "That's obvious. But I can't support something like this. Sorry. I understand I can't stop what you do as a Siren. You'll always feed off the most negative things, no matter what. But for the sake of our kingdom and the future of the world, something like the Dread League can't exist. I can't let it happen."
We had our differences back then but Greyvine and I stuck together. But during that time, my plan to make the Dread League possible started reaching the vampires who wished to unleash their destructive sides. They all backed up my plan and as more vampires showed up, the ones who wished to be a part of this future league would start showing themselves. This ended up harming Greyvine's ambitions since more of them were showing up. And then one day, when Greyvine grew old, that Great Evil he spoke of was about to emerge. It seemed to correlate with his age somehow. I sensed that evil and immediately felt how horrifying it was. It far surpassed what I believed in. And when things were spiralling out of control, I left."
Vivace felt it for herself. This Great Evil. It was lurking somewhere in Magehold but she wasn't sure where. She expected it to arrive but VIvace never expected what it would feel like. Her heart trembled as she sensed the most negative thing possible that even she wasn't all for.
This Great Evil felt like it threatened Life itself. All life, to be exact. This was very much similar to the Black Crusade and the purpose it felt. And this presence was already reaching the vampires who craved destruction. It only helped boost this dark part of them.
All those years of me trying to make the Dread League official and it ended up happening. But the way it happened was not what I anticipated. Once that part of them was encouraged to be unleashed, they came after me while I was on my own. They wanted to snuff out my life, even though I proposed the concept of the Dread League. Whatever was overtaking them did not care about me at all.
Vivace ran for her life. And she was currently running from the vampires. They chased her down while she was on her own, moving through the forest area of the Old Magehold location, succumbing to this Evil Presence that was lurking in the world. And right as VIvace felt it for herself and how serious it was, surpassing what she wanted to do was a Siren, Greyvine grew old. Old enough that his final hours in life were approaching him.
Vivace rushed through the castle halls, trying to reach Greyvine and speak with him as soon as possible. And right as she was close to the throne room, she already looked through the window to see what was going on. With her own eyes, she saw the unthinkable.
"Stay in here, little one." Greyvine held out a Cube of some sort. And standing right in front of him was none other than Dimstar. Vivace watched from the windows, unsure as to what Greyvine was up to at this very moment. "Just as you said...I'm counting on you, my sweet daughter."
And right before her eyes, she saw the little vampire Dimstar dematerialize. Her body turned into black particles out of nowhere. Vivace gasped as what was left of Dimstar flew into the Cube. The Cube had been filled up with this little foal as that was equally as shocking as what Vivace experienced on that.
"That day was perplexing for me. It was the day that I realized how vile this Great Evil was and when I saw something happen to one of my daughters. By that time, Greyvine's final moments came and I went to his side one last time.
Right as Greyvine sent Dimstar into the Cube, he fell to the floor, weak and frail. He could barely stand as he was right next to the throne he once sat on. Rushing to his side was Vivace, who would toss aside the arguments she and Greyvine had just to see if he was alright.
"Dear?! Are you alright?!"
"This old body won't last, I'm afraid. Even if I am a Lich...I can't stick around as long as a vampire...or even a Siren." Greyvine coughed. "Perhaps this is evolution running its course for the next line."
"Don't say that! What's wrong, dear?!"
"I've been dreading it for a while and it's coming true. I won't be around to stop this Great Evil, it seems. But at least the last two ponies I got to see were my daughter and you, my dear."
"Y-You were right! I didn't understand what kind of evil it was! I thought it was something a Siren could handle but it's far worse than what I could ever imagine. The vampires don't even care if I'm a Queen at all...They'd rather see me destroyed."
"This devious presence won't last forever, Vivace. It will subside but it will return again. I wish for you to hold out until then. Magehold is under your supervision now. You won't be a Lich Queen but just the Queen of the Vampires. I'm leaving everything up to you."
"What about Dimstar?! What happened to here?! And what about..."
"Dimstar will be safe. This presence threatens her as well, I'm afraid. She's not a full-on vampire after all. For the time being, she will remain in there until this Great Evil is gone. And as for the rest of our daughters, Please take care of them."
"I-I don't know if I can do it on my own though..." Vivace trembled. "I was always so confident because you were here beside me. You've always been the true ruler of this place after all...I can't rule all of them."
"Even if you can't, I can count on you to do something great, my dear. I'm glad I got to see my family as the last two ponies though. That makes me happy. Besides...a part of me feels like I'll always be here. And I hope to see you again sometime, no matter how long it may take." Greyvine smiled before slowly closing his eyes, allowing his old age to reach its limit and take him. He went out peacefully despite the dark nature brewing in Magehold. That was always what Greyvine wanted. Peace.
And in the hooves of her lover, VIvace was gutted by this. She teared up at the loss of someone she truly loved. And even though she wanted to feed off of hatred, Greyvine shared true love with her instead. And that love greatly reached her. Even back then, a Siren could be touched by the influence of other species. Vivace understood something else that wasn't Friendship back then. And that was family.
"Now...I greatly regret it. I should've listened to him, but my nature as a Siren didn't. He genuinely loved me and I abandoned him at a crucial time. Even my own children. And then I met your father, got with him and that's where you three come in."
"Who were the other two then? And how come we haven't heard about them?" Adagio questioned.
"I wanted to put it behind me after the fallout Greyvine and I had. My other two daughters were born months after I became Queen of Magehold. But by that time, that Great Evil emerged once more and it was stronger than ever. I was unable to deal with it so I...I ran away. Even from my own children."
"You left them?! How could you, Mom?!" Aria exclaimed, shocked that her mother would do such a thing. And while she hasn't seen Vivace in centuries as well, she at least reunited with her.
"I had to! My daughters had that destructive nature in them too!" Vivace raised her voice, startling her daughters. "Besides...One of them was something else. Her nature was just as violent as that Great Evil that appeared from Magehold. I'd even say she played in part in causing me to flee from Magehold."
"Seriously? A kid made you flee from Magehold?"
"You don't understand, girls. It seemed like that Great Evil was resonating with her more than anypony one else. It was as if she was the embodiment of it. The worst it could be. I couldn't control her at all. I tried my best as a Mother but she was...well, she was Pure Evil. Magehold changed for the worse and I knew I was never fit to be a Queen. I failed Greyvine's wishes..." Vivace was gutted by this. So much so that she slowed down the van, tightly holding the wheels.
"I don't believe it...And you made the Dread League?" Adagio tried wrapping her head around this. "And that means there's an extended family we never knew about too?"
"I am responsible for the Dread League's creation. But I never wanted it to turn out like this. I want to say I never should've been with Greyvine and become Queen...but that's tarnishing the love we had for each other, so I can't do it. He and your father were so alike after all."
"B-But you're a great mom though, right?" Sonata tried cheering up. "That's all that matters. To us, at least."
"I'm glad about that least. It's because of that experience, I learned how important Family truly is. That is why I spoke about the Magic of Family to you all those years ago."
"Still...does this mean we have other sisters? Or I guess, Half Sisters?" Aria asked, wondering who the other two Half Sisters were. They each knew that the pony Dimstar was their Half Sister but the other two were a mystery, especially the one who was said to be so evil she rivalled that of the Great Evil.
"Well, yes. You have three Half Sisters out there." Vivace replied before stopping the van and reaching the necessary destination to find Reshiram. "It looks like we're here. Hurry and get Reshiram back."
"Alright. Just in the crater and we'll be done here. Wait for me, sister." It was now time for Luna to retrieve Reshiram. She was going to make it quick and not waste any time. Equestria and the rest of the World were in peril and they needed all the help they could get. And there was no better help than that of a Legend.
Equestria. Magehold. Magehold Chamber.
A plan to shut down all the Equestrian Magic was being devised. And that was by using the Necropillars. Four of them have been destroyed already but there were plenty more. And the current ones that remained were all being gathered in one spot. Some vampires would grab as many of the Necropillars as possible, bringing them together in one spot.
Off to try and bring those pillars together as well as Opal Vivacity. However, Opal was currently being pursued, by none other than Rarity. SHe looked down to see Rarity chasing her down while on the back of Pheromosa. Pheromosa was the only reason why it was easy to keep an eye on Opal as Rarty refused to let her go. Right behind her were Bayleef and Audino, who had their own way of catching up.
Some of the Flying-Type Pokemon from the Pokemon House had brought them along, carrying the two of them. They had a Fearow and a Swellow carrying them with all of their might, flying as fast as they can and trailing behind the Lissome Pokemon.
"Persistent lot." Opal Vivacity scoffed. "Well, it doesn't matter all that much. The others will gather them around without me having to do most of the hard work anyway. But I'd love to be the one to turn it on."
"You won't get away! Get back here at once!" Rarity roared out as Audino began charging up a Hyper Beam while on Fearow's back.
"Obsessed much?!" Opal cackled before noticing the Hyper Beam coming her way. She gasped, quickly flying to the side and evading the powerful blast of Infinity Energy. Right as she avoided it, Pheromosa, using all of her built-up speed, would perform a powerful jump, leaving the ground as if she was a rocket.
"Mosa!" She went far at incredible speeds, swiftly approaching the Beautiful yet VIle Vampire with Close Combat ready for her. Seeing this, Opal already had a piece of her mane out for usage. She had it just in case things would get too close, not using it for the Hyper Beam since that was avoided. But Pheromosa was a different story as her speed was something to be cautious about.
By placing it on her hoof, she changed fate right in the nick of time. Pheromosa's leg was one inch away from striking Opal's face, only for a crimson light to go off, changing Fate in an instant. Pheromosa's kick failed to land as Opal Vivacity avoided it by sending herself ahead.
"Heh." Opal grinned as she was now farther away from Rarity's group. But right as she avoided them, she noticed that a piece of her mane on the side was missing. It was a small bit but noticeable as it made Opal gasp. She then looked over to see those missing pieces flying near Pheromosa's leg.
Pheromosa, even though she did not strike Opal, managed to get a bit of her mane, kicking it off with her powerful legs. Rarity gave a smirk back to Opal, knowing she startled the vampire. Pheromosa's speed was nothing to ignore. Compared to all the Pokemon she's faced, Pheromosa was the fastest by far.
"That can't be...She nearly got me? Has she been getting faster?!" Opal growled with her fangs baring. She was unaware that Pheromosa could increase her speed thanks to Beast Boost. And because of all the attacks she's been unleashing, Pheromosa was only getting faster and faster each time. "Darn it...They'd better have those Necropillars up by now! And where are Melody Moon and Bittersweet with that Box?!"
Faye Mountains. Changeling Hive. Day.
The Changeling Hive. Untouched by the Black Crusade so far, the Changelings were all present here, currently watching over their Queen. Chrysalis was still unconscious, suffering from the Magehold DIsease. It hadn't taken her away just yet but the Changelings were all nervous as to how long this could last.
Especially Thorax, who was the current King of the Changeling HIve since Chrysalis passed it on down to him, trusting him. And with advice from King Sombra of all ponies, he's managed to keep things fine for the most part. Nothing wrong has happened here at the Changeling Hive just yet. All worries were focused on Chrysalis after all.
And the Box of 100 Demons, of course. Connected to Chrysalis since she unknowingly made it as a baby, it was being kept here for safety, away from the clutches of the vampires. No demon has been unleashed from it and no other demon has shown up to try and re-enter it. And neither has it been taken back at all by the vampires.
However, not even the Changelings were safe from the Black Crusade. It aimed to destroy all life, even those involved with helping the Dread League way back then. And the ones sent to retrieve it were none other than Melody Moon and Bittersweet. Joined by other vampires and some Despair Plants, they stood on one of the mountains nearby, looking down on the Changeling Hive and its peaceful appearance.
"Finally. We're here." Melody Moon said as her nefarious eyes locked onto the hive and all the Changelings down here, already plotting. "I wish I could cause mass damage of my own but...we need to get that Box back. The rest of you are free to deal as much damage as you want."
"So, we'll do the destroying part. Good." BIttersweet replied. "Make sure you don't take too long with finding the Box though. Her Majesty has ordered that we return to Magehold as soon as possible. There are intruders there now."
"I know, I know. I'll make sure it won't be too quick. Destroy them all and that box is ours. Besides...what can the Queen do in her condition?" Melody said with confidence as she, Bittersweet, the other vampires and the Despair Plants left the mountaintop, descending onto the Changeling hive. Now the Changelings would be met with the Black Crusade and the one thing connected to their Queen which housed many powerful demons was their biggest target. If they get that box, the advantage would be absolutely tremendous.
That same field from before. Only existing in Chrysalis' mind during her most vulnerable state. She ended up here once again and it was most definitely because she was in her most vulnerable state yet. Struck by a Curse caused by Rosa Maledicta, the Changeling Queen was suffering on the outside but here, she was at peace. She sat on the beautiful bed of flowers under the bright sky. Skies so bright they lit everything up.
But Chrysalis knew that even though this was beautiful, it did not correlate with what was happening outside. This was all fake and a way to make her feel better, but Chrysalis wasn't feeling any solace when she knew what was happening out there.
"It's been weeks...and I have no idea what my condition is. I left everything up to Thorax, putting all my faith in him." She has been here for weeks now ever since she was hit by the curse, having only this scenery to comfort her. Nothing has happened and it seemed like the only thing she could do was wait for the Curse to take her out. But Chrysalis had hope that she would make it. She wasn't sure how and she was still waiting for it.
That is until something finally happened. At last. Chrysalis opened her eyes to see a dark flicker materializing. It stood out from everything here. It looked like this space of hers was cracking as something was tearing into it. Chrysalis finally stood up, moving at last instead of just sitting on the bed of flowers.
"Who's there?" She asked. She got her answer immediately as not one, not two, but multiple beings started flying out of the crack. The crack expanded, growing in size with each entity that flew out of it, appearing in this flower-filled space.
And these entities were none other than the 100 Demons. Or rather 98 as some of them were absent. Chrysalis' eyes widened as these 98 Demons descended, entering her space.
"W-What are you all doing here?!" She readied herself, expecting the worst now that the demons have shown up. She recognized none of these demons from anywhere. Not a single one gave her any memories. The only one she knows about is the Centipede Demon and she regressed it into its original form, making the Box one demon short. Chrysalis was ready to take them all on even if she was on her lonesome. All these demons were once prisoners from Tartarus and creatures across Equestria, becoming terrifying versions of their original selves.
However, they did not attack her. Even with all of these demons here, they showed no signs of hostility whatsoever. Chrysalis actually felt to. She gasped for a moment, suddenly gaining a new sensation. Something that she never had before until now and it only happened until the Demons showed up here.
"This feeling..." Chrysalis looked at her hooves, trembling for a moment before looking back at the demons. That strange feeling she was getting was coming from the 98 Demons. There was something different about them and Chrysalis could tell.
She compared this feeling to when she first encountered the Centipede Demon. The entire encounter was terrifying and violent. Everything about that moment drove Chrysalis to the edge and she believed these demons would give off a similar feeling. But not at all. Instead, she felt something comforting.
Something familiar.
"It's coming from all of you? Why does it feel so familiar?" Chrysalis questioned. She was waiting for an answer, however, these demons, for the most part, were rather feral. Not all of them could form sentences. However, since some used to be Tartarus Prisoners, they would speak.
"It should be familiar. You made us, Queen Chrysalis." One of the demons stepped forward, appearing as a Cobra with twelve legs. "All of us are your creations and you should only feel a sense of familiarity."
"I know that but...It feels comforting. Why? Why now?"
"It's because of the condition you're in. Just like when mourned for you," Another demon who appeared as a bulbous entity spoke. It brought up the time multiple demons started crying in response to Chrysalis. This was done at the same event when she unleashed hidden fury against the Centipede Demon. "Your tears prompted us to cry as well."
"That was my doing?" Chrysalis gasped. Now she knew who caused all of that crying during the attack on the Third Pokemon Festival. She was the cause of it since the demons responded to her emotions. "You responded to my emotions too? How come you've never shown up all those other times?"
"You were never powerful enough to do so. But ever since you took on this new form, you've grown, creator." Another demon answered. "Our emotions are tied to you. And right now, we are powerless as to what is happening outside."
"What? What's happening out there?" She asked.
"We all showed up to warn you. The Box we all reside in is being fought over. The Dread League have come."
Equestria. Faye Mountain.
Indeed, the Dread League have attacked the Changeling Hive. And already, panic and chaos had emerged from it. It was the Despair Plants that came crashing in, surprising the Changelings. A group of Cordyceps rained some explosive seeds, damaging the homes of the Changelings as they were joined by the fused Despair Plant Triphyophyllums.
The draconic Despair Plants caused the most damage, breathing out a stream of destructive black flames. The vampires would also storm the hive from below alongside some Despair Plant Cobras, attacking the Changelings. However, it wasn't just the Changelings they encountered but also the Fairy-Type Pokemon that lived here with them at the Faye Mountains.
It didn't take long for the Changeling Hive to spiral out of control. And of course, their main objective was the Box of 100 Demons which they once had and were now aiming to retrieve it. Melody Moon was the one who chose to take it back, only to encounter someone who was already protecting it.
"Y-You're not getting this box!" Thorax was holding onto the Box of 100 Demons while backing away from Melody Moon. The singing Vampire already used her magic around the Changeligns that stood in her way and that was by using Fire to her advantage. There was an array of Fire around and in the Changeling Hive, thanks to the current attack and this would even benefit Melody Moon thanks to what her magic was capable of. As she hummed her melody, she started manipulating the flames themselves with this beautiful but cruel music.
"Unlike most vampires, I can actually use Fire to my advantage. Watch as the Flames dance to my Melody and chase you down. You won't be leaving here with that box~" Melody sang as the flames would fly forward, approaching Thorax as if they were fearsome
"Zo! Zorua!" Jumping in front of his Trainer was Zorua. He immediately made his entrance, intercepting the flames with Hyper Voice. A powerful blast of sound came flying out, meeting Melody's Dancing Flames. They managed to block the flames while also startling Melody Moon thanks to how loud the soundwaves are.
"Tch! You dare try and drown my voice out?!"
"Zo...!"
"Unfortunately for you, the flames I control will dance around whatever you do next. Like so~" In response to her voice, the flames would start dancing, flying to the side and changing their movements.
The flames started slithering as if they were snakes while Melody stayed in the middle, avoiding any damage. She was still a vampire after all. Thorax and Zorua would then run and fly as fast as they could while the flames ate away at the hive.
Thorax couldn't afford to engage as he didn't want to risk any damage being done to the box. But Zorua would take that risk, shooting out a Shadow Ball from his mouth.
Melody would then form a wall of flames which intercepted the Shadow Ball, consuming it. Afterwards, those same flames accelerated, homing in on Zorua and Thorax. Zorua gasped before jumping through a hole that Thorax already went through. The hole was small enough to fit them both while the flames crashed right into it.
A bit of the flames managed to enter the hole but did not fully reach the duo. Not when they took one of the paths within this hole. Melody was unable to see them past the hole as her own flames were blocking the view. With this advantage, Thorax and Zorua escaped the sights of Melody Moon.
"No way you're avoiding me that easily." She scowled before raising her voice. With her music intensifying, so did the flames. She bashed them against the walls that had many holes to choose from, immediately causing a fiery explosion to go off. She would start burning away as much as she could, just to clear the space easily.
Even though they were caught by a surprise attack, the Changelings did not let themselves fall so easily. After Ghetsis and even the Centipede Demon, they wouldn't let the worst happen again. And with the Fairy-Type Pokemon to aid their already massive numbers, they could hold their own.
Speaking of massive numbers, that was what the Changelings exceeded at. Since there were so many of them in and out of this hive, they gave the Dread League plenty to focus on. And since every single one of them had a Pokemon of their own, it would be harder to mow through them as they previously thought.
The holes of the hives which had multiple pathways that led to different areas were being incinerated as Melody Moon hunted down the Box of 100 Demons, ruining the network the Changelings had made. At this rate, they might end up losing their new home.
Thorax and Zorua managed to gauge some distance from Melody Moon. At the moment, they were away from their sights. They took some time to breathe while hearing the flames viciously roar in the distance. "Okay...I think I already know what I want to do. I want to get this box away from the hive as soon as possible."
"Zorua?"
"That's right. This is what they want more than anything since they used to use it. As long as it never gets into their hooves, they'll lose their biggest advantage. I just need to figure out where to take it..." Thorax thought for a moment, trying to come up with the best possible place to hide the Box of 100 Demons away from the Dread League. Unsure of what location would be the best choice, he resorted to asking a friend of his. And that came in the form of the Xtransceiver. He would quickly take the Xtransceiver out, looking at his list of friends which was rather massive, ranging from other changelings to humans, ponies, dragons and Pokemon.
And his decision for this would be a pony. Specifically, Starlight Glimmer. He selected her Trainer ID before leaning forward, wanting to keep quiet in case any vampires were hearing. They did have slightly heightened hearing after all. After a bit of ringing, Starlight answered.
"Thorax? What is it?"
"Hi, Starlight...Having a bit of a problem here." Thorax said, with a lowered voice. "Pardon the low voice but the Dread League are currently here and-"
"It's for the Box of 100 Demons, isn't it?" Starlight answered before Thorax could even finish his sentence.
"Y-You knew?"
"Ash figured that they would go there pretty early on since they used to have it before we managed to retrieve it. And they're there right now, right?"
"And going wild. Everyone's doing their best right now and I just want to try and get that box away from them. W-Where are you and do you have any ideas on where to put it?"
"Right now, I'm heading over to Magehold with the Crystal Empire. We're about to finally tackle the main place and get everyone that's been captured back as soon as possible. All we have to go is get past the Hyperborean Island."
"Straight to Magehold? Okay then...But I might need a lot of help here."
"I'll try and send some over. Don't worry. Just keep that Box safe. I don't know where to put it, unfortunately, but hold on tight. I can speak to Shining Armor for you."
"T-That's great. I'll do my best to keep it safe." Thorax sighed as he could at least smile knowing that help would come. Even with the Changeling Numbers being so large, the Dread League were still terrifyingly powerful to handle. He didn't have a place to hide the box, unfortunately. For now, he just had to make sure it was safe. He hung up the call, ready to get out there and continue protecting his hive. He was now the king so he had to.
"There you are." A voice spoke to him, instantly jump scaring Thorax. He believed it was Melody Moon who had tracked him down based on that sentence. However, that was not the case. Instead, it was another Changeling. Specifically, his brother Pharynx.
"You still have the box too."
"Ah...you scared me...I didn't even hear you coming." Thorax sighed. "Yeah. I still have it. I tried thinking of a place to hide it but nothing comes to mind. Right now, I guess I just have to defend it from them. Plus, this is connected to Queen Chrysalis. If something bad were to happen to it..."
"Mmrgh. If we were still our old selves this wouldn't be happening, you know?" Pharynx scowled, bringing up the old changelings. Pharynx himself was a bridge between the Old and the New. A perfect representation of those two sides. "If we were our old selves, those vampires would be long gone by now."
"I mean, maybe. But we should at least try and work with what we have right now, Pharynx. Help is coming and we need to do all that we can to protect our home. We can't do anything about those Despair Plants, unfortunately. We don't have the light that can harm them, I'm afraid."
"That's true. I can't argue against that. What can we do about those plants?"
"Hmm..." Thorax thought for a moment, thinking as hard as he could. The Despair Plants were the biggest problem here since there was a lack of Pure Light to take them down.
"I've got something actually." Pharynx was the one who came up with something and the answer was already right in front of him.
"What?" Thorax asked.
"...We could use that." Pharynx aimed his hoof at the Box of 100 Demons, choosing to use that as a way of retaliation. Thorax gasped once Pharynx suggested the usage of the Box. "There has to be something in there that can stop those plants."
"Use the box?! Are you sure?!"
"Zorua?!"
"I'm very sure! Let's use it! If it's up against the Dread League, then all's fair, right?"
"I know but...is it safe? Can we even control the demons inside of this thing?" Thorax was mainly worried about the 100 Demons being rather destructive and they might be hard to control. "The vampires have a good grasp on them and if we send them out, they could just order them around."
"As if it's that easy. We're the ones with the Box and the original creator too. They'll have to listen to us since we're the ones who'll open it. Let's use it, Thorax. We have to protect the Hive no matter what, right? That means getting all the help possible and even though there's one demon short, 99 can do the trick, don't you think?"
"Hmm..." It was a tough decision for Thorax. Does he risk letting all those demons out, unsure of what they might do when they emerge? Will they attack him or will they listen to him? He heard the sounds of flames and other attacks going off in the distance as the Changeling Hive was struggling against the Dread League's power. "Let's do it." He accepted Pharynx's idea.
"Zorua?" A shocked Zorua uttered. Thorax was actually going through with it but it was unknown if it was for the best. He might just unleash another destructive force onto the world but perhaps it could get rid of the main problem. With so many demons, there was bound to be one that was the most efficient.
Magehold. Magehold Chamber.
Meanwhile, down at the Magehold Chamber, Fluttershy, Cadence and Flurry Heart were at the deepest part of the chamber. The darkness was absurd as the only visible things poking out of it were the tubes that they were being kept in and the visage of spikes. These spikes seemed to be protruding out of the walls and parts of the floor. But thanks to the darkness, it's hard to see where they originated from.
On top of that, there were already other vampires here, guarding the three tubes from the intruders. So far, no one has managed to reach here. The closest was Applejack's group but they had to leave elsewhere, only managing to destroy three Necropillars in the process.
Cadence was waiting patiently, knowing her friends were up there, doing their best to reach her and the others. No matter how long it would take, she would wait for them, putting all of her faith in them. Flurry Heart grew tired, falling asleep in the tube while Fluttershy was still unconscious. Cadence knew that the Lich Queen would need her and Flurry Heart again just to take more of their lifespan, however, that might be harder than before. Now with the intruders running around, getting to the Lich Queen would be a difficult task.
"Hm? Yes, your majesty?" Suddenly, one of the vampires spoke up as the Lich Queen was speaking to the ones down here as well across the chamber. Cadence looked over, making sure to get whatever information she could from the Dread League. There might be something valuable after all. But she wouldn't have to listen that closely as Rosa's voice was present when near the vicinity of other vampires.
"According to the Windigos, the Crystal Empire's Forces have arrived at the Hyperborean Island," Rosa spoke. "With our orders, they should attack them even if there is no conflict brewing. But the fact that they are getting closer to us is worrying. The barrier is not as powerful as it used to be after all.
"My Shining Armor..." A smile formed on Cadence's face, knowing exactly who was approaching. She knew from the start that Shining Armor would arrive. Granted, he wasn't here just yet but he was close. The love of her life could always be counted on.
"This time, I'll be coming to the alicorns myself. Which means...I'll be entering the Chamber. The intruders will be disposed of by myself as well." Rosa Maledicta was now making her next move. Now, she would be approaching the Chamber, no longer staying in the castle. "The barrier should keep them at bay for a while but not forever. By the time I get there, they should still be trying to break through it."
"Understood, your majesty. We'll make sure they stay here and do not move.
"So she's coming straight for us...This deep into the chamber. Shining Armor might take a while to get down here since it's so far away from everyone else." Cadence thought to herself now that she knew that Rosa Maledicta was coming here. She closed her eyes before reopening to focus her attention on Fluttershy and Flurry Heart.
Cadence was hoping that she would be taken straight to the Lich Queen just so that the brawl across the chamber would ruin the transportation, but that wasn't the case. And now that Rosa Maledicta herself was approaching, everyone who had shown up here were at great risk. Even Cadence knew that.
The Pokemon Contest went on with no interference at all. The coordinators were free to enjoy themselves with no knowledge of the brawl happening at the Magehold Chamber right now. The second stage went on swimmingly with the battles going on and right now, the last coordinator win the first round of the battle stage was none other than Eccentrick, who already had an impressive showing earlier.
She had won her own battle, advancing into the next round with her partner Inkay. Eccentrick's hopes were looking up for her and she most definitely made Fantina proud. The Hearthome Gym Leader was pleased to see Eccentrick develop, even if she was only supposed to do one thing. Eccentrick's years of losing entertainment were being made up at last. Of course, she had to speak to those who didn't make it all the way through and had dropped out. Whether it was at the Performance Stage or the previous battles.
"You all did well for your first time. Those skills you showed back at the Fashion Show came in, little ones. And as for the older ponies, good work. You don't have to worry about not winning this one because there will always be another year."
"I had a lot of fun though, even if I lost. I've never felt something like this in...well forever." A vampire slumped herself on the couch, lying next to her Duskull. "I've missed this."
"We all have. Thanks for making this for us, Ms Fantina." Another vampire thanked. "You've changed Magehold a lot for only doing a few things."
"Oh, it's nothing~" Fantina giggled. "I just want to see you all smile. And with the power of entertainment, that's all that matters. We still have the rest of the contest to go and I already have something brewing up after this is all done."
"It won't be right away, will it?" A vampire asked, a bit worried that there might be a back-to-back event.
"No, no. But I am good at doing multiple events in one day." Fantina laughed once more, causing the others to laugh too. The Hearthome Gym Leader then looked over at the stage where the battles took place, preparing to head back out there and be the announcer once more. Fantina was well aware of the events happening outside but did not get involved. Not when she had so many ponies to entertain,
And with Fractured Note involved, none of the Magehold citizens even noticed everything else happening over at the Chamber. However, Fractured Note soon received a telepathic message from the Lich Queen herself. The message came in, prompting Fractured Note to turn all of his attention to it and make sure everything seemed fine so that the Lich Queen was none the wiser.
"Yes, your majesty?" Fractured Note said.
"I need you here at the chamber at once. Currently, I'm approaching it and I have Yveltal with me just in case. Have you found out who generated all that light?" Rosa questioned, still wanting to know who caused that light that harmed her. She wasn't even aware that she actually became a vampire for a moment and that was the main reason for her taking so much damage. Her first time being a vampire was a rather painful one.
"Not yet." He was lying, obviously knowing that Eccentrick did it. But for the sake of Magehold's future, he kept it a secret, refusing to let Rosa Maledicta know. "Apologies. It looks like nopony here saw it happen."
"Really now? A gut feeling mine feels like it could show up again. Either way, come to the chamber at once. We have the most interesting intruders possible. Those nuisances from Equestria plus Kanto have shown up and the Crystal Empire is also making their move here. They should be at the Hyperborean Island by now."
"The Crystal Empire's coming here?" Fractured Note gasped for a moment before putting his hoof on his chin, pondering for a moment. "This could get out of control very soon if more keep showing up. The citizens won't see it coming at all even if they've been huddled up in here."
"It could get out of control. The intruders are not to be taken lightly after all. If something goes wrong, we will have to resort to one of our many plans. We'll have to move Magehold."
"Move Magehold? Will it come down to that?" Fractured Note looked around, hoping no one else was listening to this. He wouldn't want the citizens to start freaking out, especially since the concept of moving Magehold was apparently a possibility. And at this crucial moment, that possibility could come to pass depending on what happens.
"I hope it doesn't. Because I'm planning on ridding them all right here and nowhere else."
Magehold Chamber.
"Where are we now?" Currently, Ash and his group were closing in on the three noticeable Auras but their movements had been stopped once they came across a room that was once tidy and well-built. Thanks to the battle, it was absolutely crushed with plenty of rubble everywhere. This room also seemed to be a dead-end even though Lucario's Aura Sense was still active.
There were no signs of any entryways. No secret one either. It was if they had also been lost in the destruction. However, Lucario could still feel Fluttershy, Cadence and Flurry Heart's Auras.
"It's a complete dead-end and completely destroyed. What happened here?" Twilight wondered, knocking away some of the rubble with her magic to find an entryway. But she would find nothing at all.
"Can you still sense them, Lucario?" Ash asked.
"Rrr." Lucario hadn't lost them at all. It was just getting to them that was the biggest issue. As much as he had a complete grasp on their Auras, it could only do so much right now.
"Okay...Let's just break everything down and make our own entryway." Ash opted to make a new entryway and the best way to do that was by destroying what was already destroyed.
"Lu?!" Before that could happen, Lucario sensed something else. Something overwhelming. His heart skipped a beat. A new Aura had been sensed. A truly powerful one. Lucario wasn't the only one who felt it. Ash did too as he was connected with Lucario right when searching for his friends.
"!" The Aura that both of them were sensing was absolutely fierce. Not in the sense that it was a great wealth of Aura but in the sense that the individual possessing it was terrifying. "Do you guys feel that?"
"I don't feel anything. What's wrong?" Twilight questioned, unable to sense the Aura. But she could definitely sense something else. The Magic. Twilight gasped, soon sensing an overwhelming amount of magic, similar to what Ash does with Aura. Both of them could feel something similar but different at the same time. And yet, it was coming from the same individual.
"That kind of Aura...I'm sure of it! It's the Lich Queen without a doubt!" Ash immediately thought of the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta. And judging by what Lucario's Aura Vision managed to capture with his eyes closed, that seemed to be the case.
The Lich Queen was here in the Chamber, making her move at last.
"Dodrio!" A Dodrio had used Tri Attack, blasting at the opposing vampires and Despair Plants with three elements. The vampires received the flames, moving away from their other weakness while the Despair Plants received Electricity and Ice. While they couldn't be defeated with these moves, that didn't mean they were ineffective. One of the Despair Plants had been frozen by the ice, restrained for the moment as that much was possible when dealing with these verdant villains. Another had been paralyzed, slowing down with electricity crackling out of its body.
"Breloom!" A Breloom had come in for a dive kick, knocking over the frozen Despair Plants off the stairs that they fought on. The Despair Plants found themselves, falling without being able to move at all. On top of that, a Snorlax was charging through the halls of the chamber, knocking over as many vampires as it could.
All the Pokemon from the Pokemon House and some parts of PokePark were doing everything in their power to buy as much time as possible. They were only here to save those who had been kidnapped after all.
"Bisharp!" Bisharp and his many Pawniard troops were also charging forward. He met with the Triantis, engaging in a bladed clash with one of them. However, this was where Bisharp exceeded. His swordsmanship skills exceeded what the Triantis could do. He easily overpowered their claws, knocking them aside and cutting their main weapons off.
The claws of the Triantis went flying after Bisharp sliced through them but this still wasn't enough to get rid of them. However, Bisharp could relieve them of their greatest weapons. Joining Bisharp and his Pawniard Troops was Dewott who would use his Scalchops against the Triantis.
"Dewott!" Dewott wasn't as skilled as Bisharp but could still contest with the sharp claws of the Triantis either way. He blocked two slashes from a Triantis, nearly being pushed back only to counterattack with a swift upwards slash. He sent the Triantis upwards, allowing a Tranquill to fly in and tackle the Triantis midair.
"Serperior!" Queen Serperior got in on the action too, leading all the Pokemon from the Arbor Area that she commands into battle. She cleared the way for her subjects, using Leaf Storm to do so. A powerful storm of leaves came crashing in, moving across this tight space at this part of the hallway as it blew away some of the Despair Plants up ahead. Once their massive bodies were thrown to the side, this allowed the Pokemon to rush in.
With the rush of victory coursing through their bodies, neither side was exactly winning yet that only gave them the drive to fight even harder and with more tenacity. Neither have even thought about stopping or slowing down. No Pokemon wished to go home when their dearest friends needed their help. After all, they won't have a home if something isn't done.
The wounded on one side are abundant and lay in rubble around the chamber and the faces of the fighters are hopeful with adrenaline rushing through their bodies, they take on their enemies. Thankfully, there were healers for the side of the Pokemon. Some of them have been hit with Magehold Curses thanks to the Despair Plants and unlike Bullfrog, everything here was fatal.
The Pokemon that healed those that have been afflicted could only hold the diseases back. They could not cure them. Of course, that was why Daisy and Paradise were here, however, they were currently with Ash's group. Right now, some of the afflicted would just have to hold on until then.
Arachnorchids struck from above, using their thick strings to catch their prey while sticking to the walls. Right as Dewott went to slash a vampire, his arm was held back by the strings, ceasing his attack. Dewott gasped as it wasn't just his arm that was being restrained. The web was starting to reach across the rest of his body, already taking over his entire arm and soon one side of his face.
The Arachnorchids did the same to all the Pokemon they laid eyes on, shooting out their webs. But these webs had something extra around them. Fire. These Flaming Webs could not only restrain but also cause damage as well. The Pokemon who were too busy dealing with one opponent were caught by these Fire Webs which would harm them first before wrapping around their bodies.
Some of them were being pulled up, leaving the ground and getting closer to the Arachnorchids while others were fighting to break free. Bisharp managed to break free instantly thanks to his body being a blade in of itself. He slashed the flaming webs apart but not without taking any damage. Even though he could cut the webs, the flames still harmed him, causing the Dark-Steel-Type to wince.
It was even worse for his Pawniard troops who weren't as strong as him in any way. Some Pokemon just couldn't break free at all. This quickly turned the tide of battle as some of the Pokemon scattered trying to avoid these Flaming Webs from reaching them. And to those who were already restrained, they were already having Magehold Curses enter their bodies. The most fatal and brutal curses were only being chosen as opposed to anything common like before.
"Krookodile!" However, reversing this was Krookodile, who used Earthquake on the walls themselves. He slammed his foot against the wall, sending a tremor through it which would appear in the form of a golden shockwave. The shockwaves moved across the walls rapidly, breaking them apart and those that were on it such as the Arachnorchids.
The Despair Plants would lose their balance on the walls as they came crumbling down. The walls would fall down on the Arachorchids from every direction. Krookodile's Earthquake went the extra mile, breaking down the walls in this specific area while also dealing damage to the Arachnorchids.
Fierce confrontations such as this were happening all over Magehold as the Chamber was only still stable thanks to its gargantuan size. But during this battle, the tubes have been damaged. So many attacks have been thrown along with constant destruction to the point where the Rejuvenation Tubes were put out of commission indefinitely.
And watching over this while moving across the Chamber was Rainbow Dash, alongside Sceptile and Raboot. The three of them looked below to see the power struggle from the two sides. Rainbow Dash left a rainbow streak behind thanks to her movements, allowing vampires to easily track her down even with her speed. A vampire did move fast when flying but as fast as Rainbow Dash.
But while Rainbow Dash's group was moving on along, the multi-coloured maned pegasus spotted something that she just couldn't ignore. A certain pony was below, just now arriving at the Magehold Chamber. Just by looking at her, Rainbow Dash's pupils shrank as well as her body shaking too.
It was none other than Rosa Maledicta. She had appeared at last and her first targets were right in front of her. Even though she has never seen the Lich Queen before, the similarity to Roseluck, the foreboding presence and regalia she wore was a dead giveaway.
"That's the Lich Queen..." Rainbow Dash came to a hold, peering her head over the stairs to gander at the Ruler of Magehold and the Vampires. Her presence was so great that even the Pokemon paid attention to it. Many stopped what they were doing, looking over at the Lich Queen who was right behind them, casually walking over.
"Snorlax?" Snorlax was even wide awake for this. Rosa Maledicta required all the possible attention in the world right now, even from the laziest individuals.
"Intruders. You only made my job easier. You came to me instead." Rosa spoke to them as her eyes lit up, captivating all of the Pokemon who glanced at her. Even Rainbow Dash was captivated even if she was upstairs. The atmosphere went silent. It had to, now that the Lich Queen had arrived, in front of so many Pokemon too.
Even the Despair Plants were quiet and immobile. They are usually so eager to leap into action but with Rosa Maledicta here, they stayed silent and still. The silence was so outstanding that even the battles from nearby were quiet. All ears were on the Lich Queen as right next to her was a Master Ball.
The Master Ball containing Yveltal.
"And that's probably Yveltal..." Rainbow Dash's eyes focused on the Master Ball, knowing that Yveltal was probably in it. That was the Pokemon the Dread League needed more than anything. A shadow was cast over this part of the chamber, darkening the area.
"Y-Your majesty!" A vampire cried out as his voice echoed across the halls.
"You'll all become skeletons for this evergrowing empire. And to do that...I'll need your souls. All of them." Rosa Maledicta took a step, sending a fearsome and intimidating dark presence around. Some of the Pokemon gulped immediately, already terrified. They were previously fearless when entering Magehold but in the presence of the Lich Queen, that was a different story and a different level they had to contest with.
A Whimsicott put her arms up, trying to stay strong ut she was also trembling as seen by her rustling cotton. Krookodile even felt something shaking in him ut it wasn't as visible as everyone else. Snorlax took a step in front of everyone else, opting to be their shields since he was the biggest here. But a part of him made him think that being a shield wouldn't be enough.
"Every one of you will fall here and never see tomorrow's light!" With that yell, the Lich Queen attacked. And she did so with thorns that she summoned from the floor itself. These thorns emerged at great speeds, already hitting their first targets before they could do anything. And among them was Snorlax, who didn't last that long as a shield at all. The thorns smashed into his chest, having enough power to knock back such a large and heavy Pokemon.
"Snor!" Snorlax yelled before crashing into the other Pokemon behind it as the thorns pushed him further ahead. The Pokemon in the way were either being pushed along with Snorlax or went flying elsewhere.
Some Pokemon tried to retaliate, only for the thorns to catch them immediately as seen by how a Poliwrath had its arms restrained right when it throw a punch. "P-Poli?!" That Poliwrath was slammed into the ground, right upside its own head. Rosa dug the Poliwrath into the ground, causing its lower body and legs to dangle in the air.
The thorns would go wild, swinging and attacking all the Pokemon that it came across in a wild frenzy. The Pokemon had to think fast. Insanely fast if they wanted to avoid the worst possible hits. A Heatmor had used Fire Lash, only for its tongue to be caught by the thorns.
"H-Heatmor!" Despite Heatmor possessing incredible heat, the pain of the thorns constricting its tongue far surpassed that. It winced before being swung into its fellow Fire-Types. Left and right, the Pokemon were whipped and slapped by these thorns which deal critical amounts of damage and for Rosa, she didn't have to do all that much. She was just walking by all the Pokemon her thorns had reached, making her way to the deeper parts of the Chamber.
"Rai-Rai!" Not all Pokemon would go down without getting something off. Raichu took action, jumping into the air and using Thunder. A powerful blast of lightning came shooting down, grabbing Rosa's attention. She narrowed her eyes before using the thorns to shield her. But not only did the thorns block the blast of lightning, but Rosa also manipulated them to the point where they gained spring-like properties.
With this spring-like nature, the thorns would push the Thunder away. The blast of light went flying into the crowd of Pokemon nearby, hitting them instead. Some were fine such as the Ground-Types but the other Pokemon weren't as the Thunder was much more powerful when Rosa launched it compared to what Raichu could put out.
"N-No way..." Rainbow Dash was downright flabbergasted by this.
"Graveler!" Attempting to catch her from a different angle, a Graveler had used Dig, entering the grounds of the chamber while two other Pokemon attacked Rosa from the side. Ice Beam and Flamethrower were both used by Glaceon and Flareon, hoping for either status effect to land. If she gets frozen, that would be a huge benefit and they would've imprisoned the Lich Queen and if she gets burnt, she'll be thrown off focus, suffering continuous damage.
Unfortunately, neither happened as Rosa Maledicta suddenly jumped, finally making a major action as she avoided Graveler's hands when they tried grabbing her hooves. As for the Ice Beam and Flamethrower, Rosa left behind a Dark Veil on both sides. The attacks passed through the veils, missing their targets but gaining new ones.
The two elemental attacks ended up going to the opposite sides instead once they passed through each of the veils. Glaceon was hit by Flamethrower while Graveler was struck by Ice Beam once it left the ground. Glaceon took a super-effective hit while Graveler was frozen immediately.
After she leapt into the air, she would then shoot Dark Magic out of her horn, using something else other than her thorns. But her Dark Magic was equally as fierce, blasting Flareon away as it was consumed by a black explosion. "Flareon!"
And even though she had no wings to fly, she used levitation to keep herself airborne, using this to her advantage. But this only prompted the Flying-Types to attack as some used Air Slash to try and knock her out of the sky. Her thorns followed her, intercepting the Air Slashes and deflecting them with a cracking whip sound. The slashes of air couldn't even cut the thorns apart as they would smack the Flying-Types who would dare try and harm the Lich Queen.
"Swellow!" Swellow and some other Flying-Types came in from with Aerial Ace, moving as fast as they could. But while they had speed, Rosa Maledicta had utility. She didn't even have to look behind her and the thorns already took action, racing towards the Flying-Types. Swellow and the others would evade in the air, using their speciality as Flying-Types to avoid any serious damage but that only prompted the thorns to chase them down.
But they also had to remember one thing. There were Vampires and Despair Plants here as well. They would obviously back up their Queen, who gave them a massive disadvantage. The Arachnorchids used this opportunity to shoot their Fire Webs at the FLying-Types who tried evading from the thorns. The thorns were already troublesome enough to force the Pokemon to accelerate as fast as they could and with the involvement of the webs, it became even harder as they were sandwiched by these two slim yet powerful forces.
Rosa Maledicta descended back to ground level as she was about to be met by an incoming Dynamic Punch from a Machoke, who took this opportunity immediately. But even when an opponent was close to her, Rosa simply looked up at Machoke, flashing her eyes at it.
"M-Machoke!" Machoke was suddenly paralyzed by Rosa Maledicta's glare as a Dark Magic enveloped its body, making it immobile and unable to attack. This allowed the thorns to slap Machoke away who could not land its Dynamic Punch at all.
"Move it. I have alicorns to absorb lifespans from." Rosa continued on her way, assaulting more of the Pokemon that tried stopping her but were struggling to slow her down.
"No way..." Rainbow Dash was bewildered, perplexed and blown back by what she was witnessing. The Lich Queen showed off just what she was capable of when finally confronting her foes. And after all these months and the past year, the fear behind her was very much. She moved back, hoping the Lich Queen hasn't noticed her yet.
This was one battle Rainbow Dash would not try and engage in. Instead, she would continue to try and find the rest of her friends before Rosa could find them. However, from what the Lich Queen just said, the best way to find Cadence and Flurry Heart was by following her. If Rainbow Dash follows the Lich Queen, she could find her friends.
"Hm." Right as Rosa Maledicta continued on her way, she came to a halt. But not by a Pokemon. Instead, it was somewhere past the Chamber. Rosa felt it as it was coming from the barrier. She focused on the massive magical field around Magehold, sensing what was happening outside the barrier and seeing everything happening around it for herself.
It was none other than the Crystal Empire. Shining Armor and his forces have arrived at last, already attacking the barrier. And with the barrier no longer in its prime, they were already making it pulsate from the pummelling they were giving it.
"The Crystal Empire's here...But the Windigos should've stopped them with the order of the Dread League. What exactly made them get through with no issues." It didn't make sense to Rosa Maledicta. She expected the Windigos from the Hyperborean Island to deal with the Crystal Empire's Forces but it seemed like that never happened. At all.
There wasn't anything on them that indicated the Windigos did anything. They arrived here freely, knowing where Magehold was thanks to the Hyperborean Island and now their fears of the barrier had been staved. While looking at the Crystal Empire's forces from afar, she even heard Shining Armor speak while he zapped at the magical field and Aegislash swung his bladed body, chipping bits of it off.
The Crystal Empire had arrived. Led by Shining Armor and with all the soldiers healed up, they stopped right in front of the Magehold Barrier, attacking it from the beginning. To them, they still believed it was impossible to break through but they had to try either way.
However, they soon found out that it was starting to break. Aegislash's slashes were chipping parts of it off. The heavy swings from the Golurk also proved to be effective as each hit would make the field shake. But even though it was not at its prime anymore, the Lich Queen made sure that it would not go down so easily. With each hit on the barrier, it would regenerate parts that came off, giving the Crystal Empire little time to really make a lasting hole.
"It's actually working? I thought it was meant to be almost unbreakable." One of the troops said, feeling like he had been misled. Many of them were misled as they were ready to give it their all even if it would be pointless but it seemed like that was not the case. Their efforts mattered more than they expected. Little did they know, a vampire was the reason for this barrier being so weak.
"Something must've happened inside." With them was Radiant Hope, who already figured that something occurred within Magehold that weakened the barrier. "They wouldn't let it be so weak during a crucial time such as this."
"That works for us then, but we haven't gotten through yet." Flash Sentry replied as his Pidgeot was rapidly hitting the barrier from many angles with Aerial Ace.
"Oh, it has to be Twilight and everyone else!" Here as well as Spike, along with Starlight Glimmer. His first thought was that Twilight Sparkle was responsible for it, having full faith in his friend.
"Aegis!" Aegislash stabbed into the single spot of the barrier he's been striking for a while now, weakening it. And once it was weak enough, Aegislash made a large hole in it. The hole was so large and so much damage on that one spot had been accumulated to the point where it was taking some time for the hole to heal.
"Nice, Aegislash!" Shining Armor cheered before immediately taking advantage of this. He would hop through the hole with Aegislash flying in afterwards. Those that noticed this would try and jump in before it was too late. The holes was already regenerating but thanks to the damage Aegislash had done, it was healing up slower than usual, trying to take all of it in.
Soldiers would start jumping through the hole that Shining Armor made, passing through in an orderly fashion. However, even though the ponies and Aegislash could fit through it, not all of them had that manageable size. The Golurk were a prime example.
However, to overcome this, one of the Golurk would hold up the hole that Aegislash made, slowing down its regeneration with brute strength. Spike and his partner Axew could easily go through it as well thanks to their small sizes while the other Golurk were waiting for their chance. Seeing that this one Golurk couldn't keep the hole up, they agreed to try what Aegislash had done. Attack one spot consistently. They each attacked one spot and only one spot, throwing their heavy hands onto it.
Meanwhile, those that entered were finally in enemy territory, gazing upon Magehold and the Endless Night that it possesses. Now that Shining Armor was in, his first instinct was to find his family at once. "Alright! Where are they?!" His eyes shifted rapidly, looking at the buildings he managed to spot. Three of them stuck out to him which were the Lich's Castle, the Magehold Chamber and the newly-built Magehold Contest Hall.
"Since they took your wife and daughter, they'll probably be keeping her at either the Chamber or the Lich's Castle." Radiant Hope said. "Maybe we should focus on getting Yveltal first before anything else."
"I'd love to but...I want to see Cadence and Flurry Heart before anything else." While getting Yveltal back would save a lot of lives, Shining Armor put his family first. "They have to be here somewhere. I need you all to scatter and search wherever you can. If you see them, tell me immediately."
"Yes sir!"
"Let me try and find them for you as well." Radiant Hope stepped up. "Since she wants their lifespans, they're probably being kept somewhere for the Lich Queen to fuel herself."
"So it's either one of these-" Right before Shining Armor could figure out which one her family were being kept in, a powerful explosion could be heard, startling them. Their attention all went straight towards the chamber which made the most noise. Since the streets were empty thanks to the Pokemon Contest, most of the noises came from within.
"It's that one." Everyone unanimously agreed on where to go. It was the Magehold Chamber that would be their first target. There was no need to scatter since they all chose one place.
The Lich Queen was on her way. She was currently moving across the Chamber, going straight for Cadence and Flurry Heart at the deepest level. Along the way, her thorns would deal with any intruders that dared try and stop her, but unbeknownst to her, she was being followed.
Rainbow Dash was secretly following the Lich Queen, using her as a way to get to Fluttershy, Cadence and Flurry Heart quicker. She kept her distance, making sure that she wasn't struck by any of those thorns. She saw how powerful the Lich Queen was when she dealt with the Pokemon who stood before her. Even Rainbow Dash wasn't brave enough to tackle such ferocity.
At the same time, Rosa Maledicta had her eyes on the Crystal Empire now that they entered Magehold and there were still more of them outside, hitting the barrier which was already greatly weakened. Putting on a scowling face, Rosa Maledicta would then press her hoof against one of the walls.
This opened up a secret entryway as Rainbow Dash halted her movements, focusing on what Rosa pressed, making sure that she would remember it well. The entryway opened up, revealing stairs that went down and most likely towards the deeper parts of the chamber where Fluttershy and the two Princesses were being held captive. Wanting to relay this to everyone, Rainbow Dash took out her Xtransceiver, using this as an opportunity to tell her friends as soon as possible. The first one she went to was Twilight as she approached the wall which closed up the entryway once the Lich Queen went through.
"Rainbow Dash? Did something happen?" Twilight asked.
"The Lich Queen's going for Princess Cadence and Flurry Heart. Which means she'll be going for Fluttershy too. I'm following her right now." Rainbow Dash spoke in a quiet tone, hoping that no one else hears her. Right behind her were Sceptile and Raboot, who also made sure to remember what Rosa Maledicta pushed.
"So you're using her as a way to get to them? Be careful...You'll be close to the Lich Queen at all times."
"Yeah, I saw it for myself. It's pretty scary what she can do. Rainbow Dash gulped, having a small sweat drop leaving her face. "I'm gonna need all the help I can get if things get too close. Where are you right now?"
"We're close to the three of them right now. So far, we've hit a dead-end and we can't find a passageway to them at all." Twilight explained as her group was relatively close but not quite there yet. "Lucario can sense that their Auras are incredibly close and Ash has already sent Gengar out so..."
"That means she might show up where you are. Hold on. We're coming." Rainbow Dash hung up, quickly pressing her hoof against the wall. She memorized which part of the wall Rosa tapped, triggering the entryway to open once more. Enough time had passed and the Lich Queen was already out of their sights.
The three of them advanced, flying over and running down the stairs the Lich Queen touched. But not too fast since they didn't want to grab her attention. However, their attention was grabbed by something as the chamber led to something surprising.
A Meadow had been found here, hidden past the entryway, an entirely new area existed to the point where it was hard to tell if it was even connected to the Chamber at all. It looked like it was located outside instead. But it wasn't something that was beautiful to the eyes. At least not in the positive sense. Dreadfully dark reds, rich black and specks of countless other eerie colours extended from horizon to horizon, broken up only by forests in the distance. Within the blooming flowers unfolded a symphony of entire Despair Plant homes.
Just above the Meadow, Despair Plant Cordyceps displayed their vicious flights while small groups of Bullfrog ate and rested amidst the tallest sharp grasses. A dark panorama with rough yet enticing floral scents accentuated by the warmth of the Night, occasionally veiled by dark clouds, provided an atmosphere that fit the Despair Plants perfectly.
"Awesome..." And even though it was ominous, Rainbow Dash couldn't help but admire the scenery. But her face quickly scrunched once she realized how difficult this would be.
Rosa Maledicta already casually walked by the Despair Plants since they wouldn't dare attack their Queen. But if they end up spotting Rainbow Dash, Sceptile and Raboot even once, trouble could brew immediately. She gulped, trying to figure out how to approach this. She'd have to get past all of them while also keeping her eyes on the Lich Queen. At any moment, she could see Fluttershy again and she wouldn't waste that opportunity at all.
Her first instinct was to call for her friends once more. She called TWilight yet again, requesting immediate help if it was nearby in any way shape or form.
"I'm kinda stuck here..." Rainbow Dash nervously said while looking over the Despair Plant Meadow. "There's this pretty creepy but awesome-looking Meadow of Despair Plants and I gotta follow the Lich Queen but..."
"It's alright, Rainbow Dash. We already know where she is. Lucario sensed her Aura and it's terrifying. On top of that, we're pretty close to you."
"You are? How close?" Rainbow Dash asked. She was hoping it was as close as possible as she was actually feeling nervous. Her Daring Self was non-existent right now when near such a terrifying sight.
"Somewhere above you. Which means she's close to Fluttershy, Cadence and Flurry Heart too. Just stay calm and don't do anything." Twilight requested, wanting Rainbow Dash to take it easy. Luckily, Rainbow Dash was taking it completely easy because of what she was faced with. "We're heading to your destination."
"Great...Cause I'm losing sight of her." Rainbow Dash groaned as Rosa Maledicta was already leaving the Despair Plant Meadow. The end of the meadow led to a door which opened to reveal darkness at the end of it. Rosa's body seamlessly entered the darkness, as if she was absorbed by it. To her, the darkness was welcoming.
As Rainbow Dash was waiting, she noticed something else appear here at the Meadow and it was from the walls themselves. Phasing through the walls was none other than Gengar. "Gengar..." Gengar slowly appeared, making sure not to startle Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash would have screamed if Gengar didn't make such a slow appearance.
Gengar gave a thumbs-up, speaking to Sceptile and Raboot, filling them up on what he's been up to so far. Gengar was phasing through the walls, trying to reach Fluttershy, Cadence and Flurry Heart and he had definitely found something while passing through the walls.
"Scep. Sceptile." Sceptile would then nod in understanding before nudging Rainbow Dash.
"Yeah? Got something?" She asked, wondering what had been discovered. If only she could translate Pokemon Speech but the one pony who was an expert at that was currently captured.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the meadow below would be pierced by a powerful burst of magic that flew through the dark grass, hitting one of the Despair Plants. That definitely scared Rainbow Dash who still managed to keep quiet, not making a sound. This magic greatly resembled Twilight's magic. Not just her standard magic but also some of Horizon Storm's magic as Sorrowful Rage Magic had been used.
And the third magic was none other than Rift Magic. The burst of magic caught the attention of all the Despair Plants, forcing them to focus on the middle. The centre of the Despair Plant Meadow had been blown apart, leaving a large hole since alicorn magic was involved. The Rift Magic then took action, using one of its many unpredictable tricks on the Despair Plants. Each Despair Plant in this Meadow Room were enveloped in a flare of Rift Magic which would then form into a veil.
"Go for it, Rainbow Dash! I've used Rift Magic to block the vision of the Despair Plants! That veil won't let them see anything at all! Now's your chance!"
"You rock, Twilight!" Thankfully, this took all attention away from Rainbow Dash. It's not like she had any on her at all but this would help greatly. And since Rainbow Dash plus the two Pokemon next to her were rather swift, they would have no issue making up for lost time.
Rainbow Dash took off, making sure to avoid the Rift Veil that blocked the visions of the Despair Plants who were only focused on the centre, wondering if someone was going to pop out of it. But even though Twilight blew a hole through it, she was not showing up at all.
Something else did show up either way but it ended up being flowers instead. Flowers flew out of the hole, appearing as Daises and Paradise Flowers, clearly belonging to the Flora Ponies. These flowers flew out in abundant numbers, circling the Despair Plants and forcing them to stay alert.
Of course, this made them blind to Rainbow Dash's group, who blitzed past them. They couldn't even see the rainbow streak behind and beside them. Rainbow Dash's group went through the door, unnoticed and unharmed, all thanks to Twilight Sparkle and the Flora Ponies.
"Rainbow Dash, Sceptile and Raboot made it through," Ash confirmed this by listening to what Lucario sent him after he sensed their Auras. "Now it's our turn! We're gonna follow them!"
"By going through the hole?!" Emerald Aura gasped, worried that they might have to pass through that hole in the wall after all.
"Yeah...But not without some backup. Right, guys?" Ash then looked back, eyeing down the many Pokemon that were behind him. His group wasn't small anymore. Pokemon from the Pokemon House and PokePark were with them. They all gave their own form of confirmation, whether by head nods, thumbs-ups or certain cries. They were ready to distract the Despair Plants as well and right behind them would be Ash, Twilight, Daisy, Paradise and Emerald.
As for Rosa Maledicta, her ears did not ignore the sounds nearby. While walking through a dark hallway, making her way to the three ponies who were captured, she heard the outburst of magic in the distance. It was loud enough for her to notice, but she wouldn't ignore it. She didn't think of it as just another attack going off during this massive brawl, but rather something nearby.
The Lich Queen then stopped for a moment, being absolutely silent. She knew that something was nearby. Specifically at the Despair Plant Garden which she had left seconds ago. With her head slowly turning, she would use magic which happened from her eyes.
Her vision was heightened all of a sudden, allowing her to look further and even through the dark. By expanding the length of her vision, she saw somepony nearby. Somepony with multiple colours around her and a dazzling streak as well. She saw Rainbow Dash. No longer was Rainbow Dash secretive and concealed now that Rosa Maledicta was aware.
"Following me, are you? To your friends?" She said even though Rainbow Dash wasn't within hearing vicinity at all. "And that magic outburst...Most likely from Princess Twilight. But even if you make it far, you won't make it in time."
With a smile on her face, the visage of Rainbow Dash could be seen emerging out of the shadows. But once she was visible, the sight of her was gone in an instant. Flying out of the floor was a large bridge that faced the wrong way, standing upwards instead of the usual position a bride appears in. Multiple of these bridges appeared, overlaying each other and creating a powerful defence that forced Rainbow Dash to slow down. At least when moving ahead.
The bridges were rapidly flying out, forcing Rainbow Dash to back away before one of them catches her. She would rapidly backtrack, evading the rising bridges which went high enough to touch the ceiling itself. Right as she thought she was getting close, Rainbow Dash was blocked by multiple bridges that appeared in vast numbers
Rosa couldn't afford to waste time with Rainbow Dash, continuing on her way to the deepest part of the Chamber. Through the overwhelming darkness, another door was up ahead, waiting for her. The Lich Queen was undoubtedly close to her destination now.
"You won't be using your speed to your advantage either, Rainbow Dash." Rosa Maledicta spoke to herself once more, knowing Rainbow Dash would bank on her speed once more. "Not when all of your magic will be stripped from you."
"But your majesty..." This was also being shared among Rosa's subjects. Shrivel heard it and interjected. "The Necropillars...They don't work on Pokemon! They're completely immune to it!"
"Obviously they are." But Rosa expected this. "Why do you think we made the pillars? They only respond to the magic that originally came from our world. And even though both worlds have merged into a Grander one, the Pokemon play by their own rules. Besides, that would defeat the point of Yveltal being our most powerful weapon. And after this is all said and done, the Necropillars will be used on the entire world while we deal with those immune to it."
And indeed, that looked like it was about to become a reality. At last, all the current Necropillars had been gathered. The last five Necropillars were being pushed together by the vampires who grabbed all of them from different rooms, bringing them to one room where they could all work together.
"At last! This will surely shut down their magic without fail!" Standing there was Opal Vivacity herself, who brought the last Necropillar with her while also avoiding the sights of Rarity who was set on getting her. "That involves those Crystal Empire ponies who have decided to come directly to us."
"All of them are together, Miss Opal. They're as close as they can be to link up together. Not one of them is spaced out at all. We're short on a few though..."
"It doesn't matter. So as long as many of them are here, the effect will still be possible. This will turn off all Equestrian Magic that is lurking in Magehold! And I want to see them all powerless!" Opal cackled before activating the Necropillars.
All she had to do was touch one of them and that was all that mattered. The single Necropillar would go off, sending a dark pulse that immediately connected with the others. The other Necropillars would go off, linking with the one that started it all, sending off pulses as well. They unified their powers, forming the biggest pulse yet. A pulse so massive that Magehold itself would be engulfed in it. The full power of the Necropillars had been revealed. In massive numbers, they were truly something else.
"Ngh!" Rarity suddenly felt herself twitch as her grip on Pheromosa weakened. Since she was after Opal Vivacity, the wave met with her first, stripping her unicorn magic away from her. Rarity felt a major part of her leave her body completely as she nearly fell off Pheromosa's back.
"Mosa?!"
"Gah!" Poor Rainbow Dash took the most painful one by far. Her body crashed into the walls of the bridges when speeding up, only for her speed to vanish. It was a hard crash too as she dropped to the floor, flightless while also damaging her wings in the process.
"S-Sceptile?!" Sceptile ran over to the downed Rainbow Dash who was now lying on the floor, completely drained. All of her speed was gone as well as her flight. Meanwhile, Sceptile and Raboot were completely fine. And at the speed this pulse was moving at while enveloping as much as it could, all Equestrians found themselves having their most vital parts nullified greatly.
Applejack and Pinkie Pie had previously lost their magic thanks to the Necropillars from before which ended up being destroyed. But now, it happened once more and this time, they were far away from the source of the problem. And two ponies who felt what it was like to lose magic for the first time were Daisy and Paradise.
"Mom...I feel weird..." Daisy said before falling flat on her face. Daisy would fall to the side of a wall, drained as she was unable to move any further. Just as she was about to go through the hole, she lost her magic. However, the effects on the Flora Ponies did more than just drain their magic.
Their bodies were starting to change as well. Ash and everyone gasped, seeing Daisy and Paradise's legs change all of a sudden. They were starting to turn into their respective flowers, but this was not the usage of Floral Transporation. This was something else. Something horrifying.
They were being reverted back to their original forms.
"W-What's happening to us" Paradise questioned while looking at her hoof.
"You're returning to the flowers you used to be!" Twilight gasped. "Something's shut down our magic...and since you two are magical beings, it's affecting you even more!"
"Say what now?!" Ash exclaimed. Much like Discord, Daisy and Paradise were essentially made out of magic. It was a Magical Elixir that brought them into this world after all and now they were losing that magical part, returning as the flowers they once were. It was slow but uncomfortable.
"I've lost...my magic too..." Twilight twitched as her Equestrian Magic had been sapped away. Every bit of her alicorn magic, original unicorn magic and Sorrowful Rage Magic had been erased by the pulse. But there was one that remained.
And of course, this would reach the ponies who have just now reached Magehold. The entire nation of Magehold had been consumed by a pulse of Darkness, nullifying any trace of Equestrian Magic. While there weren't that many Equestrians here compared to the Pokemon, nullifying their magic was still major.
And at the same time, Rosa Maledicta reached her destination. The deepest part of the chamber which was also shrouded in darkness. And there, the three captured ponies were seen, losing their respective magic as well. It was bad enough that Cadence and Flurry Heart lost some of their lifespans but now their magic was gone, worsening things for them.
The vampires bowed after the Lich Queen appeared. Her devious smile could be seen even in the dark as Cadence wished she could sneer but lacked the strength to do so. Flurry Heart was struggling to stay awake or keep her head straight as she felt like passing out at this point. This was all too overwhelming for her.
"All of your magic is gone so any further resistance is impossible," Rosa said while approaching Cadence's tube. "Plus, the Vampire Magic will travel through Fluttershy at a faster rate now that she is exempt from Equestrian Magic as well. "Still confident that your Shining Armor will show up?"
"He'll show up...No doubt about it."
"Well, he's definitely in Magehold...But he won't get far." Rosa Maledicta shrugged while casually putting her hoof next to Cadence's tube. "His magic is gone. All of it. You felt it too, didn't you? The Necropillars took every single bit of Equestrian Magic that exists. Of course, the Pokemon are fine...but I don't have to worry about them too much. What now, Cadence?"
"I..." Cadence tried thinking of a comeback, but there wasn't anything that came to mind. She was still struggling with the loss of her magic and her lifespan as it was a painful double whammy.
"Stay quiet. After I've taken all of your lifespans, I'll then take your soul, eventually turning you into a faithful skeleton servant." Rosa would then go to the back of the tube, ready to release Cadence and Flurry Heart. "If you want I can-"
Baaaaam!
That was the sound that entered this room, breaking off the walls and sending some of the spikes flying. Rosa Maledicta gasped after the walls were shattered by a powerful force. All attention was drawn to it as the spikes nearly hit the Lich Queen herself, forcing her to step back.
And that powerful force was none other than a Golurk, using the powerful Dynamic Punch to make an entrance. And on the back of Golurk was none other than a weak but determined Shining Armor.
"So soon?!" Rosa Maledicta gasped. Shining Armor and his troops appeared here instantly, sooner than Rosa Maledicta was ever expecting. In fact, she never expected them to show up here in the first place.
"Shining Armor!" A hopeful Cadence yelled at the top of her lungs.
"Dad!" Flurry Heart cried out. They may lack magic and power, but seeing Shining Armor was enough to bring a smile to their faces. A bright one too, full of hope. Shining Armor only had a determined look on his face while weakly grasping onto Golurk's back as the fist of the Golurk had struck a vampire in the face, slugging them. And even though he was weak, his voice was still strong enough to let his deepest emotions of love burst out as he yelled at the top of his lungs.
All Equestrian Magic had been shut down thanks to the Necropillars, rendering the Equestrians powerless. However, that didn't stop them from doing what they must for the sake of their loved ones. And there was no better example than Shining Armor making an appearance in the deepest part of the Magehold Chamber, having a Golurk punch through the walls.
"Golurk!" And after slugging one of the vampires in the face, the Golurk and Aegislash did not hesitate, eyeing down the tubes that Fluttershy, Cadence and Flurry Heart were trapped in. And immediately, they took action, wasting no time. The Golurk would use Shadow Punch, unleashing a long shadow arm that raced straight for Cadence's tube.
"I don't know how you got here so fast..." Rosa Maledicta sneered before using her thorns the moment Golurk went for Cadence's tube. The thorns caught Golurk's Shadow Punch, constricting it in seconds.
"G-Gol!" Golurk gasped, unable to advance any further now that the thorns got a hold of it. But that just left Aegislash and the other Golurk to take action as they would approach the three tubes.
"Aegi...Slash! Aegislash went straight for Sacred Sword, raising his body and performing a downward swing. But his movements were stopped as well. The thorns transformed into swords, matching Aegislash's body and clashing with him. "Aegis?!"
The thorns would then intercept the other Golurk, knocking them aside, and straying them further away from the three captured ponies as no one could reach them just yet. Each of the Golurk had their bodies crash into the spikes that were plastered on the walls, harming their Automaton figures.
"But it was foolish to break through so wildly." Rosa finished her sentence, already dealing with the intruders.
"I-I thought it would work though... Shining Armor groaned with all of his magic gone. Floating to his side was Aegislash, who couldn't get through just yet.
"I knew you'd come! I knew it!" Cadence bellowed with excitement from her hope-filled heart. Her faith in her husband never wavered and it showed now that he made an appearance, albeit in a rather weakened state.
"Well, you were right about that. But can he save you?" Rosa questioned. "This one, I can show you the answer."
"Don't worry...We'll get all three of you out of there at once." Shining Armor groaned while slowly standing up, having the other Golurk stand next to him. As for the Crystal Empire soldiers, since they were drained as well, all they could do was stand back and give commands to their Pokemon. "Aegislash!"
"Aegis!"
"How did you even get here? The Windigos should've given you all an icy prison. I ordered them to do so." Rosa Maledicta questioned, wondering how the Crystal Empire got past the Windigos. "What did you even pull to make that possible?"
"We can thank Ash for that." Shining Armor sighed, looking up at the Lich Queen, who narrowed her eyes when hearing Ash's name. "Because of him, the Windigos gave us a chance. They let us through, trusting in Ash and what he said back then. It really had its effect as you can tell since we're here."
"So he's responsible for that." Rosa Maledicta scoffed. Meanwhile, peering from the destroyed wall was none other than Radiant Hope, Starlight Glimmer and Spike. Drained of magic themselves, they spotted the Lich Queen for themselves, recognizing the similarity between her and Roseluck. That was definitely Rosa Maledicta.
"Your Windigos aren't going to help this time." Adding to this conversation was Flash Sentry, who was brought here by his Pidgeot. "Plus...we showed up at the bottom since the Windigos already told us. All it took was for us to find out where the Chamber was."
"They told you about the Chamber?!" The Lich Queen gasped as the Windigos betrayed her, giving away the location of the chamber. "Blasted Windigos...All it took was Ash Ketchum to betray me so soon? Useless spirits...After this, I'll make sure they're all exterminated."
"Be careful Dad! That's the Lich Queen right there!"
"This is her?!"
"Of course. Personally, I would've left by now and started from the top of the chamber if I ran into the Lich Ruler. Too bad for you." Rosa's eyes widened with a crimson glow. And right beside her, the Master Ball she was constantly carrying around would be thrown into the air. "Now might be a good time to test Yveltal's power against you. Appear! Yveltal!"
With a burst of darkness, a powerful force erupted from the Master Ball once it opened up, startling everyone. The walls of this room would be blown away by the force of darkness which let out the cry of the Destruction Pokemon. Appearing from the darkness was the Pokemon who was being used against its own will, controlled by the Lich Queen and reduced to nothing more than a weapon to fulfil the Black Crusade.
Yveltal had appeared, unleashing a powerful cry upon its targets, who it did not wish to destroy but it had no choice. Rosa Maledicta had full control over Yveltal now.
"Yveltal..." Flash Sentry shuddered.
"That's Yveltal...?" Spike took out his Pokedex, aiming at Yveltal to read about it.
"Yveltal. The Destruction Pokemon. When this legendary Pokémon’s wings and tail feathers spread wide and glow red, it absorbs the life force of living creatures when its life comes to an end and turns into a cocoon once more."
"Those eyes...Yveltal's under her control now." Starlight would notice the crimson glow in Yveltal's eyes and comparing it to the images the Pokedex gave out, instantly knowing that Yveltal was now in its right mind.
"If we take down Yveltal, then we have a chance of greatly crippling the Black Crusade." Shining Armor stayed fearless in the face of the Destruction Pokemon, showing no signs of worry at all. But the threat was still there. "Some of you should focus on getting all three of them out there."
"Yes sir!" The soldiers all saluted. They couldn't do much so they had to rely on their Golurk more than anything. Radiant Hope, Starlight and Spike looked at each other, knowing what they had to do.
"I'll be generous and use Yveltal on you only. None of my magic will be involved. It'll be rather honourable and wonderful once the King of the Crystal Empire is taken out by the Legendary Yveltal. Wouldn't you agree?" Rosa smirked.
"That's not going to happen. Not at all."
"Tch. Whatever you say. Yveltal! Crush them all with Dark Pulse!" Rosa raised her hooves, giving the first-ever command to Yveltal. And unfortunately, Yveltal had to listen. From his mouth, a massive beam that was imbued with dark thoughts would fly out with the intensity of a lightning strike, even causing a wind pressure just from its movements alone.
"King's Shield!"
"Aegis!" Aegislash would go on the defensive immediately, getting in front of everyone else to make sure they were all protected. Aegislash swirled around while in Blade Forme, changing into Shield Forme with just that simple movement as light blue hexagonal shapes then appear one by one in front of Aegislash until they formed a shield, blocking the Dark Pulse in the nick of time.
The impact was devastating, however. The second it touched his shield, a tremendous explosion of darkness would fly out, blowing away parts of the floor and even the spikes all around the walls. The nearby vampires would be sent flying too as the Dark Pulse violently beat down Aegislash's King Shield, shattering the hexagons one by one but failing to get through fully.
"A-Aegislash!" Aegislash successfully blocked it but received some pushback in the process. Smoke covered the area, appearing as dark as possible before being blown away by a swing of Aegislash's bladed body once he returned to his Blade Forme.
"That all?! Dragon Rush! Crash into them!" Yveltal would now get physical, crying out and having its body receive a dark coating. This Dark Aura enveloped his whole body as he then boosted through the air, leaving behind a black and red trail in the process.
"Hyper Beam!" Altogether, all of the guards would order their Golurk. Each of them held their arms out, charging up a synchronized Hyper Beam. In a perfect line, the Hyper Beams all flew out at the same time, approaching the Destruction Pokemon.
Yveltal crashed right into the Hyper Beam's with Dragon Rush, entering a clash with them as the impact once again shook the room. The ponies lost their balance thanks to the collision, causing them to fall over while the spikes stabbed into the floor.
And even with all of these Golurks using Hyper Beam, Yveltal was starting to push through. Their combined might was not enough to stop Yveltal's Dragon Rush as they were pushing as hard as they could.
"G-Gol!"
"P-Pidgeot! Heat Wave!"
"Pidgeo! Pidgeot!" That is until Flash Sentry's Pidgeot intercepted Yveltal's movements. By flying above the rest of the Golurk, the Bird Pokemon would unleash a wave of crimson flames, sending it at not just Yveltal but also Rosa Maledicta herself. Pidgeot was looking for a double takedown, wanting to defeat the big boss already.
"Hm?" Rosa looked up, noticing that the flames were coming her way. Unfortunately, all it took was a shield to protect her and the Heat Wave only broke up the clash that Yveltal and the Golurk had once Heat Wave got involved. Pidgeot did end up saving the Golurk from taking Dragon Rush though. The Hyper Beams would combust either way, blowing up right in the middle of both sides. Rosa Maledicta looked completely calm as the explosion of many Hyper Beams went off.
"Trying to take me out even when I gave you the opportunity to have a normal Pokemon Battle with me? Fine then." Rosa scoffed before summoning thorns from below, targeting Pidgeot. The Normal-Flying-Type was now a target but not from Yveltal's eyes.
"Pi!" Pidgeot would use Aerial Ace, attempting to evade the incoming thorns. But to his surprise, they were faster than expected, keeping up with him from behind but also having a number advantage. Pidgeot would be blocked off by large thorns that stood in front of him while the other ones were right behind him. More would appear on the side and with nowhere to fly to, Pidgeot would be hit by these dark thorns, receiving a swift yet hard whipping. "Pi-Pidgeot!"
"No! Pidgeot!" Flash Sentry cried out as Pidgeot would be sent flying, crashing through the rubble that was formed from this instantly fierce battle.
"Now cut them apart with Shadow Claw!" Rosa cackled as Yveltal would fly in, summoning darkness its massive wings and even its tail as all three of them became claws bathed in the shadows.
"Aegislash! Sacred Sword!"
"Aegi...Slash!" Aegislash would finally get physical, igniting his body with his fighting spirit which appeared as an orange aura. With the aura around his bladed body, he would stay still, waiting for Yveltal to approach him instead.
It was an immediate clash between Sacred Sword and Shadow Claw. The impact let out some sparks that flew everywhere as the wings of Yveltal were heavy enough to keep Aegislash's bladed Steel body still. Aegislash himself didn't expect Yveltal's wings to be this heavy as it felt like he was hitting another metal.
The two of them would start swinging at each other, engaging in a fierce clash of Sword and Claw. All three of Yveltal's parts would be swung around violently against Aegislash's single-bladed body. It was Yveltal who was being the most aggressive, putting the pressure on Aegislash immediately with fast and hard Shadow Claws. If he was a Doublade again, he might have an easier time but he wouldn't be as powerful, that much was sure.
"While they're distracted, now's our chance to try and free them." Meanwhile, Starlight, Spike and Radiant Hope were already going straight for the three captured ponies, using this opportunity to try and rescue them. And to assist them were the Golurks who would try and fly in while Yveltal was putting the pressure on Aegislash.
Multiple Golurks came flying in, attempting to strike Yveltal with their respective punches. Dynamic Punch, Thunder Punch, Drain Punch, Ice Punch, Hammer Arm and so on. Yveltal would notice them, ready to engage with each of these Golurks while still handling Aegislash.
However, this many Pokemon at once getting up close and personal was difficult for even Yveltal as he could not take his attention away from Aegislash. Once Aegislash saw that Yveltal was eyeing down the Golurk, he took the chance to play aggressively as well. Hard and rough Sacred Swords would be unleashed, forcing Yveltal to keep up.
The Golurk came in, striking at Yveltal and landing all of their punches on the Destruction Pokemon. This was then followed up by a slash from Aegislash who struck Yveltal square in the chest. The Dark-Flying-Type lost the up-close exchange as it was pushed back but recovered in the air either way, ready to spring back into action.
"Lu!" And with the arrival of Shining Armor's forces, Lucario sensed new yet familiar Auras. The Auras of all the Crystal Empire's forces had been picked up on as Lucario quickly relayed this to Ash. "Ca! Lucario!"
"Shining Armor!? Shining Armor's here! He and everyone else made it through!" Ash shouted while running through the hallway which was throwing out bridges that attempted to take him out. Pikachu, Espeon and Emerald Aura would attack these incoming bridges that flew out of the walls and floor, clearing the way for their friends.
Twilight could still move relatively quickly even though her magic had been taken away from her. However, there was one bit of magic that the Necropillars failed to steal which allowed the Princess of Friendship to keep moving. Ash and Twilight had to carry Daisy and Paradise, who were so affected by the Necropillars that they were slowly returning to their original flower forms since they were made out of magic after all.
"He is! He actually made it through?!" Twilight gasped. "Through the barrier, no less!? How?!"
"Worry about that later! Are they anywhere close to Fluttershy and the princesses?!"
"They're in the same room as the Lich Queen!" Ash added before hopping over an incoming bridge which would slam into another part of the wall, breaking it apart.
"Hmph. It seems that even when losing your magic and feeling drained, it hasn't stopped your skills at all." Rosa Maledicta commented as the battle was looking rough for the Crystal Empire's forces. Yveltal was really making them struggle while the Lich Queen barely indulged with them. "But I can tell it's lacking something and it's mainly your Pokemon that are doing the heavy lifting."
"This is nothing..." Shining Armor breathed in and out.
With all of this going on, Starlight, Spike and Radiant would sneak past the chaos, approaching the three tubes and using all of the smoke as a way to conceal themselves.
"I see you!" Unfortunately, they did not escape the eyes of Rosa Maledcita, who was already looking out. With the three of them gasping, she would send her thorns in their direction, intercepting their movements.
"Not good! Axew!"
"Axew!" Axew was prepared to stop this himself, refusing to let the Lich Queen keep his friends here any longer. He lunged forward with his small body before suddenly transforming. A bright golden light would erupt from his body as he underwent a change, shifting from his small pre-evolved state into his final evolution.
"Haxorus!" Appearing from the light was Equestrian Haxorus. And with brute strength, he would grab the thorns right as they reached him, stamping his feet onto the floor once descending. The thorns were brought to a halt immediately, giving his friends extra time to move on and they did not waste it at all.
Unfortunately, there were more thorns to worry about. Even though Haxorus stopped the ones that came first, the next ones only doubled in numbers, flying past the Equestrian Variant. With their magic gone, they were too weak to do anything about this, but not the Pokemon.
"Gol!" One of the Golurk intervened, getting in front of the trio and shielding them with its arms crossed. It managed to block the thorns but at the cost of harming itself. The power that the thorns possessed were heavy, even pushing Golurk's large body back. Golurk went stumbling, almost falling over.
"Q-Quick! Hatterene, go!" Starlight would quickly send out her Hatterene in advance.
"Go, Rapidash!" Radiant Hope would also send out her own Galarian Rapidash, much like Potion Nova as these two unicorns had to dig into their saddlebags to even throw their Poke Balls out. Out came the two Psychic-Fairy-Types, entering the scene. They would give their trainers enough time once again.
"Deal with them, Yveltal." Rosa would leave it up to Yveltal while she approached the trio who would dare try and sneak past her. Her thorns followed her as she trotted, slithering like snakes and moving at violent speeds.
"Hatterene!" Hatterene would use Psycho Cut, attempting to cut to the thorns in half while Rapidash ended up using Dazzling Gleam. However, once those sharp Psychic blades flew out, Hatterene's blades failed to cut them in half. The thorns were powerful enough to withstand things that would normally cut it in half as they would whip Hatteren's face afterwards. "H-Hatt!"
Rapidash didn't fare much better. The rainbow rays she unleashed were countered by the fierce whipping of Rosa's thorns which would slice them in half. Rapidash would then be viciously whipped by the thorns when they came down, harming her face and forcing her to the floor.
Rosa then smiled, using the thorns to carry her towards the trio. She rapidly moved across the chamber with the thorns helping as her intimidating face was getting close. As the group ran as fast as they could, they were unable to reach the tubes in time, resulting in the thorns catching up to them.
"Gah!" Starlight cried out in pain as the thorns wrapped around her, causing damage and holding back her movements. They just weren't quick enough in this condition. Magic is what powered all of them practically. It gave them the strength they needed and without it, they were all being held back.
"Ngh!" Spike's entire body was already enveloped in thorns since he was the smallest here. His legs and arms were already caught compared to Starlight and Radiant Hope were having parts of them caught until everything else was wrapped up in a Thorn Prison. His head was free but was slowly being caught by the thorns.
"No magic means no speed." Rosa Maledicta commented before having the thorns bring the three captives closer to her. "But for one of you, I'll bring back your magic. A Pseudo-Alicorn might have a good enough lifespan to take." She referred to Radiant Hope who was not a full-on alicorn but still possessed the notable traits of one.
The most notable being the long lifespan and with Cadence and Flurry Heart already having some of their lifespans taken away, Rosa Maledicta would have a third victim to steal from. Or rather four since there was another in the Magehold Chamber. Twilight Sparkle.
"Haxorus! Help!"
Haxorus noticed this, attempting to reach them, but he came across his own Thorn Trouble. The thorns managed to wrap around his arms and legs, keeping him in place as he struggled to rip them off. He even tried using Iron Tail, swinging his tail as hard as he could on the thorns as the best he could do was slightly push them back but they would not falter at all.
"H-Haxorus!" To overcome this, Haxorus would use Stone Edge, aiming his mouth at the Lich Queen. From his mouth, sharp crystal stones would fly out, grabbing Rosa's attention immediately.
Rosa merely broke the stones apart just by swinging her thorns around, shattering them with ease. Haxorus failed to stop her as she was too perceptive to be caught off guard so easily.
"G-Gol!" And as for the Golurk, they were blown back by Yveltal who managed to overpower the troops of the Crystal Empire with its Legendary Power. Aegislash tried staying strong, using King's Shield to block a powerful Shadow Claw. Some of the Golurks had crashed into the walls of the chamber, plastered there and fainted.
"It's too much for us..." Flash Sentry groaned as his Pidgeot was right beside him, already haven taken massive damage during this brawl.
"Not yet." Shining Armor, whose helmet had fallen off, refused to let this get the better of him. "If we can just break them free for a moment...I wish I had some magic to use right about now though!"
"Not a bad showing from you, Yveltal." Rosa Maledicta chuckled. "I got to find out what a Pokemon Battle feels like. It is rather entertaining as you all say it is. But I'm not here to indulge in it any longer. I believe it's time I took your lives. And Yveltal will be the one to do it."
"Don't do it!" Cadence yelled while still in the tube. She tried banging on the tube but lacked the strength now that all of her magic was gone. It would've been pointless either way.
"What move was it again?" Rosa pondered for a moment before recalling the signature move of Yveltal. Once she remembered, she did not hesitate to use it instantly. "Oh yes...Oblivion Wing!"
Yveltal created a transparent violet sphere in front of it, with blue electricity-like energy in it. It then fired a violet beam of energy that carried the most terrifying force imaginable that anyone would fear. If this were to touch anyone here, it would spell the end for them and the first targets were Shining Armor and Flash Sentry as the eyes of Cadence and Flurry Heart expanded in horror.
"King's Shield!"
"Ae...Aegislash!" However, King's Shield had something to say about that. He once again protected his friends, forming that same hexagonal shield when changing forms. The shield blocked the Oblivion Wing, saving them from harm.
"Hah..." The two alicorns sighed, glad to see the attack didn't fully go through. But Aegislash couldn't pull it off a second time. At least not when using King's Shield in succession.
"Should've seen that coming." Rosa sighed, unbothered by this. "Again, Yveltal! It can't block a second time!"
"I won't go down here! Sacred Sword!"
"Pidgeot! Aerial Ace!"
"Aegis!" Aegislash and Pidgeot approached Yveltal, throwing the best that they had even though things were looking dire for them.
"Not this time." Refusing to let them have a chance, Rosa Maledicta got involved, using her thorns once more. The thorns would try and intercept Aegislash and Pidgeot, who were already eyeing them down. Aegislash knew he couldn't cut them at all so instead, he would hold out his shield while also charging in with his bladed body. He blocked the incoming thorns, feeling them stagger his body but that did not stop him from moving in.
"Pi! Pidgeot!" As for Pidgeot, he couldn't afford to be hit by the thorns once more. He focused on evasion once again while approaching Yveltal, using the speed of Aerial Ace to the best of his abilities. He would spin, evading the thorns that almost got him before ascending to dodge them yet again. Meanwhile, Yveltal had another Oblivion Wing prepared, building it up once more with no control over his own actions.
"Not like this...Haxorus! Detransform! Do it!" Spike, whose entire face was covered in thorns, slipped his mouth through one of them just to shout at Haxorus.
"H-Hax...Haxorus!" Refusing to let this be the end of either of them, Haxorus would hear out Spike's plan. A simple one. Seeing that he was restrained by the thorns, he would immediately transform once more, but it would be a reversion. The golden light appeared once more as his body shrunk which would be used to his advantage.
In a stroke of genius from Spike, Haxorus had changed size, reverting to an Axew and slipping out of the thorns since they were meant to hold someone of his stature. Once he was out, Axew would charge straight for Yveltal first with his little legs.
"Hm?!" Rosa eyed Axew, seeing how he slipped out of his grasp. She would immediately send them back at the Dragon-Psychic-Type, changing the size of the thorns to match his minuscule size.
"Again!"
"Ax!" Axew would do it yet again, having the golden light explode out of his body. He was back as a Haxorus which meant that he was faster despite his size. This allowed him to avoid the thorns that came from him which was a near-miss. The thorns then redirected themselves, targeting the larger Pokemon. "Hax!"
Haxorus had to do it yet again. Another transformation as fast as he could, turning him into his smaller form. The thorns went over his head, missing him completely now that he was shorter. It was a clever plan as he kept changing sizes, avoiding the thorns in the best ways that he could. All the while, he was still going for Yveltal.
"Back him up...Hyper Beam!"
"Gol!" The Golurk who were still active would take action, using Hyper Beam as soon as possible. Rosa Maledicta now had to focus on the incoming Hyper Beams, finding this to be an ever-growing irritation.
"Haxo!" And with his body becoming larger once more, Haxorus would lunge into the air while the thorns were right behind him. He needed the strength of his final evolution to really engage with Yveltal so there was no time for another transformation. And his main target was the tail of Yveltal as he was ready to grip it.
The thorns were right near Haxorus' legs, ready to grab them, only for the Hyper Beams to get in the way. The Hyper Beams crashed into the thorns that nearly reached Haxorus, intercepting them and bringing a plethora of outbursts. What this ended up doing was boosting Haxorus. The force of the explosion had rocketed Haxorus further, giving him the boost he needed.
"Haxo...Rus!" Haxorus grabbed onto Yveltal's tail, interrupting his Oblivion Wing. This allowed Aegislash and Pidgeot to finally land their attacks and they took full advantage of it. Using their full strength, Aegislash swung his blade down on Yveltal's chest while Pidgeot tackled him.
But that wasn't it. With all of his might, Haxorus would throw Yveltal, sending the Destruction Pokemon flying away. Afterwards, the thorns reached Haxorus once he threw Yveltal, finally landing a hit on him. But the action had already been done and the direction Yveltal had been thrown at was at the tubes.
The Dark-Flying-Type crashed into Rosa Maledicta, who tried blocking with her thorns. But the force of Yveltal being launched pushed through the thorns, knocking her away as she came along the ride with Yveltal. The two of them would hit Fluttershy's tube, which would instantly knock it over, hitting the other two tubes that were beside it as all three of them went crashing down. Everyone gasped as the three tubes hit the ground hard, breaking apart their glass thanks to Yveltal being the catalyst. The green liquid within would fly out along with the bodies of three captured ponies. But they were no longer captured, or at least, contained.
"Haxo..." Haxorus smiled, even after the thorns hit him and forced him back to the floor. He can proudly say he was the first one to deal damage to the Lich Queen by sending Yveltal into her.
"N-Nice work, Haxorus." Shining Armor laughed as he quickly rushed to the side of his family and friend. So did Flash Sentry and Haxorus. "Cadence! Flurry!"
"You boys are so destructive when it comes to battling..." Cadence smiled. "If it were me and Sylveon, there wouldn't be this much rubble..."
"If Giratina were still here, the whole place would've been taken down..." Flurry Heart added
"Oh, I'm so glad you're okay!" Shining Armor hugged them both, relieved beyond belief. Haxorus would then pick up Fluttershy who was unconscious throughout the whole thing. However, now that she was out of the tube, the process of turning her into a vampire had been interrupted. But it was hard to tell how much of that Vampiric Magic has entered her body. Shining Armor wanted to feel this moment of happiness a bit longer while hugging them both, but knew he couldn't. Not at all.
"Quick! Get them out of here as soon as possible!" Shining Armor ordered, wanting the three of them away from the Lich Queen even if she had been knocked back. Pidgeot understood clearly, swooping in to grab Flurry Heart. There was simply no time to waste. Any Golurk that could still move would run over as Shining Armor passed the alicorns over. Haxorus had picked up Spike, Radiant Hope and Starlight Glimmer, who were still covered in thorns. He would simply take the thorns with them if that's what had to be done.
Leaving this part of the chamber was the biggest priority as the ones who had the five ponies and baby dragon in their care would book it as fast as they could. It was only the ones who could still move properly and weren't that drained that picked them up.
"You actually pulled it off." Rosa Maledicta commented as she sounded completely casual. The hearts of everyone skipped a beat as the Lich Queen could be seen emerging from all the dust, smoke and rubble, walking out of it and looking completely fine. Not a scracth on her or anything. Not even a messy mane. There was some dust on her face whch she would quickly wipe away though. "Not bad...Not bad at all." She had to give credit where credit was due.
Not only did they manage to free the three of them but they even damaged Yveltal in the process. Rosa Maledicta once saw how effective they were once they unified their strengths. It was already shown to her back at Ponyville and that carries over to their friends and family from other locations.
"But look at you all. So weak and drained." Rosa Maledicta continued after making her reappearance. "You've reached the peak of what you can do. And now I'll snuff out your lives. Yveltal!"
Flying out of the smoke and rubble was Yveltal. He shrugged it off completely. All that damage he took earlier practically meant nothing to him. The Destruction Pokemon ascended from the smoke, spreading out its Wings of Destruction. Everyone looked in pain and horror as Yveltal was back up once more. Lo and behold, it was still charging up Oblivion Wing, storing up power. Even after the knockback and crash it was involved in, it did not let that attack go.
Pidgeot and the others couldn't afford to look back. They had to keep going before the Lich Queen notices them. They rushed up the stairs, leaving the deep part of the chamber as soon as possible. Shining Armor stayed behind, confronting the Lich Queen once more.
"Wait! Dad!" Flurry Heart yelled, noticing how Shining Armor was staying behind..
"And for maximum efficiency...I'll add my own magic into it!" Rosa Maledicta suddenly shot magic into Yveltal, transferring her power over. To the shock of everyone, Yveltal's Oblivion Wing was being powered up, becoming stronger than ever.
"King's Shield!"
"Ae-" Another King's Shield was coming. At least, it would have arrived, until the thorns had only Aegislash's body before that could happen. "Aegis! Aegislash...!" He tried cutting his way out of the thorns but even his blade couldn't do such a thing. These thorns were just too powerful. Way more than what they were all expecting to the point where it seemed like nothing could destroy them.
"Oh, no. Not this time." Rosa said with a deeper tone. "Fire." With that one command, the Powered-up Oblivion Wing was thrown. Larger than ever, it hit Aegislash directly. And once it hit the Royal Sword Pokemon, the explosion it made out engulf everyone else that was behind him. All of them would be swallowed up by this morose and doleful beam of destruction.
Cadence and Flurry Heart's pupils changed colours after seeing the dark red of the Oblivion Wing hit its mark. They saw it for themselves. The Life-Ending Move hitting a target for the first time and it ended up hitting more than one. Shining Armor was in there. So was Flash Sentry and all the other Crystal Empire Soldiers as well as the Golurk that assisted them. The ones that could still fight and the ones that had fainted. A purple wave of destruction emerged afterwards, obliterating a chunk of the chamber and noticeably, the thorns as well.
The thorns of the Lich Queen that were laying around were taken out as well. They witnessed the kind of power that threatened all life in the world for the very first time. And the ones who took that power directly suffered from it. After the purple smoke cleared, the outcome was clear to many and to all.
Shining Armor's body had been turned to stone, along with everyone that had been hit by it. Their lives had been snuffed out, becoming the first major victims of the Black Crusade. They were as still as statues but this was not any form of petrification. Their lives were gone, indefinitely.
Cadence and Flurry Heart were left speechless. All they could do was yell out the name of their fallen loved one. The scream they unleashed was deafening as neither of their voices overpowered each other. And staring at these destroyed ponies was the Lich Queen, who claimed her first victims. From her mouth, she would revel in this and anticipate what was coming next.
"This is where it starts. First, the Crystal Empire and then, every Universe out there."
Shining Armor, Flash Sentry and the Crystal Empire's forces have perished. They were the first victims of Yveltal's LIfe Destroying Power. Appearing with bodies of stones, they were completely motionless and approaching them was Rosa Maledicta, who claimed her first victims. Cadence and Flurry Heart had to watch this happen, seeing their beloved Shining Armor perish as they were taken away from this part of the chamber.
"Excellent work, Yveltal. Oblivion Wing with my magic gets the job done, eh?" said Rosa, revelling in her victory. She stood right in front of the lifeless Shining Armor, putting on a confident smirk. "After this, I'll gather all the souls I can remake them all as skeletons in an instant. But now that I've dealt with these nuisances, I can get back to work."
As for Yveltal, deep inside, he was weeping. His power had been used to destroy innocent lives. Lives that were only trying to protect their homes and loved ones and wanting to live peacefully. Now they have been snuffed out unfairly. If Yveltal could cry outside, he would. But thanks to the Lich Queen's control, he was powerless to do so.
"This could bring out Xerneas too if it ends up sensing this. Now, as for those two alicorns and that pseudo one, I'll make sure they won't get away from me. And to that, I'll have to keep on moving. It's time to claim the lives of all other intruders. But to do that, they'll all need to be held down so that they're ripe for the picking." The Lich Queen would continue moving and this time, with Yveltal out in the open.
Rushing upstairs and escaping the vicinity of the Lich was Haxorus' group. Radiant Hope, Starlight Glimmer, Spike, Princess Cadence and Flurry Heart had all been saved but at the cost of many lives from the Crystal Empire being snuffed out. And after seeing Shining Armor and the others perish, the two alicorns mourned. They couldn't believe it actually happened but it was as real as it can be. And they couldn't afford to turn back at all.
Starlight shuddered as her partner Hatterene had been taken out as well. She hadn't been rescued and the same went for Radiant Hope's Galarian Rapidash. They were hit by the wide wave of destruction.
Haxorous, Pidgeot and the remaining Golurk would come to a halt, stopping by one of the levels of the chamber. Spike and the others were still trapped by the thorns as they were wrapped around their bodies. Spike couldn't even see with all the thorns covering his entire body. Each of them were gently placed on the walls, feeling completely out of it since their magic was gone thanks to the Necropillars.
While they couldn't rip the thorns apart, they could at least pull them out of it. Spike's small body was taken out of the thorns by Haxorus, who slipped him out of it. Starlight and Radiant Hope had their bodies.
"T-Thanks, Haxorus..." Spike groaned as his body was injured thanks to all the thorns that poked into him. The bruises from all those thorns could be seen around his body from top to bottom. And it looked like his face got the worst of it, nearly hitting his eye.
"Shining Armor..." A devastated Cadence mourned for her lover. Her tears fell silently on the rough floor, masked by the endless darkness that exists within the chamber. Flurry Heart mourned with her too.
"Dad..." She tried hugging Cadence but didn't have the strength to do so. She just kept crying on the spot, unable to take it all in. The Golurk would be the ones to try and comfort them, using their large hands that were bigger than their body. Spike and Haxorus would be the ones to comfort Starlight Glimmer in her moment of weakness.
"Hatterene was in that explosion too...This can't be real." Starlight felt like hitting something now that she lost Hatterene.
"I'm afraid it is." Radiant Hope, who was also gutted by the loss of Galarian Rapidash, still kept a strong face even after everything that has happened.
"How can you say that now?!" Starlight yelled, disgusted that Radiant Hope would say such a thing.
"It isn't over yet though. They're gone...but not forever." Radiant Hope, living up to her name, kept Hope up. "You can't give up hope now."
"What do you mean?" Spike asked.
"I know it's horrible what's happened...But there's a reason why a Pokemon like Yveltal exists in the world. It's the same reason why it has a counterpart. Such a power can't exist without an equal.
"You mean Xerneas? Well, yeah, it exists but..the Dread League are hunting it down. Who knows what they'll do to Xerneas once it shows up." Spike added, seeing Radiant Hope's point.
"I'm not sure myself if Xerneas will show up and help considering what's going on. But I've always learned not to give up hope. But I do miss Rapidash already..." Tears formed in her eyes, greatly missing her partner Rapidash even if she kept up her hopeful spirit.
"It's not fair!" Suddenly, Flurry Heart would slam her hooves on the floor, beyond upset and also frustrated. "I can't lose my family again! Not like this!" For Flurry Heart it was haunting. In her universe, she still has not found her missing Cadence and Shining Armor. The ones here made up for that and now one of them had been snuffed out.
The fear of losing not just this world's Cadence but also everyone else in every universe was terrifying. It all kicked in for Flurry Heart. The loss of everything she's come to love was very much possible. Including Giratina, who was somewhere back in his own universe. She was also gutted by how she lost Flash Sentry, who was very close to her as well and the fact that Yveltal did not look the slightest bit damaged while the magic of all Equestrians has been shut down was absolutely mortifying. Flurry Heart would then lie down as she felt like passing out just from the shock of it all alone.
"Pi...Pidgeot." Pidgeot lowered his head, taking the time to think about his trainer Flash Sentry. All the Golurk stayed silent. While they couldn't show emotion, they knew how everyone felt right now and wished they could properly mourn for them.
"Well...We can't say here forever. We have to keep moving." Radiant Hope wiped the tears from her eyes. "The Lich Queen will hunt us down and if we want to make this right, we can't slow down at all."
"What do we do next though? What can we do?" Spike questioned. "Those thorns she have are too much. We can't cut them in half, we can't break them. The best we can do is move them. it's just like those Roots that Sweetie Belle and the others encountered back at Mount Coronet."
"But they're not indestructible." Radiant shook her head. "Far from it. I saw Yveltal's Oblivion Wing damage her thorns. It took the life away from it, meaning it can be damaged but I don't think we have anything strong enough to-"
"Gol!" Golurk interrupted Radiant Hope. Each of them turned their attention to one of the walls that were shrouded in darkness as they heard someone approaching. An entryway had appeared and from that entryway, vampires appeared. There was little time for resting when in enemy territory.
"Pidgeot!"
"Look! It's the ones who managed to escape Yveltal's destruction!" And already, the Lich Queen had informed the Dread League of what she has done and how the three alicorns she wished to steal lifespans from have escaped from her vicinity. "Lucky you. You should be thankful that Lich Queen wants to keep only three of you alive until then."
"Hax!" Haxorus roared at the vampires who would dare try and attack his friends while they were at their weakest. He, the Golurk and Pidgeot, stood firmly in front of the Trainers. Cadence and Flurry Heart held onto each other with teary eyes, lacking the will to engage with them. And the magic to even do anything about it.
"Gen...Gar!" However, before the vampires could do anything, emerging out of the walls of the chamber was none other than Ash's Gengar. He made a surprise appearance, catching even the vampires off guard as he didn't even use the entryway. And once he appeared, Gengar instantly used Psychic, grabbing all of the vampires with a telekinetic hold.
"H-Hey!" The vampires stuttered, stammered and gasped as their intimidating arrival was cut short by Gengar's opportune strike.
"Gengar?!" Spike gasped.
"Gengar!" Gengar laughed before using his Psychic power to launch the vampires into the air without them being in control of their bodies. He then moved them all together so that they were closer, making it easier for any attack to get a majority of them.
"Hax? Haxorus!" Haxorus saw what Gengar was trying to go for and capitalized instantly. The Axe Jaw Pokemon stomped his foot on the ground, building up an obscene amount of energy. He used Giga Impact, sending himself upwards by leaping off the floor, leaving behind a powerful shockwave. Haxorus soared through the air as the vampires saw a furious Dragon approaching them with a powerful aura. And they were currently powerless to stop it. Haxorus crashed right into them, hitting every single vampire that Gengar raised as an outburst of Infinity Energy went off.
Those vampires did not last long, fainting from Haxorus' Giga Impact. The Equestrian Variant would descend from above, landing while the vampires were also dropped. However, their whereabouts were still known thanks to the Lich Queen's amazing oversight of the Chamber. More were coming and their wing flaps could already be heard.
"Hey, guys! Here!" And showing up at the scene was none other than Ash himself. He found another entryway, putting his arm through it and waving to his friends.
Seeing Ash's arm, they would quickly flock in his direction. It was back to picking up the drained Pokemon Trainers, carrying them yet again before the other vampires show up. Gengar would phase back through the walls, flying to where Ash was. And with Ash there, Twilight and more familiar faces will be present without a doubt.
Meanwhile, Pheromosa, who was carrying a drained Rarity, found herself stopped by one of the nearby rooms in this massive chamber. This whole time, her group has been chasing down Opal Vivacity and their pursuit was not in vain. Not at all. When stopping by this room, they peered through the window, seeing what was residing there.
The Necropillars. All of them were still in one place after shutting down all Equestrian Magic that ended up here at Magehold. Those were the things responsible for Rarity's sudden condition and the weakness of others. The pillars were still radiating Dark Magic, pulsating violently since they were all linked up together. At any moment, they could be used once more but on the entirety of Equestria which would most definitely shut down all Equestrian Magic.
Just by looking at them, Rarity felt an ominous aura coming from the pillars. Even though her magic was gone, she could still feel the power that was coming from the Necropillars. The weak Rarity wondered if those pillars are why she was suddenly so vulnerable. A part of her believed it as she saw Opal Vivacity there.
The beautiful vampire was still in the room, speaking with the other vampires. But she was doing more than speaking with them. Opal was revelling in it. She revelled in the fact that Yveltal took the lives of the Crystal Empire's forces and giggled maniacally.
"That's what I hope to do when I become the Lich Queen!" Opal squeed. "I mean, I already did not too long ago. Anistar and anywhere near it is long gone by now so I'm already filling out quotas here."
"What about the intruders? The Pokemon are still active." A vampire asked.
"Hmph. We can handle them. Especially the Lich Queen. Yveltal's power plus hers will wipe them out with ease, snuffing their lives out before they even realize it. Isn't that right...Rarity?" Suddenly, Opal slowly turned her head as her eyes would glow, eyeing down Rarity who was peeking. But her presence did not go unnoticed.
Opal Vivacity saw Rarity and Pheromosa, scaring them both. They weren't secretive at all to escape from Opal's sights. And when trying to find her, she was the one who eyed them down first. The other vampires would soon notice once Opal pointed it out.
"Audino!" Audino gasped, slowly backing up. But by backing up, she bumped into something. There were no walls nearby. At least, walls that were close enough to accidentally bump into. Bayleef soon bumped into the same thing as the two of them would look up slowly. They weren't just spotted from the front but also from the back.
A Despair Plant was right behind them. Specifically, a Chimera Despair Plant. Two of them have already fused and emerged as Despair Plant Chimera. The fused Despair Plant growled while looking at its new prey, prompting Pheromosa to turn her attention away from Opal Vivacity. But turning any attention from Opal was a mistake as well as she left the room to encounter this persistent group, along with a few other vampires.
"Too bad for you!" Opal exclaimed. "You should've just gone for the rest of your friends, honestly."
"Not until I've stopped you first..." Rarity groaned. "You're nothing but a bane to all of us and I wish to relieve everyone of that very bane."
"Hah? By coming straight to me even with your magic drained? Are you stupid?" Opal Vivacity scoffed. "You can't just approach me because you have your Pokemon beside you. You should just keel over and accept your fate. There's no amount of speed or Fate Changing Power that can save you. Other than my own of course~"
"Never." Rarity stayed adamant. "I'm taking back Olympia's Cape...And I'll remove that mane of yours for good until there's nothing left."
"You've set yourself up for failure then. Too bad." Opal shrugged. "I'll take whatever's left of you and add it to my beauty, just as I promised."
"Perhaps...But you forgot one thing. I don't just have speed or fate on my side." Rarity sighed. "I have numbers on my side! Now, Lopunny!"
"Lopun!" A surprise entrance had been made. It was one that came from another one of Rarity's Pokemon. In this case, it was Lopunny. The Rabbit Pokemon descended from above with High Jump Kick.
"What?!" Opal gasped as Lopunny's leg struck the floor at full force. Normally, something like this would be bad if High Jump Kick misses its target. But in this case, Lopunny's target was the floor and she did not miss at all. The impact on the floor summoned an immediate crack.
The floor would shatter, falling apart immediately. The Despair Plant would be the first to fall, dropping before it could get the chance to take action in any way. The Chimera dropped while Lopunny performed an excellent backflip after landing that High Jump Kick. "I have all my darling friends to back me up after all! I planned to catch you by surprise once I reencountered you!"
"Fool! You'll bring yourself down!" Opal growled before spreading her wings, taking flight to avoid the crumbling floor. Some vampires already fell while others took flight. "We'll be perfectly fine though!"
"Not quite! Ampharos!"
From above, Ampharos had appeared, letting out all the light energy within his body. Taking advantage of the Vampire's weakness, Ampharos would drop himself on the Dread League, bringing the light closer to them. Rarity had this planned out while searching for Opal Vivacity and her secret plan was turning out well as she already got rid of one of the Despair Plants by sending it to the lower levels.
"Now, Leavanny!"
"Vanny!" More of her Pokemon were present. Five of her Leavanny would also appear from above, using String Shot to grab onto Rarity and her friends. They were pulled up from the ground, saved from falling to their potential doom, while The Dread League were dragged down. Ampharos' full body weight crashed into them as another string would grab Ampharos' back.
"Y-You fooled me!?" Opal realized that she was fooled. Rarity may have looked worried when the Despair Plant showed up behind her but everything else was a part of her plan. However, the one that Rarity really wanted to take damage had escaped yet again. Opal Vivacity used the many abilities she stole, making herself intangible for a moment. Ampharos phased right through her, failing to get the beautiful vampire but his light still affected her.
"Drat...Almost got her." Rarity bit her teeth. Even though she missed Opal, the other vampires would fall as the entire floor had been obliterated. "But it's not over yet! Hyper Beam!"
"Audi...No!" Audino would unleash Hyper Beam while being carried up by one of the Leavanny. She specifically targeted the room where the Necropillars could be found, blowing the walls away. The vampires who were guarding this room saw the walls combust as the explosion was heading straight for them and the Necropillars. Unfortunately, all it took was their combined might to form a shield, protecting the pillars from harm.
Not quite what Rarity wanted. But considering how they put up a barrier around those pillars as well, she had an inkling that they were crucially important. Once everyone was pulled upstairs now that the entire floor of this level was done for, Rarity eyed down the beautiful yet cruel vampire, seeing the annoyance on her face.
"It's just going to be me and you, Opal!" Rarity declared, not letting Opal go for a second.
"What's your obsession with me?! I should be flattered but now you're just starting to sound annoying!" Opal was getting rather annoyed. She would ascend, reaching the floor where Rarity's group stood at. She descended on the steps, flipping Olympia Galaxy Cape just to remind them who she stole it from.
"Mmmm..." Meanwhile, at long last, Fluttershy was beginning to wake up. She was out of the tube after being in it for what felt like hours to her. Her eyes opened to see the welcoming face of Ash Ketchum and his partner Pikachu.
"Hey, Fluttershy. Feeling better?"
"Pikachu?"
"Ash...Pikachu..." A smile graced her face. Soon, she saw Gengar's face next along with Haxorus'. All these familiar faces were rather pleasing to Fluttershy who felt beyond bewildered. Remembering what happened previously, she would lunge in, having a surprising amount of energy as she hugged them both. She managed to pull Pikachu in for a hug with that one lunge, surprising them both. "Oh! I'm glad I saw you first!"
"Great to see you too, Fluttershy. You're pretty energetic, huh?" Ash laughed.
"Pika-Pika!"
"So, where are we? And everypony else?" Fluttershy looked around, searching for familiar faces. She certainly saw some around her. Some of the Golurk were seen along with the face of a Pidgeot. More were spotted, but they weren't exactly jumping for joy once they saw that Fluttershy was awake. Fluttershy saw Twilight, Cadence, Starlight and Flurry Heart, all having similar looks on their faces. "Twilight? What's wrong, everypony?"
"Big Brother..." The news reached Twilight too. She soon learned about what happened to her big brother, Shining Armor and hit her as hard as it did for Cadence and Flurry Heart. Twilight, who had magic even after the Necropillars went off, smashed her hoof on the wall out of sadness and anger, causing some cracks to appear.
"A lot happened, Fluttershy." Ash sat down, ready to explain things to Fluttershy. At least, the parts that mattered. "Yveltal got Shining Armor and the soldiers that came from the Crystal Empire. Even Hatterene and Radiant Hope's Rapidash too..."
"That's terrible!" Fluttershy gasped as Ash went straight to the point, hitting her with the most vital fact. "T-They're gone?!"
"I'm afraid so." Radiant Hope, who was right next to Emerald Aura spoke. Fluttershy soon faced them before shifting her attention to Daisy and Paradise. A good chunk of her friends were here but each of them were suffering in their own way. Cadence and the others were suffering from loss but Daisy and Paradise were suffering from their bodies being turned back into flowers.
Since they were magical beings, the Necropillars hitting them meant that they would lose their magical touch, reverting into Daisies and Paradise Flowers. The process could already be seen as their legs have turned into flowers. It appeared to going for the front hooves next.
"All magic for us Equestrians have been shut down completely. And for them, since they're made up of magic, they'll become flowers once more." Radiant Hope added. "The only ones who haven't lost their magic are Emerald Aura and Twilight."
"I use Rift Magic, so this doesn't matter to me. Twilight has some Rift Magic in her too, so she at least has something." Emerald Aura explained. "Everyone else is in a tough spot..."
"Yeah." Another familiar face was here. That would be Rainbow Dash, who reunited with Ash and the others at last. Usually, Rainbow Dash was always in the air but not this time. With her magic drained from her, she lacked the power of flight which resulted her in crashing into ones of the bridges mid-flight. "This sucks...If we just had Yveltal with us, then we could take him home."
"It's not over yet." However, much like Radiant Hope, Ash kept his hopes up. And he had a good reason to. "Not when Xerneas is out there."
"You're very confident it'll show up, boy." And the final familiar face that showed up was King Sombra, who was out of Ash, standing near Radiant Hope as they reunited once more. But this was a rather odd reunion to have.
"Xerneas will be here." Ash went up to the mourning ponies, kneeling in front of them. He saw their distraught and saddened faces as there was seemingly no limit to how many tears would fall from them. "It's okay to cry. Pretty soon, it's gonna turn into a smile once Xerneas makes its move."
"Y-You're sure...?" Starlight stuttered.
"Positive. I've seen it myself." Ash stood up, reminiscing about the past. "I hate to admit it, but the vampires are right about how they wanna bring Xerneas out. If so many lives get taken way unfairly, Xerneas is gonna show up. When? I don't know. But it'll be here and you'll see Shining Armor, Hatterene, Rapidash, Flash and everyone else back. Even if someone goes down by Yveltal's power, they'll come back without a doubt."
"Yeah, but the Dread League are anticipating Xerneas' arrival. If they find Xerneas first, that'll be the end of it." Emerald Aura replied.
"So we're not gonna let them get to Xerneas first. Before that, let's get Yveltal and Fantina out of here. Xerneas will show up here if we don't let the Dread League go any further with Yveltal's power. Everyone else across the world can handle themselves." said Ash, keeping all hope up.
"How about we find a way to bring our magic back?" Radiant Hope asked. "There has to be something messing with us."
"There is something..." Suddenly, Cadence would speak, despite still crying. She mustered the strength to add something to all of this. "I heard it during my time in that tube. There's something that turned off all our magic. They call them Necropillars."
"Necropillars?" The others repeated. They now learned the name of the objects that shut down all Equestrian Magic, rendering a majority of the Pokemon Trainers powerless.
"If we destroy those, our magic will return." Cadence sniffled before wiping plenty of tears off her face.
"She's right...We just have to find them..." Twilight, whose lips were trembling, also gathered the strength she needed. "And break all of them to bits. I'll use my Rift Magic to see what I can do."
"Same here." Emerald Aura raised her hoof. "I'm positive I can form something that can help out."
"Awesome. Then we know what we gotta do. Wherever those pillars are, we'll find them and break them down!" Ash put his fist in his hand, eager to smash those pillars.
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"As if you'll have the chance to do such a thing." Interrupting this energetic outburst of words was a dreadful and horrific voice that many recognized and even feared. It was the voice of Rosa Maledicta. She was speaking through the entirety of the Chamber.
"Rosa!" Ash cried out.
"You will refer to me as The Lich Queen, Rosa Maledicta. King of the Sea, Ash Ketchum." Rosa showed some respect, calling Ash by his Kingly Status. All ears were on the Lich Queen now that she was actively speaking to all of them while moving through the chamber. You all won't live to see tomorrow's light even with your hopeful words.
"Why don't you come over here and face us?!" Rainbow Dash roared at her.
"I'll face you. But not in battle. All of you will become prisoners of the Chamber. For you see...the chamber having the power to send out bridges out of nowhere isn't just a function, I'm afraid. It's something the creature itself can do."
"Creature? Is she referring to the chamber?" Radiant Hope gasped as her pupils shrank.
"Correct. This Chamber is a Despair Plant. Among my most powerful. Despair Plant Chambevenom!"
"T-This Chamber is a Despair Plant?!" Twilight couldn't believe her ears. The entire place was just one big Despair Plant that had a different material and texture than the others. It did not feel like they were standing on a plant at all.
"You were fools entering it. Now, Chambevenom will absorb you all into it. You've all been battling hard within the Despair Plant without even realizing it was just building up its strength. Now you're all its victims. Chambevenom. Feast on them!"
Suddenly, once a terrifying roar from the entire chamber had gone off, a strange substance would emerge from the walls. And this time, they weren't bridges or any hard material of the sort. Instead, reddish gooey projectiles were fired arbitrarily out of the walls, appearing like internal organs. But the texture was akin to that of a plant.
They would rapidly form, flying across the entirety of the building while also turning the floor into that strange substance. Everyone's eyes followed these disgusting red projectiles which were going wild and it didn't take long until one of them grabbed onto the group.
"W-What the?!" The first one to be grabbed was Rainbow Dash as her back neck had been caught. The projectile adhered itself to the back of Rainbow Dash's neck as more of them flew out. "What is this?!"
"I-I'm being pulled in by something!" Spike was also caught by it instantly as it stuck onto his tail and soon the back of his head. Not only were they flying out of the walls but the walls were also changing, appearing rounder instead of their hard and solid appearance.
"Iron Tail!"
"Pikachu-Pi!" Pikachu tried attacking the projectiles, only for his momentum to be interrupted by a sudden change in gravity. Pikachu felt his body stay in the air without his own control as things felt lighter for him. "P-PIka?!"
"The Gravity's changing?!" Emerald Aura noticed as she was in the air all of a sudden. No one could control this as they were all ascending thanks to the gravitational shift. But this was just a part of the Despair Plant's action.
"I-I'm being sucked in!" Twilight would soon feel it too as she tried using her wings to cancel it out. But gravity was in full control here, cancelling out the usage of flight.
"Twilight! Grab on!" Ash held his hand out, trying to grab Twilight's hoof. Twilight tried pushing her hoof forward but the gravity field said otherwise. It was making sure that none of them would make contact with each other. The hands of Ash and the hoof of Twilight connected for a moment before slipping away from each other.
Daisy and Paradise were too weak to do anything. Instead of being sent into the air, they stayed on the ground as the disgusting substance absorbed their already damaged bodies. They weren't even powerful enough to escape from this at all. Cadence and Flurry Heart held onto each other while Haxorus and the Golurk attempted to use brute strength against this. But even that failed as the substance already adhered itself to them in vast numbers.
And of course, this was happening to everyone. Pinkie Pie and Applejack were being pulled in by the substances along with their Pokemon. Mew tried transforming into a Pokemon to avoid this but the projectiles, unlike Rosa's thorns, made sure to hold whatever shape Mew took on. The intangibility of a Ghost was pointless too as Gengar could not phase through them at all. It was as if they cancelled that out as well.
"Oh well! Looks like you won't be taking me on anyway~" Opal laughed while seeing Rarity and her Pokemon being pulled in by the Despair Plant's power. "Maybe when you're a skeleton, I'll take your accessories. Until then, Rarity!"
"O-Opal!" Rarity screamed as her entire body was already caught by the substance and all that was left was her face. She screamed Opal's name before being fully pulled in. All of her Pokemon were powerless as well. Even the powerful legs of Pheromosa and Lopunny were failed in retaliating.
All the Pokemon from the Pokemon House and PokePark would become victims as well as the Despair Plant either sucked them into the walls or the ground itself. They all let out their own roars, doing what they can to break free. But in the end, they were pulled in too.
"You'll all be trapped within the chamber's deepest parts. Even deeper than the rooms themselves. You'll feel a never-ending sense of despair with no hope in sight. I will come to you will Yveltal's power and take your lives." Rosa said to them all while casually walking through the chambers, untouched by the projectiles since this was her own creation. "Now stay there. All of you. I'll be there soon."
And just like that, the intruders had been absorbed. And it was absolutely horrifying how it happened. Not only did the Despair Plant pull them all in, but their bodies could be seen behind the red gooey substance, completely still. They were all in suspended animation, having different expressions and reactions when being absorbed by this power. All of their reactions were static, unchanging and with no signs of movements whatsoever, as well as their bodies. They were stuck. And to finish things off, their bodies would fall back into the wall and ground, disappearing completely.
Silence filled the air. The noise of the intruders have been silenced. Not a single one of them could be heard as they were all within the walls. The Despair Plant let out a relieved roar as its power would rest. It did its job and it was rather effective.
"You had a good meal, my precious." Rosa Maledicta said. "You're free to rest now. This is a moment of peace for us now that those intruders are silent. It doesn't matter what they do. The feeling of Dread always catches up somehow, especially when they're in the heart of it."
The Lich Queen would continue on her way. Now that the intruders were all restrained and in the walls, she would approach them as soon as possible with Yveltal by her side. However, her movements were suddenly put to a halt once she placed her hoof on the sticky walls of this now-transformed chamber.
"Hm? Magic power.." Rosa uttered as she felt some magic after touching the walls. And this magic did not come from the Despair Plant. Not at all. Instead, it came from someone else. Rosa sensed not one, not two, but three magical presences. "Three of them? That can't be!"
"Three? How's that possible?" Opal Vivacity felt it too when touching the walls.
"Don't tell me...some of them managed to avoid the Absorption?" Rosa's eyes narrowed as she couldn't believe what she was feeling. Three individuals were not captured at all. "Who?"
"Ugh!" The answer came in the form of Twilight Sparkle. She fell to the floor once the gravity field was gone, harming herself. And right next to her was Emerald Aura and Espeon. The three who managed to withstand it. Twilight held her head before sitting up, absolutely bewildered by what just happened.
"The chances of that happening are staggering. And yet two of them managed to escape?" Rosa Maledicta scoffed. "How?"
"Good work using your RIft Magic with mine...We dodged a big one there." The answer was Rift Magic, as Emerald Aura just said. "Forming our own Gravity Field worked in countering what the Despair Plant made."
"I'm glad you caught on to it, Emerald. But...we didn't get everyone in it. It's just us." Twilight looked around, seeing that no one else was present there. Everything was so much quieter now it was eerie and uncomfortable.
"What terrible fortune to be left alone here in Magehold." Rosa Maledicta spoke to the three of them. "You escaped but at the cost of you three being on your lonesome without your army of friends. How foolish."
It was just Twilight Sparkle, Emerald Aura and Espeon now. No one else. Whatever comes next, it was up to them alone. But, they weren't truly alone. Not when Twilight had more of her Pokemon in waiting. However, at this point, the Dread League were bringing in the worst kind of pressure as they were advancing towards their main goals, upping their actions.
"Ough!" Ash fell over, rolling on a strange surface alongside Pikachu. The duo had previously been pulled in by the walls of the Chamber, which turned out to be a living Despair Plant. But nothing about it gave off plant-like tendencies, making this the most mysterious and possibly dangerous Despair Plant out of them all. They found themselves in an area that appeared verdant, having a light verdant surface along with dark verdant skies. There was even a constant pulse of green energy going off, moving at the same rate as a heartbeat. "Oh, man..."
"Pikachu...
"W-What just happened?" Ash said before standing back up. His body still felt the roughness from that gravitational pull earlier. Even though he was perplexed, he remembered what happened prior but was still trying to process it. And once he stood up, he spotted the face of Sombra looking at him. Next to Sombra were other familiar faces who were in the same area as him. "Sombra? Guys? Where are we?"
"That's what I wanna know..." Applejack was present here too, sitting up and placing her hat back on. All those who were pulled in by the Despair Plant gathered together in this verdant area. All of them had been pulled into the Despair Plant in different ways.
All of them were getting back up, free from the pull of gravity that none of them could fight back against. Or at least, they were too late to do so. At last, they had all reunited but this wasn't how they thought they would reunite. Inside of a mysterious area with no clue on where they were.
"Audino!" AUdino saw Fluttershy, quickly running over to her beloved Trainer as they were reunited once more. Fluttershy raised her hooves to embrace the Hearing Pokemon as they both cried out. Raboot and Bayleef would also jet towards their trainer, preferring to meet up again in a different circumstance. But this works for them too if it meant that they could see Fluttershy. Sceptile would even move back to Applejack, who he lost sight of earlier.
"Audi! I missed you!"
"It's nice that you're all together but...This isn't nice at all. Not pleasant in the slightest. We've been sucked in. By this massive Despair Plant and we're most likely within it." Sombra was the first to figure it out though from what he recalled. "Honestly. What a terrifying plant...And she's been growing things like these the whole time?"
"Inside a Despair Plant?!" Ash gasped. Right now, all of them found themselves within the Despair Plant itself, explaining the verdant appearance. All Despair Plants carry that greenish look even though Chambevenom did not appear as a traditional Despair Plant and carry those colours. At least, not from the outside.
"The whole thing was a Despair Plant the entire time...But it looks like not all of us made it through." Radiant Hope looked around, seeing that there were three individuals missing. Almost everyone was here.
"Mom! She's not here!" Daisy cried out before grunting. Her body was still slowly reverting into the daisy with all of the magic gone. Same for Paradise as she could already feel a part of her face being slowly transformed.
"Twilight didn't come with us?!" Cadence gasped. "That can't be!"
"The same goes for that Rift Pony." Emerald Aura scoffed. "They must have used Rift Magic to protect themselves somehow. They could've at least used it on us as well."
"What now...? Do we try and get out?" Pinkie Pie questioned. "Is there even a way out?"
"Obviously. We're inside the Despair Plant so there's gotta be a way out." Spike replied. "Twilight's back out there with all those vampires so we have to leave as soon as possible."
"Maybe we can find something in here. This is the first time any of us have been inside a Despair Plant so there's gotta be something we can do." Ash was already thinking ahead, focusing on doing something about the Despair Plant itself for a way to get out.
"Hmph. Good luck with that. All we know is that Pure Light is the best way to damage a Despair Plant. It's their greatest weakness. And unfortunately..." Sombra grumbled. "The only pony who can give us that light is stuck out there with the Lich Queen and the entire Dread League."
Magehold Chamber.
"Ash! Fluttershy! Cadence! Anyone?!" Twilight yelled, screaming for the rest of her friends as she hoped that she could find them or even hear them at least.
"It's no good. They're out of our hearing range. These aren't exactly weak walls either despite all the damage." Emerald Aura saw all the yelling as a pointless action. "As it stands now, we're on our own."
"That's right. It's just you three." Rosa Maledicta joined in the conversation with her voice being present everywhere as always. Since this Chamber was one big Despair Plant, she had eyes and voices everywhere, adding to that intimidation factor. "Well done on escaping the pull. But now you've set yourselves up for failure. All of my loyal vampire subjects. Advance towards those three. Bring me Princess Twilight as I will take her lifespan as well. And bring me the Rift Pony as well. I might gain something from such a unique kind of magic."
With that, all of the current vampires were ordered to find Twilight and Emerald Aura. And they did not take long to scatter and search the entire chamber for them. Twilight and Emerald were the biggest targets here as even the Lich Queen was advancing towards them, knowing exactly where they were.
"We can't stand around! Let's get going!" Emerald Aura ran ahead as Twilight and Espeon would soon follow them. Right now, they were being hunted and in a place such as this were there were still plenty of vampires left, there was no time to stand around. Opal Vivacity, Sweet Fang, Shrivel and all other vampires were on the hunt.
"Where to though?!" Twilight asked. There wasn't any place that seemed safe right now. The best possible place was outside but the Dread League were still all over the place.
"I don't know! This place is weird! I guess the first thing we should do is find a way to free everyone! Or even destroy those pillars!"
"I think I'd prefer rescuing everyone first! They were pulled in, right? So there must be a way to free them!" Twilight replied before thinking for a moment. "This whole chamber is just one big Despair Plant, so by that logic...there's one way I can damage it with the best possible damage there is."
"There they are!" It didn't take long for the vampires to track them down. By using other secret entryways, they appeared before the magical duo and Espeon, hovering over them with their black wings of dread. And once they showed up, together, they would use their Dark Magic, unifying it.
This unified Dark Magic would fall from above, prompting Emerald Aura to take immediate action. She used her Rift Magic, summoning a tidal wave out of thin air. A wave that was big enough to fit this room as it would instantly block the Dark Magic, cushioning the blow and drowning. The tidal wave would then fill up this room, beginning its flow while also carrying Twilight, Emerald and Espeon. And emerging from the water were Rift logs, made up by EMerald Aura that she, Twilight and Espeon could ride on.
However, the vampires already had something like that in mind too. They would use their magic to form dark platforms, placing them on the water and using those as transportation as well. Right as the three of them were drifting away, the vampires would drift behind them. It was now a pursuit in a watery room as the water was travelling through one of the entryways, entering elsewhere.
"Alright, Eve! Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Espeon!" While on the Rift Log, Espeon summoned a sphere of rainbows around her which would then fire multiple rays of light. The vampires hissed as the light from Dazzling Gleam would bombard them, knocking them off their Dark Platforms. By being blasted off, they dropped into the tidal wave as it was not kind to them at all. Emerald Aura specifically made it so that it would only be safe for her and her friends.
The vampires screamed as they were carried away by the tidal wave while Twilight, Emerald and Espeon were drifting away safely. But there were more vampires behind them, gaining up with their Dark Platforms. They would then perform a retaliation, shooting out Dark Magic projectiles from either their eyes, wings or mouth.
Some of the projectiles would fly by them while others seemed to be right on point, forcing Twilight, Emerald and Espeon to sway and swerve their bodies. Twilight put up a shield of Rift Magic, blocking the incoming projectiles that were getting too close were almost sure-fire hits.
By putting up this shield of Rift Magic, Twilight would then use the cosmic power of this kind of magic, reversing the Dark Projectiles and turning them into light projectiles. The vampires gasped as they were hit back by their own magic but with their crucial weakness involved. The vampires would be knocked off their platforms while also receiving a burn on their bodies, only for them to cool off when touching the tidal wave.
However, the number of vampires appearing here was too great. Even when the tidal wave broke through the doors and entered the next room, there were other vampires present there, knowing where to go thanks to Rosa Maledicta's guidance. And some of them were airborne, choosing to approach them from above instead of surfing on the cosmic seas.
"Already?!" Emerald Aura pulled back as the vampires were finding them faster than she expected them to.
"Here goes! Out you come, Togekiss!" Twilight used her magic to grab a Poke Ball, throwing it into the air as it would summon the Jubilee Pokemon Togekiss into the fray.
"Togekiss!" And upon emerging, Togekiss would tackle into some of the vampires, spinning through the air. Those vampires who tried to attack from above, were interrupted and sent into the cosmic seas.
"Aura Sphere and Dazzling Gleam! Go!"
"Toge!" Both Togekiss and Espeon would launch a barrage of rainbow rays and a sphere of Aura which flew side by side with each other. The vampires up ahead would throw out Dark Magic, meeting with the two Pokemon attacks. Togekiss' Aura Sphere broke through some of the darkness, hitting a vampire head-on. Some of the rays would also pelt the vampires they could reach, knocking them back down.
Right as Togekiss was about to launch another Aura Sphere, something hit her from the side. And it wasn't a vampire. Instead, it was a Despair Plant. An attack from a Cordyceps had arrived, throwing explosive seeds which would combust around the Jubilee Pokemon.
"T-Toge!"
"Return, Togekiss!" Twilight would quickly return Togekiss to her Poke Ball, opting to switch her out immediately. Despair Plants were now here which wouldn't be too much of a big deal for Twilight since she has the perfect answer for them but the usage of the Z-Move needed some time to recharge afterwards. "Go! Cinccino!"
"Cinccino!" Out came her very first Pokemon, Cinccino, who spun in the air when making her appearance.
"Thunder, Minccy! Then use Dazzling Gleam, Eve!"
"Cin...Cinno!" Not wasting any time, Cinccino would stay airborne for a moment just to gather up plenty of electricity. However, she didn't aim upwards but instead downwards. She targeted the cosmic seas themselves, sending a high-voltage blast of electricity into it. And that spelt bad news for the vampires using the Dark Platforms. Twilight, Emerald and Espeon were safe since Emerald made the seas herself but the vampires, not so much.
The lightning would go crazy, instantly electrocuting the vampires even when they stood on the dark platforms. The platforms would even be taken out by all the electricity that flared out of the water, paralyzing them. And as for the Cordyceps in the air, they would be targeted by Espeon and Twilight, who shot out Magic in the form of Rift Rays and Dazzling Gleam rays. The Cordyceps were shot down before they could use their explosive seeds from above.
They would the move into the other room which had its walls blown off, already exposing it. And of course, enemies were present yet again. This time, Despair Plant Arachnorchids could be seen, avoiding the water and crawling or swinging off and on the walls.
"Stop right there, Princess Twilight!" Yelling out her name was none other than Sweet Fang, who showed up here as well. Behind her was a swarm of vampires. Twilight and Emerald couldn't catch a break at all. And they definitely should try and catch one for a moment. Sweet Fang and the other vampires used their Dark Magic together, forming a sharper version of it that was as sharp as a blade as it came swinging down.
"Go! Absol!" She threw her Poke Ball into the air once more, summoning her next Pokemon. Absol. With the Disaster Pokemon out, he went straight into action, already knowing what move he wanted to start off with. Night Slash.
"Ab...Sol!" Absol's horn had stopped the bladed Dark Magic with his own sharp weapon, deflecting it with pure power. "Ab!" After doing so, he saw that some of the Arachnorchids tried to restrain her, cutting the webs in half. "Absol!
"Now, Minccy! Tri Attack! Eve, use Psychic!"
"Esp!" Espeon's mental powers kicked in as she focused her attention on the Arachnorchids. Cinccino would do the same while also focusing on the vampires. That's what Tri Attack was for. Cinccino would throw the Fire and Ice Sphere directly at the Arachnorchids who were swinging frantically in the air. The Electric one was going straight for the vampires but Twilight knew that wouldn't be enough.
"Emerald! Help me duplicate them!"
"Hm? Okay!" Emerald exclaimed, seeing what Twilight was going for. Together, the two of them would shoot Rift Magic at the spheres of Tri Attack, influencing them with the cosmic power within.
The Fire and Ice Spheres had multiplied, posing a bigger threat now that there were more of them. But on top of that, Emerald added the extra touch of enlarging the spheres, making them bigger so that they'll have a greater impact. The Arachnorchids were hit by these plentiful Fire and Ice Spheres, freezing parts of their bodies while also setting off a large explosive blast of fire.
And that explosion is what mattered the most as the number of large Fire Spheres going off was incredibly destructive, blowing off major parts of the walls while also reaching some of the vampires. And as for the final sphere, it was on its lonesome, going for Sweet Fang and everypony else.
"Huh?! Is that supposed to scare me?!" Sweet Fang taunted before witnessing the Thunder Sphere ascend instead of approaching her. It wasn't a direct movement as someone pulled it up. "What?"
"Espeon!" And the one to do that was Espeon. She used Psychic to grab the sphere, manipulating it from afar. Afterwards, Twilight would enlarge the sphere, giving it a greater size that was enough for these vampires. Espeon then dropped it them, giving out powerful electric shocks to each of the vampires. Even if it didn't hit all of them, the electricity would spread out, latching itself onto the remaining vampires. Sweet Fang grizzled her teeth, losing her cockiness immediately.
"We're doing fine but...there's still so many of them!" Twilight groaned, seeing how the odds were greatly stacked against her. "I need to pull off my Z-Move at least once. But it has to be done right on the chamber..."
"Let's head down there!" Emerald shouted, seeing a lower pathway that the water perfectly flowed through. All of the Pokemon would duck their heads while Emerald expanded the pathway to make it easier for the larger Pokemon to pass through. All of them would enter the entryway with the vampires and Despair Plants pursuing them.
However, Emerald would go last, using her magic to shrink the entryway. She shrunk it just in time, causing one of the vampires to crash into the tight space, unable to enter. It seemed like they managed to evade the storm of vampires and Despair Plants by minimizing this one entryway. That did not last long as one of the Arachnorchids blew open the entryway with an explosive web, removing the tight space. The chase continued with no end in sight, unfortunately.
"Let's try and find a spot where my tidal wave hasn't reached yet!" Emerald suggested. "Then..you can unleash your Z-Move and blow this Despair Plant sky high and free everyone else."
"That's what'll happen, right?" Twilight questioned. "This was in the original timeline so that's how it goes?"
"Sorry...but none of this ever happened." Unfortunately, everything that was happening now was never a part of the original timeline. All of this was brand new. That made Twilight shudder for a moment. There was a possibility she wouldn't make it out since this has never happened before. And from Emerald Aura, who has seen all the events that happen in Twilight's world, that was very worrying.
"But we can change that. We just have to-" Before Emerald Aura could say anything else, she was finally hit by something. A ray of darkness hit her from the side, cutting her speech off. Emerald's pupils shrank as the darkness knocked her off the Rift Log she made. Now it was Emerald who fell into her own Rift Waters.
"Emerald!" Twilight screamed before looking over to where that ray came from. This was done by none other than one of the Despair Plants. A fused Despair Plant to be exact. This time, it ended up being the Despair Plant Triphyophyllum. The bipedal Hydra-like Dragon Despair Plant that faced Celestia and Luna back at Rustboro City. It appeared once more and on the back of it was Opal Vivacity.
"Gotcha~" Opal sang as another ray came from the heads of Triphyophyllum, targeting Twilight this time. Twilight put up a shield as soon as possible, blocking it immediately and defending her Pokemon at the same time. However, with Opal here, that could change with ease. She took off a piece of her mane, throwing it onto Triphyophyllum's back.
Fate was being altered as a crimson light went off, eclipsing this part of the room. And by doing so, time was reversed for this Fate-Changing Action. Twilight never made her barrier as she was still gazing at the Dark Ray. But for Triphyophyllum, time never reversed, allowing its ray to hit without fail.
"Gah!" Twilight and all of her Pokemon took the hit from the ray as the Rift Logs they each stood on were obliterated. Twilight and her Pokemon were sent flying with darkness trailing out of their bodies. Opal laughed as they each crashed onto land, at last, leaving the water.
"Obviously it was going to be me who actually pulled it off!" Opal boasted, seeing herself as the superior vampire for dealing damage to Twilight's group. When dropping to the ground, they found it to be rougher than before. Not as rough as the Dark Ray but still rather harsh, especially on Twilight's body.
"A-Absol...!"
"Esp..." Espeon and Absol groaned, followed by Cinccino squirming on the ground. That single Dark Ray from Triphyophyllum really bewildered their bodies, more than they expected too.
"Now then..." Opal would then arrive with Triphyophyllum, hopping off the Fused Despair Plant's back just to land in front of the downed Princess.
"Aahh...!" Emerald pulled her head out of the water, coughing it all up as she was nearly taken out by her own magic. She took some time to break, opening her narrowed eyes to spot Twilight's current predicament. "T-Twilight!"
"Just three Pokemon? Are you trying to underestimate us? You Rookie Princess..." Opal smirked, talking down to Twilight. "You definitely shouldn't underestimate me over everypony else."
"Ngh...!" Twilight opened one eye while looking up at Opal Vivacity.
"Aren't you lucky you get to stay alive for a while until her majesty takes all of your Alicorn Lifespan?" Opal leaned in, placing her hoof on Twilight's head. She would then do a light stomp on it, damaging Twilight's head but not too much since Rosa Maledicta needed her. However, the strength of a vampire was still rather surprising as even a light stomp was something to take notice of.
"I have to...save everyone...And you're in my way." Twilight uttered while coughing for a moment, slowly raising her head and trying to overpower Opal's hoof.
"Silence." Opal scoffed before shooting out Dark Magic at Twilight's back hoof. By hitting her back hoof, the Dark Magic would explain, causing heavy pain to the Princess of Friendship.
"Aaaagh!" Twilight screeched, losing her focus as that prompted Opal to force her head back down to the rough ground. Twilight's back hoof was now smoking thanks to that attack as Opal was itching to try it again.
"You look absolutely pathetic. Stay quiet until her majesty gets here. But...her majesty didn't say anything about how we bring you to her. I bet I can really rough you up." Opal put on a dastardly smile, having horrible plans for Twilight. "I'm actually jealous of your beauty too. Too many of you Equestrians are good-looking in and in my future world where I'm Queen, I can't have that go on."
"Absol!" Getting back up was Absol along with Espeon and Cinccino. But as they got up, there to face them was Triphyophyllum. "Sol!" Absol would gladly take Triphyophyllum, fearless in the face of this seemingly indestructible foe.
"T-That cape..." Just then, while trying to raise her head some more just so she can break free, Twilight noticed something very familiar. On Opal Vivacity's back, a Galaxy Cape, one that belonged to Olympia, was on her.
"Oh, now you've noticed. Honestly, I expected you to be the first to see it, considering she taught you quite a bit, right? Psychic to Psychic." Opal said, flipping the cape just to show it off. "I took the cape of your precious teacher after I took her life. And it looks better on me. Especially when I get taller."
"Why you...!" If Twilight had access to Sorrowful Rage Magic, she would without a doubt unleash it. But with only Rift Magic at her disposal, she could not unleash that powerful burst of magic to her advantage.
"What's wrong? Do something about it." Opal taunted. "That Rift Magic in you should be worth something, right? I mean, you're not even a full-on Rift Pony so that would make sense why you aren't the best with it, despite your alicorn status."
"No...But I am!" Emerald Aura, who was still here, zapped her magic on the ground, showing Opal Vivacity some Rift Magic. She once again resorted to the Water Approach, summoning another tidal wave. But this one was larger than the rest, expanding in size and forming a whirlpool while also connecting to the water that was made prior to all of this.
"Tch!" Opal would spread her wings, taking flight immediately to avoid the fierce waves that came crashing over. Triphyophyllum would ascend as well as the water was growing to a size so great that it would require a higher height to avoid it.
As for Twilight and her Pokemon, Emerald made it so that they would be safe. The water was comforting to them instead of violent. Like a warm embrace, it would lift them up gently, giving them solace. As for the whirlpool, that would expand faster than the tidal wave. It expanded so much that it would fly out of the water, homing onto Opal and Despair Plant. Triphyophyllum.
"Crush it, Triphyophyllum!" By Opal's order, the three heads of the Triphyophyllum would unleash three powerful Dark Rays that met with the rising whirlpool. The Rift Whirlpool was stopped right before it could reach the beautiful vampire of the fused Despair Plant.
"Thanks, Emerald..." Twilight thanked Emerald Aura for the save before standing back up.
"That cape. I can't believe she took it from Olympia." Emerald would also point out the stolen cape. "Geez, this pony ticks me off. I've heard a lot about her but now I can see where all that hate comes from compared to the others."
"Hmph." Opal flipped her mane as well as the cape. "Do something about it then, Rift Pony."
"Emerald, please. I need that opening for my Z-Move. No matter what. Since this whole chamber is a Despair Plant, the damage will be the best we've ever done. Give me enough time."
"I hear you, Twilight. I'll do what I can. Just don't take too long with the posing, even if it gives it all that extra oomph." Emerald Aura would try her best but she couldn't guarantee it, especially when facing Opal Vivacity, who was looking down at them all with disgust as if they were beneath her.
Absol, Espeon and Cinccino were responsible for pulling off the Z-Move with Twilight and they had to make sure they executed it perfectly. However, Emerald Aura certainly couldn't do it on her own. She would need backup. A Despair Plant will always need multiple forces to deal with it, especially a fused one.
"But...If I pull it off...I still have to deal with every other Despair Plant that can sprout up. The Twilightium Z can't recharge quickly enough. I'm not sure if I should use it right now but I have to rescue everyone somehow." She thought to herself. If only the Twilightium Z didn't need time to recharge. Then again, all Z-Crystals need some time before they can be used once more.
"As if I'd give you the chance to pull off your Z-Move! I'll do everything in my power to stop you and-"
"That's far enough, Opal." However, before Opal could boast once more and show herself off, the one responsible for all of this made her appearance. Emerging from the shadows and hovering over the Rift Seas was the Lich Queen, Rosa Maledicta. Alongside her was Yveltal once more.
Twilight saw her once more. She once saw her in her mindscape, duelling her back then. But this was not her mind. Not anymore. This was the real deal as the true and physical Lich Queen, Rosa Maledicta made her terrifying and ominous appearance.
"Great work keeping her in one place. I'll take it from here." With her final stomp, she created an uncomfortable air that even made the raging waves seem weak and timid in comparison. Cinccino gulped, shimmying close to Absol for safety. "Unless you wish to aid me."
"Yes, your majesty! The latter works for me!" Opal Vivacity saluted before descending to get to Rosa Maledicta's level. "I was just about to make them suffer more but I know you'll do a better job at it than me, your majesty!"
"Princess Twilight. Or should I just call you Twilight?" Rosa said. "Your resistance is admirable. I expect nothing less from an alicorn. The fact that you even avoided the absorption was impressive too. And as for the Rift Pony, that kind of power is unpredictable so I have nothing else to say."
"That's Yveltal up there...I still can't believe she got it. And it's listening to her too..." Emerald Aura looked up at the Destruction Pokemon in disbelief.
"Let my friends go...and put a stop to the Black Crusade at once." Twilight wiped the dust off her face.
"Huh? Who do you think you are?!" Opal vigorously aimed her hoof at Twilight. "You're not even that important of a princess or even of any nobility! Princess of Friendship? What a lame time title! You can't give out orders to her majesty!"
"Hmph!" Emerald would suddenly speak for Twilight. "I'll have you know, Twilight becomes something greater in the future so she has all the right to talk to you like that!"
"Emerald..."
"I don't have time for back-and-forth arguing. Especially if it involves the Black Crusade." Rosa Maledicta sighed. "I'd rather get this over with. Yveltal will soften you up and your lifespan will be mine. Then I'll take your life. I'll perhaps focus on that Absol of yours since they can apparently live for a long time too. And your Ninetales as well."
"You're going to stay far away from my Pokemon." Twilight sternly said, refusing to let the Lich Queen get anywhere near her beloved Pokemon. "If I can pull off my Z-Move here...maybe I can solve everything. Destroy the chamber, take down the Lich Queen and even save Yveltal. Maybe. It just has to be perfect. Ash. Everyone. I hope you're all safe, wherever you are."
Inside the Despair Plant.
Everyone already started searching for something. They wandered this verdant land, seeing how wide and expansive it was. It felt like it was as large as the chamber they were previously in, if not larger. So many Pokemon were scattered everywhere, trying to find a way out of here. Some were already going for the most physical option. Brute force and power. They would try and break out of here by blasting, smashing or clawing their way out of here. But so far, that wasn't working out for them.
"Nothing so far..." Fluttershy said. "And this land is massive. I don't know if we're at the end or the centre of it."
"There's gotta be something." Ash thought deeply.
"We can try something..." Daisy spoke. "We can try and reach this Despair Plant."
"But all magic's been shut off for us Equestrians." Radiant Hope walked over. "Are you sure you're strong enough to do it?"
"I don't know, honestly...We're going back to how we were and that sucks. I don't wanna be a flower again. I mean, I don't hate being it but...this is so much better."
"Stay down." Sombra shut them down instantly. "You can't do anything. You have no more magic power, just like the rest of us. The best thing you can do is wait until we solve this. You're both useless."
"You don't have to say it like that, Sombra..." Radiant Hope replied to Sombra's harsh words. But Daisy and Paradise knew that he was correct. Right now, they were of no use, especially since they were reverting to their original forms.
"Hmm...It would be super helpful to have you speak to the Despair Plant for us..." Pinkie Pie pondered. "I mean, we're in it, so it has to hear us, right?"
"It can hear you clearly." A reply hit Pinkie Pie's words which made her nod. But she wasn't sure who she was nodding too, mainly because the voice didn't come from anyone she knew. There weren't that many Pokemon Trainers here after all and no one had a voice like that. Everyone soon noticed, navigating their heads around this verdant land.
"Who said that?" asked Applejack, shifting her eyes to Sombra. The voice was deep enough to where she mistook it for Sombra's own voice. "Sombra?"
"Wasn't me." Sombra shook his head. "It must've been a voice from elsewhere."
"There is a way out of here. No doubt about it." The voice who spoke to all of them would reveal himself. There was no grand appearance at all. Not a crack in the sky, a boom, a flash or anything of the sort. Standing behind Ash was none other than Fractured Note. Servant to the Lich Queen and once Greyvine, the first Lich King in a previous life.
"A vampire!" Unfortunately, his fangs gave him away immediately as everyone saw a vampire, the very enemies they were going up against. All the Pokemon put a stop to what they were doing at once, focusing on the one who entered here on his own terms.
"I would know. This is rather familiar. Not to me, but to somepony else." Fractured Note continued speaking as if nothing was wrong.
"Who?" Ash would indulge in Fractured Note's words, actually replying to him.
"Hold on! We're just gonna ignore the fact that he's a vampire?!" Rainbow Dash yelled, confused as to why Ash was so quick to reply to him so casually.
"Apologies for the sudden arrival, but you have nothing to fear from me." Fractured Note said before tapping on his unicorn horn. That was the one part that stuck out about him. He had a unicorn horn compared to the vampires who had no horns. Only wings and fangs and that's what made them stick out from other pony species. But Fractured Note had fangs and a horn. A double whammy.
"He's a vampire...right?" Spike asked, curious if he even was a vampire thanks to that horn. He couldn't even see any black wings from him, but that was mainly thanks to the suit he was wearing.
"Uh...Are you?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"I am. But only half. I'll explain later. But right now, you all have to leave here at once. You have your ways of trying to break free, but there is only one way out of this mess."
"Well? What is it then?" Sombra questioned before eyeing down Fractured Note a bit longer. "Come to think of it...you look familiar. Have I seen you somewhere?"
"While the Lich Queen was the first to create Despair Plants, something like this was made in Magehold a while back. The Chamber you all stand in was originally just an ordinary chamber and the Despair Plant merely took it over thanks to its power. Being within such a strange area with everything else being out of sight is nothing new here. Not since she managed to leave it once."
"Who?" Ash asked. "How'd she get out then?"
"I saw it for myself. She wasn't the only Pillar who came across a Despair Plant. Her name was Somnambula."
"Somnambula..." Ash and everyone stayed quiet for a moment, trying to figure out where they have heard that name before. They recalled that name swiftly since it was Sunburst who first mentioned that name during the Crystalling. And once it clicked for them, those who heard it from Sunburst themselves would scream out her name in unison. "Somnambula?!"
"Wait a sec! First of all, who are you?!" Rainbow Dash roared out at the vampire who made the most surprising appearance here in this strange place that was within the Despair Plant that absorbed them. Fractured Note showed up casually as if he wasn't an enemy. And technically, he wasn't.
"My name is Fractured Note. Did I not say that before? I guess I didn't." He greeted them with his real name, acting casual once more.
"Fractured Note? Chrysalis mentioned you once when she told us everything she knew about Magehold thanks to her mom." Now that name sounded familiar as well.
"That's me. A pleasure to meet you."
"I don't like how welcoming he is..." Rainbow Dash whispered. She was a bit suspicious about Fractured Note considering how nice he was about this. Considering they were being attacked by vampires, any vampire would be very dangerous to be around.
"Same here...He's got a horn and so does the Lich Queen...Do you think they're related or something?"
"Oh, this horn has always been with me. Even in my previous life." Fractured Note tapped his horn. "You might've recognized me already, Sombra. My appearance looks a bit different, doesn't it?"
"Right. Now your face looks familiar. You just look like a slightly different version of the first-ever Lich King. Greyvine. I've heard about you from what the Umbrum have shared with me."
"The First Lich King?! You?!" Many of them shouted but Sombra didn't look surprised at all. His hunch was right once he got a good look at Fractured Note.
"Former Lich King. Now I'm just a vampire with traces of a Lich in me. As seen by the horn. I serve as the Lich Queen's loyal servant. Well...not exactly loyal. I just pretend to be loyal."
"I can vouch for him." Sombra raised his hoof. "He is the type of pony to be on our side."
"Really? You mean it, Sombra?" Radiant Hope glanced over at her childhood friend.
"Right. I know about King Greyvine. Compared to the Lich Kings and Queens that came after him, he was the complete opposite. The shortest reign and the least destructive one too. In fact, there was a vast lack of destruction. I never thought he reincarnated though."
"It was a risk. I poured all the magic I had in my last moments to try and reincarnate myself and it worked out. Now I just barely look like my old self."
"Oh, so you are on our side!" Pinkie Pie gasped. "That's great! Really great! First Spectrum Shade and now Dimstar? We keep piling these on!"
"I'm pretty sure Spectrum and Dimstar don't care about us, Pinkie." said Rainbow Dash.
"What's this about Somnambula?" Sombra asked. "And how do we get out of here?"
"The Pillars, at least two or three of them have had interactions with things out of Magehold before. And something like this has been experienced before by those not from Magehold. You don't have to worry. There is a way out of this."
"That's great and all, but how?" Radiant Hope questioned.
"The Lich Queen is simply using one of Magehold's tricks and she placed it inside of a Despair Plant. Vampires used to show up in Equestria quite a bit but never publically showed themselves. They always went for smaller groups."
"Oh, he's right. That's how Applejack and I found out about those Sunrise Flowers when learning about Mage Meadowbrook." Fluttershy only confirmed Fractured Note's words.
"All the Pillars were actually together when coming across something from Magehold. They found themselves within the chamber too but it was done by accident instead of your break-in. And it was Somnambula who found a way out of it. She discovered that the chamber was sentient, even before a Despair Plant absorbed it."
"So...it was always alive?" Realizing that, Ash looked around him, gazing at the green pulses in the sky. Now those pulses were starting to make sense. Those were potentially heartbeats.
"Not just alive but it was drawing its power from somewhere. It drew power from the afterlife, interacting the spirit and souls that have moved on." Fractured Note continued. "You've experienced it before, right? The power a Lich is capable of when it comes to those that have moved on."
"We have, Back home with Dimstar. A Lich can connect with the afterlife, right?" Rarity replied.
"Right. That's where all the skeletons come from and this is also an example of that. It was the souls and spirits that made all of this possible. The Lich Queen found a way to make her Despair Plant tap into that same power by adding her own magic. Thankfully, since Somnambula figured it out, you all have to do what she did. Speak with the spirits."
"And how do we do that?"
"It was Starswirl the Bearded and Mistmane's combined magic who helped her reach them and Somnambula did everything else. All you need is some magic and get ready to face the beings that lived beyond. Be careful. They are all rowdy and upset as you can probably guess."
"Easy for you to say...we don't have magic anymore. All of it's been shut down." Radiant Hope sighed, lacking any magic to make it possible.
"Right, the Necropillars. Your only hope to get somewhere is by destroying those pillars. But the two ponies who didn't make it in here are at a grave disadvantage."
"It's fine." Ash stepped forward. "We've got one way to reach the spirits. Applejack?"
"I hear ya. We don't have magic, but we have this little guy to help us." Thankfully, there was a way to speak with the afterlife. And that answer came in the form of Delta Riolu, who would soon step up.
"This Pokemon? Really?" Fractured Note showed a surprised yet confused expression when gazing at Delta Riolu.
"Don't let his small size fool ya. Riolu calmed down some spirits back at Lapras Lake when we went up against Dimstar. With some help from Lucario, we solved that problem."
"Rio!" Riolu triumphantly raised his arms, knowing he could do it again.
"Hm...Okay then." Fractured Note shrugged, going along with it. "If this little Pokemon can do it, then who am I to judge? But even if you connect with them, it'll be much different from what Somnambula did. In her time, she didn't have to deal with a Despair Plant. Only the spirits and souls. But for you all, the Despair Plant is something you have to watch out for."
"We'll be fine. Ready, Lucario?" Ash looked over at his Aura Pokemon. Lucario was more than ready. He wanted out of here as soon as possible. "Great. We just need that magic touch. We could wait for Twilight and Emerald or..."
"I can provide it to you. The Lich Queen is not aware of my actions. I always move in secrecy. I was born a Lich even with my reincarnated form so I can expertly conceal myself in various ways that the Lich Queen herself cannot. I'll give you the magic you need but make it quick. Otherwise, she will soon find out that my magic is involved in this. Your friends are out there having her full attention."
"Good luck, Twilight. Emerald. Espeon. " Ash said to himself, wishing Twilight Sparkle, Espeon and Emerald Aura the best of luck.
Magehold Chamber.
And indeed, all the luck they needed had to be here. Right now, they were facing not just Opal Vivacity but the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta herself along with the Destruction Pokemon Yveltal and a Despair Plant Triphyophyllum. Twilight was hoping that Emerald Aura could do her best to give her enough time for one reason. The Z-Move. That was Twilight's Trump Card and she definitely didn't want to waste it.
"Alright, you three! Gather together!" Twilight exclaimed as Espeon, Absol and Cinccino would rush to Twilight's side, preparing themselves for the Twilight Starblaze.
"Opal. Get a chunk of your mane ready. I want to make sure fate is on my side. You never know with these Equestrians after all. They're completely unpredictable."
"Twilight...I'm gonna give you all the time in the world by trying to call for the biggest force out there. Next to Arceus, anyway."
"Biggest force? You mean the Rift?!" Twilight roared. Emerald Aura was going all in. And the best way for her to go all in was by contacting the Rift. The one who made her.
"Even I know I can't hold off these two with how dangerous they are so I need the Rift more than anything. Whatever the Rift can do, we need that power. Even if it's not at its best anymore after recent events it should still do something for us."
"You're going to call on such a power?" Rosa Maledicta uttered. "That honestly sounds pointless. The Rift won't get involved with something like this."
"Don't talk like you know it. You all threaten every single bit of life there is and that involves the Rift. I know it'll get involved with your shenanigans." Emerald's horn flashed as she was already preparing a Rift Spell which was Twilight's cue to start preparing the Z-Move. "I know the Rift doesn't want anything to do with me anymore, but I have to try something at least."
"As if! Get them, Triphyophyllum!" Opal Vivacity would make the first move, ordering Despair Plant Triphyophyllum. The three heads of this Despair Plant would shoot out three dark rays that were wide enough to hit as many targets as possible for such small numbers.
"Yveltal...Dark Pulse." Rosa Maledicta, wanting to keep them alive for their lifespans, commanded Yveltal to use something other than Oblivion Wing. But Dark Pulse was devastating in its own right. And on top of that, the magic of the Lich Queen would be used as well.
Emerald Aura gulped, seeing a multitude of Darkness flying in her direction. Dark Rays from the Triphyophyllum, Dark Pulse from Yveltal and a Blast of Dark Magic from Rosa Maledicta. But this wasn't the time to get nervous, not when she was talking so big earlier.
In response, Emerald Aura's Rift Magic sprang into action, affecting the area around her. She would transform the air into one large Air Shield. This Air Shield would interact with the Dark Attacks in a unique way, causing them to swirl as the shield also acted like a pocket, holding them back.
"Here goes!" Twilight would tap on the Z-Crystal, initiating the process. The light from the crystals went off as three of them emerged to reach the three Pokemon who were about to harness its power. "Arceus...I need all the help I can get!"
Rosa Maledicta threw out some thorns from underneath, attempting to sneak attack Twilight before she could even get the chance for a single Z-Move. However, the second the thorns reached her, a forcefield of Rift Magic flashed into existence, reflecting the thorns as they bounced off. "Hm?"
"No use in doing that! Twilight will be protected by a small Rift Dimension I've created! She'll have all the time possible!" Emerald Aura grinned as she backed Twilight up with this small dimension around her. Her hooves were trembling along with her horn shaking when holding off these powerful attacks.
"That so?" But the Lich Queen was unamused as she simply expanded the size of her magic once. The increase of the Dark Beam disrupted the Air Shield immediately. Emerald Aura felt the disruption as the force of Dark Magic travelled through the air, hitting her body.
Emerald cried out as the pocket of air was pierced while the entire shield shattered. All the attacks went through, going straight for Emerald Aura while leaving behind a powerful wind pressure. This also affected Twilight and the dimension she was being kept in. The Dimension would shake from the wind pressure, throwing Twilight off balance. Emerald Aura recovered by sliding on the ground, quickly switching to another spell without even taking the time to breathe. She had to be as fast as possible. She used her spell to gather the air once more, using what had been shattered and bringing it back for another try.
This time, she sharpened the air, giving it an edge. The movement of the attacks came close, the Sharp Air would cut them in half. Dark Pulse, the Dark Rays and the Dark Beam were sliced, combusting right afterwards. However, one thing that would not be sliced in half were the thorns of Rosa Maledicta. After the dark attacks left the scene, the thorns returned, flying towards Emerald Aura.
The Rift Pony gasped before trying to use the sharp air once more. However, not only did they fail to cut the thorns, but they were also constricted by the thorns. The Sharp Air found itself restrained by the thorns, unable to flow anymore as Rosa Maledicta had a grip on the air itself. And by holding the air, she would shatter it, shaking the area around her.
The vast quantity of air in this area would be disrupted by this one action, further disrupting the Rift Dimension that Twilight was in. She was unable to get her Z-Move going with all of these disruptions. On top of that, the ground below started cracking before of this tremendous clash. The Rift Water that Emerald Aura made earlier would start bursting out, even towards Emerald who made it so that it would be safe for her and Twilight. But with the Lich Queen's power, it was turning on them as well.
Triphyophyllum would suddenly approach Emerald Aura, ready to get up close and personal. Its fangs bared as all three of its mouths were about to gnaw on the Rift Pony, wondering what space tasted like. They would never get that opportunity as Emerald Aura then manipulated the water she originally made, refusing to let it turn against her. Instead, she would turn it towards the Despair Plant Triphyophyllum, causing a stream of it to crash into one of the heads.
And for extra measure, Emerald heated up the water, making it boil. Once it hit one of the heads, the eyes and face of Triphyophyllum's head would receive a powerful burn that made it cry out. This pain affected the other heads of Triphyophyllum as they were connected after all. Bits of the boiling water even touched parts of the Fused Despair Plant, adding to that pain. Afterwards, Emerald would summon another stream, making it hit Triphyophyllum's chest, launching the massive creature back and targeting the two terrifying ponies in front of her. "How's that?!"
"Meh." But Opal Vivacity was not bothered. Instead, she held out a chunk of Fate-Changing Mane, allowing Triphyophyllum to approach her. The mane touched Triphyophyllum's back, changing fate in a flash. Triphyophyllum's predicament had changed. Instead of flying into Opal Vivacity, it would go back to what it was doing seconds ago.
The stream of water was used once more, but this time, Triphyophyllum would see it coming, swaying all three of its heads in different directions. The left head would move back, causing the stream to miss, the middle one moved forward while the right one moved back as well. The stream missed completely, hitting the walls instead. Even the second stream was anticipated as Triphyophyllum would unleash a Dark Ray on it.
The stream was blown away by the ray of Darkness as it would absolutely overpower it and that would mean Emerald Aura was bound to be hit by it as fate did not favour her. A direct hit and the Rift Pony went flying. The ground below would break apart once more, allowing the water to rise up. Dark Magic trailed out of Emerald's body after the attack hit its mark, setting off a black explosion.
"Emerald!" Twilight screeched after seeing her friend take a heavy hit. Emerald slid on the rough ground as her body was met with the crashing waves that flew out of the cracks, splashing her.
"D-Don't stop!" Emerald yelled at Twilight, wanting her to continue. She couldn't afford to worry about her friend taking damage. Emerald Aura recovered by creating a cloud in front of her which brought up from the ground, regaining some momentum and balance. However, she had to think fast as there were large thorns right above her, ready to pierce into the Rift Pony. Emerald would quickly summon more clouds above her, using them as shields.
The thorns would fiercely stab into the clouds, finding out that they were hard instead of soft. Emerald hardened the clouds to match that of steel itself, defending her and Twilight. Twilight whimpered for a moment before continuing the Z-Move. The light energy was still there, waiting to be unleashed.
"Oh just stop it." Rosa Maledicta said as her thorns would slice the clouds in half with their barbed edges. Even the Steel Clouds were being destroyed as the thorns were cleaving through them. Emerald Aura then summoned Rift Energy out of thin air, forming the energy into massive claws. These Rift Claws would then grab the thorns, holding them in place right as they nearly touched Emerald Aura's face. "You're wasting your time. Yveltal. Oblivion Wing."
Suddenly, Yveltal would use Oblivion Wing, but not on Emerald Aura, Instead, it was on the Rift Claws. By creating a transparent violet sphere in front of it with blue electricity-like energy in it, Yveltal shot it all out as the Rift Claws would have all of their energy taken away instantly. The claws would lose their Rift Energy, much to Emerald Aura's dismay and surprise. She saw them whittle away as she quickly ran back before the thorns could come swinging down.
A close call as the thorns violently whipped the ground, leaving a massive crack and mark on it. It also made a tremor that would reach the Rift Dimension as Rosa Maledicta was clearly trying to interrupt Twilight as much as possible. And she was succeding at it. The dimension was beginning to break thanks to this fierce and rough confrontation, holding Twilight and her Pokemon back. Emerald Aura breathed in and out, feeling so much pressure that no Rift Pony has ever gone through before.
"Dark Pulse, Yvetal."
"Blast her, Triphyophyllum!" Opal cackled as both Yveltal and Triphyophyllum would attack in unison. Four Dark Attacks came flying out of their mouths, merging together to form an even stronger one. Grunting for a moment, Emerald Aura would once again create something out of Rift Energy.
And this time, it was a Rift Projection of herself. She would form this massive Pony Projection but it was solid instead of transparent. It held its hooves out, using all of its power to hold back the attacks. The impact let out powerful sparks that hit the walls of the room, shaking everything near and far.
"Stop it, Emerald!" Twilight yelled. "Let's just try it somewhere else!"
"It's fine, Twilight!" Emerald groaned. "I'm so glad I'm a Rift Pony otherwise this would be over so soon! I wish I was at my best though...! But I know I can get the Rift involved somehow!" She bellowed while her body was struggling. The clash between her Rift Projection and the four Dark Attacks shook the area as the walls and ceiling above were starting to crumble, dropping on Twilight's Rift Dimension, breaking it down gradually.
"Forget the Rift! We don't have enough time!" Twilight pleaded. "I can't even get a clear shot with my Z-Move like this!"
"We have to go with this method. It's all we have right now. I was contemplating on this but the one way I can get the Rift's attention is if I take myself out."
"Take yourself out?" Twilight repeated as her heart dropped for a moment.
"I'm made out of Rift Energy. I came from the Rift itself. If I go, the Rift gets some of its power back. It already took a good chunk away from me and the rest that it lost is still here. Now might be a good time to send it there."
"You can't take yourself out!" What Emerald was suggesting was wild. So much so that Twilight absolutely refused to let it happen if it meant that Emerald would be lost. "I already lost Shining Armor! I can't lose a friend too!"
"We don't go way back, Twilight and I'm not sure how strong our trust is. We weren't on the best terms in the beginning. I was the one who caused that Darkrai problem for your town back in the early days and I gave a boost to some of your worst enemies..." Emerald replied, lowering her tone. "But at this rate, I'm sure things will work out. It has to. For our friends. You have to let me do this."
"I can't let you do it though! You're my friend too! We made up after everything was said and done and you helped us during some rough times!" Twilight brought up a good point. Even though Emerald Aura caused so much trouble for them in the beginning, she made up for it by being one of their most powerful allies ever. "I can't sacrifice someone else to save someone else! That's why I want another way!"
"Ugh, enough of that babble!" Opal felt like gagging as she took a piece of her Fate-Changing Mane out, throwing it at the Rift Projection. "Here! I'll give you two a perfect solution!"
However, the moment the mane touched the Rift Projection of Emerald Aura, it would suddenly bounce off. Nothing happened. There was no effect of any kind. The mane did not let out a crimson light or affect fate and reality in any way. It just felt to the sea pathetically. "What?! Impossible!" Naturally, Opal Vivacity was flabbergasted, unable to understand how that was possible. Her mane has never failed before, so why now?
"Where do you think the Fate-Changing Ability originated from?" Emerald chuckled, enjoying the look of shock on Opal's face. "Rift Magic counters that power of yours easily! And I'm going through with this and going out on my own terms! Not from you! After all...this is the only option I have."
"No, Emerald!" Twilight protested as the struggle blew back parts of the Rift Dimension even more.
"Time's running out, Twilight. It's not like I'll be gone forever." Emerald Aura twitched as she felt herself losing the struggle. "The Rift can just remake me. But...at this point, I don't know if it cares about me anymore. Obsidian stopped caring about me...until I met all of you. You and everyone else back at Ponyville care about me."
"I can't do that though..." The thought of losing someone else again was too much for Twilight. She already lost one part of her family in the form of Shining Armor. Emerald Aura couldn't go either. That would only increase Twilight's fears as everyone she knows and love could potentially perish one by one.
"I'll feel pretty great after I'm gone though. I'll leave knowing that I had those who cared for me. I finally know how Cold Colt felt when he got love from you all. It's the greatest feeling in the universe. In any universe. I was afraid I was going to be alone after the Rift took so much of my power away but I'm glad I met you all. If I don't ever come back and up as someone else in another universe where two worlds cross over, I'll at least keep those memories and know there's a place like this out there."
"I didn't even get to spend that much time with you...I Wish I did! Just like everypony else!"
"Quit acting like a baby! You and your Pokemon are the only ones who can save your friends!" Emerald yelled back at Twilight, being a bit harsh but meaning it from a well-meaning heartfelt place. "With a Pokemon...you can do anything! I've seen it all from the World Ash lives in! Your world and His World have taught me that there's always hope somewhere! And with this Grander World, that Hope is at an all-time high! The best it's been!"
"I've grown tired of this." Rosa Maledicta shook her head, bored of this sentimental talk. "If you want to destroy yourself then I suppose I'll skip out on taking something from you. I'll go after the one they call Cold Colt instead. Yveltal. Oblivion Wing."
At last, Rosa Maledicta chose to destroy Emerald Aura, focusing on another Rift Pony. That horrifying and violent beam of destruction would be unleashed once more, hitting the Rift Projection.
"I told you I'm going down but it will be on my own terms!" Emerald Aura preferred to take herself out in her own way. She refused to let it be done by the Dread League at all. "And...I'm leaving something else behind for that diva of yours!"
"Really now?" Rosa Maledicta narrowed her eyes while OPal grizzled her teeth at Emerald Aura. The Rift Projection was beginning to dissolve against the power of Oblivion Wing as the hooves were already the first to go. This obviously meant that Emerald Aura was about to lose the struggle but not in a pathetic way.
"This feels nice though...This fiery feeling in my heart. Rift Creations don't normally feel emotions like this and yet me and Cold found it. Twilight. Thanks for everything." Grateful for what she got despite only being sent here as a troublemaker in the beginning, Emerald Aura could smile with relief and peace in her heart. Then after taking all of that in, she would let every ounce of her magic explode.
All of the Rift Magic within would explode, resulting in the Rift Projection expanding as well. In its final moments, the Rift Projection would cancel out the Oblivion Wing as it never reached Emerald Aura at all. The Rift Explosion would then expand instantly, reaching both sides but one side was obviously destructive when targeting the Lich Queen and her forces.
Twilight's bloodcurdling and emotional scream was completely blocked out by the sound of the explosion which engulfed everyone in this room. Nothing was missed. The room was blown sky-high, destroying every possible entryway that could be found.
All vampires near this room were startled as the explosion blew away the walls. Those vampires who were close by, trying to reach this area, found themselves being sent far away by it. It even went so far that it left the Chamber itself, sending Rift Lights into the Dark Sky.
The Dark Clouds were pierced as for a moment, they knew what Light truly felt like, even if it was brief and fizzled out afterwards, just like all the Rift Energy in the area. It all fizzled out, reverting as stardust that would gracefully drop onto Magehold, giving some extra life to it.
"Ugh..." Rosa Maledicta put a shield around her which she lowered. But even she was surprised by the power behind that explosion as it made a visible crack in her shield.
"That Cosmic Nuisance..." Opal growled, insulting Emerald Aura, who was nowhere to be found. Both of them looked onward, seeing no sign of the Rift Pony. All that was left was a Stardust Silhouette of herself, ascending afterwards. She was truly gone and all that was left was the weeping Twilight Sparkle, who lost her Rift Dimension. Not only that but the water that Emerald Aura originally made was gone too, leaving with her and revealing a ruined ground.
"She took herself out and refused to let us do it. That's one soul that's been wasted." Rosa Maledicta grumbled for a bit.
"But she was a fool to do that! Because now Princess Twilight is truly on her own!" Opal cackled, aiming her hoof at the Princess of Friendship. "So much for that sacrifice, huh?! And I don't much of the Rift itself anywhere!"
Twilight did not respond. Instead, she stood there, gutted beyond belief. All of her Pokemon gathered around her, comforting their beloved trainer. Even the always-serious Absol showed a gutted emotion. Emerald Aura was gone. But Opal Vivacity did not give Twilight the chance to lament or take it all in.
"Triphyophyllum! Get her!" Opal yelled, wanting to damage Twilight at her weakest moment. Three more Dark Rays were coming for her and she didn't even make any movements. She was too hurt by this to react. Absol, Espeon and CInccino would stand in front of Twilight, having the strength to continue even after what just happened. However, they wouldn't have to be the ones to defend Twilight.
From above, in the skies where Emerald Aura's magic pierced, something else pierced through it. A Golden Beam of Light shot down, piercing the Magehold Chamber, going through every level at incredible speeds and more importantly, intercepting the Dark Rays.
The Light countered the Darkness, obliterating it as it would also expand, spelling bad news for Opal Vivacity. Opal screeched once this Ray of Light appeared. But most notably, it also affected Triphyophyllum. The Despair Plant Fusion and the Beautiful yet Vile Vampire both hissed and roared, backing up.
"It's you..." Already, Rosa Maledicta knew who this was just by looking at this Golden Light and seeing how it affected her Despair Plant. This was no ordinary Light. Not at all.
"It's alright now, Princess Twilight." A voice spoke to her. It was familiar and comforting. It reminded her of Ash but differently. Deeper. Twilight's eyes slowly opened, still teary-eyed as she gazed upon the one who came to her aid in the darkest of times. Another version of Ash Ketchum's Father.
Galaxy Master.
"The Rift sent me here as soon as possible. Faster than I could show up." Galaxy Master, alongside his partner Pikachu, stood tall among the smoke and dust that was left behind by the Rift Explosion. "Your friend Emerald Aura's wishes have been heard. And now we are here."
"G-Galaxy Master...Mr Ketchum!" A mournful Twilight exclaimed as a Ray of Hope had entered the scene. Galaxy Master had arrived. And his arrival was done by none other than the Rift itself. Emerald Aura's sacrifice did not go to waste. Not in the slightest. Despite it all, the Rift heard her cries and brought possibly the greatest Counter Measure to the Dread League's Dark Magic possible as seen by how Triphyophyllum took damage.
A smile would slowly come back to Twilight's face, knowing that Emerald's wish came true. It was equally surprising that the Rift actually listened and got involved in some way. Granted, the actual Rift wasn't here but it did send an incredibly powerful ally.
"N-No way he showed up?!" Opal Vivacity gasped. Fear appeared in her eyes once Galaxy Master, of all people, made his appearance. "In here too?!"
"It's been a while, Galaxy Master. I was waiting for you to do something during the Black Crusade," said Rosa Maledicta.
"The Lich Queen, Rosa Maledicta. I wish I had stopped your plans as soon as possible. Now's my chance to do that before it worsens. I've already been across different regions and places, stopping your horrible Crusade."
"Tch. I wish you weren't in Magehold at all. This creates new problems. But at least you showed up to where I am so that removes the hassle."
"So you already have Yveltal under your control, I see." Galaxy Master faced the Destruction Pokemon. "Your foolish plan to snuff out all life in existence knows no limit."
"And there's no limit to what I can do. All of this? This is nothing compared to what I'm capable of." Rosa smiled as she had no intention of slowing down. She had come this far and it would be a waste. "You're just looking at baby steps of what the Black Crusade can truly bring."
"Is that why the friend of my Son is in such a weak state?" The anger in Galaxy Master's voice could be heard. It was rare to hear him angry. In fact, he's never been angry minus that time his body was possessed and stolen by the Rift. All of this and what the Rift itself had shared with him struck something within the Fictional Character.
"G-Galaxy...Everyone's trapped inside the Chamber. T-They-" Twilight stumbled and stuttered on her words, still feeling the shock of it all.
"It's alright, princess. You do what you must. Destroy those pillars and save your friends. You'll have my protection near or far." He turned his head as he and Pikachu gave a reassuring thumbs up.
"Pikachu!"
"You're not going anywhere with her!" Opal stepped up, already prepared to intervene as she had Triphyophyllum behind her as backup. "Destroy him, Triphyophyllum!"
"Hm?" Galaxy Master then turned his head before holding his hand out. From his hand, the golden light would appear, transforming into the shape of a Galaxy. "Galaxy Flash!"
This Galaxy-Shaped light would meet with the darkness that Triphyophyllum unleashed, catching it in mere seconds. The darkness from Despair Plant Triphyophyllum was immediately blown back by Galaxy Master's powerful flash. Opal, as always, would hiss and further distance herself away from Galaxy Master's light. The Galaxy Flash, after obliterating the darkness, would expand, not stopping for a second. Rosa Maledicta's eyes widened as she would retaliate, sending Dark Magic his way.
She immediately countered his Light, resulting in a powerful clash of Light and Dark. The room, which had already been greatly damaged, could shake violently, eradicating all nearby rubble. The two attacks looked otherworldly the way they clashed, captivating Twilight's eyes when seeing these two great powers collide. The light from Galaxy Master travelled far enough to reach the other floors and rooms while the darkness of Rosa Maledicta would do the same, keeping up with his light.
The two forces would disperse but immediately after that, Galaxy Master would swipe his arm, forming a wave of light that would cleave the ground in front of Rosa and Opal. All it took was Rosa Maledicta using her thorns to form a thick shield which blocked the light.
However, even though the light was stopped, it still ended up damaging the thorns. The Light of Galaxy Master, which was an extension of Arceus' Light, was strong enough to damage the thorns, burning some of them away. This was not a surprise to Rosa Maledicta. She already knew this ever since her Roots were damaged back at Mount Coronet.
"I can't stay here forever with him." Rosa kissed her teeth out of annoyance. "I have some lives to take from within. The entirety of the Dread League will deal with you until I'm done." Just as she said that, slithering into the scene from all the destroyed parts of this once tidy room were other Despair Plants. The Despair Plant Cobras would slither in and Arachnorchids would crawl on the walls. Cordyceps, Triantis, Scorpio, Pteranthes and more would emerge, closing in on this room.
"Really? It's a good thing that no matter where I am..." Galaxy Master held out his hands, summoning multiple rays of light that pierced through the chamber, landing next to him and in front of Twilight Sparkle and her Pokemon. Emerging from these rays of light were none other than Galaxy Master's Pokemon. "My wonderful friends are with me too! Go. Twilight. My Pokemon will do their best to give you enough time."
"O-Okay! Thank you so much!" Twilight thanked him from the bottom of her heart, wiping her tears away before jetting off with Espeon, Absol and Cinccino.
"You're not getting away!" Opal refused to let Twilight go, immediately leaving the room to try and pursue her. Very soon, a brawl between Galaxy Master's Pokemon and the Despair Plants would break out as Rosa Maledicta would also depart from this room, choosing not to stick around here any longer.
Within the Despair Plant.
Already, they were working to find a way out of here. And there was only one way of making that happen. Fractured Note had used his magic within the Despair Plant, tapping into his latent Lich Power which he once had when he was King Greyvine. Even though he had been reincarnated, magic from his Old Lich Self still remained. Not much, but enough. His magic would flare across the dark verdant land, connecting to the spirits from beyond.
And these spirits could be found even within the Despair Plant itself as a spectral light was flowing from the ground and even from the air itself, letting out ominous whispers.
And the one to speak with the spirits would be Delta Riolu. The Embalming Pokemon. Out of any Pokemon here, he had the biggest connection with the Afterlife. It was up to him and with some help from Lucario, to speak with the spirits and solve this problem, much like what Somnambula once did.
Right before everyone's eyes, they saw spirits appearing in an astral form. This was similar to the spirits that exist in the meteors found in Meteor Mountain. Spirits of ponies. But they did not resemble vampires. Not in the slightest.
"Are those...Vampires who became Skeletons?" Rarity gasped. "I don't see any part that looks like a vampire though."
"No. These are all ponies from long ago who have long since passed. The skeletons that exist in Magehold belonged to these spirits. Their spirits and bodies are now separated from each other thanks to the Lich Kings and Queens. Each one went across the world, resurrecting the bodies of ponies and gathering an army of skeletons." Fractured Note gasped.
"Why have you called us here, Greyvine?" The spirits spoke, bringing up Fractured Note's original name.
"Sorry about this. I know you're all upset. Gravely upset."
"Beyond upset." All the spirits collectively said. Their rage was shown by how their light blue appearances suddenly turned red. The area even started shaking in response to their building rage. "Our bodies are still being used by the Dread League to this day. We've all been robbed of a peaceful life. Each generation of pony that wishes to sleep peacefully have not yet gotten that wish."
"I understand. I promised that I would try and make it for you all. By returning your skeleton bodies to where they were and allowing your spirits to rest easily." Fractured Note lowered his head. "This might be that time at last now that the Black Crusade is in full swing."
"Why did we have to wait for so long until the Black Crusade had begun? It is all the fault of the Lich King who came from Pegalysium. He started this ridiculous resurrection plan and laid the worst foundations for the Black Crusade."
"There was a Lich King from Pegalysium?" Ash gasped as he and his friends now learned of another Lich King. One that came from Pegalysium originally.
"Centuries we've been used to fuel Magehold against our will but our skeleton bodies act like nothing is wrong. We fuel the magic that allows the vampires to return here. We've even started fuelling the high durability of those accursed Despair Plants that the current Lich Queen holds." Their rage kept building as the verdant area kept shaking. Powerful bursts of magic would fly out of the ground, startling others as the skies above would crack green thunder.
"Rio!" Before their rage could build any further, Riolu intervened. Delta Riolu would use his connection to the afterlife, sending a transmission of Aura to them.
"Hm?" The spirits noticed Delta Riolu's aura, acknowledging him. Lucario would do the same, joining Delta Riolu and backing him up as they could connect to the spirits deeper than everyone else. It was almost physical. And by feeling it, the Spirits were calming down. The red energy around them would turn light blue once more, bringing them some solace. "This feeling...What is this?"
"That's Aura." Ash stepped up. "Riolu and Lucario are already doing great calming you down."
"Hold on. You're the reason why they're so tough? And that explosion thing is your doing?" Rainbow Dash questioned as the Spirits revealed some shocking information. It seemed that they were behind most of Magehold's greatest strengths.
"It is. Unfortunately. Ever since we were brought back as skeletons, we were ordered to build the most powerful force to ever exist. The Lich King and Queens used us to strengthen their weapons, granting them high amounts of durability through each generation. They used the souls from our bodies to do so. The Despair Plants are the most recent example of it reaching nigh-perfection."
"So the Despair Plants and those thorns and roots are all powered by souls? That's why they're so strong?" said Starlight.
"It is. In their earlier stages, they were slightly stronger than average roots and vines. But as time went on, they grew stronger, and with each soul, their durability increased greatly. At this moment, they are so durable that they are almost indestructible. And any more will grant them True Invincibility."
"So is that why she's going through with the Black Crusade? To build an indestructible force?" Radiant Hope spoke.
"That is one of the reasons for the Black Crusade. Having an invincible force is greatly beneficial to anyone. And if she collects more souls after the Crusade is successful, she might reach that level of invincibility. However, recently, we've noticed that some of those souls have returned at last. Something got past their amazing durability."
"You've got my friends to thank for that." Ash grinned, knowing why that was the case. His good friends were the cause for some of the Despair Plants being defeated, losing to the Light.
"Pika-Pika!"
"It was your group that is responsible for the souls returning? This strange group." The spirits closed in on Ash and his many friends, finding it hard to believe that this colourful cast of characters are responsible.
"Yes. Believe it or not." Fractured Note confirmed.
"So wait! If we free more souls, will the Despair Plants get weaker?"
"That is correct. Once many souls are returned to where they rightfully were, the Despair Plants will grow weaker. They will lose their nigh-indestructible durability. As for the roots and thorns...you will have to face the Lich Queen herself for that."
"So that's all we have to do. Take out the Despair Plants?" Rainbow Dash added. "And if we do it enough times, they won't be so tough to take out."
"That is simple enough to understand." The Spirits confirmed. "Without the souls that inhabit them, they will be weakened. Greatly weakened."
"We have to...?" Daisy didn't like the sound of that. This whole time, she's been calming down the Despair Plants, befriending them. "But..."
"Sounds rough, I know, Daisy." Ash kneeled to face Daisy who was still slowly returning as a flower. "I know you don't wanna see them destroyed, but we also have to return those souls back. There's gotta be one way around this..."
"You do not have to destroy them. You can simply take them out of the Despair Plants themselves." Thankfully, the Spirits already offered up an alternative, bringing a smile to Daisy's face after hearing that. "Of course, that involves entering them somehow. You are currently in a Despair Plant but you do not see a soul at all."
"Yeah. Where is its soul? And how are we gonna take it out of a Despair Plant in the first place?" Ash pondered. "Maybe Dusknoir can do it? A lot of Ghost-Types know how to take souls.
"Maybe Somnambula also found a way around this? We could try that Ghost thing actually." Pinkie Pie wondered. The whole thought of Ghost-Types being the answer wasn't bad at all. Many found it very likely that it could work now that they had this knowledge.
"She somewhat did." The Spirits then unleashed some of their energy, using it to form something. In front of everyone's eyes, they would be graced with the image of the pony who was once in a similar situation as them.
Somnambula.
"So that's who the town is named after..." Fluttershy said as they all saw Somnambula for the first time. They've only heard of her during the Crystalling and know of a place that was named after her name. Now, they were seeing her appearance, even if it was done by spirits.
"It was Somnambula who calmed us down in the beginning. And on top of that, she promised to free us all. She was the one who promised that she and her fellow ponies would help free our souls from this torture and we took her word on it and freed her from this captive space. Of course, that promise was never fulfilled. She betrayed us."
"Betrayed you?" Ash repeated.
"Yes. Somnambula helped Starswirl the Bearded figure this out. And it was Starswirl who returned the first few souls back to us long ago. He attempted to return all the souls that had been stolen but he stopped doing so all of a sudden." The spirits explained as their rage was building. We trusted them too. Very few of the souls were actually freed and nothing else happened afterwards. And since it has been centuries, Starswirl, Somnambula and all those ponies with them are long gone by now. They never returned for our souls and they never will."
With their anger returning, explosions were starting to fly out of the earth itself, Remembering how Somnambula gave out that promise but never fulfilled it enraged the spirits who just wanted to rest peacefully without any interruptions. For centuries they've been like this so they were reasonably furious.
"R-Rio!" Delta Riolu felt their rage as he got on one knee, trying to maintain his Aura. Lucario would experience this as well, feeling the raging Aura that came from the spirits. It was similar to what he felt back at Lapras Lake but even larger since these spirits were suffering for so long.
"You may have freed some souls as well, but it's not enough. How do you intend to keep that promise when Somnambula and her friends failed to do the same?" The Spirits roared at Ash and his friends with their rage building up some more.
"Hmph. Fools." Sombra smirked, grabbing the attention of the Spirits. "Do you honestly think they just forgot about you?"
"Hey. S-Sombra." Radiant Hope stuttered, hoping that Sombra wouldn't anger these spirits any further. They were already destructive and enraged about the past.
"They're gone because they were dealing with something else. I know what it is because I am an Umbrum. The Pony of Shadows is the answer to why they never finished what you wished for them to do. Plus, the fact that they just disappeared all of a sudden is proof that they were caught up in something."
"Is that so? The Pony of Shadows?" The Spirits replied.
"And believe me, this boy and his friends are persistent. They've accomplished more than what Starswirl and Somnambula have accomplished and then some. With their numbers, they all have the means to free your souls faster than Starswirl ever could." Sombra backed Ash and his friends up, refusing to let the Spirits underestimate them. If you wish to have your souls brought back, put your faith in them just as I did. And do not count out the ponies who never returned for you. They're out there somewhere...but not in their usual states."
"We'll get your souls back. And it's gonna happen during the Black Crusade." Ash added. "We'll take out those souls. And we won't destroy the Despair Plants, Daisy. Paradise. Since that's what you want."
"L-Love to hear it..."Paradise chuckled lightly as her eye was already a flower.
"Very well. If you wish to remove the souls, you might have to search for some of his lost spells. The power to remove Souls was something he never wished to complete or look into any further.
"Yeah. If we can find Starswirl." Rainbow Dash sighed. "Nopony knows where he is since he just up and vanished. I say we go for the Ghost-Type approach instead of wasting time with that.
"We will free you from the Despair Plant. We are counting on you to fulfil that promise that was never finished. Bring us peace at last."
"What's this I hear about freeing them?" Suddenly, the voice of the most terrifying pony they've met yet entered the area, reaching everyone's ears. They knew that voice very well. It belonged to the Lich Queen. And upon hearing it, Fractured Note saw this as his time to leave.
"That's my cue..." He quietly said before backing up slowly, exiting this area as his body dissolved into black particles. He was gone before the Lich Queen could ever see him.
"The Lich Queen!" The Spirits all gasped, showing genuine fear. Their rage was no longer there since the Lich Queen only instilled fear into them.
"You're not freeing them. Not until I take their lives and their souls." Rosa approached menacingly as everyone here was immediately at the ready, prepared to face the Lich Queen, who was currently with Yveltal. "Just like how the previous Liches took yours. Eventually, every soul in existence will be mine and I will have the most unstoppable force in existence. No world. No reality. And no universe will stop my Black Crusade. This is merely the first crusade."
"T-That's not true!" Flurry Heart suddenly spoke up. "In one universe, Auntie Daybreaker beat you! You can be stopped!"
"That universe lacked the same oomph this one has. Every possible advantage is at my disposal." Rosa shrugged off Older Flurry Heart's words, boosting her own confidence.
"Rrr?" Just then, while growling at the Lich Queen, both Lucario and Delta Riolu heard something. An Aura came through. One that was Dark. They felt the darkness from this Aura, assuming it was coming from Rosa Maledicta. But instead, this Dark Aura, wasn't so dark at all. Instead, there was something else within it. The two Pokemon of similar species then shifted their attention to Yveltal.
The Aura was coming from Yveltal. It was sending a pulse towards the two Pokemon who were closely connected to Aura, giving them a message. But it wasn't a message at all. It was actually a cry. A painful and saddened cry that was on par with what the Spirits were feeling. And since Lucario and Delta Riolu heard it, Ash and Applejack soon received it via Aura Transfer. They each heard the words that Yveltal said.
"Please...Help...Me..." Yveltal was pleading for help.
"Yveltal..." Ash uttered. He already knew Yveltal was doing this against his own will, but his cry for help only solidified that. Yveltal did not wish to do this. He already took the lives of innocents and now his power was about to be used in the worst way possible.
"Line up all of you. It's time for your execution." The Lich Queen ordered, intimidating some of the Pokemon here with her mere presence and words alone.
"We will free you from this place. And we will try and keep the Lich Queen occupied." Suddenly, the Spirits all moved forward, getting in front of Ash and his friends as they chose to defend them.
"Don't you dare. You know for a fact if you do such a thing...I'll just destroy your souls. That way, your spirits will never rest." Rosa threatened them. "You have no choice but to listen to me, otherwise you will be forever bound to eternal suffering with no chance of relief or peace."
"We have put our faith in this group to rectify that. For too long you and the previous Lich Rulers have kept us as weapons. Not anymore. You will the be final Lich Ruler." The Spirits stood up for themselves, refusing to let the Lich Queen ruin their lives any longer. Their lives were already long gone and all they needed was peace.
Together, the Spirits unified their power, sending out a grandiose spectral flash that would rapidly move across the entire area. Rosa Maledicta put her hooves up, squinting at this sight that was almost blinding. All the green here was completely overlayed by the light blue spectral lights as they would greatly affect Ash's group more than anything. They felt something happening to them. It was similar to what the Despair Plant did to them but there was an opposite effect. It felt wonderful to them. Ash smiled, knowing his friends were about to return to the outside world. But they would still be inside the Chamber.
Back at the chamber, Twilight was heading for the Necropillars first. And backing her up were Galaxy Master's Pokemon, Right beside here were multiple Tauros that were charging forward at full force, using Light Energy as their main weapon which surrounded their horns.
And this was very beneficial as they could greatly damage the Despair Plants. And it worked well on vampires too. Twilight was mainly staying away from conflict, only focusing on the Necropillars while the Pokemon of Galaxy Master paved the way for her.
"Snorlax!" A Snorlax would charge through the Vampires and Despair Plants, followed by a Donphan doing the same but by spinning as fast as it could.
"Don-Don-Donphan!"
"Noivern!" From above, Noivern would use Boomburst, knocking down some of the Despair Plants that made themselves airborne while also damaging the ears of some vampires.
"There it is! Those must be the Necropillars!" At last, she saw them. The Necropillars. They were still in one piece, untouched by this battle. But expecting Twilight here were the vampires. Especially Opal Vivacity, who already appeared there.
"That's as far as you go, Twilight Sparkle!" Opal shouted, standing in front of the Necropillars with multiple Despair Plants and vampires at the ready. But Twilight had numbers on her side as well thanks to the Taurous and her own Pokemon.
"You're in my way! Move! And take my teacher's cape off you at once!" Twilight yelled, letting out her anger. But with no Horizon Storm, that part of her did not emerge. She would then use the Rift Magic within her, unleashing it as a massive beam. In response, Opal Vivacity would unleash a Dark Beam that matched Twilight's in size, engaging in a clash.
Twilight attempted charging ahead while shooting her magic, attempting to overpower Opal Vivacity. However, Opal stood strong, not moving from her spot. She had a larger magic output than Twilight at the moment thanks to Twilight being weakened.
"You're not reaching these pillars! Not for a moment!" Opal Vivacity roared as she was actually starting to move. But it was forward instead of backwards as she was starting to overpower Twilight.
"I-I'm not strong enough right now...Tauros!" Twilight yelled at the top of her lungs.
"Tauros!" Twilight was counting on the Tauros and they heard her loud and clear. They would speed up, targeting the room where the Necropillas could be found. A stampede of Taurous came barging in, shaking the rooms nearby, especially the room where the Necropillars were plastered.
The vampires attempted to defend the room, placing Dark Magic around it. A veil of Dark Magic would envelop the room, creating multiple layers. Twilight's magic was almost cut off because of the arrival of more Dark Magic, causing her to struggle even more. The Princess of Friendship couldn't properly manage in her current state, but that's why she had so many friends on her side. Even when so many of them were gone, more would stick around.
"Ab...Sol!" Such as Absol, Cinccino and Espeon. The Disaster Pokemon would use Giga Impact, throwing himself at the Dark Barrier while Espeon used Dazzling Gleam, sending multiple rainbow rays out. Cinccino used her most powerful attack. Thunder. A powerful blast of lightning flew next to Absol and the rainbow rays, hitting the barrier. But that wasn't the end of it. The Tauros were about to get in on the action, ready to smash their heads against the Dark Veil. If all these Tauros charge in, noticeable damage will be done.
"It's pointless! So as long as I have my Fate-Changing abilities, you can't win!" Opal laughed, taunting Twilight. "Give it up, princess!"
"Emerald was the one who said this...That power comes from the Rift itself...And it can nullify it!" Twilight bellowed, trying to add more power to her Rift Magic.
"Yeah! If you can reach me that is!" Opal continued to taunt her, proving to be stronger in this instance as she was about to take a chunk of her mane out. "It's over!"
"Gen...!" Except it wasn't. Phasing through the walls and even the Dark Magic, ignoring it completely with intangibility was none other than Galaxy Master's Gengar. It flew through the walls, entering the room with the Necropillars with ease. Opal gasped as her eyes spotted the Shadow Pokemon making the best possible entrance. "Gar!"
And with all of his might, Gengar used Dazzling Gleam, unleashing a powerful flash from his body that immediately stun and blind the vampires. On top of that, he would also attack the Necropillars, hitting them with some rainbow rays in the process. Opal's concentration was thrown off focus thanks to Gengar's interruption, allowing Twilight to take back control. Seeing the opening Gengar made for her, Twilight would make her beam blaze through Opal's, defeating it.
But the beam didn't stop there. It went further, targeting the Necropillars. And with all the vampires stunned, trying to recover from Gengar's light, they were too late to stop it. The Tauros would successfully break through the walls, destroying the Dark Magic with their combined might and blowing chunks of the walls away. Now that they were in, it was straight for the pillars with no detours or any time to slow down.
"Noooooo!" Opal screamed as the Tauros, the three Pokemon moves and Twilight's Magic all struck the Necropillars. They were shattered, obliterated, broken apart and toppled over by them, taking heavy hits. Even though Twilight's was the weakest, she still managed to leave an impact thanks to the Rift Magic. And using that to take down the Necropillars felt like Emerald Aura helped out as well.
The Necropillars have been destroyed. All of them. Their final moments were letting out huge heaps of magic that they had taken, letting them fly out in a powerful explosion. No longer were they connected. And no longer did they shut down the magic of all Equestrians.
Twilight grinned while Opal grimaced. The Power Balance was returning. No longer was one side superior. Now, both sides had their best at their disposal.
"W-We...Did it.!" Twilight said with happiness, feeling her Equestrian Magic return to her. But that didn't mean she didn't fall over, sliding on the ground after galloping as fast as she could.
But the deed had been done either way. The Necropillars were destroyed at last. But that was only the only ray of hope that would show up. From the walls of the chamber, those that were once trapped found a way out. And it was thanks to the spirits. Light was beginning to pour off the walls and ground of the chamber as extra help for Twilight Sparkle was on the way. Ash and everyone were about to reappear as Ash's arm could be seen emerging from the walls. Opal Vivacity was in disbelief. It seemed like everything was starting to fall apart very quickly.
The moment Galaxy Master showed up, everything started to change. The tides of this fierce struggle were changing once more as the main method of weakening Equestria had been cancelled out. But this was not yet over. Not when the Lich Queen remained and Yveltal's suffering continues. However, all of that would be tackled by those who had a new goal in mind. Freeing the souls which would weaken many of their strengths and finishing the Black Crusade once and for all.
"Ngh!" Twilight slid on the ground, winded from what she did. All of her magic had returned though after the Necropillars were finally destroyed. A most stunning turnaround has been made. With all the Necropillars destroyed, Equestrian Magic was brought back to the Equestrians who showed up in Magehold. And the first to feel that change was Twilight Sparkle. But that didn't change the fact that she was injured. Magic recovery couldn't fix that. The vampires who stood in front of the Necropillars had been knocked aside thanks ot all the charging Tauros that came in, either plastered against the walls or slumped over on the floor.
"It can't be! All of them have been destroyed?!" Opal said with disbelief in her voice. Remnants of the Necropillars appeared as rubble and cheap objections and nothing more than that. "Twilight Sparkle...!"
"My magic's back...but I'm still in pain here." Twilight laughed, finding solace in all of this. The destruction of the Necropillars was just the start.
"Let me add to that pain then." Opal angered by this, turned all of her rage towards Twilight Sparkle while she was on the floor, struggling to get back up. Standing in front of Twilight were her Pokemon along with Galaxy Master's many Tauros and Gengar. Here to back Opal Vivacity up were some more Despair Plants who were showing up from behind and the sides. "This is the last time you mess with your plans! You should've perished the moment your Emerald friend blew herself up! All of this is just luck!"
"And that massive mane of yours isn't?" Twilight groaned as she was helped up by Espeon's Psychic. "That belongs to my friend Bayleef. And it also belongs to the Rift. You didn't earn that. Just like all the other powers you stole with that Parasite Demon. Everything me and my friends accomplish that seem impossible is by our own bond and skill."
"Why you...!" Opal could only growl, snarl and hiss at Twilight, knowing she was right. And that angered Opal Vivacity, who was running out of patience with the Equestrians. But Twilight wasn't the only Equestrian she would have to deal with. Not when the rest of them plus a Kantonian were about to make a reappearance.
The walls would light up as the fist of Ash Ketchum would fly straight out of it. And following that fist was Ash himself as he had been freed from the Despair Plant's inner area. The same goes for Pikachu and all those who found themselves pulled in. One by one, they were reemerging. And the closest to Twilight was Rarity.
"Freedom!" Ash shouted after bursting out of the walls, making a splendid comeback by jumping through the walls with all of his friends. And they made a ruckus once more, yelling at the top of their lungs upon entry plus the Equestrians had their magic back so they were re-energized.
"Pi-Pikachu!"
"I-Impossible! They freed themselves?!" Opal Vivacity gasped.
"Ash! Everyone!" Twilight bellowed with joy in her heart and eyes.
"Hehehe!" Rarity giggled and grinned, eyeing down Opal Vivacity. Just when Opal thought she could escape Rarity, she came back yet again. "Zap Cannon!"
"Ampharos!" And without wasting any time, Ampharos threw out a Zap Cannon at Opal Vivacity, unleashing an orb of electricity that was guaranteed to paralyze.
"Twilight, darling! Are you doing alright?!" Rarity asked.
"I'm fine! I've destroyed all the Necropillars so our magic should be back!"
"It's back for me, that's for sure." Rainbow Dash said with high exuberance.
"Curses! This is all spiralling out of control so quickly!" Opal would then gallop away, seeing how out of control things were getting. But Rarity, once again, would not let her out of her sights. Pheromosa made a powerful landing despite her supple body as Rarity was on her back for easy travelling. Pheromosa eyed down the beautiful vampire, ready to jet away.
"Everything's okay now, Twilight! All we gotta do is defeat a lot of those Despair Plants and they'll become weaker!" Rainbow Dash bellowed. "All those souls are gonna leave them and it'll be A-Okay!"
"I-I don't understand." Twilight stuttered, unsure about what Rainbow Dash was telling her. But she was confident that she would be filled up on the rest. "What I do know is this. Now all we have to do is get Yveltal back from the Lich Queen and rescue Fantina." Twilight said. "Wait for us, Fantina."
Magehold Contest Hall.
Speaking of Fantina, while watching the contest continue as it was currently in its Battle Stage, a part of her felt like something wild was going on outside. While everyone else were too busy focused on the contest, Fantina was also paying attention to the outside.
She already heard some sounds go off and a majority of them sounded very familiar. The sound of Pokemon Moves met her ears as she stood near the windows. Even though her memory was not at its prime anymore, she still recalled certain moves and how they go. As a Coordinator, that was only natural.
Reappearing into the scene was none other than Fractured Note. He had recently been with Ash's group, speaking with them and revealing that he was on their side. After gaining their trust and counting on them, the former Lich King who once went by Greyvine in a previous life, walked up to Fantina in a hurry.
"Fantina. We might have to call it a day eventually."
"Hm? Why? It's just getting good now. Is something wrong."
"Things are spiralling out of control back at the chamber. The way I see it, the Black Crusade is about to take a major hit. And your friends are finally coming back for you. This might be the time when you finally return to how you were."
"Oh, really? Hmm..." Fantina paused for a moment. From what Fractured Note was saying, the time for her to return home and gain her memories back was close. And at the same time, the most recent battle had just come to an end.
"Isn't...that what you wanted?"
"It is what I would like. My true self. But I still feel so compelled with this place, even after everything that has happened. When this is all over, I'm afraid I might leave this place behind forever."
"You're afraid that because you were kidnapped you'll never want to return here?" Fractured Note answered. "I understand if you wouldn't want anything to do with this place anymore. Magehold will change once this is all over but I'm not sure what might come from the ashes."
"Well...if this is my final day here, I'd like to leave with everyone satisfied at least. And when I do get my memories back, I hope that I will continue loving this. I know it's not perfect but the ponies I've met here and bonded with are wonderful." A graceful smile met Fantina's face as she was already reminiscing about her time here. "I'd love to come back here as many times as I want, no matter how far we are.
"Fantina..." Fractured Note's jaw dropped at the words Fantina was spouting. Nothing could phase her at all. Originally, the Lich Queen brought Fantina over for her own personal gain. But in the end, Fantina found a new life here, making new friends and earning the respect of the vampires. And it showed based on the Pokemon Contest, which was about to enter its final moments.
Eccentrick made it to the very end as the final battle was about to begin. She could be seen walking through the curtains, ready to face her final opponent and claim that final ribbon. Eccentrick was just one part of all of this that Fantina absolutely loved.
"I wish I was still the Lich King." Fractured Note thought to himself. "The Magehold I sought to craft could come into fruition at last. But that's not possible. Not anymore. Thanks to that cycle, I can't be the Lich King like I used to be. But perhaps..." His eyes would then slowly shift, looking over at Fantina as something was brewing in his mind.
Right before he could finish that thought, he sensed a powerful magical presence re-entering Magehold. It was too familiar and too strong. Fractured Note sensed the magic of Rosa Maledicta, who was recently within the Despair Plant when trying to take out Ash and his friends.
"The Lich Queen!" He gasped. "She's back!"
Magehold Castle. Lich Queen's Throne Room.
"Foolish spirits...I'll make sure to crush your souls after this. To think they could contain the Lich in that realm." Rosa Maledicta freed herself and it was by her own power. Now that she was out and her victims were continuing to run havoc in her chamber as well as the destruction of the Necropillars, the Lich Queen saw that the tides might shift.
They were already shifting at this rate. The Necropillars were meant to be the crux that greatly weakened Equestria and the Despair Plant was supposed to trap them all. But since both of those plans have been shut down, Rosa Maledicta had to think ahead and come up with something as soon as possible.
"If this continues, Celestia and her forces will all show up here. Galaxy Master has already made his appearance at the worst possible time too." She pondered while looking over at Yveltal. "Magehold's location is no longer protected thanks to those traitorous Windigos. The Black Crusade must succeed...No matter what."
She lowered her head as her Dark Magic was building up around her. She used her magic to view the events in the Chamber, seeing how it was turning out. Ash and his friends were once again starting a fierce ruckus and fighting back with high guts and spirit, refusing to go down. Their spirits were not crushed. Not in the slightest. Not even the Despair Plants were enough to intimidate them. Not since they learned about how they were made up of many souls.
"I have no choice. I'm going to move Magehold." Rosa Maledicta made up her mind and decided on something. Truly wild that no one else would expect, aside from the Vampires.
From her horn, she would cast a spell that would shoot up and hit the ceiling and quickly spread across the ceiling as if paint had been splashed on it. But it would do more than just hit the ceiling. The magic pierced the ceiling, going even higher and leaving the castle. It flew as high as it could, reaching the clouds the same way Galaxy Master did when making his entrance.
However, this was greater than that. Greater than what the Necropillars achieved. Much like the Necropillars, this would affect the entirety of Magehold but instead of draining away any traces of Equestrian Magic, it would affect the entirety of Magehold down every last piece of dirt that exists here.
The dark skies were overshadowed by Rosa Maledicta's black and green magic which would form a large circle. This circle reached every possible building that could be found, enveloping it and the soil that was right beneath it. No one was living inside their homes right now, too busy enjoying the Contest or partaking in the Black Crusade. But one thing was for sure.
Everyone would feel it.
"Woah!" Ash, who was running through the halls, nearly tripped over from a sudden disturbance. A great disturbance. This was unlike anything he's felt before while in Magehold. He never felt the Dark Magic around Magehold simply because he didn't have Equestrian Magic at all. "What is this?" But with this, he didn't need any Equestrian Magic or even Aura to let him know that something was very wrong here. Something unusual was happening.
"P-Pika?"
"M-M-M-M-Mosa?!" Pheromosa nearly crashed into a wall thanks to this sudden change in momentum. She was lucky to stop at the right time before things could get ugly.
"Oh, dear! What is all of this?!" Rarity held on tightly to Pheromosa. Even though she was on Pheromosa's back, she could feel the vibrations and the sudden change in the atmosphere.
"This feeling...Surely she's not doing what I think she's doing!" Opal Vivacity was just as surprised as everyone else. She knew exactly what the Lich Queen was doing as this was not the first time something has been done.
"Great Galaxies! It feels like something is rising around here!" said Galaxy Master while in the middle of dealing with two Despair Plant Chimeras. "Could it be...that the chamber is moving?! No. This is different. It feels like it's happening from beyond the chamber.
Galaxy Master's hunch was correct. Below everyone, the foundations of Magehold's buildings were being ripped out of the ground but that also meant some of the ground was being brought along. It wasn't all of it but a huge chunk of it that kept the nation intact. The Heavenly Maiden Tree that Fantina planted was brought along as well. It was a part of Magehold after all but despite the tremors, the tree didn't look like it was budging at all.
Naturally, this also disrupted the Pokemon Contest. Eccentrick was just now having her final battle with her opponent, ready to claim the Magehold Ribbon. Only for the focus of everyone to shift to something else.
"H-Hey! What's going on here?!" Eccentrick stammered, feeling herself stumble. Inkay was surprisingly fine despite being upside down at the moment but everyone else felt themselves rock. They wobbled and wiggled in their seats, trying to stay steady as the rising nation was testing their balance.
This entire time, they've been so focused and infatuated with the Pokemon Contest that they couldn't pay attention to what was happening outside. But now, their attention went elsewhere and it was at the time where it affected them as well. Fractured Note already knew what this was since he had a conversation with Rosa Maledicta earlier.
"I don't believe it...She's raising Magehold!"
Magehold in its entirety had left the ground. The result was a massive crater underneath the land in the shape of the nation that once sat here. Now it was airborne, taking flight thanks to the power of the Lich Queen. And with Magehold at such a high place, the destination was wherever Rosa Maledicta decided. With her power, she would move it as it was now a travelling nation
"I could drop Magehold somewhere and crush them. And I'll make sure a rain of destruction will come down on them! And since Celestia's on the move...I'll pay Canterlot a visit!" Rosa Maledicta cackled as she had another way of spreading destruction. This time, it would be destruction from above as Magehold was now a flying weapon.
Her current destination was Canterlot as she knew Celestia was on the move. However, Rosa Maledicta knew she could do a lot more while on the way to Canterlot and that was by raining destruction on other locations.
"Woah! We're flying!" A young vampire exclaimed, being the first to point it out. Soon, everyone else would rush to the windows, seeing their current predicament. Indeed, they were now all airborne.
"We're flying?! Just like before?!" And of course, the vampires knew about this. This has most definitely happened before. Whether once or twice unknown but judging by their reactions and how shocked they were, it doesn't happen often.
"Your majesty! Why are you-" Fractured Note decided to speak with Rosa Maledicta from afar with telepathy, wondering why she was going for this approach.
"I already spoke about it with you, Fractured Note. Those pesky Equestrians and that Kantonian have been growing more troublesome by the moment. Eventually, all of Equestria's forces will come here and make it worse, especially since Galax Master is here."
"Wait! We're being attacked?!" The news would reach the vampires in the Contest Hall at last. Rosa Maledicta finally spoke to them all as her voice echoed across the area. Now that they learned that they were under attack by their current enemy Equestria, the joyous nature they were carrying would soon shift.
The most common reactions to something like this had arrived. Fear, worry and panic. All three of them would sprout in response to this attack. Equestria and everything else beyond it was still seen as dangerous. Fantina and all the others secretly working for Fractured Note couldn't do anything to stop this since the Lich Queen herself has confirmed this.
The seats here at the contest hall were not so full anymore. There were still ponies next to them but a majority of them weren't seated at all. They were just scurrying and moving all over the place, unsure of what to do now that their homes were under attack.
"Stay calm. All of you. You will stay within this Contest Hall and not go outside under any means." Rosa Maledicta continued to speak, ordering them not to leave the Contest Hall under any means. They were essentially forced to be stuck here until this all keels over and comes to an end. It was slightly favourable to Fantina's side but now their entertainment had been disrupted now that they knew what was outside.
"Well. I suppose I should get going." Fractured Note said. "Now that we're moving, a lot is bound to happen. Magehold's location will change and those approaching it won't give up just because it left the scene." Fractured Note would leave the Contest Hall as he wasn't an average citizen. Being part of the Dread League, gave him this benefit as he would rush off while Fantina stayed behind, watching the ponies all scatter in fear.
As Magehold moved away from its original location, it was already nearing one of its first locations. And that was the Hyperborean Island, where many Windigos could be found. Rosa Maledicta already knew what the Windigos did. They were the ones who allowed Shining Armor and his forces to enter Magehold, refusing to freeze them.
The height of Magehold was incredibly high. So high that the land below lost some of its detail as the castle and the Heavenly Maiden Tree almost touched the clouds themselves. The Maiden's hair, which was made out of beautiful cherry blossoms, would gracefully move with the wind, dropping some of its petals from above. The three was the only welcoming thing here compared to the menacing nation that was travelling the skies.
"You would dare bring my enemies to me. Just because of one boy? Pathetic." Rosa Maledicta spoke, already knowing what she wanted to destroy first. "Yveltal...Prepare yourself. Your Oblivion Wing will strike the land below you." The Windigos were Rosa Maledicta's next target as she refused to let traitors get away with their actions.
Rosa Maledicta would stand at the balcony of the castle which was also found at the top. The cold weather would hit her but it did not seem to bother the Lich Queen at all. She could already hear the howling of the Windigos, prepared to speak with them. And of course, obliterate them.
"Oh, man! What's happening there?!" Ash would look outside by standing on one of the destroyed walls which showed the rest of the world. Enough destruction had finally made it to where the outside could finally be seen.
"Ash! Pikachu!" Rushing to Ash's side as fast as she could with the biggest smile on her face was Princess Twilight Sparkle. Despite what was happening, she was relieved and happy to see her friends once more, especially Ash.
"Twilight! Are you alright?"
"I should be asking you that question. I was so worried when you all got pulled in..." Twilight breathed in and out. "A lot happened...and nothing's slowing down for a moment."
"Yeah." Ash looked back outside as his eyes were locked onto the Castle. And at the castle, he saw a huge flux of Dark Magic coming from it as it was very visible to the eyes. Impossible to miss if someone wishes to look outside. "Check it out. Whatever's going on over there, it's carrying Magehold."
"Carrying Magehold?" Twilight took a step further, standing next to Ash to see what his eyes caught before anyone else. Twilight's reaction said it all. Right below them was the land of the Hyperborean Island. And right in front of them were the skies themselves as the clouds were closer than usual. "W-What?! Magehold's in the air! That's what that feeling was?"
"Espeon?!"
"Yeah. And it looks like it's coming from over there!" The King of the Sea pointed at the castle where the most amount of Dark Magic was coming from. Twilight would soon see it as its presence was too great to ignore. Rosa Maledicta put a chunk of Dark Magic into Magehold after all to make something like this possible. It was just another testament to how powerful she is.
"I know what we're gonna do. Since that's where most of the Dark Magic is, the Lich Queen's gonna be there too! No doubt about it!" Ash already had a clear idea of where Rosa Maledicta could be. He knew she was capable of producing that much Dark Magic and was capable of doing this. "We're going straight for the castle!"
"Straight for the castle, huh? Alright then..." Twilight slowly nodded. "I'm with that approach. I sense her magic there too so she's definitely there. If we stop Rosa Maledicta there, all of this will come to an end. And...we'll fix all the damage she's done during the Black Crusade."
"Okay! Let's head for the castle! We'll need a bunch of our friends to storm it!" Ash clenched his fist, ready to tackle the one in charge and finally end this once and for all.
"I dare you to storm my castle." Speaking to Ash and Twilight was Rosa Maledicta. "You can try but you'll run into your demise. I invite you all to foolishly approach my castle and throw away your lives."
She made this clear to everyone within the chamber, speaking to them and even encouraging them. The Lich Queen was still aggravated but a part of her was eager to crush all hope that the intruders had. She desperately wanted to see all of their spirit and spunk demolished.
"But before that...for anyone who can see this, watch as I bring down destruction on the Hyperborean Island!" Rosa Maledicta would then turn her attention to the island, going through with her paln to obliterate it. Yveltal already appeared above the balcony, keeping up with the floating nation.
The Windigos obviously took notice of this, showing themselves the moment Rosa Maledicta declared that she would attack one of their homes. These spectral ponies emerged out of thin air, already on high alert since they themselves were threatened. Never before have the Windigos been threatened since they were the ones who usually attack during conflicting times. The roles have been reversed but in this case, Rosa Maledicta was doing this out of anger since the Windigos helped her enemies.
"Rosa Maledicta." The Windigos spoke in unison as their voice was powerful to reach everyone here. "You would dare attack us even when we agreed to assist you. We agreed to assist the Dread League in exchange for us being fed for a lifetime."
"Don't talk to me about that, you transparent traitors." Rosa scoffed at the Windigos. "You are the ones who broke that promise by letting those Crystal Empire ponies pass through and enter Magehold. You are merely getting what you deserve unless you have an excuse good enough for me."
"We put our trust in the boy. Our conversation back at the Crystal Empire is what mattered. For centuries, no one has ever attempted to converse with us in such way. If he vows that he will attempt to know us better, far past what many know us for, then we will take his word on it. We do not sense a hint of malice in him. Nothing that would ever summon us."
"Is that so..." Rosa closed her eyes. "So, you just got touchy, eh? Pathetic. For such powerful beings, the fact that the words of Kid from Kanto were enough is honestly disappointing. It also does not excuse what you did. I will guarantee destruction on you and next, the Crystal Empire."
"She's going for the Crystal Empire next?!" Twilight gasped.
"I'll wipe your entire species out! And it'll start here! Yveltal! Oblivion Wing!" Making up her mind and refusing to trust the Windigos, Rosa Maledicta would choose to bring this species to extinction. And it would all start here. Yveltal, who was crying inside, would generate the most heinous and violent ball of energy that was pulsating with such ferocity, waiting to obliterate something.
They had only one way to defend themselves and that was by whipping up a cold storm, hoping that it would be enough to stop Yveltal's attack. The Windigos all howled, prepared to face this incoming wave of destruction in the best way they can, refusing to let themselves go extinct.
"Oh, no you don't! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" However, something intercepted Yveltal's Oblivion Wing once it came roaring out. 100,000 Volts of lightning came crashing in, moving through the sounds which summoned the sound of thunder. With the sound of thunder booming across the sky, Yveltal's Oblivion Wing was suddenly stopped, failing to reach the Windigos. Thunderbolt and Oblivion Wing cancelled each other out, resulting in a large explosion that blew away some of the clouds while causing thunder to boom once more.
The Windigos collectively turned their heads, facing the area where Ash and Twilight stood at. There, they saw the boy who gave them a promise back at the Crystal Empire. Lo and behold, he was keeping to that promise by absolutely refusing to let them perish.
"No way you're taking them out! Not when I've made a promise I'm gonna keep!" Ash yelled as his loud voice travelled through the cold atmosphere. His eyes would meet with Rosa Maledicta from this distance as the two of them stared intensively at each other.
"Tch!" Rosa Maledicta kissed her teeth out of annoyance. "Very well. If you wish to take me on here from this distance, be my guest, King of the Sea."
A battle in the air was about to ensue from a distance that was rather here. Here and now, Ash and the Lich Queen were about to engage in battle, above the skies and on the flying nation of Magehold while the Windigos watched. The Black Crusade may be intensifying but those fighting to stop it were turning up the heat as well.
Equestria. Magehold. Above the Hyperborean Island. Day.
Magehold was airborne. By the power of the Lich Queen, the entire nation had been removed from its original position and was now moving across the air. Currently, it was above the Hyperborean Island as Rosa Maldedicta aimed to destroy the Windigos but was promptly stopped by Ash and Pikachu, who were standing at the edge of the Magehold Chamber. The two sides locked eyes as Rosa Maledicta stood on the castle balcony with her controlled Yveltal, facing Ash Ketchum at last.
"I'll take you on up here!" Ash shouted as his energetic voice boomed across the high clouds, even reaching the Lich Queen from this distance.
"Are you an idiot?! One wrong move and you'll fall to your doom!" Rosa laughed at Ash's brazen and wild approach at battling her. "But fine! Go ahead! It'll be impossible for you to land the best possible hits in this scenario, especially with the current environment.
"It's a good thing Ash tackles the impossible. I'll try and go for Yveltal, Ash. Maybe I can free it by entering its mindscape!" As for Twilight, she would focus on freeing Yveltal from Rosa Maledicta's control. That would obviously mean getting to the castle and up close with the Lich Queen but Twilight was willing to take that risk.
The winds blew fiercely this high over the Hyperborean Island as it was noticeably closer. However, the winds were blowing in the direction of Rosa Maledicta due to how the Windigos felt. They chose a side very clearly and shifted the fierce winds towards the Lich Queen.
"Let's go, Pikachu! Lucario! We'll ace this battle!" Ash pumped his fists forward.
"Pikachu!"
"Lucario!"
"You'll just be collateral damage once I'm done with the Windigos!" Rosa Maledicta's eyes would flash green along with her horn as she would summon roots from the earth. At last, she would reveal the weapons greater than her thorns. The even stronger thorns that were just as hard to overcome. But Ash did not fear it for a moment. "It will be fitting for Equestria's Golden Boy to fall to these. You've earned it, Ash Ketchum."
"Ash Ketchum." The Windigos would suddenly speak to Ash, floating in his direction and even changing the temperature just for him. "We will help you manage yourself in the air. You have our word. Battle freely in the skies without fearing the fall."
"Awesome! I'm counting on everyone to free the souls from the Despair Plants. And then, those roots aren't gonna be so tough anymore. All that matters is that we get up close and personal with her." Ash grinned, trusting in his friends to weaken the Lich Queen's durable force. And right now, he fully trusted the Windigos. "Alright, Pikachu! Quick Attack!"
"Pika!" Pikachu would go first and he would do it from this high up. He took off at lightning speeds, leaving behind a flash of light. Rosa Maledicta smiled before manipulating her roots which appeared around the castle, fiercely moving through the ground as if they were worms. Pikachu ended up moving through the air with Quick Attack, temporarily flying. But he would receive more air support in the form of the Windigos, who manipulated the winds, keeping Pikachu airborne, just as promised.
The roots would then close in on Pikachu, ready to crush him as they were moving so fast they could ignore the fierce winds. They were also heavy enough to resist them as the Windigos could barely freeze them over. However, for Pikachu, he would boost himself up, going over the incoming roots. By evading them, he would then land on the roots, running up them as a new platform as he was approaching the Lich Queen.
"Yveltal! Oblivion Wing!" Rosa Maledicta yelled as she tried pulling her thorns back. However, Pikachu was keeping up with the thorns even when they were retracting. Yveltal would then take action, unleashing Oblivion Wing on Pikachu, which would be absolutely disastrous if it managed to land.
"Pi!" However, once the Oblivion Wing approached, Pikachu would leap onto another side of the roots, avoiding the incoming beam of destruction. The roots would be destroyed by Yveltal's Oblivion Wing, shocking the Lich Queen. And on top of that, Pikachu was the closest he has ever been to the Lich Queen, going for a full-force tackle. "Pika!"
But getting in the way and shielding Rosa Maledicta from any damage was Yveltal as he would fly as fast as he could, taking the hit. Yveltal received Quick Attack which barely moved him back. Pikachu gasped as he was then pushed back by Yveltal's wing flap.
"Pikaaa!" Pikachu screamed as he went flying through the air. However, thanks to the Windigos, the winds were in his favour. Pikachu's knockback wasn't as harsh as the Windigos saved him from crashing into something. On top of that, there was a powerful current of wind below him that was keeping him afloat. "Pika?"
"Awesome! It's like you're flying!" Ash cheered. "Then in that case..." Realizing this, Ash took full advantage of the altered winds since they were on his side. He and Lucario would jump out of the chamber, entering the cold outside. And with nothing to fear Ash was now airborne.
His feet touched the powerful wind current underneath him, keeping the King of the Sea and the Aura Pokemon afloat. Naturally, this annoyed Rosa Maledicta, who would have to go through hurdles to try and really damage this group since the Windigos were fully supporting them.
"Okay! Thunderbolt and Aura Sphere!"
"Pikaaa...Chuuu!" Together, Pikachu and Lucario performed a unison of attacks. Flying out were 100,000 volts of powerful lightning which would crack in the sky along with a sphere of Aura that was heightened thanks to Ash's Aura connecting with Lucario's.
The Lich Queen would then use the Roots, forming a massive hand with them. This Root Hand would catch the attacks in its palm, holding them back as they were fiercely trying to break through. Rosa Maledicta narrowed her eyes which resulted in the Root Hand crushing the Thunderbolt and Aura Sphere as they would combust, failing to get through.
After crushing the attacks, the Root Hand would then form a fist, flying over to the duo which breaking through the spaces of fierce winds that the Windigos made up. "Double Team into Force Palm!"
"Lu!" The Aura Pokemon duplicated himself multiple times as each of these clones would also be supported by the air currents. Pikachu would be behind the clones who all collectively approached the massive Root Fist that was wide enough to hit this many Lucarios. Each of the Lucarios pulled their arms back, enveloping their paws in an orange light and throwing them forward. These Force Palms met with the giant fist.
The impact disrupted some of the wind that the Windigos made, forming a new wind pressure, but one that favoured the Lich Queen instead. Lucario and his clones growled when trying to push through this Root Fist. They may not be able to damage it but they could at least push it back.
"Iron Tail!"
"Chu...!" Leaping higher into the air was Pikachu, who hardened his tail. He would then perform multiple flips before fiercely swinging his tail down, smashing it into the top of the root fist. The impact of his Iron Tail sent powerful vibrations through the fist which allowed the many Lucario to push it back.
"Why you...!" Rosa Maledicta growled before having the Root Fist flick the air with one of its fingers. By doing so, a strong tunnel of wind would come crashing in as a form of retaliation. Lucario's clones were obliterated instantly by the wind while also knocking the real Lucario away. Pikachu's small body was also pushed back as he went hurtling through the air but managed to recover by using the wind the Windigos gave him.
"Rrr!" Lucario growled, wiping away the wind that masked him for a moment.
"You're just in the way! Oblivion Wing!" Once again, Oblivion Wing would be used as Rosa Maledicta was making sure to go for those lethal hits. She wanted this to be over as soon as possible.
"I won't let you get past us! Electroweb!"
"Pika-Pika-Pika!" From his tail, a small lightning orb was flung. But from that small orb came a giant web of electricity. It would intercept the Oblivion Wing, being the attack that stops it in its tracks. And once the two attacks met, that's exactly what happened. Electroweb contained the Oblivion Wing, causing it to combust. The Dark-Type attack would blow up but taking the Electroweb along with it
"Now! Bullet Punch!"
"Luca!" Rushing in with his newest move was Lucario, enveloping his paws in a silver light. He dashed through the controlled air, feeling the wind hit his face as he was starting to become a blue blur. Getting in his way was the Root Fist as he was reminded of Dimstar's Tendrils. This was the same thing but on a new level, but that would not deter the Aura Pokemon.
He threw his punches as fast as he could, smashing them against the Root Fist which came charging in. Multiple punches from Lucario would strike the Root Fist, keeping it from going any further. But Lucario couldn't go any further at all either. He was stuck bashing his paws into the nigh-indestructible roots.
The Lich Queen then cast a spell while Lucario would bashing against the roots. She would reflect the air itself, summoning a massive a wind tunnel that was originally made from Lucario's attacks. Lucario was creating plenty of pressure from his movements and the Lich Queen used to her advantage by reflecting his own pressure.
"R-Rrrr!" Lucario felt the pressure he created being reflected back at him. However, he did not move at all but he stood strong, keeping up his fierce assault.
"We gotta close this distance as soon as possible!" Ash then held out another Poke Ball, needing to get to the Lich Queen pronto. "Dragonite! I choose you!"
"Dragonite!" Entering the scene was Dragonite, who spun around in the air. Thanks to the Windigos, the chilling atmosphere was no longer an issue for the Dragon-Flying-Type as she could freely battle without having her weakness to ice coming into the way. And on top of that, she was already a master of the air so the wind currents were helping her greatly.
"Dragon Claw!"
"Raaaaa!" Dragonite joined the battle, zooming in with Dragon Claw as she would strike the same root fist that Lucario was attacking repeatedly. With her power, there was a shift in this struggle. The Root Fist was pushed back successfully thanks to Dragonite's involvement. The roots went flying back so far that they almost hit the Lich Queen herself.
"!" Rosa Maledicta gasped as she managed to keep the Roots away from her by moving them elsewhere, but as a result, they hit the castle walls instead. The castle walls came crumbling as the Lich Queen who once hailed from Equestria, gave a vicious glare to Ash and his Pokemon. "Oh...You're just as troublesome as your father."
"Thanks." Ash chuckled, glad to know he was getting under the Lich Queen's skin. "It was clear that Ash, his Pokemon and the Windigos were capable of occupying the Lich Queen while everyone else went to work.
And of course, this was not ignored by the residents of Magehold. Those not involved with the Dread League were all still in the Chamber, being ordered to stay inside during this attack. And when looking outside the window, they saw the fierce battle outside for their own eyes.
They've already witnessed a Pokemon Battle here at the Pokemon Contest but that also involved pulling off the most beautiful attacks possible just for style points. This battle had a greater weight to it and involved some of the most powerful attacks the vampires have ever witnessed.
On top of that, they saw Pokemon they've never seen before. For the most part, it's just been Ghost and Dark-Types. But not anymore. Pikachu, Lucario and Dragonite were brand new to their eyes. But they also saw Ash, standing in the air and yelling out attack names while confronting the Lich Queen.
"What Pokemon are those?" The vampires spoke amongst each other, having so many questions right now.
"I don't know. And who's that the Lich Queen is facing off against?" Amazement filled their eyes. They were still worried but also intrigued. First, the Pokemon Contest happened and now this battle was breaking out. Fantina approached the window, wanting to see this for herself.
"That boy..." And when looking at the battle, she saw Ash there. When looking at Ash, there was a part of her that felt like she's seen him before. She's never had that feeling even when meeting with Rarity and Applejack back in the Despair Plant Garden. Unfortunately, she couldn't put her finger on it. Her memories were still affected after all. But even though she didn't remember who that was, she knew one thing. They were on her side judging by what she knows.
"What do we do, Miss Fantina?" A young vampire asked.
"...We carry on with the show." Fantina decided to continue the Show. The Pokemon Contest would continue, despite what was happening outside. Fantina did not wish to see everypony panic and worry as she only wanted them to be happy. And this contest has been making them happy the entire time so why stop now just because of a sudden interruption? After all, Fantina knew that they wouldn't target these vampires since they weren't involved with the Dread League. "Let's finish up here as soon as possible!"
"Continue?" The vampires all chatted, surprised that Fantina would rather continue the contest. She hopped back onto the stage where Eccentrick and her opponent were about to face off with each other but had their battle interrupted.
"Yes! Whatever happens...I can promise you will all be safe. So to reassure that, let's enjoy the last moments of this contest! It'll go out with a bang! Whether it's from the outside or the inside, you'll all be amazed!" Fantina exclaimed with high exuberance in her voice as always. Fantina always knew how to get the crowd excited. They were willing to sit through until the end.
They would have a wonderful show inside and outside. The battle that was taking place outside was just as entertaining as what was happening in here. But that was all thanks to Ash's way of battling. He always knew how to amaze everyone despite not being a coordinator. Ash entertains in his own way, much like Fantina.
"I like the sound of that," Eccentrick said before raising her voice to everyone. "Plus! I want to win this so badly, and no outside attack is going to stop me!"
"S-Seriously?" Her opponent stuttered along with her Haunter. She shrugged, going along with it as well. She's come this far after all. "Okay then."
"Then in that case..." Fantina smiled, raising her arm before swinging it down. "Battle Start!"
Magehold Chamber.
Twilight was already on her way to try and reach Yveltal. But she was going for an approach that was less direct than Ash's. Twilight aimed to sneak up on the Destruction Pokemon and enter his mindscape that way, hoping to free him from Yveltal's mind control. And right behind her were Radiant Hope, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Cadence, Daisy, Paradise and Flurry Heart who joined up with her.
Daisy and Paradise finally had their bodies back to normal now that Equestrian Magic in this area had returned. No longer were they reverting to their respective flowers as they felt reenergized. And with Magehold moving across the skies, the chances of them seeing Sunlight again were high.
While moving across the chamber, the sights of more Pokemon taking on Despair Plants could be seen as they couldn't go anywhere without seeing at least one Pokemon and a Despair Plant. The brawl within the Magehold Chamber had been elevated with the involvement of Galaxy Master's Pokemon. And since they carried the light that could counter the insane durability of the Despair Plants, a massive advantage had been made.
"So Ash is out there right now taking on the Lich Queen?!" Rainbow Dash said while flying next to Twilight.
"He'll be fine!" Twilight exclaimed. "All we have to do is get into Yveltal's mind and free it! Without Yveltal, the Lich Queen will lose her biggest advantage. I'm counting on Ash to keep her busy. If anyone knows how to handle a dangerous foe, it's him!"
"You won't be getting to our majesty!" Of course, the vampires would be here to stop them, overhearing Twilight's words. But it wasn't a secret what she aimed to do considering what has happened to Yveltal. And the vampires who heard her were Sweet Fang and Shrivel. Joined by Despair Plants, they blocked Twilight and her friends from getting anywhere. "All it'll take is for her to turn on Yveltal and destroy everything in sight! It's just that easy!"
"We don't have time for you! Move! Braviary, use Brave Bird!" Rainbow Dash didn't have time for these vampires and their interruptions. She would quickly throw her Poke Ball into the air, summoning Braviary.
"Braviary!" And with Braviary emerging, he would hear Rainbow Dash, going for an instant Brave Bird which involved him igniting his body in a flaming aura. The Valiant Pokemon tackled the Despair Plants in the air, knocking them aside. The Despair Plants would crash into the walls or fall to another level thanks to Braviary's speedy tackle which didn't stop there. He was going straight for the vampires too.
Unfortunately, all it took was Shrivel and Sweet Fang using their magic to form a dark magic field. Braviary crashed into this field at full force, causing some shockwaves to fly out. The barrier shattered, but Braviary couldn't blow past them, unfortunately.
"Not these two again! I'm sick of 'em!" Applejack groaned out of aggravation.
"If we can't get rid of you, we can at least wait until Yveltal's final hours. Well, these final moments anyway. After all, Yveltal will be reborn and it will still be under the control of the Lich Queen." Sweet Fang spoke as she and Shrivel would descend.
"The next planet we go to will have all of its life wiped out in an instant as well. There's most definitely other life out there in the space and we won't miss a single one. After that, it's off to different universes."
"That's insane though!" Radiant Hope bellowed. "You can't gain anything from this! Wiping out all life will leave everything empty! There'll be no point to it!"
"It'll just be us vampires in a brand new world. And an indestructible army to boot." Shrivel replied. "A World of Vampires, populating everything.
"And hey, maybe the next Lich Ruler might have something in mind." Sweet Fang shrugged, laughing about this despite how vile it was. "I'm already planning on taking over the Crystal Empire once this is all said and done. I'll be its new ruler and you two will be my skeletal servants." Sweet Fang looked over at Cadence and Flurry Heart, disrespecting them by coming for their throne. "Isn't that right, Sylveon?"
"Sylveon!" Emerging from all the smoke that was made from this fierce battle was none other than Cadence's Pokemon. Or in this case, Sweet Fang's Pokemon.
"Sylveon!" Emerging from all the smoke that was made from this fierce battle was none other than Cadence's Pokemon. Or in this case, Sweet Fang's Pokemon. Infected with Curse Magic, Sylveon now belonged to Sweet Fang, becoming a warped and twisted version of herself as she would appear before Twilight and everyone else. Cadence couldn't believe her eyes. She has been wondering where Sylveon was the entire time and now she knew the horrible truth.
"S-Sylveon?!" Cadence stammered, witnessing her beloved partner in a different state. She still looked like Sylveon but there was a noticeable darkness about her. Her eyes were sharper, her ribbons were enveloped in a dark aura and her usually colourful appearance was darkness as an unbridled amount of anger was exuding out of her.
"My Sylveon now, I'm afraid." Sweet Fang petted Sylveon, taunting Cadence. "Not yours anymore. The Curse Magic I've injected her with makes her a perfect fit for me. Too bad for you. You're missing out on so much power, like this!"
"Syl!" To demonstrate, Sylveon would smash her foot on the ground, summoning a powerful tremor. She could make an earthquake now with this power. This also appeared in the form of a dark energy that would ripple through the ground. The energy formed a massive split in the ground, knocking over most of Twilight's friends and even nearby platforms and stairs. They would crumble against the might of Dark Sylveon's brute strength, which she never possessed before. None of the Eeveelutions have been shown to hold such might.
"Audino!" Audino put up a Protect, shielding them all from receiving the dark energy. But even she fell over after blocking the energy as the tremors were something she couldn't stop. "D-Dino!"
"See? What Sylveon do you know does that?" Sweet Fang boasted. "Here at Magehold, everything is made to be better as you can see. Your age is about to come to an end and our age can finally begin after waiting for so many centuries. This is also payback! I haven't forgotten about the Human World and I'll make sure the Lich Queen remembers it."
"The Human World?" Twilight gasped, realizing that her human counterpart, Sunset Shimmer and all the friends she's made there were targets as well. Their world wouldn't be ignored at all. The Black Crusade truly intended to take everything out, no matter where it may be or how far out of reach it was.
"You...You took my husband...and my subjects too. And now you've taken Sylveon away from me!" Cadence uttered, taking all of it in and how upset it made her. Never before has Cadence had to deal with something so heavy and vile. Her magic aura was rising. Even though some of her lifespan had been taken away, she still had some magic to show off and the way it appeared was beyond what she should have right now.
"Hm?" Sweet Fang raised an eyebrow, noticing the magical aura. Most notably, she even noticed the shift in Cadence's signature aura.
"Cadence?" Twilight uttered before noticing a familiarity with this magic. It wasn't familiar because it was Cadence's. It was familiar because she has experienced it before from herself. In fact, she's also experienced it from Princess Luna too. Now, she was sensing it from Cadence. "This Magic..."
"Mom?" A worried Flurry spoke, unaware of what this magic was at all.
"And for what? You're going to pay for this!" Suddenly, Cadence's magic shot up. Even though the Lich Queen robbed her of most of it, in a sudden outburst of anger, she built up an obscene amount of it. So much of it that it felt like what she lost was returning to her. It was so fierce that not only did it reach the Dread League, causing them to step back, it even forced Twilight and her friends back as well.
The ceiling above would start breaking apart just from her outburst as the Despair Plants would try pushing through, only to be held back by this alicorn's anger. Sylveon snarled, trying to stay strong, but even she was being pushed back.
"What's happening to Mom?!"
"It's Sorrowful Rage Magic! It only shows up when someone experiences heavy rage and sadness at the same time! All of this has awakened it in Cadence!"
Indeed. All of this was enough to awaken that powerful magic. Cadence has experienced anger and sadness together to a level she never expected. Losing her husband, subjects and now Sylveon tapped into that staggering magic. She was beginning to unleash something similar to Lunar Ire and Horizon Storm.
"This looks a bit worrying..." Sweet Fang chuckled for a moment, feeling the intensity in Cadence's eyes. "But you don't scare us!"
"Twilight," Cadence said to Twilight without facing her as magic was suddenly pulsating, as if it had a heartbeat. The way it was pulsating was intimidating too, sounding a lot like a thunderstorm. "Go ahead. Get to Yveltal and make this right." Despite her anger, she looked like she was in control of herself.
Unlike Lunar Ire, who would try and force herself out at certain times, the Sorrowful Rage Version of Cadence was seemingly staying within her but at the same time, she was exuding that powerful magic as she wiped a tear off her face. Her magic was overflowing as this powerful magic was correlating with something else.
Love.
The love she had for those she lost was in there as that was one part of Cadence that was vital to her and would never leave. Twilight was amazed to see the Magic of Love flowing with the Sorrowful Rage Magic. Cadence did not lose herself due to the overwhelming love she had for those she lost.
But another reason for her control was that she knew there was a way to bring them back. It was not goodbye forever. Shining Armor and her subjects could be saved. Sylveon could be saved. Even though it hurt her to see all of this transpire, that part within her stood strong and refused to die out.
"We'll help get SYleon back for you, Cadence. We're staying." Opting to help Cadence were Applejack, Flurry Heart, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash.
"Thank you." Cadence, who was overflowing with magic, would smile back at them. Her smile would then transform when looking at the Dread League as she took a deep breath. And from her voice, she used the equivalent of the Royal Canterlot Voice, speaking to her Pokemon. "Sylveon!"
"S-Sy?!" Sylveon stuttered after hearing her name at such a high volume.
"You're coming back with us. No matter what we have to do, I'm not letting you go along with this anymore." Like a mother to her child, Cadence was dead set on steering Sylveon away from a darker side. Sylveon, despite her violent nature, felt intimidated just from Cadence's words and presence.
"Good luck, Cadence!" Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy and Radiant Hope would jet away, leaving this up to Cadence, Rainbow Dash and the others.
Near the Hyperborean Island.
As Magehold moved across the skies, it was close to leaving the Hyperborean Island and eventually, entering the rest of Equestria. After that, the nearest area would be the Crystal Empire. The residents of the Crystal Empire were resting after the fierce attack they received. They wished their King and Queen the best of luck, unaware of what was happening back at Magehold and the fact that they could end up seeing Maeghold itself.
However, while they stayed back, someone was approaching the Hyperborean Island, placing a hoof in the deep snow. Magehold's actions had to be stopped and the best way to do that was by entering the land itself.
"It's close." And the one who placed her hoof in the snow was none other than the Ruler of Equestria. Princess Celestia. Equestria's Ruler was finally about to approach the nation of vampires. And of course, she was not alone. Behind her and in the harsh blizzard were her many Canterlot Forces. And right next to her was Sunburst, who was out of the Crystal Empire.
"I'm sure of it. This is what Starswirl left behind. It's all related to the Dread League since the Pony of Shadows is working with them." In his magical grasp was a book that had information about Celestia's old teacher, Starswirl the Bearded. "Starswirl had experience with the Dread League before and this looks like one of the few records we have on it."
"Good. I've always wondered where Starswirl went after he disappeared. What does the book say?" She requested information from the book. Sunburst would begin, even getting near Celestia to show her the images.
"The best elements within us can spread light and virtue, and I know ponies who represent them all – strength, bravery, healing, beauty, hope, and sorcery. Myself and these Pillars of Equestria were gathered together by another to maintain and share the light of these powerful ideals. But we soon came to believe the pony who brought us together only wanted that power for himself. Cast out and alone, this power-mad pony turned to darkness to satisfy his thirst. Transformed into a Pony of Shadows, he returned for revenge – to extinguish the Pillars' light and rob the world of hope. To stop him, the Pillars and I must make a grave sacrifice. But we shall leave behind a seed in hopes that one day it will grow into a force to stand against the darkness for all time. We must now face the fiend with the only plan we have...I only hope it will be enough." That's the last entry. And maybe Star Swirl's final words before he vanished."
"And what about Magehold?"
"It's near the end. It looks like Starswirl had little information about Magehold that he never expanded on. He never got to learn more about the place but there was something interesting he revealed. It looks like the Pony of Shadows is responsible for the Lich Cycle."
"The Lich Cycle? The Pony of Shadows is responsible for it? How can that be? The years are too far apart." Celestia pondered as that did not seem right. The Lich Cycle, according to Mellifera, happened centuries before Starswirl was even born. It predates even her.
"It must've been the same magic that the Pony of Shadows possesses. The point is, whatever the Pony of Shadows is doing is fueling Magehold in some way and benefitting off the Lich Queen too. It adds to that darkness since they use Dark Magic as well."
"I see. Then, we'll confront the Pony of Shadows as well. And the pony that has been overtaken by the darkness." said Celestia. "If we cut their connection to the Pony of Shadows, we'll greatly weaken Magehold. But Yveltal is the biggest one we have to get back."
"Will we have enough when we get there though?" Sunburst questioned.
"No need to worry, Sunburst." Celestia smiled before facing the entryway to the Hyperborean Island. "I had a chat with a vampire back at Pallet Town...Ash, Twilight and everyone are already enough. I can tell. We just have to back them up."
Along came Princess Celestia and her forces, ready to tip the scales. The vampire she referred to was none other than Spectrum Shade who was recently seen over at the Ketchum Household. However, before she and her massive group could enter the Hyperborean Island, something else caught their attention that made them stop.
It started with a roar of thunder in the sky, which didn't seem natural. This was then followed by a powerful howl along with the sound of something combusting. So many different sounds were going off in the distance and they didn't seem consistent at all. The Hyperborean Island certainly couldn't be responsible for making those noises. It was full of Windigos and even they couldn't make that noise.
When using her magic, Celestia looked beyond the Hyperborean Island, seeing what was causing that chaotic array of voices. Her vision went far, moving through the powerful mist as it didn't take long for her to see what was going on. And it truly shocked her.
She saw Magehold for the first time, but not in the way she expected. It was flying, moving across the high skies of the Hyperborean Island. But more importantly, the faces she managed to see surprised her. Her vision could only go so far but from what she found, she saw the familiar figure of Ash Ketchum, his partner Pikachu and some of his Pokemon.
And even though she couldn't see her, Celestia saw the Lich Queen's magic being active, moving around massive roots that Pikachu, Dragonite and Lucario were fiercely battling against. Even a stream of Oblivion Wing could be seen flying by as the Windigos were moving all over the place, keeping Ash and his friends active.
"What do you see, your majesty?" A soldier asked
"We might have to rethink where we go..." Celestia's jaw dropped, ending her spell as she already knew things were about to escalate to a new level that she did not anticipate. No one else anticipated what was about to come. "Listen! Magehold might be coming to us, so get ready!"
"Coming to us?" The soldiers all repeated, unsure of what she meant by that. They would eventually find out as the flying nation was getting closer to the end despite its moving speed. Celestia gulped, unsure of how to deal with this flying nation now that it's come up. But she would try her best as the forces behind her, who were masked by the harsh blizzard were ready to act in whatever way they could.
"Hang in there, Ash. Twilight. Everyone. If push comes to shove...we might have to go to Ponehenge."
Thunder cracked in the sky. The sound of thunder was so powerful that even created a multitude of powerful thundercracks, startling many of the Crystal Empire residents. After recovering from the attack that the Dread League landed on them, the best thing they can do is rest and hope for the rest of Equestria to put an end to the Black Crusade.
"That's an odd thunderstorm, isn't it?" A Crystal Pony commented, holding her child close to her. The little pony would cover her ears as hard as she could, absolutely mortified by this powerful string of thunderstorms.
"Is there a thunderstorm like that?"
"It's not like anything I've heard before. What could be-" They had their questions answered instantly as the reason for this fierce thunderstorm would be seen in the distance. Their eyes widened and their jaws dropped as they saw something absolutely massive moving through the air that they never thought they would see.
It was the nation of Magehold. It was still moving across the skies and the cause of all that thunder cracking was Pikachu's Thunderbolt. They couldn't believe what they were seeing as Magehold, in its entirety was very close to their empire. It was just by the outskirts.
And on that flying nation, the battle between Ash and Rosa Maledicta was raging on as a powerful Thunderbolt cracked through the sky once more. Ash held onto his hat as he was still standing on the air, supported by the Windigos. Speaking of the Windigos, they had their island, the Hyperborean Island, threatened by the Lich Queen. But thankfully, it never faced destruction thanks to the efforts of Ash and his Pokemon.
"Looks like that failed!" Ash grinned.
"So what?! It won't matter once I finally end Yveltal's life which will result in the destruction of all life here."
"But you haven't done it yet. We messed things up, haven't we?" Ash continued. "You were super confident about having Yveltal destroy everything but that's probably because you knew something in Magehold would keep you safe. Now that we're out and about, you can't take that risk, cause you'll be taken out too."
"Kh...!" The Lich Queen's left eye twitched, aggravated by Ash's response. It seems like he was right. Magehold was meant to keep her safe but now, if she tried to end Yveltal's life, it would mean she would meet her end as well and that was obviously something she wished to avoid. "You're smarter than you make yourself, Ash Ketchum. Mark my words, once I'm done with you and your intruding friends, it's back to Magehold and Yveltal's final moments will obliterate everything as planned. And why don't you take a look nearby?"
By turning his head, Ash would soon see the next area now that they were all out of the Hyperborean Island. Just nearby was the Crystal Empire, and all of its residents who had no idea what was going on. All of them locked onto the flying nation, fearing that it might come this way judging by how foreboding it appeared.
"You may have stopped the destruction of the Hyperboea Island but I'll make sure that the entirety of the Crystal Empire is obliterated. Sweet Fang wishes to rule over it so we shall rebuild it in our own image. A new Crystal Empire."
"As if I'd indulge in your childish game any longer!" Rosa Maledicta roared. "If I can't use Yveltal to destroy the area, I'll crash Magehold into the Crystal Empire!" An utterly terrifying action was about to be done by Rosa Maledicta, who would do anything to make sure her Black Crusade plan succeeds.
And that was by dropping Magehold on the Crystal Empire. Her horn would flash, which correlated with the Dark Magic she placed around the entire nation of Magehold. She was already responsible for moving the nation and lifting it, so whatever she wishes to do with it, it could be done.
The entire nation of Magehold would turn but on top of that, it would also speed up. Rosa Maledicta was taking it slow the entire time, wanting to stick around the Hyperborean Island just so it could be destroyed. But now, she was about to use Magehold itself as the weapon.
"You're gonna hurt some of your subjects if you do that!" Ash yelled, knowing that the innocent vampires would take damage as well from something this catastrophic.
"Oh, they'll be well protected. The Pony of Shadows will be the one to shield them from the damage. None of your friends will gain any protection though!" The Lich Queen cackled as the nation would speed, shifting its angle. It would be a downward crash as the first target was none other than the castle.
"Not if we stop you! Windigos! Can you keep the nation from crashing?!"
"We can." The Windigos replied as they would quickly whisk themselves away, moving through the massive platform of land that supported Magehold. They were already keeping Ash and his Pokemon in the air but with their control over the wind, especially in such a cold environment, they could do so much to support to other side that they would normally try and freeze over.
As for the Crystal Empire, they were all screaming when witnessing the nation coming their way. From the speed it was moving at, the land that supported it was already catching fire, burning through the cold air. They already knew what was coming as mass panic emerged. They scurried all over the place, unsure of what to do as it seemed like their precious home would suffer yet again.
And it didn't help that they managed to see the Windigos. The terrifying spectral ponies that bring a horrible chill would appear, only adding to their fears. They didn't know what would be worse. Being crushed or being frozen. But something worse could happen. Being crushed while frozen, unable to do anything about this.
Luckily, that was not why the Windigos were here. Their eyes did not deceive them as they saw the Windigos generate a powerful cold blizzard right underneath the nation of Magehold, forming possibly the biggest blizzard they have ever made considering the circumstances.
The Crystal Ponies were astounded by the sight as the blizzard cooled off the flames that were generating underneath the nation when it was speeding up. The powerful wind pressure that the flying nation made while falling could be heard by everyone, even being so powerful that it shattered nearby windows. Just when they went through all that effort to repair some of these windows after the previous attack.
And with their powerful blizzard, they managed to keep the nation from going at full speed, but it wasn't without its struggles. The many Windigos were giving everything they had to keep the nation from crashing into the Crystal Empire. The sound of Windigos howling went off, but it was not their usual cry. This was one of strain, pain and struggle. Never before have the Windigos had to experience something like this before.
For once, the Windigos experienced what everyone in the world felt like. As spirits, something like this should not exist for them, and yet it does. More and more, the Windigos were starting to discover what it felt like to be like everyone else.
"Interfering spirits! Stay out of this!" Rosa Maledicta roared which correlated with her magic exploding. She would add more power to the nation's speed which only gave the Windigos a harder time keeping it back.
"Dragonite! Help 'em out with Hurricane!"
"Dra!" The Windigos were about to receive an ally who would help keep the nation from falling. Dragonite would make her way there but not without Rosa Maledicta interfering.
"Stop that Dragon, Yveltal! At all costs!" Rosa ordered which prompted in Yveltal pursuing Dragonite. Dragonite looked back to see the Destruction Pokemon approaching her with its Wings of Destruction, preparing an Oblivion wing in its mouth.
"Yeah! But now it's just you!" Ash would approach the Lich Queen with Pikachu and Lucario running next to him. "We're taking that Master Ball off of you!"
"Trying to approach me?! Knowing the risk?! Idiots!" Rosa barked at them before summoning her powerful roots once more. She was more than enough to handle anyone that would dare try and attack her.
"Inside those super tough plants are souls, right? All we have to do is free those souls and they won't be as strong anymore!" Ash said before taking out another Poke Ball. One of the roots came for him as he barely managed to avoid it. The side of his hair had been hit, resulting in hair follicles flying off. Barely evading it, Ash would throw the Poke Ball in the air but right after that, a second Poke Ball was thrown out. "Gengar! Dracovish! I choose you!"
"Gengar!"
"Dracovish!"
Once he sent Gengar out, Ash recalled the words the spirits said to him. The only way to weaken the roots, thorns and Despair Plants was by interacting with each of their souls.
"Once many souls are returned to where they rightfully were, the Despair Plants will grow weaker. They will lose their nigh-indestructible durability. As for the roots and thorns...you will have to face the Lich Queen herself for that. You do not have to destroy them. You can simply take them out of the Despair Plants themselves."
"Let's see if the Ghost-Type Plan works out. Gengar! Try phasing through those roots and see what you can find there!" Ash said before jumping over one of the roots. By jumping over it, he would then start running on these roots, using them as his new platform as the roots were already starting to retract. But that was exactly why he brought Dracovish out as he would get on the back of the Fossil Pokemon the second the roots were retracting. "Dracovish! Back everyone else up!"
"Draco!" With Dracovish's speed, Ash could stay on the roots while they retracted, using that as a method of reaching the Lich Queen as soon as possible. Pikachu was already using Quick Attack while Lucario would lunging from root to root as fast as he could.
"Gen...Gar!" As for Gengar, he went straight for one of the roots. Now was the perfect time to see if Ghost-Types could help pull out the souls within these nigh-indestructible plants. When approaching one of them, Gengar would use his intangibility to enter the root. He would not phase through it but instead, stay within it.
"They know about the souls?!" Rosa Maledicta gasped, shocked that Ash and his Pokemon were now aware of what truly powered her plants' ridiculous durability.
"Don't lose focus, Rosa! Aura Sphere! Water Gun!"
"Luca!" Meanwhile, Rosa Maledicta was the only target here, making her prime for an attack. And starting it off was Lucario with his Aura Sphere. The Lich Queen snarled as she swayed her head to the side, evading the incoming Aura Sphere as it would crash into her throne room. But she had to stay alert as a Water Gun was now incoming from Dracovish. SHe would use roots as a shield, quickly forming them in front of her as the water would splash into these nigh-indestructible plants.
"Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" Leaping into action and getting the closest to Rosa Maledicta was Pikachu as he spun through the air with his Iron Tail while the roots came his way. His spinning allowed him to avoid the roots as the Lich Queen looked up to see a yellow blur with light around him homing in on her.
Rosa's main instinct was to put up a Dark Shield, protecting her from the incoming Iron Tail. With all of his might, Pikachu slammed the tail down the Dark Shield, sending powerful vibrations through it. The Lich Queen growled, managing to protect herself before repelling Pikachu away with her shield.
"Pi!" Pikachu would then slide on the air itself as all of the roots returned to the Lich Queen. But thanks to the WInidgos, Ash and his Pokemon could freely move through the air, closing the gap in whatever way they wish to do so. It didn't even matter that the roots had all been pulled back. They were now incredibly close to the castle.
However, one root never came back and that was the root that Gengar was in. Rosa Maledicta noticed this as she was unable to bring the root back as it was stuck there. "What the?"
"Great work, Gengar!" Ash cheered. "Looks like he's found something. We had a chat with the spirits when deep inside the Chamber. We know what we gotta do to weaken your plants and make sure Daisy and Paradise are happy afterwards."
"Gengar!" Gengar would return. He phased through the roots once more, allowing it to pull back at last. Lo and behold, Rosa Maledicta couldn't believe her eyes as Gengar had something familiar in his hands. In his hands, Gengar held Souls. They appeared just like the spirits that Ash and the others encountered, possessing a light blue appearance but with a constant flowing aura.
"Impossible! He managed to take out the soul?!" Rosa was at a loss for words. Not only have they discovered the true weakness of these powerful plants, but they already succeeded in taking some of the souls away. In Gengar's grasp, he held dozens of souls, giggling while flying back with them. On top of that, he even used Psychic to hold more of them.
"Time to test it out then! Lucario! Force Palm!"
"Lu!" Lucario would vanish from getting a quick burst of speed before reappearing in front of the Lich Queen. Rosa turned her attention away from Gengar and to Lucario, putting up a blockade of roots. Lucario's fist smashed into roots, sending out a bright flash of energy that went off.
However, there was a noticeable difference. After smashing the roots and knowing the Lich Queen would put up a shield with them, there was a dent. A dent in the roots could be found. Proper damage has finally been done now that some of the souls have been taken away.
The spot where Lucario struck his paw was also smoking as the roots have never taken this damage before from attacks that did not pack any form of Pure Light whatsoever. Lucario smiled after seeing some actual damage. It wasn't exactly full-on damage as the roots were still very durable thanks to years of soul collecting, but because of Gengar's actions, some of that durability was starting to fade away.
"Check it out." Ash grinned with his teeth shining brightly while Rosa Maledicta bared her sharp teeth, upset by this. "Looks like it's already starting to wear down. Let's keep it up then!"
"How dare you?!" Angered by this, Rosa Maledicta cast a spell that formed a wide blast of darkness which would first hit Lucario, who was responsible for damaging the roots in such a way. Before that, Lucario would put up his arms, blocking the dark wave but it would still blow him back. Ash and his Pokemon would receive this blowback as well, losing their distance from the Lich Queen.
Rosa Maledicta then took a deep breath, realizing she was getting riled up. It was all thanks to Ash's actions and the way he spoke to her. The way Ash speaks gets under her skin and it resulted in her unleashing this fierce outburst of Dark Magic. She recollected herself, refusing to lose herself when facing Ash.
"Okay. Fair enough. You've discovered its weakness. But do you have enough forces to bring the roots down to their weakest? I think not."
"I've got full faith in my friends. They'll weaken them for sure!"
Magehold Chamber.
Meanwhile, the movement of the Nation and the fact that it was attempting to crash itself into the Crystal Empire could be felt by everyone else. They felt the place shift in its angle, throwing some of them off balance. But even with this sudden shift in angle, it didn't stop them from focusing on what was most important.
Cadence faced off against Sweet Fang and Shrivel, who had corrupted her beloved Sylveon, filling her with Curse Magic and forcing her to become Sweet Fang's Pokemon. Backing her up were Applejack, Flurry Heart, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash.
"So what if you infected her with Curse Magic? All I have to do is remove it from her." Cadence spoke, intending to remove all of the Curse Magic that's been injected in Sylveon in whatever way she can.
"Remove it from her? Pssh! As if!" Sweet Fang laughed at that idea.
"It's the same way we're going to weaken those plants of yours. I need some of you to phase through those Despair Plants." Cadence looked back at her friends. "Applejack. You have plenty of Goletts, so they might be able to phase through them and grab those souls."
"Gotcha." Applejack nodded along with all 12 of her Golett. It was up to them to pull those souls out. They would also be supported by Sceptile and Delta Riolu who would try and give them as much time and space as they needed to interact with those Despair Plants.
"Pinkie Pie. Have Mew turn into any Ghost-Type he can. Whatever he chooses, as long as he can phase through the plants, it's fine."
"I hear ya!" Pinkie Pie saluted along with Mew. "Mew can be any Ghost-Type!"
"And Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash. I just need you to help me deal with Sylveon."
"I wish Giratina was still here. Maybe he'd solve this already..." Flurry Heart sighed, fearing that she might be of no use here."
"And Flurry Heart. You're my daughter. So, I want you by my side. Giratina may not be here, but that doesn't mean you can't do anything. You're an alicorn through and through. Firstborn too."
"R-Right! Thanks, Mom!"
"Done having a nice chat? Because I've already shrivelled the floor itself!" Shrivel cackled, taking advantage of their conversation by shrivelling up the floor. Parts of it were breaking part but some of them were also gaining sentience, rising up and threatening to strike Cadence and everyone else.
But then, Flurry Heart stepped forward, gaining full confidence from her mother which allowed her to cast a counter spell. This Counter Spell would fly out of her horn, interacting with the magic that Shrivel cast. The shattering ground would soon be repaired. Shrivel's destructive magic was cleaned out as Flurry Heart redecorated the ground.
She also made it more pleasing to look at instead of the rough and sharp appearance it had earlier. And not only did she redecorate it, but Flurry Heart also sent some light through the floor, stunning the vampires for a moment.
"Golett! Get in there and enter those plants! Riolu! Sceptile! Back 'em all up!"
"Gol!" All 12 Golett would rush in, running in unison and already preparing to make their hands intangible. From behind, Sceptile would use Frenzy Plant, unleashing a massive collection of roots that would fly out of the floor that Flurry Heart just redecorated.
"Go, Braviary! Aerial Ace!"
"Audi! Hyper Beam!"
"Bra!" Adding to their assistance were Braviary and Audino who went on the offensive as well. Braviary took off, moving ahead of everyone else, even the massive roots as he left behind a white streak while moving at such breakneck speeds.
"Sylveon! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Sylveon!" A Dark Dazzling Gleam would fly out from Sylveon's body, unleashing just as many roots as Sceptile had made and more. Some would deal with the roots while the rays went for every other Pokemon. And with the Curse Magic within her, her Dazzling Gleam was greatly elevated in power.
It already struck one of the Golett, blowing it away with intense power. The Golett was blown back, failing to get close as it went past Applejack from just one ray of Dazzling Gleam. Applejack gasped as one of her Golett was easily put aside. Four more of the Golett were blown away by the Dark Dazzling Gleam as the rest were only being protected by Sceptile's roots. Braviary would fly around the powerful rays, using his speed to his advantage as he was already closing in on the Dread League, closing the gap quickly.
A Despair Plant Chimera would attempt to grab Braviary with its massive vine arms, only to miss once Braviary flew around it. Afterwards, Braviary crashed right into the Despair Plant Fusion, staggering it for a moment. But the moment he hit the Despair Plant, one of Sylveon's rays hit him straight in the chest. Crying out, Braviary had dark magic trailing out of his chest, falling back.
"Dusknoir!" Catching him was Mew who had turned himself into a Dusknoir. "Dusknoir!" Appearing as a Froslass, Mew would not only throw Braviary into the air, allowing him to recover, he would he then go for the Chimera, ready to phase through as he was able to copy the intangibility of a Ghost-Type perfectly. However, the second he went for the Chimera, three of the Dazzling Gleam Rays intercepted his movements, knocking him away. "D-Dus!"
"It went through?!" Pinkie gasped, flabbergasted that the rays hit Mew's intangibility.
"I changed it so that it worked just like a Dark-Type move! You're dealing with a Fairy-Dark Move in this instance, so good luck trying to get past this!" Sweet Fang cackled as the rays just kept coming, furiously flying out. There seemed to be no end to them with how many were flying, hitting everything and everyone they could.
Sceptile's roots couldn't even get through as they were being constantly stopped by the roots. None of the Golett could get close at all, unfortunately, and Delta Riolu had to constantly evade the rays as any one of them would be super-effective against him. Sylveon roared, bringing more and more rays that were only growing more powerful by the second.
"Audi...No!" But that's where Audino got involved. From her hands, a powerful blast of energy came flying out, stronger than what any of her friends produced. Even Sceptile's Frenzy Plant. The Hyper Beam would meet was wide enough to catch a majority of the rays, blocking them from going any further. Unfortunately, she could not overpower them but she could cancel them out.
Dazzling Gleam and Hyper Beam cancelled each other out, resulting in a powerful explosion of Infinity Energy and Curse Magic which made both sides flinch. But not those ready to take advantage of this. "Go! Riolu! Golett!"
"Rio!" A few of the Golett managed to get through, jumping through the smoke along with Delta Riolu. With this opportunity, they seized it immediately but they also got the attention of Dark Sylveon. She did not flinch whatsoever and was already prepared to pounce, throwing her ribbons out. Her ribbons were sharper now, now longer playful and soft as they could cause some major damage as well.
"Syl!"
"Ri!" Riolu would intercept these ribbons, using Force Palm to meet with them. His paw met with the Sharp Dark Ribbons, holding them back and giving his friends the chance to pass through. "Rio?!" But this was obviously painful as the ribbons were already digging into his sin, making the Embalming Pokemon flinch.
"Gol!" But that was enough as two of the Golett managed to phase through the Despair Plant Chimera that stood before them, finally getting the opportunity to test this theory out.
"They got it?!" Once the smoke cleared, Shrivel gasped, witnessing the Golett entering the body of this Despair Plant. "Get them out at once!"
"I got it! I'll just take control of one of them and-" Sweet Fang was prepared to control at least one of Applejack's Golett, rushing to Chimera's side.
"Raboot!" But stopping that from ever transpiring was Raboot who came flying in with a High Jump Kick. Sweet Fang was too late to notice Raboot's incoming kick as she received a powerful strike to the jaw. "Boot!"
"G-Gah!" Sweet Fang coughed as she was knocked over, feeling powerful vibrations through her face. The Controlling Vampire rolled on the ground before being caught by Shrivel who manipulated the ground to soften her blow.
"Syl?" Sylveon turned to see Sweet Fang take a hit as she would push Delta Riolu away, gaining some distance away from the Embalming Pokemon who kept her perfectly occupied. She would then swing her sharp ribbons at Raboot who was nearly, slicing his cheek and sending him away at the same time.
"R-Ra!" Receiving a cut to the face, Raboot would drop to the floor but he still succeded in buying time for his friends. The Despair Plant Chimera started screaming out, all thanks to what was happening inside of it. With two Pokemon inside of it, the fused Despair Plant was squirming, flailing its vine arms around violently, hitting everything that it could.
"I think it's working!" Rainbow Dash shouted, hoping that was a sign of the Golett actually getting the better of the Despair Plant. She wasn't sure what was going on in there but judging from the Despair Plants' movements, it was not favourable for the Dread League.
"As for your two!" Cadence spread her wings out, approaching Sweet Fang and Shrivel, deciding to deal with the vampires while everyone else handled the Despair Plants. There were more Despair Plants behind them but they were mainly Cobras. Cadence lit up her horn, sending a beautiful light for many to see when looking up.
Sweet Fang would snarl at this before shooting out Dark Magic from her mouth, Joining her was Shrivel, who not only shot Dark Magic from her mouth, but she also interacted with the environment once more. This time, her magic travelled all the way to the walls and then straight for the ceiling that Cadence was right below.
Cadence unleashed a powerful blast of magic that came flying out, instantly overpowering the Darkness that Sweet Fang and Shrivel made, obliterating it in an instant. Sweet Fang and Shrivel were confounded after their magic was easily obliterated.
Thanks to the Sorrowful Rage Magic that Cadence managed to control, her magical power had not only returned to how it was but it had been greatly elevated too, entering a new level of power.
"Sylveon!" Unfortunately, shielding them both from damage was Sylveon, who used Moonblast when getting in front of them. Gathering power from the Moon, this Dark Moonblast met with Cadence's beam, blocking it and saving the two vampires from taking the hit, much to the dismay of Cadence.
And right after that, the ceiling above would drop massive chunks of its bricks down on Cadence when she wasn't looking. Shrivel smiled, knowing she snuck something up on Cadence thanks to her Curse. However, supporting her mother was Flurry Heart. She saw this coming already, blasting the chunks away with her own magical beam. Shrivel's smile faded away after her sneak attack failed.
"Sylveon! Stop this!" Cadence yelled at her Pokemon, descending to meet with the Intertwining Pokemon. "I don't want to hurt you!"
"Sylveon!" However, Sylveon could not hear the cries of her trainer. At least, the true part of her that was overtaken by darkness couldn't.
"You might have to. But Sylveon here is under a more advanced level of control!" Sweet Fang exclaimed. "With my magic plus Shrivel shrivelling up her heart, she's fully loyal to us! The Sylveon you know is long gone, Princess Cadence! Give it up!"
"Never!" Cadence yelled back at them. "Sylveon is my beloved Pokemon and I won't let you take her away from me. She's in there. The bond between a Trainer and a Pokemon is amazing. It's one of the most powerful forms of love I've ever seen and no amount of control can ever take that away. Understand? I'll reach Sylveon and bring her back! I'll go deep within her heart and snap her out of it."
"You have to get past the plethora of Despair Plants we have." Shrivel sneered as the Cobras would slither to her side. But not only would they slither, but they also ended up merging together. The Cobras were already starting to fuse into more Despair Plant Fusions, planning to make this harder for Cadence and her friends.
"Golett!" However, interrupting that was none other than the two Golett that went into the Despair Plants previously. They finally returned and in their hands were the Souls trapped within these Magehold Creations.
By taking the souls out, the other Despair Plants nearby would feel this as their durability would drop. Their merging process was interrupted when these souls left as they became weaker than before. That nigh-indestructible body they possess was still strong, but it was easy to tell that something was missing from them.
"Woohoo! Way to go, Golett!" Applejack cheered them on after they retrieved the souls. And now that they were relieved from the Despair Plants, they were free to move on. They left the hands of the Golurk, ascending in a gentle and peaceful manner, experiencing freedom at last.
"That can't be! That's never happened before!" Shrivel was in absolute disbelief that the souls had actually left their bodies.
"So the Ghost-Type plan was the way to go after all!" Pinkie Pie put on a prolonged gasp. Something like this had to reach everyone in the chamber. They had to know that this was the way to defeat the Despair Plants.
"In that case..." Flurry Heart smiled before closing her eyes. "I'll use the advanced form of telepathy Great Aunt Daybreaker uses. This works on others. Not just alicorns and unicorns." Using another form of telepathy that Daybreaker apparently uses, Flurry Heart would try and reach all of the Pokemon here, letting them know. And with some of these Pokemon from either the Pokemon House or PokePark being Ghost-Types, it was the perfect time to let them shine and retrieve those lost souls.
"Now for you, Sylveon! Come back to me!" Cadence would then fly over to Sylveon, holding her hoof out. The Corrupted Intertwining Pokemon bared her fangs at Sylveon, ready to bite into her hoof with no remorse whatsoever.
"I won't let you!" Sweet Fang would unleash her magic on Sylveon right before Cadence could reach her. Just as Cadence went to touch Sylveon, the darkness around the Fairy-Type would hold her back. "This is my ace in the hole!"
Seeing how rough things were getting, Sweet Fang unleashed everything she could to try and retake the advantage her group once had. And with the darkness flying out of Sylveon, it would envelop everyone, forming a Dark Field. This field of Darkness wouldn't just disappear after reaching everyone. Instead, it would stay behind. This Dark Field pulsated as if it had a heartbeat, keeping everyone from making another move.
"W-What is this?!" Cadence stuttered as she felt a sudden weight on her body.
"The Curse Magic I put in Sylveon correlates with her heart. Since it was once full of love, it is now filled with hatred. The stronger her hatred, the more powerful this field is. It'll slow you all down and make you feel Sylveon's burning hatred." Sweet Fang explained. "All that hatred that you can't get rid of!"
"So you put false hatred in my Sylveon?! How dare you?!" Cadence roared as the Dread League were only making things worse for her.
"It's so heavy..." Already, the effects of the field could be felt by everyone. Fluttershy held onto herself, feeling an uncomfortable chill that was equal to what Dimstar did back at Lapras Lake. "I can hear and feel all of that hatred...Sylveon never had this before but it's so horrible."
"This is...nothing!" Rainbow Dash tried staying strong in it, but no amount of grit she possessed would help her here. The same went for Applejack and all the Pokemon who tried launching their next attack. It started off as a dull pain within their chests, but it soon spread across their entire body.
They all felt weak, sweat covering every inch of skin, hooves, claws and hands trembling out of control. It was exhausting, taking a toll on them already. They couldn't believe that the feeling of someone's hatred was responsible for this. Bursts of tearing pain pulsed through their heads. Their head felt heavy and they could feel dizziness starting to kick in. Surely this pain would stop soon. Surely there was an end to this. They weren't so sure but they wouldn't give up because of it.
"D-Dus!" Mew couldn't even phase through it. He reverted to his original form, shuddering uncontrollably as SYlveon's hatred was beating on him viciously. Speaking of beating, these pulses were the main means of attacking them. As they were all stuck there, taking in this hatred, the pulses would hit their bodies, mercilessly pummelling them as they were seemingly powerless. Even though this was all fake hatred, it felt so real.
"Now to control you all shut you up for good!" But Sweet Fang could move perfectly in this Dark Field, completely immune as she targeted Princess Cadence. "I should've done this back at the Crystal Empire! This is the end!" Cadence would feel Sweet Fang's hooves tough her face as she finally made contact after all the struggling.
The Curse Magic she possessed already came flying out, covering Cadence's face, latching onto it like glue or even a parasite. The most maniacal look on Sweet Fang appeared as she was very eager to do this. It was bad enough that she was taking the weight of this hatred, but feeling this cruel magic around her magic only added to this rough and unforgiving pain.
"Leave my mom alone!" Flurry Heart, was trying to fight through this hatred, would shout at the top of her lungs but was unable to use the equivalent of the Royal Canterlot Voice to stop this. However, with a powerful roar from Syvelon. Flurry Heart was weighed down, stopped
"What?" However, Sweet Fang noticed how her magic wasn't done transferring. By now, it would've taken over her victim and made them a mindless slave. But it was still ongoing for Cadence. "What's going on?! What are you doing?!"
"I can't fall to something as fake as this...This hatred is not genuine." Cadence took a deep breath, relaxing herself. She did not let it get to her at all, keeping her cool. "This isn't what Sylveon truly feels."
"Come on....! Work!" Sweet Fang attempted putting more of her magic into it, but even when adding more of it, Cadence stayed completely calm. "Work!" She would try again but Cadence did not budge. "Cobras! Bite into her!"
The Cobras recollected themselves, moving in on Cadence who was still somewhat vulnerable since the hatred was keeping her still. Their fangs bared and each one of them had poison in them. A single bite would greatly affect Cadence so multiple would be truly fatal. But as they went to bite into her, a bright pink light would fly out of Cadene's body, pushing them back. Thanks to the removed souls, the Despair Plant Cobras took significant damage. They could now feel greater amounts of damage as they were sent flying, having their bodies shake by the mere expansion of Cadence's magic.
"Thanks for getting close to me. The kind of magic you use...is the kind my magic counters." Cadence smiled. "You can try all you want, but you can't overcome true love. I've already lost someone so beloved to me and I can't lose another. But I know for a fact...I can bring him back. And before that can happen, I need to bring Sylveon back and you're just in the way."
"Ngh...Ghh!" Sweet Fang was hit by the light as it was bright enough to affect her body. Her Mind Control failed as she was forced to step back, stumbling and crying out in pain. But the magic did not stop there. It was going straight for Sylveon. The pink light coloured parts of the dark field while approaching the Corrupted Pokemon, unable to weigh it down. "No! Stop!" Sweet Fang yelled, lying on her back and holding her hoof out. "You can't do this! It's not possible!"
"You don't know what rage feels like until you've seen it for yourself." Cadence stepped forward while using her magic, getting closer to Sylveon. Cadence's Natural Magic along with Sorrowful Rage Magic were emitted to their fullest. Cadence surpassed what she used to be, becoming a stronger version of herself. "Let my love reach you! And come back to me! Sylveon!" Cadence yelled once more, hoping these words would reach Sylveon the same way her magic reached her.
"Syl?!" The second the magic touched Sylveon, it reached within her. The outside of her was stunned by this as her vicious cries were halted once the most unusual power entered her body. But it was something she's felt before as her pupils shrunk. Sylveon then screeched at the top of her lungs, feeling this powerful magic interact with the Curse Magic within. And in an instant, everything went blank for her.
"S-Sylveon..." Struck by the Power of Love which transcended what Cadence was usually capable of, Sylveon felt everything fall silent for a moment. A breakthrough of magic got through her Dark Field which was filled up with fake hatred that felt real due to how powerful it was. It was supposed to beat down on everyone but it did not succeed in stopping Cadence, who managed to reach Sylveon with her magic. All she remembered was everything going white in an instant. But her vision was returning and a more welcoming sight met with her. But before that, a voice travelled through the space she was in.
"Sylveon! Sylveon!" It was Cadence's voice. It got louder and louder as Sylveon slowly opened her eyes, seeing nothing but white around her. And in that white space, Cadence was approaching her with a warm embrace.
"Sylveon?" She said with a weak voice, speaking Cadence's name. The familiarity of this alicorn was returning to her but it was still rather faint. The voice was barely familiar too. That is until Cadence spoke once more.
"Come back to me!" Cadence yelled. But while approaching Sylveon, the Dark Magic within in her tried pushing the Princess of Love back. Cadence groaned as she was met with a powerful burst of darkness. And right behind Sylveon, towering over her was the avatar of her Dark Self. The Dark Sylveon roared at Cadence, trying to keep her back.
However, Cadence refused to let this stop here. This Dark Form of Sylveon was simply in her way. With her Magic of Love radiating to its peak, she would send that pink wave once more as the Dark Sylveon attempted to obliterate it. However, the darkness failed as the love enveloped the Corrupted Sylveon.
"Sylveon!" And at that moment, she yelled out Cadence's name. But this cry was one of happiness as a smile formed on her face. With all of her might, she would overpower the darkness that was holding her back, leaping forward. She would finally embrace her beloved trainer.
The two of them embraced for a hug as they would roll on the white floor. This was a tackle of love as they laughed in unison, finally reunited. The white space would be coloured, showing the area they were originally in as Sylveon's vision was fully returning to her.
"I missed you! I missed you so much!" Cadence cried, relieved that she got one of her loved ones back. After losing Shining Armor, getting Sylveon back to her senses brought solace to her heart. And around Sylveon, other familiar faces such as Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Flurry Heart could be seen.
"Syl! Sylveon!" Sylveon even started crying, remembering what she had done. The fact that she attacked her friends greatly gutted her and she felt sorry for it, even feeling sorry for not being strong enough to break free from the control. But with Cadence's comforting hug, she wasn't to blame for this. It was the Dread League that was responsible.
"This can't be...!" And slumped against some rubble was Sweet Fang, who failed to fully control Sylveon. The power of love beat out her Controlling Magic and even removed the Curse Magic she injected into Sylveon.
"She erased the Curse Magic!? But that's not possible!" Shrivel yelled, confused and aggravated by this realization.
"Good to have you back, SYlveon!" Rainbow Dash ran over, as did everyone else now that they got one of their friends back. Things were looking up for them. "But it's not over yet. You two are gonna have to pay for what you did." Her eyes then shifted towards the two vampires that got in their way, intimidating them.
"We need to retreat!" Shrivel saw this as an opportunity to retreat. For once, she knew when she was beaten and couldn't afford to engage with them here any longer. She would pick up the slumped Sweet Fang as the Despair Plant Cobras would get in front of her to shield her.
"You're just gonna run after all of that! Get back here!" Rainbow Dash roared at their cowardice. She and Braviary would try and chase them down, only for the Cobras to lunge at them. "Steel Wing!"
"Bra!" Braviary would harden his wings before slashing them at the incoming Despair Plants. With their durability dropping, the damage the Despair Plants took was now starting to look significant. Braviary's Steel Wing would whack some of them, staggering their bodies as they were sent flying.
Despair Plant Chimera would soon get in the way, attempting to use its powerful vine arms to catch the two aerial intruders. Steel Wing met with Chimera, hitting its upper body. The Fused Despair Plant was almost moved as the steel managed to cut a part of it. This was never possible before but now the Despair Plants were slowly starting to become as fragile as ordinary plants.
"We still have the Lich Queen to count on! As well as other methods to get rid of-" However, Shrivel's words were promptly stopped once a powerful presence stood before her. It made her shudder as it felt so familiar. Familiar enough to remind her of the Lich Queen. But this was not the Lich Queen as it was a presence that not many in Magehold had ever felt since it was still new to them.
It was Dimstar.
"Dimstar?!" Shrivel gasped as the Half Lich stood before her. She wasn't actually a Half Vampire and Lich but instead, Half Lich and Siren. But the vampiric wings were simply the cause of a Lich being the ancestor of vampires.
"Move aside. I need to find answers." Dimstar ordered as she was finally out of her healing tube. And her reason for that was to search for answers. She did not even bother to help with the Black Crusade anymore as something far more important to her was on her mind.
"Hey, it's her." Rainbow Dash said after spotting Dimstar who was responsible for bringing Ash and his many friends here in the first place.
"Oh, you're not going anywhere! I've been waiting to speak with you! You're the one who caused this mess in the first place!" Shrivel yelled. "Bringing them all here has greatly disrupted the execution of the Black Crusade.
"She's the one who brought you here?" Cadence looked back at everyone else, who nodded to confirm this.
"You can make up for it by crushing them though!" Shrivel pointed her hoof back at the intruders. "We could use your magic in this instance."
"I refuse." However, Dimstar gave out the most shocking answer that any vampire or even Equestrian could hear.
"Y-You refuse?!" Both Shrievl and Sweet Fang stammered.
"I'm not partaking in this. Not when the words of my father still escapes me. I need the full context. I need to find out what the first Lich King, my father Grevyine, said."
"Heh. Good luck with that." Sweet Fang cackled. "The first Lich King is long gone so you have no way of getting that answer."
"She's going to get that answer." But there was another. Dimstar was not alone. She was joined by someone else. Emerging from the smoke that formed during this fierce brawl within the chamber was another face that Rainbow Dash remembered. Only Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie recall meeting this pony.
It was Merry Dread. The Vampire who controls the bones of others with her Curse Magic. Making her appearance once more, she stood next to Dimstar.
"Merry Dread?!" Rainbow Dash yelled her name out.
"She should get that answer. Ever since I told her." Merry Dread continued. "So we have to find these answers as soon as possible if there's a way for us to do that. And right now, the Black Crusade isn't getting us anywhere."
"Merry Dread? What do you think you're doing vouching for this one?" Sweet Fang questioned. "Don't tell me you're going rogue too?"
"What is happening right now?" Flurry Heart asked, confused as to why there was suddenly trouble in paradise for the vampires. She didn't expect them to bicker now of all times. It also seemed like the worst time to bicker.
"I have to. For two reasons. And one of them is that I found out where my missing sister was. Mom spoke of our third sister before and that confused me since I thought my family was just my brother and sister. Fractured and Opal."
"It is just the three of you." Sweet Fang groaned. "There's no mystery behind that. And like your sister, you should be getting to work and you can start by rendering their bones useless."
Not at all. Fractured Note is my brother, not my sister. It doesn't add up with what mom said. Not only that, but even though he's older than us, he suddenly appeared when we were at least 7 years old. That confused me when I found out about it but for centuries, I never got the answer to that. But it turns out, my second sister has been in Magehold all along in secrecy. It's none other than Dimstar."
"I'm sorry what?!" Shrivel yelled in shock.
"Merry Dread personally came to me while I was in the Healing Tube. I was aware that news of what I did got out there. But more importantly, my name became more noticed by others. Previously, I was just a Half Vampire that appeared out of nowhere during the conflict in the Despair Plant Garden. For centuries, I was practically non-existent. Even when I was freed, only a select few vampires and the Lich Queen knew about my existence."
"That's when I heard that a pony named Dimstar brought the intruders here. I blew myself up when trying to approach one of the cities in Unova and came back as soon as possible." Merry Dread even stopped her attack just to get answers from her family.
"You two are sisters? So you probably are planning to go rogue together." Sweet Fang stood up. "You still won't get that answer though. A Lich can't live as long as a vampire, which is why her majesty is going to change that.
"I know that. That's why I'm going to ask the one who lives just as long as us. I'm going to ask my mother. Somewhere out there, my mother Vivace is still around."
"Vivace?" Rainbow Dash and her friends paused for a moment, processing that name. Where have they heard it before? It came to them in an instant. Even though they haven't heard from the Dazzlings in a while now, the name of their mother did not escape them. "VIVACE!?"
"You mean the Dazzling's Mom?! No way!" Rainbow Dash held her head, blown back by what she was hearing.
"That means that those two are their sisters! As well as Opal?!" Pinkie Pie's jaw opened so wide it was urging to hit the floor. She even started to believe that the Dazzlings were Half Liches. "Say it ain't so!"
Wait, so they're half sirens too?!" Applejack was even realizing that they weren't full-blooded vampires. They had one part that was a Siren thanks to Vivace.
"You know about the rest of our family?" Merry Dread looked over to Rainbow Dash's group. "Seems our encounter wasn't just random at all."
"So, you're giving up on the crusade, which has been planned for centuries now, over some family issues? Pathetic." Sweet Fang scoffed at this. "The Lich Queen will be made aware of this. She's fully focused on the events happening here afterwards."
"We know. Which is why we're turning against the Black Crusade. After all, we're the children of the first Lich King. So if anyone deserves to be on that throne, it's either one of us."
"How dare you!? I should-" Right as Shrivel attempted to take action upon them, Merry Dread activated her Curse Magic. With just a glare, she affected the bones of the two targets in front of her. Shrivel and Sweet Fang felt their bones come to an immediate halt, ceasing all function from their owners.
Merry Dread now had full control of their bodies as her Curse Magic was simply another variation of Sweet Fang's magic but on the more painful side. Sweet Fang and Shrivel then dropped to the floor as Merry Dread rendered them immobile, forcing them to stay on the ground.
As for the Despair Plants, the moment they tried attacking the traitors, Dimstar would use her invisible tendrils to retaliate. Unfortunately for the Despair Plants, they had no way of seeing the tendrils, thus, they were unable to react to this. They had their bodies restrained by the tendrils, unable to move as even the Despair Plant Fusion was made immobile.
After holding the Despair Plants in place, Dimstar would throw them away, sending them to other floors.
"I'm glad she's on our side now..." Fluttershy said, realizing how terrifying it would've been if Merry Dread continued with the Black Crusade. Things would've been very different.
"So...you're seriously going to help us?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Sort of. We're doing our own thing and finding answers." Dimstar answered. "I know my mother is out there somewhere and she can maybe give me some answers. You spoke of her as if you know her. Is this true?"
"Oh, it is!" Pinkie Pie nodded. "Vivace is her name! I'm pretty sure it's the same siren. Right?"
"She is a Siren," Dimstar replied. "I remember that much from my mother. I am the product of a Lich and Siren's love. But it sounds like I have other siblings I have not seen of yet."
"Adagio, Aria and Sonata. It sounds like those two come from here as well." Rainbow Dash answered, unaware that Vivace had two husbands in her life. Greyvine was simply the first. "I can't believe you two are their sisters. Then that means..."
"Opal is their sister too." Fluttershy finished the sentence for Rainbow Dash, still finding that hard to believe.
"Please! You have to take me to them!" Dimstar pleaded. "My father is gone but I can still speak with my mother! She has to know something!"
"Uh..." Rainbow Dash backed up as Dimstar got incredibly close. "That's gonna take a while. We don't have that many gateways anymore and the Sirens are pretty far away right now. I mean, we'd be glad to repay the favour since you brought us here."
"Plus, we have bigger problems. Something's happening to this chamber. Or rather, the entirety of Magehold. It feels like it's falling!"
"It is falling." Merry Dread answered. "I hate to break it you, but the Lich Queen is moving the Nation of Magehold with her magic. We're no longer in the same location we were. And right now, she's attempting to crash it into the Crystal Empire."
"She's what?!" In unison, Cadence and Flurry Heart screamed at the top of their lungs as they greatly concerned them. Their home was on the verge of being destroyed by a falling nation. But there was a reason why it hasn't happened yet.
Ash and his Pokemon were the reason for that. Dragonite was currently evading Yveltal's Oblivion Wing, making sure none of them landed on her. At the same time, she had to keep Magehold from falling as the Windigos were already using all of the cold wind they could to keep the entire nation in the air.
"Drago!" Seeing that she couldn't stop to use Hurricane, the best thing to just unleash Hurricane and continue evading. as Yveltal followed her, she would descend, joining the Windigos who were right underneath the massive landmass that had been ripped from Magehold's original location. With all of her might, she flapped her wings, summoning a powerful and massive Hurricane that would help keep Magehold from crashing.
Afterwards, Dragonite would fly to the side, just narrowly avoiding an Oblivion Wing. That Oblivion Wing struck the ground, blowing away an already damaged roof here at the Crystal Empire. Now that the Hurricane had been made, Dragonite had to keep Yveltal from spreading any further destruction as she would approach the Destruction Pokemon, ready to get up close and personal.
Yveltal prepared yet another Oblivion Wing, but before he could pull it off, Dragonite tackled him at full force, interrupting his attack. The Destruction Pokemon cried out as he was pushed through the air before receiving a swift yet heavy slash from Dragonite's Dragon Claw.
However, despite their efforts, the nation was still leaning towards crashing into the Crystal Empire. And by this time, the residents of the Crystal Empire were already jetting away, attempting to leave the empire in case the nation does drop on them. They couldn't risk staying behind.
Dragonite's Hurricane did help in holding it back, but that only prompted the Lich Queen to add more power and speed to the nation's movements, worsening things. A strong wind pressure came and it wasn't from the Windigos but the Lich Queen's actions instead.
"It's useless! You're not powerful enough to stop it from crashing!" Rosa Maledicta cackled as the turning nation threw Ash and his Pokemon's balance to the other side. Ash held onto his hat before grabbing onto a nearby crooked tree while Pikachu held Ash's leg.
"Don't count on it! It's not gonna drop on the Crystal Empire, no matter what!" Ash roared while holding onto three with all of his might.
"Is that what you think? As long as I add magic to it, it will continue to move in whatever way I wish! After all, even if my magic isn't enough, if I just let go, it'll drop!" The Lich Queen fully believed that the nation would crash regardless, no matter how hard Ash and his friends struggle. The Windigos and Dragonite's Hurricane were the crutches keeping Magehold from obliterating the Crystal Empire.
But even the Windigos were struggling. Their strength grew weaker and the Hurricane could not last forever. By now, the turning nation was felt by almost everyone. They could feel the whole place turn to the other side and no other area was as affected as the Magehold Contest Hall.
All the citizens watching the remainder of the contest noticed the turning nation but thanks to Fantina's encouragement, they would power through it, trying to use this as entertainment. On top of that, they had the Pony of Shadows granting them some protection with his shadows.
The Hurricane was starting to die out as two of the Windigos backed away, unable to keep the nation up. The nation was starting to close in on the Crystal Empire with seemingly nothing being able to stop it. Ash felt the distance between the Crystal Empire and the Sky closing. The high clouds were getting further out of reach
However, that was when a massive golden beam flew in, striking the nation and keeping it from falling. This golden beam held up Magehold, assisting the Windigos. Rosa Maledicta felt the change in momentum as Magehold was stuck in midair by an extra power that she didn't see coming.
"What was that?!" She questioned, but it wasn't from the Windigos or any of Ash's Pokemon.
Instead, it was Princess Celestia. Her golden magic was striking the nation of Magehold, having enough power to hold it in place. The Ruler of Equestria was already aware of the nation moving across the sky and the moment she saw that it was threatening to crash into the Crystal Empire, she took immediate action in the best way possible.
And while she started on the ground, she soon ascended, lifting herself off the ground as her powerful magic helped the Windigos and even powered up Dragonite's Hurricane, giving it some extra longevity. As she ascended, she appeared before Ash and Rosa Maledicta and beside her was her partner Gardevoir.
"Celestia!" Ash and Rosa both said but with different tones. Ash had happiness and excitement while Rosa Maledicta had anger and agitation. With Equestria's Ruler here, the tides were shifting once more. But for Rosa Maledicta, this saved her some trouble when trying to go for Celestia since Celestia came straight to her.
"Ash! I can only keep it steady and that's about it! The best thing we can do is send it elsewhere so it won't harm anyone else!" Celestia shouted, seeing that the only thing they could do was send Magehold to another location. Preferably, one that was empty and devoid of life just so it can crash there.
"Try all you want!" Rosa Maledicta replied before summoning her massive roots, targeting Celestia. "When it drops, the damage will be outrageous! And you have to admit that not even you can stop this, Celestia."
"I'm not the only alicorn involved though." The Sun Princess smiled, knocking Rosa's smile off her own face. According to her, there was another alicorn involved. Rosa Maledicta expected it to be Princess Luna, who would be the other alicorn that would assist Celestia.
She looked around for Luna, seeing if she was hiding somewhere. She wondered if Luna was right underneath the nation, using her magic to push it away from the Crystal. However, Luna was nowhere to be found and neither was her magical presence felt anywhere. Instead, it was another alicorn and she was right at the Crystal Empire, staying behind to protect the empire she will one day rule.
Baby Flurry Heart was the other alicorn and the staunch defender of her home. The Baby Alicorn giggled playfully as her prodigal magic which has yet to be fully controlled were free to be unleashed. And when unleashed, they made a stark difference as she unleashed a powerful beam all the way from the castle. With Baby Flurry Heart getting involved, the nation was starting to move away.
"Golurk!" Flurry Heart wasn't the only defender though. All of the Golurk flew in, pressing their massive hands on the landmass. This was done by the Canterlot and Crystal Empire Golurks were plentiful in numbers, bringing a ton of muscle power that could only be outdone by a Machamp.
Rosa Maledicta stumbled for a moment while on her balcony as Magehold was moving further away from the Crystal Empire. The combined might of Dragonite's Hurricane, the wind of the Windigos and finally, the strength of the Golurk the power of the two alicorns led to the Crystal Empire's safety.
The entire nation was brought back to the higher heights of the skies above. Cheers of relief and happiness filled the air as they came from the Crystal Empire's residents who managed to avoid certain destruction. Once again, their home has been saved from yet another close call.
Or so it seemed. Rosa Maledicta would not give up so easily. With that Dark Magic from her body growing, this forced her to give it her all when trying to smash the nation into the Crystal Empire. She groaned, entering the fiercest clash with all of these forces.
"Man! She can still do this much?!" Ash was amazed by how much the Lich Queen could give out as his hair was blowing fiercely from all of this struggling.
"You will not beat me!" Rosa Maledicta declared as her voice howled in the sky, making sure everyone nearby could hear it. All the Crystal Empire residents certainly heard it as the anger in her voice was coming out. The sky itself was shaking violently from this clash as the snow was beginning to fly everywhere. Nature itself had no idea what to make of this or even how to respond. It was similar to when one of the demons from the Box of 100 Demons attempted crashing into Equestria, but on a smaller scale and yet the severity of it was just as big if not bigger.
Those below could only watch in awe as it felt like two powerful beings from above were locked in a fierce battle. It even looked like it too. Anyone would be starstruck as these great superpowers went at it. This was possibly the biggest battle of Light and Dark they've ever seen.
And before they knew it, the entirety of Magehold was suddenly launched at high speeds, creating a powerful shockwave. The nation went elsewhere, but it wasn't exactly what Princess Celestia was hoping for. Thanks to this intense Magical Struggle, the nation of Magehold was blindly flying away as even Rosa Maledicta did not expect this.
Celestia gasped, knowing she had to pursue it now that it was flying off. And judging by the direction it was flying in, it would be nowhere near where it originally came from or even the Hyperborean. Instead, the distance it was moving at was leading to somewhere warmer than here.
Magehold went far. Incredibly far. The speed it was moving at forced Ash and his Pokemon to hold onto something else for guaranteed safety. The best they could do were either the trees of the walls of Magehold's many buildings. Rosa Maledicta even had to hold onto something as Yveltal and Dragonite were forced to cease their actions as they latched onto the castle walls.
Magehold was about to crash but not where Rosa Maledicta expected. Everyone inside each building felt the great emergence of turbulence that made them all hold on for dear life. Rosa Maledicta tried using her power to stop it before doomed her as she was afraid that not even the Pony of Shadows could stop this. She barely managed to regain control as it was too late to keep it in the air anymore. The best she could do was guarantee that it would land safely.
As for where Magehold was landing, it crashed into the ground at full force, damaging the lush green environment instantly. But rather than just make a massive crater and be done with it, Magehold was instead dragging itself across the ground. It felt like multiple earthquakes hit the nation once it hit the ground as the environment was being torn apart by this rough movement.
The nation went far, even passing by a lake that could be seen nearby as a huge amount of dust would envelop it. Eventually, it would come to an end, stopping by a mountain formation. But the location was all too familiar. It was none other than Exploud Canyon. Home of the Exploud as Magholed went this far across Equestria,
"Hm?" And even from another world, Roseluck, who was still at the Ketchum Household, felt that something was amiss, The tremor was just that powerful, managing to reach Pallet Town. But Roseluck, and all those staying at Pallet Town to rest up, had no idea what was coming their way. Or even when transpired before that.
Magehold was now glued to Exploud Canyon, residing in a massive crater as the Black Crusade was nearing its climax. Greater forces had shown up and the struggle was swaying in either direction. However, with Rosa Maledicta pushing her hoof out of the rubble, this would not end until one side gives up or faces true defeat as the journey continues.
Exploud Canyon. Home to the Exploud. But now, it was a destination for Magehold. The entire nation had crashed into Exploud Valley, dragging across the ground and eventually coming to a halt. And with that devastating impact came massive damage to Exploud Canyon.
The Exploud living there witnessed a colossal crater form as nearby locations felt a powerful shockwave. Trees crumbled, collapsing from the sheer magnitude of the drop as the canyon's usual formation was disrupted and this time, the Exploud weren't responsible for it.
As for Magehold itself, it took its biggest blow yet. The landmass that once held it up had been greatly damaged and the homes of its citizens have been ruined. Thankfully, the Magehold Contest Hall was in one piece, untouched by all of this ruckus and damage. But the citizens most definitely felt the impact as well as the intruders from Equestria.
Buildings had collapsed. The Magehold Chamber was no longer closed off as many walls had been opened up. Those within the Pokemon Contest Hall were safe, having the Pony of Shadows shield them with a veil of shadows. They looked through the windows which had been slightly shattered, seeing the destruction that befell their home. Even Fantina knew she had to stop the contest just for their sake. It couldn't continue like this.
However, despite all of that damage, the Heavenly Maiden Tree stood strong. It did not wilt. It did not lose any of its wood. And it did not creak even after such a hard impact. The tree of the Milky Way's Maiden was adamant and powerful, serving as a pillar of strength as it stood there smiling with its cherry blossom hair as always.
Everything was rather silent aside from the howling of the wind. All this damage and Dark Magic leaving the nation filled the air, bringing about a dark cloud barely bringing out sunlight. The rays of the Golden Sun were piercing the dark clouds and already, they were shining down on someone.
"Ngh..." Getting up from the ground was Ash, alongside his partner Pikachu. All of his Pokemon got back up as the Sun's rays blessed them with light in this now-dark environment.
"Pikachu..." Pikachu pushed some rubble away from him that came from the crooked and wilted trees. Dragonite and Yveltal both fell off the roofs they latched themselves onto, slowly getting back up. Rosa Maledicta blew away the rubble that landed on her with Dark Magic, coughing for a moment thanks to all the dust that got everywhere.
"This is Exploud Canyon...We ended up here?" Ash instantly noticed the surrounding area he was in. The Exploud were also looking over at him, confused as to what just crashed into their home.
"Ash! Are you okay?!" Rushing over and moving across the massive rubble was none other than Twilight Sparkle. She moved through the dust as some of her friends were right behind her. Specifically Spike, Starlight Glimmer, Daisy, Paradise and Radiant Hope.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"So much for us sneaking up on Yveltal. Everything was thrown off balance all of a sudden." Radiant Hope said. "What happened exactly?"
"It felt like the whole place turned. And where did we land?" Spike asked. "It looks like Exploud Canyon.
"Having trouble with these gnats, Rosa?" Suddenly, emerging from the shadows and appearing behind the Lich Queen was none other than the Pony of Shadows. At that moment, Ash and his friends saw the Pony of Shadows for the first time. He was massive the way he appeared and even though he wasn't fully brought back, the form he took on thanks to the Lich Queen's involvement was still threatening.
His massive shadow body covered most of the sky and blocked off the view of each Exploud that could be seen. Exploud Canyon didn't even look familiar anymore with how much darkness was surrounding it. And all this darkness complimented the Lich Queen, whose eyes would gleam in the dark.
"Kh...It isn't over yet." Rosa Maledicta groaned. "This slip-up isn't enough to stop me or the Black Crusade."
"Perhaps I should get involved. After all, those that sealed me away long ago aren't here to stop me and I have to still thank you for bringing some of my body back."
"Some of it. In your state, you're still only half here." Rosa healed herself with Dark Magic while speaking to the Pony of Shadows. "And as much as I hate to admit it, your assistance is required. But for that, I need you to be fully awakened."
"Then go to Ponehenge and break the seal. Only then, can I fully unleash the shadows upon the world. But before that, I should keep them occupied with this." From his shadowy body that was more like a cloak, he sent out multiple blobs of shadows that would fly out everywhere.
And from those shadows, the victims that the Pony of Shadows managed to obtain were being unleashed. And this time, the number of shadows was bigger than before. More victims had been claimed by the Pony of Shadows as they blocked out some of the golden rays of the Sun. They hit the ground, summoning those victims and among them, Korrina was the first to emerge, still in her Shadow Form. Ash couldn't believe it. His good friend from Kalos had been overtaken by the shadows as she descended upon Exploud Valley.
"Korrina?!" Ash, Twilight and Spike collectively shouted in disbelief. Korrina, alongside her Lucario, were still under the control of the shadows with no one freeing them at all.
"Hah...!" With a horrific sound coming from her mouth, it sounded like Korrina's voice was completely hollow. Black smoke even emerged from her mouth. As for the victims, for the most part, they were once again Shalour CIty's residents. However, the Pony of Shadows had gone the distance. Ponies could be seen amongst the Shadow Crowd, captured by the Pony of Shadows along with their Pokemon. Other Humans from different towns and cities were seen as well. Soon, an army of Shadow Beings was behind Rosa Maledicta, backing her up.
"The Pony of Shadows..." Radiant Hope gasped, stepping back for a moment. "I didn't want to believe it but the Lich Queen managed to bring him out!"
"That's right...And it was the best approach I could've made. I feared that something may have gone wrong, so as a backup, I went to Ponehenge and attempted to free the Pony of Shadows. Unfortunately, that annoying Starswirl cast a spell that prevented my Dark Magic from fully freeing him and attacked me. So only half of him is here, but it's good enough."
"You went to Ponehenge?!" Radiant Hope bellowed.
"What's Ponehenge?" Twilight asked.
"It's where the Pony of Shadows was kept. When learning about the Umbrum to help Sombra, I discovered a lot. Sounds like the Lich Queen already went there and freed part of the Pony of Shadows. It was Starswirl and the Pillars who sealed him away long ago and I'm afraid the Lich Queen interfered with it."
"But that'll all change. All I need is a powerful vessel to break the seal fully. The Lich Queen is powerful but she is brimming with Dark Magic. I need someone on her level who possesses the opposite. And though my shadows may possess you, your original magic will be kept intact, so either one of you girls will help free my entire body!"
"That's not happening!" Twilight protested. "I'm not sure what happened but I know you can't be fully brought back."
"And how do you intend to stop me? There was only one way to defeat me and those who found the means to do it failed horribly. You cannot seal me away like they did."
"You've all meddled with my plans long enough. Unfortunately, you can't seal the deal. You'll always be just short of a victory." Rosa Maledicta stepped forward with an army of controlled Humans, Ponies and Pokemon behind her. The number here was outstanding. One part came from a city, another came from a town and so on. This was enough to fill an entire empire and it was more than enough for Magehold.
Ash adjusted his hat, prepared to take on all of these Shadow Beings despite the tremendous odds. All the Pokemon from the Pokemon House and PokePark were currently occupied inside the Magehold Chamber, making them unable to show up at the moment.
However, the skies above would suddenly lighten up. The dark clouds above would open, revealing the Sun's brilliance once more. The rays pierced through the skies as there was a great emphasis on gold gleaming beautifully above everyone. This gold light was so great that it caught even the attention of the Shadow Beings. This was no ordinary light. This was magic. And the one responsible for that descended from above in all of her glory. For a second time, the Ruler of Equestria, Princess Celestia, had arrived.
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight said her name with high enthusiasm. But Celestia did not come alone. Obviously, Gardevoir was by her side but there were more.
"That was close...I almost lost sight of the entire nation." Celestia said.
"H-How did you get here so fast?! We just crash-landed not too long ago?!" Twilight stuttered.
"I had to use my magic to latch onto it like a web." She demonstrated by holding up a string of magic. "Even had to envelop everyone else in it for the ride. It wasn't the best ride we've had. And Ash. You were really about to take on so many of them with such low numbers?"
"Well yeah." Ash grinned as he was genuinely about to take that risk without a second thought. Twilight and the others certainly wouldn't try it at all for obvious reasons.
"Bold move, Ash." Celestia chuckled for a moment. "But I feel like you would've done something amazing if it had been carried out. But for now, let us all help you now that we're here."
Moving through the dust were her soldiers who all had Celestia's magic around them. Indeed, the Princess of Equestria had to drag them all here once Magehold was launched through the air at high speeds. Some felt dizzy but they soon recollected themselves.
Rosa Maledicta sneered, not at all intimidated by these numbers. They seemed minuscule compared to what the Pony of Shadows managed to gather. However, it didn't stop there. While the Canterlot and Crystal Empire soldiers appeared, there were more right behind them. All of this dust was merely masking them, until the dust was blown away.
"Druddi!" The sound of Druddigon could be heard as it had obliterated all the dust with a powerful roar. Rosa Maledicta grimaced at this powerful roar as it was very clear what Pokemon caused this. But the one who had a Druddigon was shown right afterwards. Emerging from the dust was Drayden. Mayor and Gym Leader of Opelucid City. Ash recognized that impressive beard anywhere.
"Drayden!" Ash shouted. But his eyes were turned to the others next to Drayden. Celestia had brought quite the lineup to help stop the Black Crusade and her absence made sense considering who she had to call on. Next to him was Roxanne. Another fellow Gym Leader. And next to her was Roxie as Ash was seeing a consistent theme here and some more familiar faces.
The teachers from the Pokemon School who were Gym Leaders at heart had arrived. Brawly, Volkner and Valerie had shown up as well as it felt like when they arrived during the invasion of Empress Twilight. It didn't stop there though. Ash was amazed to see some more familiar faces.
Three more Gym Leaders appeared and both were here for their reasons. Here to save her friend Korrina was Bea and beside her was Olympia, who was currently being supported by Bea's Machamp, still greatly injured after the Anistar incident. Olympia was here to help but also to retrieve what was stolen from her. "Take it easy, Olympia." Placing her hand on Olympia's back was none other than Cynthia. Celestia went above and beyond to make sure all the help that her lovely subjects could get were plentiful and powerful.
"My greatest apologies. I would've shown up sooner than later but I had to gather all the help I could find. It took everyone a while to get here too." Celestia said as this was the reason for her being so late.
"Ash. You've proven to me why you were able to reign victorious ever since our last battle. Let us take it from here." said Bea.
"I was already planning on showing you up by stopping the Black Crusade myself." Nessa showed up, flipping her hair and speaking to Ash. "But, this is fine. The circumstances speak for themself after all."
"You've all also done a good job preventing mass destruction despite Yveltal being under control," Cynthia added. "All that matters now is that we free Yveltal from its control. And this will be over, no matter how hard the Dread League try and retaliate."
"Easier said than done." Twilight sighed. "Getting to Yveltal is the biggest issue."
"It's fine, Twilight." Celestia stood next to her student. "This isn't all the help I've called for. There's more on the way. You'll have that opportunity to free Yveltal. But right now, you have to do something else."
"What's that?" Twilight asked.
"You have to get to Ponehenge. Unfortunately, the Pony of Shadows cannot be beaten by any other means aside from sealing it away. We have Sunburst to thank for this discovery."
"Sunburst? He's here? Is he?" Starlight navigated her head, searching for Sunburst if he was anywhere to be found in this massive crowd.
"He's already heading to Ponehenge. You'll meet him there and help him. The key to sealing the Pony of Shadows might be there since that was where my teacher, Starswirl was last seen. We'll stay behind but you'll need someone else to go with you to Ponehenge."
"I'll go!" Starlight raised her hoof."
"Same here!" Opting to assist was Radiant Hope. And on top of that, Daisy and Paradise had to come along for the sake of their mother's safety.
"Your friends will be your greatest shield. We can stop the Lich Queen but we need other means to stop the Pony of Shadows." Celestia instructed. " I can trust you with this without a doubt."
"Alright! I'll get on it!"
"Not if I get there first!" Leaving behind his Shadow Army, the Pony of Shadows was already en route to Ponehenge. Twilight couldn't afford to slow down at all. She had to get there before he could. But with the shadows under his control, the Pony of Shadows had a stark advantage, especially since he has been there already.
"How are we going to catch up with that?!" Radiant Hope questioned. Even she knew that it would difficult to keep up with the Pony of Shadows.
"He can't get there instantly. That is where his power is the weakest! But he'll still be faster than you!" Celestia exclaimed. "You have to hurry!"
"I know how we can outpace him!" Twilight took off, knowing the perfect way to catch up with the Pony of Shadows. They would soon follow her, leaving the rest to Ash and everyone else.
"Okay! Now it's just you and us!" Ash faced the Lich Queen with all of his many friends from different corners of the world. "Let's finish this!"
"Try and succeed. I've already seen my victory." Rosa Maledicta boasted before backing away, giving way to her Shadow Army that the Pony of Shadows lent her. Emerging from the ground were her massive roots along with the thorns as she was using both of them at the same time. Yveltal would soon ascend, joining the Lich Queen who was high in the air, standing on her massive roots. She even transformed the roots, making a Root Fortress for herself.
It was not just Equestria vs Magehold anymore. Galar, Unova, Kalos, Sinnoh and Hoenn were here to assist with Trainers representing those regions, boasting plenty of power. This brawl had not yet finished. It extended past the Magehold Chamber and now it was about to break out across the entirety of Magehold.
"I'm going straight for Yveltal! Pikachu! Makeshift Volt Tackle!"
"Pika!" Pikachu combined Thunderbolt and Quick Attack into one to replicate Volt Tackle, a move he used to utilize back in the day. By bolting off with Quick Attack, Pikachu then summoned 100,000 volts around his body, picking up speed.
"Oblivion Wing!" From this high up, Rosa Maledicta ordered the complete destruction of everyone below her. And with how Yveltal was, the Oblivion Wing was sure to hit someone in this huge crowd. Possibly multiple.
"I won't let you! Wigglytuff, use Disable!" Nessa got involved, throwing a Poke Ball into the air. Out of it came a Wigglytuff.
"Wigglytuff!" And once the Fairy-Type emerged, spinning through the air with her round body, she already knew what move she had to use. It was a move that would be a saving grace to many. Disable. All she had to do was Disable Yveltal's Oblivion Wing and the Lich Queen's greatest weapon wouldn't be so powerful anymore.
"If we can Disable Oblivion Wing, we can avoid the worst!" Valerie exclaimed. "Please make it, Wigglytuff!"
"Boost her up, Machamp!" Bea knew that Wigglytuff needed that extra boost more than ever.
"Machamp!" Machamp would leap into the air with her powerful legs, holding all four arms up. She would then push them on Wigglytuff's back, taking advantage of the fact that Wigglytuff was resistent to her blows.
"Probopass, Psychic!"
"Pro!" And for that extra boost, Probopass used Psychic, focusing its mental power around the Balloon Pokemon. At the same time, all other Pokemon Trainers would engage the Shadow Pokemon Trainers below while Wigglytuff moved through the air along with Pikachu.
However, Yveltal had already unleashed Oblivion Wing, targeting Celestia's forces and the one who was the closest to it was Wigglytuff, who built up a white sphere in her hand. All she had to do was get it on Yveltal.
"Druddigon! Use Dragon Pulse!"
"Druddigon!" But there to intercept the Oblivion Wing was Druddigon. The Dragon-Type ascended, building up his own breath attack. Right as Oblivion Wing was about to hit Wigglytuff, a dragon-shaped blast would get in the way, clashing with the Oblivion Wing.
"Wiggly!" And with Oblivion Wing out of the way, Wigglytuff moved through the smoke, boosted up by Probopass' Psychic as she was right in front of the Destruction Pokemon. Wigglytuff would then throw the orb, only for Rosa Maledicta to intervene. She used her roots to grab the Destruction Pokemon, moving him out of the way and completely causing Disable to miss.
"Darn it! So close!" Roxie growled, hoping that Oblivion Wing could've been taken out as soon as possible.
"It seems she already knows what Disable is since she moved Yveltal out of the way," Cynthia commented.
"That just means she'll have to be careful of what move she uses next. Wigglytuff's not gonna use Disable on all his other moves except Oblivion Wing." Despite this, Volkner saw the positive to this. Rosa Maledicta had to make Yveltal use other options instead of constantly relying on Oblivion Wing.
"Tch." Rosa Maledicta scoffed and sneered at this, knowing they were speaking the truth. "Clever Trainers. Perhaps I should've stolen you and brought in to Magehold. Just like Fantina."
"You're gonna give Fantina back to us! Cheap move stealing her away during the Pokemon Festival!" Roxie barked at the Lich Queen while furiously strumming her guitar.
"So we just gotta pressure her to not use Oblivion Wing. Got it." Ash replied as that was straightforward enough to understand. His hair blew during this fierce battle between the Shadows and Celestia's Forces while the Lich Queen looked down in disgust.
Magehold Chamber.
Meanwhile, in the Chamber, Rarity had pushed some rubble off her during the impact. Opal Vivacity made it through as well, all thanks to her Fate-Changing Mane. A massive chunk of it had been used as Opal felt like she was in grave danger. Rarity saw how some of her Pokemon suffered heavy damage from this and had no choice but to return them.
"Return, darlings." She returned 9 of her Leavanny to their Poke Balls along with her Lopunny. That just left her Pheromosa, who, despite her fragile body, was hanging in there. Right as Rarity was about to return her, Pheromosa refused to head back in. "Pheromosa?"
"Mosa!"
"Ugh! You've ruined our beautiful nation!" Opal groaned after removing all the rubble from her. She even saw how her mane had received dust, making the beautiful vampire and groan. "And my mane! There's so much dust in it, its appalling!"
"Hm-hm. Perhaps we should cut it all off if it bothers you so much?" Rarity smirked, riling up Opal Vivacity some more.
"Oh, shut it! You've been slowing me down by keeping me occupied this whole time! Just get lost already! I have to be at the Lich Queen's side and guarantee her victory! If anything, I'm Magehold's Greatest Weapon! Not Yveltal!"
"Hold her down, Pheromosa! Rush in there!"
"Phero...Mosa!" The Lissome Pokemon took off, moving at high speeds and becoming a white blur. However, even though she wasn't faster than Pheromosa, she could still do something in advance. And right as Pheromosa left her spot, Opal Vivacity made herself intangible.
Pheromosa went straight through Opal Vivacity and right as she passed her, Opal used her massive mane to gab Pheromosa from behind. Like a claw, her hair would hold onto Pheromosa's waist, keeping her from going any further or even back to Rarity. "P-Phe!"
"Gotcha!"
"Pheromosa, no!" Rarity gasped.
"Now I finally have you! Now I'll freeze you where you stand!" Using one of the abilities she stole from some Pokemon, Opal Vivacity would then generate a chilling aura on her massive mane. The aura would envelop Pheormosa, starting from her waist and already making her shudder.
"Go, Ampharos! Stop her!" Rarity quickly threw a Poke Ball out, sending her next Pokemon into the fray. Ampharos.
"Ampharos!" And upon emerging, Opal took notice of the Light Pokemon, knowing how threatening he was to her existence. She didn't have enough time to freeze Pheromosa. Not when Ampharos had entered the scene. Thus, she would try something else. Something quicker.
"Then, I'll just erase one of your senses!" Opal had something far more vile in mind. And for once, she was using her natural magic instead of her stolen abilities. Her ability to interact with others' senses. And in this case, she was about to mess with Pheromosa's eyesight, spreading the magic straight to her eyes.
"Zap Cannon!"
"Pharos!" Ampharos would act as fast as he could, throwing out a Zap Cannon from his hands. The ball of lightning passed through the cascade of rubble, forcing Opal Vivacity to act as soon as possible. She would throw Pheromosa directly into the Zap Cannon, letting her take the damage instead. Of course, this meant that Pheromosa's eyesight wasn't fully affected but Opal still got something off.
"P-Phero!" Pheromosa cried out in pain as the electricity struck her body. And by hitting her, she was instantly paralyzed thanks to Zap Cannon's main effect. She hit the ground hard, sliding on it and landing next to Ampharos' body.
"Pheromosa, darling!" Rarity ran over to Pheromosa's side.
"M-Mosa!" The Ultra Beast groaned as she squinted her eyes which had been slightly affected by Opal's magic. Opal had taken some of it away, making things a bit harder for Pheromosa to see. But not impossible. However, now that she was paralyzed, her amazing speed had been crippled a bit. She could still move fast but she would feel the electricity punish her.
"So much for that!" Opal taunted, spreading her wings and taking flight. "I know enough about Pokemon to know how badly paralysis messes up one's speed! Plus, that AMpharos won't be too much of n issue as long as I have the Shadows to shield me!"
"Pheromosa!" Pheromosa stood back up, trying to truck through the paralysis that was around her body, not wanting Opal Vivacity to get the satisfaction of a victory.
"No matter what I do...I can't get rid of that mane. I don't have any Aura that can nullify it." Rarity growled, knowing she didn't have the means to stop Opal's Fate Changing Mane. "The best I can do is rack up as much damage on her. But with that mane and all those stolen abilities, she's practically invincible."
"Glad you understand. But I'll pulverize you for you to further understand how little a chance you have of beating me!"
"We'll see." But Rarity stayed strong, not letting these facts get to her that much. There was a way to stop Opal Vivacity and she had to make it possible. "Ampharos. You're my best bet. We have to paralyze and stun her as soon as possible. Then I'll see what I can do about that mane before its tool ate."
"Ampha." Ampharos nodded in understanding, helping Pheromosa up. "He also understood what Rarity was about to do. Ampharos was sensing the usage of Mega Evolution approaching. Opal Vivacity looked down to see Rarity holding onto her pendant.
"Mega Evolution? I was waiting for that...I have a surprise for that little trick too..." However, in Opal Vivacity's mind, she had something for Mega Evolution as well. And now that she saw that Rarity was about to use it, the beautiful yet vile vampire was waiting for the right moment to strike, surprising Rarity and drowning her in dread.
"Ampharos! Mega Evolve!" Rarity was going all in now. And that was by unleashing Mega Evolution Opal Vivacity. Ampharos already knew it was coming. The light from the Mega Stone went off, already racing to Ampharos, who stood over Pheromosa. Pheromosa looked up with a slightly damaged vision and a paralyzed body, witnessing the light envelop Ampharos who was about to undergo something beyond evolution.
"Now's my chance! That won't come to pass!" However, anticipating something like Mega Evolution, Opal Vivacity, with her devilish grin, pulled something out of her mane. From her mane, she held out an object that was retrieved from Geosenge Town during the Dread League's quest to capture Yveltal.
The Stones from Geosenge Town and nearby. Previously retrieved by Melody Moon and Bittersweet, Opal Vivacity held them out, triggering the two that were in her hooves. Once they went off, they let out a light that was strikingly similar to the Mega Evolution Energy. In fact, the stones greatly resembled that same energy, looking like shards of Mega Stones.
Once Ampharos' body started changing and by changing, he was simply getting majestic hair and awakening his hidden dragon blood, the stones went off in unison, interacting with the process. Instead of adding to it, the Mega Evolution Process ended abruptly.
"Ampha?" Ampharos felt the process ending. It was so instant as the light faded away. He noticed how his elegant hair was nowhere to be seen. The Mega Stone that was lodged in Rarity's pendant would even stop emitting that light all of a sudden. Ampharos looked at his arms, completely befuzzled and bewildered.
"Darling?! What's wrong?!" Rarity gasped.
"Worked like a charm! Just as I predicted!" Opal cackled as Rarity looked up to see two stones that resembled a Mega Stone's colours in her hooves. "So much for your Mega Evolution. It's been completely shut down!"
"Shut down! That can't be!"
"Oh, it be. It was worth Melody Moon and Bittersweet going to Geosenge and retrieving these stones/ They obviously have some relation to not only Yveltal but also the Mega Evolution Phenomenon. So I had some vampires work on it and voila! It shuts down your power-up! How's that?!"
"What a bother...!" Rarity growled as she was unable to access Ampharos' Mega Evolution in the meanwhile. "But that doesn't mean my chances have slipped away! Zap Cannon!"
"Ampha!" The options were still availabe for Rarity's team. From Ampharos' hands he would form a crackling orb of lightning that was bound to result in instant paralyzation, throwing it at Opal Vivacity.
"Of course...this also works in my favour." With that smile staying on her face, she held out the Stones right as the Zap Cannon was approaching her. The stones would light up, enveloping Opal Vivacity in its energy. And the second the Zap Cannon got close to her, the electric attack would be neutralized. Zap Cannon fizzled out when touching the energy, losing its lightning. It didn't even combust or anything like that.
"Now what?!" The unicorn groaned, wondering why Zap Cannon failed so easily.
"Splendid, isn't it?!" Opal Vivacity laughed. "Using the Parasite Demon all those Pokemon I caught paid off greatly. I stole their abilities and whatever made them unique. And in a way that affected my biology."
"What are you saying? You don't mean..."
"Abilities can only get me so far. Some of them are useless since I'm a vampire and they only work on Pokemon. So I took a risk. A massive one. I didn't just take a select few abilities, I also took some of the DNA from the POkemon I caught!" Opal revealed something truly horrific as her acts seemed to only worsen. "It's not plenty, but it helps. It's why i have that Intangibility akin to that of a Ghost!"
"You used your own Pokemon to gain power?" Rarity shuddered. "And since it was from that demon, I can only assume that it was not a pleasant feeling for them."
"Duh! Of course, I did! Why wouldn't I?! I can't deny how powerful these Pokemon are. And by taking some of their DNA, it allows me to tap into the power of stones. This energy you see around me...I'm almost undergoing my own Mega Evolution!"
Opal Vivacity had gone to extreme lengths, even affecting her own biology. Rarity now learned that she was more than just a vampire. Traces of Pokemon DNA were within her. She wasn't sure which Pokemon, especially since Opal hasn't revealed any of hers, but she was positive Opal got greedy and chose the best ones possible.
"Shocked?! I wouldn't be if you know enough about me! I've spent my entire life kicking others down just so I can rise above and be at the top! And when I become the Lich Queen, I'll truly be at the top! So there won't be any need for kicking others down. I'll be the most powerful and beautiful being to ever exist!"
"You call that beautiful?!" Rarity roared at Opal Vivacity. "You're practically a mutation due to what you've done! Everything you do is vile! You've stolen from others just to be better and you expect me to believe you can get to the top with that?"
"Oh, cry about it!" Opal sneered before having the Mega Evolution Energy flare out of her body. It would even raise her hair due to how much of it was emitting out of her. "No one can stop me now! After her majesty's reign comes to an end, which will be a very long time, it'll be my turn to take over. I can wait as long as I can and in the meanwhile, I'll be the new ruler of Canterlot just to fill up that spot. After all, there's no one in the world I respect more than the Lich Queen. She's the best we've had afterwards. After I got rid of the previous ones."
"Y-You...what?!" Rarity did not mishear that. From what Opal Vivacity just blurted out, the previous Lich Rulers were apparently tossed aside. And it sounded like Opal was the one to do it.
"You heard me correctly. Tossed aside. They were getting too remorseful for my taste. Felt bad about what they did and wished they never came to Magehold or something sappy like that. Pathetic! But you've heard enough! Prepare to be crushed by my dazzling Psuedo Mega Evolution!" From her Mega Evolution Energy, two massive Energy Hooves appeared. Two more showed up as they touched the ground, causing a tremor to go off.
And from that energy, the body of a pony was forming. This pony strongly resembled Opal Vivacity as it obviously came from her. It even had the massive mane too and those devious eyes to boot. It felt like Opal was undergoing Mega Evolution but since she wasn't a full-on Pokemon, it was only spurious. Just as Opal said, it was her Psuedo Mega Evolution.
"This is more like it!" She said while basking in the Mega Evolution energy. "I have to thank you for this, Rarity! If you never whipped out Mega Evolution, I would've never thought to use those stones right now! They almost slipped my mind! This is just another addition to my ever-growing power. I'll remember this when you're a skeleton!" She would then swing her massive hooves over at Rarity, controlling it via her own will.
"Leavanny! X-Scissor!"
"Lea!" Three of her Leavanny would use X-Scissor, attempting to clash with the massive hoof. When connecting with the hooves, sparks would fly out as the bodies of the three Leavanny would stagger, tremble and shudder as it felt like a train had come into contact with them. With pure strength, Mega Opal sent them flying. "Vanny!"
"Ampharos! Zap Cannon!"
"Ampha!" Leaping into the air for yet another Zap Cannon was Ampharos. And this time, he would make sure his attack would land. Ampharos lit himself up, generating as much light as he could to try and stun the vile vampire. However, with the added energy around her plus the veil of shadows, even Ampharos' light wasn't too much of a problem, but it was still vexing to look at.
Ampharos would then launch the sphere as the giant hoof of Mega Opal would approach it. She attempted neutralizing it once more but Rarity was prepared for this, attempting to get the better of Opal.
"Sweep the leg, Pheromosa!"
"M-Mosa!" Still paralyzed, Pheromosa would move in, dashing at half her speed. Just as Opal Vivacity was about to neutralize Zap Cannon, along came Pheoromosa, attempting to sweep the hooves of the giant Mega Evolution Pony. The strength of Pheromosa hadn't changed at all and Opal Vivacity knew that. And unfortunately, since she had her massive Mega Evolution vessel as an extra shield, she had all the chances in the world ot use her Fate-Changing Mane, which is exactly what she did. By placing it on her hoof, she changed fate once more.
Pheromosa's leg sweep completely missed as Ampharos' position had been swapped. It was Ampharos who ended up taking a heavy hit from Pheromosa. "A-Ampha!" Ampharos staggered as his entire body shook. Pheromosa noticed how Ampharos was suddenly next to her, taking the hit accidentally.
"Mosa?!"
"Missed me~" Opal taunted before using her massive hoof to whack both of them. Both Pheromosa and Ampharos went flying, tumbling and rolling on the hard ground. Both would soon lay next to each other, perplexed by what just happened. But Opal wasn't done, unfortunately. From the mouth of her Mega Evolution Form, a ball of Infinity Energy would form. It was expected for her to possess Infinity Energy after what she has done.
And with this power, she made her own Hyper Beam, unleashing it from the Mega Evolution Form, targeting Pheromosa and Ampharos as they lay there on the ground, not having enough time to get back up.
"String Shot!"
"Vanny!" The three Leavanny would quickly shoot out their strings, grabbing Pheromosa and Ampharos and moving them out of the way in time. The Fake Hyper Beam would hit the ground, bringing out a vicious paroxysm that shook the area and blew away some of the walls, revealing more of the outside.
"I need more than this! Milotic!" Seeing how rough it was getting, Rarity had to send out her only Pokemon who wasn't injured in any way. Milotic was at full strength, perfect for an attempted comeback.
"Milotic!"
"Do you think that'll help you?!" Opal yelled before then having the Giant Mega Evolution unleash its hair. Much like how Opal uses her own mane as a weapon, this giant was no different, swinging it down on Rarity's group.
"Hydro Pump!"
"Miloooo!" From her mouth, a high-volume blast of water was thrown out, meeting with the massive mane. Hydro Pump met the mane's size perfectly clashing with it. Neither of these two powers won, only resulting in a tie. However, the aftershock made Milotic flinch as droplets of water fell from above.
"Energy Ball!"
"Leavanny!" The three remaining Leavanny would hold their arms out, forming a ball that was powered by nature itself and the little Sunlight that was piercing through the dark skies, throwing them in unison. Opal saw this and had her Giant Mega Evolution purposefully smash them together with its hooves. The hooves crushed the spheres when catching them both, easily ridding them.
And as a way to retaliate, Opal would do the same, having the Giant Mega Evolution made its own sphere. This was one was riddled with darkness, pulsating violently and sending black lightning that would hit the ground without even being fully unleashed.
"Ampharos use Fire Punch! Milotiic, Dragon Tail!"
"Pha!" Ampharos got back up, igniting his hands in a furious flame while Milotic enveloped her tail in a draconic energy. Just as the sphere was thrown, the two Pokemon would meet with it, swinging Fire Punch and Dragon Tail at it. Together, they both managed to hold the sphere back, keeping it in place.
"Pheromosa! Triple Kick!"
"Pheromo!" Finishing it off was Pheromosa who would fly in and kick the sphere directly. By hitting it, Pheromosa's added strength would send the sphere flying right back at Opal Vivacity just so she can taste her own medicine.
"What?!" Opal gasped before having the giant Mega Evolution move to the side. But even when evading it, the massive mane it possessed had a hole blown through it. Opal growled at this as her beautiful giant had received damage, much to her irritation. "Oh, you...!"
"Milotic, use Ice Beam! Freeze her!"
"Loootic!" Milotic would follow up with an Ice Beam, targeting the giant's hooves as she would try and start from the bottom. Stopping the hooves would certainly grant an advantage. The beam met with the hooves, already spreading its chilling aura around it.
Opal merely scoffed at such an attempt. Before the ice could really get going, Opal had her giant break it apart with a powerful hoof swing. The hoof went forward, kicking up a strong wind pressure while sending ice shards everywhere. Milotic closed her eyes as her shards were sent back at her, pelting the Tender Pokemon.
"You surprised me there! But I'm still better! Like so!" Opal then had her giant gallop, finally having it move forward which was absolutely terrifying. Seeing this giant Opal Vivacity approaching was a major problem that Rarity had to think fast if she wanted to avoid it. The giant's hoof was raised, attempting to step on her foes and ending it one attack.
"Grab it, quick!"
"Ampha!" AMpharos would raise his hands, attempting to hold the giant hoof that came crashing down. When touching it, the ground beneath him cracked as his feet were pushed deeper into Magehold's surface. "P-Pharos!" To Opal's surprise, Ampharos was holding the hoof back with his strength. She wondered if her giant wasn't as heavy as it appeared to be due to the fact that it was made out of Mega Evolution Energy.
"Now is our chance! Pheromosa! Climb up and use Triple Kick! Leavanny, support Pheromsa!"
"Pheromo!" Pheromosa saw this as an opportunity. She would run up the legs of the giant, using this as a chance to get as close to Opal Vivacity as possible. And supporting her were the three Leavanny who would use String Shot on the massive hoof. By latching onto the hoof, they pulled themselves forward, also aiming to get up close and personal with Opal Vivacity.
"Heh. Fools." However, with a nefarious smile on her face, Opal Vivacity only saw this as a positive. As Pheromosa was running up her leg and Ampharos was holding the bottom of the hoof back, something happened. Pheomosa's vision worsened unexpectedly.
"Phe?!" Previously, Pheromosa barely managed to avoid having her senses fully affected by Opal Vivacity and as a result, her vision was slightly disrupted, but not to a bad degree. Now, that changed all of a sudden. Pheromosa's vision was greatly altered as everything in front of her was being greatly obscured. And thanks to that, she had no idea where she was going as everything was a blur to her. The Lissome Pokemon not only slowed down but she was moving to the side, on the verge of falling off.
"Pheromosa, darling! What's wrong?!"
"Ampha..." But it wasn't just Pheromosa. Ampharos felt something happen to him as well. It wasn't his vision that was disrupted but his hearing. It was suddenly elevated to an insane degree. "Pharos!" Ampharos screamed as his ears were in a ton of pain, hearing sounds that were highly sensitive to him. As such, he was unable to hold up the giant hoof.
"Gotcha!" Opal took advantage on this, slamming the hoof own on Ampharos who lost the strength to keep it up. Before he knew it, he was fully forced to the ground, slammed by the giant's hoof.
"No! Ampharos!" Rarity screamed as her eyes did not believe her. Ampharos had been stomped. And it only worsened as a confused Pheromosa ran off Opal Vivacity's leg, unable to tell where she was going. Opal grinned, swinging her other hoof to strike Pheromosa. The Lissome Pokemon took a hard hit without her ever seeing it coming.
Rarity gasped as her Pheromosa was also forced to the ground. And with such a fragile body, it affected her greatly as she went flying through some rubble while falling down. Her body slid on the ground as the hoof would force the Leavanny off her, sending them flying into Milotic. Milotic attempted catching all of them, only for her to fail as the tree Leavanny crashed into her.
"Shouldn't have gotten too close! This was the perfect opportunity to use my Curse Magic! It's way easier when I'm piloting a Giant Mega Evolution of myself!" Opal Vivacity cackled. "Right now, your Pheromosa is completely blind and your Ampharos can't stand the sound of anything else! My own voice is an example!"
"Ampha!" All that screaming harmed Ampharos' ears, making him squirm while he was on the ground. He couldn't move either since Opal Vivacity had stomped on him to the point where his body was plastered on the ground.
"I bet I can do a lot with this giant form. My Curse Magic should be better than before with so much power flowing through me. You're next Rarity!" Opal Vivacity would then unleash her signature magic once more and this time, she would experiment with something. By hitting the ground, she spread her Curse Magic, using it to a greater effect. Never before has it been widespread at all.
The darkness from this curse would envelop the entire ground of this area, rushing to Rarity and threatening any of her senses. She wasn't sure which of her senses would be affected but she couldn't afford to find out, quickly putting up a shield. As she put a shield up, her Pokemon had already been hit by the Curse. Now Leavanny and Milotic were affected and the effects already showed. Milotic had her vision affected, much like Pheromosa. The three Leavanny each lost something. Hearing, scent and vision. With their senses disrupted, they laid there, stunned and bewildered.
Rarity shielded herself from the Curse Magic, protecting her senses. However, all it took was Opal Vivacity using the giant to shatter her shield easily. Rarity screamed as her shield broke from the giant hoof, stumbling back. But Opal Vivacity would not let her fall. Instead, she would use the giant to grab Rarity, finally getting her hands on her.
"I have something special for you." Opal Vivacity said while bringing the massive Rarity up to her. The unicorn attempted breaking free, zapping at the Giant Mega Evolution furiously but her magic was too weak to do anything about this.
"T-Try all you want! Whichever of my senes you try and take, I'll still do what I can!" Rarity barked, closing one eye while still trying to break free. She was fearless in the face of Opal Vivacity and her terrifying Curse Magic.
"One? Hah!" Opal laughed at Rarity's retort. "Oh, silly RarityI won't deal with one of your senses. For how persistent you were, you deserve something much better than that. I haven't done this before so now would be the best time to test out. Instead of one...I'll deal with all of them! I'll steal everything from you!"
"!" Rarity felt something she's never felt before. It was absolutely haunting what happened to her. The Curse Magic already travelled through her body, targeting everything she had. The 5 senses she possessed were hit. It was unlike anything that has ever happened before. To anyone else.
First, she felt her sight vanish as everything was going black for her swiftly. Her hearing was starting to fizzle out as all the sounds her were vanishing. Her touch was even being taken away as she couldn't even feel the Mega Evolution Energy around her body anymore.
Her Pain Stimulation had been maximized thanks to Opal Vivacity, who laughed maniacally while harming Rarity in such a vile way. Rarity could barely hear Opal's laugh. Everything was starting to fizzle out for her as she was on the verge of losing everything.
"M-Mosa..." Pheromosa could still stand surprisingly. She wasn't so supple anymore. As she stood up, she failed to see Rarity's current condition. She could not see her trainer of her friends properly but one thing was for sure. She could hear Rarity's pain.
"Too bad! You never had a chance against me, no matter how fast or strong your Pokemon were! After this, I'll deal with the rest of your friends by taking away all of their senses too! I'll stimulate their senses to an all-time high at the same time so an unbearable amount of pain comes their way! It'll be so wonder-"
But before she could finish her sentence, there was an interruption. Not from Pheromosa. She was still on the ground, trying to rush to Rarity's aid if she knew where she was. Instead, something emerged from the shadows, slashing through the Giant Mega Evolution's Hoof. Opal's jaw opened as the hoof came falling off.
The hoof that held Rarity came clean off, dropping to the floor. The GIant Mega Evolution stumbled back, unable to feel pain but it certainly left an impact that could not be ignored. As the hoof hit the ground, the energy around it would fizzle out. The one responsible for that powerful slash was none other than Bisharp. Opal's eyes followed Bisharp who was joined by his platoon of Pawniard.
"Bi...Sharp?" Rarity could barely make out what Pokemon had just flown by. But it wasn't just Bisharp who made an appearance. Someone else helped her off the ground.
"Nice going. As if you could've taken that giant on your own." Rarity could barely hear the voice that reached her. But the way it sounded was very familiar, no doubt about it. She looked up to see a familiar face too and it was of someone she didn't expect to see today.
"It's you..." But Opal Vivacity saw more than just one individual. Someone else caught her attention who Rarity could barely see and her. Opal saw this individual very clearly.
"I feared I'd meet up with you again." Hovering over the floor was a being that slightly resembled Milotic's body structure. Another Sea Serpent had arrived, but it was one that originated here at Equestria. It was the most unusual familiar reunion as Vivace had arrived.
And the one who helped Rarity up was none other than Adagio Dazzle. Joined by her two sisters, they appeared in their pony forms now that they returned to Equestria after so long. The extra help that was on the way that Celestia spoke of had arrived.
"So that's our half-sister?" Adagio said while looking up at Opal Vivacity and her Mega Evolution Construct. "Yikes..."
"Rarity! Are you alright?!" Sonata asked, concerned about Rarity's well-being. She was saved at the right time but it was a very close-call. Her senses have been greatly disrupted. She could barely, see hear or even feel anything.
"I know these voices...Dazzlings?" Rarity groaned, still trying to feel everything around her. But that was incredibly difficult and even painful for her.
"Well, hello Mother!" Opal Vivacity shouted. "It's been centuries since I've seen you. Of all the times you decide to show up, it's when my rise to power and victory is ramping up, eh?"
"I was right to leave that day. Hearing everything you've done and what you're doing now...You're Pure Evil." Vivace said, disgusted by her daughter's action.
"You're just now realizing that?" Opal sneered. "I thought you would've been proud of me. After all, I'm everything you wished for. As a siren, negativity is what you live for. I'm the product of what you wanted and I deliver negativity better than anypony! I even feed off it like any siren would!"
"What you do is absolutely horrendous. No siren would ever go that far. And the fact that you're half siren is even more terrifying."
"Thank you. Turning all those skeletons into our personal pool of negativity feasting was wonderful. A shame you never came back to try it out some more. You ran for your life when you saw it and I just used those vampires as a pool to get stronger. Eventually, they gave out so...eh."
"It was worse than that and you know it."
"Mm. Yes, it was. Anyway, who are these three? Are those my other sisters? I recognize each of them from your appearance." Opal Vivacity eyed down Adagio, Aria and Sonata, seeing the resemblance between them and Vivace. But the one who truly caught her eye was Adagio. "Oh, and that one looks a little bit like me."
"Hmph. Don't compare me to you." Adagio scoffed. "At least my mane is natural and not some cosmic mutation."
"Kh!" Opal twitched as she took offence to that. Yet again, her mane has been insulted. And Adagio was direct with her insult. "If you've come here to meet your end you've come to the right place. I've already made an example of Rarity and you're all next! I have no shame in taking out my own family, even if I'm now meeting my half-sisters. Because as it stands, I am unstoppable!"
Ponehenge.
Ponehenge. Standing here was Sunburst, who already went ahead due to orders from Princess Celestia. There was only one way to stop the Pony of Shadows and that was by sealing him away like before. However, Sunburst was waiting for someone that Celestia entrusted this mission too. Right now, he just had some Canterlot and Crystal Empire guards with him for safety.
And at this moment, the Pony of Shadows made his way here. The place where he was once sealed but now half of him had been unleashed. It seemed like he showed up first, moving through the shadows of the land to reach this area. It looked like he was way ahead of Twilight and her friends who were ordered to head to Ponehenge as soon as possible.
"Oh!" Sunburst gasped when spotting the Pony of Shadows. Unfortunately, it was not Twilight who made it here first bu the Pony of Shadows.
"Those fools. Even if I can't appear here as easily as other places because of the magic, I still have the superior speed since the shadows are under my control." He laughed as his head emerged from the ground.
Ponehenge itself seemed rather empty. Nothing was really going on here. It was dry and devoid of life with no one else in sight. During the Black Crusade, Ponehenge seemed untouched by the destructive mess that was occurring at the moment. It was also a rather dim place, secluded around a forest where the Sun barely shined on it. Perfect for the Pony of Shadows considering this is where he was once sealed away.
However, it seemed like he wasn't truly all that ahead of Twilight and her friends. Suddenly, just as he popped out of the ground, a powerful light would land, startling the Pony of Shadows. This light was strikingly bright. So bright that it perfectly contrasted the darkness that the Pony of Shadows wielded.
And that light belonged to none other than Galaxy Master. Twilight already decided how she was going to keep up with the Pony of Shadows and it was certainly the best option she could've made. Twilight emerged from the light along with Radiant Hope, Starlight Glimmer, Spike, Daisy, Paradise and an extra ally who was responsible for bringing them here. Galaxy Master's Dragonite.
"Dragonite!"
"Oh, you made it after all!" Sunburst said once they showed up. "And you brought Starlight with you."
"You kept up with me? Impossible..." The Pony of Shadows was in complete disbelief that they managed to show up. He expected them to be incredibly late to the point where he would've already been gone by now.
"Nothing's impossible when you have plenty of friends who can do a lot." Twilight smiled. "And now that we're here, we can get started on what really matters. As long as you're around, the Black Crusade won't come to a proper end, so we're going to change that."
Both Twilight and the Pony of Shadows have arrived at Ponehenge. Brought here by Dragonite's Light Travel, they managed to keep up with the Pony of Shadows before the worst could happen. Already here at Ponehenge, waiting for Twilight to show was Sunburst. Galaxy Master's Dragonite stood by them, sticking around to give them support as ordered by Galaxy Master himself.
"So, you caught up with me." said the Pony of Shadows with his voice echoing across the sky. "But do you actually have the means to stop me? Your princess spoke about sealing me but I can already tell just by looking at you. You're not even half the magical expert Starswirl was."
"You're just half of yourself. Which means it won't be hard to put the rest of you back in." Radiant Hope added. "We don't need to have Starswirl's expertise for that."
"But you'll need all the help you can get. I may have sent a majority of my shadows out over at that canyon. Half of me is already enough to handle you all." The Pony of Shadows sneered.
"He has a point..." Starlight moved back once the Pony of Shadows moved his head slowly forward.
"Uh, Twilight. We really need him to be as still as possible for this to work. I saw the projections here and it was a struggle for them as well."
"Projections?" Twilight repeated, looking back at Sunburst.
"Yes. I saw it for myself. Seeing the memory of how I was sealed when the Lich Queen managed to bring half of myself back was rather distasteful. Whatever you do next, I can guarantee you that I'll free myself. After all, either one of you have the capability of freeing me. All I need to do is make one of you my new vessel!" The Pony of Shadows moved in, targeting Twilight first. She sensed a huge heap of magic within her despite how she put her below Starswirl.
"Dra!" Stepping up to the Pony of Shadows was Galaxy Master's Dragonite, who would defend them and guarantee them enough time. The Dragon Pokemon would unleash light from his body, stopping the Pony of Shadows in his tracks. He growled at this light that contrasted greatly with his darkness.
Here to help out as well were the Canterlot and Crystal Empire Soldiers who originally came with Sunburst under Princess Celestia's order. Their Golurks would approach the Pony of Shadows, who couldn't just casually go after Twilight and use her as a vessel. But to him, this seemed like a small annoyance considering what he's done so far.
"Nows a good enough time to go for it! How did they do it, Sunburst?!" Starlight Glimmer questioned, needing an answer to how Staswirl and the Pillars sealed away the Pony of Shadows.
"Well...Touch the book and you'll see!" Sunburst aimed his hoof over at a book that sat on one of the rocks. Judging by the tone in his voice, it sounded rather nervous, as if this whole sealing plan had a catch to it. Twilight Sparkle, Radiant Hope and Starlight Glimmer would approach the book while the Pokemon confronted the Pony of Shadows. Espeon and Haxorus would stay behind, supporting Dragonite and the Golurk just so that their Trainers are unbothered.
Twilight approached the book as it would react to her arrival. The book suddenly lit up, gaining a blue light that would shine out of it. It even opened itself without anyone having to do it. The book already made itself available to Twilight and her friends.
When it opened, a mystical aura would emerge with beautiful sparkles around it. The blue light from before would make a comeback, swirling around while rising. And from it, the projections that Sunburst spoke of showed themselves. And the first one to show up was none other than Starswirl the Bearded.
The one that Twilight looked up to and who once taught Celestia and Luna a plethora of magical spells that they use to this day had appeared, but merely as a projection. However, it was still outstanding to see him for the first in his true appearance rather than a drawing.
"I'm actually seeing him..." Naturally Twilight felt like geeking out. But now was not the time for that. The circumstances wouldn't allow for such an exciting moment. All she could do was gaze in wonder. The other Pillars showed up, receiving their own projections as this felt like a look into the past. And right in the middle was the projection of the Pony of Shadows. The one from long ago.
He was just as intimidating as he is in the current day, laughing as he appeared out of a massive dark sphere. In fact, it was shown that Starswirl was the one who brought him out here, similar to how Rosa Maledicta brought him back after so long
"You summon me at your peril, Starswirl! Once I defeat all of you, this realm will embrace the darkness as I did so long ago!" The Pony of Shadows bellowed as it felt perplexing to see him again considering what was happening behind them right now.
"We did not come here to defeat you," Starswirl said as Twilight heard his voice for the first time. At the same time, the sound of Pokemon Attacks ran through their ears as Twilight turned her head for a moment to see Espeon being knocked back. The Golurk were currently holding onto some of the shadows that tried to wrap around them while Dragonte was ferociously blasting Hyper Beams and piercing through the darkness, leaving behind holes.
Twilight turned her attention back to Starswirl and everyone, seeing how the events at Ponehenge transpired. Just like what was happening right now, shadow tendrils flew out of the Pony of Shadows's wings, quickly restraining the Pillars where they stand. The past then showed how the shadows closed in, darkening the area as the Pony of Shadows seemed to be gaining some power from it.
"Drawing me here will only make me stronger. You will never defeat me!" The Pony of Shadows boasted while holding them down.
However, in retaliation, Starswirl was shown to easily rid the tendrils from his body. And after doing so, the book that he possessed which showed the past originally was raised up. It opened once more but this time, instead of showing a projection, it unleashed a beam, targeting the Pillars. Specifically, it targeted special items they used, utilizing them as talismans. The magic would light up these items, zipping to one after the other before forming a hexagon around the Pony of Shadows.
"What are you doing?!" He shouted after noticing this magical hexagon and how it was interacting with his shadows in an unfavourable way.
"We came to contain you." Altogether, with Starswirl channelling the magic, each of the Pillars would release a blinding light that raised them and the Pony of Shadows into the air. The Pony of Shadows found himself unable to move, screaming as he desperately tried breaking free. And just like that, with ease, the light would explode and shimmer before fading away. And with it, the Pillars of Equestria plus the Pony of Shadows had vanished.
All that was left behind was this book that made a holographic recording of the whole encounter. And the talismans they used to seal him away which dropped down but vanished right afterwards.
"That's it?" Twilight brought the book over to her, surprised that was all it had to entail.
"It looked more like banishment than sealing him away. I don't see anything that eludes to him being sealed," said Starlight.
"Powerful magic like that would leave an impression on this place. Bringing the book back here let us see what happened. I saw it all when I came here and it looks like Starswirl and the Pillars all sacrificed themselves." Sunburst replied. "As for how they sealed him, I don't know. I've been waiting here trying to figure it out and I couldn't make an action until you showed up."
Sunburst already witnessed the process but was unsure of how it was done. Right as he and his fellow magical friends pondered this, Spike's Haxorus was slammed to the ground by the Pony of Shadows. Their attention was then geared to the battle happening nearby. The Golurk could be seen swinging at the Pony of Shadows with various punches, but with his amorphous shadows, he could evade them and strike back, delivering his own heavy hits to the Automatons.
"We'll figure it out as soon as possible! Right now, let's take this book back with us and see what we can do!" Twilight opted to leave Ponehenge.
"Wait, we're leaving?! I thought we were going to seal him here like the pillars did before?!" Starlight questioned.
"I don't know how they did it but I noticed how they used objects to make it happen. We can't do anything right now." Twilight replied. She was only doing this because she felt the need to replicate what the pillars did. The book already showed her the holographic recording so the words within must also wield a wealth of knowledge to take in.
"Fleeing, are we?" The Pony of Shadows cackled while constricting the Golurk with his tendrils. "Unfortunately, you're too late for that. I've already surrounded this place with my shadows!"
Indeed. The whole time they've been watching Starswirl's recording while Espeon and Haxorus take on the Pony of Shadows with the Golurk assisting them, the shadows have already worked their magic. Twilight and the others looked around to see Ponehenge being caged by tall pillars of shadows.
When looking at this, it reminded her, Sunburst and Radiant Hope of the Shadow Spire that once contained the Crystal Empire. It felt similar as well as these pillars had very small gaps that were incredibly close to each other.
"Now what? Do we keep going?" Sunburst asked.
"I'm reading what's in here, but I'll need time to assess the entire book since this is the last trace of Starswirl ever. Please. I need you all to keep him busy while I figure it out."
"We'll try." Starlight gulped before taking out one Poke Ball. And in that Poke Ball was her only Pokemon left now that Hatterene had been taken out by Yveltal. Clobbopus was the only Pokemon she had on her. "I'm counting on you, Clobbopus."
"Out you come, all of you!" Twilight would throw all of her Poke Balls into the air, simultaneously unleashing beloved Pokemon. Absol, Ninetales, Togekiss and Cinccino had entered the fray. And upon appearing, Togekiss would throw out an Aura Sphere from her mouth, intercepting one of the shadows that tried to grab Haxorus from behind. "We'll get out of here and finish what the Pillars started. Because right now, everyone else is working hard to save our new world."
Exploud Canyon. Magehold. Magehold Chamber.
The battle over at Exploud Canyony raged on. And at this very moment, the most peculiar family reunion had occurred. The Sirens have just met up with Opal Vivacity, who was the half-sister to the Dazzlings. They showed up in time to save Rarity's group, who have been greatly hit by Opal's Curse Magic. Their sights and hearing have been cut off but the one who got the worst of it all was Rarity, who almost lost all 5 of her senses.
Right now, she was being held up by Adagio as she could barely feel her, see her or hear her. If Bisharp had not intervened at the right time, Rarity would be in the worst condition possible without a doubt. Vivace was greatly disgusted to see Opal Vivacity again, even more so than the Dazzlings, who were just confused.
"I'm glad you showed up..." Rarity said weakly. "It was rather silly of me to tackle her on my own. I really wanted to avenge Olympia since she took her cape and everyone else she's terrorized."
"Olympia's fine," said Adagio. "And you don't have to worry about that anymore now that we're here. We'll toss out this part of her family and bury it forever."
"Good luck. Her best bet to beat me is now blind and unable to see where she's running." Opal laughed, referring to Pheromosa who was the fastest here. Pheromosa was on one knee, knowing this to be true as she could still hear everything despite having her vision disrupted.
"Pheromosa..." Pheromosa groaned as Sonata would come to her side. Vivace would then look at the rest of Rarity's Pokemon who have taken horrible hits from Opal's Curse Magic. And unfortunately, Vivace knew about Opal's signature magic all too well.
"As it stands now, I'm unbeatable!" Opal shouted. "So either get going or face your end. Speed can't beat me. And right now, power means nothing when I hold the most of it."
"Hmph. She's not the only one with a Pheromosa." Adagio replied with a confident and cocky smile on her face, quickly erasing Opal's smirk. Rarity heard that as she could only think of one thing once Adagio said that. From her saddlebag, an Ultra Ball was revealed via Magic. Rarity knew of another Pheromosa aside from her own. And it was the one that Ghetsis lent Pheromosa. Adagio launched it into the air, summoning her own Pheromosa.
"Pheromosa!"
"Paul gave me an excellent recommendation. I was hesitant on bringing this one along due to how violent she is. But power is power and I'd never miss out on a chance to gain it." Adagio flipped her mane, working with Pheromosa once more.
"I thought you only had Kricketot you. I never thought you'd work with that Pheromosa ever again." Rarity groaned.
"Kricketot's improved as well if you must know. Or should I say...Kricketune!" With another Poke Ball fling into the air, she summoned the Pokemon who once used to sit in her massive mane, using it as a bed. Kricketot had evolved, reaching his final evolution.
"Kricketuuuuune!" Kricketot had arrived. Indeed, the Dazzlings have been busy these past months. Kricketune was here and just as promised, he and Adagio grew together.
"What? You're going to try and beat me with that silly-looking Pokemon?! With a moustache that unkempt and grey?!" Opal laughed at this mere display of supposed power.
"I'd prefer if you didn't make fun of my Kricketune. The last group that mocked him went flying if you must know." Adagio gave a menacing glare to Kricketune."
"Wow...Kricketot evolved at last." Rarity smiled at this. She could hear Kricketune's beautiful voice once he arrived. His vocal skills have already improved. But how well does he do in battle now that he's reached his final evolution?
"Stay back, Pheromosa. We've got this!" Sonata said, sending her own Pokemon out as well. And as always, she had her Vaporeon and Lopunny by her side. Aria would send out her own Pokemon and they showed up in the form of Brionne and Croagunk. These two haven't fully evolved yet but that didn't make them any less powerful.
"Okay?" Opal scoffed. "Is this supposed to intimidate me? It just looks like more of the same. A Bug, a Water Creature and some Rabbit. Same old, same old." She taunted their team as Rarity's own team had some similarities to their own. After taunting them, she raised the hoof of her Mega Evolution Contrust, which had used more power to regenerate it.
"We do things differently compared to other Pokemon Trainers now. And you're about to find out." Adagio smirked, holding her breath in. "Get ready girls! And sing, Kricketune!"
"Kricke...Tuuuune!" From his mouth, the most melodic song came out of Kricketune's mouth. And this song was none other than the song he's been listening to for a long time now. Ever since he met Adagio, the Song 'Under your Spell' has been the one he's repeated more than anything else. It was also his all-time favourite.
And that even translated into his actions. Right as he sang the song, Croagunk, Brionne, Vaporeon, Lopunny and Pheromosa were ready to leave. "Lopunny! Agility! Vaporeon, use Hydro Pump on the ground!"
"Vaaaa!" From her mouth, Vaporeon targeted the floor by shooting out high-volume blasts of water. All the while, Lopunny was already bouncing to the rhythm of the song that Kricketune was singing. By hitting the ground, this area was already been flooded as soon as possible, but to the advantage of the Dazzlings. They were sirens after all and if water was involved, there were bound to be some benefits.
"What's a bunch of water supposed to do!?" Opal bellowed before bringing the massive hoof of her Mega Form down. It caused a huge splash that shook the waves, attempting to throw off the attack. However, this failed as Adagio suddenly used her magic to interact with the massive splash. The splash never disrupted the Hydro Pump. Instead, it added to it.
Adagio multiplied the water, making more of it by using the splash. Opal gasped as Adagio managed to create more water which only resulted in the rest of the room being flooded even faster than before. There was soon a lake inside this room in just a few seconds. And with the water rising, the Sirens were already in their natural habitat. Vivace was especially in her natural habitat since she was the only one that appeared as a Siren.
Vaporeon was fine in this too but what really mattered were Rarity and all of her Pokemon. Vivace would keep Rarity close to her while also using some magic of her own. The Underwater Breathing Spell had been cast on those who needed to breathe underwater. On top of that, they lost some of their senses, so it would be harder for them to be underwater without some support.
Milotic was completely fine underwater but her current condition meant that she didn't have much strength to swim either way. The water went high, even catching the entirety of the Mega Evolution entity. Opal was kept safe from the water thanks to the Mega Evolution Energy being an extra shield, but now she was in the natural habitat of the sirens. And even as a Half Siren such as herself, she wasn't actually prepared for this.
"I can defeat you all underwater as well. Just watch!" Opal rambled again as the song that Kricketune sang correlated with the movements of his friends. Lopunny was currently using Agility while underwater despite the difference in the environment compared to the land. Lopunny dashed through the waves, dancing at the same time in tune with the song that Kricketune was playing.
Croagunk was doing the same thing, also moving to the rhythm of the song while approaching the Giant Mega Evolution. Pheromosa did her own thing, not listening to the music at all. She was still focused on herself compared to Rarity's Pheromosa. Right as Opal swung her hoof, Croagunk and Lopunny expertly dodged it. It was absolutely immaculate how well they managed to evade the giant hoof swing, ignoring how it made a powerful wave underwater.
Adding to Kricketune's song was Brionne. This song that the Dazzlings made was originally sung by all three of them. And while there weren't three Pokemon to sing, two would do for now. And the results already showed thanks to how they were coordinated.
"Poison Jab, Croagunk!" They moved so smoothly as Croagunk unleashed Poison Jab on the hoof that missed him, landing a clean hit. And by striking the hoof with some poison, Croagunk already spread some of it across the hoof, making Opal Grimace.
"Lopunny, use Close Combat!"
"Lo-Pun!" And even Lopunny's kicks were rhythmic. She would deliver a powerful kick onto the hoof of Opal's Mega Evolved Form, syncing with the music. Opal tried retaliating by spreading her Curse Magic since they interacted with her physically. But even that was outdone by the power of music.
Lopunny would perform an elegant flip off OPal Vivacity's leg the second her Curse Magic could be seen. It completely missed Lopunny, unable to catch her as she would then swim upwards, flying up to the higher parts of Opal's hoof, and delivering another powerful kick. This time, seven kicks came in, striking one spot of the hoof continuously at high speeds.
"Why you!" Opal roared before unleashing a powerful beam of Infinity Energy from her mouth, trying to blow everyone and the entire water away.
"Hyper Voice!"
"Briioooone!" Responding to that was Brionne, who elevated her singing voice by using Hyper Voice. She sent a powerful sound vibration through the water that would race over to the massive beam that approached Croagunk and Lopunny. Boosted by Kricketune's voice, the Hyper Voice intercepted the Fake Hyper Beam.
Opal was shocked to see her Hyper Beam being held back by some singing. It didn't even combust when coming into contact with it. Instead, the Hyper Voice would push back the Hyepr Beam, sending it back at Opal Vivacity.
She quickly used her Fate Changing Mane to change fate in her favour, panicking for a moment as this would definitely deal some major damage if it landed. She managed to change fate, sending the Hyper Beam elsewhere. She only managed to send it towards one of the walls as it blew up there instead.
"You nearly got me you impudent gnats!" That greatly aggravated Opal Vivacity who would then have her Mega Evolution Construct use its massive mane as well. But since it couldn't change fate, it would simply resort to using the mane as a weapon. The Energy Mane would gain a tendril-like motion, swinging violently while having a noticeable sharpness. The blades would slice through the water, not to be taken lightly at all.
"Fury Cutter!"
"Tuuuune!" Even while singing, Kricketune would approach his opponent. He kept up the song while also gaining some sharpness thanks to Fury Cutter.
"Close Combat again! And Vaporeon! Hydro Pump one more time!"
"Croagunk, use Thunder Punch! Brionne, Moonblast!"
Kricketune and his friends would quickly retaliate as the Cricket Pokemon could clash with Opal's sharp mane. Those Fury Cutter claws were no joke as they managed to meet with the mane without one side overpowering the other instantly. Kricketune would then start clashing with the mane while singing to the song, keeping up the rhythm.
And because of this, Kricketune was boosting his allies, giving them cues and helping them coordinate their attacks. It was very clear that the Dazzlings have found a way to incorporate singing into battle, similar to what Vinyl Scratch does with her Pokemon by having them listen to music.
Opal's mane viciously swung around, trying to land a clean hit but it was only met with precise and on-point clashes from the opposing Pokemon.
"This doesn't make sense! You shouldn't be this difficult!" Opal Vivacity's mouth opened up as wide as it could, showing her vicious fangs as she let out a frustrated groan. She made her Mega Evolution increase the weight of her mane, trying to gain a weight advantage, only for that to fail the second Pheromosa intervened.
"Mosa!" Adagio's Pheromosa would kick away the heavy part of the mane, easily matching its weight with her stupendous strength and intercepting with her amazing speed.
"Kricketune!" Kricketune got the closest to Opal Vivacity, swimming past her vicious mane and clashing with it constantly before slashing at the upper part of her Mega Evolved Form.
"!" Opal grimaced as the slash that Kricketune pulled off was stunning, leaving a mark so deep in the energy that it actually opened a large part of it up., The water would start travelling through the mark as Kricketune's attack was followed up by Croagunk jumping on his head, using him as a way to get higher. And it worked as Croagunk got up close and personal with Opal Vivacity, powering up a Thunder Punch which was sure to do a lot underwater.
He socked the giant construct of Opal Vivacity straight in the face, making her and the construct bewildered. They both couldn't believe what just happened.
"Don't mess with me!" A riled-up Opal Vivacity yelled, unleashing another Fake Hyper Beam once she turned her Construct's head. And this one was right up in Croagun and Kricketune's faces due to how close they were.
But then came Moonblast which was boosted through the water thanks to Lopunny." Lopunny!" Lopunny kicked the Moonblast at full force with Close Combat, allowing it to move even faster than before. The Moonblast met with the HYper Beam that almost struck Croagunk and Kricketune but was interrupted by Brionne once more.
Opal growled as her eyes flashed red. She would take out her anger by having her construct's tail finally do something. The tail would extend, going around the giant Mega Evolution being as she finally managed to get a hit in. And that was by hitting Kricketune and Croagunk away, sending them hurling through the water.
Meanwhile, Rarity was having her senses healed by Vivace, who gathered up all of her Pokemon just so they can receive the healing as well. Her fins were on Rarity's face, gently touching them and giving Rarity something nice to be around. She couldn't feel much but she could tell something wonderful made contact with her. "It's alright, Rarity. I've had experience with my daughter's magic before. So I worked on a cure. A cure that I can create with my voice. Very soon, you'll be alright."
"Thank you, Miss Vivace. But what about your daughters?"
"They'll be fine," Vivace said while looking back at her daughters in action. "Those past months have changed them. I barely recognize them, honestly. They're brand new sirens."
"Vaporeon!" Along came Vaporeon's Hydro Pump which blended in with the water, seeming invisible. But not invisible to Opal Vivacity who saw it coming. She used her massive construct to move out of the way, evading the high-volume blast of water.
"Hah! Missed!" She taunted.
"Phero...Mo!" But that was simply something that Pheromosa used to her advantage. Adagio's Pheromosa would kick the Hydro Pump by getting behind it, unleashing a devastating kick that was powerful enough to reflect it.
Just as Opal Vivcity thought it was over, the Hydro Pump came back. The attack crashed into the back of her Mega Evolution construct which sent a staggering shockwave that even affected Opal herself. The Giant Mega Evolution was sent forward, perplexed by that back hit. But this would only set it up for another attack that was right in front of it.
"Lopunny!" Lopunny's Close Combat continued as she would unleash a barrage of devastating and fast kicks at Opal's Mega Evolution once it came her way. Each kick was so powerful that it shook the construct, slowly breaking parts of it off.
"Back off!" Opal groaned, using her mane once more. By touching her hoof with it, Fate was changed, sending Opal and her Construct far back so that they were never hit by Close Combat at all and all the damage done had been reversed.
"That mane's still a problem..." Adagio growled before smiling. "But nothing a good Aura can't fix."
"I can't believe. I'm being pushed back by them?" Opal thought to herself, feeling greatly bewildered by this development. This whole time, she's been getting the advantage on others, but all of a sudden, the Dazzlings shifted that in an instant. "Why are these three specifically so troublesome? I should be demolishing them like the rest of my prey! What is this all about?!"
"Someone looks like they're stressing," Aria said. "Where's all that Bravado you had earlier?" Can't handle our coordination like the rest."
"Yeah!" Sonata snickered. "I mean, she's a pretty big target, so we couldn't miss any of our musical hits at all! Except for that Hydro Pump one but it landed anyway."
"Shut up! All of your hits have just been pure luck! There's no way you're outdoing me like this!"
"You're one to talk about luck when you're rocking the most unfair power in the world in your mane. But you'll get desperate soon. Eventually, you'll have to use everything that mane has to offer and be as bald as a Voltorb. All we need to do is nullify that mane of yours and that will be the end of that."
"Mosa..." Suddenly, Pheromosa felt her vision returning. Thanks to the magic of Vivace who sang a soothing song for them, the horrible vision she gained was fading away. And instead, the natural vision she was so used to was returning. The same went for the rest of Rarity's Pokemon. The Curse that Opal put on them was being erased.
Vivace felt like the perfect opposite to Opal Vivacity and it only made sense considering she is her mother. The three Leavanny, Milotic and even Ampharos were being cured. Rarity felt the most relieved as the Pain Amplications that Opal put on her plus the fact that she affected all five of her senses was being undone.
"There. How do you feel?" Vivace asked, moving back from them all and letting them recollect themselves.
"A bit hazy...but I think I can manage." Rarity could see better among everything else. But the effects were still lingering. Vivace hadn't fully cured them but she did an amazing job as to where they didn't feel like they were suffering anymore. Clearly, Opal still had some sort of grasp on them.
"Hm. It's not yet fully complete, but I'm getting there." Vivace nodded. "I'm sure when Opal is defeated, those bothersome effects will disappear."
"Thank you. Now is our chance for a turnaround." Rarity smiled, seeing this as the perfect opportunity to get back in the battle and finish things off.
"Even without making a full recovery?" Vivace questioned.
"It's fine. Adagio and her sisters are working incredibly hard with their Pokemon. I can't let them show me up. Not since I and Adagio's previous encounter didn't end on a friendly note."
"Pheromo!" Pheromosa felt re-energized too. She pumped her arms, ready to swing into action once more. Ampharos would slap his face, sparking some electricity from his body as he was in the perfect environment to really let his lightning go all out. The three Leavanny had some strength left in them too compared to the others that had been returned. Milotic was in her natural habitat as well, refusing to lose in water of all places.
Rarity and her friends were about to make their own comeback. All the while, someone was approaching this room. In the far distance, rushing to the scene as fast as he could after seeing a massive construction of Opal's Psuedo Mega Evolved Form was none other than Fractured Note.
"If there was ever a time to stop Opal, now is a good time. I've been waiting for this moment for too long to try and stop my own daughter." Or more specifically, King Greyvine. The First Lich King and the Father to the Dazzlings and Opal Vivacity. This family reunion was only ramping up from here.
Outside, the confrontation between Equestria, the Shadow Army and Rosa Maledicta continued. The goal was to try and completely nullify Oblivion Wing, getting one crucial threat out of the way. Valerie's Wigglytuff had been tasked with pulling it over with her move 'Disable'.
The smoke cleared as all they've managed to do so far was avoid anyone taking any hits from Oblivion Wing and it showed. Parts of the ground have been completely obliterated by Oblivion Wing which has been redirected constantly by the Pokemon Trainers. Exploud Canyon has been scarred by this battle, all the while, Rosa Maledicta was sitting pretty over at her castle which was further protected by a massive array of roots.
Emerging from the smoke in the air was Princess Celestia, or more specifically, Celestal-Gardevoir. She and Gardevoir had entered their fused state, aiming to end this as soon as possible. But with the Lich Queen, soon was not soon enough.
Below her, the various Gym Leaders from different regions were battling to try and free those captured by the shadows. And one of them felt very personal. Bea had witnessed her good friend Korrina overtaken by the Pony of Shadows, becoming a Nightmare Version of herself.
"Korrina! How could you let yourself be overtaken by this!?" Bea shouted at Korrina, trying to reach her. But she was far too gone for words to be of any use. "Answer me, Korrina!" It was pointless to shout out at her. In fact, it was only further riling up the Nightmare Variant of Korrina. She can't hear me at all. Then, the best way Pokemon Trainers communicate will be the answer! Machamp! Cross Chop!"
Korrina would give orders to Lucario but her words simply came out as hollow cries. Lucario's cries were also hollow as it would use Bone Rush in response. This wouldn't be the first time Bea and Korrina have gone up against each other but the circumstances were very much different.
Machamp's massive four arms formed an X as they were about to meet with Bone Rush, only for Lucario to get the better of her. He used one bone to block all four of Machamp's arms while the other struck the side of her torso. "C-Champ?!" This attack felt different from the rest. This Bone Rush was devastatingly strong, shocking even Machamp.
Lucario would hit her again, this time in the face which would spin the Superpower Pokemon around. Afterwards, both bones were swung, sending Machamp back, much to the surprise of Bea. "Cross Chop again!"
"Champ!" Machamp would regain her balance before sending in another Cross Chop, this time with only one of her hands. Lucario was ready to engage, expecting both arms, only for a single one to show up. This was due to Machamp using the other arms to grab the ones, preventing Lucario from landing a hit. "Ma!" Machamp's Cross Chop connected, stunning the Aura Pokemon for a moment. The other two arms were raised, continuing the Cross Chop while tossing away Lucario's energy bones.
The Aura Pokemon managed to block the next Cross Chop, but barely. The impact stunned him once more, causing his left eye to close. And the final arm came into play. The last arm chopped Lucario's gut, getting the better of him. With a super-effective blow, Lucario was pushed back as shadows trailed out of his body. However, other Pokemon came to his aid, using the shadows to catch him.
Bea gasped as the shadows prevented Lucario from crashing or anything like that. The Shadow Pokemon would then assist Lucario by retaliating for him, unleashing a stream of shadows at both Machamp and Bea. Bea braced herself while Machamp put her arms up, shielding herself and Bea from the shadows. But they were incredibly heavy to deal with as they already started pushing Machamp.
The shadows dragged her feet across the ground as Machamp was putting everything she had to try and keep them away. And with each passing second, she was getting closer to Bea, struggling to hold these shadows back.
"Hang in there, Machamp!" Bea bellowed. But it was no use. The shadows won, breaking through Machamp's defences and fully landing a hit on her. Machamp cried out as she was sent flying in Bea's direction. Bea would end up being struck by her own Pokemon as the duo were forced to the ground. Having such a big Pokemon such as Machamp land on her was painful, even for Bea who was very fit.
The shadows weren't done, however. As Machamp and Bea were on the ground, they attempted to strike them while they were down. And with so many of them heading their way, it looked like they would get that chance to land their next hit.
"Dragon Claw!"
"Gar!" Coming to their rescue were Cynthia's Garchomp and Cynthia herself. The Mach Pokemon would cut the shadows with a draconic energy emerging out of her limbs in the shape of claws. Garchomp slashed furiously, fending off the shadows that came close to Bea and Machamp.
The shadows noticed this as the Pokemon who originally unleashed them would do it again. This time, some of them would try and get up close and personal, approaching Garchomp. while multiple shadows followed them from behind.
"Scale Shot!"
"Electivire, use Thunder Punch!" Joining in was Volkner, who had his Electivire deal with the Pokemon that wanted to get physical.
"Gar!" First Garchomp fired multiple black-and-white-glowing scales from her body at the shadows and some of the Pokemon that approached. As the scales travel, they left behind purple trails of energy, sniping some of the Pokemon in the air and sending them down. The shadows were her main target though as the many scales would meet with the shadows, matching their numbers and getting in their way.
"Hariya!" Some Pokemon were still getting close while Garchomp was still unleashing Scale Shot. She was rather vulnerable until Hariyama intervened. With his signature trait, he would thrust his massive arms at the Shadow Pokemon, knocking some of them aside. The other Pokemon that came close would receive another Arm Thrust as the force of Hariyama's attacks sent a majority of them airborne.
"Let me try and get in that castle! Scolipede! Steel Roller!"
"Scol!" Clearing the way was Roxie's Scolipede who curled itself and started rolling as fast as it could. Even with this massive body, Scolipede could still roll at an impressive rate that matched Whirlipede's movements. Scolipede would tackle through some of the droves of Shadow Beings that stood in its way, knocking them aside.
But just as Scolipede was charging through its foes, the shadows put a halt to that, changing the terrain itself. The ground would gain a rockier and rougher appearance, throwing Scolipede's momentum greatly off balance. The Megapede Pokemon exited its circular form, stumbling over the rough rocks that got in its way. This left it wide open for an attack as the shadows would try and whip the Bug-Poison-Type.
"Stone Edge!"
"Probo!" Roxanne's Probopass would intervene, shooting out huge crystal rocks from its body that would just narrowly save Scolipede. The crystals would pierce the shadows with their sharpness while also knocking some of them away. But as a form of retaliation, some of the shadows would grab onto the crystals that Probopass threw, using them to their advantage.
The Shadows threw the crystals back while also hitting Scolipede with some of them, dealing super-effective damage which forced the Megapede Pokemon to the ground. Probopass received his own attack back with shadows around the stone to give them that extra oomph. Luckily for him, he resisted it greatly to his advantage as a Steel-Type.
All the while, the trainers would look up, remembering that Yveltal was still an issue. And they were right to look up as the Destruction Pokemon was about to unleash yet another Oblivion Wing on them. The violent blast was being built up but it wasn't without another Pokemon Trainer making sure everyone was safe. Getting in his way was Celestial-Gardevoir, who would unify Infinity Energy and Equestrian Magic into one.
She combined Celestia's natural magic and Gardevoir's Thunderbolt into one attack, unleashing it as a massive beam which would meet with Yveltal's Oblivion Wing. The two attacks blew up once they clashed in the air, setting off the most fearsome yet dazzling explosion that blew even the clouds away.
"Another close call..." Celestial-Gardevoir said, knowing that there were far too many close moments here. She couldn't afford to let a single Oblivion Wing get to anyone but it was rather hard keeping track of Yveltal will all the battling happening around.
"This won't end until Yveltal's Oblivion Wing is taken down. Celestia and Gardevoir can't handle Yveltal forever. Not with how things are." Cynthia took a deep breath, assessing the situation.
"Yeah, well I've been trying to break into that castle with Steel Roller. I say we charge in and go after the Lich Queen." Roxie suggested.
"Wigglytuff just has to get close enough to unleash Disable but Yveltal's far too frantic right now," Valerie grumbled. "And those roots and shadows keep getting in our way too."
"They're not indestructible though. Ash said that removing the souls within them will weaken them gradually, making them beatable." Drayden replied. "Cynthia. Can I trust your Spiritomb to handle this?"
"Of course, you can. If you need souls to be removed, Spiritomb can sort that out for you." Cynthia smiled as she had a Pokemon fit for dealing with souls. Spiritomb was more about spirits as the name suggested but it still had the intangibility of a Ghost. Knowing this thanks to what Drayden received, to get these massive roots out of the way, they needed to remove the souls trapped within first. Not all of them had the means of doing that but they would at least try and buy some time.
"Your majesty..." While Rosa Maledicta stood in her throne room, overseeing the battle, she received a message via telepathy. Even when in her throne room, she still had to be on the lookout for any attacks that right and reach her.
"What is it? I'm rather busy at the moment." Rosa Maledicta replied, not wishing to be bothered all that much during this intense confrontation. Her roots would whack away a stray Hyper Beam from one of the Golurk that attempted to hit her.
"It's about the Box of 100 Demons. We've retrieved it."
"Oh? Forget what I just said." Music to her ears. The Box of 100 Demons was once a powerful weapon that the Dread League constantly used. And now, it sounded like the box had been taken away from the Changelings, who were the rightful owners to it in the first place.
"But, it wasn't easy. And there's more to it... We had to really wrestle to get it back and as for the demons, we had to infect them."
"Are you telling me you placed a Magehold DIsease on those demons?"
"Melody Moon and Bittersweet did. It was the only way they could get the box from the Changelings."
"They infected the Demons?!" Rosa Maledicta roared, appalled by what she was hearing. The Box of 100 Demons was successfully taken but with the demons all gaining Magehold Diseases. The vampire who reported this news stepped back, shaking uncontrollably.
"I-It was the only way! The Demons...they did not listen to us. They rebelled and sided with the Changelings. So the only thing we could do was subdue them so that it would be easier to bring them along. Plus, we've infected the Changelings too!"
"Tch! We can work with this. I have another use for those demons. Bring them to me at once." While she was annoyed that the demons have now been infected, she would still use them. There was something to gain from them that not many knew about.
Within Chrysalis' Space.
And with this recent development came a reaction from Chrysalis from the inside. Her beautiful flower-filled area was disrupted the second something truly awful happened outside. She could feel it. The Changeling Queen stood up, sensing this disturbance. It felt very familiar to her.
In fact, it was something that already infected her.
The Magehold DIseases which are absolutely brutal and unforgiving in so many ways. Chrysalis was suffering from one as well which led her to her own space. "This feeling! A disease?! What's happening?!"
Before she could wonder, she saw one of the 100 Demons enter her space once more. Through that crack in the sky, this single demon would arrive but in a horrible state. The Demon that resembled a Ladybug fell over, having Dark Magic trail out of its body. Before it could fall to the ground, Chrysalis caught the demon. The demon was gently placed down on the flower-filled land, infected by one of Magehold's many and cruel diseases.
For this Ladybug Demon that was absolutely massive and had skull-shaped spots while possessing deep crimson eyes, it appeared very weak. So weak that it needed Chrysalis to bring it down. The Changeling Queen ran over to her creation, checking up on its condition.
And the disease that befell it had already dealt some damage, tearing up parts of the ladybug's wings and showing its insides. The inside of a demon that Chrysalis created was full of Green Magic, similar to what she uses. That was only further confirmation that she created them by accident when she was a baby.
"Are you alright?! What's happening out there?!" She asked the Ladybug Demon, staring into its terrifying eyes which now looked less intimidating because of the state it was in. And even though the Ladybug Demon was incapable of speech, the sounds it made could be understood by Chrysalis. Changelings always had some similarities and relation to bugs and it showed when Chrysalis perfectly understood what the Demon said to her.
"You all are infected?" Chrysalis gasped, gaining context as to what was happening out there. She couldn't wake up at all, unable to see the events that were unfolding outside. She feared for her subjects. Ribombee, Thorax and Anthophilia were being exposed to something truly horrific and Chrysalis wasn't there to stop.
The Ladybug continued explaining everything it saw. The events that transpired were shared as Chrysalis was envisioning them. And by envisioning them, she managed ot do something that she wasn't even aware she could do in this space. Some of the flowers around her were transforming when reacting to what Chrysalis envisioned.
The flowers had transformed into Despair Plants, showing the ones that the Ladybug explained. Chrysalis gazed at these transforming flowers which had the same green energy around them. But it didn't stop at just the Despair Plants. More flowers would transform into Changelings, showing Thorax and all the others effortlessly as it was setting the scene based on what the Demon described.
One of these Despair Plants ended up being Despair Plant Bullfrog. The demon that was responsible for spreading diseases. Chrysalis envisioned it unleashing all these horrifying diseases in the form of a dark purple mist. Obviously, prior to all of this, the Changelings were fighting for their lives, having the Pokemon they already had on their teams and the ones living at Faye Mountain to back them up.
But most noticeably, the many demons that Chrysalis met within this space were shown. There were enough demons to replicate the 98 Demons that were unleashed as Thorax ended up going through with the plan. Pharynx was the one who suggested in the first place, wanting plenty of help. The demons, upon arriving, stuck by the Changelings' side through and through.
They did not falter and betray them. They refused to go back with the Dread League now the Box has been returned to its rightful owner. Alas, this made them enemies to the Dread League as they were not spared either. The flowers then showed the battle that happened at the Changeling Hive now that the Demons got involved. And they most certainly turned things around. The demons took on the Despair Plants, proving to be powerful enough to handle these creations from Magehold.
Chrysalis wanted to experiment for a moment, however, seeing how these flowers were acting. She would use her own magic which was all the magic here either way, interacting with them. With her power, she managed to animate the flowers, showing movement. Chrysalis' suspicions had been confirmed. She could do more in this space. By animating the flowers, she saw how the Despair Plant Bullfrog quickly changed the tide of battle in an instant thanks to its disease-spreading mist.
Thanks to that mist, the Demons were also infected, gaining diseases from Magehold which greatly hindered them. This allowed the Dread League to make a turnaround, gaining the upper hand. Chrysalis now received the full context of what happened but it wasn't over yet. As things were looking dire and even though Melody Moon managed to retrieve the Box from Thorax, who was doing everything in his power to keep it safe, Anthophilia was seen taking action.
This baby Changeling may be small but she has proven to pull off some impressive things, specifically with her magic. Much like Flurry Heart, she was a prodigy and it showed. The moment Melody Moon took the box away, Anthophilia's Magic would be unleashed, striking the singing vampire. Chrysalis saw how she managed to repel some of the mist a powerful spell while also damaging the Despair Plants.
Chrysalis got a closer look at it by transforming more of the flowers, seeing what Anthophilia specifically did. Lo and behold, Anthophilia managed to remove some of the souls from within the Despair Plants. She saw the souls leave the Despair Plants, making them howl as loud as they could, louder than they ever have.
And with those souls leaving their bodies, they lost some of their ridiculous durability, making it easier for the Pokemon to damage them. But right as the Despair Plants had been greatly weakened, Melody Moon and BIttersweet retreated, combusting themselves and returning to Magehold with the Box of 100 Demons at their disposal.
And at this very moment, the Despair Plants were still attacking the Changeling Hive despite being weakened. The Black Crusade wouldn't stop its path of destruction after all. The CHangelings were still defending their hive but with one major difference. The Demons were gone. Before Melody Moon and Bittersweet left, she used the Box to retrieve all of the demons, sucking them back in so that they would be their captives. The only one that managed to escape was the Ladybug Demon who entered Chrysalis' Space.
"So that's what happened...and what is happening," Chrysalis said, taking it all in. Her hive needed here more than ever. Thorax was still doing his best as the current ruler but it was clear even he couldn't beat out the disease. And poor Anthophilia was still just a baby who shouldn't be exposed to something like this. "I can't stay in here forever. I have to get out there."
Alas, Chrysalis was in her own predicament ever since the Lich Queen hit her with a cruel disease. She has not even healed as the only one who could do all of the healing was Chrysalis herself. She wasn't sure how and neither was she aware of that method, but that wouldn't stop her from doing something. Chrysalis thought for a moment before attempting something that would put her at risk. But it was for the sake of those she loves.
"I can't let them go on like this. I love them too much. I'm sorry if this is a bother, but could you send me to the real world?" Chrysalis saw only one way out. And that was by how the demons entered this space. She would try and use that crack as a way to return to reality.
The Ladybug Demon gazed at Chrysalis for a moment, knowing how risky that it was. She was in a terrible condition that was threatening her life and even a demon couldn't afford to have its creator suffer. But when looking at Chrysalis, it saw that Chrysalis would suffer if she didn't help defend those she loves. Chrysalis would gladly put her life on the line for them. Understanding Chrysalis, the Ladybug Demon would accept her request.
"Thank you. And rest easy." Chrysalis smiled before looking up to the see the crack forming in the sky once more. This was her chance and she shouldn't waste it. Not for a moment. She would let the Ladybug Demon rest here, making sure it wasn't taken away by the Dread League if they ever saw it. With her wings out, Chrysalis would take flight, flying through the crack and leaving her own space.
Magehold. Magehold Contest Hall.
Meanwhile, over at the Magehold Contest Hall, Fantina had called off the Pokemon Contest, putting the safety of the citizens first. The entertainment she loved so much was actually put aside for the well-being of others. And to keep them safe, she would stray them away from the fierce battle happening outside, having the workers of this Contest assist them.
"This way, please! Stay away from the battle happening outside!" Fantina guided them, as one part of the Contest Hall had already been damaged thanks to the powerful crash. As for where they would all go, their homes have been ruined thanks to the raging battle and everything else that's happened. Eccentrick watched as they were all walking off but she knew this was for the best.
"Fantina!" Just then, entering the Contest Hall was none other than Volkner. He was already searching for his fellow Sinnoh Gym Leader, who he hasn't seen for months. All the vampires took notice of Volkner who barged into the contest hall by pushing through the doors. And right behind him was his partner Electivire.
"Hm?" Fantina looked over as some of the young vampires would hide behind the Hearthome City Gym Leader, intimidated and startled by Volkner's appearance. It didn't help that an Electric-Type was behind him. Fantina stayed defensive, making sure no one would feel threatened, being a true defender in every scenario.
"There you are...Man, it's been so long." Volkner breathed in and out as his jacket was a bit of a mess. He certainly had to get through a lot to reach Fantina.
"Who are you?" She questioned, being highly cautious considering the situation
"W-Who am I?" Volkner stuttered as that wasn't the welcoming response she expected after not seeing Fantina for so long. "Fantina. It's me. Volkner."
"Electivire!"
"Hmm..." Fantina pouted for a moment. She couldn't make out who she was looking at all, much to the chagrin of Volkner. He patted himself, hoping to spark something back in Fantina's memories. But alas, they have been tampered with so much that she could not recall Volkner's face or voice. "Not at all."
"Gh!" Volkner pulled back, bewildered that Fantina had truly forgotten about him. "Figures...the Lich Queen would have crazy powerful mind control..."
"But...you're not here to harm us, are you?" Despite not recognizing him, considering what was happening outside and gaining context about the whole thing, Fatnina could tell that Volkner was not dangerous at all.
"Y-Yeah. I just came to bring you back. But it looks like you've made yourself comfortable here already..." Volkner sighed. "Even if you don't remember me, you have to help out here. I don't know how long this gonna go on for but it'd be great if you chimed in."
"Miss Fantina. Who is that?" A little filly questioned, unsure of Volkner's presence since he was a fresh face during this rough moment.
"I have no clue...but I feel like I can trust you." Although her memories were disrupted, that sense of familiarity that she felt with Ash kicked in for Volkner. In this case, it was a sense of trust.
"Well, we trust each other. Well, when your memories weren't all jumbled up." Volkner shrugged. "And this looks like a Contest Hall...Here at this place? What have you been up to Fantina?"
"A lot. If you're here to help and you want my help, can you please help everypony here to safety? I'm not sure where to take them during this time. Their homes have been ravaged by the destruction."
"Nowhere's really the safest. Even if we do find somewhere, the Black Crusade will try and reach it. Honestly, the best thing to do is just put a stop to it as soon as possible."
"Stop the Black Crusade?" Hearing this caused a rabble amongst the many vampires. This was shocking to them as Volkner mentioned stopping something that their own nation created. It was certainly something that got a reaction out of them. As for how they spoke about it, all the vampires here were not involved with the Black Crusade at all.
It was only the Dread League after all. It was their goal in life while the citizens were just minding their own business. Something like a Pokemon Contest is what they've been waiting for this entire time. But the Black Crusade was still something that lingered across Magehold, even for the citizens.
"Is that even possible?" And to them, even though they weren't involved in it, they saw it was an impossible task. Considering how destructive the Black Crusade was and everything they've heard, it seemed impossible for it to fail. And plenty of things have pointed to it being a seemingly unstoppable force that no one here could overcome.
"It is possible." Eccentrick was the one to answer them. Not Volkner. Attention was brought to her, which she absolutely loved. But this time, it was for another reason. "It's 100% possible to stop it. It's not like it's unbeatable."
"How do you know?" Another vampire questioned.
"I've got enough proof." Eccentric crossed her hooves. "The Black Crusade's not indestructible, just like how the Lich Queen isn't invincible at all."
"Hey! Don't say that!" That was rather risky for Eccentrick to say here at Magehold. Some vampires ducked for cover, fearing that the Lich Queen would strike at her since she was constantly in on her subjects.
"I'm not all for that Black Crusade thing. It's what Opal's a part of after all. And right now, I don't feel all that scared of the Lich Queen. Just look what's happening outside!" Eccentrick then diverted their attention to the outside. They saw how those defending their homes were doing their best to prevent the Black Crusade and they were doing a fairly good job at it too.
"Not scared of the Lich Queen?! Impossible!" To some, that seemed like an impossible task and for a good reason. It seemed impossible to be afraid of the Lich Queen in every possible way considering what she was capable of.
"Well, I'm not. Maybe now might be the best time to forward about it. I'm trusting in those trainers from elsewhere to put an end to this whole Black Crusade thing so I'll speak my mind and be honest."
"You're speaking as if you wanna stop it too..." Her opponent who she was battling against before said, shocked by Eccentrick's sudden bravery and bravado.
"Well yeah. It's because I did something." Eccentric proudly raised her chest. "I managed to damage the Lich Queen."
"You WHAT?!" All of them shouted in unison. After hearing this bold confession from Eccentrick, some of them felt like fainting. Some of them did faint in the process, blown away by Eccentrick's honesty. She was as honest as she was energetic.
"Look at you being braver than before." Fantina complimented, laughing afterwards. "I suppose you have nothing to fear now, you're letting it all out."
"That's right, Fantina. I really want this to end so now's a good enough time to say it. Even if it hasn't been that long. Plus I really wanna finish this contest too..."
"Even if you're against her, can you eat her?" Some vampires were still judgemental about this, seeing it as an incredibly difficult task.
"Won't know unless we try. Fantina. Let me chime in again, okay?"
"So, you'll help out after all. We could use all of that help." Volkner smiled. "You've made a pretty great friend here, Fantina. As to be expected from you."
"Mhm." Fantina nodded before gasping for a moment, realizing there was one more friend she hasn't checked up on at all during the Black Crusade. The Potion Specialist Ebony Rhyme. "Ebony!"
Elsewhere, Opal Vivacity was struggling greatly against the Sirens who have made quite the entrance, overwhelming the cruel vampire who was their half-sister. And with Rarity and her Pokemon healed of their horrible conditions, the odds were greatly against Opal Vivacity and her massive Mega Evolved Form that she was within.
"Stop messing with me! You're not better than me! You can't be better than me!" She growled as her anger correlated with the mannerisms of her Mega Evolved Being. She breathed in and out, trying to recollect herself but that seemed rather impossible for her.
"Opal, that's far enough!" Arriving at the scene was Fractured Note as he already cast the Underwater Breathing Spell on himself to move through this watery area.
"What?!" Opal turned her head, spotting her brother Fractured Note. But in reality, he was actually her father. "Tch! Took you long enough to finally make an appearance! What a useless older brother you are!" Even when help seemingly arrived, Opal berated Fractured Note, insulting him out of anger. "Hurry up and help me out here!"
"Brother?! We have a Half Brother?!" Sonata let out a prolonged gasp, surprised to see her family tree growing. Fractured Note was extended family, but not the kind Sonata and the others were thinking.
"Is he part siren too? It looks like it's a spell that's helping him underwater." Adagio pondered, seeing the Underwater Spell's aura around his head. "He shouldn't need to if he's our Half Brother."
"As if I know. If he wants to get involved, let him. We'll smack him silly just like we're doing to Opal here." Aria shrugged.
"That voice..." However. VIvace saw more than just some random vampire showing up. When hearing Fractured Note's voice, she heard someone familiar in there. "That face..." Even the face looked familiar. Something was clicking for Vivace as she felt like she's seen that pony before.
"Where's Merry Dread? She should be here dealing with these nuisances." Opal questioned. "And don't just stand there. Help me take these gnats out."
"Merry Dread's not helping out. At least, not for you. She'll still be on my side though." Fractured Note shook his head.
"What'? Starting your own little team just to branch away from me?" Opal groaned at such a thought. "If I get on your nerves that much..."
"It's not that, Opal. I'm not helping out in the Black Crusade at all is what I mean." Fractured Note corrected her, revealing something that no member of the Dread League wished to hear. For the second time in a row, there has been a betrayal.
"What did you just say?" A haunting voice came from Opal.
"What did he just say?" Rarity repeated, having a different reaction to Fractured Note's response.
"As your older brother, no...as your father. I order you to stop this at once."
"...Huh?!" Naturally, Opal Vivacity was greatly confused by this. She went from being agitated, aggravated to downright confused.
"Uh...Wha?" Aria blurted as her eyes spun around for a moment. She took in that selection of words as something was not lining up here. Fractured Note went from being OPal's Older Brother to being his Father. Adagio paused, making a poker face as she wasn't sure how to process this. Sonata was already jumping to plenty of conclusions as her jaw was wide open.
"You did not just say that. Have you gone crazy? Did one of those Pokemon do something to you to make you say such stupid things back to back?" Opal questioned.
"Nothing's happened to me. I figured now was the best time to reveal it. I am your father. Honestly. But you're seeing me as someone else who does indeed exist."
"It can't be! Greyvine, darling! Is that you?!" By putting it all together, Vivace called out the name of her first-ever husband. King Greyvine. She saw a bit of him in Fractured Note. The Mane Pattern and the voice backed it all up for her.
"Vivace?" It took Vivace's shout to grab his attention. He would also hear that familiar voice that has escaped his ears for so long.
"Greyvine? Wait, you mean-!" Adagio was flabbergasted as her brain still didn't have time to process what was said earlier. Now her mother drops something just as baffling. The name Greyvine was brought up when they were at Kalos as they learned about Vivace's previous husband before she met the Father of the Dazzlings.
"Sorry for the confusion." Fractured Note sighed. "For you see...Fractured Note is real. Very much real. His the fourth sibling in the family that was born after Dimstar, Merry Dread and you. But he is only known as the oldest because of my interference. The truth is, I am the reincarnation of the first Lich King. King Greyvine. And for my reincarnation, I became one with the final child in this family. This makes me the youngest and oldest at the same time."
"No way...!" Aria finally managed to understand it and it blew her mind. Sonata's conclusions were debunked as she couldn't even spout them out since this reveal was absolutely wild to her.
"You can't be serious. You're my father?!" Opal even found this hard to believe. "You?!" Of all ponies?!"
"I regret having to steal the life of my final child. I didn't even mean to reincarnate as him at all. I was planning on going for something else entirely. But this was what the reincarnation chose for me. It's a rather finicky force, you see."
"I had a final child?" Vivace even found this to be strange. Did she ever recall having one more child here at Magehold before she returned to the sea to have the Dazzlings?
"The birth of Fractured Not went under your radar, Vivace, dear." Fractured Note AKA Greyvine said. "He was born outside of Magehold while you were out at sea. It was also done while you were asleep and it was more magical than natural, honestly. I'm sorry I didn't stop to chat with you. I was carried away by the sea, back to Magehold after all. Then again, I couldn't have as a baby."
"I need a moment to think..." Adagio turned around, trying to comprehend what her ears just heard. Her Family Tree got wild all of a sudden. It was already strange thanks to the existence of Dimstar, Opal Vivacitiy and Merry Dread. But Fractured Note, also known as Greyvine, threw a massive wrench in it.
"Besides that, I've still kept my main goal in mind even in this reincarnated body. I was too late to stop the Black Crusade from ever being a concept but it's never too late to stop it for good. I've waited this long so I can't let it go to waste here."
"So you're a traitor too. I could honestly care less if you're my brother or father or whatever. You made a poor choice turning against us, even if you meant it from the very beginning." Opal sneered. "I refuse to lose to you as well! I already have these annoyances to deal with!"
"Well, if you can actually beat us." Aria taunted. "But you're not getting anywhere with that, eh?"
"You think not...?" Opal grinned, having something up her sleeve. Always. "If I can't beat you out in strength or even speed...I'll blow you all sky high and everything around it!" Opal was going for one massive attack that was incredibly risky. Self-destruction. Not uncommon for the vampires but what Opal was about to do would surpass all of it.
And it would be done from the Mega Evolution Construct. A pulse came through, already giving a sign to them all of what was about to come from this. The most dastardly combustion was about to occur, all for the sake of Opal making sure she would be on top, no matter the cost.
Opal Vivacity was about to combust. But it was unlike all the others. This combustion would be greater than all the ones that have come before as Opal Vivacity was fully dedicated to ending the life of her opponents who have gotten under her skin. With no regard to how her fellow vampires, Opal was going all-in without fearing what would happen to her.
"I don't have to fear what will happen to me at all!" But there was a reason for that. "I'll just come back via one of the tubes! There's a spare one somewhere just for me, so I'm sitting pretty at all times!"
"Are you crazy?! You'll take out your own?!" Adagio shouted, in utter disbelief that Opal Vivacity would go this far just to guarantee victory for herself.
"So?!" Opal did not care at all. It was only herself that she cared about, seeing herself as the most important pony possible. "That'll just bring more souls to the table! Plus, I'll take out some potential traitors along the way, so that's a positive, don't you think?!"
With her making the most horrendous face possible, the Mega Evolution COnstruct was pulsating rapidly, essentially becoming a countdown. This combustion was not instant, unlike the rest. instead, it was building up, but what it was building up to was absolutely terrifying.
"This is exactly why I left Magehold...She's beyond unhinged!" A stunned Vivace shuddered. "She won't hesitate for a moment to destroy everything around her! I don't even know how massive this explosion will be!"
"S-Should we run?!" Sonata stuttered, feeling the sea that her Vaporeon generated tremble. The Mega Evolution Construct was even brightening as another signal of it counting down. Opal Vivacity was about to unleash every ounce of Infinity Energy into one massive blast while also adding her natural combustion into it. They could already tell that this explosion could be highly catastrophic since Opal disregarded her fellow vampires.
"No way! As if we're running from someone like her!" Adagio refused to flee, however. She was very fearless in the face of such a powerful force that was about to be unleashed soon.
"Now's not the time to act brave! She's going to blow!" Aria thought differently, wanting to be far away from the explosion as possible.
"Opal will be fine thanks to that hidden tube in her mansion home. And she probably has something else up her sleeve. The best thing we can do is stop her here and now."
"Now?!" Aria shouted.
"She's right. Opal's done too much harm to so many others. If she succeeds here, she'll only cause further harm with no end in sight." Rarity replied before stopping her sentence, noticing a sudden change in the Mega Evolution Construct. "Is it getting bigger?!"
Indeed, the construct was growing in size. With each pulse that it let out, the construct expanded, getting bigger and bigger as it was taking up plenty of space. Opal was pouring all of the Infinity Energy she could into this construct, using the full power of the stones she was utilizing. She held out the stones to give the construct more power, attempting to go beyond its limits.
Naturally, with such a size increase, it didn't take long until others nearby noticed this. The giant construct of Opal Vivacity's Mega Evolution could be seen by others who were busy confronting the Despair Plants and other vampires within the Magehold Chamber.
"Quick Vaporeon! Hydro Pump!" Sonata tried stopping this before it could really get out of hand, hoping to interrupt the explosion before it can ever go off.
"Vaporeon!" Straight for her mouth, a powerful wave of water with the highest possible volume had been unleashed. But this time, Hydro Pump would be stopped. The sheer energy that the Construct was giving off disrupted the Hydro Pump, distorting it and warping the space around it. Afterwards, the attack was destroyed, failing to get through.
"Did it just distort space?!" Sonata gasped after Vaporeon's attack was distorted out of nowhere.
"Plenty of Pokemon Power does that!" Rarity shuddered. "At its peak, Pokemon Phenomenons can warp space and reality around it! She's using so much Infinity Energy that she's created an Aura of it!" It didn't just distort Hydro Pump but also the water that Vaporeon created minutes ago. The water was beginning to fizzle out with this distortion, leaving a massive hole that size of the construct that revealed fresh air once more.
"I've said it before to Rarity and I'll say it again to all of you this! My whole life, I've kicked others down to get where I am! No matter how much they resist or how mad they drive me, I'll always succeed, no matter how long it takes or how much effort goes into it!" Opal rambled as her pupils were sharpening along with her fangs. She even started reminiscing about the past, going over everything she's done so far to get to this point.
Ever since she was a filly, Opal had that vicious side to her. Vivace confirmed it. It was why she left Magehold in the first place due to Opal's unhinged nature. At such a young age, she committed horrific acts and already pursued true beauty and power.
I knew I was destined for greatness from the very start. I had to hit the ground running and become the best, so that my reign as the next LIch Ruler would be stupendous. After all, I am part Lich so it is practically my right to be on that throne. And I had to do a lot to make sure it was secure, especially when future Lich Kings and Queens came into the scene.
Of course, Opal already mentioned this when talking to Rarity but she hammered it in more. Obviously, OPal was around when the other Lich Rulers came into power but she had something to do with it at such a young age. As time went on, the older she got, the more cruel she became. There was never an innocent look on that face even as a child. It always carried a foreboding and vile look on it.
It was so vile that it affected those around her. The Young Opal Vivacity went to school with her intimidating presence, scaring other children who did not carry such a violent disposition as she did. Little vampires stayed away from her and Opal did not hesitate to take advantage of her presence.
She even gathered up her own posse who would follow her but it was out of her sheer intimidation. There was some admiration considering how evil she felt to them, making her a prodigy at such a young age. A prodigy that would rise to do great things in the eyes of the vampires who only sought violence.
Her group increased, gaining more vampires who would support Opal Vivacity while the Dread League was growing in size ever since Vivace first came up with the idea and founded it. And with that increase, so did Opal's wicked nature as she would stand in front of everyone behind her, racing to the top in her own wicked ways.
And just as she said, it was by kicking others down. It started with the entertainment that was once rich in Magehold but was soon torn down by Opal Vivacity out of jealousy and vanity. So many hopes and dreams were crushed by her as she weeded out the competition, making sure no one would achieve stardom and beauty beyond her.
This even involved magic as other prodigies were looked down upon by her. And those prodigies were even vampires who did not wish to spread destruction or join the Dread League. As a result, Opal Vivacity stepped on their dreams as well, already using the Parasite Demon at such a young age.
She was rather fond of that demon, sticking it onto other prodigies who she feared would overtake her. But she did not yet know that she could borrow power from the Parasite Demon when using it. At best, she only robbed them of their special magic, leaving only mediocre, good and great magic behind, while hers was above them all, being better than great.
"All those previous Lich Rulers started to regret everything late into their reign. They saw the Black Crusade as something that was utterly pointless with no meaning behind it. They never embraced the reign to its fullest, which made me crave the throne even more! So, I personally got rid of them when they started having second thoughts.
It was Opal Vivacity who eliminated the previous LIch Kings and Queens. During her Teenage Years, she recalled how she took out the second Lich Ruler, using her Curse magic to disrupt the senses. While not on the level of what happened with Rarity, it was still so vile that the Lich Ruler could not function at all. Opal was greatly responsible for their reigns coming to an end, watching over them as she was also one of the earliest members of the Dread League. How could she not be with such an evil disposition?
I waited and waited to see who would be worthy as the next ruler but so many of them were pathetic, showing promise at the start and falling right afterwards.
Opal remembered the faces of every Lich Ruler before Rosa Maledicta showed up and of course, they were all Equestrians, who started to think about what they were doing.
It's that Equestrian Spirit. Something about that spirit makes them get all sappy. Disgusting. Either commit or get lost. And that's what I did. I took care of all the previous ones by sealing them within Magehold, making sure their magic remained so that they could be of some use. Lo and behold, that day finally came in the form of our current Lich Queen. Rosa Maledicta. Far better than all the others. I'll follow her only and when her time is up, I'll take over at last. If something goes wrong. She's the only one I won't betray just because of the work she's done.
"Did you just say...you sealed them in Magehold?" That's when something hit Fractured Note's mind. His ears did not deceive him as one of Opal's sentences caught his attention. "The Lich Cycle involves the magic of the previous Lich Kings and Queens which pass on after one finishes their reign. The most recent is Rosa Maledicta..."
"That's right. I did it all in secret so none would be the wiser. I took out the previous Lich Rulers without anyone else knowing aside from my pathetic sister, who wouldn't dare try and speak about it. But I couldn't let such power go to waste. I know just how powerful a Lich can be. I mean, I'm part Lich after all. It was almost difficult making it work for the upcoming centuries, but I pulled it off as to be expected."
"You've always been this power-hungry?!" Adagio exclaimed, shocked that Opal's obsession went this far back. To pursue power for so many centuries was wild and maddening but not to Opal.
Always! No one else could interact with the Lich Magic but me. Just like how I'm the one who got Magehold on the right track in the first place. Magehold should embrace its destructive side, coming up with the Black Crusade in the first place which was absolutely perfect. Not whatever you were thinking of in the beginning, Father."
"You...You created the Lich Cycle! You're the Great Evil the Seer spoke of!" Fractured Note was absolutely gobsmacked. He finally knew about the
"Bingo!" She was honest about it too, not dismissing Fractured Note's words. "I was the very first member of the Dread League! I came up with the Black Crusade and I started that Cycle to make sure evil truly reigns within Magehold! Don't be too surprised, Mother. Father. I'm a product of both of you. A Lich, a Siren and a Vampire. Together and you have a truly perfect being such as myself!"
The source of all this trouble was not the Lich Queen, but rather Opal Vivacity. The Lich Cycle and the Black Crusade were all her idea that she merely passed on to other Lich Rulers, waiting for the right one. Rosa Maledicta was the perfect fit for her as Opal Vivacity felt like the true mastermind despite not being in charge.
"Isn't there a way to stop her?!"
"I don't know!" Fractured Note shook his head, unable to find a way out of this one. "I can't think of anything that can stop this explosion! Nothing can stop a vampire when they combust!"
Opal's Mega Construct grew with seemingly no one being present to stop it at all. Eventually, with its size growing, surpassing the water that held it down, it would burst through the ceiling of the chamber, eventually reaching the outside. The construct grew to such an enormous size that it could barely escape anyone, surpassing the chamber in size.
Ash gasped after noticing the massive construct burst out of the chamber as this grabbed the attention of many others, especially Fantina. The pulse not only grew stronger but it could be heard by many others, giving them a warning sign. Rosa Maledicta took notice of this, seeing Opal's Mega Evolution Construct going off in the distance. She already knew what Opal Vivacity was about to attempt. Opal even saw Olympia among the crowd, shocked that she was still alive. But to her, it didn't matter as the explosion would make sure Olympia was gone for good.
The force of the growing construct shook everything around it, breaking apart the rocks and damaging more of the already scarred land. Even the Shadow Beings took notice as this was something that threatened them as well. Opal did not care who would be taken out, as long as she succeeds. But she also had full belief that the Lich Queen would make it out of this. The Dazzlings and Rarity didn't have many options for this. They weren't even sure what to do with this as time was running short.
"Behold everyone!" Opal Vivacity would speak to everyone. "You'll all be blown away and it'll be clear that the Black Crusade will be utterly victorious! Just as I always expected it to be from the very beginning centuries ago!"
"There is nothing you can do about this! After this, I'll continue doing what I do best! I'll crush all others who stand in my way, lie, cheat and make sure I'm always on top!"
"Even if we can't do anything, we at least have to try!" Rarity wouldn't give up so easily. She would try and find a way. "It may distort our attacks but can it do it consistently? Ampharos! Zap Cannon! Milotic, Hydro Pump! Leavanny! Energy Ball!"
Rarity's Pokemon would still try and retaliate despite the rather terrifying force in front of them. A blast of water, plenty of electricity and three spheres of nature were unleashed, racing towards Opal and her construct. The space around it would try and distort the attack but Rarity was banking on multiple attacks being enough to push through.
Sure enough, her theory had some weight to it. As soon as all those attacks reached the construct, the space was already trying to distort them holding them back. The attacks were doing everything they could to push through, slowly fizzling out.
"You as well, Kricketune! Hyper Beam!" And soon, the Dazzlings would chime in, assisting Rarity.
"Vaporeon, Hydro Pump again!"
"Brionne, use Moonblast! Croagunk, use Shadow Ball!" Once their Pokemon went on the offensive, they would support Rarity's Pokemon, keeping their attacks around by pushing back against the distorted space. Hyper Beam hit the hardest, sending a ripple through the air.
All these attacks were fiercely pushing against the Mega Evolution Construct's energy shield while it was still building up power. Unfortunately, it seemed like they wouldn't be enough to stop the explosion. The Pokemon were fighting for their lives, pushing themselves to try and overcome this struggle. They knew what would happen if they didn't. The entire chamber walls had been obliterated exposing more of the outside while also breaking apart the floor itself.
"Pitiful." Opal Vivacity sneered at this attempt before feeling another attack hitting the space of her construct. This time, this one came from behind, forcing her construct to bring up more defences. "What?!"
"Mismagius!" It was done by a Mismagius. But not just any Mismagius. Fantina's Mismagius. Fantina had stepped out of the Contest Hall, confronting Opal Vivacity once more. She wished to protect everyone and something like this threatened the lives of so many innocents.
"Fantina?! You again?!" Opal groaned out of anger, displeased to see Fantina at this moment. She didn't have just her Mismagius attack her construct. Her Gengar, Drifblim, Dusknoir and Jellicent had joined in. More attacks were pouring in, trying to stop Opal's wild action.
It didn't stop at Fantina. The one who reunited with Fantina appeared, chiming in with electrifying attacks. It was Volkner of course, having his Luxray and Rotom push against the space. Electivire did the same from far away, gaining some distance and targeting the head of Opal Vivacity's Mega Evolution Construct.
All around, many were fighting back against Opal. With these attacks crashing into her space, she was starting to lose the struggle. The space her construct made was starting to fail, slowly shattering and breaking apart. No one had to say anything to Opal Vivacity at all. Their actions were enough as they all had one common goal. Opal's eyes were flashing violently as even she was starting to strain. She was already thinking of using her Fate-Changing Mane to turn the tides. But all of a sudden, another batch of attacks would throw her off, disrupting the space around her which was enough to make her tremble.
As if anyone here wanted to be obliterated. Standing up to Opal Vivacity after many centuries of fear were all the citizens who had their entertainment robbed from them. They had sent out their Pokemon, having them attack the Construct together as more than a couple of attacks were interrupting her.
"You traitors!" Opal was fed up with how many vampires were turning tail and deciding to revolt. Specifically, they were revolting against her more than anyone else. "I can't lose...Not like this!"
"Pheromosa! High Jump Kick!" In unison, Rarity and Adagio would shout, deciding to strike while the iron was hot. And it was at its highest temperature with all of these attacks pushing against the distorted space so now was the best time to add the heaviest attacks possible.
In unison, both Pheromosas would take off, moving at blinding speeds and leaping into the air. In perfect sync, they flipped through the air, crashing their powerful legs into the Construct's Shield. And upon hitting it, the erratic space received its hardest hit yet, making it ripple. One part of the space had been shattered thanks to these two unifying their strengths.
Opal gasped as one massive part of her shield had been shattered, resulting in the Ultra Beast Duo being the first to reach her. And when they reached her they delivered a shattering kick to the face of her Mega Evolution Construct, striking the side of its jaw. The impact of this strike was enough to rattle even Opal Vivacity as the head of this construct was starting to turn while pulsating.
The energy it was emitting was still powerful, trying to fight back against the two Pheromosas. Joining in on this powerful kick was Sonata's Lopunny, having powerful kicks of her own. She specifically went for the hooves, trying to break them apart but she would have to get through the shield first. And with the force of her kick, it looked like she was about to push through as well.
"This isn't happening! I've reached so many heights that none of you should even reach with me! How are you all doing this?!" Opal hissed, snarled, roared and made other horrific sounds, baring her vicious fangs. "My power should be as great as my beauty!
"Someone like you was bound to fail eventually!" Rarity shouted as her mane was blowing fiercely during this struggle. "You're not beautiful at all! You're the embodiment of ugly!"
"Kh!" Being labelled as anything but beautiful was shocking to Opal Vivacity. Rarity was the one to really tell her that. That was the final straw for Opal Vivacity who looked like she was about to crumble from this. Her wobbly frown kept trying to form a crooked smile but failed to do so. In a last-ditch attempt, Opal Vivacity went for her Fate-Changing Mane, which is what everyone failed.
Alas, no one had any method of stopping it. There wasn't a single attack that could stop this and any attack that could maybe do something was still trying to push through the Construct. The two Pheromosas couldn't even do it. They hadn't yet pushed through the construct to reach Opal Vivacity at her closest.
"Too bad! Fate is always on my side!"
"Baaaaay!" But she wasn't the only one. Appearing from above was the one she originally stole from months ago. The true wilder of the Fate Changing Ability. From above, the entire top part of her leaf would come off, touching the face of the Mega Evolution Construct.
Opal went silent for a moment, recognizing that leaf from anywhere. She slowly looked up right as her mane was about to drop on her hoof, someone had already altered fate and that was Fluttershy's Bayleef. Speaking of Fluttershy, she was the one who threw Bayleef from above, counting on her partner. And she was right to do it.
Opal Vivacity's mane never reached her mane as a beautiful white flash went off, instantly enveloping the entire construct and everyone that put their all into attacking it. Fate favoured the innocents and brought out the worst outcome for Opal Vivacity.
The explosion never happened. It never went off. It never built up. The only thing that remained was the size increase of the construct. But that was enough for everyone to see what was about to happen next. Once Opal realized Fate had been changed and her mane went right back in, she could utter no words but look in shock and horror at what was coming her way.
A staggering kick that was enough to shatter steel crashed into her face thanks to the two Pheromosas. Her pupils went white after taking the hit which was harder than anything she's ever felt. Her beautiful face had been tarnished by these two beautiful Pokemon as her Mega Evolution Construct shattered.
Like glass, it would break apart as the two stones fell out of her mane, ending the high flux of Infinity Energy that they generated. And with everyone nearby watching this transpire, they saw how Opal Vivacity had been knocked down. This time, Fate was not on her side and she did not have the power to change it.
The Half Vampire, Half Lich and Half Siren would not crash into the ground but instead, the attacks everyone unleashed would be the ones to strike her before that could ever happen. So many elements reached her and some were far more effective thanks to her weakness to light. But they all played their part in delivering maximum damage to her.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Her last words were a vicious scream as her entire body unleashed a new batch of Infinity Energy once all the attacks managed to hit her. Her scream was heard by all near and far, having a horrifying tone behind it, even drowning out the attacks that struck her.
At long last, after so many have been terrorized and suffered from her, Opal Vivacity had been defeated. And it took the combined might of Humans, Pokemon Equestrians and Magehold Citizens to make it happen. Fitting as they were the ones she has terrorized. She laid in a massive crater, having a large bruise on her face and a ruined mane that was fizzling with Rift Energy. But the best part of it all was how her mane had been destroyed. All those attacks flying in were enough to destroy her mane as she had no way to defend it. Not this time. And never again will she defend it. Never again.
That chance wouldn't come as all the remainder of Infinity Energy would start tearing her up all of a sudden. Her body was beginning to fizzle out as well thanks to all the abilities she had stolen. So many Pokemon attacks hitting her meant that her abilities went haywire, unsure of what to do since there were so many of them. A majority of those attacks came from Magehold's citizens.
Before she could scream again, Opal Vivacity's voice went silent, unable to say anything. The final thing she saw as the excess of energy took her away were the faces of Rarity, Fantina and everyone else that came together to stop her. And right behind Fluttershy were her two blood sisters. Dimstar and Merry Dread, who aligned themselves with Equestria. It was faint but she could see them. In her final moments, Opal Vivacity realized she lost them and it greatly upset her. But there was nothing she could do about it as that was the end of that. Opal's body vanished in a flash of Infinity Energy that would disperse into the air before fading away.
All that was left was Olympia's Cape.
"Hah...Finally!" Rarity panted, absolutely bewildered and exhausted by it all. She sat down, glad that Opal's terror was finally over. "It's done with...That was way harder than it should've been..."
"All that power she took turned against her. She didn't know what to do against so many moves." Fractured Note said, already knowing what happened to Opal Vivacity.
"S-She's gone...?" Eccentrick said, in disbelief that Opal Vivacity was gone. It almost seemed unreal. This meant one thing. The terror she brought to them was no more now that the main driving force behind it had been wiped out.
And once it processed for the citizens, they would unleash their happiest cheers ever, even surpassing what they did back at the Contest Hall. This was a heavenly feeling. It was something that filled all of their hearts. A quick and heartfelt celebration was made. Rarity sat there hearing the cheers of everyone, putting on a smile. But right now, she simply wished to fall asleep after everything that's transpired. She saw her Pokemon run up to her, bringing solace to her heart. "I should feel upset that one of our daughters is gone. Just like that." Fractured Note said. "Maybe it was for the best that Opal was gone. After I learned she's responsible for that Great Evil."
"It is what it is, dear." Vivace went up to him. "For the sake of everyone else we love now, it was for the best." They put a pin in this and decided to end it. It was the most bizarre family reunion ever, completely overwhelming for them. Especially Dimstar and Merry Dread who witnessed the final moments of Opal Vivacity.
Everyone just wanted to take in, hugging each other and so on as their future was looking bright now that the darkest part of it had been defeated at last. For a moment, Magehold knew what peace was. The one who disrupted that peace for so long as gone. But of course,o this peace was not permanent and they have yet to really bring the rest of it.
"Hm. So Opal lost." Rosa Maledicta spoke, throwing her two cents into it. "Oh well. I suppose I'm staying as the current Lich Ruler forever. I was expecting her to betray me one day anyway."
Despite Opal Vivacity being defeated, Rosa Maledicta still kept her sights on the Black Crusade. She lost possibly her most powerful member of the Dread League, who no one else could compare. But there was one other ally she had. The Pony of Shadows, who was currently dealing with Twilight's group.
"Tch. But she was a valuable player in all of this. I will have to keep relying on the Pony of Shadows now." She would then scoff before seeing the Box of 100 Demons coming to her. Melody Moon and Bittersweet were the ones to bring it over since they retrieved it in the first place. She would then face the intruders from outside, speaking to them with a rather annoyed tone that was followed by a devious smile.
Opal Vivacity had been defeated, dispersing as particles of Infinity Energy and vanishing afterwards. Now all that was left was the Lich Queen herself. Rosa Maledicta. Despite Opal being the source of Magehold's rising evil, Rosa Maledicta was still set on making the Black Crusade a reality.
In her hooves, she was given the Box of 100 Demons that was retrieved by Melody Moon and Bittersweet. While the demons were all infected with Magehold Diseases, Rosa Maledicta still saw some use for them as she would not let any form of power go to waste.
"I-Is it true? Did Opal just lose?" Melody Moon questioned, still shocked that news of Opal Vivacity losing travelled that fast. It seemed almost impossible thanks to what Opal had accomplished.
"She did. But there is no time to dwell on it. Not when our enemies have their confidence boosted." Rosa Maledicta wished to move past that as soon as possible, focusing solely on her victory. "I'll be using the power of the demons to fuel what we've lost."
She would then generate a dark field in front of her before dropping the Box of 100 Demons into it. And once it was dropped, the darkness would elevate, channelling power from the Box. And of course, the demons within. Rosa Maledicta smiled as this Dark Magic would seep through Magehold, adding more magic to it that was recently wasted after the battle in the air.
"With the Demons, we can restore what has been taken. I used plenty of magic when I was moving the entirety of Magehold. The crash set me back a bit but this will make up for it easily."
"Will we be moving Magehold again?" BIttersweet asked.
"Precisely. This time, it will be the demons who will carry us there with their power. No matter what, they won't stop my goals and there will always be options to succeed. But I'd rather end this as soon as possible. Yveltal's Oblivion Wing will land. And if it doesn't...the time to end its life will come. I just have to make sure its at the right moment." The Lich Queen would then look outside, seeing the raging battle that continued even after Opal's defeat.
"What about everyone else? We have a lot of traitors now." Melody Moon threw her own question into it. "What do we do now since they're all fighting against the Black Crusade?"
"The traitors...They most held a grudge towards Opal Vivacity but now it seems that they've gotten the spirit to turn against me. And who would've thought that Fractured Note would be a part of them. My most trusted servant is against me. In fact, he's been against me this entire time." The thought of it made Rosa Maledicta sneer. "I'll say this. He was very crafty. Our Dread League numbers surpass theirs but we must not be too safe. We'll deal with those traitors who want to revolt against us. They'll face punishment firmly."
"Hah...Hah..." Outside, Celestial-Gardevoir was still doing everything in her power to keep Yveltal from using Oblivion Wing. She has been constantly countering the attack over and over again, successfully keeping it from reaching anyone else, even herself. "I can't keep this up forever. It's terrifying how he's only going for Oblivion Wing and nothing else. He's fully compelled to use it."
On top of that, her time as Celestial-Gardevoir could end eventually and that would only make things harder. Before she could think of another method, she saw how darkness was seeping out of Magehold suddenly, interacting with the entire nation. Similar to what Rosa Maledicta did when moving the nation, the magic from the Box of 100 Demons was about to do the same thing.
Once again, Magehold was about to move as the massive landmass was removing itself from Exploud Canyony's location. Everyone would feel the nation moving all of a sudden, preparing to enter a new location. Celestial-Gardevoir grit her teeth while seeing Yveltal charge another Oblivion Wing. That was yet another attempt at stopping it or at least diverting it.
Meanwhile, with Rarity's group, they were still in the room where Opal Vivacity had been defeated. Fluttershy's Bayleef was to thank for gearing fate in their favour as she was now missing a large chunk of her top leaf because of that. But it was worth it in the end. She could still hear and see the many vampires celebrating Opal Vivacity's defeat.
"So...you two are helping us now?" An exhausted Rarity said, looking over at Merry Dread and Dimstar. "Today is full of surprises."
"The best part is that we're all technically family!" Sonata, who was happy to know that her family was bigger, pulled in Merry Dread and Dimstar. "How great is that?!"
"Ugh..." Merry Dread grimaced while Dimstar had a neutral, unchanging expression, unaffected by this. "Just half-sisters, okay? We never even knew the other family side existed."
"We came here as soon as we could. It was pretty hard to miss what was going on here." Pinkie Pie added.
"That's nice and all, but I'm more focused on you." Dimstar would slip out of Sonata's hold, focusing on Fractured Note. He was the most important pony here in his eyes. She was afraid she'd never get the answer to what her father meant on that fateful day. But lo and behold, her Father was here but not in his usual form and he went by another name. Either way, Dimstar wasn't about to waste this opportunity. "Father. Is that really you? Is it true?"
"As true as it can be. I don't exactly look like how you last saw me, but I am the former Lich King Grevyine. And your father." Fractured Note confirmed it himself.
"Then, I have a lot of questions for you! Well, it's actually just one." Dimstar scrunched her face. "When you sealed me in that cube, what did you mean by your last batch of words? I believe I might've come across that meaning when I confronted the residents of Ponyville."
"Oh, right. Well, judging by how you're helping them out, what I said came to fruition." Fractured Note smiled. "But what I meant by that was that despite the fact that you're a Lich, Vampire and a Siren, the evil within you could be brought out by that Great Evil. The biggest example of that was Opal but it looks like she was the cause of it from the beginning."
"You feared I would've become like Opal Vivacity," Dimstar replied. "That's why you sealed me in that cube?"
"Mhm. I didn't want that evil affecting you so I had to keep you in there for safety. Since you're older than the rest of your siblings, I couldn't have sealed Merry Dread away either with the cube because she wasn't born yet. My time was up anyway. I put all my hope on you to bring Magehold's brightest future and that would be started by making friends of your own. Looks like you've done it."
"Um, these aren't my friends though." Dimstar shook her head, denying that she had friends at all. "I've never had friends and these Equestrians aren't them at all."
"We're not? Come on!" Pinkie Pie put her hoof around Dimstar's neck, giggling excitedly. "You're the one who helped us get here in the first place and you understood us too!"
"That doesn't make us friends though." Dimstar denied, using her invisible tendrils to move Pinkie Pie away, placing her next to Rainbow Dash. "And I'm sorry, Father. I couldn't be that pony at all. I'm not the one who is capable of bringing a brighter future to Magehold. Not by a long shot."
"Yeah, I figured..." Fractured Note sighed. "But that doesn't matter now. I'm glad you're doing well even after all these years. I do want to apologize for keeping you there. Besides, I think Magehold will have a brighter future thanks to the efforts of everyone. Not just one pony. I should've put my faith in the entire nation than just you."
"It's not over yet though," Cadence said. "Not until we stop the Lich Queen and free Yveltal from that mind control. Only then can your brighter future come."
"She's totally right. We can't sit around anymore. Let's get out there and take down that Lich Queen!" A pumped-up Rainbow Dash expressed before noticing one familiar face missing. Two of them, actually. Fantina and Volkner. Volkner she could understand but Fantina worried her since her memories were still locked away. "By the way...where did Fantina go?"
"She went to see Ebony Rhyme. A friend of hers." Eccentrick answered. "That Volkner Human went along with him and-" Before she could finish her sentence, eventually, Magehold's movements were felt by her and everyone else. Once again, they were in for a rough ride.
"Is it gonna move again?!" Applejack gasped.
"How did she gather that much magic to move Magehold a second time?!" Fractured Note gasped. "Even though she wasn't born a Lich, she's incredibly impressive!"
"I'm flattered by your words, Fractured." Just then, Rosa Maledicta spoke to Fractured Note and everyone else via her oversight of the entirety of Magehold. "But this isn't my doing. Well, it partially is. I'm disappointed that you were gearing up to betray me this entire time. You were biding your time with all of the previous Lich Rulers, wanting to see the Dread League and Black Crusade shut down."
"But how are you still going through with this horrible plan?" Fractured Note questioned. "Opal has been beaten so the Lich CYcle should come to an end."
"There's a reason she kept me around longer than the rest. I'm the best Lich Ruler there's ever been. The Magic of Magehold has embraced me more than the others. Even with Opal gone, I will finish what she started and become victorious!"
With that bellowing shout, Magehold was thrust out of the ground, taking flight once more. The force it made when entering the air threw many off balance and even made those who were airborne bump their heads. Once again, Magehold was moving, leaving Exploud Canyon at great speeds.
"On top of that, the Demons within the box will be forced to use their powers from the outside to crush you all. And I think I'll start with the town that's been giving me so much trouble. The pain in my side. Ponyville." Rosa's destination had changed. Previously, it was Canterlot she wanted to go after.
Now, Ponyville was her main target. Her old home. Due to the fact that the majority of the intruders who have been slowing down her plans and getting in her way are from Ponyville, her urge to destroy it had been greatly elevated after Opal's defeat.
All the while, the 97 Demons within the box were suffering, having their power used as a way to keep Magehold moving. Without their creator Chrysalis here, they were helpless while having Magehold Curses within their bodies, only adding to that suffering.
But it wasn't just the Demons that Rosa Maledicta would use. The Pony of Shadows was her other best option now that Opal Vivacity was gone. The Shadow Army would hear Rosa Maledicta's voice, listening to her the same way they listen to the Pony of Shadows. The Lich Quen didn't stop there. She went even further to ensure her victory. The Dark Magic field she made would then unleash these black tendrils that flew out of Magehold and went straight for the land of Equestria below. They would stab into the earth while being dragged along by the flying nation.
As Magehold was flying through the air, the morose feeling that the Lich Queen could generate returned. She was once again using the spirits to her advantage, sending a horrible presence throughout the atmosphere. The tendrils would seek out those that have long since passed, grabbing ahold of their spirits. Her opponents would all feel this morose feeling as the spirits were once again disturbed. But this time, it wasn't just the ones in Magehold but also across the lands of Equestria. Those that have passed on were being used as weapons.
"Not this again..." Applejack groaned, struggling to stand up.
"Rio...Riolu!" Delta Riolu was upset that he had to feel this once again. The Embalming Pokemon hoped that he would never have to feel this again, but alas, he couldn't escape it. No matter what, the Dread League tampered with the afterlife and Rosa Maledicta was about to use every single spirit to her advantage.
"As for you, Celestia..." Rosa's attention then went towards Celestial-Gardevoir, who was already showing signs of giving out. The moment Oblivion Wing was fired, Celestial-Gardevoir used yet another beam to clash with it, blocking the attack from landing. "Even you have your limits."
"Ngh!" Celestial-Gardervoir groaned as her arms were trembling when trying to stop Oblivion Wing. This constant back and forth has been weakening her, but now the Dark Magic was starting to add to that. Celestial-Gardevoir soon felt that morose feeling which was breaking her concentration, slowly making Oblivion Wing push through.
"You'll be next in line to perish, Princess Celestia!" Rosa Maledicta raised her hoof, declaring that the Celestia and her partner Gardevoir would meet their end at last. And judging by how Oblivion Wing was starting to win the clash, it looked like that was about to become a reality.
Celestial-Gardevoir had one option to survive. She could move out of the way and avoid the Oblivion Wing but that would mean everyone down there would be greatly harmed. She couldn't let that happen. She'd rather give herself up then have everyone else perish. The unified drive of Celestia and Gardevoir were burning brightly but they couldnt' do anything about this horrific feeling and there was no one high up in the air to help them with this clash as Rosa Maledicta smiled, believing in her victory.
Or so it seemed.
From above, blending in with the shadows and moving through the dark clouds was another Pokemon. A Pokemon who was already the master of the shadows. Rosa Maledicta felt this presence appearing from above, quickly arising her head. It was none other than the Pitch Black Pokemon Darkrai.
"Darkrai?!" Rosa Maledicta gasped as Darkrai hadn't shown himself until now. And in his hands, he already had a Dark Void prepared. With all of his might, he would slam the Dark Void down on Yveltal's head before Rosa Maledicta could do anything about it.
And with the darkness enveloping Yveltal's entire body with just one strike, at last, someone managed to subdue the Destruction Pokemon in some way. And it ended up being the Mythical Darkrai. And when seeing Darkrai, Celestial-Gardevoir already knew what that meant.
Luna was here. She was seen high above Darkrai, entering the scene at last. She was a bit late considering that the Sirens made it here before she did but better late than never and she certainly picked the best time to show up. Yveltal's Oblivion Wing abruptly ended which resulted in the Destruction Pokemon falling asleep.
"Luna!" Celestial-Gardevoir yelled while holding onto her hoof which was trembling uncontrollably. The happiness she felt seeing Luna and Darkrai was stupendous. And if she was here, that meant that Reshiram and Zekrom were with her, even though they were just stones at the moment.
With Yveltal falling asleep, the biggest threat had been temporatily taken care of. And when seeing Yveltal drop from above, now was Valerie's time to take advantage of the situation. "Wiggulytuff, DIsable!"
"WIgglytuff!" Wigglytuff leapt into the air, channelling the power in her arm as she couldn't waste this oppurtunity. Shadow Beings were already getting in her way to try and stop her while also racing to catch Yveltal before he could fall to the ground.
"Dragon Claw!"
"Gar...Chomp!" But Cynthia's Garchomp would also get in their way. She would slash past the shadows, knocking them aside and giving Wigglytuff the space to move through. And as for the shadows that tried grabbing Yveltal, they were intercepted once more.
"Druddigon! Flash Cannon!"
"Druddi!" Drayden's Druddigon was the one to intercept the shadows yet again. With a powerful blast of light energy flying out his mouth, he would blast the Shadow Pokemon out of the air. Wigglytuff finally had some free space aside from Yveltal being close to her.
"Wiggly!" And at last, since Oblivion Wing was the only move he's been using the entire time, with Wigglytuff touching Yveltal's head, the energy from her move would finally transfer. Oblivion Wing was targeted, scanned and immediately shut down. There was no clear sign that it was but considering how Disable works, it was very easy for everyone to know that the move had indeed succeeded.
"It worked!" Valerie jumped for joy now that Disable finally landed. Not only was Yveltal asleep but he now lost access to his most powerful attack.
"Tch! Nuisances! All of them" Rosa Maledicta groaned as this battle once again took a sharp turn, changing the tides.
"Now's my chance!" Now that Yveltal was asleep, Celestial-Gardevoir did not hesitate, flying over to the castle at full speed. Her next target was Rosa Maledicta, who currently had Yveltal's Master Ball.
If she destroys the Master Ball, Yveltal will be free. At least, he won't be Rosa Maledicta's Pokemon anymore. Rosa Maledicta glared her eyes at Celestial-Gardevoir, sending a pulse of darkness to try and knock her out of the sky. The Alicorn-Pokemon Fusion would soon retaliate with her own powerful glare that met with Rosa's pulse. The two pulses of Light and Dark would clash, shattering the nearby windows.
Rosa Maledicta was pushed back by this aftershock as Celestial-Gardevoir entered the castle, landing on the surprisingly neat and welcoming floor. The Lich Queen's intruders have now entered her castle, much to her annoyance which was growing by the second. But she wouldn't be alone. Now that Luna had arrived, she would join her sister along with Darkrai, standing beside her.
Next to Rosa Maledicta were Melody Moon and Bittersweet, who were greatly intimidated by Celestial-Gardevoir's appearance. Now that Equestria was making quite the comeback, there was a very good reason to be intimidated by them, perhaps even afraid of them.
"Hand over that Master Ball, Rosa!" Celestial-Gardevoir exclaimed. "You've lost your biggest advantage now and you won't be controlling him anymore!"
"As if it's the Master Ball that's controlling him." Rosa sneered. "Even if you destroy it, Yveltal will still be under my control."
"Then all we have to do is defeat you and that will end," Luna added.
"You can try. You're the only ones who have managed to enter the castle. That only makes sense considering who you two are but this ais far as you go."
"Who said we're the only ones?" Celestial-Gardevoir smiled, referring to someone else who managed to enter. "Sounds like someone went under your radar while you were too focused on the outside.
"What Who in the world-" Rosa had to see this for herself. There was someone she missed thanks to everything happening outside. Someone was already here. And when looking within her castle, it was none other than Ash Ketchum.
Ash and his Pokemon could be seen charging through the castle hallways, confronting plenty of vampires that stood in their way as they were obviously heading for the top. Pikachu, Dragonite, Lucario, Gengar, Dracovish and now recently Sirfetch'd were trucking on through.
"Impossible! How did he slip by? It must've been Sombra who helped him!" Now she had Ash to worry about who was a threat in his own right. But for now, she had to deal with the two alicorns that appeared in her throne room. "Melody! Bittersweet! Deal with Ash Ketchum!"
"Y-Yes your majesty!" Melody Moon stammered as she and Bittersweet would quickly leave the room. Now it was just the three of them.
"Luna. You have Reshiram and Zekrom with you, right?" Celestial-Gardevoir looked over at Luna, asking about the Twin Dragons.
"I do. Zekrom is in a better condition than Reshiram but I'm afraid neither of them help us at all. The only way to summon them is with the drive of Truths and Ideals. Unfortunately, I have no ideals or truths in me to share." Luna confirmed.
"Handling the two of you will be difficult, I'll admit. But I always have some backup! Such as the Pony of Shadows!" Rosa Maledicta was now counting on the Pony of Shadows to assist her. Yveltal was asleep and Opal Vivacity was gone. The backup that she was right to have would be called upon as a vicious maelstrom of shadows were appearing right behind her.
Ponehenge.
Of course, this meant that the battle at Ponehenge would be interrupted. Twilight and her friends were already engaging with the Pony of Shadows, trying to fend him off so that they can escape and find the necessary means to banish him.
"Espeon!" Espeon and Haxorus were fiercely attacking the Pony of Shadows, engaging with the fearsome shadow weapons that he would summon while the Golurk assisted them from all sides. Starlight had also sent her Clobbopus into battle for the first time since Hatterene had been taken by Yveltal's Oblivion Wing.
"Clobbopus!" The little Pokemon latched himself onto one of the shadows, beating on it with slow but heavy hits. Radiant Hope didn't have another Pokemon on her so all she could do was use her magic which was already powerful in its own right. Being a Pseudo Alicorn has its benefits.
"Hm?" Before the Pony of Shadows could make his next move, that was when he heard Rosa Maledicta's voice. By having a Shadow Army, he could listen to the Lich Queen thanks to his many vessels. And at this moment, he was being summoned to assist her. His body was rippling as it was a sign of him being taken away.
"It seems I'm needed elsewhere. But this is far from over. You won't banish me like they did. I swear it." The Pony of Shadows sneered as an incoming Aura Sphere from Togekiss phased through him. He was no longer here as his body had left Ponehenge, returning to Magehold. And now that he was gone, the Shadows he summoned around Ponehenge would leave as well, no longer trapping Twilight and the others.
"He's gone?!" Sunburst gasped. "But why?! I thought he would've stayed behind to keep us from recreating what the Pillars did.
"Probably back to Magehold with the Lich Queen. Something big must be going on back at Magehold," said Starlight.
"Well, this is our chance!" Twilight turned to face them all. "To the Crystal Empire and Canterlot Guards, could you please go back to Magehold and help everyone else out?"
"Sure, we can do that." A guard nodded in confirmation.
"As for us, let's do what Starswirl and the Pillars all did. I have to look through this journal as soon as possible to know what we can do to banish him." Twilight brought the journal of Starswirl to her, needing to read as fast as possible while also processing everything carefully. There was little time on the clock considering what the Black Crusade was all about.
"Where do we go then? Back to Magehold." Spike asked.
"No. To Ponyville."
Above the skies of Equestria. Magehold.
Called to the scene was the Pony of Shadows, who made his aura envelop the Lich Queen all over. The head of the Pony of Shadows would also emerge over the Lich Queen who was embracing the shadows with grace, lifting her head and closing her eyes. She then reopened her eyes which had dimmed a bit.
On top of that, the uncomfortable feeling of the deceased kept permeating across Magehold for all to feel. It would be Rosa's method of keeping them all uncomfortable. Celestia and Luna had to battle under this condition and they could already tell it wouldn't be easy.
"Prepare yourselves, princesses!" Rosa Maledicta would shout, gearing up to end the two alicorns once and for all. Of course, she would keep them around first to take their lifespans and then end their lives.
Meanwhile, over at the chamber, those who were celebrating Opal's defeat had their happiness interrupted. Not just from the moving nation but also the morose and dreadful feeling the Lich Queen summoned. It was far greater than before, rendering some ponies immobile. Now that the citizens of Magehold have chosen their side, they were not safe from the conflict anymore.
Unfortunately, this did not leave the Shadow Army or the Despair Plants immobile. They would take advantage of this scenario, creeping up on Rarity and the others. Many of them were fusions and even though they weren't ridiculously durable like before thanks to the souls that were being removed out of them, they were still very much threatening in many ways.
"Are you kidding me...? How are there still so many of them?!" Rainbow Dash groaned while holding onto her head.
"I never thought she'd have the capability to grow this many Despair Plants." Fractured Note gasped as he was the only one unaffected by this, despite no longer being on the side of the Dread League. Since he still has a bit of Lich in him, he was fine in this morose environment. Either way, the Despair Plans were the most threatening to him.
With the Sun being blocked by the dark clouds above, Bayleef could not rely on her leaf constantly. Daisy and Paradise also had to be careful with the Sunlight so hidden. They, unfortunately, could not sway these Despair Plants at all, unlike the others.
Even though they felt weak, they would stand and try to defend themselves in the face of such adversity. They've already taken down Opal VIvaicty so they couldn't afford to let this scare them at all. Suddenly, the Despair Plants would join together with each of them opening their respective and terrifying mouths. They were closer than ever as they stopped approaching the group all of a sudden.
And from their mouths, the morose feeling was emerging from within. Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief as the Despair Plants were channelling the power of the deceased as well, much like their creator, Rosa Maledicta. Even Fractured Note never expected this.
"Impossible! They're using the spirits as well?!" Fractured Note's jaw dropped as the light blue energy that spirits are usually associated with appeared. And the way they were building it up shook the room around them while their bodies felt cold and haunted by this uncomfortable presence.
"T-That looks like nothing! Get ready to block it, Braviary! Steel Wing!"
"Viary!" Bravaiary would fortify his wings with pure steel, preparing to defend everyone. But even Steel Wing looked a bit lacklustre, lacking that full oomph it usually has.
"Audi! Use Protect!"
"Audino!" Audino would put up a Protect, only adding to that fortification. The beam of Spirits was then unleashed, ready to engulf them all. No one had any idea what this would do to them but they weren't waiting to find out. Audino's Protect was the first to meet with the Spirit Beam.
The moment it crashed into the shield, it was already about to break through as it was far stronger than what Audino was waiting for. The Spirit Beam ended up melting Audino's Shield instead of shattering it. The way it interacted with it was far different than any other attack. And just by being near it, some ponies and Pokemon started to faint.
"Bay...Bayleef..." Bayleef, who was already wounded after using her leaf, fell to the floor, fainting out of pressure from this horrible atmosphere.
"Bayleef?!" Fluttershy gasped as she felt herself about to faint too. The residents of Magehold were passing out too, unable to handle something this horrifying. Audino was the closest and her body was already feeling the pressure. Her arms were going limp and her eyes were starting to close. She tried her best to stay awake but it was no use. Soon, Audino fainted as well.
The shield had melted away as now it was Braviary's turn to try and stop it. He used the power of Steel Wing as a shield but he was also feeling the need to faint. He was making direct contact with this beam of spirits which was about to affect him more than anyone else. And of course, the Steel Wing was weaker than before, making this defence too weak to stop the beam.
Braviary wouldn't give up though and the ones behind him would support him. Fractured Note and Dimstar chimed in, being immune to this horrible feeling. Dimstar was closer to a Lich than her sister Merry Dread, granting her this immunity as she has done this before already. His magic was poured out, assisting Braviary and keeping him in there. "I don't have much of a response to this, unfortunately! I'm not a full-on Lich anymore but I can at least support you by giving you strength!"
"I hope I can benefit you this way!" Dimstat exclaimed, using the same magic to counter the Spirit Beam, sharing power with Braviary.
"Bravi!" Braviary greatly appreciated it. But it looked like it wouldn't be enough. His Steel Wing was starting to melt slowly as the Spirit Beam was about to push through. Many more were fainting, dropping like flies and unable to focus. "V-Viary!"
Rainbow Dash looked like she would be the next to faint as she banged her head on the ground to keep herself awake. Even a former Lich and a Half Lich couldn't do much against it as Braviary's strength was beginning to give out.
"Riolu..!" Suddenly, Stepping in front of everyone to try and block it was Delta Riolu.
"Riolu?!" Applejack bellowed after seeing Riolu get in front of it despite his small size. But it wasn't the size that Riolu cared about. What he cared about were the victims he's managed to hear. It started back at Lapras Lake and has persisted. As the Embalming Pokemon, something like this couldn't be ignored at all. Tending to the deceased was his job but he also wished to see them in peace. After all, his own parents were long gone by now and the thought of the Lich Queen using their souls eventually if she ever wins was horrendous.
"Braviary!" Braviary gave out, unable to keep it up as he went flying back. However, even though Braviary couldn't stop it, the beam was still in the same position, trying to push through. That was thanks to Delta Riolu.
Those still conscious saw how Delta Riolu was holding back the Spirit Beam despite being on his own. Fractured Note and Dimstar looked over to see the Embalming Pokemon handling the beam on his lonesome without the assistance of anyone. Braviary was much stronger and yet he couldn't stop it. Riolu also didn't look that affected by the morose aura here. He could hear the sounds of the spirits as always and the anger they brought.
But he did not let it get to them. Riolu was used to something like this since he came from the Holon Pyramid and he wished to bring peace to them. But they would never know peace until the Black Crusade was over for good.
"Rio...Rio...!" Riol growled as his Aura was flaring out of his body, trying to push him forward. Applejack felt Delta Riolu's Aura rise. This entire time he's been interacting with the deceased, she noticed how he was changing this entire time. And that change continued even here.
"Riolu...You got this partner!" Applejack cheered her beloved Pokemon on.
"Rio...Luca!" SUddenly, Riolu's voice and tone would change as the Aura would fully envelop his body. All eyes were on him as they suddenly saw an outburst of Aura fly out of his body. The Aura grew in size, matching the Spirit Beam as it would illuminate the area.
But the light it gave off wasn't dangerous to the vampires. Their bodies would not heat up at all. Instead, this light also had some darkness to it that was rather welcoming. It was from a friend after all so there was no way it would be threatening to them at all. They had never seen a darkness so gentle before aside from Darkrai. The atmosphere was also changing. This meant only one thing.
Evolution.
A New Lucario was entering this world. And he made quite the entrance. The Spirit Beam was absorbed by the Aura as the Pokemon behind it made his appearance, stunning Applejack who was in amazement by what she saw. Delta Lucario had arrived.
Above the Skies of Equestria. Magehold. Magehold Chamber. Day.
"Lucario!" Delta Lucario had arrived. Protecting Applejack and everyone else from the Spirit Beam, the newly evolved Lucario held the attack in his paws, unbothered by the morose feeling it brought. He ended up absorbing the attack into his own attack, which greatly resembled Aura Sphere thanks to how he was positioned. No longer was he just a Dark-Type but now a Dark-Ground-Type, reaching his full potential and truly deviating from his Sinnohan Counterpart.
"He evolved?!" Rainbow Dash gasped after being welcomed by Lucarii's gentle aura that mimicked what the Despair Plants had created. To see this for herself, Applejack took out her Pokedex, reading up on Delta Lucario.
"Delta Lucario. The Anubis Pokemon. The afterlife and rebirth of souls are sacred to this Pokémon. It will fiercely guard any tomb or cemetery that it comes across from graverobbers."
"Would'ya look at that?! Nice save, Lucario!" Applejack found the strength to stand back up. That was mainly thanks to Lucario's Aura being so soothing compared to what everyone else was feeling earlier thanks to the Lich Queen. And when looking at a Pokedex it informed her that Lucario had learned a new move upon evolution.
But it wasn't Aura Spherel like how other Lucarios get it. Delta Lucario got something specific. Something that only comes from Pokemon that hail from the Holon Region.
"This is new...Alright, Lucario! Dark Matter!" Applejack cried out the newest move Lucatio had earned. A move that no one else in this room has heard about.
"Lu...Ca!" Lucario still kept the pose of Aura Sphere when using Dark Matter. His power was surging as he began calling for powers from unknown forces across the world. Lucario dug into the opposite of what Aura does, channelling something else.
He was channelling so many things at the moment and one of them were the spirits. The spirits and souls of the afterlife were being poured into his paws as he called upon them for strength. After drawing in power from different parts of the world, he unleashed it by firing a giant sphere of Dark Matter.
The sphere of Dark Matter obliterated the rest of the Spirit Beam as it grew large enough to encompass the other Pokemon. And when it struck the Despair Plants, not only did it engulf and blow up around them, but it also did something spectacular.
The many souls within the Despair Plants were blown out of their bodies, flying into the air. Jaws dropped as these souls left in a hurry, finally free from their entrapment. Very few souls remained in them just from that one attack alone as the Dark Matter had also eradicated the walls to the point where none of their foundation could be found.
"Amazing! He knocked the souls out of their bodies!" Fractured Note uttered with amazement. Another way to free the souls had been found. It was just by having Ghost-Types do it but also this new move Dark Matter, which knocked the souls out of them completely. The other Despair Plants witnessed this now they were within Lucario's line of fire.
Not only that but now that many souls have been freed, the durability of the Despair Plants had been decreased too. More and more, they were growing fragile by the second, giving Equestria a better chance for a turnaround.
"Way to go, Lucario! With this, we can send those souls to the great beyond in one go! Use Dark Matter again!" Why not use it again? It was so powerful and effective, solving two problems in one. This was possibly the best evolution to ever happen in Applejack's friend group as it really saved their skin.
"Rrr...Rrr.." However, Lucario stood there, stuck and having a scrunched face. He looked a bit awkward as his paws were still out, trembling after using Dark Matter
"Hm? Lucario, buddy. What's wrong?" Applejack asked as Lucari slowly turned his head. There was just one tiny catch with Dark Matter and it was a rather familiar catch that most Pokemon Trainers try to avoid.
"He can't do it again?!" Fluttershy translated while Applejack heard it from an Aura Pulse as they both screamed it out. To see this for herself, Applejack checked the description of Dark Matter to see what it was really about.
"The unknown forces of the world and beyond are unleashed. The user must recharge next turn." The Pokedex explained.
"It's a recharge move?! Awwww!" That was the part that was a problem. Lucario was wide open now and very vulnerable to an attack. Such a powerful attack just had to come with a caveat, much like Hyper Beam and Giga Impact.
And the second the Despair Plants heard that, they would try and take out Lucario before he had enough time to recharge, not wasting any time. But this also meant that they couldn't just power through like always since many souls have been freed. They would slither, crawl and lunge, just to try and land a hit on the Dark-Fighting-Type before he can use Dark Matter again. Lucario grimaced, trying his best to move as his body was still processing the kind of power he just unleashed.
"Pheromosa, High Jump Kick!"
"Mosa!" But stopping them from attacking the vulnerable Anubis Pokemon was the combined might of Rarity and Adagio's Pheromosa. They both came crashing in, kneeing the two Despair Plants away. Their knees dug into the Despair Plants, making their bodies tremble as they were launched with a powerful shockwave emerging.
"Braviary, use Aerial Ace!"
"Braviary!" Assisting them was Braviary, who swopped in to strike at the other Despair Plants that tried lunging at Delta Lucario. The wings would slash at the Despair Plants, knocking them aside as they crashed into the walls.
"Sylveon, use Moonblast!"
"Sylveon!" And to those that tried crawling to Lucario, Sylveon interrupted them with a Moonblast, gathering powers from the moon. A pink sphere flew out, sniping the Despair Plants that crawled over.
Lucario was getting the full defence treatment as any Despair Plant that tried landing a hit on him would be blocked by these re-energized Pokemon. And just enough time for Lucario himself to finish replenishing. His body trembled once more as he could move his limbs at last.
"Done? Alright then! Dark Matter again!"
"Lucario!" With his body recharging, Lucario now knew what to expect with this new move. And with that, he had a better grasp of it, forming a sphere of dark matter in his paws once more. And by drawing power from the spirits and unknown forces, he unleashed the attack a second time, this time at the Despair Plants.
But to make sure Lucario got all of them, Flurry Heart used her magic, grabbing them after they were all struck by different attacks. She grouped them all together at one spot, making it easier for Lucario to get this all done in go. And once the Dark Matter came flying in, it would smack the soul out of their bodies in one fell swoop. The Despair Plants felt the many souls within their bodies fly out.
The light blue orbs were sent flying, gently moving through the air while the Despair Plants were stunned. He had to recharge but now his body could properly move instead of being completely stuck. The Anubis Pokemon took a deep breath, standing there and feeling a bit perplexed by this new strength he has gained upon evolution.
The Despair Plants had lost a significant amount of their durability as they laid there, joined together and completely out of it. They felt weaker than they ever have as this would obviously affect other Despair Plants across Magehold. And when the souls left, finally passing on to the afterlife, Delta Lucario heard their Auras go off.
"Well, that takes care of that." Applejack sighed. "There's just one more thing we gotta do now."
"Right. Stopping the Lich Queen and ending the Black Crusade once and for all. And with your Delta Lucario here, I believe that can be possible. Even before his evolution, he appeared to be gaining a resistance to that morose feeling from the afterlife."
"You're right. It's almost as if he's the equivalent of a Lich." Dimstar added.
"So everything here doesn't bother or affect Lucario? Woah..." Pinkie gasped in amazement at Lucario's development. It felt like Magehold was meant for him.
"What an amazing Pokemon!" And to the vampires who favoured dark things, Delta Lucario was already beloved and captured their hearts. Of course, the kind of darkness he brings was nothing like what the Lich Queen or previously Opal Vivacity were capable of. It was a darkness that everyone else could enjoy and approach safely unless they wanted to partake in a Pokemon Battle.
"You all can gawk at Lucario's evolution later," Volkner spoke. "I want to know more about it but now's not the time. We should get going. The Lich Queen is our final stop."
"Right." Applejack approached her newly-evolved partner. "Let's head over and finish this, partner."
"Luca!"
Lich Queen's Throne Room.
Meanwhile, up at the throne room, Celestial-Gardevoir and Princess Luna have confronted the Lich Queen together as a duo. Meanwhile, the Lich Queen was joined by the Pony of Shadows who was summoned here to assist her. The shadows joined up with Rosa Maledicta, fueling her Dark Magic as her eyes would glow within the darkness.
"Darkrai! Poison Jab!" Luna would make the first move, having Darkrai fly in with Poison around his claws. He was then joined by Celestial-Gardevoir who held a Dazzling Gleam in her hands, planning to get up close with it.
The Lich Queen would summon her roots, however, she felt the change in their strength. They weren't as powerful as they used to be anymore. They were still powerful but they lacked that nigh-invincibility from before. Rosa knew she would have to utilize a lot of souls after the Black Crusade and all she had to do was win this.
The roots would swing at Celestial-Gardevoir and Darkrai who would slash and blast through them with their attacks. Darkrai's Poison Jab cut the roots in half while Celestial-Gardevoir blew a hole through them. They would even start avoiding them by simply accelerating.
Rosa Maledicta sneered as they were getting too close for comfort. She would then use the shadows, forming a reflective shield in front of them. Their attacks would hit the reflective shield, failing to get through. Celestial-Gardevoir and Darkrai were launched by this, screaming while flying back. At the same time, some thorns would come from Princess Luna, who instinctively had to move out of the way of this sneak attack. She was still vulnerable since Celestia and Gardevoir had fused to become one.
Celestial-Gardevoir recovered in the air before returning the favour with Mystical Fire in one hand, firing it upside down. The crimson flames would spiral as they pierced the shadows, approaching the Lich Queen's Reflective Shadow Shield. It would once again try and reflect Celestial-Gardevoir's Mystical Fire but this time, something was different.
Darkrai manipulated the shadows around him, pulling them towards him as the Pony of Shadows took immediate notice of this. He wasn't the only one who could control the shadows after all. Darkrai was an expert in that as well as he weakened the reflective shield, allowing Mystical Fire to pass through. Rosa Maledicta was met with these scarlet flames which seared her body. She and the Pony of Shadows cried out as Luna would instantly take advantage of this, shooting out a magic beam that flew past all of the shadows that littered the floors and walls.
Her beam travelled through the darkness as if it was in the night sky, striking the Lich Queen directly in the face. Rosa Maledicta's face received quite the hit, moving to the side in a bit of disbelief. Clearly hurt by that, she and the Pony of Shadows would return the favour, sending a maelstrom of shadows.
This maelstrom wrestled with Darkrai's control over the other shadows, taking back control and forcing Darkrai to block. However, coming to his aide was Celestia, who had Dazzling Gleam in one hand and a Poke Ball in another. She would hold her hand out, blocking the Shadow Maelstrom by expanding the size of the rainbow sphere.
"Go! Kommo-o!" She would throw the Poke Ball into the air, summoning her Kommo-o to assist in this battle. And upon emerging, Kommo-o used Clanging Scales, attacking the Maelstrom that Celestial-Gardevoir was holding back. BY rubbing the scales on his body, he sent a huge noise that materialized into a draconic soundwave, blowing away the maelstrom.
"Close Combat!"
"Darkrai, use Dark Pulse!"
"Kooo!" Kommo-o would land after performing Clanging Scales. And without a second to waste, he went in for another attack while Celestial-Gardevoir unleashed the rest of Dazzling Gleam. The rainbow rays joined Kommo-o who would get physical with the shadows that flew towards him. He would swing his powerful claws at them while some of the rays pierced through them.
But while trying to reach the Lich Queen, one of the shadows managed to strike Kommo-o, slugging his face before then tossing him aside so that he was further from Rosa Maledicta. The rainbow rays were soon blocked by a massive blockade of shadows with many layers. But those layers were soon obliterated by Darkrai's Dark Pulse, which he powered up by using the shadows around him.
The shadows shattered, and once they did they did, a beam from Rosa Maledicta could be seen approaching. Darkrai's eyes widened as he was too late to block, intercept or dodge it. The Pitch Black Pokemon took the powerful blast of dark green magic directly, falling back as the shadows behind him would deliver a second hit. Darkrai was then launched into the air, receiving a double whammy of hard attacks.
Afterwards, a storm of shadows flew their way, covering up a majority of the throne room. Celestia summoned a Light Shield, protecting herself against the fearsome storm of shadows which would rip the carpet apart. The shield took a heavy beating from this storm of shadows as the impacts sent powerful shockwaves that flew out of the castle for many to hear.
Celestial-Gardevoir could feel her time running short as she couldn't stay merged forever. Not after that fierce struggle against Yveltal earlier. To save up time, she would expand her shield, blowing the Shadow Storm away as light particles would pierce the darkness.
"Hah...I can't stay in this state forever since it's tiring me out." Celestial-Gardevoir chose to end the Harmony Phenomenon state just so the two beings within her could be back at full strength. And she made the right call as a shadow spear was racing straight at her. The Alicorn-Pokemon Fusion grimaced before ending her state, splitting up and bringing Celestia and Gardevoir back. The two of them separated, flying in different positions while also avoiding the spear which would pierce through the walls.
"Psychic!" Immediately after defusing, Celestia did not waste any time. And neither did Gardevoir.
"Gardevoir!" With her hand out, she would try and grab ahold of Rosa Maledicta as a light blue outline appeared around the Lich Queen. Rosa noticed the Psychic outline around her as Gardevoir managed to gain control of her body. She flipped her hand up, prompting Rosa Maledicta to ascend as well. But stopping this control was the Pony of Shadows, who would overlay Gardevoir's Psychic Outline, bringing ROsa Maledicta back down. "Voir?!"
And right after bringing Rosa Maledicta down, the Pony of Shadows would summon a maw of shadows underneath the Embrace Pokemon, attempting to swallow her into the shadows. Saving her from that fate was Celestia with a dazzling flash of light from her horn. This light would pierce the Shadow Maw, keeping it from ever capturing Gardevoir.
"Thunderbolt!" In unison, both Celestia and Luna would shout, prompting their Ace Pokemon to unleash a Duo Thunderbolt. And at the same time, Celestia and Luna would unleash a Duo Beam of Magic, adding to that synergy. Gardevoir and Darkrai stood next to each other with their hands out, firing 100,000 volts of electricity each. That added up to 200,000 volts, making an even stronger Thunderbolt.
And right next to that Dual Thunderbolt were two magical beams from alicorns that flew side by side. In response, Rosa Maledicta had to stop something this powerful as soon as possible. By having the Pony of Shadows assist her, she would unleash her own magical beam that was joined by a stream of shadows.
The two attacks would meet, forming a powerful collision when they clashed. The carpet was a goner by this point as the floor seemed to be next. The walls of the throne room were beginning to crumble in the midst of this fierce struggle as lightning cracked, causing a sound so loud that everyone in and out could hear it go off. Gardevoir and Darkrai groaned while trying to push their attacks through as Rosa Maledicta also looked like she was struggling.
Both attacks cancelled each other out, resulting in a massive paroxysm of Infinity Energy and Magic to go off, The floor had been demolished along with the ceiling of the throne room and anywhere near it. The door went flying as the explosion moved across the hallways, breaking more of the castle down.
The balcony would crumble, falling from high up as it no longer existed at this point. Nearby rooms were taken out, completely destroyed by the outburst. The smoke cleared as Celestia's group had fallen through the destroyed floor while the Pony of Shadows used the shadows to keep Rosa Maledicta in the air. However, it didn't take long for Celestia and Luna to fly and for Gardevoir and Darkrai to levitate. Kommo-o was the odd one out but he thankfully had Celestia's magic to keep him in the air.
"Even if it's just half of the Pony of Shadows, it's still so troublesome dealing with two of them at the same time," Luna said.
"It definitely is. But I'm trusting in Twilight to deal with the Pony of Shadows. Without him, the Lich Queen will truly be alone and lose plenty of her power."
"Tch. What on earth is happening?" Rosa Maledicta commented while looking down at the Princesses and their Pokemon. "My roots are weakening by the minute and I most definitely need them at their best to deal with these five troublemakers. How fast are they removing the souls?"
"You should hurry up with this. I fear those ponies from before will find the truth to how I was banished all those years ago."
"I'm trying. Without Yveltal, this is much harder." Rosa scoffed as Yveltal was still asleep and had lost access to his Oblivion Wing thanks to Disable. "If push comes to shove, and it's already moving past just shoving, I'll have to try out the next stage of a Lich. I have yet to take on that stage due to how risky it is...But these Equestrians are beyond difficult. No matter what, they continue to push through and defy their fate."
"I may have to return to Ponehenge in case they manage to find the method of sealing me. Eventually, you'll be on your own." The Pony of Shadows warned her.
"Hmph. I know. But very soon, I'll hit them where it hurts. And one of those places is very nearby at the speed we're moving at. Ponyville."
Ponyville. Twilight's Castle.
It was back to Ponyville as Twilight, Radiant Hope, Starlight Glimmer, Spike and Sunburst had shown up here, being the only ones left. Aside from the Creatures of the Everfree who were guarding Ponyville in case of another attack. They owed them after all. And while over at the castle, Twilight was going over the book that Starswirl left behind, trying ot see what he did to banish the Pony of Shadows.
"Did you find anything yet, Twilight?" Spike asked.
"No. I know I've finished one of Star Swirl's spells before, but this one was on a whole different level! Was it an explosion of magical feedback? An evocation? A kind of incantation? It's Star Swirl, so the possibilities are endless! And once Starlight set me on the right track with his crazy hornwriting. I mean, he was a genius, so I guess we can forgive a little messiness. I went through the journal again, and it's amazing! All I found was that they used their magic to open a portal between worlds to limbo and pulled the Pony of Shadows inside."
"Limbo?" Radiant Hope repeated. "That's out of my expertise, unfortunately. I don't know much about that place.
"So we just put him back into Limbo, right?" Sunburst added.
"Probably. If we can access it. And if we can't...We'll probably have to get the help of Starswirl and the Pillars." Twilight brought up a wild but reasonable suggestion. But still wild considering the fact that the Pillars are gone.
"Uh...How do we do that if they're gone?" Spike questioned.
"Twilight, are you serious? You can save the most legendary ponies of all time?" said Sunburst, finding that a bit hard to believe.
"I-I don't know. Opening portals between worlds didn't work out well for me. Are you sure it's safe?" Starlight stammered, hoping that Twilight would rethink this for a moment.
"It's fine, Starlight. You opened portals through time. And on top of that, Star Swirl wrote the spell you used to do it. If he'd been here, he could have stopped it. Equestria would be safer with him in it. We have to save him and raise our chances of stopping the Black Crusade."
"That means you'd have to save all the Pillars, Twilight." Radiant Hope pointed out.
That's the thing about limbo. It isn't one place or another. It's in between, so time stands still. If we can pull them out, it'll be like they never left. What we need to do is find some items. I remember how the pillars all had something at their disposal and Starswirl's magic latched onto each of them. This book is one of those items. If I'm right, we need to find items that are connected to the Pillars in some way."
"What items do we need to find? And how quickly can we make it" Spike peered over Twilight, looking at the book for clues.
"Luckily for us, Star Swirl took a lot of notes." Twilight turned her attention back to the book, reading what Starswirl left behind. "My compatriots are as varied as the realm itself and hail from every corner of our land, bringing with them artefacts and talismans of great power."
But as she started reading, the sound of magic shimmering could be heard above her. Everyone looked up to see that items had emerged from the book itself.
"T-Twilight. Are you doing this?" Starlight Glimmer stammered as her eyes followed the spinning objects in the air.
"I'm not doing anything. It's the book that's doing this. Those must be the items!" Twilight gasped as the answer appeared right above her but only as projections. Each of them had been identified as the stories of these items were legendary and known by many.
"Oh, wow! Rockhoof's Shovel, Flash Magnus' Shield, Mistmane's Flower, Meadowbrook's Mask and a blindfold that belonged to Somnambula. Those are all their items. It's what they used back at Ponehenge..." Radiant Hope gasped. "That's what we need!"
"Well, now we know. But I don't think we have the time to fetch all of them or even where they are. The only one we have with us is Mage Meadowbrook's Mask." Twilight said.
"Right...how are we going to get them in time?" Spike pondered as it looked like it was too late to find them all.
"We won't have to." Twilight stood up tall, closing her eyes as she apparently had the answer to this. "I was going to ask Cold Colt for help, but I think I can do it myself. I can create replicas."
"Replicas of those artefacts? Will that work?" Sunburst asked.
"It won't be hard. I just have to copy them and even though they'll be cheap imitations most likely, they'll have magic within nonetheless. They'll work out. I just know it."
Just then, a roar from none other than the Ursa Major could be heard. A mighty one that was also meant to be a warning. Everyone took notice of this as it was impossible to ignore. The Ursa Major cried out for one reason. Something was approaching Ponyville since it and the other Creatures of Everfree were defending it.
And it was none other than Magehold. The nation of Magehold was approaching, slowing down now that its main destination was within its sight. Twilight and her friends quickly looked outside to see what the Ursa Major was warning them about. Their eyes then met with the nation as it was once again in the air. The last time they saw it, it had crashed into the ground. But now, it was mobile once more but it would soon come to a halt, aiming to destroy the gentle town of Ponyville.
"Magehold again?!" Starlight Glimmer gasped. "I thought it would've stayed at Exploud Canyon!"
"Not good...There's no time to waste!" Twilight couldn't afford to waste any more time. She had to create those objects as soon as possible. By channelling her Rift Magic, she looked up at the artefacts that each of the Pillars had once more, putting all of her Rift Expertise into crafting them. "Emerald...Please give me strength."
As for Magehold, once it was close to Ponyville, Rosa Maledicta felt it was right to stop here. With a grin on her face, she was prepared to let Magehold fall once more. Everyone standing on the streets of Magehold would soon notice Ponyville as it was impossible not to recognize even in its destroyed state. It just had that familiarity factor.
But it could end up being unrecognizable if Magehold manages to land. And this time, the Pony of Shadows wouldn't shield the residents aside from the Dread League, putting them in jeopardy as well for revolting against the Lich Queen.
"Ponyville!" Celestia looked outside to see the town. And right up ahead was the Ursa Major and the other Creatures of the Everfree. Rosa Maledicta's eyes specifically shifted to Twilight's Castle, aiming to make that the first target for this wave of destruction that was about to take place.
"This time, I'll make sure everything here is crushed!" Rosa Maledicta then released the Dark Magic that was carrying Magehold, ceasing its motion. And with the Dark Magic released, Magehold would start falling once more and right within its sights was Twilight's Castle.
Everyone felt the entire nation tilt once more as it was in for another rough landing. Now was the best time to hold onto something as always but the Lich Queen stood completely still, unbothered by the rotating nation.
"You'd go so far as to destroy the home you were born in raised in?!" Celestia growled while using her magic to keep herself stable.
"Yes. Yes, I would." She said straight from her heart. Her cold, black heart. She had truly thrown away her bright past for a dark future, showing no remorse at all. Everything horrible that happens will be for her own benefit.
Right as Magehold was about to crash into Twilight's Castle, along came the Ursa Major, using its massive size to its advantage. The Ursa Major was as big as a mountain and Magehold's size was equal to its own. Once its large celestial arms met with Magehold which was burning up, it caught it head-on.
However, it did not stop there. The moment the Ursa Major caught the nation, the heat it built up would burn some of its fur, making it scream in pain. If only that was the end. The Ursa Major's feet then dug into the earth itself, moving back as the force that Magehold was dropped at was intense, forcing the Mountain-sized Creature to put a plethora of strength into this. The nation trembled as it was trying its hardest to crash. The Ursa Major's body was backing up, nearly reaching Twilight's Castle. It looked like the castle was about to be destroyed either way.
Sunburst and Starlight screamed, holding onto each other while the Ursa Major's massive body was approaching them. Radiant Hope just looked stunned while Spike was praying for the best. Twilight was too focused on replicating the artefacts to even pay attention to what was happening outside. Because she knew her friends would do everything they could to prevent the worse from happening.
"Done!" She succeded. All the artefacts had been replicated. And right as Twilight finished her work, the Ursa Major received some support from her child. The Ursa Minor would crawl up its mother's back, putting its paws on the nation as well.
The combined might of them both managed to overpower the nation. But to ensure everyone else on it would be safe, they could only do one thing as they held onto it. Together, they both managed to gently turn Magehold, finding the best place to drop it. There was one piece of land that had been recently ravaged by the Dark Tsunami, making that eligible.
With all of their might, the Ursa Family gently placed Magehold down on that ravaged land, preventing it from causing mass destruction. The Unicorn Trio took a deep sigh of relief as they avoided the worst. To Rosa Maledicta, that upset her since another civilization has avoided certain destruction from a falling nation. But on the plus side, compared to Exploud Canyon, she was at least close to the town.
"Too close for comfort..." Spike sat down as today has been full of too many close calls. He wondered when it would end and feared one of them might not be close at all.
"Alright! Let's get going!" Twilight startled them all after their hearts went through a rush experiencing the Ursa Major coming their way along with an entire nation. Around her, she held the fake artefacts, ready to return to Ponehenge. "It's back to Ponehenge!"
Time was of the essence. Magehold had just landed next to Ponyville, causing no destruction whatsoever and yet it was still eligible for destruction now that the entire nation has shown up. No one lost balance now since it was gently placed down which meant that the conflict on the travelling nation would continue its fiery momentum.
"So much for that," Luna smirked after Rosa Maledicta's plan to crash Magehold failed a second time. No one had been harmed at all and she had just wasted plenty of Dark Magic once more. "You couldn't seal the deal a second time."
"And you've been wasting plenty of magic with this one task," said Celestia. "Even you know you can't afford to do it again. You're burning out on resources to the point where you won't have anyone or anything left to help you through with this.
"You may be right about that, but I still have the ace in the hole. The end of Yveltal's life. All I have to do is strike him down and that will be it. The book will be closed on this annoying resistance and there's nothing you can do about it."
"We'll see about that." Celestia narrowed her eyes as the skies above were darkened once more but with a bit of sunlight piercing through.
Rosa's eyes then turned to the gateway that was far away, knowing where it led to and who was in there. Ponyville was only empty because the residents were currently taking shelter at Pallet Town. And one of them was her little sister, Roseluck. Rosa certainly wouldn't forget about that gateway and already had the worst possible thoughts for what she was about to do them.
"Then come. Let Ponyville be where our final confrontation takes place, Equestria!"
Equestria. Ponyville. On the Nation Magehold. Day.
Magehold has landed near Ponyville. Placed by the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor who prevented it from crashing into the town. The destruction of Ponyville was avoided even though the town was already in a rough condition at the moment.
Magehold was now littered with rubble, carnage and different forms of energy. Red, black and grey are the new colours of what was once a vast nation, which has now become the stage of a full-blown war. The air which would normally carry the sounds of the mysterious and ominous was now heavy and thick with the scent of smoke.
With no side on the winning hand, this battle could go on for a long time. And it has. Starting from Shalour City and finally ending up here at Ponyville. The toll on both Magehold's nature and foundation was tremendous. It'll likely take years before this field will have recovered. Its clear explosion holes and debris have taken the place of trees, plants and flowers, which, while eerie, were still full of life.
And asleep in the midst of all of this was Yveltal. He was still down and out, currently going through a nightmare. The Gym Leaders had gathered around Yveltal, seeing if they could free him from the Dread League while he was asleep. They wouldn't have to worry about his Oblivion Wing since Wigglytuff successfully landed Disable.
"Can you free it?" Roxie spoke, looking over at the Destruction Pokemon. All the while, the Shadow Army were still taking on the forces of Canterlot and the Crystal Empire with the sounds of explosions going off in the distance.
"It's no use. The control that the Lich Queen has over Yveltal is too powerful for us to handle." Olympia said as she and Valerie were trying to free Yveltal from Rosa Maledicta's mind control. "I can't properly enter Yveltal's mind.
"It'll take a lot of work to free it. The only thing we can do now is keep it from getting back and using Oblivion Wing." Valerie added. "I'm afraid the only way to free it is by defeating the Lich Queen. But right now, I have no idea what's going up there." Her attention was then turned to the castle where the balcony once was.
Due to the intense battle, the balcony had fallen as everything else that was happening inside would have to be left for interpretation. And judging by the flashes of light and eruption of darkness, it was going either way since both sides were unleashing truly staggering attacks.
All the while, Yveltal remained silent. Thanks to Darkrai's Dark Void, he was going through a nightmare. But this whole thing was already a massive nightmare for him. Having his power abused in such a way was horrifying. He had already taken the lives of many ponies who were from the Crystal Empire. One of them was Shining Armor. And even though he could not stop, he desperately wished to break free, no matter what it takes. All of this was Yveltals' nightmare.
In the castle, Ash and his Pokemon were charging through the hallways, trying to make their way to the Lich Queen. Standing in their way of the doors were two vampires, already building up some Dark Magic to try and stop them. "Makeshift Volt Tackle!"
"Pika!" And all it took was Pikachu combining Quick Attack and Thunderbolt to charge right at the vampires while also stunning them with light. The vampires were struck by the Makeshift Volt Tackle as the doors were also blown away by Pikachu's powerful charge.
But right up ahead, more vampires were waiting for them, aware of their movements thanks to what the Lich Queen shared. Plus, Ash was making a ruckus by entering here in the first place.
"Water Gun! On the floor!"
"Draco!" Dracovish aimed Water Gun at the floor, sending a powerful stream that would instantly flood the hallway. The water covered each part of the floor, turning it into a water slide room. The vampires gasped as the floor beneath them was now full of water that went up to the middle of their hooves. All the while, Ash and the others took advantage of this, surfing on the water.
Specifically, surfing on Dragonite who laid on her stomach, allowing the others to use her as a surfboard. Ash, Pikachu and Sirfetch'd were on Dragonite's back who was using her past experience as a Dratini and Dragonair to move through the water. She may not have the body of a creature that could move through the seas anymore but that skill still remained in her biology. Dracovish felt like it was back in the past with all of this water to run on while Gengar would simply fly over everyone else.
Sirfetch'd held his leek sword out, using it to strike at the vampires in front of him while Lucario would throw out Aura Spheres from the back. The vampires and their Dark Magic would be pierced by the sword while also blown away by the Aura as some of them couldn't even get their magic out in time thanks to this water. Ash and his group surfed across the hallway, blowing past as many vampires as they could.
The vampires in the next room were met with a powerful stream of water breaking down their doors while the intruders were surfing and flying to their hearts' content. However, eventually, their ride would come to an end once the water started shifting.
A Dark Magic filled the water, pulling it away from Ash and the others. Dragonite felt the water move away as her stomach was now rubbing on the floor, causing her to lose momentum and skid. Dracovish wasn't running as fast as usual now it that its advantageous environment had been stripped away from it.
"Stop right there!" And the one to do it was Melody Moon, who used her magic to manipulate the water. By manipulating the water, she pulled it over to her, keeping all of it in the form of a large water orb. Joining her was Bittersweet as they were tasked with stopping Ash Ketchum from going any further. "That's as far as you go, Ash Ketchum!"
"Hey, I'm in a hurry! Stay out of our way!" Ash bellowed before jumping off Dragonite's back. He would then land with all of his Pokemon right behind him aside from Pikachu who got in front of him.
"By order of her majesty, you can't go any further at all. Opal VIvacity may be gone but that won't stop our drive to defeat you." Melody Moon said.
"We've come this far after all. And it's you that's getting in our way." Bittersweet added while narrowing her eyes, sharpening them when staring down at Ash and his Pokemon. She would then use her magic, changing whatever was sweet into something absolutely bitter. And the thing she chose was the water that Melody Moon pulled her. Her magic affected the water, turning it poisonous as it gained a purple colouring instantly.
With this colouring, Melody Moon would then sing, causing the water to flow over, sending out a poison that was so vile that it ended up harming the walls themselves. The walls would melt from the poison as well as the floor since so many of it was covering everything.
"Lucario! Force Palm! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Luca!" But immune to this was Lucario, who charged in while Pikachu supported from the back. Lucario met with the stream of poisonous water, ignoring the toxic effect it brought. And by using his Aura in his paw, he would create a bright shield of Aura that would block the stream from going any further. "Rrr!"
"Pika...Chuuu!" Pikachu would then leap into the air, unleashing 100,000 volts, attempting to use the advantage of Electricity and Water mixing for a devastating effect against the vampires. The two vampires realized what was happening as Melody Moon would quickly move the water away, making Pikachu's Thunderbolt miss.
"Go, Dragonite! Dragon Claw!"
"Dra!" Moving ahead of her friends was Dragonite as a bigger target was now coming for the two vampires. Melody Moon would quickly use the water to try and retaliate against the claws of the Dragon Pokemon. The water was whipped at Dragonite, who would claw at them with brute strength, fending the fierce waves while getting even closer.
Melody Moon grimaced, seeing Dragonite approaching with each passing second as the water was failing to stop the Dragon-Flying-Type. Bittersweet saw that Melody Moon was panicking as she would then use her magic to try and reverse Dragonite's Dragon Claw. She just had to focus on those claws.
"Gen!" But she had someone else to worry about. Gengar. He had phased through the walls, creeping up on the two vampires. In his hand, he had a Shadow Ball ready, grabbing Bittersweet's attention. She put up a shield of magic, just barely defending herself against the Shadow Ball.
Dragonite appeared in front of the two vampires right afterwards, raising her arms for a devastating Dragon Claw. Bittersweet would grow the shield, making it encompass Melody Moon as well. The claws struck the barrier, leaving behind a powerful vibration just from one initial hit.
"Iron Tail!" And following up on that was Pikachu, who lunged forward with a hardened tail, ready to swing it downwards. The shield was already feeling plenty of pressure and that pressure was about to be elevated once Pikachu approached. With his tail striking at the barrier combined with Dragonite's Dragon Claw, it shattered.
Melody Moon and Bittersweet fell back after the barrier shattered, feeling the powerful shockwaves that came afterwards, hitting their bodies. They felt perplexed by all of this, unable to stop Ash's advances as the shockwaves were what damaged their bodies instead of the initial hits. They would tumble and roll on the floor, groaning right afterwards.
"D-Darn it!" Melody Moon growled. "We had an easier time back at the Changeling Hive...Why is he so different and difficult compared to that?"
"My magic meant nothing in the face of his Pokemon...Curses!" Bittersweet groaned while trying to get back up.
"Sorry, but I can't afford to waste any more time!" Ash said while dashing ahead. All of his Pokemon would move ahead, focusing on where they needed to be, passing by Melody Moon and Bittersweet.
"Stop! You won't reach her!" Melody Moon shouted, struggling to stand up but they were too late as Ash and his team had already left the scene. This had to be relayed to the Lich Queen as soon as possible. But most likely, she already knew about it since Ash was the only one who managed to break into the castle while Celestia and Luna simply entered in an open spot.
Closer and closer, Ash was approaching the top of the castle, passing by many rooms and hallways. And the closer he got, the more he heard the sounds of battle above. Way above him were the Royal Sisters and the Lich Queen. He wished to help them out as soon as possible but knew that the two alicorns and their Pokemon could handle themselves. But against the Lich Queen, plenty of support was necessary.
Ponehenge.
Meanwhile, as all of this was happening, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Sunburst, Starlight and Radiant Hope returned to Ponehenge. And this time, with artefacts. They were merely replicas that Twilight crafted with Rift Magic but they still had magic within them.
"I would say I'm happy to see my idol Starswirl the Bearded...But with how things are, I can't afford to geek out for once." Twilight Sparkle wished she would fangirl over Starswirl if he was to return. But because of the Black Crusade, there was no time for that. She would simply have to save it for when this was all over.
"This'll work, right?" Starlight Glimmer asked. "Only half of the Pony of Shadows was freed by the Lich Queen which means the other half is in limbo. If we free the pillars...won't we free the rest of it?"
"Maybe." Radiant Hope saw where Starlight Glimmer was coming from. "If we're careful about it, we could bring them back without worrying about freeing the rest of the Pony of Shadows. Then again...I have no idea what could happen since we'll be interacting with Limbo.
"If something goes wrong and the rest of the Pony of Shadows is unleashed, we can count on the Pillars to help. They're the ones who banished him away in the first place. I'm sure Star Swirl and the Pillars did the best they could back then and magic has come a long way. Mostly because of the work they did." said Sunburst.
"I'm sure Star Swirl and the Pillars did the best they could back then, but magic has come a long way. Mostly because of the work they did."
"That's true. And you did get your wings from finishing one of Star Swirl's spells, Twilight." Starlight nodded as Twilight did have some experience with Starswirl's magic. It's how she became an alicorn in the first place by solving one of his spells. Starlight also utilized one of his spells via Time Travel.
"Right. Starlight, Star Swirl the Bearded is the greatest wizard who ever lived. The chance to have him back in Equestria is worth the risk. I know for a fact we need him now more than ever." In the face of such a terrifying event that threatened to destroy the world and everything beyond, bringing back someone like Starswirl didn't seem that crazy.
She placed the artefacts in their respective spots, recalling where each one of them were with her rather impressive memory. With all of them placed down, Twilight could begin the process, already planning to unify her natural magic and Rift Magic into one.
Magic was blasted, reaching the book of Starswirl as that was where all the magic would be concentrated from. Assisting Twilight would be the other unicorns. Starlight, Sunburst and Radiant would also pour their magic into that book, elevating things. The magic would hum, lighting up the book and drawing out the ancient magic from within.
Soon, a white light would shoot out, just like how it did in the past when they first sealed the Pony of Shadows. The light would race towards the artefacts, reenacting history. Once again, after so many years have come and gone, the light would affect the artefacts, even if they were just copies of the real thing.
Once all items were enveloped in this ancient magic, they would each rise, spinning so fast they turned white as well from all this speed. Twilight and the others looked up to see the magic hum even louder before exploding, sending out a bright flash. Lo and behold, Twiligh's plan worked and her theory was proven right.
Above them were the Pillars of Equestria. And with them were large rocks that were also taken into limbo long but were now brought back. It was amazing to see. These Legendary Ponies were brought back into the modern world but they could potentially leave it very soon as they were falling from a rather high place.
"Oh! Espeon, Dazzling Gleam!" Twilight realized this, using her magic to catch the ponies while Espeon used Dazzling Gleam to deal with the rocks. Rainbow rays were unleashed, destroying the massive rocks that came crashing down. They were soon reduced to just pebbles, bouncing on Espeon's head. As for the pillars, Twilight placed them down as gently as she could, letting their hooves touch the solid ground once more after so long.
"What... What has happened?" And it didn't take long for one of them to finally wake up. The first one to wake up was appropriately Starswirl the Bearded as his eyes slowly opened. And the first thing he saw was the visage of Princess Twilight Sparkle, who looked a bit blurry to her. But soon his vision was fixing itself, needing time to recollect itself. All of them did as they were starting to wake up.
"It worked! We brought you back!" Twilight said with happiness, amazed that her plan worked out after all.
"Espeon!"
"..." Starswirl paused for a moment, taking in the scenery. Something caught his eye and it wasn't the ponies or even the Baby Dragon. Instead, it was who was right next to Twilight. It was Espeon who really captivated Starswirl. "W-What is that?! And where is this?!"
"You and the others have been trapped in limbo for over a thousand years, but I figured out how to get you ho-"
"What?!" Hearing that, it didn't take Starswirl that long to realize what has happened. His reaction wasn't what Twilight was expecting. "No, no, no, no! You must undo what you've done!" He was greatly against this instead of happy that he was back and that was for a reason.
"I...I don't think I can." Twilight shook her head. "But why? I thought-"
"You cannot bring us back!" Starswirl stepped forward, distressed as he made Twilight back away out of confusion.
"But I did. I brought all the Pillars back." She continued, looking over at the other Pillars who were just now waking up.
"You cannot bring only the Pillars back!" Before Starswirl could explain everything to Twilight, lightning struck in the sky The skies would darken as the opposite outcome they feared was coming true. Prior to this, they thought that only the Pillars showing up meant that the other half of the Pony of Shadows was still stuck in Limbo. Alas, that was not the case.
A vortex of darkness appeared as the rest of the Pony of Shadows, which the Lich Queen could not unleash had returned. The remainder of his essence touched the ground as now the full power of the Pony of Shadows had been revived. This is exactly what he wanted but as a trade, the Pillars had also returned.
"You did a fine job doing what I wanted, Princess!" The Pony of Shadows did. "And your pitiful attempt to imprison me for good has failed, Star Swirl!" He mocked Starswirl, glad that the entirety of him was free. And now that he was free, he would start to fizzle out, soon returning to where the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta was, reuniting with the rest of his body. But before fizzling out, he used his shadow tendrils to strike the book, piercing through it.
Afterwards, the shadows would strike at the stones, obliterating them in one attack. The book was soon obliterated as well, torn apart by the shadows as the ripped and shredded pages would drop. One of the tendrisl even came for Twilight, only for Espeon to use Psychic, knocking it away and saving the Princess of Friendship. "There! Without the power of Ponhenge, your banishing spell is useless!"
"You must return us to limbo. It's the only way to stop him." Starswirl pleaded, wanting all of this to be reversed as soon as possible.
"Sorry." Twilight frowned. "I would if I could but...someone already freed half of him already. Way before I did this."
"Someone freed half of him? How can that be? Who?"
"It was the Lich Queen." Radiant Hope said. "She already came here before we did and tried to free him from Limbo. She couldn't go all the way so only she only took out half of his body."
"Did you just say the Lich Queen?!" The word Lich was very familiar to Starswirl and it should be considering he had some experience with the Dread League and Magehold in the past. And right now, it felt like everything in the past was being thrown back at him in the modern day.
"Don't fret. When I extinguish the light and hope of this miserable world and help the Dread League succeed, you won't remember any of this." He said before finally disappearing from Ponehege.
"Okay! Now what do we do?!" Starlight questioned, beginning to panic "He's fully unleashed and the Black Crusade is still going on! And Yveltal could end us all at any minute!"
"We'll meet him where he's already located at. That's what we'll do." Twilight said.
"Wait. I-I still have no clue as to what is going on." Flash Magnus, who was reasonably confused, needed answers. Plenty of answers. He and the other pillars had just been thrown into this mess and Twilight was about to act like nothing happened, focusing on stopping the Black Crusade.
"And what is that thing?" Starswirl was also still confused about Espeon. "There's no creature in history that looks like that."
"Don't worry about that. Look...I'll explain everything after this, but I really need your help. We all do." Twilight put her hooves together, pleading to Starswirl. "You know about Magehold and the Dread League, right?"
"Plenty," Starswirl confirmed. "But not enough. I never got the chance to know more about them. Are you saying that they are active right now?"
"Very active. They've launched their attack on the entire world. Not just Equestria. At any moment, they could end Yveltal's life which will end our lives too. Unless Xerneas shows up or Yveltal breaks out of his mind control but I don't know if Xerneas will show up in time before it's too late and our souls are taken."
"...What?" Somnambula and Mage Meadowbrook collectively said as the name Xerneas and Yveltal escaped their minds. It escaped the minds of all the pillars as it felt like Twilight was throwing gibberish at them.
The Pillars had a lot to catch up on. From cosmic beings, the most strange and wonderful creatures that can be found anywhere as well as the existence of Humans plus the unification of two different worlds and separate universes would be have to shared with them. They certainly had to know if they wanted to keep up with the new world.
"I'm not fully understanding this." Starswirl touched his face, blinking out of confusion for a moment. "But what I do understand is that my work involving the Dread League can continue. As well as putting the Pony of Shadows back in Limbo. We will follow you the best we can and see where this takes us."
"Thanks..." Twilight sighed. "It's back to Ponyville. Just...brace yourself for what you're about to see."
Ponyville.
Back at Ponyville, with the Pony of Shadows being fully reborn, the remainder of his power returned, right as he was still confronting the Royal Sisters. And in the midst of battling against them, he felt his power elevate, returning to what it used to be. The Shadows lengthened across the room as they would soon intensify, catching the attention of Celestia and Luna.
"Yes...Yes!" The Pony of Shadows cackled. "All of me that was once kept in Limbo has returned!" With everything he possessed being restored, an eruption of shadows would occur behind Rosa Maledicta, bringing a heavy atmosphere all of a sudden.
"Luna. Do you feel that?" Celestia uttered as the room would tremble, summoning more shadows into the scene. This would even strengthen the Shadow Army he has gathered.
"I-I do sister. His magic feels very different from before..."
"Well, this is wonderful." Rosa Maledicta smiled as the walls, ceiling and floor had been darkened. She held her hoof out as the shadows would drop on it like water. The Lich Queen felt how much different these shadows were compared to earlier. It felt brand new. And even better, it felt stronger. And when gripping onto the shadows, Rosa Maledicta would gain some strength from this. After all, the Lich and the Pony of Shadows are practically symbiotic. One benefits from the other.
Celestia and Luna prepared themselves in the face of this terrifying pressure, knowing that things were greatly different now. And if they were not careful, the outcome they were hoping for could be stripped away from them in the blink of an eye. As for the Pony of Shadows, no longer was he just a head and a body of shadows. WIth his full power restored, his hooves were being shown. Finally, the full body of the Pony of Shadows had appeared and it was just as imposing as it was back then.
Wielding the True Power of the Shadows, Rosa Maledicta would test them out. By casting a spell with the shadows, he released these bladed shadow whips that flew out of the walls. These shadows blended in, seeming almost invisible to the eyes. That is until Darkrai noticed them. No one else but him could spot the whips as he quickly used Dark Pulse from both his claws.
A Double Dark Pulse was thrown out, hitting the two whips to block them. However, what they ended up doing was slicing Darkrai's Dark Pulse, powering through it. Realizing this, Celestia, Luna, Gardevoir and Kommo-o moved back, narrowly avoiding the whips which blended in with the other shadows. But they didn't stop there after missing their targets. Celestia would light up the place with her magic, allowing her, Luna and Gardevoir to see the Shadow Whips.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Gardevoir!" While flying back Gardevoir held her hands out, shooting out multiple rays at both the Lich Queen and the Pony of Shadows. The whips got in her way, cutting her rays in half. She gasped as Dazzling Gleam was cut apart like butter. The shadows were definitely stronger than ever now. The rays would then combust, setting off a dazzling explosion that concealed both sides.
But it didn't stop the whips from advancing. They charged through the rainbow smoke, going straight for Gardevoir. The Embrace Pokemon quickly put up her arms to block, unable to throw out another move in quick retaliation. Once she was hit by the whips, Gardevoir was sent flying as she even received a cut on her arms thanks to how sharp those blades were. She would recover by performing a handstand and backflipping right afterwards but the damage had already been done.
"Splendid." Rosa Maledicta loved what she was feeling. It was already off to a great start. "This will do brilliantly!" She would experiment with it more, sending those shadows which were laced with her magic forward once more.
Celestia, Luna, Gardevoir and Darkrai all took flight while Kommo-o would simply run as fast as he could, trying to avoid these sharp whips that were now pursuing them. As they ascended, the whips were right behind them, slithering through the air like snakes. The ones on the ground were being struck by Kommo-o's Close Combat, trying to reach him. Kommo-o was fighting for his life, slashing and swinging as fast as he could to keep the whips away from him.
However, they were much stronger than before, striking Kommo-o each time he managed to deflect one. Kommo-o's armoured body felt the sharp whips, making him cringe each time. He tried all that he could when hitting the whips away, taking damage each time but refusing to give.
Meanwhile, right above Celestia, Luna, Gardevoir and Darkrai, more shadows were approaching. Another back of sharp shadow whips appeared, attempting to catch them off guard. Expecting something like this, Luna had unleashed a sphere of magic that came from her body, trying to blow the whips away. However, the whips would suddenly move back, avoiding the incoming sphere and summoning no damage in the process while the ones from below were still on the move.
"Passion, use Plasma Bolt!"
"Garde...!" Gardevoir would then unify two attacks. Mystical Fire and Thunderbolt. By putting her arms together, she combined the two elements, mimicking plasma. While she was doing this, the whips were closing in on her, only for Celestia to support her partner.
Celestia made her own blade and that was from her horn. Her golden aura mimicked the shape of her horn, giving her a sharp weapon that was on her head and with some impressive length too. She swung her glowing horn down, meeting with the whips as the sound of magic would crash into each other. It was like two steel weapons clashing into each other but with a greater oomph and something much harder than that.
And thanks to Celestia's interruption, Gardevoir finished charging up Plasma Bolt, unleashing it at full force. Celestia moved back, allowing Plasma Bolt to travel freely. The Plasma would crash into the whips, engulfing them with the fourth element and the incredible heat it brought. This attack managed to push down the whips, blazing at high speeds and approaching the Dark Duo. It even saved Kommo-o, fending off the whips that were pressuring him so much.
Impressed by this, the Pony of Shadows and the Lich Queen worked together to create a large Waw of Shadows. The Maw would gladly accept the Plasma Bolt that was tearing through the shadows. The maw then closed, crunching the Plasma Bolt and promptly stopping its movements. And right as the attack was destroyed, it would set off another explosion.
The Royal Sisters were expecting another sneak attack and they were right to do so. Those whips flew in once more but this time they were prepared. Or so they thought. When firing their magic at the whips, they would find that those were just fakes. They collectively gasped as those fake shadows fizzled out, making them wonder where the real ones could be.
"Garde!?" Gardevoir knew where they were. By turning around, she would try and intercept the shadows that crept up from the rubble and the corners. Her hands were out, trying to use Psychic to hold them all back. However, the shadows managed to reach her, striking Gardevoir's chest. "V-Voir!"
"Passion!" Celestia gasped as she saw her beloved partner take a hit to the chest from these sharp shadows. The Embrace Pokemon gasped as her Psychic hold only managed to keep some of the shadows away. Two of them managed to land, staggering Gardevoir after hitting her.
The pain that came from it was downright uncomfortable as it also felt like her energy had been sapped away. Taking advantage of this, the Dark Duo would try and grab their opponents by summoning these massive Shadow Arms. They emerged, closing in on Celestia's group while Gardevoir was grimacing, wincing in pain.
"Dazzling Gleam! Clanging Scales!"
"G-Garde...Voir!" But even when taking such a hard hit, Gardevoir could still retaliate. And she retaliated by unleashing a sphere of light from her body which would expand at light speeds. This was joined by Kommo-o's powerful soundwave just by hitting his scales. The sphere and the soundwave blew away the Shadow Arms, keeping them from grabbing anyone as Passion put a ton of her power into that attack.
But right as the massive shadow arms were taken out, the pressure did not stop as the Lich Queen had teleported right behind Luna, deciding to get up close and personal. She used the shadows to blend in but her presence did not escape Darkrai. Not in the slightest. The Pitch Black Pokemon moved in front of Luna, preventing a sneak attack from happening as he had to face whatever the Lich Queen had in store.
From her horn, a Dark Green blast that had Shadows within them was unleashed as Darkrai released Dark Pulse as a way to counter it. But the second both attacks met with each other, it wasn't enough. These Shadows were different from what Darkrai has experienced before. The Dark Pulse was already being eaten away and absorbed into the shadows.
Assisting Darkrai was Luna, who threw out her own beam to try and stop Rosa's which was already tearing through Dark Pulse. The Lich Queen's beam was put to a stop for a moment once Luna got involved but it would soon start moving once again.
Celestia and Gardevoir soon joined them both, unleashing Plasma Bolt and a powerful golden beam, giving the Lich Queen and the Pony of Shadows more of an opportunity to use more of the restored shadows. A clash happened in the air, bringing down the room around them and anything nearby. They were already battling in a place that lost its floor minutes and now, other floors were starting to crumble just from the pressure of this clash.
"Kommo-o!" Celestia strained while trying to overpower the beam. "Flash Cannon!"
"Kooo!" Kommo-o was about to unleash his own light energy, only for the shadows to stop him. They would wrap around his body, grabbing and constricting his legs, arms and especially his mouth. "Mo-o?!" Flash Cannon was interrupted, failing to go through.
But instead of keeping Kommo-o there, the shadows advantage of him. They would use their own Flash Cannon by affecting Kommo-o. With the shadows holding him, Kommo-o was being forced to do their bidding, slowly being taken over. He cried out, struggling to break free. And against his will, Flash Cannon had been unleashed but instead of light energy, it was replaced with darkness.
The Dark Flash Cannon would then engulf Celestia's group, attacking them instead. Kommo-o gasped as he ended up striking his trainer and his friends, making them lose the clash. Not only did the explosion of the Flash Cannoyn engulf them but also the Dark Beam that Rosa Maledicta and the Pony of Shadows released.
Celestia, Luna, Gardevoir and Darkrai would drop, taking massive damage. And waiting for them was yet another Maw of Darkness, ready to consume them. Speaking of consumption, Kommo-o was already starting to sink into the shadows. Unable to break free, he was dragged into the dark depths within the shadows.
Celestia and Luna groaned as their bodies were twitching uncontrollably. They had tatters and bruises on their bodies because of the attack that sandwiched them, trying to stay strong even after such a cataclysmic hit. They tried recovering as fast as they could but they were too late. The Shadow Maw had caught them, engulfing the Royal Sisters and their Pokemon as they joined Kommo-o in the shadows.
There was no resistance. Only instant consumption. The Maw made a powerful sound after closing before slipping back into the shadows. The Pony of Shadows had now captured them, already knowing what to do with them fairly soon. That would be another addition to his Shadow Army. A truly massive addition.
The room went silent as the battle had slowed down greatly. All that could be heard were the shadows and the horrible and uncomfortable sounds they summoned. They littered the room, removing any familiarity it had. The room now resembled a black box with no semblance of light to be found anywhere.
"Hah..." Rosa Maledicta took a deep breath, descending slowly with the Pony of Shadows. "Finally. That's them done with. My, they are troublesome. But what else was I expecting from two alicorns?"
"It's wonderful to capture two of Starswirl's students." To the Pony of Shadows, this was greatly satisfying and a way to get back at Starswirl for banishing him into Limbo all those years ago.
"Keep them around. I need their lifespans after all." Rosa Maledicta ordered. "After that, they won't be of any use to me. Unless you wish to keep them around."
"Of course I do." The Pony of Shadows said. "I should also let you know that the Pillars have been brought back. The acts of that Princess are to thank for it. She is the one who truly brought all of my strength back."
"That so? Good to hear. I'll let you deal with the Pillars since you have a grudge against them. But I still want their souls afterwards, understood?"
"Hm. I understand very-" Before the Pony of Shadows could finish his sentence, someone interrupted him. The doors, which were masked by the darkness, were blown away, hitting the Pony of Shadows square in the face. Rosa Maledicta gasped as the door would then bounce off his face, stunning him for a bit.
The Lich Queen snarled as it wasn't over yet. Even though she had sent Celestia and her group into the shadows, the constant conflict hasn't slowed down for even a minute. The Pony of Shadows was rather embarrassed to have taken a surprise hit such as that, from a door of all things.
"Who dares?!" He roared right afterwards.
"Coming through!" The ones responsible for that were Ash and his Pokemon as they had finally entered the throne room of the Lich Queen.
"Pikachu!"
Ash successfully got through all the vampires, confronting the Lich Queen once more. This annoyed Rosa Maledicta who didn't think Ash would make it this far. But here he was. Still in one piece and looking healthy as ever. He seemed like the one thing that was hard to get rid of despite being so fragile in her eyes.
Equestria. Ponyville. On the Nation of Magehold. The Lich Queen's Throne Room. Day.
"Ash Ketchum." Rosa Maledicta spoke as lightning cracked in the sky, blasting away parts of the roof. She stood before Ash Ketchum and his Pokemon who broke into her throne room. There, he met up with the Lich Queen and the Pony of Shadows. He didn't have much of a floor to stand on since a majority of it has been obliterated.
The outside was exposed as the cold winds of Ponyville which had only been formed because of the Dread League blew over, making the mane of the Lich Queen flow elegantly along with Ash's jacket.
"You shouldn't have made it this far yet here you are. For someone like Celestia and Luna, I'd expect no less from them." Rosa tried giving Ash a compliment but compared to the Royal Sisters, there wasn't much.
"You'll show some respect to the King of the Sea, Lich Queen." Backing up Ash was King Sombra who emerged from the shadows, blending it perfectly. "He's the one who owns a majority of the world. The world you're trying to destroy with your mindless crusade."
"Sombra? Why are you helping him?" The Pony of Shadows, who had a connection to the Umbrum, noticed Sombra standing next to Ash. so casually. "You're siding with this Human?"
"I'd side with him at any time if it means opposing your plan. Besides, how can my plans advance if you destroy all life? As an Umbrum, I'd rather be disappointed in you, Pony of Shadows. You and the Darkness. To think that the Darkness would stoop this low to support the Black Crusade."
"It promised me great power. I had to become greater than Starswirl and the Pillars. They aren't heroes in my eyes. In fact, Equestria and the whole world has no need for heroes. And the one that stands before me will be the Final Hero." He looked over at Ash.
Ash looked back at him, showing no fear in the face of such a dark foe. He wouldn't be lying if he said he's seen darker and far more intimidating. But to Ash, there was no opponent too intimidating that he wouldn't try and tackle. The Pony of Shadows scowled, trying to find something dark within Ash, but he couldn't get past his strong Aura.
"Hmph. So be it. I will deal with the two sisters and their Pokemon. I will make sure they turn to the shadows." The Pony of Shadows said.
"Speaking of which...You're too late, Ash. Soon, Celestia and Luna will turn to the other side, which will make it easier to steal their lifespans from them." Rosa Maledicta smirked.
"Celestia and Luna will be fine," said Ash, confident in his friends. "All I gotta do is handle you. Pretty much it! Let's finish what we started back in the sky!" He tightened his gloves, ready to battle the Lich Queen a second time.
"Hoh? My, you're confident. Even after everything that has transpired, you're keeping that look on your face as if everything will be alright. But can you be so sure when you know what's coming?" Rosa questioned. "Just the end of Yveltal's life means my goal will be complete. And honestly, anything destructive enough to shake Magehold in its entirety will be enough."
"As if that's gonna happen. Yveltal's gonna be just fine. And even if the worst happens, it'll all turn out right!"
"Seriously? If that's what you think, then fine." Rosa was a bit baffled by Ash's bold optimism. It almost sounded like there was more he knew that Rosa couldn't figure out. "For you, Ash Ketchum...I'll grace you with the full extent of a Lich. And that is by embracing the shadows!"
Suddenly, all of the shadows that filled up the room would gravitate towards Rosa Maledicta as she spread her hooves out, embracing all of them. Ash and the others felt the darkness intensify as a powerful eruption of shadows happened around the Lich Queen.
Within the shadows, Rosa Maledicta was beginning to change. Her hair was darkening, turning jet black and rising up, much like how Ash does when he and Sombra became one during the early stages of the Black Crusade. Her eyes were blacked out, similar to how Daybreaker and even Nightmare Moon appear, as only her pupils retained some colour. And that colour was gold as opposed to the pink eyes she once had. Her horn sharpened as well from this transformation, gaining an angular appearance as she was almost appearing unlike her original form.
She had taken on what was apparently the True Form of a Lich and by embracing the shadows, she reached it, walking out of the shadows. And yet, parts of Rosa Maledicta were still noticeable.
"Behold!" She exclaimed as her voice now had a permanent echo effect to it. "I am the Absolute Ruler of Magehold and soon the world and beyond!"
"I'll support you from within, boy." Sombra would suddenly revert to his shadow form, re-entering Ash. "Most of it is up to you."
"Got it." Ash nodded in understanding, holding onto his hat after this powerful echo came through.
"Come, Ash Ketchum! Let this be where it ends!"
"You got it! Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...Chuuuu!" Starting off strong was Pikachu with Thunderbolt as leapt into the air, knowing that there was barely a floor left. From his body, a fierce 100,000 volts came crashing out, approaching the Lich Queen.
From her horn, she returned the favour by summoning out black lightning. The black lightning and golden lightning met, forming a powerful thunder crack for many to hear. However, the black lightning would add the Thunderbolt to it, darkening the attack and turning it against Pikachu.
"Pi!" Pikachu moved back, narrowly avoiding the Dark Thunderbolt that nearly got him. And it would've been devastating as it obliterated a large chunk of the wall nearby upon making contact.
"Force Palm! Dragon Claw!"
"Luca!" Along came Lucario and Dragonite, ready to get physical. And so was the Lich Queen. She would levitate, flying over the destroyed floor as Lucario hopped on Dragonite's back to stay airborne. She then summoned both her roots and thorns, springing them into action.
Force Palm and Dragon Claw met with the plants along with a close-range blast of Dark Magic from the Lich Queen. Lightning of different colours went off in the blink of an eye before sending bright shockwaves that were filled with each respective energy, going in two different directions. However, the dark shockwave moved forward, blowing Lucario and Dragonite away but in return, they shattered the roots from all of that pressure.
"Fury Cutter! Shadow Ball!"
"Sir!" Sirfetch'd would hop on Gengar's back as the SHadow Pokemon boosted the Wild Duck Pokemon through the air, still minding the large hole that was beneath them all. Shadow Ball was thrown forward which prompted Rosa Maledicta to grab them with her roots. The roots would crush the Shadow Ball when catching it, only for Sirfetch'd to slash through them. He cut the roots in half, swinging his leek continuously to try and reach the Lich Queen.
The thorns would meet with Sirfetch'd's leek, wrapping around it the second it went for another Fury Cutter. Sirfetch'd and his leek were both thrown down to the floor below the throne room that was greatly exposed as the Wild Duck Pokemon screamed on the way down.
"Gen!" Gengar would quickly try and follow him, zipping down as fast as he could while also having roots pursue him.
"Water Gun!"
"Dracovish!" Dracovish intercepted the roots that chased down Gengar, pushing them aside with a powerful stream while giving the Shadow Pokemon enough time to catch his teammate. The roots struck the walls on the other floor before flying over to Ash, continuing their assault.
"Dragon Claw and Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" Pikachu would lunge forward, approaching these roots with a hardened steel tail as he was joined by Dragonite. The two of them cut through the roots that tried reaching, powering their way through while approaching the Lich Queen.
Rosa Maledicta smiled as she teleported elsewhere, causing Pikachu and Dragonite to miss as the Mouse Pokemon landed on the smallest bit of floor that there was in this decaying throne room. And when teleporting, Ros Maledicta appeared behind Ash, aiming to take him out immediately. Ash gasped, sensing that the Lich Queen was right behind him, preparing a blast of magic.
But assisting him with anything magical was Sombra, who promissed to support him. And he most definitely did. By sending shadows through and outside of Ash's body, he helped the Kid from Kanto turn his body into shadows, causing the magic to go through him. A great save on Sombra's part as Ash would take advantage of the Lich Queen being this close to him.
"Fishious Rend!"
"Vish!" Dracovish, who was right next to Ash, would go in for a powerful apex bite, focusing on the Lich Queens' head. Noticing this, Rosa Maledicta would send some roots to shield her from Dracovish's powerful jaws. The roots came in just in time but were quickly dispatched once Fishious Rend landed. The jaws of the Fossil Pokemon tore apart the roots with pure unbridled brute force, nearly reaching the Lich Queen.
"Dragonite!" Continuing with Dragon Claw, Dragonite flew back to Ash's position, ready to swing once more. Rosa Maledicta saw the incoming Dragon Pokemon, trying to use the shadows to catch her. Dragonite accelerated, moving past the shadows and approaching the Lich Queen from above.
In response, Rosa Maledicta formed a Shadow Hoof from below, sing it to strike at the incoming Dragon Claw. The two attacks met from different positions, shaking the remainder of the floor. That part of the floor was about to give out as Ash and Dracovish could see. They certainly couldn't stay in this throne room forever.
Rosa Maledicta's clash with Dragonite ended once she turned the Shadow Hoof into a beam, engulfing the Dragon Pokemon in it and sending him upwards. Dragonite growled and cried out when hit by this powerful beam of shadows, trying to resist the pain she was feeling. All the while, the rest of the floor broke apart, causing Ash and Dracovish to fall. Following them to the other floor that was still stable were the rest of his Pokemon.
"Draco Meteor!" Ash shouted while falling. There to catch him was Gengar while Dracovish expertly landed on its powerful feet. They all got to the next floor safely, except for Dragonite who was building up a Draco Meteor while inside of a dark beam. But she managed to unleash it even when being engulfed by it. Draconic Meteors travelled through the dark beam, breaking it apart the closer it got to the Lich Queen.
Rosa Maledicta was startled by this as she would soon use her roots to cut the Dark Beam midway, destroying it. And in the process, destroying the Draco Meteors too as they would all combust at the same time, lighting up the throne room.
Rosa Maledicta and Dragonite would descend, entering the next floor as their battle would now take place in the hallways of the Magehold Castle. Everything above them started crumbling, falling down as the shadows would follow the Lich Queen, gravitating towards her constantly.
"You should be down and out by now! Get lost!" Rosa Maledicta roared, holding her hoof out as she summoned a massive Shadow Snake from all the shadows around her. This snake would slither as fast as it could, moving through the hallways and contaminating them with the shadows.
"Aura Sphere and Electroweb!"
"Luca!" Attempting to stop this were Lucario and Pikachu. It started with Lucario throwing out an Aura Sphere, focusing on the Shadow Snake's mouth. However, the snake ended up bashing through Lucario's Aura Sphere, getting even closer to Ash's group.
"Chu...Pika!" Pikachu was next, throwing out a web of electricity from his tail to try and contain the Shadow Snake. It did manage to land on it, slowing the snake's movements down while also sending powerful volts through its body. The Shadow Snake hissed violently until Rosa Maledicta changed that. She then turned the snake into a spear, causing it to pierce through Pikachu's Electroweb, continuing on its way.
It would change once again, this time turning into a ray that took up the entire space of the hallway. In response, Sombra assisted Ash once more, using his own shadows to shield him and his Pokemon. They all braced themselves for the ray that was coming their way as the massive shield would take it all.
The darkness was so horrible to look at it felt like Ash's vision had been robbed. But this darkness would soon subside once Sombra expanded the shield to push the giant ray away. And once the shield was gone, Ash would continue his attack.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Pikachuuuu!" Pikachu would throw out yet another Thunderbolt, pushing through the rubble of darkness that could be found across the entire hallway. Attempting to stop its movements were the shadows as they flew out of the walls and floor, trying to grab the electric blast. Thunderbolt managed to push through, getting incredibly close to the Lich Queen, who would already try and deal with this.
Her magic would hold back the Thunderbolt which was one inch away from her face. After that, it would crush the blast of 100,000 volts with so much pressure that it send a shockwave that travelled through the blast, hitting Pikachu before breaking the attack apart.
"P-Pi!" Pikachu groaned as he was pushed back by the shockwave but was soon caught by Dragonite. And with their battle tearing up the hallway and everything around it, the vampires that Ash previously blew past would hear it all transpire. Ash took a deep breath during his battle with the Lich Queen, adjusting his hat afterwards while standing before a cascade of shadows that was waiting to tear him and his Pokemon apart. He had a lot of work on his hands if he wanted this to be over.
Rosa Maledicta felt the same way as she never expected Ash to push her this much. He was also a ton of work to deal with it. But she knew once he was out fo the way, her victory was practically secured as the two sides prepared to continue their battle once more.
Meanwhile, outside of Magehold, returning to Ponyville was Twilight's group. And it has certainly grown, gaining quite the cast of ponies that were once lost in limbo but were now free. The Pillars. And they were freed in the most wildest of times. Not just because of the Black Crusade that was going on but the entire world and how it has changed.
There was a lot to catch up to but they didn't have the time to do so. However, they would still witness the phenomenal forces that now resided in Equestria and beyond. Starswirl and the Pillars all saw the most Strange and Wonderful Creatures known as Pokemon. Espeon was the very first one they saw and her appearance already confused them since there is no creature in the world that looked like her.
But it only got stranger, especially when entering Ponyville. The destroyed town wasn't the biggest concern they had. The fact that creatures such as the Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Hydra and many others from Everfree were here took them by surprise. But even more so were other Pokemon.
In the air, they witnessed the Golurk flying around, attacking an army of Shadow Pokemon along with lights they've never seen before. Pokemon Moves were equally as strange as they witnessed these creatures pull off bizarre acts from their bodies or what came out of their bodies.
These Creatures generated Fire, Lightning, Grass, Water and many other elements so casually yet with so much power behind them. Even some of the smaller ones packed a ton of power in them. While some of them were amazed, Starswirl was a bit worried by the implications of this.
And it didn't help that there was apparently a Pokemon that could end all life in an instant.
"The Pony of Shadows is right there. In the Lich Queen's Castle." Twilight said, aiming her hoof at the castle and the very top of it. "I don't know what's happening up there but everyone's doing their best to try and stop her before she takes Yveltal's life and eventually everyone else's."
"Princess Celestia was the one who told us to come to you," Sunburst added. "Well, she didn't recommend the freeing part. Only the part where we banish the Pony of Shadows."
"Celestia? Oh. How has she been?" Being that he once taught Celestia and Luna, Starswirl remembered her name, even after all these years. "N-Nevermind that. If you wish to banish him, you'll need a new method. He destroyed the stones back at Ponehenge so what we executed long ago will not work anymore."
"What do we do now then?" Radiant Hope asked.
"Twilight! Twilight!" Before Radiant Hope's question could be answered, rushing to their friend was all of Twilight's friends. Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. They had just left the chamber after quite an intensive confrontation there. A lot happened. From Opal's Fury to the arrival of Delta Lucario. Speaking of Delta Lucario, he was running alongside Applejack, staying out since his Dark Matter was very useful for freeing all the souls.
Twilight was relieved to see her friends once more as they were still in one piece. But her friends were completely taken aback when they saw the ponies standing next to Twilight. They all came to a screeching halt with some of them nearly falling over. They couldn't believe their eyes as Twilight had casually shown up with the most Legendary Ponies of all time.
"I-Is that...?!" Rainbow Dash stammered, eyeing down Flash Magnus and the other pillars.
"Oooh..." Fluttershy rubbed her eyes, hoping it wasn't the Dark Magic playing tricks on her with some kind of illusion. But with the usage of her Fairy Eyes, she was not deceived by any illusions. Mage Meadowbrook and the other Pillars.
"You're not seeing things. These are the Pillars of Equestria." Twilight introduced them, moving aside to show all of the Pillars. Her friends were thrown off by seeing these ancient figures. Some of them were even their childhood heroes. "Long story short. I freed them just to help banish the Pony of Shadows but it came with a catch. Now the entirety of the Pony of Shadows been unleashed."
"Good choice!" Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity said collectively, more interested in the return of their Childhood Idols. They greatly approved of Twilight's choice, completely moving past the fact that the Pony of Shadows had his full body restored, meaning he was at his absolute best.
"That castle..." Starswirl then turned his attention to another castle. And that would be Twilight's Castle which was still standing strong even amidst the destruction. "I can tell that it came straight from the seeds we planted so long ago."
"Then it did work!" Rockhoof exclaimed.
"What worked?" Sunburst asked.
"Each of us infused a crystal seed with our magic in hopes that it would grow into a force for good." Answering that would be Somnambula.
"We wanted to leave something to protect the realm in our absence, but we never dreamed our gift would become so powerful." And following up on that was Mistmane.
"Ya'll mean the Elements came from you?" And at that moment, Applejack and the others soon learned where the Elements of Harmony originated from. The ones responsible for it were standing right before them.
"All of them?!" Pinkie Pie and her friends shouted.
"They are reflections of our own elements of hope, strength, beauty, bravery, healing, and sorcery." Somnambula nodded.
"And the castle's a result of it...Does that mean the Tree of Harmony is involved The castle came from it after all." Twilight questioned.
"It is." Starswirl would confirm it. "And it seems that it all worked after all. By the time we planted those seeds, Celestia was still getting used to being a ruler. "And you have made it your own."
"Yeah, well, there's not gonna be a castle or a Tree of Harmony if we don't stop this." Spike pointed out as this would all have been for nothing if the Black Crusade succeeds. "How do we banish the Pony of Shadows this time?"
"The best way possible is by using the Elements of Harmony. We no longer need Ponhenge to send our foe back to limbo. We can use the stored magic in this Tree of Harmony." Starswirl finally answered Radiant Hope and Spike's question as it all came back to those mystical elements.
"The Elements of Harmony? Really?" Twilight exclaimed. "But a banishing spell takes up a lot of power. Even for the Elements. And all that power could end up destroying them."
"It could." Starswirl didn't sugarcoat it. "But with Ponehenge being in ruins, the Elements are the only way."
"Star Swirl, I don't think the Tree can survive without the Elements. If it dies, Equestria will suffer." Twilight wasn't so sure about that decision. There was a ton of risk behind it and this whole situation was already full of overwhelming risks.
"If the Pony of Shadows has his way, your land will not exist. The Black Crusade you speak of will only assist him in that and there doesn't seem to be that much time left. Our foe will seek dark places from which to draw power. I will prepare my spell so that we may strike as soon as you find him."
Right as he said that, a powerful blast of lightning shot out of the castle and into the air, sending a thunderous sound for many to hear. Multiple blasts of lightning were then shot up, followed by a ray of Dark Magic. The Pillars and the Main 6 turned their attention to that destructive spot.
The Lightning and Darkness would then combust around each other, splitting the skies as they went wild, tearing apart more of the castle in a crazy frenzy. At the same time, a powerful Hurricane had erupted from the castle, followed up by an azure explosion which most likely came from the power of Aura.
"W-What is happening up there?!" Somnambula stuttered after her heart was startled by those fearsome lightning bolts, a Hurricane and an unknown energy that she and the other Pillars have never seen before.
"It's Ash!" Twilight already knew who was behind that. Those Thunderbolts packed a ton of power and the only one she knew who could do that was Ash's Pikachu.
"Luca!" Delta Lucario tried sensing for any Auras inside and immediately, he sensed Ash and his Pokemon plus the Lich Queen's Aura. He could even sense the hidden Aura of the Pony of Shadows, Celestia, Luna and their Pokemon despite the fact that they were swallowed by the shadows.
"He's up there, alright. With the Lich Queen." Applejack nodded in confirmation. "If Ash stops the Lich Queen, then at least the Black Crusade will be all over. That'll just leave the Pony of Shadows."
"Yeah. If we can find a solution for him as soon as possible. He's invincible almost unless we banish him. Or maybe there's another way to stop him." Starlight wondered.
"What other way?" Starswirl questioned.
"There's no way he would fully go through with this Black Crusade plan. I mean, it has to affect him too, right?" Starlight thought about it for a while. "There's a good chance that Yveltal's destruction will take the Pony of Shadows' life as well."
"That could happen." Radiant Hope agreed. "After all, the Black Crusade intends to keep only vampires and skeletons around. There won't be any use for other species across the world. And recently, I heard that involved space as well."
"Maybe...we can convince the Pony of Shadows?"
"Bah! There's no convincing him." But Starswirl vehemently disagreed with that. "The Pony of Shadows was not interested in reconciliation. Once a villain, always a villain."
"I don't know about that..." Twilight replied. "Ash bonded with Sombra, an Umbrum, so it's not like it's impossible. The best we can possibly do is convince him not to help make the Black Crusade a reality.
"Someone bonded with an Umbrum? Impossible..." To Starswirl that was a wild thing to hear. Anyway! I need to find a solution. To any of you unicorns plus alicorn, assist me in the castle." Starswirl would make his way to the castle, wanting all the magical help he could get. Twilight would join him along with Sunburst and Radiant Hope, but not Starlight, who stayed behind.
"It's not impossible, honestly." Fluttershy pondered. "I'm sure anyone would want to move away from the Black Crusade, especially when it comes for them."
"You all knew the Pony of Shadows before he became what he is now. You must've been friends. So what happened?" Starlight asked, hoping one of the Pillars could answer this.
"The tale of our rift is a sad one." The one to answer it would be Rockhoof, who chose to share the story of the Pony of Shadows and how he was once friends with the Pillars many years ago. Even after being trapped in limbo, the memories of the past did not escape him or his friends.
Thousands of years ago.
And it all happened in one town. And at that town, some familiar faces were flying around it who still exist in the modern day. But they were completely different from what they used to be.
It was none other than the Sirens. Adagio Dazzle, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk. By this time, they were no longer children and were capable of working without any adults nearby. Then again, all the adults they knew of including their own mother were sent away to another world.
The sisters flew over a rather simple town. And when looking down on it, together, the three sisters would do what they do best. Sing. In unison, they would unleash an operatic singing, sending red soundwaves that flocked towards the citizens of this town. And doing what they do best, the Sirens would spread negativity, starting with one unicorn who heard the beautiful yet ominous sound. Her eyes turned green from hearing it as other ponies in this old town would be graced with this melodic sound.
But it was anything but peaceful. Once they heard it and all of their eyes turned green, they would turn hostile. The unicorn would be attacked by a fellow citizen of this town out of nowhere and she would attack him back as well. This town would soon fall to negativity and high hostility as the citizens started destroying what they had built. Windmills were torn down as building structures were being vandalized.
Ponies were attacking each other left and right for no good reason. It was just mindless anger and hatred. Completely fake yet completely beneficial to the Sirens. All of this negativity was flying over to the Sirens, filling their gems and power. And walking nearby this town was a pony named Stygian.
Stygian was a pony like the rest of us, though more scholar than hero. He recognized our emerging world would need champions to defend it. Rockhoof narrated. Stygian stood there, perplexed by the damage being done to this small town thanks to the Sirens. Something like this needed an immediate solution. And thankfully, he had that solution.
The Pillars.
He gathered them all, bringing them to the town that the Sirens were drawing more negativity from. After all, it was him that made the Pillars see each other back to back. Flash Magnus flew over to try and distract the sirens and to say it worked was an understatement.
After all, these were the same Pillars that sent away a majority of the Sirens and now there were only three years left. Though they were older now, it hadn't been that long since they last saw the Sirens so the faces of Starswirl and the others did not escape them. When seeing Flash Magnus, Aria angrily hissed at the pegasus before unleashing a red beam from her mouth. Luckily for him, his shield is what protected him from Aria's beam.
Rochkoof, with his great strength plus his shovel, would launch large rocks up to the sirens, attempting to knock them down, only for Aria to destroy that as well. Seeing that Pillars had come to finish what they started with the previous sirens, prompted the three sisters to engage with them.
When approaching, their attention was caught by Somnambula who would fly circles around them to get their attention, giving her friends enough to think of something. And already, Starswirl was on it. There was only one solution to this. To send them away, just like he did with the rest of the sirens.
Much like their mother Vivace, Starswirl opened up a large portal in the air that led to a mysterious world that was actually the Human World. And with Somnambula forcing them to chase her down, she would get close to the portal, juking them out at the very end.
The Sirens passed through the portal to the Human World, joining their mother and the rest of the Sirens on the other side at last. And with their disappearance, the negativity they spread would diminish immediately. On that day, that was when all the Sirens left Equestria and this entire world, entering another.
Naturally, this garnered massive praise from the small town of ponies who were thankful for the Pillars. Something like this wasn't a surprise. They were used to this praise by now. But there was one pony who wasn't used to it since he's never received it. Not once. And that was Stygian, who stood in the back while Starswirl and everyone else were being praised for saving the town.
He may have gathered us together, but he himself was just an ordinary unicorn who soon grew jealous of our abilities." Flash Magnus soon narrated the story as well.
And with this feeling, Styigna wished to stand out from the Pillars and gain an equal amount of recognition. There wasn't much he could think of to do such a thing. Only one thing. And that one thing would lead to a rather unsavoury outcome.
"He stole objects from each of us. Artefacts to use in a spell." Mistmane said. Theft was his answer. He did it in secrecy, stealing specific items that all belonged to the Pillars. The same items that were used to seal the Pony of Shadows over at Ponehenge as he was the one who gathered them all there.
And it didn't take long for the Pillars to know he was behind it, arriving at Ponehenge to see Stygian's actions. He stole from them under their noses and didn't get away at all.
"And we cast him out for it." In Mage Meadowbrook's own words, this led to Stygian being cast out by his own friends.
We always thought he'd return and seek forgiveness. But when we saw him again, his heart was bent on revenge. He dashed even my hope of saving him." said Somnambula. When Stygian did show up once more to meet with the Pillars, the look on his face said it all.
After being cast out, revenge was burning bright within him. Except there was nothing bright in him at all. Only darkness. And that was shown by the shadows that poured out of his eyes. These shadows would then wrap around his face and soon his entire body, transforming him into someone else. Someone far more out there and larger than he ever was.
The Pony of Shadows.
Once just a normal unicorn, now he was the embodiment of shadows. The anger he felt from being cast out spoke volumes to how he reacted to it as he embraced the darkness to truly seek greater power than the Pillars. And he certainly succeeded in gaining that power.
Present Day.
"Oooh..." Rarity cooed before looking down, realizing one major thing in this whole story. The Dazzlings were involved and they were also at Magehold, fighting against the Black Crusade. If they were to see the Pillars, then that would create a new batch of problems. For now, Rarity kept quiet about it.
"But why did he steal artefacts?" Starlight asked.
No doubt it was an enchantment to take our powers for himself." Meadowbrook answered, believing that to be the reason. It was a fairly good answer but Starlight wondered if there was more to it.
"Huh. To think it happened right after the Sirens. It all comes back around, doesn't it?" said Pinkie Pie.
"What do you mean by that?" Now their attention had been diverted elsewhere and it greatly involved the Sirens.
"The Sirens are here." Applejack was the one to confirm it, not holding anything back and letting them all know about the existence of Adagio, Aria and Sonata.
"T-They're here?! All of them?!" Flash Magnus gasped.
"Well not all of them. At best, they managed to find their mom and-" Pinkie Pie paused for a moment, realizing the implications of them. Soon all of her friends realized what would happen if the Dazzlings and their mother saw the Pillars. "Ooh...Oh, that would be bad."
"Uh, let's forget about that for a moment!" Rarity squeed. "How about we all head in there and help Ash?!"
"Good call!" Applejack and everyone were in agreement as they quickly made their way towards the Lich Queen's castle. That would mean they'd have to go through the fierce battle happening near the castle but they were willing to take that chance.
It also surprised the Pillars that there were Humans here. Their eyes were on the Gym Leaders as the only Humans they were aware of were from the other world where Starswirl sent the Sirens. And speaking of the Sirens, they were hoping to not run into them. There was no telling what they would do if they saw the Pillars. In this hazardous area, they did not need a third force to start attacking them all.
All the while, over at the gateway that leads to Ponyville, a head was peering through. And that head was none other than Roseluck's head. She would take a look outside, witnessing the battle happening just near the outskirts of Ponyville. It was impossible to miss because of how hectic it was. Soon, all the other Ponyville residents, who have gotten wonderful sleep and rest would show up.
Mayor Mare stepped out of the gateway, followed by Stoutland, then Big Mac, then Scootaloo and so on and so forth. They returned to their town which had seen better days. And yet it was still hanging there, protected by the most unlikely of allies while also being threatened by possibly the most destructive force ever. And for Ponyville's residents to show up, they were here for only one reason. To help.
But for Roseluck, there was another reason why she was here.
Celestia and Luna were trapped. Swallowed by the darkness, they found themselves in a space so dark, they felt as if their vision was non-existent. A sea and sky of darkness were all that they received. And the same went for Gardevoir, Darkrai and Kommo-o.
Their bodies were still feeling the attacks they received back on the outside, tattered and bruised. They eventually fell on a surface of darkness as it was a hard fall too. They all groaned, falling into what seemed to be absolutely nothing. They didn't even have the time to recover.
When in this Darkness, there was barely any sound. No air or anything of the sort to listen to. Only the sounds of what hit this shadowy place. When they hit the ground, it made a haunting and lonely echo that reverberated across this lifeless space. Kommo-o's scales even made a clanging sound as if he was using Clanging Scales.
Rolling on the ground were the Light Stone and Dark Stone. In them, Reshiram and Zekrom were resting. But even they weren't safe from the shadows as they were swallowed into the shadows as well.
"Wake up, Princesses." There was another sound here and it was the most haunting one. The Pony of Shadows said as his shadows were already surrounding their bodies, keeping the Princesses on the Dark and empty floor. "You two have shadows within you. Powerful ones indeed."
"Y-You can't corrupt me..." A bruised Luna groaned, raising her eyes to see the Pony of Shadows. I've already made peace with Nightmare Moon." Luna groaned, pointing out how Nightmare Moon couldn't be brought out of her. No matter what you do, your shadows would not defeat me since I've conquered them already."
"Oh, I know. But about your big sister? Her name is Daybreaker, isn't it? Someone like her hasn't appeared yet compared to the Nightmare Moon." The Pony of Shadows then raised Celestia's head, making him look at her. "For Nightmare Moon, I can relate to you, Princess Luna."
"Relate to me?" Luna repeated.
"Nightmare Moon was the result of your sister completely overshadowing you. They danced in her sunlight while your moonlight only involved silence and a lack of action. Princess Celestia took all of the glory and that was when Nightmare Moon was born. I have to thank you for that. Because of your emergence as Nightmare Moon back at your old castle, some of my power was restored. So you inadvertently assisted in bringing some of my power back which is wonderful. It is also wonderful how this all ties back together and it seems to be your fault, Celestia."
"As if it's my fault..." Celestia breathed in and out while giving the Pony of Shadows an intensive stare.
"You remind me too much of Starswirl and the others because of that. Something about you is familiar too." The Pony of Shadows snarled. "And as for Daybreaker, she can only be unleashed under what appears to be true sadness, which is what I tend to unleash."
"If you unleash Daybreaker into the world, it will ruin you as well," Celestia warned him. "And besides, I would never let such a being emerge. Not for a second."
"G-Gardevoir...!" Trying to push through the shadows that held her down was Gardevoir as she was already angered by the fact that the Pony of Shadows was touching Celestia.
"I think not. There is nothing my shadows can't reach. You'll submit soon enough." The Pony of Shadows attempted to force Daybreaker out of Celestia, injecting her body with an overflow of shadows. Celestia would start screaming as her body was being subjected to a different kind of torture.
The shadows entered her body, digging into her magic and contaminating it. The same magic that Nightmare Moon possesses was being tampered with as the eyes of the Sun Princess were beginning to darken. Shadows were pouring out of her eyes and mouth, dropping into the darkness and blending in with it. But her spirit would resist, refusing to be overtaken by the shadows so that Daybreaker would never emerge. The Pony of Shadows felt this resistance as Celestia would not go down so easily.
Gardevoir growled, horrified to see what was happening to Celestia. She promised she'd help her through with this Daybreaker issue just like how she helped when she was just a Kirlia, having out-of-control power that nearly destroyed both worlds. The shadows that held her down were being pushed upwards by Gardevoir's sheer power as she attempted to get a Dazzling Gleam out.
Seeing how Celestia was resisting the shadows, the Pony of Shadows figured that he had to weaken her if he wanted to properly overtake her. And he did so by using the shadows to slam Celestia. The Ruler of Equestria was hit against the Shadow Walls which were hard to see but very much there and potent.
"Ugh!" A pained Celestia cried out as the impact of hitting the Shadow Walls was bewildering to the body. But she still resisted, staying strong and looking at the Pony of Shadows with an intensive body. The Pony of Shadows would try again, slamming Celestia around.
And he would do this repeatedly, hitting the Sun Princess against the walls and floor continuously. Back and forth, Celestia's body was being damaged constantly, sending shockwaves through the shadows. Her sister, Darkrai and her Pokemon watched as she was being horribly attacked. The Shadows kept entering her body, only adding to that pain.
Unable to take this anymore, Gardevoir's strength managed to break the shadows that held her down. From her body, she used Dazzling Gleam, bringing light to this Dark space. The rays of her Dazzling Gleam would strike at the shadows that held Luna, Darkrai and Kommo-o down, freeing them as well. Luna got up as soon as he could, still suffering from the damage she took earlier.
But right as they were freed, the shadows would strike at them immediately. Luna and the others received further damage, barely having any time to recover. Luna screamed as she was knocked onto her back by shadows which were unfortunately everywhere. Darkrai tried controlling these shadows but in his current condition, he was having a difficult time. Gardevoir almost fell on her back but managed to keep her balance, only for Shadow Chains to fly out and grab her arms and legs, keeping her restrained once more.
Darkrai received multiple blows to his chest via shadow tendrils as well as Kommo-o as the two of them were being repeatedly hit, completely stunned to do anything about this. And since Gardevoir was held down by the chains, she would also receive a beating from the shadow whips that emerged. The Embrace Pokemon had her entire body whipped as each hit felt like something searing was affecting her.
More and more, Celestia was being rag-dolled with no one to help her. The Pony of Shadows would then grab onto her horn, sending shadows through them as well. This added to Celestia's pain as she could do much but take all the hits. She breathed in and out as her regalia had been damaged from this fierce beating. Her mane was an absolute mess too but all of that didn't matter to her as long as she never lets the Pony of Shadows summon Daybreaker.
"Submit already!" The Pony of Shadows yelled, wondering why Celestia hadn't given in to the shadows yet.
"N-Never..." Celestia's will was too powerful. Much like the Sun she raises, her spirit burned bright. Possibly brighter than the Sun itself.
"Tch!" This greatly annoyed the Pony of Shadows who would vigorously slam Celestia into the ground, making her scream out in pain once more. And after sending her crashing into the ground, he summoned a large orb of shadows that would crash into Celestia's body.
She looked up at the massive sphere and before she knew it, it would combust around her body. The exploding shadows would launch Celestia's body and yet, that wasn't the end at all. While being sent flying, the shadows would chase her down, summoning tendrils to furiously hit her along the way. Celestia's beatdown wasn't over as the tendrils would then morph together to create a hammer, swinging it down on the Sun Princess.
With the same weight as a hammer but even larger, it was brought down on Equestria's Ruler, causing further extreme damage to her body. She hit the dark surface, causing a crack to emerge. A crater formed underneath the darkness, leading to only more darkness below.
Luna couldn't bear to see her sister take such a beating as she used the magic of Lunar Ire to push the shadows away from her, quickly flying to her sister's aid. However, once she took flight, her back was hit by another Shadow Hammer which also brought her down. Luna would soon make another crater as she felt her back tremble with the shockwaves rippling.
Eventually, the dark surface would break apart, sending Celestia and Luna down into further darkness. Somehow, it was even darker down there compared to what was already up here. Gardevoir yelled, once again ripping the shadows away from her. Her emotions were tied to her strength after all and she was currently enraged, giving her plenty of strength. She would try and fly to Celestia and Luna, only for a group of shadows to get in her way.
Gardevoir gasped as these shadows blocked her from getting any further. On top of that, when falling to the other part of the darkness that was below this surface, the crater that was originally formed would repair itself, blocking Gardevoir from reaching them. That didn't mean the Embrace Pokemon wouldn't try. But it wasn't just Celestia and Luna who fell through these massive craters. The orbs of Reshiram and Zekrom followed them, still having no signs of damage done to them despite their vulnerable states.
Their bodies hit another shadow surface, this time even more injured than ever. Celestia got the worst of it without a doubt. The two sisters groaned, squirmed and grimaced as the Light and Dark Stone fell next to them.
"I'll admit. Your resistance is stupendous." The Pony of Shadows complimented. "But no one is incorruptible. That much is true. Eventually, everyone falls victim to the shadows one way or another."
"Try all you want...!" Celestia groaned before having her head struck by a shadow tendril above. This happened while her head was already on the floor which only added to that staggering pain.
"S-Sister!" Luna yelled, wishing she could get up.
"We will stay here as long as possible until Daybreaker appears. After all, Daybreaker is a part of you. A part that you can't deny."
"No, she's not..." Celestia slowly raised her head, only for it to be slammed down by a claw of shadows.
"I've been told things about Daybreaker. Especially the one that comes from a place known as Universe 11." The Pony of Shadows laughed. "Judging by what I've heard, she is. She's had her experience with the Dread League and has emerged as quite the pony, embracing the shadows. Luna already unleashed Nightmare Moon, so you should do the same! It's the truth!"
The Pony of Shadows would continue beating down on Celestia, infecting her with shadows to try and force Daybreaker out of her. The Lich Queen had previously almost unleashed Daybreaker and the Pony of Shadows was certainly capable of it. However, Celestia was showing greater resistance now, trying to force Daybreaker to stay in and never show up.
Equestria. Ponyville. On the Nation Magehold. Day.
Meanwhile, the castle of the Lich Queen was currently being invaded once more. Previously, it was Ash and his Pokemon, who already stormed the place, currently taking on the Lich Queen. But right now, another group was heading for Ash's location. His friends, of course. They quickly moved through the hallway of the castle, seeing all the vampires who had been defeated by Ash and his Pokemon as he blew past so many of them.
Delta Lucario didn't even need to use his Aura to try and find Ash. The trail of destruction was enough. Ash certainly went wild here as the castle was a total wreck with plenty of rubble scattered everywhere even though no one had gone straight to the castle until Ash took action.
And joining them were almost all of the Pillars. The only one absent was Starswirl the Bearded, who was currently at Twilight's Castle with the Princess of Friendship herself. He was currently working on a solution for the Pony of Shadows, attempting to banish him once more. The rest of the Pillars would simply be the distraction.
But while Applejack and the others were approaching Ash, someone else had entered the castle but for a completely different reason. That was none other than Roseluck. She was here for her sister, wanting to confront her at last.
"Roseluck?!" Applejack noticed Roseluck running by, taking a different pathway that was opposite to Applejack's group. She had just come from Pallet Town, finally getting enough rest. And her first instinct was to go straight for her big sister.
"Sorry! I can't chat right now! I have to do something." Roseluck shouted.
"Wait! Does that mean everypony came back from Pallet Town?!" Rarity asked.
"Yes!" Roseluck would at least answer that before moving ahead. The pathway she took was different but her destination was still the same as Applejack's group. The Lich Queen's whereabouts which would also lead to Ash. But as they were pursuing them, the battle that Ash and Rosa were having would go so far that it reached them.
Roseluck came to an instant halt as a burst of darkness flew through the walls. Her pupils shrunk as she was nearly caught by the attack and the rubble as well. The debris came crashing through, nearly hitting her as the darkness would then vanish, leaving Roseluk rather stunned. But even after that, she was still perilous enough to continue moving forward.
"What's she trying to do?" Rainbow Dash wondered.
"She's going straight for the Lich Queen." But Applejack already knew what Roseluck was up to. The two sisters could potentially reunite once more. That is if Roseluck makes it through this hazardous area that was being torn up by the battle. The sound of lightning going off as well as a Hurricane could be heard.
That did not deter Roseluck. She'd gladly get close to the most dangerous area as that was where her big sister could be found. Roseluck moved past the droves of downed vampires who were slumped on the floor and stairs, completely bewildered by Ash's charge.
Delta Lucario finally took the time to sense the Auras, just to see if Roseluck was doing this for nothing. And when sensing the Auras, he saw how they were moving back and forth. Both Ash and Rosa had massive Auras, equal in size as each of them would flow differently. Ash's burned like a flame while Rosa's moved like a shadow.
And it wasn't just Delta Lucario sensing others. During her battle with Ash, Rosa Maledicta picked up on more presences within her castle. She took the time to sense them while using shadows to battle against Ash's Pokemon.
She sensed the Pillars which did not come as a surprise, but what did surprise her a bit was the presence of her little sister Roseluck. The fact that Roseluck was in the castle at this very moment was shocking since she would've never expected an average pony like her to make in here. Applejack and her friends, she expected something from them at least, but not Roseluck. Not her own sister.
Even though they were relayed, Rosa did not see Roseluck as her equal. She never did since she was always the bigger sister and the one possessing high amounts of magic while Roseluck was just an earth pony. But to see her here was definitely off-putting. But she knew this could only worsen since more ponies, Pokemon and people could enter the castle eventually.
"This castle's becoming too crowded now." Rosa Maledicta said before using shadows to grab an incoming Aura Sphere, stopping it in its tracks. "I think it's time to thin out the capacity."
"Huh?" Ash uttered, confused by what she meant by that.
"That means...I'm going to bring this castle down." Rosa Maledicta smiled, going for a highly destructive act that would try and bring this massive castle down.
"No way! But what about your subjects?" Ash gasped, thinking about the other vampires that could perish if Rosa Maledicta were to do such an act.
"They won't matter in the grand scheme of things. It's a worthy act and they might withstand it. But what about you?!" Rosa Maledicta was willing to take that risk. And to bring the whole castle down, she would use her magic, firing it at the floor. Just one strike of it would result in an overwhelming burst of power that appeared in the form of a dark green dome.
"Sir!" Sirfetch'd stood in front of his friends, holding out his shield to protect them from the incoming wave of destruction that was already taking up this entire hallway. Ash and the others squinted in the face of this massive explosion which blew away the entire floor and walls in an instant. The room was lit up, masking Ash and everyone in its blinding light. After destroying the hallway, it would expand, hitting more of the castle. Rooms were taken out by the explosion as the castle was hit where it really hurts.
The whole place was beginning to come down. It had finally reached its limit. The vampires who had been knocked out had no idea what was happening around them as the ceiling above would fall apart as a green light was blasting through the rest of the castle. Melody Moon and Bittersweet, who were also defeated, looked onward to see this wave of destruction coming their way, knowing that it was the Lich Queen who was behind this.
Roseluck felt the castle coming down as the floor would shatter right below her. The Earth Pony screamed as her movements came to an immediate halt and her life was put in danger. She looked up to see the falling rocks as everything around her, whether up, sideways or down was being destroyed by a powerful overflow of magic.
It looked like she would never reach her sister at all and that she would perish here. Just what Rosa Maledicta wanted. The more souls the better as the castle's destruction was even affecting the outside. The very top of it was tilting to the side, threatening to fall on the group that was just outside, having a massive brawl. Whether they were from the Shadow Army or Celestia's forces, the castle would try and crush them without a doubt. Cynthia and the others looked up to see the falling castle coming their way, interrupting many battles.
"Bay!" And in response, Bayleef would use her Fate-Changing leaves. Multiple of them. Each of these leaves from her body flew out, touching Applejack's hat. Fate had been changed as an equally large white light would counteract what the Lich Queen had made, moving through the castle and passing by every vampire nearby.
The entire castle had been enveloped by this light, changing the outcome of things as Bayleef refused to see anyone else get harmed during all of this. She just wanted this to be over and that correlated with how effective her Fate-Changing Act was.
With Fate Changing, the destruction of the castle still occurred. Rosa Maledicta's magic still went off, causing massive damage to the castle. But with one major difference. No grave injuries or worse were made thanks to Bayleef. The only outcome was the castle being in absolute ruins, no longer standing tall. All those inside and outside were safe from harm, even the vampires who were unconscious and unable to move.
Outside, the destruction of the castle still reached everyone else but the worst it did was knock a majority of them off their feet as a massive amount of rubble now littered the area. Even the Magehold Chamber had been brought down because of this.
Piles of debris were moved aside as everyone was amazed to see that they were all in one piece. They had Bayleef to thank for that, using a chunk of her Fate Changing Ability to save their lives.
"Bay...Bay..." Bayleef breathed in and out, completely exhausted after using what was seemingly every single one of her leaves. All of her leaves from her head and neck have come off. Even her tail had lost its leaves as there was barely anything left. And with the Sun being blocked by the dark clouds, it was hard for her to regenerate.
"Oh, dear! Get some rest, Bayleef. You did your best." Fluttershy would decide to put Bayleef back in her Poke Ball for safety. She did amazing work today, saving many lives. She most definitely deserved some rest until the Sun shows up once more.
"So much for following the trail of destruction, this whole place is a wreck now." Rainbow Dash pointed out as she could now see the outside thanks to how much destruction has hit the place.
"But we can still find, Ash," Applejack said. "It might be easier to find him this way since everything's been taken down." They would continue on their way nonetheless. After all, someone had to be behind this destruction and it was obviously the Lich Queen. If she were to try something like that again, finding her wouldn't be too hard.
But Roseluck still took some damage either way. She was on the ground, perplexed as she ended up landing on some debris. While Bayleef saved her life, that didn't stop her from taking damage. The same went for those outside. They were alive but injured as well as their Pokemon. They now had to battle around the rubble that had been formed by this.
However, standing strong even after all of that was the Heavenly Maiden Tree. No matter what, it would not break or suffer any damage. If anything, it seemed like a bastion of strength despite coming from Magehold. The presence it gave off was the complete opposite of what Magehold provides, however.
Even though the symbol of serenity stood strong, the symbol of destruction was about to move once more. Yveltal was beginning to wake up. His eyes flared open as the Dark Void could not contain him forever. And neither could anyone free him from his mind control. This wave of destruction was what finally woke him up.
And now that he was awake, the Shadows would raise him, supporting him back into the air. The Destruction Pokemon spread his wings out, taking flight once more as his movement created a powerful wind pressure. Cynthia and the other Pokemon Trainers gasped as they were too late to free Yveltal from the Lich Queen's control. Now that he was awake, his path of destruction would certainly continue.
But with one difference. Disable was still in effect, eliminating his Oblivion Wing in the meantime. That was at least one positive but that would not stop the Dark-Flying-Type from bringing down a rain of destruction. His Wings of Destruction met with the dark clouds as red lightning would crack in the sky from his presence alone. Cynthia shuddered at this awakening as her words spoke volumes as to how she felt about this.
"Ash. Please hurry."
Inside an unbearable darkness.
Even at this very moment, Celestia and Luna were still being beaten down by the shadows with Celestia getting the worst of it. Daybreaker was still trying to leave her body and the Pony of Shadows would not give up until she arrives and works under him.
Celestia had practically gone silent from this beatdown while Luna felt powerless to do anything. All the while, Daybreaker was slowly starting to emerge. Celestia could feel it. This struggle was bringing Daybreaker out more and more while she was trying her best to keep it back. But with each passing second of this beatdown, Celestia was growing weaker, taking all of these hits and harming herself even more just to prevent this other half of herself from emerging.
"It's useless! I can feel your control slipping!" The Pony of Shadows could already tell that he was close to succeeding. "In the end, everyone cannot deny the darkness inside of them! It is best to unleash it and let it roam free!"
"Y-You're wrong...I've conquered my darkness." Luna said while her face was being forced down onto the surface as if something was pressing it. "Nightmare Moon and I are proof of that. But even still, I can't bear to see my sister unleash something she doesn't want to."
"But you can't stop it. Not with your circumstances. You and I embraced the darkness from similar experiences. As for Celestia, she hasn't. But much like the Daybreaker from Universe 11, her experience will be somewhat similar, as long as she shows up."
"Who are you exactly...?" Luna questioned as the words of the Pony of Shadows made her realize that he was potentially someone else. And indeed he was. He was the pony Stygian. But she didn't know that and neither did Celestia.
"A pony who was wronged and became greater than those who wronged him. Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon are similar to me. That cannot be denied. After I'm done with Daybreaker, I'll go after Nightmare Moon and return her to the shadows You may not fight against Nightmare Moon anymore, Luna but your sister won't stop fighting against Daybreaker. That is her own fault!"
"Luna's right..." Celestia suddenly said, grabbing the attention of Luna and the Pony of Shadows. "I can't accept it..."
"Sister..."
"But I should. That part of me lives within me. It always has. It was my fault that Nightmare Moon was first unleashed on that day." Celestia continued while looking over at Reshiram's Light Stone which was lying there, completely static. "The magic within us reacts in so many ways. And that involves how our lives go. I was fearful of someone like Nightmare Moon and after I learned about Daybreaker, I feared what would happen to me. Would I turn out like that? But...I've recently learned something."
"And what would that be?" The Pony of Shadows sneered before sensing something. Suddenly, Reshiram's orb was starting to grow.
"I can't run from the truth. Luna has already embraced Nightmare Moon, knowing who she is. It already started with Lunar Ire. But more than that, Luna did more than embrace her."
"My sister is right..." Luna coughed. "After what I saw within Lunar Ire, I knew that Nightmare Moon was more than just a corrupted version of myself. She is me at the end of the day, built by my own fears, worries and desires. Even so, she changed. I need her and she needs me."
Suddenly, Zekrom's orb would start glowing as well, synergizing with Reshiram. Both of them were finally doing something, but it was in direct response to the words from the two Sisters.
"Hmph! What are you getting at?!" The Pony of Shadows roared.
"Whatever happens next...if Daybreaker does arrive, I will do the best that I can and accept the truth that she is apart of me. That she is me. After all, she's not a monster like you think she is. Flurry Heart taught me that much." Suddenly Celestia was starting to get back up, slowly overpowering the shadows that were holding her back.
"What you want from us isn't fully guaranteed to happen. Like Nightmare Moon, Lunar Ire and yes...even Sombra, the darkness can be our ally. It will not always side with somepony like you." Luna growled while straining herself to get back up.
It was the two sisters that were making Reshiram and Zekrom react in such a way. And that was for one good reason. The words they spoke harboured the two things they hold dear to them.
Truth and Ideals.
The Truth that Daybreaker is Celestia was hard to swallow but Celestia would do what she could, preparing for the worst. The ideals that Luna possesses have always been there. Nightmare Moon was the biggest example of that and she continues to be that example, becoming an ally instead of an enemy. And even the ideals of building a bond with the darkest counterparts. It may seem impossible to some but not Luna. With that, their respective elements were flaring out of their stones as, startling the Pony of SHadows as his darkness was being pierced by them.
"What is this?!" The Pony of Shadows gasped. He then looked over at Celestia and Luna who managed to stand back up, completely beaten and bruised, but not down. Not yet.
"That is your truth, Celestia. A Truth that we will see through together, from now until the end." Reshiram spoke, bringing a smile to Celestia's face, hearing his voice yet again.
"Your ideals are the same as always, Luna. I will follow you until that Ideal world you seek comes true." And the same goes for Zekromwho gained more of his strength.
In fact, it was more than just his and Reshiram's strength. It was all of it. The darkness was then pierced by a powerful eruption of Fire and Electric, blowing the Pony of Shadows back. The two elements made powerful pillars, temporarily forming a burst of Plasma before separating.
The place had been lightened up because of these bright elements that perfectly counted the darkness. The happiest look on Celesti'as face emerged as she saw him once more. No matter how beaten up she was, she couldn't help but smile while Luna made a light chuckle.
And out of them emerged the Dragon of Truth and the Dragon of Ideals. The Vast White Pokemon Reshiram and the Deep Black Pokemon Zekrom. Rejuvenated and back in action. They responded to the Truths and Ideals of the two alicorns, as that is what gave them the strength to return. It was what they stood for. The two sisters would then scream the names of the two Dragons as the Dark Realm was beginning to shatter just from their energies exploding.
"Reshiram!"
"Zekrom!"
Reshiram smiled, bowing to Celestia, showing respect. Not because she was a princess, but because she was his friend. But now, Celestia was no longer just a friend. From the words of Reshiram and even Zekrom, they would follow the two Alicorn Sisters.
They were now their Pokemon as the Dark Space was falling apart, unable to handle this sudden outburst of power that was burning and electrocuting the Darkness.
Reshiram and Zekrom had returned and they would soon return to the outside, ready to assist in this fierce confrontation. With Celestia and Luna expressing their Truths and Ideals, the Twin Dragons were essentially reborn. It has been too long since something like this happened.
Even though they both came from their own separate universes, their viewpoints were still the same as any other Reshiram and Zekrom in existence. With two more Legendary Pokemon entering the fray, the Black Crusade was about to be met with its biggest retaliation yet.
Equestria. Ponyville. On the Nation of Magehold. Day.
Emerging from the rubble around the ruined Magehold Castle was Ash, with all of his clothes in tatters. He and his Pokemon were the closest to that explosion that brought the castle down. It was Sirfecth'd who shielded him and the others from the blast, using his Leek Shield. And even though he kept them safe, he took major damage himself.
"Sir..." Sirfetch'd's body was smoking as well as his leek shield which was charred. He did a great job protecting them and as a bonus, Sombra had shielded Ash, using his magic in the mix. But it was clear that Sirfetch'd couldn't move properly with how stunning that explosion was.
"Thanks, Sirfetch'd. Return." For his sake, Ash would return Sirfetch'd.
"Still alive?!" She roared out of confusion, failing to understand how this was possible. I don't know how you keep escaping certain doom, Ash Ketchum! Whether it's sheer dumb luck or something else I don't understand.!" Blowing the rubble away was the Lich Queen, who was rather annoyed that Ash was still standing. Even after all of that. "You should be another victim for my soul collection! Why won't you stay down!?
"I used up plenty of magic, boy. Sorry, but it's just you now." Sombra spent plenty of magic when protecting Ash. Now, he didn't have enough to keep going long enough to support Ash.
"You've come this far, Ash Ketchum. Your fame certainly lives up. But even you hit a wall eventually! Your ceiling of strength stops here!" Rosa Maledicta sneered as suddenly, the darkness behind her would rise up, going straight to the clouds. Ash looked up as that darkness blended in with the clouds, even darkening them some more, blocking more of the Sun's rays. This rising darkness attracted others as it seemed like there was no limit to it. Constantly, the darkness would grow thanks to either the Lich Queen or the Pony of Shadows.
And from that darkness, Yveltal emerged. He has just woken up thanks to that massive wave of destruction Rosa Maledicta pulled off. Ash gasped as the Destruction Pokemon returned, back in action. Yveltal unleashed a powerful roar that made everyone aware that he was awake. The other Pokemon Trainers plus the entirety of Mageohld knew from the start but now Starswirl, who had only heard a few things about Yveltal, witnessed the Destruction Pokemon for the first time while working over at Twilight's Castle.
Applejack's group, who were trying to reach Ash as soon as possible, looked up to see Yveltal with some of them shuddering. With Yveltal awake, they were expecting an immediate Oblivion Wing. And with no Celestia in sight, they were worried no one would be here to stop it from going off. However, oblivion Wing was still disabled but that wouldn't stop Yveltal from causing as much damage as possible.
But before the Lich Queen could command Yveltal, she had the shadows move, approaching the Destruction Pokemon from above and below. The Destruction Pokemon was being enveloped and dressed in shadows, gaining them around his head and wings. These shadows were obviously here to strenghten Yveltal against his foes and the power that the Lich Queen was giving off was potent. So much so that Yveltal unleashed another roar to signify that.
"It's a shame that I couldn't force Xerneas out with all of this, but I'm sure to bring it out with Yveltal's next batch of destruction!" Rosa Maledicta had the roots carry her into the air to join Yveltal as red lightning would crack the sky. Ash readied himself for the worst, clenching his fist while Pokemon took on their respective stances. "And after Xerneas shows up, then I'll end Yveltal's life and guarantee absolute destruction!"
"No, you won't! We're gonna stop you!" Ash bellowed at the Lich Queen while she was rising as a streak of red lightning hit the ground near him.
"You can try but you'll fail all the same! I've already seen this outcome!" Rosa then laughed in sync with the red lightning. Just then, a rain of red lightning came crashing down from Yveltal's body, hitting whatever it could. The buildings of Magehold were being struck by the Red Lightning, taking even more damage than they previously did as Magehold was starting to look more and more horrible.
It wasn't just Magehold. The lightning would rain down on Ponyville too, going to great lengths thanks to the massive dark cloud in the sky. The lightning would damage this already damaged town, making things worse for it. But on top of that, it damaged the Creatures of the Everfree. The Ursa Major was the biggest target, receiving multiple Red Lightning hits as it let out its sky-piercing roar.
The other Everfree Creatures cried out as the Red Lightning either struck them or nearly struck them. The Hydra was knocked over from these hits. Once the Ursa Major fell, it caused a large tremor that brought down more of Ponyville's structure.
This also targeted Celestia's forces who had the Shadow Army to worry about, but now there was also the Red Lightning that came from Yveltal. They all braced themselves as the land was practically turning red from all of this. Twilight's Castle didn't even feel safe anymore as the darkness was hovering over it. The light would strike at parts of the castle, bringing destruction everywhere. And with the dark clouds lengthening, going to further lengths, it seemed like it wouldn't stop at just Ponyville. The Lich Queen continued to laugh, amping up horrible destruction once more.
Obviously, Ash was ready to head up there and stop the Red Lightning as soon as possible. But suddenly, something had pierced the shadows before he could make his movement. An eruption of Fire and Lightning emerged from the castle, surprising even Rosa Maledicta. The two hot elements would fly up at high speeds, grazing the mane of the Lich Queen. With her pupils shrinking for a moment, she eyed down the FIre and Lightning as they hit the top of the sky, piercing the darkness.
"What?!" Rosa Maledicta shouted as the clouds were beginning to clear. And once they cleared themselves, the Sun would appear once more, returning to grace Equestria with its wonderful sunlight. The Red Lightning that was raining down had been diminished by this blue lightning. A very familiar blue lightning.
The Fire and Lightning were joined by two rays of Magic. Solar Gold and Night Blue. They synergized perfectly with the Fire and Lightning before bringing clear skies to Ponyville. And the ones to emerge were none other than the Royal Sisters Princess Celestia and Princess Luna plus the Dragon Duo Reshiram and Zekrom.
Their wings moved the winds themselves as the roars of the two Dragons went off. Flying right above them were Celestia and Luna who have escaped the dark space constructed by the Pony of the Shadows. And after emerging from it, a stronger bond has been formed. Celestia and Luna were now the Trainers of Reshiram and Zekrom.
"Awesome! You showed up just in time!" Ash cheered.
"The Shadows didn't completely consume you?! Impossible!" The Lich Queen said in utter disbelief, seeing four Legendary Figues in the sky. Seeing those four under the beautiful sky where the Sun was shining brought everyone else from below plenty of hope too.
The power that was radiating from these two Dragons was strongner than ever. Their strenghtened bond with the Royal Sisters correlated with their natural strength. Such was the speciality of a Pokemon and a Pokemon Trainer. The Lich Queen sneered at them.
"Let's finish this. Reshiram! Blue Flare!"
"Zekrom! Bolt Strike!"
"I think not! Oblivion Wing!" Rosa ordered. But she would soon find out that Yveltal could not use Oblivion Wing at all. The Destruction Pokemon simply hovered there as Reshiram and Zekrom built up their attacks. "What?! Is Oblivion Wing still DIsabled?!"
Meanwhile, Reshiram took a deep breath as his eyes flashed blue for a moment. His tail rustled as a powerful overflow of flames was building up inside of him. After gathering so much fire in a short time, Reshiram unleashed a powerful stream of light blue flames from his mouth, hotter than anything else that has appeared during this long battle while Zekrom would fly alongside the attack.
The electric generator inside Zekrom's tail starts to spin and glow light blue with electricity. Zekrom then clenched his fists and his body becomes surrounded by yellow electricity with large yellow lightning bolts coming off of it as well. Zekrom was going for a full-force tackle against Yveltal.
"Fine! Use Sky Attack!" Rosa would go for the other options since Oblivion Wing was unavailable. Yveltal rose higher into the air as his body then became surrounded by a dark aura with red energy, flying at top speed. This was obviously meant for Bolt Strike while the Red Lightning from before would support Yveltla, going for Reshiram's Blue Flame.
Zekrom and Yveltal would clash, causing a powerful ripple in the sky that blew away the clouds while also unleashing the sound of thunder multiple times. The pressure of their impact sent a sky-rippling shockwave and wind pressure akin to that of multiple tornadoes, reaching everyone below.
As for the Red Lightning, once it met with the Blue Flare, an equally strong pressure went off. Zekrom and Yveltal then backed away from each other after their attacks clashed, going in for another clash. They would go back and forth with Bolt Strike and Sky Attack, entering a full-on aerial battle.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Dark Void!"
"Garde!" They would get their support, of course. From Gardevoir and Darkrai who were also in the air, unleashing rainbow rays and a void of darkness. Gardevoir interrupted Yveltal's movements with a barrage of rainbows, allowing Zekrom's Bolt Strike to land. When hit by it, a huge amount of volts would punish his body, making him cry out as loud as he could. All that was left was for Dark Void to land.
"Not this time! I've made Yveltal immune to your Dark Void with the shadows!" Rosa Maledicta exclaimed as the Dark Void completely phased through the Destruction Pokemon, unable to put him to sleep.
"Is that so? Fine with us!" Luna was unbothered by this. "Darkrai, Poison Jab! Zekrom, use Dragon Claw!"
"Yveltal, use Dark Pulse, now!" The battle in the sky would continue once more. Now that Reshiram and Zekrom were involved, things were looking up and taking quite the turn. Flashes in the sky went off as the two great powers would clash yet again.
Returning to the scene was also the Pony of Shadows, who failed to consume Celestia and Luna's hearts with shadows. They even broke out of his dark space. The Alicorn Sisters had gone above and beyond to resist this and it showed. He growled, frustrated that his plan failed. He expected Celestia to turn to the shadows and become Daybreaker, but instead, she accepted that Daybreaker was her at the end of the day. And when she does emerge, Celestia would do her best to overcome her. Something like that went against what the Pony of Shadows stood for, obviously.
"Sister!" Shouting out her sister's name was one more individual who joined this part of the castle that barely had a room left. An all too familiar voice that Ash recognized. Unfortunately for Rosa Maledicta, she recognized it too. The one to enter this part of the castle was none other than her little Roseluck.
She breathed in and out as she managed to beat Applejack and the others here despite being set back by the destruction and taking some damage. And the one to help her here was her partner Roserade, who support Roserade by making sure she didn't pressure and overtax herself.
"Roseluck! Of course you had to show up next!" Rosa Maledica hissed and groaned at her little sister's arrival. "I expected the destruction to have taken you out by now."
"Not yet..." Roseluck huffed and puffed. "Not until I reunited with you."
"What? Come here to talk me out of it?" Rosa Maledicta mocked her, expecting Roseluck to try something like that.
"No...I'm way too upset to do that. After everything you've done, I decided on what I had to do. Even though we're family, I can never forgive this and the best thing to do is smack you silly for it."
"Hoh? Big words. Just like when you were little, you would always talk in a way to make yourself seem bigger than me. It seems that it carried over." Rosa taunted her. "I already have to deal with Ash Ketchum and you honestly aren't as much of a problem as he is!"
"Yeah, right!" Ash spoke back. "Roseluck's got a ton of strength to really make you think of your feet! The same goes for everyone back at Ponyville!"
"Pikachu!"
"Thanks, Ash. Pikachu." Roseluck smiled before facing her sister once more. "This isn't the reunion I wanted. I kept on trying to swallow the hard fact that my own sister became the Lich Queen. An enemy to not just Equestria but the entire world. But after doing it, I know what has to be done. Someone like you can't and won't win, no matter what."
"Even you think I'll be defeated just because of that?" Rosa narrowed her eyes. "You haven't changed at all. Such a childish and pathetic thought. With me at helm, anything is possible! There is no task I cannot get done and I eventually get to it. You of all ponies should know that."
"Well...I'll stop you then!" Roseluck shouted. "I always got in your way during your work, wanting to play with you. Now I've got the perfect reason to pester you!"
"You're facing absolute despair, little sister." Rosa took one step forward, releasing an atmosphere-changing pulse of darkness that made Roseluck shudder for a moment. "I suggest you refrain."
"I've got your back, Roseluck." Ash said, supporting Roseluck. With Ash here, Roseluck felt a great sense of confidence. He was the one who inspired all of Ponyville's residents when it came to Pokemon and being brave in the face of overwhelming danger.
"Hold on...It seems there are more guests entering this room." The Pony of Shadows said, sensing another batch of intruders. And they were ones he recognized. The Pony of Shadows already identified them as the Pillars. The same Pillars who banished him to Limbo all those years ago. And joining them were the rest of Ash's friends.
"Ash! There you are!" Applejack shouted upon arrival. At last, they finally showed up to where Ash and Rosa was and it was all thanks to the destruction of the castle. And upon showing up, both Ash's friends and the Pillars looked over at different individuals. Ash's friends spotted Roseluck while the Pillars eyed down the Pony of Shadows. "You beat us here?"
"This is getting out of hand." Rosa grumbled as more and more intruders were getting closer, making it through the Black Crusade. By now, she would've expected more lives to be lost.
"So, you showed up even after everything happening outside." The Pony of Shadows said to the Pillars. "But where is Starswirl?"
"Starswirl is busy at the moment, finding a way to seal you back in Limbo." Rainbow Dash said, referring to the fact that Starswirl suggested using the Elements of Harmony as the new sealing items. "I just hope he and Twilight come back soon with them."
"Not this time." The Pony of Shadows shook his head in denial. With the assistance of the Lich Queen, I won't be sent back into Limbo. You can throw away that thought, Pillars. And I have more than just the Lich Queen to support me. When you turned your backs on me, I discovered the Hollow Shades. The darkness spoke to me of a power beyond any I could imagine, and I listened. The shadow and I became one. Soon, all of the realms will be the same. Then all ponies will feel the despair I did when you cast me out! The Darkness will support me, unlike all of you!"
"That starts with all of you." Rosa Maledicta added to the conversation. "I've also embraced the shadows. I did it when I was still learning more about magic and Magehold was the perfect place to accept my dabbling in the dark arts. Becoming the Lich Queen was the best outcome for me since they all shunned my work. Now, they will perish as a form of delightful payback."
"The Shadows are more inviting than anything out there. Not only that, they will never betray you. There are no selfish acts from the Shadows." The Pony of Shadows boasted. "And there is no greater ally than the Shadows."
"I don't know about that..." Starlight thought otherwise. She had a gut feeling that the Lich Queen would betray the Pony of Shadows, taking his life as well. And to try and see if Twilight and Starswirl were ready, she used telepathy to speak with them as Twilight's Castle wasn't too far from here. "Twilight...Please tell me you're done."
"We're done! And we're heading your way right now! Just hang in there! Indeed, Twilight and Starswirl were done, having the Elements of Harmony with them. All Starlight and her friends had to do was hold out since each of them were compatible for the elements. The Pillars were the ones who even laid the groundwork of the elements.
Above, the cries of Reshiram, Zekrom and Yveltal could be heard as their battle raged on in the sky. To anyone watching this, it would look like the wildest fireworks are going off as each attack that was being launched was enough to demolish both Ponyville and Magehold.
Rosa Maledicta, seeing how things were turning, had to change it up a bit. She was still being carried into the air by the roots as the Pony of Shadows would join her in the air. She had more than just the Pony of Shadows to assist her. The Box of 100 Demons was still a factor. Previously, it was used to carry Magehold through the air again as it was still of some use, even if the 97 demons within it were infected and ill.
When holding her hooves out, she summoned the Box of 100 Demons, needing its assistance once more. The Lich Queen couldn't afford to waste anymore time with these intruders as they were setting her back greatly with each action they do.
"Even though they are not my own creations, I can still affect the Demons in some way." She said to the intruders and her own sister below. "I can use their powers externally without them needing to do anything. All that magic within them is precious, even when weakened."
"That's not yours though! That's Chrysalis'!" Rarity shouted, bringing up the true owner of the Box who should be wielding it instead of the Lich Queen.
"Not for long. Now, Demons! Unleash your magic on the world!" Without wasting anymore time, the Lich Queen would unleash the magic from within the Box of 100 Demons, forcing the demons to release their magic. The green magic inside would fly out, reaching the skies above and passing the battle that was going on at the moment.
Reshiram and Zekrom took notice of this while battling Yveltal, wondering if they should do something about it as soon as possible or focus on the Destruction Pokemon. Or even both. Reshiram and Zekrom looked at each other, nodding in understanding. One would deal with Yveltal while the other would focus on the energy that was being shot up.
"Reshiram, wait!" Celestia suddenly made Reshiram stop, not wanting him to do something about this magic that was rising into the air. Reshiram was a bit confused but when looking at Celestia, she could tell that she knew something that the Lich Queen didn't.
The magic went higher than anything has during this entire vent as the cries of the Demons would howl through the air for many to hear. And the ones who heard the demons crying out first were Fluttershy and Audino, especially Audino. Once again, the Lich Queen would prepare an attack from above.
But this one was far different from what she was doing before. In fact, it was very similar to what Opal Vivacity once did. Every power that each of the demons possessed was being utilized in one attack as the dark clouds from far away were rapidly gathering around one spot.
With all of them gathering, they would swirl at high speeds that no one has ever seen before. Never before have they seen clouds move that fast before. With 97 different magical abilities within the clouds, they were all building up a powerful blast of magic. The skies trembled from all of this magic gathering together. Nature had no response to such a strange overflow of magic. So many magical abilities were going off at the same time, throwing everything in disarray. Nearby hills were being to fall apart, rivers, lakes and seas were either heating up or turning cold.
The weather even went through an inconsistent cycle. Snow, rain and hail would fall from above as they would appear and reappear constantly. It was the entire world trying to figure out what to do with this wild event and everything that was disrupting nature itself but there was no proper solution. The Lich Queen was truly throwing everything out of balance. And once enough magic had been gathered, from the clouds, a gigantic green beam that had darkness around it would fly down, threatening to crash into the land and spread an even greater form of destruction than before.
However, something intercepted the beam from above, entering it. A Gigantic Lightning Bolt. Rosa Maledicta gasped as this lightning bolt had completely shattered the beam. That was no ordinary lightning bolt and it didn't even come from Zekrom. He was too busy clashing with Yveltal. This was another powerful lightning bolt. One that came from the highest points in the world.
"The Master Bolt!" Ash recognized that lightning bolt anywhere. It was none other than the Master Bolt which came straight from Pegalysium.
High above the skies of Equestria and moving away from that nation entirely was another nation entirely. At the height of the world, the nation in the sky, exclusive to only pegasi, Pegalysium had gotten involved. And they had already repaid the favour Equestria had already done for them.
Celestia smiled as that was the reason she did not have Reshiram unleash an attack on the magic that was rising. She had faith in Pegalysium and she was right to have it. But it didn't stop there. That was just one part of the Master Bolt. More of them were being thrown from above, targeting the Lich Queen.
These mighty bolts came crashing down as not even the skies were in the favour of the Lich Queen. Not when it was already on the side of Equestria. She and the Pony of Shadows put up a shield of darkness to protect them from the bolts, which hit hard enough to warrant them to be careful.
And high above, the ones throwing the lightning bolts were not just the Pegalysium Soldiers. It was dangerous for them to wield the Master Bolt since it was a giant Lightning Bolt that would electrocute them. The ones assisting them in this were the Unown. The Unown were the ones helping them wield it properly, grabbing them and protecting around the hooves as the Master Bolt was being carried by other Unown.
And the one who was eyeing down Equestria, ordering where to fire the bolts was the King of Pegalysium. King Paramount. He had full eyes on the nation even from this angle. But of course, it was the Unown who assisted him in seeing that far. The Unown had truly turned into the best possible allies for Pegalysium, just like how Equestria became their allies as well.
"Now's our chance! Let's break through that shield, everyone! Thunderbolt!" Ash took this as an opportunity to take out the shield as soon as possible. The Master Bolts were already pressuring the two of them so it was time to add to that pressure.
"Pikaaa...Chuuu!" Pikachu built up as much electricity as he could as all of his friends would do the same, using what they could to shatter that shield. Audino would use Hyper Beam, Lucario would use Aura Sphere while his Delta Variant would go for his newest move, Dark Matter. A Frenzy Plant from Sceptile and another Aura Sphere from Mew. Those who would get up close and personal were Pheromosa, Raboot and Braviary.
Together, they all unleashed the strongest attacks they could use. The Pillars watched in awe as these attacks came flying out. They witnessed what it was like to see these attacks go off at this close of a view. The Lich Queen and the Pony of Shadows looked over to see these attacks flying in as Raboot, Pheromosa and Braviary smashed into the barrier while the attacks from a long distance would follow up. Dragonite and the rest of Ash's Pokemon chimed in, adding to that growing pressure.
"Roserade! Petal Blizzard!" Roseluck, showing that she had no hesitation in attacking her sister, had Roserade unleash a storm of petals that joined everyone's attacks.
And with a plethora of powerful attacks coming from different sides, it didn't take long for the shield to break. Not even the Lich Queen could stop this as her defences had been shattered. The result was a collection of Infinity Energy combustions plus an electrifying outburst from the Master Ball. Both of them screamed, enveloped by the bright light that came from both sides.
The castle, at this point, was gone. The last room that was still standing was no longer standing, obliterated by these attacks from the side and above.
As for the Box of 100 Demosn, it would drop to the ground, failing to be held up by Rosa Maledicta's magic. It fell from a rather high place with all the demons inside possibly in grave danger if it were to shatter. Thankfully, the one to catch it was none other than Twilight Sparkle, who used her own magic to hold it
Twilight looked over at the spot where so many attacks went off, witnessing how scarred the land was from all of this battling. The repairs that would have to be done here would be significant without a doubt. But the real question was what happened to the Lich Queen after the explosion consumed her and the Pony of Shadows.
"Amazing...D-Did you win?" Somnambula questioned, wondering if that was the end of it. But lo and behold, once the smoke cleared, it was not. Despite all of that, the Lich Queen and the Pony of Shadows were still standing.
However, as a caveat, they had been visibly damaged from this. Especially the Lich Queen. Her body was smoking after being hit with so many attacks as most of that smoke came from the Master Bolt. The Pony of Shadows growled, using the darkness around him to regenerate. He could simply heal himself but he was still absolutely bewildered by what he felt, even taking the time to recollect his thoughts.
Rosa Maledicta breathed in and out as her horn was also smoking. She had used a plethora of her magic at the last second to cushion most of the explosion, going through her own close-call. Despite her embracing the shadows and taking on her true form, she was still having a hard time.
It was hard for her to believe. The Lich Queen was in full belief that she would win. And from everything that happened prior to Opal Vivacity's defeat, that seemed to be the case. But ever since Opal Vivacity lost, it seemed that things were shifting away from her favour. The Lich Queen wanted to believe that because Opal was the true cause of the Lich Cycle, that her defeat brought some downsides.
But in reality, that was not the case. It was simply the strength of others working together. The teamwork that all of Equestria has built up over the years was something wonderful that no amount of destruction could overcome, compared to what Rosa Maledicta has built up.
"So...That's how it is." Rosa Maledicta uttered as her eyes shifted to the side, before going up to see the Destruction Pokemon. Taking in everything that has happened, she saw that her options were slim now. The Box of 100 Demons approach has failed. So many approaches have failed thanks to these intruders and Xerneas was nowhere to be found. So much magic has been watsed and so many Magehold resources had gone to waste. "I had hoped that I would find Xerneas first...But it seems I have no other options!"
She went for her final plan. The plan she wanted to execute from the beginning but could not thanks to the existence of Xerneas. She was backed into a corner now and went for that final plan as a bit of red lightning would spark in the air, for a brief moment.
"Sister! Don't do it!" Roseluck shouted but it was too late. The Red Lightning snuck up on Yveltal, moving faster than the rest that have come before. Right as Yveltal was about to unleash another Sky Attack, he had been struck
Straight through the chest, the Red Lightning passed through Yveltal. Celestia, Luna and everyone had their jaws in disbelief. They knew this was coming but they never thought it would actually happen. They believed that so much would've been done to stop this from ever happening. But alas, the Lich Queen, in her most desperate moment, risked it all. Yveltal saw it coming too but was powerless to resist. He was just a pawn for the Lich Queen to execute one simple, horrible action. And it was done in the form of his own demise.
The Destruction of the World was about to begin and end just as quickly.
Equestria. Ponyville. On the Nation of Magehold. Day.
Yveltal had been hit.
The Lich Queen finally did what she wished to do for so long. Ending Yveltal's life. And in return, the end of everyone else on the planet. Yveltal felt everything fading fast as the Red Lightning caused the most maximum amount of damage possible to him. Everything came to a halt. Not just for Yveltal, but for everyone who looked at him, witnessing the Destruction Pokemon receive this blow.
Out of thin air, an immeasurable amount of Infinity Energy appeared, closing in on Yveltal's body. His whole body from the inside and outside would tremble as the most violent form of Infinity Energy was building up at this very moment. And with the most devious grin on Rosa Maledicta's face, she was excited about what would happen next. Or rather, instantly.
And once it all gathered within Yveltal, it would combust. All the destructive power he wields had been unleashed in the form of a deep crimson red wave. The sound it made overpowered everything else as the clouds themselves had been destroyed by this red wave.
Celestia, Luna and their Pokemon already knew what was coming their way and they still couldn't believe it. They each tried flying back as fast as they could as they were the closest to Yveltal, but alas, it was too late for that. The wave was far too fast for them to avoid. So if they couldn't avoid it, they would try and defend themselves. Together, the two alicorn sisters put up the biggest shields they have ever created as their lives were truly on the line. Nothing came close to this.
These shields were large enough to protect all of their Pokemon, but it was a matter of it they could properly defend themselves. The red wave approached them, hitting their shield as Celestia and Luna braced themselves. It had enveloped them while the shield was up, continuing on its path of destruction.
As for the Lich Queen, the way she would survive this was already planned for. A spell that appeared to have the same colouring as Yveltal's Aura appeared around her body as protection from this wave. But unfortunately for many others, the wave got to them inevitably. And that involved the Shadow Army. The Golurk had been struck by the wave, unable to escape it as it engulfed them while continuing on its way. The Golurk were frozen when trying to flee as their bodies had turned to stone as the life within them, despite being artificial, had been snuffed out.
The trees had died out as well as even the Heavenly Maiden Tree was enveloped in this red wave. The Canterlot and Crystal Empire soldiers could not flee either as they were overtaken by the wave. The last thing they all saw was a red wave that was blinding to the eyes. Twilight would descend near her friends, in utter disbelief and completely fearful of what was approaching.
The Shadow Army gained no protection from this. The Pony of Shadows expected the Lich Queen to shield them with the same magic she was currently using, but they received no protection either. Those possessed by the shadows had been engulfed by the red wave as well and next in line was Cynthia and everyone else.
Cynthia closed her eyes along with her Garchomp as their bodies were overtaken by the wave of destruction, snuffing the life out of them. Drayden, Bea, Brawly, Roxie and Roxanne and the other Gym Leaders were not safe at all, becoming victims to Yveltal's Life Ending wave of destruction.
Not even the Magehold citizens were safe from this. Originally, they would've been protected, but since they rebelled against the Lich Queen, they were now eligible to be destroyed.
Even those inside of the buildings were taken out. Whether it was in the Magehold Chamber or even the remains of the castle. The Pokemon from PokePark and the Pokemon House could not fight back against such a force, succumbing to the red wave like all the rest.
The Pony of Shadows noticed how he wasn't safe from this at all. There was nothing he could do to avoid Yveltal's Destruction. He looked over at Rosa Maledicta, who showed no consideration for him at all. Once more, he had been betrayed and this time, there was no way for him to take revenge. Before he could shout Rosa Maledicta's name or even attack her, the red wave took her out.
"It's over!" Rosa Maledicta shouted, raising her hoof as she felt incredibly victorious with all the life around her being taken out. "I win! You lose!" She cackled as the wave had reached her, but even when her body was engulfed by it, the Lich Queen could be heard laughing. She had found a way to defend herself against the Life-Ending Wave just to pull this off. The same couldn't be said for everyone else
However, the moment the red wave approached Ash and his group, crashing down at high speeds was a beam of light. The same light that comes from the Sea Temple Crystals. And from that light was none other than Galaxy Master, who had his hands out, here to defend his son and his friends.
"Dad?!" Ash gasped as Galaxy Master was already using all of his power to try and stop this wave. The light from his body would flare as bright as possible. The sound of the wave reached everyone's ears as it was incredibly haunting to listen to, especially to Audino.
The hands of Galaxy Master met with the wave as he could be heard grunting in pain from something that intended to take his life. The light from his body would shine as bright as it could, trying to push back against the wave as the ground beneath him and everyone else would tremble.
Galaxy Master then made his light expand as far as it could right as the red wave was growing as well. Ash and the others braced themselves as they saw both the light and wave of destruction of which would reach them each at the same time. And soon, the rest of Magehold, Ponyville and beyond were obliterated.
All citizens were caught. No one was able to avoid something like this. And unfortunately, that meant the gateway as well. It didn't matter if there was a gateway. The wave of destruction would pass through it, entering Ponyville. It was already spreading across Equestria, turning the skies red and obliterating the land and everything that stood before it.
It reached a height so great that not even those from the nation in the sky, Pegalysium, found themselves safe. This wave intended to obliterate everything. The entire planet was its victim. King Paramount, the Unown and all those living on Pegalysium and beyond were overtaken, helpless against Yveltal's Life-Ending Explosion.
There was no region that was safe from this. Delia, who sat peacefully at her home, heard the wave even before it reached the gateway. She and those at Ponyville witnessed a crimson light flying over. Spectrum Shade, who was still over there, would gasp, knowing what this meant. She wasn't sure what to do in the face of such destruction. She did what she could, using the best of her magic to protect Delia and Mr Mime as the Wave of Destruction engulfed the entire house.
Professor Oak and Ash's Pokemon were next, minding their own business until they saw the wave, confused and bewildered. Soon, the entirety of Kanto had been overtaken and other regions were next. In just a few minutes, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar and other regions were engulfed as life from all around the world had been destroyed.
Soon, the entire planet had turned red, burning almost as bright as the Sun. The wave even tried going further than that, but it reached its limit with Earth. It could go no further but what it managed to do was already enough as the light was beginning to fade away. That signified that Yveltal had fallen at last.
The World had become a graveyard as everything was silent. There was no array of sound of any sort across the wider world. Only the cold wind blowing in this dead world.
The dust was clearing on this beyond-scarred land. The skies above had been darkened, appearing completely dead. All matter of nature was gone. All Pokemon, ponies, humans, dragons and any other species that exist were no more. The Lich Queen had done it. She had snuffed out a disgusting number of life in this Grander World.
She emerged from the dust, laughing maniacally as she expected this outcome. It took plenty of steps but she got there at last and the scenery spoke for itself. Aside from the dead skies, the land was dead too, losing all the colour in the world. She looked over at where Ash and his group stood, eager to see them as nothing but lifeless stone statues.
"What?!" But her eyes were confounded by what they had seen. She couldn't believe it once the dust left the area.
"Ngh..." Lo and behold, Galaxy Master's protection had some success. He had his hands out still, but unfortunately, they had been turned to stone, losing the life within them. The rest of Galaxy Master's was still affected as half of it had been destroyed.
He did his very best and the result was almost everyone being saved from Yveltal's destructive attack. Ash was still standing but with a catch. His right arm had been turned into stone while the rest of his body had been shielded by Galaxy Master's light. Twilight found herself safe but her wing and half of her face had been destroyed, turning into stone. Pikachu and Espeon were trembling with parts of their bodies becoming stone.
Roseluck also had one-half of her face destroyed, barely managing to survive Yveltal's Destruction. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the rest of their friends.
Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Starlight Glimmer had been turned to stone. Galaxy Master's light could only do so much in the face of such power and it showed.
"I-I'm sorry..." Galaxy Master groaned before getting on his knees. "I tried my best but it was too much to handle."
"Everyone..." Roseluck breathed in and out, truly horrified by what her sister has done. Now she was truly beyond unrecognizable thanks to this horrific act. She laid on the ground, barely having the strength to get back up. Roseluck teared up as everyone her dearest friends were now gone.
"I-It isn't over yet." Ash panted, while holding onto his damaged arm, still having the spirit to continue. "L-Looks like you didn't get everyone you wanted, huh?"
"Pikachu..."
"You...You..." Rosa Maledicta stood back as she shook her head, finding it hard to believe that Ash had managed to avoid certain doom once more. "What are you?! And how can you still smile even after all of this?!"
"Because there's always a way. So I've always got a reason to look on the bright side." Ash replied, giving his reason which he held true to his heart. "It's horrible that my friends and everyone I know are practically gone...Mom. Mimey. Professor Oak, all of my Pokemon and more. But I haven't given up yet. I haven't given up on them. This battle isn't over yet, Rosa."
"You are supposed to feel utter despair! True dread!" Rosa ranted, completely annoyed that Ash stayed strong.
"My friends..." Twilight already started crying now that her friends were gone. But, even though she was crying, she did not give up. Ever since Emerald Aura sacrificed herself, Twilight learned not to lose sight of hope at all. Not when there was always a way to come back from this. "Even though they're gone...I know I'll see them again."
"Come on. Let's finish this." Ash held his only working arm, ready to finish this battle.
"Kh...!" Rosa Maledicta twitched as her bones could be heard cracking from how much anger was building up from within her. But before she could unleash her anger, something else happened. Something that grabbed everyone's attention.
And it came from the Heavenly Maiden Tree.
Beyond all expectations, the Heavenly Maiden Tree that Fantina had made was still standing, keeping that beautiful smile on its face. It was as if the wave meant nothing to it. The Cherry Blossoms were still bright and beautiful for Ash, Twilight and Roseluck to admire. But it wasn't just the fact that it was still standing that surprised them. It was what emerged from it.
The most beautiful light flew out of the tree as the Heavenly Maiden moved her arms, gaining motion. The same seeds that help grow the Despair Plants had been used to make this tree so it was only natural that it gained sentience. But no one expected it to move now of all times.
And as for the light it emitted, it raced across the ground, sending a warming and inviting feeling. Something that was truly heavenly. Twilight had felt this before. Mainly because she once possessed this power as a one-time thing but she never forgot that feeling. When looking at the tree, she already figured out what was going on.
Someone was inside the tree and the most brilliant appearance was about to happen. The Lich Queen closed her eyes from this blinding light that would erupt in between her and Ash's group. And from that light that the Heavenly Maiden Tree summoned, an entity appeared.
A quadrupedal, stag-like Pokemon with four pairs of antlers and the most delicate and pristine posture. There was only one Pokemon that fit this mould as its eyes would glow through the darkness before clearing it all away. The complete opposite of Yveltal and the one who brings life to balance things out.
The Life Pokemon Xerneas.
"Xerneas!" Ash cried out with joy. This is the reason why he kept his hopes up. He knew Xerneas would show up and not let this stand. At the end of the day, both sides were right about Xerneas. The only way to bring out Xerneas was by destroying a huge heap of life just to force it to show up.
"Pikachu!"
Lo and behold, she did show up, in all of her glory. Xerneas had to. It surprised everyone that she showed up from the Heavenly Maiden Tree, making her entrance in such a way. It was rather divine how she did it as the light she emitted was blow away the surrounding darkness. Rosa Maledicta opened her eyes to see the Pokemon she and Opal tried snuffing out as soon as possible, finally standing before her.
Twilight was the most happy about this. She nearly broke down ever since her brother had lost his life along with Emerald Aura. She was right to keep her hope up after all as it was burning brighter than ever.
"You...!" Rosa Maledicta hissed. "Of course, you'd show up now!"
Xerneas looked over at the land and how ravaged it was. It was saddening to look at. The colours had been robbed. Both on land and air. The mountains have crumbled. The seas have died. Those living peacefully in the skies had unfairly lost their lives. The world has taken its biggest toll ever. And unfortunately, it was not the fault of Yveltal. He was forced to do such a thing because of the Lich Queen. Oh, how disheartening it was. She then looked over at Roseluck, seeing her expression as it spoke volumes.
Refusing to let the world perish, Xerneas would act. The bumps on her antlers would light up as she was entering her active mode. In Active Mode, her markings, antlers, and trim on her legs became pale gold plus multicoloured spots appeared on her back. As she was about to perform the greatest miracle possible. She sparkled so elegantly as the light she created earlier would expand with a beautiful golden flare that could only be described as divine. The horns of her head showed seven beautiful colours before they became infused with the light that was spreading.
And that wasn't the only thing she would infuse. The closest to her were Ash, Twilight, Pikachu, Espeon, Roseluck and Roserade. Once the light reached them, all the damage that Yveltal had done was completely erased. Ash's half-destroyed arm was healed with a divine light, returning to normal.
Energy and vitality had been rekindled in his body as he felt like a completely new person. Twilight was healed too as to be expected, feeling that power revitalization. Rosa Maledicta hissed at this bright light as it would not benefit her at all. In fact, Xerneas made it so that the light was volatile to her. Even though she wasn't a vampire, she once again knew what it felt like for them to be exposed to light.
But as for every other vampire who lost their lives, this light did not harm them the same way it did to the Lich Queen. This was a welcoming light. One that they could be safe around. All the life that Yveltal had destroyed was being brought back in the most beautiful way possible.
Applejack and everyone else were already brought back as they felt some heavy whiplash from all of this. They each were completely bewildered yet felt comfortable at the same time. The trees that have perished were reborn, gaining slightly new looks to them. The Earth was healing with plenty of Energy and Vitality returning to them, giving back what was once lost.
Friend or foe, they were all restored. Those possessed by the Shadows were revived and of course, those fighting to protect their homes were brought back from the clutches of destruction. The dark skies above were pierced by the light, reaching beyond the land. Xerneas would do what Yveltal did but in reverse. Engulf the entire planet.
This light would even go as far as to heal the buildings. All the damage that had been done to Ponyville was undone as Xerneas spared absolutely nothing. Everything that has happened from the Black Crusade. All the damage and destruction that followed, no matter how near and far, practically never existed as Xerneas used her light to embrace the world.
Delia blinked for a moment as she felt like she saw the red wave only a second ago. It didn't feel like her life had been taken out as Spectrum Shade breathed in and out as much as she could, bewildered and confused by what just happened. She just saw her entire life flash before her eyes when trying to protect Delia and Mr Mime.
The world once again lit up. But this time, with a beautiful golden instead. The greatest healing in the world had been made on this fateful day where so much life was previously. Rosa Maledicta saw it all happen, much to her dismay and frustration. The area was lively once again as even the Shadow Army, despite being expressionless, felt emotions. Their true selves came out for a moment. And how could they not after something so shocking?
Xerneas then bowed her head after granting life back to the world, bringing everything back to how it was supposed to be. Life was back as Xerneas expended more energy than she ever has in her life. This was the first time the entire world has ever perished after all.
Xerneas even went as far as to bring Yveltal back to life. Usually, Yveltal would emerge as a cocoon and heal up until he was ready to be awakened once more. However, since Yveltal was unfairly used to destroy so much innocent life that he did not wish to snuff out, Xerneas could not let him rest in sadness. She helped out her counterpart, restoring him back to life.
"No, no, nooo!" Banging her hoof on the ground was Rosa Maledicta who was beyond furious that all of her hard work was practically erased. Just like that. "Curse you all! This isn't how it's supposed to happen!"
"Thanks, Xerneas!" Roseluck thanked the Life Pokemon. Xerneas looked back at Roseluck and joyous expression. She would once again bow her head, taking Roseluck's thanks. But Xerneas wasn't done yet. Even though she used up plenty of energy, she would stay behind to finish things off. Now Xerneas was involved with stopping the Black Crusade and would not rest yet until it was finished. The Life Pokemon stuck around as the Heavenly Maiden Tree she emerged from would go back into its original position, serving its purpose.
"W-What happened...?" Starswirl, who was caught up in was also brought back to life. And of course, the Pony of Shadows had been revived, feeling just as bewildered as Starswirl the Bearded.
"I saw an Angel...Where did she go?" Fluttershy commented, stumbling for a moment before being caught by Audino.
"Okay!" Ash grinned. "Now we can really wrap things up here!"
"NOOO!" An enraged Rosa Maledicta roared before blasting her magic which tore up the ground. Countering this as soon as possible was Pikachu's Thunderbolt.
"Pikachuuuu!" Thunderbolt met with the enraged blast of magic, entering a small clash before both attacks cancelled each other out. Pikachu slid back along with Rosa Maledicta as she could no longer steamroll over her opponents like she wanted to. Now that all life had been returned, her plans have been greatly set back beyond belief.
"Rosa Maledicta!" But the Lich Queen wasn't the only one who was furious. Rising into the air and feeling completely betrayed was the Pony of Shadows. Everyone looked up, witnessing this Dark Pony arise, breathing in and out after having his life snuffed out and brought back at the same time. "Once again...I've been betrayed. You have completely broken my trust..."
"Oh quiet!" But the Lich Queen could care less. She was too furious to care at all. "I'm honestly surprised you came back in the first place!"
Those weren't the words the Pony of Shadows wished to hear. Not only would he fight against Celestia's forces, but he would also turn against the Lich Queen, taking on two sides at the same time. First, it was the Pillars and now Rosa Maledicta. The anger the Pony of Shadows, also known as Stygian, felt was tremendous. The level of betrayal he felt matched it as well.
"Oh, Stygian..." Mage Meadowbrook sighed, seeing how betrayed the Pony of Shadows appeared. At that moment, the Pillars all knew how Stygian felt but he would not return the feeling back to them, only seeking to destroy everything else now.
"I-I am not sure what happened, but now is our chance," Starswirl said. "We have to open the portal and send him away before this situation escalates again."
"We'll open the portal. But let's try something else." Twilight suggested, looking over at Starswirl the Bearded.
"Hm?" Starswirl wasn't following what Twilight was getting at. But he would still execute his portal-opening plan. Twilight had something else in mind.
With all the Elements of Harmony here, Twilight would send them to the ponies who perfectly represented those elements. Her friends and the Pillars were joined up with the Elements as they all had something in common. Those who originally laid the groundwork for the elements and those who are the current wielders of the Elements. Together, the Elements would light up when near the ponies who best suited them.
And once the Elements all lit up, they would shoot out a ray of combined light. From that light, the same portal that was used to send the Sirens away had opened as it was aimed right at the Pony of Shadows. He was far too focused on Rosa Maledicta to even notice the portal that had opened behind him. And once he did notice, he turned his attention away from the Lich Queen to something else of importance.
The portal had a powerful pull to it, threatening to take in the Pony of Shadows. He tried moving forward but his body pushed back. His hooves fell onto the sides of the portal, fighting to stay here so that he can exact his revenge on not just Equestria but now the Lich Queen.
"No! You will not trap me again!" He roared.
"Twilight! Push him in!" Starswirl yelled, expecting Twilight to finish it off and cross one major problem off the list. She was intending to cross off that problem but not in the way Starswirl was thinking. Ash looked at the Pony of Shadows, she saw how someone else would emerge.
From his shadowy body, the pony he used to be had appeared. Stygian's face showed up as he was struggling to escape the portal's pull while being stuck within the Pony of Shadows. At that moment, Twilight would take flight, approaching the Pony of Shadows.
And instead of pushing him in, she would enter the Pony of Shadows, taking a different approach to all of this. All the while, Ash and everyone else would handle the problem on the outside.
"Until I stand at the top of the world, I won't rest!" Rosa Maledicta lashed out, summoning her massive roots to attack those who robbed her of her victory. However, the roots would suddenly lose most of their thickness as they had been greatly weakened. "What?!"
And flying out of the roots was none other than Cynthia's Spiritomb. This whole time, Spiritomb was within the roots, taking away all of the souls from within and by extension, avoiding Yveltal's Life-Ending Wave.
"Spiritomb!"
"Here goes!" Ash held out his glove which showed his Mega Stone. He was ready to truly end this and go out with a bang. All of his friends had the same idea. Rainbow Dash threw each of her Poke Balls into the air, summoning the rest of her Pokemon to further diminish the Lich Queen's chances and numbers. Ash, Rarity, Rainbow Dash Fluttershy and Applejack would initiate Mega Evolution as they would shout the same words. "Mega Evolve!"
"Not if I eradicate you first!" Right as they spoke it, Rosa Maledicta swung her thorns and unleashed another beam to try and obliterate them before they could continue with their comeback. The Mega Evolution Energy from each of their Pokemon went off, blowing away the roots and the magic that approached them.
Out of it emerged Mega Lucario, Sceptile, Altaria, Ampharos and Audino who were all revitalized thanks to Xerneas. This meant that they were at peak condition and could go at full strength without any issues whatsoever.
"This might be our last chance! Sceptile, use Frenzy Plant!"
"Scep...Tile!" Mega Sceptile slammed his hands together and sticks them deep into the ground, causing giant roots to emerge, meeting with Rosa Maledicta's roots. The two roots clashed, but this time, the Lich Queen's Roots weren't at their best anymore. Thanks to Spiritomb, they were weaker than before, allowing Sceptile's Roots to win.
"Pheromosa, use Triple Kick! Ampharos, use Dragon Pulse!"
"Altaria, use Dragon Pulse too! Whirlipede, use Rollout!"
"Mosa!" It was a full frontal assault against the Lich Queen as this would be their final attack on her. Pheromosa and Whirlipede approached the Lich Queen as they were joined by two Dragon Pulses.
"Get back!" Rosa Maledicta attempted to push them back with a stream of dark magic, only for Pheromosa to flip over the darkness with elegant moves. After front flipping, Pheromosa would deliver a staggering kick to Rosa Maledicta's face. This was then followed up by an upwards kick to her chin and the final kick was an axe kick that was brought down on her head. Pheromosa did this while becoming a white blur.
Feeling heavy pain from different sides of her head, Rosa Maledicta would then receive a fourth pain in the form of Whirlipede's Rollout. The Curlipede Pokemon crashed right into her.
"Superpower! Discharge!"
"Luxray!" Luxray would continue the assault with a high-voltage blast of lightning that joined the Dragon Pulse moments after it got close to the Lich Queen. Rosa Maledicta barely had time to recollect herself as the three attacks landed, blowing up around her body.
"Curses...!" Rosa Maledicta stumbled back, struggling to keep her balance. She then shifted her eyes, noticing how Yveltal was currently alive. Thanks to Xerneas, he hadn't reverted to a cocoon but instead had his entire body brought back. However, Yveltal was no longer under the Lich Queen's control since he had been brought back to life. He needed some time to rest since this was not what he was used to when using up all of his power.
Rosa Maledicta would try and do it herself, releasing a powerful flare of darkness that would appear in the shape of a dome, threatening to blow them all away.
"Force Palm!" Ash, Applejack and Rainbow Dash each said, prompting Mega Lucario, Delta Lucario and Mienshao to take action.
Each of them pulled their arms back, pulling in plenty of power into their paws. Together, they swung at the Dark Field that furiously approached them, stopping the attack in their tracks. The Triple Force Palm exuded a brilliant light which obliterated the darkness completely, stunning the Lich Queen.
"Superpower!"
"Hyper Beam!"
"Audi...No!" It was now time for Audino and Braviary to take action as the Hearing Pokemon built up a revitalized chunk of Infinity Energy thanks to the power that Xerneas shared. Braviary already went ahead, lighting up both of his wings with a fiery aura.
The Lich Queen had a look of desperation on her face, unleashing all the magic she could to defend herself in the form of a massive barrier. Hyper Beam crashed into the shield as well as Braviary's Superpower. The shield of the Lich Queen would shake, making her tremble as well.
And in that instance, while smashing his wings against the shield, Rainbow Dash had tapped into the Harmony-Phenomenon, initiating Rainbow-Braviary. A flash of rainbows emerged out of Braviary's body as he would become even stronger than before. With this vast strength increase, he and Audino shattered the barrier, dealing heavy damage to Rosa Maledicta.
"Aura Sphere!" Ash and Pinkie Pie both said.
"Luca!" Together, Lucario and Mew would unleash a combined Aura Sphere as both their Auras were stronger than ever before. The two spheres flew out, soon merging with each other to create a stronger, faster and bigger Aura Sphere that would engulf and blow up right in front of the Lich Queen's face.
By now, the Lich Queen felt like she was out of it. The darkness around her pupils were fading away as she was losing control of her true form, gradually reverting to her original form. The Shadows were leaving her, no longer staying on her side.
"N-Not like this!" She used her magic to levitate and recover, saving herself from any further damage. With an outburst of rage, all the Dark Magic within her would be unleashed, granting her a dark sphere for her to reside in. This sphere acted a lot like Dazzling Gleam, shooting out dark rays in response to Rosa Maledicta's anger.
She ascended high into the air with all of her torrential Dark Magic, shooting out a constant fusillade of rays that brought destruction from above.
"Roserade! Use Petal Blizzard"
"Roserade!" Multiple pink petals circle in front of Roserade's body and are then fired at the raging Lich Queen. But Roserade wasn't alone in this. Joining her was none other than Xerneas.
Xerneas unified her strength with Roserade, using Moonblast alongside her Petal Blizzard. The power of the Moon had been gathered as she unleashed the largest Moonblast ever seen. The two moves fused as Moonblast was being carried through the air at a faster rate while in Petal Blizzard, giving it that extra oomph.
The rays tried taking down the incoming Petal Blizzard Moonblast combo as Rosa Maledicta was throwing everything she had at them. But the rays were being completely broken through by their combined might, failing to stop the attacks from reaching. But that wasn't the only batch of attacks she had to worry about. There were the ones right above her.
"Reshiram, use Fusion Flare! Passion, use Plasma Bolt!"
"Zekrom, use Fusion Bolt! Darkrai! Dark Pulse!" The Royal Sisters threw their hats in, unleashing devastating attacks that came from two Legendaries, a Mythical and an absolute prodigy. A gigantic flame, thunderbolt, plasma and beam of darkness approached from above, giving the Lich Queen more to worry about. She expanded her Dark Sphere, trying to defend herself in the best way possible.
And even though Twilight wasn't here, that didn't stop Espeon from doing something as she unleashed Dazzling Gleam, assisting the Pokemon above with her own rays. The attacks crashed into the sphere as there was a double dose of plasma thanks to Reshiram and Zekrom. The double plasma plus the darkness obliterated Rosa Maledicta's sphere with ease as she no longer had the strength to fend off such attacks. Her strength was greatly weakening, no longer at its best.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash raised his fist into the air.
"Poison Jab, Roserade!"
"Pikaaa....!" Pikachu appeared above the Lich Queen with his body lighting up all over. Joining him in the air was Roserade with Poison Jab. Thunder cracked in response to Pikachu's lightning as he would unleash a greatly elevated Thunderbolt from his body, bringing it down on the Lich Queen.
"T-This can't be! I-I can't move!" Rosa Maledicta was still stunned by the combined attack that Celestia's group unleashed, unable to counter the incoming Thunderbolt. 100,000 powerful volts struck her as the Mouse Pokemon gave a powerful smite to the Lich Queen. This was then followed up by Roserade who slashed past the Lich Queen with her bouquet arms, performing a stylish landing when touching the ground.
The sound the attack made even resembled thunder as the Lich Queen's pupils turned white. She lost all the strength she had as she reverted to her original form, losing all of the shadows. The Final Attack had been unleashed as the Lich Queen hovered there for a moment with her pupils gone and her mouth completely open as electricity crackled from her body.
And meanwhile, Twilight was fully within the shadows, coming face to face with the pony within the Pony of Shadows. The Unicorn Stygian. She did not push him in. Rather, she wanted to do something that Starswirl would've seen as rather unorthodox or impossible considering how he viewed the Pony of Shadows.
But Twilight was all about tackling the unorthodox. Upon entering this cruel darkness, she already had some of her Pokemon emerge just to be safe. Out came Absol, Togekiss, Cinccino and Ninetales.
"Are you...Stygian?" Twilight said, stopping in front of the pony sitting in the darkness. Ninetales would light up the place by using his flames, piercing the darkness and showing the full body of Stygian.
"I was, once. Until my friends betrayed me." Stygian replied.
"But Star Swirl says you betrayed them. You wanted their magic..."
"No! I wanted their respect. I brought them together. I planned strategy, and I read all I could about the beasts we faced. But I didn't have magic or strength, so nopony ever noticed me. I went to Ponhenge to make my own copies of the artefacts. With them, I thought I could be a Pillar, too, and stand by their side in battle. I never wanted to steal their power. But instead of sharing and letting me help, my friends threw me out. " His voice deepened as the Pony of Shadows was about to emerge out of him once again.
"Absol...!" Absol snarled, ready to defend Twilight, only for the Princess of Friendship to stop him from taking action. And as for the words Stygian was saying, they reached the outside. They were not secretive. Not at all. Everyone out there could hear it and that did in fact include everyone.
The Shadow Army he controlled were speaking through him.
"You're not the only one who made copies of the artefacts. This is all a misunderstanding. If the Pillars knew how you felt, I'm sure they wouldn't have turned their backs on you. The shadow isn't who you really are. Let me help you be Stygian again."
"Even if my friends did still care, what makes you think you have the power to help me?"
"It's what she does." Appearing behind Stygian, making herself uninvited was none other than Nightmare Moon. A being who was similar to the Pony of Shadows, being Luna's alter-ego.
"Nightmare Moon?" Twilight gasped.
"I wasn't so different from you. The same goes for other ponies. But Twilight and Luna helped us change. If there's one pony in Equestria that can save a friendship, it's her. As a fellow creation of shadows, I'd take it to heart."
"I... I want to believe you...But the darkness will not be stopped!" Stygian was currently struggling, unable to free himself from the shadows. It had too much of a grip to it. The darkness around him would expand, threatening to knock Twilight, her Pokemon and Nightmare Moon out of here.
"That's the problem with this darkness..." Nightmare Moon grumbled. "Twilight! You have to stop him from the outside. Chrysalis will assist you in that."
"Chrysalis?! Chrysalis is here?!" Twilight shouted as it seemed that Equestria wasn't done getting as much support as it could.
"Together! We'll blast the darkness out of him! Blast him!" In unison, Nightmare Moon and Twilight Sparkle would fire their respective magic at Stygian before the Pony of Shadows could fully overtake him. His body was encased in a sphere of two different magical sources but the darkness was already fighting back.
The sphere rippled, trying to contain the darkness that was emanating from Stygian. Twilight growled when trying to hold it together as she was slowly moving back. But to give her an extra oomph, Twilight would utilize the magic of Horizon Storm plus her Rift Magic, allowing her to push back.
The darkness would then try and creep up on Twilight while she was keeping the sphere up, only for Ninetales to intervene. The Fox Pokemon stomped on the darkness, surrounding his legs in fire to do so. Absol would cut up the darkness that slithered out of the ground while Togekiss and Cinccino would blast them to bits with Dazzling Gleam and Tri Attack, defending their Trainer and Nightmare Moon.
There was a third magic that entered here. Twilight felt the magic as it was very familiar despite nopony else making a new appearance. Nightmare Moon did say Chrysalis had arrived and that seemed to be true as Twilight could feel Chrysalis' magic burning through the darkness from wherever she could be.
And it was all near the outskirts of Magehold. Chrysalis was neither in Magehold or Ponyville. And even in her condition, she did not hesitate to assist in whatever way she could. Assisted by baby daughter Anthophilia, Chrysalis fired a beam from a far distance, reaching the Pony of Shadows with it. But it was still quite the struggle for them as the darkness was refusing to go down so easily.
"Arceus...give me strength!" Twilight groaned as the Twilightium Z within her saddlebag would light up in response to her plea. The Twilightium Z and the bit of Arceus that resides within the crystal would grant her wish, sending one more energy source to power up the sphere. The darkness met the light. Arceus' Light to be exact.
With each of them using their magic on Stygian, the Darkness was obliterated, shattering into bits as a powerful eruption of colours flew out of it, bringing colour to what was once colourless.
Outside, the Pony of Shadows screeched as a pillar of magic shot into the air with a dazzling blaze. His roar echoed through the sky as all the shadows he brought to the Black Crusade had been expunged. It took the Elements of Harmony, Rift Magic, Sorrowful Rage Magic and the magic of a Changeling to finally put a stop to him.
At the same time, the Lich Queen had finally been defeated. Right as the Pony of Shadows shattered, Rosa Maledicta crashed into the ground, unconscious and defeated. Her armour fell to pieces as Stygian fell out of the portal, returning to the real world after so many years of being stuck in both Limbo and the Pony of Shadows.
The Black Crusade was over. The Shadows were gone which resulted in those possessed by the shadows regaining control of their bodies. But they didn't just snap back to reality. They passed out right afterwards, falling over after the crushing effects of the shadows. They would no longer have to fear or worry about those shadows anymore now that they have been erased, consumed by the light.
"I-Is it over...?" Pinkie Pie stuttered as everything went silent. What was once a hectic area now calmed down as the battles that happened here had come to an end.
"We did it..." Ash uttered as his hat fell off. The clouds gave way to more of the sun's rays, beaming down on this land that was once scarred but now healed. "Man, that was rough...We put everything on the line...But we won!" He would then explode out of excitement. "Yeeaaah! We rock!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu would run over to Ash with excitement. Realizing it was over, everyone who was waiting for the Black Crusade to end would cheer out of pure happiness. Sound returned to the land but this time it was full of joy. No longer was there any despair or dread to be found. Not when the two forces of that have been defeated.
"I'm revitalized but...I still feel so tired!" Rarity sighed, falling on her back as her mane was an absolute mess. But that was the least of her worries."Finally, it's over!"
Dropping out of the portal was Twilight and all of her Pokemon as she nearly forgot to leave it. Twilight exhausted herself too even though Xerneas revitalized her. The stress she felt was on a whole another level. But she could rest easy, knowing it was over.
Afterwards, Twilight would laugh, looking up at the blue sky to witness the most calming sight possible. She didn't even want to get up right now. All she wanted to do was lie down. And many others felt the same way. After what felt like an eternity of back and forths, the day was won. The Grander World they now lived in was safe and would continue to live on as the journey continues.
Equestria. Ponyville. On the Nation of Magehold. Afternoon.
After what felt like an eternity, the Black Crusade was over. And the outcome was the positive one. Life on Earth was saved thanks to the efforts of many. Ash, Twilight, Celestia and everyone else emerged victorious, protecting their home from certain destruction. Even in their darkest moment, they made a stupendous turnaround.
Lying there on the ground, defeated and unconscious was the Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta. And even though she was not conscious, one could only imagine the reaction she would have if she saw the state of her nation, even though Xerneas had repaired it.
The skies were clear, free from the darkness as the time zones were completely off balance. It was previously nighttime but after some back and forth, the Sun had been up instead. There was a lot of work that had to be done in order to fix what the Dread League have ruined.
"Well done, everyone." Celestia descended, alongside Luna, Reshiram and Zekrom. "That was overwhelming, but we made it through, didn't we?"
"Yeah..." Ash sighed while sitting down, taking everything in and looking at the scenery. It was wild how this all turned out. This battle against the Dread League took them from the original location of Magehold all the way back to Ponyville while moving through the air.
He especially looked over to where Shining Armor and the Crystal Empire soldeirs could be found. They had been turned to stone by Yveltal first but thanks to Xerneas, they have been brought back to life.
"Oh..." Shining Armor held his head, stumbling across Magehold. "I-Is it over? What happened?"
"Shining Armor!" Rushing over to him were his wife and daughter. He blinked for a moment, still taking things in before being met with a dual hug. His body was also still recovering from being brought back to life.
"Dad!"
"Hey, you two." He greeted them back with his eyes half-open. Reuniting with their Trainers were Hatterene and Galarian Rapidash, quickly rushing over to Starlight Glimmer. And even though Twilight didn't rush over, she smiled, knowing her brother was back while lying on the floor. Also lying on the floor, rather close to the Lich Queen was Stygian, who had been freed from the Pony of Shadows, returning to how he originally was.
"Long ago, you needed our help, Stygian." Starswirl approached Stygian. He would soon see all the Pillars gather around him but this time, for a positive reason. "But instead of listening, we turned our backs on you. Pride clouded my judgment. I owe you an apology. Thank you for helping us see the errors of our ways, Twilight. It seems I never accounted for the Magic of Friendship."
"Thank you, Swirlstar. Uh, Star Swirl!" She corrected herself, still perplexed.
"There are still a lot of questions that I need answering. What has happened while we were gone?" Starswirl moved onto the Pokemon, needing answers immediately. He looked over at Pikachu, confused on what he was. "What are these creatures? There are so many of them I don't recognize. They are so strange..."
"And wonderful!" Pinkie Pie added to Starswirl's sentence.
"They're Pocket Monsters. Or Pokemon for short." Approaching him with an answer was none other than one of his students, Celestia.
"Celestia? Is that you? I simply cannot believe how tall you've gotten!" Starswirl said, surprised by Celestia's growth. Both in terms of magic and height. He could still remember how small she was all those years ago.
"Well, it has been over a thousand years. Will you stay here and teach magic once again? My sister and I have such fond memories of your lessons."
"As long as you don't ask for those essays we owed you before you disappeared," Luna said.
"I'm not certain Canterlot is where I belong. The realm has grown far beyond what it used, and I believe I'll have a look around before I settle in any one place." Starswirl would need some time to assess things before he stays somewhere. Even though he's way past his era, he would stay behind either way. After all, he needed to find out what has happened over the past years and where these Pokemon came from.
"And I long to see what has become of my home," said Mage Meadowbrook.
"We all do." Finishing off their conversation was Mistmane.
"Aside from these Pokemon...What is a Human doing here?" Starswirl looked over at Ash, recognizing his species.
"You know about Humans?" Celestia said, amazed that her teacher had knowledge about humans. But it wasn't too surprising with how much knowledge he possessed.
"Hey." Ash greeted Starswirl. He wasn't the only Human here. There was Nessa, Brawly, Cynthia, and more. "My name's Ash. And this is my partner, Pikachu."
"Hmm...Where do I start?" Celestia closed her eyes as she would be the one to explain things to Starswirl while he was still here.
"Alright. We'll keep quiet about the whole Siren thing since he's noticed Ash." Rarity whispered to her friends, wanting to avoid Starswirl and the Sirens meeting up with each other. "The Sirens will continue on their quest to find the rest of their species after this so let's do our best to-"
"That was rough, wasn't it!? But we made it!" Alas, the Sirens appeared either way, staying behind instead of leaving immediately. Rarity and her friends scrunched their faces. They turned to see that the one who made all that noise was Sonata.
And of course, right behind Sonata and her two sisters was their mother who still kept her original Siren form. It didn't take long for Starswirl and the Pillars to spot the Sirens. And of course, the Sirens would spot them back. Before Adagio could reply to Sonata's bellowing words, her mouth stayed open when spotting the pillars.
"Oh, it's them," Stygian remembered the Sirens as well since he gathered the Pillars to defeat them that fateful day. That was also the same day everything went downhill.
"It's them!" Aria said as both sides couldn't take their eyes off each other.
"We just got done with the Dread League...Now this?!" Rainbow Dash held her head, worried they would have another problem on their hooves and hands.
Ebony Rhyme's Home.
Meanwhile, over at Ebony Rhyme's home, the Potion-Making Vampire had mostly stayed out of the Black Crusade, making no appearance. Fractured Note had entered her home, expecting to see Fantina there. Fantina did come here earlier to check up on Ebony to see how she was doing. And the moment Fractured Note showed up, he arrived to see Fantina already being lent a potion.
"Alright, Fantina. With the Lich Queen defeated, the control she has over you should be weaker. Which means that the Memory Potion will be effective enough." Ebony Rhyme explained. Even when the Lich Queen was defeated, the memory wipe she performed on Fantina was still there. But now that her magic had been subdued, it was no longer as powerful as it was.
"Alright." Fantina nodded before drinking the Memory Potion. Fractured Note and Ebony Rhyme watched closely as Fantina drank it all.
"Have you been in here the entire time, Ebony?" Fractured Note approached her.
"I have. Once the Crusade started, I knew I had to put all my effort into the Memory Potion. I didn't take any breaks and even when the nation was moving, I kept working on it. Now it should be ready."
Ebony Rhyme went for the clever approach of only working on the potions instead of getting involved with the Black Crusade. She could've assisted in it but she didn't. Not a single one of her potions has been used to give either Magehold or Equestria an advantage.
"Ah..." Fantina had finished up the potion, drinking all of it. She then took a deep breath as the taste of the potion was rather, sweet, reminding her of caramel. She lingered on the taste for a moment as Fractured Note and Ebony Rhyme waited to see what would happen. Would this work even with the Lich Queen defeated? The magical aura appeared around Fantina's head as the effects have already gone through. Now it was a matter of how effective it would be.
"Mmm. Taste's like Caramel. Ah, now I want Mother's Caramel Cake like before." Fantina giggled.
"D-Do you remember anything?" Ebony Rhyme questioned.
"Hmm..." Fantina stood up, leaving Ebony and Fractured Note in suspense as they were desperately waiting for an answer. Her eyes focused on what was happening outside and how clear everything looked. There were no vampires outside since the Sun was still up and the fact that Magehold was far away from its original location was noticeable. Instead, it was those from Equestria and other regions that caught her eye.
Ash's appearance along with Cynthia, Roxie and Roxanne caught her attention. And at that moment, when seeing them interact, Fantina spouted these words that confirmed if the potion worked or not. "Even after all of that, they're just going on as if nothing happened. It's just like them."
"It worked!" Ebony Rhyme yelled, showing the most emotion she's ever given out to date. "I knew it! I knew it would work with those conditions!"
"I knew you'd succeed, Ebony," Fantina replied. "You did a fantastic job making that potion. And with no interruptions either even with everything happening out there."
"Thanks, Fantina." Ebony put on a wide grin as she finally repaid Fantina. Fantina was the one who stuck up for her and befriended her. To see Fantina back to how she was felt fulfilled in so many ways. "My best work yet, honestly."
"Seems like your fears about dismissing Magehold have been...well, dismissed." Fractured Note pointed out. Fantina did not disdain Magehold in any way even though she was brought here against her own will, losing a majority of her memories. Despite all of that, she harboured no ill feelings toward the place.
"How could I?" Fantina giggled. "I had so much fun here even with my memories gone. Because now I've made new memories that I can add to the rest. The friends I've made here are wonderful. Wouldn't you agree, Ebony"
"Mhm! Definitely!"
"I can finally return to my home at Hearthome. I know so many people are missing. I wouldn't want to make the rest of my friends upset." Fantina could finally head home. "But...I won't forget this or leave Magehold out of the question of places to come by."
"So you'll come by and visit?" Ebony Rhyme asked.
"As many times as possible. It will be a long trip here without a gateway but I'll manage. And for the future, I want you all to enjoy and entertain yourself as much as you can. Let your next ruler give you all the entertainment in the world.
"I'm not the Lich King anymore. And honestly, I don't think I can rule over Magehold anymore even with the Lich Cycle gone. Rosa Maledicta should be the final Lich Queen. With her defeat, the cycle will end here once and for all. And all the souls can pass on to the afterlife in peace."
"Well, first. We have to find a way to get Magehold back to where it originally was. It's rather dangerous for any of us to step outside right now and a lot of magic will be needed to lift the nation. Will you help us out one more time, Fantina?" Fractured Note questioned.
"Gladly. And I know the ponies who can help with that."
It was too late. The Pillars and the Sirens have spotted each other. And neither could forget the other's faces. Applejack and the others feared this would happen but they were too late to stop it. The fact that they were looking at each other for a while didn't help at all.
"Now uh...Are we done taking all of this in?" Applejack nervously said, hoping that they recollected their thoughts. "This is pretty awkward."
"Don't they have history with each other, sister?" Luna asked.
"They do. Apparently, Starswirl and the Pillars have run into each other a few times. The first was when many Sirens were drawing negativity across Equestria. And eventually, they sent those Sirens to the Human World. And the final time that they ever encountered each other was with Adagio and her sisters. So this encounter is rather awkward."
"Well...You picked the right time to show up after we helped save the entire world." Vivace spoke to the Pillars. "It's been far too long since we've last met."
"Way to ruin the mood..." Adagio snarled at the Pillars, never forgetting that fateful day.
"Mm." Starswirl agreed with Vivace before noticing Adagio's piercing eyes. "It has been a while. We've been stuck in Limbo while you've been in another world."
"Limbo? Looks like I was lucky at the end of the day." Vivace smiled while it was hard to tell if Starswirl was smiling or frowning with that beard on his face. The tension was rather strong between the two. It could be felt in the atmosphere by Gardevoir, who shifted her eyes from left to right.
"My apologies." Suddenly, Starswirl would apologize to the Sirens instead of jumping to the worst possible outcome. Instead, the best possible outcome was chosen. "I have a lot of apologizing to do actually. First was Stygian and now I owe one to you and your daughters."
"No need for that." Vivace shook her head. "You were only defending Equestria. We had no other way to feed ourselves. All we knew was feeding off negativity to grow stronger and survive. But now we don't need it to survive. It does make us stronger though."
"We're not exactly angels in our own right, anyway," Aria added, pointing out how she and her sisters weren't fully innocent. While they were better than what they used to be, the fact that they did terrorize others was still very much true. "All's fair now, I guess."
"Speaking of angels...I saw one, you know?" Shining Armor uttered in the midst of this conversation.
"I guess it's alright. I'm still pretty mad about you sending all the other sirens away." Adagio crossed her hooves. She still harboured some anger but it wasn't excessive at all. "That was not cool."
"S-Sorrry about that." Flash Magnus said. "That was actually my idea from the start."
"Phew...That turned out better than I expected." Applejack took off her hat, glad that the worst did not come to pass. She thought there would be another form of conflict that they had to deal with.
"This is great and all but what do we do about him?" Rainbow Dash then turned everyone's attention to Yveltal, who was sitting there. Xerneas was already approaching her opposite who appeared to be rather devastated.
"Yveltal is completely free from the Lich Queen's control. But it's easy to see how he feels from it." Celestia saw how devastated Yvelal was. While everyone had been brought back to life, he had still taken lives unfairly. Here to comfort him was Xerneas, who would make sure her opposite would not go through any sadness on his own. No longer was he Rosa Maledicta's Pokemon as the Master Ball had been destroyed during that Final Attack.
"Wait. So was Xerneas in the Tree the entire time?" Twilight gasped, looking over at the Heavenly Maiden Tree. "It looks a lot like Cresselia too the more I look at it."
"That's because the Heavenly Maiden of the Milky Way Galaxy greatly resembles Cresselia," Cynthia answered. "Most likely, Fantina is the one who grew it since she's been here for months."
"Has Xerneas been there since the beginning? Pretty smart hiding in the one place the Dread League would never expect." Brawly wondered if this was part of Xerneas' plan the entire time.
"What about the Dread League actually? And Magehold? What's gonna happen to them?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"The Dread League will be disbanded." Entering the outside while having an umbrella to shield him from the darkness was Fractured Note. The First Lich King. Joining him outside was Fantina, who reunited with her fellow Gym Leaders. "It has to be now that this is all over. And the Lich Cycle will come to an end for good."
"Bonjour! It's been a while, all of you!" Fantina greeted her friends after so long.
"Fantina!" Roxanne said with high happiness in her octaves. "You're back!"
"Finally. I thought we'd have to go through something else to bring you back." Roxie chuckled. "Glad we didn't, but you've made yourself comfortable in this place even with your memories gone."
"Very comfortable. There's something about this place that clicks with me~"
"If there isn't a Lich Queen anymore, will the cycle end?" Ash asked.
"They don't have to be a King or Queen to continue the cycle. The cycle will try and turn them into a Lich. It originates here at Magehold and waits for a pony who is at their lowest, taking advantage of them. Rosa Maledicta ended up as the most successful Lich ever."
"I don't see a sign of it coming to an end anywhere." Pinkie navigated her head around the area, spotting anything relating to the Lich Cycle.
"Anyway. We should send Rosa to Tartarus as soon as possible. Will that help stop the cycle if she's away from Magehold?" Celestia said, looking down at Rosa Maledicta.
"Probably. As long as it doesn't happen at Magehold, we should be fine. Opal was the one who started the cycle in the first place and even when she left, it remained and existed within Rosa. The Future of Magehold will dictate what will happen with-"
But just as Fractured Note was about to finish his sentence, that enigmatic magic that PInkie Pie was looking for revealed itself. And the way it revealed itself was by flying out of the ground. Everyone gasped as the green magic from the Lich Cycle finally showed itself. Right on time since they were discussing it and how they would bring an end to it.
"What's that?!"
"It's the Magic from the Cycle!" Fractured Note gasped. "It's looking for a new host!"
The Cycle would not let itself end here. It would not let Rosa Maledicta be the final Lich Ruler of Magehold. It was as if the Will of Opal Vivacity refused to die. The way the magic was shaped even showed a glimpse of Opal Vivacity's face. The sound it made even resembled her laughter.
"Opal?!" Rarity bellowed, recognizing that face and laughter. "It can't be!"
As a way to live on, it would instantly latch itself onto the nearest target. But this time, it wasn't a pony. This time, it was a Human. The magic from the Lich Cycle would go for Fantina, entering her through her head, choosing her as the next host.
"Fantina!" All of her friends yelled as Fantina's eyes and mouth were widened as this devious magic entered her body. Fantina felt the magic surge within her, making her hair rattle as she was bestowed magic for the first time.
Everyone feared that the cycle wouldn't end after all and it seemed that it already found itself another victim. The sound of Opal Vivacity's laughter was heard as she was relishing in this. This was her cycle after all and it felt like her spirit and soul were exacting revenge against those who defeated her.
Everyone was ready to at as soon as possible, even after stopping the Black Crusade. But that would unfortunately mean they'd have to deal with their dear friend, Fantina. And compared to Rosa Maledicta, who only had Roseluck that was close to her, that would be rather difficult to deal with.
"Hoohohoh! This is a funny feeling!" However, Fantina just laughed, finding this feeling to be rather interesting. She giggled as the magic was flowing out of her.
"F-Fantina?" Roxanne stuttered. "Are you alright?"
"I feel alright." Fantina looked at her hand as the green aura suddenly started changing colours. Lo and behold, it went from its usual eerie green to something else. It shifted into a purplish colour instead, more akin to what Fantina wears. From her hair to her dress.
"I don't believe it..." Fractured Note's jaw dropped as the darkness within the Lich Cycle was leaving, overtaken by this brighter magic. And when overtaken, the sounds of Opal Vivacity screaming could be heard.
Much like how she screamed when she was defeated back at the Chamber, Opal unleashed another bone-chilling scream of defeat, realizing that she failed to overtake Fantina. But not only did her cycle fail, it was also overwritten. Opal Vivacity realized that it was being replaced and expunged at last, lacking the strength to go on.
A new strength was being made that opposed what she stood for. Now Opal Vivacity was truly gone and just like before, her final moments were seeing her plans fail. And her greatest plan to continue the Lich Cycle had been shattered.
A new Lich Queen had emerged. But not in the usual way. Fantina had made this magic her own while retaining who she was. Magic now existed within Fantina, which she didn't ask for but received by accident. It was truly a happy little accident as the aura would fade away.
Everyone's jaw dropped at what just happened. Fantina completely outdid the Lich Cycle with ease, staving away their fears in a heartbeat. Fantian simply stood there casually as if nothing happened. She once again defeated Opal Vivacity and with irony, made Opal's power her own.
"Fantina...How did you do that?" Drayden questioned.
"There was nothing for the cycle to take advantage of." Fractured Note already figured it out. "The Lich Cycle has always existed as a way to take advantage of those at their lowest. But Fantina wasn't at her lowest at all. There was nothing she was struggling with."
"D-Does this mean she's Half Lich now?" Fluttershy realized what this might mean for Fantina. She was now potentially Half Human Half Lich.
"I am?" Fantina pointed at herself, unsure how to feel about it right now
"She is the new Lich Queen!" This was all recognised by the ponies of Magehold, who were staying inside the Chamber and Contest Hall to shield themselves away from the sunlight. Instantly, without hesitation, they would crown her the next Lich Queen since the Magic from the Lich Cyle entered her.
But that Cycle no longer existed. Instead, a new Magic had been made thanks to Fantina overcoming. That didn't stop everypony from cheering as they were surprised but pleased to know that Fantina was the next Lich Queen, even though she wasn't asking for that position and neither did she think about taking it. Fantina chuckled, waving at them all as the vampires would celebrate the rise of a new Lich Queen.
And this time, it was someone they truly loved. Someone who rekindled that missing spark in all of them. She was the one who brought entertainment back to Magehold and brought the most happiness they've felt in the longest. It was easy to see why they would nominate her as the next Lich Queen.
It was a wild day indeed and this simply added to the craziness that it brought. From start to finish, this was all an experience they would never forget. The Future of Magehold was up in the air but one thing was for sure in the eyes of the citizens, it would be way better than what it was previously.
Equestria. Ponyville. On the Nation of Magehold. Afternoon.
"All Hail the New Lich Queen!" Fantina had been crowned the next Lich Queen by the citizens of Magehold. The Lich Cycle made one final attempt even after Rosa Maledicta had been defeated, entering Fantina and trying to twist her mind. Instead, Fantina overtook the cycle, removing the evil within.
"Oh, me? The Lich Queen?" Fantina pointed herself, unsure of how to feel about this. This title had suddenly been thrust upon her. It didn't help that she was technically Half Lich but was still a Human at the end of the day. She made the magic her own, transforming its colours into something that fit her.
"Look at you moving up, Fantina! Lucky!" Brawly slid over, congratulating Fantina for this achievement.
"That's how they choose a new ruler here? It's just like the Sea Temple," said Fluttershy.
"That's how it is." Fractured Not even confirmed it. "But I became a Lich King centuries ago because I gathered many lost vampires and helped them. Fantina helped in her own way by rekindling that lost spark in them. And to be fair, I'd choose her as well."
"Now that Fantina's Half Lich, what happens next?" Roxie questioned. "What can Liches even do? I didn't get to see the Lich Queen in action."
"If only Leon were here to see this. But he was too focused on another major battle with the Dread League to make it here." Cynthia said.
"Wait, Leon got involved? Where was he?" Ash asked.
"A massive swarm of Despair Plants appeared at a place known as the Isle of Armor. Leon has been there before so he had to make sure it was safe since it is a part of Galar." Cynthia explained.
"Oh, I'm not sure if I can be your Queen, everyone. I don't know the first thing about being a Queen. Perhaps someone else should be your ruler." Fantina denied this position. Despite how important it would be for the residents of Magehold.
"Huh...?" The vampires were gutted to hear that. They vehemently wanted Fantina to be their new Queen more than anyone. To them, no one was fit for that role except for her. Ebony Rhyme watched while standing under the Heavenly Maiden Tree, using it to shield her from the Sunlight.
"Of course...Fantina can just deny it." Fractured Note shrugged. "She's more of an entertainer, isn't she?"
"Can't you be the King like before? I mean, you could always try a different path of royalty." Twilight suggested. "Maybe you can be a Vampire King instead of a Lich King, ruling over Magehold.
"It doesn't work like that, I'm afraid. Becoming the Ruler of Magehold transcends just knowing how to rule over a nation and others. This place is rather dependent on magic and when I was King, it was my magic that kept it together. The Creation of the Lich Cycle followed up with that. Magehold is very much a Magic-Centric Country."
"Oh, really? I've heard about countries and nations that depend on certain magic to live on. So Magehold is one of those countries." Celestia had heard of such a tale. "The Magic you need doesn't come from a vampire, but a Lich, correct?"
"That's right." Fractured Note nodded, rather saddened by that rule, even though he was there in the beginning as King Grevyine. "Now that Fantina is the Lich Queen, it's her magic that will keep Magehold together. But Fantina still has a say in this."
"Well...I can do one thing!" Fantina exclaimed, grabbing everyone's attention. "I'll wait until I can pass my magic on to the next Lich Ruler." Fantina already came up with a solution. She would take on the title of Queen but will eventually pass it on to someone else.
"So...you'll stay?" A young vampire said with a smile on her face, hoping this meant that Fantina would stay at Magehold.
"I still have to return to Hearthome City. But I can guess I don't have to be here 24/7."
"Not at all. You don't always have to be present in Magehold. You can probably be away for I'd say...8 weeks at best." Fractured Note explained. "But any more than that and Magehold will go through some problems. But what you're suggesting is a good idea. That way, the next Lich Ruler can be born in Magehold."
"It'll be tough though. Going from one place to another constantly. And tiring, don't you think?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Well, I mean, if it was me, it wouldn't be issue going back and forth."
"I wish we still had all those gateways so that it would be easier." Fluttershy sighed. "The only one we have is the one that leads to Kanto and that mysterious Infinity Gateway we don't know much about."
"What gateways do you speak of?" Starswirl questioned, uninformed about the gateways.
"With the gateways, it was easy for us to move from one place to other. Any place in Equestria led us to one of the many locations in various regions. It was so convenient and pretty fun to go through them. But now that both worlds have become one, there's only two gateways left, sadly." Twilight explained.
"I totally wish there were more of them around." Aria crossed her hooves. "It made things so much easier for us. Now we have to travel like normal, which is fine but not as fun."
"Hmm..." Starswirl pondered for a moment. "I still don't know everything about this new world and what has happened, but if it makes you feel you better, I can try and create new ones."
"New gateways? Really?" Adagio's eyes opened when hearing that. "C-Can you do that?"
"I can try. Twilight. And Celestia. I'll need you to tell me everything and show me everything. I have a lot to learn myself now that I've returned to the modern day. And when I figure it out, I will make a gateway that connects to Magehold and this place known as Hearthome City."
"You got it!" Twilight grinned. She was gleeful to be working with her idol Starswirl the Bearded, even though she would be teaching him. An agreement was made to form new gateways, which is what Twilight has been trying to figure out ever since the worlds combined but never managed to succeed. With the assistance of Starswirl, she felt like her success rate had been elevated greatly.
And as for Fantina, she would return to Hearthome City at last where many were waiting for her. Especially Pokemon Trainers who were waiting to enter the Sinnoh League and had to be patient during Fantina's absence.
"Wait a minute!" Suddenly, shouting at the top of her lungs and grabbing everyone's attention was none other than Eccentrick, who was still wearing her Contest Clothes. "What about the Pokemon Contest?! I still want to win that Ribbon!"
"Oh, pardon me!" Fantina made a prolonged gasp. "We never finished it. And that ribbon is still up for grabs."
"Ooh. You're having a Pokemon Contest?" Rarity cooed. "Here?"
"This is a good excuse to stay behind a bit longer." Fantina giggled before approaching the Contest Hall, ready to wrap up the Pokemon Contest. And of course, there was the task of bringing Magehold back to its original position. For the most part, everything had wrapped up.
Xerneas had finished comforting Yveltal. They both were about to leave as well but before that, they would face those who did everything they could to defend their home. Ash and the others watched as the duo of Life and Destruction would depart with Xerneas simply walking away while Yveltal took flight. Both were returning to rest elsewhere. Yveltal would most likely return to Holon but potentially, another place for him to rest would be chosen. Meanwhile, Xerneas would rest wherever.
The Dread League had been disbanded. And with it, those involved in it had been arrested immediately. Fractured Note would see to it along with the assistance of Princess Celestia. But while they were all being taken in, some were trying to escape. And two of them ended up being Shrivel and Sweet Fang.
They weren't out of Magehold just yet as they were sneaking away, trying to avoid being seen by anyone. They moved under the shades of the land, staying away from the Sunlight while also bringing some cloaks with them.
"Curse those intruders...We weren't supposed to lose." Shrivel hissed, frustrated by this devastating loss.
"Now Fantina is the next Lich Queen. Just our luck. What are we supposed to do now?"
"You've done all you can. In our benefit, of course." Suddenly, a voice replied to them, prompting the two vampires to stop in their tracks. They gasped as someone had spotted them creeping away. And unfortunately, it was not someone from the Dread League. Standing before them, was this world's variant of a pony Ash and his friends encountered once from another universe.
It was this universe's Tempest Shadow.
"This is perfect for us. Because of what you did, we can benefit off the final member of this trio." Tempest Shadow said to them both. "Xerneas has brought everyone back to life. But the land is still scarred even with nature healing. You did an excellent job causing quite the mess."
"W-What are you on about?" Sweet Fang stuttered. And unfortunately for her and Shrivel, Golurks were already flying through the air nearby, searching for missing Dread League Members. Tempest Shadow slowed them down, robbing them of their chance to escape as the Golurk had spotted the vampires below.
"For the benefit of the Storm King, we can finally find Zygarde." Tempest Shadow eerily said before backing away, returning into the darker shades as the Golurk had descended. It seems that there was another group involved later in all of this. But their goal wasn't Xerneas or Yveltal. It was Zygarde.
One Day Later.
A day had passed. For the most part, everything had returned to normal. With the Black Crusade over, everyone collectively felt like the peace they were about to feel would be greater than before.
A lot has happened without a doubt. News about Emerald Aura's sacrifice had reached Cold Colt and the others. It was rather distraught that she was gone and not even Xerneas' power could bring her back. However, Emerald's words greatly suggested that she would come back.
After all, she was a creation of the Rift at the end of the day. Whether the Rift would bring her back was unknown. Cold Colt would sit in his room, gutted by the loss of Emerald Aura. He wasn't sure if he would see her again and simply had to wait for what the Rift would do. Cold Colt wished he could reach the Rift right now, but was unable to.
Emerald Aura was a big help for Ponyville, keeping them safe during the Black Crusade and giving them the means to make a comeback against the terrifying Dread League. Her efforts would not be forgotten and they would wait for the day she potentially returns.
As for Magehold, no longer was it in the same position as it was before. It had returned to its original position, hidden between the Hyperborean Island and the Frozen North. The Future of Magehold would be different now. With Fantina temporarily at the helm, the darkness that filled Magehold would be greatly diminished.
Rosa Maledicta had been sent to Tartarus, still unconscious from all of this. She would join the prisoners of Tartarus such as Tirek and others, unaware of her current position as she was still currently out of it.
As for the Changelings, Chrysalis had been healed. She had the Flora Ponies to thank for that. But even after being healed, there was still one thing on Chrysalis' mind. Back at her hive, she held the Box of 100 Demons, thinking about what could come next now that she knew she was the true owner of it. To figure it out, she would speak with the demons, letting them all out of their boxes.
The Changelings had nothing to worry about with the Demons being out. They listened to Chrysalis as they were no longer bound by Magehold. Being around their true owner calmed them down greatly.
"Thank you for your help. But...there's been something that's been bothering me." Chrysalis said to the Demons. There were still only 98 of them as two of them were either back to their original forms or missing in action. "Now that I know you all used to be other creatures before becoming demons, I wish to do one thing. I wish to turn you back."
Chrysalis aimed to restore the demons back to their original forms. No longer would they be demons, trapped within a box. They would live out their everyday lives once more. After all, the Parasite Demon proved what would happen if they were out of the box for too long. That kind of burden was something that Chrysalis wished to erase completely. Pharynx didn't see this as a clever decision. The Demons would be of great help in the future. Reverting them to their original forms would be a complete waste.
"I did it as a baby. I used so much magic I managed to transform others instead of just myself. That kind of power is unheard of when it comes to us Changelings. We can only transform ourselves and that's about it. To shapeshift others is something else and the fact that I can do it can't be ignored. I just have to figure out how to do it again."
"Are you sure you want to turn us back? Even with what we are capable of?" A Demon asked.
"I'm sure of it. Some of you were once innocent creatures living your lives. I wish to give you that life back. And even though some of you were also criminals who were set to Tartarus, you've made up for it by protecting my home, so you deserve that freedom. However long it takes, I'll figure out how to turn you back."
Chrysalis would take the time to work on her hidden magic. The same magic her mother alluded to all those years ago. If there was a way to reawaken it, she would try her absolute best.
However, there was one more member of the Dread League who was never taken in. And it as a member who was waiting for a rematch against Ash. This whole time, she was at the Ketchum Household and the moment Ash returned was the moment she would confront him once more. It was, of course, Spectrum Shade.
She never assisted in the Black Crusade. To Spectrum Shade, it was pointless for her even though she was in the Dread League. But it seemed more like an obligation for her to be in that league. Pokemon Battling greatly interested her instead and Ash would fulfill that promise of a rematch with her.
"Okay, Ash Ketchum! Prepare yourself! I've been waiting for this!" Spectrum Shade announced as she was wearing a Sunhat that Delia usually wears along with a coat.
"You got it! Time to throw down!" Ash said with joy. It has only been a day and yet he was ready to jump back into some action. The thrill of a Pokemon Battle was too enticing to ignore.
"It's strange. She was in the Dread League but she's not as bad as them. She didn't even do anything during the entire Black Crusade. What's up with that?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"It was never her thing." Delia answered. "I got to know more about Spectrum while the Crusade went on and something like the Black Crusade goes against what she sees in life. Her joy in life was once stripped away thanks to a pony by the name of Opal Vivacity but discovering Pokemon and meeting Ash rekindled that joy within her. She was simply forced to be in the Dread League and always wanted to leave it. Everything that has happened was the perfect excuse to leave."
"Oooh..." Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy nodded in understanding. Spectrum Shade's reasons were very simple. They were similar to what a majority of the Magehold citizens felt. They just wanted fun. And the Black Crusade was the complete opposite of that in every way.
"Go, Machoke!"
"Dracovish, I choose you!" The battle between Ash and Spectrum Shade would begin. Ash would not only go all out on her but also teach her along the way, wanting to show Spectrum Shade what a Pokemon Battle was really all about. And without the Dread League being involved in any way, it was a free battle that could go on normally as the two Pokemon would approach each other, entering a scuffle.
It was now truly all over. The Black Crusade had ended. A New Lich Queen had been crowned and the Future of Magehold had a clear vision. But as for the Future of this Grander World, that was yet to be seen. There were still threats lurking elsewhere and everyone in other universes. Scars still existed in the world thanks to this raging battle, but there was a way to heal them. The experiences, good or bad, were not even close to being fully discovered as the journey continues.
"Pokemon. They're the Strange and Wonderful creatures that came to us one day thanks to a Cosmic Action. They live in a world where they're as plentiful as the many grains of sand. Perhaps even more. For the satisfaction of entertainment, the Cosmic Entity known as the Rift crossed over both of our worlds. We shared different earths as usual but we were aware of each other's existence. Humans and Pokemon entered our world and we have interacted with them via the many gateways that were left behind."
Twilight spoke of the basis of how her world met with the World of Pokemon. And her reasoning for this was to show Starswirl the Bearded, catching him up with the current world. Twilight brought out her Memory Book, showing Starswirl the important moments.
"It's been 4 years since then and a lot has happened. This Memory Book doesn't even scratch the surface."
"Well, it makes sense now. And it was easy for you all to get adjusted to these creatures?"
"It wasn't that easy. The things they could do were absolutely amazing. Good or bad. It took a while for us to get used to them and the best part was befriending them." Twilight would then look down at Espeon, petting the Sun Pokemon and making her purr.
"Espeon..."
"For 4 years, our world stayed completely separate from each other and all we did was move from world to world. That is until we searched for the Wish Pokemon Jirachi. The Wish Pokemon. The Rift had locked up every single Jirachi, making sure no one goes after them. But eventually, we found out where all the Jirachi were and after some rough times, we, or I guess Ash, got the wish off and merged the worlds as one."
Twilight, while she didn't see Jirachi herself, made an illustration of the Wish Pokemon thanks to Pinkie Pie's Mew transforming into one. The appearance of the Wish Pokemon plus Twilight's impressive artistic skills were shown to Starswirl as he got a good look at the Pokemon who maximized the world.
"So it was that Ash boy who made it this way," Starswirl uttered.
"Mhm. And it was worth it. That's basically a gist of how we got to here and now. The Humans who come from the Pokemon World aren't the same ones that the Sirens went to. That world is still its own thing. Jirachi granted the wish we've all wanted at the cost of a lot of missing gateways."
"Everypony wanted this?"
"Not just everypony, but every creature we know of. The Humans and Pokemon have formed a really strong bond with all of us. We went through a lot together. I don't know how we would've survived if we didn't have them as our friends. So everyone was craving for the worlds to stay together."
"I see..." Starswirl took it all in before looking over at Absol, who was resting peacefully. Running by Absol were Daisy and Paradise, the two Flora Ponies. Twilight had yet to address them and how she managed to create a new species entirely. "Well, you have sorted everything out well enough."
"Mhm. But we still have ways to go. I just showed you the short history of how our worlds met and eventually became one. The Earth is now much bigger than it ever was since the two of them merged. I should show you Pokemon Types next. There's a lot to go over!" An excited Twilight said before using her magic to bring over three massive books.
These books were dropped onto the table, almost breaking it as they contained vast knowledge of the Pokemon World. Biology, Physiology, Typings, History and more were within these books, each covering so many things it seemed endless. And these were only thee books out of numerous and numerous.
"Twilight. I think I will be fine reading these books on my own." Starswirl said, seeing this as an easy task. He would take on the task of reading the books on his own.
"Oh, sure, sure!" Twilight rapidly nodded her head. "Silly of me! You've got this covered! I'll just leave you to do your own thing." To let Starswirl take all of it, Twilight would prance off. Starswirl had these three books and many more to go over as he had plenty of time on his hooves. Even when being brought back into the present, it felt like time barely passed for him at all.
Kanto. Vermillion City. Cerise Laboratory. Day.
"That all happened?!" Meanwhile, over at Vermillion City, Ash had met up with Goh and Chloe, sharing with them everything that happened during the Black Crusade. "That explains that wave of destruction we saw."
"Our bodies became still in an instant and I don't know what happened before that," Chloe added.
"Yeah. But Xerneas fixed everything up easily."
"That's scary though. For a while, we lost our lives. To think such a Pokemon exists." Chloe shuddered, holding her Eevee close to her.
"But it's reassuring to know that there's another Pokemon to counter something so scary," Goh replied. "But we don't have to worry about that anymore, do we?"
"Xerneas and Yveltal probably won't be showing up under anyone's radar anytime soon." Cerise added to the conversation. "But...The damage to the world is still there thanks to the Black Crusade. Xerneans healed the buildings and a good chunk of nature. But there are still things even Xerneas couldn't resurrect. Anistar City on the bright side, was rebuilt.
On the large holographic screen, Cerise showed them the aftermath of the Black Crusade. A huge array of damage had been left behind that would be difficult to repair. While Anistar City and other locations near it were repaired, the land still suffered from that Black Beam.
"In situations like this, the 3rd Member of the Aura Trio should show up and fix it." Cerise said.
"Who's the 3rd Member?" Goh and Chloe asked.
"It's Zygarde!" Ash answered for him. "This is Zygarde's speciality. It's the guardian of the ecosystem. If something goes wrong, Zygarde's gonna do something about it."
"Oooh..." Goh cooed in amazement.
"Most likely, Zygarde is on the move. On top of that beam that hit Anistar City, Yveltal's wave of destruction still caused some tremendous damage to the world."
"Yeah. It sure is. Greninja's probably helping Zygarde out right now." Ash nodded, knowing exactly where Zygarde was. Or at least, who it was with. His Pokemon Greninja, who was out in the wild now.
"Your Greninja's with Zygade!?" Goh gasped to hear something so important yet casual-sounding from Ash's mouth.
"Yep. All of its cells are with Greninja. The day I said goodbye to Greninja was the day that Zygarde promised to help him destroy the roots that were still remaining around Kalos. That was way before the two worlds met."
"That's reassuring to know that your Pokemon is helping out," said Chloe. "But now that this is all over, what do you plan to do? It's been two days now."
"Well..." Ash grinned, already having a lot of things on his mind. "I always have something I wanna do. But right now, I wanna head to Magehold and help Spectrum Shade out."
"The vampire you battled yesterday, right? Professor Oak told me about that battle. You two went quite the distance with it to the point where your whole town took notice of it." Cerise approached Ash, having knowledge of this battle over at the Ketchum Household.
"Yeah. She's a good battler but still has some ways to go. After our battle, I made a promise to her that I'd show up at Magehold and help her out. She also wanted me to help out other Pokemon Trainers. Fantina's already taught some of them about Pokemon Contests so I'm psyched to teach them all about Pokemon Battling for a while."
"Is it the right call to head back to Magehold even after everything that's happened? Personally, I'd stay away from it for a few months or so." Chloe grumbled, unsure if it was right to go back to Magehold this soon. But to Ash, it didn't matter.
"Scrap that, Ash!" Entering Cerise Laboratory at high speeds was none other than Rainbow Dash who wanted Ash to forget about going to Magehold already. "I've got something better!"
"Hm? What's up?" Ash asked.
"It's the Battle Frontier! It's gonna show some of its first Frontier Brains!"
"Oh yeah?! Sweet!" That psyched Ash up. While he did want to go to Magehold, he was eager to see this first. The Frontier Brains were the most essential part of the Battle Frontier.
"Even after what just happened?" Chloe was amazed that the people running the Battle Frontier could just casually continue their work even after the giant wave of destruction enveloped the entire world.
"Just one step closer until I get to challenge the Battle Frontier!" Rainbow Dash squeed in anticipation. Ash and Rainbow Dash couldn't just stand and hover around here. They had to see the Frontier Brains immediately. Ash wondered if he would spot someone familiar or brand new. Either one was exciting for him in different ways.
They would storm out of the lab while Cerise turned to face his monitor, eyeing down Zygarde. He expected Zygarde to show up eventually. Without a doubt, this was the most damage the world has ever faced which should prompt immediate action from the Order Pokemon who will most likely be moving across the entire world.
But there was something else on Cerise's mind. The World was now larger since two earths have now become one. He had to wonder how Zygarde would respond to this and future actions that could come from such a Celestial Event.
Equestria. Manehattan. The Battle Frontier. Afternoon.
The Battle Frontier of Manehattan. Once the Battle Carnival and still retaining that Carnival appearance, it was the newest Frontier in the world, giving those from Equestria not just a taste of the Battle Frontier but the full-course meal. Previously, it had been placed here at Manehattan as the employees from the Battle Carnival were still present. They would still treat the carnival as a place for entertainment and for battling. That much hasn't changed.
However, there were some slight changes made since it as now a Battle Frontier. Such as how it would cater to the Frontier Brains when they are taking on challengers. And speaking of the Frontier Brains, today was the day some of them were revealed.
Ash and Rainbow Dash made their way to Manehattan as soon as possible to see the announcement of the Frontier Brains. They weren't too late to join the other ponies to see this announcement. Outside the Battle Carnival, the employees were holding up signs that mentioned this announcement, drawing attention to themselves.
"Who do you think it'll be?" Rainbow Dash asked. "I can't think of anyone else right now. And if I can, they're already doing something else or are going straight for the Equestria League."
"Hmm...I don't know if it's anyone from the other Battle Frontiers." Ash pondered alongside Pikachu. "They're already occupied. It can't be anyone from the other Battle Frontiers. I don't think it's a Gym Leader either. It's gotta be someone pretty known but has a lot of free time."
"Pika..."
"Well, whoever it is, I'm gonna beat them!" Rainbow Dash grinned, boasting that she would emerge victorious instantly, no matter who it ends up being.
"Not until I beat them first." But another Pokemon Trainer responded to Rainbow Dash, claiming immediate victory as well. Faster than Rainbow Dash even.
"Hm?!" Rainbow Dash shifted her eyes and head to the side to see who spouted it. Lo and behold, it was one of her rivals, Lightning Dust, who grinned back at Rainbow Dash with a cocky look on her face. "Aw, you!" Rainbow Dash groaned as her mood had been greatly spoiled.
"I had to show up for this. In case it was starting today," said Lightning Dust. "Honestly, you should've probably seen this coming."
"Hmph." Rainbow Dash sneered at Lightning Dust. "I guess I should've known you'd show up here too. You already took on a Frontier Brain. Brandon. And he wiped the floor with you didn't he?" Rainbow Dash then put on that wide grin, cheesing at Lightning Dust. "I don't think this is gonna be any different."
"Tch. You're only saying that because you haven't taken on a Frontier Brain yet. I'm betting you'll lose to the very first one. I've got experience from battling the strongest Frontier Brain, so I'm more than prepared."
"Ugh. This is just like the Canterlot Tag Match." A pony said, recalling this moment back at the Canterlot Tag Match and how these two were tag partners during that.
"Ya know, whoever it is, they'll come at both of you with their best. Famous or not." Ash said to the two pegasi.
"Of course it's someone famous. Who else would it be?" Suddenly, someone would approach the Battle Frontier, responding to Ash's words. All attention turned to this individual, who would stand in between the two Battle Frontier Employees. "You should expect the best to be in here. Not some no-names. And as a celebrity, I'm an absolute shoe-in for this position."
"I don't expect everypony to know me, but they will very soon. But to the Human in the crowd, you should be amazed to come across me. Sharon!" She introduced herself as the Battle Frontier Employees unleashed sparkles and confetti for her appearance, making her stand out.
"...Who are you?" Ash said, having no clue as to who this was. It was no one he remembered or even heard about.
"Kh!" Sharon pulled back, gutted that her fame had been shut down by Ash's words, who has never even known about her existence until now. She would then bare her fangs, raising her voice at Ash. "Rude! You don't know who I am?! I am the PFG Princess! I don't expect anyone in Equestria or many in Equestria to know about me but you!?"
"Sorry. I don't have a clue who you are." Ash wished he knew who she was since she was apparently a celebrity, but alas, he still had more of the world to know about.
"A-Apologies, Princess." An employee apologized to her. "There will be some people who don't know who you are. Pokemon Figure Games aren't exactly as popular as normal Pokemon Battles."
"Even outside of that, I'm an excellent battler in my own right!" Sharon crossed her arms. "Skilled enough to climb high up the Pokemon World Championships ladder. It's only a matter of time until I'm at the top."
"Sweet! I'm in it too!" Ash pointed at himself. "I'm gonna get to the top and battle Leon!"
"And who are you supposed to be, making such a bold claim?" Sharon raised an eyebrow. "It almost sounds like you're going to defeat Leon."
"Of course he is! Ash is gonna win and become the World's Strongest Trainer!" Encouraging him was Rainbow Dash, placing her hoof on Ash's shoulder.
"Ash?" Sharon had heard of that name before as it rang a bell. She looked at Ash for a moment, observing him. That signature blue, that hat and the fact that he had a Pikachu on his shoulder gave her answers. "Oh, you're that Ash. You made quite a ruckus during your match with Gym Leader Bea."
"You saw that battle? Yeah, it got pretty wild super fast. But that was because I was getting used to having all of my Aura flow out." Ash chuckled.
"And apparently, you're supposed to be the King of the Sea? You don't look like a King at all." Sharon was familiar with the title of the King of the Sea.
"I don't?" Ash looked at himself. It was pretty easy to see why he didn't look like a King. Ash doesn't really present himself as one anyway. He's always wearing simple clothes after all.
"At best, you have the colours of the sea. Meanwhile, I truly look like a princess. Well, a modern princess to be exact. It's easy to see when looking at me, especially since my family has enough money that can make Royalty nervous."
"Is that how you were able to get in?" Rainbow Dash questioned, wondering if it was money that made Sharon get this spot as a Frontier Brain.
"Partially. And because I'm just that good." Sharon boasted. "I wanted to be a Frontier Brain for Equestria instantly. I didn't get the position of a Gym Leader, unfortunately. Even when Mother and Father offered so much money. This will have to do if I'm going to spread my name across Equestria."
"So it's just like Nessa," said Rainbow Dash, recognizing this as Nessa's goal. Both were striving for fame but one had more money to boost that fame.
"Well, I'm sure you're strong," Ash spoke, believing that Sharon was strong since she climbed the ladder of the World Championships. "No doubt about it."
"Obviously, I'm strong. And I hope I don't crush anyone's spirits when you take me on." Sharon flipped her hair. "As for the World Championships, by the time I get to a higher class, it'll be harder for you to get past me."
"That just makes me excited to battle you!" Ash was looking forward to that as that would mean he could battle against Sharon to see how strong she was.
"You can try. But your battle with Bea will mean nothing if you ever get to face me. The keyword being 'If'."
"You think you're too good for us?" Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust collectively said as Sharon's cockiness made them both agree on something for once.
"Not trying to be rude, but you're all still new to Pokemon Battling. 4 years of experience just isn't enough. This will be the hardest battle any of you have ever had. Nothing will come close." Sharon looked down on them.
"Now, now, Sharon. You shouldn't discourage them like this." Suddenly, someone else showed up at the Battle Frontier, attempting to de-escalate this before it gets out of hand. Sharon was talking big. Very big. Bigger than Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust combined. And the one to settle things down was seemingly another Frontier Brain.
"Oh. Are you another Frontier Brain?" Ash asked.
"I am. Sorry about Sharon here. Name's Luca, by the way." He introduced himself. "Sharon and I are the two Frontier Brains that were announced to show up today."
"Are you a celebrity too?" Rainbow Dash questioned, wondering if Lucien was also some sort of celebrity since it sounds like he knew Sharon.
"No, no." But he wasn't. It was only Sharon who held that title here. Neither was he incredibly rich. But since he was chosen as a Frontier Brain, it was obvious that he had plenty of strength instead.
"Hmph! Words like these are important, Luca." Sharon crossed her arms. "You don't want to get their hopes up too much. If you, it'll just crush them when they found out that they never stood a chance in the beginning. It's better to let them know what they're up against. Mother taught me that."
"Well, I See where you're coming from but...You don't have to be so harsh about it." Luca could agree with Sharon's viewpoint. He just wished it wasn't so harsh and discouraging for everypony.
"Don't you do the same with your sister from time to time?" She side-eyed him.
"Well, yeah. She's my sister and she's still young." Luca shrugged. "That's a good enough reason to encourage her."
"So, are we gonna battle right now or..." Rainbow Dash paused, expecting a battle.
"No, no. This is just the announcement. You'll just be meeting with us Frontier Brains and a rundown of what'll happen in there. It's still a carnival after all. The Battle Frontier won't truly begin until all 7 of us Frontier Brains are present and ready."
"The facilities are being tuned to benefit us," Sharon added. "You'll only get a tour and maybe figure out what to do when you're battling against one of us."
"Hmmm...Good enough for me. Let me see!" Rainbow Dash would take it. She could wait for a while until all 7 Frontier Brains show up. Seeing the inside of the Battle Frontier and how it adjusted to the Battle Carnival excited her. Everyone else wished to see it as well. They would all be invited into the Battle Frontier as the ones to tour them would be Luca, Sharon, and the employees.
Ponyville. Twilight's Castle.
Meanwhile, over at Twilight's Castle, Starswirl had taken in plenty of Pokemon Knowledge in just a few hours. Around him were many books he took from the bookshelves, going over all of them. And with this knowledge entering his head, he was now understanding what everypony in Equestria and beyond were dealing with.
"Unbelievable." He said while going over everything he's seen. "I already figured that they were capable of the most outlandish things because of Xerneas and Yveltal. But to think that all of them can perform stellar actions. Even the weakest eventually evolve into something greater."
Assessing everything he's seen, even the history of the Pokemon World and what was happened in the past, Starswirl concluded about his opinion on Pokemon. It was a staggering conclusion, one that he had to swallow.
"And apparently, Equestria has been gradually changing to fit the conditions of these creatures just so they can live here." Starswirl pondered. "And there exists a Pokemon above them all. All of this power is absurd. Even with spells that are very similar to what they can do, some of the more powerful ones require plenty of magical effort. These Pokemon are exceptionally powerful. For 4 years, things have gone relatively fine, but with Yveltal's destruction, I've seen a glimpse of what the can do."
While he concluded on the power of Pokemon, he wasn't sure what to truly make of them. Starswirl would still need some time to process everything there was to know. After all, he had only scratched the surface of these Strange and Wonderful Creatures. And he hasn't even gotten to work on making more gateways. The Pokemon were too intriguing to ignore. Far more than Cosmic Beings.
Anistar City had been rebuilt by Xerneas. And just as Olympia said, the citizens of Anistar were safe and sound. They were still in one piece and lived to see another day. Showing up here were the Pokemon Rangers, looking over at the leftover damage That was mainly caused to the land. Xerneas' power could not heal this.
The damage shown had left behind an irreversible crater that was now residing next to Anistar City. And from that crater, dark magic was seeping out along with corrupted electricity. Even though the Black Crusade was over, massive scars had been left on the world.
"Well, even though Anistar's completely fine...There's nothing we can do about this." Jackie said, standing near the crater with Olympia. He and Olympia were wearing suits, making it clear that it was dangerous to be near this crater. "There's some magical radiation coming from it and that'll have some weird effects for sure."
"The houses nearby aren't safe to be in then. I'm not sure what can reverse this damage." Olympia replied. "The only possible way to fix this is for Zygarde to appear. I've already foreseen movement from it."
"Hm, true. I bet it's already on the move right now. Nothing we can do about this. The magic ran so deep that it spread past Anistar's vicinity. It's moved through most of Kalos and the Union said that it's latching onto other regions."
"Other regions will be exposed to this magic?" Olympia questioned.
"Sadly. Whatever was in that blast was something else." Jackie whistled. "We'll try what we can to stop that from happening. Hopefully, Zygarde shows up first. It's amazing how you're unscathed by that magic though."
"I have Princess Luna and Zekrom to thank for that. They protected me from something that not even Xerneas could reverse." Olympia smiled before looking over at the land beyond and how the scars were still visible. "For a moment, a majority of life had been snuffed out but we returned moments later. I never foresaw that and I certainly can't foresee anything else on this level."
"Hopefully, nothing tops this. Anyway, you can keep this suit. It'll keep you fully safe from this magical radiation. Made out of the same material powered through the dimensions the Jirachi were trapped in." Jackie would bid Olympia farewell, letting her and Anistar keep some of these suits. As for the land, travelling it wouldn't be as safe as it used to be thanks to the magic, until Zygarde shows up.
Starswirl had finished for the day when learning about Pokemon. All the books around him had been read but there was still more to read. But that was for another time, Probably tomorrow. He left the room, coming across Twilight who was feeding Espeon and Ninetales at the moment, perking up once she saw her idol show up.
"So? How did it go?" Twilight asked after Starswirl arrived. "I bet you learned everything you needed to know about Pokemon in minutes."
"Oh, I did. It was not what I expected though. You have been living with these creatures for 4 years?"
"And counting." Twilight squeed. "We still have a lot to learn about them. I'm learning more about my own Pokemon even to this day and it's just so much fun."
"They're powerful. Absurdly powerful. They threaten the very world they live in."
"Well, yeah...Some of them can even change the terrain itself just by walking around. It's amazing how their world has been so stable for centuries despite how many powerful Pokemon roam the world."
"Hm. Yes. I was thinking about that more than anything. A part of me wished to do something about them but I strayed away from that thought. If they know how to manage themselves despite their overwhelming power, then it is completely fine for them to stay around."
"Huh? You were going to send them away?
"I thought of it, but I did not go through with it. After what happened with Stygian, I've refrained from doing such a thing. After all, you and everypony have adjusted well to them. Plus, you have the Humans to help you. I'm honestly more surprised this never caused that much of a problem in the start. No political issues came up?"
"Uh. No?" Twilight shrugged. "It was a bit of a rocky start but everything simmered down in a few weeks. "We have Ash to thank for that."
"Even still, I know what I must do. To avoid an event similar to the Yveltal one, I'll be exploring this new world of ours. I still want to keep Equestria safe and with the Pokemon, some of the most nefarious beings will have greater access to fulfilling their plans.
"Oooh, you've got a point." Twilight nodded in approval.
"Because of the Pokemon, anything they wish to do can be done with a single Pokemon. I knew a terrifying being who would benefit from the Pokemon known as Gothitelle alone and nothing else. I have to prevent anypony from taking advantage of them. And that involves the lands beyond Equestria."
"I never considered those areas. It was our entire world that was met with the Pokemon. Not just Equestria."
"Well, right now, as we speak, someone has probably found the advantages to having a Pokemon. It sounds like your story is only limited to Equestria. The lands beyond probably have zero human contact so they have no guidance at all."
"I didn't even think about that!" Twilight screeched, realizing how crucial that could be, putting her hooves on her head. No one else had considered the other lands even before the two worlds merged as one. Who knows what kind of nefarious individuals are utilizing the destructive power of Pokemon at this very moment?"
"Things seem to be fine here. But I have to see what is happening beyond Equestria. Before that, I have to keep my promise and help you with your gateway issue. Now, I understand they're made up of Rift Energy."
"Mhm. I have Rift Magic in me. I emptied out my own magic, making myself a vessel for Rift Magic. But I still can't summon a gateway, sadly." Twilight pouted.
"Then I will use that one gateway here at Ponyville as an example to make more. It will take some time when it comes to cosmic powers."
"Then, you'll probably need the Rift Cauldron. It's pretty nifty and useful when we need it." Twilight would offer up to the Rift Cauldron for Starswirl to use. She desperately wanted the gateways to return. To see them return would be wonderful for everyone.
After all, there was no shame in wanting an easier way to travel.
Starswirl would get to work. His work was never done even after leaving Limbo. As for Twilight, she would simply wait, living her best life. She certainly needed to live her best life after what had just happened. She couldn't imagine what could be worse than the Black Crusade. And the way she wanted to live her best life was with all of her friends.
1 Day Later. Canterlot.
Another day had passed. The world was still healing after the Black Crusade and nd to make sure it would heal was the Ruler of Equestria, Princess Celestia.
Speaking of Princess Celestia, currently, she had her newest Pokemon out in the open. None other than the Vast White Pokemon Reshiram. After the Black Crusade, Celestia and Reshiram have formed a powerful new bond. And the same went for Luna and Zekrom. The Royal Sisters now had two powerful Dragons as their Pokemon who were casually resting next to Canterlot Castle.
Now, anyone approaching Canterlot would be met with two Dragons that were almost the size of the castle. If combined, they would be far taller than it without a doubt. But the Twin Dragons being here gave Canterlot a greater sense of importance. It was already important enough but Reshiram and Zekrom added to that. Anyone who would dare try and attack Canterlot Castle would be met with these two Top Tier Titans.
"Wait, Premium! You survived Yveltal's wave of destruction?! How!?" But something shocking had met Celestia's ears after what the little filly Premium Polish said.
"I'm still an android. Or...a robot? Cyborg? I forgot which one I am." Premium Polish squeed.
"Android. I suppose it would make sense for you to survive. But the Golurk are Automatons and yet they were taken out. I suppose there's a clear difference between an Automaton and a Robot. Not like I know much about them both anyway."
"It was so scary...Everyone just turned to stone and I felt something creepy move through me." She shuddered, recalling the experience very clearly. "But once I saw them turn back, I knew you had something to do with it."
"Oh, it was Xerneas that we have to thank. That was without a doubt a close-call. I'm just glad you're safe. Even though you survived, the Dread League would've come for you. From now on, I will do everything in my power to make sure something like that doesn't happen again."
"Sweet! So does that mean you'll get out there and stop more villains!"
"Well, I'm not going to actively seek them out like a Madmare." Celestia chuckled. "I just have to be aware of other lands out there. There is a lot we haven't discovered just yet, Premium. Pegalysium and Magehold were just scratching the face. From now on, any nation we see, we must be careful." Celestia said with confidence and high authority in her eyes and voice. She would be aware of the future when coming across other lands.
The lands beyond were still unknown as she and Starswirl had something similar in mind. It was all thanks to Magehold that this ambition came to them.
"Now. Let's make sure things are fine for the upcoming party." Despite all of that, a party will be held. The celebration of the world's victory against the Black Crusade was not over yet. Not without a party which would be held here in Canterlot.
Magehold.
Magehold. The evil permeating here had been wiped out. All thanks to Fantina, who was now the Lich Queen. The first ever Human Lich Queen while also being the creator of a new form of Lich Magic that has never existed before. Magehold would be led in the right direction by Fantina, who was planning to pass on this title to someone else. Someday.
Fantina was not here at the moment, however. She was currently at Hearthome City now that her memories were back. But even with Fantina gone, the vampires who were not a part of the Dread League conversed with each other about this new direction in life. They chose Fantina as the new Lich Queen, favouring her greatly compared to the others.
"So...With the cycle gone, what now, Father? What of the spirits and souls that have been collected by the previous Lich Rulers in the past?" Dimstar asked Fractured Note who was originally known as King Grevyine. The First Lich King.
"I'm positive the previous Lich Rulers are at peace now, much like the souls. As for the Skeletons, their bodies should drop and return the souls as well." Fractured Note replied.
"What about me though? I'm still a Lich. Half, anyway. The same goes for my sister. Will we be fine?" Opal was the source of it all. Not you all. You will be fine, I promise. I can trust Fantina to lead Magehold down the right path. And once she passes the crown, the bright future we're looking for will be waiting. It all depends on how things go. "But all of this damage might'v'e alerted them."
"Who?"
"As a Lich, I know about some other species that don't exactly appear here in our world. They certainly won't show up at Mageold unless needed." Fractured Note said. "They live above us and this will surely garner a reaction from them. Other beings were apparently above him and only he knew. As a species that was the closest to the Primordial Magic, Fractured Note knows what these beings were and more importantly...
What they were capable of.
Deerling Forest.
But a majority of everyone would love to put that behind them as soon as possible. And some of them were over at Deerling Forest, relaxing with the Deerling. Twilight had brought her friends along to Deerling Forest, wanting to spend some time with them now that the Black Crusade debacle is over. It felt great being around her friends without worrying about something dreadful showing up.
They had a picnic over at Deerling Forest, indulging in food that they haven't had in a while. The Black Crusade left them all starving for something. They were even kind enough to share with the Deerling, Sawsbuck and other Pokemon that lived here. They deserved the picnic meal too since the destruction wave obviously got it. Very many managed to survive.
Ash laid on his back, taking in the Equestria Sun in all of its glory. Meanwhile, her Pokemon and her friend's Pokemon would start playing around with the Deerling as the peaceful skills blessed me with a chance to spout what has happened since then.
This wasn't even related to the party that's coming to see but it was nice to feel. The soft and tender grass below them along with the clear and smooth air.
"The inside of that Battle Frontier gets me pretty psyched." Meanwhile, Ash expressed his wonder about the Battle Frontier that had been created recently,
"I can't wait to take them on. I'll win the Battle Frontier and then it's one step closer to becoming Equestria's Champion!" Rainbow Dash stood up with high energy, determined to win.
"You do have high gusto for this." Rarity said. I'd be careful of that Sharon girl though. You never know what the rich types are hiding."
"For now, let's enjoy this," Starlight said, lying on a lake as a group of Ducklett swam up to her. Starlight closed her eyes as her partner Clobbopus was on her chance, splashing around in the water. Fluttershy would also close her eyes, sitting next to a tree as many of the Deerling gathered around her. She was still tuckered out. Some of them still needed some rest.
Deerling Forest was the best place to rest since it was so peaceful. And the Deerling would most definitely consider them and leave them be. The wind blew peacefully in this new world. It felt rather new now that a massive threat had been taken out.
Ever since the two worlds merged to create a Grander World, the opportunity to fully explore had been robbed thanks to the Dread League. It felt like there was no peace at all. But now that they've been defeated, peace can be known once more and it was absolutely blissful.
But even with this peaceful environment, Twilight couldn't help but think about what Starswirl the Bearded said.
"Well, right now, as we speak, someone has probably found the advantages to having a Pokemon. It sounds like your story is only limited to Equestria. The lands beyond probably have zero human contact so they have no guidance at all."
"That's a scary thought...but I'd rather not think about it." Twilight closed her eyes, slowly tilting her head as it landed on Absol's fur. Absol stayed still, allowing Twilight to gently rest on him. He wouldn't mind at all.
Celestia and Starswirl were thinking of the land ahead. And there was also someone who had the wider lands beyond on his mind. None other than Ash Ketchum. He enjoyed peace but was also up for an adventure. But now, Ash had something else in mind. He also wanted to know was beyond Equestria. But no matter what it be may, Ash would find something worthwhile. He always does.
However, just as Starswirl said, someone would be after the Pokemon. And already, that seemed to be the case. The Pony by the name of Tempest Shadow was on the move. Under the orders of a being by the name of the Storm King, All the while, Zygarde was on the move.
After the damage that had been done to it, how could it not start moving. It was unknown to many how much of Zygarde had been recovered.d They were hoping it was enough to repair this damaged land. But to Ash, he had a good hunch. The Final Member of the Aura trio had to show up after the climax and fix what has been lost.
This moment of peace still existed strongly within Equestria. The beautiful sounds were already putting Ash to see. Very soon, the soothing air would put others to sleep, allowing them to rest easy. They certainly needed to rest easy.
Whatever lies beyond, they would be ready. Near or far, they would be ready. No matter what it may be. But right now, they weren't worried about such a thing. After Xerneas restored nature, Deerling Forest went through some changes too. Its leaves were as dominated by juniper and other colours that would cast a shade over them.
Their leaves and branches allowed for just enough light to pass down for colourful mushrooms to monopolize the crunchy layer of leaves below. Swooping branches suspended from many trees, and an array of flowers, which were seen occasionally, looked almost out of place in the otherwise amber view. A variation of Pokemon which were caused by Flying-Types echoed in the air, and almost completely muffled the sounds of several Pikipeks in the distance. Another variation of noises, which were caused by the Bug-Type Pokemon filled the air, adding to that serenity.
They all wanted to protect this serenity. Something like this just couldn't leave them no matter what. And right now, they just wished to bask in it.
Equestria. Out at Sea. The Sea Temple, Samiya. Afternoon.
Under a rather stormy sky, moving through the seas of Equestria was the Sea Temple Samiya with all the People and Pokemon within going about their day. The Water Pokemon swam alongside this moving temple, following it wherever it goes. The People of the Water still had their time temple intact even after the Black Crusade. They obviously lost their lives when Yveltal's wave of Destruction enveloped the world but were brought back immediately.
On top of that, their crystals were untouched by the destruction. Not a single one was badly damaged, ignoring Yveltal's Life-Ending Wave of Destruction. But as they were moving through the peaceful seas, enjoying the calming atmosphere it brought, the sea wasn't exactly as pure as before.
They still retained that purity but there was something within the waters. And the Black Crusade is the answer to that. The Water Pokemon would swim elsewhere, sensing this ominous presence within the sea. It was none other than the Dark Magic that started from Anistar City and secretly seeped its way through the Earth.
The result was a massive hole in the sea that did not resemble a whirlpool, monsoon or any oceanic phenomenon. It looked like it led straight out of the planet itself and into outer space, having a black abyss at the bottom.
This did not go unnoticed by the People of the Water, especially Alo. His eyes met with the Dark Magic as he could see it moving across the land. Enola and the other Children would lean near the Dark Magic, feeling adventurous, only for the grownups to pull them away before they get themselves into major trouble. The magic had a strong radiation to it that could be seen even in the blue water.
"My...This Dark Magic won't rest even after everything that has happened. It's not just the land but the sea itself that has been ruined." Alo commented.
"What are we to do, Advisor Alo?" A Guard asked. "Is this troubling?"
"It's very troubling. Donoma even saw something like this in her Crystal Ball. But it can be dealt with. The land has been scarred but that will prompt Zygarde to get involved. Zygarde has never interacted with the Sea all that much but it is possible for it to do so. And there is also Kyogre who will not ignore this. Either will try and stop this magic from spreading any further by destroying it."
It has been 2 days since the Black Crusade ended but the aftermath it left behind couldn't be ignored. Even with the Dread League disbanded, the damage they dealt had to be cleaned up. For the most part, everything had been healed but until then, the Water-Types would have to avoid certain parts of the sea. The same went for those in the Sea Temple as they weren't about to take any risks even with the Temple's defences. The Seas would be treacherous to travel on now until something was done.
In her room, Donoma was looking into her crystal ball, seeing what could unfurl. And when staring at it, something interesting caught her attention. It hasn't been too long since the Black Crusade ended but it seemed that the peaceful atmosphere everyone was searching for had yet to truly come.
Donoma saw that there was something else getting in the way of that peace. She wasn't sure what it was. She saw a crackle of lightning akin to that of a thunderstorm, followed by beings walking under this storm. "Oh, dear. It seems that a third party wishes to take action even now. But who?" Donoma would stare at her crystal ball some more to see what else could prop up.
It would start turning, avoiding the Dark Magic before the radiation it lets off reaches them. Wherever they were going, it had to be somewhere else but here and they also had to look out for any scarred seas. But the second they turned, something grabbed their attention. Something from above as it cast a large shadow over their temple.
A large ship was flying above them, stunning their eyes. With it being in the air, it had nothing to worry about when it came to the Dark Magic radiating across the land. This airship would suddenly slow down, stopping in its tracks. But it would once again move, only in the motion of a descent. The Airship would drop, touching the Sea and getting close to the Dark Magic.
The People of the Water watched closely at this with some of them being worried about what this could mean. The children were certainly scared. When touching the water, the doors to the Airship would open and from it, beings that the Samiyans have never seen before had emerged from it, walking down some stairs that had been dropped from the airship, touching the dangerous parts of the sea.
They were rather large, wearing black armour with long hair as they stood upright in bipedal positions, walking over to the sea. No creature in Equestria resembled that and they certainly weren't Pokemon. When approaching the sea by walking down a ladder, they head these helmets on them as they clearly needed to swim.
"What are those things?" A guard said which prompted another Samiyan to speak.
"They're going straight for the water. Don't they know how dangerous it is?"
Clearly not. Aside from the helmets they wore to help them underwater, they were fine with going down there. As for the reason they wished to go down there, Alo could see that it could have something to do with the Dark Magic that was damaging the seas.
And among them was someone who looked rather familiar. Alo vividly remembered the appearance of this pony. From it, Tempest Shadow showed up.
"It's her!" Alo gasped. But this clearly wasn't the same Tempest Shadow. For starters, she was in a completely different ship this time and this one wasn't allied with Daybreaker. Judging by her armour, she was allied with these large creatures instead and the one who was in charge of all of them.
Tempest Shadow would stay away from the sea, letting the creatures enter it instead. as she watched them go to work. But it didn't take long for her to spot the Sea Temple. It was impossible to ignore it either way.
"She sees us. But what are she and those large creatures planning to do?" A guard questioned.
"The Sea Temple." Tempest Shadow suddenly spoke when eyeing the temple down. "They'll get a good look at what we're about to do and very soon, those crystals they possess will be down for the taking."
Right as she said that, the massive hole in the sea would flare up, interacting with the Dark Magic that was eating away at the Earth. They gasped as the creatures were obviously responsible for this. They were taking full advantage of this damage instead of trying to rectify it.
"With this, we can draw Zygarde out." said Tempest Shadow. Her main goal and the goal of the creatures who came from the ship, was to summon Zygarde. And what better way to do it than to damage the ecosystem? The Dread League merely gave them a headstart.
And of course, this would affect this area of the Sea and by the Water Pokemon and the Sea Temple. The temple would shake as the magic would spread further across the sea thanks to this interaction. This prompted the Water Pokemon to flee as fast as they could before the magic reaches them.
"They'll make the magic that's damaging the Earth from below larger at this rate! They're actively trying to make things worse!" Alo held onto a pillar for dear life. "Stop them!"
The guards and the Water Pokemon would take action. Seeing what Tempest Shadow's unknown group were up to, they had to stop them before it leads to something truly damaging. However, it was a rather perilous task to try and reach Tempest Shadow.
The massive water hole had grown, upping the danger levels. On top of that, the Dark Magic's radiation was stronger than ever now, making the Water Pokemon nervous to approach it. They knew that if they got any closer, they would suffer untold damage.
"N-No use. We can't get past that radiation." A Samiyan Guard said as there was already a gauged distance between the two groups. And Tempest Shadow obviously knew this, allowing her group to work without interruptions. However, Tempest Shadow had a different reaction to the radiation.
"I'll handle the Sea Temple and take some of those crystals for myself." Tempest Shadow would hold her hoof out as she was already in possession of a Poke Ball. She wasn't slow to this brand new world, that's for sure. And right before she threw it, Tempest Shadow unleashed an incredibly impressive leap, moving through the air and avoiding the radiation.
Alo and everyone looked up to see a unicorn with a broken horn take to the air, moving through it as if she was flying. There was no magic being used here. She was not levitating at all. It was purely hoof strength even though she was not an Earth Pony at all. And when in the air, she was already getting close to the Sea Temple. And while the Water Pokemon were nervous to get close because of the Radiation, they would try and shoot her down with Water Gun, Bubble Beam, Scald and more. "Go, Sneasler!" That was when the Poke Ball was thrown and out of it came another member of the Sneasel family. It was not a Weavile, but something different.
"Sneasler!" A Sneasler had appeared.
"Dire Claw!" Tempest Shadow said while throwing another Poke Ball into the air.
"Snea!" Sneasler would lash out at the Water-Type attacks with ruinous claws that were surrounded by poison. With just one slash, the claws sliced up the Water-Type attacks with ease, destroying them. And at the same time, out of Tempest's other Poke Ball was a Noivern.
"Noivern!" Upon appearing, Noivern would catch Tempest Shadow, allowing her to stay in the air. The People of the Water gasped as Tempest Shadow was coming straight for the Sea Temple while the water would rock violently.
The defences of the Sea Temple were already being put up, forming a shield around the civilisation as soon as possible. But knowing what the Sea Temple had to offer, Tempest Shadow was prepared. The radiation from the Dark Magic had reached the temple, interacting with the barrier that was being put up.
It stopped the barrier midway as only half of it had been put up, leaving the rest of the temple wide open. The People of the Water were certainly not anticipating a surprise attack such as this but it didn't stop there. Right as the barrier was halfway there, Tempest Shadow would take advantage of this in two ways.
"Use Boomburst!"
"Noi...VERN!" Noivern's body was surrounded by a light-blue aura as the inside of its ears illuminated light blue and blue static appeared on both sides of its ears. Noivern then sends a swirly supersonic wave of light blue aura towards the barrier which would then form into massive waves that beat down on the Sea Temple's protection.
The barrier had been shattered as it was not strong enough. Not when it was only halfway done. The powerful soundwaves absolutely shattered the barrier but on top of that, the soundwave also reached the People of the Water, damaging their ears. They were completely stunned by this mighty wave of sound as Tempest Shadow would then leap off the back of the Sound Wave Pokemon, entering the Sea Temple.
Joining her at the Sea Temple was Sneasler who also managed to get here with impressive air time that was perfectly controlled. Tempest Shadow was now in the Sea Temple. With everyone's ears healing, the citizens would back up while the guards would instantly step forward, standing in front of Alo.
Enola peeked from the corner, witnessing Tempest Shadow and her Pokemon make an appearance, already causing a ruckus.
"So much for your amazing defences," said Tempest after arriving. "Now. You know why I'm here, Samiyans."
"You're Tempest Shadow, but you're working with someone else," Alo replied.
"Oh. You know who I am?" Tempest Shadow was rather surprised to hear that someone from the Sea Temple already knew of her. If only she knew why that was the case. "Whatever. Under the orders of the Storm King, we'll be needing your crystals of amazing power. For when Zygarde appears."
"You're after Zygarde as well?!" The Royal Advisor to King Ash gasped.
"Against such a Pokemon? Yes, we need them. Our options aren't exactly the best for dealing with such a Pokemon, so you can understand where we're coming from, right?"
"Negative! You cannot possibly think to approach Zygarde in the way I think you're planning! You must let Zygarde handle things at the moment. The world has been greatly damaged by the events of the Black Crusade. While all life has been restored, the land has been scarred. Even the Sea itself."
"We know. That's why we actively messed with it. Xerneas and Yveltal had their moment so now it's Zygarde's turn. How could it ignore the damage that's been done?"
"But why Zygarde? Why not any other Pokemon?" Alo wondered.
"You don't have to worry about that right now. Worry about some of your crystals because their power is what we also need." Just then, from the ground, those same large creatures would break through the ground, appearing within the Sea Temple by coming from underwater.
The People of the Water screamed and gasped once these creatures showed up, intruding into the Sea Temple. Their goal were the Sea Temple Crystals and their great power. And this was all being done for someone known as the Storm King. The floor had been damaged, showing the sea beneath and yet it would not rise up and flood the Sea Temple, not when it was so in tune with the Sea.
The Water Pokemon would try and stop these large creatures from going any further, spraying them with water. They had their bodies blasted by different levels of Water-Type attacks. Their armour and large stature helped them at least withstand some of these attacks but it was obvious some of these creatures fell over or were pushed away.
Meanwhile, Tempest Shadow would start galloping alongside her Sneasler who moved at great speeds while her Noivern moved through the air, keeping up with the both of them. She was going straight for the crystals, wasting no time.
There to stand in their way were the guards and the Water Pokemon who would try and protect their home. But it wasn't just them. The temple had traps that were waiting for Tempest Shadow and her Pokemon. The tiles on the floor would start opening up and changing, threatening to either drop Tempest Shadow or trap her in those large bubbles.
Unfortunately, that never came to pass as Tempest Shadow not only leapt over the open tiles but she also avoided the bubble containment by getting a high enough height. "Sneasler, use Acrobatics!"
"Snea!" Moving ahead and swiftly avoiding the traps was Sneasler. She effortlessly avoided the traps by simply moving faster than them. And she was already incredibly fast, becoming a light purple blur. The Pokemon that stood in her way were quickly struck by the nimble Pokemon, receiving a slash from her claws. She would slash one Pokemon after the over, swiftly moving to the next with the agility of Acrobatics, even leaping off some of the Pokemon she struck, using them as launchpads.
There was panic at the Sea Temple as it was being intruded by this strange group under the one known as the Storm King. But those defending it weren't about to let them get what they wanted.
Already, the crystals were the top priority as they had to receive the utmost defence. Tempest Shadow already knew where to find the Treasure Room which housed all of the crystals. And with the Pokemon standing in her way, she had answers for that. From her pocket, she revealed something else other than another Poke Ball.
These black orbs appeared with something green in them, obviously magic. With her broken horn emanating some magic, albeit faint, she would kick this magical black orb, targeting one of the guards who attempted to close the doors since Tempest Shadow knew where to go.
Right as he was about to shut the door, the orb struck him, forming a powerful material over him. He suddenly felt paralyzed upon being touched by the orb. A green smoke enveloped his body before obsidian suddenly appeared around him. He gasped as his body was covered by obsidian. One of the hardest materials out there. He essentially became an Obsidian Statue as the door was still open and free for Tempest Shadow to pass through.
However, Alo was already making his way to the Treasure Room, taking one of the many pathways within the Sea Temple to get there quicker. He may be old, but Alo's knowledge of the Sea Temple makes up for it. By taking the secret pathways, he was already closer to the Treasure Room than Tempest Shadow.
"This is rather troubling." Appearing here already was Alo after taking the secret pathways. Thankfully, Tempest Shadow hadn't made it here yet but she could if something wasn't done soon. "But it's not too late to stop it. Neither of the crystals must get to them."
"Do we use the power of the crystals again,?" A guard asked.
"Probably. The invaders have already entered the Sea Temple so we must force them out. But more importantly, the elevated magic and the effect it has on the Sea has already grown. If we do not move away from these waters as soon as possible, the radiation will surely affect us all in unsavoury ways. We will use the crystals to force them out of our home."
In agreement, they would use the power of the crystals to send Tempest Shadow and her group away as soon as possible. At the same time, they had to get away from these seas otherwise the radiation will do them all in strange yet terrifying ways. Those within the Sea Temple acted as quickly as they could, gathering around the crystals.
Meanwhile, away from the Treasure Room, but still gradually approaching it was Tempest Shadow. Her Pokemon were charging through those who would try and stop them while these large creatures assisted in giving her as much time to pass through as possible, causing a ruckus. They were simply here to keep the People and Pokemon of the Water from reaching the Treasure Room.
Tempest Shadow would also keep turning other people and Pokemon into obsidian, throwing those strange orbs at them. She would lunge through the air, avoiding a Hydro Pump that came from a Floatzel before kicking the orb at the Sea Weasel Pokemon. Soon, Floatzel had turned to stone.
Noivern would blow away any blockades and obstacles with Boomburst. The soundwaves it generated with staggeringly loud and powerful, knocking over other Pokemon and People who would dare try and stop Tempest Shadow. Sneasler's powerful claws and great speed spoke for themselves.
"Stop!" Suddenly, getting in her way in front of one of the doors was none other than the young Enola, holding her arms out. Despite her age, she would try and stop Tempest and her Pokemon from going any further.
"Out of the way, kid." Tempest Shadow said to Enola, seeing this as a small nuisance that she could easily dispose of. She didn't want to waste an orb on a child.
"You're ruining everything!" Enola shouted at the unicorn. "We just want peace! So, I won't let you go any further!"
"Bad choice." Tempest Shadow narrowed her eyes before making a command. "Sneasler! Throw her away with Close Combat!"
"Sneasler!" Zipping ahead was Sneasler, planning to knock Enola aside while also going for the door that had already been shut.
"Wailmer! Double-Edge!" However, though Enola may be bold facing off against someone so intimidating and older than her, she didn't come alone, having a way to fight back. And that was with a Wailmer who came rolling in with Rollout.
"Wailmer!" The Ball Whale Pokemon came charging in as fast as it could, intercepting the claws of Sneasler. There was an immediate clash between the two, letting sparks fly along with a shockwave. This kept Tempest Shadow back for a moment while Enola almost fell over. "W-Wail...!"
"Snea!" But it was clear who had the superior strength. Sneasler struggled for a moment before completely overpowering Wailmer's Double-Edge, sending the Ball Whale Pokemon flying.
"Waaaiiil!" Wailer screamed as it was sent flying over to Enola. The Young Samiyam gasped before holding out her hands, trying to save Wailmer.
Wailer was still heavy despite the fact that it could bounce really well. Enola caught Wailmer, only to fall down with it, taking the full body weight of the Ball Whale Pokemon. She groaned after being dropped as Wailmer was already knocked out by a single Close Combat from Sneasler.
Moving along, Tempest Shadow would look back at Enola with disdain for a moment before moving along, continuing on her path towards the Sea Temple. She refused to have anyone stop her goal. Even children.
Over at the Treasure Room, the light from the crystals were already going off, attempting to send the intruders away in the best possible way. Each of the crystals started glowing as they were spreading across the Sea Temple.
Breaking into the Treasure Room by using Noivern's Boomburst was Tempest Shadow. She found her way here, unfortunately, already knowing where the crystals were stored. She appeared while the power was still being harnessed from the crystals.
"There they are!" Tempest exclaimed, eyeing down the blue crystals that were emitting a golden light.
"You're far too late!" Alo turned to face Tempest Shadow while the Guards all had their hands on the crystals, using their power. "The crystals will work their power and prevent you from being victorious. Since you came here for them, you must obviously know what they're capable of so it's pointless to try and stop them now."
"But not too late. You're not fully done with them. Get this old man out of my sight and knock them over with Boomburst!"
"Noi...!" Once more, Noivern was about to unleash a sky-shaking soundwave, attempting to knock the guards and Alo over which would certainly interrupt the process of the crystals being utilized. All she needed to do was grab the crystals and she would be out of here, caring less for the Sea Temple. After all, she wasn't safe from the radiation as well as these seas were already becoming hazardous thanks to what has transpired.
"Mana!" But here to stop that was none other than the Prince of the Sea, Manaphy. He came flying in, intercepting Noivern's powerful soundwave with something just as powerful. Hyper Beam was unleashed, meeting with Noivern's Boomburst.
Two powerful Normal-Type moves clashed, shaking the air with different sounds being unleashed. And yet, neither managed to knock the guards off their feet as they were incredibly focused on the crystals. Noivern gasped after Manaphy made his entrance. But not only did he get in the way of his Boomburst, he overpowered it.
Hyper Beam broke through the Boomburst, enveloping it. And soon, it would envelop Noivern. The Sound Wave Pokemon was struck by Hyper Beam which would combust upon contact. Afterwards, Noivern would fall from the sky, taking heavy damage from this Always-Powerful Normal-Type attack.
Tempest Shadow kissed her teeth thanks to this interruption as the Prince of the Sea was now involved. It was inevitable for him to show up anyway as he would land on the floor, standing strong for such a small size. "Manaphy!"
As for the crystals, their power had reached the entirety of the temple, enveloping all of it in a golden light. Tempest Shadow eyed down the crystals, knowing she had to act fast. She would at least be happy with one crystal if she managed to get one.
"Dire Claw!"
"Snea!" Sneasler would move in, being much faster than Noivern as she was going straight for the Prince of the Sea. Unfortunately for Manaphy, he had to recharge, unable to move thanks to Hyper Beam as she was wide open for an attack. Sneasler successfully landed a hit, slashing the Seafaring Pokemon.
"M-Mana!"
And right as Manaphy took a hit, Tempest Shadow would prepare another one of her orbs. This time, it would be at the guards using the power of the crystals. It looked like they were bound to land on one of them, ruining the process.
"Mantine!" But getting in the way of this was a Mantine who took the hit for the guards, leaping out of the water. Mantine was the next target for this obsidian-covering orb, turning as stiff as a statue in midair. It was an honourable sacrifice as the Water-Flying-Type would drop to the floor.
And thanks to its sacrifice, the temple was starting to move. Tempest Shadow and all the large invaders felt this movement as the temple was now about to switch things up just for them. With what they were capable of, it wasn't hard to guess what could be done to force them all out of here.
"Hmph." But just then, Tempest Shadow put on a smirk even though the temple acting up. Lo and behold, above them, Noivern had taken flight once more.
"Noivern!" Noivern didn't even need to take a command from Tempest Shadow. It already knew what needed to be done. Alo gasped as Boomburst was unleashed. And this time, there was no one here to stop Noivern's Boomburst. The guards were knocked over but most noticeably, some of the crystals had been knocked out of their podiums, dropping to the floor. Alo would fall over in his old age, dropping his staff as even Manaphy was knocked over from the Boomburst.
"Tough luck!" Tempest Shadow yelled. before leaping over to reach the crystals. She had to act fast before it all turns upside down. And thanks to Noivern's interruption, the magic that the crystals left off had stopped. The focus had been destroyed,, preventing the defences from going through.
And with the defences of the Temple being interrupted, Samiya would start wobbling, becoming rather unstable. It needed to be stable as soon as possible and that all mattered here at the Treasure Room. But thanks to Tempest Shadow's interruption, that couldn't be done so quickly.
She stopped in front of one of the crystals which almost rolled away from her, only for Tempest to step on it. The other crystals were rolling away, however, Sneasler managed to catch one of them. "It's already unsafe being on here."
"At this rate, the Temple will spiral out of control and move through the seas at a rapid and uncontrollable pace!" Alo groaned.
"That's your problem." Tempest Shadow scoffed. She then saw how the other crystals were escaping from her, but she wouldn't let them get away. But the moment she tried going for the crystals that were rolling away, the temple's unstable movements would stop her.
Tempest gasped, nearly falling over, only for Sneasler to catch her. The crystals went further away from her, eventually dropping into the water as the temple was now tilting instead of staying perfectly still. The crystals would drift across the water which had become wild, carrying them through the temple at a quick and wobbly rate. Seeing the crystals escape from her sights and the temple moving at a wild rate, Tempest Shadow had to pull back, much to her chagrin.
"We at least have two crystals! Let's go!" Tempest Shadow would be fine with just two. They would be enough. Having two crystals, Tempest Shadow and her Pokemon would flee the scene as quickly as they could before it ends up bad for them all. It was already looking rough for the People of the Water who were holding on for dear life and bracing themselves.
One of the crystals reached Alo, who held onto it before it could fall into the sea. He would try and use this crystal but for one purpose. A purpose that would help the People of the Water despite what was going on.
"I must warn his majesty..." Alo was about to warn Ash. By focusing closely on the crystal despite the unstable temple, he would try and call for the King of the Sea.
The intruders left the Sea Temple as soon as possible, returning to the Airship they came in. As for the Sea Temple, it was spiralling through the sea, moving in an aimless direction. The large hole in the Sea was also growing, giving them something else to worry about.
The Temple was already trying to find some stability but that would take a lot of work at the moment, especially since the crystals have been knocked off. And yet, they still had more than the intruders. Tempest Shadow stood on the stairs, looking down at the Sea Temple. Only two crystals were retrieved but that would work for her.
And as for the one crystal that had been used, it was sending a signal. A signal to the King of the Sea. The People of the Water barely managed to defend their home but failed to defend all of their crystals. Although they had more than the intruders, two crystals being taken still pose a visible threat. Tempest Shadow would re-enter the airship as the intruders were on their way, focusing on their main goal.
Equestria. High up in the Skies. On an Airship. Afternoon.
The Airship that this universe's Tempest Shadow was moving through the sky, currently carrying two crystals that originally came from the Sea Temple. After launching an attack on it, Tempest Shadow and these large creatures only managed to get two crystals. But two was good enough considering the power they held.
Sitting down, rather disappointed that she couldn't get more was Sneasler. Tempest Shadow walked up to her Pokemon in her rather saddened state. "You did your best, Sneasler. Two is better than nothing. Those Samiyans still have more than us though."
"Is two better though?" Questioning Tempest Shadow about that was a little hedgehog who was the smallest here. Smaller than even Tempest as he seemed like the odd one out even with Sneasler and Noivern being present
"They may be rumours, Grubber, but these crystals hold immense power and one of them brought a fictional character to life," Tempest replied, speaking the name of this hedgehog. "I'm certain two can get us far. As for what the Storm King thinks..."
The two crystals had been placed next to a throne where many of these large creatures could be found. And sitting on that throne was the one in charge of this operation, the ship and all who attacked the Sea Temple was none other than the one known as the Storm King.
"Great! Look at these!" The Storm King said with glee, holding up two Sea Temple Crystals. It was safe to say that he was fine with ttwo.
"We couldn't get all of them. The rest escaped our grasp and the temple was far too dangerous for us to stay in."
"Bah, who cares about that? Two works well enough."
"Do you think that with these two, we can go straight for the Princesses now?" Tempest Shadow questioned.
"The Princesses? No. No-no, nooooo." He shook his head. "If we got these crystals earlier then maybe, but not right now. Heading over to Canterlot is just asking for trouble now that the Black Crusade's over. Take a look."
To demonstrate, the Storm King pulled out a board that was next to his throne, plastered on the wall. And on that board was a plan that the Storm King laid out concerning the Pokemon, Crystals and Canterlot. Two of these Pokemon ended up being Reshiram and Zekrom.
"Before the Black Crusade, we could've gone straight for the Princesses, taken their magic and everything would be fine. But, the unification of both worlds screwed it up for us. We had to take a long trip back to Equestria and by the time we showed up at Equestria, the Black Crusade was already ongoing.. We even ended up in a place we had no idea about. Plus, now we have two massive dragons to worry about. See what I mean?"
"It's because you're scared of the dragons, isn't it?" Tempest Shadow uttered, believing that Reshiram and Zekrom were the reason for his hesitance.
"Yes, it's because I'm scared of the dragons." The Storm King repeated in a rather mocking tone. Truth be told, Reshiram and Zekrom were what made him refrain from heading to Canterlot. "If I head there, I'll either be Fried or Zapped. But it's fine! After we get Zygarde, we'll be fine. It's a Ground-Type or whatever so that's just an added bonus when we come across those two. Now that we have these crystals, more damage to the ecosystem can be made and that Zygarde's gonna come crawling to us."
With the Sea Temple Crystals, the Storm King intended to draw Zygarde out, making it do its job. But it went past just finding Zygarde. The Storm King obviously had some intention for the Order Pokemon and the board showed what that intention was.
"Zygarde's just the start. It'll be easier to take its power than the Princesses. And after we use Zygarde's power for ourselves, then we can go after them. And then the other Legendary Pokemon. Then the world!" He exclaimed, causing an echoing effect in the room. "With Zygarde's power, the Earth will be at our total command."
"What about that other Earth Pokemon? Groudon?" Tempest Shadow asked.
"Eh. Worry about that later. right now. Let's find Zygarde." The Storm King rubbed his hands together, eager to find Zygarde as soon as possible. And of course, he was hoping no one else aside from the People of the Water knew about this plan. However, there was one individual that the People of the Water count on more than anything, and he was already being contacted.
Deerling Forest.
Ash saw present at Deerling Forest with his friends, hanging out around its peaceful atmosphere. But of course, while the area was peaceful, the individuals here did enjoy some excitement.
"Alright! This'll work just fine!" Ash rubbed his hands together as he and his friends were looking down at what seemed to be a launcher. Specifically, an Infinity Energy launcher. Many of the Deerling gathered around to see this launcher that was made by Infinity ENergy, of course but the way it was built involved these cubes that were containing the energy.
Twilight was responsible for making those cubes, using Rift Magic to do so. Her horn fizzled with Rift Magic as she just got done making these cubes. As for how the Infinity Energy were placed in there, Pikachu and the Pokemon were the answer to that. And what was the purpose of this?
Absolute fun.
"What we have to do is just stand in the centre and all that energy will launch all of us up." Twilight explained. "And once we're up, the Infinity Energy will be around us for a moment which means if we fall, we won't get hurt."
"Deerling." The Deerling cooed in amazement.
"I'll go first!" Pinkie Pie opted to test it out first before anyone else, leaping at the centre of the launcher which was a wooden platform. This platform was rather slim, showing some gaps. But this was for a reason. To make the launch truly successful, a full demonstration of it was about to be shown. Pinkie Pie essentially sood in a tip-toe position, staying perfectly still on the slim platform.
"Okay...Now, go!" To set it off, Espeon would use Psychic on the Infinity Energy cubes, setting them off. Once they reacted to the attack, they would combust. The explosion was not destructive at all thanks to the cubes. It was the force of the explosion that mattered as it launched Pinkie Pie into the air instantly.
"Woohooo!" Pinkie Pie yelled with excitement while being shot upwards. She giggled, flailing her hooves in the air. And on her hooves was Infinity Energy as it was trailing out of her. Everyone watched as Pinkie Pie stayed in the air for a moment, raising her hooves and shooting Infinity Energy into the air, making it sparkle.
After setting off Fireworks of Infinity Energy, Pinkie Pie would descend. And it was a perfect landing too. No harm had been done as the Infinity Energy protected her. It worked like a charm. Pinkie Pie's mane was a bit frizzled from all that Infinity Energy though but it was most definitely worth it.
"Awesome! Me next!" Ash leapt in, wanting to be next in line to experience this launcher. And once on the launcher, Pikachu would set off the Infinity Energy with a Thunderbolt. Ash was then launched into the air, having Infinity Energy fly out of him. "Yeah-haha!" And when in the air, Ash took full advantage of it, stretching his arms and legs to his heart's content. Ash held his hand out, pretending to grab the Sun. It felt like he was grabbing the Sun with how high he went and he absolutely loved it.
Safe to say, this plan to create an Infinity Energy Launcher was a smash-hit in all the right ways. And after Ash had his fun, everyone else would take the opportunity to try out the launcher. One after the other, all of his friends would jump on the launcher with one Pokemon setting it off.
And in the air, all of them would pull off different poses and actions just for the fun of it. The Deerling got their licks in as well, using the launcher for themselves. It was truly enjoyable for everyone and a good way to kill some time. This went on for a while thanks to all the Pokemon that live here.
But right as Ash was about to take another turn on the launcher, something reached him, stopping him in his tricks. A light reached him and him alone, sending a message to the King of the Sea. It was the light from his Kingdom, Samiya. That message spoke a few words to him, but those words had great importance and urgency in them.
And the voice of the message was very much Alo's voice as he was the one who sent it. The light reached a great distance across the seas of Equestria, reaching the King. The message had quite a lot in it for something that came and went in a few seconds.
"DId you hear that, Sombra?" Ash said as Fluttershy went ahead of him since he didn't take his turn.
"I heard it. Loud and clear." It also reached Sombra who was within Ash. Both of them were now aware.
"Ash? What's wrong?" Twilight would notice Ash's expression as it turned serious in an instant.
"It's the Sea Temple." Ash faced Twilight. "Something's up."
"The Sea Temple? Oh, we haven't heard from them for a little while," said Rarity. "Are they nearby?"
"I don't think so. It sounded like it came from far away. I don't know how far." Ash grumbled, looking up for a moment. "But I heard Alo's voice and it sounded serious. Something's wrong and they need help."
"Help? Did we miss something this whole time?" Spike asked. "Maybe some missing vampires?"
"If it is then we can just go to Fantina and it'll be easy to find them. She's got full vision over her vampires whenever they get up to no good!" Goh cried out, pointing out Fantina's many advantages as the new Lich Queen.
"Hm. You guys keep having fun with that. I'll head over to Canterlot." Ash would suddenly depart from Deerling Forest, choosing to focus on this distress message. If the Sea Temple was in trouble, then it had to be of great importance. Even then, Ash would still help even if it wasn't anything serious but it most definitely was as serious as it could possibly be.
Canterlot.
Canterlot. Normal as always but now with one major addition. Reshiram and Zekrom, of course. These two Dragons called this place their home now and gave Canterlot that extra boost of importance and power. It was easy to see why the Storm King refrained from attacking Canterlot. If this was before Reshiram and Zekrom lived here then he would have taken that chance. But it was far too late for that.
"A distress message from the Sea Temple?" Already, Celestia caught wind of it already as Ash had shown up at the castle, sharing it to Princess Celestia.
"Yeah. I got a lot from it even if it wasn't much." Ash said to the Ruler of Equestria. "Alo said something about some invaders. They came into the Sea Temple and took two of the crystals."
"Ah, the crystals?" Luna also caught wind of it, being present in the room. "That answers everything. Those crystals are too powerful for criminals to ignore anyway."
"Yeah. But there was more to it. Alo said that they made that Dark Magic grow. The same one that messed up the land." Ash continued. "They were trying to make it worse."
"Why on earth would they want to make it worse? It came from the Dread League so it should be avoided at all costs. Even they should know that." Celestia uttered, confused as to why someone would want to worsen it.
"It's because of Zygarde." Ash answered. "They're trying to bring Zygarde out. It's because of everything that's happened that they know Zygarde's gonna show up. I already talked about it before and it looks like someone's already on it."
"Zygarde? What benefit does Zygarde bring?" Luna wondered. "Xerneas and Yveltal, I can understand. The Dread League were in pursuit of Yveltal and wished to bring Xerneas out to finish it. From what we know of Zygarde, it seems more important to the world than Xerneas and Yveltal combined."
"It does defend the ecosystem, doesn't it?" Celestia faced her little sister. "That would allow our world to keep on living perfectly. Why go after Zygarde?"
"I don't know." Ash scratched his hair. "I don't think Alo knows either. But I know where Zygarde is."
"You do?" The Royal Sisters repeated.
"Yeah! With Greninja! At least, they're working together. They should be at Kalos dealing with the rest of what the Rock left behind. If they're going to Zygarde and they want Zygarde to come to them, then I say we should beat them to it!"
"Hm. Clever, Ash." Celestia nodded. "Get a head start. Even though there's no telling where they are right now and how far they've gotten. But with the bond you share with your Pokemon, I have a good feeling you can find Greninja and Zygarde. But who were they exactly? The ones who invaded the Sea Temple and took two of the crystals?"
"Not sure. But Alo said something about one of them being Tempest Shadow. But it looks like it's the Tempest of this universe." Ash answered, bringing up Tempest Shadow. He's met Tempest before but it was the one from Universe 6 who was working under Empress Twilight. "And she had these big guys with her, wearing all black! And they said they were working for someone called the Storm King."
"The Storm King?" Celestia wondered if she knew about someone like that. She dug deep into her memories, trying to draw something out. "Hmm...Mmmm! Ah! Him! I know about the Storm King. I've heard of him. He escaped my mind for a moment."
"Whoever he is, he's not gonna get Zygarde. We're gonna beat him there and get those crystals back! I'm heading out!" Ash pointed at himself, putting on a bright grin.
"It hasn't even been that long and you're already planning to swing back into action." Luna chuckled. "I wish I had your stamina, Ash. But since you're on a new mission, we will support you. And I think we should focus on the Sea Temple and how it's doing."
"Oh, right! The Sea Temple's spiralling out of control! That was the last message Alo gave me!" Ash gasped. "Man...Which one should I do first?"
"I'd suggest what is nearest." Celestia got off her throne. "Now that the Storm King is involved, the best place to go is the South which lies beyond the Badlands. The Hippogriffs have history with the Storm King."
"Hippogriffs?" Ash repeated as Celestia walked by her. "Woah...Never heard of them before."
"Let's find the Sea Temple first and then, we will go for the Hippogriffs. Hopefully, we aren't too late and Zygarde hasn't been found just yet."
Celestia and Luna would set out, searching for the Sea Temple since it was moving through Equestrian Seas at a dangerous pace. And with knowledge of the Storm King, heading to the south and finding the Hippogriffs would apparently be of great help. And of course, with Reshiram and Zekrom now being their Pokemon, they were definitely coming along with them.
Deerling Forest.
"You're going out at Sea to do all of that?!" News of this had reached Ash's friends as he had to inform them. Twilight heard it all and what Celestia's plan was now that the Storm King has made an appearance. "But...Why would someone want Zygarde? What danger can Zygarde bring?"
"Believe me. They'll find a way." Ash most definitely knows how they make Zygarde a danger. He's seen it for himself. "Celestia and Luna are already heading for the Sea Temple and so am I. They're my subjects. And even if I'm a King, I wanna help them either way."
"Hm. What a shame." Rarity looked back at the launcher which was being used by a Rattata now. "And here I thought we were done with something like this for a while. But there's always someone who shows up with perfect timing, isn't there?"
"It'll be over soon. I just gotta get those crystals back and keep Zygarde safe. But I'm pretty sure Greninja's got that covered. And Zygarde's strong on its own." Ash laughed. "I'll be back before you know it."
"Pssh. What makes you think you're going at it alone?" Twilight laughed. "We're coming with you."
"Well, yeah. I figured you would." Ash smiled, expecting this already. "It's always great to have a lot of my friends with me, ya know. With all of us, it'll be even easier."
"Wait, we are?" Rainbow Dash paused for a moment, realizing what was just said. She wasn't exactly fully ready. "Awww...But the Battle Frontier!"
"It won't be ready for a while. Not until all the Frontier Brains show up." Twilight replied. "Plus, I don't think this will take too long. We can cover some ground pretty quickly if we want to stop the Storm King from getting what he wants."
"We always have your back, Ash," Applejack reassured. "Wish we had those gateways right about now. That'd be way easier for us. Starswirl still ain't figured out how to make more of 'em?"
"He'll figure it out. It's Starswirl after all." Twilight said with full confidence. "Anyway. How are we going to do this? Getting to the Sea Temple?"
"Celestia's gonna use the Grand Equestria. We're going back on that ship and back to the Sea Temple! Just like before!" Ash raised his fist in excitement as it meant more Sea Travel was due. It was off to the Sea Temple to save it from a perilous motion.
The Storm King's Ship.
The ship of the Storm King was currently on its way to finding Zygarde. And with the two crystals, he would use them in a way that they've never been used before. Zygarde takes notice of the ecosystem and the Storm King needed a faster way to damage it just so the Order Pokemon can show up. And there was already one place in mind.
The Kalos Region.
That was where the Black Crusade started and where the most damage could be found. Knowing this, the Storm King was making a beeline for Kalos which was the most affected by the Dark Magic that seeped itself deep into the Earth. Nowhere else was brimming with Dark Magic like that region. Not even Equestria, where most of the Dark Magic could be found. That black beam did more damage to the land than anyone thought.
But while the ship was on its way to Kalos, the Storm King stood in front of the crystals, already planning on using them. In his hand, he held out a staff, aiming it directly at the crystals.
"You're going to use your Staff of Sacanas on that, your excellency?" Tempest Shadow said.
"That's right. Since I can't have the Magic of the Princesses just yet, I'll get the next best thing. Power from the Sea Temple! And after that, power from Zygarde!" His staff would start drawing power from the crystals as the golden light would fly out of them. The lights gravitated to the staff, feeding it power and making the Storm King one happy ruler.
However, he could not take all of it. He noticed how the staff was trembling as it kept absorbing the energy from the crystals. It looked like the staff was about to break, unable to handle all of the power since it was disgustingly abundant. The Storm King widened his eyes before pulling his staff back, ending the process. "Oh. I think that'll do."
"I feared something like that could happen. The crystals hold possibly the most power in the world," said Tempest.
"Mhm. Comes from Arceus, I think. "I haven't forgotten about that top dog. Now that both our worlds are together, Arceus is the one in charge of us all. He's the biggest big shot there is. So right now, I've got a piece of his light and it's wonderful!" The Storm King looked at his staff, seeing how much power it had gathered. WIth just those two crystals, the Storm King had gained a valuable weapon. "And next, Zygarde's power will be in this staff. With its power, the land will be mine to control."
"With that, you can reshape anything you wish. You can influence the planet in any way." Tempest Shadow explained the great advantages to that.
"Mhm. If I want to make one place a swamp, I can do that! If I want to turn an entire town into a pit, I can do that! An area of volcanoes? Sure! It'll be great and I can choose what's what. And with this light, I can do even more. I have the power of a thousand armies!"
"Such as fix my horn, right?" Tempest Shadow asked, referring to her broken horn which she wished to fix. "That was a promise you made to me."
"Yeah, yeah, fix your horn. Once this is all done, your horn will be brand new. I'd say were pretty close to being done here. "Now, when we get to Zygarde, I'm entrusting you to capture it. You may have gotten only two crystals but I don't want you getting uh...half of Zygarde or whatever. Don't fail me, Tempest, or your horn won't be the only thing that's broken."
"I won't,"
"But! Let's test this new power out!" The Storm King gleefully ran off with his staff, wanting to see the power it contained now that the light from the Sea Temple had been obtained.
One of the windows had been opened, allowing the Storm King to test the power from the outside. And outside, he saw an open land, ripe for the taking. Or in this case, ripe for destruction. He twirled his staff around, eager to see just what could come from it. The Airship would slow down just for him as he wanted to get a clear shot and focus of this incoming attack.
He closed one eye, carefully eyeing down the open land. WIth his staff pointing at that land, the Storm King gathered the Light Energy from within, utilizing it as a destructive power instead of the Gentle Power it usually is. And with just one usage of it, a small but swift light beam came flying out, reaching the open land in a second.
The second it touched the land, the clouds above would turn yellow, reacting to the energy. The Storm Creatures and Tempest Shadow watched this new power take place as it shot a pillar of light into the air. That pillar would then blow away the golden clouds before unleashing a bright flash.
This bright flash would target the bubble of life that made this ecosystem thrive. The nearby Pokemon and animals saw this as their land had been threatened by this bright power the likes of which they've never seen before. And of course, the Storm King was interacting with the Dark Magic, letting it thrive just to bring out Zygarde. All the life in this area ran as fast as they could, knowing that something destructive was coming their way. This light looked vicious instead of beautiful, resembling flames and fangs at the same time.
The open land had been completely crushed by this devastating power as a visage of spiral energy then showed up, moving across the sky. The Storm Creatures were in shock of what they had seen as the light would fade away. But before it faded, the energy it gave out broke through the highest point of the clouds, almost reaching the upper part of the earth. Any further and it could be seen from space.
The end result was a desolate land. The greenery that once populated it was gone. The mountains had been diminished as all the Pokemon and animals lost their homes to this overwhelming power. All that was left was a large crater. The Storm King was most definitely pleased as he looked right at the staff, knowing the kind of power he now possessed.
Equestria. On the Seas. The Sea Temple, Samiya. Afternoon.
It was a quest to retrieve the two crystals. The Storm King had stolen two of them from the People of the Water and this news already travelled to Ash. Informing his friends, he set out to find those crystals and return them to the Sea Temple. Of course, getting to the Sea Temple which was moving uncontrollably through the seas of Equestria was the biggest objective.
Speaking of which, they were still on the move. The temple was not stable yet as it moved across the Equestrian Seas, having no sense of direction. The movement of the temple made tidal waves while the people and Pokemon inside struggled to stay still. While the temple wasn't taking any damage, the lives of everyone inside were in danger.
Donoma held onto her crystal ball, keeping it safe as she was leaning against the wall to try and stay still. But that was proving to be rather taxing as she was feeling rather ill from all of these motions. Enola, at such a young age, felt greatly ill too as her eyes spun around.
The temple was till durable, taking no damage at all. But that wouldn't mean much if the residents inside would receive major damage if something wasn't done. Manaphy tried pursuing the crystals but found that the movement of the temple made it far too difficult for such a task to be done. Many of the Water-Types couldn't even keep their momentum in the water. Not for one moment.
"The crystals are out of our reach?! Where in the temple did they drift off to?!" Indeed. The crystals had left the treasure room thanks to the recent attack. Without them, they couldn't possibly hope to keep the temple still.
Even still, they were attempting to grab the crystals to try and save themselves. The crystals could be seen moving across the water, going on endlessly. The People of the Water attempted to catch the crystals that passed by, struggling to grab them.
Some Samiyans and Pokemon went flying, unable to hold on. The temple would leave the water for a few instances, making all of them jump. It was a rough ride for them indeed as they had no idea where in the Sea they were at this point.
"L-Look!" A Samiyan screamed as her eyes saw something outside that was next to the Sea Temple. Her words reached everyone else who would also look outside.
Outside, yet another ship could be seen. They weren't exactly in the mood for yet another ship considering what they went through previously. But this one wasn't here to steal from them as their eyes instantly recognized the appearance of this vessel. Instead, it was the Grand Equestria. The ship of Princess Celestia. Not only did it appear before the Sea Temple, but it even kept up with it. And that was all thanks to Princess Celestia's magic. She was boosting the entire ship with her magic, increasing its speed.
"Hold it!" Celestia ordered as the many Golurk were sent out of the Grand Equestria to hold the Sea Temple. Each of the Golurk surrounded the temple from all sides, placing their hands on it. With the synchronized strength of the Golurk, they managed to hold onto the Sea Temple.
Everyone inside would feel the temple slow down. The rocky motion had been diminished as the Golurk were certainly powerful enough to keep the temple going any further. Celestia would also slow down the ship now that the Sea Temple was moving at a slower pace. The crystals that were drifting along the sea would still continue drifting but at least now, it would be easier for someone to catch them. But there would be no need to use them to save the temple when the Golurk were the ones to do it.
After the temple reached a stable motion, the Golurk would pull their hands back, gently moving back. Just like that, the Sea Temple had been saved. Alo and everyone inside sighed greatly now that it was over. That could've ended terribly for all of them. Either they would've suffered heavy damage from crashing into an island or they could've sunk eventually. Either one would've been horrible but they had nothing to fear.
Afterwards, everyone could relax now that the rough ride was all over. The temple was still one piece, untouched by the motions. The only damage here was the battle that took place when the Storm Creatures and Tempest Shadow arrived. They previously broke into the Sea Temple by crashing through the floor. Despite that, none of the water had damaged the Sea Temple as it was built to withstand the sea from the inside and outside.
"Hah...Thank you for coming to our aid." Alo said, sitting down as Ash, Celestia and all the others from the Grand Equestria had shown up. He and many of the Samiyans were drenched in water as some of them had caught a cold, shuddering and shivering.
"Any longer and you could've ended up on a nearby island, crashing into it," Celestia replied as she had Arcanine warm up the Samiyans who were doused in water. Twilight's Ninetales would do the same as both Pokemon used their body heat around the Samiyans who were cold.
"So, only two crystals were taken, were they?" Luna said as she managed to retrieve the Sea Temple crystals along with her Frillish.
"Just the two. We managed to save the rest of them. But losing two is still critical for us." Alo sighed. "With them, they can surely bring out Zygarde depending on how they plan to use them. Those crystals shouldn't be used in such a devious way."
"No need to worry. That's why we're here." Ash walked up to Alo. "We'll get those crystals back for you. Plus, there's also Zygarde that we gotta reach."
"It's a lot like what the Dread League tried with Xerneas. But this time, I'm afraid the Storm King might succeed in his approach way easier than they did." Rarity added. "Surely, Zygarde must be on the move right now."
"We're gonna beat 'em to Zygarde, right?" Pinkie Pie bounced over. "I mean, Zygarde's obviously in Kalos and only Kalos so that makes it easier for us."
"Yeah, well if one place's ecosystem is out of control, Zygarde's totally gonna ignore Kalos and come to wherever it is." Rainbow Dash pointed out, seeing what the Storm King and his legion were going for.
"Well, we should hurry then," Luna replied. "We can't get to the Hippogriffs in time and stop the Storm King from reaching Zygarde if we don't act. Hopefully, it shouldn't be too hard to miss them."
"Ah, that won't be an issue. Even though they took our crystals...it can also be used as an advantage." Alo got up.
"It can?" Ash and the others repeated.
"Long ago, when we made the crystals, we feared that if any one of them were to be stolen, we had to find a way to retrieve it by knowing where the thieves went." He would approach the crystals, shaking his head and letting the last of the water leave his moustache. "So, upon creating, we made them all linked."
"Oooh, really?" Ash gawked.
"Yes. If one goes missing, we can use the others to track them down. Of course, this was only made for if some were taken and not all. Lucky for us, it was only two crystals." Alo placed his hand on the crystals. "No matter what, we will never lose sight of them."
"That's so awesome!" Ash and Rainbow Dash expressed, amazed by this. The crystals never ceased to surprise them. It was very easy to see why someone would want their power and why the Samiyans hid for so long. But now, they were done hiding and embraced the world once more. And of course, neither wished to be sealed away again.
"Ah. So we can know where the Storm King is with these." Celestia nodded in amazement. "That's very handy. Now that I know about this, I have something else in mind. You obviously want to get your crystals back so that would mean you'll have a set destination this time."
"Of course. Our targets will be the intruders from before. If we use our light-speed travel, we can probably end up in the same area as them. Although, it has never been done with the crystals tracking the others."
"I see. Then let's work together again. Since we're travelling by sea, we can reach the Hippogriffs faster while also knowing where the Storm King is." Celestia suggested. "The Grand Equestria will guide you and follow you."
"Sounds good." Alo agreed to it in a heartbeat. "Your help is greatly appreciated, Princess Celestia. All of you."
"Let's focus on the Hippogriffs first. Taking the crystals out of the equation, the Storm King is capable of something that could bring us to a great disadvantage. Only the Hippogriffs have the method to sort it out. It is a pearl that has the power to transform anypony. It possibly has the greatest transformation power out there."
"Even greater than Mew's?" Pinkie Pie made a prolonged gasp.
"Mew?"
"Probably. And even the Shift Stone. In a way, it combines Mew and the Shfit Stone's Power to transform and forms the perfect version of them. You're essentially becoming a completely different being entirely." Luna explained. "It is even permanent. Using it means that you will always have another form."
"S-So...You keep the transformation?! Just like that?!" Ash's jaw dropped. "Forever!"
"That's like being two species in one!" Twilight put her hooves on her head, amazed by what she just heard. That definitely sounded like the best Transformation Power in the world. Even Mew was taken aback by it.
"Indeed. And you can swap from your original form to whatever form you choose. The Storm King obviously wanted that power for himself when he found out the Hippogriffs had it. It is a perfect counter to the Staff of Sacanas as well. If he could get that pearl, the weakness his staff faces could be reversed." Luna continued. "He never did retrieve it, of course but at this rate, if he gets Zygarde's power, he could finish his mission of obtaining that pearl."
"Then he could turn into anything he wants...If he knows about Zygarde then he probably knows about the other Legendary Pokemon as well!" Spike realized how out of control it could get when putting things into perspective.
"Exactly. The Hippogriffs used it to escape the clutches of the Storm King when he invaded their land. The power he brought was so great that the pearl was the only way to survive. It wasn't enough to defeat him sadly. All because of that staff of his."
"The Staff of Sacanas. It absorbs the powers of creatures and grants them to its user. And with it comes Infinite Power. Now that the Storm King is in possession of two crystals which already grant amazing power, he is probably stronger than ever." Celestia added to the explanation. "If he uses it on Zygarde, then judging by what Zygarde does, the Earth will be under his control. He could move entire continents, change the landscape and form a new ecosystem in his own image. Total World Domination."
"Yikes..." Applejack grimaced, realizing how bad it was. Everyone except for Ash never knew how bad it could be. They could already see it now and it was absolutely horrifying the way he could mess with the Earth.
"But let me not scare you with these words. Let's head over to the Hippogriffs as soon as possible. But first, let's see where the Storm King could be." Celestia requested.
"Of course." Alo would grant that wish, channelling the power of the crystals. One of the crystals would light up, shooting a ray of light into the air. The light would then show a projection of the two crystals that had been taken away. And with that projection came a viewpoint of the Storm King's ship and where it was as it could be seen next to a mountainside.
And when viewing the mountainside, they saw that the Storm King had already attacked it, using the power of the crystals to damage the ecosystem. "W-What happened to that mountainside?!" Fluttershy gasped in horror when seeing the condition of the mountainside.
"It seems they aren't too far from here. The Storm King has probably been slowing down his airship to unleash the power of the crystals on the land. To draw Zygarde out." Alo grumbled with a worried tone. "This at least means he'll be easier to keep up with."
"Indeed. That's not too far from our location. Some of us will pursue the Storm King's Airship while others will find the Hippogriffs." Celestia ordered. Now that they knew where the Storm King's Airship was, they could pursue it. But some could still head to the Hippogriffs as soon as possible.
The Sea Temple would follow the Airship while the Grand Equestria would advance towards the location of the Hippogriffs. They had to make haste before the Storm King accomplishes his devious goal.
The Badlands.
The Grand Equestria was currently near the Badlands, moving through what seemed to be the last bit of sea that could be seen. Separated from the Sea Temple which was after the Airship. To get to the Hippogriffs they had to go south beyond the Badlands but that also meant getting near the Badlands. In the Grand Equestria were Ash and his friends plus the Canterlot Guards. However, Celestia and Luna were not within the ship this time. Instead, they had gone with the Samiyans to pursue the Airship.
Those within the Grand Equestria noticed how the ocean just stopped abruptly. And right in front of them was a desert. No sign of an extended ocean could be seen. Realistically, there should be more of it up ahead but there wasn't. The ship had to stop as there was no other direction for it to move at. The Grand Equestria docked itself at the edge of this desert, having nowhere else to go at the moment.
Ash would hop out of the airship, landing on a sandy and rugged land. His friends would join him, appearing in this desert far from home. Right now, they were away from Equestria and in new lands that neither have come across until now. The Storm King was said to come from lands beyond Equestria. There was a chance this was one of those lands.
"Check it out. A city's up ahead. Is that where the Hippogriffs are?" Ash said, spotting a city in the distance.
"No. They're even further than that. But for now, we have to stop the ship since we can't get past here." said a Canterlot Guard. "There's sand everywhere."
"And it's getting everywhere too." Rarity shuddered as the sand was already creeping up on her.
"How are we gonna get past this if there's sand everywhere? Oooh, are we gonna move the ship across the sand?" said Pinkie Pie.
"We can probably find another pathway of water, but in a place like this, that'll be difficult." A Guard responded. "Be careful though. These are the Badlands after all. You'll find danger in any corner, I can guarantee you."
"Well, maybe someone there knows where the rest of the ocean is." Ash would approach this city that looked absolutely rough from a distance. Everyone could already see the steam coming out of it. Some of the guards would leave the ship, following Ash and the others to this town which gave off a rather uncomfortable presence just by looking at it. But there was a very good chance it could be worse inside of the town.
But as they were approaching the town, the guards at the back would suddenly feel something grab onto their hooves from below. Before they knew it, they were pulled into the sand. Their screams were cut off as even their Golurk had been pulled down.
More and more of the guards were being pulled down by something lurking underneath the ground. It was even strong enough to drag down the Golurk. The other guards hadn't noticed the others being pulled down into the earth.
"Hm? Hey!" It didn't take long for one of them to notice but a considerable amount of guards and Golurk have been snatched by whatever was underneath. And the one to notice it was Applejack once she turned around. She alerted all of her friends who would soon see the guards and Golurk being pulled down.
"What the?!" Ash shouted.
"Something's underground!" Twilight gasped, looking down as these sands were not as standard as they seemed. They were home to something that was pulling them down.
"W-Where is it?!" Goh questioned, unable to see whoever was responsible for this. The sands looked completely normal and there was no indication of someone or something moving across it to drag them down. Very soon, he could be dragged down if something wasn't done.
"I can't hear it!" Fluttershy couldn't even hear the voice of this creature and whatever it may be. Audino tried hearing for it since she had a superior hearing. The Hearing Pokemon stood still, trying to find the source of this issue if possible.
"Oh, goodness!" Whatever was underground eventually reached Rarity, grabbing her by the leg. She screeched as she was viciously brought down to the earth. And the rest of Ash's friends were its targets now that Rarity had been snatched.
"Audino!" At that moment, Audino heard the sound of the one causing this the second Rarity was pulled in. And from what she heard, it sounded like a Pokemon.
"It's a Pokemon?!" Fluttershy translated as she was suddenly grabbed by the Pokemon that was underground, being the next target. But with Audino close to her, she wasn't fully dragged down. The Hearing Pokemon grabbed Fluttershy's hoof, keeping her from being swallowed up by the Pokemon underwater.
"Pikachu! Use Iron Tail!" Ash would act fast, going for what could work in this instance.
"Chu...Pika!" Pikachu took action by hardening his tail before leaping into the air. He flipped for a moment before swinging his tail downwards, striking down at the ground. And that impact sent a white shockwave along with a ringing sound. And that approach certainly did the trick as Fluttershy was pulled out of the earth.
Pikachu's alert affected the Pokemon that was underground, causing it to lose its grip on Fluttershy. But the question was which Pokemon was responsible for this. It didn't take long for this Pokemon to show itself as it perfectly blended in with the sand.
"Palossand!" It was a Palossand. The one Pokemon that could perfectly blend in with the sand. The Ghost-Ground-Type had snatched up Rarity, the Golurk and the Canterlot Guards as their bodies could be seen sticking out of the Sand Castle Pokemon's body.
"It's a Palossand!" Ash cried out before seeing one difference with this Palossand compared to the others. The size of it surpassed the average height of a Palossand as it towered over everyone here. It was easy to see how it managed to snatch up the others back to back with this size. "And it's massive!"
"Pikachu?!"
"G-Get me out of here!" Rarity cried out as her head was sticking out of Palossand. "The sand is getting everywhere again!"
"Just hold on, Rarity!" Ash would dig into his pockets, preparing to take out another Poke Ball. But before that, Palossand had used Earth Power. Palossand's body briefly flashed with yellow energy as the sheer exertion of its energy created glowing gold cracks that travelled at everyone from below.
"Use Protect!"
"AUdino!" Audino held her hand out, shielding them all from the trembling power. Rainbow Dash had already taken flight just in case as the Earth Power was stopped by the barrier Audino whipped up. After blocking the attack, the sand had been kicked up, flying everywhere.
"Eve! Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Espeon!" Espeon retaliated by shooting out beautiful rays of rainbows out of her body, bombarding the Sand Castle Pokemon with them. Palossand cried out with each attack striking its body. And by hitting its body, Espeon managed to free some of the ponies and Pokemon that were trapped inside of Palossand.
"Oof!" Rarity was dropped from the Sand Castle Pokemon, landing flat on her face as she now truly had sand everywhere, much to her dismay. The Golurk would land perfectly compared to Rarity as they would catch their trainers mid-fall.
"Dracovish, I choose you!" Ash would throw his Poke Ball into the air, summoning Dracovish into the fray for a clear advantage and a way to wrap this up as soon as possible.
"Dracovish!"
"Use Water Gun!"
"Dra...Co!" From its mouth, a powerful stream of water from one of the most common Water-Type moves was unleashed. Palossand would receive a mighty blast of water straight to the middle of its body, dealing super-effective damage.
"P-Palo!" However, while this did do huge damage to Palossand while also blowing a hole through its massive body, it was also used to its advantage. Its body would light up as it suddenly grew wider, bulking up a bit.
"What happened to it?! What was that?!" Rainbow Dash questioned after seeing Palossand expand.
"It's Water Compaction! It's defence is greater than before now since a Water-Type attack hit!" Ash gasped as the super-effective attack would now benefit Palossand.
"Lossand!" Palossand would retaliate, using Ancient Power this time. Massive fossilized rocks were ripped from the earth, appearing before everyone as Palossand would launch them all at high speeds.
"Iron Tail!"
"Leaf Blade!"
"Psychic!"
"Weather Ball!"
"Chu...Pika!" Pikachu, Sceptile, Espeon and Castform would strike at the incoming rocks which Pikachu crushing them with his hardened tail, turning them into pebbles. Espeon would telekinetically hold the massive rocks with her mind, stopping some of them in their tracks before shooting them back at Palossand. Castform's Weather Ball and his radioactive cells would react to the hot water, turning him into a Fire-Type. A Fire Ball was unleashed, blowing up some of the rocks despite the usual Type Matchup. As for Sceptile, he cleaved through the rocks with ease with his bladed arms, destroying them in one fell swoop.
"You're going to pay for this!" Getting up from the sand which now had a dent of her body in it, Rarity would express her rage, using her magic to summon Milotic. She wanted payback against Palossand at once.
"Milotic!"
"Freeze it! Use Ice Beam!"
"Milooo...Tic!" Knowing that Palossand would only get stronger this way, Milotic would simply use the opposite of Water. A strong beam of ice flew in, striking the face of Palossand. Before Palossand could even see it coming, the beam hit it, kicking off its effect.
The Sand Castle Pokemon felt its body freeze over suddenly, starting from the top of its body. Those stuck within Palossand would quickly free themselves now that more damage had been done to it. They had to escape before they were turned into ice as well.
"Finish it with Shadow Ball!"
"Es...Peon!" Espeon would then deliver the final blow, leaping into the air and summoning an orb of shadows from her mouth. Palossand could not retaliate against this at all with a frozen body as all it could do was take the super-effective hit. Unfortunately for Palossand, it didn't have another ability similar to Water Compaction to help against one of its weaknesses. Shadow Ball hit its mark, obliterating the ice while also enveloping Palossand in a shadowy explosion.
"Palo..." Beaten, Palossand would wail before suddenly shrinking. This Palossand clearly got stronger over the months thanks to its massive size but now all of that strength was leaving its body. Unable to continue, the Sand Castle Pokemon would descend back into the ground, retreating.
"Phew...That was a bit of a surprise." Twilight said, wiping some sweat off her forehead. "And battling here certainly heats you up in a second, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. That Palossand was massive. It must be from all the sand here." Ash replied before returning Dracovish.
"Ah...My mane." Rarity moaned, feeling her mane was there was sand in it. She would shake her mane, sending sand grains flying everywhere. "The nerve of that Palossand."
"Lotic!" To cool her off, Milotic would blast Rarity with Hydro Pump, destroying the rest of the sand that was tormenting her mane.
"Thank you, darling." Rarity sighed, feeling greatly refreshed from this.
"I guess this confirms it for us. There are Pokemon that live beyond Equestria. Starswirl spoke of this to me." said Twilight, referring to Starswirl's words. "Which means we're bound to see more of them."
"Yeah well, can we leave here already and head to that town? I don't wanna know what other Pokemon's gonna try and get the jump on us." Rainbow Dash pleaded.
They did have to hurry. They couldn't let someone like Palossand slow them down. Now that they were in the Badlands, sneak attacks were to be expected. And with Pokemon now living here, they were bound to encounter more Pokemon that would try and strike them when they least expect it. After all, these were called the Badlands for a reason as they affect anyone who chooses to live here.
And the same could be said for the town they were approaching at. Time was of the essence as the Storm King's goal could be coming closer to him. And the fate of the entire world's ecosystem was on the line as the journey continues.
Klugetown. A rather rugged town that its own distinct style. And that was a style that made it look aggressive. The clouds above were already blending in with the sandy landscape around it as it made look like the sky itself was rusting. The buildings all looked shabby and rough with a majority of them being built with purely metal. Much of the town appeared to be ridged and scabrous, as the buildings are sparse and scattered and with trees, broken ships, and puddles of purple fluid from octopus tentacles littered everywhere.
The citizens here were all creatures that could not normally be found at Equestria. Pig Creatures were seen preparing to sell whatever they find for money. And it was literally anything as a bird that had been caught by a net would soon be up for sale. This place didn't exactly look like it was holding a good amount of money and if it was, it certainly wasn't being used to benefit the state of the town.
"Storm King bobbleheads!" And confirmation that the Storm King has been around here was shouted out by a vendor who was selling bobbleheads of him.
"Ooh. Hey! You with the horn, you selling?" Another creepy vendor said, speaking to Twilight Sparkle after spotting her. Twilight would simply keep on walking, staying close to Ash.
"Do you think anyone here knows where to go next?" Ash wondered, looking at the rough surroundings of Klugetown.
"I couldn't tell you right about now..." Twilight answered, passing by many cages that looked like they could fit her in. They even looked like they could fit some Pokemon inside.
"Yeah, well, let's hurry and find someone. This place creeps me out." Goh shuddered, holding his arms thanks to this uncomfortable setting.
"This place is completely out of our jurisdiction." said a Canterlot Guard, warning them about how they had no power here in the Badlands. It was out of Equestria after all. "So be careful, alright?"
They would wander Klugetown, searching for a way back to the sea. A majority of them were rather nervous to ask the citizens of this town for very obvious reasons. The citizens of this town carried intimidating and dangerous dispositions with them after all. Each of them tried various directions, searching for whatever they could.
And with their presence here, it didn't take long for some of them to eye down this rather colourful group, especially one individual who took a strong notice of Ash.
"Hm?" He put a smile on his face, focusing all of his attention on Ash. And he didn't ignore Twilight and the others, that's for sure. Seeing ponies here was rather surprising. But a Human being here was just as shocking even if it was just two out of multiple.
"How much for the giant gecko?" A resident of this town eyed down Spike, seeing him as a potential way to sell something.
"Who you callin' a gecko?" Spike narrowed his eyes, displeased by those words.
"SPike isn't for sale." Twilight put her hoof in front of Spike who tried approaching them.
"I want that fancy purple hair! I'll give ya two storm bucks for it!" Another resident looked over at Rarity's hair, wanting it for herself.
"Two storm bucks?! It's worth more than that!" Rarity scoffed as she was only encouraging her, seeing her mane as a prized possession.
"I'll take whatever that big green thing is for five storm bucks!" It didn't take long for the Pokemon to be targeted, especially since they were more varied in appearance compared to the ponies. Sceptile was pointed at by a few fingers as he piqued many of their interests.
"Well, give me the pink one?" More bidding came through as they all stood out like sore thumbs in such a rough place.
"Which one?" Another said, referring to Pinkie Pie, Mew, Audino and Fluttershy. Various bidding sounds could be heard as they were all aiming to buy whatever they could from this group, seeing everything as a chance to make some profit. They all just wished to benefit themselves. Twilight and the others felt greatly pressured and uncomfortable by this as they were merely being seen as objects.
"What about this hairless monkey?" One of the residents grabbed onto Ash's shirt. But the second she grabbed Ash, Sombra would take action. His Dark Magic flowed out of Ash's body as a flash of green eyes appeared before this Klugetown resident, instilling great fear into her. She immediately backed away from Ash, terrified by what she saw for a moment.
"Pikachuuuu!" Wanting them all to back away from his friends since they were not objects was Pikachu. He used Thunderbolt, shooting a powerful blast of lightning into the air to intimidate them. And it certainly worked as they all saw the raw power that flew out of this small mouse-like creature. Not wanting to be zapped, they would back away immediately, distancing themselves from Ash and his friends.
"That was strange..." Goh said. "How bad is it here in this town? They'll take anything they see from us."
"W-We should leave immediately. Please." Fluttershy pleaded. "Staying here any longer doesn't feel safe. I don't want anyone to have something they have be sold off."
"You there." Eventually, the Cat Creature would come into contact with Ash and his group.
"Yeah?" Ash responded
"You're one of those Humans, right? What are you doing here in a place like this?" He approached the Trainer from Pallet Town. "Plus, you're here with ponies?"
"Well, we were on Sea earlier, but now we're trying to get back to the sea even if it's all sand here." Ash explained.
"Did you get past the Sand Castle then?" He referred to the massive Palossand that was outside of Klugetown.
"Palossand? Yeah. Got us by a surprise for a moment but we made it." Ash added. "Say. Do you know where we can find the rest of the sea?"
"If you do, please tell us." Rarity put her hooves together, pleading for an answer.
"The rest of the sea. Hmm...That's a tall order. There's nothing but sand for miles here. I, myself haven't gone past the town all that much and if I have, I come across some nasty things." The Cat Creature explained while walking with Ash. "I wouldn't dare go that far to see what's out there. But I hear you'll do it. You're Ash Ketchum, aren't you? Capper is my name."
"Oh, so you know about us even all the way here, huh?" Ash said, learning his name for the first time.
"Everyone here won't bother to learn that much about what's outside. I, on the other hand, will. I'm not that oblivious to these creatures." He raised a paw. "I even have a partner of my own."
"Meowth!" Right on time, a Meowth crawled on his shoulder, appearing seemingly out of nowhere. But that just confirmed that he did have more knowledge than a majority of the residents here. Having a Meowth was proof of that.
"I'm a friend that you need in a time like this. Just like my little friend on the shoulder. You'll need someone like me to get through a place like this. So, since you're out at sea and looking for the rest of it, you need a place to go, right? Well, even though I haven't gone that far, I can guarantee you that the sea does continue."
"Really?! That's great!" Goh exclaimed.
"Where does it continue?! Come on, tell us!" Pinkie Pie excitedly bellowed.
"Well, you need a way to know where you're going in the Badlands if you want to make it back to sea. I have just what you need to guide you in my home. Come with me." Capper would do the honour of guiding them to his home.
"Is it a map?" Twilight asked.
"Sure, sure. But it myself." Capper smirked while not facing Twilight at all. He was only focused on staying beside Ash. "You'll really need it since it'll even tell you what kind of creatures are out there. Like that Sand Castle or as you call it, Palossand."
"Are there any other Pokemon here? Palossand's the only Pokemon we saw. Plus your Meowth." Rainbow Dash asked.
"They're here. Just not in this town. I doubt any Pokemon will want to show up here of all places. They're all built on trust, right? Does this really look like the most trustworthy place?" Capper turned to face them. "Even your guards that are asking them around are getting vague answers that are probably lies. Now, Ash. You're King, am I right? Let's talk about that and share some things with me in the meanwhile."
Equestria. Out at Sea.
Meanwhile, the Grand Equestria and the Sea Temple were currently in pursuit of the Storm King's Airship, tracking down its location by using the crystals. And once they found out where it was, they made a beeline for its location. Already, they were catching up thanks to the airship slowing down, just so the Storm King can use the power of the crystals that he sent into his staff, attacking the landscape and further damaging the ecosystem.
But of course, this didn't go unnoticed from the Storm King himself who viewed the ship and the temple from a distance, seeing them nearby. His eyes widened after seeing the ship and the temple trailing behind his airship. "The Sea Temple? Equestria's Ship?! Did they find us already?! This soon?!"
"I wonder why." Tempest Shadow said with sarcasm, knowing the reason why they caught up so easily.
"Ah, whatever. They're not getting those crystals back. Besides, they're practically brought the rest of them to me. Stop them and get the rest of those crystals! It'll be much better than two!"
"This must mean the Princesses are here too. Should we proceed with taking their magic too?" Tempest Shadow suggested.
"Hm? Oh, right. I almost forgot about that. I was having too much fun using the new power of the crystals! I think it's way better!" The Storm King rubbed his face on the staff with a gleeful look on his face before turning his face into a serious one. "Let me take care of this. They're gonna see first-hand how great this new power was." He would then twirl the staff, heading back to the open windows just to use the power on his pursuers.
With the window open, the Storm King aimed the staff, pointing at the Grand Equestria first instead of the Sea Temple. Either one would work in this in instance. With one eye closed, the Storm King took aim as the light from the crystals appeared around the tip of his staff.
"I don't want to take them out. I just want their magic. So I'll make this one a little bit weaker." He said, holding back the power. But one thing was for sure, it would still be staggeringly powerful. He expected the Princesses to withstand it since they were alicorns. After having a clear sight, he took the shot, unleashing a light beam.
However, instead of hitting its mark and leaving behind a powerful explosion, something else happened. Right as the destructive light approached the ship, it was a bit short when it came to reaching it. Mainly because something had stopped as the light was struggling to push through and strike the ship. The Storm King raised an eyebrow, confounded by the fact that nothing happened. But when looking further, he saw who was responsible for this.
"Gardevoir!" Holding back the light was Gardevoir. With her own power, she kept the light back, preventing it from harming anyone board. "Voir!" After holding it back, Gardevoir would launch it into the air, sending the light elsewhere. The Storm King gasped along with the Storm Creatures as the light would finally combust.
It ended up blowing up in the air instead, damaging absolutely no one. But the shockwave it left behind couldn't be ignored as it reached the airship of the Storm King. The Storm King and his forces were knocked off balance thanks to this genius approach from Gardevoir, who knew how to not only stop the light but also use it against the Storm King.
"Oof!" The Storm King bumped his head into the walls after his airship was disturbed for a moment. He got back up, growling after being humiliated in such a way. "Why that little...Whatever that Pokemon is supposed to be!"
"She held back the light on her own?" Tempest Shadow said with amazement. All the Storm Creatures couldn't believe it. Already, there was someone who could rival the strength of two Sea Temple Crystals. It just so happened to be Celestia's Gardevoir who has always had a great ordeal of strength in her.
"Golurk!" But it wasn't just Gardevoir they had to worry about. The Golurk were flying over, taking to the skies and ready to confront the Storm King by storming his airship.
"Eugh!" The Storm King grimaced at the sight of all these Golurk approaching. The airship was still training to stay steady thanks to what Gardevoir had done, making a counterattack rather difficult in this instance. Quickly, the Storm King would use the power of the crystals once more. This time, he would use them for defensive capabilities.
A light shield would form, blocking the Golurk the second they got too close. Once it formed, the Golurk would crash into the shield, taking some damage as they each failed to enter the ship or even grab a hold of it. The Storm King laughed before expanding the light shield, using it to send the Golurk away. He would even keep the shield up, making sure no one would get close at all, gaining permanent protection.
"He's already using so much of the crystals' power," Alo grumbled, watching the light of the Sea Temple being used by the Storm King and the damage it has already caused. The environment behind them had already been destroyed earlier by the Storm King, ruining more of the ecosystem. "At this rate...Zygarde might finally show up."
"Not yet. We can use the power of the crystals to reverse what he's created." Donoma said, being right next to the Storm King. "I've forseen Zygarde appearing but we can prevent the Storm King from ever encountering it. Let's take down his shield with the same power he stole from us."
"Mm." Alo was in immediate agreement. He had this in mind from the start anyway. The Samiyans would turn their attention to the crystals, placing their hands on them once more. This was the most they've ever had to use the crystals but it was worth it to save the ecosystem and retrieve what was taken from them. Even if all the crystals weren't here, multiple were still enough as that was proven by what the Storm King had done.
Meanwhile, on the Grand Equestria, Celestia focused closely on the Storm King's Airship, waiting for the right moment to taken action. She couldn't fly in there immediately. Not when he had the power of the crystals to assist him. But Celestia knew she also had some crystals to help her out.
Right as the Storm King was about to fire another light beam, his shield would suddenly start shrinking before his eyes. "Hm?! What now?!" By the power of the Samiyans, the shield he made was fizzling out, growing weaker as more crystals that outnumbered his two were being used.
"They're using the other crystals!" Tempest Shadow gasped. "Your excellence! We should probably leave since they have more crystals than us. With those crystals, they can do whatever they can to stop us."
"Wait, retreat?!" The Storm King shook his head as Tempest Shadow was suggesting to flee the scene. "That's ridiculous! What makes you think I'd retreat from this?"
"If we stay any longer, then it's not just the crystals we have to worry about but also the Twin Dragons. They're now the Pokemon of Princess Celestia and Luna."
"Ooh. Good point." The Storm King saw where she was coming from. "But I still refuse to go out sad! So, I say we do one more thing that'll mess them up and even encourage Zygarde to come here." While he hated retreating, it did seem like the best option for now. But he would go out with a bang as he aimed his staff once more.
This time, it would be targeted at the sea instead. This whole time, he had been focusing on the land since Zygarde was mainly associated with that. But the sea had its own ecosystem. Possibly a larger one than any land out there, making it ripe for destruction. It had already been torn through thanks to the Dark Magic and now, the Storm King was about to add to that.
"He's preparing for another shot!" Luna noticed.
"No, he's not!" Celestia shook her head before holding out a Poke Ball with her horn. SHe would then launch the Poke Ball into the air as Luna would quickly do the same. Both Poke Balls flew into the air, spinning in unison before unleashing the two Pokemon within.
Out came the Legendary Dragons of Truths and Ideals. Reshiram and Zekrom. And upon arriving, they unleashed their signature roars in unison, unleashing a powerful soundwave that travelled through the air.
"Dragon Pulse!" Together, Celestia and Luna bellowed out the same commands. And together, Reshiram and Zekrom would unleash those mighty draconic blasts. The sky darkened for a moment from the sheer output of their attacks as they would intercept the light. The dragon-shaped blasts would bite down on the light that went after the sea. The light had been stopped by the dual dragons, blowing up right afterwards.
The explosion happened right in between the sky and the sea. The sea still received some damage as the waters would rock from the sheer pressure that was emitted. Those in the air would feel the shockwave too, bracing themselves.
"Up ahead! There's a Mountain!" Tempest Shadow shouted. But during this pursuit, the obstacles in their way were present, such as the large mountains that could be seen up ahead. They were so focused on their pursuers they almost forgot about what was waiting for them up ahead. Everyone looked over to see a huge array of mountains in the way. It didn't help that the airship has been disrupted too thanks to the staggering events happening in the air.
"Lower it!" The Storm King ordered before putting on a devious grin. "I have a splendid idea in mind!" The airship would descend instead of flying to the side. They would be approaching the mountains as the Storm King would try and take advantage of this. Tempest Shadow could already guess it had something to do with his pursuit of Zygarde without a doubt.
The Grand Equestria and the Sea Temple would continue pursuing them, unable to lose sight of them thanks to the crystals. Reshiram and Zekrom would soon move ahead of them, chasing down the Storm King's Airship.
The Storm King moved to another side of the airship, opening yet another window. He would fire the light from another side but with something else in mind. When firing the light, he would strike it at the mountains. Of course, this was to damage the ecosystem some more but he would also use the mountains to his advantage. The Storm King knew that the crystals were tied to the sea and right beneath the mountains were the seas themselves.
With the power of the crystals, he managed to lift some of the mountains up, ripping them from their original position. But he went a step further. He would even rip out a large chunk of the sea itself. Everyone gasped as the seas and mountains were pulled out of their original positions. Even if Zygarde wasn't here, the Storm King was already giving an example of what he could do if he gets its power. The crystals were tied to the sea so this wasn't too much of a surprise but the mountains certainly were.
After lifting them, he would fling the elemental powers at his pursuers. A huge chunk of mountains and ocean came their way, threatening to crush or drown them all. Reshiram and Zekrom were about to take action as soon as possible but halted themselves once they saw who was inside the water. The Storm King didn't just rip out of a lot of water but also the Pokemon and other aquatic life that were living in them.
They could not attack at all. Not when there was life in these seas. The best they could do was shield themselves and try to protect the Pokemon and Sea Creatures within. As for the mountains, there were so many of them that each of the Golurk would try and grab them before any further harm could be done.
But this was the perfect getaway for the Storm King. By distracting them with such a monumental action, he could advance. And as an added bonus, he manipulated the rest of the water, creating a tunnel for himself that his ship could go through. He laughed, making his stylish getaway as he had damaged the ecosystem even more than ever.
Celestia growled, irritated the Storm King managed to slip by her in such a way. But it wasn't over yet. Not when she could track him down. But even if she could track him down, the Storm King would still bring massive damage to the world. But for now, she would focus on saving the lives of others that the Storm King carelessly threw. Literally.
"We escaped them for now. But at this rate, they could get to Zygarde at the same rate we're going at." Tempest Shadow said. "We'll probably leave the lands of Equestria eventually as well."
"Bah. It doesn't matter if Zygarde comes to Equestria or not, as long as it comes to us. And I have a good feeling that might happen at last." The Storm King twirled his staff before jumping back into his seat. "But make sure they don't catch ups with us again!"
"Hah..." Tempest Shadow sighed, knowing the reason why they were catching up but she wasn't brave enough to tell the Storm King that. "Yes, your excellency."
Kalos. Out in the fields.
The Kalos Region. The most exposed to the Dark Magic that once struck it. But also a top priority of its guardian. The damage had truly been done, leaving many locations scarred by the Black Crusade.
Black and dark red were the new colours of what was once a beautiful field, which has now become an example of a long, destructive battle. The air which would normally be fresh and smell of nature's wonders is now thick with the scent of horror, destruction and decay, something no survivor will ever forget.
Hopping on the ground with a tiny body and gazing at the massive damage done to the earth was none other than Zygarde Cell. It stood on a rock, feeling the damage And standing next to the Zygarde Cell, watching the destruction was Greninja who stood on a tree, seeing what was left behind by the Black Crusade.
"Something truly awful is encouraging the dark magic that is disturbing the natural order of the world." Zygarde, also known as Squishy said. "But it seems to be worsening over at the land they call Equestria. That is where our friend is, right?"
"Grenin." Greninja nodded, knowing what had to come next. He was already dealing with what the Rock left behind years ago during Team Flare's Plan but it seemed like another issue had popped up for him to deal with. The Dark Magic and the damage it was doing to the land. Just like the Storm King wanted, Zygarde was coming to him. And in Greninja's case, every part of him already knew that out there, Ash was already involved in this. He had to be.
Here at Klugetown, the search for a continued ocean was being sought out. Ash and his friends had encountered a cat by the name of Capper. He offered to show them a map that would take them to the rest of the ocean. It was only found in his home as he mainly spoke to Ash and the others for the fact that they stuck out like sore thumbs in a place like this.
"So, you did all of that in just one day?" On the way to Capper's home, Ash shared his many adventures with him. "So they aren't rumours at all."
"Yeah. A lot happens in such a short time. We never even notice how much time passes on until we look up at the sky." Ash laughed. "Guess stories of what happened in Equestria reached here too."
"Not many of it. Just the part where the Pokemon came to us." Capper shrugged. He was mainly spending time with Ash, only talking to him and practically ignoring everyone else. Twilight and the others might as well be invisible as Capper barely spoke to them.
"Guess we don't exist to him, do we?" Goh uttered with a slight grumble in his tone.
"So you're also not that kind of a King. You don't stick around your throne all that much." Capper continued. "But I'd at least guess you know about what's in the Sea Temple even if you don't stay around it that much. Something like...Gold?"
"Gold? Is there?" Ash scratched his hair as he never recalled seeing any gold in the Sea Temple. The structure of the Sea Temple didn't scream gold at all and neither did the crystals even if they emit a golden light.
"You own the place. You can find out for yourself. Oh, it looks like we're though." At last, they had arrived at Capper's home as the doors opened themselves the second he came close to it. And the second those doors opened, out of it came many Purrloins, leaping out of the house and swarming Twilight and the others.
"Purrloin!"
"W-What's with all these Purrloin?!" Rainbow Dash gasped, looking down at the Purrloin as she barely avoided them by staying in the air. Capper simply smiled while the swarm of Purrloin came crashing through. This was the most amount of Purrloin any of them have ever seen.
"You'll have to excuse my Purrloin. They do this whenever I get back." Capper added. "It feels good when it happens when the first few times. Trust me."
"It does feel great!" Fluttershy was used to this since she had plenty of Pokemon back home. So did Twilight and Ash. Some weren't used to it, such as Rarity, Applejack and Spike. Even Goh was tackled to the floor by this Purrloin Swarm.
"Settle down, all of you!" Capper raised his paw, prompting all of the Purrloin to come to a screeching halt. "Anyways. Welcome to my little manor. Big enough to hold all of these little ones."
"Nice! I thought it was just Meowth but you've got a lot of Pokemon with you!" Ash gawked in amazement at all these Purrloin. Previously, Capper mentioned how it was rare to see a Pokemon here in the Badlands. But it seemed that it wasn't rare for him specifically. Just everyone else.
"How did you get so many of them here? Through the Badlands too?" Fluttershy asked.
"Common goals, that's how. I have a name for every single one of them, if you must know. I never forget who's who."
"I think we need to focus on getting to the Hippogriffs instead of wondering about this past." Twilight interrupted, wanting to move along to the Hippogriffs. "Where's the map?"
"It's in here. But I haven't grabbed it in so long I forgot where I put it." He shrugged, apparently forgetting where this map was.
"You forgot?!" Twilight bellowed. "Ugh...Alright! Let's try and find it. Rainbow Dash, send out your Luxray." If Capper couldn't find it, Twilight and her friends would try and search for it as Twilight would rely on Luxray's X-Ray Vision to find this map.
"But I guess I can tell you about about how I met these Pokemon." Capper smiled, making Twilight groan as he was about to share his past either way. "We all met under the same common goal. It's fitting really. It started with Meowth. I was just trying to buy something with the number of Storm Bucks I had to offer. And out of nowhere, out comes this little guy, trying to outsell me."
"Meowth!"
"Obviously, there was some competition in front of me and I wasn't really sure what he was at the time. But as if I'd let him beat me out in getting something. So, we went back and forth pulling as many numbers as we could to get that item. I even resorted to some items but Meowth here was persistent."
"That's how Meowth are. Trust me, we know." Goh said while kneeling on the floor to find this map.
"But so am I. It wouldn't be the first time we butted heads. We went at this a few times until we agreed on one thing. We borrowed something from someone when he tried to get the better of us. Great minds think alike, so we got the better of him instead. And since that day, we agreed to be partners at work. We went from place to place in a not-so-big town, buying whatever we could in the best ways possible."
"That's really how you two met?" Twilight replied, realizing she was getting into the story of Capper and Meowth.
"Really. Honestly." Capper nodded. "If you're wondering about a gateway, we had there here too but...even I wasn't messing with that. And as for the Purrloin, that's another story. But there's a whole other story for one other Purrloin. I don't have a clue where she is right now though."
"Ugh! Where is that map?!" Twilight groaned, struggling to find the map. She then looked over at Luxray, who was still using his X-Ray Vision to find it.
"Good luck with finding it. Ash. Try my room and I'll go elsewhere. It's a small place but it can hold all these Purrloin for a reason." Capper suggested, letting Ash explore the rest of his house. Twilight and everyone else were left to try and find this so-called map that would show them the rest of the ocean.
Ash entered another room that had a bit of a wider appearance. Clearly, this one was fitted for the Purrloin as there was plenty of furniture that had various scratch marks on them. It was one big playroom for the Purrloin, home to various objects they were hoarding in here for themselves. Speaking of the Purrloin, a majority of them would stay with Twilight's group while some of them went along with Ash. And with Ash, the Purrloin scratched at his legs, wanting to play around with him.
"You wanna play? Sorry, but I really gotta find this map." Ash said to Purrloin. But unbeknownst to him, right outside, some of the Purrloin had blocked the door that he needed to leave this room when ready. And it was for one reason that would soon show itself. While in this room, Ash had spotted one Purrloin that was sitting in the corner, exempt from its Brothers and Sisters. "Hm? Hey there."
"Pika?"
"Purr?" Compared to the average Purrloin or any Purrloin, this Purrloin was rather sheepish, huddling in the corner when seeing Ash and Pikachu. The other Purrloin weren't even acknowledging him at the moment, too busy swarming around Ash. When Ash looked like he was about to take a step, the Purrloin shuddered, squirming for a moment.
"That must be the Purrloin Capper spoke about. It's all on its own?" Ash said to himself. "Hey, no need to worry. I'm not here to hurt you. Your Trainer invited me in here." He would try and reassure safety to the scared Purrloin as this was the most terrified he's ever seen a Purrloin.
Usually, all Purrloins have the same expression which was sly and sleek. At times, they'll show surprised emotions or even some that relate to anger. But never sadness or fear. To see a Purrloin like this was shocking but it wasn't something that Ash never expected. Even the most strong-willed Pokemon have their moments. PUrrloin stayed completely still when Ash got closer as the Aura he was giving off was a welcoming one.
This was all thanks to Sombra. Being one with Ash meant that he had access to his Aura. And at this moment, he was using Ash's Sombra, letting it emanate around the area. "Sombra?"
"You want to reassure it. Then use your Aura to let it know that." Sombra said. "Also. Something isn't right about that Capper. He puts on a rather good act."
"Ya think so?" Ash said before kneeling to face the lone Purrloin. "Are you alright, Purrloin?"
"Purr." When feeling Ash's Aura, Purrloin saw that Ash brought a great sense of safety to the area. Purrloin would stand up, going over to Ash and coming into contact with his arm. After seeing that it was safe to get close to Ash and make contact with him, Purrloin would then move across Ash's arm, rubbing its back on it. "Purrloin."
"There ya go." Ash laughed after Purrloin moved its body across his arm. "But how come you were on your own? Did something happen?"
"Pika?"
"Purr. Purrloin." Purrloin was already explaining it but didn't think that Ash would understand what it was saying. A demonstration had to be made. And there was one demonstration nearby in the form of one of the many objects littered across this room. Purrloin would walk off, using its paw to pull over a picture. Ash would soon take this picture that was lent for him to see as he gazed at what it had to offer.
On it, Capper could be seen, along with every other Purrloin. They all fit into this one frame. Including the lone Purrloin, who could be seen at the back. He noticed how Capper was holding onto the lone Purrloin while the other Purrloin were in the front of the picture. Capper was also at the back and the way he was looking at this one Purrloin suggested that he was trying to cheer it up. The lone Purrloin sheepishly looked to the side, seemingly avoiding eye contact with its Trainer.
"Hm," Ash observed this picture even closer, trying to figure out what it meant. "Yeah. Something happened alright. You're not close with Capper?"
"Purr." But Purrloin was close with Capper which was confirmed via a head shake.
However, the answer could only be found in the present day instead of a picture from the past. But this picture spoke great volumes. Ash would think about it for a while and at the same time, continuing to search for this map. With all these objects on the floor, surely one of them had to be the map.
"Ray?" Eventually, when struggling to find it in this room, Luxray felt like giving up. That is until he faced Capper himself with his X-Ray Vision. Lo and behold, he found what they were looking for as it was in the pockets of Capper himself. This whole time, he had the map with him. At least he wasn't lying when he said he had a map. "Lux! Luxray!"
"Hm? Did you find it, Luxray?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"He said he has the map." Fluttershy translated. And right when she shared it with everyone, bursting through the doors was a new guest.
"Here's Verko!" Entering the room was a Mole-like creature, making his appearance with a boisterous sound. "These ponies better shoot rainbow lasers out their eyes if they're gonna settle your debt! Brought the big cage. Let's load 'em up!"
"You were... You were going to sell us?" Rarity gasped.
"Is that why you were warming yourself up to Ash?!" Twilight roared at him.
"Well...Yes." Capper shrugged. "I had to pay my debt off somehow and this is the best way I could think of."
"Meowth?" Even Meowth didn't realize this is what was happening.
"What? You didn't know?" Capper looked back at Meowth, perfectly understanding him the same way ponies could understand Rapidash, Zebstrika and other Equine Pokemon.
"No one's selling us! Let's get out of here! Luxray, use Discharge!"
"Lux...Ray!" Out of his body, a flare of lightning flew out, making Verko grimace. But Capper stayed completely calm in the face of this electrical discharge. The second it flew out, all it took was one Pokemon to stop. And that ended up being one of his Purrloin, who had used Protect. A green barrier flew out, blocking the electrical discharge from harming anyone.
"Again!"
"Luxray...! But right as Luxray attempted to unleash a powerful flare of lightning from his body, he discovered that he couldn't. No source of lightning left his body at all. "Luxray?!"
"Sorry. All of my Purrloin here nullified your moves from the beginning. It was Torment. You know how it is." Capper revealed that Torment had been used on their Pokemon from the very beginning, making sure none of them use the same move twice in a row.
"On all of our moves?!" Twilight and Applejack collectively yelled. Right as Rarity was about to take out a Poke Ball since none of her Pokemon have been sent out, she would find that she was unable to do that as well.
"My Poke Balls! They're gone!" Unfortunately for Rarity, her Poke Balls had been stolen. And the same went for the others.
"So are mine!" Goh bellowed as every single one of them were gone. Who else was holding them but the Purrloin, who managed to snatch them from under their noses? They all figured it must've been that swarm they did earlier. However, it was only a few Purrloin that used Torment, the rest used different moves to try and drop many disadvantages on Twilight and her friends.
Some of there were using Yawn, already sending a white wave of drowsy energy to everyone. With so many Purrloins, there was a variety of moves they could use. They were just waiting for the right time and with Capper playing it safe from the beginning, the time to catch them by surprise had come.
There were so many Yawns filling the room that it was impossible to avoid them. Luxray, Espeon, Sceptile, Audino and Castform were instantly drowsy as well as everyone else. The move wasn't exclusive to just Pokemon. It was only a matter of time before they all fall asleep.
"A-Ash!" Fluttershy bellowed with all of her strength, calling for Ash.
"Hm?!" Ash heard the cries of his friends, stopping what he was doing. The lone Purrloin would then squirm once hearing Fluttershy's voice. "Fluttershy! Everyone!" Knowing that this was serious, Ash would drop everything, quickly rushing back to the other room as fast as he could. But right as he tried it, the Purrloin all stood in his way. Each of them blocked the door, preventing Ash from going any further.
"Purr! Purrloin!"
"You're stopping me?!" Ash gasped. He then looked back at the loenPurrloin who had not moved from its spot at all. It did not join the others in blocking Ash from getting anywhere. Some of the Purrloin would even circle Ash, keeping a close eye on him. "So, was this all a trap for me? I don't wanna hurt you guys but...My friends are all on the other side. Please move aside!"
"Purr!" But they wouldn't move for a second as they lunged themselves at Ash and Pikachu, aiming to keep them here until their friends were sold off to this Verko character.
Speaking of which, it was getting rather difficult for any of them to stay awake. On top of that, the rest of their Pokemon had been taken away from them. Most likely, they were going to be sold off as well without even knowing about it.
"They'll do just fine. Good enough to pay off your debt." Verko said, observing them all before pointing his staff at Twilight and Goh. "Especially these two! An alicorn and a human?! What a jackpot! But about that Purrloin of yours. The one that can generate all the money in the world."
"Well, I can't really do anything about her, honestly." Capper shrugged. "She won't generate any."
"None? What a waste!" Verko groaned, raising his arms out of frustration. "You have a Purrloin that can do a better job at making money than this MEowth of yours and you still haven't gotten it under control?!"
"Ah, she's just shy, that's all. I can't really force her to do it. It's all that Rift stuff inside of her."
"Rift...Magic?" Twilight repeated. From what she was hearing, it sounded like Capper's Purrloin had Rift Magic in her. This could be another example of Rift Pokemon. Possibly another Equestrian Variant. But her appearance was still that of a regular Purrloin.
"I told you. I can't force her to do it. And I don't think I feel comfortable making her do it." Capper shook his head. "Sorry about it. If all my other Purrloin could do it, I can guarantee you that they'd churn out as many Stom Bucks as you need. Heck, they might even generate currencies from other parts of the world."
"You've been holding out on us. A bit funny how you can easily pay off your debt with that one Purrloin but you haven't done it yet." He twirled his staff around. "I think I can fix that. If you don't have the guts to force her to do it, so will I."
"Woah, woah. Y-You can't do that." Capper chuckled nervously, slowing Verko down. That's my Purrloin. Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"I am. I'm taking that Purrloin. There's a big opportunity and it's going to waste staying with you. And don't think about Yawning me. I'm a full-on insomniac!" Verko laughed. He was already immune to any sleeping effects as seen by how he stood in the room when Yawn went off. Some of the Purrloin even direct their Yawns at him but failed to knock him out.
"W-What's this about your Purrloin?" Fluttershy stuttered while trying to stay up, only to fall over.
"Uh, sorry. But Purrloin's not up for sale." Capper denied.
"In that case..." Verko would then tap his staff on the floor as entering the room were these two large-bodied individuals were. They appeared to be Mole Creatures, much like Verko but with a broader appearance. They were his bodyguards, who were waiting outside the entire time.
They walked up to Capper, showing their grubby yet meaty hands, ready to grab a hold of them. Even the Purrloin backed away from the bodyguards as they were fully intimidated by them. Capper had been grabbed by one of the bodyguards, puffing his face up for a moment as he was picked up like a doll. One of the other bodyguards had a cage with him. Two cages to be exact.
More bodyguards could be seen outside, waiting in a perfect line just to grab everyone inside. Verko was planning for this from the start, rounding up as many of his bodyguards as he could. And there were certainly enough for each of the Purrloin, making this overwhelmingly intimidating. Capper would soon realize he was now in a lose-lose situation as he and his Pokemon would be taken away with nothing in return for him. All of that many that this Rift Purrloin could generate would soon go to Verko alone, making him richer.
"Thunderbolt!" But crashing through the doors of Capper's home was a Thunderbolt from Pikachu. It came ripping through the room, blowing the doors down while also shocking Verko and the single bodyguard. They each received 100,000 volts of electricity as Capper was dropped, only receiving a few volts.
"Oooh..." Verko coughed as he dropped to the floor, unconscious along with his singular bodyguard. Ash had broken free of the other room already, using force to do so.
"Are you guys alright?!" Ash shouted after storming in.
"Ash..." Applejack smiled before falling asleep, failing to stay awake. The only one keeping herself awake was Twilight but that was mainly thanks to the Rift Magic she was using.
This act from Ash instantly alerted the rest of Verko's bodyguards. They would all immediately barge into the home of Capper now that their boss had been harmed. He looked at the scenery, seeing how things had developed. Capper was sitting on the floor, confounded. His friends were either asleep or drowsy as there were many bodyguards out there waiting.
"Purrloin!" The one Purrloin who did not attack Ash left the room, quickly running over. Purrloin witnessed the aftermath of Pikachu's Thunderbolt once it broke into this room. Capper would then look directly at the Rift Purrloin, who hadn't been taken away just yet. "Purr?"
"Ash!" Capper shouted out Ash's name, grabbing his attention. "I know this looks bad...But could you get these Purrloin out of here?" Right as he said the rest of the bodyguards broke the walls of Capper's home down. "Please?"
"I don't know what's going on here, but it's time to go!" Ash would then grab a hold of Twilight and Fluttershy, picking them up. "Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu already knew what to do. He would face the bodyguards, hitting them with yet another Thunderbolt from his body. The blast of lightning shocked the bodyguards of Verko, punishing them and dropping them like flies. As for everyone else, Ash would have the rest of his Pokemon carry them.
By placing Twilight on his back and holding Fluttershy on his right arm, he used his left arm to throw out all of his Poke Balls, sending out each of his Pokemon. Dragonite, Gengar, Lucario, Sirfetch'd and Dracovish had entered the scene.
"I need you all to help me get everyone out of here!" Ash said as his Pokemon already knew what to do. And that involved the Purrloin. Capper was rather surprised. Despite what just happened, Ash was willing to assist him and his Purrloin, getting them to safety.
"Gengar!" Gengar would use Psychic, picking up Sceptile, Audino, Castform and Espeon. Meanwhile, Dragonite would handle picking up the rest of the ponies and Spike while Dracovish went for Goh. As for Capper, he and his Purrloin would simply be guided out of here. They weren't asleep or injured in any way.
"Sir...Fetch'd!" Piercing the walls of Capper's home was Sirfetch'd. He damaged it so much that it led to the outside. Once the outside was revealed, Ash and everyone would jet off as fast as they could while the bodyguards were approaching. Ash hopped out of Capper's home and right next to a windmill that could be seen. He avoided the moving windmill before lunging off the roof, landing on another roof nearby.
He also had to make sure all of the Purrloin had enough time to leave Capper's home so that neither are caught by the bodyguards. Speaking of the bodyguards, more of them were on the other side of Capper's home, not just the entrance. They were waiting perfectly there for their prey, having their hands out.
"Luca!" Lucario fired an Aura Sphere from one paw at the bodyguards below, sending them flying via an azure combustion. All of the Purrloin were being led out of the house by Ash, running as fast as they could. Where would they go? Anywhere but Klugetown now that things have escalated greatly.
"Huh!?" When running, Ash saw a mountain in the distance. It was faint and mainly covered by the dusty atmosphere but he could see it. If there was a mountain up ahead then some form of water must also be there. Ash knew where to go next.
Suddenly, some of the Purrloin started falling asleep. Unfortunately for them, since some had used Yawn on Espeon to put her to sleep, her ability Synchronize kicked in, returning the favour. Now they were also asleep, halting their movements.
"Meowth!" Meowth would pick up these tired Purrloin. Or at least, he tried to. Unable to carry them both with his own strength, he would simply try and drag them with him. The residents of Klugetown looked up, witnessing the chaos happening on the rooftops.
This was soon noticed by the Canterlot Soldiers who came along. Their questions had all failed as they couldn't receive any answers. But they quickly threw that all aside the second they saw Ash and the others on the rooftops. Dropping everything, the soldiers and the Golurk would rush to their location.
Up ahead, Ash could see an airship, intending to use that to his advantage while running on the roof. "Get us up there, Dragonite! Hurricane!"
"Drago...Nite!" With all of her might, Dragonite whipped up a hurricane from her wings. The rough structures of Klugetown were soon met with this powerful Hurricane, tearing them down gradually. But it would also benefit Ash and the others, carrying them through the air as they approached the airship.
Every single of them had been carried by this massive Hurricane while the bodyguards were left behind in the dust. They failed to catch up with Ash's group. In the air as well were the Golurk who all had their respective guards on their backs to carry them. But some were Pegasi so they would do it themselves.
Capper looked down as he was being carried by the Hurricane as well, already far from home at this point. His home had been trashed by this point and the fact that one he owed massive debt to had been attacked meant that he was in a rather rough position. Rougher than before.
The Hurricane came to an end once they landed on this Airship that was already in motion. Every single of them were dropped off at the end of this Airship which was also already away from Klugetown. The bodyguards held their faces in disbelief. There was no way they were catching them. Not when one of them could generate an entire Hurricane.
It was a great save on Ash's part as he swung into action immediately. There were still some questions he needed answering since it all happened so far. One minute he was being blocked off by the Purrloins and the next, he was saving his friends and the Purrloins that tried to stop him earlier.
However, now that they were on this Airship, they were in someone's territory at the moment. Twilight and the others will eventually wake up but once they do, they'll be smacked in the face by something surprise, that much was true.
Ash kneeled for a moment, taking all of this in before looking over at Capper. Capper would then squee as there was a lot that Ash wanted to say at the moment. He could tell just from the look on his face.
After escaping from Verko's Bodyguards, Ash, his friends, Capper, and his Pokemon ended up on an already moving airship. Everyone was brought to safety but now that they were on this airship, whoever owned it would be fully aware of their presence. Twilight Sparkle was barely awake thanks to the Rift Magic while her friends were all asleep. But eventually, they would wake up and all it would take was a jolt.
"Pika...chuuuuu!" Pikachu unleashed a jolt of electricity on each of them, waking the ponies and Pokemon up from their slumber. They all grimaced after receiving 100,000 volts, waking up to pain as they had to realize where they were right now.
"Oh. Thanks for the save, Ash. Great work thinking on your feet." Capper sighed, casually walking up to Ash as if nothing was wrong. But the second Ash glanced at him, Capper stuttered, intimidated by his flare.
"I need some answers. What was up with that back there? I heard Fluttershy cry for help and everyone just starts falling asleep?" Ash sounded genuinely upset by this. Anyone that messes with his friends wouldn't be treated kindly at all.
"Hold on. I know it doesn't look good but hear me out. I was just trying to pay my debt. There's no other way to do it."
"You tried...selling us off," Twilight said after being woken up by Pikachu's Thunderbolt. "Each one of us. And I'm guessing you were warming up to Ash to keep him away from you. Or to get some wealth thanks to his status as a king."
"Well...Yeah. That last part was still pending." Capper laughed nervously as warming up to Ash was a part of his plan to gain plenty of wealth and a backup plan to pay off his debt. Obviously, that failed.
"I can't believe you!" Rarity was fully awake and reasonably mad at Capper. "Trying to sell us off! And I know for a fact in a place like this, I wouldn't even be worth much!"
"Okay, it sounds bad, whatever. But there was no other option. And my only option is something I can't do." He raised one part of his paw, wagging it as he referred to his Rift Purrloin.
"Purr?" Speaking of which, that same Purrloin would move through the crowd of her Brothers and Sisters, approaching Capper. While the ponies and Goh were looking at Capper with rather disdainful and upset looks on their faces, Purrloin had a different look. It was still her usual sheepish expression but there was something more to it. And once Purrloin looked at Ash, her expression was already telling Ash what to do.
"About that...Can you tell me what's up with this?" Ash then held up the picture that Purrloin showed him. "Purrloin showed me this picture and something about it bothered her."
"That? Oh, you had to go and find that picture..." Capper sighed. "Of course Purrloin is the one who showed it to you. If you want to know about what this picture means then fine..."
"You also sounded like you wanted to keep this one Purrloin away," Fluttershy added. "I remember. That Verko wanted your Purrloin and not the other ones. Why?"
"Purrloin here is one of those Rift Pokemon. That's what you call them, right? She has all that Rift stuff inside of her which gives her something pretty unique. She can make any currency she wants."
"She can?" Everyone repeated, amazed by what they had heard. Capper's answer did not disappoint. Not only was Purrloin a Rift Pokemon but she also had a power that any greedy individual would want. And from how Capper described it, it was any possible currency. Not just Stormbucks but potentially bits and most definitely Pokedollars.
"A-Any?"
"Any. I found that out myself. Found her one day next to all the other Purrloin." Capper explained, reminiscing about that fateful day. "She never fond of it for a moment. She kept generating all kinds of money that anyone would want. I even saw some currency I've never seen before. You should've been there. Mountains of money for all to see." Capper stood up, raising his arms and spreading them to demonstrate how vast the money was.
It was somewhere out in the Badlands, where Capper was just out there, trying to find something for himself. But what he found was beyond anything else. Near a mountain pass was a group of Purrloin as they were all gathered around one Purrloin. And that one Purrloin was currently in pain. She was surrounded by a great storm of money which was keeping her airborne.
And flowing out of her was a ton of Rift Energy. Capper had no idea what to make of this but his eyes lit up the second he saw the currencies. There was even some gold in there.
I only wanted Purrloin for the chance to have as much money as I could. But I knew I had to sweeten her up. All of them. They came as a family after all.
At that moment, Capper aimed to solve this problem just to get the Purrloin on his side. And he would do so by helping the Rift Purrloin. Of course, he had to leave and find the solution, hoping that the Purrloin would still be here. He quickly rushed back to Klugetown, leaving the nearby Mountain Pass.
So I left, planning to come back for them with a way to sort out that money storm. That was by taking all the money for myself obviously. But that's when some bad company caught wind of her.
When returning to that area, he found out that others were already on to the Rift Purrloin thanks to her Money storm. These Badlands Residents set their sights on Purrloin, planning to use her. And despite how many Purrloin were here, they were easily intimidated. Even back then, they could be intimidated by someone, appearing rather defenceless.
And since Pokemon were still new, they were already planning to sell them, meaning every single Purrloin would be taken away and sold off as some were already in cages. The Rift Purrloin already had a special cage of her own. But Capper, with a sly look on his face, had a backup plan for this which would show itself instantly.
So, I played the Hero, swooping in to save the Purrloin. Luring a Badlands Creature was the best thing I could come up with. And once those Purrloin were safe, they flocked to me instantly. I got on their good side in a heartbeat.
Capper saved them by scaring them off with a Worm-like creature for them Badlands, forcing them away from all of the Purrloin. As for the Purrloin, the movement of the Worm Creatures broke the cages, freeing them from their captivity. And once they were all saved, along came Capper to remove the final cage.
All the Purrloin watched as Capper removed the cage that contained the Rift Purrloin. She was terrified out of her mind, fearful of what might happen. The currency she created had already been taken away by that group as the storm she previously made came to an end eventually. All she left behind were some Pokedollars and that was about it. Immediately, the Rift Purrloin would lunge at Capper, hugging him for saving her life.
She already believed that he did it out of the goodness of his heart as Capper was a bit taken aback by this. But for the sake of the money, he would play along, holding Purrloin in his paws. At that point, Capper gained the trust and favour of the Purrloin but in reality, he was only planning to use the power of Rift Purrloin differently than what the group planned to do.
When returning to Klugetown, he traded in the leftover Pokedollars for some items to bring home with him. He even went through the trouble of expanding his home a bit just for his Purrloin to fit in. And when trading in the Pokedollars, he promised Verko that this Purrloin would be able to pay his debt just by generating money. Of course, that never came to pass but Verko still waited until that day came.
However, that moment did not come solely because of how closely Capper became with the Purrloin. More so than he expected. The Purrloin, much like Meowth, shared his tendencies to be sneaky, taking whatever they can and in secrecy too. A majority of the objects that the Purrloin play with are stolen. It was this shady act that made them all closer. But as for the Rift Purrloin, she grew distant of Capper and that was mainly thanks to him asking her to generate money.
But it was very clear that Purrloin disliked doing so. This power that she possessed was something she did not ask for at all. On top of that, it seemed to be uncontrollable, making her summon a storm of currency. Capper would ask Purrloin to generate money but she never committed. In reality, she just wanted to mess around like her brothers and sisters but always stayed on her lonesome.
But as time went on, I grew closer to these Purrloin. The same way I grew closer to Meowth. And thanks to that, I couldn't bring myself to force the money out of her. She seemed so afraid. And to be honest...I have a soft spot for other cats. Having all of these Purrloin here with me plus Meowth reminded me of my home and what it was like before. So even though I knew what Purrloin could do, I couldn't bring it out.
"So, I promised never to force her. And there's no way I'm selling any of my Pokemon."
"But you'll sell us." Rainbow Dash grumbled.
"I get it now." Ash finally understood things now that Capper shared it with him. It also explained the picture perfectly and gave him a new perspective on this. But before he could say anything, those on this airship had finally noticed the stowaways on board, catching everyone's attention.
"Hey, guys! Come check this out!" An avian-like pirate who resembled a parrot shouted after spotting them. And he wasn't the only avian.
"Looks like a pack of stowaways." Another avian showed up, followed by a third one in the middle and a fourth one who simply squawked.
"What are we s'posed to do with 'em?" The third avian wondered. "Too many of 'em here."
"I got enough rope to hold 'em all." The first avian held up the rope. But the numbers were more prominent than they expected. Above them, some Flying-Types could be seen as they were all wearing bandanas. Unfeazant, Pelipper, Toucannon, Chatot and a new Pokemon none of them have seen before in the form which Ash would quickly scan with his Pokedex.
"Squawkabilly. The Parrot Pokemon. White Plumage Form. This Pokémon dislikes being alone. It has a strong sense of community and survives by cooperating with allies. Though these Squawkabilly are the fewest in number, they have no trouble living in towns since they blend in with the white buildings.
"Chatot! Hold them all!" The Chatot repeated.
"Wai-wai-wai-wait. What say the book, Captain Celaeno?" The first avian then spoke to none more individual on this ship. And this individual was the captain here and she wasn't too far from sight, approaching the group. The sound of her footsteps were a bit mechanical as one other part sounded like wood as she held a book in her hands with the symbol of the Storm King on it. It was clear that everyone here served under the Storm King.
"Storm King's rule book says throw them overboard." She said as she was joined by a Pidgeot which hovered over her. She would then stare down Ash and the others, making some of them nervous.
Capper would quietly step back, hiding behind Dragonite. Ash would stand back, looking back at Celaeno with an equally serious stare. His friends were almost sold off so he was rightfully upset and couldn't afford to let them go through something overwhelming again.
"As if." Celeano then turned around as the sound of a whistle horn went off, putting a halt to this tense atmosphere. "Alright! That's Lunch!"
"Lunch?" Ash repeated as the Pirates had walked off, acting like this serious encounter never happened and there weren't any stowaways on board of their ship. These Pirates were about to feast and they already prepared their meals for the afternoon.
"Phew..." Capper saw this as a major close call. He thought things were going to worsen but he was in the clear for now. However, he couldn't get home now at all for two reasons. He was already in the air and now he was definitely wanted in Klugetown.
Ash and everyone were left to their own devices which resulted in them staying on board the ship but rather confused by how quickly the tone shifted.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! So you were about to toss us overboard and you stopped for a lunch break?" Rainbow Dash said, bewildered.
"Storm King only allows one break a day for meals, then it's back to hauling goods." The first avian known was Boyle said.
"Oh. So you all deliver?" Spike asked.
"These uniforms aren't exactly doing us any favours." Celaeno sighed. "Celaeno's the name. Captain Celaeno. And you're looking at my crew. What brings you all here on our ship? With all these cats too?"
"A lot just happened." Ash took off his hat. "We're trying to get to the Hippogriffs as soon as possible. Getting there's been a wild ride so far and it's not stopping, ya know."
"It's a long story that we can't get into now. Right now, we have to keep moving." Twilight said before looking at Capper. "And apparently, you have the map we need. I'm surprised you weren't lying about that."
"I'm always honest in some way." Capper shrugged. "Truth be told, I wasn't gonna give it to you since everything in the Badlands is under the Storm King's control and I just happened to have the map to the Hippogriffs. But since you saved my life...whatever. Here ya go." Capper would end up passing the map onto Ash, who he thanked for saving his life.
Now that they had the map, it was opened to reveal what was else was in store past Klugetown. Twilight would instantly look at the map, deeply focusing on it to see what she could find. And they immediately hit the jackpot as their answers were revealed.
"It says here they're on the top of Mount Aris!" Twilight gasped. "That's where we need to be!"
"You're trying to get there? Bad idea." Celaeno shook her head, advising greatly against such an approach. "Besides, we can't let you. We do what the Storm King orders or we suffer his wrath."
"We're still going overboard, aren't we?" Goh sighed.
"Eh, it's nothing personal. But it's not like we can get all of you onboard. It's practically a full house in here." The other avian by the name of Lix Splite said.
"You weren't always delivery birds, were you? What about before the Storm King? You said this was your crew? Does that mean...you're pirates?"
"Um, we prefer the term 'Swashbuckling treasure hunters'". The other avian known as Mullet would add.
"So cool! Pirates!" Ash lit up.
"As for you...Don't I know you from somewhere?" Celaeno pointed at Ash, recognizing his face. "Come to think it, seeing you surrounded by all these Pokemon and ponies kinda answers that question for me."
"So you know who we are?" Rainbow Dash flew over. "That's great! Then you just gotta let us get to that mountain! Sounds to me you're just letting the Storm King boss you around."
"He is bossing us around," Boyle replied. "Everyone in the Badlands, that is."
"Yeah, whatever. But you're pirates. Or you used to be. Since when do you have to listen to anyone?" Rainbow Dash tried convincing them. "That shouldn't be possible, ya know? I mean, I only know about one group of pirates and we went up against them. But they're still pretty awesome." She referred to the Bisharp Pirates, who were impressive in their own right considering they exist in a board game world.
Celaeno grumbled, unsure of Rainbow Dash's words. Plus, she was trying to enjoy her meal. But Rainbow Dash wouldn't give up on them. She looked around the room, seeing if there was something that would rekindle that spark within them. After all, this was a flying ship, so that meant before the Storm King, it had a completely distinct look.
To test it out, Rainbow Dash would fly as fast as she could, bringing down the Storm King items and accessories that Celaeono's crew were given. Lo and behold, by pushing a large Storm King banner out of the way, it revealed something amazing. Hidden behind it was a picture of Celaeno and what she used to wear.
Plus an assortment of pirate treasure from gold, rubies, maps, treasure chests and more. Ash and the others gazed at this part of the room that was hidden by the banner, amazed by Celaeno's previous look. Even the Pokemon of these Delivery Birds were amazed by what they were seeing. She was hiding this the whole time as it was shielded thanks to the Storm King's control.
Celaeno then looked at this picture, widening her eyes as she was reminded of her past which she had kept away, not wanting to incur the wrath of the Storm King by becoming a pirate again. But just looking at it brought back memories that were way better than this dull routine she's been forced to do.
"Pidgeot!" Suddenly, her Pidgeot would grab her old pirate costume, spotting it immediately. By grabbing it, Pidgeot would drop the hat on Celeano's head, already bringing back a part of her past. The captain gasped, seeing her old hat back on her as she was no longer wearing a bandana.
"Nice look!" Ash gave a thumbs-up for a hat, liking the way it looked on her. The rest of the Pokemon grabbed what they could, slapping it onto Celeano.
"Purr!" The Purrloin would suddenly open up the treasure chests, alerting Capper. He feared that the Purrloin were trying to get themselves into trouble by doing this. Even if Celeano was not a pirate anymore, that was still owned by her. But they were doing it to steal. Instead, they were doing it to bring it back to her. All of her gold was still here, unused to this day. And they still kept their dazzling golden sparkles.
"Oh to be a pirate again..." Celaeno said, thinking about it deeply. But her main fear was the Storm King, who she obviously lost to in the past which is how she ended up in this position. "But the Storm King..."
"Is gonna be stopped by us." Rainbow Dash added to her sentence, saying the opposite of what Celaeno would've said. "We already took down a whole league of vampires and saved the world. One king's not enough to stop us. Because we're awesome like that. You can be too like you were before."
"I can..." She then took off her hat, looking at it for a moment and then right at her picture. Rainbow Dash described it as being Awesome even if she was a pirate. No matter the occupation, in the eyes of Rainbow Dash, someone could exuberate that factor she spouts about so much in their own way. And it's been proven by those who were once enemies. Ponies, Demons, Despair Plants Vampires and Pokemon alike. "I certainly can!" She would then put her hat back on.
She needed that boost of encouragement since this entire time, her crew has been bending to the will of the Storm King. By becoming pirates again, the schemes they could devise, the treasures they can find and use and so much more.
"There's a whole world of Pokemon I didn't get the chance to explore from the beginning. Finding these ones opened it up to me but I never journeyed past it." Celaeno then looked up at Pidgeot and the other Flying-Types. Meeting them sparked something within her the first time but it was Rainbow Dash who really lit that spark up.
"Yeah! That's what I love to hear!" Rainbow Dash grinned, nodding her head with great enthusiasm. "So what about Mount Aris?"
"Mount Aris? Oh, we've passed by it before. We know how to get there." Celaeno smirked as her past as a pirate, which was now her present, led her to places such as Mount Aris. "And you're gonna stop the Storm King?"
"For sure!" Ash exclaimed. "Celestia and the others are already going after him, so after we get to Mount Aris, we're gonna do the same!"
"Pikachu!"
"Hm. Good to know." Celaeno said as she would soon return to the helm, ready to control the ship she was once prided herself on owning. Now, it was no longer just some delivery ship but it was back to how it was. A Pirate Ship.
Equestria. Under the Sea. The Storm King's Airship.
Speaking of the Storm King, his Airship was currently under the Sea. Thanks to the two Sea Temple Crystals, he was able to move his Airship through the ocean with perfect speed and momentum. It was like it was still in the air which was just an example of how powerful these crystals can be. And the fact that they're connected to the Sea.
The airship was still moving at a slow pace. At this point, Tempest Shadow was wondering if it was on purpose or not since that was only allowing for the Storm King's enemies to keep up with him. The Storm Creatures and everyone aboard were just lounging about this time. It was mainly the Storm King doing all the work since he had to try and bring out Zygarde by damaging the ecosystem. Only he was capable of doing it at such a large magnitude. All the while, somewhere in the sea, the Grand Equestria and the Sea Temple were pursuing the Airship.
However, something finally happened. Something was felt above them, rippling the sea and sending a strong pressure. This part of the sea was already devoid of life since the Storm King threw a majority of it at his opponents. It was a rather empty sea with only an Airship moving through it. But not anymore. Something else was down here.
"Aha!" The Storm King sat up after sensing this presence.
"That pressure is so powerful...What is that?!" Tempest Shadow gasped as the airship was shaking from this pressure. She looked around, trying to see what was causing it. There wasn't a Water Pokemon in sight and none of them could do this on their own aside from a few exceptions.
"That can only mean one thing...!" The Storm King giggled before hearing a cry of a Pokemon that was loud enough to be heard underwater. It was a cry none of them recognized but it felt truly powerful. And considering what the Storm King had been doing this whole time, his main goal was seemingly coming towards him. He used the crystals to enhance his vision and his eyes did not deceive him when he looked ahead. With a grin on his face, his main target ended up coming to him after all.
From what he could see from the front A Pokemon with a serpentine body with green and black markings could be seen. Most of its back, head, and neck are black, while the underbelly and the tip of its tail are green. Its eyes are made of four green hexagons, similar to an insect with compound eyes plus a thin, white line down the centre of its face.
Equestria. Under the Sea. The Storm King's Airship.
Zygarde had appeared.
All the way from the Kalos region, the Order Pokemon arrived, travelling through the seas of Equestria. The distance between Kalos and Equestria was great, making Zygarde's arrival and response to this damaged ecosystem all the more impressive.
In its 50% Forme, it was already making its way to the ones responsible for damaging the ecosystem in such a way. It had already gathered up its cells and cores when during its trip to Equestria, appearing in a form that was before its final form. Even 50% of its cells were enough to make it extremely powerful though. The movement of Zygarde was enough to ripple the ways as parts of the sea were parted just from its movements. As the Guardian of the Land, it would eventually show itself, moving through the sea at great speeds, targeting the airship of the Storm King.
"The plan worked..." Tempest Shadow said as she could hear the roar of Zygarde going off. The more it slithered through the waters, the closer it got as it brought a green aura that lit up the seas, replacing the usual blue around a wide area. "It's here."
"It's Zygarde! I told you he'd come to us!" Speaking of the Storm King, he cackled once Zygarde was seen, ecstatic that his greatest prize was coming to him at last. "Alright! You all know what to do! Let's not waste our big chance!"
Now that Zygarde was here, the mission to capture it would be initiated. They have waited long enough for the Order Pokemon and now it was here. The Storm King held up his staff, ready to use the power of the crystals once more and this time, it would be at full power. The seas around him were under his control as he would manipulate the water, warping it and bringing out its destructive nature.
An underwater tsunami was then unleashed, flowing in Zygarde's direction. But without haste, Zygarde would retaliate immediately. And that was by using one of its signature moves, Thousand Waves. Even when underwater, this Ground-Type move could be used. From its body, Zygarde caused the sea floor to explode. It then manipulates the rubble to swirl around the controlled waves, rendering them immobile.
Zygarde already demonstrated a great wealth of its power, continuing to approach the airship with another attack being prepared. The Storm King paused for a moment before realizing he had to act soon, otherwise, this ship was history along with him.
With a twirl of his staff, the Storm King manipulated the sea once more. But this time, he raised them. With amazing power, he raised a large chunk of the sea into the air, carrying everything near it. The Airship was instantly lifted up as to be expected as well as the rubble that Zygarde had made.
All of it had been shot up to the surface at high speeds, creating a massive pillar of water. The water reached great heights as the Airship went above it, managing to stay airborne even though it was just underwater. Of course, this would be noticed by those in the Grand Equestria and the Sea Temple.
When pursuing the Storm King's Airship, they witnessed a powerful pillar of water enter the air, rippling and shaking the seas. That gave them a clear indication of where the Storm King was. But it wasn't just the Storm King that was present here. Their eyes met with someone else that was sent into the air. And it was none other than the Order Pokemon Zygarde.
"Is that Zygarde?!" Luna gasped, recognizing that appearance based on the books she read. That seemed to resemble Zygarde perfectly. Reshiram and Zekrom already knew that it was Zygarde in an instant just by looking at its appearance. The Storm King succeeded in bringing it here.
The People of Water also knew that it was indeed Zygarde. Now that Zygarde was here, that meant that parts of the ecosystem have been healed during its arrival to Equestria. It has been centuries since they've seen the Order Pokemon but now it was here, in its 50% Forme.
As for Zygarde, even though it was lifted into the air with the water, it was far from thrown off balance. While in the air, Zygarde had used Scale Shot, firing multiple black-and-white-glowing scales from its Z-Shape Serpentine body. As the scales travelled, they left behind purple trails of energy before piercing through the waves that sent it into the air.
And of course, it targeted the Storm King's Airship. Now that Zygarde was here, the Storm King could speed up his airship and go on solid land at last. However, it seemed that Zygarde would do that for him. Scale Shot struck into the barrier that protected the airship, rapidly beating down on it with its sharp scales. And while the scales were trying to push through, Zygarde found the time to unleash another attack.
And this time, it was Thousand Arrows. Yet another signature move in its arsenal. 50% Forme Zygarde fires beams of energy from its body, sending them upwards. Any airborne opponent hit by this attack will be knocked down to the ground and in this case, the Airship was a perfect target. The beams came flying, joining the scales and rapidly beating down on the shield. The Storm King saw that the barrier was about to break as cracks were already starting to show.
One of the beams managed to get through, leaving a hole through the barrier. This beam struck the airship of the Storm King, dealing damage to it and leaving behind a hole. Already, the airship was starting to turn as the rest of the barrier had been destroyed thanks to this one hole.
The Storm Creatures and Tempest Shadow held on as the ship was starting to turn, falling sideways. At this rate, it would most definitely crash. On top of that, there was now a hole in the ship, revealing the outside. The nearest piece of land was a mountainscape in the distance.
"Don't panic! I've got this under control!" The Storm King said, raising his staff once more. With the power of the crystals, he could easily solve this however he wanted.
By the power of the crystals, he managed to repair the damage that was done to the airship with ease. The hole had been put back up as if the damage was never done in the first place. And finally, the Storm King would make the airship land safely, gaining perfect momentum and balance in an instant.
The Storm King's Airship would land perfectly on the ground, harming no one inside. As for Zygarde, it would eventually descend. And the location it descended at would also be the mountains. Zygarde had a harder landing than the airship, crushing nearby rock mounds. Now, Zygarde was in its advantageous territory. The Land.
But now that both sides had touched the ground, they would face off against each other more. The doors of the airship would open up as the Airship would slightly leave the ground. And from that airship was the Storm King, coming out to meet with Zygarde. He would walk out with high confidence, making himself seem above Zygarde as he envisioned himself as the future ruler of the ecosystem and the world.
At the same time, rushing to the scene was the Grand Equestria and the Sea Temple. Now that Zygarde has shown up, they had to hurry before the worst could happen. There was a chance that the Storm King could obtain Zygarde's power for himself thanks to those two crystals.
"You. You are the ones who have elevated the damage to the world." Zygarde spoke, using telepathy to do so as much like most Legendaries, it had a booming voice that echoed in everyone's ears.
"Well, well, well! We meet at last, Zygarde!" He rested his staff on his shoulder, putting on a confident yet intimidating smile.
"The World has already been tainted by the acts of the Black Crusade and you have only brought out that Dark Magic which threatens to eat away at everything."
"That's right! All me! I've been waiting for this! With your power, I can control the world in any way I want compared to other powers that I've been searching for. They would help me conquer the world but it would take so much longer. You're my shortcut!"
He would boast about elevating the Dark Magic and also how Zygarde would bring him every benefit possible just by taking his power. And at the same time, the Storm Creatures would exit the ship to confront Zygarde at last. But it wouldn't be a physical confrontation. Far from it. Everyone here was smart enough to know that getting close to Zygarde was just asking for a painful beatdown.
Zygarde watched as these Storm Creatures appeared, already having ways to try and restrain it. And in their arms, they already had many chains in store for Zygarde. The Order Pokemon looked around it as a chain had already been thrown at it. Zygarde would headbutt the first chain away, knocking it aside. But more were inbound as these chains came flying in, targeting many parts of Zygarde's body.
These chains which also appeared to be made out of obsidian, would automatically latch onto Zygarde's upper body with the first targeting his neck. These chains would grab onto the Order Pokemon's serpentine body, trying their best to restrain it since it didn't have any arms. At least, not yet. Restraining a snake-like creature with chains was a difficult task indeed but not impossible.
However, to scoff at their attempt to capture it, Zygarde, with just one attack, would easily destroy the chains. By using Outrage, Zygarde shattered these obsidian chains with a bellowing roar and exertion of Draconic Energy that flew out of its body. The chains would not only shatter, but the power would knock over some Storm Creatures just from the force alone.
On top of that, large rocks would come crashing down from the mountains that broke apart from Zygarde's cry. These rocks rolled down, approaching the Storm Creatures. Seeing this, they would quickly disperse, attempting to avoid these large rocks that could easily crush them.
The chain plan already failed but the Storm King had more to offer. Anything to capture Zygarde and take its power for itself. Tempest Shadow took action, quickly sending out her Sneasler and Noivern. In her eyes, the best thing to do was subdue Zygarde and the most common way of doing so was via a Pokemon Battle.
"Boomburst, Noivern!"
"Vern!" Starting off was Noivern with Boomburst, who already sent a powerful soundwave at the Order Pokemon, blowing away the rocks and sending a powerful echo through the air. Zygarde took the hit, receiving a powerful Boomburst. But the best it did was make it utter a small cry.
To return the favour, Zygarde would use Outrage once more, releasing another powerful roar. This time, it was intended for Noivern. The Sound Wave Pokemon would instantly be knocked away, crashing through a pile of rocks while other Storm Creatures were knocked over.
As for the rocks, they would crash near the Storm Creatures while some would pursue them, rolling across the ground. Zygarde was the master of the land the rocks that followed the Storm Creatures weren't doing it by chance. It was all done by Zygarde's will. He was essentially the Will of the Planet.
"Sneasler, use Dire Claw!"
"Snea!" Approaching Zygarde was Sneasler would jump from rock to rock, avoiding any damage. With her claws surrounded in poison, she would lunge at the Order Pokemon, preparing for a swift yet poisonous slash. In response, Zygarde would use Thousand Waves. Zygarde causes the ground underneath Sneasler and everyone else to explode immediately. The Storm Creatures and even Tempest Shadow were knocked into the air by this powerful eruption of power.
But for the Storm King, he would put up a shield around himself thanks to the staff, staying perfectly still on a platform of Earth while his forces were lifted into the air or even knocked over. Tempest Shadow managed to keep her balance even when the ground below had erupted. Sneasler avoided it as well by jumping even higher as she finally reached Zygarde, ready to slash at it.
However, by manipulating the rubble, Zygarde had bombarded Sneasler with multiple large rocks the second she got too close. The Regional Variant from the far past was knocked out of the sky, taking heavy hits as the rest of the controlled rubble would fly at the other Storm Creatures.
Sneasler would still manage to recover, sliding on the ground that hadn't been struck by Zygarde's Thousand Waves. "Curses. Use Close Combat! Noivern, use Dragon Pulse!"
"Snea!" Sneasler would try again. This time with Close Combat. Noivern would join her, using Dragon Pulse to deal super-effective damage. Sneasler would move past all of the rubble and falling rocks, approaching the Dragon-Ground-Type.
The Free Climb Pokemon would then start slashing as fast as she could before she even reached Zygarde, getting a headstart. Zygarde had already countered the Dragon Pulse with its own Dragon Pulse. Two Dragon Pulses would crash into each other, causing an explosion of Infinity Energy to go off.
And through that smoke was Sneasler who landed a hit on Zygarde. The Order Pokemon had been struck by an incoming flurry of sharp and deadly slashes from the Free Climb Pokemon. It was hard to say how effective these strikes were but they were definitely doing damage.
And at that moment, Tempest Shadow would take out one of her Obsidian Orbs, seeing this as the best time to use them. She threw it into the air before then kicking it with all of her might. The orb travelled rapidly, striking Zygarde after it received a powerful barrage of slashes.
With the orb hitting it, everyone expected Zygarde to finally turn into obsidian, making this easier for everyone. That way, the Storm King would have its power at last. And once the magic within the orbs went off, the obsidian texture was already appearing around Zygarde's power.
The Storm King grinned, seeing this as the moment of truth after seeing those obsidian textures as they started around Zygarde's upper body. However, Zygarde would make sure that moment never came. With its power, Zygarde used another one of its signature moves.
And that would be Core Enforcer.
Normally, it would be fired as a beam, but now, it would be used differently. From Zygarde's body, a multi-coloured pulse flew out, instantly blowing away the obsidian that tried to restrain it. The magic had been negated with this powerful outburst of energy. This outburst not only obliterated the obsidian but it would strike the Storm Creatures and Sneasler as well.
Afterwards, a light green Z-Shape was formed on the ground, representing Zygarde's shape. That shape would then explode, having its own power. The mountainside had been lit up with a light green energy for many nearby to see as the light would even change the colour of the sky for a moment.
The aftermath showed some of the Storm Creatures being too dizzy to focus or even down for the count, bewildered by Zygarde's power. It was many against one and yet Zygarde still showed them why it had the status of a Legendary Pokemon. Tempest Shadow narrowed her eyes, standing near a massive crater that had been formed from Zygarde's attack. Her Sneasler climbed out of the rubble as Grubber stayed inside the ship, knowing he would be running into his own demise if he went out there. It was best to stay inside and avoid the Land Dragon.
"As long as i am the Guardian of the Land, you cannot defeat me."
"Hmph. Whatever! You're just talking big, that's all!" The Storm King grumbled at this development before aiming his staff at Zygarde. He would get involved, having plenty of power that even a Legendary Pokemon had to look out. "You won't be so tough when I use this!" The Storm King yelled before unleashing a power blast of light at Zygarde.
A direct hit. Once hit by the light, Zygarde's body was suddenly surrounded by a powerful orb of light. This orb of light would keep Zygarde still for a moment, preventing it from moving. Zygarde was met with the power of the Sea Temple Crystals and what two of them could do. By using their full power, the Storm King managed to make the Order Pokemon stay still, forming this orb of light to contain him.
"I can still take your power for myself just by doing this!" And even though ZYgarde wasn't fully restrained, the Storm King still had the opportunity to steal some of its power. And while the orb held it down, the Storm used his staff to instantly draw power from the Order Pokemon.
The staff sent a dark blue magic that travelled through the light, reaching Zygarde. Immediately, the Staff Sacanas would start drawing power from Zygarde, seeping this Legedanry Power from its body.
"Oh, yeah I feel it!" The Storm King laughed as he was starting to feel some of Zygarde's power flocking to him. It was a new kind of power. Much like how the Sea Temple Crystals felt new. The power that comes from the Pokemon World had a different feeling compared to what comes from Equestria and beyond.
Zygarde roared as there was now a green energy slowly appearing around the Storm King's staff. With this simple action, he was managing to draw some of Zygarde's power into the staff and if something wasn't done, he could most definitely succeed.
Refusing to let that happen, Zygarde would shatter the orb by using Outrage once more. Its roar and draconic energy had obliterated the orb, shattering it into a million pieces while also ending the power absorption that the Storm King was pulling off. The Storm King stumbled from this power exertion, nearly falling over. But even though his absorption didn't fully go through, he still managed to take something.
Zygarde felt a bit winded from this. The Order Pokemon knew something had left its body, making it a bit woozy and out of it. But it wasn't something that would last that long.
"Take a gander at this!" The Storm King raised his staff, showing Zygarde and the others what he managed to obtain. Green energy was now crackling from the staff, showing that Storm King succeeded in taking some of Zygarde's power. "Now that I have a bit of it, I'd say at least...10%, I'll test it out! But I can make it better too!"
Without wasting any time, the Storm King would use the newly obtained power. But not only would he use Zygarde's power, but he also merged the power of the Sea Temple Crystals into it, elevating it. By merging the two powers together, the Storm King created a union of energy that has never been made before.
Zygarde knew something like this was unnatural. Its own power and the power of the Sea Temple Crystals were never meant to merge as one. The Sea Temple Crystals have never even merged with anything before, until now. Such a powerful union and it was being used in the hands of a conqueror.
The Storm had power over some of the land and a majority of the water now and by using these two powerful, he unleashed a dark yellow and green energy into the air. This energy would reach a high point in the sky, colouring it differently. The seas would tremble as they were being tampered with once more.
They rose up, bending to the will of the Storm King as the energy he cast was affecting the area even though it was appearing in the sky. Only the skies were exempt from this power but that didn't make it any less dangerous. He already had the power to affect the land but that was mainly with the power of the Sea Temple Crystals. Now, he could affect the land in new ways that only Zygarde originally could.
Only 10% of Zygarde's power had been taken but thanks to the Sea Temple Crystals, it had reached a level that surpassed 10%. The full power of two crystals brought it up to what could be considered 50% matching Zygarde's 50% form. And with that power, the land started to change.
By the Storm King's will, the lands were changing, turning into magma. Lava began to spurt out of the ground, cracking the ground apart. The large mountains were beginning to transform, changing shape to form into volcanoes. Lava eruptions were starting to appear, breaking apart more of the ground and slowly transforming it into a volcanic area. And of course, the first target was Zygarde.
The Grand Equestria and the Sea Temple had their movements interrupted by these disturbed waves, failing to keep at a consistent speed. Reshiram and Zekrom were nearby, witnessing this new power being unleashed. They would stop in their tracks as the water nearly struck them mid-flight. A demonstration of what the Storm King could do with all of Zygarde's power as finally being shown and it was not a pretty sight at all.
However, the Storm King's new power wasn't just affecting this part of Equestria. It was going beyond that as he was willing to go wild with only a bit of Zygarde's power.
"This is amazing!" The Storm King laughed. "Alright then! Now we can focus on the princesses too! I'm feeling pretty confident! But first, I'll need more from you, Zygarde!"
Zygarde saw this was a rather quick escalation of danger, knowing it couldn't stick around such a dangerous area for long. The lava was only growing. And on top of that, the Pokemon were being threatened. Their home could turn into something that did not fit them all. Knowing this, Zygarde would try and stop this.
"Your excellence! Up there!" Suddenly, Tempest Shadow would draw the Storm King's attention to the two Dragons that could be seen in the distance. Reshiram and Zekrom were near.
"Ooh, that's not a good sign. Time to go! Again!" The Storm King called for them to keep on moving. But before they would leave, the Storm King wished to use more of Zygarde's power in this area. But this time, against Zygarde itself.
He aimed the staff at Zygarde, unleashing a powerful blast of Draconic and Light Energy. In response, Zygarde would use Core Enforcer. The Order Pokemon formed an orb of energy in front of it, firing yet another multi-coloured beam. The two great powers would collide, meeting in the middle of the mountains. A great clash occurred, forming a larger crater than before.
Tempest Shadow returned her Pokemon, quickly running back to the Airship. All the Storm Creatures would make a run of it, retreating for the scene as this entire area was quickly becoming too dangerous. There was still lava appearing around here. Green and Dark Blue lightning would come crackling thanks to this clash as some of it would hit the sea. The seas were getting the worst of it, having their ecosystem greatly disturbed compared to the land.
The clash between the Storm King and Zygarde was fierce as it was reaching past the mountains by this point. Seeing that it was getting too dangerous to be here, the Storm King would end his clash with Zygarde as the two attacks cancelled each other out. The result was a great light that eclipsed the mountainscape, forming a giant tsunami in the process.
This tsunami would fly up, reaching Reshiram, Zekrom, the Grand Equestria and the Sea Temple. The two Dragons could handle the Tsunami, however, the Sea Temple and Grand Equestria were raised into the air by its pressure. They all held on once they were lifted into the air as the seas grew ever more violent by the second.
Once the light cleared, Zygarde was suddenly gone. A massive crater that left the mountainscape in shambles had been left behind. And the aftermath also left behind massive damage to the ecosystem. Not just in this area, but anywhere random beyond it.
The airship had been knocked into the air as well from the aftermath but was shielded by the Storm King. The Storm King himself levitated by using the power of the crystals, bringing himself safely onto his own ship, leaving the mountainscape in an absolute mess.
"Where did Zygarde go?" Tempest Shadow questioned.
"Oh, we'll see Zygarde again. Now that I have some of its power, it's bound to show up again. It's probably underground by now." The Storm King rested the staff on his shoulder. "We've drawn it out successfully, so let's keep doing it. It'll want its own power back so let's play chase with it. To my home turf, the Badlands."
The airship would fly off, heading elsewhere. This time, it was off to the Badlands. The home territory of the Storm King. There was bound to be an advantage there.
As for Zygarde, it emerged from the ground, blowing away all the massive rubble that could be seen. It had taken some damage from this explosion, but not enough to knock it out. Part of its power had been stolen and was now a weapon for the Storm King who has already demonstrated what he could do with it. Now Zygarde was in pursuit of the Storm King.
The Badlands. In the Skies. Captain Celaeno's Airship.
Because of what the Storm King had done, random locations had been affected by his actions. Ecosystems had been targeted as lands and seas were disrupted by this great power. And this very moment, Ash and his friends, who were on the ship of Captain Celaeno would be near such a power.
The skies above them would rumble for a moment but they were not aware of it yet. Since they were in the air, they could not see the power at all. Currently, they were on their way to Mount Aris, where the Hippogriffs could apparently be found. They moved through the dark clouds which seemed endless thanks to the Badlands' atmosphere. And while moving through the clouds, green flashes could be seen.
Ash noticed these green flashes in the clouds, acting like thunder. But that wasn't any ordinary thunder. Nor did it sound like thunder at all. Ash wondered what this really was Castform's Cells were already tingling, reacting to the change in weather. At this moment, no one knew what was going on away from the Badlands but now, it seemed that it was reaching the Badlands at last.
And speaking of reaching, in the distance, Mount Aris could be seen. It wouldn't be long until they reach their destination. But at the same time, there was something ominous in the environment that would say otherwise as the journey continues.
The Badlands. In the air. Captain Celaeno's Ship. Afternoon.
In the skies of the Badlands, green flashes could be seen in the clouds. That was the result of the Storm King using the power of Zygarde and the power of two Sea Temple Crystals. But they were more than just flashes in the cloud. At this moment, the land and sea were being affected by the Storm King's reckless power.
Random locations were currently being targeted but even though they were random, the ecosystems were taking heavy hits at the moment. And even for a place such as the Badlands, its own ecosystem was being threatened despite how rugged and rough it may be.
"Hey. What's that?" Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes, soon seeing the green flashes in the clouds.
"It looks like it's coming from the clouds," said Twilight. "I don't think that's lightning. Do you know what that is captain?"
"Not a clue." Celaeno couldn't answer that at all. "Nothing like that exists in the Badlands."
The more the ship moved through the air, the more these green flashes became visible. And the first example of what it could do despite it happening on land and sea had been shown. The sheer power of this energy would expand, shooting out green rays that pierced the clouds. But more importantly, they attacked the airship. The rays delivered a power blow to the ship, making it rock as Celaeno held onto the ship's wheel, keeping her balance.
More of them would start flying out, going wild and piercing the clouds continuously at a frantic pace. They were completely aimless but destructive, only having the power to ruin ecosystems and destroy other things not related to that ecosystem.
"Yeah, well, whatever it is, can we get away from it?!" Spike yelled while holding onto his Axew. Celaeno was already on it. And a part of her was excited about this as she put on a smile. It has been a long time since she's had something intense in the air happen. Being Delivery Birds for the Storm King stripped her away from this excitement and how it has returned. Ironically, it was the Storm King who was causing this and brought that excitement back for her.
She could experience that thrill once more as the airship was already speeding up, barely managing to evade one of the rays that nearly hit the back of the ship. As these rays flew by, they would start combusting continuously, separating many cloud formations. Unbeknownst to them all, the Storm King was now approaching the Badlands, possessing some of Zygarde's power. But at the same time, he was forcing Zygarde to follow him to the Badlands.
The Airship would be manoeuvered as fast as possible, drifting through the air. Because of its size, it was easy for some of the rays to crash into it, causing further damage to the airship. The Purrloin would all gather together to keep each other safe while the Golurk hold onto to anyone struggling to keep their balance. The Golurk did seem to have a better handling of rocky situations.
"Look over there! What's That?!" Suddenly, Fluttershy's attention was brought elsewhere as she and Audino heard something massive passing through the sky. The Storm King arrived here sooner than expected. But that was mainly thanks to the power of the crystals. He used them to boost the speed of his airship, making it travel faster than it normally would.
"It's the Storm King!" Celaeno said, recognizing that Airship anywhere. The Storm King had shown up at his home territory, the Badlands, just for an advantage over Zygarde. He knew all about this place after all and even though he was currently using an airship, he did have a castle to return to. He was a King after all and it's obvious he would have a castle. The airship was simply just for travelling.
With the Storm King present here, the risk has been greatly elevated. For the most part, they were only encountering small instances of danger. The Large Palossand and the Bodyguards were all they had to worry about. Now, the one who was after conquest had shown up.
"Ah, look at that!" The Storm King would soon notice Celaeno's Airship. He would take a closer look, using the crystals to enhance his vision. He would see Celaeno and her crew, witnessing what they were wearing. He felt a bit nostalgic, seeing them in their Pirate clothes and not their Delivery Clothes. It was clear that they have returned to their occupation as Pirates, rejecting the Storm King. But while that got on his nerves, something else quickly interested him, raising his hopes up. "Oh? And would you look at that? One of the Princesses is on board."
Twilight Sparkle had been spotted. Along with her friends. It was unusual to see ponies here since the Badlands was filled with all kinds of species that are not normally seen in Equestria. The fact that they were here, plus two Humans, raised high curiosity and intrigue. And of course, major benefits for the Storm King.
"Shall we go after them, your excellence?" Tempest Shadow questioned.
"Duh, yes. They're the next stage of our plan, of course. Get that princess and uh...maybe that one human. The one in the blue." He ordered, focusing on Ash just as much as Twilight.
"Blue? Do you mean Ash Ketchum?" Grubber said, recognizing only one human who famously wears that.
"Right, him. That's his name. He's got something in him that has everyone in Equestria raving, apparently. Whatever it is, I want it. And I'll continue to do what I do best with this Staff." He looked at his staff as it had green energy crackling out of it. "Maybe I'll assist you here and there as we make our way back to my castle.
"On it." Tempest Shadow would carry out the order. She was still expecting the Storm King to repair her horn in return nd that would only happen until his goals were fully achieved. While this ship was just for travelling, it did come with its offensive capabilities.
And that was shown by a massive anchor flying out of the bottom, moving straight for Celaeno's ship instead of weighing the ship down like any other anchor would. The anchor crashed right through the ship, dealing more damage to it and knocking even more of the crew and passengers over. It was rather impressive that Celaeno's ship could take this much damage and still keep on flying.
And with the anchor holding onto the ship, it allowed the Storm King's Airship to come in closer as the anchor was pulling it forward. And outside of the airship was Tempest Shadow, preparing to hop on board.
"Check it out..." Ash gazed over at Tempest Shadow as his eyes would soon widen in amazement. He also recognized Tempest Shadow. But not because he's met this one before. It was the Universe 6 Variant of Tempest Shadow that he recalled seeing during his trip to the Sea Temple. "So this is our world's Tempest."
"Pikachu..."
"You have to go! Now!" Celeano shouted, telling them to leave as soon as possible. "Secure the rigging! Lock down the cargo! Everyone, prepare to be boarded!"
"Down there?! We don't even know where we are!" Goh bellowed, fearful of what was down below.
"You're near Mount Aris! You can go further from there!"
"Princess Twilight Sparkle!" Suddenly, an elevated voice spoke out. And that was from Tempest using a megaphone. She had Sneasler to help out with that, holding the megaphone up to her mouth. "Give up your magic." And it was straight to the point as Tempest let her know what she was here for.
"What?!" Twilight gasped.
"With this anchor, at any moment, we can take your ship down, crashing into the cruel ground of the Badlands," Tempest warned them, threatening to bring the ship down. "Your magic is one of the few things the Storm King needs. We've already taken the power of the crystals and some of Zygarde's power."
"They've got some of Zygarde's power already...?" Rainbow Dash uttered, surprised by what he was hearing. This also meant that Zygarde was potentially nearby.
"Who's that Pokemon?" As for Ash, he would take out his Pokedex, noticing Sneasler and reading her Dex Entry.
"Sneasler. The Free Climb Pokemon. Because of Sneasler’s virulent poison and daunting physical prowess, no other species could hope to best it on the frozen highlands. Preferring solitude, this species does not form packs."
"We also know about how your princesses are trying to stop us. They're still trying to get in our way but soon, they won't be a threat thanks to how smoothly things are going for us. So give it up. Right now." Tempest ordered. "Or you'll feel the explosive wrath of the Storm King and his newfound power."
"Alright then. So be it." Tempest Shadow shrugged, seeing that they made up their choice. "Drop it." She did what she promised to do, dropping the anchor so that the ship would come down as well. Everyone prepared themselves as they could hear the anchor moving, changing its angle position, finally acting like how every other anchor does.
However, the Golurk of the Canterlot Guards said otherwise. The moment the anchor tried going down, it failed to do so, only slightly making the ship jerk but not fully pulling it back to the ground. That was thanks to the Golurk. They held up the airship, preventing the anchor from bringing it down. And with so many of them holding it up, the anchor meant nothing.
"Golurk!"
Tch. Fine then. Sneasler. Dire Claw!"
"Snea!" Sneasler would leap off the ship, landing perfectly on the chain with no error whatsoever. And when on the chain, she would start running on it at high speeds, holding her claws out which were laced with poison.
"Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" Pikachu would intercept her Dire Claw, hardening his tail and lunging off the ship. With his tail, Pikachu clashed with Sneasler's Dire Claw, ignoring the Poison Effect thanks to the Steel Protection. The clash lasted for a moment before both Sneasler and Pikachu jumped back with Sneasler still staying on the chain while Pikachu went back on the ship. However, Sneasler wouldn't have to stay on the chain for long as the Storm King's Airship was close to Celaeno's ship now.
And now that they were close, the Storm Creatures could jump onto the ship, storming it. Capper grimaced at this sight as he was incredibly close to the Storm King's forces. And even the Storm King himself. Being here, especially this high in the air, was the worst possible moment.
As for the anchor, the Golurk grabbed onto it, using their bare hands to rip it apart. The anchor came straight off, removing one vital part of the Storm King's Airship. They won't be using it to latch onto other ships from now on. But that didn't matter as they weren't using the anchor anymore and instead just hopping onto the ship.
Tempest Shadow would soon do the same, joining her Sneasler. And once Sneasler got on board, she would continue to use Dire Claw, going straight for Twilight Sparkle, using those swift legs of hers while Tempest prepared one of the Obsidian Orbs.
"Iron Tail, again!"
Pikachu!" Pikachu would get in Sneasler's way once more, using Iron Tail to counter her Dire Claw. Another clash between the two occurred as Pikachu and Sneasler went back and forth. Iron Tail and Dire Claw crashed into each other continuously with sparks flying. Pikachu would duck one of the slashes, going for a leg sweep. Only for Sneasler to hop over his sweep, spinning in the air for a moment and swinging both her claws downwards. Pikachu was quick at reacting just like Sneasler, performing an upwards Iron Tail.
The two of them matched each other once more, sliding back on the floorboards. As for the Storm Creatures, they started charging at the group, mainly focusing on Twilight Sparkle as she was the most important target here. Twilight gasped as Espeon would immediately stand in front of her, refusing to let these creatures touch Twilight for even a moment.
"Psychic!"
"Esp!" The Red Gem on her forehead would glow along with her eyes, gaining a beautiful blue colouring. That same colour would outline the Storm Creatures that got too close as Espeon would hold them in place. After doing so, she launched them with a telekinetic push, sending them into other Storm Creatures.
But their goal wasn't to battle here. Their goal was to get to the Hippogriffs. Goh had already gotten a head start, running as fast as he could as he threw one of his Poke Balls out, sending out his Flygon. Once Espeon pushed back the Storm Creatures, Twilight, Ash and Pikachu would follow their friends.
Making sure that they would get away safely were Celaeno and her group. On top of that, there were also Canterlot Guards and Golurk who would stick around just so Celeano's crew isn't at a massive disadvantage. The Golurk would hold their hands out, stopping some of the Storm Creatures in their tracks. However, what surprised them was the fact that the Storm Creatures had some weight to them. When crashing into the hands of the Golurk, the Automaton Pokemon felt some pushback.
The only way out of this was to jump out of it. And they were certainly willing to take that risk but also had the means to fly. Goh had already used his Flygon, getting on its back. Joining Goh on the back of Flygon were Spike, Rarity and Applejack while everyone else either flew by themselves or had Dragonite carry them.
Tempest, refusing to let them get away, would send out her other Pokemon in the midst of this chaos. And that Pokemon ended up being her Noivern, who would help her through the air. Twilight and her friends had left the ship of Celaeno, taking flight. Or in this case, they were starting to descend.
Getting on Noivern's back, Tempest Shadow was already on the move, pursuing her targets. But getting in her way was none other than Celeano's Pidgeot. It wouldn't let her pass at all and neither would these Golurk, much to Tempest's annoyance. Watching this play out was the Storm King, seeing the crew that worked for him once now returning to the time when they first encountered him. But much like that first time, the Storm King simply saw them as weaklings since he had the means to defeat them a second time.
At the same time, Zygarde was still after him so he had to keep moving towards his Castle. Something like this was just in the way. While he wished to deal with Celaeno's crew after betraying him, he'd much rather focus on his mission. Getting the magic of the Princesses and all of Zygarde's power for himself.
"Bah, this'll take too long." He groaned, seeing that this battle could last a while and he could do without it right now. To speed it up, he would use the power of his staff to end things as soon as possible. The Storm King would finally exit his ship, coming through the doors for many to see. The Canterlot Guards definitely saw him, as well as Celaeno's crew.
With the Storm King out, having the dark clouds compliment his appearance and arrival, he brought that air of intimidation for someone who babbles a lot of time. With his staff being aimed, he would take the shot, using the combined power of Zygarde and the Sea Temple Crystals. He closed his eye, focusing on the ship in front of him.
And with one shot, he unleashed a dark green and dark yellow beam that flew in at high speeds. Celeano gasped as the colouring around the area had changed thanks to the intensity of this beam. With Ash and his group, they didn't look back when leaving the ship.
However, the sound of something combusting in the distance could be heard. That was the sound of the Storm King's power going off, leaving behind a loud explosion as well as a bright flash that blew away more of the cloud formations. They weren't sure what has happened there but they couldn't slow down to find out. They had to keep moving. After all, Mount Aris was within their sights.
Mount Aris.
At last, they had left the Badlands. While they haven't been there for long, it certainly gave them a lot to take in. But now that they were out of it, finally, they had arrived at Mount Aris. They had Celeano's crew to thank for this. Dragonite, Flygon and those with flight would land on the mountain, slowing down after the adrenaline rush they went through for a moment.
"Great. Now we're being hunted!" Rarity groaned after dropping off Flygon's back. "There's always someone who loves hunting us down! I should be flattered but enough is enough already!"
"It is what it is," Twilight said. "I should've expected this since the Storm King was chasing down the power of the Crystals and Zygarde. Alicorn Magic would be one of his other options. But we don't have to worry about taking any more steps to our destination. Because now we're finally here."
"We are?" Goh replied as he would take small footsteps, witnessing the piece of land that stood before him. It took a while for him to realize it but his eyes along with others would soon widen. They got to where they needed to be at last and the appearance it had did not disappoint.
"So this is it!" Ash gawked at what his eyes had witnessed.
A large mountain stood before them. And the way this mountain appeared was truly unique and distinct from others. It appeared in the form of two massive creatures that resembled ponies but had their own style. Most likely, these were statues of the Hippogriffs. Truly one of the most graceful structures they've seen. And to think, right next to it were the Badlands.
But something was rather off. While the structures were beautiful as the Sunlight would beam down on them, they looked rather old. Moss could be seen on the statues along with some wilted trees. They would pass through the massive structures, seeing what else they could find. But the sunlight would soon vanish as there was only a tiny bit of it around.
When advancing further, their eyes were met with a rather terrifying sight. An old one. There were indeed structures here. Buildings could be seen, having their own shapes as some trees still had leaves on them. So many of the buildings looked destroyed and deserted as if a massive battle had happened here. Through the thick fog, they could barely see the shape of what appeared to be a castle, but that seemed ruined as well. This was a total Ghost City.
There seemed to have one existed a gentle road that led to the castle but was now indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape. Gardens grew beyond their artificial borders and began claiming parts of the streets and houses but were now half-dead.
Most doors still stood sturdy in their frames. They were a little dirty, but if they only focused on the doors they'd expect Hippogriffs to come out as if nothing had changed. Many roofs had collapsed and in some cases had taken the entire building with it. Others looked in decent shape and were simply dirty.. This was most likely once a growing community of hundreds of families was now but an eerie shell of its former self. There was a fountain in what appeared to be the town square, lacking any water that would flow here.
"Oh, man...What happened here?" Ash wondered.
"Pikachu..."
"Are we sure this is the right place?" Rarity questioned, wondering why nothing else was here.
"No Hippogriffies here!" Pinkie Pie was already zipping around, searching for any Hippogriffs, even though she had no idea what they looked like. All she could use as an indication were the statues. Or here! Or here! Or here or here or here! It is totally dead!"
"But... Celestia... The map. They have to be here." Twilight was rather bewildered by this. How could this place be completely empty? It seemed like such a waste, feeling like they did all of that for nothing.
"This is a total Ghost City..." Goh looked around, noticing a statue of a Hippogriff that was covered in moss. Most likely of a famous Hippogriff.
"I don't suppose you still got that Time Flower with you, Ash?" Applejack asked.
"Audino?" But just then, while their worries were building up, they heard something. They could always count on Audino to pick up on something. Even in a place as dead as this, her ears would not fail her.
"I think Audi hears something. Two things, actually." Fluttershy translated. Apparently, Audino's ears were catching two things. One of which sounded like singing and the other sounded like a Pokemon as both were coming from two directions entirely. "Singing...and what sounds like a Pokemon."
"A Pokemon? Here?" said Twilight as Audino was walking towards the direction of the Pokemon, prompting everyone else to follow. Both the singing and the Pokemon sounded like they were close to each other.
"Any Pokemon can call a place their home if it's suitable enough for them," Ash answered. Which Pokemon do you think it is?"
"Probably...that one!" Rainbow Dash was the first to notice the Pokemon before anyone else. Sitting there, right next to a large pool that still had water in it was indeed a Pokemon. But it was a Pokemon none of them have ever seen before. And it was rather small. One of the smallest they've seen next to Joltik, Cutiefly and Tynamo.
"Tatsugiri."
"Who's that?" Of course, this required the Pokedex as Ash took it out.
"Tatsugiri. The Mimicry Pokemon. Curly Form. This is a small dragon Pokémon. It lives inside the mouth of Dondozo to protect itself from enemies on the outside. Tatsugiri is an extremely cunning Pokémon. It feigns weakness to lure in prey, then orders its partner to attack."
"Aw, it's cute." Twilight gushed at Tatsugiri's small size.
"Hello there." Fluttershy waved at the Mimicry Pokemon, approaching it. Her fears were staved once seeing a new Pokemon that was absolutely adorable. It was just sitting there so casually, not really doing anything. It merely looked at Ash and the others, blinking for a small moment. Seeing this one Pokemon here alone was rather saddening but Tatsugiri didn't seem to mind at all. It seemed content with its current surroundings. "What's your name, little-"
But out of nowhere, with no warning and with barely anyone to predict it, jumping out of the water and creating a big splash was a Pokemon that surpassed Tatsugiri in size easily. And that went for every other Pokemon here, plus, the humans, ponies and baby dragon.
"DONDOZO!"
"What is that?!" Ash bellowed as he didn't have enough time to scan Dondozo's Dex Entry since it came out of the pool instantly. And after doing so, it seemingly ate Tatsugiri, sending it in its mouth. Fluttershy stood there absolutely flabbergasted and bewildered by what she saw.
She was as stiff as a statue as Tatsugiri was gone in an instant. And all that was left behind was the massive Pokemon that shouted out its name and was mentioned in the Pokedex. Dondozo.
However, there was another Water Pokemon here. And this one had peered its head. A few of them did. Some Water Pokemon could be found in this area. Some that Ash and the others haven't seen before just yet. Tatsugiri and Dondozo were the first examples.
And next to them was a being that was not a Pokemon. Some were familiar, such as a Primarina. The evolved form of the Popplio family who was right next to this individual. Flying next to the individual was Gorebyss which bumped its head only to be helped by an unknown Water-Type Pokemon which seemed to almost resemble a Dugtrio. But it wasn't quite a Dugtrio.
"Oh, I see it, all of you. And it's completely real!"
"Dondozo!" Appearing out of nowhere and seemingly consuming Tatsugiri was a Pokemon that went by the name Dondozo. In the Ghost City that was Mount Aris, home to what should be the Hippogriffs, two Pokemon could be found, bringing some life to it. And one of them had currently been snatched by Dondozo.
Ash and the others backed up in awe at this massive Pokemon. Fluttershy, who was the closest to Dondozo, stood there absolutely bewildered out of her mind. She was stiff as a statue until Rainbow Dash pulled her out of the way. Once they processed what had just happened and Dondozo stared them down, staying in the pool it had leapt out of, the Pokedex was used on this Water Pokemon.
"Dondozo. The Big Catfish Pokemon. This Pokémon is a glutton, but it’s bad at getting food. It teams up with a Tatsugiri to catch prey."
"So that's Dondozo!" Ash said in bewilderment. The Pokemon that Tatsugiri's Dex Entry mentioned has finally appeared.
"Pika-Pikachu?!"
"So, Tastugiri's alright then?" Fluttershy soon snapped out of it, realizing that it meant Tatsugiri was safe inside Dondozo.
"I don't think that matters right now! It's looking at us funny!" Applejack grimaced, noticing how Dondozo was looking at her and all of her friends. And with its mouth opening, Tastugiri could be seen. It was perfectly fine in there but now its casual pose made even more sense. It wasn't just waiting for Dondozo to show up, it was waiting for the time to attack these new faces.
And with the way Dondozo was staring them down, it was clear that they weren't giving off a welcoming or friendly aura at all, especially Tatsugiri who was the brains of this team up. Seconds later, Dondozo would go on the offensive, listening to Tatsugiri inside.
"Dozo!" The Big Catfish Pokemon used Heavy Slam, launching itself upwards for everyone to see. They soon realized that Dondozo was attacking them. The Water-Dragon ascended, preparing to use its weight against them all.
Why it and Tatsugiri were suddenly attacking them was unknown. But what was known was that they had to avoid this incoming attack. Ash and the others moved back as Dondozo's massive body crashed into the ground of this Ghost City, leaving behind visible cracks while causing a small tremor.
"Y-You don't think they're the reason Mount Aris is like this?!" Spike gasped after falling over thanks to these tremors. The thought of both Dondozo and Tatsugiri doing this was horrifying, especially for Tatsugiri's case since it was so small and unassuming.
"No! There's too much moss for these two to have been here as long!" Twilight pointed out. It couldn't have been these two. But they were definitely living here in what appeared to be an abandoned area. "But they're definitely hostile!"
"Dondo!" Dondozo, after missing Heavy Slam, would continue going on the offensive. This time, it would use a move that neither of them have seen before. Wave Crash. Shrouding itself in water, Dondozo would fly in, becoming a water comet as it was similar to Aqua Jet. But while it lacked the speed of Aqua Jet, they could tell that it had a greater power than it.
"Not good! Pikachu, Makeshift Volt Tackle!"
"Pika-Pikachu!" Pikachu would retaliate once his friends were being threatened. By combining Thunderbolt and Quick Attack, he formed a false Volt Tackle that still had plenty of power behind it. He would move so fast he became an actual lightning bolt with all of that electricity around him. The Mouse Pokemon's Electric Aura clashed with the Big Catfish Pokemon's Water Aura, creating the usual wild synergy between Electricity and Water. Both were pushed back immediately from the clash but there was some recoil in the process.
If this were the real Volt Tackle, Pikachu would've suffered some recoil damage but since this was a makeshift one, he could hit as hard as Volt Tackle without needing to worry about recoil. But for Dondozo, Wave Crash was exactly like Volt Tackle or any recoil move, damaging its body.
Watching this battle play out from an area that was seemingly brighter than everywhere else was an individual whose appearance matched that of the Hippogriff statues. And right next to her were an assortment of Pokemon who couldn't believe what they were seeing. It wasn't Dondozo and Tatsugiri that got their attention but actually Ash and his friends.
"Iron Tail!" Ash bellowed as Dondozo was preparing for yet another attack due to what Tatsugiri ordered. Pikachu's tail started to harden, ready to leap into action while his friends watched the battle. He lunged into the air while Dondozo would turn its tail into water, ready to use Aqua Tail in retaliation.
"Oh! Wait!" Soon realizing what this could mean, this Hippogriff would quickly jump out of the water, interrupting this battle before it potentially escalates. And by shouting out, she eventually revealed herself.
"Huh?!" Twilight looked up as her eyes would sparkle. Right before her eyes was a Hippogriff. At last. Once she showed herself, Pikachu's actions came to an immediate halt along with Dondozo. The Big Catfish Pokemon would even open its mouth to show Tatsugiri. With everyone looking up, they saw droplets of water following a new species that they have never seen before. Or rather, they've only seen statues of this species. "That appearance...You're...A Hippogriff!"
"Calm down! Wait!" The Hippogriff would land in the pool that Dondozo was in, putting a stop to this battle with just her arrival alone. Now everyone got a look at a Hippogriff as there was finally one in this city that once had many Hippogriffs around. The Battle between Ash and Dondozo quickly came to an end. "You two. Attacking others in plain sight like that? That's not really nice, is it?"
"Dozo..." Dondozo would then lower its tone as Tatsugiri was seen pouting inside of its mouth.
"Phew. Sorry about that. They're a bit protective of this place. I mean, it's not all that right now, but still." She giggled, apologizing for the actions of Dondozo and Tatsugiri. All the other Water Pokemon would soon join her, making this place a bit more populated.
"That singing...Was that you?" Fluttershy questioned, wondering if she was the one responsible for that singing. Or if it was the Primarina that could be seen.
"Oh, yes! That was all me!" She nodded, confirming that question with no hesitation in front of these new faces. "Hi there! Skystar's the name!" She finally introduced herself, bearing the name Princess Skystar.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Twilight had a sigh of great relief. "I was getting worried for a moment but we found one! We're looking for the rest of the Hippogriffs."
"How do I know I can trust you?" Skystar questioned. "I mean, even though these two instigated the battle, I don't really know you all."
Please. The Storm King is on the loose, gaining power that'll be difficult for a lot of us to match up to. And we need their help." Twilight pleaded. "From what I hear, you have something that can help us."
"The Storm King?! Oooh, that's a bad name to hear right about now..." Skystar added. "I'm totally taking you to my mom!"
"Does your mother know where they are?" asked Twilight.
"Oh. She may have an idea." She let out a cheeky giggle, knowing more than Twilight. But it really wasn't that much. "Primarina knows a thing or two about it. She's always next to her."
"Next to her? You mean...she's her Pokemon?" Rainbow Dash questioned after hearing how Skystar worded that.
"What's a Pokemon?" Despite having all of these Pokemon around her, Skystar had no clue what they were actually called. At all. "I've just been calling them by what they say. They always say the same things so I just think that's their name."
"Well, you're not wrong about that. Those are their names." Pinkie Pie confirmed it to Skystar, sliding over to her. "This here's Mew! All he says is Mew!
"Mew!" Showing himself by popping out of Pinkie Pie's mane was the New Species Pokemon Mew, greeting Skystar and the other Water-Type Pokemon.
"He can be any Pokemon though so you'll hear lots of sounds from him!"
"Really?"
"That kinda looks like Dugtrio, doesn't it?" Meanwhile, Applejack was focused on one Pokemon that strongly resembled Dugtrio but there was something different about it. Mainly due to its dark pink colouring.
"It does, but totally different." Rainbow Dash agreed, taking out her Pokedex for this.
"Wugtrio. The Garden Eel Pokemon. It has a vicious temperament, contrary to what its appearance may suggest. It wraps its long bodies around prey, then drags the prey into its den. A variety of fish Pokémon, Wugtrio was once considered to be a regional form of Dugtrio."
"Oh, that makes sense." Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack said in unison now that they heard the dex entry.
"All these creatures...uh...Pokemon!" She finally called them by what they were commonly known as. "I've never seen these ones before. Not ones that walk on land at least. They look so different from what I've seen...Mom and everyone definitely have to see this!" Skystar said with glee, amazed by all of the Pokemon she was seeing.
Pikachu piqued her interest in an instant and she even got to see him battle. Espeon, Sceptile, Audino and Mew were also interesting to look at as well for obvious reasons. Each of these Pokemon were so distinct in appearance, having their own unique styles that made them stand out. Truly, a colourful cast.
"But...what are you two supposed to be?" However, Skystar's attention was then drawn to Ash and Goh, who definitely confused her. Their appearance was vastly different from anyone else she's seen. "You look so out of place."
"We do?" Ash scratched his hair, not really seeing it. He's become so accustomed to Equestria and everything beyond that nothing seemed out of place to him. It only added to the wonder of this Grander World.
"Well, yeah. By all accounts, both our worlds were never meant to meet but now they're one. Stands to reason that we'd still look different even after everything that's happened. "Goh added.
"Hm. Okay then! Come with me! You'll get your answers underwater!" Skystar was off, ready to lead to where they need to be. Twilight placed the Underwater Breathing Spell on everyone.
"Cannonball!" Pinkie Pie would take a huge dive, going for a fun approach when entering the water. Everyone else would soon jump in or slip in depending on how they wanted to approach this. Goh grimaced as his clothes were about to get wet and the same went for Rarity who wasn't in the mood to get her mane wet. She's already been through enough for today.
Once underwater, they travelled through these waters that were near a dead and ruined city that still brought many questions with Skystar hadn't answered. She resembled the statues that were seen at the entrance of Mount Aris after all and she was a Hippogriff.
When travelling underwater, they saw more Water Pokemon residing here as this place was way more populated than the city above. Mainly because not many of the Water-Types seem to go out there and prefer to stay here. Tatsugiri and Dondozo were the only ones out there and they were only planning a surprise attack more than anything.
But seeing the Water Pokemon here paled in comparison to what they actually found. Skystar led them to what first appeared to be a cave, letting out a warm pink glow. But once they passed through it, they saw something mesmerising. The city above may be empty, but what was beyond this hole was not.
A castle of some sort stood there, glowing the same beautiful pink light as it was the one emanating it. An entire structure was underwater, near the corals as the very top of it was touching another surface of water. This castle resembled the buildings back at the dead city but with all the pieces of it intact instead of broken and ruined. It seemed that the Sea Temple wasn't the only underwater civilisation.
And outside of this castle, not only were there more Water Pokemon but also more of Skystar's species. The Hippogriffs. They saw Ash and his friends swimming by and naturally, seeing these unfamiliar faces along with Pokemon who didn't look like they were suited for the sea made them rather cautious and nervous. Some could be seen pulling their children towards them for safety. It was clear that they haven't seen others in a long time and whatever happened at that city played a part in their cautious behaviour.
Skystar led them to the castle, showing them the way in. Once inside, they came across the further wonders of this underwater location. It looked truly royal in here as two guards could already be seen holding staffs along with a large throne that was made up of underwater plants. Above it was a lamp that was also made up of things that could be found underwater. It was rather different compared to the Sea Temple. In fact, this place leaned into that Sea aspect even more than the temple.
And sitting on that throne was royalty.
"Mother, look what I found!" Skystar said as this was her mother, making her royalty as well.
"Is it another shell?" She said with a rather bored tone. She looked bored too, lazily resting on her throne as if she had all the time in the world.
"Mm-mm." Skystar shook her head as she had something way more interesting than that.
"Because I am telling you if it is another shell, I am-" Before anything else could be said, Skystar's eyes met with the new faces that were out of the ordinary here. And the reaction she had was a loud and prolonged gasp. "Princess Skystar, whatta you done?! You know surface dwellers are forbidden here! Guards!" Immediately, she ordered them to be apprehended.
The guards reacted, moving towards Ash's group. Spears were pointed right at them to try and threaten them, but that only prompted Pikachu to narrow his eyes. Sceptile and Espeon would obviously do the same as spears weren't exactly something they feared at all.
"No no n-no! M-M-Mom, please! It is so not like that! The Storm King is trying to destroy their home, too!" Skystar would try and reason with her mother, stammering.
"This place is full of Hippogriffs. You've all been down here this entire time?" Twilight asked.
"And you should've stayed up there the entire time instead of coming down here." The Queen kept her consistent tone, not wanting them all down here.
"It's a long story about how we got down here! And it's a good one too!" Skystar replied.
"It's really not good at all." She shook her head, disapproving Skystar's words. "And Don't you dare tell them!"
"Once upon a time, like, a while ago, the Hippogriffs did live on Mount Aris." SKystar went for it either way, telling the story after all.
"Did I not say don't tell them? But hey, I'm just the queen. Don't mind me." She sighed, resting on her throne once more.
"Fine!" The Princess groaned. "I can't tell you! But if I could tell you, I'd say that that horned beast did show up to steal their magic!" She went up to the windows and by going near it, it would suddenly light up, showing a visage of the Storm King.
The Queen put on an unimpressed face as her status was being completely ignored. Then again, children of royalty do tend to do that a lot of times but for the sake of enjoyment and there was no stopping them at all as Skystar continued the story, moving to another window that showed a light visage of the Queen herself.
"But, to keep it out of his clutches, their brave and majestic leader, Queen Novo, hid them deep underwater where he could never go! We are... Well, we were the Hippogriffs! Ta-da! But I totally did not tell you that!" In the end, she spilt it all either way.
"Well, I guess the pearl is out of the oyster now." She sarcastically said before introducing herself. I am Queen Novo."
"Is that why that city above is like that?" said Goh.
"We didn't flee! We swam! Y'know, in order to flee." Skystar tried wording it differently but in reality, they did flee.
"Princess Celestia said you used the pearl...The same thing the Storm King was after." Twilight recalled what Celestia shared with her, remembering the Pearl.
"You already know about the Pearl? How is that possible?" Skystar narrowed her eyes, leaning forward.
"Princess Celestia told us." Twilight quickly explained. "She's the one who sent us to find you while she goes after the Storm King. He's already taken some major power for himself and if he continues, he could finish where he left off by coming back for your pearl."
"Impossible. He won't find us here. Unless someone doesn't draw attention to herself..." Novo then looked at SKystar, referring to her.
"Well, technically, it was these two that did it." Skystar would then shift it to Tatsugiri and Dondozo.
"He could." Ash swam forward. "He has some of Zygarde's power which lets him change the land and even the Sea. And if he gets more, he could change the world in ay way he wants. It wouldn't matter if you're underwater."
"The Power to Change the Land?!" That got Novo's attention. "What kind of magic is up there?"
"A lot has happened while you were down here." Twilight swam next to Ash. "If we don't act fast, everything we've built up these past years could go to waste in an instant. Even here."
"What you say is alarming, sure. But even though I hate to admit it, we weren't enough for the Storm King when he showed up, which is why we went down here. I doubt that he'll have the same luck with all the vast nations out there. He'll have to get past the terrifying Magehold as well."
"Oooh..." Rainbow Dash and a few others grimaced, knowing how that turned out. The Storm King wouldn't have to worry about Magehold anymore. At least, not when it comes to the Dread League considering Ash and his friends put a pin that not too long ago.
"I still have knowledge about the outside world after all. And I even hear there is a King of the Sea now. That level of status surpasses most others that I know of. While we may have entered the sea, I'm just the Queen of this part of the ocean. The King of the Sea has power over practically the entire world. That much should be obvious. If you want help, go and ask him. The lands won't change if he is in control over most of it."
"About that...he's already here." Pinkie Pie snickered, knowing who the King of the Sea was. Goh, Rarity and Fluttershy would hold in their laughter too due to what Queen Nova had said.
"He is?! Where?!" Novo sat up, moving her head from side to side.
"Right here."Twilight moved aside, showing only Ash who stood in front of all of his friends. He was the King of the Sea that Queen Novo heard about.
"..." Nova paused for a moment, looking directly at Ash. There was a moment of silence with only the sounds of bubbles flowing. When looking at Ash, she noticed his distinct appearance. That hat. That signature blue jacket. The V on his Shirt. The Thunderbolt Birth Marks and more importantly, the Pikachu that was right next to him. It took a while for her to process this but once her mind gathered everything, she quickly changed her tone and attitude as she was near that very same figure she spoke about.
"It is the King of the Sea!" Novo bellowed, flabbergasted that he was actually here. Now that she knew, she would quickly fly to his side, making sure that she didn't stand above him thanks to the throne. At that moment, she bowed her head. "F-Forgive me, your majesty! I didn't know! I should've known the second I saw you! I didn't mean to stay on that throne for so long to look down on you!"
"Uh, it's okay." Ash wasn't too fixated on his King Status, even if it wasn't one of royalty. He didn't fault Nova at all. Novo even changed up the way she spoke, no longer speaking in her lax tone but in a formal one.
"I've been far too rude to you already! If you wish to punish me then I will gladly take it!" Novo was taking it far without a doubt, truly holding Ash's title as King of the Sea with high praise. She then looked at her guards who were still holding their spears, shouting at them. "Drop those weapons already!"
"!" The guards gulped before dropping the spears.
"So much for majestic..." said Spike as Novo wasn't exactly making herself seem majestic, grovelling at Ash's feet.
"Geez...I don't even hang around the temple that much." Ash scratched his hair. "Hey, no need to worry. I may be king but I'm the one who showed up to your place. It's still your home and I don't own it."
"Y-You mean it?" Novo looked up.
"Yeah. We just want your help, that's all. Celestia said we could find it from you all." Ash requested. "One of my friends has already lost some power to the Storm King. Zygarde's gonna do its best to make sure that not all of it is gone and we're gonna help stop the Storm King as soon as possible. I'd love to get up there and throw down with him but apparently, there's a pearl that can deal with his staff?"
"Y-Yes!" Novo pulled back. "There is. The same pearl we used to escape from the Storm King. Skystar?"
"On it!" Together, the Mother and Daughter would ascend, approaching the lamp that was above the throne room. Everyone looked up as the duo would start swimming in a spiral formation. Turns out, that lamp wasn't just an ordinary lamp. The light source it had would start dropping, revealing something else.
This whole time, the pearl was in the lamp as it would gently float down, entering the hooves of Queen Novo. There it was. Brighter than any pearl they've seen before. The way it shined on the inside and outside. They could just feel the amazing magic coming from it and seeing it told them just how wonderful it was.
"Here, your majesty. And your friends. Witness." Novo would already give a demonstration to what the pearl could do and how it worked. They all figured out how it worked since Celestia told them but they would experience it for themselves as these light pink wisps flew out of the orb, approaching Ash and his friends.
The wisps would then unleash a transformation on them all, just as predicted. As for the transformation they took on, the wings of Twilight Sparkle suddenly grew, even changing a bit to match the wings of the Hippogriffs. So did Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy and even more so than that, those who didn't have wings.
Applejack and the others would find themselves having wings on their backs, which they never had before until now. But not only that, their back hooves were changing too, replaced by another part that the Hippogriffs possessed. Fins. Their bodies were starting to match that of the Hippogriffs.
In fact, they were now Hippogriffs.
A perfect transformation as they now resembled this species that lies beyond Equestria. Much like, Mew, the Zoroark Species or Ditto, that pearl could indeed transform them. But according to Celestia and Luna, it was the best of all three. It didn't just make them into Hippogriffs. It completely changed their biology, making them entirely new beings that could do everything a Hippogriff could with no limit.
Even Pikachu and his Pokemon friends were now completely new species of Pokemon. Pikachu now had wings that he could use, moving around with them. Audino had wings she looked proud of as well as they matched her colour scheme perfectly.
However, for Ash, there was a different result. In fact, there wasn't actually a result with him. Ash simply looked the same with no significant changes.
"Huh. I look the same, don't I? What about you, Goh?" Ash looked at himself, thinking that Goh wasn't any different.
"I don't! Check it out!" Lo and behold, Goh had received what looked to be a scaly version of what Twilight and the others received. "I look like one of these Merman in those story books! Am I a Merman now?!"
"I wouldn't want to disrespect you, your majesty." Novo purposefully kept Ash away from the pearl so that she wouldn't insult the King of the Sea. Ash laughed and sighed afterwards as Novo was still taking him very seriously.
"Ooh, we can have fun with this!" Pinkie Pie giggled as Skystar flew over to her.
"This is amazing! With this, we could transform everypony into something powerful enough to face the Storm King's army!" Twilight said with wonder.
"Or it could end up in his greedy claws!" Novo added. "That is a risk I don't think I'm willing to take after the last encounter. Unless...his majesty has something else in mind?"
"I get why you're worried, Novo. Just leave it to us." Ash gave a thumbs-up. "Now...The Storm King's all the way in the sky. Celaeno's crew is up there doing their best and so are some of the Canterlot Guards. We'd better hurry before more of Zygarde's power is taken away."
"I understand. Ooh, but right now, it's time for my seaweed wrap. Mama needs her deep tissue." Novo changed her tone once more when it came to something she enjoyed.
"Oh, that means we could go out there soon, right?! Back to the surface at last! There are so many things we can see! But also we can have just as much fun down here!" Skystar started rambling on. "We can make friendship bracelets out of shells and... picture frames outta shells and... decorative wastebaskets out of shells... Oh, I have so many projects that involve shells, haha! Now I have someone new to share them with! I mean, aside from my friends, Shelly and Sheldon."
"Heh! I get it." Pinkie Pie giggled at that joke.
"That sounds lovely, darling, but you must realize, we can't stay." Rarity said.
"We've gotta get back to our families," Applejack added.
"I know we have to go but it'd be so great if you could come along with us anyway." Pinkie Pie approached Skystar. "I really wanna stay a bit longer but something crazy's happening up there right now."
"You fool...Use your status as King and order them to come with us." Suddenly, Sombra spoke to Ash, encouraging him to involve the Hippogriffs. Sombra didn't exactly make himself silent. He made sure everyone heard him.
"Are you sure? They don't wanna get involved though." Ash thought otherwise.
"If that is what you wish, your majesty, we shall help you. And we can start by giving you the pearl, just so you can stop the staff." Novo said.
"You'll really give us the pearl?!" The eyes of the Princess of Friendship widened with glee. "Yes! We'll make sure it comes back right after we stop the Storm King!"
"Come with us, Skystar! You're eager to see what else is there, right?" Pinkie Pie would share her own encouragement towards Skystar, knowing that she wished to see the rest of the world.
"Mhm! More than ever. I mean, the sea's nice and all but everything else? I'm missing out. And when it comes to Pokemon, I'm really missing out!" Skystar was more than eager to see it all.
"Alo! Alomomola!" Suddenly, bursting into the throne room with a rather worried tone was an Alomomola. For a Pokemon as gentle and caring as Alomomola to be in such a rush, it had to be rather important.
"What?!" Much like how ponies can understand Equine Pokemon, Cat Creatures can understand Cat Pokemon, and Hippogriffs, who were now Seaponies, could understand Water-Type Pokemon. "There's an attack approaching here?!"
Not the words the Hippogriffs wished to hear. But now that it has reached them based on what Alomomola has shared, Ash and his friends could only reach one conclusion since they only came here for help.
The Storm King's forces were near.
Or in this case, Tempest Shadow was near. Although this place may be secretive, the newly obtained power from the Storm King's side could change that. With just a bit of Zygarde's power, the land was free to be controlled in the worst ways possible. Coming to ask for help from the Hippogriffs was soon leading up to yet another attack from the Storm King's forces. But this time, Ash and the others were planning to let this be the end of it. And with the pearl, they seemingly had the best way to obtain victory.
Tempest Shadow had arrived. It didn't take long for her to eventually find Mount Aris when tracking down Ash's group. She had arrived with some Storm Creatures, continuing the pursuit of Princess Twilight Sparkle.
And already, when showing up, she attacked the pool that harboured some life. A majority of this city was dead so there was no point exploring it. Tempest still knew that there was life here and the pool was proof of it. Water Pokemon were currently being attacked by Tempest and the Storm Creatures with Sneasler leading the charge.
But Tempest didn't just come with a large group of Storm Creatures. She had something else. Striking the water was a familiar green energy that was being shot out of what appeared to be a cube. That energy would interact with the water, immediately leaving holes in it.
This disrupted most of the Water Pokemon as they would fall through the holes that had been left behind. But there was no other body of water below for them to fall into. This power had thrown the natural flow of the sea off balance. This was, of course, Zygarde's power.
From the cube, it was even messing with the already ruined land. This old city that the Hippogriffs once populated had its land altered and disrupted thanks to the Zygarde's power as it was used to intimidate and threaten those that could be found here. The Storm Creatures would even gain some protection around their bodies thanks to the cube, which was serving some well-needed benefits. It allowed them to breathe underwater for a start.
"With some of the power the Storm King lent us, we can now change the shape of the land." Tempest Shadow said as the Storm King ended up sharing this power with his forces. She recalled how it went down and how she obtained this cube in the first place.
It was after the Storm King unleashed the power of Zygarde and the Sea Temple Crystals on Celaeno's Ship. With just that one blast, he was the victor, forcing Celaeno and everyone on board to surrender. However, Tempest recalled how even after their loss, thanks to their new resolve, the crew would not go back to working for the Storm King ever again.
The Storm King would deal with them later but he had to keep moving since Zygarde was currently after him. Celaeno's crew wouldn't be forgotten about when this is over. And the same went for Capper, who unfortunately got himself involved in this mess. As for the power of Zygarde and the Crystals, the Storm King had transferred some of its power into a cube, allowing that cube to be used.
That led to now as Tempest Shadow was taking full advantage of this power that the Storm King granted her. And with this power, all of this disturbance to the land would reach the hidden area that the Hippogriffs have made. The water was targeted more than anything else, losing its usual composition as the ecosystem that had been built up here for a few years was being demolished.
It elevated to a point where the hole that Tempest Shadow made was deepened. And this deepened hole was going straight for the hidden waters where the Hippogriffs were residing.
"We're being attacked?!" Queen Novo gasped after hearing about the news from Alomomola. "The Storm King's here?!"
And right as she said, the hole that Tempest Shadow formed had reached the Hippogriffs. By making a hole, it created a current of air in the middle of the water which resulted in a powerful vacuum that was pulling up the rest of the water. Naturally, this created some massive problems for the Hippogriffs. The Hippogriffs screamed as they were being pulled by this current of air.
"W-What's happening?!" Pinkie Pie's jaw dropped at this earth-changing event that not many have witnessed. No one has really witnessed this at all.
"The Water's being pulled up! How's that possible?!" Twilight blurted, bewildered by the sight she was witnessing. But she had no time to be taken aback by it as this hole was meant for her. The pull of the air was already pulling up many Hippogriffs and Water Pokemon as this was Tempest Shadow's way of trying to force Twilight out.
"Can we close that thing?!" Rainbow Dash was opting to close it. But how on earth would they close this open tunnel that had separated the water? They had to think fast as some of them were already starting to be pulled in.
"E-Esp!" Espeon cried out as she could feel her body being pulled back, only for Twilight to grab onto her. The tunnel that was made by Tempest Shadow's actions would also grow some more, digging deeper just to bring in more of the power air currents.
With many Water Pokemon and Hippogriffs swimming for their lives, the pull was getting stronger, gradually removing all water from the area. However, while they were trying to flee from the hole, the Storm Creatures had passed through it. Or rather, they showed up by entering the water, breathing underwater without issue. And with no fear of the air currents.
Now that the Storm Creatures were here, things were spiralling out of control swiftly. The fact that they could ignore the powerful air that was pulling up the water brought plenty of concern. In unison, the Storm Creatures eyed down Twilight Sparkle, who was their main target at the moment. Seeing her, they would swim towards the Princess of Friendship, holding out their arms while the air currents were still trying to pull everyone in.
"Uh...They're coming this way!" Skystar screeched, harming her mother's ears for a moment. "It wasn't my fault this time!"
"Forget about that! They're after the pearl!" Novo said, holding the pearl close to her, thinking that the Storm King was here to finish off what he failed to do years ago.
"No...They're after me!" Twilight swam back as she was seen as more important than the pearl which the Storm King once tried to obtain. "B-But protecting the pearl's a good idea still."
"They won't get you! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...Chuuu!" Taking action was Pikachu as he unleashed a blast of 100,000 volts from his body. And since he was underwater, Thunderbolt would gain an increase in power as its volts would go haywire around so much water. As to be expected, the power behind them absolutely staggered the Storm Creatures.
Their bodies were paralyzed instantly as some of them had already fainted in just one shot. Pikachu's Thunderbolt would spread out thanks to the heightened power, latching onto the Storm Creatures one by one. However, more were showing up, showing up from different directions, passing through the water and getting in the way of the Hippogriffs who tried fleeing.
"You'll do better down here! Milotic!" Rarity would throw out her Poke Ball, summoning Milotic into the scene and her natural habitat.
"Milotic!" She was already at a great advantage being underwater. But even in her natural habitat, the vacuum pull was still powerful enough to pull her back as well. Speaking of which, Ash and the others were now starting to move as the pull had reached a critical level.
Twilight tried holding everyone in place with her magic but even with her magic, the pull was just strikingly strong. Tempest Shadow made sure it would be strong enough to handle an alicorn's magic and it showed. Queen Novo could feel the pearl slowly slipping away from her hooves as it was being pulled in as well. Her guards tried keeping her back but they were being sucked in, unable to overpower this.
Screams filled the area as the Storm Creatures swam over to Twilight Sparkle who was rather vulnerable at the moment. All the while, Tempest Shadow was above them all, waiting for Twilight Sparkle to show up. She heard all the screaming down there, already expecting her plan to be a smash hit. And she wasn't the only one who had this kind of plan in mind.
Elsewhere, the Storm King was essentially doing the same thing. He had the same idea as Tempest Shadow but for the Badlands, which was mainly dry, there was no hole in the sea to make. So it was just the ground. But the damage he did to it far surpassed what Tempest Shadow was doing. Once more, he used Zygarde's power, shooting at the land below him and changing the terrain to however he wanted. And in his eyes, he envisioned something that would fit in perfectly with the Badlands.
And that would start with a powerful wave of destruction that was flying out of the ground. Green cracks could be seen ripping through the earth as the Storm King moved his staff, controlling that green energy and shattering the ground along the way. He would eventually pull his storm back, letting the energy do everything else.
Though the Badlands may be dry and rough but it still had its own ecosystem. And now, that ecosystem was perishing. Some of the Pokemon who managed to make this place their home would run for the hills but the hills won't exist for much longer. The gullies and ravines were being shifted and transformed as the dense system that the badlands possessed were being thrown out of balance, reshaping various caprocks, hoodoos and other areas of the Badlands.
Naturally, something like this would also reach Klugetown which received the energy cracks already. The energy started tearing apart Klugetown below, giving the residents a taste of this strange power. The power to reshape the earth.
Rushing as fast as it could was Zygarde. It was still pursuing the Storm King, following his trail of destruction as the green energy that was flying out of the ground would also lead straight to him. Zygarde slithered with its Z-Shaped body, excellently evading these outbursts of energy that would damage the land. In the distance, it could see the Storm King's ship, rushing as fast as it could in its 50% Forme.
Zygarde had to fix the world but before it could do that, it had to defeat the one damaging it. But while Zygarde was focused on the Storm King, Princess Celestia and her group had something else in mind. And that involved protecting the land, which Zygarde was trying to do at the moment.
Celestia looked over at what destruction the Storm King had left behind as his ship was not far away at all. Seeing the energy flying out of the earth, Celestia and Luna would immediately tend to this as the nearby Pokemon were being threatened by such a power. With the help of Reshiram and Zekrom, they would fight this powerful energy outburst.
Reshiram and Zekrom grabbed as many Pokemon as they could, taking them off the ground and allowing Celestia and Luna to work their magic. Together, the two of them unleashed magic onto the green energy, attempting to reverse what has been done. Or at least try and subdue it.
"If we can at least stop the destruction and subdue it, we'll keep the ecosystem from suffering any longer," said Celestia, pouring plenty of magic into this. The golden light from her magic was overlaying some of the green parts, showing it was working to some extent.
They were not alone in this. Hovering over the dry and waterless lands of the Badlands was other than the Sea Temple. The way it got here was by having the Sea Temple hover, utilizing the crystals to do so. And the crystals would also be used to assist the princesses, targeting the energy.
The crystals focused on Zygarde's power which was seeping out, attempting to reverse the damage via Alo's order. Right now, they stopped their pursuit of the Storm King just to heal this part of the ecosystem before it goes out of control. However, the Storm King had switched positions. He was still near but not quite ahead of them.
instead, he was right behind them all. The Storm giggled, eyeing down Princess Celestia and Luna now that they were out in the open for him to see. And with this opportunity, he wouldn't waste it. "I've been seeing your ship chasing me down the whole time. Not for long..."
With one aim, he eyed down Celestia and Luna, wondering which princess he should start with first. Even though Reshiram and Zekrom were here, the Storm King still felt the urge to spring into action. With his mind made up, he unleashed the beam at the two sisters.
However, Reshiram and Zekrom would swoop in to save the day, using their bodies to protect the two Sisters. However, the Storm King grimaced as this was something he was also looking forward to. The power from the staff was beginning to draw energy from the Twin Dragons. The Dragon Duo growled, feeling some of their power leaving their bodies. The two of them would exert energy from their bodies, pushing back the light that came from the staff.
"Storm King!" Celestia yelled, using her Royal Celestia Voice to reach him.
"The Princesses of Equestria! Great!" The Storm King laughed. "I've been waiting for this. Your place has been quite the little adventure, hasn't it? Now, it'll come to an end once I take it from you."
"That won't happen!" Luna shouted. Just then, the work they were doing to the land had been ignored simply because of the Storm King's arrival. "You've seen us at last and now you know what we hold to deal with threats such as yourself."
"Hah! Don't wanna know but I'm guessing those two gave a clue too. Anyway! Hand it over, or end up like those two!"
"We might have to confront him here, Luna. Until Twilight and the others can reunite with us. The Sea Temple will see to that. With multiple of those crystals on our side, we have a chance. Remember to keep the People of the Water safe, alright? And watch out for Zygarde?"
"Here goes! This is where your magic is fully mine!" A beam was fired, targeting the two princesses by splitting into two parts.
"Dragon Pulse!" A dual Dragon Pulse flew out from both Reshiram and Zekrom, intercepting the beam that the Storm King unleashed, entering an immediate clash. Sparks flew as the battle between these two sides had finally begun. And at such a close angle as well.
As for the Sea Temple, they were still doing what they could to help the Princesses while also making sure to keep their crystals safe. Because right now, at this moment, more Storm Creatures were dropping down, ready to attack the Sea Temple castle once more. The clash of Dragon Pulse came to an end, turning out to be a tie which would blow up in the air. However, the Storm King now had some of Reshiram and Zekrom's power and the moment the smoke cleared, he would use that power for himself in a heartbeat.
Through the smoke, a blast of grand fire and lightning came crashing out, striking the Twin Dragons. Reshiram took the Lightning while Zekrom received the Fire. The two of them were pushed back by the Storm King's counterattack which had been influenced by the Sea Temple Crystals.
Reshiram and Zekrom growled after taking an altered version of their respective elements. Some of Zygarde's power was also added into it which elevated the damage. Before the Storm King could use that power again, Celestia and Luna would take action, unleashing beams of magic that went upwards, passing by the Dragons of Truths and Ideals.
Right as the Storm King was ready to shoot at them again, the magic of Celestia and Luna came flying in. The Storm King grimaced before receiving a dual blow from the Royal Sisters. And it was right in the face too just for extra damage. The Storm King stumbled for a moment before regaining his balance.
At the same time, the Golurk from the Canterlot Guards were approaching his airship from above. And thanks to Celestia and Luna's actions, they had enough time to break in. A Golurk had its fist out, punching right into the Storm King's Airship. This prompted all the other Golurk to the same was Automaton Fists came flying in, striking the airships from different sides. But more importantly, the Golurk managed to enter the airship thanks to the holes they made.
Now the Golurk could attack from inside as the Storm King failed to keep them out this time. And with their break-in, they had only one goal and that was to retrieve the two Sea Temple Crystals. At this point, the Storm King has already taken their power and placed them in his staff. Taking the crystals away won't exactly undo that power absorption, but it will certainly prevent him from trying anything else with the crystals.
Of course, the Storm King wasn't about to let this happen. Once he recollected himself and saw that the Golurk have broken in, he would see that he had to amp things up. He raised his staff, channelling the power from within once more. And this time, he would summon something from the clouds themselves. The energy of Zygarde, the crystals and the power of Reshiram and Zekrom were harnessed, crashing down.
Celestia and Luna narrowed their eyes as this mixture of energies was also bright on the eyes. A great flash would envelop parts of the sky before reaching the ground. This consuming flash did not reach the Sea Temple but it was the effects that targeted the Sea Temple. Next to them, lightning and fire would shoot out of the sea, rocking their temple as now it was starting to take damage from the outside.
It may have been built to withstand the sea but when it comes to other elements, that was another story. Alo and everyone in the temple would hear and feel the sound of Fire and Lightning striking Samiya as the power of Zygarde would disrupt the sea. The sea had been altered, losing its natural order. A huge part of it was starting to open up, changing it into a steep waterfall. But it was a waterfall with no other form of water waiting below them.
Anyone unfortunate to fall down there would either drop into what could be an abyss or solid ground. The Sea Temple was already starting to sway in that direction thanks to the Storm King's actions. The citizens held on tightly while the guards used the power of the crystals to make sure the Sea Temple crystal would not fall. Even though they had more crystals than the Storm King, the usage of two crystals made the Storm King rather fierce thanks to what he can do with them.
Back at the area of the Hippogriffs, it was chaos here now that the Storm Creatures have shown up, targeting Princess Twilight. At the moment, Twilight and her friends were trying to prevent themselves from being pulled up thanks to what Tempest has done. More and more Hippogriffs and Water Pokemon would start flying through the large tunnel of air, screaming as they were unable to prevent this.
"Sceptile! Use Frenzy Plant!" Applejack yelled as her hat was starting to come from all of this air. There had to be something to stop this from continuing and she thought of only one way. From his hands, Sceptile would unleash massive roots that were born underwater.
These roots flew out, latching on the sea walls while also being underneath the massive tunnel. Right as another Hippogriff was about to through it, she would bump her head on the massive roots instead which prevented her from leaving. A successful and clever idea from Applejack's part. Thanks to those massive roots, they would block anyone from going through the tunnel, even holding back some of the air currents as it had been weakened.
"Gah! Nice save, Applejack!" Pinkie Pie gasped, breathing in and out.
"Sceptile, I need you to stay there for me, partner!" Applejack pleaded. Sceptile had to keep these roots there otherwise the air current would return. Sceptile understood clearly as he wasn't planning to let go at all. He would keep these roots there even if it was straining him.
"Pikachu! Quick Attack!" This allowed Ash and the others to focus on the Storm Creatures at last. And Pikachu would strike, moving rapidly through the water and becoming a white streak. He would crash right into some of the Storm Creatures, sending them flying into the others.
"Eve, use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Milotic, Dragon Tail!"
"Espeon!" Meanwhile, Espeon and Milotic swung into action as well with Milotic slapping away any incoming Storm Creatures with her tail which was encased in a draconic energy, giving it that extra oomph. Underwater, she had the momentum advantage as she would elegantly evade an incoming tackle from one of the Storm Creatures, moving like a serpent. She would slap that same Storm Creature before evading another one and smacking him as well.
Espeon would bombard these creatures with rainbows, pushing them back and dealing consecutive damage as she refused to let any of them touch Twilight for a moment. Queen Novo swam off, making sure that the pearl would be safe. There was still a very good chance that the Storm King would want it after failing to get it the first time and she couldn't take that risk. Following her was her daughter, Skystar.
"We can't hide the pearl in that room anymore, Skysta. Now that the Storm King's here, it needs to be someplace else where they can't find it."
"But that was the only place we could think to hide it. What else is there?" Skystar asked, worried. Novo didn't even exactly have anywhere else in mind. Anywhere but the throne room would be a better option if that option existed.
"Perhaps the King of the Sea can-"
"Twilight Sparkle!" Suddenly, the voice of Tempest Shadow shot through the water, loud enough for everyone else to hear. At last, Tempest Shadow had arrived, entering the water and granting herself protection from the wind and water. She would land directly on Sceptile's roots, keeping that sharp look on her face.
"Tempest!" Twilight gasped. Her location had been found without a doubt. Just when she had discovered the area that Celestia needed her to be at and the item that was needed to deal with the staff. Alas, Queen Novo had swum off with the pearl, trying to keep it safe. And for good reason.
"Sneasler. Dire Claw."
"Snea!" As for the roots, they were quickly attacked by Tempest's Ace Pokemon Sneasler, who came diving in with poisonous claws. Tempest stood there as Sneasler excellently cut through the roots with just one strike, poisoning them as well. Sceptile gasped as his roots had been destroyed with just one attack which prompted the powerful air currents that Tempest Shadow had made to continue flowing.
And they would continue flowing immediately, bringing the aggression back. Unfortunately, Ash and his friends couldn't focus once more thanks to these currents making a comeback. Tempest Shadow already knew of the right approach to deal with Ash's group now that they were underwater, making sure that they had no advantage at all. Twilight groaned as she was already being pulled off by the air currents now that the roots were gone, unable to keep them at bay.
"Twilight!" Ash would grab onto Twilight's hoof, trying to keep her here. Twilight tried holding onto Ash's hands, struggling to find any clear strength.
"Off her!" Tempest Shadow yelled before using the power inside of the cube once more. By using the power, she elevated the air currents while also creating a large tunnel. And as a bonus, she would sprinkle some of her magic in the mix. A spark of her magic went straight for Ash, hitting him directly in the face. She may have a broken horn but she could still generate magic, although it was rather destructive and erratic. And with just that one boost in power, Twilight had been ripped away from Ash's hands.
Twilight bellowed as she was pulled towards the tunnel, only for Sneasler to catch her. She was now in the grasp of the enemy. Tempest Shadow smirked as Ash went flying back from that hit to the head. The solider of the Storm King would quickly return to the surface, having the air currents send her, Sneasler and Twilight upwards.
"No...Twilight!" Ash yelled as the hit that Tempest Shadow delivered to his head was more serious than what anyone else would think. Since the magic was very destructive, the damage it would leave behind was nothing to scoff at as Ash could feel a part of his head smoking. His eyes narrowed, on the verge of closing as he saw Twilight being taken away. Ash clenched his fist, refusing to let this stop him at all.
He held his smoking face, regaining his balance in the water but the currents were still here and present. Except this time, thanks to Tempest Shadow, the direction of the currents had been reversed. Now, they were moving in the other direction, pushing everyone back instead just to get them away from Twilight at all costs. As for Twilight, she was now with the enemy, and how things would go with her now that she was on her own had yet to be seen.
"Let...go of me!" Twilight was in the clutches of Sneasler at the moment. Due to Tempest Shadow's plan, she managed to grab the Princess of Friendship. Sneasler pulled her back to the surface along with Tempest Shadow where many Water Pokemon and Hippogriffs had been brought along. The grip of Sneasler was stronger than what she expected, forcing Twilight to really struggle. Once on the surface, Tempest Shadow had already prepared an Obsidian Orb for Twilight Sparkle just to freeze her.
Refusing to let that happen, Twilight would go all in just to free herself. Her eyes were flashing purple as even though she was previously a Seapony thanks to the pearl, her original form soon returned, showing her back hooves. With her magic pulsating, Twilight created a magic pulse, pushing Sneasler away. Sneasler and Tempest were both pushed back by the pulse which blew away some moss and rubble here at Mount Aris. Twilight slid on the ground, nearly bumping into one of the statues.
Some Storm Creatures coulda already be seen out here as well as the Hippogriffs and Pokemon that were forced out of the sea because of Tempest Shadow's action. Twilight looked around to see these sea-dwelling individuals lying around, still feeling the pressure of the air current that pulled them up here. They weren't the targets here but eventually, they could be now that their hidden location has been found. The Storm King will definitely try and attack them once more.
"It's just you now, Princess of Friendship. These ones are too winded to be of any help," said Tempest, staring down Twilight. "And your friends down there will still have the tunnel I made to deal with."
"I'm not alone! I always have my friends with me!" Twilight was right about that. Thanks to the Pokemon, her friends will be by her side at all times as seen by the two Poke Balls that were thrown into the air. Out of them came Ninetales and Cinccino.
"Ninetales!"
"Cinccino!"
Tempest narrowed her eyes while Sneasler sharpened her claws, already expecting a Pokemon Battle. And right above Tempest Shadow was her other Pokemon. Noivern. Twilight had those two Pokemon to deal with plus the Storm Creatures as well. On top of that, her friends were back at the castle, dealing with the air current. The Princess of Friendship gulped in the face of the Storm King's forces but she made sure it wouldn't intimidate her too much. Not when she had powerful friends to assist her.
"Alright then. Sneasler, Dire Claw. Noivern, Draco Meteor."
"Ninetales, use Hidden Power! Minccy, use Thunder!"
"Nine...!" Together, Ninetales and Cinccino would attack the second their opponents made a move. Noivern was already planning to bombard them, shooting a purple sphere into the air. That sphere would soon divide into multiple larger spheres, raining down meteors with draconic energy at them. But that was where Ninetales came in. From the ground, he summoned a white aura that was also filled with draconic energy. The aura would then turn into orbs which flew into the air, targeting the meteors.
"Sneasler!" Moving in was Sneasler who was certainly faster than everyone here in terms of running speed. However, that didn't stop Cinccino from leaping to the side, evading Sneasler's Dire Claw. By jumping to the side, Cinccino would prepare a blast of thunder from her body, shooting it out while in the air. However, Sneasler was quick to slash at it, knocking the Thunder aside with the energy of Dire Claw.
Above, Hidden Power and Draco Meteor clashed, causing a cascade of explosions to go off in the air. Twilight closed her eyes from the furious explosions above which left behind bright flashes. Cinccino and Ninetales had to do the same but Sneasler looked completely fine, continuing her assault.
"Cincco?!" Cinccino gasped as she would jump over an incoming Dire Claw. Sneasler didn't waste time launching another attack but Cinccino and her little body were active enough to react in time.
"Aqua Tail!"
"Cincinno!" The Scarf Pokemon would quickly block the incoming Dire Claw by covering her tail in a veil of water. She barely managed to stop the attack before going back and forth with the Free Climb Pokemon. At the same time, Sneasler was moving forward with each slash, trying to reach Twilight. Speaking of reaching Twilight, Storm Creatures were coming her way, making it so that Twilight couldn't focus on her battle at all.
Quickly, Twilight formed a shield around her right as one of the Storm Creatures lunged at her. The barrier caught the Storm Creature before pushing him off once it expanded. The other Storm Creatures would be pushed back by the expanding shield too, rolling and tumbling on the ground and crashing into the ruins of this city. Cinccino was hit, unable to beat out Sneasler in a close-quarters exchange. Quickly, Ninetales used his tails to catch Ninetales before she could suffer any major damage.
"Boomburst!"
"Noi...Vern!" Just then, Noivern unleashed a powerful soundwave that overpowered every other sound here. The ruins of the city were blown away by Noivern's Boomburst, harming the ears of the Hippogriffs and the Water Pokemon. Twilight would quickly make a run for it, as well as her Pokemon who followed her. They attempted running from the soundwave, hoping to outspeed it as it tore through the rubble and broken buildings that stood in its way.
Unable to outrun it, Twilight and her Pokemon would simply lunge to the side, evading it as it could only go forward even though it had such a wide radius. After avoiding it, jumping out of the fog was Sneasler with Dire Claw, eyeing down Twilight Sparkle.
"Cinccino!" Coming to her save was Cinccino with Aqua Tail, this time, hoping to win the up-close exchange. Right as Dire Claw was near Twilight's face, the Fighting-Poison-Type was met with a wet slap to the face from Cinccino's Aqua Tail, finally landing a hit on her even if it was a surprise attack.
"Snea!" Sneasler slid on the ground, holding her face as that Aqua Tail packed quite a punch.
"Close Combat!"
"Sneasler!" Sneasler moved back in, this time, switching up what attack she would use. She would still get up close and personal as that was her personal, but now it was Close Combat that Twilight's Pokemon had to deal with. And for someone like Cinccino, that was a problem.
"Use your scarf to deflect the blows!"
"Cinno!" However, one advantage that Cinccino had over most Normal-Types was the fact that she had a method for physical attacks such as this. The special oil that always seeps within her fur would kick in as she raised it, using it as a shield.
Just as the Pokedex aside, the scarf helped deflect the incoming strikes. Sneasler found that her claws were pushed back when coming into contact with the scarf. Sneasler would throw multiple strikes at high speeds, only for Cinccino to deflect each of them with her scarf. The claws were slipping, failing to land any heavy blows.
"Extrasensory!"
"Ninetales!" Assisting Cinccino was Ninetales with Extrasensory. Both his eyes flashed blue as he send a highly super-effective move towards the Free Climb Pokemon right as she went for her next attack. Sneasler was sent flying by the heaviest attack she's taken so far. As a Fighting-Poison-Type, something like Extrasensory was volatile to her. The counterpart to Weavile hurled through the air from that powerful Extrasensory, really feeling bewildered by it.
"Vern!" Only for Noivern to catch her with his claws, preventing her from going any further.
"Tri Attack! Hidden Power!"
"Cinccino!" The duo would then attack their opponents in the air with Cinccino summoning three orbs. Two on her paws and one on her head. Each having the power to leave behind three status effects. Ninetales would suddenly use his tails, grabbing ahold of the Scarf Pokemon as they were going for a team attack instead of attacking individually.
"Tales!" With all of his might, he launched Cinccino into the air while she was still carrying Tri Attack. At the same time, Ninetales had sent the orbs of Hidden Power upwards, letting them fly alongside Cinccino.
Noivern would then throw Sneasler, allowing her to use Close Combat while in the air. The two sides approached each other as Cinccino and Sneasler were about to get into an up-close exchange once more. However, this time, Cinccino had some ranged attacks to add to the mix. While approaching Sneasler, she threw two of the spheres right at her. The Fire and Lightning Spheres were the ones thrown at Sneasler, only for her to slash them apart. With her claws, the two spheres were easily cleaved through as that only left the ice sphere.
But that final sphere would be unleashed right as Cinccino was close to Sneasler. The second Sneasler's claws came in, the ice sphere was thrust forward by Cinccino, creating a bright blue and chilling explosion in the air. Out of it, Cinccino could be seen falling down.
"C-Cinno!"
At the same time, Twilight was currently avoiding the Storm Creatures who tried grabbing her. She would jump from building to building, avoiding the Storm Creatures the best way she could. But they were rather relentless when pursuing her, even bashing their bodies through the walls of the buildings just to chase Twilight down. The Princess of Friendship looked over at her Pokemon, seeing how Cinccio took a fairly heavy blow from that explosion in the air. But there wasn't any time to return her into her Poke Ball. Not when some of the Storm Creatures were starting to intercept Twilight.
"Flare Blitz, Ninetales! Quick!" Twilight yelled before blasting one of the Storm Creatures out of the way. That Storm Creature would fall, landing on his comrades. Twilight would then jump on the head of another, using him as a launchpad. However, when lunging into the air and spreading her wings out, catching her by surprise was Tempest Shadow. Twilight gasped as she also managed to enter the air, using her own jumping skills.
Getting in front of her, Tempest would use the Obsidian Orb at last, thrusting it at her. However, it was a failure. Twilight quickly lowered her head, barely managing to avoid the orb as it was thrown elsewhere. Twilight lost her balance after being caught by surprise like that, crashing into the ground.
Tempest kissed her teeth as that was the last orb that she had on her. The unicorn with a broken horn landed on the roof of a building while Twilight receive a hard landing back to the ground. The Princess of Friendship rolled across the ground, going down a hill as her body would bump into some of the ruins before she finally came to a stop.
But even when stopping, there were Storm Creatures already chasing her down. The young alicorn couldn't afford to slow down at all as the Storm Creatures came charging in while she was on the ground. Unable to get up in time, Twilight used her magic to propel herself backwards, unleashing a beam to do so. That beam would be powerful enough to make her travel while also hitting some of the Storm Creatures.
She went further down the hill, trying to find the right time to recover as the speed she went at made that rather difficult. The one to bring Twilight to a true halt was none other than Tempest Shadow. By using the cube, she utilized Zygarde's power once more, targeting the land itself.
The land underneath Twilight had been altered, creating a large mound of rocks that she would crash into. Finally, Twilight's movements were stopped, even though Tempest was the one to do it.
"Enough of your running." Tempest Shadow said to Twilight, looking down at her. "I guess I'll just have to take you in without your body being obsidian."
"T-That won't happen..." Twilight got back, groaning as her back was in a bit of pain thanks to the crash.
"Really now? Well, you should know that those rocks I made left something for you."
"What?" Twilight looked at her back as those rocks weren't just ordinary rocks. When making them, Tempest Shadow left something behind to her advantage. And that was some of the magic from the Sea Temple Crystals. A small bit of it but it was enough to get something done. "Ngh!" Twilight suddenly groaned as her body was paralyzed. Tempest Shadow used the crystals to form a paralysis effect.
But it was more than just a paralysis effect. It had a strong electrical shock to it as well, making Twilight scream. Her scream was then heard by Cinccino and Ninetales, who were still dealing with Noivern and Sneasler. And the second Twilight's screams came out, they gasped, knowing that their trainer was in great trouble. But that gave TEmpest's Pokemon the opportunity to strike as Sneasler's Dire Claw had landed, striking Cinccino at last. Poor Ninetales was sent flying by Noivern's Boomburst as it was difficult to reach their trainer at the moment.
"Easy enough." Tempest Shadow leapt off the roof at a great distance, landing in front of Twilight Sparkle. This wasn't how she envisioned capturing her but it would have to do. Twilight looked up at Tempest Shadow with one eye closed, trying her best to resist. "You're coming back with me. The Storm King's final array of power is long due."
Back underwater, the Hippogriffs were dealing with a new problem. An air current that was pushing them forward. Many of them had been sent hurling through the sea. Some of them had been pushed up against the walls of the sea, stuck there as the wind would mercilessly beat down on them. Pinkie Pie and Skystar both had their faces planted into the walls, seeing nothing but rock.
"There has to be a way to stop this! Because it feels like my bones are about to break off! Somepony do something already!" Rarity screamed, wanting this to be over at once.
"Sceptile!" Sceptile held his hand out, trying to use his roots to block off the hole once more. But this hole was much bigger than before thanks to what Tempest Shadow had done. Not even Frenzy Plant could block it off. Frenzy Plant couldn't save them now, unable to made the radius of this hole.
"Mmmm! Mmm-mm!" Pinkie Pie said something but since her face was planted in the wall, it was hard for anyone to understand her. But she clearly had something in mind that might work if given the chance.
"I've got something...Mew! I need your help with this!" Ash said to Mew.
"M-Mew!?"
"Wailord will be enough to block off that hole but the air current's too strong for Wailord to get close. Mew'll just be pushed back. We need you to go into that tunnel and turned into Wailord. That'll definitely shut it down."
"How are ya gonna do that if it's this strong?" Applejack asked, holding onto her hat.
"Novo! Pass me the pearl!" Ash would look over at Queen Novo, requesting usage of the pearl.
"Y-Yes, your majesty!" She replied to the King of the Sea, doing her best to reach him. She would try and pass the pearl over as throwing it would be a bad call thanks to this power air current. But with some help from Sceptile's vines, she was pulled over, reaching Ash. Once near, she passed the pearl to Ash, letting him utilize it at last. He hadn't been transformed into anything at all compared to his friends due to Queen Novo refusing to disrespect him.
But this time, that would be different. With the pearl in his hands, he had the means to turn into anything he wanted. Anyone he wanted. All he needed was someone who could power through the air current and get Mew to the tunnel just so he could transform. Ash's eyes would flash as the pearl would react to him. The wisps from before would encircle Ash's body, transforming him.
His friends and the Hippogriffs watched as he underwent a transformation the likes of which they haven't seen before. A bright flash enveloped the King of the Sea as he emerged with a rather celestial appearance.
He emerged as the Rift.
"No way!" Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped in utter disbelief. Ash's body shape was still there but now he had a celestial hair. It matched his black hair, making it seem like an entire space was within it. His clothes even gained a cosmic appearance, possessing an ethereal blue appearance. His jacket was a bit longer too thanks to the cosmic additions as his eyes were now sparkling, resembling white stars.
"Pika-Pi?"
"It worked!" Ash said as his voice was now echoed out. He took inspiration from the Rift. Or rather, the parents of the Rift. The same entity who was trying to save the Rift since it used to be two individuals. The True Lucien and Sienna. Ash had taken inspiration from the parents based on how many times he has seen them.
And with this body, Ash had no weight whatsoever. His weight was completely gone. Even the air had some weight to it thanks to the pressures its capable of. But not Ash. Not anymore. He was a completely new being as the Air Currents did not affect at all. He was completely immune to it.
"Is it because he's seen the Rift before?" Fluttershy gasped, wondering if the constant viewings of the Rift were why Ash was able to pull it off.
"I think it's because of the times he's been hit with Rift Magic in some way." Rarity thought deeper than that, recalling the times' Ash had been struck with Rift Magic. Rift Energy has entered Ash's body in these past 4 years but it has mostly been dormant, overtaken by the Aura. Now, there was a good enough time to use its power as Ash made the right call to transform into the Parents of the Rift.
He would grab Mew, flying straight for the massive tunnel in the sea. And thanks to his new Cosmic Biology, he could move freely, ignoring the powerful air pressures. His friends watched as it felt like an otherworldly being was swinging into action. Once close to the tunnel, Ash would raise Mew right above it.
"Now, Mew! Transform!"
"Mew...MEW!" Mew's eyes would soon flash, hearing out Ash's command. At that moment, Mew's body changed from its original shape into something far bigger. Something that would thrive in the sea. Ash moved back with his Cosmic Body, leaving behind stardust trails that decorated the sea.
And just as planned, Mew had emerged as Wailord, what many know as possibly the largest Pokemon. Aside from a few exceptions here and there. With Wailord's massive body, the hole had been filled up, putting an end to the air currents once more. The strong pressures it brought to the sea came to an abrupt halt and with it, anyone plastered against the wall could freely move at last.
"Whew. That did the trick." Ash sighed as even his sigh had an echo. It felt like a voice that transcended the world was coming out of him, not belonging here at all. "That hole's still gonna be there, so everyone here is gonna have to swim elsewhere if they wanna avoid it."
"Oh, thank you, your majesty!" Queen Novo put her hooves together, thanking Ash for protecting her home. "I should've expected that your excellence would-"
"Ah, it was nothing." Ash laughed. "Clogging it up just seemed like the way to go. Just needed someone big enough. Like Wailord."
"R-Right. I suppose speaking formally to you isn't your style at all?" Novo looked at him, finally taking in how Ash spoke. He wasn't exactly using his Thees and Thous or anything like that. He spoke as himself despite the respect that was thrown his way.
"I don't mind it." Still, Ash didn't mind it at all. He was fine with however others wish to address him
"Then in that case...Nice work, your majesty!" Novo would be back to speaking in her normal tone while still keeping Ash's Kingly Status in her sentence. "That was a close one! I thought we were gone for a moment there!"
"Princess Celestia wasn't kidding about that pearl. Ash was completely different. He felt new." Pinkie Pie swam over, looking at the pearl. It lived up to its hype without a doubt as it turned Ash into a Cosmic Being.
"Twilight!" But Ash would quickly focus back on the other important matter. Twilight's capture. "Sorry, Novo! But we gotta go before Twilight gets taken away!"
"You won't be doing it alone, your majesty." Novo shook her head. "Well, not with your numbers at least. I didn't think we'd ever have to leave the sea ever again but...that might have to change."
"Does that mean...We're going back to the surface?!" Skystar gasped as her eyes lit up. Many of the Hippogriffs heard exactly what Novo said as their ears did not deceive them. The opportunity to return to the surface had come and it just so happened to be at a time when they were being attacked yet again.
"It means, we're helping the King of the Sea." Novo turned to her daughter. "I can see why he's so confident in beating the Storm King. You're all pretty confident by the looks of it. We want our original home back after this and that can only happen if we stop living in fear of the Storm King."
"Thanks, Novo." Ash grinned, loving the support he and his friends were about to get. But he couldn't stand around for much longer. Not when Twilight was up there. Not wasting any time, Ash took off with his friends. But they were too late to reach Twilight as her capture had been made.
Queen Novo would have to tend to her subjects before she can get out there and help Ash. And of course, the pearl was coming with her. It was valuable and had to be protected but it could be of such help as seen by how it changed Ash, granting him the method of blocking the powerful air currents that flew in.
The moment they return to the surface, it will be an immediate rescue mission for Twilight Sparkle. First the Crystals, then Twilight. And if something wasn't done soon, potentially, the power of the other princesses and the Legendary Pokemon that challenged the Storm King would be taken as well. All of them.
Zygarde was still on the move. It had not lost track of the Storm King this entire time. Not for a moment. Dedicated to its mission, Zygarde saw something in the distance that could not be ignored. Up ahead, a castle could be seen here at the Badlands. It was without a doubt the biggest structure in the Badlands which meant that the Storm King most likely resides there most of the time. The Storm King was still leading Zygarde with all of this destruction, allowing it to chase him down just so he can get home field advantage. And there was no better home field advantage than your own castle.
And while on the move, it witnessed the damage that had been done to the world. And while it wanted to stop the Storm King before anything else, the way certain ecosystems took a hit couldn't be ignored. During its pursuit of the Storm King, the path of destruction grew even larger as Zygarde's own energy was ripping through the earth, completely twisted and corrupted compared to what it usually has.
Currently, some Pokemon were in the midst of collapsing thanks to a massive chasm made by the Storm King. Their homes have been absolutely demolished. It may have only been 4 years, but their homes were still precious to them. Refusing to let them perish, Zygarde took action. As Guardian of the Land and Ecosystem, it could not let this stand.
Zygarde would use Land's Wrath, but this time, it was used for protective purposes. The Order Pokemon summoned a green wave from its body which would manipulate the land. The massive chasm was being closed up by Zygarde's power which had to draw power from the land itself.
However, knowing this, the Storm King had corrupted the land in the chance that Zygarde uses its power in the Badlands. And there was obviously a high chance of that happening. When drawing power from the land, Zygarde's energy was suddenly pushed back. The Corrupted Energy hissed back at Zygarde's Land Energy, preventing it from fixing what had been left behind. Thanks to the Sea Temple Crystals, they had enough power to match Zygarde.
The chasm did not fully close and out if, that corrupted energy was pulsating out. The Pokemon that were hanging from it found their bodies exposed to the radiation of this energy, harming them some more. Zygarde quickly moved, only for the ground next to it to split open. The Order Pokemon was right near a massive chasm that had opened up but he managed to avoid it before potentially falling through it.
Zygarde still used his power to reshape the land, saving as many Pokemon as he could. Some Pokemon were rolling down jagged hills, only for Zygarde to soften the hills and reshape their angle, turning them into flat lands instead of downward hills which would stop their movements.
Zygarde tried keeping up with the destructive energy which was moving faster thanks to how violent and erratic it was. So many Pokemon to save all the while the Storm King was getting further away. Zygarde would create more land as another chasm was in front it. By making that land, it would move across the chasm, evading danger once more while also saving the lives of other Pokemon.
But there were just too many Pokemon to keep track of and the energy was doing everything in its power to stop Zygarde. The Order Pokemon's work was being interrupted and squandered by his energy. He managed to save some Pokemon by reshaping the land but moments later, the energy would simply ruin it by corrupting the ecosystem.
The energy would also lash out at Zygarde, whipping it. The Dragon-Ground-Type was suddenly whipped by the energy the Storm King left behind, taking damage while trying to save some Pokemon. Zygarde fought back, unleashing a Core Enforcer pulse that would reflect the energy.
However, as a way to taunt it, the energy used its own version of Core Enforcer. A similar colour to Zygarde's Core Enforcer came out but with a darker shade. Zygarde received its own attack, sending the Order Pokemon flying while also reshaping the landscape to a place where barely any Pokemon can withstand. Thanks to Zygarde, many Pokemon could flee from the destruction, but some were still struggling. With how Zygarde had been knocked back, it looked like it wouldn't make it in time to save these Pokemon that were about to be caught by the raging energy. That is until someone else got involved.
Suddenly, appearing from above and cutting the energy in half was a blue figure, descending and becoming a blur for a moment. Right as the energy tried grabbing a hold of an Ekans, it had been cut in half, failing to reach it. And the one to do it was none other than a friend of Zygarde, who came along with the Order Pokemon.
"Greninja!" It was Greninja. Both had left Kalos just to show up here as the Ninja Pokemon had excellently slashed the energy in half, giving Ekans the chance to flee. Zygarde was pleased to see Greninja. It expected him to show up eventually but he certainly took his time getting here while Zygarde was chasing down the Storm King. "Grenin."
Zygarde nodded in response. Greninja would be very helpful in this instance. Zygarde looked ahead, past the energy that was ruining this land and straight at the castle in the distance. The Order Pokemon wasn't too far away from the Storm King and the sooner he's stopped, the better. With Greninja here, that could be arranged fairly soon. Greninja looked at the same direction as Zygarde, knowing exactly where to go.
The Storm King's Castle.
The Storm King's Castle. Located in what could be considered his own realm, It appeared to be a fairly small castle despite the view of it in the distance, designed as a tower rather than typical castles with sharp, antler-like branches pointing off of it. It's pitch black with blue windows and appears to be at the centre of a perpetual storm. Out of every other location in the Badlands, this one was actually covered by water, resting on sharp rocks with ice nearby.
Turns out Capper was telling the truth after all about there being an extra body of water somewhere in the Badlands but it just so happened to be at where the Storm King was. And above his castle were permanent Storm Clouds. There were no pegasi to control them. They would always be here, fitting the aesthetic of the place.
And in that castle, was the recently captured Twilight Sparkle. Tempest Shadow had successfully captured Twilight during the battle back at Mount Aris. And at the moment, Twilight was on her lonesome. Cinccino and Ninetales were still at Mount Aris, Espeon was previously seen with the Hippogriffs and the two Poke Balls containing Absol and Togekiss had been taken away from her.
Her body still felt some paralysis after what Tempest Shadow did. She would heal but it would take some time and the paralysis wasn't kind to her at all. To add insult to injury, the paralyzed Twilight Sparkle was being kept in a cage that was in a red room. A very saturated red room. Twilight breathed in and out, trying to relax so that paralysis will eventually vanish. At the same time, Tempest Shadow was approaching her.
" Aww, the 'Princess of Friendship'. With no friends! And no way out." Tempest Shadow taunted. "I hear that my counterpart from another universe has her horn. Very soon, we'll be very much alike when mine returns."
"I'm guessing she's in a similar situation as you. That was obvious since she's also working for a conqueror." Twilight panted, keeping a serious face on her. "The only difference is that she still backs up Equestria...But, you're with someone else. Far away from Equestria and with the Storm King. You're just like me,"
"I'm nothing like you! I'm more than you'll ever be!" Tempest Shadow exclaimed, suddenly showing aggression. "That's one that's different from me and my counterpart. She stuck by Equestria and failed during a mission. I found somewhere else and have seen success instead. But that only makes sense since I could never count on those from Equestria. Or even here."
"N-Not even from the Storm King?"
"Not even him despite all of his power. You should look past where I originally came from and what I am now. I once hoped for friendship, to find a place among my kind" Tempest Shadow then held up the cube, using the last of its power to show Twilight something special. Out of it, a projection of light showed up. And that light made a visage of TEmpest Shadow herself.
Or rather, a young Tempest Shadow. Like many ponies, she started out as a foal. Innocent in the beginning. Still having plenty of her life to explore. Twilight would get to witness a projection of Tempest Shadow's past life. Two other foals were with Tempest Shadow, who still had her horn, showing great promise of magic in the future as the three pranced along, entering a forest.
However, it was that very pathway where things turned for Tempest. The ball the foals were playing with ended up in this eerie part of the forest which was clearly not meant to be entered in. However, the two foals insisted that Tempest should be the one to take it.
She went for it, feeling a bit nervous but her magic enveloped the ball either way. However, there was a reason why this place was seen as dangerous and that was thanks to the creature resting in the cave right up ahead. Twilight's eyes widened in unison with the young Tempest Shadow, witnessing the Ursa Minor emerge from it.
The creature the size of many buildings appeared, growling and roaring at the young filly as it had been disturbed from its sleep. After all, much like Tempest Shadow, the Ursa Minor was still a child. But even in the face of such a colossal being, Tempest Shadow would try and defend herself, but against an Ursa Minor, that was beyond pointless.
To Twilight's surprise, it was the Ursa Minor that broke her horn. That was the moment a part of Tempest Shadow's future had been shattered. She lost a valuable part of herself over something like this. And the worst part was how her friends reacted to this once she returned home. The ball had been retrieved but at a cost that far surpassed it in every way.
Like normal friends, they were worried about Tempest Shadow, seeing her in such a state. A broken horn was rare for a unicorn but that did not mean they were exempt from using magic. The Young Tempest Shadow used her magic on the ball but as a result, it went completely haywire.
Much like what was seen today, because of her broken horn, her magic had no proper flow or stability. It was as wild as a wildfire and the only good thing it brought was that it managed to increase Tempest's destructive capabilities and that was it. But it was for that reason her friends feared her. They drifted away from Tempest Shadow, refusing to be near such a terrifying power that could harm any of them in many ways.
With that, Tempest's trust in others had greatly dwindled. At such a young age, it was easy to see how she would lose that trust. And it stuck with her even to this day. As such, she went her own way, being seen as an oddity where she grew up at. And the area that Young Tempest Shadow was near before setting out was very familiar to Twilight.
It was the Ponyville Schoolhouse.
Tempest Shadow was once a Ponyville resident. But not anymore. Tempest left Ponyville, off to do her own thing. And by going on her own, she eventually left Equestria itself, entering the Badlands. To Tempest Shadow, she felt like she gained a new perspective on things. What was usually shown back at Equestria was thrown aside here at the Badlands. It felt rather welcoming to Tempest Shadow as what she believed in was completely non-existent there. And yet she thrived, opening her eyes to something else. Something dark.
"I saw the truth. My "friends" abandoned me when times got tough. Looks like I'm not the only one. Face it, Princess. Friendship has failed you, too."
"What about Sneasler? And Noivern? You met them and became their friends, didn't you?"
"Sneasler and Noivern are...just allies to me. I met them 3 years ago." Tempest Shadow turned around, using the crystals to show her encounter with Sneasler and Noivern. Back then, they were in their pre-evolved states as they were unlucky to end up here at the Badlands. When the worlds crossed over, these two were brought to the Badlands and Sneasler, who was a Hisuian Sneasel prior to this, was pulled out of her own time, unfamiliar with this new world.
Noivern was also just a Noibat, making him very vulnerable here. That is until Tempest Shadow found them one day. They were the first Pokemon she ever came across and they were the most vulnerable here at the Badlands. The Badlands was still getting used to the Pokemon but some of the most dangerous ones made themselves at home here.
She saved the lives of these two Pokemon and that instantly made them attach themselves to Tempest Shadow. Ever since then,n much like many Pokemon Trainers, Tempest Shadow would soon learn more about Pokemon over the months. At least, these two.
"That right there is Friendship! It has to be!" Twilight shouted.
"Wrong. Our alliance is mutual. They help me in what I need to accomplish and that's that." Tempest Shadow said. "I don't need friendship. I just need to work with others and get things done. That's all."
"It's coming! It's coming!" Interrupting Tempest Shadow before she could say anything else was none other than Grubber. He came running in, already out of breath while holding some food. "Hah..."
"What? What's coming?" Tempest Shadow asked.
"It's...Zygarde. He's just over the horizon."
"This is our final destination as well. So now it'll have nowhere to go." Tempest Shadow smirked. "And the best part is that the Storm King already prepared the castle for Zygarde's arrival."
"Zygarde's here?!" Twilight gasped.
"Sit tight while we deal with Zygarde. The rest of its power is coming to us. But while that happens...I suppose I should send you to the Storm King at once."
Mount Aris.
Back at Mount Aris, Ash and his friends showed up to try and find Twilight. Ash was already back to normal as that Cosmic Form did not last that long. It was already gone. And so was Twilight. Around them, they saw how the Hippogriffs and Water Pokemon were still lying down after being pulled back to the surface. They also saw Ninetales and Cinccino, who were bewildered and damaged after the battle they had just had without Twilight being anywhere in sight.
"Twilight's already gone! We were too late to get out here!" Ash and his friends were too late. Twilight had already been taken away and was at the Storm King's Castle. His group may have succeeded in saving the Hippogriffs but the cost was losing Twilight now that she had been kidnapped.
"That was a mighty clever plan..." Applejack sighed. "But, where is she? They could be way ahead of us by now."
"Ahead of us, but the chances of us losing them are low. We can easily sniff them out. Right, Pinkie Pie?" Rarity said, looking over at the Earth Pony.
"I hear ya!" Pinkie Pie winked, knowing what Rarity was going for. She had the means to find Twilight and that was by relying on Slurpuff's amazing sense of smell. But before she could send one of her Slurpuff out, something else grabbed her and everyone's attention.
Above them, something was giving off a strong wind pressure. They believed that this could be the airship of the Storm King again, here to launch another attack. Thankfully, it wasn't. Instead, it was something far more recognizable. It was not the ship of Captain Celeano either. To their surprise, the ship in the air was none other than the Grand Equestria.
And the ones carrying it were Reshiram and Zekrom. With their strength, they gently descended with the ship, surprising Ash and the others. But even though it was not Celaeno's ship, the captain could still be seen up there. Celaeno tipped her hat off to Rainbow Dash and the others as Capper was also seen onboard. The Grand Equestria was more populated than ever. Not just holding many guards and Golurks but also pirates and cats.
"Oooh! Celestia?! And you guys?!" Ash exclaimed.
"Would ya look at that...They are real." Capper's eyes widened as he couldn't believe he was actually laying eyes on the Hippogriffs. They weren't exactly rare anymore now that many have seen them.
"We're on board to help you fight the Storm King! Just not on board our... actual ship." Celaeno added, explaining everything else. "Sunk. The Storm King took it down and it's only thanks to the Princesses and our Pokemon that we made it safe and sound."
"When following the trail of the Storm King, we managed to save them from that devastating blast," Luna replied. "Right now, he has already gathered some of Reshiram and Zekrom's power."
"He took Reshiram and Zekrom's power too?!" Fluttershy put her hooves in her mouth as her ears did not deceive her. The Storm King got some of Reshiram and Zekrom's power as well.
"Indeed. And it seems that because of those two crystals, it doesn't matter how little power he takes. Those crystals can boost their strength the same way they boosted only 10% of Zygarde's Energy. Ash. Everyone. We have to go now. The ecosystem will soon be beyond repair. The energy that the Storm King has summoned is out of control. With Reshiram and Zekrom's power, he could form plasma and scorch the earth."
"That's not gonna happen. We're going straight for Twilight right about now. She's been taken." said Ash. "Novo and the Hippogriffs are gonna help us out but I wanna get going as soon as possible."
"Pikachu!"
"I understand. No time to waste then. We've been chasing the Storm King for a while now and I'd love to put an end to it. By now, he's probably come to a halt considering where he's going. He's at his castle and he won't be going anywhere else now."
"He'll stop at just his castle?" Pinkie uttered.
"That's where he wants Zygarde. We even saw Zygarde during our pursuit. If Zygarde gets there first, there might be a chance its power will be taken away. All of it. Then, the Storm King will be stronger than ever. Hop on board! Quick!"
Without wasting any more time, Ash and everyone would jump onto the Grand Equestria, which would be the ship that carries them to their destination. It became even more crowded now. It was practically a Full House now with all of these passengers and yet, it was not overcrowded at all. This ship was Truly Grand. The Purrloin rushed over to hug Ash, swarming him and making him laugh. It hasn't been that long but they certainly missed him after what they experienced back at the ship.
Being surrounded by new friendly faces who were once devious and tricky was rather soothing for Ash and the others, especially when getting to know Capper and his Pokemon a bit more. The more friends the merrier as Celaeno and Rainbow Dash nudged each other. While they would all love to chat, they had to get going. It was off the Storm King's Castle and Reshiram and Zekrom would be the ones to carry the ship in the sky since there was barely a sea around.
That made Ash think. What of the Sea Temple? What was happening with it right now? His main thought was that they were on the move as well, but right now, on his mind was getting Twilight back. It wasn't just Ash's group that was heading for the Storm King's Castle.
Zygarde and now Greninja were on the move. And it wouldn't be a safe trip there. Not with the energy bursting out of Badlands. If this were to continue, Equestria, Kanto and other regions will surely suffer from this twisted version of Zygarde's energy. Time was of the essence right now for just two crystals as the journey continues.
The Badlands. The Storm King's Castle. Late Afternoon.
Currently, Zygarde was finally approaching the Storm King's Castle which was nestled in a pile of sharp rocks. This would be the final time it would have to deal with the Storm King's shenanigans. And joining Zygarde was none other than Greninja, who had finally caught up, assisting his friend. Just what the Storm King wanted as this would indeed be the final time Zygarde has to chase him
The sea in front of them was overlayed by a huge creation of rocks thanks to Zygarde's power. But since the Storm King wished for this to happen, the things he prepared for Zygarde's arrival were about to spring into action. It hadn't even reached the castle yet and there were already traps.
They showed themselves once Zygarde got close enough, being specifically catered to capturing the Order Pokemon. From the seas, the water would rise, revealing a shape that resembled the letter C. This was meant to hold down Zygarde's body as it would fall right onto its back. Greninja leapt over the water the second it got too close.
Zygarde was suddenly pinned down by this water formation, forced down on its own rocks. Zygarde roared once it was pinned but that didn't mean it wasn't out of the picture immediately.
Many Storm Creatures were seen pushing massive boulders over at Zygarde's path, attempting to crush the Order Pokemon while it was stuck. Zygarde was currently unable to move as the main approach was to have the boulders strike Zygarde while it was pinned down by the water which was obviously done by magic. However, the one thing the Storm King did not account for was the presence of Greninja.
"Ninja!" Greninja ruined this in a heartbeat by using Cut, slashing away at the Water. Just like that, Zygarde was free, having Greninja as support. As for the boulders, they were immediately disposed of once Zygarde used Thousand Arrows. Zygarde used energy from the very ground it had created moments ago, summoning multiple green energy arrows that would pierce the boulders. Though they may be small, they were powerful and plenty.
The arrows would also approach the Storm King's Castle, ready to damage it and make an entrance for the Order Pokemon. However, expecting this, the Storm King also set up some defences. And these ones were rather recent. The jagged rocks were manipulated by the Storm King's power from his staff, expanding and forming a blockade that was made up of Zygarde's own power.
The arrows were stopped the moment this blockade appeared, preventing Zygarde's attacks from getting through. This blockade of rocks had not ust Zygarde's power bu the Sea Temple Crystals and a bit of Reshiram and Zekrom's power to boot. And thanks to the crystals, a little power can make a large difference.
That wouldn't stop Zygarde and Greninja from trying to enter. Zygarde used Thousand Waves, causing the ground underneath that it made to suddenly explode. As always, the rubble was being manipulated. More specifically, the blockade that the Storm King was manipulated as Zygarde's attack managed to affect it.
The blockade was starting to come down thanks to Thousand Waves as the nearby Storm Creatures would quickly run off. The blockade came crumbling down, destroying the expanded landmass which was uncommon for Zygarde. But in this instance, destruction was the way to go. The Storm Creatures quickly activated as many traps as they could, just to make sure Zygarde does not succeed in any way.
More traps were inbound for Zygarde but this time, Greninja was leading the way. The traps that tried springing up were immediately taken care of by Greninja who had used Cut once again, forming a kunai of light to slash through the traps. Most of them were catered to Zygarde and its physiology. But not the physiology of Greninja. The Ninja Pokemon used his amazing agility to flip over some of the traps, evading them the second they showed up.
This also allowed Zygarde to get ahead of the traps after seeing Greninja avoid them. The Water-Dark-Type avoided these massive corridors that appeared from the side, resting in the sea and attempting to smush the Ninja Pokemon. To avoid this, Greninja went higher than the corridors which were already incredibly high. These were meant for Zygarde who mainly slithered and stayed on the ground in its other forms except for its Complete Form.
After dodging them, Greninja landed ontop of these corridors that came from the sea, running on them. And as for Zygarde, it would destroy these corridors moments later after seeing them form, using Thousand Arrows to do so. With Greninja being the one to set off these traps, Zygarde was safe from being caught in them, gradually ruining what the Storm King had set up.
"Yeesh. Legendary Pokemon live up to their status, don't they?" The Storm King said, looking in the distance and witnessing Zygarde's dedicated mission to stop him. "And that Frog's ruining all my traps too!"
"I will deal with that Frog you speak of, your excellence." said Tempest Shadow. "Zygarde will still be caught."
"Tempest, don't do this. Don't give the Storm King-" Twilight tried talking Tempest Shadow out of this, hoping to change her mind.
"Your magic? Did you think you'd keep it all to yourself? Time to share. I'd love for everybody out there to know what I can really do." Tempest Shadow looked back. "You'll benefit the Storm King greatly with the RIft Magic you have in you.
"That's right! You're the only Equestrian who has that magic in you, right?" The Storm King faced Twilight, eager to take her Rift Magic as well. "I'll be stacked like crazy once I get your magic. Both of them! And after that, it's the Princesses and every other Legendary Pokemon. Then, I can finish up where I left off with those Hippogriffs and get that pearl. Tempest. What about Ash? Why isn't he here?"
"Sorry. I forgot about Ash Ketchum. I unfortunately did not take your recommendation." Tempest Shadow apologized.
"Bah, it's fine." The Storm King shrugged it off. "I mainly wanted the Princess after all. "I can deal with him later. Anyway, I was talking about the pearl."
"You won't get the pearl either..." Twilight grit her teeth. "No matter what, you won't have the chance to turn into whatever you wish. And even if you do get that chance, my friends will stop you. I know about it."
"You fail to realize the potential with that pearl. Any Pokemon he wishes to be. He can become it. Especially the one they call Jirachi." Tempest smirked. "Honestly, you should've used that Wishing Power from Jirachi while you had the chance. What a waste..."
"You think I can become that Pokemon? Nah!" Suddenly, the Storm King denied such a possibility.
"What?!" Tempest Shadow and Twilight Sparkle both gasped, stunned by what he said.
"I know a bit about that pearl. It can turn you into anything sure, but it has its limits which sucks. If there's something stronger than the Pearl, the transformation won't be a success. The best you'll get is a weaker version of what you want to become. But that's going to change with the power of the Sea Temple Crystals so I guess it's still possible. And I can bet that Rift Magic will help boost that as well. Time to take it out of you, Princess!"
Twilight at least learned something new about the pearl. It was powerful but if there was a power greater than it, its true limits would show. And Jirachi was most definitely beyond it. Many Legendaries are potentially above it as well. This would at least mean that the pearl couldn't be fully abused but with the power of the Sea Temple Crystals the Storm King could change that soon.
Twilight backed up while in her cage but was unable to act thanks to the paralysis which hadn't vanished yet, unfortunately. This was the worst time for it to stay active as the Storm King stood before the Princess of Friendship. The staff was aimed at Twilight as it would react to the magic she had within her. Her Standard Magic and Rift Magic were targeted.
Twilight groaned, feeling her magic being ripped out of her. Her body would gain cracks as her eyes lit up, reacting to this absorption. The colours of her magic and Rift Magic were seen entering the Staff of Sacanas and with all of this power being drawn out, merging with what the Storm King has stolen so far, an array of light would fly out of the staff.
These many colours of light would expand so far they left the Storm King's throne room and castle. The energies would all crackle as the Rift Energy was the most volatile out of them all. The Cosmic Power that made these two worlds aware of each other was now within the grasp of the Storm King as the colour of the skies were beginning to change just because of this energy.
Zygarde and Greninja witnessed this from themselves as Storm of Six different powers were being exuded. The Power to Control the Land. The Power to Control the Sea. The Power to Control Fire and Lightning and the Power to tap into what lies beyond the Earth. All of this belonged to the Storm King now.
And just by exuding all of this power, it would affect the outside. The platform that Zygarde made was instantly being taken down, changing properties. The ground was melting as Zygarde instantly fell into the water because of this Warped Earth. The sea levels were starting to rise once Zygarde fell in, the warped land would form right in between the Order Pokemon.
Zygarde's middle and lower body were now stuck within the earth itself while its upper body was still free. Greninja faced a similar problem with both his legs being stuck in the ground. It went far enough to capture his knees, keeping the Ninja Pokemon restrained.
The seas would tremble furiously thanks to this great disturbance. While there weren't any Pokemon living near the Storm King's power, this disturbance was bound to reach the rest of the Badlands, throwing it out of balance. The Storm King's pursuit of power was succeeding. Everything he wanted was coming right to him and he couldn't be happier. And with this newly attained power, what he failed to retrieve once could be achieved with so much energy in just one staff.
The cage Twilight was in had broken apart just from the power absorption, but at this point, Twilight was rather weak, lying on the floor as her magic had been pulled out of her. She took a deep breath with her horn letting out small crackles and fizzles of magic that had been disrupted.
"Oh yeah! This is more like it!" The Storm King said, raising his staff. He would then approach his balcony, stepping over Twilight's downed body. "Check this out! Now that part of the sea is all...a Tundra!" With this opportunity, the Storm King would change the land with the added power of Rift Magic.
With a beam of light and Rift Energy flying out, a part of the sea had been hit. And in just a second, a piece of land was starting to form, colder than anything here. A Tundra was being made, magically forming out of thin air over the sea. Zygarde watched its power being abused once more as the Storm King continued to go wild with it.
He created a Tundra that was completely out of place. But he didn't stop there. A second later, he fired his staff once more, using it to create something else. Or rather, replace something. In the distance, he noticed a small town that was not Klugetown but someplace else. A place where they weren't even aware of what was going on. The perfect place to experiment.
"I never liked the look of that town. Let's make it a Savanna!" The Staff was then used on that town in the distance that the Storm King could barely see. It reached the town swiftly, immediately, changing the foundation of it. Years of natural landmass was quickly being replaced. The residents of that town felt their home being altered into something far hotter than what they have.
Thanks to Reshiram's power, the temperatures were also being affected when merging with Zygarde's power. The Storm King was practically a child playing in a sandbox, having absolute freedom. They ran for their lives once the appearance of Savanna appeared, crushing their homes. Buildings were either being brought down or overlayed and covered by the Savanna, ruining the lives of those living there.
The Storm King laughed, feeling immense glee as this was the most power he had. With seemingly no limit, he could reshape the world in his image. And now, it was time for him to go wild as he raised his staff, shooting all the energy he could into the air. The magic would then explode the air, unleashing multiple beams that each possessed Zygarde's power with other energies sprinkled in there.
With this, the Storm King targeted random locations across the Badlands, changing up the land into whatever he wanted. The Badlands were already claimed by him but he wished to expand it even further and one way to do it was connecting every piece of land to his castle, making it easier for him to get to wherever he wanted.
Swamps, deserts, mountains, tundras, wastelands and so many more were being created, furiously bursting out of the sea or other established landscapes. These landscapes would shatter, making way for the new ones. The ecosystem was being broken down at a rapid pace, ruining many bubbles of life for the creatures and even those just trying to live their lives in the Badlands.
"Great! But I know I can do more than this! And that's by taking everything Zygarde has! You hear that, Zygarde?!" The Storm King shouted at Zygarde in the distance, not forgetting about the Order Pokemon. Zygarde was already breaking down the piece of land it was trapped within, using Thousand Waves to do so. Greninja assisted, using Water Shuriken to attack the ground, slowly breaking the rocks apart.
However, the actions of Zygarde and Greninja were instantly brought to a hold once something else caught their attention. Greninja felt a familiar presence. The Bond Phenomenon deep within him was going off as a familiar Aura could be felt, being nearby at the moment. And this Aura was getting even closer. He knew this Aura from anywhere. It was Ash's Aura.
"Hm?" The Storm King soon noticed this interruption as his eyes met with the object in the sky. Or rather, the beings that were carrying this object. At this very moment, Reshiram and Zekrom could be seen as they were still carrying the Grand Equestria. Avoiding the altered land that the Storm King was forming, they protected the Grand Equestria by moving through the air.
"Reshiram...Zekrom..." Twilight groaned before putting on a smile. "That means that everyone else is here."
"It was only a matter of time until they showed up," said Tempest Shadow, expecting this to happen.
"Twilight!" Screaming out Twilight's name at the top of his lungs while standing at the edge of the Grand Equestria was Ash, whose voice would echo for many to hear. Greninja was right about this familiar Aura as the voice fully confirmed it. Hearing Ash's voice was very reassuring to the Princess of Friendship.
"I knew they'd make it here eventually... it's because..."
"Yeah, yeah! Friendship, and flowers, and ponies, and bleh!" The Storm King interrupted. "Very soon, all this cutesy stuff across the world is going to come to an end once I turn Equestria into the New Badlands. And I'll start by taking down their Top Ponies!"
His staff was aimed at the Grand Equestria, aiming to use his newly obtained power against it. This far surpassed what he had previously, giving any Legendary Pokemon something to worry about. Reshiram and Zekrom felt a great increase of power entering the atmosphere. The storm clouds above were changing colours thanks to the power the Storm King was exuding from the staff.
A great light would shoot out of it, having the potential to cause catastrophic damage, prompting Reshiram to counterattack at once. He used Fusion Flare, quickly intercepting the beam before it could harm anyone else. A large flame that sie of Reshiram's entire body was thrown out, meeting with the beam.
Once the two attacks collided, the Storm King's beam would become erratic, shooting out sparks that each had the power to do something. Such as causing a turbulent tidal wave that would rise out of what was left over from the Sea. This tidal wave then transformed into a Water Tornado, rising to great heights which were enough to reach the Grand Equestria. As for the Fusion Flare, it cancelled out the Storm King's beam but the damage had already been done.
The outburst of both attacks equalizing caused a shockwave strong enough to make Reshiram flinch. A strong gust of wind also came from this, holding the two Dragons back. Everyone onboard the Grand Equestria could feel this pressure despite being inside. It was so great it was reaching the indoors as they weren't even safe here.
"At this rate, I'll be more than just the Storm King! I'll be King of the World!" The Storm King laughed before thinking about it. "Nah, the Storm King still sounds better!"
Yes, yes, you are every bit as powerful as I promised, Sire, now, restore my horn and I swear to use my magic to serve you!" Tempest Shadow requested. She did his bidding and managed to help him acquire this much power. It was mainly the Sea Temple Crystals that did most of the work and Tempest was the one to successfully retrieve them. Naturally, she felt like getting her horn back was the right reward for this.
"Bahahaha! Who cares about your dinky little unicorn horn?!" Suddenly, the Storm King turned her down, focusing on his enemies in front of him. The pressure he unleashed from the staff also made Tempest Shadow step back as her eyes widened after such a response.
"But... we... we had an agreement!" Tempest Shadow uttered, confused as to why she was being turned down now of all times, especially when she has come this far in helping the Storm King obtain so much power.
Get with the program! I used you! It's kind of what I do!" He boasted, caring little for Tempest Shadow. "Now move aside! I've got better things to do than restore a horn!" By emitting more power from the staff, he would send Tempest Shadow flying just from the sheer pressure of it.
Seeing how dangerous it was getting in the air, Reshiram and Zekrom descended, letting the Grand Equestria land. But it wouldn't land in the sea. A Water Tornado was currently on the move, after all, ripping through the sea. The ground was the safest place for it to be in now. And once it was placed down, everyone onboard would leave at once.
Ash had already leapt out of it, followed by Pikachu and some Golurk that were carrying their Trainers. It was straight for the Storm King's Castle as that was where they could find Twilight and the Crystals.
Tempest Shadow yelped after being launched by the wind, prompting Twilight to take immediate action. She lost her magic, but she did not lose her Rift Magic. Because of the way Rift Magic works, her magic will regenerate, always having a spare bit of it to use. And when seeing Tempest fly off the balcony, Twilight used her magic to save her. The best thing she felt like she could do was summon a platform. A platform of light was made by Twilight's Rift Magic, catching Tempest Shadow and giving her a soft landing.
The unicorn with a broken horn gasped after realizing what was occurring. Her potential fall to her doom was prevented by none other than Princess Twilight Sparkle, using the most of her magic that was slowly recovering. "Why are you saving me?" She asked, bewildered that Twilight would try and save her at this moment even after everything that has happened.
"Because this is what friends do." At that moment, Twilight showed Tempest Shadow what things could be like when having friends around. Saving the lives of another was one of those things. With all of her might, she pushed the platform forward, bringing Tempest Shadow back to the balcony.
"Awwww! Isn't that just so sweet!" The Storm King stamped his staff, feeling gagging after witnessing that. He was very much over this, aiming his staff at the two ponies before shooting out a beam made out of Reshiram and Zekrom's power.
Quickly, Twilight would use her Rift Magic to form a shield, protecting herself from the incoming beam. But this was not strong enough. Not for a moment. The second the beam struck the shield, it shattered it instantly with a crash fire and lightning. Both Twilight and Tempest were damaged, crashing into the nearby wall. They couldn't hope to defend against such a power. They both then fell down, hitting the floor hard after such a blowback.
"I-I can't believe I helped give him so much power..." Tempest Shadow uttered as she had given the Storm King plenty of power to use, unfortunately.
"I'll at least thank you for that!" The Storm King laughed before looking back past the balcony. Outside, Celestia's forces were already storming his castle. The Storm Creatures were prepared to try and stop them as the most amount of Storm Creatures could be seen here compared to when they launched attacks on others. The Storm King twirled his staff, prepared to use more of the power he gained to cause some of the most random yet destructive actions he could.
As for Ash, before he could rush in there to try and free Twilight, he noticed two familiar faces that were stuck in the ground. Greninja and Zygarde could be seen. He couldn't just ignore them. Not when they were trapped, unable to take action at the moment thanks to the Storm King.
"Greninja! Zygarde!" Ash yelled out their names with glee. Right behind him, plenty of noise could be heard thanks to the confrontation between Celestia's Forces and the Storm King's Forces. "I knew you'd show up eventually!"
"Pikachu!"
"Greninja!" Greninja was pleased to see Ash. He would run up to Ash if he had the chance but his legs were still stuck as this part of the ground had been fortified by the Storm King, gaining greater durability. But with Ash here, that could change. "N-Nin! Grenin!"
"Hold on! We'll get you out of here! Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" Hardening his tail, Pikachu assisted Greninja and Zygarde's attempt to break free from this part of the ground. Thousand Waves were already being used along with Water Shuriken. But with Iron Tail joining in, their chances of breaking free had been raised. As the ground was starting to shatter with these three powerful attacks being brought down, Ash looked back, gazing at the Storm King's balcony which wasn't too hard to see. Especially with what was happening up there.
The Storm King confronted Twilight and Tempest, having the power of three Legendary Pokemon plus the Cosmic Power of the Rift. He had certainly succeeded in his path to power and that was by using Tempest Shadow to get the Sea Temple crystals which boosted everything he stole. Twilight, instead of reuniting with her friends, would stay here to try and stop the Storm King while she had the chance.
But she wasn't foolish for this. No. Twilight Sparkle knew that her friends were coming. She expected nothing less as a huge heap of help was on the way, charging through the Storm King's forces. It was all a matter of getting that staff out of the Storm King's staff. The crystals can be ignored for now. As long as the Storm King does not have that staff, there was a great chance. That is what Twilight thought and she planned to execute it.
The Badlands. The Storm King's Castle. Late Afternoon.
At last, they had arrived at the Storm King's Castle. Here to rescue Twilight Sparkle, retrieve the two stolen crystals and stop the Storm King. And at this rate, they had to be as efficient and quick as possible since the Storm King has grown even stronger. The Storm King has already affected the land in various ways, creating new terrain in his own image.
Twilight Sparkle and Tempest Shadow were currently with the Storm King in his throne room, with Twilight being drained of her magic, only having a little Rift Magic at her disposal. But that little amount could still do something.
"Alright then. Have it your way, Tempest." The Storm King decided to take Tempest Shadow out of the equation next. Clearly, she was of no use to him anymore, especially since he revealed the truth to her. He would never restore her horn even after all that work she did for him, much to Twilight's dismay. He aimed his staff at Tempest Shadow specifically, still needing Twilight Sparkle around. But Tempest was now expendable.
"Wait, I'm still in here!" Grubber, who was currently in the throne room, was hoping that the Storm King would refrain from firing until he was out of the room. But it was too late for that. The Storm King was already too focused on Tempest Shadow and this explosion was about to leave behind some wide damage without a doubt.
Quickly, Twilight would push Tempest out of the way with a blast of Rift Magic right as the beam was unleashed. The beam flew into the throne room after missing Tempest. The outburst from the room exploding sent debris flying along with a shockwave that pushed the two ponies away. Grubber made a run for it as he was sent hurling through the air once the throne room took a heavy blow.
"Twilight! Your Pokemon!" Tempest Shadow shouted, throwing out the Poke Balls she had stolen from Twilight earlier. It was high time she got them back.
"Thanks!" Twilight caught them. And immediately, she would throw them herself, unleashing the two Pokemon who were within. Absol and Togekiss. Two red rays of light flew out, showing the Disaster Pokemon and Jubilee Pokemon.
"Absol!"
"Togekiss!"
"Eugh, what are those?!" The Storm King said, taken aback by ABsol and Togekiss' appearance. He then noticed Absol, who shared slight similarities with him, mainly due to the colour scheme. "Oh, but I like the look of that one. Reminds me of myself. Too bad I'll have to blast it too!"
"Absol, quick! Use Night Slash!" Twilight shouted. Her main target was none other than the Staff itself. She figured that if the staff breaks, that would solve every problem that the Storm King had made.
"Ab...Sol!" Absol understood what needed to be done. By targeting the staff, he would light up his horn, gathering the power of the dark during this late sunset afternoon. The Storm King, however, protected himself, using the power of Zekrom as an explosive wave of lightning shot out. Absol cut through the lightning, only for it to launch him thanks to the explosions."Ab!"
"Togekiss, use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Toge...!" As Absol slid on the ground, recovering from the explosion, Togekiss went next, spinning her body while summoning a sphere of Fairy Magic. And out of that sphere, multiple rainbow rays were shot out, all going for the Staff of Sacanas.
In response, the Storm King held out the staff, spinning it with one hand. He was showing off, yawning while twirling the staff which had Reshiram's Flames around it. And this proved to be an effective way of defending himself as the rays were knocked aside and even burned away.
Some of the rays were sent right back at Togekiss too as they were enveloped in flames to give them extra power. Togekiss was then hit by her own attacks which were cloaked in flames, knocking her out of the sky. The Storm King wheezed, taunting Twilight's team after successfully pushing them away, ruining their first attacks. It was very clear that getting that staff away from him was not going to be easy.
"Sneasler! Noivern! Get that staff!" Tempest Shadow would soon assist Twilight Sparkle, throwing two Poke Balls that brought out Sneasler and Noivern. And once out, they knew what they needed to do. "Boomburst!"
"Noi...Vern!" From its ears, the soundwave Pokemon emitted a powerful blast of sound that gained visible form, blowing away the rubble that had formed up here.
"Lah-lah-lah! I can't hear you over the Thunder!" By using Zekrom's Electricity, not only did he overpower the sound Boomburst made, but he also fought back against the soundwave. The soundwave was broken apart by the Thunder as Noivern was also struck by the blast, crying out.
"Dire Claw!"
"Night Slash!"
"Snea!" Together, Sneasler and Absol would try and get in close, going for their own respective slashes. The Storm King would then use Zygarde's power, shooting it at the floor. Before Absol and Sneasler knew it, the floor of the castle balcony was elevated, summoning a huge chunk of rock that would intercept Absol and Sneasler's movements. The two were hit in the chest by the rising rocks, interrupting their attacks. These rocks would also elevate the Storm King, bringing him to a higher height as he continued to laugh at his enemies.
"This is no big deal! I can always redecorate!" He boasted after creating a massive chunk of rock that he stood on top of. Getting to that staff was rather difficult as the Storm King was also making sure to keep his distance. Twilight's suspicions about destroying the staff to fix everything were starting to be confirmed but the main problem was getting to the staff. With all of that power, the Storm King was very versatile. "I don't mind breaking down my castle at all!"
"Pika...Chuuuu!" Suddenly, a crash of thunder fell down on the Storm King from above. The Storm King was hit with 100,000 volts of lightning. And the one responsible for that was Pikachu. And who else would be next to Pikachu's side than Ash himself?
The Storm King's eyes rolled before he retrieved his sense, surprised that he was hit from this high above. He at least expected Celestia, Luna or even the Twin Dragons to be the ones to do it. But it was Pikachu as Ash was also seen, dropping from above. The one to bring him up here was none other than Pinkie Pie's Mew. Carrying them with Psychic, Mew had also brought Espeon, Cinccino and Ninetales along, reuniting them with their trainer.
"Mew!"
"You all!" Twilight said with glee after Ash and Pikachu landed. And with Mew here, that obviously meant that the rest of her friends were making it to the top despite the Storm King's height.
"Twilight! Are you alright?!" Ash said while sliding down the huge chunk of rock that the Storm King had made.
"Pika!"
"Esp!" Espeon would fly into the hooves of Twilight, reuniting with her beloved Trainer. Mew made sure to place them all down or rather, place the Pokemon of Twilight down. Ash and Pikachu had a different approach entirely.
"I am! Just...don't attack Tempest, please!" Twilight shouted.
"Hm?" Ash uttered as that was definitely on his mind since Tempest Shadow was the one to kidnap her. But while sliding down the rock, the Storm King made it so that the rock would shoot out pillars, attempting to knock him and Pikachu off. The rest of Twilight's friends were still down on the streets of the Storm King's territory, dealing with the Storm Creatures.
Ash would continue sliding to avoid these incoming pillars that flew out aggressively. Before any more of them could show up, Ash and Pikachu jumped off the huge chunk of rock, eventually landing on the floor next to Twilight and Tempest.
"What about Zygarde?!" Twilight asked.
"Zygarde's dealing with the damage the Storm King just did. Plus, there's something Zygarde's gotta do without any interruptions." Ash explained as Zygarde was currently up to something while also trying to heal what the Storm King has done to the surrounding area. As for what it was up to without needing any interruptions, that was yet to be seen or explained at all, but Twilight could only assume that it was a good thing.
"This is getting out of hand. Like I said before, this ends now!" The Storm King exclaimed, raising his staff into the air as he saw how wild this starting to get. Refusing to let it escalate from here, he would unleash plenty of power from his staff, shooting a beam into the air. Once again, he was about to greatly alter the landscape.
And the effects were already starting to show. Below everyone, the ground started to split open, interrupting the battles happening down there. Pheromosa was kicking her way through some of the Storm Creatures, assisted by Milotic's Hydro Pump. The powerful kicks of the Lissome Pokemon plus a grand stream of water were truly devastating as the Hydro Pump would also target the large chunk of rock the Storm King had made.
Sceptile had used Frenzy Plant, summoning these large roots to either smack or restrain the Storm Creatures. He was backed up by the Golurk, who would muscle their way through the Storm Creatures who were plentiful here at the Storm King's Castle. Audino would be the one to heal those injured in any way, using Heal Pulse to do so while Fluttershy tended to them.
Goh's Cinderace would jump on the heads of Storm Creatures, causing some of them fall to down just from the sheer leg strength it was exhibiting. For the Storm Creatures, it was nothing but brute force when it came to dealing with them. Simple but straightforward.
However, very soon, they would notice how the ground was cracking. Rarity gasped as she would stumble and wobble with the ground below her opening up. On top of that, the corrupted energy of Zygarde was within it, only adding to that intensity. Those who battled on the ground were met with this ground-shaking event, interrupting their actions. The same went for the Storm Creatures who were not exempt from their own ruler's power. This was something that affected everyone after all. However, those in the air were completely fine, exempt from this issue and there were quite a lot of them. But they would have to get close to the issue to save their friends who were struggling to stay stable while the ground was coming apart, creating chasms and large gaps as Fire and Lightning would start violently flying out.
"Hold on!" Rainbow Dash swooped in, saving Rarity from an incoming burst of lightning in the nick of time. Rainbow Dash's tail was clipped by the lightning, receiving a burn. She yelped, seeing her tail smoking from the clip. She feared what would happen if the lightning actually got her.
Pheromosa tried running as fast as she could, but someone as fast as her was unable to find any balance whatsoever. Milotic had to slither so she was already at a disadvantage here. Fluttershy took flight, hovering over the air to avoid the cracks, but thanks to the Fire and Lightning, very soon, those in the air wouldn't be safe.
The Golurk were struck by rising flames, immune to the lightning but not the flames. They would cry out after receiving a vicious burn that was strong enough to even bypass their Ground-Type. These were the flames of Reshiram after all, who was said to hold the most powerful Fire out of any Pokemon out there. Zekrom's Lightning was also said to be the strongest Lightning any Pokemon could generate and the way it tore through the atmosphere was backing it up greatly.
Sceptile grabbed onto Applejack, quickly using his vines to fly over to the castle to avoid the failing ground below. But along the way, the lightning and fire would fly up, nearly catching the Forest Pokemon. The Frenzy Plants he made have already been absolutely demolished by the Fire and Lightning so if either struck him, it would spell trouble.
All the while, the laughter of the Storm King could be heard. Another batch of Fire and Lightning would keep flying out of the cracks as some of them were going straight for Celaeno, who was on the back of her Pidgeot at the moment, holding her sword out. She looked down as her body was being coloured by an orange and blue energy while also heating up just from being near these elements.
But intercepting an incoming stream of Fire and Lightning, were the ones who originally possessed it. Reshiram and Zekrom appeared, unleashing their own Fire and Lightning at the ones the Storm King had generated. They clashed with these opposing yet similar elements right as they were about to reach Celaeno.
Reshiram and Zekrom would be the ones to put a stop to these destructive elements that are originally theirs. They were certainly strong enough to do so.
"Reshiram, use Fusion Flare on that spiral of flames!" Celestia bellowed as Reshiram used Fusion Flare on a spiral of flames that tore open the ground, leaving a large hole behind. This spiral was approaching Pinkie Pie who was backed against the wall. But thankfully, the unforgiving flames had been taken about by welcoming flames, saving Pinkie Pie who let out a great sigh of relief unlike any other she's done so far.
"Zekrom, use Bolt Strike!"Zekrom crashed right into a lightning storm with Bolt Strike, encasing himself in an equally powerful storm of electricity to match its power. Because of those two crystals, whatever the Storm King did was considered to be comparable to a Legendary Pokemon.
What Zygarde was currently doing was using its power on the various altered lands that it could see. But it wasn't alone in this endeavour. Helping heal the land were Celestia, Luna plus the Sea Temple. And underneath them all were the Hippogriffs. By using the Pearl, they assisted Zygarde in repairing the land as this damage would affect the sea as well. In fact, it already has.
The pearl could be seen glowing underneath, just below Zygarde. The way it was giving it power was by sending wisps into its body, boosting the Order Pokemon. The Samiyans showed up, still staying at sea despite the fierce water tornado that the Storm King had summoned. And to help Zygarde, they were using the power of the Sea Temple Crystals. Way more than what the Storm King currently had. They stayed away from the battle, opting to help Zygarde instead.
"Yeesh. Glad I'm not involved with that," Capper said as this whole time, he was in the Grand Equestria, not fond of getting involved with this roughhousing. He and his Pokemon witnessed everything that has happened so far during this battle. Risen landscapes, elemental events, massive Dragons and more. It was all rather perplexing to the eyes.
"Share it all with Zygarde," Alo said while the crystals were flowing next to the Order Pokemon. "With the crystals, we can repair what was been lost."
Zygarde did indeed appreciate the help from the Sea Temple residents. There were plenty of unfamiliar faces here. The only faces it knew were that of Ash and Pikachu and that was about it. No one else. But the fact that many of them were friends of Ash, Zygarde could put its full trust into all of them.
The Tundra that the Storm King made was being reversed, returning to what it used to be. Another part of the Sea. The ice was melting away, reverting as water to make the process easier. There were other locations that needed more than just melting to stop them. All the while, Zygarde was gaining power. By doing this, Zygarde grew in strength and it wasn't from the Sea Temple Crystals. It was Zygarde's own power. Or rather, its ability.
Back at the Storm King's Castle, the Storm King still stood at the top of this huge chunk of rock just to appear above them all. And he certainly seemed powerful right now. With so much power, it was easy to see why he had to be stopped at once. But it was mainly the staff they had to worry about.
"I'm almost on top of the world here!" He boasted once more. "And the best part is that Ash came right to me! Too bad for you, Tempest!" With his shout, he would whip up a storm of lightning that would strike at his own castle. Ash held onto his hat during the fierce thunderstorms happening around the castle.
"Ash. All we need to do is deal with that staff." Twilight said. "That's all that matters. I don't know where the two crystals are but we can worry about that later.
"The staff? Got it? In that case...Cut!" Ash raised his arm, giving out a command. But the Storm King expected Pikachu to be the one who pulled it off. However, Pikachu simply stood there, doing nothing. This confused the Storm King as he was unsure as to who Ash was speaking to.
But that was answered instantly once the Storm King heard someone else descending from above. He looked up to see none other than Greninja making an entrance. By forming two kunais of energy, Greninja was going straight for the staff. The Storm King staffed once Greninja came down, barely avoiding it by running out of the way. Greninja only ended up hitting the air.
"Oh, you almost got me!" The Storm King gasped. "Almost..."
"Man! I was for sure he was gonna be caught off guard!" Ash hit his fist into his palm. "But we've got other ways. And that's by charging right at you."
"Your Greninja?" Twilight gasped, amazed to see Greninja here again. This place was now most definitely crowded. The Storm King looked behind him, hearing the sound of his destructive work being reversed. Zygarde was healing the ecosystem, having enough time to do so.
Previously, Zygarde was just pursuing the Storm King, aiming to take out the source of the problem and then handle healing the world. But with Ash and his friends here, Zygarde could leave it to them while it heals the world. The Storm King knew he would have to rebuild what Zygarde was remaking after this and he wasn't about to let Ash, Twilight and even Tempest stop him.
"Let's go, Greninja! Full Power!" At that moment, Ash would take the opportunity to go all out with Greninja, making the Storm King's ears perk up for a moment.
"Greninjaaaa!" Together, they wound unify their spirits as a pillar of water shot down on Greninja. Ash and Greninja screamed together as Tempest Shadow shielded her eyes from this sudden phenomenon. It was none other than the Bond Phenomenon of course.
And emerging from the pillar of water was Ash-Greninja. In this form, Greninja's skin turns a lighter shade of blue, while his face gains red stripes and his cheeks and side fins turn black, changing shape to resemble Ash. The Storm King blinked for a moment, unsure of what just happened, but he wasn't about to let it bother him.
"Pssh. Whatever!" The Storm King laughed before using his staff once more. Zekrom's Lightning flew out once more.
"Cut!"
"Grenin!" Once more, those weapons of energy formed in Greninja's hands as he would slash them at the lightning. And in this form, his strength had been heightened. The lightning had been cut through by Greninja, blowing up right afterwards. But the explosion did not send Greninja flying.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack! Greninja, Aerial Ace!"
"Pika!"Together, Pikachu and Greninja took off, moving at confounding speeds. Pikachu had the edge, moving ahead of Greninja and appearing in front of the Storm King. He smacked right into the staff, being the first to hit it at last. The Storm King yelped before using the power of the staff to summon a pulse of fire which would knock Pikachu away.
"Ja!" Following up from Pikachu's attack was Greninja who would also target the staff, attempting to kick it right at the top. Protecting himself and the staff, the Storm King used the power of the Sea Temple Crystals to form a light shield. Greninja's leg struck into the shield, trying to push through it with all of his might. Ash was doing the same, synchronizing his movements with the Storm King.
"Dazzling Gleam! Dark Pulse!"
Assisting Ash-Greninja in breaking through that shield was a double Dazzling Gleam from Espeon and Togekiss. Together, they would unleash a storm of rainbows that bombarded the shield. Adding to that was Absol's Dark Pulse, which went in contrast with the Dazzling Gleam but shared just as much power as it. These rainbows and darkness, combined with Ash-Greninja's Aerial Ace, shattered the shield, making the Storm King stumble back.
"Sneasler, use Close Combat!"
"Iron Tail, Pikachu!"
"Ninetales, use Flare Blitz! Minccy, Tri Attack!" Another string of attacks were incoming as the group would not stop for a moment. It started with Cinccno using Tri Attack, sending the three elements towards the Storm King. However, those elements were quickly cancelled out once the Storm King summoned both Fire and Lightning. Just those two were enough to take out Tri Attack, even destroying the third sphere.
Rushing through the smoke of elements Pikachu and Sneasler, getting up close and personal with the Storm King. That is until the Storm King used Zygarde's power to form a chunk of rock, shielding himself. Pikachu's Iron Tail and Sneasler's Close Combat smashed the rocks in front of them as they were not slowing down for anything right now. More and more rock formations were formed, forcing Pikachu and Sneasler to smash their way through them just to reach the Storm King.
Ninetales cloaked himself in a fierce blaze of fire before launching himself off the ground. He became a flaming comet, breaking through the rest of the rocks that the Storm King made. The Storm King would quickly shoot out a stream of lightning, trying to stop Ninetales in his tracks. The lightning met with the Flare Blitz, initiating a clash. Ninetales growled, trying his best to break through.
But it was at that moment that the Storm King had used the little bit of Rift Magic he managed to gain. And by using it, he would summon a tornado from underneath the balcony floor. The tornado would lift Ninetales up, ending his Flare Blitz as it was large enough to cover his whole body.
And with this tornado suddenly appearing, Ash and the others felt the pressures as they were inbound to being lifted from the floor as well. Cinccino was already leaving the floor thanks to her small body. The same went for Pikachu.
The Storm King laughed, immune to the tornado that he had just summoned. Twilight tried holding onto something but the balcony at this point was ruined, having no handles to grab onto. It was only the large chunk of rock that the Storm King stood on. But making sure she wouldn't be sent flying was Absol along with Togekiss. But that would be difficult with this powerful tornado appearing.
But this was more than just some tornado. The Storm King added Fire and Lightning to it, making it stronger than before and far more destructive. It could now burn and fry, shooting out lightning bolts in random directions with all of this rapid spinning.
"Ash! Twilight!" Pinkie Pie bellowed, looking up at the powerful tornado. All of their friends watched the scuffle on the castle and how things were just escalating. The Fire Lightning Tornado would absolutely destroy the balcony, making the large chunk of earth fall. But not before grabbing some massive rubble, adding one more element to it.
The lightning and fire would scorch the earth with intense heat while also picking others off the ground. The Storm Creatures were being lifted up as even the Golurk, who were in the air, were being pulled over by the Tornado. The ground of the Storm King's territory was at its lowest right now, filled with wide chasms that were brimming with Zygarde's corrupted energy.
The Tornado would then reach the clouds, swirling them around and imbuing the Fire and Lightning. The clouds would then shoot out fire and lightning, hitting the lands near and far, bringing about an unusual weather. The Storm King was truly whipping up a fierce storm, living up to his name.
Tempest Shadow was grabbed by Noivern, who was also struggling to keep its balance in the air. The Storm King made himself fly by using the power of the crystals, laughing at everything struggling. To him, victory had already been decided.
"Water Shuriken! Thunderbolt!"
"Use Shadow Ball, Eve!"
"Pikaaa...Chuuuu!" Together, Pikachu, Espeon and Ash-Greninja worked together to break apart this tornado if they could. Pikachu unleashed a strong blast of 100,000 volts, followed by Espeon releasing an orb of shadows. As for Greninja, by syncing with Ash, he grabbed the shuriken on its back, throwing it. The shuriken would suddenly turn red before growing in size.
Together, their attacks struck the Tornado of Elements, trying to destroy it before it causes any more damage. Water Shuriken had cut the Tornado in half while Thunderbolt and Shadow destroyed what remained of it. However, while they succeeded in destroying the tornado, the clouds above were still holding those elements and the balcony was no more. The ground was still in shambles, having large chasms, making this entire area one big hazard.
Ash and the others started falling from high up with Noivern and Togekiss having lost their balance thanks to the tornado. The Storm King taunted them by pulling one of his eyes down, revelling in this. Ash dug into his pockets, searching for Dragonite's Poke Ball as quickly as he could before the worst could happen. But just then, catching them from falling were none other than Gardevoir and Darkrai. Gardevoir caught Ash, Pikachu and Greninja with Psychic while Darkrai managed to control the shadows, catching Tempest, Twilight and all of their Pokemon.
"You won't make it out of this one next!" The Storm King refused to let them get the chance to make a comeback, using more of the staff's power. He aimed it downwards which was a greater risk than anything else that he's done. This much power on the ground was bound to cause catastrophic damage.
"Pikachu, Makeshift Volt Tackle! Greninja, Aerial Ace!" Ash thrust his fist into the air while being levitated by Gardevoir.
"Absol, use Giga Impact! Ninetales, Flare Blitz! Togekiss, Sky Attack!"
Another combination of moves would be unleashed. And every single one of them would be direct attacks. Gardevoir was already expecting a massive outburst from this, so with her signal, she had Celestia formed a shield around the others, preparing for the worst. Pikachu and his friends were then launched into the air by Gardevoir's Psychic. Gardevoir gave them the best boost possible while Darkrai also used his shadows to shove some of them forward.
A flash of energy would go off once many of these attacks were brought into the fray. The Storm King's attack encountered this combination, making a rupturing shockwave that shattered all the windows in the Storm King's Castle. The skies lit up thanks to this clash as the end result was a tie. None of the attacks managed to go through at all. However, what did end up happening was a great outburst that Gardevoir already predicted. Everyone braced themselves as this outburst went far, tearing apart the rest of the Storm King's Castle.
The shields Celestia made for everyone here were effective as she even shielded the Storm Creatures, not wanting anyone to suffer this much damage. Everything went white for a moment before returning to normal, showing the outcome of such an outburst.
Ash and the others were soon dropped to the ground with some of them hitting it hard. They were now close to the destructive ground which was raging with the elements. Even the Storm King had taken some damage as he had landed on the huge chunk of rock that dropped back on the ground. Reshiram and Zekrom had also cushioned the blow for many others, taking massive damage. But for these two mighty Dragons, they were still standing, even if they grunted for a while, having smoke exuding out of their bodies.
"Oh, man..." Ash groaned while standing back up with Greninja. "D-Did it work?"
"Pikachu...?"
As Ash wondered that, the Storm King held onto his head as his hands were still on the staff. But even though he still had the staff, it was very clear that he had taken major damage. He was not indestructible, even with the staff and its power.
"Oh, that smarts..." The Storm King grumbled while getting back up. "But you're still a bit off, Equestria. You can't get the job done at all. And you're too late to stop the damage I've done to the world."
"It's not too late. It never is." Ash begged to differ, standing alongside his Pikachu and Greninja. Twilight, who was still weak after having so much of her magic taken away, was soon helped up by Espeon. But it was clear she needed immediate healing, unable to handle any more of this.
In response to this great disturbance to the world, Zygarde's eyes flashed green. It had gathered enough power. Its main ability was finally active. And that ability was Power Construct. Backed up by the Sea Temple, it could finally go beyond what it currently was. Beyond 50%.
Many green lights would fly out of the Order Pokemon's body, flying into the air. They would then descend back into Zygarde, but this was with the intent of changing his form into something else. This whole time, it had been using 50% of what he was capable of. Now, it was time to add 50% more to reach its peak. A green pillar that broke through the skies, erasing the Fire and Lightning that the Storm King added into the clouds, returning them to how they were. And emerging from it was Zygarde's true form.
Zygarde Complete Forme had a large, humanoid body with a long tail similar to Zygarde 50% Forme's body. There were several flat protrusions around its head and triangular protrusions around its neck. These protrusions create a crown shape. It certainly looked like a rather royal figure once it showed up. Each shoulder has two serpentine wings protruding from it. The wings all have an undulating pattern and a hexagon near the tip. Blue on the right side and red on the left.
There were multiple white protrusions on its body, three on each hand acting as claws, one on each knee, and one and the front of each foot. Across its chest is a thin, zigzagging opening that fades between five colours: red, orange, white, cyan, and blue. The chest was open, revealing five cores of each colour. Above this opening were two large green, hexagonal marks. And after making an appearance, Zygarde took flight, letting everyone witness its true form.
"W-What is that?!" The Storm King said, absolutely flabbergasted. That did not look like the Zygarde he saw before. It had the same colour scheme but it looked like a completely new Pokemon. Rainbow Dash just had to take her Pokedex out for this.
"Zygarde. The Order Pokemon. Complete Forme. This is Zygarde’s form at times when it uses its overwhelming power to suppress those who endanger the ecosystem. It has enough power to overwhelm even Xerneas or Yveltal."
"That thing's stronger than Xerneas and Yveltal?!" Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped.
"I can see it..." Rarity nodded. She was not arguing with it. Just looking at Zygarde was enough to tell everyone how powerful it is. This was a Top Tier Titan in the Pokemon World, being the Guardian of the Ecosystem and everything.
Now at the peak of its power, Complete Forme Zygarde was about to distribute immense punishment to the Storm King. And that was by using Core Enforcer. In response, the Storm King would try matching Zygarde's power, however, he still had 50%. Not enough to handle Zygarde's full power as everyone already knew how this was going to end.
"Bah! You don't scare me!" Feeling extra confident, the Storm King used everything the staff had to offer. All the power he has ever gathered was unleashed in one powerful blast. It was certainly pretty to look at but absolutely destructive. And the same can be said for Zygarde's Core Enforcer.
Zygarde Complete Forme opens the mouth on its chest and forms an orb of energy in front of it. It then fires a beam of multicoloured energy from the orb, planning to end this once and for all. It was already at its best so there was no point in prolonging this as the beam would form a light green Z-shape. A beam so loud it ripped the sound barrier, causing a sonic boom with green colours flying everywhere.
"Now's our chance! Thunderbolt! Water Shuriken!" Ash took this time to attack the Storm King's staff while had the chance, making sure it was never fired again.
"Pika...Chuuu!" While the Storm King shot out his attack, Pikachu and Greninja took action. A smaller shuriken was thrown this time, flying alongside Pikachu's Thunderbolt. And right as the Storm King's beam was about to meet with Zygarde's Core Enforcer, it fizzled out instantly.
This was thanks to Thunderbolt and Water Shuirken knocking the staff out of his hands. The Storm King gasped once he realized what had just happened. He then turned his head to face Ash and his Pokemon but the second he did so, Core Enforcer had landed. The Storm King was completely engulfed by the beam, as the ground would be drawn with a Z-Shape. Afterwards, it would explode, ending with flair.
The Staff rolled on the ground as the body of the Storm King was still there. However, his body had been turned to stone. And not in the same way that Yveltal turns others to stone. He was still alive. But right now, he was completely petrified, out of commission and unable to move.
Zygarde would then lower its massive arms, doing what needed to be done at last. Everyone looked over in wonder as the fierce skies would simmer down. The energy that was brimming in the chasms would also die down, bringing silence to the area for a moment.
But even though everything was silent, it was clear that the Storm King had been defeated. And with the King defeated, that was always the main deciding factor for a battle. Tempest Shadow couldn't believe it all. At that moment, everything she had said to Twilight prior had been thrown out of the window. She witnessed the extent of friendship and what it can do. Having friends from all across the world, whether they were average citizens or even Legends could bring something wonderful. And it showed.
The Storm King has been defeated. Zygarde had reached its Complete Forme, defeating the Storm King in just one hit as the Staff of Sacanas sat there on the desecrated ground. Ash and Greninja had ended their Bond Phenomenon, resulting in Ash sitting down after a rather wild few minutes.
The Moon had finally risen on this land, shining down on it as this all took place in just one day. Seeing their leader defeated, it was only natural for the Storm Creatures to give up immediately. The Hippogriffs rose up from the sea, watching the aftermath. Their eyes did not deceive them. The Storm King, who had once attacked their home just to retrieve the pearl, had lost, bringing solace to them. They were right to count on Ash and his friends.
"I think that's it," Twilight said, walking up to the Staff. The energy that the staff had absorbed was fizzling and crackling, out of the Storm King's grasp. Even after it was out of his grasp, all the power ever gathered was still brimming within. "I thought about destroying it but now I'm not so sure."
"It's best not to," Celestia replied. "Everything in it needs to be returned first. And as for the staff itself, it comes from this world's long history. It's only because of the Storm King that it was used for such nefarious ways."
"I see. Well, keeping it elsewhere is the way to go. Right, Tempest?" Twilight spoke to Tempest Shadow before passing on the Staff of Sacanas to Princess Celestia, letting her handle it.
"Hm? Oh, right. It is best that you keep it away from anyone else. I've seen what it can do even before the quest for Zygarde." Tempest Shadow added.
"Wait, she helped you out?" Rainbow Dash uttered, aiming her hoof at Tempest Shadow who was the same pony to capture Twilight.
"She did. We talked for a bit and I saved her life. I saw what happened in the past and how she lost her horn. She left Ponyville all those years ago and ended up here. I was lucky to know about her."
"You're a Ponyville resident as well? You're much older than us!" Rarity gasped as Tempest Shadow could be considered her senior, predating the Mane 6 in age.
"Apologies for what happened..." Tempest Shadow apologized. "Really, I only did it for the sake of wanting my horn back. I truly believed I would get it back this entire time. All those years working for the Storm King have gone to waste."
"Don't worry about it." Ash sighed. "All that matters is that it's over with now. Could've been way worse. Not sure what's gonna happen with the Storm King though. He's all stone."
"The same thing that we've done with the former Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta. He will be sent to Tartarus. And all the damage that's been done here can finally heal. That goes for everywhere the Black Crusade has hit." Celestia explained before looking over at Zygarde. "Many thanks for your assistance, Zygarde."
"It was great seeing you again, Zygarde. You too, Greninja. I knew you'd show up to stop something like this." Ash laughed while speaking to his old friends. "But, I guess we gotta say goodbye for now. You've still got the Rock from the Kalos to deal with and the rest of the world to heal."
"I can start here. Healing the world will not take that long compared to the Rock." Zygarde replied. "It has been nice seeing you again, Ash. I would love to stay behind but Greninja and I must heal all the damage that has been done."
"I got it. But since we met up again, I know for a fact we'll have another run-in." Ash stood up. "It's getting late and I'm pretty hungry right now."
"I could go for some cake right about now. But before that, this has to be done." Celestia would then use the staff, tapping it on the ground and using it for the final time. Celestia would be the final user of the staff and her only act with it was reversing what had been gathered.
Out of the staff, a beautiful display of colours appeared, flowing into the air. Everything the Storm King had gathered up would fly out. Everyone watched as the magic and energy the Storm King took were finally leaving the staff. If left alone, someone could just pick it up and use all that power one day. It was best to empty it all out at once. And by doing so, Twilight's original magic returned to her.
While Reshiram and Zekrom were still at full strength, they received some more of their respective elements. Zygarde was in the same boat. As for everything else, the light from the two Sea Temple Crystals would shine brighter than everything else. Everything returned to how it was. For the most part. The damage to the landscape had already been done but that was why Zygarde was here.
"That should do the trick. Now to put this away." Celestia's work was done, bringing every form of energy back to their original wielders. "All that's left is for us to go home now. And this time, on safer seas."
"May I come with you?" Tempest Shadow asked. "Back to Equestria?"
"Well, of course you can come back. It's not like you're banished or anything." That was very much obvious, coming from Celestia. Tempest left Equestria on her own will. Celestia had nothing to do with it at all. She was always welcome back into Equestria as she was still a resident there. "And about your horn...That's what you want more than anything, right?"
"There should be a way to fix it, isn't there? Is there something at Equestria?"
"It can happen right now. If one universe can fix your counterpart's horn, then we can do it as well." Luna said, already knowing the answer to that. "You'll find it back at Equestria. Right, Twilight?"
"It's all in a cauldron." Twilight grinned. "Speaking of which...I could go for something in a cauldron to eat right about now. Can we go now?"
"Sure! You can tag along too if you want, Greninja!" Ash would already bolt off, heading for the Grand Equestria along with Pikachu.
"Pikachu!"
"I hope there's some food on board..." Applejack sighed, heading back to the ship. "Please tell me you got something, Pinkie Pie."
"As for this...That'll be yet another prisoner of Tartarus." Celestia approached the Storm King's statue, amazed that he withstood Zygarde's Core Enforcer and the worst outcome was him becoming a stone statue. Tempest Shadow watched as the Storm King was picked up by one of the Golurk, who would carry him over to Grand Equestria, witnessing a part of her life coming to an end.
A majority of it was spent working for the Storm King. Now, that part of her life was over. And a new one was about to begin and it would bring her back to the place she grew up at. In a way, it already reared its head when she encountered Sneasler and Noivern 4 years ago. Though small in comparison to her previous years, much like everyone's encounter with the Strange and Wonderful Creatures known as Pokemon, it would bring something new. Something wonderfully new.
As for Zygarde, it already went to work, taking flight. It was off to heal the world as the effects of the Black Crusade have not been dealt with yet. There was a lot to clean up on but for Zygarde, what would usually take months for someone else, would take a few days or less easily.
Everyone would get to witness Zygarde's power to restore the world while entering the Grand Equestria. The Sea had taken considerable damage during this event but with Zygarde's power, that changed immediately. By using Core Enforcer, Zygarde had manipulated the seas themselves, repairing any holes that were made while also affecting the lands near them. Ecosystems that have been trashed were being restored to their original image, even if Zygarde has no idea what they look like.
Tempest Shadow was a bit reluctant to get on board of the Grand Equestria, still feeling like she didn't really belong on it. But it was thanks to Ash giving her a boost that she got on board, watching Zygarde go to work. The Order Pokemon would then fly off in the distance, continuing its work to heal the world.
"I can't believe we tried capturing such a Pokemon..." Tempest Shadow gawked at Zygarde. "What were we thinking?"
"It happens a lot to Legendary Pokemon, Tempest." Pinkie Pie added. "It's natural, honestly."
"Actually, that's not my real name," Tempest replied, revealing that she had another name which was her true name. Tempest Shadow was merely something she chose after leaving Equestria, making sure she became a new pony entirely. Back home at Equestria, she went by another name that was still in the Ponyville Files.
"Oooh! What is it?" Pinkie Pie asked, curious as to what this true name could be. But judging by Tempest Shadow's appearance, she and many others were expecting something equally intimidating.
"It's 'Fizzlepop Berrytwist'." She said quietly, rather embarrassed by such a name. It was not intimidating at all. Her appearance may be fierce but that was only thanks to age and the environment she was in this entire time. Her true name matched how she was back at Ponyville.
"Okay! That is the most awesome name ever!" And to Pinkie Pie, that was a great name in general.
Time passed and the damage that had been done to the world was fading away. All thanks to Zygarde. The ecosystems were being brought back by the Order Pokemon, allowing plenty of Pokemon to retrieve their homes once more. And speaking of retrieval, the People of the Water placed the two crystals back into the treasure room with the others.
At this point, suffering two attacks in the modern day that involved stealing their crystals would've forced them to go into hiding once more, just like in the old days. But not anymore. The People of the Water were done hiding. They would not conceal themselves anymore from the rest of the world. They had Ash to thank for that ever since he became the King of the Sea.
And speaking of the Sea, the Hippogriffs swam through the seas, following the Grand Equestria back to where it came from. Along the way, Pinkie Pie spoke with Skystar, catching her up on things. Others would speak with the Hippogriffs, getting the opportunity to converse with them.
The Badlands were also about to undergo a change. With the Storm King gone, it was no longer under his reign. While this news hasn't yet reached the Badlands, it would thanks to what Capper has witnessed. And the land beyond the Badlands, Mount Aris, would finally be allowed to thrive, free from the terrifying presence of the Storm King.
The old city that the Hippogriffs once possessed could be restored and they were free to explore the surface. All of this happened not too long after the Black Crusade. They were only a few days apart from each other. And now that they were both over, it felt like something new was coming over the horizon. Ash's eyes lit up as he could already feel it. He wasn't sure what it was but he was looking forward to it.
In this Grander World, there was always something to look forward to. And when looking up at the Silver Moon, new adventures were on the horizon.
At last. It was back to Ponyville. Mostly everyone was asleep over at Ponyville aside from some nocturnal Pokemon and those at the Pokemon House waiting for Fluttershy's return. And when returning to Ponyville, Twilight already went straight for the promise she made to Tempest Shadow.
And that was by restoring her horn. Over at her castle, the Cauldron of Rift Magic was used. Twilight took some of the magic from the Cauldron, using it to elevate her own Rift Magic which was still mediocre at best. With this, she could do more with her magic and that was by targeting Tempest Shadow's broken horn.
Tempest stood there, closing her eyes as she thought this would hurt, similar to how the Ursa Minor broke it. But once the bolt of Rift Magic struck her horn, there was no pain at all. Instead, the opposite happened. Tempest opened one eye to see her horn slowly being brought back. To her amazement, this cosmic power had brought back what was once lost. Now she was a lot like her Universe 6 Counterpart who already had her horn back.
Tempest Shadow, also known as Fizzlepop Berrytwist, had her horn back. Good as new. And with some extra shine. Twilight sighed before pushing the cauldron aside. She was rather amazed that there was little that could reverse a unicorn's broken horn, but it was similar to how some pegasi with broken wings or lacking the ability to fly could exist. There were some things in the world that even magic struggles with.
Tempest Shadow was grateful for this without a doubt. And on top of that, the fact that Ponyville was the place where she got her horn back was rather perplexing to think about. She left here because she felt like an outcast and unwanted. Rather ironic that this was the place that rekindled her happiness.
Before, she would've rather stayed away from this place and only see it as another location for the Storm King to conquer. Now, she was glad to be back here. A lot has changed. And while she has been caught up with the existence of Pokemon, there were so many other Pokemon that she has yet to know about and what has happened to the rest of the world beyond the Badlands. For anyone within the World of Pokemon, there was always a place to start and it was never too late.
It was a new day here at Equestria. And at this moment, Twilight Sparkle was gearing up to head to the Pokemon School today. The only Pokemon School that exists in Equestria with the teachers constantly being in and out, having other jobs. To learn about the endless world of Pokemon was a dream come true for her. Her pool of knowledge could expand with no limit in sight.
She leapt out of her home with a huge grin on her face as the first pony she saw ended up being her good friend Fluttershy, alongside her partner Audino. "Fluttershy! Off to the Pokemon School today?"
"Oh, well. Not today, Twilight." The pegasi shook her head, skipping out on today. "No one's really going to be there at all."
"Oh, there'll be some students flocking in for sure. Some still want to learn more about Pokemon, especially the young ones." Twilight added. "There might be some teachers there as well."
"Not right now. The Pokemon School hasn't been that populated recently. All the teachers are off doing what they normally do." Fluttershy explained in further detail.
"Huh. So...it's practically devoid of life." Twilight pouted, thinking about how the Pokemon School would be with barely anyone in it.
"I'm sure you'll find somepony there. I just came to give you a heads-up, Twilight. But I know you'll go anyway. You always look like you have something to learn after all."
"That's true. But it's always fun when it's with someone else. Back then, I always used to study on my own but studying and learning with others is much better. I guess I have Eve and the others on my side." Twilight would then pet the Sun Pokemon on the head, always appreciating her company. "What about Rainbow Dash and the others? Will they be there?"
"They're doing their own things. But have fun at the Pokemon School anyway. I'm sure you can teach yourself. We've seen a lot after all, haven't we?"
"Done a lot too. Thanks to everything that's happened, we can make new history books. It's not every day that you ever see new history books show up. And honestly, I'd love to be the first to write all about it!" Twilight's eyes lit up. The thought of writing about the new history of this Grander World was thrilling.
She pictured herself now. Her prized possession was that special book which detailed every event that involved the Pokemon World. From the day the two worlds met to when they merged as one and beyond. She would cover every major event possible, no matter how rough it was, making sure that the true history was known to everyone. Her magnum opus. Twilight just couldn't wait as she could get started at any time.
"I can see it now!" She squeed. "The Memory Book I made will be a good baseline for it. And I know for a fact Roxanne will be there since she loves learning just as much as me!"
Canterlot. The Pokemon School.
Just as Fluttershy said, it was very much absent of many students. The Princess of Friendship stood at the entrance of the Pokemon School as its doors were open. But the amount of sound coming from it might as well be non-existent. Only the sound of the wind passed through.
The Pokemon School has been rather empty recently with students coming in less and less over time, with the student count reaching a very low amount a few weeks ago. The absence of many involved the Teachers doing their normal jobs in their respective regions, cities and towns plus the students being busy with other things. Twilight had plenty of time and chose to spend it here at the Pokemon School, but it felt off without many being present.
Twilight went into each classroom, seeing if she could find someone. However, the classrooms were also devoid of life, having their lights turned off and the objects completely untouched. Twilight remembered how active this school was with many of the students regularly causing a stir. After all, a majority of them have already gone to normal school prior to the two worlds meeting. They may have matured but that was only outside of school.
But eventually, she came across a teacher here and it ended up being Roxanne, as she expected. The library was the most active place here at the moment. Well, as active as it can be, having a few ponies here.
"Twilight. I knew you'd show up." Roxanne said to the Princess of Friendship. Just like how Twilight knew Roxanne would be, Roxanne expected Twilight to be here.
"It's been empty for the past few days and weeks. Not many have been coming over. But that's to be expected." Roxanne already saw the reasons as to why this place was empty. "It's not that they don't like it but because they've already had a head start. You and many across Equestria have had your run-in with Pokemon and learned a lot about them in the beginning, right?"
"That's true. It's thanks to Ash that I got to learn plenty about them. Plus, the Pokedex is a big help as well, telling me a lot about a Pokemon in just a few seconds."
"Perhaps if the Pokemon School was built earlier, it'd be more lively." Roxanne shrugged. "Maybe. You've already learned a lot, Twilight. There are still things about the Pokemon World you can learn here but...it looks like everyone prefers to learn more about Pokemon in a more active sense than studying."
"I guess." Twilight sighed, shifting her eyes to the side. "It is more fun to know more about Pokemon in that way. Getting out there, exploring the many regions and what kind of history they leave behind. Plus, the Legendary Pokemon are better to learn about in person."
"Exactly. Truth be told, before our worlds met, our Pokemon Schools always started with us at a young age. But for your world, even the children get first-hand experience of Pokemon. I can't really say there's much I can teach you that you can find out there in the world, Twilight. That's why half of the teachers rarely show up here despite being chosen for the job. I don't think I've seen Jasmine here once."
"Yeah...Its a shame. But I do prefer the first-hand experience." Twilight would take a seat, plopping her head on the table. "I could just head out there with my friends and see the rest of the world. And it was way easier with the gateways being so frequent."
"If it makes you feel better, you can always wait for the next generation of students so that they can learn about Pokemon." Roxanne sat down with her. "After all, Cynthia entrusted you with a position here at the Pokemon School, didn't she?"
"She did. And I was excited when I heard about it." Twilight smiled, thinking back to what Cynthia said to her. She was essentially passing down the torch, seeing potential in what Twilight could teach with how fast she learns and how dedicated she was to knowledge. It was at this moment that something was sparking in Twilight Sparkle's mind. "And about that... the world is filled with so many different creatures who know nothing about Pokemon. It's been 4 years and things will feel new even to this day."
"Espeon?"
"We still have a lot to learn. Other creatures might not feel too comfortable with Pokemon just yet. But if they were to come to the Pokemon School...they could really be caught up to speed." Twilight made a prolonged gasp, realizing what she could do. "Oh, that's it! Do you think I could speak to Cynthia at the moment?!"
"Good luck with that. She's probably elsewhere away from Sinnoh right now." Roxanne shrugged. "But I'm guessing you want to grab that torch she passed down onto you now."
"More than ever. I can really make this school expand beyond just having ponies as students. This school's already EEA approved and it's in good condition despite all the attacks that have happened in the past weeks."
"Hm. It has avoided a lot, hasn't it?" Roxanne looked around the school, noticing how it lacked very few repairs at all. "If you're going to be taking over now, that means you won't be just a teacher. Me and the others spoke to you about how we won't be here for too long and we'd mainly show up from time to time. You'll need new teachers."
"Right, new teachers. Uh..." Twilight grit her teeth, trying to think of some. "I could just wait for Starswirl to finish solving a way to make new gateways but that's taking a while, obviously. You did say how we could teach since we're learning so much so quickly."
"It looks like you're figuring things out on your own. I can leave the rest to you. You can find new teachers for the school and new students when it comes to knowing about Pokemon, I'm sure of it."
"Right!" Twilight sat up as her eyes were still sparkling with excitement. Something like this got her giddy like a little foal. "I'd better get started then. And I know just how to get the word out!"
Twilight Sparkle would take the helm. She would be in charge of the Pokemon School which was rather aimless at the moment. But very soon it wouldn't be. The new students who will show up here will be from all over Equestria as always but it will not be limited to ponies like before. This time, it would expand to the rest of the creatures out there. Changelings, Dragons, Griffons, Hippogriffs and potentially even more. The Pokemon School would be the best place in Equestria to go to for knowledge on these Strange and Wonderful Creatures, which seemed endless.
The school already had a layout but something larger needed to be made for it. After all, various creatures will be showing up here so the size had to be increased to occupy many of them and the ones later down the road to come.
Ponyville.
"Oh, so you're gonna be in charge now?" Ash was told about this, showing up to Ponyville today. The first thing that Twilight said to him was about the Pokemon School.
"That's right. But I need all the help I can get. New teachers to fill in those needed spots. I'm already planning to invite as many creatures across Equestria thanks to the bonds we've shared. Pinkie Pie can talk to the Yaks for me, no doubt. The Changelings might be up for it if either one of us speaks to them."
"Wait, you're not gonna make me a teacher too, are you?!" Ash pulled back as he wasn't really suited for the role of a teacher.
"Don't be silly. With you, you'd probably take the students out too many times for them to be inside. I mean, they'd get things done either way but still. I have a new Pokemon School in mind. I'll completely change its image and it really make it impact the world! Or at least, Equestria. The other regions have their own schools after all. As for teachers...I really don't know who I can choose. Roxanne and the others will be too busy in their own home regions plus I'm looking for teachers that reside here in Equestria. Makes it easier for them to travel."
"I'm sure you'll find someone. Not sure who though." Ash scratched his hair. "I can chime in and help you find someone."
"That's great, Ash! It's time to scout some new teachers!" Twilight rubbed her hooves, eager to find new teachers who can fill those roles. Of course, Ponyville was the first place they would start. If there was one place that was exposed to Pokemon early on, it was Ponyville. Aside from Canterlot, this was the one place in Equestria that had a massive pool of Pokemon Knowledge in just 4 years, all thanks to Ash and his friends coming over.
Ash and Twilight would go around Ponyville, asking whoever they could fill in. Twilight would already have a poster, requesting new Teaching Roles that were available and the vision of a new, revamped Pokemon School. But already, in the first few minutes, offers were turned down by ponies who were too busy already.
The duo would go around the town, asking how anyone would feel being a teacher for the Pokemon School since some of them used to be students. Obviously, they rarely show up there anymore since they've learned so much already so anything standard wouldn't really add to much. But as a teacher, they could use that knowledge to share it to others who are still trying to get used to the existence of Pokemon.
Even then, those potential candidates still had other jobs on their table, so they had to turn it down. But Ash and Twilight wouldn't give up there. They zipped across Ponyville, asking as many ponies as possible, hoping to find someone who would be willing to take the roles. But as they covered each part of Ponyville, no one took the offer.
On the bright side, it showed that Ponyville had a nice employment rate, but it also limited the potential number of teachers that could be at the Pokemon School. And then there were their closest friends who they went to as soon as possible.
"Ah, sorry. I can't fill in for that." Rainbow Dash was soon asked by her friends, only for her to turn down as well. "I'm looking forward to the Battle Frontier and when the Equestria League starts. My career as a Pokemon Trainer's my main goal."
"Eh, pass." Applejack also passed on it. "I think I'm good right now by staying here and working with my family."
"I have all these Pokemon and animals to take care of. I'd love to teach others but I can't leave them be for too long." Even Fluttershy was not up for it. The combination of Animals and Pokemon put a lot on her plate as she had to take care of all of them.
"Mmm...Sorry. I have two jobs to worry about." Rarity soon declined. She had to work at Carousel Boutique while also having a job at PokeStar Studios. She just couldn't be a Pokemon Teacher. "But if you're ever thinking about uniforms, I'd be glad to help with that."
"Me? A teacher? Hmm..." Pinkie Pie was soon asked next. And when asked, she sat there pondering, having her hoof on her chin as that question made her think. Should she or should she not become a teacher? Pinkie Pie genuinely had to think about it, being rather unresponsive for a while. At least she was the only one really thinking deeply about it.
"This is getting nowhere so far." Twilight sighed at the lack of offers being taken. Everyone just had something to do with too much on their plate. "This is just Ponyville. There are other places to choose from."
"Hmm..." Ash also went into a deep state of thought, doing what he could to assist Twilight. "It just has to be someone who knows a lot about Pokemon."
"The closest we had to someone here at Ponyville knowing a lot about Pokemon was...Emerald." Twilight said with a low tone, remembering Emerald Aura. Since she was a Rift Pony, her knowledge of the Pokemon World was vast. "Cold Colt couldn't accept it either. And I guess he's too young and already learning under me to really become a teacher."
"What about Jade then? She's a Rift Pony too, right?" Ash brought up Jade Skies.
"She is but she doesn't seem to have that same knowledge as the others. She didn't even know she was a Rift Pony for a long time." Even Jade Skies was a tough one to decide on. The only other Rift Pony out there that could help them was Obsidian, but he was in another universe at this point. "Alright. We might have to go beyond Ponyville then since we're having this much trouble."
"Hold on! I got it!" Before Twilight could leave, Ash hammered his fist into his hand, having one option in his mind. And that option involved him touching his chest. "What do you say, Sombra?"
"Sombra?!" Twilight's jaw dropped as her voice pierced the inside of SugarCube Corner. But it wasn't enough to break Pinkie Pie from her concentration. Just hearing Sombra being mentioned as a potential teacher made her shudder. Her trust in Sombra was still a bit shaky since he gave off such a menacing disposition. Compared to the others who have reformed, Sombra still carried that air of darkness with him. "A-Are you sure?"
"Me? A Teacher of Pokemon?" Sombra spoke through Ash.
"Yeah. I think you merged with me one or two years ago?" You know a lot since you've been journeying with me for a while, so I know you've got a lot of knowledge in there." Ash trusted Sombra, considering him a friend. He trusted him enough to have him be a teacher.
"You are correct on that. As if I'd ever ignore the existence of these powerful creatures." Sombra let out an intimidating chuckle before appearing out of Ash's body. A smoke left Ash's chest, revealing the Former King of the Crystal Empire. "I'd gladly take that offer. Really, you should have asked me first."
"Awesome! We got our first offer!" Ash cheered.
"Pikachu!"
"R-Right." Twilight stuttered before thinking to herself. "Why did it have to be him before anyone else? He still gives me the creeps and worries me."
"But! I would also like to make some demands. If you can meet them, that is." Sombra wanted something in return. Twilight shuddered at what he could possibly want from all of this.
"And now I've got someone else in mind!" Ash was quick to think of someone else. His brain was accelerating after choosing Sombra with some options coming up. "She's over at Canterlot and she's got a lot of free time on her hooves!"
"Who?" Twilight asked as Ash would soon leave SugarCube Corner, heading to Canterlot. Apparently, there was someone else there who could become a teacher. All the while, Pinkie Pie was still in a deep state of thought, thinking about it. She didn't even notice her friends leaving SugarCube Corner to find another teacher.
Canterlot. Canterlot Castle.
"Hm. You want me to fill in for that position?" The next pony they asked was at Canterlot and it was none other than the Alter-ego of Princess Luna who now had her own physical form and life. Nightmare Moon. Usually, she only appears in the shadows at night, being the most active. But in the day and afternoon, Nightmare Moon just hangs around. She is technically the Princess with the most free time on her hands despite being a part of Luna.
"Yeah, yeah. How does it sound?" Ash asked.
"Pika?"
"You know a lot about Pokemon too, right? You're still Luna after all. You and her share the same memories no matter what and when the Pokemon showed up in our world, you were still within Luna even after we defeated you. N-No offence." Twilight squeed, hoping she didn't agitate Nightmare Moon with that.
"It's fine. And yes. Our memories are shared. But it is clear she is the expert when it comes to these creatures. Not that I'm lacking anyway. I'll take your offer and use it to expand my knowledge as well." Nightmare Moon would soon take that offer as well, making her the second pick.
"This is going great right now!" Ash and Twilight would high-five/hoof each other after finding another teacher for this new Pokemon School.
"But! I would like to make some demands as well." Nightmare Moon smiled as she also had something in mind, just like Sombra. "I hope you can meet it."
"Uh, sure," Twilight replied with a slow nod. "Whatever it is...Now I just need some more teachers."
"How many do you need?" Celestia would suddenly appear, opening the doors to where Nightmare Moon was residing. That would be Luna's room which was also Nightmare Moon's by default.
"How many? Uh...I'm not sure actually." Twilight grumbled, unsure of how many teachers she would need. She wasn't sure if it would be the same as the Human Teachers or less. Or even more.
"There's a lot to cover when it comes to Pokemon. You will need a teacher for each possible subject that involves Battling, Breeding, History and more and two more teachers to fill in for either different days, weeks or just as substitutes." Celestia informed as she has her own school after all. Her School for Gifted Unicorns. It was easy to count on Celestia for help when it comes to schools.
"Right! And you'll be a lot of help, Princess Celestia! Do you know anyone else who'd be willing to join?"
"Oh, I do. I know lots of ponies who'd love to be teachers. Maybe not as a Pokemon Teachers but..." Celestia added as someone like her would have plenty of connections. "But it will take some time to get them involved and on board with this. You should make do with who you have and who else you have in mind until they can show up. Unless you already know about them."
"Um..." Ash wasn't sure who Celestia was referring to, unfortunately. "Nah. No clue."
"Pikachu."
"Alright then. Perhaps you can find some help up in the skies." Celestia looked up, referring to the nation that resides in the air. Pegalysium.
"Wait, Pegalysium?! Are you sure?!"
"Positive. King Paramount, Queen Luminary and I have been speaking for the past weeks about making it easier for Pegalysium and Equestrian Residents to meet with each other. For the most part, we have to travel as high as possible to reach it but we've come up with a solution to help us both."
"A quicker way to get to Pegalysium?! Oh, I gotta see this!" An eager Ash said, wanting to see this new path to Pegalysium.
"Would there be anyone over at Pegalysium who knows enough about Pokemon? I can't think of any..." Twilight pondered about that. "But it would not hurt to try. Pegalysium would be the next destination. And on top of that, potentially, residents from Pegalysium could show up.
Ash and Twilight left Canterlot Castle as Celestia would be the one to guide them to this pathway to the Nation in the Sky. And at the same time, Nightmare Moon spoke to herself, wondering about a few things.
"If only we had access to those gateways. Perhaps counterparts would be willing to join. And speaking of counterparts..." One counterpart came to mind for Nightmare Moon. And it was someone who was a lot like her. The alter-ego of Princess Celestia. Daybreaker. "No. I shouldn't be thinking about her at all. She cannot reach us in this universe thanks to Jirachi. So there is absolutely nothing to fear."
The search for more teachers would continue with the assistance of Princess Celestia being added. Before this new Pokemon School can really get going, preparations had to be made. The building may be ready and already built but it would also need some changes as the student count was about to elevate, involving other creatures from across Equestria. And potentially, beyond as the journey continues.
"Oh! Sweet!" Ash and Twilight marvelled at a heavenly sight. Celestia had brought them to a place where getting from Equestria to Pegalysium could be made easier without having to fly so high. Before their eyes, stood a cloud pathway that connected from the ground to the sky.
The pathway was rather smooth, having no steps at all. Seeing it reminded them of the Golden Stairway that led them to a dimension where all the Jirachis were being kept at. But this one would take them to an entirely different nation hidden beyond the clouds.
"Is this recent?!" Twilight asked.
"Mhm. Thanks to the Unown, we were able to make something like this. Clouds can only be walked on by pegasi, alicorns or anyone that can fly so we had to make a new variant of them. Now, we have clouds that anyone can walk on and this pathway was the first example of it."
"So...I can walk on it, no problem?" Ash would test it out for himself taking that first step. Lo and behold, it was as solid as the ground. Well, it still had that puffy and soft texture that Equestria's clouds possessed but now, there was no need for wings or anything of the sort to stand on them. And once he found out about this, Ash took the chance to place both his legs on it. "Awesome!"
"Pikachu!"
"But...it's in the shape of a slope. And there aren't any steps on it. Won't this bring someone down instead of up?" Twilight pointed out how the slope had a lack of steps. It seemed possible to go up on it by foot. Anyone would just slide back down unless they had stellar speed, such as Liepard, Pheromosa or even Accelgor.
"Ah, it may look like it but it can take you up as well. You'll need a full observation of it." Celestia walked with Twilight as they both approached the pathway. Ash was already taking the time to fully feel it as the softness was incredibly addicting. Once all of them were on it, Twilight and Espeon felt what Ash and Pikachu were feeling. Standing on this felt different from the other clouds she's stood on.
And at that moment, the slope would suddenly move. And that was by sending a noticeable air current that immediately started carrying Ash and the others. They gasped as the air within the clouds moved them upwards, travelling at impressive speeds while also allowing everyone to stay perfectly balanced.
"Amazing?! Just like that?!" Twilight gasped, feeling the wind envelop her whole body.
"As you can see, the wind is what carries us and it all resides within this pathway. It'll carry you there safely, getting you to Pegalysium in about...15 minutes at best." Celestia explained. "I'm positive somepony up there will be willing to be a teacher at the Pokemon School. Until we get there, enjoy the ride."
"I sure am! Feels great to be moving through the air again!" Ash laughed, raising his arms and letting the breeze come to him. They were already high up as some Flying-Types passed by them with the lands below becoming smaller.
"Ash, you've moved through the air multiple times recently. First at Magehold with the Windigos and now here." Twilight added. Seeing Ash in the air this many times was a bit off since he doesn't have the capability to take flight.
"Yep. I could get used to this." He grinned, getting the chance to move through the air again in another way. It was a truly uplifting feeling and now he knew how Flying-Types and Pegasi felt. It was a new kind of freedom that he only gets to feel when on the back of a Flying-Type. Wonderful.
Pegalysium. Feathercoast. Day.
Feathercoast. It has been a while since they have been here specifically. Feathercoast still looked the same as always, nestled peacefully around some clouds. Pegalysium was known for changing the location of its towns, cities and other areas since the clouds beneath them tend to move sometimes, but with plenty of maps thanks to the pegasus Starmap, it wasn't an issue anymore.
The Cloud Pathway connected directly to this part of Pegalysium, bringing Ash, Celestia and Twilight to the entrance of this town. And waiting there were some Pegalysium guards along with two Unown. Ash would leap off the slope, touching down on Pegalysium's concrete and solid ground, re-entering Feathercoast once more.
"Hm? Oh, it's them." It didn't take long for some of the citizens to notice their arrival. They recognised all five of them immediately but did not think much of it. They just continued on with their day. But some of them will soon be approached by Ash and Twilight.
But instead of going to the citizens, one of the citizens came straight to them. In the distance, a pony with an orange coat came zooming in, flapping her wings while also making a sound of excitement in the distance. "Helloooo~!" That pony was known was as Sunpuff, a teacher over at the Feathercoast School. "Oh, what luck! To have you three appear here!"
"Oh, hi." Twilight greeted as this was her first time meeting Sunpuff who was a fellow teacher, much like Garnet.
"Look at this! The Ruler of Equestria, the King of the Sea and um...the Princess of Friendship, right?" Sunpuff said, speaking their titles, almost forgetting Twilight's. "How lucky this town is to have such notable visitors from the lands below. Two of you are Garnet's friends, aren't you?"
"Oh, most certainly. And so am I! Both of us work alongside each other at the same school and I'll have you know I'm fairly popular." Of course, SUnpuff was saying this for one reason that she's always had and stuck to. Popularity. Sunpuff was all about gaining popularity and having these three up here was a massive moment for her.
"Great. Well, you see, we're looking for teachers to fill in positions at the Pokemon School. I was hoping someone up here could do that with enough experience on Pokemon. Is there someone here who has a good enough experience?"
"Oh, is that it?" Sunpurff scrunched her face for a moment. "Oooh...I wish I could answer that immediately. You want somepony with enough experience, you say?"
"There isn't anypony here with that, is there?" Twilight asked, figuring that Pegalysium's residents were still a bit distant from the Pokemon minus the Unown that now reside here.
"Well...Garnet has been going to some place where a Charizard can be found constantly. And even though this place is in the sky, plenty of Pokemon of different types tend to show up here. But I'm afraid Garnet is already a teacher at this school. But we have plenty of options here and I'm sure you can find somepony experienced enough!"
"Well, I was thinking of somepony else." Celestia raised her hoof, having another Pegalysium Pony on her mind. And it was the one who made it easier for her to navigate Pegalysium. "I was thinking of Starmap?"
"Starmap? The cartographer?" Sunpuff said, realizing that no one from Feathercoast would be selected.
"Of course! She's made maps for each of Pegalysium's different locations over the years and recently, she's indulged in the land below which means she's seen her fair share of Pokemon. I believe it was the third Pokemon Festival when she decided to get out there at the lands below."
"Wouldn't you like to try here first?" Sunpuff flew over, putting her hooves together, hoping to boost up the fame of Feathercoast in some way. "I mean, the best teachers are the ones who learn alongside the students, right? At least, that's what I think. You can get a head start by hiring somepony here."
"Oh. Princess Celestia, is that you?" Speaking of teachers, one of them showed up and it was the first pony from Pegalysium that Princess Celestia ever met, becoming the introduction to the nation above the clouds.
"Garnet!" It was like seeing an old friend again. The two would approach each other, embracing for a hug. It hasn't been too long since they've seen each other but meeting like this was still nice. "How have you been?"
"Great! What brings you all here?"
"Just looking for somepony to fill in some teacher roles. The Pokemon School below is undergoing a change." Celestia quickly explained. "It just has to be someone who has a good enough knowledge of Pokemon."
"Oh, is that it? Well, you're in luck. You can find that exact pony you're looking for."
"They can? Please say it's here." Sunpuff leaned over towards Garnet. "Feathercoast, I mean."
"I can chime in, if you want," Garnet revealed it to be her, taking Sunpuff by surprise. She offered to be a teacher for them.
"Ahem, Garnet. You already have a job here, taking care of the little ones. Now all of a sudden you want to head down to the lands below to teach?" Sunpuff replied, failing to see how this would benefit Garnet. If anything, this would just drain her stamina.
"You're right about that." Garnet laughed, realizing how much that would backfire on her. "I was just uh...thinking about how much it would pay. I mean, it has to pay a lot, right?" Even to this day, Garnet was still focused on gaining as much money as possible, planning to live rich one day. "But don't worry! I know other ponies who are looking for work and they hang around the Pokemon way more than I do!"
"Ah, them. Honestly, they would've found jobs already if they didn't spend so much time with the Pokemon." Sunpuff already knew who Garnet was talking about. "But I suppose they'll do since they have a good enough range."
"Sounds good. We'll see them and try to hire them." Twilight said. "If they're used to spending so much time with the Pokemon, then they'll definitely love the Pokemon School. It'll be available for everyone. Ponies, dragons, yaks and more."
"Wait. Everyone?" Garnet replied.
"Twilight aims to bring other species together to that school that have yet to really get used to Pokemon. It won't just be teachers from Pegalysium but potentially students from Pegalysium." Celestia explained what this new Pokemon School would bring to the table, involving Pegalysyium. "In fact, I've already made some invitations."
Equestria.
While Ash, Twilight and Celestia were up at Pegalysium, back at Equestria, others were already starting to catch wind of the news. Celestia ordered that invitations were sent out to others. Not just to ponies, but to other species as well. This was done by her guards, of course, who spread out, bringing over copies of Twilight's poster to others.
The Changelings were chosen first. Chrysalis received her poster, seeing what it entailed. Ribombee would peer over Chrysalis, gazing at the details. While the offer to have there be new teachers was there, the additional part of having other creatures enroll was present as well. Looking at this made Chrysalis smile. Truly, an opportunity that she didn't want to skip at all.
For the most part, the Changelings had their fair share of experiences with Pokemon but it was mainly limited to Bug and Fairy-Types. The other types haven't been explored that much. On top of that, the rest of the Pokemon World was out there and they were mainly glued to their hive, occasionally going to other places.
Chrysalis would take this offer in a heartbeat. The Changelings were coming to the Pokemon School. She wasn't sure how many she would bring. Chrysalis looked over at her hive, seeing the sheer number of Changelings that were around as the entire population would be enough to overcrowd the Pokemon School. Chrysalis needed to make sure that there were enough changelings there that wouldn't overcrowd the place.
And with her eyes gleaming, she saw some changelings who were still rather behind when it came to Pokemon. Not that they didn't know about their existence, but because they weren't sure how to react around certain Pokemon. Some are far easier to approach than others, much like Ribombee. Chrysalis had made up her mind.
And speaking of making up her mind, the Hippogriffs, who have just recently had their own encounter with Equestria, were given an invitation as well. Queen Novo would receive this invitation, seeing what it entailed. It was her first time hearing about the Pokemon School as Twilight considered adding details for those who had no idea it existed.
And when seeing this, Novo thought for a moment. Recently, now that the Hippogriffs didn't have to worry about the Storm King anymore, they could finally live in their city once more. It was previously run-down and dead but thanks to the Pearl, they were able to transform it into what it used to be. They still had the option of living underneath the sea, now having two homes.
Novo realized that this would potentially involve Ash Ketchum. Twilight took full advantage of that. To advertise this, she pulled on one heartstring that seemed to be rather effective. Involving Ash. To many, he was considered a Golden Boy in Equestria, solely because of how much he helped.
He was the First Teacher for Equestria, showing them the wonders of Pokemon. Twilight, of course, wrote that down as well for others to see. The invitation promised that Ash would be there for those interested in seeing him. Novo was hooked immediately as this was a golden opportunity since the King of the Sea could be present and it was a way to learn more about the Pokemon World.
But unlike Chrysalis, Novo was very much behind on things. She held the letter close to her, shifting her eyes for a moment. The truth is, she wanted to learn herself but wasn't exactly willing to go to school. Novo wanted to learn about Pokemon in her own way.
When reading about the letter, Twilight noted the type of subjects that could be learned there. The usual such as Pokemon Battles, Types, Moves and History were seen. But another was the Pokemon Contests, which truly caught her attention. Needless to say, she was all for it and her daughter was already glancing from a distance, reading the poster.
Very soon, as time went on, more and more residents of Equestria and beyond were receiving posters about the Pokemon School. It promised to help those confused about these Strange and Wonderful Creatures since they were just as abundant as grains of sand on a beach. Possibly even more. Some of them even are grains of sand, catching them off guard when they least expect it.
It wasn't just a way to teach them but also a way to protect them. If not careful, running into the wrong Pokemon could result in a bad end without a doubt. Even the most unassuming and adorable Pokemon will bring untold horrors that they will struggle to escape from.
Eventually, one of these posters landed in the hands of someone who already knew enough about Pokemon. And one of those ended up being the Trainer from another universe, claiming himself to be the Number One Trainer in the world. It was none other than Hilbert.
"Oh, this looks neat!" Hilbert said, sitting on a hill next to another trainer who comes from the same world as him. The Trainer Hilda. Both hailing from another version of the Unova Region. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Hilda?!"
"I hope not. You're not going to be teaching anyone anything, Hilbert. Knowing you, you'll teach everyone the wrong thing." Hilda was already one step ahead of Hilbert.
"The Number one Trainer in he world has to be there!" Hilbert stood up, raising it into the air. "If Ash is gonna be there, so will I! Plus, I can have the chance to pitch my own subject!"
"Oh? And what's that?"
"It'll be called Hilbert's Guide to Becoming Number One." He grinned, giving it a name that was far too long for a Class Subect. If there was one thing about Hilbert, it was that he was consistent. "Too long?" He soon realized it.
"Way too long. Plus, I don't think Twilight's going to hire you. Just a hunch..." She side-eyed him. "If anything, I have a better chance of getting a position there. To be honest, we don't have much to do in our lives right now."
"Yeah. We've already accomplished our goals. Now we're just doing whatever..." Hilbert agreed closing his eyes. A few seconds later, he reopened them as wide as possible. "Hey, wait a sec! Better than me?!"
"Better than you, by a mile!" Hilda roared back. "And that's just me. If someone like Brendan was there, he'd be a shoo-in. If we could find him that is..."
"Oh yeah. Brendan's with Red and Gold right now. Still looking for that weird gateway. Wonder where they are right now...?"
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School.
At the Pokemon School, the first two teachers were already present there. Sombra and Nightmare Moon were chosen first before anyone else. Both were once enemies, now allies. Especially Sombra. Sombra was away from Ash, not automatically returning to him due to the distance. With the trust between the two growing, Sombra was showing up out of Ash more often.
And at this moment, he and Nightmare Moon were discussing what to teach and already, they had different ideas in mind when it came to the subjects.
"Personally...I say I should cover the History. Do you have any idea what kind of wealth that kind of knowledge will bring?" Sombra said, wishing to cover the History of the Pokemon World which is something that Nightmare Moon aimed to cover too.
"I have already decided to cover it myself. I am Luna's alter-ego but I share the same interests as her. Since when do you care about history?"
"Pssh. As if you know that much about me." Sombra scoffed, lounging on a chair in the staff room where Olympia and the others once sat at. "Besides, isn't Luna the type of pony to crave excitement? Is that not why she's taking part in the Equestria League?"
"She is but she enjoys the smaller things in life. You're thinking about my sister, Celestia. Celestia s the one who will indulge in anything that involves high adrenaline. It's honestly a surprise that she's not in the Equestria League herself."
"Anyway, I'd be better suited to cover it. Thanks to staying around the boy, I've learned more about the Pokemon World than you have when staying around Luna." Sombra boasted, putting on a cocky smirk. "I've watched his recent adventures and on top of that, I used my own magic to peer into his memories. You have no idea what I have found."
Sombra had an edge. He had access to Ash's memories. And those memories were insanely jam-packed. Ash has learned a lot about the world he lives in over the years without a doubt, seeing historical sites and even travelling back in time to know about certain events. That added greater weight to Sombra's argument.
"Well...I..." Nightmare Moon tried replying with something strong, hoping to gain the edge. She had nothing, slamming her hoof on the table. "Drat! The only way to solve this is to wait for Twilight to show up and make the call. After all, she will be the new Principal of this place."
"I suppose so. But you can't beat experience when it's all up here." Sombra once again boasted, tapping his head with his hoof. Nightmare Moon saw that she would have to work alongside him from now on. It wasn't looking to be all that much fun considering who Sombra was. But Nightmare Moon knew she didn't have much room to talk considering what she tried to do upon first being created.
This room was currently filled with two ponies that were the result of Dark Magic. Sombra was more connected to it than Nightmare Moon though. But while they sat around, waiting for things to get going, someone else had entered the Pokemon School, opening the door to the staff room.
"I'm surprised you already know so much for being locked away for so long." A familiar voice entered the room. Sombra recognized it very well as he and Nightmare Moon turned to see who stood before them. Two ponies have arrived and it was most likely because of the poster.
It was none other than Radiant Hope and Potion Nova.
And judging by the fact that they were in the staff room right now, it was practically clear what they were going for. Radiant Hope grinned after meeting with Sombra once more, no longer taking months or years to see him again. And once seeing her, it sunk in for Sombra. He realized what this meant and what could potentially come next. With his eyes opening, the Former King of the Crystal Empire was not ready for what this new wave of the Pokemon School was about to bring as the journey continues.
Entering the room was the unicorn duo of Potion Nova and Radiant Hope. Sombra looked back at his childhood friend who he's been seeing more often than usual. He then turned away from Radiant Hope, looking back at Nightmare Moon who already had a smug look on her face. Sombra would then keep his attention away from Radiant Hope, looking elsewhere.
"Look at you. Staying silent once she entered the room." Nightmare Moon taunted, knowing all about Sombra and Radiant Hope thanks to being Luna's alter-ego.
"Sombra! Hey!" Radiant Hope cried out, trying to get his attention. "Guess what? I chose to fill in a position here at the school! Isn't that great?!
"Don't you have other things you have to be doing? What happened to your quest?" Sombra grumbled while still not facing her.
"My quest? That's over with now, Sombra. I only set out to help you and to investigate the Dread League. Now that that's all done and wrapped up, I'm a free pony now. I can do whatever I want and catch up with the rest of my life. And I think becoming a teacher is the best thing for me! I've seen a lot, you know!"
"And I've done a lot!" Potion Nova added, raising some potions that she already brought along. Right behind her was a cart of potions just available for use. "I spent most of my time working on my newest potions. Especially that one that involves Vampire Magic."
"You did?" Nightmare Moon's eyes widened as she couldn't just gloss over what Potion Nova had just said.
"Isn't this great, Sombra? We can teach a lot to the students with our combined knowledge. I can tell you're happy about this." Radiant Hope approached him, seeing eye-to-eye with the former Crystal Empire King.
"Bah." Sombra scoffed. "I'm still going for history and no one can stop me. I have no idea what you'd cover here at all. Anyway, I need to find the right classroom for me. Perhaps the room of that Olympia will do." He would hop off his seat, trotting out of the room as he formed into a body of shadow to pass through Potion Nova's massive potion cart.
"Speaking of which, I should redesign one of those rooms in my image." Nightmare Moon was on the same page as Sombra, wanting a fresh new look.
"I thought Princess Luna was much shorter..." Potion Nova said, unaware of Nightmare Moon being her own being as it was easy to mistake for Princess Luna. "Anyway, what say you, Radiant? I think this is the perfect opportunity to start my own class. Do you think they'll be interested in potions?"
"Are these the ones that involve Pokemon?" Her fellow unicorn questioned.
"Of course! Every single one." Potion Nova came well-prepared for something like this. This was a Pokemon School after all. Facing her potion cart, she listed which ones she brought and what they do. "There's a potion for giving someone a type, swapping types, reversing types, granting moves, replacing moves and even remembering moves. I can guarantee that these will be handy for the students. Why stick with what the Pokemon World has when you can expand it?"
"Sounds good. Maybe start small though. After all, we'll have different species showing up to learn more about Pokemon. And some might take some time getting used to these potions."
"Good point. I'll make sure to remember that. In the meanwhile, until we wait for Twilight to come back...Wanna try one?" Potion Nova brought one potion over with her magic, suggesting that Radiant Hope take a swing at the various wonders these potions could bring.
"Ooh...I don't know...Should I? Aren't these meant for Pokemon?"
"They are. But I worked hard to make sure they're compatible with ponies. Pretty soon, they'll be compatible with other species and that'll only happen when classes start. This one lets you speak to your Pokemon by letting you speak your name."
"So...I'll just be saying my name over and over again?"
"That's what I'll hear but you'll speak with your Rapidash as if you both perfectly understood each other. Worked wonders for my own Rapidash."
"Oh well. I guess it can't hurt." Radiant Hope would take the risk, curious about the potions anyway. Wanting to see how this works, she took a drink.
Pegalysium. Afternoon.
Back at Pegalysium, the search for more teachers continued even though two new ones had just appeared at the Pokemon School. At the moment, Ash, Twilight and Celestia were being guided by Garnet who apparently knew about some pegasi who were more focused on the Pokemon than anyone here at Pegalysium, having very little to do.
The group travelled via a Skyboat, moving across the Sea Clouds and feeling the zenith of the air. The air was at its absolute best here at Pegalysium due to how high it was as Ash and Pikachu's face would wobble, feeling the rush as the boat was moving a rather quick pace, making this an enjoyable ride. Celestia sat there with a peaceful look on her face, letting the wind blow her ethereal mane. Up ahead, past the massive sea cloud was what appeared to be a meadow.
A beckoning meadow of countless flowers stretched out as far as the eye could see, interrupted only by tiny fields in the distance. Their eyes widened seeing it as the Skyboat would slow down. The banquet of flowers were irresistible to fluttering butterflies and brightly coloured beetles.
This meadow was tailored to Pegalysium's creatures rather than the Pokemon instead. Above them birds displayed their graceful flights and dazzling acrobatics while large winged bovines grazed on the banquet of flowers, followed closely by small, crane-like birds.
The scents of the wildflowers accentuated by the warmth of a late spring's sun, out of reach of any and all clouds, had the power to calm any and all traversing this landscape. The soft grasses beneath would certainly make for a comfortable bed. The Skyboat eventually came to a halt as they had reached their destination where they could find the Pegalysium who were used to being around Pokemon.
"We're here. This is the place." Garnet said once the Skyboat docked at the meadow. Ash would then leap out of the boat, setting foot on this land once more. Pikachu would join him as they both embraced the welcoming atmosphere that this meadow brought. Even though this wasn't catered to a Pokemon and more so the animals that live up here, Ash and Pikachu could feel a rather familiar sensation being here.
His friends would leave the Skyboat as they began walking through the Sky Meadow, searching for these ponies. The birds would soon scatter once they got near. "So, what's your new Pokemon School going to be like?" Garnet asked, speaking with Twilight along the way.
"Just a place where all species can learn about Pokemon. Not everyone's caught up with them since it's only been 4 years so now is the perfect time to change that." Twilight explained. "I just need a good amount of teachers for this. That's all, really."
"Hm. I'd love to join but I already have a job up here, taking care of the little ones. I'm still trying to make as much money as I can after all. I don't spend time around Pokemon all that much compared to these ponies anyway."
"Maybe you can come and check it out once it develops some more. Ponies from Pegalysium are definitely going to want to come over and it'll be great having ponies from here teach them as well. It helps create that synergy." The Princess of Friendship added. At that moment, the group would then come across some trees that were past the meadow. Up next was a forest which was connected to it.
The forest was small, impenetrable, and archaic. Its canopy was demanded by hemlock, alder, and redwood, and sparkling light dancing between the branches allowed for a collection of plants to control the insect-riddled soils below. Silent vines waved from every tree, and a range of flowers, which claimed quiet corners, were a welcome change in the otherwise dark green lower level. A tumult of sounds, most belonged to herds of larger animals, echoed in the air, and were strangely synchronized with the occasional sounds of breaking twigs beneath the feet of larger animals.
However, upon entering this forest, that is when they came across something. For the most part, they've been seeing Pegalysium animals but very soon, their eyes met with a creature that was not originally from here. Twilight narrowed her eyes, spotting an odd figure in the distance.
A small, white hedgehog-like creature green grass-like fur on its back and a pink flower with two leaves on each side of its head could be seen. The shade of the trees were masking its appearance, until it showed up leaving the shades, showing its true self. Ash instantly recognized which creature this was as it was a Pokemon.
"Shaymin."
"Oh. It's a Shaymin..." Ash came to a halt after coming across this Pokemon that he has seen quite a bit of.
"A Shaymin?" Twilight took out her Pokedex.
"Shaymin. The Gratitude Pokemon. Land Forme. It lives in common flower patches but is rarely noticed. It is often mistaken for a flowering plant when curled up. When the turning of seasons brings the cruel winter to its end and the joyous people give thanks to the heavens, Shaymin appears and covers the withered land with flowers, dissolving toxins in the air. The blooming of Gracidea flowers confers the power of flight upon it. Feelings of gratitude are the message it delivers."
"Pretty rare to see a Shaymin here." Ash kneeled, facing the Gratitude Pokemon and greeting it. "Hey."
"Pikachu." Walking up to the Grass-Type was Pikachu. And from the first interaction, Shaymin did not waver or back away upon meeting with these new faces. From what Ash has seen based on his encounters with other Shaymin, it wasn't a shy Pokemon at all, especially in its Sky Forme.
"Do you think that this Shaymin knows the ponies over here?" Twilight questioned.
"No clue. Never seen this one before in my life." Garnet shook her head as she just couldn't say. "What do you think, Ash? You're the expert here."
"I only know one of my friends who has, or had a Shaymin. It's a Mythical Pokemon so that's what makes it rare. Shaymin probably got up here by using its Sky Forme." Ash explained.
"Min! Shaymin!" Just then, as he was looking at this one Shaymin, the voice of another Shaymin was heard nearby. Or rather, multiple Shaymin. Ash and his friends looked on ahead as their eyes were met with a swarm of Shaymin who populated this area more than what they expected. Ash grimaced as the Shaymin all showed up, approaching the many flowers that could be found here and at the meadows.
"Woah! Check out all the Shaymin!" Ash gazed in wonder. The last time he saw this many Shaymin was when multiple arrived for the Gracidea flowers. Twilight was getting to see more of this Pokemon who was apparently supposed to be a Mythical.
But right now, Shaymin was appearing as common as a Normal-Type. Celestia giggled as these Shaymin gathered around her feet, heading for the flowers. Ash had to wonder if there were Gracidea flowers somewhere here in Pegalysium. He wouldn't put it past him.
It was a nice sight, seeing all of these Shaymin, yet the ponies who were apparently used to Pokemon up here were yet to be found at all. This meadow and forest were mainly populated by Pokemon and Animials more than anything. While they were searching for new teachers, they would mind relishing in this moment.
"Who's there?" Just then, another voice passed through. And this time, it wasn't the voice of a Shaymin or any other Pokemon. Just as they were playing around with the Shaymin, the voices would stay distant, unlike the Shaymin who got very up close.
Hearing this made Ash and Twilight alert. This meant that the ponies they were looking for were indeed here. Ash sat up with a Shaymin on his head, trying to see who was there. But the distance was too far for a clear vision. Not for Celestia though. By using her magic, she heightened her vision, looking further.
The Sun Princess looked past the trees and bushes, trying to get a good look at these ponies. Lo and behold, there were indeed ponies in this part of Pegalysium. Quite a handful of them too. Celestia saw ponies who appeared to be a bit rugged, having unkempt hair that didn't look like they've been taken care of at all. Just then, these rugged ponies would slowly approach, trying to see who had shown up here.
"I believe that would be them," Celestia commented, confirming it to Ash and Twilight. Eventually, this group of ponies would walk out of the shade of the trees, showing themselves.
"Who are ya?" A mare questioned. Ash and the others got a better look at them. Each of them looked like they have been out here for years, lacking any polish on their manes or even faces. Tatters could be seen on them as some were wearing accessories or clothes that looked rather shabby and stitched together.
"It's okay, you all. They're friendly." Garnet would speak up, vouching for Ash and his friends. Immediately, these rugged pegasi noticed Garnet, recognizing her immediately.
"Ooh, Garnet." One of them said with a smile on her face. Garnet was obviously a friendly face here as these ponies were rather cautious once showing themselves to Ash's group.
Although, only their bodies could be seen as they were wearing masks to conceal their faces. These masks had a common design. They all had the face of what resembled the Avus-Pegasus. The Time-Changing Pegasus that resides in the Clock Door over at the Sky Monarch.
"Uh, hi. We're just passing by to meet with you, that's all." Twilight greeted.
"Meet with us?" A young colt repeated.
"Yeah. Is this your home?" Ash asked, wondering if the meadows and forest were the homes of these ponies.
"It is their home. They have the entire meadow and forest to themselves." Garnet confirmed. "All of this expansive land is theirs and no one else's."
"What do you want us for?" A stallion asked, wondering why these new faces would want to meet with them.
"Yeah? Why?" Another rugged pony questioned.
"Well, I just came here since I heard you all were pretty used to Pokemon. Out of anypony in Pegalysium, you've spent the most time with them so I'm guessing you know a lot."
"We do know a lot." The mare in the front confirmed. "A lot. 4 years to know about them all."
"4 years? That's the time when they entered our world." Twilight grinned as that was incredibly promising. For most of the ponies up here at Pegalysium, they seemed to only be aware of Pokemon recently with neither pony having Pokemon of their own by their side. But these ponies had experience, despite how they looked. "Listen. How would you like to be teachers of my Pokemon School?"
"Teachers?" The rugged ponies with Pokemon Experience repeated in unison. "Pokemon School?"
"Mhm." The young alicorn nodded her head frantically. "It's a place where all things Pokemon can be learned. At least for those living in Equestria, Pegalysium and the lands beyond. Not including the regions. They're completely fine."
"Being teachers? Us?" The mare in the front scratched her hair for a moment. "Oooh...That means getting a job."
"It's your opportunity, you all." Garnet flew over. "This is really your chance to finally get a job like you've always wanted. And on top of that, it's something you all enjoy. Pokemon. Well, it's all you ever enjoy, really."
"Have they struggled to get jobs?" Celestia asked.
"They've wanted to, but they couldn't. There just wasn't anything that they had an expertise on." Garnet explained. "I'm afraid they don't have any Quillbuits on them."
"Nothing like that." The mare shook her head. "Sucks, doesn't it? It's pretty hard for us as a family to get a job when we all don't have something that really sticks out for each of us."
"You're all a family?" Twilight uttered. The thought of having multiple family members being teachers was different. It's been done before but it wasn't all that common. At all. "Huh. I mean, that can work."
"Getting some Quillbits would be pretty great." The mare in the front replied with a happy tone, even if the mask was hiding her face.
"Well, we use bits back at Equestria." Twilight continued. "And sometimes Pokedollars but we can work it out. Having all the experience is what we need to teach others to be safe around Pokemon and know more about them. That's all."
"Teaching others ain't our style though...We've been here as a family only. Sometimes we see Garnet and some of her friends but that's about it." The mare shook her head. "But we really want this job too."
"You'll have to excuse them. Since they've been out here as a family for so long, they're not exactly that connected to other civilizations her at Pegalysium."
"They're not? So, you and your friends are the only ponies they've met?" Ash questioned.
"Pikachu?"
"Mhm. I've been planning on bringing Shooting Star to them someday since he's also my friend. They're secluded from most of Pegalysium but they know how to carry a lot of knowledge with them. Trust me. It only makes sense though. Because each and every one of them are descendants of the First Pegasus of Destiny. Windkiss."
"They are?!" A shocking revelation had been made making all three of them bellow. The pegasi that wore these masks, showing a rather cautious disposition unless around friendly faces were more than just some ponies out in the meadows and forest.
They were descendants of Windkiss. A Legendary Pegasus who created the Avus-Pegasus and kicked off the Pegasus of Destiny line. Ash, Celestia, Twilight and their Pokemon were currently face to face with what was left of Windkiss ever since she moved on all those years ago as the journey continues.
"Y-You're all her descendants!? Every last one?!" During the search for new teachers at the Pokemon School, Ash, Twilight and Celestia came across a family of pegasi who had a greater connection to someone. Possibly Pegalysium's most famous pony who went down as a Legend. Windkiss.
Out of every other Destiny Pegasus, Windkiss was apparently the only one who had descendants, aside from Shooting Star who was the son of the King and Queen. But compared to him, this was a massive generational leap. On top of that, this area of Pegalysium was flooded with the Mythical Pokemon Shaymin who seem to have made their home here at the high point of the world.
"Every last one. You can't get any closer to a bloodline than them." Garnet answered. "I mean...you couldn't tell just by looking at them."
"That explains the mask. Wasn't she the one who made the Avus-Pegasus?" Ash said, pointing out the masks. That would've been a giveaway but it wasn't strong enough proof of them being related at all. Anypony can just put on those masks.
"Pika?"
"So...what are you doing out here?" Twilight asked, wondering why the descendants of Windkiss were living in the meadows and forest, barely known by many outside of Garnet's friend group. "And if that's the case...Do you have some of her magic in you?"
"Sorry. Let me show my face at least." Feeling more comfortable around these new faces, the mare at the front would take off her Avus-Pegasus-styled mask, finally showing herself. And when looking at her, the similarities were already very much present.
"Windflash's the name." She introduced herself.
"Oh, now I see it." Twilight certainly saw the resemblance. Windkiss' appearance was only available via a spirit that every Destiny Pegasus was able to conjure. And by comparing Windflash to her, the eyes and even some of the hair looked familiar. Even the voice carried some weight. "It's not every day you get to meet a descendant of someone Legendary."
"These are my brothers and sisters right here. I'm the oldest out of all of them." Windflash explained as the other ponies would take off their masks, showing themselves. Each of them shared some resemblance to Windkiss in a way as it was mainly the purple eyes that backed it up and at the same time, they had their own distinct appearance. "Expect for the foals, of course."
"If you're all Windkiss' descendants, what are you doing here alone?" Twilight asked. "Wasn't something left behind for you? Is it this island?"
"Mm." Windflash shook her head. "We made this island our home 7 years ago. No other place did it for us except here and we don't regret it." Windflash and siblings would collectively nod. "I'm sure our ancestor Windkiss doesn't either."
"Looks like it. She was mainly worried about Shooting Star, wasn't she"? Ash agreed with that. Plus, Windkiss didn't seem like the kind of pony to really worry about something like this. It was easy to see her as the type who would be happy for her relatives if they were happy. And they certainly were living on this beautiful flower-filled island.
"She didn't leave anything behind for us and that's fine. But really...we never had a chance to have something." Windflash added, going into further detail. "Not since our entire family fortune was taken away years ago."
"It was?" Twilight gasped as there was more to it. A reason why they were on this island.
"It happened to our great-great-grandparents. The Indigo Alliance took it all." Windflash revealed the reason for her family's current condition and it all made sense. The Indigo Alliance had something to do with it since they've been working behind the scenes of Pegalysium for years, trying to shape it in their image.
"Wait, really?" Even Garnet wasn't aware of this. She was never told this by Windflash and her family and was hearing it for the first time.
"Something happened to them all those years ago and our family ended up like this. Don't really know the details though but here we are."
"What about the Ethereal Pavillion? That's one of the things that Windkiss left behind and we've been there." Twilight threw more questions in. "Plus, you have to have known that we beat the Indigo Alliance. I mean, they made their own Pegalysium and are living there but still."
"Our grandparents lost ownership of that place a while back. We didn't even know it was free." Windflash shrugged as not even the Ethereal Pavillion or anything in it was owned by her family any more, thanks to the Indigo Alliance.
"I didn't even know it was claimed by them. My bad." Garnet scratched her mane, wishing she knew more about the Ethereal Pavillion beforehand.
"Oh. It was a sabotage then." Celestia figured it out instantly. "Most likely, they were fearful of the future Pegasus of Destiny and made sure that anyone in their bloodline would fail if either was chosen as the next one. Any one of them would've threatened their plans. Obviously, every single one of them have been from separate bloodlines."
"That sucks though. Losing your previous home." Ash scratched his hair as the home of this family was long gone. Probably from one of their grandparents.
"Pikachu..."
"We got lucky that we weren't chosen as the next ones, right?" Windflash grinned. "Don't have to worry about any sabotage at all. Now we live here in peace. But to have some money means we can buy a lot of things we never had before. Only Garnet brings us things."
"Sometimes. I work hard to make enough Quillbits to buy something for them and myself. I have to make sure I'm living pretty after all." Garnet added. "But it's not enough. Never enough. My path to becoming super-rich is a long one..."
"But if we learn at your school, could we make lots of money?"
"Uh..." Twilight then looked over at Princess Celestia, pausing on her answer. Celestia already knew what Twilight was going for as she would give a nod that essentially told Twilight 'She would handle this'. "Yes. Lots. I mean, it's not the same currency but you can buy something in Equestria with it."
"Great!" Windflash said with excitement. "We'd be happy to join! Except for the little ones. They're gonna have to sit this one out."
"Alright. So a good chunk of you know a lot about Pokemon. More than anypony here in Pegalysium. Windflash, you obviously want to join but what about your other siblings?"
"I kinda wanna stay here instead." One of the brothers said, opting to stay behind. "Teaching's not my thing." Not all of them wanted to head down there.
"How are you gonna get us down there?" Windflash asked. "We've never been to your land before. Garnet's only told us about it and that's it. But it sounds like it has more Pokemon to see. Like that purple cat and mouse you two have."
"I spoke with your King and Queen and we've found a way to make travelling from Pegalysium to Equestria easier. You don't have anything to fear," said Celestia, stepping forward. "It would be great having you at the Pokemon School. Today will be its new opening day and you'll get to see new things."
"Aha!" Windflash said with excitement as her eyes would sparkle. "Mom and Dad sure would be proud about this! But hey. About that Ethereal Pavillion? Can we head back in there now?"
"You should be free to enter it, no problem," Garnet confirmed. "It's back to being rightfully yours now that the Indigo Alliance's somewhere else. There's a bed and everything and the best view of the stars."
"By the way, what's up with all these Shaymin?" Ash kneeled, facing the Shaymin. "I didn't think I'd see them up here."
"These little fellas? Well...I found this flower over at the mountains where those giant ponies live." Windflash eyed down the Shaymin, petting one of them in the head. From what she was saying, it sounded like the Gracedia Flowers were indeed involved in this. "Could've been food if we didn't save 'em in the nick of time. Why? Are they rare?"
"Very rare. But don't worry about that right now. Come with us and we'll show you just what to expect." said Celestia. "Now that they've gotten to know Windflash and her siblings, some of them were coming along, heading to the lands below for the very first time. A select few of Windkiss' descendants would join but that was good enough for Twilight. Not every school has to have an overwhelming amount of teachers. Just enough for the students.
Equestria.
Heading back there was much better than going up the pathway. Garnet was introduced to the pathway for the first time as well as Windflash and her siblings. The Cloud Pathway that connected to Equestria and Pegalysium had a far more thrilling way of travelling on it. It was already thrilling when going up it as the wind was responsible for it. But doing back down made it even better as the way it was angled made it perfect for that kind of feeling.
"Woohoo!" Ash cheered as he was currently sliding down the pathway, having his arms up. Twilight curled up into a ball, moving at a turbulent pace while Celestia sat there with a smile. Garnet, on the other hand, was currently screaming, holding onto Celestia as this was her first time going down such a pathway. She much preferred the chariot that SHooting Star invites her on.
As for Windflash and her siblings, they were completely unphased by this. But what did phase them was the world right below the highest clouds that they could finally see. Windflash's mouth opened up as she and her siblings saw the Castle of Canterlot in the distance. The Cloud Pathway wasn't far away after all.
Their entire lives have been spent in the sky, moving across the clouds. Now they could see a world below it, from the lush green lands beneath which housed many Pokemon that they have never seen before. Flying-Types would pass by them which was natural considering how high this pathway went and how quickly it brought passengers down.
"Welcome to Equestria." Celestia introduced them. The place where their ancestors once wished to enter due to her adventurous nature had been seen. And not only that, but other species were right within their sights.
Oh, check that out!" It even caught Ash's attention. It wasn't just a bunch of Pokemon flying around. Instead, he could see some Dragons and Griffins in the distance. Two species that were invited to the Pokemon School to learn there could be found as news travelled fast.
Twilight's jaw dropped as she was at least expecting this to take a day or two, but with Celestia being the one to elevate the news, it took shorter than she expected. That only meant she had to be at the school as soon as possible. The Dragons and Griffons were headed straight for the Pokemon School but they weren't the only ones who could move through the air.
There were no signs of the changelings even though they were capable of flying. Instead, it was another species that Ash and his friends have recently seen. It was hard to see since they were rather far away at the moment but he could make them out. Ash ended up spotting the Hippogriffs who made a beeline for Equestria as soon as possible.
Garnet and other Pegalysium residents were just starstruck by what they were seeing. And they thought the Pokemon were surprising to look at. All those other species that live below were seen, captivating in their own right. Whether it was the scaly appearance of the dragons or the beaked brilliance of the griffins, they at least knew that there were other creatures out there that could fly. Not just them. Next stop; The Pokemon School.
Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
And already, many had gathered. Twilight's plan to invite all creatures from Equestria was a smash hit without a doubt. The species that she and her friends have encountered have made it here, minus the Humans who were doing their own thing at the moment.
Changelings, Yaks, Griffins, Hippogriffs and Dragons could be seen, with some conversing with each other. It was mainly the younger ones of each species talking to each other while the older ones kept to their own at the moment, minus the Changelings.
"Oh, you finally made it. I thought you were gonna be searching for more teachers." There at the school was Rainbow Dash and the rest of Twilight's friends. "Rarity spent most of her time making these."
"Well, you didn't answer when I suggested making uniforms for them so I went ahead and did it." Rarity added as she made some uniforms for the Pokemon School already. She was even wearing one of them, which had the Poke Ball symbol on it.
"That's great and all but I think we're fine with the uniform part," Twilight answered, descending to where her friends were. "And I'm still looking for more teachers but what we have now is good. Did anyone else show up to take the offer?"
"Oh, they sure did." Applejack nodded, referring to Potion Nova and Radiant Hope, who took the job immediately. "They're inside right about now."
"Great, great. I'd say all that's left is to change the size of the school but I can handle that later. Right now, I shouldn't keep them all waiting."
"Cool but...please tell me Ash is still with you. You promised to bring them along and right now, they're just getting another version of Ash." The multi-coloured maned mare hovered over, nudging Twilight.
"Another version of Ash? What do you mean?" Twilight wondered. But very soon, her answer would be granted to her once the words of this 'Other Version' were spouted.
"Yes, yes! With me guiding you, how can you lose?! Except to me, of course." That was the voice of Hilbert. Twilight's pupils shrunk as she quickly opened the windows to see for herself. Indeed, Hilbert had already shown up here, boasting and babbling to all that have gathered up. "I come from a whole other universe so I know what I'm talking about!"
"Hilbert!" Twilight Sparkle shouted, grabbing his attention and the attention of the others.
"Hey, Twilight! Just getting a head start!" Hilbert raised his arms as his boasting has already enamoured the eyes of the youth. His talk definitely reached them as he knew how to grab the attention of others.
"Sorry, Twilight. I tried to stop him. Honestly." Hilda apologized.
"What do you say, Twilight? Let me teach them a few things?" Hilbert grinned.
"That's good and all, Hilbert, but I'll have to pass on you." Twilight instantly shut Hilbert down without even a second thought. She wanted all the help she could get, but anyone but Hilbert would do. Hilbert gasped as his position was thrown away before it could even be made official. It's not that Twilight doesn't trust Hilbert, but he was suited to be something else. Not a teacher.
"Don't sweat it, Hilbert." Ash approached his counterpart from another universe. He tried uplifting things for him, placing his hand on his shoulder. "I mean, I wasn't gonna be in either. Not really cut out to be a teacher. More of a mentor."
"Hah...Guess you're right. Being a mentor's easier than being a teacher." Hilbert sighed. "Wait, are teachers and mentors really two different things?"
"I think so." Ash scratched his hair as he and Hilbert would look over at Twilight and Hilda. The duo nodded their heads, confirming it for them.
"Look! It's Ash!" And immediately, once everyone saw that Ash was clearly here and how he contrasted from Hilbert, those who looked up to him would call his name and start raising their voices.
"Huh?" Ash jerked up as all attention was soon drawn to him. He then laughed, raising his arms to wave at them. He still was not used to such publicity and fame. There have been instances where his name has been known and he was getting somewhere in the world but not to this level.
"Your majesty!" He had his status as the King of the Sea called out by the Hippogriffs who saw him as their ruler considering they lived in the sea as well.
"Atta-boy, Ketchum." Hilbert nudged Ash, proud of all the recognition he was receiving from everyone. "Pretty soon, you'll be as famous as me with all of this rising fame." Twilight's plan to get them excited by involving Ash worked swimmingly. Obviously, it would work if Ash was involved somehow, even if he wasn't a teacher.
"You wish you were just as famous as him." Hilda gave a strong retort before pulling Hilbert out of the way, making Ash stand on his own. But he would soon be joined by Pikachu and of course, Twilight. With different species from across Equestria and beyond showing up, she could finally speak to them and introduce the new Pokemon School that was left in her control.
"Thank you for coming, everyone!" Twilight Sparkle spoke to them. "You all showed up way sooner than I expected, honestly, but I'm glad you're here. This Pokemon School was originally limited to us ponies who still had a lot about the Pokemon World to know. And even with our time here and with the places we've been and the things we've seen, there's still a lot more to learn about. Now that both worlds have merged into a Grander World, it's more than necessary to know about Pokemon. They're wonderful creatures but you also have to be careful and know about the new world we live in now."
Twilight would then shoot some magic into the air which had Rift Magic involved. And by doing so, she created a firework that showed the words' Welcome to the Pokemon School's New Grand Opening', making others cheer. Short and sweet. Straight to the point. Twilight did an excellent job of explaining this school's existence.
It already existed for that one purpose now it needed an even bigger reason to exist. With a lack of gateways, Humans can't just show up here and teach them what they need to know. They had to rely on those around their area to teach them.
All the while, inside the school, three particular individuals were away from the speech but listening in on it. Two of which were janitors, sweeping the floors of the school which haven't been used all that often. It was natural that some dust would gather. One was wearing a suit that looked perfect for a school.
It was none other than Team Rocket. The two janitors were James and Meowth while the one wearing a suit was Jessie. They have done this before, disguising themselves to enter the Pokemon School. It was either for the sake of nabbing as many Pokemon as they could or they were attempting to make some money here. Team Rocket was both predictable and unpredictable at the same time.
"Listen to that. It sounds like it's finally going to start." Jessie commented, retaining her position as the School Councillor. She managed to get in once and no one suspected a thing. "But now it's bigger than ever with all of these species."
"Ah, it doesn't seem so bad," said James. "The worst that can happen is that the Changelings just confuse us. You know for a fact the Changeling children will transform as many times to throw us off guard."
"Then we'd just end up taking the wrong Pokemon whose not a Pokemon at all," Meowth added.
"Hm. As if that'll ever happen." Jessie put on a smug face. "After all, with so many species in one room, there's bound to be some disagreements. They all come from different areas of the world. At least near or within Equestria. As their School Councillor, I'll give them the advice and counselling they need to make it through whatever harsh moments they go through."
"Knowing you, you'd just spark the fire more," James said, expecting Jessie to make it worse, prompting Jessie to growl at him. James would then refrain from saying anything else, continuing to sweep the floor.
At last, the Pokemon School could make its comeback, going from a place where students don't come in all that often thanks to how the new world around them has been, to a plethora of students ready to stick around to learn more about this wonderful world that holds the most Strange and Wonderful Creatures. Twilight could already feel it. A new day and a new era were about to being as the journey continues.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
The Pokemon School had finally reopened with Twilight now taking the helm. The new students were free to enter and unlike how it previously was, a majority of them were now children. Prior to this, it was a mix of different ages. Children, teenagers and even some adults alike.
At this moment, the students were just getting a tour and a good look at the school. No lessons were scheduled today but tomorrow instead and as for the teachers, they had all gathered in the staff room. Windflash and a few of her siblings gandered at the room as it was beyond what they were used to. This whole time, they've lived in a meadow and a forest, never seeing the indoors of any location until now.
"That was a success!" Twilight said with glee. "Now, to really get things going. For tomorrow, of course, I can start with one of my plans. And this one is for today. And that's by handing out Pokemon."
"Really?" said Ash, looking down at a table full of Poke Balls. Already, Twilight brought plenty of Poke Balls as they were lined up perfectly. Next to that table were other Poke Balls with Pokemon within as Twilight was quick to stack up on them. Bringing the next row of Poke Balls was Starlight Glimmer who was the one the bring them here. "How'd you get so many?"
"And you pre-planned it too?" Rarity asked. "Something this big?"
"Mhm. When Cynthia said those words to me, I knew I had to be prepared. So, the first thing I focused on was gathering as many Pokemon as I could for the new students. And all of them come straight from PokePark. That place has its own life so you can imagine new Pokemon showing up there.
"With so many students...is this enough?" Fluttershy wondered as this did not seem like enough. Twilight's plan was so successful that all of these Poke Balls would not be enough for every single student who were in the hundreds from what was seen.
"This is just the first wave. Most of these come from the Arbor Area and Cove Town. It should be enough for I'd say...50 students at best. Possibly more. I'll have another wave ready. These'll be perfect for those who don't have Pokemon yet or are looking for one more Pokemon on their team."
"I see." Nightmare Moon was on the same page as her. "But what does it benefit other than being a way to give them more Pokemon?"
"Just for fun and to get them started." Twilight shrugged. "I took notes from what our previous teachers used to do. They'd have Pokemon that connect to whichever Gym they own and let us learn with them. This'll take it a step further by having them stay alongside their new trainers."
"Oooh..." Windflash, who was new to all of this, poked at one of the Poke Balls, enamoured by the appearance of it. The way the Poke Balls appeared was just enticing to look at. The rest of her family who spent their time in the forest and meadows would do the same out of curiosity. "There are Pokemon in here?"
"Give these out to the students. We'll make it so that they choose randomly. It's more fun that way rather than deciding who gets what. We still have to know whose who though." Twilight ordered. "By tomorrow, they'll be taking part in lessons with them."
The Poke Balls would be sent out of the staff room by the new principal and some of the new teachers. Windflash and her siblings were just too enamoured by what they were seeing. It would take them some time to get used to this. At the same time, Ash would see if he could grab something to eat. The canteen should be open to feed the mouths of the students. At the moment, the students were just feeling out the place for the first time.
Those already familiar with the Pokemon School, aka the young ponies, already knew what to expect and where to go. Speaking of the students, Ash would instantly notice a familiar face in the crowd. One he has seen before. Not from the Hippogriffs, but instead, from the yaks.
"Hm? Hey, it's you!" Ash cried out to the little Yak in the distance, remembering her face. And even remembering her name. "Yona!"
"Ash!" It was Yona from Yakyakistan. The one Yak he got to know about after a rather turbulent experience back at the Crystal Empire.
"So you already know." And next to her was Prince Rutherford of Yakyakistan who now knew that Ash and Yona were acquainted with one another. "This Yona Yak. She come to Pokemon School. Hah. Make it better."
"You got it." Ash nodded. "Well, I'm not gonna be here all the time anyway. Just visiting. You should probably get to the hall. There, you'll get your Pokemon. But you already have Piloswine, don't you?" He recalled Yona's Piloswine as she already had a Pokemon by her side.
"Yak still wants another." Even so, that wasn't going to stop her from getting another Pokemon. Any youth will be thrilled to have more Pokemon by their side.
"We get to have more than today?" This caught the attention of a young pony, who ended up bumping into another youngling. This time, it was a young griffin. "Whoa, sorry! I'm Sandbar. Are you a student here, too?"
"No, I just figured I'd randomly stand here and see how many ponies would walk into me." The young griffon sarcastically said.
"Gallus!" Screaming the name of the griffin and startling him was another griffin that was recognizable. At least to Rainbow Dash. Making an appearance here was the gruff and rough-speaking griffin, fittingly going by the name of Grandpa Gruff.
"Grandpa Gruff?" Rainbow Dash spoke after noticing him.
"Rainbow Dash, right? Gilda told me about you. Are you a teacher here? Huh. Thought you'd be... cooler." Gruff added.
"Well, no. I'm just visiting for my friend who's the principal here. I'm not cut out to be a teacher. I've got other things to do anyway." She explained. "Most of us just have other things on our plate to teach about Pokemon."
"Great. But what's this about more than two?" Gallus asked.
"Just head down that hall and you'll get a Pokemon by your side. I mean, even if you have one already, no shame in befriending another one." Ash answered, insisting that they should give it a swing even if they have a Pokemon already. Some trainers limit themselves to one Pokemon so it wasn't too out of the ordinary. But the fascination with Pokemon led the newer generation to want more than one. Why wouldn't they?
"But dragons are better than this! Why am I here?" Not everyone was thrilled about being here. While the adults were fine with this for the meanwhile, some children were rather hesitant to come here. Not because they weren't interested in Pokemon but because some just did not wish to go to school. Even if it was a school about Pokemon. A young dragon who was currently next to Ember was one of them.
"Because as Dragon Lord, I'm ordering you to be here!" Ember sternly said. "Hey, Spike! Come meet Smolder."
"Here!" Spike would quickly rush over. "I actually didn't think you'd show up here. I thought you would've skipped out on this."
"See?" Smolder said to Ember who merely lowered her eyes.
"Whatever. Please tell me you work here, because I can't be here to keep an eye on all the dragons that'll learn here." Ember questioned.
"Well...I work alongside Twilight so sure. I'll try my best but if that's an issue, there's always the School Councillor."
"Councillor?" Both Ember and Smolder said, unaware as to what that was. Many of these species would be rather lost on certain things here. Whether it was certain positions and subjects that would come their way. Some already had decent knowledge of schools. Such as the Changelings.
Showing up here with the Changelings was of course Chrysalis. In a way, she was the one with the most children here since she was their mother. Dropping this many children off was something else as usually parents drop off one or two. Maybe three. Not an entire town's worth of Changelings.
The Changelings would do fine here at the Pokemon School but there was one who was currently in disguise. Currently, this changeling was disguised as a Female Frillish, attempting to conceal her disguise. But it wasn't fooling the Queen of Changelings who knew a disguise when she saw one.
"Ocellus!" Chrysalis exclaimed, prompting the Changeling to gasp as she instantly reverted to her original form. "I told you, stay in your own form. It's the polite thing to do."
"What is that?! No way! I didn't know ponies could turn into... um... What are you?" Present here as well after just encountering those from Equestria days ago were the Hippogriffs. And considering they spent a good chunk of their lives underwater because of the Storm King, being back to the surface meant that they have been absent from communication with the rest of the world. Such was the case for a young Hippogriff who seemed more excitable than Princess Skystar once she saw Ocellus transform.
"A Changeling," Chrysalis answered before looking around. "Where is that hall anyway? Perhaps where Ash can be found if he's still in here."
"The King of the Sea? Aren't we lucky to have him here? Silverstream by the way!" She held her hoof out, trying to greet them. Chrysalis would gladly greet her back with a hoofshake but Ocellus would refrain. Having shy students was common for any school and it was no different here. It was a contrast to those who complained about going to school. Both sides have their own reasons for not wanting to be here but were rather powerless to do anything about it. Fluttershy would notice this as she recalled times of her being too shy to come to school a lot of the time. Most of the time, she would just hang out with the animals so she could understand where some of the students were coming from.
"I am General Seaspray of Her Majesty Queen Novo's navy. I would like to introduce the queen's niece, Silverstream. Please..." He would gently slide over to Fluttershy, having one single request. "In light of recent events, we request that you keep an eye on her. Whatever she is saying now about the other species does not compare to what she thinks about Pokemon."
"This place is amazing! I've spent most of my life in a coral reef underwater. I was a seapony, but now I'm a Hippogriff. Long story. Anyway, wow! Is that a yak?!" She would zip on to the next thing that caught her attention.
"Oh yeah. This'll go swimmingly well." Twilight smiled with great confidence, standing next to the entrance of the hall. Great things were incoming and she just couldn't wait.
A good chunk of the students had arrived at the hall, here to receive their Pokemon. Many Poke Balls were laid out, randomized for each trainer. There were no predetermined Pokemon here which is what made it all the more exciting. The students were scattered, gathering around the tables of Poke Balls as some of them have never even seen Poke Balls before. They still had their Pokemon out, much like Yona and her Piloswine or even a majority of the Griffons since not all of them had the currency to afford a Poke Ball.
"All these Poke Balls are completely randomized. Whoever you get will be your partner. Second or first. Or maybe third depending on how many Pokemon you already have. If you're struggling to move around with multiple Pokemon by your side, Poke Balls are an easy convenience for that." Twilight explained.
"So we don't know what's inside?" Gallus would tap the Poke Ball in front of him, trying to sneak a peek in there. He thought that there had to be a way of knowing what Pokemon was in there but there was no clear indication. The only way to find out was by unleashing the Pokemon inside.
While all of them gathered around the Poke Balls, Ash was sitting down, having something to eat as he was craving some food. Him and Pikachu would have their light snack while watching all of these students ponder on what they wanted to choose. So many of them wished to know what was inside but not knowing what was inside raised the excitement even more.
For most. Some obviously had preferences. Ash and Pikachu saw how there were some Dragons crossing their claws, praying for Dragon Pokemon. It was no secret that the Dragons from the Dragon Lands wished to only have Dragon-Type Pokemon or at least Pokemon that are in the Dragon Egg Group but don't really have it as their typing.
"Uh, which one of these have Dragons inside?" Smolder asked, wanting a Dragon more than any other typing or egg group at the moment.
"Well...I don't know." Spike shrugged, unable to answer that. "I couldn't tell you, sorry. Uh, Rainbow Dash. Maybe your Luxray can look inside with his X-Ray vision."
"No way. It doesn't work on Poke Balls. You're just gonna have to get lucky." Rainbow Dash couldn't help here either. It was all down to luck. "Besides, I'm sure whatever Pokemon you'll get, you'll bond with it."
"Mmm...But I want a Dragon..." Smolder grumbled. For the other species, this wasn't an issue. The Changelings. Griffins, Yaks and Hippogriffs had no problem with what Pokemon they would potentially have. While some were catered to Pokemon that fit their natural habitat and resemble their species, they weren't too picky compared to the Dragons.
"Most of them look pretty worried." Starlight pointed out. "Maybe we should've drawn or painted symbols on the Poke Balls to make it easier for some of them.
"I figured this would happen. But no need to worry. I planned for this too." Twilight winked, expecting this indecisiveness to pop up at least once. "So I used Rift Magic on each of the Poke Balls here. If someone is indecisive. The magic from it will cater to what they want to most and they'll gravitate towards it without even knowing."
"Oh. Well...I guess that works out for them."
And the effects were already showing. An indecisive Smolder hovered her claws over the row of Poke Balls in front of her, struggling to choose. That is until she stopped in front of a Poke Ball that was smack-dab in the middle. That was the Poke Ball that called out to her as she selected it.
"Hm. I guess I'll take this. That makes it two Pokemon for me." Smolder said, still unsure. This Pokemon she just chose would be her second Pokemon ever as she already had one. And that could be found in the bag that was right next to her. The Dragons were one of the few species that have been introduced to Poke Balls after all.
"I have a good feeling about this one." Compared to others, they would rapidly select their Poke Balls. Since they weren't struggling that much with choosing their Pokemon, the magic wouldn't kick in for them as any Pokemon would do just fine.
Noticeably, Windflash was up there as well. She nad some of her siblings were also partaking in this selection, picking up some Poke Balls. But they were quickly advised by Twilight not to do so as those were meant for the students. In this case, Windflash and her siblings may also need some tutoring as well. Not just the students.
Soon, many students received Poke Balls as more were promised to come in tomorrow or days later. But for the most part, everyone here had a Pokemon. Whether it was just one or two. New or old. And with this selection, they would all unleash them. That went for those who already had a Pokemon or those just now receiving a Pokemon.
Out of Sandbar's Poke Balls appeared two Pokemon. The one he's always had by his side was a Galarian Ponyta. And the newest one turned out to be a Lillipup. For Smolder, she already had a Pokemon that was obviously of the Dragon Family but was not a Dragon-Type.
That Pokemon ended up being a Charmander and the newest one would be a Salandit. It was certainly in the Dragon Family without a doubt and had access to Dragon-Type Moves. Smolder was pleased. Granted, this meant that she had two Pokemon that were not Dragon-Types at all but she would go along with it either way. Smolder even struck gold as her Salandit appeared to be a Shiny one. Not just a regular Salandit so that added some weight to her choice.
Unleashing their first Pokemon ever would be Gallus and Silverstream. From their Poke Balls emerged Tailow and Spheal. One catered for the sky and another for the sea.
Yona unleashed her second Pokemon, using the Poke Ball in a different way. Since Yaks have never used Poke Balls, they didn't exactly throw them. Yona and all the other yaks would instead slam the Poke Balls into the ground as hard as they could. Lo and behold, that worked out.
But this also meant the way Pokemon arrived would be rather up close as seen by how a Bouffalant appeared next to Yona, picking her up with its majestic hair. For Ocellus, her experience with Pokemon has been limited to just Bug and Fairy-Types and the one who emerged from the Poke Ball would be a Bug in this instance. So it was something that was still familiar with her and in this case, it turned out to be a Surskit.
A nice selection of Pokemon were present here and every single one of them came straight from PokePark. They were originally Twilight's Pokemon but now they belonged to these students. Peeking at this were Team Rocket, currently in their school disguises. Their eyes shot up at all these Pokemon that were present here. It far surpassed what the ponies originally had. With more species here, the number of Pokemon shot up to a new level.
"That's part one done." Twilight put her hooves together. "This is just the start. I can already see you all having more Pokemon in the future. Whoever they may be. And the best part...everything is going swimmingly."
Just as she said that someone would slam the doors open, making an entrance that alerted many. Plenty of heads turned to see the arrival of a student who was rather late. And the one who did this had a powerful push for someone so small. Everyone here had already selected their Pokemon.
The pony who showed up here was none other than Cozy Glow.
She had the most innocent look on her face before trotting indoors, making herself seem like she's been here already. Alas, Ash and the others did not recognize her. The only friends they had that would recognize her were currently not present here at all, making Cozy Glow enter here safely.
Saying nothing, she would quickly grab a Poke Ball here, already choosing a Pokemon without a second thought. Afterwards, everyone just went back to what they were doing. No one thought much else of it, other than the fact that this filly had quite the hoof strength.
"Alright. If you want to hang around here a bit longer, you can do just that or you can head home with your new partners." Twilight suggested. "Every room here is available. Minus the egg room, of course."
"I know what I want to do before I head home." Smolder and other students had something in mind. There was one location in the Pokemon School that plenty of them recognized and would try and take full advantage of.
And that was the field outside. The fascination of Pokemon Battles warranted a location for it and during this school's creation, that location had already been built. It was easy to tell it was a place for battling thanks to the signature Battle Symbol that was painted on the ground.
With their Pokemon out, there were two sides to this. Those who wanted to just casually hang out with their Pokemon and those who just wanted to battle with them. It was very easy to see who wanted what and a majority of students chose the first option instead of the second one.
"Ash!" Going up to Ash were a few students of different species. Those that wished to partake in active actions would go straight to the one who was most known for it.
"Hm?" Ash, who was still eating at this point, turned around to see the students gathering around him.
"Do me a favour Join me in a Pokemon Battle?" Smolder requested.
"No, me first!" Another Dragon would reply, wanting a swing at Ash first. All of them wanted an opportunity to battle him instead of choosing someone else. They could just battle other students who were new to Pokemon, helping them gauge their strength but they just went for the strongest Trainer here instead.
"Mm-mmm-mm!" Ash spoke, having his mouth completely full. They couldn't exactly understand what he was saying, until he swallowed his food. "Aaah! I said, you can always try battling your fellow classmates."
"Huh? That doesn't sound as fun though."
"It totally can be fun. I mean, I'm not one to turn down a Pokemon Battle, but it wouldn't hurt to battle someone who's still learning. Anyone around your level always makes for a great time." Ash instructed, passing this advice on to them. "That way, whether you win or lose, you'll feel like you really earned that victory."
"Oooh..." The students cooed.
"But. Like I said. Not one to turn it down, so I'll accept one." Ash grinned, wanting to battle as well just for fun.
"Just...Go easy on them, Ash." Twilight teleported to his side, already knowing how Ash was. "I know you love to give it your all but they're new and young. Don't go too hard."
"I know, I know. I won't." Ash scratched the back of his hair, promising to hold back.
"You're going to do it now?" Someone else responded to Ash and Twilight's conversation, grabbing their attention. And to Twilight, it was the one pony she was hoping not to see here at all. Ever.
"Yes. And you seem unprepared. If there are problems..."
"N-No! No problems here! But I didn't think you'd show up. I mean, you didn't show up the last time the Pokemon School opened up." Twilight squeed, sweating a bit. "What brings you here today?"
"I showed up because of this." He pointed his hoof at all of the students here. "This is way beyond what was previously here."
"Well, the student count has gone up, yes. The school does need an upgrade to make it easier for other students to reside in. In the meanwhile, some can work outside which is also effective when it comes to Pokemon."
"Not that. Previously, it was fine because of the fact that other ponies from across Equestria were showing up to learn here. Now, it's gone past that and you have other species here. You should have come directly to us about this."
"I didn't think I'd have to. But this isn't a problem, is it?"
"Not at all. Unless everything is going perfectly." He said, narrowing his eyes and making Twilight shudder. "This is the first time a school for all creatures, at least the ones we know of, has been opened. So, much like before, I have to investigate everything here."
"You're free to do so." Twilight squeed. "And uh...if something goes wrong here?"
"The whole school will be shut down." Neighsay said, striking fear into Twilight. He had the power to bring the whole school down as now the Pokemon School's position in the world was left open thanks to all these species showing up.
Twilight hoped that the best would come from this. With so many species gathering in one area, even she had to know that something could go wrong if not careful. The worst possible scenario had to be avoided at all costs. The first day was both the most exciting and the most terrifying because it could also potentially be the last day as the journey continues.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
Twilight's perfect day of running the new Pokemon School was quickly struck by the sword that was Chancellor Neighsay's presence. Now that the school had opened up to other species, it was back in the grasp of the EEA. All she had to do was to make sure that nothing went wrong and the Chancellor would let this school be with its newest development.
"No need to worry, Chancellor Neighsay. Everything's going to be just fine. This school's already set to succeed, Right, Ash?" Twilight shifted her eyes at Ash, praying that everything would turn out swimmingly well.
"Uh, I don't work here but sure! I've been meaning to have a battle right now. A lot of you asked me though." Ash turned to the few students who requested a battle with him.
"Ah. I'm afraid not." Suddenly, Neighsay interjected, halting Ash from going any further. "You're not employed here and you're about to take part in a battle with them?"
"Yeah?"
"Starting fights in schools are regularly frowned upon, especially when it comes to the youth. Aren't you a little old to be battling children?" Neighsay narrowed his eyes. "Maybe on the outside, but on school grounds?"
"Now I'm not in the mood anymore..." Smolder pouted, flying off along with the other students as Neighsay had killed the mood.
"It's fine, it's fine!" Twilight flew in front of Neighsay, rapidly waving her hooves. "It's always been a rule in the school. Plus, Pokemon Battling is arguably the most essential part. Gotta defend yourself in this new world somehow, right?"
"Hm. That is true." Neighsay slowly said, seeing where Twilight was coming from. "Well, since it's for the sake of our well-being, who am I to interject? I advise you to be careful, however. The way others battle is different from how we ponies battle. Have you inspected that?"
"Uhh..." Twilight paused for a moment as Neighsay had a point there. With different creatures from Equestria coming here, each had ways of battling. Twilight knew one thing. Dragons battle aggressively and some are not accustomed to battling. "Well, I'm sure it's fine. We have subjects just for that."
"And you were going to let them start battling without even going through with the subject first?"
"Well, uhh...I didn't think it would be that much of an issue. Everyone always starts a Pokemon Battle here or there somewhere. But now that you mention it, it's probably for the best. I just thought it would be fine since it was always a part of the rules in the beginning."
"Princess Twilight. You are aware of my time speaking with your previous principal, Cynthia, correct?" Neighsay questioned.
"Right...The same day a food fight went off."
"It was easy for Cynthia to speak with me and get things done solely because she had plenty of experience with her world. It was fitting for her, a human, to be in charge of the school. Had it been anyone else, we wouldn't be having this conversation. At the EEA, every time a new principal appears, we have to review them as well"
"A-All the time?" Twilight stuttered. "Even if it's passed the EEA?"
"Of course. The last time somepony become a new principal of a school, the entire school became bankrupt. Since then, we've made sure to properly review every new principal that fills a position. If not, then some random fool can have plenty of power and completely ruin the school. You are the newest principal of the school, so I hope you don't turn out to be the last. Your knowledge of Pokemon is at least promising."
"Hah...Got it." Twilight sighed, lowering her head as Neighsay threw plenty of things to worry about at her. But while she took in everything Neighsay had to say, she was too late to stop a Pokemon Battle. At this very moment, a Pokemon Battle was about to commence. The sound of students could be heard going off near the field where a Pokemon Battle could take place, making Twilight's ears jerk up.
And the one to start this battle would be Smolder, who had multiple dragons by her side, wanting to see a Pokemon Battle as well. The Dragons were certainly catered to the Battling side of Pokemon compared to anyone else so it was inevitable for something like this to happen.
"I would've preferred Ash but I have to make do 'cause I'm already so bored." Smolder expressed, needing to relieve this boredom. She still wasn't feeling this school even after receiving a new Pokemon. And speaking of which, she wasn't going to battle with her new Pokemon but instead, with her Charmander, who has been here since the beginning. Her opponent was a random pony and her Pidgey.
"Wait, wait!" Twilight bellowed. "Not until we've taught you about-"
"Charmander, Scratch!" It was too late. The battle had begun.
"Charmander!" Charmander went first, holding his claws out and rushing at the Tiny Bird Pokemon. Neighsay would simply watch how this would play out. He did say that other creatures would have different ways of battling but it was all a matter of how its executed and how far it goes.
"Pidgey, use Gust!"
"Pidge! Pidgey!" By flapping its wings, the Pidgey would unleash a gust of wind that was small but strong enough to lift Charmander into the air. Charmander found his movements being slowed down by the wind while also feeling his feet leave the ground.
"C-Char!" Charmander gasped before being lifted into the air by the Gust. Afterwards, the wind would strike at him, dealing some damage. The Lizard Pokemon then found himself spinning through the air and landing on the ground afterwards.
"Charmander! Are you alright?!" Smolder bellowed.
"So far so good. Nothing out of the ordinary here." Neighsay commented on this Pokemon Battle.
"Yep. They're all rookies so there won't be anything too crazy!" Twilight nervously laughed, glad that a rather small-scale battle was going on. Had this been someone like Ash, then something staggering could've happened.
"I'm not a rookie!" Smolder heard that, denying the statement of her being a rookie. "Charmander, use Dragonbreath!"
"Char...Mander!" By holding his breath in, Charmander gathered all the dragon energy from within before releasing it in the form of a light blue flame.
"Gust again!"
"Pidgey!" Another Gust would appear just from the flap of Pidgey's wings. However, when trying to blow the Dragonbeath away, Charmander's attack managed to overpower the Gust, consuming it in its draconic energy. As such, Pidgey would be struck by the flames, crying out. "Pi! Pidgey!"
"Great! Now, use Scratch!"
"Just so you know, she is a rookie," Ember spoke, appearing behind Ash and the others. She was the one to confirm how new Smolder was when it came to all of this. All the while, Charmander was going in for another Scratch. This time while Pidgey was on the ground.
"Quick, PIdgey! Fly away!"
"Pi?" Pidgey blinked for a moment before seeing an orange lizard appearing above it with his claws out. "Pidgey?!"
"Mander!" Charmander landed a hit, slashing Pidgey's chest. Not only that, he landed on the chest of the Tiny Bird Pokemon, leaving his foot there.
"Now, Ember!"
"Charmander!" Once more, Charmander would breathe out an attack, but this time, it was the element he was used to. From his mouth, a spark of embers would fly out, landing on Pidgey. Charmander would then leap off Pidgey's body the second the flames burst around its body.
Unable to get up, PIdgey succumbed to the flames. It was truly a display of young trainers and how their battles play out. Not very long compared to the more experienced trainers. Once the flames subsided, Pidgey was seen down and out. It had fainted.
"P-Pidgey..."
"Yes! Haha!" Smolder cackled, showing her draconic tongue as her eyes were in the air, revelling in this victory. "That didn't look new, did it!?"
"I guess not. And it went better than expected..." Twilight sighed with relief before glancing over at Neighsay. Thankfully, this battle turned out fine. Neighsay did twitch a bit once he saw how Charmander got close to Pidgey but it was dismissed. So far, so good. The school wasn't doing anything too out of the ordinary.
"Very well then. Show me the rest of the school and what new developments you've made to it. I will only be here for a few hours and after that, I will leave you to your devices, granting your school the much-needed approval." Neighsay ordered.
"Got it! Ash, back me up here." Twilight scrunched her face. "I need all hands and hooves on deck to make sure this goes well, okay?"
"Sure. I can stay around for a while longer." Ash agreed, willing to see this through with Twilight. If there was a chance that this all went wrong, Ash would try and prevent that chance with all of his might.
"Pikachu!"
Neighsay was given a tour of the school to see what it had to offer now that it was open to other species. And to Twilight, the best way to do so was by seeing the staff first. Twilight brought him to the nearest staff members she could find and it turned out to be ones who were involved with Dark Magic.
Currently, Sombra was remodelling Olympia's classroom by using Dark Magic. Olympia's room already looked fancy and while Sombra kept parts of it around to his liking, he would reshape a majority of it in his image. And that was by using Dark Magic which was flowing everywhere.
"What?" Sombra said, looking over at Twilight as the Dark Magic would fly across the room, grabbing the furniture and infecting it.
"Ehehehe!" Twilight chuckled nervously, looking over at Neighsay to see what he thought about this.
"You have Dark Magic casually in your school?" Neighsay narrowed his eyes. "Are you trying to teach this to students?"
"N-Not that kind of Dark Magic! It's the one that's helpful. Cobalion did say that Darkness can be our greatest ally." The Princess of Friendship tried explaining. "Besides! We have Dark-Type Pokemon and they're harmless! For the most part..."
"If you wish to learn about Dark Magic in a school, might as well go to Magehold for that." Sombra laughed, floating in the air by using Dark Magic. "Don't expect me to teach you all about Dark-Types though."
"Princess Twilight. The guidelines say a lot about Dark Magic, as you can tell." Neighsay uttered.
"I can already guess multiple reasons..." Twilight sighed.
"However! It was fine previously when Dark-Type classes were opened up. But this is Equestrian Dark Magic and even though it comes from our land, it's destructive nature is known by many." Neighsay continued. "I'd say that this is a strike."
"A strike?!" Twilight gasped as she already received a strike, failing one of the guidelines.
"Too many and I will have to truly do something about this. But I can trust that you can deal with the Dark Magic, correct?"
"Sure..." The young alicorn lowered her head before moving on to the next classroom, hoping for a better outcome. Now she had to worry about strikes as one flaw wasn't enough to make Neighsay shut this place down. It would take a lot and a gut feeling in Twilight made her believe that multiple reasons were incoming.
The next classroom involved that of Potion Nova. She already found herself a classroom to occupy. Already, multiple potions had been stacked where books usually can be found. Potion Nova came prepared, bringing only the Pokemon Related Potions. And already, she had some students in her classroom on the first day.
"Everything' swell in here! All these potions are easy enough to get anyone interested, especially since they involve Pokemon!" Potion Nova said to the principal, holding out a potion.
"R-Radiant..." In this room as well as Radiant Hope, who recently tried one of Potion Nova's potions. It was a potion that was meant to make her speak like a Pokemon while also understanding any Pokemon. The effect still has not run out. "Hope?"
"Oh, it hasn't run out yet." Potion Nova commented. "Ah, that's fine! It'll wear out eventually. Anyway, I have multiple other potions to try out on the first day. Does anyone have a favourite move or type?"
"Potions that let them act as Pokemon?" Neighsay commented on this as well. "I hope you're not allowing the students to undergo rather destructive transformations. You know very well how dangerous the Pokemon can be."
"I know, I know. But Potion Nova's an expert, I swear. The Pokemon Potions are new as you can imagine but they're efficient. Trust me."
"In the face of children, anyone of them could take full advantage of these potions. On top of that, they are just lying there on the shelves where books once used to be. What's stopping them from grabbing the potions or knocking them over?"
"Well uhh..." Twilight paused.
"Ooh, good point. I don't usually have many over at my home to test my potions out. And even then, I just let anyone use my potions however they want to. It's always so much fun when that happens."
"You just have them use your potions? Without any second thought?" said Neighsay, judgemental about Potion Nova. She sounded rather irresponsible from what he was gathering.
"Nope! Unless it's a potion that I really need to protect." Potion Nova winked before holding a potion out to one of the students.
"Where did you find these teachers? First Dark Magic and now what appears to be irresponsibility and carelessness?"
"I assure you, Chancellor Neighsay, they're completely capable. It's just how they are, that's all. Plus, it makes the learning environment fun. The other teachers here carry that same energy that the students will absolutely love and never feel bored."
"Really now? Show me?"
And she did. The next teachers were a family. Straight from Pegalysium were the descendants of the Legendary Pegasus of Destiny Windkiss. Compared to their descendant, they were rather lacking in wealth after what the Indigo Alliance did to their family in the far past but now they were about to rectify that by working here.
Windflash and exactly 6 of her siblings had shown up here, amazed at the land below. A bit too amazed. They have been living in the forest and meadow islands for years now, which meant that almost everything else felt incredibly new and different to them. So much so that they couldn't help but touch something, not just stare.
And they did not hold back, holding many Pokemon objects and touching whatever they could. The classroom they occupied was already a mess. Their fascination with Pokemon objects just made them so curious that they started sitting on top of the tables, shuffling the objects and utilizing them.
"What excuse do you have for this?"
"These are ponies from Pegalysium. You'll have to excuse them. They've been living in the forest and meadows their whole life. They're actually of legendary descent and spend a lot of time with Pokemon more than anyone up at PEgalysium."
"So you grabbed random ponies from the wild and let them be teachers?"
"When you put it like that..."
"Being good around a certain thing does not mean they are instantly eligible to become teachers. Look at them. They've made a mess with their curiosity. Has it only been one day since you brought them here?"
"Just around 20 minutes at best."
"20 minutes?!" Neighsay gasped as these were the most recent teachers here.
"In their defence, a lot of the teachers here have never taught before, so it's all new for us. The same goes for the Gym Leaders, remember?"
"This is different. They don't seem to have any experience with their surroundings at all. It's not a matter of if they have experience with teaching, but how they were brought up." Neighsay explained. "Who else do you have here?"
"I'm still looking for more teachers to fill in some missing spots but so far, we have a good number of them. And this is just the first day. Tomorrow is when classes can really start, plus it's getting late and many of them need to get home. Classes won't be long since so many of them live so far away from here."
"Hmph. Tomorrow, you say? By tomorrow, the same teachers will still be here and you will still have plenty of setbacks since you aren't fully prepared. On top of that, the building has not been updated to match the student size. Many of them were outside and not all of them were indoors. Without a large building, truanting will reach an all-time high."
"I understand." Twilight sighed. "Just...come back tomorrow and I'm sure things will be spick and span here."
"I hope so. This experience has been mediocre at best, Princess Twilight. There is a good foundation here, but you have a lot to work on if you want to be up to par with what your old teachers managed to pull." Neighsay warned, walking off as he felt like his work here was done for the day. "I will be back tomorrow to see how the classes truly turn out."
The Chancellor of the EEA was out of here, giving Twilight room to properly breathe at last. Ash didn't need to do much. Nothing went wrong even if things looked rather odd. "Hah...That was close." Twilight sat down, taking a deep breath. "The way he talks is so intimidating, it's insane. I've never felt so nervous before!"
"It's over for today. You can head home and rest." Ash kneeled to get to her level. "And you gotta really put faith in Sombra and the others to make this work."
"They'd better make this work." Twilight facehoofed. "I mean...I think I have some confidence in them. Even Sombra. But for the students...I have no idea what could come from this. They all come from different backgrounds and locations and the worst could happen at any time. Do you think I overshot this, Ash?"
"Hmm...Kinda." Ash shrugged, giving his honest answer. "It's a lot to handle in just one day. Now you've gotta really get things going for tomorrow."
"Right. Tomorrow, I'll show him what this school can do. Cynthia pulled it off by having him approve of the school when she was in charge. I can do the same. I can!" Twilight pumped herself up, believing she can pull it off to the best of her abilities.
With all that said and done, everyone would soon head home, preparing for tomorrow. This was just the opening day for the Pokemon School and that was about it. Tomorrow is when things can really kick off and the subjects can come flying in. For that, Twilight would have a lot of organizing to do until tomorrow. Luckily for her, she was an expert in that.
Ponyville. Twilight's Castle. Nightfall.
"Alright. If I want to get this done, I can't afford to slow down whatsoever." Back at her castle, was continuing to psyche herself up, giving herself the boost she needed. "The EEA has to approve of the new Pokemon School by tomorrow, or it's all over.
"Chancellor Neighsay came over? The guy from the EEA?" In the same room with her was Cold Colt who was not part of the Pokemon School. He already had plenty of Pokemon knowledge in him thanks to being a Rift Pony after all. "I should've seen that coming after the Storm King. It's just like the original timeline."
"Right. I might have to stay awake by using the natural biology of a Rift. I know I did a lot to make sure I could fall asleep after absorbing Rift Magic, but now I-" Twilight paused for a moment before facing Cold Colt. "Just like the original timeline? Wait, this has happened before?!"
"Yep. But uh...It wasn't with a Pokemon School. It was with a School of Friendship." Cold Colt explained, summoning a comic book to read. "That was way newer and fresh than the Pokemon School and Chancellor Neighsay showed up there too."
"Oh! So you know how it ends, right!?"
"Well...Only for the School of Friendship." He shrugged. "This is different. You're running the Pokemon School so it's not like how it was in the original timeline. It could end totally differently there."
"Ah. Drat." Twilight kissed her teeth, wishing she had made a Friendship School now to go with the original timeline. That way, it might not be as stressful. But Cold Colt knew it would be just as, if not more stressful. "Anything you can share with me that might still exist in this timeline though?"
"Well...it sounds like he's not the same as he was before." Cold Colt pondered. "Chancellor Neighsay doesn't sound as grumpy and strict as what he's supposed to be."
"He doesn't? What was he like?"
"All those creatures in the school that aren't ponies? Good luck convincing him. He really loves to do things by the book and it took his own life being in danger to change his mind. But I don't think that's gonna happen this time. Because his life's already been in danger. All of our lives."
"Oh yeah..." Twilight slowly nodded. "Despite how he talks, he does know a lot about what we have now. His interview with Cynthia, even if I never saw it, is proof of that. And with everything that's happened..."
"The Pokemon School doesn't seem that worrying to him. I mean, it'll still be worrying but I think he understands why it has to stick around. For everyone. But that's not gonna change how harsh he's gonna be. Especially tomorrow. He could still bring the whole place down, Twilight. You just have to be careful."
"At least give me a hint of what happened in the original timeline so I can avoid it?"
"Hard to do that if I tell you. You have to let the events come to you to change them yourself. But I guess...you should probably watch out for these 6 kids." Cold Colt slid in, having something to share. "I don't know what happens in this timeline but one thing's for sure, they'll start something."
"Who, exactly?"
Twilight had plenty of work ahead of her. She had to make sure tomorrow was good enough for Chancellor Neighsay otherwise the EEA would pull everything down, making sure the Pokemon School of Equestria was never a thing. And according to Cold Colt, there was one thing Twilight had to be aware of. Or rather, 6 individuals. Whoever they were apparently important enough to be involved in the timeline itself as the journey continues.
A new day dawned on the Pokemon School. And there was a chance that it could be its final day. The students from across Equestria and Beyond returned for a second day. And as for the appearance of the Pokemon School, in just one night, it underwent a transformation that many noticed instantly.
The size of it has seen some growth, gaining new rooms just to fit the escalated number of students. The extra part of the building resembled that of a tower. It even matched the appearance of Twilight's Castle a bit. Now that her extra work was done, Twilight could rest as her eyes were baggy. The biology of the Rift Pony had left her body by this point, making her vulnerable to losing stamina and plenty of it has certainly been lost.
Everyone noticed it as it was hard to miss. Twilight succeeded in her mission faster than expected. And showing up to the school for one last time was Chancellor Neighsay.
"So, you've already succeeded in extending it?" said Neighsay, impressed that Twilight got this done so quickly. He expected a few weeks or months. But magic said otherwise.
"Last night. I had to make it bigger with magic. I used the same thing that made the Cutie Map and my Castle, adding an extension to the castle. It took a lot of Rift Magic to make it possible and I had to gain infinite stamina like when I absorbed Rift Magic for the first time just to get all of this work done."
"Hm. Well, you accomplished that. But what about everything else? Let's see how classes are."Neighsay said, walking past Twilight. All Twilight had to do was show Neighsay how smoothly this could all play out. "But before that...you should take this."
"Hm?" Twilight raised an eyebrow as Neighsay suddenly pushed a book towards Twilight with his magic, prompting her to catch it. "An EEA book?"
"You should do things by the book if you wish to keep this school around. I expect nothing to go wrong during this second day. Because it could be your last." Neighsay warned.
"By the book! Got it! I've always done things by the book so this should be just fine!"
Students of all kinds entered the classrooms, already having their first lessons noted. Each had different classrooms with different teachers waiting for them. For their classes, it would be split into two categories. Those who were completely new to Pokemon and had to start from the ground up and those who had some knowledge of Pokemon but were very lacking it and had ways to go.
For both classes, it was rather even. Plenty had some knowledge of Pokemon while an equal amount were lacking. That way, no one was really behind and they could all be caught up to speed. To catch them up, the teachers of both classes would be Nightmare Moon and Sombra respectively. Two ponies who dwell in Dark Magic. One has knowledge of everything Pokemon thanks to gaining Ash's memories while another had knowledge about Pokemon Battling since she was an alter-ego of Luna.
Sandbar, Silverstream, Yona, Gallus and Smolder were the ones taking this class. And with this class starting, Nightmare Moon was about to go all out, using whatever she could to make sure the students would pay attention. But just as she was about to do that, along came Twilight, holding the book of the EEA.
She showed it to Nightmare Moon, informing her that it had to be by the book and nothing else. Nightmare Moon squinted, seeing what rules were laid out. It was a large book and there were enough rules to go through that would automatically change how this class functions. The alter-ego of Luna blinked for a moment, bewildered about what she had to do.
But unfortunately, even Princesses were not immune to the EEA, especially one that was just an alter-ego of a Princess. Nightmare Moon groaned, going along with it. She was about to teach them about Pokemon Moves and was even eager to have them use these moves for a better understanding. Alas, it was simply limited to talking about them.
Needless to say, this did not really work with the students. They themselves were expecting action. When it comes to Pokemon, there is always action involved somehow or at least something entertaining. The wonderful world of Pokemon thrived off of that but all that was done was Nightmare Moon simply writing down the names of moves and how they work, what typings they were an extra conditions.
Nightmare Moon may be a different version of Luna, but she was still made up for her desires. And one of Luna's desires was to become the Equestria League Champion, turning her into an avid battler. This meant that Nightmare Moon was perfect for showing the students how it's done but the book said otherwise.
Smolder sighed, unable to battle again with her Charmander like she did before. Things were not as practical as she was hoping. Neither got to really try new things with their Pokemon in this class. Ocellus knew there was more to this, but it wasn't being shown the best way it could be.
It wasn't any better in Sombra's class. He was about to share the history of the Pokemon World before anything else and the way he planned to do it was by using his Fear Magic. By merging it with Ash's memories, he could show the students just what Ash has witnessed while also using his magic to create illusions for them. What better way to learn about the history than see it for themselves?
The book, of course, shut that down as well. Even Sombra was shown the book by Twilight. He glanced over at his former enemy, looking her dead in the eyes as he couldn't believe what he was being shown. Apparently, using Dark Magic on students was forbidden.
Sombra groaned, pushing the book aside but he had to follow those rules as well. Thus, he had to do it in the traditional sense. Using history books that were already laid out by Twilight. While a lot can be gathered from the books, the students were looking forward to what Sombra had to offer.
It spoke volumes to how much they were losing interest if they were even interested in Sombra's actions. Students would swap classes, going to learn new things, only for them to be hit with boredom. The second day wasn't looking too good for them at all.
Faces were hitting the decks, hooves and claws were smushing the jaws of many out of pure boredom. The class of Windflash and her siblings would be different from the rest as they were assigned to cover something they were more comfortable with. And that was the wilderness that the Pokemon live in. They spent their time on the forest and meadow, knowing how the creatures act and live, especially the Shaymin who have suddenly shown up.
But since they had no experience as teachers in the slightest, the way they would try and go through with this. Thus, they would try and hands-on approach, much like what Sombra and Nightmare Moon wanted. But alas, much like them, they were hit with the book as well, forced to read it as this would be their first tutorial on how to teach. At least, in the EEA way.
Windflash and her siblings scratched their manes, rather flabbergasted by what they were reading. And thus, the students were robbed of pure excitement once more. The teachers would sit there, trying to figure out how to approach this the best they can.
"Is this what's it like here?" Gallus asked.
"I promise it's so much better," Scootaloo replied as her words had weight. It was much better but the best part of the Pokemon School wasn't showing itself.
"I think things are completely fine the way they are." Cozy Glow, who was in the same class as them, uttered but no one heard her, too bored to even pay attention to anything.
"It wasn't like this when Twilight and the others were learning here," Ash commented, noticing how different things were. While he never went to the Pokemon School, he has visited it sometimes and heard about what goes on in there. And when Roxanne and the others were teachers, the students had plenty of fun.
There were explosions, possessions, battles and more. All things that a Pokemon Trainer loves or even fears. The Human teachers made it so much fun for them. But now that other creatures were learning here, that fun had been drained.
"It is weird, isn't it?" Fluttershy replied, spectating it with the others.
"Weird but needed." Replying to them was none other than Neighsay himself. "It was different from how the Pokemon School was before."
"How so?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Since this is the first time other species are learning in a school together, especially situated in this part of Equestria, things must be taken easy. Completely by the book. We have no idea what would happen if we had them repeat what you all did. I've heard what happens in this school and it can escalate rapidly beyond belief."
"That's what makes it so much fun though!" Pinkie Pie grinned. "Come on? Let them do what we did."
"I think not. I let it pass in the beginning because of the fact that we were two separate worlds. Now that is one larger world, it applies here and I won't be so lenient." Neighsay said, keeping his stern energy. "By the end of this, this will be the best possible Pokemon School in Equestria, even though it is the only one so far."
Students were leaving their classes, bored out of their minds as they were not looking forward to what was coming next. Or even tomorrow. Yesterday was so much better by a mile. Watching this were none other than Team Rocket, Undergoing their staff disguises, they heard what Neighsay said, commenting on the scenario as they haven't been approached by him just yet.
"What a stick in the mud..." Jessie spoke. "Back when I was at school, I had the benefit of causing a ruckus as much as I want."
"At this rate, they might be too bored to notice that their Pokemon will be gone," said James. "I feel bad for them, honestly."
"Hey. But I know how we can turn those frowns upside down. What's the one thing every school has?" Meowth was already cooking something up in his mind, ready to take full advantage of this boredom. Jessie and James soon clicked with what Meowth was getting at, going through with his plan.
"Is this what boring is? Am I bored?" Silverstream, who was an excitable Hippogriff, wasn't really in her usual mood now thanks to how the lessons have been going. She and the other students were walking through the hallway, heading for their next class which involved Potion Nova. But there was a good chance they might not get to try those potions based on the previous lessons.
"Ugh, please." Gallus groaned. "We haven't sent out our Pokemon. Not once. This is supposed to help us get used to the Pokemon World and be safe in it?"
"Well, we're still learning something, aren't we?" Sandbar added.
"I could learn more about Pokemon back home," Smolder complained. "And I have! Me and Charmander already know a lot so this is just one big waste of time!"
"Our teachers are a little different than I expected," said Ocellus.
"Ugh! Pony Pokemon school waste of time! Yak school teach how to braid yak hair! Braiding yak hair is best!" Yona threw in her own complaints. She would trip on herself while getting a bit riled up, rolling on the floor. This prompted her to crash and land right on Smolder.
"Ough! Is there anything in Yakyakistan that isn't the best?" Smolder grumbled, crawling away from Yona who almost broke her back.
"Yes! Wait. No! Yaks best."
"No claws, no wings, no fire. What is it exactly you're proud of?" Smolder scoffed, looking down at Yona and Yaks in general as there was some tension building up.
"Whoa, cool it. No need to harsh Yona's love for her heritage, okay?" Quickly defusing this was Sandbar.
"Awww, are we not being sweet and friendly enough for you, pony?" Gallus said sarcastically, mocking Sandbar as he was not fond of this place at all, making him rather grumpy.
"That was sarcasm, right? Because you weren't being sweet or nice!" Silverstream exclaimed.
"Maybe dragons and griffons are just too tough for friendship." Smolder expressed. "I can learn about Pokemon in the same way the toughest trainers do. Not this."
"Yaks tough, just not nasty."
"Who you calling nasty, klutz?" Gallus glanced at Yona. Very soon, the tense atmosphere would only worsen as these different species were beginning to go at it.
Sandbar failed to break it up and Ocellus was too shy to really do anything about it. At this rate, this small spark of conflict could spread and affect the other students who were feeling similar emotions right now. It was only the second day and everything was already starting to come crumbling down.
"You don't have to bicker among yourselves." At that moment, Jessie chimed in, springing into action. Team Rocket made an appearance, but they weren't wearing their staff uniforms at all. Instead, they showed up in what seemed to be a different variation of their Team Rocket uniforms.
It was their uniforms but stylized to fit a school. They were fully rocking the delinquent look. Black clothes all around, rather fancy and sharp shades plus stylized hair. Jessie made hers into pigtails while James managed to get his short hair into the style of a pompadour. Somehow.
"When you can form a team and get rid of that bad mojo you're feeling," James said, sliding in.
"We can?" The younglings uttered in unison.
"That's right. If you're not feeling this, then deviate away from the rules. Then all that boredom gets thrown away and you can do whatever you want in this school." James grinned.
"Oh, you've got a point!" That sounded beautiful to the ears of Smoler and Gallus. As Dragons and Griffins, they did share some similarities to School delinquents, at least in their behaviour.
"Wait, what?" Sandbar blinked, realizing what they were getting at.
"Then join us. Team Blastoff! How does that sound?" Meowth whipped out a sign that showed the Team Rocket logo but altered. They really did everything in their power to make sure that they weren't Team Rocket but still managed to be them. And more importantly, recruiting new members.
"You want us to...break the rules?!" Sandbar gasped.
"As a bonus, you can decide not to turn up to school. It's the freest occupation anyone could want." Jessie nodded. "How does that sound?"
"You look a bit old to be students though." Silverstream pointed out, noticing their age. She based them on Ash's appearance and while Ash was old, he still looked young here and there.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING OLD?!" Jessie replied, taking offence to being called old. She preferred to be seen as a young and dainty woman. "Ahem. So anyway? Are you in?"
"Are we! Yes!" Smolder already accepted. So did Gallus. This even interested Silverstream, who, while positive, was eager to do something else than be drowned in boredom. Even Yona found this to be far more interesting. Team Rocket grinned as convincing the children was simple considering they knew how desperate they could be around boredom.
"But we have another class to join. You're not...skipping class are you?!" Ocellus gasped.
"That's exactly what we're doing," Smolder confirmed. "Come on. This will be way better than what we could possibly do next. Do you really want to sit through another class of just reading? We could do much more and we haven't even sent our Pokemon out yet."
"I guess..." Ocellus scraped her hoof on the floor as she was indeed bored. Even someone as shy as her was expecting something entertaining. As a Changeling, she has seen some of the wildest things out there and nothing wild was happening here, that's for sure.
"I guess I'll tag along, too. Make sure you don't get into... trouble." Sandbar opted to come along but for a different reason.
"Great! Wear these while you're at it!" Jessie would then whip out exactly six outfits, already having them prepared. Each were catered to the respective species, build and size. They cooed at the outfits that were meant for them as they appeared in all black having the symbol 'B' on it.
It was really the Team Rocket Symbol but the bottom part has been altered to match a B. Little did they know, they were essentially being made as rookie Team Rocket Grunts. The newest ones yet.
1 hour later.
"This is pathetic. Sticking to the book?" Back in the staff room, Sombra and the others had gathered around, expressing how they felt about the lessons and how they went. "Ridiculous."
"Truly. What good are our skills if we can't fully utilise them to their absolute best potential?" Nightmare Moon groaned. "Is there even a point to us being here?"
"Not exactly what we were expecting, honestly," said Windflash, holding an Ultra Ball in her paw. "Those poor children...I didn't really get to speak with them that much. That book was... a lot to take in."
"I know it looks bad, but trust me. I'm sure it'll all work out. If we follow what's in the book, this school will be in the clear." Twilight pleaded for them to have patience.
"I haven't gotten to use my potions yet." An upset Potion Nova expressed as her class was as boring as it could be. No potions yet. "I only got to say what they could do. I can't believe not using potions isn't allowed?!"
"It is but...Not for children, apparently." Twilight sighed.
"You have only a few hours, Princess Twilight." Entering the room was Neighsay. He would immediately receive harsh looks from the two Dark Magic users who were not pleased with the rules he was throwing at them.
"So far, everything seems to be perfectly fine. Things are going by the book perfectly."
"That's right. Very soon, we'll be done here, Chancellor Neighsay." The young alicorn squeed. "You won't have anything to worry about."
But following up that bright smile was the sound of an explosion in the distance. Twilight's eyes widened as her pupils shrunk, knowing exactly what an explosion sounded like. And at this moment, she didn't want anything like that at all. An explosion of this volume was heard by many and could not be ignored. Neighsay narrowed his eyes, wondering what could have caused that and if it had something to do with the Pokemon School.
Judging by the sound of it, it sounded like it was very nearby as Sombra put on a rather devious smirk, knowing what could have caused this. A part of him wanted to say it was Ash but another part of him was telling him that it was someone else. Someone who was trying to be daring in this boring atmosphere. At this time, the students were praying something truly exciting to happen as soon as possible as the journey continues.
Equestria. Canterlot. Near the Pokemon School. Afternoon.A few minutes before the explosion.
An explosion had been heard and it sounded like it was right near the Pokemon School. It was caused by something and one hour ago, the source of it was simply building up in the background. Before that ever happened and at this very moment. six of the students from different species had been convinced by an undercover Team Rocket who were pretending to be delinquents, giving them a chance to erase their boredom.
Going by the fake team name of Team Blastoff, using their most common getaway, they convinced the children to join them. For the most anyway. Sandbar was only here to make sure things don't get too out of control, but he had no idea what was coming next that would alert many within the Pokemon School.
"These fit us too well. You just had these?" Sandbar pointed out as this was a bit too convenient.
"Don't worry about it. Just revel in what's about to come next." Jessie said with her hands behind her back. "This will be just like my days in school."
"How come you're here actually? I thought the Pokemon School didn't open up to human students and it was just pony students until we showed up." Smolder questioned.
"Duh. We used to go to school. What you're seeing now is close to how I was back then." Jessie answered as she herself confirmed she was a bit of a delinquent back at school."
"I actually used to go to a private school for a little while and was homeschooled," James added, revealing a bit about his past as well. Meowth had nothing to share since he was far younger than both of them.
"So what do we do first?" Smolder asked, wondering what could be done first now that they took on this new occupation of students.
"Anything. You want to really get used to the Pokemon World? Let them out and go wild." James encouraged. "You should be used to that by now, right."
James convinced them to send out their Pokemon. It would be much better than how they were forced to just read and not participate in anything entertaining, especially with the Pokemon. Already, it was shaping up to be much better. Each of them held out their Poke Balls, sending out their newest Pokemon. And for some, it was their first.
"Wait, where's your Piloswine? I thought you had one?" Gallus soon noticed the lack of Yona's Piloswine right before he could send out his Pokemon. Yona's Piloswine was always by her side, especially when it was seen yesterday. But now, it had just suddenly vanished without a trace seemingly.
"Yaks not allowed to bring Pokemon indoors. Piloswine is doing his own thing." Yona grumbled as she was unable to bring Piloswine into the Pokemon School simply because she did not have a Poke Ball for it. Everyone soon realized something.
This meant that somewhere, at this very moment, Yona's Piloswine was roaming around the Pokemon School. They didn't think too much of it, believing that whoever would find Piloswine could handle it. Plus, Yona didn't seem too worried as it looked like she knows that Piloswine will return to her.
As for the rest of their Pokemon, Galarian Ponyta and Lillipup from Sandbar's side. Charmander and Salandit from Smolder. Spheal from Silverstream and Tailow from Gallus. And for Yona, her second Pokemon turned out to be the massive Bouffalant, who she summoned by slamming the Poke Ball down. Once again, Bouffalant's massive hair picked her up.
"Not a bad roster," Meowth commented on their choice of Pokemon. "Perfectly suits you all, that's for sure."
"Now that we have them all out, I can finally do what I couldn't! Or at least, what you could do yesterday." Gallus faced Smolder.
"What? Jealous that I got a chance to battle and you didn't?"
"Nuh-uh!" Gallus denied but the moment he shifted his eyes, it was obvious that he was jealous. He got his first Pokemon on his first day here and never got the opportunity to battle with it.
"I can see it on your face!" Smolder pointed out as Gallus wasn't facing her.
"You can fix that." Jessie slid over to the Dragon and Griffin, rubbing her hands together. "Pokemon Battles are always free. What kind of school limits you from that? It hasn't stopped Pokemon Trainers before and it won't now."
"She's right. They're the reason I got so interested in Pokemon in the first place." Gallus vehemently agreed.
"It's why I even bothered coming back to this school. Yesterday was fun, getting the chance to battle someone." Smolder expressed, putting on a smile.
"Don't the rules of the school say that you should battle in the field? We're not at the field right now." Sandbar added.
"What about you? You're a pony so you've been here before, haven't you?" Silverstream asked. "Was there a need for you to tag along?"
"Not really. I've never been to this school until now. This is also my first and second day." Not even Equestrian went to the Pokemon School prior to this expansion. Some ponies still skipped out on it and Sandbar was one of them until now. "I had to learn about Pokemon back home."
"Homeschooled, eh?" James nudged him. "Same here, same here! I bet you weren't needlessly pampered when being homeschooled. It would barely feel like you're being taught anything at all."
"N-Not really. No, why?"
"Enough chat!" Jessie intervened, wanting to pick up the pace. "We came here to have fun and ignore what the school's been throwing at you. We'll smush the boredom! Two of you, start throwing down already."
"Oooh! Me-Me!" Silverstream bellowed. wanting a go at a Pokemon Battle. It would be her first time partaking in one but the way she started it was rather unorthodox. "I'll go first! Roll over to them!"
"Spheal!" Spheal understood perfectly. The Clap Pokemon used Rollout, targeting Gallus and his Tailow without any referee to kick things off. It was just out in the open with no time to waste.
"Hm? Hey, wait!" Gallus shouted out as his Tailow and himself were suddenly tackled by the rolling Spheal. Spheal hit far harder than they expected for someone so small and round. The two of them were not knocked over but instead launched into the air by Spheals' Rollout, twirling for a moment.
"Great! I managed to land one for the very first time!" Silverstream grinned, believing she pulled off something spectacular. When really, she just attacked innocents without them being prepared at all.
"Ow! What was that for?! I wasn't ready!" Gallus was able to recover in the air alongside Tailow, bellowing at Silverstream from above.
"What?! Isn't that how it goes?!"
"Both parties have to be ready. No sneak attacks. But I mean...that's what we do anyway." Jessie shrugged. "So you're already catching on."
"Surprise attack me will you..." Gallus held his face for a moment, deciding to dish out some revenge. "Alright then. I'll show you! Uh...What moves does this thing have?" Unaware of what Tailow had in store, Gallus tried searching for a way to learn his moves. "How do these trainers already know what's what?"
"You need a Pokedex for that!" Sandbar yelled at him from below. "That way, you'll know what your Pokemon has! Use the ones we got on the first day of school!"
"Oh, those?" From his bag, Sandbar would whip out one of the few items given to him and the young students to help them get started with things. As always, the Pokedex was availabe, being a much-needed device. "Aww..." But once he took it out, it was revealed that his Pokedex was partially damaged. One part of the screen was cracked the side of the device appeared to have been bent.
"It looks pretty rough." Sandbar pointed out. "Pokedexes are supposed to be durable for the most part."
"What did you do to it?" Smolder questioned.
"I just got into some trouble when I went back home, that's all. It's still usable, I bet!" Gallus groaned before aiming it at Tailow. Instantly, the Pokedex would react as it was still functioning even with this damage, impressing the others. Gallus was given the full info Tailow as always but of course, the moveset that Tailow was currently holding. "Hmm..."
"Do you remember what Ms Nightmare Moon taught us back in class? Or is it Princess Nightmare Moon?" Ocellus asked.
"How should I know? I zoned out." Gallus replied. "We all did because we were so bored. I barely remember what happened back in that class."
"Just shout something and hope for the best!" Sandbar had a good grasp on how to battle with a Pokemon. But before Gallus could do anything, all of a sudden, Tailow went on his own, choosing to attack without hearing anything from Gallus.
"Hey! Wait!" Gallus gasped but it was too late. Tailow was already heading in.
"Tailow!" The Tiny Swallow Pokemon had used Quick Attack, moving at lightning speeds through the air. Spheal looked at Tailow with his usual expression, seemingly completely unphased by this. But he was soon phased once Tailow landed a direct hit on him, tackling his round body.
"S-Spheal!" Taking swift damage, Spheal's body would roll back. Even when getting hit, he would roll, crashing right into Silverstream's legs as a way of vengeance.
"I didn't even get to say anything yet..." Gallus descended as he wished to be the one to give out the orders, prompting Tailow to start attacking. He would then go over the moves that the Pokedex showing, aiming to shout one of them out before Tailow continues. "Alright. I think this is how it's done. Use Peck!"
"Low!" But Tailow would do something completely different. Instead of using Peck, Tailow would use Double Team. He would multiply himself repeatedly, creating afterimages of himself while approaching Tailow and Silverstream.
"Ghhh!" Silverstream grimaced out of fear seeing the Tiny Swallow Pokemon menacingly approaching her. "Uh, quick! Use Ice Ball!"
"Spheeeal!" In front of Spheal, a ball of ice had been summoned while Tailow was approaching with all of his clones using Quick Attack at the same time. Not a single one was using Peck. Spheal would then shoot out one Ice Ball which only ended up striking one of the clones, fizzling out. However, Ice Ball was an attack that could go on repeatedly, giving Spheal the chance to find the real one. Multiple Ice Balls were shot out at an impressive pace, flying everywhere as Spheal didn't have a clear sense of where to shoot.
With so many clones, he just started shooting wherever he could. He managed to hit some of the clones but in the process, the ones he missed only led to the Ice Balls landing somewhere else. And the nearest location was the Pokemon School itself.
Two of the Ice Balls broke through the windows of the Pokemon School, entering the building. Collateral damage had already been caused as that loud sound of windows breaking would certainly alert someone.
"Uhh..." Ocellus stared with her eyes trembling. This was already not a good sign of things to come. With each of the Ice Balls failing to hit the real Tailow, three of the remaining clones and the real Tailow tackled Spheal, landing yet another hit on him. Spheal was again knocked back, this time, crashing into one of the benches here at the School. Spheal was not strong enough to break it but the force he was knocked back at made the bench tip for a moment.
"It's not fair that Dragons and Hippogriffs get to smash things!" This obviously excited Yona who was now in the mood to break something. "Bouffalant! Break them!"
"Bou!" At that moment, Boufallant prepared to charge. Thanks to Yona's words, Bouffallant could swing into action, scraping its hoof on the ground to build up some power. And a Pokemon of this size building up power was definitely intimidating especially since it was larger than everyone else here.
"Break them?!" Silverstream and Gallus collectively gasped as it sounded like Yona was referring to both of them at the same time. Not just one.
"Wait a minute..." Jessie uttered, soon realizing how quickly things were escalating. Her pupils shrunk as now Boufallant was about to take action. At that moment, Bouffalant had used Rage. Its entire body would heat up, gaining a red aura and tint as the most threatening roar from the Normal-Type Pokemon came out.
"Time out! Time out!" Jessie would try and stop this as soon as possible but she was merely an obstacle for Bouffalant who came charging in. She would receive a direct hit from Bouffallant's rage, having her eyes widen and nearly leave her sockets while her mouth puffed up. She most definitely felt that.
Jessie was then being carried by Bouffallant who continued to run, going straight for Silverstream, Tailow and Gallus. All three of them squawked before flying out of the way, using their wings to evade. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for Spheal who was still next to the bench.
Seeing that this could get ugly fast, especially for Spheal, the one to take immediate action was Ocellus. Not only would she fly over, intercepting Bouffalant, but she would also use her ability to shapeshift into something that could stop the Bash Buffalo Pokemon.
And that was by becoming a Pokemon herself. And the one she turned into ended up being a Banette as she used the intimidating face of the Marionette Pokemon to try and scare Bouffalont, making her appearance instant.
"Bouffa?!" It certainly worked as Bouffallant did not see that coming. The Normal-Type's momentum was greatly disrupted, prompting it to skid and come to a screeching halt. Unfortunately, it tripped, falling forward as Ocellus pulled Spheal out of the way as soon as possible. The bench had been destroyed by the falling Bouffalant, breaking it apart with ease.
Poor Jessie was the first to hit the bench as she went hurling through the air. Jessie made a rather hard landing, crashing to the ground face-first. It's a good thing she was very much used to this thanks to Ash and all of his friends. "Bouffalant smashes well!" To Yona, that was some excellent smashing. Not the way she envisioned it going but it works for her.
"If that's how we're starting then, fine by me! Use Dragonbreath, Charmander!"
"Charmander!" It didn't take long for Smolder and Charmander to get involved as the Lizard Pokemon unleashed a blue stream of draconic fire from his mouth. And this is where the explosion came in. As the Dragonbreath travelled, targeting one of the Pokemon, which in this case was Bouffalant, the attack landed, hitting the Bash Buffalo Pokemon directly.
The result was an outburst of energy as Charmander made sure to envelop the entirety of Bouffalant's body, which led to the size of the explosion. While it wasn't the biggest, it was still enough to make quite the noise, shattering the nearby windows with the shockwaves. As if they weren't damaged enough.
"Hm. Kids." James smirked, seeing no problem here whatsoever. This all seemed rather natural as kids were just being kids in his eyes. But compared to how he was brought up as a child, something like this truly did not phase James at all.
"You nearly crushed us there!" Gallus shouted at Yona. "What's up with you?!"
"Yak thought this is what we were doing!" Yona shouted back as there was obviously a clear misunderstanding.
"Now look what you've done!" Gallus shifted his attention over to Silverstream who was the one to kick this off in the first place with her Spheal.
"Hey. It's my first time battling. And I think I got it down pretty well, honestly." Silverstream squeed. Unfortunately, three of them lacked any proper battling experience. Only Sandar, Smolder and even Ocellus knew something about battling thanks to what they have seen.
"Zip it, you three!" Jessie roared, sitting up as her pigtail-styled hair was now a mess. "You each suck at battling more than anyone else I've seen!"
"S-Sorry." Silverstream twiddled her claws. "I guess I really did something wrong."
"That's why we're here!" James raised a finger. "To let you be free and show you the ropes at the same time. You're just rookies at the end of the day, so this is only natural."
"Maybe this wasn't a good idea at all," said Ocellus. "We're just goofing off out here. Classes are currently going on in there and we've already done damage to the school. Won't someone notice?"
"Relax. It'll take a lot more for someone to really do something about this. Besides, we shouldn't care about this." Meowth walked over, reminding them of why this was completely fine. "You're a part of Team Blastoff now. You don't have to care about this at all."
"We don't?" Ocellus uttered, blinking a few times. "Are you sure?"
"That's the entire point. Do whatever you want. Break a few windows and benches. As rogue students, you're as free as you can be and can learn about Pokemon way faster than what those classes can do." Meowth continued.
"This doesn't seem right. Even troublemakers know there's a limit." Sandbar grumbled.
"Well, this is still way better than what we were doing back in those classes." Gallus descended as he preferred this over the lessons that were done via the EEA Book. "Plus, I get to at least get some payback on you."
"What? I thought I was doing it right! Honest!" Silverstream bellowed as Gallus was still targeting her.
"But you know...for each of you, your fellow classmates of similar species must be bored out of their minds as well, don't you?" James winked, bringing up the other students. "Why leave them out of it?"
"Yeah. We've got enough uniforms for more members to show up." Meowth suddenly whipped out extra Team Blastoff clothes that fit each species perfectly, having more in store. This was his plan from the start after all.
"Wait? Convince the other students to join this team?"
"That's right~" Jessie acted sweet once more. "We can't leave them to suffer, can we? They deserve to feel the thrill instead of that slow and painful way of teaching. You've already learned a lot, haven't you?"
"I guess so." Smolder scratched her head. "It didn't feel all that different from how things were back home. Starting random fights is pretty common back home."
"Same here. Back at Griffonstone, something like this can happen. It's never a low chance." Gallus was starting to see it himself as Team Rocket were experts in getting the children to say the right words and change their minds. All it took was them slandering the classes that were dumbed down by the EEA Book.
"This means Yaks get to smash whatever without any rules..." Yona was seeing the bigger picture as well. Of course, smashing things was against the EEA, no doubt about it. To many Yaks, this greatly upset them and ruined any excitement they had. Especially since Pokemon were also experts at smashing things. Whether they be small or large, they know how to cause destruction.
Team Rocket had them right where they wanted. This was all a plan to recruit new Team Rocket Grunts instead of just stealing their Pokemon. Even they knew that the odds were greatly against them and they weren't about to take that risk. So instead, they would just add more to their group so that the next time they wish to steal some Pokemon, they have the numbers to do so.
All except Sandbar and Ocellus were fully hooked with Sandbar being the hardest to convince. Ocellus was simply around, unsure of what to do here. At this moment, the delinquent path that the Young Six have been placed on would be explored even further.
They finally re-entered the building but they would not abide by the rules this time. They had the opportunity to skip classes whenever they wanted and hang around wherever they wanted. Led by Team Rocket, who showed them what delinquents were truly capable of, the hallways were already overtaken by them.
Two ponies were passing through the hallway, attempting to head to their next class, only for Team Blastoff to stand in their way. By standing there, Jessie held her hand out, ordering that both of them cough up some money. She would gladly take bits and if there were some Pokedollars on them, that would be a guaranteed snag.
Gallus was already enthralled with this idea, wanting some bits as well since that would greatly benefit any Griffin. And if they did not cough up any money, well, there was a very high chance of them having to deal with their Pokemon. Although, Tailow was seemingly doing its own thing, not listening to Gallus at all, just like before.
One pony was intimidated by this and the other was rather annoyed by this, prompting him to send out his Pokemon. Refusing to cough up any money, his Tyrouge would kick Jessie in the knee, prompting her to fall over. James and the others gasped after Jessie was downed in one hit, allowing the two ponies to continue on their way, passing by the ones who supposedly took over the hallway.
Clearly, some were braver than others even when faced with a somewhat intimidating sight. But Jessie assured them that this was to be expected with the presence of delinquents. More of how free they could be by taking this path of a student would be shown based on what Jessie and James have seen. Mainly Jessie, of course.
Aside from the Tyrouge that just knocked Jessie down, there was also the possibility of approaching someone rather tough, and harassing that individual that they see as not as tough as them. There were already some examples nearby in the form of a Changeling student.
Smolder would take a swing at this, listening to what Jessie had to say about this. Apparently, it was all about making sure that they never look tougher than you and Smolder loved the sound of that. Alas, the second she got close to this Changeling, she changed into something tougher than what she was expecting.
The Changeling transformed herself into one of the 100 Demons from the Box of 100 Demons. In this case, it was a smaller version of the Centipede Demon but still big enough to tower over the others. Smolder screeched at the sight of this fake demon and the rather uncomfortable face it had, feeling the urge to pass out.
So much for trying to look tougher. Gallus cackled at this failure but it wasn't like he succeeded in the first task when it came to the hallway. But Jessie and James reassured them that there was more to do. Delinquency was a lifestyle, according to Jessie. Not just an occupation of a student. Loitering, vandalizing and brawling serve as a pastime as much as an act of rebellion,
Vandalizing was something they did and that was by painting something on the walls of the school. They unleashed all of their boredom and took it out on the school that they were not enjoying in the slightest, showing them just how bored they were by spicing things up. And art vandalization was one of the ways to do it.
Jessie already came equipped with Graffiti cans that had a Monkey Pokemon on it as the logo which neither have seen before. Jessie would show them how the cans were used, spraying her name on the walls. Or rather, an altered version of her name. This time, she went by the name J-Jess as a school nickname.
Gallus, Smolder and Silverstream would do the same with Silverstream taking her sweet time. She found this to be rather artistic, wanting to make this as beautiful as possible. Gallus and Smolder were already finished with their vandalization by writing random words while Silverstream was being a full-on artist.
Ocellus lightly picked up a can, spraying at the walls for a moment as she wasn't sure if she would be into it. But at that moment, they were soon spotted by other students nearby, prompting them to book it as fast as they could. Silverstream was pulled away by James as her unfinished artwork was still rather impressive to look at, showing the image of her and her new team. She actually ended up taking them into consideration.
"Hm?" Coming across this art was Ash, who was still around in the school but was not working here at all. "Oh, check this out..."
"Pikachu..."
They went at this for minutes, trying to be the best delinquents that they could be. And strangely, Silvertream was starting to really get the hang of this and even getting into it. Perhaps a bit too much from what could be seen.
"This is amazing! It's way better than what we were doing!" Smolder exclaimed. "Joining this team was the right thing to do after all!"
"Alright. Now can we get back? Besides, it's getting late and eventually, we'll all have to head home."
"That's where the best part comes in, my little pony." Jessie giggled. "Even when you head home, you still stick together as a team. Tomorrow, your team will be waiting here for you."
"So, we're completely legit when it comes to being a team? I've never been on a team before..." Gallus pondered. "It's not so bad. I was always thinking I'd have a Pokemon Team first before anything else."
"Yeah. This is pretty sweet, honestly," said Smolder, seeing the appeal. "I thought I was gonna get heated this entire time. But so far...things went well."
"I got heated back there. And for good reason. Any more of that and I would've started breathing fire." Gallus admitted, even though he still saw Silverstream as the cause.
"Griffins can breathe fire?" Sandbar blinked as his attention was focused on what Gallus just said. "That can't be true, can it?"
"Oh, we can. Only when we're very mad though." Gallus confirmed.
"Griffons just full of hot air!" Yona joked, prompting them all to laugh. At this moment, they were having small talk about each other and it was going well. Being around each other led to a tense atmosphere in the beginning as it kept ramping up but it was suddenly starting to fade out.
"And yaks are actually good at jokes. How about that?" Smolder gave her pointers as well.
"Look at us. I definitely expected something like this to happen." Jessie was lying through her teeth when saying that, nudging James. This seemed to be one step closer to really convincing them to stick around with their made-up team name. If they formed a bond, they could see each other constantly, making it official.
"This has been a bunch of fun! I wanna do something else before we leave!" Silverstream squeed.
"Aha! So it was you three!" Alas, they had been discovered once more. But this time, it wasn't from any random students passing by. This time, the one to find them was Chancellor Neighsay. And right behind him was Twilight Sparkle who had a distraught face.
"!!!" The Young Six collectively gasped, showing faces of true fear. As for Team Rocket, they stayed completely still, not saying a word just yet.
"The vandalization, the explosion and the truanting!" Three guidelines of the EEA have been broken and multiple rules underneath those guidelines as well." Neighsay found out. Unfortunately, they did not cover their tracks at all and those that saw them pointed it out. There was a good chance the graffiti played a part in them being found out.
"Ohh...." Twilight groaned, putting her hooves on her face as she feared something like this would happen.
"W-We were just uh..." Gallus tried coming up with an excuse as quickly as he could but judging by Neighsay's expression, he wasn't about to hear it.
"I know this looks bad! But wait!" Twilight flew in front of Chancellor Neighsay. "I didn't even know they were here and I don't even know who those other three students behind them are!"
"That does not help your case, Princess Twilight."
"Figures..." She scratched the back of her mane. "But this is only the second day and hiccups like this are bound to happen. It's different from how it was before, especially with these new guidelines coming in."
"Yeah. And whatever those guidelines are, we're not rocking with them. This is way better than sitting and reading in those classrooms by a mile." Smolder crossed her arms along with Gallus.
"We did a lot more than what we did back in class," Gallus added.
"Hah!" Jessie finally spoke. "For being a stick in the mud and so smart, you should've seen this coming. It's only a matter of time until more students start flocking to us. Team Blastoff will control certain areas of this school in no time."
"Not helping!" Twilight bellowed at them, making them all flinch.
"Let's see...Irresponsible teachers, students skipping class and potentially endangering the lives of others! Your school is a disaster compared to how Cynthia ran it." Neighsay listed the problems that plagued this school currently. "Perhaps if you had had higher standards for who was admitted, this could have been avoided. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't shut it down now."
"Hold on!" Sliding into the scene was none other than Ash, who has also seen the damage done to the school. Ash had something to add before Neighsay could potentially bring this all crumbling down. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves here!"
"Pikachu!"
"You don't work here. Why are you still here?" Neighsay questioned. "And what do you want."
"If you're gonna try and shut this school down...Here me out for a second, okay? I've got something we can work out." Ash had an offer to try and please both sides. Apparently, it was a way to convince Chancellor Neighsay to keep this school around. At least, he hoped so. Right now, Ash was going to throw what he could to make sure the worst couldn't happen as the journey continues.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
Sliding in to slow down Neighsay who was on the verge of shutting the Pokemon School down, Ash showed up in the nick of time. Thanks to the actions of Team Blastoff which consisted of the six young students plus the undercover Team Rocket, Neighsay found new reasons to shut this school down. Others showed up, gathering around Neighsay and Ash as lessons were over by this point.
"What do you have to offer? You would have to do something absolutely unheard of to convince me not to shut this school down." Chancellor Neighsay questioned. "On top of that, you do not work here at all. What part of that do you not understand?"
"Ash, please tell me you have something." Twilight put her hooves together, praying for Ash to really pull something amazing off as soon as possible. Neighsay's patience was being tested right now.
"I've got something." Ash proudly said. "It's nothing too out there, ya know. And it's something that's easy to do. Let's make a deal."
"A deal?!" Twilight teleported to Ash after hearing that. "Ash...I don't think deals are the way to go for this. The way the EEA functions doesn't leave room for deals, especially when it involves a serious scenario such as this."
"That's all I could think of, Twilight. Just trust me on this, okay?" Ash requested as he felt confident in what he proposed.
"I trust you more than anyone, Ash. But Neighsay's a tough character to deal with. He's not too fond of you being here since you're not employed at all. Just like how Princesses aren't immune to the EEA, you aren't either. Is a deal really the way to go?"
"Very well." To Twilight's surprise, Neighsay would hear him out instead of shutting it down. "What do you have to offer?"
"Wait, you'll hear him out?!" Twilight gasped. She expected a completely different response. Not this one. Not at all.
"Obviously, I will. Nothing in the guidelines that declines deals. Deals lead to negotiations which are always wonderful to discuss. See for yourself." Neighsay used his magic to show the book, opening to the page where it specifically mentioned deals. Lo and behold, Deals were not off the table when it came to the education system.
"Of course there isn't..." Twilight sighed as that was the one thing the EEA Guidelines did not bother to deal with at all. Of all the things that were approved, it had to come straight from Ash's mouth first to reveal it. If not, then deals might have been non-existent or hesitant to do here at the Pokemon School if someone was ever thinking about it.
"But!" Neighsay bellowed. "Whatever your deal is, it will have to be done by those working here. I will hear it out and see if anyone takes it at all. What do you propose?"
"Okay!" Ash grinned, leaning forward. "How about this? Let's have a battle!" Ash proposed a Pokemon Battle. Twilight's face scrunched after hearing that since a Pokemon Battle didn't sound too appropriate right about now.
"Ooh, do we get to see a Pokemon Battle!" Smolder made a prolonged gasp.
"You're proposing that? To me?" Neighsay raised an eyebrow to Ash's request, thinking about it for a moment. He would then take a look inside the EEA Book, seeing what the guidelines said about this. "Hm. Well, a good call from you, Ash Ketchum. Something like this is not against the EEA. Pokemon Battles aren't exactly something we've put in just yet. But here it does say that a duel is sometimes up for consideration."
"Wait, really? That's a thing? Why?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"It's tradition. And nothing here objects to it aside from school brawls that are caused by conflict. I will allow it and accept it. Of course, I have to hear your terms first."
"Awesome! So hear me out. We'll have a battle and if we win, everything's all okay and approved for the Pokemon School. How's that?"
"That means we get to have the chance to keep the school and change it up?!" A young Hippogriff commented, realizing what this meant.
"More like bring it back to how it was! Yes!" A young colt yelled at the top of his lungs as the Pokemon School he and many other ponies came to love would soon return.
"Yeah! We're going to win for sure since Ash will be battling!" Sweetie Belle cheered. Resounding cheers hit the school as they saw their chances of getting the best possible school experience being raised to an all-time high. It was practically beyond 100%.
"An obvious request. And you obviously know what will happen if the opposite result appears. However! There is one drawback to this. It sounds to me like you wish to participate. But unfortunately, you can't. With this challenge, either side is allowed to disqualify one person. And in this instance, I choose you, Ash Ketchum. You are immediately disqualified from joining in on this battle."
"Huh?!" At that moment, that Beyond 100% chance quickly plummeted once it was revealed that Ash was still not allowed to do anything. Such as participating in a battle. It wasn't even the staff issue this time which made it even worse. Ash was truly exempt from it.
"Aw come on!" A frustrated Sweetie Belle roared as Neighsay managed to snatch away that piece of hope once more.
"That's not fair though!" Scootaloo yelled.
"It has to be someone who works here at this school. Obviously. Ash Ketchum. You will not be battling for the school since you are not a part of it." Neighsay ordered. "How is that?"
"Fine by me." Ash was unphased. He practically saw this coming since Neighsay hammered it into him constantly. However, Twilight would soon notice a smirk appear on his face. "Technically, you're not a worker here too, are you? So I'm guessing you won't be battling."
"I have no time for Pokemon Battling." Neighsay shook his head. "Never taken part in it. Instead, someone will battle on my behalf. And it will be someone from this school, of course. It will be decided by two individuals that go here. Either student or teacher."
"That's easy then. Let's choose the weakest student and the strongest teacher." Rarity saw this as an easy victory even without Ash involved.
"I think not. Allow me to share some of the rules that also exist with these duels. It has to be on an equal playing ground." Neighsay quickly shut that down. "That at least exists in the EEA Guidelines. And it has also been a tradition in the past so these rules have always been around. It has to be completely fair. Nothing one-sided. And of someone of Ash's level, he is the strongest trainer present here so anything with him would be over in seconds."
"Of course it does..." Rarity scowled at him. She wished it was one-sided so that it could be said and done.
"So all you have to do is have two trainers on equal grounds going against each other. On the bright side, you won't need to work here at the Pokemon School or even learn here to partake in the challenge." Neighsay continued.
"Well, I don't wanna do it on his behalf. No way." Naturally, many were greatly against siding with Neighsay. No one wished to side with him and some even had egos so large they refused to lose. Practically everyone else preferred to side with what would bring entertainment to the Pokemon School.
"The rules are as followed. Neither side can throw a duel. They have to duel at their fullest with the intention to win. No matter what." Neighsay laid out the rules, showing them in the EEA Book. "I assume some of you have some humility here. Who shall it be?"
"I'll do it. On behalf of you." Suddenly, someone approached Neighsay. The one to do so was none other than Applejack, shocking the others.
"Applejack?! Really?!" Pinkie Pie made a prolonged gasp as for a moment, it looked like Applejack was clamouring to the side of bringing the school down. But really, that was not the case.
"Sorry. We're gonna be here forever if this goes on. Might as well get it over with as soon as possible. Right, Ash?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, I have my champion. What about all of you? Don't hesitate to challenge your friend here."
"I'll take her on." Just then, words from Ash's mouth. Logically, he shouldn't be speaking at all since he didn't work here. But that was when Ash's backup plan came to fruition. Right as all attention was thrown his way, shadows would flare out of his body. Everyone gasped as Dark Magic enveloped Ash.
Dark Magic from Sombra.
His hair had been raised, turning pitch black and moving just like Sombra's hair. His eyes changed colours, taking on a sharp red while also being greatly intensified. Ash now had a menacing stare along with a devious grin. Once more, he made a comeback as Ash relinquished a majority of his spirit to King Sombra.
Ash-Sombra had shown up. Twilight caught on at last, seeing what Ash was going for. Just like that, he found an easy way to cheat the rules while still being in line with them. All the students watched in awe as Ash undertook a minimal change. It was mainly his face and hair that had changed. Everything about him was still the same.
"Nonsense! You're not allowed to battle!" Neighsay yelped, seeing this as an infringement after what was laid. "What part of that wasn't clear to you?"
"You see Chancellor Neighsay, Ash isn't allowed. But Sombra is. And right now, Sombra's the one fully in control of Ash." Twilight smirked as there was a massive technicality in all of this. "Plus, Sombra's a teacher here so this counts as a member of the school getting involved if that was a rule that ever came up."
"This is Sombra taking over his body and becoming Ash-Sombra. On top of that, he doesn't have the same skills as Ash. Those don't carry over so he should be on a fair level." Radiant Hope threw in another technicality."
"He was expecting the latter. He believed that he wouldn't have the chance to battle because he did not work here so he allowed the Ash-Sombra plan to go through," said Ash-Sombra. "But it seems like even if it is availabe to anyone, this plan will still work out.
"What a loophole! Great thinking, Ash!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"It's very interesting around here." And watching all of this unfurl was Windflash, along with her siblings. Being away from Pegalysium and seeing what happens down here was a treat. Equestria and all the scenarios that happen here were a delight to see and hear, especially when they fully play out. And right now, the most exciting part of these scenarios was about to begin.
"Hmmrgh...Fine!" Neighsay couldn't find a clear argument against it. It was a rather clever plan. It was still a way to get Ash involved even if he probably didn't have the same skills on him. But it at least gave the students hope. "I'll allow it since it is still someone else."
"This will do just fine," Ash-Sombra spoke with the voices of Ash and Sombra in unison. Sombra was the dominant voice but Ash was still getting the chance to let his voice out. "I may lack his skills but I make up for it with pure tenacity. Are you ready, farmgirl?"
"Ready!" Applejack adjusted her hat, holding out a Poke Ball.
"That means we still have a chance to lose." Gallus bit his claws. "Is this a good idea? Can Ash just take over at the last second or something?"
"I wanna say have faith in my sister..." Apple Bloom paused for a moment. "But come on, Ash-Sombra! Win this and pummel my sister!"
"Gee, thanks, sis..." Applejack sighed, finding it odd to hear her sister cheer for someone else to defeat her.
"Bring out both of your Pokemon. I haven't got all day." Neighsay ordered, prompting them both to get started. Some students had to get home as soon as possible as their respective parents will be showing up soon.
"Very well! Appear! Lucario!"
"Out ya come! Lucario!"
Both trainers sent out their Lucarios. For Ash, it was the Sinnohan Lucario and for Applejack, it was the rare Delta Lucario. Both Lucarios appeared at the same time, making the same pose as well as they were in perfect sync. It would all come down to this. Just a one-on-one match with no other substitutions. Whichever Lucario goes down will decide the fate of this school.
"I shall go first! Lucario, use Force Palm!"
"Luca!" Ash-Sombra's Lucario made the first move, leaping into the air while channelling plenty of power into his paws.
"Lucario, use Force Palm too!"
"Caa!" This was followed by Delta Lucario doing the same. Both Lucario entered the air with all eyes following them. The students of the Pokemon School who were not ponies or even dragons and changelings would witness how a Pokemon Battle between stronger trainers would play out.
The two Force Palms were unleashed which resulted in a fierce and fast exchange of strikes. THe arms and paws of the two Lucarios moved quickly as the energy from the Force Palms would collide against each other, letting out bright orange sparks, flashes and shockwaves.
"Rrr!" Ash-Sombra's Lucario won the exchange, swinging his paws down on Delta Lucario's head. The Anubis Pokemon would recover as soon as possible, sticking the landing on the ground and causing a crack to form, almost making it a crater.
"Smash him with Bullet Punch!" Ash-Sombra brought his arm down as that was definitely the Sombra part talking.
"Luca!" Ash-Sombra could continue the assault, descending by boosting himself through the air. The orange energy around his paws would soon turn white as his attacks would become faster now.
"Counter with Bone Rush!"
"Rrr!" Delta Lucario quickly summoned two energy bones out of thin air, gripping them as hard as he could. He had no time to perform a counterattack but enough time to defend himself. He swung the bone upwards, smashing it against Lucario's steel-clad paws. The collision made a loud metal sound while also knocking away some rubble on the ground. At that moment, Delta Lucario swung his other bone, successfully landing a blow on the SInnohan Variant's face.
"C-Caaa!" Ash-Sombra's Lucario roared after being smacked, sliding on the ground right afterwards.
"Keep at it, Lucario!" Applejack shouted.
"Luca!" Delta Lucario would then continue using Bone Rush, swinging both of them forward this time. Lucario narrowed his eyes, backflipping away from the incoming swing which smashed into the school grounds yet again. Delta Lucario then quickly swung one of them as fast as he could, trying to hit his Sinnohan Variant. However, quick on his feet, after evading the first swing, Lucario then leapt to the side, avoiding the second one.
"Force Palm, once more!"
"Rrrr!" After evading the two swings, he would go in for another Force Palm. This time, disappearing for a moment before reappearing in front of the Holon Variant. Delta Lucario gasped once Ash-Sombra's Lucario reappeared so fast. He was then met with a fierce and super-effective blow to the face by Lucario's Force Palm, prompting him to stagger and stumble back.
"Nice hit!" Rainbow Dash shouted after Lucario landed such a clean and direct blow to Delta Lucario's face.
"Hit him back!"
"Rrr! Ca!" But even after being staggered, Delta Lucario would get the opportunity to retaliate. She swung the bones upwards, delivering a double uppercut to Ash- Sombra's Lucario. His teeth had been smashed against each other as he was sent flying through the air.
"See? On completely equal grounds," said Twilight as this was a clear display of both of them being equal in skill and strength. "Come on Ash...Sombra. Win this."
At the same time, finally showing up at the school to pick up their children were none other than the many parents from different species. And the showed up at an interesting time as everyone in the school had gathered around to watch this battle play out. It was a battle of fate. The fate of the Pokemon School,.
"Look at that. They're already having fun." Ember commented, completely unaware of the circumstances. "With a good ol' fashioned Pokemon Battle. I think we should come by here more often if it means we get to see battles constantly."
"From above! Launch your Aura Sphere!"
"Luca!" In the air, Ash-Sombra's Lucario would use Lucario. Both his arms were raised, gathering the great power of Aura itself in the form of an azure sphere. Even though Sombra was in control, he still had Ash's Aura with him, which correlated with the power of Lucario's Aura Sphere.
"Hit it back with Bone Rush!"
"Rrrr!" Delta Lucario had a response to that and it was by treating the sphere like a baseball. The second it was thrown down, the Holon Variant would stomp his foot on the ground, building up power in his arms. He put both bones together which prompted to merge, forming a larger and stronger bone that was fit to strike this singular Aura Sphere.
With all of his might, he swung his massive bone at the Aura Sphere, creating a bright blue flash. The impact was staggering without a doubt, forming a booming sound that many could hear. The nearby furniture and other objects of the school shattered from the sheer force of this collision.
This pleased the yaks greatly as they were merely seeing a greater reason to bring their children here. The freedom to break whatever in the heat of a Pokemon Battle was pleasing and the Griffins rather enjoyed the thought of anyone having the chance to battle, mainly for the chance to settle something.
As for the Aura Sphere, it was sent right back to Ash-Sombra's Lucario. Ash-Sombra's Lucario was hit as the sphere would carry him higher through the air before hitting the ceiling of the hallway, causing parts of it to come crashing down. An azure explosion happened on the ceiling with Ash-Sombra dropping.
"Hold on! I forgot we were still inside!" Neighsay yelled, failing to quickly realize that the battle was taking indoors instead of outside. The hallways were already being broken down from the sheer ferocity of this battle.
"Too late to change that now! Come on, Lucario! Super-effective blows only!" Rainbow Dash clamoured along with many other students.
"Are you sure you don't have Ash's skills?" Applejack smiled as Ash-Sombra's Lucario stuck the landing, shaking his head.
"Hmph. Just you wait and see. Very soon, this will be over." ASh-Sombra confidently said with that devious look on his face. "Double Team!"
"Rrr! Lucario!" Lucario would then multiply himself, creating multiple clones that appeared all across the hallway the rest of the vicinity of this area. The students gasped as Lucarios appeared right next to them in different poses and positions. They were amazed as now the battle was near them which greatly pleased them.
This far surpassed what they had done in class so far. This is what they wanted from the Pokemon School. Pure excitement that involved interactions with the Pokemon and they were already getting a good display of what that could entail, especially to those who loved and were interested in Pokemon Battles. One Lucario even appeared behind Neighsay, startling him for a moment.
The parents and leaders of each species watched how pleased the students were, completely unaware of the full context. They simply assumed they were having fun the entire time but it was only until now that they found some enjoyment. Delta Lucario looked everywhere, seeing that there were many Lucarios to watch out for.
"Swarm him with Bullet Punch!"
"Lucario!" Each of the SInnohan Lucarios would advance towards their Holon Variant. They ran across the walls, leapt off them and even ran past the students. Neighsay moved aside once one of the Lucarios took off as each of them had a Bullet Punch ready.
"Quick, Lucario! Block 'em all!"
"Rrr!" Delta Lucario could only block right now, unable to find a way to deal with all of these Lucarios at the moment. From all sides, multiple Bullet Punches came flying in, rapidly striking Delta Lucario while he was in a defensive stance. He was lucky that he resisted Steel but all these blows were doing gradual damage that will eventually wear him down. Blue blurs flew in from all sides with each Bullet Punch that was used.
"Push 'em away with Dark Matter!"
"Luca!" At that moment, Delta Lucario found his answer. And that was in the form of Dark Matter. His signature move. By drawing power from unknown forces across the world, Delta Lucario's body was exuding a black aura each time he was hit. After gathering all that power, he would unleash it, spreading his arms out in the process. "Rio!"
A dark blast of matter was unleashed, striking every Lucario clone. All the Lucario clones gasped as they were wiped out by the Dark Matter which made an unknown sound that no one here had even thought could exist. It sounded like it came from another world with how enigmatic it was.
The students all either widened their eyes in amazement or closed them. Either way, they were having the time of their life as Ash-Sombra held onto his hat, watching each of his clones disappear. Neighsay grinned after seeing this mass obliteration, believing that Ash-Sombra's Lucario received a hit.
"L-Luca!" And it looked like he did as he was sent flying back, exiting the dark smoke. That Dark Matter hit way harder than he expected, as the darkness was trailing out of his body.
"Hm-hm!" Neighsay chuckled, seeing the Sinnoh Lucario groan in pain. That Dark Matter seemed to have dealt the most damage in this battle compared to what has been shown. The students collectively gasped after seeing the state Lucario was in compared to Delta Lucario. "Well, it seems you were right about him lacking Ash's skills. If this were Ash, this would have been over soon. This battle is over."
"Not yet!" Ash-Sombra roared as Ash's voice became very dominant. He was the one speaking through Sombra before Sombra took control back once more. This battle was not over yet and Applejack knew this as well.
There was one more Lucario clone and it was the one that was sent flying back. In reality, it was being kept around longer to elude everyone else. Once it vanished, the real Lucario jumped out of the dark smoke, ready to strike once more.
"You are completely wide open! Finish it with Aura Sphere!"
"Lu...Ca....!" A full-power Aura Sphere was incoming, building up in Lucario's paws. This one looked to be the strongest yet in this battle as it would pulsate violently, making Lucario's arms tremble.
"What are you doing?! Move out of the way!" Neighsay yelled as Lucario was taking his sweet time building up Aura Sphere. It looked like the perfect time to retaliate while Delta Lucario was at it but there was just one catch with an attack as powerful as Dark Matter.
"Sorry...Dark Matter lets the user recharge. Can't do much about that." Applejack shrugged, revealing the drawback. Neighsay's jaw dropped as the Full Power Aura Sphere was unleashed.
Once it was fired, it made a booming sound akin to that of a sonic boom while also sending shockwaves that rippled the atmosphere and air, visible to everyone's eyes. Delta Lucaro still hadn't finished recharging, being completely still. Thus, Aura Sphere could hit its mark.
A great azure gale appeared around in the middle of the hallway afterwards. That was most definitely a super-effective hit and then some. There was definitely some massive damage done to the hallways that needed repairs but at this point, no one cared. It was only the result of the battle that mattered Jaws dropped as Delta Lucario was flown out of the blue smoke.
That full-power attack from Sinnohan Lucario did the trick as the victor of this all-out and fair battle had been decided. Delta Lucario had fained. "Lucario..."
"That's that!" Pinkie Pie called it, blowing a whistle that Mew lent her. "Bluecario wins!" She nicknamed Ash's Lucario. "That means Ash-Sombra wins it all!"
"Hmph," Ash-Sombra smirked, crossing his arms and feeling truly victorious. Everyone felt victorious. All of the students broke out with a victorious energy coming out of them. They filled the atmosphere with glee as their side won. The ideal Pokemon School that they all had in mind could come to fruition at last.
"Thanks, partner. We tried out best. But honestly, I'm glad we lost. Very glad." Applejack went up to him while cheers kept flooding in.
"Rrr?" Delta Lucario failed to understand why Applejack was glad but she would reveal it to him later.
"Ah! That can't be! That is still the body of Ash! Surely he had to have influenced the battle somehow!" Neighsay objected, figuring that Ash was still playing a part in this. It seemed awfully convenient that he won after everything that was said.
"Nope. That was 100% Sombra. It's just the voice that's different." Twilight shook her head. "That did look like a fair battle, didn't it?"
Sombra relinquished control over Ash's body as the shadow hair and crimson eyes would vanish. Ash was back after letting Sombra take the wheel. And for his first official Pokemon Battle, he did well indeed. It was a rather fast-paced battle as both sides wanted to end this as soon as possible.
"Ridiculous..." Neighsay sighed, shaking his head. "I ran into that one myself, agreeing to that challenge. Something like this was bound to happen."
"That means we get to have it however we want! So much for these!" Smolder would then remove the outfits that Team Rocket lent them, shocking the three of them. Due to this victory, she didn't have to be a rebel to have fun. Now, all the fun would be natural and it would be ideal too which far surpassed what Team Rocket offered with their fake team name, Team Blastoff. Sandbar and the others took off the outfits, returning to their fellow students.
"Whatever!" Jessie scoffed after the six of them left, minimizing the fake team. "They'll be back"
"Will they?" James questioned.
"Oh, believe me, they will." Jessie was confident that they would see them again. This plan that Meowth made wasn't over yet. Not when the school year was still fresh and new and the horizons of the students were only just beginning.
Every student lingered at this moment. Great days were coming their way it seemed and they just couldn't wait. The parent still had no idea what was going on. Twilight was greatly relieved. She knew that she could count on Ash. Once more, he brought a staggering amount of hope and thanks to the friends around him, granted that hope upon them all.
"Very well. You won fair and square. At least I hope you did." Neighsay said with a mild groan, obviously displeased that his side lost. "However...There is one more thing to add before I leave.
"Yeah? What's that?" Ash asked.
"Obviously, this school breaks...so many rules of the EEA it's unbelievable. And this battle is already a sign of how the school's surroundings will be affected. By all accounts, I should bring this down. But no. Instead, I will leave it to you to sort out. Away from the EEA."
"Wait...By that are you saying...?" Fluttershy uttered, trying to figure out what Neighsay meant by it.
"Make up your own rules. Let this be the first school to do its own thing." Neighsay shrugged. I was lenient of the Pokemon School in the beginning since Cynthia managed to convince me that it was from another universe. I allowed it to play by its own rules. Now...it seems that you all will play by your own rules and you are just reckless enough to do it."
"Gee, thanks." Smolder took that as a compliment.
"But I'm warning you." Neighsay had one last thing to say before his departure. "You'd best be careful. Otherwise, this whole school will come crumbling down if you fail to truly teach the students. And if that happens, the EEA will be there. Mark my words." Finally, Neighsay had left, giving a rather ominous warning to them all. But a majority of them didn't think too much of it. They were just happy to get to enjoy school at last.
"W-What exactly happened here?" Chrysalis asked, greatly confused as to why so many were gathered to see one battle and why Neighsay was talking about the destruction of the school.
"We'll tell you later. Right now, all of these students should be getting home." Twilight giggled as she excitedly flapped her wings. The true nature of the Pokemon School was about to return. It was only one day of it being rather dull but by tomorrow, it would be as if nothing happened.
"Well, we're done here." Ash had nothing else to do here. He did what he had to do. Keeping his friends happy by giving them a chance to keep the Pokemon School around. Soon, everyone would head home, preparing for tomorrow, which will be the third day of the Pokemon School. And when it can truly begin.
It was a rather turbulent two days for the students. But little do they know, this was merely the tip of the iceberg of what could happen here. When around the many friends of Ash Ketchum and Twilight Sparkle, they should only expect the wildest of things. And with the Pokemon School being the ideal version of what they all wanted, that was about to start sooner than they would ever expect.
The Pokemon School's third day had arrived. And at this moment, two lessons were going on in the same class. Physical Education. Naturally, in a world where plenty pursued the path of a Pokemon Trainer, the normal Trainer will need to walk a lot and camp a lot if they wished to get out there. And alongside that was the Art of Battle.
Present here were Nightmare Moon and Potion Nova. Nightmare Moon could finally cover Pokemon Battling in the way she wanted and of course, Potion Nova had plenty of potions based around Pokemon. A majority of these potions she currently had in the room focused on traits of Pokemon that anyone could retrieve.
They had their Pokemon out as the students were free to let them roam around as opposed to the previous rule. On top of that, a new rule to the Pokemon School had been added and was seen on the wall in the form of a list. The rule stated "To resolve all conflicts with a Pokemon Battle or by seeing the teachers and principal. Especially if it involves taking over the world." Easy enough to follow and plenty if not all can get by that.
"I don't need to lecture you on what Pokemon Types there are. You all figured that out by yourself." Nightmare Moon said. "Wherever you live is a clear enough answer. What you truly need to learn is the thrill of it. Now that you have all of them out, I want some of you to go up against each other."
"In here? Are you sure?" Silverstream questioned, wondering if it was safe to battle indoors.
"Of course! After what happened yesterday, a new rule has been passed. Now battles can happen inside the school instead of on the field outside. But be warned. Don't go too overboard." Nightmare Moon warned while also revealing the added rule.
"Don't worry about that. I made a potion just for that. Take a look at this." Potion Nova came well-prepared, showing them a potion that had a sparkly blue appearance. Almost like water. "This potion is meant to weaken Pokemon moves."
"A potion that weakens Pokemon moves? Oooh...I shouldn't find that amazing, actually." Sweetie Belle said.
"I mean, it can be awesome in its own way. Sure, your moves won't be as powerful as they used to be but..." Potion Nova tried thinking of a positive that this would bring to the students. "Well, it's for the sake of learning. And your Pokemon will still be battling with everything they have which will help them grow. Even if it's not everything they have."
"And luckily for some of you, I will be on your level." Nightmare Moon sat on a table with a smirk on her face. "I have asked Luna to lend me some of her Pokemon. They will be taking some of the potions as well, giving them a massive handicap."
"Sweet!" Many of the students found that fair. As long as they don't get trounced, it was all fine with them. They'd gladly take a handicap for their own Pokemon.
"Except for some of you." That is until Nightmare Moon revealed that some students would be exempt from this. "This is only for rookie Pokemon Trainers. And some of you have already come to this school in the past or have other experiences in battle.
"Huh?! W-We don't get to join in!?" This involved Scootaloo and practically of her friends. A majority of the students wouldn't get that opportunity at all, sadly. It was a shame that they managed to improve so quickly. They wished that they could regress.
"Ooh. I should've made a potion for skill regression too." Potion Nova even thought about something like that the moment many students were turned down."
"But!" Nightmare Moon revealed a caveat, startling Potion Nova. "To those who can't drink it, you will have another role. You will have to tutor your fellow classmates who are new to Pokemon Battling.
"Pssh. I don't need that." Smolder denied the chance to take the handicap at all. "I did a lot back at the Dragon Lands so I'm pretty sure I'm good enough."
"You liar! You just watched from the sides most of the time!" Another dragon pointed out. It also didn't help that she was seen as a rookie thanks to Ember's words. Smolder grimaced after her fellow Dragon debunked it.
"We will be at this for a while, I can assure you. Probably right when school is about to end." Nightmare Moon was given the Power Restraint Potion. According to her, this would go on until school was over. A simple lesson even though it would have some differences. If there was one thing in the world that everyone needed to learn it was Pokemon Battling since it would save plenty of them. Pokemon were now forever a part of their lives and they had to adapt as soon as possible.
Very soon, this one classroom would break out into a frenzy. Some students would walk by this classroom, hearing a sudden outburst of moves going off inside. It startled them as the many elements could be heard in there, flying out at a frantic at a fierce pace. Since these trainers were children, they would naturally go wild with their commands.
Thankfully, the potion worked like a charm and all of their moves have been greatly restrained to the point where not even a door would come flying off or even a wall would take that much damage. Hearing this was Twilight Sparkle, who was present at the principal's office.
Sitting there, she had the widest smile on her face. She was in such a high position. Even beyond her princess status considering what she was. The seat she sat on had been adjusted for her size since it was previously meant for a human. She completely changed the room, having a small figure of a Pokemon. In this case, it was of a Joltik. Right next to her was Espeon who had a new place to sleep.
"This is nice. Isn't it, Eve?"
"Eeeee..." Espeon yawned, stretching her legs before comfortably lying down on the carpet floor. This carpet was so comfortable it might as well be a bed.
"Yeah. Life like this sure is sweet." Twilight made a relieved sigh. "Granted, now I'll have to be around here more often since I'm the principal. Add that up to the Pokemon Lab I was given and that's a lot on my plate. But it'll be fine. Hasn't stopped before. Right now...I get to enjoy this."
She sat there for a while, listening to the ambience around her. A ticking clock. The sounds of the students having a blast. That last part pleased her greatly. She fulfilled one of her dreams in life thanks to how the world turned out. And she couldn't have asked for a better world than this that was never supposed to exist in the first place. But now it does.
"Alright. Now I'm bored." Unfortunately, something like this can only be great for so long. Now, Twilight wished to do something else rather than sit down. No paperwork to sign or anything to manage here at the Pokemon School. At least not yet. To kill this boredom, she would whip out her Xtransceiver, deciding to talk to her friends first. She selected Pinkie Pie's Trainer ID first, wondering if she was available at the moment.
"Twilight!" Pinkie Pie yelled, startling Twilight for a moment.
"What, Pinkie?! Is something wrong?!" Twilight gasped, thinking that some serious was going on based on how loud Pinkie Pie yelled. She didn't exactly say 'Hello' upon answering.
"...No." But there was nothing to fear, making Twilight frown instantly. "But if you wanna know something, it sounds like Starswirl's nearly done with that gateway thing."
"Is he? He's been around the Pallet Town Gateway so I'm guessing he's found something." Twilight's interest was rekindled. "How is it going?"
"Well...all he says is that it'll take maybe a few months or more. So, we're still a long way from getting those gateways back."
"Hah...Alright." Twilight sighed. "That's fine. A few months isn't that bad, we've waited for longer. I just really want those gateways back. Why'd they have to vanish?"
"I was thinking we could just find Jirachi again and fix it. I mean, they've all been freed so that means there's Jirachis in the world again! We could go to Hoopa and have him find us a Jirachi."
"Yeah. We've tried that, Pinkie. But there's an annoying catch with all of that. Even after we merged everything, Jirachi just up and vanished. No reports of any Jirachis have been made yet. Not a single one in the world has been sighted. No rumours or anything like that. I'm wondering if they ever returned at all. Hoopa's even stumped by this."
"Hoopa can't find Jirachi?"
"It's more like Jirachi won't come to Hoopa. Hoopa doesn't pull out random Pokemon. The Pokemon pass through the rings, using it as their own gateway. Hoopa just holds it out for them. My guess is that the Jirachi don't want to show themselves and after what happened, I don't blame them. They're out there in the world but they won't show up at all."
"Aw, that's a shame. Do they have to hide? I never got to see Jirachi at all! I mean...I have. Mew can turn into one but still! A real Jirachi would be so great!"
"It would...But I can guarantee you that it'll happen someday. Eventually, we'll see every Pokemon out there. Believe me." Twilight laid back on her seat while continuing to talk to Twilight. "Well, we can if Mew just turns into them but...you know what I mean. We'll do it the same way Ash does. He's been all over the world and seen so many Pokemon. Past, present and maybe even future."
"About Ash...Do you think he could solve this for us?"
"I can count on Ash on many things. He's good friends with Hoopa, but that won't help us find Jirachi. And I can guarantee that he knows where a Jirachi can be found but judging by how things are going, the Jirachis probably returned to the stars. They do sleep in space after all."
"Oh, okay." Pinkie Pie nodded in understanding. "Watcha doing right now? How's being a principal working out for you?"
"It's...fine. For the most part. Feels good to run a school. But it also means that I might not have many chances to adventure with you all."
"Ah, you'll always get that chance." Pinkie Pie squeed, uplifting Twilight's spirit. "One thing's for sure. Ash will come to you if there's something he wants to check out with all of us. I bet right now, that's exactly what he's thinking."
Kanto. Pallet Town. Ketchum Household. Day.
"Whooo! Nice place you got here, Ash!" Instead, someone had come over to Ash's home. Two individuals actually. They were none other than Hilbert and Hilda from Unova. Unova in another universe, of course. At last, their adventure led them here. They were previously seen at the Pokemon School and now they've shown up here, courtesy of Ash.
"Hm? Oh, what's this?" It didn't take long for Delia to notice them. She laid eyes on Hilbert and Hilda, especially Hilbert. Looking at him, Delia saw something rather familiar about him. She saw some of her son in Hilbert, mainly due to the face and a bit of the hair.
"Hey, mom. This is Hilbert and Hilda." Ash introduced. "Thought I'd bring them over here since they're going all over the place."
"It's not like we can't get back anyway..." Hilda sighed.
"Wonderful. And I See you brought a look-a-like. Is this the Hilbert character your father spoke of?" Hilbert's name was familiar to Delia, mainly due to what happened at the Galaxy Tower many months ago.
"That's me! The number one trainer in the-" Hilbert grinned before having his face grabbed by Delia, catching him off guard. "W-Wooooorld!"
"It does my heart good to know there's more of my son out there! Even if I'm probably not your mom in your world, apparently, you're another Ash." Delia swooned at the thought of her son being present in other worlds. So far, she only knew about Hilbert, Red, Gold and Ethan from what Ash has managed to share.
"Y-Your hands are as strong as my mom's though..." Hilbert winced. "She does the exact same thing to my face and it hurts just as much."
"I wish I was someone's counterpart." Hilda was a bit jealous. She wished that she had her own counterpart somewhere in the wider universe and beyond but so far, nothing has come up for her.
"Yeah, but that's to be expected. I want it the same way it is for you, Hilbert and the others. You're all parallel to each other but you look and act so differently." Hilda pouted.
"Come in, come in. It's wonderful to have guests over all the time. Ash always brings so many guests in and they all are so different." Delia invited them in. "Especially guests from Equestria. What brings you here?"
"Well, I figured I'd stop by to see what the life of my counterpart is like." Hilbert shrugged. "I mean, I already know that. It's pretty big. He's famous over at Equestria, after all. But what about here? Good old Kanto. Even though I grew up in Unova."
"Interesting. So all of my darling Ash's grew up in different regions. It's strange to think that you are all technically the same person but you are so different in appearance. But you remind me so much of him with that face. And the way you dress. All blue with a hat?"
"Not all of us dress like this. Well, we wear hats but sometimes you'll see us in Red. We came here by using a temporary gateway. Since all of them are gone except this one and another, we had to find a new way to travel worlds. The thing is..." Hilbert chuckled, scratching his face afterwards. "We're kinda stuck."
"We haven't been able to return to our world just yet." Hilda sighed. "But the same goes for the others who showed up here. We've been away from home for a while now and we don't have a way to communicate with our original world. So...we've just been stuck here this whole time. It at least gives us the chance to explore a brand new world."
"That sounds a bit sad," Delia uttered, frowning at that reality. "Not being able to return home is rather disheartening, even if you have found a new world to explore. But surely, you can get home. I've learned by now that there are ways to travel across worlds. Isn't that right, Ash?"
"Oh yeah. And once Starswirl figures out how to make a gateway, it's only up from here." Ash pointed his finger, instilling hope into Hilbert and Hilda the same way his mother did.
"But you know...while I'm at it." Hilbert made himself comfortable, lazily sitting on the couch with his arms behind his head and his legs crossed. "Might as well become number one in this world too."
"Oooh. Are you the very best in your universe already? My Ash is planning to be the very best as well."
"Uh, he's not." Hilda put her hand over Hilbert's mouth before he could boast any further. "He just calls himself that. All the time. Never fails to make us remember it every single day. But he is a powerful trainer...The Champion of Unova, after all. For a moment after you just up and vanished."
"I could've kept my champion title! A lot happened!" Hilbert removed Hilda's hand. "But ya know...Iris deserves it more than I did for how much she helped us out. Simple as that."
"Oh, so your universe's Iris is the Champion of Unova too. Sweet!" said Ash. "Man, I wanna visit your worlds someday and see what's up with them."
"Pi-Pika!"
"Yeah. But if I could take that spot back, you know for a fact I would. ANy time. But I'll let her keep it. Besides, number one in the world is way better than just one region." Hilbert winked. "Right?"
"Trust me. There's a good reason why he calls himself number one." Despite all of this boasting, Hilda revealed that Hilbert did have a reason for it. And if it was coming from Hilda of all people, then not only was it true, then it must be good enough to see things from Hilbert's point of view.
"Well, while we're here. Take a gander at our family line~" Hilda hummed as Mr Mime had already brought her the book that she needed. "The Ketchum Family line is a long one. We don't leave an impact on the world but it's always fun to see what we've done in the past. No matter how small."
"Oooh? A look into the past?" Hilda leaned in, curious about Ash's past. She might as well take a look now that she was here.
"This book rocks. Shows me where I got my name from." Ash added as he would lean in with Hilda, along with Hilbert. "Plus, I get to see my ancestors too."
"Is there someone who looks more like me? If we're so similar, that is." Hilbert asked, wanting to see as soon as possible.
"We have some very notable members in the Ketchum family line. They all come from a village but some got out there in the world. One of them was a lady by the name of Lena Ketchum."
"Lena's my really-really-really great grandma. She was an adventurer. I think she was the first Ketchum to explore the world and that made everyone wanna try it out."
"She would always sing about what she did. It inspired the people of that village to sing certain songs. One of them especially boosted the confidence of you, Ash.
"Mhm. It's about chasing your dreams, keeping them close and eventually they'll come true. That's what they used to sing and I carry that with me all the time.
"Yes, she was...Eh?!" Just then, something shocking met Delia's eyes, startling the others. Very soon, Hilda would have an equal reaction but Hilbert. He was rather lost on this. "My, my! What a surprise!"
"How far back is the Ketchum family line, Mrs Ketchum?"
"At least 2000 years ago. It's a family tree that has been around for a long time. And because of that...this image shouldn't make any sense." Delia shook her head. It was still lost to Ash and Hilbert until Delia uttered these words. "She's wearing modern clothing."
"Oh yeah...She is! I've seen someone in Unova wear those clothes!" Hilbert said, finally seeing the oddity. "What's up with that?"
"That wasn't there before actually..." Ash finally caught on. Lena Ketchum should not have an image of herself at all. Not for a moment. And if she did have one, it would be a drawing. But this was the real deal. Real life. Obviously, Lena would have worn old-fashioned and ancient clothes, much like the era she was around at. But what was being shown here was rather recent. This looked like something that could be bought in the modern day. Not only that, but the image was clear.
The rest of the Ketchum Family Tree that managed to receive images based on what era they were in all had sepia and black and white colours, showing how old they were. It wasn't until images started gaining colour that they became clearer and the ones that predate the images only had their names written. But Lena Ketchum had a completely clear colour. Her colours were visible for all to see. She was supposed to be one of the family members that only had a name and that was it.
And she even had an image of herself which was impossible considering the era she came from. Cameras and anything that could take a picture weren't around, especially for someone that came from a village. Lena was the odd one out here without a doubt.
"This has a ton of implications..." Hilda shuddered. "If she's wearing that...and her image is in colour...then that can only mean one thing."
"You don't think...Grandma's in the present?!"
"No way! That can't be!" Hilbert instantly rejected it. "No offence, but she should be long gone by now. There's no way she can be in the present. It's gotta be something else."
"Hm. It's only her as well." Delia flipped the book, trying to find anyone else with images from the far, far past. But no one else came up. It was only Lena around that area, way before it and slightly after it. "This image has never been in the book before. Well, at least we know what your very great grandma looks like, Ash."
"Yep. She really does look like me!" Ash grinned, pleased to know what his grandma looks like. The similarities between her and Ash were uncanny. She was closer to him than Hilbert was.
"Shouldn't we be cautious about this?!" Hilda stood up as her pupils dilated. Her arms trembled and her lips quivered. "If this image just showed up in your book all of a sudden then that means only one thing...Time has been affected somehow!"
"Ugh. Time Travel again? Might have to call Lucas for that. I'm not dealing with that again."
"Hm. I'm still here though." Ash looked at himself. If time was involved, then he would've expected something to happen to him. But everything seemed normal. As normal as they can be, anyway.
"You said it yourself, Ash. There might be a chance that your grandma is out there in the world right now as we speak. And the era that this image is placed in makes it seem like it's rather recent. How long has it been since you last looked at that book, Mrs Ketchum?"
"Well, I took a look at it 2 years ago and her name was still there."
"So it was somewhere after that time." Hilda bit her thumb, shifting her eyes rapidly. "I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing..."
Sounds good to me!" Hilbert stood up, laughing it off. "That just means you've got more of your family to see! How often is it that you get the chance to meet your ancestors? Not many unless you have a Celebi or Dialga!"
"Celebi and Dialga....They might have something to do with it. And that blue gem on her necklace." Hilda observed the image closely, noticing the blue gem. Dialga was associated with blue so that might be a hint. "And hey! It doesn't sound good! We don't know what this could do!"
"I know one thing's for sure," Ash said, standing up as he made up his mind. "My grandma's out there...and I just gotta meet her!"
"Pikachu!"
A revelation that no one saw coming had hit them in the face. Ash's ancestor, Lena Ketchum, had a clear image and a modern appearance. Something was amiss. Very amiss. They weren't sure what it was just yet but this looked like proof that at this very moment, there was another Ketchum in the world. And it was someone from the past.
"You're saying that your ancestor might be walking around in present day? Really?" Rainbow Dash spoke, informed of something new from her good friend Ash. She and some of her other friends have now learned of what could be considered a glitch in time. Lena Ketchum should not have an image of herself considering the era she lived in.
"Yeah. Mom was just gonna show Hilbert and Hilda her name and then it hit us in the face. Full colour and everything." Ash answered, being fully truthful about it.
"I took a picture too. Here, check it out." Hilbert showed them all via his phone. The image of Lena Ketchum appeared. Full colour and everything. The uncanny similarity between her and Ash was shown. It was hard to believe that this was someone from the past when she looked too much like Ash. They expected there to be some differences with how much time has passed.
"Oh, she's gorgeous. Good looks must run in the family or bloodline I suppose." Rarity complimented.
"Looks just like you but taller. So how come she showed up now?" Applejack questioned.
"Do you think it's like the Pillars? Maybe she was stuck in limbo too." Pinkie Pie went straight for the possibility of Limbo, similar to what the Pillars had to go through.
"No way. There's no way she was stuck in Limbo." Rainbow Dash denied that in a heartbeat. "She wasn't stuck in Limbo, was she?" Before questioning, wondering if it was possible.
"Well, she was an adventurer. Who knows?" Ash wasn't ruling it out. "But it's pretty cool to see her here though. I wonder where she is now..."
"Are you seeing this, Twilight? What do you think?" Pinkie, who had her Xtransceiver out, showed the image to Twilight by holding the device over the phone.
"I am seeing it. It's strange but I don't know if we can do anything about it." Twilight threw her own coin into this. And her answer was the fact that no one could really do anything about this. At least, no one here could do anything about it. "Anyway, I should be getting back to my work as a principal. Well, I'm not really doing anything right now but..."
"Can't leave because you run the place? That's a huge drawback." Hilbert commented. "Guess that means you won't be doing much."
"I can still go places!" Twilight exclaimed, making the Xtransceiver tremble. "I just...have to be around here more often. I have a school to run after all and Cynthia entrusted it all to me."
"We couldn't be teachers for ya, Twilight. But we know everypony working there will do a good job." Applejack replied, present here as well. "If something comes up, you can always call us."
"Or Sombra can bring Ash straight to you. By the way, how are things going for him? Nothing bad has happened yet, right?" asked Starlight Glimmer.
"He's waiting. Dark Magic is a pretty tricky topic to teach students but...I find myself trusting Sombra bit more lately. He's not so bad. At least, not like how he used to be."
"Well, I can't ignore this. I've been in my fair share of time problems and it never gets pretty, Ash." Hilda shook her head, focusing on this predicament. "What say you? How about we try and find her?"
"If we're gonna find her, do you think she's in Kanto?" The multi-coloured maned pegasus figured that Lena would be in her home region. The Ketchum Family Tree does seem to originate here in Kanto Region.
"I guess...But since she loves exploring, she's probably in another region right now. Maybe she's heard about me or something...I don't know."
"That picture has been here two years ago. So she might be in Equestria if she was using the gateways! I'm sure of it!" A confident Rarity spoke.
"Ah, seems like one big waste of time, if you ask me." Hilbert thought otherwise, not really interested in this as he would shrug would turning around. "I say we just do whatever we usually do and let her come to us. I mean, she's gonna have to notice eventually."
"It would be nice if she came to us." Fluttershy put on a soft smile. "The only way for that to happen is if Ash's name gets out there more in the world. Like maybe with the Pokemon World Championships. If you rank higher, you're bound to be known by so many."
"I'm already high up but once I reach Leon, then everyone will know. And that way, Grandma can show up." Ash pumped his fists, eager for another World Championship match. "Now I've got another reason to win it!"
"Pikachu!"
"But...There's something that might work." Something came to mind for Ash. "Back at the Human World, there are those weird time leaks that are around."
"That world Red and the others went to? Isn't that world kinda boring though?" Hilber grumbled, finding that world to be rather uninteresting, even if it had Pokemon there.
"Who cares about that? This is our chance! We're going to that world! Pronto!"
"W-Wait?! Without me?!" Twilight bellowed, realizing that she would be left out. Alas, since she was the principal, she had to set an example and couldn't just waltz out of her school without a reason. This would be one of the few times she was unable to explore something interesting with her friends.
"Sorry, Twilight! We'll say Hi to your counterpart along the way though!" Pinkie Pie waved goodbye. "Good luck with your school!"
Canterlot. The Pokemon School.
"Aww..." Twilight was gutted, dropping her face to the table. A missed opportunity. There was an entire mystery with an ancestor of Ash who was supposedly roaming the world right now at this very moment and she wouldn't get the chance to explore it. She loved mysteries. They were always fun to crack down on. "I can't just leave...What a cruel caveat."
"Espeon?" Espeon yawned, opening her eyes a bit before closing them and returning to her peaceful rest.
"It's fine, it's fine. Interesting things on that level can happen here too. I'm sure of it. I'll just wait until school is over and the best way to do that is to check up on the classes." Supervising was one of the many roles that a Principal holds. And now, it was time for Twilight to enact that role, even if she was doing it to try and make up for what she couldn't do at the moment. Journey with her friends.
And instead of walking there, it was teleportation. Leaving Espeon to rest, she flashed out of the room, heading for one of the classrooms that was currently active. And it was most definitely active. The second Twilight left her office, she entered the classroom that focused on Pokemon Battling.
And of course, it was very much hectic. Twilight's body appeared and was almost struck by a passing bolt of lightning. That bolt of lightning crashed into the walls of this classroom, followed by a rock that flew threw the air. Twilight couldn't have picked a better or worse time to show up. Then again, in a classroom like this, the timing would always be wild.
The young students were in the midst of battling against each other and thanks to the potion that Potion Nova gave their Pokemon, all of these Pokemon attacks were greatly weakened. Everything was held back so that collateral damage was out of the way. But that did not stop the usual classroom objects from being knocked over.
"Oshawott, use Razor Shell!" Jumping over the Princess of Friendship was an Oshawott as it was going straight for a Charmander, taking out its scalchop and sharpening it with water.
"Catch it, Charmander!"
"Charm!" Catching the sharp, water-clad scalchop was Smolder's Charmander By the skin of his teeth, he managed to grab it as the water was right near his face. Charmander growled at Oshawott, using all of his strength to keep the attack from fully going through. And since Oshawott's body was in the air with no leverage, Charmander took advantage of this and all it would take was Smolder to give out the right command.
"Use Dragonbreath!"
"Mander!" From his mouth, Charmander unleashed an up close blast of draconic fire. Oshawott had no way to defend or stop this. It simply had to take it. By taking the Dragonbreath, Oshawott was sent flying as the blast was carrying it. Twilight was still in the way as she would quickly move before she became collateral damage herself.
This was still considered a full-power Dragonbreath since Charmander was using everything he had, despite what the potion had. Oshawott crashed through a collection of books, tumbling on the floor afterwards and fainting.
"Great!" Smolder clapped after Charmander scored himself a victory.
"Chaaaaaar!" Charmander would breathe fire into the air, feeling triumphant.
"Geez...How has the classroom not been destroyed yet?" Twilight questioned, looking at all the students present here and how wild they were getting. Noticeably, a majority of them were Griffins and Dragons with a few ponies here and there. It was clear which species preferred Pokemon Battling.
"Twilight!" Potion Nova said, walking past the chaos. "What brings you here? Here to take part?"
"Uh, how come they're battling indoors? I thought it would be outside. And how come the classroom is still intact with all of these moves flying all over the place?"
"They wanted to go at it right away. Besides, this classroom's big enough and as for how it's still in one piece, you have this potion to thank." Potion Nova winked, holding out the potion that weakened everyone's moves. It was nearly empty with only one drop left. "This potion weakens Pokemon moves, making them less destructive."
"H-How did you manage to make something like that?" Twilight stammered in amazement.
"Infinity Energy. And other Pokemon, of course. Nightmare Moon's even using some as well."
"Attack, Florges! Blow it away with Petal Dance!" Nightmare Moon was doing more than just teaching. She was fully into it. Since she was still Luna, the thrill of a Pokemon Battle got to her in a heartbeat.
"Florges!" And with a beautiful dance, followed by a storm of petals, the opposing Pokemon was on the verge of being carried into the air. And that Pokemon turned out to be Gallus' Tailow, who was just gawking at it.
"Move out of the way!" Gallus exclaimed. But Tailow did not move. He did not listen to Gallus, much to Gallus' annoyance and chagrin. "Quick!"
"Tailow." Tailow refused. He was exactly like this yesterday, refusing to listen to Gallus at all. It carried over here as well. Tailow would not fly away but instead, he would try and retaliate against the Petal Dance. Tailow used Quick Attack, dashing forward and disappearing for a moment as he was trying to push through the Petal Dance.
Unfortunately, just because Petal Dance was weaker now, didn't mean that Quick Attack fared any better. In fact, Quick Attack was far weaker than before and many consider it a weak move. The only one who has managed to make it so powerful and versatile was Ash's Pikachu.
"T-Tail!" Tailow was instantly struck by the petals as his plan failed. He could have had the chance to move out of the way, but alas, he was carrying a strong aura of rebellion, wanting to battle his way. That led to him being pummelled by the petals before crashing into the walls of the classroom.
"Oooh. That looks rough." Twilight cringed, seeing the lack of communication between a Trainer and Pokemon.
"Oh yes. It's been like that with these two for a while now." Potion Nova sighed. "Out of all the students here, Gallus is having the most trouble with Tailow. He doesn't seem to listen to him and just does whatever he wants to do."
"That sounds familiar." Twilight could think of a Pokemon that acted like that. Or rather two. Or three. Or four. Or plenty of Pokemon. The chances of a Pokemon and a Pokemon Trainer not working together in a battle were not exactly low and never will they be zero, unfortunately.
"Is that it?" Nightmare Moon scoffed. "You are insanely lucky that our attacks have been weakened. If not, this battle would have been over seconds ago."
"J-Just give me a minute. He's being so stubborn and I don't know why." Gallus pleaded, looking over at Tailow. "Come on! Listen to me already!"
"T-Tailow!" Tailow shook his head, pushing the pencils away from him.
"Please don't tell me we great graded for something like this..."
"Hmm...Not yet." Nightmare Moon smirked. "Do you wish to try again? It seems like you and your Tailow are absolutely poor at working together. Does Tailow honestly think he can win on his own?"
"Well, I mean...if he was in the wild, I'm guessing so," Gallus replied with a low tone. "He was like this yesterday though."
"Ah, that's natural, Gallus." Getting involved in this was Twilight Sparkle. As the school principal, she had to get involved and make sure things were going well in her school. And that meant having the students be happy.
"It is?"
"Oh, sure. I have a lot of friends who didn't start out on great terms with their Pokemon and couldn't battle alongside them at all. My own human counterpart is a great example. Her Alpha Rapidash was pretty stubborn."
"Hah! That's tough for you!" Smolder cackled, pointing at Gallus after seeing him fail to properly battle with Tailow. "For me and Charmander, we hit it off day one!"
"Charmander!" Charmander crossed his arms, confirming this to be the case. These two have been alongside each other for a while back at the Dragon Lands, making it easy for them to battle alongside each other.
"For some it's easy. For others, it's not. These things tend to happen a lot of the time. The best thing to do is to get to know your Pokemon. Sometimes, battling with it isn't a surefire way to get started."
"I thought that's what Pokemon do though," Gallus grumbled. "How are we gonna bond if we don't battle? I don't really get it since battling's where most of the strongest bonds come from. Isn't it?"
"Even Ash and Pikachu didn't get along in the beginning. Pikachu was way too stubborn and Ash was fresh into his career as a Pokemon Trainer. But look at them now. They're one heck of a dynamic duo." Twilight winked, using Ash and Pikachu as the best example.
And those two were indeed the best example considering how popular they were. That was enough to grab Gallus' attention and make him think this through. "Well...If it's effective, then I guess so. I'm not really good with that whole 'talking' part."
"Right, right. That'll be tough." Twilight bit her hoof, knowing that Griffins don't exactly do 'Friendship'. They were capable of being friends but they were rather hard to get through. "Maybe you should take another class in the meanwhile. Luckily, we have the subject just for that."
"A class about bonding? Aauugh!" The young griffin groaned, realizing what he had to do now. "I wanted to stay here the whole day though!"
"It'll be fine. Who here is having trouble bonding with their Pokemon?!" Twilight asked, wondering who else could use the help. It was best to get it over with it before the trainers and Pokemon grow distant from each other. But no one responded. Not a single trainer.
They were all too busy battling as that was enough proof that they were all bonding with their Pokemon. Gallus lowered his eyes as reality hit him in the face. He was the only one who was out of sync with his Pokemon. Truly unlucky to feel this left out in this class. Alas, that's how it usually is in any school.
The Human World. Canterlot High.
The Human World. This time, it was about to receive the most amount of visitors yet. The first person to appear from it was Ash himself, followed by his partner Pikachu. Right behind them was Hilbert as he was unchanged, as to be expected. Ash was his counterpart and there was no one from this world or anywhere in Equestria parallel to him.
Most of Ash's friends have already been here and have experienced what it's like to have Human Forms. Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie appear as their human selves once more, involving themselves in this Ancestral Mystery.
A newcomer to this world was Starlight Glimmer, who would finally get to know what it feels like to be a human. And right behind her was Hilda who was the last to pass through.
"Oooh...Is this what it feels like?" Starlight grimaced at her transformation, seeing that she now had fingers. She was already managing to control her fingers, making them bend and flick out of pure confusion.
"It's weird. But you'll get used to it." Assuring Starlight was Rainbow Dash, patting her on the back. "It wouldn't be the first time we've ended up in different bodies after all. So where are these Time Leaks?"
"They look blue and they usually stay up in the air. It's how all the Alpha Pokemon show up in the present day. Last time we saw one, Daring Do found one where a Hisuian Braviary showed up at. I don't think they've moved at all even when Jirachi merged both worlds."
"They wouldn't. Those Time Leaks are only exclusive to your past and not ours. And if Dialga is responsible for it, then Jirachi certainly has no reason to remove them. Even though by all accounts, they should not be here at all."
"So uh...How come we jus get clothes instantly? Did anyone else wonder that?" Starlight questioned, still trying to take this in. But no one answered her question and no one here ever thought about it.
"Are you sure those will help out? How far do those time leaks even go? And don't they only appear around Hisui?" Hilda questioned as she needed to make sure they were making the correct approach with this.
"Well...I have one Pokemon who has experience with Hisui. Or Sinnoh, as it's now known." Rarity dug into her pockets which surprised Starlight Glimmer. Her saddlebag was no more when entering the human world. Pockets were exclusively made for her, fitting the Poke Balls in there. And it was in a skirt, no less. "Out you come, Froslass!"
"Froslass."
"My Froslass here used to be a human who lived in the Hisui Region long ago before being reincarnated as a Froslass and a Pheromosa at the same time."
"I'm sorry, what?" Hilda blinked as that last part caught her off guard.
"It's one spirit inhabiting two bodies. Don't worry about it." Applejack wanted Hilda to brush it off. It was odd but it did make a lot of sense with full context which she would not be receiving just yet.
"Froslass, darling. When we come across these Time Leaks, I need you to see if you recognize the era. You lived in Hisui the longest out of all of us so you must know." Rarity requested. And Froslass would gladly deliver.
"Well...While you're doing that, I'd better pay Red and the others a visit. They've been here chilling out the whole time." Hilbert strolled along, having other plans.
"Hey! There he is!" At that moment, a crowd of people from Canterlot High were heading here upon seeing the group that have just arrived on a mission. Ash and his friends saw them stampeding this way.
"Oho. This is actually my chance to show them how awesome I am." Hilbert came to a halt, aiming to take advantage of this new world. As always, boasting about number one was necessary. "Gather around1 I've got tips and tricks to becoming the Number One Trainer in the world! By yours tru-"
Cut off from his sentence, Hilbert was knocked into the air by the stampeding students. They didn't even pay attention to him as they were locked onto someone else. Someone very similar to him. It was Ash, of course. Ironic that even to this day, the regions are where he was less popular but anything involving Equestria garnered great attention. Hilbert groaned while on the floor, seeing stars.
"Welcome back, Ash! Thought you'd never show up again!"
"This again..." Ash sighed with a smile. Being famous was swell and all as it showed how far Ash had come from being practically invisible to the rest of the world. Not bad for a Kid from Kanto which is considered the Boonies by many. But they do tend to overwhelm Ash very quickly.
Such as now. Words were being thrown at Ash as all of his friends were pushed aside. Ever since that battle with Bea, his fame went up. He showed everyone what a Pokemon Battle was like, similar to what he did for Equestria the first time. It was history repeating itself once more. Or in some cases, it was rhyming.
"I-I can't breathe!" Starlight gasped as this was not the best first impression when showing up to the Human World. She could barely break free with all of these people and with no horn, she couldn't just her magic. That was another thing she had to get used to since magic works very differently here.
"Great movie, by the way, Rarity." Lo and behold, Rarity's Movie Plan worked out after all. She also gained some fame by showing them all movies from PokeStar Studios involving her.
"Naturally." Rarity flipped her mane as she started thinking to herself. "Haha! Success! I knew my plan would work! Now I can finally show them PokeStar Studios movies that don't involve me. But I expect them to want to see more of my performance than anyone else's.
"Yeah. But your recent ones that are homemade aren't as great though...Can you make something as good as the other ones?" The Human Counterpart of Berry Punch requested.
"Homemade?" Rarity blinked as she did not recall making a Homemade PokeStar Studios movie at all. In fact, it was impossible to do so since it had to be done at the Studio, hence the name. "What do you mean by that?"
"Your home movies are being shown to us next. You went from studios to your home." A counterpart to Carrot Top replied.
"Oh...Oh!" Rarity soon realized who was responsible for this. Herself. Specifically, her HUman Counterpart. This was one factor she did not plan for when coming up with this master plan. How would her Human Counterpart react? Well, apparently, by putting her name in others' mouths, even though they shared the same name. "Mmm...Froslass. Go on ahead and find the Time Leaks. I need to do something first."
"Fros?" Froslass saw her trainer move through the crowd of people, heading straight for her counterpart to handle things. She didn't look too pleased judging by the expression on her face as Froslass would have to do this without Rarity and with the rest of her friends.
Ash would have to walk to his destination while others were still following him. All the while, far in the distance, right in the bushes and away from Canterlot High, two dark eyes gazed at Ash Ketchum and his colourful cast of friends. Despite the large crowd, it was easy to spot Ash. Very easy to this mysterious character. Eyes on Ash were made, followed by intrigue. But from who exactly? None of Ash's friends would know us yet as the journey continues.
"Me!" Bursting through the doors of this world's equivalent to Carousel Boutique was Rarity. Specifically, the one who comes from Equestria, appearing as a human. And it was fitting that she would show up here to confront her Human Counterpart, also named Rarity.
"!" Speaking of whom, this Rarity was in the midst of filming a homemade movie which was the cause of Equestria's Rarity bursting through the doors. She was seen having a camera set up as well as three Pokemon in the room. The Pokemon in question were from Sunset Shimmer. Litleo, Volcarona and Fletchinder.
"So..Making movies with my own image but not my own image." Rarity stormed in. "After I showed everyone over at Canterlot High."
"H-Hold on!" Human Rarity held her hands out, fearful of what might come next. "Allow me to explain!
"Now I hear that you're gaining notoriety for what I set up. And it's with Homemade movies too?" Rarity ranted.
"Well, it seemed rather opportunistic if you ask me." Human Rarity muttered before seeing her Equestrian Counterpart glare at her with a rather sharp state, causing her to flinch. Never before has she been so intimidated by herself and never before has Rarity intimidated herself.
"How could you...?" The Equestrian Counterpart would place her hand on her Human Counterpart, making her shudder while Sunset Shimmer was prepared to try and defuse this situation. "Not involve me at all?" Rarity twisted it on her Human Counterpart. In reality, she was not upset at all. This was just another opportunity looking her in the eyes. "How was my acting'?"
"Wonderful, darling!" At the end of the day, she was merely acting. "You had me going there. I suppose I can act so well that I can't even notice."
"How could I be made at this? This way, we can both be movie-makers. We're practically the same entity so the production is instantly elevated!"
"Of course! Two heads are better than one especially if it's the same person~" She nudged her Equestrian Counterpart.
"Geez..." Sunset Shimer scratched her face, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the energy both Raritys were letting off.
"So what are you doing here exactly?" Human Rarity asked.
"Oh, we're just investigating something rather interesting that's recently come up. Apparently, Ash's ancestor has shown up in the modern day and is roaming the world as we speak."
"Say what?!" Sunset Shimmer bellowed that such an answer. "W-What do you mean?! His ancestor!?"
"His very-great grandmother. Looks exactly like him. We're not exactly sure what this implies and what it will do today but so far, everything seems fine." Equestrian Rarity shrugged, making herself comfortable by landing on the couch. "Ash and the others have gone to find those Time Leaks since she came from the past as well."
"I guess we should have paid more attention to those things. They are just floating there, shooting out Alpha Pokemon left and right. But I never considered if a human could pass through it." Sunset pondered as that was something she and the others should have seen coming.
What was stopping a Human from the past from entering the present day? Those Time Leaks dug into the past after all, making them eligible for Humans and Pokemon to pass through. Finding Lena was difficult since the chances of her visiting Equestria were mixed.
If she was seen by any Equestria, by now, someone would have pointed out the fact that she looked a lot like Ash and Lena herself might have taken notice of that. Surely Lena must know she is in the present since she picked out what clothes she wished to wear
"I'd love to make a movie with you right now...But I really have to catch up with my friends in case they find anything." Equestria's Rarity sighed. "How about after that, we focus on PokeStar Studiso together?"
"You mean...I get to come to PokeStar Studios?! Such a massive film-making location?! For me?!" Human Rarity squeed as that hit all the right spots for her heart and mind. Equestria's Rarity took advantage of this in the beginning and it was no surprise that the Human World's Rarity would do the same.
"I could uh...Maybe try asking Red and the others to help." Sunset walked over. "They've been hanging around here a lot, trying to find that Infinity Gateway. That thing's still a mystery though and it keeps moving."
"If you need help with these complicated scenarios, just ask Twilight. Our Twilight, of course." Human Rarity suggested the assistance of Sci-Twi, who was rather intelligent, focusing all her efforts on science. Equestria's Rarity nodded in approval, seeing the benefit to that. Perhaps, Sci-Twi could chime in and solve this issue. That is, if it even was an issue in the first place. Because right now, it was just one big enigma and oddity.
The Time Leaks. Still present here, hovering in the air with no interaction whatsoever. Arriving here was the majority of Ash's group, minus Rarity who wasn't here yet. The location of the Time Leaks were known by now, making it easy to find them.
This entire time, Alpha Pokemon have been leaving the Time Leaks that have scattered across the Human World. No one as even gone through them or even looked through them. Until now. And the only one who was capable of doing so was Rarity's Froslass, who once used to live in Sinnoh when it was called Hisui.
Lena Ketchum came from the far past and so did Froslass. The gap between the two, however, was different. Froslass comes from 1400 years in the past while Lena predates her by 2000 years. That technically made Lena older than her but surely, the surroundings were familiar.
"Alright, Froslass. Try putting your head through it. We don't you fully going through in case something bad happens." Fluttershy suggested, wanting Froslass to play it safe. Going fully through the Time Leak was just asking for trouble.
"If something goes wrong, we'll grab you." Ash gave a thumbs-up, preparing for the scenario in which Froslass accidentally passes through or is on the verge of passing through.
"Lass!" Froslass was on it. This would be rather nostalgic since the land she once knew has changed drastically over the years. She's forgotten what it felt like back then compared to now but with the Time Leak, she could see and feel what the region was like all those years ago.
She hovered into the air, approaching the passageway in between the past and present from two completely different worlds. In a way, this was just another version of the gateways that once used to populate the world in very possible direction.
At the same time, while everyone stood above this Time Leak, those eyes from before were present once more Using bushes once again, they fixated on Ash specifically. All of his friends were completely ignored as it was only Ash that was important. However, next to those eyes were two more eyes.
"I told you...Ever since his name became popular in this era, he would show up again. We picked the right time to enter this timeline." A voice spoke from it, speaking to the other individual that was hiding.
"What do we do? He's not her but he might know something. How do we approach him with all of those people and Pokemon around him?"
"I have something in mind. Just make sure no one else sees us. We've been staying hidden for a while now and even when we have him in our sights, it's too risky to show ourselves. Who knows what we will do to time?"
"Audino?" Naturally, this caught the attention of the best Hearer in the Pokemon World. Audino. She heard this conversation, turning her head to face the bushes. Immediately, the two eyes would pull back, making the bushes rustle. This did not help them as now their existence was made aware by the Hearing Pokemon. "Dino..."
"What did you hear, Audi?" Fluttershy questioned.
"Is someone there?" Rainbow Dash spoke, narrowing her eyes. "Who's spying on us?"
"Spying? Is it one of your fans again, Ash?" Pinkie Pie nudged the King of the Sea on the back.
"Uhh?" Ash shrugged. If that was the case they wouldn't be hiding from him. They make it very clear that they get up close and personal and show themselves as much as possible. Whoever was there was not a fan of Ash, judging by the way they spoke.
"Not good...They heard us...How?" The voices of these strangers were instantly lowered as they put their hands over their mouths.
"That Pokemon has massive ears. I've never seen it before." And to them, Audino was brand new. Never before had they seen such a Pokemon and what its speciality was. But now they knew. They were still hidden but at this point, they were using the shades to hide themselves. Try as they might to keep themselves silent, even a heartbeat could not escape Audino's ears.
"Froslass..." As for Froslass, with her head through the Time Leak, she saw the past once more. And she was already feeling very nostalgic by looking at it.
The atmosphere was so different. It had a nostalgic feeling to it while also catering to Froslass' biology. The area in question was a snow-dipped land, similar to where she used to be. A massive iceberg stood smack-dab in this chilly land as Froslas was only getting a far view of it. But it was so massive that even from this distance, she could make out a lot.
This was the same area where Rarity found her in the modern day. It was rather surprising that Froslass just so happened to come across this area yet again. Almost as if this Time Leak was catering to her. However, something new caught her eye that she never saw before during her time in the past. She has mainly stayed around in a specific location back in the past so the rest of this area was unknown to her.
And one of these unknown sights appeared to be a settlement of some sort. People were living there at this time in what would soon become the entirety of Snowpoint City and its surroundings. This was just a look at the old Snowpoint City, but so far, this wasn't helping with the Lena Ketchum case. No sign of her at all.
"Lass. Froslass." Froslass shook her head, revealing that she had nothing at all to share.
"Nothing that good, huh?" Applejack held onto her hat, scratching her face for a moment. "Let me see that. Sceptile, take me up."
"Tile." Sceptile would gladly do so and he would use Frenzy Plant. Large roots appeared from the ground as Applejack perfectly stood on them, ascending into the air. The Farm Girl would be the next individual to look through this Time Leak to see what Froslass saw. The two eyes from before stayed quiet, fearful that they had been found out.
But the moment Applejack put her hand through the Time Leak, what she saw was vastly different to what Froslass saw. In fact, it was nothing at all. A blank space was seen by Applejack with nothing there but just white. No ground, no sky, no landscape, no life. Nothing. "W-What the?! There's nothing here?! It's empty!"
"Empty? That can't be right. Can it?" Starlight Glimmer questioned, looking over at Froslass. However, Froslass begged to differ as she saw something. Something very familiar to her. "Well, it looks like Froslass says otherwise. Are you sure there's nothing there?"
"Let me try!" Soon, Pinkie Pie would hop on top of the Frenzy Plants, wanting to see for herself. She bounced from plant to plant, feeling her mane shake with Mew inside of it. With Applejack moving to the side, Pinkie Pie slammed her face through the Time Leak, taking a gander. The white space that Applejack saw soon met with her eyes. "Oooh...Yeah. It's pretty empty here. I could probably paint in this place."
"Mew? Mew-Mew." Mew had a different experience. Mew saw something but it was no the same as Froslass saw. Mew saw what appeared to be some Coastlands. Not a snowy area like what Froslass got to see. Mew squinted as he wasn't exactly getting a nostalgic feeling when looking at this area.
"You see something else, Mew? What's up with that?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"What is going on in there? Is there something or not?" Rainbow Dash questioned, wanting a clear answer.
"It sounds like only the Pokemon are seeing something. Maybe it's exclusive to them?" Starlight theorized as so far only two Pokemon have seen some form of land compared to what Pinkie Pie and Applejack saw. So, the best thing to do was to have the Pokemon poke their heads through.
"Castform!" Castform would gladly do so, flying out Rainbow Dash's bag. The Weather Pokemon's entire body was small enough to fit through the Time Leak as it was impossible for him to stick just his head in there. He was so small that his whole body might as well be through the Time Leak.
However, when gazing through the Time Leak, Castform also saw nothing. White space is what he saw. Castform was rather let down, pulling out of the leak as she shook his head which was his entire body. He confirmed to them that he saw nothing, unlike Froslass and Mew.
"Wait, Castform doesn't see anything either? I thought the Pokemon would surely see something?" What's going on?" Fluttershy pondered. This was all rather perplexing as she couldn't wrap her head around it.
"Pretty weird..." Ash would climb up the roots with Pikachu, wanting to take a peek. The first time he and his friends were finally interacting with this Time Leak and the results are rather wild. It was either nothing or something. But it still had nothing to do with Lena Ketchum who was equally enigmatic right now.
But at that moment, when Ash and Pikachu took their turn, they were hit in the face with something. Much like Froslass, a nostalgic feeling came to them. Their eyes widened and their jaws dropped as they couldn't believe their eyes. There was no white space. Instead, there was a familiar area that they have already been to a few months ago.
Michina Town. The town where Arceus' Jewel of Life was given back to him and the fate of Humanity was on the line. But it wasn't just Michina Town. It was Michinia Town in the past. Ash recognized this location as this was where he met the ancestor of Sheena, Damos.
And with even further detail, it was Michina Town right after the whole event with the Jewel of Life. The buildings have healed and the land would thrive once more. There were no ruins here at all and most likely, the Time-Space Axis hasn't been built yet. Ash and Pikachu were gazing into a specific part of the past.
"Michina Town.." Ash gasped. "The one in the past!"
"Pikachu!"
"Michina Town?! Seriously?!" Applejack and Pinkie Pie collectively said, befuddled by what they were hearing. This was only hurting their brains even more as they couldn't understand what was going on.
"They have no idea...and it's best they don't. For the sake of keeping things safe." The mysterious stranger added, knowing more than what Ash and the others were encountering.
"Alright, someone's definitely there!" Rainbow Dash shouted as the mysterious individual spoke a little too loud there. "Castform, Weather Ball!"
"Scatter!" One of the voices spoke as the Weather Ball from Castform targeted the bushes. Right as it approached the bushes, the individuals who hid in it had already fled now that they were being exposed even more. The bushes were blown away by the spiralling sphere, revealing the rest of the ground.
Even though they managed to escape the Weather Ball, Ash managed to just barely spot the two strangers as they were running away, using the trees as cover. And from what he could tell, there was something familiar about both of them. And it was mainly the hair.
"Someone's spying on us for sure! I bet it's about that Time Leak!" Rainbow Dash grumbled. "Well, they're not gonna get away from me!"
"Wait, Rainbow Dash! What about the Time Leak?!" Pinkie Pie screeched the second Rainbow Dash took off.
"If it helps, they probably know something about it that we don't. That's what Audi interpreted when hearing them," said Fluttershy, giving them a reason to follow these strangers.
"Hmm..." But while the others would follow Rainbow Dash, pursuing these two strangers, Ash was focused on the fact that he was seeing Michina Town in the past. HE wondered if it had something to do with his ancestor. Or something to do with him.
Ash thought for a moment, realizing that the only ones who managed to see something in the Time Leak were Pokemon who have long lifespans or those who have witnessed the past already. Considering that Time Leas send out Pokemon from the past into the modern day, it was easy to see that Time Travel could be the reason why Ash was seeing this area. And he has been through his fair share of Time Travel.
"Wait for me, guys!" Ash exclaimed as he and Pikachu would hop off the long roots. While the Time Leaks didn't show them anything about Ash's very-great grandma, it did have something interesting that could not be ignored. Ash was definitely going to come back here but first he had to know who was spying on him and his friends.
When searching for them both, Ash went a different way, too late to keep up with his friends. He took a different path that showed a forest. He has already been here before so this forest was all too familiar. Ash wasn't lost at all but he felt like he might have lost the trail on his friends.
"Lost 'em. I guess I can just call them." Ash sighed, closing his eyes and crossing his arms, thinking about the Time Leak. "But what's that all about? I thought the Time Leak just brought out Pokemon from the past. There's way more to it than we thought. I gotta tell Professor Oak about it. Sci-Twi's definitely gonna love this."
"Pikachu?"
"I know buddy. Not sure how to feel. But I'm not worried! No need to worry after all!" Ash pumped his fist. "Time Travel's always pretty weird for us but we get there eventually."
"Pi..." Pikachu nodded before hearing a rustle go on. Once again, the bushes were being interacted with as the wrong movement would always cause alerts to go off. "Pika?!"
"Hm?! Aha!" Ash grinned hearing that rustle. That meant that either one of those two individuals was present here. He was on the right path it seems. "We know you're there!"
"Pika-Pikachu!" Pikachu rubbed his hands, eager to shock whoever was in there. He built up some electricity in his hands, preparing for a devious way to force the stranger out of the bushes.
"Hmm...Well, at least it's just you and your Pokemon." The voice within the bushes said. The two individuals did say that it would be difficult to approach Ash since he had so many of his friends around him. But now, it was just Ash and his Pikachu. No one else. Well, there were the rest of his Pokemon but the stranger did not know that.
At last, she could show herself. Emerging from the bushes which proved to be a bad hiding spot, at least for her, she confronted Ash Ketchum at last, having more knowledge about the Time Leaks than any of his friends and himself had at the moment, showing up to speak with. "Ketchum. Ash Ketchum, right?"
"Yeah? And you are...?"
"Arezu." She introduced herself to him. "And it looks like you match the art on the walls to a T. This is proof that someone from the past has actually entered here and lived a fulfilling life! Now we're getting somewhere!"
Out in the forest, Ash and Pikachu had come across someone who not only had knowledge about him but also knowledge about Time Leaks. It was thanks to their search for Ash's ancestor Lena Ketchum that they ended up here.
"Huh...You look familiar." Ash couldn't help but feel like he had seen Arezu somewhere before. So did Pikachu. Her appearance was starting to remind them of someone. It was mainly the face and hair that gave him flashbacks. He vividly remembered someone from Team Galactic who mirroerd Arezu perfectly but she had a more intensive stare than her.
"I do?" Arezu replied.
"Yeah...You look like someone from Team Galactic! Aaah, what's her name?!" Ash grimaced, trying to remember the name of this girl who looked a lot like Arezu but it just wasn't clicking for him.
"You mean the Galaxy Expedition Team?" She had a different name in mind. Or rather, a different name from the past which still had the theme of Galaxy in it but slightly longer.
"Is that what it's called now? Wait, are you from Team Galactic too?!"
"P-Pikachu?!"
"I'm not from that team. Or the Galaxy Expedition Team. But I am from a clan. The Diamond Clan. And I'm glad I finally managed to find you and it didn't take that long."
"Yeah? So why were you watching us then? And I could've sworn there was someone else with you."
"There's a reason for that. But first things first, I need to confirm something with you." Just then, Arezu dug into her bag, having something to show Ash. Something from the past. "It's all thanks to the Professor and the region he comes from. We were glad to have seen the use of his item known as a camera and took this picture with us."
From the bag, Arezu showed Ash and Pikachu a picture. According to her, a camera was brand new which only solidified the fact that she came from SInnoh 200 years in the past. But around that time, the camera was being made, still in its infancy compared to what it would become today. And on that image which was black and white, was the monument that Damos made for Ash and his friends.
"Oh! You have that?!" This was shocking since not too long ago, Ash recently saw Michina Town in the past when putting his head through the Time Leak. That was the same location where the Monument was built and in the modern day, it was still around.
"Is this you? And your Pikachu?"
"Oh, yeah. That's us. And my friends too. Dawn and Brock. That thing's still around back at Michina Town."
"Is that what her name is? I guess she was telling the truth about it not being her." Arezu added. "As for you, I knew the monument wasn't lying when I came across it. You're the person on that monument plus your Pikachu. I assume you travelled through time too?"
"Well, kinda. This is my era. But I've travelled through time here and there."
"Wait?! This is your era?! I thought you just went all over the place. How come you appear here then?"
"It's a long story. A lot happened." Ash chuckled. "But hey. Since you said that...are you looking into this time stuff too?"
"Right. But this isn't my era. I actually come from the past. A few hundred years from now." Arezu finally revealed that she was not of this timeline.
"Oooh...Just like the Alpha Pokemon." Ash slowly nodded as Arezu was in the same boat as the Alpha Pokemon. She and the collection of larger and stronger Pokemon were being pulled into the present. Or in Arezu's case, she willingly entered the present. "Hey. Have you maybe seen someone like me? Someone named Lena?"
"I have!" Thankfully, Arezu could answer that, leaning forward. "It's one of the reasons we came here. We're looking for Lena Ketchum and we figured that she was your descendant. But it seems like she might be your ancestor. Is she?"
"Yep. She's my really-great grandma from way back then. Way past 200. I saw an image of her that shouldn't exist but now it does so me and my friends are checking it out. I didn't think I'd see someone else from the past though. I've only seen Alpha Pokemon and I guess the Pillars too."
"Well, it's critical that we find her. We've actually been looking for your grandma this entire time." Arezu revealed more of why she was here in the first place. "The only lead we have on her are those Space-Time DIstortions that appear in the sky. Usually, it's on land."
"Space-Time Distortions? You mean the Time Leaks?"
"Is that what you call them? Well, anyway, I did see someone who looked a lot like you. But not exactly the one on the monument. I do believe that was your grandmother. She did appear in Hisui once."
"Awesome!" Ash jumped for joy along with Pikachu. Finally, they were getting somewhere. "Way to go, Grandma! So where is she now!?"
"That's why we're here, looking for her. You see, from what we've heard, your grandma jumped forward in time and possibly ended up in this era. If we don't find her, who knows what will happen? Back at Hisui, we've already had to deal with our fair share of Time Issues and now this one shows up out of nowhere."
"Everything's totally fine here. My friends and I thought the same thing but it looks like time's completely fine."
"I-It is? Nothing bad has happened in the future? Are you sure?" Arezu questioned, unsure if Time was completely fine. Lena Ketchum apparently threatened time because of how much of an oddity she was.
"I mean...if you wanna count all the wild things that we've been through, then yeah. But we've dealt with them and came out on top, so everything turned out fine."
"Oh...Then...Why did we even come here?" Arezu pouted. "I was hoping to solve the issue by bringing her back but it sounds like nothing went wrong."
"That's the cool part about these Time Leaks. A lot of Alpha Pokemon have shown up from them and Pikachu here even met his ancestor." Thankfully, Ash would explain to Arezu how things have turned out fine even with the Time Leaks being present.
"Pikachu!"
"Professor Oak figured that those Time Leaks don't mess with time at all. Pretty neat, huh? It's way different from other stuff."
"Is that so?" Arezu scratched her face for a moment. "That takes the fun out of it, honestly. Even still, I'd like to find her. After all, she was a lot of help back at Hisui. She's quite the explorer, going from place to place."
"Sounds like Grandma! Pikachu and I do plenty of exploring too. So what's up with your era? It sounds pretty serious if you really need Grandma back."
"We heard that it's something that could threaten the present which is the past for you and the future which we assumed would be this era. It hasn't shown up yet but whatever it is, it's the same thing that summoned these Time Leaks."
"Hmm..." Ash looked in the distance as he could still see the Time Leaks. Specifically, the glow that it let off. Its azure light could be seen even in the blue sky, truly sticking out from the rest. "Are you sure it's not Dialga?"
"Dialga?" Arezu raised an eyebrow. That name did not click for her at all. This surprised Ash since Arezu came from a Sinnoh in the past so he figured she'd have some knowledge about Dialga.
"Yeah. The Pokemon who's the Guardian of Time. Ya know...Dialga."
"Pika?"
"You mean Almighty Sinnoh? The Pokemon who made all of Hisui so vast that we could live freely throughout it. I'm not sure why you called it Dialga unless that is another name for it?"
"Uhh...I think you mean Arceus. Right?" Ash looked confused as that would be Arceus who was responsible for creating Hisui, AKA SInnoh. In fact, Arceus created the entire world and beyond.
"Who's Arceus?" Yet another aura of confusion hit the area.
"Man, this is getting nowhere." Ash sighed. "At least we both have the same goal. And it's awesome that someone who knows more about those Time Leaks is here with us. And you gotta tell me about my grandma since you've seen her!"
"Right. And I'm rather shocked. You're so close to your Pokemon. Just like how your friends were. Is this what the future is like?"
"Oh yeah! We're as close as we can be!" Ash held Pikachu up. The Mouse Pokemon waved, showing a bit of electricity from his red sacs. "Same goes for a lot of us in the present. What about you?"
"It could be better...Much better. Although Akari has a better handling at-" At that moment, Arezu gasped, realizing she was forgetting someone at the moment. She was talking to Ash for a while, getting into things and forgot about the other person she was with. "Ah! I forgot about her! Oooh, and she's running from them as well!"
At this very moment, Rainbow Dash and the others were pursuing this character by the name of Akari, who was here for the exact same reason as Arezu. And unfortunately for Akari, compared to how Arezu showed herself, she was not faring better at all.
Rainbow Dash and the others searched for those two strangers who were spying on them but immediately lost track of Arezu. Now it was just Akari. However, poor Akari had no chance of fleeing. With Audino hear, her footsteps could be heard with ease and with Pinkie Pie having one of her Slurpuffs out, her scent could be tracked.
Which is exactly what was happening now. One of Pinkie Pie's Slurpuffs was in the front, already picking up on Akari's scent. Poor Akari had no idea what Pokemon these were. She never even knew Audino existed until now when she heard her voice.
"Hah...Hah..." The mysterious girl from the past slowed down as she couldn't run forever. She would take a breather, realizing that she had been separated from Arezu already. "This is too much...I'll have to go with my second option."
"We've got you now!" Rainbow Dash shouted, showing herself to Akari. Akari this whole time has not shown her face to them, only focusing on getting as far away as possible and hoping they don't recognize her. "Alright! Who are you and why are you spying on us?!"
"Castform?!"
"Stand back and let me handle this." Budging in was Hilbert who wanted to be upfront, much to the annoyance of Rainbow Dash. Hilbert just had to show off even now of all times.
"None of your business honestly..." Akari said as she knew there was no chance for her to escape. She accepted that. However, she did not accept the possibility of her being captured if that were to happen. And when turning around, she finally showed herself, shocking Rainbow Dash and the others. What they saw threw them off guard as Akari very strongly reminded them of someone they know.
"Dawn?!" All of them said. Neither of them expected to see Dawn as her face was known by everyone. Including Hilbert and Hilda but they knew a different Dawn back where they come from.
"Oh, it's just you." Hilbert chuckled, shrugging this off. "You got us there with those clothes. Very funny, Dawn. But seriously, how come you were spying on us?"
"My name's not Dawn!" Akari rejected as she was not Dawn at all. But there was an obvious reason as to why she looked like her. "And since I can't flee from you this way, I'll try a different method!" From her hands, she suddenly revealed what appeared to be a Poke Ball. But there was something different about it.
Something ancient. It looked like it was made out of wood, having what appeared to be a latch in the middle instead of the button that everyone here has seen. And once she threw it, out of it came a Pokemon they were all familiar with. Pikachu.
"Pikachu!"
"Slur...Slurpuff." Now that everyone has stopped in one area, Slurpuff soon realized that Akari did not carry the same scent as Dawn. Her scent was very different, confirming that this was not Dawn.
"It's not Dawn?" Fluttershy translated.
"Huh? Hold on for a moment! We didn't mean to-" Hilbert waved his hands, trying to stop Akari from going any further. But Akari already made up her mind and was going for the second option.
"Attack with Thunder Shock!"
"Pikachuuuu!" From its body, Pikachu unleashed a quick flash of lightning which grazed part of Hilbert's hair. The Trainer from Unova grimaced as hair follicles came off. Pikachu somehow missed the attack while Hilbert was standing completely still, much to the chagrin of Akari.
"I missed?! One more time then!" Akari was prepared for a second Thunder Shock
"No way!" Hilbert raised his voice, startling both Pikachu and Akari. "You could've fried my hair, ya know! It wouldn't be as cool as before!"
"That's what you're worried about?" Hilda lowered her eyes at Hilbert's shout.
"Hold on, hold on. Let's not have a Pokemon Battle here." Applejack would walk over to de-escalate the situation. "We didn't know it was you...Uh, well it's not you. You're someone else. Just pretty familiar."
"And suspicious. Now that we know you're not Dawn, how come you were spying on us?" Starlight Glimmer narrowed her eyes, feeling very suspicious of Akari. She wasn't Dawn so this was not helping her case.
"Oh...You got me." Akari sighed, feeling defeat without even needing to battle. "Refrain, Pikachu."
"Pika?"
"I'm not this Dawn person you're talking about. My name is Akari." She finally revealed her name. "Sorry for...suddenly attacking you. That was my second option if things were to go wrong. And they did so quickly. And um...I'm sorry fo stalking you. I swear I had a reason for it."
"You seemed pretty curious watching us from the bushes. What's that all about? And who was that with you?" Starlight threw questions at her, not forgetting about Arezu's existence.
"Well...We were only focused on one person. And there was just too many of you to do something about it." Akari scratched the back of her head, admitting to her fear as she was greatly intimidated by the group. Especially since some of them have their Pokemon out in the open.
"Hmm...Something's not right here." Hilda had something else brewing in her mind. Akari's existence only added fuel to the confusing fire that was Lena Ketchum. "Huddle up for a moment." With her call, everyone would suddenly huddle together, deciding to speak in secret. Akari would just awkwardly stand there as this discussion would be about her. However, Hilbert did not join the group huddle as he was trying to make out why Akari resembled Dawn. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Totally. This can't be a coincidence." Rainbow Dash was on the same page as Hilda. "First Ash's Grandma and now her? What's up with that?"
"Do you think she could be Dawn's ancestor? Her very-great grandma?" Fluttershy asked, instantly going for the ancestor route. And with the way Akari looked, how could she not think that.
"I'm positive we're all thinking it," Starlight replied as all the others nodded. They couldn't agree more. It was practically screaming in their face. "How could this happen twice? I think it might be more serious than we let it on."
"Right? I was prepared for Lena but this?" Hilda grimaced, fearing the worst. "This caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting a second look-a-like. Now I have another reason to really worry about the timeline. That means we have two ancestors roaming the modern day. Akari being here proves that Lena showed up as well."
"Do you think Dawn knows about this? Does she have a Family Tree book too?" Pinkie Pie questioned while Akari just stood there, glancing at Hilbert and waiting for them to finish their group huddle.
"There was someone else with her. Do you think it's another ancestor of someone we know?"
"I'll bet ya'll 5 bits if it's Brock's ancestor," Applejack smirked, wanting to issue a challenge since the second person was unknown at the moment.
"You're on. 5 for me if it's uh..." Rainbow Dash scrunched her face, trying to come up with someone on the spot. "Oak's ancestor! How about that?"
"We're betting? Cynthia for me then!" Pinkie Pie chimed in.
"Take it seriously, girls." Hilda sighed before soon putting on a smile. "But I'd like to chime in as well. I'm guessing Roxie. Anyways let's get this over with." The group huddle came to an end as Hilda cleared her throat, ready to say what needed to be said. "Well, we have a lot of questions."
"Yeah. For starters...what are you doing here? Out of your own era too?" Pinkie Pie threw in the first question, getting straight to the point.
"I was here because Arezu and I came to this era on a mission. I was sent by the Galaxy Expedition Team. That one you call Ash Ketchum is well...no hard feelings, but a criminal?"
"A criminal?!"
"That's what Commander Kamado said. It's all thanks to Lena Ketchum and the monument that we were able to put two and two together. Both of them are moving through time and are potentially the cause of our problem back home." Akari elaborated. "They're both Ketchums so perhaps they're working together."
"Hold on! Ash isn't a criminal! And he isn't moving through time!" Starlight greatly rejected before thinking for a moment. She moved through time and Ash followed her through it. "Uh...For the most part!" She almost exposed herself but chose the right words to say. "Yeah. He doesn't Time Travel that much."
"Ash has time travelled before but it always turns out good. What's the big idea?" The Party Pony shrugged as from what she's seen, Time Travel with Ash has always turned out well. Why would there be a problem now?
"And how did you even catch wind of this?" Hilda wondered. "Judging by your clothes, you come from the past. And your appearance confirms that as well. You'd have to have seen Ash to know about this or something like that."
"You know Lena though. Ash's ancestor." Fluttershy stepped forward. "Could you tell us about her and where she is, please?"
"Ancestor? Is that who she was? I thought she was his sister or mother." Akari had something different in mind when she saw Lena and compared her to Ash. "As for how we have the monument from Michina Town to thank for that. But who are you all since you know about Ash? Are you moving through time too?"
"Nope! None of us have moved through time!" Starlight Glimmer crossed arms, replying the instant Akari mentioned that. She did not wish to expose herself as Akari was making it sound like this was a crime.
"Hmm..." The Dawn look-a-like doubted her greatly. "Well...I'm here under orders and if there's a chance to deal with the approaching problem, then apprehending Ash Ketchum is the way to go. Plus, finding Lena Ketchum since the last time we saw her, she moved through the Space-Time Distortions and seemingly entered this era."
"You can't arrest Ash though. He hasn't done anything wrong." Fluttershy added, seeing Ash as completely innocent. "He hasn't even Time Travelled in a long time and this sounds recent."
"It is recent. But all signs lead to him and his ancestor, Lena. Everyone at the Galaxy Expedition Team...well...Commander Kamado and some of the people at Jubilife Village feel that way. I'm not too sure myself when it comes to Lena but with Ash, I don't have anything to think about. It's assumed that those two are responsible for what's happening. My friend Arezu has a different opinion but she came with me anyway."
"What's even happening back in your world?" asked Hilda.
"Well, nothing bad has happened yet. But with these distortions in Space-Time, something could happen. Ever since Lena left, they start acting up at times. They send out Pokemon at random. Pokemon that are not native to the region at all. There are so many Pokemon I've never seen before that show up there."
"Sounds fun!" Rainbow Dash saw this as a bonus, getting to see brand new Pokemon that have never been seen before. It was always thrilling to see new Pokemon.
"It's not fun!" Akari bellowed before thinking about it for a moment. "Well, I suppose it's a bit fun, seeing new Pokemon. But that's beside the point! We fear that if that Space-Time Rift remains, it could tear the foundation of both of them apart. And with Lena gone, the situation is random and up in the air."
"Hey, guys!" Returning to find his friend was Ash who was now with Arezu after speaking with her. Arezu was the one who did not see Ash as a criminal and came here for a different reason. Akari was merely here to try and bring him in, hoping in since he was connected to Lena. But right as Ash was approaching his friends, he saw one more friend that was all too familiar. "I...Dawn!?"
"There he is!" Akari made a prolonged gasp, vigorously pointing at Ash. "Nice work, Arezu!"
"I didn't really do that much..." Arezu sheepishly replied as she barely made an effort to bring him here. Ash did it on his own after talking things out with her.
"Ash Ketchum! We have you now and you have a lot of answering to do!" Akari proudly put her fists on her hips, feeling as if the mission was about to become a smashing success now that Ash had shown up, even though he wasn't restrained or even in any danger at all.
"What are you talking about, Dawn?" A confused Ash Ketchum tilted his head, still thinking this was his friend ever after seeing her clothes. They were made from the same material as Arezu and appeared to come from the same era.
"Pika-Pika?"
"It's not Dawn, it's Akari." She puffed her cheeks, already getting tired of being called the wrong name. But such was the consequence of being in an era where your descendant already exists.
"Uh, Ash. Let's just explain everything to you as soon as possible." Willing to let Ash know all about this as soon as possible without treading too long on it was Starlight Glimmer. Ash had quite a lot to hear as more knowledge about the Time Leaks had come out. As well as something between him and his ancestor.
"Oooh...I get it now." Ash was finally caught up, hearing everything Starlight Glimmer shared. At the same time, his Pikachu and Akari's Pikachu would start playing with each other as PIkachus normally do, already bonding. "That's why you wanna take me."
"Everyone here is vouching for you. And judging by your popularity, all of those people would vouch for you as well." Akari replied.
"I don't think you have to arrest him, Akari. He doesn't exactly seem like a criminal does he? Which means I was right." Arezu put on a smug smile. She was the one defending Ash and her side won with smashing numbers based on how many supported Ash.
"Alright, alright." Akari groaned. "I should've thought about that possibility as well. I was too quick to judge him, honestly. Maybe it's because of Lena. I still can't believe she just left like that. How could she?"
"So, do you know a lot about Ash's Ancestor? Sounds like she spent a lot of time in your era." Rainbow Dash asked, wanting to know more about Lena's actions in the past.
"Mhm. You see...one day, out of nowhere, Lena suddenly appeared. From what we know, she fell out of that mysterious Space-Time Rift in the sky. It appeared the same day as her. And it was pretty clear she was something else."
"'Something else' is an understatement. Compared to us, she really loved getting out there." Arezu would throw her own words in there, having her own experience. "Back at Hisui, people are terrified of Pokemon. We manage to bond with some of them but a majority are so hard to approach. But Lena made it look so easy."
"Talk about an inspiration. "It helps that she was older than us so it felt like I was learning under a mentor. Even if she had no clue what Poke Balls were in the beginning. She was rather clueless about a few things. She helped out in our region, dealing with the Alpha Pokemon and helping us approach Pokemon safely."
"Sounds like you, Ash." Rainbow Dash nudged the Kid from Kanto as this was already too familiar. "To think she's way older than all of us too. Was it just Hisui that was having a hard time with Pokemon?"
"I assume so but I don't know about the rest of the world." Akari shrugged. "Anyway, things were going great for us. But then one day...Lena just left. The distortions in Space-Time were starting to get out of hand. She didn't say anything or leave a message. She just left and we haven't seen her since. All we know is that she passed through one of the portals to this era and that is all. And that leads to today."
"Akari feels a bit betrayed by it. She and Lena were close and she looked up to her a lot." Arezu explained why Akari felt that way. Lena even gained the respect of the Galaxy Expedition Team too so they also felt betrayed. It's a shame too."
"I get it." Ash closed his eyes, understanding where they were coming from with this. "Grandma's gone and she's somewhere in this world. Maybe even back through the other world."
"What other world? There's another world?" Akari blurted.
"Oh, this is the Human World. "It's not actually the world you know. This is a parallel world that we're all just visiting at the moment." Fluttershy explained. "Back home is your world in the present day and we just came here since the Time Leaks can only be found in this world.
"But shouldn't you be getting back home? I mean, the Alpha Pokemon don't mess with time so I'm guessing you don't as well." Rainbow Dash wondered. "OR you're still gonna look for Lena, right?"
"We have to!" AKari stood up. "I really want to at least. She's out there somewhere and there has to be a reason why she left."
"I'm with you on that." Ash stood up, adjusting his hat as he made up his mind. "I'm itching to find my Grandma too. But now I've got a big reason to find her. Wherever she is, we'll get to her, I'm sure of it."
"So...you'll help us find her?" Arezu put on a wide smile as she was loving what she was hearing.
"Absolutely!" Pinkie Pie rested her arm on Ash's shoulder, agreeing to it. "I mean, that's what we were doing in the first place but we'd love to add more to the party! Hey, we should really come up with a Party Name since we go on adventures together a lot."
"Ahh...Somehow that makes me feel better." Akari placed her hand on her chest, feeling relieved. "First. Take us to the world that is originally ours. We've been searching across this world for a while now and no sign of Lena yet. So maybe, the other world is where she is.
"That's because this world is harder to travel. Pokemon are still new to this world. I mean, it's the same for ours since we had our own world..." Starlight scrunched her face, realizing how much she was to make sense of it. "We'll explain everything along the way.
Two girls from the past with one clear mission. To find Lena Ketchum. But for now, they would soon be brought into the world opposite to this where their descendants were born and raised in. They had no clue what was in store for them but Ash and his friends had no clue what was with Lena Ketchum and the Space-Time Distortions. What started out as something rather peculiar, turned into something that they should most definitely keep an eye on.
All this time, Sci-Twi had been busy, doing her own thing. At this moment, she was currently researching a certain item that laid on the table which apparently required Sci-Twi to gather as much of her equipment as possible. And that item was none other than a Travel Sphere. Originally created by Team Plasma and soon obtained by the Ranger Union, this item was capable of opening up gateways to wherever anyone wished to go.
At least, they used to. Now that the two worlds have become one, the Travel Spheres were powerless with only two gateways currently existing. But it was for that reason that Sci-Twi was working on it. The fact that two of them were still around and one of them was constantly moving whenever it was used proved that there was something that could be done with them.
"It's great that Professor Oak managed to ship one over to me. The Travel Spheres aren't of any use anymore but that doesn't mean they can't be fixed. I've been wanting to look into Rift-related things for a while and this is perfect." Courtesy of Professor Oak, she got the chance to work on this.
And the reason for this was because of the Infinity Gateway which still remained a mystery. Twilight wished to crack down on it but since it was so hard to follow, fixing the Travel Sphere was the way to go. While working on it, her phone was ringing, showing Sunset Shimmer's name and face on it. With just her elbow, she answered the call.
"Hello? Sunset?"
"Twilight! Big news! Very big news!" Sunset's voice went through the roof, making the phone tremble from the sheer volume.
"How big are we talking?" Sci-Twi asked, interacting with the screws of the Travel Sphere. All she was really missing was Rift Energy but she would get to that eventually when ready.
"It's Ash's Ancestor and more! His very-great grandma's in the modern day!"
"What?!" Twilight paused her work, nearly stabbing through the Travel Sphere with her screwdriver. "What do you mean by that?!"
"You won't believe this! I just met up with Rarity and the others and there's a lot. I promise you, it's worth checking out. Hurry before Ash and everyone else head back home."
"Ah, I'm focused on the Travel Sphere right now though! I really want to get this under control as soon as possible and I'm getting somewhere. A-Another time. But tell me everything while I work on this." Sci-Twi would still gladly hear about this. This was something else.
Moving through the portal, Ash and his friends had returned to their world. And this time, they brought two guests from the past with them. Akari and Arezu. Being in the Human World, they gathered a lot that they can think about. Lena Ketchum has indeed moved through time and apparently, spent some time in the Hisui Region.
Her disappearance was a mystery as the last time she was seen was by entering a Space-Time Distortion, also known as a Time Leak. However, the fact that they led to the present was proof that somewhere in the world, Lena Ketchum was out there. And right now, Arezu and Akari believed that she must have ended up in this world.
"Oooh..." Entering this world which is theirs in the future were Arezu and Akari as they could witness what wonders it brought. And the first thing their eyes met with was the design of Canterlot Castle's interior.
"Is this a castle?" Arezu spoke, viewing the lavish and royal appearance. "I have never been in one before. I've only seen it in books."
"This is the present?" Akari's jaw dropped with a prolonged gasp. "How much changed since then? Are there flying carriages here?!"
"Nope, but we have Flying Chariots. Sorta." Pinkie Pie replied.
"Wait! You're all Pokemon!" Of course, seeing Pinkie Pie and everyone else in their true forms immediately made Akari and Arezu think that they were Pokemon. "Amazing!"
"We're not Pokemon. We're ponies. Totally different universe but now we share a universe. Make sense?" Rainbow Dash grinned, flapping her wings. The girls from the past glanced over at the ponies, seeing the horns and wings they possessed. They have yet to see an alicorn which was the perfect mix of each of them.
"It all comes back to both our worlds merging as one," Ash explained. "This world never had Pokemon before but now it does and its a part of ours. A lot happened after your era."
"Okay. Now that we're here" said Starlight Glimmer. "There's a 50% chance she's here. Honestly, the only reason why you haven't found her there yet is because travelling in that world is different compared to how it is now."
"This world is ours in the future. So that must mean Lena is here! I'm sure of it!" A confident Akari said. "She has to be. And I need to know why she left that day."
"Oooh, this is nice." Meanwhile, Arezu was already touching something, feeling the curtains and how smooth they were.
"I also have to report back to the Galaxy Expedition Team. Once I find her, I have to return."
"Are you sure? Won't they get worried if you take too long? Lena could be anywhere and it could take days or weeks to find her."
"Well, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary. At the Galaxy Expedition Team, working for days is something we do. I don't usually get past one day, honestly." Akari added. "But just for this, I'll gladly take as much time as I can! Just for Lena"
"Really?" Arezu looked over. "Can you honestly last here for that long? I honestly think you're not ready for the future."
"How bad can it be?" Akari pouted. "I've had my theories on what the future could be like so I'm positive I'll be fine. And what about you?"
"I only came along because I'm interested. Getting the chance to view the future is something amazing. That previous world wasn't the right future for our world. This is. I'll be heading back soon, Akari. And I wish you all the best of luck with finding Lena."
"While you're here, you gotta check some stuff out." Ash slid over to Arezu. "The future's great! We're in a whole different region that was never here in the first place!"
"I'd love to. Show me everything so far before I leave." Arezu liked the sound of that. "While I'm here, I can maybe see how my Hairdressing skills scales to those in the modern day."
"You dress hair for others?" Rarity's interest was piqued as she approached Arezu.
"I do. It's my speciality. Would you all like to see what I can whip up?"
"Mhm!" Rarity and the others vehemently agreed. They would have the chance to have hairstyles from the past.
"I don't know...I like my hair the way it is." Ash pondered for a moment but he did prefer his current Hairstyle which was the only Hairstyle that he's had since birth.
"Your hair's a bit shaggy, Ash. I can tell even with that hat of yours on." Arezu would remove Ash's hat, revealing the shaggy, bed hair nature of it. "We can change that. Just for a moment and nothing more."
"Uhh..." Before Ash could say anything, Arezu already got to work. Everyone already took a seat. Arezu had the necessary items to stylize their hair in her bag. Ash was soon seated, looking a bit befuddled as Arezu wasn't going to skip out on his hair. With all of them seated, the girls were more than prepared to see what Arezu could whip up for them.
The girl from 200 years ago looked at each of their hairstyles, thinking about how she could adapt them to make it fit their characteristics. Arezu was already hit with a barrage of ideas as there were plenty of hairstyles that fit them all and it was time for her to make them a reality.
Arezu would carefully tend to their hair, moulding something either fabulous, adorable, cool or nifty for them. Each catered to Ash and his friends. Akari just stood there, realizing that Arezu wasn't taking this as seriously as she was. She still saw this as a serious matter considering she had a lot of respect for Lena and was worried about these Space-Time Distortions but that didn't stop her from doing what she loves.
Just like that, she had whipped up alternate hairstyles for them all. Rainbow Dash received a ponytail which managed to capture all of her colours just like how her original hair does. The way the rainbows perfectly turned was pleasing to look at and Rainbow Dash most definitely enjoyed it. But the cherry on top was what was on the front.
Arezu gave Rainbow Dash a bang. And this bang was in the shape of a lightning bolt while still looking smooth and consistent with the hairstyle. It wasn't crooked or jagged at all. It was so neat that it only almost covered one of Rainbow Dash's eyes.
Rarity received what appeared to be pigtails with drills. She has only seen this kind of hairstyle on Sienna and no one else. Rarity felt the drills on her side as they were also rather playful. Fluttershy received a ponytail as well but with multiple braids. And that the very end, there was a heart shape.
Applejack saw herself now possessing a hairstyle known as Fountain Curls. She lost her braided hairstyle but she got this pleasing hairstyle in return which had smooth curls and neither of them twisted at all. She even received a crown at the back of her head which was made out of beads that Arezu added.
Then there was Pinkie Pie who now had Double Buns on her head but with plenty of softness. It was so soft that when she touched it, it felt like touching cotton candy. The sensation Pinkie Pie received made her tingle as it was wonderful to feel. Arezu knew exactly what she wanted.
"Woo...Not bad." Admiring this were Hilbert and Hilda, who were exempt from this. They were rather lucky they weren't selected as Ash's hair was somehow shaggier than Hilbert's even though they almost look identical.
And finally, there was Ash. He now had long hair but it was not smooth and neither was it shaggy. It was more spiked than usual as his Long Hair was enough to reach the end of his torso. His hair matched that of Fire itself. Ash did in fact like this hairstyle, but he much preferred the hair he's always had.
"Oh, sweet! Way to go, Arezu!" Ash felt his radical hairstyle, praising it.
"I've never felt something like this before. Do you think I could spin these around?" Rarity gushed at her drills. Arezu was pleased to hear them love these hairstyles. A job well done. Her skills as a hairdresser were impressive indeed.
"Arezu!"Akari shouted, startling Arezu and the others. "Why aren't you taking this seriously?! Ms Lena's missing, there are Space-Time Distortions around and it doesn't feel like you're taking it seriously!"
"I am taking it seriously. But I like to have fun as well, Akari," said Arezu, approaching the ancestor of Dawn. "Look. For now, we're not sure what these Space-Time Distortions can truly do just yet and Lena is still missing. But I'm sure we can solve it all with all the help we're getting."
"Alright..." Akari sighed. "Sorry for shouting at you."
"If it makes you feel better, I've got a way we can find Lena faster. " Pinkie Pie bounced over. "My Slurpuff can track down her scent. Any of them can find her and all they have to do is figure out her scent. I'm guessing she doesn't have the same scent as Ash since Slurpuff didn't recognize you. But there's one way we can track her."
"How's that?"
"I just need something that Lena owned and that way, we can find her. Got anything?"
"Oooh...That might not be possible right now." Arezu shrugged, answering in a heartbeat. "We don't really have anything that Lena owned."
"I do." Akari raised her hand as she did indeed have something. And by digging into her small bag, a way to find Lena was about to be shown. "Well, it's something she gave me. She entrusted me with this one day. Do you think you could use this?" The item in question was a shard.
It was a rather odd shard, having an unknown material on it. No one recognized the material at all as it did not match anything in the world. There was something rather ethereal about it. Ash and Pikachu were the only ones who could almost make out what this material could be. They felt like they've seen it before.
"She wanted me to make it into a necklace or another accessory. I never got around to it. How well do the Slurpuff track someone's scent?"
"It's top tier! Even if you've touched the shard, they can always sniff out who touched it previously." Pinkie Pie guaranteed before sending out one of her Slurpuff.
"Slurpuff!"
"Alright, Slurpuff! Work your magic and sniff this!"
"Slur...Slurpuff..." Slurpuff had to concentrate. This was the scent of someone who had previously touched this shard. He had to completely ignore Akari's scent. When taking in the scent, Slurpuff's eyes twitched while everyone stayed silent. Even if Lena Ketchum was far away, the scent would not escape Slurpuff. "Puff"
And it most definitely didn't. Slurpuff found it. The scent of Lena Ketchum. With just one detection, he could tell where she was. And with his cries, Fluttershy would be the one to translate what he had found out.
"He's found the scent! And it sounds like Lena's in this world!"
"So she has passed through the gateways!" Starlight made a prolonged gasp. "That means we have a better chance at finding her!"
"You'd think we would've heard about that by now." Rainbow Dash pondered. "Ash got popular over here at Equestria so somepony would've pointed her out or something would've made us aware of her. Anything. She looks just like him."
"Grandma's really here...Awesome." Ash grinned, psyched to potentially meet his very-very-great grandmother. "I gotta see her! Is she in Equestria or another region, Slurpuff?"
"Puff..." Slurpuff shook his head. Unfortunately, he could only pick up the scent in this world. As for her location, he would have to keep moving but the fact that he picked it up here meant that if this was to be done in the Human World, the trail would've led back to the Pokemon World either way.
"If there's one region she would be at...Don't you think it would be Sinnoh?" Rarity suggested. "After all, SInnoh is Hisui. And how long did it take for the name to change?"
"I still can't believe you named it after Almighty Sinnoh down the road. How respectful." Arezu crossed her arms, proud of the future.
"Well, you see, Almighty Sinnoh is Arceus. And the one who interacts with time is Dialga. The one I was talking about." Ash answered, clarifying the proper names for Arezu and Akari. "Anyway, Rarity might be on to something. I say we pay a visit to Sinnoh and see what we can find."
"Poor Twilight won't get that chance. She's too busy with her Pokemon School at the moment." Meanwhile, Starlight mourned for Twilight Sparkle who had to set a good example for her students since this was her first proper day as the Principal.
"Well, by this time, she should be done for the day. The Pokemon School lasts until the afternoon." Pinkie Pie brought on the positives to this. At least the Pokemon School did not last until 3:00 or 3:30 like most schools do.
"We will make this as quick as possible and return to Hisui. Wait for us, Ms Lena." A determined Akari clenched her hands as it was off to the Sinnoh Region. It should still be familiar to her but there will certainly be massive changes waiting for her.
Kanto. Pallet Town. Professor Oak's Lab. Afternoon.
Over at Professor Oak's Lab, the Professor's work was quickly interrupted by a call. From his computer, he received a call all the way from another world. The connection was rather impressive for it to be capable of such a feat as it was coming from Sci-Twi.
"Oh? Twilight." Oak would answer the computer, seeing his newest student's face. And right now, Sci-Twi had some major news to throw at Professor Oak that he had to hear. As his student, Sci-Twi felt the need to do. "How goes the work on that Travel Sphere I gave you? Is it going well?"
"Never mind that! Something bigger than that has come up!"
"Hm? It has? What exactly? Is it the Rift?"
"No. It's the Time Leaks! There's a bit more to them and someone's passed through here! Someone from the very far past. Farther than the Alpha Pokemon we know!"
"You sound very excited, Twilight. What else is there to the Time Leaks? And who passed through exactly? It must be a famous figure from the past."
"No. It's Ash's ancestor. His grandmother from the far past, Lena Ketchum!"
"Hmmm?!" Oak's heart skipped a beat just from hearing that. No matter who was told this information, they couldn't help but be amazed. "I've heard about Lena Ketchum before...from the book Delia has. That same Lena?"
"Apparently, there's an image of her now. From the era she comes from, that shouldn't be possible but she's moved through time it seems and now there's one inside of that book." Sci-Twi continued. "And those Time Leaks show different locations depending on who looks through them. But the only ones who can see anything are either ones who've lived for a long time or have travelled through time."
"You're throwing a lot at me, Twilight. But go on. And tell me everything as slowly as possible. What you're saying sounds bigger than what we've ever experienced." Oak had to hear it all at a steady pace since Sci-Twi was speaking rather fast but she just couldn't contain her excitement about this discovery.
"Right, sorry. But before that...Do you think I could look into this too?"
"Well, of course, you can. What's stopping you? Now...Start from the beginning."
The mystery of Lena Ketchum was starting to get somewhere now that more information was being revealed. All that was left was to find her and receive more of those answers. And hopefully, avoiding the worst considering there were Space-Time Distortions in the mix. Sinnoh was the place to go and now someone else was looking into the mystery of Lena Ketchum and even the Time Leaks.
However, no one was ready for what was around the corner in their adventures. A rather perplexing turn in this chapter of their story was about to arise. And it would be the start of many things to come. Some of which, they have already received a glimpse of from another world opposite to this and the other. As the journey continues.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
The third day of the Pokemon School had come to an end. And it was a smashing success. With its first official lesson day completed, the students were heading home greatly satisfied. The students will most definitely come back tomorrow after the enjoyment they were given.
However, some stayed behind. Mainly to talk with each other since their homes weren't that far. But one student stayed behind since he was facing an issue that existed since yesterday. That would be Gallus and his stubborn Tailow. The stubbornness of Tailow was more than what they expected as he was sitting in the corner.
"Wow. This is harder than it looks..." Twilight sighed as Gallus and Tailow were not getting anywhere with this. "School's over and Tailow still hasn't done much at all.
"This blows," Gallus said with very visible disappointment. "How come I'm the one who got the stubborn Pokemon out of everyone here? Seems rigged and unfair if you ask me."
"Try again tomorrow then, Gallus. You can get somewhere with Tailow. My Human Counterpart had plenty of trouble with her Rapidash so it's proof there's a way to bond with Tailow. There will always be a way and that's a fact."
"Yeah. Tomorrow..." Galls grumbled. "Wish it was soon. Plus, I haven't eaten yet because of this." Itching for a meal, Gallus would dig into his bag, choosing to eat while still in the school. A majority of the students have left by now while he stuck around solely out of disappointment and exhaustion. And hunger. From his bag, he had some seeds that he could snack on. Small but efficient for a griffin.
"Tail?" At that moment, Tailow suddenly perked up. The scent of the seeds caught his attention. His eyes widened as he was instantly attracted to those seeds. The TinySwallow Pokemon would take flight, approaching his Trainer who he has been ignoring this entire time.
"Hm?" Gallus looked over as Tailow pressed his face against the bag of seeds. He was fully locked in. His only goal was to devour the food from within. Instantly, Gallus knew what to do and why Tailow was suddenly getting close to him. "Ooh...You want some of this?"
"Low! Tailow!"
"Well then..." Gallus smirked, ready to take advantage of this. He raised the bag, prompting Tailow to jump around rapidly, wanting those seeds more than anything right now. "Use Quick Attack on that Training Dummy!"
"Low" Tailow would turn around, facing a Training Dummy that resembled a Snorlax. Without hesitating, the Normal-FLying-Type would move at lightning speeds, tacking the dummy at full force. He didn't make it move all that much. It barely budged.
"Nice! Now here's some!" Gallus would take out a few seeds, throwing them into the air.
"Tailow!" Tailow responded to the seeds being thrown, using Quick Attack once more. He managed to snag the seeds, feeding himself. Just like that, Gallus found his method. A method of interacting with Tailow and it was one that wasn't exactly what most Pokemon Trainers do.
"Yes! This'll work!" Gallus laughed after finding his method. "You were right, Princess Twilight! There'll always be a way and I found my way!"
"B-But...But that's now how..." Twilight stuttered and stammered as this was not the outcome she was expecting. Gallus would then walk off with his Tailow, calling it a day as he finally found a method to bond with Tailow. And that was by using the seeds. Tailow wasn't listening because of any bonds, he was listening because of the seeds. And in his defence, those seeds were rather enamouring to the senses. Twilight looked befuddled before lowering her head. "Alright...Tomorrow. What a day this has been."
"Espeon" Just then, her partner Espeon would nudge her, wanting some food as well after seeing Tailow receive some.
"I know Eve. I'll get you your food." Twilight felt defeated, going on with her day. It was high-time she got home right now and prepared for tomorrow. While today was a success, she was robbed from adventuring with her friends thanks to her new position. However, what Twilight didn't know, was that the chance to experience what they have experienced was coming sooner than she thought.
The Human World.
Meanwhile, the other Twilight was getting that chance. After what had been shared by Sunset Shimmer, Sci-Twi would investigate this closer. In her bag, she had the Travel Sphere, which she was working on earlier. Still keeping it in mind, she brought it along with her as Hisuian Zoru was currently playing around with the sphere.
Twilight headed straight for the Time Leaks as she now learned that different views can come from it depending on who looks through them. But it had to be from someone who has lived a long time or has travelled through time. She already checked out the closest one which Ash and the others previously viewed, having Dusknoir carry her towards it. And of course, she saw nothing.
"Nothing there. Just white, like the others said." Sci-Twi pulled her head away. "Alright then, Zorua. Your turn."
Zorua was an easy answer. She came from the past too, much like all the other Alpha Pokemon, even if she wasn't an Alpha Pokemon. The Hisuian Variant leapt out of the bag, landing perfectly on Sci-Twi's head. And with just a peep, she looked through the portal.
Lo and behold, Zorua saw her home once more. It was a specific area of Hisui. The same area that Froslass used to reside in. Those icy lands were familiar to her eyes. And technically, it hasn't even been that long since she's left it since she passed through the time leaks a year or two ago. "It is my home..."
"Well, that confirms it. I thought it would be the same location but guess not." Sci-Twi pondered for a moment. It was just this single Time Leak that everyone's been looking through to see what they can gaze at. But that was the thing. It was only this Time Leak. "But what about the others? No one's looked through them just yet."
That's when it hit Twilight. The other Time Leaks haven't been looked through yet. Just this one. She wondered what would happen if the others were looked through. Only one way to find out and Twilight already knew where to find the others. An excited Sci-Twi strolled off to investigate the other Time Leaks.
Thanks to Professor Oak, she knew where these Time Leaks were located. Some of them reside in this world but others could only be found in the Pokemon World.
She took a bus, which would lead her to one Time Leak that spat out some Alpha Pokemon. Along the way, Twilight would glance at the scenery to see if anything has changed with the Pokemon being present here. And so far, from what she could see, not much has changed.
There were still Pokemon wandering this other world but the people here kept their distance. Some Pokemon were easily approachable but unfortunately, it was only the adorable ones that were easy to approach. Pokemon like Herdier, Poochyena, Skitty and a few others reminded them of everyday house pets which were self-explanatory. Generally speaking, the friendlier Pokemon made it simple for the people. Whether it was how they helped them in certain scenarios with some just coming to their aid or the aura they gave off.
Even some Flying-Types were easy to approach. Of course, it was the ones that were less aggressive, which was hard to come across sometimes. There was still a lot that needed to happen for this world as it was very much behind, compared to the other world which caught up with the Pokemon and went through some of the wildest things.
"I've slowed down when it comes to finding Alpha Pokemon but it seems like not many of them are showing up that much as usual. Maybe it's because of Lena or those Space-Time Distortions." Sci-Twi said to herself. "Anyway, it helps prevent Hunter J from getting more of them, so that's good. But I wonder if Lena and those from the past caught wind of it and stopped more of them from passing through."
Out in a lake.
Sci-Twi reached her destination. She already left the bus a while ago and had to walk there. Her destination was a lake which had a sign showing its name. Waterburns Expanse. And here, a Time Leak could be found. As always, it was nestled in the sky while still being large enough to see from afar.
"What do you think you'll see through this Time Leak, Zorua? Will be it somewhere you notice?" Sci-Twi asked the Hisuian Variant.
"I hope so. I went through a ton of places until I finally reached Hisui. But I never got the chance to spend that much time on them. I was always on the run."
"If I had to guess, it might be one of those places. We could see Unova in the past. We've already seen the town that Raine used t live in so this might be a good chance to see what it looked like back then." Sci-Twi uttered with a giddy smile. It was always fun to look into the past and this was the perfect way to gather anything about history. Most historical information comes in the form of drawings, paintings or ruins. But the Time Leaks change everything, allowing anyone to see what a certain place looked like before it changed.
"What about someone who could come through it? Do you think anyone new will show up?"
"Not sure honestly...And if they have, they've probably gone home by now. I'm guessing it's because of Lena. They're looking for her because of what's happening back in their time. But judging by what I heard, we can't see what's wrong." The counterpart to Princess Twilight Sparkle shook her head. "I'd love to help Ash and the others find Lena but if I had to guess, she's probably far from our reach."
"Because she likes to explore just as much as Ash?"
"That's right. And we-" Before Sci-Twi could finish her sentence, while approaching the Time Leak up ahead, something caught her attention. The brightness it gave off was alluring, catching her eye. On the ground, covered by the blades of grass, appeared to be a shard of some sort.
A shard that had a similar material to what Akari showed Ash and the others. It was stabbed into the ground, having a purple appearance to it. Twilight froze when looking at it as it had truly captivated her. But Zorua wasn't sure why as she wasn't captivated by it.
Just then, the Arceus Pendant around her neck started glowing. It let out small flashes that were weak and went on and off each passing second. But they were visible. Something was up the second she saw this shard. Compelled, Twilight picked up the shard at last.
"What an odd-looking shard...This material is so strange too" She also found out how odd the material was. It felt enigmatic. She couldn't figure out what it felt like as it was a feeling never discovered before on Earth. Twilight then looked down at the pendant, wondering why it was reacting to the shard. It almost sounded like the Pendant was trying to speak to Sci-Twi but it was rather weak.
"Ooh. Looks like you found it before I did." Suddenly, someone spoke to Twilight, seeing her pick the shard which had been left alone by seemingly everyone else. No one has touched it until now. Sci-Twi gasped, startled by that voice as Hisuian Zorua would drop down into the bag to conceal herself. By turning around, Sci-TWi saw someone who didn't exactly look like he came from this world. In fact, he didn't look like he came from this era.
"And what a reaction that thing around your neck is giving off." The mysterious man said.
"Oh! Uh...This is! This is new!" Twilight uttered, almost stumbling on her words. "Well, not the glowing part but the flashing. I was just coming over to look at something quickly and-"
"Don't worry about it." He calmed her down. "This isn't out of the ordinary for me. I already know what you're holding and what that is so slow down."
"Y-You do?"
"That's right. I've been around this lake for a little while and that thing hasn't escaped my sight at all." The man with what appeared to be a travelling kit nodded. "No one else has really come here...or really bothered with what's in the air. Strange, isn't it?
"Well...yeah. It is a little strange." Twilight agreed with that since no one else has seemingly interacted with the Time Leaks outside of her Friend Group. Most likely, they were still trying to figure out what to do with the Pokemon and were getting used to them ever so slowly.
"Then again, this era seems rather slow. So I don't blame them. It's a strange era too. Is our fate in the future just gaining new colours on our skins? Fascinating." He rubbed his chin.
"Um, excuse me. Your clothes...and your outfit. They look rather ancient. I mean, as ancient as they can be compared to what I know and have seen."
"Oh, they are. But they're not that ancient. That's because, if you can already tell, I'm not exactly from this era."
"You're from 200 years in the past as well, aren't you?! Or maybe more than that?"
"200? Is that how far this is? That would make sense. And yes, I am a man of the past. My name is Volo." He finally introduced himself, revealing his name to Twilight Sparkle. Indeed, Sci-Twi was facing yet another entity from the past. "I'm just a Merchant. And it looks like you have a Hisuian Pokemon in there. A Zorua, no less."
"So you are from 200 years in the past judging by what you're saying. I can't believe someone else from the past showed up here. It's becoming a little bit more frequent I guess."
"The future isn't exactly what I made it out to be. Everyone still seems so distant of the Pokemon." Volo approached Sci-Twi, pointing out the nature of this world.
"Well, that's because this is not your era. Or I guess, your world's era. This is a parallel world. One where the Humans of this world have no clue what Pokemon are. There's a portal that leads to the world where your timeline is and Pokemon have formed deep bonds with everyone there."
"Interesting..." Volo found that intriguing. "The future and another world. I never would have guessed that when passing through the Space-Time Distortion. I should thank you for clarifying that for me, Girl of the Future."
"Well, my name's Twilight. Twilight Sparkle." She felt confident enough to introduce herself to this man of the past. "Man of the Past." She even threw in a title for him, just like how he did for her. "So, you sounded like you knew about this shard. Did you come along with it?"
"I came through later. But I've seen this shard before. What you're holding is something special." Volo tapped on the mysterious shard. "And that pendant around your neck holds a rather peculiar symbol. You must be the only one in this world that has gotten used to the Pokemon. Am I right?"
"A few of my friends have. It's not many of us." Sci-Twi held the shard close to her. "It's much better in the word opposite to ours. If you want to go there and feel more in your element."
"I can wait on that. Right now, I'm focused on the shards. I should really be getting them back to my era. Same as me. I could return now but, this is just one of many."
"Many?!"
"Oh, yes." Volo winked. "It's a shard for a reason. This shard was once connected to another. And I'd say there are about 17 of them that have been scattered. I saw it myself when they all broke apart and were thrown into the future. Had them all and just like that, they were through the portal."
"Ah, sorry! I didn't know this was yours!" Sci-Twi would quickly try and give it back to him.
"Ah, don't worry, don't worry. You can keep it for now." However, Volo suddenly rejected receiving it even after what he said. "At least until they're all put together, which is something I'm aiming towards and I'll need help."
"Help? From me?"
"You're looking into these Time Leaks or Space-Time Distortions as I call them. Would you mind helping me find the rest of them? If they went through the portal, even if they have been scattered, their locations can't be too far away from us. I don't think they'll be in different lands. I can't do it alone."
"I was just planning to look through the Time Leaks. Well, Zorua was. She also comes from the past. The same past as you. Hisui." Sci-Twi explained.
"Right, right. She came here with the Alpha Pokemon. They've dropped in numbers recently because of these distortions. Some might say it's a good thing or a bad thing. I wonder where they are, anyway? Not causing any trouble for this new world? I doubt anyone here can handle an Alpha Pokemon."
"I have them. Well, I caught them. I've been catching Alpha Pokemon for months now." Sci-Twi would reveal some of her Poke Balls which had different Alpha Pokemon inside.
"Y-You caught them?!"
"Mhm!" She said with an innocent smile. "It wasn't easy though. I had a lot of help from my friends, but I've made it my mission to catch every Alpha Pokemon out there. Before Pokemon Hunter J does."
"Wooo..." Volo whistled, impressed that Twilight caught herself a good handful of Alpha Pokemon so far. "Good luck with that. Especially with the stronger Alpha Pokemon that exist in the world. But I hope this isn't a bother. Could you help me find these shards and put them back together? After that, it's back home."
"Hmm...Okay. I'll try and help. Plus, my pendant has been glowing the moment I came across the shard." Sci-Twi held up the pendant. "It must be Arceus speaking to me."
"Arceus? Never heard of that name before. But if it's speaking to you, then there's a connection between the two. I don't exactly think they're made out of the same material."
"Even you don't know what it is?"
"Just a merchant. Truth be told, I stumbled upon these shards in the wild and planned to sell them to whoever wanted them. I could make quite a profit back home. These must be as valuable as diamonds or pearls. There might be more to them thanks to that glowing."
"I'll gladly help you find them all. But I don't know if I can go around the entire world looking for them."
"You don't have to worry about that. You won't need to. I'm not tagging along with you or anything like that. My guess is that...the pendant can help you find them." Volo would point at the Arceus pendant. "Do you think it could find those shards?"
"I'm not sure." Sci-TWi looked at her pendant deeply. "I still haven't gotten used to it yet. It's still new to me but there's obviously a lot that can be done with it. I'll try what I can."
"That's all I needed to hear. I'll be around. I could gain a lot of profit in this era. Maybe something from the past will be valuable to these people and it could be a bonus if it's from another world." Volo was off to work as a merchant once more, leaving everything up to Twilight. "I'll search for my fair share of shards as well. Oh, by the way. One more thing."
"Yes?"
"Have you seen a woman pass by here? She had a rather energetic look on her face. And a serious one when I last saw her." Volo asked.
"No, I don't think so."
"Hm. Alright then. I'll be seeing you around, Twilight." Volo raised his arm as this would not be the last time Twilight saw him. After that conversation, Twilight had new things set in her mind. First the Alpha Pokemon, then the Time Leaks, then Lena Ketchum and now the shards.
Twilight Sparkle absolutely loved a good mystery. A wide smile met her face as she got to look into this some more. She met with someone from the past yet again. This time it was a Human, minus Raine who had been reincarnated as a Dusknoir. Her other non-Alpha Pokemon.
"This is great, Zorua! We have a lot that we get to look into!" Sci-Twi expressed. "Oh, I can't wait! I don't know where to start all! Should I start with the shards now that I know about them? The pendant's acting strange too!"
"I don't know. But that Volo guy's voice. Something about it creeps me out..." Zorua shuddered, peering her eyes out of the bag.
"Don't be like that, Zorua. His voice isn't that creepy." But Twilight couldn't see it. "Just smooth. Very smooth. I'll have to go home and see what I can do with the pendant and shard. Ooh, so much to do, so much to do." An excited Twilight Sparkle was about to scurry off before remembering to check through the Time Leaks. She was counting on Zorua to see what she could find.
As for Volo, their paths would cross again now that the goal to find these shards has been set. First Lena, then Arezu and Akari and now Volo. Four humans from the past have entered the present day. But only one of them was a mystery. However, it seems that it would not be a mystery for long.
And those searching for Lena Ketchum were tracking her by scent and their search led them to Hisui in the present day. The Sinnoh Region. Ash and his friends set foot in Sinnoh with two visitors from the past as the journey continues.
They had arrived at Sinnoh. Ash and his friends searched for Lena Ketchum, having SLurpuff sniff her out. Slurpuff did an excellent job at tracking her to the Sinnoh Region, as to be expected from the Meringue Pokemon. However, when they got there and stopped at a mountainscape, they soon found something rather crushing.
"Slurpuff...Slur?" Slurpuff came to a halt all of a sudden. He was no longer picking up Lena's scent. It just vanished all of a sudden which caught Slurpuff off guard. Never before has this happened where Slurpuff can't find a scent it was locked onto. Usually, it can never find a scent if something doesn't have a scent. "Puff?"
"The trail has ended?" Fluttershy translated.
"What?! No way!" Pinkie Pie made a prolonged gasp. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The trail had ended and Slurpuff was completely stumped. Any other scent was not that of Lena's.
"But Slurpuff's ability to sniff out others is flawless!" Starlight shook her head in disbelief. "How's that possible?"
"It just stops here? In some random mountain area? What's up with that?" Hilbert asked. "Did she just vanish or something?"
"Maybe. There's no way the trail just ends like this without a clear direction." Hilda was on the same page as Hilbert.
"So then...now what?" Applejack questioned.
"Ms Lena..." A disappointed Akari said. The one person she looked up to was suddenly unable to find.
"No clue. I got nothing." Ash shrugged as this was more than just a dead end. He was stumped as there was no clear direction here. "Nowhere to go either." Silence filled the atmosphere. Lena Ketchum was now more of a mystery. The fact that her scent was gone was unnatural.
"It's getting pretty late. We should probably call it a day." Starlight Glimmer suggested. Since no one could think of anything or do anything, the best thing to do was head home. But that did not mean they had given up.
"We can try again another time," Ash suggested to Dawn's ancestor. "Grandma's somewhere out there for sure. We just have to keep trying."
"Yeah, but how are we gonna find her now?" said Rainbow Dash. "I mean, it's like she just up and vanished since her scent's gone. What's up with that?"
"It's okay, Slurpuff. You did your best and you got us this far." Pinkie Pie comforted the Fairy-Type, letting him know that he did his best. "Here. Eat this before you return." To make him feel better, she whipped out a cupcake for him to snack. That definitely brought a smile to his face. After grabbing it, Pinkie would return the Meringue Pokemon to his Poke Ball with the cupcake going along with him.
"Akari. You might have to report back to the Galaxy Expedition Team. Nothing has been found yet. Only a descendant of Lena." Arezu approached her fellow friend from the past. "We can come back another time. At least this time, we will have some help from Ash and the others."
"I suppose. But it feels strange knowing she's vanished again somehow. Is she just avoiding all of us on purpose?" A disgruntled Akari wondered.
"Hmmm...Oh! I got something!" That's when inspiration struck Ash's head. He had the perfect answer to this problem. The King of the Sea took off his bag, having one item that he carried around just in case. As suggested by Rarity, he carried around a Time Flower. "The Time Flower!"
"Oh, my Almighty SInnoh! What is that?" Arezu gasped before lowering herself to see the Time Flower, in all of its brilliance. It looked especially brilliant during the night.
"It's a Time Flower. It allows us to look into the past around a certain area. All it needs is Aura to activate it. Tons of it." Ash explained before placing the Time Flower down. "If we can't find her scent, we can at least try and find out what she did here previously. Something had to have happened."
"Great thinking, Ash!" Applejack gave a strong pat on her fellow Aura User's back. "Work that flower!"
"Okay...Show me what happened here..." Ash went into a deep state of concentration, channelling his Aura around the Time Flower. With a glorious flash through the night, an azure energy appeared, enveloping this entire area. Akari and Arezu watched in wonder as they felt the Aura flow through them.
Once more, the past was being viewed. There was a lot of that going on recently. And from this Aura Projection, everyone would finally see her at last. Ash and his friends already saw her in an image that was not supposed to exist. But now, they could see her in motion.
Lena Ketchum was indeed here, standing at the mountainscape in those same clothes. It was strange that she was wearing these clothes considering they came from the modern day. That only raised further questions. Ash and everyone watched carefully, looking at Lena's actions.
Lena was currently looking up, focusing on the azure skies above. Everyone followed her head as the moment they did, a flash of energy appeared. Some were jumpscared by this flash as it unleashed a thunderous sound but it did not startle Lena back then. Above them appeared to be a distortion.
"W-What is that?!" Fluttershy's jaw dropped.
"A distortion of Space-TIme." That looked all too familiar to Arezu and Akari's eyes. They knew what the distortions looked like and one of them appeared in this era. And when looking up at it, Lena put on a smile. Almost as if she was expecting this. All of a sudden, Lena's body was levitating off the ground. The distortion in Space-Time was lifting her.
Lena welcomed this motion as she would fly into the Space-Time Distortion. Her body vanished after entering it and so did the Space-Time Distortion, blinking out of existence. And just like that, the Time Flower finished showing the past. This was all it had to offer.
"Well, now we know why Slurpuff couldn't track her scent. She completely left this era!" Starlight Glimmer blinked. "DId he go back in time or forward in time again?"
"Now we know. She's somewhere else now." Ash placed the Time Flower back in his bag. "Can't say where or when."
"Pikachu..."
"She looked like she was waiting for that Space-Time DIstortion to appear. Almost as if she knew it would show up here," said Arezu. "Akari. Do you think it's the same reason why she went through the previous distortion?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe. But now I know there's still a chance we can find her. I have to report this back to the Galaxy Expedition Team as soon as possible!" Akari would run off, now having something important to share.
"Hold on!" Arezu grabbed Akari's arm before she could get too far. "Not on your own, obviously. This may be the region we grew up in but it's clearly different in the future. Slow down."
"If anyone can maybe solve this, it's Twilight." Ash was already thinking about telling Twilight Sparkle this. He trusted her smarts without a single doubt. "Welp, that's settled! Guess we're gonna be chasing Grandma down until we find her. This is gonna be fun!" Ash couldn't wait for this new adventure. It wouldn't be the first time he's moved through time and it looks like it wouldn't be the last since something new revolving around time has come up.
For now, they would all have to call this a day. Applejack and the others had to get home as soon as possible for their family and work. But this would not leave their memories. Not for a moment. If anything, this made some of them worried after what they have witnessed.
But not everyone went straight home. Staying here at Sinnoh for a while were Ash, Hilda, Hilbert, Arezu and Akari. Ash's other friends had left by now, returning home via Aeroplane. The plane that they took could even be seen in the night sky, returning to Equestria. Equestria did not exactly have an airport but there was still a place where a plane could land now that it was another region in the Pokemon World.
The five humans sat together in the wild as a campfire was in the middle. Each of them looked up to see the plane head back to Equestria under the Silver Moon.
"Look at us. Double H and Double A." Hilbert pointed out, referring to their names and how each of them started with the same letter. "Fun. Would've been better if there was one more H. Maybe Hugh or someone like that."
"So, Almighty Sinnoh's real name is Arceus?" As for Arezu, she now learned the name of the one who truly created Sinnoh. Arceus. The Creator Pokemon. "And the one who governs time is Dialga?"
"Yeah. But you wouldn't be wrong calling either of them by the same name. Dialga's a part of Arceus."
"So both the Diamond and Pearl clans were right about what they envisioned Almighty Sinnoh to be. For the most part." Akari added. "And you're saying I have my own descendant?"
"A pretty awesome descendant. I mean, you really remind me of her so I gotta guess you're related." Ash referred to Dawn, praising her even when she wasn't here. "She should still be in Sinnoh maybe."
"If it isn't any trouble, we...or I suppose I would love a tour of Hisui in its current state." Arezu requested. "I know Akari will simply head home to report to the Galaxy Expedition Team."
"I'd love to view it as well!" Akari shouted as the modern-day Hisui piqued her interest. "But...I do have to get back and let them know before anything else happens. And shouldn't you be returning to the Diamond Clan?"
"Not really." Arezu shrugged with one eye closed. "As a Warden, I'm not that limited in what I can do even if you're the one who gets to explore. You still have to clear one area while I can go anywhere."
"A Warden?" Ash asked, wondering what type of role that was. Arezu would gladly answer it for him.
"A Warden is someone who is charged with taking care of certain Noble and Ride Pokemon by making sure their territory is safe and leaving them offerings of water and food to express the clan's gratitude. I am one of those Wardens."
"Noble Pokemon? Are you saying you have Pokemon of nobility?" asked Hilda.
"Indeed." Arezu would then hold out her hand, showing all five fingers. They are a select group of Pokémon in the Hisui Region ho are descendants of five of the ten companions of the ancient hero of legend, blessed by Almighty Sinnoh. Or the one known as Arceus. Thus, they have nobility in them. Being true Kings and Queens and even having the distinct titles of Lord and Lady."
"Wow...! I wish I had a Pokemon of that status!" Hilda's eyes lit up with stars, imagining her Serperior as a Queen or Noble Lady.
"Hey, Ash. Think you've got a shot at that?" Hilbert nudged. "Mr King of the Sea?"
"I'm not a Pokemon though. Can't think of anyone else who could fit that same boat. Maybe Passion?" Ash thought for a moment. He thought about Passion and how her mother mentioned certain Pokemon who were unique from their species. Point One Percenters are what they were known as Passion was a clear example of that. She even mentioned how Ash's Pikachu could be in that category.
"King of the Sea? You?" Akari put her hand over her mouth, trying to contain her laughter. "I don't mean to be rude but you don't exactly give off that status."
"It's true though. He is the King of the Sea. Even if he doesn't hang around there."
"Wait, you actually are a King?!" Akari gasped before grimacing. "Ooh, forgive my language, I-"
"It's fine. It's happened before and I don't mind it." Ash wasn't one for formalities. "Just call me Ash."
"I got to the do the hair of a noble? Finally!" Arezu pumped her fists as this was apparently something she's never done before when it came to the Noble Pokemon. "They won't believe this when I head back but I won't mind it."
"By the way, before you head back, Akari, could you tell me what my ancestor did when she showed up? I really wanna know what adventures she went through." Ash requested a chance to hear about Lena's adventures. He was positive that they were thrilling.
"I can. It's a long story though. And I do have to get going. But I can assure you that your grandma was great during her time in Hisui. I jus hope that Space-Time Distortion meant that she went back to Hisui." Akari sighed. "Who knows what she's getting herself into."
"I'll get you home, Akari. I'm leaving it all up to you, Ash." Hilda offered to send Akari home. "Hilbert..."
"Yeah, Yeah, I know. You don't have to worry about leaving me behind. I'm not gonna go back to that school if that's what you were thinking." Hilbert already knew what to expect from Hilda's words, putting on a cheeky grin. But that only raised Hilda's suspicions as she would finally walk off with Akari.
"Well, better get some good night's sleep before you see what Sinnoh looks like today. Maybe visit someplace you knew in the past. It could still be around." For some engagement, Ash recommended that Arezu visited some places she would recognize. But she was free to explore wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted. But judging by the look on her face, that was rather promising to her.
"Actually." Arezu touched her chin. Something already came to mind. "There is one place I wish to see if it is still here."
It didn't take too long for the plane to reach Equestria. And for Rainbow Dash, flying home was even faster after leaving the plane. Once home, she planted herself on her bed, feeling the comfiness of it.
"Phew...All this talk about descendants, space, time and whatever...I just wanna kick back, relax and wait for the Battle Frontier to start." Rainbow Dash uttered when lying on her back. She had the Battle Frontier on her mind since the Equestria League was a bit behind. No thanks to Nessa and other powerful Pokemon Trainers.
The Battle Frontier was still missing some of its Frontier Brains, even though they were confirmed to have been chosen already. Only Sharon and Luca were available. The rest were a mystery that only excited Rainbow Dash. The multi-coloured-maned pegasus raised one of her Poke Balls into the air, looking at it as the Moon would reflect off it.
"Feels like the title of the first Equestrian Champion is close but yet so far away. After what happened with the Dread League, it feels like everyone is starting to get better. They don't wanna go through something like that again. And with the Pokemon School getting a new look, I can't afford to lag behind. Just you wait. I'll be the best in Equestria and join the rank of Champions, pretty soon."
Vanhoover.
Vanhoover. Cold yet comforting. The snow is what made it so comforting as it was playful in the day but soothing at night. Residing there was the abandoned mansion of Skyblue Shine and Premium Polish, who now live elsewhere. One roams different worlds while another stays with Princess Celestia.
Neither have returned here and this place has been completely untouched ever since the events surrounding it. All residents have avoided it as well under Celestia's order. However, at last, after 2 years, something happened. Specifically near the mansion.
Everypony over at Vanhoover were sound asleep, having nothing to worry about. No nocturnal Pokemon were here at all. They can only be found outside of the city. The skies themselves were suddenly starting to ripple. The clouds looked rather distorted as well as the stars.
And from them, a crack appeared. The skies looked like they were starting to shatter which should be impossible. Buy from this shattering sky, an ethereal and rather divine light appeared, making the most angelic sound possible. The cracks would open, revealing a hole and a strange energy that surrounded it.
The same energy that was seen from the Space-Time Distortion. The light would then come crashing down, hitting the snow-capped land while also missing the Mansion, dealing no damage to it. The snow was also completely fine. No damage had been done to the land.
And from it, emerged someone as the light was beginning to disperse. Someone who has recently travelled through time. There were a few candidates for this, but the one that this was all centred around had shown herself. And this time, she appeared in Equestria.
It was none other than Lena Ketchum.
At last, the ancestor of Ash had arrived at Equestria, seemingly entering another era when she was last seen. But now, with an unknown amount of time, Lena has appeared in the present and Vanhoover was her first destination. Lena appeared here for one reason and one reason only. She wasn't even thinking about her grandson at the moment and his impact on Equestria. Something large was on her mind. And it was all starting here at Vanhoover as the journey continues.
Jubilife City. One of the largest cities in the Pokemon World and a place that the girl from 200 years ago, Arezu noticed. Or rather, the name is what she noticed and recalled. Speaking of Arezu, she was brought here by Ash and Hilbert at her request. There was one place she wished to see and hoped that it would exist in the modern-day Sinnoh Region and indeed, it did exist and was bigger than ever.
"Unbelievable! This is what Jubilife Village became?!" An amazed Arezu commented on Jubilife City. The future was splendid, showing the evolution of an old location. Life was thriving here at Jubilife compared to what it once was.
"Yeah. It's a city now. It's also the largest city in all of Sinnoh." said Ash.
"It went from such a small civilization to this? Akari is missing out on this! I don't even recognize it at all. What do you have here in the future?"
"Well, uh..." Ash looked at his fingers, attempting to list everything here. "Jubilife's got a TV station. There's this place for a Poketch and..."
"It's a lot. That's all you need to know. And see it for yourself." Hilbert said, bringing up the best possible thing Arezu could do here.
"Let me see..." Arezu twiddled her thumbs as she instinctively walked off. She would get a good look at Jubilife City, seeing what she could recognize, if possible. It has become so developed that any remnant of it being a village was practically non-existent, aside from a history book or more. "There's one place I'm hoping exists here." She thought to herself.
Her eyes met with the shops of Jubilife which interested her more than anything. And Jubilife was brimming with them. Arezu pressed her face on a jewellery shop's window. The beautiful diamonds, pearls, rubies and sapphires caught her attention, making her eyes light up.
"Oooh. I'd love to wear those! Could you perhaps buy some for me? If possible?"
"Sure. I have enough money for that," said Ash. He had plenty of money thanks to all of his adventures and battles. He might as well be rich but he barely notices a majority of them.
Before Ash knew it, a lot of his money had been spent buying Arezu jewellery. She had all kinds of jewellery around her neck and arms, gazing at their brilliance. Surprisingly, this meshed well with her 200-year-old clothing.
And yet, Ash had plenty of money left. So much money that Arezu felt the need to buy something else. Her attention quickly shifted to the clothing store. Arezu already saw modern-day clothing for herself and how varied it was. But wearing modern-day clothes would be absolutely wonderful to her.
"I would love plenty of these!" An excited Arezu said, picking out all the clothes that she could. Piles of clothes were formed as some of them were being thrown at Ash and Pikachu. Ash and Pikachu found themselves being covered and almost drowned in clothing. Arezu had plenty of options and settled for all of them, having a plethora of bags to carry these clothes.
Thankfully, Ash had the extra muscle to carry them. Specifically, Dragonite and Lucario. He, Dragonite and Lucario could carry these bags of clothing that Arezu selected as they made their way out of the clothing store. There were other stores to shop at which Arezu would take full advantage of. And with Ash at the helm, paying for everything, Arezu felt like a Princess.
A restaurant was chosen as Arezu ordered only the most pristine and posh food she could find, indulging in it. For someone who comes from 200 years in the past and what sounds like a rather limited civilization, she ate with class. Arezu would even slow down, viewing windows that had TVs behind them. Arezu would gawk at the wonder that was television, trying to see if there was anything familiar that could come on.
"How fun!" Arezu giggled with excitement. "Back in my era, options such as these were completely non-existent. All we did was either tend to the Noble Pokemon or go out in the wild. Little could be done in Hisui."
"Not many? Even for 200 years, it can't be that empty with options," said Hilbert as he thought otherwise. "That's all you did?"
"Occasionally, something interesting would happen but it was always rather taxing on us. This is completely different and I absolutely love it. If only I could stay in the present." Arezu gushed. "At least I can take these back with me. The look on Adaman's face when he sees these."
"So you'll be heading back now or soon?" Ash asked since Arezu has gone on quite the shopping spree.
"Not yet." Arezu came to a halt, slowly turning to face Ash. "There is one more thing I need to do before I leave. Or rather, I need to see. Ash. Is there a chance that a shop that involves Hairstyling exists?"
"Oh yeah. There's tons of those out there." Ash confirmed it instantly. That much was obvious.
"Is there one in Jubilife as well?"
"No...I don't think so." The Champion of Alola scratched his hair. "Why?"
"Well, I'm hoping for one thing. You said that you have seen me before. But you were obviously referring to my descendant who you can't remember her name." Arezu added, remembering that first conversation with Ash very well. "Where is she? Is she working on Hairstyles elswhere in Sinnoh or in another part of the world."
That was Arezu's biggest question. She wished to know where her family tree went and if it involved Hairstyling even in the modern-day. The thought of that would greatly please Arezu. It would make her feel like her small work over at Jubilife Village mattered in the future and developed with the world. Just the thought of kickstarting the next generation of her bloodline. Even if it wasn't hairstyling, any occupation would do. However, not only did Ash know the answer to that but the occupation she was in was not one to be proud of.
"Yeah..." Ash sighed before giving a serious stare to Arezu. "I've seen her. But she's not styling hair at all."
"Oh...Well..." Arezu bit her lip before keeping her optimism. "That's fine. It's honestly unrealistic for me to expect my family to keep doing the same thing down the road. What does she do?"
"She's part of Team Galactic. It's a team that used to exist but it's no more. Her and everyone on that team tried to reset the universe."
"W-What!?" Arezu did not see that coming. Of all the things that she could've found out about her descendants, this was not one of them. Aiding in the complete resetting of the universe was outrageous.
"It's true. The same thing goes for my universe." Hilbert raised his arm being honest about it. "Lucas told me all about it. Looks like both our universes share events, huh?"
"In every universe, my descendant tries to destroy and restart the universe." Arezu's pupils dilated as she looked down. Her bags were dropped as she was in absolute disbelief. And how couldn't she be? "That can't be. W-What happens!?"
"Sorry. I don't know." Ash couldn't answer that. He knows nothing about Arezu's family line. This was something he couldn't answer. But Arezu needed an answer. The fact that something like this could happen down the line.
"What happened down the line? What could lead to such a decision?" Arezu couldn't get it out of her head. Something like this was impossible to burhs off, especially when it has something connected to her despite the time gap. "Surely...It must be something in my family bloodline..."
"Hey, no need to worry." But Ash was there to comfort her. "That doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. From what I've seen, you're pretty awesome."
"That is just me, Ash. I have no idea what my bloodline will be like down the road and what led to one of my descendants making such a decision. How am I supposed to respond to this?"
"We're still here so the universe was never reset. And besides, even though what Cyrus and Team Galactic tried to do was insane, I could still see what they were going for." Despite their actions, Ash always did see the other side of them. He never agreed with and barely anyone outside of that team would but he knew everyone had a reason for certain things.
"Yeah. There was probably a reason why she sided with Team Galactic and was all for that universe-resetting plan," said Hilbert. "To be fair, it's not like it was gonna be gone forever if they won. But there sure would be a ton of changes."
"I see..." Arezu took a deep breath, taking it all in. "I have to head home and think about this for a moment. "But thank you for your words, Ash. Hilbert. I hope to see you again."
"Sure. You can enter the future anytime you like." Ash would gladly love to see her again. "But uh...we're not saying goodbye to each other just yet. Gotta help you take these back home. What are you gonna do when you get home with these clothes by the way?"
"Many things. I'll start more than just a small hairstyling business." Arezu could at least go home with something new to offer. But in her mind, her descendant's actions were impossible to ignore. And for Arezu, she had to remember it and try to figure out what might happen down the road. Because surely, there was a reason for it.
Equestria. Ponyville. Day.
Yet another day has come and gone. A peaceful Ponyville, as peaceful as it can be, was sitting pretty as always. Young ponies living here were already on their way to the Pokemon School for the day. And today, somepony older was heading elsewhere.
That pony was Rainbow Dash, who was setting her sights on the Battle Frontier. "Today's the day. You'll get the chance to take on the Battle Frontier, right?" Rarity said.
"That's right. I can finally get this thing rolling! I mean, not all the Frontier Brains are there but they say it's good enough!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Recently, news had come out that the Battle Frontier now had two more of its Frontier Brains available, making it four Frontier Brains. Two more were missing but this was seen as good enough.
"Hah..." Walking over to his friends was Ash who looked rather exhausted.
"Ash? You look awfully tired. What's wrong?" asked Fluttershy after seeing her good friend so tuckered out while the Sun was shining so gracefully.
"Arezu...Wanted to buy more stuff." Ash sat down, lowering his head as it had to do with Arezu. "Even after we were done with Jubilife. Couldn't get that much sleep."
"Pika-Pika." Pikachu wasn't facing that issue. It was mainly Dragonite and Lucario who carried the other bags since they had the muscle for it. He would pat Ash on the back, feeling his pain.
"Oh, it's only natural." Rarity chuckled. "I would tire anyone out if something piques my interest. But for her, she's from the past so her interest far surpasses mine and anyone else here."
"Sheesh. How much money did you spend for her to buy something?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"A lot. But I've still got plenty." Ash answered.
"Still? How often did you use your money during your adventures, Ash?" Spike questioned.
"Uh...I used it to eat, find a place to sleep, try out rides and some event stuff." In short, not that much. Ash was loaded, which to someone like Arezu, was the perfect opportunity to buy a lot of things.
"And you just let her use so much of your money?! I know it's not a massive dent Ash but..."
"It's fine." Ash expected something like this in the first place and had no qualms. "I knew she wanted to use my money, so I went through with it. But carrying those bags was not what I was prepared for. Anyway, what's up?"
"I'll tell you what's up! It's showtime! The Battle Frontier can get started! Two more of the Frontier Brains showed up, which means we're eligible to enter now!" Rainbow Dash would show Ash the newspaper.
"Oh yeah!" And just like that, Ash was re-energized, standing back up with high energy. Anything with a battle apparently restarted his spirit. For a brief moment. He would then make an exhausted face, sitting back down. "Nah...That's not even working for me."
"You need some fuel, Ash. Here." Luckily, Pinkie Pie was there to fuel him. Another thing that re-energizes Ash. Food. She would instantly feed Ash with as many cupcakes as she could gather, giving him the strength to continue for the day.
"Mmm!" Ash would feel his taste buds sing with joy and happiness after having Pinkie Pie's food which never failed to disappoint."Ah, yeah, that's much better. Thanks, Pinkie."
"Let's get a move on! I wanna be the first to challenge it and show everyone up!"
"You only show others up when you're last, Rainbow Dash or in the middle," said Rarity, knowing how something like that was supposed to play out.
"Since the Battle Frontier takes place in the entire Battle Carnival, you're gonna have to choose where you wanna start. We've been in there already so I'm guessing you know where to go, right?" Ash would get back up, finally having all the strength he needed for today.
"That's right. And I get to challenge whoever I want first. I think I could take on Sharon. Or maybe Luca. I don't know who the other two are. I gotta see them first to decide on something."
"Twilight won't be with us again?" said Fluttershy, bringing up the Princess of Friendship.
"Pokemon School, remember? I bet she must regret taking on the position of a principal. What a shame." Rarity shook her head.
"She'll catch up!" Rainbow Dash shrugged it off. " Just like now everyone's gonna have to play catch up after I ace the Battle Frontier! I'll be done with it in maybe two weeks or so. Maybe even less! Battle Frontier, here I come!"
Manehattan. The Battle Carnival. The Battle Frontier. Day.
Back to the Battle Carnival. Many were around this carnival but not for the purpose of seeing the Battle Frontier. They were only here to enjoy the Battle Carnival. That was the main appeal of it and the Battle Frontier could be considered something on the side. Right now, the carnival was very active with ponies inside, enjoying what it had to offer.
"Hello!" Bursting through the doors was Rainbow Dash, here for a throwdown with the Frontier Brains. Any of them would do. And upon entering, she was greeted by a Snorlax wearing an adorable top hat with a colourful bow, keeping in line with the carnival theme. However, eyes were drawn over Snorlax's real eyes, making it seem awake. And the way they were drawn absolutely terrified Rainbow Dash and the others upon seeing it. "Ghh!"
"Snorlax." Despite the terrifying eyes, Snorlax welcomed them inside.
"Look at this. One of our trainers who's signed up for the Battle Frontier." An employee said, approaching the group while the carnival went on in the background. "Welcome back. And you came at the right time. A rather early time too."
"Early as I can be." Rainbow Dash raised her head. "Just like how I was the first to do a Gym Battle here at Equestria, I'll be the first to take on the Battle Frontier. So, when do I start?"
"You can start at any time and since you look so eager, it's best that we get you started right now. Some of our employees are doing what they do best, entertaining our customers but you don't have to worry about that affecting your battle. Some will even love to view your Frontier Battle in the many rooms that we have."
"Do I get to choose who I get to battle first? That's how it went for you, right, Ash?" The pegasus looked over at the King of the Sea, wondering if she did have an option.
"Well, I only went to the first Frontier Facility I found out about. So I guess you can choose whoever you wanna start with."
"Indeed." The Employee confirmed it. "Unlike some Gym Battles, you're free to battle any Frontier Brain at any time. And the reward? A symbol made out of gold and silver. Those will be the equivalent of your Gym Badges. Now, we currently have four Frontier Brains here. The other two showed up yesterday but are rather busy at the moment."
"Fine with me! I think I'll get a bit daring today. Show me one of the new faces. That's who I wanna battle before I take on someone familiar." Rainbow Dash wanted someone she hasn't seen before, needing that challenge in her life.
"Alright then. The one we'll show is..." The employee held her hand out as along came a Swellow, dropping off a scroll in her hand. That scroll would then be opened up, showing Rainbow Dash the list and images of the Frontier Brains. "Her! You will be taking on Nadya."
"Wait. Her?" Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes, viewing the image of Nadya. "Pretty small."
"Aw, look at her." Rarity gushed, finding her adorable. "Are you sure you want to take someone as cute as her on, Rainbow Dash?"
"Pssh. I've taken on cuter. I think." Rainbow Dash tied playing it off cool but couldn't think of another young Trainer of this kind of status that she's battled. Not at the moment, at least. "Maybe. Probably."
"She is a youthful one. Owns her own hotel where she comes from. Much like how Sharon is known as a Princess for her celebrity status, Nadya here has her own title. The Multicolor Plate Spinner. You should be careful around her. It's the youthful ones that tend to battle the wildest."
"Works for me. Alright, where can I find her?"
"You can find her-"
"Right here!" That answer would come straight to Rainbow Dash. After hearing about her name, Nadya made an appearance and it was a speedy one. The young Frontier Brain was currently riding on what appeared to be a rocket that was stylized to fit the carnival aesthetic.
The others gasped as the rocket was coming straight for them. It looked like Nadya was about to perform a horrible crash and the speed she was moving at wasn't reassuring. Snorlax didn't seem phased. In fact, it didn't look lit was paying attention at all.
Nadya had a rather devious look on her face as if she was doing this on purpose. And judging by how much of a balance she had on it, she most likely was. But just as everyone thought she was about to crash the rocket, it would suddenly melt and wobble. That was not a rocket. Instead, it was a Ditto.
"Ditto!" Ditto would revert to its original size as Nadya leapt off the second the Rocket Transformation ended. Ditto would just end up crashing into Snorlax, splatting on its back.
"I'm here!" Nadya made her rather alarming entrance, striking a star pose upon landing. "I came here as soon as I heard my name! I was just around the corner if you're wondering."
"Some entrance..." Applejack's heart was beating rather quickly as she was convinced that the rocket was about to explode. Audino even put up a Protect that ended up doing nothing. "If that was a real rocket..."
"Rockets don't get that big anyway. Unless they're from Unova." Nadya shrugged it off. "Anyway! Glad to hear i'm up first! I knew I'd get chosen first out of all the Frontier Brains. It just seemed natural. Hopefully, no one's looking down on me and that's why they chose me."
"I assure you that's not the case." The employee said, shifting her eyes over at Rainbow Dash, hoping that's not why the pegasus chose her.
"Nope. Definitely not." Rainbow shook her head. "I chose you because I wanna prove something."
"Prove something? You?" Nadya squinted, tilting her head and gazing at the multi-coloured maned mare. "Ehh...You don't look like the type."
"I don't?"
"No. You look one of those toys I had when I was young!" Nadya snickered. "It was a rainbow Ponyta and it was just the cutest thing I've ever seen! So the same goes for you!"
"A-Are you calling me a toy?!" Rainbow Dash barked at Nadya who would continue to laugh after immediately angering her.
"It's not the cute part you're reacting to?" said Rarity.
"This whole place feels like a toybox come to life. That's what I said when all of this crossover stuff happened in the first place. It's a dream come true for us little girls so don't feel too bad about it. Just like how you shouldn't feel bad when I beat you."
"When you beat me? As if!" Rainbow Dash scoffed as she fell right for one of the oldest tricks in the book. The Instigation of a Child. "I may be new at Pokemon but I'm older than you so I got a lot more to offer! No way a kid's going to beat me."
"I'm not a kid though. I'm just small, that's all~" Nadya whistled. "And you'll eat those words. Even if I was a kid, I would still be tough enough to take you on."
"Then let's do it. Right now. Rainbow Dash's the name!"
"You can do it in the required room if you would make your way there please." The employee broke up the squabbling. "Nadya. Please try not to rile up our customers. We talked about this."
"What? It gets them pumped for a more fun battle. That's what my father told me anyway. I hope you're ready, Rainbow Dash. You'll have time to choose which Pokemon you wanna battle with. Or...you could choose Rental Pokemon if you're not that confident."
"I am confident! My team's full of confidence!" Rainbow Dash flexed her hooves as Castform would fly out of her saddlebag, shouting with her.
"Castform!"
"This will be a long battle, won't it?" Starlight Glimmer said. The energy these two were giving off made it clear that this upcoming battle would be a long one.
Whether it was their Pokemon being tough enough or their personalities clashing against each other. Either way, it was something worth watching. At last, Rainbow Dash could begin her first Frontier Battle as a way to fill in for the missing Equestria League while many trainers were currently playing catch-up. And it would be against Nadya, who was the youngest Frontier Brain here as the journey continues.
Equestria. Manehattan. The Battle Carnival. The Battle Frontier. Day.
"Out you come!" Preparing for her battle against the Frontier Brain Nadya, Rainbow Dash sent out all of her Pokemon. All 7 of them. Whirlipede, Braviary, Altaria, Luxray, Mienshao and Whimsicott. She had the choice of battling with Rental Pokemon but she trusted her own Pokemon too much for that to happen. "Okay...How am I gonna do this? I've got no clue what Pokemon she uses."
"You can only bring one Pokemon into a battle with a Frontier Brain for this battle, just like how Nadya will use one Pokemon only against you." The employee instructed.
"Only one?!" Rainbow Dash gasped as that would limit her chances and opportunities greatly. "Aww..."
"Just for this one. It might be different down the road. But for this battle, you can only decide on one Pokemon. So choose wisely."
"Hmm..." Rainbow Dash now had to really think it through. "Just one? Who do I choose then?"
"Mi! Mienshao!" Mienshao jumped up and down, requesting that she be Rainbow Dash's choice. Mienshao had faith in her speed and strength to carry Rainbow Dash to victory. Especially her speed.
"Whirl!" But if there was anyone who was specialized in speed, it was Whirlipede. Rainbow Dash's first Pokemon. He could always reach new levels of speed with Speed Boost and his Rollout ensured that the damage would increase alongside his speed, making him a specialist in both categories.
"Whimsicott!" There were two more speed candidates. Whimsicott and Braviary. Whimsicott could use her cotton in special ways while also messing with her opponent as seen by Rainbow Dash's first encounter with her. But Braviary could deliver that adrenaline while also being in sync with Rainbow Dash.
"Taria!" Then there was Altaria, who didn't have that advantage. But what she lacked in speed, she made up for in terms of defence. Altaria could take plenty of hits. Heavy ones too and still manage to exude some more strength. If Rainbow Dash wished to outlast her opponent, Altaria was the way to go.
"Ray! Luxray!" Luxray had something different to offer. He could offer pure power and guarantee some heavy hits for Rainbow Dash, staggering the opponent. Possibly leading to paralysis.
"Cast! Castform!" Castform was all about versatility. With his radioactive cells combined with his Reflect Type, he could confuse the opponent while also tapping into the power of the Weather to his advantage. All such great options that Rainbow Dash has spent enough time to carefully learn and improve.
"Okay...I've made up my mind. After this battle, the next time we take on a Frontier Brain, I'll choose one of you. But for this one, I'm choosing Mienshao!"
"Shao!" Mienshao loved to hear it. She was chosen as the first Pokemon to take on the Frontier Brain.
"All settled? Then just enter these doors and you can begin." The employee aimed her arm at the doors which had Nadya beyond them. The rest of Rainbow Dash's Pokemon would be returned while Castform went back into her saddlebag. Mienshao would punch the air a few times, getting herself warmed up for the battle that was about to come.
Instantly, Rainbow Dash rushed over to the room, opening the doors as fast as she could. And immediately, the first thing her eyes were met with was a casino. A Casino Room could be found in the Battle Carnival, only adding to that whimsical and playful nature that it had.
Colourful chairs that resembled lollipop swirls with their patterns. Chandeliers by the dozen which let off different colours, swapping constantly. The colours were abundant as well as the ever-abundant slot machines that casinos always carry. They were on the side but there was one Slot Machine that was larger than the rest, sitting in the middle as the arena was right behind it.
There was a crowd of ponies already present in this casino room as they were treated to some food while waiting for the battle to begin. Present there were Rainbow Dash's friends who already found their seats.
"Woah..." Rainbow Dash gawked at the colourful sight.
"Welcome to my Battle Casino!" Nadya shouted, showing herself. She appeared on top of the massive slot machine, making all eyes follow her. "I wanted a casino for my Frontier Facility and it worked out perfectly! I feel like a tycoon here!"
"A casino...How is this gonna work? Isn't there a lot of stuff around that could get destroyed?"
"Oh, you'll see. We can still go all out even with this. I'll lay out the rules for you! I rather wouldn't so that you'd be surprised but I have to." Nadya pouted, wanting to keep it a secret. "These slot machines aren't just for show."
"They're not?"
"Nope. They can be used during the battle." Nadya would then tap on the large slot machine that she was currently on. "And just like any good slot machine, there's a chance waiting for you. And those chances can show us fun surprises. Just spin it and well...you know how these things work."
"Pssh. Like I need that." Rainbow Dash scoffed, believing that she could achieve victory without needing to use something from the many slot machines here.
"Are you sure? They might come in handy." Nadya put on a smug grin. "I know for sure I'll be using them. And every time I use them, something great will happen. But there's a chance it could mess me up. That's just how these things are."
"Whatever. Let's start this already!"
"Made it!" Suddenly, appearing here at the Battle Carnival and finding herself a seat was Twilight Sparkle. She flew through the doors, quickly flying over the crowd of ponies above, finding where her friends where. And of course, finding the right facility. She was breathing heavily, showing that she rushed here as soon as she could.
"Oh, Twilight. You made it. I thought you were overseeing your school." said Fluttershy.
"I'm the principal...I made a cheat day for myself." The young alicorn panted as she excused herself. She did technically have that power and decided to come and see her friend battle for today. And after that, it would be back to the Pokemon School. "H-Has it...Has it started?"
"It's about to," Ash replied. "This is gonna be fun!"
"Pikachu!"
"A heads-up. Because of the nature of the Battle Carnival, expect the battlefield to change." The employee would lay out some things that mainly Rainbow Dash would have to worry about. "Hopefully, it won't break your concentration."
"It won't for me. Come on out! Delphox!" Nadya would reveal her Pokemon as she dug into the massive bag she carried with her. ANd out of that bag came a Poke Ball which was flung into the air. Emerging as the opposing Pokemon was Delphox.
"Delphox!"
"Delphox?!" Rainbow Dash grimaced before thinking to herself. "And I just had to bring Mienshao into this. It's fine...I got this!" She shook her head, remembering that type advantages and disadvantages weren't everything. It was all a matter of how the Pokemon and the Trainer battled. "Go! Mienshao!"
"Mienshao!"
I saw you flinch when I sent out Delphox. Looks like you drew a bad hand choosing Mienshao." Nadya snickered. "This is gonna be easier than I thought!"
"That's what you think! My Pokemon have taken on the stronger type before and won! This isn't new at all!"
"Shao!"
"You're in it to win it. And so am I. Plus, i've got another reason for this. Winning my first battle as a Frontier Brain will let everyone know I'm not a pushover. So let's get this rolling!"
"Alright then...Trainers...Begin!"
"I'll go first! Mienshao, use Acrobatics! Hit Delphox dead on!"
"Mienshao!" Mienshao would go first, lunging off the floor. Immediately, she would start rapidly flipping and launching herself off the furniture and walls to approach Delphox, leaving behind afterimages of herself.
"Not happening! Delphox! Block Mienshao with Fire Blast!"
"Phoooox!" By holding its wand out, Delphox harnessed a great ordeal of fire that would spark out of the tip. It then shot a powerful blast of fire out, striking at the floor. The flames let out a fierce outburst, forming a wall of fire that got in Mienshao's way.
"Mi?!" The Martial Pokemon ceased her agile movements, coming to a screeching halt as her legs would slide on the floor. The flames raged on, nearly hitting the Fighting-Type before she barely managed to stop herself.
"Now, use Psychic!"
"Delphox!" But Delphox would follow up from this. The wall of fire was still active and instead of it just being a way to shield Delphox, it was always a way to attack. By holding her wand out once more, Delphox unleashed a powerful telekinetic energy that surrounded the wall of fire.
"What the?" Rainbow Dash squinted, wondering what Delphox was going for. It soon hit her once she saw the wall wobble. "Not good! Back away, Mienshao! Run!"
"Del!" Delphox controlled the wall of flames, sending out a powerful stream from the middle by using Psychic to do so. Not only did it have a protective wall of fire but it could also attack Mienshao at the same time.
"Mien?!" Mienshao made a run for it once the stream approached her. She would use Acrobatics a second time, leaping off the furniture she used previously. That same furniture would soon be incinerated by the flames. Mienshao would try and gain some distance but Delphox was expertly controlling the flames.
Wherever Mienshao went, the flames would catch up, dancing around and intercepting Mienshao by getting in front of her, forcing the Martial Arts Pokemon to flip over them. Delphox also put on a show for the crowd, making shapes with the flames and wowing them.
"Try and stop it with Aura Sphere!"
"Mienshao!" Mienshao would slide on the floor, holding one arm out. Emerging on her paw was a ball of concentrated aura, spiralling like a gust of wind. She would then strike at the stream of flames, smashing the sphere against it. The sphere would wobble when meeting with the flames as there was a momentary clash.
"Del!" But with her command, Delphox made the flames combust, sending a crimson blaze that enveloped Mienshao.
"M-Mien!" Mienshao cried out as she was sent flying. Fire trailed from her body as the Martial Arts Pokemon barely managed to recover herself. Mienshao slid on the floor, knocking over some of the chairs.
"Way to go, Delphox!"
"Controlling fire. Sure." Rainbow Dash grumbled as this instantly reminded her of the Dread League. They do have a vampire back at Magehold who was capable of such feats but with her voice.
"Now...It's time to use this for the first time!" Nadya said with a gleeful face, hopping off the slot machine. At last, the massive slot machine would be used, showing Rainbow Dash what the Battle Frontier had to offer. She would grab the lever on the side, immediately pulling it down while still hanging from it.
And much like every other slot machine, it would start rolling. The symbols on the screen would move as fast as they could. The symbols that were shown on the slot machine were the faces of Pokemon and some Poke Balls. The symbols would come to a halt, showing the results.
Two faces of Koffing and a single Great Ball. Rainbow Dash wasn't sure what this meant but she would have to brace herself. "Oooh! Two Koffings and a Great Ball! That means only one thing. You're losing a move!"
"Losing a move?" The pegasus repeated. Suddenly, out of nowhere, right below Mienshao, a strange energy would fly out of the ground, grabbing a hold of the Martial Arts Pokemon. "Oh! Mienshao!"
"Mi!? Mienshao?!" Mienshao growled, trying to break free from her sudden restraints. However, the energy that this white and magical energy had was surprisingly strong. Strong enough to keep Mienshao down.
"Let's see...The most recent move you used was Aura Sphere. So I think we'll take that away from you!" Nadya winked while putting on a finger pistol. And just like that, to the shock of everyone else, Mienshao had an orange energy ripped out of her body. The energy appeared in the form of a ball as the white energy would carry it away. Afterwards, Mienshao was free from the restraints but her body certainly felt the effects.
"What just happened?! What did you do?!" Rainbow Dash roared. Mienshao got on one knee as her body was trembling. Something was missing from her and it was rather unusual.
"Your Aura Sphere's gone!" Nadya stuck her tongue out. "And it's in the hands of that! So you can't use a third move at all! Told ya it would be fun."
"What was that?! Whatever it was took away Mienshao's Aura Sphere!" Ash leaned forward. "It was like Disable hit Mienshao all around!"
"Pikachu?!"
"You're probably wondering how that works. Well, we had a little help from a pony named Potion Nova when setting up the Battle Frontier. She showed us a potion that covers moves such as Disable and Torment and you wouldn't believe it, but she found a way to shut down certain moves."
"Potion Nova had a hoof in this?" said Rarity.
"Of course, she'd be the one to make something that powerful." Twilight expected nothing less from Potion Nova. "But to use it in this? She's really getting her influence out there."
"If you want it back, you can always try grabbing it. It's right there." Nadya pointed at the energy sphere. "If you don't it'll be gone forever. Just sitting around. You'll probably have to relearn it or something."
"Wait, forever?!" A pony in the crowd shouted. "That means you can leave here with one of your moves missing?!"
"That's rough." Applejack shook her head. The Battle Frontier was not pulling any punches. This was not the challenge that Rainbow Dash expected but it was certainly one she wasn't about to back down from.
"You can always use the slot machines if you feel like it's not going your way or you're struggling," Nadya suggested, lounging on the massive slot machine.
"It's totally fine! Mienshao works better in close-quarters combat!" Rainbow Dash kept her optimism. "Aura Sphere being taken away isn't a big deal. And speaking of close quarters...Mienshao! Use Close Combat!"
"Mienshao!" Mienshao stomped on the floor, keeping her energy active. She may have lost Aura Sphere which made her have only three moves at her disposal but it wasn't enough to stop her. She may be calm as a Mienshao but the fiery spirit of a Mienfoo still lives within her. Rushing forward, Mienshao was prepared to deliver a beatdown on Delphox, staring down the Wall of Fire.
"My Wall of Fire is still up so you can't get to me!" Nadya shouted. "But just in case...Delphox! Use Psychic again!"
"Delphox!" Delphox would once again manipulate the flames, sending a second stream at the Martial Arts Pokemon.
"We'll just power through! Go, Mienshao!"
"Shao-shao-shao-shao!" Using brute force and natural speed, Mienshao would rapidly strike while running, getting closer to the flames. Once she came into contact with the stream, her sharp and swift strikes would immediately start tearing through them. Sparks and wisps of the flames would be sent flying with each strike as Mienshao was tearing through them, getting closer to Delphox.
"D-Del?!" Delphox grit its teeth, trying to keep Mienshao away. It even increased its Psychic power, letting the mental energy expand and exude some more. The Psychic energy would affect Mienshao as her natural weakness had shown itself. The Martial Arts Pokemon groaned as her Close Combat was being held back by Delphox's Psychic. However, she had gotten too close to the wall of fire to slow down now. By exerting herself, Mienshao would then deliver one heavy strike with her Close Combat, pushing the rest of the flames back.
The flames would not only head back into the wall, becoming one with it, but the force of the strike would create a gust of wind, blowing through the flames and leaving a hole. A hole that Mienshao could use. "Mien!"
"Phox?!" Delphox gasped as Mienshao's foot came flying in, delivering a powerful kick to the face. Delphox's head would turn to the side after this blow, breaking its Psychic concentration. The Fox Pokemon would stagger and almost slide back, only for Mienshao to deliver some more strikes, not done with it yet.
"Mien! Shao!" Mienshao would unleash plenty of strikes on Delphox. Each of them were not super-effective at all but the fact that plenty of them were hitting the Fox Pokemon was piling up the damage to make up for that disadvantage. "Mien!" Mienshao would then deliver a powerful uppercut to Delphox's chin, sending her flying upwards.
"D-Delphox!"
"Nice hit, Mienshao!" Pinkie Pie celebrated as everyone's eyes followed Delphox's. The wall of fire would even fizzle out after Delphox received that fierce beatdown.
"Not bad. But it's not enough to stop my Delphox! He's too tough for something like that to stop him!" Nadya smirked before flicking her fingers up.
With that hand gesture, Delphox would suddenly recover in the air by performing a flip. It was as if that Close Combat beatdown did nothing at all. That stylish recovery deserved an applause from the crowd as Delphox played it off so professionally. He was still keeping in line with the carnival aesthetic.
"And from above...another Psychic!"
"Delphox!" Delphox would suddenly cast Psychic on himself. Not Mienshao. He would use this Psychic power to levitate the air, gaining temporary flight. Usually, it would be used on another Pokemon or an object. But this time, Delphox would be the one surrounded by Psychic.
"Oh, what is this now?!" Rainbow Dash did not like the look of this. Seeing Delphox covered in a Psychic Energy did not raise any positive flags. If anything, it made Delphox a little bit more intimidating. "Brace yourself, Mienshao! We don't have Aura Sphere to hit him from afar but we have Acrobatics. Get him!"
"Shao!" Mienshao would use Acrobatics to try and reach Delphox. She used the broke furniture to get herself through the air as she would even run across the walls. She was so fast that running on walls was not an issue for her. Mienshao would expertly ascend into the air in her own way, ready to dish out another swift series of strikes on the Fox Pokemon.
"Just like we practised, Delphox! Charge!"
"Del...Phox!" At that moment, Delphox would then charge at Mienshao, using the power of Psychic to do so. Because it was his own Psychic energy, she had full control over his body, giving him a temporary speed boost. Everyone gasped as Delphox took a different approach at battling with Psychic.
Right as Mienshao went to deliver a kick, Delphox would suddenly evade it by flying over her. "M-Mien?!" Mienshao's eyes shrunk after that evasion. Delphox was the one in control of the skies because of this advantage. And when above, Delphox would use his legs, dropkicking the Martial Arts Pokemon. For a Pokemon that was not specialized in physical strength, it wasn't that powerful. But with the Psychic energy around it, not only was the force of his kick increased but it was super-effective against Mienshao. "Mienshao!"
"No! Mienshao!" Rainbow Dash cried out as Mienshao went flying down at great speeds, hitting the floor like a rocket. More of this room was being torn up by this swift and fierce battle. Everyone was amazed as Delphox now had an advantage on land and in the air. Ranged Pokemon such as Delphox can be rather dangerous if given all the distance they can to work their magic.
"Mien...Shao...!" Mienshao was still in this, but she would be lying if she said she wasn't bewildered. This battle was something else so far. And something told her it was about to get stranger. The Fighting-Type groaned, getting back up and appearing on one knee once more. All the while, Delphox would descend but stay above the floor still.
"How do you like that? Pokemon like Gardvevoir or Claydol can fly or levitate by using their Psychic energy but it all comes naturally for them. Delphox and some other Psychic-Types don't fit that mould. So I used a pretty useful trick other PSychic Trainers use. And that's by using Psychic on ourselves! Works out, doesn't it?"
"I have to say. She is impressive, isn't she?" Rarity nodded in approval of Nadya's skills.
"Man! I wish I was battling in this too!" Ash got all giddy watching this battle. It made him want to jump in there, just to see what he could encounter.
"It isn't over yet though." Rainbow Dash said with a serious voice. She knew the Battle Frontier wouldn't be easy but it was proving to quickly take a turn that did not favour her. The pegasus couldn't afford to be sloppy now that Nadya and Delphox have shown just how capable they are.
"You're right. I want to enjoy this some more. So let's spin those slots one more time!" Nadya felt like it was a good time to use the Slot Machine once more. The slots would spin, ready to bring a new result in this battle. After what happened previously, Rainbow Dash now knew to expect the worst but she had no idea what the worst could possibly be.
It could be anything. Those symbols on the machines were plentiful compared to most slot machines, meaning that the options that can come from it can be very varied. And that was something Rainbow Dash wasn't sure she was ready to find out. Eventually, the slot machine would come to an end, showing new symbols.
This time, it was and Two Ultra Balls and a Ludicolo. Ultra Balls are regularly seen as a good thing. Behind the Master Ball, they are a top-tier set of Poke Balls, capable of catching Pokemon that are way harder to catch than most. Surely, this must benefit Rainbow Dash in some way. Ludicolo was just strange and could be anything.
"Oooh. Nice combo. That means...It's a full Sunny Day around here!" Nadya shouted as the heat in this room would suddenly increase. Everyone would feel a temperature change immediately as that strange energy from before would expand, filling the entire room. Above everyone, the ceiling would suddenly open up, showing the outside and the azure skies.
And up there, the Sun was beginning to shine even brighter than before. The energy from the Battle Carnival was mimicking the move Sunny Day, making it sunnier than normal. This was a selection that could benefit both trainers. But for Rainbow Dash, the one Pokemon who would benefit in this scenario was currently not available.
"It can mimic that as well? I really need to talk to Potion Nova after this." Twilight gawked. The potions that Potion Nova makes were impressive but it seems that their capabilities were only getting more impressive each time they're seen in action.
"I wish I had Castform out right about now," said Rainbow Dash. "But if she's happy about it, then that means..."
"That's right! Delphox! Use Solar Beam!"
"Delphox!" This benefitted Delphox solely because of the fact that it had Sunny Day. This played to his advantage greatly as he raised his wand in the air. He first launched himself into the air with Psychic, getting him some height. And after switching to Solar Beam, Psychic would finally end. But Delphox would gain some airtime the second he unleashed Solar Beam.
By gathering huge chunks of Solar Energy which all concentrated into his wands, Delphox would release a devastating verdant beam that was enough to engulf Mienshao's entire body. Not only that, but it was big enough to encompass most of the room. Rainbow Dash looked around, seeing how there was little space to run with this beam approaching but she had to do something.
"Run for it, Mienshao!"
"Mien!" The best thing to do right now was run. But as soon as Mienshao attempted to evade the Solar Beam, the floor beneath her. would suddenly trigger. It was time. The carnival was known for switching up here and there to make things lively.
And right now, it was doing so at this very moment. Mienshao felt this change as the floor beneath her was starting to sink. The next room was about to open up and Mienshao could very well be knocked into it. The Martial Arts Pokemon would then perform a backflip, leaving the floor before it could take her elsewhere as the Solar Beam would crash down. A powerful blast of solar energy hit the floor, forming a gale of explosions.
But right as Mienshao avoided the attack which sent powerful shockwaves after blowing up, she would soon find out that it was not just the floor that was changing, but the walls. Like a puzzle, the rooms were changing angles to switch up as Mienshao fell right into a hole that led to this other room. "MIen?!"
"Oh! Mienshao?!" Rainbow Dash gasped as her mane was blowing viciously from the explosion.
"Looks like it's time to switch rooms, everyone!" The employee cried out. The seats were also changing. They found themselves moving, ready to follow the battle into the next room. Everyone sat carefully in their ears as the walls behind them were opening up. "Don't worry! The slot machines will follow!"
"Wait up, Mienshao!" Before the holes could close, Rainbow Dash would quickly pursue Mienshao through the same wall she fell through. As for Nadya, she would stay on the slot machine as it started descending, heading to the next room. The location of the battle would change as it was not yet over.
The battle entered another casino-styled room. But this one had a little bit of a darker aesthetic to it. The appearance of it would work better in the night. The previous one looked so good because it was suited for the day. If it was nightfall here, it would look stunning but it still packed a beautiful appearance. It was almost romantic the way it appeared. More slot machines were seen here as this was still the same facility, just with another side to try and keep up with the carnival's ever-changing appearance.
"Shao!" Even after being caught off guard, Mienshao landed on her feet perfectly, feeling the carpet below her. A majority of the floor was just one big carpet. As for the crowd, their seats would come out of another hole, placing them in this new room. And finally, Nadya, Delphox and the Slot Machine made a reappearance. A new selection of food and drinks were seen here in this new room, giving the crowd some extra taste.
"Oh geez...This is not what I thought this was gonna be." An almost perplexed Rainbow Dash expressed.
"Having fun, Rainbow Dash? Mienshao?" Nadya said while the slot machine continued to descend. "Because it's gonna get a lot more fun. I'd like to bide my time before I pull on the lever again, but I'm itching for a third spin."
"Already?!"
"That's right! And I'm feeling lucky again! Are you?!" Nadya giggled as she would jump onto the lever once more, pulling it down. For the third time in a row with little breaks, the slot machine was about to bring another strange result. The slots spun as Rainbow Dash was now aware of how unfair they can be.
The first two were greatly against her. Stealing moves and giving her opponent a full charge on something that would take a while to build up. Whatever comes up next, Rainbow Dash felt like it was about to be nothing but trouble. The battle here at the Battle Frontier was only kicking into high gear as the journey continues.
Equestria. Manehattan. The Battle Carnival. The Battle Frontier. Afternoon.
For the first ever Battle Frontier Battle here at Equestria, Rainbow Dash found herself taking on the Frontier Brain Nadya and her Delphox. This battle was mainly centered around slot machines and Nadya has been using the biggest one here to her advantage. Rainbow Dash's Mienshao had previously lost her Aura Sphere thanks to a mysterious effect that was originally made by Potion Nova's potions and now, a third effect of the slot machine was about to occur.
"Time to see what we get!" Nadya grinned while those slots moved. Finally, they would come to a halt, showing the new results. The symbols ended up being three Electrodes which was the first consistent line of symbols. "Three Electrodes. Well, that means the battlefield is about to get explosive."
"Explosive?! Where?!"
"Anywhere! The energy's concealed from our eyes. Take the wrong step and boom!" Nadya shouted, startling Rainbow Dash. According to her, the explosions will only show up if the wrong step is made. "But for Delphox, that's not an issue with Psychic."
"Delphox." Delphox could easily avoid this by levitating himself with Psychic, using his mental energy to do so. Delphox avoided touching any of these secret explosives. Meanwhile, Mienshao was left on the land where she excels the most at.
"So far, this is just making it hard for Mienshao. How come she's getting stuff that doesn't mess her up that much?!" Pinkie Pie bellowed, shaking her hoof at Nadya.
"Hmph! It's not unfair. I just know how to take advantage of something and work around it." Nadya stuck her tongue out. "That's what I do. Always ready when the time calls for it. But what about Rainbow Dash? Can she catch up?"
"Be careful, Mienshao! Let's not trigger anything!"
"Mien?" Mienshao's head navigated the field, wondering where these explosive energies could be found. Since they were invisible, it was hard to see or even sense them.
"Don't worry. I'll help you find some of them. Delphox, Fire Blast!"
"Phox!" Delphox would unleash a quick Fire Blast that was weaker than the previous one but had one purpose. To set off one of the explosions. Mienshao gasped as the FIre Blast struck the ground near her. And just like that, because of the fierce nature of Fire, one of the explosions went off.
A powerful outburst of energy that a Pokemon such as Electrode was capable off had been unleashed near the Martial Pokemon. The shockwaves were fierce and the sound was ear-piercing. Mienshao put up her arms to block before jumping back, avoiding the paroxysm of Infinity Energy.
"Mienshao!" Mienshao growled before landing perfectly. However, she knew that her perfect landings might cost her as the explosive energy could be below her. The Fighting-Type gasped, hoping she hasn't set one of them off. Lucky for her, she didn't. Not yet at least.
"I can reach you. Just gotta be careful and I know how I'm gonna be careful! Use Acrobatics!" Rainbow Dash went for a move that requires precision and agility to function.
"Shao!" Mienshao would use Acrobatics, preparing to leap off the floor just so she can reach Delphox. But as soon as she attempted to move, her senses kicked off. She felt something threatening. Mienshao sensed that if she were to take this leap, one of the explosives could set off. A part of her sensed that there was an explosion waiting for her.
"What's wrong, Mienshao?!"
"Mienshao looks shaken up. Do you think she knows where they are?" Fluttershy and most of the crowd wondered, seeing Mienshao's hesitation.
"I think she senses them or at least gets a bad feeling. Mienshao's looking hesitant to make any sharp moves." Twilight observed.
"If I could just reach Delphox. But Mienshao doesn't have Aura Sphere anymore..." Rainbow Dash growled before shifting her eyes at the magical energy that took Mienshao's Aura Sphere. It was still present, holding it there, but there was a way to retrieve it. All Mienshao would have to do was snag it from the energy's clutches.
"You wanna get Aura Sphere?" Nadya giggled as Delphox suddenly flew over to the energy, guarding it just so Mienshao couldn't reach it. "You're gonna have to earn it~"
"Geez..." The pegasus growled as this just became a lot harder for her. Mienshao would then take light steps, carefully treading the area. Her eyes shifted as sweat could be seen appearing on her head. She was nervous, wishing not to slip up even once. The atmosphere changed because of this intensity.
"Don't wanna use the slot machines to your advantage?" Nadya questioned. "It would save you a lot of trouble, ya know."
"We don't need random effects to win. We can do this with our own skills."
"Luck's a part of skill, ya know. And I'm feeling lucky right now. But I won't pull on the slot machine yet. Not until you can show me and Delphox what you can do in this situation." Nadya would lazily sit on the slot machine. "Unless you're too stumped to do it."
"Watch us." Rainbow Dash wasn't about to let someone younger than her say that and feel invicible. She would never allow it. Especially in a Pokemon Battle. "Ready, Mienshao?"
"Shao." Mienshao's eyes flashed for a moment. She was prepared. Explosions or not, the Martial Arts Pokemon refused to let anything hold her back.
"Once more! Acrobatics!"
"Mienshao!" Acrobatics would be used even with the explosives. Rainbow Dash and Mienshao were very confident in themselves. Mienshao leapt, landing on the nearest thing she could find. That would be one of the chairs here as the nearest explosive went off. A powerful explosion emerged, blowing away the other chairs. However, the second the force of it emerged, Mienshao had already leapt once more.
She landed on the floor, setting off another explosive but that would not stop her from advancing. Mienshao would be swift with her movements, lunging forward as the explosion behind her was too late. Mienshao knew she had to move faster than the explosions could reach and that would mean triggering as many explosions as she possibly could.
By becoming a white afterimage, Mienshao was setting off plenty of explosions but she didn't do it without slip-ups. Mienshao growled as the force of the explosions affected her body since they were nearby. She would be launched forward by the combustions but refused to lose her balance. The Martial Arts Pokemon would continue to move rapidly with Acrobatics, avoiding more of the explosions she was setting off.
"Look at her go!" Pinkie Pie cheered. "Go Mienshao!"
"Is she fine like that?! The shockwaves are hitting her and slowing her down!" Starlight questioned.
"Hopefully! It looks like she's trying to get rid of every explosion there is so that there's nothing there!" Twilight shouted, believing that Mienshao was ridding the field of the explosive energy with Acrobatics. And so far, that looked to be the case, until she made her next move.
She would then land on one of the walls, running across them as usual. Nadya's eyes widened as Mienshao was starting to get closer, avoiding as many explosions as she could. Behind her, a blaze of outburst could be seen. And with a determined look on her face, Mienshao was actually more intimidating than the explosions. But at that moment, Nadya suddenly smirked, knowing more than what Rainbow Dash was aware of. And very soon, Rainbow Dash and Mienshao would learn that the hard way.
In the midst of running off the walls, Mienshao suddenly set off another explosion. Her pupils shrunk as the area around her was heating up all of a sudden. In a split second, an explosion from the walls themselves went off, engulfing the Martial Arts Pokemon.
"M-Mienshao!"
"They're on the walls too?!" Rainbow Dash said, flabbergasted.
"Mieeeeen!" Mienshao cried out while falling as she hit the ground hard. But not as hard as this next explosive would be. She set another one off as it was right below her. Before she could even react, the explosion struck the Martial Arts Pokemon, launching her into the air once more.
The Fighting-Type spun around as the other nearby explosions would go off thanks to the previous ones. The force of the explosions would keep Mienshao in the air, juggling and bouncing her repeatedly. The shockwaves of these explosions would hit her as some even enveloped her body.
"Not good! If this keeps up, Mienshao will faint for sure!" Fluttershy gasped as things were getting rough for Mienshao now.
"Mienshao?! Are you alright?!"
"Hmm...Not looking too hot, are you? Let me warm you up then! Fire Blast!"
"Delphox!" Another Fire Blast was incoming. But this one would be fully charged instead of a short burst. Delphox was looking to deal maximum damage. And with Mienshao on the floor, it looked like he would get a free hit.
"Not like this! Mienshao, use Reversal!"
"Mien...!" Refusing to let this be her end, Mienshao would gather up her energy, concentrating it into her paws. And with all of her might, she aimed it upwards the second the Fire Blast was unleashed. A great blast came crashing down from above, lighting up the area and Mienshao's entire body with its intense colours. And retaliating against this blaze was a powerful orange beam from Mienshao. This attack was powered up by all the damage Mienshao had taken so far in battle, making it incredibly strong.
Strong enough to clash with one of the most powerful Fire-Type moves out there. The two attacks crashed into each other at full force, creating a violent spark in the air. Mienshao growled before unleashing a powerful yell, causing her Reversal to gain a little boost of energy. At that moment, the stream of energy from Reversal would break through the Fire Blast, causing it to explode. Surprised that Mienshao managed to push through, Delphox was hit in the chest by this attack, taking all of the damage Mienshao had received during this battle but with a not-very-effective addition.
"D-Del?!" Even if it wasn't very effective, it had plenty of power behind it as Delphox would be knocked out of the air, making Nadya gasp. This made Delphox vulnerable to the explosions that were littered across the floor. However, much to Nadya's benefit, Delphox managed to recover by grabbing onto the walls that Mienshao once ran on. "Delphox!"
"M-Mien...!" Mienshao growled before getting on one knee. She pulled off that powerful blow. She breathed in and out, bewildered by the struggling she was going through. With one move stolen, a super-effective opponent and random effects that caught her off guard, the Martial Arts Pokemon was having a rough time and this was just the first Frontier Battle here at Equestria. There was more to come.
If she could win this one for Rainbow Dash.
"Jeez. That Mienshao sure can hit hard." Nadya whistled, impressed with Mienshao's strength. "Alright. I think I've gauged you enough. I know how strong you two are so there's no reason for me to continue this."
"Is she going to finish this battle now? Delphox looks in much better condition than Mienshao right now." Rarity shuddered, fearful that this would spell Rainbow Dash's defeat.
"It's not over yet. I've still got more to offer. Especially one ace-in-the-hole." Rainbow Dash denied Nadya her possible victory, claiming that she could keep this going.
"It'd better be a good one. You haven't used the Slot Machines once to help you out. You really wanna prove that you can win this without any luck. I can respect that." Nadya crossed her arms, approving of Rainbow Dash's decision. "But! That just means I can take full advantage of what I've got here! Because here comes the next and final effect! This one's going to mess you up for sure!" Once more, Nadya would jump off the slot machine, going for the massive lever. And judging by her words, this was potentially going to be the last time it would be used.
Rainbow Dash and Mienshao braced themselves. The slots spun rapidly, preparing for another random effect that was sure to spice up the battle. But so far, it has been against Rainbow Dash and Miensao. And from it, the faces of two Chansey's and a Poke Ball were shown. "Two Chansey's and a Poke Ball. That means...there's a chance to heal!"
"Heal?" Rainbow Dash repeated as above everyone, a beautiful flash of energy would appear. Their eyes all widened as a verdant and comforting light was in the air, surrounded by glistening sparkles. Up there was Healing Energy.
"That right there can heal any of our Pokemon. Of course, it depends on who gets it." Nadya explained.
"If Mienshao gets it then she'll be at full strength again!" Pinkie PIe made a prolonged gasp. "Grab it, Rainbow Dash! Quick!"
"Can Mienshao even get there in time?" Rainbow Dash thought to herself before looking at Nadya. Both of them eyed each other down and so did their Pokemon.
They knew that only one of them could take that healing energy and whoever receives it will have a colossal advantage. If Delphox grabs it then Mienshao's chances of winning will drop. But if Mienshao retrieves it, then she will have a chance to claim victory, having her strength revitalized.
The Pokemon from Unova and the Pokemon from Kalos would also stare at each other intensively. They were making the atmosphere tighter with their staredown. The second one of them moves, the other will follow suit but it was all dependent on what the Trainer says.
Before anything could be done, Mienshao looked over at Rainbow Dash at the two locked eyes for a moment. In that instance, Rainbow Dash and Mienshao spoke to each other without saying a word. THeir eye contact spoke volumes as Mienshao nodded in understanding when seeing Rainbow Dash put on a smile.
"Seeing as Delphox is on the wall...I've got this in the bag! Go for it, Delphox! Psychic"
"Del!" Delphox would once again use Psychic to fly as he left the walls, heading straight for the Healing Energy.
"Here goes nothing! Mienshao! Acrobatics! Take it!" Rainbow Dash shouted as both Pokemon would move in an instant. Everyone leaned in, eager to see who would retrieve it. Would be Delphox with her Psychic movement or Mienshao with her Agile movements?
However, there was a turning point. It was a literal turning point as Mienshao would instead go in a completely different direction, not following Delphox at all. Mienshao had something else within her sights.
"Why's she going the other way?!" Twilight stood up, confused as to why Mienshao was going directly up. With Acrobatics, she could surely ascend. But instead, she was turning. "Unless...!"
"She's taking back Aura Sphere!" Ash finished Twilight's sentence after seeing what Mienshao was doing. The reason she was turning was for the sake of getting her Aura Sphere back from the magical energy that was lounging around. And at the speed she was moving at, she wanted to retrieve it and stop Delphox at the same time.
"Mienshao!" With all of her might and a full lunge from Acrobatics, Mienshao would swipe the Move out of the Energy's ethereal clutches. Just like that, the move that was taken from her was now retrieved, re-entering her body in an orange flash. All the while, Delphox was close to the Healing Energy.
"Throw it!"
Refusing to let him heal, Mienshao would then launch Aura Sphere at full force. The Aura SPhere left her body with intense power, creating a shockwave that even pushed Mienshao back. The Martial Arts Pokemon dropped to the floor but not without sending something Delphox's way.
Just as Delphox was about to touch the healing energy, the Aura Sphere would get there first. Delphox gasped as the Aura Sphere pierced the healing energy with its power, instantly destroying it. A bright explosion went off in the air, stunning everyone. "Deeeeel!" Delphox screamed as he went flying back from the explosion, failing to heal. Mienshao and Rainbow Dash planned this after their eye contact.
The plan was to not only retrieve Aura Sphere but use it to destroy the Healing Energy. In the end, no one got the chance to heal. But Delphox would end up taking damage, crashing into the walls and falling off them right afterwards.
"Great plan, you two!" Fluttershy frantically applauded, clapping her hooves together. That was something that deserved an applause from the crowd as it was a great play from the challengers.
"No way that just happened!" Nadya gasped, holding onto her hat as she was absolutely flabbergasted by what just happened. Mienshao delivered a crucial double whammy that showed Nadya and Delphox that this battle was not over yet. But judging by the glare from Rainbow Dash and Mienshao, they were about to bring it to a close.
"Now it's time to lay the smackdown on you with no chance of healing up! Close Combat, Mienshao!"
"Mieeeen! Mienshao!" Mienshao punched the ground when getting back up, gathering all the strength she could to continue.
"I don't think so! Let's finish this, Delphox! Psychic!" Nadya's voice intensified as she saw that things were starting to get a bit dire for her.
"D-Del...!" Delphox's back was aching after the crash as he was getting back at the same pace as Mienshao. Both Pokemon stood back up but only one of them could pull off their attacks. And that would be Delphox. He had his wand at the ready, aiming it at Mienshao.
"Mien-" Before Mienshao could take off, she felt her body freeze for a moment. The Martial Arts Pokemon gasped as the mental energy of Psychic surrounded her body. It was too late for her to advance. Instead, she was pushed back. An invisible blast of energy struck Mienshao's body, sending her flying.
She would go a long distance before crashing down seconds later And it was right near Rainbow Dash. The pegasus gasped, stepping back after seeing her partner hit the carpet which was still in pristine condition after the fierce battle that occurred. And with that Psychic attack from Delphox, it was all said and done.
"Mienshao..." Mienshao had fainted.
"Mienshao is unable to battle! Delphox wins! Thus, the winner of this battle is the Frontier Brain, Nadya!" The employee called out, determining the winner.
"Phew! That actually got too close for comfort!" A relieved Nadya said as she would finally leave the Slot Machine, rushing to Delphox's side. "Delphox! We did it! We won our first match as Frontier Brains! We won!"
"Del?" Delphox smiled at Nadya who ran his way. He was rather dazed after the retaliation that Mienshao did. Any more and it could've spelt total defeat for him. Nadya would hug her partner, relieved that they both won. In the end, this was not just Rainbow Dash's first Frontier Battle but it was also Nadya as she proved to everyone here that she was not a pushover and the Battle Frontier wouldn't be a cakewalk or something on the side for Trainers to breeze by.
"Aw." Rainbow Dash pouted, kissing her teeth. "We lost. Oh well...You did well, Mienshao."
"Shao..." Mienshao sighed, sitting up after her defeat. But compared to how she was as a Mienfoo, Mienshao was calm and collected. The loss did sting but she could take it.
"Aaah! If Close Combat landed then Rainbow Dash could've won!" Pinkie Pie puffed her cheeks, rather upset that Rainbow Dash did not grasp victory for her first Frontier Battle. "But that was still a great battle! Way to go!"
The crowd applauded as the Battle Frontier showed a great first example. A fun yet fierce battle. Rainbow Dash may have lost but she showed that she had the chance to win, delivering strong retaliations when the time called for it. For someone all about speed, she certainly had plenty of patience.
"Rainbow Dash. Mienshao. Thanks for the battle." Nadya would approach the duo with her Delphox, thanking them for such an entertaining battle. "I did what I set out to do and make a great first impression! Now everyone knows to take me seriously!"
"Yeah. Looks like it. You beat me. I would say fair and square but..." Rainbow Dash shifted her eyes to the side. "That slot machine really messed us up. But for the second and third effects, I had the chance to use those to my advantage. I just didn't have the right Pokemon for the second one and the third one was tough."
"Yeah. But Luck's a part of Skill. That's what I've been told. Not sure if it means a lot to you or anyone else." Nadya giggled. "I know I'm gonna see you again since you're not gonna let this go.
"Are you going to use the slot machines next time?!" A pony in the crowd shouted, curious if Rainbow Dash would use the slot machines a second time.
"All you gotta know is that next time, Mienshao and I will win. And our rematch is gonna be very soon."
"Wait. You won't switch your Pokemon?" Nadya gasped. "I thought you would. You know I'm just gonna use Delphox again, right?"
"That's not gonna stop us. Right, Mienshao?"
"Shao." Mienshao smiled as she was itching for that rematch. She may not be hot-headed like before she would never let a loss go by without some form of revenge.
"You'll be seeing us tomorrow!" Rainbow Dash shouted for everyone to hear. "And I'll come prepared. And win. I know some of the effects from that machine so I'll be ready."
"Hmm...I don't know." Nadya and Delphox collectively put on devious smirks. "I did say a lot of options could come from it. We've barely scratched the surface. But we'll see what happens tomorrow."
And the crowd will be here to watch it again after how entertaining it was the first time. Rainbow Dash wasn't going to waste any time. She didn't feel the need to grow stronger. She just felt the need to battle differently the next time. Working smarter, not harder.
"Oh, look at you. Your battle's already done?" Entering the facility after the battle was done was one of the Frontier Brains that everyone knew about already. That would be Luca.
"Luca!" Nadya said with excitement, running over to her fellow Frontier Brain who she seemed to know. Not just because they were working at the same facilitiy. "You just missed it! I won! I really won! Not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous at the last moments. That Rainbow Dash can be scary."
"Great work. You made us Frontier Brains look powerful." Luca said, giving a thumbs-up.
"You know each other? Just like Sharon?" said Rainbow Dash.
"Oh, we do! I earned a lot from studying the battle records of Luca's father." Nadya said proudly. "I took inspiration from him. He's the one who taught me how to make Delphox move around with Psychic. And a few other stuff too that I didn't get to show you."
"I managed to convince her parents to join. She wanted to enter badly so I had to get involved and here she is as a Frontier Brain. This will do wonders for her, Rainbow Dash. Because of her victory, her parents are going to be incredibly proud. And my father will see that I was right to go for it."
"Uh...It was nothing." Rainbow Dash grinned.
"I hear you're taking her on tomorrow. So soon? In that case, if you do manage to win, the other Frontier Brains and I will be waiting for you." Luca would then turn around as there was nothing to do here now that the battle was over. "Don't lose a second time."
"I won't!" Rainbow Dash said with high energy. "And after I win, I'll come after you and Sharon. Just you wait."
An exciting battle here at the Battle Carnival's Battle Frontier was over. The first of many to come here at Equestria. But it felt like it was just beginning since Rainbow Dash would be back tomorrow. As the journey continues.
Rainbow Dash had lost to the Frontier Brain Nadya. But with that loss came with extra determination to win. She and Mienshao were currently at Manehattan where the Battle Frontier could be found. With the orange sunlight active, they were currently practising with each. They would not go home since they would take on the Battle Frontier a second time tomorrow. They were currently at Manehattan's local park.
"Okay, Mienshao! That's enough. That slot machine gave us a lot of trouble, but it's not gonna mess us up tomorrow!" Rainbow Dash bellowed. "The next time we take on Nadya and Delphox, we'll outsmart them!"
"Mienshao!"
"How many options do you think of on that slot machine? The first one was by far the roughest. Any of their moves could be taken away from them." Ash wondered.
"I couldn't catch all those symbols that went by. But there were a lot of them so who knows what they could do? And since it's Potion Nova, that makes it all the more intimidating." Twilight Sparkle said.
"So, Rainbow Dash! Thought about pulling on those slot machines?" Pinkie Pie slid over.
"Nope. I gave it some thought but...I wanna win my way." Rainbow Dash stayed adamant about her choice. "I mean, I could get something good from it. If I used it, there could be an effect that messes up Delphox. But we'll mess Nadya and Delphox up our way."
"It hasn't even been a few days or weeks and you're already planning to rob her victory away, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity jokingly said. "You saw how happy she was with her victory. She was as ecstatic as a newcomer Trainer winning a battle."
"I mean, yeah. She was just as determined as me. Seems just as new too. I won't let her get the best of me though. She may have shown everypony there what a Frontier Brain was capable of but tomorrow, I'll show everypony what the Future Champion of Equestria can do!"
"Mienshao!"
Kalos. Tropezete Town. Nightfall.
Nadya had returned home. Somewhere in the South of Kalos, existed another town among many. Tropezete Town. A coastal town with lots of beaches that could be seen at any angle, a port and small yet well-built buildings. Nadya returned by using roller skates, moving through the streets of Kalos at night. Her home was among these many small buildings as it was nothing special. This was just a peaceful town after all.
However, she did not go inside her home. Instead, on the wall of her house, a small phone could be seen plastered on it. Nadya would instead use that phone before she would enter her home for a wonderful rest. There was someone she just had to speak to. Or rather, two individuals she had to speak to.
"Mom! Dad! I won!" Those were her parents. Instead of being home, Nadya apparently lived by herself. Of course, she had her Pokemon by her side so it wasn't truly alone but without the parents, there was that one part of the family absent from the area. "I really did it!"
"Congratulations." However, once the voice on the phone spoke, Nadya shuddered, receiving chills down her spine.
"Oh...It's you." Nadya's tone changed immediately. The person speaking to her were neither of her parents judging by her tone. "I wanted to speak to my parents but...You're still here."
"You did well winning your first Frontier Battle. You didn't fail at it." The mysterious voice said.
"I had help getting in there thanks to Luca. Now that I'm in, can you let my parents go?" Nadya requested. The reason for her nervous tone being present all of a sudden had to do with her parents. There was a reason why they were not home at the moment.
"Not yet. The Battle Frontier is just the start. It's only your first day there and it sounds like you made a great first impression. And the Pokemon there? Did one of them happen to be a Pikachu? Do not lie to me."
"There was a Pikachu. And it was Ash's Pikachu..." There was a bit of reluctance in her voice. But the person she was speaking to was rather intimidating as Nadya was forced to answer. The safety of her parents was on the line.
"Figures. With something like that around, he was bound to show up. Did you interact with him in any way? Get anything out of him? Especially about the other world." Conversation about another world came up. And this moment, there was only one parallel world that could be reached ever since the two worlds merged and that was the Human World.
"Not really. I was too focused on the battle. I really wanted to prove myself to everyone. I've been practising hard for a moment like this, getting stronger and-"
"Like I care about your growth in strength." The voice suddenly shut her down, making Nadya whimper.
"You haven't told anyone about this, have you?"
"N-No. I haven't told Luca. Or any of the other Frontier Brains. Or even the Battle Carnival." Nadya looked to the side. Clearly, asking for help put her parents at risk and for such a young girl, she couldn't risk that at all.
"Good. You'll keep them out of this unless you want the worst to happen to your parents. Lifelike Human Status might be worth something in the Black Market. Build up your trust with everyone there and when the time is right, we can truly get involved and perform the biggest heist possible. Understood?"
"I understand. After this, you'll leave us alone, right?"
"Of course. After all, you had something special that no one else had. How unfortunate we happened to find you and your parents since we need something like that. We'll talk first thing in the morning."
"Alright," Nadya grumbled, hanging up the call. The young Frontier Brain had her own issues going on at the moment. And that involved the safety of her parents. Nadya stood there for a moment, taking it all in. She felt very powerless to help her family unless she fulfils the desires of this strange group. Only then will they be free and safe but Nadya had a gut feeling that might not be the case.
Afterwards, she would enter her home, not even bothering to turn on the lights. With her parents gone, Nadya now lived on her own with no supervision. No other family members were present at all. The room was rather wide but that was mainly because it was meant for a family. Not one girl. The place was rather lifeless even if someone was there. The air felt cold despite how hot this part of Kalos was.
However, Nadya did not put herself to sleep instantly. Instead, she went to the fridge, possibly to get herself something to eat. At least, that is what anyone would do at this time. Nadya had something else in mind. By opening her fridge, a light emerged. One that no fridge should ever possess.
A Rift Gateway.
Slimmer than the rest considering where it was located, this was a rather unorthodox gateway compared to every single one that has existed. Probably more unorthodox than the Infinity Gateway. Never before has a gateway been inside of something.
Nadya stared at this gateway which blocked all the food, making it impossible to access. At that moment, she would also put her hand through the gateway, going to grab something. Past it was another world. But since both worlds were now united, there were only a few possibilities of where this led to.
But what she pulled out had no clear indication as to where it may be. From it, Nadya pulled out a letter, of all things that came straight from this other world. And from it, these words were written. "Don't forget about tomorrow."
That same group wrote to her, warning Nadya that she had to speak with them tomorrow. They would not let her forget about it for a moment. Nadya would have to go to sleep knowing this. What was worse was the fact that this group could access her home by using this gateway. She was not safe at all with her location being this accessible. No one else but her and the mysterious group were aware of the gateway. And poor Nadya was just too terrified to speak to anyone else about it.
Tomorrow would be a new day and the rematch that Rainbow Dash wanted. But while Nadya was excited to battle again, there was a part of her dealing with this threatening problem.
Equestria. Manehattan. The Battle Carnival. The Battle Frontier. Day.
A new day had come. And it was the day Rainbow Dash was about to receive her rematch against Nadya. Setting hoof at the Battle Carnival once more was Rainbow Dash and she already had Mienshao out of her Poke Ball.
"It's round 2! We're ready!" Rainbow Dash with high enthusiasm, feeling confident in today's victory. She certainly did not want a repeat of yesterday. But before any of that could happen, Rainbow Dash would indulge herself in what the carnival had to offer. "First, a bite."
She and Mienshao went over to the concession stands where plenty of food could be offered up to anyone entering the Battle Carnival. And it was available to Battle Frontier customers too, of course. She had the option to use bits or Pokedollars to purchase her food, meaning she had all the opportunity in the world to buy plenty of food. But for this battle, she wouldn't eat too much before it could begin.
Her friends would indulge in this meal, minus Twilight Sparkle, who was currently at the Pokemon School. She skipped out on one day as the Principal and she just couldn't afford to do it again. While Rainbow Dash was consuming some carnival food before the battle, Nadya was preparing herself as well.
Showing up here at Equestria did not take long for the young Frontier Brain at all. She actually showed up here before Rainbow Dash, showing that the distance difference wasn't a big deal for her compared to others. Nadya could be found at her facility, watching over the slot machines. The massive one in the middle plus the rest on the side that have not been used yet.
"Here so soon?" Showing up in this facility to greet his friend was Luca. A fellow blue-haired Frontier Brain. "Look at you showing up early. That's not like you, actually."
"You're here early too, ya know. How'd you even get here so fast?"
"I was in Equestria even through the night. I was prepared to show up. In case someone wanted to challenge me. Sharon's still not yet here, busy enjoying her fame at the moment."
"Watch me today, Luca. I'll score another win. And then everyone will know just how strong the Frontier Brains are. Especially me! I'll look like the strongest out of them if this keeps up!"
"Sure. By the way, my father's been trying to reach your parents for a while now," said Luca which suddenly made Nadya's frown form into a poker face. "And now he really wants to speak to them ever since you won your first battle as a Frontier Brain."
"Ooh...Really?"
"Right. But they haven't answered. Father has something special for them. Could you maybe speak with them since my father can't reach them?"
"Oh, uh...I can try. But it'll be tough!"
"Really? How come?" Luca questioned. At this point, he believed her parents were still living with her back at Tropezete Town but that was far from the truth. Unable to tell Luca the truth, Nadya searched for an excuse.
"My parents are just like Sharon right now. Busy, busy, busy. I'll see if I can still talk to them but you might not see them."
"Nadya. Is something wrong?" Luca questioned. He felt as if something was amiss. Especially when listening to Nadya's tone. For a moment, he heard her tone drop into something rather weak. Very much unlike her.
"Nothing's wrong! I'm chasing that victory I got yesterday!" Nadya rekindled her energy. "And I'm looking to keep it that way by getting a second victory. You worry too much!"
"Uh, okay," Luca replied, scratching his face. "If you say so. You look like you know what you're doing. But if you ever need something, me and the other Frontier Brains will be here. Well, I'll be here. The others are still all over the place. You're young so you'll need all the help you can get."
"Not when it comes to battling. I don't need help with that anymore!" Nadya stuck her tongue out playfully. Suddenly, a knock on the door came through, alerting the Young Frontier Brain. By hearing it, it sounded like Rainbow Dash was here, ready to get this second round started.
But in reality, Rainbow Dash was still having a snack with her friends. Right now, she was just about to finish up. Someone else had shown up at that facility. Ponies could be seen making their way to the facility, expecting the battle today. They were already informed of it after Rainbow Dash shouted her inevitable rematch back then.
"Okay. I think I'm good." A satisfied Rainbow Dash uttered. "We can get started, right, Mienshao?"
"Shao."
"Are you sure you know how to deal with whatever effects come from that Slot Machine? Twilight said she saw a lot even if she couldn't make out all those symbols," said Fluttershy, wanting Rainbow Dash to be careful.
"I'm just gonna have to wing it." Rainbow Dash answered, declaring that she would do what she could when those effects appear. "Besides, you saw how that battle turned out. I could've won that."
"She's right." Rarity agreed with Rainbow Dash. "Mienshao managed to weaken Delphox despite the Type Disadvantage. But Delphox just had a few things to give him the edge. But this time, I'm positive Mienshao will put that same pressure on him and grasp victory."
"Yeah, but Nadya and Delphox are probably expecting that." Passing on some Trainer Knowledge was Ash. "They know you two are gonna work through it so whatever comes up on their slot machine, they're gonna try something new."
"Good point..." Rainbow Dash pondered for a moment. "So I basically got expect the unexpected but I also gotta expect what they might do with the unexpected and...uh..." The pegasus paused, stumbling on her words. "That sounded cooler and smoother in my head."
"Just don't get shaken up." Applejack replied. "I mean, if I was in there, I'd probably pull on all those slot machines to see what comes up."
"All of them? Now that you mention it, what would happen if you pulled them all at the same time?" Pinkie Pie's curiosity was greatly raised because of this. "Oooh! What if you pull one of them and Nadya pulls the big one at the same time? What happens then!?"
"Well, if I had to guess..." Starlight would close her eyes, thinking of the most realistic possibility. "If that Healing effect kicks in then..." But even for Starlight Glimmer that was difficult to figure out. It was all a matter of seeing it play out to know what could happen. "I actually don't know. And I don't think we're gonna find out since Rainbow Dash won't use them."
"Not for a second. Okay, let's get this show on the road." Rainbow Dash stretched her wings before prancing along. Mienshao would run beside her as it was off to the Battle Casino. Victory was on her mind but a way to outdo the effects of the Slot Machine was flooding her mind as well. She managed to find ways to outdo them in the first battle but could she do the same in the second battle?
The Battle Casino.
Entering here, Rainbow Dash saw that there were already many ponies gathered around to see her rematch. They greatly enjoyed the first battle as it was nothing they had ever seen before. Why would they suddenly stop and not take the opportunity to see a second battle?
"Okay, Nadya! Let's do this! This time I'll-" However, even though the ponies had gathered up, the looks on their faces spoke volumes as to what they were currently reacting to. Rainbow Dash and her friends would soon have their own reaction after seeing the sight in front of them.
A battle with Nadya had already happened. And at this moment, it was already over. Their jaws dropped as the massive slot machine that Nadya used the entire time currently had a massive hole through it with smoke being visible. All the other slot machines were untouched as always but the one that was used the most was now a total wreck. It was hard to tel lif it was salvageable at all.
The one responsible for this was none other than Lightning Dust. And the Pokemon that caused this damage as her Toxtricity. Lying there on the floor was a Furfrou. Nadya's Furfrou. It had lost the battle against Toxtricity, thus, resulting in Nadya losing this battle. She did not receive a winning streak at all as Lightning Dust shut it down.
"Hm? Well, look what we have here." Lightning Dust smirked, turning to face Rainbow Dash. The two rivals met once more at the Battle Frontier, but this time, one of them had the edge.
"No way! Lightning Dust?! D-Did you-"
"Win? On my first try? That's right." Lightning Dust winked, confirming what Rainbow Dash was thinking and unable to finish. And hearing that shattered Rainbow Dash. She couldn't believe it. Lightning Dust succeeded in something she failed at the first time. "That slot machine was already starting to give me some trouble, so Toxtricity dealt with that in a heartbeat."
"Toxtricity."
"So you broke the Slot Machine?! Is that even allowed!?" Rainbow Dash bellowed.
"I'm afraid it is." Replying to Rainbow Dash was Luca who watched the entire battle play out. "That slot machine didn't last that long. Nadya only got off two effects from it.
"I heard you challenged the Battle Frontier first and lost. So imagine my excitement when I won before you did. Feels great for me and horrible for you. Right?"
"Mmmmrrgh...!" The multi-coloured-maned mare growled. She was indeed upset about this. This is one of the outcomes she did not wish to happen at all but it literally happened the day after her defeat, rubbing salt on the wound.
"You did your best, Furfrou..." Nadya sighed, helping her Furfrou up. She was seen trying to keep her smile up as she was most definitely crushed by this. Much like Rainbow Dash, she was talking big and looking to the future, only for Lightning Dust to rip it away. "Thanks."
"That battle wasn't what I was expecting." Lightning Dust faced Nadya. "It was actually annoying. Like super annoying. Fitting since Rainbow Dash is equally annoying."
"Hey!"
"They should honestly make me a Frontier Brain instead of you. I don't need some gimmick like that to gain an advantage. Especially when I can just shatter it so easily. But I don't want that. What I want is the chance to be Equestria's First Champion." Lightning Dust walked away, leaving Nadya in rather low spirits.
"That'll be me by the way!" Rainbow Dash yelled while Lightning Dust left the facility.
"Well...Make sure you get your Frontier Symbol on the way out." Nadya sat up. "Hey, Rainbow Dash. You're a little bit late."
"Nadya. Are you alright?" Rainbow Dash flew over, worried about how Nadya felt. Losing to Lightning Dust and hearing what she had to say could get to anyone.
"Me? I'm perfectly fine." But from the say her tone wobbled, Nadya was trying to suck it up. "Hah..But I didn't get that streak I wanted. I lost. On the second day too."
"You still have that great first impression from before," Ash said, trying to raise her spirits. "Don't forget about that. You brought everyone back here to see what the Battle Frontier can really offer."
"Pikachu."
"You're right. I just didn't want to lose. I was feeling good about myself." Nadya pouted. "I'm not as strong as I wanted everypony here to make me seem. Lightning Dust completely blindsided me. Feels like she was stronger than me at that moment."
"Bah, don't listen to her. If anyone's going to be the first Equestrian Champion, it's me. I promise you, I'll beat her for you when that time comes."
"Really?!" Nadya's eyes lit up. Those were the words she loved to hear. Rainbow Dash would instil hope into her heart.
"Really. There's still our battle. And well, even though I plan to win it, I'm not gonna make it rough for you. Well, rough in the way she did."
"As a Frontier Brain, you have to take in these losses," Luca instructed. "It's the same way Gym Leaders and Elite 4 Trainers take their losses. It's never that pleasing to lose since it's our job to help trainers improve and get places, but we should always take it in stride, knowing we can improve too."
"Did you get that from your father?"
"Yeah." Luca chuckled. "But I take it to heart. He once signed up to be a Gym Leader himself so he was taught those lessons to. Chin up, alright? You're lacking some of that energy you always have. You had every bit of it yesterday."
"I still have it!" Nadya would pump herself up. "I'm not going to let this loss get to me! Not one bit! Rainbow Dash. Do you promise what you just said?"
"Sure thing! I know for a fact Lightning Dust and I will throw down one day and when that day comes, I'll win." Rainbow Dash proudly said. "Not too sure about the Champion part. The opponents I have are stacked."
"As for your slot machine, we can get it repaired." Luca brought another bright side to it. The Carnival can fix it up as quickly as possible.
"They can?" Nadya gawked.
"Indeed we can. Just give us a few minutes and that Slot Machine will be brand new. Besides, the crowd prefers this slot machine because of its attractive size." The employee who was the referee in this battle said.
"And after that, I can redeem myself and show everyone here what I can really do a second time! Or I guess a third time in this case. Let's have a good battle like before, Rainbow Dash."
"You got it!" That was a promise that Rainbow Dash could keep. She wasn't about to disappoint Nadya at all. Compared to Lightning Dust, Rainbow Dash preferred to battle with her opponents using everything in their arsenal. That way, victory will be so much sweeter.
The second battle between Rainbow Dash and Nadya was nigh. All it would take was a quick repair and their battle could resume. Nadya's spirits were still up, but there was still a part of it that was affected. A smidge of it was from Lightning Dust but the rest of it was from the mysterious group and how they have her parents. She may be safe here but not back home. And this incoming battle wasn't looking to change any of that as the journey continues.
Equestria. Manehattan. The Battle Carnival. The Battle Frontier. Day.
The second battle between Rainbow Dash and Nadya would take place once more. After taking a rather crushing defeat from Lightning Dust, Nadya's spirits were rather low but it as Rainbow Dash who lifted them once more, resulting into the two of them being eager to have their second match. And this time, Rainbow Dash was staring victory in the eyes, wanting to win this Frontier Battle.
Mienshao was already out and ready to try this battle once more. And this time, she wouldn't let the slot machine throw her for a loop. Speaking of the Slot Machine, the Carnival People and Pokemon had gathered up to repair it after Lightning Dust's Toxtricity blasted through it. With so many Pokemon of different species, seeing them fix the Slot Machine with such speeds, precision and skill was impressive.
"Wow, that was quick." Starlight Glimmer pointed out, as the Slot Machine had been fixed in minutes.
"Go, Delphox!" Appearing once more was Nadya's trusty Delphox.
"Delphox!"
"Last chance, Rainbow Dash!" Nadya shouted. "Wanna use the Slot Machine?! It could be fun to see what could happen to me. Just saying~"
"Nah. I'm good!" Rainbow Dash stuck to what she wanted. "It does sound tempting but I'll battle how I want to battle."
"Alright then. More for me. And this time, I won't hold back and play with my food." Nadya said with a bit of a serious tone. After her loss to Lightning Dust, she was going to make sure that victory was as easy as breathing.
"Battle Start!"
"I'm using this from the start!" Nadya would jump off the Slot Machine, stepping on the massive lever and getting the first effect off. The symbols spun and spun, deciding on which random effect would occur. On the slot machine, the symbols of Beartic's face showed up. All three slots were Beartic's face, making this a perfect spin. "Beartic! You can probably guess what that means!"
Much like the Sunny Day effect from yesterday. the magical energy would affect the area and the weather itself, emanating from the Slot Machine. Rainbow Dash and Mienshao gasped as the atmosphere was getting colder all of a sudden. The blue skies above would change colours, taking on a grey appearance.
A snowy effect had arrived, summoning snow from above. This was similar to that of Hail but without the hail. It was just pure snow but it had the same chill as the Hail effect. Ash held his hand out, feeling the snowflakes drop on his hand. This was a brand new weather effect that he had never seen before but by all accounts, it should be something that was to be expected.
"Gyhhhh!" Rainbow Dash's teeth were already starting to chatter. Her body felt the immediate change in the temperature as snowflakes were falling on her face. "A weather effect already?! But this doesn't feel like Hail..."
"M-M-M-Mienshao?!"
"That's because it's not! This is Snow! It's different from Hail. While I don't get that damage over time, it does give a boost to Ice-Types, making them bulkier than before. Of course, Delphox isn't an Ice-Type but he's resistant thanks to the heat!"
"Delphox~" Delphox stood there, completely unphased by the cold. Already, Mienshao gained a disadvantage by feeling the chill. The Slot Machine was once again favouring Nadya.
"That's fine." Rainbow Dash grinned while her teeth continued to chatter. "We're still going to win! Let's go, Mienshao! Close Combat off the bat!"
"Mien!" Mienshao would stomp on the ground before taking off at full speed. The Martial Arts Pokemon was about to get up close and personal with the Fox Pokemon, preparing a beatdown for him.
"Stop her at once! Psychic!"
"Del...!" Delphox twirled his wand, charging up his Psychic power into it. From the tip, an invisible blast of Psychic energy would be unleashed, moving through the air. But even though it was invisible, by now, Rainbow Dash has already seen that move play out plenty of times from friends and opponents. It was natural that she'd find a way to stop an attack that was rather difficult to deal with.
"Now should be the time it reaches us! Jump Mienshao!"
"Mien!" Suddenly, Mienshao would lunge, taking to the skies. By doing so, she managed to avoid the invisible energy. Even though it was invisible, the ripples of Psychic were seen pushing the air away after missing its mark. "Shao!" After dodging the attack, Mienshao would dive downwards, delivering a powerful ace kick to Delphox's head.
"D-Delphox!" Delphox grimaced as the impact of the axe kick made his head vibrate. Mienshao was about to continue from there, preparing a fierce flurry of attacks. But the chilling effect of the snow got to her at that moment, making her shudder. Mienshao would then drop the ground, removing her foot from Delphox's head. She would stumble back, nearly slipping.
And speaking of slipping, the snow had already decorated the floor, slowly transforming it into a snowy wonderland. Everyone gawked at how much snow covered the area. The slot machines were soon covered in snow, especially the massive one as it was the biggest target here.
"M-Mien! Mien?!" Mienshao nearly slipped, trying to keep her balance while she was freezing. For Delphox, it wasn't a problem for him as he recovered quickly, holding the top of his head.
"S-Stay sharp, Mienshao!" Rainbow Dash said while shivering. "We've got this!"
"Doesn't look like it. Watch this! Delphox, use Fire Blast repeatedly!"
"Brace yourself, Mienshao!"
"Del...!" Delphox would wave his wand around, forming a spiral of flames that would soon condense into a tiny spark. Mienshao braced herself as the spark would then shoot out multiple Fire Blasts. In succession, Fire Blats were flying out of Delphox's wand.
However, as soon as Mienshao was ready to retaliate against these flames and Rainbow Dash was about to shout out the next command, all of a sudden, they just stopped. Dead in their tracks, the Fire Blasts came to a halt.
"Mien?" The Martial Arts Pokemon looked around her as the Fire Blasts were static. There were plenty of them but they did not strike at Mienshao. It was almost as if Delphox missed on purpose. There was one Fire Blast that was right up in Mienshao's face, only warming her up in this chilling atmosphere.
"Okay, what's this all about?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"Do you think he's trapping Mienshao?" Fluttershy wondered.
"Get a load of this! Psychic!"
"Delphox!" But there was more to it. It was all part of Delphox's trick. With a flick of his wand, he would control every single static flame, making them move once more. And the one flame that was right in front of Mienshao's face would crash into her, combusting.
"M-Mien!" Very soon, all the other flames would fly into Mienshao, rapidly bombarding her. Mienshao screamed as her body was being lit up with consecutive flaming explosions. The crowd gawked as never before had they seen Pokemon moves act in such a way.
Mienshao would be sent flying by the explosions, having fire trailing out of her body. She certainly didn't see that coming. The Fighting-Type grimaced before recovering by sliding on the snowy floor.
"That Psychic Control Delphox has is way better than I thought! It was already super impressive yesterday!" Pinkie Pie gasped.
"Yesterday, he flew around by using Psychic on himself. He also used it to control the Fire Wall he made. Looks like Delphox takes that Psychic part seriously." said Spike.
"My father is a Psychic-Type specialist and Nadya learned a lot from him. It's only natural that some of the things he taught her would show themselves in her battles." Luca commented. "She didn't get a chance to show most of them off with her battle against Lightning Dust but with Rainbow Dash, it looks like it'll be different."
"That was tricky alright. But it's not gonna get us again. I'll make sure of it!"
"Are you sure? You're not looking too hot with all of this ice." Nadya snickered. "Guess Delphox's Fire Blast didn't heat you up enough."
"Mienshao. We can use this snow to our advantage. I know it." Rainbow Dash spoke to her partner. "I'm guessing there's a new effect coming. So whatever it is, let's strike at the opportune moment."
"You're right. It's high time we used another effect. So let's see-" Nadya would try and leave the slot machine with grace, only for her to slip on the snow. "Wah!" Immediate danger hit the area as Nadya could potentially suffer a hard fall from this height.
"Del!" Quickly, Delphox would use Psychic, catching Nadya in time. A Psychic Energy surrounded her body, keeping her static. Everyone went from a gasp to a collective sigh.
"Oooh...Thanks for the save, Delphox." Nadya thanked as this time, it would be Delphox who brought down the lever. He would use Nadya's shoes to push it down, beginning to the process. With a scrunched face, Rainbow Dash prepared herself. With the slots spinning, the new symbols had been shown. Two Sableyes and a Dusk Ball. "Oh, this one is all kinds of fun!"
"How fun are we talking about?" Rainbow Dash questioned, wondering what a Sableye and a Dusk Ball meant. Her answer would appear in a heartbeat as all of a sudden, everything went dark. All the colour and flair in the room just vanished. Everyone was hit by this as an abundance of darkness filled the Battle Casino. "Huh?! Hey!"
"It's so dark in here!" Rarity bellowed. "Did the lights shut off when the machine finished spinning?!"
"This doesn't feel like an effect..." Applejack commented.
"This one makes things tricky for both sides. I got messed up when I used this on Lightning Dust. It was pretty hard for me to battle in this." Nadya revealed that this effect had already gone off in the previous battle against Lightning Dust. Her Furfrou struggled. "No dice for Toxtricity though. It just used itself as a lightbulb."
"Well, this is gonna be tough for me too, ya know! I can't see anything!" Rainbow Dash roared as not even her multi-coloured appearance was visible. "Are you alright, Mienshao?! It's still freezing too!"
"M-Mien!" Mienshao cried out. Not only was it still chilly but it was also hard to see. Compared to yesterday's battle, this had an equal amount of difficulty in its own unique way.
"But for Delphox...that's not an issue." Nadya's smile was invisible in the dark. But what wasn't invisible was Delphox. Thanks to being a Fire-Type, he would generate fire. But not from his body. His wand is what generated the fire. Delphox had a temporary torch with him, using it to battle in the dark. And as a bonus, just a few seconds later, she made his entire body light up, increasing his body heat.
"I can see you too, ya know!" That simply made Delphox visible to the eyes as Rainbow Dash saw him.
"Yeah. But can you react to any moves fast enough? Such as Shadow Ball!"
"Delphox!" In the dark, Delphox would use his other move. Shadow Ball. This was a move that perfectly fit in the darkness as it was hard to see. A blob of shadows appeared but it was completely invisible. Mienshao shifted her eyes, instinctively dodging to the right. However, so did the Shadow Ball. Mienshao was struck by the shadows, failing to predict them.
"Mien!"
"Bullseye! I can tell I hit my mark! I can't see what's going on but I can still see Delphox." Nadya laughed. "How are you gonna get out of this one, Rainbow Dash?"
"Even for their second battle, the effects are always against Rainbow Dash." Rarity commented. "She hasn't managed to take advantage of the battle yet."
"And I can't see a darn thing!" Applejack groaned. "What's going on?! All I see is Delphox!"
"Keep a sharp eye out, Mienshao! Don't let Delphox get the jump on you!"
"Mien!" Mienshao nodded, taking on her signature stance. But no one would be there to see it. Just then, Delphox would turn off his body heat, diminishing the one bit of light that was visible to everyone. The crowd gasped after seeing Delphox vanish. Rainbow Dash made a face that could only be described as 'Pure Panic'. With Delphox gone, keeping a sharp eye out would be impossible. "Shao..."
"He's gone. But not his movements. Try hearing his footsteps, Mienshao! And use Reversal if you feel like he's near!"
Everyone stayed silent as Mienshao focused on Delphox's footsteps. She could at least use that to her advantage. It was all a matter of patience for this part of the battle. This truly did feel like different stages and Rainbow Dash was going through every single one of them. However, to Mienshao's surprise, she couldn't hear any footsteps.
Try as she might, there was no pitter-patter, not a scurry, nor a stamp. No footsteps were heard at all. Not even Audino could hear anything. It was as if Delphox was not even here at all. Mienshao had a sweatdrop leave her head, nervous as to why she couldn't hear Delphox. Even still, Delphox would try and sense him.
"Mien!" MIenshao felt like Delphox was near her at the moment, prompting her to use Reversal. Channelling all of the damage she has taken so far into an attack, Mienshao threw a punch to the side, hoping to hit Delphox. But she hit nothing. She didn't even feel anything. "Mien?"
"Delphox~" Suddenly, with a chilling voice, Delphox appeared behind Mienshao, heating himself up to become a light source. Mienshao felt this blazing heat behind her as her heart skipped a beat. Everyone would soon Delphox once he brought the heat back. Some of them were even startled, especially Mienshao. But before she could turn around, Delphox had used Psychic on her.
"Mien!" Mienshao bellowed as she was given a super-effective hit to the back. And right after that, Delphox turned off his body heat, fading into the darkness once more. "S-Shao..."
"I saw it for a moment! So that's what he's doing!" Ash gasped. "He's using Psychic to move himself. That way, Mienshao can't hear him."
"Pika!"
"That's rather clever. And completely troublesome for Rainbow Dash!" Rarity bit her hoof. "Is there no end to these surprises? It feels like they are getting worse with each passing minute!"
"Mien!" Mienshao would try swinging again, trying to see if she could pick up his Body Heat in time. This time she would perform an uppercut, believing that Delphox was in front of her. Instead, he was above her and using Psychic to ascend, reappearing just to startle Mienshao. A Shadow Ball from above was unleashed. "Shao!" Mienshao was knocked over by this aerial Psychic, trying to recover instantly. She would stumble, barely recovering in this darkness.
Delphox would reappear once more, this time from the side as another Pscyhic was unleashed. This was truly troublesome for Mienshao in every possible way. Back and forth, Delphox would keep appearing and disappearing, shooting at Mienshao with Psychic. Every time Mienshao would swing her Reversal, she would miss and take a super-effective hit.
Mienshao's approach to hitting him if she sensed him nearby was failing horribly as all she was receiving was a beatdown in the darkness. At least no one could see it but they could most certainly hear it.
"This isn't good...Any more of those Psychics and that could be the end for Mienshao!" Pinkie Pie screeched, pulling her playful mane down to cover her eyes. "I can't watch!"
"What's worse is that I think this effect is permanent until the battle is over. So she might be battling in the dark until she loses." Starlight Glimmer feared that the darkness would last forever, making it impossible for Mienshao to retaliate in any way.
"This is bad. I really wish I had Luxray out here. He would've been fine even in the dark." Rainbow Dash groaned. But at that moment, she soon remembered there was one option for Mienshao. It was something she had learned a lot about and seen in action plenty of times. And ever since her evolution, Mienshao has gained access to it. "But...there is one thing I still have!"
"Here's multiple! Shadow Ball!"
"Del! Del!" Taking advantage of this darkness once more, Delphox would unleash a repeated barrage of Shadow Balls. And since the move blended in with the darkness, a bombardment of them would be difficult to deal with. And poor Mienshao would find that out the hard way.
"M-Mien!" Mienshao was hit by another Shadow Ball. And another. There was no break between them as another batch of Shadow Balls would crash into the Fighting-Type. Soon, Mienshao was being viciously pelted with Shadow Balls that were impossible to see in this all-encompassing darkness.
"I don't know what's going on but I know it's not good for Mienshao!!" Pinkie Pie blurted.
"Maybe she's knocking some of them back! Oh, how I wish these Fairy Eyes could see in the dark," said Fluttershy, trying to use the Fairy Eyes she possessed.
"Hang in there, Mienshao! It's time to tap into Aura!"
"Did she say Aura?!" Rarity gasped. The power that Rainbow Dash thought about was Aura which is something Mienshao could now access ever since she evolved and learned Aura Sphere.
"Shao!" Mienshao's eyes would flash blue while she was being struck by the Shadow Balls. Her blue flash would pierce the darkness as everyone would see it appear. And once she tapped into it, Mienshao would perform a swift leap into the air, avoiding the other Shadow Balls. She managed to land elsewhere, getting far away. However, Delphox could still see her.
"Hmm...You're using Aura now?" Nadya said. "Not bad. "Alright, then. Delphox, use Psychic and catch her off guard again. I know you'll hit your mark for sure!"
"Mien." With the Aura, Mienshao could now battle in a different way. And after avoiding the Shadow Balls, Mienshao would gain a new perspective. With the power of Aura, Mienshao would detect the Aura of her opponent, finding another way to sense her. She may be struggling, but her options were not low. Not in the slightest.
Delphox was now visible. His Aura, to be exact. Mienshao saw a blue visage of Delphox as well as Nadya as she now had the means to battle in the dark. She would no longer have to rely on his body heat to spot him. And speaking of which, Delphox was on the move, preparing to surprise Mienshao once more. But now, Mienshao could see his movements.
"I can't see him but I'm counting on you to strike him, Mienshao! Close Combat!"
"Mien!" Seeing Delphox hover with Psychic, Mienshao was fully aware of his movements, tracking his Aura. Mienshao saw that Delphox was approaching from behind, using Psychic to boost his speed. But now that Mienshao could see him, he wouldn't be ale to get a back hit. "Mienshao!"
"Mienshao would quickly swing her legs, striking at Delphox the second he went for her back. Delphox had just raised his Body Heat as well, preparing to reappear. And the second he did, he was seen leaning his head back, narrowly avoiding the kick that Mienshao delivered.
Everyone saw it for a moment, how Mienshao nearly struck Delphox. The Martial Arts Pokemon would even show a grin, knowing that she startled Delphox. The Fox Pokemon would then disappear but without the means of truly concealing himself now that his Aura was visible.
Mienshao would run, following Delphox's movements as she wouldn't let him get away from her. Delphox currently couldn't see anything when hiding his own body heat as he needed it to view his opponent. So, when hearing Mienshao's rapid footsteps, Delphox gasped, knowing that she was nearby. "D-Del!" Everyone heard Delphox cry out as a strong blow to his face was delivered from Mienshao's paws.
Delphox would try shooting out a Psychic, only for Mienshao to knee his arm, interrupting him from pulling the attack off. The Fox Pokemon saw that Mienshao now knew where he was as his Darkness Tactic was failing him. He would try to fire off Psychic Blasts from afar, growling at the Martial Arts Pokemon, only for them to completely miss Mienshao. Without his Body Heat, he couldn't see where he was firing.
Delphox would try his best to shoot at Mienshao, only to miss as the Martial Arts Pokemon was reading him like a book. Evasions were completely free for Mienshao who now had the advantage in the dark with this one power.
"Mienshao!" Mienshao then delivered a punishing knee to his chest, sending out shockwaves that momentarily pierced the darkness. Delphox, knowing he couldn't hit her in this condition, was forced to raise his body heat. He reappeared in the eyes of everyone as they all witnessed the devastating knee that Mienshao delivered.
"D-Del...!" Delphox staggered, moving back. But he didn't get the time to recover as Mienshao would then rush in, delivering a fierce flurry of strikes. Delphox was soon struck by multiple hits, resisting it because of his typing but the hits were still heavy.
"Nice! We came back to Mienshao winning!" Pinkie Pie said with glee as the battle was available to everyone's eyes.
"Retreat, Delphox! Quick!"
"Delphox!" Delphox barely managed to avoid the next incoming hit from Mienshao. And once he did, he used Psychic to push himself away, evading the rest of the attacks.
"Fine then! Use a little bit of your Body Heat, Delphox! That way, you can still see!"
"Phox!" Delphox had the power to raise his body heat to a certain amount and he would do just that. He made himself dim but still able to see Mienshao. Meanwhile, everyone could barely see Delphox in the darkness but Mienshao still had Aura on her side.
"Don't let up, Mienshao! Close Combat again!"
"Shao!" Another assault of Close Combat would be delivered as Mienshao ran in as the battle was raging on, taking a very different turn.
"Psychic!"
"Delphox!" Delphox would shoot at Mienshao with Psychic, only for Mienshao to leap to the side, evading the attack. Delphox would receive a sharp blow to the face by Mienshao's punch, gasping for a moment. The Fox Pokemon would then use Psychic again on himself to fly away. But this time, he would fly around Delphox, attempting to hit her from behind yet again.
"Mien!" Sensing him in the darkness, Mienshao would deliver a roundhouse to Delphox before he could land Psychic from behind, befuddling the Fire-Psychic-Type. Once more, Delphox tried another angle. He would get in front of Mienshao this time, however, Mienshao had the perfect response for that as well.
"Del?!" Anticipating his next move, Mienshao did a sideways backflip kick, striking the Fox Pokemon on the top of his head. That one surprised Delphox, unlike the rest. It was at this moment that he found out why Mienshao was known as the Martial Arts Pokemon. It was her speciality.
"Mien...Shao!" Mienshao would then deliver the last Close Combat assault by socking Delphox's jaw. The Fox Pokemon was flabbergasted by the beatdown she received. It was just as bad as yesterday's beatdown as she went rolling across the floor.
"It's no use! With Aura, Delphox can see you clearly! So much for that plan!" Rainbow Dash snickered.
"Mmrrgh...!" Nadya grumbled, annoyed that her plan didn't fully pan out. It worked for a moment, only for Rainbow Dash to reverse it. "Lights!" By shouting, the lights suddenly came on via Nadya's command. Battling in the dark wasn't really working out for her. The effect suddenly died out once Nadya spoke.
"Del...Del..." Delphox breathed in and out. But so did Mienshao.
"Mien...Mien..." With the lights back on, both Pokemon were equally burning themselves out in this fierce battle. It has already surpassed their previous battle as they were both once again on equal grounds.
"This is familiar, isn't it?" Nadya smiled. "They're both looking pretty rough at the moment. This has been a fun battle, Rainbow Dash!"
"It has." Rainbow Dash smiled back at Nadya. "Lightning Dust missed out on a lot. And even without that Slot Machine, you're a great trainer for your age, Nadya."
"Pssh. I told you. I'm not that young." Nadya chuckled. "And as for this battle, I've always wanted something like this. For the longest, I've just been watching from the sidelines, seeing others battle. I only did practice battles with Luca's father and other teachers in my life. When I started out my career as a Pokemon Trainer, I was finally able to take on some real opponents but I never got the chance to really have a battle this enjoyable!"
"Really?"
"Really! These are the kind of battles I was told about that were the best. When both Trainers are neck and neck with each other. That's what I love!"
"I feel the same way too, Nadya. Being stronger than your opponent can be fun but being on the same level is a new kind of feeling altogether!"
"I'm glad I got to join the Battle Frontier. I get to experience so many fun battles that I've always wanted. And with such a fun gimmick too." Nadya's smile then turned soft. At that moment, she started thinking about her parents. "It's what my parents wished for me in the beginning. And they'll be so happy knowing that I'm getting my wish. If i can see them..."
"Hm?" Luca's eyes widened. Those words fully caught his attention. He knew that Nadya was a bit off earlier today but soon regained her spirits as the battle went on. But now, he knew that something was up with her parents.
"So, let's finish this, Rainbow Dash,"
"Got it. And I'm ready for whatever effect you have to offer. Pull that lever!"
"Actually...This time! I get to choose what effect I get!" Nadya rubbed her hands together.
"Wait...Choose?" Rainbow Dash repeated. By judging Nadya's sentence, it sounded like Nadya was free to pick the effect she wanted to occur and that could not spell good news for Rainbow Dash and Mienshao.
"With this!" Nadya would then slide down the slot machine, going the other way. Aside from the massive lever, there was something else on the slot machine. It was hard to see but there was an actual slot that has not been used yet. And by taking out a Bit, Nadya would enter it, having the choice of which effect would be next.
The slot machine would spin in response to the Bit being entered as the option had already been chosen for Nadya. And it was something no one was ready for. The Slot Machine would show the symbols of three Wailords.
"W-What does Three Wailords mean...?" Rainbow Dash gulped.
"It means...I get to enlarge one thing. But I'm not gonna grow Delphox. I'm growing his wand! And it's going with the biggest Psychic you'll ever see!
"Del...!" Delphox raised his wand as the magical energy would surround it. Everyone gasped as not only was the wand growing but Delphox was channelling every single bit of Psychic energy into it. The ceiling would open up just for this wand as a powerful purple energy could be seen forming. The Psychic Energy was also affected by the Slot Machine, growing in strength.
Mienshao backed away as the wand's shadow cast over her, Rainbow Dash and everyone here. This was by far the biggest Delphox wand in the world. At least, temporarily. And with this size, Delphox was about to unleash the biggest Psychic attack ever. The energy it was giving off shot out purple lightning that would crack in the facility and the skies themselves. Ponies from Manehattan could not ignore this as they had no idea what was going on inside of Battle Carnival.
"Not good! This also boosts Psychic's power by a wide margin!" Luca gasped.
"How is she going to deal with that?!" Starlight Glimmer's jaw dropped. "If that Psychic lands, it could do more than just blow Mienshao away! The whole facility could be blown back!"
"Remember what she said yesterday?" Ash saw a way to overcome this, however. "She's got her ace in the hole. And it can deal with big targets."
"Now's our chance. I wanted to use this yesterday but never got the chance. So I'm not gonna waste it!" Digging into her saddlebag, Rainbow Dash would reveal her Z Crystal. The Fightium Z.
"Mienshao!"
Rainbow Dash would then begin striking a series of poses, drawing out the power of the Z-Crystal. The Power of Alola emerged from the crystal, flowing over to Mienshao who was also pulling off the same poses. The Z Power would erupt from MIenshao's body, correlating with the Psychic Lightning. The crowd watched as it looked like a heavenly event was going on with all of this noise and pressure.
"With this, I win! Use Psychic!"
"Delphox!" With ease, Delphox unleashed the full power of Psychic in the form of a massive purple wave that would set to eclipse everything.
"Mienshao! ALL-OUT PUMMELLING!"
"Mien...SHAO!" After building up all of her Z Power and letting it erupt, the Martial Arts Pokemon would jump into the air, approaching the massive Psychic Wave instead of staying where she was. Mienshao then repeatedly strikes the air with his paws, sending a massive orange, hand-shaped mass of energy from each of them at the opposing attack.
The paws would strike at the wave, rapidly beating against it. Sparks were flying everywhere as the wave would pulsate each time the paws hit it. It was actually being held back by Mienshao's fierce assault, amazing everyone. The wave stayed in one place, struggling to move forward as the pressure of it was starting to lift the furniture. The chairs were being raised by the Psychic pull as the hairs of everyone here would swish and sway.
"Go, Mienshao!"
"Mien!" Screaming at the top of her lungs, Mienshao was starting to push through, approaching the Psychic Wave. And with each strike, a hole was beginning to open up. Delphox gasped, feeling this hole form even though he couldn't see Mienshao's body. And by opening this hole, Mienshao would pull her fist back, delivering the strongest blow she could.
Delphox would put more power into his attack as well, creating a greater Psychic pressure. As soon as both Pokemon gave it their all, the energies would combust, resulting in a bright white outburst. Everyone shielded their eyes as the explosion as all the furniture had been blown away or absolutely crushed.
But as soon as the light faded, the effect of the slot machine ended, returning the wand to its normal size. No longer was it standing up in the air and going through the ceiling. However, not only was it not gigantic anymore, it was no longer in Delphox's hands.
"D-Del...?" Delphox shuddered as his pupils dilated. He did not feel the wand in his hands anymore as the smoke was also starting to clear. He did not drop the wand at all. Instead, it had been stolen.
By Mienshao. She had swiped the wand from Delphox right after the explosion went off, choosing the best time to take it. She was even thinking of doing it while in the dark.
"No way!" Nadya gasped, removing her hat in disbelief.
"She took Delphox's wand!" Fluttershy sat up as the entire crowd had their jaws on the floor.
"Now it's our turn to use it! Mienshao, use Aura Sphere!"
"Mien...!" And to make it wilder, Mienshao was about to use it as her own weapon. She would aim it at Delphox while in the air, charging up the power of Aura. Something that no Delphox was capable of doing. But this was not a Delphox and this wand did not belong to a Mienshao, making this a rarity. "Shao!"
"I don't think so! Fire Blast!"
"Delphox!" Even without the wand, Delphox could still use his attacks. From his hands, he generated a powerful burst of fire, ready to fire it at Mienshao who would use his own weapon against him. In unison, both attacks were launched. But only one of them would emerge the victory.
Mienshao's Aura Sphere, which was powered by the wand, would pierce the Fire Blast, destroying it. Delphox gasped after seeing his attack lose. The Aura Sphere hit its mark, delivering an azure explosion. Flying out of the explosion was Delphox, who was unable to recover in any way. He would fall on his back, landing near Nadya.
"Delphox..." Delphox had fainted.
"Delphox is unable to battle! Mienshao wins! Which means the winner of this battle is the challenger Rainbow Dash!"
"Oh, finally!" Rainbow Dash sighed, feeling a tad exhausted as that battle would certainly drain anyone with how exciting and fierce it was. And after the victor was called, the crowd erupted with cheers and applause. That surpassed the battle from yesterday and once again made them see what the Battle Frontier could truly offer. "We did it, Mienshao..."
"Mien." Mienshao smiled, with her eyes half open, looking back at Rainbow Dash. A victory well earned after a battle hard fought.
"Way to go you two!" Ash stood up, cheering for his friends. "That was awesome!"
"Pikachu!"
"All that food from earlier did nothing to keep my energy up...I'm already tired." Rainbow Dash laid on her back, needing some time to rest.
"I lost. But that was so much fun!" Nadya grinned, excited about the battle even if she lost it. It was technically her job to test the challengers after all. "Thanks for the hard work, Delphox. We lost this one, unfortunately."
"Delphox."
"But I feel like I got a lot of fortune battling here," Nadya added, looking at Rainbow Dash. "Thanks, Rainbow Dash."
After all was said and done, Rainbow Dash would be rewarded with her first ever Frontier Symbol which was offered up by Nadya herself. For Rainbow Dash, she earned a golden symbol. "Here, Rainbow Dash. For defeating me in battle, you've earned this. The Silver Fortune Symbol."
"Woah..." Rainbow Dash stared at the silver symbol. Seeing this symbol was the start of something new. A new path in her career as a Pokemon Trainer.
"And this is just the Silver one. There is a chance to earn a Gold one if you battle me again."
"Gold? Oh, you have to battle her again, Rainbow Dash. Imagine how it would look like if you had Gold and Silver Symbols as your portfolio." said Rarity, enamoured by that possibility. "That goes for the other Frontier Brains, I'm assuming."
"Good to know." Rainbow Dash would then have the symbol dropped on her hooves. "Yes! I got a Frontier Symbol! My first one!"
"Thanks for everything, Rainbow Dash. And if you ever wanna receive the Gold Fortune Symbol, I'd love to battle you again. Honestly, I would. You're the most fun Trainer I've ever battled." Nadya bowed.
"Hey. I'd love to take you on again. But...another time. I've got other things in mind. The rest of the Battle Frontier is waiting for me and soon, the Equestria League."
"Right. See you next time then. And I'll be sure to see your next Frontier Battle. At least, if I'm availabe."
"You got it. Right now, I'm gonna head home and relax." Rainbow Dash was ready to depart with her friends. She had a good time here as always and it was further elevated by her victory. Rainbow Dash and Nadya had a greater level of respect for each other.
And that kind of respect was universal for Pokemon Trainers. Friend or Foe, every Trainer can connect somehow, no matter what it may be. Whether it was friendly competition, a fierce rivalry or fated enemies, that connection was impossible to avoid. Nadya would be able to go home smiling knowing the connection she's made.
But without her parents knowing. However, now Luca was too curious not to ask, worried about Nadya. The future for Nadya was uncertain, just as how Rainbow Dash's future as a Pokemon Trainer was up in the air as the journey continues.
This was the same day that Rainbow Dash took on the Battle Frontier a second time. And away from that battle were the lessons at the Pokemon School which did not involve fierce battles that appeared as Heavenly Events. Although, there were some battles that would take place but only momentarily.
And at this moment, Twilight Sparkle was speaking to Potion Nova in her classroom as the topic related to the Battle Frontier's Battle Casino.
"That's right. All of that was me." Potion Nova spoke, referring to the mystical energy over at the Battle Casino that caused all those random effects. From the move-stealing to the blackout, Potion Nova's potions made those effects possible, giving spice to the Battle Frontier.
"How long did it take for you to study the Pokemon again?" Twilight questioned. "Because this feels like it's been years in the making."
"I'm a fast learner. When it comes to potions, I'm a master." Potion Nova said with a proud face, knowing that her potions were starting to really get out there in the world. "And as a bonus, that's something I aim to teach the students."
"You'll teach us how to make potions?" Sandbar said.
"Even better. I'll teach you how to make Potions based on Pokemon. I had to use Infinity Energy to make it all possible. And that's exactly what I'm going to teach you. Plus you, Twilight."
"Pssh. You can't teach the principal." Smolder scoffed before seeing the expression of Potion Nova, which said otherwise. Can you?"
"Believe it or not, she can. I was interested in the potions when I learned about her and I've wanted to learn about them myself." Twilight admitted. "But I still don't get how you managed to maintain Infinity Energy to the point where you have so many Pokemon Potions."
"Hm-hm-hm." Potion Nova suddenly chuckled menacingly. There was something she was hiding and now was the best time to show it. "I brought this in the other day without anyone knowing. Teaching the children about this was my go-to plan from the start. It's straight from my home."
The unicorn would back up against the wall before pressing her hoof against it. Suddenly, a magic circle would appear on the wall. The walls would open up as Potion Had something in store that would change so much for the students of the Pokemon School. Behind the wall was a large container that was shaped like a star. And in it was a ball of Infinity Energy.
The students all gawked at it as the Infinity Energy appeared in many colours. The colours of the various Pokemon Types that exist. The wonderful power that not only gives life to the Pokemon World but grants them their amazing power. And Potion Nova just had one on her.
"So that's what you've been using?!" Twilight gasped.
"It has so much that is associated with Pokemon. Moves, Abilities and Types galore. I had to do a lot to make this possible. Experiment with plenty of potions just to try and contain this. And a lot of rebuilding too." Potion Nova explained. "With this, I can make as many potions that are related to the Pokemon as possible."
"We get to use this?! Really?!" Gallus stood up.
"Of course. Under my guidance of course. Something this powerful needs to be taken care of. For those who wish to make potions based around Pokemon, I've got you covered."
"I wanna!" The students would immediately storm over at Potion Nova's direction, wanting to learn about Pokemon Potions. Potion Nova had them hooked indeed.
"And make sure you use these." Potion Nova used her magic to hold up many empty bottles that were prepared for the students. "Don't try and scoop them up. Just hold it near the Infinity Energy and it will gravitate towards your bottles."
All the students would grab onto as many bottles as they could with some of them feeling greedy and wanting more than one. The Infinity Energy was not radioactive but it wasn't safe to touch either. After all, it was a collection of energy with different types in it. Some hot, some cold, some poisonous and some that were truly arcane.
Smolder managed to hold four battles. Her hands, mouth and tail were used in this instance plus some assistance from her Charmander, making it five bottles. The duo would snag some Infinity Energy, filling the empty Potion Bottles with them. There was no choice on what part of the Infinity Energy the students would get. It would just be random. And once they all get their fill, the experiments can truly begin.
Manehattan. Battle Carnival.
Over at the Battle Carnival, Nadya's second battle with Rainbow Dash had come to an end. And right as Rainbow Dash and her friends left, Nadya would be met with her fellow Frontier Brain Luca. Delphox had just been healed up after his intense battle with Mienshao, feeling truly refreshed.
"Nadya. Do you have a moment?"
"Sure. What is it? By the way, how'd I do in battle? Pretty good, right?" Nadya grinned.
"Very good. But you nearly took us out there. We're lucky that Rainbow Dash stopped the attack before it could get out of hand. What I wanted to talk to you about is how you've been recently. There's something definitely wrong, isn't there?"
"N-Nothing. I'm perfectly fine." Nadya would still deny it, crossing her arms and putting on a smile. But the fact that she stuttered didn't help her at all.
"Nadya..." But Luca saw past that. After what happened earlier, he knew that something was up with Nadya.
"What?" Nadya grimaced, trying to keep it hidden. "No way."
"Yes way. If something is wrong, you can tell me. OR anyone here at the Battle Carnival. We help each other after all. Is there anything you want to talk about?"
"Nothing I wanna talk about," Nadya muttered. But while standing there, she realized that Luca wasn't going to leave anytime soon. He was too concerned for her well-being to do so.
"Del. Delphox." Aware of this issue was Delphox. How could he not be? Delphox also wished that Nadya would inform others about this. Even though there was a high risk of her parents being harmed if the situation involving this mysterious group was made to light, Delphox still wanted this to be over with as soon as possible. Surrounded by her friends who cared too much about her, Nadya submitted and blurted out what needed to be said.
"Mmmrgh, fine. There is something. But promise to stay quiet about it. I don't want it getting out there." Nadya requested.
"Sure. Whatever it is, I'll do what I can to help."
"It's my parents, Luca. They've been taken!"
"Taken?!" It was more serious than Luca could imagine. He now knew that Nadya's parents had been kidnapped and were hostages. He expected it to be family troubles or even trouble with someone else. The latter was true but not to the extent that Luca expected. "By who?"
"By Pokemon Hunters."
Canterlot. The Pokemon School.
Back at the Pokemon School, everyone had finally gotten their own bottles of Infinity Energy, ready to use and experiment with. Twilight even snagged one as well.
"Alright, I think that's everyone," said Potion Nova. "We all have our bottles of Infinity Energy and we can start small. Always start small. We can't go too big right now even if we wanted to.
"What does starting small even look like with these?" Smolder questioned while looking at the potions she and Charmander received.
"There are lots of ways to start small. And the best way to do it is how I did it back then. All I did was have my Ponyta unleash a move into the potion bottle. The Infinity Energy may be pulsating and filled with every type out there but needs something to get it started. So unleash your moves onto it, but it has to be weak. If you have a powerful move. make sure your Pokemon holds it back. If it's a naturally weak move, then you're alright. And one extra thing. Do not drink it, please."
"Question." Yona would raise her hoof, preparing a question that Potion Nova was not ready for. However, it was not a question at all. But rather, a declaration.
"Yes, Yona?"
"Yak has drank the potion." She said without a worry in the world.
"You WHAT?!" Potion Nova bellowed as her scream nearly shattered all of the bottles. Everyone would soon turn to face Yona, seeing that she had indeed drunk the potion bottle with Infinity Energy. Half of it was now remaining.
"Mmm." Yona didn't make it any better as she made it seem like it was delicious, putting on a pleased face.
"Alright! Just stay there and don't move!" Potion Nova immediately started panicking. Yona would stay completely still with her pupils shrinking, fearing that she may have done something wrong.
"Yona was thirsty..." Yona admitted to why she did it in the first place. She was just thirsty and the only thing here that appeared somewhat consumable just happened to be the potion of Infinity Energy.
"W-What's going to happen to her now that she's drank it?" Ocellus asked.
"I...I..." Potion Nova grimaced, before closing her eyes. "I actually don't know."
"You don't?"
"I've never drank it myself or seen anyone else drink it. All I know is that it's full of every Type and drinking it wouldn't be safe for the body. There are plenty of risks that can come with it. This is first."
"Do you think she'll turn into a Pokemon?" Gallus said, not taking it seriously at all. Some of the students took it seriously while others didn't. Some found this to be fascinating.
"Will she explode?!" One of the worried students exclaimed.
"Anything could happen. All those potions I made have varying effects and drinking a bottle of Infinity Energy could do the same but potentially worse." Potion Nova sighed. "Before we start, I should probably figure out how to remove it from her body. I should've made a potion for that in case something like this happens."
"Oooh..." Just then, something was beginning to happen. Both of Yona's eyes would shrink and grow constantly as her body was reacting to the Infinity Energy. She would then let out a golden light. Twilight, Potion Nova and the worried students braced themselves for the worst. Yona didn't look that phased by what was happening. Just rather intrigued.
And before she knew it, her hooves were starting to wobble. She would look at her hooves, slowly raising them even after being told not to move. But she just couldn't resist. When raising her hooves, they would suddenly transform. No longer were they hooves but they now gears. These gears were not fully connected either. There was no line putting them together. It made it seem like they were floating there, similar to how an angel halo hovers over an angel.
"She got gears for hooves?! Amazing!" A griffon shouted.
"Did she become part Kling? Or Klang? Or Klingklang?" Sandbar wondered.
Fascinated by this, Yona would bang her massive gear limbs on the table, dealing damage to the wood. The way she was moving them made it feel like she's had them from the start. It was rather easy to control. Yona smiled, moving her Gear Arms as they would also rotate, being completely functional.
"Write this down. Write this down." Twilight nudged Potion Nova as something like this had to be noted. Potion Nova was on it, using her magic to grab a nearby pen and note, instinctively writing down the necessary notes without even looking.
"Are you okay? Your hooves are gone." Ocellus asked, worried about Yona's well-being. "And how are you moving them so easily?"
"Yak feels fine!" Yona said with enthusiasm, swinging her gear arms around. Ocellus and the nearby students would duck as Yona crashed them against the walls, dealing some noticeable damage. What this transformation ended up doing was giving Yona a new way to break things. And seeing this made her fellow Yaks pleased. This meant that the potion was potentially free to drink if an outcome such as this could happen. "Yak feels like metal hooves have been here all the time!"
"Really? It doesn't feel brand new." Twilight slid over. "That sounds an awful lot like Pokemon Evolution."
"It does?" A young pony said.
"Mhm. When some Pokemon evolve, their bodies don't feel too different from before. It's mainly their strength that's different. Obviously, for Pokemon who gain drastic changes when they evolve, it's most definitely a new feeling. Dragonite's a good example of that."
"Alright. At least you're not in pain." Potion Nova sighed with great relief. "That's one thing we can note. It doesn't seem to hurt you when consumed. At least, so far."
"Why'd it choose gears specifically?" A Hippogriff questioned.
"Well...Mmm..." Potion Nova tapped a table, trying her best to find an answer. She would have to refer to her potions to find an answer as this was rather bizarre.
"If I had to guess, the Harmony Phenomenon could be a potential answer." Twilight brought up her own answer before Potion Nova could say anything.
"I wasn't thinking about that but...sure. I mean, we're in Equestria and this is the one place where the Harmony Phenomenon can happen. Aside from Equestrian Forms, this is one of the Pokemon Exclusive things we have." Potion Nova added. "I was honestly going to mention my potions. But none of them transforms your body into that of a Pokemon."
"As for why it chose gears of all things..." Twilight would think, once again using the Harmony Phenomenon as a way to understand this. "For Celestial-Gardevoir, that phenomenon is only possible because of Mega Evolution and the bond that Celestia and Passion share. It's a deviation from the evolution we're used to. And most evolutions are based on what the Pokemon wishes for or the species it is."
"Wait, that's how they work? I thought it was just a biological thing."
"Some of them are. But of some them cater to what the Pokemon wants. Bagon wants to fly so it becomes a Salamence. the Gardevoir line is all about love and embrace. Even Eve evolved from forming a strong bond with her and during the day, of course."
"So what? Your desire is to have gears for arms? Or become a gear?" Gallus spoke. "I didn't even know Yaks knew what gears were."
"Yaks never knew." Yona and the other Yaks de-confirmed that possibility. Gears were not accessible to everyone after all.
"Or this could be something completely different. It might be the Infinity Energy choosing something for her." Potion Nova replied. "In any case, I need to find a way to remove it before something bad happens."
"Oooh! Does this mean we get to drink it too?!"
"Uh, well, for Yona it was safe for her but I'm not sure what will happen if all of you drank your potions." Potion Nova shrugged. "We can't be too safe. So no one should drink from it at any cost."
"Aww..." The students uttered with disappointment. Many of them were craving the possibilities of the Infinity Energy Potion and what they could offer.
"For now, write about the various potion types and what they do. That'll keep you busy for a while." Potion Nova instructed before approaching Yona. "There are enough books for that. Yona. Come with me. I have a potion that might fix this."
But the second Yona would move, another amazing outcome had been revealed. It wasn't just her front hooves that have transformed but it was also her back hooves. Gears replaced them as well, however, they were much smaller and kept a majority of her original hooves intact. The other students have just now noticed this as the second Yona walked, she instead levitated.
Yona felt her body leave the floor as she was taking flight. Potion Nova's jaw dropped as the young yak was now airborne, levitating above everyone else. All this did was further tempt the students to drink the potion. Even those fearful of what they could do were starting to have second thoughts.
"Levitation." Twilight nodded. "Nice. The Kling Line can levitate. Do you think she's taken on the traits of that evolution line?"
"Uh...M-Maybe." Potion Nova muttered before sighing. "I wish I was well-equipped for this. That way, I wouldn't be so shocked. It would've been so great to introduce something like this to the students."
"Aw, I thought it was flying. Oh well." Gallus would ascend along with the other griffons and Dragons. "How does it feel being in the air for the first time? Great, right?"
Yona wasn't too sure yet. Unlike the feeling of moving her new limbs, being in the air was a different kind of feeling. She wasn't that high up and neither was she out there, up in the azure skies. All she knew was that this made it easier to travel around. She would start moving once more, soaring through the air as it further confirmed the truth that this all felt natural.
"Twilight." Potion Nova looked up at Yona in disbelief. "If I were to drink the potion...Do you think I could possibly empty it?"
"Yes," Twilight answered without hesitation. "I once emptied out all of my magic just to make myself a vessel for Rift Energy and now I have Rift Magic. I'm sure Infinity Energy can work the same. It's easier for someone who has quite the knowledge about Pokemon though."
"Good to know. I'm not really being the best teacher I can be right now, huh?"
"You did well yesterday. You're a great teacher without a doubt, Potion Noav. But when it comes to Pokemon, we also have a lot to learn." Twilight raised her spirits, confirming something has always been true but slips away at times. The knowledge of the Pokemon World was truly unknown.
"If I were to drink this..." Smolder was now truly enamoured by the potion. And so was Charmeleon.
"I don't think we should if it worries, Ms Nova," Sandbar suggested.
"AH, Yona looks fine. Just when we thought something could go wrong for her, it's only been getting better for her. Tell ya what...After this class, let's drink them in secrecy."
"We might have to keep the potions behind after class is over though." Ocellus saw this as a bad idea in the making, just like the Blastoff Gang.
"That's why it'll be in secrecy." Smolder winked. "Why should she get to have all the fun?" Smolder and even some of the students had plans for the potions. No matter what, the curiosity of a child was on another level. Even those who agreed not to drink them were being tempted as they witnessed Yona across the air. Yona had all the freedom in the world as those gears were not weighing her down at all.
In a way, she was technically a Pokemon. Just not fully one. The mystery of Infinity Energy was simply an example of how grand the Pokemon World truly was and there was never a sign of the possibilities coming to an end. And with Equestria added into the mix, those possibilities were going to keep growing as new ones were being formed.
Watching all of this play out was none other than Team Rocket. They witnessed the phenomenon before their eyes and were equally as amazed as the students. Still in their school disguises, they skipped out on their jobs just to spy on the classes to see what they could gather. And they hit the jackpot.
"Look at that. I underestimated that Potion Pony. I didn't think too much of her." Jessie gasped.
"It's a bit like Zecora, isn't it? She made potions but not on this level I don't think." James gawked.
"We need those potions. At once!" Jessie declared. "If we drink from them, could you imagine what we could become? I could become the Perfect Pokemon I've always wanted to be~"
"An Exploud?" James commented, referring to how loud Jessie was and how much she nags.
"If I do become one I'll blow you away!" Jessie roared at James proving his point.
"Wouldn't it be better to give it to the boss? I don't need that stuff. I'm perfect the way I am." Meowth confidently said, seeing no reason to drink the potions.
"Yes, yes. The boss will get this for sure. But we have to be the taste testers in this." Jessie leaned over towards Meowth. "As a bonus, whatever we get, we can use to become better. Psychic powers. Fairy Magic. The possibilities are endless!"
"It gives Team Rocket a certified upgrade!" James gave a thumbs-up as the three of them agreed on what had to be done. Another one of Team Rocket's antics was in preparation. After classes end, they knew what they were doing after this. There would be a great heist of Infinity Energy. First the container and then the bottles.
With the Infinity Energy Potions now having the possibility to grant the user anything upon drinking them, intrigue in these bottles have skyrocketed to new levels as they were now widespread. And poor Potion Nova had no clue what she has just started as the journey continues.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
Gathering Infinity Energy into Potion Bottles, the students of the Pokemon School were supposed to have a normal lesson As normal as it could be. However, Yona, out of thirst, drank one of the potions and underwent somewhat of a Pokemon Transformation, replacing her front hooves gears plus two smaller gears on her back hooves. Plus, the ability to levitate. Yona was almost her own Pokemon but she was still very much recognizable.
Afternoon had come and it was time for the students to leisure around and have fun. By this time, most of them were probably set to head home considering these lessons end at 12:30 compared to what it was previously. 3:00.
And once everyone had left the classrooms, Team Rocket would enter, planning what could be their most profitable theft yet. The power of the potions was unpredictable, much like Rift Energy. But unlike Rift Energy, it was all Pokemon-based, making a bit more predictable. After seeing everything play out, they knew how to reveal the hidden wall that kept the Infinity Energy.
Jessie would slide her hand across the wall that Potion Nova stood by, trying to find the right spot. And after a few seconds of sliding, she found what she needed. The walls opened up, showing the Infinity Energy within the massive container, sitting there with endless power pulsating.
"There it is~" Jessie giggled, getting excited as if she was a little girl. "Our ticket to endless power. Grab a bottle, now!" All Team Rocket had to do was grab a bottle. Meowth wouldn't drink from it as he felt that he had no need for Infinity Energy. He was already a Pokemon.
Jessie and James would grab as many bottles as they could, holding them near the container of Infinity Energy which would gravitate towards these empty bottles. Jessie and James wanted more than one potion. They would obviously send a majority of them to Giovanni and the rest of Team Rocket but they would also take a considerable amount for themselves, just as a form of backup. And once they gathered enough, Jessie and James were ready to indulge in the possibilities.
"Alright. It's time we had our fill."
"DO you think we could possibly go back if we drink from this?" James questioned.
"Of course. There's always a way back. Our time with Zecora taught us that and we have things like RIft Energy to count on. And so on and so forth. This will be temporary but if we score big, then we'll make it permanent." Jessie boasted.
"I suppose. That Potion Nova probably has the perfect answer for it as well. I guess there's nothing to worry about for the most part."
"Now then. A toast to us going down a Path of Power!" Jessie raised her bottle and so did James as they could toast each other. They were predicting endless power at their disposal and this is where it would begin.
"Yeah right..."Meowth thought otherwise. His entire time being around Jessie and James had shown him that what could go wrong can go wrong. Whatever Jessie and James receive could backfire on them greatly. But they were too enamoured by the potion's temptation to skip out on it as the duo would drink from it.
"Mmm. Tastes like Strawberry." Jessie pointed out the taste of her potion. She was surprised to find that it had some kind of taste and it was a rather delicious one too. Perhaps, Yona had the right mind drinking from the bottle.
"Mine tastes like Vanilla." James got a different flavour as it seemed to vary depending on either the person or the bottle.
"Pssh. Vanilla has no taste." Jessie scoffed after hearing that, clearly not being the biggest fan of vanilla.
"That's because you don't get it. Vanilla is a one-of-a-kind taste." James defended it, finding vanilla to be quite pleasant. "Princess Celestia's favourite cake is vanilla, therefore, mine is the best by Royal Status."
"Oh please. In the industry of ice cream or cakes, no one in their right mind is going to-" Before Jessie could finish her sentence, the effects of the potions kicked in. The duo gasped as the infinity Energy radiated out of their bodies, emanating a golden glow.
Meowth stepped back, amazed by the event happening before him. He witnessed his friends undergo pseudo-transformations as the Infinity Energy was specifically trying to interact with their Human Bodies. This would be very different to how Yona, who was a yak, interacted it. In fact, this isn't the first time Humans have interacted with Infinity Energy as some Pokemon used to be humans. And this would certainly not be the last. Just then, one of Meowth's predictions was proven wrong.
Jessie was the first to change as her arms would suddenly pulsate rapidly. Before she knew it, she gained a long dress, very similar to a Gardevoir. In fact, her hair was also undergoing a change, trying to form itself into Gardevoir's hair but it just didn't go that far. She only gained the dress of a Gardevoir.
But as a bonus, she also received wings. Jessie would blossom wings that resembled blossoms as they would match her hair colour, appearing as a part of her. Upon receiving them, Jessie would spread her arms out, making herself appear as an angel.
"Lucky me! I'm an absolute angel! I mean, I always was but now I'm more of an angel!"
"Hold on! Why did you get such a good pick!?" But for James, it wasn't what he expected. At all. His transformation was minimal. Very minimal. So minimal that it barely looked like anything was different from him as he just looked like himself. But there was indeed something there and it was on top of James's head. It turned out to be an antenna of some sort.
"Pfft! Ha!" Jessie wheezed, pointing at James's antennae. "So much for that! You're just yourself but with an accessory! Meanwhile, I have a beautiful dress. I suppose that theory Twilight had was completely right. It does choose what's best for us. And this is best for me~"
"Hmmmrgh..." James grumbled, rather unsatisfied with his decision. But at that moment, the purple antennae on his head would light up as the power it bestowed would reveal itself.
"I would've much rather preferred to be a Milotic but this is just as great." Suddenly, James heard Jessie's thoughts. His eyes widened as he could know what she was thinking. "So sad for James but fortune favours the beautiful, I suppose."
"Hm-hm." James smiled as he was already aware how much of an advantage this was. He would then shift his attention to Meowth, reading his mind as well.
"How am I gonna tell the boss this? If we give him a potion that makes him lame like James, it'll be over for us."
"Anyway! Enough dawdling. Let's get these back to the boss." Jessie would then hold her hand out, aiming at the container of Infinity Energy. Lo and behold, much like Yona, it was all instinctive and natural. And in this case, gaining Psychic abilities.
She indeed had them, making it a bit convincing that she gained some traits of a Pyschic Pokemon However, while it became natural for her to already know to use this power, it was not easy to control. The second she used it by flicking her finger, the container broke through the rest of the wall, shattering it. Jessie grimaced after that loud sound was made. But it wasn't just the sound that was a problem but the speed. She had no proper control, resulting in the container moving at high speeds, threatening to crash into her.
"Wait, wait!" Jessie screeched, trying to bring a halt to it. But she was too late as it was already close. It looked like Jessie would suffer a heavy hit from the container, only for her to suddenly teleport. Her body would let out a purple flash, allowing her to vanish, ending up on the other side of the classroom. Jesse instinctively saved herself at that moment.
Thankfully for Team Rocket, the caldron didn't go too far, only crashing into some tables and chairs at best. Hopefully, no one heard that but that was a rather bellowing sound. After looking at each other, Jessie, James and Meowth realized they have truly hit the jackpot. Aiming to take the Infinity Energy was the best plan yet.
"Well, that could've gone better. But it'll be much better once we get this rolling," said Jessie with a wide grin.
"And with all of these potions to drink from, we can be Jacks of All Trades and Masters of All at the same time," James added. And the things they were going to do were seemingly endless. And James was already ahead of them, reading both of their minds and knowing what they wanted. Jessie was now some sort of Psychic Angel while James could read minds. These two working together with these newly acquired could lead to absolutely terrifying results. The first thing to do was find a way to get all of these to Giovanni.
"I'll be able to prank anyone once I get my hooves on this potion." Just then, James heard a voice. But it wasn't one that came from the mouth but from the mind and neither of his friends were responsible for that.
"Oh, hold on! Someone's coming!" James warned as his mind-reading ability allowed him to be a few steps ahead of others. Hearing this, Team Rocket would try and conceal themselves somewhere. The massive container was pulled out of the wall, making this destruction very visible.
And the one place they would hide themselves was that very same well. If it was wide enough to hold the container, it was wide enough to hide them as the trio would zip away. Entering the classrooms were students. Enamoured by the Infinity Energy potions, they were here to take them. Upon entering, their eyes met with the container which was just sitting out there as well as the wall being open.
"What happened here?" A young pegasus wondered. "Did someone beat us to it?"
"Do you think we should tell the teachers about this?" A Hippogriff student wondered.
"You can do that I'm taking some of these potions home with me." The students would quickly gather the empty bottles that could be found on the shelves of this classroom, ready to do what Team Rocket did. If anything, the students and Team Rocket weren't so different from each other at the moment.
Meanwhile, Potion Nova was going through a list of potions in the Staff Room, trying to find a solution to Yona's new Pokemon parts. She had more potions lined up in the staff room now that she works here. Best to bring them over. Potions back at her classroom didn't do the trick so she was hoping some from the staff room would be effective. But none showed positive results at all. On the floor and tables were empty bottles that have already been drank by Yona, but neither of them did anything.
"Surely there's something!" Potion Nova said, scanning her catalogue of potions. Twilight was there, observing it all play out. All these potions and none were having an effect even though they were also filled with Infinity Energy. "Nothing..The rest of these won't do us any good. Never before have I been this stumped."
"It's alright, Nova." Twilight gave her a comforting pat on the back. "Happens to the best of us. On the bright side, Yona seems the be getting used to this."
Indeed she was. Yona has already gotten very adjusted to the new limbs and the power to levitate. It felt like a whole new world for the young yak and she didn't feel like getting rid of it at all. Potion Nova felt like she was lacking now, not really appearing as the potion expert she appeared to be. But this was something out of her control at the moment.
"Prince Rutherford and the Yaks could be here any minute to pick up the young Yaks. How are we going to tell them this?2 Potion Nova sighed. "I don't want to say Neighsay was right but..."
"NO need to worry. We'll figure something out even if they arrive too soon."
"Hm?" But before they could do so, suddenly, the gear limbs that Yona now had were starting to pulsate. She looked over at them, noticing how they were beginning to disperse with beautiful golden lights appearing. Twilight and Potion Nova gazed with astonishment as Yona slowly descended from the air, touching the floor. The gears on her back hooves were disappearing as well. Just like that, they were all gone. No longer did she have those gears. She was now back to being herself. "Yak back to normal?"
"I-It ended? It has a time limit!" Twilight Sparkle gasped as that solved their problems in a heartbeat. "How much time was that?"
"She drank it midway during the lesson which is 30 minutes. That means the potion only lasted for 15 minutes!" Potion Nova deduced. Twilight and Nova now found out how long the effect of the Infinity Potion lasts for. 15 minutes at best it seems. "Oh, thank Celestia, it only lasts for 15 minutes."
"Aww..." Yona was rather disappointed by that. She thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it and now it was gone with no sign of popping back up.
"When I get home, I'll have to test them out myself. If they only last for 15 minutes, then I should be fine." said Potion Nova."
"Do you mind if I take one as well?" Twilight requested. "I'd like to give it a shot to see what I can find. That Harmony Phenomenon part I spoke of might come into play."
"I saw some of the students sneak some of the potions away. That much was to be expected." Potion Nova added. "But if they drank it earlier, then by now, it should have run out. You can head home now, Yona. Everything's fine now."
"Yak wanted the moment to last." Yona walked out, wanting it to last longer. Alas, that was not happening right now.
Twilight Sparkle and Potion Nova were about to call it a day as well. Potion Nova would be busy back home as well as Twilight Sparkle. But right as they were preparing to depart, a growl suddenly hit their ears. The magical duo paused for a moment. It was temporary. The growl did not last that long at all. But the way it sounded was rather concerning. It sounded like a Dragon's roar. But it did not come from any Dragon Pokemon they knew.
The cause of this happened outside. On the fields of the Pokemon School, the first group to really try and drink the potions were had gathered around. Once again, it was Gallus, Ocellus, Sandbar and Smolder. And in their clutches were the Infinity Potions. Most of these were gathered by Smolder and her partner Charmander.
"Okay. We have them with us. Let's see what they can do."
"This is probably too dangerous," said Sandbar. "It made Yona's hooves into gears and allowed her to levitate."
"How's that dangerous? That sounds amazing!" Gallus exclaimed. "We've got limited time before we get picked up from school so let's make this quick."
"This won't be that much different compared to when I transform." Ocellus quietly said. This wasn't new territory for her. She and the Changelings tend to turn into others and most recently Pokemon.
"Well, it is for us." Smolder opened up the bottle, putting on a wide grin. Not only was she about to drink but also Charmander. Compared to Meowth, Charmander was eager to try it out, being just as rambunctious as his trainer. These two were a perfect duo without a doubt.
"I would like to know what would happen though..." Sandbar's curiosity was also getting the better of him. Before he could make up his mind, Gallus, Charmander and Sandbar drank from the potions. They would savour some of it. Only drinking small portions instead of the whole time.
"Aaah..." Gallus breathed out. "Tastes familiar. Is this grape-flavoured?"
"Ooh. This is weird." Smolder didn't exactly recognize the taste. Dragons don't eat much food. But to her, it tasted like magic which was rather odd. She didn't even know magic could have a taste?
"Char...Charman!" And the first to feel the effects was Charmander. All of them gasped as the golden light emerged from his body. They backed away as Charmander was suddenly beginning to glow. What would happen when a Pokemon who already has Infinity Energy inside drinks Infinity Energy? They were about to find out. And the result was rather impressive.
Charmander grew a bit. Not by much, but he grew to a level that was slightly taller than Smolder. His body shape remained the same and there was something very familiar about the form he was about to take. His normal orange skin turned black. The flame on his tail turned blue, becoming hotter than before and his usual blue eyes now turned red. Lo and behold, Charmander appeared as his Mega Evolution. But not as a Charizard. Just as his normal self.
"Woah! Look at you, Charmander!" Smolder's eyes enlarged. "You've Mega Evolved! B-But not really? How come you're still just a Charmander? I heard Spike's Salamence started out as a Bagon and then skipped to his final evolution. Shouldn't the same happen here?"
"Charmander?"
"So is this Mega Charmander X instead of Mega Charizard X? Nice." Gallus greatly approved.
"I didn't see that coming." Sandbar shook his head. "But then again, Mega Evolution has plenty of Infinity Energy in it. Maybe this just exposed Charmander to what he's always had within but could only get when he fully evolves."
"Char! Charmander!" Amazed by his Mega Form which was still his first form, Charmander would breathe out of fire. And of course, it was blue. With blue fire, that confirmed that Charmander had grown stronger.
"This could make things way easier for me actually...I could become a Dragon Master in no time with this kind of boost..." Smolder thought for a moment. "I'll have a Mega Evolution on my side forever. I'll win battles easily and by the time he evolves, he'll be the strongest Charizard out there. It's foolproof!"
"Mander!" Charmander agreed, enjoying the power boost very greatly.
"Okay, Charmander. We-" But now, it was time for Smolder to undergo a change. She puffed her cheeks as the golden glow left her body too. All eyes were on her now as she was about to feel the traits of a Pokemon as well. But arguably, Smolder underwent the biggest change out of all of them so far.
Her body went through a great chance. It was also growing bigger, just like Charmander. But it was by a greater margin. Smolder groaned as she was suddenly losing her usual build. It was now being replaced with something else. Something serpentine. But her arms and legs would still remain.
Her growth prompted everyone else to move away as the buildings of the Pokemon School would soon be hit by this growth. Yet again, it took damage. But what else was new?
Not only was she gaining a new build, but she was also gaining new parts. Her wings went away first, removing it away from Smolder's natural appearance and instead, bringing her something new. Next to her were two long heads that sprouted from her body. And these heads with their long necks looked very much like Smolder. In fact, they were her.
Jaws dropped as Smolder's transformation was the most extreme out of them all so far. She now had three heads of herself, appearing older as well. And as for those wings, they returned but were now on her arms, similar to how bats have wings. And this was also the cause of the roar that Twilight and Nova both heard.
The left head ended up breaking through the windows of the Pokemon School, entering the hallway. And when breaking through, these new eyes spotted Team Rocket. The Team Rocket Trio screeched, holding onto each other upon seeing this massive head of a Dragon. They felt like they've been caught already. Twilight and Nova would look outside the window, seeing this massive Three-Headed Dragon outside. It seems that they weren't quite done with the day yet as the journey continues.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
Four results have popped up after drinking the Infinity Potions For Team Rocket, Jessie and James gained some Psychic benefits and for Smolder and Charmander, they underwent what could be considered evolutions. Charmander resembled his Mega Charizard X form but with his first form as the appearance while Smolder had the most drastic change of them all.
Larger and packing three heads, Smolder was now an entity that shared a resemblance to Hydreigon. Or really, a Hydra in general but with wings, so a lot closer to Hydreigon.
The left head of Smolder ended up crashing through the walls of the Pokemon School which was yet another level of damage done to the place that would have to be repaired pretty soon. And upon crashing through, she came across Team Rocket who were currently planning to flee the scene with the Infinity Energy Cauldon and plenty of bottles, just to bring back to Giovanni.
The TRio were paralyzed upon seeing this massive Dragon head, fearing that they have been caught. To keep themselves safe, they stayed perfectly still, trying not to stand out. Luckily for them, the left head of Smolder was too dazed, rolling her eyes around.
"Oooh...That caught me off guard." The middle head of Smolder, which was the real Smolder, groaned, feeling a bit winded. Her voice was also louder, having an echoing effect.
"I think so too..." Just then, the right head spoke, having her own sentience. The real Smolder gasped, looking to the side. She couldn't believe her eyes but there was now another part of her that was also sentient. "What?"
"Is she a Hydra? Lucky." Gallus said, waiting for his potion to kick in. But so far, nothing has happened yet.
"Hydra's don't have wings. I think she adopted the traits of a Hydreigon." Sandbar commented.
"Not again.." Potion Nova lowered her head. "I should be happy that they're testing out my potions but this is gonna make look like a terrible teacher!" She tried being excited for this since it meant more Potion Results were showing up but now that she was a teacher, she was rather limited.
"Hey, hey. Don't let this stop you from doing what you love." Twilight said. "B-But this is pretty serious. We should probably do something about it."
"I have three heads! That means I'm smarter now!" Smolder cackled. All the students, either staying behind or heading home watched as one of their classmates had undergone her own evolution. Of all the traits of a Poemon she could have, it just so happened to be this.
"Smolder!" Twilight bellowed, exiting out of her room via teleportation alongside Potion Nova. "How are you feeling?!"
"Pretty good, Principal Twilight! Or is it still Princess Twilight?" The middle head said.
"This should probably only last 15 minutes," Twilight said. "After that, you'll be back to normal. And the same goes for anyone else."
"Only 15 minutes Bleh." Gallus blurted, wishing it was permanent or even longer than that.
"If she can become that, then I need to drink that potion ASAP!" Seeing Smolder emerge as that fully convinced a majority of the students. They just had to get their fill now that they've seen what the potions could do. The things they could become or rather get.
"All of you, eh?" Potion Nova said to the students. "I should've seen this coming but oh well. I live for something like this but maybe I wouldn't feel so worried about it if I was off school grounds."
"Just try to keep yourself steady, Smolder. You're rather massive right now." Twilight flew up to the Young Dragon-Hydra. Although, she didn't look that young at all with this size. "By the way. Are three heads what you desired in life?"
"No? I have other desires on my mind. This isn't one of them but I don't mind it." Smolder shrugged.
"I do though." The left head replied, showing a rather displeased face. Noticeably, she carried a different disposition compared to the middle one. "This hurts. Not for you, but for me."
"It does?" The middle Smolder uttered, side-eyeing her middle head.
"Yeah. I'm off the side here!" The left roared. "Swap places with me. Right now."
"I can't swap places with you! Can I?"
"Oooh, can I have that?" As for the right head, she had a different disposition. One that was on the materialistic side. She eyed down a unicorn student holding a Fire Gem, ready to pass it on to her Torchic. Without her even saying anything, the Right Head of Smolder would snag the Fire Gem away from the young pony with her mouth.
"AH! Hey!"
"Torchic!" Naturally, Torchic was greatly displeased by this, jumping up and down to rant against Smolder.
"Mmm! Spicy~," She said after consuming what was supposed to power up Torchic.
"Ow! I felt that one!" The left head bellowed as the heat of the Fire Gem travelled through each head, not just one. The middle Smolder coughed for a moment while the left growled at the right head. The right head of Smolder grinned, having bits of the gem in between her teeth and seeing that gem greatly agitated the left head.
"The two extra heads seem to have their own personality." Twilight Sparkle observed as Potion Nova was once again taking notes. These two heads were very different from each other but there was certainly some familiarity. Both of them take on traits that are still akin to dragons. The left was rather aggressive as seen by how she was trying to reach the other head, viciously roaring at her while the right leaned towards the materialistic part of Dragons, wanting wealth of some sort. Just to eat it all.
"Ow! Ow! Knock it off you two!" The middle Smolder bellowed as she was caught up in the squabbling between the two. The left head would try and hit the right, only for the right head to swerve and evade each hit, laughing at the left.
"But I don't think those are traits that Smolder usually lets out. At least from what I've seen." Twilight shook her head.
"Ugh! Whatever! I just want to go home right now! Being around this place is gonna get to me with how mushy it is." The left head groaned. She would try forcing herself away which involved her pushing herself forward as much as she could. Lo and behold, the sheer force of her head being pushed was actually making the entire body of Smolder move.
"Hey! How are you doing that?!" The real Smolder gasped. "I thought I was in control here!"
"Let's not leave yet!" The right Smolder thought otherwise, using her own sheer force to move the other way. She wished to stick around for a little while. "And if we're going anywhere, let's at least make it a place with a ton of jewels!"
With these two at odds, it was messing up the middle Smolder as the legs of this Dragon-Hydra were starting to stumble. And that size wasn't just for show. As seen by how the left head crashed through the building, they packed power and weight. And with all of this stumbling, they made tiny tremors that could still be felt.
"Calm down, you three! Or are you still one being?" Twilight said, backing away from this squabble. Gallus and Sandbar would move back, nearly being stomped by the frantic legs.
"Oh, Gallus. Your wings changed." Ocellus quickly pointed out after seeing Gallus back away.
"Wait, they have?!" Without him even noticing, Gallus had already undergone a transformation. And it was rather minimal compared to what Smolder received. Lo and behold, his feathers had been detached from his body, floating while also appearing in different colours. Gallus lowered his eyes as he found this to be rather lacklustre after seeing what Smolder received. "Well, it's something."
"T-This isn't as awesome as I want it to be...!" The middle head of Smolder groaned. Her excitement had vanished once she experienced what having two spare heads was like. Both of them had their own personalities and were very different from each other as the massive body of Smolder was on the verge of crashing through the Pokemon School with all of this stumbling.
After being unnoticed, Team Rocket would continue on their way, bringing in the Infinity Energy Container with them. They still had a few ways to go before they could make a full-on getaway. They witnessed the massive Smolder, glad that she didn't take the time to look back.
"That was a close one," Jessie said as she was currently using her newly attained Psychic Powers to move this. "Hurry and let's get out of here before someone notices us. This place should be empty from the inside, no doubt.
"You're the one with the Psychic Power. Why don't you move along faster?"
"I have to be careful with this thing. And besides, what good are you? That thing on your head hasn't done anything useful at all." Jessie grizzled her teeth. But little did she know, James knew what his power was and it was a rather useful one. "Unless you're hiding something?"
"What would there be to hide" James said with a smirk but that was only making Jessie more and more suspicious of him. At that moment, she thought to herself which prompted James to read her mind. "He's definitely hiding something. James should know that he can never get the slip on me." Alas, right now, he was very much getting the slip on her in the best way possible.
"Piloswine." However, the indoors weren't as empty as Team Rocket wished they were. Appearing from around the corner of this hallway as a Pokemon. Specifically, it was Yona's Piloswine.
"Ghhh!" Jessie froze, ending her Psychic hold. Team Rocket had to freeze once more once they saw someone else. But they weren't expecting to see a Piloswine. Piloswine came to a halt, gazing at the Trio. But it was rather hard to tell if he was looking at them or not with all of that hair in his way. "Oh. It's just a Piloswine."
"That's not too much of an issue." James shrugged. "It seems to be on its own."
"Go on, shoo. We have places to be," said Jessie waving her hands. But Piloswine seemed rather static, not reacting to Jessie's movements. "Go, or I'll have to use my amazing Psychic Might to move you. And you wouldn't want that, would you?"
"Piloswine!" Another voice came through, repeating
"Guess that makes two Piloswines," said James.
"That ain't the voice of a Piloswine..." But Meowth, who knew Pokemon Language, could tell when someone sounds like a Pokemon.
"Piloswine! Yona found you!" Instead, it came from Yona. She would soon show up, finding her Piloswine who was wandering through the hallways. Now Team Rocket had a reason to worry. "Yak needs to go home with-" She would soon come to a halt, witnessing the sight before her. Team Rocket's secrecy wasn't looking that secret since there have been three instances of someone being near them. The first was a lucky break but the following two were already throwing out red flags for them. And unlike Piloswine, Yona was well aware.
Her eyes narrowed as she instantly recognized the Infinity Energy Container and she most definitely did not recognize Team Rocket. They were not in their school disguises and only Jessie looked somewhat different. "Wait..."
"Don't move!" Jessie exclaimed before Yona could say anything else. "You should've kept walking, little one. You didn't see anything here."
"Old lady's stealing the Infinity Energy Container. Yak can see that." Yona pointed.
"Old!?" Jessie barked as this was the second time she's been called old here at the Pokemon School. First, it was Smolder and now it was Yona. "Why you! I look young for my age, alright?! I won't be hearing that from a child!"
She would try and take it out on Yona, holding out her hand. The Psychic Hold would now be transferred over to Yona. Yona felt her body being lifted through the air once more. But this time, it wasn't from her own will but Jessie's newly attained abilities.
"Pilo...Swine!" Taking offence to this, Piloswine would act. And all it would take was one stomp as the Swine Pokemon would use Earthquake. Moving across the floor was a golden shockwave that sent powerful tremors, instantly throwing Jessie's focus out of the window.
"Oh! Oooh!" Jessie bellowed, trying to keep herself steady. Meowth fell over as James placed his hand on the nearby wall to maintain his balance. Yona, who would fall flat on her face, would soon get back up.
"No fear! I just have to know what they're planning next." James would simply need to read the minds of Yona and Piloswine to know what their next moves are. However, he would soon discover that Piloswine wasn't acting on thought. Instead, he was acting on instinct. Thus, he couldn't predict the next move. "Nothing?!"
"Pilo!" And that instinct involved PIloswine seeing Team Rocket as the enemy for daring to touch Yona in such a way. He would use Ancient Power, summoning fossilized rocks from the floor, continuing his attack.
"Eeek!" Jessie screeched, putting her arms up to shield herself. As the rocks came flying in, another part of Team Rocket's newly attained abilities would show themselves. The second the rocks got close to Jessie, they came to a halt. Jessie opened her eyes slightly, seeing that the rocks had stopped all of a sudden. This was all thanks to a Psychic Shield that soon showed itself in the form of a screen. "Oh? Ohoho! A Psychic Shield! Wonderful! Sucks to be you!"
"Old lady drank from the container?!" Yona gasped.
"I'm not old...!" Jessie clenched her fist, getting tired of being called old. It very much reminded her of how Dawn would sometimes call her old. It didn't help that there was also a Piloswine here, which fed into that Dawn Parallel.
"We're on the verge of drawing attention here. Let's just scram while we have the chance!" Meowth suggested.
"I know, I know! Full speed ahead! And this time, I'll take flight like the beautiful angel I am!" Jessie would finally use the wings on her back, taking flight. She made sure to look good while doing it, putting on a dainty and elegant pose. She certainly looked elegant as the blossoms of the wings would fall gracefully.
And after taking flight, Jessie would swipe her hands, sending the forcefield she created accidentally at Yona and Piloswine. This involved the rocks as she planned to take them both out. Yona gasped, holding onto her partner as the forcefield was wide enough to reach the hallway, touching both walls.
"Loswine!" Refusing to let harm come to Yona, Piloswine would once again use Earthquake. Another golden tremor emerged, meeting with the Psychic Shield. Upon colliding, this part of the Pokemon School would tremble, shattering the nearby windows. And just as James predicted, this drew attention.
It didn't take long for Twilight and the others to notice this as they could hear the rumbling coming from the Pokemon School. It looked like it was happening on the third floor of the school which was not that high up. Smolder was still going through her Hydra problem.
Jessie was lucky to be in the air, making her free from Earthquake's tremors. But the same couldn't be said for James and Meowth who fell over immediately. And one thing that was only at risk here was the container. It would wobble with the Infinity Energy inside pulsating. From the way it was wobbling, it could potentially fall through the window and blow Team Rocket's cover. Quickly, Jessie would hold it in place with her Psychic Hold.
But Twilight was already to spot their cover. Taking flight and joined by the long head of Smolder, Twilight approached the part of the school that lost its walls. She didn't need to look through the windows since Smolder's left head from before broke through. A lot has been happening here at the Pokemon School and it mainly involved destruction. Nothing a little magic couldn't fix, making Twilight free of paying any money. But even so, she had to know who caused this considering Smolder was outside.
"Nice try!" Jessie taunted. "But right now, I'm invincible! More than I've ever been!"
"What the?! Team Rocket?!" Twilight Sparkle shouted, noticing Team Rocket instantly. James and Meowth were recognizable and even Jessie as her Rocket Top was still present. "Is that you?!"
"What a question, twerpish indeed!" To Team Rocket, this felt like a good time to start their motto as Jessie would go first as always. And this time, they would introduce themselves as a stronger Team Rocket after drinking from the Potion Bottle.
"We'll answer these questions when we feel the need!" James slid in, flicking the purple antennae on his head which would pulsate.
"Bringing the blinding white light of evil into the future!" Jessie would then reveal her wings, wrapping them around her body while continuing the motto.
"Thrusting the hammer of justice down onto the black darkness of the universe!" James unfortunately couldn't do much with just an antenna but that didn't stop him from doing his usual poses.
"Carving our names in the Rock of Eternity!" Meowth did a backflip, landing on top of the container.
"The fiery destroyer, Ascended Jessie!" Jessie would spread her wings out while also emanating a Psychic Aura. She even gave herself a new name thanks to the Pokemon Parts she received.
"And with thunderous emotion, I am James!" James stuck to his original name, making sure he wasn't too suspicious.
"Wisest of the wise, Meowth!"
"And now gather, under the name of Team Rocket!" Team Rocket said in unison, finishing one of their mottos yet again.
"You change that here and there, don't you?" said Twilight. "But never mind that! You're trying to get away with the container, aren't you?"
"Baha! Duh? What does it look like?" Jessie chuckled. "Do you have any idea how valuable something like this can be? That Potion Nova should be fired from her job for letting something like this slip out so easily."
"The greatest power in existence that brings us all here today is now more accessible than ever," James added to the conversation. "We'll give her praise but soon, we'll take all the glory once we turn it in."
"The boss is gonna love this. Pretty soon, we'll have an army of Pokemon-powered Team Rocket!" Meowth cackled. "And for the boss, only the top-tier Pokemon Parts will go to him!"
"Is that what's going on?" Smolder commented.
"As if. You don't know how this thing works and your boss will most likely get the wrong Pokemon Parts."
"Hush up! You're the one who said it depends on the desires and look at me now! Don't try and change it!" Jessie pointed out, making Twilight grizzle her teeth.
"In any case, as long as I am the Principal, you won't be leaving here with that!" Twilight bellowed, ready to take action. And this also meant that James was ready to see just how useful his mind-reading ability could be. By using it against his enemies. "A quick Dazzling Gleam to blind them and I'll swoop in to grab Yona and Piloswine."
"Aha." James now knew what Twilight was going for. And he certainly wouldn't let her succeed.
"Eve! Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"I think not." James would quickly move behind the container right as Twilight gave a command. This was the perfect time for him to use Espeon's light against her.
"Espeon!" The beautiful flash of light would fly out of Espeon's body, ready to blind Team Rocket. But Espeon was not ready for what came next. By using the container and closing his eyes, James would move it to the side as it would act as a powerful reflector. And it certainly was. The light would go against Espeon, blinding her and Twilight instead of Team Rocket. But Jessie and Meowth certainly saw it, flinching immediately. "E-Esp?!"
"Hm-hm! Saw that coming already!"
"You do have an ability!" Jessie groaned as she finally figured out that James did have something in store which helped him counter Dazzling Gleam.
"Yes, yes, now get pushing!" James ordered. Jessie rubbed her eyes, feeling her hand against the container. Once she felt it, she would continue using her Psychic hold to move. But with a bonus. The other hand would be used to form that Psychic Screen once more. Jessie used it as a way to protect herself while also pushing through whatever gets in her way. And in this case, it was Yona and Piloswine, who have also been blinded.
"P-Pilo!" Piloswine would feel himself being pushed back along with Yona. Their faces were pressed against the screen as Jessie's vision was beginning to return. And so was the vision of Twilight and her partner Espeon.
"H-How did he?" Twilight shook her head, shocked that James already knew how to react in time. Team Rocket were on the run as always. "Not so fast! Eve, use Quick Attack!"
"Espeon!" Espen would then bolt off the floor, leaving behind afterimages as she moved at lightning speeds. James didn't have a response for this as he ended up taking a swift hit to the back.
"Ghhh!" James screeched after taking that hit. His body would shudder for a moment.
"Get lost! I'm the better Psychic here now!" Jessie taunted before suddenly finding something else that became natural. By glaring at Espeon, she unleashed a Psychic wave. It was small but powerful. Espeon gasped, seeing this Psychic wave appear as it would repulse her away from Team Rocket's position.
"E-Espeon!"
"Eve!" Twilight shouted, holding her hoof out to catch her partner in midair. However, Twilight did not expect the force that Espeon was launched at as she would be sent flying herself when catching the Sun Pokemon. Twilight would crash into the ground, tumbling for a moment.
"Bahaha!" Jessie laughed before she and the others took a turn, finally letting go of Yona and Piloswine. Yona's blindness would come to an end as she had no idea what just happened.
"There's no way I'm getting beaten by Team Rocket." Twilight groaned. She couldn't believe what was happening. Team Rocket was starting to outplay her. "I'm not letting that happen. Lock down the school!
To make sure that Team Rocket would not escape, Twilight ordered a lockdown. And it wasn't something that would involve locks or someone else doing it. No. From her voice alone, the doors were beginning to shut and lock themselves. Rift Magic appeared around the doors and other entrances as the nearest door in front of Team Rocket would be closed off.
Right before their eyes, it just closed, shutting down in an instant. All across the school, doors and windows were being shut down, fully guarding the school from the inside.
"When I added more to the Pokemon School, I made sure to involve certain commands. All thanks to Rift Magic." Twilight said before helping Espeon up. "So, Team Rocket. You're not going anywhere."
"Darn it! Just when I boasted to her a few seconds ago!" Jessie shouted, trying to open the doors with all of her might. But a lockdown as a lockdown, no matter what. "Do something!"
"You're the one with Psychic powers! Blast the door down!" Meowth shouted, pointing out the obvious.
"Oh, right." Jessie blinked before backing away from the door. "Of course I can! No one can stop me now that I'm Ascended Jessie! Witness!" Jessie would hold both hands out this time, building up all the Psychic Energy she had within. Out of her hands, Jessie would release a Psychic Blast. The first one she had ever done and it looked rather impressive, having a beautiful pink appearance to it.
Unfortunately, it did nothing. Or rather, the Rift Magic would put up a barrier around the doors which was another precaution of Twilight Sparkle when adding new parts to the Pokemon School. Jessie scrunched her face, seeing her attack fail.
"So much for that..." Meowth blurted, unimpressed by the result as opposed to the attack.
"It was my first time, okay?!" Jessie barked at Meowth.
"I can hear her mind! She's close!" James warned.
"I'm trying to figure something out here!"
"Hm. Perhaps I can do more than just minds." James wondered if this was the extent of his newfound ability. Reading minds might not be the limit. There could be something else since he also gained a Psychic Trait and it was time to find out. By putting two fingers on his head, he would focus as hard as he could. And that moment, that natural feeling that comes with the Infinity Energy potion would kick in. "Open..."
With his one voice, he overruled the Rift Magic that Twilight had created, prompting the doors to open. Jaws dropped as Jessie, Meowth and not even James expected this. James had some sort of control as well.
"Oh. I didn't even mean to say that. It just felt natural."
"Whatever! It helps though!" Jessie would shove James forward, sending him through the doors before they potentially close again. Team Rocket was on the move again.
"Team Rocket!" Twilight shouted, surprised that they managed to get through the doors that were supposed to be shut. The Infinity Potions gave them quite the upgrade. They were the only ones really using these newfound abilities to their fullest and they were certainly getting some advantages. "Get back here!"
It was looking to be a pursuit across the entire school as long as Team Rocket managed to escape. But Twilight refused to let that happen. James would open the doors with his voice and mind combined, nullifying the Rift Magic Twilight placed on the doors.
Team Rocket would race down the stairs with Jessie carefully moving the container. And not only that, she would unleash Psychic Energy, trying to slow Twilight down. But all Twilight did was use her magic to blast through, clearly being stronger than Jessie in every way. None of the other students had any clue what was happening inside and neither did Potion Nova. Her container was currently being stolen but it was not gone yet.
"I could just wait for the potion effects to time out but I can't risk that. They might escape by then." Twilight thought to herself, which prompted James to gather new information.
"News flash. These effects aren't forever!" James said. "We'd best hurry!" Now knowing that it wouldn't last forever, Team Rocket had a greater incentive to flee the scene before time runs out. James would order the doors to close whenever Twilight and Espeon got close, prompting them to crash into the doors.
After hitting the door hard, Twilight would order them to open, reversing what James did. She still had power here. "Rearrange!" Her next command involved something that would try and trick Team Rocket.
When approaching another set of stairs that would take them to the first floor, getting them closer to the exit, the stairs would suddenly change. Instead of heading downwards, it went upwards with Team Rocket being rather slow to notice. They hadn't yet realized that they were heading to the third floor yet again. James opened the doors to the third floor as they were now further away from the exit.
This went on for a while with Twilight getting closer to Team Rocket but even with this switchup, Team Rocket were still ahead, doing everything in their power to escape her sights. Classrooms were being broken into as this massive container of Infinity Energy was just being carried everywhere.
The library was broken into eventually which made Twilight shudder, fearing that they could ruin all the books in there. A few students were in the library as they did not expect the sudden break-in. They would move aside when seeing the massive container that broke through the table and chairs. Bookshelves were being knocked down as Team Rocket would soon leave the library using the other exit that was previously locked.
"Wait a second! AIn't this the third floor!?" Meowth would soon notice how things were different. The outside and the design of this area gave it away for him. "She switched it up on us!"
"We're back to the third floor?!" Jessie screeched.
"You're running out of space, Team Rocket!" Twilight's voice could be heard nearby. "With the school locked down, I'll make sure you're arrested instead of blasting off this time!"
"Pssh! Like that's ever going to happen!" Jessie yelled back at her.
"In here! Quick!" There was one door available that James would open up. It was the only door here as this place appeared to be a dead-end. The only other direction was where Twilight could be found. They couldn't risk running back into her, so it was off to this room.
With the door being closed and soon shut by James, Team Rocket slowed down at last. They took some deep breaths after doing all of that running. Jessie didn't need to do so as she's been flying this entire time. The room they were in was rather dark. No lights were on and it was rather hard to see in here. The Infinity Energy container ended up giving the place some light.
"That twerpette's relentless. More so than any twerpette we've met." Meowth panted.
"We don't have much time. The potion could run out at any moment. And I've lost count of how much time has passed.
"Whatever...Just keep quiet and make sure this door is locked." Jessie said. All they had to do was stay quiet and hope that Twilight wouldn't find her. They were burning through time at this point, unaware that the potion lasts for 15 minutes at best.
"Can I help you?" However, there was someone in here. Unfortunately for Team Rocket, it was someone who could be considered far more intimidating than Twilight. Their pupils shrunk. Their mouths scrunched as they would slowly turn around to see the mysterious figure behind them.
It was none other than Tobias. One of the teachers of the Pokemon School, sitting in the dark with the same smile as well. Naturally, after seeing him, Team Rocket instantly blew their cover by letting out a collective scream once Tobias jumpscared them. They have landed in far more intimidating territory now that they've come across him as the journey continues.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
In the midst of fleeing from Twilight Sparkle after being discovered, Team Rocket found themselves in a dark room. But it wasn't just a random dark room. Inside of it was one of the teachers of the Pokemon School who was still present here even after the two worlds merged as one. Tobias.
"I-It's you!" Jessie shrieked. That face was all too familiar to Team Rocket. They could never forget the face of the one who had a Darkrai and a Latios.
"The guy with the Darkrai!" Meowth bellowed.
"Hold on. Have you been sitting alone in the dark this entire time?!" Jessie questioned, wondering if Tobias was just casually in here, waiting for the right moment for someone to show up.
"Don't worry about that. As for you. You've been making quite the ruckus out there and I don't think I've seen you around before." Tobias would stand up, intimidating Team Rocket.
"Wait! You're a teacher here!?" Meowth gasped as they were in the midst of a Pokemon School Teacher and seemingly the only human that actually stayed behind.
"Lock! Lock!" James desperately locked the door shut. With his newfound ability, he had that power as right as he did so, Twilight Sparkle had caught up. Once Twilight and Espeon caught up, they would try opening the door, only for James's power to kick, locking them out. And right now, James was constantly using it against this one door as this was essentially a dead-end.
"Don't move!" Jessie held her hand out at Tobias, threatening him. "I have great Psychic abilities and I know how to use them!"
"News flash. This is the one with the Darkrai." Moewth nudged Jessie. "Psychic ain't doing nothing to him."
"So? It's not like he's a Dark-Type Human." Jessie scoffed as Tobias stood there, unimpressed. She would summon that Psychic Energy around her arms, ready to strike at even Tobias.
However, at that moment, the effects of the potion were finally beginning to fade away. The second that Psychic energy appeared, it would soon fade away as well as every other part Jessie received. Her hair was returning to normal, her dress was fading away, revealing the rest of her true appearance.
"Wait! What's happening?!" Jessie gasped, noticing that her power was fading.
"It's running out!" James screeched as the antennae on his head was beginning to fade away. He tried reading Twilight's mind but now the words were becoming fuzzy.
"Aha!" And things were only starting to worsen as Twilight found a way into the room. And that was with a good old-fashioned magical blast. James backed up once his Psychic abilities were dropping. Time was running out. "Looks lik the 15 minutes are up. End of the line, Team Rocket and..." The Princess of Friendship paused for a moment, instantly recognizing Tobias who was just casually here. "Tobias?"
"Afternoon, Princess."
"It isn't over yet!" Jessie, James and Meowth collectively backed away. "You said it only lasts for 15 minutes. Well before that happens, we can just double up!"
"Double up?" Twilight repeated.
"That's right!" Jessie would whip out another Infinity Potion that she filled up earlier. So did James as the two of them were not ready to let these powers fade. They were already doing so much and so well with these abilities. It couldn't escape them. It was unknown what would happen if the potion was consumed once more while the effects were about to fade away but Team Rocket would be the first to demonstrate. Together, they would drink from the Infinity Potions a second time, not wasting any time. Twilight gasped as she was too late to stop them from taking another sip. Tobias would also witness this mysterious drink being consumed.
"Aahh..." Jessie took a deep breath. And just like that, the effects of the potion kicked in quicker than usual. Usually, they take a little bit of time to really show. But this time, since the previous effects were lingering before they faded away, the potion would react to what was already inside, unleashing that golden glow. This time, the glow was bigger and brighter than usual, causing Twilight, Espeon and Tobias to squint. "Oooough!"
Suddenly, Jessie would get on her knees, groaning as she was already experiencing some form of discomfort. And that same could be said for James who held his head. It felt like it was vibrating uncontrollably with a powerful ringing sound going through it. The light from his antennae would flash at a greater level as it sent a pulse across the room. Meowth was in disbelief at what was happening to his friends. They were undergoing yet another transformation.
"A-Are you two alright?!" Despite pursuing them, Twilight still thought about their well-being. As soon as she moved forward, the light from their bodies would intensify. Their bodies were also receiving a more drastic transformation than what they received. It would be something on Smolder's level.
They looked like they were fusing as their light bodies would merge together, forming something unseen before. Something rather horrifying. Meowth's jaw dropped along with Twilight's a colossal entity was appearing. Emerging from the light was a massive Jessie but she was far different in appearance.
Her hair was now on fire, specifically pink fire which kept in line with her style. Her eyes were glowing as her entire skin was lighter than before, now emanating a pink glow. It was as if she was radiated. And as for James, he had an ethereal appearance but he was mainly just a head. A massive floating purple ethereal head to be exact.
"Sweet Celestia..." Twilight shuddered. This was not the result she as expecting. Not only did Team Rocket overrule the 15-minute time limit but increasing it, but they also went through a drastic change.
"Oh, now this is a greater update!" Jessie said with a booming sound. Her voice had been elevated too as it felt like she was talking from the skies themselves. "I'm overflowing with Psychic energy!" And it definitely showed. All of that around her was Psychic Energy as she would let it burn. Espeon growled, feeling a great increase of Psychic energy from Jessie as all the nearby objects were starting to float. Even the rubble from the door.
"And look at me. I can now hear multiple minds going off at once!" As for James's upgrade, he could now hear minds all across the area. At this very moment, he could hear the minds of everyone outside. Thoughts of all kinds were going through his head involving what everyone was planning to do today, what they have done, the situation with Smolder outside and so on.
"No way...Team Rocket's greater than ever."
"That's right, Princess Twerpette!" Jessie snapped her fingers as she levitated the entire room itself. She separated it from the rest of the Pokemon School, already showing off. "It was the right call to drink from it! Now that we're above you, all our worries can be whisked away!"
"And pretty soon, grabbing Pikachu won't be an issue!" James bellowed. "I already know what you're thinking so don't try anything."
"Just wait for us, boss!" Meowth cackled, climbing onto Jessie's shoulder. "This is our big break!"
"Seems like you came across something wild." Staying calm about this was Tobias, who was not intimidated by the massive Jessie and James.
"I know..." Twilight sighed. "I'm not really used ot being the principal of a school. I only how to organize. It'll take some time before I can get used to running it."
"Don't worry. They're not that much of a threat."
"Hah! Not that much of a threat?! That's rich coming from someone who's not even half the size of my pinky now." Jessie cackled and wheezed, taunting Tobias, soon pointing at him. But once again Tobias was unmoved.
"You're not even large enough to fit this entire room." Tobias smiled. "Why do you think it's so dark?"
"Hah?" Jessie blinked, unsure as to what Tobias was on about. But all it took was James reading his mind to figure out it instantly. But even when figuring it out, it was far too late as they already came across it the second they entered this room.
"It's high time you showed yourself, Darkrai."
"Not good! Jessie! His Darkrai's in here!" James screeched, floating in front of Jessie.
"It is?! I don't see it." Jessie looked around. She tried using her Psychic abilities to the extreme and that involved enhancing her vision. However, she soon found out that even with this elevated power, she could see through the dark. That was mainly thanks to the fact that this wasn't just ordinary darkness. This was Darkrai's Darkness. Something a Psychic-Type couldn't look through. "I-I can't see it anywhere! What gives?!"
"Duh! It doesn't matter how much Psychic Energy you have! You can't see through this! Especially since this is-" Before Meowth could say anything, a chilling feeling appeared behind him.
"Dark...!" And speaking of Darkrai, it finally showed itself, creeping up from behind. Team Rocket gulped as they could hear the cry of the Pitch Black Pokemon. The eyes of Darkrai pierced the darkness as Jessie could feel its claws on its back, making her shriek. And before she, James and Meowth knew it, they were each struck by Dark Pulse.
A black explosion that was hard to see went off, engulfing them. And since Jessie and James were brimming with Psychic Energy, it would hurt them more than anyone else. After the dark explosion went off, lo and behold, the effects of the potion had been eliminated. The Psychic Energy was all gone thanks to this one Dark Pulse as a hole in the room had been blown open. And through that hole, Team Rocket went flying, back to normal.
"It can't be! I was so close to perfection!" Jessie growled. "Unlimited power was right in the palm of my hands and inside of me! I even had a powerful speech prepared!"
"All those minds...It would've been fun to know everyone's dark little secrets simultaneously. We were certainly defeated by something dark." James sighed.
"Look on the bright side. There's always next time with that Infinity Energy." Meowth wasn't too beaten up by it. After all, he didn't drink from it once.
"We're blasting off again!" Once more, Team Rocket was blasting off, heading elsewhere. But they will be back. They always come back eventually. Either soon or later. Twilight wished to put an end to this on this very day, planning to arrest them but it looks like arresting Team Rocket was an impossible task. Defeat was the best that could be done for such a persistent group.
"Thanks, Tobias. But I actually wanted to win with Absol. I would've also shown my students just how great of a principal I was."
"Don't mention it. Happy I could help, principal. Nice work, sneaking up on them like that, Darkrai. Return." Thanking Darkrai for that sneak attack, Tobias would return the Pitch-Black Pokemon to its Poke Ball. And once it returned, the darkness that filled the room would fade away. Light was returning once more, revealing the rest of the room. It turned out to be a storage room this entire time, full of boxes with school items waiting inside.
"So...you're still a teacher here? I thought you were long gone by now. You did say you'd show up here one day but I didn't think it'd be now."
"I was actually here a few times. Even before you took over. And besides, the distance thing doesn't bother me. I can go anywhere in the world so I'm alright." Tobias was in the same boat as Ash. Because he's been across the world, the distance from the Pokemon School to anywhere else was not an issue for him at all. He was the one Human Teacher who could easily show up here.
"Hm. That makes sense. By the way, why were you in a dark room this entire time?" Twilight had the same question as Jessie as it was rather odd.
"Don't worry about it. Anyway, I'll be seeing you tomorrow. I haven't taught any lessons just yet but my time will come." Tobias would walk out of the room, calling it a day. "For Pokemon Battles, the students should come and see me. But only for the High-Level Pokemon Battles."
"Right. But I have one more problem to solve." Twilight had one more thing to take care of and that was the massive Smolder outside.
Speaking of Smolder, she had a bit more time left compared to Team Rocket and so did Charmander and Gallus. The heads of Smolder were still very much active, giving the real Smolder a lot of trouble. Being a Dragon-Hydra was not all that it was cracked up to be. Hydreigon made it look easy.
"Smolder! What's all of this!?" As time went on, students were being picked up and taken back home. And of course, Ember showed up to pick up Smolder, only to find her as a Hydra.
"Uh...I can explain." The middle head said. "It's not really that long of an explanation anyway."
"And what happened to Charmander?!"
"Charmander!" Mega Charmander X as he was now known as, would flex his arms and shoot out blue fire, showing off what he had attained after drinking the potion.
"Is this all these do?" And poor Gallus got the short end of the stick. His potion only gave him wings that were separated and appeared in different colours but didn't do much for him at all. Complete dissappointment. "Lame."
"Alright. At any moment, the potion's effect should wear off. But I've managed to get a lot of information from this." Potion Nova said as she took the time to observe everything outside here. From Smolder, Charmander and Gallus to all the students who wished to drink the Infinity Energy Potions. "I can safely say this. It's only dangerous depending on how we use it. But for you, Smolder and everyone else, maybe you're too young to really get used to this."
"Says who?!" The left head of Smolder roared. "Yona looked perfectly fine when she got gears for hooves! You think I can't manage this?!"
"Yona broke parts of the walls though. Look. This is fun and all, but I may have to head home and reassess things. I never thought to drink the potions after all. As much as I love others testing out my potions, I am a little bit hesitant when it comes to kids. Safety first."
"That's not fair." The right head pouted. "So you're just going to give us weaker potions? We were gonna use these potions back at class anyway before Yona drank the first one!"
"Until I get this all sorted out. First, I'll need my container back but I can trust Twilight with that."
"Ahem." Ember approached. "So, what's up with this? How come she's a Hydra now? What potion did she even drink?"
"Infinity Energy potion. Gives you the traits of a Pokemon. And for Charmander's case, if you're already a Pokemon, it looks like it gives you an upgrade."
"Wait, really?" Now that she and some of the parents were hearing it for themselves, it had an allure to it. To anyone, an Infinity Energy Potion sounded very promising. And there was a 100% guarantee that they would be seen from now on since Potion Nova was using them during her lessons.
"Before it runs out, I gotta find a way to make this Mega Charmander X thing permanent! Can you imagine how easy it'll be with this on my side all the time?!"
"Absolutely not." Ember instantly rejected it.
"Why not?" The middle head's jaw dropped as the left head had a different reaction.
"Yeah, why not?!" The left head growled, baring her fangs while the right head didn't seem to care that much about this rejection.
"I'm not gonna have you race your way to the top because of some enhancements," Ember said. "If you want to become a great Dragon Trainer, you'll have to work hard. And having an instant Mega Evolution by your side isn't going to fly. You're lucky it's not permanent."
"If it was, I'd be grabbing that 8th Gym Badge in less than 3 weeks!" The left head snarled, moving towards Ember which prompted the other heads to gasp as they couldn't properly control their movements. There just wasn't enough time for them to learn how to considering both heads were so active, giving the real Smolder a hard time. Even with her massive appearance, Ember looked at Smolder's right head with no fear. But the middle head of Smolder was definitely intimidated.
"Well, in her defence...This is just a natural part of Charmander." Potion Nova tried de-escalating things.
"Hm?" And just like that, the effects were starting to wear off. The right head of Smolder was searching for more gems and jewellery to find. Anything would do. And her eyes instantly came across some more gems that were mainly seen over at the streets of Canterlot. But before she could pursue and steal them, she was beginning to fade away. "Hey! Are you using those?!" Those were her last words before she vanished.
"Aw, it's running out now." said the real Smolder as she was also returning to her original size. The wings on her arms would soon disappear, slowly coming back to their original position.
"Wait! I can't leave!" The left head wasn't too pleased with this, refusing to vanish. She would aggressively swing her head around, trying to do something to prevent this regression. "There's gotta be a way to detach myself from you! Come on! Not like this!"
But it was too late for her. She would fade away much like her right counterpart. And soon, all that was left would be the real Smolder. With a brilliant golden light and beautiful particles, Smolder returned as her usual self. She sat there on the ground, perplexed after what she had just gone through. Those were the most confusing and uncomfortable moments of her life. Two of her personalities gained their own sentience and were very much different from each other.
"Feeling better?" Ember walked up to her.
"N-Not sure..." A perplexed Smolder said. "I think I'd like to go home now."
"Mander?" And as for Charmander, his effect didn't last that long. Charmander's Mega Evolved Form was brief as he didn't even get to use it at all. The Fire-Type lowered his head as his black colours faded away along with the blue flames, returning to the ordinary orange flames. It was fun while it lasted. "Charmander."
"You have the weekend coming up. And after that, the first day back at school for the next week, we'll deal with the Infinity Energy Potions," said Potion Nova. "I should also be getting home but if anyone wants to take some potions home, be my guest."
"Wait, we can actually take them home with us? Are you sure?" Sandbar questioned.
"Not until I figure it out. When Monday comes, then I'll let you take some home with you and drink to your heart's content. For today, take some with you and experiment with them. We never got the chance to do that in class after what happened so I want you all to do exactly that and see what results you get. Do not drink them until you come back to school."
"Uhh..D-Do you think I could drink them?" Ember nudged Potion Nova. "I am older after all."
"Sure. That goes for all parents, family members or guardians!" Potion Nova raised her voice, speaking to them all.
"Ah, no fair!" Smolder groaned, greatly annoyed that Ember and to an extent, the grown-ups, could drink the potions. For the children, they were limited, much to their chagrin.
Eventually, all the students departed from the Pokemon School, heading home. The Pokemon School still had three-day lessons even with Twilight at the helm with two-day lessons being left over for other students. Except this time, the children were going through the three-day lessons while the older students would stick to the two-day lessons, going from Thursday to Friday.
The students left the Pokemon School eager to return as soon as possible. They very much enjoyed the frantic nature of it. In the world they live in now, mild destruction didn't seem that worrying at all. That was clearly a strong sign of things to come. And of course, among the many students here, one of them had a full interest in the Infinity Energy. All the students were interested, but somepony in particular had a rather deeper interest.
Staying behind for a while not yet returning home was none other than Cozy Glow, who made her appearance on the first re-opening. Everything about the Infinity Energy Container was known to her, much like Team Rocket. And unlike Team Rocket, Cozy Glow was capable of much more devious actions. No one could see her at all as many of them were leaving the school, giving her the opportunity to nefariously rub her hooves together while sitting on the swings. A lot was on her mind and the chances were screaming at her as the journey continues.
In the middle of this peaceful night, Starswirl the Bearded was still working on making a new gateway. He was still trying to understand this cosmic power and how it worked. While Twilight was the one who absorbed some of it, even she didn't know everything that it was capable of. But that was exactly why Starswirl had to solve it. Not only was something new to explore but it would also bring a great benefit to the land he loves.
But he was not alone. Assisting him in the middle of the night was none other than the young Rift Pony Cold Colt who was very much connected to the Rift. Starswirl was currently using his magic in the air while also drawing some from the Rift Cauldron.
"So, do you actually know everything?" Starswirl questioned the young Rift Pony.
"Oh, sure. I know lots of things about both worlds and their history." Cold Colt bragged. "Well...not everything in the future. A lot of stuff that never happened is out of my expertise. "I'm still a bit behind when it comes to my seniors. But if I had what they have, I could definitely open up a gateway. Guaranteed!"
"Well, either way, you have been plenty of help. Sharing information about what was happened so far while my friends and I were in Limbo is valuable. And you have also shared great information about the Rift. To think that inside of you Rift Ponies is an entire universe."
"Mhm. That's how we have access to so many options. Just like the vast universe." Cold Colt explained. "Mine is pretty small but it can grow, I swear it can. I'm not gonna stay a foal forever. Hopefully..."
"I see. Well then, with this achievement, we can bring back that bridge between universes. Even though we share one now. But hopefully, after that wish that Ash character made, external forces might take action."
"Hm? Do you mean Dialga and Palkia or something? I guess they would try and do something about this. Now the new timeline's solidified. It was supposed to vanish."
"Not exactly. I am not sure I know who those are anyway. Clearly, there are some things that are not even known by you that still exist here. I'm talking about greater forces beyond our domain. Like angels?"
"Angels? Are you sure?" Cold Cold said with a judgemental expression. "Ah, they spoke about them back at the hospital before they went to Jirachi. I mean, we know aliens are out there but angels? Maybe not in this world."
"Angels and more. I have never seen them but I can guarantee you, they exist. My peers taught me this back in my era, young one. In this existence, there is always something extraordinary that can and will exist. We just have yet to find it. But these Pokemon are the prime examples of what they spoke about." Starswirl shared, imparting knowledge to the Rift Pony.
"Hm. I guess so. I of all ponies should know that." Cold Colt said. At that moment, the skies above would ripple. Starswirl gasped, thinking that he was the cause of that ripple. But it was far from the truth. He and Cold Colt backed away as something was emerging from that ripple. Something unfamiliar to Starswirl the Bearded but familiar to Cold Colt.
An Ultra Wormhole.
"W-What is that?!" Starswirl bellowed as seeing the Ultra Wormhole rip through the air. "Did I cause that?! Have I made a new gateway!?"
"No! It's an Ultra Wormhole!" Cold Colt gawked. "Awesome! I knew we'd see one here again! It's been a while ever since the previous ones."
"Wait, this has happened before?!"
"Sorry. I didn't get to that part of my story yet." The young pony shrugged. And with an Ultra Wormhole present here, that meant only one thing. An Ultra Beast was set to pass through. And indeed, an Ultra Beast did emerge. A familiar one. Jumping through the Ultra Wormhole was none other than a Pheromosa.
"Pheromosa!" Also known as UB-02 Beauty, the Lissome Pokemon appeared in Equestria. Not the first time this has happened as Rarity and even Adagio's Pheromosa were present here. But now, another Pheromosa has shown up and upon emerging, it did not hesitate to get moving. It leapt through the air after passing through the wormhole, soaring for a moment.
And the second it touched the ground, it was off. Moving at breakneck speeds, the Lissome Pokemon bolted away, leaving behind a large dust cloud. Starswirl watched as Pheromosa was already out of there.
"That means someone or something's opening up the Ultra Wormholes again." Cold Colt spoke without a worry in his voice. "I wonder if more have shown up around the world and we just haven't noticed yet."
"What Pokemon is that? Did it come from another existence?"
"Nope. It comes from a whole other dimension known as Ultra Space. That's an Ultra Beast but it's still considered a Pokemon either way." He explained to the old pony. "But I wonder what a Pheromosa's doing here all of a sudden...?"
Unova. Castelia City. Nightfall.
"Oooh! Look at all these precious jewels of mine!" Over at Castelia City which was lively even during the night, a bit of a jewellery craze was going off. Jewellery is sometimes greater at night as its brilliance can truly shine. Such as the ladies of the night who purchase them, showing these sparkling items among each other.
Here in wonderful Castelia City, there are places that specialize in coloured stones like sapphires, emeralds and rubies. And even deeper niches that cater to semi-precious stones like aquamarine, alexandrite, tsavorite, peridot, garnet, opals, topaz, amethyst, and even spinel. So many to choose from as they glistened beautifully in the night, letting their sparkles flare.
"My Rubies and Sapphires surely shine more than yours." One lady showed off her ruby and sapphire rings to her friends.
"Not a bad showing, but this Emerald is absolutely divine. I plan to give this to my sweet little grandson one day. Oh he and his Growlithe are such angels."
"My diamonds will go to my niece eventually. Perhaps I can pass off these pearls to my nephew." They would continue to speak about their jewellery, finding this to be an enjoyable moment, speaking with friends who share the same interest. However, while they were enjoying this fancy and lavish moment, it would soon be stripped away from them.
In the blink of an eye, a white blur would swipe their rings, necklaces, pendants, hair pins and more were all swiped away from them. It took a few seconds for them to realize what has just happened as the speed of this white blur left behind a wind pressure
"Ooooh Noooo!" One of the ladies screeched, noticing a lack of sparkles around her. "My pearls!"
"W-Where are my rubies?!" Naturally, this was very alerting. In an instant, their precious gems were taken away but it wouldn't stop there. This white blur would snatch as much jewellery and anything sparkling from everyone. Not just the people of Castelia but also the shops that showcased and sold these objects.
The windows would be shattered, causing further worry and panic. One by one, they would shatter as screams filled this district of Castelia. And the one responsible for this was a Pheromosa. With a smile on its face, it knew what it was doing. And it loved it. The sparkle of these items absolutely wowed it. Not only that but there was something else that caught its attention aside from the gemstones. The dresses and suits here were wonderful.
The Lissome Pokemon eyed down these clothing, seeing how neat and tidy they were. This was a species that refused to touch anything unclean, no matter what and this was the jackpot for it.
And it wouldn't be the only one. Already ahead of this Pheromosa was another Pheromosa. It would swoop in to swipe mainly the suits and dresses.
"Mosa?!"
"Pheroooo~!" This other Pheromosa stuck its tongue out, taunting its fellow Ultra Beast. Naturally, two Pheromosas are not that keen on each other as they both had this materialistic nature. Anything one wants, the other will want. This sparkling night was greatly interrupted by the Pokemon from the Ultra Beyond. But noticeably, it was only Pheromosa.
Kalos. Lumiose City. Nightfall.
"Lucile!" Over at Kalos' Lumiose City, a great moment between two lovers was taking place at night. A man had held out an engagement ring to his lover, who was absolutely starstruck by what her eyes have witnessed. Even the Gothitelle behind her was amazed. "Please!"
"Oh!" The woman gasped as she was being engaged to. A magical moment for many, especially under the silver moon here in what most consider the Region of Romance.
"G-Gothitelle!?" Even a rather stoic Pokemon such as Gothitelle gained a reaction from this.
"Yes, Noel! A million times!" It was an official engagement as she was prepared to slip her finger through the ring to forever be with the one she loves. But the moment she went for it, another white blur came swooping it. It was yet another Pheromosa. "Eh?"
"Mosa! Pheromo!" And this Pheromosa ended up snagging the Wedding Ring, slipping it into its own fingers. It was also a perfect fit despite how slim Pheromosa's fingers were. After sealing it, it would dance around, finding pleasure in wearing such a sparkling object.
"Aah...All that hard work." Noel would fall over, slamming his face onto the pavement. He was completely gutted by this. His eyes looked completely soulless as his heart would slowly sink.
"I-It's okay, Noel! I'll still marry you!" Lucille kneeled to face her lover, not wanting his spirits to drop because of this. She would still gladly marry him even if the ring was stolen, showing true love.
"Goth! Gothitelle!" Taking great offence to this was the Pokemon of Lucille. She would face Pheromosa, roaring at the Lissome Pokemon for ruining such a magical moment. As payback, Gothitelle would try and use Psychic, only for Pheromosa to run off, avoiding any damage.
"Mo? Pheromo!" It laughed, off to snatch more fancy and clean objects here at Lumiose. And for Pheromosa, it had to be completely clean. No matter how beautiful the object looked, it must be tidy and neat.
Equestria. Las Pegasus. Nightfall.
Las Pegasus was a place that was most definitely active at night, just like Castelia. At this time, casino games were being played with ponies aiming to score big. Some would and some wouldn't. But those who would score big would undergo and a rather unfortunate steal after all of their hard work.
"Yes! Finally!" One of these ponies finally succeeded in obtaining plenty of bits. An obscene number of bits. It all came flooding from the machines. Other ponies could be seen gaining bits after winning in certain games. Each were based on luck and gambling.
Unfortunately for them, this was a place that was full of sparkle and cleanliness. Thus, it made it the perfect place for a Pheromosa to enter. Or rather, multiple Pheromosa. Breaking the door down was a Pheromosa who already had objects from Las Pegasus at its disposal. Crashing through the windows was another Pheromosa as this resort city was rapidly being swarmed by these Ultra Beasts.
They were both inside and outside Las Pegasus, targeting every building. Their eyes lit up as they felt like kids in a candy store with all of this glamour. To the Pheromosa, they felt like they could take everything away even though this was not their space. But it didn't matter to them.
"Ah! Hey!" The winnings of this pony were quickly taken away from her by the materialistic Pheromosa. Now all those bits belonged to it. Of course, Pheromosa had no idea what bits did and how to spend them. But why would it need to spend bits if it could just take whatever it wanted and with seemingly no one to stop it.
The Pheromosa went wild on this night, taking all they could. This would be a night to remember for different locations in the world. A night where the Pheromosa struck and stole so much from them.
Ponyville. Carousel Boutique. Day.
There was one Pheromosa absent from this. She is always absent from this. Rarity's Pheromosa had something else in mind compared to the rest of the species. It was still fancy but it involved making movies, helping with dresses and just hanging out with her beloved friends.
"Pheromo!" And at this moment, she took the time to play with Sweetie Belle, spinning her as fast as she could. Pheromosa would do a pirouette while holding onto Sweetie Belle, giving her some adrenaline.
"Faster, Pheromosa!" Sweetie Belle cheered, encouraging this. Meowstic would jump and down, wanting a turn with this adrenaline-pumping action.
Rarity, meanwhile, was looking over a new script for a PokeStar Studios Film. And that one involved her Human Counterpart. Rarity made the script herself as it would be a Double Rarity film. Never-before-seen. "There is such thing as a Double Protagonist, isn't there?" said Rarity. "I'm sure we can make this work. By next Thursday, we shall-"
"Rarity! Big news!" Bursting into the home of Rarity and her sister was none other than Pinkie Pie, who blew the doors open.
"Ghh!" Rarity gasped as Pheromosa nearly dropped Sweetie Belle after that shocking entrance. Pinkie! Knock before entering, please!"
"Sorry! But you should really see this. Look!" The earth pony would slide over, using Rarity's clean floor to do so. She would even make a squeaking sound upon approaching her unicorn friend. And from her mane appeared Mew, who was holding onto a folded newspaper.
"Mew-Mew!" Mew would unfold this Newspaper with Psychic, showing it in its entirety. Rarity would take the paper as it had to be something crucial for Pinkie Pie to suddenly barge in. And just the first image plus the title certainly got a reaction out of here.
"W-What is this?!" Rarity's eyes nearly flew out of her head. "A Pheromosa Heist?!"
"Mhm. Last night, a bunch of Pheromosa just showed up out of nowhere and started stealing what they could."
"In the middle of the night, the Ultra Beasts known as Pheromosa appeared, targeting cities with lavish and sparkling appearances. Citizens were quickly caught off guard by the appearance of these Ultra Beasts as they performed a swift heist on them, stealing valuables, items from stores and even the winnings of others." Rarity read out what the news had to share about this.
"Mosa?" Naturally, this garnered the attention of Rarity's Pheromosa. She was amazed, seeing moe of her species on the news. "Phero!" With her eyes widening, Pheromosa was blown back to see that the rest of her species have finally ended up in this world. There was already one other Pheromosa here and that was Rarity's Pheromosa who previously used to belong to Ghetsis. But now, multiple have shown up across the globe.
Unova, Kalos, Hoenn, Galar and even Equestria. And they certainly weren't planning on leaving any time soon with so many wonderful things to steal. "Mosa! Pheromosa!" Pheromosa had a different reaction to this. While Rarity and Pinkie Pie were in shock, Pheromosa was estatic. She would grab the newspaper off of Rarity, jumping for joy.
Finally, more of her species were passing through the Ultra Wormholes and showing up here. The Lissome Pokemon couldn't help but be happy.
"She's happy about this? Should it be the other way around?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"It should. But I believe Pheromosa is more pleased about seeing others like her. These must be the Pheromosa from her home." said Rarity, already knowing what Pheromosa was reacting in such a way.
"Aw, that's so great! We should throw a party for something like this! What do you say, Pheromosa?" Pinkie Pie gushed.
"Pheromosa!" Pheromosa loved the sound of that. To have a party with her species was amazing. The memories were already flooding in. Pheromosa's life back at the Ultra Desert was rather uneventful. It was a place where the Pheromosa were constantly fighting against each other, stealing whatever valuable object they managed to find. There was never any time for parties or anything social, apart from the two friends she had. Two Pheromosas who tried escaping from the Ultra Desert much like Rarity's, but failed to do so.
"Hold on!" Rarity halted everything. "Before that can happen, perhaps we should do something about this. There are currently multiple Pheromosa running wild across the world. And obviously, they're poaching as many valuable and clean items as they can. The ruckus they're causing is outrageous!"
"She's right, ya know." Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement. "How many do you think showed up? And if it's a lot, that's a mountain of problems. Pheromosa's a really strong and fast Pokemon."
"Aye. One of the fastest and hardest-hitting Pokemon out there. Anyone could be harmed from their attacks." Rarity crossed her hooves. "Before there can be any partying or something of the likes, something needs to be done to keep them from stealing anything else and harming anyone."
"How are we gonna do that though? They can get from one place to another!" Pinkie Pie questioned. "Catching and finding all of them would be impossible!"
"Perhaps. Did you inform the others about this?"
"I came straight to you first since you have a Pheromosa. Just a first instinct thing." Pinkie giggled, sticking her tongue out.
"Mosa! Mo!" Pheromosa shook the newspaper next to Rarity, wanting to meet with her species. To Pheromosa, she believed that some of them were her friends. She had two friends back in that world and she just had to find them.
"I understand, darling. You'll see them. I will have to put that PokeStar Studios Script on hold for now."
Twilight's Castle.
"Pheromosa here...Pheromosa there...How did this happen?!" Twilight shrieked, finally catching wind of this news. Over at her castle, some of her friends who were available had shown up. Ash, Goh, Rarity, Pheromosa, Pinkie Pie and Cold Colt specifically. "Why are there so many of them all of a sudden?!"
"I only saw one Ultra Wormhole when I was with Starswirl. I figured that there would be others showing up here and there," said Cold Colt.
"How do we handle something like this?" Goh asked. "This seems drastic. Usually, whenever there's a problem, we have enough time to catch up with it. But they're all so fast."
"Hmm...This is gonna be tricky, for sure." Ash pondered. "I could just do the Ultra Guardians thing again. That way we could find the Pheromosas."
"No time for that!" Twilight frantically waved her hooves. We need to act fast! If they roam around freely stealing whatever they want, then it could spiral out of control. Pheromosa are dangerous Pokemon after all. They've already caused damage when breaking into buildings just to steal whatever they fancy."
"And getting them to stop will be just as difficult. Adagio's Pheromosa was absolutely ruthless when we first saw her." Rarity replied. "She was the one who harmed you after all and had a cruel showing during the Canterlot Tournament."
"If we get close to even one of them, they'll mess us up!" Goh held his head. "And they're in groups now?!"
"Being in groups makes it way harder." Cold Colt nodded. "Pheromosas usually stay independent. If there's more than one of them together, that's just asking for trouble."
"Why don't we start with the ones here at Equestria? Las Pegasus was raided last night so they should be the closest." Pinkie Pie suggested. "And if I had to guess, they'll probably go for the Crystal Empire next."
"They would have a lot of reason to go there. Not that they don't need a reason. But the Crystal Empire's a clean and beautiful place. And the Pheromosa are more than powerful enough to damage it."
"Mosa! Pheromosa!" Pheromosa agreed. She knew her species well. But they would do more than just steal from the Crystal Empire. Pheromosa knew that they would vandalize the entire empire, levelling it.
"Hmph. As if." Sombra spoke through Ash. "Those bugs will not harm what was once mine. And they will certainly not touch the Crystal Heart. If they see it, they will steal it, which will not happen by any means."
"So, what's the plan, Twilight?" Goh asked. "What do we do?"
"Hmm..." Each of them started thinking. What was the best possible way to bring all the Pheromosa together?
"I got it!" Ash already had something in mind. "Pheromosa loves anything clean. That's what we all know. Instead of finding them all one by one, let's make this way easier for us!
"Pika?"
"How exactly? Are you saying we should bring them all to one place?" asked Rarity.
"You got that right. We gotta find or make the cleanest thing possible and really make it stand out. Just so they'll come crawling here." Ash shared his plan. "I'm not sure what it is but it's gotta be something."
"Oooh...Good thinking, Ash. They'll ignore everything else if they see something beyond it." Twilight slowly nodded, understanding Ash's plan. "Pheromosa. Can you confirm that?"
"Phero." She could. Her species would not only fawn over this Extremely Clean object but they would also fight for it. And if they were to fight for it, it would weaken them too. "Mosa!"
"Then it's settled. Forget going around the world. Let's bring them to us. Are you all thinking about the Crystal Empire, maybe?" Twilight questioned. "It's a clean enough place but maybe we can make it cleaner."
"No." Rarity shook her head. "I have something that can bring them here. Leave everything to me. If anyone knows how to make something absolutely sparkling and divine, it's yours truly. And your Cinccino too, Twilight."
"Oh, right. Minccy could freshen it up. Let's hear it, Rarity. What do you have in mind?" Twilight and everyone leaned in, ready to hear Rarity's plan which was a follow-up to Ash's plan.
A Pheromosa Invasion had been launched but it was a rather odd one. Instead of attacking others, they were stealing from others, pawning whatever shiny and clean object they could find. That didn't mean lives were in danger as Pheromosa is still a dangerous Pokemon, capable of dealing colossal damage while moving at great speeds. All the while, Rarity's Pheromosa wondered if some of her friends were present here. And if they were, she feared that they were pulling a heist as well as the journey continues.
Entering her home was the Gym Leader of Hulbury, Nessa. At this moment, she was preparing for one of her jobs. A Fashion Model. She was already dressed for her job but before she could depart a few things had to be done.
"Maybe I am being too hard on them. I mean, even though they got used to Pokemon for only 4 years, they're still new trainers." Nessa said, speaking to someone on the phone. At this moment, she was thinking about her intensity against those aiming to take part in the Equestria League, admitting to the difficulty she set for them. "I know, Sonia. I think I'll take it easy. I mean, I have to as a Gym Leader. Can't use everything or-"
"Mosa! Mosa-Mosa!" Her sentence was soon cut off once she saw that she had an unwanted guest. And that guest ended up being one of the many Pheromosas suddenly roaming around, stealing anything clean and dazzling. And Nessa's home was an obvious target considering who she was.
In its arms were Nessa's dresses that she uses for her fashion shoots. All of it had now been snagged by the Lissome Pokemon and its materialistic nature. Nessa had no idea what was going on as the news hadn't reached her yet but she was about to experience it for herself.
"Huh?! Hey!" She bellowed at the Ultra Beast. "My dresses!"
"Pheroooo~!" Pheromosa would realize that it had been caught and immediately went to taunting Pheromosa. The Lissome Pokemon can be rather petty, especially when taking something from another. It stuck its tongue out and winked at Nessa, Pheromosa would be off, leaving behind a strong wind pressure that blew Nessa's hair and dress. The Ultra Beast fled, off to steal more from others.
"I-I can't believe this!" Nessa growled, furiously stomping the floor. She was way too slow to stop this as her room was now also a mess after some furniture had been knocked over by Pheromosa's antics.
"Was your home raided by a Pheromosa?" Sonia spoke through the phone, already knowing about the sudden Pheromosa invasion. With how swiftly they were moving, it was natural they'd show up from place to place, being noticed by people and Pokemon for their thefts.
Equestria. Ponyville. The Pokemon House.
Over at the Pokemon House, the colourful residents there were not aware of what was happening across the globe. Compared to what they had to deal with in the form of the Black Crusade, the Pheromosa Invasion was something one would call small potatoes.
Fluttershy certainly wasn't aware as she was too busy making food for her Pokemon. Many of the Pokemon had gathered around Fluttershy, starving as some had their tongues out. "It'll be ready soon enough. Snorlax." She would then eye down, who could already be seen trying to move in. But once he was spotted, Snorlax would come to a halt, needing some time to wait.
Just then, a clang and crash could be heard. Audino heard it and so did everyone else. This sound was rather destructive as it sounded like something had fallen over. Another sound similar to it would occur as Fluttershy paused her work.
"Wooper!" Running through those doors were three Woopers, who each had cups on their heads, making it hard for them to see.
"Breloom...!" Breloom spun out of the room with a bump on its head, feeling rather dizzy. And it didn't stop there. Another crashing sound was heard as flying through those doors were objects. Objects that the Pokemon used to entertain themselves and interact with. Now they were just being tossed.
"What's wrong!? What happened?!" Fluttershy would have to put a stop to cooking her food just to see what this ruckus was. Some of the items came flying her way, prompting Fluttershy to duck. Audino was unfortunately hit by some but she had amazing defence to make sure that she wouldn't take any noticeable damage from it. Or even that much damage at all.
"Pheromo! Phe!" It was a Pheromosa. One had found its way into the Pokemon House and was already searching for something of value. It had to be clean, pristine and fancy. However, to Pheromosa's dismay, because so many Pokemon lived here, it wouldn't get anything pristine.
Pheromosa shuddered just being here. This place was the definition of unclean. Not that it was dirty but because of the many elements that surround it and the Pokemon that roam and live within it, it had that ick to it. The Lissome Pokemon couldn't help but shiver and hold onto itself.
"Hippo?" A Hippopotas would walk up to Pheromosa out of curiosity which immediately garnered a reaction from the Ultra Beast. It could tell that Hippopotas was unclean, causing it to shriek. With no hesitation, Pheromosa would kick Hippopotas the second it got a bit too close. Very soon, Hippopotas went flying thanks to Pheromosa's staggering physical strength. "Hiiiiipo!"
The other Pokemon were currently being terrorized by Pheromosa's greedy actions as it was too dedicated to finding something clean in this sanctuary for Pokemon. Their rooms have been ruined as Pheromosa's speed meant that it went from room to room in seconds. When finally entering the other room, Fluttershy gazed upon the one responsible for this.
"Wow! A Pheromosa!" Fluttershy gasped after seeing a Pheromosa present here. She instantly knew it was not Rarity's Pheromosa since she was a Shiny Pheromosa. This, along with the others, was a standard Pheromosa. "What brings you here today?" She asked with a polite voice while also swaying her head to avoid a flying ball.
"Mosa?" Pheromosa soon noticed Fluttershy. And upon noticing her, the jackpot had been hit. Fluttershy stood out from the rest. Not just because she was a pony but because she was completely clean. Pheromosa swore it could even see the sparkles coming from her. And once it saw Fluttershy, the decision was final and clear. Pheromosa wouldn't take something but someone.
"There must be another Ultra Wormhole around. Maybe near and far," said Fluttershy, unaware of what was coming next. She was more focused on getting acquainted with Pheromosa. "Well, it'd be wonderful to have an Ultra Beast here at the Pokemon House. That would be a first. Before this, we actually had a Kyogre show up and-"
"Phe!" In a flash, Fluttershy was swept off her feet by the Lissome Pokemon. It moved faster than anyone could see, already being the fastest Pokemon here.
"Oh my!" Fluttershy yelped after being grabbed. And at the same time she was grabbed, she was also being carried away.
"A-Audino?!" Audino gasped. Even Bayleef was too slow to stop this as her leaf did not go off.
"Boot?!" Raboot shook his head. He would turn around to see Pheromosa fleeing the scene, attempting to leave the Pokemon House. Now that it had something clean, Pheromosa was going to keep her. But of course, this made everyone in the Pokemon House fully alert. Their caretaker was gone as Raboot was only pursuing her. "Ra! Raboot!"
The Crystal Empire.
The Crystal Empire. Home to the valuable crystals. And a free feeding ground for the Sableye, who populated this empire, taking and eating as many crystals as they wanted. They were lucky to find such a place as the crystals seem to regenerate with new ones popping up constantly.
"Sableye!" To the Sableye, this was paradise. As always, they were currently scarfing down the crystals, chipping them off the walls and ground or even finding fallen crystals lying around. The citizens didn't mind at all. It has been going on ever since the Crystal Empire had been revived.
"Sa?" But in the midst of the Sableye's daily routine, the second they went for the next batch of crystals with one of them being relatively large to consume, someone was already doing what they were doing. But for a different gain. When trying to pull this large crystal away, someone else had grabbed onto it.
"Pheromo." Yet another Pheromosa. Ash and the others were right. The Crystal Empire was a very obvious target for the Pheromosa. Instead of grabbing it with its hands, Pheromosa was stepping on it, finding plenty of interest in this large crystal which was absolutely pristine.
"S-Sableye?!" Looking up, the Sableye each saw this towering creature who cast a shadow over all of them.
"Pheromosa~" Pheromosa looked down with a devious grin, knowing that the Sableye wanted it. But it was too bad. It would now belong to the Ultra Beast. The Shadow Pokemon would try pulling the crystal away from Pheromosa but the physical strength of Pheromosa's legs was just too strong. It may be a supple and light Pokemon but its strength made up for it.
"Eye! Sableye!" Struggling to pull the crystal away, the other Sableye would support it, pulling on the crystal as well. They would even pull the Sableye in the front, attempting to boost their chances, Alas, they were not strong enough even with their numbers.
"Phero-Phero-Phero!" Pheromosa just laughed at their struggle, seeing how feeble they looked while it was completely overpowering them with just one foot. Very soon, the other Sableye called for help. The Sableye across the Crystal Empire heard the cries of their brethren. There was a valuable crystal which could feed them all for weeks and they needed to possess it. But at this very moment, a towering entity was preventing them from achieving their goal.
All the Sableye stopped what they were doing to converge at one spot. They climbed across the buildings, leaping off them, moving rapidly across the Crystal Empire. But Pheromosa was not bothered. They could bring an entire army of Sableye and that wouldn't be enough. And in this case, they were bringing an army as Pheromosa was still very much confident.
"What is happening over there?" A Crystal Pony said, watching as the Sableye were swarming to one direction. Many of the residents had to look, wondering why the Shadow Pokemon were skipping out on all of these crystals.
Soon, plenty of Sableye showed up, all aiming to take the crystal away from Pheromosa. With a smug look on its face, the Lissome Pokemon gladly welcomed them to try and only saw this as a futile effort.
"Oh wow! Is that one of those Ultra Beasts?! Rarity has one!" Naturally, this garnered the attention of not just the Crystal Empire residents but also the older Princess Flurry Heart from another universe. She pressed her face against the window, gazing at the Ultra Beast. She only knew about Rarity's Ultra Beast and that was really the most common Ultra Beast everyone has seen. The others either leave after showing up to this world or have never been seen or heard of before.
"Uh...What's going on?" Shining Armor said, showing up with Cadence. "A Pheromosa?"
"Doesn't look like Rarity's." Cadence observed. Very soon, she saw how Pheromosa was skillfully kicking away the Sableye with just one leg. Some of them tried to crawl over Pheromosa to distract it. Naturally, not only did this disgust the Lissome Pokemon but it was also a way for the Sableye to get hurt as they were being sent flying. "But it's clearly here for that massive crystal."
"I want an Ultra Beast...I lost Giratina so maybe this can make up for it." As for Flurry Heart, she had something else in mind. Having Pheromosa as her own Pokemon. "I gotta make it happen! I'll be right back!"
"Ah! Flurry Heart, wait!" Cadence yelled as Flurry Heart teleported out of the castle. "You don't even have a Pokemon with you!"
Saddle Lake.
Meanwhile, here at Saddle Lake, Rarity had come up with the perfect way to attract all the Pheromosas. Thanks to Ash's plan which involved getting the Pheromosas to focus on one thing, Rarity and by extension, Cinccino would work on tidying up the one thing the Pheromosas would most definitely gravitate towards.
She created a monument. And that monument was of a Pheromosa. Rarity had the brilliant idea of making something that the Pheromosa would love and it just happened to be themselves. She was certainly on to something, knowing how materialistic the Pheromosa can be. She was once the same, seeing herself as highly important. And in a way she was, but so was everyone else around her. "This will do the trick!" Rarity boasted.
"Woah...That is massive." Goh gawked. "A Pheromosa monument made out of platinum. I think that'll do the trick.
"Hah...I was lucky that Rift Magic allowed me to make platinum. But that was way harder than I thought." Twilight Sparkle and Cold Colt played a part in it. By using Rift Magic, they managed to make platinum. Rare but doable but what they really struggled with was making enough of it to craft such a monument. Making sure it was completely neat was done by Rarity who was the Queen of Pristine. And of course, Cinccino helped out, always willing to make something clean.
"I'm surprised it was that hard for you. I thought Platinum was super easy since you have Rift Magic." said Pinkie Pie.
"Believe me, it's not." Twilight groaned. Rift Magic allows me to create anything within my limits as long as I know the molecular structure of whatever I'm making. And believe, Platinum's Molecular Structure is something else."
"It's perfect, really." Rarity placed her hoof on the monument. The second they see this, they will be in love. The Pheromosas look out for themselves. I shall call it the Pheromosa Idol! It truly matches your excellence, Pheromosa."
"Mosa!" Rarity's Pheromosa was pleased to hear that. What a lovely compliment from her best friend.
"But won't some of them find it pretty suspicious? I don't think the other Pheromosas expect to see more of them here since they're all showing up together. And if they see that, they might think something is up." Goh added.
"Nonsense. They'll be too enamoured by it to think about such a thing. But if they do, I'll make up an excuse. As if this thing has been here from the start. And I know the perfect excuse!"
"Is it from one of your movies?" Twilight uttered weakly.
"Exactly. Built a generation ago, this idol here at Equestria is here to celebrate each new generation and the advances brought by each of them across time. Its position within this community is meant to represent the strong unity of this community and the way everybody is almost considered as one big family. Every element was crafted and created with superior materials from local suppliers, ensuring this monument will stand the tests of time and be part of the community for ages."
"Cool story!" Pinkie Pie, Mew, Ash, Pikachu, CInccino and Pheromosa would collectively applaud it even if it came from one of the PokeStar Studios Movies Rarity was in.
"Alright. Now that we have it, all we have to do is find the right spot for all the Pheromosas to show up. It has to be a place where it can stand out. Much like how Canterlot Castle can be seen in the distance." Rarity explained what else had to be done.
"I gotcha. That way everyone can see it." Ash understood.
"But is it big enough?" Pinkie Pie asked. "I don't know about that. It's not even half of Canterlot Castle's size. Maybe we could enlarge it! That way they'll really see it!"
"I'm getting to that. This plan isn't finished just yet. I want all the Pheromosas to see it. Twilight. Cold Colt. You can enlarge it, of course. But simply growing it wouldn't do. We also need to find the right place to set it so that it can be seen from afar. Now...Canterlot Castle is built into the side of a tall mountain that overlooks Ponyville. Even the spires of Canterlot, protruding from the mountain, have been shown to be visible from Ponyville. I can see it right now."
"Yep." Ash could most definitely see it. Everyone could. Saddle Lake was near Ponyville, thus making Canterlot visible.
"So, do we just find a mountain to place this thing or...?"
"Something similar." Rarity pondered. "It has to be just right! In the meanwhile. Twilight. Cold. Please enlarge the monument so that we can attract a few Pheromosas. It's time for a test run."
"Sure, sure." Twilight sighed before zapping the Pheromosa Idol with her magic. She didn't need that much magic for this as this was a common spell. With the added magic of Cold Colt, the Pheromosa Idol would see an improvement. A massive one. Here at Saddle Lake, the idol would be enlarged for everyone to see. Even the Pokemon who first laid eyes on it. They were obviously starstruck and enamoured by it. Rarity did know how to draw eyes to whatever she wanted. Herself or something else.
It grew and grew until reached a considerable height. It far surpassed the trees of Saddle Lake, towering over the entire area, It was now as tall as an everyday apartment. Just the right size for others to notice it but it would truly be noticed until it found the perfect position.
"Excellent." Rarity nodded in approval. "Might need an upgrade later on but for the surrounding Pheromosas, this will be perfect!"
"And man it's shiny too." Ash and Pikachu squinted their eyes as the Sun really complimented the idol. The reflection was powerful and so was the shine as it caught both of their eyes.
"Pika-Pika."
"How many Pheromosas will this attract?" Goh asked.
"Eh, five or six, maybe. Judging by the news, it sounds like dozens of Pheromosas showed up. As for catching them, well I don't think talking to them will do the trick."
"Pheromo." Rarity's Pheromosa would handle that. She would try and deal with them. And if she couldn't, she was expecting Ash and the others to do something. Pheromosa could always count on them after all.
"Hm?" But at that moment, Ash's smile quickly faded as his Aura picked up on something. He would turn his head, looking over at the acre of trees. The usual party of Pokemon were present there but nothing out of the ordinary. However, that's not what Ash's Aura was telling him. It was telling him that someone else was approaching. Someone new yet familiar.
"Espeon...!" Espeon felt it too. Her fur was frizzling as the gem on her forehead was also glowing. A presence could be felt. Soon, Ash and Espeon felt two presences.
"What's wrong? Ash? Eve?" Twilight asked them both.
"Talk about intense stares. You don't usually show them unless..." Pinkie Pie observed before scrunching her face. "Is someone bad showing up?!"
"Hm. That might be who we're looking for." Rarity had a different reaction, putting on a smile. She was expecting this to be a Pheromosa. Or a few Pheromosas. Either way, she and her friends were ready for whoever was showing up. Footsteps could be heard, rapidly hitting the floor at high speeds.
The rest of the Pokemon felt it eventually. They could hear these footsteps, unsure as to what was making that noise. The Pokemon behind them already knew and the ones even further saw it for themselves. Some would even scatter in the face of this enigmatic arrival. The Pokemon nearby would soon scatter as well when seeing the others flee. Whatever it was warranted them to get out of the way unless they wanted to be hurt. And through those trees arrived not one, not two, but three Pheromosas.
"Pheromosa!" Indeed, three of them had shown up, attracted to the idol and its splendour. Just as Rarity expected. But not only did they just appear, moving all of the leaves and making them fly, but they were already in the midst of attacking as one Pheromosa in the middle had its leg out.
"Mosa?" Rarity's Pheromosa recognized this one Pheromosa. And the other one on the right. The two of them were her friends from the Ultra Desert. Indeed, she had seen them again once more.
But this was not a friendly reunion. The middle Pheromosa went in for a kick, prompting Rarity's Pheromosa to duck, narrowly avoiding it. The others gasped after seeing Pheromosa avoid the attack. It seems that they weren't just here to snag the glorious and pristine treasures. These Pheromosas would gladly take it by force.
Arriving here at Saddle Lake, obviously attracted by the Pheromosa Idol made by the efforts of Rarity, Twilight and Cold Colt were three Pheromosa. And two of them were very familiar to Rarity's Pheromosa as they were her friends from the Ultra Desert. However, the reunion was anything but friendly. Immediately after her friends were seen again, they were already attacking as Rarity's Pheromosa narrowly dodged the attack from one of her friends. "M-Mosa!"
"Oh, it worked! They showed up sooner than we expected!"
"Yeah, but they didn't go for the idol first! They went straight for Pheromosa!"
"Mosa!" After missing her, the middle Pheromosa would slide on the ground, almost reaching the lake. But even after missing Rarity's Pheromosa, the idol was not of any importance to her. She instantly eyed down the Lissome Pokemon with an intense stare.
The other two Pheromosa stayed still but they would also gaze at the Lissome Pokemon. It was as if the idol that Rarity and the others worked so hard to make was insignificant to them.
"Phe! Phe!" Confused as to why her good friend would suddenly attack her, Rarity's Pheromosa would stave those thoughts away, focusing on the fact that she had seen her again. That goes for her second Pheromosa friend as she cried out to both of them. "Mosa-Mosa!"
"Phero." The middle Pheromosa, who had the strongest stare out of them all, would mildly growl at Rarity's Pheromosa.
"I don't understand. Did they not come here for the idol"? Rarity was in disbelief, trying to make sense of this. These Pheromosas seemingly came for her Pheromosa specifically, ignoring the flashy monument of their species.
"Are you sensing something serious here?" Ash questioned, speaking to not only his friends on the outside but also his friend Sombra on the inside. He could tell the looks on their faces and the fact that they weren't racing for the idol that there was some tension brewing here.
"I am. And it is wonderful." Sombra replied. This is something he greatly enjoyed. The former King of the Crystal Empire could feel the aura of anger brewing and it was delightful.
"Pheromosa. Do you...know these three?" Rarity asked.
"Mosa. Pheromo." She confirmed but she only pointed at two Pheromosa. The other one on the left was completely random. She could never forget her friends even if it was difficult to tell which Pheromosa was which. Rarity's Pheromosa seemed to be the only Shiny one.
She would approach the middle one who had a slight edge over the others. She was around the same height as Rarity's Pheromosa while the other two were slightly shorter but still overwhelmingly tall. Excited to see her friend, Rarity's Pheromosa held her arms out, wanting to reunite with a hug instead of an attack. But raising her arms prompted her friend to react. And it was far from friendly.
"Phero." The middle Pheromosa would suddenly smack Rarity's Pheromosa's arm away. She refused the hug or any form of greeting as the others looked in shock. Pheromosa was the most in shock after seeing her friend respond in such a way.
"Mosa?" Pheromosa held her hand, confused as to why her good friend would do such a thing. She didn't question the sneak attack from before but now she definitely had to question it and now this. At that moment, the other two Pheromosa would slowly approach, getting closer. The confused Pheromosa looked around her to see that she was the target here. Not the Pheromosa Idol.
"Hold on!" Rarity spoke up, getting in between them. "What's this about?! Aside from ignoring the idol we made, why are you suddenly out for my darling Pheromosa? Isn't she your friend?!"
"Yeah! Check out this idol that looks just like you all! Isn't it great?!" Pinkie Pie and Twilight would try and deviate their attention away from Rarity's Pheromosa, wanting them to focus on the idol instead. They would even stand around it like fashion models, trying to really spice it up.
"Pheromosa!" The other Pheromosa wouldn't answer Rarity. They didn't feel the need to. But they felt like shoving her out of the way as she was interrupting this moment that was not sincere at all. The middle Pheromosa went for a powerful kick, attempting to knock Rarity out of the way. But that was more than enough to prompt Rarity's Pheromosa to take action.
Rarity's pupils shrank as she was a bit too late to react to the incoming kick. But thankfully, her partner was right on time to block any damage. An interception came from her Pheromosa, blocking the opposing kick with her own. The impact caused a shockwave above Rarity, barely hitting her as it only brushed her mane, blowing the grass and leaves and even rippling the water.
Seeing the collision, Rarity would back away. Rarity's Pheromosa may be confused as to why her friends were suddenly attacking her, but when it came to Rarity, she didn't need to ask any questions. All she needed to do was defend her.
"Mosa!" The middle Pheromosa wouldn't stop there at all. Now that Rarity's Pheromosa had engaged with her, she would continue attacking, bringing no answers at all. "Phero!"
"M-Mo!" Quickly, Rarity's Pheromosa managed to block the incoming strike with her arms. No questions asked or any answers answered. After blocking it, the other two Pheromosa took action, targeting Rarity's Pheromosa who didn't understand what was going on. "Phero?!" Spotting the other two, the Lissome Pokemon quickly used her speed to zip out of the way, avoiding a Dual High Jump Kick from above.
After avoiding it, the two Pheromosa harmed themselves thanks to the consequence of using High Jump Kick and missing. Both of them groaned as Pheromosa had a rather upset face after seeing them take damage.
"Pheromosa definitely doesn't want to battle them!" Ash exclaimed. "Those are definitely her friends but something's wrong! They're attacking her for some reason!"
"Pika?!"
"Well, they're not going to harm my Pheromosa! Not for a moment!" Rarity saw this as a clear threat and wouldn't let it stand. "How dare you try and attack your friend after she hasn't seen you in so long?!"
"Phero...!" The middle Pheromosa was already getting tired of Rarity's babbling. She would try and scare the Fashionista off and for a moment, she managed to intimidate her. But Rarity stood her ground as she's definitely seen scarier.
"Mosa." Just then, Rarity's own Pheromosa would ask her to stand down, holding her arm over her.
"Pheromosa?" Rarity gasped.
"Phero." The Ultra Beast looked back at her partner, wanting to prevent any conflict. She did not wish to battle her friends but she also didn't want to see Rarity and her new friends being harmed at all. Pheromosa would speak to her friends, trying to reason with them.
She explained that she was glad to see them but wasn't sure why they were suddenly so hostile. Especially since there was currently an invasion of Pheromosas who are all stealing whatever they can. The longer they keep this up, the more the Pheromosa could steal.
"Pheromosa's doing her best to diffuse the situation, but I don't think it's working," said Twilight, observing the scene.
"Mosa...!" However, the middle one, who seemed to be the one prone to attack more than the others, clenched her hands. She would glare at the gentle Pheromosa before taking a step.
"If you have a problem with Pheromosa, then it's a problem with us," Ash said, defending the Lissome Pokemon. "Something's up and you're not telling us, let alone Pheromosa."
"Pikachu!"
"Phero." However, Pheromosa did not wish for Ash and the others to get involved, halting them immediately. This was something she wanted to solve on her own since the other Pheromosas weren't listening. But they would surely listen to Rarity's Pheromosa, even if they weren't answering her questions. Pheromosa knew she had to find a way to get them to respond and she didn't care how long it would take.
"Pheromosa? Alright. You know what you're doing." Ash understood Pheromosa's decision. But she should also know that her friends would always be here to help her no matter what.
"Pheromo!" Immediately after, the Pheromosas would attack Rarity's Pheromosa yet again, wanting only violence and no peace. In a flash, all four of them left behind afterimages thanks to their absurd speed. Rarity felt the wind brush against her as the Pheromosas were rapidly moving all over the place. They practically became physical speed lines as the three of them were trying to surround Rarity's Pheromosa.
Rarity's Pheromosa could see that the only way she was going to talk some sense into them was by beating some sense into them. She wasn't one for violence, especially amongst her friends but if it had to be this way, so be it.
"Mosa!" Pheromosa would engage with the middle Pheromosa fighting back, much to the surprise of the middle Pheromosa. This whole time, she has been the aggressor and only saw Rarity's Pheromosa as too cowardly to fight back, only defending herself. However, she may be sweet and innocent but she was certainly powerful, especially since she has gone up against some of the most cruel and aggressive opponents out there.
Both Pheromosas used Triple Kick. In unison, they could clash their legs against each other, sending sparks flying from the sheer collision despite their supple bodies. However, they wouldn't make it just three kicks. They would use Triple Kick in succession, rapidly clashing as their movements became swifter. And thanks to their ability Beast Boost, both of them were getting faster. But soon, the other two Pheromosas would close in on her again, attempting to sneak attack her.
"Behind you, Pheromosa!" Rarity cried out, warning her friend. Taking that warning, Pheromosa looked behind her as she was nearly struck by yet another sneak attack. Ending her clash with the middle Pheromosa, she narrowly avoided a Throat Chop from the right Pheromosa. And immediately after that, she managed to block the left Pheromoas's High Jump Kick with her arm. Pheromosa wasn't just skilled with her legs but also her arms, giving her the edge over the others.
However, they were still rather vicious as the middle one was the first to land a proper hit in the form of Poison Jab. A strong and virulent kick landed on Pheromosa's chest, knocking her away. "P-Phero!" She still managed to recover, merely sliding on the ground. It would take more than that to stop her.
"Pheromosa!" An angered Pheromosa rushed in as it was the middle one showing the most aggression yet again, using Close Combat against her. This was the one Pheromosa that Rarity's Pheromosa attempted to understand as she was the most infuriated out of the two. The left Pheromosa was not one of Pheromosa's friends so she could at least see the aggression there.
"Phe!" In response, the Lissome Pokemon would evade the rapid strikes from the middle Pheromosa. SHe would play it defensively, evading all those sharp and swift strikes, having an excellent reaction time. And she was doing all of this without needing Rarity to give out any commands.
"She's doing this with no help?" Cold COlt stared in amazement.
"That's my Pheromosa." Rarity said with a proud face and posture. "As if she'd let some ruffians get the better of her."
"Still..." Ash observed. "If they're upset at Pheromosa to the point where they won't even look at the idol, then something's bothering them. And I think I know what it is."
"You figured it out?" said Goh.
"Yeah. It's pretty simple, honestly and I get where they're coming from. It's just that they're so quick to action and aggression to really talk it out right now."
"Pheromosa!" Soon, all Pheromosas would rush in to try and overwhelm the Lissome Pokemon. They all threw out their fastest and strongest kicks, pressuring her.
"Mosa!" However, Pheromosa refused to let that put her on the back foot. In response, she used Quiver Dance. A move she hasn't used in a while. And by using it, she would evade their attacks with greater ease. She was already doing it with great efficiency. But now that was elevated. She would dance to evade, performing stylish movements that were also used in the movies which Rarity involves herself in. Spending time with Rarity has not only made her stronger but also extremely graceful which was also another strength to her.
"Phe?!" The opposing Pheromosa gasped as their attacks were completely whiffing and missing at every turn.
"Osa~" Pheromosa smirked, knowing that she had them bewildered. She would even wink at them before going on the offensive. After avoiding their attacks, she would be the one to retaliate, using a consecutive Triple Kick. And the difference between them had been seen. They both may be fast Pokemon but thanks to Pheromosa's time around her friends, she had the advantage in terms of speed. The other two Pheromosas on the side dispersed as the middle one was left to block the incoming kicks.
"Pheromo?!" The middle Pheromosa growled as these hits were harder than she expected. Her supple body was vibrating each time a kick landed. She was being pushed back, moving across Saddle Lake while the other two Pheromosa was trying to keep up. They ran after the opposing Pheromosa while she was moving back the aggressive one with these lightning-fast kicks
"Amazing...Even though they're also Ultra Beasts and she's just one Ultra Beasts, she's giving them a hard time." Cold Colt was flabbergasted. "What's up with that?!"
"Pheromo!" Pheromosa would shout, wanting answers immediately now that she was showing her friends that she wasn't afraid to strike back and pressure them as well. She threw a question in while also performing an axe kick, only for the middle Pheromosa to barely zip out of the way. Her afterimage was taken out instead as the axe kick would smash the ground, dealing heavy damage. After missing, this gave the other Pheromosas the chance to attack from the back.
But Pheromosa was prepared for that too, swiftly using Quiver Dance once more to evade the attacks. Their kicks failed once more as Pheromosa performed an elegant backflip over them. The two of them gasped, stunned that their attacks were failing repeatedly now. Pheromosa would then land on the lake, making a perfect ripple without a single splash.
The middle Pheromosa roared, finally answering Pheromosa. But even while answering, she would lash out, attacking Pheromosa either way. On the bright side, Pheromosa now had an answer while being approached by her angered friend. And now she was starting to see that this anger had a reason for existing.
"If only we had Fluttershy here to translate. Or even that one potion from Potion Nova." Twilight grumbled, wishing she knew what she was saying.
"I know what it is." But Ash could fill that void instantly, understanding Pokemon very well as everyone looked at him. "They're upset at Pheromosa because of the day she left."
"The day she left?" Pinkie Pie repeated.
"Pheromosa appeared here one day just like the other Pheromosas. An Ultra Wormhole. And it was all by herself too with no one else coming along with her. And that's probably why they're so mad. They were her friends back home and she suddenly up and left. I'm guessing there wasn't a goodbye."
"Oh, right..." Twilight slowly nodded. "Pheromosa always wanted to see something beyond the Ultra Desert and she finally got her wish, ending up here. But her friends were left behind and it's only now that they're showing up."
"Aw. They're just mad that they got left behind without a farewell." Pinkie Pie pouted. "Is that right?"
They were right on the money. And as they said that, the thoughts within Pheromosa would appear as she knew the answer all thanks to Ash. As for the angered Pheromosa, she remembered it all too well. She remembered the promise that the three of them made on that day when they tried to escape from the Ultra Desert. One day, they would all head elsewhere. And even though that day finally came, it was two separate days entirely.
"Pheromooo!" The middle Pheromosa angrily said, being the most hurt from this. The right Pheromosa was also rather hurt but she had a less violent disposition than the middle one.
"Mosa." Understanding her anger, Pheromosa finally knew the truth. And for that, she was disappointed in herself for not saying goodbye. However, to calm her friend down, she would finally deliver consecutive attacks that would subdue her. This attack has gone on long enough. "Pheromosa!" With a bright flash in her eyes, she would use Triple Kick, finding an opening
"P-Phe!" The middle Pheromosa gasped after receiving a staggering kick to her chest, making her cough. The next kick would be an upwards one, raising her head so that she could see the azure skies which were very different to the skies back at the Ultra Desert. And the final attack would be a grandiose kick to the stomach once more. This one was so strong that the shockwaves were very much visible as the middle Pheromosa was launched like a slingshot.
Pheromosa ended up finishing the job by also having her friend crash into her other friend and this random Pheromosa that tagged along. All three of them hit the trees, making the leaves fall. Just like that, by herself, Pheromosa had won, defeating three other Pheromosa without a trainer.
"Mosa..." The middle Pheromosa groaned, in utter disbelief that she lost. The numbers did not matter at all. Rarity's Pheromosa approached her species, now wishing to speak with them. "Phero?"
"Pheromosa." Understanding the situation, she held her hand out, wanting peace. And also issuing an apology. Pheromosa apologized to them both, wishing she had said farewell to them. But there was more than that. She also wished that she could have brought them along. "Osa?"
"Phe..." The middle and right Pheromosa grunted, still recovering from that fierce attack. However, one obviously recovered faster and it was the right one. The right Pheromosa heard Pheromosa's apology and immediately lunged at her. But not to attack her. To cry in her arms.
"Pheromosa! Phero!" She suddenly started tearing up, hugging her fellow Ultra Beast. She would then point back at the middle Pheromosa, suddenly shifting some form of blame at them.
"What's happening now?" Goh asked. "Is she blaming her or something?"
"Looks like it," Ash confirmed with a nod.
"Looks like she was only doing what the middle one was doing. She does seem like the leader type." Rarity observed. "Since they are both Pheromosa's friends, they were both hurt by it. They were sticking by each other and one was more prone to take revenge."
"Mo." The middle Pheromosa scoffed as she was indeed the one to encourage the right Pheromosa to attack their only other friend. And when thinking about it, it was rather silly, even if it was a heat of the moment. She was her good friend and for a Pheromosa that was incredibly rare. If she went any further, she would've lost a friend for good.
"Pheromosa." But that was exactly why Rarity's Pheromosa was so sweet. She forgave them in an instant, understanding their emotions. She would then hold her hand out to them. The hot-headed Pheromosa would stare at her good friend for a moment, seeing how forgiving she was. Unbeknownst to her, Pheromosa had a Human Spirit within her which is what gave her an extra level of kindness.
"Phero." At a loss for words of how forgiving her friend was, she would take her hand, accepting her apology. But she also had an apology to throw in there. Attacking her out of the blue after they haven't seen each other in a while.
"Pheromosa!" Happy to hear this, Pheromosa was glad to have her friends back at last. She would then hug them both, over the moon. The other two gasped for a moment before taking in this hug. Their friend was still the same even if she had left them.
"Aw, that's so sweet." Twilight gushed. "Does my heart good to see friendship prevailing."
"Yeah. That could've been ugly if they continued attacking." Goh sighed.
"Pheromo..." As for the left Pheromosa, she would slowly get up, hoping no one had noticed her. She tried creeping away, still shaking after that devastating hit.
"Phe!" However, that prompted Rarity's Pheromosa to eye her down, causing her to freeze in place. She was the only one she didn't recognize.
"M-Mosa...!" She would slowly turn around, putting on an innocent grin as if she didn't just attack her as well. However, her attention was soon shifted to something else. At last, the Pheromosa Idol had been spotted. All it took was this battle coming to an end for its magic to work. "Pheromosa?!"
"Jackpot. It worked." Twilight said, seeing that one Pheromosa gaze at the idol. She clearly wanted it and at this moment, no one else was going for it. Thus, it was up for grabs. She wasn't going to just stay around it. She planned to take it which is exactly what Twilight and the others expected, which is why they were waiting for the other Pheromosas to show up. They just needed the right spot.
"Mosa. Pheromosa." Now that she's reunited with her friends, she would immediately tell them what was wrong. While it was great to see more of her species here, it was not pleasant to everyone else. The danger levels were rising as nothing was really stopping a Pheromosa from attacking someone.
"So about attracting them all. Have we figured out a spot yet?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I've got one. And it's a place that's recently come up." Finally, Twilight came up with a location that would allow the idol to stand out just like how Canterlot Castle could be seen in the distance. "Let's place it on the Winged Mountain."
Lapras Lake.
Fluttershy had been taken. A Pheromosa had shown at the Pokemon House, searching for anything to pawn. And it ended up taking Fluttershy who was definitely not an object. At this moment, Raboot, Bayleef and Audino were searching for Fluttershy, hoping that she hasn't gotten too far.
Other Pokemon from the Pokemon House would do what they could to find Fluttershy as a Houndour was currently sniffing her out. Flying-Types were in the air, spectating from above to see what they could find. Everyone followed Hondour's lead as they all ended up at Lapras Lake.
"Raboot! Raboot!" Raboot cried out for Fluttershy's name, hoping that Pheromosa hadn't dashed across the water and gone elsewhere. Thankfully, that was not the case. They didn't have to go on a long hunt for Fluttershy. She got far but not that far as their hunt stopped here at Lapras Lake of all places.
"Really? I mean, I'm sure there's something beyond the Ultra Desert." Lo and behold, sitting there and chatting with the Pokemon that kidnapped her was Fluttershy herself. Her Pokemon froze in place, watching her have a casual conversation with them. "
"Mosa." Pheromosa twiddled its thumbs, looking rather down. No longer was it holding Fluttershy.
"I can imagine that can get boring." Fluttershy nodded, taking the time to understand Pheromosa. And by extension, all of the Pheromosas. Soon, she would notice Audino and the others. "Oh, hello, everyone! You caught up!"
"A-Audino?!"
"I'm completely fine." Fluttershy waved, being in one piece and suffering no harm. It was impossible for her to be harmed as the Pheromosa only chose her because she was so clean. "Pheromosa here just wanted something or someone clean. I just happened to be the only one there. That reminds me. We should really clean up the place from time to time."
"Ra...Raboot?" Raboot just couldn't understand it. But at that moment, he ended up understanding it, realizing who his trainer was. It was Fluttershy after all as she had a strong talent that involved communicating with creatures.
"So, you came through the Ultra Wormhole because someone opened them up for you." Fluttershy continued. "And you all know who did it? Who was it? Did you see them?"
"Mosa." This conversation was more important than it appeared. Not only was Fluttershy understanding the Pheromosa species but also the fact that someone opened up the Ultra Wormholes. It was natural for something like this to happen. The Ultra Wormholes always seem to open up thanks to an external force. But this time, the Ultra Beasts knew exactly who it was.
It wasn't just one Pheromosa but apparently all of them knew who it was. This one Pheromosa could definitely remember what she saw. It was brief but after closing her eyes and reopening them, the mysterious individual that opened up these Ultra Wormholes was definitely up to something. And in her mind, it was a prismatic-looking figure as the journey continues.
The Winged Mountain. A newly formed location that appeared not too long ago. After the worlds merged, new landmarks never-before-seen were beginning to appear. Just as the name suggests, it was a mountain in the shape of wings. And it was rather detailed. It wasn't just some random rock formation that just so happened to look like a pair of wings. It truly looked like the mountain was winged and anyone could jokingly say that it has the potential to take flight.
Bringing the massive Pheromosa Iodl here to attract every single Pheromosa were Rarity and her friends. After encountering her Pheromosa's friends from the Ultra Desert who were just upset at her for leaving that fateful day. However, after a rather fierce battle which Rarity's Pheromosa dominated in, all hostility had been thrown out the window. But the hostile nature of the other Pheromosa was still present in the world.
Currently, one Pheromosa was latching onto it as it was already working its magic. She was enamoured by it, clinging onto the idol with hearts in her eyes. The one who would carry this Platinum Pheromosa Idol would be Ash's Dragonite who certainly had the strength and mobility to do so.
As for Rarity's Pheromosa, her two friends were currently with her. They didn't just go on their way. After not seeing their friend for a while, they just had to spend time around her, showing no interest in the idol. That was how strong their bond was. They ended up tagging along, speaking with their old friend and catching up while approaching the Winged Mountain.
"Just take it up there, Dragonite!" Ash exclaimed. "Rarity wants it at the top of the mountain! It's gonna be seen by the ones around Equestria, right?" Ash would then turn to Rarity.
"There is only one way to confirm if this spot will make the rest of the Pheromosa aware of it." said Rarity. "First, the ones in Equestria and then the ones across the globe."
"That's still a lot of Pheromosa we won't have here." said Goh. "The ones over at Unova, Galar and other regions will be harder to reach unless we bring the idol there. Even with the speed of Pheromosa, I don't think we can get to them in time since they're also fast."
"I know, I know." Rarity nodded. "I'm getting to that. If we can get the ones in Equestria, then we can go from there. I know for a fact that the region has that sweet spot location. Just like how Sinnoh has Mount Coronet which can be seen everywhere."
"Oooh! We should put the idol on Mount Coronet next!" Pinkie Pie raised her hoof.
"Phe! Pheromosa!" Walking up to Rarity was her own Pheromosa as she threw her own words in.
"What's that darling? You have an idea?"
"Mosa. Phe." In reality, it was actually her friends that came up with the idea. The two PHeromosas would nervously walk up to Rarity and the others, clearing their throats as they still felt rather awkward around them. Not just because they were so hostile in the beginning but because their friend has even more friends compared to what it was like back in the Ultra Desert.
"Phe..." They would grimace, trying to speak to these unfamiliar faces. This is the first time they've interacted with someone other than their own species and it was very much bizarre for them.
"You don't have to be nervous around us," Ash uttered.
"M-Mosa!" The Pheromosa was prone to anger more than the others would speak, holding her head high as she would finally chat with other species. "Pheromosa!"
"Mo." Thankfully, Rarity's Pheromosa would translate for them. She couldn't speak the same language as them but she could give a demonstration based on movements, mannerisms and the strong bond she has with her friends. "Phero!"
"Ooh, I see." The fashionista slowly nodded. "It seems that these two Pheromosa know how to bring them out."
"They do?" Twilight raised an eyebrow.
"Well, of course. Back in their world, they must have found something that guarantees every single Pheromosa will show up where they need to. What is it, darlings?"
"Wait, all of them?! Across the world?! That can't be possible." Twilight shook her head in denial. "I mean, I'm sure they have something but there's just so many of them scattered across each region. What can they do to bring them all here?"
"Do you think it's the pheromones?" Goh wondered. "Maybe they'll be strong enough for all the Pheromosas to notice."
"The Ultra Desert doesn't sound like that big of a place too compared to what we have." said Pinkie Pie as everyone wondered what the Pheromosa had in mind.
"Phero. Pheromosa." But there was something they could do. And it was something that the others should be rather aware of since they have seen it in action. Pheromosa spread her arms out before opening her mouth as wide as she could.
"An Alpha Call?!" Rarity gasped.
"Like what Drake's Salamence did back on that Torterra Planet?!"
"You're really good at reading Pheromosa's mannerisms, Rarity." Goh pointed out, amazed at how responsive Rarity was to her Pokemon's motions.
"Pheromosa does various forms of acting to get herself prepared for a PokeStar Studios role. This is absolutely nothing." Rarity shrugged as once again, PokeStar Studios proved to be useful in this whole Pheromosa debacle.
"I thought an Alpha Call was something exclusive to just Dragon-Types." Goh gawked.
"If memory serves me right, I think Drake said something about every Pokemon having an Alpha. My guess is that they're similar to the Alpha Pokemon my Human Counterpart has." The Princess of Friendship replied. "It's not farfetched to believe that there would be an Alpha Pheromosa even if Ultra Beasts aren't native to any region or land out there."
"So, who gets to be the Alpha then?" Ash asked, looking at the three Pheromosa and even the fourth one who was clinging onto the icon while Dragonite was carrying it. It definitely was not her.
"Phero. Pheromo." Rarity's Pheromosa shrugged as she wasn't sure she could answer that. After all, back where she came from, no Pheromosa was capable of being an Alpha. All of them were so self-centred, materialistic and in it for themselves that it was impossible for them to have a leader of some sort. Rarity's Pheromosa was very much different from them but she wasn't Alpha Material.
"Mosa." Despite her response, The one who would be the Alpha in this situation was Rarity's Pheromosa. The two Pheromosas pointed at her, seeing her as the clear winner.
"Pheromosa?!" She pulled back. She never expected herself to be chosen.
"They're choosing her to be the Alpha? Is that how that works? You're just chosen?" Pinkie scratched her hair, unsure of what it meant to be the Alpha of something. "Is that how they get red glowing eyes too?!"
"Mew?!" Even Mew was starting to believe it, popping his head out of Pinkie Pie's playful mane.
"Well, an Alpha implies competing with others to come out on top by winning a contest or battle," Twilight explained. "In actuality, for our world, it's who can produce the most babies in a pack. But for Pokemon, it's very much different. I still have no idea how Alpha Pokemon came to be."
"Mosa! Pheromosa!" However, Pheromosa would immediately try and turn it down, not wanting to be the Alpha of Pheromosas. She'd much rather be her own Pheromosa.
"I'm flattered by that but there's no way she can be an Alpha." Rarity approached, placing her hoof on her partner's leg. "She's a star, after all. I'd say that's much better than an Alpha."
"Still, that could be very useful." Twilight saw the benefit to this. "With an Alpha Call, she can bring as many Pheromosas to her as she wants. I'm not sure they'll listen since they're so independent but still. It's worth a shot, isn't it?"
"Perhaps. If that's what it takes to bring them there." The unicorn pondered for a moment. "Then it could be our only option. Otherwise, we'll be moving across the world for weeks or maybe even months trying to stop every single Pheromosa."
"Mosa..."
"Let's have it be for a moment, Pheromosa. You'll be a temporary Alpha. Your friends obviously chose you because of your strength. You managed to defeat three of them without me needing to do anything." Rarity praised Pheromosa. "Out of all the Pheromosa I've seen and met, you are, without a doubt, the best one. So I know you can do this."
"Phero. Pheromosa!" Her eyes lit up. If Rarity believed in her, then she could do it. Plus, it would only be temporary. Not permanant. After this, she can go back to her daily life and put all of this past her. The LIssome Pokemon would go through with it.
"Splendid!" Rarity exclaimed, hugging Pheromosa's leg. "Well, it's going to be an Alpha Call, then it has to be a colossal one. Can either one of you pass me your Dynamax Bands?"
"I've got mine on me." Ash would gladly do so, digging into his pocket to reveal the Dynamax band.
"This will do just fine." Using her magic, Rarity brought the Dynamax Band over. It was clear what she was going to do. "Not only will the Pheromosa Idol be massive but also Pheromosa herself. A Dynamaxed Pheromosa will give out a gargantuan call without a doubt."
"A Dynamax Alpha Call? That sounds terrifying."
"But it has to be even bigger! Twilight. Cold Colt. You two know what to do." Rarity turned to the Rift Usuers. The two of them already knew what Rarity was suggesting and they would be on it. Anything to put a stop to this Pheromosa problem before it gets out of hand. Slipping the Dynamax band on her hoof, Rarity was ready to Dynamax her partner.
Thankfully, Equestria still had Power Spots thanks to what Lucien did, making it an eligible location for Dynamax and Gigantamax. Not just Galar. Dragonite had already placed the statue on the top of the mountain for any Pheromosa across Equestria to see. But they were all aiming higher than that. Regions where the Pheromosa can be found need to be covered.
With everyone backing away and that one Pheromosa still clinging onto the statue with hearts in her eyes, Rarity would return Pheromosa to her Pokemon, channelling the Dynamax Energy within. And with the Dynamax Energy flowing out, it would envelop the Poke Ball, gradually enlarging it.
"Pheromosa! Dynamax!" Rarity cried out, throwing the super-sized Poke Ball into the air. And out it emerged a larger and greater version of Pheromosa. Pheromosa was already tall and Dynamax was about to elevate that. However, upon emerging, there was a split-second flash. It was swift and didn't last long but it was there. And from that flash, Ash and Twilight managed to catch an alternate appearance of Pheromosa. It was brief but they certainly saw the difference.
"Did you see that, Twilight?" Ash asked, sensing that Twilight witnessed it as well.
"I saw it without a doubt," Twilight replied. "What do you think that was?"
"PHEROMOSA!" They wouldn't have time to wonder as Dynamax Pheromosa had arrived. She was absurdly tall. So tall that her head was impossible to see, touching the clouds above. Her legs were even longer than before. Now, they were bigger than any mountain in Equestria, even surpassing this winged mountain. Any higher and they could definitely go midway through the clouds.
"Sweet Celestia...I was scared about what a Dynamax Wailord could be but even though I haven't seen it yet, this is close to what I imagined." Cold Colt gulped. "She's colossal!"
"Alright, darling! Do what you can!" Rarity exclaimed, hoping that Pheromosa could hear her.
"MOSA!" Thankfully, she could. And now that she was gigantic, it was time to unleash a call that would bring all Pheromosas to her. An Alpha Call. Pheromosa wasn't exactly sure how to perform an Alpha Call but she would have to do her best. And instead of just calling out her name, Pheromosa did something else.
The Lissome Pokemon used a signature cry of her species. For the Pheromosa species, there were three known unique things about them. Their amazing speed, staggering strength and the rarely used pheromones that can disarm others and leave them starstruck. But as a Bug, there was one more trait. Her cry.
It was a powerful hiss as Pheromosa would rub her antennae and hands together. She was generating a unique soundwave that was not from this world. No one in the entire world has even heard of such a cry which only added to the mystery of the Ultra Beasts.
"W-What is that sound?" Goh stammered as the sound that Pheromosa made was enigmatic in so many ways. Nothing in this world resembled it and there was nothing in the modern day that could replicate it. Even the enemies of the future who once invaded this universe never had anything that sounded as strange as it was. This was truly alien.
"Something like this can be replicated by the Rift." In Cold Colt's words, a cosmic entity such as the Rift could replicate it with ease. But that only made it all the more enigmatic.
"Mosa..." But it was indeed effective. The three Pheromosa reacted to it. They closed their ears in response to the cry. To the Pheromosa, it was a song. Rarity's Pheromosa was letting out a song of some sort, one that was hard to describe yet soothing to listen to.
This wasn't something that only the Pheromosa could hear. Humans, ponies and Pokemon could hear it as well. They would also close their eyes, taking in the sounds. And for each of them, a different feeling came through to them. To Ash, Dragonite, Rarity and Pikachu, it sounded hopeful and happy.
To Twilight, Espeon, Cinccino and Goh, there was a sense of sadness behind. And to the other three Pheromosa, it sounded intimidating and powerful. The last part is what hit the spot. Pheromosa had found her Alpha Call. But it was more of an Alpha Song than anything. Either way, it was just what they needed.
The song that Pheromosa was playing was not just a random song she was making up. It was a song that resonated with another one of Rarity's Pokemon. Emerging out of the Poke Ball as the sound waves even managed to reach it was none other than Froslass.
Froslass and Pheromosa are technically the same being. The one called Yuki who comes from a different world than the two of them once appeared in the Sinnoh Region when it was still called Hisui. Her soul and spirit were split into two, inhabiting two different bodies. And even though Pheromosa and Froslass were separate from each other, they were both the being called Yuki and this song was one she made.
Froslass looked up in amazement as she could see a giant version of Yuki projected from Froslass. A smaller version which was the average of height of Yuki projected out of Froslass. The loving side and the vengeful side both appearing as projections as the one with animosity in her heart was reminded of her past life. A life before showing up on Hisui. A life from her other world.
Across Equestria, the sound of Pheromosa's song reached them. The ones over at Las Pegasus were very much aware of it. They have been lotting this place ever since last night and showed no signs of slowing down. But now, there was something that drew their attention away from it. Even before the song reached the Pheromosa, their eyes locked onto something even greater.
The Pheromosa Idol. Rarity's plan worked as it was indeed large enough to be seen from certain locations. Las Pegasus had a view of the Pheromosa Idol, just like how Ponyville has a view of Canterlot Castle. And once they heard the song, they dropped everything they were doing to quickly advance towards the idol. Of course, they could bring some items with them as well.
But it did not stop there. Nearby regions were targeted. With Equestria being a new location in the world, changing up the map itself, it had some brother and sister regions. In this case, the closest locations ended up being Unova and Kalos which were in-between Equestria.
The Pheromosa from Unova and Kalos all heard the Alpha Song while wearing stolen accessories, dresses and more objects. And this was certainly a new experience for them. Never before have they heard such a sound. Not only that, but it was a dominant sound. Pheromosas are known for being all about themselves, refusing to listen to anyone else. They do what they want, whenever they want, however they want.
So to hear something essentially commanding them was unreal. How could this be? Back at the Ultra Desert, they did not have to listen to anyone. Until now. The song was pulling them in, forcing them to gravitate towards it. Rushing as fast they could, the Pheromosas from Unova and Kalos would take off, moving at their top speed.
The Pheromosa with Fluttershy was a bit more approachable, gradually befriending Fluttershy after she sat down and talked with her. She did not rush to Pheromosa and the idol. In fact, she could see them both. Everyone in Ponyville could. They all gazed in the distance as the figure of Pheromosa was very much visible thanks to her size. The Winged Mountain was a rather effective spot. More than what Rarity and the others thought it was.
This Pheromosa stayed behind in the meanwhile, choosing to share what she saw back at the Ultra Desert. The prismatic figure that opened up the Ultra Wormholes was still being talked about.
Back at the Crystal Empire, Flurry Heart tried to catch Pheromosa, wanting an Ultra Beast of her own. Alas, that failed horribly. "Hah...Hah..." She was seen lying on her back as the Sableye were all defeated, failing to stop Pheromosa from taking away that large crystal. The victor of this was Pheromosa, who triumphantly held up the crystal. "No good. It's way too fast..."
This whole time, Flurry Heart has been trying to keep up with Pheromosa, only to be too slow. Even the speed of an alicorn was no match for the speed of a Pheromosa which no other known life form has previously been able to reach. And after hearing the song, Pheromosa would drop the massive crystal, mesmerized by its sound. It would soon take off, attracted to the sound.
"Well, better luck next time," said Cadence as she even stocked up on Poke Balls for Flurry Heart to use. Some Crystal Empire Guards were seen with a basket of them as multiple of these Poke Balls have already been used. And as to be expected, they all could not catch Pheromosa.
Unfortunately for Flurry Heart, she wasn't getting an Ultra Beast.
The Winged Mountain.
Back at the Winged Mountain, Pheromosa continued her song. It was slow, allowing it to linger. The speed of it is what also made it exhibit different feelings to the others. Pheromosa, unknowingly, found her Alpha Sound. It wasn't known if she was aware of it just yet but after this, she will most definitely know. And that was all thanks to what was being seen over the horizon. Other Pheromosa were seen approaching. It was Dragonite who gave the alert. They found the location of the sound and idol as they were obviously enamoured by it.
"It worked! They're coming this way!" Twilight shouted. All across Equestria, Pheromosa were beginning to show up. And even though they weren't sure about the other regions, they were also on their way.
"Wait! We still don't have a way to stop them all!" Pinkie Pie screeched. There was no plan that involved catching the Pheromosa once they were all gathered. "What do we do?!"
"Mosa." That was where one of Pheromosa's friends got involved. The one who was usually hot-headed spoke up, having an answer for that. She narrowed her eyes before pointing up at Rarity's Pheromosa. Everyone else understood what she meant by that clearly.
It would be Pheromosa herself who could stop it. She was now the Alpha and whatever she says goes. Eventually, Pheromosa's sound came to an end. And so did her time in her Dynamaxed Form. It didn't last forever after all. She would end her song on a beautiful note, still keeping the different feelings present. Her body shrunk once the Dynamax Power ran out.
Pheromosa blinked, looking at the horde of Pheromosa that were approaching. Lo and behold, she did have the qualities of an Alpha. No other Pheromosa exhibited such a quality except for her even though she was seemingly the most different out of them all. They would all gather around the Alpha Pheromosa, seeing that she was the one to call them here. Her colossal size was seen earlier after all.
"Mosa?" But as soon as they all gathered around the one they saw as the Alpha, they came to a sudden halt. Something was off. Now that Pheromosa was back to normal. that Alpha Trait was suddenly gone. They saw her for who she truly was. And not only that, they recognized her.
Even though none of them were friends, every Pheromosa recognizes each other in some way. And Rarity's Pheromosa was rather well known back at the Ultra Desert for one reason. For her generosity and kindness.
"P-Pheromosa?!" Their reaction was disgust. Absolute disgust. All of them jerked back, showing different faces of disgust while also speaking to the one who called them here. They were expecting some of great power and wealth. But instead, all they got was what they consider an absolute pushover.
"Mosa?" Rarity's Pheromosa gasped as this was not the reaction she expected. At this moment, she was being looked down upon and insulted.
"Phe." A few of the Pheromosa would scoff. This was not a waste of time as they had the idol there and could easily swarm towards it. But they took the time to lambast Pheromosa. Needless to say, this caught Rarity's Pheromosa off guard.
"No way...Are they insulting her?" Ash gasped after observing the scenario.
"They can't do that! After what happened back at Saddle Lake?!" Rarity shouted. "Do they have a grudge against her as well?!"
"Phero!" That prompted Pheromosa's two friends to defend her. They would not stand for such slander. They were previously upset at Pheromosa but that was because she was their friend so it was rather personal. This on the other hand was a different kind of personal and it was something that their dear friend did not deserve.
But that only made the rest of the Pheromosa look down on them as well. How could they defend such a soft and meek Pheromosa? Their time in the Ultra Desert was memorable. And back then, someone like her should have never been around all because of who she was.
At this moment, tensions rose. This was not friendship showing itself. This was something else entirely and Rarity's Pheromosa was unfortunately the target of it once more. But this was something she wasn't prepared for as the journey continues.
After gathering the Pheromosa who were looting Equestria, they all were shocked to see who was the one that called them all here. Rarity's Pheromosa was known by them all as she was responsible for summoning them. To think that she was the one who managed to make that Alpha Song was absolutely ridiculous in every notion. For that, they insulted and lambasted her, seeing her as unfit to be their Alpha. They were all almost on the verge of accepting an Alpha Pheromosa in their life but now that has changed drastically.
"Pheromosa!" Her two friends defended her. They were the only Pheromosas who would defend their friend from such slander. How dare they insult her in such a way just because of her generous nature? Naturally, this created tension in the air between these two Pheromosa and a horde of them.
"This is bad. We brought them here but not only do we not have a way to maintain them, they don't look too happy with our Pheromosa." Twilight uttered. "What now?!"
"Pheromosa doesn't look like she can handle this one!" Pinkie Pie yelped.
"Mosa...!" Pheromosa's two friends were now looked down upon since they chose to defend her. And due to that, the Pheromosas were rather bitter now. They would even glance at Ash and the others. They all remember how this Pheromosa was since the Ultra Desert was all that they had.
And Pheromosa herself remembered as well. She recalled it all and how things didn't seem different with the rest of her species. Something like this was completely normal.
Ultra Space. Ultra Desert. Many Years Ago.
The home of the Pheromosa. It was a vast desert landscape filled with turquoise crystals and sand. An abundance of rocky structures and monoliths scattered around the landscape as well as what appear to be small clusters of shrubs. And in this space, obtaining what you want was key.
Because of this, the Pheromosa would constantly fight over what gemstones they managed to find, making it a hostile place to live in. But for the Pheromosa, it was the usual. The number of crystals that have been grabbed were outrageous and with gemstones hidden across the Ultra Desert, the Pheromosa would not stop until they had these gemstones.
But there was one Pheromosa who took a different approach. Rarity's Pheromosa. Instead of fighting for the gemstones, she would do the opposite. The reason why she and Rarity were such a great combination in the future was because of one reason. Her generosity.
At this moment in time, the Pheromosa were grabbing as many gemstones they could find as usual. Plenty of Pheromosa would always end up retreating to recover, knowing when to cut their losses but also vowing revenge. For Rarity's Pheromosa, she wished to give instead of take.
"These will do." She would also go out searching for gemstones like the others. And upon finding them, she would decide to share them amongst her species. "Mosa!" She approached a group of Pheromosa, having plenty of gemstones in her clutches. There was reason for this. Not just because she was generous but also because she wished to make friends. "This is my chance to make more friends. I know for a fact this will work."
Two of her friends were already around but Pheromosa was the kind to aim higher. The Ultra Desert was a hostile place and for someone like her, she wished to diminish some of that hostility. In her eyes, the best way to do so was by being generous and kind to others. That part of her was thanks to one part of Yuki's Spirit. The one that was filled with love as opposed to what Froslass received.
"W-What the? What is it?" The group of Pheromosa looked over at her, seeing the gemstones she brought over.
"I just wanted to share these with you that I found! A sign of us getting to know each other." Sharing what the Pheromosa love the most was her game plan. The other Pheromosa would promptly stop their scuffle, looking at Pheromosa with confused expressions. The fact that she would approach them with such a proposition was outrageous.
"Heh. However, this was a chance for them to take advantage of Pheromosa. Seeing her generosity, they would use it to their benefit. The Pheromosa would promptly stop any conflict they had, smirking at each other before putting on fake innocent faces, putting on a false act just to take these gemstones without seeming rude about it. "Of course! How sweet of you! We'll gladly take these gemstones you so kindly offered."
"Really?! That's great to hear!" For Pheromosa, it was a positive. She felt like she was getting somewhere. One of the Pheromosa would put her arms around her, going along with this plan.
"So, how did you manage to find so many gemstones? Mind sharing that with us?"
"It just comes to me. I always know the right spot to find something new. It feels like there's another part of me telling me how to do it." Unbeknownst to her, that was the soul of Yuki who was definitely not Human.
"Is that so? Then perhaps you can help us with that. Mind finding as many gemstones as you can? For your new friends?" Knowing this, they would use this as a chance to get all the gemstones that they wanted.
"Oh, really? Well, I was thining about just chatting right now. This is the longest I've been around someone else without any running or fighting."
"Sure, sure, whatever. But you can do that, right? Since you're apparently so good at finding them. It's not often we find this many. Not in one day. Can you do that for us?"
"I guess can do that. If it means making new friends." Pheromosa agreed. But this was just where her reputation started to be known across the Ultra Desert. And it was not in a positive light. She was unknowingly being used as a tool to find gemstones.
She did have a knack for finding these gemstones which translated well in the present day. And because of this, the other Pheromosa were beginning to realize the benefits that they could gain from this. Because of Rarity's Pheromosa, conflict in the Ultra Desert came to a halt for a while. They would simply stay idle, watching and waiting for Pheromosa to bring them gemstones, just to pretend to be her friend.
Her reputation as a softie was known because of this and that made it easy for the other Pheromosa to take advantage of her. Why start battles and hunts over gemstones when they could have this Pheromosa bring them to her? She truly was a natural at it, finding plenty of hidden gemstones in the Ultra Desert that many of these Pheromosa struggled to do. She made it so easy. As for Rarity's Pheromosa, she truly believed she was making new friends. Plenty of Pheromosa would follow her around when she searched for gemstones, making sure she was not alone. But it was only for their own benefit.
And as for her real friends, they knew what was going on. The two of them watched from a distance, knowing that their good friend was being taken care of. They understood what friendship truly was and this was as fake as there being water in the Ultra Desert.
"How dare they?!" One of her friends growled, refusing to let this stand. She was about to rush in there and take action. And by that, she was intending to attack all those Pheromosa. This Pheromosa was not the one who was the most prone to action. She was the one who only followed what her hot-headed friend did so for her to have this reaction was proof of how wrong this was.
"Don't! If we do anything, we could be hunted by them." Her hot-headed friend was actually reasonable in this instance, knowing that it was not worth the risk. "And they all know our faces by now."
"But they're using her! What do we do then?" There wasn't much they could do. The two of them were not strong enough to stop them all. But they just couldn't see their friend go through this. Nothing had come up in their minds that could solve this, unfortunately. And for a Pheromosa, talking wasn't exactly their strong suit. But it had to be done.
But eventually, the day came when Pheromosa found out the truth. They wouldn't have to do something about it as Pheromosa found out herself. When bringing over new gemstones while walking on her own, she came across a cave that the Pheromosas were currently sitting in.
And in there, they were showing off the gemstones that they have gathered. Never before have they managed to find so many. Like ladies at a Jewellery District, they would boast about them. But neither of them were friends.
"Oooh, this is wonderful!" A Pheromosa exclaimed. "I look perfect with these tourmalines around me! Who knew they were even here in the first place?"
"It's more of a surprise that she knows what these gems are called." Another Pheromosa said, pointing out the fact that Rarity's Pheromosa knew the names of these gemstones. The Pheromosa didn't even know since they've been in this desert their whole life with no other form of communication.
"Who cares how she knows their names? As long as we have them." A Pheromosa would juggle some sapphires around. "It does feel a bit satisfying not having to run around so often. Now she's doing it for us."
"How long do you think we can keep this up?"
"Eh. The Desert is vast. There are probably enough gems to last us for many years. And if they do run out, we won't need her anymore." A Pheromosa shrugged, finally revealing the truth to Pheromosa. "It's all sand here so might as well keep going until a limit is reached."
"Right. She doesn't look like she'll run out of stamina that much compared to us. It's nice having someone do all the work for us?" A Pheromosa laughed and so did the others. They truly found this as a staggering benefit. They felt like they were living in luxury right now and it was all because of the hard work Rarity's Pheromosa did.
Knowing the truth, Pheromosa didn't even bother to throw her own words in. She didn't even say anything about this. She would simply walk away, not running off since that would make a sound. Her friendship with them was now discovered to be false. They were only freeloading off her talent and generosity.
On that day, she ceased any communication with the rest of the Pheromosa, saying nothing and doing nothing. She made herself completely invisible to them, making sure that she vanished without a trace. That way, the rest of the Pheromosa won't have to suspect that she knew the truth.
Present Day.
"Mosa." Thinking it about it upset Rarity's Pheromosa. But there was no rage boiling within her. She was never mad at them even after finding out the truth all those years ago. And now in the current day, she was being unfairly lambasted even though they were the ones who took advantage of her.
Recalling that memory in time and how she walked away from them she was glad that she did. And while there was no animosity or anger, there was a rather strong reaction from Pheromosa. She wasn't about to just stand by and let these insults fly at her some more. Especially when her two real friends were sticking up for her, risking their own safety to defend their closest friend.
But now, Pheromosa had the strength to defend herself. She would lightly push her two friends out of the way, confronting the other Pheromosa. Hearing that her friends were also being insulted and threatened prompted her to step forward. That moment of weakness did not last long. "Pheromo!"
"Mo?!" To their surprise, Pheromosa gave a powerful retort. She was not as soft as they originally thought. After her battle with her friends earlier and everything she's been through, the Lissome Pokemon definitely knows how to toughen up. To think that this soft Pheromosa would not only try and play herself off as an Alpha but also try and act strong in front of them. That was what was going through their minds.
But Pheromosa wasn't acting at all. This was her genuine response and who she could be. When it comes to her friends, all formalities and expected mannerisms are thrown out of the window. Pheromosa did not wish to engage in yet another battle with all of these Pheromosas but if they would dare harm her friends, she would gladly engage.
"Pheromosa!" She would then point at all of the Pheromosa, talking about how she wasn't easy to walk all over anymore. Even going as far as to say that she's glad she's out of the Ultra Desert, not having to deal with their nonsense. But now that their nonsense has shown up here, she would gladly put an end to it. And at that moment, Pheromosa declared that they put a stop to their actions. Looting from the entire world would not be allowed. Intimidation tactics were impossible against her by now. Pheromosa was once again, unknowingly appearing as the Alpha in this situation.
"Excellent!" Rarity cheered, gleeful at Pheromosa's strong-willed response. "That's my girl!"
"She's really living up to that Alpha Status!" Twilight excitingly said. "Are we sure this is going to be temporary?"
The other Pheromosa would get into certain stances, ready to take on Rarity's Pheromosa since she was so defiant. They still wouldn't let the one who was so soft walk all over them. But a few Pheromosa in the back were actually very intimidated and did not get into a stance
One Pheromosa was rather confident, believing that Rarity's Pheromosa was simply doing this just for show. She wasn't actually capable of doing anything about this. I mean, she has been spending time around Humans and Ponies who didn't look all that threatening to them. To show the others that she was all talk, this one Pheromosa would dash in, attacking Rarity's Pheromosa.
"Osa!" However, that was the wrong call. With just one kick, Pheromosa delivered a crushing blow to her opponent's chest. The opposing Pheromosa gasped as the kick was faster than anything that it expected. It was so fast that even the other Pheromosa didn't see it coming. This time, they were the ones who saw a white blur.
The kick to the chest was absolutely titanic, generating a powerful sound. This one Pheromosa was sent flying, feeling multiple shockwaves hit its body as it flew over the rest of its species. The pressure even affected many of the Pheromosa knocking them down and disrupting their balance.
Some of the Pheromosa who were also attempting to attack her would be launched, rolling and tumbling across the ground. Their jaws dropped as this Pheromosa crashed through a piece of the Winged Mountain, leaving a hole in it. It was a total one-shot.
Pheromoa's leg was even smoking, showing just how much power she put into it. There was nothing soft about it. And after seeing such power, the other Pheromosa now knew what she was capable of. She stood over them all while they were on the ground after losing their balance. At last, they saw her as the Alpha Pheromosa and if anyone else wants to challenge her, she would gladly do so by exhibiting greater power.
After all, she has battled worse than another one of her species. The Pheromosa submitted. If she could make them all stagger, fall, roll and tumble by just attacking one of them, then they would hate to find out what would happen if she actually took all of them on.
All that was left for them to do was walk over to the Pheromosa Idol. They could at least have this beautiful monument based on their species. They would even slowly approach it as Rarity's Pheromosa eyed them down.
"Wow. Has Pheromosa always been like this?" Cold Colt asked.
"She may not look like it, but my Pheromosa is more than meets the eye," said Rarity, knowing who Pheromosa truly was. And she was truly proud. "And it makes my heart so proud."
They would stay here for a while. After all, they had the rest of the Pheromosa to find. Thankfully for them, the plan worked so well that the other Pheromosas were rushing in the direction of where they heard the sound. It would be a while until they would leave the Winged Mountain. Once the Pheromosas approached the idol, they were fawning over it.
It easily surpassed everything that they have seen and taken to the point where they fell in love with it. Naturally, this prompted new conflict to rise but thankfully, it was not against Rarity's Pheromosa. Instead, they would start bickering over the idol.
The Pheromosas each wanted it for themselves. Unlike gemstones, something like this was singular and the only one of its kind in the world. There was no way they were going to pass this up. And because of this squabbling, it soon turned into a battle. Ash and the others watched as the Pheromosa were fighting against who would get to keep the idol. They obviously intended to bring it with them.
The Winged Mountain was soon met with a fierce clash between the Pheromosa species. But they obviously held back just so they wouldn't destroy the idol otherwise it would be for nothing. The Pheromosa won't be going anywhere as the perfect way to keep them in one spot had been found and it just so happened to be the monument.
"Well, that's one way to keep them occupied," Ash uttered. "I'll talk to everyone back at Alola to see what they can do. They've got speciality with Ultra Beasts and Ultra Wormholes after all."
"But who do you think opened up those Ultra Wormholes? Do you think it's Team Plasma again?" Cold Colt wondered.
"We'll find out soon enough," Twilight replied, believing that the answer could come to them soon. And she was right about that because one of her friends already has the answer to that.
For now, they could put a pin in this. A potential Pheromosa Nightmare had been stopped. And it was fittingly stopped by another Pheromosa who was now the top Pheromosa of them all. And knowing this, she put on a smile. There was something rather special about being at the top, especially when it involves those that have looked down on her and walked over her. Pheromosa and by extension her other half Froslass, could be proud of this achievement. A truly great level of progression on their part as the journey continues.
Across the world, the Pheromosa gravitated to one thing. The Pheromisa Idol which was highly effective. However, there was just one issue. Getting them back home. Unlike Ash's time with the Ultra Guardians, sending these Ultra Beasts back to their home would be rather difficult considering that there were multiple of them.
Granted, they were all in one area so it was easy to keep them around, plus they now answered to Rarity's Pheromosa. The problem was the fact that they were squabbling over the Pheromosa Idol that was made to lure them in. It was a bit too effective as now it was harder to get them home. However, thanks to Cold Colt, they at least knew the location of one of these Ultra Wormholes. And of course, an Ultra Wormhole could be spotted up there.
"That's the one. This definitely leads to the Ultra Desert." Cold Colt said as they all stood before the Ultra Wormhole.
"We're gonna get all the Pheromosas through there?" Pinkie Pie uttered. "Does it look smaller or larger from this distance? I can't tell."
"We're lucky that they're all choosing to follow Pheromosa," said Twilight, looking back at Pheromosa. Behind her were all of the Pheromosas that gathered and gravitated towards the Alpha. After the demonstration of power she showed, she was no longer a pushover for them. Those years of gathering gemstones have led up to this.
"Mosa..." Pheromosa sighed. Even though she was now seen as the Alpha of her species, she wasn't really all for them following her around.
"Hm. It was on the other side the last time I saw it." A slight difference that Cold Colt noticed. The Ultra Wormhole's position had been changed. It was still in the same area but the last time he saw it, it was not off in a different direction. The young Rift Pony did not think much of it.
"Alright. We can send them home through this one Ultra Wormhole. It's the only one we know of anyway." Ash faced his friends. "And anyone on the idol...we could probably send it through. That way, the Ultra Desert will have a monument there."
"Yeah, if we can get them to stop bickering over it." Twilight pointed out as the Pheromosa were still arguing about who gets to keep the idol. None of them were willing to share it and if this was to enter the Ultra Desert, they would cut loose and go wild for the idol. On the bright side, at least Rarity could say that her Monument Plan was a smash hit. "Pheromosa. Do you think you could tell them to go through?"
"Mosa." Pheromosa would do just that. She was now the boss of them so they basically had to listen to her. However, a part of her also wanted her friends to stick around. She only had two real Pheromosa friends and she has finally seen them after so long.
"Aw, darling. Do you want to spend some time with your friends before you send them off?" Rarity already understood her based on her expression and the way she looked at her friends. "It's alright. You can keep them around and send the others home."
"Yeah. Besides, we can't close the Ultra Wormholes." Pinkie Pie shrugged. "Apparently, the good folks back at Alola have the tech for that so it's gonna be A-Okay!"
And that moment, catching everyone off guard, the Ultra Wormholes closed. Their pupils shrunk, their jaws dropped and their reactions were all the same. This was the worst possible timing in the world. The one way for the Pheromosas to get home had been completely erased.
"Really?! Now of all times?!" Goh screeched, putting his arms over his head. This just seemed like the universe was laughing at them all.
"I-It can't just close like that! Was it outside interference or something?!" Twilight pulled back. "How could it just close so soon? Cold! You said you saw it last night, right?!"
"Y-Yeah. It was pretty recent." The Rift Pony stuttered. That was a rather young Ultra Wormhole and now it was gone. On top of that, each of the Pheromosas came through different Ultra Wormholes and so far only this one has been seen. But considering that the Pheromosa Invasion happened overnight, those other Wormholes were probably just as young as this one that just vanished.
"Something or someone must've shut it down." Ash gawked. "It was probably the same way the Pheromosas showed up here.
"So...now what?" Pinkie scratched her mane. They were at a bit of a slump here. There was no way for them to reopen the Ultra Wormholes. For the longest, Ultra Wormholes have merely been opened by a mysterious energy and the only people who have managed to open were Team Plasma, which was incredibly unlucky. Now they just had all of these Pheromosas here and their options were looking rather slim and thin.
"Well...There is one way we can figure this out." Ash had something in mind. "We're gonna have to head back to Alola for this." Alola was the region to go to for this issue. It specializes in Ultra Wormholes after all. But no one there had the power to open them. There was a way for a Pokemon Trainer to open it but required a specific power that only Ash has done. Even if that power was not available to him anymore, he had something in mind. "Tomorrow's when we'll do it. Twilight. We're gonna really need your Twilightium Z for this."
Ponyville. The Pokemon House.
"Well, that was a nice chat we had. It's getting late here." Back at the Pokemon House, Fluttershy had returned home, completely safe. And she ended up returning with the one who kidnapped her in the first place. The Pheromosa from before who she had a chat with was now present in the Pokemon House once more. "Since you're tired, I made a clean spot for you."
A clean area for Pheromosa had been made. It was a large carpet that was completely spotless, letting out sparkles. Just what Pheromosa wanted. The Lissome Pokemon couldn't just take clean objects, it could also use them. And for the first time, a Pheromosa that was not Rarity's would lie down on something pristine and neat.
"Pheromosa." The Pheromosa yawned, needing some time to rest. She hasn't even done that much running compared to the rest of her species and yet she expended herself. This was a first. For the longest, she's been lying on sand back at the Ultra Desert. Naturally, it was a rather uncomfortable feeling.
Sand was coarse, rough and it tends to get everywhere. This immediately trumped it in every possible way. Pheromosa would take this in, having the most pleasant look on her face. This was bliss. This was paradise. And the best part was that it was large enough for her tall physique. She was going to enjoy this rest as it would be the best rest she's ever had.
"Raboot?" Raboot was a bit nervous having an Ultra Beast just sitting around here. But he was friends with Rarity's Pheromosa so this wasn't too bad. Plus, it sounded like Pheromosa would only be here for the night and after that, she would return home. That is if she could even get home now that the wormholes are all gone.
"Do you think she'd like to stay here?"
"B-Boot!" Raboot gasped after hearing that. Fluttershy was already having ideas to keep Pheromosa around. If she wanted to. It was a possibility. A strong one. And there was only one condition for it to become a reality and that was if the entire place was clean.
"Sshh. Let's let her rest, Raboot." Fluttershy said. By this time, a majority of the Pokemon, minus the Nocturnal Ones, would be fast asleep. That was when it hit Raboot. The place would just have to be dirty for Pheromosa to leave. That was easier said than done. "I know what you're planning. Naughty." Fluttershy caught on instantly. "You're alright with Rarity's Pheromosa. Besides, I can always just ask her if she wants to stay."
"Boot..."
But this wasn't the only Pheromosa he would have to worry about. The attention of Rarity, Raboot and other Pokemon was drawn to something else. They noticed that the large Pheromosa Idol from before was getting closer all of a sudden. It was previously seen at Saddle Lake and later in the far distance of the Winged Mountain.
They suddenly heard the voice of multiple Pheromosas going off. Not just the one here at the Pokemon House. It was impossible to ignore, especially for Audino and her advanced hearing. She even heard it earlier. The Pheromosa Idol would come to a halt as the sound of it being placed down was heard.
They would glance over to see a horde of Pheromosa. It was all the Pheromosa who have not returned to their homes just yet. They were all brought back to Ponyville with Rarity's Pheromosa leading the charge.
"Was bringing them to Ponyville the right choice?" Cold Colt asked.
"We couldn't think of anywhere else to take them. If we leave them alone, who knows what they can do? We have to keep them around us." Twilight explained. It was a rather difficult task dealing with all of these Pokemon. Even the Pokemon back at PokePark were not this much of an issue since they live their own lives and take care of themselves. "I was thinking about sending them to PokePark but...that would only lead to more problems."
"Is this how Fluttershy feels? Her ability to manage animals and Pokemon is more impressive than we originally thought." Rarity had to give extra praise to Fluttershy now that she was being hit with a similar issue. Of course, all of this would be noticed by the residents of Ponyville. Inside and outside, they witnessed the array of Pheromosa and yet Rarity's still stuck out since she was a Shiny Pokemon.
The Pheromosas would also notice how clean Ponyville was. This greatly interested them as the town was a relatively clean place despite what goes on in it. But it wasn't close to the Pheromosa Idol. Apart from Rarity's Carousel Boutique but that spoke for itself.
"Oh, what's this? The Pheromosa Invasion's already hit Ponyville?" said Mayor Mare, approaching Ash and the others.
"Hi, Mayor. S-Sorry about this. But we don't really have anywhere to take them that doesn't lead to trouble. But we just ended up bringing trouble to Ponyville..." Twilight sighed.
"I can see that. You've gotten yourselves into a colossal mess without a doubt." Mayor Mare chuckled, staying completely calm about this.
"Please tell us you know of a place where we can keep them until we can solve this?" Rarity pleaded, hoping for an easy solution.
"Can't say. This is a tall order even for me." Alas, Mayor Mare couldn't really bring relief to any of them. "The best thing I can recommend is to keep them all in check. Make sure they don't start causing trouble for others."
"That's what my Pheromosa has been doing but she's not quite fit for this leader role." Rarity answered. "I mean, she is the top Pheromosa, not to brag. But she needs her rest and these Pheromosa won't stop arguing over the idol I made. Which, by the way, is proof of my artistry."
"Why not keep them here?" Amethyst Star questioned while passing by.
"We can't do that. If there's a disagreement between any of them, it could be ugly. And they were already squabbling when they saw the idol and every single one of them wants it." Twilight explained as it wasn't that simple. "Keeping there here at Ponyville would just cause more problems and disrupt the citizens."
"They aren't that easy to talk to, believe us." Rarity chimed, supporting Twilight's words. "Even if Pheromosa told them not to cause trouble...I believe you know the answer and outcome to that."
"But we're heading to Alola tomorrow to figure things out," Ash spoke.
"I really wish we had the gateways right now...There's a probably a place we can leave them at." Cold Colt grumbled.
"How about this? Just speak with Starswirl? He's an insightful pony and we've talked for a while. He's older than all of us combined so he probably has something valuable to share. As for me, I need to get some sleep myself. Just...don't let them stay here if it means they'll cause us trouble."
"Do you think Starswirl has a solution? Isn't he a bit busy with the gateways?" Pinkie Pie questioned.
"I think he's still out there working." Cold Colt groaned.
"There's only one left to do then." Ash put his fist in his hands, throwing out another idea. "I'll look after them all."
"You? By yourself?" Rarity faced him.
"I won't be alone. I've got Pikachu and my Pokemon with me. We'll keep an eye on the Pheromosa. Plus, I can keep 'em entertained until tomorrow." Ash winked, aiming to handle this while his friends get some rest.
"Pikachu!"
"Well, I can trust you with that, Ash. You know how to keep others entertained. Cold. I'm leaving you with Ash. It's impossible for you to fall asleep so you'll be with him." Twilight would pass that role onto Cold Colt thanks to his Rift Physiology.
"Uh, sure.
"Leave it to us!" Ash gave a thumbs-up as he would pass on sleeping for tonight. He is very much used to this by now. It would be him, his Pokemon and Cold Colt in the night with all of these Pheromosa. "Besides, they're not instantly dangerous." And as a bonus, Ash knew more about the Pheromosa. They can be dangerous without a doubt but that didn't mean they were prone to attacking others in an instant. If anyone was well-equipped to handle these Ultra Beasts, it was him.
Twilight's Castle.
Returning home, Twilight was ready to get a good night's sleep. She'll need it since she wasn't quite done with the Pheromosa Debacle. She thought it would be over but the second the Ultra Wormhole closed up, that only made things worse for her. She could at least rest knowing that mass hysteria involving the Pheromosa had been ignored all thanks to the efforts of her and her friends. Lo and behold, Starswirl was here, present in Twilight's Castle.
"Oh, Starswirl. You are here." Seeing Starswirl brought some relief. She could ask him about the possibility of sending the Pheromosa elsewhere in the meantime.
"Whatever questions you have, I hope it is about the Rift," Starswirl said with a smile on his face.
"Uh...It's not. Not really."
"A shame. But I will answer those hypothetical questions anyway. I have made quite the discovery."
"H-Have you found a way to open up gateways again?!" Twilight unleashed a prolonged gasp.
"Not really. I haven't opened any gateways." Unfortunately, that was not what this was about, instantly crushing Twilight's spirits. "But, I've found out why it's so hard for me to do so or for any of us to do so."
"You have? What is it? Whatever it is, we can figure it out as soon as possible."
"Soon is not good enough, Princess Twilight. I learned from you and Cold Colt that whenever you make an item with Rift Energy, you always have to know the molecular structure of it."
"Yes. That's how we made that Platinum Monument. It wasn't easy, remembering all of that and even finding the strength to create it. How does that add up to gateways. What is it made out of?"
"The reason you and others have struggled to find new gateways is simple. I spoke to Cold Colt last night and I learned that inside every Rift is a universe. They do not have internal organs like us and that part of them allows them to tap into such a cosmic power."
"Right? Wait, are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"Even Cold Colt did not know about this. It only came to him naturally. And the gateways are just an extension of that. To put it simply, we cannot open gateways because it requires us to know everything about the universe and how it was made."
"Say what?! That's why?!" Twilight finally learned the truth. And it was a rather staggering one that made a lot of sense.
"That's right. We'd have to know everything. From the stars, the galaxies, the planets, the nebulas and so on." Starswirl continued as he already had a map available. By using his magic, he brought over a map which he opened up, showing outer space. Of course, this was much smaller compared to what the universe was like now thanks to Jirachi but the fact that this was the smaller version of what used to be was incredibly intimidating. "We would have to recreate it all down to the very essence."
"Recreate it all..." Twilight looked down, realizing how impossible of a task that was. "But we can do that."
"Precisely." Starswirl would close the map. "Recreating the Universe is impossible. The gateways were always pathways to two separate universes. And now that they are one, there is no other separate universe. Well, none that we can reach."
"So it's over then." A disappointed alicorn sat down. "We only get one working gateway and a mysterious one that keeps moving around. What a shame."
"Espeon." Espeon would rub her head on Twilight, trying to comfort her.
"I know. I know. This is out of my reach as well, I'm afraid." Starswirl shook his head. "It was rather fun getting to experiment with such powerful forces but we should know our limits. This is something beyond us all."
Of all the reasons that could've been given as to why it was so hard to reopen the gateways, this was by far the worst possible answer and yet it made the most sense. The Princess of Friendship and all those who enjoyed using the gateways wouldn't get that thrill again. Recreating every part of the universe was the tallest order possible.
"Well, I don't want to give it up just yet." Twilight shook her head, refusing to let it end there. "There has to be a way even with this setback."
"Glad you said that." Suddenly, Starswirl put on another smile as if he expected it.
"Eh?" Twilight blinked. She thought that he had given up already, which is why he said all of it. But it seems like it was a bluff for the most part. "B-But you said-"
"I know what I said. I was simply seeing how you'd react. And I thought you were my biggest fan." Starswirl would raise his eyebrows a few times. "You should know that I am the kind to never give up on something. Even the projects I stopped working on, I only stopped because of the danger they posed. I also feared that I wouldn't have the time to finish them and I had other things to worry about such as the Pony of Shadows. It was never about not bothering to finish them."
"S-So...There is a way? To recreate every element in the universe?"
"Oh, no. Absolutely not!" He furiously shook his head. "That is still out of our reach. But we have the means to use a similar power to it. The gateway that leads to Ponyville, of course. I spent plenty of time around it, trying to make sense of it. And once I finally figured out how the gateways are truly made, I extracted energy from it. Why recreate every part of the universe when you can have a strong remnant of it?"
"You really are amazing, Starswirl!" Twilight's eyes lit up. This was exactly why she was his idol. "Why didn't I think of that?! Oooh, I should've caught on sooner!"
"You would've caught on eventually, Twilight." Starswirl approached her. "It would've taken some time but still. And besides, you have energy from the Rift within you so you can already play some part in this."
"I can?"
"Oh, most definitely. How would like to be the first to make a new gateway? The energy from the gateway that I gathered will be the crux and mould of it all. And you will be the one to form it. It will still take some effort and time, but I am positive we can finish it as soon as possible. Every piece of the universe has already been taken out. All it needs is for someone to give it that missing life."
"This is the best news I could've asked for. It completely overwrites everything else that's happened today." Twilight found her relief. And it was truly outstanding. "But...can I at least call it a night, first?"
"Sure. My eyes are baggy anyway. And my bags have bags." Starswirl showed off his bags, needing that rest too. He was the definition of a hard worker. The energy he gathered would not be seen tonight but by tomorrow, it would be gazed at for sure. All of this made up for the troublesome Pheromosas who were currently with Ash.
Ash was playing his part and very soon, Twilight would play hers. And it was all for a better and safer future. Tonight was just the bridge between the past and the future. The present was about to end as the journey continues.
"Here it is. Feast your eyes on the fragment of the gateway I managed to retrieve." Starswirl cracked the code on what it took to make a gateway. At least, he was getting there. Knowing that the means to make a new gateway was by recreating the entire universe itself, he took the easy way out and just simply took a piece of the gateway that leads to Kanto's Pallet Town. And it was a rather large gateway.
Kept inside of an orb, it appeared just like how Rift Energy always does. Starswirl's work in the modern day has been solely focused on this and nothing else. Anything he has postponed ever since he entered limbo would have to wait as he was this as a way to repay everyone for stopping the Pony of Shadows.
"Alright. How do we do it? Do I just shoot it?"
"Every piece of the universe we live in is already inside of it. After all, the gateways acted as a bridge between two different worlds. It's up to you to replicate that bridge that this world used to have."
"Okay. It's up to me. I have to take things from here. Today's going to be a monumental day." The Princess of Friendship proudly smirked, believing she was about to make history at this moment. The creation of a new gateway was inbound. Starswirl would open up the orb, letting the energy meet with the fresh air. And already, the mystic nature of it was being heard by Twilight. She couldn't believe that she was looking at a piece of the gateway.
"This is it. Here I go!" Excited, Twilight would pull her head back, unleashing Rift Magic from her horn. She made contact with the cosmic power with another cosmic power. Starswirl observed as an ethereal flash occurred, lighting up the area.
The components and elements were already there. The gateway had every piece of a universe inside of it, albeit on a smaller scale. All Twilight had to do was fill in the blanks. She would unload plenty of Rift Energy into it, doing what she could.
However, what she got in return was a shock. Twilight's mane and tail would frizzle as the energy backfired her oner. It was similar to receiving an electrical shock but with a cosmic feeling to it. Twilight's eyes spun around as she saw actual stars. "Ooough..."
"Of course, it was never going to be easy. I tried my hoof at it and was met with an immediate failure." Starswirl casually said. "Even with your magic, this will be an issue."
"No need to worry! I have plenty of retries, just watch!" Twilight wasn't about to just call it a day. Another attempt was in store. She would readjust herself, aiming at the cosmic energy once more. A second attempt would be a smashing success but in the end, it was the same result. Failure. But this time, Twilight was blown back, crashing into the walls.
A third attempt was due. Third time's the charm is what they say. But not for this. A third try resulted in Twilight being spun around this time, bringing another failure. And this was a rather recurring theme. Each time, Twilight shot at it, she would be hit with drawbacks and failures.
No matter what she did, she would fail, unable to make a new gateway. Back-and-forth failures only lead to her taking damage. Eventually, Twilight would come to a halt once she had enough. No gateway had been made.
"Okay....This isn't working." Twilight panted while plastered against the wall. She would then fall off the wall.
"I would say work smarter, not harder but all of the smart work has been done." said Starswirl.
"Maybe I'm not envisioning where I want to go..." Twilight pondered. Considering she was trying to make a gateway, she wondered if choosing a specific location was the key to it. She hasn't tried it yet and that might pan out. "But would I have to memorize everything about that place?"
"This power is less confusing when you aren't the one unleashing it yourself," Starswirl uttered. "Now that you have it at your disposal, the confusion truly settles in, doesn't it?"
"It does. I never underestimated Rift Energy but I never considered how difficult it was for Cold Colt or even Emerald Aura to use it. It's more than just using a different form of magic."
"Twilight! Come and see this!" But she could figure that out, entering her castle and quickly rushing to her location was Pinkie Pie.
"What is it, Pinkie?" Twilight questioned. "Please tell me you have good news? Because I've been let down recently."
"Oh, sure, sure. It's Ash! He did pretty well with the Pheromosa!"
"All of them?!" Such a revelation was hard to believe. Ash managed to deal with all of those Pheromosas. Twilight already fully trusted Ash but she had to wonder what he could've possibily done to keep all of those Pheromosas calm and away from others through the entire night.
Lapras Lake.
It was back to Lapras Lake. Twilight was led there by Pinkie Pie who saw it all play out the second the morning rose. Arriving at this lake that had very few Lapras around, the Princess of Friendship and her Pokemon witnessed the peaceful yet exciting sight in front of them.
The first thing that Twilight eyed down was the fact that the Sea Temple Samiya was present here. She certainly didn't expect to see it today. She has been seeing it rather frequently for something so mystical and rare but that was one of the benefits of being friends with the King of the Sea.
And speaking of the King of the Sea, they obviously came straight to him as Ash could be seen cheering on the Pheromosa, who were all calm. This entire time, through the entire night, no damage has been done. No one has lost anything. None of the Pheromosa ran off to do their own thing. Ash found something that could keep them all steady while also giving them enjoyment by tackling what they love most. Vanity. But instead of it being gemstones, especially with the Sea Temple present here, he had them use Water Weaving.
Instructed by the People of the Water, the Pheromosa were learning to Water Weave, manipulating the water itself to make clothing. This was their way of fulfilling their materialistic urges. The water was very much clean and making something out of it was beneficial in so many ways. It was also surprising that the Pheromosa were listening to the People of the Water but Twilight deduced that one of the Samiyans used Water Weave and immediately captivated the Ultra Beasts.
"Nice one!" Ash said to a Pheromosa who just weaved a neck chain. After making it the Pheromosa would place on itself, pleased with what it made.
"Ash. Did you do all of this?" Twilight approached Ash, amazed by what she was seeing. "Of all the things I thought you would do to keep them steady, I never expected this.
"Yep. I had to go underwater to get them to show up here. Pikachu and I had to keep the Pheromosa busy until the Sea Temple got here." Ash explained. "I figured that why steal something good when you can make it yourself?"
"As expected from his majesty." The Royal Advisor to Ash also known as Alo spoke. "Leave it to him to come up with a simple yet effective plan."
"Look at this, your majesty!" Enola, the young girl from the Sea Temple would shout, casually standing next to a Pheromosa who made a dress for herself and the Samiyan. And the style of the dress definitely felt otherworldly. The Pheromosa seemed to have their own style of clothing compared to Rarity's Pheromosa.
All of the Pheromosa stylized their clothing differently than anyone in the world. Even though there were no clothes in the Ultra Desert, their instincts and minds came up with something. The dresses and suits had these circles on the shoulders, not to be confused with shoulder pads. They looked like a mixture of robes and jackets.
"We still have to find a way to open those wormholes again. I haven't forgotten about heading to Alola for this." Ash was still fixated on the Ultra Wormholes and the Ultra Desert. "Alo. Do you think you can get us to Alola fast enough?"
"Of course, your majesty. The function we use to travel at light speeds is still available. It will take a lot more than just one usage to spend it all. The seas of Alola are also familiar to us since they connect to the seas of Hoenn."
"Awesome. Alright, everyone!" Ash spoke up, grabbing everyone's attention as the higher power here. "We're heading to Alola now! It's gonna be hot over there but that won't be an issue for you guys, I'm sure of it."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The Samiyans collectively bellowed.
"As for the Pheromosas, letting them inside won't hurt as long as they get to Water Weave as many times as they want," Ash spoke to Alo.
"Understood, your azureness." Alo nodded as the People of the Water were ready to set off once more. The Pheromosa would have to come along. Sure, they've found something that they enjoy but they still had to be watched over, just in case. After all, they were off to find out why the Ultra Wormholes suddenly closed the second they tried sending the Pheromosa home.
Alola. Central Alola. Aether Paradise. Afternoon.
The Aether Paradise.
A VLFS or a "very large floating structure." This is where the Aether Foundation's research facilities are. It serves as an artificial island located in Central Alola, near Akala Island. It serves as a base of research for the Aether Foundation. The boss of the Aether Foundation and her family were currently away. That being Lusamine, Lillie and Gladion. But even with their presence gone as they searched for Lusamine's Husband, the place was still active.
Arriving here thanks to the swift travelling of the Sea Temple were Ash and his friends. The Pheromosas would stay behind while Ash, Twilight and Pinkie went straight for the Aether Paradise where they could dabble in Ultra Beast-related shenanigans.
Twilight and Pinkie gawked at the Aether Foundation from the outside and especially the inside. The pure white aesthetic was very pleasing to the eyes. They very much welcomed in, mainly thanks to Ash's presence. He was still an Ultra Guardian even if he was all over the world. And right now, his work as an Ultra Guardian was once again continuing thanks to the appearance of the Pheromosa and even before that with all the other Ultra Beasts that showed up in Equestria.
And the first area that their eyes were met with was none other than the Aether Paradise's Conservation Area. A garden full of Pokemon to reside in. Ranging from the loyal and brave-hearted Herdier to the large and lazy Snorlax resting on a tree. The Spinarak that slowly descend from tree branches by using the webs they spin and the Wishiwashi that swim together in schools, moving alongside other Water-based Pokemon such as Swanna or Qwilfish.
The Aether Paradise was well-built to handle any Pokemon that shows up here. Big or small. Perhaps not too big as a Wailord inside of here would definitely be rather tricky to manage but anything small was not an issue as Petilil could be seen running around
"Neat, isn't it?" Ash spoke. "Haven't been in here in a while. It's a lot like the Pokemon House or even your PokePark, Twilight."
"Ash? Is that you?" Upon returning, the first member of the Aether Foundation to greet Ash was none other than Wiche, who acted as a founding member of the Aether Foundation and assistant branch chief. "And look at this. Two pony friends with you."
"Hey, Wicke. Glad to be here again." Ash greeted the branch officer. We're just here to figure something out."
"Oh? Is it about the Ultra Wormhole situation in Equestria?" Wicke was already on the same page as Ash. Her work surrounding the Ultra Beasts also never stopped. At any moment, the Ultra Beasts can return and they certainly have. Plenty of them.
"You already know about that?" Pinkie Pie questioned.
"If you're referring to yesterday, not exactly. I was talking about months and years before what has happened recently. You little cutie, you!" Wicke would suddenly grab Pinkie Pie's face, squishing her cheeks.
"Oohooho!" Pinkie Pie giggled, greatly enjoying this and the compliment. "Stop it~"
"If you're having trouble with that, we here at the Aether Paradise can get right on it for you." Wicke would then pick Pinkie Pie up, holding her close to her. "Even without Mrs. Lusamine around, we can expand our foundation further by tackling other parts of the world. Equestria seems to be the one place where Ultra Wormholes want to show up a lot."
"Well, all we really need to do is figure out why the Ultra Wormholes disappeared. We've got a lot of Pheromosa with us right now and we can't really get them home since the wormholes vanished."
"Vanished? Out of nowhere?"
"Yeah. It happened right as we were gonna send the Pheromosa back. Pretty weird. I don't think that's happened before. I mean, I know they can close but..."
"We can open up any Ultra Wormhole. We have the means to do so and-" Wicke paused for a moment, referring to one of Ash's sentences. "Wait! The Pheromosa from the news?! You have them with you?!"
"They're all back at the Sea Temple right now, doing some Water Weaving," Twilight explained. "You don't have to worry about them roaming around Alola."
"Oh, thank goodness..." Wicke sighed with relief. That was her main worry. Having to deal with all of those Pheromosas would be a nightmare considering how fast they were. "Ahem. Anyway. We can get the Pheromosas back to the Ultra Desert. It's more than what we're used to but we can make it work. Just bring them over and we can get it done."
"Hold on. What do you think opened and closed the previous Ultra Wormholes? That goes for the one we saw yesterday and the ones before?" Twilight questioned. "I know they were showing up in Equestria because of Team Plasma but now that our worlds are as one, where is it coming from?"
"It could be them yet again, my little pony. Team Plasma aren't in another universe anymore." Wicke finally revealed the truth, aware of Team Plasma's presence in this universe.
"They aren't?" This was news to Twilight. She believed that Team Plasma were currently in another Universe, still working with Empress Twilight and the other menacing forces. "Oh...I thought..."
"It's likely they're the ones opening the Ultra Wormholes. I'm not sure why they would continue to target Equestria though but we can't do anything about it, I'm afraid." Wicke shook her head. "We haven't made contact with Equestria yet. In fact, they seem to be adept at opening as many wormholes. More so than us or anyone else we know."
"How many did they open up?" Pinkie Pie looked up.
"Plenty. It seems they can casually do it. Ultra Wormholes have actually been appearing across the world these past months but no Ultra Beasts have left it."
"No Ultra Beasts? What's up with that?" Ash scratched his hair, trying to make sense of it. "Maybe they just didn't feel like passing through."
"All of them?" Twilight raised an eyebrow. "I doubt it. There has to be a reason why they haven't passed through and I bet Ghetsis has something to do with it. He's probably been through the Ultra Wormholes and caught some Ultra Beasts of his own if we haven't seen many of them."
"Not a bad theory. It wouldn't be the first time someone has gone through an Ultra Wormhole. But it is rather risky. I mean, nothing has happened to you or the others, Ash. But the possibility of something happening to you is still up in the air. You could end up being a Faller." Wicke's tone suddenly changed.
"A Faller?" This was new to Ash. His entire time being here in the Alola Region and that term was now hitting his ears.
"Pika?"
"They're Humans that have passed through an Ultra Wormhole and have something changed about them. As a result of being exposed to large amounts of energy that pour from Ultra Wormholes, Ultra Beasts that find themselves in the same world as a Faller will relentlessly hunt them down, seemingly smelling or sensing the residual energy and coming to the conclusion an Ultra Wormhole awaits to take them home. " Wicke explained. "And I'm afraid someone has already been exposed to enough of that energy to warrant that kind of scenario lately."
"Who? Is it someone in here?" Twilight questioned, looking around. Neither of the Aether Foundation Employees look like they were affected in any way. No sign of any Ultra Beasts either.
"No. No one that works here. It's actually rather recent. Before the Pheromosas showed up, there was an array of Ultra Wormholes reportedly showing up in the Hoenn Region. Once again, no Ultra Beasts came out of them but someone had obviously gone through and taken the effects. Her name is Anabel."
"Anabel...? No way!" Ash let out a thunderous shout. That name was all too familiar to him.
"Who's Anabel?" said Twilight, curious.
"She's one of the Hoenn Frontier Brains. A good friend of mine. I had no idea she went through an Ultra Wormhole too. The more ya know."
"Splendid!" Wicke melodically said. "Then you're already familiar with each other. The change she has gone through is ...rather noticeable to say the least. Some might say she's not the same person she used to be."
"Is she okay?! How is she?!" Concerned about Anabel, Ash questioned about her wellbeing.
"Oh, she's fine. In fact, she's here at Alola right now. She was found on Poni Island unconscious and clearly had a strong effect on her. You can find her there but I'm not 100% sure she'll be the person you used to know. Her body is letting out excessive amounts of Wormhole Energy."
"I gotta find out for myself!" Ash had to know for sure. Instantly, he took off, heading for Poni Island. "I'll leave the Pheromosa up to you all!"
"Ash, wait!" Twilight cried out, quickly pursuing Ash. For him to bolt off in such a way showed how serious he was. When it comes to his friends, he's always on the move. Pinkie Pie was left behind, not really in the mood to pursue them. She simply stared while still being held by Wicke before looking up at her and speaking.
"So. What else do you do here?"
Poni Island. Seafolk Village. Afternoon.
Poni Island. Home to the Island Guardian Tapu Fini and apparently where Anabel was supposed to be. Ash made his way to Poni Island as soon as he could. Poni Island was rather small, having the Seafolk as its main residential area. The Ferry Stop and the Floating Restaurant were the places of interest here.
The restaurant was Wailord-shaped, selling delicious noodles known as Z-Noodles which were rather cheap and very much worth it. But right now, Ash did not care about any of that. All he cared about was Anabel. Even though Wicke said she was fine, the fact that she apparently wasn't the same made Ash worried. All of his friends were his concern after all.
"Anabel?!" He yelled her name, trying to bring her out. He would quickly rush to the Floating Restaurant to see if she was there, having some Z-Noodles. Alas, she was not there at all and all that really happened was Ash startling everyone else. Seeing no sign of Anabel, he moved to the next location which was the Pokemon Center Cafe.
Once again, no sign of Anabel, unfortunately. Ash would go around Seafolk Village, hoping to find his friend anywhere. He would then ask the residents of Seafolk who were rather small. It was a village after all but even after quickly asking as many of the people here, he was left with nothing.
"Maybe she's over at Poni Wilds or Poni Beach!" Ash would then focus on the other Poni Island locations, not giving up just yet.
"Ash, calm down!" Twilight used her magic to hold him in place before he could take off again. Ash was currently running in the air after being held back. "Geez...You don't wanna rush it, do you?"
"I have to. I gotta know what's wrong with Anabel."
"Your questions to everyone here are pretty vague, don't you think? You only keep saying her name. You might need descriptions if you really want to get somewhere." Twilight suggested before facing a Fisherman. "Excuse me sir. But have you seen...Um..." The Princess of Friendship scrunched her face. "What does Anabel look like, Ash?"
"She's got long purple hair with purple eyes too." Ash described. "I think she's around my height and she wears all white."
"Oh, I don't know about that." The Fisherman said otherwise. "I saw a girl with purple eyes and hair but she wasn't exactly wearing all white."
"She wasn't? Oh, just different clothes then." Ash smiled, hoping that he was hitting the jackpot.
"Mmm. My memory doesn't serve me right. I didn't see much of her even though she stood out." The Fisherman grumbled. "I couldn't tell you if she was the girl you're looking for. But she did show up with someone else in a suit and they looked like they were heading to Vast Poni Canyon."
"That's where Princess Celestia found Kommo-o. And it's also the place where the Altar of the Sunne is said to be, right?" Twilight questioned, hoping she was getting her facts right.
"That's the place." Ash nodded. "Wait, a suit?"
"Then we'll try there. Maybe she hasn't left Poni Island just yet. If she's from Hoenn and she's still here then it's not too late." Twilight would bring some reassurance to Ash. They would advance towards Vast Poni Canyon.
"Good luck approaching her. She had quite the look on her face. A steely one that can even make a Gyarados nervous." The Fisherman warned. "And I should know. It was my own Gyarados she gazed at. Not the kind of gal you want to cross or make uncomfortable. But you sound like you're friends so that shouldn't be an issue."
"Anabel? Uncomfortable?" That didn't sound right. From what Ash remembers of Anabel, she wasn't the kind to act in such a way. But time has certainly passed since he last saw her and the Ultra Wormholes apparently did something to her. Whatever it was, Anabel may not be the same person that Ash knew.
Ash may have the spirit and drive to always believe in his friends and expect the best to happen to them, but there were certainly times were he was worried that might not happen. And this was one of them It was off to Vast Poni Canyon and hopefully, they could find Anabel there.
The Hoenn Frontier Brain known as Anabel had apparently been greatly affected by the Ultra Wormholes after passing through one of them. By the words of Wicke, there was something different about her and Ash had to find out. According to a Fisherman from the Seafolk Village, Anabel seemed to be heading in the direction of Vast Poni Canyon, which Ash quickly made a beeline towards with Twilight behind him.
"Anabel couldn't have gotten far. Maybe she went straight for one of the Altars." said Ash, travelling across Vast Poni Canyon.
"Maybe. Or maybe she's already gone, Ash. I've never seen you this worked up or active before."
"Sorry about that. Whenever I meet up with my friends, they're all doing well. I've never really had one of them end up different. And Wicke sounded pretty serious about it." Ash admitted. This was a first for him so he had only one reaction to share. "All the places I grew and the folks, that I knew, I always thought they'd be exactly the same."
"This was done by an Ultra Wormhole, Ash. I'm positive that Anabel would've been the same if she never came across it." Twilight would comfort him. "And who knows? Maybe the change isn't so bad. She might bring something great to the table."
"Thanks, Twilight. How about we cover both Altars? I'll go for the Sunne and you'll take the Moone." Ash suggested. It would be better if both of them tackled the two altars to see if they could find Anabel. There was a chance that Anabel was already gone but it was worth a try. The duo would split up, heading for the two Altars.
They would both had to take different paths of Vast Poni Canyon which continued to go upwards. Ash has actually never seen the Altar of the Moone but Twilight could describe it all to him once she gets there. Ash already knew the path to the Altar of the Sunne.
But Twilight had to wonder why she would even be here in the first place. What would the Altar have to offer. Then it hit her. While they weren't exactly Ultra Beasts, she did learn that the two Legendary Pokemon Solgaleo and Lunala have a strong connection to the Ultra Wormholes. And by extension, Necrozma who was currently with Daybreaker, also had that connection so perhaps something of worth could be found here.
"You know, Eve. I probably should have told Ash about the Rift Energy back there. I haven't told anyone yet. But they'll be really surprised when I actually manage to make a gateway." She spoke to her partner along the way, getting rather high up in Vast Pony Canyon. The sound of the wind could be heard clearly up here.
"Espeon."
"I just need to find out how to make a gateway appear. I'm still thinking it requires me to select a destination. I could try a place that I know every single thing about but even then, there are secrets out there we don't even know about. I mean, I never even knew about the Grand Equestria until it was shown. This will be my hardest challenge yet and I can't wait!"
Espeon would be there to support her as always. The duo passed an entrance that could be seen on the other side of what was the Dragonium Z Pedastal. They would gawk at the pedestal as that was obviously meant for Kommo-o. A shame Princess Celestia didn't show up at this part of Vast Poni Canyon to obtain it.
After passing by the pedestal, the two of them advanced to an immensely deep and vast canyon with an extremely long staircase with holes in some spots on the sides. Poking their heads through the spots were some Pokemon. At the top of it were three staircases that get thinner and shorter progressively.
Eventually, they reached their destination. The Altar of the Moone. Sister to the Altar of the Sunne as both could be found at the far ends of Vast Poni Canyon. Alas, when showing up there, no one could be found. Not a soul was present here, making this a failure.
"Well, we tried, Eve. We'll have to tell him about Anabel and try to comfort him. Maybe he-" As soon as Twilight turned, her senses went off. So did Espeon's. Both of them sensed someone else here that managed to escape them until now. "Who's there?!" Twilight said with a serious voice, being on her guard.
"Espeon?!"
"It looks like you're not her. But you're completely identical and even have the same name. You're not the Twilight I'm looking for." This mysterious voice spoke to her.
"Hiding isn't exactly making you trustworthy if that's what you're going for. Where are you? And how did you know I would be here?"
"I was right to wait here but I didn't think you'd show up instead. You even knew my name which only raised my suspcions for a moment."
"Your name?" Twilight squinted before letting out a quick gasp. "Wait a second...Are you-"
The answer would come to her. The mysterious voice would cease all concealment, deciding to make an appearance. This was apparently a misunderstanding of some sorts. But for someone to be here and mistook Twilight for someone else was rather noteworthy. And the one to emerge from the shadows and a small rock formation here at this area was none other than the girl she was looking for.
Anabel.
"Are you Anabel?!"
"I am. Anabel of the International Police and UB Task Force. And you must Princess Twilight Sparkle. It was easy for me to mistake you for the other Twilight, honestly. Apologies for that."
"We did it, Eve!" Twilight said with glee and joy in her voice as she started prancing on the spot. So did Eve as they were both elated. They wouldn't have to confront a disappointed Ash Ketchum. Instead, they could see him with a smile on his face. Truly magnificent.
"Esp! Espeon!"
"Wait..." At that moment, the young alicorn would pause her prancing, referring to Anabel's previous words that she has brought up a few times. "What do you mean Other Twilight? You even mentioned her in the beginning. And that was why you were here?"
"I was merely waiting around for her to make a return but it seems I got the wrong Twilight. I nearly confronted you in a battle, princess." Anabel apologized once more. "She has been here before so, I and the rest of the police were anticipating her return."
"By other Twilight, are you talking about my counterpart from another universe?!"
"She does come from another universe, yes. Her name is Twilight Moonlight and she is currently wanted." Anabel revealed her name. Now the attention shifted from Anabel being found to Twilight's counterpart from another world. Twilight Moonlight. This confirmed that Twilight Moonlight had been in this universe once more and apparently, she was present at the Altar of the Moone.
"So, she showed up again. Probably to find Ash." Twilight said to herself, remembering what her counterpart was fixated on. Destroying Ash Ketchum which was obviously off the table. "Ah, never mind that for a moment! I'm glad to have met you at last! Ash was so worried about you and I was worried about Ash!"
"Ash?"
"Mhm! Ash! A friend of yours, remember?" She rapidly nodded her head, hoping that Anabel could remember Ash.
"Ash..." Anabel would hold her head, repeating his name for a while. "Ash...That name does sound familiar."
"I heard you passed through an Ultra Wormhole not too long ago and had a lot changed about you. You're what's known as a Faller. How much of you has been changed?"
"The only things I know are that I am from Hoenn. My name is Anabel and I used to be a Frontier Brain back at the Hoenn Region. A tower was under my protection and I was considered a powerful trainer too."
"Well, at least you recall a few things instead of it being full-on amnesia. You're not a Frontier Brain anymore?"
"Not at all. Now I work for the International Police. I don't think I can go back to that position now that I have this. The Ultra Beasts and other issues are far more important. Such as the debacle with Twilight Moonlight. You wouldn't happen to know anything about whereabouts since you're her counterpart?"
"Sorry. Can't say." Twilight shrugged. "I've never seen her at all. My friends have but even they don't know too much about her. She does find a way to enter our universe even though the gateways to other worlds are gone."
"I see. Well, either way, now that we have you here, I'm allowed to investigate you." Anabel would suddenly hold out her badge.
"Investigate me?! Why?!"
"Twilight Moonlight obviously uses some form of Rift Magic to appear into this world. And you are said to use plenty of Rift Magic, absorbing it and making it a vessel for yourself. And since she is your counterpart, we'll need someone like you."
"H-Hold on!" Twilight rapidly shook her head. "I'm not looking for trouble! I'm not even ready to get involved with this!"
"Espeon! Esp!"
"It's alright, Espeon. I'm not arresting your trainer." Suddenly, Anabel would speak to Espeon with clarity, perfectly understanding her. "But we have been keeping her under her radar for months now."
"Have you now...?" Twilight grumbled as the police have been focused on her for a while. "Great...So you probably know where I live."
"But we didn't confront you at all. You were clearly busy with other things. But right now, your assistance is required. This is not an arrest but your involvement is crucial."
"I guess so..." Technically, Anabel was right. Twilight Moonlight did mainly come here for two reasons and one of them involved keeping Twilight Sparkle safe.
"I have Ultra Wormhole energy all around me. That way, a specific Ultra Beast will chase me down. You also have a cosmic energy around you, making you a target. And from our encounter with Twilight Moonlight, she was obviously fixated on you as well."
"Was she now?"
During each mission, my job is to protect nearby populated areas with the assistance of my Pokémon. I've been hunted down by plenty of Ultra Beasts as of recently and Twilight Moonlight is involved in this. She made her way through an Ultra Wormhole."
"She passed through an Ultra Wormhole too?! First a gateway and now a wormhole? Where is she getting all of this?" Questions about Twilight Moonlight were only continuing to show up.
"She's here for something and she came straight to the Altar of the Moone. We believe it could be Lunala which would explain why she showed up from an Ultra Wormhole. She made her escape the second we chased her here." There was another story with Twilight Moonlight as she was once again active. She seemed to be a rather wild version of Twilight who seems to get herself into plenty of trouble. "She tried destroying the Altar of the Moone and even the Altar of the Sunne but we stopped her in time."
"Why would she want to do that?" Twilight pondered. "She also tried to destroy the Mirror Pool back at the Everfree Forest. Is this because of the whole Prisma thing?" Questions that needed plenty of answering. And enough to get Twilight's brain excited. She craved mysteries such as these. "Well...I'd love to help! I'm trying to figure out a lot of things too. At the same time, I'd like to get one thing done before we really do anything."
"And what's that?"
"It's about Ash. I need to take you to him. You may have lost plenty of your memories but surely you remember Ash, right?"
"That name is familiar..." Anabel paused, trying to recall Ash's existence. Only the name was clicking at the moment. She grumbled, failing to get anything. "Hm. It's not important anyway. It sounds rather trivial."
"You won't think it's trivial unless I show you this!" Twilight would do more than just speak his name. She would reveal the Xtransceiver, showing Ash's Trainer ID which involved his face.
"!" Anabel gasped. Now it was clicking. Those Lightning Bolt Birthmarks on his face. That cheeky yet confident smile. Those eyes. And of course, a hat. "Ash!"
"There you go. Knew it wouldn't take too much for you to remember him. I'll call him right now. Or would you rather surprise him by being there in person?"
"I haven't seen Ash in a long time...I've only heard his name, especially over at Equestria. I didn't think it was the same Ash." Anabel closed her eyes, amazed to get another piece of her memory back. Now that she remembers him, a smile met her face. She did carry a rather serious and intense exterior, just as the Fisherman said. But that quickly faded when Ash came up on her mind. Twilight noticed this, even spotting a blush on her face. "Ash...I wonder how he's been."
"Uh, he's been fine." She squinted her eyes after seeing the blush, pulling her Xtransceiver away. "I'm guessing you know each other well?"
"Not really. I never got the opportunity to know Ash all that much. I do remember I used to battle with him. That was by far my most memorable battle and the others completely escape me." After putting on that smile, Anabel would shake her head, getting her head in the game. "Ahem! I'd love to meet him again if that's alright. I mean, you are the one who suggested it to me. And after this, we will have to have a talk."
"Sure, sure." Twilight nodded as it was off to Ash who should be at the Altar of the Sunne right about now. There was a chance he ran into another member of the International Police.
"Espeon~" Espeon giggled, already knowing what this was about. This was not the first time and certainly not the last time something like this happened.
"You're right on the nose, Espeon. It seems like we both share the same feelings." Anabel suddenly said, catching both Espeon and Anabel off guard.
"Y-You can understand her?!" The young alicorn pulled back.
"I can understand all Pokemon. I have an empathetic ability to sense the emotions of living beings and communicate with them, ever since I was little. Even with my memory loss, that much hasn't changed. I can communicate telepathically with Pokemon too." Anabel's ability was similar to Zecora's as she didn't need vocal cues like most Pokemon Trainers which certainly helped her in battle when she was a Frontier Brain. And it sounds like it transferred to the modern day.
"Sounds to me like you didn't lose anything vital honestly," Twilight grumbled. She just so happened to find someone else who was enamoured with Ash. What are the odds?
"I'm guessing Ash doesn't know. He's not exactly the brightest when it comes to this."
"Well, you're a bit too late to the party. A while back, I confessed everything to him. He took it well. I still have no idea what he meant by that or if he even sees me as more than just a friend but I feel like I'm getting somewhere." Twilight confidently said.
"The way you're raising your head and standing implies you're still behind." Anabel would retort, causing Twilight to stagger as she took a devastating blow of words. Anabel saw straight through her. Her emphatic abilities were not limited to Pokemon after all.
Twilight grumbled as Anabel looked back with a smirk, knowing what she was doing. The two of them would head to Ash with a bit of a tense atmosphere and aura around them. On the bright side, at least they were getting to know each other.
Altar of the Sunne.
No one else was there but Ash. He was seated near the altar with Pikachu, doing nothing but taking in the atmosphere and environment. No sign of Anabel but he had trust in Twilight. And he was right to place that trust as she ended up finding Twilight.
Ash just wanted to stay here for a moment as the afternoon Sun lingered. Eventually, it would have to lower itself. But soon, his peaceful moment was interrupted when he and Pikachu finally ended up sensing someone. It wasn't just Twilight and Espeon.
But instead of hiding, this mysterious individual would approach him and Pikachu. Ash stood up, wondering who it could be as the shade of the Sun was making it a bit difficult. But that difficulty wouldn't last for long. The individual showing up looked rather familiar to him.
"Twilight?" Ash said with uncertainty. It looked like Twilight in front of him. But it was not his Twilight. Pikachu could already tell based on the scent, making him fully on guard. Lightning would crackle from his red sacs as the pony who was approaching here was not on friendly terms.
It was none other than Twilight Moonlight. Anabel was right to return here as she did expect Twilight Moonlight to make an appearance. Alas, she was not at the Altar of the Moone but the Sunne instead.
"Lucky me." Twilight Moonlight smirked. "I came up here looking to destroy the Altar. And instead, I found something or someone better."
"Who are you? You're not Twilight! But you look like her though." Ash tilted his head. "Are you that other Twilight that Zecora mentioned?"
"Twilight Moonlight. She should have mentioned that if possible. Ash Ketchum. Now that I have you here, I can finish up two issues. Destroying the Altar and capturing you."
"Pikachu!"
"Yeah, right! As if that's gonna happen!" Ash greatly rejected that possibility. "So it was true. You are trying to get rid of me. What's up with that?"
"Not just you. You've been hanging around the one they call Hilbert recently. On top of that, there are the other counterparts we have to focus on. Red. Ethan. Brendan and so on. You're simply just one out of nine."
"I'm not gonna waste too much time on you. I'm waiting for my Twilight to show up and we're out of here."
"She's here too?" Twilight Moonlight slightly gasped as she didn't expect to have her other counterpart here. "That might make things slightly troublesome. But I should've expected it if you were here. I guess I have to get out of here too as soon as possible. But with you!"
An encounter that was not supposed to happen finally happened. Ash Ketchum and Twilight Moonlight had encountered each other here at the Altar of the Sunne. Twilight Moonlight only had the intention of capturing Ash. Prior to this, it was to apparently destroy him but now it has changed. However, Ash could definitely tell that his life was still at risk as the journey continues.
Alola. Vast Poni Canyon. Altar of the Sunne. Afternoon.
At Vast Poni Canyon, the one known as Twilight Moonlight had finally encountered Ash Ketchum here at the Altar of the Sunne. Sooner than expected as well. Here to capture him, she arrived here to also destroy the Altar of the Sunne. And by extension, the Altar of the Moone. Of course, Ash and Pikachu would not allow such an act. And at this very moment, heading to this part of Vast Poni Canyon was Twilight Sparkle who had the familiar face of Anabel with her.
"So you wanna capture me and destroy the Altar? What's up with that? The Altar's not something you can just destroy!"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Believe me, it is. This thing causes plenty of problems that you start. So many other things around you need to be destroyed as soon as possible." Twilight Moonlight said with an intimidating voice. She was not here to play around. This was crucially serious to her. "I know for a fact you won't make this easy for me. Prisma."
"If you wanna battle, that's fine by me! But I'm not gonna let you destroy the Altar!" Ash exclaimed. He would be battling for the sake of the Altar's safety. He couldn't let it be destroyed at all, especially due to what it stands for.
"Idiot! All I need to do is give it my all and that Altar will crumble. You're coming back with me. I'd like to get rid of you here and now, but that's not what I was sent here to do." Twilight Moonlight's horn would flash as she would quickly send out one of her Poke Balls. And emerging from it was none other than her Hisuian Samurott and Shiny Umbreon.
"Samurott!"
"Woah! Is that Samurott?!" Ash's eyes flared up, amazed by the new variant of Samurott he had just witnessed. "Awesome!"
"Don't be impressed by what your opponent has!" Twilight Moonlight grizzled her teeth, agitated that Ash wasn't taking this seriously. "Whatever! Samurrot, blow that Altar away with Ceaseless Edge! Umbreon, support him with Dark Pulse!"
"Samu!" By unsheathing its two scimitars, Samurott was ready to dash in, aiming to make this quick and easy for everyone as the altar was his biggest target. Umbreon could already be seen gathering the power of Darkness within him.
"Boy." At that moment, Sombra would speak to Ash, getting involved. "If you do battle, the chances of that Altar being destroyed will greatly elevate. You will have to find a way to avoid such destruction. I will assist in that."
"Thanks! Pikachu, use Iron Tail now!"
"Chu...Pika!" With a mighty swing by hardening his tail, Pikachu would clash with Samurott's Ceaseless Edge. His tail met with the weapons as a powerful clanging sound could be heard. Pikachu had to hold back just to keep the Altar of the Sunne safe and that would also mean pushing Samurott back.
"But you don't have a way to defend against Dark Pulse!" Twilight Moonlight shouted as the Dark Pulse travelled over Pikachu and Samurott as it looked like it would hit its mark, going straight for the Altar. But that is where Sombra came in. Just as he said, he would assist in helping Ash protect the Altar of the Sunne.
From Ash's body, a great veil of shadows would fly as Sombra took control for a moment. With this appearance, the veil would catch the Dark Pulse before it could even touch the Altar. Thanks to Sombra's mastery of the shadows, he instantly sucked up the darkness.
"W-What the?!" Even Twilight Moonlight was taken aback by this. She did not see this coming and it seemed that she wasn't aware of Sombra's existence within Ash. "Shadows? That wasn't reported by you. Then again, you would be the type to have the shadows within you."
"Hehe." Ash grinned before preparing to make his next move. "Pikachu, spin with Thunderbolt!"
"Pika!" Backflipping away from Samurott, Pikachu would then light up his body while moving through this air. By generating 100,000 volts of electricity, he would touch the ground by getting on his back and without losing any momentum, spinning around. The Countershield had been used in this battle, acting as an offensive and defensive tactic.
"S-Samu!" Hisuian Samurott would be struck by the frantic lightning bolts, taking super-effective damage. Umbreon would also take some damage from these electric sparks flying everywhere.
"A spinning Thunderbolt?! How ludicrous!" Twilight growled. "But that doesn't matter to me!" Suddenly, she would get involved in this battle without needing to say a command. By using her own magic, Twilight Moonlight would zap at the Countershield.
At that moment, Pikachu's Thunderbolt suddenly froze. All of those volts and the rapid movement came to an abrupt halt, surprising Ash. Twilight Moonlight was not afraid to battle the way she wanted. After all, this isn't her universe and she certainly wasn't going to follow its rules. After freezing the Thunderbolt, she would then take the opportunity to strike at Pikachu.
"Psychic!"
"Umbreon!" From his eyes, dark azure energy would emanate. He locked onto the Mouse Pokemon lifting him off the ground and getting him off his back.
"P-Pi? Pika!" Pikachu gasped after being raised. He was still stunned that his Thunderbolt had been frozen.
"Launch him into the Altar!" Twilight Moonlight was fully focused on multi-tasking, seeing this as an opportunity to have Pikachu damage the Altar of the Sunne while also taking damage. Umbreon would launch Pikachu as hard as he could, sending the Mouse Pokemon flying towards the Altar.
But shielding the Altar was none other than Sombra. Both sides were not afraid to use outside forces during this Pokemon Battle. One was for the sake of protecting the Altar and the other was for the sake of obliterating it. When Pikachu crashed into the shadows, the impact was cushioned. It made it feel like Pikachu took no damage at all as the shadows would calmly let him down. Sombra could be heard chuckling after defending the altar before finally showing his face.
"You're...Sombra!" Twilight Moonlight shuddered. Even she knew who King Sombra was.
"Glad to know my presence is still noticeable even by those from another Universe," Sombra smirked. "But whoever you Sombra may be, I can assure you that he and I are vastly different."
"Why do you wanna destroy the Altar? And why do you wanna capture me?!" Ash questioned.
"It's my mission to do so. You're going to be responsible for the revival of Prisma." Twilight Moonlight answered. "Someone like him can't return at all. And I can already see similarities between you and him."
"Similarities?" Ash repeated.
"Interesting." Sombra pondered. "Once again, there seems to be a connection between you and this Prisma character, boy. And I am assuming these other 9 Trainers she speaks of have a similar connection."
"As for the Altar, there is already history with it involving Prisma. And the sooner it's destroyed the better!" Twilight Moonlight shouted before using her magic once more. From her horn, she would suddenly summon what appeared to be magical butterflies. The way they appeared showed off their beautiful glow. They looked like they would appear better in the night. These butterflies would then surround Twilight Moonlight, suddenly giving her wings.
She was not an alicorn like her counterpart. So to make up for the lack of wings, she had this spell to count on as she now how beautiful butterfly wings on her back that had the symbol of the Moon as the patterns.
"As long as you're with us, we can stop that revival!" Twilight Moonlight bellowed before unleashing a strong blast of magic from her horn. In response, Sombra would do the same, releasing a black beam that would match Twilight Moonlight's attack. The two magical beams would make contact, creating a strong flash in the air along with a booming sound. "Umbreon! Samurott! Do what you can to destroy that Altar!"
"Samu!" Samurott would do just that as he would use Aqua Jet. By surrounding himself in an aura of water, the Formidable Pokemon would launch himself at the Altar, planning to knock Ash out of the way as well.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
"Pika! Pika-Pika-Pika!" Rushing in at high speeds was Pikachu as he left an afterimage the second he took off. He would then crash his head against Samurott. Both Pokemon butted heads with their speedy moves, entering their own clash.
"Umbreon!" Umbreon would move past Pikachu and Samurott, deciding to get up close and personal with the Altar. The Moonlight Pokemon ran as fast as he could, even preparing to leap over Ash to reach the Altar.
"Oh, no you don't! Go, Lucario!" Ash already had another one of his Pokemon ready. As soon as Umbreon leapt into the air, out came the Aura Pokemon Lucario whose Poke Ball was also sent into the air.
"Lucario!" The second he emerged with that mighty roar, Lucario would smash his paw against Umbreon's face in midair. Umbreon was intercepted with a devastating blow, sending him back to the ground. As for the magical clash, Twilight Moonlight managed to edge out Sombra, surprising the former King of the Crystal Empire. Sombra would borrow a bit of Aura from Ash to even things out for himself. The result was a tie as both of these magical attacks would combust.
"Lucario, use Force Palm!"
"Ca!" Lucariou would stick a smooth landing before gaining enough momentum to run in at full speed, channelling energy into his palm.
"Ceaseless Edge!" Meeting him would be Hisuian Samurott. The two Pokemon encountered each other with an up-close exchange. Lucario's paws smashed against Samurott's blades as the two Pokemon gazed into each others eyes with intensity. Samurott managed to push Lucario back, going in for another swing with his scimitars. Dodging this by leaning his upper body back, Lucario saw the blades move over him as they cleaved the air itself After evading it, Lucario performed a backflip before thrusting his paw forward. He used the energy of Force Palm as a ranged weapon, sending an orange beam out.
"S-Samu!" Samurott would use his weapons to block the attack but was almost too late to do so. The impact of the Force Palm was staggeringly heavy, pushing Samurott back even when he blocked the attack. Once again, Twilight Moonlight and her Pokemon were forced away from getting closer to the Altar.
The battle could be seen in the distance with flashes of Lightning, magical butterflies and shadows flying everywhere under the Afternoon Alolan Sun. "What's happening over there?!" Naturally, this was noticed by Twilight and Anabel. They were making their way to the Altar of the Sunne and their eyes instantly witnessed the clash between Ash and Twilight Moonlight. And speaking of Twilight Moonlight, she could also be seen in the air with her butterfly wings. "Is that...me?!"
"It's Twilight Moonlight!" Anabel yelled. "I should've gone for the Altar of the Sunne instead. If she's over there, that means Ash has already confronted her."
"Not good...Her goal is to destroy Ash." Twilight shuddered before flying as fast as she could to Ash's location. She had to get to the Altar of the Sunne as soon as possible.
"Destroy Ash?" Even Anabel was not aware of this at all. Destroying Ash was a shocking notion. If anything, that didn't help Twilight Moonlight's case with the International Police. She would immediately take out her phone, ready to contact the International Police as soon as possible. At the same time, Anabel would be behind Twilight, running across Vast Poni Canyon.
When advancing towards the Altar of the Sunne, Twilight looked below her to see fainted Hakamo-o's. They had already been defeated in battle as a Totem Kommo-o could be seen kneeling, just on the verge of fainting. This was a clear indication that Twilight Moonlight had already been here and battled her way through the Totem Pokemon, reaching the Altar of the Sunne. Ash didn't have to go through it at all as he managed to show up at the Altar without going through a battle.
After all, he's already been here before so the Totem Kommo-o had no reason to attack him. But they had a lot of reasons to challenge Twilight Moonlight, who defeated all of them.
"This is Officer Anabel! Twilight Moonlight showed up at Alola! All other locations she's recently been at should be ignored!" Anabel informed. Twilight Moonlight has been reported in different locations with the International Police trying to track her down. Only one of them managed to find her, however.
Altar of the Sunne.
Dust filled the area thanks to this wild battle. Twilight Moonlight looked down on Ash with her graceful butterfly wings. At that moment, she felt her body tremble for a moment as that could only mean one thing. There was still one drawback to Twilight Moonlight being here.
"I don't have much time left in this world..." Twilight Moonlight was still on a time limit. She had limited time to be in this universe. Twilight Moonlight couldn't hope to stay here permanently and had to return to her universe. But she wasn't about to leave without doing what she came to do.
"I'm not one to leave a fun battle unfinished. We can stop now if you want! There's no reason for us to keep doing this." Ash suggested. Even though he was up for a battle, he did not wish to bring any harm to the Altar. And of course, there was a reason for Twilight Moonlight doing this.
"I don't want to hear that from you, Ash Ketchum." Twilight Moonlight was being rather stubborn. "The sooner I capture you, the better. After this, I'll go after Red and all those Boys in Red and Blue."
"I don't know about that." Ash smiled, finding that hard to believe. "It's gonna take a lot more than this to capture Red and the others."
"Are you underestimating my strength?"
"Nah. You're a strong Trainer, I can tell. You remind me a lot of my Twilight."
"It disgusts me that you're close to her. In reality, you should be as far away from her as possible. I should be defending her but I first have to get rid of everything involved with you."
"You wanna defend Twilight? Then we shouldn't be battling." Ash saw this as something the two of them could relate to.
"Pikachu!"
"I specifically said you! Didn't you hear me!" Twilight Moonlight groaned.
"I hear ya. Zecora laid everything out to me and I know a lot more about this. You're not really that bad of a gal, are you? You're just trying to avoid something bad from happening. And I'm guessing I'm the cause of it. But what exactly is it?"
"All the details aren't clear to me yet. Only what truly matters. I and many others are on a mission to stop Prisma's revival. And it's all because of your shenanigans. Because of your wish, you revived a dangerous being."
"Me?" Ash pulled back. "I only wished for both worlds to be connected. Jirachi just made it happen. I had nothing to do with anything else."
"So you say. But your actions will have colossal consequences, Ash Ketchum. And it's up to me and the Dimensional Task Force to rectify them before they get out of control."
"Dimensional Task Force?"
"Twilight Moonlight!" Screaming her name with an authoritative voice. "I have you now!" Ash inadvertently staled for enough time. Twilight Sparkle and Anabel arrived at the scene as this entire battle was paused.
"Twilight...!" Twilight Moonlight shuddered. She was too late as the two of them had encountered each other at last, here at the Altar of the Sunne.
"Wow...You really do look like me. And it's not even an Empress Twilight situation..." Twilight Sparkle gasped. Compared to Empress Twilight and all the other counterparts she's seen, next to Sci-Twi, Twilight Moonlight was the spitting image of her rather than just being a variation.
"This time, you won't escape!" Anabel held out a Poke Ball. "You're completely surrounded and occupied. For your crimes of vandalization, you will be coming with us."
"Anabel!" Ash smiled, glad to see Anabel once more. Granted, this isn't how he expected to reunite with her. He didn't even expect to see her so snazzy in that suit.
"Vandilization?" Twilight Sparkle repeated.
"Every location she's been at, she's been trying to destroy something specific every single time. We caught wind of her actions immediately when she targeted the Azoth Kingdom. She and her friends have been rather active and now her most recent target is the Altar of the Sunne."
"All places that he's been to!" Twilight Moonlight aimed her hoof at Ash. Indeed, Ash has been to the Azoth Kingdom before when he helped out Volcanion and Magearna. Twilight Moonlight was specifically targeting places that Ash has been to and has some connection with.
"But why?" Twilight Sparkle questioned. "You don't seem that bad compared to Empress Twilight. What gives?"
"I can't let you get involved in this, Twilight." She said to her counterpart. "It's best that you stay out of this." At that moment, her body was suddenly flashing as Rift Particles could be seen exuding from her body. Her time was now up. "Darn it! I wasted too much time!"
"You're not leaving again." Anabel wasn't about to let that happen. She actually wanted Twilight Moonlight to stick around. And she definitely had the means to make sure that would happen. From her hand, she had what appeared to be a microphone of some sort.
And inside of it was none other than Rift Energy. It was only natural that the International Police would have access to such items. If the Ranger Union could, why not them? However, it was not a microphone as Anabel didn't have to speak into it. All she had to do was hold it out and a pulse of Rift Energy would fly out.
Right as Twilight Moonlight would return Samurott and Umbreon to her Poke Balls, all those Rift Particles flying out of her body would be reversed. Her body would reform swiftly, keeping her where she was. The counterpart gasped in disbelief. She wasn't back in her respective world. Instead, she was still here even though her time was up.
"W-What the?! What did you just do?!"
"It's a Rift Disruptor. It completely disrupts anything Rift-related, such as transport. Even though there aren't many gateways left, you were obviously using it when we last saw you." Anabel explained. "This time, you won't be fleeing to your world."
"I wasn't even fleeing in the first place...I'd gladly finish things up here!"
"Are you sure?" Anabel still had her Poke Ball out. Twilight Moonlight had already returned Samurott and Umbreon so she had no Pokemon to assist her. Ash, Sombra, Pikachu, Lucario, Twilight Sparkle, Espeon and Anabel all surrounded her as retaliating would be foolish.
"Darn it..." The unicorn groaned, lowering her head. Thanks to Anabel's actions, she was rather powerless. "I'm not out of options yet. I don't need Rift Energy to vanish when I still have my magic!" Unicorn magic was still at her disposal. From her horn, she would teleport away, using the simplest method of magical transportation.
Anabel gasped before clutching her fist. "Teleportation...Of course. We still have nothing for that." Alas, Teleportation was the one thing that couldn't be dealt with. "It's fine though. She couldn't have gotten far. Anything Rift-Related has been disrupted for her so there is a good chance she'll stay around Alola. It'll last for only 40 minutes at best unless I use it again."
"Man...What was that all about?" Ash was a little bit perplexed by what just happened.
"Twilight..." She spoke her own name, referring to Twilight Moonlight, of course.
"She's a slippery one. And rather aggressive." Anabel sighed, holding her face as Twilight Moonlight was rather tricky for the International Police. "Anyway...On the bright side, it's good to see you again, Ash." Anabel would put on a smile.
"Hey, Anabel. Pretty new way to meet up huh?" Ash chuckled. "So uh...what's up with the suit?"
A lot had to be explained to Ash. And on top of that, Anabel had something to share. She has quite the knowledge of Twilight Moonlight. More than what Zecora received. Twilight Moonlight was currently out there, still fixated on her mission now that she was stuck here for a while.
But all this did was make Ash question things about where Twilight Moonlight comes from. And just as critical, this Prisma character and what his relation to him and these other 9 Trainers were as the journey continues.
After an encounter with Twilight Moonlight at the Altar of the Sunne, Ash and Twilight returned to the Seafolk Village, sitting at the Floating Restuarant that was shaped like a Wailord. There, Anabel would share information that wasn't confidential. It was something that was free to hear, especially in front of Ash.
"Twilight Moonlight couldn't have gone far. If I find her again, I'll use the Rift Disruptor a second time, extending her duration in this world." Anabel spoke while Ash was currently snacking on some noodles along with Pikachu. "I never thought she was specifically targeting you, Ash. Especially places that you've been to."
"Weird, right? I only heard about her. Meeting with her for the first time sure was something." Ash said after slurping up some noodles, having the most elated look on his face. "Out of every Twilight I've met, she's definitely got that gaze, just like our Twilight."
"Pikachu!"
"What do you mean by that?" Twilight said, showing off that exact same gaze. She wasn't aware of it but she puts on a serious face, she greatly resembles Twilight Moonlight's serious steely expression that she constantly had on her.
"Just like that." Ash chuckled and so did Espeon, agreeing with him. "So, Anabel. You've been all over the place too chasing after her. Never thought I'd see you as a member of the International Police. I was pretty worried."
"You were?"
"Yeah. I thought something bad happened to you after Wicke told me you were pulled in by an Ultra Wormhole. Stuff about you was supposed to be different, but I guess I didn't need to worry that much." said Ash with great relief. "I'm glad you're safe."
"W-Well, it's nice to know that you were worrying about me." This greatly pleased Anabel even if she made it sound minimal. She may carry a serious exterior, her feelings towards Ash change that at the right moment as her cheeks became rosy after Ash's concerns. Naturally, this made Twilight side-eye.
"Ahem!" Twilight cleared her throat. "Anyway, where has she been exactly? Can you tell us about the places she's tackled?"
"Right. You see, Queen Ilene of the Rota Kingdom was the first to tip us off about this. We learned that Twilight Moonlight was attacking the Tree of Beginning. That was her first target that we were aware of. It was rather noticeable as well. Her goal was to destroy the Tree of Beginning much like how she wished to eradicate the Altar of the Sunne and Moone."
"Those two are places Ash has also been to. But she was stopped by the Regis when she got there, right? Or was it the International Police?"
"When we got there, she was already in the midst of battling against the Regis." Anabel could remember it clearly when she showed up with the International Police. Twilight Moonlight had a fierce encounter with the Guardians of the Tree of Beginning.
Kanto. The Tree of Beginning. A few months back. Nightfall.
She appeared there under the Full Moon. The International Police were called immediately by Queen Ilene as the ruckus was very much visible to her. Thanks to the balcony she owns, the Queen could view the Tree of Beginning from afar and Twilight Moonlight was certainly dealing some damage.
Violet flashes could be seen from afar, straight from Twilight Moonlight's magic. And when arriving there, the International Police already witnessed the pony from another universe in action.
She was currently facing off against Regice and Regirock respectively, having Samurott out. The International Police were already at risk being here since the Tree of Beginning was on high alert, using its antibody Fossils to protect it. Thankfully, they were warned by Queen Ilene, prompting them to keep away from the tree. The best they could do was stand at the entrance.
A third Pokemon of Twilight Moonlight was also seen. In this case, it was a Dragapult. The Dragapult used Dragon Pulse on Regice, pushing it back and slamming the Iceberg Pokemon against the walls. Samurott would enter an up close clash with Registeel with his swords, hitting the highly defensive steel body. It was harder to push Registeel away compared to Regice but with Twilight Moonlight using her magic, she would give herself the edge.
As for the Pokemon here, they were very much fearful of the scenario. Why was this pony and her Pokemon attacking their home? She wasn't exactly harming them but she was fixated on one part of the tree. The centre of it.
"Out of my way!" She shouted. "I'd rather not continue fighting you. All I need to do is neutralize what's in the centre of the tree so that way, Prisma doesn't use it again. You can all still live here."
But the Regis weren't having any of that. No matter what her reasoning was, they couldn't allow their home to be damaged in any way. Thus, they would continue fighting to protect their home and the Pokemon in it.
We first learned about her Prisma obsession on the day we saw her. She was dedicated to neutralizing whatever was in the tree without destroying it. We classified it as a mild threat. Nothing too serious as she wasn't targeting the Pokemon at all.
Knowing this, the International Police would take it easy. And of course, they wouldn't dare anger the Tree of Beginning. It was already rather furious thanks to Twilight Moonlight's actions. But once Twilight Moonlight spotted the International Police outside thanks to a hole that was blown through the tree, she knew that her mission was starting to be exposed, all thanks to the call from Queen Ilene.
Twilight Moonlight would cut her battle with the Regis short, running off with her Pokemon. At the same time, the antibodies would chase her down while the Regis would take different pathways just to catch up with her. But of course, Twilight Moonlight was still running short on time in this world, having a limit.
The International Police would track her down, moving around the outside of the Tree of Beginning instead of the inside. That way, they could avoid the antibodies. It was a clever play on their part. However, because of their approach and Twilight Moonlight's time limit, they were too late.
By the time they reached the centre, Twilight Moonlight was gone. All that was left were Rift Particles dispersing. She already blew a hole in this part of the tree, going straight for what was in the centre but was soon stopped by the antibodies and the Regis.
She was gone. But when we arrived at the centre, we saw what she was targeting. And according to Queen Ilene after we reported back, it was something that never existed in the tree before. Until now.
Upon reaching the centre, the International Police gazed at what appeared to be a Nucleus of some sort. It had an azure colour to it. It was floating in the air, letting off repeated pulses that were impossible to hear. No one here could hear it. They could only hear the pulses go off.
From what Queen Ilene said, it sounds like it had recently shown up there. The Tree of Beginning doesn't even need it to function at all. But there was clearly some importance with it if Twilight Moonlight was planning to neutralize it. This was just the beginning of our encounter with her. Her next target ended up being Alamos Town's Space-Time Towers.
Sinnoh. Alamos Town.
Once again, Twilight Moonlight was present there. But this time, she came with company. Other ponies that most likely came from the same world she was from had appeared at Alamos Town. And their mission involved the two Space-Time Towers.
This time we were called by the town's mayor, who spoke of a group of ponies suddenly attacking the Space-Time Towers. Compared to the Nucleus we found, she was planning to fully obliterate the tower. We weren't sure if she was willing to harm others to make it possible. But the second we heard about this and arrived at the scene, we saw her yet again. That just raised our suspicions greatly. However, someone beat us to it.
The International Police were too late as it was Darkrai who defended the Space-Time Towers. An encounter with Twilight Moonlight and her group transpired at the top of the towers. Darkrai already proved what it would do to keep Alamos Town safe, especially the garden. Even though Twilight Moonlight wasn't threatening the garden, the towers were still important to the one Darkrai cared the most about.
The citizens told us that Darkrai fended them off as they suddenly vanished. Mainly because they ran out of time. But Darkrai feared that they would return. Just like how Twilight Moonlight returned to the Altar of the Sunne. There would be times where she and her group would try again and it would always be at night.
Even though they were late, the International Police now had Twilight Moonlight and her group fully on their radar. Thanks to what Darkrai shared, they would be ready for her next appearance. At least, they would try and figure out where she would appear. The International Police would stay around Alamos Town's location for a while.
Strangely, the Space-Time Towers were the one place she came back to the most. Out of every other location, she targeted Alamos the most. And because of that, it made things easier for us.
Twilight Moonlight returned the next day. Or rather, the next night. She and her group were sent here via dimensional travel, here to eliminate the Space-Time Towers. And at that moment, Anabel would encounter Twilight Moonlight for the first time.
"Go, Espeon!" Anabel, ever after being affected by the Ultra Wormhole, summoned her partner Espeon. In response, Twilight Moonlight sent out her Umbreon. On top of this tower, a battle between the two of them took place. Twilight Moonlight figured that she would have to destroy it in the midst of a Pokemon Battle. They can get rather destructive.
This battle between them went on for a while and due to the chaos happening on top of it, they were constantly moving, avoiding imminent danger. All of this burned up Twilight Moonlight's time as she and her group would once again leave. But now they were fully aware of those trying to stop her.
The Operation to Arrest Twilight Moonlight was underway. She was considered a Zealot, however, we kept her existence away from the people, just so they don't get riled up. All across different parts of the world, we pursued her group, stationing ourselves and predicting their next movements.
"Here. These are the images we've gathered." Anabel would show off images on her phone to them. "The Azoth Kingdom was a target of hers. We suspect that something was in there that she wanted to retrieve. She has been to Gracidea, the Diamond Domain, Alto Mare, Shamouti Island and so much more."
"Wow...She really got around. And in only a few months?"
"Our story with her could go on and on but I don't have enough time for that." Anabel shook her head. "All you need to know is that each time she tackles different locations, we discover things that have reportedly never been there before. Much like the Nucleus we found at the Tree of Beginning. They are all rather recent and to Twilight Moonlight, they must be of great importance, so we have confiscated them. Just in case."
"Strange. The Winged Mountain is also something new. Very new." Twilight pondered. "Mountains don't form that fast at all and yet the Winged Mountain was fully developed. Do you think she targeted it as well?"
"Sombra mentioned another weird mountain that was in the way of the Changeling Hive. It was also super new too." Ash replied, recalling something similar.
"Then it isn't a coincidence. Twilight Moonlight obviously knows why this is the case. We unfortunately can't interrogate her yet because she keeps escaping us. Intentionally or unintentionally.
"Back at the Altar of the Sunne, she told me something." Ash could give out something valuable thankfully. "I think she said something about me and Jirachi. Because of the wish I made to keep both worlds together, I ended up bringing some stuff over here."
"Wait. You were the one to make that possible?" Anabel didn't even know about this. She truly was unaware of Ash for a long time despite harbouring feelings for him.
"That's it!" Twilight figured it out, slamming her hoof on the table. "I know what it is! Jirachi's power didn't just get rid of so many of the gateways. It also brought things over. Things from that short-lived world Moonlight mentioned."
"Really?" Ash questioned.
"Really! Twilight Moonlight's trying to prevent this Prisma character from appearing. That's because Prisma comes from this short-lived Utopic World. Twilight Moonlight probably came from that world too but she managed to stick around compared to whoever Prisma is. And if that's the case, what if that Nucleus and the Winged Mountain come from that world? And remember the Time-Space Axis and what we saw there? You even saw that something was off."
"Oh, yeah. You're on to something, Twi." Ash replied. He expected Twilight to be the one to catch on quickly.
"She targeted the Space-Time Towers. Who's to say that she won't target the Time-Space Axis as well?"
"You two know a lot more than I expected." Anabel was amazed by what was being spoken of.
"Well, when you spend time around Ash, you get to see and know a lot." Twilight winked at Anabel, obviously doing it to make her jealous. And it was certainly effective, making Anabel frown, giving her the signature steely look.
"In any case, I should be the one interrogating you two. Not interrogating exactly but could you please share whatever you can with me? The International Police will greatly appreciate this."
"Sorry. That's kinda all we got." Unfortunately, that's where the knowledge came to an end as Ash would simply shrug.
"A shame. But I will keep this all in mind. Right now, I and the rest of Interpol should be pursuing Twilight Moonlight as soon as possible. If I can use the Rift Disruptor on her again, we'll have enough time to arrest her." Anabel stood up. "As for you two, we'll make sure to keep an eye on you. Ash. She clearly wants to get rid of you because of your apparent connection to Prisma. Your life is in danger."
"Well, now she wants to capture me," Ash replied, scratching his hair. "But that's pretty bad too."
"And Twilight. Your counterpart clearly wants to keep you safe and despises you being near Ash. I don't know what's going on, but be careful the next time you meet with her. If anything comes up involving her, let us know as soon as possible."
"Sure. I mean, if we could just talk to her, we might not even have to deal with whatever comes next." Twilight sighed. "She obviously wants to stop something bad from happening but destruction doesn't seem lik the way to go through with it."
"Ash. It's been...nice seeing you again. Hoenn and the Battle Frontier don't exactly fill me with any positive feelings." Anabel had a few things to say to Ash before she could continue with her mission. "I was afraid that because of my memory loss, nothing would please me anymore. I'd take everything seriously with no semblance of joy. But seeing you again changes that."
"I'm just glad you're okay. Good luck with your mission, Anabel." Ash would give a thumbs-up, bringing a positive aura to Anabel.
"Pika-Pika."
"Right. I might see you again. Right now, I have a unicorn to catch." Anabel would finally make her way out of the Floating Restaurant, heading straight for Twilight Moonlight. As for Ash and Twilight, it was high time they got going as well. The Moon could come up at any moment.
Aether Paradise.
Back at the Aether Paradise, the Pheromosas had been successfully sent home by Wicke and the Aether Foundation Employees. The last row of Pheromosas could be seen leaping through the Ultra Wormhole that led to the Ultra Desert. Of course, the Pheromosa Idol was thrown in there as well to keep them occupied with something other than crystals. That idol would now be vital to their land, sticking out in the desert.
Ash and Twilight had returned to see the last of the Pheromosas leaving this world. All the while, Pinkie Pie was feasting on some Alola cuisine, courtesy of the Aether Paradise. They could head home knowing that was one problem dealt with. The Pheromosa Invasion was over as the final Pheromosa left this world by skipping away and performing a mighty leap afterwards.
"So, they're all gone?" Twilight spoke.
"Yep! Mission accomplished!" Pinkie Pie uttered after snacking down on some Malasadas. Her mind and taste buds were melting due to how pleasing they were. "Oooh, these are so goooood!"
"How did things go? Did you meet up with your friend Anabel? Was she alright to you?" Wicke asked, wondering if Ash was doing well after returning.
"Saw her. And it went great. I mean, we got into a battle, but overall! Great!" Ash was very much pleased to see Anabel again. And he could rest easy knowing she was doing well. "Learned quite a lot too."
"That's wonderful. I was rather worried, to be honest." Wickie sighed with relief. "As for the Ultra Wormholes, you won't have to worry about them too much. They may be appearing frequently recently but it's nothing that the Aether Foundation can't handle now that we're expanding ourselves."
"Let's get going, Pinkie. I should get enough sleep for my role as the Pokemon School Principal."
"Aw, now?" Pinkie Pie pouted. "But there's way more food here at Alola that I really wanna try. I hear the Pancakes here are extra special!"
"Well, I'm not stopping you. Have fun. You can get home with ease since you always have Mew by your side." Twilight dismissed it. She could rely on Pinkie to get home on her own. And she may even see Twilight Moonlight along the way if possible.
"Did you say Mew?" Wicke blinked as Twilight said that so casually and refused to elaborate any further. Catching Wicke off guard, Mew would finally reveal himself by popping his head out of Pinkie Pie's mane. This was way more surprising than the abundance of Pheromosas.
It was back to the Sea Temple which would get them back home as soon as possible. But now, Ash and Twilight had to live with the fact that a counterpart to the Princess of Friendship was on a rather serious mission, targeting places Ash has been, dedicated to destroying what she could and even capturing Ash.
It was rather alarming. But to Ash, he wasn't scared at all. This wasn't the first and last time his life has been threatened. His location was also widely known by now. Since Pallet Town was the only location with a clear gateway that could be used by anybody and the fact that Ash's home was the first thing that was seen spoke for itself. Twilight was worried about his wellbeing but there was also her counterpart.
There was some good intention behind her actions but the execution and how bold she was did not help her case. Twilight Moonlight made herself seem more like a vigilante. Or as Anabel stated, a zealot. However, thanks to what Twilight deduced, she now had an idea as to why Twilight Moonlight targeted these areas. And more importantly, what else from this short-lived paradise has managed to show up?
Here at the Pokemon School, there were a group of teachers who hailed from Pegalysium and were the descendants of the Legendary Windkiss. However, even though they have been assigned as teachers since they seem to have plenty of experience with Pokemon, they weren't exactly showing signs of it.
At this moment, Windflash was still trying to take in the Pokemon School and she was too fixated on gazing at the Pokemon. She was used to the outdoors and had yet to get used to the indoors. Considering how her family was brought up, this was not surprising but the students wondered how and why she became a teacher in the first place.
"So um...What are you actually going to teach us?" A student asked.
"Hmm...Not sure yet." Windflash spoke while gazing at Smolder's Charmander. "Would you mind teaching me how?"
"You're supposed to be teaching us though." Sandbar pointed out.
"Yeah. We can't teach a teacher." Gallus scoffed before blinking, seeing Windflash's serious expression. "Can we?"
"Ah! There is no shame in that!" Windflash raised her voice while putting on a happy face. "I do the same thing with my brothers and sisters all the time. We help each other by teaching other new things."
"I guess that's true. That's something Ash taught a lot of ponies." Sandbar agreed.
"And besides. I think I work better on the outside than the inside. All of this is a bit confusing to me." Windflash uttered. "I've never been anywhere else that wasn't the outdoors. I'm supposed to be teaching you about how to feel safe around certain Pokemon. These creatures showed up at Pegalysium and out of any pegasi there, my family has interacted with them most."
"Well, you're not really giving off that impression." Smolder pointed out due to how Windflash was gazing at her Charmander. "I've been around all kinds of Dragon-Type Pokemon. I'm perfectly fine with whatever comes my way."
"Uh, same." Ocellus spoke. "I spend all my time with Fairies and Bugs."
"That's nice and all. But how about unique Pokemon? I know all of you have seen your fair share of Pokemon of all kinds. But the ones my family and I found in Pegalysium will surprise you."
"I doubt that" Gallus chuckled. "We've seen or even heard everything under the Sun. What else is there?"
"Well. It's right here, if you wish to know." Windflash would suddenly dig her hoof into her mane. And out of it appeared a Pokemon no one expected to see. But they certainly didn't expect to see it in such a state. It was a Snorlax. One of the larger Pokemon out there and right now, it was as miniscule a hairpin.
"I-Is that Snorlax?!"
"Why is it so small?! How'd you do that?!" Silverstream let out a prolonged gasp.
"He's not the only one in there. You all can show yourselves now." But Windflash wasn't done. Snorlax was not alone in there.
More Pokemon were actually in Windflash's mane who would finally show themselves. Many Pokemon of different types such as Flying, Grass, Ghost, Fire, Fairy, Normal, Rock, Steel and Electic would show up. Each and every one of them were poking their heads out of Windflash's mane. And of course, they were much smaller.
"Are there small Pokemon over at Pegalysium?!"
"Oh, no, no, no. There are actually massive Pokemon in Pegalysium. These are them right now." Windflash answered. According to her, these Pokemon were supposed to be colossal. Even the smaller ones such as Pidgey were gigantic.
"So then...how come they're smaller than all of us?" Ocellus asked.
"That's my magic. It's not just making them small. My mane just leads to a pocket dimension. They look so cute when they show up like this. Unfortunately, I need a mirror to see them."
"Wow! Your mane is magical?! Born or obtained?" A student questioned.
"It was born like this. It's something left behind by my ancestor Windkiss. Each generation inherited her magic, down to every single family member out there." Windkiss was responsible for this. But this made the students wonder. From what they've heard about Pegalysium, Windkiss' Status as a Destiny Pegasus was not chosen by Family Ties. Each Pegasus of Destiny comes from a different family line, after all.
"I thought it didn't work like that." A confused Sanbar blurted.
"I'm not a Destiny Pegasus. There's a reason why our ancestor was the first one. It's something that's just in our family but we don't have the same status as her. Never have and it's a bit too late for that."
"You and your family just casually have magic like that? Isn't that a bit dangerous?"
"Our family has stayed away from civilization for a long time. So not really. But anyway, as for the giant Pokemon, you can try and get used to them. They appeared one day along with an entire island, growing Pegalysium just a little bit. They fit in perfectly well with the giant pegasi we have. Not sure what the name of the island is but it's fine."
"Y-You're not going to make them grow in here, are you?" Gallus pulled back, fearing that the Pokemon might enlarge inside of the classroom which would be critically dangerous.
"Not at all. We're going outside instead. I was thinking of sending you all inside of my mane but...I'm more used to the outdoors. Is this what you call a field trip?"
"Yes, yes!" Smolder nodded her head aggressively. "That's it! That's the one! We can head outside right now and you can show us. But maybe somewhere vast. Like Deerling Forest."
"Deerling Forest isn't vast at all." A unicorn student replied.
"I wouldn't mind going inside of your mane, Ms Windflash." Suddenly, speaking to Windflash was none other than Cozy Glow, he made herself rather unassuming while being here. "I'm sure it'd be very fun seeing what's in there."
"Well, I don't have permission from the principal yet. Or any of the teachers. I'm not sure how this all works anyway."
"You can leave it me! I've been to school before so this will be a breeze. Believe me." Cozy Glow proudly said. "Everyone else can head outside into the vast wilderness."
"Hmm...I think I should just stick to the outside." Windflash stuck with her decision. Cozy Glow had a rather displeased look on her face, not getting what she wanted but she soon kept up that smile. "Alright. Just to warn you all. These giant Pokemon act differently from their regular species. But if you stay close to me, you'll be perfectly fine."
The students had left to experience the giant Pokemon on the outside. But staying behind and refusing to go with her class was Cozy Glow. She made sure to move as slowly as possible, being behind everyone so that no one would suspect a thing. After losing sight of them, she would return to the classroom, having something else in mind.
When sitting alone in the classroom with no one else around, from her saddlebag, revealed something peculiar. Something to do with the Rift. It appeared as a grey bowl. A rather slim and small bowl with a blue light on top of it. And out of that light emerged Rift Energy as it would show a projection. A projection of Daybreaker.
"Can you come and pick me up? I've got nothing for today."
"Already? But School hasn't finished yet." Daybreaker raised an eyebrow. "Are you planning on skipping school? Perhaps even truanting?"
"Nuh-uh! Well, kind of. I just can't find anything of use here, honestly." Cozy Glow pouted. "I tried going for those potions from before but it looks like they were moved after what Team Rocket did."
"Well, even if that is out of the picture for now, you can always just learn here." Daybreaker thought otherwise.
"Ugh! Who'd wanna learn here? I'd rather learn about Pokemon the way I've been doing for the past 4 years now." Cozy Glow groaned. "What can I even gain here?"
"A lot, if you must know. Knowledge is power. And I should know a thing or two about that. I'm too busy gathering light from Necrozma and I have quite a lot to learn. But I'm far too old for school and you are incredibly lucky to be in it. The wealth of education is splendid. I remember when I was a student."
"Bleh." The young pegasus simply stuck her tongue out at such a notion.
"And besides. You're also there to handle that universe until it's time to take the light away from it. It's a massive threat, no doubt and I don't think even Ghetsis is ready for it just yet. The odds are greatly stacked against that.
"Oooh! Can I at least go to Ghetsis' place?! Please?! I know it's far away but I can take the trip."
"Not for a second. Someone could notice you, little troublemaker.
"Ghetsis's place is way more interesting than this school though. What if I said I was...sick?" She squeed, trying to convince Daybreaker in any way she could.
"If you were sick, I'd make sure you wouldn't go anywhere. But you're not. Learn what you can. You will most definitely find something of value here that we can use." Daybreaker would end her message, leaving Cozy Glow. The young pony would have to stay behind until it was time for her to leave and return to Universe 11.
However, since she stayed behind, all of her classmates were long gone. She was going solo now with no one else to learn or do anything with her. She would slump her head on the table, devoid of any ideas. Unable to decide on anything, the pegasus would take Daybreaker's advice. She would have to learn but with no teachers around, this classroom was pointless. Ecept for the always reliable library which was available.
Kanto. Pallet Town.
Meanwhile, over at Pallet Town, for Ash, it was a perfect contrast to Cozy Glow's day. While Cozy Glow was stuck with absolute boredom and lack of a purpose, Ash had all the purpose in the world and was never bored. It was another day for him to venture out there with his friends to see what they could find.
"Today's gonna be Pallet Town's Yard Sale, Pikachu. I kinda miss out on it a lot. Ever since I started my journey, I haven't been to many Yard Sales ever since I was little. But today's gonna be totally different!" Ash would dash off, ready to tackle this Yard Sale
Before that, he checked up on his mother, who was currently glued to the small PC in the house. Delia rarely uses the PC and every single time she uses it, it's to call someone. Delia was rather fixated to it before suddenly unleashig a light giggle. "Whatcha doing mom? Who are you calling?"
"Pika?"
"Not calling anyone this time. I'm writing to a Pen Pal."
"You have a Pen Pal?"
"A rather recent one too! We started writing to each other recently. About 2 weeks ago or so." Delia said with a giggle. "Oooh, this takes me back to my younger years when I had another Pen Pal. "She comes from Galar and she's a fellow mother such as myself."
"Really" Ash and Pikachu leaned in, observing the image. At this moment, Delia was writing to her Pen Pal who was apparently in the Galar Region.
"We've been exchanging a lot. I've decided to send her cute pictures of you and I back in the day."
"Wait! Those pictures?!" Hearing that put on Ash on high alert. The pictures had already loaded in. One of them showed a Young Ash Ketchum clamping his teeth onto a massive block of fake cheese. It was clearly just a plastic toy but that didn't stop Ash from nibbling on it. He was so dedicated to it that his legs left the ground. Another was of Ash with very shaggy hair. So shaggy that it covered his eyes.
Another was of Ash mean-mugging. It was an accidental picture as Delia caught Ash while he was yawning. But that looked more like a scowl than a yowl with how fierce those eyes looked. A majority of these had Ash making various faces that could get a laugh out of anyone. "Aw, Mom!"
"P-Pikachu!" Pikachu has already seen these pictures before but seeing them again reminded him of how funny they were.
"They're not so bad, Ash. Your friends didn't think so either."
"Wait, you showed it to everyone back at Ponyville?"
"The ones you hang around the most have definitely seen it." Delia winked. "Now she knows about it. But don't worry. The Motherly Code involves both parties exchanging images. She has a son as well and there are some pictures similar to yours. Besides, Melony got a good chuckle from them."
"Melony? You mean the Gym Leader from Circhester?"
"Is that who she is? You already know about her?"
"Oh, for sure. I met her back at Circhester. She's ranked pretty high in the Pokemon World Championships. I didn't think she was your Pen Pal."
"Oooh, how wonderful!" Delia clapped her hands excitedly. "I can always count on you to know a lot of people, Ash. And one of them is my new Pen Pal. I suppose this means I can maybe visit her. Circhester, was it?"
"I'm gonna battle Melony one day. I know it's gonna be a fun one." Ash was mainly thinking about throwing down with Melony when he gets the chance. "Maybe soon if we head over to Circhester."
"Ah. Before that. I have to do a few things before we go. We'll make this a family moment! Two families from both sides meeting with each other."
"So, Melony's entire family is gonna show up here?" It sounded like Melony was coming to Ash instead of him going straight to her. That would still be an opportunity to battle with her "Is it for the Yard Sale?
"Well, of course," Delia replied. This Yard Sale was going the distance by bringing someone from another region over. Ash didn't think too much of it at first until it hit him. If news of this were to spread, many would flock to his house just to see him. "Is there anything you need to take out, Ash?"
"Not really. Maybe." Ash was rather unsure about that.
"Ah, it's fine. It'll be a small Yard Sale either way. I'm sure not that many people will show up. Even if we're getting a visitor from another region."
Pallet Town Yard Sale.
But a lot of people did show up. It wasn't just limited to Pallet Town which was a small town. This reached Ponyville, prompting its residents to pass through the gateway just so they could get involved in this. It was not limited to Ponyville, however. Canterlot and other locations from Equestria came flooding in as it was much bigger than what Delia predicted.
This small informal event soon expanded faster than Pallet Town predicted. And just as Ash expected, some of them came straight for him, using this as an excuse to meet with their idol.
"Nice turnout, wouldn't you agree?" Delia said with a innocent smile on her face as opposed to Ash.
"Guess so. Uh, how long is this Yard Sale gonna last, Mom?"
"This year's Yard Sale will last for 4 days. That's enough for Melony's family to show up here in time before it finishes up. And believe me, we have plenty of items to give out. You may have been exploring the world with Pikachu and all of your friends but everyone else in Pallet Town has been rather busy too. We have a lot to offer."
"Oh, that's-" Before Ash could say anything, he was instantly surrounded by a crowd of ponies. Mainly kids and teenagers. They immediately started blurting out requests and questions to Ash.
"Well, it looks like you're going to be busy. I have to sell some things, so have fun." Delia would waltz off, leaving Ash to handle his fans. Ash's first Yard Sale was definitely going to be something.
On the bright side, at least he had many familiar faces here at Pallet Town so perhaps, it wouldn't be so bad. He was going to make the most out of it and even though he still wasn't used to overwhelming fame, he wouldn't want to disappoint anyone.
However, for Ash, he had no idea what this seemingly simple event was about to turn into. On this fateful day, Ash Ketchum was about to be hit with the most staggering case of dualism. Lookalike Dualism to be exact. And this Yard Sale was about to pull all of that in as the journey continues.
A simple but rather large Yard Sale was currently underway here at Pallet Town. Items of all kinds were about to be exchanged and the turnout was massive. Residents from Ponyville, Canterlot and other locations in Equestria swarmed in, making this a rather large Yard Sale with plenty of profit in the making.
Pallet Town was a small town and Ponyville was small in its own world, thus, this made the Yard Sale an easy catch for them. As for the items in store, Pallet Town was surprisingly stacked. While Ash and Pikachu were out there seeing the world in every breath and length, the residents of this small town have gathered their fair share of objects which were hard to find in Pallet Town. A majority of them brought different benefits, mainly for the Pokemon and some also benefit the trainer.
"Take a gander at this." But of course, there were some items that were not beneficial but were just fun to have around. Such as a rare and vintage figure of two Legendary Figures. "The Twin Heroes who founded the Unova Region. You never get to see what they looked like until now." The woman spoke.
"These are them?" Rarity would gander at the figures.
"Wait. If they were around all those years ago, how'd they find out what they looked like?" Sweetie Belle questioned.
"An artist who's descended from someone who worked for the two Heroes was able to figure it out. Family Ties and all. Their likeness and everything about them has been perfectly described, making it impossible for us to ignore what they truly look like.
"That's nice and all, but I'm not crazy about the Twin Heroes. Even if they do look handsome."
"I'd like some!" Sweetie Belle jumped up and down as she would most definitely take them.
"Go ahead, sweetie. They say that these two figures can bring some kind of fortune."
"Fortune? What type of fortune?" Rarity's ears perked up as the woman caught her attention.
"If you have any Truths and Ideals that you hold in high regard and dear to you, they say that the spirits of the Twin Heroes will assist you."
"Wow..." The Two Sisters gawked in amazement. This made the figures stand out from just being collectables.
"Just kidding~" She stuck her tongue out, pulling their leg. "They're just toys that are sold over at Unova. There aren't any spirits in them."
"Aw..." The duo lowered their heads. They were generally looking forward to them.
"I'll still take it though." Despite that juke, Sweetie Belle would still like those two figures. All she had to do was pass over two bits and that was all or even two Poke Dollars if she wished. With a very low cost, Sweetie Belle would receive the vintage figures of the Heroes of Unova. And when looking at them closely, she could really marvel at their presence.
Since these were real-life recreations of the Two Heroes, they certainly had a dashing and striking appearance to them. Elsewhere in this Yard Sale, Ash was currently about to experience autographs for the first time. This whole time, he's only really talked to those who flock to him and never really gave off that celebrity flair. He never did anything that most celebrities do at all and autographs were definitely one of them.
"Can I have your autograph, Ash?!" A young pony requested, holding out a hat "Sign my hat! If it shows up from the front with your name, it'll look special!"
"Sign my saddlebag, first!" Soon, items were being shoved in Ash's face, all wanting to be signed so that they could boast about it.
"Okay uh...How do I do this?" Ash kneeled, looking at the items. There was one crucial part he wasn't aware of. A signature writing for an autograph
"You seriously don't know how to give out autographs Ash?" Hovering over him was Rainbow Dash, catching wind of Ash's stump.
"Not really. Do I just write on something and that's it?" A confused Ash Ketchum blurted.
"Well, yeah. It's not that hard, Ash. Just show off your signature and you're good. You have a signature, right?"
"Uhh..." The Champion of Alola stood there, trying to confirm this. But nothing was clicking.
"Shut up. You don't have a signature?!" Rainbow Dash gasped. "...Same here. I don't have one either." The pegasus squeed, shrugging afterwards. "I just scribble something that kinda looks like my name and add a little lightning bolt at the end."
"Oh, really? I can do that. For sure." Ash grinned. He could accomplish that. This would be his way of crafting his very first signature. A pen was passed over by one of the fillies as he got to signing. Ash could do whatever he wanted, making this signature his own. And it certainly was his own. By rapidly drawing across the hat, Ash's signature appeared as a lightning bolt.
A lightning bolt that had a massive A at the beginning and that was about it. It started as an A and the end of the letter A formed into a striking lightning bolt. There was no other part of Ash's name present because he wished to involve Pikachu somehow and that was the best way to do it.
"Thank you so much, Ash!" The pony very much loved this. And very soon, the other items were within Ash's sights. He was starting to get into this. If signing autographs was all he had to do, this didn't seem so bad. But he still had no idea what was coming soon.
"Ash. I've got a few things to teach you about stardom. We haven't had that chance all that much, but now's that time." The pegasus grinned, having an idea on her mind. "Is there a podium here?"
Away from Ash, Fluttershy scavenged the rest of the Yard Sale and by extension, the rest of Pallet Town. She was mainly doing this for her Pokemon back at the Pokemon House, seeing if they needed something.
"I need more muscle to help with cooking. I can't do it alone." Fluttershy peered her head over a table, looking at some pots and pans. "I really wish some of them could cook but it is what it is."
"Looking for cooking help, are we?" An old man said as he was seen with a few other elders and some kids who were at this part of the yard sale.
"Well, I was hoping for a Pokemon that could maybe cook. I need help back at the Pokemon House I'm the only one there cooking for the Pokemon and even though I enjoy it, it's tiring since there are so many and they all have their needs."
"Sounds rough. But you won't find one here. Maybe it exists somewhere in the world But if you still want these pots and pans, go right ahead." An elderly woman said, raising the pot. "They're special in a way."
"Are they?"
"Yes. They're the same pots and pans we used to see Ash off." The woman began to feel nostalgic. "Poor Ash was overshadowed by all those cheerleaders Gary had with him. But we had to support him now that he was finally about to start his career as a Pokemon Trainer."
"About 12 of us showed up to cheer him on that day compared to what Gary had. That Gary was rather lucky." The old man grumbled. "The Oak family has a knack for luck, it seems. Ever since they settled here in Pallet Town all those years ago..."
"But it's so nice to see how far he's come. And the fact that he has such wonderful friends by his side does our heart well." The old woman thanked Fluttershy and by extension all of Ash's friends that he's met.
"Oh, you're welcome."
"If you do need help with cooking for all those Pokemon, why not just hire someone, dearie? You may not find a Pokemon that can cook yet but it's never too late to hire someone."
"Hire Oh, I don't know...I used to have helpers over at the Pokemon House, but they're doing their own thing. Some of them even blast off." She referred to Zecora and Team Rocket respectively.
"Delia did use to own a restaurant. It's still active here at Pallet Town. You might get lucky and find someone who would like to work there. But in the meantime, make things easier on yourself by getting something to help you cook. Some of these aren't ordinary pots and pans, you know." The woman continued. "Or anything else that catches your eye that you might need."
"Nothing too personal though." The old man added. "There are some things we'd rather keep around. But we were told to bring them out for this year's Yard Sale. And no matter what, we won't give it up."
"Um...I'm not sure what item you're talking about, sir." A confused Fluttershy said.
"Why, my trusty Thrill Seeker, of course!" By removing the cloth off of this mysterious item, it was revealed to be a rather odd motorcycle. It had the base of a motorcycle but it resemble that of a snake. "Isn't she beautiful?"
"Is it...hovering?"
"Not all, my little pony. The wheels are just invisible. I received this beauty from someone visiting from the Unova region." The old man proudly stood before it. "Oh, it was a beauty then and it still is now. The things this thing could do...don't really do much for me at all."
"I'll say. You never found much use for this thing." The old woman agreed. "All the advantages and you never did anything significant with them."
"I did something significant. Back in my heyday, the gals that I drove near and far were plentiful, thank you very much." He boasted. "It was divine, I'll tell you that. That's how I met you, after all."
"Oh, I do remember. You tried so hard to be such a bad boy but failed miserably at it." She gushed, making him stagger as she basically insulted him. "You even proposed to me by pulling a ring out of a cake. How romantic was that?"
"It was misplaced. It was supposed to be on top of the cake and I could've choked on it. I was starving."
"Well, it definitely looks nice. What does it do?" Fluttershy asked.
"Lots of things, Fluttershy. Lots of things. Some, you might even consider futuristic. I never did much with it and I was far too scared to go further with it. So a good old ride is what I went for instead. The scientist who gave this to me said it could let you see what was unseen. I never saw anything and I had no idea what he meant by that. But I definitely saw some pretty faces. Haha!"
Pallet Town had way more to offer than what everyone originally expected. The usual could be found but examples such as the Thrill Seeker made the ponies realize that this very small town was rather loaded with rare items. A majority of them definitely came from different regions. Everyone was getting something interesting in exchange.
A globe that showed the entire makeup of specific Pokemon was found by Roseluck, who had no idea what she was looking at. She aimed the globe over at Rarity's Pheromosa and found out what the makeup of a Pheromosa was like. Once again, it was very much alien but even looking at Earthborn Pokemon made her discover that they also had bizarre makeups that she did not expect.
Naturally, something like this came from Professor Oak, who opened up his own Yard Sale stand that was near his laboratory. Oak alongside Tracey were giving out objects that were specifically meant to benefit upstart Pokemon Trainers or Pokemon Trainers who were still learning.
Other strange items such as a Mercenary List were found by Applejack. Turns out, someone from Pallet Town managed to obtain a list containing the names of Pokemon Mercenaries. The ponies didn't even know these existed as these names were something else.
The Sisterhood of Gothitelle. Silver Pests. The Reuniclus Requiem. The Houndoom Giants. The Ring of Beedrill and so much more that sounded intimidating. "T-There's gotta be a reason you have this. Right?"
"Oh, there is. I used to be in a mercenary group myself." The woman selling it proudly said with no fear in her voice. "I was in the Sisterhood of Gothitelle. For a little while. We were all about ensuring justice but I quickly left when I found out that they were looking into my future. A lot. As for the other names there, they're just rival mercenary bands out there. They still exist by the way and you can use that to find them if you ever need them to take on a job you want."
"Huh. Do they now?"
"Nice!" Apple Bloom had a different reaction to this. She had no idea what a mercenary band was and Applejack was hoping she never finds out. "What's a Mercenary Band, sis?"
But while some were finding obscure items, some were satisfied with the simpler things that were there to sell. Such as movies. PokeStar Studios DVDs could be found here. Each of them were obviously not filming in PokeStar Studios anymore since enough time has passed. Rarity would most definitely buy some of them. While she did enjoy being at PokeStar Studios to really see what movie-making was all about, she also didn't mind watching other movies from fellow producers and actors.
Books, bags, figures and more were being traded by those who just wanted collectables. After all, the most that Equestria gets from the Pokemon World are the Pokemon Essentials. Pokedexes, Poke Balls, Potions, etc. It's not often they get the simpler and less important things out there.
Rainbow Dash's plan involved promoting certain items by having Ash as the poster boy. It would be the best way to encourage others to buy certain items as not even the Pallet Town residents thought about this. Naturally, this instantly worked as items were being purchased which all related to Ash since he came from Pallet Town. Specifically, items from his household and maybe some items that mainly involve him being around certain houses.
So far, things have been rather simple. Not every part of the Yard Sale had been fully explored yet though. And before that could happen, this Yard Sale was about to be hit with its most surprising visitors yet. And one of them showed up by blending in perfectly.
Right next to Ash was none other than Hilbert, who stood behind Ash the entire time, being completely unassuming. He was the same height as Ash. The side of his hair thanks to the hat he wore was identical to Ash. The hat shape was also similar, making him practically invisible. That is until he slid to the side, revealing himself.
"Yes, yes! Buy all you can!" Hilbert was back at it again, this time at a yard sale. "With my likeness involved!"
"Hilbert?! Why are you here?!" Rainbow Dash pulled back, stunned that he made an appearance. The Yard Sale was still rather young as it would last for four days after all.
"Oh, it's Hilbert." A standard reaction to Hilbert was made. The residents of Ponyville are well aware of Hilbert and how he acts. They knew what to expect.
"Hm-hm-hm. It's not just me, my protege. See, I came here to promote some stuff as well. As the Number One Trainer in the world, there's no better form of promotion out there. Especially when it's alongside my counterpart!" He grinned, nudging Ash.
"But we only wanna buy stuff because it involved Ash." A colt bluntly said.
"Yes, yes. But wait till you see the effect I have. And many even from Red and the others."
"Wait, Red's here?" said Ash.
"Plus, Ethan and Brendan. And I guess Hilda too but this is gonna be about us counterparts. I convinced them to show up here. Besides, we were around Kanto anyway. Being here at a Yard Sale takes me back to when I got to experience my first Yard Sale. I so small when it happened."
"You too?" Ash saw that Hilbert was in the same boat as him, rarely being at Yard Sales at all later down the road in his life.
"Anyway. With the two of us, we can really get somewhere." Hilbert wrapped one arm around Ash's back. "Think about. You and me, promoting something? That's easy money, Ash. Easy money. Who's gonna resist us? Number One and...uh..." He paused, trying to come up with something for Ash. "King of the Sea? I guess?"
"Mom really wants to sell some stuff, so I guess it could totally work out. What about Red and the others?"
"Bah, they're gonna do their own thing. Probably buy some stuff. We'll just focus on drawing them in." Hilbert shrugged. "Isn't that right, my protege?"
"That was my plan in the beginning." The multi-coloured maned mare sighed, slowly shaking her head. "Whatever. You know how to talk big anyway, Hilbert."
"Awesome. Because I've got posters at the ready!" Hilbert slammed his bag onto the ground, coming well-prepared for this moment. A bit too prepared. "And if they wanna buy the posters, that's an added bonus, man!"
Hilbert would certainly find a way to convince others. He talks big but his strength was very much real. No one has ever seen it falter before so the status of Number One didn't seem all that out of reach. But he truly stays dedicated to it. From his bag, he showed posters with not just his face but also Ash's face.
"Ah, you must be Red!" Nearby, Delia had gazed her eyes upon Red for the first time. And upon seeing him, even more familiarity of Ash was showing. "You also look like my darling Ash. In fact, I see a bit of my husband in you."
"..." Red, as always, stayed silent, being a man of very few words. But when looking at Delia, Red wondered why she didn't resemble his own mother. He also hails from Pallet Town and he knows what his mother looks like. Strangely, Delia doesn't resemble his mother. But he did notice one thing. She resembled someone that Red knows but just an older-looking version of her.
"You come from Pallet Town, so I'm not sure there's anything you need here. Unless there is something that you need, be my guest. Anything from our household is yours to purchase."
"I'd like some, Mrs Ketchum." Eager to purchase something was Hilda.
"Same here..." Rainbow Dash sighed, flying over to Delia's stand. "Anything Ash used to have in this pile?"
"If it interests you, all of these comics are his. I know you have an interest in comic books, Rainbow Dash."
"Well, not really comic books. Funnily enough, I'm just into regular books. Like Daring Do."
"Oh, really?" Delia blinked before holding out a comic. "Well, never too late to try. You're also never too old to try something new and fun."
"That's right! Great fortune awaits! I mean, I don't how to cast great fortune but when you're shining brightly like yours truly, you just get that drive. Who cares how strong the Gym Leader will be? Nessa's not gonna block you from going any further." Hilbert could be heard, going off once more.
"There he goes again." Hilda smiled. "He might actually see some success with this one instead of just talking."
"Maybe." Rainbow Dash wasn't 100% sure about that. "He hasn't done much except talk a lot, that's all."
"I said it before but he does have a reason for that. And no matter how many times he and I go at it, I have to respect what he does and why he does it. Hilbert's reasoning for being number one is something that's close to him."
"How close are we talking about? Because he says it a lot after all. He's super obsessed with being number one."
"Very close. It was even before he started out as a Pokemon Trainer. Hilbert told it all to me one day..." Hilda vividly remembered that story. And she was already envisioning it in her head while explaining it to Rainbow Dash and Delia.
Another Universe. Another Unova. Nuvema Town.
Hilbert had quite a lot of friends around. Cheren, Bianca and so much more. But there were two friends of his who were just into battling as he was. Hilbert and those two would do mock Pokemon Battles all the time.
A young Hilbert could be seen practising for his career as a Future Pokemon Trainer. Alongside him, two boys who had the same thing in mind. One had shaggy hair while the other had bed hair. The three of them looked like a rather rowdy group thanks to their hairstyles.
Hilbert's room was quite the mess with a game console currently on but it was not being used at the moment. Posters of Pokemon Trainers could be seen everywhere along with fake Poke Balls that were just plastic creations. He wasn't old enough to start his Pokemon Journey after all.
"Hey, I got an idea!" The Young Hilbert exclaimed, slamming his hand down onto a table as his friends were gathered up in his house. "Instead of just one of us being the best, why not make it all 3 of us? We could start a team!"
"A team? Like that Team Rocket that was said to be over at Kanto?" The boy with bed hair questioned.
"Not like that. Well, kinda like that But it's for good stuff only. Listen. We both have the same thing in mind and I don't wanna leave any of you in the dust, okay?"
"What makes you think you'll leave us in the dust, dude?" The shaggy-haired boy asked.
"Because I'm awesome like that." Even back then, he carried that boastful and confident energy, seeing himself at the top of the food chain. "But we can both leave everyone in the dust. When we start our own team and become number one!"
"Really?" The two boys uttered.
"Yeah! Think about it! If we start a team of Trainers, we'll be leading the next generation of Trainers easily! They'll look up to us and we'll be the ones to leave a legacy behind!" Hilbert was mainly doing this for the future. To leave behind a legacy. One that Trainers of the Future can look to. "If they wanna be the best, they can always look back at us and know how to do it!"
"That sounds awesome! But, like, how are we gonna do it?" The shaggy-haired boy added another question.
"Duh. Just get stronger." Hilbert saw the simplest way of becoming the best. "Cheren doesn't think that, but I do. When you're working towards a goal, hard work doesn't look that hard at all. Know what I mean?"
"I hear you, Hilbert. I wanna leave a legacy behind too. I don't wanna just be some other trainer out there." Hilbert's friends sought more than just being Pokemon Trainers. They wanted to be big. Well-known across the world and down the road in the future. They wished to be someone.
"We'll shoot it for it together. The Number One Trainers in the world." Hilbert held his hand out which prompted his friends to overlay their hands on top of his and each other. "And we're gonna get a head start! Starting today!"
On that day when they made a promise, the two of them would work hard to become powerful trainers before their journeys could even begin. They didn't have any Pokemon to battle with. But the mock battles were enough for them. And only that, they also had the chance to watch other Pokemon Battles for inspiration.
Hilbert would even wear costumes of Unovan Pokemon to really make it feel like he was in a battle. His friends would do the same as they would essentially perform a higher version of playfighting. They would scratch at each other, tackle each other to the ground or against something or just flail their limbs around and hope something works.
Moves such as Bite were self-explanatory as these boys were not afraid to go the distance just to improve. To recreate ranged attacks, nothing a good old glass of water and flashlight couldn't solve, among other items. The residents of Nuvema Town watched as the boys did their scuffle. It even went across the entire town, passing by many houses.
Naturally, this upset Hilbert's mother and he ordered him to tone it down. Hilbert did suffer many bruises because of this but it showed how dedicated he was. And of course, being a kid, he would back to scrapping with his friends, getting very physical.
So many torn and damaged costumes. So many bottles of water that just continued to wet the grass. And so much bonding at the same time. It was simple for Hilbert back then. All he had to do was improve with his friends.
They would even make posters of their future careers, drawing their faces on them. Hilbert's face along with his two friends were shown as the words 'Number One' were written on them.
Those three were dedicated and at that age, who could blame them? They had such big dreams and wanted to see it through together. But then, a few weeks before Hilbert could finally start his career as a Pokemon Trainer, something happened. An illness struck his friends.
Both of the boys fell ill. They didn't have the strength to do any mock battles with Hilbert either. Thus, they skipped out on that day. But Hilbert had no idea how serious it actually was until it was notified to him. Only Hilbert was perfectly fine and the news of this hit him hard. All the excitement quickly came to a halt that day. It was out in the park one day and all of a sudden, both of his friends didn't have the strength to put on the costumes.
"You're both ill?!" Hilbert gasped.
"Sorry about that, Hilbert. And the time for us to become Pokemon Trainers isn't that far away either." The shaggy-haired boy uttered with a rather weak voice compared to what had before.
"Our moms and dads say we have to stay in the hospital for a while. What a bummer." The bed-haired boy sighed. "We might miss out on the day we start as Pokemon Trainers."
"No way! Y-You guys are gonna recover fast enough, right?"
"Not really...The doctors said it would take at least a few months or so. It's not a little while at all. We don't know when we'll get better, Hilbert."
"Why did this have to happen?" A gutted Hilbert lowered his head, truly hurt by this. "It's not fair, man..."
"I don't think we can become number one in this condition Hilbert." The bed-haired boy apologized to Hilbert, knowing how much this meant to him. After all, he was the one who came up with this idea. "We let you down, Hilbert."
"We'll just think about getting better only, Hilbert. We won't be there to explore the world and get stronger with you. But, Cheren and Bianca might fill that void. You're just as close with them as you are to us."
"No!" Hilbert thought otherwise. "It was supposed to be the three of us against the world. We were gonna go the distance and become Number One."
"You can still do it, Hilbert." The shaggy-haired boy spoke while coughing. "Like, you can be the one to take things from here. You came up with the idea so we know for a fact you've got the best drive for it."
"Me? By myself?" Hilbert shuddered. Compared to how he was in the present, he was more akin to working with others than on his own. Because of the friends he grew up around, he gained a strong sense of unity but now that unity was starting to fade away thanks to the illness his friends received.
"You can be number one. You're good enough for it and we've seen it, Hilbert." The other boy sent his praises. "You can do it without a doubt. We'll just be here, rooting for you from afar."
"I'll do it. I swear on my life, I'll become the Number One Trainer in the world for you guys." Hilbert made his oath. "And I'll have new friends by my side. My Pokemon. There won't be a Trainer out there that I won't beat. And if I lose, I'll just try again until I succeed!"
On that day, Hilbert swore that he would become the Number One Trainer in the World. It's why he boasts so much about it. Even though he hasn't reached that status, he says it all the time to prop himself up while also making sure he could back everything he says up. Weeks passed and he finally left on his Pokemon Journey. And that's when I met him and the rest is history.
Present Day.
"I can't fault him." Hilda shook his head, "He may say it a lot, but he has the heart."
"I uh...didn't know." Now, Rainbow Dash had a different perspective on Hilbert. She never disliked him but she did find him to be rather grating, especially since he continues to call her his protege. But after learning about what happened in his past, Rainbow Dash saw the reason as to why he does it. The protege part was just an example of Hilbert wanting to inspire the next generation and that legacy he wishes to leave behind. To this day, he kept up that promise to his friends and was still pursuing that goal.
"Ah, the bonds of friendship. They show up in the hardest of times so much." Delia was certainly touched by that. Hilbert's voice could still be heard in the distance, boasting more and more.
"Uh, I think I'll pass on the comics." Rainbow Dash would fly off thanks to the story Hilda shared with her.
"By the way, you look a lot like Leaf the more I look at you." Hilda pointed out as she saw someone else when looking at Delia Ketchum.
"Who?"
The Yard Sale would continue as normal even with these new visitors. And more will eventually show up because of the 4 days this one had to offer. So many items have been purchased and yet so many were currently untouched. Some were starting to head home after getting what they needed. There was always tomorrow in case there was something else they wanted or needed. But right now, a certain visitor from a rather dim location was here but for a different reason. Wearing a cloak, she protected herself from the rays of the golden Sun.
It was none other than Spectrum Shade. And there was a reason why she was back here at Pallet Town. To throw down with Ash. And she wasn't alone at all this time. Joining her were other Magehold Vampires. Magehold hasn't been checked up on ever since the Black Crusade came to an end.
She stood there with a confident look on her face and a Poke Ball in the clutches of her wings. She could care less about the Yard Sale. But the other vampires might be interested. However, they mainly came here to support Spectrum Shade. Her career as a Pokemon Trainer has already gathered some supporters and she wasn't about to let them down.
"It's time. Not much time has passed but I'm very confident in myself." Spectrum Shade spoke. "Ash Ketchum! Prepare yourself!"
At the Pallet Town Yard Sale, Hilbert's approach which was actually piggybacking off of Rainbow Dash's approach went swimmingly well. All those posters he brought and premade were rather effective as plenty of them had been sold off already. Dozens were being brought. And as a bonus, other items from Delia's side was being brought.
"You know, Ash We're both loaded with cash but most of it goes to our moms," said Hilbert. "But helping out our mom is always great. Well, your mom, in this case. I hope she's not a big spender."
"She's a big spender, alright." That much, Ash could admit. "What about your mom?"
"Same. Same." Hilbert's mother was in the same boat. "When I went on my journey and racked up plenty of money, Mom spent so much of it in a heartbeat. It's like she was waiting for this day to come. But hey, that's another thing we have in common. If there's a chance I can return to my universe, you'd best believe I'm bringing all this money back."
"What about Red and the others?" Ash asked once more. "He comes from Pallet Town too."
"Ah, I'm sure they have it figured out. Red does his own thing. So does Gold. And Brendan. And really, all of us. They call us the Boys in Red and Blue after all." The Trainer from Unova roared, spreading his arms out and garnering some attention
"The Boys in Red and Blue?" Ash repeated.
"That's right! I came up with the name, by the way." Naturally, that would be something that Hilbert would come up with. "I mean, it fits, doesn't it? We're all blue and all red! That's our signature colour."
"Actually, the more I look at it, I think I'm wearing more an orange instead of a red." Nearby, hearing Hilbert's shout was none other than Brendan.
"Don't ruin this, Brendan..." Hilbert grumbled. "Anyway! You look like you could fit into our group, Ash. You're wearing blue right now. And since we're practically the same, nothing will feel different."
"I guess it'd be cool to join it!" Ash's eyes lit up. "I've got a lot of blue clothes at my house! Not sure if there's anything Red though. "Does everyone in that group have Red and Blue?"
"That's right. Doesn't even have to be tops. It can also be some radical jeans or trousers. Just ask, Lucas. And if you join, we'll have 10 members which makes it a perfect team of-"
"Ash Ketchum!" Shouting at Ash and grabbing his attention was none other than Spectrum Shade, who had returned to Pallet Town just to take Ash on once again. She and her supporters would stand underneath the shade, protecting themselves from the Golden Sun above.
"Hm?" He would swivel as many eyes would face this pony after she called out Ash's name. "Oh, hey. Spectrum, you're here again."
"That's right. It hasn't been that long but I've had enough time to prepare myself for this rematch." The multi-coloured-maned vampire confidently said. "And I've brought some friends over to watch it all happen."
"Can we make it quick? There isn't that much of a shade around here." A vampire uttered.
"Who's that?" Hilbert leaned, curious.
"This here's Spectrum Shade. She's a pretty new trainer that I've battled a few times. Straight from Magehold." He introduced her as Pallet Town now received vampire guests after hearing Ash bring up Magehold. However, there was nothing to fear. After the Black Crusade, all those from the Dread League were currently apprehended. Spectrum Shade, despite being part of the Dread League, did not partake in the Black Crusade even once as she was too focused on defeating Ash. "How goes things?"
"Eh. Magehold is doing fine. I wouldn't say it's doing better after the mess that happened." She shrugged. "Lich Queen Fantina's helping repair the place, giving it her own flair."
"L-Lich Queen?! The Gym Leader from Sinnoh?!" Hilbert's jaw felt like flying off as he couldn't believe his ears. He hadn't yet received the news that Fantina was the new Lich Queen until now.
"The Dread League's been disbanded but as if that's gonna stop me from doing something. Now I'm totally free without needing someone to watch over me."
"So, Fantina can't see what's going on here even if you're around?" Ash wondered.
"I don't think so. The previous Liches could but she's a Human." The other vampires pondered about this as Spectrum Shade would shrug it off. "Ah, who cares? The point is, I'm a free vampire now. And more importantly, I can challenge you as many times as I want. After the Black Crusade and our previous battle, I spent a lot of time preparing myself. And trust me, I've been busy."
"With the forcefield around Magehold gone, we can leave it freely and go wherever we want." Another vampire explained. "Not jus Old Magehold and anything close."
"Well, we're having a Yard Sale right now. But I'm not afraid of a battle." Ash approached Spectrum Shade. "How'd you prepare yourself for me this time?"
"Hm-hm-hm." Spectrum Shade would lightly chuckle. "Fantina gave us all Poke Balls of different kinds. She stocked up big time and I took a bunch of that stock and got to work. I travelled across the land, searching far and wide, catching as many Pokemon as I could. And I got a great haul."
"Did you now?" Speaking to her fellow Rainbow-haired pony was Rainbow Dash who was currently floating. "I bet it's not enough to win."
"It so is!" Spectrum Shade barked. "I took in each battle I've been in with Ash, so I think I'm ready!" She was in full belief that this would be enough to get her rematch and emerge victorious. "And what even is all of this?"
"This right here's a Yard Sale!" Ash introduced Spectrum Shade. "A place where anyone can buy something from your local neighbour! This one's going all over Pallet Town. It's not that big, but still."
"Some of these objects are weird." Peeking at the items were the other vampires as the Yard Sale interested them more than Spectrum Shade's upcoming battle. "We can purchase these?"
"That's right. As long as you can meet the right funds. But you don't have to worry. They're incredibly cheap aside from a few exceptions." Adding to that was Delia Ketchum who walked up to the vampires. "It's nice to see some of Spectrum's friends around. Pokedollars and Bits will do."
"Ooh, we have some bits on us. Are these all yours?"
"That's right. Everything you see here comes from the homes of everyone from Pallet Town. Feel free to choose whatever catches your eye." Delia now had their full attention. Because of how Magehold was after Opal Vivacity removed all entertainment from it, something like this was enticing to the vampires who lived for a long time. They were fully interested and cared more about this. But Pokemon Battles were also entertaining so they were winning no matter what.
"You guys..." Spectrum pouted. "We're here to watch my battle."
"You can check some of it out too, Spectrum," said Ash. "A lot of this stuff used to be mine when I was a kid. Looking back at it is all nostalgic. Some of my stuff's already been brought too."
"Thanks to yours truly." Hilbert slid in before noticing Rainbow Dash eyeing him down with an intense stare. "Plus, Rainbow Dash too. Of course."
"My old Ring Water Game. My old Blade Scooter was pretty awesome to use I never got the hang of it as a kid. Aw and this cool wristwatch! I could play games on this on the go!" Ash chuckled after looking over his old items. "And this one! The chocolate money box my mom brought! I got so much chocolate having this thing around."
"This is what you Humans enjoy?" Spectrum Shade would grab what appeared to be a racecar. But after touching it, the object would automatically transform into a Machoke Mech. "Oh."
"Yeah, but only if you were a kid. Then again, you're never too old to have fun." Ash would grab a ball, squeezing it as tendrils would fly out of it, being another object he brought as a kid just for fun. "All of this is till pretty fun to me."
"Interesting. But I still want my battle, Ash. And it has to be during the Night. I perform much better there.""
"Never mind that." Hilbert would join in. "You need something more than a battle."
"I...do?" Spectrum Shade was now about to be involved in Hilbert's shenanigans. Rainbow Dash already knew what was coming and would stay completely silent about it, wanting to see someone else in her shoes.
"That's right. Ash said you're pretty new, so that means only one thing. You need the best teaching from someone out there and right now you're looking at him!"
"You can teach me? Seriously?" She looked at Hilbert, wondering if he could fulfil that role. He doesn't exactly give off that feeling. Nothing about him screamed that he was a mentor or teacher figure.
"Totally! You're also looking at the Number One Trainer in the world, so anything that happens is going to help you. I'll just level things with you, you're not on Ash's level."
"W-What!?"
"It's the truth. That's just how it is." Hilbert was rather honest with Spectrum Shade, not pulling any punches. "I mean, you've been at this for a little while so there's no way you're gonna win. Especially not against me."
"But you're being taught back at Magehold, right?" said Ash. "I know Fantina was a teacher there so she's gotta be teaching everyone else now that she's the Lich Queen."
"Well..." Spectrum Shade knew the answer to that. And that answer was pretty much the reason why she immediately came straight to Ash even though it hadn't been that long since their last battle.
Equestria. Magehold. Afternoon.
Magehold. Home to the vampires. And right now, it was undergoing plenty of repairs as well as a massive makeover. And at the helm of this was the Lich Queen Fantina.
The Magehold Contest Hall was already close to being rebuilt since it took the least amount of damage during the Black Crusade. The Lich Queen's castle certainly took heavy damage and would also have to be repaired but also rebuilt. And with Fantina being the new Lich Queen, the dread appearance it had was about to be changed.
Signs of what the castle would soon look like was beginning to show. It had a bit of a whimsical feeling to it instead of a feeling that instilled dread. And speaking of whimsy, new buildings were also being built here at Magehold.
Entertainment was returning to Magehold at last. Fantina was the first to bring it back and not only that, she would build from it. The vampires of Magehold have fully forgotten what it meant to have fun and Fantina would be the one to make them remember.
Because of centuries without entertainment, plenty of things that can spark excitement in them were almost lost but could be brought back. Thus, Fantina declared an Entertainment Community. A community completely focused on entertainment. Fun at its absolute best for all ages.
"This will be perfect!" She said, watching over the Entertainment Community being built. And alongside her was Fractured Note who was now her servant. He was the servant of Rosa Maledicta so now he would pledge loyalty to her. And this time, the loyaly part would be guaranteed. No signs of betrayal anymore.
Fantina, who could visit Magehold at any time, brought along new forms of entertainment that never existed in Magehold. Since the last time Magehold ever experienced entertainment was centuries ago, they were very much behind on the modern day and what it had to offer. However, thanks to the Pokemon Contest that Fantina started, they could finally catch up and see what they missed out on.
New shops were being opened up with different needs. And old shops from the past would make a return now that the owners of those old shops could finally work with what was deemed fun. It was now gaining an extra identity that will truly leave its mark. Hundreds of restaurants, take-outs and restaurants offer a plethora of culinary choices and those who feel hungry for something else will soon get to enjoy recreational activities.
But the repairs wouldn't just be done by the hooves and hard work of ponies. Fantina would take a swing at it too. She had access to a new kind of magic. After defeating the darkness that was the Great Evil which led to the evil Lich Rulers, she built a new magic that perfectly resembled her.
This magic was one of the few forms of magic that had a stronger connection to the Primordial Magic. Fantina now had access to a good portion of that legendary magic and she could already feel it.
"This is what I would like..." Fantina held her hands out as a bright purple magic appeared around her hands. She giggled after feeling the great magic around her. The way it flowed was sensational and extraordinary. She wondered if this was what the previous Lich Rulers all felt.
She envisioned the entertainment buildings in her mind, surrounding the buildings in her mystical magic. A theatre came up in her mind as she would get to work immediately. Her magic allowed her to add new rooms to the buildings, similar to what Twilight did to the Pokemon School but on a greater and faster level. The workers who were also using magic to make these new buildings, watched as their new queen supported them.
They already made the base of the building, following the blueprints that were laid out. Fantina was adding new layouts to it while also expanding it. The size of the building was growing all around, prompting the workers to back away. Fantina wanted this to fit as many ponies in it as possible. Not just ponies but also Pokemon, Humans and other species. No longer will Magehold be limited to vampires as it would truly open up at last.
Fantina's magic would latch onto other buildings, growing them as well and adding extra layouts. Fantina would also manipulate the ground beneath her, using it to gain some higher ground. By controlling the earth itself, she made a platform of rocks that she would raise.
Like an artist, Fantina would craft out the future of Magehold's enticing new area. As for Pokemon Battles, she would start a layout for that as well.
Watching over this from the window of her home was Eccentrick, who was a major factor during the Black Crusade. Out of everypony here, she loved entertainment the most and was ecstatic that it was returning. And recently, she had just won herself the Magehold Ribbon, having something to be proud of. And now, the chance to enjoy herself once more was returning thanks to the hands of Fantina. Literally.
"You look like you have everything under control, your majesty. Will you be done for the day after this?"
"I will. I'll return to Hearthome after this." Fantina spoke while crafting these layouts. "And after that, I'll be back here by tomorrow with some friends of mine."
"Friends?" Fractured Note repeated.
"Everypony here wants to really get the full course meal of Pokemon Battling. The Pokemon Contests are just a piece of it. I will bring some of my fellow Gym Leaders over here. And they might not be at the Pokemon School anymore but they are always willing to help." Fantina had the Gym Leaders in mind. She's been away from them for so long and after the Black Crusade ended, she could finally hang out with them once more. However, because of how the Pokemon School turned out, she would still be distant from some of them.
"I see. But wouldn't it be better to use the school we have? It is still available after all."
"The school? Hmm...Let's leave it to the little ones." Fantina shook her head. "And speaking of schools, I'll be heading over to Canterlot and speak with Princess Celestia. She wants to have a meeting with me soon. Oooh, I'll be one of the big figures in the world!"
Having this position wasn't really Fantina's thing but she did have to admit, being a Queen did have its perks as she was her own kind of Queen as opposed to what Rosa Maledicta was.
"A meeting with the Ruler of all Equestria? That has never happened here at Magehold. I was obviously before Equestria but even the Lich Rulers that came after would never dare to hold meetings with the other kingdoms and areas."
"Well, now is your chance." Fantina would lower the rock, getting close to Fractured Note. "You used to be the king. But even if you aren't, you're the one standing by my side this time. So that means you're free to come along and you do know more than I."
"That is a pleasure to hear, your majesty." Fractured Note lowered his head, grateful to her. "But before that...might I request a few things? It's about my family. "My ex-wife Vivace has returned to search for the rest of her sirens and I was wondering if I could perhaps help with her search. This might involve me leaving Magehold."
"Go ahead." Fantina instantly answered with positivity. "It's your family after all. You're free to leave at any time. I always have others by my side after all."
"Again. Thank you, Queen Fantina. I might have to speak with Dimstar and Merry Dread about this. For the longest, I've hid my true identity from them. I am both their brother and father."
"Oh, yes. How did you get around that?" She nudged him. That was a rather awkward situation. Reincarnating as their brother even though he was their father was a bit hard to fathom.
"I-I'm still the older member of the family. Just younger than Vivace. But I was always older than her." Fractured Note grumbled before sighing. "Hah...I should have just reincarnated as a father figure instead. Then again, I had no choice in the matter."
"I saw how Dimstar and Merry Dread were. Merry Dread is eager for the Entertainment Community we're building. But what about Dimstar? She still looks rather lost."
"She's on the colder side, without a doubt. She certainly gets that from her mother and the oldest of that family group. But it's fine. I spoke with her and she's been thinking about being a guard for you. She still wants a purpose and this seems to be it."
"Merveilleux! It'd be nice to have someone as powerful as her as a guardian." Fantina excitedly said as this correlated with the way she built her buildings. It seemed that her reactions and emotions influenced her magic. After all, it was moulded after her and whoever the next Lich Ruler turns out to be will receive similar abilities without a doubt. After seeing what she made, Fantina was satisfied with it to a certain degree. She could stop here. "Well, I should be getting home now. Very soon, a Meeting of Kings, Queens and Princesses will happen."
"Wait. Not just you? All the other Kings and Queens will be there?"
"Well, of course. The Pokemon Festival is nearby as well. And Princess Celestia wants to make beneficial changes to everyone now that we have one larger world. It's going to be harder to live in this world now that it's bigger than ever. No one's fully adjusted to it yet and that's all about to change soon."
Fantina would then hop off the rock. The rock would not crash or break apart. Instead, it would merge with the land itself, returning to whence it came. It was as if the rock never left the land at all
A meeting of the various Kings and Queens would soon be made. That involves the Ruler of Equestria and her sister, the Prince and Princess of the Crystal Empire. The New Lich Queen. The King and Queen of Pegalysium plus her son. And so on and so forth. That also involves the King of the Sea himself plus the Prince of the Sea.
But currently, Ash hasn't received that message yet. The Yard Sale wasn't the only event he would be involved with. But right now, back at the Yard Sale, he had other things he wasn't expecting to arrive and a battle he was anticipating with the Circhester Gym Leader. As the journey continues.
Along came the Silver Moon which blessed Pallet Town. And at this time, any vampire could freely appear, having no fear of the Golden Sun and its brilliant radiance By this time, the first day of the Yard Sale was coming to an end with only three days left. So many items have been purchased and taken home and yet there were still more to purchase.
"That was worth the try, wasn't it?" At this moment, the vampires who showed up with Spectrum Shade were surrounded by items brought at the Pallet Town Yard Sale. Spectrum Shade was especially surprised that she managed to get herself involved with this. Spectrum and the others were sat with Ash, some of his friends and his mother Delia.
"I can't believe I spent so much time with this event..." A stunned Spectrum Shade said as she was surrounded by objects she had purchased. So much for her battle with Ash.
"My convincing skills are one of a kind, aren't they?" Hilbert laughed, patting Spectrum's back.
"I thought you were going to teach me how to be a better trainer but instead you dragged me into this?!" Spectrum roared. "I admit though...It is fun."
"Right? And that's one step to becoming number one." Hilbert revealed that this was one of his lessons as he was teaching her the entire time. "The best Trainer's gotta know when to take things easy."
"You just made that up. Surely." However, Spectrum Shade had her doubts. "But do you really think I'm not at that level yet?"
"Oh, sure. 100%." Hilbert nodded. Indeed, it just came to his mind.
"I don't know I've got something else in mind," Ash begged to differ, wanting to give Spectrum Shade a shot. "Level or not. It's all about the thrill of a battle."
"Really?" Spectrum Shade was more interested in what Ash had to say.
"That's right. There's no shame in taking on someone that's stronger than you or has more years of experience than you." Ash continued, sharing his philosophy. It was very much different from Hilbert. "You've always got something to learn."
"Are you sure?" Hilbert questioned. "Well, I mean, I did take on Rainbow Dash but she was pretty strong."
"Yeah, you might lose. But what matters is that you gave it your all. If you give it your best, you're gonna see something there. Something that you can build on and get stronger from. And when you go all out with your Pokemon with nothing holding you back, even the toughest opponents are gonna have to watch out."
"Wow..." Just like how Hilbert captivated her, Ash did the same to Spectrum Shade. Words to live by.
"Awesome..." Suddenly, Hilbert was also entranced by it. It didn't exactly make him seem like the perfect mentor he said he was. "Is that how you battle, Ash?"
"I'm never afraid to give it my all. Unless I wanna hold back on someone, I always show my opponent, weak or strong that I'm aiming to be the best so Pikachu, my Pokemon and I aren't gonna slow ourselves down."
"Pikachu-Pi!"
"You know, you could always take me on, Spectrum," said Rainbow Dash. "You're new. I'm not so new. And you might beat me. Maybe. Less likely."
"And I gotta prepare for the upcoming battle against Melony. I've been itching to battle someone high up in the Pokemon World Championships." Ash pumped his fists
"The Pokemon World Championships? What's that?" A curious Spectrum Shade asked.
"Only the biggest competition in the world!" Ash raised his arms. "It's what's gonna help me reach the top and, in Hilbert's words, become Number One!"
"I'm surprised you haven't joined it yet, Hilbert. This sounds like something up your alley." asked the pegasus.
"And let my counterpart lose his thunder? He's gotta be the very best in his world too. That way, in every world, we'll be number one no matter what." Hilbert revealed his reasoning for not participating or even challenging Ash to a battle. Rainbow Dash was slightly surprised by his response. Slightly.
"As if you're the best back home." Hilda would side-eye Hilbert, calling him out on that. Hilbert would simply whistle it away.
"Hey, Ash!" Before anything else could be done, flying over here was none other than Derpy from Ponyville She was one of the few ponies who hadn't shown up for the Yard Sale. Mainly because she was busy with her job and was about to deliver her final piece of work before she truly clocks out. "Message for you from Princess Celestia!"
"Oh, sweet. Thanks, Derpy." The royal message would be dropped onto Ash's hands.
"A message from Princess Celestia? For you? Is it something serious?" Rainbow Dash wondered. She was starting to think that another threat was popping up for Celestia to send a message to him. That rarely happens.
"Oh, it sure is." Derpy nodded. "A lot of us back at Ponyville were already informed about it. It looks like it's going to be a pretty big deal if you ask me."
"Wonderful, Ash. Let's see what she has to say to you." Delia leaned over as she would be the one to read over the letter.
"To all Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses. Royalties and Monarchs of all kinds. You are invited to gather at Equestria's Canterlot Castle's Vital Meeting. It shall be called the Royal Phantasy and will be the first of many. Concerning the state of this new world, we will work together to manage, consolidate and champion this new world so that it works out for everyone else in the end. The Meeting will be held in two days from now."
"Look at you, Ash! Getting to sit with the big wigs! I mean, a meeting sounds boring but still!" Rainbow Dash congratulated Ash, nudging him.
"So a lot of royalty's gonna be there, huh? Cool..." An amazed Ash said. "I might get to see a lot of my friends there too!"
"I almost didn't give it to you, but the Canterlot Guards made sure to guarantee my success." Derpy saluted. "I feel like a true Canterlot Envoy after that."
"In that case, I should choose the right dresses at soon as possible~" Delia uttered with glee as she felt like a little girl.
"But you're not royalty, Mrs Ketchum." Ethan pointed out.
"Hm-hm-hm." The Mother of Ash put on a wide grin. "The People of the Water see me as a Queen since Ash is my son. This means, I also have that status! Oh, all my young dreams are coming true at last. Maybe that dress I wore to my school reunion can still fit me. My husband truly loved that dress and I know the monarchs will as well."
"The Lich Queen's gonna be there too." Spectrum Shade added. "She has to be there. There's no way they're just gonna leave Magehold alone after what just happened. Now that Queen Fantina's in charge, she'll show up for sure."
"Two days from now. That might be enough time to take on Melony and make it to the meeting. Then again, I don't do well in meetings. Do I just gotta sit around all day?"
"Not exactly." Chipping in his own words as Brendan who was wearing an assortment of hats that he ended up purchasing at the Yard Sale. "There's actually a lot to do at a meeting. Well, most of it just sitting around...actually, there's not a lot of moving around it. Or anything, really. But my dad's a Gym Leader and when they gather around, it can be fun sometimes."
"Brendan. It's no use trying to make it sound cool. Meetings are pretty boring." Hilbert replied, seeing meetings as boring since they didn't strike that sweet spot of excitement he and many others enjoy.
"I'll still go." Despite it all, Ash would choose to go. "I know Celestia and I know for a fact she'll find a way to make it fun. So it's gonna be worth heading over there." Ash believed that Celestia would make it entertaining. Celestia did share a lot in common with Ash as they both craved excitement. "And I might need to speak to the People of the Water too."
"Now...About our battle." Spectrum Shade focused on the battle and the main reason she came here in the first place. And for this battle, she would take on Rainbow Dash instead of Ash.
The stage had been set for the both of them. The moon was young and bright, allowing for Spectrum Shade to battle without any holding her back. A battle this late at night while here at Pallet Town might cause a disturbance without a doubt. Of course, Ash, Red, Ethan Brendan and Hilbert didn't seem to care.
"So, you guys." Before the battle could begin, Ash was just curious about one thing. "What are you guys doing, anyway? I see you around sometimes. A lot even. And you still don't have a way to return home."
"Well, nothing really. We've all accomplished our goals, Ash." Brendan answered. "There's really nothing else we can do except just keep moving."
"Mhm. I was missing for a long time too until my friends found me." Hilbert added. "I became the Champion of Unova before that but I'm still pursuing that Number One Dream."
"We all just do what we wanna do, that's all." Ethan would relax his muscles, laying his head on some pillows that he brought from the Yard Sale. By touching the pillows, he felt elevated. "What about you? You've still got ways to go before you reach your goal."
"I've got a gut feeling I'm closer to it. And after I'm done, I know what I wanna do next." Ash already made up his mind in his advance. "But it's awesome that you guys just go wherever. And now you've got this world to explore."
"Believe it. We've seen a lot of the world we come back from. We're not quite done there yet but this place is something else I mean, talking ponies? I threw a Poke Ball at Princess Celestia the moment I saw her!" The Trainer from Johto laughed.
"..." Red would crack a smile as his answer was already clear. It was similar to the others. He's definitely done everything he needs to do and has already achieved his goal. Exploring the world and seeing new faces definitely brought a smile to his rather serious face.
"Let's make this quick. I gotta head to bed as soon as possible. So one Pokemon each." Rainbow Dash requested, unable to have a full battle with Spectrum Shade.
"One Pokemon each? No fair." Spectrum Shade pouted. "You regular ponies should have more stamina."
"I totally have a ton of stamina! Lots of it! I was doing a lot today as well." The pegasus proudly said. "But I've got limits. But there aren't any limits when it comes to a Pokemon Battle. Go, Whimsicott!"
"Whimsicott!"
"Out you come! Ninjask!" Spectrum Shade revealed that she had a Ninjask as one of her newer Pokemon.
"Ninjask!"
"There's no referee so I'll start us off! Whimsicott! Show her your speed!"
"Whim! Whimsi!" Whimsicott would start off by showcasing the speed she possessed. Being the playful Pokemon that she was, Whimsicott could certainly move around. She zipped into the air and then to the side, leaving behind balls of white fluff that came from her hair.
"Hm. Yeah, that's fast. But is it as fast as this!? Ninjask, use X-Scissor!"
"Nin!" Moving in the blink of an eye was Ninjask as it left its spot in an instant. At that moment, Whimsicott's speed didn't seem that impressive as Ninjask already appeared in front of her with a green around its limbs.
"Whim!" But, Whimsicott had a response to this. Her fluff. As soon as Ninjask prepared to slash at her, the fluff would act as a shield, flying out and exploding right in front of Ninjask.
"N-Ninjask!" Ninjask cried out as the cotton fluff didn't do any damage. But it did make the Ninja Pokemon flinch and fly back as Whimsicott would zip elsewhere.
"Whimsi-Whimsi-si-si!" Whismciott would giggle mischievously after surprising Ninjask. Rainbow Dash and Whimsicott were well aware of Ninjask's speed. It was up there as one of the fastest Pokemon in the world. And Rainbow Dash has personally seen this from Zecora who also has a Ninjask and funnily enough a Whimsciott as well. This was all too familiar to her.
"Hmph! You won't get us a second time with that! Zone in and cut that ram, Ninjask!"
"Jask!" Ninjask would move in once more, continuing to use X-Scissor.
"Moonblast, Whimsciott!"
"Whimsi!" The Moon was bright at this time. Which also meant that Whimsicott could draw plenty of power from it. By gathering a ton of moonlight, the Windveiled Pokemon form a pink sphere of energy. But Ninjask already showed up in front of her right as the ball had formed. With its might, the Ninja Pokemon slashed Whimsicott directly, dealing a sharp and strong blow. "Cott!" From that one strike, Whimsicott went flying. She was lucky that her Fairy-Typing made the Bug-Type attack neutral otherwise that would've been ugly.
"Nice hit! Now, use Aerial Ace!"
"Ninjask!" But Aerial Ace would definitely deal some ugly damage, being a strong response to Whimsicott. Ninjask would move at confounding speeds which was already its average speed. But now it was even faster.
"Throw it, Whimsicott!"
"Cott!" The Moonblast was still active as Whimsicott continued drawing power from it. And by doing so, she would flick her limb, sending the finished Moonblast at Ninjask. Right as the Bug-Flying-Type zoomed forward, it was soon intercepted by the Moonblast, engulfing its entire body thanks to its size.
A beautiful pink explosion went off, launching Ninjask away. The Ninja Pokemon bounced on the ground before recovering in the air. "Not bad." Spectrum Shade uttered. "That looked like it hurt. A little. But that won't stop my Ninjask and it's even gotten faster thanks to Speed Boost!"
"I figured as much." Rainbow Dash shrugged. She also had a Bug Pokemon that had access to Speed Boost. "Doesn't scare me though."
"Then maybe this will scare you! Double Team!"
"Jask! Jask! Ninjask!" Suddenly, Ninjask would split itself up repeatedly. Illusionary copies appeared but there was also a chance for them to deal physical damage as well. These Bugs would surround Whimsicott, making sure to box her in. Now, Whimsicott was dealing with a speedy duplicating Bug.
"Whim?! Cott?!"
"Stay strong, Whimsicott! We've got this!"
"Oh yeah? I know for a fact Whimsicott's not fast enough to stop all of these Ninjasks. This is where I win! You shouldn't have stuck the one Pokemon Rule for this battle!" Spectrum Shade grinned, showing her vampiric fangs.
"Look at Spectrum go! Go Spectrum!" Naturally, her supporters would cheer her own. Now that they got to see her battle, they would do what they came here for.
"Rainbow Dash has something in store. That's for sure." Ash already knew that Rainbow Dash had something planned for this intimidating scenario.
"Bring it." Rainbow Dash was fearless as she put on a smile.
"Attack, Ninjask! Aerial Ace!"
"Ninjask!" All of the Ninjasks from every direction would use Aerial Ace. If these land, Whimsciott might take more than just heavy damage. She might faint.
"Curl up!"
"Whim!" The plan had been revealed. Whimsicott would suddenly curl her body up while lying down on the ground. All that was left was the ball of cotton that was on her body. And the second the Ninjask closed in, they struck at Whimsicott's large cotton hair.
The second those sharp attacks dug in, an explosive response was made. The cotton would suddenly explode. Plenty of cotton fluff balls went off, making a sound akin to party poppers or even firecrackers. Each of the Ninjasks were hit by the exploding cotton, taking no damage as always. But it wasn't the damage that mattered. It was the pushback and this time, it was greater than before.
All of the Ninjask clones would vanish after receiving this pushback. Spectrum Shade's jaw dropped as the clones were gone with ease. All of those Aerial Aces didn't even do any damage it seemed. The real Ninjask was confounded after what just happened. It swore that its attacks properly landed.
"I can thank Tank for inspiring me with this plan!" Rainbow Dash cackled. "Whimsicott's not a turtle, but letting herself curl up so that her cotton acts as shield was a go-to approach for sure! And the best part is that she can set off those cotton explosives at any time! The perfect defence! Now, Whimsicott! Use Psychic!!"
"Whim!" Whimsicott would uncurl herself, returning to the offensive. Now it was time for her to deliver a mighty blow after this defensive pushback. From her arms, a Psychic energy would show. And by swinging them forward, she smashed them up against Ninjask's face. The impact of her hitting Ninjask's face was not that strong. It didn't even push the Ninja Pokemon away.
But it was the Psychic Power that did the trick. The energy would fly out, sending a mighty blast that sent Ninjask flying. "Ninjaaaaaaask!" Ninjask screamed after being launched. On top of that, its body had received a staggering Psychic blow at an up-close distance instead of afar.
Ninjask flew past Spectrum Shade as the speed it was moving at was swift. But it was not its own speed. It was the speed of Psychic. Ninjask crashed into a nearby tree, coming to an end as it hit the tree rather hard. After that surprising reversal from Whimsicott, Ninjask had fainted.
"Ninjask..."
"N-No way!" Spectrum Shade held her mane as she had lost "I lost?!"
"Alright! Way to go, Whimsicott!"
"Whim!" The Windveiled Pokemon flew over, hugging Rainbow Dash. It was a soft and pleasant feeling when hugging Whimsicott her body was just so comfortable.
"Aw..." Spectrum's supporters were rather disappointed. They witnessed her lose and in a rather short time as well.
"Using the cotton to protect herself and dealing that strong Psychic reversal? Nice." Hilbert nodded. "As expected from my protege. Smart thinking."
"Hmmrgh..." Spectrum Shade approached Ninjask, helping it up from the tree it crashed into. "That blows. I was having such a nice streak before I showed up here. Oh, well...Thanks for doing your best, Ninjask."
"Nin."
"Not bad! Not bad at all, Spectrum!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "You got a pretty good hit in there! Just so you know, those Aerial Aces actually connected."
"Wait, really? those attacks actually landed? So then how come Whimsicott didn't faint? That many Aerial Ace's should've done the trick."
"Well, Double Team creates clones but they're pretty weak compared to the real deal. Plus, even though her cotton wasn't a full-on shield, it helped a ton and cushioned some of the damage. And it's pretty deep." To demonstrate, she dug her hoof into Whimsicott's body. She went in deep but couldn't feel the entirety of Whimsicott's body.
"Whimsi!"
"Aw...I got the perfect team too." Spectrum Shade sat down. "And I've still got some Pokemon left to show off. I was gonna battle Ash with them but..it looks like I really wasn't strong enough after all." Now that she battled Rainbow Dash, the Power Gap was very much clear. Hilbert was 100% right. "But...I was starting to really get into it. It just ended to quickly for my taste."
But Ash was also right. Spectrum Shade was enjoying that battle. Much like how she battled Ash a few times, she found Pokemon Battles to be entertaining. Win or Lose. She only wished this one went on a bit further so that she could really get into the groove of things.
"If you wanna get that feeling again, you can battle me anytime, Spectrum. Visit Cloudsdale while you're at it. I'm aiming to become Equestria's First Ever Champion so I'll only get stronger from there."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll get stronger too. And all that good stuff." The vampire stood back up, returning Ninjask to its Poke Ball. "I really do have a long way to go. If only Fantina was the Lich Queen earlier. I might've experienced the World of Pokemon sooner than before and gotten stronger. Thanks for the fun battle, Rainbow Dash. I'll be seeing you later. Not sure when or how soon?"
"You can do one more thing before you head back." Ash approached Spectrum Shade, having something in mind. "I'm gonna battle Melony soon. If you really wanna see a full-power Pokemon Battle, check out our battle. You'll learn a lot for sure."
"Pikachu!"
"Oh, really? Well, who am I to reject such an offer?" Music to her ears Pokemon Battles galore for Spectrum Shade. Whether she was participating in it or watching them. This beats anything done with the Dread League by a margin. She did seem to be surrounded by many teachers at this point.
Experienced Trainer and Advanced Trainers respectively. All of which have something to learn from each other. But that was the great strength of the Pokemon and the Trainers. They learn from each other as the journey continues.
The second day of the Pallet Town Yard Sale. New items and old items were up for sale with returning guests. And right now, Delia was waiting for her Pen Pal who turned out to be Melony from Circhester who was expected to arrive here. And when waiting for her, Delia already picked out the best possible items for Melony's Family.
Helping out with the Yard Sale as well was none other than the vampire Spectrum Shade. She previously brought items from the Yard Sale after intending not to. But now that she has gotten closer to the Ketchum Family and the friends surrounding them, the vampire from the Dread League didn't see any of this coming.
But considering how kind Delia was to her in the beginning, how could she not help out? With a stylish hood that she brought for herself to protect against the Sun, she was already starting to successfully convince others to purchase certain items. And of course, her vampire supporters would chime in.
"This will do." Delia said, waiting for Melony's family. To make sure the Deluxe Items that were exclusive for her family would be untouched, put up a 'Reserved Sign' for good measure. "And if I'm correct, they should be right about now..."
"I don't see them though." Ash squinted, trying to spot Melony's family. He could at least recognize what Melony looked like in case she shows up. But so far, no one was here.
"Give it some time. But in the meantime...Ash. Since my Pen Pal is showing up, I need to make sure the house is fully presentable for her and her family. The same goes for your room."
"Am I gonna have to clean up my room again?" The Kid from Kanto grumbled, realizing what was coming next.
"Absolutely. Melony's kids are rather young so you can expect them to show up at your room, wanting to play with someone else. Well, aside from one child. He's on the older side. But I'm sure you'll make great friends~"
"But I gotta see if Melony's up for a battle first, Mom. Can I battle her before you hang out with her? Please?" He clasped his hands together, begging his mother for a chance to battle Melony first.
"Hmm..." Delia pondered before making up her mind. "The battle will come later. Everything else will be up first. I can't wait to spend some time with my Pen Pal My first ever Pen Pal!"
"Alright. I'll get to it, Mom." Ash couldn't deprive his mother of her enjoyment. His battle could wait as he strolled over to his home, ready to clean up.
At the same time, out here, Hilbert was still selling posters of him and Ash's face, making quick and easy money by using Ash's fame as an advantage. It was a rather striking and powerful advantage so why stop here? However, he managed to get Ethan and Brendan involved.
"How did you rope us into us" Ethan sighed, standing in front of fans who were over the moon and elated to buy these posters.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm not gonna stop at posters. If I hurry, I can maybe get some cups with these faces. I'll even add your faces!" Hilbert grinned as a bright shine appeared on his teeth. "And we've got the rest of the gang. Pretty soon, we'll have our own secret base."
"We could always use my Secret Base. But it's back in our world and that's pretty hard to reach right now." said Hilbert. The only one who wasn't involved in this was Red, who was doing his own thing.
"For now, we're gonna have to get used to being here." In Hilbert's eyes, this world was going to be their new playground until they can somehow return to their original universe. "And it's not so bad. Lots of familiar places around and some new places to check out. The journey never ends it looks like."
"Ah! That must be them right now!" Delia excitedly said as her Pen Pal was finally here. A truck could be seen approaching Pallet Town, large enough to carry a big family. And in that truck was none other than Meloy, who stuck her head out of the window, waving at Delia. "Melony! Over here!"
Ketchum Household.
Meanwhile, Ash was busy cleaning up his room per his mother's orders. In reality, he was eager to meet the rest of Melony's family which would mean that new friends were on the way. He wasn't one for making his room presentable and always leaves it the way it was with some minor changes sometimes.
While cleaning up his room, his Xtransceiver went off. At this moment, Twilight was calling for him. Specifically, both Twilights were calling at the same time. Princess Twilight and Sci-Twi. It was also impressive that the Xtransceiver could show two calls which only made sense considering that multiple callers could speak with each other at the same time. Ash would respond to both of them at the same time.
"Uh, hey," said Ash. "What's up, you two?"
"You called him at the same time?" Twilight said, referring to her Human Counterpart. "Are you having a meeting too?"
"No. What's this about a meeting?"
"Well, I was just calling Ash to see if he got the notice of the upcoming reverie. The Royal Phantasy. It's something new that involves as many Kings, Queens and other forms of monarchs gathering to discuss things. It's pretty important."
"Well, yeah. I got the invitation." Ash sat on his bed. "I'll make it in time for sure, Twilight. You don't have to worry. But right now, I'm looking forward to my battle with Melony. If she's available."
"A Royal Meeting Lucky...You'll be surrounded by such big figures" Sci-Twi gushed. "But I was actually calling to see if you could help me with something, Ash. There are these shards I'm trying to find. And I already know it involves me getting out there and going places. Sunset and the others are gonna be too occupied with school and their family to get out there all the time, but I know you're always free to venture."
"Well, yeah. I'll get back to you on that, Twi." Ash would then press his face against the window, seeing if Melony had shown. She certainly has as she could already be seen approaching Delia. "Aw, sweet she's here! Aahh, but I promised mom to let her hang out with Melony first. My battle's gonna have to wait. But my room looks clean enough. I think I did a pretty good job."
"You? Clean your room?" Twilight made a light snicker. "Since when do you do that? I didn't even know you were capable of going through with it.
"I can totally clean my room! I just don't do it that often." Ash pouted.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Ash. And uh..try not to make a scene when the meeting comes." Twilight hung up.
"Uh, come by pretty soon, please." Sci-Twi would do the same, leaving Ash to finally meet with Melony yet again.
"Delia! It's so great meeting you at last!" Melony greeted Delia as the two embraced for a hug. Her children had already left the truck, exploring the Yard Sale for themselves to see what they can buy. Plenty of objects that could definitely benefit them back at Circhester. Perhaps something to keep them warm could be found here.
"Ah, how long it's been since I've had a Pen Pal," Delia said with glee. "Glad you could make it on the second day. There's a lot to offer here at our little Pallet Town."
"And this is also the place with the only gateway around." Melony eyed the gateway. "Lucky you. Could some of those gifts you sent me be from Equestria since you have such an easy way to access it?"
"Not at all. All of it is completely natural. I'm rather lucky, honestly. I get to be Royalty and have a gateway next to my house. Life sure is sweet for me right now."
"And they say we're too old to have Pen Pals. You're never too old for that. It's great meeting the mother of Ash. I'm afraid Ash hasn't met my own children yet. Only a mention."
"Oh, he'll meet them. One way or another, he'll meet someone who seems far out of reach." A confident Delia replied, knowing her son very well. And speaking of Ash, he was about to make his entrance.
"Hey, Melony!" Bursting out of his home was Ash alongside his partner Pikachu. Both of them nearly fell over thanks to the items that were in the way. "You made it!"
"Pikachu!"
"And there you are. I was expecting to see you first considering you have all that energy. How have you been, Ash?"
"Been great! Done a lot, seen a lot and then some." He proudly placed his fists on his waist, standing tall "And I've been getting stronger as always. Especially if it means taking on more tougher trainers in the Pokemon World Championships"
"Yes, yes, of course. You're eager for a battle with me. It was a promised one." Melony already knew this by now. "So quick to action, aren't you? I was once too when I was younger but I've slowed down on it. I know you were quick to action as well Delia."
"I was. They didn't call me the Raging Leaf for nothing. Now then, as for the Yard Sale...I made sure to pick out the best items for you. I've been holding out on you and even Ash and Pikachu."
"You have?" Ash said, surprised by that response. Turns out, he hasn't seen everything yet. Delia was really holding herself back, not wanting to display the excellent goods just yet.
"The best of the best." Delia swivelled, facing the Reserved Section. "I wasn't sure if I should ship them to you so I waited for our town's Yard Sale to begin. Time well spent."
"Well, I brought you some gifts as well, Delia. They're in the truck and we'll just have to see who can give out the best gifts. I'm positive mine will blow yours out of the water." She said, already issuing a competition.
"Oh, no-no-no, dear. I made sure to make my the top percentage of gifts, so that whatever you have won't compare." Delia closed her eyes, accepting the challenge.
"We'll see. And to make sure it was the best, I asked one of lovely children to pick out a gift. He's a bit of a celebrity, if you didn't know and he's right here at this moment. Probably signing autographs."
"Where?" Delia and Ash collectively said, searching for this celebrity son that Melony spoke of. He should be here since apparently, Melony's entire family showed up. But there wasn't any sign of someone that would seem like a celebrity. At least not yet. That is until he made himself aware. Suddenly, a resounding fanfare went off. It was a rather eccentric one too, lacking any trumpets.
Instead, there were guitar sounds. Ash flinched from this sound along with Pikachu and a few other Pokemon. This son made himself very much present as he was already carrying a loud energy with him.
"Hey, hey, Pallet Town! Happy to see me?!"
Much like a celebrity, he was looking forward to the eyes that would gaze at him. And they certainly were gazing at him, but not in the way he expected or wanted. No signs of wonder and excitement. Only confusion. But he hasn't noticed it yet as he was currently playing music which was considered his main theme.
"I, Gordie, have finally made it to Kanto. It may be a Yard Sale, but I'm always eager to entertain my fans."
Silence and confusion only. That was all Gordie received. Not a single applause, cheer, whistle or anything of the sort. It was safe to say that no one here knew who Gordie was. Pallet Town was rather small and they weren't exactly crazy for celebrities. And it definitely showed.
"Yeesh. Pretty quiet around here..." Gordie said with some embarrassment in his tone. This was not what he was expecting when showing up at Pallet Town.
"Nice entrance as always, sweetie!" He did get a response. And it was from his mother. Melony stuck out from the crowd, waving at her son with high-octane energy, making sure he got all the support he needed. And there was very little that could rival the support of family.
"Gh! Mom..." He grimaced and flinched as soon as his mother spoke. Gordie then put his hand over his head, sheepishly walking over to Melony since no one else was eager to see him. "What's up with this place, Mom? No one seems to know who I am. How come you chose such a small place for us to show up to?"
"I'm sorry, sweetie Some places just don't have that extensive knowledge about every single famous person. But that's okay~" Melony would try and hold Gordie's face, only for Gordie to pull back, preventing any contact. " Delia. This here is my lovely son Gordie. He's also taking part in the Pokemon World Championships."
"Mother and Son? Nice." Ash nodded in agreement. "That just means there's way more opponents to battle!"
"Pika-Pika!"
"Did you say, Ash?" Gordie then turned to face the Son of Delia Ketchum. "You're the one who defeated Bea?"
"Yeah. I'm Ash."
"M-Maybe you're the reason why I'm not getting that big of a reaction from everyone else. Yeah, that's it." Gordie tried coming up with an excuse as to why he wasn't being recognized or being swarmed by fans.
"Well, my Ash is quite the icon. Everyone over at Equestria absolutely loves him." Delia confirmed. "Just yesterday, he had plenty of fans show up and on top of that, we've sold plenty of posters with his face and I've certainly given away tons of items because of his name."
"Seriously? You're that famous?!" Gordie lowered his slick shades, outstanded by Ash's fame.
"Yeah. Equestria really digs it more than anywhere else." Ash lightly chuckled. "You won't find me being talked about anywhere else but Equestria. But hey. When you're shooting to become the very best, stuff like this happens."
"You don't really look like the kind to take out Bea. Do you know how hard that is to do?" Gordie replied with a judgemental face. "I mean, It's not like I'm suggesting that I've lost to her before, because no way, man. I'm a rising star here so I have to keep that momentum going."
"That means you've gotta be crazy strong, right?"
"Only Circhester's Gym Leader," Gordie smirked before adjusting his shades. "The Rock-Type Specialist Gordie. And soon to be the Number One Trainer in the world after I beat Leon." Much like everyone in the Pokemon World Championships, the goal was defeating Leon. And when hearing that, Hilbert sneezed. The word Number One made him react in such a way.
"The one who's gonna beat Leon is me!"
"No way, man." Gordie instantly rejected it. "That Bea battle of yours looked pretty impressive, but come on. Let's be real here. Do you think you can actually beat Leon? I've got a better chance at it. No hard feelings though."
"Since my Gordie is an up-and-coming star, he has the best chance to be the new World Champion." Melony stuck up for her son. "He has a refined and graceful battle style, despite the fact that Rock-Types have a rough and unrelenting reputation."
"And I'm the strongest in terms of skill and popularity." Gordie continued to prop himself up before whipping out his Rotomhpone. "And look at this. My followers are incredibly high and will continue to boom the more I battle." Ash, Pikachu and Delia would look over, seeing Gordie's follower count. It was most definitely high. Sitting at an impressive 4 Million and counting. Quite the notoriety.
"Impressive. Unfortunately, I'm afraid my Ash is the one to achieve that role." Delia would then boost Ash in retaliation to Melony and Gordie. "I'm positive he has plenty of followers. Just not on the technological side."
"Oh, mom..." Ash grumbled, knowing where Delia was going with this.
"Hmm. Is he strong enough, I wonder? Me and my son have learned from each other. I taught him everything he needed to know. Rock and Ice in perfect harmony. Nothing can stop us both. And when we both reach the Master's 8, the tragic moment of one of us leaving will have to come, unfortunately.
"Oh yes. He is, most definitely. And it's not just him. I may have put my battling days behind me, but I'm positive that I'm strong enough to take you on."
"Hmm? You think you can defeat a Gym Leader even though you reside at home most of the time." Melony got closer to Delia with her eyes closed. But there was certainly an aura of intimidation coming from her.
"I wouldn't underestimate me, my dear Pen Pal." Delia would do the same. She also had that intimidation factor around her. Both mothers got close to each other as there was an immediate spark of lightning in between them. Things were getting a bit heated as a rivalry was forming. Not just in terms of gifts but also for Battling. "And since Ash is eager to battle you, I'll be there watching it all play out."
This certainly grabbed the attention of some. People, ponies and Pokemon would notice the spark igniting around Delia and Melony as this was a case of Motherly Competition. Two Mothers competing against each other just for the sake of their children.
"Yeah! Nice aura, Mrs Ketchum!" Hilbert cheered her on.
"This is giving me a bad feeling though..." Ethan shuddered.
"Perhapys you wouldn't mind having a battle with me, Delia? Taking your son's place to see if you can muster that supposed excellent strength. I mean, I wouldn't expect a Housewife to compare to a Rising Pokemon Trainer."
"Thank you for complimenting my son, but you'll find that he's not the only member of the Ketchum Family that holds plenty of strength. I can show you why they call me the Raging Leaf. But I'd much rather prefer Ash to get his battle."
"Gee, Mom. It's not that deep." Gordie tried reasoning with his mother, feeling the heat building up. "And you didn't even recommend me for a battle..."
"Wait. Am I gonna have to take both of you on?" Ash looked at Gordie and Melony.
"If we're going to battle, we'll have it be at the Circhester Gym. It'll be for everyone's eyes back at my town." Melony already decided where the battle would be held.
"So be it. But!" Delia raised her arm. "Let it be in a few days. I have a meeting to go to very soon. By tomorrow, I'll be at that meeting and after that, this battle will be official. But before that...let's get a head start, shall we?"
"I agree." Melony was already on board.
"A-Are they going to battle here?" Brendan stuttered. It looked like Delia and Melony would partake in a Pokemon Battle. And it would be here where the Yard Sale was still active.
"We'll start by seeing who can make the best food for their sons!" It wasn't the battle they were expecting. Instead, it was a motherly battle. They wouldn't go through a Pokemon Battle. At least not yet. The two of them performed a handshake, declaring the first of many competitions.
"Ash, come here for a moment." Gordie would then walk with Ash as both distanced themselves from their mother. "Ash. I'll be real with you. Your mother's a bit fierce. Just like my mom."
"Yeah. Cool, huh?"
"Uh, sure..." Gordie took his glasses. "Listen I kinda know that you're a big shot back at Equestria. And you're already making a name for yourself ever since you beat Bea. You've got potential. Game recognizes Game after all."
"Gee thanks, Gordie." Ash laughed at that compliment. "You've gotta be strong too. I mean you're a Gym Leader after all."
"Pikachu!"
"I know, I know. But I'm not at my best yet. I'm far from beating Leon but I can work on that And another thing I gotta work on is my fame. Recently...I've been trying to get Equestria on my Hype Train. Nessa's tried the same thing too apparently, but nothing's clicking so far. Got any tips?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. There's gotta be a reason you're so popular, Ash. What is it? What's your secret?" Gordie nudged Ash, wanting to know something crucial to his success.
"Sorry. It just happens." But Ash laid out the truth that was not that deep or complex. "A lot of stuff happened though and I guess that's why. I've been helping out everyone over at Equestria ever since the worlds came together. I became their mentor, teaching them some awesome skills, helping them get stronger and doing what I can to get them through this new life. Pikachu and all of my Pokemon do the same."
"Is that it? Are you sure?" Gordie wasn't so sure if that was the cause of his popularity. "There's more to it, right?"
"If you want, you can visit everyone over at Equestria to find out. The gateway's free after all." He would point at the gateway to Ponyville.
"Hm. Good point. But I'm gonna need some experience. Fame to Fame, am I right?" Gordie grinned, trying to get on Ash's good side. And it was definitely working. He would then show his Rotomphone to Ash once more. "Look. Just to get started and a way to avoid this Mom Competition or whatever, let's have a battle. That's what you're most known for At least I hope so."
"Oh, yeah! I love a good battle!" Battles are definitely part of Ash's fame. But there was a lot more to it. "Wait. Is it gonna be over at Ponyville?"
"Of course it is!" Gordie exclaimed with high enthusiasm. "I'm not gonna make the same mistake as Nessa, believe me. She wasn't really clicking with Equestria. Which is weird considering she looks like she'd fit in. But me? I'm all about that fame. And as a bonus, it'll be a Pokemon World Championships Match."
"Sounds good to me. Let's make it happen, Gordie!"
"Boys!" But before they could even hope to do that, their mothers had already called for them both. They were too late as both Delia and Melony were already prepared. The two sons turned to see their mothers already having some food at the ready. Spaghetti was served up for Ash while Gordie would receive a steamy hot pie.
"Mom! You're using the gift that we brought for Mrs Ketchum?!" Gordie screeched as that pie was meant for Delia. Now it was being wasted on the family that brought it here in the first place.
"But it's one of your favourites~" Melony winked.
"Ash, dear. You always love a good meal that gets you in the right mood~"
"We're going to be here for a while..." Ash looked over at Gordie. That battle with him might have to wait. Or it might never happen considering what was coming up next. This motherly competition was about to escalate and none of them knew what was about to happen soon.
During the second day of the 4-Day Pallet Town Yard Sale, Melony and her family from Galar's Circhestor have arrived at Pallet Town. Melony and Delia were Pen Pals and now they have finally met. They had some sweet banter but now it's transformed into a competition between Mothers.
Instead of selling those exclusive items to Melony and her family, Delia was competing with her. And instead of giving out the gifts to her Pen Pal, Melony challenged Mrs. Ketchum while also using one of these gifts in the competition. The first one was a contest of food. The gift that Melony brought involved some food that was already premade. Deliciously hot pie. Delia stuck with spaghetti who she knew her Son loved oh so very much.
"Let's try a different branch of food then. These were already made for today." Delia declared, throwing the plate of spaghetti in the air. Immediately, this prompted Pikachu to jump in the air, consuming all of the spaghetti in one go with his mouth wide open.
"But of course. Even when away from home, I can cook anything that comes to mind." Melony smirked. "Name it and it's done."
"You know...To move all that bias away..." Appearing in front of them, rubbing his hands so that he could take advantage of this was none other than Hilbert. "Why not let everyone else take a crack at your food? I mean, if you're gonna try and beat each other in a contest of food, there's gonna be too much bias if Family tries."
"He's right. We should feed everyone else here." Delia glared at Melony.
"I agree, my Pen Pal. No better judge than the crowd. They can have something to eat while getting whatever they can at this Yard Sale."
"Then it's settled!" Hilbert snickered as he suddenly slammed a flag onto the ground in between the two of them. He already wrote down their names on the flag, titling it Delia vs. Melony. "I hereby declare this Mom Competition on!"
"Hilbert, you instigator!" Ethan roared at Hilbert. In response, Hilbert would turn his head, showing a smug expression. He knew what he was doing.
"How good are you at cooking buffet?" Delia questioned, leaning forward.
"Over at Bob's Your Uncle, I sometimes volunteer to cook for the little ones." Melony did the same as both of their heads pressed against each other. They would stick to cooking for now, but there was a fact that they would do more than that. Immediately, the two of them went over to the Ketchum Household, preparing to cook.
"This might be pretty fun, actually." Ash was interested, feeling the excitement around the air.
"You're getting into this too?!" Gordie gasped. He already lost Ash. So much for leaving with him. Facepalming, Gordie realized that he wasn't standing out there at all. No semblance of fame whatsoever. Not here at Pallet Town anyway.
The two mothers got to work, cooking up something that would entice the crowd. The scent was all that it would take to allure and excite them. The two mothers were making their own specialities. The people, ponies and Pokemon of the Yard Sale were pleased by these aromatic scents. Something delicious was coming.
"What's going on?" Showing up here at Yard Sale was Fluttershy along with Applejack. "Ooh, something smells good. Is that Delia?"
"Delia and Melony. Unfortunately, both of them are going through a 'Mom Contest'." Brendan explained, putting on quotation marks with his fingers. "It started out simple but their love for both of their sons went against each other.
"This wouldn't have happened if Hilbert just refrained from getting involved. Maybe." Ethna sighed "But what can do you do? At least we'll get good food out of this. I'm just afraid of what might come next."
Speaking of Hilbert, he was already making a profit from this. After making that flag, he would then use one of the tables in this Yard Sale, putting up a betting station. The names of Delia and Melony were written on two boxes which were obviously meant to take money.
"You can choose who you think is gonna win this," Hilbert said, sitting back and waiting for the money fly in. People and ponies were pondering on who to choose. Delia was rather popular, even over at Ponyville. But they had to see what Melony could do before they decided. Either way, Hilbert was going to win.
"If I turn back now, I could maybe avoid this," Gordie said to himself, wanting no part in this and only pursuing fame. He was going straight for Ponyville while no one was looking. But right as he went for Ponyville, the scent pulled him back in. It was absolutely amazing, captivating the Galar Gym Leader. His stomach started grumbling as he was feeling rather peckish. "I haven't eaten since we got here so...I guess it wouldn't hurt to stick around a bit longer."
Afterwards, the two mothers had finished making what they needed to make. Delia created Sugar-dusted cookies, chocolate stuffed doughnuts alongside pink waffle ice creams as a snack. As a bonus, she made a Cake Shake with vanilla as the chosen liquid. Definitely went for that sweet side of food. And the way they were decorated was sublime and pleasing to the eyes. It made the stomach tremble and the body shudder. Delia chose satisfying colours indeed.
"Voila! For such an energetic day, I figured that you would all need something to raise that energy. I went for a sweeter option." Delia introduced.
"Way to go, Mom!" Ash and everyone looked over at the selection of food.
"Oooh.." Pinkie Pie drooled. "This reminds me of that cooking contest we had with Opal from Galar. Wonderful."
"Opal certainly didn't teach you any of this then!" Melony exclaimed, showing her food. A fabulous mix of crushed meringue, cream, and strawberries on the side. But the main dish was sausages, wrapped Slowpoke Tail Beef, bread, cheese and onions "This is some of Galar's Finest. And my sweet Gordie loves this in the afternoon but it works well in the morning too."
"Mom..." Gordie grumbled.
"You'll just hurt your teeth with all of those sweets. Try something that won't have you curling on the ground later." Melony smirked.
"Hoh? I think you must not know Equestria's preferences. I don't just have Pallet Town on my side, Melony."
"Oh yeah. This was the right approach..." Hilbert cackled as the money came flooding in. The people and ponies got to look t the food options and decided which looked more enticing to them. Both mothers succeeded in creating dishes that smelled good and looked good. But all that mattered was the taste.
Everyone gathered around the different dishes, each taking a bite out of it since Delia and Melony made large portions for everyone. Their taste buds were satisfied and their faces spoke with joy. Both foods were absolutely blissful. For the most part, both sides created excellent dishes that made everyone happy.
"Looks like a tie to me." Hilbert shrugged. "You're both great cooks, so that's a stalemate right there. " "Hmph. That's only natural. I saw images of your food when we talked to each other as Pen Pals." Delia side-eyed Melony. "Of course you would have amazing food that others would love."
"Same to you, my dear Pen Pal. Your cooking was always so varied and unique. How could it possibly fail" Melony said. The two of them complimented each other despite the stares they gave. "But it isn't over yet. There's more that I can excel at."
"Agreed. Until the end of the day, let's see who can emerge as the winner here. Whatever challenge we take, I'll assure you that I'll be the victor by the end of it all!" Delia declared.
"Well, it's settled." Hilbert's pupils lit up, showing money signs as this was one heck of an opportunity. He would raise the boxes into the air, encouraging this competition some more.."Anyone eager to place more bets, fill in! We'll be here until the Sun sets!"
"Alright, now it's time to get out of here as soon as possible, Ash." Gordie felt satisfied with the food he had. He would bring Ash along with him, wanting to avoid the rest of the contest as soon as possible. Now it was truly off to Equestria before they get dragged in again.
Equestria. Ponyville. Day.
At last, they arrived at Ponyville. Considered a perfect counterpart to Pallet Town, this small town was the most adjusted to the Strange and Wonderful Creatures known as Pokemon. Canterlot was equal to it, however. Now that they were here, Gordie might be able to find the logic behind Ash's fame. If possible.
"Ooh, this place is bright...!" Gordie squinted his eyes, blown away by Ponyville's appearance. It was a rather saturated place with a ton of colour.
"Isn't it? You're gonna love it here."
"Maybe. But I wonder what my fans think? Now is a good time to start recording." By using his phone, Gordie was going to make sure that he got every bit of Ponyville, observing it through his phone for his fans to witness. "You'll be on as well, Ash. Raihan and not even Nessa's thought of this."
"Eh? Really?" Ash blinked as his face was soon captured by the phone. Gordie would then let go of his Rotomphone as it would start floating. It was still a Rotom in there after all.
"Hey! This'll be an exclusive look at Ponyville," Gordie spoke, referring to his fans. This was Ash's first time being in something like this and he wasn't sure what was going on just yet. "This town's pretty famous at the moment. Some would call it the cornerstone of the Next Generation Pokemon Trainers. And I have here the one who taught a majority of the ponies here. Ash."
"Hm?" Ash looked over at the camera. "Wait, are they actually watching me?"
"It's all live, Ash. Everything's in real-time."
"Awesome!" Ash would suddenly get super close to the camera, startling Gordie and potentially everyone else watching it. His face was so close that only his eyes and nose could be seen. "I've heard of stuff like this but this is a first for me!"
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu would do the same, slamming his own face into the phone. All the viewers were getting were close-ups of this dynamic duo.
"You'll ruin it, man!" Gordie pulled the phone away. "Hah...You're obviously not that type of celebrity. You've gotta be the ancient kind."
"Well, you can ask everyone around!" Ash skipped along. "The town's always changing because of the world we live in so come and check it all out with us, Gordie!"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Well, he'll be giving me the tour," Gordie spoke to his audience. "I'll get to see what makes everyone here at Ponyville click with Ash."
Ponyville at this time was simply getting ready for the Pokemon Festival happening in a few weeks. It was now an annual thing and very much enjoyable. Of course, the Pokemon Festival always leads to something serious happening later on. But this year, everyone had high hopes. With the Dread League defeated, they had very little to worry about.
They were going to make the absolute most of this Pokemon Festival. The 4th Pokemon Festival was looking to be its best one yet as Ponyville was already starting to map out what could be done for this year's festival. There was Mayor Mare, instructing the builders with blueprints. Of course. a majority of this was BigTime Ben's idea.
As for how they reacted to Ash, the Trainer from Pallet Town showed up at the Ponyville Day Spa, feeling that this was a good place to start. Upon entering, the two Spa Ponies, Lotus and Aloe greeted Ash and Pikachu. But they would do more than just that. Now that these two were here, with sly smiles on their faces, they were already itching to interact with their hair and now Gordie was a shining new target for them.
Ash wasn't usually all for getting his hair done but after what Arezu did, he wouldn't mind taking a shot at it. It would be his first time having his hair done by the Spa Ponies. Gordie wasn't exactly making videos for beauty but he would take a swing at it as well, believing this had something to do with Ash's appeal.
Lotus and Aloe have been waiting for this day for the longest. The day they could do Ash's hair. They've always seen Ash with his hat on and rarely does it ever come off. They've even forgotten what it looks like off. Until now. When removing his hat, they saw it at last and it was certainly something. No other hairstyle matched Ash's hair as it was rather out there.
All the more reason they get to meddle with it. Wasting no time, the Spa Ponies would whip up something that spoke to them. Much like how Arezu kept in line with Ash's taste, Lotus and Aloe would do the same. And the result was Ash having spiked up hair that stood upwards. Gordie received a smoother version of his which was already smooth and all Pikachu received was a fluffier body. To the Spa Ponies, this was an obvious success and Ash very much enjoyed the spiked-up hair that stood up. He was missing out until now.
Gordie observed that the Spa Ponies didn't give any signs to the appeal of Ash. At best, all he gathered was that they were waiting to do his hair for the longest. On the bright side, he saw that his viewer count went up after that moment at the spa, surprising him.
There was the costume shop which saw some changes. A prominent increase in Pokemon Costumes were seen and some even fit Ash. These past 4 years have given the Ponyville Costume Shop various new choices. Ash was wearing a costume based on the Storm Behemoth. The 500ft entity of lightning that once stormed through Unova and Equestria back then
Gordie found himself wearing the costume of the Tree Behemoth which was the opposite of the Storm Behemoth. He felt rather silly in this while Ash felt differently. The costume even came with the function of lightning up to mimic the electricity. But to take it a step further, Pikachu hopped on Ash's back, generating electricity to give it that genuine authenticity. It certainly made the costume shine some more while also electrocuting Ash.
Gordie was shocked by such an action but Ash laughed as this was rather common. As for Gordie's outfit, it prompted some mares to giggle at him when passing by. His build made the Tree Behemoth outfit a bit bloated. Naturally, Gordie was embarrassed after being seen in such a way. Not really the first impression he wanted to make when entering Ponyville.
Here, Gordie saw some of that appeal that Ash had. It came in the form of Ash requesting a specific costume. A costume based on Galaxy Master as he was hoping they had such an outfit here. At least in his size or even one meant for a pony. There weren't any in stock just yet, however, the manager and the employees each explained to Ash that they would get to it. Since he was looking for such a thing, they would make sure it would become a reality. Eventually, this store will be filled with Galaxy Master costumes. It was the least they could do for Ash considering what he's done for them.
Gordie now knew that Ash was involved with saving the lives of others. That was a rather high bar to beat. Saving a town was definitely prone to fame but Gordie knew there was more to it. He knew that Ash along with some humans helped train the Equestrians, helping them grow as trainers.
Up next were the Arcade Machines that could be seen lying around. Ash was already seeing going wild on these machines. Next to the pony Button Mash, the two of them were already going through a competition by playing the same game. Gordie saw Arcade Machines as ancient, nothing compared to the games of the modern day. But there was certainly an appeal and some of his viewers were spouting that appeal out.
Ash was really getting into this competition with Button Mash, only for his mother Cream Heart to pull him away. He had places to be right now as she scolded him for skipping out on school today. A disappointed Button Mash left the scene while Ash was stuck playing on his own.
Not for long though. He nudged his head at Gordie, offering him a spot to play since Button was out of the picture. Gordie would give it a try since some of his fans seemed to be fans of this. Ash would guide Gordie on what to do as all Gordie had to do was get a grasp on the controls.
And it didn't take long for that to happen. The arcade sticks were not a challenge for the rising star as he had some familiarity with them. In his generation, technology was rather easy to manage and it certainly showed when dealing with older technology. But for Equestria, this technology was somewhat new.
Very soon, Gordie was starting to get into the game, beginning to find an appeal to these old machines. And by doing this, he started bonding with Ash at the same time. He was doing this for fun instead of his appeal as a young rising star. This was the key part of it all. Ash's appeal didn't just involve his actions but also who he was. Ash and Pikachu just simply love to have fun and always get involved.
They stopped by the Quills and Sofas shop, trying out the sofas. Absolutely comfortable to the point where Ash, Pikachu and Gordie felt like sinking into it. Bliss in its purest form. They could sit here forever and not even notice how much time has gone by.
Gordie would soon get involved with what Ponyvlle usually does. Stopping by Roseluck's home, Ash could be seen helping grow some new roses. Ash himself wasn't a pro at this by any means and neither did he have the finesse for it. But he was getting there. Gordie certainly didn't have the talent. He would be as careful as he could be while making a rather silly face that represented his struggle, making Roseluck giggle.
The lovely Pokemon House which housed many Pokemon who were under Fluttershy's care. But just as much as they loved Fluttershy, they shared an equal love with Ash and Pikachu The duo were surrounded by Pokemon happy to see them. Ash has taken care of these Pokemon as well as he was one of the first people to help make the Pokemon House a reality.
So much had been done and yet Gordie hasn't gotten that knowledge of Ash's appeal. But he was certainly getting something by the end of this.
"Well, that was something," Gordie commented, holding his phone and seeing the viewer count. It was well around his follower count without a doubt. He sat on a bench with Ash as the Afternoon Sun had shown itself a while ago. "You know a lot of names here, Ash. Lots of faces."
"Yep. Everyone here's a friend," said Ash. "There's no one I don't know. Well, unless someone moves in or a baby's born."
"Pikachu."
"You helped all of them?"
"I helped them and they helped me. It's true I taught them a lot and saved their town from some pretty wild stuff. Whenever I dealt with Delayed Aura Ataxia, they were there to help me out. And even now, they're watching my back with the whole Twilight Moonlight thing. It's an awesome feeling for sure..."
"Is that it? That's all?"
"Well, yeah. Nothing else to it, Gordie." There wasn't anything complex about it. The reason for Ash's appeal was simply because of the good nature that comes from him and everyone around him. It was simple as it can be but it was absolutely wonderful to experience a be a part of. "Just like Alola, Ponyville feels like another home for me. Ya know what I mean?"
"Well...there goes my plans." Gordie sighed, lowering his head. "And here I thought there was more to it. You're the most popular Human in this world by a margin after all."
"So, how was Ponyville, Gordie? Pretty great, right?"
"It's a great place. It's simple but fun, I guess." Gordie shared his opinion. "I'd maybe come here if I wanna relax or something. Not regularly though. But I've learned something here and that's the fact that Fun beats all. Wish I could say the same for my Pokemon Battles. I take them pretty seriously, Ash."
"I know what you mean. Some battles just need you to get super serious. But I always love having fun when battling. If my opponent's doing their best, then I gotta do my best to so that we can all have a good time."
"You eager to battle, my mom. She's way higher up in the Pokemon World Championship Rankings than me. I hate to admit it but she's stronger than me. So far. I'm younger so I'll naturally get stronger. And if you're gonna battle her, you're gonna have to be careful."
"How tough is she, really?" Ash questioned.
"Mercilessly tough, Ash. My mom may seem sweet but her Ice Pokemon will put you through the wringer and make things harder for you. I found that out the hard way." Gordie shuddered as the memories were already flooding in. "I was gonna battle you to find that secret to success but...looks like it was something else entirely. I'd rather see you take on my mom. After you go through whatever it is you're doing tomorrow. I'll be wishing you all the luck I can and after your battle, I'll rise up the rankings just so I can battle you."
"Thanks, Gordie. And hey, I might get to see you take on someone else during the World Championships. You're a Rock-Type specialist, right? I know from experience. They're some of the toughest out there."
"We sure are. I've got my own dreams when I become the strongest trainer in the world. I'm already making waves by having so many followers, Ash. I'm popular but I want to go above that. It's the same thing Nessa wants."
"Really?" You and Nessa have the same thing in mind?"
"A lot of Galar's Trainers have fame on their minds. In the Galar Region, we champion popularity and battles over anything else." Gordie explained. "I did the same when I was young. I wanted to be up there in the world, Ash. And while I'm getting there, I'm not sure when it'll slow down. Not everyone reaches the top. What about you?"
"Me? I wanna become a Pokemon Master. Nothing more, nothing less. And beating Leon's gonna get me closer to that goal, for sure." Ash laid out his goal. Simple as it always was. The Road to the Pokemon Master was always the true end goal and nothing was steering him away from that path.
"Well, I'd best be going I only showed up here with my family because my mom made me. We should probably head back and see if both our moms haven't torn each other up yet."
"Gotcha. And tomorrow, I'm gonna see what Celestia's got prepared for us!"
"Pikachu!"
Ash got to know Gordie a bit and Gordie got to see what Ash experiences. However, Ash had a feeling that there was more to Gordie that he didn't know. He just carried that disposition about him. Ash wondered if battling Melony would show more of that. He would have to see for himself as the journey continues.
Returning to Pallet Town were Ash and Gordie after going around Ponyville for a while. And upon returning, they witnessed what their mothers went through this whole time. Their competition was already going but they have already done quite a lot in just two hours.
They witnessed what their mothers have crafted. Clay sculptures, knitted clothing and so much more were piled up. And next to those objects was a scoreboard, keeping track of their competition. From the looks of it, they've lost their fair share of events and yet they somehow managed to tie, showing that they were even.
Currently, they were in the midst of another competition which seemed to involve catching large ice cream cones bigger than their body. And this would be done with massive ice cream cones. They had such gargantuan objects as this was all courtesy of Pinkie Pie. The scoops were dropped by Pinkie's Mew and Rainbow Dash's Braviary along with other Flying-Type Pokemon and it was up to Delia and Melony to try and catch them with the cones.
"Come on you two! Try and catch it!" Hilbert howled. "Whoever gets the most wins this one!"
"What does this have to do with mothers?" Spectrum Shade asked, unsure how this connects to Motherly activities. Everything here so far has been related to Mothers.
"Mmm?" Applejack shrugged, unsure of how to answer that. This just seemed like something else that was distant from Motherly Activities. It just seemed like a test of strength more than anything. The cones were also heavy as the mothers had to use their full strength to catch the falling ice cream which would most definitely leave a strong impact upon making contact.
"I just have to keep an eye on the shadows..." Delia observed, quickly moving to where the nearest shadow was that was getting larger. She made the right call moving to that shadow as she barely managed to catch the large vanilla scoop, getting it into the cone. Delia's body trembled after the scoop was dropped. "Success!"
"This isn't an issue at all for me~" Melony had her own way of doing this. She would already know where the scoops were falling from just by looking up instead of focusing on the shadows like Delia. Perhaps it was her life in Circhester that helped out.
Both sides were catching ice cream scoops of different flavours, piling them up to create a tasty and colossal treat. The crowd watched as the mothers were eyeing down the scoops and shadows like hawks. Or in this case, Braviary. Scoop after scoop was being grabbed but they definitely missed some by being off the mark. The scoops that missed would splash onto the ground but it also prompted Pinkie Pie to lunge in. Since they were so large, it felt like jumping into a pool as her entire body was sucked in.
"Gross, Pinkie! You could taste dirt!" Rainbow Dash gagged. She never knew Pinkie Pie would go to those lengths just for a sweet snag.
"It's fine! If I eat it from the top as fast as I can, it'll be safe!" Pinkie blurted with her mouth already full of ice. "Mmm. Mint."
"Mom! Awesome! You're still going!" Ash said with amazement, seeing his mother persevere after so many events and keeping up with Gordie's mother.
"Still mom?" Gordie felt differently about this. "It feels like we weren't even gone for that long. And what about the Yard Sale?"
"Time!" Time ran out. They had gathered quite a number of scoops. "10 Scoops in total. You love to see it. A shame someone's gonna wanna eat this. Their poor teeth..."
The mothers then dropped their ice cream cones as their arms were rather tired from holding all that weight. As soon as it was dropped, catching them both with Psychic was Mew. He wanted to devour these large scoops of ice cream after all. By licking his lips, the New Species Pokemon gravitated the scoops towards him.
"Hah...That's 18 points for me, Melony. How are you faring?" Delia breathed in and out as hr arms were trembling. She and Melony both exhausted themselves because of their competitive nature.
"18 as well. Seems we've reached a standstill. Yet again..." Meloy held her head, feeling her stamina falling. Any longer and she might fail at her next event.
"And plenty of money." Hilbert grinned as he loaded himself with money thanks to encouraging this competition. "You're doing great, ladies! Think you can keep it up for a while?"
"N-Not sure. Whew.." Delia took a deep breath, realizing she was now reaching her limit. "I've lost track of time completely."
"Agreed... I can't think of anything that comes to mind yet." Melony groaned. " As expected of my Pen Pal. We truly are on the same page. At least, I hope so."
"That was pretty awesome for something so petty." Spectrum Shade commented.
"Petty? Nah. That was worth it." Rainbow Dash begged to differ. "Those two are now rivals, Spectrum! Just like how you and I are now."
"Are we really rivals though?" The vampire who shared a similar colour scheme to Rainbow Dash doubted. Their previous battle didn't exactly make them rivals. At least, not yet.
"Hey, mom. About the meetup tomorrow-" Ash approached Delia, ready to bring up the Royal Phantasy. He knows for a fact that Delia would be prepared for it in a heartbeat.
"Not now, sweetie. Mommy's busy." Delia halted Ash. "Even though I'm burning myself out, I have a little bit left in the tank. There's just one last thing we can do before this ends."
"Eh? You can keep going?" Melony gulped. Delia was more persistent than she expected.
"I'm tired but that doesn't mean I'm giving up." Delia grinned, having that same drive that Ash possessed. "If it means I can win, I'll see this through to the end."
"My, you're a wild one..." Melony's eyes widened, amazed by what she was hearing. "But can't this wait?"
"Hmm...I suppose so. How about we form an agreement? Let's not make this the last time we do this. We still have tomorrow to go through." Delia held her hand out, prompting Melony to do the same. "From now on, we aren't just Pen Pals. We'll try and rival each other in what we do and claim victory."
"I agree. This isn't over, Delia. Not until I head home." Melony smiled. On this day, these Pen Pals were now rivals. They were still friends but now they had a powerful competitive nature. But the second they performed a handshake, they both had the same idea. A thumb war.
The two of them rapidly moved their thumbs around, trying to dominate one another. They both wanted to finish off with a single victory. Both once again, they tied as they pressed their thumbs against each other at full force. The result was them harming their thumbs as they immediately pulled back. They injured themselves attempting that, equally sucking on their sore thumbs. Afterwards, the two looked at each other before collectively laughing.
This was plenty of fun. There was something rather enjoyable about having someone competing with you while also being on good terms. Delia Ketchum now had herself a rival. Looks like she wasn't too old for that.
"Then. We'll see who's the best when the Pokemon Festival comes around?" Delia questioned.
"Oh, absolutely. But right now, I need to see the items you left behind for me my dear Pen Pal."
"Right, of course. And you still have some of those gifts left, right? It wasn't just the cake." Delia and Melony would continue with their day, getting back to what they were planning to do in the first place. In the end, they hung out with each other after all. Just not in the way they all expected.
"Pallet Town might not be familiar with me, but I'm sure the rest of Kanto will know who I am." Gordie was still chasing that fame, hoping that it was as widespread as it seems. "I'll be seeing you soon at Circhester then, Ash."
"Thanks. But how come a Pokemon World Championships battle was notified from our Rotomphones? I thought for sure it would've gone off. I still have Melony's notification."
"Ah...About that..." Gordie nervously rubbed the back of his hair. "I um...I'm not anywhere near your rank. Or in your class. Truth is, I'm pretty midway in the Great Class."
"You are? I thought you'd be higher than that. In the Ultra Class."
"I was but I lost badly." Gordie groaned, holding onto his face as thinking about that loss was very much unpleasant. "And the worst part is...I lost to my own mother!" Gordie revealed that his own mother decreased his chances of reaching the Master 8. In the Pokemon World Championships, even Family can take on each other and that will often lead to sabotages such as this.
"You ranked down because of your mom? Is she that good?" Pinkie Pie asked after finishing up the top of the ice cream. The rest would be cleaned up by Mr Mime.
"She taught me everything I know. She's more than good." The Rock-Type specialist sighed. "Sorry that I didn't tell you earlier, Ash. I thought you wouldn't notice it. If we were around the same rank and class, we'd be having our battle to reach Leon already."
"Ah, don't sweat it, Gordie! I'm sure we'll have our battle someday!" Ash laughed, patting Gordie's back. "Maybe after I battle Melony, you can catch up in no time flat!"
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu would do the same, patting his small hands on Gordie's back. Gordie already had support thanks to this fans and now he had support from Ash. He wasn't a fan but someone who was the perfect representation of a friend. And perhaps, that was even better.
The Yard Sale would continue now that the competition was over. For now. The items were still up for sale and Hilbert was currently loaded with money. Obviously, Hilbert was up to something with this much money and Ethan and Brendan feared what that might be.
Nightfall came once more for Pallet Town as the second day of the Yard Sale came to a close But instead of partaing in the Yard Sale tomorrow, the Ketchum Family had something else to look forward to. The Royal Phantasy. Delia was already seen picking out new dresses for this meetup as she wanted to make sure she was presentable.
Outside, tents could be seen that were put up. These were tents that were made by Hilbert, Brendan and Ethan as they stayed behind yet again. Joining them was none other than Spectrum Shade, who was resting next to a tree. She wasn't asleep. Just hanging out.
As for Red, he was sitting on a table with the rest of the Yard Sale items, keeping an eye out for anyone that would try and steal from it in the middle of the night. He had nothing to fear with the vampires also around. Then again, Red didn't fear much.
Plenty of royal figures were going to be there after all. "Hmm...Those dresses that were made from the Sea Temple Crystals might fit." She commented, deciding on what to wear at last.
As for Ash, he wasn't thinking about what to wear. Ash would just wear what he always does. If anything, this was his royal outfit that was originally made by Rarity, who considers all of her clothing to be prized possessions. Ash thought about what would happen at the Royal Phantasy tomorrow. Celestia was going to make it interesting for sure but he wondered about the rest of the monarchs. He knew quite a few but there were more out there who would be unfamiliar.
"A meeting of royalty. I am glad I get to be involved with it." said Sombra, the former King of the Crystal Empire.
"I think they'll hear you out, Sombra. You're more of a King than me anyway." Ash said while laying on his bed. "Whenever any of that serious stuff comes up, I know for a fact you'll fill me in on it."
"That is true. Very much true." Sombra smiled, loving that compliment "But I have to admit boy. You are worthy of being King of the Sea. They choose royalty differently compared to other places. However, that doesn't change the fact that you've earned such a status. You are your own king."
"Thanks. It's still taking me a while to get used to this King stuff. But everyone back at the Sea Temple are more than just my subjects. They're my friends."
"Subjects? Friends? Please..." Sombra scoffed at that. "There is a clear difference between the two. Friends are those that should be outside of your kingdom and control. Unless that is your way as King."
"You got that right!" Ash grinned. "It's much better that way. Just like how all my Pokemon are my friends. I'd rather have buddies than subjects, ya know."
"Pikachu."
"So be it. I can't stop you. But tomorrow, just don't make an absolute fool of yourself." Sombra warned. "But I have a feeling that will be absolutely impossible."
Ash laughed before closing his eyes, ready to call it a day. A different kind of day was waiting for him the moment he wakes up. He will soon be part of something big.
Equestria. Canterlot. Nightfall.
Speaking of the Royal Phantasy. The one who was organizing it was already more than ready, even this late at night. Celestia could seen overseeing her subjects finishing up the final touches for this eventual meeting. A table larger than anything she's had was placed down with plenty of chairs. This room was going to be filled with monarchies after all. Big or small.
Celestia would also oversee the food which needed to be ready for the guests tomorrow. Helping out with the feast was her partner Alcremie, who was focused on the pastry side of things. "Alcremie!"
"Mmm..." Celestia licked her lips. She was the most excited for that. No matter what food is laid out at the meeting, the cake will always be her favourite. Entering the room to oversee the preparations was Princess Luna, who was always expected to be awake at this time. It was not yet time for her to enter the Dream Realm. "This will be great, Luna. Forming a meeting between the many kingdoms is a great approach."
"I agree. But it does make me rather nervous." Luna commented. "There are some kingdoms we haven't heard from in a while ever since we got used to living with Pokemon. How do you believe they're faring now? Especially now that our worlds have become one."
"That's why we're having this meeting. To sort it out. It will be a conference to discuss current events and debate plans for the future. The matters discussed and decided for this Phantasy could affect the entire world and this will be the first of many."
"How many days will have to make this conference? Does five sound good enough?" Luna asked. A conference wasn't just a one-day thing. It was something that needed plenty of time considering it was the entire world on the line.
"Well, one thing is for sure. A lot of egos will be in the room." Celestia made a light chuckle. As this is a meeting of leaders of nations, a full-scale war could be initiated if something goes wrong. But I'll make sure none of that ever happens."
"Hopefully..." Luna shuddered. "Please tell me I won't have to be part of it? I mean, I am vital to Equestria but..."
"Luna, don't worry!" Celestia nudged her little sister. "You know me? I love to make things interesting and as enjoyable as possible. Such as this cake that's being prepared. Right, Alcremie?"
"Cremie!" Alcremie saluted.
"There'll be a lot to do. With a gathering of so many world leaders, some rules and regulations will be put in place. Naturally. But at the same time, I know there are those who crave excitement. One major rule is that everyone are to be disarmed for the duration of this meeting. Weapons are to be expected. As for the Pokemon...They're free to stick around."
"You'll let the Pokemon stay out but not any weapons? I love Pokemon but if we are being honest, they are more powerful than any spear, sword or shield out there. If we do that, the leaders will be rather suspicious and think that we are trying to get rid of them.
"True, true." Celestia couldn't deny that fact. "But, they are also our friends, aren't they? It'll be fine. Trust me, Luna."
"Your majesty. We bring you news." A guard walked in.
"Yes? Is it from one of the many kingdoms?" Celestia questioned.
"Not quite. We've received notice from the ponies of Vanhoover and nearby. They seem to have spotted something odd." The guard spoke. This gained Celestia's attention. Vanhoover is where Premium Polish and her mother Skyblue Shine used to live. Something vital must have happened there. "They aren't 100% positive but they said that they witnessed what looks to be Ash Ketchum around."
"Ash? What about Ash?" Celestia wasn't following. Nothing seemed wrong so far.
"To be specific, it looks like Ash, but it's not him. This woman seems to be very different. The residents of Vanhoover swore that they saw a woman who resembled Ash very closely. Almost a spitting image."
"A spitting image of Ash? When was this?" Luna leaned in, curious.
"When we were patrolling Vanhoover, the nearest location and those living it mentioned that they saw this person not too long ago. A few days back, it sounds like. But for the Vanhoover Citizens, it was only this morning."
"A spitting image of Ash? But a woman?" Celestia squinted her eyes. This did sound rather vital as she wasn't sure what to make of this. "Alright...And what has she been doing?"
"It looks like she's taken custody of the mansion that resides in Vanhoover. She hasn't really done anything of notice yet. However, residents say that she tends to come and go repeatedly. No one approaches her and she doesn't exactly approach anyone else."
"How much do you want to bet this is the cause of Empress Twilight? Or maybe even Daybeaker?" Luna was already throwing in her guesses and suspicions. "Who else would go for that mansion specifically? On top of that, someone that looks like Ash?"
"I know what you mean, Luna. But so far, no one else has managed to perfect the gateway to this day. Even those that have managed to find a way into our universe either don't stay forever and return or they're just stuck here. I doubt Daybreaker or anyone working with her has found the answer to that. If they have, we'd be having plenty of problems so it has to be something else." Celestia thought differently. "Stay around Vanhoover and keep patrolling it. I'll deal with it when the time comes. For now, I have to focus on the upcoming Royal Phantasy."
"Understood, Your Majesty." The guard saluted, leaving the room. This was something that Celestia would take note of. Something was up. She wasn't sure if it was dangerous or not but she couldn't be blind to it.
"What about Ash himself? He'll be here at the meeting. Should we tell him about this?"
"Probably. But I have a good feeling that I know who this lookalike might be. Ash spoke about how his ancestor, Lena Ketchum apparently made her way to the present. I'm guessing this is her. But it's a mystery why she's even here in the first place." Celestia was also aware of the mystery of Luna Ketchum but has yet to really interact with it.
She was already guessing that this lookalike was Lena herself. After all, Lena Ketchum looked a lot like Ash. Aside from apparently his father, she was his perfect double. Just taller and older. But she didn't seem that old at all. Lena looked rather young. Still old but she didn't carry that grandma-like appearance at all.
Plenty of kingdoms would soon gather her at Canterlot. Near and far. Old and new. None would be missed out as it was for the sake of managing this new world. But there was one kingdom that was most definitely excluded from all of this. A kingdom that no one else was aware of. The Harmonia Kingdom. Formed by Ghetsis himself. His existence in this universe was known after his return during the 3rd Pokemon Festival. But as to where he has, Ghetsis already perfectly masked his whereabouts from all.
A new day has come. But not only that, it was a day that involved a crucial meeting. One that would benefit everyone in the world. Titled the Royal Phantasy by Princess Celestia, it was a meeting of kings, queens, princes, princesses and all other forms of leaders who would gather here at Canterlot.
A majority were from Equestria but some were out of Equestria, residing beyond these lands. Witnessing this arrival were Canterlot's residents as many chariots and carriages of all kinds could be seen appearing here. The first to show up here was none other than the Crystal Empire, who was already very much expected.
The headliners of the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor, Princess Cadence and both Princess Flurry Hearts had shown up as they were met with cheers and confetti. This was a big moment since this was involving the entire world. Pictures of them were being taken immediately as they walked down the path that led to Canterlot Castle.
"Heya! Hiya!" Flurry Heart frantically waved her hooves, greeting everypony here. Being greeted by so many ponies and Pokemon was splendid.
Arriving here as well was Queen Chrysalis of the Changeling Hive. She played a vital part in all of this as well. Not only for now working alongside Equestria but she did have access to a spell that had the power to literally turn the entire world. Of course, that hasn't been used for a while but with this new world, anything could happen.
Many leaders were showing up at the same time, making sure they were not tardy or late. They took this invitation to heart and didn't want to disappoint. The Yaks obviously showed up as well as the griffons. Their respective leaders were present as each of these rulers had guards with them. Just in case something goes wrong.
Saddle Arabia's representatives appeared. It has been quite a while since Saddle Arabia has made an appearance of some sort. The last everyone remembered from Saddle Arabia was how Team Plasma overtook it for a while. But not anymore. That was in the past.
Appearing at the surface was none other than the Hippogriffs or Seaponies as they're also known. Even though they've grown accustomed to the sea now, they used to live on land, so none of this was out of the ordinary.
"Oh, nice!" Princess Skystar admired. "So, what will I be doing when we get there?"
"You won't be doing anything." Queen Novo commented. "You'll cause trouble for us. This is something that's obviously vital for us all, Skystar so please don't engage in any way."
"Nothing? Hmph. Then why'd I come along in the first place?"
"First time?" Leaning over her chariot and speaking to Skystar was the older Flurry Heart. "I was told to do the same thing too. But this isn't anything new for me. This happened back in my universe."
"Are you being told to do nothing too?" Skystar replied. Flurry Heart responded via a head nod. "I'm Skystar by the way."
"Flurry Heart." The young alicorn greeted back. "Not to be confused with the other Flurry Heart. The one who's my way younger self."
"What do you mean by that?" A confused Skystar questioned before seeing the baby Flurry Heart being raised up by her older self.
"Look at all of this. Do you think that's every ruler out there?" A pony said, looking outside of her window.
"I'm not sure. I haven't been keeping track of my monarchies." Another pony replied as he was completely unsure if this was all of them. It certainly wasn't. "Ah, look at that! I haven't seen them before!"
This invitation went as far as to involve the Humans of the Pokemon World who had their fair share of royalty. But in comparison to Equestria and beyond it, the Human side was rather small. It was either because of the modern-day Pokemon World and how much that's changed or there were some kingdoms that have been missed.
And the Human who showed up here was none other than Queen Ilene of the Rota Kingdom. She was met with great praise as her presence was also known thanks to recent events. Ilene would greet the Equestrian residents back. And Ilene certainly caught some eyes as her beauty stood out.
"Oh!" A good amount of stallions were captivated by her appearance, only for their partners to nudge them after noticing this. They didn't want them getting all googly-eyed. "Ow!"
"This is nice," Ilene said with a smile on her face while in her carriage. "I don't see any familiar faces here just yet. But if I had to guess, I know who'll show up here soon. What say you, Jenny?" She would ask her maid who was always by her side.
"Hm. That boy? He'll be here but I won't count on him fitting him. He's not the only Young Ruler in the world after all but he's certainly the most dynamic of them all." The maid replied with her arms crossed as she was referring to a certain someone.
"Mime-Mime!" Mime Jr. replicated Jenny's movements.
"He'll fit in. In his own way." But Ilene begged to differ. She chuckled before being surprised by a few ponies showing up with roses and different flowers to offer. They were truly smitten by her to be so upfront, only for the carriage to keep on moving, ignoring them.
But she wasn't the only one that caught their attention. There were select beauties in this Parade of Rulers. Not only did they come with guards but they also came with servants who reside in their castles. Cadence, Chrysalis and others also had their beauty pointed out but that much was already aware. The Canterlot Wedding was responsible for that. It was the new faces that truly caught their attention.
They rarely get to see the other rulers so now that they were laying eyes on them, it struck a sweet spot without a doubt. But there was someone approaching here that was just as striking as Ilene who stole the hearts of many and she was about to show up but not with a carriage.
Instead, machines could be seen in the air. These appeared in the form of massive gears which were soaring through the air. The gear would slow down as the bottom of it would open up, revealing stairs. The guards of Canterlot Castle already knew what to expect from this as this did not surprise them. Nothing really surprised them at all.
"Are they arriving in a Gear Spaceship?!" Ponies stuttered chattering as they had no idea what to make of this. This certainly wasn't a Klink, Klang or Klingklang situation.
"Who do you think uses that? Is it Zebrat?"
"It has to be someone from the other regions. They would obviously find a way to make gears fly. But why travel in a gear of all things?"
"Glad you could make it. Welcome to Equestria and Canterlot, Prince Raleigh And Princess Kimia." The guards said, welcoming two individuals.
Hopping out of the carriage was none other than the rulers of the mechanically-favoured Azoth Kingdom. A brother and-sister combo.
"Wow! I'm finally at the heart of Equestria! Canterlot! " The young Prince by the name of Raleigh's eyes widened. He was one of the young rulers that Jenny spoke of and she was not joking. He truly was young. This was the young Prince and soon-to-be King of the Azoth Kingdom Raleigh who were descendants of a great scientist responsible for creating a certain Pokemon. And that very Pokemon was just now leaving the flying gears alongside other guards.
That Pokemon was a Magearna. In its original colour to boot. Appearing as a princess itself, this Pokemon was friends with the Prince and Princess and was the first Pokemon escort here. So far, no other Pokemon looked to be an escort except for this Mechanical Marvel.
"Oooh! It's one of the Pokemon I saw from the cards!" Noticing Magearna was Flurry Heart who immediately whipped her Pokedex out for this. Other Pokedexes were whipped out as a lot of ponies have never even seen Magearna before
"Magearna. The Artificial Pokemon. Original Color. This beautiful form reflects Magearna’s appearance when first presented to a king’s daughter 500 years ago. This gorgeous Magearna looks as it did at the time of its invention. Its body is nothing more than a container, its artificial heart, the Soul Heart is the actual life-form. It synchronizes its consciousness with others to understand their feelings. This faculty makes it useful for taking care of people."
"I didn't see that colour though!" Flurry Heart's jaw dropped as well as Skystar's. "There's an original colour of it?!"
"Don't make a fuss here, Raleigh." The older sibling known as Kimia commented. Next to her was her own Pokemon. None other than a Shiny Gardevoir who was in the same boat as the many guards present here. "I know you're excited to be here but let's keep it professional."
"I know, sister. I'll be around so many grownups here." Raleigh looked around him.
"Awww, look at how small he is!" Some mares gushed over Raleigh as he was definitely the youngest ruler here. Not including Baby Flurry Heart since she wasn't a ruler but she was still a princess. And since he was so young and small, ponies would squeal and admire him, finding him absolutely adorable.
Others were focused on Kimia for her beauty instead. If they couldn't have a shot with Ilene, they would go for Kimia instead. But why not try out both? Already, some were already attempting to get close. Some would even switch from Ilene to Kimia in a heartbeat.
"Gardevoir." As soon as some tried to make a move Kimia's Gardevoir would eye down them, sending an intimidating stare that prompted them all to refrain and back away. The guards didn't even have to do anything in that instance.
"I'm gonna be in the same room as so many adults. I don't know about this..." Raleigh grumbled. "I'm glad I get to be in Equestria at last but this meeting doesn't sound like it's for me. How am I supposed to act around so many big figures, sister?"
"You're not the only young one here." Kimia saw that there were younger monarchies around as she pointed at Flurry Heart and Skystar who left their rides. "You won't feel left out at all if that makes you feel any better.
"Let me guess. You can't do anything, can you?" Flurry Heart and Skystar collectively slid over after seeing Raleigh. "We can already tell. You're pretty young. Younger than us."
"You don't have to worry about a thing." Skystar shrugged. "We don't get to be in the meeting at all. All the grownups are gonna do it while we get to hang out and do whatever we want. It was totally worth coming here for us Princes and Princesses."
"Hmm...You are older than me. But I have more importance than you two." Raleigh shook his head. "And greater power even though I may be a prince.
"Huh?!" The two young princesses backed up, exclaiming in unison.
"I'm going to be in the room with all of the rulers, discussing the ever-changing world we live in." Raleigh then spoke with a formal tone, adjusting his suit. "I'm a prince but since there's no King or Queen, my sister and I have the total authority back in our kingdom. Wonderful, isn't it?"
"I think not." Kimia begged to differ, wagging her finger. "In reality, I'll be the one speaking with them. You won't be discussing anything involving the world.
"Gardevoir."
"What?! But I thought I was going to be highly important in this?!"
"Raleigh, you're still too young You've learned a lot and you are incredibly smart without a doubt. But let me handle this. World Politics are beyond your reach at the moment. Only when you get older though." She kneeled, facing her little brother who would pout.
"I was scared of being in there, not worried..." Raleigh grumbled. "And Magearna?"
"Will be with you. Much like those trailing behind their rulers, Magearna is a companion here. Volcanion let us bring her along after all so let's make sure she stays out of trouble." Kimia instructed. "And I'm positive this place will be welcoming to you."
"Well, you're gonna be with us it looks like. So much for a higher power." Skystar snickered as she and Flurry Heart would collectively grin.
"Hah...Alright." A defeated Raleigh uttered. "Doing whatever I want does sound better than sitting in a room all day. I also get to learn about Equestrians. I already know you're an alicorn."
"The very first alicorn to be born in the world, by the way." Flurry Heart stood tall. She was incredibly proud of such a status and there was no way she was letting go of it. "Well, not in this world. Back in my universe, I was the first. And my baby self was the first too so that's a constant!"
"Wow, You were really the first? I thought Princess Celestia and Luna were born as alicorns." Skystar never heard about this until now.
"Tell me. How do battle as a Pokemon Trainer when having wings on you?" Suddenly, Raleigh got touchy, grabbing onto Flurry Heart's wings. The young princess yelped after having her wings grabbed.
"H-Hey!" Flurry Heart screeched.
"I hear you grab the Poke Balls with your wings and throw them. But now that you have access to Z-Moves, how can you possibly pull them off if you can't properly mimic a humanoid pose." Raleigh casually said, moving his hands across her wings. The Princess from Another Universe srunched her face thanks to this feeling. She would then start laughing, feeling rather ticklish.
"I-I don't have any! Not anymore! Hahaha!" She chuckled as tears were flowing out of her eyes.
"Raleigh." Kimia would then speak his name, prompting Raleigh to pull his hands away.
"Apologies." Raleigh bowed his head.
"It's fine...I was thinking of grabbing your face and smushing it anyway." Flurry Heart took a deep breath, revealing that she would've gotten touchy as well since she also found Raleigh to be adorable for being such a young ruler.
"Goodness. We aren't even inside of the castle yet." Kimia sighed. "This will lead to a disaster. I can already feel it."
"Oh, I don't know. I think this could be rather fun." Begging to differ yet again was Ilene who had already left her carriage, speaking to Kimia. "No shame in having fun, right?"
"Aren't you the Queen of the Rota Kingdom?" Kimia spoke, recognizing Queen Ilene. "You're the descendant of Queen Rin!"
"You know about my ancestor?"
"Oh, yes!" Kimia stood tall with a smile on her face. "It's thanks to her and everyone around the Queen that the secrets of Aura started to show themselves. Back in Kalos, we also value the Aura even though we rarely use it. But we know for a fact it is integral to it."
"It's where Mega Evolution was found right? That stuff has a ton of Aura inside of it." Flurry Heart added to the conversation.
"Well, there are other secrets to it. There is one secret in particular that's come out and is rather volatile. But so far, it's been diminished and there is a cure for it." said Ilene. "Delayed Aura Ataxia. Have you heard of it?"
"I have!" Raleigh raised his arm. "I read about it. Much like many things out there. It's something that only comes to someone who uses too much Aura. But it's always hard to tell who it might be. Not everyone has high pools of Aura. Only the Aura Guardians consistently have them and they've just vanished altogether. Probably because of the Ataxia."
"Very good. You're a clever boy, aren't you?" Ilene uttered, impressed that Raleigh already knew all of this.
"I am." Raleigh put on his proud face once more. "I spend the entire day in my room reading texts and performing experiments. It's all thanks to my ancestor Nikola and the admiration I have for him. He's the one who created Magearna. And even though I'm a prince, I've actually been on my own Pokemon Journey, travelling the world. For 3 straight years too."
"You got to travel the world? Lucky!" Flurry Heart puffed her cheeks out of jealousy. "I only get to journey the world for like...a day or a few hours. Then I have to come back home. I'd do anything to travel for three years but my parents won't let me!"
"It's all thanks to Ash. After what happened years back, I wanted to find a way to expand the world in the best way possible. It was Ash who recommended that I go on a Pokemon Journey and expand my worldview. Me and my Slurpuff went places and saw so much because of him. I was truly missing out."
"So you've already met, Ash," said Ilene. "And he's already changed you. Much like how he's changed others and befriended them."
"Boy, you're a lucky kid aren't you?" Skystar nudged Raleigh. "You got to meet with the King of the Sea and he gave you pointers that let you explore the world?"
"King of the Sea?" Kimia repeated. Did her ears deceive her or were they referring to Ash as the King of the Sea?
"I'm glad I got to meet Ash and all of his friends." Flurry Heart chimed in. "You can ask Chrysalis and she'll give you a great answer too."
"Wish I could see him again to tell him what I've done and all the Pokemon I've caught too," Raleigh added. "But that's not happening. He's obviously still on his massive journey. Who knows where he could be?"
"Ah-" Skystar's mouth opened as wide as she could as the young Seapony was about to spill something to him.
"Sshh. Don't spoil it." Flurry Heart would shush Skystar, wanting to keep this secret until the moment of truth arrives. Raleigh's reaction will speak volumes.
"You mentioned something about the King of the Sea? The Legends from long ago? Are you perhaps saying that Ash is the King of the Sea?" Kimia focused on that part, not letting it go until she got some answers.
"Mhm." The princesses would at least confirm that, performing collective nods. Ash indeed was King of the Sea, making him the ruler of a majority of the world by default. Not exactly the land. That was a different story.
"What has happened these past years?" Kimia held her head. "I've heard words about the insane events that happen here at Equestria but clearly there are plenty of details that I'm missing. What else happened ever since our worlds met?"
"Why don't we head inside and you can figure it out eventually," Ilene suggested, walking ahead. It was best not to keep the other monarchs waiting. Many of them have already gone ahead. The chariots and carriages would be looked after by the Canterlot Guards, making sure that they would be left here without anything happening to them.
Other monarchies will soon arrive but so far, a good chunk of them made an appearance. Up above, Pegalysium's Monarchy were already seen showing up on their chariot. The chariot was larger than before, carrying many more ponies. The faces of the King, Queen and Prince couldn't even be seen because of how large the chariot was.
And moving at an equal pace as them was a rather new monarch. The skies about would have a little tint of darkness that everyone would notice. The clouds formed together to create this darkness as a familiar eerie feeling entered the atmosphere. Ahead of Ash but still considered late was none other than the Lich Queen of Magehold, who was also a Gym Leader of Hearthome City and a professional Pokemon Coordinator. Fantina. And she made quite the appearance.
"Afternoon~" Fantina uttered after making her appearance. She had quite an intimidating carriage since it was already modelled for the previous Lich Rulers. The carriage would drop as Fantina would leave it before it even touched the ground. She left by performing a twirl, choosing to be graceful as always.
"Fantina? You're here too?" Chrysalis spoke, surprised that Fantina was chosen for the Royal Phantasy. She was the newest ruler in the world without a doubt and yet she was present here.
"But of course! I wasn't skipped out at all for this Royal Meeting." Fantina bowed. "I couldn't miss it at all either."
Joining the Lich Queen were Magehold's residents who had to wear something to protect their bodies from the Star in the Sky. Vampires were still very much feared after what happened with the Black Crusade. But recently, that has died down now that Fantina was in charge. But it would take some time.
Dimstar was present here, being Fantina's guard. Here as guests was Merry Dread. A former member of the Dread League. And of course, Fractured Note was present. Despite his request to see if he could assist the other side of his family being accepted, he still showed up here, sticking by Fantina's side as her loyal servant.
"Aren't those vampires?" Kimia pointed out. "I heard about the Black Crusade. I even saw and felt the wave of destruction that eclipsed our kingdom but was soon restored."
"That is them. But you have probably heard that it's all been solved. With Fantina as the newest Lich Queen, Magehold is being taken in a new direction. Or rather, the direction the original Lich King intended." Cadence explained to Kimia. And as a bonus, Fantina's part Lich"
"She's part Lich now? Unthinkable!" Raleigh's jaw dropped. He was now in the presence of a Lich. But Fantina didn't exactly give off the presence of a Lich. Naturally, questions about Fantina's new position of power were about to flood in. The residents of Canterlot had to know what was going on.
"You won't approach the Lich Queen unless she wants you to," Dimstar said. By using her tendrils which were invisible to may, she held back anyone with questions, already doing a great job at protecting the Queen.
All the other monarchies reached the front of Canterlot Castle as they were not only about to be greeted by the guards but also the existence of Reshiram and Zekrom. That was one thing that truly stuck out. The fact that Reshiram and Zekrom was just present here. They were in the distance so it was impossible to miss them with their size.
"Amazing! The Dragons of Truths and Ideals! Reshiram and Zekrom! I read about them and the two heroes!" Raleigh spoke with amazement as he furiously pointed at them. "Look, sister! They're actually here!"
"Incredible...Equestria just has these two with them? How? In just 4 years?" Kimia gawked. "Having these two here makes Equestria an incredible superpower."
"A lot can happen in 4 years," said Cadence, knowing the reason for such an amazing union. The other rulers of the world weren't fully aware of everything yet. But eventually, they will be.
Looking outside and gazing at this wonderful turnout was none other than Celestia herself. She saw so many rulers appearing here under her invitation, dedicated to doing something about this new world that they live in. However, she was also aware that there was one individual missing from this. But she didn't expect him to be early either way.
Lapras Lake.
That was Ash. Compared to everyone else, he was behind. At this moment, while the Pallet Town Yard Sale was on its third day, Ash was busy chatting with his friends at the moment over at Lapras Lake. Once again, they were at Lapras Lake and this was for a good reason. The Sea Temple was currently present there. It once again showed up at Lapras Lake, making this place its station for picking up the King of the Sea.
Delia would also be representing it as well as Manaphy. Being the Prince of the Sea, Manaphy had to be there. Granted, neither of them were rather equipped for meetings But Ash already knew that and was already expecting it to be enjoyable since Celestia was hosting it.
"Oh, my. For once, I'm to blame for waking up too late." Delia uttered. "I was so into my competition with Melony yesterday that I tired myself out. How embarrassing."
"Ah, it happens, Mom. But you get a pretty good refill afterwards." Ash replied, knowing how Delia felt. This time, Delia overslept as it was almost the afternoon.
"Ash. You're not going to the meetup wearing that, are you?" Rarity questioned, seeing Ash in his casual clothing. "Nothing to match the occasion? Just how you appear a majority of the time?"
"Nah, it's fine. Royal clothing's cool and all but this is what I prefer the most. Besides you made it so it's pretty royal to me." Ash said.
"Oh, Ash.. How flattering." Rarity giggled at that compliment. "I suppose so."
"Are you ready, your majesty?" Alo said. Representing Ash would be everyone from the Sea Temple. Without a doubt, the biggest one yet. The People of the Water would make sure that Ash gets to the Royal Phantasy as soon as possible Granted, the temple would have to find the nearest body of water first and Canterlot wasn't exactly known for that.
"Oh yeah! I'm ready!" Ash shouted, jumping onto the grounds of the Sea Temple. Delia would be escorted on the Sea Temple with her dress being lifted to avoid the water.
"Pikachu!"
"Good luck with your meetup! Not sure what's gonna happen there but you've got this, Ash!" Rainbow Dash cheered on. So did the rest of his friends who would see Ash off for such a big moment. Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Spike and Starlight all saw them off here at Lapras Lake.
"The nearest lake to Canterlot is somewhere around Deerling Forest. We will be there in no time by using the temple's Lightspeed function." Alo explained. "Would you like me to speak in honour of your position, your majesty?"
"Well, you know a lot more than me, so sure." Ash accepted. Alo was more equipped for something like this. Not him. While Ash might not be in that room where the meeting would take place, he will at least have something to speak for him. Being the King of the Seam meant that a gigantic majority of the world itself was his to manage. But for Ash, he was far too busy exploring it.
This would also be the Samiyans' first time at Canterlot. They've never been to it at all and now would be the first time they set foot there. With so many guests showing up at the Royal Phantasy, one would think that Canterlot wasn't big enough to hold them all. But Celestia and everything around her should not be underestimated. The guards of the Sea Temple were given the order to start the Lightspeed Function, preparing to travel as fast as they could to the lake nearest to Canterlot.
"Hmph. It should be me appearing at that meeting..." Diadora sat on the higher platforms, gazing at Ash. She was still very much jealous of Ash since he was the King of the Sea when she felt like she deserved that honour. But alas, she hasn't earned the title of the Queen of the Sea. Not at all.
And just like that, with a golden flash enveloping the entire temple, everyone witnessed it vanishing, moving the lake itself. The Sea Temple was gone, off to its destination.
Canterlot. Afternoon.
At the Royal Phantasy, the meeting hasn't started just yet. Right now, everyone was only in the warming-up stage. And to warm up, they were all seen at the dining hall which welcomed plenty of food for them to feast on. So many big names and figures were just present here, conversing with each other.
Many of them who come from Beyond Equestria were currently having their own Pokemon Problems that have yet to be properly solved. With this world being larger than ever, those problems were only escalating. In this dining room, everyone was prim and proper, eating and drinking smoothly.
But there was this feeling in the air. A feeling that basically told them that it all it would take was for one individual to eat like a maniac. So far, that hasn't happened. So far, everything was completely fine here. Even with the Pokemon present. Plenty of them had their Pokemon out and they were even on their best behaviour.
Those who lacked Poke Balls didn't use them as their Pokemon were constantly out. And yet, there wasn't a single ruckus. Neither of the Pokemon were looking to play with each other either. Ribombee maybe but she wasn't getting lucky here. All the Pokemon belonging to the many rulers matched their disposition.
"Is that so?" Kimia spoke with Ilene. "An entire chamber of Aura?"
"And more. The Secrets of Aura have been rather dormant for such a long time until Ash came along. It started with Sir Aaron trying to find a solution and Ash carried on from there, finding the answer to it. But you've had your own experience with his friends, haven't you?"
"Indeed. It's thanks to them that our kingdom is as safe as it currently. If Alva succeeded, who knows what might have happened? To this day, I'm a bit hurt that I lacked the power to stop him and save my brother since I needed so much help from others."
"The best strength is the strength in others though. Some forces need the cooperation of others to really succeed." Ilene instructed to the princess. "Much like how a kingdom needs its subjects. You're still learning, so there is no need to blame yourself."
With the younger monarchies, they were already with each other. Raleigh had already found himself being around Flurry Heart and Skystar respectively. But there were certainly more of them around. The Prince of Pegalysium and the one who was the closest to eating as freely as he wants was none other than Shooting Star. He looked around him, seeing if anyone was paying attention. The prince ate his food as slowly as he could, knowing that it would be rude to go all out.
"How come you're eating so slow, son?" King Paramount asked.
"Mmm." He raised his eyebrows a few times, nudging his head to the crowd of guests. It was very clear why.
"Ah. That. I would say eat how you wish but...You wouldn't want to leave a bad impression."
"Oh, I don't know. I think they all want to do whatever they wish to do," said Queen Luminary. "In a good way, of course. Whatever happens here influences everyone else's opinion of us. And then some."
With Pegalysium here, they brought quite the guests with them. Present here was the cousin of the Shooting Star, Cloudflare. It was natural for her to be present. But it went past just family relations which wasn't that large. For Pegalysium, they focused on bringing friends along. And in this case, Garnet and her friends were involved.
"Ooooh..." Garnet made quite the expression being here. Around her were riches galore which is something she greatly adored. She wore her best dress for this and it was worth it without a doubt.
"Don't get any ideas, Garnet." Knowing what she was up to was Kaleidoscope. "Now is not the time for any of that. You could end up having a harsh sentence."
"I'm not thinking it. Let me just admire it. Because one day, I'll have something just like this." Garnet explained. Something like Canerlot Castle was what she wanted. She could envision it right now.
"A castle? I'm not sure about that." Kaleidoscope thought otherwise. So did another friend of Garnet. Clear View. She may be mute and use an orb to communicate, but her expression and mannerisms were enough for a response.
"I have both Princess Celestia and Prince Shooting Star on my side. If you ask me, my future's looking bright." Garnet confidently said. "I'm not looking to be a royal or anything like that. Just enough money to be a celebrity."
So far, so good. The food was exquisite and the atmosphere was pleasant. But at this moment, the Royal Phantasy was about to be met with the most expressive guest yet. He was late but he was never too late to bore. Through those doors arrived the final Monarch.
"Made it!" Ash Ketchum was here. The King of the Sea had arrived. And he made sure his voice was heard as a powerful echo filled the room. His motion was just as active as his voice as he jumped through the air, successfully arriving at the Royal Phantasy as promised.
"Pikachu!"
"I don't believe it! Ash?! You're here?!" Raleigh also raised his voice, stunned that he was actually seeing Ash once more. Just like that, the atmosphere had changed yet again. A majority of the monarchs were startled by Ash's thunderous entrance. But those who knew him well had smiles on their faces, knowing what to expect.
"Sorry, I'm late! It's not that late though is it?" Ash laughed, casually being himself in the middle of such a vast audience.
Now that Ash was here, things were already set to take a turn. The Royal Phantasy was gearing up as all monarchs were present here. From The King of the Sea to the Changeling Queen, it was a truly momentous occasion as so many rulers have never been in this room before. Humans, ponies, griffons and more. All united to handle this Grander World as the journey continues.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Royal Phantasy. Afternoon.
Gathered here on this day was the collection of many rulers alongside their guests. It was for the Royal Phantasy which would be a meeting discussing the Grander World that's been formed. From Equestria and beyond Equestria, they all showed up. Especially the ones who were rather unorthodox, such as Ash and Fantina. And speaking of Ash, his entrance was the loudest since he was late and the last to show up.
All eyes were on the King of the Sea, especially because there were many familiar faces present here. Some have only heard of Ash while others know him very well. And since he was here as the King of the Sea, his guests were the Samiyans who excitedly entered the room. Especially the young ones who dashed in, led by Enola. And behind them was the Prince of the Sea Manaphy.
"Hm? Raleigh? Is that you?!" Ash couldn't believe his eyes. He never expected to see Raleigh again. The last time he saw Raleigh, he was on his own Pokemon Journey and that was years ago
"It is! You still remember my face even after all these years!" An excited Raleigh said, approaching Ash with an immediate run. "I can't believe you are of royalty as well!"
"Well...not by blood. I'm just the King of the Sea." Ash explained.
"But you are still royalty all the same with that status." Speaking to him was Raleigh's older sister Kimia, who still confirmed Ash as royalty. "It's a joy to meet you again, Ash."
"How have you guys been? And how's Volcanion doing?" Ash asked. "Did he come along with you all since Magearna's here?"
"As if he'd choose to come here." Knowing how Volcanion was, Kimia shook her head. If Volcanion did show up here, he'd just be one big grouch the whole time, no doubt. "But he's perfectly fine and was fine with us bringing Magearna along. It has been a while since we last saw each other."
"Raleigh. How was your Pokemon Journey?"
"Fantastic!" Raleigh exclaimed. "To think I almost missed out on an opportunity. I truly got the chance to discover myself. Although, it took a while considering my sister was stalking me the entire time."
"Y-You knew?!" Kimia pulled back after being exposed by her little brother.
"Very much." Raleigh grinned. "It wasn't hard to figure out it was you. I still remember every moment you came too close to me."
Kalos. Years Ago.
When exploring the Kalos Region with his partner Slurpuff, the young Raleigh was taking in every length and breadth of this world that he had been missing out on after Ash suggested it to him. However, he was also being followed. By none other than his older sister.
Kimia couldn't let her brother go at it alone. And to make sure no one would suspect that she was the Princess of the Azoth Kingdom, Kimia wore a disguise. One of many. She made herself appear as an average farm girl, wearing the usual overalls while also manipulating her hair. Her Gardevoir stayed by her side, wearing glasses which wouldn't change much.
The duo gazed at Raleigh by hiding behind a bush. Each time Raleigh went further, they would zip to the nearest spot they could hide at. Naturally, nearby Pokemon in this forest area would stare at them, curious of their stealthy actions.
It wouldn't stop at just the wildlife. When visiting other places, her sister and Gardevoir would be there as well. Raleigh once visited Santalune City being the midst of civillization. Kimia changed her disguise once more. This time, disguising herself as a Hiker. She would follow her brother through the city while people were looking at her.
There was no city, forest, mountainside, town or any other location that Kimia did not skip out. She made sure to keep a close eye on Raleigh at all times, taking on multiple disguises to try and fit in. She disguised herself as a cook when Raleigh stopped at a restaurant.
And to make sure her brother wouldn't suffer from any food poisoning, Kimia decided to cook instead. She offered to do all the cooking, putting aside all the other chefs. She couldn't be too careful. Kimia was doing this for the simple fact that people may notice Raleigh as the Prince of the Azoth Kingdom and to keep her little brother safe after all. Kimia couldn't let anything happen to him with status.
She disguised herself as a clown to watch Raleigh enter a circus were plenty of people will be sitting next to him. A Firefighter, doctor, police officer, mine, nurse, Bug Catcher and more in various situations where the disguise calls for it. She never kept her eyes off of him once.
But of course, Raleigh knew it was his sister all along and said nothing. All he did was continue on his journey, not letting anything or anyone ruin it for him.
"I decided against speaking about it." Raleigh continued. "I enjoyed myself going to all of these places. And I hope you did too as well, Kimia."
"I had to make sure you would be safe. Someone could have captured you and taken you in for ransom." Kimia explained as she truly put her brother's safety on the line first. "Especially when I had to enter a hospital. That bruise on your elbow had me worried."
"It was nothing. Besides, you took me to the hospital when I received that bruise." Raleigh pointed out, making Kimia nervously chuckle. "Either way. I had a blast, Ash."
"Great to hear. And check out all these familiar faces. Hey, Chrysalis! Ilene!" Ash would cry out at the two Queens. They would wave back, not bothered by his loud personality in the room of individuals who like to keep things quiet.
Of course, this prompted the many leaders and their guests to stare at Ash with confusion on their faces. The Samiyans seemed to carry a similar energy as Ash but not on his level. The children were moving all over the place as this was their first time being inside of Canterlot Castle. It was their first time at Canterlot as a whole.
"Those stares are pretty brutal..." Flurry Heart whispered to Skystar, noticing all of these stares. "They might start hurting the longer it goes on."
"I know what you mean. I kept quiet the second we entered the room." Skystar whispered back.
"They'll show respect to the King of the Sea if they know what's good for them." Queen Novo commented while having a drink. "But this might hurt our enjoyment."
"Alright. Time to eat!" Ash eyed down the food near him, not wasting any time with filling his stomach. Ash, Pikachu and some of the Samiyans children would approach the table of food, not hesitating to take a bite. And at this moment, where everyone was eating as steady and simple as they could, some for the sake of not standing out, the ones who truly stood out would being their consumption.
Ash saw some of his favourites laid out thanks to Celestia who expected him here. He grabbed whatever he could, immediately feasting. And the way Ash and his group ate spoke volumes to the contrast here.
"That is the King of the Sea?" A Unicorn King said, outstanded by what he was watching.
"And apparently Equestria's Hero. I expected someone completely different." An Earth Pony Queen commented on this.
"How can be so bold in the face of such a serious crowd, Ash?" Kimia wondered after seeing Ash's unrefined eating style. "Amazing, Ash."
"If Ash gets to do it so freely, I should do it to." Shooting Star said, having the courage to eat however he wishes to know that Ash was getting active. And the way he eats is how he always does back home. The Prince of Pegalysium went for it, having his own unkempt style of eating. Paramount and Luminary smiled, glad that their Son could be himself.
"Your majesty. It seems that Princess Celestia anticipated we would show up after all. Delicacies from Samiya are available for us." Alo pointed out, looking at the table of food that came directly from Samiya. "To think she managed to replicate it."
"She's awesome like that. There's a reason she's the boss." Ash uttered. "Go ahead and try it, Alo."
"Oh, I have eaten either! Let me try!" Raleigh spoke up, soon joining Ash's group. And because of Ash's influence, this prompted other leaders and their guests to start being their true selves. They could finally talk however they wanted, feeling a bit more comfortable.
"This whole time they were holding back because of the crowd around them." Cadence noticed this shift in the atmosphere because of Ash. "That same air is completely gone now."
"How unkempt." Naturally, some of the guests here were very disgusted by Ash, finding him to be rather vulgar. "Why did Princess Celestia invite him?"
"Probably because he rules over the entire Sea. And his fame is colossal in Equestria."
"He certainly doesn't give off the feeling of a powerful trainer." On top of that, Ash's appearance as a whole didn't really give off the best impression. Ash always carried this wild appearance with him. It was close to being grungy. This involved his previous clothes that he's worn over the years. "All of those accomplishments must have been pure luck."
"Gee. They don't pull their punches?" Ash pointed out, hearing the guests clearly. "Ah, I've heard worse back at my school when I was young. It's okay."
"H-How forgiving he is..." Kimia uttered after stuttering.
"Oh, you must be Queen Ilene!" And much like Ash, Delia Ketchum was one to be as active as possible as she appeared next to Queen Ilene. "I've heard so much about you! And even read about you as a child! It's such a wonder to meet you!" Her eyes lit up as she was a fan of Queen Ilene.
"Is that so? Thank you, Mrs. Ketchum. It's equally pleasing to meet Ash's mother for the first time. But I had hoped to meet his father too."
"Ah, you don't have to worry about that. He's there and he's not." Delia shrugged.
"Pikachu!" After stuffing his stomach, Pikachu would run off to converse with the other Pokemon. There were plenty of them around and some familiar faces to boot. He would approach Chrysalis's Ribombee, Thorax's Zorua and some other Pokemon from the Changeling Lands as well.
"Have fun, Pikachu! And while we're at it, actually..." Ash would dig into his pockets, revealing all of his Poke Balls. "You all gotta join in too!" By throwing them in the air, Ash summoned the rest of his Pokemon. Dragonite, Gengar, Sirfetch'd, Lucario and Dracovish have entered the seen.
"W-What is that?!" A princess shrieked after seeing Dracovish, startled by its appearance. Even for those not born and raised in the Pokemon World, there was just something unnerving about Dracovish.
"Gardevoir. Go with them." Kimia instructed her partner to tag along. "Just to avoid anything unsavoury occurring."
"Gardevoir." Gardevoir understood. She would try and keep an eye on them. The early parts of this Royal Phantasy were only elevating from this point before the meeting could even begin. Ash would converse with friends and other rulers of this place while Delai would continue sticking around Queen Ilene. It was rare for her to have such an opportunity.
The dining hall became much louder now. Freedom to speak and act however they wanted was starting to emerge but they would still keep it professional. A majority of them were born and raised to be professionals after all.
Watching this all go down was Celestia. She was very pleased indeed. The Royal Phantasy in the beginning was starting to look like every other formal event but with Ash's involvement that was about to change. Very soon, the meeting of the rulers will begin.
"Wonderful," Celestia said, greatly pleased. "This is just what I wanted. Now then...about Vanhoover. Is she still there?"
"Reports say she's still being seen around the area. We're waiting for your next orders, your majesty. Should we wait for the Royal Phantasy to be over or...?"
"Yes. Once it's done, I'll continue dealing with the Lena Ketchum situation. But if something significant happens, you are free to interrupt the meeting at any time." Celestia ordered.
Naturally, it didn't take long for all the Pokemon to end up elsewhere. Pikachu and some of the Pokemon found themselves in the hallways of Canterlot. Soon, the hallways were flooded with Pokemon who were being led by Pikachu. While all the rulers and their guests enjoy themselves in the dining hall, they would do more than just feast and chatter. The Pokemon preferred to get active. Pikachu was joined by his usual friends but now some new faces were joining him.
"Okay...where to start?" Pikachu rubbed his hands, ready to venture into Canterlot once more. "Celestia definitely added something new here. I just know it."
"Where are we going?" Baby Flurry Heart's Manaphy asked.
"We've already been through Canterlot Castle," said Sylveon. "What else is there for us to do? We're better of heading outside.
"Wherever!" Pikachu exclaimed. "We've got the whole day to do whatever. I'm sure you guys wanna do that. And plus, I know Celestia. She probably left something behind for us."
"Hold it!" Kimia's Gardevoir raised her voice, catching up with all of the Pokemon. "You all are looking to start trouble, aren't you?"
"Oh no. We're just gonna have fun, that's all." Ribombee shook her head. "We're a great friend group, so you don't have to worry about any trouble."
"Mhm. I was tasked with keeping an eye on you and I can already sense trouble coming." Gardevoir doubted. "Kimia entrusted me with this task so I cannot afford you all to make a ruckus."
"Don't fight it." Suddenly, Passion, AKA Celestia's Gardevoir, would halt her fellow Gardevoir. "Believe me, I tried. It doesn't work." Passion has been in the same boat as Kimia's Gardevoir. Fighting against this was a losing battle. It was best to just let it happen.
"Princess Passion?" She looked over at the other Embrace Pokemon.
"I like the sound of that." Passion quite liked being called a Princess. It's something that has never come up until now. She will certainly remember that. "But I can see the look on your face. Just go with whatever they do but don't forget to keep them safe."
"How can you allow this? Look at them. They're clearly scheming!" Gardevoir pointed at Pikachu's party. They were already conversing with each other, having plenty of things in mind. Lucario could honestly care less as he was standing in the corner, waiting for something to happen.
Gengar was actually looking for trouble, creeping around with that wide grin on his face. "How about we just head back to that hall and give them a scare? I have a new trick that I'd love to show!" Gengar suggested.
"Are you insane? You'll start the worst kind of conflict with all of those nobles around." Sirfetch'd rejected it immediately. "Sir Ash should not have this enjoyable moment ruined. What say you Dracovish?"
"Aaaah..." Dracovish would groan, not giving a clear answer as it still had some food from the Dining Hall in its mouth. No matter what, Dracovish's speech was rather disrupted, making it clear that was something was cleary wrong with it.
"Look in here!" Zorua spoke up, finding a room that would entertain them. By transforming into Ash's Dragonite, he managed to open the door, revealing the room. Lo and behold, Pikachu was 100% right about Celestia adding something. Much like how she anticipated Ash arriving here, she also anticipated the Pokemon roaming around.
A room that appeared larger on the inside was shown, being completely spacious while also occupied with Pokemon-Retaled objects. Things that would greatly please and excite the Pokemon were found as a playground of their own had been crafted. It also resembled a throne room.
Bulky braziers encircling each of the six granite columns light up the entire throne hall and cover the hall in dancing shadows and a warm radiance. The artistic depictions of Pokemon on the sloped ceiling dance in the flickering light while sculptures and statuettes look down upon the stone floor of this impressive hall.
A scarlet rug runs from the throne down the centre and loops back from both left and right while ribbon banners with ornate needlework hang from the walls. Between each banner stands a large candlestick, almost all of them have been lit and in turn illuminate the sculptures of different Pokemon. Each of these Pokemon were Pikachu and his friends.
Massive, stained glass windows depicting divine beings are concealed by draperies coloured the same scarlet as the banners. The curtains have been adorned with fine patterns and decorated tips.
A striking throne of marble sits atop a tall elevated platform and is adjoined by three large, but far less ornate seats for those aiding whoever sits on that throne. The throne is covered in divine crests and fixed on each of the front legs is a gilded sun. The dense pillows are a light scarlet and these too have been adorned with adorned embroideries. It felt like a throne room for Pokemon and also the newest throne room.
"I was going to lead you to it eventually but...oh well." Passion said, walking past Zorua and the others. She was the first to enter as she already knew all about this room. On top of that, she took a seat on the throne which was her size. It was already clear that this throne was made for her. "Welcome to my small kingdom! The throne was actually my idea!"
"So you own this whole room?" Pikachu said after running in. Immediately, the first thing that caught his attention was this spherical-shaped machine that had a platform next to it. A platform fit for running. As soon as he landed on it, he immediately used Thunderbolt. His suspicion was correct as his lightning would instantly power the machine.
All those volts travelled through the platform which conducted well before sending it into the machine. This machine would unleash multiple lights, acting as a disco ball. The lights flew everywhere, illuminating this room. But it wasn't just an array of ordinary lights. They had symbols on them and the representatives of those symbols were the many Pokemon Types Grass, Fire, Water, Electric, Normal and more were being shown when flying across the room.
"Hmm. Maybe I should have asked for a crown too..." Passion touched her head as Ribombee flew over her, carrying a toy. Already, the Pokemon were starting to enjoy themselves, interacting with whatever they could.
Gengar, Sirfetch'd and Sylveon found themselves some racecars that came in different sizes and fit them all. They would immediately start racing with each other, moving across the throne hall. Pikachu powered the machine with enough volts. 100,000 volts was perfect enough as he hopped off it. The lights would then switch from showing symbols to different Pokemon who resembled those types.
"Wait for me!" Seeing Gengar and the others racing, Pikachu would use Quick Attack to catch up with them, d
"Oooh...I should've stayed behind for another bite. I'm still hungry." Zorua said, feeling rather peckish even after eating at the dining hall.
"Here! Have this as a meal!" Spraying vanilla cream into his mouth was Alcremie. Zorua's eyes widened after being fed out of nowhere. At least he got his wish.
"Hah...As long as it's in here and nowhere else." Kimia's Gardevoir said with relief. "On the bright side, at least Magearna didn't come along. All of this movement would have certainly injured it."
"Why so serious? Have fun with us!" The Prince of the Sea exclaimed, dancing with Flurry Heart's Manaphy.
"I'd rather not. I'm a Princess myself and I have to remain proper." Gardevoir refused, keeping herself prim and proper.
"Same here. But that isn't stopping us!" Getting her involved was none other than Ribombee, who displayed impressive strength by grabbing Gardevoir's arm. Before she knew it, she was soon involved with the party.
"I wonder where Espeon and the others are..." Pikachu wondered while running alongside the racecars. He believed that Twilight Sparkle would be here. After all, she received an invitation but so far, there was no sign of her anywhere. But if he had to guess, it was probably the Pokemon School considering it was close to Canterlot Castle.
At last, they have all gathered at Celestia's throne room, where they can finally start the meeting. Nobles of all kinds assembled to discuss the changing world. A few minutes have passed for them to finally meet here. The rest of the guests were still at the dining hall, mingling with each other.
Only Ash was not present here. He wasn't exactly fit for this. But Alo was as he would speak in Ash's place. Ilene, Chrysalis, Kimia, Cadence, Shining Armor, Prince Rutherford, King Paramount and Queen Luminary and the list goes on. Celestia certainly picked a big enough table for this many leaders. Despite the size, it wasn't all of them. There were still some missing but for now, this will have to do. It was the first ever Royal Phantasy after all so something like this was to be expected. But now that all of them were here, they would begin to discuss what truly matters.
"Thank you all for gathering here," Celestia said. "Now. We can get to the point. Ever since Jirachi merged our worlds as one, we now have a Grander World. Far bigger than what both of us possessed. Because of this, things have drastically changed and only a few months have passed for us to truly do something about it. Some outcomes have been for better but I can imagine some have been for the worse. But together, we can change that. And I believe we should start off by discussing a certain place in Unova."
Equestria. Canterlot. The Royal Phantasy. Afternoon.
While the Kings and Queens discuss important matters, everyone else was left in the Dining Room. This includes Ash who was the King of the Sea, but had Alo speak in his place. Ash could be seen hanging around Raleigh, Flurry Heart, Skystar and Shooting Star. All young individuals with royal status, but some were higher than others.
"Must we be left behind with him?" One of the guests commented as they were continuing to gossip about Ash. Now that they were actually seeing him in person, he was not what they expected.
"Such a glutton...How did he become King?"
"Ah...That felt good." Satisfied by his meal, Ash would pat his belly, completely full. He could be seen on the floor, feeling true paradise and bliss. "Alright. Now that I've finished with that, I know what I wanna do next."
"What can you do? I'm surprised you didn't head into the meeting room." Skystar spoke. "Aren't you a big name?"
"Alo's taking my place." Ash stood back up, even more energized now that he was full. "I've got full faith in him. By the way...How come Twilight's not here?"
"I was thinking the same thing. Auntie Twilight's a Princess too. Wasn't she invited?" Flurry Heart asked.
"Oh, for sure. I guess she hasn't shown up yet. For sure, Twilight would have something to say in that meeting." Ash said with confidence, knowing his friend well. If only she was her. She could count on Twilight come up with something.
"What do you think they're gonna talk about in there?" A curious Skystar wondered.
"I do! If I was in there, I'd understand everything clearly." Raleigh crossed his arms. "But of course, my sister gets to go because she's older than me. So unfair. All that reading for nothing."
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll get your chance one day. This is just the first one. If you get lucky, maybe your sister won't know what to say in there." Skystar tried reassuring him. "Maybe. I don't know. One thing's for sure, my mom would rather be doing something else."
"Doesn't she wanna be there?" Flurry Heart looked over. "I mean, my mom and dad might be cool with it."
"Nope. She's got something else in mind." Skystar smiled, rubbing her hooves together. "Mom's been getting a bit too interested in someting called Pokemon Contests Not sure what those are, but she saw them after some news came to her from Equestria. I bet she can't wait to get out of that meeting and do those contests."
"So, she's interested in Pokemon Contests huh? Well, she doesn't have to hide it. It's all good." Ash replied.
"Isn't she a bit too old for Pokemon Contests though?
"Nonsense!" Twirling over here and appearing in a flash was none other than the Lich Queen, Fantina. Much like Ash, the King of the Sea, Fantina stayed behind, having someone else talk in her place. "You're never too old for fun and especially not Pokemon Contests!"
"Queen Fantina?! I thought you were at the meeting!" Flurry Heart's face stretched out.
"What do I know about any of that?" Fantina was still here for the same reason Ash was here. This was out of her expertise. Of course, someone else took her place. "Fractured Note is taking my place. He has all the knowledge for that since he was the first Lich King."
"My father has everything under control." Staying beside Fantina as her bodyguard was Dimstar and her serious tone.
"As for the contest, why shouldn't your mother try it?! It's free and available for anyone of any age! Even my grandmother could join it."
"Really? Do you know a lot about Pokemon Contests, Queen Fantina?" The Hippogriff Princess asked.
"She sure does!" Ash put his arms to the side right next to Fantina. "Fantina's a Pokemon Contest Expert. A Top Coordinator! Not just a Gym Leader! She knows everything about Pokemon Contests. And I've got even more friends that all about Pokemon Contests."
"Oh, so you definitely know a lot about Pokemon Contests too, Ash." The older Flurry Heart said to Ash.
"Well, kinda. I know the rules and I've tried it out before. But I stuck to Pokemon Battles." Ash chuckled as his knowledge wasn't as advanced as Fantina's. "If Novo wants to get into it, she can ask Fantina. Or maybe even Dawn. Or even Zoey if she's around."
"Mother will be so happy to hear this." Skystar put on a peaceful smile with her eyes closed. "I bet you her Primarina will love this. She's always looked like the type to do more than just swim around. A lot like me. But I got Dondozo and Tatsugiri instead."
"You can come by to the Crystal Empire!" Flurry Heart suggested. "We have a Contest Hall! Plus, we'd get to hang out while watching your mom participate."
"Or, maybe you can visit Magehold's Contest Hall I made it myself~" Fantina winked as Skystar's mother had plenty of options.
"Your majesty. It might be unwise to instantly let others into Magehold so soon." Dimstar advised. "Everything after the Black Crusade is still healing."
"I'm sure it's fine, Dimstar. We brought many vampires to Magehold, haven't we?" Fantina replied, pointing out the many vampires currently present in this room.
"It's most definitely not fine." One of the guests commented. "Honestly, you all are so loud and rowdy, storming into such an esteemed place."
"Indeed. And besides, we still haven't forgotten what happened with the Black Crusade and all the vampires that attacked us. It may have been brief but our lives were lost and were thankfully brought back by Xerneas."
"Hey. Not every vampire was in the Dread League." One of the guests, Merry Dread would point out.
"But you were. We know about you from the Manehattan attack." Another guest replied ina heartbeat, making Merry Dread freeze.
"Oh...You found out?" Merry Dread gulped before backing away. "Well uh...Just following orders! Hehe!"
"So many lives were put in jeopardy because you and Magehold supported the thought of wiping out all life except your own. How can we possibly ignore that now that you're all in here?"
"It doesn't help that Fantina is still around that place. After capturing her, even with the Black Crusade over and the Dread League disbanded, she is still present in such an eerie land. What a shame that she is now their Queen and an insult."
"Disrespect to the Lich Queen will not be tolerated." Hearing this, Dimstar was about take action, manipulating her tendrils. So did the other vampires in the room. There were still Magehold Guests and they certainly weren't fond of Fantina being slandered. Especially since it was Fantina who brought life back to Magehold. But now, Fantina could see the invisible tendrils thanks to her new status.
"Hold on, Dimstar." The Lich Queen prevented Dimstar from making any brash actions. "I don't live in Magehold anymore. Now I can visit it anytime I want while still being a Gym Leader."
"I feared something like this would happen." The cousin of Shooting Star, Cloudflare commented on this. She expected a scenario like this to take place as soon as she saw Magehold appearing at the Royal Phantasy.
"And as for the King of the Sea, it's hard to imagine how he became a King at all. Or even Equestria's Hero."
"Wait, me?" Ash pointed at himself as now they were starting to talk to him. All the Samiyans in the room would pay attention to this as it looked like their King was the next target.
"The next Royal Phantasy should avoid inviting people like you. He isn't even of Royal Blood."
"And those clothes he's wearing." They would then target his clothes. "I have seen some tacky human clothes but this absolutely soars over all of them. Nothing about it screams royalty."
"I'm my own King though." Ash grinned, completely unphased by the insults. "I don't even have any Royal Blood but I'm a royal, I guess."
"If this is what it takes to become royalty for a Human, then the standards are completely low. He isn't even in the same room as the rest of our Kings and Queens. The same goes for the Lich Queen. Ruling is completely out of the realm of possibility for both of them."
"Hey!" Speaking up was one other than Flurry Heart who made the Crystal Empire Guards gulp. "If it wasn't for Ash and everyone around him, we wouldn't even be here!"
"Uh...Princess..." Flash Sentry gulped as he did not wish for the Crystal Empire to get involved in any way. But it was too late for that. The discussion was only elevating from here.
"That's right!" Raleigh would do the same. "I owe a lot to Ash and his friends!"
"We will have to agree on that notion." Suddenly, ponies from Saddle Arabia suddenly spoke. "It was thanks to him, Hollow and their Pokemon that our kingdom of Saddle Arabia was freed from the clutches of Ghetsis and his Team Plasma."
"We owe a lot to him." Another Saddle Arabian said. All the Saddle Arabians were in agreement. They were forever grateful to Ash who freed them from that sudden takeover. With the existence of Pokemon being so new at the time, Saddle Arabia had no way to defend itself against Team Plasma. Having someone like Ash and Hollow around was the most hopeful thing they could hope for.
"Agreed." Adding to this was Pegalysium. And the one to speak was Prince Shooting Star. "His friends did a lot for us. Saving our nation in the sky twice. Plus, it was Ash who helped me get into Pokemon."
"Not you too..." Garnet put her hoof on her face, fearful of what could happen next.
"Look on the bright side. At least Second Wind and her group aren't here. It could be way worse with them around." Kaleidoscope nudged, bringing up a worse possible outcome.
"Wasn't it your nation that also attacked us? Those Unown could have ended us all had it not been for Arceus saving our lives. That was the first time our lives have been threatened by the Pokemon who end up in the wrong hooves."
"It does seem to be a running trend, doesn't it? Even for the older Princess Flurry Heart who as involved with Empress Twilight Sparkle. How convenient. The existence of Pokemon is a dangerous one. But also beneficial, I must admit. We have some of our own and yet they have also put our lives in danger. Especially from two nations we were never aware of."
"Doesn't Ash Ketchum also have the spirit and soul of King Sombra within him? Honestly, he's full of the most horrid surprises." A noble would scoff. There was immediate tension in the room. Those against Ash and Fantina plus those with them. The nobles were now against each other with some seeing others in different lights.
"It's fine, you guys," said Ash, throwing his two cents into this. "I don't mind what someone has to say about me. But when it involves my friends, I can't just say nothing."
"Is that so?" A noble from one of the many pony kingdoms snickered. "At least you aren't sensitive about yourself. You have quite an unpleasant friend group, honestly. And it's fitting that a majority of them are rather unworthy. Either as future rulers or even being in here in the first place. Perhaps you should get going to avoid further embarrassment.
"I'm grateful for the friends I have and what I've made with them. You can insult me all you want but don't come after my friends. Who cares if we're worthy or not? As if I'd run from anyone. If anyone's got a problem, we can have a Pokemon Battle right now! I'm ready!" Ash exclaimed, ready for a Pokemon Battle to settle things if anyone wished to.
"Gh...!" That same noble would flinch after being intimidated by Ash's invitation. So did many others. Despite everything they've said, they at least acknowledged Ash's strength. He was a powerful Pokemon Trainer indeed and challenging him would lead to humiliation.
"Ahem. Ash...Pikachu and the others ran off, remember?" Flurry Heart pointed out.
"Oh, right. Hahaha! Slipped my mind." Ash chuckled after realizing his Pokemon were all playing elsewhere. "But anyway...I don't hate any of you guys. But I can't just let you say all of that to my friends. We're all here because Celestia trusts us. Everyone's got a leader in the meeting room right now wanting to make the world a better place for everyone. That'd be an awesome world when it comes to life and we can all have fun in it."
Ash harboured no ill feelings towards them. There wasn't a shred of hate within him. Only the drive to stand up for his friends. And even after doing so, he wished that everyone in here would get along since they all wanted to have a safer life in this Grander World.
"Well said, Your Majesty...!" One of his biggest fans, Adriel would tear up.
"That's my boy~" Delia clapped, proud of her son. "He was so used to standing up for himself when he was bullied in school. And now he's standing up for others."
"Personally, I would have put them all into a mindscape of fears until they broke down. But this works too, I suppose." Speaking from within Ash was King Sombra.
"Us? Friends? How can that even be possible?" A noble questioned.
"Well, one of the ways I make new friends is with a Pokemon Battle. And now that I brought it up...I kinda wanna battle." Ash laughed, eager for a Pokemon Battle. Sometimes, he psyches himself up just to get into a battle.
"We can skip the battles, Ash." Entering the room was none other than Princess Luna, who has not made an appearance until now. Upon entering, all the nobles would stay quiet, wishing to not stir up any trouble now that the Princess of the Night was here. "I am not sure they are eager for a battle. Neither of them are really Pokemon Battlers."
"We could be if we wanted to..." A noble mumbled. In reality, they only had Pokemon for companions. "But to have our darling Pokemon being injured? The thought of it is dreadful."
"Well, I suppose they do have some heart." Cloudflare sighed, lowering her head.
"The meeting between the Rulers is ongoing. I thought I would show up to share something with you all. They have all agreed to start a new group. And that will prompt all of you to get along."
"What is it, Great Auntie Luna?" asked Flurry Heart.
"From now on, we'll be fully focused on dealing with Dimensional or Universal issues. This involves individuals such as Twilight Moonlight and especially Daybreaker. My sister and everyone in there have agreed to start an organization to confront invaders from other universes beyond our own. Every single nation here that has shown up will have to work together to face such threats. It's very clear that not all of you are equipped to handle the larger-than-life scenarios. But that all changes."
Indeed. Not all of them were prepared for the worst compared to Canterlot, the Crystal Empire and so on. Their kingdoms have mainly been exempt from most issues. Only the world-threatening forces reached them but that was understandable. But now, many forces threatened the world and they were about to receive the support they needed.
"My sister and I will personally see that you get all the support you need to defend your homes. For now, this is all the news I will share with you. The rest will come to you later." Luna finished. "But before that...Ash. I believe you should know this more than anyone. It's your ancestor."
"You mean my super-great grandma?!" Ash exclaimed as Lena Ketchum was finally brought up. Luna was the one to inform Ash first even though Celestia was told about this last night.
"Lena?!" Delia gasped.
"She has been spotted around Vanhoover. You don't have to wonder where she is anymore." Luna was essentially encouraging Ash to go to Vanhoover if he wished to see his ancestor. She knew him well.
"If she's there, I gotta see her!" And indeed, that was Ash's first course of action. Seeing Lena Ketchum. He had plenty of questions for her and it would be interesting to see his ancestor in the flesh. He was free to leave the Royal Phantasy at any time and that was something on his mind as well.
The Pokemon School.
"Hah..." As for Twilight Sparkle, she was currently in her room as Principal, having a mountain of paper next to her. She was indeed invited but her work as the principal came up and it was not forgiving. While the Pokemon School was plenty of fun, all the work that came with managing it couldn't be ignored.
But it wasn't the work that Twilight was upset about. She would love to do work. But it was the fact that she missed out on the first-ever Royal Phantasy. The Princess of Friendship looked outside her window, staring at Canterlot Castle and all the chariots, carriages and other forms of transportation next to it She could be in there, discussing important matters and seeing so many important faces.
Instead, she was stuck here, keeping her school steady as she promised to do. Twilight would get back to work, at least grateful that the Pokemon School only lasts until 12:30. Even so, what a waste of an invitation. Tensions at the Dining Hall, the declaration of a group specifically meant to tackle Universal Threats and now the revelation of Lena Ketchum's whereabouts. While the Royal Phantasy wasn't over, a lot surely transpired and this was only the first one.
Vanhoover. A snow-capped area that currently had a visitor from the far past. Lena Ketchum was said to be here, occupying the mansion that once belonged to Skyblue Shine and Premium Polish. Aware of Lena's presence, the residents of Vanhoover eyed down the mansion.
They saw Lena here and there, going back and forth constantly. She would appear in the mansion and elsewhere, most likely in the wild. She said nothing to anyone and didn't interact with them at all.
"Looks like she's still there." A young colt said, using binoculars to spy on Lena Ketchum's temporary base of operations. It was expected for a child to
"It's not polite to stare, ya know? Or even stare." A little filly replied.
"Ah, it's fine. She hasn't paid attention to us at all. Plus, I'm sure she's cool since she looks a lot like Ash."
"Maybe we should go over there if she's like Ash. She might not mind." Another colt who was joining in on this spying process said.
"Nah. I'm too scared. Plus, Mom says not to talk to strangers." Despite all of that, the colt who was spying on her refused to do so, following his mother's lessons. Continuing to spy on her, they noticed how Lena was leaving the mansion once more, off the wild yet again. It was unknown what she does when leaving the mansion. All everyone could guess was that she uses it as a place to stay. It wasn't under any ownership anymore after all. At least, not until Premium Polish reaches the right age. But considering she was an android, it was hard to tell if she would ever reach that age.
On Lena Ketchum's back, there appeared to be a bag. A rather ancient-looking bag to boot. It looked nothing like a hiker's bag yet it was just as massive, having plenty of scratches on it. Clearly, she had something on her mind to possess such a large bag and to be moving back and forth like this.
Delibird Snow Field.
The Deliberd Snow Field. Another location that was formed thanks to the existence of the Pokemon. This was prior to the worlds merging as one. Equestria-exclusive locations mainly occur based on the area they're around. And in this case, Vanhoover was the nearest area, prompting a snow-capped land to be born that housed the Pokemon known as Delibird.
"S-So c-c-c-cold!" Walking in the snow-capped lands near Vanhoover was none other than Team Rocket. Once again, they've ended up elsewhere and it was rather unfavourable for them. And unfortunately for them, they didn't have anything warm to shield themselves. "Great job deciding on skipping work at that school today!"
"I wasn't thinking of showing up here but it was the only route! The Rocketship doesn't even have enough fuel! We're running low on that magic the Empress added." James exclaimed as his teeth clattered. "If only she were still here."
"Vanhoover's just up ahead. We'll be fine." Meowith grinned as his noticeable fangs were completely stiff and frozen. They have clearly been here for a while.
"Ah, forget it!" Jessie groaned before soon kneeling as her knees dug into the soft yet frigid ground. "I've lost track on how many times we've been in some cold place! I need something to eat and drink and there's no way I'm taking a fit from any of those Delibirds!
"What's wrong with Delibird?" James sighed before coming to a halt, losing the strength to continue on.
"Apparently, they're too good when it comes to judging character," Jessie grumbled. "They'll give either coal or something explosive and I'm not having that! Who do they think they are judging me?!"
"I wouldn't mind taking something from them. As long as it's edible." A weakened Meowth would groan, falling on his back. He instantly made a snow angel of himself because of this. "Ahh...I'd love to be in that school again, working as a janitor."
Team Rocket would stay here for a while, trying to recover their strength. It would take a while and they certainly didn't see this as the end. There have been worse situations for them. The cold in this area was punishing but not fatal, that much was true.
But while they were lying and sitting around, the sound of snow crunching thanks to the footsteps were heard. These were rather heavy footsteps, not belonging to a Delibird. If it was a Delibired, the footsteps would be light and harder to hear. But these footsteps belonged to someone far larger than Delibird.
Perhaps it was another Pokemon. Delibird wasn't the only Pokemon that would make this place its home. Ice-Types were to be expected. The Trio squinted to see who it was but it certainly wasn't a Pokemon. Neither was it a pony. These were Human Footsteps as a silhouette could be seen in the midst of this mist. A familiar silhouette with a familiar hairstyle.
"It can't be!" Jessie stood up. "Even out here?!" By seeing this silhouette, they immediately believed that Ash was here, managing to find them at this very moment. It reminded them of how they were always in the same area as Ash, constantly moving at an equal pace.
Team Rocket certainly didn't have the strength to confront Ash, needing time to rest. But it hasn't even been an hour and they were already about to be met with their archenemy. Or so it seemed.
It was not Ash Ketchum. Instead, it was Lena Ketchum.
"Afternoon! You three look awfully hungry!" Lena spoke, interacting with Team Rocket. Her voice was very much energetic and full of life, much like her descendant. Even if she wasn't her, Team Rocket could never forget that smile.
"Wait...That's not the twerp..." James observed. "It's not even a Twerp Character at all and yet..." And yet, they still couldn't stop seeing Ash. The face was all that mattered. Those lightning bolt birthmarks were certainly in the family as well as that hairstyle. Plus that grin.
"How long have you been out here? You must be starving." Lena immediately spotted their conditions. She could tell just by looking at their faces. They were most definitely hungry and thirsty. "You do not have to worry at all." By taking off her massive bag, Lena dug into it, having just what Team Rocket needed.
Food and Drink. Lena came prepared, having hot food ready at all times. Even for those she meets along the way, such as Team Rocket. Seeing their status, she would bring out a box of food and drinks for them to partake in.
"Here. I made this all myself for my mission. But you are free to have it. I can simply make another."
"R-Really!? We can have this?!" Jessie would get back up, finding the strength to do so just by looking at the food. Not only that, but the scent was heavenly. It captured the noses of Team Rocket, letting them show the most blissful faces. How could they deny this offer?
"But, of course." Lena put on a kind face. "Just be careful not to finish it all. I tend to finish my food sooner than I expect and I always have to make more."
"Don't mind if we do!" Meowth exclaimed as he and Team Rocket would immediately snag all the food inside. Lena watched as Team Rocket did not hold back with the food that was built for the cold environment.
Piping hot Noodle Soup, Apple Pie, Meatloaf, Flurry Pancakes and Buttermilk Corn Bread were theirs to consume. All were made by Lena Ketchum who had quite a variety in food. And it was all so perfectly packed.
"Mmm! Tastes just like Grandma's cooking! And I never ate grandma's food!" Jessie said as her heart melted from this delectable goodness.
"I did. It's just as good!" James added, slurping the noodle soup. All that food that Lena made was vanishing while also warming up Team Rocket. Any icy feelings around them would met thanks to the steamy food. The soup was the most effective.
"Good, good." Lena lightly chuckled. "You should have enough energy to carry you through the rest of the day. Nightfall is nearing after all."
"Thanks for the meal!" Team Rocket thanked her.
"Glad to help. You should be getting home soon. This place is full of kind Pokemon but the temperature is unforgiving. Is your home nearby? Do you live in Vanhoover?"
"We live wherever we want." Jessie crossed her arms, putting on a proud face. "Anywhere is our home. So as long as we decide on it."
"For Team Rocket, the world is both our oyster and our base of operations," James added.
"But this place definitely ain't it." Meowth shook his head. He'd much rather be elsewhere than here. Even though the food has warmed him up, the cold could still affect him in the end if something wasn't done. "We'd better scram from here before we freeze up again."
When looking at Team Rocket, she saw that they could most likely suffer the same chill later on. Since they were near Vanhoover, it would be hard for them to get out of the cold and reach somewhere warm. There just wasn't enough time. Lena should know. She's been around after all.
"You might not get far at this rate, I'm afraid," said Lena, already knowing that Team Rocket wouldn't get to a safe and warm place at this pace Not on their own. Thankfully, Lena was here to help. By going into her bag once again, Lena had something else for them. "Ah. Thank you, Adaman. Iridia."
From her bag, she pulled out outfits. This bag seemed to be all-purpose, having food and clothing at the ready. And in this case, clothing that was fit for the cold weather. Lena showed off two sets of clothing that were similar in appearance but had different colours. A Diamond Blue and a Pearl Pink.
"Ooh wow! Look at these!" Jessie's eyes lit up, finding these clothes to be absolutely striking. Something about the way they looked was rather appealing.
"These look pretty ancient." James squinted. "A lot like that bag of yours. Is there a recent trend going on that I'm not aware of yet?"
"These are Diamond and Pearl Clan outfits. They were made for a cold environment. They will do well to keep you safe and warm." Lena explained before passing it over to them. Jessie would receive the pink outfit while James would take the blue outfit. Lena also had great taste in clothing options as the Diamond and Peark Clan outfits perfectly fit Jessie and James.
Jessie and James slipped into these clothes, overlaying them over their Team Rocket outfit. With this, they would keep themselves warm, having another layer of clothes over them. The colours complimented them well indeed. The colour of their hair is what truly made it work. Jessie's pink hair spoke for itself while James' hair was closer to the Colour Blue, being in the same pool as it.
"Hey, what about me?!" Only Meowth was left out, having nothing to protect himself.
"Hmm..." Lena pondered for a moment, trying to think what would work for Meowth. She certainly didn't have any clothes that were his size. But, Lena already had something in mind. Her bag had just what Meowth needed. From it, Lena Ketchum unleashed a scarf. A scarf was certainly a way to keep warm but it was far too long for Meowth.
To fix this, with sheer brute strength, Lena would tear off a chunk of the scarf. She instantly made a respectable size for Meowth, making it easier for him to wear the scarf. Meowth was given the scarf as it would wrap around his upper body, being the perfect size.
"Aah..." Meowth melted thanks to the warmth he received.
"You should all be fine. Wherever you need to go, you can make it there." Lena said before packing her bag. She felt like she had done everything she needed to do here.
"Who are you anyway?"? Jessie asked. She was very much curious mainly thanks to the fact that she looked a lot like Ash.
"My name is Lena. Lena Ketchum." And there it was. Lena revealed her last name which as the most vital part. Even though Team Rocket calls Ash a twerp constantly, they were aware of his last name. And hearing the name Ketchum while also seeing her face immediately confirmed some suspicions. There was a good reason as to why she looked like Ash but they have yet to know about Ash having an ancestor running around.
In unison, Team Rocket would huddle, whispering to each other just so Lena couldn't hear them. This needed immediate discussion. "Do you think she could be his sister..." James leaned in, thinking that she was Ash's sister.
"May just be a grandma or an auntie," Jessie whispered back. Her suspicion was on the right track. But she was Ash's many-great grandma instead of just being a recent one. "No wait. She looks far too young. I never knew the twerp could look so appealing with his face on someone else's."
"Hang on. This gives me an idea." Meowth had something brewing in his mind. "She doesn't know about us. But we know all about the twerp."
"I already know what you're getting at. I was thinking the exact same thing." Jessie put on a devious smile, being on the same page as Meowth. "How's about we butter up to her?"
"Get close to her? It's because those two are related, aren't they? I assume they are." James added.
"You don't have to assume anything, just look at her. The resemblance is uncanny and the last name speaks for itself. I know that smile from anywhere. But she's a real sweetheart. Just like the twerp, she can't resist being kind. I say we use her to get to the twerp. But she can't know we're Team Rocket.
The plan was to try and take advantage of Lena Ketchum. Naturally, this involved capturing Pikachu as this tied back to Ash. Team Rocket wanted to make sure that their reputation with Ash would be hidden just so that it would be easier to get close to Lena Ketchum.
"You three look fine. I think I should get going." Lena saw that Team Rocket were perfectly fine and could now depart, continuing on her mission.
"Hold on!" Jessie stood up, halting Lena. "Uh, let's talk for a moment. Forget about that whole Team Rocket thing we mentioned."
"You want me to forget about your little group? It's only three of you, however." Lena observed, unaware that Team Rocket was much larger.
"It's rather new but we'll scrap it immediately." James slid in. "We're just three friends going wherever. And trust me, we've been places. But right now, we're rather aimless."
"Yeah. Plus, we ain't gonna get far like this." Meowth rapidly shook his head, playing along. "It's been a while since we've had somewhere to stay."
"But you look like you know what you're doing and where you're going!" Jessie rubbed her hands together. "I mean, you are going somewhere with a bag that big."
"Sorry. I am actually on a mission at the moment. There isn't a clear destination for me. This world is new to me even though it is the future. After I am done with my mission, I will have to head back in time. To my time, specifically."
"B-Back in time...?" Jessie repeated, stuttering and blinking a few times. That was not the answer she was expecting. Neither did James or Meowth. Based on what Lena said, she was more than just a relative to Ash, she was his ancestor. They looked at each other, realizing that they may have struck gold with this. Lena had something important going on and Team Rocket would be foolish not to look into it. Anything involving Ash's family was bound to be crucial.
"You three are the only people I have spoken to so far. I have been keeping distant from others, rather focused on my work. It is a shame. The future is so interesting." Lena looked around, gazing at the snow-capped lands.
"Please tell us more!" Now they had to know as they collectively got close to Lena, who was surprised at their enthusiasm. It has only been a few days since she's shown up to the present but now Lena Ketchum was interacting with someone from the present. And it just had to be Team Rocket.
Canterlot. Canterlot Castle. The Royal Phantasy.
Many more minutes have passed here at the Royal Phantasy. The Rulers continued to discuss things while their guests mingled some more, waiting for it to be over.
At this moment, Ash was already set to try and reach his ancestor. After Luna shared her whereabouts, Ash knew where he had to be. It was off to Vanhoover where he was hoping he could finally meet his ancestor. But before that, he had to find Pikachu and all of his Pokemon first.
Pikachu and all the other Pokemon were currently hanging out in this small yet wide room that Celestia crafted not too long ago. With Passion sitting on her own throne, she watched over all the Pokemon. And with how much noise they were making, it wouldn't be hard to find them. Ash and the other young monarchies departed from the Dining Hall but no one expected what would happen next afterwards. They weren't just leaving the Dining Hall.
"His majesty's ancestor has been spotted in Vanhoover. Do you think that their meeting will cause anything?" Discussions about Ash's ancestor Lena occurred, mainly from the Samiyans.
"Probably not. It hasn't happened at all with those counterparts being present. But for her to be in the present must be because of an otherworldly force. Do you suppose the Legendary Pokemon Dialga could be behind this?"
"Ancestor..." This greatly intrigued Diadora. She talked about Ash's ancestors before, mainly in a negative light. And now, during the Royal Phantasy, his ancestors have been brought up once more. Diadora couldn't just ignore this. So, without doubting for a moment, she decided to get into the action.
Diadora walked off, much like Ash and his friends. She was also going straight for Diadora.
"Has anyone seen the prince? He went with King Ash and hasn't returned since." The guards of Pegalysium noticed the absence of Prince Shooting Star. Not only that but there was an absence of Flurry Heart, Skystar, Raleigh and Shooting Star. They knew the princes and princesses followed Ash to the hallways of Canterlot, however, they haven't returned as of yet. And so far, they haven't been found.
"They went with Ash," Princess Luna answered. "Most likely, they're heading to Vanhoover. Ash wouldn't hesitate to see his ancestor for a moment."
"They surely wouldn't just leave now? Especially when the Royal Phantasy is ongoing." Some of the guards found that hard to believe. Ash was to be expected but the others were a different story.
"Oh, they would." Luna thought otherwise. She knew for a fact that anyone surrounding Ash was bound to follow along. "If I were you, I would try and catch up. They are young and have the spirit of adventure in them."
Hearing this, the guards from each respective kingdom would scatter, trying to reach their rulers. They weren't sure if it was far too late to catch up to them. And if they go missing now, who knows what their parents might do? Luna was completely unbothered by this, however, having a smile on her face. She knew the outcome of this already.
And by looking outside the nearest window, she saw Ash's group already on the way. At this very moment, they were off to Vanhoover. Not just that, but all the Pokemon were with them. This involved Kimia's Gardevoir who was furiously yelling at them all. Luna watched as Kimia's Gardevoir was clearly unhappy about this sudden departure. They didn't have a care in the world, leaving the Royal Phantasy just to find one person.
Passion had a different reaction, however. She had a constant smile on her face compared to her fellow Gardevoir. Kimia's Gardevoir tried ordering them to all stop, only to be dragged along, failing to slow them down. The princes and princesses didn't look worried at all. They had no qualms about leaving the Royal Phantasy and following Ash. Just as Luna said, they had the Spirit of Adventure in them. Luna would use telepathy from afar, concentrating just on speaking to Flurry Heart from the outside. "Leaving without saying a word?"
"Great aunt Luna? Sorry...I couldn't help myself." Flurry Heart spoke back with her own telepathy.
"All the guards are rather worried about you and your friends. To leave without a notice...Even though the destination is very much clear."
"I'll be back soon, I swear! I just need to see this for myself! Plus, Vanhoover's not that far. We can get there while the Royal Phantasy goes on. I know how long meetings can be so we'll be back just in time for the meeting to keep going. B-But I can come back if you want!"
"I know, I know. Next time, make sure you let them know you're leaving. I will keep everyone in here occupied until your return. I will also inform them just to ease their nerves."
"That's a bunch, great auntie!" Flurry Heart was grateful to her great auntie. She was free to explore while Luna took care of everything. It was off to find Lena Ketchum and the destination was already set. So far, it has only been Vanhoover that's been spotted at consistently. Ash wasn't about to let this escape from him. He couldn't wait for Lena to head elsewhere.
The mansion of Skyblue Shine and Premium Polish. Now it was being used by Lena Ketchum. And at this moment, she had invited Team Rocket to her home after saving them from the cold. Wearing outfits from the past to keep them warm, the indoors were also warm. It only made sense considering where it was built but Skyblue Shine and Premium Polish, it was impossible for them to get cold.
"Hey...Ain't this that android's home?" said Meowth, remembering hat home the two of them used to have before things spiralled out of control.
"I use this place as my temporary base. If I wish to solve these issues, I need a place to stay. This place was rather vacant and free so I decided on it." Lena explained. "Modern-day housing is truly impressive."
"Mmm1 Great choice!" Jessie's eyes lit up. She was in something so luxurious and fancy. It was one of her many dreams and thanks to tagging along with Lena Ketchum, she could now live here. She never even thought about the option of just taking the house. She believed it was under Celestia's watch but it turns out, that was not the case.
"Eh." James wasn't really feeling the same way. This reminded him too much of his home. His many homes ot be exact. Whether it was the one in Hoenn or Sinnoh, he could do without the luxury as he focused on what was important. "What do you even do, Lena? What issues do you even have on your plate?"
"Well...All I have to do is fix the Space-Time Distortions that have suddenly appeared at a rapid pace. After all, I came through a Space-Time Distortion myself."
"Is that how you showed up to the modern day?" James questioned once more.
"I came here to the present by accident. But I also showed up in a different time before this. I come from an era beyond just 100 years. I was dragged from my home because of a Space-Time Distortion and ended up in an era more advanced than what I once knew. And it happened once more except this time, I appeared in the modern day."
Lena has been through this more than once. Realistically, she wasn't even supposed to be here. She was far from the era she once lived in. On top of that, she was picked during a time where she was still rather young. For what reason? That was unknown.
"But! That is what I hope to figure out!" Lena raised her arm. "The sooner I solve it all, the sooner I can enjoy everything else!"
"All by yourself?" Meowth noticed that since she was on her own, it looked like Lena was doing this solo with no assistance whatsoever.
"Well, yes All I have to do is retrieve the shards that were scattered." Lena sat on the couch. "These special shards are key to my mission and finding them will take some time. But I suppose doing it myself only makes it harder on myself. I do love a good challenge, however."
"Did you say shards We'd love to help out." Jessie slid over, rubbing her hands together. She was already thinking of riches since shards have been brought up.
"You would actually help me?!" Lena sat up, gasping at what she was hearing.
"Of course! It's the least we can do for the one who saved our lives. Right?" Jessie shifted her eyes, gazing at James and Meowth.
"Oh, yes, yes!" They collectively nodded, agreeing with Jessie. They were mainly doing this for the advantage of reaching Ash's Pikachu and it looked like all their chances were starting to rise up. They would have to mask their names since they would be around Lena. Jessie and James would take on new personas and perhaps a slight hair change. The outfits they were currently wearing were rather helpful.
"Amazing!" Lena got off the couch, raising both her fists into the air. "This is a most wonderful day! This will help me greatly! Oh, I have not been around people from the present until now. This will be absolutely fun to explore."
"You look like you've gotten a head start with those clothes you're wearing." James pointed out Lena's modern-day clothes.
"Oh, these? I was lucky to have found them. They do match me very well. Will I have to speak differently now that I am interacting with you?" Lena questioned. She was rather unaware of the modern-day customs since she's been going solo ever since she showed up here.
"Not really. But It's not like you can learn modern-day language that fast." Jessie laughed at that notion.
"Hmmm..." But much like Ash, Lena was up for the challenge. She closed her eyes, taking in everything she's heard thus far. From the way Jessie, James and Meowth talk to even how Akari, Arezu and everyone else she knew during that era communicated. "I'm pretty positive I could totally do it."
"Gh!" Jessie pulled back, stunned that Lena learned so fast. Lena then put on a wide grin as she felt like she was going to have a lot of fun with Team Rocket. Without a doubt.
"Since we'll be working alongside each other, here is the plan!" An excited Lena Ketchum said, pulling one more thing out of her massive bag. This bag as truly all purpose, having everything she needs. Especially for this mission she was on. And in this bag, after digging for a few seconds, she found what she needed.
Lena slammed a piece of paper onto the table. This paper was none other than a plansheet, showing off what Lena had to do. On it, drawings of the shards were shown off as they all appeared in 18 different colours. But there were way more than 18 of them around. Team Rocket leaned in, gazing at this plansheet which also involved the Space-Time Distortions along with someone else who they couldn't quite make out. Now that they were looking at it, Lena was prepared to lay out the game plan for them.
"So...here is what we'll do."
Meanwhile, making their way to Vanhoover was Ash's group, consisting of Flurry Heart, Raleigh, Skystar, Shooting Star and all of their Pokemon. Trying to stop them but failing to do so was Kimia's Gardevoir who was right behind Passion They were very much far from Canterlot by this point.
And the way they were travelling was by sea. Specifically, as bodies of light. At this very moment, Ash and his friends were all covered in a golden aura, allowing them to take flight. The same golden aura that was used by the King of the Sea himself. Ash was obviously flying with it but just like when he first obtained it, he had the power to bestow it upon others.
Multiple golden lights were zooming through the air, illuminating the land below. Various Pokemon and ponies would look up to see these lights, believing that they were shooting stars in the azure sky. Well, one of them was certainly a Shooting Star.
"Ash! This is amazing!" Raleigh said, flying through the air. "You can just do this?!"
"Well, not always. I gotta get to the Sea Temple to make this happen." Ash explained while putting his hands behind his head, looking completely casual. "Pretty cool, huh?"
"I can do this naturally, but this is much faster!" Skystar uttered. She was already capable of taking flight and going underwater but the speed that this power gave her surpassed her natural flying speed.
"I can't breathe underwater so it's a bonus for me!" An excited Flurry Heart said, twirling through the air.
"Gardevoir..." Kimia's Gardevoir sighed, lowering her head while also focusing on flying. Meanwhile, Passion was having the time of her life, twirling through the air.
"Pika!" Zooming past the two of them as Pikachu who was trying to get ahead. Competing with Pikachu were Dragonite and Gengar, going at their best speed. Dragonite, combined with this mystical power, made for a rather swift Pokemon. Dragonite ended up overtaking them all. Normally, Dragonite could go across the globe in just under 16 hours. At this speed, it was way less.
"I think by now, we should be somewhere near Vanhoover." Flurry Heart uttered, knowing her geography.
"Great! Here I come, grandma!" said Ash with a wide smile on his face. Eager to see his ancestor, his speed suddenly increased, Ash moved at greater speeds than before, even passing Dragonite, which greatly shocked the Dragon Pokemon. The King of the Sea was way ahead of everyone else.
"H-How are you-" Shooting Star stammered.
"Sorry! As the King of the Sea, I get a crazy boost in speed!" Ash shrugged, hiding this from the others until it was time to show it. And he certainly surprised them. "See ya there!" He would continue moving ahead of them, gradually becoming just a yellow glint in the air. The others try keeping up with Ash, soon involving themselves in this race.
The golden lights in the air were faster than ever now, getting closer to Vanhoover. The distance to Vanhoover has certainly increased now that the world was bigger. A bigger Earth meant that lands were stretched out, although some remained the same, having zero changes to their size.
In the distance, Ash could see some snow, confirming to him that Vanhoover was just up ahead. He was very much close to his grandma without a doubt.
Vanhoover.
At last, they had arrived at Vanhoover. When arriving here, they kept the golden lights around them. They certainly couldn't afford to land since if they did, they would have no way to access it again. The Sea Temple was back near Canterlot after all. So now, it just looked like multiple golden lights were in the air constantly. That is until Ash slowly descended towards the one place his ancestor was said to be. The mansion.
He still kept himself in the air when descending, making sure to keep the Power of the King of the Sea active. He would try looking inside the mansion. His face pressed against it along with Pikachu. The two of them rapidly moved their eyes all over the place, gazing at the interior of this mansion and how clean it appeared. Even after all of this time, it was in tip-top shape with no form of vandalization whatsoever.
"Hmm...No sign of her yet. Maybe she's upstairs?" Ash wondered.
"Pikachu..."
"Luca..." Lucario would try sensing Lena's Aura inside the mansion, closing his eyes and focusing only on the mansion. Everything turned dark for him except for the Auras of everyone else. However, he would soon find out that her Aura was non-existent. It could not be found in the mansion at all. "Rrr."
"Not here, huh?" Ash looked over at Lucario. "Man...So, grandma's already gone?"
"How far do think she's gone? If she's been coming back to the mansion, then your ancestor might return soon." Raleigh replied, looking at the other possibility.
"Probably. Okay! We'll wait here until she comes back!"
"Gardevoir!" Kimia's Gardevoir thought otherwise. There was no way they were going to stand or rather hover around here just to wait for Lena Ketchum to show up. They have already left Canterlot while the Royal Phantasy was ongoing and this was not the time to waste even more time.
"Voir. Gardevoir." But Passion reassured her fellow Gardevoir that it would be fine. Passion was rather used to scenarios such as this. Although, she is usually with Celestia. All the other Pokemon would press their faces against the many windows. Gengar would even phase through the mansion, looking at the upstairs rooms. But of course, Lena was not present at all.
"What are you doing, Ash?" Naturally, this brought attention to them. A nearby Vanhoover resident carrying some boxes in a carriage would take notice of this.
"Hey. Have you seen someone that looks a lot like me? She's my ancestor and I was hoping I could meet her. Luna said she'd be around here..."
"Oh, her? Yes, she does look a lot like you. It caught us all of guard when we first saw her." He slowly nodded his head, remembering the day Lena Ketchum appeared at Vanhoover. "She's been going back and forth, heading to maybe the Delibird Snow Fields."
"Is that where she is right now?" asked Flurry Heart.
"Probably. But there are other places nearby besides that area." The stallion continued. "I think I saw her leaving with three others this time, so at least she's not going at it solo."
"Delibird Snow Field? What else is next to that?" Ash turned to Flurry Heart, hoping he could find out as soon as possible.
"Uh...let's see. This is a cold region, so there's a lot of shivering areas. There's Horsea Caps, Whitemane Berg and the Ceaseless Field. That's all the cold regions here."
"Works for me! We haven't lost her yet!" Ash pumped his fists. He could still catch up to his grandma, especially with the power of the Sea on his side. "And uh...who were the other two she was with?"
"Beats me." That was all the Vanhoover resident could share as he continued on with his day. But at least he shared something valuable with them. Lena was bound to show up again but there were other places that she was potentially at. Ash wasted no time, leaving the scene with his golden aura. He'd much rather head to Lena's whereabouts rather than wait for her.
Whitemane Berg.
In this case, Lena was at Whitemane Berg. But now, she was no longer alone. She had Team Rocket on her side. After laying out her plans to them, they were already on their first mission with Ash's Ancestor. The goal was to find these shards which were the key to these Space-Time Distortions apparently. There was something of great importance with them especially since they had colours that appeared as all 18 types. Currently, Lena's Team could be seen standing on top of an icy cliff.
"What are we even doing here? Can we even find those shards?" Jessie said, watching her step as she was pretty high up. One wrong move could be very much fatal.
"I've looked all over the cold regions, but so far, I haven't found any. Perhaps other areas will have what I need. With you three with me, it might be easier." Lena explained.
"Yeah, but why up here?" Jessie still couldn't see the point of being so high up on this icy peak. Especially since there was a massive lake below that would most likely freeze any of them in a flash.
"Watch this." Lena winked at them. From her pockets which were rather large, the ancestor of Ash would pull out something that was never in her All-purpose bag. From her pocket, she revealed a flute. It was a rather old flute too. "The Celestica Flute. With this, I can get around at an easier pace."
"What's a flute supposed to do?" All of Jessie's questions would be answered as soon Lena started playing the flute. She carefully played, focusing on nothing else but the flute. The sound that the flute made wasn't exactly a full song. It was rather short, sounding more like a melody than anything else. The sound of the flute caused an echo across the snowland and it certainly wasn't strong enough to cause an avalanche. Suddenly above them all, a mystical and divine flash of energy went off. This was thanks to the flute which wasn't ordinary. Not at all.
Out of this divine crack in the sky emerged a Hisuian Braviary.
"Braviary!" Lena had just summoned a Braviary by playing this flute which greatly caught Team Rocket off guard. And since they were bewildered, this allowed Lena to instantly to cling onto the Hisuian Variant.
"Thank you, Braviary. But we will be having some new passengers." Lena said to the Hisuian Braviary, who she has already formed a bond with. But it didn't seem to be her Pokemon since there wasn't a sign of a Poke Ball being used. Instead, it as a flute.
"H-How did you do that?!" Jessie stuttered, needing new answers immediately.
"You can summon Pokemon?!" James's jaw drop as it looked like he hit the jackpot. He and the rest of the Team Rocket were now starting to believe that Lena was an easy way to get new Pokemon.
"Only a few of them. The Noble Pokemon that come to my aid are good friends of mine that I can count on. And they've helped me move across the land. Braviary here obviously gets me through the skies." Lena would then rub Braviary's feathers, making him put on a face of pleasure. "With his help and the help from the others, we can find the shards."
"Viary!"
"Mmm...We've definitely struck gold~" Jessie was all giddy like a kid in a candy store. She didn't waste any time, performing an impressive leap that allowed her to get on Braviary's back. Thankfully, Braviary was large enough to carry anyone on his back while also holding on to Lena from below. James would do the same as Meowth would be right at the front since he was the smallest. Team Rocket were already about to be in for a ride. And this as the first of many based on Lena's words.
"Alright, Braviary! After we finish our search around here, take us to another area! This time, let's head to the place known as the Changeling Lands."
"The Changeling Lands?!" The Trio collectively bellowed. Their ears did not deceive them. Lena's new destination was about to be the Changeling Lands, located in the Faye Mountains. Definitely a leap from Vanhoover. But before they could say anything, Braviary already accelerated, leaving the cliff.
Lena's search was already looking to be all over Equestria. These shards were hard to find for her and even with extra help, there was still a level of difficulty considering they have been scattered. And shards definitely don't appear in colossal sizes that often. But she wasn't the only one searching for them. At this very moment, tracking down his ancestor was Ash Ketchum as the journey continues.
Searching for Lena Ketchum led Ash's group to the Delibird Snow Field. All of them were still using the Power of the Sea Temple bestowed upon them by Ash. Thanks to his status as King of the Sea, he could share this golden power with them. The golden lights zoomed across the snow field, searching for Lena.
But all they saw were Delibirds and other Ice-Types that populated this area. Lena was long gone from the Delibird Snow Fields by this point. She was already at another cold region with Team Rocket. And unlike Team Rocket, his group actually came across some of the Delibird.
"Man...Still no sign of her." Ash sighed. This felt very familiar. It reminded him of how long it took for him to meet Galaxy Master. Now, Lena Ketchum was becoming a bit difficult to reach. Even with the power of the Sea giving him a great speed increase, he was still too late to reach this area.
His friends weren't as hit by it. They were busy interacting with the Delibirds, taking the time to embrace the Pokemon World and what it offers. Especially Skystar and Shooting Star.
"Maybe she's at the other cold region. Don't let it beat you up too much, Ash." Skystar said before receiving a gift from one of the Delibird. "Oooh, thank you!" It wasn't just her but everyone else would receive gifts. Magearna even received a gift. Artificial Pokemon were no exceptions.
They opened their gifts which consisted of warm food and clothes, specifically made for this cold environment. Poor Team Rocket missed out on this but were thankfully gifted some by Lena Ketchum. The Delibird would have done it for them eventually if they encountered each other.
"Don't look so down, Ash." Raleigh flew over. "It is getting a bit late so maybe we should make it back as soon as possible. The meeting could end at any moment and I don't want my sister barking at me."
"Sticking around that mansion didn't seem like a bad idea at all since she'll show up there." Shooting Star added.
"Yeah. I'm just so psyched to meet her. When it comes to family, sometimes I forget about everything around me." Ash chuckled. This happened with Galaxy Master too, in which, he was so focused on reaching him that everything else around him wasn't even on his mind. Ash is usually the one to enjoy the Pokemon World for what it is until something critical involving his family comes up. Lena Ketchum was just another example.
"Am I getting a Pokemon!?" Flurry Heart already had expectations of what gift she could receive. Two Delibirds came up to her, offering two gifts. "Two Pokemon?!"
"Deli." However, that was not the case. Instead, all Flurry Heart would receive was a scarf along with a hat to keep her warm. The disappointment on her face was very much visible. No Pokemon for her but she would still take the gifts out of kindness.
"Oh well...I guess I was expecting too much." The young alicorn grumbled. "When am I gonna get a Pokemon?"
"You don't have a Pokemon of your own, Flurry Heart?" Skystar questioned.
"Well, I had a Pokemon." The young princess of the Crystal Empire reminisced about her closest friend. "Giratina. But he had to return to his universe to keep the Distortion Realm stable.
"You had a Giratina?!" Raleigh almost dropped his food, taken aback. "Does every form of royalty in Equestria just casually have a Legendary or know about one?"
"I was gifted Giratina in another universe. I've never actually caught a Pokemon of my own." She rubbed her hooves together out of embarrassment. "And I guess I'm pretty picky. But I'm looking for that right Pokemon."
"The right Pokemon will come to you. Dondozo and Tatsugiri came straight to me after all." Skystar encouraged.
"I'm not gonna give up just yet!" Ash suddenly shouted. "I'm gonna find my ancestor today! She's gotta be nearby!" He would suddenly fly into the air, hoping to get a better view from this angle. He would go wherever he could just to find her. Surely she had to be nearby.
"Pika-Pi?" Pikachu said Ash's name before seeing him take off. It as too late to stop Ash now. He was off, becoming a golden sparkle in the cold grey skies.
"Look at him go." Shooting Star raised his head as all the others watched Ash depart. "Boy. You can't knock him for caring about his family all that much. But that's just his adventurous side that's coming out. Who's gonna wanna miss this?"
Whitemane Berg.
Currently, Lena Ketchum was at Whitemane Berg, where she was also with Team Rocket. She was seen soaring over the icy lands with a Hisuian Braviary that she managed to call from seemingly nowhere. After gaining some distance, Braviary would slowly descend, finally coming to a halt.
"Thank you, Braviary. This is good enough. And now, for another good friend of mine." Lena would hold out the Celestica Flute once more as Braviary was not the only Pokemon she could summon.
"Another one?" Jessie uttered. But she and her friends did not expect what was coming next. Instead of waiting for Braviary to touch the ground, Lena would already play the flute Right as Braviary was near the ground, the divine light from before returned, captivating the eyes of Team Rocket.
And just like how he entered the scene, Braviary would also leave the scene. That divine light enveloped his entire body as the Hisuian Variant was finally leaving. But he wasn't just leaving, he was swapping out. Team Rocket screeched after seeing Braviary disappearing, fearing that they were about to fall. But Lena didn't look bothered at all, mainly because she knew what was coming next
Below them all, a figure was appearing. A four-legged entity appeared, touching the ground and making a light tremor. The entity turned out to be another Pokemon. One that had a striking resemblance to Ursaring. But there was something very different about this one.
"Is this Ursaring?!" James questioned.
"It's Ursaluna! It'll help us greatly on ground level!" Lena answered as this was yet another Hisuian Variant. That flute gave her the power to summon these Pokemon that once lived in Hisui. It looked like she was summoning them from the past but Team Rocket had no way to know. "Ursaring has always been helpful in finding secret items for me back in Hisui. I'm positive it can do the same and find the shards. I just arrived in this world not too long ago
Ursaluna was already on the move, wasting no time and knowing what to do. Sniff out the shards. The variant of Ursaring from the past moved across the icy land. And the speed it was moving at was rather impressive for such a large Pokemon. It was only the shards that Ursaluna had to focus on. Anything else was irrelevant.
Ursula already found some items with its nose, instantly competing to a halt. The Peat Pokemon would then start digging with those mighty claws, seeing if the shards were buried beneath the icy earth. Alas, the shards were not there. Instead, a Gold Nugget had been found.
"Mmm. Not what we're looking for." The ancestor of Ash shook her head. No shards just yet.
"But it's what I'm looking for~!" If Lena was going to take it, Jessie would gladly take it. Nuggets definitely sell for a lot and it was a bonus that this one was gold. Jessie was sure to make a huge profit with this.
Ursalun continued on its way, digging as much as it could to find any of those shards that represented the 18 Types. This would involve minutes of moving across the snowy land as the mist was getting stronger, making it hard to see. Not for Ursaluna, as it could move perfectly even with all this chilling mist.
More and more items were being dug up. Star Pieces, gemstones, different evolution stones for specific Pokemon and many more objects that have been lying here for either 4 years or during Equestria's long past. All of this was being collected by Team Rocket who had the most gleeful looks on their faces. For once, they weren't doing all the work when it came to obtaining something. Lena and Ursaluna were doing it for them.
Never before did they think that the ancestor to Ash Ketchum, the one who has defeated them on many occasions, would also be their lucky charm. Life was full of surprises. Even ones that come from the past. Lena's bag was used to store these collected items as they kept racking up. And unfortunately, so far, there weren't any signs of these shards. Ursaluna's search continued as Lena's Team went deeper into the misty icelands.
Time passed and unfortunately, Ash couldn't find Lena at all. He travelled across the Snow Field as fast as he could, but there was no luck. The other cold regions were his target but he found no one. The mist in front of him was rather aggressive, combined with the Moon that was starting to arise, made this rather difficult.
Knowing that it was hard to press on in this condition, Ash would return to his friends, seeing this as a failure. Ash flew back to see his friends still around the Delibird. Pikachu could be seen dancing with the Delbird along with Passion, Dragonite, Sylveon and Magearna.
"Nah. I couldn't find her. Boy, she must've really gone far." said Ash after returning. "But, I guess that's normal. Mom said she used to love exploring just like me!"
"You don't seem that beat up by it anymore." The Prince of Pegalysium noticed Ash's smile returning compared to how disappointed he was earlier.
"Nah. I was in too much of a hurry. On the bright side, I know where she comes to, so I can always check out that mansion. She's gonna show up there again for sure and I'll be there to meet up with her." Ash already knew that the mansion was where she was showing up constantly. So in reality, it wasn't a major loss for him. He was just so excited to meet her that everything else slipped his mind.
"If we get back now, the first day of the Royal Phantasy won't end just yet," Raleigh spoke. "We can make it in time with all of this speed, without a doubt.
"First day?" Ash paused.
"Meetings such as these don't just last for one day, Ash. They can go on for a little while since they involved the entire world." Raleigh's knowledge was showing up once more. "And since it involves world leaders, that only makes it longer."
"Aaah! But my battle with Melony!" Ash grabbed his hair, realizing that might slow him down. The Royal Phantasy might go on longer than the Pallet Town Yard Sale which was nearing its final day. It was at this moment that Ash realized just how much was on his plate. Really, it was a surprise that he managed to balance it perfectly but now, it looked like it was spiralling out of control.
"Eh, I'm not sure they care about that, Ketchum." However, Flurry Heart wrapped her hoof around Ash, telling him that he wouldn't have to worry about that. Since Ash wasn't an expert in meetings and Alo was speaking in his place, he was a free spirit. "You've got your advisor to handle everything."
"Oh, right." The King of the Sea chuckled. "Okay! I know what to do. I gotta prepare for my battle with Melony tomorrow. And then I'll meet up with my super-great grandma. That's the game plan!"
"Is it gonna work this time? This plan didn't exactly pan out." Skystar added.
"Well....Yeah." His response was followed by a pout. "I was kinda blindsided by my ancestor being mentioned. If I knew about this later, I would've shown up after the battle with Melony..."
"Since my sister and all the other leaders will be busy with the meeting...Do you think we could watch your battle, Ash?"
"Oh, yeah. You sure can." Ash loved the sound of that. He was always up for his friends being around. This was also beneficial to his friends since they would get to view a Pokemon Battle from a powerful Trainer. "But we're gonna be having our battle over at Circhester. Another cold place."
"Circhester? That's all the way at Galar." Raleigh bit his thumb. "I'll have to convince my sister to let me go there. The trip to Galar will take some time...If we were back at the Azoth Kingdom, it wouldn't take that long. Galar and Kalos aren't too far away from each other."
"My parents won't let me go too far for too long. It was way safer for them when the gateways were still around." Flurry Heart had her own problems as well. Plenty of convincing would have to be done for both Flurry Heart and Raleigh's family.
"Well, I don't need to worry about that!" Shooting Star laughed. "My parents let me go as far as I can! But never on land. This'll be the first."
"I just do it all the time and get an earful from my mom, so...it is what it is." In Skystar's case, she did it freely without thinking about anything else. Afterwards, Queen Novo barks at her. Shooting Star was in a similar boat but without the complaining.
The other two would have to really negotiate with their family if they wished to view Ash's Battle. This is something they didn't want to miss. Ash looked over at his Pokemon, knowing that this battle was on the horizon. Pikachu and the others were very much ready to take on yet another high-ranking Trainer in the Pokemon World Championships.
Lena's search continued. Ursaluna had dug up a plethora of items and yet none of them were the shards. But Team Rocket were satisfied with what they received. A real goldmine of items to sell and keep. Ursaluna stopped right in front of a massive snowy hill where all of the mist was at its current strongest. Ursaluna unfortunately couldn't climb it.
"Hmm...Scaling that will be difficult with all of us around." Lena observed the massive hill. "Braviary might freeze up there if I call him now."
"Let's call it a day, Lena. We've got an amazing haul!" Jessie suggested, showing off the goods. But neither of them were the shards so it didn't matter.
"Not yet. I'll have her carry all four of us up there one by one." The flute was about to be used once more.
"Who?" James asked, questioning Lena on who she was referring to. But that answer would be given out by the Celestica Flute once more. Yet again, the light returned to show off its wonders. Another Pokemon was about to be summoned. Ursaluna's body vanished, swapping out for someone taller. Team Rocket fell off once Ursaluna vanished as this Pokemon had a humanoid appearance.
Appearing here was none other than Hisuian Sneasler. So far, Lena Ketchum has summoned only Hisuian Pokemon and nothing else. No other variants or even the common regional Pokemon were showing up. Team Rocket were truly being hit with Pokemon from the Past. They had to wonder what other Pokemon Lena could summon at this moment.
"Sneasler can help us scale this hill. And once all of us are up there, I'll summon Ursaluna again to sniff out the area." Lena explained. "She has amazing climbing skills but she can't carry all of us."
"You look like you're the same height as her. Is this even safe?" James thought otherwise. Lena was rather tall and Sneasler looked like she was capable of carrying someone smaller than her. A basket could be seen on her back, perfectly made for that specific individual.
"Positive! I used to climb mountains and hills with Sneasler back at Hisui. The way we do it requires plenty of coordination. I'm not big enough to fit in this basket. But you can fit in, Meowth. If you enter it, that'll be two of us up there already."
"Don't mind if I do!" Meowth wouldn't mind the offer. He leapt off the ground, perfectly landing in Sneasler's basket.
"And if we fail here, then the Changeling Lands will be our next destination. Finding those shards will take time, but I found them before back in Hisui. They always show up where they feel like they should be. Know what I mean?"
"What's so special about these shards anyway? I get the feeling they're not just pretty items." James asked. "You sound like you're in a hurry to find those shards."
"I am. That's because I have to find them before he does. You see...I showed up to this time by pursuing the one who stole the shards in the first place." Lena would explain the reason for pursuing these shards and why she was in such a hurry. Someone else was involved in this pursuit. "I chased him while the Space-Time Distortions were continuing to get active and seemingly out of control. The two of us ended up entering a Space-Time Distortion that was wilder than the others and we ended up here."
"Those shards have some crazy power in them?" Meowth asked, peeking his head out of the basket.
"Not scattered. But together, they can unlock something greater. That was why he was so dedicated to grabbing those shards. There is a reason they appear in different colours and the sooner I find them, the sooner I can prevent him from unlocking the true power they possess. Because if he succeeds, then he could break all of Time and Space."
"All of it?!" Jessie made a prolonged gasp. Lena's mission was way more serious than she expected. She believed that Lena was just a fellow Gem Chaser such as herself. That was not the case. Lena was doing this for the safety of the Time and Space. Rarely do these two forces ever come up and are threatened. But when it does, even Team Rocket knows it is not a joke. They have seen the effects for themself.
Lena looked up in the sky, knowing for a fact that this pursuer was also in the present. But where he was, that was a mystery she hadn't found out yet. Just like how she hasn't found the shards yet. These shards if ever put together, could unlock something truly magnificent, giving Team Rocket a greater incentive to help Lena Ketchum. Just so they can obtain that power for themselves.
The Royal Phantasy's first day had come to a close with each of the world leaders coming to an agreement on a few things. But some progress would still have to be made for this new world. With the first meeting coming to an end, the leaders would rest until tomorrow.
Thankfully, Celestia prepared for that as well. Instead of having them all leave and come back, guest rooms were made. Their respective form of transportation was kept out. As for Ash, his group had just returned after failing to meet with Lena Ketchum. Perhaps another time.
But that would have to wait since the battle with Melony was tomorrow. Ash was at the Canterlot Gardens, practising with his Pokemon. Sparks from Pikachu were flying through the air which let out minimal noise. There were those trying to sleep after all.
"Look at this. I expected you to be elsewhere." Returning from the Royal Phantasy were Kimia, Novo, Shining Armor, Cadence and Alo, Kimia specifically was shocked to see her little brother Raleigh still here, expecting him to be elsewhere at this time. But Queen Novo already had that gut feeling that her daughter already departed and just made it back.
"Mhm! Nothing went wrong!" Raleigh grinned. In reality, he was over at Vanhoover and a cold region, far from Canterlot.
"Gardevoir..." Kimia's Gardevoir knew that was all a bunch of hogwash. The departure part, that is. The other one was very much true. She tried stopping them but was very much powerless to do so.
"So, what happened in there? What did you all decide on?" asked Raleigh.
"Well, I assume Princess Luna has already told you about one of these decisions. The agreement to prepare everywhere else for any dimensional threats. Everything else involves maintaining world peace in this new world. Turns out, plenty of areas are in a bit of turmoil because of how much larger this world has become."
"For starters, each of us can all make deals across the world now. You'll be seeing a lot of Pokemon-related things appearing from now on." Novo added. "A huge influx of Poke Balls are coming for us."
"Yes!" Skystar pumped her hooves, excited to hear that. Mount Aris plus Seaquestria was about to truly be a part of the Pokemon World
"That isn't all. We've also decided on what level each threat should be on. We all can't expect to tackle certain threats that come up. Some of them need specific attention." Cadence continued, taking a turn to describe things. "From now on, if something threatens our world, each kingdom can respond to it. I mean, we all don't have to just suddenly unleash someone like Reshiram on a bank robber or something."
"Really? How can you tell how bad someone's gonna be?" The older Flurry Heart asked. "I mean, from what I've seen, they're all pretty dangerous."
"Yes, yes, yes. They all can be dangerous. But sometimes, we might be in over our head and could suffer a catastrophic loss. That's why we decided on this." Kimia crossed her arms, nudging her head in Cadence's direction. In response, Cadence would use her magic to create a magical projection. This projection was essentially a sheet of these threats. On it, Raleigh and the others noticed 7 different threat levels. Walking up to the projection were Kimia, Novo and Alo, ready to describe it all.
"As you can see, the absolute lowest one here is a City Level Threat." Alo aimed his staff at the bottom of the magical sheet. "Those who possess capabilities to do significant damage to or destroy a city. Or even overtake it."
"Above that our Regional threats. Any region in the world could be conquered or destroyed by these threats. Any country in the world will be within their sights." Next would be Novo.
"And going beyond that are threats that target the entire planet. Anyone on the level of the former Lich Queen fits into this category." Kimia added. "At that point, everyone in the world will have to come together. And even though the Former Lich Queen has been defeated, forces such as Team Plasma fit into this. Before, they used to only threaten a region. But they have turned all their attention to the world."
"So then...what are the other three?" Raleigh asked.
"The other three...Princess Celestia thought bigger than all of us. She's seen for herself how vast the powers in the world can be. The entire planet is not the limit. Above that are Astronomical Threats. Forces that are able to threaten our entire solar system up. All the other planets out there and the stars we see up in the sky could be their targets."
"Wait, we're going that far?! We don't have to, right? I mean, the world is totally fine." Flurry Heart nervously laughed, hoping the rest were just subcategories. Unfortunately, they were not and the Pokemon she used to have, Giratina, was proof of that.
"I'm afraid so. We've already seen threats like that. When Galaxy Master was temporarily taken over by the Rift, we saw how powerful the threats would become later on." Shining Armor would also speak. "Galactic Threats. Anyone that has the capability to destroy or control the best part of the galaxy."
"Celestia decided on this before any of us did," Cadence said. "She knows a lot about what's out there and how serious things can get."
"And finally, above that is the last level." Alo raised his staff to the very top. "The Universal Threat. This is tailored for the Rift. It is the reason we are all here today. But, Princess Celestia stated that there are other forces just as powerful as the Rift that could prove to be troublesome. Such as Cosmos or any other Draconequus.
"They can conquer the universe, or maybe even destroy it." Novo menacingly said, intimidating the younger monarchies. "And the Rift is potentially above that level considering what it's done before appearing in our respective worlds. The Rift fits every possible category. Especially the last one."
"Forces such as Empress Twilight, Ghetsis again or even Daybreaker could threaten more than one universe. They won't stop at a single universe; they'll cross time and space to either take control over everything else. As always, the Rift is up there but I'm not sure it cares about control." Kimia added. "And that's it. Those are all 7 levels."
"Good to know." Skystar gulped. It was rather terrifying knowing what was out there.
"And that is why we all can't hope to throw ourselves at these forces without knowing what we're dealing with." Kimina finished as Cadence would end the magical projection. "If one comes up, the necessary amount of force will be sent to deal with it."
"Amazing!" Raleigh had an opposite reaction to Skystar and Flurry Heart. "What a great system! I wish I was there! Have you told Ash about this though? He's the King of the Sea after all."
"Oh, no we decided not to." Shining Armor said with a smile. Everyone else had visible smiles on their faces.
"Huh? Why not? Shouldn't he get to know?" Flurry Heart asked.
"Ash will tackle the threat either way no matter the level. It really doesn't matter." Cadence explained. A reasonable response. The Threat Levels did not matter to Ash at all. He loves this world way too much to let it see any harm."
"Well, anyway! There is something I wish to request, sister!" Raleigh could finally get to the other best part. "Ash is about to have a Pokemon World Championships Battle tomorrow and I wish to see it. Do you think you could allow me to head to Circhester to watch this battle?"
"Circhester?!" The older sister pulled back. "That's all the way in Galar."
"If we were back in Kalos, it wouldn't be that far." Raleigh continued, bringing up the distance.
"Yeah! I mean, we're not in the meeting so we're free to do whatever we want, right?" Flurry Heart also tried convincing them. "You'll be inside while we head off and do our own thing. And then, we'll be back before it even ends."
"You already went," Novo uttered, already aware of their previous departure. "There was no way Skystar stayed still this entire time, I can guarantee that."
"You're right..." The princess of Seaquestria giggled nervously.
"And it'll be too far away. You won't get back in time since Galar is too far away from here." Kimia would bring up another point. The distance between Equestria and Galar was massive.
"If I may." Alo stepped forward, ready to speak his word on this. "They will not have to travel a great distance. They can use the Sea Temple's Lightspeed Function to get there."
"Oh, yeah! Yeah! That works for us!" Flurry Heart and Skystar collectively nodded, approving of that.
"However. this time, It will be a one-time use, I'm afraid. That function was made without the power of the Sea Temple's crystals after all." Alo warned. "We have already used the function quite a few times recently. It wasn't too long ago that we used the function to appear at Alola so it needs time to recharge."
"Why didn't you use it with the crystals? They have plenty of power in them." Shining Armor asked.
"We decided it was better to burn out our physical resources rather than the Sea Temple's resources. We also enjoy just moving along the seas. The Royal Advisor to the King of the Sea explained. "The crystals will actually burn out plenty of power if lightspeed is used."
"Well, if it can move that fast, then so be it." Kimia saw the positive at last. "You can head there first thing in the morning. And since it's a Pokemon Battle and nothing more, you can head back sooner than possible. Use the gateway over at Kanto to return here."
"You got it!" Raleigh saluted. "It won't be an issue for us, sister!" The young prince put on a wide grin. He would get to see Ash's battle after all.
And speaking of Ash, his training was beginning to intensify during the night. He wasn't going to get any sleep just yet. He was already expecting Melony to be a powerful opponent. Ash never takes any of his opponents lightly, after all. He knows for a fact that they can unleash something truly powerful when they are at their best, which is why he has to be at his best as well.
Galar. Circhester. Nightfall.
And speaking of Circhester, Melony was already gearing up for tomorrow's battle. But there was no training involved. After returning to Circhester after meeting with her Pen Pal and now Rival Delia Ketchum, she stood at the stadium where the battle was about to take place.
And even though it as late at night, some noise could be heard in here. Mainly because of her son Gordie's fans. At this moment, Gordie and his fans had gathered here at the Circhester Stadium which was also a Gym. Here, a crowd would be here to watch this battle to see who would rise up the ranks, getting closer to the World's Strongest Trainer Leon.
"Hmm...How am I going to do this?" Melony wondered, placing her finger on her chin. "If he uses that adorable Dragonite, It'll be easy for me to win that part but she has such an adorable and innocent personality."
"You're lucky to face him, Mom. I would, but I can't with my rank. If I could, the publicity would be great and I'd gain Equestria's attention." said Gordie while signing autographs. "But you just had to knock my rank down. Beaten by own mom. Eh, it's not that bad of a defeat, honestly."
"Hmph! I can be just as popular as you, my little Gordie~" Melony said with a melodic tone.
"Gh!" Gordie flinched. That wasn't what he wanted to hear. At least, not in front of a crowd. "Not in front of my fans, Mom..."
"It's fine sweetie. As your very first fan, I think it's completely alright!" Melony continued to embarrass her son. "Oh, that reminds me. I told Delia that I was your first fan and she said the same thing about her son. Isn't it sweet how parents are always the first supports?
"Oooh..." Gordie groaned as his fans would clamour and squeak about that. Now everyone knew that Melony was his first-ever fan and found that very sweet. "I'm hoping Ash wipes the floor with you tomorrow."
"That won't be happening." Melony rejected that notion. "Victory will be mine tomorrow. And I need all the sleep I can get. See you all in the morning~!" Melony took off. And much like how she didn't go easy on ever her own son, her flesh and blood, Ash wasn't going to receive that same treatment at all. That much was to be expected.
But Melony was also expecting quite the battle tomorrow. She's heard of Ash thanks to Delia so she knew that he was a powerful trainer indeed. One who would really give her a challenge. 5 of Ash's Pokemon had the potential to defeat her team since she was an Ice-Type specialist. But there was a fact that one of them was very much vulnerable. Dragonite.
Any trainer would opt not to use someone like Dragonite against an Ice-Type Trainer. But for Ash, he was always looking for a challenge. And what better challenge was there than taking on the stronger type? Melony was already made aware of this by Delia, so she was well prepared for Dragonite to appear.
Equestria. High in the skies.
Meanwhile, above the skies of Equestria, Lena Kethcum and Team Rocket were on the move once more as Hisuian Braviary had been sent out a second time. Still no shards have been found. Neither of the cold regions possessed them. After failing to find these mystical shards, Lena's group were heading to the next destination and that would be the Changeling Hive, located at the Faye Mountains.
"Don't worry. I know my way to the Changeling Lands." Lena eyed down the horizon. "We'll be there soon. But we should probably get some rest soon. Too late to head back to the mansion now."
"Hey, Lena. What happens if all those shards come together? I mean, they're all split up, right?" Jessie asked, curious about what else the shards to offer.
"If they come together? Well, if united, they will create plates. And those plates are what possess the power to manipulate Time and Space if all of them are used. If I can find all of them, I can use them to fix the distortions in Space-Time back in the past. And prevent them from ever being used again.
"Plates? Doesn't that sound familiar?" James uttered, trying to remember what importance plates had. He wasn't thinking about the ones used to hold food. A different kind of plate was coming to mind. "Doesn't Arceus have something like that?"
"Oh, yes. You already know about Arceus' plates, I see." An impressed Lena said. "That only adds to how powerful they are and why I need to get them as soon as possible."
Hearing that made Team Rocket look at each other. This now involved Arceus. The Creator Deity. Devious and opportunistic smiles were shown on their faces. And without them saying a word, their eye contact allowed them to communicate. They knew what to do. They were truly going to stick around Lena for the long haul, just to get all of these valuable things.
And it looked like the power to control Time and Space itself as about to be theirs as well. Especially for Giovanni. They did it all to the boss. Meowth was already envisioning what Giovanni would do with such power and he couldn't wait. If they succeed at this, this would be their most successful achievement ever.
Unbeknownst to them, they were being followed. Ever so slowly, someone was trailing behind them, mainly focusing on Lena Ketchum now that her presence was aware. Ash's group wasn't the only one that left the Royal Phantasy to find Lena. Right behind Lena's group, was none other than Diadora. She moved through the mist, being on the ground and still keeping up.
With no Pokemon of her own, it was impressive that she was making it this far. After speaking about Ash's ancestors in a bad light, she was not going to miss out on this opportunity to encounter one of them. A lot was about to be said from Diadora that she wasn't going to hold back on. Instead of Ash, it was Diadora who found Lena.
Unova. Ghetsis' Kingdom. Day.
A kingdom hidden from the others, nestled within a place that once belonged to Ghetsis' ancestors who all shared crimson eyes and green hair. Ghetsis fittingly made this the place where his new kingdom would be after making a deal with the Rift. And what a deal it was.
The Kingdom had already flourished under Ghetsis' control The residents of this kingdom were the people of the past who were frozen by Froslass, getting the chance to live once more. The buildings were already developing swiftly, moving from their olden-times style to a more modern look.
And while this kingdom was concealed, that didn't stop anyone from the inside to be aware of what was happening outside. Newspapers were not an exception. Flying through the air with a newspaper in its mouth was a Mandibuzz who was a member of this hidden kingdom.
The Mandibuzz dropped the newspaper from above for others to read. But right now, someone was already reading the news. It was none other than the leader of Team Plasma and the King of this new kingdom. Ghetsis. Sitting pretty in his kingdom without anyone to bother him, he was catching up with the events of the world.
"The Royal Phantasy was a success for the first day, was it?" And of course, this involved the Royal Phantasy. Ghetsis read about as the first batch of news involving the Royal Phantasy had been published. Ghetsis definitely wasn't involved for obvious reasons and it was hard to reach him now.
Reading this, Ghetsis saw all the agreements made by the different monarchies to help maintain the new world that had been built thanks to Jirachi's power. All of this intrigued Ghetsis. A changing world meant that new opportunities were rising.
Ghetsis no longer had to worry about focusing on two worlds to conquer. Now, it was all in one place. But the time was not yet ripe. World Domination was still something he was brewing. Something rather titanic was being formed by Ghetsis and he was going to make sure that his next plan would be his greatest. Unrivalled, unmatched and unparalleled. However, he would have to wait.
A trial to crown the World's Strongest Trainer. Standing at the very top of them all is currently Champion Leon and the one hoping to battle Leon one day is Ash, participating in this Championship and taking on many fierce opponents. Old and new. Another match has been decided that will once again raise his ranking if he claims victory.
Ash had arrived at Circhester. His battle with Melony was today, courtesy of the Pokemon World Championships. Arriving here, he was joined by a group consisting of Princess Skystar, Prince Raleigh, his mother Delia, the older Flurry Heart from another world and Prince Shooting Star. As well as guards of each respective kingdom. This time, they were going to make sure that they wouldn't take their eyes off them.
"Well, we shall wait for your return, your majesty. You will get to Canterlot sooner than us by using the gateway." They have the Sea Temple to thank for this quick trip. "We wish you all our luck in your battle."
"Thanks, you guys," said Ash with a thumbs-up. "I'll do my best!"
"Pikachu!" With that, the People of the Water would chart a course back to Equestria, seeing Ash off. However, not all of them left. Running up to Ash were some Samiyans. Among them were Enola, her older brother Adriel and others who wished to view this battle.
"Let us stay behind your majesty! We want to watch this battle!" Enola exclaimed. There was no chance she would miss the chance to see the King of the Sea battle. The answer was obvious. Ash wouldn't mind them joining. He always felt great whenever his friends were there to cheer him on.
"Hmm...I have a good feeling about today," said Delia with a pleased look on her face. "I can't wait to see Melony lose. As my Pen Pal, of course." Naturally, she was looking forward to seeing Melony lose. The two were now rivals and after what was said 2 days ago, she had to show Melony what her son was made of.
"Ooh...This is yet another cold region we've visited." Raleigh said, holding himself. "We should've stopped for some warm clothes."
"I'm used to this." Flurry Heart appeared completely fine. Living in the Crystal Empire made her greatly resistant to the cold. The People of the Water didn't seem too bothered either but they could definitely feel something.
"I don't know about me..." Skystar and Shooting Star, not so much. Their teeth were aggressively chattering. Even the guards were feeling the chill. If only they knew about Circhester's environment prior to showing up here. Raleigh certainly was, but just didn't come prepared.
"If you wanna keep warm, try out that shop!" Even though he was here to battle, Ash knew how to just spend time with his friends.
After yesterday when he tried reaching Lena Ketchum, he didn't spend more time with the young monarchs and take everything around him in. And up ahead was the Circhester Boutique. Galar is known for having a boutique in every town as well as a hair salon. It was among one of the most fashionable regions in the world.
And it did not disappoint. After entering the boutique, Raleigh and the others found themselves wearing some truly comfortable and stylish clothes. Raleigh wore a knit sweater that had an Applin Red colour to it. For Skystar and Shooting Star, scarves were given to them. Nothing could really fit their body types here, unfortunately. At least they were warm enough.
The People of the Water had their traditional clothes overlayed by these outfits. Enola and her brother wore matching sweaters as this was their first taste of modern-day clothing. For the longest, they've been wearing clothes that were made centuries ago.
Now that they were warm, they could stay focused on the battle. But before they could even head to the stomach, the other places of interest were catching their eyes. A restaurant that Melony mentioned once. Bob's Your Uncle was the name and it looked rather inviting. Some were already feeling the urge to snack on something this morning and that looked perfect. They knew where they were going next.
"Ah! The Hotel Ionia!" Raleigh pointed at the Hotel that his group passed by. This large hotel was specifically made just to keep others warm in such a cold city. That was another place of interest they could try. But they wouldn't tackle the hotel.
"What's a Hotel?" Enola asked, looking up at Delia. The Samiyans don't usually interact with cities and towns. Canterlot has been their first major city and now this was their second.
"One of the most relaxing things in the world, dear," Delia said to Enola. "You should try it."
"But we are here to see his majesty claim victory," Adriel replied, propping up Ash once more since he was a major fan. "I'm not sure we have time to relax."
"We totally do," Enola uttered. "We came here at an early time, big brother. I think Mrs. Melony is still getting ready, honestly. And we have plenty of currency for it."
"We'll do everything we can here at Circhester," Ash replied before rubbing his hands and eyeing down the restaurant with the chef as the mascot. "Right now, I need a bite."
Bob's Your Uncle.
Bob's Your Uncle. A restaurant located southwest of Circhester Stadium and a great place to get a Morning, Afternoon and Evening meal. For Ash's group, Upon entering, they could already smell the wonderful food. There was a delicious and enticing scent that touched their noses. Ash absolutely loved it.
The food of the world was also great to enjoy. Throughout his many journeys, he's eaten food from many regions and he wasn't going to slow down at all. Flurry Heart, Skystar, Raleigh and Shooting Star were soon captivated by this scent too. Even though they were royalty, the food here had a unique feeling that they just couldn't find in their lavish lifestyles.
"Oooh, what's that?" Flurry Heart asked among the crowd of people eating their breakfast on this cold yet lively morning.
"Mmm...I don't know, but it smells good." For Skystar, it would be a whole new experience truly. Living underwater doesn't provide that many food options. But that was about to change.
"Oh? Here so soon? This early?" Lo and behold, in this restaurant as well was Melony. Ash's Challenger. She was also here for a morning meal.
"Melony? You're here too? I thought you'd be waiting at the stadium." said Ash.
"Not until I have my breakfast. Delia." Melony stood up, meeting with her fellow mother. "Glad you could show up after all even with that meeting of yours."
"Oh, I'm just mingling during the meeting." Delia chuckled before putting on a straight yet serious face. "Our challenge from 2 days ago isn't over yet, Melony. I'd love to finish it."
"As do I. But I have a battle to prepare for. Before that, I'll finish up here and collect my thoughts at the Hero's Bath. Come and try some of it out." Melony would soon invite them all to try the delectable food. "Sometimes, I help out in this restaurant by making food for others."
While Melony's food wasn't served, some great options were still available to help kickstart someone in the morning. Ash immediately sat down the second some food was served in front of him. Fresh hot pie to feast on. There was enough for everybody here, fortunately.
The young monarchs would feast their eyes on this morning's feast. Traditional Galarian Breakfast right in front of their eyes. Waffles, eggs, sandwiches and more. Simple but effective. Before the battle, Ash was going to make sure he was fully energized.
Wasting no time, he snacked on the food in front of him, much like how he devoured the food at the Royal Phantasy. Melony would join him, still needing that fulfilment. Everyone else would seat themselves, trying out the Galarian Delicacies that its most famous restaurant chain was known for.
And at this moment, Delia and Melony would eye each other down. Their competition would continue in the form of this. The two of them would try and see who could finish their food the fastest. They would take it easy in the beginning, moving at a normal pace. But the moment one of them started ramping it up, the other would do the same. At this point, they were starting to catch up with Ash's eating speed.
Raleigh watched as Ash, Delia and Melony were tearing through the food. Whether it was a restaurant or a royal meeting, there was no sign of slowing down. However, it didn't take long for Delia and Melony to realize that they weren't at the right age to consume food so fast. Ash could only do it because of his big appetite and healthy body that he's obtained through the years of journeying the world. Thus, they put a stop to it and just ate their food naturally.
"Mmm...Thanks for the meal." Ash patted his stomach after finishing everything. Everyone else had their fill, even though they weren't going to battle. But they were satisfied with what they were offered either way. "Okay. I think that'll do."
"Great. Now to relieve ourselves at the Hero's Bath." Melony said, stretching her arms.
"What's the Hero's Bath?" Ash asked.
"A place where you can clear your head of anything. Before I battle, I like to clear my head. I always make sure my opponents get the same treatment." Melony explained. "it's also where the two heroes who saved Galar from the Darkest Day bathed to heal and rest. So it already has some great fortune with it~"
The Hero's Bath.
The soothing bath of the Hero's Bath was soon used. The best way to use the bath was by placing your legs into the hot yet comfortable water, which is exactly what Ash, Delia, Melony and Raleigh were doing. The looks on their faces spoke volumes as to how effective this was.
Since Circhester was so cold and there was snow falling constantly, the Hero's Bath was yet another way to find some heat. Probably the most effective way to do so as there was a Coalossal present here to keep that heat ever-present. Wanting his Pokemon to receive an equal amount of warmth, Ash sent each of them out.
"You were right, Melony. This really clears the head." Delia said with a relaxed face. "Even though this won't clear what's going to happen today."
"Mmm, we'll see," Melony replied before glancing over at Ash's Pokemon.
"Draaa!" Dragonite could be seen swimming in the Hero's Bath with Skystar. Skystar was in her element here, moving across the bath.
"I'm so comfortable!" She exclaimed, expressing how much she enjoyed this. Shooting Star would move his hoof across the water, feeling its energy. After feeling it, he pulled his hoof back with his coat standing up.
"What are you so afraid of?" Flurry Heart chuckled as this didn't bother her at all. She would jump into the bath without hesitation, making quite a splash. Lucario swayed his body to the side, avoiding the incoming water.
"S-Shouldn't you take off your regalia and scarf first, princess?!" Flash Sentry, one of the guards who came along, spoke out. It was too late. Flurry Heart had gone in with everything still on.
"Oh." The young alicorn from another universe uttered before looking at her wet scarf. But after a few seconds, she dismissed it as the water was far too captivating to care about it.
"I'm rather excited to take you all on," Melony said to Ash's Pokemon as Dragonite swam up to Melony. "Especially you, Dragonite~"
"Dra?"
"I do love battling a Dragon-Type. As an Ice-Type specialist, it's always fun." Melony's eyes closed while keeping that sweet smile. There was a strong menacing air forming after she said that.
"That sounded a little bit threatening..." Raleigh shuddered.
"Well, it's only natural. Dragons are cold-blooded. Most powerful trainers love to use Dragon-Types to get as far as possible. They believe that Dragon-Types are the key to victory and I just end up defeating them. It's a shame really, to disappoint them like that. They mostly use Dragon-Types so they don't really have a choice but to battle with me Dragons and only have one other type as backup. But I do enjoy it, honestly."
"Well, Dragonite's not gonna go down that easily in this battle." Ash thought otherwise. He was fully confident in Dragonite's skills for this battle. "All of my Pokemon are gonna help me to the top. It's not just one type.
"Oh, so even though you have a Dragon, you believe all types can succeed. That is an interesting claim, considering a majority of the members in the Masters 8 have Dragons. Dragon-Type Pokemon are just full of power that other Pokemon can't achieve and as an Ice-Type specialist, it's satisfying to test that power and defeat it." Melony gets her own enjoyment our of a Pokemon Battle. And it seemed to be against Dragon-Types. "Oh, but she's so cute so a part of me will feel bad!"
"Draco?" As for Dracovish, that was a different story. Dracovish was still rather new to everyone else since no one has seen a Pokemon like him before.
"Let's show her what we're made of, Dragonite." Ash raised his fist as Dragonite would hit it back. The two of them weren't about to let Melony win so easily. Dragonite would be representing the Dragons that have fallen to Melony as she would show her what she could do even against overwhelming odds
"Hold on!" Raleigh bellowed. "You're sending Dragonite into battle?! But she's weak to Ice-Types. Wouldn't it be better to stick to your Fighting-Types instead? Or even Pikachu." He didn't quite see the logic.
"It's fine, Raleigh." Flurry Heart said while swimming by. "Ash thrives on stuff like this."
"He does?" Raleigh looked over at the young alicorn who already knew what to expect with Ash.
"Trust in my son, dear." Delia patted Raleigh's head, also knowing Ash's battling style very well. Any other Trainer would choose a different Pokemon, thinking twice about bringing a Dragon-Type to an Ice-Type battle. But not Ash. He loves the challenge and now that Dragonite had been brought into the conversation, how could he not?
Ash and Melony looked at each other, knowing what was coming next. Their battle was about to be underway at last now that they've spent time here at the Hero's Bath.
Circhester Stadium.
The Circhester Stadium.
Already, plenty of people have gathered to watch today's battle. Lined up here were Ash's friends, ranging from princes, princesses and even royal guards.
"Welcome to the Pokemon World Championships Ultra Class! Where Trainers battle to be number one in the world!" The announcer was already getting started, speaking to the crowd. "Now the matchup for today's competition...Currently ranked 35, it's own Circhester's Gym Leader, Melony. As always, she comes equipped ith her Dynamax Band."
Waling out into the arena was Melony. Much like all other Galar Trainers that Ash has fought, Melony also came strapped with a Dynamax Band. Dynamaxing was to be expected in this battle, it was hard to tell who it was going to be today. Melony's Pokemon were unknown by Ash. All he knew was to expect Ice-Types.
Here to watch his mother battle was none other than Gordie. He's been waiting for this battle and would love to see how Ash performs against his mother, who knocked him down a rank and was said to be quite the fierce battler.
"And currently ranked 36 in the World after successfully defeating Gym Leader Bea, the talk of the Tournament. From the Kanto Region's Pallet Town. It's Ash!" Ash was then introduced, making his way to the arena.
"You've got this, Ash!" Raleigh stood up, shouting as loud as he could to prop up Ash.
"If only Twilight and the others were to here to cheer him on like they usually do." Flurry Heart uttered, seeing this as a missed opportunity for Twilight and the others to show up.
"Don't worry. They'll get quite the view with this battle." Holding out her phone was Delia. She was going to make sure this battle was recorded. Not just because of her son battling but also because her rival was taking him on. This would decide things after what was said back at the Yard Sale.
"For this battle, only four Pokemon will be used." Said by the referee, for today's battle, both sides were limited to four Pokemon only. "Will both challengers please bring your first Pokemon?"
"Alright! Gengar, I choose you!" Ash's first Pokemon turned out to be Gengar.
"Gengar!"
"Appear! Darmanitan!" As for Melony, she would send out Darmanitan. But it wasn't a Unovan Darmanitan. Instead, it was a Galarian Darmanitan.
"Darmanitan!"
"Ooh? What's up with that Darmanitan?" Already, Ash was prepared to identify this Darmanitan who had a colder appearance compared to its Unovan variant.
"Darmanitan. The Zen Charm Pokemon. On days when blizzards blow through, it comes down to where people live. It stashes food in the snowball on its head, taking it home for later. Though it has a gentle disposition, it’s also very strong. It will quickly freeze the snowball on its head before going for a headbutt."
"Alright...Then it's probably got a Zen Mode as always. Got it." Ash grinned.
"Battle Start!" The Rotom Drone kicked things off at last
"Gengar, use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Gen...Gar!" Starting off with a flashy move, Gengar would illuminate his entire body in a field of rainbow-coloured energy, which expanded outward.
"Darmanitan, dear! Use Stone Edge!"
"Dar! Dar! Darmanitan!" After beating its chest, the Zen Charm Pokemon would slam its fists into the floor, summoning great and powerful crystals that would meet with the Dazzling Gleam. The crystals were used as a way to block Dazzling Gleam from getting closer, not intercepting it. Both attacks cancelled each other out with Dazzling Gleam failing to get close.
"Now, use Flare Blitz!"
"Manitan!" Even though it was an Ice-Type, the Fire Part within Darmanitan never left. With smoke filling the area, the Galarian Variant enveloped its whole body in a fierce burst of flames before taking off with it. Darmanitan moved through the smoke, burning some of it away.
"Look out, Gengar! Phase through!"
"Gen?!" Gengar gasped after seeing Darmanitan accelerate towards him. He tried turning intangible, only to be too late. Darmanitan crashed right into Gengar, letting out a blazing explosion right afterwards. Gengar was sent flying, taking the first batch of damage in this battle. But as a drawback, Darmanitan received recoil damage. The Shadow Pokemon took such a hit that his round body started bouncing on the floor."Gaar!"
"What a hit! Gengar's bouncing away!"
"Gen...!" Gengar would recover, sliding on the floor.
"Gengar doesn't have many options for Ice-Types. But if I play my cards right, I can bring out that other form of Darmanitan." Ash was already thinking about Zen Mode Darmanitan. And he knew one thing was for sure was that this mode can be forced out depending on how much damage Darmanitan takes.
"Hm? Is that so?" Meloy giggled. I doubt you can get my darling Darmanitan to that level. Use Icicle Crash!"
"Darman!" Galarian Darmanitan smashed its fists together, generating a chilling aura. From above, it formed multiple sharp icicles, turning the area above into an icy cave.
"Gen?!" Gengar and everyone else looked up. TO their disbelief, there was not a single gap. All the icicles were close to each other, making sure that it would be impossible to dodge them. There was a method of dodging something like this, but unfortunately, neither of Ash's Pokemon had access to that method. At least, not from the looks of it.
"Look at all those shards!" Shooting Star's jaw dropped. "Are they covering every part of the top?!"
"Already, Icicle Crash has covered a majority of the roof above us all!" The announcer bellowed. "This is how she's taken out most of her opponents!"
"She's used this a lot, huh?" Ash looked up, narrowing his eyes.
"Any Dragon that takes flight comes crashing down with this. But I'll show it off to you for the first time against, Gengar! Bring it all down!"
"Man!" All the icicles were brought down by Darmanitan's control. All those shards were raining down with sharp tips while also travelling at impressive speeds.
"Spin with Dazzling Gleam!"
"Gen...Gar!" By using Dazzling Gleam, Gengar lit his body up. But this time, the Countershield Strategy would be used. All those rainbow rays would fly out, moving in a spiralling motion. This was Ash's response to such a plentiful attack. Hit it with his own plentiful attack.
Everyone watched something akin to that of a Pokemon Contest. Gengar became a Rainbow Tornado, destroying the icicles that rained down and causing them to become smaller bits of ice. At the same time, the arena was being illuminated with beautiful sparkles from the ice and rainbows.
"Gengar's formed himself into a Tornado of Rainbows, knocking away each icicle!"
"Impressive! Spinning with a Pokemon move which such effectiveness?" Meloy's eyes widened, witnessing the Countershield for the first time.
"It's the Countershield. Pretty neat, huh?" Ash chuckled. "And I call this one the Rainbow Tornado! I was thinking of going through the ground but this works too! Because then, I can hit you back! "
There was more to the Countershield than just blocking attacks. It was also made for Countering, as the name suggests. And the way it did so was by sending one of its rays towards Darmanitan. The Zen Charm Pokemon gasped, jumping over the first ray that came its way. However, it would have to watch out for way more as these rays were rather frantic.
"Advance, Gengar! Charge in as a tornado!"
"Gaaaar!" Instead of staying in one spot, Gengar would move around while using the Rainbow Tornado. He was still managing to destroy the icicles above him thanks to this shield while also sending more of the rays towards Darmanitan.
The Ice-Type tried dodging as many of the rays as it could, only for some of them to land. The rays were inconsistent in their speed and position, making it difficult for Darmanitan to evade. Thus, it was being slapped around by all these rays while Gengar got closer. All the icicles above were starting to decrease in quantity as well.
"Dar!" After Gengar got close enough, Darmanitan was pulled in, becoming one with the Rainbow Tornado. Melony gasped as Darmanitan was lifted off the floor. Now, it was starting to receive repeated blows from the rainbows. Not only that, but some of the ice that the tornado gathered would strike Darmanitan, turning this into a Rainbow Blizzard.
"Nice! With that, Darmanitan will take plenty of damage until it faints!" Flurry Heart stood up. "Way to go, Ash!"
"My, that is a very effective tactic you have there, Ash. Using an Ice Pokemon's natural elemental disaster against it. But, I hate to say that it won't be enough. Darmanitan! Earthquake!"
"Dar..Man...Itan!" However, despite being in the Rainbow Tornado, Darmanitan had a way out. It may be turbulent but it could still use its limbs. Unable to reach Gengar, Darmanitan would instead clap its hands together, using Earthquake differently. From its hands, a grandiose shockwave had been unleashed. The resounding power of the earth boomed from its body, responding to the Rainbow Tornado.
"Gen?!" Gengar was hit by this tornado, taking super-effective damage in the process. He lost his concentration as the Earthquake completely destroyed the Rainbow Tornado's movement. Gengar would be seen flying away once the tornado fizzled out. Darmanitan was also freed, saving itself from all that continuous damage.
"Darmanitan's powerful clap breaks up the Rainbow Tornado and greatly damages Gengar!"
"Man...Using Earthquake like that?" Ash held onto his hat. "I've only seen that with Superpower but I guess that works too."
"Hm-hm-hm." Melony giggled before winking. "I have my ways around my opponent, Ash, dear."
"Come on, Ash! Use that tornado again and send Darmanitan flying!" Skystar bellowed.
"Return, Darmanitan." However, Melony saw this as a good time to return Darmanitan. Any more and Ash might just force out its Zen Mode. "Delia was right. You are full of surprises. I'd love to see what else you can show."
"I've got a lot in store. The Countershield's just the beginning!"
"Gengar!"
"Well, it sounds like you know how to show me a good time. But can you continue after I send out my next Pokemon? My lovely Frosmoth!" By throwing the Poke Ball into the air, out came the next Pokemon. And one that Ash hasn't seen before.
"Frosmoth!"
"Woah..." Once more, the Pokedex had to be used. Looking at it reminded him greatly of Volcarona but of a different type.
"Frosmoth. The Frost Moth Pokemon. Icy scales fall from its wings like snow as it flies over fields and mountains. The temperature of its wings is less than −290 degrees Fahrenheit. It shows no mercy to any who desecrate fields and mountains. It will fly around on its icy wings, causing a blizzard to chase offenders away."
"Alright. Head in, Gengar! Shadow Ball, up close!"
"Gen!" Gengar would go for an up-close Shadow Ball. By generating a blob of shadows in his hands, the Shadow Pokemon zipped in.
"Embrace him, Frosmoth!" Melony held her hands out as if she was going for a hug. But it was actually Frosmoth that was welcoming Gengar for a hug, encouraging him to get closer.
"Fros...!" With its wings spread out, the Frost Moth Pokemon would let out an alluring and soothing voice. But nothing about this was friendly. As soon as Gengar got close, slamming the Shadow Ball forward, the wings would grab onto him. The Shadow Ball ended up freezing instead of going off. The blob of shadows was hit a flash-freeze, failing and falling down.
Ash and Gengar gasped as the Frozen Shadow ball hit the floor, shattering. Frosmoth had ended an attack just by using her wings which carried a truly chilling presence. "Gengar?!" As for Gengar, he had been held by Frosmoth, captured by her wings. He already tried breaking free, struggling against such an innocent-looking Pokemon.
"Gengar's stuck! Frosmoth's inviting yet cold embrace has him!"
"Not good! Quick, Gengar! Phase through!"
"Gen...Gengar!" But Gengar was unable to do so. Mainly because his body was starting to freeze up. He was about to suffer the same fate as his Shadow Ball and there was seemingly no way for him to break free. He couldn't phase through or use a move in this instance. With no way to counter, it looked like Gengar would be the first down in this battle.
Ash vs Melony was only getting started and already both sides have shown what they were capable of. But at this moment, Melony was taking on a truly chilling approach, attempting to end this battle as soon as battle and especially waiting for Dragonite to make an appearance. As the journey continues.
In this Pokemon World Championships Ultra Class battle, Ash vs. Melony had begun and already, the chilling way Melony battles was being shown off. Gengar was currently trapped in the chilling wings of Frosmoth. His body was being frozen, starting from below. And even though no Pokemon have fainted thus, far Gengar was looking to be the first as he couldn't phase through or use a move to retaliate.
"Gengar! Try using Dazzling Gleam!" Ash would keep trying, knowing that there had to be a way.
"Pi!" Pikachu cheered Gengar on, trying to give him a boost of encouragement.
"Gen...Gengar!" Alas, that didn't work. Gengar was stuck as his middle body was now slowly being enveloped by the ice. Soon, his entire body could be frozen, spelling his defeat.
"There's no way her grip is that strong! Those wings look so light!" Flurry Heart found it hard to believe that Gengar would be stuck thanks to those light wings. But they didn't look so light at the moment.
"If this keeps up, Gengar will freeze over!" Skystar bit onto her hoof. "Can't it do anything?! I don't know much about Pokemon Battling!"
"Not yet! There's a way around this! Ash can just return Gengar to his Poke Ball!" Raleigh exclaimed. "Right?" But so far, it wasn't looking like Ash was going for that approach at all.
"I've got something...Take a bite, Gengar! Go for it!" Ash had something planned and it wasn't sending Gengar back. Ash has already experienced something similar to this in the form of Bea's Grapploct and he wasn't about to let it outdo him again.
"Gen...Gar!" With his mouth wide open and his teeth out, Gengar used a last-resort move. But sometimes, it's always the best move. Not hesitating for a moment, Gengar bit down on Frosmoth's wings.
"F-Fros!" Naturally, Frosmoth got a reaction out of this, unleashing a chilling and painful cry. This action weakened Frosmoth's grip, allowing Gengar to break free at last.
"Or...He can just do that. That works too." said Raleigh as that was the last thing he expected Ash to go through. But if it works, it works.
However, even after breaking free, Gengar's lower and middle half of this body were still frozen. He was unable to float anymore as only his upper body and arms were free. The chill that Frosmoth brought was truly brutal. "Gengar breaks free but the ice is still around its body!" The announcer exclaimed. "How will he move?"
"A rather barbaric but effecient way to break out. I will have to remember that the next time." Melony spoke. "But harming my beautiful Frosmoth's wings in such a way won't be forgiven. And Gengar can barely move it looks like."
"Gen...!" Gengar growled, trying to move forward. But for now, he would have to settle with this condition.
"Blow him away, Frosmoth! Hurricane!"
"Fros...Moth!" By flapping its wings that have just been bitten into, Froslass generated a powerful gust of wind that formed right in front of her. All the ice around the arena was already being picked up as this fearsome tornado was moving ahead. If only Gengar would perform his Rainbow Tornado that he showed off earlier in the battle. But alas, he couldn't move.
There was no way for him to avoid this attack at all. He was as still as a statue, at least for his legs. Even if were to turn his body and make himself fall over, it wouldn't be enough. That's when Ash remembered one thing that he made sure to keep in his mind for the future. And now it was ripe to use it.
The Psychic Trick that Nadya and her Delphox use. Taught by Luca's father, Ash saw this as the perfect opportunity to unleash such a tactic. If Delphox could do it, so can Gengar.
"Gengar! Use Psychic on yourself!"
"Gen?" Gengar gasped before putting on his signature grin. He knew exactly what Ash was referring to. With his eyes glowing blue, Gengar would envelop his own body in a Psychic power. And by using it on himself, Gengar lifted his static body off the floor, finding a way to move after all.
And after pulling it off, Gengar would fly back, repulsing himself. It didn't stop the Hurricane, but it did give him some distance. And not only that, Gengar used the mighty power of Psychic to shatter the ice that had formed around his lower body, once again having the freedom of pure movement.
"He used Psychic on himself to undo the ice and move?! Unthinkable! " Raleigh's jaw dropped in disbelief. He, Skystar, Shooting Star and Flurry Heart witnessed what a Pokemon Battle had to offer. It was very different from any other battle in existence.
"Impressive! But you still can't stop the Hurricane!" Melony had a point. The Hurricane was still active, rapidly moving in Gengar's direction. He may have gained some distance but now he had to find a way to stop it.
"I've got something! Head underground, Gengar!"
"Gar!" Gengar would turn intangible, using the best part of his Ghostly Attributes to his advantage. At this point, Gengar would enter the floor, fully phasing through it. By using this trick, Gengar could not only advance towards Frosmoth, but he could also avoid the Hurricane.
"Fros? Frosmoth?" Frosmoth looked around her, wondering where Gengar was going to come from. It was definitely from below but would it be from the front, back or even the side? The Hurricane came to an end, failing to hit a target.
"Have no fear, my little Frosmoth! Ice Beam!"
"Fros...!" Frosmoth had her own response for the floor. And that was in the form of Ice Beam. From her face, a powerful and frigid energy had formed, ready to be unleashed.
"Here goes! Sludge Bomb!"
"Gar!" Gengar emerged from the floor at last and he was actually about to appear from behind, building up some poison in his hands. But already being prepared for Gengar's return, Frosmoth would swivel her body in an instant, firing a chilling beam of ice.
"Moth!" As soon as Gengar was right behind her, the beam was unleashed. She wasn't actually aiming at the floor. That as a juke. Before Gengar could unleash the Sludge, the Ice Beam landed, interrupting him. Stopped from unleashing Sludge Bomb, Gengar was sent flying back, hitting the floor. And this time, he did not tumble. Instead, that Ice Beam was the vital hit that was needed to end this part of the battle. Gengar had fainted.
"Gengar..."
"Gengar is unable to battle! Frosmoth wins!" The first Pokemon to go down was Gengar but he put up quite the fight, taking on two of Melony's Pokemon who put the pressure on him.
"Gengar goes down first after two encounters!" said the Announcer as the crowd cheered after seeing one Pokemon finally going down. Gengar was certainly resilient, pulling out some tricks in this battle.
"Thanks, Gengar." Ash would soon return Gengar to his Poke Ball. "You did your best. Take a great rest, buddy."
"That's one~" Melony raised a finger. "Only three more to go, my dear Ash. Who's next?"
"Here! Dragonite, I choose you!" Entering the arena was the one Pokemon Melony was expecting and what would seem like a terrible choice but not to Ash.
"Dragonite!" Making her appearance, Dragonite shook the ground a bit, ready to throw down. She already knew what to expect for this battle.
"Contest Ash's next Pokemon is Dragonite!"
"Ah, there she is!" Melony applauded. "I as waiting for Dragonite! I thought she would show up at the end but you're quite confident to bring her out this early into the battle."
"I still think this is a bad idea." Raleigh bit his tongue. "This entire area and battle is just one big hazard for Dragonite."
"Let's gear up, Dragonite! We'll show Melony what we're made of!"
"Rrr!" Dragonite roared, flapping her wings to create a momentary gust of wind. And this gust was mighty enough to nearly match the Hurricane Frosmoth earlier.
"Mm-hmm." Melony made a light giggle. "This will be over soon. Ice Beam!"
"Frosmoth!" Frosmoth was looking to end this as soon as possible, unleashing Ice Beam straight at Dragonite which was highly-effective against her.
"Hyper Beam!"
"Drago...Nite!" Dragonite responded with her own beam. The mighty Hyper Beam From her mouth, a pulsating and fierce burst of Infinity Energy was unleashed after Dragonite took a deep breath. The sound of it leaving was fierce as it obliterated any leftover ice found around the arena.
The two beams met, entering a clash as the middle was a fierce paroxysm of Infinity Energy going off. But there wasn't a struggle at all. Instead, Dragonite's Hyper Beam started eating through Frosmoth's Ice Beam, overpowering it, much to the surprise of the Ice-Type.
"F-Fros!" The Frost Moth Pokemon was engulfed by the Destruction Beam which was more than large enough to cover her entire body. With her cry being heard, the explosion went off. Frosmoth was seen flying out of the explosion, spinning through the air as smoke was trailing from her.
"What an impact! Frosmoth is sent flying after losing to Hyper Beam! But now Dragonite has to recharge!"
"Dra...!" Dragonite needed time to recharge after using Hyper Beam but she was still ready for whatever happens next. And she could count on Ash to prepare.
"My, oh my!" Melony gasped with her hands over her mouth. "That's a powerful hit you pulled off. But now you're wide open! Ice Beam, once more!"
"M-Moth...!" Frosmoth would try recovering as soon as possible, trying to regain some momentum. All of that power Dragonite unleashed was to her benefit and worked too well. Since she was trying to recover, this was giving Dragonite time to recharge. But once she regained momentum, she could unleash Ice Beam for a second time.
"Here it comes, Dragonite! Clap your hands and flap your wings!"
"Dragonite!" Dragonite wasn't done recharging. But that didn't mean she couldn't take action. By clapping her hands and flapping her wings at the same time, she generated her on shockwave similar to what Galarian Darmanitan did earlier in this battle. A Thunderclap was emerged, forming a great burst of pressure that would act as a shield. The shockwave would meet with the Ice Beam, blocking it from reaching Dragonite.
"An excellent save and counter from Dragonite! She avoids the super-effective Ice Beam to finish charging up!"
"Gonite!" And indeed, she was fully charged, stomping her feet. Dragonite certainly brought herself some time thanks to the effectiveness of her Hyper Beam and her Shockwave Tactic.
"Hmmrgh...!" Melony puffed her cheeks while also blushing. "All that free time and not a single one hit? My goodness, you are rather stubborn, aren't you?"
"Hehe!" Ash grinned, scratching his face. Indeed, he was a stubborn Pokemon Trainer. When it comes to a battle, he will take every opportunity to make sure his opponent knows how serious he is. In return, this would make his opponent realize what they were going up against.
"That's my boy!" Delia cheered from the stands along with the Samiyans, cheering for their King.
"Hmph! Okay! If you have a way around my Ice, what about everything else? Hurricane!"
"Fros!" This time, Frosmoth would use Hurricane, generating that mighty gust of wind that Gengar managed to cleverly evade before. Could Dragonite do the same since she has more freedom from the get-go?
"Hurricane!
"Dragonite!" Not at all. Instead, Dragonite was going to retaliate with her own Hurricane. By flapping her wings, she also generated a mighty gust of wind. Dragonite's was coming from below while Frosmoth's would arrive from above. Soon, a clash of Hurricanes ensued.
"The two Hurricanes meet and create a typhoon of wind!" The announcer shouted.
As soon as the two moves clashed, this tremendous burst of wind went off, immediately flying over the entire area. It was so great that it was even affecting the barrier that was meant to protect the crowd. This was obviously meant for the eventual Dynamax that would eventually occur in this battle. Ash held onto his hat during this titanic air clash.
The middle of the arena was an absolute maelstrom. The poor referee and Rotom Drone were struggling to keep their balance in the air. The winds were frantic and erratic, unable to stay consistent at all.
"Wow! I haven't seen a Typhoon this great since the Winds of Immolation!" Shooting Star's eyes lit up after seeing amazing aerial clash.
With neither managing to beat the other out, the two Hurricanes would tie. But not without leaving something tremendous behind. Both Dragonite and Frosmoth were pushed back. The barriers around the crowd would pulsate once more as the Rotom Drone hit the walls.
"Time to get up close and personal! Dragon Claw!" Even after that fearsome clash came to an end, Ash was still swinging into action.
"Raaa!" And so was Dragonite, generating a draconic energy around her claws. The Dragon Pokemon took flight, finally getting up close and personal.
"Use Bug Buzz!"
"Moth!" Frosmoth's wings illuminated a deep red as she pointed her antennae in the air. Her antennae then unleashed a strong vibration with red sound waves appearing, creating a siren-like sound. The sound waves then came together, allowing Frosmoth to fire it as a red beam.
"Rrr!" When getting close, Dragonite would slash the beam with her claws, splitting it into three. The beam would then fly into different directions after being split up. At that moment, Dragonite would accelerate, slashing Frosmoth with these mighty claws. And she did so by moving past her.
"F-Frost!" Frostmoth cried out after receiving a truly arcane slash. Dragon Claw hit while Bug Buzz missed. Frosmoth went spinning around in the air before barely managing to recover, saving herself from a hard fall.
"Return, Frosmoth!" Melony saw this as the best opportunity to return Frosmoth to her Poke Ball. She would do a quick switch in, sending out her next Pokemon. And it was a returning Pokemon this time. Out of the Poke Ball appeared Galarian Darmanitan.
"Darmanitan!"
"There it is." Ash smiled, glad to see Darmanitan out again. He was still keeping its Zen Mode in mind. It was bound to show up at a certain point. He wasn't sure what was different about Galarian Darmanitan's Zen Mode compared to Unovan Darmanitan but he was ready to tackle it.
"She's gonna use that Icicle Crash thing from before now that Dragonite's out! And in the air too!" Flurry Heart already knew what was coming next.
"Now is my chance! Icicle Crash! From above!"
"Dar!" The strategy from before would be utilized. Specifically meant for Dragon-Types who love using the air, Darmanitan would summon multiple sharp and large icicles that would block the roof of the stadium.
"There it is! For a second time, Darmanitan has used this trick. But will it work this time?
"I assume you don't have a Rainbow Tornado or anything of the sorts to deal with this. Maybe your Hurricane but this time, it won't stop what's coming! Drop it, Darmanitan!"
"Manitan!" All of the icicles were soon dropped by Darmanitan, raining down with destructive intent.
"Dragonite! Hyper Beam! Spray it around!"
"Dra!" Instead of using a Countershield Hurricane like what Melony expected, Ash turned it around. Hyper Beam was used instead but with a motion that would help protect the Dragon Pokemon.
By unleashing Hyper Beam, Dragonite would spray it instead of firing it in a straight line. By spraying it like a garden hose, Dragonite was able to obliterate multiple icicles. Specifically the ones closest to her. Ash was always improvising on the spot and so far, this was the best he's ever been with improvisation. The crowd was amazed at how many counterplays were being made.
"Incredible! Draognite's cleared all the icicles near her with a great Hyper Beam spray!"
"He keeps finding a way to counter everything I do?" Melony blinked. "My goodness. How long have you been battling, Ash?"
"20+ years and still going strong! Time to bring down our on rain, Dragonite! Draco Meteor!"
"Gonite!" Dragonite would return the favour to Darmanitan. By generating a draconic energy in her mouth, she would shoot it out in the form of a sphere.
"I think not! Stone Edge!"
"Darma!" But Icicle Crash wasn't the only super-effective move Darmanitan had. Stone Edge was an option. From its body, blue crystals appeared that were soon unleashed at full force. Right as the sphere went high, the stones appeared.
"D-Dra!" Dragonite finally took a hit. A super-effective one too. The rocks crashed into her, knocking the Dragon Pokemon out of the sky. But as soon as she was hit, Draco Meteor went off, summoning multiple meteors. These draconic meteors came crashing down, being just as destructive as Icicle Crash.
Dragonite smiled while falling, knowing these were going to connect one way or another. All Darmanitan could do was brace itself as Dragonite managed to recover from the Stone Edge midair. As the meteors crashed down, Darmanitan put up its arms, showing a blocking stance. The meteors would combust. Some near Darmanitan and some further away. Either way, the arena was being lit up with these destructive outbursts.
The smoke cleared after the fierce downpour of meteors with everyone watching. What had become of Darmanitan after being caught up in the Draco Meteor rain? Surely, it had been struck by some of those meteors. Darmanitan was still there but there was something different about it.
Lo and behold, Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan had arrived.
"Woah...Yeah, that's way different from the one I know." Ash gawked. He finally managed to bring out Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan. His Pokedex was already out and ready for this.
"Zen Mode Darmanitan. Anger has reignited its atrophied flame sac. This Pokémon spews fire everywhere as it rampages indiscriminately. It won’t stop spewing flames until its rage has settled, even if its body starts to melt."
"Wait, it's a Fire-Type this time?!" Ash gasped as Darmanitan retained another part of its original Unovan form in this state. And immediately, flames were bursting out of its body.
"Dar! Darmnitan!"
"You've gone and upset my precious Darmanitan. Superpower!"
"Darman!" Darmanitan would suddenly leap off the floor, channelling of its energy around its entire body. At the same time, flames were starting to fly out. Dragonite braced herself immediately.
"Dragon Claw!"
"Drago!" Dragonite prepared to use Dragon Claw, pulling her arms back. As soon as she did so, Darmanitan crashed into Dragonite's chest with the full power of Superpower. The impact made Darmanitan dig a bit into Dragonite's stomach, making the Dragon Pokemon grimace. But by hanging in there, Dragonite would stand her ground, ready to slam her claws down. However, Darmanitan would use Dragonite's body as a trampoline, bouncing off her belly. "Dra?" Dragonite's Dragon Claw missed as Darmanitan once again showed impressive speed.
"Oh, man! It's fast!" Ash gasped. In this form, Darmanitan was faster than ever which was a surprise. He figured that it would gain extra power, much like its Unovan counterpart or even a boost in defence. Not speed.
"Use Icicle Crash!"
"Darmanitan!" Icicle Crash was used, but this time, it would be unleashed at a different angle. Not from above but from the front. From its body, these ice shards came flying out, no longer raining down.
"Hit them away!"
"Dra! Dragonite!" Still using Dragonite, Dragonite would start swinging at the icicles that came her way, destroying them one by one. However, some icicles managed to land, hitting Dragonite's skin and dealing super-effective damage in the process. After destroying plenty of them and taking some hits, Dragonite slid back, finding Galarian Darmanitan's Zen Mode to be quite the obstacle.
"Now for Stone Edge!"
"Darman!" Darmanitan would then slam its entire body on the floor, prompting large blue crystals to fly out.
"Head in and use Dragon Claw one more time!"
"Rrr!" Dragonite was taking an up-close approach instead of keeping her distance. She would take flight, sticking to Dragon Claw. The Dragon Pokemon would evade the crystals by flying around them, over or swerving them. Along the way, she would also slice some of the crystals in half with her claws. After getting past the crystals, she would land Dragon Claw directly onto Darmanitan. A direct hit and one that sent the Zen Charm Pokemon flying.
"Dar...Man!" After taking that hit, Darmanitan left its Zen Mode, returning to how it originally was. And this was for one reason. Dragon Claw was the decisive blow. After falling on its back, Darmanitan had fainted. "Darmanitan..."
"Darmanitan is unable to battle! Dragonite Wins!"
"It's one for one! Dragonite has managed to even things out as both Trainers are now down to three Pokemon each!" said the announcer. Ash tied it up by taking on two Pokemon once more.
"Alright! Way to go, Dragonite!" Ash jumped for joy along with Pikachu.
"Pi-Pikachu!"
"Hm. Return, Darmanitan." Melony pouted. "So much for my Icicle Crash approach."
"Now he just needs to get past Frosmoth and whoever the last two are!" Flurry Heart cheered.
"Alright, alright. So far, Dragonite has lasted longer than most Dragons who have faced me." Melony admitted. "But can she really make it to the end? I think not."
"You'll see. Dragonite and I are gonna see this to the end. But for now, come back in the meanwhile, Dragonite." Ash chose to bring Dragonite back, opting to switch her out. Both Trainers were now about to send out their next Pokemon. or Melony, it was either going to be Frosmoth or someone completely new.
"Dravocish! I choose you!"
"Appear, Mr Rime!"
For Ash, Dracovish was chosen and for Melony, it was someone new. Frosmoth and the fourth Pokemon would have to wait as a Pokemon related to the Mr Mime family had been sent out.
"Dracovish!"
"Mr Rime!"
"Oh, look at that, Mimey. I didn't know you had a Galarian Variant." Delia pointed out, already knowing what Pokemon species this was related to.
"Mime?"
"Mr Rime?" Ash looked dumbfounded for a moment before whipping out the Pokedex once more.
"Mr Rime. The Comedian Pokemon. It’s highly skilled at tap dancing. It waves its cane of ice in time with its graceful movements. Its amusing movements make it very popular. It releases its psychic power from the pattern on its belly."
"That's two Regional Forms right now. This is pretty sweet." Ash smiled, glad to have met three new Pokemon. Two of which were Regional Forms. "Alright. Let's test the waters first. Use Water Gun, Dracovish!
"Draco!" Starting small, Dracovish would use Water Gun. However, that was certainly not small as the attack had a rather powerful stream with it.
"Energy Ball, please~"
"Mr!" With its tapdancing skills, it would evade the Water Gun by moving to the side. And after avoiding it with a stylish dance, it held its cane out, unleashing a green sphere that was powered by nature itself. This nature-powered sphere flew out, crashing into Dracovish.
"Co!" Dracovish cried out, falling over from the Energy Ball. And for it to fall over was certainly not a good thing considering the way its body was built. Dracovish's back wasn't doing any favours for it as already, the Fossil Pokemon was trying its best to get back up. "Co?! Draco!"
"Having trouble? Let us help you. Psychic!"
"Mr. Rime!" Mr. Rime would lift Dracovish off the floor by using Psychic. This did help Dracovish up but it would end with the Fossil Pokemon taking some damage either way. "Rime-Rime!" Before that, Mr Rime, being the comedian that it was, would start toying with Dracovish. Now that it had control over the Water-Dragon-Type, Mr Rime would spin it around, forming a blue and green whirlwind with Dracovish's body.
"Vish! Vish!" Dracovish screamed as it was already starting to get dizzy. For a Pokemon that was still confused about the world it now lives in and just does whatever it wants, this was not pleasant at all.
"Rime!" Mr Rime would then slam Dracovish by performing an upside-down trick. Dracovish was dropped on its head for extra damage, making some of the crowd flinch and grimace as they certainly felt that pain. Mr. Rime would continue tap-dancing on the spot while Dracovish was slowly getting back up. At least it found the right position to do so.
"Draco...!" Dracovish." Dracovish would get back up as its eyes spinning, unable to focus. Not only were its eyes spinning but it was stumbling, unable to move consistently as well. That momentary spin really threw it for a loop. Literally.
"Dracovish is completely lost! Mr. Rime's managed to add some confusion without using a move that involves confusion!" The announcer explained.
Indeed, Dracovish was hit with confusion even though Psychic wasn't normally capable of doing that. This left Dracovish very vulnerable to whatever Mr. Rime does next.
"Now! Use Focus Blast!"
"Rime...!" By heightening its mental focus, Mr. Rime was prepared to unleash a mighty blast of Fighting Power as an orange blast was beginning to appear. And with Dracovish so confused, Mr Rime wouldn't need to worry about missing.
"Oh, man...!" Ash grizzled his teeth, wondering what to do about this. But with a realization, he once again recalled one of his battles. This time, his battle with Iris. He remembered how Haxorus snapped out of confusion after using Outrage. It was time for him to use the same approach. "Dracovish! Slam your head against the floor!"
"Dra...Co...!" Dracovish could at least do that. It could tell where the floor was as it would cock its head back, building up some momentum. Dracovish would then smash its head into the floor at full force. And by doing so, it broke the confusion. Ash was referring to his past battles at this point, thanking those who inspired him. Nadya and Iris were to thank for these moments. And right after it broke the confusion, Focus Blast had been unleashed.
"Fishious Rend!"
"Draco!" With a blue energy forming around its mighty apex jaws, the Apex Predator of the Past would face the Focus Blast, digging into it. Focus Blast had been stopped by Fishous Rend as it didn't even go off after making contact with its target. And with brute strength, Dracovish crushed the Focus Blast as the attack blew up in its face but with minimal damage.
"What a bite! After breaking out of the confusion, Dracovish stopped the Focus Blast with its great jaws!"
"If Dracovish lands something like that on Mr Rime, that could be it!" Skystar gawked. "I know a sea creature a lot like Dracovish and that should be easy with those legs it has!"
"Now, use Fishious Rend again!"
"Dracovish!" Dracovish would approach Mr Rime, ready to gnaw on it as well.
"Oh my! Mr Rime, dance away with Triple Axel!"
"Rime!" However, despite how fast Dracovish was moving, Mr Rime was faster. Or rather, it had more movement at its disposal. As soon as Dracovish got a bit too close for comfort, Mr Rime would perform a dancing spin in the air, going over the Fossil Pokemon. Dracovish's attack completely missed as Mr Rime appeared behind it.
Quickly, the Water-Dragon-Type would turn, trying again to gnaw at the Comedian Pokemon. But with such agility allowed for excellent evasion. Mr Rime would lean its entire upper body back, avoiding the next bite. After doing so, it would kick its legs up, hitting the bottom of Dracovish's mouth. "Dra!"
Dracovish's jaws would connect with each other afterwards, causing its head to vibrate. But that was just the first kick. The next two were up next. Mr. Rime would then tap dance to the side, kicking Dracovish's head once more while it was still vibrating before then delivering the final kick to the back of its neck.
"And now for a Focus Blast!"
"Mr!" After delivering that Triple Axel, Mr Rime would backflip away, preparing yet another Focus Blast.
"A third time! Fishious Rend!"
"Dracovish!" Despite all those hits, Dracovish was still able to move. The head vibration didn't even matter as it was still focusing on its prey, startling Mr Rime and Melony. It was known as the Apex Predator for a reason. After surprising Mr. Rime, Dracovish managed to bite onto its hands, preventing it from using Focus Blast.
"R-Rime!" Mr. Rime's eyes expanded as its entire body would tremble. It was safe to say that this bite hurt. A lot. After receiving this hard bite, Dracovish would slam Mr Rime into the floor at full force, making it drop its cane.
"Oof! A deep bite and a hard slam to the floor! How is Mr. Rime feeling after this?!" The announcer wondered. Dracovish was now holding Mr. Rime with its fangs, refusing to let go while keeping it on the ground. It was a submission act from it and a way it used to capture prey in the past.
"That was mean!" Melony bellowed. "But it's jarring not enough for this comedian! Psychic!"
"Mr!" Even after being slammed down and losing its cane, Mr Rime would still retaliate. By channelling the rest of its power into its hands, it would tap Dracovish's head.
"Dra?" Dracovish blinked for a moment after being tapped on the head, a bit confused. But after that blink, the purple energy around Mr. Rime's fingertips would hand would explode. A powerful Psychic explosion went off, going through Dracovish's head. "D-Dra...!"
Mr Rime would then move away as the fangs left its arm but also gave it some marks. That attack was a rather vicious one and it showed. Dracovish stood there stunned before falling over. An attack like that was sure to deal some heavy damage and it certainly did. Dracovish had fainted.
"Dracovish is unable to battle! Mr. Rime wins!"
"That one hurt..." Raleigh said, holding his head own head. He couldn't imagine what it would feel like to be hit by a Psychic directly in the head. Now Ash was down to just two Pokemon, giving Melony the lead.
"Thanks, Dracovish. You did well." Ash would return the Fossil Pokemon, thanking it for a well-fought battle. Ash had to count on his last two Pokemon. Dragonite and whoever the next Pokemon was. Meanwhile, Melony was sitting pretty with Frosmoth, Mr Rime and her last mystery Pokemon who was most likely the Dynamax Candidate.
"It's not over yet!" Delia exclaimed. "My Ash can pull through this! That's a fact!"
"Well, Ash? Am I getting too much for you?" Melony spoke. "That's one Dragon down. Now for the last one. Unless there's a secret third Dragon I don't know about."
"Nah. But my next friend's gonna turn this around." Ash would hold out his next Poke Ball. It wasn't Pikachu who was right next to him. Not at all. He knew what he was up against, even deciding to bring a Dragon-Type to this battle. But as a backup, he brought a Pokemon that was super-effective against such a force. "Let's go! Lucario!"
"Lucario!" Lucario was the final Pokemon in this 4v4 match. A Fighting-Steel-Type. The perfect response to Ice-Types.
"Contestan Ash's fourth Pokemon is Lucario!
"Oh my. Lucario? That's going to be an issue." Even Melony knew how much of a threat Lucario could be. But when looking at Ash's hands, she saw that there was no sign of the Keystone. "But no Mega Evolution for this battle? Or even a Dynamax Band? Are you underestimating me, Ash?"
"No way. I like to do my battles in different ways. And for this one, it's all raw action for me!" Ash decided to just stick to what the Pokemon have normally. Risky in a place where Dynamax was a big thing but admirable.
"I see. Well, let's see if that's the right action! Mr Rime!"
"Rime!" Mr. Rime would skate forward, ready to continue this battle in this frigid arena.
"Lucario!"
"Luca!" Lucario was always ready for a battle as he would also move in. This battle between Ash and Melony was ramping up now the number of Pokemon were starting to drop. The chance to rank up in the Pokemon World Championships was still up for grabs. As the journey continues.
With Ash vs. Melony continuing into the afternoon, Ash was down to just Lucario and Dragonite while Melony still had Mr. Rime, Frosmoth and her final Pokemon available. That last Pokemon was eligible for Dynamax while Ash came here with nothing.
No Mega Evolution for Lucario or even a Dynamax Band. That was how Ash wished to approach this battle and he wasn't about to make Melony think he was holding himself back. At this moment, Lucario and Mr Rime were approaching each other, ready to engage.
"Lucario, use Bullet Punch!"
"Rrr!" Starting off, Lucario accelerated as his paws were enveloped in a shimmering white light.
"Triple Axel, please!" Right as Lucario closed in on the Comedian Pokemon, Mr. Rime would leap over his attack. Yet another evasion from Mr. Rime. But after dodging his speedy punch, Lucario would react to whatever came next. As soon as Mr Rime went for the first kick, Lucario reversed his Bullet Punch, swivelling his body just to meet with the attack.
"Rime?!" Mr. Rime gasped while Lucario grinned. His paws met with his feet, beginning a short clash. But it was short for a reason since it didn't last long.
"Luca!" Lucario put an immediate end to Mr. Rime's Triple Axel, pushing him away with brute force. Stunned, the Comedian Pokemon slid for a moment. Triple Axel failed to land thanks to Lucario's counterattack.
"Great anticipation, Lucario!" Ash pumped his fists, congratulating the Aura Pokemon. "Now, head in again with Bullet Punch!"
"Lucario!" Lucario went in for another Bullet Punch. And this time, he was going to make sure it landed properly. The Aura Pokemon approached Mr Rime once more with a shimmering light. In a flash, he was right in Mr. Rime's face. With great velocity, Lucario would smash deliver multiple blows to the Ice-Psychic-Type.
"M-Mr! Rime!" Mr. Rime cried out, taking flight from the force he received. On top of that, it was super-effective damage.
"Even in the air, my darling Mr. Rime can retaliate! Like so! Psychic!"
"Rime! Mr!" Mr. Rime's eyes opened as he would suddenly perform a flip in the air, showing that he had some momentum and balance to gain. And by using Psychic, the Comedian Pokemon would aim his cane down, unleashing a Psychic blast.
"Aura Sphere!"
"Lu...!" Responding to the incoming Psychic, Lucario put his pas together, channelling Aura in between them. And with a powerful thrust, he unleashed the mighty Aura Sphere. Aura Sphere and Psychic met in the middle of the air.
Another clash ensued, resulting in a pulsating energy that distorted parts of the air. Aura Sphere managed to win, breaking through the Psychic Energy and going straight for Mr. Rime. Seeing the incoming sphere, Mr Rime would lower his body, narrowly avoiding it.
"My goodness! You're rather quick on the mark, aren't you?" Melony uttered, impressed by Lucario's reaction time. "Mr. Rime! Focus Blast, if you will!"
"Rime!" Lunging into the air, Mr. Rime would prepare a Focus Blast, channelling all of his mental energy while aiming his cane down. This was plenty of Mental Energy as seen by how large the ball was beginning to get.
"Ash should totally retaliate with Aura Sphere!" Shooting Star exclaimed. "Righ?"
"His majesty's looking to do something different it seems!" But one of the Samiyans thought otherwise. He could already see Ash having something in mind.
"Lucario! Force Palm on the ground!"
"Lu...Ca!" Instead of Aura Sphere, it was Force Palm and instead of unleashing it in the air, Lucario targeted the floor. By smashing his paws through the stadium floor. By doing this, the pulsating energy from Force Palm would show itself, ripping through the floor. Everyone wondered what Ash was up to, especially Melony. As soon as Mr. Rime was done building up Focus Blast, he would unleash it.
The floor would crack as rocks would fly out along with a large dust cloud. The Focus Blast entered the obscured area, combusting right afterwards. This only added more dust to the area, but alas, Lucario was still there, not suffering any damage. Instead, Lucario had used the many chunks of rocks to shield himself.
"You shielded yourself with the stadium? Is that why you hit into it?"
"That's just part of it." Ash grinned. "We figured since we're taking on an Ice-Specialist in a snowy place, the stadium's gotta be something we deal with. I wasn't sure when I should've messed it up but I found that moment!"
"Hm. Clever thinking, dear. But I'm afraid that's not enough. Mr Rime! Triple Axel!"
"Mr!" Mr. Rime was ready to get up close and personal once more. However, something was amiss. And the main reason why Ash chose to mess up the stadium floor was shown. "R-Rime?!" The Comedian Pokemon suddenly felt a lack of balance and proper rhythm. When he tried tap dancing, he immediately hit a bump that was caused by this elevated and crooked floor. Mr. Rime tried again, finding that sweet spot. But it was impossible to do so. The stadium was completely erratic as he couldn't find a good place to tap dance and let his movements flow properly.
"Mr. Rime's movements have been disrupted by the broken stadium! It can't get its rhythm down!" The announcer exclaimed. Without a smooth surface, Mr. Rime lost a great part of his strength.
"You sneaky...!" Melony puffed her cheeks, realizing the true reason why Ash chose now to mess up the stadium. It was to throw Mr. Rime off specifically. After seeing his battle with Dracovish and the first few seconds of him taking on Lucario, Ash knew that he had to defeat the Comedian Pokemon as soon as possible with all of its movements.
"Now, Lucario! Bullet Punch, again!"
"Rrr!" Lucario was perfectly fine. He didn't need to tapdance or perform any stylish movements. All he had to do was get up close and personal. By dashing ahead, forcefully slamming his feet down on the ground to crush any rocks, bumps and rubble in his way, the Aura Pokemon had a clear path with nothing stopping him.
And nothing truly stopped him. Mr. Rime gasped as the last thing he saw as a shimmering fist coming straight at him. Direct hit to the face, which such force that Lucario pushed Mr. Rime's face. He left his fist there for a moment, adding some extra force into it before finally letting it all out. A powerful white shockwave emerged as Mr Rime was sent flying.
Afterwards, he landed on his back, ironically at a spot that was smooth and unaffected by the Force Palm. And that just ended up being the place where he fainted.
"Mr. Rime..."
"Mr Rime is unable to battle! Lucario wins!" And just like that, Ash tied it up once more. Now it was 2 Pokemon left for both Trainers.
"Whew..." Ash sighed. "Great stuff, Lucario. Glad we dealt with that as soon as possible."
"All that's left is Frosmoth and that final Pokemon of hers!" Delia said with glee. "Isn't my little Ash so amazing!"
"It's strange seeing mom in a battle like this." Gordie raised his glasses, stunned by what he was seeing. "Usually, battles don't turn out like this but it's completely even from start and maybe to finish." What Gordie didn't know just yet was that this was a strength of Ash.
Something that has been building up over the years and has shown itself multiple times. It seems that Ash can provide someone with a special kind of battle that allows both Trainers to give it their all. And recently, that strength has been borrowed by his friends.
"Hmm..." Melony returned Mr. Rime. "In all my years of battling, I've never seen anyone who battles quite like you, Ash Maybe someone from the Masters 8 but still. The way you go about it is so different. This will make my victory all the more satisfying." Melony's smiled, narrowing her eyes.
That is what Gordie soon figured out after hearing what his mother spouted. It was Satisfication. Ash gives out satisfying battles thanks to the way he goes about it. Victory or defeat, both trainers can expect satisfaction based on how the battle goes. Whether it happens for the first or second time. And in Melony's case, it was the first time.
"Dance, Frosmoth!"
"Frosmoth!" Out came Frosmoth once more. Her second to last Pokemon. All Ash had to do was try and get past Frosmoth and prepare himself for the final Pokemon who was waiting to Dynamax.
"Start off strong, dear! Hurricane!"
"Fros!" Frosmoth indeed started off strong and that was by using Hurricane. That mighty gust of wind returned once more on this crooked battlefield. With the battlefield broken, the many rocks and rubble were being raised, joining the turbulent twister while also flying everywhere.
"Go, Lucario! Use Force Palm!"
"Luca!" Lucario would try and approach Frosmoth instead of backing away. He pulled his fist back, lunging into the air and meeting with the massive Hurricae in front of him. Lucario would even hit some rocks out of the way before thrusting his fist forward. Force Palm met with the Hurricane, resulting in golden sparks flying from the collision. Lucario actually hit the attack instead of evading it. The goal was to try and knock it back, but that just wasn't happening. So instead of doing so, Lucario would destroy the Hurricane. The pure force of his Force Palm would disperse the attakc while also pushing him back.
"With brute force, Lucario manages to destroy the Hurricane!
"Such strength! Use Bug Buzz!"
"Frosmoth!" After Hurricane, Frosmoth would fly to the side, unleashing a crimson wave that had a damaging sound wave which vibrated across the area. Lucario growled at the sound of this buzzing that was very much irritating. He would put his hands up, blocking the Bug Buzz instead of avoiding it.
"Rrr!" It wasn't very effective thanks to his secondary typing, Steel. But he wasn't about to let that sound surprise him again.
"Aura Sphere!"
"Ice Beam!" In unison, Lucario and Frosmoth went for ranged attacks. A sphere of concentrated aura and a beam of chilling ice were being built up. At the same time, the two attacks were thrown at each other. With yet another clash ensuing, everyone wondered how this one would turn out.
The sphere swirled, rapidly generating its own gust of wind that would raise the rubble as the beam tried freezing the opposing attack. In the end, it was a tie, with a light blue explosion happening in the middle.
"Hurricane, once more!"
"Fros!" Without wasting a second, Frosmoth would use Hurricane yet again. But before doing so, she flew through the smoke, deciding to get closer to Lucario. And after emerging out of the smoke, she flapped her wings, summoning the turbulent Hurricane.
"Luca!?" At this distance, Lucario was too late to do anything about this Hurricane. Immediately, he felt his feet leave the floor as the mighty gale was carrying him. Afterwards, the force of Hurricane would launch him, distancing himself away from the Frost Moth Pokemon.
"Are you aright, Lucario?!" Ash asked.
"Rrr!" Lucario was doing fine, as seen by how he recovered. He landed on the crooked ground, sliding right afterwards.
"Nimble, are we? I'll put a stop to that~ Give Lucario a nice cold hug, Frosmoth!"
"Fros!" Once again, Frosmoth as about to use her wings which were incredibly cold. So cold that whoever gets within her grasps, was bound to have parts of their body frozen if not their entire body
"No way! Aura Sphere!"
"Lucario!" Lucario wasn't about to let Frosmoth get close to him. Quickly, he would unleash an Aura Sphere to try and slow her down. However, moves also fit this category. As soon as Aura Sphere was thrown out, Froslass decided to hug it. With her wide wings, she caught the Aura Sphere, using her -290 degrees Fahrenheit to freeze it on the spot. Lucario's jaw dropped after seeing Aura Sphere freeze. Never before has that happened.
After the attack froze, it dropped to the ground, resting there. There was now just an Aura Sphere on the floor, surrounded by ice. And seeing that sparked something in Ash's mind. That adaptive spirit of his was about to get to work.
"Ohh!" Ash's eyes opened up, followed up by a grin. "Aura Sphere, repeatedly!"
"Rrr!" Lucario would not stop at once Aura Sphere, he would go for multiple Aura Spheres. The next one was first directly while the other one was done from the side the second Lucario started running. In response, Frosmoth would keep her wings out, allowing the Aura Spheres to approach while still aiming to freeze Lucario himself.
One after the other, Aura Spheres were starting to freeze and drop to the floor. Once again, everyone wondered what Ash was up to. Always up to something in this battle that would catch them by surprise. Melony was also wondering why Ash was doing this. Why go for repeated Aura Spheres when Frosmoth was easily freezing them? That alone was rather impressive, seeing Frosmoth have such precision that she could catch these Aura Spheres. But at the same time, Lucario was definitely firing them at a medium pace.
Soon, the entire arena was littered with frozen Aura Spheres. They were all just lying there, frozen on the ground and unable to act. Just what Ash wanted. Lucario would soon come to a halt, waiting for Ash's next words.
"Alright, Ash? What are you planning this time?" Melony leaned in. "It's rude to hide secrets from your seniors."
"Heh. After this battle is over, I can have Sweetie Belle use this as inspiration for her Contests," said Ash, thinking about helping Sweetie Belle afterwards. The reason for that would soon show itself. "Check this out! Double Team!"
"Luca!" As soon as Frosmoth approached Lucario once more, going for that hug, the Aura Pokemon would immediately duplicate himself. Just like how there were multiple frozen Aura Spheres, there were no multiple Lucarios around the arena.
"Fros?!" The Ice-Bug-Type looked around her as she was surrounded by all these Lucario. Now she didn't know who to hug. If she tried hugging any of them, they would vanish instead of freeze.
"Now! Altogether, you guys!" Ash raised his fist into the air. "Throw those frozen spheres!"
"Lucario!" The plan had been revealed. Ash once again took inspiration in this battle. But instead of looking to the past, he was looking at what happened previously in this battle and use it to his advantage. All of the Lucario clones including the real Lucario would simultaneously pick up all the Frozen Aura Spheres. It all made sense now. Ash did this so that he would have free Aura Spheres available. Unlike Gengar's Shadow Ball which froze and shattered, the Aura Spheres stayed completely stable as opposed to the blobs that Gengar generated.
"No way!" Flurry Heart's was flabbergasted by what she was seeing. Including everyone else. With all these Lucarios holding up the Frozen Aura Spheres, they would channel their Aura through it, causing the ice to shatter. As soon as they shattered, all the Aura Spheres would be freed and thrown at the Frost Moth Pokemon.
"F-Frosmoth!" Frosmoth was being pelted by Aura Spheres she froze earlier. Each hit was fierce and explosive, summoning multiple blue explosions.
"Now for the big one! Aura Sphere!"
"Lucaaaa!" The real Lucario would charge up a greater Aura Sphere. As soon as Frosmoth was hit with plenty of Aura Spheres, the strongest one yet was thrown out, delivering the final explosion. Soon, Frosmoth and the spot she was on was set ablaze by an Azure Light.
"It's an onslaught of Aura Spheres! Contestant Ash has used all those frozen attacks to his advantage!" The announcer's commentary certainly added to that exciting moment.
"Frosmoth..." Frosmoth would then drop to the floor, defeated. She couldn't withstand that, unfortunately.
"Frosmoth is unable to battle! Lucario wins!"
"Haha! It worked!" Ash laughed. "I was kinda hoping that Frosmoth would've caught Lucario! Then we would've used Aura to break free! But that works too!"
"Pikachu!"
"Nice! He has the lead!" Skystar applauded. And so did the Samiyans. They loved seeing their King battle and it was truly a spectacle. "Woo-woo! Great stuff, Ash! Great stuff!"
"Some of these plays are outrageous. Is this what happens down here all the time?" Shooting Star questioned. "It feels just as intense as when something serious is happening."
"Yes! This is what I was missing on my journey!" Raleigh said with glee. "A Pokemon Battle like this!"
"Amazing." Melony returned Froslass. "Never has something like that happened to me. You're every bit as wonderful as Delia made you out to be."
"Really?" said Ash.
"Mhm," Melony admitted it. The conversation she had with Delia back at the Yard Sale came back around and showed that Ash indeed had a chance. "If only you could've taken on Gordie. Oh, well. I think this is a bigger test of your strength, honestly."
"You're awesome too, Melony. I'm glad I waited for this battle to happen." Ash gave his props as well. "I'm sure Gordie would've been fun to battle as well. But I can't afford to slow down. Not when I've got Leon in my sights!"
"Unfortunately, my sweet Ash. You won't be reaching Leon. I will." Melony menacingly rejected before holding out her final Poke Ball. "I hate to ruin your streak, but here, your rank will absolutely plummet! Appear! My Lapras!"
"Lapras!" The final Pokemon ended up being Lapras.
"So it's Lapras, huh?" Ash's face turned serious after seeing the final Pokemon. And now, he could expect Dynamax very soon. Or even beyond that. Gigantamax.
"Now, Challenger Melony's final Pokemon is her Lapras, who is the main candidate for her ace in the hole." said the Announcer, already knowing what to expect as well.
"Lapras! Use Thunder!" Immediately, Lapras used a mighty move that started from above. The skies above rumbled as a powerful blast of thunder appeared.
"Zip away, Lucario!"
"Rrr!" Lucario would quickly leap back, narrowly avoiding the blast. The lightning hit the ground with intensity, causing more rubble to fly everywhere.
"So she's not gonna Dynamax yet...! She's waiting to take down Lucario first!" Ash already saw what Melony was doing. She was saving her Dynamax for Ash's last Pokemon. That way, she would have all the power she needed. "Not if we get our licks in and take her down! Lucario, use Force Palm!
"Cario!" Lucario would then rush in as the energy of Force Palm appeared on both of his paws.
"Use Dragon Pulse!"
"La...Pras!" From her mouth, a draconic-shaped blast was unleashed instantly, tearing through the ground. Lucario smashed his paws into the mouth of the dragon. Clashing with it With brute force once more, Lucario tried breaking it apart. And he certainly succeded in stopping it as the Dragon Pulse would combust. However, Lucario was also pushed back, unable to get close so far.
"Hydro Pump!"
"La..." From her mouth once more, Lapras unleashed yet another powerful move. And this time, it was the heavy pressure Hydro Pump. A great blast of water was unleashed, having intense volumes behind it.
"Stop it with Aura Sphere!"
"Lu...Ca!" Lucario held his arms out, forming an Aura Sphere as quickly as he could. The sphere appeared right as the Hydro Pump got close. Lucario's Aura Sphere acted as a shield as the Hydro Pump was fiercely pushing against the attack. "Rrr!" Lucario grizzled his teeth, trying to fire his Aura Sphere.
"Push through!" Ash bellowed as that prompted Lucario's Aura to explode. The Aura Sphere would then travel through the Hydro Pump, managing to slip through. After doing so, the Aura Sphere crashed into Lapras's face, dealing super-effective damage. However, with the Aura Sphere gone, Lucario took the Hydro Pump damage either way as he was pushed back by its high volume.
"A double hit! Both sides take their attacks!"
"Now! Use Reversal, Lucario!"
"Rio!" This looked like a good time to use Reversal now that some more damage has been accumulated. After tumbling on the floor, Lucario recovered by jumping up, building energy from all the damage he took in this battle.
"That won't happen! Use Thunder, Lapras!"
"Laaaa!" Lapras would respond with Thunder. From above, the skies trembled once more as lightning came crashing down, intercepting Lucario's next attack.
"Above you, Lucario!"
"Lu?!" Lucario looked up to see the blast, raising one of his arms up to block it. The lightning met with Lucario's hands, instantly creating a bright flash. Just like that, Lucario was now using one arm to try and block the lightning from fully passing through while the other arm was holding the Reversal Energy.
"Wow! To think he can still protect himself! But now he's wide open! Hydro Pump!" Melony took advantage of Lucario's position since he was trying to keep Thunder away.
"Pras!" Another high-volume blast of water came crashing in. If this hits, the Water and Electricity would mix, creating a truly violent reaction that was bound to harm Lucario greatly
"Now, Lucario! Release it!"
"Rrr!" Lucario wasn't defenceless at all. He used his other arm to unleash the Reversal right as Hydro Pump approached. The energy from Reversal clashed with Hydro Pump, forming another clash. The two attacks blew up which would be Lucario's downfall thanks to the shockwave that came from it By doing this, Lucario couldn't keep the Thunder at bay anymore. it came crashing down.
The shockwave from the two attacks cancelling each other out struck Lucario and Lapras but it was mainly punishing to Lucario. Taking the hit, Lucario's arms dropped, as well as his entire body with electricity pulsating around him as well.
"Lu...Cario..." Lucario had fainted after trying to keep two massive attacks at bay. Only one was stopped while the other went through.
"Lucario is unable to battle! Lapras wins!" With that, it was down to one for Ash as well. With the crowd going wild, Ash would return Lucario to his Poke Ball.
"Thanks, Lucario. You were awesome." He thanked him before taking out the last Poke Ball containing Dragonite.
"Phew. Had me worried there, sweetie. You and your Pokemon are resilient, aren't you?" Melony winked. "But now, there's just one Pokemon left. And it's the one I've been waiting for."
"Yeah. I know. And she's been waiting for this to ever since our chat back at the Hero's Bath." Ash replied with a smile. Delia scrunched her face, wanting to see this final moment with no distractions. She wouldn't say a word until it was over. "Dragonite! I choose you!"
"Dragonite!" Returning to the field was Dragonite.
"Challenger Ash brings out Dragonite as the last Pokemon! This is the final stretch!"
"Lapras has a really good option against Dragonite. And I'm guessing there's an Ice-Type move waiting." Raleigh commented. "This'll be hard on her. She could either be frozen, paralyzed or even just too overwhelmed."
"Ash has got this! Don't worry!" said Flurry Heart with high enthusiasm.
"Come on your majesty!" Enola and the other Samiyans shouted.
"Now, it's time to end this." Melony would then return Lapras as the Dynamax energy around her Dynamax Band was responding to this action. The time was now. The time to Gigantamax. The Ultra Ball in Melony's hand would start glowing while enlarging. And with all her might, it was launched into the air. "Lapras! Gigantamax!" It was a Gigantamax instead of Dynamax, which meant Ash was about to experience an even greater level of strength.
"LA...LA...LAPRAS!" Growing bigger and bigger, out emerged Gigantamaax Lapras, who Ash witnessed for the very first time. As Gigantamax Lapras, she becomes larger in size and more armoured. Her shell resembled a cruise ship and an ocarina at the same time. A light blue ring of fine thin lines resembling a musical sheet created from ice particles circles around its shell.
"Sweet Celestia..." Flurry Heart's jaw dropped. "You could hit like 5,000 ponies in there. Maybe even more." Shooting Star held out his Pokedex to try and see what was up with this form.
"Lapras. The Ride Pokemon. Gigantamax Form. Over 5,000 people can ride on its shell at once. And it’s a very comfortable ride, without the slightest shaking or swaying. It surrounds itself with a huge ring of gathered ice particles. It uses the ring to smash any icebergs that might impede its graceful swimming."
"Well, you're on the nose about 5,000..." His jaw dropped in disbelief. "So this is Gigantamax?"
"My Lapras and I will crush you! She's my ace in the hole for a reason! You should have brought that Z-Move of yours or anything else to take on this giant!"
"Bring it on! We're taking you and her down!"
"Dragonite!"
"I'd like to see you try! Here's our absolute best! Lapras! G-Max Resonance!"
"PRAS!" With a thunderous yet beautiful cry, Lapras raised her head, summoning an absolutely gargantuan ice block. It appeared above everyone else, reaching out of the stadium itself thanks to its overwhelming size. Indeed, Lapras had an Ice-Type move availabe for something like this to exist. After summoning the massive ice sphere, she was ready to drop it.
"Meet it with Hurricane!"
"Draa!" Dragonite would try and use her own massive move. In this case, it would be Hurricane. By taking flight, Dragonite would get up close and personal with Lapras. By flapping her wings, she summoned a great gust of wind the second the sphere was dropped.
Two great powers clashed as the Ice Sphere was being carried by the fierce wind. Dragonite made it large enough to carry the giant Ice Sphere. And by doing this, a great storm was whipped up. Ice Shards were flying everywhere, hitting the barriers of the stadium.
The crowd gasped as the shards would violently crash and stab the barrier. But thankfully, they were well-built to protect them from such damage, even if things were ramping up.
Dragonite tried keeping the resonance at bay, however, it managed to descend. Dragonite used the last of Hurricane to shield herself as the move made contact.
"D-Dra!" Dragonite screamed as she went flying back. As for the massive Ice Sphere, it would touch the ground at last, letting out a beautiful light blue pulse. This signature attack also came with a side effect. Immediately, an Aurora Veil was set up. A beautiful array of colours surrounded the entire battlefield, giving Lapras that extra boost in defence.
"With Aurora Veil up, Lapras's defences have soared!" said the Announcer.
"Dragonite! How are you?!"
"D-Dra!" Super-effective damage had been done without a doubt. Dragonite growled as she just barely managed to use Hurricane to weaken some of the damage. If it were any other move, it would've been truly successful But G-Max moves were beyond regular moves.
"Let's get up close and personal! Dragon Claw!"
"Dragonite!" Dragonite roared, stomping her feet on the ground before taking flight once more. Moving as fast as she could, she targeted Lapras' face.
"Now, Lapras! Max Geyser!"
"LAPRAS!" Another massive and cold move was incoming. This time, from Lapras' mouth, a titanic blast of water flew out to try and intercept Dragonite. This was certainly large enough to engulf her while also having greater pressure than Hydro Pump.
"Spin over it!"
"RA!" However, with superior speed in the air and by spinning in the air, Dragonite would fly over the geyser, going even higher. Thanks to Dragonite, she was able to avoid the geyser and after evading it, she zoomed through the air at full speed, feeling the wind around her face. She went straight for the top of Lapras' head, delivering her attack there. "Dragonite!"
"L-LAAA!" Lapras cried out as the force of the Dragon Claw was a hefty one. A shockwave could be seen as Lapras's head was lowered by this crushing attack.
"LAPRAS!" Suddenly, Lapras would use all of her body weight to lunge into the air instead of using a Max Move. Everyone looked up,p seeing Lapras ascend even higher than Dragonite.
"She's wide open from below! Use Draco Meteor!"
"Gonite!" Dragonite took this as an oppurtunity to unleash Draco Meteor at Lapras's Underbelly. She was a rather large target so there was no way Dragonite was going to miss. The meteor approached Lapras, but as soon as it got close, Lapras started descending.
What was she was going for was a version of Body Slam, even though she didn't have the move on her. All of her body weight was about to drop Dragonite. The Draco Meteor was interrupted, unable to properly go off as Lapras overpowered. Dragonite gasped after seeing this massive shadow loom over her, destroying her Draco Meteor.
"Get out of there, Dragonite!"
"Dra..!" But it was too late, Lapras came down relatively quickly thanks to her massive size. Since she was heavier, when falling, she was much faster. Dragonite was soon hit by the falling Lapras which forced her down. With devastating force, Lapras landed on Dragonite, crashing into the ground.
Delia gasped, standing up. That hit was by far the hardest in this entire battle. Being crushed by a Gigantamax Pokemon Certain has to hurt. The stadium floor was already greatly damaged but this added to it. Now, that was a visible crater that had been formed.
"What a hit! Lapras has crushed Dragonite! Is this it?!" The announcer bellowed. Silence filled the arena as the crowd were anticipating the next action. So was the Rotom Drone, who would have to either wait for Lapras to get off Dragonite or see her revert to her original size to judge it.
"Hm. I think so." Melony smiled. "You put up an excellent fight, sweetie. But I'm afraid this is..." But before Melony could finish her sentence, the unthinkable happened.
"LA?" Larpas gasped as she could feel herself leaving the ground for a second time. But this time, it wasn't by her own will. It was being done by someone else. Eyes were wide as they all looked closely to see what could possibly be happening now.
It was being done by Dragonite.
"Dra...GONITE!" Refusing to go down, Dragonite was using all of her might to lift Lapras off her. Every ounce of her strength was being used in this battle. One knee was on the crater but it was now starting to rise. Such power and resilience that was befitting for a Dragon.
"Incredible! Dragonite is lifting Lapras off the ground! It withstood that?!"
"But that can't be!" Melony howled in disbelief. How could Dragonite still be standing after that?
"Now, Dragonite! Ascend!"
"Dragonite!" Letting out the most ferocious roar she's ever let out, Dragonite would take flight, carrying the Gigantamax Pokemon into the air. Lapras was unable to do anything. She was stuck, trying her best to respond. But with her massive size and the way her body was built, there was no advantage here. Dragonite went higher. Higher and higher. Eventually, she went passed the stadium, showing Lapras to the entirety of Circhester.
"Now, throw her!"
"Nite" To finish it off, Dragonite would then launch the Ride Pokemon down, generating incredible force. A temporary tornado was formed based on the force that Dragonite threw Lapras at.
"Hyper Beam!"
"Dragonite!" To really finish things off, Dragonite unleashed Hyper Beam, firing it right as Lapras was descending. The beam struck Lapras' stomach, causing her to fall even faster. A devastating combo, followed up by a devastating impact. A great explosion went off, eclipsing the stadium.
Dragonite breathed in and out as her wings were shuddering. She was only able to stay in the air out of sheer willpower even if it harmed her. That was by far the most force she's ever had to exert and she showed everyone the true extent of her power.
With her size decreasing thanks to a red glow, Lapras certainly couldn't handle all of that even with the Aurora Veil up, which would soon fade away. Lapras had fainted.
"Lapras..."
"Lapras is unable to battle. Dragonite wins! Thus, the victor of the Ultra Class battle is Ash!" The referee called it. The battle was over. And what a way to finish it.
"Alright! Dragonite, we did it!" Ash jumped repeatedly, celebrating his victory in this chilling yet heated battle.
"Dra! Dragonite!" Elated by this victory, Dragonite flew over, ready to give out one of her hugs. Dragonite picked Ash up as the two embraced each other. The Dragon Pokemon swirled around the air, laughing uncontrollably.
"As such, the result of this battle will change the rankings of the Pokemon World Championships." said the Rotom Drone. On the massive screen, the rankings have been updated. Ash's new rank was now shown. He was now Ranked 25.
"Challenger Ash is Ranked 25 in the World Championships leaderboards!" The announcer exclaimed. The crowd applauded such an amazing battle, especially the Samiyas who were grateful to see their King obtain victory in such an amazing way. This was only one way Ash manages to win with style.
"He's ranked 25 now! That's even higher! He's close to 10 and even closer to 8!" Flurry Heart stood up.
"That's my boy." Delia sighed as her heart was racing for a moment.
"Mom's not gonna be beat up by this," Gordie observed before feeling jealous. "I wish that was me! I would've done cool things too in that battle! Mom's so lucky!"
"Thank you, Lapras, dear. You did your best." Melony walked up to Lapras, helping her up.
"Lapras."
"Ash, dear." Melony would soon approach Ash. "I suppose your mother wins this one. You gave me possibly my most enjoyable battle to date. This is worth the wait. Seems like there are some Dragons that are just out of my reach."
"Dragonite!" Dragonite was kind enough to give a hug to Melony as well, thanking her for the battle. Soon, Melony was involved in this hug, turning it into a group hug. "Dra!" After that fierce battle, Dragonite retained her innocent nature.
"Aw, you're so sweet!" Melony didn't mind it at all. "I'll be wishing you all the luck in the world for when you get to Leon. I know you'll make it to the Masters 8, Ash."
"I won't let you down, Melony!"
With Ash catching another victory, his road to the Masters 8 was shortening. Other fierce battles were waiting for him. Other opponents who had strong drives to win and wouldn't make it easy on him. But that was what made it so fun for Ash and he wasn't about to slow down any time soon.
On this day, out in a mountainous area found in the Kanto Region, Ash Ketchum and his friends were on their journey. A moment in time that was just a part of Ash's memory. And at this moment, Ash was pulling what appeared to be a cart of Pokemon food.
"Hehe! Lucky me! All this Pokemon food after winning that Hoop Contest was worth it! My throwing skills are unmatched!" Ash cheered. This cart of food that could feed any Pokemon for a year or more had been won in a contest that Ash managed to succeed at.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu was especially happy about this, sitting in the cart. He could smell the food already.
"I have a lot of work behind me, don't I?" For Brock, this meant that he would have to do plenty of cooking. He certainly wasn't going to be low on resources any time soon.
"How'd you even get so good at that, Ash?" Misty asked.
"Heh. I used to play Junior League Baseball." Ash bragged, putting on a proud face. "That's how I'm so good at catching Pokemon, ya know. I could've gone pro if I didn't see that battle on TV."
"As if." Misty found that concept to be ludicrous. Ash being a pro at something seemed very farfetched.
"Yeah, whatever. If something about baseball comes up, you can bet I've still got it in me." Ash scoffed before using more of his strength to pull the cart up a hill. "Plus! I've got all this strength to pull the cart so it's pretty obvious that-"
However, before he could finish his sentence, something unexpected occurred. Something that should not have happened at all during this moment in time. A sudden ripple in time went off. A large portal could be seen opening up above them, unleashing a booming sound and forming a wind pressure. Ash, Misty and Brock all dropped their jaws while their hairs were blowing from the pressure, witnessing the amazing sight before them. This was most certainly unexpected but it was about to be truly unprecedented.
Because emerging out of that portal was none other than the Guardian and Creator of Time. Dialga. Ash should have never met Dialga at this point his time. To say he was astonished was an understatement. His friends were equally taken aback.
"Wow..."
Equestria. Ponyville. The Pokemon House. Day.
At a different point in time, coming all the way back to the present day, Ash was present at the Pokemon House, helping Fluttershy care for the Pokemon.
"I got this!" He held up a long broom, ready to clean up a room belonging to the Fire-Types. Plenty of dust had been gathered as well as some destroyed objects. Most likely from play fighting. Naturally, these rooms had to be cleaned out. "All this destruction's gonna fizzle out in no time, Fluttershy!"
"Go for it, Ash!" Fluttershy cheered. Ash grit his teeth before going to work. He was about to go wild with the broom until something occurred. Much like what happened 23 years ago, another time portal appeared.
Ash paused after hearing this booming sound. Everyone in the Pokemon House were alerted by this sound. All eyes turned this Time Portal that made a sudden appearance. And Ash certainly didn't recognize it at all. As if that moment 23 years ago never happened.
Once more, a large entity would emerge from the portal. But it wasn't Dialga. Instead, it was the Rift-Dialga. The other variation of Dialga created by the combined energy of Arceus and the Rift, being a weaker yet still formidable version of the Temporal Pokemon.
Something was greatly amiss. For starters, seeing Rift-Dialga again raised many questions about what this could mean. And the fact that the real Dialga was currently in the past only elevated that.
"Dialga?" Ash gawked. "Rift-Dialga?"
At the same time, in different points in time, Ash and his past self were having different reactions. One was astounded by what he saw while the other was confused and on high alert immediately. Both of them saw different Dialgas. But what neither of them expected was what came next.
In unison, the two Dialgas let out a roar, synchronizing. The real Dialga unleashed a Diamond Blue flash while the Rift-Dialga made a mixture of Blue and Gold. Both lights eclipsed their respective areas but with no destructive intent. The entire Pokemon House and the mountainous area were untouched by these flashes. Neither were the Pokemon present or even the Humans.
However, someone was most definitely affected. And that someone was Ash, who was instantly knocked back by this flash. Both Ashs were. The young Ash crashed into a nearby tree while the older Ash hit the walls of the Fire-Type room. After that, Rift-Dialga's body would start dispersing. This was its way of departing as its body turned into particles, re-entering the portal it came through. The portal would shrink, showing its departure. As for the real Dialga, it let out another roar before suddenly being pulled in through its own portal.
And it didn't look like it was being done willingly. Dialga struggled to resist going back in, but it failed to do so. With that, both Dialgas suddenly vanished.
"Oh my goodness! Ash! Are you okay?!" Fluttershy ran up to her friend, concerned about him after hitting the wall hard. No one saw that coming from a mile away. It just happened and that was the end of it.
"Pika-Pi?!"
"I think so..." Ash groaned, holding onto his head. Thankfully, there were no injuries. "But man...What was that all about? What do you think, Brock?"
"Brock?" Fluttershy wondered why Ash suddenly brought up Brock's name after hitting the wall. But as soon as Ash opened his eyes, something was off once more. He had an immediate reaction to seeing Fluttershy's face.
"Waaaah!" He bellowed, as if Fluttershy's face was rather surprising, even though he knew who she was. Or at least, he should at this point in time.
"What's wrong, Ash?" A confused Fluttershy asked. It looked like Ash had seen a ghost or something.
"W-What Pokemon are you!?"
"Hah?"
"Oh, man..." Back in the past, Ash stood back up after hitting the tree. "What was that all about? How come it showed up now?
"Ash! Are you alright?!" Sharing equal concern was Misty along with Brock and Pikachu.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about it Flutter..." However, when getting back up and opening his eyes, Ash saw someone else while also trying to speak the name of Fluttershy. "Shy?" Instead, he saw Misty. "Misty? Brock? When did you get here?"
"I think he hit himself a bit too hard on the tree," said Brock. "Are you sure you're alright, Ash? Maybe you need to rest for a moment after what just happened."
"What? I..." the King of the Sea blinked before feeling something different. He noticed that his voice sounded a bit younger than before. He even appeared shorter than he used to be. When holding his hand out, he saw that he was wearing his old gloves from when he started his Pokemon Journey. This should not be strange to him but it was. And for one clear reason. He was back in the past as his 10-Year-Old Self. "No way!"
Both Ash Ketchums from different points in time have switched bodies. The past and the present have interacted with each other once more but in a different way.
And once again, they both had different reactions. The older Ash knew what his younger self looked like and was truly bewildered by this while the younger Ash, who was now in older Ash's body immediately noticed a change and was rather excited about it. He felt his voice change as he sounded much older and taller than before.
"What's up with this?! What did Dialga do!?" The Ash of the present bellowed, perplexed by this. "I'm 10 Years Old Again?!"
"Maybe he got hit in the head too hard..." Misty uttered.
"Easy, Ash. That pulse really hit you. And only you, for some reason." Brock added, trying to ease Ash down. He looked over at Brock and Misty before looking at the cart of Pokemon Food. He remembered this moment long ago. 23 years ago to be exact. "And what was that Pokemon?"
"It was Dialga," Ash answered. "I didn't see it coming at all. I don't even know why it was here all of a sudden."
"Dialga?" This would be Misty's first time hearing this name, including Brock. Brock would eventually know who Dialga was but thanks to this sudden incident, he knew about Dialga earlier than before.
"It must have aged me back. But I still have my memories about the future. I wonder if the Rift's on the move again..." Ash turned around, pondering about the situation, taking it completely seriously. And why wouldn't he? He was back to being 10 Years Old once more and was back in the past while still retaining his memories of the present.
"I'm confused...What's going on?" Misty scratched her hair. "What do you mean by Rift? And the future?"
"If I kept my memories even in this body, then this isn't our usual time travel." Ash deduced. "What about my 10-Year-Old self's memories...?"
"This is awesome!" Meanwhile, 10-year-old Ash, who was now in his older self's body, was jumping for joy. He was already getting used to his older body. He was also amazed by the scenery around him. This was his first time seeing the Pokemon House and it was marvelous. It was also his first time witnessing a pony, instantly mistaking Fluttershy for a Pokemon. "I don't know what just happened but I love it!"
"Ash? Do you...need to lie down?"
"Nope!" Ash chuckled. "And you're pretty neat Pokemon. You can talk too just like Meowth? And there's all these Pokemon too?!"
"Um..." Fluttershy scrunched her face before looking over at Pikachu. "Pikachu...I think something is very wrong here. Whatever it is, Rift-Dialga is behind it somehow."
"Pi. Pikachu." Pikachu nodded, agreeing with Fluttershy.
"This is out of our expertise. We'll have to share this with Twilight as soon as possible."
"Wow..." Naturally, Ash strolled off, viewing all the Pokemon here. So many of them were from different regions that he has yet to visit. And even if now that he was in his older self's body, he had no clue who a majority of these Pokemon were. Some of them looked familiar but it was only the Kanto Pokemon.
However, even if he recognizes the Kantonian Pokemon, there were still some he has yet to meet in his journey far back in the past. This meant that some of the Kanto Pokemon were brand new to him. His Pokedex, a very old model, was taken out to scan all of these Pokemon around him. And on top of that, he would venture through the rest of the Pokemon House. For Ash, this was the best day ever.
But for the Ash stuck in the past, while it was far from the worst, it certainly brought some problems.
"So...You're saying you come from the future?" Misty uttered. "Already, the current day Ash stuck in his younger body explained what he could to Misty, not wasting any time. "If that's true, then what am I like?"
"You're still pretty awesome in the future, Misty." He answered truthfully, sitting on a rock and trying to figure things out at the moment. "I miss you a lot, honestly."
"Miss me? Don't tell me I'm-" Misty pulled back, fearing that this meant that she must have perished.
"Nothing bad's happened to you. You show up here and there." Thankfully, Ash staved that fear away from her. "It's not uncommon for us to meet up multiple times. It's happened again but...this time in the past."
"Maybe pass on the spoilers, Ash. If you do come from the future, then saying something might mess it up." Brock warned. "At least, that's what usually happens. It's what I've heard. And you seem to know about that Pokemon. What was that Pokemon anyway?"
"Yeah. It was blue, it looked like it was made out of diamond and it was absolutely massive. You said it was Dialga, right?"
"Blue? Rift-Dialga has a golden appearance on it." Ash squinted his eyes. Misty and Brock saw the real Dialga instead while Ash saw a different one in the present. "You must've seen its original form. That means that both the Original Dialga and Rift-Dialga showed up! If those two are moving at the same time, then no wonder time feels pretty weird right now."
"A Pokemon that has control over time?" Misty gawked. "And you sound like you know a lot about it too. What happens in the future anyway?"
"All I gotta do is focus on getting back home. Something's definitely up for both Dialgas to be moving at the same time. I'm far from home. And there's no way there's a gateway here either. This is the roughest spot I've been in yet."
"Pikachu..." But even with this temporal confusion, he had his friends by his side. Pikachu was still his friend no matter the timeline as he crawled up to Ash's arm, nuzzling his face. Misty and Brock will always be his friends too. Ash dug into his pocket while rubbing Pikachu's neck, holding out his Poke Balls. The Pokemon he's caught up to this point were also there for him.
"But it's not the hardest you've had to deal with." A voice replied to Ash. It seems that these surprises weren't finished just yet. Near them, a blue light would appear in the form of a pillar, grabbing their attention. What could it possibly be this time? Or rather, who could it be?
Equally as surprising as Dialga, the one to show up here was none other than Sheena.
"Sheena! Boy, am I glad to see you!" Ash stood up as Sheena was a very positive sign. After all, she's travelled through time with Ash before.
"Wow!" Brock's eyes lit up. He has also done the same with Sheena. If anything, this was half a reunion. Brock was meeting her for the first time even though his future self knew about her. Immediately, he would rush over to Sheena, kneeling in front of her.
"Ash, we-" Before Sheena could say anything, Brock was already there. "Huh?"
"It's good to know that the future still has so much beauty with it! Or maybe you're from the past? Ah, it doesn't matter! This kind of beauty is generational!"
"Nice to meet you too, Brock. It's been a while."
"A while?" Brock said, realizing what this could mean. "We've met before? Does that mean...?"
"Ash. I'm glad you were able to catch on to it quickly. It's been some time since we've last met."
"Yeah. I was looking for you back at Michina Town. Glad to see you here, Sheena. And since you're here, you probably know what's up." Ash approached his fellow Time Traveller. "Did Dialga bring you here too?"
"It may be a few minutes late, but I'm here. Dialga did bring me here but there has been quite a mistake. One that could greatly sway the arc of time." Sheena explained. "It seems that both Dialgas are now fully aware of each other."
"They are?" Ash gasped. For the longest, both Dialgas were not aware of each other's existence. But now, they most certainly were, which would explain why they both appeared at the same time. "So then, the real Dialga Misty and Brock saw and the Rift-Dialga I saw back in the present..."
"Was an example of both of them clashing. Rift-Dialga has managed to act on its own and it seems its first target was you, Ash. You may have figured it out now, but in short...the consciousness of your younger self and older self have been switched. As we speak, your younger self from 23 years ago is in the present."
"That can't be!" Misty made a prolonged gasp. "Is that what happened?!"
"So then...he's way older than he should be right now?! Or is? Was?" Brock was getting confused, unable to find the right wording for this.
"The Rift-Dialga is trying to escape from the real Dialga. And with these two powerful Time Forces on the move, your consciousness being swapped isn't the only thing that will be affected."
Twilight's Castle.
"Sweet! Check this place out!" Ash was brought to the rest of Ponyville, where he saw its residents. And the main source of assistance was Twilight Sparkle. Fluttershy could trust Twilight with something like this which she couldn't understand at all. If it involved Dialga, then Twilight was the pony to meet.
"You have to help, Twilight. Earlier, he used the Pokedex on somepony, thinking he was a Pokemon." Fluttershy pleaded. "Plus, I still have no idea what's with the appearance Rift-Dialga appearance."
"I understand. Obviously, there's some Time Trouble happening but we can sort it out as soon as possible before it gets out of hand."
"Hm...No info again?" Ash held out his Pokedex, aiming it at Twilight Sparkle but with no result. "What gives?"
"I'm sorry to tell, you Ash. But Fluttershy's right. We're not Pokemon." Twilight replied.
"You're not? So then...What's up with this place?" A confused Ash wondered. "And where's Misty and Brock? I still haven't seen them at all." Despite his fascination with this colourful new world, he was still thinking about Misty and Brock. He couldn't ignore his friends at all.
"He acts like he doesn't know about us at all. Do you think Dialga regressed his mind?" Fluttershy asked.
"I'm not sure. Mentally, he's 10 but he appears older than that. It's not farfetched to believe that Dialga can regress the mind of someone. It has complete power over time. But if that's the case, it would've shown up by now since this is all wrong. Rift-Dialga being here is a bad sign. The last time we saw it, it was attacking the Rocketship and the Galaxy Tower along with Rift-Palkia and Giratina."
"Maybe it might show up again. Ooh!" Something came up in Fluttershy's mind. "Maybe you can use that spell that allows you to go through time! Starswirl is around now, so I'm sure he doesn't mind you using it."
"I mean, that's not a bad idea. The problem is that I don't know where to go." Twilight had no lead. "If I knew what point in time to head to, I would. But unlike Starlight, there's no lead. And Rift-Dialga's a different story compared to Starlight. But I'll still try and figure something out. First, I'll ask Ash a few questions. Hey, Ash-"
It was too late. Ash was already gone. His curiosity was always going to get the better of him in this scenario. How could he not wander off? Twilight's face would scrunch while her pupils shrank. This did not spell any good news.
"Not good! He's already gone?!" The Princess of Friendship screeched.
"Audi didn't even hear his footsteps. How did he get out of our sight so quickly?"
"Audino." Audino just didn't know. For him to sneak away to the point where Audino couldn't hear him was eerie. What matters at the moment was finding Ash before something goes wrong. Audino would try and focus on his current footsteps, hoping he hasn't gotten too far.
"Let's find him before it's too late. Handling this version of Ash is going to be tough. I don't have a clue how to deal with him." Twilight already sensed the problems she was about to face. The Ash she knew was very much mature and since this Ash still had his 10-Year-Old Mind, it was very obvious how this was going to go.
"I can handle that." For the second time, at a different point in time, another surprise guest had arrived. But it wasn't by Dialga or even Rift-Dialga. Instead, someone just casually entered Twilight's Castle.
The door opened and the new guest turned out to be Misty. First Sheena, now Misty. Ash was looking for Misty but it wasn't the one he knew about. Yet. This was current-day Misty.
"Misty? You're here too?" said the young alicorn before she could get moving. "Don't tell me you've been in a similar scenario?"
"It's not what you think, Twilight. I was just told to come here. Specifically, on this very day. You're dealing with the current Ash problem, right?" Misty spoke, letting herself in. She was already aware of this scenario, being ahead of Twilight, surprisingly.
"Uh...How did you know?" Naturally, the alicorn needed answers. How was Misty already aware of this? It sounded like she truly did come from the past, But she already knew who Twilight was so that couldn't be the case. "What's going on exactly?"
"Something that happened 23 years ago. Ash told me to meet him at this very spot at your castle." Misty explained. "And it looks like I'm right on time because you're already looking for him. If you need someone to handle 10-Year-Old Ash, leave it to me."
"Wait, he is 10?!" That came as a shock to them. He was truly mentally 10. They were right about Dialga affecting his mind but it wasn't a regression. Not at all. Instead, Ash's mind has been swapped. Two different points in time with two different levels of maturity active.
One was trying to get to the bottom of this while the other was focused on solving it as soon as possible. They both had help from each side. But what truly mattered was Rift-Dialga. Now that it made an appearance after being absent for a while, that was a potential sign of the Rift being active once more. As the journey continues.
Unexpectedly, Ash Ketchum has gone through a bit of a consciousness swap. Done by a sudden clash between Dialga and Rift-Dialga, the 10-year-old Ash swapped consciousness with his older self. Now, in two different points in time, they were both stuck. In the past, Sheena had arrived to fix this while in the present, Fluttershy was counting on Twilight to do the same, trusting her intelligence.
"Ash told you to come here? How?" Twilight spoke to Misty, who had shown up to solve this issue as well. And apparently, Misty was already aware of it.
"I know it's strange. It was 23 years ago. That's when he told me to come and find him here. It's pretty weird to me...I was just swimming back at my Gym, when all of a sudden, that popped up in my head. "Misty described in the best way she could. "He sounded very serious about it too. But I know for a fact it was his older self, even though he looked young."
"How does that work?" Fluttershy wondered.
"It's a lot to say." The Tomboy Mermaid replied, knowing how bizarre it was to say this. Since both Ashs have switched consciousness, she had to elaborate and give plenty of context. "But I remember it. Ash went on about how he swapped consciousness with his younger self and after that, he told me to show up here."
"Wait...His older mind got sent back to his younger mind?" Astonished, Twilight pulled back after deducing what Misty shared. "And you still remember that?"
"Pretty much. I took it seriously back then and even though time passed and we went our separate ways, only to reunite here and there, I never forgot about that request. Mainly because Ash kept bringing it up. Brock was told to do the same but...I think he's rather busy at the moment compared to me."
"Way to go, Ash!" Twilight applauded Ash's forward-thinking approach. It was clever of him to make a request. "But, we have to make this right. We need to put time back to how it originally as and make sure your adventures with Ash remain the same. There's a good chance you had different adventures with a more mature Ash alongside you."
"Hm. That's true." The Gym Leader closed her eyes, putting on a smile. "I was so lucky, you have no idea. Ash was just so...smooth."
"Smooth?" Twilight perked up for a moment. "What do you mean by that?"
"Oh? Haven't you figured it out yet? With an older Ash up here, he looks so much more capable than you can imagine. It's rather sweet what he says and how he acts. And since he's still in the past, I get to relive those charming moments again technically." Misty winked, knowing what she was doing. Twilight paused for a moment before shaking her head.
"...We need to fix things. Immediately!" Twilight uttered. "What else did he say?"
"Well, he then told me that I should take him to Pegalysium. I'm not sure why there of all places." Misty laid out the destination. Pegalysium is where Ash asked her to head to.
"Pegalysium?" Fluttershy said as she and Twilight looked at each other. "Why there?"
"Whatever the reason is for choosing Pegalysium, hopefully, back in the past, Ash is doing what he can to fix this." Twilight had full faith in Ash since he informed Misty of this in the past already. She believed in Ash to set things right. "Now let's go and find him and bring him along."
Kanto. 23 Years Ago. Day.
"You want us to go to...Pegalysium? What's that?" At this point in time, this was when Ash informed Misty and Brock of this message. It relayed all the way to the present.
"If Ash tells you this, your present-day self will carry it out," Sheena explained. "Even if the timeframe is completely different, these words will transfer to the present since Ash is misplaced in the wrong time."
"I know one of you will be busy. But even if one of you can't make it, I can still count on you." Ash said with a reassuring tone. "And my new friends in the future too. Feels great to have friends across time."
"Now that you've shared this, I can check up on the present to see what your 10-Year-Old self is up to. I was able to travel through time by reaching Dialga despite its pursuit of its Rift Variant."
"How come Dialga and Rift-Dialga were clashing? I know they're different from each other but..." Ash questioned.
"Because Rift-Dialga is something that is not allowed to exist in the eyes of Dialga. As the Creator and Guardian of time, it is Dialga's job to maintain time and keep it the way it is. And that involves this new timeline that was formed after you made that wish with Jirachi, Ash. Now, Dialga will protect the Grander World we live in. Even if it alters so much.
"So, Dialga wants to keep it like that too, huh? Sweet." Ash felt some relief. He did wonder how Dialga of all Pokemon would react to the two worlds finally becoming one. A new timeline has been made.
"But Rift-Dialga has a similar power. While it isn't on the level of the Dialga we know, that doesn't stop it from interacting with time. Since it works under the Rift, not only are its actions chaotic and random, such as your consciousness being swapped but there is a chance it could try and reset things."
"What?! Reset things?!" Ash gasped. Misty, Brock and Pikachu still had absolutely no idea what was going on or what was being said. "You mean it might put us back to square one?!"
"Potentially. It could take you back to the time when you first tried to reach all of the Trapped Jirachis and prevent the wish from being made. Its actions are hard to read, however. It might do it. It might not."
"Hmm...But we beat the Rift to it." Ash pondered, walking around in circles. "We made a promise that fateful day. That if we reached Jirachi first and made that wish, then the Rift wouldn't reset everything to how it was. But the Rift hasn't done that much ever since then. All it ever did was bring Galaxy Master to Magehold. Unless it's changing its mind."
"Maybe. The Rift is an entity I'm trying to figure out myself. My power to read the emotions of Pokemon are limited to only Pokemon. If only I could reach it much like how I reach Pokemon. But with Dialga chasing its Rift-Variant, you won't have to worry too much about things being reset, Ash."
"What about Rift-Palkia? It must be out there somewhere too."
"I haven't gotten to Rift-Palkia yet. It's harder to tell where it might be. But if I had to guess, there's a chance it could try and reset things as well. And the way it could do so is by sending certain places, people, ponies or Pokemon back to where they originally came from." Sheena theorized. "But that has yet to be seen.
"What have you been through in the future, Ash?" Misty questioned.
"Oh, this is just small potatoes compared to what else I've done." Ash grinned, winking at his friends. And he certainly wouldn't tell them that they've been involved in some of these wild events too.
"No spoilers, Ash," Sheena added.
"By the way, Sheena. This isn't about time, but there's something I've been meaning to ask you." Something else came up on Ash's mind that he needed answers to. It relates to Twilight Moonlight and potentially the Time-Space Axis that can be found at Michina Town's ruins. "Do you know about someone named Prisma?"
"Prisma." Sheena's pupils froze for a moment before she put on a serious face. "I do. I expected you to ask about this one day. Not to me but...now that you've asked it, I can share something with you. I know a bit about Prisma. Not everything. From the visions I saw that lasted for a short time, Prisma is someone I can talk about. And if you're wondering...he is indeed a part of you."
Equestria. Ponyville.
Meanwhile, in the present day, Ash was busy exploring the rest of Ponyville. His 10-year-old consciousness was going to miss out on this. His eyes were captivated by the town as he gazed at all the ponies here. Not just that, but it was amazing to see them alongside so many other Pokemon. This felt like a dream to Ash.
"I still don't get how they're not Pokemon." However, he still didn't understand how the ponies didn't classify as Pokemon to him. Just a difference between his younger self and older self. Staying by his side was Pikachu, who would be the one to keep an eye on him. The consciousness may be different but he was still his best friend.
"Ash! Hey, Ash!" Approaching Ash after seeing him was Rainbow Dash. It was only a matter of time until one of his friends went up to him and it happened to be Rainbow Dash. Ash was taken aback by the speed she was moving at, seeing her leave a rainbow trail. He has already seen pegasi flying through the air but neither of them have left a trail behind. "I saw the video! That was an awesome battle!"
"Huh? Battle?" Ash said, confused. He was not aware of the battle his older self had with Melony. Not at all.
"What? Don't remember?" Rainbow Dash chuckled for a moment before holding out a Rotomphone. She had the video which was shared to her by Delia. Every amazing moment from that battle was captured without a single one being missed. Ash would lean over, viewing the video for himself. "I mean, if I finished battling like that, I'd forget some stuff too. But how could I? It was just that fun!"
"Oooh..." After looking at the video, Ash saw himself. There he was, taking on Melony at the Pokemon World Championships. The flash of ice, Aura and draconic energy could be seen going off. He was astonished. That was him out there. Commentary about his battle and how intense it was.
Not only that, but Ash saw that he was battling with Pokemon he never knew he had. This was a highlights reel battle, showing some of the best parts, which was plentiful. Ash saw the Frozen Aura Sphere attack from Lucario, the Rainbow Tornado from Gengar and the mighty slam from Dragonite. Many clips were shown to him as he was now aware of the Pokemon his future self had.
"My personal favourite's the Rainbow Tornado. You know why."
"Those are my Pokemon! Haha! I'm awesome!" Ash pumped his fists into the air, praising himself. He got to see how powerful he was. Or rather, he believed he was that powerful despite the massive gap in time. At this moment, Ash would dig into his pockets, instinctively going for his Pokemon. It took him until now to realize that he had new Pokemon. By throwing these Poke Balls into the air, he summoned all five of them. Dragonite, Gengar, Lucario, Sirfetch'd and Dracovish had arrived.
Ash was truly living a dream. New Pokemon that he never knew caught, right in front of him. He recognized two of them but the rest of them were a mystery. One of them reminded him greatly of Farfetch'd.
"What's up with you today, Ash?" Rainbow Dash questioned, noticing how different Ash was today. He was more excitable than usual and this was in the face of Pokemon he's already seen.
"Pika. Pikachu." Pikachu would hold onto Rainbow Dash's hoof, grabbing her attention.
"What's that, Pikachu?" The pegasus descended to get closer, listening to the Mouse Pokemon.
"Pikachu! Pika-Pi! Pika!" Pikachu tried his best to describe why Ash was acting this way. He would tap his head before transforming his face into the best possible visual example. He managed to tie his ears so that they resembled Ash's hat. He would continue to demonstrate his visual communication, trying to see if Rainbow Dash could deduce it.
"Ash's mind is...uhh..." Unfortunately, she struggled greatly with this task.
"This is great. The future's looking bright. And I bet my strength carries over now that I'm in this body." Ash believed he was that strong since he was in the body of his older self. In Ash's 10-year-old mind, he was as strong as he could be depending on the timeframe. And since he was in the future, his strength must truly be at a new level. "Alright! Who's up for a battle?!"
Dragonite and the others cried out. Ash still had that drive to battle and improve himself, no matter his age. They weren't even aware that Ash's consciousness had been swapped with his younger self. While his 10-year-old self had these new and powerful Pokemon with him, his older self was stuck in the past with some of his first Pokemon.
"So, what's up with you? What's your name?" Ash turned to Rainbow Dash.
"...Oooh..." After hearing that, Rainbow Dash deduced what Pikachu was trying to tell her. At least, for the most part. The one thing she managed to figure out was the fact that Ash's mind might not be all there. "Ash. Something happened to your mind, didn't it?"
"Huh?"
"It's fine. It's fine. Shenanigans are always happening to us." She wrapped her hoof around his neck. "Whatever it is, I'm sure we can figure it out. We always do. And we always win."
"My mind's still here. I'm just older." Ash answered, confusing Rainbow Dash. "I heard what those other ponies back at the castle said. Apparently, my mind's been swapped or something, with my older self. All I know is that I'm pretty awesome in the future. World Championships? That was a given from the start."
"Wait! Are you saying that you're 10 in the head?! How?!"
"Pikachu!" To answer that, Pikachu pointed to Twilight's Castle. She had some answers and could give out the full context.
"And now that I'm here, I'm gonna have tons of fun. I bet I'm as strong as my older self for sure." He pumped his fists. "Everyone here has a Pokemon, so you've gotta be a Pokemon Trainer too."
"Well, I don't know if that's a good idea." Rainbow Dash uttered, rather hesitant. "I mean, this sounds like a Time Travel issue and that stuff just hurts my head. Maybe a battle with you could mess something up."
"Oh? You scared?"
"Scared?!" She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Ash calling her scared was not something she was expecting to hear. Especially the way he said it.
"Hehe. I saw that battle. All that power was off the charts. Which means, I'm too much for you to handle." He said with a grin on his face.
"Pfft! As if! I've taken on some crazy things for the past 4 years. And besides, you're not even the same Ash!" The pegasus pointed out.
"I am the same Ash. I'm just in the future, that's all." He crossed his arms, keeping his confident energy. "My mind's different but my skills are for sure gonna be the same. Unless you can't do it?"
"It was your older self who helped me get stronger. I know for a fact I can beat you! I've taken on 500ft giants!"
"Really?" Ash leaned in, liking what he was hearing.
"I've battled Legendaries, Mythicals and other ponies that have crazy power behind them!"
"Yes...!" Ash rubbed his hands. In all honesty, he was just wanted the chance to take on someone strong. And to show off his supposed inherited skills. The battle between the two was looking like it was about to happen."
"Ash Ketchum!" Before that could happen, Misty had appeared. She showed up right as Ash was about to battle Rainbow Dash. At his mental age, he was rather good at provoking others. And there was no better person he could provoke than Misty. She was present here with Twilight and Fluttershy, who didn't have to go far to find Ash. His squabble with Rainbow Dash gave them enough time.
"Misty! Awesome! You made it here too!" Ash said with a joyous look on his face. He was worried that Misty and Brock were somewhere else but he already saw one of his good friends here.
"And why am I not surprised? You're already starting something with someone." Misty kissed her teeth, shaking her head at Ash's actions. "Typical Ash."
"What's that supposed to mean? Where were you even? And where's Brock?"
"Hmph. Are you blind or something? Can't you see the difference and figure it out?" The Water-Specialist would tap her face. "I'm older than before. Prettier than before. This is the future and I'm mentally mature compared to you. See how beautiful I am?"
"Man. Time hasn't really changed you all that much." Ash gave a quick reply that basically downplayed Misty's beauty.
"Mrrgh!" She narrowed her eyes. She already knew Ash was calling her unattractive. "Hmph! You're not exactly a Prince Charming in the future. Not when you still kept that shaggy hair of yours."
Just like in the past, these two would take shots at each other when the opportunity calls for it. It hasn't changed at all. Or rather, one of the catalysts has managed to find himself in the present to keep that tradition going.
"Forget about that!" Twilight got in front of them. "Let's just focus on setting things right. Ash. Like it or not, we need to get your consciousness back to where it originally was. We need our original Ash back."
"I hear ya. I do wanna head back. I don't know much about time travel, but I heard it can be pretty dicey." Ash was at least aware of that. "That's what I've heard anyway."
"And you'd be right about that. Your older self is already on it. And to make sure we don't let him down, we're going to find the best way to set things right. You won't get to explore Ponyville or the rest of Equestria for that long, I'm afraid."
"Huh?! Why not?!" Ash pulled back. He was very much looking forward to that more than anything.
"Well, if you think about it, you will in the future." Fluttershy brought the upside to this. "If we fix this, time will go on how it usually does and everything we've done together will be the same. So you'll get to see everything either way."
"Our main destination is Pegalysium. That's where we need to be. Once we get there, we'll see what happens." said Twilight, getting back on track. "Your older self in the past told Misty to do so. Just in case we couldn't since time's been disrupted by Rift-Dialga. There would've been the possibility of us never meeting so that's why Misty was chosen."
"What's Pegalysium?" Ash asked before hearing his stomach growl. "And man, I'm hungry...I was gonna eat after having Brock make all that Pokemon Food I won. "Can we at least eat first before heading off?"
"No time for that. You won't have Brock to feed you this time." Misty shut that down immediately, preventing Ash from eating.
"Misty's right. You can eat back in your original timeline." Twilight was on the same page. "Even if you eat fast, knowing you, you'll ask for seconds or find something new to consume."
"But you do have Pinkie Pie. She always has food at the ready." Fluttershy considered Ash's hunger, not wanting him to miss out on any food "It''s important for Ash to have something to eat. You know how he gets without a full stomach, so let's have him eat along the way."
"That's great to hear! Thanks, Fluttershy!" Ash gave his honest thanks to Fluttershy for considering his hunger. Ash was about to feast while heading to Pegalysium.
Kanto. 23 Years Ago. Day.
"The truth is Ash...Prisma truly is within you. That pony known as Twilight Moonlight is very much correct" Sheena spoke to Ash about the Prisma situation, confirming to him that Twilight Moonlight was on to something. Ash was making sure to listen to this closely since it would give him extra context about why Twilight Moonlight was so aggressive.
"So Prisma really is around. And I'm supposed to be Prisma?"
"You and 9 others. You could consider yourselves incarnations of Prisma. However, it was never like that. You're still Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. Your original history was always there...but the Rift got involved. And it did so by creating a short-lived world. It was a Paradise World and essentially an earlier version of the world we now live in."
"Zecora also told me about that. She said that it was a Utopia. Twilight Moonlight comes from that world too. Or she used to." Ash recalled more of what Zecora had heard. "What happened to it?"
"It was the world I saw in my vision. A world that was destroyed. It is similar to the Grander World of the present day. Humans, ponies, dragons, griffons, changelings and Pokemon all lived together in harmony. A true utopia. It had its own history. From start to finish. However, while it lasted for centuries upon centuries like any world would...in reality, it was only around for a split-second."
"A split second? How can that be?!" Brock exclaimed.
"When the Rift first appeared, you are very much aware of the flash, right?" Sheena asked Ash which was followed up by a nod. He knew about the flash that united the worlds. "Well, in the middle of that flash, the Rift created that Utopia by changing our history. But, the Rift then saw that world as a failure and removed it, thus opting to stick with how our worlds usually are. It decided to do what it normally does. Cross our worlds over."
"So, it had an option before all of that? It wanted to make our worlds one from the get-go. But it didn't go through with it?" This came as a surprise to Ash. Other actions from the Rift.
"Funnily enough, ever since you made that wish to Jirachi, you essentially created a variation of that Utopic world. It's not exactly a Utopia yet. But I'd say it's getting there."
"A world that was around for a short time but lasted centuries? How does that even work?" Misty wondered.
"Cosmic powers are strange. But what's important...is that your wish revived some of it, Ash."
"It did?!"
"Because you wished for our worlds to unite, locations and objects that originate from that Short-Lived Utopia have started to appear. The Winged Mountain was the first example. I'm sure you've heard of it by now. On top of that, there's also the fact that some areas have something new in them."
"Twilight Moonlight went straight for the Mirror Pool...and Anabel told me she went to so many other places I've been to, trying to stop Prisma from showing up. So all of that comes from that world. So, some stuff from that world are coming back?"
"We're not sure how much of it is coming back. It seems that some of them show up at random But the most vital one is without a doubt Prisma. Ash. While it may not look like it or feel like it, Prisma is indeed there. And he poses a great threat to us all."
"But I'm totally fine. I'm not possessed or anything. Not even Sombra's a threat. He's my friend now." Ash didn't see anything wrong with him. Judging by what he's heard, this Prisma character was potentially destructive and violent, but there have been no signs of that from Ash. Especially not from his Pokemon Battles.
"Yes, Ash. But there is a possibility. Prisma is lying dormant within you and there is something there that could awaken him." Sheena continued, knowing that Prisma had the potential to return. His soul could influence you or take over you. We're not yet sure what it will take for that to happen, but it can."
"I guess..." Ash grumbled. "What do I do then? Can we get it out? I mean, Applejack's Delta Lucario can knock souls out of bodies."
"Not exactly. Prisma is a different story. Compared to the Despair Plants you've faced, Prisma is you. He isn't another entity, Ash. He exists in you, Red, Hilbert and the others. The best thing to do is to keep him concealed. Can you do that for us, Ash?" Sheena requested.
"I can do that. I can keep him away." Ash nodded. He would try his best to keep Prisma at bay if he ever shows signs of appearing.
"Alright. Now, to focus on getting your consciousness back. And the main way to do that is to wait for another time portal to show up."
"How will we know when it'll show up?" Misty questioned.
"When Twilight and the others reach Pegalysium, they'll find out. And most importantly, I have to meet with Dialga and Rift-Dialga. It's best to put a stop to this as soon as possible. Rift-Dialga might want to reset everything, but I wish to speak with it. It's still a Pokemon after all and I believe I can communicate with it as well."
"Okay...but where are we gonna find both Dialgas afterwards?" Brock asked, bringing another big question
"Doctor Whooves can handle that for us," Sheena revealed that she wasn't working alone. The fact that she was using 'We' the entire time confirmed it but Ash didn't think that Doctor Whooves involved in this somehow. That brought some more hope to him.
Right now, all Ash could do was wait here in the past until his 10-year-old self reaches his destination and the method to bringing their minds back to normal could be completed. Thankfully, Pegalysium seemed to be the main destination and whatever was there, could lead to the solution as the journey continues.
Still, the young Ash and the older Ash have had their consciousness swapped across time with no solution in sight. The only thing they could do was head to Pegalysium while also keeping both Dialgas in mind.
At SugarCube Corner, Twilight and some of her friends had arrived, here to stock Ash up with food. Fluttershy took this younger Ash's appetite into consideration, knowing how drained Ash can be without anything to snack on. And when entering SugarCube Corner, Ash got to witness this colourful pastry paradise. Ash was a sucker for food and this only added to his happiness today. First, new Pokemon he's never seen before and now an abundance of food? Glorious.
"This really is the best day ever! All that's missing is a battle!" Ash uttered with glee. Since he was mentally 10 again, he was greatly elated. The true embodiment of a kind in a candy store.
"Thanks for the food, Pinkie. Ash needs it." Thanking Pinkie for this quick snack was Twilight
"No problem! I mean, I didn't even think he was that different from the Ash we know. Seems the same to me."
"Yeah, for the most part." Rainbow Dash grizzled her teeth, recalling her argument with Ash earlier. 10-year-old Ash seemed to be a pro at strumming up others. "The sooner we get the original Ash back the better."
"Hey. I am the original!" Ash shouted while stuffing his mouth with cupcakes. He technically wasn't wrong. No matter what the instance, he would always be Ash Ketchum. "How come you're making me seem like a fake?"
"No offence, but we're way past this version of you, Ash," Misty smirked. "Out with the old and in with the new."
"Well, that went over your head since you're still wearing that." Ash gave a powerful retort immediately. His quick replies to Misty carried over.
"Have you told everypony about this yet?"
"Not at all Applejack, Rarity and the others don't know about this. But after we're done with this, we can put this to rest and never remember it," said Twilight. "Plus, if this gets out, Ash's enemies are gonna take full advantage of it."
"Eugh. I don't even wanna know what Ghetsis would do if he found out about this. He already took advantage of stealing Ash's body that one time." Rainbow Dash shuddered. If Ghetsis ever found out about Ash's current situation, the opportunities and outcomes could be terrifying
"Relax." Ash wiped his mouth of cupcake bits. He was fully energized, having his fill for the day. "No one's gonna get me and this'll all be over. Plus, I've got a great future to look forward to!"
"At least he's not fixated on staying behind. That would've brought even bigger problems."
"Time to get going. Let's head to Pegalysium. Wherever that is. Uh...Where's Pegalysium, actually?" He asked, unaware of its location. He was absolutely going to love what was coming next without a doubt.
Ash and the others left SugarCube Corner, finally ready to head to Pegalysium. While Ash was in agreement to regain his original consciousness, he was still yearning for that drive to battle. So far, it looked like nothing would try and initiate a battle. That is until he heard a ringing sound.
The Rotomphone he had was currently active, informing him of a potential Pokemon World Championships Battle. Reacting to this, Ash took his Rotomphone out which prompted Rainbow Dash to act as soon as possible. As soon as the phone emerged, the pegasus would swiftly remove it from Ash's grasp.
"Huh, hey?!" Ash shouted as soon as the phone was ripped from his hands. He had just found out about it and just like that, it was gone.
"Just an unknown caller! Don't worry about it!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed before instantly shutting off the phone.
"What are you doing, Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked. In response, Rainbow Dash huddled up her friends except for Ash, deciding to talk in private.
"Just keeping this Ash away from a Pokemon World Championships Battle. If he battles, he could totally mess up Ash's rank and I'm not about to let that happen."
"Oh. I thought it was because we had to make it to Pegalysium quickly." Fluttershy had something different in mind.
"Yeah, yeah. That too. But mostly the first one. Ash and I are both aiming for the top and I can't let him fall behind because of this guy." Having high respect for Ash, Rainbow Dash couldn't allow him to fall behind just because of a consciousness swap.
Ash was looking for that battle and the opportunity for it had been taken away. Rainbow Dash was looking out for his friend by also stripping him of what he loves to do. The respect she has for Ash as a fellow Pokemon Trainer was massive as well as how Ash inspires everyone else.
An Unknown Dimension.
Out there, there existed a dimension which possessed a spiral appearance. Much like the Distortion World or Discord's Chaos Realm, this was an area that was hard to reach. The skies were all blue, having white spirals as the clouds and the stars. The surface appeared as rocks which was relatively standard and unlike Discord's Chaos Realm, this location had a very stable surface. There were no separated parts whatsoever. However, this also meant that it had seemingly an endless flat surface.
And sitting here in this dimension was a booth. An odd item to be found here. It was rather misplaced while also appearing in peak condition. This dimension didn't seem to be hazardous for the most part. Appearing in this dimension was a flash of light and out of it emerged Sheena. She had just returned from the past 23 years ago. But it wasn't done by her. She had no such power. Instead, it was done by what was in the booth.
"Doctor. I've told Ash about what's happened." Sheena said as the door to the phone booth opened up. This belonged to none other than Doctor Hooves. Another pony from Ponyville, who was definitely far from his original home. When the booth opened up and Sheena was invited in, it was his entire workshop as it appeared much larger on the inside. "What about Dialga?"
"Which one?" He said, asking about either Dialga since both of them are on the move. "They haven't shown up here yet."
"They'll show up again. Rift-Dialga will appear and Dialga will follow after it."
"And they will show up the closer Ash gets to his destination." Hooves continued. "So far, Ash is its only target. And we're going to make sure he's the last target. Obviously, there's some sort of vendetta against him. The Rift is still not happy about Ash succeeding in getting that wish. Among other things."
"I also told Ash about Prisma. He's promised to keep Prisma concealed. We don't know what can cause Prisma to appear which is a positive and a negative."
"I'd worry about Prisma a lot." Hooves replied, aware of Prisma. It wasn't just Sheena, Twilight Moonlight, Silver Swirl and the residents of that other universe. Prisma's existence was not invisible. At least, when it comes to his name. His physical appearance is very much invisible. "Especially since new things from that Short-Lived World keep showing up. If it keeps up, very soon, our world will replicate it perfectly. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing though..."
"That depends. Have you spoken to N and Kevin about this yet?"
"Mrrgh." Doctor Hooves grumbled, specifically at N's name. "N is always doing his own thing. I've haven't heard back from your fiance just yet. But never mind that. Once Rift-Dialga shows up, my machine will go off and let us know where it is. What about the Ash that's ended up in the present? I can send you to him."
"No. He's probably already on his way to Pegalysium. Just like how Ash counted on Misty, he also counted on Twilight Sparkle and the others."
"Ah?" At that moment, the modules started acting up, alerting the Doctor who had no medical expertise based on what he was working with. "Sounds like Rift-Dialga's on the move again."
"Where is it heading this time?" Sheena leaned in, ready to meet with Rift-Dialga as soon as possible.
"It's heading back to the present. But it seems like it's going straight for Pegalysium this time.
Pegalysium.
The trip to Pegalysium was an enjoyable one for 10-year-old Ash. He got to experience the special cloud pathway that led to the skies. Moving up to the nation in the skies was very much thrilling as he was still grinning from ear to ear after that ride.
"A whole land in the skies?! How about that...?" Pegalysium's existence was also wonderful to him. His older self has already witnessed everything here and back down at Equestria but this was technically a new experience. Pegalysium, being a nation that randomly switches locations thanks to the moving clouds that carry it, had a new layout. Thankfully, Twilight had the right map for this exact layout, making the trip easier.
"Alright. Now that we're here...I'm not sure what to do next." Misty pondered. "Ash told me to come here 23 years ago with him but that was about it."
"Yeah uh...what are we supposed to do?" Rainbow Dash asked. "We didn't just come up here to see the sights. I mean they're nice and all but..."
"I already thought about that when we went up the cloud pathway. Since time's a major factor in all of this, that means only one thing. Pegalysium's Clock Door might be the key. It's the only thing here related to time and that's probably what Ash was referring to."
"Then how come he didn't mention the clock door to me? He only said to go to Pegalysium and that was just about it." It still didn't add up to Misty. Ash would've told her.
"It might have something to do with Rift-Dialga. The fact that it only affected Ash when it showed up means that it's targeting him. It must know about Pegalysium's Clock Door. Ash must've purposefully excluded the Clock Door from the conversation. After all, you said that he told you to take him there each time you met up."
"Well, yeah. When we went our separate ways and he was ready to head to Hoenn, the last thing he told me was to go to Pegalysium again. And then when we met up in Hoenn, he said it again. And finally, when Brock and I showed up at Alola, he brought it up." Misty explained. Obviously, time has changed quite a bit but not enough to throw things off balance that much.
Despite the consciousness being swapped, the older Ash who was stuck in the past seemed to keep things as steady as possible, making sure everything he's ever done goes by the book. He's had to really think about what he's done in the past and how that has affected him as a Trainer. Misty has seen it for herself and it was a bizarre sight. She could still remember those moments and Brock could share some as well if he was here.
"The Clock Door it is then. It'll be in the capital. The Sky Monarch."
"Wow...Singing flowers?" Ash was too busy captivated by the Singing Flowers here at Pegalysium to even focus on the conversation. No matter what, his attention was switching from one thing to the other. How could he help it? His 10-year-old self still hasn't seen that much compared to the wider world.
When looking at the flowers, he heard their melody which was based on the current atmosphere and scenario. And in this case, the flowers singing about confusion. There was certainly colossal confusion since two consciousnesses' have been swapped.
"They're singing about your consciousness." Someone replied to Ash. But it wasn't Fluttershy, Twilight or Misty. The one who replied to Ash appeared in front of him with a hoof standing right next to the flowers. Present here at Pegalysium was none other than Windflash. Ancestor to Windkiss who created the Clock Door.
"Windflash!" Twilight said. As the Principal of the Pokemon School, she was surprised to see one of the teachers up here today, even though she wasn't present at the school at all. "Oh, great to see you today! No lessons for today?"
"I'm teaching the students. I'm just leaving things to my family back at the school. They're teaching about Pegalysium as a whole." Windflash explained. "Pegalysium has something special with the Pokemon too so it wouldn't hurt to let them know about our nation in the sky.
"Good point. I don't know why I didn't think about that in the first place?" Twilight was rather disappointed in herself that she didn't come up with that. Lessons about the Pokemon World were there but Pegalysium wasn't taken into consideration, even though she hasn't seen anything here that interacts with the Pokemon.
"You can understand the flowers?" Ash asked.
"I can. It's a special trait from my family. We're so in tune with nature that we can understand it." Another benefit from Windflash and her family was the fact that since they've been living in the wild for so long, nature was interactive with them in many ways. Understanding them was one part of it. "And they're singing about your displaced consciousness. It's a shame that happened to you."
"Ah, it's fine. It's pretty cool. actually. " Ash crossed his arms with a proud face. "I get some cool new clothes, I'm way taller than before and I get more Pokemon that are crazy strong. Plus, I'm ranked high in the World Championships! I feel bad for my older self who's stuck in the past though...but it'll turn out fine in the end since this is my future."
"The only thing that's the same is that annoying voice of his." Misty snickered. She was 100% right. Ash's voice was still his 10-year-old voice which was leaving his older body.
"Windflash. You're the descendant of Windkiss, so you must have a connection to the Clock Door." Twilight got back to the topic, approaching the wild-natured pegasus. "Do you think it can solve this issue? Second Wind used it to change her status and create another version of Pegalysium that still exists. So maybe, now that both our worlds are one, the timeline of the Pokemon World exists in the Clock Door?"
"Hmmm...I don't know." Alas, Windflash wasn't the one to ask. She may be Windkiss' descendant, but she knows very little. She only knows about the wild after all.
"Right, right...Born in the wild." The Princess of Friendship sighed, realizing her mistake. Just then, Windkiss heard the flowers sing once more. This time, they were changing the tone of their melody. It went from confusion to danger. The flowers sang a melody that translated to something dangerous approaching.
The winds were changing. Windflash also felt that as she was immediately spread her wings, looking to the skies. Everyone else would look up to the azure skies, soon feeling this change in the atmosphere. Before everyone's eyes, a golden, blue and purple flash went off.
All three colours represented one thing. The accidental unity of Arceus and the Rift's Power. The way it appeared was impossible to mistake. And from that flash, a portal opened up. The same portal that Ash saw. Out of it emerged Rift-Dialga. It made an appearance once more.
"It's Rift-Dialga! It's here of all times?!" Twilight Sparkle bellowed. She wasn't expecting Rift-Dialga to appear so soon. Neither did anyone else. Its roar ruptured parts of the ground as the flowers now changed their singing to fit the mood of Rift-Dialga appearing.
And as soon as it arrived, it locked onto Ash immediately. The eyes of the Rift Variant looked down, focusing only on Ash and no one else. After all, Ash was the one who was the target of that sudden pulse. No one else had been affected. And even after swapping his consciousness, Rift-Dialga was not finished yet it seems. It was here to do more than just swap his consciousness.
"You're the one who messed things up for my older self!" Ash held onto his hat during this intense wind pressure. "If I beat you, then this will all be over."
"I don't think it's that easy, Ash!" Rainbow Dash responded while planting her hooves on the ground.
"Why's it back?! Does it know about where we want to go?!" For Twilight, she wasn't sure why Rift-Dialga came back. But whatever the reason was, she was fearful of what might happen next.
"It's not gonna stop us! Let's go, Pikachu! Dragonite!" Ash would engage either way. He was not fearful of this Cosmic Entity whatsoever, no matter the age. He would throw his Poke Ball into the air, summoning Dragonite.
"Dragonite!"
"But Ash! Your skills haven't travelled over!" Misty saw this as a terrible approach for such a Young Ash. Challenging Rift-Dialga with his dated skills would end in disaster.
"Maybe! But I have to try! Use Thunder Shock, Pikachu!
"Pi?" Unfortunately, Pikachu didn't know that move anymore. It has been years since he's used Thunder Shock.
"Thunderbolt?" Ash blinked as Rift-Dialga was already charging up an attack. It would be a Rift Variation of Dragon Pulse. The Cosmic Entity could be seen gathering up draconic energy with stardust particles within them. "Alright then! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaaa...!" Pikachu could most definitely do that. By leaping into the air, the Mouse Pokemon gathered up 100,000 volts of electricity that would burst from his body. All of a sudden, just as Pikachu built up the attack, a blue flash left Ash's body. This flash was not Aura. It didn't have the same colour or appearance as Aura. This was something entirely different that Twilight noticed.
In fact, it looked a lot like Original Dialga's energy. The same shade of blue and particles could be seen leaving Ash's body the second he initiated a Pokemon Battle. The Thunderbolt flew out and so did the Dragon Pulse. The two attacks clashed, sending a great ripple and shockwave in the air that would rustle the grass and flowers.
"Alright, Dragonite! Use Dragon Claw! From above!"
"Rrr!" Dragonite would take flight while the clash between Thunderbolt and Dragon Pulse was still going on. Pikachu's strength didn't change at all. He was still as strong as ever and it was showing since he was keeping the Dragon Pulse at bay Assisting Pikachu was Dragonite, who flew over the clash, approaching the Rift Variant.
Rift-Dialga couldn't look up at all, prompting Dragonite to strike down on its head. It was not a super-effective hit since it still kept the Steel-Typing, but the impact was certainly there.
"Now push through, Pikachu!"
"Pikaaa!" Pikachu would then push through Dragon Pulse, causing his Thunderbolt to win the clash. Dragon Pulse was obliterated as the 100,000 volts of electricity would crash into the Rift Variant. Rift-Dialga would be pushed back by this double attack. Neither did heavy amounts of damage but they were enough to spark some movement. The False Creator of Time would shake its head, slightly perplexed.
In response, it would use its powers over time to heal itself. A blue and purple energy encased its body, reversing the damage that Pikachu and Dragonite dealt, even if it wasn't that much. After reversing the damage, Rift-Dialga would soon reverse the attacks against its opponents. By manipulating the area around it, the Thunderbolt that previously hit it would reappear, leaving its body while the energy of Dragon Claw could be seen materialising over its body. Ash was stunned by what he was seeing as the attacks were sent right back at them both.
"Pika!" Pikachu was hit by his own Thunderbolt while Dragonite would be struck by energy claws that weren't attached to anything. However, they still had the same power as Dragon Claw.
"D-Dra!" Dragonite groaned, hurling through the air. The weight of these attacks have certainly increased when used by Rift-Dialga. The Mouse Pokemon slid on the ground while Dragonite recovered in the air, maintaining balance.
"What was that?!" Ash gasped as he wasn't sure what he just saw.
"It reversed time on you, Ash! Now might be a good time to back out-" Rainbow Dash tried convincing Ash yet again.
"No way! Dragonite, use Hurricane! Pikachu, shoot Thunderbolt into it!"
"Draaaaa!" With a bellowing roar, Dragonite would flap her wings, whipping up a fierce Hurricane. A combination attack was incoming which involved Pikachu shooting Thunderbolt directly at the Hurricane. With both attacks combining as one, a Lightning Tornado had been born. Fierce like a Hurricane and fast like Lightning while also carrying the destructive power of both of them, made for a truly powerful combination.
Rift-Dialga would retaliate by using its own version of Roar of Time. It was a pseudo variation of the attack, having a similar appearance but with some gold energy around it. The two mighty attacks would collide, once again shaking the air.
"Uh, it doesn't look like his skills have dropped at all. What's up with that?" Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped. This was not the result she was expecting. She expected Ash to lose immediately but he was actually doing relatively well. "Was he like this in the past, Misty?"
"No way." Misty shook her head. "Ash was never this creative. This is something his current self would do if things were still normal. I don't get how he's making this work."
"It's because of Dialga." Following Rift-Dialga to its current location was Sheena. Sent here by Doctor Hooves, the descendant of Damos would appear in a golden light yet again.
"W-Who are you?!" This was Twilight's first time meeting Sheena, including Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. But for Misty, it was both the first and second time. Because of what happened in the past, she remembered who Sheena was.
"You're...Sheena, right?" Misty's memory would rearrange itself to remember Sheena's existence. Just like how she suddenly remembered Ash's request to show up at Pegalysium. "Oooh...It happened again."
"Sheena? The one that Ash brought up?" Twilight and her friends have only heard about Sheena's name from Ash. Now, they were finally seeing her for the first time. And she certainly picked the right time to show up considering they were under attack by a False Creator of Time.
"Dialga intercepted Rift-Dialga's movements when they both first appeared before both Ashs. It couldn't save Ash's consciousness in time But it did manage to keep his skills."
"Keep his skills? You mean all the skills his older self has still exist? Dialga can do that?" Fluttershy said with astonishment. They all looked back at Ash, seeing the blue flash leave his body. That was the energy of Dialga. There was a reason why Dialga unleashed a pulse against the older Ash.
That was Dialga transferring his older self's skills, making sure he was safe and able to defend himself.
"But never mind that!" Sheena got to business. "Very soon, you should expect the original Dialga to show up now that Rift-Dialga is here. Those two have been chasing each other as of recently and its bound to continue here." Saying that made Twilight's friends gasp apart from Misty. Dialga was going to show up here eventually. They weren't sure when but it would make an arrival for sure.
"What do we do then?! If we beat Rift-Dialga, does this all just stop?!" asked Rainbow Dash before flinching from the fierce clash happening in the air.
"I'm afraid not. I'm trying to reach this version of Dialga to understand why it's doing this." Sheena confirmed that defeating Rift-Dialga wouldn't do. "But I also need the original Dialga to be here. I have to speak with both of them."
"Man, that's one tough Pokemon..." Ash gawked, witnessing Rift-Dialga's strength. He hasn't seen the original's strength, but it was far more impressive than this. Ash would smile, getting excited about this battle. He finally gets to partake in a Pokemon Battle and it's already an intense one.
Ash would continue his battle against Rift-Dialga while Sheena focused on calming its temper. She aimed to stop this Rift Creation in a different way. The flowers, which were singing to the tempo of this battle, would switch up again. They began singing a melody that sounded similar to when Rift-Dialga first arrived But this time, it was for someone else. A third guest was about to join the scene. And it was the one that Sheena was waiting for.
Rift-Dialga's attack on Ash had begun. It appeared here at Pegalysium, finding Ash's location once more. Rift-Dialga had first swapped 10-year-old Ash's consciousness with his older self. Now, it was here to do something else and it seemed to be a rather destructive task.
Present here as well was Sheena, who was working with Doctor Hovoes to solve the Rift-Dialga situation before it could elevate to dangerous levels. It certainly wasn't going to stop at just swapping Ash's consciousness. However, with Rift-Dialga on the move, Sheena wasn't the only pursuer. There was one more who was about to make an entrance.
"The flowers are singing about another one! There's another Pokemon coming!" Windflash translated, understanding what the flowers were singing.
Another crack in the sky appeared, followed by an astral blue portal. Emerging from it was the Original Dialga. The True Creator of Time. Tracking down its Rift Variant, the Temporal Pokemon would interrupt this battle by immediately tackling the opposing Pokemon.
"Dialga actually showed up?!" With her jaw opened, Rainbow Dash's eyes followed the Dragon-Steel-Type and its attack on the Rift Variant. Dialga's tackle was a hefty one too. Rift-Dialga was knocked over, losing balance in the air. The Rift Creation would crash through some of the trees here, making the floating land tremble.
Everyone braced themselves, feeling the great tremors, followed up the collapsing trees. The ground would also split, prompting Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy to take flight. However, the wind pressures became active thanks to Rift-Dialga's crash.
"Now's my chance!" Sheena saw this as the perfect opportunity to try and speak with Rift-Dialga and Dialga respectively. She wanted them both here just so the other would stop this pursuit.
"Sheena! Don't get close!" Twilight Sparkle cried out after seeing Sheena advance. She was very much fearless in the face of such a powerful and large Pokemon. However, she was also aware of her surroundings as soon as she saw the ground below her separate even more. A gap had been formed, leading to the rest of the sky and what was residing below. Sheena came to an immediate halt.
After delivering that tackle, Dialga would follow up with Ancient Power. Massive rocks that were ripped from the sky island were summoned and immediately launched at Dialga's Rift Variant. Rift-Dialga bellowed, slowly getting up at last, trying to recollect itself. Its roar ended up becoming physical via the power of the Rift.
This cosmic roar would hold the fossilized rocks in place, preventing them from getting any closer. After stopping the rocks in place, Rift-Dialga would manipulate time, deaccelerating the fossilized rocks. To everyone's shock, Rift-Dialga managed to turn these rocks into the Pokemon they used to be. However, they were merely cosmic projections instead of the real deal.
A Rift Aerodactyl, Armaldo, Archeops and a Bastiodon. These Rift Variations of the Fossil Pokemon appeared to combat against the Temporal Pokemon. They would fly at the Creator of Time, using Pokemon moves as well. Not only did Rift-Dialga revive them in some way, they gained access to Pokemon Moves too. And the choices were rather destructive.
"It brought them back to life?!" Twilight was generally astounded by this. It made sense that a being with the power over time such as Dialga could do this but it was rather amazing to see.
Flash Cannon was unleashed by the Rift Armaldo, crashing into the Temporal Pokemon. This was joined by Rift Aerodactyl using Flamethrower. Both attacks pushed Dialga back, causing it to touch the ground. The flames would combust on the ground, setting off a flaming blaze, followed up by a silvery explosion.
"If this keeps up, they'll destroy this part of the Sky Island!" Windflash exclaimed before facing the flowers who were still singing to the tone of this scenario. Truly, they were dedicated even if their lives were in danger.
To keep the Singing Flowers safe, Windflash would use her magic. She didn't just have a special mane that led to a smaller dimension. Passed down thanks to the blood of her ancestor Windkiss, she had protective magic too. A beautiful magical shield was placed over the Singing Flowers, keeping them safe from the destructive battle happening here.
Dialga growled, getting back up from that blazing and shining assault. Right as it got up, Rift Bastiodon would headbutt the Temporal Pokemon with Giga Impact. Shooting through the air, the Shield Pokemon crashed into the Creator of Time at full force, letting off another explosion and forcing Dialga to stay down.
This was then followed up by Rift Archeops shooting down continuous blades of wind with Air Slash. The blades would vigorously hit the ground while also beating down on Dialga even with the explosion surrounding it. Even with this assault, the Temporal Pokemon was not that easy to defeat.
Immediately, Dialga got back up, blowing away the explosion with a tremendous roar. And by extension, it also blew away Bastiodon who was the closest while also pushing the airborne Fossils back. With its eyes glowing red, the Creator of Time was truly on a mission while the False Creator of Time was determined to keep the opposing Dialga back.
"I need to get close to them!" Sheena got on her knee, struggling to approach both Pokemon. "If this continues, one will destroy the other, and I can't let that happen!"
"Wait! You're trying to save Rift-Dialga!?" Rainbow Dash figured that Rift-Dialga would be left out of the equation considering it attacked the others back in space. And it was already clear that Rift-Dialga was targeting Ash and swapped his consciousness in the first place.
"Gotta do something. And I know what!" Ash would take action as soon as possible, holding out two more Poke Balls. Throwing them into the air, he summoned Gengar and Sirfetch'd. Even as a 10-year-old, he was always striving to do the right thing with no second thoughts in his head. "Gengar, Sirfetch'd! Get Sheena over to those two Dialgas! Dragonite! Pikachu! Help them out!"
"Gengar!" Gengar would fly over with Sirfetch'd charging forward. Gengar could easily fly over the gaps while Sirfetch'd simply leapt with elegance. Rift-Dialga would roar, sending a Rift-Powered Dragon Pulse while the other Rift Fossils would join in with Flash Cannon, Flamethrower and Air Slash, continuing their attack.
"Sir...Fetch'd!" Intercepting the Flash Cannon was Sireftch'd, who used Night Slash to do so. He cut through the silver attack with his blade of darkness, preventing it from going any further. Gengar meanwhile would grab Sheena, allowing her to move through the air.
Ash would get Pikachu and Dragonite involved, prompting the two of them to advance. Pikachu would leap over the gaps with Quick Attack, moving at lightning speed just to try and reach the scene of the battle. Dragonite would use Dragon Claw, stopping Aerodactyl's Flamethrower. After Pikachu went over the gap with a Flying Quick Attack, he would switch to Iron Tail, striking Rift-Armaldo for super-effective damage.
Dialga witnessed this before looking back at Ash. Even if this Ash was much younger and from a different time, it was good to see a friend assisting no matter the circumstance. After all, it was Dialga who kept Ash's skills even with his consciousness being swapped.
Sirfetch'd would hold his shield up, blocking the Air Slash from Archeops, keeping Dialga safe. Seeing these new faces interrupt, Rift-Dialga would prepare to engage with them. That is until Sheena reached both Dialgas, getting in between both of them. Gengar dropped her off while also staying close for her own safety.
"Here goes!" This was the closest she could be at the moment and she wasn't about to waste her opportunity. With her hands together, Sheena began tapping into a greater power. "Transcend the confines of Time and Space."
Possessing the power to read the Hearts and Minds of Pokemon, Sheena entered an astral realm. A realm that showed the two Dialgas. This was a place where Sheena could fully focus on the Pokemon and nothing else. It was as if no one else was around her at all. "Dialga. Rift-Dialga. Please, hear me."
The second this emotional energy reached them, both Dialgas paused their battle. They felt Sheena's energy flow and reach them as she brought a peaceful atmosphere. The Rift Fossils would fade away after Rift-Dialga's concentration was thrown off.
"Please, Dialga. Do not destroy Rift-Dialga. I understand you're upset and upholding your status as Time's Creator but please understand that I wish to reach Rift-Dialga as well." Sheena pleaded. Everyone stayed static to watch Sheena communicate with these two titanic Pokemon. "Let me understand Rift-Dialga first before anything else."
"She's got them totally still..." Rainbow Dash could only look in amazement when witnessing Sheena's special power that was passed down from her ancestors. It was stunning to see her keep two Great and Powerful Pokemon still.
"Rift-Dialga. I understand that you come from a realm where you've been trapped in for so long. It's only recently that you've had freedom at last. But why target Ash above anyone else?" Sheena asked. Rift-Dialga responded, letting out an emotional pulse. Sheena read this pulse, translating it. "You're doing under the Rift's will. Because you are still vengeful towards Ash..."
A furious pulse came from Rift-Dialga. Clearly, anger was displayed towards Ash mainly thanks to the Rift. This red pulse would hit Sheena who flinched and almost fell over. However, she kept her balance. The force of this emotional pulse reached the outside, allowing Ash and the others to feel it.
"It's feel heavy instead!" Twilight, who was holding Rift Magic within her, felt the pulse more than the others. That pulse resonated with the Rift Magic within her.
"Huh?" Sheena then felt something change. The furious pulse started morphing into something else. It soon transformed into one of sadness. Rift-Dialga began exhibiting sadness from its emotions as this was soon felt like by the Original Dialga. There was more to it than just vengeance. "Rift-Dialga...You're only targeting Ash because of the Rift. But you have your own desires, don't you?"
Rift-Dialga was still a sentient being. Much like Cold Colt or even the other Rift Ponies, Rift-Dialga had the choice to be free. However, it was clear that its will was being restrained by the Rift's power and vengeance. Knowing this, Rift-Dialga exerted more of its anger, creating another powerful pulse that would push Sheena back. Afterwards, outside of the Astral Area, Rift-Dialga released flashes of cosmic energy that would suddenly materialize out of thin air.
Dragonite was the first to be hit by this as this explosion was instant, knocking her back. Pikachu would see one happen near him, prompting him to zip back. This Sky Island was being absolutely torn apart thanks to everything that's happened here so far.
Sirfetch'd put up his shield, defending against the rampant and erratic outbursts while Gengar would turn intangible. But much to Gengar's surprise, the cosmic energy managed to bypass his intangibility, hitting him regardless. Twilight and the others would have to be careful of their surroundings since these outbursts were rather frequent.
Seeing the destruction increase, Windflash would take action. And she did so by casting that same veil around Ash and the others. Just as Ash was ready to push back the explosions, the veil appeared, shielding him and everyone else. But it didn't just shield them from the explosion, it drained the explosion.
Twilight and the others watched as the explosions were drained. They didn't even make the veil ripple at all. Windflash had perfectly silenced these explosions, reducing any more damage they were capable of. Twilight scrunched her face, looking back at Windflash. She wondered just how much of Windkiss' magic was left behind for her descendants because so far, the strength of this magic was rather large.
"Rift-Dialga's furious! It wants free will but it's bound to the Rift's will to exact revenge."
"How come the Rift still wants revenge?!" It brought Galaxy Master to Maghold to help us!" Twilight didn't understand it. After knowing what the Rift had done, she wondered why it was still playing an antagonistic role. Specifically, towards Ash.
"I'm not sure. What I do know is that Rift-Dialga's fury needs to be quelled! Or else-" Before Sheena could finish, another ripple in the sky could be seen. Yet another portal was opening up in response to Rift-Dialga's outburst. Dialga could see that his variant's rage was now starting to threaten time at a destructive level.
Quickly, the Temporal Pokemon would use its own power to reverse the damage done by the explosions and keep any more explosions from opening up. And from that portal plus the interaction between the two Time Beings, the past was shown. 23 Years Ago, to be precise.
When everyone looked up, they saw none other than 10-year-old Ash. Specifically, the older Ash who has swapped minds. He was finally seen. Thanks to Rift-Dialga's outburst and Dialga's attempt to subdue the damages, the portal had been opened up. And this wasn't just a view into the past. Ash, Misty and Brock could see Twilight and everyone else as well. Both sides were very much aware of each other.
"Ash?!" Twilight gasped. "A-Are you our Ash?!"
"Ash! Don't pass through it! Passing through could have horrible consequences!" Sheena warned Ash, advising him to stay where he was.
"Is that me?" Through the portal, Younger Misty was focusing directly at her older self. Ash was right. There wasn't that much of a difference at all. "Wow! Time sure was kind to me 23 years later."
"Doctor Hooves spoke about this before. The concept of two Dialgas battling in the same area can lead to devastating results. And since Rift-Dialga exists, time could be ripped apart."
"Ripped apart?!" Fluttershy, Windflash and Rainbow Dash collectively said.
"The Cosmic Power of the Rift plus the power of Arceus is more than capable of that unless something is done," Sheena explained. "If not, then with time ripped apart, everything will come to a halt. We will be in a harsh and unforgiving stasis with no chance of breathing, moving, eating or anything of the sort."
"You can do that, right?! Calming Rift-Dialga?!" Twilight questioned with desperation in her voice.
"I'm not sure...The Rift's drive to exact revenge is powerful. And Rift-Dialga doesn't have anything to reassure of it a hopeful outcome. It just wants to be free but I'm not sure how I can grant that freedom." Sheena was stumped. This was all she could do. She succeeded at reaching Rift-Dialga and understanding what was bothering it at least.
"Let Dialga do it!" Suddenly, the older Ash spoke through the portal. He already knew who should try and calm the Rift Creation down next as everyone turned to face him.
"Why Dialga? If they fight, we'll be done for!" The multi-coloured maned mare screeched, seeing no point in letting Dialga handle this. If anything, it will just lead to potential Time Annihilation.
"Sheena. You've already spoken to Rift-Dialga. So now, you can leave it up to the Original Dialga." Ash looked at Sheena, deciding to let Dialga handle this.
"Ash..." Sheena paused for a moment before seeing what Ash was trying to do. She understood and refrained from taking further action. Ash then looked at the Temporal Pokemon, trusting it wholeheartedly.
Dialga roared at its Rift-Variant, approaching it while it kept unleashing a mass of cosmic energy from its body. Dialga found itself being struck by these cosmic outbursts which held it back. But with its power over time, Dialga created a Time Field that would envelop it and the Rift Variant.
The cosmic outbursts were suddenly slowed down by Dialga's Time Field. Some of them would even freeze in place mid-explosion or after the explosion was over. But Rift-Dialga didn't slow down or freeze at all. It had immunity to such powers since it possessed them as well.
Afterwards, Rift-Dialga would let out a specific roar to communicate with its Rift Variant. They may be different Pokemon but they were technically cut from the same cloth. Knowing that it was furious, Dialga decided to calm it down. But more than that, Dialga was also going to try and reason with its Rift duplicate.
Hearing this, Rift-Dialga expressed its rage and how it just couldn't break free from the Rift's desire to exact revenge. If it could break free, it would but it couldn't. Thus, the rage and sadness it was feeling was tremendous. So tremendous that it elevated its strength.
The cosmic outbursts were sped up by Rift-Dialga, gaining a time flow once more. Once it gained a time flow and was sped up, Dialga would take a hit, but it would not retaliate. This time, Dialga was staying passive. And it was all because of Rift-Dialga's feelings.
With yet another cry, Dialga would express how it felt. The Temporal Pokemon may not be in the same boat as the Rift Variant, but it could understand where it was coming from. Shackled by the Rift, there was no freedom. Dialga explained how there was always a way to overcome that freedom. It is not shackled buy Arceus in any way. Dialga now wished for its Rift Variant to do the same, believing that there was always a way.
As the Creator of Time, the possibilities are infinite. Rift-Dialga just wasn't looking for them. So, to make sure it could find that possibility, Dialga used its magnificent power to show off a stream of multiple Timelines. In this field, alternate timelines were being shown, revealing Rift-Dialga and what it could do when unbound by the Rift.
It could be its own Pokemon. Not as a Guardian or Creator of Time. But much like those rare Pokemon that roam around the world in secrecy, appearing here and there. Or perhaps, it could be a Creator of Time in some other way. There was even a timeline where it had a Pokemon Trainer. A friend to be alongside. All of these possibilities were ripe for the taking and it all depends on what Rift-Dialga chooses. Dialga reassured its Rift Counterpart that there was a way to free it from this restriction.
Taking all of this in, Rift-Dialga submitted. It did not find the drive to battle anymore. But didn't find the drive to exhibit any hope. The time field vanished as silence hit the atmosphere for a moment. The battle was over but Rift-Dialga still was unsure. It was a lost Pokemon without a doubt. Having a purpose, but wishing to escape it. All it could do was lower its head.
Just then, Dialga would look back at Ash and the others, confirming to them that all destructive scenarios have been dealt with. There was nothing else to worry about.
"Thanks, Dialga. I knew I could count on you." said Ash. He was right to put his trust in Dialga for this very scenario.
"What just happened...?" Younger Misty said, flabbergasted by the scene she just witnessed. She and Brock had witnessed a Temporal Throwdown that they never thought they would have seen.
"What about Ash? His consciousness is still the same." Brock asked, wondering if both Ashswould regain their original consciousness any time soon.
In response, Dialga would cry out, followed by Rift-Dialga letting out a small whimper. Fluttershy would be the one to translate this as her skills even correlated with Legendary Pokemon who don't have the most common form of Pokemon cries.
"Both of them said that they'll work together to fix this." Fluttershy translated. "They said that time will snap back together soon."
"Ah, that's good to know." Twilight sighed. "Glad that part's the easiest part."
"But they also said that they'll forget this ever happened." Fluttershy continued, revealing the rest of their sentences. It was more than just putting time back together.
"It's for the better." The older Ash said. "If both our consciousness returns to where they were, my younger self's gonna know a lot and that could change time. Resetting everything's the way to go. And besides, he'll experience everything again in the long run."
"It was awesome seeing my older self." 10-year-old Ash said, rather pleased to see his older self, even if he was currently in his younger body. "And everything you've done? Sweet! I'm really awesome, aren't I?"
"You'll be awesome. And you'll meet a lot of the faces here one day." His older self uttered. "Kinda wish we had some extra time to speak with each other."
"And it was great seeing you as well, me." Misty would speak to her younger self. "A shame it's a short-lived meeting. But make sure you take good care of your timeline's Ash. Even if you won't remember it, you'll know what to do."
"As if I need to be taken care of!" The Younger Ash grumbled, followed by the Younger Misty chuckling.
"Ash. Enjoy your future. It'll be a great one." The final words his older self shared were of encouragement. He could assure him that his future would be a blast. This was only the beginning of his incredible journey. Both smiled at each other as the portal closed up. And it was a rather swift one too. It happened in a flash.
As for Dialga and Rift-Dialga, the Temporal Pokemon would take things from here. Looking back at its Rift Variant, Dialga would depart with it. Everyone watched as Dialga brought its Rift Variant along with it by summoning a Time Portal below them. They sank into the portal, heading elsewhere.
"I'm gonna kinda miss that younger Ash. He had a mouth on him didn't he?" Rainbow Dash grumbled, already thinking about the younger Ash Ketchum and how he was compared ot the older one.
"Aw, I think he was cute like that." Fluttershy gushed. "The difference is astronomical, isn't it?"
"What do you think Dialga's going to do?" asked Twilight.
"Dialga wants to help its Rift Variant. Judging by the look on its face, Rift-Dialga might not have much hope left in it." Sheena explained, already knowing how Rift-Dialga felt even after Dialga's promise. "Time will tell if Rift-Dialga gains a new perspective and is able ot free itself from the Rift."
"So, it might head back to attacking Ash?" Rainbow Dash replied.
"We don't know as of yet. Well, my work here is done," Sheena uttered. "A potential major crisis has been averted."
"Thanks for stopping by and helping, Sheena," Ash said, back with his original consciousness.
"This won't be the last time we meet up, Ash. We'll be seeing each other a lot more." Sheena walked off, referring to the Prisma situation. But also because Rift-Dialga might not be the only thing Ash will have to watch out for. Rift-Palkia was a possibility. With a golden light surrounding her, Doctor Hooves was already retrieving her. Just like that, Sheena was gone.
"Is this what you all get yourselves into?" Windflash asked, wondering if situations such as this were natural for Ash and his friends. Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy looked back with poker faces.
"Yes. This isn't even half of it." They collectively said. Everything that just happened here was only minuscule compared to the ludicrous things they've had to face or deal with. And something was telling them that it was only to continue from here on and it might show up when they least expect.
But for now, they could pin on this. One problem was solved and a potential crisis was averted. They were hoping that the past doesn't come back to create new problems. Hopefully. As the journey continues.
At this moment, Pinkie Pie was out spending time with her Pokemon. Ranging from the Mythical Mew, Spinda and her six Slurpuff were seen in the sky. The reason for them being in the sky was thanks to Mew. He had transformed into Lugia, carrying his friends on his back.
Pinkie Pie felt the nice warm breeze of the skies around her. On top of that, she was also having a picnic on Lugia's back. Spinda and the Slurpuff were indulging themselves in this sweet buffet.
"Okay, so here's the game plan." Pinkie on the other hand was holding a sheet, having a plan for today. "For today and tomorrow. Stop by Las Pegasus for the upcoming Pokemon Festival and set up some stuff. Check out Rarity and Rarity's movie over at PokeStar Studios, set up a food stand for the students over at the Pokemon School for the Pokemon Festival and then some! Absolutely nothing's gonna stray my path away from this plan!"
For today's plan, Pinkie Pie was mainly setting up for the upcoming Pokemon Festival. Much like how Ponyville was already setting itself up,
"Wonder what's gonna be the big thing in this years Pokemon Festival. The first one was alright. Another universe. Nothing too big. The second one was a lot of fun! I mean, a lot of dangerous things happened, but still! The third one was my personal favourite even if all of Equestria was nearly destroyed so I'm excited to see what the fourth one's going to be!"
Admittedly, Pinkie Pie did enjoy how outrageous the Pokemon Festival can be. It always starts out with enjoyment and then soon escalates into something wild. First was the arrival of visits from another universe. The second had instances were the Empress' forces showed up here and there. And the third one was all about the Dread League.
With the Dread League defeated, the Empress' forces taking a massive hit and a vast lack of gateways, it was hard to figure out what the fourth one could entail. It could be anything, but so far, nothing has really been a vital threat like those last two. Peace has been very much prominent as of recently ever since the Dread League was vanquished, with a few sudden surprises here and there. The most consistent one being Twilight Moonlight.
The clouds above were starting to darken as there was rain set to appear very soon. Seeing this, Mew would descend with Lugia's body, cutting this air ride short. The nearest location was a small town which was also setting up for the Pokemon Festival. The shadow of Lugia loomed over it, grabbing the attention of the ponies living there.
They witnessed Lugia descend slowly, however, he would soon revert to his original form. Mew. Right after getting Pinkie Pie and the others to ground level. The food had been saved and instantly covered up by the heads of the Slurpuff as a mild drizzle was already forming.
"Hiya! Just stopping by since it's about to rain." Pinkie Pie greeted. "Mind if I come inside before it's too late?"
"Mmm...You're the one with the Mythical Pokemon they call Mew, right?" Already, Pinkie's name was known in this town. But it was mainly Mew who they were focusing on.
"That's right! Are you gearing up for the Pokemon Festival too?" She went straight for the Festival, bypassing the rest of the Mew Question. "I'd love to chime in! I'm gonna make sure everyone's eating good for this year's festival. And hopefully, nothing shows up and attacks us."
"That's what worries though." One of the residents uttered, popping her head out of the window. "The three past Pokemon Festivals have all had something critical occur. The first one was safe but the last two?"
"I mean, yeah. Those went haywire." The earth pony couldn't deny that. "But relax. This year's looking to be totally peaceful with absolutely nothing going wrong. And if something does go wrong, we can fix it like we always do. I mean, we're still here, right?"
"Hmmm..." But those words didn't exactly spark hope. The residents of this town and by extension, all of Equestria, knew what to expect. No matter what, something big was going to happen. The 4th Pokemon Festival wasn't going to go by smoothly at all. They just had to be ready for whatever comes their way next. "Doubt it. Something will happen. And if it does, we will at least have our comforter to count on."
"Comforter?"
"Oh, yes. She's rather recent but we already feel nostalgic when she comes around." Another residents expressed with a gleeful look on her face. "She showed up just two days after the Black Crusade was over."
"Not all of us were exactly jumping for joy even after the Black Crusade ended. We were living in fear here at this town during the attacks, worried that the Dread League might show up."
Just thinking about it made the ponies smile. They certainly didn't smile after what Pinkie Pie said, so for them to put on these faces meant that this individual brought great joy to them.
"But we had one Pokemon to save us It was a Blissey." An old pony confirmed who was responsible for it.
"Blissey, huh? That makes sense." When it comes to Pokemon that bring happiness, nobody did it better than the Blissey line.
"This isn't the only town she's been to. Have you heard about her escapades across smaller towns?"
"Nope." Pinkie shrugged. This was the first time she was being informed of this in any way. But apparently, this Bissey has been making a name for herself. "Why? Did she brighten up those other towns?"
"Most definitely!" A few ponies said in unison. "She's only been targeting smaller towns."
"Because of their size, they're bound to struggle more than most locations out there. That's when Blissey arrives as soon as possible."
"I guess the smaller towns would take a bigger hit. Nowhere else was full of dread. Not even the Crystal Empire after it got overtaken. Blissey's such a great Pokemon, isn't it? I'm surprised I never had one of my own."
"We can count on Blissey to be here for us depending on whatever abnormal force shows up at the Pokemon Festival this year." A pony proudly said.
"Sounds fair to me. I'd love to meet this Blissey is she's moving across small towns. I've always wanted a Blissey ever since I first heard a bout it. But I've got Mew who can turn into any Pokemon, so that's fine with me!"
"Mew!" Mew loved the sound of that, nuzzling Pinkie Pie's face afterwards.
"It's not the real deal though. Mew can just turn into the Pokemon and borrow some of their traits." Suddenly, a young filly spoke, pointing out the obvious.
"Hey! He's just as good as the original! And then some!"
"Then why didn't he turn into Jirachi and fix everything from the start?" He said the greatest question possible It was easy to answer but answering it would make Pinkie Pie lose the conversation immediately.
"Manners, please." One of the older ponies said after the child's harsh words. Children do tend to speak their mind a lot and rarely hold back on their words.
"Mmmrrgh..." Pinkie pouted as she had no comeback for that. "Fine. I'll get a Blissey. The real deal. Plus, if I befriend one, then that'll make things even better back home. I can see it now!"
Before she could say anything else, the rain started pouring, turning from a drizzle to a downpour instantly. The ponies all got inside immediately as they spent too much time chatting with Pinkie Pie. Pinkie's playful and fluffy mane would drop instantly, making it impossible for Mew to hide in it. The food was thankfully protected by the Slurpuff, who still kept their heads together, showing dedication.
Thankfully, Pinkie Pie was allowed in by the townsfolk to protect herself from the downpour. Immediately after entering, Pinkie would shake off all the rainwater, acting like a dog. Mew transformed into a Camerupt, melting away the water while also making everyone in here warm.
She would have to stay here for a little while until the storm clears. But she could still do a lot even with these limitations. After all, Pinkie Pie was helping set up this year's Pokemon Festival. Why not make some food for everypony here to boot? She had the resources in her saddlebag and it was her moment to show that much like this infamous Blissey, she could bring smiles to the faces of others.
Canterlot.
Canterlot was already ahead of the curve. The whole city was already fitting that Pokemon Festival theme with decorations up and ready. Overseeing this year's Pokemon Festival much like the previous three was Princess Celestia. And this year's was looking to be the true version of the Pokemon Festival.
The Golurk were seen moving objects over that were brought here via a van. Courtesy of BigTime Ben. Celestia herself had a long list of what was going to be here at this Festival. The attractions and other things were already decided on. They've been here since day one but there was something new on Celestia's mind. It has only been a week since the Royal Phantasy ended and she was already continuing on her work.
"This year's Pokemon Festival will be the definitive version. With no gateways around, it'll be impossible for everyone to head from region to region in a flash. Our worlds are now united as one." Indeed. Humans and Ponies have been bonding ever since the first Pokemon Festival and now the fourth one could elevate that bond to a new level.
"Garde. Gardevoir." Gardevoir pointed at the sheet, having her own preferences for this Pokemon Festival.
"I know, Passion, I know. As for this year's festival...I think the previous 3 weeks work fine for us." Celestia decided on just 3 3 weeks for the Pokemon Festival. Most would expect this year's to reach 4 weeks and the next one would be 5 weeks and so on and so forth. But Celestia found a comfortable time span. 3 weeks was the final decision.
And of course, even though she was excited about this, Celestia was very much aware of what could go wrong. The past Pokemon Festivals have shown her that anything could happen. She couldn't afford to bypass anything crucial. One thing she could expect were the other kingdoms that she's managed to speak with during the Royal Phantasy as their subjects would be involved.
If the chance that someone like Twilight Moonlight or anyone from the many kingdoms could make a savoury move, Celestia would be ready. The existence of Ghetsis and his hidden kingdom was a major factor too. This year's Pokemon Festival absolutely cannot spiral into chaos.
"Hopefully, by the time the festival comes around, we at least have some new gateways." said the Ruler of Equestria. "We just need Twilight to figure out how to open gateways between locations. It's great that she's figured it out but so far...nothing."
Sinnoh. Hearthome City.
Hearthome City. It was doing well for itself. With the Dread League defeated and the damage done by Rosa Maledicta's Despair Plants, the city was back to how it originally was. This involves Fantina, who was now the Lich Queen of Magehold but mostly preferred to be back at Hearthome. Hearthome City was also undergoing decorations for this year's Pokemon Festival which wasn't too far from arriving.
And at this moment, when sitting in her room, Fantina had in her hands a letter. When she's not over at Magehold, her subjects can send letters to her. And with an extra Magehold flair, the letters would open themselves, showing off bat wings, which greatly pleased Fantina. She absolutely loved unique flair and Magehold certainly had it.
"Ah. Eccentrick wrote to me this time." This letter came from Fantina's biggest fan from Magehold. Eccentrick. A vampire who loves entertainment just as much as her while also possessing a rather powerful magic. "The Entertainment Community is growing well, hm?"
This was about the Entertainment Community that Fantina established. It was already starting to see some great development. Fantina already decided what it would possess and the effects were already showing. Fantina could smile knowing she was truly bringing joy to Magehold. They needed it after the lack of entertainment they've dealt with for centuries.
As Magehold's Lich Queen, she would have to prepare Magehold for the Pokemon Festival as well. It was obviously involved, but there was one major problem. Fantina remembered the comments from some of the noble ponies and how they despised the vampires.
And it wasn't hard to see why. Not everyone fully trusts vampires after what happened with the Black Crusade. And the Pokemon Festival might not help them at all. At least, so far. Fantina was determined to change that. As if she'd let her subjects feel left out. It was her goal to help others understand and get along with the vampires. The Pokemon Contest was the best possible opportunity.
Preparations all around the world were going swimmingly. The Pokemon Festival wasn't too far from now and what this 4th one would bring was rather unknown. One thing was for sure, it would be a spectacular gathering.
Equestria. Out in the mountains. Afternoon.
And at this moment, exempt from even thinking about the Pokemon Festival was none other than Lena Ketchum. The ancestor of Ash was still on the move days later. Even after the Royal Phantasy came to an end. Joined by Team Rocket who were masking their real names, Lena's group were on their way to the Changeling Lands.
Found in the Faye Mountains, Lena knew where to go. According to her, the mystical shards were also somewhere in the Changeling Lands. And after days of moving, they were close. The Faye Mountains were close as well as the Changeling Lands. A few more hours and they could be there soon.
Spying on Lena Ketchum the entire time was Diadora, who was still exempt from the Sea Temple. Knowing she was from the past, Diadora still had some resentment against Ash and his ancestors. Hiding behind one of the mountains, she listening in on this upcoming conversation
"Whoo..." Lena sighed, coming to a halt. She sat down immediately, taking a deep breath. Team Rocket would feel the same way as they have been moving for a while now. "A bit exhausted. Let's use this as an opportunity to rest, my friends."
"Same here...I thought this trip would've been quicker." Jessie groaned, lying on her back. "Glad we're almost there though."
"But so far, this team of ours that we've formed is looking to be something special," said Lena. "The quest for our shards could help stregnthen our teamwork."
"You should know...the Changelings might not like you snooping around," James warned her while stretching his arms. "I hope you won't be intruding at all."
"You have nothing to fear. I will speak to them when we get there. Hopefully, I don't worry them about why I need those shards. If they even care or know about the shards being there. Isn't that right"? Lena asked before turning her head. She wasn't speaking to Team Rocket at all. Instead, she focused on Diadora. "You can show yourself now."
"?!" Diadora had been seen. She wasn't hidden at all, prompting her to flinch. Team Rocket soo noticed her once Lena called her out. "Y-You knew I was here? Before today or just recently?"
"From the very beginning." In reality, Lena was completely silent about it, not acknowledging her presence at all. She said nothing while being with Team Rocket.
"Seriously?" Team Rocket collectively said. They feared that Lena might know about their true identities and team. But so far, nothing has given that part away to her.
"Kh!" Diadora grizzled her teeth. She truly wished to sneak up on her but that was an absolute failure.
"You were very brave though." Lena shrugged. "This quest we're on has some peril in it without a doubt. And you don't seem like you wish to stop anytime soon."
"Absolutely!" Diadora stood tall, vigorously pointing at Lena Ketchum. "Not since you're that very Ketchum! Out of all the ancestors of Ash Ketchum, you are the one I've heard about before."
"You have? Are you from the past too?" Lena instantly believed that she was flung through time as well. And she technically wasn't wrong.
"Yes. But I didn't travel through time. Never mind why I'm still here! What's important is you! I wasn't sure if it was truly you but you are indeed that very Ketchum. The Ketchum that robbed my family of their rightful place."
"Umm..." Lena pondered, trying to think about what Diadora was on about. Nothing was clicking for her.
"Many don't know this. Mainly because the foundation of this kingdom has crumbled because of you, Lena Ketchum. After all, I'm off the Harmonia family line. You may not know who I am, but my green hair and red eyes should be a giveaway. Especially since you sabotaged us from obtaining world power."
"Oooh! Are you related to that guy?!" It was clicking for Lena. There was someone from the past that Diadora reminded her of. Green hair, red eyes and that signature sharp look. Lena was finally seeing it.
Indeed. Something in the past that led to Diadora's anger against Lena Ketchum. Specifically her and Ash Ketchum. Lena has done more than just make a name for herself in Hisui. In the midst of the Pokemon Festival being set up, things from the past were once again coming back. 10-year-old Ash's arrival was merely the first.
Out in the mountains on the path to the Changeling Lands, Lena Ketchum and her group have met with Diadora of the Sea Temple. Diadora recognized Lena Ketchum, knowing who she was simply for one reason that happened in the past. And now, it was coming back to Lena, who blanked it for a moment but soon remembered it.
"Please tell me you remember. This appearance should remind you of the ones you wronged in the past." Diadora asked while showing off her green hair and crimson eyes.
"Ah! Now I remember! Ahh...I'm not sure how I forgot about that." Lena chuckled while Diadora kept a serious look on her face. "I mean, considering where I was dragged from, it was technically only 2 months ago."
"It doesn't matter when it was!" Diadora barked. "What matters is that it happened and I'm in this position!"
"What position?" Jessie questioned, seeing nothing wrong. "You're living pretty over at the Sea Temple. I fail to see how you could be in a bad spot."
"If you must know, I could be a princess by now. Or even a Queen, holding absurd amounts of power that many regions and kingdoms would absolutely envy." Diadora clenched her hands as she was rather irritable. Quickly irritable. "I already expressed my anger to your descendant, Ash Ketchum, who is, unfortunately, the King of the Sea. But I honestly share more resentment towards you than him."
"What did you do, Lena?" James asked.
"Ah...I ate something I wasn't supposed to. That was my mistake." Lena stuck her tongue out, admitting to this mysterious mistake that made Diadora upset. Lena didn't take it too seriously while Diadora saw at as completely vital. "It's actually how I ended up in Hisui."
"What you ate was the key to my family gaining true power. You didn't see me, but I saw you. And so did my uncle. The King of Pokelantis."
"So you're his niece...You were there on that day?" Lena's jaw dropped slightly as she was rather surprised by this. Diadora was another relic of the past but stayed around thanks to the Samiyans sealing themselves away.
"As a child. And I'm guessing you had no idea what that egg was capable of before you ate it?!"
"Not at all!" Lena cackled, still not taking it seriously. "I was just hungry back then and it was because I just started exploring the world. Honestly, running into your family was the last thing I expected." Lena could already reminisce it. According to her, it was only a few months ago, confusing Team Rocket. But Lena was about to give out all the context that she could.
Hoenn. 12,000 years ago.
12,000 years ago. A ripe Kanto Region, still appearing as large as ever with its massive mountains.
Lena Ketchum, who was in her correct timeline was set to explore the world. She had already left her home village over at Kanto and now her journey led her to the beautiful Hoenn Region. And instead of the modern-day clothing she managed to find, she wore rags mostly. Her clothing was fitting for the time period as this was all that she could work with. But for Lena, she didn't care about it. All she cared about was the thrill of adventure that was calling to her.
I had just left my home village, saying farewell to all my friends and family. I was so excited to see the greater world out there. I was always known as the one who loved exploration more than the others. There wasn't a place in the world I wouldn't try and visit. Well, it was limited to Kanto for the most part but then, I managed to end up in the Hoenn Region.
"Haha!" Laughing loudly due to the excitement she was feeling, Lena had managed to ride a boat, carrying her across the seas. Since it was Hoenn, plenty of water was to be expected and no one can just head from Kanto to Hoenn on land.
Going completely solo with no Pokemon or anyone else by her side, Lena Ketchum sailed the seas of Kanto all the way to Hoenn with the brightest smile on her face. She felt the sea call to her. Every part of the world was calling for Lena and she just couldn't resist.
But even though she was doing this on her own, that didn't stop her from being close to the Strange and Wonderful Creatures that populate this world. Lena looked to her side, seeing the Water-Type Pokemon pass by. Lena stood tall on her ship, letting the wind her entire body.
A group of Dratini jumped over Lena's head, diving into the sea. On top of that, she was starting to see Pokemon from Hoenn. The first one to appear was a Mantine, who leapt into the air with a Remoraid below it. It was a sign that she was close to Hoenn.
Looking up, Lena was also letting the Flying-Types above be her guide. She witnessed a Pidgeot soar above her under the bright Sun that beamed down on the seas of Kanto and Hoenn. She sailed the length of the seas, taking in the ocean breeze. Lena was just living her best life, unaware of where it was about to head.
I missed my friends and family back home the second I left on my journey. But I knew for a fact that I would return to them with stories to tell and gifts to bring. I read the Sun, the wind and the sky when travelling the world. Even the stars above were my guide. There was always a new island to visit nearby. But, nothing at that time compared to when I came across that egg.
After travelling the seas for days, she stopped by yet another island. A rather massive one too. With her boat resting there, Lena would hop off, ready to see what this area had to offer.
"Ah...So hungry." Lena uttered with a grumbling stomach. Travelling across the seas for days kicked up a hunger. Granted, she's been gathering food from different islands, making sure she always has something to eat. And she was hoping to find some more on this island.
However, unbeknownst to Lena, this massive island was also home to a castle. The island was so big she couldn't even see the visage of the island in the distance. It was so large it might as well be city-sized. Lena was currently at a part of the island where the hills were high, obscuring more of the castle. But so far, there was no food to be found.
As for that castle, it was under the rule of the King of Pokelantis.
This island was merely one of the few places he ruled. Pokelantis was it's own Kingdom which the King wished to turn into an empire. Occupying this island meant that the King of Pokelantis had many resources to rely on.
Bordered between a fierce river to the North, the rest of the ocean which could also be found at the South, a huge mountain to the East and a more of the sea to the West, this additional Kingdom that the King of Pokelantis placed on this island was untouched. By this point in time, Hoenn wasn't really responding to the King of Pokelantis.
The island's landscape was frightening; silent mountains, chaotic, overgrown fields and the dim clouds that cast an eerie darkness over it are just a sliver of the intimidation that this island has to offer. It also had somber hills, black, decaying trees. All thanks to the King of Pokelantis.
He already had subjects on this island who had a flag of the King present on the roofs of many buildings, letting others know this was a territory of the King of Pokelantis. By this point, since he was still active, he was building up his reign of terror as he could be seen up at the castle, looking down on his subjects.
The subjects living on this island cheered for their king after he made his appearance, supporting his goal of world domination. And this greatly pleased the King of Pokelantis as a devious smile appeared on his face.
"Rejoice, my subjects!" He said, speaking to his subjects from the balcony. "Very soon, Pokelantis will gain untold power that spans the entire world! We've waited 800 years for this and a legend is finally coming true! The rare Egg that has ties to the Creator Deity has returned at last!"
Legends of an Egg that referred to Arceus had been spread. The King of Pokelantis was very much aware of this egg, much like how he was aware of Ho-oh. And just like how he wanted Ho-oh's power to gain immortality, the power this egg had was not to be ignored.
"The Creator Deity truly does exist, which means a power greater than Ho-oh is also obtainable. This egg is said to hold absolute power unlike anything else. I have claimed many islands across Hoenn, making sure that I reach the egg before anyone else. As long as I have domain over these islands, the Creator Deity's Egg will not escape us and the great power will be mine, further elevating Pokelantis to new heights!"
Listening to her uncle speak was none other than Diadora. A young Diadora. Much smaller while still having that fierce look in her eyes. It was similar to her uncle's look. Those red eyes were truly intimidating, even though the King had dark green hair compared to the rest of his bloodline.
"Listen well niece." The King looked back at Diadora. "You must strive towards this path to power, just like how I and your parents have."
"What makes this egg so special, uncle?" Diadora asked.
"Hmph. The Creator Deity is a mystery, but it is true that it does exist. Somewhere out there beyond this world. I may never reach it, but the fact that remnants of its power can be left behind proves that the divine powers can be obtained. If I consume it, I could possibly control time itself."
"Time itself?"
"The Egg last appeared 800 years ago. And another 800 years ago before that. And so on and so forth. No one has been able to claim the egg and use its power. But the energy it exhibits is not a lie. Something truly magnificent resides in it. And I need it for myself. Islands are where it seems to appear more than anywhere else and the Seer has prophecized that this island is where it will appear."
"Is that why you conquered so many islands, niece?"
"But of course!" He cackled, before leaving the balcony. His niece would follow him, continuing to learn more about his tyrannical ways. The interior of the castle showed pictures of Diadora's extended family line.
On the walls were paintings of Green-haired and red-eyed individuals with a rather menacing glare. The disposition they gave off could be felt even if they were just pictures. Diadora was the youngest of this family line, possessing that look even at such a young age.
"For years our family have strived for domination. All of us have one goal. Conquer the world." The King raised his staff, moving it across the many paintings of his bloodline. "It has been a long-lasting goal of ours and while the world has not been conquered yet, I plan to finally achieve that generational goal."
"All of my ancestors, grandparents and more have strived for the same goal?" Diadora couldn't believe it. All of them had the same goal and yet have failed to carry it out, leaving it to the next generation.
"This is merely a fraction. My main castle back at Pokelantis possesses more portraits of your family." He cackled as these paintings were minuscule compared to what his main castle had. Diadora had a rather massive family. "The Gropius Bloondline is a strong one that will not give up on our ultimate goal."
"What does that make me then, uncle?"
"Hmph. I said that I would achieve that goal. Once I become the definitive ruler of the world, I will gain the immortality of Ho-oh to live forever! This will allow me to rule over this world with no fear of time putting an end to my reign. In short, I will be the only ruler of the world for eternity, my dear nice."
"The only one?!" Diadora gasped. That made it sound like she had no place in all of this. She was expected to be the next one to carry out that goal in case the King of Pokelantis failed.
"There is still a place for you, Diadora. You may not conquer the world, but soon, you will be a Queen either way. Pokelantis will transcend being a Kingdom and soon emerge as an Empire. Whatever region you desire, it will be yours to rule." He revealed that Diadora still had a place in all of this. But his quest for world domination made it so that no one else would stand at the top but him. "That goes for the rest of your family."
"I could rule the world as well if I tried." Diadora pouted, believing that she could pull it off. They do say that the next generation tends to be better than the last in many ways.
"Haha! Adorable! The lessons I'm sharing with you will give you a better understanding of being a ruler. And I expect your parents are doing the same. But I am far above you, niece. I have done a lot and have come too far to let anyone outdo me. Perhaps, you can try and best your old man, if possible." The King of Pokelantis even brought the concept of backstabbing and betrayal. He wouldn't put it past his niece to do that in the future.
This whole family wouldn't put it past each other. This bizarre bond is what inspired Diadora. Granted, she has been raised by tyrants, so this was to be expected. She had that drive to rule even at a young age. Young rulers were not out of the question.
First the egg, then the Sea Temple and then Ho-oh. The Sea Temple is also an excellent backup in case something goes wrong." At that moment, while the King of Pokelantis kept speaking, a golden flash occurred in the distance. This flash had stardust particles fly out of it, showing that it wasn't just an ordinary body of light. It was something more. Something that the King of Pokelantis was waiting for. He seems to have chosen the right island today. "Ah. It has begun! The Egg of the Creator Deity! Let us not waste any time and claim it as soon as possible!"
Hearing this, the guards would depart with their King, quickly making their way towards the scene of the outburst. The light was impossible to ignore since it made a rather loud sound and was incredibly bright.
"You can expect me to take your place, uncle. I want to rule the world as well." Diadora said as she was planning to backstab her uncle. Someday. When she was ready. She was also hoping that it was before he gets immortality.
A grand fanfare was made for the King of Pokelantis. He walked out of his castle with high appraise from his subjects. It was to celebrate something that hasn't even happened yet. However, the King's subjects saw him as someone who can gain power successfully. After all, he has conquered many islands which was proof of his success.
Meanwhile, Lena was at the mountainous part of the island, searching for something to eat. Without a full stomach, Lena would lack the needed strength to do much. Hearing her stomach grumble, Lena Ketchum looked around for anything but none of the trees had any fruits around. They were all dead after all. Surely there had to be something edible on this island.
But all she saw were terrified Pokemon. This island was populated by some Pokemon who looked absolutely terrified, hiding in the trees and bushes. Lena noticed them gazing at her with fear in their eyes. But most likely, Lena wasn't the reason why they all had these faces.
Not all Pokemon were terrified. Approaching Lena were Plusle and Minun, leaping onto her back while she was slowly walking along. Lena grumbled, looking back to see this duo on her back.
"Do you have any food for me?" Lena questioned before receiving a slight electrical shock on her back. Lena laughed right after, quite enjoying that shock.
Reading the emotions and energy of Lena, a Ralts would sense that Lena had no violent energy within her. There was nothing to fear. It would stop hiding in the bushes, sensing no danger whatsoever. The other Pokemon saw that Lena was rather harmless. Whether it was who she was as a person or her current state.
Lena would sit down, needing some time to relax. With a deep sigh, she started thinking about what she could be eating right now. In her mind, the food of her home village came to mind. "I could go for mother's cooking...I should have taken a basket or bag of her food. The next town I come across, I will make sure to take a bag of food."
But while Lena was thinking about food, she saw how the Pokemon of this island started gathering around. Plusle called out to all the other Pokemon, telling them about how Lena was completely safe. Hearing this, they all ceased their fearful faces and any worries they may have had.
Even though she was hungry, Lena could at least smile in the face of the Pokemon. Seeing so many of them gather around her, especially since they were Hoenn-based Pokemon, was wonderful. Lena very much enjoyed seeing new Pokemon and this island was packed with them.
Whimsur, Swablu, Spinda, Ralts, Breloom, Skitty, Beautifly, Houndor and more. With no Pokedex during this time, Lena learned about the Pokemon physically and up close. "Well, at least I have all of you to speak with. I'm guessing you are all hungry as well. I wish some food would appear right now."
"Plus!" Plusle confirmed this. With no food, many of these Pokemon were starving. They certainly couldn't produce any food of their own and some had to watch out for predator Pokemon who saw them as prey. They were in a similar boat as Lena but on a higher scale since this part of the island has been dead for a while.
Lena heard the stomach of a Vigoroth grumble which was rather audible. Lena and the Pokemon all heard of it as that didn't exactly help. But what it did was made Lena chuckle. She then patted Hondour on the head, soon rubbing it which as very comfortable for the Dark-Type. But before she could really take in all of these new Pokemon and interact with them some more, that's when it happened.
The golden light appeared at this very location, unleashing a brilliant flash for Lena to see. All the Pokemon saw it for themselves. It was absolutely beautiful and unlike anything they have seen before. This light was rather inviting, especially its entrance. Even though it was sudden, it made a peaceful appearance, easing its way into this area.
And from this divine light, an object would appear. It was what the King of Pokelantis spoke and what would apparently be the key to absolute power. It even resembled the very Pokemon he referred to. It was the Egg of the Creator Deity.
"Oh, that looks good enough!" But to Lena, she just saw it as a gift for her struggles. The appearance of it didn't matter to her. All that mattered was that it looked edible. All the Pokemon had the same thing in mind. They all saw it as edible. And it was rather large too. Lena and a few other Pokemon zipped over as their eyes lit up.
This mysterious egg which was as large as a Snorlax had not just a regal appearance but also a delicious appeal. Lena could already see the squish parts of the egg, lightly poking it. The gg would immediately jiggle, proving that it could be consumed. She wasn't sure where this egg came from or why it appeared. All that mattered was that she could finally eat. But Lena wasn't about to leave all the Pokemon behind. They had to eat too since they had nothing right now.
"We will all share this egg. It looks large enough for us all. Maybe bits of it can be cut up." Lena said before picking the egg. Much to her surpise, as soon as she did so, another golden glow would happen around that very spot. Lena pulled her hand back as she managed to get a smaller but still fairly big version of the egg.
Lena wasn't sure how that was possible but she wasn't complaining. This egg was as big as her head and perfect to fill her stomach. With a wide grin on her face, she turned to all the Pokemon, encouraging them to do the same. "Everyone! Start grabbing and pulling what you can!"
The Pokemon would do just that. Seeing Lena do it, they did not hold back. Starving, the Pokemon pulled out their own eggs which all came in massive sizes.
Soon, a feast happened around this part of the island. A feast of eggs occurred with Lena and all the Pokemon gladly consuming them with nothing else in mind. As for the egg itself, the taste could be described in one word. Divine. Lena squealed after tasting it. This was worth it without a doubt.
All the while, the King of Pokelantis was making his way to the scene of the light with his guards, taking a chariot there. His niece was also in the chariot, coming along to witness her uncle obtain almighty power. A flock of Skarmory flew alongside his chariot while also pulling it, belonging to his guards. "The power this egg holds is unknown but it is without a doubt mighty since it relates to the Creator Deity. My first act with that egg will be to tackle those opposing kingdoms. I will have the power to physically shape the world in my image!"
With a menacing cackle, the King already had plans with the egg. He certainly wasn't thinking about eating it. That never came to mind at least once. Diadora was just waiting for her opportunity. Perhaps, she could snatch the egg and harness its power first before her uncle could.
Unfortunately, that was never going to happen. The egg reached Lena and the Pokemon first and already, a majority of it had been eaten. The King of Pokelantis, his guards and Diadora all collectively had the same shocked reaction on their faces. This mystical egg that relates to the Creator Deity was not only smaller, now the size of a thumb, but a majority of it had been eaten which explained the shrunken size.
"Mmmm! Mmm?" Lena was eating the last of the Mysterious Egg. This feast has lasted for at least 40 minutes, filling everyone's stomachs. The young traveller would then notice the King of Pokelantis and his forces, pausing for a moment. The King's goals were instantly shattered with the key to ultimate power being swallowed up by Lena and the Pokemon.
The Pokemon here knew who the King of Pokelantis was as they instantly backed away. This was the one that instilled fear into them. Each of the Pokemon instinctively got behind Lena, feeling safe behind her. Some would just try and leave the area as soon as soon as possible.
"Is this the one you're afraid of?" Lena asked after seeing the Pokemon all gain those fearful expressions once more. She was already putting together that this was why the Pokemon were so afraid. And potentially why there was a lack of food around.
"W-What have you done?!" The King roared. "the Creator Deity's Egg! You ate it?!"
"You're not supposed to?" Lena sked after swallowing the last of the egg. "But it tastes so good though~"
"You fool! You blasted fool! Arrest her and those accursed Pokemon!" The King called for her arrest. This was not allowed to stand. The Egg that was said to appear every 800 years and no one has managed to obtain it was now gone. Most likely, it was never coming back since all of the Pokemon and Lena have devoured it.
Lena grimaced, realizing she was in deep trouble that she wasn't asking for. The guards approached along with their Skarmorys. But right afterwards, Lena was prepared to get herself out of this, putting on a serious face. However, she wouldn't get the chance to do anything as she suddenly felt her body pulsate for a brief moment.
"Huh?" Lena looked at herself, noticing a grandiose golden glow covering her body. This golden glow would blind the guards and the Skarmory, preventing them from getting any closer. It was also rather hot for the Skarmory, tackling their Steel-Typing. "Oooh..." Lena herself felt rather woozy.
The egg was mystical for a reason and the side-effects were starting to show. Lena's eyes spun around as all the other Pokemon who ate it felt the same. The golden glow would then spike in power as Lena's body, melting away the wheels of the chariot.
"This is an outrage! Absolute power should have been mine and you went and ate it?!" The King of Pokelants growled, unable to get close because of the light's power. "Who are you, girl?!"
"Lena Ketchum!" She spoke her name before holding out a peace sign. "I was hungry! And it was worth it!" Those were her last words before she suddenly felt something else. She blinked for a moment as she and all the Pokemon would vanish from the scene. Lena looked at the King and Diadora at the last moment before having her body disappear.
All that was left behind was a golden pillar of light that would soon shrink. Just like that, Lena Ketchum and the Pokemon were gone. Along with the egg.
"Noooooooo!" The King of Pokelantis was defeated. And it was done by a starving girl and Pokemon. To say he was furious was an understatement. The guards all trembled, knowing the King's wrath was about to be absolutely terrifying. "Curse it all!"
"Darn it!" Diadora was also gutted by this, slamming her fist on the chariot. The ultimate power she planned to steal from her uncle was gone. And it was all thanks to Lena. Diadora never forgot Lena after this. Her name was known and especially that face. The face of a Ketchum.
"And that was how I ended up in Hisui. That Egg managed to transport me to the future. I wasn't even aware that it had a mystical power behind it until the King said so." Lena finished the story, finally giving full context. "I'm still not sure why it appeared out of nowhere that day. But a part of me believes that it was also an accident."
"And it would've been mine!" Diadora stomped her foot. "I was going to steal it from my uncle and use it for myself! That way, I would have been the de facto ruler of the world! But you just ate it?! Why?! Why would eat something that relates to the Mighty Arceus?!"
"It looked edible..." Lena shrugged. "If you saw it, you would've thought the same. Plus, all it did was take me to the future, so I'm not really sure its power was as amazing as you wanted it to be. I mean, it was amazing to witness and travelling through time is impressive."
"Pfft! Bahaha!" Jessie, James and Meowth collectively cackled after hearing this. That was rather hilarious. Dreams of World Domination crushed by a young adventurer? That was all too familiar to them. It seems that history repeats itself even in the past.
"Sucks to be you~" Jessie slid over, looking at Diadora's scowl.
"Whatever! I can right these wrongs! I'll succeed where my uncle failed! I knew for a fact that he wouldn't succeed even after everything he said. I am the last of my bloodline and I plan to achieve their goals."
"How do you plan to do that?" James asked. "I mean, different forms of ultimate power now exist in the future but it's not just you that wants them."
"I have the opportunity to become the Queen of the Sea, if possible. Ash Ketchum currently holds the title of King. It should be ruling the seas. Much like how you took my chance for ultimate power away, Lena, your descendant did the same."
"Listen. I'm not all for world domination, but I'm not one to crush the dreams of someone else. I have to continue on my mission at the moment so I can really say much more." Lena was about to depart, focusing on the Changeling Lands.
"Hey! I have to exact revenge! Don't just leave!" Diadora roared.
"No offence, but you're not really making it hard for us not to leave." said Jessie. It was true. Diadora didn't seem to pose any threat at all. She was rather harmless. All bark and no bite. And Diadora knew this, puffing her cheeks and looking down. She came all this way just to yell and vent her frustrations out at Lena.
"I was hoping to do more..." Diadora grumbled. "I finally meet ith the one who took my chance of ruling the world away...and now what? If I had a Pokemon of my own, this would be very different."
"Well, it's been years since then. I don't think you're all that bad, Diadora." Lena chuckled. "Young lady. You just sound frustrated. And rather lost."
"Of course, I'm frustrated! And you of all people know why! But..." Diadora sighed. "I can't really do anything about it. And I'm not sure about lost."
"You don't know what do at all, don't you?" Lena approached. "You came all this way for me, only to have nothing else to do. And it sounds like you back home, it applies there as well."
"I could be come Queen but such a title doesn't come from choice. Your grandson just happened to be the one to save the Sea Temple. I was sealed in the Sea Temple along with the other Samiyans. I saw him save it. And since then, I've been only living at the Sea Temple. I have no throne."
"That sounds like my grandson!" Lena grinned. "I love that he's made a name for himself!"
"Not me..." Diadora scoffed. "But mark my works, Lena. You should watch out in case I finally manage to exact my proper revenge."
"You're adorable!" Jessie would pat Diadora's head, finding her cute instead of threatening. Diadora would growl, trying her best to keep that same threatening aura up. She certainly had the voice which was befitting of a ruler. But there was just something missing. Something vital.
Lena knew what it was. And because of this fact, she didn't see Diadora as evil or anything close to it. Because of this major factor, Diadora was very much different from her uncle. Lena turned around, continuing on her way while looking back at Diadora.
"If it makes you feel any better...Why not come along?" Lena offered Diadora a chance to follow her. Diadora gasped as that was the last thing she expected to hear. "Try and exact revenge along the way. You can stay close or keep following us from afar. We're off to the Changeling Lands."
"E-Excuse me...?" Even after all of that, Lena's carefree attitude won it all, leaving Diadora speechless. She spoke about world domination and exacting revenge and the only outcome was Lena shrugging it off, asking Diadora to come along. Lena was a strange one.
But she was just like her descendant Ash. Needless to say, Diadora wasn't sure how to properly react or what she could do. She was already far from by this point and the one who took the ultimate power by accident was offering her something entirely unexpected.
Beyond the world. Beyond space. Beyond the many planets and stars that populate the universe, there exists a plane. Colourful in every sense of the word and absolutely extraordinary.
Located in an unknown area, hovering beyond the endless void of space, this ethereal plane was a massive, zero-sided area adorned with shimmering neon lights that pulse in synchronized patterns. Celestial bodies of all kinds were present casting an ethereal glow over the plane. Embedded in the plane were glowing symbols of an unknown language.
A vast expanse of shimmering energy, stretching out infinitely in all directions. Wisps of translucent mist dance through the air, swirling around celestial bodies that are suspended within the void. The energy crackles with a faint hum, resonating with the otherworldly sounds.
This seemed like another part of space, even though it was nowhere to be in the vast cosmos. Aside from the vast expanse, there seemed to be something else. There seemed to be land but it was obscured by this blinding yet welcoming light. In the distance, a towering crystalline structure pierces the fabric of the astral plane, emanating a powerful aura.
A place like this would seem wonderful to live in but impossible to reach. However, much like the wonderful creatures that populate the world, there was no place in existence that was devoid of life. There were no bodies in this vast space, but there was a voice.
"Then it is settled." A flourishing voice that had an unparalleled echo emerged from this cosmic space. It had a lofty voice that was fit for someone in command. The sound it made caused the cosmic energy to ripple and yet there wasn't a physical body anywhere. "On the 20th billion day of this year, we will hold a trial. To maintain the balance and prosecute those who have obstructed all of creation."
"If I may...I would like to vouch for him. Support him on this case." Another voice made the cosmic energy ripple. It was softer and less commanding. It was a rather simple voice.
"You wish to be the one to defend this Human and the Pokemon? Even after what they have done." The commanding voice aforementioned.
"It wouldn't be fair to them. No one here seems to be on their side and unfortunately, so I will be the one to take his side. I see a positive to all of this."
"A dauntless choice, little angel. Let it be known all that all those under trial will have someone in their stead. That is an endless war, no matter the circumstance. You shall be allowed to cosign them both. That involves their friends and all those supporting them, if they choose to speak up."
"I'll make my way to Earth immediately and speak to him about this. It won't take long at all and you may come for me when the time is ripe."
Just then, in this astral plane, a golden beam of light would take off. It was the only thing moving at the moment. And within it, an entity was present. Someone who was on another plane and fittingly came from another plane.
Kanto. Pallet Town. Ketchum Household. Night.
In Ash's room, while everyone else was asleep, the Kid from Kanto looked up at the ceiling, thinking back to what Sheena told him. It was about Prisma. Some more information about this character has been revealed and now his existence was taken fully seriously by Ash. This wasn't the first time he's ever been in this scenario. A scenario where something could happen to him. Delayed Aura Ataxia was the first and now this was a lead-up. Instead of harming him, it could be a similar situation to the King of Pokelantis but it would be Prisma taking over.
"His soul could influence you or take over you. We're not yet sure what it will take for that to happen, but it can. He isn't another entity, Ash. He exists in you, Red, Hilbert and the others. The best thing to do is to keep him concealed. Can you do that for us, Ash?"
Ash did promise that he wouldn't let Prisma appear. But even he knew that anything sealed up could eventually make a return. He's seen it for himself multiple times. He wondered if the same could be said for Red, Ethan, Brendan, Hilbert and all the other counterparts he apparently has.
Before he could continue thinking about it, his Rotomphone went off. A notification was set. Picking it up, he saw that it came from Sci-Twi, all the way over at the Human World. The connection that the Rotomphone had was immaculate without a doubt.
Looking at it, the message that Twilight sent read; "Hey, Ash. If you're not too busy, could you come over tomorrow or the day after? It's not an Alpha Pokemon mission but something else. I've already asked the others to chime in and I know you'll be a ton of help finding these shards I'm looking for."
Ash always had his friends to think about and be with. So even with the existence of Prisma lurking within him, he could always find solace. Ash would make time for Sci-Twi but he already has quite a bit on his plate. After seeing the message and writing back, Ash could clock out at last, sleeping peacefully.
Equestria. Ponyville. Day.
With the Pokemon Festival growing closer, Ponyville was starting to take on festival tendencies before it could even start. Ponyville would try its best to add its own attractions to this year's Pokemon Festival, which would be rather difficult considering it already had a lot to offer. But that didn't stop them from trying.
Preparing for the Festival, the grounds of Ponyville were sprawling, with colourful tents and stalls interspersed with stages and rides. The air is filled with the tantalizing aromas of fried treats and foods of different kinds, mingling with the sweet scent of blooming flowers. A massive Ferris wheel looms overhead, adorned with ethereal faerie lights that twinkle in the Morning Sun. Only a few days away from the Festival and the entirety of Poyville looked like it was already set to begin.
At the moment, Ash was partaking in some Jigglypuff-shaped doughnuts, served up by the Cake Family. And right next to him, aside from Pinkie Pie and Pikachu who were doing the exact same thing, was a flier promoting Rarity's upcoming movie over at PokeStar Studios. Featuring herself and her Human Counterpart. The duo agreed to work together after all.
"For this year's Pokemon Festival, how about we try taking our food directly to the higher-ups?" said Mrs. Cake while watching them eat. "After the meeting, they're bound to show up for this year's Pokemon Festival. It's the perfect opportunity to branch out."
"Mmm?" Pinkie blinked. "That'll be easy. No matter how stubborn they are, they'll love our food. But I'm thinking bigger! I'll just take some to the Human World. My other self's probably thinking the same thing. The Human World doesn't get to have a Pokemon Festival since they're not ready for the Pokemon yet."
"Maybe we can just do it around Canterlot High." Ash found a solution to that. "That school and everywhere near it has gotten pretty used to Pokemon. I've shown up there a few times and they love 'em."
"While you're at it, could you give a heads up to our other selves? We don't get to interact with them at all." Mr Cake requested. "Not many of us in Ponyville have met our other selves. It's always you two, Twilight and a few others."
"Lucky us, am I right?" Proud of that, Pinkie nudged Ash on the shoulder. Ash's main friend group were the only ones to really meet their other selves. Whether they were Human Counterparts, alternate universe counterparts or even the exact same entity.
"Maybe one of my dreams come true in another world..." Mrs Cake started fantasizing of that possible world. It wasn't out of the question. Existence was massive enough for something like that to exist, without a doubt.
Helping with the Pokemon Festival was Princess Twilight herself, but she had a different reason. Twilight was focusing on making new gateways. She still hasn't figured it out. Starswirl made the basis for it but Twilight, who possessed Rift Magic, couldn't bring it out.
She wanted everyone to travel from place to place, just like how it was in the past before Jirachi put everything together. Alas, she was hitting nothing but brick walls. If she can't find a solution, then this year's Pokemon Festival would just have to go without any gateways, which was a genuine shame since passing through the gateways and ending up elsewhere was one of the best parts of the Pokemon Festival. It was there since day one and it felt like a staple.
Twilight had one theory in mind. In the same way she was able to create items with the Rift Magic within her by remembering the molecular structure and makeup of it. Rather challenging since even Twilight never took the time to think about the makeup of every object out there. But now, she might have to. To make a gateway, she wondered if getting every single detail about a certain place would work but that would also involve figuring out the makeup of everything.
Of course, she had books about this. Twilight could be seen walking the streets of Ponyville with multiple books around her, floating via the use of magic. Each of them spoke about various things and how they were made. Specifically locatios which is what truly mattered. Buildings, historical structures and more.
"It will take a lot of magic for me to make a castle. That'll completely drain me." She said when reading the books. She would also have to use plenty of Rift Magic, making it 10x harder for her.
"Give it a rest, Twilight." Rainbow Dash appeared, lowering one of the books down in front of Twilight. "You don't have to worry about making a new gateway by getting everything down."
"Mmm...I'd love to though." Twilight pranced on the spot, finding this rather frustrating. "It's so annoying knowing I can make a gateway and solve the rest of our problems but the methods are so complex!"
"And I'm glad I never have to deal with something like that." Rainbow Dash grinned, proud to be unaware of all of these complex things. She just goes with the flow and that was about it.
"I wish I could speak with the Rift, but it's shut itself off from us. If I could, it would probably tell me there was an easier way to make a gateway to a location. I might not even need all of these complex steps. I'm not even sure the Rift's interacting with us."
"It might. Rift-Dialga showing up looked like proof to me." The pegasus brought up Rift-Dialga from a few days back and how it was just carrying out the Rift's will. "But if the Rift wanted to get payback on Ash, it would've done it at any time. So..i guess, it's not doing anything?"
"Bah, whatever." The Princess of Friendship scrunched her face. "I won't give up but I'll take a break from this. This is too much, even for me. Cosmic Power's great and all but even when I have it, it doesn't make everything easy. The higher powers up there would be a ton of help if they ever show up. I could really use Arceus's help right now."
"Pfft. Yeah, right. We haven't seen Arceus in a while. He sleeps a lot, doesn't he? But he shows up when we really need him." The multi-coloured-maned mare continued before looking up, hoping that Arceus would respond in some way.
"Well, I need him now. Really, anyone up there will do."
At that very moment, as if Twilight's words were leading up to this, a divine light beamed down. All actions came to a halt. This light would touch the ground, leaving no damage whatsoever. It was a captivating light, much like Arceus's light. Twilight instantly thought that this was Arceus actually responding to her, come to her aide.
But she couldn't be farther from the truth. As the light would create a pleasing and lovely spiral that made the grass and flowers dance while also sooting the eyes and senses of others, from it emerged a figure. The figure of a pony. Around Celestia's height, a beautiful set of wings opened up, sending light shards out that would gently float instead of rapidly flying everywhere.
This was not an average pony. Not at all. No one was sure who this was. It wasn't Princess Celestia. It wasn't Luna. It certainly wasn't Daybreaker or any other royal and powerful figure. No one could make out who it was, especially after she showed herself.
Appearing before them, was an Angel.
Jaws dropped after seeing her, mainly from all the stallions. As soon as they saw her, everything on their mind just vanished as her beauty is what stuck out more than anything. Not the halo she had over her head.
"This is the second or third time that some light has shown up out of nowhere. What now?" Rainbow Dash rubbed her eyes, pointing out the number of times golden beams of light have shown up, bringing surprises. And a brand new surprise from beyond had arrived.
"Who is that?" Nearby, Amethyst Star questioned while holding her Skitty.
"No idea...I've never seen her before." There was no pony in recorded history that matched her appearance. "Maybe this is Arceus's answer? But does that mean he can make ponies as well?"
"She's got a halo on her too. And her mane. It's letting off this bright glow." Berry Punch noticed the halo. This made the mysterious pony even more mysterious.
"Hm. The only entity I know of that can have a halo is an angel. I haven't seen anyone else with a halo. Not even a pony." Deducing this, Twilight Sparkle wondered why this pony had a halo. She brought up angels which were said to possibly exist in the words of Princess Celestia. "Unless..."
"Woah-ho...Which princess or queen is that?" One of the stallions was dumbfounded. They all were. Never before have they been this smitten. Not just them, but some of the Pokemon too.
"No idea. But I'm glad she's here." Another giggled. Some, who were already in relationships, received glares from their partners. The mares who were with them had visibly displeased reactions to this.
"Ooh..." For a moment Mr Cake was in the same boat, only for Mrs Cake to lightly tap him on the head, knocking him back to his senses. "Ow!"
"Good morning to all." She greeted them, having an echoing voice. A voice that transcended the winds and the sound of nature and anything else. "I apologize for my sudden entrance."
"It's okay! You're welcome to Ponyville just like anyone else!" A few stallions said as they did not mind this appearance at all. And already, some of them gathered around her while keeping their distance.
"The Pokemon Festival hasn't started yet but we can entertain you with it before the day arrives!" They were already offering this mysterious pony something. Moments after she had arrived, a vast amount of attention was given to her. Food, flowers, accessories and all other things that were meant for the Pokemon Festival were offered up.
"She just showed up and already something like this is happening? Rarity would be jealous and Cadence would be confused."
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But maybe not for this instance." A jealous Amethyst Star expressed. "Hmph. What makes her so beautiful? They never reacted like this to any of us."
"If that is a princess then the fame of Ponyville is only going to rise from here~" Unaware of who this was, Mayor Mare only cared about increasing Ponyville's fame at this time. It was why she was trying to come up with the best possible things for this year's Pokemon Festival.
"Hmm...She doesn't feel like any other pony." But Cold Colt was the only one who knew that this was someone else entirely. It was somepony who did not come from Earth.
"My name is Lightwing." She introduced herself, at last, sharing her name. "I come at a matter of importance. I must speak with Ash Ketchum since he is present here.
"Sure, sure!" Hearing this, the stallions immediately rushed to Ash's side, interrupting his snack. Ash was busy looking at Lightwing, wondering who she was. Right as Ash was about to take another bite, he felt multiple hooves press against his back along with some magic surrounding him.
"Woah!" Ash bellowed after being forced forward. All of this unnecessary strength to move him but they would go to these lengths just because of Lightwing. Ash was brought over to the angel, shaking like a bobblehead when brought to a halt. His doughnut had dropped, stripping him from taking a massive bite. "Aw, man..."
"Hold on. Let me fix that for you." But Ash had nothing to worry about. Lightwing had no horn, but that did not stop her from unleashing a mystical power. It did not come from wings, similar to how Pegalysium's ponies do it. Instead, it was her eyes. They took on a bright glow as a divine light appeared around the fallen doughnut.
Ash saw it leave the ground but what happened next would save his hunger. The dirt that was around the doughnut would be cleansed. The beautiful light erased it all. Any infections that it would have were gone, making it clean and edible once more. Ash's eyes lit up as the delectable dessert was brought over.
"Gee, thanks!" Grateful for this, he continued where left off, taking a bite out of this Jigglypuff-shaped doughnut. "Lightwing, right?"
"Yes. Pleased to meet you. I am Angel who has come to speak with you. It truly is of grave importance, Ash Ketchum."
"An angel?" Ash paused for a moment while chewing his food. Since Lightwing's voice had such a strong yet comforting echo, lots of ponies and Pokemon could hear her. After swallowing the doughnut, Ash would think about angels and what they looked like in his head. "Wait, like an actual angel?! With a halo and everything?!"
"My halo exists, yes." She aimed her hoof at the moon-shaped light above her head. "I was expecting this to be a surprise to you. I am glad there isn't a single hint of fear."
"She's an angel, alright!" But the stallions saw her as a figurative angel. In which, she was so beautiful that being called an angel was a great compliment.
"Not a metaphorical one. An actual one. I am appearing as a pony but I can assure you, not all of us appear as ponies." Lightwing immediately referred to others. She was not the only one and she just so happens to have the form of a pony.
"That's an actual angel..." Twilight's jaw dropped along with many others. Right here at Ponyville, an actual angel was present here. Truly a momentous day as Ponyville was blessed with something amazing yet again. Even Mayor Mare, who was looking forward to something like this, never expected an angel to show up. "A real angel!"
"What's an angel doing here?!" Rainbow Dash flew over, fully invested in this.
"I should explain as soon as possible. Ash Ketchum. I am here to vouch for you. I have decided to defend you from a rather overwhelming case that does not favour you."
"Vouch for me and defend me?" The King of the Sea scratched his face, unsure what was threatening him at the moment. Could it be Rift-Palkia this time or something else?
"Approximately tomorrow, you shall be judged by the Astral Court and I will be there to defend you." She explained. "The Space Beyond Space is where the trial shall take place."
"Wait! I'm being judged?!" Ash gasped, pulling back as this escalated quickly. Never before did he think he'd be in this scenario. "For real?!"
"Pikachu?!" Pikachu couldn't believe what he was hearing. His best friend was about to go to court apparently.
"Precisely. I am sorry that this has come as a shock to you. I hoped to ease you in with the news but this is still surprising to anyone unprepared." Lightwing apologized. "This is a case that cannot be avoided or reasoned with. It is something that will pass through."
"What's Ash guilty of?! He hasn't done anything wrong at all!" Scootaloo, among the rest of the crowd, bellowed, seeing that as a silly sentence.
"To the judges of the Astral Court, Ash Ketchum and by extension, the Pokemon by the name of Jirachi are being charged with a crime that stands high above others. The crime of altering existence itself." Lightwing would then use her Celestial Power to create cosmic projections of Ash and Jirachi. "This is referring to the wish you made, Ash. The wish to unite both worlds."
The reason for this has been revealed. At long last, the biggest possible outcome of this wish has reared its ugly head. And it involved Ash being prosecuted by a higher power somewhere out there. And Jirachi was in that same boat as well since he was the one who united the worlds.
"The court sees this as a great offence. But I have decided to defend you, seeing the other side of it. It is why I left the realm to come and talk to you. Lawyers are what this occupation is known as so I am now your lawyer."
"That's what he's being charged for? Lame!" Rainbow Dash groaned. "That shouldn't be a crime! I'm pretty sure everyone's cool with this new world. Except for the grumpy Pokemon but still!"
"Yeah! So many of us are pretty happy!" A full Pinkie Pie said with her mouth completely stuffed. "I mean, we don't have the gateways anymore, so that's a bummer. But everything else is pretty great!"
"I understand. I understand. I am an Angel of Understanding where I come from. It is my duty to see both sides and come to a concrete decision. And I have been watching you from above this entire time. From the day the two worlds crossed over, I have seen everything, along with my fellow angel friends. I believe that this is a great outcome, even if it deviates from everything else."
"Well, if you're gonna be my lawyer, then I've got a good feeling about this." Ash held his hand out. "I've never been in a court case before though..."
"This is a big deal, Ash!" Twilight teleported in front of Ash, thinking about the worst. "Very big! Bigger than anything we've dealt with before! Who knows what these judges are? We have an angel here and she obviously answers to a higher power!"
"Why yes." Lightwing confirmed, leaing over to Twilight. "Many great powers will be present at the trial. This is something that involved everyone after all. I could have come for you tomorrow on the day of the trial, but I chose to come here first for one reason."
"What's that?"
"Well...I'd love to interact with this world. You have already heard about this before and dealt with it. But even for us angels, this is completely different. Residing in the Ambrosial Plane is just as interesting as the new world that has been made. From the day it arrived to the day it united with ours." Lightwing, like many others, was interested in Pokemon.
Even otherworldly beings couldn't help it. The Strange and Wonderful Creatures known as Pokemon were just that appealing. And because Lightwing has been watching over the Earth, she was aware of what they were capable of. Good and bad.
"Great! We can get you started!" Ash liked the sound of that. He was always eager to help someone get into the World of Pokemon. "Whatever you wanna do first, we can do it!"
"Pikachu!"
"You're not taking this seriously, are you?" Twilight grumbled. Even after what had just been said, Ash looked as happy as ever. But that was his charm.
"Absolutely wonderful. I can't leave my good friend out of this. Halo. You can come out now." Lightwing spoke about another. Everyone wondered if it was another angel that was secretly here and in hiding. But when putting her hoof into her mane, it was revealed that this character by the name of Halo was closer than they thought.
From Lightwing's mane, an entity that as most definitely not an angel appeared. However, it still had that cosmic appearance with it, whereas Lightwing leaned towards the more divine side.
"Wow! Is that a Pokemon?!" Ash was amazed as he has never seen anything like this before. He instantly believed that this was a Pokemon.
"No. This is a Star Wisp. My good friend, Halo." Lightwing introduced him. "He's always been by my side, much like you all and your Pokemon. I am no stranger to such a bond."
"Its entire body is made out of space and stars." Twilight slowly approached Halo, hearing his voice. He had a unique cry that sounded similar to a cricket mixed with a purr. "Is it safe to be near him?"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu already got close to Halo already. Halo looked at the Mouse Pokemon flying around him as he left behind a trail of stardust. Pikachu felt the stardust drop onto him, making him giggle. The stardust was very much physical while also staying on Pikachu's face, much like snow.
"Very much so. He is a very comfortable wisp to be around" Lightwing reassured them that there was nothing to fear. Now then...I will have to speak with the Pokemon known as Jirachi. All of those Jiracho who were trapped in that other dimension are responsible for putting everything together."
"Good luck with that. Even after we saved them, all the Jirachis are still difficult to find. It only makes sense that a Pokemon with such an amazing power would be this difficult"
"Fear not. Because Jirachi will be there." Lightwing already expected Jirachiu to be at the trial. She sounded so confident. "I will also need Ash to have as much support as he can. I know for a fact that a majority of everyone is pleased with this new world. But it's also important to know why this is seen as a major offence to the point where those at the higher plane have overwhelming odds and would wish to see you take consequences."
"What's so wrong with everything coming together? I don't get it." Pinkie Pie grumbled, seeing all of this as a positive
Everyone in Ponyville, Canterlot and beyond only saw positives. After all, the Royal Phantasy was made for something like this. For the Earth at least. But Twilight had a feeling that Lightwing was also speaking of the worlds beyond this one. And speaking of Lightwing, since she was an angel holding her own cosmic power, Twilight wondered if she could help with making a new gateway.
"I know everything there is about Pokemon after watching you all. I'm aware of many species and their special traits." Lightwing added. "But it would still be wonderful to spend time around them. And perhaps even take part in a Pokemon Battle. Perhaps the last one will be a good place to start from."
"You wanna try a Pokemon Battle? Sure thing. We can get it rolling right now." Ash agreed to that. "I bet it'd be awesome to battle an angel."
"Pika!"
Halo would then speak to Lightwing, letting out his cry which was understandable by Lightwing herself. It was no surprise that she could understand him. "I know Halo. Please allow me to enjoy myself. This is my first time on Earth in over 13 billion years. I plan to make the most of it."
"Alright, Lightwing! Let's throwdown!" Ash adjusted his gloves, ready to battle.
"Ash! Twilight got up in his face. "Make sure to talk to these higher beings with respect, please...! The judges at that trial are going to be at the top of the food chain so whatever you say really matters."
"No need to worry, Twilight." Ash grabbed Twilight. "I'll be fine there. No matter what happens, I'll make it out."
"Hah...This is the one time I'm worrying the most but...okay. Just make sure you don't do anything to anger her or them. Angels are rather important after all." Twilight pleaded.
"Let's make it a quick one, Lightwing." Ash would back away and so did Lighting, finding a good enough spot for them to begin their battle. "So uh...Do you have a Pokemon of your own?"
"No. Not really." Obviously, Lightwing had no Pokemon of her own. Halo didn't count at all even though most might write him off as a Pokemon the first time seeing him.
"Take my Sentret!" Already the stallions were choosing Pokemon for Lightwing, showing just how enamoured they were by her presence.
"You can have my Jumpluff assist you!"
"Hitmonchan can hit hard so have him help you!"
"No, my Mothim can definitely help you with this!" Many of them wished to win the affection of Lightwing, trying to get on their good side.
"What's going on?" Showing up to this scene where all the commotion was happening were Fluttershy and Applejack. They missed out on the entrance but they weren't going to miss out on the important figure present here at Ponyville.
"There's an Angel here and she's about to battle Ash."
"An angel? Ya can't be serious. Can you?" Applejack squinted her eyes, her head over the crowd of disgruntled mares and excited stallions. Sceptile would help her up as she could witness the Angelic Pony standing there, surrounded by a permanent body of light. The halo is what gave it away as well as those shimmering eyes. "Well, I'll be...That does look like an angel!"
"Oh, but look at that! Who is that?!" Fluttershy had her eyes on someone else. And that would be Halo. Her admiration for creatures of all types was kicking in once more as seen by her starry eyes and wide grin. "Is that a Pokemon?!"
"It's fine everyone. I have a solution to that." Despite not having a Pokemon, Lightwing could solve this instantly. Using her divine power, the Angel would suddenly materialize something in front of her. Everyone watched as Lightwing was seemingly creating life.
In front of her, she managed to create a Surrogate Pokemon. And the one she chose was Togekiss. Similar to how Rift-Dialga and Rift-Palkia were cosmic variants of already existing Pokemon, this Togekiss fit the same boat. But it wasn't just a cosmic force that it was made out of, but also divine energy.
"Togekiss!"
"Oh! You created a Togekiss?!" Ash uttered with elation and wonder in his voice.
"Just a surrogate version of it. I can only create Celestial Bodies of someone and I have always found Togekiss to be a personal favourite of mine." Lightwing said.
"Go Lightwing!" All of a sudden, the ponies would start cheering for Lightwing immediately, rooting for her to win over Ash. Their collective screams made the other ponies flinch from this.
"No way. They're going for her instead?" Scootaloo couldn't believe it. Lightwing's appearance has managed to change public favour greatly. Usually, everyone would be rooting for Ash but not anymore.
"Alright then. I'm down to take on a different kind of Pokemon. Pikachu, I choose you!" For Ash, he went his tried and true partner Pikachu.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu entered the battle, jumping over Ash.
"BOOO!" All of a sudden, boos and disapproval were thrown at Ash. Not only were they rooting for Lightwing, but they were also hoping Ash would lose this. "Using an Electric-Type against a Flying-Type! On her first-go?!" Clearly, they didn't want Ash to have a massive advantage, especially on someone having their first Pokemon Battle.
"Uh..." Ash did not see this coming. At all.
"Hmm...I can't replicate the powers of whoever I wish to create..." Lightwing pondered. "So, as a substitute, I will have Togekiss use the power of the stars and improvise from there. And I still start off by using my version of Tri Attack! Go, Togekiss, my friend!"
"Togekiss!" "Togekiss went first, opening its mouth and generating three orbs. Fire, Ice and Electricity were the three main elements. Those three elements were easy to replicate since they were so common. Made up by Lightwing's power, the three elements flew over forward, approaching the Mouse Pokemon. They even had a beautiful stardust trail to give it that divine flair. Everyone cheered as the Tri Attack travelled.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" Hardening his tail, Pikachu would try and destroy the Tri Attack. By swinging his tail down, he obliterated the three orbs, causing them to combust. And Immediately after doing so, Pikachu and Ash were hit with Boos once more, making them flinch. Clearly, they were not pleased with Pikachu destroying the Tri Attack as they wanted it to hit.
"They're getting mad at Ash for...fighting back?" Fluttershy said, confused by these reactions.
"Beauty does that sometimes, I'm afraid." Amethyst Star sighed. "If Ash were to give up, they'd be greatly pleased. But we already know Ash never gives up so that's out of the question. He's going to see this through."
"So they want me to hold back? But I love going all out..." Ash wasn't sure about this. Never before has been told to hold back by so many individuals. "Alright, Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
"Pi! Pika!"
"Then I'll have to use Air Slash!"
"Togekiss!" To substitute for Air Slash, Togekiss created these cosmic winds around its wings. It would flap them as hard as it could, sending these astral gusts that appeared in the shape of blades at Pikachu.
Pikachu would evade some of them with Quick Attack only for one of the blades to hit its mark. Pikachu's Quick Attack was promptly stopped as stardust surrounded his body. "Pi!"
"Splendid! I landed a hit!" Lightwing grinned before looking at Halo. This was folloed up by her newfound fanbase cheering for her even louder. "I want to keep this momentum going while I have the time. Togekiss! Moonblast!"
"Toooo!" The power of the Moon being replicated wasn't an issue for Lightwing. Togekiss spun around, generating a beautiful and dazzling orb above its head.
"Here it comes! Pikachu, use Electroweb!"
"Pikaaa!" Pikachu would prepare himself for Moonblast. As soon as the orb had been formed and unleashed, the Electric-Type threw his own orb. Both orbs approached each other as Pikachu's orb transformed into a web. The Electroweb caught the Moonblast, halting its movements immediately. The Moonblast combusted, letting out a cosmic explosion for all to see.
"Not bad, Lightwing. I'm guessing you were waiting for a battle since you were watching us. You probably know how to really feel a battle's flow."
"Thank you, Ash. And I do have some skills to share. I may be new to Pokemon Battling but I'm not blind to what it can truly be. Go, Togekiss! Use Dazzling Gleam!
"Kiss!" Spinning once more, Togekiss would generate a cosmic light around its body. This would be Ligtwing's version of Dazzling Gleam as it was starting to brighten. And from this cosmic light, multiple cosmic rays were unleashed. The way they flew out was magnificent, especially since some of them travelled into the air. Truly a celestial sight.
"Go, Lightwing! Go!" The crowd cheered even louder for Lightwing as they wanted this one to be the heaviest hitter yet. By cheering her own, they were giving the Dazzling Gleam extra strength. Lightwing felt rather flattered to have so many supporters on her first day showing up here.
"Intercept with Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaaa...Chuuuu!" Pikachu would shut this down instantly. From his body, 100,000 volts were shot out, releasing a great burst of lightning. Pikachu added some more force to his attacks, obliterating the rainbow rays. The lightning would hit one of the rays, prompting a chain reaction. Sparks of lightning latched onto the other rays, disrupting them.
"Aw, come on! That would've been a perfect setup!" Naturally, Lightwing's supporters were greatly disappointed by this after Ash ruined what was looking to be a successful barrage of hits.
"It's like you don't want her to win! It's her first time!"
"Man. This rougher than the battle." Ash didn't look that deterred by it. He was just confused by it all since this was completely out of left field.
"Pika."
"Hmph. Well, I'm of a different opinion! Clean her clock, Ash!" Opposing the stallions, the mares would cheer for Ash instead. They wanted Ash to win and with overwhelming force to boot.
"It's alright everyone," Lightwing spoke to them, showing off her face. Just looking at her face made them all rather flustered. "As long as I'm having fun and I certainly am."
"Yeah. That's what makes Pokemon Battles so great. So sorry Lightwing, but I'm not gonna hold back on you! I hope you're ready!"
"Mmm. An angel is always ready, Ash. Even if it never ends in the best outcome." Lightwing winked. " It is always important for us angels to be at the ready, so I'm welcoming your absolute best, Ash. I will use Moonblast once more!"
"Toge!" A second Moonblast was inbound.
"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!"
"Pikachu-Pi!" One more Thunderbolt was thrown out. And Ash wasn't going easy at all. He was using his full force for this next attack since Lightwing kindly invited him to do so. Thunderbolt and Moonblast were both thrown out. The beautiful moon and the fierce lightning travelled through the air, clashing.
However, seconds later, one of the attacks instantly succeeded. In this case, it was Thunderbolt. The blast of 100,000 volts broke through the Moonblast, shattering it. Thus, Thunderbolt crashed into Togekis, delivering a mighty electrical outburst.
"To?! Togekiss!" Togekiss bellowed as its eyes were spinning and its entire body would tremble. That was quite the hefty Thunderbolt which would soon explode. The Stallions all gasped while the Mares had excited faces. Two completely different reactions from two sides. No one expected something like this to happen today.
The smoke cleared with sparks of lightning still crackling around the area. Lightwing's supporters were waiting for her next move since that Thunderbolt left quite an impact. If Lightwing can deliver an equal impact, it could turn things around. Alas, that was not going to happen.
Unfortunately, this Togekiss had some fragility with it. Just one attack and it was already unable to continue. Togekiss had fainted, slowly dropping to the ground. "Togekiss..."
"Oh, dear! Perhaps I skipped out on durability!" Lightwing gasped, realizing that Togekiss was missing some defence. All it took was one Thunderbolt to seal the deal.
"Noooooo!" The stallions cried out, saddened by Lightwing's loss. Tears fell from their eyes while some of them lowered their heads.
"Yeeeeees!" While the mares raised their hooves and some of them started jumping or flying for joy.
"Don't be upset. Can't win them all. And it was my first time." Lightwing said, unbothered by this loss. As an angel, something like this wouldn't be enough to make her upset. "Besides, it was rather lovely receiving supporters. On my first day back on Earth too in 13 Billion Years. And it was quite a fun battle I had the chance to be in."
"You did your best, Lightwing! You're amazing!" Even after her loss, the stallions would still cheer her on. That was the power of a fanbase. Massive support can still flood in even after a defeat.
"Geez...Being the bad guy is rough." Ash sighed. Even though he won the battle, it still felt like he lost somehow. Being portrayed as the antagonistic force and garnering such a reaction was something else.
"Well, some girls like a bad guy. Just saying..." Twilight squeed. "We'll always be behind you, Ash. Especially for this upcoming trial."
"Oh. Glad to hear it. Thanks, everyone." He said with a smile as Pikachu ran up to him. With his friends supporting him, it was all peachy.
Lightwing was here to stay for a while until the trial tomorrow. Which meant that her supporters would be loud today and most definitely tomorrow. An angel was the last thing anyone expected. They have all heard of Angels before but actually seeing an Angel was amazing. It was on par with seeing some of the most bizarre Pokemon out there but with an added tint of beauty.
But even though this was an enjoyable encounter, Ash had a feeling that this upcoming trial wasn't going to be as enjoyable, especially considering the Jirachi were going to be involved. The wish he made was seen as a grave offence to the higher-ups but the reason was unknown until the trial.
The arrival of an angel stunned many in Ponyville. Her name was Lightwing and she came here as a lawyer for Ash, who was set to be put on a grand trial tomorrow. A trial that would take place in a space beyond space. She already proved that she was an angel, prompting Twilight Sparkle to request her help. Perhaps, Lightwing could be the one to help create a new gateway. Light was staying behind until tomorrow's trial, planning to make sure that Ash makes it through in the upcoming trial that involved the wish Ash made and the Jirachis.
"Ash. The Judges are made up of great and powerful beings who all come from different parts of the cosmos. They will all be against you, Jirachi and anyone else involved." Lightwing explained, trying to prepare Ash for the worst. "I promise you that they do not have any malicious intent but only wish to keep the balance of existence stable. I will speak for you but you can also speak your mind. I know that much about you."
"What about Jirachi?" Ash asked.
"Jirachi will be summoned there. They will either summon every single Jirachi that used their power to unite the worlds or it could be one Jirachi. It is important to note that many eyes will be on this trial. It is without a doubt the largest trial that will ever happen. A first of many. Possibly the only one, honestly."
Lightwing wanted to make sure Ash was comfortable enough for what was coming tomorrow. But Ash always found a way to make himself comfortable. The angel just wished to keep things smooth and steady. At the same time, her Wisp Pet Halo was playing around with Pikachu and Fluttershy.
Fluttershy was completely amazed by Halo's appearance. Never before has she seen a creature of stars. Next to the Ultra Beasts, this was truly an otherworldly entity that could not be found on Earth. Approaching Lightwing was Twilight, ready to get that angelic help.
"Lightwing. I was hoping you could help me with just one thing." Twilight requested assistance. Getting the help from an angel was something special. The help they can give out was fittingly, divine. "I need help making a new gateway. Starswirl's made the mould for it but I just can't replicate a gateway." The fragment of the gateway was shown to Lightwing, remaining unchanged to this day.
"Right, the gateways. A result of the Jirachi putting everything together. Very few now exist with Pallet Town's being the most noticeable." Lightwing pondered for a moment, looking at the fragment of the gateway that Twilight offered up. She then closed her eyes, putting on a frown as she had bad news to share. "I'm sorry. But I cannot do that." Alas, Lightwing was exempt from solving this as well.
"Oh...It's fine." Disappointed, Twilight lowered her head. So much for Angelic Help. Not even an angel could assist and solve this issue.
"No, I mean...I have the power to for my own version of a gateway. However, I am not permitted to do so, Twilight Sparkle." In reality, Lightwing could do it but she had a rule to follow. "I am afraid that I cannot create a portal or anything of the liks for you. That is the law of an angel."
"Wait, so you can actually make a gateway!?" Twilight and Ash collectively said.
"For us angels, it's relatively easy. But we only do it on either the Ambrosial Plane, where we all come from or the Space Beyond Space. We also use that power in certain circumstances and scenarios. There are rules to this. Laws that we must follow."
"You come from the Ambrosial Plane. Have ya met my parents?" Applejack asked.
"I have. And that goes for anyone else they know and others that have sadly passed on. The Ambrosial Plane is the next life after one's passing after all." Lightwing would share some good news to them all, putting on a gentle smile. However, she went back to a serious sentence. "But I'm afraid eve the Ambrosial Plane is involved in this trial."
"That too?" Ash squinted. This trial would have a lot to offer. Everything Lightwing was sharing was just scratching the surface of what was to come.
"I would love to speak with you all even further. But Ash. You must get some sleep for tomorrow's trial. There is a chance that it will be durable and a Herald will come for you."
"Got it! I'm ready for tomorrow!" Once it's over, we'll be back home, doing whatever comes to mind first.
"I don't think I am." Twilight gulped. "What are you going to do in the meanwhile, Lightwing."
"I do not need to sleep, Princess Twilight." Lightwing winked. Much like Rift Ponies, angels didn't need to sleep. "I will be around Ponyville instead, keeping watch until the Sun rises for tomorrow. I can't waste this opportunity to interact with the Earth now that I'm here."
"Well, then, have a bite while you're at it!" Pinkie offered up some cupcakes to the angel. "Angels can eat, right?"
"I'm afraid I do not need to eat." Lightwing shook her head as the concept of eating was non-existent for her as well. "We angels have infinite stamina. We do not need food, water, oxygen, or sleep at all." She paused for a moment as the scent of the cupcake was too enticing to resist. "But...I am trying new things. First time for everything."
In the end, she would take the cupcake, deciding to indulge in it. It would be Lightwing's first time consuming food from Earth. Food in general since she has never eaten once.
"Mmm~" It was completely worth it. Even though Angels do not need to eat or rely on oxygen, that doesn't mean their senses were gone. Her taste buds had been unlocked for the very first time. "Mmm-mmm!" It was very much worth it. Lightwing had a reaction that made her wings flutter.
From her halo, a celestial light would fly up, showing ethereal projections. These projections were none other than her emotions. Lightwing showed off what else she could do and that was display her emotions in a unique way. The colours that showed up were bright yellow and pink, representing excitement, pleasure and joy.
"My first food...A worthy meal~"
"So what else can you do?!" Ash, who should be heading to bed by now, was too interested in Lightwing's physiology and what she was capable of.
"Plenty! We can mimic the voices of mortals." Lightwing explained while savouring the taste of the cupcakes. Seeing her reaction, Pinkie Pie was already bringing some more over. "Such as this." To demonstrate, Lightwing would replicate Applejack's voice, wielding her accent and the way she talked.
"Guh!" That spooked Applejack after hearing her own voice but with an echo-like effect. Lightwing giggled right afterwards.
"We rarely interact with the Earth that much, even though we have the power to walk through dreams to communicate with mortals. But that is only for specific scenarios, as always. We can do many things but we never find many reasons to use them. We live peacefully on the Ambrosial Plane but now it seems that recent events are changing that. Tomorrow will be the most important moment of your life. Not just for you, Ash. But for everyone else."
"Us too? How?" Rainbow Dash questioned. Everyone else looked at each other as that sentence sounded rather ominous.
"We will have to see when the time comes. I will see you all in the morning when the Herald Comes." And with that, Lightwing would continue feasting on these cupcakes that Pinkie Pie shared while everyone else would head off. Ash would have to put himself to sleep so that he would be active for tomorrow. Just as Lightwing said. It will be the most important moment of his life.
Lightwing's next target was the Pokemon Houe, which was a place she just had to visit. getting the chance to be close to so many Pokemon and by extension, Fluttershy got to spend some more time with the Star Wisp known as Halo.
For Twilight, the fact that Lightwing could solve the gateway issue but was permitted from doing so was a massive killjoy. Angels had plenty of power but such power came with a cost. If only Lightwing could form new gateways. She seemed to be an understanding angel, wanting the best for others and choosing to defend Ash.
"It's a shame." Twilight looked at the Gateway Fragment which was practically mocking her. "If only I could really understand it. If Emerald Aura was around...maybe she'd know an easier out of this."
"Espeon..." Espeon would nudge Twilight's hoof, trying to comfort her. Twilight smiled after seeing the Sun Pokemon's actions. Eve wasn't too worried about all of this. As a Pokemon, there was very little she had to worry about compared to Twilight. She lived a happy life but it would be truly happy if Twilight was at peace as well.
"Hm. I can't keep sulking. Not when a big trial is coming for Ash. I don't even know if we'll be a part of it." Twilight shook her head, deciding to call it a night "We'll just have to see when that time comes."
"Man. Maybe I could take one more bite before I clock out." Ash uttered, still feeling the urge to eat something else. "Ah, well. I could always wait for mom's dinner tonight. That stuff's the best and it lets me know everything's gonna be okay!"
"ASH KETCHUM."
Out of nowhere, from the vast skies above, a mighty voice even greater than Lightwing's spoke out. Lightwing gasped as she recognized this voice anywhere. The time for the trial had changed without Lightwing knowing at all. It wasn't tomorrow.
It was today.
Above, a celestial sky with stars opened up as a truly grandiose event happened. The clouds would part for this cosmic sky, showing the planets and the many clusters that were present, followed by the appearance of two specific entities. One appeared as a face, while the other appeared with its full body. It was harder to see the one who had just a face but the other one with a full body was easier to make out. It appeared to be an owl-like entity which was clearly not of this world.
"You could not have escaped us for long after you wished for both worlds to become as one, changing the laws of existence itself." The face in the sky spoke while the cosmic owl descended, appearing much bigger at a closer view.
"Woah man..." Ash looked up in awe, seeing the house-shaped owl entity.
"Pikachu..."
"Starowl! I thought it was tomorrow! Why are you all showing up now?!" Lightwing took flight, approaching the massive owl.
"The time of the trial has been altered under the request of the jury. Ash Ketchum's trial is today." Starowl spoke, having a voice which had two different tones that did not sound the same. "Mainly from Strident Heart.
"Strident decided on it? Oh.."
"Ash Ketchum. You and Jirachi are hereby charged with unauthorized existence creation on an Absolute Scale. You will be summoned to the Astral Court which lies in the Space Beyond Space to decide your fate. And the fate of all." The Superior Voice spoke, having a presence so commanding that everyone else couldn't help but be stunned and paralyzed.
Afterwards, the almighty voice that came from the massive face disappeared, along with the celestial skies and eyes that came with it. It showed up, made an intimidating entrance that left everyone perplexed and just left as if nothing had happened. All that was left behind was Starowl, who was eerily hovering there.
"That just happened..." Rainbow Dash blinked as nothing would ever compare to what she just saw for a long time. That was a sight beyond sights without a doubt. No one expected the ones charging Ash to actually show up here and change the scenery above.
"So then...what about the massive owl?" Roseluck questioned since Starowl was still here.
"I shall be the one to summon you, Ash Ketchum." Starowl would be the reason for Ash's arrival at this Astral Court. He as the Herald that Lightwing spoke of. In a flash, a beautiful and powerful ray of light reached Ash, enveloping his entire body. By extension, it also caught Pikachu's body since he was right next to Ash.
The Kid from Kanto marvelled at the light that caught his body but he couldn't feel it at all. There was nothing to feel. And just like that, in an instant, Ash was gone. He had been summoned to the court.
Space Beyond Space.
Ash and Pikachu felt their bodies move through an unknown space as they was currently on their way to the Astral Court, located in the Space Beyond Space. The duo went through the light that Starowl used on them as it felt like they were going through another portal with their bodies floating freely.
Up ahead, Ash would see this otherworldly location that he didn't even know about up ahead. Past the ethereal space where ripples of all kinds could be seen, the land that was hard to see past the blinding lights was visible to Ash and Pikachu the further they went.
It was a Celestial Land, where life flourished. This truly ethereal place was inhabitable. At least to those who reside in it.
The Celestial Land was a vast, sprawling city that seemed to reach for the cosmic skies beyond it with its towering spires and gleaming marble columns. Ash was flying over the city, looking down as he felt a gentle breeze carrying the soft sound of angelic voices singing in unison, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere. Pikachu's fur would tingle just from this comforting atmosphere.
As for these angelic voices, they came from Angels who showed up from the Ambrosial Plane and found themselves here. Ash got to see even more angels beyond Lightwing. And indeed, not all of them were ponies. Some of them either resembled familiar creatures or something else entirely that Ash has never seen before.
Scattered throughout the city are exquisite fountains, each depicting different constellations, their crystalline waters shimmering with an otherworldly glow. In the centre of the city, he noticed a holy temple with a radiant golden mosaic depicting a celestial figure reaching out towards the starry heavens, beckoning all in awe and reverence.
"This is awesome!" Ash was absolutely in love with this area. That was the beauty of an adventure. There was always something new to find. Whether it was by his own curiosity or in this case, being forced into something.
"Ash!" Showing up swiftly and flying alongside Ash was none other than Lightwing. She caught up fast, returning to the realms beyond Earth. Lightwing got here on her own without needing Starowl's light. "I am terribly sorry! I didn't know it would be instant, neither was I informed of this."
"Don't worry about it! Besides, this is pretty awesome! I never knew a place like this existed!"
"It is a nice place. But unfortunately, you won't have a chance to explore it all with this incoming trial." Lightwing sighed before taking in a deep breath. "I should have expected Strident Heart to be responsible for speeding this. She is rather gung-ho about the rules."
"So, where's the court? Which building is it?" Ash wondered, looking at all the many celestial buildings around.
"There. At the Cosmic Hall."
The temple in the middle wasn't the only impressive attraction here. There were many others. And in the case of law and order, the Cosmic Hall was where the Astral Court could be found.
The Cosmic Hall's building stood tall and narrow, its sleek otherwordly exterior reflecting the shimmering lights of the ethereal city. Rainbow-hued laser beams crisscross the entrance, creating a dazzling light show that could easily draw anyone's attention.
Ash would feel himself descend when approaching the hall. He still had no control over his movements since he was being brought straight to the court. The entrance automatically opened up for Ash and Pikachu, letting them see the inside of this magnificent place. It was just as beautiful on the inside.
Upon entering, a wave of cool, artificially scented air washes over you, carrying the distinct aroma of ozone. The center of the lobby holds a towering holographic globe, depicting countless galaxies swirling and colliding, mesmerizing all who gaze upon it. Ash was definitely the first to do so since he was a mortal being in this realm. This was just the start.
"Good. You made it just in time." Already, there was someone here to meet with Ash, expecting him to show up. And it was none other than the angel who requested Ash to show up today.
"He's here. Sooner than expected. Strident."
Another angel that appeared as a pony stood before them. The one named Strident Heart, who had quite the gaze on her.
"I wish you would have waited until tomorrow, Strident." Lightwing pouted, approaching her fellow angel. "I was about to practice some of my words at night as well. I did not even get the chance to interact with the Pokemon at the Pokemon House."
"Is that why you went to Earth where the mortals reside? To lounge around?" Strident replied with a harsh tone.
"You would have done it too if given the chance." But Lightwing believed any angel would have done what she did. All the angels here were glued to the higher realms that were nigh impossible to reach.
"There is no time for that. Ash Ketchum's trial must be dealt with as soon as possible. With this mortal, anything could happen. By tomorrow, he would have probably been in another wild adventure, postponing the trial's due date and time."
"On the dot. I understand. Even if it is one day earlier." This is the first time Lightwing has reacted to Strident Heart's actions. It also wasn't the first time that Strident Heart has done something like this. It was already clear that she was an angel who would definitely follow the rules.
"Ash Ketchum." Strident then gazed at Ash. "Out of all the defendants that have shown up here, you have without a doubt committed the gravest offence. Something that not even the greater beings thought would ever happen even with the law written down. But I already knew someone like you would be bound to cause some astronomical situations. Watching you from below raised my suspicions."
"Well, it happens a lot. Sometimes, it comes out of nowhere and my friends and I gotta go with the flow." Ash grinned, scratching his face along with Pikachu. Despite being in the presence of many divine beings, he was still himself, remaining completely calm.
"Pika-Pikachu"
"i will be the one prosecuting you among others. I cannot allow the crime you and your allies have accused to go unpunished." Strident was completely serious about this, wanting to see Ash pay for what he has done.
"And I will be the one reasoning with everyone else." Then there was Lightwing, who was the complete opposite of Strident Heart. "Strident. I promise you that this is for the better, even if the rest don't see it that way."
"Hmph. With so many disagreeing with you, Lightwing, I fail to see how you can with this, even as a good friend of mine. This is the one individual that you should not have chosen to defend." Strident, who was friends with Lightwing, saw this as a mistake. Defending Ash Ketchum in a scenario such as this seemed like a complete failure waiting to happen. "Come to the courtroom. The Seraphic Judge and the rest of the Tribunal are waiting.
The Astral Court.
At last, the Astral Court.
A sprawling chamber with ceilings that seem to stretch on endlessly, adorned with intricate constellations and glowing celestial runes. Soft, ethereal music emanates from unseen sources, filling the room with a serene ambience.
In the centre of the room, a colossal floating orb emits a flickering glow, casting ethereal shadows across the polished marble floor. There was also a massive circular table floating weightlessly, its polished surface reflecting the twinkling stars and constellations above. Seated at the table are various beings from different planes of existence, here to judge Ash Ketchum and soon Jirachi.
Ash was in the presence of many who were against him. All of whom were of cosmic origin while still resembling familiar creatures and entities. Ash has definitely taken a massive leap in adventurous sights. It's not often he gets to visit space and on top of that, it was in a space beyond space.
"The Astral Court Case of the 20 Billionth Day year is now in session." At last, the trial could begin as Ash was seated. Once again, the same superior voice spoke. But this time, there was a clear appearance. It wasn't just a face in the sky. In this courtroom, the one who would be judging Ash Ketchum was present. Ash's eyes widened after seeing this entity who was unlike the rest and truly looked like the Upper Echelon of beings here.
"That, Ash...Is the Seraphic Judge Luceras." Lightwing already introduced her, knowing what Ash was about to say.
"The Trial shall be the Universe against Ash Ketchum. Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town. The prosecution here states that you, along with many of your friends, went on a mission to wish for one thing. To have both universes merge as one. All of the Jirachis carried out this wish, forming a brand new world." Luceras continued. "It is, of course, a violation of the Original Law that has been around since the early years of existence."
"Well, yeah. I made that wish." Ash was instantly honest, sharing no lies. "But I don't really see the problem."
"Of course you don't. To a mortal like you, you merely see this as a positive and a way to keep memories that should not even exist in the first place." Strident Heart sneered, eyeing down Ash with sharp narrow eyes. "This trial will see that you witness the severity of such a wish."
"And the one to defend you is the Angel Lightwing from the Ambrosial Realm. This trial will also be the first to be seen by many. Not just within the court but beyond it. Beyond our realm and across the cosmos."
"You mean...everyone back on Earth is gonna watch it too?" Ash questioned.
"Precisely." Luceras would show what she meant by that by instantly creating an astral projection. Or in this case, an astral screen. It filled the cosmic skies before instantly showing the Earth. Next to Earth, another planet was shown. And another. And another. And this continued, revealing a plethora of planets that were in view. "Across the cosmos, the stars and the dimensions that reside here, this will be broadcasted for all to see. The reason for this is due to the severity of this trial."
"Since it is all of existence, everyone available will have the chance to view it." Lightwing would explain the rest to Ash. "This includes those at the Ambrosial Plane, Tartarus, the Chaos Realm and more. It is something that should not be ignored, whatsoever."
"Oh, man! It's that huge?!" Pikachu gasped.
"Pika?!"
"The universe will be a part of this trial. Your fate is up to them. Friend or foe."
Indeed, many eyes were watching this. Ponyville instantly had their eyes on the Astral Projection, showing Ash in the cosmic seat. Twilight and everyone in Ponyville gulped, wishing the best for Ash now that he was being judged. They hoped that Lightwing could pull it off.
Princess Celestia witnessed this from her balcony along with everyone in Canterlot. Manehattan, Pallet Town, Castelia, Lumiose, Pegalysium, Samiya, Magehold and more. Every known location would see this trial occur. Even Ghetsis. He sat at his throne, fixated on this trial as he did not want to miss this for a moment.
Ash had other eyes from the cosmos watching. Fittingly, Cosmos was watching this even after being sealed away. And indeed, other lifeforms from outer space were viewing it. Aliens were confirmed to exist and now they were viewing the Trial of Ash Ketchum.
"And of course...we cannot ignore the other defendant. The many Jirachi that used their power to unite the worlds. However, we shall select only one to represent this case." They didn't forget about Jirachi. After the name of the Wish Pokemon was said, one of the Jirachi was selected. It was specifically the Jirachi that Ash spoke with and was close with.
The Steel-Psychic type appeared on the cosmic seats, minding his own business until this happened. Jirachi paused for a moment before realizing he had been snatched from wherever he was, now ending up here. At least the search for Jirachi came to an end thanks to this trial.
"Huh? Ash?" Jirachi looked around before noticing Ash next to him. "What's going on?"
"You are being charged with using your power to unite two worlds." Strident heart replied. "This is where we decide your punishment."
"Now then. We are all aware that the wish has been carried out. The new universe we live in is proof of it. This trial is not a matter of whether you requested the Wish Ash Ketchum or if you carried it out, Jirachi. This is a trial based on whether you can find a way to defend yourself and hope you can leave here victorious. Let it be known that this court does not carry out a final act immediately. Cruxluck."
Descending from above was none other than this otherworldly entity named Cruxluck, who would play a part in this trial. Ash wasn't sure if Cruxlux was an angel or something else. Either way, he was definitely from the vast cosmos out there.
"The outcome of this trial will be decided based on the universe's respective choices." The otherworldly being acted as that bridge between who saw Ash as guilty or innocent. "At this very moment, I am hearing many voices from across the cosmos and will take their thoughts and honest words into account."
"Your honour. I'd like to start by pointing out the effects that this wish has caused." Strident Heart would be the first to go, deciding to lay out the outcome of such a wish. "To begin. The universe we live in has grown in size. Exponentially. Two completely different forms of existence has become one and this includes the many alternate universes each of those worlds possess, which are cosmically abundant. Such an act has never been done before until now and the result is not only a larger existence but a more complicated existence."
Another projection appeared. This time, it was about both existences. Ash would see how the process happened. The two massive forms of existence were sitting right next to each other thanks to the Rift creating a bridge between them. Even though the worlds crossed over, they were still separate, only having the gateways as a way to travel to either one.
But once the wish was made, Ash saw how the two Existences which appeared as two massive forms of white energy would ripple. The rippling existences would stretch as they were being pulled towards each other. The Existences would then swirl, forming a spiral. They would spin rapidly, merging as one before forming something new.
With two Existences becoming one, the size increased by an impossible amount. A larger form of white energy. Ash marvelled at this sight. He actually got to see how the process was done and it was rather swift.
"After they became one, creating an Existence that was never meant to exists, stars, nebulas, planets across the cosmos expanded as well. Such as the Earth, which is now many times its size, resulting in larger lands, seas and skies. While this outcome did not necessarily cause any massive consequences, it has put the Earth in a peculiar place. It is now in the Center of the Universe."
The Earth was then shown. Its position has remained the same, however, with a larger existence, it was now at the very centre, becoming the Universe's hotspot in a way. But that was just the Earth. Strident Heart would instantly show the rest of space.
"On top of that, entire stars were completely distorted. Most of them almost had their lights snuffed out, changing the many Suns that each section of the cosmos uses. Planets with three Suns only have two Suns to count. The Black Holes were flung from their original positions, swallowing up many of these stars along the way. No planets or any life was swallowed up but many Suns have been taken away. The Black Holes are also noticeably closer to populated areas."
The view of many black holes from both respective worlds were seen moving across the cosmos, eating up stars and nebulas. They should not have been moving in the first place, but now they have, finding new spots. Prior to this, they were far away from most life. Now, they have ended up elsewhere where populations can be found.
"Jirachi. You are the one who carried out this wish with your fellow Jirachi, therefore, you shall be the one to speak. Unless, someone will speak for you.
"Umm..." Unfortunately, Jirachi wasn't very good at court trials. This was his first one and a Pokemon such as him shouldn't even be here in the first place.
"I'll speak for you." Thankfully, Lightwing was here to help.
"I would like to add something else." But Strident Heart wasn't done. "The one benefit I can say that this brought is the fact that Jirachi's power will now be authorized."
"Authorized?" Ash repeated.
"That is correct. Since we share an existence now, beings such as Jirachi who possess such astronomical power cannot be ignored. If both worlds were still separate, then this would not be the case. Even though it is the existence of Jirachi to carry out wishes, with its power being authorized, it will now have to be put in check."
"But...That's what I do." Jirachi pouted. Essentially, Strident was saying that Jirachi wouldn't be allowed to carry out wishes without permission from any of these cosmic beings.
"Since this is a trial that involves trying to defend your act, we have already decided to authorize your Wish Granting Power. If it involves something on a smaller scale, such as wishing for a beautiful skin, then we would not have to authorize you. But, when it involves the cosmos, you will expect to see us there."
"No way! That's Jirachi's whole thing!" Ash saw this as ridiculous. Putting a limit to Jirachi just because of these merged worlds didn't sit right.
"That goes for all Jirachis." Strident Heart sneered at Ash. "They will all be authorized. We will spare not a single one. The power Jirachi holds can be used in many ways, especially since the Wish Pokemon had no clear thought when merging the worlds. All it did was something rather simple, unaware of the consequences. Ash Ketchum. You are the one who sought out this wish with no clear details. But you do not have to worry too much about the Black Holes, expanded planets and stars. There is something else that you should focus on."
"Like what?"
"Perhaps I should have started out with this. Because of the reckless action of the Jirachi, the guaranteed outcome of the two worlds going their separate ways has been disrupted. The Rift was supposed to leave, wiping the memory of such an event ever happening. Much like how other worlds have left behind."
"You know about this?" Ash gasped. "So, you totally saw the Rift too, right?"
"We have. In fact, we knew of the Rift's existence prior to this. Or rather, the Seraphic Judge did." Strident would turn to Luceras next.
"Indeed. I was made aware of the Rift's arrival. It was targeting both of our worlds next after finishing up with the last one, returning them to how they were. However, we did not take action against the Rift even after its arrival."
"Why not? I figured you would since it's something pretty big." Ash was confused as to why they wouldn't interact with the Rift. They interacted with Jirachi who had grandiose power as well but not the Rift.
"The reason for this is because of the fact that the Rift was bound to leave eventually. Memories of our worlds meeting would have been stripped away, even if I would have remembered it either way. All damages that the Rift does would have been reversed. Thus, we found no reason to involve ourselves. That is until the wish was made. Now, even if the Rift was to depart, the memories would remain. I understand you see this as a positive, Ash Ketchum, but there is another side to this."
"So you were gonna wait for everything to go back the way it was, huh..." Ash was understanding this. Luceras and other beings in this court were supporting keeping their existence how it has always been.
"But now, a new timeline has been formed. A new existence. But this also came with some setbacks I know you have not expected. For this trial, one of the punishments will be a reverse of what has occurred."
"In short..." Strident Heart smiled, wanting the honour of saying it herself. "If you are to lose the trial, everything shall be reset."
"Say what?!" This came as a shock. The ultimate punishment was already revealed to him. And that was everything that has ever been done being reset. Since the Rift couldn't do it anymore, someone else with high amounts of power would do the same. Now Ash truly couldn't afford to lose this trial. If loses, it would be as if this conversation never happened.
Space Beyond Space. The Celestial Land. The Astral Court.
Ash and Jirachi were currently being put under trial by the Astral Court due to the merging of both worlds. The true punishment of this trial was everything being reset. Thus, all that hard work trying to find Jirachi, all the struggles they've been through and the wonderful memories they've made would soon cease to exist with both worlds going their separate ways.
Defending them was Lightwing and the angel who wished to see them charged was the strict Strident Heart. The whole universe was watching this trial go down which wouldn't be decided by knowing if Ash and Jirachi did it. This was already known by everyone else. It was a matter of how Ash and Jirachi were going to convince the court about the positives of such a decision.
"Now that you know what the punishment of this is, I hope you're rethinking things." Strident Heart smirked. "It will be difficult for us to put everything back to how it was. Resetting everything is not an easy task and it will take a while for us to do so but rest assured, it can be done. We can find the resources."
"No way I'm rethinking anything!" Ash wasn't rethinking at all. When it comes to the happiness of his friends and family, his mind will be made up from the get-go. Strident would then narrow her eyes at Ash.
"And you have quite the bravado to speak to an angel like this, mortal." Strident also didn't take kindly to Ash's tone. He showed no fear in the face of so many divine and cosmic entities, only thinking about his friends.
"Calm down, Ash." Lightwing tried calming Ash down. Strident Heart was already pushing his buttons by threatening to reset what he's come to love. "Strident can be like that but it's best not to engage. I will speak now."
"Lightwing. You have always been the one to see both sides. And in this instance, you see the positives to such a union."
"Right. We all saw it for ourselves. The Rift would have left and reset everything but a challenge was clearly issued by them. It was a race to see which side would win and Ash's side managed to succeed, finding Jirachi. It was only done to preserve the memories that have been made on Earth. I've always believed that everyone should be happy and have dreams with little limitations. The existence of Pokemon widens their dreams and happiness."
Lightwing would create her own astral projection, but this time with a positive showing. Lightwing would refer to how the existence of Pokemon has really brought about a positive change. In the beginning, everyone was lost and confused, unsure as to what these Strange and Wonderful creatures were. They were even terrified. However, with the help of a few humans, they managed to form a bond with these Magical Creatures.
"There are those who came close to sinking into darkness but the Pokemon appeared and pulled them back up. They are also responsible for helping save their lives. The Pokemon, even though they do not originate from our history, have brought happiness. We angels live to bring happiness to others and for the longest, the mortals have found various ways to be happy. And now that the Pokemon have entered their lives, while we may not influence the mortals, the Pokemon can do what we can."
"Tch. Really?" Strident Heart scoffed. "Honestly, Lightwing. I expected better from you. Happiness doesn't compare to how this disrupts the natural order. The Pokemon are now a part of a new history and if this were to stay permanent, other existences will follow this, throwing everything in dissarray. There are other higher beings in those existences who are most likely aware of all of this."
"I know, I know. The Tyranitar changed the landscape just by moving and the Earth altered just to fit the habitats of these Pokemon. But ultimately, the Earth was still kept intact. I'd like to also add the fact many lives would have been lost had it not been for the Pokemon. There are some scenarios that seemed impossible."
"And that was because of a Pokemon." Strident Heart added. "Yveltal destroyed all life on Earth while Xerneas revived it. If Xerneas did not revive them all, this would have caused complications for the Ambrosial Plane."
"The existence of Pokemon is a decisive one. They can bring benefits while also being responsible for catastrophic outcomes. But for now, let us focus on the one species of Pokemon and Ash Ketchum." Luceras requested as she was only fixating on Jirachi and Ash.
"I have gathered thoughts and honest opinions from the beings across the cosmos," said Cruxluck, who would use everyone's honest words, listening to all of them with his amazing power.
Ash Ketchum. Jirachi. The way this trial can end is by the decision of everyone else. Every species in the universe will either support you or be against you. Whichever side manages to have the superior numbers by the end of this trial will finish it." Luceras explained to them both how this was going to end. "There are other options but that would put your entire well-being in danger.
It was all a matter of opinion. After all, while everyone on Earth would much prefer things to be the way that they were, the other species out there are either undecided or they already have some opinions.
"The result is...30% of those living on Earth support Ash Ketchum. So far, 70% from across the cosmos are against him." Cruxluck finished gathering the percentage. "Those against him have stated that their homes have been greatly affected, either by Jirachi's Power or the existence of Pokemon."
"Naturally." Strident Heart shrugged. "You didn't think that the Earth was the only place to receive the Pokemon? The Rift made sure that everywhere was filled with Pokemon."
"Don't worry, Ash. I'll do my best to sway everyone to your side." Lightwing reassured. "It will be difficult, considering that they are struggling with the Pokemon as well. They don't have someone like you to help them."
"So some Pokemon showed up on other planets, huh?"
"Not many. Very limited Pokemon species were scattered across the cosmos by the Rift. And already, they have caused nothing but trouble. Not only are aliens very much real, but I can guarantee you they would rather see the disappearance of the Pokemon." Strident Heart continued.
"Your honour. We could go on and on about how this massive expansion has affected all of existence. But I will tackle something else in the meantime. And there is one other thing I can't ignore. Your honour. I would like to bring up Ash Ketchum's interaction with the afterlife. Specifically, his interaction with Meteor Mountain.
"Meteor Mountain? What about it?" Ash asked.
"This is one of your many crimes. Even before the worlds merged. You arrived at Pegalysium's Meteor Mountain, which held meteors that possessed the spirits of those who have passed. To our surprise, you had the power to make them communicate with the living. All thanks to the Aura that is within you."
"I did. But I did it for those who wanted to see their loved ones again." Ash explained, not regretting that action at all. With everyone hearing this, those who took the meteors back home were on Ash's side. A majority of everyone on Earth was on Ash's side since they wanted to keep these memories. But those on other planets and galaxies were simply observing
"A foolish response. You have completely disrupted everything about the passing of someone." Strident Heart changed her projection, showing the many spirits within the meteors that have been brought over. From Applejack's parents to the Changelings that Chrysalis lost
"It's bad enough that you put two worlds together, but you have also complicated everything for us. We angels at the Ambrosial Plane went into immediate panic the second we sensed the disruption of spirits."
"I remember that day. It was rather hilarious" Lightwing snickered, having a different reaction. "But I wouldn't say it's all bad, Strident. The joy that it brought others was wonderful. Many who had multiple loose ends had the opportunity to mend them. It also helped those whose souls could not rest even after entering the Ambrosial Plane. There is also the Pokemon Tapu Fini that we can't ignore."
"That's exactly the problem. The Pokemon hold too much power. All it takes is for someone to obtain a Jirachi and make the utmost worst wish possible. And very little could stop that from happening. And this might be a good time to bring up those who have used such power. Would you like me to start with Empress Twilight Sparkle or should I continue off with Rosa Maledicta?"
"I know how powerful the Pokemon are." Ash closed his eyes, not needing to hear how strong and dangerous the Pokemon can be. He's seen it and experienced it for himself. "But that doesn't take away anything."
"Your words don't matter in this, Ash Ketchum. There is no way out of this one. You may have the power to sway others with your hopeful speechless but to an angel...I think not. Especially me." Strident Heart approached Ash, getting close to him and letting him know how difficult she was going to be.
"I have an objection!" Lightwing exclaimed, raising her hoof. "If it helps, why don't we bring someone here to question? We haven't reached that point yet and there are plenty of candidates."
"I was getting to that, Lightwing...I already have a few individuals in mind. The recklessness of Ash Ketchum will be shown and I know who to summon to help my case. But before that... the prosecution would like to call Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to the trial."
Suddenly, by the power of Starowl, Princess Celestia and Luna have been summoned. The Royal Sisters gasped as they never expected them to be brought along. Their bodies materialized into the seats as they were ripped from Canterlot. They were watching the trial and now they were apart of it. Everyone back at Equestria was in shock to see their Princesses being present there.
"Ash! We're here too?!" Celestia gazed at her surroundings.
"W-What?! Why us?!"
"How come you're bringing them here?!" Ash exclaimed as he didn't want the rest of his friends to be involved. He was hoping to tackle this alone.
"Silence mortal. Because of you and Jirachi, the workload for the Royal Sisters will have to change. If the possibility of the new world being unable to be reset comes up, there is always an alternative." Strident Heart brought up the fact that this new world being reset might not happen. That chance was there, without a doubt. "And as a bonus, Celestia and Luna are just as guilty."
"We are?!" Luna gasped. She scrunched her face as she never thought she'd be in a court case.
"It was you two who assisted Ash Ketchum in reaching Jirachi. Celestia. You approved of the creation of the Golden Stairway. A cosmic stairway that would lead you all to the Jirachi. Luna supported the idea and so did many others. Therefore, you are just as guilty as Ash Ketchum."
"We did it because it made us happy. We couldn't let these memories go." Celestia explained.
"Being happy does not excuse the disruption to existence. Any interference with the grander universe at large will be authorized. And if we cannot reset it, then we will have to double the work for you. You two are the ones who raise the Sun and the Moon, however, there is one massive drawback to all of this. The Sun and the Moon have also grown, as you may know."
"And that hasn't changed anything for us," said Luna.
"So far, it hasn't. But you have only been moving the Sun and the Moon around your nation. There now exists two Suns and Moons."
"Two of them?! That can't be! We've only seen one!" Celestia shook her head. There couldn't be two Suns and two Moons. They figured that the Sun and Moons would grow in size after the worlds merged. And they did grow in size but there was another result. "Their size increase was not the only thing that happened. The Sun and the Moon duplicated themselves to keep some level of balance in this new existence."
The Astral Projection would show the Sun and the Moon in their usual positions. Nothing out of the ordinary here. That is until Strident Heart showed them all what was behind them both. An extra Sun and Moon. No one noticed them before until Strident Heart pointed it out.
"And they are both near to each other?! How have the two suns not combusted around each other?" Luna uttered. By now, the two Suns would have set off and caused a mighty Supernova.
"A Supernova hasn't happened before it hasn't been triggered yet. Other stars in different galaxies have found themselves in a similar situation. It hasn't been too long since the two worlds have become one so the possibility of them going off is a bit farther away but still possible. But something far worse than Supernova could happen Your entire planet could melt with two Suns around. Earth is unfit to handle two Suns, especially since they've grown."
"But can't you stop it? If you're higher beings, don't you have the power to prevent something like this from happening?" asked Celestia.
"I regret to inform you but the movement of the Sun and Moon has always been your responsibility." Strident shook her head. "We are not responsible for your Suns and Moons. There are other planets that have their own Suns and Moons to deal with it. For the two of you, to prevent the Earth from perishing, you will have to move two Suns and Moons."
"W-We would have to control them both somehow." That sounded absurd to Celestia and Luna as their jaws collectively dropped. They have never raised and lowered Two Suns and Two Moons before. But according to Strident Heart, if everything cannot be reset, Celestia and Luna will have to work overtime.
"Do we even have the magic for that...?" Celestia pondered. Could she even move two Suns and Moons? Not even the Ruler of Equestria was exempt from this trial.
"Doesn't sound fun, does it? It's not just two Suns and Moons you have to worry about."
"Gathering new opinions." Cruxluck would start gathering the opinions of everyone, ready to tally the percentage. Earth was so far the only thing Ash could bank on. All the other planets thought otherwise. Since they've interacted with Pokemon beyond Earth, their perspective on these Magical Creatures is much different.
"Hold on." Lightwing would take a shot at this. "I will defend Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as well. Much like Ash, they have already prevented complete world destruction, but they have more than just that. There's one important detail we're missing in all of this. The Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta was planning to destroy not just all life on Earth, but the entire universe. If she had succeeded, other planets out there would have perished."
Cruxluck paused, letting Lightwing speak before gathering the opinions. Those watching the trial from other planets would wait to see what else Lightwing had to say. Neither of them knew that the Lich Queen planned to target their homes as well. To show evidence, Lightwing changed her Astral Projection, showing the words of the Lich Queen.
There, it showed Rosa Maledicta stating that she wouldn't stop at Earth. She would go beyond and target the planets, snuffing the life out of them. And she planned to go beyond that. After this universe's life was expunged, other universes would suffer the same.
"I also have to mention that Yveltal would have reached the Ambrosial Plane as well if Rosa Maledicta was not stopped. Because of Ash and his friends, such disasters have been prevented. The Pokemon that are causing trouble across the cosmos can be dealt with but there hasn't been any proper guidance for those planets, unlike Earth. If they had someone like Ash to guide them, all troubles would dwindle."
"New reactions are being gathered..." Cruxluck started gathering new opinions after Lightwing's reply. She managed to sway the other lifeforms. "The percentages have changed. Those supporting Ash. 50%. Those against. 50%. There is an equalizer now."
"Awesome, Lightwing! You tied it up!" Ash cheered.
"Pikachu!"
"Hehe." Lightwing grinned. "Life is precious and many others feel the same way. Anyone would be grateful for being saved from an incoming catastrophe."
"Not bad, Lightwing." Strident Heart had to give her praise.
"I'm not done yet." Lightwing winked. "There's one more character we need to speak about. The terrifying Cosmos." Her projection changed once more, showing Cosmos.
Those watching from other planets and locations across the cosmos have collective reactions. Even those in the court pulled back. Many knew who Cosmos was. "Cosmos once caused terror and chaos across worlds with seemingly no end in sight. I know you are all terrified of her, but it will do your heart well to know that Cosmos has been stopped by Ash's group once more. Sealed away a second time."
Opinions were changing once more. Defeating Cosmos and stopping her was truly a reassuring thing to hear. Many of these beings across the cosmos have been terrorized by her in different ways. Thanks to Lightwing, opinions about Ash were starting to change. It was because of the Pokemon that they managed to stop Cosmos since these Strange and Wonderful Creatures were powerful enough to stand to the Magic of Chaos.
"Hmph." Strident Heart closed her eyes. "So much for caring about the state of the universe. Not as if you cared about it, Lightwing."
"I've always cared about the state of existence, Strident Heart. I want to keep it as stable as you do. But I also want the best for everyone. As an Angel, it is our duty to bring happiness to others. The Pokemon can do the same. Is that so wrong? I say we should keep everything together and work on managing a stable universe. It can be done."
"So, you guys can make everything stable?" Ash questioned.
"If that's the case, why not do it if you have such power?" Celestia wondered the same thing. Couldn't they have fixed everything by themselves? Luceras certainly looked like she could do it.
"We can. But the increase of two existences surpasses our own power. Every Multiverse that existed in each universe are now a part of it. We do have someone who could theoretically solve this if she were here. The one who created us would be at this trial, but she has been gone for a long time. She is like an author to us and I am filling in for her."
"Nice argument...But you haven't considered everything in the long run." Strident Heart wasn't finished. She wasn't about to let Ash go unpunished. "We should probably touch on other topics now. Especially since some of your friends are harbouring cosmic power within them, which is forbidden to be held by mortals. The prosecution would like to summon Twilight Sparkle."
Arriving at the trial was Twilight. Alas, she wasn't safe either. Twilight appeared on one of the many seats as the moment she heard her name back at Equestria, she screeched and that carried all the way over to the Astral Court. "Wait! Me?!"
"Yet another individual who supported the Jirachi mission. Twilight Sparkle. You were the first pony to absorb Rift Magic, making it a vessel for you. You are currently the only pony who has done so."
"W-Well yes. But that was just to help others. I haven't used it to interact with space or anything like that." Twilight gulped, trying to keep her composure. She had all these celestial eyes watching her, judging her and the others.
"That does not matter. Mortals are forbidden to hold cosmic power without permission. And besides.... what you did is not unique. Anyone can empty out their magic and make a new vessel for themselves I'm honestly surprised it took this long for one of you to realize that. As punishment, your Rift Magic will be stripped away from you. You cannot be allowed to run around with such power."
"But I need it to make new gateways! I can't give it up until then!"
"The gateways do not matter since they should not exist in the first place. Everything must return to how it was. No matter what. On top of Rift Magic, there is also the existence of Aura. Aura makes you quite dangerous, Ash Ketchum. Especially thanks to the being residing within you. Your Aura is directly responsible for interacting with the deceased, throwing the Ambrosial Plane into disarray. On top of that, you have brought Delayed Aura Ataxia to the universe."
"I object. Ash was doing his best to stop Delayed Aura Ataxia." Lightwing intercepted Strident Heart's comment. "And he has been succeeding. So far, he has managed to weaken the Ataxia and wishes to do the same for others."
"Do you honestly think he can do so? Other planets have been hit with Aura. The energy has entered them, making some beings more adept with Aura than most. Delayed Aura Ataxia has transcended Earth and now affects the universe."
"It went that far? I thought it was just limited to Earth..." Luna shuddered. Delayed Aura Ataxia returned once more and this time, it was on a larger scale.
"All thanks to Jirachi putting everything together. Aura is a peculiar power. The fact that it can interact with those tht have passed shows that it can do much more at its fullest potential. Delayed Aura Ataxia can also be crushing to many. This power should not have been around for our existence in the first place. Therefore, much like how Twilight Sparkle's Rift Magic will be taken away, we may have to seal your Aura away."
"Seal his Aura?! But you can't do that! That's Ash's entire-" Twilight was soon stopped by Strident Heart's gaze. The other beings were agreeing with such a decision. Sealing away Ash's Aura seemed like a benefit to them.
"You are a greater danger than you think you are, Ash Ketchum. Not just to the world but to the universe. It would be much better if you never remembered us and we never remembered you."
"Pika...!" Pikachu was getting riled up by Strident Heart before Halo calmed him down.
"Look. You may not like how things have turned out and how big it's all gotten. So what?" Ash would speak his mind once more to Strident Heart.
"A-Ash..." Lightwing stuttered but it was too late. Ash was going all in.
"These memories belong to Pokemon and everyone else. Everyone. Resetting everything would just take it all away from them. Something that they want to keep close to them. It doesn't matter what power you have! You've got no right to take that away from them! Dreams that can come true! Wounds that are healing and others getting started on this new world that's all out there for them!"
"Kh! Watch your mouth mortal...!"
"No way you're taking away their memories when new and even happier ones can come later! Everyone's got their own tomorrow! Cosmic Being or not, I promised that I wouldn't let them lose these memories!"
"You fool! Even with the authority we hold, you would rather choose to object them just for that?!"
"I would! That's why I fight! My friends and I do this for tomorrow! For everyone's tomorrow! Sure, this isn't how things are originally meant to be, but I'd much rather work with it and make something new of it than just forget about it! I won't let you let you take that away from my friends or anyone who loves the world they live in today!"
"Jirachi doesn't regret doing this either." As for Jirachi, he spoke his mind as well. He didn't regret granting this wish and neither did the various Jirachis out there.
Ash and Strident would gaze at each other once with Strident Heart being rather irritated that Ash spoke up to her.
"Hm. I have heard plenty so far. The preservation of existence and keeping the balance stable for a healthy tomorrow. Or the preservation of a new existence that will lead into a new tomorrow and a new history." Luceras said. "Cruxluck. What say you? You are the bridge between this all."
"The new percentages have arrived." Cruxluck gathered everything so far. "There seems to be a flux, your honour. The percentages are changing constantly. I cannot keep up with them."
"Changing constantly? That means none can make up their mind at all. While Earth already has an opinion, everywhere else is a mystery."
"Tch. This might take a while." Strident Heart grizzled her teeth. "I don't know how but the fact that you've managed to prolong this trial is impressive, mortal. But no matter what, you can defeat an angel or beings above you.
"Your honour," Lightwing replied. "If it helps, my client is bound to explore these other worlds eventually. His thirst for adventure is something that will not slow down. The Pokemon across the cosmos can be dealt with by experts."
"Even then, there are some realms where the Pokemon have managed to find themselves which Ash Ketchum cannot reach. On top of that, he is not allowed to enter them." Strident Heart objected.
"If we lose this, we either have to expend more of our magic or lose the memories we've made. The first one doesn't sound so bad..." Luna gulped. "I never imagined I would be in such a trial, sister."
"Have faith, Luna. This isn't where it ends for us." Celestia saw hope in all of this.
"If we are unable to conclude today. Tomorrow or the days after that can be dealt with." Luceras saw the possibility of this trial being extended. Cruxluck was still trying to gather all the percentages which were changing rapidly to come to an absolute conclusion.
"That isn't something you want to happen." Strident Heart sneered. "Trials at the Astral Court can last for decades. But for someone who has managed to go on for this long, that shouldn't be a problem, right? Especially for alicorns."
"Sorry, Ash. This is my first time defending such a case. This is harder than I thought." Lightwing apologized for this rather difficult since Strident Heart was not holding back at all, doing everything in her power to punish Ash.
"It's fine, Lightwing. It's great that you wanted to defend me and everyone else. I just wanna keep these memories for everyone. They're too precious to let go."
"If our Creator, the Writing Glory, was involved in this trial, she would speak her mind and the decision would be absolute. Some trials are even decided because of her. Alas, since I am filling in her role, this trial can go either way. Does either side have something new to share to this trial?"
"Unlucky for you." Strident Heart added. "if she were here, this trial would have been over It might have even ended. She is the defacto ruler over all of us. There is no one else who has more authority than her."
"On the contrary, there is another." At that moment, a familiar voice came through, filling the entire Celestial Land. Strident Heart gasped after hearing this voice while Ash had a smile on his face.
Above, the most beautiful golden light appeared for everyone to see. On Earth and across the cosmos. The trial came to a halt just to see the one descending from the light. Appearing from the light was none other than the Creator Deity.
Arceus.
"Arceus!" Ash, Celestia, Luna and Twilight collectively said with the happiest looks on their faces. Arceus was awake once more. He woke up just for this one moment and it was quite the time to make an appearance.
"Pika!"
"The Creator Deity, Arceus?! You're here?!" Strident Heart backed up. All the other cosmic beings stayed silent in the presence of Arceus. A being higher than all of them combined has finally arrived.
"Welcome, Arceus."
"This trial raises some excellent points for both sides, but I am afraid I will have to put an end to it." Arceus declared, instantly being on Ash's side.
"Impossible! You have no power here! Only the Great Writing Glory has the power over this trial."
"I regret to inform you, little angel." Arceus would then get close to Strident Heart, looking into her with his welcoming yet intimidating eyes. The strict Angel shuddered. "Now that we share a new existence with a new history to pave, I am also your boss, alongside your own Creator, Writing Glory."
"Oh yeah...That makes sense!" A prolonged gasp came from Twilight. "Arceus is the Creator of all Pokemon, so he would still have the highest authority out there."
"That can't be!" Strident Heart shook her head. "But you should know that this isn't how things are supposed to be! You also knew of the Rift approaching in the beginning, did you not?"
"I did. And much like you, I planned to let the Rift depart so that memories of the worlds ever crossing ever was wiped and to let time flow as it always would. But after seeing their drive to protect these precious memories, how could I let it happen? I was once a Jaded Deity. But because of Damos, Ash and others I have met, I have found a new appreciation for the life I created. So, under my word, this existence shall remain. I have already spoken with Writing Glory prior to my arrival. We have had our own debate."
"Very well. Under the word of other Supreme Ruler, this trial has ended. The victor is Ash Ketchum." Luceras would close this trial. "While all the words were held weight, it is abundantly clear that the final word from the Creator is absolute. That is a law we've abided by from the beginning."
"Tch. Lucky save." Strident Heart turned around, seeing this as mere luck because of Arceus' appearance. Celestia and Luna had collective sighs while Ash raised his fists into the air with joy.
"I beg to differ, Strident." Lightwing wasn't sure about that. "Cruxluck never came to a conclusion. It could have gone either way. Everyone in existence have differing opinions. It is the clash of opinions that either divides them or unifies them."
"You've won this trial, Lightwing. Even though you weren't the one to convince them and this was your first time tackling such a case."
"We did, you guys!" Ash cheered before receiving a hug from Jirachi. "Thanks a bunch, Arceus!"
"We won, Ash!" Jirachi bellowed while hugging Ash's face.
"However Though I have made the final word, it is clear that something has to be done with this new universe. Celestia. Luna. The Dual Suns and Moons will be dealt with before they can result in a cataclysmic event. And as for everything else, I will have to speak with you, Luceras. Now that I am awake, I will take the time to shape this new existence alongside all of you."[/b]
"Understood, Lord Arceus. I am not just a judge but also many other occupations."
With this trial ending, Strident Heart would flutter off, not wanting to stick around Ash and the others any longer. This trial could have gone either way and resulted in rather harsh outcome, with the harshest being everything being reset, which thankfully, did not occur.
"This isn't over, Ash Ketchum." Strident would speak to Ash one last time. "The opportunity of you being put under trial is still present. You are not invincible, and I'll prove it one day. Especially with Prisma living inside of you." That was the last thing Strident Heart said before leaving the courtroom.
"One last thing, your honour." Lightwing had one final request before looking back at Ash and everyone else. "It has been a while since this has been issued, but I would like to be the Guardian Angel for them."
Lightwing wished to be a Guardian Angel. Her time with Ash and his friends wasn't over as she didn't want to just focus herself around Ash It would be around Twilight, Celestia, Luna, Pikachu and even Jirachi. And of course, it was an excuse to interact with the Pokemon World some.
Luceras nodded, understanding her request. That would have to be spoken to about later on. Starowl returned once more, this time, planning to take Ash and the others home now that the trial was over. Arceus would depart eventually, saying what he had to say.
But he would be seeing these other higher beings once more. Now that he was the ruler over this existence alongside another named Writing Glory, he was bound to interact with them a lot more. Possibly even more than Dialga, Palkia and Giratina.
Once more, the preservation of this new existence and the memories that came from it had been saved. And now, those beyond Earth were well aware of everything concerning the Pokemon. And by extension, Ash and his friends had more to see and explore.
The Ambrosial Plane. The place where those who have passed on enter. However, there was one stark difference. As a result of Jirachi merging both worlds, this also involved the Pokemon World's Afterlife.
Two afterlives became one, forming a larger afterlife in the process. This was where Lightwing, Strident Heart and other Angels reside. And speaking of Strident Heart, she had just returned after failing to punish Ash in the trial and to clear her head from that loss, the best place to be was the Ambrosial Plane.
One part of this vast plane was a sprawling meadow with vibrant wildflowers swaying in the breeze. The scent of freshly cut grass fills the air, lending an earthy sweetness to the surroundings. Rising from the centre of the field is an enormous ancient oak tree, its bark twisted into intricate patterns that seem to form celestial symbols.
Underneath the tree, many angels and those who have passed on can be seen floating in mid-air, performing graceful movements and singing enchanting melodies. Fragrances of roses and jasmine hang heavy in the air, creating an intoxicating ambience. A sparkling fountain with angel statues gushes crystal-clear water.
"Welcome back, Strident! Good job at the trial. You did your best." Some of the angels would support Strident Heart, attempting to cheer her up. Here at the Ambrosial Plane, all angels were supportive of each other, even to the strictest of angels. Strident Heart was certainly strict.
"Hmph. I didn't even get to use everything in my arsenal Everything I showed was just the tip of the iceberg." Strident Heart grumbled. "I honestly can't believe it That Ash Ketchum escaped justice. That shield of invincibility he has is absurd...!"
"Well, what can you do? We should have known that Arceus would be our Ruler alongside the Writing Glory." The other angels saw it as something they couldn't do much about.
"I suppose when you form strong bonds with unlikely friends, there is a lot you can escape from."
"That's exactly the problem." Strident Heart passed by them. "Friendship is a powerful force and he's managed to gather so many friends of all kinds..."
To Strident Heart, Ash Ketchum seemed like a major threat. She would stop by the crystal-clear fountain, gazing at it to try and clear her head. Looking at the beautiful water, the visage of Ash appeared for Strident Heart based on what she was thinking.
While all the other angels and those who have passed on frolicked and enjoyed themselves, especially those who originally came from two different afterlives, Strident Heart was too fixated on the trial to really enjoy herself. While others may see Ash as harmless, Strident Heart and some others think otherwise.
Strident Heart was also thinking about Prisma, completely aware of his existence. And closer to Twilight Moonlight, Strident Heart would prefer to see the character of Prisma expunged. Prisma was Ash by a massive extension and nothing was going to change Strident Heart's mind.
She was so fixated on what had occurred that the beautiful sounds of the Ambrosial Plane were starting to fizzle out. There was no way she was going to let the trial go Not yet anyway. With narrowed eyes and a deep voice, Strident spoke to the reflection of Ash, vowing one thing.
"This isn't over, Ash Ketchum. Not by a long shot."
Equestria. Ponyville. Afternoon.
Ash, Pikachu Jirachi, Celestia, Twilight and Luna had returned to Earth. Jirachi was sent back to where he originally came from while Celestia and Luna went back to Canterlot. Ash, Pikachu and Twilight found themselves back at Ponyville, safe and sound.
After practically everyone saw the trial thanks to the Astral Projections, they celebrated this victory which resulted in them keeping this Grander World and the precious memories that came with it.
"Oooh...That could've turned out very differently..." A relieved Twilight Sparkle said as she didn't expect herself to be pulled into the trial. "Thanks for the save, Lightwing."
"You're welcome. But you should really thank Ash and Arceus. It was supposed to be me defending Ash but he certainly speaks his mind, doesn't he? And for Arceus to be a good friend of yours is an amazing outcome." Lightwing said. "With Arceus at the helm alongside Writing Glory, I feel as though there might be nothing to fear."
"We were so worried after hearing your name being called out, Twilight!" Fluttershy and the others rushed over.
"i kinda wish I was brought along. I wanted to see what that place was like. I mean, how were you even breathing there?" Rainbow Dash asked as a part of her wished to be in that courtroom.
"Aw, man! We missed out on asking Jirachi for the gateways!" Ash realized the massive missed opportunity. If only he stayed behind to speak with Jirachi a bit longer.
"Oh, you're right!" Twilight soon realized it. "Oooh...!" What a waste!"
"It is what it is. But anyways, to go back to what I said back at the Astral Court, I decided to be your Guardian Angel. And that is currently being looked into by Judge Luceras."
"So you'll be our Guardian Angel?" Applejack cooed at that thought. "You're gonna protect us from harm or something?"
"Well, not quite. Guardian Angels have been around forever and have always been protecting others. This will be my first time taking on the role of a Guardian Angel. And as for what I'll protect you from, that has yet to be seen. Whatever it is, you can guarantee that I will be there to assist you."
"You helped out a lot back at that trial, so it'd be awesome to have you around again." Ash praised. "Plus, I got to see a pretty awesome place and I know where I gonna go someday."
"Mhm. And I just want to spend some more time on Earth. As if I'd miss out on the chance to be around the Pokemon?" Lightwing revealed the other part as to why she wished to be their Guardian Angel. "Angels can have dreams and wishes too. I mean, we have everything we need so it's hard for something new to come up. Right, Halo?"
The Star Wisp next to her would nod, dropping stardust from his body. The stardust would fall over Pikachu, making him sneeze right afterwards. "So, you'll be leaving now, I'm guessing?" Ash asked.
"I have to. But I will return. And I will be around at times when my role as a Guardian Angel is approved. In the meanwhile, I'll be watching over you and looking out for you." Lightwing winked before taking flight once more. The time for this angel to return to her home had come.
But she certainly left an impression and did a lot. With Halo right next to her, the Angel and the Star Wisp would depart from Earth, receiving farewell waves from those that she's met. As soon as Lightwing reached a certain height, she was gone. It wasn't clear if she just accelerated instantly or vanished out of thin air. The point is, she was just gone.
"Alright." Ash took a deep sigh. "That was something, wasn't it? I already wanna go back to that place and check it out."
"Really? After all that, you want to go back?" Twilight lowered her eyes before breaking out into laughter. "Of course, you do! Honestly, I wouldn't mind being there again."
"Wait until Rarity hears about this," Pinkie uttered. "But I'm pretty sure everyone saw this happen. And I know what this year's Pokemon Festival is gonna be all about~"
"You do? What is it?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Just wait and see." A bright grin met Pinkie Pie's face as she pranced away. Ash already knew what she was referring to. There was a chance that this was not the last that they would see of these higher beings. And considering Lightwing was set to return one day, the scope of the world they live in was about to get even bigger than what they expected.
Faye Mountains. Changeling Lands.
Not everyone saw this trial go down. Some were either occupied with something else or the Astral Projection didn't show up for them. And in the case of Lena Ketchum's group, they certainly didn't see it, still on their way to the Changeling Lands.
And speaking of the Changeling Lands, at last, they had arrived at their destination. And according to Lena, this is where these mysterious shards could be found. Moving through the trees and bushes, the Changelings Lands would let out a faye shine thanks to the Fairy-Type energy that was brimming around it.
Already, the setup for the Pokemon Festival was being done for the Changeling Festival. Colourful tents and stalls line the pathways, showcasing exotic Bug-Types of all shapes and sizes. The air is thick with the gentle buzzing of wings and the faint scent of wildflowers.
"Finally! We're here!" Lena exclaimed while Team Rocket plus Diadora stood behind her. "The previous area didn't have any shards, but this one should."
"We're really going in there?" James scrunched his face, unsure about approaching the Changeling Lands. "I mean, I know they're not how they used to be but, we haven't been around the Changelings all that much."
"At least the Queen seems nice enough," said Jessie. "And aren't they going to point out your appearance since you look so much like the twe-" She would halt herself before mentioning Ash with a different and less insulting title. "Your very great grandson."
"And how do you even know those shards are there?" Meowth asked, wondering how Lena came to the conclusion that the shards were at the Changeling Lands.
"When I showed up in Hisui, I had an innate ability to sense the shards and where they might be. I thought some would be near Vanhoover, but I was off. The Changeling Lands is another place that came to mind."
"Ridiculous. Only my family have special abilities. I doubt the Ketchum Family ahs something going for them." Diadora grumbled, instantly insulting Lena's family line.
"Are you sure?" Lena winked before strolling over to the Changeling Lands. "Let me ask the locals if I can start digging for shards."
"This might pan out. They've gotta know that she's the twerp's ancestor. So they'll trust her from the get-go." Meowth pointed out.
"Maybe. Having her around is a huge benefit for us. I'm not sure about you, twerpette."
"Mind your own business, old lady. I only came here for Lena Ketchum." Diadora dismissed Jessie, pulling a trigger instantly.
"Old!?" Jessie grizzled her teeth after Diadora's comment.
Upon approaching the Changeling Lands, Lena was greeted by the Fairy Magic present here but also the eyes of the Changeling who spotted her. As to be expected, sharing a striking resemblance to Ash was bound to garner some attention. As soon as some of the first Changelings saw her, they shook their heads, even rubbing their eyes to see if they weren't seeing things.
Even the Pokemon looked confused. Something was amiss here and that was rather ironic considering the Changelings are known for transforming. So seeing someone who looked like Ash but there was obviously something off, caught them off guard.
"Ash?" One of the Changelings said. No one here had jumped to the conclusion that it was Lena Ketchum. In fact, none of the Changelings here seemed to know about Lena Ketchum's presence yet.
"Afternoon. I'm just stopping by here for a little while." Lena greeted while still getting various stares from the Changelings. Soon, a majority of the Changelings were looking right at her. "I-If oyu don't mind?"
"Who are you? You're not Ash. You don't sound like Ash either."
"Probably another shapeshifter." Coming to a conclusion already was Pharynx. A Changeling who had his own ideals that didn't fully align with what the current Changelings view. "You're just using Ash's face as a mask, aren't you? Whoever you are."
"That's what they think?" James said quietly as this was not the response he was expecting from the Changelings. It turns out, they didn't instantly trust her. There were some suspicions.
"No-no-no! I'm just his ancestor!" Lena vehemently shook her head. "This is who I am."
"Ancestor?" Indeed, they were not aware of Lena Ketchum being from the past.
"His ancestor, eh? How sure are we about that?" Pharynx questioned, not fully going with it.
"She's very much telling the truth!" Coming to Lena's aid was Jessie who slid in. She wouldn't want this mission to be over just because of some heavy doubts. James and Meowth would do the same while Diadora stayed back for a while. "This lady right here is the real deal!"
"It's obvious which gene is the most powerful of both sides," James added. "I mean, sometimes the descendant can look a lot like the ancestor. Even more than the parents or grandparents."
"I mean, we don't all look like Queen Chrysalis. Old and new, so..." One Changeling was seeing the angle.
"If you want concrete proof, get a load of this." James would support Lena, using his Rotom Phone to show visible evidence. The Changelings leaned in to see the image that showcased the news report of Ash's Ancestor going around. Thanks to Team Rocket, Lena's identity was validated, even if Pharynx was still putting on a doubtful face.
"Sorry if I gave you a fright because of my face." She apologized "But I just need to do something quickly and I will be out of your hair and off elsewhere. I'm searching for these shards that have been flung through time, just like me. And I have a feeling that there are some hidden here."
"Shards? Here?" The Changelings weren't even aware of there being shards somewhere in their hive. "Since when?"
"Well, only recently. I showed up to this era not too long ago. And at the same time, the shards followed after them." Lena explained. "I had these shards in my disposal until they were scattered. So right now, I'm on a quest to find my way home. To my own timeline."
"That so?" Pharyn slowly nodded. "Well, this isn't up our alley. You'll have to take it to our Queen."
"The Queen loves your descendant, so she'll obviously love you." Jessie was already giving high hopes to Lena, reassuring her that Chrysalis would accept her. "Don't worry about it."
"If she were here." That is until Pharynx revealed something extra that caught Lena off guard. "Except she's not. She's busy elsewhere and it still involves the upcoming Festival. You're going to have to wait for her to return."
"Wait for her to show up?!" Lena pulled back. "Aah...I have to get moving though...otherwise, he might beat me to them. How long will it take?"
"Hopefully not too long. The Pokemon Festival is something that she's been looking forward to this year." A changeling replied. "But...If you can't ask the Queen, you can always ask Thorax."
"Thorax? Not him..." Pharynx wanted to avoid this. It's why he avoided bringing up his brother Thorax. "He's not fit to be a ruler, honestly. Why go to him?"
"Queen Chrysalis left things in his care after she fell ill. She has high faith in him and so do we. How come you don't have the same faith for your own brother?"
"Eugh." Pharynx groaned, turning away from the other changeling, refusing to answer that. He already gave his answer in his previous sentence.
"Excellent!" Lena cheered. "I won't be too long with this! Trust me!" It was off to see Thorax who was currently in charge while Chrysalis was elsewhere, doing something else while the Pokemon Festival was being set up here.
The Human World. Sci-Twi's Home. Late Afternoon.
Speaking of shards, Lena's group wasn't the only one searching for them. Sci-Twi, who met the man from the past by name of Volo, was already on a similar mission. Volo requested her to help find these shards and so far, Sci-Twi is the only one who has managed to find some.
On her table, a few purple shards were lying around which were just the first of many. And next to those shards was her phone. Sci-Twi gazed at it, receiving a message from Ash, referring to the text she sent him last night. Sci-Twi wanted Ash to help her considering she was going to go places when trying to find these shards.
When picking up one of the shards, Sci-Twi noticed that the Arceus Pendant around her neck was glowing. It did this before when she first came across the shards. This intrigued Twilight. There was obviously a connection between these shards and the pendant for this reaction to happen. Nothing else so far has made the pendant glow.
"This pendant's always been strange to me. Even though it's related to Arceus, I don't know what's up with it." She lifted the pendant. "Maybe I should go back to Dahara City and get some answers. And I don't think these shards are just items that Volo can sell. There's something about them."
"Where are we going tomorrow?" Hisuian Zorua asked.
"Mmm..Depends. I'm honestly not sure where to start when it comes to finding these shards. There have to be plenty of them. But one thing's for sure...I think I can use the pendant to my advantage. It might act as a tracking device for these shards which will make things easier for me." Sci-Twi explained. "School's going to be out soon, so I'll have a lot more time on my hands."
"Are we going to the Pokemon Festival soon too? I hope we don't miss out on it."
"Oh, without a doubt. I wish it would come here but...our world's not ready for the Pokemon Festival. And if there's anywhere you want to go for this year's festival, let me know, Zorua." She picked up her partner, giving her a calming hug. "Now come on. Let's get ready to call it a day. We'll start searching for these shards immediately."
Today consisted of an Angel appearing, a Cosmic Trial, the arrival of the Alpha Pokemon and the further pursuit of these mysterious shards. Indeed, a lot has happened. But this was simply the beginning of something bigger than this. Much like how the vast expanse of the cosmos expands, the arc that stands between both sides was starting to swing elsewhere. The trial of Ash and Jirachi was only a sign of something else brewing as the journey continues.
At Virbank City, Rarity was in the middle of filming another PokeStar Studios film. And this time, she was doing it alongside her Human Counterpart. This whole time, while there were angels present, higher beings putting Ash and Jirachi on trial plus Lena Ketchum searching for the shards and ending up in the Changeling Lands, Rarity was just making movies, doing what she loves.
"I could get used to this~" Showing up here, the Human Rarity obviously had to pass through the portal between Equestria and Canterlot High, the magic of Equestria immediately turned her into a pony.
"It's nice, isn't it?" Equestria's Rarity said, loving how her Human Counterpart was already adjusting well to her new appearance. Rarity was always the quickest to adapt to something, no matter which version appears as the opposite entity.
"Good to see you enjoying yourself as always Rarity and...Rarity." Mr. Gold, the owner of PokeStar Studios said, walking in on this movie production. "I'm still not sure what to call you both since you're exactly the same. Which one of you is the Rarity I've seen the most?"
"That would be me. But if you're having trouble, sir, try calling my other self Rare." Rarity already picked out a nickname for her counterpart.
"Oooh, I like that." And she already approved of it.
"Wonderful. Well, by the time you're done making this new film of yours, this year's Pokemon Festival might already start. About that...How would you like to be one of the representatives of the Film Festival that'll be in the Pokemon Festival?"
"Oh, yes, please!" Rarity violently shook her head along with her Pokemon. "I'd absolutely love that."
"Great. We'll have plenty of headliners for this from across other regions. And I want you to be Equestria's Headliner. You come here the most, so it only adds up."
"What about me? Do I still count?" Rare aimed her hoof at herself. "I mean, I'm technically Human. Or was I always a pony and deep down?"
"If your world was as accustomed to Pokemon, probably." Rarity answered. "Maybe. I'm not sure. If we still had those gateways around, the answer would be clear as day. You'd have everyone from your world flocking over instantly. But, I doubt everyone is ready to turn into a Human."
"About that...Have you made any new gateways yet?" Rare asked, hoping that there was another gateway to use aside from the elusive and mysterious Infinity Gateway.
"Mmm." Alas, no new gateways. Twilight still hasn't figured it out. "Forget about that. That isn't going to stop you from being in this year's Pokemon Festival. Three weeks of entertainment at its finest. And the best part about all of this? Now that most of the nuisances have been dealt with, this year's festival is going to go by swimmingly!"
The Changeling Lands.
At the Changeling Lands, after Lena showed up with Diadora and Team Rocket, she requested the chance to search for these mystical shards which were supposedly underground. With Queen Chrysalis still being elsewhere, Thorax was in charge and he granted permission to Lena to find these shards.
At this moment, a hole had been dug in the Changeling Lands, done by Ursaluna. Team Rocket were chiming in, using shovels to speed up the process while some of the Changelings watched.
Pharynx was rather disappointed by this. His brother was too kind and accepting, even if he had every reason to be accepting in this instance. "They're alright, but what if someone else would've shown up here who we also didn't know about?"
"Well, you have a point there. But I'm sure that if that was the case, at least one of the Fairy-Types here would've figured out that someone was suspicious. I mean, not even a disguise could get past them."
Unfortunately, a disguise did get through them. Team Rocket was the prime example of this. Still to this day, their disguises have fooled many, being completely flawless, only for them to come to an end later on.
But in this case, Team Rocket were using disguises for monetary gain, wanting the shards just so they could sell them for money. Or, as an alternative, use the mysterious power they apparently possess. Either one would be very beneficial to them. The widest grins were on their faces when shovelling through the Changeling Lands.
"Luna?" Suddenly, while digging through the earth, Ursaluna paused for a moment. Its nose went off and all movements came to a halt, followed by a light roar.
"Oh! Found something, Ursaluna?" Lena asked. Indeed, Ursaluna found something to dig up. By rapidly moving its arms, the rest of the ground was being ripped away to reveal what was hiding there. Glistening through the darkness of the ground was a beautiful pink and light green glow.
At last, some of the shards have been found. Lena was right to show up at the Changeling Lands after failing to find some around the colder parts of Equestria. It was a double find as these shards were light green and pink instead of just one colour.
"Yes! The Fairy and Bug Shards!" And upon finding them, Lena already knew which shards these were. Hopping off Ursalunas back, Lena's hands touched the dirt-filled earth but that didn't matter to her. Scooping up the shards, Lena finally found her first batch. This was just the beginning.
Returning to the surface, her hand could be seen appearing first with the shards in her hands. The shards would glisten, letting out a golden light that temporarily blinded everyone who saw it. The Changelings never actually thought that there were shards underneath their home.
Team Rocket dropped their shovels, quickly zipping over to Lena. Their eyes would finally gaze upon these shards. They were just as beautiful as they expected.
"This is it. Just what I need and it will be one step closer to getting back home." Lena excitedly said.
"Nice! So, use it! They obviously have a special power in them!" Jessie got all giddy, wanting Lena to demonstrate their power.
"Well, on their own, they have no power since they're just shards of a previous item. But they're still important."
"Alright. You've got what you wanted. Are you going to leave now?" Pharynx questioned.
"Mhm. We won't bother you anymore now that we have one of the shards. Thank you for letting us dig here." Lena thanked the Changelings, mainly Thorax. "We have a lot more shards to go through, but if we can get them all, the shards can come together and return to what they were."
"Where to next then?" Jessie asked, wanting to find the next shards as soon as possible
"Hmm...Another place came to mind when I started my search. The shards have a will of their own and much like how I found these in the Changeling Lands, they probably target locations that they're the strongest at. This place is centered around Bug and Fairy Types."
"Is that how you did it?" Now James and his friends were curious. Lena had a method to how she chose certain locations. The reason she picked the Changeling Lands was because of how the shards represent the 18 Types.
"It is. And if I choose the right location, I can find the shards I need. That's why I chose Vanhoover since I thought I would find the Ice Shards, but I suppose not."
"Well, you're in luck! We can take you anywhere that's type-focused~" Jessie had Lena covered, rubbing her hands as she knew plenty of locations in Equestria that were catered to certain Pokemon.
Now that Lena had some shards at her disposal, it was off to find the rest. Lena would have to tackle specific locations to find all of them. With the shards entering her massive bag, it was off to the next area. The day was still young after all.
"Before that, clean yourself up." Jessie pointed out how Lena was completely dirty after going underground.
"It's fine. I can go like this." Lena saw no issue with this, however. She could go on with dirty clothes and dust all over her skin and hair.
"This isn't the past anymore, Lena. You can't head out into the world looking like this." James said. Team Rocket would freshen her up before that could happen. After all, they weren't going to be travelling alongside all of this dust.
The Human World.
Currently, Sci-Twi was also searching for the shards. Already departing from her home, she was relying on the Arceus Pendant around her neck to guide her. The pendant glowed when near some of the shards, so perhaps, it can do it once more if she was near any.
She was expecting Ash to show up eventually, but for now, she was going to have to go solo. But she wasn't alone. She had Spike and her Pokemon by her side. At this moment, Sci-Twi was at a Subway Station.
The Subway station stretches out before her, a vast underground labyrinth of concrete tunnels and metal tracks. The stark white fluorescent lights overhead cast an eerie glow on the grimy tile walls. The echoing sound of trains rumbling in the distance reverberates through the station, creating an atmosphere of constant movement and urgency.
In a place like this, some Pokemon were bound to be present. Moving across the walls was a Kecleon while some Digletts could be seen travelling the ground. The sound of skittering from a Spinarak travelled through as well.
"Mmm...Nothing here." The pendant wasn't reacting right now. The subway might be lacking in shards. "The subway's a bust, it looks like."
"Twilight. I know we just got here, but this is going to take forever at this rate." Spike spoke.
"I know, I know. But I have good faith in this pendant. But..." Sci-Twi held up the pendant. "It's not that big of a help in such a big world. Even if it's a radar for it, the time it would take to find these shards would be rough."
Sci-Twi had just started with this search and already, she was stumped. But something she said yesterday came up instantly. It was Dahara City. The lady who gave her this pendant entrusted it to her and she even went to Arche Valley to learn a bit more about the power of Arceus. "Maybe I should've gone there first. They know more about Arceus than me."
"That means you'll have to take the portal since there aren't any more gateways." Spike pointed out.
"Uh, I'll just use the Shift Stone I was lent. That way, I'll still be myself." Sci-Twi scrunched her face.
"Why are you so scared to become a pony? I can turn into anyone and I'm not scared." For Zorua, it didn't bother her and she was rather shy compared to Sci-Twi.
"That's because your body is built for it. I'm not ready for that." Sci-Twi explained. "Everyone else is fine with it but it might freak me out. If we still had those gateways, I wouldn't need to carry the Shift Stone."
"One of these days..." Spike uttered, believing that Sci-Twi would follow through with the pony transformation and it might be by accident. Sci-Twi would depart from the subway station since there were no shards present. Somewhere else would have to do. But thanks to the upcoming Pokemon Festival, she might get that chance. One way, or another.
When leaving the Subway Station, she ran into someone she wasn't expecting to see so soon. Unexpectedly, Volo was right there in front of Sci-Twi. "Gah!" She shrieked before catching her breath. "Ah, Volo...It's just you."
"Sorry for the scare. I was just checking up on your progress. It hasn't been that long but I trust you've gotten somewhere?"
"Well...Not really." Sci-Twi pouted. "I haven't come across any shards and I've been trying to use this pendant of mine as a guide but, nothing yet, I'm afraid. It's just that I'm worried they might be across the entire world and that could take a long time."
"Hmm...That would take a while. It's a tall order. Something I was doing solo but now I have some help. I should've given you a heads-up though, but I guess I was also too carefree." Volo chuckled. "There is an easier way I should've mentioned before. But I suppose the pendant around your neck gave me a good feeling."
"Really? What is it? I can guess it might be a lot of help, whatever it may be."
"Well, what if I told you that these beautiful shards have a mind of their own?" Just like Lena, Volo brought up the fact that the shards had minds of their own
"I'm sorry, what?" Sci-Twi wasn't expecting that answer.
"They're just beautiful items to gather, but they also have something special about them. They tend to sometimes act on their own. And what I mean by that is that you can find them in certain areas. They have a preference it seems."
"Have they always had a mind of their own?!"
"Not always. They started out as just average shards until some strange happened with them. But for the most part, they're just shards. And I've been trying to head to places where I think they may be. Unfortunately, not only is this place so different from what I'm used to, but everything looks and feels the same for me to find a specific location. Am I making sense?"
"I get what you're saying. What locations did you have in mind that you think the shards would show up?"
"Well..." Volo smirked. "The purple ones you found ended up in the one place I least expected them to be. But I'm sure that was a one-time thing or it's just the way this world was. The blue shards would probably be somewhere near a lake, river, moat or anything related to water. Hopefully not an ocean or a sea. The green shards come in two colours. They could either show up in a forest or maybe somewhere filled with bugs."
"I get it, I get it..." Sci-Twi was keeping up swiftly, knowing where Volo was going with this. "That does make things easier. And pretty fitting. They just know what places to head to just because of their colours. It sounds a lot like the 18 Types actually."
"Spot on!" Volo snapped his fingers. "The best part about them is how they resemble all those types. So, it only makes sense that they would choose certain areas."
"Purple is either Psychic or Poison but I have no idea why it would be in a place where there's no Poison or Psychic energy at all." That part wasn't clicking for Sci-Twi. "But that's fine! At least I have a good idea of where I should go. What about you, Volo?"
"Believe me, I've been trying. It's not easy for a merchant such as myself. If I wanted to find the red ones, I'd go to a volcano but...I'm not sure I want to take that risk just yet." Volo whistled before swivelling his head to the other side. "At least, you have a better grasp of this world than me."
"Okay. I can use your suggestion as a guide. And then, the pendant might glow afterwards." Sci-Twi excitedly said. "Thank you so much, Volo! I can get somewhere with this. If I go to certain locations, I'm guessing I might find the shards in about...a month maybe!"
"A month? Great confidence. Far beyond a year or so. I was even thinking about an entire year passing as well."
"I have to get home and rethink things! I'll see you soon!" Sci-Twi would have to change up her game plan. A new approach was about to be made and it was back to the drawing board for this. Volo watched her leave, putting on his smirk once again. Hisuian Zorua would look back at Volo, seeing his smirk yet again, but just like before, Zorua felt something off about Volo.
She just couldn't tell what it was. Volo would then hear footsteps nearby, prompting him to depart as well. He would continue searching for the shards even if this world was beyond his time and very much confusing for him.
Equestria. Out at Sea. The Sea Temple, Samiya.
Moving across the Seas of Equestria was the Sea Temple, heading wherever it could. The People of the Water were aware of the Pokemon Festival coming up and it was unknown if they would get involved. But it wasn't out of the question for them. The sound of crashing waves and Wingulls filled the air, creating a symphony of maritime melodies over the beautiful and calming sea.
The Samiyans were just living their lives, especially Donomoa, who was looking into her crystal ball. As always, she was viewing multiple outcomes for others and even customizing them to create alternate endings. She knew how to have fun with such a serious object. But when the time to get serious comes up, she knows what to do.
And in this instance, when looking at the future of someone, the visage of this bubbly outcome was starting to change. Donoma's smile dropped after seeing the change which she didn't cause at all. This was being done by the crystal ball itself. Curious, Donomoa leaned in, wondering what the crystal ball was about to show her. "It looks like something has come up. What can you tell me, crystal ball?"
In response, the crystal ball would show something that Donoma was not prepared for. A figure was starting to appear. A shadowy one that was hard to make out so far. Behind this shadowy figure standing there. It wasn't anyone she recognised since it wasn't clear enough. It could be anyone.
"Who is that..."? But the closer she viewed this image, she saw that the shadowy figure multiplied, splitting into what looked to be 9 more figures.
On top of that, the figure was becoming a bit clearer. Donoma gasped as the shadowy figures were now silhouettes. Silhouettes that strongly resembled Ash, Red and the others who are all counterparts. After seeing this and reading into the crystal ball, Donoma's pupils shrank. She did not like the implications of this future, even though it was not set in stone and could always change. But the fact that this was being shown to her raised a bad feeling that felt like it was just somewhere around the corner.
The 4th Pokemon Festival. Four times in a row, this festival that was made to form and strengthen bonds between both worlds was still around. Even after both worlds merged as one, this festival would continue, being a symbol of unity. Despite everything that transpires in them. Everything Pokemon and Pony-related would be here. And of course, other species and what they specialize in will be present since this was a unification of various species.
A fragrant aroma of freshly baked Poffins wafts through the air, drawing trainers and their Pokemon closer. Delicate and colourful orbs of light bob and dance above the pavilion, emanating a comforting and tranquil energy. An enchanting water fountain showcases a sculpted Eevee surrounded by a captivating display of captivating holographic projections, each showcasing one of its potential evolutions.
A jovial Pokemon breeder, dressed in a vibrant robe adorned with Eevee motifs, beckons eager trainers forward, offering to share his wisdom on the art of friendship evolution with trainers who all had Eevees with them. The tranquil surface of a small pond was broken by the occasional ripple, caused by elusive Water-types playfully darting beneath the surface.
And of course, it started where it mostly does. Here at Canterlot, which got a head start over everywhere else. Three weeks of enjoyment and hopefully, nothing threatening or out of left field. Wanting this more than anyone was Princess Celestia, who stepped out of her castle to enjoy the festival. Even though she enjoyed the excitement, she could do without anything threatening the peace this year.
"Feast your eyes on this, Alcremie. This is the absolute pinnacle of enjoyment that we all collectively have each year. Aside from the occasional Pokemon Battle that amazes us." Celestia introduced Alcremie to the Pokemon Festival for the very first time, holding her up to see the sights.
"Cremie..." Alcremie's eyes lit up. The things she was about to do with all of these options available.
"All three weeks to ourselves. And I already know what I want to do first and later on. Last year's was hit with rather unpleasant interactions and events. Not this year." Celestia had high hopes. And prior to this, she made sure that nothing horrible would transpire. This was going to be the most guarded Pokemon Festival to date.
Taking out one of her Poke Balls, she looked at the one that held Reshiram inside. Obviously, she wanted all of her Pokemon to enjoy this Pokemon Festival. Reshiram was a rather large Pokemon so for him to enjoy this Festival would make him the most noticeable figure moving around.
"If I can find Cobalion at this year's festival, it would be amazing~!" Celestia's first objective ended up being Cobalion. Out of everything that she could do, she went with her heart instead. The Sun Princess pranced along as she could get this festival going. She was as free as she could be while still upholding her royal status as Equestria's Ruler.
But right as she was about to explore, appearing in front of her was Luna, who intercepted her sister's movements immediately. Celestia came to a halt after her little sister blocked her path. "Not so fast. You aren't leaving just yet, sister. Chasing Cobalion will have to wait."
"Huh? Why?" Celestia groaned.
"You already promised Chrysalis and I that you would be with us when the Pokemon Festival starts."
"Well...yes. But I have my wants and needs. It's not like I've forgotten about it. I'm just putting it behind something else." Celestia raised her head. "Besides, meeting with Cobalion won't take that long."
"Knowing you, you'd probably make him join our group. As much as that would work out, you obviously want it to be just you and him."
"That's right." Celestia proudly said, followed by Luna's unimpressed face. "But I can be with you for the time being. It's only 3 weeks after all. Where's Chrysalis, by the way?" Celestia would still make time for her sister and her new friend. She would leave with Luna, ready to meet up with Chrysalis and party during the first day and beyond.
Ponyville. Day.
The Festival had begun at Ponyville as well. It had been set up with colourful banners hanging from tall lampposts and game stalls lining the pathways. The air is filled with the sweet scent of cotton candy and the faint sound of joyful laughter. At the centre of the festival grounds stands a life-sized statue of a Rapidash and a pony, their stone forms radiating an aura of whimsy and magic.
A group of foals surrounds a small stage, eagerly watching a Pokemon trainer demonstrating impressive battling techniques with her Steenee when going up against a Dusclops. A group of children, dressed in colourful costumes, are busy feeding apples to a family of friendly Herdier and some Lillipups, while a vendor nearby offers handmade Pokeball jewelry and enchanted horseshoes with moving ponies inside.
But while everyone was enjoying themselves, at Twilight's Castle, the Princess of Friendship was currently holding onto the fragment of the gateway. Twilight was hoping that the gateways would make a return for this festival. The past festivals have brought some truly wild moments that no one was going to forget and the revival of the gateways was what Twilight was hoping for. Nothing else.
"This festival will be the day they come back. I just know it." Twilight took a deep breath. "If I can find a way to make it happen, that would be so wonderful. Until then, I'll have to make a trek to where I want to be."
"Twilight!" Bursting through those doors was Pinkie Pie who was already in the festive mood. "What's taking so long? We're about to get started and head off. It's off to Galar this year!"
"Just a moment. I think I'll be taking this fragment with me. I still want to work on it along the way."
"Taking worth with you? I don't know about that. This is the perfect time to forget about all of that." Pinkie shook her head. "Worry about that later when we have three weeks of pure fun ahead of us."
"Hey, I can still have fun." Twilight crossed her hooves. "And work at the same time. I'm a great multi-tasker. I can bet that along the way, I'll figure out something that'll form a new gateway. The Pokemon Festival never has anything normal in it."
"If you say so. My money's on Angels showing up for this year's festival. See you there~" Pinkie zipped away, leaving the door open.
"Eh. I can go three weeks without thinking about this too much." Twilight pondered before placing the fragment of the gateway in her saddlebag. She certainly didn't want it to go anywhere. "But for this year's Pokemon Festival, I should probably open up the PokePark."
The Pokemon at her PokePark wouldn't miss out on this one. For the most part, they just do their own thing, living their own lives and on some occasions, they interact with the rest of the world. Bisharp, Queen Serperior, Audino and everyone else living there were about to get the full taste of the Pokemon Festival. Twilight wouldn't even have to manage every single Pokemon. She could trust them to be on their best behaviour, especially with Bisharp and Queen Serperior around, even if she hasn't seen all of the Pokemon there just yet.
Manehattan.
Elsewhere, one group was certainly enjoying themselves. In this case, it was Red's group. He and his friends could be found here in Manehattan. Another wonderful place for the Pokemon Festival to occur.
"Right here!" Already, Hilbert was taking advantage of this festival. He had a stall up with his face and Ash's face present. The same plan he formed back at the Pallet Town Yard Sale but this time with food. Hilbert was offering them a chance to feast on food that he and Ash both enjoyed, capitalising on Ash's popularity once more.
He had a colourful stall on display. The scent of exotic spices fills the air, intermingling with the tantalizing aroma of sizzling meats and freshly baked bread. A vibrant tapestry of vendors calls out their specialities, their voices melding into a symphony of culinary delight. A towering fountain, crafted from intricately carved fruits and vegetables, cascades with a steady stream of refreshing fruit-infused water.
"Well, this plan worked the first time but are you sure it'll have the same effect in Equestria?" Hilda asked as she was helping Hilbert with this Food Stall. But even with Hilda's help, this couldn't have been done. Next to the two of them were ponies wearing chef hats. Paying good money, Hilbert managed to have them cook alongside him, resulting in this enticing food stand.
"It'll have a greater effect, Hilda. We're in the city this time." Hilbert smirked, hearing the sounds of hoofsteps and wing flutters approaching. Indeed, using Ash's face brought some attention. Already, many ponies gathered around to the food stall, ready to consume these delicacies only found in Unova and Kanto. The food from Kanto was also replicated, all done by Hilbert and Hilda. "See? That'll be 1200 Pokedollars or 12 bits!"
"Let me get some!" Indulging in this was none other than Ethan. He just wanted the food. And so did Brendan. Both of them had also gathered around the food stand with Typhlosion and Sceptile beside them.
Hilbert put on a proud smile as the money was flowing in. He knew how to make a profit by keeping things simple yet effective. And of course, this was to raise his fame status. He was doing what Nessa and Gordie were trying to accomplish but with greater success. That was mainly thanks to his connection with Ash.
"Yeah, being Ash's counterpart has its wonders. If I knew about Ash from the beginning, I would've done this years ago." Hilbert cackled. "Man. When the others show up here, I gotta get them into this too."
"I don't think they'd want to," said Ethan while stuffing his face with Unovan delicacies.
"Nonsense. Nate would totally do the same thing as me. And so would Viktor. You should be loving this, Ethan. You're in the same boat as us."
"I'm not all for the publicity though, Hilbert. Not like you. But if it works, it works and I can't complain. You know how to draw in a crowd after all. Whether it's our universe or this one."
"Speaking of which, we should really be trying to find a way back home. The scientists who sent us here are obviously having troubles and we're unable to contact them," said Hilda. "This place is nice and all, but it would be better if we could still return to our homes. Plus, it's just you boys around. I wish Leaf, Lyra and the others came along but...that didn't happen."
"I think they're bound to show up." Brendan replied. "Recently, Twilight and Starswirl have made some progress, so there's bound to be dimensional travel again. I mean, that other Twilight shows up here and there, doesn't she?"
"Oh yeah. How come she gets to do it, but we can't?" Ethan now had to think about it. "Plus she wants to destroy Ash. And apparently us too."
"Yeah. Like that's ever gonna happen. We've been threatened before and we're still here. What else is new?" Hilbert would laugh at that notion. "Plus, if Prisma's actually in us, he's not doing a very good job at keeping himself hidden if you ask me."
"What do you think will happen when he actually shows up though?" Hilda was putting that possibility up. "Possession can go a long way, even if none of us have ever been possessed."
"It'd be a first. Plus, we'd just fight him away. Inside or outside." Hilbert answered. "After all, we're some of the strongest trainers out there and no one can beat us! Especially when one of us is number one!" He stood up tall, pointing to the blue skies above while others watched.
And after his bellowing shout, passing by him was the triad of royalty. This time, it consisted of Celestia, Luna and Chrysalis. Usually, it's Celestia, Luna and Cadence who are together.
"So, Lena came by to my hive the other day." And at this moment, Chrysalis speaking about Lena Ketchum to the Royal Sisters. "Thorax oversaw everything. And I wish I was there myself and had the chance to speak with Ash's ancestor. But I was too busy getting myself ready for this year's festival and I even saw the trial of Ash take place. The fact that the two of you were also pulled there..."
"If that trial continued, we might have had to manage two Suns and two Moons. Which is impossible, even for us." Luna said, glad that the trial was won in their favour. "Thank goodness Arceus showed up to put a stop to it. But I suppose this means that Arceus rules over all of us now."
"It was to be expected. Our worlds are now one so this is only natural. But I don't think we have to worry about moving two Suns and Moons now. I wasn't even aware that there were two of them and they were both enlarged."
"Oooh, hold on!" Chrysalis immediately drew her attention to something else. Up ahead was a book stand but the name of the books are what caught her attention. In a flash, she teleported over to the book stand, eyeing them down.
These books were specifically romance books and the titles helped that. Chrysalis was already pulled in by them, creating a strong intrigue in her mind. She read the titles, seeing how enticing they were. A majority of them had love in them and the taglines also involved a mention of romance.
Needless to say, Chrysalis was interested. She was obviously someone who feeds on love but never before has she come across books about love. "There are books about love? Have these always been here?"
"Always." The vendor said.
"I could have purchased these long ago and known all about love." To Chrysalis, this was a missed opportunity she wished she took prior to this. If she was aware of them, she would have most likely stolen them instead.
"Well, it's only for those who want to read love stories rather than learn from them. I mean, you could learn from them but maybe that's not the best option."
"Stories about love?" She initially thought that they were guides. Not stories. That changed everything for her. "I haven't read many stories apart from a bedtime story...And that is about it, I think."
"Ugh. These books are always so superficial." Luna had a completely different opinion about these books. She was not a fan of them as seen by her reaction. "How they go from hating each other to loving each other so soon is beyond me."
"I don't know...It might interest Chrysalis."
"Hmm..." Chrysalis opened the book to see what stories they had to offer. To speed it up just so she doesn't waste too much time here, Chrysalis used a speed-reading spell on her eyes. She would process the words at a quicker rate, immediately flipping through the pages of this book. "Ooh." The book was not disappointing at all. The things she saw caught her attention. She used her magic to bring a few more books, seeing what they had to offer.
Chrysalis was being introduced to the wide world of stories and the one that she was starting to get into were romance book. A wide smile was forming on her face when reading all of this. Just like that, Chrysalis became a fan. She was only speed-reading them and now she wished to take her time with them. The best way to do that was to purchase them. "I'll buy as many as I can!"
"A-As many as you can?" The vendor gulped. She could already tell that this was about to lead into an immediate lack of stock and it would all be done by Chrysalis.
But while everyone was beginning to enjoy themselves or were just getting into it since the day was still young, some were still expecting the worst to happen. The 2nd and 3rd Pokemon Festivals proved that it could happen. So far, nothing, but that's how it always is. It goes well in the beginning and soon spirals out of control.
The only thing they knew was that nothing was really threatening them this time and that was at least a positive. But there was one option that escaped their heads, mainly because it was barely known by them. One of the alleyways here was like a labyrinth, stretching between the towering buildings, its narrow path only illuminated by the soft glow of flickering lanterns.
Illuminating by the lanterns was a pony, exempt from the large crowd in the Pokemon Festival. A small sound that involved wonder and amazement left her mouth. From the sounds of it, much like a few others in the world, this was her first time experiencing the Pokemon Festival. However, this pony's amazement was present for a different reason.
She was not from this world.
This pony was near a place made for Lanterns that would shine when nightfall comes. The Lanturn would obviously be the ones to light up but some ordinary lanterns will be there without a doubt. The alleyway and pony were enveloped in a soft, golden glow emanating from countless lanterns hanging from the surrounding trees.
The air was filled with the delicate fragrance of blossoming flowers. Her face, while it wasn't seen by anyone looked rather familiar. Her colour scheme also had some familiarity which made her face all the more familiar. In fact, her face resembled that of Twilight. But it was a specific Twilight. Only an hour into the Pokemon Festival and it was very much active.
Equestria. Ponyville. Twilight's Lab. PokePark. Day
Entering the PokePark was its owner, Twilight Sparkle. After entering this other land that was hidden by a garage door of all things, she was ready to expose them all to the Pokemon Festival. Already, she gathered up all the Pokemon she could find at the Cove Area and the Arbor Area. The two places she's been to."
Lined up were Bug and Grass-Types from the Arbor Area with the Cove Area Pokemon being heavily centered around Water-Types. But of course, each of these areas had Pokemon of other types, such as Bisharp who came from the Arbor Area or Audino from the Cove Area.
"That's all of you. A huge chunk too. I'm glad these two areas are pretty small, but now I need to gather everyone over at the Tech and Crag Area. I haven't been there yet so this is a new experience." Twilight had merely scratched the surface on how many Pokemon she had. She's only seen the ones here at the Cove and Arbor Area but that was only because they were close.
The other two areas have yet to be explored solely because of how occupied she was. From the vampires to a clash in space and many more that just spiralled out of control, PokePark kept being an afterthought.
"When we get out there, I'm trusting you all to be on your best behaviour. And most importantly, to have as much fun as you can. The two might clash with each other but, eh." said the Princess of Friendship.
"Bisharp!" Carrying out Twilight's wishes since she was a princess, Bisharp would salute He's already been outside of PokePark so this wasn't anything new. But in terms of what he'll be doing, that will be completely new for him. Just to have fun, Bisharp would have to take orders first. He looked back at his platoon of Pawniwards, expecting them to do the same. Not just because their captain would do it but because it was an order from Twilight.
"Pawniard..." The Pawniard sighed after receiving a glare from Bisharp.
"Snivy!" As for Snivy, she knew how to have fun, but in her own way. As a princess, the things she will do will mostly be for her own benefit.
"Dewott!" Aside from Bisharp, the other Pokemon who hasn't been limited to PokePark was Dewott.
"I'll give you all a head start. You can head out now and I'll show up later as soon as I gather everyone at PokePark." As soon as Twilight said that, the Pokemon stormed off, not wasting any time. They were going to party for three weeks. Twilight screeched as she was knocked into the air by the stampeding Pokemon.
Just like that, they were all gone, ready to flood the streets of Ponyville and wherever they go next. But they would be sure to return after the festival is over. Catching Twilight in time was Bisharp, preventing her from crashing. "T-Thanks, Bisharp."
"Sharp!" Bisharp saluted as he would be the last to follow them all. After gently placing the Princess of Friendship down, he would salute and depart with his platoon of Pawniard, carrying out Twilight's orders. The entrance to PokePark was now completely silent with all of the Pokemon gone.
it was just Twilight and her Espeon who managed to avoid that stampede. Now all Twilight had to do was meet the other Pokemon for the very first time. She wasn't even sure if they knew about her existence. Twilight had to assume they did since BigTime Ben passed ownership of PokePark to her.
The Crag Area.
The Crag Area. Located along some mountains, this was home to an abundance of Rock-Type Pokemon specifically and other Pokemon-Types. Twilight had finally arrived here after so long. This was another testament to the fact that PokePark was a stored dimension hidden behind Twilight's Lab.
In the distance, a massive rock formation that resembled an Emboar could be seen. It was behind everything else in the Crag Area but it was so huge that it stuck out more than any place else.
"Hooh...It is hot over here." Twilight was already feeling the heat. Her first time here and she already discovered the different living conditions. This would definitely be a place where Rock-Types would live. When taking a step with Espeon and approaching the PokePark, the first Pokemon they saw stood before them, right at the Crag Area's entrance.
"Bastiodon." A Bastiodon. Twilight wasn't aware that she even had a Bastiodon as a Pokemon now that she had ownership of PokePark.
"A Bastiodon?"
"Bast." Bastiodon already recognized Twilight Sparkle the moment she showed up. While Twilight has never been to the Crag Area and by extension, the Tech Area, her existence was still well known. Possibly by the Pokemon from the Cove and Arbor Area that have come by here. Seeing her, Bastiodon stepped aside for its trainer. Bastiodon was clearly meant to the gate guardian of the Crag Area against anyone else that approaches, but Twilight was granted easy access.
And after being given access to the place, Twilight saw it for what it was. An entire fort was in the Crag Area area as opposed to the Cove and Arbor Area which were filled with a beach town and verdant fields.
"Gible!" Running past Twilight was a Gible who was also being chased down by a furious Primeape. Above her, the sound of a Braviary flying by could be heard.
"Braviary!" The Valiant Pokemon cawed.
"Flareon!" Present here was a Flareon as well, currently rolling a Ferroseed along while also hurting its nose in the process. Advancing further, Twilight saw other Pokemon that looked too out of place to be in such a hot place.
Dancing nearby was a Bellossom who was surprisingly fine, showing no signs of feeling the heat compared to Twilight. Creeping up behind Bellossom was a Croagunk who had another Ferrosseed in its arms, ready to surprise Bellossom. But this was soon interrupted by the force of a Diglett emerging from the earth, causing Croagunk to fall over and drop Ferrosseed.
Plenty of movement was happening here at the Crag Area and the Pokemon here were active in their way. They were rather rambunctious compared to the two areas Twilight has been to.
"I have to bring them out here too." Twilight took a deep breath, knowing that some of these Pokemon were going to be harder to deal with compared to what she's seen. Of course, this meant that her friends would have more time to enjoy themselves while Twilight would be busy finding all of the Pokemon in PokePark. "Alright, I might be here for a while now that I'm looking at this."
Kanto. Pallet Town. The Pokemon Festival.
And indeed, they were having a blast. Ash was present in his hometown, having Fluttershy and Applejack's family there. And the way they were enjoying themselves was either by taking part in the attractions of even some delicious food. Both from Delia and the Apple Family.
Delia was seen conversing with Granny Smith while Lucario and Delta Lucario were partaking in an Arm Wrestling Contest with Apple Bloom's Pokemon and Applejack's Sceptile cheering them on. The two Lucario were fiercely growling as their arms were shaking from this intense struggle.
Speaking of Sceptile, present here was Ash's Sceptile, plus all of his Pokemon. Why wouldn't they show up for the Pokemon Festival? And with each of his Pokemon out in the open, especially since they all have their own personalities, it certainly livened things up.
"How's about Galar next? The Wild Area's something I wanna see more of." Ash spoke with Fluttershy, showing her the Galar Region on his Rotom Phone. Since both of them love to meet new Pokemon all the time, they were itching to tackle the Galar Region. "I wanna see if I can spot more Pokemon just like what Melony had when I battled her."
"Oooh, that sounds like a good idea to me, Ash." Fluttershy was all for it without a hesitation. "But maybe after we head to the Film Festival that Rarity's in."
"There looks like something else far off from Galar." Apple Bloom uttered, pointing out another location near Galar. "Looks like an Island. A pretty big one too and it's not connected to Galar at all. "
"Haven't been there yet. Hmm..." Ash pondered. "Finish all of Galar or check that place out..."
"Galar's where you'll have to face Leon someday, so I say stick with Galar until then," Fluttershy suggested.
"Alright, alright. Good point." With an approving nod, Ash would keep that in mind. But knowing Ash, he'll be so enamoured by whatever catches his attention he might stray away from the set path.
"If you're going to Galar, then that means Melony and I will have unsettled business," Delia spoke, hearing their conversation. She brought up her rivalry with Melony and how their competition from the Yard Sale wasn't done just yet. "We have to settle things."
"Won't she come to you, Mrs Ketchum?"
"Not this time. This time, I'm going to her and if I had to guess, she won't be at Circhester since it's the Pokemon Festival. But that doesn't matter since I can speak to her on the computer. She'll let me know exactly where she is."
"You're not gonna come with us to the Film Festival where Rarity and Rarity are?" Ash asked as it sounded like Delia was skipping out on Unova.
"A Film Festival? Oooh, that does sound good. But I'm sure I'll find enough time for it. Right now, I'm only focused on meeting up with Melony."
"Fair enough. For me, after I'm done with Galar, I'm meeting up with Sci-Twi. Or she's meeting up with me somewhere else."
"Bay!" Speaking out and getting close to Ash was his Bayleef, who would make space for herself by getting in-between Fluttershy and Ash who Bayleef felt were a bit too close to each other. Bayleef had someplace she wished to be at as well. However, stopping her from ruining Ash's space was Fluttershy's own Bayleef, who would restrain her. But also Ash's Bayleef would much rather do without Sci-Twi being around either.
"Okay, Bayleef. If there's someplace you wanna be, you can say it. We can make enough time for it." Ash would still heed Bayleef's wishes as this response formed a wide smile on her face. Ash always had his Pokemon's best interest in mind. "I'm also pretty psyched on who I get to meet this year's festival. Only one way to find out. Time to head to Unova, you guys!"
He spoke to all of his Pokemon. This time, Ash was bringing his entire party with him. His Pokemon weren't just going to enjoy the Pokemon Festival over at Pallet Town and by extension Ponyville. They were going to enjoy it globally.
"Hang on. How are ya gonna bring all of 'em over?" Applejack asked. Ash had quite a handful of Pokemon. Bringing them all on this journey would also be a handful. "They all ain't gonna fit on the plane too, ya know."
"No need to worry. Professor Oak passed me their Poke Balls. And my bag's pretty big enough for it." Ash placed his bag down, opening it up to reveal each and everyone's Poke Balls. All of them would find a way across regions. But once they enter the region, they'll be let out and will go wild without a doubt. Some of them might even feel nostalgic about being in certain regions.
Pignite, Krookodile, Oshawott and all of Ash's Unovan Pokemon know that they'll feel nostalgic once they head to Unova since their best memories originate there. Although, while Oshawott would feel some nostalgia a part of him also wished to see Sci-Twi again with hearts filling his eyes.
"Aren't you worried about what could go wrong?" Speaking from within Ash was Sombra. "You know how these Festivals get."
"Yeah, I know. But you'd better believe I'm ready. No matter who are what comes my way, I'll be glad to meet it. Plus, I don't think there's much threatening us. Except Twilight Moonlight but that's about it. I don't know when she'll show up aain but she'll be here. I just know it."
"You tried talking to her already but it doesn't seem like she's in the mood for talking." said Fluttershy. "That's a shame, really. I'm sure she's nice."
"I don't know about that..." Applejack slowly shook her head. "After hearing about Twilight Moonlight, what she does and what she has done, she seemed like a rather difficult character to try and reason with. Definitely different from the Twilight they all know. On the bright side, she's not as bad as the Empress.
Equestria. Manehattan.
Over at Manehattan, the Royal Trio consisting of Celestia, Luna and Chrysalis were still on the move. And right behind them was a massive cart of books. Specifically, romance novels. Chrysalis ended up buying every single book there after being immediately enamoured by these books. And she was already reading one of them.
"It's a good thing she had a spare stock to fill her stands with," Celestia said after Chrysalis brought everything.
"Mhm." Chrysalis only gave a light response as she was too fixated on the words in front of her. She wasn't using magic to speed read this time. She was going to take it slow and easy. And that just made things all the more better.
"Ah, Luna. The Battle Frontier." Celestia would turn her attention to the newly established Battle Frontier which was also the Battle Casino. "Aren't you going to go straight for that since it's been available for a few weeks now?"
"Maybe. I haven't decided if I want to challenge the Battle Frontier." Luna grumbled. "I'm sure the Frontier Brains there are powerful but...I'm not sure how to feel about gimmicks in battles."
"You're okay with Mega Evolution, Dynamax and Z-Moves though."
"Yes, but those help the Pokemon. I heard one of them involves a slot machine. A battle where a majority of it is all up to chance? I could do without that." Luna had her reasons and she seemed to prefer the traditional way of battling. "That is what I prefer."
Nearby, some Pokemon Battles were taking place. Two young colts could be seen battling along with other trainers in a mini Pokemon Battlefield. Sparks were flying as well as small dust clouds and explosions from these clashes. Those are the kind of battles that Luna enjoys.
Unfortunately for her, most of these trainers were still new to Pokemon Battling, so it would be rather unfair for her to take any of them. But if there was a trainer she could take on who could match with her or even be stronger possibly, she'd take that opportunity.
"You're so focused on Cobalion. I'm focused on Pokemon Battles." Luna came to a halt, viewing the ongoing Pokemon Battles in front of her. In the Pokemon Festival, Pokemon Battles were plentiful with different events being available. And in this case, this event was all over the place. Trainers were joining in at any moment as it looked more like a battle royal.
"Yes, and Ash," Celestia called her out, knowing Luna wasn't any different from her. The Moon Princess grumbled before looking back at the battles.
"But everyone here looks rather new. Let's see if somepony sticks out..." Luna observed the scenario, carefully looking at each Pokemon Trainer. More and more trainers were passing by Luna, entering this event and sending their own Pokemon out.
That is until one pony passed by Celestia, who immediately looked rather familiar. Celestia blinked for a moment after seeing a familiar figure pass by her. She saw her face and it was brief but noticeable for the Sun Princess. In the eyes of Celestia, it looked a lot like Twilight. Specifically, Twilight Velvet.
"Twilight?" But she was a bit off. It looked like Twilight but something was amiss.
"Hm?" However, the name was completely spot on. She instantly responded to Celestia's words, slowly turning around. Lo and behold, the pony standing before her resembled Twilight. Twilight Sparkle to be exact, while also possessing visible traits from Twilight Velvet. That face was all too familiar to Princess Celestia.
"You're not Twilight...Are you?" Celestia uttered.
"Y-You already knew my name?" Twilight pulled back. This was Twilight. But she wasn't a Sparkle, a Velvet or even a Moonlight. "Uh...I don't know you. Sorry." She squeed. This was an awkward interaction for her surprisingly, almost as if she didn't want anyone to recognize her or know her name. "I was just going to join in and uh..."
"Oh?" Soon, Luna would recognize her, seeing the instant similarities between both Twilights. "Wait, who is this? Is that Twilight Velvet? Or Twilight Sparkle?"
"I know this looks weird, but I can explain..." She held her hooves out. "You're probably wondering why I'm here of all places."
"No, not really." Celestia and Luna collectively said. They weren't wondering that at all. In reality, it was Twilight's appearance and name that caught their attention.
"Oh. Well, that's one massive issue out of the way." She said with a great sigh of relief, "I thought I was in major trouble, honestly! You two look rather important after all!"
"You're speaking as if you don't come from Equestria. Or that you aren't supposed to be from Manehattan."
"Well, I'm not exactly from this world and-" After saying that, Twilight placed her mouth over her hooves. The way she did so made it seem like she wasn't supposed to say that. "Uhh...What I meant was..."
"Not exactly as composed as the Twilight we know," Luna said to Celestia.
"Not at all. You're from another world? Are you another Twilight?"
"Y-Yes...." Twilight lowered her head. "So much for being discreet. I failed that immediately and it hasn't even been a day."
"Just like Twilight Moonlight? What are you doing here?"
"I know this looks bad!" Even though it didn't. It just raised questions but Twilight interpreted it differently. "But I swear I have a reason for showing up here. I was just looking for someone, that's all."
"You seemed rather eager to join in on this event though." Luna pointed out.
"Eh. Taking my time?" Twilight shrugged. "I couldn't resist, honestly. Plus, it's my first time in this world. I'm just here to deal with a few things. Such as stopping Prisma from returning."
"Mmm?!" That was the sentence that made their eyes widen. But Chrysalis had no reaction as she was too focused on the story to even pay attention. Much like Twilight Moonlight, this Twilight had the same goal. Now two Twilights were dedicating themselves to preventing the return of the one known as Prisma.
"Should I have not said that?"
"Are you with Twilight Moonlight?!" Luna stepped forward. If this was another Twilight Moonlight situation, she wouldn't hesitate to deal with anyone who would threaten Ash for even a moment
"N-No! No, no!" She frantically shook her head, denying that instant. "Never! She and I aren't on the best terms exactly, I'm afraid. We have the same goal but we're not working together. We're not even from the same world, I swear!""
"So there are other worlds that know about Prisma." Celestia wondered. She thought it was just one world but now a second one has joined the conversation.
"C-Can I go now? I'd like to enjoy this Pokemon Festival. I mean, I'm not in a rush to stop Prisma but what's stopping me from having a good time?"
"I just need to know a few things. Who sent you here?" Celestia wanted to speak with Twilight a bit longer. "And the way you wish to stop Prisma. How are you going to go about it?"
"Well, I was thinking about never letting him show up. The best way to do so is by keeping his soul locked up." It was revealed that this Twilight had a different method of stopping Prisma. A less destructive one compared to Twilight Moonlight, making these two rather different from each other.
It has already been the first day and something out of this world has already happened. Literally. The arrival of this Twilight might be what kickstarts this year's Festival's specific event. But only time will tell. The existence of another Twilight was something that couldn't be ignored and some more questions were in store for her. Plus, there was also another reason why she was here. It wasn't just Prisma. As the journey continues.
Here at the Pokemon Festival, Celestia and Luna encountered someone who appeared to be Twilight. Her name was also Twilight, but alas, this was yet another Twilight Moonlight situation. Here to stop the return of Prisma, she had a less destructive method compared to Moonlight. Less serious and rather swift to try and defend herself while also slipping up here and there, this Twilight was very much different from the ones Celestia and Luna knew.
"Uh, no offence but I really shouldn't be saying all that much. And I shouldn't make myself that aware." Twilight said as she didn't wish to speak about this any further. "I'm trying to keep a low profile here."
"A low profile? Are you being hunted?" Celestia asked.
"Well...yes. This is the place I wanted to be and I managed to escape my pursuers."
"You're wanted?!" Luna leaned in as it sounded like she was talking to a runaway criminal.
"N-Not really!" She frantically shook her hooves and head. "I'm not a criminal or anything like that! It's complicated, I swear! I was just hoping to be here for a little while, completely my mission and call it a day. Or a week. That's all."
"You must have shown up here by using a gateway or some device to do so." said Celestia, expecting some Rift Shenanigans to be behind this.
"Hm-hm-hm. Not at all. I got here in a castle." It was the one thing that Celestia and Luna didn't expect. Apparently, this Twilight showed up via a castle. After saying that, Twilight placed her hooves over her mouth again, realizing the mistake she made. She was saying too much. "I did it again! Rats! Uh, I should get going!"
Knowing that she was spilling too much information that she didn't look like she wanted to do but couldn't help herself, this alternate Twilight would quickly scurry away as soon as possible, distancing herself from the Princesses. And this entire time, Chrysalis hadn't noticed since she was too focused on the romance books.
"You saw nothing! And if anypony asks about me, I wasn't here!" She bellowed before entering a massive crowd, trying to lose them. However, Celestia and Luna were never going to forget them. With another Twilight running around, this meant that whoever was chasing this Twilight could show up here eventually.
"A part of me wishes to investigate..But the Pokemon Festival...!" Lua grizzled her teeth.
"It can be a part of the Pokemon Festival. After all, I also came up with the idea so whatever I say goes." Celestia said, showing her superiority. "Cobalion will have to wait. Even though I don't know where he is right now. Something like this can't be ignored since it might affect the Pokemon Festival in its entirety."
"She said she came here in a castle. I'm not sure how but if that's the case, we might notice it. Castle's are naturally large." Luna uttered as Darkrai ascended from the shadows below. "Darkrai. You know what to do."
"I'll follow her." Darkrai was already on it. He would be the one to track this Twilight down. The Pitch-Black Pokemon descended into the shadows, tracking the visitor from another world.
"That's quite unnecessary but...okay." Celestia shrugged. "On the bright side, at least it didn't get out of hoof quickly. "I do wish to see this for myself." Guilty of being the type to explore something new, Celestia would prance along, getting involved in this already. Luna would soon follow while Chrysalis instinctively tagged along.
This Twilight wasn't exactly discreet. She tried staying hidden but she wasn't exactly doing anything to keep herself concealed. While Darkrai was following her, Celestia and Luna were looking for this castle that apparently brought her here and they were hoping it was nearby.
Celestia pouted, wishing she could meet with Cobalion first before anything else. Alas, that would have to wait as not even a day has gone by and already something special has come up.
While Twilight was out in the open, not having a single skill of stealth, she was still fixated on the character of Prisma and those involved with him. And already, she could see four individuals up ahead. Red, Ethan, Brendan and Hilbert respectively.
"Well, I think we're done here." Hilbert said, looking at the stack of Pokedollars and Bits that he's managed to achieve. This food idea was a smash hit and very beneficial to the ponies he asked to help him out. They would also get paid handsomely with all of this money in front of them. "Pleasure doing business with you guys."
"No, no! It's a pleasure doing business with you!" Elated by all of this money, one of the ponies shook Hilbert's hand, having a great big smile on her face. "We were thinking about how to make lots of money at this year's Pokemon Festival and we're glad we found you."
"Well, when you're number one, big wads of cash just tend to flow in. It's all natural."
"Hilbert. If you keep this up, you can get plenty of profit across Equestria. Three weeks of this will be greatly beneficial!" Brendan exclaimed, pitching that plan to Hilbert.
"Duh. That's what I was going for." But Hilbert already had this in mind. "All of Equestria's gonna get a good bite. All of this food is gonna be theirs to snack on and I'll have even more cooks to back me up."
"You're taking the whole stand with you? How are you going to manage that?" Hilda asked.
"Well...Uhh..." Hilbert never thought about that. He only built a standard food stand. One with no wheels whatsoever so there was no way he was going to quickly bring this thing across Equestria. "Hmm...Good point. I didn't think about that one."
"Well, if you can't get anywhere with it, you might as well promote it so that everyone comes flocking to Manehattan," Ethan suggested. "Just saying."
"Nah. I don't wanna stick around here only. I gotta get somewhere! I was thinking of heading to the Crystal Empire next. The food won't get cold along the way since Emboar can easily heat it back up. And even Pegalysium. We're gonna get all of this food to the skies."
"Good luck managing that. If you want to get this thing moving, you'll need somepony with good enough magic." One of the pony cooks added. "And don't look at me. This horn isn't fit for something advanced like that."
"I can do it!" Raising her hoof and moving through the crowd of people, ponies and Pokemon was Twilight. Not the Twilight they know, that's for sure. She showed herself in front of those related to Prisma. "I can make it move."
"Really? Oh, perfect timing then!" Hilbert hopped over the food stand. "I bet you have the right amount of magic for that...Twilight?" Just like that, Hilbert could only see Princess Twilight Sparkle. Red and the others looked over, seeing the Princess of Friendship's face on another body. "Hm. You are Twilight, right?"
"Gh!" Alas, that face was hard to miss. For the second time in a row, she was noticed immediately by Hilbert and even the cooks. "A-Again? This can't be. Am I that recognizable here?"
Red already knew that this wasn't their Twilight. The voice and face may be similar but everything else was very much different. However, unlike most, Red was already on high alert. Darkrai peered his head from the shadows, observing the scenario and seeing Twilight appear before Ash's counterparts.
"Hey...You don't think that's Twilight Moonlight??" Hilda immediately thought that this was Twilight Moonlight, speaking to Brendan.
"It might be!" Brendan gasped before pulling back.
"I'm not Twilight Moonlight! I'm just Twilight!" She shook her head, wishing that they didn't think she was Twilight Moonlight. "With nothing at the end actually..."
"Oh yeah?" Hilbert slid over with judgemental eyes. "How are we so sure you're not her? You showed up while we're here and your name is Twilight. Plus you sound like Twilight."
"When you put it like that...it does seem like a coincidence, doesn't it?" The unicorn nervously giggled, putting into perspective. Because Twilight Moonlight has been here more than her, it was easy for someone to immediately assume she was Twilight Moonlight. "B-But, I promise you, I'm not Twilight Moonlight."
"But you have the same goal as her," Darkrai spoke, startling Hilbert after revealing himself. "You're here to stop Prisma from returning."
"That's right. I-" Twilight paused, turning to see the Pitch Black Pokemon present. She stayed silent for a moment, blinking before getting back to the topic at hand. "Ahem. I'm just here to keep Prisma from showing up. And if you ask me, the best way to do that is to seal his soul."
"But his soul's already sealed. That's the whole point of him never showing up out of us." Brendan replied. "I mean, we have Twilight Moonlight out to capture and destroy us."
"I'm not going to destroy you. Honest. I would like you to come with me though." Twilight pleaded before winking at them. She clearly wished to take them back with her to whichever universe she came from.
"Mmm...Not happening." Hilbert shut that down instantly. "Besides, it's impossible to capture us. Especially yours truly, if you must know. Prisma's going to stay locked up in us and there's no way he's gonna show up. And if he does show up, we've taken on worse."
"None like Prisma. Because he's you!" Twilight bellowed. "He's a threat unlike any other and I'm lucky to have shown up to this world just so I can stop him from returning."
"..." Red would hold his hand out, preventing Hilbert from saying anything else. He's already assessed things based on what Twilight has said. It would be best if Hilbert stops right there.
"You're right, Red," Ethan said, understanding Red as always. "She doesn't have any bad intent."
"Well, now that I put it into perspective, I did make it sound like I wanted to capture you." Twilight twiddled her hooves around. "My bad. If you can at least comply, I can try what I can to keep Prisma's soul from returning. I promise you, it won't hurt a bit. But uh, everyone else might not like your company if we get there."
"Probably because they all know who Prisma is." said Hilda. "You guys have a bad reputation in other worlds."
"It's not just a bad reputation." Twilight slowly shook her head before suddenly getting serious. "Because of how dedicated both sides are to stopping Prisma, it's resulted in a rather cruel conflict. And it's affected my home too. Twilight Moonlight and I have come across each other before and we both have different ideas of stopping Prisma."
"How different can they be? I mean, all I hear is that you want to keep his soul from really getting out there." Brendan questioned.
"It's not the best story out there..." This Twilight would give some insight on the world she comes from and its ongoings, compared to Twilight Moonlight who only talked about the world that used to exist.
Universe 82.
The home I come from is Universe 82. It was a nice and peaceful universe for what it was. There, I lived at a nice town alongside my friends with nothing to fear. Life was sweet and I was just getting started with my career as a Pokemon Trainer.
This town of ponies was a sprawling town, its colourful buildings stretching as far as the eye could see. The air is tinged with the scent of freshly baked apple pies, emitting from the numerous pastry shops that line the streets. An enormous marble statue of a majestic winged unicorn was its main attraction, its eyes glowing with a soft golden light.
But there was one difference. This was a world that had Pokemon. Not just ponies. And unlike Universe 1, this world had a long history with Pokemon, starting from the very beginning.
There, Twilight was attending an institute focused on Pokemon. It was another version of a Pokemon School that predates what Universe 1 has. And there, she was already a great student and a rising Pokemon Trainer. Surrounded by Poke Balls, she already had Pokemon of her own.
I learned from my friends. Pokemon and Ponies alike. I was well on my way to becoming a Professional Pokemon Trainer down the road. It wasn't that much different from the world you now live in. Everything was fine until they showed up that day. It was something that we never actually saw coming since we had nothing to worry about at all. It was a threat that came from outside our own world which was a first.
However, this peaceful world would soon be under attack by an outside force. A force that came from another universe. A dark storm cloud appeared on the horizon. Thunder rolled and lightning crackled, but the frightened townsfolk didn't suspect what was coming. Appearing one day in the form of a dimensional crack that caught everyone's attention. Emerging from it were Pokemon from another world. From the skies above, Corviknights appeared. An entire flock of them. But on top of them were ponies wearing suits and masks, using the Corviknights as a way to travel. This was mostly done by those who lacked wings.
An invasion had occurred. Their home was suddenly under attack by these outside forces who had their Pokemon rain down attacks. Air Slashes, Hurricanes and Steel Beams came crashing down, damaging the buildings and land with crushing force.
They didn't just come from the air. They came from the land as well. Appearing on foot were more of these suited ponies who also had other Pokemon with them. Ranging from Gyarados, Camerupt, Tyranitar, Toxtricity and many more menacing Pokemon.
This beautiful town was losing its spark and charm thanks to this attack with many ponies and Pokemon screaming a running for their lives. The reason for these ponies being here was unknown and their reason for attacking them. But not everyone ran for their lives. Those training to become professional Pokemon Trainers would try and do something about this. There was some retaliation without a doubt as a massive conflict broke out.
With weeks passing, this town was in shambles and the invaders gained the upper hand. The town lies in ruins, with crumbling buildings and shattered cobblestone streets stretching out in every direction. The acrid stench of smoke and burning timber fills the air, making it difficult to see through the thick veil of ash and haze.
A group of wounded townsfolk huddle together near the entrance of an inn, their faces etched with fear and determination as they prepare for the next wave of attackers. This inn was their hideout. A place where they can regroup and rest. And helping to keep everyone healthy was Twilight.
Bottles and cartons of water were given to those needing it. She was assisted by other ponies who had Pokemon that specialized in healing by her side Such as Blissey, Audino, Chansey, Florges and more. With this conflict occurring, health was at an all-time high.
We lost a majority of our town and it wasn't over yet. And I had no idea that I was a major target in all of this. In fact, I wasn't even aware at the time that they were coming here for me.
Twilight could seen moving across the destroyed streets of the town she loves. The institute she went to learn at had plenty of cracks around it, barely standing. The statue of the winged unicorn lost its horn and some of its wings but it wasn't fully destroyed yet. Twilight was currently on the hunt for something else to eat. While the town was ravaged, supplies could still be found.
Twilight had to avoid the wave of destruction happening across the town and anywhere near it, which was easier said than done. But clearly, she has done this before, so she was well-equipped to head out there and do whatever she could for the sake of her friends and everyone in this town. However, by doing this constantly, it was only a matter of time before she was bound to run into someone highly dangerous.
That's when she ran into Twilight Moonlight. Galloping across a cascade of rubble, she came to a screeching halt when a pony with a hood stood before her. It was another unicorn and unlike the invaders, she wasn't wearing the same suit and mask as them.
"You....You're her." Twilight Moonlight gasped as it felt like she was looking in the mirror. At least, when it comes to the face. It was only the faces and the voices that were similar. "I'm the first to find you, it looks like."
"You're with them?!" Twilight shuddered before using her magic to hold out one of her Poke Balls. She didn't think Twilight Moonlight was with them at all until she confirmed it. "What do you want?!"
"It's a shame that it turned out like this. I would have preferred to avoid all of this destruction, but in the end, you're coming with us. And it should be me that brings you back." Twilight Moonlight replied, holding out her own Poke Ball. From the way she was speaking, it sounded like she didn't wish for all of this destruction to happen but it was unavoidable. However, she was on a mission to bring back the other Twilight. That did not change at all.
The two of them launched their Poke Balls into the air, summoning their respective Pokemon and engaging in a Pokemon Battle. This was a battle that Twilight Moonlight wished to win just to bring her other self back. And the other Twilight simply wanted to survive.
After that, it's been a bit of a chase. I'm a target that's been tracked down by those invaders. Especially Twilight Moonlight. We've run into each other a few times and I just barely manage to escape. This is the longest I've gone without her being around.
Current day.
"Now I'm here. Twilight Moonlight wasn't the one chasing me. It was the invaders this time and only them. I have better luck with them than I do with Moonlight, honestly." Twilight finished explaining things. "But just like her, eventually, I learned about Prisma and who he was. But we were at odds again based on how we each wanted to deal with Prisma."
"So she was the aggressor even for you." said Ethan. Twilight Moonlight seemed to be quite the aggressor, being involved in two attacks from different worlds. And in one of them, she left an entire town in shambles.
"Well, I'm not sure if it was her. She said she wished to avoid the destruction, so she probably wasn't responsible for all of that damage. But Moonlight still wanted to capture me so she was involved with the invasion either way."
"That no-good..!" Hilbert obviously had some feelings towards this, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists. "The next time we see her will be the last! If she wants to destroy whatever she wants, she'll have to meet with us!"
"Is your universe alright? Now that Twilight Moonlight's being showing up here more often?" Brendan asked.
"Well, it's been left alone by the invaders. But that's only because I left it. I've been on the move ever since, moving from dimension to dimension." Twilight lowered her head. "My world will heal but that's only because I'm not there any more and that's terrible. I could always go back to it, but I don't want to risk them being harmed."
"..." Red understood it all now without saying a word.
"But I'm sure it'll work out in the end." Twilight brought a smile back to her face. "I know my friends are working hard to restore everything to how it was. And after this is all over, I can get back to my world. And-" Before she could finish, Twilight felt her body pulsate for a moment. "Oooh...I've wasted a bit too much time."
"What's wrong?" Hilda asked.
"I can't stay out here for too long...!" Twilight puffed her cheeks. "I need to get back inside the castle!"
"Hold on! Could you at least give my food stand wheels!"
"No time! I'll be right back!" Twilight screeched, quickly prancing off. Much like Twilight Moonlight, she couldn't stay here forever, having a set time limit But unlike Twilight Moonlight, this Twilight seemed to have something to keep her around for a bit longer. And that was the castle she apparently came in. Darkrai would continue to follow her but this time, it wasn't in secrecy.
However, before Twilight could even reach it, somepony else had done so. Celestia, Luna and Chrysalis ended up finding it before Twilight could return. While she kept it hidden from most, it wasn't well hidden enough. Located near the outskirts of Manehattan was the castle that Twilight appeared in.
A rather small one too. It wasn't towering at all, like most castles, which made sense as to why it was hidden until now. This pink castle had a unique appearance, shimmering with an ever-changing pattern of swirling colours and shifting geometric shapes. A subtle hum emanates from its translucent spires which touch the air like ethereal fingers.
"Oh, this is most definitely it. Now I can see how she would arrive in this." Luna said.
"You would think we would hear about this. The Universal Alliance I started would have informed me about such a castle but..it sounds like whatever world she comes from wasn't involved at all." Celestia uttered before slowly approaching the castle.
As she approached, she noticed the air around the castle tingling with arcane energy, causing the coat to stand on end. There was certainly plenty of magic involved. She didn't want to let herself in but the castle did it for her. The doors automatically opened up, responding to Celestia's presence and surprising her.
Since it was inviting her in, Celestia would advance. And when entering the castle, she saw that it wasn't exactly as fancy as it was on the outside. Inside, it looked rather beat up. The furniture had been toppled over, there were burn marks on the walls and the tiles of on the floor were cracked.
"What happened in here?" Celestia wondered as Luna and Chrysalis soon followed her. But Chrysalis was still looking at her book, instinctively following her friends. Celestia then stood still, pausing for a moment and remaining completely silent. The door behind the three royalties would slowly close, not making a sound.
"Do you suppose somepony else acme in here and caused a mess? I'm not sure that Twilight would be the type to leave this place in such ruin." Luna wondered. Celestia didn't reply back or move that much at all, prompting Luna to speak out once again. "Sister?"
"S-Sorry." Celestia zoned out for a moment. "I felt something woozy here for a second. It felt like we were moving and yet we weren't."
"What do you mean?" Luna questioned.
"Not sure. So she's been using this to travel. Instead of a gateway, it's a castle? But I don't feel any Rift Magic coming from this castle. It actually feels like Equestrian Magic. Completely arcane." Celestia noticed how there was a lack of Rift Magic. This magic was very much familiar to her, making it rather mysterious. Luna would feel it too and eventually, so would Chrysalis. She paused her story, taking the time to feel the arcane presence around them.
Celestia saw another door up ahead, wondering if it led to another room that was in the same condition as this. When approaching it, this time, it would open up for her. Celestia would have to do that herself. And when pushing against the door, hr eyes were met with another ethereal glow. But this glow would soon fade away, showing what was behind it.
Lo and behold, right in front of her eyes, was Canterlot. Her home. One second she was looking at Manehattan and the next, it was Canterlot. Her jaw dropped, amazed by this quick change of scenery. Luna and Chrysalis would have an equal reaction.
"Amazing! Canterlot is behind this?! How can that be?!" Luna gasped.
"Is Manehattan still back there from where we came? What is with this castle!?" Chrysalis bellowed.
"Wait a minute..." However, while Luna and Chrysalis were amazed by the change of scenery, Celestia took a moment to observe it. Something was different. Very different.
It looked like Canterlot, but Celestia noticed some differences here and there. Something was amiss. And Celestia could already figure out what it was. This may be Canterlot, but it wasn't her Canterlot. But more importantly, this might not be Twilight's Canterlot either. And the one thing that was slowly raising her answers was the existence of a billboard.
On that billboard, Celestia saw her name. But more importantly, she saw a stylized artwork of what appeared to be a younger version of herself. As if she needed any more proof. Whatever this place was, it was certainly not part of the Pokemon Festival at all.
Entering the small castle that another Twilight came in, Celestia, Luna and Chrysalis found themselves staring at what was behind it. By opening another door, another Canterlot had been revealed. It was not their Canterlot as Celestia was the only one who felt something off about this place.
"This isn't our Canterlot," said Celestia, walking out of the castle. "For starters, there isn't a sign of anything from the Pokemon Festival here. None of the attractions and decorations are anywhere to be seen."
"You're right. But it feels like our Canterlot." Luna soon noticed the lack of a Pokemon Festival, confirming that this was not the Canterlot they knew and loved. Taking a step out of the castle and feeling the grass wasn't different.
But what truly caught Celestia's eye was the presence of a massive billboard that had a stylized artwork of what appeared to be her. But it looked like a younger version of her, lacking the multiple colours on her mane only possessing two colours. Pink and Blue. They noticed that the streets were rather silent at the moment. Nopony seemed to be indoors.
Present here as always was Canterlot Castle, standing under the Golden Sun. It looked mostly the same as always to Celestia and Luna but with one noticeable change. There was something rather bombastic about it. For starters, lights were all around it, akin to that of Christmas lights. These lights consisted of three colours. Pink and Blue yet again with the addition of a golden yellow, representing the Sun.
These lights wrapped around the top of the castle like a wreath while also going all the way down to the bottom, forming pigtails. Canterlot Castle had never looked more stylish. It looked like it was ready for a party more than anything. The buildings looked the same for the most part but another building that was almost as big as the castle was a stadium.
"It's awfully quiet though," Chrysalis observed. "Why is that? Where is everypony?"
"Hmm..." Listening closely, Celestia could hear some sounds. But it wasn't coming from any of the buildings. Instead, it was coming from that arena that resembled a Pokemon Stadium. Civilization was here but they all seemed to be over at that stadium with cheers roaring out. Luna and Chrysalis soon heard it as the trio advanced towards the stadium since no one else was here.
And by advancing, they would take flight, deciding to view it from above instead of just trotting there. With an open roof, it was better to view it from above. By doing so, they got to witness what was keeping everypony occupied. A Pokemon Battle.
All the ponies could be seen watching a Pokemon Battle that took place in this world which seemed to already be aware and accustomed to the Strange and Wonderful Creatures. It has already reached a point where they were comfortable with Pokemon Battles. As for the stadium, it also had some flair to it, appearing a lot more like a disco stage with those same three colours around.
"Duraludon, use Flash Cannon!" A pony trainer exclaimed.
"Dura!" From its face, a bright flash of light energy was constructed and soon unleashed by Duraludon. As for the Pokemon taking on the Alloy Pokemon, it was one that was all too familiar to Celestia's eyes. And the pony behind this Pokemon was just as familiar.
It was herself. Her younger self, but different.
"Sister is that you?!" Luna gasped, soon recognizing the younger version of her older sister.
"I think so...With an extra hair colour strand." Celestia slowly nodded. The only difference here was the fact that she never had that extra strand when she was that young.
"Okay, Light! Block it with Dazzling Gleam!" The Young Celestia raised her hoof as the Pokemon she was battling with was a Kirlia.
"Kirlia!" By putting her hands together, Kirlia generated a beautiful flash of magical energy that immediately expanded. This expansion of light energy met with the incoming silver beam, stopping it in place.
"Now, push it back!"
"Lia!" By using the sheer force of Dazzling Gleam, she managed to reflect the Flash Cannon. Duraldon and its trainer gasped as the attack was sent back, connecting against the Alloy Pokemon instead.
"D-Dura!" The impact was mighty thanks to the boost that Dazzling Gleam gave the attack, prompting Duraludon to fall over, but it did not faint. After being hit by its own attack, the young Celestia waved her hooves around, receiving outstanding praise from the crowd watching her.
"Our Princess knocks down Duraludon even with its defence raised through the roof!" There was an announcer here as always, commentating over this Pokemon Battle. Above the Pokemon Battle appeared to a blimp which had something similar to the billboard on it. The image on the blimp showed what appeared to be an advertisement, having Young Celestia's face next to some food and a drink, informing others to purchase them.
"What is all of this?" Luna was stunned by this. "A younger you in a Pokemon Battle? And merchandising on blimps? Have we even done that before?"
"I don't see any humans around. Not a single one." Celestia noticed a lack of humans. Only ponies and Pokemon. She would at least expect one or two around. Noticeably, these two species were holding up fan items such as flags, banners and even wearing clothing that had the young princess on them. Clearly, they were huge fans of Princess Celestia, which wasn't anything new. But the way it was presented was very much different from what resides in Universe 1.
"Sorry! But I already won the second we started!" The princess giggled. "All four Pokemon down and Light has taken care of all of them!"
"Kirlia!" Kirlia winked as this battle has been going on for a while. And Kirlia has already managed to defeat all of the opposing Pokemon by herself without any help whatsoever, making this showcase of strength rather grand.
"Oooh...!" The opposing Trainer groaned before shaking his head. "One last try, Duraludon! Use Steel Beam!"
"Duralu!" An even stronger beam was inbound. Still going for super-effective damage as a gigantic silver beam with metal shards in it came crashing out.
"Oh, that's a bit stronger. But not strong enough. Use Mystical Fire!"
"Kir!" Flipping over the beam of steel, Kirlia generated mystical flames around her arms while also approaching the Alloy Pokemon. The Steel Beam completely missed, unable to hit its mark. But Kirlia certainly didn't miss.
Raising her arms, she would unleash Mystical Fire up close, enveloping the Steel-Dragon-Type in them. Even with Duraludon's resistance, the might of these flames were nothing to scoff at. A fierce paroxysm occurred around Duraludon's body, resulting in a blazing explosion. Kirlia would then backflip away, landing perfectly on the ground.
"Duraludon..." It obviously accumulated plenty of damage during this battle and that Mystical Fire was the finishing touch. The battle was over.
"Duraludon is unable to battle! Kirlia wins! Which means the winner is our own Princess Celestia!"
"Another victory for yours truly!" The other Celestia wooed, prompting the entire crowd to cheer for their princess. She waved at them all, taking in the adoration and love. "Thank you! Thank you! Remember to buy my posters that come with a free meal."
"Did this world already experience Pokemon before we knew about it?" Chrysalis gawked. "She seems so young."
"Perhaps the Twilight we met does come from here." said Luna. "And she seems to be quite the celebrity here."
"I have to see this for myself." Fully invested, Celestia would descend to the ground, wanting to explore what this world had to offer, starting with her younger self. After the battle was over, the trainer and his Duraludon were about to depart.
"I had to come to Equestria of all places...What was I expecting?" He sighed.
"Don't feel too bad~" The young Celestia shrugged. "You did your best. But against me, even the best isn't enough, because I'm always thinking about my fans! But try again some other time and thanks for coming. Take this as a gift." To reward him for this battle, Celestia used her magic to bring over a gift box with her face on it. He could at least leave with something, even if he had no idea what was in it.
Heading back down to the streets of this world's Canterlot, Luna and Chrysalis would gaze upon another building that stuck out, reflecting this entire place perfectly. A restaurant. And that restaurant also had young Celestia's face on it. Apparently, it was selling a popular food here which appeared to be a hayburger. This type of food still exists in this universe.
"Nationwide Celebrity Princess Celestia's endorsed restaurant." Luna read. As if she and the others needed any more confirmation that this world's Celestia was a full-on celebrity. Luna tried to speak with her older sister, only for her to be gone. She was already off to the arena.
"I wonder if the romance books here are any different?" And so was Chrysalis who would also go her own way. Curiosity was truly a powerful guest that was nigh-impossible to refuse.
"That wasn't my best battle. I feel like I could do better, without a doubt." Back at the arena, the young Celestia was speaking to a crowd, essentially giving an interview to them with her Kirlia by her side. "I do feel bad not giving my other Pokemon a chance in this battle so next time will be their time to shine. But my great partner Light will always have the chance to shine. Just like me"
"Ahem." Clearing her throat and making herself known was the older Celestia, who made an appearance behind everyone else. She was the tallest here, standing behind the crowd of ponies and Pokemon, alerting them. They all swivelled to the see alicorn standing tall. Upon seeing her, they were absolutely perplexed and taken aback. It was as if this was their first time seeing such a pony.
"Woah..." The Young Celestia's mouth opened wide at a slow pace before speeding as her eyes would also widen. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. It looked like herself. But much taller and with a larger mane too. "What's up with this?! Who are you?!"
"Is she also an alicorn? I've never seen one as tall as her in a while." One of the ponies commented as immediate chatter would ensue, surrounding the taller alicorn.
"Celestia? " The Sun Princess from Universe said before tapping on her regalia. The younger Sun Princess would also tap on her regalia which had a different design. This Celestia also lacked a crown on her head but for the most part, she looked identical to her older self with a younger splash all over her.
"Uh, excuse me for a second." She would take the time to halt her interview. The young princess fluttered over the crowd, meeting with her older self. "What's this all about? It's like looking into a mirror."
"I believe you and I are the same." said the older Celestia.
"No kidding...Is this a prophecy or something like that?" She would observe her older self.
"No, no. I'm simply just another you from somewhere else. It's simple to explain, trust me."
"Do I really look this tall? And do I have two extra colours on my mane? Pretty! I have to know more." She grabbed onto the older Celestia's mane, fascinated by it. The crowd wanted to know more about this but the guards of the Young Celestia would ask them to stand back. This interview was practically over as the princess found interest in something else. They would have to go home without any further questions asked.
"I'm also Princess Celestia except...I'm the richest, most famous pony in the world!" She said with great joy in her voice.
"Well, I'm rich and famous too. Perhaps not with this style. It seems like you're more of a celebrity from what I've seen. You have your own billboard?" Celestia replied, looking at the walls which had banners of her other self.
"Not just that! Posters, shirts, necklaces, toys and stylized Poke Balls!" She would soon show off all of the apparel, bringing it over here with her magic. Her name and face were on everything it seems. "I'm on top of the world! And I live for it!"
"Kirlia!" Kirlia cried out as well.
"I see. And you're already well-adjusted to the Pokemon despite being so young. This is quite the universe."
"What's up with yours then? I mean, if you're an older me, you have to be even better than the best, right? You probably have more than just a kingdom and a nation, I bet! Are empires bigger? I heard they are. You have an empire, right?!" She leaned in, asking continuous questions. She was fully intrigued with her older self from another universe.
"Well, mine is Universe 1. The first of them all. I'm not sure which one this is and how it already has Pokemon in it."
"It's always had Pokemon. From the very beginning. Doesn't sound like your home's the first of them all." She snickered. "Guess I'm ahead. I bet you don't have that many Pokemon with you"
"Actually..." The older Celestia would soon prove her wrong, holding out one of her Poke Balls. And from it emerged her trusted partner. Gardevoir AKA Passion.
"Gardevoir!"
"Huh?!" The Young Celestia and Kirlia both pulled back, startled by Gardevoir's appearance.
"You've seen the final evolution of Kirlia, haven't you? Or at least, one of the two final evolutions. This is my great friend, Passion, who has always been by my side." Celestia introduced. "And back where I come from, it might have only been 4 years since the Pokemon have been around, but our bonds are stellar."
"Wow! My Light becomes that?!" It seems that the Young Celestia has never seen Gardevoir or even Gallade. "Lucky! You really are an older me!"
"And you're still the ruler of Equestria? At such a young age?"
"Well, yeah. Being the best means ruling too." She winked. "I'm the youngest ruler in history and I'm proud of it."
"I suppose I'm in the same boat too. I became ruler of Equestria at a young age." That was another similarity between the two. "But it was never to this extent. And the Pokemon haven't been with us since the very beginning. You truly love this position of yours and I assume you see no problems with it?"
"Well, the only downside is that I have to promote Hayburgers. I mean they're alright. I'm not a huge fan of them. But everypony else loves them so I promote them either way. I'm a bigger fan of cake and wish that would take off too."
"Oooh I do love a good cake myself. Vanilla is my favourite."
"Vanilla? Gross!" One difference was that this Celestia was not a big fan of vanilla cake at all.
"Kirlia? Kirlia!" Meanwhile, Kirlia was too busy focused on her evolved self, moving around Gardevoir.
"Gardevoir?" Passion tried following the Emotion Pokemon who was zipping from place to place. She was rather swift for a Kirlia, Swifter than what Passion once was when she was a Kirlia. However, instead of being called Passion, this Kirlia was known as Light. It was unclear if they were the same Pokemon.
"What have you even dealt with? Even with such a lively lifestyle, you have had to have run into troublesome threats. The power of Pokemon is something that can be utilized for both sides."
"Mhm. I know that. Duh. Sometimes someone wants to cause a bunch of trouble in Equestria, so I always swoop in to stop them. Me and my Pokemon take care of them in no time flat, that's for sure. The list of troublemakers I've taken down are plentiful, trust me! And it always makes me look good and boosts my fame. I mean, I'm already famous, but still."
"Well, it's good to know you're still protecting Equestria, even at such a young age. Everypony here in Canterlot looks well. But what about beyond Canterlot? How is it everywhere else? And the other regions with Humans around?"
"Humans? What are those?" Lo and behold, this was a Pokemon World without Humans according to Young Celestia. "Anyway, forget about that. You should see how I live! Even though I'm a princess, I live like a Queen!" She quickly changed the subject, bringing it back to herself as she would drag Celestia along.
Canterlot Castle.
Canterlot Castle was very much different on the inside. Some of it changed from the outside but the most drastic ones were indoors. When entering Canterlot Castle, Celestia's eyes were smacked in the face with an array of bombastic and fancy furniture, decorations and more.
This entire room was one big living room. A massive couch slathered in gold was spotted, available for the Young Celestia and Kirlia to rest on. Studded gems on the walls along with paintings of herself. Some of them were also pictures that showed her doing various poses.
The scent of freshly bloomed roses permeates the air, as though the entire castle has been transformed into a magnificent garden. A grand staircase curves up towards a massive stained glass window depicting Princess Celestia. An enormous chandelier, adorned with crystal prisms, bathes the opulent ballroom in a soft and pristine light.
Luxurious furniture with sponsorships plastered over some of them as well as a plethora of drinks. But these weren't fancy drinks. These were drinks that someone of Celestia's age would most definitely drink. Orange juice was present here, being a great contrast to everything else. There were even snacks on the table.
"This is where I can sit back, relax with nothing to worry about in the world!" She leapt through the air, perfectly landing on the couch. "This is a great throne room, isn't it?"
"I'm sorry...This is the throne room?" Nothing about this screamed 'Throne Room'.
"Well, it wasn't before. The one before was the real deal but I wanted to change it. So I made the first room here the throne room. Neat, right?"
"Lia! Kirlia!"
"When I'm not being amazing and winning Pokemon Battles, I'm eating and drinking whatever I want!"
"Without any supervision? You've made it this far on your own despite your age?"
"Pssh. I don't need supervision. The most I have are my guards, but they leave me alone and let me do my own thing. Cause I'm in charge!" She exclaimed, looking over at the guards. The older Celestia would do the same as the Canterlot Guards shrugged. They really didn't do much at all.
"Well, surely your parents have to be around due to your age. Perhaps they passed this down onto you. And they are rather bold to do so at such a young age."
"Mom and dad?" She closed her eyes. "i haven't thought about them in a while...They're somewhere else. They don't show up to my castle all that often and I don't pay them a visit all that much, so..." She shifted her eyes, taking a sip of her orange juice. "Whatever. It doesn't bother me that much since I have all of this around me."
"I see. Not the best relationship then." Celestia observed. It seems that the fame she's accumulated has distanced herself from her parents, unfortunately. "Well, I'm sure Luna is somewhere around."
"Big sister, Luna?" Just then, she stopped sipping on her orange juice as the tone of her voice greatly shifted. That was not the response the older Celestia was expecting. It sounded like Luna was the big sister here.
"Wait, big sister? She's older here?" Celestia gawked. "This really is a different universe in many ways...If she's older than you, where is she? Shouldn't she be the current ruler?"
"Luna's..Not here anymore. And she's not coming back." The drink was placed down, followed by the young princess lowering her head. "It's just me and my Pokemon. I haven't seen Luna in ages and I don't think I ever will."
"Don't tell me..." Based on what the Young Princess was saying, something horrible must've happened to Luna. And the outcome was something rather dreadful. Looking at her younger self and how down she appeared, this universe, with all of its positives, came with its negatives. One was the distance between parent and child and the other seemed to be the loss of a sibling.
"It doesn't matter, okay!" She would soon break the silence, restarting her most common personality. "Let's talk about the rest of your Pokemon! I want to see them!"
"Your majesty! Big news!" Bursting through the doors was one of the guards as he rushed in as soon as possible.
"Is my new jacuzzi here?!" She regained her smile. Something expensive managed to rekindle that smile of hers
"No, no! There seems to be a Changeling in the streets! They're back!"
"What?! Nuh-uh!" She would hop off her couch. "I totally beat them all. No way they'd show up a second time! Come on, Light!"
"Changeling? Wait, that must be Chrysalis?!" Celestia could only think of one Changeling here who she came with.
"Nah, it can't be Chrysalis! I beat her and her mom years ago!" The Young Celestia winked back at her older self before using magic to teleport out of the castle. Soon, Kirlia would do the same.
"Excuse me!" Galloping past the guard, Celestia would try to find where her other self went, with Passion trailing behind her. She would try and prevent Chrysalis from being targeted since it sounds like Changelings still have a bad reputation here.
But another came across Celestia's mind. What would happen if this young Celestia encounters Luna after losing her own? Now she really had to outpace her otherwise the outcome could go in a few different ways. One that could lead to conflict and the other that could result in shock and eventually, disappointment.
"Finally!" Returning to the castle was the Twilight from another world. She made it back here as soon as possible, almost running out of breath. Her body was fizzling, showing that she couldn't stay here forever. However, once she re-entered the castle, the fizzling halted, giving her extra time.
Twilight took some time to relax for a moment before she heads back out there. She had just run into the Ruler of Equestria plus four individuals who are related to Prisma. However, her eyes turned to meet with the door on the side. It was wide open, showing the other universe.
"The door's open...Don't tell me somepony already went through!" A prolonged gasp left her mouth. "Oooh! messed up again! It's never this consistent though! Which universe is on the other side, anyway?" She quickly galloped over, making sure to stop right in front of the door.
Lo and behold, this castle was in between Universe 1 and Universe 20. The door on the left side showed the universe she just returned from and the door on the right side revealed the other that Celestia's group has gone through.
Universe 20.
In this universe that had its own story to tell, Chrysalis had been spotted in the streets of Canterlot. But in this universe, Changelings were still seen as a threat and the reactions that the Changeling Queen received were telling of that. Chrysalis was simply curious, wanting to see what kind of books were in this universe, only to be met with ponies screaming in fear when seeing her.
"H-Hold on! It's not what it looks like!" Chrysalis frantically tried explaining to them, but all she received were screams. of those who were absolutely terrified of her, despite her shiny new form.
Chrysalis just couldn't explain herself at all and unfortunately, Luna was elsewhere in the city to really back her up. Soon, many ponies and even Pokemon distanced themselves from Chrysalis. Except for the Canterlot Guards. They stuck around, holding up their spears at the Changeling Queen. All it took was Chrysalis looking at them to make them flinch. Clearly, the fear of Changelings was at a certain level where even guards are greatly intimidated.
"No way...Chrysalis?!" Showing up here via teleportation was this universe's Princess Celestia. Young and quite the celebrity. Much like how she was shocked to see her older self from another universe, seeing Chrysalis caught her by surprise. "How'd you get so tall?! You were like my height when I last saw you! And how are you back?!"
"I'm not your Chrysalis though!" Chrysalis bellowed. "I'm not even from here!"
"Whatever! You still made a huge mistake showing up here. I beat you before and I can do it again. I know what you can do and it doesn't matter if you look older."
With the young princess here, the ponies soon staved away any fears they had. They had high hopes and immediately started cheering for her. Celestia would look back at all of her subjects, waving at them and taking in the publicity as always. Even when facing something that was seen as a threat, she still took the time to show off.
"Oh, it's that kind of scenario.." Chrysalis uttered, realizing what was going on.
"You're a bigger target now, so this'll be easier than before! Light, use Dazzling Gleam!" Celestia exclaimed while also building up magic around her horn. She also had the capability of casting spells after all. She was an alicorn at the end of the day.
"Kir...Lia!" Starting off strong, Kirlia used Dazzling Gleam, generating a beautiful shimmer of light in her arms before pulling them back. Rainbow rays came flying out at high speeds, prompting Chrysalis to sway her body to the rift. She just barely avoided these Dazzling Gleams which would then enter the skies, fizzling out later.
There was a second one incoming in the form of Celestia's beam, which Chrysalis also managed to avoid by ducking her head. The beam went over her, joining the Dazzling Gleam in the sky.
"Ah! Little juvenile delinquent!" Chrysalis snarled, looking back at the young Celestia. Obviously, this did not sit well with her. In response, right as another Dazzling Gleam approached her, she would launch her Poke Ball out with magic. Out of it emerged her partner Ribombee.
"Ribombee!" Upon arriving, Ribombee would counter the Dazzling Gleam with her own. Another Dazzling Gleam was unleashed, causing a clash. With both attacks pressed against each other, they reached a stalemate.
"What? No Zorua this time? Wouldn't that be a bit better against Light? Not that she'd lose at all..."
"Weren't you listening?! I'm not from this universe. But that doesn't mean I'm just a target for you. You should learn to respect your elders."
"I'm on top of the world. Everyone old respects me!" The Young Princess grinned. Go, Light! Use Mystical Fire!"
"Lia!" Continuing the attack, Kirlia lunged in with fire around her arms, ready to get up close and personal with them.
"Ribombee! Use Psychic!"
"Ri!" Quickly retaliating, Ribombee enveloped the Psychic-Fairy-Type in a mental aura, holding her in place. Kirlia's movements were promptly stopped as she was then pushed back by Ribombee's mind.
"K-Kirlia!" The Emotion Pokemon cried out, hurling through the air at high speeds. However, she would quickly recover herself thanks to Celestia's magic. A magic pillow materialized with her, softening the crash and saving Kirlia.
"Lunge off and use Mystical Fire again!"
"Kir!" By leaping off the pillow, Kirlia would go in for a second Mystical Fire. But this time, she was going to make sure it was going to land and deal super-effective damage. She zoomed through the air, gaining plenty of speed as the flames trailed out of her hands.
"Quick, Ribombee! Psychic, once more!"
"Ri...!" Once more, Ribombee's mental abilities would exude as she held her arms out a second time. But this time, the Young Princess was ready.
"Nope!" Young Celestia shut that down instantly by using her magic in this battle. Affecting Kirlia, she made the Emotion Pokemon vanish, evading the Psychic hold. Ribombee gasped, losing sight of her fellow Fairy-Type. At that moment, Kirlia reappeared in a golden flash, finally getting close to Ribombee.
"B-Bombee!" Ribombee took the attack directly. The magical flames crashed into her, dealing super-effective damage once they blew up. The Bee Fly Pokemon went flying, having the flames trail out of her body. Cheers could be heard after Kirlia landed a hit. Even if Ribombee crashed into somepony's cart with food inside, it didn't matter. All that fallen food was nothing to the fame of the Princess.
"Our illustrious princess is once again tackling the Changeling." Commentating over this battle was a floating orb of magic, exuding sound waves. Even during something like this which was seen as serious, Young Celestia needed publicity around her at all times. "This time, it appears to be the Changeling Princess Chrysalis but she seems to have undergone a growth spurt and shiny new appearance."
"I'm sorry what? Princess?" Chrysalis shook her head. Did she hear that correctly? She was considered a princess in this world. And considering that the Changelings still had a bad reputation and Celestia mentioned how Chrysalis used to be her height, it was clear as day what was going on.
"I don't know what Pokemon this is but it sure is tough for its size."
"You're one to talk with a Kirlia." Chrysalis pointed out. While Ribombee was smaller, Kirlia was still a small Pokemon overall. But that was a testament to how any Pokemon, no matter the size, can be a force to be reckoned with
"She's dainty, not fragile! Mystical Fire again!"
"Reflect it with Psychic, Ribombee!"
"Ribom!" Ribombee used Psychic once more, holding her arm out to catch the Mystical Flames. The flames came flying in, only to be held in place. Ribombee put a ton of effort into this one, making sure she would return this attack to Kirlia. The flames would furiously flare, trying to push through Ribombee's Psychic hold. Kirlia could also be seen struggling with this.
"Kirlia...!" Kirlia groaned as she could feel her body being slowly pushed back. The flames she generated were starting to burn the ground below. The crowd was even starting to get worried.
"Oh, no way! Light's struggling this much?! That's not supposed to happen!" Young Celestia couldn't believe her eyes at all. This was the first time she's seen her partner struggle this much. "You're not making Kirlia look good in front of everypony!"
"As if I care! More, Ribombee!"
"Riiii!" With a surprisingly bellowing roar, Rimbombee's Psychic was elevated, prompting it to push the flames back. Kirlia gasped, unable to keep the flames from coming back.
"Get out of there, Light! Quick! Teleport!"
"Lia!" By the skin of her teeth, Kirlia managed to teleport away from the flames, barely avoiding them as they flew by. She teleported elsewhere, losing her balance since it was a hasty teleportation. Kirlia shook her head, perplexed by how strong Ribombee was. Young Celestia had an equal reaction as she couldn't believe her eyes. So far, she wasn't really winning the crowd over like she always does.
"Hmph. As to be expected. I'm older than you, therefore, I'm better." Chrysalis proudly said. "And I'm way older than the pony you battled back in the stadium."
"Mmmrgh...!" Young Celestia puffed her cheeks as her face was turning red out of irritation. "This is bogus...Alternate universe or not, I'm not gonna lose. I never lose and I can't lose!"
"I'll entertain you with a Pokemon Battle." Chrysalis shrugged. "I was hoping to avoid this, but I haven't had a good Pokemon Battle in a while. And I'm feeling the urge to taint your image. No one attacks the Changeling Queen and expects to just get away from it." The eyes of Chrysalis would flash as she was getting into this battle. This was clearly not coming to an end with mere talking At least, not from these two as their battle would continue.
Elsewhere in the city, Celestia and Gardevoir were trying to find the Young Princess, hoping that they could explain things to her about Chrysalis. But it was far too late. The battle between the two of them started a while ago and it was about to ramp up.
Speaking of ramping up, a rainbow flash could be seen in the distance, moving past the tall buildings and reaching the skies. That was obviously a Dazzling Gleam and it could have been from either one of them.
"Sister!" Luna spoke, flying alongside her big sister. "Do you think it could be someone from another world showing up here and launching an attack?!"
"Not at all. It's Chrysalis. My younger self from this world went straight for her Changelings still have a bad image in this universe, I'm afraid." Celestia explained. "I don't want Chrysalis to get hurt but my other self could also find herself getting hurt in the long run."
The two alicorns approached the scene of the battle, hoping that it wasn't too late to stop it even though it looked like it was spiralling out of control already. Back at the scene, Ribombee could be seen zipping around, evading incoming Dazzling Gleams from Kirlia.
Rainbows flew everywhere, smashing into the buildings and breaking through windows. Even the orbs in the air were knocked down by these frantic beams. After evading them, Ribombee got in close, using her own Dazzling Gleam. This time, it was used to blind the opposing Fairy-Type. Kirlia shrieked after being blinded but would soon receive damage as Ribombee crashed into the Emotion Pokemon with her Rainbow Sphere.
This went from a battle that the Young Princess could easily deal with to a full-blown Pokemon Battle that might go beyond just one Pokemon each. Leaving the castle and viewing this rumble as the other Twilight from another Universe. She showed up to witness this battle, seeing the familiar face of Chrysalis duking it out with the familiar face of Celestia, but far younger.
"I can do this.!" Young Celestia held her breath. "All I need is one more direct Mystical Fire and I can win this! Mystical Fire!"
"Dazzling Gleam!"
Both attacks were unleashed at the same time. A stream of rainbows against a stream of flames, prepared to clash in the middle of the street. However, that would not come to pass and there would be no impact whatsoever.
"Gardevoir!" Putting a stop this was Gardevoir, who descended from above, holding both her arms out. With her Psychic might, she intercepted both attacks, holding them in place. Her eyes flashed a beautiful blue as both Mystical Fire and Dazzling Gleam were held in place, surprising Ribombee and Kirlia. Gardevoir then crushed both attacks, causing Dazzling Gleam to shrink into nothing while Mystical Fire was dispersed.
"Alright. I think that's enough." Celestia would soon descend. "This battle doesn't need to extend at all."
"Huh?! But she's a changeling!" The young alicorn aimed her hoof at the Changeling Queen.
"And my friend," Celestia added. "I should've told you earlier but I came to this universe with her. She is not the same Chrysalis that you have in this universe, I can guarantee that."
"Hmph. I almost got carried away." Chrysalis looked away. "Putting in that much effort against a child...But she is a strong Trainer."
"I would've won! You just caught me by surprise!" She stuck her tongue out at the Changeling Queen, downgrading her strength. "But, I did overreact, I guess...I just didn't want any Changelings causing trouble for my subjects a second time. I always beat one bad group and that's it. They never make a comeback."
"I pray this universe's version of me didn't have to listen to all of this..." Chrysalis groaned.
"At least you only slightly damaged the town." Luna would also descend, drawing attention to herself. "Any longer and...well, actually, judging by the crowd, I doubt any of them would care."
But while Celestia and Chrysalis looked back at Luna with casual looks in their eyes, Young Celestia had a different reaction. It was much larger than what the crowd had and they were rather shocked to see Luna. Celestia expected something like this to happen, but she was too late to do something about it. This world's Celestia lost her Luna and was all alone, taking the helm at such a young age. And now, Universe 1's Luna was present for everyone to see.
"Big sister, Luna? Is that you...?" She uttered her lips were trembling. She couldn't believe her eyes. The big sister she once had in her life was here once again in Canterlot. But it wasn't her Luna. She immediately dismissed the Pokemon Battle she just had and everything surrounding Chrysalis to immediately bolt over to the taller alicorn.
"Big sister?" Luna wasn't aware that she was the big sister in this world.
"Luna!" With the happiest smile on her face, even more-so than what she does, she lunged at her sister, tackling her with her hug. But she wasn't strong enough to knock her to the ground. "You're back! You're really back! Oh, I knew you'd show up! All of that was just one big bluff! It wasn't funny but still!"
"I-I'm sorry, what?" Luna hadn't been filled in with the information about her other self from this world. She looked back at her big sister, wanting answers. And judging by the look on Celestia's face, she was going to get those answers but they would be directed towards the Young Celestia.
"This is a weird day but it's also the best! I was getting a bit heated because of Chrysalis but everything's A-Okay now!" The Young Princess looked back at her older self with that bright grin.
"I'm glad you're happy but, I didn't want to have to mention this." Celestia sighed. "That is Luna, without a doubt. Although, you'll notice she's a bit shorter than what you might think."
"I'm still growing!" Luna grizzled her teeth.
"She is...What's up with that?"
"It's very obvious. But...This isn't your Luna. It's my Luna, I'm afraid." Celestia laid the truth out directly. "Just like how I showed up here with my Chrysalis, this is my little sister, Luna. In my universe, I am the older sibling as opposed to the little one.
"Ooh...So, she's not really back." The young alicorn pulled back. She should have figured it out based on the height difference. The Luna she knew was the same height as Universe 1's Celestia. "M-My bad. I got excited there."
"It's alright." Celestia would comfort her younger self. "I can understand where you're coming. I'd do the same in your position."
"I really miss my Luna." Thinking about her now just brought the Young Celestia's spirits down. Never before have the crowd seen their princess so saddened. The billboards, posters and everything else showed her in a positive and happy light. Not this.
"What happened exactly? What caused your Luna to disappear?" Celestia questioned, hoping that she could maybe find a solution to this. If there was one.
"I don't want to get into it but...I can show you the room where it happened."
Canterlot Castle.
It was back to Canterlot Castle. It was also the place where this universe's Luna disappeared, leaving Celestia on her own. Past the luxurious throne room that was more like a throne room, the Young Princess led them all to a room that was at the very top of the castle.
A vast chamber with crumbling stone walls and fallen debris scattered across the floor, hinting at its former grandeur. Patches of sunlight filter through the cracks, casting eerie shadows. Dust motes dance in the beams of sunlight that filter through the broken windows.
The room was dominated by a massive marble table with a map of the kingdom still intact, stained with burnt edges. In the centre was a massive spire that was surrounded by an unknown material, being the most notable thing in this ruined chamber.
"There was something big that threatened Equestria. And I think everywhere else. I don't know what it was but it was so scary." The Young Princess explained. "I couldn't do anything against it at the time. Even with my magic. I didn't even have Light or any other Pokemon with me. It was just me and my big sister, Luna."
The group then looked at the spire which was half destroyed. Most likely, that spire was involved with that strange entity who tried destroying Equestria. "So your Luna is the one who fought back against it, correct?" Luna asked.
"She did what she could to stop it and she won. But it also took her away. I didn't see it coming at all. All of that energy harmed my sister too, just like how it hurt that thing. So, before she left, she gave me Light as my first Pokemon." It was also revealed that Kirlia was Luna's Pokemon instead before Celesta received her. "Light's the last thing I have from Luna before she disappeared. And being in this room is just a bummer."
"I understand." Celestia slowly nodded. "She made a sacrifice and is now gone. And ever since then, you've been doing things on your own."
"I was next in line to rule but I wasn't expecting to do it at such a young age. I took in all of Luna's lessons and followed what she always did. She never had that much time for me and I wish she did. She was always so busy with work but I still miss her. And I never hated her." The young alicorn wiped her tears thinking about it. "But I have Light and all my Pokemon with me, so I'm not alone anymore. As long as Light's here, then, I'm okay"
"Kirlia." Kirlia would hug her partner, trying to comfort her. As the Emotion Pokemon, it was only natural that Kirlia would be by Celestia's side during this rough time.
"Thanks for showing up here, bigger me." She would look back at Universe 1's Celestia. "I'm glad you showed up here with your Luna. It reminds me of mine. I guess I can be happy knowing Luna's still out there somewhere and there's other universes."
"We'll be out of your mane now It was simply a quick visit and I didn't mean to get your hopes up like this." Celestia apologized. "But I'm glad to have been here, seeing another version of myself. You have it good here. Being a celebrity and everything. But you're still young and have a lot to learn."
"What about you, older me?"
"I never had to face these problems when I was young. I had my parents and my peers to support me. And even though my Luna was gone for thousands of years, I always knew I'd have her back. It's important to cherish those around you and you do seem to do just that"
"Not my parents though. You heard what I said not too long ago. We don't talk uch." She pouted. "I guess I could talk to them again. I can maybe make time. They're still family."
"Chin up, you." Luna went up to the little Celestia. "Whatever world it may be, the Celestia I know always smiles. You're not the first Celestia to experience loss but you have the most years ahead of you."
"Thanks, Luna! And maybe, you can come by and visit this universe again! I mean, you're clearly used to it. You know a lot about other worlds! Which means I get to see you again someday, right?!
"Well, nothing's stopping us from doing so. As soon as we solve the gateway issue, the Universal Alliance will be back in action. And I will make sure that this universe-" Before she could finish up, Celestia, Luna, Chrysalis and Gardevoir all had their bodies glow, emanating a cosmic energy. "Oh!"
"Huh?! What's going on?!" The young princess pulled back, seeing the cosmic energy fly out of their bodies. It soon entered the air as they were also becoming transparent.
"It seems to be the same thing Twilight Moonlight goes through. We must be returning to our universe." Luna observed. "We've certainly been here for a while. Not that long, however."
"Well, this is it Until we meet again me." Celestia bid farewell to her other counterpart. It was certainly a treat meeting her, seeing another Celestia in a different light. It truly was a big multiverse and Celestia wished she could see it all again like old times. After they left, the Young Celestia would slowly wave away. Now, she was alone once more. But she always had her Pokemon with her.
As for what she would do next, as a celebrity, there were plenty of options available that she knows how to tackle since this was how she was raised. However, after meeting with her older self, some things are set to change. She was expecting to see her older self and Luna again someday. Hopefully, it's as soon as she thinks.
Returning to the castle by reappearing with cosmic particles were Celestia, Luna, Chrysalis and Gardevoir. They had just finished checking up on a universe with a completely different Celestia. It was quite the experience being in a world that was similar to theirs but had a different development with Pokemon.
"Oooh..." Upon returning, Celestia felt drowsy and stunned. She held her head, taking in the unsavoury effects. Luna stumbled, falling on her back immediately while Chrysalis fell to the side. Unlike how they pass through gateways, entering here left them in shambles.
"Amazing! You're still in one piece?!" Entering this castle as well was the Twilight from another world, stunned to see the three of them intact. "That's not supposed to happen."
"W-Why? What is supposed to happen?" Celestia asked as her eyes spun around for a bit.
"Usually, anypony who gets sent back here after time runs out has all of their dimensions split apart and it takes some time for them to be put back. But you three are completely fine. Maybe it's because you're alicorns."
"I'm not an alicorn though, but I'm similar..." Chrysalis groaned. "Apologies for using your castle. I only went inside by instinct..."
"Ah, it's fine. It's my fault for not supervising it. Then again, it's just me inside of this castle. Plus, you look like you had fun in that universe." She grinned before helping Luna and Chrysalis up.
"How come this castle can travel to different universes? How did you even obtain something like this?" Celestia asked.
"It's not actually travelling to another universe. It's sitting in between the two of them. The door behind us leads to Universe 20 while the one you came through leads back to yours. Universe 1. Right now, it's sitting in-between space."
"Is it now?" Luna approached the door on the left side to see for herself. By using her magic, she opened it from afar, revealing what was lying beyond. Lo and behold, it was Manehattan. Just like how she remembers it. "Amazing..."
"As for how I got it...It's not really mine. Somepony lent it to me one day, telling me that I would find use for it eventually. And that day ended up coming after all, so now I'm using it. This castle's not only my way of escaping my pursuers but a way of reaching Prisma. And I'm glad I showed up at the right universe."
"Well, it's best that we get going. The rest of the Pokemon Festival is waiting for us. But at the same time..." The Sun Princess paused for a moment.
"I know, I know. You're still cautious about me approaching Prisma. But you don't have to worry about that."
"What I'm truly worried about is who can show up here. If you head to Ash, those pursuers of yours could cause trouble. Unless they're only troublesome to you?" Celestia finished her sentence.
"Well, they both have the same goal as me. They want to stop Prisma too and the way they go about it is rather destructive. They invaded my world, searching for me since I apparently had something that could stop Prisma."
"You? What do you have?" Luna asked.
"I-I'm not sure." The unicorn had no idea herself. "But they really want me, even if it means attacking my home. I don't want to bring any trouble to your universe and that's why I want to stop Prisma as soon as possible." She apologized. It is not her intention to bring a storm of trouble to this universe. Twilight herself, just wanted all of her troubles to be over. Her pursuers would stop chasing her and Prisma wouldn't return
"It's alright, Twilight. I created the Universal Alliance solely for reasons such as this. If I could speak with them, we'd get to the bottom of this. It's our job to protect and save universes in peril." Celestia then thought about it. The answer to her problems was currently around her. "Actually...we could use this to visit those other universes."
"We could?" Luna and Chrysalis said in unison.
"Of course! We showed up in another universe with this castle. Universe 20 was the name. So, by that logic, what's stopping us from reaching the others? We could reunite with our friends and see how they're doing and even catch up with what Daybreaker's alliance might be up to."
"Oooh, good thinking!" Luna frantically nodded. "We should have come to that conclusion sooner!"
"Twilight. Can this castle freely travel to other universes? Or in this case, be in between others?" Celestia, with high hopes, looked back at the unicorn.
"Well..." She grit her teeth. That basically confirmed that it wasn't as easy as the Three Royals wanted it to be. "It's complicated. It took me a while to even show up to this universe, even though I knew where the source of Prisma was. I can't just go anywhere with this castle. It takes time."
"How long will it take?" Chrysalis asked.
"It took me at least a month to find Universe 1. The castle is in tune with space but it can't travel as fast as light or any other cosmic thing out there."
"That's a shame. But we can wait. I wouldn't want to miss this opportunity." Celestia certainly had the patience. "Twilight. If it isn't any trouble, we'd like to use your castle in the future. And in return, we'll protect you."
"You'll protect me?! Seriously?!" Music to her ears. She wasn't going to go solo at all. She would have someone to back her up and it was possibly the biggest backup she could ever receive.
"Of course. You don't have any ill intentions when it comes to stopping Prisma. Compared to Twilight Moonlight, you just want to keep the the Soul of Prisma from entering the world. That's something we wish to do as well. Let's work together, shall we?"
"O-Okay! Thank you, Princess Celestia!" Twilight was all for that. This was titanic support for her. Having an entire Universe support her was reassuring, especially since Universe 1 was well-adjusted with the World of Pokemon. It was full of the strongest Pokemon Trainers out there, without a doubt. "I won't let you down! In just a month, this castle will be ready to travel and...Oh, wait. It takes a month to get there, so wouldn't it be better to leave now?"
"Mmm..." The Sun Princess smiled, looking back at her sister and best friend. "No. I want to enjoy the Pokemon Festival and meet with Cobalion. So in the meantime, you're free to stick around our universe."
With permission from Celestia, Twilight could stay in this universe while also being protected. The pursuers from Twilight Moonlight's Universe will be met with Universe 1's defenders. And they already have plenty of experience with that universe.
Unova. Virbank City. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Virbank City. Currently, in unison with the Pokemon Festival, it was going through a Film Festival. PokeStar Studios has its own festival and it finally revealed itself this year. Arriving at Virbank were some of Ash's friends after leaving Pallet Town.
This festival was out in the open and on the inside as well. But the inside only presented food, tickets and other items to take inside. Inside the Film Festival was a grand ballroom with elaborate gold-leafed pillars and a high, domed ceiling adorned with murals depicting scenes from famous films. As you enter, the distinct scent of freshly popped popcorn and butter saturates the air, mingling with the fragrance of exotic flowers.
A sprawling red carpet leads toward a stage, where an enormous screen was displaying vibrant scenes from different movies. A group of elegantly dressed festival-goers eagerly gather around the many booths that show upcoming films or films that have already shown up. Or even anything from the past they managed to miss out on.
"Ah, you made it! At last!" Present here was Rarity. Alongside her Human Counterpart who was also in her Pony Form, who received the nickname Rare. "Just in time too!" We were just about to add some finishing touches to our film. It will show up on the big screen!"
"Sweet!" Ash said with a bright grin. "I wanna see a bit of it right now, or everything that made it happen."
"All of my Pokemon are involved in this one." Rarity continued. "They all get screentime this time. And we made sure that our film would be the one to win. It's a competitive Film Festival after all."
"If it doesn't...Oh well." Rare shrugged. "It is what it is."
"This is what we're offering. The film that'll win this competition." Holding out the film poster with her magic, Ash and the others leaned in to see the title of the film. Rare Rarity.
"Hm. That checks out." Applejack spoke after seeing the title. It was a clever title, covering both of their names while also being the best way to describe something.
"It's about both of us, if you must know. And we decided to base it around how we both encountered Pokemon but with some changes here and there." Rare explained the premise. "Simple but effective."
"I don't know. This one looks more fun to me." However, Apple Bloom had a different taste in mind. She saw another poster, showing a film with a Houndoom as the central part.
"Ah! Apple Bloom!" Rarity gasped after her friend found interest in another movie. Rare Rarity just wasn't it for her. At least, so far.
"Same here. This looks too good to ignore." Agreeing with Apple Bloom was Sweetie Belle. Specifiaclly, Equestria's Sweetie Belle.
"Sweetie Belle, no!" Rarity teared up as she couldn't believe her eyes. Her own sister.
"What are you even up against here?" Ash looked around, wanting to see the other films being presented in this Film Festival. His eyes met with a long table full of many film producers who showed up here to compete. Each of them are either experienced Film Makers or are at the same level as Rarity.
There was quite an abundance of them. The numbers were not small at all. The competition would be stacked with some of them already having enticing posters. These posters were all made by the Pokemon Smeargle, captivating what they envisioned. They were already speaking out, calling out to others to come and check out their films. Some of them were already playing at this very moment.
"Catch a view of my film!" And another one to scream these words was none other than the former Team Plasma Member, Livadi. She was present here as well. "I guarantee you, it'll leave you in shock and awe."
"Pikachu..." Pikachu's eyes widened after spotting her.
"Yeah, I see her. Livadi was her name, right?" Ash recalled, recognizing her appearance based on what Celestia told her. "That looks a lot like her. "She's here too? A former Team Plasma member."
"Livadi? The one that Adagio and her sisters had trouble with?! And the one who Princess Celestia battled?!" Rarity didn't even notice her here at all until now. Having Livadi here changes a few things. There was a chance she could be up to no good. Or there was also a chance that she just wanted to win this normally. Either one was possible based on what they know about Livadi.
And Livadi was aware of them as well. With a devious grin, she looked over at Ash and the group, noticing them. Livadi especially recognized Ash since he was Team Plasma's Biggest Enemy.
"I'll even save up special seats for some of you," Livadi said, speaking directly to Ash. And Ash knew this. He wasn't sure if he was a target of Livadi but he couldn't be too careful around her. The air didn't intensify, but there was clearly something there. Livadi was a bit of a wildcard.
She could either be plotting something or minding her business. And Livadi knew she was making them think that while also giving Fluttershy a scare.
"Forget that! Check mine out!" However, this mildly intense air was broken up by someone else with a rather outspoken voice. Something beyond a poster was placed down on the table. It as a banner instead, showing the film. Someone went the distance to stand out from the rest. "You're going to love this!"
And it was someone who also had a similar face to Ash's. Everyone else saw his face. Much like how Red, Ethan, Brendan and Hilbert share this face, another individual entered the fray. Ash felt like looking in the mirror a bit as he even had the same clothes he wore when he explored Sinnoh.
Unova. Virbank City. The Pokemon Festival. PokeStar Studios Film Festival. Day.
Here at PokeStar Studios where the Film Festival merged with the Pokemon Festival, Livadi and one other familiar face were present here. Having a similar face as Ash and even wearing the exact same clothes Ash wore during his adventures throughout Sinnoh, just by looking at him, Ash and his friends could tell that this must be another counterpart situation.
"Look at this! Only 4 weeks and I made it possible!" He boasted, showing off the image of his film that he apparently made in 4 weeks. "Anyone? Please?" But people just passed by his film, looking at his image and not showing any interest. No one was impressed, much to the chagrin of this Trainer.
"Hmph! Nice try kid. But no one's here to watch something as childish as that." Livadi cackled. "You should have had the Smeargle do it for you instead of your own.
"No way...It's totally not childish. Right?" He took a closer look at is image, seeing what it entailed. It wasn't that it was childish. It was simply chaotic. It was a mess of Pokemon, most notably Sinnohan Pokemon and there was no clean composition. Naturally, something "Aww...I should've asked the Smeargle for help."
"Let me see!" But of course, there were children here and two of them were Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, who were pulled in by the image.
"Well, at least someone's noticing it..." He sighed. His movie might be shaping up for something that would be for kids only.
"By the way. You look a lot like Ash. What's up with that?" Sweetie Belle asked, bringing up the most obvious thing here.
"Ash? Wait a second..." He felt like he had heard that name before. Mainly from Hilbert and the others. And upon raising his head, he looked over at the character in question who was standing there, taking in Lucas's appearance. Soon, the two of them noticed the similarities. For Ash, it was the face and clothes and for him, it was just the face. "No way! Are you the one Brendan and the others brought up?!"
"That's me. And you are..."
"Lucas is the name." He introduced himself. "Hailing from Sinnoh and apparently another one of those counterparts. Or so I've heard. You've heard of me, right?"
"Yeah, I know you." Ash nodded. The name Lucas has been spoken of before. "Did you just show up 4 weeks ago?"
"4 weeks is right. I mean...I would've shown up sooner with the others but I was too late to pass that gateway." Lucas grumbled, clenching his fist. "You have no idea how hard it was for me to find that Infinity Gateway again. It was not easy. But at least I'm here. And honestly, this place is almost an exact mirror of my universe with some changes here and there."
"Sweet clothes, by the way! Just like what I wore once!" Ash admired the clothes since he wore the exact same pair. The only difference was the hat, but that was rather common for his counterparts to have different hats.
"I saw you wear these clothes when you showed up to Equestria the first time, Ash." Apple Bloom pointed out.
"Yeah. But I didn't have these clothes Rarity gave me so I just went for what I know."
"Hey uh...Could you maybe make others flock over to see my film? I mean, I know you're famous in this world, so you'll advertise it expertly."
"Well, Ash is only popular in Equestria, actually." Rarity explained, approaching Lucas. "At best, you'll get Equestrians to see it if Ash spreads the word. Anyone else beyond that might not even bother."
"G-Gotcha." Lucas lowered his head. "Hilbert is usually the one who's good at this. Man, if I had gone along with him and the others and caught that Infinity Gateway, I would've totally picked up some pointers! I even had to go solo making this film!"
"What's it even about?" Sweetie Belle grabbed the artwork, taking a closer look at this image that caught her attention. Even though it interested her, she had no idea what she was looking at.
"Ah, just some stuff about what I did in Sinnoh. I even went through the effort of recreating certain moments. Granted, I left the studio I worked on in absolute shambles but...It was worth it." He shrugged it off. "All that hard work's gonna pay off, believe me! I even had to go back and forth between this world and my world to get the right Pokemon."
"Wait, you did?" Fluttershy's ears perked up after hearing that. So did everyone else's and especially Livadi, who was going to listen to this closely. "That makes it sound like you had no problem travelling through worlds."
"Well, yeah. I came here with the Infinity Gateway and I left with the same gateway." Lucas casually dropped something critical. "It follows me wherever I go. Pretty convenient."
"You showed up 4 Weeks ago and you just have this knowledge!" Rarity got up the table, getting up close and personal with Lucas, startling him.
"I-I thought it wouldn't matter to you guys! It only goes back to my world, that's all!" Lucas held his hands up, trying to explain himself.
"You're saying it follows you around? Just you?"
"I mean, I don't see anyone else trailing with it. So yeah, it's just me." The Sinnohan Pokemon proudly held his chest high with a bright smile. "And I know why. I don't need Brendan to tell me how with all of his smarts. I've got my fair share of experience with space, ya know."
"Ya don't look like ya do," Applejack observed.
"I totally do. Get this. And this is part of the movie..." Lucas moved his finger forward, prompting the others to get even closer. "What if I told you...that I can freely travel through space?"
"...Nuh-uh." Sweetie Belle denied that in a heartbeat. Lucas as capable of travelling through space? So freely? A majority of everyone on Earth can't do that. Only a select few.
"Yuh-uh." Lucas nodded. He wasn't bluffing at all. "I don't mean to brag...cause then I'd just end up sounding like Hilbert, but I've got that easy access and it's for a reason. It's because of Palkia."
"Oh. So Palkia must've done something to you?" Ash questioned.
"Best believe it. I'm the luckiest Lucas out there. My encounter with Palkia was something else. I was battling against it and the Spatial Rend managed to reach me. But instead of splitting me in two or something like that, I was able to mess around with space."
"Rainbow Dash had something similar happen to her, right? How come she can't do the same?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Mmm? Random chance?" Appleack shrugged.
"That's why I'm lucky. That's why the Infinity Gateway's following me. Red and the others don't know about this yet so I'm gonna surprise them."
"Aw, but it only goes to the other Pokemon World." Sweetie Belle groaned. If only the gateway connected to Equestria and different regions. That would make things much better. But alas, that was not the case and the excitement quickly died down. At least in the eyes of Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.
"Ah, it's still exciting. Plus, I've got the Infinity Gateway stalking me so if you ever need to use it, you know who to find."
"Interesting. If only you could go elsewhere." Commenting on this was Livadi, who obviously had to listen in on this. "Frankly, it's disappointing that you're so limited. Only this world and your world?"
"If I could go somewhere else, I totally could," Lucas grumbled. "I can show you what else I can do! And this film will give you a sneak peek to it all. Come and check it out for yourself."
It was settled. They would view Lucas's film to see what he had experienced. Some of it would be his adventures in Sinnohu but a part of it involved his experience with the Infinity Gateway and such. He's only been here for 4 weeks but has already done a lot.
Outside Virbank City.
Located at the outskirts of Virbank, away from the Pokemon Festival and the Film Festival was the very gateway that Lucas showed up in. The Infinity Gateway. It was near the docks and waterways of the city, hovering over the seas. It was still an absolute mystery and a result of the Jirachi putting everything together.
Very few have used this gateway and now, during the Pokemon Festival, it's made its return. But as always, it was ust sitting there, unbothered for 4 weeks. Eventually, it will have to move. But it will only move if Lucas moves. However, that didn't mean no one couldn't interact with it. And eventually, someone was bound to do so.
Appearing from the seas by opening them up as if they were a door, was none other than the Embodiment of Chaos. Discord. He opened a door from the sea, emerging to witness te Infinity Gateway.
"Hooh...Finally." Discord shook his head as he was rather winded. He looked like he had been in a rather wild event, even for him and he was just now feeling the after-effects of that event. "I thought I was done for there. It's wonderful that everything about this new universe is chaotic enough. Now as for this..."
He rubbed his claw and paw together, excited to see the gateway. He's been thinking about the gateways himself but even with all of his power, the gateways eluded him. Both in their locations and the mysterious cosmic power that they have Discord shares the same ideals as his friends and does wish the best for them. While also wishing the best for himself. He grabbed onto the Infinity Gateway, seeing what he could do about it.
It was the only other gateway that was out there in the world apart from the Pallet Town Gateway. It had the most unique shape out of all of them and was completely random instead of staying in one set location. Discord analyzed it by turning his eye into a magnifying glass, deducing the deep and complex parts of this cosmic energy. He was essentially doing what Starswirl did but differently.
"Hmm.." Discord has never really interacted with the gateways all that much. The concept of the gateways were simple but everything about them was complicated. Discord continued to examine the Infinity Gateway, licking it to see what it tasted like. He made a grimace as the taste wasn't all that pleasant. It was surprising that this gateway even had a taste.
The Master of Chaos moved back, holding his hands out and placing them in a camera position to perfectly capture the gateway. He ended up snapping a picture with his hands, even sending a flash. After taking the picture, he attempted to replicate the Infinity Gateway as he would pull out a second one. He could at least do that. Duplicating something wasn't that difficult for him.
In his hands, he held a copy of the Infinity Gateway but it was nowhere near as good as the original. For starters, nothing could be seen beyond it. There wasn't a city, town, island, forest, mountainside or anything. It was completely devoid of scenery. Even the energy wasn't flowing. It was simply static and dry.
Discord frowned at this outcome. He even knocked on the copy Gateway as it ended up being completely solid, making a hard sound in the process. Discord tried to add a scenery to it and that would be his own Chaos Realm. But alas, even that failed to work as the Rift's Energy once again overruled Discord's Chaos Magic.
"Bah!" Disappointed, he threw the gateway aside. Even after these 4 years have gone by, the power that the Rift has over Discord's Chaos Magic was still present. Discord knew that there were greater powers out there without a doubt. But it annoyed him that they were limiting him. That rarely ever happens and when it does happen, it doesn't last for that long. This, however, lasted for a long time and could continue to last in the future if the Rift never leaves.
Discord rarely gets stumped but now was looking like the perfect opportunity for him to hit a brick wall. What could he do to solve this issue? "Eehh...Nothing at all. What a shame." Nothing came up. But even though he was struggling to come to a conclusion, he had other resources at his disposal. "I know. Twilight's been working on solving this herself so she has to have come up with something by now. If not, I'll be very disappointed. I'll pay her a quick visit before I can truly enjoy this festival."
Discord wasn't yet aware of what Twilight Sparkle was doing with the gateways. He was rather occupied with a few things and it was only until now that he's made a reappearance. After this is all solved, he can enjoy the Pokemon Festival. In his own way, of course. Unless the Pokemon Festival can do something that can truly entertain him.
Virbank City. PokeStar Studios.
The film that Lucas made was shown to Ash and his friends, which was a retelling of what Lucas did throughout Sinnoh. It was basically a life story movie, based on true events. And in this case, no one was going to dispute it for two reasons. For starters, this was the Pokemon World so anything could happen and secondly, Ash was already getting flashbacks looking at this.
He was glued to the seat, watching the film that showed very familiar scenes. As well as familiar faces. His mouth opened as he ended up seeing Dawn on the screen. There she was, present in yet another universe. He shouldn't be too surprised by this since counterparts can exist but it was still wonderful to see. Especially since Lucas seemed to go down a similar path to Ash's Sinnoh Team.
Lucas was seen with a Chimchar that was with him since day one. Eve though Ash found Chimchar a little bit later during his earlier days in Sinnoh. Lucas was casually lounging on the seats, smiling as he saw his own progress.
"I caught another Chimchar doing my journey, so I had to recreate the moment I met him that very day," Lucas explained. "I already have Infernape with me and even a Monferno."
However, there were only three more similarities. Garchomp, Staraptor and Floatzel to be exact. While Ash did have a Staraptor, his Buizel was still in his first stage of evolution. The same went for his Gible. Ash even thought back to Red, Ethan, Brendan and Hilbert. He's seen Red's Pokemon and those are Pokemon he also has but some haven't fully evolved either.
He had a Quilava while Ethan had a Typhlosion and Brendan had a Sceptile just like Ash. Their teams seemed to perfectly mirror Ash's in many ways, even though Brendan's full team hasn't been seen as Hilbert seems to be the only one who carries a different team with him. At least, so far.
The movie was also a good watch surprisingly. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom pointed their hooves at certain scenes that perfectly match what Ash told them. Ash already told them about some of his adventures and now they were seeing a different version of it. Lucas made sure everything was authentic, gathering all the Pokemon he's caught throughout the years.
The way he filmed this movie was by making it an anthology. It was all in chronological order, telling a story that had a definitive ending. And that as the engaging part. The length of the movie, for something that was made in just 4 weeks, was also long enough to fit a lot of things in. 2 hours and 43 minutes max. Although, Lucas did have to trim some things down.
However, when watching the movie, one important part stuck out more than anything else. It was the scene where Lucas was seen coming across something that came from space. Was this the Palkia encounter he spoke of? Everyone leaned in to see for themselves.
The scene showed Lucas in a lush field, taking a break with his Pokemon. This was in the later part of the film which would soon reach its end. But this was not the Palkia encounter. Not at all. Instead, from the skies above, a cosmic crack appeared that did not match Palkia's colours.
The colours seemed to match the Rift instead That immediately made all of them open their eyes to what this could be. And falling from that crack was a Poke Ball with a lightning bolt on it. Ash has seen that Poke Ball before. Mainly because that was the same Poke Ball his Pikachu was first seen in on the day they both met.
Lucas held his hand out as the Poke Ball dropped on his hands. From it, emerged Ash's Pikachu. Specifically, Pikachu wearing Ash's Sinnoh hat. This was a scene Lucas felt like putting in because of how surprising it was to him. It was surprising to everyone as well.
And then it all clicked. Ethan and Brendan talked about this before. There was a moment for all of their friends where they each received a Pikachu wearing a different hat. And these Pikachus all came from an unknown Ash Ketchum out there but from different periods in time.
"Oh, wait!" Ash exclaimed. "So that's how it must've happened for all of them! So you have my Pikachu too?!
"Pika?!"
"Yep. Ethan and Brendan told you this already, probably but it's been a while, hasn't it? You sent me Pikachu. You entrusted him to me so I wasn't gonna let you down. I mean, I never met you but you brought a letter along inside of the Poke Ball."
"Sis...You don't think he's..." Apple Bloom slowly turned to face Applejack.
"I hope not. He might be Prisma..." Applejack was thinking the same thing. Could this mysterious Ash Ketchum be the Prisma Character that is said to be a threat? Rift Energy was seen in there and Ash isn't exactly a user of such power.
"Not sure why though. Heck, I don't even know why you have so many Pikachus. What's up with that? And how'd you get a specific one from a different time?" Lucas pondered. "Do you have Dialga on your team or something?"
Lucas raised a good point. Ash never really thought about it all that much. But now that conversation about Prisma has come back up recently, this was probably something else related to Prisma, if that was the case. Another world and time was certainly involved here somehow.
"Lucas." Ash turned his attention away from the movie, focusing on more important matters. He had one request and one thing he wanted to find out for himself. This involved, him, Lucas, the other counterparts and equally as important; Pikachu. "Could you take us to the Infinity Gateway?"
Unova. Near the outskirts of Virbank City. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
During a viewing of Lucas's film, something rather interesting came up. Ash never pieced these two things together but he felt like he was getting somewhere. They made their way to the Infinity Gateway that Lucas came from as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were seen consuming popcorn and other cinema food.
"Here it is. Right where I left it." Lucas said, gazing upon the Infinity Gateway over the Unovan Seas. "This thing's glued to me and I can only get so far from it. I came through here just like how Red and the others did. But obviously, I've got something different to offer."
"Lucky you." Rarity said, followed by Rare giving an approving nod. "If only we had a gateway following us.
"Check this out." Digging into his pockets, Lucas held out two Poke Balls. Throwing them into the air, he summoned two Pokemon. His Infernape and the Pikachu that another Ash Ketchum gave to him.
"Infernape!"
"Pikachu!" As for Pikachu, he was indeed wearing Ash's Sinnoh Hat, being yet another Pikachu from a different time. And upon arriving, Pikachu's eyes immediately met with a familiar face. A face far more familiar than Lucas. And that fact was none other than Ash's face. "Pi...? Pika-Pi!" Without even hesitating, he would lunge at Ash, using Volt Tackle to do so.
"Ough!" Ash grunted after being hit with an electrifying hug. His body would receive a shock, making his hair frizz up. Pikachu was absolutely elated. "Hey, Pikachu! Yeah, it's me!"
"I figured you'd like to meet him again. It's been around..." Lucas tried pinpointing the years. "16 years? Or less? Or more? I think. Point is, it's been a long time."
"Good to see you too, buddy." Ash chuckled while having electricity crackle around his body. "I mean, I'm always with you but it's awesome seeing another you."
"It's pretty weird seeing Ash's Pikachu in a Poke Ball. I thought he hated them." Fluttershy pointed out the obvious. Each version of Ash's Pikachu that she's seen have all appeared in Poke Balls, not minding them at all.
"Mhm." Applejack agreed. "Maybe in that other world, he doesn't mind as much."
"Wait, why bring out Infernape?" Apple Bloom asked. She could figure out why Pikachu's Infernape was brought out but why Infernape?
"You'll see." With just his hand out, Lucas would demonstrate something rather special. He flicked his finger and by this one single movement, the Infinity Gateway was moving towards him. Ash and the others had their jaws drop in disbelief. Lucas's sudden connection to the Infinity Gateway and Space was as real as it gets as it moved under his control.
"H-How did you...?!" Sweetie Belle stammered, unable to finish her sentence.
"Heheh." Lucas grinned. "I said it as glued to me. I didn't mention that I could mess with it. That encounter with Palkia changed a lot, believe me. And the same goes for Infernape. I took on Palkia with Infernape at the time and just like how all that spatial energy hit me, it got Infernape too."
"Infer! Infernape!" Infernape jumped. He was also a result of being hit by Palkia's cosmic power and receiving something special in return. As for what Infernape could do, he demonstrated by approaching the Infinity Gateway. With his bare hands, he would grab onto the gateway, the same way Discord did. But Discord was only capable of doing this because of his Chaos Magic. Infernape was doing this because of what was granted to him.
Using his brute strength, Infernape started stretching the gateway, increasing its size. The view of Sinnoh's Jubilife City was present through the gateway and the rest of it was being shown thanks to Infernape. Ash and the others got a full view of Jubilife City instead of just parts of it.
"Neat, huh? Even though we're going to the same place, because it's way bigger now, we can cover greater distances." Lucas explained. "It's a shame it only connects to Jubilife City though. At least, so far."
"Man! If the other gateways were still here, who knows what you could've done!"
"Yeah, true. It's weird though. That was my second time encountering Palkia." Lucas pondered for a moment. "I encountered Palkia just like how I encountered Dialga. I met them both at the same time but even when I had my first battle with Palkia, none of my Pokemon who got hit didn't get something as special as this. It was only the second time and I never thought I'd take it on again."
"Really? Why not?" Ash asked while holding his Sinnoh Pikachu.
"Well, things were cool with Palkia and me Heck, Dawn caught Palkia but just a few years later, I ended up battling it again. And it didn't seem like it was a different Palkia at all." Lucas continued. "It was the same Palkia Dawn caught but it just had it out for me for some reason."
"Do you think it has something to do with Prisma?" Fluttershy wondered if it was related to Prisma. This was one of the reasons why they came to the location of the Infinity Gateway. "Maybe Prisma is that other Ash. Sheena said that they were practically the same person, right? And the same goes for you, Lucas."
"Well...I don't know but, during my second battle with Palkia, something else that was pretty weird happened." There was more that Lucas could share as he closed his eyes, thinking deeply. He could even recall that very moment when Palkia struck him and Infernape.
7 Years Ago. Sinnoh. Eterna Forest. Day.
It was at Eterna Forest that day. I was just relaxing with my Pokemon for a little while when Palkia just showed up one day. It was Dawn's Palkia but I wasn't sure why it was targeting me all of a sudden. Dawn wasn't even there at the time so it was even weirder.
Standing in front of the Spatial Pokemon was Lucas, alongside his Pokemon. It was a surprise to be sure but much like his counterparts, Lucas was very much ready for anything. Even sudden attacks from Deities. Lucas held onto his hat as the winds were blowing fiercely across Eterna Forest thanks to Palkia's mighty roar. Why was the Guardian of Space so hostile towards Lucas all of a sudden? That much was unknown. But Lucas knew one thing for sure. He couldn't let himself seen as defenceless.
"I don't know what your deal is, Palkia! But if it's a battle you want, you got one!" Lucas exclaimed. "Infernape, use Mach Punch!"
"Infernape!" Leaping through the air, Infernape was the first to strike. With his fists glowing, the Fire-Fighting-Type would strike at the Dragon-Water-Type, targeting the face. Palkia received a quick blow to the face, only to then swing its own head to knock Infernape away. Infernape went flying, hurling through the air from just the head swing. "Fernape!"
"Staraptor, use Brave Bird! Garchomp, use Dragon Rush!"
"Star!" Staraptor followed up for Infernape, taking flight and encasing itself in a brilliant blaze. After taking flight, the Normal-Flying-Type would burst through the air at high speeds. Performing the same action was Garchomp, who flew at the Guardian of Space as the two appendages on its head glowed light blue. Then, its body becomes enveloped in a light blue aura with the same colour streaks as it joined Staraptor. These two bodies of energy would approach Palkia, crashing directly into it.
Palkia roared, taking a super-effective hit from one of these attacks. And yet, that wasn't enough to stop it. With its eyes flashing, Palkia manipulated space, twisting the space around Garchomp and Staraptor. Suddenly, they would feel their bodies fly into the air but without them doing it themselves.
"G-Gar!" Garchomp gasped as the space itself was attacking it and Staraptor. Afterwards, the twisted space would spin them around before shooting them into the ground, causing a heavy impact.
"Staraptor! Garchomp!" Lucas cried out before looking back at Palkia with narrow eyes. "Luxray! Use Superpower! Floatzel, use Blizzard!"
"Lux...Ray!" Luxray would soon approach Palkia as well, surrounding its entire body in an explosive energy while Floatzel started whipping up a fierce blizzard from its hands. The cold weather formed around Palkia, even if the Spatial Pokemon could resist it with its Secondary Typing.
In response, Palkia would manipulate space and immediately contain the Blizzard. Floatzel's Blizzard was teleported, going straight for Luxray instead. Luxray didn't get the chance to land Superpower as it was carried by the raging snow instead. Palkia would roar once again, creating a fierce gale that would lift Floatzel off the ground.
It was unusually aggressive today and Lucas just couldn't understand why. Just then, Palkia would go for Lucas next, preparing to use Spacial Rend of all moves. The pearls on Palkia's shoulders glow pink, its eyes glow orange, and its forearm starts to gather energy, also glowing pink.
"Flare Blitz, go!"
"Infernape!" Getting back up and swinging back into action, Infernape's body was surrounded by red-orange fire as he shot himself at the Guardian of Space like a missile. Palkia unleashed Spacial Rend at the same time, slashing the air and releasing a pink crescent-shaped blade of energy from its arm at the opponent.
Flare Blitz clashed with Spacial Rend, sending a great spark across the area. Infernape growled, trying to push through the Spatial Rend with all of his might as the pressure of these two attacks going against each other was causing another gust of wind.
At that moment, Infernape managed to push through the Spacial Rend, but something strange occurred. The attack still went through Infernape, making his body pulsate, but it also went through Lucas. Lucas gasped as his pupils shrank. Right as the attack went through him, he also felt that same pulsation. But for Lucas, it was far more noticeable as his body would pulsate multiple times.
In that instance, Lucas saw and felt something. He saw what appeared to be someone else that he ust couldn't recognize. It was so instant too. On top of that, he also felt a strange presence. It was almost as if his soul was being attacked. Lucas would fall back as afterimages of his body were shown in 10 different colours. At the same time, Infernape would crash into Palkia, landing a hit. Palkia roared once more, but this time, there was no retaliation.
Palkia would simply fizzle out. Its body would flash, letting out a pink glow with particles flying out. Palkia was gone, just like that. Lucas groaned, feeling rather bewildered. All of his Pokemon would get back up, still conscious even after that surprise attack. This was the team that battled Dialga after all.
I had no idea what that was all about. Palkia just up and left. Even when I met up with Dawn again, she said that Palkia ust went missing all of a sudden and showed up again. Palkia never left its Poke Ball after that and we never figured out why it suddenly attacked me.
"It was just a weird experience all around. But that figure I saw...It might've been Prisma, but I don't have a clue 7 years later." Lucas finished. "But hey. I can do cool new stuff the others can't, so there's that."
"If Twilight were here, she'd figure this out already," Applejack said, wishing Twilight were here to solve this conundrum. Lucas certainly had an experience.
"But forget about that. Right now, I'm here to enjoy the Pokemon Festival." Lucas shrugged it off. "Worry about the Prisma and Gateway stuff later."
"Hold it!" Rare would speak up all of a sudden, startling Lucas. "Darling. Could you do one favour for me?"
"Uh yeah? What's that?" Lucas asked.
"Well, since that gateway follows you around, there's one place I want you to go to..." Rare had one place in mind. She wasn't about to let this Infinity Gateway go to waste. It was already obvious where she wanted to take it. The Human World. More specifically, the portal near the Human World.
Equestria. Ponyville. PokePark. The Tech Area.
"Okay...That's everyone." At last, Twilight gathered all the Pokemon from PokePark. She laid on her back, appearing at the Tech Area, which was the final known area in PokePark. The Tech Area appeared to be a warehouse where many different trains are stored. The Pokémon of the area all dwell within the warehouse or outside, mixed around with the various trains.
Surrounding her were some of these Pokemon. Gurdurr, Conkeldurr, Golett, Golurk, Zebstrika, Tyranitar, Salamence, Gigalith, Mawile, Kirlia, Accelgor and Scizor. And that was just the Pokemon from the Tech Area. The previous area, the Crag Area, also had some Pokemon around her. And the leader of that entire area, Emboar, was right next to her.
"Emboar?" Emboar spoke, looking down at the Princess of Friendship.
"I'm fine..." Twilight groaned. "That just took a while. But now, we can all head for the Pokemon Festival at last."
"And I'll escort you there. Appearing next to her with his face on the ground was none other than Discord. He startled Twilight, causing her to jump up. Discord then pulled his entire body out of the ground. "
"Discord...!" Twilight grumbled. "Is this your first time here?"
"Why yes. It's impressive that you have another dimension behind a garage door of all things." Discord commented. "But never mind that. I was just checking up on the only pony working hard to bring those gateways back. How goes it, by the way?"
"It could be better," Twilight grumbled. "I just can't figure out how to make a new gateway. The fragment is all we have and that sucks. And anyway, it was Starswirl who did most of the work. What about you? Can't you do anything?"
"Oh, don't look at me. I'm not your daily problem solver. Believe me, I've tried making a new gateway, but those circular things are just so difficult to handle." Discord answered honestly. "That's why I came to you. But it looks like you're hit a brick wall too."
"I don't want to think about the gateways right now. I mean, I want them to show up again but...whatever. I just want to spend time with my friends in this year's Pokemon Festival. More than anything else. Nothing more, nothing less." She crossed her hooves.
"Well, you'll be glad to know that another you showed up not too long ago." Discord was already aware of the Twilight from another universe.
"Twilight Moonlight?! She's here?!" The young alicorn bellowed.
"Not her. But someone else you might recognize." Holding his paw out, Discord would show a miniature version of Twilight. Immediately after seeing her, Twilight Sparkle did in fact recognize that appearance. She briefly took on that appearance when a Desire affected the entirety of Ponyville. "And she's here for the same reason that Moonlight character shows up."
"No way..." Needless to say, she was stunned. However, her amazement soon subsided after her next batch of words. "...I'll ignore that."
"Hm?!" Discord shook his head in disbelief.
"There's no chance I'm approaching her. If she's also targeting Ash, then I'm going to Ash. If we meet up, it's because of that, but I'll do everything in my power to keep her away from Ash."
"Hm. Alright then." Discord couldn't say much to that as he made the miniature Twilight vanish. "But what about the Moonlight character? It will be hard to ignore her. She's a persistent one."
"That's true..." Twilight paused. "But I'll do my best when she enters the picture as well. Now then, allow me to get this Pokemon Festival started. I want to meet up will all of my friends and see what they're doing."
"Let me get you a head start then." Discord offered to transport her. But he wasn't taking her straight to Ash. With a snap of his fingers, he sent himself and Twilight elsewhere.
Snowbelle City.
Snowbelle City.
The City of Everlasting Winter. They say the cold air flowing from the Pokémon Gym is responsible for this city's frozen state. For Snowbelle, they were embracing the cold for the Pokemon Festival. enormous open-air market nestled within the heart of a snow-covered forest.
The stalls are all made from intricately carved ice, reflecting the shimmering light of countless lanterns. The joyful sounds of laughter and merriment carried on the cold winter breeze. A group of children gleefully building snow sculptures, their mittened hands hard at work shaping fantastical Pokemon. an enthusiastic Jynx teaching a group of Smoochum how to ice skate on a frozen pond, their laughter twinkling like magic in the chilly air.
Present here were Yaks, who were used to such weather. They chose this place as one of their first stops for the Pokemon Festival and already felt like they were back home. The Yaks found some attractions that they could enjoy themselves with. There was also a temporary Pokemon Contest Hall that ha been placed here for any coordinators.
And appearing here at Snowbelle were none other than Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo and Spike. They also chose Snowbelle as one of their first spots. Already, they were near a group of Fire-Types who were warming them and many others up.
"Aaah...After this, I'm paying the Pokemon School a visit." Pinkie said. "They still have school and I wanna make sure I get enough food to them for the rest of the Pokemon Festival. What about you, Rainbow Dash?"
"Mmm...Maybe the Battle Frontier." Rainbow Dash felt like melting with all of this soothing heat. "The Equestria League's still not ready. Aren't you taking on the Equestria League too, Spike?"
"Yeah. But I'm doing my own thing. You don't see me practice that often with my Pokemon." Spike uttered, having his eyes closed when feeling the heat.
"I wish I could take it on," Scootaloo commented as she had Rapidash and Quilava next to her to give her some warmth. "But I'm not ready yet."
"Well, if you wanna try something new, try this." Pinkie checked her surroundings, quickly grabbing a poster from one of the tables. "There's a Pokemon Contest going on and you've never tried one of those before. Some rising stars could be there. Like Dawn...Oooh, Dawns here! And ummm..." Pinkie wasn't sure if she recognized any of these names that were being presented. These names were all the Coordinators that would be participating. Some of them even looked like vampire names. "May...Serena and uh...I don't know who these are but you get the point!"
"Pass. Pokemon Contests aren't my thing." Scootaloo shut it down, immediately. "I mean, I could do them but..."
"Hold on. Look at the prize for a moment." Pinkie Pie showed off the rest of the poster, revealing the prize. "700,000 Pokedollars!"
"Eeh..." She still wasn't all for it. "I wanna do something else. For once, maybe not a Pokemon Battle but...Uh..."
"I've got something you can try." Rainbow Dash already had something in mind as she would stand up. "Just like how Pinkie Pie went places to get ready for the Pokemon Festival, I was doing the same. Of course, I wanted to be in a battle, but some other stuff came up."
"Yeah?! Like what?!" Scootaloo stood up.
"You know how these Pokemon Festivals go. There's a contest here and there. And this time, there's one that's gonna be the best one yet, if you ask me." Rainbow Dash rubbed her hooves together. The pegasus certainly had a lot on her mind. Not just for her, but for her friends. She was going to disrupt Scootaloo's boredom with something she's never done before. Not even Rainbow Dash has attempted it or even Pinkie Pie and Spike. "Get this. Have you ever heard of Pokemon Boccer?"
Kalos. Snowbelle City. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Pokemon Baccer. The wonderful game that is loved by many across regions. A game played on a circular-shaped pitch, which has two slopes, coloured red and blue, placed across it. Originally founded in the Galar Region 222 years ago, this sport is the third most beloved activity in the world. Ah, those Pokemon Battles and Pokemon Contests. Always hard to compete with.
The object of the game is for either of the two teams of five to seven Pokémon to try to knock a spinning-top-shaped object into a pyramid that is floating around the stadium. For every goal that is scored, one point is awarded to the team, and the highest-scoring team when the time runs out wins the match. It has persisted as a phenomenal sport to this day and will continue to do so forever.
"That's the gist of it." Rainbow Dash said, showing a video of it to Scootaloo on her Xtransceiver.
"Oooh, that does sound fun. Lots of fun! When did you hear about this, Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo's interest was certainly grabbed. She wanted something to do besides battling and this looked to be it.
"Two days ago. That TV Ash gave me has a ton of use."
"You can get reception there?" Spike was rather impressed by that fact.
"It's a pretty awesome game, ya know. Ash brought it up once. I've been interested in it but I'm too focused on the Battle Frontier and the Equestria League, so I figured I'd share it with you."
"Well, I definitely wanna try it out!" The young pegasus would jump with glee. This was right up her alley.
"Well, you can't try the high-level stuff. That's for the experts, obviously. The Pokemon Festival's letting newcomers try it out for free. Juniors division or stuff like that. There's one being held over at Unova's Aspertia City."
"I wanna do this! Oh, but Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom aren't here to watch me...!" She groaned, wanting her closest friends to view this. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom are always present whenever something like this occurs.
"Nothing a quick call can't fix. We'll be there by tomorrow but how about we get you started first? Just a quick practice session."
"Do you know a little bit about how the game is played?" Pinkie asked.
"Well...I read about it and watched some of it too. I think I can get the hang of it and pass on some sweet knowledge. Let's give it a shot, Scootaloo." To get started, Rainbow Dash went over to a decently sized field that wasn't cluttered with the attractions of the Pokemon Festival. "Just send out your Pokemon. Any Pokemon you think would work for this."
"Well, I can always count on Rapidash, so I'll let you join in." Scootaloo faced her ace, Rapidash. She could count on him.
"As for me...I'm bringing out some heavy hitters." Rainbow Dash already threw three Poke Balls into the air. And emerging from them were Mienshao, Altaria and Luxray.
"Uh...You two!" Scootaloo thought for a moment before summoning Quilava and Gible onto the field. "This'll do."
"As for the goal point, I've got it covered. Mienshao. Hit here and here." Rainbow Dash quickly chose the spots were each of the goals would be for both teams.
"Shao!" Mienshao was on it. Moving so fast she left behind an afterimage, the Martial Arts Pokemon would strike the ground behind Rainbow Dash's team once, forming a fairly sizable hole. She quickly moved to Scootaloo's side, lunging over her team and kneeing the ground afterwards. That knee ended up forming a hole of a similar size. Once the holes were formed, it was barely resembling a Pokemon Baccer Stadium.
"Cool. All we need is something to knock around. Anything that looks like a spinning top." Things weren't quite done yet. The object that would help them score needed to exist somehow. Rainbow Dash tried thinking of what could solve that.
"I've got you covered!" Pinkie Pie had the best possible response. She looked up at Mew, who nodded in understanding.
"Mew-Mew!" Excited to be in Pokemon Baccer as well, Mew flew out of Pinkie's mane, transforming mid-flight. The Pokemon he appeared as this time ended up being an Electrode. "Electrode!" After turning into Electrode, he placed himself in the middle of the field. Mew would gladly get kicked around. He was tough enough to take the damage.
"Okay! We're all good." The multi-coloured-maned mare used her wings to form a thumbs-up. "Do your best, Scootaloo. I took a few practice trials when I first heard about this. Nearly made a mess in my room though."
"We just have to knock the object into the goal. That sounds simple enough."
"I'll start us off. You know what to do, Luxray! Go for it!"
"Ray!" Luxray started before anyone else. He kicked up Electrode with his tail. And already, he was showing off. Luxray started bouncing Electrode around. "Luxray!" Afterwards, Luxray would headbutt Electrode.
"Eleeec!"
"Oh, here it comes! Uhh..." Scootaloo tried thinking of an immediate response. "Kick it, Rapidash!"
"Dash!" Rapidash would do what he does best. By turning around, the Fire Horse Pokemon put plenty of power into his back hooves, utilizing them. As soon as Electrode approached, Rapidash kicked him, sending the ball right back to the opposing team. The force of the kick was spectacular too, letting out a shockwave.
"L-Lux!" Luxray grimaced, quickly ducking his head as a speedy Electrode went over him. Rainbow Dash and her team were bewildered by what they had seen.
"Gah! C-Catch him, Altaria!"
"T-Tari!" Altaria panicked as well as she would try and stop Electrode in his tracks. Altaria used her fluffly yet durable body to catch Electrode as the impact would make her tremble. She managed to stop him but at the cost of taking some damage.
"Holy moly..." Rainbow Dash gulped. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised with those hooves. It's a good thing we don't have a pyramid goal flying around."
"Wow! That was a great kick, Rapidash!" Scootaloo applauded. "I knew you could do it with ease!"
"Okay then." Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. "Let's make sure we avoid that. Go, Mienshao! Luxray! Score us a goal! I'm counting on you two!"
"Mienshao!" Mienshao nodded as Electrode was soon passed over to her. After she received Electrode, Mienshao would balance the Electric-Type on her heeft, throwing him into the air. After doing so, Mienshao followed the ball by performing a mighty leap. She would strike at Electrode with a bicycle kick, using her martial arts to her advantage.
"Lux..Ray!" Luxray followed up with this by using his tail to strike at Electrode. This gave a boost to Electrode's movement, prompting Rapidash and the others to quickly attack.
"Quilava!" Quilava immediately used Eruption as a counter. Quilava ran underneath Electrode, igniting the flames on his head and tail as they grew larger. When Electrode was in the right position, he fired a geyser of red-orange fire from his body that went upwards. Electrode's rapid movements were soon brought to a halt as the geyser caught him.
Electrode AKA Mew, was obviously taking some damage from this, but he seemed to be having plenty of fun either way. After the ball was stopped, Quilava used Flame Wheel to try and knock it back. However, while he managed to land a hit with Eruption thanks to how large it was, Flame Wheel was a bit harder. When curling up and igniting his body, Quilava missed Electrode entirely. "Lava?"
"Luxray!" Luxray saw this as an obvious opportunity. He quickly dashed in with Wild Charge, ready to snatch Electrode.
"Rapidash!" Not if Rapidash had anything to say about it. The horn on Rapidash's head flashed white as he would quickly intercept Luxray's movements. Luxray crashed his head into Electrode while Rapidash's horn would do the same. Electrode was sandwiched by these two attacks as his eyes bulged out. The result was Electrode being flung into the air.
"Wow, they're learning fast." Spike cooed at the sight of this practice match.
"Rainbow Dash I get but how come Scootaloo's doing such a good job already?" Pinkie Pie wondered. How was it that Scootaloo's Pokemon were getting the hang of this so easily? Perhaps that was one of the many advantages that the Pokemon have. They are fast learners after all.
"Geez...! I was hoping to be the cool mentor here...What's up with this?!" Rainbow Dash grabbed her mane as she couldn't understand the adaptability of these two Pokemon. And Gible hasn't even done anything yet, which was the scary part.
"If this is just the practice session, that junior thing might be just as fun! Even a breeze!"
"Don't get too confident! You're still new and I've done my research! Close Combat!"
"Mienshao!" Mienshao went into the air once more while Electrode was still airborne. And with all of her might, she would deliver rapid strikes to the Ball Pokemon in a few seconds. These heavy hits resulted in Electrode being rocketed, even catching on fire.
"Yeah! This one's definitely gonna land!" An excited Rainbow Dash said, raising her hooves. The force of these blows surely had to grant a goal. Even Rapidash would have to put plenty of power into his next kicks if he wants to stop this and this might even break through Eruption.
"Gible?" This was Gible's time to act. As soon as Electrode approached, he did the one thing he felt was correct. Consume it. Gible caught Electrode with his massive mouth, promptly stopping the rapid movement. Everyone gasped as Gible treated Electrode like a snack.
"Wow! Nice catch, Gible!" Scootaloo applauded while Rainbow Dash was stunned. "Try shooting it back now!
"Gi...Ble!" Gible had one way to do so. And that was by using Dragon Breath. By exhaling a huge gust of wind with draconic energy around it, Gible would launch Electrode. Electrode once again had something around his body while he was being launched but this time with even greater force.
This ball would speed past Luxray and Mienshao immediately, leaving them perplexed. As for Altaria, she was prepared to block or hit Electrode back, only for him to pass by her as well. It looked like the Ball Pokemon was about to enter the hole, only for it to go over the goal. If only it was aimed at a different angle.
"E-Electrode...!" Electrode's eyes spun around as he was certainly being taken for a ride for just a simple practice session. Rainbow Dash was at a loss for words. Not only did the opposing team demonstrate great power, but they were incredibly close to scoring.
"Drat! So close!" Scootaloo puffed her cheeks, wishing she had an immediate goal. "But I won't miss the next time! Let's try it one more time!"
"Uh...I-I think we're good for now!" Rainbow Dash frantically shook her head, ending this practice session. "Let's put a pin in this!"
"Really? Aw..." Scootaloo lowered her head
"Mew..." Mew returned to his original form, holding his head. He put on a smile, enjoying himself even if he somewhat regretted becoming the ball. Next time, he'll carefully pick his battles. Or in this case, sports.
"I think we're good to head for Aspertia City now for the Junior Baccer event. You...learned fast. Or I guess your Pokemon did." Rainbow Dash approached her fellow pegasus, scratching her mane. "Did you already know about this?"
"Nah. Maybe it's all my training that I did when preparing for the Equestria League. Maybe?"
"Yeah...Maybe. At least you're ready. I'll just tell everyone else on the Xtransceiver." Rainbow Dash sighed. "If you wanna practice some more, go on ahead."
Unova. Virbank City. Afternoon.
Over at Vibrank City, while the Film Festival was still going on at PokeStar Studios, Ash and the others received a call from Rainbow Dash. This was right after they finished watching a film. Lucas's film to be exact. They managed to catch the rest of it despite leaving to view the Infinity Gateway and they were just about to head to the mirror located at Canterlot Castle.
The Human Counterpart of Rarity wished to have that gateway back in the Human World, making it easier for her to re-enter the Pokemon World, even if it wouldn't be the same one. Plus, this would give Sci-Twi the opportunity to experiment with it. She was already thinking ahead.
"Sweet! You got around to Pokemon Baccer!" said Ash, as he was already informed. "Cool to know that Scootaloo's already getting the hang of it."
"Yeah. Pretty fast too." Rainbow Dash replied.
"Pokemon Baccer? Oh, that game." Fluttershy said, showing her face on the Xtransceiver. "Ash told me about too one time. We never did get around to trying it. So much on our plate during the time he brought it up."
"Raboot?" Hearing about this, Raboot would climb up Fluttershy's back before soon getting on Ash's shoulder. The name Pokemon Baccer has met his ears before during a casual day.
"There's one over at Aspertia City. But, ya know...It's for juniors. Not like I can join it or any of us. Scootaloo just wanted her friends to come and see her play."
"Boot! Raboot!" Raboot suddenly shouted, throwing his two cents into this.
"Ow! What?!" Rainbow Dash flinched at all of that screaming.
"Sounds like Raboot wants a shot at it too." Fluttershy translated, already knowing what Raboot was going on about. "The Scorbunny line is all about athleticism and they love anything involved with it."
"We'll be at Aspertia City then," Ash promised. "But first...We should probably get the Infinity Gateway to Rare's world first. It won't be too long and getting to Unova's pretty quick."
"Boot! Ra!" Raboot leapt off Ash's shoulder before pointing his paw at himself frantically.
"Oh. You want to practice first before any of that?" Fluttershy replied. "Ooh, now might not be the best time. Unless we have enough time for that?"
"Do we?" Applejack wondered.
"Hmph. We always do." Rarity said with full confidence. You won't have to worry about a thing, darling. Have you forgotten who my tried and true partner is?"
"Pheromosa~" Pheromosa bowed as Rarity was obviously referring to her. If anyone could get places quickly, it was Pheromosa. For her to leave Unova and return to Kanto, it would take some time but it would be faster than most.
"Wait, so what are we doing first? Cause uh...I wanna win that prize, ya know." said Lucas.
"If you could really travel through space, you'd get us to Ponyville or Pallet Town in no time." Applejack pointed out, wishing Lucas had more to offer.
"I would if I could..." Lucas pouted.
"Ra! Raboot!" Finding a pebble on the ground, Raboot would start kicking it, pretending it was a ball and he was in a Pokemon Baccer match. He was already getting a head start, making sure that he would stand out from the rest.
"So, what team is she gonna be in then?" Sweetie Belle asked, looking at the King of the Sea.
"Well, she's gonna be in a club. Teams are for players who are older. But I heard those clubs support teams. I don't know many of them though. There's uh...The Coronet Fighters, the Jubilife Reds, Cianwood Greens and one of them was the Nimbasa Legends but that got shut down after what Kodai did."
"Oh, you need team names? No problem!" Lucas said. "I happen to know a few myself. Pokemon Baccer exists in my world too, ya know."
"It does?!" Ash turned back to face his counterpart.
"Yeah. I'm not the biggest fan of it but I know my team names and Scootaloo has a lot to choose from if she wants to join a club. There's the Cortondo Reals, the Driftveil Juggernauts, the Fallabor Five, Coumarine Divers and the list goes on." Lucas blabbered. "You'll have plenty of teams to choose from since this is gonna be something small over at Aspertia City. Or I guess big, depending on who you ask."
"I'm looking at this and...These are adorable~" Rarity was already checking out some of these other teams on her Xtransceiver. While most of them were named after different cities and towns from other regions, some were named after Pokemon. And this is where the young ones come in.
The Pichu Eleven, The Wild Mawiles, the Skitty Junior Baccer Club, The Spewpa Dust and the fittingly named Litleo Prominence. All of these were small and cute Pokemon that fit the youth. Well, Mawile might be an exception to the same.
Raboot honestly didn't care about the teams. He just wanted to play. Everyone has a chance to do everything in the Pokemon Festival and to Raboot, this is what he wanted to do. Pokemon Baccer is what he wished to tackle and Fluttershy would definitely grant that wish. Excited for tomorrow, Raboot would kick the pebble, sending it flying into the air.
"I know you're excited, Raboot. You won't be disappointed." Fluttershy promised. "Whatever team you join, I know you'll do great, for sure!"
"Raboot!"
Equestria. Manehattan. Nightfall.
The Moon has risen. What a beautiful silver sight it unleashes upon the world. The festival went on during the night and gained a different look too. The Lanturns that were waiting could finally spring into action, showing their beautiful lights.
The city was now Adorned with colourful banners and twinkling fairy lights. Even during the night, the air is electric with excitement. Recently added to the festival grounds just for the night, a massive stage towered above the crowd, adorned with enormous Pokeballs that light up and change colours in time with the music that fills the air. Nocturnal Pokemon were especially excited to show themselves at this time.
And just around the outskirts of Manehattan, The Dimensional Castle was still here. And by extension, the Twilight from another universe was still present as well. She was free to stay here under the order of Princess Celestia and would definitely return the favour to her one month from now. The pony from another universe would take in the calming atmosphere of the night.
She was thinking of her home, knowing that it was repairing itself at this very moment. She wished she could go back but that would only risk its destruction once more. Until this Prisma problem is solved, she would have to be on the run from her pursuers. That meant being on her own, eating the food found here.
But while having a midnight meal, the castle suddenly let out a mystical hum, alerting Twilight. She would quickly cease her consumption to listen to the castle's sounds. This hum was a warning judging from Twilight's reactions.
"Someone else is entering this world?!" She already knew what it was based on how this castle functions. "Is it my pursuers this time?!"
The castle would sing once more, speaking to Twilight as if it had a sentience of its own. Twilight listened carefully, making sure she wouldn't miss anything.
"What? It's two of them at the same time? You're saying two of me are showing up? Who else are you talking about?" Twilight wondered. The only pony that came to mind was Twilight Moonlight, who she has had bad encounters with. But who was the second pony that the Dimensional Castle was speaking about? That answer was coming her way as soon as the door opened up.
Twilight was at the ready, using her magic to take out a Poke Ball. She made a grimace, feeling rather nervous as she wasn't one that was all for Pokemon Battling. But she's up for the chance to protect herself, much like how she fought back in her universe when it was being invaded. However, it wasn't anyone who threatened her. Instead, it was a friendly face. A face that mirrored hers perfectly.
Twilight Sparkle.
Twilight Sparkle appeared here at the Dimensional Castle, which was certainly not her first destination. But thanks to Discord, it already was. Lo and behold, upon entering the castle, she laid eyes upon the lookalike in front of her. A lookalike that strongly resembled not just her, but also her mother Twilight Velvet.
Twilight Sparkle wasn't a stranger to meeting alternate versions of herself. Not by a long shot. But there was something about this one Twilight in particular that stood out from the rest. Not her appearance, even though she was the only one who resembled her mother, but simply the connection. When both Twilights eyes met, a connection was made. A strange spark went off. It was almost as if this encounter was something that was far different from other encounters she's had.
Equestria. Near the Outskirts Manehattan. The Dimensional Castle. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
Here at the Dimensional Castle which was sitting outside of Manehattan, both Twilights have encountered each other. It's not the first time either of them have met another lookalike of themselves. For Twilight Sparkle, she has seen multiple counterparts of herself under the Sun. She's even had to battle an evil version of herself.
But this time, it was different. There was a bizarre connection that birthed into existence. Both Twilights felt it too, shaking their heads as it felt like they've been electrocuted. But the Twilight from another universe took it better. She looked rather unphased as if this wasn't the first time this has happened.
"Wow....You really do look like my mom. There's just one difference but it's still so weird seeing my exact mirror." Twilight Sparkle said. "But...what was that spark?"
"You felt it too? Then you're definitely my other counterpart." Twilight replied. "Your name?"
"Twilight Sparkle. And you're Twilight..." The Princess of Friendship paused for a moment.
"Just Twilight."
"That's it? Nothing else after that?" She was rather surprised to hear that one of her counterparts lacked an extra part to her name. "I'm Sparkle and the other one is Moonlight but you don't have anything? Are you the first Twilight or something?"
"Well...I don't know about that. I just don't have anything else after that." She giggled before thinking for a moment. "I bet that can be a bit confusing. How about I substitute one?"
"Like...?" The young alicorn leaned in, waiting for her response. Judging by what she knows, she expected something related to the night sky or anything during the dusk. Every Twilight she's met has that connection. Especially Twilight Moonlight.
"You can add Wish to my last name." She already found something to add to her first name. "It works since that's how I teleport. I don't casually use magic just like other unicorns from different worlds. I have to speak a specific word to teleport."
"Oh, really? Well, you do wish upon a star, I guess." Twilight saw the connection. "So, do you say 'I wish' to teleport or something like that?"
"Close. I say this. I wish, I wish, I wish." And by speaking those words, Twilight Wish appeared right behind her counterpart. Twilight and her Espeon quickly swivelled to see Twilight Wish in another spot. "See? It's less convenient but still fun to say."
"Well, I can thank Discord for bringing me here of all places first" Twilight Sparkle chuckled. This was Discord's approach since he escorted her seconds after bringing up the other Twilight. "And I'm glad to know you're not intimidating. But if you're here, you're probably determined to stop Prisma too, right?"
"Right. B-But don't get the wrong idea!" Twilight Wish frantically shook her head. "I already had a chat with your ruler. I believe her name was Princess Celestia. I only wish to keep Prisma's soul from emerging. I don't want to harm your friend."
"Really?"
"Really! I swear!" She put her hooves together. "And if you don't believe me, you can ask Princess Celestia herself, I promise!"
"Alright, alright. I got it." If she was willing to bring in Princess Celestia, then she wasn't bluffing. Celestia was far too important to lightly use in a conversation such as this. Sheena's been wanting to stop Prisma too and she offered a less destructive decision. Ash is keeping Prisma from appearing, but I'm not sure when he'll even show up."
"Phew..." Twilight Wish sighed. "Alright...Glad that's already covered. Now, I just need to get back to a few things. For starters, you're not the only Twilight that showed up here at this time of the night."
"I'm not? Did another Twilight pass through here already?"
"Not really. The Dimensional Castle tells me that another Twilight has entered this universe." Twilight Wish answered. "It can sense whenever someone shows up in a universe and that makes it very nifty."
"I'm sorry, what?" The young alicorn raised her head as she wasn't aware that she was even in a Dimensional Castle. She wasn't even sure what that was. When looking up, she heard a sound that not even Celestia, Luna and Chrysalis got the chance to hear. A melodic hum came from the castle, reverberating through Twilight Sparkle's body. "Oh my..."
"It travels to universes but stays in between two of them. I explained everything to Princess Celestia's group, but I know for a fact you'd love to hear about it. Right?" Her counterpart winked. "Unless you have places to be."
"Well...I wanna be with my friends but, it's getting late and I'm tired too so..." She scrunched her face, looking back at Twilight Wish.
"You're free to stay here. I'm so used to running from my other counterpart, it would be nice to just casually be around another one too. I'd love to know more about my counterparts since I've got all this time on my hoof. It could be like a sleepover!"
"This doesn't exactly look like the place to have a sleepover though.." Twilight observed the castle and its current condition It was still a mess. Luna was right. Twilight wouldn't normally leave a place like this in such disarray but now that the Twilight she knows was present in this castle, she was most definitely not going to let this mess remain. "How about we clean it up first before anything else?"
"Mmm...Sure." It took another version of her to even go along with cleaning this mess up. The two Twilights got to work, giving this place a refresh. It looks like it hasn't received any care for over a month or so. And since the castle seemed to be somewhat alive, there was a chance it was displeased. They could kill plenty of time with this.
"By the way...what was that feeling when we met? I never felt that with any of my other counterparts." Twilight Sparkle asked, wondering why that spark went off.
"Oh, that? Well, that's actually because we're closer than you think." Twilight Wish replied while cleaning the walls. "You see, all those other counterparts you met, they were just alternate versions of yourself. Another story with another world. They live their own lives that don't relate back to your universe. But the two of us are different. We may come from different worlds, but we share the same story."
"We do? What do you mean by that?"
"It's a lot like with your friend and Prisma. You could say that we have the same soul. And it all ties back to this." From a cabinet, Twilight Wish would reveal a certain object. It was a piece of regalia, specifically a crown. Half of a crown to be even more specific.
"A crown? What's up with this?" Twilight approached the cabinet with the crown.
"This crown's been with me for a long time and apparently, it has something to do with our connection. The one who lent me this castle said so. I never thought too much about it until she brought it up. And apparently, Twilight Moonlight has one as well."
Twilight's interests were back in full swing. This counterpart of hers was far more important than the others she's met before. According to her, there was a connection there. Similar to Ash and Prisma, which was a little nervous but not something that was said in a negative light.
"Tell me more."
Unova. Aspertia City. Day
A new day had come. The second day of the fourth Pokemon Festival. And here at Aspertia City, where the mountains are so high, you can see all of Unova, the Junior Pokemon Baccer event was taking place. For those who aren't professionals but still love the sport or wish to engage with it, this was the place to be as a mini-stadium had been planted.
Arriving here was Scootaloo, who took an interest in this sport after Rainbow Dash showcased it to her. Present here were a majority of her friends who came to watch her. Already, many other children were gathering to take part in this small Pokemon Baccer event.
"Aspertia City...Guess I'm not gonna find Nate here." Lucas commented, already recognizing Aspertia City. Mainly from the world he comes from. "Am I here?"
"I saw you on TV once. So you totally are" said Ash. "I'm kinda surprised you and that other Lucas aren't all that close. But it's you and me instead."
"Heh. Weird how the universe works like that, huh?" Lucas chuckled.
"Hey there! I'm here to sign up!" She would jump up, clinging onto the registration table. "Can I?"
"Of course you can. Pick a team and you'll be escorted straight to it. But you will have to be careful about which team you choose. I believe a majority of them seem to be clogged right now." The receptionist said. "Let me see."
"Really? How many?" Scootaloo would gander at the team names that were present on the walls of this registration office. It involved the names that Rarity once saw while looking at young Pokemon Baccer clubs. The Pichu Eleven, The Wild Mawiles, the Skitty Junior Baccer Club, The Spewpa Dust and the Litleo Prominence were all there, plus many more.
And when looking at their spots, Scootaloo saw how a majority of them were full. All of them had full members which went up to 15 in total. Her aw dropped as there didn't seem to be a spot for her with many kids were participating.
"Oh, dear. They joined relatively quickly." The receptionist said. "It'll be difficult for you to join one."
"Aww..." Scootaloo lowered her head in disappointment.
"But, don't worry. There's an available spot. The Pichu Eleven are available." The receptionist brought a brighter side to this. "They already have eleven members on their team, so it would be great if you could make it twelve."
"Works for me! Sign me up!"
"Before you do that...You'll need to register your Pokemon." She stopped Scootaloo from instantly dashing off. Her Pokemon haven't been registered yet. "How many Pokemon do you have on you?"
"Uh, let's see...Rapidash, Quilava, Pachirisu, Seadra and Gible so that's...five!"
"Five is good enough Six is the maximum as you can imagine. Go on to the Pikachu Eleven team room. You're free to take any of your friends or family with you."
"I know I definitely wanna do that!" Scootaloo galloped along as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle would promptly follow her. Ash and the others would simply head to the stands to watch this small Pokemon Baccer event when it eventually happens. At this very moment, there was already a match going on and Ash certainly wanted to view it.
"If we hurry now, we can probably see the rest of this Baccer match!" Ash said, running off with Lucas, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. They were already on their way, not wasting any time. Meanwhile, it was just Rarity, her Human Counterpart and Spike who would simply trail behind.
Pichu Eleven Baccer Club Room.
Scootaloo found herself in this Baccer club after being led here by the employees. She already got a gander at some of the club rooms here, seeing how fresh they appeared. These rooms were absolutely lively to the core, whether it was the energy coming from them or how everyone was already starting to form well-adjusted teams.
She was expecting the Pichu Eleven club to be the same. And upon entering, she would encounter the kids who were already in this team from the very beginning. As for the room, it was not lively at all. Rather silent and lacking that same energy the other rooms had just from the outside alone.
Here, the kids who were in this team wore a specific set of clothes. The colour blue was a rather prominent colour for a Pokemon that was yellow. Blue jackets, blue shirts, blue dresses and blue shorts with yellow accents on them to boot. On their shirts, they had a stylized symbol of Pichu on them, signifying their mascot. Some of them even wore headbands, which had the initials P 11 on them.
"Uhh..." Looking at these kids, they looked to be rather uninterested. Very uninterested unlike Scootaloo.
A boy was seen reading a comic book while next to her was a girl snacking on some popcorn. Another was too focused on playing a video game, prioritizing it over everything else happening out there. Two of them looked absolutely tired, resting their heads on the sofas.
It didn't seem like they were here for Pokemon Baccer at all. They were just doing their own thing, compared to the other Baccer Team Rooms which had plenty going on. Scootaloo paused for a moment as the reason for this club room lacking many members was starting to make sense.
"Hey. Are you new here?" But amidst all of this boredom and silence, one individual seemed to notice Scootaloo, approaching her. It was a rather enthusiastic girl who wore her team uniform proudly.
"Uh yeah. I'm taking part in this event today." Scootaloo answered. "And this was the only team room that wasn't full."
"Sorry...Not everyone here's feeling all that excited." The young girl apologized. "I'm the co-captain of this team. Aubree's my name."
"Look at that. Someone joined. "One of the kids took notice of Scootaloo at last. "I thought no one would."
"She didn't go for the other teams? What a waste..." Another kid said. "I mean, not that I would've or anything."
"Come on, everyone. Say hi to our new member. Well, for this event at least." Aubree requested. "She's our first teammate that we've gotten since we showed up here."
"Hi, I'm Scootaloo! Straight from Equestria!" She introduced herself. "I'm excited to play with you!" But no one exactly gave a complimentary greeting back. There was a still and weak air around the room.
"You're wasting your time." A girl with a lazy face said. "So are we. I wish we could do something else during the Pokemon Festival, honestly."
"Yeah. Those other clubs are more excited than us. They'll gladly stick around. Me? I wanna visit Equestria and try their doughnuts. I hear one pony makes the best doughnuts out there.
"As if!" Suddenly, bursting into this room was another boy who also wore the same team outfit. He was definitely part of this club and was by far the loudest out of anyone here.
"What's wrong with you guys? We're here to play not laze around!" He bellowed.
"Hey, Jay! This here's our main captain!" Aubree excitedly introduced the Team Captain to Scootaloo. Jay. "Founder of the Pichu Eleven!"
"And a pretty upset captain too." Jay crossed his arms, eyeing down his teammates. "We're a Pokemon Baccer Club! What's the point of showing up here if we don't play it?! Didn't you guys join this club just because you wanted to play?!"
"Yeah, but, I don't think we should be here, Jay."
"We lucked out. We're only here because of that one game we managed to win."
"That game mattered, okay?! We won and we got a spot here among the rest of the clubs." Jay grumbled. "That's all that matters to us and now we can really prove ourselves!"
"Only because they felt bad for us after hearing the news. We were never good enough. No way we're proving ourselves."
"That's not true though...!" The Team Captain closed his eyes while growling.
"Uh, Jay...Maybe you should meet our newest member for this event." Aubree tried calming Jay down. "This is Scootaloo and..."
"So what if they went easy on us? We still played our best game back then and I've been waiting to get out there for the longest. We're not gonna let this moment slip away from us now that we've got tons of eyes watching us. We're gonna play our best again and this time, they won't go easy on us, so it'll be satisfying when we when!" Jay grinned.
"Yeah. If we win. But that's not happening. Might as well call it quits now, Jay. I mean, why are we even doing this?" One of the teammates stood up. "It's a miracle you even got us to show up here but I think that's the last miracle we're getting, dude."
"We're doing it for Pichu..." Jay growled before turning his back to them. "I thought you guys were doing it for Pichu, but I guess it's just me. Fine then! Standard Baccer lets you use three Pokemon sometimes and I've got three of my own so whatever! If you wanna back out, be my guest. I can win this by myself!" Angered, Jay stormed out of the club, leaving his teammates to go somewhere else.
Another dash of silence hit the room but this time it was awkward silence. Scootaloo saw the way the other teammates expressed their faces. While they were honest about not being here, the way they reacted to Jay's words told a different story. There was something there. But they went back to what they were doing seconds later.
"S-Sorry you had to see that." Aubree stuttered, hoping Scootaloo didn't feel uncomfortable after that. "Jay's going through something right now. Wish I could help with his problem but, it's tough."
"It's fine, it's fine." But Scootaloo had no qualms with it. "That's why I'm a Crusader. Stuff like this is up my alley!"
"It is?" Aubree blinked.
"Yep." The pegasus grinned. "So, what's the problem?"
"Well, it's tough to say it but...it has something to do with our mascot, Pichu. Jay's Mascot Pichu." Aubree frowned, knowing the story behind this and what was driving Jay and the others to react like this. "Pichu's the reason why we're here today and Jay's holding that close to him."
Break Room.
Jay found himself in a room where the participants can come and taste the snacks and drinks that were offered up after a long and well-played game of Pokemon Baccer. But right now, Jay just wanted some time alone. He sat alone in this room, near a mirror with his head down. No one else was here since practically everyone else was ready to play. Except for Jay's team after all.
"This blows...I hate winning like that...I wanted it to be the real deal, but I had to take that win. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here." Jay spoke to himself as a part of him wished to win without anything taking it easy on his team. The taste of victory that involves doing your best while the opposing team also does their best was wonderful.
"It was way better back home when we were just starting out...I wish you were here right now to say something, Pichu." He looked at the mirror, immediately seeing the visage of his partner Pichu. Clearly, something had happened to Pichu for such a circumstance to come up.
Just then, out of Jay's body, a familiar purple aura surrounded his body. Jay didn't notice it. He didn't even feel it. But that was only natural considering what this energy was. It once caused trouble across Equestria and some parts of the Pokemon World before going into hiding because of recent events. But now, once more, it has made its return, targeting someone rather vulnerable but strong-willed at the same time.
Here at Aspertia City, the Pokemon Baccer Junior event was currently ongoing with a game already being played. With two teams outside, going at it, the other teams were currently indoors, chatting about their approach for their upcoming games. But one team was struggling and that was the Pichu Eleven.
Comprised of kids who didn't seem all that interested in Pokemon Baccer despite wearing their respective team uniforms, their Team Captain, Jay, felt otherwise. Scootaloo saw it all occur, being a temporary new member for this event. And she was the only member in this club while other kids have chosen different clubs, making this one the least popular Baccer Club.
"This Baccer club exists because of Jay's Pichu. I was with him back then when forming the team." Explaining it to Scootaloo as the Co-Captain Aubree. And in her hands, she held a picture, showing the bond between Jay and his Pichu. There, the two of them were together like most Trainers and Pokemon. Aubree was there too, being next to them both.
"Pichu loved Pokemon Baccer just as much as Jay and I did. We'd usually practice at Jay's back garden. And from there, all of our practice sessions got some attention, and Pichu didn't let that go to waste."
"Jay wasn't all that eager to do it, but Pichu convinced him to do it. She played the biggest part in getting our team together.."
"So then...What happened?"
"Well, right now, Pichu, even though she's our mascot, isn't able to join in anymore. Not for a while, anyway." Aubree sighed.
"Pichu's still recovering." One of the kids spoke, deciding to throw his two cents into this. "She took a pretty bad hit one day and now she's been at the Pokemon Center for months now."
"I think it was from when one of those weird demons attacked us." Another kid said, bringing up one of the 100 Demons. Apparently, they were involved in this and by extension, the Dread League. "Pichu got caught up in the attack and got hit by something strange."
"It was probably a curse..." Scootaloo gasped as that sounded exactly like a Magehold Curse. Leftovers from the Dread League were present and not everything has finished healing just yet. And it seems like Pichu was an example, currently afflicted with a Magehold Curse.
"After she fell ill, Jay promised Pichu that he'd help grow the entire team and reach the frontier of Pokemon Baccer. That meant we'd have to win as many games as we could." Aubree continued. "We did well, but it was only back in our hometown."
"Yeah. The more teams we faced, the harder it got." The kid playing a game would pause it to throw his own words into this discussion. "We kept losing to other teams and scored a pretty mean losing streak.
"It was just two weeks ago that we won a game after a lot of losses. The team that we took on heard about our Pichu and took it easy on us. That's how we won and got the chance to enter this event. Because they felt bad for us. Jay was stoked to get a chance to enter but everyone else..."
"There's no chance we're winning in this." One of the kids spouted. "That team went easy on us. These teams won't do the same, I just know it. But I don't wanna ruin Jay's dreams and I definitely don't wanna disappoint Pichu. We're all doing it for her."
"Mhm. But I don't think doing it for her is enough when we're outclassed." The reality was that they wished to do their best but their best might not be enough, especially with how their previous victory went.
"Hah! Who said anything about outclassed?!" Returning to the club room with a different energy was none other than Jay. But there was a reason for this. It was the Desire. The Rift-Powered force that targets a person's desire and makes it a reality in some way. However, instead of appearing as a cosmic visage of the individual, it was a part of Jay instead.
The energy was faint. So faint to the point where everyone in here didn't notice it. Jay's eyes were emitting the purple colour of the Rift, silently sparkling.
"Jay? You look better already." Aubree observed.
"Well, yeah. As if that was gonna keep me down. No way. I'm still confident we can win this."
"Still on this?" One of his teammates uttered.
"I am. Victory's gonna be ours for the taking without a doubt." Jay grinned. "We'll be going on soon, so get ready. I know for a fact you're ready deep within."
And at that moment, the power of the Desire would act. As soon as Jay said that, the cosmic energy would send particles through the air which then passed through all of his teammates.
"T-Totally!" Against her own will, one of the teammates agreed with Jay, changing her tone. She immediately put her hands on her mouth as that was not the response she was looking for. "I mean..."
"We'll back you up, Jay." Yet again, it happened. Soon all his teammates began spouting out words that agreed with Jay instead of arguing back with him. This was just an example of how a Desire can truly shape the reality of someone. Thus, it was official They would partake in this match, with no backing out whatsoever.
"Love to hear it! Now, let's get ready. Our Pokemon are eager to swing into action."
"Uh, what about me" Scootaloo asked, being the odd one out.
"You don't have to worry about anything, Scootaloo," said Aubree. "Now that everyone's spirit to play Pokemon Baccer is back, all you have to do is go with the flow."
"Oh, okay. But something seems pretty weird here..." Scootaloo was the only one who felt that something was amiss. But for now, she was just going to do what Aubree said. Go with the flow.
Baccer Stadium.
One of the matches came to an end at last. While it was early in the day, these junior matches were relatively short and that only made sense since they were children. The stage was set for the next team to arrive.
"Great match as always. Now, we can give it up for the next match of the day. The Pikachu Eleven vs the Lampent Orphic." The Commentator said. It was time for Jay's team to swing into action and join in. Ash and the others were especially excited for this one since it involved Scootaloo, who was temporarily on this team.
"I can't believe we're doing this...We were so against it earlier. What happened?" One of the members of the Pichu Eleven still couldn't understand how they managed to get into this after refusing to do so. But that was the power of the Desire. With its control over reality, anything can happen, so as long as the user desires it.
"I hope none of you have stage frights." Jay smirked, being the most excited for this. "We'll have so many people watching us compared to how things were back home. Here's to making Pichu proud and winning this thing! Does everyone have their Pokemon ready?"
"I do! Go, Axew!" Aubree sent out her Pokemon to represent the Pichu Eleven and that was her Axew.
"Axew!"
"I'll start small and have Gible go first." Her first pick was Gible. Upon appearing, Gible met with his fellow miniature dragon as they looked like a pretty consistent team. All that mattered was who else would be sent out.
"Um, I don't know...We didn't see their matches so who knows what kind of Pokemon they have?" Hesitation was brought into the scene once more by Jay's teammates. While the Desire managed to get them out of the club room, there was still some work to do.
"Pssh. Who cares? All that matters is that we play our best game with our Pokemon and win this. Now, bring 'em out." By speaking once more and desiring the Pokemon to appear, his teammates were once again compelled to do so. Unable to control their hands, they held out their respective Poke Balls.
Out of them emerged a few other Pokemon with some of them being repeats. Corsola, Beautifly, Spheal, Minccino, Purrloin and Servine were summoned. They would be the first to represent their team. And not a single sign of a Pichu anywhere. Since they were relatively standard Baccer Players, it made sense why their Pokemon would be so small and adorable. But sometimes, the smaller Pokemon can pose big threats in the right situations.
"Ra! Raboot!" There was one more Pokemon joining in. That ended up being Raboot, who quickly dashed here as soon as he could. Scootaloo wasn't the only member who managed to join the Pichu Eleven. Thanks to Fluttershy's permission, Raboot was the second member. At least this team had two new members instead of zero considering how low their mojo was.
"Raboot? I was wondering where you were." Scootaloo said.
As for the opposing team, they came with bigger Pokemon. Stepping out, they revealed some eerie opponents. A majority of them ended up being Ghost-Types. The name gave it away as their team mascot, Lampent was summoned, followed by Dusclops, Haunter, a Female Frillish, and some Banettes. It was a mish-mash of Pokemon-Types versus Ghost-Type Pokemon.
The Pichu Eleven gulped just by looking at their opponents. Of all the teams they had to go up against first, it had to be the ones with the Ghost-Types. With Jay being at the heln with his Desire, he made them step forward even in the face of fear. Soon, they all appeared in front of the Baccer Stadium, with the Pokemon jumping inside the ring.
"Put your all into it, Scootaloo!" Rainbow Dash shouted from the stands, cheering for her fellow pegasus.
"This match will be over once at least 5 points have been scored." said the Referee, laying out the rules for this match. It would be a short one but that all depends on how both teams play.
"I know you guys. Aren't you the onesw who managed to make the Starmie Stars feel bad because of your Pichu?" One of the members of the Lampet Orphic pointed, knowing who the Pichu Eleven were. While they most played back at their hometown and other towns, their name was not invisible at all. "Just so you know, you won't get us with that. When it comes to our team, Ghost-Types aren't worried about who gets hurt."
"Don't worry about that. We don't want your pity and you're not gonna get any after we beat you guys." Jay grinned as his eyes would flash purple for a moment.
"Ready...?" The refree paused his words as the ball was dropped onto the stadium while the goal posts from both sides were starting to move around. "Kick-off!"
The game of Pokemon Baccer had started. And the one to kick things off was Minccino. By using its tail, it launched the ball into the air, bringing it to her team's side so they can get a headstart. Raboot grinned, eager to kick the ball and let his atheltic abilities truly shine.
"Haunter!" Haunter would intercept this immediately. By using Night Shade, it summoned a spectral black energy that would wrap itself around the ball. Raboot and the others didn't get the chance to interact with the ball since Night Shade pulled it away with its dark claws. The ball was brought over to Haunter's side before being promptly passed onto its teammates.
"Banette!" One of the Banette's caught the ball, striking it with its head as it was instantly going for the goal that was moving across the air.
"Beautifly!" This is where the airborne Pokemon come into play. Beautifly quickly went for the ball, trying to use Air Cutter to slow down its movements.
"Dusclops!" However, another intereption was made. Beautifly was promptly grabbed by the hands of Dusclops. It couldn't unleash sharp blades of winds at all with the grip of Dusclops holding onto it.
"B-Beautifly?!" Thanks to this interruption, the ball would travel after Banette struck it. But there was another Beautifly. This was one of the repeats of the Pichu Eleven. It would pick up where the other Beautifly left, but this time, with success.
"Banette!" Banette wasn't done yet. No succsess came from the Pichu Eleven. Thrown into the air by a Psychic from Haunter, Banette gained a boost in speed, reaching the ball faster than the other Beautifly could. After reaching the ball yet again, Banette used Hex on the ball creating an illusion.
Multiple balls were summoned, all being mirages while the real one was now concealed. Phantoms of the Baccer Ball appeared before their eyes as Banette would send them flying. Now it was hard to tell which ball was the right one.
"B-Beauti!?" Beautifuly stammered, unable to decide. It furiously flapped its wings with all of these balls approaching. And since Banette created plenty of doubles, many of them spread out, making this even harder. Beautifly failed to stop any of them, being too indecisive.
"Seriously?!" Jay gasped after that blunder from Beautifly.
"Ra..Boot!" But there was someone to stop it and who easily saw through the mirage. Leaping into the air was Raboot, delivering a powerful kick to the ball. Lo and behold, he found the right one, striking against it while the fake balls would fizzle out.
"It found the Phantom Ball already?! How?!" One of the members of the oppossing team was stunned to see Raboot adapt so quickly.
"Boot." Raboot grinned before forcing the ball down. Now he had control over it. His foot was over the Baccer Ball as he wasn't about to let his team, who he just met, go out so easily.
"Raboot looked at its shadow." Fluttershy knew the answer to that, knowing her Raboot very well. "Since some of there were illussions, it was easy to see which one had an actual shadow and which ones didn't.
"Geez...That Raboot just got here too." A member of the Pichu Eleven uttered. "Was it wathcing us or something?"
"Whatever! We have a good player on our side and that's all that matters! Having a Raboot of all Pokemon on our team makes things way better!"
"Can't let Raboot show me up. Stay with Raboot, Gible!"
"Gible!" Gible would take off, along with Axew. The two small dragons would run alongside each other while Raboot was upfront, going straight for the other team.
"Stop the three of them, Dusclops!"
"Dusclops!" To stop these three Pokemon, Dusclops used Mean Look. The Ghost-Type used its singular eye to make a rather fierce face, sending a pulse of energy forward. Dusclops affixed them both with a dark, arresting look, prompting them to flinch and slow down.
"R-Raboot!" Raboot growled, trying not to let this scare him. He's seen scarier thanks to the Dread League so this shouldn't phase him at all. But it was rather effective when coming from a Ghost-Type. Gible and Axew would also slow down, more noticeably than Raboot.
"Look at Raboot, still pressing on!" Lucas bellowed, pumping his fists. "You love to see it!"
"Hm. I didn't think they'd have a Raboot on their team. Those Pokemon are great at Pokemon Baccer. Which is why we won't let that Raboot play its best game. Banette!"
"Baaaaaneee!" This team was all about keeping their opponents from going all out and it showed after how Banette used Trick. By giggling and flashing its eyes, it managed to affect the ball itself. Raboot didn't notice it at first until he felt something harder hit his foot. While travelling with the ball, he wasn't hitting on something comfortable anymore.
"Ra?" Raboot looked down to see none other than a Watermelon in front of him. Banette swapped the ball with a Watermelon, stealing it under Raboot's nose. "R-Raboot!"
"You can do that?! No way!" Sweetie Belle frantically shook her head. Was that even legal? Where did Banette even get the Watermelon from to quickly swap it?
"It totally is in Pokemon Baccer. It says here that this team's all about stunning their opponents. Not in the Electric-Type sense. But in a way that punishes the opponents for doing certain things." Lucas was already reading up on them. "So Scootaloo's team is gonna be hit with back to back stuns.
"Banette!" Now Banette was the one travelling with the ball as Haunter was right behind it. To make sure anyone up ahead didn't get any ideas, Haunter used Scary Face. Similar to Mean Look but with a greater emphasis on fear. Corsola and Minccino were certainly afraid and so were their respective trainers.
They were so scared they froze on the spot, allowing Banette and Haunter to pass by them, cackling. Up ahead was Beautifly, who Haunter was prepared for, keeping the Scary face up as well.
"Come on you guys, don't be scared!" Jay bellowed. "Beautifly! Don't you hve a Scary Face of your own on your wings!?"
"B-Beautifly!" That much was true. Beautifly could mimic a fearsome face by using the pattern on its wings. Unfortunately, it was already intimidated by Haunter's Scary Face to retaliate.
"You too, Beautifly?!" Jay couldn't believe his eyes.
"This isn't going so well already...Why'd this have to be the first time they went up against?" Applejack lowered her head as this wasn't the best showing. Even though Raboot was sticking out the most, everyone else in the Pichu Eleven were lagging behind.
These smaller Pokemon were certainly timid when it comes to something like this. Banette passed by them while approaching the goal with only a few of them trying to make an attempt. And this was just a few of the team members taking action. The other Ghosts might do much worse than this.
"This isn't how it ends. You guys are holding yourselves back." said Jay with a dissappointed voice. But at that moment, his Desire kicked in once more. Seeing this display, he wanted his teammates to perform better and in response, this made the aura of the Desire clearer.
Previously, it was rather faint and hard to see. But now, it was growing. It would flare for a moment before reaching a considerable size for Jay. His eyes lit up once more, spreading cosmic particles.
"Hey..That aura around their Team Captain...Isn't that?" Rainbow Dash blinked.
"It's Desire!" Ash gasped, recognizing that energy. "He's got one too?!"
"Pikachu!"
"But it looks different. He doesn't have an energy silhouette of himself going around. What's up with that?" Applejack noticed how the energy was around Jay instead of away from him. And yet, he wasn't trapped by his Desire, unconscious or anything like that. He was utilizing it himself. It almost looked like he was in full control.
This wasn't just the Desire. It was a new variant of the Desire. And Jay was using it to his full advantage which Scootaloo soon realized but a majority of the crowd had no idea about. As the journey continues.
Here at the Pokemon Baccer Junior Event, a Desire has awoken. While appearing faint for the most part, it was further triggered to show more of itself. Jay's Desire to have his team win, all for Pichu, was growing stronger. However, this was a new variant of the Desire. No longer was it unleashed an energy silhouette of the individual. Jay was practically in control of his Desire now.
During this match against the Lampent Orphic Team, the Desire reached a majority of Jay's teammates, making sure that their fear of the Ghost-Types would be staved off. The cosmic energy from the Desire affected the trainers and their Pokemon, minus Scootaloo, Gible, Axew, Aubree and Raboot. They were the only ones who weren't as intimidated as the others.
"Did he gain control of his Desire?" Rarity gawked at Jay. "That's not possible, is it? Usually, these things just fizzle out." Others were speaking about te strange energy around Jay, but it seems that something like this wasn't a part of the rules. Therefore, it was eligible, breaking no rules in Pokemon Baccer whatsoever. It was still rather strange seeing this energy around him.
"Jay? What's that around you?" Aubree asked as the brightness of the cosmic energy was almost blinding, but not quite.
"That's a Desire!" Scootaloo shouted. "I knew something was off!"
"A what?" Aubree looked over. She wasn't aware of this cosmic power. A majority of the population was never aware. Desires showed up for a while and went into hiding afterwards, staying secluded.
"Alright! Now, we're in full control of this game!"
"What's this all about?" The opposing team gawked at Jay, taking their focus away from the game for a while. "How come we don't have something like that?"
"Ah, who cares what it is? I bet it's just for the show. We don't need something like that when we're better than them already."
The game continued as the ball was still in the clutches of Banette while Haunter was right behind it. However, Jay's Desire did one last thing before the game could really continue. To ensure that his team wins, he would try and create the best possible skillset. And the Desire chose Raboot. The cosmic energy surrounded the Rabbit Pokemon, catching him off guard.
"Raboot?!" Raboot gasped, feeling the cosmic energy around his body, but it brought him no harm, thankfully. But what it did do was borrow his skillset. The skills of Raboot were passed onto the other Pokemon as the outline of the Rabbit Pokemon appeared around them. But this came with a cost that would soon show itself.
"Banette!" Banette continued the game, targeting the moving goal in the air. Haunter would continue to use Scary Face, just to startle and intimidate the opposing team by stunning them. But this time, it wouldn't succeed. Thanks to the power of the Desire, the Pokemon were made to ignore the intimidation tactics. This prompted Beautifly to act. By gaining a sudden speed increase, Beautifly swooped in to snatch the ball from Banette "B-Bane?"
"Beau!" After catching the ball, Beautifly was going straight for the goal, carrying the ball through the air by continuously headbutting it. Thanks to the skills of Raboot, Beautifly could consistently keep the ball in the air.
"Dusclops!" Dusclops used Gravity, preventing Beautifly from making any further advances with the ball. A field of gravity was formed around in the air, immediately weighing Beautifly down along with the ball.
"Purrloin!" Reversing this before the opposing team could do anything was Purrloin. By using Copycat, it mimicked Dusclops's Gravity, reversing the gravity on it.
"D-Dusc!" Dusclops felt Beautifly's pain as the ball would instantly touch the ground. The same went for Banette and Haunter, who were also forced down. As for who would achieve it, quickly rushing to it was Frillish. The Floating Pokemon used Whirlpool, creating a fierce vortex of water. This turbulent water came crashing in, pulling the ball towards it.
This Whirlpool also created enough force to push the opposing Pokemon back. Gible, Axew and Raboot were the closest as they felt their small bodies move back. The Whirlpool was also rather massive, being the strongest attack that has been used in this match so far.
"W-What do we do against that?!" A Member of the Pichu 11 asked.
"Don't be afraid," said Jay as his Desire would grow some more. He would stave away any more fears from his teammates, prompting the Pokemon of the Pichu 11 eleven to act against this. However, Gible would beat any of them to it.
"Gible! Dragon Breath!"
"Gi...Ble!" Getting back up, Gible held its breath in to unleash a fierce blast of draconic energy that would try and counter the Whirlpool. The ball was right in the middle of the Whirlpool, moving at high speeds. But not for long as Gible's Dragon Breath cancelled out the Whirlpool. The attacks combusted, sending out an azure explosion. The ball was seen being launched into the air by the outburst as it was the highest it's been so far.
"R-Raboot!" Raboot wouldn't waste this moment to try and score. When he tried getting up, he noticed that his legs felt a bit weaker. It was strange since nothing had harmed his legs at all to hinder their performance. But even with this strange feeling, Raboot still and enough strength to lunge into the air. With all of his might, he kicked the ball, sending it straight towards the right goal.
And just like that, Raboot made the first score of the game. The ball passed by the opposing Pokemon going straight through the goal. The crowd cheered after the first goal was made. It took quite a lot of hurdles for this to happen, especially for a short match. The Pichu 11 had one point in this match, already gaining the lead.
"No way! They scored?!" The Team Captain of the opposing team was in disbelief. "They were so weak earlier!"
"Way to go, Raboot!" Fluttershy frantically applauded this successful score, proud of her Pokemon. So did Apple Bloom and the others.
"Woo. Even though the Desire's out there, things aren't spiralling out of control." Applejack said.
"I don't know...Raboot looks a bit off." Ash thought otherwise. He noticed Raboot's current stance and how it involved him twitching.
"Yes!" Jay pumped his fists. His arms would tremble in response to the pulsation of the Rift Energy. "This is more like it! First score of the match!"
"Man, I feel woozy..." But the effects of this new Desire Variant wasn't just affecting Raboot in a weird way. Jay's teammates felt dizzy as their heads were ringing. Raboot groaned, looking back at Jay, already realizing that the Desire was behind this.
The next part of the match continued with Lampet being the one to grab the ball next. The Ghost-Fire-Type struck the ball, sending it towards one of its teammates. In this case, Haunter. The Ghost-Poison-Type had both its claws out, ready to snag the ball and get its teammates back up to speed.
"Axew!" Axew and Gible would appear next to Haunter, blocking it from getting the ball. Once the object reached them, Gible and Axew collectively threw their heads forward. Both their heads struck the ball before Haunter could. With the two of them blocking the Ghost-Type, they successfully took control of the ball, with Axew being the one to hold it over its head
"Gible and Axew have such good synergy already. Did they train before this?" Rarity wondered after seeing the coordination of Gible and Axew.
"Nah. It's that connection between Dragon-Types." Lucas answered, knowing the reason for this smooth cooperation. "They may fight for dominance but they're good at forming teams with each other."
"Banette!" Both Banettes faced Axew who was moving with the ball, keeping it on its head. Together, the Banettes both used Hex, conjuring up a spectral energy out of thin air. This energy would fly at Axew, preparing to slow it down, only for Jay to influence one of his teammates.
"Corsola!" Corsola used Power Gem, summoning beautiful gemstones that sparkled with a great glimmer. These gemstones were then unleashed as rays, quickly meeting with the Hex. Even Corsola was faster than before. By using Raboot's speed, all of the Pokemon on the Pichu eleven were faster than ever. And this was shown by how Servine instantly showed up right next to Axew with a simple run.
"Dusclops!" Using Mean Look, Dusclops tried to slow Axew down, only for Servine to interrupt this By using Razor Leaf, it sent sharp blades of grass that would slash at Dusclops, runing its intimidation tactic. "Clops!"
"Axe!" Axew them leapt over Dusclops, continuing with the ball. But Axew couldn't get to the goal with its height. It needed someone else to get to that level, so it entrusted the ball to Spheal. Axew looked behind to see one of the Frillish emerging from the ground below, spraying water on the field. A torrent of water was summoned, ready to slow Axew down and possibly even cover it in water.
"Spheal!" Spheal was its own ball, being round and everything. And once this ball reached it, Spheal used Raboot's speed as well, moving so fast that it started rolling at high speeds. Everyone gawked at how fast Spheal was moving with all of that rolling. Far faster than how it should be. The speed it moved at allowed Spheal to hit the ball with plenty of force, sending it into the air.
"Purr!" And speaking of speed, as soon as Purrloin leapt into the air, it suddenly became a purple blur. The speed increase mattered in the air as well. Purrloin was airbone in an instant, hitting the ball with a Shadow Claw. "Loin!" The ball was sent flying at high speeds towards the goal. There to try and stop it was Lampent who used Inferno. A spiral of flames shot out to block the ball, slowing it down. But just barely. Lampent barely managed to slow it down as the ball nearly struck the Lamp Pokemon.
"Such speed! Purrloin is fast but has it always been this fast?!" The commentator bellowed with amazement.
"The Desire must be using Raboot's speed to boost them all!" Spike shouted as the speed these Pokemon were showing were not natural for them. They can be faster but not this fast. Raboot was technically the fastest Pokemon here, but so far, that didn't seem to be the case.
"They're doing too good if you ask me. Time to switch it up with our signature formation!" The oppossing team knew they had to switch up their game plan. The Lamept Orphic all gathered together, preparing to unleash something that not even their opponents could retaliate against. At least, they were hoping for.
The Ghost-Types suddenly got into the formation of an X-Shape, standing and hovering in an orderly flashing. The Pichu Eleven looked around them to see their opponents taking different positions while the ball was currently in possession of Lampent.
"What is this?" Scootaloo uttered. What was the game plan here?
"Here's our tactic! Shadow Cross!" The Team Captain yelled as the Ghost-Types would all unleash a spectral energy from their bodies in unison. Once this spectrail energy appeared, the x-shape made sense. Afterwards, the Ghost-Types started moving across the shadows, using it as a way to travel. Similar to a wind tunnel, this was a shadow tunnel, giving the Ghost-Types some speed. The Pichu Eleven looked around them to see a swift stream of shadows moving around. Not only that, but the shadows struck them each, attemping to knock them over.
The kids of the Pichu 11 were befuddlded by what they were seeing. The Lmapet Orphic were rather skilled despite being young as well. This only solidified the fact that they had more skill than the Pichu 11, even with the Desires active.
Servine cried out after being knocked down by the moving shadows. Soon, Purrloin was knocked over as well. Then Axew. Then Corsola and next was Gible. The two Beautifly were safe, but when they tried approaching the field, the shadows pushed them away. It was both an offensive and defensive tactic.
Raboot growled, gazing at the Banette who had the ball. But with a strained body, even Raboot couldn't keep up with this. He tried using Flame Charge to retaliate, enveloping his body in flames, only for the stream of shadows to knock him over. The Banette then knocked the ball upwards, finally getting it through the goal. At last, the oppossing team scored, tieng things up.
But even after equalizing the score, the tactic did not fade away. They kept using the Shadow Cross to their advantage, not slowing down for a moment. The Pokemon of the Pichu 11 were struggling to retaliate. While their movement speed had increased, their reaction time was still the same. And even though the Pokemon of the Lampent Orphic were only using the Shadow Stream to move at this speed, the way the shadows were moving were erratic enough to throw them off their game.
"This is bad! They're knocking our Pokemon down! And I don't think we can do much!" Aubree gasped. "Both Beautiflys can't get in close!"
"Oh, yes we can..It doesn't matter what they do. We've made it this far to lose!" Jay roared as the Desire kicked in once more. This time, it was brigher than ever. The aura of the Desire grew to a size that far surpassed Jay's own size. Jay held onto his arm as his body started twitching. Clearly, it was also detrimental to him.
"R-Raboot...!" More of Raboot's strength was being borrowed by the Desire. Raboot groaned, feeling his strength leave his body as he got on his knee. The energy could be seen leaving his body, entering everyone's body next.
"Stop! You're hurting Raboot!" Scootaloo bellowed after seeing Raboot feel the effects. The Pokemon of the Pichu 11 were receiving boosts while the Trainers felt their heads ring more and more. By taking power from Raboot, passing it onto the Pokemon while also forcing his teammates to muster up courage, Jay was harming them.
"S-Sorry...! But we have to win!" But Jay's Desire to win was winning over easily. "This thing that I have has been a bunch of help and I can't let it go to waste right now!"
"What? You mean you've used the Desire before already?" Scootaloo pulled back.
"No way! This isn't the first time the Desire's shown up for him." said Ash. This was a shock. Not only did Jay have a different variant of the Desire, but it has emerged out of him before during a moment of weakness.
"Pika?!"
"I did...I used it on the Starmie Stars not too long ago." Jay confessed to it. "I was afraid we'd never make it to the Junior Event here at the Pokemon Festival. I really wanted us to. For Pichu. That's when this thing showed up."
The Desire showed up the same way it did today. Because of Jay's bond with Pichu and wanting to make her happy, the Desire responded to him, manifesting itself. And the first time it was ever used was against the Starmie Stars, who apparently, felt bad for the Pichu 11 after hearing about their Pichu. But now, it was revealed that there was influence involved.
"It made me change their minds and they went easy on us. I didn't wanna tell anyone about this because this was our chance. I was psyched to finally get the chance to join the event so that I could tell the news to Pichu." Jay groaned while holding his head. "They only went easy on us because of this thing around us forcing them too. I didn't wanna win like that, but I still wanted to win!"
"If you don't mind, we'll score again!" The Lampent Orphic said, taking the oppurtunity to score a second time. This time, it would be Dusclops who would try and score, using its strong hands to grab the ball.
"I don't think so!" Jay growled as the power of the Desire would move all of the Pichu 11 Pokemon, minus Gible. They didn't even mean to leave the ground. It was Jay's Desire as the energy was picking them up instead. The Pokemon were all used as shields, blocking the ball from reaching the other goal.
"A-Axew!" But this was not pleasant to them. They had no control over their bodies and the feeling it gave them was truly uncomfortable. The power of the Desire wasn't just some random power that could manipulate reality. It had its bad effects, no matter the variant and they were showing.
After blocking the ball, the Desire would have Corsola strike it, sending it back down. By surrounding the ball with cosmic energy, the Shadow Cross was disrupted. Jay's Desire broke the Shadow Cross, causing all the Pokemon within it to fall over.
"N-Now we just have to score and we'll be in the lead again!" Jay grunted as he closed one eye. The Desire's Energy kept forcing itself to make the right plays just to guarantee victory. "But...not like this. Not when everyone's feeling this way." All the while, Jay was being harmed. Both physically and mentally. A part of him did not wish to do this to his friends.
"Something's really weong with Jay!" A worried Aubree said, looking at Jay and her friends. "And everyone else! What's going on?!"
"Okay! I think it's time I really stepped in! Aubree! Can you please help me free Jay from the Desire!" Scootaloo requested.
"Uh...I-I don't know how to do that or what's going on. But you said something about this being up your alley. Is this one of them?"
"Totally! I thought he had some control but I guess not. Raboot! Gible!" Scootaloo faced them both, needing the help of her friends. It wasn't something she could do on her own.
"Jay! You don't have to worry about that right now!" Scootaloo said to the Team Captain. "Even though you got here because of the Desire, you can still make progress without it! I heard everything from your teammates and they wanna do their best too!"
"D-Do they?" Jay grunted. He wasn't sure about that considering how his friends spoke to him. "They don't wanna be here and I brought them out here because of this thing! I was hoping no one would recognize it but...!"
"We're sorry, Jay!" One of the teammates replied. "We weren't confident in ourselves. We know when we're outclassed so we had to be honest with you!"
"We couldn't just lie and go with the flow! We had to pick our battles. But I swear, we didn't wanna dissappoint Pichu! She would've understood if she were here right now!"
"Well, she's not! Pichu always taught me to never give up and I wasn't about to do the same for this oppurtunity!" Jay shook his head.
"We should've tried talking to you about this, Jay. Coming along was our own mistake but not letting you know how we really feel was also pretty bad on our part! We want to improve so we can make it to the big leagues one day. But now's not that day!"
"I get what you're saying, you guys...but I don't think I can stop this thing!" Unfortunately, Jay's Desire had grown too strong. It was one of the strongest Desires Scootaloo has seen and it was coming from someone as young as her too.
Just then, the Desire would show an energy variant of Jay, much like the first variant of the Desire when it was just the silhouette. This was the part of Jay that wanted to continue using whatever resource there was to achieve victory.
"I can't do anything about this. The best thing to do is reach his mind or something! Do I even have a Pokemon for that?!" Scootaloo blurted. She's never dealt with a Desire before. She's only seen others handle it with other forms of power. Scootaloo didn't exactly have a Psychic-Type or anyone with Aura to assist. "Unless...Can any of you swap out your Pokemon, please?!"
"This is weird..." The opposing team had no idea what to make of this. This was certainly a sigh to behold for their first Pokemon Baccer Junior Event.
"Raboot!" Raboot had a better solution to this. He figured there was another way to knock Jay back to his senses. And that was with physical force. While he was weakened, he wasn't unable to continue. Holding his chest high, Raboot would approach the ball. "Ra!"
"Gible!" Gible was also free from the Desires control since it only targeted Jay's friends instead. It was just Gible and Raboot who were free to move. Raboot was counting on Gible to help him snap Jay back to reality and the ball would play a part in this.
"Boot!" Thanks to the confusion from the other team, Raboot could snatch the ball. After taking the ball, Raboot would kick it a few times with the strength he managed to muster. After building up power, Raboot would face Jay, kicking the ball directly at him. But the kick just wasn't strong enough.
"Gible!" That's where Gible came in. He used Dragon Breath on the ball, not only surrounding it in draconic energy but also giving it an extra boost in speed and power. The ball was going out of the field and straight for Jay.
"Huh?" Jay blinked as the ball struck him in the head. It was a direct hit too, right as the pure manifestation of his Desire was about to leave his body. But that never came into fruition. "Gah!" After being hit in the head, Jay would fall over, prompting the Desire to lose its focus.
The Desire howled before re-entering Jay's body, unable to fully exit. While Raboot didn't have a way to remove the Desire from him like Celestia or Ash, he found the next best thing. Once Jay fell down, the Desire was gone, hiding back in Jay. And because of that, the energy of the Desire fizzled out.
The Pokemon from the Pichu 11 were dropped, free from the Desire's control. This also meant that the energy they were given was taken away and brought back to Raboot. The Raboot Pokemon took a deep breath as all of his strength was restorted. A pleasing smile met his face as this was a great relief for him.
"Oooh man..." Jay groaned while on his back.
"Huh. That works too, I guess." Scootaloo blinked. On this day, Raboot found a second way to deal with the Desires. While it doesn't get rid of them, it can shut them up for a while and it was something everyone can do.
"Jay! Are you alright!" Aubree kneeled as all of Jay's friends approached him while he stared into the azure sky. The crowd was just as baffled as the Lampent Team. What just happened? How did things get to this level for Pokemon Baccer?
"Sorry, you guys...I messed up." Jay apologized while staying on his back. "I should've told you about this Desire or whatever it's called the day I got it. I just really wanted us to make it this far. Even if it wasn't the way I wanted it to be."
"You were doing it for Pichu. Even if Pichu wouldn't be a fan of this, she'll at least be happy knowing how far you're willing to go for her." Aubree commented.
"She'll be so mad at me when we see her again though." Jay sighed. "If she were here, we wouldn't be in this mess because of me. But that stupid curse is still around..."
"You don't have to worry about that curse anymore." Scootaloo would join the group, peering her head over. She knew that the curses could be cured now so there was nothing to fear. "I wish I could've freed you from the Desire though. Who knew hitting was a good option too?"
"Thanks for trying, Scootaloo." Jay appreciated the help. "I just met you, but you're pretty cool. Plus, your Gible's really good at the game too. First time?"
"First time!" Scootaloo grinned.
"From now on, let's try and work on ourselves, Jay. We'll be even more honest with each other, but we won't laze around anymore." His friends soon helped him up.
"Thanks, guys. If we lose this match, I won't mind it. We'll have another chance. Three weeks of oppurtunities after all."
"On the bright side, at least we'll leave an impact after this match." Aubree giggled.
"So...Are we still playing, or what?" The opposing team said. Jay smiled, getting back up as he was willing to continue even after everything that has happened. He reconciled with his friends as they all came to a misunderstanding.
"Yeah! Let's finish this!" Jay adjusted his headband He didn't have the spirit to give up. But that wasn't enough to summon his Desire again. He wasn't going to let it overtake him. This time, Jay was going to play the way he wanted. His best game. And after making ammends with his team, their synergy was about to grow. Scootaloo was glad to hear this. Now, she could truly play Pokemon Baccer.
"Way to go." Ash, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash nodded in approval. Proud of Scootaloo, Raboot and Gible. They didn't even have to get involved at all. Not once.
15 minutes later.
In the end, the Pichu 11 lost their match to the Lampent Orphic. They were the better players at the end of the day. But the score ended up being 5-4, with a majority of those scores from the Pichu 11 being Raboot. That was just the talent of his evolution line. But even though they lost, they left a mark today, being the team that truly stood out.
Jay's Desire was soon freed from his body thanks to Ash and Lucario using the power of the Aura. Thanks to them both, they could easily remove it. Now, there was just one other problem to deal with that was the cause of the Desire appearing in the first place.
"So, you can really heal Pichu!?" Jay said with excitement as that was music to his ears.
"Daisy and Paradise can. When we reach them, we'll let them come to you." Ash explained. There was hope in all of this. Hope for Pichu and the entire team. Raboot was held by Fluttershy, needing some time to rest even with strength returning. The side-effects were still being felt.
"Best be going now." Rarity added as her friends would now depart. They wouldn't stick around for this match, but there was a good chance they would show up for another Pokemon Baccer event during this festival. "The rest of the Pokemon Festival is waiting for us.
"Scootaloo. Come play with us again pretty soon! Maybe when we're with Pichu." Aubree pleaded
"I will! It was a blast playing my first match." Scootaloo promised to do so, without a doubt. She had just found herself a new passion. And Raboot was also ready to return to this one day.
Quite the experience they had to today. They learned that there was another variant of the Desire roaming around. Jay was the first example and now, there might be more out there. But that was yet to be seen so far. The Desires were not the crux of this year's festival's wild event, it seems. As the journey continues.
Arriving at Canterlot, Lucas stood in front of the mirror that leads to the Human World. By taking on the Human Rarity's request. It was just a small test to see if the gateway that follows Lucas around would work differently in the Human World. However, they had just passed through the mirror, not once, but twice.
"So much for that," Lucas said, leaving the mirror with the Infinity Gateway behind him. "Sorry, I couldn't do more."
"That's fine." Returning to Equestria was the Human Rarity, stretching her bones in her Human Body. "What a shame though..."
"If only you could do more." A disappointed Scootaloo and Apple Bloom said, gutted that this was the extent of what Lucas could do.
"Maybe we should have Palkia hit him one more time," said Sweetie Belle.
"Hey, I tried my best with what I have!" Lucas barked at the three girls who would giggle afterwards. "Geez...I'm the only one out of the others who has something like this and this is the thanks I get?
"Well, it is what it is." Rare shrugged it off."Maybe one day a new gateway that accesses my world will show up. Maybe."
"Ash, what are you doing?" Pinkie faced Ash who placed his head through the mirror. He was currently in between worlds.
"Just checking for something." Ash's voice was heard from beyond. "Hmm....Yeah, the school's definitely closed, so I won't find Twilight here. She asked me to do her a favour so now might be the best time for that."
"Are we going through it again? I wanna be a Human again already!" Scootaloo expressed as she already got to experience the feeling of being a human. So did Apple Bloom. It was brief but they felt it and now it seems like they would get a second opportunity.
"While you do that, I'm gonna pay the Pokemon School a quick visit. Lots of hungry mouths there and I offered to feed them. The food at the school's okay, but there's a reason why we bring our own." Pinkie Pi grinned before prancing away.
"Is it another Alpha Pokemon, Ash?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Nah. It's something else. She was talking about some shards that she's looking for. Not sure what they are but she sounded like she was struggling with them. I'll just chime in and see what I can do." Ash put his entire body through the portal, entering the Human World.
"What's the matter with this thing?" Meanwhile, Lucas was holding onto the Infinity Gateway, struggling to figure it out even though he's been with it longer than anyone else, even if it wasn't by much.
"If you wanna figure it out, ask Twilight! She's really smart!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed after jumping through the portal. She didn't specify which Twilight and Lucas only knew about one. Following her were Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and eventually everyone else.
"I could ask Brendan too." Lucas sighed before passing through the mirror as well. "He's smart. Not sure if it's up his alley though."
The Human World.
Meanwhile, Sci-Twi was on her search for the Shards, finally having a way to properly track them. All she had to do was think about which areas these colour-coded shards would be at. And in this case, she was looking for anything related to the Ghost-Type. The colour of these shards would possibly be close to the Poison or Psychic-Type shards. They were basically another shade of purple.
"These were our options." Sci-Twi looked at her phone, going through a very small list of options. "I couldn't think of many places where a Ghost-Type Shard would be at. The Halloween Spot doesn't open for a while and we don't exactly live in the most haunted place."
"Glad to hear it too." said Spike. "Do we have to be here though? We're already missing out on the Pokemon Festival.
"Don't worry, Spike. We'll catch up. Besides, I'm probably guessing that some of the shards ended up in the Pokemon World. It would make sense for some of the shards to be there. For now, let's try our world and this is the one place I figured would work."
"Does it have to be a place like this?" Zorua whimpered while Pikachu didn't look all that intimidated.
"Yes. This is probably a mistake but...where else would I go?" Sci-Twi stood before a massive mansion overshadowed by the clouds. This mansion stood tall and imposing, its gothic architecture looming over the surrounding landscape, casting long shadows. A mansion is commonly known for being haunted. Especially the old ones.
With a confident face, Sci-Twi was expecting the appearance of Ghost-Type Pokemon in there and by extension, the Ghost Shards. Spike and Zorua had a different feeling, even though Hisuian Zorua was also a Ghost. Sci-Twi approached the entrance of the mansion, lightly knocking on the door.
"Yes?" It wasn't abandoned tough. There was someone there. A feminine voice could be heard through the mansion. "What is it?"
"Oh, uh. I didn't think anyone would be home. I'm just here to check up on something..."
"I didn't call for any house repairs. Our home is completely fine if you must know. It may be 500 years old but it's stable, mind you." She blathered.
"N-Not really. I'm not here to fix your house. I'm just looking for something." Sci-Twi twiddled her fingers. "Oh, this is getting awkward..."
"Snooping around, are we?" Suddenly, a hole would open up in the middle of the door. And from that hole emerged an eye, glaring at Sci-Twi. "Hmm....You don't look like anyone I notice from that town. The population is 750 and you don't match even a single one of them."
"Y-You know what everyone looks like?" Sci-Twi stammered as this mystery character was rather odd.
"Don't worry about that. Out of town perhaps. Do you have any Pokemon with you?" The lady lowered her pupils, focusing on Pikachu and Zorua who stuck out. "That looks to be the case."
"I-Is that bad?" Sci-Twi nervously giggled as she wasn't sure what she had gotten herself into.
"Hmm...Do you have any Ghost-Type Pokemon on you?"
"Uhhh...." Pausing for a moment, Twilight and Zorua looked at each other. Hisuian Zorua was indeed a Ghost-Type but it seems that this mystery individual didn't know this. Hisuian Zorua also didn't exactly give off the appearance of a Ghost. "No...?"
"You're in the clear...Come in." That was the deciding factor. Sci-Twi was allowed access to this mansion even after all of those questions. The door opened up, but there wasn't a shadow to show that someone was opening it. It was almost as if the door opened itself.
Sci-Twi would gladly let herself in, hoping she wasn't intruding in any way. She would quickly try to explain why she was here and would be on her way. Upon entering, the first thing that met Sci-Twi's eye was a courtyard of all things. Not a living room, hallway or anything.
The wind howls through the empty courtyard, causing the worn stone steps in front of Sci-Twi and Pikachu to creak ominously. Zorua shuddered, hiding within Sci-Twi's bag.
As they approached, they noticed that the windows were cracked and the once vibrant gardens now overrun with thorny vines. A worn brass knocker shaped like a twisted gargoyle adorns the imposing wooden door, beckoning Sci-Twi and her group to enter its eerie depths.
"Uh, hello? Where did you go, miss?" Sci-Twi called out for the lady. "I'm just here to find some shards. I'm on a bit of a mission to find a lot of shards of different colours. I-" Before she could finish her sentence, her eyes were met with what appeared to be a library.
It came into view all of a sudden, even though it was never here in the courtyard to begin with. In fact, one side of the courtyard was gone, suddenly replaced with a living room. She instantly approached the books before anything else. "Wow...Where'd this library come from?!"
"That's a bit weird." Spike pointed out. Sci-Twi's eyes lit up, viewing the collection of books in front of her. When grabbing one, she noticed how this book seemed to focus around Pokemon. This was a surprise considering how new this world was to the Strange and Wonderful Creatures but the lady in this house already knew about their existence.
"What's your name?" The lady asked once more.
"My name's Twilight Sparkle. I'm not from this town. I'm from elsewhere. I'll be out of your hair soon after I see if there are some shards here."
"So, you're a treasure hunter, are you? Okay then...Not a bad occupation. You don't look like one too. Not with that tardy look of yours."
"I wouldn't say that. And hey...! I'm not tardy!" She grumbled.
"I kid, I kid. Have some coffee." Suddenly, appearing next to Sci-Twi, out of one of the books was a cup of coffee. Sci-Twi pulled back after seeing the coffee emerge from the surface of a book. She would gently grab the coffee, picking it up as the book would return to the shelf as if nothing had happened.
"What the...? How did that happen?"
"Never mind that. Go on about yourself. How come you're so close with the Pokemon? Everyone in this town will barely even get close to one of them." The voice continued. The lady did not show herself at all. She was only communicating with Sci-Twi via her voice.
"Well, I had some help. I couldn't have gotten close to them on my own. I have Ash, Sunset and the others to thank for that." Sci-Twi added. "It'll take a while before everyone gets used to them. I know the other world practically lives with them as if they've always been here."
"Ah, right. The parallel world to this. Lucky for them to live there. If only we were caught up to speed just like them." The lady then spoke with knowledge about the world opposite to this. "I mean, look at this."
Showing yet another surprise, walls would suddenly appear next to Sci-Twi, startling her. She grimaced as these walls already formed another room while the bookshelves rearranged themselves. This entire mansion felt like it was constantly moving and changing based on what Sci-Twi said. And on these walls, images were shown.
Images of how Equestria grew with the Pokemon World. The visage of Ash and Twilight Sparkle was seen, recreated in different styles. It recaptured the scene perfectly, especially the detail of Ash wearing his pyjamas when first meeting Twilight.
"What? How did you make this?" Sci-Twi gazed upon the images. She saw the day Equestria suffered its first Pokemon attack from Darkrai. And right next to that was when Malamar showed up. It was essentially a tapestry of events. The event of when the Changelings first got their hooves on the Pokemon, Ghetsis being freed from prison and even the very first Pokemon Festival.
"Look at all of this." Spike gawked. "I think Ash told us about one of these before."
"Something's up." Sci-Twi narrowed her eyes as her suspicions were elevated. "It sounds like you already know about this but you didn't know that I came from out of town? What's up with that? And what's up with this house? I just came here to see if there were some shards around but now I'm curious."
"What? This is just an ordinary house." The lady replied as if nothing was wrong. "You're thinking about it too much. We all live in a Pokemon World now. Have a seat and tell me more about yourself. Especially that pendant around your neck."
"I think I'll try and look for the shards right now." Sci-Twi focused on her main objective, walking away from the wall of events. And immediately after she took a step, the ground beneath her would transform into a floor, gaining a wooden surface. Not only that, but stairs would appear. Sci-Twi was now going upwards instead of forward as a new room was sprouting up thanks to the mystery of this mansion.
"Pika?" Pikachu looked down, noticing the sudden shift in the mansion's layout below him. At the same time, Sci-Twi's phone started ringing. Before she could take any further steps, she held her phone to see who it was. With perfect timing, it was Ash Ketchum.
"Oh? Ash!" She immediately answered it. "Ash! I'm glad you called! I'm in the weirdest house!"
"Uh, what?" said Ash from the other side.
"Ash? Oh, I was wondering when he'd show up. Glad he's here today." The lady sounded pleased that Ash had shown up.
"There's this lady speaking from...wherever, and she knows a lot. Not a lot about me, but still! It's so weird! You have to come over and see this, Ash."
"Twi. Where are you? I haven't seen a mansion nearby?"
"I left town when searching for the shards. I decided to head east and I found this mansion after reading about it online. I figured some of the shards would be in here, but so far, I'm being held back by a voice from someone I can't even see."
"I'll be there." Ash wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but he'll show up eventually. "Just let me know how to get there."
"This will be fun, having Ash come along. Is he tagging along with someone? Usually, that makes things far more interesting."
"Why?" Sci-Twi narrowed her eyes, wondering why the mystery individual was looking forward to Ash making an appearance. "Who are you anyway?"
"If he shows up here with the other Twilight then I want to see some tension, understood? I can rearrange this house to fit the inevitable tension."
"Um...W-What?!" Sci-Twi blinked with her face turning rosy for a while.
"If I'm not mistaken, now that I've gotten a good look at you, this is your competition, correct?" Appearing from below the floor was another wall of images. But this time, it wasn't showing any events. Instead, it was showing all those who had a crush on Ash.
The Twilight Sparkle of Equestria, Anabel, Luna, Meloetta, Bayleef, Chrysalis and many more. Not just from Equestria, but other regions. Sci-Twi was paralyzed while Spike whistled at what he was seeing. The mysterious individual knew about those who wished to be even closer with Ash it seems. Quite the level of knowledge especially since some of them predate the two worlds ever meeting each other.
"Forget about that!" Sci-Twi frantically moved her arms around, clearing the images away as a clear sense of embarrassment hit her. "Wo cares about it?!"
"Jackpot." But all Sci-Twi did was expose herself. The way she acted made the mysterious voice pin her as another candidate. "Let's kill some time before he shows up. How about I offer you some delicacies?" Food was soon offered up as a table of it appeared from the door in front of Sci-Twi.
She lowered her eyes, realizing she was going to be here for a while. Munchlax immediately let himself out of his own Poke Ball after sensing some food. Sci-Twi was now waiting for Ash to show up since this was something out of her expertise.
"Can you at least give me a hint as to who you are? This mansion is older than me and everything you've shown me so far. But for some reason, you have a book about Pokemon?"
"Hmmm...I guess I can share something with you since you're apparently a friend of Ash." After learning that Sci-Twi was Ash's friend, she would oblige. "Very well. Here's something you should know. The mansion you're in, isn't from this world."
"It's not? Oh. So then it's just something that's been misplaced from the Pokemon World, huh? Pfft!" Sci-Twi giggled. "Duh! I should've figured that out immediately! If the shards can show up here along with the Pokemon, then so can this."
"Eeeeh! Wrong!" But the lady shut her down. Sci-Twi was wrong. "It's not from the Pokemon World you know, that's for sure. This library is from somewhere else. A different Pokemon World."
"A different Pokemon World? Like the one Red and the others come from?"
"Guess again. Where this mansion comes from is from a world that is long since gone but it's making a comeback thanks to the power of Jirachi. And I for one am especially glad about this."
"What could she be talking about?" But nothing was coming into Sci-Twi's mind. It was all going blank for her.
"This world is rather boring. Just a few minutes looking around it and I saw how uninteresting it all was. It isn't even that adjusted to Pokemon. I wish I could enter the real Pokemon World, but alas, I'm glued to this mansion. It's not all bad. I can still interact with it since I've been here my entire life."
"Wait! Are you 500 years old as well? That can't be!"
"Oh, it be. I come from this lost world as well. And I've made sure to keep records of it. Such as this." Just then, the mysterious voice revealed a hidden door that would open up. Her eyes opened up with a beautiful light peering through. Sci-Twi and her Pokemon would witness a hall that was hidden in this mansion.
This hall sat at the heart of the strange mansion, its grandeur evident in the soaring ceilings and marble columns that stretch towards the top. A kaleidoscope of colours floods the room, courtesy of the stained glass windows lining the walls, casting a spellbinding glow on the polished marble floors.
Standing proudly in the centre is a colossal statue of a figure that Sci-Twi didn't notice at first. But when looking at him, he looked a bit like Ash, but there was something different about him as his eyes were glittering with an otherworldly brilliance.
"Who is that? Is that, Ash?" Sci-Twi slowly approached the man standing there. He looked like Red, Ethan Brendan and the other counterparts Sci-Twi has met, even if he was just a statue.
"Who's Prisma?" Here at this mysterious mansion when searching for Ghost-Type shards, Sci-Twi came across a mysterious lady who only had a voice to show and not a body. And among all of the rather random and surprising things she revealed, the biggest one yet was a hall that held a statue of Prisma.
This was Sci-Twi's first time hearing about Prisma. But not only did she see Prisma, she was the first to ever see Prisma. At least the statue of Prisma.
"Only the greatest Pokemon Trainer to ever exist!" The Lady enthusiastically said. Instead of being against Prisma, she was supporting him. "In fact, he is without a doubt the first Pokemon Master. This entire mansion is meant to honour Prisma. It predates Prisma but now, it honours him."
"Wow...An actual Pokemon Master!" Sci-Twi's eyes lit up. She was currently looking at what this mysterious lady apparently calls a Pokemon Master. The first of them all to boot. He stood as the paragon of strength, the pinnacle of a Pokemon Trainer and no one could ever hope to reach his level." She continued. "How would you like to take a look into his story? You will get a bit of it but it will be something to remember. There is a reason why he resembles Ash Ketchum."
"Uh, sure...Maybe I can see this lost world for myself." Sci-Twi agreed. But she had no idea what she was about to witness. The best possible way to kill time was about to show itself.
"Wonderful. You will get the full view, in colour." said the mysterious lady as an enigmatic energy suddenly left the statue. Sci-Twi gasped as her body was enveloped by the energy, immediately interacting with her eyes. Pikachu, Zorua, Spike and Munchlax soon felt the same thing.
Soon, Sci-Twi would be the first to get a prolonged view of the lost world, unlike Sheena who only received split-second visions of it.
A Lost Universe. Starborn City.
The utopia of a world and its wonderful city was seen at last, in all of its glory. Its name was Starborn City. And it was as beautiful as the visions made them out to be. Futuristic and Magical at the same time. It was a sprawling metropolis, with monolithic skyscrapers stretching as far as the eye can see, their mirrored surfaces reflecting the vibrant colours of the bustling streets below.
Hovering above the city, a network of floating platforms carry sleek airships and transport beams, crisscrossing the sky like veins of light. Flying cars were very much present in this city, along with flying carriages. Some of these carriages were even moving without anyone at the helm. Here, Pokemon, humans, ponies and other species lived in harmony, predating the new unified world.
A constant hum fills the air, a melodic symphony composed of the chatter of humans, the playful neighs of ponies, and the occasional cry of a Pokemon. Neon signs flicker with advertisements for Pokemon Battles, Pokemon Contests, and augmented reality games, while floating holographic billboards illuminate the sky. They would look even better during the night.
A majestic pegasus, adorned with a flowing mane of sparkling crystals, stands at a street corner, offering rides through the city for a handful of colourful berries. Pokemon were seen helping others with their daily lives, each from different regions present here. This involved Mythical Pokemon. Casually hanging around were some of the rarest Pokemon out there.
From the Shaymin being seen at boutique shops, Meloettas singing in operas alongside their own trainers and even the existence of a Mew playing with children. This was truly the most advanced city to ever exist. Or in this case, existed.
Possibly the greatest mall out there was filled with essentials for all species. Dragons could be seen purchasing cuisines, some changelings were purchasing movies and even other vehicles were being purchased by Hippogriffs and Humans. Some of these vehicles resembled entire buildings. One pony was riding a vehicle that was an entire skyscraper, moving across the air with it.
Business was booming and the entertainment was at an all-time high. But even higher than that were the sports and activities. Sports such as golf and baseball were present here, split up into their own massive stadiums that could be found in this city. The city itself was so large that it could be classified as its own continent.
Other sports were here, including Pokemon Baccer which was still famous in this world, especially Pokemon Contests. But standing above all of them else as the ever-loved and always-popular, Pokemon Battle.
The World's Biggest Pokemon Stadium is a massive open-air arena, with towering bleachers that stretch towards the sky and can seat thousands of spectators. The air is charged with excitement and the echoes of cheering fans reverberate through the expanse. In the centre of the stadium stands a colossal jumbotron, displaying the current battles in vivid detail for all to see. Many Pokemon Trainers of all types have shown up here today, challenging each other in a battle royal event.
But there was one Pokemon Trainer who stood above them all. Considered to be the very best of the best. At last, in all of his glory. The Pokemon Trainer known as Prisma.
Prisma was Number One. He stood alone at the pinnacle of the Pokemon World. There was no obstacle he couldn't overcome, making him not just the Quintessential Pokemon Trainer, but a Pokemon Master.
Prisma was seen taking part in these Pokemon Battles and he was absolutely crushing them. A massive Clawitzer that had quite the growth spurt came his way, only for his Pokemon to immediately retaliate. In this case, he had a Charizard of his own. And this Charizard was moving so fast that a consecutive blast of Hydro Pumps couldn't even catch up to it. The bursts of water would miss their target completely.
After avoiding them, Charizard zoomed in to deliver a crushing blow towards Clawitzer with a single Dragon Claw. After defeating the massive Clawitzer, Prisma's eyes turned to see what was being snuck up on him. But he wasn't the type to let sneak attacks get to him.
By quickly turning his eyes, he would engage with a horde of Pokemon approaching him. Prisma was the biggest target here. His fame was very much well-known, which is why many trainers sought to defeat him first. But this only ended in their failure.
With a swift toss of a Poke Ball, Prisma summoned a Greninja into the scene, who immediately dealt with the horde of Pokemon. By using Aerial Ace, the Ninja Pokemon, upon entry, in just one second, dashed into the horde of Pokemon with confounding speeds. Multiple of them were being knocked aside by Greninja's swift movements. One after the other were fainting thanks to Greninja.
Prisma then turned his attention to the next Pokemon that tried to attack him. Two Poke Balls were unleashed this, bringing out Sceptile and Tyranitar in response. These two Pokemon immediately tackled the opposing Pokemon that tried getting close to Prisma.
One after the other, Prisma would quickly respond to his opponents, summoning a Gliscor and Crawdaunt to take another horde. Following that up was the summoning Samurott, Emboar and Serperior who would use the three Type Pledges to form a shield around their Trainer. There was no battle he couldn't win and no opponent too much for him. The victories he racked up were absolutely astronomical.
Sci-Twi was paralyzed by what she was seeing. She was essentially looking at a version of Ash in the future. He was basically an Adult Ash but also a combination of his counterparts. But Prisma's strength didn't just come from his amazing ability to battle with his Pokemon. He also had something unique about them.
Much like certain Pokemon Trainers out there, Prisma had the power to communicate with the Pokemon on a spiritual level. On top of that, he could also even understand their speech perfectly, as if they were speaking the same language as him. There was no Pokemon he couldn't communicate with.
And it showed based on his battles. Just by looking at his next three Pokemon, which were a Haxorus, Goodra and a Carracosta a simple look and the three Pokemon knew what to do. He didn't even have to always throw out his Poke Ball. By just speaking, certain Pokemon would emerge from their Poke Balls in response. In this case, Tyrantrum, Ampharos, Zebstrika, Rapidash and a Dusk Lycanroc.
His selection of Pokemon was plenty. Very plentiful indeed and each Pokemon seemed to be equally as strong with maybe a few exceptions here and there.
Among all regions, across any city, town, kingdom or empire that exists, Prisma alone was the absolute peak of a Pokemon Trainer, making him a Pokemon Master. This made him beloved by many across the world since he was seen as the very best.
The love and adoration Prisma received was monumental. After the battle was over, Prisma could be seen standing with all of his Pokemon, with his final Pokemon being a Pikachu who delivered the finishing blow to the last Pokemon. Many Pokemon that Ash has could be seen with Prisma but also Pokemon from his different counterparts. Sponsorships loved Prisma. Marketing companies and anything related to them love Prisma. He was known was a global sensation. There was not a soul out there who didn't know who Prisma was and many would chant his name.
"Prisma! Prisma! Prisma!"
Not only was he essentially the top celebrity, surpassing many monarchs out there, he was also seen as a Hero. Any threat that existed would be dealt with by Prisma. While he would always show up late, he got the job done and that only boosted his fame. However, there was something else. Deep down, past all of this fame and glory, Prisma had one feeling that was never fleeting. deep down, he was always full of doubt and unsure of people's kindness.
Unlike what everyone else has heard about Prisma, Sci-Twi learned something else entirely. According to this mysterious lady, Prisma had doubts about the people who adored him. He wondered if it was sincere at all. The scene changed, showing Prisma on his own without the crowd even being around. All he had were his Pokemon.
It was rather eerie seeing Prisma with just his Pokemon. One would imagine that being surrounded by Pokemon would temper that feeling of doubt, but Sci-Twi could tell that something was amiss.
Even at a young age, Prisma was a Child Prodigy. Signs of his greatness were already blooming. The lady then changed the vision of Prisma, switching from an older Prisma to a younger Prisma. This Prisma truly looked like Ash, but specifically, when Ash was 10 Years Old.
This Prisma was already wearing equipment and clothes that were seen as fashionable. This was all thanks to his prodigal skills, which prompted many big-name businesses trying to sponsor him and put him at the forefront. However, Prisma didn't seem like he had much to do, especially with that expression on his face.
If you're wondering about his Pokemon, that did not matter either. To Prisma, the Pokemon were just there. While he could communicate with them better than anyone could, Prisma never really saw them as friends. Not that he had any friends in the past either. As a child, Prisma lacked any proper childhood and all he had were these Pokemon he caught over the years and others who wished to put him at the forefront. Of course, Prisma put himself at the top as he got older.
Sci-Twi didn't say much. She was only spectating this story and occasionally letting out gasps here and there. But she had a lot she wanted to say but couldn't afford to interrupt this story.
Prisma did everything alone. He battled alone, travelled alone and so on. Prisma walked his own path later on, which brought him to the level he would soon be known as. He had his followers, such as myself, but I can guarantee you, he didn't care much for us. This mansion is an honour to him but he didn't ask for it, that much is true.
At that moment, the visions ended as that was all Sci-Twi would be shown.
"That was....way more than a bit." Sci-Twi pointed out. The lady promised to show her a bit but that was a ton of information.
"Was it? I must've gotten carried away. The Story of Prisma is something I always love reminiscing about, honestly." The lady giggled. " I did say you would definitely remember it, though."
"To think someone like that existed..." Sci-Twi gawked. "How come he didn't view the Pokemon as his friends? He had so many of them. I even recognize a majority of them as Ash's own Pokemon."
"Prisma found it hard to trust others due to the world he was brought up in. He certainly didn't trust me and this mindset carried him to the top. Hey. If it works, it works. Who am I to judge?"
"What happened to that world then? It looked so perfect."
"Scrapped. It was thrown out of the window but recently, it's been making a comeback. Thanks to the power of Jirachi, people, locations and objects from the previous world are being brought back. This includes me. I actually come from that lost world and so does this mansion. You're looking at a relic, but don't you dare call me old, little girl."
"I-I wasn't going to." Sci-Twi stuttered. "So, what else? You won't give me the full story but could you at least tell me what else has been brought back because of Prisma?
"Quite a lot. A majority of it is very vital to Prisma. He's travelled the entire world and done so much, so it's only natural that there were would be certainly locations and objects related to him. But they aren't in this world, unfortunately. Another reason as to why your world is so boring."
"Hey!" Sci-Twi puffed her cheeks.
"But you seem interesting at least. You are the counterpart to Twilight Sparkle after all. But I can't help but feel that you and Twilight both remind me of someone else."
"Who would that be?"
"Hmm...I can't quite put my finger on it. I might have to really make an appearance for you, especially with that pendant around your neck-" Before the lady could finish her sentence, a knock on the door was heard. Someone else was here. "Oh. Seems like our hour has gone by.
"Has that much time passed already?" Sci-Twi gasped. There was no way it has been an hour. That vision the mysterious lady showed her lasted longer than it appeared which was rather perplexing.
Showing up in time was none other than Ash's group. The lady giggled, rather pleased to see Ash. But not just him, she also saw Lucas, who was another part of Prisma. They showed up by finding the only mansion nearby. This 500-year-old Mansion from a Lost Universe was the only thing here, so it only made sense to approach it. They were instantly let in without a second thought.
Ash and his friends finally entered the mansion and they got a completely different view compared to what Sci-Twi witnessed. Since Ash and Lucas were here, they were given a more pleasant sight. The interior truly resembled a lavish mansion.
It ended up being a living room this time. It was a whimsical space filled with colourful furnishings and an array of plush Pokemon toys scattered across the floor, meant for the Pokemon. The walls are adorned with cheery posters of Pikachu and Eevee, creating a lively atmosphere for trainers and their beloved Pokemon companions.
"This is getting interesting. I think I'll show up for you first and have my fun with everyone else." Scione was feeling the excitement around the air.
Suddenly, a beautiful deep azure light would emerge from the ceiling, startling Sci-Twi. She stepped back along with her Pokemon once the light touched the floor. At last, she showed herself. The one in control of this house and apparently a follower of Prisma, loving everything he does.
"Pleased to meet you, Twilight Sparkle. I am Scione." She introduced herself at last, balancing a Poke Ball on her fingertip. "I am the Guardian and Keeper of this Mansion, fittingly known as the Prismatic Mansion. It doesn't exactly appear Prismatic, does it? I'm working on getting that right."
"Uh...Hi." Sci-Twi greeted after seeing her true form.
"Seems like two parts of Prisma have finally shown up. Ooh, how I've waited for the day I could see him again in some way! Granted, it hasn't been that long, but oh, well. And they've brought guests with them." Scione smirked. "We'll have so much fun for the next few weeks."
"Next few weeks?! B-But I want to be out here eventually!"
"Hm-hm-hm. You're not leaving, I'm afraid." Scione revealed that Sci-Twi wasn't going to be leaving the Prismatic Mansion anytime soon. "Not yet anyway. I did say you and Twilight reminded me of someone, but I didn't specify how I felt about that certain someone. So, you're staying here, but you can bet I'll let the others out. It's only for a few weeks too."
"Well, I'm not staying here for a few weeks! The house is interesting but no way!" Sci-Twi crossed her arms.
"I'm just going to run some experiments on you, that's all. Just so I'm certain you are who you truly are. And if you are, believe me...I'll switch up on you~"
"Pika...!" Alpha Pikachu flared electricity from his red sacs. Munchlax dropped his food once he heard that Sci-Twi was being threatened.
"I was already planning on keeping you around once I found out you were Twilight Sparkle. I just wanted to have some fun since I was so bored. It was enjoyable getting to talk with someone else and I'm glad it had to be you. But that doesn't stop my suspicion considering who I am."
"Great. Just great. So much for finding my shards." Sci-Twi grumbled.
"But! It would be far more interesting if it was a Pokemon Battle." Scione laughed. "Let's make it official. And your friends can all see it."
"Try and keep up with what comes next, Twilight." Scione taunted as she manipulated the floor, transforming a part of it into an elevator. This elevator went downwards with another one forming underneath Sci-Twi. Twilight yelped as she was being brought down, but not to the floor she was on previously.
Sci-Twi had no idea what she had gotten herself into. This Scione character seemed both friendly and intimidating at the same time and Sci-Twi had no idea what to expect. As for where she went, Sci-Twi found herself in a Pokemon Stadium. The elevator brought her and Scione down to a Pokemon Stadium.
The arena she found herself in was a massive dome-shaped structure with sleek metallic walls painted in vibrant neon colours. There was an array of seats that could be seen but without a crowd. Completely empty. It was just these two and their Pokemon.
"This right here is a replica of one of the many stadiums back in that Lost World. It doesn't have a crowd, unfortunately. I'm working on creating an astral projection of those who used to watch the Pokemon Battles. I think I'm close and right now my mind is already working on it."
"Why a Pokemon Battle of all things if you want to experiment on me?"
"Where I come from, everything is settled with a Pokemon Battle~ It's only fair, wouldn't you agree? Win and you're free. Lose and I get to take a deeper look into you. I need to know if you're her."
"Fine. If that's what you want, I'll battle you." Sci-Twi confidently said, which pleased Scione. She was battling for her freedom while Ash and everyone had no idea what was about to happen above them in this strange mansion.
Unexpectedly. Sci-Twi found herself in a Pokemon Battle against the Guardian of the House. A follower of Prisma by the name of Scione. For the sake of her freedom and well-being, she would have to emerge victorious. Failure would result in her being an experiment. A test subject for Scione. All the while, Ash's group have just sown up and were in a luxurious setting compared to what Sci-Twi was about to face.
"I take it you're a decent enough Pokemon Trainer, right?" Scione asked, pointing at Twilight's Human Counterpart. "You're already smart since you're Twilight's counterpart. So, you should know that I am objectively a better trainer than you since I come from a lost world."
"I still feel confident that I can beat you." But Twilight's confidence didn't waver after that comment.
"If you say so. I haven't gotten to do much ever since I showed up in this boring world. This'll be fun." Excited about this battle, Scione held her hand out, suddenly summoning a Poke Ball out of thin air. In this case, it was an Ultra Ball. With the snap of her fingers, she added some extra flair to the stadium.
Sci-Twi looked around her to see advertisements being placed up by Scione. These advertisements featured products that Sci-Twi has never heard or seen before, even with context from the Pokemon World. "Ah! Now this feels more like home! Now it's starting to look like one of the stadiums Prisma battled in. A bit longer and I might be able to replicate a crowd. Let's make it a 3-on-3 battle. I mean, I only have 3 so, that's only natural."
"I'll let you go first, Munchlax." Sci-Twi looked down at her gluttonous friend. "I'm counting on you to try and win this for us."
"Munchlax!" Running up was Alpha Munchlax, who would be her first Pokemon.
"Now that I'm getting a closer look at your Pokemon, you seem to have Alpha Pokemon. An Alpha Munchlax and Pikachu. Interesting." Scione observed. "That means these Pokemon won't be total pushovers. Enter the stage Grimmsnarl!"
"Grimmsnarl!" Her first Pokemon ended up being something that Sci-Twi has never seen before in her life.
"W-What is that?" She was just about to take out her Pokedex.
"No need." But Scione promptly stopped her, holding one finger out. "You'll get everything you need to know with this." By using her mysterious and fascinating power, she suddenly created a holographic projection that showed all the details about Grimmsnarl. This involved images, biology, evolution charts, habitats and more.
"Grimmsnarl. The Bulk Up Pokemon. With the hair wrapped around its body helping to enhance its muscles, this Pokémon can overwhelm even Machamp. Its hairs work like muscle fibres. When its hairs unfurl, they latch on to opponents, ensnaring them as tentacles would. It lives deep within the forest. Even after evolving into this splendid form, it hasn’t given up on its petty misdeeds and pranks.
"Nifty, right? Where I come from, something like this is natural. Pokedexes are practically useless to me. If only your world had access to something like this but it's clear it's years behind or lacking it entirely." Scione laughed, essentially calling Sci-Twi and everything related to her primitive.
"I'll show you...!" Sci-Twi grumbled as Scione was already getting on her nerves. Spike would grizzle her teeth at this woman from another universe, finding her irritating as well.
"Now then'! Let the battle begin!" She was her own referee, beginning the Pokemon Battle.
"Here goes! Munchlax, use Body Slam!"
"Munch-Munch!" With a huge puff that made him stick his chest out, the Big Eater Pokemon rushed in, approaching Grimmsnarl. But it was a rather slow approach since Munchlax was disgustingly slow. He lacked a lot of speed due to how his species was.
"How cute." Scione snickered due to Munchlax's slow speed. "I have plenty of time to retaliate against this. Grimmsnarl, use Drain Punch!"
"Grimm!" By pulling its vigorous arms back, Grimmsnarl was already going for a super-effective glow as an orange glow appeared around its fist. Against an opponent as slow as Munchlax, this looked like it would be a sure-fire hit.
"Launch yourself!"
"Munch...Lax!" However, Munchlax and especially Sci-Twi were ready for this. Right as the fist was pulled back, Munchlax threw his entire body forward. Grimmsnarl threw the punch, meeting with Munchlax's body. As an Alpha Munchlax, he was bigger than the average Munchlax, allowing his entire gut to be a shield. But that wasn't the vital part here. What mattered was the fact that Munchlax used a different version of Body Slam.
By unleashing his full body weight, he entered a clash with the Bulk Up Pokemon which seemed highly unlikely in the eyes of Scione. "Oh?" Scione raised an eyebrow. That was an odd tactic, but it was rather clever since it was managing to form a clash. "Well, how did you manage this? Launching Munchlax forward instead of from above?
"I always knew Munchlax's speed would be a problem, so I had Ash teach me! He doesn't just help me on my journeys! He gives me pointers on how to grow as a trainer and I take those pointers to heart!" Sci-Twi said as this was something that Ash shared. "With Munchlax's full body weight being heavier than Grimmsnarl's it's only natural that something like this would happen!"
"It is?!" Scione gasped, bringing up Munchlax's Dex Entry immediately. Lo and behold, Munchlax was way heavier than Grimmsnarl. Despite being the smaller Pokemon, due to his species, he had the weight advantage. And as a bonus, since he was an Alpha Munchlax, his weight was even greater. "Oh, my! He really is!"
"So much for whatever you have that's supposed to be better than a Pokedex!" Sci-Twi smiled. "I wasn't going to let you dominate me in the beginning. After my battle against Hunter J, I promised myself I'd grow and this is my chance to show that growth. Push, Munchlax!"
"Munchlax!" Possessing the greater weight, Munchlax used it to move forward. It was like a hammer pushing against a box. Grimmsnarl was still hanging in there, trying its best to keep Munchlax away. But it was an absolute failure. Munchlax won, pushing through Grimmsnarl's Drain Punch and talking the Dark-Fairy-Type.
"S-Snarl!" Grimmsnarl was staggered, even moving back a bit. It just barely managed to keep itself as steady as possible.
"Yes! I got the first hit!" Sci-Twi jumped for joy. "Now, use Ice Punch!"
"Munch....Lax!" Munchlax would try and follow it up with Ice Punch, covering its had in ice. It would then sock the Bulk Up Pokemon's face with a chilling blow. It didn't hit as hard as Body Slam, but it definitely racked up some damage.
"Darn. I didn't get the freeze effect off..." Sci-Twi uttered. She was hoping that Ice Punch would freeze Grimmsnarl, giving Munchlax more opportunities to attack.
"Hm. Body Slam and Ice Punch? If I had to guess, Munchlax has these moves to make up for its miniscule speed, correct?" Scione questioned, wondering if that's why Munchlax has those moves on him. "One for paralysis and one for freezing. Not a bad approach."
"Well...yeah," Sci-Twi uttered. That was indeed her plan. When it comes to Pokemon Battles, Sci-Twi was about thinking strategically, much like her Equestrian Counterpart.
"Unfortunately, that's never going to happen. Use Spirit Break, Grimmsnarl!"
"Grim!" Rays of pink light suddenly came out of Grimmsnarl's torso. These lights immediately reached Munchlax, striking him repeatedly.
"M-Munch!" Munclax cried out after these pink rays struck him. This was then followed up by Grimmsnarl suddenly throwing its fist out which would extend thanks to the hair around its body. It couldn't just bulk it up, but it could also manipulate it as stated by its entry. Munchlax was hit with a powerful blow from Grimmsnarl which sent him flying.
"We're not done here! Grab him!"
"Grimmsnarl!" But Grimmsnarl wasn't done just yet. By extending the hair around its arm, it used it to grab onto Munchlax while he was flying off. Munchlax felt his body being wrapped around by the thick hair.
"Oh, no! Munclax!" Sci-Twi screamed.
"Now, you can't escape. Grimmsnarl will make sure of it. Squeeze him!"
"Grim!" Tightening its grip, Grimmsnarl would use its brute strength to squeeze Munchlax, dealing continuous damage to him with no chance of escaping. Munchlax groaned with his eyes bulging out. Sci-Twi had a worried grimace on her face. She was hoping she wasn't outmatched here and this was just a simple slip-up, but it wasn't looking that way right about now.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in this mansion, Ash and his group were just exploring the place while the battle was ongoing. The further they went, the more it appeared as just a fancy mansion as opposed to what Sci-Twi was shown. Ash was too busy looking for Sci-Twi to really take in the scenery, but he would still glance at it here and there. The CMC were currently moving on a massive cart that was found here at the mansion with Sceptile pulling along it. The girls went speeding across the mansion, having the time of their lives.
"Say, Ash..." Lucas, who was definitely taking time to take in the mansion, squinted his eyes while having a judgemental look on his face.
"Yeah?"
"Does this place feel familiar to you? 'Cause it feels like we've been here before. I'm not sure how to put it."
"I was thinking the same thing too. But I was really thinking of reaching Twilight." Ash agreed. "It does feel like we've been here before. Doesn't feel like the first time we've been in a mansion like this. I mean, I've been in my fair share of mansions but not one like this. What about everyone else?"
"Hm? Sorry. Can't say." Rarity shrugged along with her Human Counterpart. There was no familiarity with this place.
"Nope." Neither did Pinkie Pie feel any familiarity. It was just Ash and Lucas. "Maybe there's just some electricity in the air. I wonder if Twilight's feeling it too. Wherever she is."
"Well, this mansion's nice and all, but we're getting nowhere, so far," said Rainbow Dash, currently playing a video game due to the items that were summoned here at the mansion. Scione showed greater kindness to the rest of Ash's friends compared to Sci-Twi, who received kindness in the beginning but was soon hit with an unexpected Pokemon Battle, among other things.
"Let me take a swing at it next, Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo exclaimed as Sceptile moved the cart back.
"Well, we've been moving for a while and so far, there's no sign of her. But that can be fixed in a jiffy." Digging into his pocket, Lucas held out a Poke Ball, knowing he could count on a Pokemon for this. "I need your help, Luxray!"
"Ah! I was gonna do the same!" Quickly passing the game to Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash swiftly threw out her own Poke Ball. Out of it, her own Luxray was summoned.
"Luxray!"
"Okay, Luxray. I need you to find Twilight for us. She's somewhere in this mansion, but we don't know where." Rainbow Dash kneeled, having to face Luxray at this level since she was much taller as a Human. "I'm counting on you. Oh, and the other Luxray.
With both Luxrays out, they both had the same thing in mind. X-Ray Vision. In unison, both Luxrays unleashed their X-Ray vision, attempting to find Sci-Twi since walking around wasn't doing any good. Their eyes flashed blue as they both locked onto the walls of this strange mansion.
When focusing on the mansion, they noticed something off. Very off. Instead of just seeing other rooms, there was something around this mansion that looked very familiar. It was magic. Magical auras were seen by the Luxray, floating everywhere, embedded in every nook and cranny.
"You see magic?" Fluttershy translated for both of them. "Oh, then it's probably just Equestrian Magic."
"Ray..." But this didn't feel like Equestrian Magic. At least, one Luxray could tell. Rainbow Dash's Luxray to be exact. He knows what Equestrian Magic was like and this was certainly not it.
"It's not Equestrian Magic?" Fluttershy gasped after translating once more. "Then...what is it?"
"Not Equestrian Magic? But this place has that kind of magic, even if it's not called Equestria. At least, I don't think it's called that." Rainbow Dash curiously scratched her mane
"What other magic is there? Chaos Magic?" Ash wondered, thinking about the different forms of magic. Was it Chaos Magic? Was it Pokemon Magic? He wasn't sure just yet. But Magic was definitely involved.
"Ray! Luxray!" Just then, Lucas's Luxray ended up finding Sci-Twi, seeing through a veil of magic. There, she saw her partaking in a Pokemon Battle with Scione and she was currently in a rough position with Grimmsnarl holding onto Munchlax with a tight grip. As for the spot she was the closest to, it was past a wall that was also surrounded by magic.
"Aha! Looks like we found her! She's past that wall right there!" Lucas clapped his hands, rubbing them together. "Good going, Luxray! Now we just have to reach her."
"I know how to handle that. Luxray, use Wild Charge!" Brute force was Rainbow Dash's approach. She was going to bust through the walls.
"Lux...!" By eclipsing his entire body in a burst of lightning, the Gleam Eyes Pokemon launched himself at the spot where his fellow Luxray aimed at. Moving at high speeds, the Electric-Type became a bolt of lightning, crashing into the walls and going straight through them. "Ray!"
Flawless destruction. Luxray's fierce attack not only blew a hole in the wall but it also blew away some of the magic around this part of the mansion, obliterating it with destructive volts. By doing that, the stadium was revealed as the magical illusion that hid it was gone.
"Oh my!" Scione gasped, startled by the sudden intrusion from Luxray.
"Twilight! There you are!" Ash rushed in, coming to a screeching halt when moving past Luxray.
"Ash! You're here!" The brightest smile met her face once she saw Ash.
"Who is that?" Applejack squinted, locking onto Scione. And speaking of locking on, as soon as Ash and his friends showed up, Scione's attention drifted away from the Pokemon Battle and onto Ash and Lucas specifically. Only those two and no one else. And that was for a good reason. These two resembled Prisma after all. Especially Ash.
"Oh...my...Stars!" She squealed, suddenly getting all giddy. Her eyes lit up as Grimmsnarl as now just awkwardly holding onto Munchlax. It still had a strong grip but it was slightly weakened due to Scione's avertion to something else "You're here! You're finally here!"
"W-We are?" Lucas stammered. "She's talking to us, right?"
"Of course I am! I knew you were here from the beginning but I wanted to make sure you were comfortable in the beginning. After all, this mansion is honouring you! Pokemon Master Prisma! And you're appearing as two people!"
"Aw, it's another Prisma thing!" Rainbow Dash groaned.
"I was hoping to meet you in a more orderly and grandiose fashion but, oh well~ This works for me. At last, I get to see you again in the flesh, Prisma! You may not remember me, but I am Scione! One of your biggest supporters during your rising stardom!"
"Uh...Thanks?" Ash and Lucas said in unison, looking at each other afterwards.
"You'll have to excuse me though. I'm currently in the midst of battling against this world's Twilight Sparkle. I just need to make sure that if she's related to her in any way. That face is rather familiar."
"You're not really telling me who it is at all." Sci-Twi grumbled. "And you want to experiment on me too?!"
"Relax. It's not like I'm going to dissect your body or anything. That would be insane." Scione shrugged. "But you and Twilight Sparkle look a lot like her. And since Prisma is here, I'll gladly say her name. The one I'm referring to is Twilight Luminaria."
"Twilight Luminaria?" Sci-Twi, Ash, Lucas and everyone else repeated. There was now a fifth Twilight that has been brought up. First, it was Twilight Sparkle, then Sci-Twi, then Twilight Moonlight, following that up was Twilight who now went by Twilight Wish and now the fifth Twilight.
"Another counterpart?" Fluttershy wondered.
"Oh, no, no. Don't be mistaken." Scione wagged her finger. "She isn't a counterpart at all. Far from it. In fact, she is very similar to Prisma, in which she was once one being but soon split into multiple incarnations of herself."
"W-Wait! Are you saying that I'm..." Sci-Twi gasped.
"That's right. There's a chance you're one of those incarnations. The one pony who was an absolute thorn in Prisma's side. The only one to really challenge him. Twilight Luminaria!" Scione finally revealed her name but only because Ash and Lucas were here. She was holding out the entire time since it was Sci-Twi after all.
"So Twilight's got her own Prisma? No way." Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped as now Twilight was in a similar situation as Ash and his counterparts.
"I'd say she's a bit harder to distinguish compared to Prisma and those who look like her." Scione continued. "I mean, you're greatly lacking in magic too, but that's only natural for this world."
"Then what about you?! How come you have magic?! You're the one who put it everywhere!" Vigorously pointing at Scione was Rainbow Dash.
"How? I'm not from here, duh." Scione laughed before raising her finger. "Because back in my universe, the Lost Universe, Magic is natural. Even for us Humans."
"Humans have Equestrian Magic!" A shocking revelation was made, prompting the CMC to shoot out. Scione was in possession of magic and it was all natural instead of gifted.
"Pfft. It's not called Equestria Magic, but it's relatively close. In your universe, Equestria is a Magic Heavy place compared to every other region. Everyone is born with magic there. But from the world I once came from, it's equally natural for a human to be born with magic. Neat, huh?"
"That explains the weirdness of the mansion," said Sci-Twi. It all made sense. It wasn't a function or anything related to that. It was all magic from Scione.
"But never mind that. Us meeting is destined, Prisma!" Scione continued to fangirl over Prisma. "After all, you willed it to happen."
"We did? How?" Lucas wasn't following.
"Simple. Jirachi. It's because of Jirachi that everything from the lost world is finally returning! The world I used to live in and where you used to exist as one is making a comeback gradually with no signs of slowing down! It was destiny because you wanted this to happen. You wished for this revival."
"No way! I wished for both worlds to become one!" Ash rejected it immediately. He remembered what his wish was. But of course, because of the Jirachis, it had some insane side effects.
"No way. It was Prisma's will to bring everything back." But Scione was in full belief that Prisma wanted this to happen. "In his final words before our world was erased when confronting Twilight Luminaria, he said this. I have the voice, but not the image. He made sure to elevate his voice so everyone would hear it." Scione would try and prove it, using her magic to reveal what Prisma said before the utopic world was erased. Everyone would stop to listen carefully as this would be the first time they hear Prisma's voice.
"It isn't over yet! Even if this world is destroyed, I will be everlasting! I'll come back one day. Whatever shape or form it ends up being, I'll be back, Twilight. It's my will, my desire and my wish!"
"Hah...What a majestic voice!" Scione gushed. "And now it's all coming to fruition. It's a bit slower than I would like but, oh well. I can wait."
"That can't be. Are you saying that Ash and I...used to be enemies?" But Sci-Twi had a different takeaway. Taking everything in, she realized that Prisma and Twilight Luminary sounded more like enemies compared to the friendly bond Ash and Twilight had formed.
"That's right. The only one to really trouble Prisma. But just to make sure you're here, I need to win this Pokemon Battle." Scione's eyes would suddenly intensify as she was focusing on the Pokemon Battle once more. "Finish him, Grimmsnarl!"
The battle would continue but with spectators available. Sci-Twi shook her head, getting back into the battle. She was still battling for her freedom but now she had quite a lot to think about. And so did Ash and the others after hearing all of this. This all took quite a turn as the journey continues.
Here at the Prismatic Mansion, Sci-Twi and everyone behind her were hit with a stunning revelation. The Four Twilights that exist are in a similar situation as the 10 Pokemon Trainers such as Ash and Red. Just like how all 10 of them are related to Prisma, Sci-Twi, Twilight Sparkle, Twilight Wish and Twilight Moonlight are all related to a pony by the name of Twilight Luminaria.
With that in mind, Sci-Twi's battle against Scione continued with her friends watching her this time. If she loses, she would be experimented on and there was no way she was going to allow that to ever happen. And considering that Scione possessed natural magic due to the world she comes from, defeating her was vital.
"Munch...Munchlax!" Munchlax was still stuck in the grasp of Scione's Grimmsnarl, struggling to break free.
"Well, I'm sure Grimmsnarl's tired of holding onto Munchlax, so I think it's time to finish one of your Pokemon off.
"I don't think so! Bite!"
"Munch...Lax!" Munchlax had a response and it was his most-known trait. Opening his mouth, Munchlax would dig his fangs into the hands of Grimmsnarl. And no matter how powerful they were, even if they could overwhelm a Machamp, the fangs of the Munchlax managed to pierce through.
"S-Snarl! Grimmsnarl!" Grimmsnarl cried out in pain. Even if the attack was not very effective, it left an impact. Its grip was severely weakened, causing it to back away, flinching from the attack.
"Nice one!" Ash cheered. "That's always a great strategy!"
"This isn't over yet for Munchlax! Use Body Slam, now!"
"Lax!" With this golden opportunity, Munchlax would spring himself up, ready to drop all of his body weight on the Bulk Up Pokemon. Grimmsnarl had no time to look up and react at all but when it tried to do so, all it saw was a small yet wide figure crashing down towards it.
"G-Grim!" Struck by Alpha Munchlax, the full body weight of the Big Eater Pokemon made Grimmsnarl's eyes bulge out. It was almost enough to force Grimmsnarl down to the floor with how much force was dropped on the Bulk Up Pokemon. It made its body vibrate, sending ripples repeatedly.
"Not bad...But that's as far as Munchlax goes. Drain Punch!"
"Grim! Snarl!" After recovering, Grimmsnarl cloaked its hands in a flaring energy before swinging its fist at the Normal-Type. A super-effective blow was dealt. Munchlax not only took a heavy hit but his energy was absorbed by Grimmsnarl. All that damage Grimmsnarl took was promptly erased. Grimmsnarl's body would glow green while Munchlax fell on his back, unable to recover.
"Munchlax..." Munchlax had fainted, making Grimmsnarl the winner of this scuffle.
"That's a wrap for your Munchlax!" Scione exclaimed.
"Munchlax! Are you alright?!" Sci-Twi rushed to her Pokemon instead of just using the Poke Ball to return him. She helped him up, seeing his swirly eyes as he was unable to continue. Plus, he was rather hungry which certainly didn't help. "Oh, I'm sorry, Munchlax. I wanted you to take down her first Pokemon."
"Lax..."
"Is this her first Pokemon Battle?" Scootaloo asked after seeing Munchlax faint, worried that Sci-Twi might be too much for a rookie for this.
"In a stadium, yeah. She's not battling someone like Hunter J. This is Twilight's first official Pokemon Battle." Ash answered. Sci-Twi herself vowed to win this battle after her previous battle with Hunter J. She couldn't afford to lose for that sole reason. In her eyes, losing to Scione meant that she would never have a chance to beat Hunter J.
"Ah! Finally! I've found a way to make a crowd!" Scione clapped her hands. With a flick of two of her fingers, she used her magic once more. This time, it was on the empty seats in this stadium. To make a crowd, she managed to create magical projections of spectators, filling the seats up. Ash and the others watched as these deep blue magical energies emerged repeatedly. This was just another showcase of Scione's natural magic and how impressive it was. The fact that te universe she once came from had humans with natural magic was outstanding.
Soon, this stadium was becoming lively, even if they were just projections and not actually real. Scione was doing it for the flair and style, wanting this to feel like a legit Pokemon Battle. Where she comes from, everything was settled with battling but it seems everything was a spectacle too.
Noticeably, the crowd that she summoned weren't just Humans, but also Pokemon, ponies, griffons, dragons, changelings, yaks and other species known across Equestria and beyond. Scione replicated them all perfectly.
"How's this, Prisma?! Now it definitely feels a lot more like the stadiums you used to be in!" Scione showed it off to Ash and Lucas. "Surely the memories are all coming back to you now!"
"Not really," said Lucas, instantly shaking his head.
"You did what you could, Munchlax. Get some rest and I'll feed you as much as you want afterwards." Sci-Twi soon sent Munchlax back into his Poke Ball before standing up. She wasn't going to let this loss get to her. She still had a chance to win. "Alright...I'm counting on you, Dusknoir!"
"Dusknoir!" Dusknoir was her next pick. Scione saw this as a mistake considering the type disadvantage. Dusknoir was already outmatched in her eyes.
"Dusknoir? Alright." Scione shrugged. "If that's your next pick then so be it. With this crowd present, they'll watch you lose and it'll be so satisfying for me!"
"You can do it, Raine!" Cheering for Dusknoir who used to be Human once was Hisuian Zorua. She wasn't afraid to raise her voice in this instance.
"Dusknoir! Use Dynamic Punch!"
"Dusk!" By clenching his fists, Dusknoir gathered up a dynamic energy before soon approaching Grimmsnarl, who could easily resist it since it was Fairy-Type.
"Grimmsnarl, use Throat Chop!"
"Grim!" Grimmsnarl responded by using Throat Chop, cloaking its hand in darkness. It would also approach Dusknoir, focusing on his throat. However, Sci-Twi wouldn't just send Dusknoir out for no reason. She did have a reason and by holding onto her glasses, she was waiting for that right moment.
But then, something amazing happened. The Body Slam from Munchlax left an impact indeed. And that impact was the paralysis effect. Grimmsnarl's body could be seen shaking, still feeling the effects of that airborne Body Slam. This made the Bulk Up Pokemon slower than usual but it did not deter its strength.
The two attacks met, beginning a clash. They equalized immediately, forcing each other back. Dusknoir also possessed brute strength thanks to those grippers he has. And since he was an Alpha Pokemon, his strength was greater than an average Dusknoir, allowing him to match Grimmsnarl's strength.
"Once more, Grimmsnarl!"
"Snarl!" Grimmsnarl lunged in for another Throat Chop, this time going straight for the head.
"Use Dynamic Punch again and extend your arms!"
"Dusk!" Dusknoir suddenly extended his arms as they flew forward with shadows trailing out of them. He stayed where he was this time, allowing his arms to do all the movement. Grimmsnarl gasped as he failed to get in close to Dusknoir in time, all thanks to that extension. The Bulk Up Pokemon was struck in the air, receiving a double blow to the face.
"S-Snarl!" Grimmsnarl fell down after receiving that fierce aerial blow. But before it could touch the ground, Dusknoir snuck in another Dynamic Punch. He quickly moved his right arm, causing his fist to follow Grimmsnarl to the floor. The Dark-Fairy-Type received a third strike.
Grimmsnarl would tumble across the floor after receiving a triple whammy with the crowd cheering. Scione perfectly replicated crowd reactions, but she didn't intend for some of them to cheer for Sci-Twi. The woman from a lost world gasped after hearing the cheers and praises.
"You're doing great, Twilight! Keep it up!" Rainbow Dash cheered along with Ash and the others. Hearing support from her friends was greatly heartwarming.
"Don't get too confident...!" Scione's eye would twitch while she kept up a smile.
"I can do this. I can win. And I'm going to follow up with this! Ice Beam!"
"Dusk...!" Putting his hands together, Dusknoir gathered up an aura of ice which he would then unleash with a mighty thrust. "Noir!"
"Quick! Use Spirit Break!"
"Grim...!" Grimmsnarl, who was still on the floor, tried recovering as fast as it could. It held its hand out, attempting to use Spirit Break. It just barely managed to unleash the pink rays from its hands, meeting with the Ice Beam. The two attacks collided, resulting in an icy blue and pink explosion, a majority of which struck Grimmsnarl, dealing further damage to it. Grimmsnarl rolled on the floor once more but it at least managed to recover by jumping up and getting back on its feet.
"Now, Grimmsnarl! Use Earthquake at once!"
"Grim...!" But that's when the paralysis kicked in. Grimmsnarl was unable to pull off the attack, twitching on the spot. This was Twilight's chance to strike.
"Dynamic Punch!"
"Dusk...!" Dusknoir quickly rushed in with his glowing fists while Grimmsnarl was stunned. And with no way to retaliate, the Bulk Up Pokemon could only take this attack. A fierce blow to the chest from Dusknoir which was so great, it managed to dig a bit into Grimmsnarl, making its eyes open. Grimmsnarl was then launched by the force of Dusknoir's strike, flying out of the field.
Scione gasped as Grimmsnarl flew right past her, creating a wind pressure. Grimmsnarl then hit the walls of the stadium, falling over right afterwards. That attack certainly did the trick. Grimmsnarl had fainted, giving this victory to Dusknoir. "Grimmsnarl..."
"Yes! Way to go, Dusknoir!" She ran up to her partner, immediately hugging his round body. Doing the same was Zorua, who hopped out of Sci-Twi's bag just to hug her old friend.
"Dusk."
"Well, I suppose she isn't a pushover like I thought she was." Scione scoffed, returning Grimmsnarl to its Poke Ball. "Unbelievable. My years of experience, outdone by her? 4 years isn't enough to match my skills, especially from someone who resides in this world." Scione glanced over at Sci-Twi, stunned that she was showing such promise. The more she looked at her, the more she was reminded of Twilight Luminaria.
"Not bad. Not bad at all." Lucas approved of this impressive showcase of skill from Sci-Twi. She was relatively new to Pokemon Battling, but thanks to her smarts, she could quickly catch up.
"We just have to get past her last two Pokemon and we win. Then we can see if those shards are really here." said the Helper of Professor Oak.
"Change of plans!" Scione announced. "I'm switching up the rules! It will still be a 3-on-3 battle, but now it will become a double battle! Down to our last two Pokemon."
"A Double Battle?!" Sci-Twi repeated.
"That's right! Pick Dusknoir's Teammate carefully, because I know who I'm picking! Go, Claydol! Salazzle!" The next and last two Pokemon ended up being Salazzle and Claydol.
"Switching up the type of battle?! Is she even allowed to do that!" Lucas leaned forward, finding this preposterous.
"Indeed. Where I come from, this is common. The format can be changed freely depending on the situation." Scione boasted. "Now, hurry up and bring out your last Pokemon!"
"Alright...To back up Dusknoir, I'm choosing you, Rapidash!" Her choice was her ace and very first Alpha Pokemon. Rapidash.
"Rapidash!"
"Her Rapidash seems awfully huge. Bigger than most Rapidash I've ever seen." Lucas noticed the height of Sci-Twi's Rapidash, plus her Dusknoir. Even Munchlax looked bigger than usual and especially the Pikachu right next to her. Ash would answer that immediately.
"That's because most of her Pokemon are Alpha Pokemon. The strongest of their own species."
"Prisma! When I win this, you'll have to see what I have to offer! This mansion will be all yours!" Scione frantically jumped up and down, shouting at them both.
"All this to ourselves? That doesn't sound so bad..." Lucas started considering it before receiving a nudge from Rainbow Dash.
"If I win this, I'll know that I'll be ready for J the next time we meet," Sci-Twi said to herself, seeing this battle as a massive stepping stone. While Hunter J and Scione were two completely different people, especially with the way they battle, Sci-Twi could tell that they were both powerful trainers with years of experience.
"Should I see that as a compliment for my own strength? Because if so, I'm not really flattered. Now prepare yourself! Salazzle! Dragon Pulse! Claydol, use Shadow Ball!"
"Sala! Salazzle!" From her mouth, a fierce burst of Dragon energy was unleashed. Right next to that was Claydol's Shadow Ball which was targeting Dusknoir.
"Dodge them both!" Both Dusknoir and Rapidash had their methods of avoiding the attacks. Rapidash used her speed to swiftly move out of the way as the Dragon Pulse almost grazed her mane. As for Dusknoir, he phased through the floor, causing the Shadow Ball to go over his head. Both attacks missed, hitting the walls instead.
"Now, retaliate with your own Dragon Pulse, Rapidash! Dusknoir, use Ice Beam!"
"Dash!" Stomping her hoof, Rapidash used her own Dragon Pulse, holding her breath in. Meanwhile, Dusknoir put both his hands together, generating another Ice Beam which would be focused on Claydol. The two attacks flew out in unison, crossing streams for a moment.
"Swap! The both of you!"
"Claydol!" Claydol used its Psychic abilities to suddenly switch places with Salazzle, letting her take on the Ice-Type attack. She would most definitely resist it compared to Claydol. And it was the right call as Salazzle took the Ice Beam once it reached her. The Ice Beam barely phased Salazzle as she didn't even fly back or fall over. As for Claydol, not only did it swap positions with Salazzle, it teleported itself above the Dragon Pulse, causing it to miss.
"Ancient Power and Sludge Bomb!"
"Claaay...!" After avoiding the Dragon Pulse, Claydol brought down a rain of rocks that were first ripped from the floor. But to make sure they wouldn't evade them, Claydol summoned one of the rocks right near Rapidash, prompting it to strike her while it was rising. The rocks crashed down while Salazzle built up her attack instead of instantly throwing it out.
"R-Rapidash!" Rapidash and Dusknoir were both pelted and bombarded by the rocks. It was worse for Rapidash since she was a Fire-Type. And thanks to this rapid bombardment, this allowed Salazzle to get an attack in.
"Lazzle!" From her mouth, a barrage of poison was unleashed, meeting with the rocks.
Not only were they were being pelted by rocks, but they would also receive poisonous attacks. Both Pokemon were knocked back by this hard and poisonous onslaught. Both of them groaned, tumbling and rolling on the floor. They even bumped into each other.
"Are you two alright?!" Sci-Twi gasped.
"Don't start asking them that when this battle is accelerating!" Scione exclaimed. "Earthquake, Claydol! Salazzle, use Flamethrower!"
"Salazzle!" Leaping into the air with flames building up was Salazzle while Claydol would descend. The two of them switched positions once more as Claydol would slam its body down. The force of it prompted a mighty Earthquake to form, which explained why Salazzle took to the skies. This attack was going for everyone. The floor split open with golden shockwaves appearing. And from above, a stream of crimson flames from Salazzle came crashing down.
"Phase through, Dusknoir! Rapidash, use Flare Blitz to move out of the way!" Quick on her feet, Sci-Twi found the best way to avoid these attacks even with her Pokemon on the floor. Dusknoir didn't need to get up to use his intangibility. As soon as the golden shockwaves and flames came crashing down, his body would become immune for a moment.
As for Rapidash, she would envelop her body in a flare of flames, using the speed of Flare Blitz to launch herself even when on the floor sideways. It was rather uncomfortable but she had to do it either way. The Fire Horse Pokemon found herself zooming away from the golden shockwaves of Claydol.
"Great save! Now throw a counterattack in there!" Rainbow Dash hollered, clapping her hands.
"Use Rapidash's mane as a weapon! That's what I've been thinking with my Rapidash!" Scootaloo bellowed, encouraging Twilight to try that approach.
"Claydol's a problem for both my Pokemon. I should take care of it first". While she appreciated the advice, Sci-Twi wanted to figure this out on her own. She glanced at Claydol, seeing how each of its moves would prove to be troublesome for both Rapidash and Claydol. "Get in close, Dusknoir! Bring Claydol to you!"
"Dusk!" Dusknoir ascended, getting to a higher level. Reaching the air, he extended his arms out, going straight for Claydol, who was the biggest threat.
"Uh, I think not, glasses! Salazzle, use-"
"High Horsepower!" But Sci-Twi was prepared for an interruption from Salazzle, so she already had something in mind. As soon as Scione was about to shout her next command, along came Rapidash to intercept the attack. In this case, Salazzle was told to use Fire Lash and as soon as she tried swinging her blazing tongue at Dusknoir's arms, Rapidash arrived.
"Sala?!" Salazzle gasped with her mouth wide open. Her eyes turned to see her fellow Fire-Type right up in her face. Rapidash took off as fast as she could, smashing her front hooves ito Salazzle's face. "Lazzle!" A super-effective blow which staggered and launched Salazzle away, giving Dusknoir enough time to reach Claydol.
"C-Clay?!" Claydol was immediately nabbed by Dusknoir's arms, unable to be protected. After being grabbed, Dusknoir retracted his arms, bringing the Clay Doll Pokemon towards him.
"Your Grimmsnarl's not the only Pokemon with a strong grip! i can count on Dusknoir to do the same! And now I've got Claydol trapped!"
"No, you don't! Break free with Shadow Ball!"
"C-Claydol...!" Claydol still had the power to use Shadow Ball even while being restrained by Dusknoir's grip. A blob of shadows appeared right in front of the Gripper Pokemon, threatening to blast him.
"Now, Dusknoir! Spin Claydol!"
"Dusk! Dusknoir!" Dusknoir was ready for this interaction, unfortunately for Claydol. By extending his arms once more, he moved them back a little bit but still enough to be close to Claydoll. And after moving the Ground-Psychic-Type back, Dusknoir started spinning it around, interrupting its Shadow Ball.
"Sala! Salazzle!" Salazzle got on all fours, quickly rushing to Claydol as fast as she could. But of course, Rapidash was in the way. The Fire Horse Pokemon slid in front of Salazzle, blocking her path. She hissed at her fellow Fire-Type, saving her Dragon Pulse for Dusknoir instead.
"Get Rapidash out of the way first!"
"Lazzle!" But it looked like she would have to waste her Dragon Pulse on Rapidash.
"Dragon Pulse!"
"Rapidash!" But Rapidash would respond with Dragon Pulse too. And soon, two Dragon Pulses were unleashed, resulting in an immediate clash. The two Pokemon furiously struggled to overpower each other as the radiating draconic energy started raising the rubble and sending sparks. Lo and behold, Sazzle was actually winning the clash, pushing Rapidash's Dragon Pulse back. It looked like Rapidash would lose this struggle.
"Now, throw Claydol into Salazzle!"
"Dusk...Noir!" All it took was Dusknoir finally letting go of Claydol and that was by launching the Clay Doll Pokemon at Salazzle while she was in a beam clash.
"Retreat, Salazzle! Retreat!"
"La?" It was too late. The force that Dusknoir threw Claydol down at was too fast for Salazzle to react to. The moment she looked up, her teammate landed on her. The Toxic Lizard Pokemon was promptly smashed by the Clay Doll Pokemon, ending the Dragon Pulse clash.
Her own Dragon Pulse fizzled out but not Rapidash's. It was still active and with nothing else to stop it, the attack went through, hitting both Salazzle and Claydol. The smoke started clearing after the draconic outburst came and went, the result was shown to everyone. From the magical projections to Ash and his friends.
"Claydol..."
"Salazzle..." Both Claydol and Salazzle had fainted, making Rapidash and Dusknoir the winners. And of course, this also meant that the winner of this battle was Sci-Twi.
"I did it..." She won her first official Pokemon Battle. It was all clicking for her. A smile met her face as she immediately jumped for joy. "I did it! I won! I actually won! I'm not gonna be a test subject!"
"No way!" Scione screeched, holding onto her head and getting on her knees.
"Awesome stuff, Twilight!" Ash applauded, throwing his fists into the air. The CMC jumped for joy as well, prompted by Applejack and Rainbow Dash nodding their heads in approval and respect. She was different from the Twilight Sparkle they knew but it seems the clever traits were shared across universes.
"Thank you so much, Rapidash! Dusknoir!" She approached them both. Rapidash put on a smile, realizing this was also Sci-Twi's first official victory in a Pokemon Battle. She was right to put her trust in her. It took a while, but she showed Rapidash that she was the kind of Trainer to be around without a doubt. Dusknoir, also known as Raine, was glad to be Sci-Twi's Pokemon as well after years of anger and sadness. The two of them received loving hugs from their trainer, who was greatly pleased.
The magical crowd cheered with different cries from different species filling the area. Even though they weren't actually real and were just projections of a lost utopia, it was still impactful to Sci-Twi. All of her friends soon surrounded her, congratulating the not-so-rookie Pokemon Trainer.
"Well, so much for that. Good work you two." Scione shrugged, promptly returning her Pokemon. "Hmph. I suppose I won't know if she is another incarnation of Twilight Luminaria. But the fact that her name is also Twilight Sparkle is leading me to believe that."
"Now, I can find those shards and get out of here." Sci-Twi sighed. "I have a lot I want to do, such as joining the Pokemon Festival.
"I commend you, Twilight Sparkle." Scione approached Sci-Twi. "You have proven me wrong. It seems this universe, even if it isn't as perfect as the one I come from, is not lacking in strength. Well...if Prisma's incarnations are around and assisting you, obviously not. I apologize for my rudeness."
"No problem. My older self would've thought about losing immediately." She giggled, forgiving Scione. "Glad I'm not going to be experimented on.
"But hey. While we're here. What else can you show us? You seem to know a lot about Prisma." Ash requested, wanting to know a bit more about Prisma out of curiosity.
"Alas, my knowledge is limited. There are some things even I don't know about Prisma. I know of his past and rise to fame but that is about it. I can show it to you but that is all." Scione shrugged. "But...I do have one thing in particular that will interest you both. After all, I sense that one of you has possession of Palkia's Energy."
"Uh...Yeah. That's me, actually." Lucas pointed at himself. "What about it?"
"It involves those gateways. You will be glad to hear that I have found one as well that you can use."
"For real?!" A collective shout came from everyone here. Scione had one more surprise in store that sounded beneficial to everyone. Not just in this room, but for the entire universe as well.
This mansion was apparently holding a gateway, which was music to their ears. And the fact that Lucas was brought into the conversation might change everything. This could be their lucky break to solve the gateway issue. With Sci-Twi claiming victory, they were given the opportunity to see this for themselves.
After Sci-Twi's victory over Scione, the revelation of another gateway had been shared. According to Scione, this mansion had one of its own. It was not too surprising since her magic made it so bizarre to be in. But shocking nonetheless. And with Lucas apparently being a key component due to his encounter with Palkia, Ash and his friends were possibly looking at a way to solve the gateway issue.
"Here it is. I kept it hidden from everyone else as you can imagine." Scione led them to the lower portions of the mansion, which could be manipulated in any way she saw fit thanks to her magic. Right behind them was the Infinity Gateway that was constantly with Lucas. The room in question was right behind an old door. This mansion had a basement of its own that was very ancient due to its 500-year-old lifespan.
Its low ceiling was covered in webs and dust from Spider-based Pokemon. The air is thick with the musty scent of old books, and torchlight flickers dimly against stone walls lined with seemingly endless rows of dusty shelves. A single, ornate pedestal stands at the center of the room, adorned with a worn leather-bound tome. Displayed along the stone walls was a collection of weathered paintings depicting legendary Pokemon battles from centuries past.
"You know...you probably would've shown it to us anyway since Ash and Lucas are here." Rainbow Dash pointed out.
"Hohoho! You're absolutely right! Anything for Prisma!" Scione chuckled. "But I would've experimented on Twilight Sparkle if I had won and then shown you the chamber."
"Yeah, but what if we said otherwise?" Lucas asked.
"Ah-" Scione paused for a moment, stopping in front of the door. And after realizing that she could've been stopped at any time, even if she managed to defeat Sci-Twi, she lowered her head in disappointment and embarrassment. "I embarrassed myself didn't I?"
"But there's one thing that's still on my mind. It sounds to me like Ash and I were enemies in that world." Sci-Twi brought the conversation back to the reveal of Twilight Luminaria and her relationship with Prisma which didn't sound like a friendly one at all. "That can't be, right?"
"I did say she was the only one who challenged Prisma, especially during a crucial time. I can guarantee you that they were not on the best terms. But that's all I know, unfortunately. It doesn't seem to be the same in this new world, however."
"Yeah. There's no way Ash and Twilight could be enemies." Apple Bloom added. "Can't happen, won't happen."
"But there's Twilight Moonlight..." Appleack begged to differ. "She wants Prisma gone and doesn't do it in the best way."
"Well, she's not gonna succeed!" Rainbow Dash cackled. "If I met her right now, I'd beat her in a Pokemon Battle, no sweat, so there's no way she's beating Ash!"
"That's right!" Scootaloo agreed, adding to Rainbow Dash's shout.
"You can worry about her another time. What truly matters...is this." Scione finally came to a halt, prompting the others to do the same. They have reached their destination.
With her hand on the door handle, Scione opened it to reveal the next room past the basement. The room where a gateway was residing. And she wasn't bluffing at all. Shining through the door was the cosmic glow of a gateway. There was one perfectly placed in front of the door, sitting comfortably while silently unleashing its cosmic sounds.
This was now the third gateway that everyone knew about, with the only exception being the gateway hidden in Nadya's home. But they had no idea where this one led to. It was to even see what was residing in that universe.
"Wow! So...where does this gateway lead to? Unova? Sinnoh? Maybe even Johto?!" Sweetie Belle questioned. "Whatever it is, this is super lucky for us!"
"This gateway doesn't lead to any of those locations. Instead, it leads to the world I once came from. Or at least it used to be. This is a gateway that Prisma created.
"Prisma created this gateway? But how?" Fluttershy asked. "You're not saying that he had the power to create gateways, right?"
"Why yes. He did." Scione casually said, revealing something else about Prisma. "Prisma had an encounter with the Rift, if you must know and obviously, he learned something that he could utilize. In his awesome power, he made his own gateway. But he used it to travel between regions as opposed to another world."
"So did it come back after Ash made that wish or what?" Scootaloo asked.
"It never left. After the world I came from was erased, this gateway was one of the very few remnants of it. In fact, this is the gateway that all the other gateways you once had come from." Scione also revealed that this gateway was rather critical. It wasn't just another gateway. It wasn't even just a gateway that Prisma himself made.
This was the Mother of all Gateways. The one where the Pallet Town Gateway, Infinity Gateway, Ponyville, Canterlot, Castelia, Lumiouse, Manehattan, Jubilife, Hau'oli and many other gateways that lead to different locations come from. It was the first of them all, stunning everyone. For the longest, they just thought that the Rift placed the gateways in random locations for the fun of it.
And while it did do that, selecting which areas they would fit in, it did not create the original gateway. Instead, it sounded like the Rift took parts of this gateway and multiplied them.
"Ever since the wish to unite the worlds was made and everything from my world was being revived one by one, so did the location past this gateway." Scione continued. "What you're looking at right now is the gateway to my world, but alas, it only goes to a city. Every other location cannot be found there."
"So...It's a city floating in space or something like that?" Scootaloo scratched her hair.
"Spot on, little girl." Scione snapped her fingers. Scootaloo was on the mark. "It isn't even the city I was raised in which is a shame. But it's a sign that soon the world I used to live in will soon return. And so will Prisma!"
"Yeah, yeah, that's cool and all but what about me?" Lucas asked. "You said I was pretty important in this because of what happened with me and Palkia. And how did you even find out about that?"
"You'll see, Lucas. I've learned that the Twilight Sparkle from Equestria has been struggling to really create a gateway even with a fragment available. Her main belief was that she needed to remember every single thing from every location, just to get it right. She's not exactly wrong. It does involve remembering specific things in that location, but what she was missing was a catalyst. You are that catalyst."
"You mean Lucas is the answer?!" Ash and the others pulled back, gazing at the Trainer from Sinnoh.
"I am?" Lucas pointed at himself, blinking a few times.
"That's right. Twilight Sparkle was missing Space. And since Palkia used Spacial Rend at you, inserting you and your Infernape with fragments of spatial energy, you have full access to something that she doesn't."
"Huh..." Lucas looked at his hands. Needless to say, this wasn't on his list of things to do in a new universe similar to his own. To think that all this time, Lucas was the answer but he took his sweet time showing up. "That's weird. The Infinity Gateway doesn't respond that much to me, so what makes this one so different."
"That's because this isn't the Infinity Gateway. The Infinity Gateway is still a mystery that I can't wrap my head around but a regular gateway will be easier to grasp. Even though...this one isn't technically regular either. But you know what I mean!" Scione yapped, speeding through her words.
"This is awesome, Lucas! You can bring back the gateways! You just gotta use what Palkia gave you!" Rainbow Dash cheered him on.
"This'll make you much better than you were yesterday!" The CMC slandered Lucas once more. Yesterday, they saw him as a bit underwhelming for having the power of space in him but failing to do much with the Infinity Gateway. Now, their opinion has greatly changed.
"Gee...Thanks." Lucas lowered his eyes when glancing at the Cutie Mark Crusaders.. "Alright. I'm ready. What do I need to do?"
"The best thing to do is interact with any gateway that isn't the Infinity Gateway. I'd recommend using that fragment Twilight Sparkle has. If you use that, you can recreate certain locations with ease. That is the most free out of all the gateways since it is something entirely new. As for this one, I have but one request." Scione started pleading. "Please! Bring back te cafe! That was my favourite spot!"
"A-A cafe?" Lucas stammered. He expected something else. Something bigger. Maybe an island, continent or even a town. Not a cafe.
"Indeed! I always loved going there every weekend and they had the most splendid menu you've ever seen! I miss it so much I can't hope to recreate it myself!" She got on her knees, begging Lucas. "Obviously, this was important to her, even if it wasn't that big of a deal.
"Alright, alright. I'll do it. Let me see what happens though." Lucas would give it a shot though. It would be his first time interacting with an ordinary gateway. The Infinity Gateway was the ultimate mystery as of now so the normal-shaped gateway would have to do.
Everyone soon followed him into this gateway which led to the world where Prisma and Twilight Luminaria once resided at. This would be their first time entering a place which was once erased but recently, bits of it were returning. But this city was not as fortune as everything that was brought back.
The Lost World.
At last, they had arrived. The first to show up was Lucas, followed by Ash and soon everyone else. Unlike every other time they go through the gateways, this one did not lead to somewhere pleasant or fantastical. It led them to a rather dreary and upsetting place. They set foot in the city, gazing upon what it currently is.
This city now floats in the vast expanse of outer space, its jagged skyscrapers and dilapidated buildings stretching out in all directions. The shattered remnants of highways and bridges hang suspended in the void, creating an eerie maze. The air is heavy with the acrid scent of burning metal, the remnants of a cataclysmic event that befell this once-thriving metropolis.
Dark tendrils of smoke curl through the vacant streets, mingling with the faint glimmer of distant stars. A colossal holographic billboard flickers with fragmented images of the city's former glory, frozen in time.
"Man...What happened here? If it got erased, then this kind of destruction shouldn't be possible." Lucas gawked at the horrific sight.
"This doesn't look like a utopia at all." Sweetie Belle grumbled, already intimidated by this area.
"Quite the conflict occurred here. This is why the city looks like it. It's merely appearing as the location it was currently." Scione answered. "This is where the cafe used to be too...Oh, and the place was beautiful too. Prisma didn't come by here that often. He only showed up to this city for a few battles and that was it."
"It's so sad," Fluttershy commented. "And it's just floating out here in space too?"
"Audino..."
"Hmm...How am I gonna do this?" Lucas said to himself. He was supposed to be the catalyst for bringing the gateways back but he wasn't sure how he could become that catalyst. He closed his eyes, thinking about the cafe that Scione wanted. But as soon as he did so, something amazing happened.
The pink particles that reside within his body would start flowing out. With his eyes closed, he began envisioning something. It wasn't just the cafe, but the entire city. The particles flew everywhere, resonating with Lucas' mind as they were giving him insight into what used to reside in this city.
Lucas gasped as his eyes suddenly opened, letting out a spatial pink glow. This was not the outcome he expected as he suddenly a beautiful pulse from his body. Everyone watched as the pulse would spread across the city rapidly. Just like that, the cafe that Scione wished for was starting to emerge.
Its destroyed remains were being restored. The particles of Space were rebuilding what was once lost, wrapping around it. But it wasn't just the cafe, other buildings were being restored. The way they used to look like before whatever conflict broke out here returned, amazing the eyes of everyone.
Just like that, Lucas had restored this city to its original form. Scione was right. Lucas was the catalyst. But it seems that he didn't just have the power to restore the gateways, but he could also restore some destruction.
"H-How'd he do that?!" Sci-Twi made a prolonged gasp.
"This place is trapped in space, so it only made sense that the power Lucas was gifted would affect it." Scione explained. "If we were to use this power on the Gateway Fragment, he would only make a new gateway. This is different since it is outside your usual world."
"Aaauhh..." After doing that, Lucas felt incredibly woozy, stumbling around as his eyes were spinning. The particles fizzled away as he was greatly feeling the side-efefcts. They didn't seem to harm him but they left him bewildered. "H-How'd I do?"
"Great, darling." Rarity held Lucas, preventing him from falling over. "You exceeded our expectations. Which means, we can expect you to bring back those gateways for us."
"What city is this anyway? And how come no one's in here?" Rainbow Dash asked.
'"Ah. That's because everyone who once lived here currently reside in your world as their own beings, obviously. Don't worry too much about it. This is practically an empty city with no one to populate. I know I certainly will with the opportunity to visit the cafe again~"
"Lucas! You've gotta make new gateways back home!"Scootaloo grabbed onto Lucas's pants tugging on them. "Please! It'd be so great if you did!"
"Yeah, yeah! Start with Manehattan and Castelia first! No wait, Virbank! We can get to PokeStar faster!" Apple Bloom pleaded as her friends already had wishes of which gateways they wanted.
"You can start by making a connection between my world." The Human Counterpart of Rarity who now had the nickname Rare chimed in, wishing for Lucas to make her a gateway. She would even flash her eyes at her. "Please?"
"Hah...I'm gonna have a lot of work ahead of me, aren't I?" Lucas knew what was coming. And it wasn't something that he was unable to escape from. He wanted to bring back the gateways. But he now realizes how many gateways he needs to restore.
"Go to Twilight Sparkle," Scione said while approaching the cafe. "I guarantee you that if you work with her, you won't have to worry too much about the number of gateways you wish to restore."
"Hey, Scione. How come you know so much about Gateways? Do you know a lot about the Rift too?" Ash asked. Scione was a fountain of knowledge, even if there were some things she didn't know.
"That's simple." Scione grinned, looking back at the others.. "The inhabitants of this world knew about the Rift's existence and didn't hesitate to interact with it. We learned a lot about its cosmic power thanks to our advanced resources. We were just that much ahead."
"Well, thanks for the help." Ash was ready to bid farewell to Scione. "We'll come by some other time."
"Oh, please do!" Scione hollered with joy in her voice. "It'd be amazing to see you again, Prisma! I'm always here to help~" They have gained a new ally. A rather knowledgeable one too. And with a gateway here at the mansion that led to this once lost world could be used and was fully inhabitable. Scione was going to make the most of this since this was a city she once loved. Specifically, the cafe.
Canterlot High.
They were now making their way back to the portal that leads back to Equestria and after leaving the mansion, in her hands, Sci-Twi held the Ghost-Type Shards. Lo and behold, she was right to choose the mansion. It did indeed have the shards she thought it would have. She held the shards up, knowing she had 16 more to go.
"I say we do Manehattan first before anything else." Sweetie Belle spoke as she and her friends were bickering about which gateway should appear first. "That's always been our favourite!"
"Do you think Palkia attacked me for a reason like this?" Lucas wondered. After what just happened, he wondered if Palkia's attack on him had more to it. What if it was specifically for the gateways? The fact that Lucas could do this and so far, Palkia has shown no signs of removing the gateways raised plenty of questions for him. On top of that, it was the Palkia of his friend Dawn.
"Maybe. But you've got something neat there." Rainbow Dash patted him on the back. "You don't have to worry about us wringing you dry for all that spatial power you have."
"Thanks for bringing that up..." Lucas sighed. "Why'd it have to be? It was Dawn's Pokemon so how come she didn't get it?"
"Well, I think I can rest easy knowing there's a way to finally bring them back," said Fluttershy. "It'll make travelling so much easier. I won't have to leave my animals and Pokemon behind for too long if I can just pass through the gateway."
"And we'll have the perfect version of it too. The original. I'm not sure what Twilight Moonlight uses to show up here but sucks to be her!" Rainbow Dash laughed. "She's on a time limit. We're gonna be sitting pretty, totally safe and away from harm!"
Universe 11. The Solar Empire. Day.
The Solar Empire. Home to Daybreaker. Another version of Princess Celestia who was born out of grief and rage and was currently leading a collection of fearsome characters. Daybreaker had two goals. To restore Necrozma's energy by giving him all the light he needs and to further expand the Solar Empire. The third one was personal to her and one she has yet to truly fulfil. And that was by bringing back her sister Luna, who perished in a war that led to Daybreaker's arrival.
If she wished to accomplish at least three of those goals, she had to enter other universes and with the absence of many gateways thanks to Jirachi, that was easier said than done. This entire time, Daybreaker herself has been focused on bringing back the gateways as well, but for a different purpose.
Daybreaker made her way to a laboratory that was focusing on solving this. The scientists here were none other than Empress Twilight's scientists, who specialized in things such as this.
This lab was filled with strange machinery and glowing crystals. The air crackles with energy, making the coats on some of these ponies stand on end. A massive archway in the centre of the room hums with otherworldly power, its edges shimmering with multicoloured lights. Screens were plastered everywhere, showing the image of gateways, but these were just images of what was once so easy to find and travel through. All except for one.
"What have you called me here for?" Daybreaker asked as she was summoned here by the scientists who needed to see her. Present in this room as well was Empress Twilight, who also wanted the gateways back more than anything.
"A gateway somewhere in Universe 1 has undergone a change. We think that the gateways might be making a return. At least, so far." The scientists have been focusing on Universe 1, for obvious reasons. It was the most crucial universe out of all of them.
"It's not like that one world where another me uses a flawed version of dimensional travel. This is perfected." Empress Twilight added. "It's strikingly close to the original gateways that we used to summon. Someone's figured it out and I bet it's myself, obviously."
"Bah, who cares about who figured it out? This is our chance." Daybreaker saw the golden opportunity. "With this, we can get back on track and accomplish our goals. We've mainly been struggling to travel from place to place with the limited resources we have. But having the original back in some way would do us wonders. Call for Colress at once."
The chance to gain ahold of this power wasn't going to be missed at all. Daybreaker already had an idea of what she wished to do first and that was by feeding Necrozma who was starving at this point. The last time Necrozma got a good fill of light was with the Sea Temple Crystals. And she wasn't about to let him starve any longer, draining minimal sources of light. The were other worlds out there with plenty of light, waiting to be absorbed.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
Here at Canterlot., a bit of a regroup was made. After it was revealed that Lucas was the catalyst to bringing back the gateways, everyone knew what had to be done after what Scione had shared. Lucas had to be the one to bring all the gateways back.
It was a tall order for Lucas, mainly considering that he became very woozy after interacting with his accidentally gifted spatial abilities, so tackling multiple locations was most likely going to leave quite an impact. Something like this had to be informed immediately, especially two of Equestria's Number One rulers.
Nearby, the Pokemon School was being fed with food that came straight from Pinkie Pie. She made sure the students were getting a good fill for this year's Pokemon Festival, especially since new species were now learning there. Pinkie Pie was just close enough to hear the rest of her friends chatter.
"I've called Celestia and Luna, so they'll be here for sure," Ash said, putting away his Xtransceiver. He took care of business, informing his friends. "Twilight should be showing up eventually too."
"So...How many gateways am I gonna have to handle?" Lucas sighed, knowing what was coming his way.
"Oh, darling. We won't be too hard on you. We'll have you do just...10 today at best. We have 3 weeks of the Pokemon Festival to go."
"10? For 3 weeks? Mmmrgh..." Lucas grumbled.
"If it makes you feel any better, Twilight will chime in so you won't have to do it all alone." Comforting him was Fluttershy. "Oh, what about your Infernape?"
"Yeah. He got hit by Spacial Rend too and can mess around with the Infinity Gateway." Rainbow Dash pointed out. "He can do what you can, right?"
"Oh yeah..." it was all clicking for Lucas. Since it was only he and Infernape who received spatial particles, it would make sense for Infernape to also possess such power. "That could be a ton of help."
"If you do reach 10 today, you gotta make sure it's places we're used to." Rainbow Dash requested. "We always had fun moving from gateway to gateway to places we always visit. I never get tired of visiting Castelia City back to back."
"Yeah, yeah I get it. I'll see what I can do." Lucas stopped her right there. "After this, I'd better not be disappointed with the Pokemon Festival, ya hear?"
"We showed up as soon as we could!" Appearing here in a flash of light was none other than Princess Celestia. Right next to Lucas too. Lucas was jumpscared by the Ruler of Equestria who knew she had to show up here as soon as possible. And she did, via teleportation, of course. "I had to miss out on a party game, but that's perfectly fine with me!"
"Where's Luna?" Ash noticed a lack of Luna even though he also informed her.
"Eh. She decided to stay behind. But not me. I wouldn't waste an opportunity to see this. Because this is the most efficient way to meet up with Cobalio- I mean! Restore easy transportation to us all, yes." Her ulterior motive was to reach Cobalion easily once the gateways return. "Is Twilight here?"
"Not yet. I called her first and she was all the way in Manehattan." Ash replied. "Manehattan's not that far so she'll be here soon."
"When my counterpart gets here, I'd like to talk to her about what we learned back in my world." Throwing her own words in was Sci-Twi, who was currently using the Shift Stone to stay in her Human Form.
"Who?" This was Celestia's first time hearing such a name. Ash and the others had quite the story to tell her.
On the Train to Canterlot.
Speaking of Twilight Sparkle, she was currently making her way to Canterlot via a Train. She could already see the castle in the distance through the window. And she wasn't going at it alone. Right next to her was Twilight Wish, who was also tagging along.
"Are you sure it's safe for you to come along? You'll be very far away from your castle since you're always on a time limit."
"Ah, it's fine. I can always return to Manehattan with teleportation. Even if I have to say a few words. I wish I could teleport inside of the castle but...that's impossible. It's very limited despite how amazing it is. But it sounds like your universe doesn't have to worry about that."
"Well, yeah. We had it easy with all those gateways around. Using them was all kinds of useful. If there was somewhere we needed to be, we could count on the gateways to get us there, no matter how many we had to go through to take shortcuts. I'll admit, it's pretty fun getting the chance to travel to different areas for long periods of time but..." Twilight smiled, making herself comfortable on the seats.
"Lucky you. Your universe seems to be a perfect version of what I have. It's a shame it had to be sieged just because they were targeting me. I still have no idea why." Twilight Wish would let out a disappointed and gutted sigh. "I miss so many of my friends. Moondancer, Applejack, Firefly, Spike, Megan and everyone else. I know they'll be fine rebuilding everything but I wish I could go back."
"But you can't after the Prisma problem is solved. I still don't get why he's seen as so dangerous for you and Moonlight to be all about stopping him. Is he really that bad?"
"I've seen the effects of what Prisma once did. It was outside my own universe. I knew I had to stop Prisma from returning after learning the truth about the Lost Universe. If I don't stop Prisma, then your universe could suffer a similar fate."
"No way. For that to happen, Ash would have to be behind it but that's not possible." Twilight shook her head. "I mean, I'm not sure about Red and the others but..."
"If I get the chance to seal his soul, then you won't have to worry about something happening to Ash at all. I promise. Plus, he sounds like a great guy based on what you've told me. You can-" Before Twilight Wish could finish her sentence, her body started glowing. It was time for her to return to Manehattan and quickly approach the Dimensional Castle. "Oh. That's my cue."
"That's a shame. I guess I'll see you soon if you somehow manage to leave Manehattan's outskirts."
"I'll find a way to move the castle. I'd love to meet the rest of your friends. You have an Applejack of your own after all. See you soon!" Twilight Wish bid farewell but this would not be the last time they meet. They would most likely meet fairly soon during the Pokemon Festival. "I wish, I wish, I wish." With those three simple words, Twilight Wish was gone. It was just Twilight Sparkle and Espeon.
It was strange. With Twilight Wish gone, things suddenly felt rather lonely and empty. Almost as if a part of Twilight was gone. It only made sense they were essentially the same pony but with differences. The train continued onwards until it eventually reaches Canterlot, where the restoration of the gateways can finally occur.
Canterlot.
Eventually, she arrived at Canterlot, where all of her friends were waiting for her. Of course, the gateway fragment was still with her and this time, it would be used to its fullest potential. When showing up to where her friends were, Twilight immediately glanced at Lucas, seeing Ash's face once more but on a different body. But it wasn't that much of a surprise anymore considering what she's seen.
Celestia could be seen with a bright grin on her face, along with some of her friends. To say they were excited about this would be an understatement. They've truly missed this type of transportation, each for very different reasons. They were acting as if one of their parents was coming home with some goods.
"So. You're the one who'll help bring the gateways back? Lucas, right?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah. You look just like your Human Self, so you'll be the one to help me out?"
"That's right. I have the fragment with me right here." From her saddlebag, the Gateway fragment was taken out, still fresh and unused. "I haven't figured it out at all, so I'm counting on you to put an end to our problems. I'll chime in with my own Rift Magic since you'll be woozy after interacting with just one gateway."
"Come on, come on! Hurry and do it!" An ecstatic Scootaloo couldn't wait any longer, frantically jumping up and down.
"Man, it's small," Lucas said, holding the fragment of the gateway which didn't even cover the entirety of his palm. It was just that tiny. But that also meant it had the most room to grow. Lucas wondered how he could make it grow and form a new gateway. There was only one possible way to really increase its size.
Lucas held his arm out, holding onto the two sides of the Gateway Fragment by using just his fingers. They were so small that he needed only his fingers. But that would soon change once he started stretching the gateway. It was completely malleable thanks to Lucas' newfound control over space, which allowed him to grow the Gateway fragment.
Now, it was no longer a fragment. To the amazement of everyone and even Lucas himself, the fragment was now a full-on Gateway. Lucas moved back, freeing his hands as they were no longer wide enough to hold the two sides of the gateway. The size of this gateway was bigger than everyone else, as it should be.
"He did! He actually did it!" Fluttershy bellowed, amazed by what she saw. "A new gateway at last!"
"But...does it go anywhere?" Rarity and her Human Counterpart wondered. Even though a new gateway has been created, it didn't lead to anywhere. There wasn't a single sign of land or anything. Just pure darkness.
"Not yet. All that's left to do is have Lucas think of where it'll lead to. Any ideas Lucas?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah. After giving it some thought, I think Castelia's the easiest to go for. Everyone seems to like that. Let me see what I can do." Lucas grinned, rubbing his hands together as he had one more job to do to really solidify things. The Trainer from Sinnoh placed his hand through the empty gateway. It was decided that Castelia City would be the first location that he would choose.
The spatial particles started leaving his body once more as he closed his eyes, imagining Castelia City. He already knew about Castelia back in his universe, but he had to make sure he got this universe's Castelia City right. He needed to make the perfect bridge between the two worlds and not make any mistakes.
At that moment, Twilight unleashed a blast of Rift Magic from her horn, targeting Lucas's body. Twilight helped him make that perfect bridge by instilling the knowledge of this world's Castelia into his mind. Lucas's eyes opened, unleashing that glow once again. He was in the zone, fully focused on the location alone and how to bridge it.
Thanks to the boost of Twilight's Rift Magic, the visage of Castelia City was appearing. Everyone gawked, even those who were doing their own thing couldn't help but turn their attention to the gateway that had just formed. Lo and behold, Castelia City was seen as Lucas added the gateway on the other side of the world.
It has been done. A perfect replication of a Gateway. Lucas moved back once more as his hand was trembling, showing another side-effect to pulling off such a feat. But his body would soon be soothed thanks to Twilight's Rift Magic which kept him steady.
Everyone nearby would immediately erupt with joy and praise after seeing the gateway to Castelia City appearing. Something like this was obviously going to please everyone since they have been waiting for new gateways for so long. "Oooh..That wasn't so bad." Lucas giggled after restoring a gateway. "And that was just one."
"Yep! That's Castelia alright!" Ash placed his head through the gateway, seeing Castelia City in all of its glory. "Way to go, Lucas!"
"Pikachu!"
"T-Thanks..." Lucas grinned before looking at his harm. It was still trembling but now at a slower pace. "I think I can do one more. Maybe."
"Well, if that's the case. Under my request, could you open one gateway for me to a specific area?" Celestia asked. Since it was her requesting something, everyone else would let her have this. She was in charge after all but where would she possibly select since it most likely involves Cobalion?
"What would that be?" A woozy Lucas asked.
"Cobalion mentioned how there are some areas he tends to visit here and there. And two of them I believe were named the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra." Celestia added.
"Isle of Armor? Leon went there during the Black Crusade." That was a name Ash also recalled.
"I'd like to try the Isle of Armor first before anything else. Unless you need some time to rest."
"Isle of Armor...Isle of Armor..." Lucas pouted. "That name does ring a bell. I think Victor went there once. I could try and take you there, sure. But first..." Lucas got on one knee. "I don't think I can go at it a second time. That was way different from the other gateway I messed with..."
"Perhaps you should take a rest then." Celestia had patience. Great patience. "It would also be best if you select different locations to summon these gateways. We appreciate the help but we don't want you harming yourself consistently. I think I'll head to the Isle of Armor the old-fashioned way."
"Many thanks, Princess..." Lucas groaned while looking at his trembling hand. "Does anyone have an Ice-Type Pokemon on them?"
"Audino." While she wasn't an Ice-Type, Audino would help Lucas first, using Heal Pulse on his arm. She gently grabbed his arm, sending a soothing healing energy through it. It wouldn't stop the trembling, but much like the Rift Magic, it would temper it.
"Aah..." Lucas sighed with great relief in his voice. He definitely deserved the rest for doing this for everyone. Lucas was without a doubt, a shining beacon of hope for new gateways. Especially familiar ones.
"Well, how about we all head to the Isle of Armor together?" Celestia suggested, looking back at her friends. "It's where I was planning to go next with Luna and Chrysalis and it's a place of promise. Well, it sounds like it if Cobalion's there. And if he's not there, then I suppose the Crown Tundra would be next."
"If you're going there next and right after that is the Crown Tundra, you might wanna watch out," Lucas added. "If they're anything like the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra in my Universe, you have something wild ahead of you. Then again, it sounds like your universe is wilder than mine."
"Why? What's in the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra?" Sweetie Belle questioned.
"Heh...I wouldn't wanna spoil the surprise." Lucas grinned, keeping it a secret. "But you'll see some new and familiar faces there. Mainly some Pokemon. I haven't seen it but I know Viktor has. Now...let me rest before I go at it again. Can someone carry me?"
"Audino!" Audino would gladly grant his request, picking the Sinnohan up from the ground. Twice his size, she placed him on her back while he was still too weak to stand. It might take a while before he's ready to make a new gateway, but either way, he's succeeded in what others have been struggling to figure out for a while. Even Starswirl and Discord struggled to figure it out.
One has to wonder if that encounter with Palkia was an accident or not.
With the Castelia Gateway available to them, they could reach Galar at a quicker rate. Castelia City had some ships lying in wait and if they were lucky, they could get on the Royal Unova again for a second time in a row. Before departure, there was just one thing Celestia had to do before she leaves for Galar.
Hoenn. Ranger Union.
The Ranger Union, of course. Allied with Equestria and dedicated to keeping this new and grander world safe, the people at the Ranger Union were informed about this recent development. They were already told about Lucas and how he created a new gateway. From this point onward, Lucas would be the one to handle all gateway manners, but he would need someone to help him bridge different locations. Twilight certainly wasn't going to available all the time so it only made sense to call the Ranger Union for help.
"Thank you for the update, Princess." One of the workers spoke with Princess Celestia. "We understand that Lucas won't be available all the time, but if it helps, our Rift-Based Technology might help him."
Luckily for Lucas, the Ranger Union was stacked with Rift-Based Technology that they've had for a while. The International Police also possesses such technology in case of Rift-Based issues. Even with the lack of gateways, they were always prepared and now that the gateways were looking to make an amazing comeback, they'll be needed more than ever. Specifically, for Lucas.
"If it helps, we can send someone to accompany Lucas whenever he's set to open a new gateway. Our best Ranger Jack Walker has the most experience with the gateways and you're rather familiar with him too. I know it'll be easy for us to send him to you, if he's available."
"He's always available." Another worker said, knowing Jackie too well. "He's already out there in the world right now, but I bet you he'll find the time to jump to another mission. Unless it's that Manaphy Mission. That one took a while."
"Hehe. True." She chuckled in response. "Anyway, once the news of the gateways breaks out, we'll be on it. You say you're heading to the Isle Armor and potentially the Crown Tundra, right? We'll make sure to send someone there soon."
"Who else is available? The Rangers are busy lately. Working with the International Police means that we have to be on the lookout for Twilight Moonlight as well." Once again, Twilight Moonlight was in the conversation as her actions were impossible to ignore.
"Well, if Jackie's not available, we'll just send in his equal. She's not a Ranger but she's always helpful either way. I'm sure she'd love to chime in if she's busy with these new misplaced locations and objects that come from this lost universe. We might have to call in Kidd Summers."
Castelia City. On a Unovan Ship. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
News about a new gateway being formed spread fast during the Pokemon Festival. Starting from Canterlot and soon reaching everywhere else, Lucas's Accidental Ability, combined with Twilight's Rift Magic was known by many. It even spread fast enough to reach the seas.
On the ship was Ash's main friend group that he was constantly with, joined by Celestia, Luna and Chrysalis. Chrysalis could be seen sitting on her own with a pile of romance novels keeping her company. A tired and lazy Sweetie Belle was also lying on the pile of books, finding them to be surprisingly comfortable.
By now, Rarity's Human Counterpart was back home in her world, but not Twilight's Human Counterpart. She was along for the ride, joining her otherworld friends on this fun and cosy journey.
Lucas gained global notoriety rather quickly, even gaining different nicknames based on his successful gateway creation. If Hilbert was in this situation, he would've taken in all the glory, but not Lucas. But he did admire it either way. From making a movie about his adventures to opening gateways. An amazing leap indeed. Having free time on his hands, not having to instantly make a new gateway, he could rest.
The gateway fragment that Twilight Sparkle had was still present here and available to be used. Even after Lucas used it, it didn't shrink at all. Starswirl made sure that it would never shrink, essentially making an endless gateway until its role is fulfilled.
"Much better..." Lucas was fully revitalized now. He was practically out of commission for the rest of the day and the night until a new day arrived. Making a new gateway truly took a lot out of him. He could relax on the ship. "I feel brand new now. Tell me when you wanna get a new gateway and I'll be available."
"How long until we reach Galar?" Apple Bloom, who stretched her hooves on the couch, asked. "Unova's not that far from Galar, right?"
"It is. And it's a bigger world too. Most likely, we'll be at Galar in about a day." Rarity deduced as they had a long trip ahead of them just to reach one region.
"We could reach Galar in a few hours or so. Make yourself as comfortable as you can," said Celestia. "I know I will. I can spend the entire time trying out what the ship has to offer."
"Same here. Rainbow Dash. You and I throw down?" Ash asked, requesting a quick battle with Rainbow Dash. Immediately, Rainbow Dash agreed as the two of them were off to throw down. Ships across different regions are also built for Pokemon Battling thankfully, having arenas at the ready.
"After this, I'm gonna have to chat with Dawn. I gotta know if Palkia attacked me for this very reason. And if it did...it could've at least told me instead." Lucas added while lounging on the couch. "Makes me wonder if the other guys have something in them. Aside from that Prisma Soul or whatever."
"Don't they?" Scootaloo questioned. She assumed all of Ash's counterparts had something special going for them if they're all related to Prisma. It would only make sense since Prisma was apparently someone capable of many things.
"No way. Hilbert especially?" Lucas chuckled. "If Hilbert got a hold of Spatial Abilities or anything like that, we'd be doomed!"
"Eugh..." Sweetie Belle was already imagining it and it was rather terrifying. Not in an evil way but in a way that only works for Hilbert. The ship continued on its merry way as peace was very much present here. It was so peaceful that their Pokemon already fell asleep next to each other.
They had plenty of time behind them until this ship reaches the Galar Region. The sounds of Ash and Rainbow Dash battling were heard at the nearby arena with sparks of electricity going off. Chrysalis was fully zoned in, not taking her eyes off these novels. Her face would even turn red based on what she was reading.
Twilight Sparkle and Sci-Twi both looked outside, hoping they could get a glance of the Arcane Sea. Sci-Twi would love to witness it for herself, but based on where this ship was heading, she wouldn't get the chance. Waiting for their destination, they lived their lives peacefully.
Galar. Flattersea Power Station. Late Afternoon.
Plenty of time had passed for it be to late in the afternoon and the ship had finally arrived at Galar. It stopped right at a pier known as Flattersea Power Station Pier. A pier just near Wyndon that was heavily powered by Electric-Type Pokemon which kept many things around here running with a few simple jolts. Leaving the Pier were Ash and his friends as they were a bit closer to the Isle of Armor. Just one more step had to be taken and that was by using the train.
"Just gotta take the train now. Uhh..." Ash held a map in his hands, searching for the Wyndon Train. "We gotta go all the way to Wedgehurst for the Isle of Armor?"
"It should be around here somewhere," Celestia added. "Hopefully there aren't any delays. I would hate to miss Cobalion. He might head elsewhere. He told me that the Isle of Armor or even the Crown Tundra would be places that he'll be at during the Pokemon Festival."
"Why the rush?" Luna passed by her little sister. "With Lucas here, travelling will be much easier so you won't have to worry about your late date with Cobalion."
"It's not a date yet! It's just a meet-up, that's all." Celestia scoffed.
"The Princess is in love with a Cobalion?" Lucas was now fully aware of this. Immediately, his mind jumped to conclusions, wondering what a relationship like that would look like. It didn't seem out of place at all. Celestia and Cobalion were surprisingly good together. The colour contrast between the two really made it sublime. "Hm. I can see it."
"Wedgehurst...Wedgehurst..." Ash and his friends went further and further searching for this train to the point where they were distancing themselves from the large crowd here. The afternoon Sun was slowly setting with Celestia multi-tasking along the way.
They went downstairs, reaching the lower sections of the train station and yet, none of the trains nearby went to where they needed to be. That is until they came across what was possibly the deepest part of the train station. The sun was being blocked from their sights. Apple Bloom would shiver as she felt herself getting cold for a moment.
Up ahead was a door that had the number 0 on it. It was rather lonely, distanced away from everything else and found at the lowest part of the train station. Looking at the map, Ash saw that the guide to the Isle of Armor led straight here.
"Well, this looks like the only one it connects to. This'll take us to Wedgehurst. It's the only train that'll do it for us today." Ash said. Just then, the door started to open. And from it, hands were grabbing on the side as a strange face was slowly peering over. Everyone looked over to see a small figure appearing. They were prepared to enter the train and wait for the passenger to leave, only for them to witness this small character.
The CMC were slightly spooked by this face which had very hollow eyes and a hollow mouth, but they briefly saw a proper face in there. It looked like a boy and this was most definitely a mask. Once this character saw them, immediately, he went back inside, letting out a small gasp.
"Did we spook him or something?" Rainbow Dash scratched her mane
"More like he spooked up. Was that a mask or his face?" Sweetie Belle wondered.
"Guess he's not getting off. Come on." Ash would continue on his way, entering the train. Everyone else would soon follow him. And immediately after they passed through the door, they saw how eerie it was. As if it was already ominous before. It didn't lead to a train instantly, but only the steps to a nearby train.
After going down these eerie steps as a group, they came across a rather beat-up train. It looked rough and rugged compared to the others as there was a purple smoke cloud around it. Lingering inside the train were some Ghost-Type Pokemon who immediately spotted Ash and his friends. A Pumpkaboo and a Sinistea were slowly floating around, concealing themselves within the smoke.
"I don't like this. What's all of this about?" Sci-Twi shuddered. "Are we sure this is the only train going to Wedgehurst today?"
"Looks like it. Wonder what's up with it though..." Ash observed. "And what's up with all of this fog?"
"Pika..." Pikachu squinted, struggling to see in here. But the train was still visible thanks to its massive size. But someone else who was visible despite being much smaller was the same boy from before who bolted off after seeing Ash's group. He would soon enter the train after being spotted once more.
"The Ghost Train, now for Wedgehurst, will be departing soon." A voice came through, announcing the eventual departure of this train. It was indeed going to Wedgehurst but it had a different name compared to the others. "All passengers, please board as soon as possible."
"Ghost Train?!" Sci-Twi, the CMC and Fluttershy collectively said.
"Yep. This is our train." Ash was fully fearless, entering the train without hesitation. Soon, Lucas, Rainbow Dash, Rarity Applejack, Twilight, Celestia, Luna and Chrysalis would do the same. Those who were fearless had no qualms entering this Ghost Train while those who were slowed down a bit when entering. Those intimidated would at least have fearless friends by their side who were powerful enough to take on whatever comes their way.
With all of the passengers on board, the train could now depart. And when this train started moving, the fog would strengthen, concealing it from the platform and everything else. Once it was gone, it was nowhere to be seen.
As for the inside of the train, it was neat and pleasing to look at but it was also rather empty. No one else was here aside from Ash's team. And since it was just them and that mysterious boy, they were free to indulge in whatever the train had to offer.
"Oooh, this is nice. Talk about first class." Ash's eyes met with some luxurious furniture, sweet-scented plants and some decorative art.
"Pikachu."
"At least it looks pleasing. But is no one worried about why it's called a Ghost Train?" Sci-Twi said, slowly taking a seat. They would make themselves comfortable once more but there was something uncomfortable about this train. Probably due to its name and how it casually has it.
"Audi heard some Ghost-Type Pokemon in here earlier if that answers your question," said Fluttershy.
"Dino. Audino..." But Audino's ears were picking up on something else. She listened closely, passing by the sounds of the Ghost-Type Pokemon residing in here. She heard some footsteps, most likely the footsteps of the boy. "Audi."
Speaking of which, he was in the same carriage as them which was essentially first class. Audino and Fluttershy turned their attention to the boy who was at the very end of the train which was right at the front. Holding a timid disposition, he would simply stand behind the seats, glaring at the group.
"Hello." Fluttershy waved, grabbing his attention. "Sorry for the scare back there. You spooked us too with that mask."
"...!" The masked boy gasped once more when looking at Ash's group. He specifically focused on Ash, Lucas, Twilight and Sci-Twi. No one else but those four. And when looking at them, he saw flashes of four visages. For Ash and Lucas, it was Prisma. The boy managed to see the image of Prisma emanating from both of them for a moment. He was aware of Prisma's existence.
As for Twilight and Sci-Twi, he saw someone entirely different. The only one who managed to properly challenge Prisma during the final moments of the Lost Universe. The one known as Twilight Luminaria. It was brief, but it was there.
"You four are...Them." He silently said.
"Hm?" Pinkie Pie definitely didn't catch that. "What did he say?
"He said you four are them." But Fluttershy did. She and Audino heard him clearly, which surprised the boy considering how much he lowered his voice. She specifically faced Ash, Lucas, Twilight and Sci-Twi when mentioning four of them.
"Why...are you on the Ghost Train?" He continued. "You shouldn't be on here...Not you four."
"He's warning us. He's saying the four of you shouldn't be on this train." Once again Fluttershy heard his words.
"Just us? How come?" Lucas asked before looking at Celestia and the rest of the party. "And no one else."
"My guess is that it has something to do with Prisma. And maybe it's Twilight Luminaria again if he's referring to just us four." Twilight already deduced it.
Before she could continue, the train would suddenly shake, throwing everyone off balance. Some held onto the handles while some, such as Pinkie Pie, bounced up and down. The train would suddenly come to a halt, but it wasn't for another station. The next station would take a little bit more time to reach. It was stopping for a different reason and it didn't seem pleasant.
"Man...Anyone else feel a bit hot-headed?" Ash held his head, feeling himself heat up. Soon, Lucas would also heat up.
"Yeah...Same here." Lucas sighed. "It's not hot in here, is it?"
"We're not hot at all. Are you two okay?" Celestia asked when seeing Ash and Lucas heat up. And it wasn't sweat that showed their heat. It was an aura. A deep red one that was rather faint.
"I feel hot too..." Sci-Twi held onto her arms, feeling the heat around her. Twilight Sparkle felt the same heat around her body. Once again, these four were the main targets. "Why?"
"Audino." Instantly, Audino tried using Refresh on them to cool their bodies. A beautiful white light enveloped their bodies, only to completely do nothing. Refresh failed to temper their heat. as they were still burning up. "Dino?"
"The train...It's targeting your dormant souls." He spoke up a bit where everyone could hear him now. But it was still rather low.
"Their dormant souls?" Chrysalis squinted before letting out a loud gasp. "You don't mean...!"
This train wasn't just eerie and home to Ghost-Type Pokemon. It was also capable of targeting the souls. But specifically, it targeted Ash, Lucas, Sci-Twi and Twilight. For one reason only. The dormant souls of Prisma and Twilight Luminaria. After all that talk about keeping Prisma's soul locked up, this train was beginning to ruin it.
All that burning was the result of Prisma's soul being tampered with. Ash and Lucas groaned as the deep red aura rose some more. They closed their eyes before soon opening them. Soon, their pupils were starting to gain a green glow. The same green glow that Prisma seems to have. This was a sign that they were slowly releasing his soul
"Not good! If Prisma somehow shows up here, that could lead to a heap of trouble!" Celestia bellowed. "Do we have a response for this?!"
"Not at all!" Luna frantically shook her head.
"Man...I didn't think it'd happen now...!" Feeling the heat build-up and his head ache, Ash groaned some more. "Sombra!"
Aiding him was none other than Sombra. Using his magic, Sombra would try and temper the Soul of Prisma. His magic flew out of Ash and straight for Lucas as well. He even targeted Twilight and Twilight Luminaria, making sure they weren't getting into their own soul hijinks. With all of his might, Sombra tried to maintain the soul and keep it locked up.
But at that moment, Ash stood still, continuing to hold his head. The deep red aura would flow at a slower rate while Ash let out a groan. It looked like Sombra stopped it, but the green glow was still present in his eyes. The same went for Lucas. The Green Glow was still around.
"Are you four okay?!" Fluttershy asked.
"I feel..." Ash slowly said, removing his hands from his head. The tone of his voice also changed. It was noticeably deeper but everyone recognized it as his voice even with that tone shift. "I feel weird..."
"Ash? Your voice is way different. What's up with that?" A nervous Scootaloo questioned. Ash would respond by turning his face, showing his glowing green pupils.
"I don't think that's Ash." But Celestia didn't see Ash. Instead, she saw someone else. She saw Prisma. Sombra barely managed to temper his soul. Right now, Ash was still himself but it was clear that in some way, Prisma had taken over. Twilight and Sci-Twi, not so much. Their souls had been tempered greatly as there was a lack of aura for them.
The train started moving again, but now it felt rather dangerous. Mainly because Prisma was present in the same room as them. They weren't sure how dangerous this could be. His soul was not all there, but the fact that it was close to being unleashed was rather alarming.
Ash and Lucas both looked at their arms as they both had half of Prisma's soul active at that moment. No one had a clue as to what this could lead to, but if everything they've heard from Prisma was anything to go by, things might not turn out pleasant. And the mysterious boy already knew, seeing their souls.
A simple trip to Wedgehurst and eventually the Isle of Armor led to this scenario. No one knew if it was going to remain simple or even safe for that matter. It all depends on what happens next. With two parts of Prisma back in action, the outcome is truly unexpected as the journey continues.
Galar. On the Ghost Train. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
On the Ghost Train, the spectral power this mode of transportation possessed targeted four individuals. Ash, Lucas, Twilight and Sci-Twi specifically. Both Prisma and Twilight Luminaria's souls were targeted as the train tried pulling them out. While Twilight and Sci-Twi managed to protect their souls thanks to Sombra, his magic couldn't full keep Prisma's soul back. At this moment, Ash and Lucas had a part of Prisma's soul active as seen by the green glow in their pupils.
"Hm." Suddenly a smile met Ash's face, which put everyone on high alert. Was that Prisma smiling or Ash smiling? The mysterious boy with the mask knew the answer and he didn't like it one bit.
"Ash If that's you, this isn't funny..." Twilight grumbled.
"Ash Ketchum isn't in full control right now. Instead, we the Creation Trio are taking the helm."
"The Creation Trio? You mean Dialga, Palkia and Giratina?" said Rarity.
"Those are the names you mortals gave us, so we'll be using them." Ash continued. "I am the one you call Dialga, currently in control of Ash Ketchum."
"Dialga?! No way! I thought that was Prisma!" Rainbow Dash had so many questions. For starters, why were the Creation Trio here and speaking through Ash and Lucas? She figured that Prisma was speaking through them, but apparently not.
"Prisma is not active just yet," Lucas added, also having a tone change. "I am the one you refer to as Palkia. We have been waiting for the chance to awaken in some way and this train has tampered with our souls."
"We are not the Dialga and Palkia of your world. We come from that Lost Universe that is only now making a return. But even with these returns, it cannot happen soon enough." Ash-Dialga grumbled. "The Sooner we can reunite with our Trainer Prisma, the better. Our souls are currently resonating with each other now that they have been tampered with and soon, all the souls of our teammates will resonate."
"Your goal is to bring back Prisma? You picked an awful time to show up when you're this outnumbered." Celestia pointed out immediately, knowing that her good friend Ash wasn't at the helm right now. It wasn't even the Dialga and Palkia that everyone knew. They come from a lost universe and were the Pokemon of Prisma, further solidifying how powerful of a Pokemon Trainer he was to have these two on his team.
"Under all circumstances, we refuse to harm you even with such words being thrown our way. But force our hands and we might have to be rather drastic. The souls of Prisma's incarnations do not wish to see you harmed, so tread carefully." Despite the intimidating and formal voice, a sense of respect came from them. They wished no harm on Celestia and the others if they didn't push themselves. This was thanks to the souls of Ash and Lucas not wishing any harm on them whatsoever.
"Hold on! Does that mean that Red and everyone else have Legendary Pokemon inside of them?" Pinkie Pie had to wonder if the same went for Red, Brendan, Ethan and Hilbert.
"All 10. Our Trainer Prisma infused his soul with ours, making us more connected than ever. But we don't have time to waste on your questions. It's been our goal to revive Prisma. We have been trying to call each other even after Prisma's incarnations encountered one another. Now is our chance." Lucas glanced over at Ash as the two of them nodded.
"We cannot waste this opportunity. With parts of our souls being awakened, we can finally accomplish our main goal. Become one. All incarnations must merge and return as Prisma." Ash and Lucas said in unison.
"Uh, if you've been around this entire time, then you'll at least know that we've been trying to avoid bringing back Prisma!"
"You can't do that..." Suddenly, the mysterious boy with the mask spoke, refusing to let something like that happen. "If you leave the train, your souls will go back into hiding..."
"Then we will do what we can to keep our souls active for as long as possible until all are one." Ash and Lucas immediately went on the move, focusing on bringing Prisma back. It wasn't actually them talking. It was really Dialga and Palkia.
And the way they left was by using the power of space. Lucas, who now had a stronger hold on Palkia's abilities, would snap his fingers, opening a portal beneath him and Ash. Everyone gasped as Ash and Lucas were pulled in by the gravitational force this portal had, sending them to another carriage in this train. But just before they left, Sombra was suddenly ejected out of Ash's body, failing to stick around. He tumbled on the floor after being forced out by Dialga, who took control this time.
"What just happened...?" Apple Bloom blinked for a moment as she was flabbergasted.
"I-I thought it was just Prisma? Why were Dialga and Palkia in there?! A confused Rainbow Dash vigorously pointed her hoof to where Ash and Lucas once stood.
"Scione never brought this up. Did she even know? She said she knew a lot about Prisma but not everything." Scratching her hair in confusion was Sci-Twi.
"Well...At least it ain't Prisma?" Applejack saw the only positive to this. But if something wasn't done, then soon, Prisma could return.
"Are their souls okay?!" Pinkie Pie screeched.
"They aren't fully lost. Only a part of their soul has been overtaken," said Sombra, getting off the floor. "I didn't see it coming though. Here I thought Prisma's soul is what I had to look out for, but being surprised by one of the Creation Trio was unexpected.
"Not only that, but Prisma infused his soul with the Legendary Pokemon? How? Is it similar to how you and Passion merge, sister?" Luna wondered.
"No clue. But let's find them both and leave this train. Most likely, they're going to use this train as their way to keep their souls active and find the others." Celestia ordered.
"Don't go through it aimlessly..." said the masked boy, keeping his voice down once more. "You'll get lost at this rate. They won't though..." He warned them about potentially getting lost in this train. That much was to be expected since anything related to Ghosts would result in someone getting lost.
"Could you please help us? You saw Prisma's soul and were already pretty cautious." Fluttershy requested, approaching him.
"It's just a feeling I get. Sometimes, I can see the souls of Ghost-Types. And those two aren't that different. I just want to get their souls away from the train." He said, holding onto the seats of the train while still speaking nervously.
"We can do that. We'll make our way to Wegdehurst our way." Fluttershy added. "What's your name?"
"Allister." He at least revealed his name. And now that they were taking a closer look at him, they saw the Galar Gym Leader outfit, just like Nessa, Raihan, Gordie and Melony. He looked rather young to be a Gym Leader, but it wouldn't be the first time someone young was a Gym Leader or any other powerful class of trainer.
"Well, if we're gonna get lost on this train, how do we move through it without any of that stuff happening?" Rainbow Dash wondered.
"Follow me." Allister would lead the way. As long as they stick by him, they won't have to worry about getting lost, especially since Lucas could now open up portals through space, travelling at a quicker rate.
"Now that I'm thinking about it...Dialga and Palkia have been showing up a lot recently." While moving through the train, something was brewing in Twilight's mind. "First it was Rift-Dialga and then, it was Palkia. Rift-Dialga only targeted Ash because of the Rift's will, but now I'm wondering if Prisma's involved somehow."
As for where Ash and Lucas were, they were currently moving through the train, planning to use it as a means to reunite with their other counterparts. Dialga and Palkia were taking charge, working in unison. With his hand up, Dialga used the power of time to slow down the movement of the train for a while. This led Palkia to use the power of space.
He enveloped the entire train in an aura of space, planning to keep it away from the track. The duo were planning to use the train as their means of transportation as predicted by Celestia. This train seemed to be the only thing so far that had managed to interact with their souls. Not even the scuffle at Magehold did that. As long as they have this train's mystical power, they could continue to work towards bringing Prisma back.
All the Ghost-Types nearby watched as this duo got to work, aware that their souls were currently replaced by two others. If anyone can understand the complexity of souls, it would be the Ghost-Types.
"There they are!" Chrysalis bellowed, grabbing the attention of the Time-Space Duo. Allister led them to where Ash and Lucas were, making sure they didn't end up elsewhere.
"Mmmrgh...!" Ash slowly turned his head, scrunching his face as the glow around his pupils had vanished. He regained some control since a part of his soul was still free."H-Hey guys!"
"Ash! Lucas! Are you alright now?!" Luna asked, wondering if Ash managed to fend off Dialga. Lucas came to a halt too as he was trying his best to stay in control.
"Man...Trying to keep your soul is pretty tough, huh! Guess I should've asked Sheena for help on this one!" Ash chuckled before being overtaken by Dialga once more.
"Do not interfere." With Dialga in control once more, he snapped his fingers instantly reversing the area of time around the others. They gasped as their movements were being walked back as if they never entered this part of the train before. Celestia and Luna managed to avoid the energy of time, avoiding the reversal.
And with their combined magic, they broke the energy apart, blasting it to bits. Twilight and the others did not return to the other carriages, thankfully.
"Release our friends at once!" Celestia bellowed. "Their souls aren't yours to overtake! Not when it'll lead to someone dangerous returning."
"You're one to talk, Princess." Lucas-Palkia pointed at Celestia, knowing about Daybreaker's existence. She also had someone dangerous within her but it wasn't an incarnation. It was an alter-ego, much like Nightmare Moon. "Keep them from interrupting my process."
"Sheena said I can't use Dark Matter on 'em since Prisma's soul ain't like those Despair Plants. But what about you two? Lucario!" Applejack threw her Poke Ball into the air, summoning Delta Lucario, who had a move which could knock souls out of bodies.
"Lucario!" Out came Delta Lucario, at the ready and once again facing an enemy of souls.
"Refrain at once. Even if a part of my soul is active, I am still enough for you." Ash-Dialga warned, wishing not to confront them at a crucial moment.
"Let Ash and Lucas go then," Applejack added. "Cause I really don't wanna hurt his body."
"Ash! If you can take control for a moment, stay totally still for Lucario!" Rainbow Dash yelled, hoping to get Ash's attention. With an eye twitch, Ash tried responding, only for Dialga to keep him from doing do so.
"Not gonna let him go? Fine! Lucario! Use Dark Matter!"
"Rrr!" Putting his paws together, Lucasio gathered power from the dark corners of the universe, manifesting it into the form of a black energy ball.
In response, Ash-Dialga swiped his hand, suddenly summoning a whirlwind of Time Energy that would meet with the Dark Matter. Its intention was to freeze the move, but as soon as both attacks came into contact with each other, it became a struggle instead.
The Power of Dark Matter vs the Power of Time was fierce, creating a ripple in the middle of everyone. This power of time was only half of what Dialga was capable of but it was still powerful. Delta Lucario's Dark Matter barely managed to even out with it.
Ash-Dialga shook his arm for a moment before using his power of time to try and freeze them all. But before he could do so, his arm was frozen. It was Ash. Still in some control, he prevented Dialga from messing with his friends. The arm of Ash started vibrating furiously.
"Great timing, Ash!" Applejack cheered.
"T-Thanks..." Ash grinned. "N-Now might be a good time to use it, Applejack!"
"Right! Dark Matter!"
"Cario!" A second Dark Matter was thrown, this time at a faster pace. With Ash gaining some control, he allowed the Dark Matter to reach him. At that moment, the Dark Matter struck Ash's body, targeting his soul and a part of Dialga's Prisma-infused soul.
Ash was knocked back, crashing into some of the decorations on this train. Ash didn't mind getting hit, as long as his friends were safe. Darkness exuded out of his body after the Dark Matter landed, dealing efficient damage. However, Dialga's soul remained, not going anywhere else. It wasn't seen flying out of Ash's body. Ash got back up as the soul of Dialga kept resonating. Dialga was back in control once more.
"No way! How come it didn't work?!" Apple Bloom gasped.
"I told you. Prisma infused his soul with us. You cannot expunge the soul within Ash Ketfchum's body because this is still a part of his soul." Ash-Dialga explained, revealing why it would be impossible for them to fend him off.
"So Lucario's Dark Matter won't work! Come on!"
"Hmph." But while Lucario's Dark Matter didn't exactly do the trick, it did leave a side-effect that not even Dialga expected. With his body pulsating, an astral projection of Ash appeared behind him. Ash held onto his chest after this projection appeared. "Gh!"
"W-Well...It did something at least." Applejack stuttered as she would take that. It was better than nothing.
Ash was gaining control once more as he was fighting to bring his hand towards his pocket, aiming for his Poke Balls. The Astral Projection appeared to be Dialga's sol in this case as it was trying to prevent Ash from taking action. But with enough strength, Ash managed to grab one of his Poke Balls, throwing it into the air. At that moment, Dialga's soul snapped back inside of Ash's body, retaking control.
"Gengar!" Out emerged Gengar, who was another great pick in this scenario.
"Gengar...That's a good choice." Allistr had to approve of Gengar being chosen.
"Why must an incarnation of our trainer fight back to prevent his return?" Dialga groaned. "It was his wish and will to return one day, so why?"
"Quick! Passion! Hold him down!"
"Gardevoir!" Flying to Ash-Dialga's side was Gardevoir, who would try and keep him still. Appearing from the shadows to do the same was Darkrai. He emerged from the pitch-black darkness, finally making an appearance. Darkrai already had Dark Void ready to put Ash to sleep.
But with a flash of his eyes, he affected the time of the train once more. This time, he sped it up, making it move faster than before. This speed increase immediately threw Gardevoir and Darkrai off balance, causing them to fly in different directions. Everyone else wasn't holding onto something, resulting in them falling over and hitting parts of the train.
"U-Use Psychic!" Celestia and Twilight both said to their Pokemon. In unison, Gardevoir and Twilight managed to hold everyone else, preventing them from falling elsewhere while this train accelerated.
"Let's move on to the next part of the train," Ash-Dialga said to Lucas-Palkia. At that moment, they would quickly run for it as Palkia would continue to use his power over space on the train even moving.
"Oh, no you don't! Get back here with their souls!" Rarity bellowed, throwing her own Poke Balls into the air. Out of one of them emerged her fastest Pokemon. Pheromosa. And three more summoned her Leavanny into the fray. "String Shot! Stop them from leaving!"
"Leavan!" Her three Leavanny each used String Shot, knowing the assignment already. The strings would latch onto Ash and Lucas's backs right as they were about to enter another train carriage. The two of them growled, looking back to see the strings holding them in the place.
"Mosa!" Pheromosa would then run up to them in an instant, spreading her long arms around them both She would be the one to carry them both.
Not if Lucas had anything to say about it. He ended up pushing space itself, specifically in Pheromosa's direction. The Lissome Pokemon found herself being repulsed as if a giant eject button was used on her. Pheromosa yelped after being repulsed, but she did not suffer any harm whatsoever.
As for the strings, Ash-Dialga sped up their duration with the Power of Time, making them weaken in just a few seconds. The strings grew weak, falling off and releasing Ash and Lucas. After doing so, Palkia created another portal, this time in front of him and Dialga. After making it, the two of them quickly went through, escaping yet again.
With the train still accelerating, the location would suddenly change. The pink fog appeared, changing up where everyone was. Instead of a nice and neat room, they were soon in a jungle-like part of the train, where trees were growing and vines were hanging. Pokemon such as Pumpkaboo and Phantump were immediately found here.
"Drat! They got away again!" Rarity roared. But before she could rant some more, the speed of the train was still something to had to focus on. Even though Gardevoir and Espeon were holding everyone, they needed to temper this speed after what Dialga did.
Appearing from the shadows were the Ghost-Types lurking around here. In this case, Sinistea, Sableye, Drifloon, Lampent and Shuppet. They were simply watching the events playing out, having no reason to intervene. This did not affect them in any way. Allister would use this as an opportunity to get their help.
"Please. I need your help." Speaking to the Ghost-Types was Allister as he requested their assistance. They knew exactly what they had to do.
"Shuppet!" Shuppet and the other Ghost-Types understood clearly. If Allister requested their help, they would see that success would come.
"Geez...This is going to be tricky since they have the power of Time and Space..." Twilight sighed. "Even Rift-Dialga wasn't this troublesome."
"At least they aren't hostile," Chrysalis added. "Because we are such good friends with Ash, Dialga and Palkia recognize that they cannot harm us But I can see we're pushing their limits and testing their patience."
"Maybe we can try sitting down and speaking with the two Dragons," Fluttershy suggested.
"Yeah, like that's going to work with how dedicated they are to bringing back, Prisma." Rainbow Dash scoffed at such a notion. It worked before but it's not effective on everyone.
"That's my point. They really want Prisma to come back." Fluttershy continued. "It's not a bad thing to want your Trainer to show up, is it?"
"I guess not...But based on what we heard about Prisma, it sounds like he's the one person who can't come back, no matter what." Even so, Twilight was still cautious about Prisma's existence.
"Let's try and use Dark Matter again, but this time, when that Astral Projection appears, Gengar will have to move in." Celestia ordered. "Ash sent him out for a reason and so we aren't going to waste it. If we cannot remove their souls, we'll keep them dormant, just as Ash wanted."
"I can try re-entering Ash to wrestle with Dialga's soul," said Sombra. "Let's hurry and make this quick."
"Even though they're not Ghosts, you can't force it." said Allister, bringing all the attention back to him. "They're the same soul, so you have to let Ash keep it himself."
"Let Ash keep it in? How so?" Fluttershy asked.
"If any of you try to do it, you could be at this for hours. Since their souls are infused, you need to have Ash and Lucas force Dialga and Palkia back in."
"So it has to be them. Well, Ash did look like he was in some control. But Lucas didn't break free for a moment. It must be those Space Particles within him." Sci-Twi observed. "I can count on Ash to regain some control here and there."
"We'd better hurry before the train completely unlocks their souls. Darkrai." Luna glanced over at her partner. Darkrai already knew what had to be done. By sinking into the shadows, he would follow the Ghost-Types to were Ash and Lucas were while everyone was behind.
It was on yet another part of the train. Lucas was still using the power of space to maintain the soul energy here. Ash-Dialga kept a sharp eye for Twilight and the others, in case they show up again. At the same time, Ash was still fighting for some control back as he would make his body twitch.
"Come on...give me back my body!" Ash groaned, only for Dialga's deeper voice to appear.
"I...Cannot do that!" Dialga refused. "When you are in your Awakened State, I have control over most of your soul, but it is still a part of Prisma. We must become one."
"Well, I don't wanna become one!" Ash refused. "I get you wanna see Prisma again, but not like this! And how long have you been around here?!"
"Ever since the worlds become one, the soul of Trainer returned. We will not rest until all 10 of us return as one to bring back our Trainer, Prisma. We share his pain after all and must be with him."
"His pain?" Ash repeated. What pain was Dialga talking about exactly?"
"We ourselves are furious at the mortals who would only wish to see Prisma in a light that benefits him. For our Trainer's peace, we must return him and right everything."
There was another piece of motivation behind this. They didn't want to bring Prisma back, but they also wished to rectify something. Most likely, it was something that occurred in the lost universe that these two Dragons remember clearly to this day and would not let it fade away until something was done.
At that moment, the Ghost-Types appeared, but that was merely a distraction. They were here to act unassuming, just so Dialga and Palkia don't get suspicious. Thanks to their actions, this allowed Darkrai to sneak up on both of them. Immediately, he used Dark Void by hitting them both in the back.
"Gh!" Ash and Lucas both groaned after being surprised by the Dark Void. It attempted to put them to sleep, but by using the power of time, Dialga managed to just barely keep himself and Palkia awake.
"That didn't work, but this will." Darkrai hovered back, leaving the rest to his friends. Blending in with the shadowy environment was Sombra. Becoming a shadow, the Umbrum entered Ash's body, ready to wrestle with the disrupted soul.
Entering the other carriage were the rest of Ash's friends, who showed up yet again to stop these revival plans. Delta Lucario already had Dark Matter active, ready to fire at the right time. Darkrai manipulated the shadows around their legs, restraining their movements.
"Fire now, Lucario!"
"Caaaa!" Lucario's Dark Matter was used yet again. Unable to move, Ash and Lucas were both hit by the Dark Matter which once again targeted their souls. Once they were hit by the power of Dark Matter, the Astral Projections of the other souls would appear behind them, crying out. Lucas's power of the train was promptly interrupted as well as Ash's. It returned to its normal speed once more.
"Ash! It's up to you and Lucas to force their souls back down!" Sci-Twi bellowed. "Do what you can!"
"W-What are they even supposed to do about it? How do you keep a part of your soul back?" Scootaloo wondered as they didn't exactly plan this far ahead. But that's where Sombra came in. He was already in contact with the other soul, using his magic against it.
He was caught off guard in the beginning, but he wouldn't be this time. He knew what to expect. With Sombra helping out, Ash would try forcing his own soul back. As for Lucas, he had to be dealt with by someone else.
"Even if we can't be the ones to force them down, at least let us try something." Fluttershy requested. She knew he was the expert but would like to still give it her best.
"Alright...You can try. Just, don't try and remove their souls or force them down."
"Thank you. Gengar. Please Possess Lucas if you can." Fluttershy said.
"Gengar!" Gengar was on it, he went straight for Lucas, entering his body. It was a Tussle of Souls. Dialga and Palkia were vehemently trying to keep their souls active on this train while Sombra and Gengar tried subduing them. And they were not alone. Ash and Lucas's souls were trying to do the same. Their bodies could be seen frantically moving as the shadows around their legs were being ripped apart.
It was four souls against two, giving them the advantage. Dialga and Palkia could be heard crying out as the deep red aura appeared once more around their bodies. But even with their advantage, Sombra and Gengar were struggling.
"Let's try possessing them again!" Luna held out her own Poke Ball. She ended up summoning her Frillish. But they needed another Ghost-Type to try and possess Ash. Applejack's Golett weren't exactly built for that so another Ghost was needed.
"I'm counting on you again! Dusknoir!" Sci-Twi sent out her Dusknoir in response. He was perfect for this since he also interacts with souls. On top of that, Dusknoir also had the soul of a Human within him.
"Another soul possession?" Allister made a light gasp. "Is that safe?"
"Trust us. We will let anything devastating happen to them. Possess Ash, Frillish!"
"Go, Dusknoir! Possess Lucas!"
"Frill!" Frillish and Dusknoir both joined the Soul Party. Since Allister said that they couldn't force it down, Fluttershy and the others went for the next best thing. They would try and occupy the souls so that Dialga and Palkia's souls were greatly outnumbered Allister finally realized what they were up to and it was rather impressive. That didn't even cross his mind.
With Dusknoir and Frillish entering their bodies, more souls had joined in. And that meant that Dialga and Palkia's control was greatly weakening. They could handle one soul and barely handle two. Now with four more in the mix, that was a different story.
The signature sounds of Dialga and Palkia roaring could be heard as a chromatic energy pulsated from their bodies At that moment, their souls were subdued. Ash and Lucas fell on their backs, free from this bizarre control. At that moment, the train would come to a halt while Sombra, Gengar and Dusknoir left their bodies, shaking their heads. Sombra felt like he went on a trip with that exchange.
"This train is now approaching its final destination. Wedgehurst. Please mind the gap between the train and the platform edge." said the voice. Right on time, they ended up arriving at Wedgehurst. Sooner than they thought, but that was all thanks to Dialga accelerating the train.
"G-Great job you guys..." Ash laughed as he was back in control now. "Man. Keeping that soul in is gonna be way harder than we thought."
"Oooh man..." Lucas groaned. "Just when I got a ton of rest after opening that gateway. Why...?"
"Pika-Pi!" Elated that Ash was back, Pikachu jumped on his chest, causing extra damage to him.
"Hah...That could've gotten out of hand fast." Twilight sighed with relief. It wasn't the first encounter with Prisma but it felt close considering who was at the helm. Everyone else laughed nervously after that shocking event. Meanwhile, Allister just stayed silent.
"Let's leave the train now before it targets their souls again." They couldn't waste time sitting around. Leaving the train was the main thing to do, even if it was at its final destination. They were a bit closer to the Isle of Armor while this whole interaction was a close one.
Ash and Lucas were immediately carried out by Gardevoir and Darkrai, leaving the train once the doors opened. With both of them out, their souls were safe once more. New revelations came their way thanks to Dialga and Palkia's souls taking over, which is something they never thought would happen. So many questions were about to flood in. Questions that Allister may or may not be able to know. As for Ash, he has now further knowledge of why some were willing to bring back Prisma.
Galar. Wedgehurst. Wedgehurst Train Station. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
"Aaah..." Lying down on the seats of Wedgehurst Station were Ash and Lucas, who just had a soul-tussling experience. The souls of Dialga and Palkia which were also infused with Prisma took over for a while. With the help of his friends, they managed to stop one part of Prisma's revival.
"At least you didn't faint or anything like that. That was weird. But also cool! You've got Dialga and Palkia in you!" Rainbow Dash saw the positives of this.
"I guess it's pretty cool." Ash chuckled. "Plus, we got to Wedgehurst way quicker this way." Ash chuckled.
"The thought of Dialga and Palkia being our enemies is pretty spooky." Pinkie Pie shuddered. "At least they weren't evil though."
"This is the third time I've encountered a Palkia in a weird time." Lucas groaned. "What's up with that? Why was it Palkia again?"
"And to think that Red and everyone else have Legendary Pokemon residing within them. But which ones are they?" Chrysalis had to wonder. Red and the others certainly weren't aware.
"Ugh. I thought we were done with souls by the time we stopped the Black Crusade." A tired Luna groaned. "At least this one is different from nigh-invincibility."
"Thank you so much for helping us." Fluttershy thanked Allister, who aided in stopping Ash and Lucas's souls from being overtaken despite appearing so hesitant to interact with the others.
"If I didn't do anything, you would've lost a friend and gained an enemy..." He slowly said, still keeping his distance.
"It's greatly appreciated though," said Fluttershy.
"We'll stay here for tonight before we head to the Isle of Armor. It's incredibly close if we take the train there." Celestia observed the train line to the Isle of Armor and how close she was. She could already feel Cobalion being nearby. Hopefully, he wasn't gone by then.
"All this to find one Pokemon. Can't you just give him an Xtransceiver?" Luna questioned, seeing this as one big hassle. "Not that he can even use one but still."
"Let me have this, Luna..." Celestia grumbled.
"Do you think the other Swords of Justice are there if Cobalion goes to the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra sometimes?" Fluttershy wondered.
"You're going to the Isle of Armor too? You'll need an Armor Pass if you want to go through." Revealing his own pass, Allister took out a golden card that would allow him full access to the Isle of Armor. It was revealed that he was heading there too.
"No need. I have full access." The Sun Princess put on a smirk. She was already allowed into the Isle of Armor because of her status alone, negating the need for an Armor Pass. "By tomorrow, we'll be there. Everyone should get some rest in the meantime. Again."
"Already on it." Ash turned his body on the seats, which were surprisingly comfortable to lie on. Immediately, he put himself to sleep. Lucas already knocked himself out, peacefully falling asleep. The seats would be their bed. Until tomorrow comes, they would have to stay here. Wedgehurst, while a small town, was enough for them. And with Luna preparing to enter the Dream Realm with Darkrai, they could sleep safe and sound.
A new day had come. Which meant the time to enter the Isle of Armor. Rejuvenated, Ash and Lucas got back up, feeling brand new. Any semblance of Dialga and Palkia were immediately gone because of this. Everyone else returned to the train station.
Since last night, Sci-Twi had already been reading up on the Isle of Armor to see what she could find. She would also speak to Professor Oak on her phone letting him know about her current venture. The train to the Isle of Armor would be showing up in just a bit.
"Chrysalis. You didn't fall asleep once. You stayed up all night reading those books?" Luna pointed out how Chrysalis did not sleep even once. This whole time, she had been reading her romance novels, refusing to sleep for even a moment.
"Hm?" Chrysalis looked up, having bags underneath her eyes. Obviously, she didn't have high amounts of stamina, so doing this did drain her energy. "Oh, sorry. I was too caught up in the moment. These books are so good..."
"Eugh." Luna still had a distaste for romance books. Returning here today was Allister, who slowly approached the platform. He was also going straight to the Isle of Armor, but he would much prefer to do it on his own. However, while he was distant from others, he didn't seem to mind Fluttershy, getting a bit closer to her.
"So, you all probably don't have Armor Passes. But since Princess Celestia is with you, you automatically have full permission." An employee here spoke."But uh...All these books? For one train?"
"It's fine. It worked well on the Ghost Train earlier." Chrysalis added before looking back at her stack of books. "If this train is smaller than it then-"
"Oh my gosh! It is you!" An ear-piercing scream reached them, hitting Audino's ear more than anyone else's. This was the sound of someone who noticed some familiar figures. Right behind them was someone else who was also about to take the same train as them.
"I can't believe it! You're going to the Isle of Armor too?! Princess Celestia?!" The girl with a colourful appearance squeed, only focusing on Celestia and no one else.
"Y-Yes?" Celestia sttutered for a moment. "Can I help you?"
"Me too! I'm going there to catch some rare Pokemon and do some training!" She immediately sped over to Celestia, leaving behind a trail of smoke. "I'm a huge fan by the way! Klara's the name! A huge, huge fan!"
"That's great to hear. A pleasure to meet you, Klara."
"So if you're going, it's for training too, right? Because I can train alongside you!" Klara rubbed her hands together.
"No, no. I'm going there for something different. But good luck with your training, Klara." Celestia gave her best wishes to her.
"Of course. I'm just so glad to meet you at last. I've heard a lot about you and your nation, Equestria. Meeting its ruler is one of the best things that could have happened. You have the Legendary Reshiram, you can merge with your own Pokemon and you're the ruler of an entire nation! What's not to admire?!""
"What about me?" Luna aimed her hoof at herself, wondering why she wasn't getting any notice. But Klara did not acknowledge her. Neither did she acknowledge everyone else. Not even Chrysalis was on her mind.
"I'll see you at the Isle of Armor then. By the time we get there, you'll see me progressing as a trainer in no time!" Klara was obviously looking for some recognition, but Celestia was the wrong individual for that. She was not a full-time Pokemon Trainer. Luna had that occupation while also being a princess. If anything, Klara should be going up to her, Ash, Lucas and a few others.
Speaking of the Isle of Armor, the train had finally arrived as it was everyone's cue to get on. Not many were headed to the Isle of Armor. It sounded like it was a place very few go to. And so far, no one knew what the Crown Tundra was all about. Klara went elsewhere. Nearby, there was a Corviknight Taxi available.
Galar's local transportation. Holding out her own Armor Pass, it was revealed that another way of getting to the Isle of Armor was by a Flying Taxi. Since Celestia's group was massive, there was no way Corviknight could carry them all. Klara got a head start over all of them.
"Wow. Is anyone else that fanatical about you?" Ash asked.
"Not really. Back home, nopony is like that." With Celestia's vast knowledge and the centuries she's been around, never before has someone acted like that in front of her. "Times are changing after all with this new world we live in. It's only natural that we'd gain similar admiration as the Pokemon. You all remember when you were marketed, right?"
"Oh, yeah. That was weird." Pinkie Pie recalled it vividly. She still remembered seeing artwork of herself but as a Human, even before she showed up in the Human World. "But fun!"
"I hope my fame is taken into notice..." Luna pouted, shifting her eyes to the side. "You're always the popular one, sister even among Humans."
"Don't worry, Luna. Be popular in your own way. That's why you're working hard to become Equestria's first-ever Pokemon Champion. And who knows? The Isle of Armor might boost that fame."
"Well..." Lucas raised his finger, knowing the answer to that. But promising not to spoil anything for them, he shook his head, refraining from anything else. "Never mind."
"If I go there, I'll see which Pokemon I can catch. I might even see an Alpha Pokemon." Sci-Twi was already thinking about catching the Pokemon there for starters. In the same boat as her was Rainbow Dash.
"Filling up my team is just what I need." The pegasus added. "It'd better have some Pokemon I've never seen before. But if it doesn't then...eh. It is what it is."
"Well, there's something else you can do while you're there." Speaking through Sci-Twi's phone was Professor Oak. "There's a dojo in the Isle of Armor that you can join. Anyone can enter it. It's free of charge. If it interests you, you can take a crack at it."
"A dojo? For martial arts?" Sci-Twi's immediate thought was martial arts. And considering this was the World of Pokemon, it was most likely that both the Pokemon and the Humans were performing Martial Arts together.
"What are you going to do there, Allister?" Fluttersy asked Allister who stayed hidden from Klara's eyes when she came bolting over. Then again, she wasn't paying attention at all.
"I'm...doing my own thing." But Allister would much rather not share anything at the moment. Right now, what everyone had to do was get a move on before this train departed. Klara was already way ahead of them.
Soon, everyone else entered the empty train which had zero passengers until now. It was off the Isle of Armor. This would be their third to last train ride and to think that this was all for one Pokemon that Celestia wished to see during the Pokemon Festival.
As for the Isle of Armor, it was unknown if it was even involved with the Pokemon Festival. Just as the name suggests, it is an island and a place where Cobalion can appear, which he isn't afraid to share. As for those books of Chrysalis, they managed to fit after all.
The Isle of Armor. Armor Station.
At last, they had arrived at the Isle of Armor. The train stopped here at the Armor Station, where everyone else started getting off. One by one they exited the carriages while Chrysalis carefully brought her books out, piling them all up. Sitting on top of these books was Mew. With everyone arriving and some of them even getting ready to leave the Isle of Armor, a new adventure was staring them in the face.
"Here we are!" Ash shouted after exiting. He was already on the move alongside Pikachu. "The Isle of Armor!
"Pikachu-Pi!"
"Alright. It's just an island, so by all accounts, Cobalion shouldn't be too far. I saw the island from the train and it's large but not too large." Celestia confidently said believing she could find Cobalion in time. The Pokemon Festival was still young after all and she was counting on Cobalion to be nearby.
To get ahead of everyone else, Celestia pranced away, going solo. Ash and the others already had the same thing in mind but they would take different directions. Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle focused on the nearby gift shop, wanting to buy something there first. Rarity and Applejack would soon join them. Everything here in the Gift Shop was exclusive to the Isle of Armor only and nowhere else.
Something already caught their eyes. A keychain of an unidentified Pokemon. It was rather small and resembled that of a bear, but it was obvious this design was heavily stylized, making the actual Pokemon unknown to them. It was a free-for-all all for everyone. Celestia was off to find Cobalion, Chrysalis would take the time to read her novels as she wasn't even halfway done with them by this point and some were about to explore as they always do. Such as Sci-Twi.
Sci-Twi took a look at her phone, looking up what she could about the Isle of Armor. Any sign of an Alpha Pokemon would be splendid since she was still focusing on that goal.
"Eh. I might find some along the way." She turned off her phone, deciding to wing it. As soon as she tried facing her friends, she noticed how a majority of them were doing something else. Ash and Lucas were already out of there. Sci-Twi was hoping she could be alongside Ash but it was too late for that. Even her counterpart was gone.
"Aw. Well, it's us three then." She still had Hisuian Zorua, Alpha Pikachu and Spike with her. Two in her bag and one by her side. "Never been on an island before so this'll be fun."
"Are you going out there?" Showing up from the Isle of Armor, ready to enter the train was another man who looked a bit perplexed. "Joining the dojo today?"
"Well, I was thinking about it. I definitely want to check it out."
"Mmm...I wouldn't. I really wouldn't." He shook his head, suggesting that Sci-Twi refrained immediately. "I was supposed to join the dojo on this island today but, there's a strange person outside the station and I'm a bit scared to head out." Clearly, someone was there and was responsible for his perplexed face. "I gotta get outta here though. Good luck to you."
He immediately walked off, heading for the train. He clearly didn't want to be here right now at that moment. Perhaps another time for him. But for Sci-Twi, she was given a warning no one else received. Everyone else was already busy doing something. At that moment, a chill ran down Zorua's spine as well as Pikachu and Spike. It seems that they were just about to encounter the one who made this man flee the Isle of Armor.
Right on time, that strange person revealed herself to be Klara. It hasn't even been that long since Sci-Twi has spotted her and here she was again, already beating everyone else here thanks to the Corviknight taxi.
"Oh? What's this? Didn't I see you back at Wedgehurst station?" Klara tilted her head when looking at Sci-Twi. She at least recalled her appearance.
"Uh, yes. It wasn't that long ago. You spoke to us already."
"I did? I didn't say anything to you though. I was only focused on Princess Celestia which was the luckiest encounter I've ever had! Including Pokemon! Oh, well. It doesn't matter if I focused on you or not. Here to enter the dojo?"
"Just for a bit."
"Well, I've been at the dojo for a while, if you must know." She said with a playful tone but Spike already felt that something was off about her. "I've been sent out to help the new newbie. It wasn't obviously wasn't that guy. Is it you?"
"I think you've got the wrong person." Sci-Twi nervously laughed.
"Oh, come on. I know you're the new student who's supposed to join the Master Dojo. Who else could it be? Not Princess Celestia but she doesn't need to join at all."
"Mmm...No." Sci-Twi shook her head, denying it once more. "If it isn't me, it isn't any of my friends either."
"Mhm..." Klara slowly nodded before swivelling for a moment. When facing away from Sci-Twi, her expression suddenly changed. From a cheerful and bouncy face to a rather shaded and slightly disdainful expression. It was a rather dramatic tone based on a few words Sci-Twi said, which Klara didn't seem to take too kindly to. "What's going on? Am I being mocked by her or something? But I'm the colourful, caring and charismatic Klara."
Her opinion of Sci-Twi was already being decided based on this small interaction. They had just met even though both of them were at Wedgehurst earlier. "Come to think of it, she looks a bit like that one Princess. I saw two of them earlier when approaching Princess Celestia. What's up with that?" She was just now acknowledging Sci-Twi's appearance, recognising other faces besides Princess Celestia. "Well then...How about we have one quick battle? Just so, y'know, we can see who's better."
"A Pokemon Battle? Right now?"
"Not in here, silly. Outside, of course. I'll be waiting there so come out when you're ready~" Klara waved goodbye before heading for the outside. She still carried that expression on her face. Speaking to herself once more, she gave a comment to Sci-Twi yet again and it was not in a positive light. "She'll never know what hit her..."
Sci-Twi shrugged, unsure of what to make of that interaction. But she didn't mind a Pokemon Battle at all. As an aspiring Pokemon Researcher, freshening up her skills in this Grander World was a benefit without a doubt. And besides, it was high time she finally started exploring the Wild Area. Ash and the others were already doing so.
With the golden rays of the Sun hitting her face upon entering the outside, at last, Sci-Twi saw it for herself. The Isle of Armor. Massive indeed with a majority of it being water and a minimal part of it being land. But the land was still large in its own right. Dynamax Power Spots were seen here as well as some Pokemon she hasn't seen yet.
Something resembling a Slowpoke was visible while the visage of a Wailord was there. But that much was obvious considering how massive a Wailord can be.
"Hee hee! I bet this is your first time on the Isle of Armor!" Approaching her was Klara. "I bet you can't wait to start exploring and reunite with Princess Celestia. But first things first! We need to make sure you're ready. Since I've already been at the Master Dojo for a little while now, I'll be the one testing you out." She opened her eyes a bit, gazing at Sci-Twi with a masked bubbly look that carried a different intent.
"Well, I guess I can have a quick battle. It'd be nice to improve myself. I wish I could've exited the station earlier so I would've seen the sights with Ash and the others myself." Sci-Twi expressed. "Oh, well. I'm ready, Klara."
"Great. Go easy on me, Okay?" Klara made a light giggle before thinking to herself. "If only Princess Celestia were here to watch this battle. Since this is someone who was tagging along with her, winning this will boost my reputation. She's obviously that Princess Twilight Sparkle I've heard about, but I didn't think there were two of them. Hmph. Whatever works for me."
Both Trainers stood back, taking their respective positions for this quick battle. Sci-Twi already held out one Poke Ball, unsure of how many Pokemon were going to be used here. But since this was going to be quick, she had to assume at least two Pokemon. Klara took out her Poke Ball, playing with it for a little while and keeping that same chilling smile on her face.
"I hope you're really ready! Out comes my adorable Venipede!" Appearing from the Poke Ball in her hand was a Venipede.
"Venipede!"
"Then, I'm choosing you first! Pikachu!" Sci-Twi chose the ancestor Ash's Pikachu first, letting him take a swing at battling.
"Pika-Pika!"
"Hold on! Why is your Pikachu so massive?! It's bigger than an average Pikachu!" It didn't take long for Klara to point out the size of that Pikachu, who went all the way up to Sci-Twi's knees.
"That's because he's an Alpha Pikachu! Bigger and stronger than the average Pikachu."
"Pika-Pika!"
"Hoh? Using special Pokemon on me from the very start? Okay then...Remember it's just a test, so take it easy even with an Alpha Pokemon." Klara played it off before putting on a rather serious face. "I'll be nice and gentle...as I knock you out flat."
"Huh?" Sci-Twi pulled back as that was not the response she was expecting. There was something rather virulent about it.
"Venipede! Use Poison Tail!"
"Veni!" Venipede made the first move, coating its tail in poison. It moved rather fast when leaving the ground, leaping through the air.
"Oh! Pikachu, use Double Team, quick!"
"Pi!" It was too late for that, Pikachu took the first hit. The Poison Tail smacked him in the face, causing the Mouse Pokemon to slide back. The hit was surprising, but not too strong. If anything, all it did was make Pikachu rub his cheek for a moment. "Pika...!"
"Use Poison Tail again!"
"Pede!" Venipede was going in for yet another Poison Tail. This time, it was hoping to poison Alpha Pikachu, dealing gradual damage to him.
"Thunder Punch, quick!"
"Pika-Pikachu!" Pikachu was ready this time. Enveloping his cute little hands in a fierce burst of lightning, he would swing at the incoming tail of virulent energy, initiating a clash. But it wasn't a long-lasting clash. With just one strike, Alpha Pikachu managed to push back Venipiede, landing Thunder Punch by overpowering its Poison Tail.
"V-Venipede?!" Venipede gasped after being flung through the air. Klara yelped for a moment before Venipede bounced on the ground, barely regaining its balance.
"Okay...So it's physically strong for a Pikachu. That's fine." Klara uttered.
"Great! Now use Brick Break!"
"Pikachu!" This Pikachu preferred to get up close and personal, coating his hand in a blazing orange energy.
"Really? Brick Break on a Venipede?" Klara scoffed at the notion. "Oh, this will be over quickly. I won't even have to use my second Pokemon. Use Pin Missile!"
"Veni! Venipede!" In front of it, energy was materialized in the form of arrows. Right as Pikachu approached, Venipede unleashed these sharp pins which flew through the air like arrows.
"Pika! Pika!" But Pikachu was very much ready for them. By swinging his fist around, he managed to destroy the arrows coming his way. All those arrows meant nothing as Pin Missle was absolutely obliterated, leaving Venipede vulnerable
And even though this wouldn't be super-effective, Alpha Pikachu's physical strength was greater than the average Pikachu so this hit was about to make a difference without a doubt. Venpiede's eyes widened as Pikachu slammed his fist down on its head, forcing it down onto the ground.
With that mighty downward hit, Venipede had fainted. Sci-Twi took the first victory of this quick battle. Pikachu backed away to show the fainted Pokemon lying down. "Venipede..."
"Kh!" An anger vein appeared on Klara's head. "How am I getting backed into a corner? This should not be a thing!" She returned Venipede to its Poke Ball, gripping the object out of irritation. After bringing back Venipede, she quickly took out another Poke Ball to try and rectify this. "Hmm...You got lucky there. You won't be so lucky in the face of my next Pokemon!" Throwing it in the air, out emerged a familiar Pokemon that Sci-Twi faintly saw in the distance. The Pokemon that resembled Slowpoke but had something different about it.
"Slowpoke." It was indeed a Slowpoke, but there was one clear difference that was hard to miss.
"Slowpoke? Is that Mustard on its head?" Sci-Twi adjusted her glasses as it just looked like an ordinary Slowpoke but with something on it.
"You're not the only one with a special Pokemon~" Klara giggled.
"Oh, really?" Hearing that, the Pokedex was instantly used by Sci-Twi as she had to read up on this Slowpoke.
"Slowpoke. The Dopey Pokemon. Galarian Form. Although this Pokémon is normally zoned out, its expression abruptly sharpens on occasion. The cause for this seems to lie in Slowpoke’s diet. Because Galarian Slowpoke eats the seeds of a plant that grows only in Galar, their tails have developed a spicy flavour."
"Ah, so it's a Galarian Variant. Pure Psychic too instead of water. So much for our Electric attacks."
"Acid!"
"Slow." While Sci-Twi was still looking at her Pokedex, Klara took the opportunity to attack. From its mouth, Slowpoke spewed an acidic liquid that reached Pikachu, hitting him from the front.
"P-Pi!" Pikachu cried out after the acid got all over him. It was absolutely searing as to be expected from Acid. The Mouse Pokemon groaned, stumbling for a moment.
"Hey! I was reading the Dex entry!" Sci-Twi cried out. She didn't expect that sneak attack. Instead of Klara waiting for her opponent, she went in for a free hit while Twilight wasn't looking.
"Mmm...Shouldn't have done that~. You're just going to do that in the middle of a battle? That's a huge mistake on your part and no you're going to regret it. It's the first damage you took in the Isle of Armor. Consider it a gift from me. Use Confusion!"
"Slow." Slowpoke continued its attack. This time, using Confusion. Its eyes glowed purple as the Mouse Pokemon became outlined in a similarly coloured aura. This was an attempt to move Pikachu around. Pikachu's body was already leaving the ground by this point
"Use Thunderbolt, Pikachu!"
"Pika..!" Even with the pain of this acid, Alpha Pikachu could power through. That was the power of an Alpha Pokemon. A power strong enough to break the Psychic hold on him. He unleashed 100,000 volts of lightning from his body, breaking the telekinetic aura around him.
E-Excuse me?!" Klara blinked in disbelief. At that moment, the rest of the volts travelled downwards, smiting Galarian Slowpoke. A strong electrical explosion went off, making Klara's ribbon and her coat flow. Klara was frozen as the smoke started clearing while Pikachu descended. An attack from an Alpha Pokemon was bound to be heavy and strong, no matter what.
"Slowpoke..." Slowpoke had fainted. Although, due to how slow it was to pain, its eyes were still open, having not yet transferred all the damage. But since it was lying on the floor, it was still down for the count. Sci-Twi didn't even need to use another Pokemon.
"Oh, great! We win!" Glad that she won, Sci-Twi pumped both of her arms. "Yes!"
"Pikachu!"
"Oh, my next Pokemon's gonna make short work of-" Klara believed she was still in this attempting to bring out a third Pokemon. However, it was at this moment that she realized, she had no other Pokemon. Only two of them were on her. "Huh? That was my last one?"
"That's a neat little battle we had there." Sci-Twi approached "Thanks for having it with me."
"Huh?! No, no, no! NO, no no!" Klara bellowed, startling Sci-Twi once she got close. Pikachu, Zorua and Spike were also startled by her roar. "Th-there must be some mistake!"
"Uhh..." Sci-Twi was also frozen, unsure of what to say next. Klara didn't exactly take that loss well and was aiming to win from the get-go.
Not wanting Sci-Twi to hear her, Klara turned around once more, speaking to herself. "Not good...Not good at all, man...How'd this girl get so strong? I grew up with Pokemon and her world just met them 4 years ago. If she joins the dojo, nobody's gonna pay attention to all my strength. Princess Celestia might even see it..."
"Klara?"
"I could tell her to buzz off...No, they asked me to bring in the new student!" She grizzled her teeth as her fists were trembling. Taking a deep breath, she quickly swivelled once more, facing Sci-Twi. "Ahem! Hey, that wasn't that bad! I mean, it's not like I was going all out. Not at all. But still!"
"Oh, really? Well, I did kinda have an advantage with my Alpha Pokemon, so there's that." Sci-Twi giggled.
"Buuut...you see...our dojo is one that has a long-standing reputation." Klara continued. "Even the World's Strongest Trainer Champion Leon trained at our place!"
"Oh, right! I heard about that!"
"Exactly! No offence, but maybe, just maybe, you're not quiiiite good enough to make t? I mean, you're no Leon. So how about this? Why not enjoy the sights and stay away from the Master's Dojo over there, K?" She showed Sci-Twi the dojo which wasn't too far from here.
"Well, I want to meet with my friends first before I even visit it."
"Great! See ya!" Klara suddenly ran off, heading to the Master's Dojo. She was quite the character but Sci-Twi couldn't exactly fully read her character. Spike could and so could Zorua a little bit. She was something. She clearly wanted to stand out and that battle against Sci-Twi did not help her case.
But quickly tossing all of that aside, Sci-Twi focused on the Isle of Armor once more. A new adventure was staring her in the face and she wasn't about to waste any time. Not when Ash and the others are already out there exploring. Quickly, Sci-Twi would get a move on too as the journey continues.
Galar. The Isle of Armor. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
The Isle of Armor. A Large Island, located off the east coast of mainland Galar, close to Spikemuth. Showing up here were Ash and his friends when searching for Cobalion, who apparently shows up here from time to time as well as another location out there. The Crown Tundra.
While some stayed at the Armor Station's Gift Shop, others were already out there. Such as Ash, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy Lucas Celestia, Luna, Spike and Twilight Sparkle.
Moving by were some Buneary, led by a Lopunny. In the distance that massive Wailord could still be seen. Teleporting away when anyone got near, such as Lucas, was an Abra. Already, they came across a Galarian Slowpoke, reading up on its Dex Entry.
"Hm. So that's what it was. I thought it was just mustard." Ash commented when facing the Dopey Pokemon.
"Hmm..." As for Celestia, she was searching high and low for any sign of Cobalion. Perhaps even a trace. And she was already gaining some clues based on the hoof prints. Celestia already saw a familiar hoof print plastered on the ground that couldn't be ignored. Celestia was always an observant princess, but now she was even more observant than ever.. Love does do that to someone. It can increase their capabilities to new levels. "He's been here without a doubt."
"They do look recent," Luna observed. "Perhaps those locals over at that building might have seen him and the other swords."
"Mmm...I don't see the footprints of the other Swords of Justice anywhere. It must have been just Cobalion who came by here."
"There you are!" Finally catching up with Ash and the others was Sci-Twi, who just got done having a rather peculiar encounter with a girl named Klara. "Found you! Oh, I was worried I might've gotten lost there!"
"Hey. Did you visit the dojo yet?" Ash asked.
"No. I was planning to but I had to make sure I met up with you all. What are you doing?"
"Right now, I'm tracking down Cobalion. And I know for a fact that he's close with these hoofprints. Maybe far but I'm sure I'll find him. And when I do find him, we'll have a great time together!"
"All this just to spend time with him? Seems like a hassle if you ask me." Lucas shook his head.
"You can hassle for love!" Celestia bellowed. "At least, that's what I think anyway. I'm not exactly an expert on love."
"Oh. Maybe you can talk to Queen Chrysalis and she can give you some pointers. She's reading all those romance novels after all."
"Absolutely not." Luna shut it down immediately, still expressing her opinion on romance stories. "Those books are so unrealistic.
"I don't know...I actually like them." Putting on a smile, Sci-Twi had a different opinion. She was a bit of a fan of those books, admittedly. "It's so romantic that you're going this far to find him."
"Uhh...S-Same." Twilight slowly raised her hoof. She was in the same boat as her counterpart, being a bit fond of those types of stories. They shared that in common.
"They're okay, I guess." Spike was neutral. He didn't mind them. "If they had comics of that stuff, I might read 'em."
As for Rainbow Dash, she was too busy observing all the Pokemon here, wanting to know who could join her team and carry her to victory. Plenty of options here at the Isle of Armor with a variety of Pokemon. Joining her was Fluttershy.
"Heh. Who's prints are these?" Rainbow Dash also spotted some prints of her own. But these prints were much smaller than Cobalion's. In fact, they looked more like fist prints instead of footprints. They seemed to have dug deeply into the walls of the rocks, leaving some rubble behind.
"No clue. It doesn't look like Keldeo or even Virizion's. Terrakion's is too big." Fluttershy answered. "They look more like fist prints. Someone must've hit it hard."
Casually, Rainbow Dash touched the dents on the rocks and by doing so, she felt a sharp burn that caught her by surprise. "Ow! What was up with that?!"
"Oh, they're very recent..." Fluttershy gawked. "And powerful. For you to feel that pain from a dent is something else, Rainbow Dash.
"Yeah...Geez that smarts." Rainbow Dash groaned as Audino used Heal Pulse on her sizzling hoof.
"It must've been an incredibly powerful Pokemon to leave such an impact," Celestia added. "Well, the Swords of Justice could do the same but this wasn't done by them."
"Ah! I bet it's an Alpha Pokemon!" Sci-Twi came to her own conclusion. She fully believed in the strength of an Alpha Pokemon since they are naturally stronger than their average species. "It must've been a Fighting-Type Alpha Pokemon then! I just know it. And if there's an Alpha out here, I have to try and find it! But first...I want to know what that dojo is all about and if they know something."
It was off to the Master's Dojo. Sci-Twi already set her sights on it since it raised her curiosity. Celestia would simply stick outside, focusing on Cobalion only while the rest made their way to the only building here in the Isle of Armor aside from the Armor Station.
The Master Dojo. Nestled here in the Isle of Armor, not much was known about it at the moment but that was all about to change. Free for anyone to enter, whether they were a student or not but obviously, someone who clearly doesn't want others showing up here for the sake of standing out.
Up ahead, Sci-Twi already saw a familiar face standing there. It was Klara. An odd character with a tendency to speak to herself, facing away from others. Sci-Twi defeated her and in return, received a surprising response. Currently, she was speaking with someone else at the moment.
"Oh, fiddlesticks. Our new student decided to go back home?" The lady said, clearly disappointed. She was looking forward to a new student as opposed to Klara, who failed to chase Sci-Twi away.
"Seems that way! Yep! And I did my best to welcome her but...she just suddenly left after our battle." Klara was clearly lying through her teeth.
"And I'd be hoping we'd get to welcome a new member to our little family here, too..." She sighed. But her attention was soon drawn to the new faces standing before her. "Oh? Well, hello? And who are you all, darlings?"
"Huh?" Klara soon faced them. The look on her face said it all. She instantly spotted Sci-Twi, currently present here. Klara's Words failed to steer her away from the Master Dojo and now she showed up with extra friends. "Agh!"
"Oh, my. Which one of you is the new student?" She looked over at the list of characters, struggling to find the right one. She would mainly focus on Twilight, Sci-Twi, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. "It's a girl so it has to be one of you..."
"Well, I was thinking of showing up to it." Sci-Twi raised her arm.
"Ah, so you must be the new student that's supposed to join today." The older lady approached. Immediately, Klara bolted forward to try and speak on this. Now that Sci-Twi was here, she had to switch things up.
"Right, right, right, right!" Klara rapidly said. "Exactly ma'am! I swear! She must've changed his mind about joining the dojo!" Trying to play it off, she would bring back that smile for Sci-Twi. "Oh, but here you are! I'm so happy you decided to come after all!"
"Oh, everything's just coming up roses!" The lady said with glee. "Now, who might you be and who are all of your friends?"
"I'm Twilight Sparkle. And this is also Twilight Sparkle." Sci-Twi introduced herself, plus her Equestrian Counterpart. "And these people right are...Ash, Lucas, Rainbow Dash plus Fluttershy. And right here are well...Spike and Spike."
"Hey." Spike, the Dragon and Spike, the Dog, both grinned at Mustard with smooth faces. Or at least, faces that tried to be smooth in the face of someone beautiful.
"Well, my name's Honey. I help keep this place running. You can consider me the lady of the house. Not that the Master Dojo is just any old house. You can bring your friends in. They're free to join as well."
"Aagh...! Why?! What does she think she's doing just showing up like that?" Klara turned around, speaking to herself once more. But this time, her words were not invisible. With Audino here, she could be heard. "This ain't good...Mrs. Honey will know that I lied!"
"Audino?"
"Seems you already met our Klara. Bit of an odd Ducklett, but she's one of our own." said Honey. "She's training hard at the dojo so she can become a Gym Leader someday. I can trust the two of you to get along, right?"
"Hee, hee! I'm sure we'll be best friends!" Klara giggled as her eyes twitched a bit.
"You're working to become a Gym Leader? Sweet." Ash commented.
"Oh, that explains the getup. It looks like Allister's and the other Gym Leaders." Rainbow Dash pointed out after getting a good look at Klara.
"This is just too many cooks in the kitchen. If they all join, how am I possibly going to stand out?" Klara grizzled her teeth when thinking to herself.
"Oh, dear! But look at me! Here I am, making you stand out around outside. All of you are free to enter." Honey allowed access into the dojo, much to Klara's chagrin. Ash and the others would gladly do so.
"If she tells Mrs Honey about what happened, I'll have to melt her down to size." Klara growled. "But I can't say that or do it with so many of her friends here. This is unfair. I just have to try and stand out somehow..." Feeling some pressure, Klara continued onwards, joining the others in the dojo.
But at that moment, Ash and Sci-Twi looked up as their senses went off. They felt as if someone was near. Both looked up but no one was there on the roof of the dojo. With no one in sight, they continued off to the dojo.
The Master Dojo.
The Master Dojo.
As the name suggests, it was a singular dojo out here in the middle of the Isle of Armor. An image of a Lapras was plastered on the wall as well as special symbols that come from the east of this world. Galar certainly wasn't in the east, making this place stand out.
Entering here, Ash's group was met with the sight of multiple people already lined up, here to train. But unlike Klara, they weren't wearing outfits that related to the Galarian Gym Leaders. In this case, they were all wearing one consistent uniform. Some weren't and were just rocking what they normally wear.
"Everybody! I have an announcement to make! We've got a new student joining us today!" Honey spoke to all of them. "Please welcome Twilight and her friends. I'm sure you'll have lots to teach them."
"Hi-yah! Welcome to the Dojo!" They all greeted them, pulling off a martial arts pose as well.
"All our students are so good and hardworking, everyone really gives it their all around here."
"This is so cool...!" Rainbow Dash's eyes lit up when looking at this place. She never thought she'd be in a dojo until now.
"Okay, I think I can commit to it for a while." A smile met Sci-Twi's face. "Maybe not the martial arts part."
"So this is where Leon used to train at, huh? Nice." Ash nodded as he liked what he was seeing. "Do you think we could get those outfits?!"
"Well, sure. There's only one person you need to ask. My son Hyde isn't here right now. He would usually support you with the gi, so you'll have to go to my lovely husband~" Honey hummed. "That handsome gent in the back is my darling hubby and the very master of my master dojo."
Their eyes soon met with one more individual who stood there, facing the wall. He was silent for the most part until he turned around. An old man was revealed to be the husband of Honey was technically the top dog here at the Master's Dojo.
"Why hello there! I'm Mustard!" Immediately, his silence turned to noise as he cheerfully introduced himself, pulling off his own stance. "I'm rather good at Pokemon Battles, you know! I'm pleased as cheese that you could join us!"
He obviously pulled off a pun that he was hoping the newcomers would've gotten. But so far, none of them got it as Sci-Twi chuckled nervously. Lucas stayed silent, scratching his face while Rainbow Dash grimaced a bit. "...Pfft!" But it resonated with Pinkie Pie compared to everyone else. She immediately broke out into laughter. "Bahahaha! Cheesed to meet you!" Pinkie would entertain him, throwing her own pun in there.
"Heh, heh. Glad you got it! Most rarely do."
"Don't let him fool you into thinking he's just a silly old man," Honey warned. "He's a real best when he gets serious. Well, darling. I'll leave the rest up to you."
"He married quite young, didn't he?" Twilight pointed out the gap between Honey and Mustard.
"Yaaay! This is my favourite part!" Mustard grinned, elated to start teaching the newcomers. "I wanna see just how good you are. Now um, which one of you is the new student? Unless you're all the new students?"
"Well, I guess I'm the one spearheading this." Sci-Twi stepped forward. "Starting now, I'm the new student it looks like."
"Great. But in reality, once you enter this dojo, everyone's a student in my eyes. There's always something to learn and you can never be devoid of anything new." Mustard added. "Why not have a battle with little old me?"
"Oh yeah! That'd be great!" Ash, Lucas and Rainbow Dash collectively said.
"Slow down there, young'uns. Usually, multiple trainers don't ask to challenge me." Mustard halted them. "I always usually start with one. How about we stick to that."
"Well, if it's just one, you should take a crack at it, Twi." Ash opted for Sci-Twi to take a spin. She did seem to be the most involved in this.
"Although...I can already see a great fire in your eyes. The two of you." Mustard then pointed at Ash and Rainbow Dash, seeing something within them. That was potential. "I think I recognise you in the blue."
"Me?" Ash soon saw Mustard focusing on him.
"That's right. I heard about you from Leon. Ash is the name, right?" Mustard was aware of Ash's existence and that was all thanks to Leon. "I'm pretty lucky to have you here."
"W-What about me? Do you recognize me?"
"Do I?" Mustard stroked his beard. He took a closer look at Rainbow Dash, trying to see if he could lock down her appearance. "Mmmm...Not really. Must be my age."
"Figures..." A gutted Rainbow Dash lowered her head. "She wasn't quite there yet, unfortunately. Whether it was on Ash's level or Leon's level.
"But there is one thing my age won't fail me at. I can always tell who is powerful. And right now, I'm looking at quite the collection of powerhouses." Mustard nodded as he instantly knew that everyone here was a formidable trainer in their own right. Sci-Twi was also seen as a powerful trainer, even with the Alpha Pokemon. Mustard looked past the Alpha Pokemon and just saw Sci-Twi's expertise as a Pokemon Trainer.
The same went for Fluttershy. She was more about caring for Pokemon but Mustard already knew that she could put up a fight without a doubt. Pinkie Pie had a Mew poking out her mane that the students here all noticed, flabbergasted. Her strength was self-explanatory.
"Well, it's not just us. We came here with the rest of our friends and they're out there in the Isle of Armor right now." Ash didn't forget about Celestia and the others.
"Well, of course they're powerful too! Hoho!" Mustard chuckled. "When surrounded by friends, anyone can be powerful. That's how Pokemon and Pokemon Trainers grow after all. It's been my belief that we teach each other. Now then. Shall we get started?"
"R-Right!" Sci-Twi nodded, already holding out a Poke Ball. "I'm ready! Sorry if my Alpha Pokemon turn out to be difficult. They're pretty strong."
"Oh, no need. I think I'll be just fine." Mustard laughed, showing no signs of worry whatsoever. Sci-Twi moved back, taking her position for this Pokemon Battle. Recently, Sci-Twi's been going through a few battles, more so than she usually does. Typically, it takes a long time for her to get involved in a Pokemon Battle as a majority of the time, it's against Alpha Pokemon. But now, she was having consistent Pokemon Battles. Starting with Scione, then to Klara and now Mustard.
And since this was a Dojo, there was a high chance Sci-Twi was going to have some more battles down the road. "For this, I'll send out my Mienfoo."
"Mienfoo!" Emerging from the Poke Ball was Mustard's Mienfoo.
"Mienfoo? Then I'll choose Dusknoir!" Sci-Twi thought smart, bringing out her Ghost-Type, Dusknoir.
"Dusknoir!"
"Yipee! Oh, I just can't wait to see you battle your heart out!" Unbothered by the type disadvantage, Mustard expressed his feelings.
"Sheesh. He doesn't look that bothered at all." Rainbow Dash commented. "That makes him pretty cool actually..."
"Hmm..." Sci-Twi adjusted her glasses, feeling as if something was amiss. She was taking what Honey said earlier about her husband. He was not a simple old man. The way he seemed fearless in the face of a Dusknoir was rather telling.
"This is bad...If she beats Master Mustard, she'll really stick out. No one's beaten him at all." Klara was sweating bullets. She was worried that this would be the moment when Sci-Twi would become famous in the dojo. "Beating the Dojo Master might make her the New Dojo Master! And with an Alpha Dusknoir of all Pokemonon her side too?! What kind of cruel joke is this?!
"Here goes! Use Dynamic Punch!"
"Dusk...!" Going first was Dusknoir, who pulled his fist back. The Gripper Pokemon would advance, preparing to slug Mienfoo with a truly dynamic strike.
"How about a Knock Off?"
"Mien!" Mienfoo responded with a move that would be super-effective against Dusknoir. Mustard came prepared for a situation such as this. With a flash in its eyes, Mienfoo leapt off the floor at high speeds, becoming a blur for a moment. It immediately moved past Dusknoir's punch once it was thrown, outspeeding the attack.
"Dusk?!" Dusknoir gasped, noticing Mienfoo up close in his face. Mienfoo's Knock Off connected, smacking Dusknoir's round belly. The Ghost-Type groaned after the initial hit before being pushed back. "N-Noir!"
"Oh!" Sci-Twi's glasses almost fell off as Dusknoir was briefly outsped by Mienfoo.
"That's not too much of a surprise. I've got a Mienshao and she was super fast even as a Mienfoo." Rainbow Das commented. "But at the same time..."
"Use Ice Beam, Dusknoir!"
"Noir!" Retaliating, Dusknoir held one hand out, unleashing a chilling beam of ice to try and freeze the Martial Arts Pokemon. But speed was one Mienfoo's side once more.
"How about an Aerial Ace for that Ice Beam?"
"Foo!" Mienfoo took off at breakneck speeds once more. Once the Ice Beam got close, it would flip over the attack, leaving behind an afterimage of itself. After doing the attack, Mienfoo came crashing down with an axe kick, striking Dusknoir's head at confounding speeds. Once more Dusknoir took a hit but this was then followed up by a third hit as Mienfoo then swivelled in the air for a moment, smacking the Gripper Pokemon in the face and once again knocking him back.
"D-Dusknoir!"
"Okay, so it's fast. That's what I can expect from a Mienfoo...But I know I can catch it somehow." Sci-Twi gulped, focusing as hard as she could. Clearly, behind that kind smile of an old man was a truly capable Pokemon Trainer. Just as Honey said. But Sci-Twi wondered if she could outsmart him.
"Don't be shy." Mustard added. "Mienfoo's ready to take whatever you have to offer. Make sure to show him a good time. He loves a good battle."
"Mien-Mien."
"Alright then...Extend your arms, Dusknoir! Grab him!"
"Dusk!" Dusknoir would do what he does best. By holding out both his arms, he extended them, making shadows trail out. Surely there was no way Mienfoo could retaliate against such a mighty grip since very few can escape Dusknoir's clutches.
"That deserves a deflection, Mienfoo."
"Mien!" With his brute strength, Mienfoo deflected Dusknoir's Shadow Arms. The arms went flying to the other side and in return, the force of Mienfoo hitting them sent a strong vibration through Dusknoir's body, making him stagger.
"Dusknoir?!"
"No way he deflected that!" Lucas bellowed in disbelief. How could Mienfoo muster that much strength when Dusknoir was an Alpha Pokemon. A Fully Evolved one too and Dusknoirs were known for their physical strength. So was the Mienfoo line but most of that was for Mienshao and this wasn't even an Alpha Mienfoo.
"Try and reverse your arms! Use Payback!"
"N-Noir!" Dusknoir wasn't going to let himself go down easy, however. He managed to barely manipulate his shadow arms, harnessing a dark energy. He retracted his arms after forming the dark energy in his hands. Once he gathered it, the Gripper Pokemon unleashed black tendrils forward.
"That deserves a Stone Egde!"
"Mien!" Stomping his foot on the floor, Mienfoo would summon large crystal rocks. Afterwards, with just a few kicks, he sent them flying. The crystals clashed with tendrils, but only one came out as the victor. The crystals broke through the tendrils, crashing into Dusknoir.
Dusknoir was unable to get a hit in at all and instead, was the one who took the most hits in this battle. And unfortunately for Dusknoir, he wasn't going to get any more hits at all. The Ghost-Type fell on his back, unable to continue at all. Dusknoir had fainted.
"Dusknoir..."
"Well, it looks like that's that," said Mustard. "That was everything I hoped for. Clever use of Dusknoir's arms there and quick on your feet too."
"Aw, Dusknoir." Sci-Twi went up to Dusknoir, helping him up. "Sorry about that. I was sure that we would've won this quick battle but...guess not."
"Are you okay, Raine?" Hisuian Zorua asked.
"Dusk. Dusknoir." Dusknoir needed some time to think. Even he couldn't believe it. Dusknoir was one of Sci-Twi's strongest Pokemon. He was easily on par with Alpha Rapidash and he lost so quickly. How powerful was Mustard to snag such a quick victory?
"Hmmm?" Klara then put on a smile as this was not the outcome she was expecting. But it was the outcome she preferred, which prompted her to change her tone. "She lost. Oh, that's a relief! Here I thought she was some prodigy having Alpha Pokemon and a Zorua I've never seen before. This is great. It means I can still stand out! So much for your advantage, Twilight."
"I didn't think Mienfoo would overpower him so easily though." Sci-Twi was a bit bewildered.
"Mien-Mien." Mienfoo giggled after Sci-Twi saw his true strength.
"H-He might even be stronger than my Mienshao when she was a Mienfoo. I mean, I'm just guessing..." Rainbow Dash whistled, already intimidated by Mustard's Strength.
"Well, Twilight! Don't let it get to you too much!" Klara took the opportunity to approach Sci-Twi, buttering up to her. "Master Mustard is on a league of his own after all. It's only natural something like this would've happened."
"I'm not too beat up by it though..."
"And that's good," Mustard added. "That battle showed much you really care about Pokemon. Easily. Even if you've come because of a misunderstanding or even curiosity, as long as you have a will to learn, then you're welcome at the Master Dojo."
"I love to learn! Always!" An excited Sci-Twi exclaimed. "And I want to learn from you! I already learn from Ash, Sunset and some of my friends, so this will be another chance to gain something."
"Glad to hear it! I think we can all help each other become stronger. I'm happy you've all come to join us. So on that note...How would you all like Dojo Uniforms?"
This was where the uniforms came in. Ash and the others were eager to take a spin at this since Mustard was all for newcomers and people trying out his dojo. He was a very welcoming man. Uniforms were immediately handed out by Mustard and the other students here, all fitting for Ash, Lucas and Sci-Twi. But as the ponies, Mustard had them covered too.
To their surprise, a Pony-shaped gi was made as well as one for a Dragon. It's almost as if he was expecting them. Or he was just incredibly prepared for this Grander World. Once they got their uniforms, they wasted no time heading off to put them on.
Lo and behold, it fit them all like gloves. A mustard-yellow top with training shorts, kneepads and even gloves. That was the standard for humans. For the ponies, they received the same mustard-yellow top but since they had no kneepads, those were skipped on as well as the shorts. But the Dragon Spike was certainly in the same class as a human. The same couldn't be said for the Dog Spike, who wouldn't get a Dojo Uniform at all.
"Oh, I look great in this! Rarity and Applejack don't know what they're missing!" Rainbow Dash cackled.
"I feel a bit itchy though..." Twilight groaned. She had to get used to this uniform since it was something completely different from what she knew.
"I think I look cute in this." Fluttershy thought differently as she stood upright in this outfit.
"Hm. Victor was right about these." Lucas tugged on his uniform as he was also aware of them thanks to the one known as Victor. "Sweet."
"Now that you're comfortable, it's time to start the three trials." Mustard would get right to business, preparing them for something special that he was cooking up for them. Sci-Twi would especially pay attention to this. This was the Pokemon Festival. They had all the time to spare and all the fun they could have. It didn't matter where they were. The Isle of Armor was just a part of it.
Galar. The Isle of Armor. Master Dojo. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
At the Isle of Armor, after having a short battle with the Dojo Master Mustard, a few of Ash's friends, but mainly Sci-Twi, found themselves wearing the uniform of the Master Dojo. Starting now, they were all students of Mustard and were each about to undergo a trial. Three of them to be exact.
"Now, now, now. Your training can begin. You'll be facing three trials." Mustard said. "The person who completes the three trials will receive the secret armour of this dojo."
"Secret armour? Oh, we get to wear armour too!" Ash gasped.
"A secret set of armour! I want it!" The students blathered and bellowed, desiring this armour.
"That's the spirit. Now let me explain the first trial..."
"Aww, but master! You haven't given me my uniform yet!" Klara rushed over, being absent from a uniform. "Why do these newcomers get a uniform but not me?! It's not fair!
"Oh, dear. Do you really not have a uniform?" Mustard observed. "My bad, my bad. That's easy to fix though. I have another uniform right here, Klara."
"Hehe! The squeaky wheel gets the grease!" Klara grinned, glancing over at Ash's group. But it was mainly Sci-Twi she was looking at. With one of the students bringing over a uniform for Klara, just as soon as she was about to obtain it, unexpectedly, it was swiped.
In a flash, a pink blur dashed by, taking the uniform away from Klara before she could even obtain it. Everyone gasped as this passed by them in the blink of an eye. No one was able to catch their movements for even a moment
"What was that?! It's gone! Where'd my Dojo Uniform go?!"
"Slow..." The culprit had been revealed. Moving faster than anyone would ever expect was the ironically named Galarian Slowpoke, who currently had Klara's uniform in its mouth. Not just one, but three of them. Each had different parts of Klara's uniform in their mouths.
"Was that really Slowpoke that moved that fast?" Lucas gawked.
"The Pokedex didn't say anything about them being that fast." Sci-Twi uttered in disbelief
"Hey give it back! Give me my Dojo Uniform!"
"Sloooow...?" Contemplating things, the three Slowpoke looked at each other before concluding on one thing. They weren't going to give it back. "Poke!" After coming to that conclusion, they took off, moving fast once more and leaving behind a trial of dust
"Hey, get back here!" Klara roared, immediately pursuing the Slowpoke.
"Oops! Guess I let them out of their Poke Balls a little too soon!" Mustard chuckled. "This is the first trial, my students. You've gotta chase after all those fast Slowpoke, trained with care by little old me! But that's not all. You need to defeat them too. And while you're at it, could you get Klara's Dojo Uniform back? Do your best!"
Immediately, the other students set out. It was after those Slowpokes. "We have to catch them? They moved much faster than I thought they would," said Sci-Twi. "I mean, maybe Rapidash could keep up with them..."
"Only one way to find out! I wanna see if I can keep up with those Slowpoke!" Ash was already gone, with Lucas following right after him.
"Ah! Wait up!" Sci-Twi bellowed, following after them. She would be the last to leave the dojo after everyone else had departed.
"Darling...About the secret armour..." Right as everyone left, something clicked in Honey's mind as she approached her husband. "You do realize that he's still out there?"
"Oh, him? I know." Mustard grinned.
"It's strange how he just left all of a sudden last night. Why now of all times?"
"It's not so strange. He left because he knew the right one was coming for him. It's only a matter of time before the right trainer bonds with him." But Mustard was aware of something. Something that Honey didn't know about, everyone else didn't know about but would eventually be aware of.
Meanwhile, it was just now that Rarity, Applejack and the CMC had left the gift shop. After buying plenty of items, it was high time they started exploring the Isle of Armor and the first thing that caught their attention was the dojo.
And right as they were making their way to the dojo, they spotted all the students and their yellow-gi. "Oh? What's happening over there?" Rarity spoke. She raised her head, spotting Rainbow Dash, Spike and Salamence, who were also wearing the same yellow uniforms.
"Hey, guys!" Ash bellowed, after spotting them. He came to a screeching halt for a moment just to chat with the rest of his friends. "We're just looking for some Slowpoke right now! How'd the gift shop go?"
"Fine. What's this about Slowpokes?" Rarity questioned.
"Sorry! No time! I gotta try and keep up!" Ash would continue on his way, leaving behind any context. This just raised the curiosity of the others by a wide margin. Perhaps, the people in the Dojo could give them context. And they definitely could.
It was back to the wild area of the Isle of Armor and many of the Dojo Students were already scattered across the Isle of Armor. The Slowpoke by this point were moving like jets, instantly surpassing their Kantonian Counterparts. At least, these Galarian Slowpokes surpassed them. They were trained by Mustard after all.
Taking to the skies was Rainbow Dash, who would try and spot them from above. Joining her was Spike who was on the back of his Salamence. The students who already got a head start were already lagging behind thanks to the speed of the Slowpoke. As for where they went, it was straight to the area known as the Soothing Wetlands.
"Geez...I've been running for so long it feels like my legs are gonna fall off." One of the students said, already feeling weak in the knees. Minutes have already passed since the Slowpoke dashed off with Klara's uniform. "What's the point of them being called Slowpokes!"
"Audino!" Audino had one major advantage as well as Pinkie Pie's Slurpuff. Scent and sound. All they had to do was track it down.
"You can hear rapid thumps? Great going!" Fluttershy praised her partner. "We'll find them in no time."
"Slurpuff!" But while Audino relied on the sound of the Slowpoke's rapid running, Slurpuff used the familiar scent of the Dopey Pokemon. Even as a Galarian Variant, Slurpuff knew what a Slowpoke smelled like.
Ash was only going based off instinct alone and where he might be able to find the Slowpoke. At least one of them. Soon, the Soothing Wetlands were flooded with all of these students who tried keeping up with the Slowpoke. And speaking of keeping up, Rainbow Dash was already zooming past many of them with her great speed, tracking down the Slowpoke. This one had Klara's jacket its mouth.
"I see you!" Rainbow Dash shouted at the Galarian Slowpoke before her. She accelerated through the air, holding her hooves out for a grab. If anyone could muster up speed to follow these Slowpokes, it was Rainbow Dash. But as soon as she got close to this one Slowpoke, it juked her.
Not only was it fast at running, it was also quite swift at turning. Performing an instant drift, the Dopey Pokemon managed to effortlessly evade Rainbow Dash's dive, causing her to miss. The pegasus grimaced as she was inbound for a crash, but she just managed to save herself by flying upwards.
Rainbow Dash's heart raced for a moment as she nearly kissed the grass. Shaking her head and recollecting herself, she would try again, following the path of this Slowpoke. In front of her were other students, who were ready to confront the Dopey Pokemon. Only for Slowpoke to lunge over them. They were amazed to see the Slowpoke jump to such levels, going over their heads and staying airborne for a while.
There were also the Pokemon around here to watch out for. They didn't want to hit them along the way. Rainbow Dash made sure to stay in the air to avoid such a problem.
"I can outpace them this way." Digging into his pockets, Lucas threw a Poke Ball into the air, summoning a Pokemon he could count on to catch those Galarian Slowpokes.
"Garchomp!"
"Alright, Garchomp. I need you to help me catch Slowpokes!"
"Gar?" That didn't sound right to Garchomp's ears? Why would Lucas need help catching such a slow Pokemon? This didn't sound like something Garchomp had to be involved in.
"Trust me. Those Slowpoke are fast!" Lucas said. And Garchomp could trust Lucas without a doubt. With that, Garchomp took off, using his own speed.
And speaking of Pokemon Speed, counting on Rapidash was Sci-Twi. She obviously wanted to know if Rapidash could keep up with these Galarian Slowpokes, which was a concept that she never thought she would come up with. On the back of Rapidash, she was in hot pursuit of one of these Slowpokes.
Rapidash could indeed keep up with the Slowpoke, just like how Rainbow Dash could. But the question was getting the Slowpoke to stop which was easier said than done.
"The speed they have is something else...But you won't lose, right, Rapidash?"
"Rapidash!" Rapidash neighed before accelerating, catching up to the Dopey Pokemon. The Slowpoke was prepared to drift just to juke Rapidash and Sci-Twi out, but Sci-Twi was actually ready. And so was Rapidash.
As soon as the Slowpoke drifted, Rapidash would do the same. She was an expert at moving on the ground compared to Rainbow Dash, allowing her to effortlessly turn as well, still keeping up with the Slowpoke. After turning, Rapidash would move at a faster pace, gaining extra speed which allowed her to outpace Slowpoke At that moment, Rapidash cornered, Slowpoke against a wall, preventing it from getting anywhere else.
"Aha!" Sci-Twi hopped off Alpha Rapidash's back, having Slowpoke right where she wanted it. "Alright! Please hand over Klara's gloves, Slowpoke!"
"Slow-Slow!" There was only one way Sci-Twi could hope to obtain the gloves. And that was by battle. Thankfully for Sci-Twi, she's gotten used to Pokemon Battles by now and wasn't afraid to engage one.
"Pikachu I need you to help me defeat Slowpoke. Rapidash. Keep an eye on Slowpoke in case it tries to move again." Sci-Twi uttered while keeping her eyes on the Galarian Slowpoke. She was fully focused on catching it and the uniform.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu stepped up to the plate, ready to throw down. Rapidash would be the one to guard the area, just so the Galarian Slowpoke doesn't go anywhere. A battle was about to begin and this wasn't Sci-Twi's first time taking on a Galarian Slowpoke after her battle with Klara.
"Use Thunder Punch!"
"Chu...Pikachu!" Leaping into action was the Mouse Pokemon, who surrounded his hand with electricity
"Slow?" In response, this surprisingly speedy Slowpoke used Zen Headbutt, covering its head in a mental energy. Right as Thunder Punch was thrown at it, the attack met with Slowpoke's mental energy. Pikachu was pushed back because of this, stumbling a bit and nearly falling on his back.
"P-Pika!"
"Slow-slow!" After pushing Pikachu back, Galarian Slowpoke used Confusion, attempting to confuse the Mouse Pokemon.
"Use Double Team!"
"Pi! Pika!" Quickly, Pikachu duplicated himself, creating multiple afterimages. The psychic wave would hit only the afterimage as the real one managed to avoid the attack that way. Now, Slowpoke was surrounded by plenty of Pikachus.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Pikachuuuu!" From all sides, each of the Pikachus would unleash 100,000 volts of lightning from their body, blasting the Dopey Pokemon. Since Galarian Slowpoke was a Pure Psychic-Type as opposed to its Kantonian Counterpart being Psychic-Water, this wouldn't do that much damage, even with a fierce electrical explosion going off.
Even though it wasn't super-effective, Slowpoke should haven't taken some considerable damage from that. Alas, the Slowpoke species was rather durable as seen by how it was still standing once the smoke cleared. "Slow!"
"Took it that well? In that case...Thunder Punch!"
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu would once again approach Slowpoke with sparking fists. Slowpoke responded with another Zen Headbutt, prepared to do the same thing. But Sci-Twi wasn't one to fall for the same trick twice. With a smile on her face, she had a response to this.
"Hit the ground!" Sci-Twi slammed her fist into her palm, improvising her approach.
"Pikaaaa!" Instead of getting in Slowpoke's face, Pikachu smashed his fist into the earth. And since this was a wetland, the reaction the electricity had was destructive. Sparks rapidly moved across the ground, reacting with the water. This outburst of electricity soon engulfed Galarian Slowpoke as it was caught off guard by this area of effect.
"S-Slow!" Stunned and blown back, it let go of Klara's Dojo Tee and Shorts. With that clever tactic, the Galarian Slowpoke fell on its back, defeated swiftly by the Mouse Pokemon. Rapidash quickly leapt into the air, catching the Dojo Tee and Shorts on her back, making sure they wouldn't get wet. It was a surprise that they were so clean after what just happened.
"Nice save, Rapidash. That's one Slowpoke found." Sci-Twi gave a thumbs up. "Now it's just down to two. Hopefully, everyone else succeeds. Best to see if they have. I want to try and win that secret armour."
Sci-Twi would continue on her way, getting back on Rapidash's back. Joining her was Pikachu as they did not slow down at all. Not when others were searching for these speedy Slowpokes. If she had to guess where the Slowpokes might be, the lakes seemed like a good option.
Speaking of the lakes, around it was Ash. He and Pikachu found themselves here, spotting one of the Slowpoke moving at a rapid pace. After seeing the Slowpoke, the duo were prepared to tag it. But following him here were Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, who both had great ways of finding the Slowpoke.
This Slowpoke was running across the lake thanks to its speed, going around in circles and even making a mini-whirlpool in the process. In its mouth, it had Klara's Gloves and Legwear, getting them wet, unfortunately. While observing the rapid movements of the Slowpoke, near the bushes, two eyes that were perfectly concealed were gazing at Ash's group.
"It can run across the water too?! Mustard trained them right, didn't he?" Pinkie Pie cooed as the whirlpool was starting to rise.
"Alright. If we're gonna tag it, we'll have to match it in water. If there's one thing I know for sure, even if its a regional variant, it's still got the best traits from its other variants!" Ash said with confidence, knowing that Slowpoke had great swimming skills, no matter the variant. And speaking of swimming, he had the right Pokemon for the job. "Dracovish! I choose you!"
"Draco! Dracovish!"
"Not if I get it first~ Mew!"
"Mew-Mew!" Mew knew what to do. A quick transformation allowed him to take the form of a Whiscash. "Whiscash!"
"Oooh...ummm..." Unfortunately for Fluttershy, she did not have a Water-Type with her. None of her Pokemon were that good at swimming compared to the other two, even if Mew was just taking on the form of a Whiscash. "Looks like this one is for you two."
"T-That whirlpool's gotten bigger." Pinkie Pie stammered as the whirlpool had grown in size significantly. By this point, Slowpoke was using the Whirlpool as a shield, making it harder to reach Taking care of a whirlpool wasn't easy, even if there were options to deal with it.
"Okay." Ash adjusted his hat, tightening his gloves, ready to embrace the waves. "If it's moving in circles, then there's one thing we could do." Before Ash could speak his idea when facing this spiralling Slowpoke, he immediately paused, turning his head.
"Audino?" Audino did the same as she could already hear something. Slurpuff didn't have that benefit since it was a scent he couldn't recognize. No one recognized this Pokemon. At least, not when seeing it compared to a glimpse of what they witnessed earlier.
Popping out of the bushes was a Pokemon they've never seen before. A small Pokemon that seemed to resemble a bear cub. But this wasn't a Teddiursa, Cubchoo, Stufful or Pancham. It was someone new, who was already coming in for an attack.
"Kubfu...!"
"Oh!" Ash gasped as he was the immediate target of this Pokemon.
Pikachu was already swinging into action, using Iron Tail to block this incoming attack. The two Pokemon of small stature clashed while the trainers had their eyes open. Who was this Pokemon that suddenly attacked them? When looking at it, it resembled the accessories seen at the Gift Shop, but with a lack of stylization.
This Pokemon jumped back after failing to land a surprise attack. Blocked by Pikachu, it stuck a stylish landing, showing a serious expression in its eyes and even carrying a serious disposition. All attention was drawn away from the Slowpoke and on this Pokemon.
Moving over to the lake was Sci-Twi, who was searching for the next Galarian Slowpoke. And during her search which led her to this part of the wetlands, she too spotted the Pokemon that tried to strike at Ash specifically. Rapidash came to a halt, standing at the hill of this area.
As for the whirlpool, the more time that was wasted, the bigger it was getting, but surely even Galarian Slowpoke couldn't keep this up forever. But that wasn't what mattered now. A brand new Pokemon caught their attention. Pokedexes were already taken out, observing the Pokemon that appeared before them.
"Kubfu. The Wushu Pokemon. Kubfu trains hard to perfect its moves. The moves it masters will determine which form it takes when it evolves. If Kubfu pulls the long white hair on its head, its fighting spirit heightens and power wells up from the depths of its belly."
"That Pokemon looks like what's on the roof of the dojo...Is that also Master Mustard's?" Pinkie Pie noticed.
This Pokemon does seem to have a connection to Mustard solely for the way the Master Dojo was built as well as the existence of the accessories. Kubfu was its name and it was here for only one reason. As the journey continues.
Galar. The Isle of Armor. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
During one of Mustard's Trials which involved chasing the three surprisingly swift Galarian Slowpoke and retrieving parts of Klara's Dojo Uniform, the Pokemon known as Kubfu had appeared. It unexpectedly tried to strike at Ash, only to be blocked by Pikachu.
"Kubfu...!" The Wushu Pokemon glared at Pikachu, who stopped his attack from landing. But to just suddenly attack like that out of the blue couldn't be allowed.
"Pika...!" Pikachu flared lightning from his red sacs, ready to defend Ash and the others around him.
"Maybe it's part of the trial. It's way too similar to the design on the roof," said Pinkie Pie.
"I think I saw that Pokemon on top of the dojo actually..." Sci-Twi uttered from the distance, recalling the instance she and Ash briefly saw someone on the roof of the dojo but couldn't make out the appearance. Looking at Kubfu, it appeared that he was the Pokemon that was briefly seen. It would only make sense after what has been witnessed so far.
"Ash! What's going on?!" Running down the hill with Rapidash was Sci-Twi who revealed herself. On her shoulder, she had some of Klara's gear with her, successfully retrieving it. "And...What's with that whirlpool?"
All that while, the Galarian Slowpoke was still building up its whirlpool. No one was really doing anything about it and really, all it was doing was giving away Galarian Slowpoke's location.
"Hello there." Fluttershy would be the first to greet Kubfu even after the first interaction. Since this was a brand new Pokemon, she just had to interact with him and try to befriend the Wushu Pokemon. "Surprising us like that was-"
"Kubfu!" But Kufbu wasn't here for friendly greetings or small talk. He was here for a reason. He stomped on the ground, refusing to be idle and chat peacefully.
"Oh my!" Fluttershy pulled back after hearing what Kubfu had to say.
"What? What did it say?" Pinkie asked.
"Well umm...he's not really here for greetings...He said he's looking for the one." Fluttersy translated. "And he has quite the mouth on him too."
"The one?" Sci-Twi and Pinkie said in unison.
"I don't really get it, but if you wanna throw down there sure!" Ash grinned, already knowing what Kubfu wanted just by looking at his mannerisms.
"Kubfu!" Kubfu roared as that was the right response from Ash. The Wushu Pokemon then turned his head, facing Sci-Twi. With intrigue in his eyes, he would turn go back to glaring at Ash. The Fighting-Type went back and forth on both Ash and Sci-Twi clearly thinking of something deep. After thinking about for it a moment, he suddenly approached Sci-Twi, focusing on his Rapidash.
"Wait! Why me?!" Sci-Twi screeched as she didn't expect to be the next target. Everyone thought it would be Ash and that was about it, but he quickly switched his focus onto the Human Counterpart to Twilight. But protecting her from harm was Rapidash.
"Rapidash!" Holding her head back, Rapidash would headbutt the Wushu Pokemon's attack, defending her trainer. Yet again, Kubfu was blocked, unable to get a proper hit in.
"Why'd he switch all of a sudden? Ooh! Am I next?!" Pinkie bellowed, believing she was the next target Alas, she was not. Kubfu only had eyes on two Trainers and that was it. After failing to strike Sci-Twi, he switched his attention back to Ash, going for another blow.
"This time, I'm ready! Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" Responding in kind was Ash's Pikachu, who would use Iron Tail against Kubfu's next attack. This time, a clash ensued with Iron Tail pressing on Kubfu's fist. Pikachu immediately overpowered the Wushu Pokemon, sending him back as the first proper hit was made.
"K-Kub?!" Kubfu gasped after being pushed back. He would stumble, nearly falling over but just barely managing to maintain his balance. After recovering, Kubfu put on a smile. He was looking forward to something like this.
"I think this is what he wants," Fluttershy observed.
"Why'd he go after me though...?" Sci-Twi sighed as her heart was racing for a moment.
"Come on! I'm right here!" Pinkie waved her hooves, wanting Kubfu to target her next. But Kubfu did not even acknowledge her existence. She was only focused on Ash and Sci-Twi. Leaping back into action, he would use Aerial Ace, leaving the ground at blinding speeds. The Wushu Pokemon disappeared before reappearing in front of Ash's Pikachu.
"Quick Attack!"
"Pi!" Moving to the side at blinding speeds was Pikachu as he evaded the incoming Aerial Ace which smashed into the ground. After zipping to the side, Pikachu would then zoom back in with Quick Attack tackling, Kubfu. The Fighting-Type was pushed back a second time, this time, rolling across the ground.
"Fu! Kubfu!" Kubfu recovered after rolling on the ground, still managing to maintain balance after a second blow. He ran back in, taking another swing at things. This time, he switched up by focusing on Sci-Twi's side, using Aerial Ace to get there faster. Hisuian Zorua yelped before lowering herself inside of Sci-Twi's back.
"Pika!" Sci-Twi's Alpha Pikachu would be next to respond, using Thunder Punch. The second Kubfu came close, both physical attacks connected. White and yellow sparks emerged as the two Pokemon looked each other in the eye, struggling for a moment. Kubfu smiled before transforming it into a frown once he saw himself losing the struggle.
Alpha Pikachu launched him away, sending a flare of lightning bolts around his body. Once again, he was sent flying, but this time further than before thanks to Alpha Pikachu's brute strength. "Kubfuuuu!" He yelled while going through the air. Clearly, he was outmatched since he's been failing to land a proper hit this entire time. All the while, Pinkie realized she wasn't going to be picked at all.
But before Kubfu could return for another attack that would most likely fail, when recovering in the air, something was amiss that he failed to notice this entire time. The whirlpool that Galarian Slowpoke made was truly out of control to the point where Slowpoke couldn't maintain it anymore.
"Fu? Kub!" And with the force of this whirlpool existing, it instantly pulled Kubfu in. He yelped as his body was grabbed by the fierce energy from the Whirlpool, preventing him from landing another attack.
"Oh!" Ash and the others changed their expressions the instant Kubfu was pulled in. Only Sci-Twi noticed how fast the Whirlpool was growing. Kubfu already felt dizzy being hurled around in that massive whirlpool. Galarian Slowpoke couldn't stop if it wanted to since this was out of its control. And Klara's poor uniform was getting wet. It got so out of control that other Water-Types in the sea were being pulled in unexpectedly.
"I think we got too caught up in it!" Fluttershy gasped. "What do we do about this?!"
"Right, right!" Ash hit his face, focusing on the trial at hand and of course, rescuing Kubfu. "Dracovish, you're up!"
"Dracovish!" Dracovish, who was still out of his Poke Ball, was ready to act. He quickly entered the water along with Mew who was currently appearing as a Whiscash. Both Pokemon swam through the seas, being fit to handle whirlpools. But what about one of this size and force?
When trying to reach Kubfu and Galarian Slowpoke, Dracovish and Whiscash felt themselves losing balance as well. The pressure of this whirlpool was matching that of a maelstrom, making this rather hard to move in. Even an Apex Predator of the past such as Dracovish would struggle with such a force.
"They won't be able to get Kubfu and Slowpoke out of there with that much force!" Ash grizzled his teeth. "There's gotta be a way to neutralize it." He dug into his pockets, thinking of which Pokemon to bring out next. His mind instantly went for Dragonite. "Dragonite! I choose you!"
"Dragonite!"
"Dragonite's a great swimmer just as much as she's great a flying! Great choice, Ash!" Fluttershy praised. But all that mattered was how it was executed.
"Ash. I'll try and neutralize the Whirlpool with Rapidash while Dragonite saves them both."
"Got it! Head in, Dragonite!"
"Rrrr!" Off went Dragonite, taking flight and casually approaching the Whirlpool. Unlike Dracovish who was an expert on the Sea, Dragonite excelled in both areas. Plus, being able to generate a Hurricane herself, a Whirlpool was nothing new for her. Once she approached it, the Dragon Pokemon entered it.
Dragonite had to save all of these Pokemon inside the Whirlpool since many of them were snatched from the sea. Grabbing Slowpoke and a group of Woopers in her arms as well as Kubfu.
"Use Dragon Pulse, Rapidash!"
"Rapidash!" Alpha Rapidash used Dragon Pulse to try and neutralize the whirlpool. Even if Dragonite saves them, the whirlpool could prove to be a problem for everyone else. The attack fiercely crashed into the whirlpool, disrupting its rapid momentum.
As for the Pokemon inside, Dragonite managed to bring Slowpoke, the Wooper and Kubfu out of the whirlpool. The rest of the Pokemon inside still needed some assistance. The Dragon Pokemon quickly dropped the Pokemon she saved onto land before heading back in there while Dragon Pulse was still trying to keep the whirlpool steady.
"Kubfu..." Kubfu stumbled around after being saved. All he could see were whirlpools in different colours, unable to hold still. Grabbing the Wushu Pokemon just to regain his balance was Sci-Twi. She then picked him up, hoping that he was able to recover and didn't suffer any damage from this.
"Use Hyper Beam!"
"Audino!" That was where Audino came into play. A fierce beam of Infinity Energy was unleashed, joining forces with the Dragon Pulse. With their combined might, they managed to neutralize the whirlpool, crushing its rapid movements while Dragonite moved more of the Pokemon out of the maelstrom.
Back to back, Dragonite saved the Pokemon caught up in the whirlpool, either placing them on land or sending them back into a part of the sea that was away from the whirlpool. The whirlpool came to a halt before dispersing. That was a potential disaster prevented.
The Wooper fell flat on their faces and backs, trying to process what just happened. All other Pokemon waddled back to the sea or just took the time to lay here. Some even suffered damage from that rampant whirlpool. Thankfully, they had Audino here to heal them.
"Phew...That could've been ugly." Ash said with relief.
"Slowpoke..." As for Slowpoke, it had been caught as well as Klara's uniform. That was now two out of three and all that was left was the jacket which was being dealt with by everyone else.
"Aw, it's all wet now. Klara won't like this." Fluttershy observed. With the rest of the uniform wet, Klara would be upset. Greatly upset if they knew who she truly was.
"That can be fixed. Rapidash." Nothing Sci-Twi's Rapidash couldn't fix. The flames of her mane and tail could sort this out as soon as possible. As for Kubfu, after regaining is balance, he saw Sci-Twi holding onto him. "Are you alright?
"Fu?" Kubfu groaned.
"I think we should forget about any battles at that moment. If that's okay with you." Sci-Twi requested since she didn't want things spiralling out of control again. "You really surprised us there. Especially with those attacks you tried to get on me which were...questionable."
"Kubfu!" But as if he was never in the whirlpool in the first place, Kubfu performed a backflip out of Sci-Twi's arms, refusing to be held like some sort of baby. He certainly didn't give off the energy of someone who acted like a baby. He tried staying strong, immediately walking off. But instead of smoothly walking, he was still stumbling. The effects of the whirlpool were indeed still present. "Kubfu..."
This whole time, while that mess went on, the final Slowpoke with the jacket was still being dealt with. Many tried and failed to catch this one Slowpoke. Some downright gave up as their legs were too weak to continue onwards. Rainbow Dash was still persisting, however, doing her best to tag the Slowpoke.
But even with her impressive speed, she was unable to corner it just like how Rapidash did. It's not that she wasn't slow. It was that she didn't have a clear path to corner this Slowpoke since the area she was in was so open. "Come on! What's it gonna take?!"
Right next to her was Spike and his Salamence, who also couldn't seem to properly tag this Slowpoke. It just kept juking them all, evading at the right time and throwing them for a loop which was very much irritating.
"Gar!" Emerging from the ground was Lucas's Garchomp who would intercept Slowpoke's movements. Slowpoke was caught by surprise after Garchomp just erupted from the earth itself. It was a good move on Garchomp's part and a clear opening for Lucas.
"This is my chance!" Lucas grinned as it looked like he would successfully tag Galarian Slowpoke. Quickly accelerating were Rainbow Dash and Salamence right as Lucas was about to tag Slowpoke. They couldn't let him do it first.
"Espeon!" Only for Espeon to ruin that by using Psychic. Twilight's Espeon snagged Slowpoke and Klara's jacket from under their noses. In the end, it was Twilight who managed to catch Espeon.
"I win~" Twilight grinned as Slowpoke was eld by a Psychic Hold. "Waiting for everyone else to tire out just so I can swoop in and tag Slowpoke was a great call from me."
"Aw, Twilight! No fair!" Rainbow Dash groaned after losing the chance to tag Slowpoke.
"Man..." Spike grumbled. "Well, we tried..."
"Salamence..."
"Hehe!" Twilight Sparkle simply giggled, twirling the jacket with her magic. That was every part of Klara's uniform assembled. Sci-Twi had the most parts while Twilight had just one. This trial was now over since all three Slowpokes have been caught and Klara's Dojo Uniform was intact. All they had to do was return to the Master's Dojo.
Master's Dojo.
Everyone soon returned to the Master's Dojo with two halves of Klara's Dojo Uniform in Sci-Twi's possession and the other in Twilight's. All the Slowpoke had returned as well since they failed to elude the students. Rushing back in here Klara who was very much behind. Despite being the first to run out and pursue the Slowpoke, she didn't manage to retrieve a single piece of her clothing or find any of the Slowpoke.
"Here, Master Mustard! We found them!" Sci-Twi held up the uniform.
"You...Don't tell me you got my uniform back all on your own?!" Klara was in disbelief. This looked like Sci-Twi 1Upped her once more.
"I had some help," Sci-Twi replied. "Things almost got a bit wild later on though. Here you go." She then gave the rest of the uniform back to her with Twilight doing the same.
"Oh....Well, uh...Thanks..." Klara slowly thanked, unsure what to make of this. She just lowered her eyes, vexed that Sci-Twi was the one to give it back to her of all people. And it didn't help that her Equestrian Counterpart did the same. It felt like she was seeing double of the person she wasn't too fond of.
"Well mustered, Twilight!, Ash, Pinkie and Fluttershy. That's both Twilights by the way." Mustard chuckled. "You cleared the first trial like it was nothing! You and your friends. The closest to this was when Leon took on the trials. He handled all three fast Slowpokes by himself."
"Really?! Man, Leon's so cool!" Ash gawked.
"The rest of you tried very hard too! You were able to catch up with the Slowpoke but you just couldn't tag them."
"Yeah..." Rainbow Dash, Spike and Lucas lowered their heads. Klara just groaned, annoyed that Sci-Twi beat her in something else again, for a second time in a row.
"No worries! Tell you what! Anyone who was able to catch up to a Slowpoke at least gets one pass!" Mustard was kind, giving those who failed to tag the Slowpoke a pass since they tried their best. "Twilight and her friends outdid themselves so it's only fair everyone else gets another chance."
"How generous!" Music to Klara's ears. She still had a chance for a comeback.
"Oh, that reminds me, Honey. Where are those little ones?" There was one more thing Mustard had to cover.
"Oh, that's right, darling! I had nearly forgotten! Squirtle! Bulbasaur! Come in, sweeties!" Hollering, Honey called for two familiar Pokemon that were also residing here in the Isle of Armor.
"Bulba! Bulbasaur!" Running out of the next room were two of the Kantonian Starters. Bulbasaur and Squirtle. And yet no sign of Kubfu, who has yet to be brought up in this discussion after what just happened. There was an obvious connection between him and the dojo but Mustard didn't bring him up even once.
"Squirt! Squirtle!
"These are our sweet little Pokemon! We've all been taking care of them together. And I'd say they're more than a little curious about some of you and your strengths as trainers." Honey kneeled to face them while also giving Bulbasaur a comforting part on the head. "Since you excelled the most in the trial, Twilight and Twilight...why don't you choose one for yourself."
"Huh?!" The Human Counterpart to the Princess of Friendship gasped. Since she retrieved most of Klara's uniform, she was the one who would get to pick as well as her Equestirna Counterpart. "We get to choose one of them!"
"I'll pass." But Twilight Sparkle passed on it. She was already a Pokemon Professor and she does tend to get starters from different regions in her lab from BigTime Ben. "I'm already occupied with a ton of Pokemon. They're all yours, me."
"Oh well..." Sci-Twi wasn't prepared for selecting her own Pokemon. She thought she was just going to learn here so this absolutely blindsided her. "Mmm..." Picking was difficult. Mainly because she found these Pokemon to be adorable. She already knew of their existence thanks to Professor Oak and Ash but she was already struggling to choose since she didn't want to single one out.
"Don't worry about it." Placing his hand on her shoulder, Ash would comfort Sci-Twi. "Whoever you pick, the other won't feel left out. Trust me." If anyone knew about how the Pokemon would feel, it was Ash, without a doubt. After all, there's always a chance that the other Pokemon could find another Trainer and that chance was always very high.
"Pikachu."
"Alright then." Looking at Ash, she was confident enough to make up her mind. Kneeling near Honey, Sci-Twi would pick her next Pokemon solely out of her instinct. "I choose...Bulbasaur."
"Bulbsaur!" It would be Bulbasaur. And immediately after being picked, Bulbasaur leapt into Sci-Twi, elated to be chosen.
"Aaugh!" She was tackled onto the floor. Bulbasaur was pleased as punch that he was chosen as seen by his reaction. He was already pinning Sci-Twi on the ground out of joy. "Aww...!"
"And just so you know, these Pokemon have been raised in a special way. When they evolve, they'll be able to Gigantamax!" Honey exclaimed, revealing the extra part about these two. They weren't just average Bulbasaurs and Squirtles. Gigantamax was on their side.
"Bulbasaur and Squirtle can Gigantamax too?!" Ash and the others learned about two more Pokemon who had Gigantamax Capabilities.
"Once they're fully evolved. Which will lead us into our next lesson." Mustard added. "I called in two special guests to come and help us, but it seems they aren't showing up to the dojo just yet. I can understand why he wouldn't show up yet though...They're going to be helping us make the secret recipe for Gigantamax here at the Master's Dojo."
"Secret Recipe?" Leaning in was Pinkie Pie. She was already eager to replicate this if possible. She wasn't aware that there was a recipe for this Phenomenon.
"And I can see a few more contenders right here." Mustard eyed down Ash specifically, knowing about his Pokemon thanks to the knowledge Leon shared. He knew about Pikachu and his power to Gigantamax. But there was one more Pokemon in Ash's party who had that power.
The lessons here at the Master's Dojo weren't over just yet and the mystery of Kubfu was still up in the air. With Sci-Twi gaining a new partner in the form of a Bulbasaur and the next part of this lesson about to begin, this experience at the Master's Dojo would be something to remember. And to think, all of this started because Celestia just wished to find Cobalion during the Pokemon Festival.
Galar. The Isle of Armor. Master Dojo. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
After succeeding in the Slowpoke Trial, Sci-Twi found herself receiving a Bulbasaur as her newest Pokemon. But not just an ordinary Bulbasaur. This one was capable of Gigantamaxing. But there was only one way to make it work, which was about to be revealed.
Getting cosy with his new trainer was Bulbasaur, who was over the moon to be chosen. Sci-Twi laughed as it was difficult to contain Bulbasaur's happiness. The only way to do that was by letting him enter his Poke Ball.
Present here as well were Rarity, Applejack and the Cutie Mark Crusaders who had just shown up to witness the Master's Dojo and everything involved in it.
"Dynamax is something that is available for every Pokemon. No matter what, they can tap into te Galar Region's wonderful phenomenon. But Gigantamax requires something entirely different. Only a few Pokemon can harness its power and the way to access it is with a recipe. I'm quite eager to cook it up right now. The Max Soup. It sure has been a while."
"Max Soup? So it's food?" Ash added.
"And it's delicious! To the Pokemon, that is. Which is why I invited two people to help out for this part of the trial. And as for that second trial, it shall be Mushroom picking!"
"Mushroom Picking? That's what's next?" Rainbow Dash didn't expect such a standard task to be the next mission. It didn't sound any different from apple picking, berry picking or anything else related to that back at Equestria. This didn't seem like it would bring that much trouble to her or anyone else
"How fun!" Fluttershy clapped her hooves, being rather excited for this.
"Max Mushrooms are the key to Gigantamaxing and I'm tasking the winners with finding three. You'll notice them with a spiral pattern. I'm pretty sure they grow in dark, humid places."
Before Mustard could continue, the door behind everyone would open up. One of the people Mustard spoke had finally arrived and it was someone that could be expected to be here at the Master's Dojo, even during the Pokemon Festival. "Ah! Perfect timing."
Showing up here was none other than Stow-on-Side's Gym Leader Bea. She could be seen having a towel behind her head as she had just finished training as usual and she was currently assisting Mustard's Dojo.
"Bea!" Pinkie Pie bellowed after seeing her good friend. She would frantically wave at her sweet-toothed friend, grabbing her attention. "Hey, Bea!"
"P-Pinkie?!" Bea stuttered. Normally, she'd be elated to see Pinkie Pie, but not right now. She feared that Pinkie came here with sweets and knowing the Earth Pony, she most likely did. Bea wanted to keep her love of sweets secretive from many and with quite the crowd here, she might be exposed. Thankfully, Pinkie Pie didn't show any sweets at all, vowing to keep Bea's secret safe from the public.
"Glad you could show up, Bea. Allister will show himself later. Maybe not to all at you at once." Mustard said.
"Allister? Is that why he came here too? He's pretty young to be teaching, isn't he?" said Fluttershy."And be a Gym Leader too."
"I sometimes come here to the Master's Dojo to train myself. It's one of the best places for me to focus and Master Mustard is the best teacher I could've asked for." Bea spoke. This wasn't her first time here and it won't be her last. "At times, I even assist in Master Mustard's lessons, helping the students And I see you all have found yourselves here in the Isle of Armor"
"Yep. We were looking for Cobalion and well, here we are." Ash chuckled as this simple search for Cobalion led to this scenario. But no one was complaining. "Great seeing you again, Bea. And to see you getting stronger."
"My defeat to you was never a setback, Ash. Even if I have ways to go if I want to catch up to you, I'd love to have that heart-pounding battle with you again."
"Bea and Allister both have Gigantamaxed Pokemon of their own. They came here to the Isle of Armor to get a taste of that sweep Max Soup. Anyone familiar with their battles will know about their Gigantamaxed Pokemon and now it's your turn to experience those mushrooms. Head back here and we can make something tasty."
The other students set off as it was back to the wilds of the Isle of Armor. The second trial had started and it would hopefully be less hyperactive and energy-consuming as the Slowpoke trial.
"So did Pikachu get a taste of Max Soup back in the day?" Ash kneeled to face his partner, wondering if he has tried the Max Soup since he was capable of Gigantamaxing.
"Pika?"
"Hee hee! It seems to me that your Pikachu naturally has it!" Mustard chuckled "Lucky you to have such a partner."
"Don't worry, Squirtle. I'll take care of you, darling." Honey said. She would be the one to choose Squirtle after Sci-Twi chose Bulbasaur. "I'll make you oh-so-strong you won't lose to Bulbasaur."
"Squirtle!"
"Ash. I already know from Leon that you have a Gengar. Now might be a good time to have him taste the soup. That's where Allister can help you. I'd say he'd be glad to give a hand once he sees your Gengar."
"In that case..." Holding up Gengar's Poke Ball, Ash summoned the Shadow Pokemon.
"Gengar!"
"Ya know, maybe you should let some of your Pokemon take a crack at it. Some of them can Gigantamax, right?" Rainbow Dash suggested.
"Oh, there just wouldn't be enough soup for all of those Pokemon!" Mustard giggled. "Those mushrooms are big but they won't give enough for all those Pokemon.
"It's fine, Dash. Right now, I'm focused on who I have now. And I wanna help Gengar get stronger, just like everyone else I've been with all these years. Right, Gengar?"
"Gen!"
"By the way, Master Mustard." Finally, Sci-Twi would be the one to bring up the encounter back at the Soothing Wetlands. It involved the Pokemon Kubfu. "When we were doing the first trial, we encountered a strange Pokemon along the way. Its name was Kubfu. Was that part of the trial?"
"Hm? Was it?" But Mustard didn't give a clear answer, putting on a cheesy grin. "Well, you'll have to find out when you run into that Pokemon again. Good luck!"
"I'll see to it if they're ready to have their Pokemon try the Max Soup." Bea's role in this was about to come into play. The Power of Gigantamax isn't something that can be lightly obtained after all."
"Now then. What about you five?" Mustard's attention turned to Rarity's group. They were rather late to things and even though they had no idea what was going on, judging by that look on Mustard's grin, he already had something planned.
While these trials went on, Celestia and Luna were still busy doing their own thing. At the moment, Celestia was still focusing on finding Cobalion and luckily for her, he did in fact leave hoofprints. Celestia followed the prints more and more as she ended up in a cave this time.
"Oh?" During her search, she noticed how the distance between the hooves had increased. Previously, each hoofprint was close to each other, showing that Cobalion was trotting. But now that they've gained some distance, it showed Celestia that he started galloping and the beginning point was this cave. "This means he accelerated to the next area as soon as possible. This entire time, we've seen forward steps at a standard pace."
"So where was he running to?" Luna asked.
"Probably somewhere that wasn't in the Isle of Armor. I'm starting to think that Cobalion went elsewhere." Cobalion observed. "He might be in the Crown Tundra instead. But..." Even though she observed that Cobalion was in another part of Galar, her time here at the Isle of Armor wasn't over. Following these hoofprints could lead to something interesting before she heads for the Crown Tundra.
She followed the galloping hoofprints, prompting Luna to do the same. When moving across the cave and passing by many Pokemon, Celestia started witnessing what appeared to be burned hoofprints. Something had burned the hoofprints of Cobalion during is gallop as there were also three more hoofprints up ahead.
These belonged to Terrakion, Virizion and Keldeo, proving that all three swords were here. Not just Cobalion. When looking at these burn marks, they reminded Celestia and Luna of the fist prints on the walls that were incredibly hot. But these were different. Instead of flames, when touching these hoofprints, Celestia discovered that they were electrifying. Electricity had been left behind here instead of Fire.
"This is electricity. It can still be as hot as fire but it's obviously not the same as the fist-prints on the walls," said Celestia. "I can see that the Swords of Justice were near whoever caused this."
"Do you think it was the Despair Plants? Cynthia did say that Leon went to the Isle of Armor to defend it during the Black Crusade. There might have been a Despair Plant that generated electricity."
"Hmm...I don't think so." Celestia thought otherwise. "This electricity feels more like Infinity Energy. This was done by a Pokemon. And it has to be a powerful one to leave electricity behind for so long."
"They would have to match my Zekrom's electricity." Now Luna was fully curious. "What Pokemon is capable of that?"
"No clue. But whoever it is, the Swords of Justice encountered it." Celestia now had an extra reason to try and find Cobalion. She also wanted to figure out who caused these electrical marks. Celestia already had a feeling that this mystery Pokemon might be nearby.
Forest of Focus.
The Forest of Focus. Located here at the Isle of Armor, this forest was the prime place to find Max Mushrooms and way to focus the mind. Floating alongside Ash was Gengar, who was a prime canditate for Max Mushrooms and leading them both into the forest was Bea. Some students were already picking some of the mushrooms tat could be found here and getting a head start was Fluttershy.
"I got some!" Fluttershy already had some Max Mushrooms at her disposal as she and Audino were carrying at least 6 of them. For someone like Applejack, this was easy. She feeds Pokemon and animals all the time by finding what they love. If anything, this trial was made for Applejack.
"That quickly...? Do you even have a Pokemon that can Gigantamax?" Sci-Twi asked.
"Actually, she does. That Raboot of yours is capable of tapping into the same power as Pikachu or even Gengar." Bea answered. "Only as a Cinderace, as you can tell."
"A Gigantamax Cinderace? Oh, that sounds wonderful! I'll have to get Raboot to that level first though."
"Yeah! But we're already close to that level! This will be a blast!" Ash exclaimed. "Give it your best, Gengar!"
"Gen-Gen!"
"This the form that you should be striving towards." Bea held out her Rotomphone, showing Ash and Gengar just what Giganatmax Gengar appeared as. While it didn't look too much different from an average Gengar, there were two noticeable differences. For starters, Gengar's body was all torso and nothing else. Then again, Gengar himself was practically a ball with arms and legs but in this case, there were no legs and only the upper part of his body while everything else has sunk into the ground.
The other noticeable feature was the massive mouth Gengar had. He already had a big mouth with a bright grin, but this looked like he could consume an entire building. The extra part was the incredibly long tongue Gigantamax Gengar now possessed.
"Oooh..." Ash and the others admired.
"The mouth on that Gengar!" Lucas was flabbergasted. "Where was this when I saw Gigantamaxed Pokemon?"
"Gengar!" Gengar's pupils lit up. He really liked what he was seeing. To obtain such a form would be wonderful.
"Allister is the one you can count on to have Gengar Gigantamax. And he should be nearby here..." Bea came to a halt, stopping near a long dressing of vines that hung from a wall. These vines were secluded from all the trees, bushes and the few bridges that can be found here.
While everyone else was scattered, searching for mushrooms, Ash's group would focus on only one place, looking ot one Gym Leader. Allister. Speaking of which, slowly moving the vines was none other than Allister. The vines ended up being a door that was masked as frail and long vines.
"Hey, Allister. Great to see you again. We're here for-" But before Ash could finish, Allister closed the vine door. Everyone went silent for a moment once Allister shut the door.
But moments later, he reopened it, slowly gazing at Ash's group. Looking at them closer, he recognized Bea, a fellow Galarian Gym Leader. And he most definitely recognized Fluttershy, who he's talked to the most so far.
"Are you here about the Max Mushrooms...?"
"Well..yeah." As chuckled as that was what he was getting to from the beginning. "Here to top up Gengar. Bea and Mustard told us that you're the person to come to for that."
"You...You want to Gigantamax?" Allister glanced over at the Shadow Pokemon.
"Gengar! Gen!" Gengar flexed his muscles, eager for a massive boost in size and strength.
"I see..." Understanding, Allister let the door fully open so that they could enter. But after he opened the door, he would suddenly walk backwards, moving in the manner of a ghost with his hands down and head lowered. Even if he was moving in an odd manner, distancing himself from the others, they were still allowed to enter.
Once they entered through this concealed part of the forest, they were met with a stadium of all things. Miraculously, a stadium could be found here at the Isle of Armor and it was rather wide too, having a few Dynamax Power Spots nearby. This stadium had walls and everything but no ceiling for obvious reasons. Sci-Twi had to wonder how this was done. It was either magic or possibly the result of a Ghost casting an illusion. Considering that Allister was here, the latter was most likely the right answer.
"What's with this place?" Pinkie asked.
"Mew..."
"It was set up by Ghost Magic. Since Allister sometimes comes here, he needs a place to work so this was made." Bea explained. "I don't need one since anywhere is my training area."
"Alright...Give it a try, Ash..." Allister said, coming to a halt. He had all the space in the world to unleash the power of Dynamax. Or in this case, Gigantamax. Gengar's Gigantamax form was the main objective here and perhaps, using the power in a Ghost-surrounded place could unleash it.
"Right. Got it!" Ash already had the Dynamax Band on, ready for usage. With his Poke Ball out, Ash returned the Shadow Pokemon. Immediately, the Dynamax Energy would start flowing. It flared from his band and soon the Poke Ball. It enlarged in Ash's hand, prompting him to launch it upwards. "Here goes! Here's hoping for Gigantamax!"
The skies above would darken, unleashing the phenomenon of the Galar Region. As Gengar emerged from the Poke Ball, he was already growing in size. His eyes flashed purple for a moment before showing his enlarged body.
"Gen...GEN! GENGAR!" The result? It was just an ordinary Dynamaxed Gengar. Not Gigantamax.
"Hmm...That didn't do the trick." Twilight shook her head. "That's not Gigantamax Gengar."
"I think we can get it! Let's get that mouth as wide as possible, Gengar!
"GENGAAAR!" Opening his mouth, he tried replicating the absolute titan of a mouth a Gigantamax Gengar has. He certainly made it wider but it wasn't quite the same. He even stuck his tongue out just like Gigantamax Gengar and while he could make it rather long, it wasn't on the same level.
"Wider!" Ash cheered. "Go Gengar, give it all you got!"
"Pika-Pika!" Both Pikachus would try and encourage him. Soon Mew and Audino would do the same.
"GAAAAAAR!" And Gengar would gladly widen his mouth some more. Even though he didn't reach the Gigantamax Form, it was still impressive that Gengar could open his mouth that wide at all.
"Forcing it won't do..." Bea sighed. "You're going to have to use the mushrooms."
"Ash..." Allister spoke. Unexpectedly, he appeared next to Ash without any footsteps being heard, jumpscaring him. "Your Gengar can only Dynamax. No matter how hard you try, you can't force him to Gigantamax.
"GEN?!" Gengar twitched after hearing that. So much for the first try. He let out some tears before shrinking back to his original size, absolutely gutted. "Gengar..."
"Yeah. I figured we needed the mushrooms first. I just wanted to try it out." Ash laughed. "Fluttershy and Audino already got some of them right here."
"Let's start cooking, please!" Fluttershy excitedly wiggled the mushrooms around. "If I can get this recipe down, I could make my own Max Soup!"
"Audino!"
"Hold it." Bea raised a finger. "Ash's Gengar is worthy enough to eat the soup. My battles with him are proof of that. But all of you on the other hand? You've yet to prove it to me."
"What? Come on. I don't have a Pokemon that has a Gigantamax Form. At least...I don't think I do, but everyone here's worthy. You saw them at the Black Crusade, remember?" Rainbow Dash added. "Isn't that enough?"
"I'd like to try out your strength for myself. That is why Mustard appointed me. You can make the recipe but you have to engage in a battle with me so I can judge if you're ready for that kind of power. Gigantamax isn't just an upgrade. It changes a lot about the Pokemon, much like Mega Evolution."
"I guess so..." Rainbow Dash scratched her mane. "You're always so strict, geez."
"Other Twilight. Fluttershy. You two are the only ones I know of with Pokemon that have the capability to eventually Gigantamax. I will take you both on."
"Both of us?!" The duo gasped. They were about to enter a double battle against Bea. It would be her against Fluttershy and Sci-Twi. Quite the shocking reveal and also intimidating since Bea carries that fierce aura with her.
"Hmmm..." Lucas thought for a moment, wondering if he had a Pokemon that could Gigantamax. Alas, no one came to mind right now. None of his Pokemon on hand could do it. "Dang it..."
Sci-Twi gulped as she was about to enter yet another Pokemon Battle. This time, it was against the Fighting-Type Gym Leader Bea, who was a fierce opponent for Ash. She already witnessed the skills of Mustard but how will Bea do against her? Thankfully, she would have a backup in the form of Fluttershy.
But even Fluttershy wasn't all into battling and mainly acted as a support trainer. One thing was for sure, Fluttershy does do well in double battles as seen during the Canterlot Tag Tournament. The Path to Gigantamax was an interesting path to power that only a few Pokemon could truly obtain. And only a few trainers could really grasp the power beyond Dynamax. Bea was about to see if Fluttershy and Sci-Twi were worthy of grasping it as the journey continues.
Galar. The Isle of Armor. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
To obtain the power of Gigantamax, the Max Soup had to be drunk by the Pokemon capable of tapping into that power beyond Dynamax. But to see if two of them were worthy to have the Max Soup were Sci-Twi and Fluttershy, who both had Pokemon capable of Gigantamaxing.
The Max Mushrooms have already been obtained, making them eligible for a Max Soup. But while Ash was in the clear to have his Gengar try it, Fluttershy and Sci-Twi had to try and defeat Bea to get theirs. It would be a double battle against Bea which made it less intimidating but still fairly intimidating.
"Prepare yourselves. Both of you." Bea held out her Poke Ball. "To see if you're worthy, try your best to make me take you seriously. You don't have to win."
"Oh really? Well, that's a relief." Sci-Twi nervously laughed. She didn't have to beat Bea. She just had to prove to her that she was good enough for the Max Soup.
"Don't mistake the conditions for a lenient time," Bea uttered, startling Sci-Twi. "If you do take it easy on me, I promise you, you won't get a taste of that soup. Not that you'll be the ones drinking it."
"R-Right. Sorry." Sci-Twi lowered her head. She wasn't going to take the easy way out of this, much to her dismay. Sci-Twi would have to throw everything at Bea.
"It's alright. I'll back you up. I'm used to Double Battles and Raboot is pretty strong~"
"Raboot!" Raboot stood proud. Usually, Fluttershy battles alongside Audino but since this involved Raboot, he was taking the helm today. Naturally, since Fluttersy was more of a support trainer, the difficulty was raised.
"Appear! Falinks!"
"Falinks!" Choosing her Falinks instead of her Machamp or even Grapploct, this would be Bea's sign of holding back on them a bit. She was obviously far stronger than them so she had to restrain herself.
"We just met but, I have a good feeling about you." Holding her Poke Ball out, Sci-Twi summoned Bulbasaur.
"Bulbasaur!"
"Is Bulbasaur even strong enough for this? He might go down in a few minutes." Seeing this matchup, Rainbow Dash saw how outclassed they appeared to be. Even if Falinks was also small, Bea's skill was always in sync with the Pokemon and considering that she gave Ash a fierce battle, the odds were not pretty. It didn't help that Falinks was a Pokemon that appeared in groups.
"It's fine.." Allister muttered. "Master Mustard and Mrs Honey trained him well so he'll be fine..."
"Raboot. Support Bulbasaur, please." Fluttershy reuested. "You'll be doing all the physical action. Bulbasaur's much better from afar."
"Boot! Raboot!" The Raboot Pokemon saluted. He wouldn't let her down and would make sure Bulbasaur gets some hits in. This won't be easy, especially with the numbers Falinks possesses.
"Master Mustard speaks about how trainers and Pokemon grow stronger in unison because of their bonds. So, by that logic, your time with Ash should make you worthwhile. Allow me to begin! No Retreat!"
"Fa...Links!" Starting off strong, the Falinks would erupt their bodies in a blazing fighting energy. With each of them crying out, their strength, speed and defence were boosted but at the cost of them being unable to switch out. However, that didn't matter, since it would be a test battle instead of a full one.
Sci-Twi gulped after witnessing this blazing energy. But this wasn't the time to be intimidated. She had just gone through a consistent streak of battles recently so this shouldn't be too much. "Okay, Bulbasaur! Use Razor Leaf!"
"Raboot! Flame Charge!"
"Ra!" Moving ahead was Raboot who would handle everything up close, moving at high speeds. He enveloped his body in his own blazing energy while Bulbsaur stood back, generating razor-sharp leaves. Approaching the Formation Pokemon, Raboot was ready to tackle into the leader so that each of them get sent flying.
"Iron Defense!" Bea crossed her arms to symbolize absolute defence.
"Fal! Fal! Falinks!" Instead of going on the offensive, Falinks started off by being defensive. After using No Retreat, each of the mini-soldiers would harden their bodies. And as soon as Raboot came crashing in with Flame Charge, successfully landing a hit in, he didn't even budge them all. He smashed his head against the Falinks, but to his shock, they did not move Instead, the one moving back was Raboot as he felt himself crash into metal.
"R-Ra?!" Raboot's head was ringing a bit, prompting him to stumble back. On the bright side, he got faster thanks to the Flame Charge's special ability.
As the sharp leaves came flying in, the Falinks stood there, taking the hits. They did not move at all and neither did they appear phased by the sharp leaves. They raised their defences twice. Not only that, but they separated themselves instead of staying in one line. Already, Falinks was throwing something new at these two.
"They split up? I thought they worked better when in line?" Fluttershy questioned as this already looked off to her.
"Each of my Falinks are clad in iron and are fully fortified to take any hit you dish at them. I don't want this battle to be over so soon. Not when I'm testing you. But don't think I won't throw in any attacks." Bea said. "And you will have to look out for each of their attacks."
"Wait! Each of them?!" Sci-Twi gasped. This meant that every single one of the Falinks would throw attacks at them in their own pattern.
"Oh. I didn't think about that." Fluttershy paused as even she wasn't ready for this. All of the Falinks surrounded them from all sides, glistening with iron around them. Raboot and Bulbasaur had to constantly move their heads, looking for which Falinks would attack first.
"Attack! Close Combat!"
"Falinks!" The answer was all of them. When one Falinks lunged in, another would do the same.
"B-Bulba!" Bulbasaur immediately ducked, using his vines to cover his head even though that wouldn't do much.
"Quick, Raboot! Dodge!"
"Ra!" By the skin of his teeth, Raboot managed to dodge the first Falinks by leaning back. He watched for a moment as one of these mini-soldiers went flying. Two more of them were flying in for another attack, prompting Raboot to be quick on his feet. Luckily for him, he was always quick on his feet. Swiftly, the Fire-Type jumped to the side to avoid a second Close Combat before then performing a backflip in the air to evade the third attack. The same couldn't be said for Bulbasaur, who was on the floor being pelted by the Falinks.
"Bulba!" Bulbasaur cried out as his body was being bounced off by the Falinks each time they crashed into him. Specifically, they hit his bulbous speed which also made them bounce off his body.
"Bulbasaur! Get out of there, quick!"
"Bulbaaaa...!" But it was rather difficult for Bulbasaur to avoid this. Thus, he was becoming a mere punching bag for the Falinks while Raboot kept doging them. However, even Raboot couldn't dodge forever and i was only a matter of time until one of the six Falinks got him
"Boot!" Raboot received a hit to his back by the leader of te Falinks, falling over. That set the other two Falinks up to strike Raboot from the front before he could even touch the floor. "Ra!"
"This is ugly!" Pinkie covered her eyes as this was already a rough battle.
"It isn't over yet...Grab one of them, Bulbasaur! Use your vines!"
"Saur!" If Bulbasaur couldn't dodge the attacks, he could at least intercept them. By summoning one of his vines, he quickly used it to grab a Falinks that came his way.
"Fal!?" Shocked that it was caught, this one Falinks was being held up, perfectly cradled in Bulbasaur's vines.
"Yes, we got one!"
"Not for long! Iron Head!"
"Links!" Supporting their ally, one of the Falinks came crashing in with Iron Head. Before Bulbasaur could do anything else, he was struck by a charging Falinks.
"B-Bulbasaur!" Taking the hit, Bulbasaur was knocked back while the other Falkins was dropped. Soon, all the other Falinks surrounded Raboot and Bayleef yet again.
"Raboot...!" Raboot growled when facing the Falinks. While he was fast, he did have to keep an eye on six different Pokemon that counted as one. If anything, Bea was technically using six Pokemon while Fluttershy and Sci-Twi were stuck with one.
"Are you alright, Bulbasaur?!" Sci-Twi gasped.
"Bulbasaur." Getting back, Bulbasaur still had some strength left in him, showing that Mustard trained him well. But what good was that strength if it wasn't being utilized to its fullest at the moment?
"You got this you two! Show Bea what you can do!" Ash cheered.
"Gen! Gengar!" Gengar frantically threw his arms in the air, cheering for them both. Both Pikachus would jump up when cheering for their friends.
"Pika-Pika!"
"Is that it?" Bea questioned. "This is my first time seeing you two battle and it's rather dissappointing. I know you can do better than this."
"You're the one using six Pokemon..." Sci-Twi puffed her cheeks as her face was turning red for a moment.
"It's alright. We can do this." But Fluttershy remained calm. This wasn't overwhelming to her at all. And neither was it to Raboot. He's taken on larger opponents and most of them were deadly. But even so, the Falinks had a good chance of defeating him. "Raboot! Run around in circles using Flame Charge, please!"
"Ra!" Raboot would build up speed. And the best way to do that was to consistently use Flame Charge. His swift running would immediately summon a whirlwind of fire around his body.
"Hoh?" Bea slightly widened her eyes. This was already showing promise since it was reminding her of Ash already. "Interesting..."
"W-What is that? Is that the Countershield?" To Sci-Twi, this looked a lot like Ash's Countershield but instead of getting on his back, Raboot was running on the spot, using his best qualities.
"Not at all. But it helps a lot," said Fluttershy. It wasn't the Countershield, but it was a way to help boost Raboot's speed. By continuously running in one spot and whipping up a gale of fire, he was getting faster.
"I'll respond with this! Close Combat!"
"Falinks!" All of the Falinks came flying in, targeting Raboot and Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur was still vulnerable as a single Falinks was coming his way. But at that moment, Raboot responded the second Fluttershy gave out the next command.
"Use High Jump Kick!"
"Ra!" In a flash, Raboot burst out of the Flaming Whirlwind, using High Jump Kick. And thanks to the speed increase, Raboot managed to dissappear and reappear in an instant, striking the Falinks that went for Bulbasaur. "Boot!"
"F-Falinks!" A direct hit which resulted in a fierce shockwave. As for the other Falinks, they were pushed back by a stream of fire which trailed out of Raboot's body. By gathering up a flame whirlwind, he temporarily used it as an aura to knock the other five Falinks away.
Each of the Falinks bounced on the floor, rolling around thanks to their circular shapes. As for the Falinks who took the hit directly, it was absolutely bewildering to the point where it would take longer to recover compared to the others.
"Bulba?"
"Raboot?" Raboot smirked, looking back at his fellow Starter Pokemon to see if he was alright.
"Wow...!" Sci-Twi's jaw dropped after witnessing that. A truly clever play from Fluttershy.
"Ash taught me that as well. He taught all of us a lot about Pokemon Battling." Fluttershy giggled. It only made sense that this looked like an Ash-like tactic because Ash himself taught it.
"As to be expected." Bea smiled as that is what she loved to hear. "You, Fluttershy, do not disappoint. I should've been more patient when wanting to see your skills put to the test. You're rather calm."
"Aw, thank you." Fluttershy gushed after receiving such a compliment.
"You, on the other hand. You can show great promise." Bea focused on Sci-Twi. "But I'm not seeing much of it."
"I can show it you, I swear!" She adjusted her glasses.
"Don't worry too much about it, me!" Giving her advice was her Equestrian Counterpart who caught her attention. "I did the same thing as you. And since we're the same, you have to let go of those worries."
"Espeon!"
"Your Pony-self is right. Right now, you're battling for the chance to give your Bulbasaur the Max Soup, are you not? I said that you don't have to beat me. Just show me what you're capable of."
"It's not just to give Bulbasaur Max Soup. Well, I want to grow stronger to stop Hunter J and catch all the Alpha Pokemon. Or, as many as I can." Sci-Twi expressed her main goals. It hasn't changed a bit.
"So you have something else in mind? In that case, you have a greater reason to try and defeat me, Twilight. What you want to do sounds very kind and large as well. You wouldn't want to be set back just because of me, would you?"
"Bea's really weird at coaching, isn't she?" Pinkie Pie whistled. "Harsh, but I get what she means."
"Harsh is right." Lucas shuddered. "At least give her a break or something. Did Mustard really pick her for this?"
"I can do this. We can do this!" Sci-Twi slapped her face. "Ready, Bulbasaur? I know this is our first battle together, but I'm really counting on you to get us through this."
"Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur nodded in response. He was already fond of Sci-Twi and it would be such a shame and embarrassment if he instantly lost here without doing much. Bea narrowed her eyes, hoping she could see something great from Sci-Twi as soon as possible.
While this battle was about to continue, someone else managed to find this hidden area. Moving the vines and slowly opening the door was none other than Klara. She was searching for some Max Mushrooms until she found herself spotting this area. Entering this hidden arena for Allister, she laid eyes on the scenario here.
"Her again? Why am I not surprised she found an area like this?" Klara groaned in her mind, tired of seeing Sci-Twi already. She stayed hidden from everyone else, quietly watching things play out. "She probably found a quick way to get those mushrooms. Ooh, I can't stand here!"
Master's Dojo.
Meanwhile, over at the Master's Dojo, Rarity's group had just finished catching up with everything that has happened. They learned everything from Mustard and Honey, who was still waiting for everyone else to show up.
"That's the gist of it. By the end of this all, one of them will receive the Secret Armor. You all are a bit too late to join though. Sorry." Mustard said.
"Awww..." The CMC were gutted when hearing that. They would've absolutely loved to take part in the Three Trials but it was too late for that. On the bright side, at least they were given the uniforms, seeing what they would look like in these outfits.
"But you came here with Princess Celestia and Luna? Ooh, I'd love to have them in my trial!" Mustard giggled. "What a shame! It is what it is, though."
"Lucky you, owning a private island of your own." Rarity uttered. "I should really do that as well. I think I can muster up enough money to buy one. I've gathered a lot thanks to how easy it is to earn PokeDollars."
"I haven't told them everything yet. I still want to keep the Secret Armor as the biggest surprise but I think some of them have already come across it." Mustard grinned. "The Isle of Armor is home to some rather powerful Pokemon if you must know. One of them recently left here."
"Who?" asked Apple Bloom.
"Well, seeing as you came here for Cobalion, the Swords of Justice already ran through here. But it wasn't just them. Another rare Pokemon showed up and left. It also left behind a ton of electricity that you can still feel even." The Dojo Master continued as he was greatly intriguing Applejack's group.
"Cobalion won't be the only Pokemon you might end up finding if you choose to go to the Crown Tundra sooner or later," Honey added to the conversation. "Passing by here was a Pokemon of great speed and lightning that could match that of Princess Luna's Zekrom."
"...Ash's Pikachu?" Sweetie Belle mainly thought about Ash's Pikachu. He was fast and summoned a grand amount of lightning that can truly leave an impact. Who else could it be? It wasn't Zekrom at all since Honey ruled him out.
"No silly." Honey giggled, but she knew what Sweetie Belle meant by that. "It's a Pokemon of Myth. One that many rarely see. But it's not a stranger to the Isle of Armor, I can tell you that. It's name is Zeraora."
"Zeraora?" Rarity, Applejack, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo collectively said. The name of this Pokemon had hit their ears and it was a brand new name too. One they have never heard of before.
"Aahh...I wanted to make that one a surprise too, Honey. I would've made it a bonus trial. Even if Zeraroa is long gone from here by now." Mustard was well aware of Zeraora's presence. But no one else aside from his wife was aware, until now.
"What's a Zeraora?"
"A Pokemon that possesses pure plasma. The same thing Reshiram and Zekrom are able to generate or even Princess Celestia's Gardevoir." Honey explained. "It hits fast and runs fast. No matter what, the electricity will always hit you in the end. Zeraora has been at the Isle of Armor before, but we've never interacted with it all."
"Not until recently, it showed up here again, but not in the best condition." Following up was Mustard. "Zeraora looked in a dire state. Almost as if it had been put through the wringer."
"Is it okay now?!" Scootaloo asked.
"Perfectly fine. It takes a lot to stop a Mythical Pokemon. But Zeraora was clearly furious. So furious that it almost started a rampage here at the Isle of Armor. Luckily, the Swords of Justice showed up and stopped its rampage from getting out of hand, but it only followed up into a pursuit." Mustard grumbled, remembering it all visibly. The day Zeraora showed up as well as the Swords of Justice. "But looking at Zeraora was enough to tell me that it was upset about something that hasn't left it for a while. Right now, it's moving to survive."
"It's been going from place to place trying to ease itself. Before the Isle of Armor, it was actually reported to be the far east of Galar and eventually ended up here. I wish we could've done something about it." Honey sighed as that was a wasted opportunity to help that Zeraora.
"But...I also know one thing. We'll be seeing that Zeraora again. Sooner than you think. The Isle of Armor is special to it after all." With those words being spouted out of Mustard's mouth, Rarity's group was now invested. While Ash and the others handle the three trials, here at the Master's Dojo, they were shared info on something that concerned Cobalion but also a rampaging Pokemon who was struggling to be at ease. The existence of Zeraora was now known to them. And for the time being, only them.
Galar. The Isle of Armor. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Over at the secret area located at the Isle of Armor, the test battle against Bea was still underway. While Fluttershy and Raboot were performing well, Sci-Twi and Bulbasaur were struggling. However, after some time to think and breathe, it looked like that was all about to change.
Spying on them was Klara, who was rather displeased to see Sci-Twi again. But by watching this battle, she was looking forward to seeing Sci-Twi lose considering she was going up against Bea. Klara was also hoping that this would hit harder than her loss against Mustard since Bea wasn't as relaxed as he was. She even took out her phone to record this, just in case she wanted to view it again and again.
"Here goes, Bulbasaur! Razor Leaf!" Having a strengthened resolve, Sci-Twi continued the battle.
"Bulbasaur!" Having an equal resolve as Sci-Twi, Bulbasaur generated those razor-sharp leaves once more, launching them. With all of the Falinks scattered, Bulbasaur aimed his leaves at each and everyone of them.
"Scatter, Falinks!"
"Fal! Falinks!" All of the Falinks would have to scatter themselves once more. But thanks to Raboot's amazing counterattack, some were still trying to recover. As such, they were struck by the leaves but the effects of Iron Defence on top of No Retreat made them rather bulky. Even if they were hit by the leaves, they could still move.
"Now, Falinks! Each one of you will individually use different moves!" At that moment, Bea revealed something truly surprising that no one else, aside from Allister, would see coming at all. "Hyper Beam! Smart Strike! Close Combat! Poison Jab! Zen Headbutt!"
"Falinks!" Unexpectedly, each of the Falinks used different moves. All six of them did not have access to the same moveset and instead were varied in what they had.
"Wait, what?! All of them have their own moves!? Is that even possible?! I thought they all counted as one Pokemon!"
"Jump Raboot! Take Bulbasar with you!"
"Ra!" Knowing how dangerous it was to be on the ground right now, Raboot, with greatly increased speed, dashed over to Bulbasaur. With all of his strength, he picked up his teammate and leapt into the air right as one of the Falinks came charging in with Zen Headbutt.
"In order to reach the top and defeat Champion Leon, I'll use every form of strength available to me," Bea uttered. "I trained each individual Falinks a different move while still managing to keep them as one Pokemon. This is the kind of strength that I've aspired to obtain and to one day overcome."
"That's so cool!" Ash and Lucas had their eyes light up. To them, that was an amazing way to utilize the strength of a Pokemon and these two are already pros at it.
"What do we do if all of them have their own moves?!" Sci-Twi exclaimed as Bea has amped up the difficult once more. Even when holding back, she is very aggressive. But, even with this shocking outcome, Sci-Twi had something come up in her mind. Her smarts kicked in as she focused her attention on the air. "I got it! Bulbasaur! Grab onto the ceiling!"
"Bulbasaur!" Using his vines, Bulbasaur promptly hung them around the ceiling of this secret area. Since the top part of it was wide open, it was easy for Bulbasaur's vines to hang from the edge. By doing so, not only did he stay in the air, but he also made Raboot stay airborne too.
"Nice! They avoided them all!" Pinkie Pie cheered
"Not all of them! There's still Hyper Beam!" Lucas shook his head.
"Falinks...!" Built up by the leader of the Falinks, the Hyper Beam was still a threat since it didn't care about where its enemy was. The ground of the air did not matter. Out of the Falinks came a burst of Infinity Energy in the form of a beam, ready to engulf them both.
"Swing!"
"Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur then used his vines to immediately swing through the air. Him and Raboot avoided the Hyper Beam as it immediately blasted through the edges of the ceiling. After avoiding it, Bulbasaur hung onto another edge of the ceiling, still staying airborne.
"Ooh, now's my chance to try this! Angel Bunny does it a lot so Raboot will have a fun time too! Jump on each of them with High Jump Kick!"
"Ra!" Letting go of Bulbasaur, Raboot would finally descend. But not without an attack inbound. He immediately went for the leader, smashing his feet down onto its head. "Boot!"
"L-Links!" After being stomped on, Raboot immediately went on to the next Falinks. He would stomp on its head too, dealing some more damage without triggering the downside to this attack. A second Falinks was stomped on and then a third. Apparently, this was something Angel Bunny does and Raboot was no different.
"Angel Bunny jumps on mushrooms sometimes to get a lot of height so this is very similar! Way to go, Raboot!" Fluttershy cheered her partner on as each of the Falinks were being pushed down or knocked over while Raboot kept getting higher heights.
"Not for long! Use Counter!"
"Falinks!" One of the individual Falinks would retaliate, enveloping itself in a burst of orange energy. It then launched itself upwards at Raboot who was coming down for another High Jump Kick on the fifth Falinks, but was soon intercepted.
"Raboot?!"
"Quick! Use Seed Bomb!"
"Bulba!" A green light formed inside of Bulbasaur's own bulb, generating an energy seed. He then shot out the seed at the incoming Falinks, exploding on impact. Falinks never reached Raboot but instead, it went crashing down, hitting the other Falinks.
"F-Falinks!" Thanks to this interception, Raboot was free to follow up on his attack, dropkicking the group of Falinks that bumped into each other. This accumulated the damage, scattering the Falinks once more.
"Don't tell me they actually plan to try and defeat me?!" Bea gasped. They weren't battling to prove that they were worthy enough to handle Bea. They were now battling to try and take her down. Seeing this as a challenge, Bea smiled. She didn't expect this but she wasn't complaining.
"Quick, Raboot! Use Quick Attack!"
"Raboot!" After using High Jump Kick, Raboot would accelerate through the air, first performing a backflip and instantly zooming with a white aura around his body. He then tackled the other Falinks at full force, moving at lightning speeds. He was already incredibly fast after using Flame Charge repeatedly and this just made him as fast as a lightning bolt.
"Collectively! Close Combat!"
"Falinks!" The Falinks who was knocked back couldn't use Close Combat, but the others certainly could. Immediately, they all rushed at Raboot who was still on the ground while Bulbasaur was chilling in the air. Raboot narrowed his eyes, preparing for the Falinks.
"Use Swords Dance!"
"Ra!" Enveloping his feet and arms in a white light, Raboot would clash with the first Falinks that came his way while also raising his attack. After clashing with the one Falinks, he pushed it away before backflipping, evading the second. Raboot was then hit by the third Falinks who flew in from the side, staggering the Rabbit Pokemon for a moment. And yet, Raboot still had a lot of balance. He immediately kicked one of the Falinks that approached from the front into the air before leaping over the remaining Falinks.
But this one Falinks that was sent upwards would have the chance to attack Bulbasaur, and Bea was waiting for this. Bulbasaur gasped as he was immediately knocked off the ceiling by the incoming Falinks. "B-Bulbasaur!"
"Oh, no! Bulbasaur!" Sci-Twi gasped, placing her hands over her mouth.
"B-Bulbasaur!" However, Bulbasaur caught himself, using his vines to safely touch the ground as they acted as springs. Bulbasaur had some fight left in him but it was unknown how much of it was left.
"We have you now! Zen Headbutt!"
"Links!" One of the Falinks that possessed Zen Headbutt rushed in to try and deal a super-effective blow against the Grass-Poison-Type the second he touched the ground.
"Ash told me that he saw a Venasaur do this...So Bulbasaur has to do the same! Open your bulb and catch Falinks!" Sci-Twi would try something new. Specifically, something that Ash shared with her. He has passed on a lot of knowledge to his friends and all of it was showing some more during this battle.
"Bulba!" By opening its bulb, Bulbasaur would invite the Falinks to get closer. Only for Falinks to be caught by the bulb which immediately closed. Bulbasaur made sure to lean forward to make this happen and it was a success. He was glad that Falinks was small. Any other opponent could've ignored this.
"What?!" Bea was flabbergasted as well as the other Falinks. It's not often that another one of them would be unable to act.
"Falinks?!"
"Nice one!" Ash raised his fist.
"Now's my chance to turn this around! From your Bulb! Use Poison Powder!"
"Bulba...!" Bulbasaur took the opportunity to spread poison around Falinks while it was trapped. It was unable to break free at all, thus it would gain the poison affliction.
"Free your friend! Iron Head!"
"Links!" The remaining 5 Falinks rushed in, refusing to let their ally be trapped in that bulbous prison. Collectively, they covered their bodies in iron, flying in. If all of them attacked Bulbasaur, they were sure to free the sixth Falinks.
"Raboot! Use Flame Charge!"
"Ra!" Raboot intercepted them by bashing his entire body against them. Thanks to the increased speed combined with the boost in strength because of Swords Dance, he was now playing on a rather even level with the Falinks. By charging into the Falinks with Flame Charge, he halted their movements. "Raaaa....!"
"Falinks...!" The Falinks and Raboot growled at each other with both sides trying to push through. The silver light of Iron Head and the Crimson Flames of Flame Charge were pulsating aggressively on one spot. This gave Bulbasaur all the time in the world to make his next move.
"Spit him out with Seed Bomb!"
"Saur!" Bulbasaur released the Falinks but by using Seed Bomb to do so. This one Falinks would be the seed, used as ammo against its comrades. Raboot grinned before leaping out of the way. The second he leapt out of the way with his incredible speed, the final Falinks came flying in, crashing into the other five.
"Falinks!" Similar to a Bowling Strike, all of the Falinks were knocked over.
"If they keep this up, they could win!" Pinkie Pie galloped on the spot, getting vehemently excited.
"Come on! You two can do this!" Twilight raised her hoof, cheering for Fluttershy and her Human Counterpart.
"Impossible! There's no way she can beat Bea! Can she?! Klara rapidly bit her nails in disbelief. Was Sci-Twi about to snatch a victory and do more than just prove herself worthy?
"Let's finish this! Seed Bomb, again!"
"Use High Jump Kick!"
"Raboot!" Raboot and Bulbasaur were going in for one final attack. This was one for all the marbles against the Falinks who have taken quite the beating in this battle despite being the stronger Pokemon. And with the smile growing on Bea's face, the strength they possessed was really about to show.
"You've done well..." Bea while the seeds and Raboot approached her Falinks. "I should've known you'd be this troublesome. You gave me some genuine excitement. But you're not strong enough yet. Counter!"
"Falinks!" Altogether, each of the Falinks used Counter. That was one other move they all shared. The second Raboot struck their bodies, In unison, their bodies flared up with an orange energy that would soon fly out of their bodies. Raboot gasped as was soon enveloped his entire body. The energy would also consume the Seeds, destroying them completely.
Just like that, Raboot and Bulbasaur were both blown away by the powerful Counter. Sci-Twi held onto her glasses while Fluttershy nearly lost her balance. After the light faded, both Starter Pokemon dropped to the floor, defeated and completely spent after a well-fought battle.
"Raboot..."
"Bulbasaur..." Thus, the winner was Bea as many expected. But the fact that Fluttershy and Sci-Twi put up such a good fight made them think they came incredibly close to winning.
"Aw..." Pinkie Pie pouted. "All that buildup too."
"Mew..."
"That's that. Regroup and return, Falinks." Bea closed her eyes as each of the Falinks returned to their usual stance which was a single-file line. Afterwards, it was back to the Poke Ball.
"Well, we tried. Hopefully, that was enough." Sci-Twi sighed before soon helping Bulbasaur up. "Well, done, Bulbasaur. You did your best. For our first battle together, you learn fast with my commands."
"Bulba."
"You did great too, Raboot." Fluttershy hugged the Rabbit Pokemon when picking him up. "I was thinking of using the Z-Crystal, but it's too late for that."
"Raboot."
"Heh. That's another loss for them. I bet she's totally floored by this and wishes to head home." Klara put on a grin, expecting Sci-Twi to be completely and utterly defeated. She was also waiting for Bea to throw some harsh criticism her way. But alas, that did not happen.
"Well done the both of you!" Bea suddenly bellowed, grabbing their attention. "You've proven to me that you're worthy of the Max Soup. The strength you both hold is something that can grow. The growth you all have is staring me in the face and I can't deny that. You've passed."
"Love to hear it..." With a deep sigh, Sci-Twi was greatly pleased. Once again, she had succeeded in another trial. The Max Soup would be available to her and Fluttershy.
"Oh, come on!" Klara growled. This wasn't the outcome she was hoping for. Once again, Sci-Twi comes out of this with positivity at the end of it all. Vexed by this, Klara walked out of the secret room, not saying a word. She wasted time spectating this battle when she could be out there grabbing mushrooms. Alas, her irritation towards Sci-Twi trumped it with ease.
The Max Soup would be theirs and thus, this would be the second trial done before the final one, which was bringing them closer to the Secret Armor that Mustard promised.
With all of that said and done, the Max Soup was finally made. The ones to make it were Bea and Allister who whipped it up for the three trainers who had eligible Pokemon. Once it was done, the soup was ready to be consumed. The mushrooms now became chunks as a majority of it was the liquid which was piping out. The scent of it was very much pleasing. And to think that these mushrooms were related to Eternatus.
"Man, if only I could drink it...!" Ash was tempted to try out the Max Soup, just so he could taste the mystery behind it. But alas, it was only for Pokemon. Pinkie Pie wished to do the same, licking her lips out of pure temptation.
"Maybe Eternatus smells the same. It could season our food with Dynamaax Energy. Just saying..." Pinkie Pie gushed.
"You're not a Pokemon, Ash. At least...I don't think so." Bea narrowed her eyes, making Ash refrain from consuming the soup.
"Alright. One at a time, please," said Allister. But immediately, without hesitation, the three Pokemon eligible for Gigantamax went for it. Raboot slammed his face into the soup, drinking from it. Bulbasaur soon did the same but immediately pulled back when the heat struck him. Raboot was completely fine thanks to his Typing.
"Raboot~" Raboot felt like he was transcending as the soup was absolutely sublime. His eyes lit up and his taste buds were beyond satisfied. It was so worth it.
"Bulba...!" Bulbasaur teared up from the heat around his face, only to be cooled off by Twilight's Magic. Even with the heat harming, the soup still tasted amazing. He even scarfed down a good chunk of it.
"Aren't you going to try it, Pikachu?" Sci-Twi asked her Alpha Pikachu.
"Pika-Pika." But, Alpha Pikachu passed. He would pass on the chance to Gigantamax.
"Gengar!" Gengar was the wildest, picking up the entire bowl of Max Soup and chugging it down. Just like that, the Max Soup was gone. After consuming the rest of the soup, Gengar was over the moon. "Gar!"
"Now...Let's test it out," said Allister. The time to unleash Gigantamax Gengar was nigh. With all of the Gigantamax Energy in his body, Gengar could go beyond Dynamax.
Raboot and Bulbasaur would have to wait for that fateful. For Raboot, he was only one evolution away from reaching his final form, making him fully capable of Gigantamaxing. And as for Bulbasaur, he had two more forms to go before he reaches that titanic state. But it would be worth since they both have such loving trainers to help them improve.
"Alright! Let's do this, Gengar!" Ash immediately ran back into the field with Gengar following him. Wasting no time, he already had Gengar's Poke Ball out and ready. Holding it out, the Dynamax Band reacted to the energy flowing across Galar. Returning into his Poke Ball, the wonderful device was already growing in size. It grew heavier, prompting Ash to use both hands this time. The weight increase was indeed noticeable. "Let's go big! Gigantamax!"
With the Poke Ball flying into the air, out of it emerged a super-sized Gengar. But with a noticeable yet simple difference. Purple eyes flashed once the dark clouds above appeared, overflowing with Dynamax Energy. The ground below would erupt as Gengar appeared from below instead of above this time.
The portions of his body sank into the ground, and only the head, tail, and arms remain. His body changed from dark-purple to light-purple and his eyes became white. The inside of its mouth changes to resemble a tunnel with a long purple tongue sticking out.
"GENGAR!" Gigantamax Gengar was here at last.
"Sweet Celestia..." Twilight took out her Pokedex, now witnessing this giant in real life. All the others did the same when gazing at the Shadow Pokemon's other form.
"Gengar. The Shadow Pokemon. Gigantamax Form. Rumour has it that its gigantic mouth leads not into its body, filled with cursed energy, but instead directly to the afterlife. It lays traps, hoping to steal the lives of those it catches. If you stand in front of its mouth, you’ll hear your loved ones’ voices calling out to you."
"Score!" Ash raised his hat with joy. "It's Gigantamax Gengar!"
"Pikachu!"
"You did it..." And to Allister, this greatly pleased him. The second trial was officially done. The Max Soup has been consumed and one of the Pokemon managed to appear as a Gigantamaxed Pokemon. Gengar was so large, he went out of the secret area for others to see. That was an indication for them that Ash succeeded in his trial and they would have to quickly gather the remaining mushrooms if they wanted a chance at getting that Secret Armor.
Outside, Klara nearly fainted after seeing Gigantamax Gengar. it caught her off guard and jumpscared her too. It truly was an overwhelming Pokemon to look at even if it wasn't that different from the average Gengar. The Third Trial was now waiting for them. And this would be the trial that truly settles it all and possibly ends their time here at the Isle of Armor. But what a time it has been for them.
Galar. The Isle of Armor. Master Dojo The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
After successfully drinking the Max Soup, those who have passed the second trial were returning to the Master Dojo. As for how many of the students managed to retrieve the Max Mushrooms, it wasn't much. At best, some managed to get two Max Mushrooms while a majority came back with nothing. Despite the lack of mushrooms, the Max Soup was still made and consumed by Ash, Sci-Twi and Fluttershy's Pokemon.
"Congrats on finding some Max Mushrooms and already having a meal," Mustard said to Sci-Twi's group. "Trial number two was no problem for you, it seems. All of my other students got lost in the forest. Turns out finding Max Mushrooms was the least of their problems. It's a shame but I guess everyone other than Twilight's group will fail the trial."
"I spent so much time getting nowhere..." A student said, lowering her head. Many of them were gutted after being unable to get enough Max Mushrooms.
"Now, it's getting late. So get some rest before the final trial, alright? The Secret Armor is something that requires your full attention after all."
"Wait!" Bursting indoors was Klara, who didn't want this to be over yet. In her arms, she received some Max Mushrooms, which were dirtying her white coat. "I've got some Max Mushrooms too!"
"Oh, nice work, Klara. You must've searched hard for those." Mustard chuckled. "That makes you the next and last person to pass the second trial."
"Waaaah! I did it! I did it!" Klara was relieved. She immediately let tears flow out as she was over the moon to succeed in the second trial. She started sobbing and sniffing as she was truly dedicated to this trial. "I shouldn't have stuck around spying on Twilight. I would've done it sooner! That was too close for comfort!
"Chin up. You did well." Sci-Twi said, trying to cheer her up. But as soon as she spoke to Klara, her tears quickly subsided, fading away. She didn't want to hear it from her.
"Curse you, Twilight...1Upping me again. I need this more than you do, that's for sure!" Her internal thoughts ranted about Sci-Twi once more. "I know what you're doing...trying to play nice. I'm all too familiar with it. Just you wait and see. The last trial is where all of your progress melts away.
With the second trial ending, before the third one could even begin, everyone would have to get some sleep until tomorrow arrives. Most would sleep well, but not Klara. Now that she passed, she was fearful of the third and final trial. Sci-Twi looked like she might win it since she has been showing herself as the more capable trainer than her.
Nightfall.
The Moon had hit the Isle of Armor. Courtesy of Princess Luna. As for where the students would sleep with the Master's Dojo being the only place they could go to, thankfully for them, it had guest rooms that could occupy plenty of people. After a long day of work, chasing Galarian Slowpokes that were way faster than they should be and finding Max Mushrooms, they deserved this rest.
The one person who wasn't asleep just yet was Sci-Twi. Instead of sleeping, she wished to spend some time with her Pokemon. Specifically, getting to know Bulbasaur better and form a stronger bond with him. And of course, she promised to feed Munchlax all the food he wanted after his battle against Scione's Grimmsnarl. Sci-Ti would spend a little more time outside before heading back in.
But Sci-Twi wasn't the only person awake. Walking outside, still worried about tomorrow was none other than Klara. She tried clearing her head, only to spot Sci-Twi. "Y-You...? Out at this time?" Klara grimaced.
"Oh, hey Klara. You're still awake too?" Sci-Twi greeted while rubbing Bulbasaur's chin.
"Why am I not surprised you're here? Of all the rotten timings..."
"I guess we're going to the finals together. My friends and I are going to continue working as a team. Or...maybe not. Maybe the third trial is where our teamup ends." She approached Klara.
"I hope so..." Klara grizzled her teeth. "That'll leave me with a better chance to win."
"Really? I don't know. I'm feeling good about this one." Twilight grinned, adjusting her glasses while thinking about the third trial and how she could execute it. "I might get the secret armour ~! Oh, but you've got a good chance at it too, Klara, I'm sure of it."
"I should've been the only one with the best chance to get it until you showed up."
"Huh?" Sci-Twi paused. At that moment, Klara was ready to express how she felt this entire time.
"I could've been at that final trial by now. Today was going to be my lucky day until you strolled in all of a sudden." Klara twitched, showing off her disdainful expression. "But the moment you got here, you've been stealing my thunder. You should've been back on that train immediately."
"You tried driving me off? But I thought you were being kind." Sci-Twi was reasonably confused. She didn't expect Klara to switch up on her, even though this is how she's always been.
"Pssh. No way, mate. As if I'd let someone else get the better of me. I just couldn't spill the beans to Mrs Honey about what happened. I was afraid you'd do it but you obviously aren't the type to do that." Klara scoffed. "Now, I can't let you win. Not when this is my big chance to get somewhere since everything else I did failed."
"Well, I knew you wanted to win badly but...I didn't think you wanted to get rid of me..."
"Getting rid of the competition is something I should've done long ago, but never had the chance." At that moment, Klara began reminiscing about the past and how she got here. There was a reason someone like her was here at the Isle of Armor.
I was an underground pop singer with traits of absolute cuteness, naturally and the virulence of poison. I was going to make it big and become the next pop sensation. Surpassing my idol Roxie and making it to the big leagues, believe me.
Klara at this time was not sporting a Galarian Gym Leader Uniform. Instead, she pursued a different career. Her first career. An aspiring dream to become a pop star while also looking up to her idol. The Gym Leader Roxie of Unova, who was also a Poison-Type specialist. She was a solo artist, of course, using technology to make her instruments while she sang everything. Klara was lucky to get a deal as an upcoming artist, publishing her debut album, "Krazy for Klara".
Alas, she did not get far. At all. Despite her attempts at promoting herself, she only sold about eight copies of her debut album. Klara gazed at the eight copies she received on her laptop, absolutely gutted and blown back. This was a total failure. Possibly the biggest in the music industry. Klara's hair was completely dishevelled because of this.
Climbing up her arm to try and comfort her was Venpiede, who she's had alongside her side for the longest. But even Venipede couldn't cheer her up. This was something that Klara wished she could excel at and get somewhere with. She slammed her face against her table, at a loss for words.
I didn't understand it myself. My music should've been a smash hit but only eight copies sold. And seven of those came from my family. From parents, cousins and grandparents. I wasn't making it anywhere and my deal was ended in an instant. But I refused to give up. I had to achieve something else, even though being a pop star was my ultimate dream. Something that I could still be good at. And it was the one thing everyone was good at.
Failing to become a pop star, she turned to what was seen as the next best thing. A Gym Leader. She attempted to become a new Gym Leader in Galar as her new goal was to boost her popularity. Klara gained new confidence, throwing away her music career and tackling the Pokemon Battling career.
In Galar, Gym Leaders were seen as a bigger deal with plenty of proteges around. In this case, Klara was pursuing the role of a Poison-Type Specialist. That was her speciality after all. Klara made her way to the Poison-Type Gym available at Galar, ready to get somewhere else in life. She chose the Poison type because it matched her image and there was less competition.
It was my chance to start fresh. I could really stand out and be known by many as the Cute and Powerful Klara. Pokemon Battling is a cinch. But that Poison Gym was the absolute worst, giving me rough training sessions.
Obviously, there was competition. There will always be competition. Even this was a struggle for Klara. The Poison Gym was not kind to her, making Klara undergo training sessions that she couldn't handle. Trainers are always instructed to undertake training, but the Poison Gym, in Klara's own words, was too much.
In reality, Klara just didn't have the capabilities to do so. She relied so much on her cuteness to try and make it there, but that did not work. Her cuteness was a factor she tried selling even with her music career but that obviously failed too. Even if she had the looks, Klara was missing something.
She gave up on that goal after two days of harsh training at the Poison Gym and immediately threw the possibility of becoming a Gym Leader out of the window. But she did keep the uniform by the end of it.
It sucked too. And I really wanted to be a Poison-Type Gym Leader. No other type was going to work for me, that's for sure. Right then and there, I was ready to give up on standing out and getting out there in the world. In what could be considered Klara's lowest point, she sat in her room, eating chips to try and stave away the sadness.
Klara's dreams have been shattered not once but twice. And they were both rather huge dreams with one massive thing in common. To stand out. Klara simply wished to be a sensation. Crying and eating away her crushed dreams, she didn't have much to do. That was when she saw something on TV. When watching a Late-Night TV Show, a mention of a certain island was brought up.
The Isle of Armor.
It appeared in the form of a commercial and spearheading it was Mustard, who was the owner of the island. Klara didn't think too much of it and didn't even have the strength to change the channel. But when listening to it, she would be informed of what this island had to offer.
Mustard in the commercial looked incredibly kind, encouraging others to come over just so he could train them. He promised them that there would be enjoyable activities at the Isle of Armor and the opportunity to grow as a Pokemon Trainer. Both in strength and skill.
At that moment, something new sparked in Klara's mind. A new dream to pursue. Mustard promised things that Klara most definitely wanted and it certainly seemed better than the Poison Gym she tried focusing on.
This is what I needed. After I saw how kind Master Mustard, looked in the commercial, I believed she could become stronger without trying too hard. I quickly called the Dojo to apply and get myself to the top in the easiest way possible. And I was right. He was definitely kind and the lessons here at the Isle of Armor were way better than what the Poison Gym offered me so I had to stick around. I didn't have to do much at all.
In reality, Klara was just lazy. While she may have been determined to become a pop star, it as clear that the Gym Leader path was also seasoned with laziness. She focused more on being doted on by others and barely worked on her training and this was even present when Sci-Twi joined the frame.
"Don't you see? I'm this close to getting to my ultimate goal. Once I pass that third and final trial, I'll get the secret armour, high-tail it out of her and tackle the world!" Klara expressed. "And you're going to take it away from me, Twilight!"
"So that's it..." Hearing it all, Sci-Twi finally understood Klara and what she was all about. Her dedication to stand out was very much something Sci-Twi could understand. "And you want me out of the way because I threaten you? I don't threaten you, Klara, I swear."
"You certainly do." Klara hissed. "The fact that you're the closest to winning can't happen."
"I'm sorry, Klara. But I'm looking to win this too myself." Sci-Twi was upfront, not backing down even after Klara's comments.
"That's what I was afraid of...!" Klara groaned as her hands were twitching. "I can't stand girls like you. I was hoping you would've given up when you lost to Master Mustard and especially Bea! I almost got lost in that stupid forest and I was hoping you'd get lost and never come back! But it looks like I'll have to be the one to do it."
"I'm not leaving." Sci-Twi frowned. She was already taking Klara seriously from the start but now she had to take her even more seriously than before.
"Stand out in your own world, princess." Klara vigorously held out a Poke Ball as her hand was aggressively twitching. "I need to stand out here and you're stealing my thunder. Let's have a Pokemon Battle and I'll see if I'm good enough to reach the third trial. When you lose, that'll confirm that to me."
"I'm not going to battle you, Klara. It's late. It can wait another time." Sci-Twi picked up Bulbasaur, refusing the Pokemon Battle for another time. She stayed calm, not playing into Klara's trap. She returned all of her Pokemon, officially calling it a night. Klara scoffed, putting away her Poke Ball.
The tension between the two was now very much present. Klara expressed her disdain for Sci-Twi while Sci-Twi didn't seem to share it all. But there was no way she was going to let Klara beat her. Not when she promised to get stronger herself. And at the same time, Sci-Twi couldn't help but see where Klara was coming from.
Compared to her, Sci-Twi was incredibly successful in life, mainly when she was a student at Crystal Prep. While she was distant from others, she did stand out and was known for her skills. Klara was the exact opposite though. She was not afraid to try and stand out so that everyone knew she was there and didn't even know how to be distant from others. But unlike Sci-Twi, she seemed to lack the skill and found little success at all.
For Sci-Twi to be here and for her to be related to Princess Twilight Sparkle as her counterpart, Klara felt threatened. Sci-Twi could obviously see that, even if that wasn't her intention. She wasn't sure how she was going to stave away that bad blood that Klara was now possessing.
Watching all of this play out was none other than Mustard. He was also awake and took the time to view this scene for himself. And right next to him was none other than Kubfu. The same Kubfu that randomly attacked Ash and Sci-Twi and wasn't seen for a while.
"Well, that settles it," Mustard commented, coming to a conclusion on this whole scenario. Unlike Sci-Twi, he had the answer to all of this and knew how to settle it. "Tomorrow morning is when those two can put a rest to this. I hope you're ready for that moment, Kubfu."
"Kubfu!"
"I should speak with Ash about this. Knowing what Leon has told me about him and what I've seen, I think I know what my answer might be."
The Next Morning.
A new day had come. Both for the Isle of Armor and the entirety of the Pokemon Festival. And with this, came the third and final trial. Some wouldn't make it there. While others would. However, for this last trial, there was something in the air that was telling them, that this would only be accomplished to one individual at best.
"Twilight. Klara. Master Mustard wishes to see you both in his room." A student said to Sci-Twi and Klara as they were both chosen. "It's about the final trial."
With those two being selected, they would make their way towards Mustard's room. Pinkie Pie shuddered as she could feel the tension, making her mane and tail tremble. "Eeugh...Is it me or is there some bad blood in the air?"
"Is there?" Rarity questioned. "I couldn't tell. No one here seems to hold it."
"Audino..." But Audino felt like she knew where it was coming from. She narrowed her eyes at Klara, suspecting her. Thanks to her spectacular hearing, Klara's silent words managed to reach Audino since yesterday, even if a majority of them were in her mind. Audino already saw Klara as odd, especially when Sci-Twi and her friends showed up at the Master's Dojo. As they approached, they didn't even give each other any eye contact, especially after what happened last night. The tension was most definitely potent, but it was mainly leaning towards one side.
When entering Mustard's room, Sci-Twi and Klara saw a plethora of trophies sitting there. Their jaws dropped after witnessing these awards which were telling of Mustard's accomplishments. Most likely in the past considering his age. Pictures of medals, and trophies of similar shapes and designs, showing that they were the same trophy but for a different year. On the wall, the symbol of the Galar League was also present, indicating that he was involved in it at some time.
"Twilight. Klara. Thanks for coming. I've decided that you two...will now take the Master Dojo's Final, Last and Ultimate Third Trial!" Mustard bellowed with a wide grin.
"The Final...Last...Ultimate... Third Trial?!" Klara pulled back after making a prolonged gasp. This sounded incredibly serious based on how Mustard presented it.
"That's the gist of it. Twilight. You've done everything in a group but for the most part, you've caught the Slowpoke and obtained the Max Mushrooms. So, you've been chosen. I even spoke with it to Ash last night."
"You did?
"Indeed. He has high faith in you, Twilight. Normally, I'd see him as the one passing all the trials but he was confident in you getting further."
"Oh, well..." Sci-Twi was greatly pleased when hearing that, even blushing. To receive a compliment from Ash was always nice but to have it come to the point where he wasn't in the third trial and instead passed it on to Sci-Twi was lovely.
"And you Klara. You've surprised me."
"I have?" Klara blinked
"Oh yes. You did it all by yourself without any help. Great work."
"W-Well...It was nothing." Klara twirled her hair. "It's only natural that I'd make it this far. Was there ever any doubt?"
"Both of you pushed each other to greater heights and helped each other grow. So I'd say it's finally time to see who is stronger...in a Dynamax Pokemon Battle." The last trial had been revealed. Straightforward for both of them to understand. "Whoever wins will be granted the Secret Armor of the Master Dojo.
"This is it...Finally..." Klara closed her eyes. This was the moment she was waiting for. Her moment to truly shine and become the best in the Master Dojo. The first to complete the trials. However, there was one ultimate roadblock in her way. Sci-Twi. "But can I...?" Her eyes shifted, glancing at Sci-Twi. A battle with her was imminent.
"The Battle will be held in the Battle Court behind the Master Dojo. The court is a Power Spot so you can Dynamax to your heart's content."
"I-I've gotta get going!" Suddenly, Klara sprinted out of the room. One thing was for sure, she would be ready for this upcoming battle. "I need to go there right away and prepare my pure heart for this! I'm going on ahead, K, Twilight? You can laze about like a Slowpoke and take as much time as you need." Just like that, she was gone, most likely heading to the court.
"Klara...She's got talent, that's for sure. But, it's caused her to slack off." Mustard commented. "I saw your conversation last night, by the way."
"You saw it?!" Sci-Twi gasped. "Our argument?!"
"I wouldn't call it much of an argument. I heard Klara express everything and she's never done it before here at the Dojo. The truth is, she's never felt the need to try hard at anything, I guess. Perhaps her singing career, maybe. Even with her training at the dojo, I can tell she's been doing the bare minimum. But things have changed since you arrived."
"Me?"
"Yes. Maybe you've helped awaken some sort of passion and drive in her, eh? A drive that she's always had but no one's been able to trigger it. Until you showed up. Still, I only hope that motivation isn't put towards anything mischievous. Now, head out there and prepare for battle."
"Yes sir!" Sci-Twi was ready. Ready to get things over with between her and Klara before it escalates and to complete the final trial, thus granting her the Secret Armor. But one thing was for sure, this was not going to be a friendly battle like the rest of them.
Just as Mustard said, because of Sci-Twi's arrival, something awakened in Klara, and her deep feelings to stand out have been greatly elevated. And with it, came an obsession to be better than whoever would dare try and outdo her. And Sci-Twi was the exact embodiment of that.
Galar. The Isle of Armor. Master Dojo. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
The third and final trial was a Pokemon Battle. And the two to take on the final trial and the chance to win the Secret Armor, were Sci-Twi and Klara. Sci-Twi, even though she only showed up at the Isle of Armor since yesterday, went very far and reached the final trial, showing how well she's progressed. Compared to Klara, who has been here a few times and has only just now reached the final trial.
The battle would take place at the back of the dojo, which had a Dynamax Power Spot around it. But before that, Sci-Twi was preparing herself. She wouldn't instantly jump into the battle. Knowing what Pokemon Klara is fond of, she had to be careful.
"Alright. I know who I want to send in for this battle." Sci-Twi made up her mind. "I'm ready to take on Klara and obtain that Secret Armor."
"Yeah-hehehe! We're going to wipe the floor with her, Twilight" Spike cheered.
"Still, I want to try and understand Klara during the battle." Sci-Twi had another motive in this battle aside from winning the Secret Armor.
"What's there to understand? She doesn't like you so you've gotta beat her and it'll be so satisfying." Spike saw it as nothing more, nothing less. Pikachu nodded in agreement while Zorua didn't give any input.
"I know she doesn't like me but there's a reason for it. She was afraid that I'd steal her thunder and well...I kinda did. I'm not one for standing out, at least, I wasn't all for it back then, but I've always been better at a lot of things than everyone."
"Well, yeah. That's why you're so great. It's her fault that she's lazy."
"But Mustard said that she's gotten better ever since she came around and this is her chance to get what she wants. I didn't mean to overshadow her, Spike." Even with that brief spat they had last night and Klara's true self leaking out, Sci-Twi harboured no ill feelings towards her. "I'm not sure how I'm going to do it, but I'll try and reconcile with Klara and make sure she stands out too."
"I guess...Still not a fan of how she talked to you."
"It'll be water under the bridge after this. Believe me." Finally, she geared up for the battle, placing Spike and Zorua in her bag. With her Poke Balls ready, Sci-Twi made her way to the back of the Master Dojo.
Everyone else was waiting, ready to view this battle for themselves. This will be the deciding factor after all. And after opening those doors, Sci-Twi saw her friends, her fellow students and her opponent Klara, standing there on the opposite side of the field.
"Finally, you're here. When I beat you, I'll get the Secret Armor and then I'll become the Poison-Type Gym Leader!" Klara announced, catching Sci-Twi off guard.
"You're still pursuing that goal? But I thought..." Sci-Twi paused as Klara was still aiming to become a Poison-Type Specialist at the end of the day.
"Duh! Why else do you think I'm still wearing this outfit? I can only go so far in the Isle of Armor. It's the entire world we're talking about here. I've got to win, no matter what." Klara sneered. "I'm gonna go all out and totally beat you. You ready?"
"R-Ready." Sci-Twi stammered. Klara was 100% serious about this. The dedication to defeat Sci-Twi was at an all-time high. The emotion she was feeling would be the guiding strength in this battle.
"You've got this, me!" Twilight cheered her Human Counterpart on. All of her friends minus those who came from the Human World were here to support her to the fullest. Her bag was passed over to Ash to take care of. Zorua certainly wasn't taking part in this battle.
"Now...The Master Dojo's Final Trial..." Mustard was building things up. Sci-Twi adjusted her glasses, putting on a serious face. She was in it to win it but to also reconcile with Klara. "Four Pokemon each for this one, if you don't mind."
As for Klara, she suddenly let out a slight smirk as multiple purple lights sparkled on the ground. It was seen briefly by Ash and the others but they weren't sure what it was. These sparkles looked familiar but they weren't sure what they were. Klara certainly did and she was vehemently waiting for them to be truly revealed to everyone.
"Ready! Aaaaand go!" Just like that, Mustard began the battle. Sci-Twi and Klara both took out their first Poke Balls. Klara was the first to throw her own Pokemon out and it ended up being a Skorupi.
"Skorupi!"
"Go! Luxio!" For Sci-Twi, it was her loyal Luxio.
"Luxio!" And once both Pokemon were out, the Dynamax Bands were fully charged. At any moment, both trainers could unleash the power of Dynamax when ready.
"I'm not holding a single thing back anymore. Time to settle this, fair and square, Twilight!" Klara bellowed before putting on that smirk again. "Oh...and maybe watch your step. Looks like some Toxic Spikes somehow got on the Battle Court~."
"Toxic Spikes?" She repeated.
"L-Lux!" The second Luxio touched the ground, something happened. Something truly unexpected. His body pulsated as his pupils dilated. A purple flash exuded from his body. The purple sparkles in the ground had been revealed to be Toxic Spikes. Just like that, Luxio was poisoned. "X-Xio..?!"
"You...You ran out here early to poison the battlefield!" Sci-Twi gasped, realizing why Klara hit the jets earlier and wanted to get out in the battlefield so quickly. It was to gain an easy advantage by having all of Sci-Twi's Pokemon undergo poison.
"That's what that was! That's not fair!" Naturally, Rainbow Dash was displeased by this and so were her friends. Klara snuck in an early Status Ailment before the battle had even begun.
"I wanna win, Twilight. More than anything. So I'll gladly play dirty! You have Alpha Pokemon or whatever they're called on your side, so to me, this seems fair!"
"Battle Start!"
"Well, I'm not going to let poison stop me. This is exactly why I led with Luxio since I know what your favourite type is." Now Sci-Twi unleashed a smirk of her own, followed by a grin. She was anticipating something like this. Granted, not this early on but it was still something she was expecting. "Poisoning Luxio was your first mistake!"
"Eh?" Klara blinked.
"Xio!" At that moment, Luxio's ability activated. Guts. Klara gasped as Luxio's body flared with a burst of energy. While he was about to take passive damage, his strength was also elevated.
"Eep!" The Poison Specialist squeaked as this wasn't how she wanted to start things off. That was just rotten luck for Luxio to have the perfect ability in response to this. It would be embarrassing if Luxio single-handedly wins because of this sabotage.
"Luxio, use Night Slash!"
"Luxio!" Luxio would make the first move with his boosted strength. Taking off, his claws were laced with darkness while poisonous bubbles were continuously flowing out him. But that wasn't going to stop him at all.
"Quick, Skorupi! Bite!"
"Skoru!" Opening its mouth, Skorupi bared its fangs on the side of its mouth, ready to confront Luxio with its own Dark-Type move. Both Pokemon rushed at each other, but only one of them landed a clear hit. Luxio swiped his claws, leaving a dark trail behind as he struck Skorupi's face. Skorupi didn't even get the chance to bite Luxio's claw, taking the hit and receiving a knockback. "Pi!"
"Sorry, my dear Pokemon!" Klara gasped after Skorupi tumbled on the ground for a moment, apologizing to it. "I should've given you better directions! But hang in there! You've got this! Use Pin Missile!"
"Skorupi!" From its stinger, the Scorpion Pokemon unleashed a barrage of glowing pins that were shaped like arrows which rapidly flew against the air.
"Use Psychic Fangs, Luxio!"
"Lux!" Luxio was very much prepared for Poison-Types. From the ability Guts, to the move Psychic Fangs. His teeth were enveloped in a Psychic Energy as he approached the arrows, immediately biting at them. Luxio managed to break the pins apart with his bite, shattering them.
"Gotcha. Poison Tail!"
"Sko!" But as soon as Luxio got rid of the pins, along came Skorupi to get an attack in as soon as possible. Appearing in front of the Spark Pokemon, Skorupi stung its tail into his chest. Even though he was already poisoned, the impact of this strike would certainly add to the damage.
"X-Xio!" Luxio grimaced after being stung. The stinger even managed to dig into his skin a bit, going past his coat. Everyone certainly felt that as Luxio was stunned by this. His body trembled as he wouldn't even move from the spot he was previously in.
"Aha! That's right! Let my Poison drive you Kla-razy!" Klara cackled.
"L-Lux...! Luxio!" Luxio was trying to take in this accumulated damage and the sharp sting that Skorupi gave him. Sci-Twi gasped before focusing on a counterattack.
"Thunder!"
"Lu...Xio!" With his eyes flashing yellow and his body still next to Skorupi, Luxio suddenly called down a fierce strike of thunder that came crashing down at high speeds. Klara and Skorupi both looked up once a yellow glow appeared. And at that moment, Skorupi received a smite from the blast of Thunder.
Luxio went tumbling back, getting caught up in his own attack, while Skorupi took the full force of it. Luxio managed to recover, sliding on the battlefield and powering through the damage. The Spark Pokemon breathed in and out as the poison was getting to him some more the longer it went.
"Skorupi..." Skorupi had fainted, granting this victory to Luxio.
"Skorupi is unable to battle! Luxio wins!" Mustard announced, followed by applause from Sci-Twi's friends. Now that it was learned that Klara placed Toxic Spikes on the battlefield before this battle began, a lot were rooting against her and for Sci-Twi, which didn't exactly sit well with Klara. She was wishing for them to root for her.
"Mmmrgh...!" Klara grumbled before then returning Skorupi to its Poke Ball. But she didn't break down or rant about it. Instead, she continued to battle, making sure that she could achieve victory. With her next Poke Ball out, she launched it forward. "Alright...Go, Weezing!"
"Weezing!" Her next Pokemon was a Weezing. Specifically, a Galarian Weezing.
"Do I switch out now? If I do, my next Pokemon will be poisoned either way." Sci-Twi thought to herself. Thanks to those Toxic Spikes, all of her Pokemon will be poisoned.
"Weezing! Use Strange Steam!"
"Weeeee!" From its mouth, Weezing unleashed a pink yet volatile steam. Luxio braced himself, immediately zipping to the side to avoid the incoming steam. However, Weezing would redirect it, causing the steam to make a quick turn and strike Luxio.
"X-Xio!" Luxio failed to avoid it as the steam carried him through the air before sending him back to the ground. The Spark Pokemon groaned while tumbling and rolling before managing to recover by jumping back up. "Luxio!"
"Use Psychic Fangs!"
"Lux!" Luxio rushed in.
"Weezing, push Luxio away with Heat Wave!"
"Weezing!" From its mouth, a scorching wave of heat was unleashed to try and repel the Spark Pokemon. Luxio found himself being held back by the Heat Wave, struggling to get in close. Alas, he couldn't. The wave sent him flying, preventing him from touching Galarian Weezing. Klara grinned as she liked what she was seeing. She just had to keep this up.
"Great going, Weezing! Now, use Sludge Bomb, my dear Pokemon!"
"Wee!" Following up from Heat Wave, Weezing unleashed a barrage of explosive poison,
"Let's switch out for now! Use Volt Switch!"
"Xio!" However, Luxio's way of switching involved damage. From his body, he unleashed a burst of lightning that quickly raced forward. The lightning burst through the poison, disintegrating it. After destroying the poison, Volt Switch struck Galarian Weezing. And of course, the main effect of this attack kicked in. A switch-out. Luxio automatically returned to his Poke Ball.
"You're up, Munchlax!"
"Munchlax!" Appearing next was Munchlax. And as soon as he touched down, the Toxic Spikes got to him. That was one massive problem that was going to stay and unfortunately, Munchlax didn't have an ability similar to Luxio that would help him. "Munch...!"
"All of her Pokemon are gonna end up being poisoned regardless...How come Klara gets away with that?" Scootaloo bit her hoof.
"I don't think she has anything to get rid of the Toxic Spikes. And even if she does, all of Klara's Pokemon have ways to poison her." Lucas commented. "The best thing she can do is try and get through all of her Pokemon as soon as possible and she only has three left."
"Don't worry, Munchlax! You've got this! Use Ice Punch!"
"Munch!" Munchlax was slow, so he wasn't going to get close to Weezing anytime soon.
"Pssh! As if I'd let an attack that slow get to me. Sludge Bomb!"
"Weez!" Galarian Weezing unleashed yet another barrage of explosive poison from its mouth. And this time, it was bound to hit thanks to Munchlax's slow speed. But as always, Sci-Twi was aware of this drawback and used what she had at her disposal.
"Hit the ground, Munchlax!"
"Munchlax!" Munchlax came to a halt, immediately focusing on the ground all of a sudden. The Normal-Type delivered a chilling blow to the battlefield, causing a flash-freeze. And as soon as the ground turned to ice, Munchlax was struck by the barrage of poison which would blow up around him. "Lax!"
"Hmph! What's the point of freezing the ground?! It's not gonna get rid of my Toxic Spikes and Weezing's floating, if you hadn't noticed." The Toxic Spikes did not leave the ground. They were still present as the spikes were sticking through the ice thanks to their sharpness.
"I was hoping that I'd get rid of the Toxic Spikes this way, but I guess that won't cut it." Sci-Twi smirked. "But there's another reason for this ice floor. Start skating, Munchlax!"
"Munchlax!" The second reason was to give Munchlax a way to move quickly. Once he got back up, he started ice skating, accelerating faster than he ever has. "Muuuunch!"
"Weez? Weez?" Weezing looked around it, following Munchlax's movements. He wasn't significantly faster to the point where Galarian Weezing couldn't keep up, but he did gain some considerable speed that would allow him to pace with his opponent.
"Tch! Whatever! Take Munchlax out with Strange Steam!"
"Weezing!" Breathing out that pink smoke again, Weezing pursued Munchlax with this attack. Munchlax looked behind him to see the incoming steam that moved across the icy floor.
"Get ready, Munchlax! Prepare yourself for a Body Slam!"
"Munch-Munch!" Munchlax understood as he used his ice skating to evade the incoming steam. He did so by twirling around it, acting as if he was in an actual ice skating show.
"Great form, Munchlax!" Rarity cheered.
The steam continued to follow Munchlax with Weezing manipulating its movements. But as soon as Munchlax went past the Poison Gas, Weezing had to manually turn its entire body to continue the attack. The steam still hadn't reached Munchlax, failing to land at all. All the while, Munchlax was preparing himself for a Body Slam.
"Hold still, already! Burn all the ice away with Heat Wave!"
"Weez!" Since it was frustrating trying to catch Munchlax, Klara would try and get rid of his main source of rapid movement. Luckily for her, Weezing had just the attack for this.
"Now! Body Slam!" But Sci-Twi was well aware of this attack and was waiting for this moment.
"Munch!" Munchlax leapt off the icy floor, going all in for Body Slam. Right as Weezing breathed in to generate the heat, it was immediately interrupted by Munchlax descending from above, dropping his full body weight on the Poison-Fairy-Type. "Lax!"
"W-Weez!" And to say this was a strong hit was an understatement. By crashing on top of Galarian Weezing, targeting its hat, the paralysis effect triggered immediately. Munchlax then bounced off Galarian Weezing, landing back on the ice.
"Nice! She kept the ice around!" Fluttershy hollered.
"This means Munchlax's the fastest Pokemon right now thanks to the paralysis!" said Sweetie Belle. Galarian Weezing had quickly taken a disadvantage thanks to Munchlax's actions.
"Now's your chance, Munchlax! Non-stop Ice Punch!"
"Munchlax!" This was Munchlax's opportunity to unleash a barrage of Ice Punches while Weezing was paralyzed. Accelerating with the ice, Munchlax approached the Poison Gas Pokemon once more, this time with a chilling blow.
The first Ice Punch landed, socking the smaller head of Weezing. The second blow targeted the larger head. Munchlax would continuously swing his paws at the two heads, dealing continuous damage. And speaking of continuous damage, Munchlax was still suffering from the poison, but the goal was to take out Klara's Pokemon as soon as possible, just as Lucas said.
"Let's make this the deciding one, Munchlax! Go for it!"
"Munch...!" Munchlax was preparing for the absolute biggest Ice Punch he had to offer.
"I don't think so! If Weezing's going down, I'm taking Munchlax with him! Explosion!" Klara roared, showing visible frustration as her drive to win forced her to use quite an explosive attack.
"Explosion?!" Sci-Twi gasped.
"Wee...!" Weezing's eyes flashed as Munchlax then struck the larger head. But upon making contact, lights flared out of Weezing's body. At that moment, it blew up, unleashing a powerful explosion that eclipsed its body and Alpha Munchlax. The ice was instantly obliterated by the Explosion, breaking it apart.
Sci-Twi held onto her glasses while Klara hugged herself. The explosion was very much fierce, sending rubble flying everywhere. Once the outburst subsided and the smoke cleared, the fate of Galarian Weezing was already as clear as day. It had fainted. But it wasn't the only one that fainted. Munchlax was a victim of this explosion. Both Pokemon had fainted.
"Weezing..."
"Munchlax..."
"Both Munchlax and Weezing are unable to battle! Making this one a draw!"
"Aw, Munchlax..." Sci-Twi recalled Munchlax. She then held the Poke Ball close to her, wishing that Munchlax got a victory this time. "I didn't see that coming. But you did your best. Get some rest, okay?"
"Well, at least Twi still has the lead," said Rainbow Dash. "I wish that Explosion got rid of the Toxic Spikes already."
"I had to do it, Weezing. Sorry about that." Klara apologized to Weezing as she didn't wish to use Explosion. But she felt the need to do so, feeling that she was out of options. "My Toxic Spikes are still around, Twilight! All I have to do is keep my distance from you next time and I win by passive knockout!" Klara exclaimed, holding out her third Poke Ball.
"That's not going to happen!" Sci-Twi held out her own Poke Ball. "Klara. I'm sorry that I overshadowed you during most of this, but it wasn't my intention. I don't want to be your enemy at all."
"Tough! You're already capable of standing out because of who you are!" Klara sneered. "You're the one person I don't want to lose to! Go, Whirlipede!"
"Whirlipede!" Out came Whirlipede, who was Klara's third Pokemon.
"Appear! Luxio!"
"Luxio!" For a second time, Luxio was back into the fray, ready to throw down. He was still poisoned but his ability, Guts, raised his attack.
"Go, Luxio! Use Psychic Fangs!"
"Rollout!"
"Whirl!" By rolling on the spot, Whirlipede approached Luxio, who bared his fangs in a psychic energy. The two Pokemon collided, initiating a clash. Luxio bit his Psychic Fangs down on Whirlipede's shell. This shell, while hard, meant nothing to an Alpha Pokemon. His fangs sank in, however, Whirlipede still managed to get its own attack off. The circular body of the Curlipede struck the Spark Pokemon while his fangs were still inside.
"L-Lux?!" Luxio grimaced as he was forced off Whirlipede. His fangs were removed as he was then hit a few times by the Bug-Poison-Types rapid movements. Luxio went tumbling after the initial hit.
"Good! Now, use Venoshock!"
"Whirlipede!" A truly dangerous move in this instance. It was something that would do even more damage if the opponent was poisoned and unfortunately for Luxio, he was poisoned.
"Look out, Luxio!"
"L-Lux!" But Luxio couldn't avoid it in time while he was still tumbling. Mid-tumbling, a stream of poison came his way, dealing hefty damage to the Spark Pokemon. "Xio!" After seeing all of that damage and watching Luxio drop to the ground, many assumed that was the deciding blow. And so did Klara. This would mean that she had evened up the score.
Despite all that damage, Luxio could still stand. He slowly got back up, groaning and growling. The Spark Pokemon breathed in and out as his body was trembling a bit.
"It's still standing?!" Klara grizzled her teeth. "How?!"
"Thanks for hanging in there, Luxio! Use Night Slash!"
"Lu...Luxio!" Luxio was going in for another attack he wouldn't fall so easily. But he was clearly suffering noticeable damage.
"Take it down, Whirlipede! Double-Edge!"
"Whirl!" Whirlipede would launch itself at Luxio, enveloping its body in a white light. The Curlipede Pokemon then rolled as fast as it could while Luxio leapt off the ground with a trail of darkness leaving his claws. At that moment, the two Pokemon clashed, but the result was them going right past each other.
There was a bit of silence, followed by a sudden barrage of dark energy blades that rapidly struck Whirlipede. It had taken the attack, crying out. It even suffered some recoil damage thanks to Double-Edge. As for Luxio, he smiled before turning his head. But that smile soon faded away once he fell down. The poison got to him, prompting the Spark Pokemon to faint.
"Luxio..."
"Luxio is unable to battle! Whirlipede wins!"
"Yes, yes! I evened it!" Klara got all giddy after evening the score.
"Return, Luxio..." Sci-Twi recalled the Spark Pokemon. "Thank you for that. Rest well."
"I can already taste victory! But I'm tasting your defeat before that." Klara smirked.
"You say that...But you're forgetting one thing, Klara. I've got a Pokemon who can ignore the poison." Sci-Twi took out her next Poke Ball. Klara already knew who she was referring to. "We did a little bit of practice last night and we grew stronger together after our battle with Bea. "Bulbasaur!"
"Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur was the answer. And as soon as he touched down, the Toxic Spikes didn't even register for him. They were completely ignored thanks to him being a Poison-Type as well. A Grass-Poison-Type to be exact. On top of that, he was also a perfect counter to Whirlipede, neutral to any Bug-Type moves it may have and even resistant to its Rollout.
"Tch. That's not a problem at all..." Klara twitched. "Whirlipede! Use Double Edge!"
"Whirl!" Once more, Whirlipede was rushing in for a second Double Edge, planning to take Bulbasaur out as fast as possible.
"Leap over it with your vines!"
"Bulba!" Bulbasaur summoned his hidden vines, placing them on the ground. By doing so, he used them as springs to launch himself through the air. A clever play on Bulbasaur's part as the second Whirlipede got close, the Grass-Poison-Type was already over the Curlipede Pokemon.
"Now, use Seed Bomb!"
"Bulbasaur!" While in the air, Bulbasaur quickly shot out a seed from his bulb. That seed, which was bigger than Bulbasaur's head, came crashing down, landing right on top of Whirlipede.
"Pede!" Whirlipede's movements were disrupted thanks to this aerial attack. Its circular body fell over, sliding on the ground without any control.
"Now, use Razor Leaf!"
Bulba!" Bulbasaur landed. And immediately after that, he used Razor Leaf by summoning sharp leaves from his bulb. Whirlipede was struck by these razor-sharp leaves, which did minimal damage to it thanks to its Typing. However, Whirlipede was still on the ground, lying flat on its body, which allowed the leaves to repeatedly strike it.
"Grrr...! Get up, Whirlipede, please! Use Rollout!"
"Whirlipede...!" Whirlipede would force itself back into its usual stance, attempting to regain balance.
"Keep going, Bulbasaur!"
"Saur!" However, Bulbasaur would continuously unleash razor-sharp attacks, putting the pressure on Whirlipede. But since it was all not-very-effective, Whirlipede found the strength to get back up once more. And after getting up, it instantly used Rollout, charging at the Seed Pokemon. Rollout was breaking through the Razor Sharp leaves thanks to Whirlipede's hard shell.
"Dodge, Bulbasaur, quick!"
"Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur ceased Razor Leaf, immediately running to the side.
"I don't think so! Drift!"
"Pede!" Using its circular body, Whirlipede would drift, immediately catching up to Bulbasaur. Just when Bulbasaur thought he avoided the attack, he was struck in the back by a powered-up Rollout. Sci-Twi gasped as her new Pokemon slid on the ground while upside down, groaning.
"Now, say goodbye to Bulbasaur! Roll on him! Non-stop!"
"Whirlipede!" At that moment, while Bulbasaur was on the ground, lying on his back, Whirlipede would press its body on the Seed Pokemon. And when doing so, it would roll on the spot, rapidly attacking Bulbasaur's underbelly.
"B-Bulba! Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur cried out after receiving these rapid attacks on his stomach. It was like a tire was being pressed on his body. In fact, it was worse than a tire. And since Rollout had been strengthened thanks to how the attack works, this did heavier damage. Many grimaced at the sight of this attack as it was rather brutal to look at.
"Keep at it, Whirlipede! Don't let up until he faints!"
"It won't end here...Bulbasaur! grab onto Whirlipede's feelers!"
"Bul...Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur summoned his vines, using them to grab the feels on the side of Whirlipede's body.
"Now, grip!"
"Saur!"Now that he had its feelers, Bulbasaur would hold onto them, tightening the grip of vines
"W-Whirl?!" That was a very sensitive touch without a doubt. Whirlipede teared up as its rapid movements came to a halt This was Bulbasaur's chance for a counterattack.
"Go, Bulbasaur! Seed Bomb, up close!"
"Bulbasaur!" With Whirlipede distracted, Bulbasaur unleashed an up close Seed Bomb that blew up in front of Whirlipede and even himself. The attack sent Bulbasaur flying back while Whirlipede was sent upwards. Bulbasaur managed to hang in there while Whirlipede bounced on the ground a few times after landing, just like a tire.
"I didn't even know those things were sensitive!" This was new to Rainbow Dash who had a Whirlipede of her own. Now she knew of a weakness her first-ever Pokemon had.
"This is our one chance to get rid of the poison! Bulbasaur! Pick out the Toxic Spikes with your vines!"
"Saur!" Using this as an opportunity to remove the Toxic Spikes, Bulbasaur would get to work while Whirlipede was still rolling, bewildered by the Seed Bomb and still shaking from its feelers being touched.
Finding the spikes which were sparkling in the ground, Bulbasaur picked one of them up with his vines, throwing it into the air. By doing so, the spikes fizzled out, no longer in the ground, thus, removing their effect. Bulbasaur moved onto the next spikes while he had the time, rapidly flipping them up.
Everyone watched as the Toxic Spikes flew into the air, fizzling out. Sci-Twi found a way to remove them in the best way possible. It was so great that Bulbasaur was completely immune to all of this, allowing him to be the perfect Poison Picker. Just like that, Bulbasaur got rid of the Toxic Spikes, making it safer for his next teammate. Sci-Twi sighed with relief, but this wasn't the time to take a break. Not when Whirlipede was fully recovered.
"You'll pay for that! Use Double Edge!"
"Pede!"Along came Whirlipede with another Double Edge.
"Now, Bulbasaur! Use Seed Bomb!"
"Bulba...!" Bulbasaur turned around before unleashing an explosive seed. This was shot right before Whirlipede could get close enough to Bulbasaur. The explosion promptly clashed with Double Edge, ending the attack. And with it, Whirlipede fell over, unable to reach the Seed Pokemon. After what was an intense part in this battle, Whirlipede had fainted.
"Whirlipede..."
"Whirlipede is unable to battle! Bulbasaur wins!"
"Hah..." Sci-Twi got on her knees, relieved as she could be. The Toxic Spikes were gone and that was seemingly the last Poison-Type on her team since she had a Galarian Slowpoke on her. "That could've been ugly. Great work, Bulbasaur."
"Bulbasaur."
"Return..." Klara closed her eyes, bringing Whirlipede back. "I've never had a bigger drive to win before. Not like this. Not ever. It's because of you, Twilight, that I'm feeling so frustrated right now. Beating you will be all the more satisfying!" Her final Poke Ball was shown.
"Just one more...And even if Bulbasaur goes down, the next Pokemon won't have to worry about the Toxic Spikes!" Pinkie Pie excitedly said as Sci-Twi's chances were looking bright.
"I don't think she's planning on going for her next Pokemon for a Dynamax," Ash observed, knowing what Sci-Twi was going for.
"I'm counting on you! Slowbro!" To the shock of Sci-Twi, Klara's Slowpoke had evolved. Going from Galarian Slowpoke to Galarian Slowbro.
"Slowbro." Naturally, Pokedexes were taken out to observe this new Slowbro.
"Slowbro. The Hermit Crab Pokemon. Galarian Form. A Shellder bite set off a chemical reaction with the spices inside Slowbro’s body, causing Slowbro to become a Poison-type Pokémon. If this Pokémon squeezes the tongue of the Shellder biting it, the Shellder will launch a toxic liquid from the tip of its shell."
"Watch out, audience! One dose of Klara poison and there's no turning back!" Klara said with high enthusiasm, raising her arm. Her Dynamax Band immediately went off as she was going for it against Sci-Twi's third Pokemon. Not her fourth. With Slowbro returning to its Poke Ball, the Dynamax Energy would pulsate, triggering the regional phenomenon. Once the ball enlarged, Klara launched it upwards while winking at it. "Dynamax!"
"SLOW...SLOWBRO!" Appearing onto the scene was Dynamaxed Slowbro, towering over everyone and raising its arm.
"It's our turn then! To everyone's surprise, but not Ash's, Sci-Twi was going to Dynamax her third Pokemon. Bulbasaur. It wasn't even her fourth Pokemon who got the chance to do so. "Dynamax!"
Sci-Twi was going straight for the victory with no holds barred. By returning Bulbasaur, her Dynamax Band went off too. With all of her might, holding an enlarged Poke Ball, she threw it as high as she could, almost falling over.
"BULBASAUR!" Joining the big leagues was Dynamaxed Bulbasaur, who still wasn't as big as Dynamax Slowbro.
"Using Dynamax on your third Pokemon? Big mistake! My Slowbro will be strong enough to take down your final Pokemon in no time! Use Max Mindstorm!"
"SLOW!" Slowrbo held its arm up, specifically utilizing the Shellder as a weapon. From it, Psychic energy reached the air before transforming into a massive spiral.
"Bulbasaur! Use Max Overgrowth!"
"BULBA!" From the bulb on his back which was bigger than any Ivysaur or Venasaur out there, Bulbasaur shot out a barrage of massive seeds that went upwards first, meeting with the massive Psychic Spiral in the air.
The two attacks collided, however, one of the seeds from Bulbasaur was shot forward instead of upward. While the ones that went upwards clashed with the Max Mindstorm, this single seed struck Slowbro directly. Max Mindstorm and Max Overgrowth clashed as both blew up around each other. A majority of the explosion reached Bulbasaur since it was closer to him.
Slowbro took some damage too. As soon as the attack went off, a verdant energy flashed across the area while the Hermit Crab Pokemon was pushed back. Thanks to the effects of Max Overgrowth and Max Mindstorm, two effects went off.
The terrains changed, summoning two prominent energies that were trying to overtake the battlefield. A Grassy Terrain and a Psychic Terrain.
"Oh, my. Looks like the two attacks going off at the same time created a conflict of Type Terrains." Mustard observed. "How long has it been since something like this has happened? Hohoho!"
"Your Bulbasaur can't handle much, I bet! This will finish it! Max Hailstorm!"
"BRO!" Slowbro, who was surprisingly swift even as a Dynamax Pokemon, unleashed another attack. A barrage of icebergs came crashing down which were shot into the air as small ice particles before enlarging. These would certainly deal massive damage to Bulbasaur without a doubt.
"Max Guard!"
"SAUR!" However, thanks to one of his moves being a Status Move instead of an attack, this granted Bulbasaur access to Max Guard. A massive shield was formed around him, protecting him from the massive icebergs from above. The icebergs crashed, but failed to properly connect thanks to Bulbasaur's shield.
"No, no!" Klara bellowed. That was her one chance to deal a ton of damage to Bulbasaur, but Max Guard had slowed her down. "Quick! Let your ability Quick Draw activate, Slowbro! Max Mindstorm!"
"Use Max Strike!" This would be the final time both of them get to use the power of Dynamax in this battle since they only had three tries. As for who would unleash their attack first, Bulbasaur managed to outspeed Slowbro as this Quick Draw ability didn't kick in.
Stomping his feet, Bulbasaur generated a burst of energy that would erupt from below. Just as Slowbro would about to unleash Max Mindstorm, the energy would engulf its entire body, causing it to fall back. Slowbro cried as it accidentally shot its attack in the wrong direction. The Max Mindstorm was unleashed, but it missed its mark and failed to be fully utilized. Thus, it simply went into the air without unleashing its spiral down onto Bulbasaur. Slowbro made a huge impact when falling over, causing large amounts of rubble to rise up.
With all three tries spent, the Dynamax Energy would fizzle out. Slowbro was beginning to shrink and so was Bulbasaur. But there was only one victor in all of this.
"Slowbro..." Slowbro had fainted. That Max Strike, whichever move it was, was the deciding factor. There was a fourth move that Sci-Twi didn't reveal in the entire battle and yet it paid off as a Max Move.
"Slowbro is unable to battle! Bulbasaur wins! Thus, the winner of this battle is Twilight!"
"We won..." Sci-Twi smiled, lowering her head too. "And with one Pokemon to spare. That Take Down really came in handy." She revealed it to be Take Down that became Max Strike. Bulbasaur ran over, lunging at Sci-Twi and hugging her. "Ow!"
"Bulba! Bulbasaur!" He pinned her down, elated that they had won this battle. All of her friends cheered and applauded as well as her fellow students for such an entertaining battle.
"But I didn't hold back! I gave it everything I got..." Klara was absolutely gutted by this. She lowered her head in disappointment before returning her Slowbro. "How could I lose? To her?"
"The one to complete the third trial is you! Twilight!" Mustard announced. The trial was finally over and Sci-Twi was the victor of it all. But instead of relishing in her victory, she would approach Klara, wanting to speak with her.
"Klara...Thanks for the battle."
"Aw, man...I gave it my all and I still lost. You didn't even bring out your Fourth Pokemon. This was supposed to be a 4 v 4. This stinks. I did everything...Even cheat a little and I still lose."
"Klara. I'm sorry about all of this." Suddenly, Sci-Twi apologized. "If I had known I was overshadowing you when you badly wanted this, maybe I wouldn't have joined the dojo. Maybe. I'm not really sure myself."
"I was really trying, ya know. I swear I was." Klara groaned. "I always try my best at what I do. As hard I could! Maybe it's time for me to just give up my dreams of being a Gym Leader..."
"W-Wait. I didn't think you'd go there. I..."
"Once they find out what I did, I'll be expelled from the dojo anyway. I'm pretty sure they already know after what you just said earlier."
"You don't have to give up on it though. Isn't this the closest you've come to getting this far? " "Well...My entire time being here, yes. This is the closest. But because you showed up, I couldn't grab my chance to win."
"I couldn't do anything about it, since I didn't know. But I never hated you, Klara. Or even wanted to take your spotlight away. I understand that you really wanted to get somewhere in all of this. I'm not mad that you cheated to try and win. To be honest, I've done something bad in the past myself." She giggled, referring to her time as Midnight Sparkle for a brief moment. Sci-Twi has certainly succumbed to her problems and unleashed them in the worst way possible. Klara's version didn't compare though.
"You mean it? Even after I cheated and talked to you like that since last night and today?" Klara was still stunned to hear Sci-Twi be so kind to her even after the truth had been revealed.
"I mean it." Sci-Twi sincerely said.
"It's a lovely sight to see! Kindness towards Pokemon and Rivals!" Mustard approached. "I should apologize on Klara's behalf too, as her Master. What she did was wrong but...She just didn't want to be beaten by her rival, that's all. She's a good hardworking student. And good on you for continuing to see the good in her, Twilight."
"I shouldn't be one to judge." Sci-Twi blushed. "I'm surrounded by all kinds of friends who have a lot going on for them. This isn't a problem for me at all."
"Gh...Ghaaa!" Klara broke out into tears, full of joy and relief. "You're so kiiiiiiind!" At that moment, she suddenly hugged Sci-Twi. "Twilight! I'm so sorry! I'm sorry, Master!"
"I-It's okay! Geez, you have a grip on you!" Sci-Twi groaned after being given a surprise bear hug. She didn't think Klara would go straight to that immediately. However, they had truly reconciled, throwing away any animosity and tension in the air.
"I would give you a punishment, such as taking care of the Pokemon in the dojo for six months...but since it's the Pokemon Festival, I'll let it go. This is just a warning, but I have a good feeling you won't do this again." Mustard uttered. "But one thing I expect you to do is to work harder. This is the hardest you've ever worked and now you have someone in your life to push you further."
"Y-Yes, Master!"
"What a lovely sight." Honey cleared her tears with a box of tissues which was then passed onto Rarity and the others.
"Agreed..." Rarity wailed.
"She may not be a Princess of Friendship like me, but she still has it." Twilight approved, proud of her Human Counterpart for making a new friend on this day.
The Trials were over. Sci-Twi emerged victorious and became the Dojo's most prestigious student. On top of that, she made a new friend, who was also a rival in the form of Klara, who would now strengthen her heart. Not just her skill. And with this resounding victory that was applauded by Ash, Fluttershy, Twilight and everyone else in the dojo, there was just one thing left. The Secret Armor.
After winning the final trial here at the Master Dojo, Sci-Twi was now eligible for the Secret Armor. She made a new friend in the form of Klara who would also remain as her rival and on top of that, her strength as a trainer has grown. And now, it was about to grow even further with this Secret Armor.
"Twilight. For completing all trials, you will be granted the Secret Armor. The last two that took the trials here a few years back took longer than you did, which is a surprise considering what they're capable of. I can see great things coming from you in the future.
"Oh, geez...It was nothing." She giggled.
"Now, then. Come on out." Holding a single Poke Ball, Mustard threw it lightly which soon unleashed the Pokemon within. Lo and behold, just as Sci-Twi and the others suspected, the Pokemon that was modelled after the symbol on the Master Dojo and the stylized accessories had appeared for a second time.
"Kubfu!" It was Kubfu. And upon appearing, he immediately started punching and kicking the air to display his strength.
"That's it! That's the Pokemon we encountered!" Sci-Twi gasped, vigorously pointing at Kubfu. "You definitely knew!"
"I did. Didn't want to spoil it though." Mustard cackled. "Kubfu is in fact, the Secret Armor of the Master Dojo."
"That's armour...?" Lucas commented. Nothing about this screamed armour. It was just a small Pokemon.
"I know, I know, he's tiny...But raise him with diligence and he'll become strong enough to see you through any battle, just like a suit of armour. No opponent will be able to get past him!"
"Fu...!" Glancing at Sci-Twi, the Wushu Pokemon would slowly walk over, ready to accept his new Trainer.
"This one in particular has great potential." Mustard continued. "He's usually shy, but he was rather upfront with all of you the second he met you."
"He sure was..." Sci-Twi lightly chuckled, remembering how out of left field Kubfu's attack was. Nothing about that was shy at all.
"Sci-Twi. Now that Kubfu will be your Pokemon, head out there and explore with him. Help Kubfu break out of his shell and grow stronger with him. You can leave the Isle of Armor too but remember to stop by here. Kubfu is an extension of another lesson yet to come."
"Yes, Master Mustard! I'll do just that!" Sci-Twi nodded before kneeling to face Kubfu. "Hey there. Glad to be your partner."
"Kubfu..." He looked up and down at Sci-Twi, wondering if she was the kind of trainer to help the Wushu Pokemon attain new heights of strength. After all, Fighting-Type Pokemon have their own version of strength, far different from any other Type out there.
"Aw, we're leaving the Isle of Armor already?" Scootlaoo pouted as it sounded like the experience here at the Isle of Armor was about to end. And if it was, it turned out to be very worthwhile.
"Who said we gotta leave so soon?" Not in Ash's eyes. The thrill of adventure was still prominent here at the Isle of Armor. The journey here has just begun. And with Sci-Twi gaining a new teammate in the form of Kubfu, another path to power would be within her sights.
Honeycalm Island.
Honey Calm Island. Shaped like a honeycomb, hence its name as well as a six-petaled flower, with the giant tree in the center almost like a flower's receptacle. After getting out there, they decided to stop by this part of the Isle of Armor to eat for the day.
With the trials over, they could enjoy the rest of the Isle of Armor. It was still vast after all. And this time, they will be joined by Kubfu. The current plan was to explore but also to meet up with Celestia and Luna. Most likely, Chrysalis was still at the Armor Station, reading her books. It was time for a short picnic, with most of the food being offered up by Pinkie Pie and Applejack. Each of their Pokemon were out to feast away. Some worked hard and some didn't, but what mattered was that they could eat well when surrounded by friends, all except for one, who was standing on his own.
"Kubfu...!" Immediately, Kubfu was focused on growing his strength, standing near the edge of the island and breathing in, facing the waves.
"Hey, Kubfu. Do you want to eat with us?" Sci-Twi walked over, offering Kubfu some food. He was too busy rapidly striking the air to pay attention to the sandwich that was offered up to him.
"Fu! Kubfu!"
"Mmm...This isn't gonna be another Rapidash scenario, is it?" Sci-Twi pouted as Kubfu didn't even glance at her. She was ready to pull back until the sandwich was suddenly snatched away from her grasp. She blinked as Kubfu had taken the sandwich either way.
"Kub..." Kubfu munched on the sandwich. This instantly brought relief to Sci-Twi. She might not have to deal with a stubborn Pokemon again. After consuming the sandwich, Kubfu let out a cute roar that was trying to be threatening.
"Aww..." Sci-Twi gushed at such an adorable sound. "You want to be tough, don't you? Well, don't worry. I'll do my best to make you as strong as you can be."
"Kub?" Afterwards, Kubfu turned his attention to the party of Pokemon sitting around the picnic. And immediately, his thirst for battle was building up. So many Pokemon to challenge here. Who to choose? Who to strike at first? Kubfu couldn't make up his mind, so he would let his body do the talking as he immediately threw himself at the Pokemon. "Kubfu!"
"Huh! Wait! Don't do it!" Sci-Twi screeched, vehemently begging Kubfu not to attack her friends. The first Pokemon within Kubfu's sights was Lucario, who was pleasantly enjoying his meal.
"Rrr." However, that was immediately cut short by Lucario casually moving his arm, knocking the Wushu Pokemon away. All Lucario needed was his Aura to sense Kubfu's attack.
"Fuuuuu!" Kubfu yelled after being launched away, failing to sneak up on Lucario. Then again, sneaking up on a Pokemon so connected to the Aura was impossible. Sci-Twi caught Kubfu in her arms, holding him like a baby. "Kub...!"
"I don't think now's the time to do that, Kubfu."
"If he wants, he can take me and Mienshao on," said Rainbow Dash with a full mouth. "But...I got things I wanna do at the Isle of Armor right now. There's a whole bunch of Pokemon for me to try and add to my team. I didn't really have the time because of those trials, so..."
Rainbow Dash would cut her meal short, focusing on finding some Pokemon now the trials were over. "Honestly though, I wish I got Kubfu. Ooh, if only I got that one Slowpoke!"
"Hehe. Sorry about that." Twilight giggled as she was the reason Rainbow Dash never tagged that one Slowpoke. Rainbow Dash grumbled before departing, returning all of her Pokemon after they finished their meals.
"Good luck with that. I'm guessing we'll be hitting the Crown Tundra next. No sign of Cobalion here. Or even any of the Swords." Ash replied. "And if we do...we'd best gear up for something warm. It's gonna be cold there for sure."
Loop Lagoon.
Rainbow Dash made her way over to a place in the Isle of Armor known as Loop Lagoon. A place where Max Mushrooms can appear. Some of them were already seen growing out of the ground and walls but it was too late to start picking them since they had no use. All the trials were done.
But even with these trials over, the quest for strength wasn't. Rainbow Dash had her own pursuit of power and that involved taking on the Battle Frontier and winning the Equestria League, becoming Equestria's first-ever champion. And to her, catching more Pokemon was a way to get more of that strength.
"Castform..." Castform yawned while in her saddlebag, immediately putting himself to sleep. He would just wait until this was all over, not bothering to interact with the environment or anyone at the moment.
"Let's see..." The pegasus placed on her aviator glasses that also possessed her Mega Stone, viewing the scenery. At this moment, Rainbow Dash was looking for a specific Pokemon. "I've got enough speed on my side. I need power. Lots of power. Braviary and Mienshao hit hard for sure and Altaria can do the same when she Mega Evolves. But I'm looking for one more powerhouse."
Rainbow Dash had her sights set on a physically strong Pokemon, much like Mienshao and Braviary. A majority of her Pokemon focused on speed or utility. But so far, from what she could see, no one was really scratching that itch for her. Not even the Lurantis that was spotted here. She flew over to a small spot out on the sea, wondering if she could find some Water-Type Pokemon. Aside from Castform who has his Rainy Form, Rainbow Dash was looking for a solo Water Pokemon to team up with.
Swimming by were some Cloyster and Magikarps. Flying above her were Wingulls. She even saw an Inkay and Malamar nearly, diving underwater. But nothing struck her fancy, alas. Pinching at her hoof was a Krabby. "Ow!" Rainbow Dash yelped, growling and grizzling her teeth at the Krabby that mischievously pinched her.
"Krabby-Krabby!" Krabby giggled after moving back. But it kept its eyes on Rainbow Dash, waiting for her response. But Rainbow Dash did not indulge in its mischief yet. Instead, she went back to spectating for new Pokemon.
Other Pokemon came by this spot, passing by Rainbow Dash who was so fixated on the sea. They either dived out of the sea or descended from above. But some were more interested in what they smelled. The Wingull smelled some food in Rainbow Dash's saddlebag. And so did the other Pokemon.
Castform gasped as his sleeping space was being invaded by these peckish Pokemon. The Wingull started repeatedly pecking inside of the bag, trying to reach the food. All the other Pokemon were just itching to try them. "C-Cast!"
"Hey, hey!" Rainbow Dash bellowed. "Knock it off! Most of that is for my Pokemon! Come on!"
However, when standing near the sea and trying to force the Pokemon away, nearby, something was rapidly approaching her. A fin could be seen moving at high speeds, specifically targeting RainbowDash. Two fins could be seen approaching her, in reality, and she had yet to notice.
"Huh?" Until now. Rainbow Dash sensed an odd presence. A rapidly approaching one. Right as she turned around, flying out of the lake were Sharpedos. Two of them. The pegasus grimaced, immediately moving back as fast as she could. The Wingulls all flew away the second the Sharpedos appeared, dismissing the food in a heartbeat.
"Sharpedo!" The Sharpedo missed their target, biting nothing but the sand. After missing Rainbow Dash, the two Sharpedo's started hovering above this spot in the ocean.
"Sharpedo?! That's not so bad." Rainbow Dash grinned after spotting the two Brutal Pokemon. But it wasn't just two of them. Appearing were two more Sharpedos. They moved here as fast as they could while five more started encircling the area.
It was at this moment that Rainbow Dash realized that she was in Sharpedo-infested waters. Loop Lagoon was not the place to be. "Oh, wow...That's a lot of Sharpedos. But I'll gladly take you on." Instead of fleeing, Rainbow Dash felt the need to challenge them, just to grow her strength as a Pokemon Trainer.
"Castform..."
"K-Krabby!" Krabby and all the Pokemon here were unfortunately in the same situation. They couldn't flee since the Sharpedo's were encircling the spot. Any nearby Pokemon swimming along would steer away from here. Krabby got close to Rainbow Dash again, but this time, out of fear and there was no intent to pinch her.
"Ah, It's alright. I can take on a Sharpedo. Never taken on multiple but still. This is a good chance to grow as a trainer." The pegasus played it cool before holding out a Poke Ball. "Watch! Mienshao will make quick work of-"
But before she could even throw the Poke Ball or finish her sentence, one more individual joined this circle of Pokemon. A spark of lightning appeared in the distance, right near one of the landscapes of the Isle of Armor. Before they knew it, this lightning bolt raced over the spot where so many Pokemon ha gathered and as soon as the Sharpedo were abut to make their next move, the lightning bolt crashed into one of them.
"S-Shar!" It came at lightning speeds, leaving behind a shockwave too. The one Sharpedo that got hit by this lightning, wasn't the only one. The lightning was so volatile that it instantly latched onto the nearby Sharpedo's shocking them as well. And since some were in the water, it didn't bode well for them.
Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped at the speed of which this attack came in. But it wasn't just an attack. It was a Pokemon. Appearing after the lightning would disperse, was a Pokemon she had never seen before.
It was a Zeraora.
"Woah...Who's that?"
"Zeraoara!" Zeraora then kicked the Sharpedo away, sending it tumbling across the sea. It came here the second the Pokemon were being threatened and after sticking a powerful landing, all the Pokemon cheered. They knew of this Pokemon's existence, which is why some of them immediately ran up to Zeraora. Rainbow Dash was still stunned and had to take out her Pokedex for this.
"Zeraora. The Thunderclap Pokemon. It electrifies its claws and tears its opponents apart with them. Even if they dodge its attack, they’ll be electrocuted by the flying sparks. Wherever Zeraora runs, lightning flashes and thunder echoes. Unlike most Electric-type Pokémon, Zeraora doesn’t have an organ within its body that can produce electricity. However, it is able to gather and store electricity from outside sources, and then use it as its own electric energy."
"Ze?" The Thunderclap Pokemon turned around, gazing at the Pokemon that she saved. She put on a smile for them with some hugging her leg. It was clear that this Pokemon was a friend. But as soon as she saw Rainbow Dash, her expression shifted to a serious one.
"Uh!" The pegasus gasped after getting quite the glare from Zeraora. But that was mainly due to the Sharpedos that were still around. One of them appeared behind Rainbow Dash while she wasn't looking.
"Ora!" With a strong and quick roar, Zeraora threw her fists as the Sharpedo that tried sneaking up on Rainbow Dash and Castform. Her paws were suddenly engulfed in plasma. An element that only Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem and Passion were able to generate. But this wasn't a problem for Zeraroa.
She struck the Sharpedo square in the jaw with this singular hit and it immediately spread multiple volts that chained over to every other Zeraora. It was as if the lightning locked onto anyone it saw as an enemy. The Sharpedos immediately retreated, refusing to engage any further with Zeraora. Just like that, they fled, granting the safety of the Pokemon and Rainbow Dash.
"Zera..." Zeraora took a deep breath after fending off the Sharpedo.
"That was awesome! You're awesome!" Naturally, Rainbow Dash geeked out about this. "I've never seen a Pokemon like you before! So cool!"
"Castform!" Castform was fully awake for this without a doubt.
"Ze..." Zeraora flinched, pulling back as soon as Rainbow Dash got close. She even generated electricity around her paws and face to try and intimidate her.
"Oh, uh...sorry?" The pegasus would also pull back as Zeraora was very much apprehensive of her. "Oooh! It's so cool! The way it looks rocks! Definitely up my alley!" In her mind, Rainbow Dash had found the perfect Pokemon but obviously, Zeraora wasn't too fond of Rainbow Dash's presence.
The other Pokemon who tried to snatch Rainbow Dash's food would surround the multi-coloured maned mare once more, for the sole fact that she tried defending them before Zeraora did but never got the chance. Zeraora watched as all these Pokemon gathered around Rainbow Dash.
But before she could do anything, above them, a strong wind pressure could be felt and heard. The smaller Pokemon closed their eyes while Zeraora and Rainbow collectively raised their heads.
Above them, a massive ship could be seen. It was unknown who owned this ship as it looked to be descending here at the Isle of Armor. This island was about to receive another visitor from the looks of it. Either they were here for the trials or something else.
"Ora...!" But Zeraora already thought of the worst. Instantly, she would flee the scene, leaping through the air.
"Ah! Hey! Wait up!" But Rainbow Dash didn't want to lose sight of this Pokemon. Not for a moment. It was someone she's never seen before and on top of that, it was an Electric-Type. Granted, she was looking for a Water-Type, but she didn't mind a second Electric-Type on her team. Not for a moment. She took flight, pursuing Zeraora who immediately started running on water. Rainbow Dash was amazed to see the Thunderclap Pokemon dashing over the surface of the water.
She's only seen Pheromosa do such a thing. This was indeed a fast Pokemon. But she also appeared to be a physically strong Pokemon. All the more reason why Rainbow Dash had to keep up, and she certainly could as she started flying alongside the Electric-Type.
"Zera?!" Zeraora gasped. She didn't expect Rainbow Dash to suddenly keep up with her.
"Hey!" The pegasus grinned and waved, trying to butter up to Zeraora. But so far, it wasn't working.
Training Lowlands.
As for this ship, it touched down at a place known as the Training Lowlands. By now, everyone had noticed it. It was too big and too loud not to notice after all. Ash and his friends had spotted its appearance, but couldn't make out who it belonged to. It could be anyone. The only problem was that they didn't spot the symbol on the front.
When this ship touched down, it showed that it was a ship belonging to the Ranger Union. The Pokemon Rangers were here, most likely on an important mission. Approaching the Training Lowlands before anyone else was none other than Mustard and his wife, Honey. They were expecting the Ranger Union while no one else was.
"They showed up right after the trials. Works for me." Mustard grinned.
"Darling. Do you think they're here to-"
"Handle the Zeraora situation? I think so." From Mustard's own words, this all involved Zeraora. The Ranger Union were here for the Thunderclap Pokemon. But for what reason? There could be only one and Mustard shared them with Rarity's group specifically.
Galar. The Isle of Armor. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Landing here at the Isle of Armor was a ship belonging to the Ranger Union. For the Pokemon Rangers to be here, it related to one Pokemon only. Zeraora. Mustard was expecting them and they managed to show up right after all three trials were over.
Exiting the ship were the rangers and neatly dressed men and women in suits who approached Mustard. The Rangers were mainly here for the action while the suited people were only here to speak with Mustard and Honey.
"Glad you could show!" Mustard chuckled. "This is something I just couldn't handle on my own. Maybe it's my age."
"No worries, Mustard. We've been keeping our eyes on Zerarora for a while, but we could never keep up. You can imagine why. That is, until you told us that it shows up at the Isle of Armor frequently."
"Well, it's her favourite spot, but I don't think she's in the best mood," Honey added. "When she first showed up here, she befriended the Pokemon quickly. But she's also had her rough days. At times, she breaks out into rage out of nowhere and starts moving across the place with a rampage."
"We've barely even approached Zeraora once." Mustard shook his head. Zeraora seemed to have instances were she just goes on a rampage and it was for an unknown reason. Her rampage even involved the actions of the Swords of Justice, who pursued her from the Isle of Armor to the Crown Tundra.
And most likely, other areas in the world since Zeraora has been places. "But if I had to guess, her trigger might have something to do with her emotion. One minute, she's peaceful and sweet but something just snaps within her and it almost looks like she's completely sad. That's what starts the rampage." At least Mustard had an inkling as to what triggers these rampages.
"We've brought some of our best rangers here, even though most are busy with other things at the moment. We can't let the lower-ranking Rangers tackle Zeraora even if there are plenty of them. You don't have to worry with these rangers around. And we even brought along someone who's affiliated with the Ranger Union."
Speaking of whom, this affiliated individual stepped out of the ship once all the rangers had left the area. It wasn't a Pokemon Ranger, but someone who worked with them and was rather talented with a huge array of skills. Emerging from the ship was the one known as a Superwoman. Kidd Summers.
"Kidd here has her experience with Legendary Pokemon. When it comes to our Rangers, Jackie is the best and Kidd is the best ally outside of the Ranger Union."
"You're the one I saw on TV a few years ago!" Honey instantly recognized. Kidd has built up a lot of fame after all thanks to her achievements. "Oh, my goodness! I can't believe I'm actually meeting you!"
"Well, wherever I go, I seem to have a fan waiting for me," Kidd spoke, already having her gear and equipment ready. "So, the Zeraora problem is the most prominent here at the Isle of Armor? That's not an issue. For the most part anyway. We've been trying to calm Zeraora down for a while but...boy does she move around."
"Hopefully, this will be the last time she rampages. I must warn you though...The strength she gets when on a rampage is rather volatile." Mustard wagged his finger, warning Kidd and the Rangers.
"I'll be fine. Usually, I investigate and research Pokemon, but I'm great at tempering them too. With all these rangers around, they can nullify any damage done to the area and I can focus on finding Zeraora. There's no time to waste." Placing her scanning glasses on, Kidd Summers was ready to set out.
Zeraora touched the land after moving across the sea thanks to her speed. Following her was Rainbow Dash, who caught the Thunderclap Pokemon greatly off guard. How was it that someone could keep up with her in such a way? On top of that, it was a pony and Zeraora was very much aware of their existence.
"Ze..." Zeraora didn't quite understand it She was so confused that she ended up slowing down, reverting to walking. Of course, Rainbow Dash would slow down her flying just to keep up with her.
"Surprised? I bet you haven't seen many ponies who can move that fast. But then again, they aren't me." Rainbow Dash boasted. "But you? You've gotta be as fast as Pheromosa. At least. How come I've never heard about a Pokemon like you...Unless you're a Mythical?"
"Ora." Zeraora wasn't sure what to make of this. Rainbow Dash kept that bright grin on her face as this was by far the most exciting Pokemon she's ever encountered to date. Zeraora took a seat, resting near a tree while still keeping an eye on Rainbow Dash.
"S-Sorry, if I'm bothering you. I just gotta know more about you. Ya know..." She apologized, knowing she was being a bother. But she couldn't help herself.
"Zeraora..." Zeraora groaned as she was suddenly exhausted. She didn't look like she was out of energy after how fast she ran across the water and fought back against those Sharpedos. But even the fastest beings take the time to rest. But when she sat down, Rainbow Dash noticed something that stuck out which she didn't focus on all that much until now.
On Zeraora, there were visible scratches, showing signs of a battle that she had been in. Either they were recent or in the past. These marks could be found mainly on her upper body and not her lower body. Her legs were safe since those were her strong suit.
"Castform?" Flying out of the saddlebag to meet with Zeraora was Castform. And as soon as he got near the Thunderclap Pokemon, his radioactive cells reacted to Zeraora's presence. The electricity around Zeraora was still brimming even after she stopped running and that immediately triggered Castform's cells. "C-Cast!" Castform jittered around as lightning bolts flew out of his body as well.
"Zera." Zeraora sighed after Castform received a powerful jolt. She just looked rather exhausted at the moment. It was unknown if it was from the strikes she delivered to the Sharpedo or the fact that she ran across water. However, despite how exhausted she appeared, Zeraora did not seem to mind Rainbow Dash's presence. If anything, she was just confused about how Rainbow Dash could keep up with her.
"The Dex wasn't kidding about that electricity." Rainbow Dash gawked. She didn't want to get electrocuted at all if it was that potent to the point where it will always hit its mark. "What region do you even come from?" Curious about what region could possibly have such a Pokemon, she immediately thought it would be Galar. But Galar has such a range of Pokemon unique to it and yet Zeraora felt like a Pokemon that could be anywhere. The Pokedex would be used once more on this electrifying entity.
"Zeraora seems to be an always-moving Pokemon, never sticking to one location a majority of the time. However, the regions of Alola and Galar seem to be reoccurring areas that it visits."
"Sweet. So, Zeraora...You checked out my speed, right? I know you were surprised but we didn't really get to measure ourselves back there at all. If we did, we would've had a race." Rainbow Dash continued the conversation, bringing up the speed comparisons between the two.
"Ora." Zeraora turned her head. Racing with someone else was ridiculous. Not because it couldn't be done, but because the thought of someone being faster than her was out of the question.
"I don't speak Pokemon like Fluttershy does, but I'm guessing you don't think I could keep, huh? I bet Pheromosa could. Just saying."
"Ze!" She scoffed at the notion. Since Alola was apparently a place where Zeraora sometimes visits, she might know about Pheromosa. In response to the notion, Zeraora lightly moved her arm, sending a jolt towards Rainbow Dash.
"Ghhhhhhh!" The pegasus jittered as her body received a sudden shock, messing up her mane. "Okay...You're not a fan of that...Got it."
"Ze," Zeraora smirked, rather enjoying that jolt. It was also humorous that Castform took the jolt better than Rainbow Dash, despite being smaller.
"But if you're a Mythical...How come Mustard didn't bring you up at all?" Rainbow Dash now had to wonder why Zeraora's presence wasn't even acknowledged for a moment by Mustard. At least during the trials. Little did Rainbow Dash know, Mustard already informed Rarity, Applejack and the CMC of this Mythical.
"Guess he didn't know. Oh well! My name's Rainbow Dash by the way. And boy, am I glad to meet you." Rainbow Dash held out her hoof, properly introducing herself. "Sorry for suddenly following you."
Looking at her hoof and assessing everything that's happened so far, Zeraora would stay silent for a moment. Afterwards, she would hold her paw out. However, the paw was soon retracted, much to Rainbow Dash's disappointment. There wasn't a paw or hoof shake at all.
"Mmmrgh..." Rainbow Dash realized that much like most Mythical Pokemon, Zeraora was rather distant of others that aren't Pokemon and it shows. But on the bright side, she wasn't as hostile as she appeared.
"Zera." Zeraora would then turn her attention to the sky and the landscape of the Isle of Armor. The ship belonging to the Ranger Union was still on her mind. Zeraora, after narrowing her eyes, was already watching out for the Pokemon Rangers. But her attention was immediately steered elsewhere once she heard new sounds coming this way.
"Rainbow Dash?" Encountering Rainbow Dash here at this part of the Isle was none other than Celestia alongside Luna. Moving across the Isle of Armor for a day and they still managed to find new places. This place certainly was bigger than it originally looked from afar.
"Princess Celestia? Luna?"
"I see you've gotten out there as well. What is that Pokemon next to you?" Celestia asked, focused on Zeraora.
"Ze...!" Zeraora suddenly gasped. Her pupils flashed as her eyes jittered. An unexpected reaction came from this the second she spotted Celestia and Luna. And specifically Celestia. It absolutely blindsided her. Once she saw them, the Thunderclap Pokemon stood up, throwing away any exhaustion she had.
Rainbow Dash gasped as Zeraora immediately built up an aura of lightning around her eyes and arms. She stepped back a bit, realizing that getting close would mean that the lightning would strike her. But she could obviously see some tension brewing.
"What?" Luna narrowed her eyes, already being very defensive upon seeing Zeraora summon a threatening aura. Zeraora growled as her lightning was scorching the grass around her. In the eyes of Zeraora, she didn't see Princess Celestia.
Instead, she saw Daybreaker.
The visage of Celestia flashed, showing her confused face which was replaced by the threatening smile of Daybreaker behind a maelstrom of fire before then returning to Celestia. But to Zeraora, she only saw Daybreaker.
"Ora!" Seeing Daybreaker's visage, Zeraora immediately dashed at the Sun Princess. She left behind a burst of lightning that pushed Castform away while jolting Rainbow Dash's mane.
"Ah! Hey!" It was too late for Rainbow Dash to say much. Zeraora was already gone, approaching Celestia and Luna.
"Gardevoir!" However, Passion would not let that happen. Not for a moment. She appeared in a purple flash, leaving her Poke Ball the second Zeraora got close. With Zeraora's fist being thrown, Passion caught the attack by summoning a Dazzling Gealm Sphere in her hand.
"Zera...!" The Thunderclap Pokemon growled, intensely staring at Celestia. Meanwhile, Gardevoir gazed at her with an equally intense stare since someone would dare try and attack Celestia, which was downright unacceptable.
"Wait, Zeraora! What are you doing?!" Rainbow Dash tried approaching, only for Zeraora to push Passion away while her paw was still connecting with the Dazzling Gleam sphere. Rainbow Dash flinched as the flash of lightning went off near her. Celestia quickly moved out of the way once Passion and Zeraora started moving.
"Voir!" Gardevoir would repulse Zeraora by then using Psychic. Her eyes flashed purple as she pushed the Thunderclap Pokemon away with an invisible mental blast.
"Z-Ze!" Zeraora slid on the ground, regaining her balance while digging her paws into the ground and baring her fangs.
"Zeraora! They're my friends! Don't attack them!" Rainbow Dash quickly got in front of the Thunderclap Pokemon. She wasn't sure why Zeraora was suddenly attacking Celestia, specifically.
"Rainbow Dash! Who is this?! What's going on?!" Luna questioned.
"I don't know! It wasn't like this before!"
"Cast! Castform!" Castform would also try calming her down, failing to understand why Zeraora was so hostile all of a sudden. At first, it seemed like she wouldn't act unless necessary as seen by how she stopped the Sharpedo.
"Rrrr!" But all Zeraora could see was the visage of the intimidating alicorn. She wasn't even listening to Castform. All of her rage was targeted towards Princess Celestia while Luna was ignored. Once more, the Thunderclap Pokemon rushed in for another attack. And this time, she would try and get Gardevoir out of the way.
"Gardevoir!" On high alert, Passion would sway her head, avoiding the incoming swing from the Electric-Type. But as soon as she dodged it, the lightning managed to strike her. Just as the Pokedex said, Zeraora's lightning was still viable to land even if it missed. The Embrace Pokemon was caught off guard by this. She swore she avoided the attack. Another swing came from Zeraora while Gardevoir was staggered, however, the Psychic-Fairy-Type was able to quickly put up a Psychic Barrier to block it.
Zeraora smashed against the barrier, only to fail when trying to break through it. After failing to destroy it once, Zeraora tried again, rapidly swinging at it with fists as fast as lightning.
"Princess Celestia! I didn't see this coming, honestly! It was totally fine a few minutes ago, I swear." Rainbow Dash flew over to Celestia while Zeraora was viciously hitting Gardevoir's Psychic Barrier.
"It's fine, Rainbow Dash." However, Celestia understood that this was something that Rainbow Dash didn't expect. "It seems like it's driven by rage. I saw it erupt the second it looked at me. Passion can most definitely feel it too."
"But why? Did something happen when she saw you?"
"Not a clue. But what I do know is that she needs to be tempered. Look around you." Celestia showed Rainbow Dash the damage Zeraora was causing. Due to how frantic and destructive her electricity was, each hit she delivered out of pure aggression was damaging the landscape. The pegasus gasped as the grass and stone had been scorched by Zeraora's lightning. In fact, it seems like Plasma was responsible for this instead of any electricity.
Each hit she delivered sent a fierce blast of lightning that started attacking the landscape of the Isle of Armor and it seems to be getting bigger and stronger.
"Putting it to sleep is the way to go. Darkrai!" Luna bellowed.
Emerging from the shadows nearby was the Pitch Blck Pokemon, who was already prepared to act. He was once again moving in secrecy, only appearing when needed. Once Darkrai appeared, he already had a Dark Void in his hands to put Zeraora to sleep.
"Ze?" Sensing Darkrai's presence behind her, Zeraora quickly halted her attack, leaping into the air to avoid the Dark Void. She managed to evade it as the move only hit the barrier, doing nothing. "Ora!" After entering the air, Zeraora continued her attack, throwing down a blast of lightning from above.
"Voir!" Gardevoir quickly raised her arms up, dispersing the barrier and turning its particles into a Thunderbolt. She unleashed her own blast of lightning that clashed with Zeraora's, creating a mighty spark. Once the two attacks clashed for a moment, they both combusted.
Zeraora would descend, fiercely hitting the ground after landing. Those azure eyes of her eyes locked onto Celestia. She just couldn't see past Daybreaker's appearance. But Celestia knew that this was simply a result of something triggering Zeraora's rage and it had something to do with her. But even she didn't understand it.
"Stop, Zeraora!" Getting in front of Gardevoir, Celestia and Darkrai was Rainbow Dash as she held her hooves out. "What's up with you?!"
"Ze...! Zera...!" Zeraora's lightning suddenly started growing and growing, getting even more fierce. The landscape was being greatly threatened as well as the Pokemon living here. But before Zeraora could do anything else, her eyes would pulsate once more. She held onto her head, groaning and grunting as that odd feeling kicked in once more.
Gripping the scorched grass, the Thunderclap Pokemon was unable to go in for another attack even though she wished to. Feeling an uncomfortable pain that rendered her unable to continue fighting, she suddenly ran off. Without saying anything else, Zeraora took off, leaving behind the sound of thunder and a flash of lightning at the same time. Rainbow Dash tried saying something, but she was quickly stopped by Celestia.
She had no idea what had just happened. Everything seemed so fine in the beginning and she was just getting to know Zeraora by having small talk with her. As soon as Celestia arrived, all of that changed drastically.
This was why the Pokemon Rangers were here. To solve this ongoing problem. Zeraora clearly had something wrong with her that not many knew about. Joined by Kidd Summers, they were searching for Zeraora before she could erupt into another fit of rage here at the Isle of Armor. During their exploration of the Isle of Armor, it didn't take long for those visiting this area to run into the Pokemon Rangers.
Such as Ash's group. After finishing their picnic, they went over to see what that ship in the sky was all about and immediately, their eyes met with the familiar suits of the Pokemon Rangers. The Rangers were seen searching high and low for the Thunderclap Pokemon, looking out for any sounds of thunder. They heard a crash of thunder earlier thanks to Zeraora's actions, so they knew for a fact that she was here.
"What's with all the Pokemon Rangers here?" Scootaloo wondered. "Do you think there's a problem here?"
"I don't know what it would be. Everything seems fine so far." Apple Bloom couldn't see any cause for concern here at the Isle of Armor. Everything had been simple so far. But she and the others had no idea.
"Hey, isn't that...Kidd?!" Immediately, Ash spotted Kidd Summers among the group of Rangers. She wasn't wearing a Ranger Uniform so it was easy to spot her.
"Pi!
"Well, well, well! Look who it is!" Kidd Summers laughed while on top of a hill. She quickly slid down it, approaching the familiar faces of Ash and Pikachu. "Ash! Pikachu! What are the odds of meeting you two here!? How long has it been since we've run into each other?"
"Been a while, yeah. You're here with the Pokemon Rangers?"
"I've been working for them for a while." Kidd took off her Scanner. "In fact, after our wild adventure over at the Tree of Beginning, the company I work for started an alliance with the Ranger Union. We help each other a lot and our combined skills make for an easier mission for all. Right now, we're here on a mission that's been going on for a while now. I'd say for a year."
"Is it a Pokemon or...?" Twilight asked, wondering if it was a Pokemon they were searching for or someone else related to Ghetsis' alliance. Perhaps it was a hidden Despair Plant that was still around.
"You bet." Kidd summers. "Princess. And it's a fast one too. Powerful too. A real fierce combination. The Pokemon we're looking for is a Zeraora."
"Oooh! Ooh! We heard about Zeraora!" Sweetie Belle frantically said, raising her hoof. "Mustard told us!"
"Aw, you already knew?! If we did, we'd be trying to see it ASAP!" Lucas groaned. What a missed opportunity to hear it all from Mustard or even Rarity's group way earlier.
"Guess you're already up to speed then. You may or may not know that Zeraora has been on a rampage since last year. There are times where it suddenly breaks out into a fit of rage with an unknown reason behind it. It moves from place to place, trying to find peace, but it just can't. Not with these outbursts. But it seems like the Isle of Armor is the one place it comes to more than anywhere else."
"A fit of rage? How come?" Ash didn't understand.
"I wish I could answer that, Ash. Honestly. But as for now, me and the Rangers have no idea. That's why we need to reach Zeraora and temper it before it goes on another rampage. If it does, someone could get hurt and today, the Isle of Armor is pretty populated, don't you think?"
"Is Zeraora a naturally violent Pokemon?" Sci-Twi asked.
"No way." But Ash knew how the Zeraora species was. Violence wasn't something they automatically were in the beginning. But for this one Zeraora to suddenly cause such a rampage across the world in certain instances confused him. There was obviously a good reason behind it.
There was only one reason that Zeraora knew. And it had something to do with the visage of Daybreaker when looking at Princess Celestia. At that moment, the sound of Thunder reverberated across the area even though the Isle of Armor was experiencing a Sunny Day. That right there was an indication of Zeraora's movements and hopefully, not a sign of her incoming rampage.
Galar. The Isle of Armor. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
At this moment, running across the Isle of Armor was a Zeraora. Calm and peaceful at first, this Zeraora was said to have moments where she became hostile and aggressive for an unknown reason. At least, to everyone else. Recently, she had attacked Princess Celestia, seeing Daybreaker instead and that immediately triggered her to unleash her rage. But at that moment, she suddenly fled after her body started pulsating.
"It's weird...I didn't think she'd get that mad all of a sudden." Sitting next to Celestia and Luna was Rainbow Dash, who was completely bewildered by Zeraora's sudden outburst.
"Well, now we know the existence of the Pokemon that Cobalion and the other swords were following." Luna said, recalling the paw marks and electricity she and Celestia encountered since yesterday. "It was a Zeraora. That power was amazing...It generated plasma. And here I thought it was just Zekrom, Reshiram, Kyurem and Passion who could pull that off."
"I'm sure it's a lovely Pokemon, Rainbow Dash. After all, you're still healthy and we did see you sitting next to it casually. Clearly, it was my appearance that set it off." Celestia added.
"But why? What did you do? Why would she hate you all of a sudden?"
"Hmm..." It wasn't adding up just yet to Celestia. She wasn't 100% sure why Zeraora reacted in such a way. But thankfully, her wealth of knowledge and intellect allowed her to reach a possibility. "It might have something to do with Daybreaker."
"Daybreaker?" Luna and Rainbow collectively said.
"If I recall correctly, during one of our missions to stop Team Plasma, the Empress and anyone allied with them, we managed to throw one of their ships in disarray. I'm not sure it was the one where Jackie and Agent Sweetie Drops worked together. It might have been when Ash was on one of the Team Plasma Blimps. And after it came down, it must have released some Pokemon from it. By that time, Ghetsis was working with Daybreaker so when Zeraora saw me, she probably thought I was Daybreaker."
"Oooh...Really?" Rainbow Dash gawked.
"Well, I can't think of any other reason she would try and attack me. Plus, Passion was already reading her emotions and she was only targeting me. Not Luna. And I fear...she won't stop at me." Celestia already thought of the worst possible scenario. "If she does come from that airship Team Plasma had, she probably knows who Empress Twilight is. If she sees either Twilight, her rage could break out again."
"You're right! We should get going now!" The pegasus took flight, ready to set off.
"Finding Zeraora is what matters the most. And honestly, I don't think that'll be too hard. She leaves behind the sound of thunder and even some marks here and there." Celestia took a slower but average-paced approach. Thankfully, due to how rampant Zeraora's lightning had grown, the scorch marks she left behind made a trail.
"Zera...!" As for where Zeraora was, she ran off to find a cave. The cave would be her place of solace for the meantime as the destructive lightning was beginning to subside. However, it wasn't fading away. Instead, its destructive capabilities were weakening.
The rocks around her had already been shattered when she showed up, with scorch marks located across the walls and floor. Any Pokemon around here had already fled after the sound of thunder passed by. Zeraora was on her own thanks to the fearsome sound of thunder scaring everyone else off.
Zeraora still couldn't get Daybreaker off her mind. She could only think about her the second she saw Princess Celestia. But there was a reason for this sudden pain. In her head, a voice only she could hear spoke through her ears. This voice influenced her lightning, causing it to frantically fly everywhere without Zeraora having any control over it.
It was the voice of Ghetsis.
"Return to me." Ghetsis' voice reverberated through her head, causing a sudden vibration and headache. "You can't resist my power over you, no matter how hard you try."
"Ora!" Her yell was almost as loud as thunder. Holding her head, she unleashed a powerful blast of lightning from her body that ended up hitting her instead. Zeraora shocked herself with a powerful attack just to try and stave away Ghetsis' words. She managed to do so as she was at peace once more. The Thunderclap Pokemon took deep breaths but wouldn't start moving at all. Instead, she preferred to sit here, resting underneath the crater her lightning blast created.
Searcing for Zeraora before she could cause another rampage were the Pokemon Rangers plus Kidd Summers. And at this moment, by following the direction of where the thunderous noise came from and even the path of destruction left behind by Zeraora's plasma, it wouldn't be too hard to find the Thunderclap Pokemon.
"Geez..." Observing the path of destruction were Ash and his friends. Pure Plasma ripped the ground and even the seas itself. They saw how the seas had been split apart by Zeraora's rush. "On the bright side, the Isle of Armor's still around."
"Yeah, somehow." said Twilight. When looking at the split sea, she and her friends saw how the Water-Type Pokemon were struggling to get around.
The force of the plasma didn't just tear up the sea, making a huge part of it dangerous to cross which would result in someone falling through the abyss, but it also sent volts that continuously flowed through the waters, threatening their health.
Luckily, the Pokemon Rangers ere here to rescue them. Using all that they had, they managed to safely guide and carry the Water-Types out of the plasma-filled sea befor anyone of them could fall through. The land that had been scorched was already dangerous to cross as the plasma created a chasm,
"So, this has happened across the rest of the world too?" Scootaloo got close to a scorched part of the land, making sure not to touch it but she still wished to view it. She had to be careful since Zeraora's lightning was still capable of shocking anyone that gets too close. "How come we didn't hear about it?"
"It probably wasn't as bad as this. The Isle of Armor doesn't have many buildings after all." Rarity answered. "This is just...Eugh."
"Why would it do all of this?" Sweetie Belle asked, facing Kidd.
"Not by will," Kidd answered. "Zeraora wouldn't do this forcefully. There's something pushing it and we have a good idea as to what it could be. We've already figured out a while ago that this Zeraora belonged to Ghetsis."
"It's Ghetsis's Pokemon?!" Already, Kidd and the Rangers knew who this Zeraora's trainer was. It was surprising that she even had a trainer in the first place.
"No way! You're kidding!" Ash and many of his friends had their jaws on the floor.
"I wish I was but that is indeed his Zeraora. Even though Ghetsis is elsewhere, the Poke Ball containing Zeraora is still out there somewhere. But as you can imagine, this is one of the many Legendary and Mythicals Team Plasma sought out for power. And Zeraora served a purpose for them. Zeraora was meant to be a conduit for their weapons. The power of Plasma is a valuable one and very few Pokemon are capable of making it. It's why those allied with Ghetsis had Reshiram and Zekrom captured. Together they can create Plasma."
"Uh, I never understood how strong Plasma was. Passion uses it but is it really that dangerous?" A confused Scootaloo asked.
"Plasma is one of the strongest forces out there. It comprises 99% of the universe. Anyone who gets it can have all the energy they want and there's not much that can defend against it." Being an expert in science, Sci-Twi already knew just how dangerous plasma could be in the wrong hands. And the fact that Ghetsis still managed to find a Pokemon that can generate it was terrifying.
"Ash. You already know that Jackie helped save a Diance from the alliance Team Plasma was involved with. Zeraora is simply one of those Pokemon but we haven't got around to finding it just yet."
"Are there any other Pokemon Ghetsis and his team caught that are out there?" Fluttershy asked.
"Mmm..." Kidd thought for a moment, touching her lip. "Not at all. The only one left is Zeraora. Everyone else has been freed, sent back into the wild or even to their respective universe. But Zeraora's the hardest one by far. Faster than the rest and unfortunately, the most violent of them all. And the Ranger Union's taking a guess here and that's the possibility of Ghetsis being behind these rampages."
"If it was him, he'd be with Zeraora." Rarity wasn't sure about that. Ghetsis would have to be alongside Zeraora to cause this mess. But little did she and everyone else know, Ghetsis didn't need to be here.
"Oh, he's not with Zeraora tough. But his influence is." Kidd answered. "You know, we're not the Ranger Union isn't all about science."
At that moment, the sound of thunder going off occurred once more. This time, it was followed up by a blast of lightning that could be seen reaching the clouds for a moment. before dispersing. This was right when Zeraora managed to stave away Ghetsis's words. And just like that, they had another lead.
Zeraora knew that the lightning she made would draw some attention. After sitting there for a little bit, Zeraora would be on the move again, but this time, she would walk. Any running would unleash that thunderous sound. At this point, Zeraora was thinking of leaving the Isle of Armor and heading elsewhere.
In her mind, Zeraora was a threat to many. Her lightning could reach a level where even she couldn't control it and she just couldn't get the voice of Ghetsis out of her head, or even the visage of Daybreaker in front of Celestia. The Thunderclap Pokemon was barely capable of tempering her rage but was unable to minimize the damage. It truly was a surprise that the Isle of Armor was still healthy and stable since this is where she comes to a majority of the time.
"Hey! Zeraora!" Finding her yet again was Rainbow Dash, who followed the trail of destruction.
"Ze?" The Thunderclap Pokemon froze. But she had nothing to fear when seeing Rainbow Dash. While a bit apprehensive, Zeraora wasn't afraid to be near Rainbow Dash. "Ora..."
"There you are. It was pretty easy finding you." Rainbow Dash giggled, pointing out the destruction left behind by the plasma. "Are you alright now?"
"Castform?"
"Zeraora..." But even if seeing Rainbow Dash and by extension, Castform was a relief, it didn't fend off what had just happened and how Zeraora currently felt. The Thunderclap Pokemon groaned before weakly moving along, feeling somewhat safe at that moment. Her head was still ringing a bit. And she was also rather hungry, feeling her stomach grumble. "Ze..." She whimpered, patting her stomach before coming to a halt.
Hearing this, Rainbow and Castform both looked at each other for a moment. And with a collective smile along with a nod from Rainbow Dash, Castform would whip out something for Zeraora to consume. From the saddlebag, Castform revealed a milk chocolate that was being saved but now, it would be consumed by a Pokemon outside of Rainbow Dash's party. It has already been opened thanks to all the Pokemon who swarmed around Rainbow Dash after smelling the goods.
"Try this if you're hungry. Straight from Ponyville." Rainbow Dash suggested as Castform carried it on top of his head.
"Ora..." Zeraora slowly moved forward after glancing at the milk chocolate bar. She then took a sniff of it. At that moment, the lovely scent of the chocolate bar struck a sweet spot. She did not hesitate, opening her mouth wide and instantly devouring the bar. "Zera!"
"Cast!" Castform screeched as she was almost involved in that massive bite. Zeraora's serious face soon turned into one of wonder and satisfaction.
"Zera..."
"Thank you, Pinkie Pie..." The one responsible for this chocolate bar was Pinkie Pie. Her food came in handy, yet again. After consuming the milk chocolate bar, a part of Zeraora's discomfort subsided. She calmed down.
"Zeraora. I gotta talk to you about something. It's about Princess Celestia. I know she looks like Daybreaker if that's who you were thinking of..."
"Rrrr!" Her electricity flared up once more when Daybreaker's name was brought up.
"Okay...That's totally who you were thinking of. But she's not Zeraora, I swear." Rainbow Dash quickly calmed her down. "She's just her counterpart. She's not the Daybreaker you're thinking of. They don't even have the same name. You don't have to worry about her."
"Ze..." Zeraora lowered her electricity. She was rather rational despite showing hostile signs.
"But since you recognized that name...Were you in another universe for a while? Do you come from this universe or..." Rainbow Dash was fully curious as she walked alongside Zeraora.
"Ora." Zeraora knew the answer to that. To all of it. After all, she was one of the few Pokemon captured by that dastardly alliance. She recalled it all in her mind. And in fact, Zeraora originates from another universe entirely. She closed her eyes, recalling that universe and the day that Team Plasma showed up. But more importantly, she recalled the day Ghetsis had put a powerful influence over her.
Universe 28. Two years Ago.
Zeraora, along with many other Pokemon that Team Plasma, the Twilight Imperium and the Solar Empire captured, were placed in a lab. Prior to the destruction of the Twilight Imperium's resources, this lab was active at the time. This was one of the labs that experimented on creatures of Equestria, random animals and now, Pokemon.
This lab in particular was an eerie complex with flickering fluorescent lights and a maze-like layout. The pervasive scent of chemicals hangs in the air, mixing with the unmistakable metallic tang of Infinity Energy. Rows of glass tanks line the walls, each containing various specimens in various stages of experimentation, punctuated by the occasional yelp or roar of a confined creature. The scientists working for Empress Twilight were also working alongside Team Plasma to speed up their advancements.
Zeraora was currently restrained. Her arms were chained up by the material known as Dynasite. The hardest metal even in this universe. Other Pokemon were being contained such as Shadow Mewtwo, who Getsis already caught. But Shadow Mewtwo was untamed.
"Both Shadow Mewtwo and Zeraora are going to be a challenge to keep in line." Speaking to the scientists was Ghetsis himself, who was present in this room. He wished to keep these Pokemon controlled since they were rather difficult.
Even after catching Shadow Metwo back in the Farrum Region, the Genetic Pokemon still had a strong will to resist, refusing to be controlled by someone like Ghetsis. And the same goes for Zeraora, who also had a powerful will.
"Keep up that bravado and spirit as much as you want," Ghetsis smirked when gazing at the two of them. "You two will be bent to my will eventually. And you, Zeraora? Your power over Plasma is something that I cannot wait to use for myself. You will be able to power anything we use and scorch anyone that gets in our way. How wonderful it is for a Pokemon such as yourself to exist."
"Ze...!" Zeraora absolutely hated what Ghetsis was uttering and everything he stood for. Attempting to break free and scorch him, the Thunderclap Pokemon roared, unleashing a strong burst of lightning from her body. However, the technology here was meant to keep Zeraora and the other Powerful Pokemon in check. When she tried freeing herself, she was unable to get anywhere as the Dynasite had been heavily reinforced.
"As a contingency, to make sure you never forget who your trainer is..." At that moment, Ghetsis held his hand out, emanating the Dark Magic he stole from another King Sombra. By combining it with Rift Energy, he unleashed it onto Zeraora and Mewtwo. "My essence will reside in you. And when enough time passes, it will grow to the point where not even the Aura can free you."
Zeraora and Shadow Mewtwo groaned when Ghetsis passed over his pure essence. Within it was Pure Evil. For the first time, the two of them knew what that felt like and it was absolutely horrific in every possible way. Zeraora's lightning turned red as she screamed out in pain. Shadow Mewtwo took it better thanks to him having superior durability, but it still harmed him.
Ghetsis would pour more of his essence into them, making sure that eventually, they would be on his side with no signs of faltering. He cackled maniacally when unleashing more and more.
Zeraora had to sit there and take it all. And she was still trapped, unable to do anything but be a power source of this alliance. And when screaming out, not only did she see the face of Ghetsis, but she also saw the faces of Empress Twilight Sparkle and Daybreaker in the same room.
Zeraora remembered both of those faces. From Empress Twilight's devious smile, to Daybreaker's neutral expression. This was in contrast to the smirk that she envisioned when spotting Celestia. That was mainly because, in Zeraora's eyes, Daybreaker was as bad as them.
"You won't have to worry about a thing..." At that moment, Shadow Mewtwo spoke to Zeraora. By using telepathy, of course. Since the two of them were near each other, it was inevitable for them to meet.
"Zera?"
"I fear that at this rate, we might end up being controlled by them. But I don't see it lasting forever." Shadow Mewtwo continued. "You should have faith. Something like this won't go unpunished. I promise you."
"Rrr.." It wasn't that Zeraora didn't believe that. She just wanted to break free. It has already been two years since she's been captured and the Thunderclap Pokemon has seen no sign of freedom.
And this continued for months. Months of her being an experiment and power source of this alliance would have drained her. But since she doesn't have an organ that can produce electricity like most Electric-Types, she was being fed electricity instead.
Being fed so many large amounts of it was utterly painful, especially since some of them were coming from other Electric-Types. Pokemon such as Zapdos and Raikou were being used as Zeraora's fuel. They had high amounts of electricity and that was more than enough for the Thunderclap Pokemon.
Those months upon months were a nightmare for Zeraora, who was waiting for freedom. Until the day it happened. The day Ash entered one of the airships. And on that airship, Zeraora was present. When that debacle occurred, the airship came down and with it, some of the Pokemon that were captured.
Among one of them was Zeraora. She remembered the day it happened. The airship trembled as a ruckus was suddenly started thanks to Ash and his Pokemon going wild. When the airship came down, the damage it received left a hole in it. On top of that, it managed to free the trapped Pokemon, even taking down the Dynasite. The events that happened on that ship involved plenty of Aura and Rift Energy. That was more than enough to destroy the Dynasite.
Zeraora never knew that Ash's actions were responsible for her freedom. All she knew and remembered was the lab being set up in flames. Zeraora used this as an opportunity to flee and she never looked back. She never even saw Shadow Mewtwo again.
Unfortunately, Rainbow Dash couldn't receive this story since she didn't understand Zeraora. The most she could do was view Zeraora's expression, knowing that she's been through something rough. While Zeraora still had Ghetsis' essence and voice within her, she was at least glad to be away from that mess.
She wondered if she would see Shadow Mewtwo again. The one Pokemon she managed to interact with during those horrible months. Little did she know, Shadow Mewtwo, was already a minion of Ghetsis, unfortunately. Zeraora was technically on her own.
"Zera?" Suddenly, Zeraora stopped, sensing someone else. Zeraora had to be on high alert constantly, unaware if anyone was a friend or foe if she was meeting them for the first time. Rainbow Dash ended up bumping into her once the Thunderclap Pokemon suddenly stopped.
"I think she's probably here." This time, it wasn't Celestia and Luna making an appearance. Not at all. Thanks to her trail of destruction, others have found out where Zeraora is. Others, such as Twilight Sparkle and Sci-Twi.
Together, they both showed up when exploring the cave with their friends. And at that moment, they came across Zeraora, carefully following her trail. But following it so carefully while also having Fluttershy and Audino listen for any sounds, led them to Zeraora.
And when seeing them, a similar reaction to seeing Celestia kicked in. Unfortunately for both Twilights, they resembled the one who relished in Zeraora being used as a power source. Empress Twilight Sparkle. Both Twilights halted, not even spotting Rainbow Dash initially. But instead, they spotted Zeraora, who stuck out the most.
Rainbow Dash gasped as another unfortunate encounter had occurred. And when looking at both Twilights, specifically Sci-Twi, the presence of Midnight Sparkle was envisioned. After all, Empress Twilight was once Midnight Sparkle and Sci-Twi was once close to such a status. What will become of this encounter? Only Rainbow Dash could possibly get in between it.
Galar. The Isle of Armor. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Finding Zeraora at a cave here at the Isle of Armor, were two faces that were all too familiar to the Thunderclap Pokemon. Unfortunately, Twilight Sparkle and Sci-Twi resemble Empress Twilight strikingly. In Twilight's case, she had a similar stature to the Empress and in Sci-Twi's case, she gave off the lingering presence of Midnight Sparkle who ended up being the Empress.
"Zera...!" Unable to properly control her emotions, Zeraora was ready to lash out once more.
"Wait, Zeraora! It's not who you think it is!" Attempting to protect her friends, Rainbow Dash flew in front of Zeraora, holding her hooves out and frantically explaining things. "It's the same thing with Princess Celestia!"
"It is Zeraora!" Taking out her Pokedex to read up on it was Sci-Twi after finally gazing upon this Pokemon. Zeraora tried restraining herself once more, but it was rather difficult. She just couldn't help but see Empress Twilight in both of them. However, after Rainbow Dash convinced her that Celestia wasn't Daybreaker, she would do the same with Twilight and Sci-Twi.
"Zeraora..." Since Rainbow Dash was there to be that bridge, Zeraora calmed down and thus, she didn't break out into a wild rage.
"Phew...That could've been bad." Thankfully, she prevented any potential conflict and defended her friends from any damage.
"You already found Zeraora, Rainbow Dash?"
"Yeah, not too long ago." The pegasus sighed. "And it's been...something. Princess Celestia and Luna found her and they're right around the corner." She also revealed that Celestia and Luna were present in this cave, however, they chose not to show themselves. Specifically, Celestia, who resembled Daybreaker.
Now that Twilight and Sci-Twi had shown up, alongside Fluttershy, this meant that many others were closer to Zeraora. Such as the Pokemon Rangers. Overhearing this were the Rangers and Kidd Summers, who would not advance just yet. They would keep their distance since Zeraora was completely calm. No sign of a rampage just yet.
"Check that out..." Kidd whistled after seeing Rainbow Dash stand casually next to Zeraora.
"Sorry, Zeraora. I was meaning to tell you about Celestia being around but...I didn't want a rampage going off." The pegasus apologized.
"Ora." Zeraora sighed. She was already tired of seeing familiar faces that she despised. Twice she has felt boiling rage but only once has she managed to maintain it. But even though she maintained this rage, there was a caveat. And unfortunately, this was thanks to Ghetsis' influence. After her rage subsided, Zeraora once again felt her head vibrate as she got on her knees.
"Are you alright?!"
"Zera..." Unexpectedly, Zeraora passed out. She dropped to the ground, unconscious. This caused stellar concern from Rainbow Dash, Castform and now those that have shown up. Zeraora was definitely not in te best state. From the scratches and bruises around her to the sudden knockout she received after subduing her rage.
10 Minutes Later.
10 Minutes had passed. Still unconscious, Zeraora was placed somewhere to rest. In this case, it was a comfortable flower bed here at the Isle of Armor. Surrounding this area were the Pokemon Rangers and Kidd. She was given some more peace after the damage she caused. While minimal since a full-on rampage didn't happen, it was still noticeable.
"Well, she'll wake up eventually. But she expended herself which is a surprise. A Pokemon like her shouldn't be able to burn out so quickly. Zeraoras can run for days after all." said a Pokemon Ranger.
"What happened to her exactly"? Rarity asked.
"It might have something to do with her rage." Scanning Zeraora was Kidd Summers, who immediately saw her heat signature. "This isn't the first time something like this has happened. We saw Zeraora expend herself after going on a rampage but she never knocked herself out before. This is new and it's also the first time it's happened where she hasn't fully erupted."
"Poor girl." A disheartened Fluttershy said. "It's because she saw different ponies when looking at both Twilights and Princess Celestia. What did she go through when she was with them? Plus, she was Ghetsis' Pokemon."
"My scanner's picking up on something in her," Kidd observed. She wasn't just seeing Zeraora's Heat Signature, but also a strange energy. It crackled within Zeraora, clashing with the electricity she managed to store. In fact, it looked like it was one with her electricity. An extension of her.
"What is it? What do you see?" Twilight questioned.
"Hmm...It looks like there's another energy within her. Doesn't look like her electricity at all. Now that we're finally getting a closer look at this Zeraora, I think we've found a reason for these rampages. Looks like something's merged with her electricity.
"Oh?" Using magic, Twilight would find her own way to look into Zeraora. By using her Rift Magic, Sci-Twi would observe Zeraora. However, instead of seeing what was within her, her Rift Vision instead focused on what was on the outside. Twilight saw a strange yet familiar aura around Zeraora, lightly and silently looming. "That magic...Doesn't it look a lot like Sombra's magic?"
"Well, she was with Ghetsis, after all. Plus, she's still his Pokemon, so it makes sense for some of his stolen magic to be around here." Rarity shrugged.
"But this feels different..." Twilight pondered. "Some of it is Rift Energy. This is probably what causes her to fall unconscious."
"If I had to guess, Ghetsis must have placed something within her to cause this," Celestia said, approaching her fellow alicorn. "It'd be a shame if she went through another experience such as this just by seeing us."
"Well, we want to solve her rampaging problem and get her back home. To do that, we'll have ot do something about that energy within her. It's clearly not suppossed to be there. I can trust that any one of you is capable of removing it?"
"Oh, for sure!" A few of them said. Indeed, some of them had methods for removing energies within others. Such as Souls and Rift Energy.
"Let me take a swing at it." Applejack stepped forward, holding one of her Poke Balls out. By throwing it into the air, she summoned her Delta Lucario.
"Lucario!"
"Lucario. I need ya to use Dark Matter on Zeraora. Don't hurt her though."
"Rrr!" Nodding in understanding, Delta Lucario knew what needed to be done. Holding his hand out, he gathered the dark forces of the universe, forming it into a single attack. This attack was then unleashed a wave but was weakened to prevent any harm from being done.
Once the wave entered Zeraora, at that moment, it was then forced out. Everyone gasped as a black energy expunged the Dark Matter, knocking it out of Zeraora. The force of it also reached Lucario, pushing him back. The Anubis Pokemon groaned as he went stumbling, bumping into some of the Pokemon Rangers.
"Lucario! Are you alright?!" Applejack rushed over.
"It forced his Dark Matter out?! How?" Sci-Twi gawked. "Dark Matter shouldn't be dealt with so easily!"
"That can't be right. Maybe it wasn't a soul then..." Twilight pondered. "I figured a part of it would be since Ghetsis is involved in this. Maybe the Rift Magic can be pushed out."
"Maybe..." Ash took out his own Poke Ball as well. But not just that, on his other hand, he managed to summon the Staff of Sir Aaron. Ash then brought out his own Lucario to try and force at least the Rift Energy out of her. Everyone watched as Ash's Lucario and the Aura were summoned for Zeraora.
With Ash holding his staff out and Lucario transferring Aura over, this universal energy would reach the Thunderclap Pokemon. And this time, it lasted longer than the Dark Matter, however, there was still some pushback. Ash and Lucario groaned, feeling the pushback from the energy that Ghetsis had placed within Zeraora. The Aura was being fought against by the Dark Magic and the Rift Energy, making sure that no one would break Ghetsis' influence over the Electric-Type. But Ash wasn't one to give up.
Putting more Aura into this, the clash intensified as the Rift Energy was being affected the most. Compared to the Dark Magic, the Rift Energy was minimal since Ghetsis was mainly using Sombra's power at that time. Speaking of Sombra, he transferred his own magic over to deal with his magic, boosting Ash. Alas, they couldn't remove the essence of Ghetsis within her as it was well protected.
Just as Ghetsis said, he would make sure that it would grow to a point where no amount of Aura could remove it. And since enough time has passed predating this very day, the essence of Ghetsis was greatly strengthened. But even with this strength, Sci-Twi and Kidd saw that the Dark Energy was starting to tremble. There was a sign of it weakening. The Rift Energy was diminishing a bit but the clash had come to an end for it to go any further.
"Man...!" Ash groaned after being forced back by the energies within. "Sorry. I didn't get enough time with it."
"Luca..."
"You did your best." Kidd touched Ash's shoulder. "Zeraora will be waking up soon and all of that will still be in her, making it nigh-impossible to prevent her from erupting into a rage constantly."
"But she won't anymore, right? Rainbow Dash explained the similarities to her, so when she wakes up, she won't attack any of us. It'll be A-Okay!" Believing that nothing could go wrong was Scootaloo, along with her friends.
"I'm afraid not." Unfortunately, Kidd shut that down. "The rampage that Zeraora goes on dismisses her friends as well, especially when it gets to a certain level. If she lets her rage overcome her, it won't matter if Princess Celestia or Both Twilights are different from the ones she saw."
"Oh..." That killed the mood for the CMC.
"Zeraora..." Rainbow Dash sighed as it was rather sad what Zeraora's condition was. Not only was she cursed by this rage-inducing energy that Ghetsis put this influence over but she was clearly lost, away from her own universe. And speaking of Zeraora, she started groaning as that was a sign of her getting back up.a
"Zera?" When opening her eyes, the first person she saw was Rainbow Dash, followed up by Ash. The Thunderclap Pokemon grumbled as her body twitched. Next were the faces of Celestia and Twilight, but she didn't immediately resort to seeing the Empress and Daybreaker. She still recollected the memories of what Rainbow Dash told her and remembered knocking herself unconscious.
Awake, Zeraora stood up, seeing more faces around her. Ranging from ponies to Humans. The Pokemon Rangers were here. And immediately, making a light gasp, Zeraora recognized them all. It was why she started running the second she saw the ship in the sky.
"Zera?! Ora!" Zeraora growled at the Ranger Union while holding onto her arm which was trembling a bit. She wasn't hostile towards them, but instead, she showed a different emotion. One that preferred the Ranger Union not being here.
"She said that she doesn't need your help." Fluttershy translated. "She can handle herself."
"Oh. Is that why you've been running away from us?" One of the Rangers commented. At least the union now knew why Zeraora was hard to reach for them."
"Ze." Zeraora scoffed.
"Well, you've been causing destruction whenever you suddenly break out into a rage, so we have no choice but to get involved." Another Ranger said. "We're surprised you knew that we existed though."
"Zeraora. Are you feeling better now? How come you passed out like that earlier?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Ora...Zeraora." Zeraora sighed. She then took a seat, wanting to rest for a little while longer but without being unconscious.
"She said that she's been doing it accidentally." Fluttershy was thankfully here to finally give context to everything. With her present, they could now understand Zeraora's sudden outbursts. "There's a voice that speaks to her in her mind and she struggles to deal with it. Whenever it comes up, she tries to force it away."
"Do you think it's Ghetsis' voice? It has to be since that's his magic in there." Twilight spoke.
"Zera..." All it took was Zeraora confirming it with a head nod. She also knew Ghetsis' name and that was indeed his voice.
"Zeraora also says that she only breaks out into a rage because she can't help it. The voice of Ghetsis forces her to break out into a rampage. Ghetsis wants Zeraora to turn since he still has her Poke Ball. Every time she fights back against Ghetsis' voice and energy, she hurts herself, as if Ghetsis expected this."
"Oooh, even from this distance, Ghetsis is downright annoying!" Rarity groaned. Of course, Ghetsis just had to make things difficult for everyone, resulting in volatile destruction.
"Well, now we know. This is going to be tough for us to handle though." Kidd Summers tapped her feet, wondering how to overcome this issue. "Stuff like this is out of my expertise. I think the same goes for the Ranger Union. If anything, this sounds like something all you from Equestria can handle. It's magic-related. But we can still minimize any damage done to the place."
"What do we do though? We couldn't force the energy out of Ghetsis."
"Zeraora..."
"Zeraora says that Ghetsis prepared for this. He put as much of his power into her so that when enough time passes, it'll be difficult for anyone to remove it. Zeraora's only managed to push it back at most but it won't leave her." Fluttershy explained. "Poor Zeraora's had to keep moving to keep places safe."
"Tell you what. You're probably not okay with sticking around in a lab or anything like that." Kidd approached Zeraora. "So, we won't take you anywhere. We can't exactly return you to your original universe just yet since your problem hasn't been solved. We also can't reach your universe since we don't know which one it is. So for now, how about you just relax wherever."
"Zera?"
"That's right." Kidd winked. "You come here to the Isle of Armor for a reason. My guess is that you have one back in your universe. Or, it's just a nice place for you to be in. It's better for you to be out here in the open instead of back at the Ranger Union. But you'll also need someone to keep an eye on you just so you don't lose it and I'm already looking at them.
"Rrrr..." Zeraora grumbled for a moment before looking at Rainbow Dash's group. Kidd was obviously referring to them. And Zeraora saw where she was coming. Rainbow Dash was simply the first example of the safety they brought, even if one of them entered a small scuffle with her.
"You don't gotta worry about a thing, Zeraora." Rainbow Dash flew over, shrugging her hooves. "I'll have you know, we're used to something like that. If you're having trouble, count on us. If you go on a rampage, will simmer you down. I mean, I already did it two times in a row, so how's that?"
"Don't get cocky, Rainbow Dash..." Twilight shook her head.
"What? I'm not. Watch. The next time she gets riled up, she'll be chilling out in no time."
"I think that voice in her head is going to make it difficult though," said Fluttershy. "We can't hear it at all so when it comes up, we'll have to be ready. We don't want Zeraora going on a rampage across the Pokemon Festival."
"Well. We're counting on you to prevent Zeraora from destroying anything. As for the destruction she's caused, we'll repair what's been done. We'll catch up with you and Zeraora soon once we're done here at the Isle of Armor."
"Are you saying we should go beyond the Isle of Armor?"
"Yes? Why not?" Kidd smiled. "My Weavile were also pretty troublesome Pokemon but there's something about taking a Pokemon that's struggling with something out there that works wonders. After all, Zeraora loves getting out there."
Kidd and the Rangers would minimize the damage done by Zeraora while Ash's group handled the Thunderclap Pokemon. Zeraora then looked at them all, realizing she was going to be seeing these faces for a while. This involved Celestia, Twilight and Sci-Twi.
But she did see a positive to this. Because these were the faces she would be seen, it would at least be better than what she saw when she was captured. There was still one issue to look out for. The voice of Ghetsis. At any point, his voice could return and start Zeraora's rampage. It didn't have to be familiar faces that kickstarted the rampage after all.
"Check out the Pokemon Festival! Trust me! You're gonna love it!" Rainbow Dash suggested that Zeraora tried out the Pokemon Festival. To her, that was the best place to start from here. Zeraora paused for a moment before going along with it. She had nothing else to do after all and she wasn't exactly in the best spirits. She did need something to elevate her from this rough spot.
Thus, Zeraora had temporarily joined the party. Now, they could leave the Isle of Armor just to experience the rest of the Pokemon Festival. But they would return here eventually, mainly for Sci-Twi to show up once enough time with Kubfu had been spent. A Legendary and Mythical Pokemon had both joined the party on the same day. One was bold and headstrong while the other was lost and struggling.
"Well, the Crown Tundra will have to wait." Celestia prioritized the safety of everyone else during the festival over continuing her search for Cobalion. "By the way, Lucas. Do you think you could open another gateway for us?"
"Sure. I've been itching to try it again. I can probably improve the move I do it." And this time, Lucas was up for it. Giving a thumbs-up, it was time for him to yet again summon a gateway for everyone to use. All Everyone had to do was give a suggestion, come to an agreement and that gateway could open up.
Equestria. The Crystal Empire. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
Here at the Crystal Empire, a new gateway had been opened. Done by Lucas who was assisted by Twilight, a gateway between the Isle of Armor and the Crystal Empire was formed. There was now another gateways that properly connected between different locations. Slowly, but surely, the gateways were returning and Lucas was to thank for it all.
"Ahaaaaa..." Falling flat on his face after emerging from the gateway was Lucas, who drained himself once more. He figured that creating new gateways would help him improve, just so he wouldn't feel so woozy and perplexed afterwards. This was his second time making a gateway so there was still a ways to go if he was to bring back the gateways that were lost.
"Great work, Lucas. Get yourself some rest," said Celestia. She was the one who requested easy access to the Crystal Empire by making the Isle of Armor one of the starting points. She and everyone else would pass through the gateway, entering the Crystal Empire. Already, Celestia and Luna went their own way upon arriving.
"Got it..." Lucas groaned as his face was focused on the many crystals. "Ow..."
"Zera..." Entering the Crystal Empire as well was Zeraora, who was now part of this group. But only temporary until things with her get sorted out and any sign of a rampage was subdued.
"Counting on you. I know you'll do well and make Zeraora feel safer." Peering her head through the gateway was Kidd Summers. "If there's any destruction, we'll be there by using this gateway. See you soon~"
When looking at the Crystal Empire, Zeraora also saw some familiarity. She felt as if she had seen this place before somewhere. But before she could think of where and when, the noises of the festival quickly broke her concentration. Now that she was in a place where the Pokemon Festival was heavily active, she would have to expect all this noise. It wouldn't be the first considering the places she's been to.
"Don't just look. Take a swing at all of this." Rainbow Dash spoke. "We're gonna have to show you how sweet something like this can be."
"Zera..." She'd rather not. While she was glad that there wasn't a rampage going on, Zeraora walked off on her own, deciding to go completely solo.
"Come on! You're missing out!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "You remember when we were talking about who was faster? Now's our chance to put a rest to it. With that! Check that out!"
"Zera?" Her attention was turned to an attraction here at the Crystal Empire. It wasn't a Racing Attraction, but it did involve speed. It was a Speed Game involving building up energy to reach a certain score. And the prizes there were very much valuable. A good chunk of them were Poke Balls of different types. And the highest-ranking ones were Ultra Balls, Quick Balls and Timer Balls. No sign of a Master Ball.
"How about it? Whoever moves the fastest to build up a ton of energy gets a lot of rewards. Anything they want
"Zeraora..." Zeraora shook her head. To waste her speed on something so childish would be pointless.
"What? Scared?" At that moment, she said a sentence that was sure to get a rise out of someone. Even the Thunderclap Pokemon.
"Rrr!" She flashed her eyes at Rainbow Dash who kept up a smug smirk. Zeraora didn't take too kindly to that callout. How could she be scared when she was so fierce? But this is exactly what Rainbow Dash wanted.
"Rainbow Dash...The whole point of this is to not anger her." Fluttershy whispered.
"Heh. Don't worry. I got this." However, Rainbow Dash had experience with scenarios such as this. After all, she wasn't a stranger to serious and stubborn Pokemon. "I mean, unless yo don't have the speed for it. Everything that happened back at the Isle of Armor wasn't a bluff, right? I bet I can build up enough speed without even trying and so can Rarity's Pheromosa."
"Well, of course, my sweet Pheromosa can do it. Why wouldn't she?" Rarity scoffed. "When it comes to the land, she's the fastest."
"Yeah, on land. But who's beating me in the air? No one." Rainbow Dash proudly said. "And that game works for all types of speed, so it'll be a cinch."
"Zera!" Zeraora found the notion to be ridiculous. She prided herself on her speed, knowing that she was fast. Among the fastest Pokemon out there.
"Really? Wanna prove it then?" Just like that, Rainbow Dash dragged Zeraora into it. Just like how she dragged Mienfoo into something despite how stubborn she once was. "Okay. Let's take a swing at it."
They would approach the game, ready to see who could build up enough. Spearheaded by employees of BigTime Ben, many have already tried this game to achieve rewards. For the most part, horsepower has been used on this machine that resembled a globe but completely hollow. The results were impressive and smaller or average ranked rewards were given out. Naturally, the Pokemon would try it out and they presented better results which scored higher points.
Those with fast Pokemon took on this attraction and gained easy points and rewards. But so far, the scores they've reached have been around 4000 or 3000. 5000 was one of the highest and the hardest one to reach was 15,000.
"Oh, you guys?" The employee said, recognizing Rainbow Dash's group immediately. "I had a feeling you'd show up."
"Awwww!" Naturally, those who also knew about this group groaned. They were about to break the high scores with ease, unfortunately. Those high-ranking rewards that surpass 3000 or 4000 were about to be nothing. Either one of them will reach 15,000.
"Come on. You all saw this coming, right?" Rainbow Dash shrugged it off. "Just watch how a real speedster does it. I can break those records and get myself some Ultra Balls. Catching Pokemon will be easier than before!"
"Alright then. Just enter this globe and generate enough speed to reach 15,000 or anything else." She instructed. "The globe will move as fast as your speed and that'll determine the points. And you don't have to worry about it breaking apart."
"Okay. I'll go first!" Declaring the first go was Rainbow Dash, who would look back at Zeraora. The Thunderclap Pokemon kept her serious face while also doubting Rainbow Dash's speed. Even after seeing the pegasus keep up with her back at the Isle of Armor, she had her doubts.
When entering the globe, it shut itself, making sure that Rainbow Dash could fully use her speed without worrying about flying out or anything similar to that. Rubbing her hooves, Rainbow Dash was about to show off her speed. But most already knew what she could do at her best. The Sonic Rainboom was the prime example of Rainbow Dash's absolute best.
In terms of speed, she excelled at speed. While she was a good runner, she was born to master the skies. Taking flight, Rainbow Dash started flying around in circles, building up her speed. By doing so, the globe reacted to her speed, spiralling at the same pace as well. Zeraora watched closely, waiting for the moment that Rainbow Dash showed off her best speed, which apparently wasn't all that.
But as soon as she gained enough speed, the numbers were rising. Quickly shooting from 500 to 1000 instantly. Impressive, but it still wasn't her best. At that moment, Zeraora would witness Rainbow Dash's speciality for the very first time. As soon as she was about to dismiss Rainbow Dash's speed, the Sonic Rainboom suddenly went off.
Rainbow Dash reached her top speed, unleashing that signature acceleration that created a strong shockwave. Thankfully, the globe was built to handle plenty of damage, including a Sonic Rainboom. Zeraora was shocked to see such a display of speed. It was rather colourful too. With this burst of speed, Rainbow Dash reached 7000 points.
"Hah! 8000!" She cackled, flying out of the globe once it opened up. "Top that! I've been working on myself too. I wasn't satisfied with my own speed knowing there were Pokemon out there even faster than me."
"Congratulations. That's deserving a Poke Ball of your choice. You will only get one Ultra Ball for reaching 8000 while the others can be chosen in many quantities. If you want more than one Ultra Ball, you must reach the top score." As for the prizes, Rainbow Dash could pick, but with some limitations.
"Well, I think I'll take one Ultra Ball. That's about it." She only chose one reward out of multiple. That Ultra Ball was just too valuable to pass on.
"Zera!" Zeraora immediately moved past the others, wanting to beat that score instantly. She has now seen what Rainbow Dash could do and she was definitely impressed. A Sonic Rainboom was something she's never seen before. But she felt like she could overcome that.
Everyone here at the Crystal Empire had never seen such a Pokemon before. Their interests were piqued and their Pokedexes were up and ready. Stepping into the sphere, Zeraora was ready to blow them all out of the water. Even those who haven't tried the attraction yet
"Well actually, if I recall correctly, it's Pheromosa that's-" Lucas had the answer as to who was the fastest out of the three, but that was soon interrupted when the sound of thunder came crashing through the ears of everyone. Zeraora started running, refusing to use any buildup whatsoever. She was just going straight for it. The globe moved rapidly in an instant as the points started from 0 and immediately shot up to 3000.
Flashes of lightning filled up the globe, turning it light blue. Zeraora was racking up plenty of points, surpassing 3000 and reaching 8000 as well. But she didn't stop there. While she managed to reach Rainbow Dash's speed, she surpassed that as well. To Rainbow Dash's shock, the Thunderclap Pokemon's maximum speed was 10,000.
"Zeraora!" Zeraora roared, raising his arms into the air after successfully surpassing 10,000.
"Did you make this globe just for Pokemon like her?" Twilight asked. The fact that Zeraora reached this speed that was a part of the rankings made it too obvious that lightning-fast Pokemon were eligble.
"Well...Yes." Indeed. The employee saw something like this coming. It wasn't too farfetched to think so.
"Ze?" Zeraora put on a smug smile, gazing at Rainbow Dash's disgruntled face. She knew she surpassed him and it was absolutely satisfying. This was Rainbow Dash's speciality when it comes to bonding with Pokemon. All of her friends have their ways. From Ash's way of supporting Pokemon to Fluttershy's way of caring for their wounds, Rainbow Dash's speciality was all about being competitive. Her competitive nature resonated with Pokemon that can give off a competitive spirit.
"Alright, alright." Rainbow Dash grumbled. Even though she accomplished what she wanted, she still wished to be faster than Zeraora. Such was the price of being competitive. "You're faster than me. But not for long...I just have to get faster eventually."
"Take your pick. What would you like?" The rewards were offered up to Zeraora. She wouldn't have a need for any of the Poke Balls but there were still other items beneficial to the Pokemon. Pokemon Toys, Training Items, Accessories, Clothes and more. But all Zeraora truly cared for was the food.
Specifically, the singular chocolate bar that she managed to spot in the pile of prizes. Her eyes lit up as she snagged the chocolate bars from the table in a flash, choosing them only.
"That's it? What a waste..." The employee sighed. A huge chunk of these prizes might not be used all that much and there were very few Pokemon that could reach that kind of speed.
"You two girls did well." Rarity walked past both of them, holding out Pheromosa's Poke Ball. Out of it emerged the Ultra Beast, ready to do her best. "Unfortunately, you're nothing compared to Pheromosa."
"As if." Rainbow Dash scoffed. So did Zeraora. Both of them fittingly knew about Pheromosa's speed and in their minds, they were worried. The two of them knew that Pheromosa could be ludicrously fast, especially with her signature ability, Beast Boost.
"Pheromosa...!" Pheromosa stretched before preparing to enter the globe. She wouldn't take it too seriously compared to Rainbow Dash and Zeraora. She was just here to have fun. However, for an Ultra Beast, having fun involved using everything at their disposal considering how Alien they were.
She leapt into the globe which immediately shut itself. It was time for Pheromosa to show off. But she never has the intention to show off. Pheromosa simply does her best and knows Rarity will be proud of her. And this was certainly the time to be proud.
Much like Rainbow Dash, she started building up speed, slowly walking to eventually jogging. The globe followed her speed, moving at a standard pace. Afterwards, she started accelerating without using her signature ability Beast Boost to amp herself. Pheromosa was simply going to use her base speed.
Lo and behold, her base speed was more than enough. As soon as she accelerated, the points were quickly going up. Pheromosa already hit 5000 points with this acceleration and this wasn't even her best display. Zeraora started sweating, seeing the Lissome Pokemon accelerate.
Going from 5000 to 9000 and soon, she surpassed Zeraora's 10,000. And she was still going. Pheromosa was eligible for multiple rewards as the points would continue to increase. Looking at the spinning globe, Pinkie Pie instantly fainted out of dizziness,
15,000 points had been reached and they would most likely go higher if the points were allowed to. Pheromosa was still going as she had surpassed the maximum score.
"That's that! 15,000 points!" The employee shouted, prompting Pheromosa to slow down. After hearing that she reached the maximum of 15,000 points, she excitedly jumped out of the globe. In response, she hugged Rarity, picking the unicorn off the ground.
"Man...I miss when I was the fastest around ." Rainbow Dash sighed. Her time as the fastest was over. Even though she was trying to improve her speed consistently.
"Zera..." Zeraora was beaten. She wasn't the fastest around either. So far, Pheromosa was above them both. And this is exactly what Lucas was trying to tell them.
The prizes that Pheromosa was offered were the absolute maximum. She was the one that was capable of choosing as many Ultra Balls as she wanted. To Pheromosa and by extension, Rarity, she didn't really need plenty of Ultra Balls. However, she would still take them but with a twist. After selecting the Ultra Balls and holding them in her arms, she passed them over to Rainbow Dash and Sci-Twi.
"H-Huh?! You're giving it to us!?" Rainbow Dash gasped.
"All of it?! Really?! I thought Rarity would've wanted them!" Sci-Twi uttered in disbelief.
"Mosa-Mosa!" Pheromosa put on a cheerful smile. Her generosity was as strong as her trainer and it truly showed.
"Y-You're too generous, Pheromosa!" Rainbow Dash stuttered, tearing up a bit as she would gladly take all of these Ultra Balls. So would Sci-Twi since this would help her in her missions.
"With this many Ultra Balls, catching Alpha Pokemon won't be too difficult." Lucas walked over, observing the quantity of Ultra Balls. "Looks like you can catch at least 20 of them. I mean...if you don't fail the first time."
"I'll make good use of these!" Sci-Twi squeed. Thankfully, Poke Balls are always minimized from the get-go so even with these many Ultra Balls at her disposal, she could carry them. Just like how many of Ash's Pokemon's Poke Balls were in his bag.
"Hang on. Aren't you..." Suddenly, one of the ponies here finally recognized Lucas. Since his name and photo was spread after he opened a gateway, his existence was very much well-known by many across Equestria. In such a short time too.
"Yeah?" Lucas faced them. This whole time, everyone's been focused on Zeraora and for a good reason. She certainly stuck out being a new Pokemon that they've never seen before and the fact that Ash's group showed up to this speed game. But now, Lucas was the one sticking out Even more than Lucas.
"You're Lucas! You're the one who can open gateways!" She cried out Upon screaming Lucas's name, others soon took notice, having their ears perk up and their attention steer elsewhere. "Hey, everypony! Lucas is here!"
"Really? Aw, great timing! I need you to open up a gateway for me!" Soon, many ponies were already flocking over once the one who could open gateways was spotted.
"Same here" Do you think I could get a quick gateway to Kalos?"
"I need one too. But for Equestria only. It's such a hassle getting to work and it takes 2 hours." Soon, Lucas was flooded with requests from ponies who wished to have easier transport. Twilight and the others immediately found themselves in a crowded area wich wasn't that crowded from the start.
"H-Hold on. I'm kinda low right now. I just did it and-" But Lucas' words weren't reaching them. Soon, this one area was flooded with ponies. "Ghh!" Requests by the dozen were flying in.
"Zera?" Zeraora was already away from the crowd, watching as all the attention was given to Lucas. It was rather pleasing to Zeraora, knowing that she wasn't the centre of attention. She certainly wouldn't prefer this kind of attention and poor Lucas was receiving it.
"I gotta go!" Lucas managed to break free before it got too crowded for him. With his own burst of speed, the Trainer from another universe bolted away.
"Come back!" Unfortunately for Lucas, this prompted them to follow him. There was no way they were going to let someone like him get away. Not when they've been yearning for gateways ever since the Wish was made.
"Hold on, everypony! Don't just chase him down!" Twilight screamed, but her words did not reach them. A stampede of hoofsteps could be heard. Lucas screeched when looking back to see a horde of ponies and some Pokemon coming his way. Twilight and others were knocked aside by this stampede as plenty of the ponies here were after Lucas. "Geez...They really missed those gateways, didn't they?"
"Well, we'd better catch up before things get worse for him." Ash was already off to help Lucas before he becomes a pawn of Gateway spawning.
"Mind helping out, Zeraora?" Rainbow Dash asked. "This might be a good time to see who can reach Lucas faster.
"Zera!" Zeraora was up for the challenge. She had to try and prove herself as the fastest once more after Pheromosa beat her and catching Lucas was another way to prove it.
Rainbow Dash was already off, joining her friends to try and save Lucas from this horde. Pheromosa placed Rarity on her shoulder before soon going ahead of the others. Already, Lucas managed to get far, instantly using whatever he could to elude the horde since his face was very much recognizable. Everyone here knew who he was so he had to keep running.
But right as Zeraora started moving, trying to catch up Lucas, her eyes met with something else. Or rather, someone else. Looking in the distance, she saw yet another familiar face. And that familiar face saw her as well.
It was the older Flurry Heart from another universe. And of course, this Flurry Heart was once in the alliance of Ghetsis, Daybreaker and Empress Twilight. At some point, these two had seen each other.
But this time, unlike Empress Twilight and Daybreaker, the appearance of the older Flurry Heart wasn't different to what Zeraora once saw, so there was no mistaking her for somepony else. Zeraora recognized that face anywhere.
"That Zeraora..." Flurry Heart also recognized Zeraora. She didn't mistake it for another one. She knew which Zeraora this was. And when both looked at each other from a distance, in unison, they each had memories flood in. Memories of Zeraora's previous universe.
It was on the same day Zeraora was captured by Team Plasma and forced to become a fuel for their weapons via Plasma. It was a universe where the light across the world had been completely absorbed and taken away as the journey continues.
Equestria. The Crystal Empire. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
After being spotted here at the Crystal Empire, Lucas's fame was displayed after everypony instantly threw requests at him. Since he was capable of opening new gateways, of course they would pursue him. Literally. Lucas found himself fleeing from the horde of ponies and Pokemon.
"Whew..." He managed to escape such a large crowd, outrunning them all. The Speed of Fear was a wonderful thing. Lucas was still drained after opening up a gateway to the Crystal Empire minutes ago and needed the time to relax. But unfortunately, with so many ponies and Pokemon wanting the chance to travel easily again, he had some wild moments coming his way.
Losing sight of them, Lucas carefully shuffled and shimmied to the side. He couldn't be too careful after all. The Crystal Empire was heavily populated. "I'm in the clear. Geez, they missed those gateways a lot, huh? News travels fast in this world too..."
"It does, doesn't it?" Alas, someone did find her after all. Sneaking up on Lucas without making a sound was a young filly. This filly was joined by many other foals who all had the same devious grins on their faces. They snuck through the large crowd thanks to their small stature, using it to reach Lucas.
"P-Please...! I don't have the strength!" Lucas wailed. But the children did not care. It was obvious that they wanted to head to certain places with ease. If anything, they were far more terrifying the grownups. At least they were only throwing requests at Lucas. The children wanted it by force, unfortunately.
"Get him!" At that moment, they leapt at Lucas and attacked his legs, acting like anklebiters.
"Gah!" He cried out as he was swarmed by the foals. Lucas's arm could be seen rising out of the pile of foals who were trying to force the power of the gateway out of him.
"Maybe we have to pull something to get him to use! Pull his ears!"
"I've got his nose! Somepony pull his arm!" They were hoping to make it quick and easy by ripping the power of the gateways out of Lucas. In Lucas's mind, he wondered how he got to this point. All he did was visit this universe for the first time and was immediately swarmed with attention. Even more so than his original universe.
"Oh, there you are! Found you first!" Finding Lucas before anyone else was Ash who came sliding in.
"Ash! Help!" Lucas bellowed.
"Ash!?" All it took was the voice and appearance of Ash to quickly freeze the foals. Seeing Ash here, they promptly stopped any harm being done to Lucas. "Uh, we were just uh..."
"Come on. Let Lucas rest. He'd love to make new gateways but he's still working out the kinks. All Lucas needs is some rest." Ash said.
"Alright..." Thanks to Ash's influence, they pulled back, letting of Lucas. The Trainer from Sinnoh had a red nose and ears as the strength of some of these foals came from earth ponies, which certainly didn't help. "Sorry, Lucas..." They all apologized, soon leaving Lucas alone.
"Thanks, Ash..." Lucas sighed. "Could you do the same for everyone else?"
"That's gonna be tough compared to the kids. They really want those gateways back after all and I don't know how much longer they can wait until all of them show up again."
"Why'd it have to be me?" Lucas lowered his head before raising it instantly. "Elio's got more stamina than me and the others! He should've gotten this instead!"
Meanwhile, Zeraora, who planned to find Lucas as well, was promptly stopped when his attention was steered elsewhere His eyes immediately locked onto yet another familiar face. This time, it was the older Princess Flurry Heart. But unlike Sci-Twi, Celestia and Twilight, the appearance of this pony wasn't a mistake. She recognized her without a doubt.
"Uh oh..." Flurry Heart gulped, sensing high hostility. Zeraora and her both recalled memories of the universe that lost its light. Flurry Heart was there to see it all vanish while Zeraora was captured by Ghetsis at the same time. Her entire home had been ruined and she became a fuel for this cruel alliance.
While she has mainly been restrained by Rainbow Dash who managed to convince her that both Twilights and Celestia were not Empress Twilight or Daybreaker, this was most definitely the Flurry Heart who was once part of that alliance. But Zeraora wasn't aware that she was no longer a part of it and Rainbow Dash wasn't focused on the Thunderclap Pokemon right now.
It was only until she saw that Zeraora wasn't running anywhere around the Crystal Empire or even the lack of thunder being heard that Zeraora wasn't on the move. "Hey, wait a sec. Zeraora?"
"Zeraora!" With electricity building up in her body and her memories of that horrible experience returning, the Thunderclap Pokemon was about to lash out once more. Zeraora immediately took off, targeting Flurry Heart. She tried her best to contain her anger, but it was no use. With no one to calm her down, Zera took action, approaching the older Flurry Heart
"Wait, wait, wait!" Flurry Heart frantically moved her hooves around. But there was no use trying to talk to her right now. Screeching, the young alicorn would teleport away right as Zeraora's paw came flying in. Teleporting out of the way in time, Zeraora struck the ground, letting out a crash of lightning.
"Ze?!" Zeraora then looked up, spotting Flurry Heart moving to the distance. But she wouldn't let her escape as shown by her running immediately. Zeraora was taking all of her built-up rage and unleashing it on those who took her away from her home and ruined it.
"Wait, Zeraora!" Flurry Heart still tried explaining herself. She would once again teleport as soon as Zeraora got too close. Yet again, she had to distance herself from a Pokemon that could clear distances at high speeds. Zeraora kept chasing after Flurry Heart who kept teleporting to avoid these hits. She knew that Zeraora's lightning was always bound to hit so she couldn't afford to make her teleportations too close. The young alicorn had to be away from her until she calms down.
"Golurk!" Stepping in front of the older Flurry Heart was one of the Golurks. Something like this wouldn't be ignored by the guards of the Crystal Empire, especially since it involved royalty. A Golurk appeared, using its massive hand to catch Zeraora's next attack. The lightning didn't affect the Golurk at all thanks to its immunity to Electric.
"Princess! Are you alright?!" The guard asked as all the other Golurks and Crystal Empire Guards appeared to defend the Princess.
"Yeah, I'm fine. But listen! She-" Right as she was about to simmer the situation, Zeraora interrupted it in an instant.
"Zera!" Even with the type disadvantage, Zeraora instantly forced the opposing Golurk out of the way with brute force, knocking it back. The Golurk was moved back, bumping into its own trainer as they both fell down.
"Listen! That Zeraora's just taking out her anger against me because of the alliance I used to be in!" Flurry Heart quickly explained. "She's mad for a good reason! It's not what you think it is!"
Zeraora!" But even with those words, Zeraora's rage had already built up for a longer time. Without Rainbow Dash to hold her back, she was becoming more and more hostile. The Golurk stood in the way of Flurry Heart, which meant they were instantly her enemy. Lunging at the Golurk, Zeraora would strike at them. Some of the Golurk retaliated, only for Zeraora to hit them before they could hit her.
She delivered swift and sharp hits to the Golurks, using attacks that weren't electricity-based. Just then, Rainbow Dash finally spotted Zeraora as it wasn't that hard to do so. The sound of thunder returned as soon as she started chasing Flurry Heart. This battle would soon be noticed by the crowd here at the Crystal Empire as they witnessed the Young Princess being attacked by the Thunderclap Pokemon.
"G-Gol!" The Golurk cried out after being knocked aside. But more stood in Zeraora's way, trying to stop her. Three of them used Ground-Type moves to try and halt her actions, only for Zeraora to leap over them in an instant. The Thunderclap Pokemon, after avoiding the Ground-Type moves, performed a dive kick to strike those three Golurk. They immediately fell over.
"Wait, Zeraora! Stop!" Rainbow Dash cried out, quickly zooming in. But it was too late. Zeraora had gone too long without anyone calming her down. Thus, her rage was starting to be her guide this time. As soon as Rainbow Dash tried getting in close, she was instead hit with a surge of lightning that flew out of Zeraora's body. "Gh!" She cried out, receiving the sharp jolt that instantly knocked her out of the sky.
"Zeraaa!" Lost in her rage and not even noticing Rainbow Dash being harmed, Zeraora advanced, leaving behind a trail of lightning as she shoulder-bashed the Golurk standing in her way. She started pushing them away, only for the Golurk to grab onto her since she was this close to them. "Zeraora!"
"Gol!" The Golurk managed to restrain her, but only in terms of movement. Her rage was still very much strong and the Golurk certainly couldn't restrain that. Zeraora growled, sending out a fierce burst of electricity from her body while being held by the Golurk.
"Rainbow Dash! Are you alright?!" Flurry Heart quickly rushed to Rainbow Dash who had been downed by the frantic flash of lightning.
"Yeah..." She groaned. The lightning harmed her to the point where her wings were letting out static. So were parts of her hooves but her wings certainly took the most damage. There was even a burn mark on it. "I was too late to show up and calm her down. What happened between you and her? You're obviously the same Flurry Heart who was with Daybreaker."
"It's not a pleasant story...Zeraora's home was attacked by Great Auntie Daybreaker and her team. Not only was she captured, but the light in her world was taken away."
"The light? From an entire world?" The injured pegasus groaned while trying to sit up. "How?"
"Necrozma." The only Pokemon capable of doing it. The Devourer of Light. The Prism Pokemon Necrozma. That was the only way the light in an entire world could be expunged and Zeraora's world was unfortunately a victim of this. Flurry Heart saw it all for herself that day. The day an entire world lost its light and just how dangerous Necrozma could be.
Zeraora's World. Alola.
Another Earth. Another Alola. This was one of the many worlds out there that shared similarities with each other but always had differences. But the region of Alola wasn't any different at all. For the most part, it was the same as the Alola Region back in Ash's world, showing off its Golden Sun. And when the time changes, it can show off that Silver Moon.
Zeraora could be seen residing in this world's version of the Poni Wilds. But what was supposed to be a peaceful day would not last. Not when they showed up. Breaking through this universe with the power of Rift Travel, Team Plasma's Airship arrived.
They were here for two reasons. For Ghetsis, he was here for Zeraora and for Daybreaker, she had one thing in mind. To fuel Necrozma and there was no brighter place than Alola. On the airship, Ghetsis and Daybreaker were joined by the Young Flurry Heart, who was dragged along.
This all took place before the Empress lost to Universe 1's Equestria. And even before I betrayed the Twilight Imperium and fled to Universe 1. Everything that happened in Zeraora's world is way before that. When they showed up, they didn't hold back on Alola, raining destruction down on it just so they could force Zeraora out.
Zeraora could be seen with scratches already on her as this attack had already begun. The Thunderclap Pokemon was facing off against Team Plasma who tried capturing her. Thanks to her stellar speed and strength, she managed to knock down many of Team Plasma's Pokemon.
"Zeraora" The Electric-Type roared when standing before Team Plasma. The field had been scorched with plasma and ruined with other Pokemon Attacks being unleashed. As for everyone else in Alola, to keep them from interfering, the troops of the Solar Empire had been sent to deal with them while Team Plasma dealt with Zeraora.
I watched it all happen while I was in the ship. I wanted to do something but I couldn't. I saw Zeraora protect her home for over 5 hours, trying her best. But that's when things took a turn for the worse.
"Not bad. Not bad at all." Walking past all of his grunts was Ghetsis. This is exactly why I need you. Not only will you be a wonderful fuel source with all of your power, but you will also be a mighty Pokemon to battle with."
"Hydreigon!" Descending from above was Ghetsis' Hydreigon, ready to brutally attack the Thunderclap Pokemon.
"Ze...!" She growled, still having enough energy to continue. But against Ghetsis, the difficulty for Zeraora was greatly increased. With that devious grin on his face, Ghetsis knew that he could expend more of Zeraora's energy with a battle compared to his grunts. Zeraora had already taken a lot of damage after trying to protect her home for 5 hours straight and with Ghetsis's team at full strength, she was bound to be in for a rough time.
"I wish I had a Master Ball on me right now but...Subdue it! Use Dark Pulse!"
"Hy...Drei!" Attacking Zeraora was all three of Hydreigon's heads. Each of them unleashed a blast of darkness that closed in on the Thunderclap Pokemon.
"Ze!" Zeraora gasped, quickly zipping back to avoid the attacks. But while two of them missed, a third one was re-directed by Hydreigon. It homed in on Zeraora, properly connecting. "Z-Zera!"
"Excellent! Flamethrower!"
"Dreigon!" Hydreigon continued his assault, unleashing a burst of fire from his mouth.
"Zera?!" Zeraora, who slid on the ground after being struck by Dark Pulse, quickly put up her arms to block it. Zeraora was certainly hanging in there. After withstanding the Flamethrower, Zeraora would quickly rush at Hydreigon, leaving behind a flash of lightning.
She would try juking him out by rapidly zipping from place to place, going around him. Surely even with three heads, Hydreigon couldn't keep up with Zeraora's speed. But due to how much he has been mutated because of Ghetsis' actions, he could most certainly keep up.
And so could Ghetsis.
"Ora!" Zeraora went in for a strike, using Close Combat for a quick win. However, Hydreigon managed to avoid the attack by swaying all three of his heads. However, the lightning from Zeraora's body still managed to land, shocking the Brutal Pokemon.
"Retaliate with Dragon Rush!"
"Hydrei!" Hydreigon unleashed a burst of energy from his body, forcing Zeraora back. The aura around him was brimming with draconic energy as he would strike back with his own speed. Rushing in with the ferocity of a Dragon, he would try crashing into the Thunderclap Pokemon. Zeraora responded by continuing to use Close Combat.
The two Pokemon clashed here on the scorched battlefield, sending sparks flying. They would back and forth with flashes of lightning draconic energy going all over the place. Flurry Heart ducked as some of the lightning reached the ship, dealing damage to it.
"Drei!" Hydreigon tackled Zeraora with Dragon Rush, managing to land a hit. Zeraora groaned before retaliating with a swift hit to one of Hydreigon's hits. Both Pokemon exchanged hits, going back to back. All three of Hydreigon's heads would use different attacks to subdue Zeraora. Dark Pulse, Dragon Pulse and Flamethrower.
Zeraora barely managed to avoid each of them, zipping and swaying as these attacks combusted after hitting the ground, unleashing a ferocious explosion. Zeraora twitched as she was suffering too much damage when taking on Hydreigon. A Hyper Beam was then used by the middle head, prompting Zeraora to respond with something just as strong or even stronger.
The best she could do was Giga Impact, which was the opposite of Hyper Beam. Leaping off the ground, she enveloped her body in an invisible aura, meeting with the Hyper Beam. The two powerful Normal-Type moves encountered each other, initiating another clash. The clash was fierce with Zeraora trying to push through the Hyper Beam.
Unfortunately, with two heads still available, they snuck in two more Hyper Beams. It was now a triple Hyper Beam against Zeraora as the two beams merged into one. A larger Hyper Beam was created, instantly overpowering Zeraora. The Thunderclap Pokemon gasped as her Giga Impact was completely destroyed. Her body was soon engulfed by the attack as everything around her was turned white followed by a devastating explosion. Flurry Heart covered her ears and closed her eyes after the attack went off.
It was a rough and unforgiving endeavour for Zeraora. Battling for 5 hours while Alola was under attack was rough on her. The Thunderclap Pokemon could be seen in a crater, groaning and on her knees. As she took in all the damage she accumulated, her eyes soon met with the rest of the Pokemon trying to defend their home.
In the distance, she saw it. The Prism Pokemon Necrozma, commanded by Daybreaker. And at this moment, Necrozma was going up against the Guardians of Alola. The Tapus.
But even the Island Guardians couldn't stop what was about to become. They took on Necrozma and the Solar Empire, doing their absolute best. While they managed to stop some troops of the Solar Empire, their battle with Necrozma was anything but easy. It was also a struggle, similar to what Zeraora went through. They have also accumulated plenty of damage taking on this Light-absorbing invader.
All the while, Daybreaker appeared behind Necrozma with a stern face. Daybreaker had no sympathy or emotion for this world. It wasn't a place she planned to conquer to expand her Solar Empire, nor does it have any enemies who threatened her Empire. It was simply a feeding ground of Necrozma.
Zeraora gasped as she saw Tapu Bulu fall after Necrozma grabbed onto its body. By holding the body of the Land Spirit Pokemon, Zeraora began taking away all of the energy from within its body. By doing so, Necrozma grew stronger, tossing Tapu Bulu aside. Tapu Bulu was drained and unable to battle, completely unconscious with every ounce of its Legendary Power gone. When Tapu Fini and Tapu Lele both tried avenging Tapu Bulu, they were quickly disposed of by a powered-up Necrozma. The Prism Pokemon simply stole their energy as well, draining them of all their reserves.
Drained of their energy, the two Tapus fell, defeated. The last was Tapu Koko, who did its absolute best to avenge its friends and defend Alola. Or rather, the entire world. If Necrozma succeeds here, the light from this world will surely vanish. Tapu Koko used all of its power to unleash Nature's Madness. A great blast of nature emerged from below the lands of Alola itself, rising up as a pillar to strike Necrozma.
And while the attack landed, Necrozma blew it away, having the power of three Island Guardians to easily overpower this one Island Guardian. Tapu Koko was no longer strong enough to hold Necrozma back. And after dispersing the attack, Necrozma zoomed over, grabbing Tapu Koko.
Soon, Tapu Koko's energy was absorbed by the Prism Pokemon. The Island Guardians of this universe had been defeated by Necozma. Zeraora saw it all happen. And after absorbing the energy of the legends, Necrozma went a step further.
He hungered for her. His condition which made it difficult for him to ever get a good enough fill of energy was still strong and even the power of the Island Guardians wasn't enough. All of Alola had to be absorbed. Necrozma did just that. By building up all the energy he gathered from his five hours of being here, a great surge of power could be heard going off.
From the earth, the land, the sea and sky, energy was being ripped out from every corner of Alola. Poor Alola had suffered massive damage in the span of 5 hours thanks to the Solar Empire, leaving it completely vulnerable to anything beyond this devastating attack. Such as Necrozma. All forms of light were being stripped away from Alola, turning this once-bright region into one of perpetual darkness. And Zeraora couldn't stop this. Neither could Flurry Heart.
"It's a shame. I would love to conquer this world and use its reserves as well." Ghetsis commented when walking up to Zeraora. "But, you will simply have to watch as Alola and eventually your world loses its light. But fret not. I won't let Daybreaker and Zeraora end up as the greater superpower in all of this. With your help, I will be the greatest power in existence."
By holding an Ultra Ball, Ghetsis would toss it at the enraged Zeraora. Zeraora tried moving out of the way but it was too late. The ball landed, sucking her in. With three shakes, Zeraora had been caught by Ghetsis.
After that, when we captured Zeraora, Necrozma continued until the entire world lost its light. Anyone who tried to stop Necrozma were too late to reach him by the time he was done. That Necrozma could absorb light faster than any other Necrozma but it was also hungry, never satisfied.
Just like that, the light from this Pokemon World was expunged. Darkness now took over across every single region out there. All that remained were the Electric and Fire-Types, who could at least generate some form of light. Zeraora, who was soon restrained onto a machine made by Colress, would have to watch all of this transpire.
She unfortunately received a view of the horrific event before her eyes. Unable to defend her home, the light was gone, lacking any colour or vibrance. And Flurry Heart just had to stand by, even though she wished to do something about it. But even as a prodigal alicorn, with this kind of company around her, she was unable to act.
Current Day.
"Zera...!" Zeraora was also thinking about that experience and that only built her rage some more. While still being restrained by the Golurk, she did her best to break free just so she could exact revenge. At that moment, something else snapped inside of her.
The essence of Ghetsis was able to properly act. With enough time passing, Zeraora's rampaging state was finally able to be unleashed. It was too late to calm her down since she had only felt rage this entire time. Rainbow Dash and Flurry Heart gasped as the outburst of blue lightning suddenly turned red.
This red lightning was the result of Ghetsis' Influence as Zeraora's eyes would also flash red. With a sudden change in power, Zeraora blew away the Golurk who surrounded her, causing them to fall over. Zeraora freed herself as the red lightning was soon joined by black lightning.
"Zeraora...!" After breathing in and out, that red and black electricity would viciously pulsate from her body with small bits of her original blue lightning leaking out. Zeraora was now going berserk and the most obvious target here was the older Princess Flurry Heart.
Her drive to exact revenge was burning intensely. And unfortunately, her surroundings and all the innocents living here will not matter at all. Rainbow Dash was unable to properly restrain Zeraora, but she didn't see this as a total failure. Not yet. Not when the chance to calm Zeraora was still available. If there even was a chance.
Equestria. The Crystal Empire. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
Here at the Crystal Empire, an anger that was unable to be tempered was released. Zeraora was finally about to break out into a rampaging state. Rainbow Dash, Flurry Heart and those nearby watched as Zeraora's lightning flared out of her body. The natural blue that she always carries was there but there was the addition of black and red. All thanks to Ghetsis and the essence he left within Zeraora.
"Hahahaha!" Speaking of Ghetsis, from the raging lightning, a transparent visage of his face appeared, maniacally cackling as his laughter could be heard by many.
"Ghetsis?!" In unison, Rainbow Dash and Flurry Heart were in disbelief. As if they needed any further confirmation that Ghetsis was involved. It was almost as if Ghetsis was waiting for a moment like this.
"It can't be! A visage of Ghetsis?!!" Watching this from afar and witnessing Ghetsis' face was Celestia. "Is Zeraora already enraged!?" This event even prompted all of the ponies to stop searching for Lucas. He was no longer the centre of attention. It was the transparent face of Ghetsis and the outburst of Zeraora.
"Zeraora!" Letting out a vicious roar, Zeraora was losing all sense of reason. But that wasn't the only drawback. The red and black lightning around her was harming her body. Due to the constant eruption of her power which was elevated by Ghetsis's magic, Zeraora's roars were not just filled with hostility but also pain.
"Stop Zeraora! Please!" Rainbow Dash, who took damage after being it by a stray lightning bolt, would still try and calm Zeraora down. Kidd Summers and the Pokemon Rangers entrusted that she and her friends could do so and if anything goes wrong and too much damage accumulates, they can call the rangers to fix up the destruction. But right now, it looks like it was already about to happen.
"Ora!" Targeting Flurry Heart and the Golurk that stood in her way, Zeraora attacked. But not by rushing in. Instead, she slammed her paws, generating a burst of plasma that rapidly expanded. Unfortunately for the Golurk, the plasma could actually affect them. They groaned after the plasma burst attacked their bodies, sending them back.
"She's not listening to me again. And I can't let her run off a second time..." Rainbow Dash stood up while her wings were still injured. "Help me calm her down! Mienshao!"
"Mienshao!"Appearing to restrain Zeraora was Mienshao.
"Rainbow Dash! Are you alright?!" Quickly flying to the scene of this outburst was Twilight, alongside Fluttershy as both of them were currently airborne. But potentially, not for long. The frantic spark of electricity flew up, nearly sniping Twilight and Fluttershy out of the sky.
"Zeraora!" Zeraora then rushed in, seeing Mienshao as her enemy for trying to get in her way. Her signature move, Plasma Fists was used as a fierce flare of plasma appeared around her paws.
"Mienshao! Use Close Combat!"
"Mien!" In response, Mienshao leaned back, avoiding the incoming Plasma Fists. But even when doing so, the plasma still struck her. The Martial Arts Pokemon groaned before managing to retaliate by performing a backflip which then transitioned into a lunging dive kick to Zeraora's chest.
"Z-Ze!"Zeraora gasped after receiving a hit to her chest, leaving her stunned. Snarling at Mienshao, right as she was about to use Plasma fists again, Mienshao swiftly spun around while hand-standing, sweeping Zeraora's legs. The Thunderclap Pokemon's feet left the ground for a moment but her expression didn't change at all. She wasn't shocked, she was just furious. Mienshao then went straight for the head, planning to knock her out.
"Mien!" Only for Zeraora to finally catch one of her attacks. And she did so by slapping her arm around the way the second it came after her head. Mienshao could definitely show a shocked expression as this deflection was then followed up by a direct Plasma Fist to the face. "M-Mienshao!" Mienshao screamed, receiving a fierce burst of plasma erupting out of her body.
"Zeraora!" Erupting out into a further level of rage and harming herself in the process, Zeraora appeared in front of Miensao in a flash with Plasma Fists. Mienshao was stunned and still feeling the destructive plasma out of her body which left her stunned for a moment. Another attack that would leave her stunned was this fierce backhand which connected. "Ora!"
"S-Shao!" Mienshao took another hard hit as she spun around through the air. The Martial Arts Pokemon tumbled and rolled, absolutely perplexed by the attack she just took.
"No! Mienshao!"
"Keep her steady, Eve! Psychic!" Now that Zeraora was still for a moment, Twilight could take action before she starts moving again.
"Esp!" Espeon's eyes flashed blue, immediately surrounding the Thunderclap Pokemon in a blue aura. Assisting her was Twilight, who used her magic to hold Zeraora in place as well.
"Zera?!" Feeling this energy around her, Zeraora already tried breaking free, using all of her strength to muscle through. It was a struggle against Zeraora who was taking strong yet slow steps when trying to free herself from these telekinetic holds. One was enough but two was rough.
"I could really use Darkrai's Dark Void right about now...!" Twilight groaned, wishing that Zeraora could be put to sleep or something. At that moment, Zeraora unleashed black and red lightning which instantly travelled out of her body and straight for Twilight and Espeon.
Quickly deflecting it was Darkrai. It was expected for Darkrai to appear, especially out of the shadows. He always shows up when needed. After deflecting the lightning bolt, he too felt some damage travel through. Darkrai was jolted by plasma. Even when deflecting the attack it still manages to land, showing how fierce Zeraora's lightning was.
"She's already on a rampage?" Darkrai commented when looking at his arm. "What happened?
"We're not sure. But this is nothing a Dark Void can't fix, right?!" Fluttershy uttered.
"Hmm...But even Darkrai knew that a simple Dark Void probably wasn't going to solve all of their problems. As powerful as an attack it is, it's not the easy way out all the time.
"Ora!" Zeraora broke free, managing to freely move once more. Now freed, she continued her rampage lashing out at those who would dare try and stop her. She faced Twilight's group, instantly unleashing a flash of lightning from her hands in the form of Thunderbolt.
Darkrai shielded them with Dark Pulse, already anticipating a retaliation from the Thunderclap Pokemon. He barely managed to stop the attack in time, unleashing a stream of darkness.
"Those cries...She's in pain." Fluttersy could instantly tell that those screams and grunts were filled with pain. Not just rage. The energy around her was physically harming Zeraora's body in exchange for titanic strength.
"It must be that black and red lightning. Ghetsis..." Darkrai scowled, knowing Ghetsis was responsible for Zeraora feeling so much pain. "Listen well. I can try and put her to sleep but she might wake up with a jolt of electricity. I'm no stranger to such methods of waking up quickly. The best thing we can possibly do is knock her out and avoid any further destruction. If this keeps up, she'll wreck the Crystal Empire."
"Mienshao...!" Getting back up was Miensho who took quite a blow previously from Zeraora's attacks. Feeling the electricity crackle around her, the Martial Arts Pokemon knew that any chance of faltering could lead to her friends receiving devastating injuries from Zeraora.
"Guys! She's after Flurry Heart!" Rainbow Dash shouted, informing them about who Zeraora's main target was.
"Zeraora!" Zeraora then rushed to Flurry Heart once more, only for Mienshao to intervene by using Acrobatics. Moving at high speeds, the Martial Arts Pokemon swiftly appeared in front of Zeraora to stop her movements. The knee of Mienshao met with Zeraora's paws which resulted in another electrical shock.
"Eve! Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Espeon!" Leaping into the air, Zeraora rained down multiple rainbows that immediately caught Zeraora's attention, distracting her.
"Z-Ze?!" Zeraora grunted when feeling these rainbow rays crash down on her. This allowed Mienshao to win her clash, pushing the Thunderclap Pokemon. However, the rainbows were soon obliterated by a flare of electricity from Zeraora's body that soon transformed into plasma. The plasma swiftly tore apart the rainbow rays while also sending bolts towards Espeon and Mienshao.
"Esp!"
"M-Mien!" Both Mienshao and Espeon took damage from these frantic plasma bolts. Both fell over as their bodies were rapidly twitching. Twilight gasped, holding onto Espeon. But by doing so, she was shocked as well.
With the two of them out of the way, Zeraora could finally reach the older Flurry Heart who was still on her mind. Rainbow Dash was still next to Flurry Heart and she might be seen as colaterall at this point. That is until Darkrai manipulated the shadows, causing them to rise and grab Zeraora's arms and legs. After being caught, Zeraora was soon pulled back by the shadows from Darkrai.
The Pitch Black Pokemon held Zeraora close to her while also making sure her feet didn't touch the ground, restricting her options to break free. "You're not too far gone yet. Let's see if Dark Void can snap you out of it!" With an orb of darkness in hand, Darkrai immediately tried silencing the Thunderclap Pokemon.
"Rrr! Zera! Zera!" Zeraora bared her fangs at the Pitch Black Pokemon when trying to break free. She even tried unleashing her plasma, only for Darkrai to increase the amount of shadows which ended up covering and catching the plasma. The plasma hit the shadows trying to break through it, but Darkrai successfully cushioned them.
Rushing here to the scene were Celestia and Luna. They arrived just in time to see Darkrai keeping Zeraora still. Damage had been sustained but it wasn't to the extreme just yet. Thankfully, Darkrai's group had managed to keep the damage to a minimum in the best ways that they could.
Darkrai then shoved the Dark Void into Zeraora, engulfing her entire body with it. Zeraora gasped once this sleep-inducing move invaded her body. She stayed silent for a moment as it looked like Darkrai successfully ceased the rampage with just one Dark Void. But just as Darkrai expected, Dark Void might not solve this problem.
"Way to go, Darkrai!" Rainbow Dash smiled. But that smile was soon swept away once a flare of plasma appeared yet again. Zeraora's eyes reopened, followed by a flash of Ghetsis' face deviously grinning at Darkrai. After seeing Ghetsis' face and even hearing his laugh, Darkrai realized that it was Ghetsis preventing Zeraora from clocking out.
"Zera!" Suddenly, Zeraora's plasma grew so strong that it managed to overpower Darkrai's Darkness. The Pitch Black Pokemon was soon electrocuted and blown back by the outburst of plasma which broke Zeraora free yet again.
"No! Darkrai!" Luna yelled, quickly catching Darkrai with her magic.
"S-She's grown stronger..." Darkrai groaned as he felt a sudden increase in strength from Zeraora. Her power had grown and it was seemingly growing even more.
"If we're going to calm her down, it has to be away from the Crystal Empire." Celestia thought about to steering all damage away from the Crystal Empire if they wanted to make this easier on themselves. By being here, they couldn't go all out to stop Zeraora since that would result in some devastating destruction. With a flash of magic from her horn, Celestia sent a glow around the area surrounding her friends, family and Zeraora.
"Zeraora?!" At that moment, Zeraora soon noticed Celestia, once again seeing Daybreaker. She was in such a fit of rage that she forgot that Celestia and Daybreaker were two different entities. At least, in this universe. She also saw Empress Twilight Sparkle once more.
Everything that Rainbow Dash tried doing was quickly reset, all thanks to Ghetsis. And once Zeraora saw the face of the one who stole the light from her home, she unleashed what appeared to be Thunderbolt but was far more volatile.
Celestia gasped before quickly pulling off her spell. The lightning rapidly reached her, nearly striking her face. But by the skin of her teeth, she managed to teleport herself, Zeraora and everyone around this one area away. Just like that, they were all gone, leaving the Crystal Empire.
The Frozen North.
The Frozen North was the selected location. Any destruction wouldn't matter since the Crystal Empire would be completely fine. Celestia brought herself, Zeraora, Twilight, Fluttershy, Luna Rainbow Dash, Flurry Heart and the guards here, narrowly avoiding any further damage to the Crystal Empire.
Another narrow instance was Celestia just barely managing to sway her head, avoiding the incoming lightning. But of course, it still connected, shocking Celestia's face a bit. The Frozen North was vast enough and the perfect place to keep Zeraora occupied.
"Good. We're away from civilization now," said Celestia, staring down Zeraora. "It's not time to panic yet and call the Ranger Union. Not when we have a chance to stop Zeraora's rampage.
"Ngh..." However, still feeling the plasma, Darkrai held onto his chest. He took the hardest hit so far after all but perhaps it was harder than he was expecting.
"Darkrai! What's wrong?!" Luna gasped.
"This plasma is virulent. I'm struggling to move..." The side effects to the plasma were showing and Darkrai was the first example of it. His body was continuously staggering, making it difficult for the Pitch Black Pokemon to move.
"W-Wait..." Rainbow Dash stood up while her wings were still injured. "Can we try going into her mind? Maybe that's how we can get rid of Ghetsis's influence!"
"Going into her mind isn't a bad idea. But it will be a struggle against such a rough Pokemon." Celestia answered. "You should stay back, Rainbow Dash. You and Mienshao have sustained heavy damage."
"Mienshao...!" Mienshao tried continuing but the plasma left her stunned as well. The Martial Arts Pokemon growled, doing her best to try and continue.
"Maybe, Mienshao...But not Altaria." She still had other Pokemon available for battle. And in this case, it was Altaria. She rolled the Poke Ball on the ground, summoning the Dragon-Flying-Type. While it was a risk to have her out in the cold, she needed some draconic power on her side for such a powerful Pokemon.
"Altaria!"
"Zeraora! If you can still hear us, then knock it off already!" Rainbow Dash bellowed, grabbing Zeraora's attention. The Thunderclap Pokemon turned to face Rainbow Dash. "Look at me, please..." Rainbow Dash tried having Zeraora look at her for a while instead of just going straight for an attack.
And when gazing at Rainbow Dash, there was a momentary pause. At that moment, Zeraora twitched, knowing exactly who she was facing. She was looking at the one who did her best to keep Zeraora from going on a rampage. But alas, the essence of Ghetsis said otherwise.
Zeraora's body pulsated once more, refusing to let her come to an understanding. "G-Gardevoir?!" Passion could feel this shift in emotions. Zeraora's emotions paused for a moment before taking off once more.
"You're saying that she's losing all sense of reason gradually? She recognized Rainbow Dash for a moment..." Celestia translated. "That means she can still be reached but with Ghetsis having such an influence over her...We have no other choice but to knock her out. Flurry Heart."
"Zeraora!" Hearing this, Zeraora's electrical aura erupted, blowing away all snow nearby and shattering the ice too. Fluttershy shivered while Twilight gulped. It's not often they have to deal with a rampaging Pokemon and this time, this Pokemon's rage could certainly be felt and could be catastrophic for them.
"Audi, please heal Darkrai!"
"Audino!" Audino would try healing Darkrai of this crushing plasma that was still affecting his body. Twilight, Celestia, Luna and Flurry Heart would have to be the ones to halt Zeraora's actions before they escalate. Rainbow Dash would try doing the same, even if she was injured.
"I need your help! Gliscor!" Luna sent out someone to substitute for Gliscor. In this instance, it was Gliscor.
"Gliscor!"
"Distract her! Swords Dance!"
"Scor!" Being the distraction to Zeraora was Gliscor, who zoomed in, ready to strike. Zeraora saw this as a challenge, prompting her to retaliate by using Close Combat. The claws of Gliscor and paws of Zeraora clashed. Gliscor would give everyone enough time to act but only when Zeraora was in one spot.
Zeraora then leapt into the air, but that was Gliscor's element. He quickly zipped to the side, avoiding Zeraora's lunge. The flash of lightning went off, surrounding Gliscor's body. It soon transformed into plasma, properly affecting him even with his immunity.
"Stone Edge!"
"Scor!" By summoning glowing crystals around his body, Gliscor shot them at Zeraora right from the side. The Thunderclap Pokemon groaned while each of those crystals rapidly beat down on her, only for Zeraora to obliterate them with a stream of plasma. After destroying the crystals and sliding on the snow, Zeraora used what appeared to be Hidden Power. Fittingly, it was Hidden Power Ice, already having an option to deal with Ground-Types. From her paws, a white energy enveloped in an icy blue aura was unleashed immediately, striking Gliscor.
"G-Gli!" Gliscor took a truly super-effective hit, falling out of the air instantly.
"Zera...!" Zeraora was about to follow up with this, going for another Close Combat before Gliscor could even touch the ground.
"Sorry about this, Zeraora! Hyper Voice!"
"Taria!" There was another distraction. Altaria. By letting out a beautiful sound. Right as Zeraora was about to strike Gliscor, she was hit by the soundwave. The soundwave ended up staggering her for a moment and that was the opportunity that Celestia needed.
"Psychic!" In unison, both Celestia and Twilight shouted, having the same idea in mind. Together, Gardevoir and Espeon both unleashed a Psychic energy that would hold onto Zeraora's body. Zeraora already felt the Psychic hold on him but she already knew how to break out of it. Except, unlike the last time, two extra telekinetic holds joined the fray.
Celestia and Twilight both used their magic to keep Zeraora there, assisting their Pokemon. Zeraora grimaced as she had her knee smash right into the ice. The Thunderclap Pokemon was truly feeling restrained now with the power of Two Alicorns and Psychic-Types holding her down.
"Now's my chance!" Luna would take this opportunity to try and interact with Zeraora's mind. By using the power of Lunar Ire, she unleashed a beam of magic that targeted Zeraora's head. Zeraora, unable to move, was struck by the beam, but it dealt no damage. It was only meant to try and snap her out of this rampaging state.
The Thunderclap Pokemon's pupils shrunk for a moment once her head was attacked. All while she was still unable to move. Luna successfully got her chance to enter her mind. It was up to her to set things straight from her. And she knew that she would have to encounter the energy left behind by Ghetsis, which wasn't going to be pleasant.
Zeraora's Mindscape.
Everyone had a Mindscape. And Zeraora was no exception. Luna managed to enter it, dropping down from a large blue sky. The Princess of the Night hurled through the air for a moment before regaining her balance and spreading her wings. She wasn't sure how much time she had on her.
Zeraora was only restrained from the outside and the power she could output was growing. She could reach a strength that could free her at any time, so Luna knew she had to be quick. Landing down, she touched a grassy area here at Zeraora's Mindscape. From the blue skies to the grassy area, it was clear that Zeraora's mind was something that admired peace. As to be expected, even though she was anything but peaceful right now.
This area, in particular, resembled the Alola Region. The same Alola from her universe before it had its light snuffed out by Necrozma. But it was catered to Zeraora as she had a preference as to where she wanted to rest.
Stretching out as far as the eye can see, the Grasslands appear to go on forever, a vast expanse of rolling hills covered in verdant green grasses. There was a gentle breeze, causing the tall blades to sway and creating a soothing rustling sound. The grasslands are dotted with colourful wildflowers, their vibrant petals adding bursts of colour to the landscape. Of course, it wouldn't be Alola without the wonderful seas.
The air is filled with the salty scent of the nearby sea, carried on a gentle breeze that rustles the tall blades. Near the grasslands, a massive cliff drops off abruptly to reveal a stunning panorama of a crystal-clear sea, shimmering with shades of turquoise and sapphire.
"Alright...I just need to find whatever Ghetsis put in her. If I can find it, I can neutralize it. But where would it be?" Luna wondered. The grasslands were very much wide and expansive, meaning this could take a while. But with the help of Lunar Ire's magic, probably not. Finding the essence would still be difficult since there wasn't an inkling of it being anywhere.
"You won't find it just by looking around." A voice replied to her. Someone else was here. And when hearing the voice, Luna could already assume that this was Ghetsis. By rapidly turning her head, she turned to see someone she didn't expect at all.
It was Daybreaker.
Standing there was the Alternate Celestia from another universe. She expected Ghetsis. Not her. This greatly caught Luna off guard as this was the second time they have encountered each other in a mind-like area.
"I-It's you?! You're here?!" Potentially, this changes a few things about Zeraora's rampage. Could it be that Daybreaker was involved somehow and the rage towards Celestia had even bigger weight behind it? But that wasn't confirmed by Daybreaker at all. Not after the words she spoke.
"I am. But believe me...You should be worried about Ghetsis instead."
Attempting to subdue Zeraora's rage by entering her mindscape, Princess Luna encountered an unexpected pony. Daybreaker. A part of her was expecting Ghetsis but instead, she got Daybreaker. A corrupted version of her older sister from another universe.
Here on the grasslands where the seas were shimmering, the clock was ticking on how long it would take for Zeraora to grow and grow to the point where she would be impossible to calm down. And with Daybreaker her, Luna might struggle to help Zeraora in time.
"It's you?! Why are you here!?" Stepping back while being fully cautious was Luna.
"I'm just a leftover spirit of Daybreaker. I'm not truly here as you can see. You were probably expecting Ghetsis, but instead, you got me." Daybreaker shrugged. "Strange how we meet a second time outside of the real world. You're probably also here because of Zeraora's rage."
"Are you the one who's actually behind Zeraora's rampage?" A cautious Luna flashed the tip of her horn with magic, being at the ready
"Not at all." Daybreaker shook her head. "You can pin it all on Ghetsis. He's the one who wants Zeraora back. The power of Plasma isn't something to ignore when you once had it. I'm here for a different reason. But a part of it involves me not allowing you to save Zeraora."
"What are you talking about?" Unfortunately for Luna, Daybreaker was rather cryptic. "Even in another universe, you're so bizarre with your words. Could it be that you want Zeraora's power for yourself?"
"Obviously. Why wouldn't I? That's an obvious answer. I too want to wield the power of plasma and we came so close with Ghetsis once having Reshiram and Empress Twilight having Zekrom. Zeraora can do what they can on her own and of course, Necrozma would greatly enjoy absorbing her energy. At least, until she's done being fuel."
"You would use her as a means to power your technology? No wonder you're with Ghetsis. You're both despicable." At that moment, both Luna and Daybreaker started pacing each other, slowly walking on the soft grass, anticipating each other's movements.
"I need all the power I can get, Luna." Daybreaker narrowed her eyes. "Because once I have unlimited power, the absolute peak of what any being can have, I'll finally be able to bring you back. Aside from destroying my enemies, your return is what I want the most."
"Sorry. But I know you still want me to come over to your universe and that won't happen." Luna already knew what Daybreaker was thinking and it was an immediate refusal.
"I didn't think so. Every other Luna I've met have had similar responses. It's a shame really. But at the end of the day, only my Luna can return to me since everyone else rejects me."
"Ridiculous! If she does manage to return, she'd object to what you've done!" Luna saw it as absolutely ludicrous in every possible way. No matter the universe, there was no way any Luna would be on board with Daybreaker. Perhaps not even Nightmare Moon.
"After what happened that day during that war, she would understand. If our roles were switched, I can guarantee that my Luna would've taken the same actions as me." Daybreaker flashed her eyes with a solar orange glow, vehemently sticking with her point of view. "That much is true. Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon aren't just our alter-egos. They're our true selves, Luna. They are us at our absolute full power and what we've been hiding."
"I've already made peace with my Nightmare Moon." Luna shook her head. "I've accepted that she is me but one thing is for sure, she wasn't destined to be cruel. Accepting each other is what helped me overcome that darkness within But it seems that you did more than just accept and embrace it. You turned it into the worst version of what it could become."
"I had to. Opposition to what I've established faltered as it delivered me victory after victory. Those who advocated moderation only knew defeat." Flames started rising from behind Daybreaker as the grasslands were being lit up. Luna gasped as the atmosphere as changing. The skies turned orange and the seas were beginning to boil.
"!" Luna was nearly scorched by the flames that erupted behind her, but obviously, Daybreaker made sure that they didn't touch her. Yet.
"With it, I made an Equestria that would never be threatened again. But to ensure that, I'll have to take out whoever would oppose me. And your universe is already a prime example of it. With more worlds that lie beyond with greater powers out there, how could I not advance and deal with them."
"By siding with Ghetsis! And the Empress!? Really?!" Luna just couldn't understand why she would turn to those two and a few others if that was her vision.
"What? As powerful as I am, I need the support to get where I can. I can't hope to defeat the opposition if I don't have the same level of power as them. After that...I won't need their help anymore. It's why I sabotaged the Magical Unite."
"Y-You...What?" Luna paused for a moment. She was shocked to hear that the failure of the Magical Unite was actually done by Daybreaker. While Ash and his friends certainly played a huge part, thanks to Daybreaker's secret influence which rubbed off on Skyblue Shine, the Magical Unite never went through properly.
"If I didn't, the Empress would have won and there was no chance I was going to let her get any more power. Especially when she was using Premium Polish as the conduit. I have plans for Ghetsis later on...After I'm one with all of you."
"It's strange...Everything she's saying and doing is outrageous but...There's something else there." Luna was a bit perplexed. It seemed to be a similar scenario to Nightmare Moon, but on a greater level with some differences. She wanted to see Daybreaker as despicable, just like Ghetsis. She even called her that minutes ago. But a part of Luna could sense something else from Daybreaker, Even if this was just a Mind Projection of Daybreaker residing here.
But then, Luna recalled her first encounter with Daybreaker within the Hyperdream. She quickly realized that interaction ended the way it did since Daybreaker couldn't bring herself to harm Luna. And judging by the flames that erupted behind her, Daybreaker still had the same notion, even after all that was said.
"There's more to you. After what Flurry Heart shared with us, I always knew. In fact, I assumed the worst from the beginning but at the same time..."
"Meh." Daybreaker shrugged. "But personally, I don't care. At this point, I care not if someone understands me. All I care about is achieving my goals. And I don't wish to harm you to do so, Luna. I would say leave but...I've stalled for enough time"
"Ah!" Indeed. Time has passed in the real world thanks to this conversation. Luna was distracted from her goal. But it wasn't too late to do something. Not holding back, Luna unleashed the full force of her magic from her horn as a bright flash was beginning to envelop the place.
But in response, Daybreaker did the same. It was a clash of magic. All of Luna's magic which was Nightmare Moon's Magic and Lunar Ire's Magic combined plus Daybreaker's regular magic. However, lo and behold, her regular magic was on par with what Luna was unleashing.
"I-Impossible!" Luna gasped.
"My own magic has grown over the years too, Luna!" Daybreaker exclaimed while putting on a smirk. "I had to improve to further crush those who would oppose my goals! It's a big universe out there after all. Besides...you can't even hurt me. I'm just a spirit in here."
"Ghh!" Luna lost the clash as she was blown back by Daybreaker's magic, tumbling and rolling across the ground.
"Ghetsis may have poured his essence into Zeraora, but I made sure to sneak a part of my own magic. Just in case..." Daybreaker walked up to Luna who was currently on the ground. "If I'm lucky, Zeraora would have caused enough destruction to weaken your world."
At that moment, electrical shockwaves would happen in the sky, going off and unleashing the sound of thunder. Luna gasped as these shockwaves would rapidly appear, signifying Zeraora's rage. "It seems that her rage is building up, Luna. Soon, this Mindscape will become nothing but an electric hazard. After all, she's building up so much power that she needs to constantly let it out. Otherwise, she'll explode."
"W-Why isn't Zeraora here at all? Or any semblance of her...?" Luna groaned while getting back up, noticing a lack of Zeraora even with these electrical shockwaves going off. "This is her Mindscape after all. I came here to calm her down."
"Zeraora hasn't truly lost it yet. If she did, you'd find nothing but darkness here. I made sure to keep Zeraora away from your location the second you entered her mindscape. I can't let you interfere, Luna."
Equestria. The Frozen North. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, Zeraora was still being held in place by Twilight, Celestia, Espeon and Gardevoir who were doing their best to make sure Luna had all the time she needed.
"E-Espeon!" Unfortunately, Espeon was struggling to keep it up for long. She was the first to be seen wavering and weakening and on top of that, just as Daybreaker said, Zeraora had to constantly let out her destructive energy. And with enough time passing, it reached a point where it was mighty enough to start retaliating against the telekinetic grip.
"Eve! Hang in there!"
"Zera...Ora!" But it was too late. The second Espeon's grip was dropped, Zeraora found an opening. All of that built-up power would erupt, blowing away the grip that the alicorns and Pokemon had on her. A plasma shockwave left her body, pushing everyone back.
They were struck by plasma which would melt the snow away. Audino quickly put up a protective shield around herself, Fluttershy and Darkrai, barely managing to defend against the raging plasma. The older Flurry Heart also shielded the injured Rainbow Dash from the plasma by forming a shield.
"Is Luna alright?!" Celestia grunted while sliding on the snowy ground. She was instantly worried for Luna's safety. She hasn't returned yet and Zeraora was growing stronger.
"What do we do now, Princess Celestia?!" Twilight gasped.
"I have to put my trust in Luna. But at this rate, there's only one thing left to do." The Sun Princess narrowed her eyes, restoring to the second option while still banking on Luna's power. "Passion!"
"Gardevoir!" Knockout was the way to go since Zeraora's rampage was still going strong. If she could knock Zeraora out, that would certainly help with culling the rampage. Celestia didn't wish to resort to this since Zeraora was only acting out based on what she had experienced, but her options were rather slim.
"You've grown stronger, so I need to match your strength as well..." From her regalia, the crystal that sat in it was suddenly replaced. In a bright flash, the Gardevoirite appeared. Celestia was going for Mega Evolution. Or rather, she was going for Celestial-Gardevoir. Seeing that Zeraora was continuously growing stronger, especially with Ghetsis influencing her, Celestia had no choice but to use the extent of what she and Passion were capable of.
The Harmony Phenomeon was tapped into once more, unleashing a flare of Mega Energy and Magic from the Mega Stone. Celestia and Gardevoir both had their eyes flash white before an incandescent light enveloped them both. Their bodies were merging as one.
Out of the bright light that even stunned Zeraora for a moment, Celestial-Gardevoir arrived. The Fusion of Mega Gardevoir and Princess Celestia. When she appeared, the snow around her would gracefully float in the air before dropping. Zeraora snarled after seeing a new threat appear.
"I don't mean to bring a plethora of harm to you, Zeraora, but you have to be stopped," Celestial-Gardevoir said, having the echo of Celestia and Passion reverberate through the Frozen North.
"Zeraora!" Roaring at the Fusion of a Pony and a Pokemon, the Thunderclap Pokemon lunged at her, using Plasma Fists immediately. But all she was met with was a magical barrier that Celestial-Gardevoir created. A barrier made up of the energy of Infinity Energy and Magic, creating a truly powerful combination.
Once the Plasma Fists connected, it sent a great spark around the barrier while blowing away the snow below. However, Zeraora was unable to push through the shield at all. Celestial-Gardevoir flashed her eyes, expanding her barrier as it would then combust.
"O-Ora!" Zeraora cried out after being blown away, rolling and sliding on the snowy ground. She soon recovered, wasting no time heading back in to attack the Fused Being. Zeraora rushed in with a flash of lightning around her, swinging her paws.
Celestial-Gardevoir would gracefully lower her head to avoid this upward attack before floating back. Zeraora chased after her, running on all fours with a truly feral nature. After floating back, Celestial-Gardevoir used a spell that would manipulate the snow itself. Right as Zeraora approached, the snow would harden becoming as solid as ice. Zeraora crashed into the hard snow as her movements were slowed down.
After Zeraora crashed into the snow, by holding one arm out, Celestial-Gardevoir unleashed a Mystical Fire which would blaze through the chilling area, melting the snow instantly. Zeraora was soon engulfed by these flames moving back.
"Darkrai! Are you still available?!" Celestial-Gardevoir asked. Darkrai was being healed by Audino the entire time, who was still greatly affected by the outburst of plasma he received. But thankfully, Audino's Healing was effective enough to weaken the damage he took.
"N-Not yet." Darkrai groaned as the soothing green aura of the Heal Pulse was covering his body
"When you are, I need you to throw a Dark Void at her. It may not keep her asleep for long but it'll greatly help when I need to knock her out. And whatever Luna is experiencing in there, I hope that she's doing well."
"Zeraora!" The bellow of Zeraora erupted as the flames would disperse. Furious and still crying out in pain, Zeraora unleashed a powerful blast of plasma from her paws.
But she wasn't the only one who could unleash Plasma. By combining Mystical Fire and Thunderbolt, Celestial-Gardevoir was able to generate the same energy. The signature move of Celestia's Gardevoir. Plasma Bolt. Two Plasma beams came flying out, making contact which resulted in a truly volatile impact.
Everyone else flinched at the force of this clash which made so much of the snow fly into the air. A fierce paroxysm of energy was levitating the snow, forming a spherical blizzard around the two attacks. Celestial-Gardevoir's magical aura was brimming fiercely when trying to win this clash and so was Zeraora's Plasma Aura, which was only growing stronger.
"I'll help! Altaria! Use Moonblast!"
"Altaria!" Altaria had to chime in. Celestial-Gardevoir needed support if she wanted to knock out Zeraora. By gathering the power of the Moon itself, Altaria generated a pink ball that was soon shot out.
"Shadow Ball, Eve!"
"Espeon!" Still having the strength to continue, Espeon joined in by shooting a Shadow Ball. These two spheres flew in, crashing into the Thunderclap Pokemon.
"Z-Ze!" Thanks to this interruption, this allowed Celestial-Gardevoir's attack to go through. The Plasma Bolt overpowered Zeraora's own Plasma, engulfing the Thunderclap Pokemon.
Zeraora's Mindscape.
Because of this battle, it was affecting Zeraora's Mindscape. Daybreaker looked around her to see the Electrical Shockwaves suddenly getting weaker. They were still going off but they were lacking a greater impact than they usually did. It was no longer becoming a hazardous place. It appeared that it would stay as how it previously was. Peaceful and serene. Not only were the shockwaves becoming weaker, but fewer of them were appearing. Their numbers were decreasing.
"What's going on?" Daybreaker looked around her, rather curious and confused. "The shockwaves...this means the rage is weakening. How that can be? You're not doing anything, Luna."
"My sister and my friends are doing their best to keep Zeraora steady. I never said that I was the only one at work." Luna smiled while getting back up. "Our second option for victory is a complete knockout. And I do believe that you have no response for that since you're a spirit."
"Hmph." Daybreaker closed her eyes. "No matter. Even if you stop Zeraora's rage, you still have to worry about it returning. On top of that, you have to worry about Ghetsis' Essence, which you have yet to see for yourself in this Mindscape. Only me. Eventually, I will have Zeraora for myself."
"You can try. Until you figure out how to travel to other universes." Luna then unleashed her magic once more. If her sister and friends were doing their best back out there, she could slack off, otherwise, she did all of this for nothing. Daybreaker squinted at this magic flash. She planned to retaliate like she did before, only for Luna to switch it up. This spell was released to the ground instead and not immediately outward.
"Oh?" At that moment, Daybreaker put on a devious smile when Luna brought up travelling to other universes. "You have no idea..."
The magic from Luna plus the battle outside worked in unison. Daybreaker had no response to what was going on outside. She didn't have full control in here as a leftover spirit. It was technically Ghetsis but he was nowhere to be seen either. Luna would encase Zeraora's entire mind with her magic, planning to overlay the destructive essence. Even though she couldn't see it, Luna knew how to deal with it since she's had two destructive sides to her.
Back outside, as Zeraora was knocked back by these combination attacks, she was starting to weaken. At least, in terms of health. She was not short of any energy that was constantly leaving her body. Enraged, Zeraora would release a flare of plasma from her body that appeared as a sphere.
In response, Celestial-Gardevoir would approach it, summoning her own sphere. By using Dazzling Gleam and a chunk of Celestial's natural magic, a beautiful Magical Sphere was formed, clashing with Zeraora's before it could grow to a large degree. Zeraora was planning to spread it far and wide, only for Celestial-Gardevoir to shut it down immediately.
And with this counterattack, followed up by Audino using Hyper Beam from afar, the sphere that Zeraora made was promptly shut down. This allowed Darkrai to finally move in. While he wasn't fully healed, he could still take action. The Pitch Black Pokemon moved through the shadows as fast as he could, appearing behind Zeraora who was sent flying. Catching up to her, The Dark-Type used Dark Void at last.
That was Celestial-Gardevoir's cue. After hitting Zeraora with the sphere, she would follow up with Mystical Fire. From behind and from above, Zeraora was hit with two moves. It started with Dark Void hitting her back, enveloping her in a nightmare-inducing power. Zeraora gasped before being struck by a burst of fire from above. This combination is what did the trick. The Dark Void didn't put her to sleep thanks to the plasma keeping her awake, but it did temporarily freeze her actions, allowing Celestial-Gardevoir to get that one good hit in.
"Zeraora..." Zeraora had fainted. Defeated by the coordination of everyone here who got a taste of plasma. With Zeraora's defeat, the Mindscape was returning to how it was. No longer were the shockwaves present. Now, they had died out, bringing back the serenity of this area.
"S-Success..." Luna smiled. She wishes she could have done it on her own, but there was no way Luna was going to enter Zeraora's mind without the help of the others. Now, she could depart from the Mindscape. But before that, Daybreaker unleashed some words of warning.
"This isn't over, Luna." Daybreaker slowly shook her head. "My goals will be realized, no matter what you say. Zeraora's not all that important in it, but you'd best believe that the power of Plasma isn't something I'm going to pass up on."
Zeraora laid there on the snowy ground, unconscious and defeated. As for the others, they could feel the plasma twitching around their bodies. Darkrai got it the worst while everyone got off easy. Either way, they had Audino here to heal them. Celestial-Gardevoir sighed before ending the Fusion. Both parties split up, returning to their original forms. Returning to the real world was Luna as her body rematerialized.
"Is everyone alright?" Celestia asked.
"I think so." Twilight looked at her hoof which was pulsating plasma. "Ooh...How long will this stick around for?"
"That sucked...We tried calming her down but...It had to come to this." Rainbow Dash sighed, wishing there was a better way to do this. She previously managed to calm Zeraora down with words of comfort. But now, it was resorted to violence.
"It's alright, Rainbow Dash." Patting her on the back was Rainbow Dash. "It's a shame, but it had to be done."
"Sister. You need to listen to this." Here to share information with Celestia was Luna. It was about Daybreaker. While not much info about Ghetsis' essence was available, there was still something to be shared.
Rainbow Dash looked down at Zeraora with sadness in her eyes. Never before has she felt this way with any other Pokemon. Aside from Braviary and the whole issue that was the Rainbow-Braviary incident, Zeraora was a Pokemon she was starting to bond with. Nightfall was now approaching as another day at the Pokemon Festival was about to come to a close.
Equestria. The Crystal Empire. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
With the Moon up in the sky, the potential rampage of Zeraora was dealt with before it could spiral out of control. Knocked out and no longer in a rampage-like state, Zeraora was currently on a bed, placed there by Princess Celestia. But prior to this, she received some medical attention.
Zeraora's energy wasn't just making her stronger, but it was harming her. She had to constantly unleash more of it otherwise, she might explode. Thankfully, it didn't come to that, but the fact that it was a possibility was horrifying. And it was all because of Ghetsis. Standing near the Thunderclap Pokemon was Celestia's entire group.
"Disaster avoided. By tomorrow, she'll be revitalized. And after that, I believe that'll be the last we see of her rampage. She's seen familiar faces which triggered her rage. If I'm right about this, Flurry Heart is the final face she has to worry about." Celestia spoke. "Unless there's someone else?"
"No. I don't think so, Great Auntie." The older Flurry Heart shook her head. "Outside of our group, it's just Team Plasma and the Twilight Imperium."
"Hm Even so...Zeraora did have moments where she rampaged prior to meeting us." Celestia did recall Zeraora's past rampages across parts of the world. "So familiar faces might not be the only trigger."
"It's Ghetsis's voice that's the trigger," Luna recalled. "Because of his essence, Zeraora keeps hearing his voice, tempting her. That's what drives her. I tried eliminating the essence within but...it was no use. He's fortified in preparation against us. So has Daybreaker, even if it's just a small bit."
"How are we going to get rid of her rage then? What if the next time she she gets mad, we can't stop her?" Asking the most vital question was Scootaloo. If Zeraora enters a state of rage once more, it might not go swimmingly at all.
"We can't let Zeraora down. You saw her when we were entrusted to keep her calm, right" said Rainbow Dash. "We kept our promise, even if she went on a small rampage If we fail, Zeraora won't trust us again. She won't trust anyone and totally run away from it all."
"It's worse since this isn't even her own universe." Rarity shook her head, finding all of this rather disheartening. "When she wakes up, do you think she'll trust us at all?"
"Hopefully We should let her get some rest until then. We have more of the festival ahead of us and Zeraora's well-being to consider." Celestia called it a night. It was time for everyone else to clock out and get some sleep until the morning Sun.
Luna and Darkrai would be doing something else. As Guardians of the Night, they would be in the Dream Realm plus the Hyperdream. As for the damage left behind, that would be taken care of, but it wouldn't be from the Ranger Union. The Crystal Empire would handle it.
Not all of them were asleep, but they were certainly taking in the calm scenery which soothed their souls. Such as Rainbow Dash, who sat outside. Yawning, she felt some of the snow nearby drop on her. It seems that the Crystal Empire was about to be hit with a bit of snow for tonight.
"Zera..." Suddenly, walking outside, fully awake and revitalized was Zeraora. The Sun hadn't even risen yet and she was back up. Plus, with memories of what just happened.
"Zeraora? You're up already?" Rainbow Dash uttered with a shocked expression "How'd you recover that fast after taking all that damage? Eh, whatever. At least you're doing fine now."
"Ora." Currently, Zeraora was feeling rather gutted about what happened in the late afternoon. Even when being under the care of others, she went on a rampage, but thankfully, she was stopped. However, the irritation of being unable to properly erase the essence of Ghetsis was maddening to the Thunderclap Pokemon.
"I wish I helped you sooner, ya know." Rainbow Dash continued as she then lowered her head in dissappointment. "Glad Kidd and the Rangers aren't here to see this. They wouldn't trust us anymore after what just happened. It could've been worse though. At least we still managed to save you but...what about next time."
"Ze." Zeraora was already thinking about the next time. Prior to meeting Rainbow Dash, her rampages, while hostile, were kept in check by her own determination and willpower. Much like how she fled from Celestia even when seeing her as Daybreaker, Zeraora had a method to this cruel trigger.
But it was because she saw Daybreaker in Celestia and soon Empress Twilight in both Twilight and Sci-Twi, that burning rage reached a new level. A level that Zeraora couldn't even properly contain without help It was the first time she's ever had help from someone concerning her rage. She was grateful for it, but also sad that she had to put such a burden on them
"Ora." Zeraora just wished to go home and erase this burden. But her home was no more after all, so there was seemingly no chance of her getting it back. Living in total darkness didn't sound pleasant at all.
The Thunderclap Pokemon then put on a smile, at least grateful that there was someone she could trust. And even though Rainbow Dash couldn't fully understand Zeraora in the same way Fluttershy can, that special connection between Pokemon and other Creatures kicked in. The pegasus, much like her own Pokemon, felt that connection and instantly read what Zeraora was saying.
"You trust us, even still? Really?" Rainbow Dash was shocked to see that Zeraora still put her trust in her group. "Wow. Thanks! I thought you were gonna jet off somewhere else and we'd never see you again!" She cackled before receiving a light tap on the back from Zeraora. "Ow!"
"Ze."
"Anyway. Thanks for trusting, Zeraora. Whatever happens next, we'll do our best to make it all up to you." Rainbow Dash grinned, followed by Zeraora's smile. They could put everything that happened late into the afternoon behind them. After all, it was about to be a new day for Zeraora tomorrow.
Newswept Plains.
One of the many new locations that have been formed by an everchanging world was the Newswept Plains. A vast open field under the starlit sky, housing many Pokemon that called this place their home. The gentle breeze carries the fragrance of wildflowers, creating a calming and serene atmosphere. Amidst the grassy plain, glowing Volbeat and Illumise dance and twinkle, casting a soft illumination around.
Yawning while cuddling its Teddiursa was a Ursaring. Resting near a star-shaped bush were a group of Turtwigs and Petilil on this peaceful night. And those awake were part of the Nocturnal group of Pokemon but there wasn't that much movement going around, except for that of an Oddish. When moving across the plains, the Grass-Type wasn't expecting much to happen tonight.
Until something did.
On this night, appearing out in the sky above the Newswept Plains was none other than a gateway. A Rift Gateway to be exact. A new one had been formed. Oddish was frozen in sight when this gateway arrived, stunned by its appearance and the sounds it made.
But this wasn't a gateway that was made by Lucas. Not at all. Lucas was fast asleep back at the Crystal Empire. This was the result of an outside force. Beyond this universe. And the ones responsible were about to make an appearance. Dropping out of the gateway itself was none other than Daybreaker. The hooves of this alternate Celestia touched the soft and comfortable grass before immediately scorching a part of it just from her aura alone.
Daybreaker wasn't alone. Emerging from this gateway were some of her soldiers and the allies she's managed to gather. Such as the Aura Vampire Gardevoir and her own Pokemon, Necrozma.
"It worked. Excellent." Daybreaker smiled. Ever since Lucas first opened up a new gateway, those residing in Universe 11 who have been trying to figure out a way to travel once more were alerted. It was their lucky break and last, they have managed to enter another universe. "We've managed to enter Universe 1. And with a gateway replica on our side, things will be a lot easier."
"Finally!" Gardevoir rubbed her hands together, putting on a wide grin. "Oh, I've been waiting for this! I've been starved off too much good aura for too long."
"Hold on. We won't have forever in this universe. The gateway will only last for 5 days at max. So make sure not to go past that limit." There was a limit to this. Gateway Travel was still imperfect for many since no one but Lucas was able to properly replicate it.
"5 days is enough for me." Gardevoir shrugged. "As long as I get some delicious Aura, that's fine with me~"
Necrozma instantly tried absorbing all the light here, wanting to feed on this world. The last time he was here, he got an amazing fill. This was certainly the universe for him. But unlike Zeraora's universe, the light here wasn't so easy to strip away. Not only because he hasn't borrowed the power of truly powerful Pokemon, but mainly due to the sheer might of this universe.
It was a Grander World after all. Far larger than what Necrozma went through. Necrozma was still able to get some light from this, but it wasn't enough. The greatest satisfaction Necrozma ever got in this universe was from the Sea Temple Crystals. But without knowing where they were, Necrozma was starving yet again. He needed those crystals once more or at least anything that could match their power.
"Calm down, Necrozma. This universe takes time. It has so much protection around it. From external forces mainly. But now that we're here and we have a way to arrive in this universe, our work can continue." Daybreaker spoke. "First up, I want to pay a quick visit to Pinnaculum Pegalysium. And then after that, we visit J."
The next day. The Crystal Empire
A new day has arrived during the Pokemon Festival. And with it, came a new Zeraora. The Thunderclap Pokemon still kept her distance, but it was mainly from the rest of the crowd after everything that happened yesterday. As for the Crystal Empire, their visit here was about to end as it was off to another location as they were already at the train station.
"Where to next then?" Rarity asked while waiting for the train. She then glanced over at Lucas who would be the easiest way to enter whatever area they wanted. Lucas grimaced after seeing Rarity's face, knowing what might be coming next.
"I was thinking we should pay a visit to Kalos next." Twilight already had a place in mind. The Kalos Region. "We don't really visit Kalos all that much, do we?"
"Same goes for Johto." Applejack pointed out. "And I guess Sinnoh too?"
"I really only go to Sinnoh for the Canalave Library but that's about it. Come to think of it..." The Princess of Friendship pondered for a moment. "We still haven't covered a lot of the other regions. We've been across most of Unova actually."
"That's cause Unova's the best, duh." Rarity Dash smirked. "It's got everything you need. Battles, Entertainment and great food all around. But Kalos doesn't sound so bad either..."
"Kalos it is." Celestia decided as the train showed up seconds later.
Pinnaculum Pegalysium.
Pinnaculum Pegalysium.
A greater version of Pegalysium that was made by Second Wind's interference with Time. It floats high above the land, even beyond the original Pegalysium. It was a sprawling expanse of clouds and celestial bridges connecting majestic, floating islands. Arriving here was Daybreaker's group. As she stepped into the nation, passing by the guards who knew who she was, she was engulfed in a gentle, sweet aroma of blooming celestial flowers that hangs in the air.
But despite how pleasant it was, it was ruled by the cruel Second Wind after all. Populating this nation were pegasi who have lost their memories about the real Pegalysium that they used to live in, now residing here at Pinnaculum Pegalysium.
Amidst the bustling streets, a group of pegasi adorned in golden armour soar overhead, their wings reflecting the golden light of the sun. The enigmatic Pokemon known as the Unown could also be found here, acting as guards. Second Wind had command over many of them.
In the centre of Pegalysium, an enormous crystal palace stands, its translucent walls shimmering with an ethereal glow, serving as both the residence of the queen and a symbol of her tyrannical rule. Stepping into her throne room, the Queen of the New Pegalysium sat there with five Unown around her. Fittingly, these Unown spelled the word, Queen. This was Second Wind's way of boasting yet again.
"Daybreaker. Good to see you again." Second Wind smiled. "Here I thought I was going to have to go at it solo without all that help. How'd you manage it?"
"We've managed to open up a new gateway but it only lasts for 5 days. That's more than enough to come and meet you and do everything else."
"Hm. And you still have that Demon of a Pokemon, Necrozma with you?" Second Wind was aware of Necrozma and even she found him to be a rather terrifying Pokemon.
"Yes, yes, I do. But nevermind that. Now that I'm here, I need to talk to you about this new world that you live in." Daybreaker got right down to business. "Ever since Ash Ketchum made that wish, we immediately lost connection to this universe. Our alliance was briefly disrupted. And now that we're here and this is a larger world than it used to be-"
"Stop right there." Second Wind halted her. "I know exactly what you're thinking. And I'm on the same page. In fact, I already went to work the second everything became one and I made quite the discovery. Something that changes everything."
"What would that be?"Daybreaker asked.
"The lower Pegalysium that I used to live in still has the Clock Door, which allows anypony to interact with time, but only one part of it. I used it to make this new Pegalysium by rewriting one specific point in time and I've been satisfied with it ever since. Of course, I'm still irritated that the original Pegalysium is around and that blasted King is still continuing his bloodline...but never mind that. What truly matters is the fact that my spies have shared something amazing with me. It's not just my timeline."
"Not just yours? Are you saying...?" The Solar Princess
"That's right! It was a message from one of the Pegasi of Destiny. They aren't usually supposed to appear until the next Pegasi of Destiny is chosen and ready, but because of that Wish, things have changed. It was Windkiss who showed up yet again and since she was the one who made the Clock Door and the Avus-Pegasus inside, it was revealed that the timeline of the Pokemon World was there too."
"What!?" Daybreaker and Gardevoir gasped.
"My reaction exactly. The possibilities became truly endless. The power of Jirachi managed to affect the Avus-Pegasus and completely give it new timelines that weren't there before. Naturally, I want a piece of that. I only managed to interact with it once and look where it got me. If I can get back in there and have a second-go at it, imagine what I can do." Second Wind put on a maniacal laughter. "I could make any Legendary Pokemon my partner. Or even change the way the Pokemon Trainers are in my own image."
"Glad it's not my universe..." Daybreaker said to herself, looking away from Second Wind.
"My spies are very well-hidden in Pegalysium, but that blasted Clock Door is still difficult to approach. They have their own Unown after all and the Sky Monarch is already attempting to take down Pinnaculum Pegalysium. The only positive to all of this is the fact that they haven't figured out how to reset things to how they were. I made sure to keep that one part of history closed off from them so that I would never lose Pinnaculum Pegalysium."
"Well, good to know. That kind of power would be useful. It would be helpful if I chimed in since you're having trouble getting to it."
"Tch. It would...But Paramount and Luminary have allied themselves with Equestria and beyond. As soon as something goes awry, you can expect your other self from this universe to show up. I haven't made a big move yet because of them. I've been so hesitant it's downright annoying. Unless you have a perfect response to this, then I can finally launch an offensive against them."
"Hmm...I'll keep it in mind. For now, with us being in this universe and finding a new way to open gateways, we can advance with our plans. Let's pick up where we left off. We're going to pay a visit to Pokemon Hunter J. Do you think your Unown can chime in?"
"But of course." Second Wind grinned as she had the most power of creation out of this alliance. Thanks to the Unown, there were many things she could make into reality. While there were limits, the results could still be terrifying. "What's first?"
With Daybreaker managing to get into contact with her allies once more, this dastardly union could properly continue from across worlds. Daybreaker and Second Wind had their own plans, while Gardevoir stuck to what she wanted. And so did Necrozma.
This was the universe where both of them could realize their goals. It was, after all, the Universe where it all began. But in Necrozma's eyes, it was the Universe where it would all truly end. And it was all because of Lucas opening up the first new gateway. Their plans were now shifting to the Pokemon Hunter J.
With the Pokemon Festival continuing, Ash and his group ended up in Kalos, this time, in Anistar City. They showed up here in the middle of the day despite being all the way over at the Crystal Empire, literally minutes ago. And this was all thanks to Lucas and his power to create gateways.
This time, Lucas created a gateway from Dodge Junction to Anistar City. Another successful creation that was gradually bringing back the enjoyable travel of the gateways that has been missing for a while. It's only been months since 98% of them vanished.
"How are you feeling this time, Lucas?" Looking down at Lucas who was lying on his back and gazing into the sunny skies was Pinkie Pie.
"Uhh...Still messed up. Not sure if I'm getting used to this just yet." Lucas groaned. This was still a new experience for him. It seems that every single day, he was going to be absolutely out of it.
Aside from the creation of gateways, the presence of Zeraora was also something to note. After yesterday and last night, the Thunderclap Pokemon was calm once more but the threat of a rampage going off was very much present. Speaking of Zeraora, she was currently taking the time to eat some food.
She sat with Ash and his many Pokemon, Lucas, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Apple Bloom, snacking away at the food offered here at Anistar City. Zeraora hasn't had the chance to eat all that much for a long time, so this was truly blissful to her. "Zee..." With sparkles in her eyes
"Feeling good? How long has it been since you've eaten?" Rainbow Dash asked. Zeraora couldn't recall. It has been a long time after all and she's never had a meal this good.
"Zeraaaa!" She was so pleased with this, her arms moved lightning-speed, snatching Apple Bloom and Pikachu's food, wanting more.
"Ah! Hey!" Apple Bloom gasped as her muffin was snatched in the blink of an eye.
"Pika?!"
Zeraora was going crazy, gathering as much of the food laid out on the table as she could. She was hoarding a plethora of it, making sure that she would eat like royalty.
"Pheromo." Swiftly slapping Zeraora's paw and preventing him from scarfing down the stolen food was Pheromosa. The faster Pokemon made sure that all was fair. The Thunderclap Pokemon was stunned for a moment by this slap. "Mosa." Pheromosa wagged her finger, urging Zeraora not to do such a thing. She still needed manners even if most of Pheromosa's friends ate like maniacs.
"Zera..." Zeraora grumbled. he soon returned the food to Pikachu and Apple Bloom. Pheromosa would also teach Zeraora other manners. Such as eating like a lady.
"Pheromo." Showing instructions by delicately consuming her own food, Pheromosa figured that she might as well help Zeraora adjust. She may have spent the majority of her time in the wild, but around others, the Thunderclap Pokemon would have to tone a few things down here and there. Not just her rage.
"Rrr..." The Electric-Type grimaced after seeing Pheromosa's instructions. Zeraora tried mimicking this lady-like movement. But she certainly wasn't pulling it off. Failing to have any of those mannerisms, Zeraora stuck with what she knew.
"Gible!" Eyeing down the same food were Ash's Gible and Lucas's Garchomp. Both wanted the same ting and immediately went for it. Naturally, both of them couldn't have it and that immediately sparked up some conflict.
"Gar!" Garchomp and Gible pulled against the food, trying to claim it. This started a struggle, but it was clear who had the stronger pull Lucas's Garchomp. However, Gible had an equally powerful grip to make up for it as even when being lifted into the air, he didn't let go of it. Garchomp frantically shook his head around, shaking Gilbe in the process as a method to try and remove him.
Since Ash and Lucas shared the same Pokemon, they managed to connect with ease. From the Infernapes entering an arm wrestling contest with each other, the two Staraptors showing off their bangs to see who would be the best in their respective flock, to Buizel and Floatzel conversing.
"Still not going to visit the Crown Tundra just yet, sister? I thought you were dying to meet up with Cobalion." Luna commented, bringing up Celestia's original plan.
"Mmm...later. Right now, Zeraora needs our full attention before someone else gets hurt. Until then, Cobalion will have to wait. Unfortunately..." Celestia made a crooked smile. "Hopefully it doesn't last the entire festival. I might luck out and Cobalion could come to me."
"No. No." Luna shook her head, shutting that down in an instant. "No reason to come here to Kalos unless something has happened. I mean, we've dealt with the Yveltal issue so there's no need to worry about that."
"Nothing?" Celestia squinted her eyes. She wasn't too sure about that. A strong part of Celestia was always expecting something wild to happen in a place where problems have been solved. Even if Yveltal was at peace now, Kalos was still harbouring something else.
"I wouldn't say nothing." Checking out her phone and reading up on Kalos at the moment was Sci-Twi. "There's a recent development about the Harmony Phenomenon."
"Oh, really?" Celestia leaned over. "What is it?"
"It looks like some of it leaked over to Kalos. Just a small bit though." Showing the two alicorns, it was revealed that the ponies that show up here carry the Harmony Phenomenon with them. While it was at its strongest in Equestria, much like the Bond Phenomenon, it could be used everywhere else.
However, unlike the Bond Phenomenon, it was slightly weaker when out of its advantageous area. And all of this had been reported by none other than Professor Sycamore, who first discovered the truth behind this phenomenon which was mistaken to be the Bond Phenomenon and even gave it its name. His research of this new phenomenon that was very young hasn't stopped yet.
"Hm." Luna looked at her hoof. "How come I haven't tapped into the Harmony Phenomenon yet? My sister already has and so has Rainbow Dash. I and many other ponies haven't been as lucky. What is it going to take to have the Harmony Phenomenon to reveal itself to me?"
"I'm sure there's a way to trigger it. For Rainbow Dash and I, it comes from synchronizing with our Pokemon." Celestia suggested. "You're already close with your Pokemon, Luna."
"Yes, but there haven't been any signs of merging or sharing a mind," Luna grumbled.
"Hehe! We got lucky!" Grinning and feeling proud of themselves were the CMC. They've actually experienced the Harmony Phenomenon. For them, their Pokemon evolved differently Instead of battling or in a dire situation, it was out of love and happiness.
"I'd love to have the Harmony Phenomon on my side as well." Rarity spoke, chiming in. "Many do. When we learned about it, so many ponies wished to tap into it. Of course, I don't think many have succeeded aside from my sister and her friends..."
"Same here." Applejack was part of that camp of ponies who wanted a piece of it.
"Same!" Raising his arm up vehemently was Spike. It wasn't just ponies, but also Dragons who wanted a piece of it. "It'd be so great if I had it."
"Spike. You already have those Dragon abilities since you're a Dragon Trainer." Scootaloo pointed out.
"Yeah, but imagine if I could do more than just understand Dragons?"
"Well, if you're all having trouble tapping into it, then why might as well get experimental." Celestia winked. "I've been around for centuries and I've overseen many magical forms out there, making sure to keep them balanced and learning from them. The Harmony Phenomenon won't be any different."
"Really?! Right now!" Excited about this was Sci-Twi. She would love to see the Harmony Phenomenon in action. Aside from the only two examples.
"Right now. Right now, we know of three ways it can work. Merging with the power of Mega Evolution, something similar to the Bond Phenomenon and evolving in different ways. It all comes back to the Pokemon and everyone that's natural to them. I say we start with learning new moves. Everyone. If you're itching to unlock a new move for your Pokemon, now would be the time to find out."
"New moves? Like... moves that don't exist?" Scootaloo was hoping she was getting that right.
"That's right. It's better to look for something that's never existed before than something we know about. While it would be nice for the Pokemon to learn moves they don't regularly know, much like Alpha Rapidash and her Dragon Pulse, something unseen would be even greater. Personally speaking."
"Works for me! Out you come, Prinplup!" Sending out her Prinplup was Sweetie Belle who didn't hesitate to take a swing at this.
"Prinplup!"
The others followed up on this, sending one Pokemon each. For Scootaloo, it was her Pachirisu. For Rarity, she selected one of her Leavanny Specifically, the strongest one she had. Applejack went straight for one of her Golett, mainly the first one she ever caught and finally, Spike chose his Flygon.
Luna thought about it for a momebt before deciding to join in. Why not give it a whirl? Pokemon are unpredictable creatures after all and an amazing move might truly come from this. The Pokemon she chose was on the top of her head and random. Luna figured that she should give Frillish a shot.
"Alright! How are we going to do this...?" Even though they had their Pokemon out, they weren't sure how to start. What did they need to do to get started and unlock these never-before seen moves?
"Watch." Celestia ad something in mind. She was going to personally view the Hamony Phenomenon for herself. And with the power of the Boundless Cutie Mark, she could make it happen. The Sun Princess closed her eyes for a moment before reopening them, tapping into the power of the Boundless Cutie Mark and her Mega Stone.
The Mega Stone could be seen levitating under Celestia's control as she wrapped a huge chunk of her magic around it. They all gazed as Celestia was using her version of the Harmony Phenomenon to kickstart things. By affecting the Mega Stone which usually helps form Celestial-Gardevoir, a vast expanse of energy flew out of it.
The surrounding area was then filled with this nebula-like energy that created a space. It was filled with both Infinity Energy and Equestrian Magic. The two major factors in the Harmony Phenomenon. The two respectives energies could be seen crackling and sparkling around this space.
The crackling part came from the Infinity Energy while the sparkles came from the Equestrian Magic. The nearby people here at Anistar City watched as this Nebula Dome was formed. It was rather large too, matching the size of an average Pokemon Gym.
"I've had this in mind before I usually merge with Passion, so why not merge the two energies themselves instead?" said Celestia. "In this space, the Harmony Phenomenon is absolutely brimming. Here, we can go through many experiments and see what sticks. The Harmony Phenomenon speaks for itself too. It is all connected to the bonds we share. That is how it affects us."
"Easy enough for us all." Rarity added. "We're so close with our Pokemon. Coming up with a new move will be absolutely easy!"
"Pheromosa!"
"Let me try! Pachirisu! Think of something great! Something you like!" Scootaloo opted that Pachirisu came up with something truly magnificent.
"Pachi...!" Pachirisu concentrated deeply. Whatever she liked, she could possibly make it into something new. Pokemon Moves usually range from close-up attacks, ranged attacks, status moves, healing moves or even moves that boost, protect and weaken the Pokemon. It all had to be in the realm of the Infinity Energy, with some magic sprinkled in.
"Perhaps just thinking about it might not work." Luna shook her head, seeing no progress so far. "I'm not sure that has something to do with our bonds. Maybe you should-"
"Risu!" However, cutting Luna off, was a creation that came straight from Pachirisu. The Moon Princess gasped as a wobbly electricity was expelled from the EleSquirrel Pokemon's body.
"Oooh..." Luna pulled back as everything was suddenly in slow motion for her. The reactions of her friends and family were slowed down. The sounds were slower and deeper and her own body was lagging behind. But not Pachirisu. She managed to pull something off.
"Pachi...Risu..." Pachirisu felt rather bewildered and dizzy afterwards. Feeling this too was Scootaloo. The pegasus had swirly eyes as she fell on her back.
"Wow! What was that!? Is it something new!?" Trying to confirm this was Sci-Twi, who immediately took out her Pokedex. The best thing to do was check up on Pachirisu's current moves to see if anything was different. Lo and behold, there was something different that had been described by the Dex.
By overriding her electricity and sacrificing all of her speed, Pachirisu managed to create a Slow-motion affect, making her opponent see and feel things in slow motion. At the same time, they would constantly be surrounded by electricity. It was somewhat similar to Static but with a greater emphasis on making sure that the opponent was far too slow to do anything. The only downside was that Pachirisu lost a good chunk of her swiftness.
"On the first go, too. Not bad, Scootaloo." Rainbow Dash congratulated.
"T-Thanks...I was thinking about the same thing too." Scootaloo blurted with a weakened voice. "This is gonna do wonders at the Pokemon League for sure..."
"I see. Because you were thinking of it and so was Pachirisu, the Harmony Phenomenon took what the two of you were thinking and created something out of it." Celestia already understood the process behind it. "Since they have such a strong bond, it was easy for the Harmony Phenomenon to work for them."
"And it works splendidly..." Luna recovered as her mane was fried thanks to the electricity.
"Let me try! Let me try!" Wanting a swing at it next was Sweetie Belle as she faced her Prinplup. The young unicorn placed her hooves on her head, concentrating deeply. "Okay...Let's try and be on the same page, Prinplup. Think."
"Prin...!" Prinplup would do the same. He had to think of something that he would prefer. For Prinplup, he was thinking about one thing. His final evolution. Empoleon. But that was obviously something that could be achieved without the Harmony Phenomenon.
Sweetie Belle was thinking about her Pokemon Contests and how she loved to grow with her Pokemon, coming up with new tricks. The Harmony Phenomenon read this as well, knowing that Sweetie Belle was already great at making new tricks. There wasn't much it could do for them.
"Mmm..." Sweetie Belle pouted as nothing was happening so far. But she wasn't about to give up. Surely, the Harmony Phenomenon had to come up with something. "Mmmm...!" Her face was starting to turn red from all this thinking and focusing. "Nothing's happening. What gives?"
"Hm. It may be more complicated than we thought." Celestia pondered. "But we have plenty of time to figure it out. Try again, Sweetie Belle. Prinplup. See what you can do. The rest of you can try it out too. Who knows? It might have already come up with something for you."
This was a place to experiment. The Harmony Phenomenon Space that Celestia made was all for trying new things out. They would start small by coming up with new moves and so far, only Scootaloo and Pachirisu came up with something. What truly mattered was the bond between the Trainers and the Pokemon, but that part certainly wasn't a problem for them.
But they weren't the only important visitors in the Kalos Region. Out in the fields of Kalos, the most dangerous visitors had arrived. From above, a ship that looked like it came straight from Pegalysium could be seen riding the clouds themselves. Using the clouds as a sea, this ship would then descend, having some form of flight which allowed it to slowly touch the ground.
But this wasn't a ship belonging to the original Pegalysium. With the symbol at the front resembling Second Wind's face plus the colour of the ship being Indigo, it belonged to Pinnaculum Pegalysium.
Daybreaker and Second Wind were here and they were joined by the Aura Vampire Gardevoir. Once the ship landed, they stepped out with their respective forces. The fields were met with these two Queens.
"So, Hunter J said that she was here at the Kalos Region. And apparently, there is a secret gateway that only her group knows about." They were here for Hunter J, who apparently also knew where a gateway was.
"Let's hurry and find this gateway already. If we can get our hooves on that, the 5-day limit gateway won't matter all that much. I can most definitely have the Unown use their power on it!" Second Wind declared.
"Mmm..." Gardevoir was worried about something else. And that was the Aura that she gets to eat. When entering the Kalos Region, Gardevoir could already feel a great surge of Aura. This region would obviously have a ton of it, all thanks to the power of Mega Evolution. Places like the Sinnoh and Alola Region also boasted high amounts of Aura.
Eager to begin, the Embrace Pokemon, with a gleeful smile on her face, started hovering away.
"Hold it! Where are you going!?" Daybreaker bellowed, freezing the Psychic-Fairy-Type in place with her voice.
"To consume some Aura, what does it look like?" Gardevoir turned around The answer was very obvious to Daybreaker. But even so, Daybreaker did not let Gardevoir leave so lightly.
"Not at all. You're not leaving our sight." She wagged one of her feathers as if they were fingers
"Says who?! You're not the boss of me. Even if you're leading this alliance..."
"If you go out there, you'll be recognized without a doubt and dealt with at the same time. You'll make our alliance short of a member, even if it has mountains of members."
"No one is going to recognize." Gardevoir scoffed. "To them, I'm just a Shiny Gardevoir, that's all. Besides, by the time they do recognize me, I'll have taken their Aura. No matter how large or small it may be~"
"True...But they would find it rather suspicious that a rare Gardevoir such as yourself is just moving around, especially if they catch you absorbing Aura." Daybreaker brought up another argument. "Taking away the Aura part, you'd be targeted just because of your rarity and Gardevoirs aren't the type to just move around without anyone else. They're social creatures after all."
"Tch. I know I'm social. I don't need you to tell me that." Gardevoir grizzled. "But you do raise a point. I could be suspected, especially since this place is crowded compared to where I was for so long."
"That's why you should stick with us. Until we've reached a certain point in our plans. I promise you, when we get to the gateway, you'll be able to feast on plenty of Aura. I informed Hunter J about it prior to the gateways disappearing after all."
"Y-You did?! There's an Aura Feast waiting for me!" Gardevoir made a prolonged gasp as her eyes lit up
"Indeed. As for where we need to go..." One of the troops brought over a map for Daybreaker to read and show up. "Hunter J informed us that a secret gateway is hidden inside of a fridge. Of all places. Her group was lucky to find it."
This place was none other than Nadya's home. Located in Tropezete Town. It possessed a gateway hidden from the rest of the world, but not from those who had nefarious plans. This was where Daybreaker's group was heading to further their plans now that they've managed to travel to Universe One. And it was also the place where Pokemon Hunter J was waiting. A wicked reunion was about to commence.
Here at Anistar City, this space of Infinity Energy and Equestrian Magic was still around, mainly as a means to utilize the Harmony Phenomenon. So far, the only one to come up with something new was Scootaloo and her Pachirisu. A new Electric-Type move that grants slow motion to the opponent, making them slower than ever. Lucas had fully recovered to see the space of Harmony formed by Celestia's work.
"Aw, I've got nothing! Why?!" And yet, there was no result. The Harmony Phenomenon didn't respond to what they were thinking at all. It seems as if Scootaloo and Pachirisu struck lightning in a bottle and no one else was able to capture it.
"I thought I had something there...Shucks." A disappointed Applejack commented, lowering her head. Her Golett was equally disappointed.
"Are we sure we know how this thing works?" Showing a disgruntled face was Rarity, who was already brimming with so many ideas. But the Harmony Phenomenon did not respond to those ideas at all, leaving the fashionista gutted.
"Hm..We'll have to postpone the Moves part since we aren't getting that far with them." Celestia put a pin in this, halting the progress. "Perhaps, we might be getting a bit too greedy with what we want. The Harmony Phenomenon is exactly that. A Phenomenon. So it's never going to be that easy. Although...Scootaloo and Pachirisu were very lucky with theirs."
"Why?! I was thinking of a pendulum!!" Sweetie Belle groaned, pulling on her mane. "It was going to be so much fun! Prinplup would make an energy pendulum out of thin air and a bunch of attacks could be on it! It would swing all over the place and...you had to see it..."
"Prinplup..."
"How'd it go?" Entering this Harmony Space was Ash and now-recovered Lucas. "Did ya figure something out?"
"No..." Luna sighed before stomping her hoof on the ground. She was truly looking forward to unlocking something new. "What a waste!"
"Frillish..." So was Frillish, who simply wept. He had only one thing in mind and it wasn't going to come to fruition anytime soon. At this rate, everyone else was going to have to resort to just having it all come to them naturally. Perhaps, in certain scenarios. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie both giggled since they both had access to the Harmony Phenomenon. For them, it was their eyes.
Fairy Magic was greatly brimming within them, allowing them to see things others can't. They had that benefit to their side and Fluttershy even gained enhanced hearing in the process. It wasn't on the same level as Audino though.
Walking over to the table of food to join the others was Lucas, who wasn't too late to snack on something. Even with all these gluttons here, there was still food to be had. "Wait. What's the Harmony Phenomenon?" Lucas was just now hearing about this phenomenon after getting back up.
"Sol...? Absol!" At that moment, Absol's horn started shaking. He promptly ceased his delicious morning meal for something far more important.
"What's wrong, Absol? Did something happen? Or is it about to happen?" Twilight leaned over. Absol had her attention. The Disaster Pokemon was sensing a small-scale disaster brewing that wouldn't really affect everyone here. But it was still a disaster that would eventually evolve into something dangerous.
Absol was looking to the north of Kalos, sensing the incoming disaster from that direction. He still wasn't sure what it t was but he knew it could become something rather dangerous. And it involved the life of another.
Of course, this grabbed Ash's attention as well as the rest of his friends nearby. Whenever Absol's horn starts shaking, they would all focus on him. "What's up? What's happening over there, Absol?"
"I don't think he's sure just yet. But judging by how his horn is shaking, it's something that hasn't happened yet or it's something small." Twilight could also observe Absol's horn speed. The fact that it was rather gentle and slow showed the scale of this upcoming disaster, but it still had to be taken seriously.
Tropezete Town.
The coastal town of Tropezete. This was home to the Frontier Brain Nadya and of course, the secret gateway hidden behind a fridge of all things. But it was only a secret among a very few. But in the case of Tropeze Town's visitors, it might as well be dozens.
Setting foot here was Daybreaker's group. They were here for the gateway located at Nadya's home and the one to inform them was none other than Pokemon Hunter J. With a map already given to them, the eyes of Daybreaker, Second Wind and Gardevoir locked onto the small house sitting peacefully with the relaxing waves being heard.
The town was rather silent at this time. Everyone seemed to be inside even during the Pokemon Festival. There was a lack of decorations around or any Pokemon enjoying themselves. Perfect for Daybreaker's group. She wouldn't have to worry about the public. Then again, she had an answer for that.
Gardevoir was already hungering for some Auras and apparently, past this secret gateway was an Aura Feeding Ground for her. According to Daybreaker. She could already sense the Auras of the people and Pokemon inside of these buildings, knowing that they were indeed around and seemingly hiding. But they weren't hiding from Daybreaker's group.
However, despite how surprising their appearance was, it wasn't to one person, in particular. Opening the door to meet with Daybreaker's group was none other than Nadya herself.
"Oh, you're here," Nadya said, keeping up that bright smile of hers even in the face of such intimidating forces. Especially with Daybreaker's blazing mane. It was very much different from a Rapidash but that didn't matter to Nadya. Not one bit.
"Hm. So you're the one called Nadya that J mentioned." Celestia was also aware of Nadya's existence. It was her home that possessed the gateway after all.
"That's me. You must be Daybreaker. I heard a bit about you. You really do look like Princess Celestia..." Nadya replied when getting a closer look at Daybreaker.
"I am Celestia...Well, not anymore. My name is just different, that's all." Daybreaker shrugged.
"Hmph. I suppose you're already aware of my existence then, child?"
"Mmm...Nope. No clue who you are." Alas, Nadya had no idea who Second Wind was, which was rather humorous considering Second Wind launched quite possibly the greatest attack on Equestria by using the Unown and yet she wasn't talked about all that much compared to Daybreaker or Ghetsis. Empress Twilight still has ponies and even people bringing up her name to this day and Rosa Maledicta was in the same conversation.
"Kh!" Second Wind twitched, alerting the guards behind her. The disrespect to their Queen was shocking and Second Wind twitched. But swiftly, Daybreaker got in front of Second Wind before any action could be done.
"I just need to know something. How is it that your fridge of all places received a gateway?" Daybreaker asked, curious about the gateway and if there was any way to replicate this specific one since it was so hidden. Nadya hadn't revealed it to others all that much.
"Well, it just happened out of nowhere. I think it was after all those Jirachi put everything together. Maybe 6 days after the Wish." Nadya recalled to the best of her abilities.
"So, it was probably the result of Jirachi's power..." Daybreaker slowly nodded.
"Forget about how it happened. Take us through. There's some Aura waiting for me." Gardevoir stepped forward, caring little about everything else.
"Patience. We're here to see J. She's past that gateway and living in another world. She uses that and this town as her base of operations, correct? Is that why everyone is so quiet?"
"Mhm. The Pokemon Hunters took control of this town and the world past the gateway. It's been pretty boring here." Nadya sighed. "It used to be so lively. Not many know that it's under her control which sucks."
"Alright then. Off we go." That's all Daybreaker had to hear. She was essentially in the right territory since it was under J's control. Her forces would enter Nadya's home. Nadya stepped back as droves of soldiers were flowing through in a single file line.
Nadya's home was still very much silent and it didn't help that her parents were still gone. But she wasn't the only one residing here. Hidden from the others and staying hidden under the couch was none other than another Frontier Brain. Luca. After hearing the news from Nadya involving her parents and her current situation, he was willing to help.
Naturally, against Pokemon Hunters, he already had a tall task but he never expected to see Daybreaker of all ponies here. Staying silent, Luca would observe from underneath, biding his time. His knees were rather sore as he was in a rather uncomfortable position. But for the sake of Nadya's well-being, he had to do this.
"They finally showed up. I didn't think that Daybreaker would be here for real." Luca thought to himself. "I finally show up here and they appear on the same day too? If only I could get past that world but..." Support for Nadya has been lasting a while after she informed Luca. He made sure to tell the authorities, especially about Nadya's missing parents.
However, something was holding them back from getting things done. And it was all thanks to the gateway. Speaking of which, after approaching the location of the fridge, it was already wide open. In there, the slim-shaped gateway that was made to fit the shape of the gateway was right there. Passing through it would be quite the task for certain people. For the ponies, it wouldn't be an issue. They were small enough to pass through.
The same couldn't be said for Gardevoir. She'd had to really squeeze herself in there. Entering the fridge was also cold for obvious reasons, but not for Daybreaker, who was always warm. Gardevoir shivered while Second Wind had the Unown grant her warmth
Another World
As for what this world was, it was a rather dreary place to look at. The base of operations was nestled within the ruins of a once-grand city, its walls crumbling and overgrown with ivy.
As for what building made up for the base of operations, Hunter J and her group had chosen a Tower. This tower was still standing, having a bit of damage around it. But it's clear it had been redone here and there by Hunter J's group. The entrance is marked by a toppled statue, its shattered marble hand pointing ominously towards the sky. Inside, an eerie silence hangs in the air, broken only by the distant sound of wind whistling through broken windows.
"What an awful sight." Second Wind scoffed at the sight of this area which repulsed her. "Who would make this place their base of operations?"
"I'm not sure they chose it for its appearance. Perhaps it's the solitude," said Daybreaker. "But it's clear that this isn't a place that exists in this universe. This is another universe.
"She's right...The Aura here is different..." Gardevoir could already tell that the Aura was vastly different from what she knew. She wasn't sure, but despite how dead this place appeared, there was still a strong semblance of Aura.
"That's because this world follows different rules than ours." Exiting the tower was Hunter J, who finally met up with Daybreaker and the others. "It's not mine. And it certainly isn't yours."
"J. How long have you known about this gateway and the world behind it? I doubt you would have just happened to know that there was a random gateway behind a fridge of all places." Daybreaker knew that finding a place such as this behind a fridge was impossible without the proper knowledge.
"It happened by luck. One day, while me and my group were hunting down an Alpha Pokemon, our positions were suddenly changed. My guess was that it was because of Jirachi without a doubt. It all happened in a flash. Everything around us got bigger and we lost the Alpha Pokemon. But we got something equally as good in return. The Desire of Twilight Sparkle still has Rift Magic and she's still within me." J explained. "I was able to figure out that a gateway was nearby."
"Then what is this world anyway?" Second Wind questioned.
"Turns out, this world is older than we think," J answered, already gathering information about this world. Or specifically, this city. This city resembles Jubilife City a bit, but it's clearly not the same place. Based on what I've learned about my own world and connecting it back to this one...This belongs to the one they call Prisma."
"Prisma?" Daybreaker was hearing that name for the first time. It has never come up until now. Second Wind and Gardevoir both learned about this name as well. This place was yet another area of the Lost Universe, hence the eerie destruction.
"Nevermind that right now. We've reunited at last. Ever since all those Jirachi put everything together, my group and I have had to go at it solo." J looked back at her group. "This place is perfect for us for a few reasons. It's not just an extra hideout for us."
J would show them these bonuses. All it took was opening the crooked door nearby. A new Pokemon Black Market was found here. J and her group started another one, using their on resources and the resources found here at this lost universe.
The new Pokemon Black Market was tucked away in this tower, already filled with criminals. Away from the authorities, this Pokemon Black Market was thriving in a city that was essentially dead, but with them here, they could make it their new home. They were even starting the process of rebuilding some of these ruins in their own image, just to make business easier. As for these Pokemon that Gardevoir could feel on, they were very much present here as well.
"With this new Pokemon Black Market, we can really get things going," said J.
"I see..." Daybreaker paused for a moment, observing the area around her. She didn't care much for what was going on here. That is until she saw two people who strongly resembled Nadya. Both of them were tied up, sitting on a chair together with downed faces. They've been here for a while and haven't seen their daughter in so long. "What about those two?
"Oh them? Just the parents of that girl on the other side. As long as we have this girl's parents with us, we're practically invincible. Plus, the authorities can't safely enter this world. It's almost as if it was made for us." J continued. "Now onto business..."
"Right, right! " Second Wind stepped forward. "I've been waiting for this. With the Black Crusade debacle finally over, my own plans can continue. I've been missing out on a few things, honestly. The Unown are powerful and useful, but they can be so much more. What say we tap into the thing known as the Harmony Phenomenon?"
The Harmony Phenomenon was soon brought up this dastardly alliance. It was only natural that Second Wind would be aware of it and she very much wished to utilize it. She first gathered the power of the Unown, but with the way things were, she needed more than just their power. And the Harmony Phenomenon was the perfect response to that.
Gardevoir approached the Pokemon that were brimming with Aura. Specifically, a group of Riolus that could be seen. J and her group managed to gain a hold of Riolus.
"Hmmm..." Gardevoir faced them all. That strange Aura was felt yet again but it was even stronger when coming from the Riolu. It was clear that their Aura had a strong connection with this world. Almost as if it was their home. "Your Auras are so unique. But that doesn't matter. I need to live forever so I'll be taking it from you. Nothing personal. But I refuse to perish and be a victim to a limited lifespan."
"Rio..." A few of the Riolu shuddered while a single Riolu grizzled its teeth at the Embrace Pokemon. Speaking of approaching captives, Daybreaker would do the same to Nadya's parents.
The two of them gasped once they saw the Celestia of another universe approaching them. They were very much aware of Daybreaker as well.
"So...You've been here for months, have you?" Daybreaker spoke to them.
"P-Please don't harm us. We haven't done anything. Not like we can do much." The mother of Nadya stuttered, absolutely terrified as she could feel the heat of Daybreaker's mane.
"Your daughter. She survived on her own for this long?"
"She's older than she looks but still young. For Nadya's sake, we have to endure." The father answered. "Endure against people like you. We know for a fact that Nadya's already planning to free us and she'll soon put a stop to all of this."
"Hm." Celestia stood there for a moment. It happened once again. Much like what happened with Premium Polish, the Solar Queen seemed to really step in when family was involved. The heat of her mane wasn't just warming them up since they were so cold, but it was also burning away the restraints around them slowly.
Without them even knowing, the rope was beginning to falter. Daybreaker made sure to generate minimal heat to make sure it wasn't seen as her who affected it. "Well, let's see if your daughter can truly stop us." Daybreaker smiled. "We already plan to use the gateway here to make new gateways. We truly struck gold here."
Daybreaker still had plans. And one of them involved making new gateways. The Solar Princess walked away from Nadya's parents who were unaware of the faltering rope. Daybreaker got back to business, approaching Second Wind and Hunter J.
As for Gardevoir, she gladly grabbed onto the Riolu, absorbing their Auras while they were in their cages. The RIolu gasped as they were having their Auras sapped from their bodies. The Riolu grimaced and flinched, feeling their main strength leave them.
But Gardevoir also felt weird. There was a reason why this Aura felt so different from the rest. The Aura Vampire pulled back after absorbing some of their Aura. She suddenly stopped instead of going all the way. However, the Riolu were still weakened.
"Oooh..." Gardevoir gasped, looking at her arms. While the nature of the Aura threw her for a loop, she could tell that it was valuable. Very valuable. Just a minor sap and she could feel a drastic change. Gardevoir did more than just gain some extra Aura in this body. "This Aura..." With a devious grin, she was feeling experimental, ready to absorb from the Riolu once more.
But at that moment, while she had that thought, her eyes flashed white, halting her movements. Gardevoir was frozen on the spot, absolutely bewildered and caught off guard. Daybreaker noticed this instantly, seeing Gardevoir fluctuate a fierce flow of Aura from her body.
"What the...?" J and the others soon noticed it.
Gardevoir wasn't just feeling the effects of this strange Aura. There was something else affecting her. Unable to control her body, Gardevoir started moving in a crooked manner, as if she were a doll.
"All that Aura...What is it, Gardevoir?!"
"I can't control my own body!" Gardevoir growled. She was not in control of herself. It was almost as if someone else was. There was even another voice present that spoke to Gardevoir in her head.
"Go and return the Aura at once." This voice spoke to her, wanting Gardevoir to release the Aura she just gained. Which was obviously not in her book since she wanted the Aura for herself. However, this voice inside of her head said otherwise. Gardevoir held onto her head, trying to maintain control.
But once more, she was struggling to gain power as she was heading straight for the gateway. Daybreaker quickly saw that something was amiss and took action. She immediately ordered her troops to pursue Gardevoir. As for the voice inside of her head, it sounded rather familiar.
It sounded like Twilight.
When the troops approached Gardevoir, the voice inside of Gardevoir's head would go off a second time. "Use your power to topple this alliance." It was also encouraging Gardevoir to immediately defeat this alliance of evil. Not just wanting Gardevoir to return the Aura. Gardevoir tried fighting back, only for her hand to reach out and blast at the troops.
A flash of Fairy Magic was unleashed, knocking away Daybreaker's soldiers. Daybreaker narrowed her eyes, obviously knowing that an external force was behind this. And she figured it out by Gardevoir's movements, words and even the fact that apparently, the Aura in this place was odd. Very odd. Soon, here at this hidden Pokemon Black Market, the voice within Gardevoir's head that sounded like Twilight was opting to seemingly do the opposite of what this alliance does.
Passing through a gateway that existed inside of Nadya's fridge, Daybreaker's group showed up to meet with Hunter J's group. Her hideout was located here at another destroyed area that involves Prisma. The remains and the leftovers were used to form a new Pokemon Black Market. One that was hidden in this lost universe.
But while discussing further plans with Hunter J, Gardevoir encountered a peculiar Aura she had never experienced before. While she did gain an added extra lifespan, this Aura had another effect. Inside of her head, a voice that resembled that Twilight's spoke to her. It had two requests that contradicted with what Gardevoir wanted.
To return the Aura that she stole and to defeat Daybreaker's group. Whoever this was, she was already aware of Daybreaker and Second Wind.
"What's the meaning of this?!" Second Wind stepped forward, seeing this as a betrayal. "I should've known one of them would've turned on us, but I didn't think it'd be Gardevoir."
"Wait." Daybreaker halted Second Wind. "She's obviously not doing this willingly. Someone is influencing her. These aren't her own movements."
"Is there an intruder in here already?!" J frantically looked around. She feared that this whole business might already be compromised. Hearing this, the people of the Pokemon Black Market were also beginning to panic.
"Calm down. There isn't an intruder, technically." Speaking to J was Twilight's Desire. And she already had an inkling as to who this was. Gardevoir wasn't the only one with a voice speaking to her from within after all.
"Get out of my head! Who are you?!" Gardevoir furiously bellowed, holding her own head. But doing that was no use. Ironically, the Psychic-Type wasn't sure how to deal with this issue at all. If only she could return to the realm of the Delayd Aura Ataxia once more.
Her arms were vigorously trembling as they were aimed directly at Daybreaker and Second Wind. The voice inside her wanted to get rid of the biggest threats here. Surprisingly, Gardevoir wasn't willing to do so, despite having her own motives.
Looking into Gardevoir was Daybreaker, who used a spell that allowed her to see the spiritual essence of someone's body. Gardevoir's Psychic and Fairy Energy was seen by Daybeaker as well as the Aura she had stolen. The Aura was as large as her Psychic and Fairy Energy, showing just how much she's gathered just to have a longer lifespan. But there was a fourth energy.
The strange Aura that Gardevoir absorbed had a different colour compared to the regular Aura. Instead of the Azure Blue, it had a Purple colour to it with magenta highlights. Within that aura, the silhouette of a pony could be seen. Daybreaker saw that the silhouette strongly resembled Twilight. More specifically, Empress Twilight, who was the same height as her. But it clearly wasn't her. The magical presence was vastly different.
"Twilight?" Daybreaker uttered. "No...It isn't the same as Twilight. Or Universe One's." Unsure of what to make of this, Daybreaker would come back to it eventually. First, she had to try and free Gardevoir before she ruins everything. "Well, all we need to do is get into her mind and force whatever's in her out."
"I can handle that. Unown!" Second Wind ordered.
"Unown!" The Unown around Second Wind flew forward. With their mystical power, they managed to send an enigmatic force towards Gardevoir. The Embrace Pokemon had her body attacked by this mystical force. This allowed Daybreaker and the others to see directly into Gardevoir's mind.
"I'm going in. While I'm busy in there, I need you all to continue working on the gateway here." Daybreaker would be the one to enter her mind. She did have experience with this after all. The alicorn travelled through the energy of the Unown while also being followed by some of her troops.
Gardevoir's Mindscape.
Ever since Gardevoir was defeated by Ash's group in her own realm, her mind has certainly gone through some changes. She could no longer enter that realm. Instead, much like everyone else, she was limited to her mindscape this time instead of 18 different realms.
As for what it ended up being this time, it focused on the one place she remembers the most. The old town she used to live in prior to moving. This was the one place Gardevoir cherished closely to her. Everywhere else was irrelevant and only served as a means to her Aura goal.
Already, Gardevoir was dealing with this intruder as she could be seen sliding back. Standing before her was this mass of Magic and Aura that was violently floating around. The Embrace Pokemon was pushed back, perplexed by what she was facing.
"Who do you think you are, infiltrating my mind like this?!" Gardevoir growled at the Magical Mass. Despite being a mass of magic, it still had a voice. Twilight's voice.
"I was hoping I'd come across someone else...Not someone like you." The voice spoke, causing the mass to pulsate each time. "But I have no choice either way. You'll have to do."
"What are you talking about? Are you Twilight? You sure sound a lot like her.."
"My name is Twilight Luminaria. And I urgently need to free myself." She was indeed Twilight, but not the Twilight that everyone else knew about. Neither Sparkle, Sci-Twi, Wish, Empress or Moonlight. This was the mysterious Twilight Luminaria who was apparently supposed to be the opposite of Prisma.
"Well then, get out of my head! As if I'll be your vessel!" Gardevoir yelled, holding her arm out as she unleashed Dark Pulse. The darkness flew over, only to be caught by a force of magic. The magic dispersed the darkness, sending dark sparkles all over te place.
"Apologies. I have no other choice. At this very moment, Prisma could be close to reviving and I am too disconnected from my other halves."
"What is that thing...?" Descending into this Mindscape was Daybreaker, who gazed upon this Magical Mass of Twilight Luminaria. At this moment, she was merely mass and nothing more. She did not have a physical body or even a spiritual essence to show off. This was all that she had.
"Even though I wish to reach Prisma, I have to at least stop your plans while I'm at it. I can't ignore them at all." Twilight Luminaria's voice continued. Despite being a mass, she still had the power to show off. Enough power to contest with the Aura Vampire Gardevoir.
"You can try and-" But before Gardevoir could say anything else, she was swiftly frozen in place. Twilight Luminaria was serious about using her as a vessel, even if she didn't wish to do so. In her eyes, it was the only way since she was aware of Prisma being potentially revived as well.
But interrupting this was Daybreaker. She used her own magic to counteract Twilight Luminaria's, allowing Gardevoir to move once more. The Embrace Pokemon panted, feeling stunned and staggered after that interaction.
"So much for being a Psychic-Type." Daybreaker stood next to Gardevoir, having Necrozma's Poke Ball available.
"Hah...She caught me by surprise, that's all...And besides, if I still had a majority of my Aura, I wouldn't be struggling at all." She held her arm.
"I take it you aren't on our side. What a shame...Just by looking at your magical structure, I can tell you harbour plenty of magical power. Since you're another Twilight, that's to be expected." Daybreaker added. "You would make such a great addition to our team. But it seems we have to get rid of you."
"You can't get rid of me. You're only facing a mass of myself after all."
"But of course...It's the other Twilights we have to worry about." Daybreaker already knew that the other Twilights were mainly keeping Twilight Luminaria around. As long as they were around, so was Luminaria. "Either way, you probably have plenty of light energy within you. Perfect for Necrozma."
"Not here. My magic hasn't just gained control over Gardevoir's body, but I've already made it my domain. I've had enough time to build it up and you're too late." Right on time, the area around Gardevoir and Daybreaker was morphing.
The scenery was changing, removing the ancient town. Instead, it was changing into something that was meant to complement Twilight Luminaria. Her own domain where she would have a grand advantage. Daybreaker and Gardevoir soon witnessed another location of this lost universe.
Before their eyes, a palace erupted from the ground. The palace had an opulent marble structure, with tall pillars supporting a grand archway entrance and a glistening crystal chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. The air is thick with the scent of exotic perfumes that attacked their senses. A breathtaking mural of a magnificent city sprawls across the entire ceiling, depicting intricate golden spires and radiant starry skies.
This was Twilight Luminaria's Place. At least, one part of it. It was absolutely colossal, taking up the rest of Gardevoir's Mindscape. It was so large, it might as well be its own city.
"I'll try and shatter it then!" Attempting to break this domain apart, Daybreaker unleashed a magnificent flash of magic from her horn that was also massive. However, she was soon hit with a counter.
The magic in this area was brimming with absolute power. Daybreaker's magic suddenly gained afterimages before being pushed back. The Solar Queen gasped as this wasn't all that the brimming magic did. It had another effect. After pushing her magic back, it ended up turning the full weight of it against Daybreaker. The Solar Queen felt herself being pushed into the ground by a strong pressure. It was her own pressure.
Her hooves dug into the ground, but she managed to retain her balance. Gardevoir was soon pushed down as she was already losing so much control at this point. She looked up at the Mass of Twilight Luminaria with her blazing eyes, doing her best to stay up while still taking the full force of her own magical flash.
"In here, even in your own mind, I have the superior power. My magic is far beyond yours." Twilight Luminaria declared as her voice echoed across the Mindscape. The mass that she appeared as would also grow, showing off the Aura within. Daybreaker certainly found herself in a surprising predicament. Her plans were promptly halted all because of Gardevoir being greedy.
As for the real world, Gardevoir lost control and was immediately overtaken by Twilight Luminaria. Now that she had full control at the moment, she could take action. Gardevoir's eyes were glowing purple this time, signifying Luminaria's control.
"This will work. I can use this to try and stop Prisma's revival." Gardevoir, who was actually Twilight Luminaria spoke. She then turned to see all the troops of Daybreaker and Second Wind holding their weapons up against her. While she wished to put a stop to the Pokemon Black Market, she knew she didn't have the time. There were too many opponents here and there was a chance she could lose Gardevoir if they manage to defeat her.
"The other way to free her is by knocking her out, right? Easy enough for us." J said it herself. Knockout was another method of breaking mind control or anything related to it.
"I can't stay here...I'm sorry, all of you." Gardevoir looked over at the Riolu and all the other Pokemon that have been captured. She wished to save them, but alas, that was impossible for now Taking action and continuing on her mission, she used the power of Gardevoir to immediately teleport.
"After her! She'll ruin everything!" Second Wind ordered her troops and the Unown. Immediately, the Unown and the troops from both sides were on the move. However, some of the Unown had other tasks. Mainly for the gateway. "The rest of you! Deal with this gateway. Move it or duplicate it. As if we're using some little girl's home as our extra base of operations."
Gardevoir ended up outside, but was instantly met with the Unown. They had the power to teleport as well but with extra efficiency when working together. Gardevoir looked up to see all of the Unown above her.
With their combined power, they formed a dome around the area, preventing Gardevoir from going any further. The Embrace Pokemon tried teleporting out, only to be shut down. This dome was made to lock any form of teleportation. After blocking her teleportation and trapping her in, the Unown then unleashed rays from the dome which started raining down. However, while she couldn't teleport, she had a backup.
Twilight Luminaria's own magic. By tapping into the magic she managed to obtain ever since Gardevoir absorbed the Aura, a beautiful purple energy emanated from her body. It allowed her to block the incoming rays, negating any damage. This was a combination of Aura and Magic, making up for the locked power.
The Magical Aura then expanded, blowing away the dome bits of the dome as well as some of the Unown. Gardevoir then ascended, finding a hole in the dome to fly out of. After breaking free, she was instantly met with more Unown who used their power to form a wall of storms.
The Embrace Pokemon gasped as this Storm Wall created a strong pressure which forced her back. She managed to recover by using her magic to manipulate the ground. Lifting up the desecrated ground, she made a smooth surface to land on. Gardevoir then looked ahead to see the gateway here being grabbed. This was her ticket out of here and the Unown used their amazing power on it to make a quick change.
They could not duplicate it, but what they could do was move it elsewhere. It was Second Wind who wanted to change the location of this gateway. Since this Pokemon Black Market was housing valuable items and was even shielded from others who were her enemies, it would only make sense to put it somewhere more favourable than Nadya's home.
Refusing to let that happen, Gardevoir used a grander version of Psychic. This was all thanks to Twilight Luminaria's Magical Aura. It didn't just act as an extra form of power, it also boosted Gardevoir's natural abilities. By generating a Psychic Hold, Gardevoir was able to grab each of the Unown from a great distance. The Unown that affected the gateway were soon pulled back.
Right as she was off to approach the gateway, stepping in front of her was Second Wind, who stomped her hoof on the ground. More of the Unown surrounded Gardevoir once more and this time, the troops of Daybreaker and Second Wind caught up. Gardevoir was slowed down once more.
"It would be so easy to wipe you out right now. If I do that...I'd probably be getting rid of Daybreaker and Gardevoir at the same time." Second Wind said with a devious look on her face. She saw this as a triple victory. "But...I will need her for gateway travel."
"Hm." Gardevoir, AKA Twilight Luminaria narrowed her eyes. She then closed them, allowing the Magical Aura to expand. It seemed to be growing in strength which the Unown swiftly noticed to the point where they were even intimidated. Second Wind gasped as she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
The Unown were shaking. Despite them having plenty of power, especially when working together, the presence of this one character was instilling intimidation in them. How can that be? Some of the Unown flew off to continue manipulating the gateway, but with fewer of them around it, would be harder to do so.
Back at Universe One, Nadya backed away as the gateway was violently shaking. Due to these interruptions, the gateway was fluctuating, affecting Nadya's home. Not only was her fridge shaking, but her furniture was being raised off the floor. Luca grimaced as he was underneath the couch. His cover might be blown if any of the dastardly forces spot him.
Gardevoir's Mindscape.
Back at the Mindscape, Daybreaker and Gardevoir were still struggling as the magical realm was truly keeping them down, preventing them from doing much. Not only was she being kept down, but the Aura was beginning to leave her body.
Gardevoir felt all of the Aura she gathered being expelled from her. All those lifespans she's managed to steal were fleeing thanks to Twilight Luminaria having full control. The other Twilight seemed to have a method of expelling Aura efficiently and it certainly shows.
"M-My Aura... "Ngh...I can't do anything!" Gardevoir groaned, feeling completely powerless. She closed her eyes as the Azure energy kept leaving her mindscape. This correlated with her strength, making it harder for her to keep her balance against this magical pressure. "It can't end like this! My immortality!"
Gardevoir was feeling gutted by this. All the Aura she gathered through the centuries was leaving once more. Ash's group did it first and now Twilight Luminaria was picking up where they left off. At this rate, Gardevoir would end up regaining the original lifespan that she was always meant to have.
And that couldn't happen. Gardevoir was still absolutely terrified of passing on. Even after losing to Ash's group, she never accepted that reality. It was why she spent so long absorbing high amounts of Aura. And now, it looks like it would all vanish. Gardevoir could already see it now. Her demise. Her eyes and body started shaking out of pure fear. The same fear she felt when she was a Kirlia.
"Calm down!" Daybreakear bellowed, prompting Gardevoir to face her. "It isn't time to panic yet. As if this is where we meet defeat.
"What can we do?! My Aura is leaving at a rapid pace and-"
"You fool. You're a Gardevoir. You're so used to having your Aura as your crutch that you've dismissed everything else, haven't you? Stop complaining and use the full extent of your power."
"Are you insane?! I may forgotten about it for a moment, but if I do, it will create a black hole! I might not even survive with so much power being sapped away from me as well." Gardevoir grunted. "I can't perish, Daybreaker...I'm too afraid of meeting my demise. If I do perish here, what was all that work for? My path to immortality..."
"Better that than anything else." Daybreaker was fearless after this warning was given to her. You need not worry. This is exactly why I started this alliance. We are each against a common enemy but we must also help each other out as well. I promised you to help reach immortaility, didn't I?"
"Y-Yes...?"
"Then trust me, Gardevoir. You can't go at it alone. Not anymore. Not in this age compared to the previous ones. If you want to achieve your goals, even with such overwhelming foes in your way, you must fully trust us." Daybreaker simply asking Gardevoir to throw away her pride for a moment. She wasn't as powerful as she used to be after all. But she could reach that level once more with Daybreaker's help.
Gardevoir was rather stunned. Prior to this, it was mainly Ash's group who offered to help her. They helped her leave the realm of Delayed Aura Ataxia as a way to weaken the Ataxia while also granting Gardevoir some freedom, even after learning about what she did. It was mainly Ash and Fluttershy who understood where Gardevoir was coming from but still tried to stop that.
And once more, it was happening again. Someone was truly willing to help Gardevoir. Daybreaker, of all ponies. Never before has Gardevoir ever received trust from anyone else. It was a first and she wasn't sure how to react.
"R-Right..." Gardevoir stuttered. She did forget about her other capabilities. Twilight Luminaria was mainly taking out the Aura, but she was also affecting her magic. But that was where Daybreaker came into play. Having enough magic to combat Luminaria, the Solar Queen, expended her own magic, giving the Embrace Pokemon a lift.
Gardevoir's energy accelerated as she was starting to get back up. At first, she was perplexed by what was entering her body. A searing energy that was absolutely scorching was burning her. That was just how powerful Daybreaker's magic was. However, it soon became warm. Gardevoir felt her heart warming up as well as her body.
She could get up at an easier rate without needing to stagger and grunt. The Embrace Pokemon was in awe as a solar aura surrounded her body.
At that moment, the Harmony Phenomenon came into play. Even within the Mindscape, it could be activated. But it was done by Twilight Luminaria at all. The mass of Twilight Luminaria noticed the change in the magical atmosphere. She knew what this feeling was. It was harmony. But it wasn't the type of harmony she was expecting.
Usually, harmony is associated with all things good. But for these two, they were anything but good for the most part. But it was still Harmony. Lo and behold, Daybreaker and Gardevoir tapped into this phenomenon themselves. After all, a good feeling came from both of them. Mainly from Gardevoir.
It reacted to them both, forming something new. Gardevoir's own energy was also flowing into Daybreaker, allowing her to get back up as well. The two of them were receiving revitalization as the solar energy around their bodies would flare.
Gardevoir then unleashed a greater essence of energy that she managed to obtain, allowing her to push back against the pressure keeping her down. Naturally, this affected what was happening on the outside as well. Gardevoir was gaining control back as the Harmony Phenomenon was greatly influencing the Mindscape of Twilight Luminaria, already bringing the palace down.
"I'm not at my best still." Twilight Luminara commented. "If only I had the rest of my Magic and Aura...At this rate, I might have to wait longer..."
"If I ever find you, I'll take all the Aura that you have!" Gardevoir declared to Twilight Luminaria, just in case her physical form ever shows up. "Now leave my body at once!"
Kalos. Anistar City. The Pokemon Festival. Day
Absol's horn started shaking more and more. At first, the disaster he sensed was minimal and could only potentially sprout into something truly dangerous. But now, it quickly skyrocketed. His horn was shaking even faster, telling everyone that this incoming disaster was evolving. And yet, Absol didn't move. Instead, he wasn't sure if he should.
He sensed that this disaster, while happening in the north, might not stay for long. But it wasn't just Absol who was sensing something. Both Twilight and Sci-Twi were in the same boat. It was all thanks to Twilight Luminaria. Even from this distance, there was an effect.
While it didn't harm them, it did perplex them. The soul of Twilight Luminaria within them was acting up once again. This time, it was stronger than before compared to how weak it was on the Ghost Train. They had no idea what was going on but at that moment, they both felt what could be Aura. Twilight already knows what Aura feels like, but this wasn't the Aura she was used to.
Kalos. Tropezete Town. Nadya's Home. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
Stepping away from her fridge was Nadya after seeing the gateway violently tremble. Quite the predicament is happening through there to the point where the furniture was being raised off the floor. Even though the mess was happening on the other side, it was strong enough to affect this world.
Getting up so that he would avoid the storm of floating furniture was Luca. As soon as he saw all of this go down, he immediately called for the authorities. He already did so a while back but they were unable to access the world beyond. Only J's group mysteriously. But even if they couldn't, it was for the best that they showed up for this.
"Are my parents okay?!" Nadya was mainly worried about her parents who were still being held hostage beyond this point. She feared that something truly destructive was going on.
Nadya covered her ears as a powerful boom erupted from the gateway, shattering the windows and anything related to glass. Afterwards, emerging from that gateway were the Unown. They flew out, whirling and spinning even though they were the ones manipulating the gateway.
A Lost World. Gardevoir's Mindscape.
It was all due to what was happening inside of Gardevoir's Mindscape. The ones to tap into the Harmony Phenomenon today weren't just Scootaloo and Pachirisu. Daybreaker and Gardevoir managed to pull it off after Gardevoir experienced what trust truly was.
By unlocking the power of the Harmony Phenomenon, they pushed back against the Mass of Magic that was Twilight Luminaria, affecting the outside as well. While she managed to overtake Gardevoir's Mindscape, that was soon repelled by the unison of Equestrian Magic and Infinity Energy which seemed to mesh so well.
Gardevoir had a devious yet gleeful look on her face. Not only was she suddenly feeling an uprise of Aura despite a good chunk of it being expelled outside, Daybreaker's unification allowed the Aura Vampire to regain a great ordeal of strength. Naturally, she was going to utilize it to its fullest.
"If only I had a physical body..." Twilight Luminaria's Magical Mass said. Clearly, she was still weak. But if this was her version of weak, then her true self must harbour a great wealth of magic. "But that doesn't mean I'm giving up so easily."
Even still, her magic was still superior, as seen by the fact that the palace of Twilight Luminaria was still active even when Gardevoir was retaking control. The floor beneath her was shifting, mainly a result of Gardevoir's Mindscape trying to put everything back together.
The result of this was an absolute mess and disorganization. The ancient buildings from long ago that Gardevoir had fond memories off were sprouting from the walls and ground, merging with the palace's structure and completely ruining its beauty.
"Drat...I'm still not completely free..." Gardevoir noticed the scenery still mostly swaying to Luminaria's side.
"Hm?" Daybreaker would take the time to look at this area a bit longer and it definitely brought some interest. She didn't notice at first, but this palace was harbouring certain items.
The Alicorn Amulet was among one of these objects, but there was a clear difference with it. It didn't have the usual red and black design it always possesses. This Alicorn Amulet had a purple and white appearance to it instead, similar to Twilight Wish's colour scheme.
There was more. A cloak that was made out of an unknown fabric that perfectly recaptured the luminous sparkle of the night sky and the moon as well as a crown that looked a lot like Twilight Sparkle's Crown. The same symbol and everything. That much was to be expected but what Daybreaker didn't expect were other objects that r4eside in Canterlot Castle. But this was clearly not Canterlot Castle at all.
"The Alicorn Amulet? And is that Clover the Clever's Cloak?" Daybreaker uttered. Clover the Clever's Cloak was also present here as it was kept for some reason despite not being all that crucial. Before she could figure all of this out, everything was shifting. This was thanks to Gardevoir trying to break Twilight Luminaria's castle apart.
Gardevoir blocked the flash of magic coming her way, using a Psychic Barrier as her shield. Gardevoir was pushed back as Daybreaker focused on the scenario at hand, defending herself as well. With the scenery slightly changing, the two of them found themselves elsewhere in this castle. They ended up inside of a chamber this time.
Daybreaker once again observed her surroundings. This chamber was an opulent hall within the massive palace, featuring high vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate stained-glass windows depicting scenes of starlit nights. A hushed silence envelops the chamber broken only by the soft tinkling of chimes suspended from the ceiling, creating an eerie yet enchanting atmosphere.
In the centre of the chamber stands a magnificent crystal prism, refracting the faint moonlight ushering in ever-changing hues across the room. But what truly mattered was what was on the walls. Daybreaker spotted what appeared to be pictures. This wasn't just a place for formal events or a private room. It seemed to be a gallery. On the walls were paintings and images of various species. Not just ponies.
The world that Twilight Luminaria once lived in was identical to the current world in Universe One, where many species are unified. In her world, that was greatly elevated as seen by the Changeling Pictures on the wall. There was the image of a Changeling Queen and a Cangeling Princess both smiling. The Queen mainly resembled Chrysalis but with another alternate appearance.
Next to them were images of Yaks, Dragons and even Hippogriffs. All of which appeared to be royalty. Weirdly enough, not a sign of anypony resembling Celestia or Luna at all. Daybreaker could even see faces that strongly resembled Ember and Prince Rutherford, but not herself prior to this transformation.
What truly stuck out were the images of the Humans and one human, in particular, was seen in the middle of all the paintings. Each of the paintings were perfectly lined up on the side but one of them was bigger than the rest.
A picture of Prisma.
The supposed Strongest Trainer was there on the wall, not showing a smile at all. And right next to him appeared to be Twilight Luminaria herself, but Daybreaker couldn't make it out with all of the dust, buildings and light in the way. Even still, the picture was clear either way.
Prisma kept a serious face while a smile could be seen under Twilight Luminaria's shielded eyes and face thanks to the disrupted Mindscape. She looked like she was nudging Prisma and Prisma himself didn't have the most ecstatic reaction to it. From a glance, it just looked like Ash and Twilight as always but with a clear difference.
At first, Daybreaker would have dismissed this place since it was a replica of a lost universe. But considering the Alicorn Amulet and other noticeable items were apparently present and everything from this lost universe was slowly starting to return, she might have to look into this.
"That isn't Ash, is it? What is this place?" Daybreaker questioned.
"That's the one I'm trying to stop from returning." Twilight Luminaria replied. "Prisma, under no circumstances, can return. I'd rather he never show up again than to deal with you all. You know him as one of his reincarnations. Ash Ketchum. Residing within Ash Ketchum is a part of Prisma's Soul."
"Oh? Quite a misleading picture isn't it? Look how happy you are."
"That picture doesn't have much meaning anymore." Twilight Luminaria's voice lowered all of a sudden. Almost as if there as a tinge of sadness behind it. "Prisma and I...That doesn't matter. What does matter is that I have the chance to at least stop his revival before history repeats itself. I don't want this universe to vanish either."
"Do it on your own accord. And leave my body out of it!" Afterwards, Gardevoir unleashed Dark Pulse towards the Magical Mass which also unleashed a mystical beam. Both attacks clashed within this chamber, rippling the Mindscape.
"No...I'm losing control." Twilight Luminaria's Magical Mass started diminishing. The massive size of it was getting smaller and smaller by the second. "I don't have much time left."
"Is that so? Too bad for you!" Gardevoir smirked as she was starting to win the clash. It was only because Twilight Luminaria was still greatly limited in what she could do.
This was also thanks to what was happening on the outside. Gardevoir, who was still partially being controlled by Twilight Luminaria, was violently twitching as the Magical Aura was flaring everywhere. The Unown were struck by the rampant Aura while the troops of Daybreaker and Second Wind were being pushed back, unable to get close. The Magical Aura acted like a fierce shield and a storm at the same time.
"What is happening in there?!" Second Wind flinched, covering her eyes in the face of this volatile power. "How can the power of my Unown struggle to stop this immediately?"
"If this continues, all of the work to make this new Black Market will go out of the window," J commented when observing this scuffle. It was time for her to take action. Immediately, her attention was drawn towards Nadya's parents. They weren't caught up in all of this at all, but unfortunately, now they would be.
"W-What are you doing?!" Nadya's mother gasped as the ominous shadow of Hunter J covered her.
"You have extra use aside from being just my hostages," J smirked when standing over them. She held her hand out, targeting Nadya's mother. At that moment, she had the Desire of Twilight Sparkle assist her, using the power of the Desire which flowed across her hand.
J grabbed onto Nadya's Mother's head, suddenly drawing the Aura out of her. She also ended up using the Fighting-Type energy within the Infinity Vambrace which gave her extra perks. The Desire also spread, affecting Nadya's Father and drawing out his own Aura.
The two of them groaned as the amount of Aura they had was being pulled out. They didn't have a heap of it. It was relatively average, much like most people in the world. But J would still find use for it. She ripped it out of their bodies, making them weaker and drained in a matter of seconds.
Hunter J now had a ball of Aura in her hand, ready to be used. But before it could be used, she once again used the Infinity Vambrace to amplify the strength of the Aura. The ball would flare, emanating a stronger pulse.
"This'll bring her back at a faster rate!" J would try and send this to Gardevoir. But this time, it would be the correct Aura that she was used to instead of the strange one that caused this problem in the first place.
"Ah, I see!" Second Wind nodded in understanding. "First, we must clear this storm of Magic and Aura. If we cannot destroy, we can at least draw on its power. Unown!"
The Unown would unify their powers once more. This time, instead of trying to overwhelm the Magical Aura, they would use it for themselves. Together, they began sucking in the Magical Aura, gravitating it towards themselves. This resulted in them taking damage but it was worth the risk as it immediately allowed J to find an opening.
The Unown were dropping when exposed to the Magical Aura, followed by J launching the sphere forward. It entered Gardevoir's body, immediately feeding her what she craves more than anything. Gardevoir gasped as from the outside and inside, the Aura quickly changed the tide of this battle.
With Twilight Luminaria losing control and the Aura feeding Gardevoir's body, it was clear that Daybreaker's group was about to claim victory during this small scuffle. Back in the Mindscape, Twilight Luminaria accepted defeat. But even though she knew her loss was inevitable, she did not surrender.
"I still have my chance even after this. If I don't appear, Prisma returns and everything will be lost." She said to Gardevoir and Daybreaker within the Mindscape as her Magical Mass began dispersing. "I don't have any regrets since this isn't over."
Those were the last words she said before vanishing, leaving Gardevoir's mindscape. Following up on that was the return of the ancient town that Gardevoir once had. Daybreaker stood there, now thinking about what she could gain from this. This wasn't just a random encounter that she could forget about. It could bring some benefits.
And knowing that parts of this lost universe were returning, she might not want to miss out on this. First, she learned Prisma's name and now she learned a bit more about him thanks to Twilight Luminaria.
"Hah..." Gardevoir took a deep breath now that the intruder was gone. "Glad that's over. I almost lost all of my Aura because of that...I must say...You saved me back there, Daybreaker."
"I had to. Otherwise, this alliance would've lost a valuable member. Now let's leave and continue with our plans. Before something else catches us by surprise." Daybreaker was ready to depart at soon as possible. No point in being here any longer.
Gardevoir's Mindscape was soon enveloped in a bright flash, signifying the end of this mental visit. Her friend was free once more thanks to the efforts of Daybreaker, Second Wind and Hunter J.
Daybreaker could be seen returning to the real world before her troops. Gardevoir got on her knees, feeling perplexed and slightly exhausted. Speaking of exhaustion, Nadya's parents were groaning after having their Aura stripped away from them. They would certainly recover but it would take some time. It's not like they had a high chance to escape from here at all.
However, Gardevoir received something else after all of this. Remnants of the Magical Aura that she was attacked with remained. Gardevoir managed to keep some of it as it was emanating out of her hands. It flared up, showing off its purple colours to everyone. But they weren't being attacked this time.
"Oooh...Wonderful!" Gardevoir giggled with joy, sowing off this alternative Aura.
"You kept it?!" Daybreaker was astonished. After what just happened, she expected Gardevoir to forget about this Aura since it was different to what she knew and nearly expelled all of her stolen Aura.
"I didn't think I would. It must have been that strange energy that emerged once you and I united our strengths."
"The Harmony Phenomenon. It must given you a bit extra." Daybreaker could only theorize why this as the case. She wasn't 100% confident about the Harmony Phenomenon being responsible but it was a possibility since she managed to tap into it. Albeit, not on purpose.
"What kind of Aura is that anyways? How could it be so powerful?" Second Wind leaned over, looking into the purple flare that would continuously wobble and jitter.
"Whatever type of Aura it is, I'm not wasting my chance to use it to its fullest potential."
"Be careful. It comes from a world we know little of. Who knows what it can do..." Daybreaker warned. She wasn't sure about this Aura. It was so different from what she and everyone knew after all.
"Hmph. That won't be an issue. I'll tame this Aura in no time." Gardevoir wasn't worried at all. She believed that defeating Twilight Luminaria and tapping into the Harmony Phenomenon meant that she would have an easier time getting the hang of it. "I'm itching to use it now. Just to test the waters before I get back to what I was doing previously."
"Well, if we're going to continue our work, let's focus on that gateway. That battle nearly ruined our plans." Hunter J said. "We could've lost our gateway in that mess."
"Let's rectify it then. I'll have the Unown carry it out of this girl's home."
"I need her though." J faced Second Wind. "We have her family as hostages after all. I say that we keep it here and continue using this one area as our extra hideout. Moving it would be a waste."
"How would it be a waste?" Second Wind scoffed.
"Hmph. That girl is a Frontier Brain. To educate you...she can also be a spy for us. She's been feeding me information, if you must know." Hunter J then dropped something valuable that fully caught Second Wind's attention. "Since she heads to Equestria a lot of the time as a Frontier Brain, she manages to share information with me. And in exchange for her information and keeping the secret of this gateway hidden from others, her parents are safe. For the most part."
"I see...So by keeping them here, all the valuable information about your enemies can keep coming." Gardevoir added.
"That's right. And now that both worlds are one and we're finally getting somewhere with gateway travel, do you have any idea how easy it's going to be to gather more information? I can have Nadya move from region to region easily with her status as a Frontier Brain. Plus, she's encountered Ash Ketchum and his annoying friends. One of them is taking on the Battle Frontier so we can expect them to visit it from time to time until all Frontier Brains are defeated."
"She makes a good argument. Second Wind" Daybreaker backed up Hunter J. "It truly would be a waste to move it now."
"Hmph...I suppose..." Feeling bitter about this, Second Wind crossed her hooves, admitting that J had a point.
"But we're still going to do something about this gateway that connects to the fridge." J wasn't done. "Let's take a shot at reaching other places easily."
"Agreed. The gateway we've managed to replicate back in our universe will only last for 5 days. This gateway seems to be permanent so it would be better to use it to our advantage. The Unown can't do it themselves. They can only move it. But I wonder..." Daybreaker then faced Gardevoir who was still checking out her newfound Aura. "This world is where that other Twilight used to live in. Now it's in ruins. But the Aura around here might help us."
"The Riolu were also found here." Hunter J then revealed that these Riolu that were caged up were also from this world that was in absolute ruins. That explained why their Aura was so stunning to Gardevoir.
"I'm already ahead of you." Gardevoir was on the same page as Daybreaker. With her eyes pulsating from the newfound Aura, the Embrace Pokemon had a good feeling about this. After all, this Aura was connected to Twilight Luminary. One of the remnants of this Lost Universe.
Anistar City.
"Oooh..." At the same time, Twilight Luminaria disappeared from Gardevoir's Mindscape, Twilight Sparkle and Sci-Twi felt the effects as well. It felt as if something had attacked them lightly. Thankfully, neither of them suffered any major damage. But not only did Twilight Luminaria disappearing from the Mindscape affect them, the Magical Aura that Gardevoir managed to obtain left behind an effect as well.
"Absol?" Absol stood next to his trainer, fearing for her health. But there was nothing to fear. At least, for now.
"I'm fine, Absol...But what was that?" The Princess of Friendship stood there, dazed and confused. "Was that my soul being interacted with again?"
"I felt it too...But it was different from when we were on the Ghost Train." Sci-Twi could confirm that this was very different from the Ghost Train and what it managed to pull off.
"Sol..." And yet, Absol's horn kept shaking. Acting by instinct, Absol was on the move. He could tell that whatever this potential disaster was, it was greatly affecting Twilight. And anything that threatened his trainer was unacceptable. Just like that, he took off, departing from his friends.
"Wait! Absol!" Twilight shouted before following him. With Absol on the move, it prompted his friends to follow him before he ends up in trouble on his own if this Disaster was something truly serious. Absol first felt this disaster weaken a little bit but it then suddenly shot up. This was due to the clash against Twilight Luminaria. Because of her actions, she held back a potential disaster. But not for long.
And speaking of long, the distance to Tropezete Town compared to Anistar City was too long. But for Absol, that didn't matter. As a Pokemon of the wild prior to becoming Twilight's Pokemon, he'd gladly go the distance. But he might be too late due to this distance.
Kalos. Tropezete Town. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Nadya's Gateway stopped fluctuating violently after the scuffle on the other side came to an end. But that didn't mean it was all over. The furniture dropped, nearly crushing Luca. Glass vases were shattered and chairs immediately crumbled, leaving Nadya's room in a less-than-perfect condition.
However, all Nadya cared about was the safety of her parents. When staring at the gateway, she immediately saw someone emerge out of it. All tall figure, but it wasn't eligible enough to be her mother or father, much to her disappointment. Instead, it was Gardevoir.
This Aura Vampire gained a secondary Aura after that small scuffle within her own Mindscape. It exhibited a purple colour compared to the Azure Blue everyone was used to. Speaking of which, on her right arm, she had the Purple Aura and on her left, it was the Azure Aura.
Luca made sure to hide once more. With the furniture ruined, all he could do now was hide behind the walls, swiftly zipping over to one of them
"What happened? Are my parents alright!?" Nadya questioned while backing away from the Embrace Pokemon.
"Oh, they're just fine. I got a bit of their Aura for myself." Gardevoir spoke down to the Frontier Brain. "Look at all of this...Isn't it beautiful? An Aura I know and one that's completely alien to me. But the possibilities are endless."
"Now that I'm looking at her a bit longer...she might be that Aura Vampire everyone talks about," Luca spoke in a lowered tone. "And what's that purple stuff around her? Is that also Aura?"
"I always thought about using Auras from other worlds. That much was clear in my mind. But I never thought there'd be unique Auras different from what we know." She giggled as if she was a kid in a candy store.
"Well...If you got what you wanted, can I have my parents back, please? I thought Gardevoirs were supposed to be helpful?" Nadya requested the return of her parents. "Hunter J still has them and-"
"Mmm...No. Not me. I only help myself." Gardevoir scoffed. "You're on your own, little one. But not before I take inspiration from your secret gateway. I have a good feeling about this." Putting on a devious smirk, Gardevoir held her arm out at the gateway behind her.
With this newfound Aura that was connected to Twilight Luminaria, lo and behold, she was able to properly interact with it. And already, it was far more efficient than what the Unown could do.
To the amazement of Nadya and Luca's eyes, Gardevoir managed to rip a huge chunk of the gateway out. She gravitated it towards her with ease, surrounding it with the Magical Aura. After pulling it over, Gardevoir shrunk the gateway to the point where it was as small as a bottle.
"Well, would you take a gander at this? I couldn't do this before, but now even gateways are under my control. But how much, exactly?" Looking into the gateway, Gardevoir expanded it. She would gaze into the blank abyss of the gateway since nothing was there. It didn't connect anywhere at all. It might as well be a decoration.
But feeling completely experimental, Gardevoir would use her Magical Aura once more, affecting the gateway. What she did didn't truly involve otherworldly travel. Instead, Gardevoir managed to pull off something new thanks to the newly obtained Magical Aura.
Gardevoir focused a bit, wanting to better understand what she was managing to conjure. And with a clearer mind than before, what she did was truly stunning. The smile on her face grew once she made a new discovery.
From it, Gardevoir pulled out a Digital Energy. Similar to what Porygon is made out of, this energy was glitching while appearing in the shape of a ball. Gardevoir just had it in her hands after pulling it out of this strange abyss. In her hands, she was able to perfectly contain it without any harm being done to her. This was thanks to the Magical Aura around her.
"W-What is that?!" Nadya gasped. Luca also couldn't believe his eyes. He definitely knew what that was. Digital Energy. Porygon was made out of data and this seemed to be very similar, but the difference was that Gardevoir was able to hold it. It was very much physical as Gardevoir could feel it. The Digital Energy was light but also rough at the same time.
"I did a small test run before I passed through here. As you can see...I can pull objects from space. Specifically, that lost universe that this Prisma character used to live in. His life must have been amazing. To live in a world where something lik this is rather common. Digital Energy..."
It specifically came from Prisma's Universe which was considered a utopia. But Gardevoir wasn't done. She had no need for Digital Energy. She wanted something more even if she could tap into this energy at will now.
"But I can do better than this! Once I fully get the hang of it, absorbing Aura will be easier than ever!" The Aura Vampire cackled before splitting up the smaller gateway with her power. She now had the power to duplicate them but there was still no way to travel through them. They were still just black voids. All she could do was reach through them and interact with a lost world.
But she could do more than just pull things out of it. The gateways now seemed casual for her. By snapping her three fingers, Gardevoir managed to spawn a gateway behind Nadya. The Frontier Brain gasped as she was jumpscared by the sudden gateway which led to nowhere.
"Prisma's universe was a Utopia, right? Let's see if something else of value can be obtained?" Gardevoir would try searching for something, using the Magical Aura to look into the catalogue of objects. In her view, they appeared as floating objects surrounded by the Magical Aura. But from what she was looking at, they were all just other forms of energy.
Gardevoir looked around, seeing what use she could find with these. In the, she obviously saw magic but there were different forms of it. Dragon Magic was very much present there. Magic she's never seen before."Amazing. Whatever world Prisma used to live in, it seemed to be full of all kinds of power."
Immediately, Gardevoir tried pulling them out. If she could pull out Digital Energy, she could pull these different forms of magic. However, the Aura Vampire was quickly shut down as she only managed to pull three other forms of magic out. When she tried going for another, she was met with a strong shock and repulse.
The Embrace Pokemon grunted, immediately pulling her arm back. Her Magical Aura was pierced since it was used as a glove of some sort to grab these powers. But even with its protection, there were some that her Magical Aura wasn't strong enough to properly contain, unlike the Digital Energy.
"Ow! I can't grab onto the rest...?" To her surprise, Gardevoir didn't have full freedom over them all. There seemed to be some things she couldn't interact with. Not yet at least. "It seems I'll have to keep working around this Aura. I know for a fact I can do more than just this. So if you'll excuse me, I'll be taking some of your Aura now."
"Wait! You mean me?!" Nadya soon realized that she was being targeted as a victim of this Aura Vampire.
"That's right. Everyone has Aura and I can't afford to waste any." The Aura Vampire held her hand out, moving it in a creepy and crooked manner as it was over Nadya's head. "I can sense that you're a powerful Trainer, so you'll have some good Aura to feast on. Plus...there's another one nearby in this house."
"!" Obviously, Luca knew Gardevoir was referring to him. No one could escape her senses so as long as she could detect an Aura. And for strong Trainers, especially Frontier Brains, it was impossible to hide from Gardevoir. Luca feared he might be next. But perhaps, he could potentially step in before it's too late.
"Don't Gardevoir." Stepping out of the gateway was Daybreaker, who promptly stopped the Aura Vampire. Luca froze on the spot once Daybreaker arrived, staying where he currently was. "Don't you dare take her Aura."
"Tch! Why not?" She asked.
"Worry about other Auras and work on this new variant you've managed to obtain. And besides, Nadya here isn't supposed to be harmed at all. Her parents have been held hostage. Not her. If you drain her Aura, then that could ruin J's plans."
"Whatever...Doesn't make sense to me at all though." Gardevoir pulled her arm back. Daybreaker saved Nadya's life at that instance, making sure she wouldn't suffer a grand powerless.
"Let's get going on. We can come back here another time. But our time here in this universe isn't over. Let's launch some more experiments. Perhaps, there's a way to feed Necrozma faster with this newfound power of yours. And of course...you're free to absorb other Aura."
"Excellent! Let's get started." Eager to begin, Gardevoir was about to leave the building, ready to venture out and absorb Aura while also unlocking more of this Magical Aura. The rest of Daybreaker's troops, Second Wind and her own forces plus Hunter J had left the gateway, soon flooding this one room with terrifying individuals.
"Wait!" Nadya held her arms out, stopping Gardevoir in her tracks. "You're going to put others in that Ataxia thing, right? You can't! I won't let you!"
"Hmph. Out of the way!" But Gardevoir quickly used Psychic to shove Nadya to the side. "If they're lucky, they won't suffer from it. It's been a while since I've gone on an Aura-absorbing spree after all." The Embrace Pokemon then opened the door from afar, finally leaving Nadya's home. She immediately ascended, taking herself higher into the air. She wanted to stick around Tropeze Town for a bit since she could sense other Auras coming from here. They were small but present.
Nadya feared the worst and there was nothing she could do about it. She did not want to risk the harm of her parents at all since they were still being held hostage. Plus, she was greatly outnumbered and outmatched. One wrong move would spell instant defeat. Luca was in the same boat. All he could do was watch and gather everything that he could. It was best to report all of this, even if he wished to take action right now. But the odds were just too magnificent.
All the citizens of Tropeze Town were still indoors, fearful of the Pokemon Hunters and they certainly had a bigger reason to stay indoors for much longer. With Daybreaker, Second Wind and Gardevoir here, they were practically boxed in. They looked outside from their windows, witnessing the Embrace Pokemon ascend out into the silents streets of this coastal city with only the sound of the waves being very audible.
"Stop right there!" With enough time passing, Officer Jenny and some of the Authorities ended up appearing at last. Called by Luca, they were already aware of the gateway on the other side but they just couldn't pass through it. However, even if they couldn't enter the other side, they could at least deal with the criminals from the outside in their own universe.
"Excellent...Fresh Auras, ripe for the taking." Gardevoir looked down, rubbing her hands together. Officer Jenny and her group would be up first instead.
"That must be the Gardevoir Luca mentioned on the phone..." Jenny gasped when looking up at the Shiny Gardevoir. Thanks to Luca, she and the rest of the officers were informed of who showed up at Nadya's home. Neither were expecting Daybreaker but after seeing Gardevoir here, now they could really expect the Solar Queen.
"Feast your eyes on this!" Raising her arm, Gardevoir managed to create another gateway by using the chunks she managed to obtain. But this time, it was used for something different. It would be in the form of an attack. Above Tropeze Town, the gateway was beginning to spin around, gaining velocity. It started acting like a storm, even howling and it was worse since these were cosmic howls. The most terrifying of them all.
And speaking of storms, there was one other energy that Gardevoir could control and force out of this Gateway Storm. An actual storm. By summoning high amounts of Wind Magic from the gateway, she formed a tornado that started rippling the waves of this coastal town. Around the winds of this tornado was the Magical Aura. It was crackling violently, giving the tornado a unique appearance with all of that colour.
But it wasn't anything to admire. It was something to fear. Gardevoir was attempting to intimidate them and while it definitely worked on those living in Tropezete Town, Officer Jenny and the Authorities were trained to be fearless in the face of such adversity. Even though it did startle them.
Gardevoir was showing off but also getting started on her Aura absorption spree. And it would all start here at Tropeze Town, where she was beginning to harness more of this unique Magical Aura. This power belonged to Twilight Luminaria and after the small exchange in Gardevoir's mindscape, it was easy to see why her being a magical mass was the safest possible outcome. One could only imagine what she could do as her true self.
Daybreaker was already imagining it and instantly referred to Twilight and Sci-Twi.
Those enjoying the Pokemon Festival ended up noticing this. It wasn't something minor at all. The Magical Aura is what truly made it stand out. Its power made the Tornado visible to many from afar, giving it more of a presence. The sound it made was also heard by many. It managed to reach a few cities and towns but not all of Kalos. Just enough for many to notice it.
Absol was too late. There was no way he could reach Tropeze Town in time Everything that happened there beyond the gateway already went down as soon as his horn started shaking. Standing before the massive sea, he only saw the spiral of Magical Energy in the sky. "Sol...!"
"Absol! Wait! Slow...Down...?" Twilight's jaw dropped as she was the one who ended up slowing down. Her eyes immediately locked onto a Storm of Magical Aura. All of her friends who made sure to follow Absol also saw it for themselves. The size of the tornado wasn't all that but it was mainly the energy that was coming from it. It could be seen rippling the skies themselves, making them wobbly. "What is that...? Is that magic? Or Aura?"
"It's a Magical Aura..." Celestia deduced when looking at it. "I don't think they've combined before apart from maybe the Twilightium Z. It looks so different though...And it feels different."
"I'll say..." Sci-Twi held onto her arms. For some reason, she was starting to twitch just by looking at it. The same went for Twilight Sparkle. Her hooves were also twitching when looking at this Magical Aura. She had a strange reaction to it too. This was all thanks to Twilight Luminaria.
"What kind of disaster is this...? Who do you think is behind this?" Fluttershy shuddered at the sight of this strange occurrence.
"Zera..." Zeraora already had a strong bad feeling about this. A strong part of her felt as if this was Ghetsis' group. She couldn't think of anyone else since that was where her hatred was directed. However, before they could properly figure out what was going on, the Magical Aura vanished.
It fizzled out as well as the Gateway Tornado. It didn't last long but it certainly caught some attention. At that moment, Absol's horn stopped shaking. The disaster was over. He was too late to reach its location and too late to potentially stop it, which was a first for him. But Absol wasn't sure if the disaster had fully gone off.
Audino couldn't even hear anything else afterwards. Once the storm vanished, that was it. But even after it vanished, Absol's horn was still lightly twitching, indicating that there was still something else to watch out for somewhere. The Disaster Pokemon was a bit stumped but ready.
"What happened? What was that all about?" Ash wondered.
"Not sure...But we'll have to keep an eye out." Celestia replied, narrowing her eyes. "I'm not sure who could be behind this. Since it involves Magic and Aura, there are only two individuals who could be responsible. "Absol. Do you think you can still take us to where you felt it? Even if we're late, we can probably view the surroundings."
"Absol." Absol nodded. "Crossing the massive ocean was the first task but that wouldn't be too much of an issue. Even if Absol was late, he wouldn't stop what he does best. Celestia's group promptly paused their festival fun just to view this.
"I'm not too sure about this..." Celestia grumbled with uncertainty in her heart. "To play it safe, a few of us will go and scope out the scenario."
Staying behind to keep their sisters safe were Rarity and Applejack. Whatever this was, they didn't want to drag the little ones into this. Lucas would also stay behind along with Sci-Twi as they watched as some of their friends would depart for a while, either with alicorn wings or on the back of Dragonite.
Tropeze Town. Late Afternoon.
It went all the way into the late afternoon to show up at Tropezete Town. Thanks to this grander world, even a Pokemon as fast as Dragonite took some time getting there. But once Ash's group showed up, they witnessed the town in its worst condition.
Before their very eyes, the light from Tropeze Town had been sucked away. Total darkness filled the once-beautiful coastal town. The seas had lost their colour too. The ground was completely dark and the sky around this area was desolate.
The air was now thick with a haunting silence, broken only by the distant crashing of waves against the shore. Swirling mists encircle the town, their touch icy against your skin, as the very essence of light has been sucked away. In the town square, a single decrepit lamppost stands, a minuscule source of illumination in this sea of darkness, casting eerie shadows on the worn cobblestones.
"What is this...?" Luna's pupils shrunk as she was absolutely petrified by what she was seeing. It was hard to see here at all either way. That is until Celestia used her magic to generate light. So did Pikachu and even Zeraora, who were their own light sources.
"All the light's gone. That means...Necrozma." Ash spoke, already knowing what Pokemon was capable of this. Necrozma was behind this, even though Gardevoir was the one who caused that Gateway Storm.
"If Necrozma was here, then Daybreaker was here too. Perhaps she was behind the magical part," said Celestia. "A part of me felt that we'd run into her soon after what happened with Zeraora. "
"Zera..." Zeraora growled and grizzled at this. She also feared this. Her rage was already trying to start something. Hearing Daybreaker and Necrozma's names plus seeing what became of this town would be enough to unleash that virulent rage. The ones who took the light away from her home were potentially near and that truly rubbed her the wrong way.
"Easy..." But she had Rainbow Dash here to try and calm her down. "They're not here right now. And the whole place looks completely clean too for the most part. What's up with that?"
Surprisingly, there was no destruction to be found. Or at least, very minimal destruction. That tornado did pick some things up after all but for the most part, Tropeze Town was unharmed. And that was for one obvious reason that would soon reveal itself.
Aside from the lamppost, there was one more form of light still around. It was none other than Nadya's home. Her home was still around, completely in one piece while also giving off light. It was difficult to see others inside of these buildings since they've lost their light but not Nadya's home. It was all because of that gateway in her fridge.
"Rainbow Dash...?" Nadya stepped out of her home, instantly recognizing Rainbow Dash, along with a few other faces. "You're here?"
"Nadya? Is this your home?" Rainbow Dash approached, only for Nadya to step back for a bit.
"Y-You shouldn't be here right now...!" Nadya stammered gulping out of fear. "Did Luca call you hear? " "No...We came here because we saw that weird energy in the sky. Absol sensed a disaster and it looks like we were too late showing up here. But it looks like you're alright. I think." The multi-coloured-maned mare answered
"I'm alright. I wasn't hurt at all. But we've lost a lot of our light...Tropezete's not looking at its best right now" The Frontier Brain lowered her head. "Officer Jenny and the others tried but, they just ended up failing and fainted afterwards. Those Pokemon were just too strong."
"Necrozma. And was there another Pokemon with it?" Celestia asked, curious since Nadya was speaking in a Plural manner. It wasn't just one Pokemon.
"Yes. The one who started all of that in the sky. It was a Gardevoir. A Shiny one too. It did a lot of strange things and attacked the officers. They didn't stand a chance and I couldn't do anything about it." She gripped the door handle, saddened by what had just happened. She saw it all but did nothing and now the aggressors were gone, leaving Tropezete Town in this state. But they weren't gone forever. Not when they had Nadya's Fridge to come back to.
"Gardevoir? That Gardevoir?!" Celestia thought about the Aura Vampire. Her devious grin already flashed in her mind. She was not yet aware that the Aura Vampire Gardevoir was currently involved in Daybreaker's alliance.
"Nadya. You must answer us. Where did they go?" Luna quickly approached her, wanting to get to the bottom of this. There were more questions waiting to be answered. "Is it near or far perhaps?"
"I don't know..." Nadya said with honesty. Alas, their location was unknown. "But...I can tell you everything that happened and what's going on. Luca's in there right now."
Tropeze Town was an unfortunate victim of Necrozma's light-devouring hunger. With only a bit of life left, Daybreaker's alliance were making moves now that they could finally arrive in this universe. And with Necrozma now up to its usual actions once more, this year's Pokemon Festival was about to be hit with another issue. It wasn't just Zeraora or the potential Twilight Moonlight. Now, Celestia had her own counterpart to worry about before Twilight Moonlight could even make an appearance.
Kalos. Tropezete Town. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
A town that has now been enveloped in total darkness. This isn't the first time Kalos has been swallowed by darkness but it was the first time all the light had been taken away from it. Now, this town was only keeping one form of light and that was Nadya's Home and the single lamppost that managed to survive.
Led into Nadya's Home to hear everything that happened here during Daybreaker's group showing up here was Celestia's group. Upon entering they saw the ruined and crushed furniture after what happened on the other side. Present here was Luca, who has been hiding from Daybreaker's group the whole time. Luckily, he wasn't found and neither was his Aura siphoned from him.
"That's the gist of it," Luca spoke, explaining why he was present here. After Nadya told him everything, he knew he had to get involved. "I told the Battle Frontier about it and it soon went to the authorities. Unfortunately, we couldn't do much about it.
"Nadya. If your parents were being held hostage, why didn't you tell anyone at once?" Twilight questioned, wondering why Nadya took a while to tell someone, let alone anyone here at Tropezete Town.
"Because they would've hurt them. The Hunters could hurt my parents at any time and they showed up without us expecting it so we weren't ready. I've tried battling Hunter J but...I ended up losing. She was too strong, even for me."
"So you're saying that there's a random gateway in your fridge?" Celestia added. "Of all places? I mean, I would be very surprised but...not too long ago we learned about a gateway located behind a door."
But what truly mattered was the gateway located in the fridge. Thinned but still large enough to fit the fridge, it was the bridge between this world and a lost city involving Prisma. Nadya would show them her kitchen which was currently housing the gateway to the lost universe.
"Nadya. You've had this gateway?! Since when?!" Rainbow Dash stood before the slim gateway. "And it's so slim too..."
"It was only a short while after Jirachi put everything together. It showed up here on my fridge. I wanted to tell everyone about it, but the Pokemon Hunters came along with it."
"That must've been another example of something from the lost universe being revived..." Luna already knew the answer to this. "Just how quickly did some of them return after the wish?"
"So, they're right past that gateway. But we can't enter? Are you sure?" Ash wondered, checking out the gateway. Despite the slim appearance, it was still a gateway at the end of the day.
"Pika..."
"Why a fridge exactly? The mansion made sense since it honours Prisma. But what does this fridge have to do with Prisma?" A strong question from Twilight that made Rainbow Dash and Pinkie nod in agreement.
"Well, you know...It could be Prisma's fridge? Or something like that?" For Rainbow Dash, she immediately believed that Prisma used to own this fridge or someone connected to him.
"No. This is my fridge, I'm sure." The Frontier Brain answered. "But there's something else you should know. I did something in return for them. Not just keeping the gateway a secret..." Nadya put her hangers together, nervous about this next part. "I...shared information with them. I'm sorry. I didn't want my parents getting hurt so I had no choice."
Valuable information has been shared with Hunter's J group and by extension, it will soon be shared with Daybreaker's group, giving them stark advantages. With Nadya being present in Manehattan's Battle Frontier, it was only natural that meaty information about Equestria here and there would be gathered. For that, she was sorry and had no choice in the matter if she wanted her parents to be safe.
"It's alright, Nadya." Celestia understood Nadya's struggles. In her position, she would prioritize her own parents. "You don't have to worry anymore now that we're here."
"Thank you so much!" Nadya caught Celestia off guard with a hug. "I'm so glad to hear that! But...my parents are still trapped and I can't get through that world."
"Hmm..." Rainbow Dash trotted over to the gateway, checking it out for herself. And by placing her hoof through the gateway, she was immediately repulsed. A strong shockwave launched the Earth Pony into the air, sending her flying and crashing into the couch. She was absolutely perplexed as her mane started smoking too. "Oooh....! Yeah. There's something wrong with it."
"If I could, I would go after my parents and break them out of there!" Nadya puffed her cheeks, irritated by the nature of this gateway. "I don't get how Hunter J can go through it but I can't! It's not fair!"
"Did she do something to the gateway?" The Princess of the Moon asked. "If so, what could it be??"
"Well, she used something called a Desire to mess with the gateway. That's all I know. I didn't think it'd have such an effect though..."
"And what's worse, the Pokemon Black Market on the other side has guards. They'll be expecting someone to come and save Nadya's parents." Luca added.
"Hmm..." Celestia stood there for a moment, thinking to herself. "How about Ash goes through instead, then?"
"Me?" Ash pointed at himself.
"This is connected to Prisma. And since his soul is within you, I can imagine that the gateway won't deny you, even with the Desire. Plus, if it does, you have high amounts of Aura that can respond to the Desire."
"Ooh! Great thinking Celestia! Let's make sure your parents are A-Okay back there, Nadya. After that...we're gonna go where they went." Ash stood proudly as he would be the one to approach the gateway next.
"How? They're already long gone. What are you going to do to find them?" To Nadya, it would be difficult to find Daybreaker's group since they were already gone.
"Hehe." With a bright grin on his face, Ash had quite a few answers. But only one of them could given at this time. The rest were dependent on the rest of his friends who were elsewhere. All it took was Pikachu taking something out of Ash's bag.
From it, the Time Flower that Ash kept was revealed. "Pikachu!" Taking it out, Pikachu raised it for Nadya and Luca to see. This was the perfect way to know where Daybreaker's group had gone to.
"That flower...Isn't that a Time Flower?! I only saw those in story books!" Luca was aware of the Time Flower, but they were merely in story books. Nothing but legend.
"Well, they're as real as they can be! With this, we can know where they went right away." Ash was passed the Time Flower by Pikachu, having the chance to tap into its power. I can only use it one time until it shuts itself down so let's see what they were planning."
"Hold on. They didn't say any words though." Luca halted Ash. "How are you going to know where they're going?"
"Who said I needed to hear them talk?" Ash giggled before unleashing his Aura on the Time Flower. The flower went off, unleashing an Aura pulse around the area and quickly looking into the past.
The Time Flower showed Ash and the others what happened right after the town was enveloped in darkness. Daybreaker and her group did not speak any information to Nadya. All they knew was that they had to be somewhere else but here to advance their plans. With Daybreaker taking the lead, they mainly followed her and would speak of their plans there.
However, Ash didn't need to hear their outward voices. Only their minds. At that moment, Ash was able to hear what Daybreaker's mind was saying and only he could hear it.
"Gardevoir might start doing whatever she wants. I should at least let her have that much freedom and to have her grow with this Aura. Perhaps the next location that would greatly please both Daybreaker and Necrozma could be the Diamond Domain."
"So that's where they're heading! They know about the Diamond Domain too?" That name was all too familiar to Ash. It was a good thing his adventures allowed him to truly discover many sacred and unique places in the world.
"Ash? What did you hear?" Celestia questioned, knowing that Ash read Daybreaker's mind. But Nadya was just confused, moving her head around, wondering what was said.
"H-Hear what? I didn't hear anything." The young Frontier Brain shrugged. Did she mishear something or did it slip by her?"
"That's because Ash could hear their minds," Twilight answered.
"You can read minds?! Amazing!" Nadya's eyes lit up. Not even Rainbow Dash was aware of this as she had a similar reaction to the Young Frontier Brain.
"I've been making sure my Aura's at my best. Reading minds came with it. But it only works with Time Flowers though. In any case, I know where they're heading. The Diamond Domain."
"The Diamond Domain? That's where the Carbink live. Or so I've heard. And there should be a Diance there."
"There is. I know Diance from there." Ash confirmed it. That place has a ton of light and Diance has Mega Evolution which is packing plenty of Aura. If we hurry now, we can catch up to them before they get there!
"Can we? It took us a while to show up here. If the world wasn't bigger then maybe we wouldn't have taken that much time." However, Twilight wasn't sure that they could reach them in time at all. It was already late in the afternoon and Daybreaker's group left around a few hours ago.
"It's a neighbour to the Allearth Forest. I know the way, so count on me and Pikachu." Luckily for them, Ash and Pikachu knew some paths that could be taken. He knew where the Allearth Forest was as well which was a strong bonus. "But let's get your parents back first."
The Lost Universe. A ruined city. New Pokemon Black Market.
After what happened here, the secret Pokemon Black Market continued. The Pokemon caged here came from either Universe One, or the lost universe, such as the Riolu. They possessed a strange Aura that was connected to Twilight Luminaria and now Gardevoir had some of it with her.
Standing near the gateway were Pokemon Hunters who worked for J. Some stayed behind just in case any intruders showed up and were ready to alert them. However, someone already passed through and they had no way of knowing.
Moving through the gateway and having full access was none other than Ash Ketchum. But right now, he was currently invisible. An invisibility spell had hit the King of the Sea, allowing him to elude the guards.
"Rio?" The second he appeared, each of the captured Riolu and some of the Pokemon who lived here noticed his presence instead of the guards or anyone else. The Riolu felt the shift in the Aura change. With the strange Aura residing in this land, it was easy for them to read it.
Ash's Aura immediately triggered the Aura lying across the land, but he did not sense it himself. Right next to him was none other than Pikachu. Lo and behold, Pikachu was also able to cross through, but it was unknown if it was because he was on Ash's shoulder.
Ash observed the new Pokemon Black Market which was located at the tower. "Looks like we can get through this way. Time to bring the others in. Pikachu, use Iron Tail on them."
"Pika!" The Invisible Pikachu leapt off Ash's shoulder, targeting the guards at the gateway. With no way of knowing about Ash's presence, they were immediately struck in the head by a hardened tail one by one.
"Gouh!" They gasped as bumps instantly showed up on their heads. Immediately, they dropped to the ground, unconscious for a while. But these weren't the only guards to worry about. Ash knew for a fact that there would be more in the Black Market.
Which is why he needed all the support he could get. Thankfully, he was well prepared. In his bag were many Poke Balls that housed all of his Pokemon who tagged along for the Pokemon Festival. They could thankfully appear in this world since Ash's bag passed through. But beyond them, there was the rest of Ash's friends on the other side.
He had to hurry before the guards wake up and before Daybreaker's group get too close to the Diamond Domain. He was hoping they haven't taken a quick path as well. Daybreaker was well aware of the Diamond Domain. Whether it was because of those in her alliance or by looking into Universe One, she wasn't about to let it slip away from her now that she has finally managed to return to this world.
"Alright! You all can come through!" He put his head through the gateway, briefly gazing at his friends over at Universe One. "Try grabbing onto me and you'll go through."
"Uh..." Twilight wasn't sure where Ash was at all since he was invisible but she would do so either way. By simply putting her hoof near the gateway, she felt Ash's chest. Celestia used a spell on Ash to briefly reveal his body. She was the one who turned him invisible in the first place.
Ash's arm was visible instead of everything else, prompting everyone else to know what to touch. Rainbow Dash, Zeraora, Celestia and Luna each touched Ash's arms, making direct contact. This would work just fine for Ash, so as long as they were making contact with him. Ash slowly backed up, allowing everyone to pace with him.
Twilight was soon allowed into this world along with everyone else. Rainbow Dash was previously repulsed by it, but now she had full access to the place.
"Hm?" But this wouldn't be a tower without someone at the top. The Pokemon Black Market here covered every room in this tower, even the top. And at the top, one of the people nearby spotted the arrival of familiar faces that threatened the Pokemon Black Market. Upon seeing Princess Celestia, that was an immediate red alert. This Black Market wasn't about to catch a break with this group present here. He had to quickly warn the others about the arrival of Celestia's group, even though they shouldn't be able to show up here at all after what J did to the gateway.
Ash placed his arm through the gateway once more, calling out for Luca and Nadya. It as their turn to pass through. Nadya wasted no time, showing no fear whatsoever anymore. Now that she had those who were taking action in saving her parents, her confidence was greatly elevated.
"Mom! Dad! I'm coming!" Nadya was ready to sprint off to find her parents. In her eyes, she was thinking about tearing the place apart just to find them. And with Delphox on her side, that could be achieved.
"Slow down!" But Rainbow Dash held the Frontier Brain back. "Don't rush in there. They'll hurt your mom and dad for sure if they see you. Stay behind us and hidden and we'll take it from here."
"Once your parents are safe, you're free to go wild," Celestia promised that Nadya would have her time to unleash her fire.
"Zeraora!" Zeraora certainly wasn't listening at all. Celestia gasped as the Thunderclap Pokemon already rushed in, having the same idea as Nadya.
"Wait! Gah, Zeraora!" Rainbow Dash groaned, pulling on her mane. A part of her should've seen this coming but she was too late to stop it. She might as well get involved with it. The pegasus swiftly followed Zeraora, ready to back her up. Travelling through the shadows and going straight for Nadya's parents was Darkrai.
As soon as everyone makes themselves aware, they were immediately about to start a ruckus. It was best for Darkrai to find Nadya's parents first and he was the right Pokemon to do so.
Breaking through the walls of the Black Market instead of the doors was Zeraora. She shattered the doors, sending some debris flying. Those in the Pokemon Black Market gasped as Twilight Luminaria wasn't the only one they had to worry about anymore.
The Thunderclap Pokemon stared them all down with an intense stare. She already had a disdain for them, especially since they were connected to Daybreaker. Zeraora would be glad to bring this whole place down while also focusing on the Pokemon who were captured.
"Riolu..." The Riolu and the Pokemon who come from this universe sensed this familiar Aura getting closer. It was mainly coming from Ash, but there was a second one nearby. This one was closer to what Gardevoir absorbed and is what the Riolu were holding.
It was coming from Twilight Sparkle.
"Gardevoir!" Speaking of Gardevoir, Passion flew through the destroyed wall, hovering above Zeraora. With her presence here, she instantly reminded everyone here of the Aura Vampire Gardevoir but with the original colours. It was clear this wasn't the Gardevoir they previously saw.
It was too late to prepare for this surprise attack or to be warned of it, allowing Ash's group to gain a stark advantage. All of the Pokemon here had different reactions to these two familiar Auras. Fear and Joy.
These two Auras brought a different feeling to each of them, mainly due to who Ash and Twilight were connected to. But while they were thinking about these Auras and feeling them, there were already Pokemon attacks being thrown, mainly from Zeraora.
Luna stepped in front of some of the grunts with a smile on her face. To defeat these types of people would bring her great joy. And the same went for Nightmare Moon who would briefly appear as a flash. The Princess of the Night immediately sent one of her Pokemon out to confront those working at the Black Market. In this case, it was her Aurorus.
Ash was moving through the Pokemon Black Market while still completely invisible which gave him quite the advantage. He and Pikachu passed by some grunts who were immediately challenging the opposing trainers in front of them. Ash saw some Pokemon trapped and immediately had Pikachu destroy the cages.
By using Iron Tail, these cages were shattered with ease along with anything else keeping these Pokemon restrained. However, when moving through the Pokemon Black Market, Ash quickly came to a stop once something caught his attention. Or rather, something interacted with his Aura to the point where he had no choice but to stop. it was right in front of a group of Pokemon who had yet to be freed.
"Huh?" Ash paused as his Aura went off unexpectedly upon gazing at these Pokemon.
"Pika-Pi?" Pikachu would also stop, wondering what Ash managed to feel.
"Something's up here..." The Trainer from Kanto observed. "It's weird. It feels like I've been here before. It's a lot like the mansion but, something's different..."
"Pikachu..."
Ash paused for a moment before having his Aura do the talking. And it certainly talked. It was connecting with the Strange Aura that resides here, creating a reaction. This tied back to the Pokemon that were trapped here. Not all of them come from this world but a few of them did. Ash heard their Auras, feeling the weight of them.
But he didn't hear cries for help. Instead, he heard cries of fear. Ash gasped as the other Aura was sending signals that confirmed the Pokemon here were afraid of him.
They feared Ash just like how they feared the Pokemon Hunters. It shocked Ash to find this out. He looked at the Pokemon in front of him who were absolutely mortified by his appearance. In their eyes, they didn't see Ash. They saw Prisma. His serious face overtook Ash's confused face in their eyes. Ash's words perfectly showed just how surprised he was to feel this. This fear wasn't about the Pokemon Hunters. It was about him.
The Lost Universe. New Pokemon Black Market. Late Afternoon.
While infiltrating the Pokemon Black Market to save the Pokemon and Nadya's parents, Ash had made a shocking discovery. When reading the Auras of the Pokemon who originally come from this lost universe, he at first thought that a majority of their fear came from the fact that they were captured. And while that was true, it all quickly shifted to someone else.
It shifted to Ash himself. The Pokemon were fearful of Ash for one reason. It was because of Prisma, who was a well-known figure in this lost world. A storied figure even.
"You're afraid of me?" Ash spoke after feeling their Auras. Looking into the eyes of a Delcatty, he saw only fear. Delcatty moved back, bumping into the bars of the cage.
At that moment, the fear they felt changed. They felt another Aura, but it wasn't Ash's. It was the other one that brought them joy as opposed to Ash's Aura which brought them fear. And when looking at Pikachu, they also felt somewhat of the same fear. When Ash made even the slightest movement, he was met with jitters and startles from the Pokemon.
"Ri...!" Some of the Riolu here gripped onto the iron bars, growling at Ash. They didn't show fear. Instead, they showed anger and hostility towards him.
Ash would still aim to free them even if they feared his presence. The Pokemon were very hesitant and found that hard to believe. But all Ash had to do was break their cages and restraints. By having Pikachu use Iron Tail, the cages were shattered.
The Pokemon here were freed, no longer confined to the Pokemon Black Market. But even after being freed, they distanced themselves away from Ash, backing up against the wall. They all stayed together in one group with the Riolu being upfront.
"Pika. Pikachu." Pikachu tried calming them down, attempting to reassure them that Ash was not dangerous at all. But all he received back was a scowl and an intimidating cry from an Archeops.
"It's alright, Pikachu." Ash kneeled. "I'm guessing this is all because of Prisma. That's why they're afraid of me."
"Ash! Ash!" Rushing into this part of the Black Market was Twilight, who quickly caught up with Ash. She was joined by Princess Luna. Upon seeing her, as opposed to seeing Prisma within Ash, the Pokemon saw someone else. Twilight Luminaria. "There's something familiar about this place.
As soon she arrived, her own Aura went off. Twilight had a miniscule Aura compared to Ash but it was still there. And because of her relation to Twilight Luminaria, she would instantly read the Aura in this room which made her come to a halt as well. She heard something different compared to what Ash heard. It was only joy and relief, but not because someone was here to save them from the Pokemon Black Market, but because a friendly face that they knew despite meeting Twilight Sparkle for the first time was here.
"Togepi!" Leaping towards Twilight was a Togepi. Seeing her brought immense joy and required a hug.
"Ah!" The young alicorn gasped. She instinctively held her hooves out, embracing the incoming hug. She grabbed the Togepi as all the other Pokemon here immediately swarmed towards Twilight. "W-Wait! Hold on!"
Soon, Twilight was swarmed by all of these Pokemon, finding safety around the young alicorn. "Uh...I was going to bring up something important until this happened. But it's alright. You're all safe now."
"Rio..." The Riolu snarled at Ash while standing behind Twilight's leg. All the other Pokemon would eye down Ash with fear in their faces. They were essentially using Twilight as a shield against the one who resembled Prisma. Twilight didn't understand what was going on at all so far.
"Goodness." Luna looked down at the Pokemon. "What a reaction they're having to you, Ash."
"Gee...They don't look that pleased to see you, Ash." The young alicorn said. "Don't worry, everyone. He won't bite."
"Yeah. They don't." Ash giggled. "They're pretty happy to see you though and I think I know why. It might be because of Prisma."
"Oooh, that makes sense. This is a part of the Lost Universe." The young alicorn looked around her. "That's what I was going to bring up. I felt the Aura here all of a sudden. Only when I entered this room. Plus...there's something familiar about this tower."
"You're right. Feels like I've been here before..." Ash couldn't put his finger on it, but a strong part of him felt like he's been inside of this tower and something significant happened. Twilight was unable to figure out as well. This tower was rather ruined so it was hard to really make out what was up with it, especially since parts of it had been redesigned for the Pokemon Black Market.
"You don't have to worry about him, everyone," Twilight reassured the Pokemon. "He may look like Prisma but he's not. Well, technically not..."
"Medi!" But with a Meditite backing up and other Pokemon flinching, they still didn't feel safe around him. Not even Twilight's words could stave away their fears. As of now, the Pokemon were too terrified to approach him, even those who showed signs of rage.
"Twilight. That won't happen." Luna shook her head. "This level of fear can't be staved away so easily. Judging by what little we know of Prisma, it's easy to see why. Such an enigmatic figure..."
"Nevermind...Just stay with me, alright? The only way for you to leave this place is by going through the gateway. And only Ash can make it happen."
The Pokemon weren't too pleased hearing that. The fact that their only way of leaving such a desecrated place was by relying on Ash made them uneasy. But they had to since freedom was staring them right in the eyes.
"Hm?" But before they could continue on their way, something else caught Ash's attention within this room. He swivelled, facing the walls. The cages were once against the walls but now that they were destroyed, Ash felt something past those walls.
Twilight also looked in the same direction as Ash as she had a similar reaction. Both of them spaced out for a moment until both of their Auras kicked in. In unison, their Auras activated without them even doing it willingly. The Strange Aura that permeates the land was involved, merging with their own which resulted in both of their eyes glowing.
But while Ash had the typical Azure Blue, Twilight received a Purplish colour to her eyes, similar to what was seen from the Magical Aura. Both of them saw that there was something beyond the wall. Ash approached this part of the wall before pushing his hand against it.
The wall reacted to Ash's touch, unleashing an Azure pulse. Ash, Twilight and Luna gasped as the walls were beginning to open up, revealing something that was never there before. Most likely, not even the people here at the Pokemon Black Market knew about its existence.
This secret room introduced itself to Ash, Twilight and their Pokemon. But to the Pokemon who lived here, this wasn't a surprise to them at all. They knew about its existence since this was their world and this room was just another part of it.
In this vast secret room, its walls were lined with ancient, ruined metallic structures that belonged in the future instead of the past. They entered the room, gawking at its splendour and mystery. The fact that it reacted to Ash's Aura raised intrigue. But if they had to guess, Prisma was involved in this somehow.
It all revealed the remnants of advanced technology, with broken and toppled items scattered across the room. Shattered holographic displays flicker sporadically, casting eerie shadows that dance across the room. In one corner, a once-elegant couch lies toppled, its ornate golden accents now tarnished and broken.
Rays of faint light slip through the cracks in the ancient yet futuristic walls. When walking around, Twilight also noticed how there was an assortment of ruined books. Dimly lit sconces flicker along the rows of crumbled and ruined bookshelves, casting elongated shadows that dance across the desecrated marble floors. But Twilight couldn't even tell what books these were since their covers had been absolutely ruined and their pages were tarnished to a level beyond recovery.
But there was one thing that stuck out from the rest. In the centre stood a towering monolith, its surface etched with seemingly indecipherable symbols that seemed to pulse with a faint blue light. It was the prime object in this room without a doubt.
"Quite a Monolith...But what are those symbols on it? They look like Unown but..." Luna squinted, trying to make out what these symbols said. They were obviously trying to spell something.
"It's an apology letter." Twilight already knew what she was staring at and so did Ash. In Ash's eyes, they were identical to those creatures that were close to the Unown. The same creatures that Galaxy Master was dealing with for a while until they made peace.
"An apology letter? How'd you know?" Luna questioned.
"I don't know. It just kicked in for me." But for Twilight, a part of her just knew that it was an apology letter. "And I think I can read it too. Can you, Ash?"
"Mhm," Ash confirmed, eyeing down all of those words. Now this made him think about those creatures back in that dimension where the Subspace Pokemon can be found.
"Let's see..." Twilight would be the one to read the Apology Letter that was etched on the Monolith. It was unknown who left it behind, but Twilight saw that it was directed to someone else. Someone deserving of an apology. "It's an apology to Prisma."
"Really?!" Ash and Luna said in unison. Someone who once lived here, presumably in this tower, wrote an apology letter to Prisma which could be found here. Twilight began reading, deciphering it with ease.
"Prisma. If we can manage to get this message out of the tower as soon as possible, then I'm terribly sorry for how things have turned out. We wish we could've been there for you during your darkest time. We knew that you were truly lonely and we were too late to rectify it. If this message reaches you before Princess Twilight Luminaria does-" However, Twilight promptly stopped. The message was cut off as it was never finished. "That's it. Whoever wrote it couldn't finish it in time."
"Hmm...It must've been a group then. Possibly a group that lived in this tower." Luna speculated. "It sounds like they were attempting to prevent something truly horrible involving Prisma. And Twilight Luminaria was already on her way to encounter Prisma by that time."
It was a bit of a mystery who wrote this. But one thing was for sure, it was a group that regretted trying to rectify something with Prisma. Twilight was also curious about everything else this room had to offer, mainly those books. Whoever this group was, they would have had books detailing a lot about this lost universe aside from Scione who lived in it.
On top of that, if only Lucas was here to revive this area just so they could see it in its true form. But that couldn't be done until the Pokemon Black Market here was toppled.
"I'd love to figure this out but...Let's find Nadya's parents first." Ash put his mind back on track when it came to saving Nadya's parents. By closing his eyes, he tapped into the Aura, searching for their Aura signatures. That was rather tricky considering there were so many people and Pokemon in here and there was constant movement going around.
Finding the Auras of Nadya's parents would not be easy. Once his eyes closed, he already saw multiple Aura signatures everywhere. Some strong. Some weak. The strong ones came from his friends while the weak ones came from those working in the Pokemon Black Market. Ash would have to search for the weaker ones if he wanted to find Nadya's parents.
As for everyone else, they had dealt with those working here at the Pokemon Black Market as one of the grunts had fallen unconscious thanks to Gardevoir. Their excellent teamwork allowed them to swiftly obtain victory. But they weren't done yet as they had yet to find Nadya's parents and there were still more Pokemon captured with here.
Aurorus had sent a plethora of ice around the place, followed by Zeraora's brute force breaking a lot of the rooms apart as well as electrifying them. These rooms that once belonged to this mysterious group were hard to distinguish anymore. Whether it was from the Pokemon Black Market changing a lot about it or the destruction that befell this new Black Market.
But while advancing through the Pokemon Black Market, Celestia came across something rather peculiar and interesting. She came to a halt, noticing a picture. It was the faces on the picture that made her react so quickly.
The Sun Princess gravitated the picture towards her with magic, looking right at it in its current state. It had obviously gone through some damage but it could still be made out.
On it, different species could be seen standing together with smiles on their faces, standing next to other Pokemon behind a sunny background. Ponies, Humans Changelings, Dragons and another species were spotted. Celestia squinted her eyes when trying to make out what species this was and even though it was difficult at first, just by looking at their tails, she figured it out.
"There were Kirins here as well...Who is this group?" Celestia wondered before noticing one pony who truly stuck out. In the very middle, a pony resembling Twilight Sparkle's colour scheme was spotted.
A Cutie Mark that strongly resembled Twilight's was also seen. That same pink star was visible still, but it wasn't just the star. This Cutie Mark also had a bit of Twilight Moonlight on it. A bit of Twilight Wish's Cutie Mark was present too. Right now, Celestia was looking at a picture involving Twilight Luminaria herself but her face was unfortunately missing due to the condition of this picture.
But there was no mistaking it, this was Twilight Luminaria in Celestia's eyes, which made her instantly suspect that this tower might have belonged to her. Looking at the surroundings of this room, while it was ruined to the point where any of its uniqueness was, it was easy to see the slight magic involvement in it. While a majority of this place had futuristic traits, magic-related designs seeped in here and there.
Eventually, by following the weaker Auras, Ash, Twilight and Luna ended up in the smallest room by far. Coming to a halt, they spotted Darkrai up ahead which was a good sign. And right next to the Pitch Black Pokemon was none other than Nadya's parents.
They were currently free as the ropes that restrained them were on the floor. However, this wasn't done by Darkrai. The ropes had burn marks on them after all. The reason for it was thanks to Daybreaker, whose mere presence caused the ropes to weaken, showing just how fierce her flames were even when she was being completely passive.
"Excellent work Darkrai!" Luna exclaimed. "That's one mission completely done with."
"These two were free the entire time. Well, at least free from the ropes." Darkrai explained. "I showed up to see them staying low while everything was erupting outside."
"R-Right." Nadya's Father who shared her blue hair added. "Those ropes got weak enough for us to break free, but we couldn't just high-tail it out of here."
"We had to wait." said Nadya's Mother, who had her yellow eyes. "As soon as that mess with the Gardevoir happened, we snuck off elsewhere in the Black Market."
"And then all of a sudden, we hear more bombastic noises outside!" Nadya's father exclaimed, referring to Zeraora breaking into the Black Market with brute force. "We're so glad we averted their eyes for so long. They just spent their time trying to put the Black Market back together after what just happened. This was the only room we could hide in for the meantime."
"Well, you won't have to worry about staying here for much longer. You and all the Pokemon captured here will be free. But after this, we'll have to figure out what to do about this gateway. Keep an eye out for the meanwhile, Darkrai."
"Nadya's gonna be so happy to see that you're all doing well. You can get out of here if you hold onto me." Ash uttered. "The sooner we get out of here, the better too. This place isn't looking its best. If only Lucas were here..."
"Our daughter's safe right?!" Nadya's mother frantically asked, quickly walking up to Ash.
"She's safe. And here at this very moment. But you don't have to worry about that." Twiligt reassured. Nadya would be safe with the protection of Celestia, Luca and Rainbow Dash being present. And once she finds out that her parents are safe, Nadya will have all the reason to finally take action.
Nadya's Parents stayed close to rescuers as Darkrai descended into the shadows, swiftly moving across the Black Market to make sure that everything else was clear. Ash would take the lead, going straight for the gateway just so Nadya's parents could leave this place once and for all.
They also had to think about the Diamond Domain since that was where Daybreaker's group was heading next. They were already behind since Daybreaker's group had left hours ago, but they were counting on Ash's shortcuts to help them.
Elsewhere in Kalos.
Speaking of Daybreaker's group, they were still on their way to the Diamond Domain, which was housing plenty of Light and Aura. Perfect for Necrozma and Gardevoir. Her group could be seen travelling on a chariot made by Second Wind's Unown. This chariot was large enough to carry this entire group as the Pokemon pulling on it was none other than Hunter's Salamence. Flying next to the chariot was Gardevoir, who was absolutely elated with what she achieved today.
"We might arrive at Allearth Forest by nightfall. After that, we'll break into the Diamond Domain and let loose." Daybreaker said. "J. Care to share any more locations we can target? Anything that helps Necrozma would be nice."
"No. Nothing else that interesting from Nadya considering any light. For the most part, I've been focusing on getting information about Ash and his irritating friends. But they don't come by to that Battle Frontier all often. However, since he's so popular in Equestria, I can still get a lot out of him."
"And with Twilight Sparkle's Desire in you, you have double the information about our enemies. Splendid!" Second Wind said with glee. Anything to get the advantage over those who got in her way was wonderful to hear.
Hunter J would share what she could with Daybreaker's group while they were on their way to the Diamond Domain.
"I can't improve nearly as much at this rate," Gardevoir said to herself, wanting more already and a chance to really test out the Magical Aura to its fullest potential. There was quite a sinister look on her face which alerted Daybreaker. Gardevoir already had some sinister looks here and there but something was amiss.
The Magical Aura around her body was showing once more, growing in vibrance. But Daybreaker instantly felt something off about this newly obtained Aura. At that moment, Daybreaker felt a bit of Twilight Luminaria emanating from the Aura. Not just because it was originally hers, but because her presence was just now showing up.
Gardevoir suddenly accelerated through the air, heading off on her own. The Embrace Pokemon wasn't aware of it just yet but Twilight Luminaria was still fighting to gain some control back. This started affecting Gardevoir, accelerating her drive to devour more Aura.
Unable to properly contain it, the Embrace Pokemon was about to test the Magical Aura once more. She came to a halt while the chariot was still moving, deciding to hover in place. The chariot was promptly stopped under Daybreaker's order. The Solar Queen saw something more than just Gardevoir giving into her urges. Twilight Luminaria was involved in this.
"Gardevoir? What are you doing?" Daybreaker questioned.
"I need to find out more...This is where I can improve." By tapping into the various forms of energy at her disposal, Gardevoir would try growing to the point where she could contain the energies she couldn't touch at all. Before that, she held her arms out, going straight for the Digital Energy. A digital power surrounded Gardevoir's energy as it had yet to be used. Until now. Gardevoir started conjuring a Digital Aura around herself which brought a foreboding air.
Hunter J and Second Wind, this didn't seem out of the ordinary at all, Daybreaker noticed how familiar this was. Something similar to this happened with Necrozma. During the scuffle at the Sea Temple, Necrozma started losing control, wanting more light.
The same was happening with Gardevoir. And much like Necrozma, Daybreaker feared that even with this alliance, Gardevoir's actions could affect them as well. Daybreaker's splendid experience with magic and long life easily allowed her to see this flaw leaking through. It once again showed itself and now it was coming from the Aura Vampire Gardevoir.
Kalos. Tropezete Town. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
Returning to Tropezete Town was Ash, who was the only one who could pass through the gateways. With him, he brought Nadya's parents back to their home, free from the Pokemon Black Market. And speaking of Nadya, after Ash successfully brought her parents back, they immediately reunited with their daughter. All it took was Ash bringing Nadya back. The Pokemon Black Market could not stop Ash's group, allowing Nadya safe passage back to her home.
"Mom! Dad!" Rushing to her parents and embracing them with a hug was Nadya. "You were okay after all! I thought J was bluffing and she-"
"It's alright. We're fine." Nadya's Mother added. "These past few months have been scary but we're still here."
"As for this gateway, if we had Lucas here, we would be able to move it away from here," said Celestia when looking at this gateway. "Rest assured, you won't have to worry about its existence after we're done with it."
"Oh, thank you so much, Princess Celestia! All of you!" Nadya's father showed stellar gratitude, shaking Celestia's hoof.
"Your town doesn't have to live in fear of the Pokemon Hunters anymore. That Pokemon Black Market has been dealt with." Luna added. "But I'm afraid we don't have time to continue chatting. Not when Daybreaker and her group are off to the Diamond Domain."
"Right. We understand. We're oh-so grateful for your help. But...you should also know this." Nadya's Father had something of great value that had to be shared. "During our time as hostages at the Black Market, we managed to hear some crucial information. Plenty of it."
"Hmm...Ash. Go on ahead." Celestia turned to Ash, wanting to hear this information closely. As Ruler of Equestria, she had to listen to it. "We'll catch up with you eventually."
"Alright! This way!" Ash would lead the way to the Diamond Domain which was near the Allearth Forest. It would be Celestia and Luna who stuck around for a while. Much like how Hunter J has been using Nadya to gather valuable information, Nadya's parents would do the same.
During the path to the Allearth Forest, Daybreaker's group ended up coming to a halt for a while. This was due to Gardevoir taking the time to test out more of this Magical Aura, but what followed next was not truly of her own volition.
Daybreaker saw it. This was similar to what happened with Necrozma during the Sea Temple mission but this time, Twilight Luminaria was involved. She wasn't fully gone. Due to Gardevoir absorbing the Magical Aura for herself, Twilight Luminaria left something behind to ensure that her enemies would not have an easy advantage.
Surrounding Gardevoir was the Digital Energy she previously discovered and unlocked and now she was ready to unleash it as it started affecting the land. This bizarre energy only originated from Prisma's world and now it found itself in this world under a menacing grip.
"What does she think she's doing!?" Second Wind closed one eye as a wind pressure was forming around the area.
"Curse that Twilight...Even in such a weakened state, she manages to get in our way. Gardevoir's losing control again! But it's different this time!" Daybreaker answered.
As for who Gardevoir's first experiments would be, she targeted those in her alliance. The troops of Second Wind were immediately targeted as the Digital Energy began swirling around them.
"W-Wait!" One of them cried out before being picked up by the data particles. Once surrounded, each of these troops found themselves being transformed. Their bodies were becoming pixels. They found themselves becoming separated and smaller than before.
Gardevoir gravitated them towards her, holding these pixel ponies in her hand. With a devious smile, she then absorbed their Aura. Even if they had been transformed into these smaller forms, their Auras were still present. Next were Daybreaker's troops who were also being lifted but in that instance, Daybreaker used her magic to cancel it out, sending a powerful flare of magic that intercepted the Digital Energy.
"Snap out of it, Gardevoir! I thought you would have overcome this already!" Daybreaker shouted. But Gardevoir had already lost herself. This Twilight Luminaria's ace in the hole and it showed. Her best method was by encouraging Gardevoir's actions, in exchange for her losing any sense of reason.
The land was being affected as well by this Digital Energy. The ground itself was being digitized, becoming nothing but pixels. Naturally, this made it extremely fragile as the chariot was already feeling the effects. The pixels were as light as they appeared, being as plentiful as grains of sand on a beach.
Daybreaker and Second Wind each took flight as well as those who could fly. Salamence would do the same, carrying the chariot with her while Hunter J stayed completely seated.
"Will you have to go into her mindscape again?!"
"Not this time," Daybreaker revealed that heading into Gardevoir's mindscape wouldn't do any good. Gardevoir had to be stopped another way and it was the most common and usual way to stop someone. "The best thing to do is simply subdue her from the outside before she subdues us."
The pixels from below were rising as Gardevoir was using them as a means to absorb Aura. Kalos was a region where Aura was indeed plentiful. Whether it was the power of Mega Evolution, the Aura Trio or the Bond Phenomenon, the Embrace Pokemon could get an amazing fill.
Each of these pixels pulled Aura towards the Aura Vampire, fueling her and increasing her lifespan. Absorbing Aura had never been so easy for her before.
"Unown! Hidden Power!" Second Wind ordered. The many Unown unleashed crimson rays from their eyes, targeting Gardevoir. However, as soon as their power came across the Digital Energy, it created a sudden reaction. Gardevoir immediately digitized their power, turning the red beams into small pieces of code.
After transforming them, Gardevoir reorganized them. She attempted to manipulate the aspects of the Hidden Power, changing its properties. There were signs of this succeeding as seen by the alteration of Hidden Power's energy. However, it was a tie as she was unable to fully transform them.
After failing to transform the Hidden Power, she would simply use everything else she's managed to obtain. The Digital Energy around the ground would spread, soon summoning what appeared to be Subspace Pokemon. Daybreaker's group gasped as they witnessed the Subspace Pokemon for the first time.
Vastly different from Equestrian Variants, Alolan Variants, Holon Variants and so forth. This category of Pokemon was the most unique out of them all. And this time, they weren't in that strange dimension that Galaxy Master currently occupies. With their bodies being out of that dimension, they could truly show their shine Their digital shine that is.
This enigmatic Digital Energy was connected to the Subspace Pokemon which still had a lot unknown about them. But right now, Gardevoir was about to discover their mysteries.
"What kind of Pokemon are those...?" Second Wind questioned but no one here was able to answer that. Not Daybreaker and not even Hunter J. They had their usual azure colours but with a digital touch to them. The Pokemon that appeared were Orbeetle, Vespiquen, Pyroar, Galvantula and Gogoat. All of which appeared in their Subspace forms.
Immediately, Subspace Galvantula spread its digital essence, spawning smaller Subscape Joltik. It had its own version of creation but on a smaller scale compared to what Gardevoir could do. Vespiquen did the same, using the power of Subscape to generate smaller Combee.
Each of these insects had their use and that was by siphoning away at the Aura all over the place. They would do Gardevoir's job for her, skittering and flying across the area. The Joltik had the ground covered while the Combee targeted the skies and most notably, Daybreaker's group. Some of them split off to find other targets while a majority of them went straight for the Unown and the troops.
"Salamence! Blast them away with Flamethrower!"
"Salaaa!" Intercepting these mini Subspace Pokemon was Salamence who released a stream of scarlet flames from his mouth. Even if they were Subspace Pokemon, they were still Bugs and very much vulnerable to Fire.
The Subspace Combee were knocked back, fizzling out as their bodies became nothing but digital energy after all. The energy flew back to Gardevoir who would immediately suppress it.
She compressed the Digital Energy, keeping it intact in a different and more suppressed form. Afterwards, she would bring it back to her. More of the Combee arrived as Vespiquen kept generating more of them. The goal was to overwhelm Daybreaker's group with numbers and with so many Combee showing up, that could be managed.
"Pyroar!" As for the Subspace Pyroar, just by unleashing a roar, it managed to disrupt the very atmosphere itself. The air would wobble and shake, immediately throwing the chariot off balance. Salamance was certainly knocked off balance by this atmosphere-disrupting roar.
Daybreaker's group certainly found themselves in a peculiar situation that could bode many dangers for them. All of this was thanks to Twilight Luminaria. And with Gardevoir eager to unlock the vast catalogue of energies, this would not only threaten Daybreaker's alliance but everyone else in Kalos.
Lunice Hills.
Lunice Hills. A small area here in the Kalos Region that sits on the pebbly shores with a community of fishermen. Naturally, Allearth Forest was largely connected to the beautiful grasslands of Kalos. Beyond these grasslands was a large sea and ahead of that was even more land that would gradually take anyone to Allearth Forest. The group could be seen moving down a hill where a road was nearby.
Ash's group were making their way to the Diamond Domain near the Allearth Forest, taking a path that Daybreaker's group hadn't. To make sure that her group wasn't near the Diamond Domain, Absol was out in the open as a way to detect any incoming disasters.
"Sol?!" Absol came to a halt but this wasn't because his horn was going off. The disaster he felt was also seen by everyone else. All of their eyes focused on what was up ahead. It was only just now that they were nearing the seas of this area. The sea that would usually be crossed was surrounded and covered by the Digital Energy.
"What happened to the water?!" Rainbow Dash made a prolonged gasp. The Digital Energy showed off its particles which had numbers involved in them. "It looks kinda cool..."
"Zera..." Zeraora wondered if she could even run on this with her speed. It might cause some drawbacks for her if she touches it.
The small group of Fishermen who showed up with their boats already had their rods deep into the Digital Sea. This was rather recent and already, Gardevoir's newfound power was spreading fast.
"Hm. This isn't so bad." One of the Fisherman commented, not really bothered by the sudden change in texture. "Might get something new in all of this."
"Do you think Daybreaker's group is behind this?" Ash kneeled, getting closer to the Digital Energy as he asked Twilight what she thought about this. However, Twilight was blankly staring at the Digital Sea, not responding at all. Once again, that strange feeling returned. The same one that occurred when she was in the tower and gazing at that Apology Letter. After all, this was related to Twilight Luminaria. "Twilight?"
"...Wha?" Twilight blanked out for a moment before responding. "Oh, right. Not sure. And I'm not positive we should be moving across this. We should probably just go by air in the meantime."
"Oooh! I got something!" At that moment, one of the fishermen managed to hook something from the Digital Sea. He began the traditional struggle with the entity below the water, hoping to pull it up. "Let's see what it is today!"
He managed to reel his catch in, pulling it out of the Digital Sea. The way the water moved was different too. It would glitch this time due to how digital it made itself out to be and the droplets were just numbers and particles. As for what was pulled out of the sea, it was a Pokemon. But it wasn't just any ordinary Pokemon.
"Swampert!" Emerging from the Digital Sea was a Subspace Swampert. With its mouth on the end of the rod, it had its massive hands wide open, ready for an attack the instant it emerged from the sea. On Swampert's back were Subspace
"A Subspace Pokemon!" Ash and Twilight collectively said, instantly knowing what type of Pokemon this was thanks to the energy. As soon as Swampert appeared, it controlled all the digital water, forming a stream that flew alongside it. The Fisherman was in awe with a wide smile on his face. Truly a spectacular catch but it wouldn't matter all of that much if he was crushed and had no one to tell about it.
Quickly, Zeraora grabbed the Fisherman, pulling him out of the way as Swampert crashed into the ground. The Digital Stream also made a splash, immediately pixelating the ground. The group watched as a part of the ground was turned into pixels, gaining an all-new look. Even Swampert carried the same ability as Gardevoir but on a smaller scale.
"A Subspace Pokemon showed up here?! How?!" Twilight gasped. Subspace Pokemon were only seen in that strange dimension and now one of them was present here.
"Pert! Swampert!" Showing aggression, this Swampert would violently roar. The roar of the Swampert wasn't like an average Swampert's roar. This one had a bit of static behind it. But it was still intimidating, prompting the fishermen to all back away. The boats here were already being affected as soon as Swampert arrived, causing quite the splash.
They watched as their boats were being turned into pixels, losing their original foundation for something filled with digital blocks. That wasn't all. Swampert had its own interaction with the pixels. By creating another stream, it started covering the land with water pixels, gradually turning everything else into this digitized texture.
"What's all of this?! Is it dangerous?!" Rainbow Dash asked while viewing it from above.
"I don't want to find out!" Twilight took flight, avoiding the incoming pixels. "Just what is all of this? Is this what Subspace Pokemon are capable of?"
By covering the ground in Digital Water, the pixels started constructing digital rocks that came sprouting out of the ground. These rocks were large enough to reach Twilight and Rainbow Dash in the air, similar to how Stone Edge can reach Flying-Types. The winged duo grimaced before quickly zipping out of the way to avoid these rocks.
"Ab...Sol!" Cutting the rocks down so they would reach the innocents was Absol, who used Night Slash to do so. However, as soon as his horn came into contact with the rocks, the Digital Energy reacted with his horn. A part of his horn was hit with a glitch. At that moment, his attack failed to properly connect. "Ab?!" The Disaster Pokemon gasped. His Night Slash was just outright ignored. Thus, Absol took the hit, receiving repeated blows from the rising stones.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" However, Pikachu managed to get a hit off against the rising rocks after they knocked Absol aside. He destroyed one of them with a powerful swing and immediately went on to the next. But as soon as he destroyed the second rock, the third rock would also perform a glitch. "Pika!"
"What the!?" Ash cried out as Pikachu was then hit by this one rock that ignored his Iron Tail. He wasn't sure why the first and second rocks managed to take damage but the third was invulnerable. Pikachu slid back, growling at the bizarre rocks.
"Zera...Ora!" Putting a stop to their movements from a distance was Zeraora. She unleashed plasma against the Digital Stones, however, some of them were ignored by these glitches yet again. Thankfully, Zeraora kept up a consistent stream of it just so that each of these rocks would take continuous damage. Just like that, they had been destroyed.
"It was a like glitch from a video game!" Rainbow Dash pointed out. "It just ignored here and there!"
"That makes sense...But how'd it show up here?" Ash pondered. But right now, he had to worry about stopping the Subspace Swampert as soon as possible. And unfortunately, Swampert wasn't alone.
Emerging from the Digital Seas were other Subspace Pokemon. A Subspace Lanturn, Lumineon, Swanna and other Water-Types appeared, cloaked in that Subspace energy. The Fishermen would be so elated if their lives weren't in jeopardy. Obviously, these Pokemon were very hostile at the moment.
It was quite the sight to behold even if it boasted plenty of danger. Ash and the others wished to reach the Diamond Domain as soon as possible, but it seemed like they would be behind, occupied by the situation happening around this small fishing community. Just past those seas was the extended path that would help them get to Allearth Forest, but they couldn't leave during this crucial moment.
However, unbeknownst to them, Daybreaker's group was going through the same thing. Thanks to Twilight Luminaria, they were lagging behind as well, unable to immediately head to the Diamond Domain. Both sides were essentially going against Gardevoir, who was currently losing it and going mad with power. Not uncommon, but the reasoning behind it was different from before.
Tropezete Town.
Back at Tropezete Town, Celestia and Luna were taking in all the information Nadya's parents managed to receive during their time as hostages at the Pokemon Black Market. Quite a juicy amount of information came their way and the majority of it involved Hunter J's work with Team Plasma.
"What?! His own kingdom?!" Celestia gasped. News about Ghetsis' own kingdom finally reached her. The Harmonia Kingdom was now present in Celestia's mind.
"I could've sworn I heard something like that during my last encounter with him..." Luna thought for a moment. This was ringing a bell but she never got any further context or anything else involved with it afterwards. She was defeated by Ghetsis right afterwards after all.
"That's what we heard." Nadya's mother said. "Hunter J and her group have been finding new resources from that kingdom."
"Most likely from Colress and the minds of Team Plasma," Luna spoke. "But how? How do they get so much back even after we topple plenty of their resources? Especially with our worlds united, they should be struggling to do so with no other gateways to use."
"A lot of the items from the Pokemon Black Market come from the Harmonia Kingdom. But we don't know where it is though." Alas, Nadya's father and her mother couldn't tell where the kingdom was located. But Celestia already had an inkling. Knowing Ghetsis, he would like to stay in the Unova Region.
Taking a deep breath, Celestia gathered enough information from the family that she could take home with her and decide on future plans. "Alright. Thank you for sharing with us. In the meanwhile, you all should probably get away from Tropezete Town for a little while."
"Why's that?" Nadya asked.
"Your town has lost a gigantic majority of its light. Even with your home still having light, you won't be able to survive at all. You need light otherwise your body clock will be thrown out of sync with a lack of light around." The Moon Princess explained. "The Pokemon Festival is how you can truly get out. The same goes for everyone else living here in Tropezete."
"Is there a way to get our light back? Surely there is. I mean, we don't know much about Necrozma but..." said Nadya's mother.
"I'm sorry. I don't know if there is a way." Alas, Celestia couldn't give a positive answer. "But...I'll see what I can do. For now, we should get going before Necrozma absorbs more light. Let's hurry and catch up, Luna."
It was time for the Princesses to depart. But little did they know, they weren't behind at all. Due to Gardevoir's actions, both groups were stuck in one place at the moment, unable to advance towards Allearth Forest and straight to the Diamond Domain. At this rate, the land around them might be altered to the point where reaching their destination may become unrecognizable.
Kalos. Lunice Hills. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
By this point, the Moon had risen the aesthetic of the night complimented the Digital Energy that was currently present. Here at this small Fishermane community, a Subspace Swampert along with a few other Subspace Water Pokemon had appeared. This was the result of Gardevoir losing control.
If they were to reach the Diamond Domain, they had to get past this Digital Debacle. But even Daybreaker's group was going through the same thing, if not a worse version of it. The Digital Particles lit up the night sky, covering some of the stars from everyone's sight.
"How are we gonna reach the Diamond Domain with this in our way?!" Rainbow Dash questioned. As soon as she asked that, one of the Subspace Swanna flapped its wings, sending Digital Particles her way. The pegasus screeched before quickly zipping to the side but the effects of this energy kicked in once more.
They once again caused a glitch that allowed the particles to reach Rainbow Dash. They ignored their current position, snapping to another. Caught by surprise, Rainbow Dash was smacked in the face by these particles. She spun through the air before recollecting herself.
"Swampert!" Swampert would attack next, using Hydro Pump from its mouth. This Hydro Pump was immediately surrounded by those Digital Particles, which meant that there was a high chance for it to glitch.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...Chuuu!" Unleashing 100,000 volts of energy from his body was Pikachu, who intercepted the incoming Thunderbolt. Coming into contact with the Digital Water, it had the usual reaction when these two elements combined, but with a twist. Thunderbolt fizzled for a moment, having a unique reaction with the Digital Energy that scrambled it for a moment. It was beginning to turn into a bunch of pixels, losing its original form.
However, Pikachu managed to push through, destroying the Digital Water in the process. The pixels then fell before scattering, racing towards Ash and his group. The Fishermen were already fleeing the scene, not wanting to be caught up in this mess at all. But alas, the mess would come for them either way.
"Eve, use Dazzling Gleam on them!
"Esp!" By unleashing rainbows from her body, they transformed into rays, destroying the pixels before tey could get any further. In this state, they were noticeably weaker after being split up from their original form.
"We can probably beat them but how do we deal with the sea!? It's all over the place!" Rainbow Dash was more fixated on the sea and how it had been digitized. Right now, it was not safe to cross it.
"I saw it freak out when it touched Pikachu's Thunderbolt. Do you think Electricity could work?" Ash asked.
"Of course it can work. Anything digital is connected to electricity. But that would mean we'd have to unleash it on the water and any Pokemon living there could be hurt." But Twilight couldn't take the risk. "And they don't look like they want to leave the sea anytime soon."
They had an answer thanks to common knowledge but the solution would be hard to achieve considering that there were still Pokemon living in those seas. And the Subspace Pokemon knew this for a fact. They purposefully stayed in the water, except for Swampert, who was out in the open. But that didn't matter since Swampert was still a Ground-Type. Ash and Twilight knew that much about Subspace Pokemon after all.
Taking advantage of this, the many Water-Types unleashed a swarm of pixels in the form of different attacks, sending them straight at Ash's group. Everyone had to brace themselves for this massive swarm, but Twilight would simply put up a shield. Conjuring up a protection spell, a massive barrier was formed the second the pixels approached.
Upon contact, the pixels interacted with Twilight's barrier, disrupting its natural form. They were digitizing it, turning every bit of its magical essence into Digital Energy. The Princess of Friendship gasped as her shield was changing its properties, no longer being completely stable.
Once it was all turned into pixels, it backfired on her. The pixels would combust, engulfing Twilight in the process. But these pixel explosions didn't just knock Twilight back. They also affected her body. The young alicorn had a part of her body turned into pixels because of this contact, starting from her right hoof to a bit of her wings.
"Gah!" Twilight was shocked to see what became of small parts of her body. While she wasn't in any pain, it was rather perplexing.
"Twilight! Are you alright?!" Ash asked.
"I-I'm okay! I think..." She held her hoof out, seeing how digitized it became. Some of it even surrounded her right eye and that certainly threw Twilight for a loop. From only her right eye, half of her vision was obstructed. One half was normal while the other showed everything in a different light.
She immediately saw the environment around her as digital which was very much odd. Twilight stumbled back, trying to find some balance with this other vision. Her friends found themselves at a bit of a standstill. If there was a way to ensure the safety of the Pokemon living underwater, they would take it. But as of now, they didn't have a way to do so.
The same can be said for Daybreaker's group. Their challenge was much harder since they were dealing with the source of the issue. Gardevoir. But despite having the harder challenge, the solution was far easier for them since it all it would take to stop this would be to defeat Gardevoir. However, that would also prove to be troublesome.
Gardevoir had managed to summon more Subspace Pokemon, further boosting her numbers and spreading the Digital Danger further. Some Combee had already left a while ago and if this keeps up, more and more Subspace Pokemon will have the chance to show up everywhere else.
By this point, a majority of Second Wind's troops have been digitized as their bodies became pixels, allowing for Garevoir to siphon their Aura. Daybreaker's troops were still around but they were just as vulnerable in this Pixelated Pandemonium.
"Appear! Necrozma!" Daybreaker launched the Poke Ball into the air, summoning her Necrozma into the fray. Second Wind still had her Unown while Hunter J had her own Pokemon that spoke for themselves. Currently, they were all in the air, above the pixel ground which was rather fragile.
Necrozma was only here to absorb light, as always. And the second he saw the Subspace Pokemon, a golden opportunity struck. Necrozma could already sense the light energy comingfrom the Subspace Pokemon, especially with all thesep ixels around. As long as it had light of some sort, Necrozma could take it for himself.
"I'll ignore all of the Pokemon and go straight for Gardevoir." Daybreaker ordered. "The sooner we stop her the better. But I'm trusting you all to keep these strange Pokemon in check."
"Who needs trust when I'm guaranteed to stay unharmed throughout the whole thing." Second Wind bragged, prompting Daybreaker to roll her eyes.
"Necrozma! Let's-" Before Daybreaker could finish her sentence, she was suddenly hit with a message. A message from Necrozma. As soon as he unleashed his cry, it resonated with Daybreaker as she instantly read it. "You want to absorb these Pokemon?" She translated.
Ever since last time, Daybreaker and Necrozma have grown to a point where they could understand each other better, even by communicating with certain cries. Already, Daybreaker understood what Necrozma wanted and while she would like to defeat Gardevoir first to quickly end the problem, she did promise Necrozma one thing.
To give him as much light as he wants and right now, there was a goldmine right in front of him. It would be a waste to stop here. "I understand. Very well. We'll take the light from these Pokemon before anything else!" Daybreaker put on a devious smile as she almost skipped out on something truly valuable. What better way to grow Necrozma's power than right now?
The Prism Pokemon advanced, approaching the Subspace Pokemon that appeared before him. The Subspace Pyroar from before lunged at Necrozma, only to be slashed by a Shadow Claw in a second. Pyroar cried out as this was then followed by a strong grab from the Psychic-Type.
"P-Py!" Pryroar roared as Necrozma's powerful grip clutched his entire middle body, restraining him. Right now, he was just food for Necrozma. As for what happens when a Subspace Pokemon loses it's light, that was about to be discovered fairly soon and Necrozma couldn't wait. He immediately started absorbing the light energy of the Subspace Pokemon, feeding on this Digital Power from a Lost Universe.
Pyroar's Subspace Energy could be seen vanishing before everyone's eyes. He was losing his glow as it was all entering Necrozma's body instead. The result was a flare of Subspace Energy exuding from Necrozma. This was a new sensation for it.
Much like how absorbing the light from the Sea Temple Crystals felt unique, so did the Subspace Energy. After Pyroar's energy was completely stripped away from him, he fizzled out, returning as pixels. However, those pixels also ended up entering Necroza's body in the end. Witnessing this, the other Subspace Pokemon took action, attempting to avenge Pyroar.
"Prismatic Laser!" Focusing on the other Pokemon that were approaching him from the side, Necrozma's body would flash for a moment, releasing multiple rays of light. These Pokemon were blasted out of the sky by the lasers, falling immediately. The Prismatic Lasers also managed to power through the pixels, crushing them.
The Unown would support Necrozma, unleashing Hidden Power down on these Subspace Pokemon. Rays of red light came crashing down on the Subspace Pokemon, clashing with their Digital Energy.
"This is excellent. To think I almost skipped out on these. But I can use it eventually once Gardevoir is subdued. Dragon Claw once more!"
"Salamence, use Hyper Beam!"
"Hidden Power!" Soon, with the combined might of Necrozma's absorption, the Unown and Salamence, they were able to push back against the Subspace Pokemon and their many numbers. Necrozma was stronger than ever after absorbing that energy, meaning it would be easier for him to down his enemies.
His Shadow Claw took out an Orbeetle, who attempted to bombard the Psychic-Type with repeated Bug Buzzes, only for them to be sliced apart by the Shadow Claw. Necrozma could easily fit Orbeetle in his claws, allowing him to immediately such the light away from this Subspace Variant. One arm was available, which would soon unleash Gravity.
A strong pressure of Gravity was formed above the opposing Pokemon, weighing them down. Those in the air were forced to the ground, crashing into the pixels which would bounce and scatter immediately.
Sensing a strong resistance, Gardevoir would tap into yet another power that she has yet to experiment with. Until now. Summoning one of the portals by her side thanks to the Magical Aura, she immediately went for the next energy she hasn't yet tried out. Gardevoir wasn't thinking about what it would be. Instead, she would go with the flow.
But this time, it was something she could actually grab without any issue. The energy in question was an Esoteric-like substance. Gardevoir ripped it out, wielding the wobbly energy. After unlocking a new type of power, she didn't hesitate to unleash it on her targets and the first ones would be Unown.
She sent the Esoteric Energy forward as it managed to envelop many of the Unown. Right as they were about to use Hidden Power once more, they found themselves being trapped within an ectoplasm-like bubble. They were stopped in their tracks as Gardevoir manipulated the extra-planar energy residing in the world.
"Huh?! What is this?!" Second Wind questioned once her Unown were stopped.
"it's Esoteric Magic!" Daybreaker recognized it. "Or at least something related to it. She was already pulling from an outside force that was never hers, but now she truly is tapping into something beyond our world."
As soon as she found something new, Gardevoir then used this mystical power against Necrozma. She expanded the Esotectic bubbles around the Unown, sending them straight for the Prism Pokemon.
"Get out of there, Necrozma! Before it-" But it was too late for Daybreaker to warn him. The energy was merged with the Digital Energy for a split moment, allowing the Esoteric Energy to glitch. Thanks to these glitching capabilities, it reached Necrozma much sooner.
The Psychic-Type was soon struck by the energy, not only taking a hard hit but feeling the main effects. Necrozma's body was outright inversed. All that darkness that filled his body thanks to living in solitude for so long was reversed for every bit of light that he absorbed.
The Prism Pokemon cried out as all of the Light Energy he's ever absorbed was now his outer body and fully exposed instead of residing in him. From the Sea Temple Crystals, random Pokemon, to the Subspace Energy. It was all flashing everywhere, much like a prism. But even though this gave Necrozma a new look, the reality was that it was harming him. All of this light shouldn't be outside and neither should his body be inverse.
"Necrozma!" Daybreaker bellowed out of pure shock. But Gardevoir wasn't done. She further manipulated the outer twilight in his body, bringing it straight towards her. After all, all of this energy was related to the Aura and it was easily up for grabs. Everything Necrozma took for himself was about to be taken by Gardevoir instead.
Back with Ash's group, Twilight was still unable to see properly. With one half being digital, it was difficult for the Princess of Friendship to move around. She almost fell over, only for Rainbow Dash to catch her.
"S-Sorry...But I can't see straight at the moment. Everything's all..." She groaned while being held up by Rainbow Dash. Not only was everything digital to her, but the Subspace Pokemon were even more obscured than before. They already had quite the glow to them, but now, they might as well be bodies of light. The young alicorn attempted to flap her wings, only to feel them move at a slower pace. It's not that they were damaged, it was just that Twilight's wings weren't flapping as fast as she wanted them too.
Her hoof was also stuttering repeatedly at a rapid pace but it wouldn't help her move fast at all. Getting by that Digital explosion certainly brought a massive drawback that rendered her weak at that moment. Ironic, since this was technically something she should be used to due to Twilight Luminaria's connection with her.
"We've got only one way of doing this." Ash dug into is pockets, taking out five Poke Balls. If he wanted to stop this mess, getting the Pokemon out of the sea was the first objective. But he wasn't focusing on the Pokemon casually living underwater. Instead, he was focusing on the Subspace Pokemon. "Bulbasaur! Bayleef! Sceptile! Leavanny! Snivy! Help me out here."
"Bulbasaur!" Five of Ash's Pokemon were summoned. Out of all his Pokemon, these ones had the best reach. All thanks to the vines that naturally come with them. On top of that, Grass-Types had a natural advantage over Water-Types and Leavanny had one move that would be long enough.
"Get all of them out of the water! Use your vines! Leavanny, use String Shot!"
"Sceptile!" Starting off before anyone else was Sceptile, holding his arms out and summoning a long vine directed at the Water-Types. Quickly getting in his way was that aggressive Swampert, who knocked the vine to the side. "Scep?!"
"Swamp!"
"You won't let us through...we'll force our way through then!" Ash narrowed his eyes. "Help me out here! Eve! Absol! Since Twilight was struggling at the moment, Ash would take the helm and have Absol and Espeon support him. "Hold Swampert down with Psychic! Absol! Move in with Night Slash! Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Pika!" A full team effort from Ash's friends. Leavanny's String Shot was finally unleashed, flying alongside the Mouse Pokemon and the Disaster Pokemon. The Water Pokemon were already prepared to disrupt this with their Digital Energy.
"Castform, use Energy Ball!"
"Cast!" Flying out of Rainbow Dash's saddlebag was Castform, who immediately unleashed an Energy Ball from above. And he wasn't alone. Assisting him with Zeraora who moved so fast that he went ahead of everyone else. Zeraora used Close Combat, striking Swampert directly with a fierce and swift blow to the face, followed up by a super-effective Energy Ball.
"S-Swamp!" Thanks to this staggering blow from Zeraora and Castform, Espeon was able to hold the Water-Ground-Type down with a mental hold. This would set up Pikachu and Absol for the follow-up. Pikachu swept Swampert's legs with Iron Tail, sending it upwards while Absol leapt into the air.
"Sol!" The Dark-Type slashed past the Subspace Swampert, dealing heavy damage to it. Thanks to this coordination, this allowed the vines and string to pass by without any interruption. However, the other Water-Types were about to let them land so easily. They would each unleash their digital particles at the vines and string that came their way and they obviously outnumbered them.
"Blind them! Eve! Pikachu!"
"Esp!" But Ash was prepared for this, having one way to ensure that his Pokemon managed to succeed. After sweeping Swampert's leg, Pikachu leapt into the air, brightening his body with a brilliant flash of electricity. Joining him was Espeon who ended up using Dazzling Gleam. Successfully, they managed to blind the opposing Subspace Pokemon.
Such a surprise attack allowed the vines and string to wrap around the Subspace Pokemon. And now that they had a hold of them, they would immediately start pulling them out. Sceptile and Leavanny had splendid strength, allowing them to rip Swanna and Lanturn out of the water.
The first two were removed and pulled out of the water. Bulbasaur, despite his size, was packing plenty of strength which was shown by how he removed Lumineon out of the Water. Bayleef would do the same as this plan was looking to be a success. The first few Water-Types were stripped from the Digital Sea and thrown onto land instead. But there was still a bit more of them to remove.
Seeing that Ash's group found a solution to this, the Subspace Pokemon had to up their game. They once again tried the same trick that managed to get Twilight. Just throw a large stream of Digital Wter at them. Without an alicorn to protect them from the fierce and large stream, this was sure to affect them more than Twilight.
Ash and the group braced themselves as a tsunami of Digital Water was summoned because of this unified strength. They used all the pixels they could to make it as large as possible. Already, the water was showing signs of glitching, meaning that it had either a high chance to reach its targets quicker or even ignore any evasion of protection.
Pikachu flared his red sacs with electricity while Zeraora simply emitted plasma from her body. If only she could go all out with it right now. All the Fishermen managed to get far from the mess, but the way things were developing, it might catch up with them eventually.
That is until extra help arrived. Holding back the massive Digital Wave was a magical grasp. Two of them to be exact. One that resembled the beautiful Golden Sun and the other resembling the Night Sky. Ash recognized those magical colours anywhere. By looking up, he saw that Celestia and Luna had arrived.
Due to what was happening, it wasn't that hard for them to catch up at all. They didn't have to worry about moving as fast as possible to find Ash's group when they were still here at the Lunice Hills. With them using their magic together, both of them easily surpassed Twilight and moved the large Digital Stream back.
"You didn't go far at all." said Celestia. "What happened here though?"
This gave Ash and his friends the opportunity to follow up from here and successfully solve the issue. Twilight put on a smile even with her digitized face. She was still inactive at the moment, struggling to even stand up properly. And yet, something about this felt familiar to her but she couldn't handle it at all.
Necrozma was immobile because of this, especially since his body couldn't handle this bizarre inverse. Daybreaker took flight, deciding to get physically involved with this one. She would unleash her Solar Magic, sending a bright flare that immediately intercepted Gardevoir's energy.
Gardevoir growled at this retaliation, not wanting Daybreaker to ruin this for her. She needed this Aura all to herself. In response, she used the Digital Energy right at Daybreaker from her other arm. Just as the fiery beam clashed with Gardevoir's Esoteric rays, the Digital Energy would fly in, striking the Solar Queen.
However, the Digital Energy would suddenly burn up. The sheer heat of Daybreaker's own Aura burned it away, eliminating the pixels. They could not handle this heat as it felt like the Sun itself was hitting them. Daybreaker had a constant heat around her body after all and even though it was passive, it was an excellent defence.
After eliminating the energy that tried to tackle her, Daybreaker strengthed her Solar Ray, causing it to burn through the Esoteric Rays. Gardevoir tried holding it back as there was a mild struggle. The two sides were viciously struggling to win this clash, but only one would emerge victorious.
"Hyper Beam!"
"Sala!" Salamence would be the one to assist Daybreaker, unleashing Hyper Beam directly at the Embrace Pokemon. Gardevoir was soon engulfed by the fierce blast of Infinity Energy. This allowed Daybreaker to also land her own beam, dealing extra damage to the Psychic-Fairy-Type
This deleted the Esoteric Energy that held the Unown in place along with Necrozma. However, Necrozma was still suffering from his body being inversed. He could at least move this time, albeit with immense pain. Necrozma had to force himself to move with everything being inversed for him.
But that was nothing the Unown couldn't handle. As soon as they broke free, they used their Hidden Power on the Prism Power. With their unified strength, the Unown managed to return Necrozma's body back to normal. All of the lights around him were sucked back in, bringing back his dark exterior while keeping everything bright within.
"Hah...Aaahh..." At that moment, Gardevoir started breathing in and out, holding her head in pain. Clearly, while she was elated to obtain Aura at an easier rate, she wanted to do it of her own volition.
"Twilight Luminaria! If you can hear me, you should stop at once!" Daybreaker yelled at Gardevoir, hoping to reach Twilight Luminaria. "To think you're keeping this up after we defeated you back in the Mindscape!"
"I love this...But not like this...!" Gardevoir groaned, expressing how wonderful this was but also horrible. Twilight Luminaria was obviously doing this to satisfy Gardevoir's urges but with a drawback. This would ensure that Daybreaker's group would be defeated and by the end of it, Gardevoir would fall right afterwards.
"She's at least managing to speak and gain some control at least. Keep her steady and we'll finish her off at once." Second Wind ordered.
The Unown were already on it, attempting to use Hidden Power to restrain Gardevoir. Getting their way were the Subspace Pokemon who were still around. Even though they managed to land a hit on Gardevoir, the Subspace Pokemon were still an issue that had yet to be dealt with.
Necrozma, after being freed, was seething with rage. To feel that sort of pain was unforgivable in his eyes. In response, Necrozma went straight for Gardevoir, ignoring everyone else. The rage he was feeling had to be quelled and the only way to do so was by crushing Gardevoir.
"Wait! Necrozma!" Daybreaker gasped after seeing Necrozma going straight for Gardevoir. The Embrace Pokemon looked at her fellow Psychic-Type with a distressed face before shifting expressions once Twilight Luminaria's influence returned. This prompted her to use Dark Pulse against Necrozma, but it was greatly elevated thanks to the Digital Energy and Esoteric Energy.
Necrozmoa would gladly take this on. His rage would support his strength, allowing him to crash right into the Dark Pulse. And when doing so, Necrozma began absorbing it. He was already used to absorbing the Digital Energy since it was similar to what the Subspace Pokemon possess but the Esoteric Energy was very different.
However, it wasn't anything that Necrozma couldn't absorb. As long as it has light, Necrozma can claim it after all. There was a bit of a struggle though. Necrozma was attempting to push through Gardevoir's attack while continuously absorbing it while Gardevoir was rather intimidated by how close Necrozma was.
But by gaining power just by being around the attack, Necrozma won eventually. Stronger than ever thanks to everything he's absorbed, he managed to land a Shadow Claw. Breaking through the darkness, he slashed past Gardevoir, landing a super-effective blow.
The Embrace Pokemon took the full force of it as the impact was followed up by an outburst of Digital Energy. To Daybreaker and everyone's surprise, Necrozma incorporated Digital Energy into that attack. Already, he learned to use it as well. That surprising combination is what put this to rest.
Gardevoir's pupils vanished as she immediately fainted, causing her to fall. The Digital and Esoteric Energy around her would vanish, leading to the end of this struggle. The Embrace Pokemon's defeat correlated with the surrounding area. Even though she had lost, the Subspace Pokemon did not vanish. Instead, they were just weakened.
Greatly weakened. They could feel their strength fail them in a heartbeat the second Gardevoir fainted. They did not fizzle out but they were lacking a huge Ooomp to them. Quickly, Daybreaker would catch Gardevoir before she could suffer a hard fall since the ground was returning to normal. No longer was it flooded with pixels everywhere.
Necrozma's rage secured victory for Daybreaker's group, even if he ignored Daybreaker despite her being his Trainer. Daybreaker looked up at the Prism Pokemon, glad that he put an end to this. But yet again, there were times were Necrozma would do his own thing, even if this was a minor instance.
By extension, Twilight Luminaria was stopped once more. Daybreaker was hoping that it was for good this time. The energies that Twilight Luminaria was once possessed were rather impressive, but also dangerous for even Gardevoir to go wild with them. She never even acted like this with Aura, even if she was still cruel.
All that was left was to deal with the opposing Subspace Pokemon and unfortunately for these unique variants, they would be prey for Necrozma. The Prism Pokemon slowly descended, gazing at all of them with malicious intent and unbridled hunger as the journey continues.
Kalos. Lunice Hills. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
With the defeat of Gardevoir, instead of all the Subspace Pokemon disappearing, they were simply weakened instead. However, the Digital Sea fizzled out. In the end, Daybreaker's group ended up helping out Celestia's group by doing this, making the seas safe again. Not even the presence of some of these Subspace Pokemon was enough to digitize it once more. They were vastly weakened.
"Check it out..." Rainbow Dash gawked at the Digital Energy fading away from the Sea. Her friends struggled to find a way to reverse this and were only fixated on getting the Pokemon out of the sea. But now, they would have an easier time since the seas were no longer digitized, making them safe. "What do you think happened?"
"No clue. But we can work with this." Ash saw this as a golden opportunity either way. "Are ya doing better, Twilight?"
"It's not going away though..." Twilight groaned as the pixels around her were still present. One half of her vision was still obscured and her balance was greatly disturbed.
"Perhaps if we defeat them all..." Celestia faced Twilight before looking back at the Subspace Pokemon. These Pokemon from another dimension, even when weakened, continue to go on the offensive.
"Thunderbolt!" In unison, Ash, Celestia and Luna shouted, prompting their Pokemon to collectively unleash electrifying blasts. 100,000 volts from the three of them were summoned, which added up to 300,000 volts. Synchronized, three bolts were unleashed upon the opposing Subspace Pokemon.
The Water-Types that were on land were immediately struck by the volts, reverting to pixels, vanishing out of thin air.
"They vanished?" Luna gasped. "Are they returning to where they came from?"
"Perhaps. Either they can't continue to terrorize the area. Passion! Approach with Thunderbolt!"
"Garde!" The Embrace Pokemon took flight, summoning lightning in her hands. The Swanna attempted to stop her by flapping their wings, generating Pixel Storms. With her eyes narrowing, Gardevoir released a flash of magic from her body that would clash against the Digital Storm. It helped her tear through the storm, getting closer to the opposing Pokemon.
"Swanna!" The Swanna were then struck by the Thunderbolt via an up-close interaction. The lightning would scatter, hitting all of the Swanna with a chain reaction. Each of these Swanna vanished as pixels once more. Right after defeating them, she was already being attacked from the side by a Crawdaunt and Clawitzer.
"Electroweb!"
"Chu...Pika!" Saving Gardevoir was Pikachu with an Electroweb from above. He slammed the net of lightning down onto the two Pokemon, pinning them down. By doing so, they would also vanish. Pikachu would then jump back the second the opposing Swampert tried grabbing onto him, attempting to spread this digital infection.
"Castform, use Energy Bal!"
"Form!" Keeping his distance, Castform would use Energy Ball to snipe the Swampert, sending it back with super-effective damage. Swampert was still rather durable, proving to be the juggernaut out of all of these Subspace Pokemon. Raising its arm, it would go in for a Focus Punch on the Mouse Pokemon.
"Sceptile! Leaf Blade!"
"Tile!" Along came Ash's Sceptile with Leaf Blade. He slashed past Swampert at breakneck speeds. Swampert soon fell, disappearing as pixels. By the time it realized that it was too late to make a counterattack. It tried grabbing Sceptile's tail, only to vanish.
Just like that, all of the Subspace Pokemon had been defeated. Pixels appeared and dispersed. Unintentionally, Celestia and Daybreaker's group worked together to defeat a common foe. Ironically, it was from someone who was on the side of Daybreaker and another who was connected to Twilight Sparkle.
"Hah..." Speaking of whom, by defeating the Subspace Pokemon, Twilight's affliction fizzled out. Her eyesight returned to normal and so did the speed of her wingbeat and hoof. Rainbow Dash could finally let go of her. "Thanks..."
The Fishermen witnessed the end of this Digital Danger that would've consumed and pixelized them. Twilight only got a taste of it. Celestia sighed after steering this issue away but she wasn't exactly sure what caused it or where it came from at all.
"Perhaps...could Daybreaker's group be behind this? The timing makes too much sense after all." Luna immediately resorted to Daybreaker's alliance.
"Maybe. If so, that's just another reason why we must stop them. Where did such a power come from?" Celestia could only ponder at the moment.
"I don't know but...It felt familiar." Twilight walked over. "Even though it was so strange when I first saw and took a hit from it, a part of me recognized it in some way. It didn't feel that obscure to me."
"It didn't. Why?" Luna asked.
"I want to believe it's because of Twilight Luminaria's soul within me. There's no other reason I can think of. And if that's the case, it couldn't be Daybreaker."
"No. It was." Celestia suddenly said. "After you mentioned her name, that confirms it. When we stayed behind with Nadya's Parents for a while, they shared a lot of with us. One minor thing that we got was the scenario that happened at the Black Market prior to our arrival. She told us about how Gardevoir was promptly taken over by her."
"We didn't think too much of it. " Luna grumbled. "But now..."
Celestia feared that Daybreaker was achieving greater strengths, even some that come from this lost universe which is said to boast plenty of power. She was hoping that was the only power she obtained and nothing else. But for now, she could only hope and that was all.
For now, they had to continue to the Diamond Domain before Daybreaker's group potentially gets there first.
"Ugh..." Speaking of Gardevoir, she was on the ground, groaning in pain after what just happened. She still had memories of that entire scenario and how it played out. Standing over here was Daybreaker along with Second Wind, who had her Unown around Gardevoir just in case she was still being influenced by Twilight Luminaria.
The troops of Second Wind who were previously turned into pixels returned to normal once Gardevoir was defeated. Their Auras were still stolen but at least they still had their bodies. It couldn't be far worse than they expected.
"Oooh...I can't believe she got the better of me again."
"Twice in a row so consistently is rare. And you're supposed to be an expert when it comes to the mind since you're a Psychic-Type. How did you let it happen again?"
"I don't know..." Gardevoir sighed. "I was sure I'd have the advantage. But her magic is something else. The power it has might be beyond my own." The Embrace Pokemon could also feel the level of power that she had to wrestle with. Even though Twilight Luminaria wasn't at full strength and she was currently sealed away. the fact that she boasted so much influence was staggering.
"Well, from now on, you'll have to be less active if we're to get this under control," Daybreakear ordered.
"Huh?! What?!" Gardevoir unleashed a bellowing gasp and scream before standing up.
"We can't trust you to start using whatever energy you discover next when Twilight Luminaria could influence you again. And she might succeed. Whatever power it ends up being, it could be difficult for us to overcome. I can't take that chance." Daybreaker shook her head, being adamant being about her decision.
"B-But...What about the Diamond Domain?! I can at least still absorb the Aura, right?! You can't forbid me from my urges! Much like Necrozma, I need to survive on Aura."
"No, you don't." Daybreaker shut her down in an instant. "Necrozma's life depends on absorbing light. You are merely absorbing Aura because you fear the day you pass on. The two of you are very different when it comes to your goals, but I still agreed to help you. I will not starve you of Aura, but we will had to do it sparingly and with caution. You can go days without absorbing any Aura, especially with the lifespan you've gained."
"Tch." Gardevoir grit her teeth, annoyed and irritated by Daybreaker's decision. But she was not wrong. Even Gardevoir knew she couldn't properly control it yet since she was influenced by Twilight Luminaria twice. The Aura Vampire would have to skip out on a consistent Aura-absorbing streak.
There was only one bright side to this. The Aura from the Diamond Domain was up for grabs but after that, she would be exempt from absorbing Aura for a while. They had to continue moving to the Diamond Domain, but they were completely unaware of Ash's group who were also heading there with shortcuts to their advantage.
Allearth Forest.
Allearth Forest.
A sprawling woodland with towering ancient trees that filter the moonlight into dappled shadows on the forest floor. The air is heavy with the scent of moss and damp earth, carrying the occasional chirp of an unseen Flying-Type. Naturally, since it was nightfall, many of these Pokemon were asleep with only a few currently active such as Noibat, Noivern and Noctowl.
After crossing the sea that once was Digital and travelling further across the land, Ash and his group arrived at the Allearth Forest first. This was thanks to Ash knowing some shortcuts and this helped them beat Daybreaker's group to the forest and by extension, the Diamond Domain.
"So, where's the Diamond Domain?" Rainbow Dash asked, searching for an inkling of diamonds. The Diamond Domain was supposed to be near the Allearth Forest after all.
"It's somewhere nearby. Been a while since I've been there but I still know where it is. It'll be easy to find it since this is where Xerneas is resting."
"Wait, really? Xerneas is resting here?" Twilight uttered. "How do you know it came to rest here?"
"Well, it's not the same Xerneas. It's a different one that decided to rest here." But Ash quickly revealed that this was not the same Xerneas. "We shouldn't wake it up. Xerneas only wakes up when it needs to after all."
"Ain't that the truth...You two told me it showed up right after Yveltal destroyed everything. Talk about timing" Rainbow Dash whistled. "Yveltal's not here too, right?"
"Nope. But you're gonna see a lot of Carbink here. Plus, you might get to see Diance for the first time. I mean...if Mew hasn't already turned into one." Ash promised them a truly wonderful sight. And they could count on it since Ash doesn't disappoint with his locations.
Speaking of locations, they could gawk at the beautiful forest for what it was while they approached the Diamond Domain. The massive waterfalls were something to behold. They were titanic yet sparkling. Ash noticed how there were now diamond sparkles coming from the waterfalls which even surprised him. Those weren't there before.
Then again, it's been quite a few years or so since Ash has last been here during his Kalos journey. It was only natural for certain areas to undergo changes. Allearth Forest wasn't an exception. These diamonds would perfectly fall down with the water, sending sparkles with each passing second.
"Hoh..." Slowing down and taking the time to sit down was Twilight. Clearly, she was still feeling the effects of what just happened back at Lunice Hills.
"Tired? Let's take a break for now then." Celestia was willing to give them all a break. Allearth seemed like the best place to do so. "We can continue on our way later on. But let's refresh before that. Absol?"
"Sol." Absol would not only be a lookout for any potential danger thanks to his high stamina, but his horn would be able to warn them all if Daybreaker's group was nearby.
"Well...At least we know what this year's Pokemon Festival is all about." Twilight saw a theme with this year's Pokemon Festival. It seemed to be centred around counterparts this time. Prisma, Lucas, Twilight Wish, Luminaria and Daybreaker were proof of this. She was honestly surprised no other counterparts of anyone else she knows has shown up just yet. So far, it's only been confined to two of her friends and herself.
Ash would rest his head against a tree, getting comfortable with Pikachu. Everyone else got comfortable in the best way that they could. Celestia used her magic to bring some leaves over, using her magic to knit them together. Much like a Leavanny, she make a blanket of leaves with her magic, creating enough for everyone.
Luna would also stay awake, only to enter the Dream Realm to continue her job. She might even find a current dream involving Daybreaker's group. Just like that, many of them were asleep, including Zeraora.
Twilight's Dream.
Twilight already started dreaming, falling asleep faster than anyone else. And in her dream, she was back at Golden Oak Library. It was previously destroyed by Tirek but Twilight still dreams about it here and there. While she had a castle now, there was something about that library that she loved, aside from the plethora of books.
Being here brought some peace of mind whenever things got wild and today certainly has been wild as well as yesterday and the day before that.
"This is more like it..." Twilight said. She could be seen sitting in her old home, doing nothing else. Nothing fantastical was happening in her dream. She could just sit here for hours until she wakes up. But even the calmest dreams have something of interest occur.
And in Twilight's case, while sitting there with a peaceful disposition, she was starting to think of her other-self. Not Sci-Twi, Wish or Moonlight. Twilight was thinking about Twilight Luminaria. She was apparently supposed to be what Prisma is to Ash and his 9 other counterparts.
Twilight began imagining what she looked like and only went off what she knew about herself and her 3 other counterparts. A horn was the first thing to appear since all Twilights she knows about have horns. Even Sci-Twi, when she became Midnight Sparkle once.
The appearance of Luminaria was something she had to theorize about. Would she be fully grown just like Princess Celestia or even Empress Twilight or around Twilight's current appearance which was around the same height as the average pony? Twilight put on a smile, imagining the best version of herself. Based on what Scione told her, Twilight Luminaria was potentially amazing just like how Prisma was.
In front of her appeared a dream version of Twilight Luminaria who had the body but not the face. Twilight didn't wish to imagine the best version of herself with Empress Twilight's face, but that potentially had to be done. She even had to think about what the mane could possibly be. Not every Twilight had had the same mane style after all.
At that moment, when dreaming of Twilight Luminaria, she was caught off guard by what happened next. The dream projection suddenly spoke to her. "You don't have to dream about what I look like, Twilight."
"Aieeee!" She screeched as this was not what she imagined. The Princess of Friendship jittered for a moment after her own projection spoke to her. It was none other than Twilight Luminaria herself.
"Apologies. But this is the one chance I get to speak with you at last." Lo and behold, Twilight Luminaria overpowered Twilight's dream and spoke through this projection.
"Y-You're here? Are you really her?" Twilight stammered. "How did you hijack my dream? Or is this technically your dream too?"
"I am. And you need to listen carefully. My soul is within you and four others, much like Prisma's. I haven't had the chance to speak with any of you all. You've only felt me in small instances."
"I...have. Pretty recently actually during the Pokemon Festival. It happened on the Ghost Train first. Wait. Did you say four?" Twilight didn't mishear things. Twilight Luminaria said four others instead of three. Obviously, Sci-Twi, Twilight Wish and Twilight Moonlight were involved but apparently, there was another. Another that Twilight wasn't aware of
"Have you been focusing on stopping Prisma?"
"Well, I've been thinking of it, but I don't have much to go off about him. He's also pretty mysterious even if I know a lot about him." Twilight admitted. "But for now, I don't think he's going to show up anytime soon. Me and my friends are focusing on stopping his revival. Is it bad if he actually returns?"
"Yes. I'm afraid so. Your friend Ash cannot allow a part of Prisma's soul to show up. That goes for the other 9. If he does, I may have to appear as well, but only if I can revive myself. Unlike Prisma, my revival won't be so easy. Not since our previous clash."
"You and Prisma apparently went up against each other, right? Scione told me you were the only one who could stand up to Prisma."
"I wasn't just the only one. I was the only one to battle him to a stalemate. And it was because of that stalemate that we both ended up as souls." Luminaria revealed more to it. A battle was involved and it was apparently the result of their souls being locked up. "I didn't want to resort to it but..."
Suddenly, Twilight Luminaria was beginning to pulsate. Her dream projection was fizzling out and slowly fading away. "What's wrong?!" Her smaller self asked.
"My magic still isn't as strong as it used to be. Even here in the Dream Realm, it's no use." Twilight Luminaria sighed. "I can't talk with you any longer, Twilight. Just know that I am within you. And I need you to focus on stopping Prisma. If push comes to shove, you may have to take drastic action against Ash. You-"
Those were her last words before she vanished, unable to keep her magic active any longer. Twilight Sparkle stood there absolutely stunned by what was just said. Especially that last bit. It sounded like Twilight Luminaria wanted her to one day challenge Ash, just like how Prisma was challenged by Twilight Luminaria.
"Drastic action against Ash...? That can't happen...Right?"
"Ah!" Twilight was soon woken up, letting out a gasp. Her eyes met with the beautiful night sky but she didn't wake up based on what happened. Instead, she woke up thanks to a cry from Absol.
"Sol! Absol!" Absol cried out, waking up everyone else. His horn was vibrating rapidly, letting them know that danger was afoot and very much near. Once they were awake, they shot up as soon as possible. Luna would even exit the Dream Realm at a breakneck speed along with Darkrai.
"Is it them, Absol?!" Twilight asked, blinking for a moment as she was still perplexed by Twilight Luminaria's message.
"Sol...!" Indeed it was. Absol looked up to see something in the distance. Approaching Allearth Forest was a Salamence along with some Unown. Daybreaker's group had arrived.
They had minuscule time to even sleep, allowing them to wake up fairly swiftly. But this meant that their opportunity to take a rest and relax was crushed the second their enemies showed up. At this rate, an encounter between both groups might occur. Celestia feared this encounter a bit. It would be the first time she finally comes face to face with Daybreaker.
However, this could be avoided if the Diamond Domain was protected. There was no time to waste now that Daybreaker's alliance had shown up and if they spot Celestia's group, poor Allearth Forest and by extension, Xerneas, could be the catalyst of something truly disastrous. Absol's horn said it all with how much it was shaking.
Kalos. Allearth Forest. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
Arriving here was Daybreaker's alliance. Right behind Ash's group, they were fixated on the Diamond Domain as to be expected. A place that was brimming with Light and Aura, perfect for Necrozma and Gardevoir. In the sky, they were appearing on a chariot made by the Unown and pulled by Salamence.
"They're actually here?! Okay, this is good time to-" Rainbow Dash already had an approach to this, but was quickly cut off by Princess Celestia.
"We'll warn the residents of the Diamond Domain instead. We don't want them to get caught up in all of this." Celestia ordered. "Ash! Lead the way!"
"Alright!" Ash agreed. They would not engage with Daybreaker's group, but instead, they would warn the Pokemon within the Diamond Domain since their home was being threatened. But so was the Allearth Forest. There was a high chance it could see some harm done to it, which is why they had to be quick.
Right as they all started following Ash, Zeraora stayed behind, growling at those who once captured her and forced her to be a power source. She was truly vengeful towards Daybreaker, who had Necrozma absorb the light from her world. "Ze...!"
"Zeraora! Come on!" Rainbow Dash bellowed. She knew that Zeraora would try and lash out against Daybreaker and rightfully so, but now was not the time. Zeraora could potentially end up caught once more. It could just be a repeat of the past. "I know your mad but now's not the time to take them on! I'd love to do the same but we gotta go!"
"Rrrr!" Zeraora grizzled as she was really eager to take action. But with Rainbow Dash pulling on her arm, she was forced away from her enemies. Zeraora had to leave before things spiral out of control. Daybreaker's group had not yet noticed Ash's group at all and they were planning to keep it that way, staying hidden under the beautiful trees with plenty of leaves.
The Unown were already gazing upon the land with their eyes, attempting to spot the Diamond Domain in any way. They even used Hidden Power to scope out the area. By using Hidden Power, they create a holographic map of Allearth Forest for everyone to see.
"Right here. This is where it should be." Daybreaker aimed her hoof at a purple glowing spot on this holographic map. That's where we need to be. Once we're in there, we'll have Necrozma target the diamond there. It's known as the Heart Diamond and it is absolutely brimming with Light and Aura."
"Mmm..." Gardevoir grumbled, still irritated by the fact that she couldn't absorb Aura for a while now. This will essentially be the last time she does it until she's ready.
"The Carbink that live there will try and fight back, but they won't succeed." Hunter J added. "They aren't strong enough."
"We won't need to. Necrozma is going straight to the source. But, I can trust you all to deal with anyone that will get in our way." Daybreaker shrugged. "The real challenge is Diance. I know how powerful of a Pokemon it can be. J. Do you wish to catch it?"
"Of course I do. Do you have an idea how fortunate it would be to have a Diance?" Hunter J did not hesitate. "Diamonds are incredibly valuable and to have a Pokemon that can casually generate them is an absolute steal."
"In that case, Necrozma won't go for Diance at all. Very soon, the Diamond Domain's Light and Aura will be ours." With a devious smile, Daybreaker was already prepared to call it a day, thinking that this will go by smoothly. Little did she know, her alternate self was also present here, intercepting her plans.
The Pokemon living here were not disturbed as of yet, but that wouldn't stop Hunter J from eyeing some of them down. She would glance at the kind of Pokemon that could be found here at the Allearth Forest just so they can be taken to the Pokemon Black Market.
Quietly, Ash and his group stayed hidden from Daybreaker's sight, moving under the trees mainly. When following Ash, they noticed how they were moving down a sloped area, indicating that Diamond Domain was somewhere in the lower regions of the Allearth Forest. Up ahead was a cave, but this was not where the Allearth Forest was, however, it would help in getting them there.
"Since it's a neighbour to the Allearth Forest, there's a secret underground route that gets you there faster. The Diamond Domain is near a nice looking mountain area." Ash instructed. Noticeably, the cave was rather tight, having a very limited space instead of the usual wide appearances caves usually have. Ash entered by kneeling down, forcing himself through it.
"Why is this cave so tight...?" Luna groaned when trying to squeeze herself through this cave. Celestia struggled too as well as Absol and Zeraora. Those who were rather tall had trouble getting through this cave and had to really push through. But for Twilight, Pikachu, Espeon and Rainbow Dash, they were completely fine. They were small enough to perfectly move through this cave.
On the bright side, they wouldn't have to worry about bumping into any hostile Pokemon since this cave was so uncomfortable. No Pokemon that prefers to live in caves would reside here, which is why this made it such an excellent shortcut.
"You're pushing against me, sister!" Luna bellowed as Celestia was squeezing Luna up against Ash's back. Ash grimaced as Celestia's horn poked his back. The tip of it was rather strong since it belonged to the Ruler of Equestria and Ash had to feel it for the very first time.
"Sorry...I figured you should go first since you're smaller." Celesti apologized, making Luna grumble out of embarrassment. Darkrai had it easy as well by simply travelling through the shadows. His body was completely flat in this state, ignoring the tightness of the cave. When advancing through the cave, Absol's horn would cause some damage to it. It was still shaking after all since the disaster has yet to happen.
This made some pebbles and small rubble drop on everyone's head, making this whole experience rather uncomfortable. But it had to be done. Absol could feel his horn shake even faster, confirming that things were about to escalate fairly soon. He wishes he could be outside, trying to prevent it, but he had to keep moving.
As for what was happening outside, the chariot was already lowering itself. Once Daybreaker's group spotted the diamonds flashing from the waterfalls, they knew they had to take advantage of this. Hunter J hopped out of the chariot, fixating on the Pokemon and some of the diamonds that were dropping. It was the best of both worlds for Daybreaker and J while Second Wind would simply watch.
Hunter J took out a scanner, observing the number of Pokemon in this area. Obviously, there were dozen, but she was only focused on the rarest of Pokemon. Luckily for J, there were some rare Pokemon to be found that the Pokemon Black Market would take and the diamonds over at the waterfalls spoke of themselves.
After moving through the tight cave for around an hour, Ash and his friends came across a wider area. No longer were they confined to the tight space as the cave finally opened up, appearing spacious this time. But right as they were about to advance further and enjoy the wide area of this cave, that was when they finally ran into some Pokemon Specifically, two Pokemon of one type.
"Halt!" In their way were Carbink. Using telepathy, two of these Rock-Fairy-Types halted Ash's group the second they spotted him. With serious eyes on such a cute Pokemon, they were practically guarding the rest of the cave. "Who goes there?!"
"Oh, my." Celestia peered over Ash's shoulder, spotting the Jewel Pokemon. "Are those guardian Pokemon I see and hear?"
"Hey, Carbink. Sorry for showing up so soon." Ash apologized before finally pushing through and getting some space. His shoulders were aching and his clothes were now dirty from being so close to the cave walls and ceiling.
"You..." At that moment, the two Carbink recognized Ash and Pikachu with a single glance. They knew those faces from anywhere. "It's you two! Ash and Pikachu, isn't it?"
"Yep! Good to see you all again...Uh, two of you."
"Pika-Pika!"
"Of course you'd know about them..." Luna wasn't surprised at all. Ash had connections by the dozen it seems. "Who do you not know, Ash?"
"And you've brought...ponies with you?" The Carbink Guards spotted Twilight, Rainbow, Celestia and Luna. They said it as if they haven't seen ponies all that much in this new united world. Even prior to that.
"You sound surprised to see us. What's up with that?" Rainbow Dash asked, rapidly shaking her body to let out all of the dust that had been gathered in one tight spot.
"Ze..." Zeraora grumbled as she would immediately let out a powerful sneeze due to the dust on her nose. Her sneeze was so strong, it let out a burst of lightning that almost hit the ground but fizzled in the air afterwards. "Ora..."
"I'm here with my friends to warn you about something. It's pretty urgent." Ash got straight to the point. "Unless you already know about what's coming."
"Not at all. Did something happen?"
"Well, someone's coming your way. Straight for the Diamond Domain so we had to head there as soon as possible. They're bad news. Really bad news..." Ash answered. "If they show up, the Diamond Domain could come down in no time."
"What?! If so, we must warn Princess Diancie!" The two Carbink looked at each other in unison.
"I'm sorry. Princess? Diancie is a Princess?" Rainbow Dash was a bit surprised by this. She thought that Diancie was just an an average Pokemon of myth of legend, not a princess. Usually, when a Pokemon has a role, it is either a Guardian or Keeper of something. Or even one that shares certain gifts.
"Manaphy's a prince so it's not too surprising for a Pokemon to be a ruler," Celestia answered. "Makes you wonder how many of them there are..."
"You'll have to excuse but you might not see Princess Diancie immediately." The two Carbink lowered their heads. Apparently, Diancie wouldn't be ready to speak with just to avoid the incoming disaster.
"Why? Did something happen?" Ash let out a small gasp, worried that another serious situation has come up for Diancie.
"Pika?"
"Well...This Pokemon Festival of yours caught her interest." One of the Carbink grumbled. "I believe it started 3 years ago and the Princess has been rather active in partaking in them each year."
"Oh. She's at the Pokemon Festival?" Twilight answered. "Guess she won't be here for that very reason."
"It's great that she gets to go out now, especially when it comes to enjoying this festival, but at times, she's never available when something serious occurs."
"Well, guess she's the same even after getting a new resolve!" Ash laughed as he wasn't too surprised by that. After all, he's surrounded by Princesses who would much rather get out there and explore new things than constantly sit around. He's standing behind three of them right now too.
"Mhm." The three alicorns nodded in agreement, instantly getting where Diancie was coming from, even if they've never met her yet.
"Come this way to the Diamond Domain and speak with the servants of the Diamond Domain. Merrick, Bort, Allotrope and Dace will take the Princesses's place while she is away." The Carbink Guards already allowed entry for Ash and his group. Ash and Pikachu had full access after helping Diancie in the past.
Now it was truly off to the Diamond Domain while also enjoying the open area of this cave. The Carbink Guards being out here away from their domain indicated that they were not that far from it at all. As soon by the extended tunnel in this cave that was less tight and far more forging, they might be closing in on the Diamond Domain.
The Diamond Domain.
The Diamond Domain.
At last, they arrived, moving through the final tunnel from that part of the cave. Ash and Pikachu already knew what to expect but for Twilight and the others, it would be a new experience. A beautiful underground domain with shimmering diamond pillars and towering stalactites. The air is filled with a delicate, floral fragrance that seems to seep from the very stones.
There were lakes that unleashed beautiful shimmers that matched the glorious shine of the diamond pillars. Present here were the many Carbink that call this place home. Twilight gawked at these lakes as there were even diamond stairways. Platforms of diamonds fare and wide. This was more than just a cave.
Not much has changed since Ash has last been here but that was fine. Sometimes, the best things stay the exact same and the Diamond Domain was one of them. But, there was indeed the addition of crystal slides that some of the Carbink went down on as a form of entertainment, so that was certainly new.
"Excellent." Speaking through Ash was King Sombra, who loved what he was seeing. Being a fan of crystals since he once ruled the Crystal Empire, he rather enjoyed the Diamond Aesthetic.
"Yeah..." Twilight and Rainbow collectively agreed with Sombra. Darkrai would stay in the shadows with all of this light. It was a bit too much for him in all honesty. Zeraora glanced at the Diamond Lake, seeing her reflection which already blinded her. Looking at this place the wrong way was prime for continuous blindings.
"Bink! Carbink!" Noticing Ash and Pikachu, some of the Carbink swarmed over to meet with them once more. "Carbink!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu greeted them, glad to see that they were all well and fine to this day. Ash would pat some of them on the head as a way of greeting them.
Some of them gathered around Celestia and Luna, admiring their ethereal manes. They weren't exactly diamonds but ethereal aesthetics were on par with them. They had their own unique shine and sparkle. And speaking of sparkle, poor Twilight still didn't have her own ethereal mane to warrant any of the Carbink coming up to her. If only she was older.
Celestia giggled when around these Carbink, rather enjoying their presence. Some of them even went inside her ethereal mane to feel it for themselves. Celestia's mane didn't feel like ordinary hair. It had its own unique feeling and by extension, so did Luna.
"Well...To think we'd see you again at this time." Showing up here were the four servants of Princess Diancie. The four Carbink weree rather high position among every other Carbink.
Merrick, who ranked rather high and could be seen as the head Carbink in charge. He was also rather small. Smaller than most Carbink. Bort, the Carbink who followed Merrick's orders and was larger than him while also being a rather stout Carbink. There was also Joke, who was around Bort's size and also followed Merrick's orders.
And finally, there was Dace, who was the one who spoke to Ash after recognising him. He was the eldest of the Carbink. His tuft was also vastly different from the rest, truly showing his age. "Ash. Pikachu. What a pleasure it is to see you again. And some new faces."
"So...These Pokemon evolve into Diance, right? How come there's only one then?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "They're not that rare of a Pokemon too. I've seen some of them here and there."
"I think it's not that simple." Twilight smiled, having an answer for Rainbow Dash. The Pokedex mentions that it's occurring or done quickly and unexpectedly or without warning. This is most likely why Carbink can't evolve into Diancie. It's like how wolves turned out. Some of them isolated their gene pool from that of the wild wolves and ended up as domesticated dogs."
"Plus it's mutation." Ash threw his own answer in there, knowing a bit more than Twilight for this one discussion.
"Oh..." Twilight paused, caught off guard by Ash's response. "Or that. That too."
"I heard from the guards that you're here to warn us about a coming threat." Dace was already caught up. "In the princess's place, we will speak."
"Great. Sorry we had to reunite on a serious note. But someone's coming for your domain just to absorb all the light from it." Ash explained. "One of them kinda looks like Celestia over here and she's got a Necrozma with her."
"A Necrozma?!" Merrick gasped. So did the other Carbink. The name Necrozma was recognisable and sparked different reactions from the Carbink. "You can't be serious! A Necrozma in this part of the world?"
"Well, it doesn't sound that crazy if you know about it. Necrozma's an Alolan Pokemon, isn't it?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"Hush, girl." Merrick quickly replied. "We may be secluded but we know more than you think."
"Ah!" Rainbow Dash pulled back, surprised by Merrick's response.
"Mmm...That means the Heart Diamond is once again in danger. This time, it's being threatened." Dace grumbled. "Necrozma is a creature that feeds on light but for the most part, it's always been around the Alola Region. Why would it possibly come here to absorb the light in the Diamond Domain when it has other options?"
"There's something different about this Necrozma though." Celestia answered, having more to share. "Apparently, this Necrozma is starving more than any Necrozma out there. No matter how much light it absorbs, even if it's a powerful amount, it still craves more. An alter-ego of mine by the name of Daybreaker has been helping Necrozma absorb as much light as it can to end this ruthless hunger but at the cost of so much harm."
"Sounds to me like an ill Necrozma. But that can't be...It was considered a myth." Dace was aware of this type of condition for a Necrozma but it was only considered a myth and never really brought into fruition. Until now. "I've heard about the potential of a Necrozma being so unbelievable ill no amount of light can satisfy it but I thought it to be impossible."
"It's real. Very real. And it threatens us all." Twilight stepped forward. "That Necrozma absorbed the light from an entire world. Her world."
"Zera..." Zeraora was glanced at by the Carbink, being the first one to truly see what Necrozma was capable of. Her home was lightless and practically impossible to live in.
"I thought it was just incredibly hungry. You're telling us that it's an illness?" Luna thought otherwise.
"It is. Although it comes from another world, the light found on Earth is impossible to compare. For it to have a condition such as that, it only comes from the world it originally came from." Dace continued, revealing that this condition was something that was rather out of this world.
It did not originate on this planet, according to him, and by extension, this went for Necrozma's original universe. Wherever he originally came from, that condition carried over.
"So is there a cure if it's an illness?" Ash asked.
"Pikachu"
"There is." Magical words to hear from Dace. There was indeed a cure. Smiles appeared on Ash and his friends. It sounds like they might void a catastrophic event by finding this cure. "But...It is the most diabolical cure one could think of. This is one that I would never recommend and it involves the absolute absorbing of all things."
"N-No way!" Twilight's pupils shrunk. This cure was not as hopeful as it sounds. It had an incrediblely horrifiyng drawback.
"If an entire world will not satisfy it, then something beyond that must also satisfy it. And nothing could be better than everything else. Necrozma has enough power to absorb any amount of light with absolutely no limit. It cannot be overfed even if it is full. I've only heard of it as legend but now that you've told me this, it seems that it may no longer be a legend."
"It already absorbed the light from Zeraora's world. That means the only thing that can stop it is possibly the consumption of the entire universe..." Celestia shuddered. She knew Necrozma was dangerous but she never knew it could be that dangerous. Anything that threatens the universe is crucial. But judging from Dace's words, it might not stop at this universe at all. "Does Daybreaker know?"
"I'd opt to defeat Necrozma more than anything. And that starts by preventing it from ever absorbing the light from the Diamond Domain." Dace declared. "But we are not powerful enough to do so.
"We'll take on Necrozma for you!" Ash pumped his fist. "We'll try and stop him in his tracks right here!"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Zeraora!" Zeraora was on the same page. She wanted payback. Immediately.
"No. It's far too risky to do so." Dace objected to it. Necrozma can absorb small portions of light passively, making it stronger by the second. Since it's already absorbed the light from an entire world, its strength must be absolutely colossal. We'll do something else to avoid coming into contact with Necrozma. I always thought we would use this one day even if it is relatively new."
"Use what? Do you have something to avoid Necrozma? A ship or something?" Ash questioned.
"You probably already know about this cosmic power that's interacted with our world once more. It has also shown up here at the Diamond Domain. We shall use the power of the Rift."
Kalos. The Diamond Domain. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
Here at the Diamond Domain, warned of the incoming threat that was Daybreaker's Necrozma, the Carbink of this area already had an answer. Their solution was to steer themselves away from Necrozma and to do that, it involved the power of the Rift which could be found here as well.
"You've got Rift Energy here too? When?" Ash asked, following the four servants to the location of the Rift Energy. His friends assumed that it had something to do with gateways since that would be the best way to distance themselves from Daybreaker's group. Ending up somewhere else in the world.
"Just 4 years ago it showed up here," Dace explained. "While we've used it scarcely and rarely, we've had enough time to understand how it works."
"Oh, so you've been down here the whole time getting used to things," said Rainbow Dash. "What about everything outside?"
"With how everything developed so quickly, we wouldn't dare look into it and would rather stay down here," Merrick grumbled. "But...the Princess was far too curious so we had no choice but to engage. It was almost unrecognizable!"
"We learned so much from this world before the merge. The balance of Aura was greatly affected because of it." Dace continued, revealing more of the other effects that occurred ever since both worlds encountered each other.
"It has? How so?" Luna questioned.
"Ponies, let alone beings from completely separate existences should not possess Aura. It goes against the fundamentals of everything. But thanks to the Rift, it's become a possibility."
"Is that how Applejack got it? I thought she always had some semblance of Aura in here..." This made Twilight think, wondering about what that means for everypony else that was related to the Aura. She even had to wonder about Spike's new abilities as a Dragon Trainer.
"But, there's nothing we can do about it. Especially since both worlds are now one. From this point on, the power of Aura and anything that came from our world will seamlessly and naturally exist in this Grander World." Merrick shook his head with a disgruntled expression. "You humans and now you ponies gain access to great levels of power far too easily."
"It's just that easy for us, old timer." Rainbow Dash cackled, followed by Merrick side-eying the pegasus.
"About that...Do you know about a new phenomenon that's come up recently? It's called the Harmony Phenomenon." Celestia had her own question and it concerned the Harmony Phenomenon. She wished to get a handle on this newfound phenomenon that connects Ponies and Pokemon.
"I can't say." Dace, unfortunately, did not have a response. This was something he knew little of. This left Celestia in the dark once more when it came to the Harmony Phenomenon. A truly elusive power that has yet to be fully grasped and only exists in small instances.
"Here it is." At last, the Carbink would show them what form this Rift Energy took on. They expected it to be a gateway, but it was something else. Standing before them and right near the walls of the Diamond Domain was a Rift Pedestal. Not a gateway, but a pedestal.
Shaped exactly like a table pedestal, it sat there gracefully with its cosmic presence, surrounded by diamond decorations. It has certainly been a while since they've seen Rift Objects that weren't man-made. This was fully cosmic in every sense, even unleashing the sounds of space.
"A Rift Pedestal? Nice..." Rainbow Dash nodded in amazement.
"It appeared here in our Diamond Domain one day, whether by accident or on purpose. Since then, we've kept it here since we have no way of taking it elsewhere. And it's for the best that we don't take it anywhere."
"So, how do we travel with it? It's not a gateway..." Twilight leaned her head towards the Rift Pedestal. "Do we stand on it and it takes us somewhere?"
"You're correct. We soon found out what it does. Much like those gateways, it acts as a gateway, but it does things differently from the ones you know." Dace hovered into the air, floating in front of the Rift Pedestal. "This doesn't just transport others, but it can transport an area."
"It's an Area-Transporting Gateway?! How?! That little thing?!" Luna bellowed. This pedestal seemed to do more than the average gateway.
"But how does it do that? It's just a pedestal. Is there a hole or something on it?" Ash squinted, trying to see if there was something that indicated the possibility of it taking an entire area. But there was nothing he and Pikachu could see.
"Pikachu?"
"Taking a step on it will explain it all. As for what we must do, the best solution to this incoming disaster is to take the entire Diamond Domain elsewhere." Dace revealed the method of escaping from Necrozma. "All it takes is one to place themselves on the pedestal and their mind will choose where they wish to go."
"No way..." Ash let out a prolonged gasp with amazement in his eyes. "That's so cool! Anywhere?! And it just takes everyone here?"
"The pedestal can carry the Diamond Domain itself to wherever we wish to. But of course, we never had that much of a reason to do so. It was something we briefly discovered and vowed to never do it again until neccessary." said Dace.
"Ths will do just fine." Celestia smiled. "This will keep Necrozma away from the Diamond Domain and Daybreaker won't have a way to find out.
"Dace! Dace!" Rushing over here was the princess herself. Diancie. She had just returned on this night with a gleeful expression. As soon as she showed up, she spotted two familiar faces and some new ones too. First, she looked at Twilight and the ponies before shifting her eyes towards Ash and Pikachu. "Ah...? Ash? Pikachu?"
"Hey, Diance!" Ash spoke, giving a light wave to the Jewel Pokemon.
"Pika-Pika!" Leaping off Ash's shoulder to hug Diance was Pikachu. The two spun around after embracing a hug.
"It is you two!" Diancie bellowed with the brightest smile on her face. Instantly, she hovered over to her old friends. "Are Serena, Clemont and Bonnie here too?!"
"Nah. They're not here. But my new friends are." Ash introduced them.
"So, that's it." Rainbow Dash and Twilight were seeing Diance for the first time, taking out their Pokedexes
"Diancie. The Jewel Pokemon. A sudden transformation of Carbink, its pink, glimmering body is said to be the loveliest sight in the whole world. It can instantly create many diamonds by compressing the carbon in the air between its hands."
"Don't just wield your contraptions at the princess! Greet her properly!" Merrick would roar at Rainbow Dash and Twilight, causing them to almost drop their Pokedexes.
"Ow!" Rainbow Dash groaned. "Geez...Sorry..."
"Introducing the Princess. Keeper of the Heart Diamond and ruler of us all. Princess Diancie." Dace would do the honour of introducing her.
"Well. A pleasure to meet you, princess." From three princesses to another, Celestia, Luna and Twilight would bow down, greeting the Ruler of the Diamond Domain
"You're late, Princess Diancie. Urgent news have hit and you were out frolicking in the Pokemon Festival!" Merrick barked at the Princess next. "I told you that you had to be near either one of us or any of the guards no matter where you go!"
"That would've sucked the fun out of it though," Diancie replied. "I want to have fun on my own and it's been worth it every single time. I'm doing well on my lonesome. So, what's the problem?"
"We must transport the Diamond Domain at once, Princess. Ash has informed us of invaders who plan to absorb all the Light here. It will be done by a Necrozma, who will surely leave this place a dark husk of its former self." Dace answered.
"Necrozma?! Necrozma's coming here?!" Diancie was also aware of Necrozma's existence and had a rather horrified look on her face.
"The Heart Diamond will be the biggest target without a doubt. If it dies out, so will the Diamond Domain." Dace shook his head, knowing the consequences of such a loss. "Or worse..."
"Again?! But we did all we could a few years ago to prevent that from happening." A disgruntled Diancie said.
"Now it's happening again. But it's not of old age. Unless we act now, all our hard work will have been for nothing. We will flee here at once. But where to..."
"Anywhere will do!" Rainbow Dash added. "All that matters is that you get away from Necrozma."
"If this was before the unified world...But we need time to travel elsewhere with this gateway." From Dace's own words, there was a catch. It wasn't as easy as it used to be. "Before the Jirachi put everything together, travelling with this pedestal would have been swift. Now, we will need time buildup before we can head elsewhere. Step on the pedestal, think about where you wish to go and let the energy do the rest."
"Sorry we had to meet again like this, Ash. I wanted to tell you so much about what I've done so far." Diance grumbled, rather bummed out by this urgent reunion. She wished it was under better conditions.
"No need to worry. You can do that with us once we're away from Necrozma. We just gotta find a place to put the Diamond Domain. It's a big place after all..."
"I know where we should go." Twilight had one place in mind. She approached the pedestal, deciding to be the one to send them elsewhere. "So, all I have to do is do this, right?" She performed a light hop, getting on the pedestal.
At that moment, Absol's horn was frantically shaking more than ever. The disaster was ramping up and it was even closer than before. A rumble was soon heard that was felt by everyone. The diamonds would tremble and some of the Carbink would fall over.
"What was that?!" Merrick questioned while currently being upside down.
"They're close!" Celestia gasped. "I thought it would've taken a bit longer to reach here!" Alas, Daybreaker's group was rather efficient in getting to where they needed to be. And this was further shown by a group of Carbink quickly flying over.
"Bink! Carbink!"
"Invaders are coming through the secret passageway?!" Diancie translated. To the shock of Ash and the others, Daybreaker's group did not take the long way. Instead, they found the shortcut, albeit slightly delayed. But by finding the shortcut, they would have an easier time getting here. The Carbink showed up as soon as they could to warn the others, showing no scratches or injuries anywhere. This was a sign that they haven't been harmed yet, but they knew what was coming.
The Secret Passageway.
The tight cave that Ash and his friends had to pass through had been obliterated. Salamence had absolutely destroyed it, making it spacious for Hunter J, Daybreaker and Second Wind.
They already knew where the Diamond Domain was and were on their way, moving across the ruined caves. In their way were the Carbink who were protecting this passageway, but were obviously not strong enough to do so.
"Carbink..." A group of Carbink were already caught by Necrozma's claws. Captured, they had the light from their bodies absorbed. With the Unown using their otherworldly abilities, they could find their way to the Diamond Domain with ease.
The Carbink did their best to stop Necrozma, using Stone Edge, Power Gem and Moonblast in unison. Glowing crystals, gemstones and the power of the Moon itself were launched at the invaders, only for Necrozma to negate it. He used Photon Geyser, holding one arm out and unleashing a devastating pillar of light that consumed the opposing attacks.
Their attacks were enveloped and soon were their bodies. These Carbink were immediately defeated, failing to stop the Prism Pokemon in his tracks. Closer and closer, Daybreaker's group was getting to the Diamond Domain. More Carbink stood in their way to try and stop them, throwing themselves at the invaders.
Even though they knew they might not win against a force as powerful as Necrozma, they had to try. For the sake of their home and Princess Diancie.
"You're such cute Pokemon. But you're wasting your time trying to slow us down." Daybreaker smirked as her eyes let out a devious solar glow, intimidating the opposing Carbink. "You won't save your light in time when we get there."
The Diamond Domain.
"You should probably hurry, Twilight! Even if it takes time to build up!" Celestia exclaimed after hearing and feeling a stronger rumble from before.
"Alright...The place I want to go to is..." Twilight closed her eyes, thinking of the best possible place to be at right now. She couldn't afford to waste any more time and had to act fast. When stepping on the pedestal, that's when the Rift Energy kicked in, reacting to Twilight's thoughts.
A flow of Rift Energy exuded from the pedestal, spreading across the entire area. From the walls, the floors, to every decoration here at the Diamond Domain. To truly take the area away with it, the Rift Energy had to capture everything. A wobbly effect met with the eyes of everything as Rift Particles were starting to build up. "How long will it take for it to transport us?" Luna asked.
"Previously, it was 10 seconds. Now? We only have 10 minutes." Dace answered.
"10 minutes, huh? That's not so bad." Rainbow Dash didn't see that as too long. But in the context of what was happening right now, 10 minutes might not be enough. Twilight already a place in mind but the Rift Energy had to take time to really get there.
"You don't have to worry about how long it will take," said Diancie. "As Princess, even if we don't leave in time, I'll do my best to protect you all. Ever since I restored the Heart Diamond, I've vowed to do more than just preserve it, but also defend my subjects. And my friends. I've grown a lot stronger since then, Ash."
"I believe it. I know you're strong without a doubt, Diancie. But you gotta be careful around Necrozma. It doesn't matter how strong someone is...If Necrozma gets you once, that's bad news." Even Ash knew how critical it was for Necrozma not to interact with Diance all that much. One absorption of the Jewel Pokemon and the power boost he could receive would be titanic.
Bursting through the walls of the Diamond Domain was Necrozma. Using pure brute force, he showed up at the Diamond Domain, home to all the Carbink and Diancie. He was still away from the Heart Diamond, but he could feel it. The amount of light it possessed could be felt by ill body. On top of that, with so many diamonds, he had a feeding ground for himself.
The Carbink who couldn't fight immediately scattered upon seeing Necrozma, fleeing for their lives. They were unfortunately targets and food for the Prism Pokemon. And also money for Hunter J. Second Wind had her Unown use Hidden Power on the area, forming a strong gravitational forcefield. The Carbink who managed to escape avoided this field while those who were behind were unfortunately held back.
"Absol...!" Absol really wanted to take action as soon as possible. So did Zeraora. But these two just couldn't since they had to depart. Absol had more restraint than Zeraora, but the Thunderclap Pokemon was still digging into her rage. The Diamond Domain was suffering through Daybreaker's attack just like how her home suffered. But it might not have to, so as long as Twilight can get the Diamond Domain away from here.
"This isn't good. By the time they get here, they'll be pulled in the zone of the Rift Energy as well. Someone has to keep them from entering the Diamond Domain!" Merrick grumbled. Little did he know, they were already here.
"You said that as long as the Rift Energy surrounds the entire area, the Diamond Domain will leave, right? We can try and force them away from the Diamond Domain." Luna spoke. They had a way to retaliate after all, as long as they stayed in the zone of the Rift.
"We'll be right back. Twilight. Stay on that pedestal!" Celestia said, taking flight immediately. She would leave with Luna Ash and Rainbow Dash, who would engage with the invaders. Their goal was to give Twilight all the time she needed while they had to force Daybreaker's group out of the Diamond Domain
"Alright!" Twilight exclaimed. "Can't this thing go any faster though? Why'd we have to show up at its weakest?" It was up to Twilight to stay on this pedestal and keep building up the Rift Energy until it could transport everyone in the area.
"Be careful, Ash! Pikachu!" Diancie cried out.
"Car! Carbink!" Screaming in terror were the Carbink, who were being hunted down by Hunter J and Necrozma. Two terrifying figures to be chased by. Necrozma was still focused on the Heart Diamond since that was the main goal here Nothing else would matter in the long run since it would all be absorbed. Once the Heart Diamond loses its power, all the diamonds will lose theirs as well.
Clearing out the area were Daybreaker and Second Wind's forces, who used their own methods. Mainly magic. Feeling out the energy of the Heart Diamond, Necrozma felt that it was somewhere in the centre of the Diamond Domain.
"Carbink...!" Some more Carbink showed up, but these ones would stand their ground and defend the area. The group of Carbink formed a wall of themselves, blocking the path of Necrozma. Some of them could be seen sweating, fearing for their lives when gazing at the Prism Pokemon.
"Hoh? Necrozma. Blast them with Photon Geyser!" Daybreaker ordered. Necrozma would gladly do so. By holding his claws out, that devastating energy beam was being constructed. The Carbink were sweating profusely with the beam building up, harbouring truly devastating intent.
But this was all part of their plan. They didn't come alone. It wasn't just a group of Carbink in all of this. As soon as the beam was about to be fired, the Carbink all separated, ending their wall. But this was for a good reason. Flying through the hole that the Carbink left behind was the Dark-Type Absol.
"Absol!" Absol would be the shield for them. Once Photon Geyser was unleashed, Absol would take the hit. And he was certainly the best Pokemon to take it. Once it struck him, it had zero effect on the Disaster Pokemon since he was a Dark-Type. Daybreaker gasped upon seeing Absol. That was the one Pokemon she didn't think she would see down here.
But it wasn't just any Absol.
After taking the Photon Geyser, Absol would use Night Slash, unleashing a black cutting wave at the Psychic-Type. Necrozma would receive a swift yet heavy slash to the centre of his body, taking a super-effective hit. Necrozma was even launched back by this sneak attack. Absol slid on the ground with all of the Carbink behind him, ready to assist the Dark-Type.
"You...!" Daybreaker glanced at the Disaster Pokemon with a sharpened look. But Absol would do the same, fearless in the face of this Solar Queen.
"I know that Absol..." Gardevoir gasped, already recognizing which Absol that was. "It's Twilight's!"
"Twilight's Absol? Does that mean she's down here too? What a coincidence. If you're here, then she's probably here. I didn't think I'd run into you but if that's the case, you've made a grave mistake showing yourself in front of everyone else." Daybreaker said. "What's stopping us from crushing you here and now?"
"Sol...!" Absol flared his eyes at them. He technically wasn't outnumbered with all these Carbink by his side. But while he was planning to defeat them all, he also had to do one thing. Force them out of the Diamond Domain. If he defeats them here and the Rift Energy successfully takes them all away, that could create its own problems.
Nearby, hiding behind the pillars of diamonds that could be found here, were Ash and the others. They kept themselves secluded, glancing over to see Hunter J's group. Gripping onto the diamond walls and grizzling her teeth was Zeraora, who was already seeing red. Just looking at Daybreaker and Necrozma was enough to spark strong amounts of plasma from her body.
"Wait, Zeraora..." Rainbow Dash uttered slowly. "How are we gonna force them out? You don't think brute force will work, right?"
"Probably not. We have to turn things around for them." Celestia answered. "We're running on limited time right now. 8 minutes at best, so let's make it quick and do the best that we can."
"I know what we can do, but it's a rather risky decision." Luna had something to offer. She was hoping that it would work, even if it had a high risk.
"Hm?" Hunter J paused for a moment, turning her attention away from Absol and the pillars. At that moment, the Desire of Twilight Sparkle would pulsate within her, drawing her focus to someone else. "I sense someone there."
"So do I. That could be Twilight...Or her friends. Only one way to find out." Twilight's Desire spoke.
"Salamence! Hyper Beam!"
"Sala...!" Generating a strong burst of Infinity Energy in his mouth, Salamence was prepared to unleash it. But not on Salamence. Instead, he sent it towards the diamond pillars, targeting Ash and his friends. They all collectively gasped, until Celestia placed a shield around them.
She successfully protected them from harm, blocking the Hyper Beam. With the diamond pillars nearby crumbling and shattering, the dust would clear to show the side of Celestia who was now fully exposed to Daybreaker's side. Celestia lowered the shield once all the dust fizzled out, showing her most serious expression to the invaders.
"Well, look at this. If it isn't my weaker self from this world." Daybreaker smiled, rather pleased to see herself. "It isn't just Twilight Sparkle here."
"So that's Daybreaker...?" This was also Rainbow Dash's first time seeing Daybreaker in the flesh. The resemblance to Celestia was there but at the same time, she lost a lot of what made her Celestia. Luna would slowly back away, attempting to enact her plan.
"Did you by any chance predict that we would be here? If so, then that's a little inconvenient." Daybreaker shrugged. "I'm not sure how you would've known that we would show up to this place during the Pokemon Festival."
"If I had to guess, Nadya must've ratted me out." Hunter J kissed her teeth. "That brat..."
"Don't worry about how we know. Worry about how we're going to stop you. You can't take the light from the Diamond Domain."
"Why? Because you won't let us or there's a huge consequence behind it? I doubt it's the second one." Daybreaker would pace herself. "I'll just make this quick and be on my way. It's my first day back here in this universe and I don't intend to waste it."
"We heard a lot from you and Necrozma." Celestia saw this as a good moment to bring up some rather crucial information involving Daybreaker and Necrozma. "Quite a lot."
"You did, eh? I suppose that means you know that you're destined to become me, right?"
"That's not what I was going to bring up...But unfortunately, you're not off with that." Celestia closed her eyes, knowing that Daybreaker was living within her.
"Of course I am! If Luna can turn into Nightmare Moon, you can absolutely turn into me, Daybreaker! The better, prettier, and more powerful version of you! It's only natural. Essentially, natural evolution. But before that, I have to get Necrozma to is best as well."
"You can't. Your Necrozma is incredibly ill. It has an unknown rare disease that prevents it from ever being satisfied with its hunger. It's not something you can solve by absorbing as much light as possible?"
"Hoh? And how would you know?" Daybreaker questioned.
"There's only one thing that can solve Necrozma's hunger and it threatens us all. It might be the absolute absorption of all things. This world and possibly your own."
"Hmm...I don't think so." Daybreaker denied it immediately. She was rather confident too when shutting down Celestia's words. "I can see where you're coming from, but I know Necrozma better than whatever you've been told. You see, there is a way to satisfy, Necrozma's hunger without resorting to what you just said."
"What...?" Celestia pulled back.
"Necrozma told me himself. Absorbing huge portions of light is just one big step to that satisfaction and for him to be cured of his illness. Of course, I won't tell you in case you try and beat me to it. So, I'll just get to work. And as a bonus, if I defeat you all here, that's one gigantic obstacle out of the way."
Daybreaker clearly wasn't listening. But only because she had a solution already. It was official. A battle was about to break out here at the Diamond Domain between Celestia's forces and Daybreaker's forces. All the while, the Rift Pedestal was building up with minutes to spare.
Kalos. Anistar City. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
Sound asleep here at Anistar City were some of its residents including its guests. Those who did not go with Ash, Twilight, Celestia and Luna stayed behind. Still awake at this time was Sci-Twi, who was wondering how they were doing at this very moment.
She looked out into the night sky of Kalos, patiently waiting for their return. Sleeping right next to her were Hisuian Zorua, Bulbasaur and Kubfu. Three of her non-Alpha Pokemon. Asleep with them were the CMC along with Applejack and Rarity. Sci-Twi was only awake since she was so worried for them. She didn't even take the time to enjoy the rest of the Pokemon Festival or even sleep.
"Worried about them?" Lucas said with Fluttershy right next to him. They were still awake at this time while all of their Pokemon were dreaming under the stars
"Mhm. It's been hours and they're not back yet. I know they probably went far but..." The Human Counterpart to Twilight replied, twiddling her fingers.
"Listen. I don't mean to sound like Hilbert..." Lucas cleared his throat before putting on a bright grin similar to Ash's. "But since Ash is basically me, they'll be fine."
"I'm sure they'll be back by sometime in the night or by tomorrow's light." Fluttershy reassured, trying to give Sci-Twi some optimism. This was her first time being away from Ash in such a scenario and it only made her worry. But she could at least count on the words of Ash's friends, who knew him very well.
"I hope so."
The Diamond Domain.
Only 7 minutes on the clock until the Rift Pedestal takes the entire Diamond Domain away with it. At this very moment, the Rift Energy from the Rift Pedestal was filling the area but it would all be for naught if Daybreaker's group wasn't exiled from the Diamond Domain. Celestia's group had to find the most efficient way to force them all out.
"I would say I need to reach the Heart Diamond first, but as long as you're all in my way, that isn't happening. And is that Zeraora I see?" Daybreaker glanced at the Thunderclap Pokemon.
"Ze...!" Zeraora responded after being called out. The amount of revenge that was building up within her was tremendous and she was dying to let it all out.
"Ghetsis and his team were foolish to just lose someone as valuable as you. I was planning to build you up to a point where you'd have enough light for Necrozma. I can still finish that task since you're also here."
"Carbink!" Backing away were the many Carbink. Those who were fearful of Daybreaker's group were already out of here while those who would stay behind to protect their home and the Princess stuck next to Ash's group, even if they were intimidated and fearful of Necrozma.
"Zeraora!" Unable to contain it, Zeraora would lash out at last, finally having the chance to properly attack her enemies. And this time, there was no mistaking them for anyone else. That was indeed Daybreaker and that was without a doubt Necrozma. Slamming her arms into the ground, she generated a stream of plasma that would aggressively tear through the ground and even damage some nearby diamonds.
Daybreaker stood there with a smile, knowing she would be protected. And she was right. Getting in the way of the plasma was Necrozma, who would take the opportunity to absorb it. The plasma crashed into him, dealing some damage but a majority of it was cushioned once it was absorbed.
"Salamence! Flamethrower!" Hunter J ordered.
"Sala...!" By holding his breath in, J's Salamence released a strong stream of scarlet flames that flew right past Necrozma, being wide enough to envelop Ash's entire group.
"Hidden Power!" Second Wind would do the same, having the Unown collectively use Hidden Power. These alphabetical Pokemon would generate crimson lights in their eyes, releasing them with varying effects.
Quickly, Celestia would envelop her friends and family in a spiral of magic that acted as a twister. This golden twister would rise, encountering the red rays and the scarlet flame. Celestia would use this is as her chance to force them out of the Diamond Domain and the best way to do it, in her eyes, was with a force of wind.
Celestia used the twister to reflect and deflect the attacks. The red rays of Hidden Power would fly in random directions away from her group while Flamethrower was sent back at Salamence. The Dragon Pokemon took his attack, causing Hunter J to flinch.
After deflecting and reflecting them, Celestia would manipulate this twister, increasing its speed and pressure just to try and force Daybreaker's group out of here while on precious time. Daybreaker and Second Wind's troops could feel themselves being carried through the air thanks to this twist.
But in response, Daybreaker would do the same. She was already capable of everything Celestia could do after all but on a more destructive scale. She made her own twister, but this one was surrounded by flames, creating both a strong wind pressure and a furious heat.
A sudden clash of twisters occurred. One with a warm and comforting heat and another with a fierce and unforgiving heat They were very much even, rivalling each other in power. The result was the two twisters cancelling out and forming a powerful synchronized wind pressure that would affect both sides. The Carbink, Second Wind and Daybreaker's troops were each launched as shards of diamonds flew everywhere.
Another result was the emergence of fire. Thanks to Daybreaker's twister, it ended up setting fire to spots here at the Diamond Domain. Some diamonds were being set on fire, melting due to the sheer heat of Daybreaker's flames.
"Trying to force us out?" Daybreaker grinned, closing one eye during this strong gale of air going across the area. Celestia would slide back as the walls above were crumbling down, dropping large chunks of rock. This interaction at least managed to slightly scatter Daybreaker's forces, even if it wasn't by much.
"Now's my chance..." Luna, who distanced herself from the others so far, would hold out a Poke Ball, having a risky plan to force Daybreaker's group out of the Diamond Domain. Out of the Poke Ball emerged Frillish. "Frillish. I need you to do something for us. We don't have much time on our hooves. If this one doesn't work, then out second plan will have to do."
"Frillish?"
"That didn't work. In that case...Passion! Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Gardevoir!" From her body, Gardevoir released a beautiful blinding light, attempting to stun her opponents. In response, the opposing Gardevoir would do the same. She still had the strength to pull off attacks as seen by how she used her own Dazzling Gleam.
Two flashes of light occurred with both sides trying to blind each other. However, still weakened from before, Passion managed to beat the Aura Vampire in this Dazzling Gleam exchange, overpowering her light. The Aura Vampire was repulsed, receiving a blinding flash to her eyes.
But not to Necrozma. Something like this was fine for him as he easily ignored the flash. If anything, he could feast on it. Standing behind Necrozma to block the view of the light was Daybreaker, who would show herself once the Dazzling Gleams faded away.
"Now, Frillish! Hydro Pump!"
"Fri...Lish!" The plan was to start a tsunami that would drown out Daybreaker's group, perhaps even carrying them out of the Diamond Domain. He showed himself, unleashing a strong blast of water that would target the ground only By doing so, Frillish started a tsunami that would instantly emerge, growing at rapid speeds. Water began flooding the ground but with a clear target.
By using her magic, Luna would redirect the mighty wave, making sure it was only facing Daybreaker's group and no one else. Right as Daybreaker was about to make her next move, she quickly put up a shield for herself and Necrozma against the fierce waves.
Ash and the others watched as the tsunami would envelop Daybreaker's group, while also filling up a good portion of this cave. Thankfully, since Luna redirected it, they wouldn't have to worry about being caught up in the flood and the Carbink were especially lucky to be away from it.
Luna knew where the exit to the Diamond Domain was which allowed her to control the direction of the flood. It was off to the secret passageway, which wouldn't be involved in the Rift Energy that would soon envelop the Diamond Domain.
"Nice! Way to go, Princess Luna!" Rainbow Dash cheered, believing that Luna found the most efficient way to eject them from the Diamond Domain. Since it was going in the direction of the secret passageway and there was still time to spare, victory looked to be within their grasp.
At least, that's how it seemed from the start. But quickly reversing this was none other than Daybreaker plus the additional assistance of Second Wind. Both Queens used their magic to reverse the flood, sending it back.
"Ngh!" Now Luna had to really push herself. She expected this type of retaliation after all. "Too much! I need some help here..."
"Got it! Palpitoad! Dracovish! Kingler! I choose you!" Ash held three Poke Balls, quickly throwing them to summon three different Water-Types. Push that tsunami back!"
"Palpitoad!" Using their respective Water-Type moves, Ash's Water-Types would attack the approaching flood, making sure that it wouldn't get any closer to them. Assisting them was Celestia, who used her own magic to push it back. Once again, a fierce magical clash occurred between both sides.
The walls were rapidly eroding and breaking apart thanks to all of this strengthened water. They were eroding faster than any stone ever has. This one spot was eclipsed by the water as it would expand to the point where both sides were in danger of being swept up by it as seen by how it was covering two directions.
This struggle could be felt even in the room where the Rift Pedestal was on. The Rift Energy already went far, eclipsing a majority of the Diamond Domain with at least 5 minutes on the clock remaining. The Rift Pedestal stayed completely still thankfully even with these tremors going off.
"What on earth is happening out there?!" A disgruntled Merrick exclaimed before falling over from these tremors. "At this rate, our home will be destroyed before the Diamond Domain can be sent elsewhere!"
"Mmmrgh...!" Twilight grumbled while focusing her mind on where she wanted to go. That's all she had to do and they would be home safe. But not until Daybreaker's group was out of here. "Just a bit more...!"
"I don't know if we can afford to keep up with this." said Diancie. "What will we do if we can't escape our invaders?"
"Should I stop then?" Twilight asked. "I can try and help them out and-"
"You can't stop!" Dace objected. "If you do, you would have to start from scratch entirely! You can't help your friends right now I'm afraid. You must focus on taking us elsewhere."
"Right..." Twilight lowered her head. As much as she wishes she could help her friends, in her current position, she couldn't Further interaction might escalate things to a new level. The best thing to do was to count on Ash and the others to try and force Daybreaker's group away.
"Hmm..." Pondering for a moment, Diancie would suddenly hover away, taking action as the Princess of the Diamond Domain. She couldn't sit by and let her domain suffer because of these invaders.
"Wait! Princess, Diance!" Merrick gasped upon seeing the princess depart. While Twilight couldn't leave, the Diamond Princess certainly could. She had all the power here after all.
The aftermath of this clash resulted in a wet area with a majority of the walls and ground being eroded. With neither side managing to overpower the other, this left quite a mess here at the Diamond Domain. In the end, the flood carried everyone instead of just one group, leading to an erratic outcome where some of them had been split up from each other. But not too far away.
Celestia got back up, shaking the water off her as she, Rainbow Dash and Zeraora were in the same room together. Away from them were Ash and Luna, who had unfortunately been carried away by the waves. Luna's plan didn't succeed since Daybreaker's group was still around.
As for Daybreaker, even with all of that water, her mane and tail did not go out. Her flames were far too powerful to be drenched, much like a Charizard. Necrozma flew out of the rubble, letting out his signature and horrific cry. Only 4 minutes remained for them.
"What was your plan there? Whatever it is, it's wasting precious time!" Daybreaker growled at Celestia when getting back up.
"You have no idea..." Celestia sighed as she was also losing precious time. If this doesn't wrap up soon, they could end up taking Daybreaker's group elsewhere and wherever Twilight chooses, it will most likely result in that place being threatened as well.
"Ora!" Moving past Celestia and leaping into the air with Plasma Fists was Zeraora, who went straight for Necrozma. Daybreaker would be next.
"Necrozma! Shadow Claw!" In response, Necrozma would meet with Zeraora's attacks, swinging his claws at her with shadows leaking out. The two attacks collided, sending a vibrant spark in the middle. Zeraora tried overpowering the Prism Pokemon, but he had grown to the point where he could dish out heavy blows as well.
Not only that, but his speed was also greater than it used to be. Necrozma would swing his other claw at Zeraora, only for the Thunderclap Pokemon to back away. Successfully avoiding the Shadow Claw, Zeraora then used Thunderbolt, sending 100,000 volts from her arms.
This was then deflected by Necrozma's Shadow Claw, knocking it elsewhere. The volts charged through the walls of the cave, leaving behind a massive hole in the process. Zeraora grizzled, ruthlessly heading back in with another Plasma Fist, hoping to land a proper hit this time.
"This'll be enough to put you down and capture you! Necrozma! Gravity!" At that moment, the Prism Pokemon held his arms out, summoning a forcefield of gravity that would immediately surround Zeraora. As soon as the Thunderclap Pokemon rushed in, her speed was quickly outdone by the gravitational force. Her paws were one inch away from hitting Necrozma's body, only to absolutely fail once she felt herself losing a tremendous amount of speed.
"Z-Ze...!"
"Passion! Use Mystical Fire!"
"Voir!" Assisting Zeraora would be Gardevoir, who leapt into the air with flames around her arms. She used the flames as a jetpack before releasing them in the form of a spiral. Necrozma was then struck by the flames directly in his chest, letting out a faint cry. This freed Zeraora from the gravitational hold, allowing her Plasma Fist to finally connect. It was another direct blow to the chest, followed by a strong outburst of plasma that electrocuted Necrozma's body.
"Necrozma! Stone Edge!" After being struck by the spiralling magical flames, Necrozma retaliated by summoning glowing crystals from the earth below. Underneath Zeraora, the crystals would uppercut her while more would aggressively rise up, approaching Gardevoir.
Quickly, Celestia used her magic to slice off the top of the crystals, greatly weakening them. This golden whip of magic would chop them off, sending the sharpest parts into the air. But this was used to Daybreaker's advantage. She used her own magic on the sharpest parts, grabbing them while they were still airborne.
Daybreaker then ignited them, giving these sharp stones flaming auras which would make them deal even greater damage than before. Daybreaker then brought these Blazing Stones down, bombarding Celestia's team.
"Voir?!" Gardevoir was the closest as she would be the first to take these stones, receiving a sharp blow along with an outburst of flames that could be felt. The Embrace Pokemon was forced into the ground from this counterattack, crashing near her trainer.
"Passion!" Celestia yelped before using her magic to create a forcefield that quickly blocked the incoming stones. She managed to shield Zeraora and Gardevoir from further harm this way while also expanding the barrier to destroy the rest of the stones that came too close.
As soon as she destroyed all of the stones and lowered her barrier, her eyes shrunk to see Daybreaker pulling something else off. Something that Celestia never expected.
By taking a simple breath, Daybreaker suddenly released a large quantity of flames from her mouth. She could even breathe fire, much to Celestia's surprise. The flames tore through the ground, melting away any rubble and threatening to destroy anything in its path.
Once again, Celestia had to think quickly on her feet. She was playing defensively this entire time and now it was time for her to lay some offence in. From her horn, Celestia unleashed a piercing light that would hit the centre of the fire breath. Once it struck the centre and formed a strong clash, Celestia managed to cancel it out instead of going through as she originally wanted. At least she managed to stop the Fire Breath which would destroy itself upon failing to reach Celestia's group.
"This isn't good...I don't think we can take them out of the Diamond Domain for too long at this rate." Celestia thought to herself. Things weren't looking pretty at the moment since Daybreaker's group was still here. She also noticed the Rift Energy leaking through the walls, showing that it was almost done enveloping the entire Diamond Domain.
"Zeraora!" But Zeraora could care less about that. She was more focused on exacting revenge and she didn't care where it was and would certainly not want Daybreaker and Necrozma to leave at all. Charging at Necrozma, the Thunderclap Pokemon used Close Combat against him.
Necrozma didn't see it coming this time. Zeraora moved through the dispersing flames, using them to cloak herself. This allowed her to land a successful hit against the Prism Pokemon. Even though it wasn't super-effective, the impact was most definitely heavy.
After landing the hit, Zeraora would unleash an onslaught of attacks on the Psychic-Type, letting all of her rage out against him. This was Zeraora's absolute best strength and it showed as she was managing to push Necrozma back.
The Prism Pokemon was being absolutely pummeled by these attacks which moved him across the ground. He even went through some of the diamonds, causing them to shatter. Zeraora was also sending him in the direction of Daybreaker, planning to harm her too.
"!" Daybreaker noticed this before using her magic to create a wall of light. This wall of light appeared right in front of her and behind Necrozma, acting as fuel for him. As soon as Necrozma was pushed back against this wall of light, not only would it stop him in his tracks, but it would also fuel him.
"Zera!" As Zeraora was furiously beating on Necrozma against the wall of light, the Prism Pokemon received a power boost, allowing him to catch Zeraora's paw the second it tried landing again. "Ora?"
Necrozma absorbed all the light that Daybreaker offered, overpowering the Thunderclap Pokemon with ease. After grabbing his paw, Necrozma would unleash a point-blank attack as ordered by Daybreaker.
"Dragon Pulse!" Right in front of Zeraora, a burst of draconic energy that immediately blasted Zeraora. The Electric-Type was launched far back by this dragon-shaped blast which gnawed on her chest and carried her away. Celestia ducked her head as Zeraora would be sent straight into the walls of the Diamond Domain which were already fragile at this point.
"Z-Ze..." Stunned by that counterattack, Zeraora could be seen lying around some rubble, absolutely perplexed.
"It's your turn!" Daybreaker declared. From her entire body, a great blaze of fire would occur. She was letting off a tremendous body heat that was heating up the surrounding area. All the water that had been left behind would immediately evaporate. Celestia managed to resist the heat, however, showing impressive endurance.
Speaking of the water, it was now reaching scalding temperatures. While some of it would evaporate, others would be used to Daybreaker's advantage. Scalding hot water was soon generated, slowly moving towards Celestia. But that wasn't the main attack.
By using the aura around her, Daybreaker manipulated it in a circular fashion, creating a powerful, and highly destructive, torrent of flames that acted like a whip. Celestia looked up to see these spiralling flame whips coming down on her. Just looking at them was a sign of how she failed to force Daybreaker's group away from here. There just wasn't enough time at this rate.
In the midst of all this conflict, Diancie would take action, heading to the one place untouched by the scuffle. In that place, was the one object that mattered more than the Rift Pedestal itself. Once she reached this location, she looked to gaze up at an object of absolute brilliance Brighter than any diamond here and the reason for Daybreaker invading this place.
The Heart Diamond.
Hanging on the ceiling of the Diamond Domain, it was the centre of this location. The cause of what keeps the Diamond Domain active and healthy. If it were to fall here because of the invaders, all would be lost. Even with all of this destruction, the diamond was standing strong. It was the foundation of the Diamond Domain after all.
"I don't want to use the Heart Diamond for anything other than sustaining the Diamond Domain. But now is a good time to try something different." Diancie said whilst looking up at the Heart Diamond.
"Wait, Princess Diance! You can't!" Merrick pursued her, already knowing what she was planning to do. "The Heart Diamond isn't some sort of weapon!"
"I'm not going to use it as a weapon. I made this new Heart Diamond myself. It's my own power behind it and I should use it to help my friends." said Diancie, knowing what had to be done. "I don't think we have much time to send everyone elsewhere while our invaders are still here. There is one thing I can do."
By raising her arms, Diancie began tapping into the power of the Heart Diamond which was just one massive extension of her own power. A beautiful pink glow left her body while another came from the diamond. The two lights could connect with each other, acting like DNA strands.
The first thing she did was something that would reach her friends and allies. Only 2 minutes remained on the clock before the Rift Pedestal fully transports them. But those 2 minutes would be used to the best of their extent
"Twilight." The voice of Diancie met with Twilight's ears as she spoke with her from this distance. This was the result of the Heart Diamond's power.
"Diancie?" Twilight looked up, hearing the Diamond Princess's voice.
"You don't have to worry. I can do something that'll make sure we get to leave here without our invaders." Diancie had her own solution that would guarantee victory. Hopefully.
"What? Why?"
"I can protect you all. Just like this." Diancie demonstrated by using the power of the Heart Diamond to envelop Twilight's body in diamonds The Princess of Friendship gasped as her hooves were being enveloped by these beautiful diamonds, starting from the lowest point. However, they brought no harm to her.
This wasn't limited to Twilight after all. The Carbink would feel the same effect. Merrick's body was being enveloped in a diamond shell. All the other Carbink found themselves receiving a diamond shell to protect them. The Carbink gleefully cried out, feeling the power of the Heart Diamond coursing through them.
Ash would look at his arms, seeing diamonds appear all over him. Immediately, he knew this was the work of Diancie. And it also helped that Diancie's voice was reaching his mind and ears too She only spoke to her friends after all. Celestia gawked, witnessing the diamonds cover her.
"Zera..." Zeraora's rage was subsided once the power of the Heart Diamond could be felt moving across his entire body. There was something peaceful about it that tempered her anger. Not only that, it but as moving across the entire Diamond Domain, covering the walls, ceiling and ground. It wasn't just limited to people, ponies and Pokemon.
"What is this?!" Daybreaker looked around her, noticing a sudden influx of diamonds. On top of that, she soon noticed the Rift Energy moving across the area.
"Twilight. This way, you can take us all away from here. The diamonds around everyone will bring them along but not the invaders." A great move on Diancie's part. These diamonds would ensure that her friends and the Diamond Domain were the only ones who got to leave.
"I don't think so!" But it wasn't as smooth as they hoped it would be. Appearing here with her clothes and hair wet was none other than Pokemon Hunter J.
"J?!" Twilight gasped. This was the worst possible time for Hunter J and her Salamence to show up. Instead of engaging with Celestia and the others, she went straight for Twilight.
"Found you...All thanks to that Desire of yours." The Pokemon Hunter grinned, aiming her Protean Vambrace at Twilight while she was at her most vulnerable. She couldn't move from that spot at all. All she could do was form a magical shield around herself. "Oh, I'm not going for you."
At that moment, out of her vambrace, a different energy shot out. It was the energy of the Desire. Twilight Sparkle's own Desire was unleashed, showing its purple appearance once more. And the main target was not Twilight herself, but the Rift Pedestal. Knowing that the pedestal and the Desire were both related to the Rift, the reaction they could have was very up in the air and J was about to find out.
Twilight's shield did not matter as she juked by Hunter J's aim. Her real target was the pedestal. And once the Desire hit the Rift Pedestal, a reaction most definitely occurred.
The unification of Twilight Sparkle's own wish to head elsewhere along with the corrupted Desire of Twilight Sparkle who was all about worrying about the worst would merge. It was far too late to stop it. The Rift Energy finished enveloping the entire Diamond Domain, allowing the transportation to go through. Neither side knew what would happen next but Hunter J knew that the Desire's negative traits would definitely play a part in something.
The end result was a beautiful Blue and Purple flash that eclipsed the entire Diamond Domain, signifying a successful transportation. But how successful was it?
Johto. The Dragon Holy Land. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall
The Dragon Holy Land.
A grassy, forested area with various flora and rock cliffs walling it. The paradise is home to many Pokémon, some of which travel to the area to become stronger. It is only accessible through a waterfall located at the end of a certain area.
Appearing here at the Diamond Domain in a purple flash was an entire domain. The entire Diamond Domain had been sent from Kalos all the way to somewhere else. Since the domain was originally made within a cave, the cave system was sent here as well.
A group of Rattata quickly bolted away as soon as this domain appeared in a blue and purple flash, planting itself here at the Dragon Holy Land. The Rift Energy that brought them here would purposefully form a hole in the ground large enough to fit the Diamond Domain. It was forcefully reconstructing the geography of this area just to make the Diamond Domain fit at all.
The result was an expanded land which was already larger after both worlds united. However, while the transportation was a success, there was something else that was unexpected and unaccounted for. Due to the interference of a Desire, the Diamond Domain was instead hanging off the worst possible area.
"Ugh..." Twilight groaned as she fell over the Rift Pedestal, successfully taking everyone else aside from the invaders away from the Kalos Region. When getting back up, she saw that all the Carbink were safe and sound. Their home was in one piece.
"Great heavens...It wasn't that turbulent the last time." Dace said, getting back up. "Well done at least, Princess Twilight. You've successfully managed to steer us away from our invaders."
"Something's not right..." However, Twilight already knew that something was amiss. Yes, she got them away from Daybreaker's group, but that interference from Hunter J left something major behind. Thanks to the Rift Energy within her, Twilight knew this. After all, it was her Desire that affected the pedestal at the last moment.
Twilight's Desire was focused on one thing. Worrying about the worst-case scenario And after so long, that effect has finally kicked in. While the environment altered itself to give way to the Diamond Domain, it was underneath something else. Twilight used her magic to drill a small hole in the ground, knowing exactly where it was located
It wasn't just a bunch of earth. Right below the Diamond Domain's foundation was a newly formed area, done by Hunter J's surprise attack. It was a vortex of Rift Energy. She managed to form a fierce vortex underneath it, utilizing the energy from the Rift Pedestal to make it happen.
"A vortex!?" Dace gasped.
"She used the Rift Pedestal for something else. But how?" Twilight pondered. "She must've shot out Rift Magic from her vambrace for this to happen."
"Bink! Carbink!" The Carbink saw the vortex ripping away at the Rift Pedestal, sucking all the energy from it. The vortex acted as a black hole for it but it wasn't just limited to the pedestal
"Oooh..." Twilight could feel it too. Her own body was being affected by this vortex. She had high amounts of Rift Energy within her after becoming a vessel for it, so it was only natural for something like this to happen. Her body became weak, causing her to twitch and fall over.
"Princess! Are you alright?!" Dace quickly rushed over to the downed alicorn.
"I don't feel so good...J planned this. She was probably trying to cripple me for this moment. I can't be near that vortex...or here at all!"
"Carbink!" Quickly, the Carbink would pick Twilight off the ground. She had to be away from the vortex which was completely sapping away at hr Rift Energy. But alas, there was nothing they could do about the Rift Pedestal. Neither of them could touch it apart from Twilight but she was completely unavailable, losing steam fast.
The Diamond Domain was now at peace even if there was a massive hazard underneath it. All the conflict had come to an end, much to Diancie's relief. With a relaxed sigh, she ceased gathering energy from the Heart Diamond which caused all the diamonds covering her friends, allies and the domain to shatter. There was no need for them anymore.
Merrick's eyes started rolling as he was absolutely out of it. Obviously, the transportation was not supposed to be this frantic, but this is how it turned out due to the circumstances. The Carbink were now far from home, but it was for the best to avoid their invaders. If only they were quicker and one major issue would have been avoided. Quickly, Diancie would try making her way to Ash now that the conflict was over.
"Man..." Getting back up was Ash. He and his friends successfully made it thanks to Diancie's power. By covering the entire Diamond Domain, her friends and allies in diamonds, she managed to make sure that Daybreaker's group never came along.
"I'm surprised we succeeded even with our circumstances." Luna sighed, helping Rainbow Dash out of some rubble. "Where even are we? Where did Twilight take us exactly?"
"Mmm...It could be anywhere." Ash had no clue right about now. All he had to do was take a step outside and find out. And thanks to the fact that the Diamond Domain had been ripped away from the secret passageway, made heading outside rather swift.
Ash passed by the Carbink living here with no sign of Daybreaker or Second Wind's forces. Zeraora didn't see them either. Even though she finally encountered the ones who took her home from her and captured her, she could not exact revenge. Her rage didn't even go off the charts like it used to.
"Zera..." To Zeraora's surprise, her rage was held back. She knew that was the right time to let it all out and yet it didn't. Now, Daybreaker and Necrozma were gone. Truly, it was a waste.
"Zeraora. Are you alright?" Rainbow Dash knew this as well, floating over to the Thunderclap Pokemon to console her. "They're gone now but..."
"Ora." Zeraora lowered her head, disappointed by what she failed to do. However, after a few moments of silence, a smile met her face that surprised Rainbow Dash. It was not a smile of satisfaction, but one with pleasure. Zeraora was happy about one thing. Even though she failed to exact revenge, she at least helped in keeping Daybreaker and Necrozma from destroying something else.
"You're...not all upset?" The pegasus uttered with disbelief. She thought Zeraora would be absolutely gutted by this.
"Ze." But she wasn't. Because Daybreaker and Necrozma failed to destroy the Diamond Domain and ruin the home of other Pokemon unlike her own, she could at least take comfort in knowing that. Zeraora had found the group that can truly retaliate against them.
Perhaps, staying around them wasn't going to be so bad after all for the Thunderclap Pokemon. Until Daybreaker's group has been defeated, she wouldn't mind sticking around. She has nowhere else to go after all without anyone to properly temper her rage in the best way.
Once Ash reached the outside, he saw the location for himself. It was all coming back to him. "Ooh...This is the Dragon Holy Land!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pikachu!"
"Dragon...Holy Land?" Luna repeated once she also came outside.
"I didn't know Twilight knew about this place...Sweet." The King of the Sea approved. Quite a pick from Twilight. "I guess anywhere that's not Kalos would've worked to get away from them. That way, the Diamond Domain's far away from them."
"What is this place anyway?" Luna repeated.
"It's a pretty awesome place for Pokemon to get stronger! A ton of them show up to Johto just to get this chance!" Ash explained. "It's just north of the Dragon's Den and Blackthorn City, so we're still close to civilization.
"Hm. A strong lack of Dragons though." Luna noticed a great lack of Dragons around. There were Mankeys, Aipom, Murkrow and Sunflora. Even some Unovan and Alolan Pokemon here and there. Everyone else would soon leave the Diamond Domain.
Many of the Carbink, followed by Diancie, Rainbow Dash and even Celestia. After buying enough time, the Sun Princess walked outside to witness the Dragon Holy Land. Her mane was a mess from all the water and destruction that occurred after taking on her alter-ego.
Carrying Twilight out of the domain were the Carbink and once she was out there, she could at least walk and stand on her own two hooves. With a relieved sigh, Twilight would stand under the Silver Moon of Johto while still having a weakened body.
"So...Did Daybreaker's group get left behind at the Allearth Forest? If so, that's still bad news."
"No. I don't think so." Twilight shook her head. "After that interaction, I think something else happened. They were still inside the Diamond Domain when it all went down. They could be somewhere else."
"So you think they've also been transported elsewhere. But where?"
Alola. Out on an island.
The Alola Region is where they went. Thanks to Hunter J's interference, another one of the drawbacks revealed itself, this time targeting her group. Daybreaker's entire group had been sent from the Diamond Domain to the Alola Region. Some of the troops could be seen drifting on the water, absolutely bewildered by what just happened. So was Hunter J's Salamence, who ended up fainting. They all ended up near an island here in the tropical region.
Daybreaker could be seen slumped on the ground of the island, slowly getting back up. This was not the outcome she expected and neither did Second Wind. The Queen of Pinnaculum Pegalysium was lying on her back with her regalia ruined.
"What happened...?" Daybreaker groaned. She lost the chance to steal the Heart Diamond's power for Necrozma. This was a failed mission on her part.
"I took a risk," J confessed. "Showed up past the right moment and used my own Rift Magic against this pedestal Twilight was on. The Heart Diamond wasn't the only valuable thing there."
"What do you mean? And speaking of which...we failed to get it. Curse, Celestia. Or rather, myself. The coincidence of her group being there ruined our chances of-" Right as she was about to face Necrozma, something rather shocking met her eyes.
Necrozma's body was entirely static now. Around his body were diamonds. The Prism Pokemon was indeed considered when Diancie used the power of the Heart Diamond but it was used for a different reason. Completely against the invaders of the Diamond Domain.
Daybreaker gasped as she had some of them around her hooves too. Diancie attempted going for all of them but only managed to get Necrozma the most. But that was the most vital hit since Necrozma was the biggest threat. Hunter J had one around her visor and hair while Second Wind received some on her wings.
The Unown had small bodies, making it easier for the diamonds to envelop them too. They were in the same state as Necrozma. Static and unable to move. Their Hidden Power could not help them this time in this condition. Their eyes were still exposed by the diamonds kept everything locked down. And these diamonds did not possess any light, making it impossible for Necrozma to absorb any power from them.
"We'll have trouble getting back to where we need to be. I only brought these Unown with me. The rest are back at Pinnaculum Pegalysium." Second Wind commented. "What a nuisance...This will be the furthest away from my lovely castle! I can't even call for help this way!"
"Curse it!" Daybreaker stamped her hoof on the ground, leaving behind a burn mark. Her eyes then flared with furious flames. "Celestia...!"
This left Daybreaker's group in a rather weakened position. The Unown and Necrozma were completely trapped by the diamonds and they had no idea what island they were on They were not yet aware of the region, but Hunter J was already attempting to figure this out.
At this point, Daybreaker and her forces only had 4 days to stay here until the gateway snatched them. The plan to steal the Heart Diamond was a bust and would seemingly be impossible to try again so soon. Johto and Alola were too far away from each other. But this wouldn't stop them. They were already aiming to escape, but now, they had to be truly discreet about it here at the Alola Region.
"It's not all bad." Hunter J grinned, looking at the positives of this. For only one reason, of course, and that went back to the Diamond Domain. By raising her hand, Hunter J summoned Rift Energy.
"Rift Energy...?" Second Wind gawked.
"The Desire within me made the right call going straight for Twilight. I got something amazing in return. This Rift Energy comes from that pedestal and now it's mine." Hunter J cackled. "As if we're going to be slowed down in any way. We can follow up here at Alola. I've heard about this region but I never got the chance to really experiment with it. Now's the best time to start."
Hunter J was rather resourceful, having something as back-up to get her out of a tight spot. And the first thing to do was to get Necrozma and the Unown out of this diamond-like state. It seemed simple enough. Just shatter the diamonds. But these were not ordinary diamonds. After all, they were made by the power of the Heart Diamond.
Johto. Dragon Holy Land. Nightfall.
With all that said and done, Ash group could rest, avoiding the Necrozma threat. For now, at least. The Carbink were far away from Necrozma by this point with Daybreaker having no way of knowing where they were.
"What a way to meet up again, right?" Diancie giggled, properly reuniting with Ash and Pikachu. Ash's Kalos Pokemon had been sent out too, minus Greninja, to reunite with Diancie once more.
"Yeah...Kinda used to it by this point." Ash replied. "Glad you're okay. We had to show up as soon as possible before things got out of hand."
"But...Now we're far from Kalos. We aren't at our home anymore. Well, most of our home. We aren't used to having the Diamond Domain being somewhere else." said Diancie. "I don't believe we can go back."
"You can always use the Rift Pedestal another time, right?" Ash asked. "There's always a way back."
"I don't think so, Ash." Celestia approached, already hearing the news from Twilight when speaking with her. "I'm afraid something's wrong with the Rift Pedestal. A vortex of Rift Energy has been opened underneath the Diamond Doman and the earth itself. It's sapping away at the pedestal and even started draining Twilight of her Rift Magic.
"Returning to Kalos will be difficult for the Carbink and Princess Diancie. For now, they'll have to stay here, just to avoid the eyes of Daybreaker. She'll most likely try again. No doubt about that." Luna added. "But...This isn't so bad. I doubt Daybreaker's forces will have the knowledge to show up here again."
"If they do, we will have to once again transport ourselves elsewhere." Dace sighed. "I fear that this is not the end."
"You're right about. I'm afraid." Celestia squeed. "We're facing quite the rising issue. It isn't the first time something that threatens our world has sprung up. Daybreaker and Necrozma threaten to absorb all light in our world and I fear the universe may be next. And she apparently said that there was another way to cure Necrozma. But I can guess it's the worst possible way."
"Nadya's gonna be fine, right? J doesn't know about what happened back at Tropeze Town." Rainbow Dash asked, completely concerned about Nadya and her parents.
"I'll make sure they're safe. And I doubt they'll be heading back there anytime soon. But I've requested that the residents of Tropezet4e immediately leave their home until then. It'll be a good chance for them to enjoy the Pokemon Festival and distance themselves from the Pokemon Hunters."
"Speaking of which, I cannot wait to continue enjoying the Pokemon Festival!" Diancie said with glee, focusing on what truly made her happy. It's as if everything that just happened, never happened. "I didn't think I'd come back to experience that, but now that it's been dealt with, I can finally enjoy myself once more!"
"Please be serious about this, Princess Diancie..." Merrick groaned. "Our entire home was almost a feeding ground for Necrozma."
"Well, you already know about it and you've been to a few so...yeah." Ash indulged in this. "Let's have it together. We've got plenty of time on our hands and-"
At that moment, Ash's phone started ringing, prompting him to take it. From it, he saw that Sci-Twi was currently calling him all the way from Kalos. The night was no longer young but there was still time for it to stick around. Looking at the phone, he quickly answered it.
"Ash! Oh, you're okay! I was so worried! You were gone for a while!" Sci-Twi frantically said, worried about Ash to the point where she had to call him.
"Sorry. We had to really go all over the place. We're totally fine right now, Twi. We're here at Johto and-"
"Y-You're at Johto?! How?! This soon?!" She gasped and cut Ash off. She expected a few things, but not this. Ash was on the other side of the world right now. "Just what did you get yourself into, Ash?"
"No need to worry! We'll be right back. But uh...I'm gonna stick around Johto for a little while." Ash would stick to Johto in the meantime before he can reunite with the others over at Kalos.
A new day would eventually come, but it wasn't without a looming cloud of danger. Daybreaker's group was still out there Albeit with only 4 days remaining for Daybreaker at this moment. Celestia could at least smile knowing she avoided the Diamond Domain's demise, but now, she couldn't take her attention away from her alter-ego. Daybreaker was out there at this very moment, plotting her next plan.
There was still plenty of time left until the Pokemon Festival ends and whatever happens next might occur in the span of these 4 weeks as the journey continues.
Johto. The Dragon Holy Land. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
Here at the Dragon Holy Land, the Diamond Domain still remained, finding a new home. It wasn't guaranteed to be permanent since it was only here due to a sudden attack. Now, Ash's group would continue the Pokemon Festival, alongside Princess Diancie and they would start here at the Dragon Holy Land.
While checking out the Dragon Holy Land here and there, they were planning to make their way to Blackthorn City which was the nearest location. After that, it was back to Kalos to reunite with the others. However, the one thing they would do was clock out since they didn't get a chance to sleep after Daybreaker's group suddenly attacked.
Ash was already fast asleep while Luna was present in the Dream Realm. Awake at this time, always being completely on guard was Absol, along with a few Carbink.
Celestia ended up staying awake, looking up at the night sky and the silver moon. Currently, she was thinking about Cobalion and Daybreaker. Two completely different thought procceses were going on at the moment. For Celestia's first-ever crush, she finally knew how others felt when they can't reach their significant other due to complications.
"What a shame..." The Sun Princess placed her hoof on her face, putting on a rather disgruntled expression. She wasn't mad. Just downright upset. "If this keeps up, I'll have to apologize to Cobalion. But he's probably busy too." She could call it a night and dream about her time with Cobalion, but experiencing the real thing was far better, especially because it could become a reality with ease. But it wasn't looking all that easy right about now.
"Are you alright?" Floating over was another princess. Princess Diancie. "You seem down."
"Oh, it's fine. Just reflecting on things. I'll be fine afterwards since your home is safe, for now. Apologies that we got you thrown into our mess."
"It's alright. Nothing too out of the ordinary. I've been aware of how things have been developing ever since the Rift showed up. It's been a treat to see something new show up every time." Diancie replied. "I've heard a lot from your land. Ash has been there a lot, right?"
"That's right. Equestria has been a hotspot for Rift-related activities and the source of many attacks. But, in the end, we manage to come out victorious, even if it's an uphill battle." The Sun Princess let out a light chuckle. "I believe the same thing is happening yet again. My own alter-ego from another universe is our next big threat, I'm afraid. And just lurking around the corner is someone named Prisma."
"I guess I have ways to go. I'm not that recent of a princess, but I'm still a bit new to all of this. You've been around for plenty of years though."
"Ah, you'll be fine. I can tell." Celestia had full faith in Diancie's leadership. "After all, you helped get us away from Daybreaker and Necrozma. Plus, since you're a friend of Ash, that just means you have the spirit and drive to do even better. Just saying."
"Voir. Gardevoir." The Embrace Pokemon agreed.
"If you've been aware of everything that's been happening lately, what about the Royal Phantasy?" She shifted her eyes to the side, bringing up the Royal Phantasy for the Jewel Pokemon.
"What's that?" The Diamond Princess asked.
"Something I could invite you to. All forms of royalty show up for it to discuss important matters. And, to have fun as well." Celestia introduced it to yet another ruler. "Speaking of fun, I can't wait to get back on track for this year's Pokemon Festival. I have to be careful though. Trouble is always nearby and with Daybreaker's group out there at this very moment, I can expect it."
"Are you used to it?"
"For somepony my age? Yes. Always have been, and always will be. I'd say the same goes for you."
"I'm not going to have to deal with centuries of problems, am I?!" Diancie gasped before putting her hands over her mouth, making sure she didn't wake anyone else up.
"Well, I can't say. Your Diamond Domain is different from Equestria and I'm not sure how long your species lives for. If it's as long as this old pony, then be ready for the worst." Celestia shrugged, laying it on thick for Diancie. The Jewel Pokemon gulped, knowing that she was going to live for a long time since she was a Mythical Pokemon.
"But don't let that worry you right now. Just think about how much fun you can have. After this, it's off to Blackthorn and back to Kalos. After that? Not sure." Celestia's eyes would slowly close, signifying her stamina running out. It was time for her to clock out as well.
"I'll leave this for you then when you wake up." In her hands, Diancie would craft a gift for Celestia. Since she could create diamonds out of thin air, Diance ended up forming a Diamond Model of Princess Celestia herself. Not only that, but she involved Ash and everyone else that showed up at the Diamond Domain.
Right as Celestia fell asleep, the model had been made. A perfect and beautiful design. Diancie placed it right next to Celestia while Passion admired its beauty. Celestia and the others would have something nice to wake up to.
Blackthorn City. Day.
Blackthorn City.
A mysterious mountain village cut into a rock face that is also known for being a quiet mountain retreat. Home to the Dragon-Type Specialist Clair, it was a large city with a small population to contrast it. Ash and his friends showed up here after leaving the Dragon Holy Land. If they wanted to head back to Kalos, they would have to go by boat, but not before they explore Blackthorn a bit.
Everyone here at Blackthorn City was unaware of the Diamond Domain just showing up last night. They were far too busy enjoying themselves after all. Diancie felt that it was probably for the best, even if she was currently out in the open, moving alongside Ash and the others.
"So, she's gotten that close to Ash? Oh, but he doesn't know?" Diancie spoke with Espeon, bringing up Ash and Twilight in the same discussion. "That makes sense."
"Espeon."
"Does Serena know?" Unexpectedly, Diancie brought up another one of Ash's friends to Espeon.
"Esp?" The Sun Pokemon lightly shrugged her body, unable to answer that. But she knew what Diancie was insinuating. The group found themselves over at Blackthorn's Gym, which was currently allowing Dragon Trainers far and wide to come over and try out for a Gym Leader role.
Pressing his face against the glass of this gym was Ash. He was currently looking to see if Clair was around. Perhaps she was still here or she had gone elsewhere. Whether it was to enjoy the Pokemon Festival or continue her training as a Dragon Trainer. "Uhh...No sign of her yet. I was gonna suggest something awesome to her. Thought Spike might try this place out."
"Let me see." Opening the doors was Luna, who introduced herself to the Trainers inside. At this moment, not only were there Dragon Trainers but also actual Dragons from Equestria and a few ponies. Dragons from the Dragon Land were present here, currently trying to put on the signature Dragon Trainer clothes.
Unfortunately for them, that was not working out. The clothes just didn't fit them even if they had humanoid appearances. The difference between a Human and a Dragon's body is night and day. One is consistent and the other isn't. Their wings would also break through the clothes, ruining them.
"Hm. I have no need for this. I have Zekrom on my side as proof of my Dragon Skills."
"And only Zekrom. I thought you caught a Pokemon of every type. Did you not catch a Dragon Pokemon during your midnight training?"
"Dragon-Types are hard to catch...Plus, I am a Trainer of all types. Not just one." Luna smirked. "But you have two Dragons, don't you? How long has it been since I've seen Kommo-o?"
"Ah, I'll pass on this one too." said Rainbow Dash. "I've got only one Dragon, but she's pretty awesome right now. What about you, Twilight?"
"Hm? I don't carry a Dragon-Type on me. They're mostly over at the PokePark honestly." Twilight shook her head. "Even then, I don't think I could be a Dragon Trainer."
"A Dragon Trainer? Could I be one?" Diancie, who had no clue of what a Dragon Trainer was, wished to be one. "I know a few Dragons!"
"I don't think so, Diancie. You'd probably just scare them as a Fairy." Rainbow humoured her.
"Well...All in agreement to head back to Kalos now?" Twilight asked to see if everyone was ready to set off and reunite with the rest of the group.
"Hold on..." Rainbow Dash wasn't ready to depart just yet. She observed the scenery a bit longer, seeing all the Dragon Trainers who were less experienced working as hard as they could. Mainly the Dragons from the Dragon Lands. "I can work with this, ya know. I was thinking of taking another shot at the Battle Frontier later on. But before that...I gotta polish up on a few things. You said Clair's the strongest Gym Leader of this region, right?"
"Yeah, but she's not here. Thinking of taking her on?" Ash theorized. What other reason would there be?
"Well...It was on my mind. I skipped out on some good battles so far. I mean, I've only been taking on enemies so far. I was gonna go for the Battle Frontier first but after what happened the first time I tried it out? No way. Not until I prepare myself." Rainbow Dash was clever with her decision to wait until her next Frontier Brain battle.
"If you're looking for Clair, she's not in this region right now." Thankfully, they got their answer from one of the more experienced Dragon Trainers around here. "Clair right now's gone to Equestria. She left on the day of the Pokemon Festival too."
"Equestria? Mmm..." The pegasus pouted her lips.
"You could say that. Clair decided to go to Equestria for the uh...I believe it's called the Harmony Phenomenon. She discovered something there."
"The Harmony Phenomenon? Well, yeah it showed up there but what is it?" said Ash.
"Her and a few other Dragon Trainers announced that they'd be heading to Equestria for that reason. The Harmony Phenomenon doesn't just benefit Equestria's residents after all. Her and the other Dragon Trainers discovered an area in Equestria that's new to the world."
"What? The Winged Mountain? Or anything similar to that?" Luna questioned.
"Not that, Princess Luna. It's an area that's flooding with Dragon Energy that was made by the Harmony Phenomenon, creating something new enitrely."
"I didn't hear about this!" Celestia wasn't even aware about this location's existence. It wasn't anywhere on the map. "When did it show up?"
"I believe it was one day before the Pokemon Festival." The Dragon Trainer answered. "So not too long ago. Clair said it came to her in a dream. It happened to a few of us too. Not all of us, but a few. We all had the same dream where we found about this one spot. Lance himself said that it was the magic there that called to them."
"Hmm..." Whipping out the map was Celestia. She took it from her saddlebag, seeing if there was any indication of it. Alas, there was no sign of this newly formed Dragon area. "Nothing at all. It went right under our noses it seems."
"We left Canterlot the second the festival began, but it should have at least been notified to us first." Luna uttered before letting out a small gasp. "Unless...This isn't just the Harmony Phenomenon at work."
"What do you mean, Princess Luna?" Twilight questioned.
"It could be from that lost universe Prisma used to live in. Then again, everything else we've seen from him doesn't relate to the Harmony Phenomenon."
"Mmm...I'd say it doesn't." The Dragon Trainer shrugged. "According to Clair and the others, the Harmony Phenomenon created it by itself."
"I didn't know it could do that." This made Celestia think for a moment. A phenomenon that created its own location was rather new to her, but she wondered if it was something that's happened in the Pokemon World before. The Diamond Domain could be an example. "Diancie. Was the Diamond Domain always a cave?"
"It was. It wasn't until the Heart Diamond showed up that it became more than a cave." Diancie confirmed.
"I see. Ash. Is there any place in the world that you know about which was made out of energy or magic?"
"Uhh..." Ash had to really think. He pressed his fingers on his head, looking back on all of his adventures. He's been across the world a lot and has seen so many areas but he had to recall which one of them had a more phenomenal creation.
A majority of places that came to mind were cities, towns and islands. All of which were natural but neither were crafted by phenomenon. Not the Amber Castle since that was constructed by actual amber. Not the Space-Time Towers, the Sea Temple Samiya, the Altar of the Sunne and Moone and so on. All of which had been made physically. "Maybe Arche Valley? No...I don't think there's been one."
"Then, in that case, we have something new to tackle. An area that's been made by the Harmony Phenomenon. Do you know what it looks like?"
"I saw it briefly in a dream. Not the whole place. But it didn't exactly look like a mountainside or any place Dragons usually hang out at. That's all I can share with you right now..." Unfortunately, that was all the Dragon Trainer could share. At least they had somewhere else to check out during the Pokemon Festival.
A new location that went under their noses completely and apparently called many Dragon Trainers. Not all of them though since Spike hadn't even brought it up once or even thought about heading there.
Kalos. Anistar City.
Back at Anistar City, at this very moment, Lucas was about to open a new gateway. He was already in the midst of doing so, holding his arms out while having his eyes closed. Right behind him were Sci-Twi and everyone else, cheering him on to make a new gateway. And since his existence was widespread thanks to what he could do, those at Anistar were also cheering for Lucas to make a new gateway. It was a new day after all and Lucas was fully refreshed.
"Take us somewhere great, Lucas!" Sweetie Belle cheered. "Take us to Sinnoh next!"
"Mmm...Easy enough for me. I know Sinnoh by the back of my mind." An easy task for Lucas since he was born and raised in Sinnoh.
"Nuh-uh! Choose Hoenn this time, please!" Apple Bloom had somewhere else in mind. "Make it Lilycove City too!"
"Or Pegalysium! That's a good place to be! Pretty high though...Just uh, don't make one on a cloud." Scootaloo suggested.
"Hold on!" Rarity halted him before he could open a new gateway. "Lucas, darling. You can't do it on your own. You've needed Twilight to help you open the gateway and she has Rift Magic. If you do it now, it could turn out wrong or you could feel more than just woozy."
"Oooh, you're right..." Lucas grit his teeth as the crowd groaned. But Rarity had a point. Lucas was only backed up by Twilight's Rift Magic and since she wasn't here at the moment, opening a new gateway wouldn't be safe and secure like before.
"But...What about you?" He glanced over at Sci-Twi, seeing her as a way to help open the gateway effortlessly.
"Me? I-I can't open it with you. I don't have Rift Magic, Lucas." Sci-Twi shook her head. She lacked that same magic as her Equestrian Counterpart, unfortunately. But Lucas saw something else that she had by her side.
"Not that This." He then grabbed onto the Arceus Pendant, lightly raising it. "You've got this with you."
"My Arceus Pendant?"
"I know Arceus. And this kinda thing isn't just for show." Hailing from Sinnoh himself, Lucas was well-versed in knowledge about Arceus. "This thing's special, isn't it?"
"It is. It can do a few things, but I don't know about helping with gateways. I haven't seen all that much from it.
"Now's a good time to test it out." But Lucas had full faith in this. Faith in Arceus and and faith in Sci-Twi. He held his hands out once more, thinking of a specific location to open up.
Sci-Twi looked at her pendant, wondering if it would accomplish anything. There was only one way to find out and that was by raising and aiming it at Lucas. At that moment, the pendant would start glowing, unleashing a beautiful divine light that captivated everyone's eyes. Lucas put on a smile even if he didn't look back. He just knew that the pendant was activating. Sci-Twi wasn't sure why or how it was activating now of all times.
It didn't have that much of a reaction at all this entire festival but it was only until he aimed it at Lucas. Now that she knew it had a response, she would keep it there for a while. From the pendant, the golden light would unleash a ray that touched Lucas's back. His body was soon enveloped by a golden light and following that was a flash of Rift Magic from his hands.
Appearing in front of Lucas was a gateway that was slowly forming. To the surprise of his friends, this plan was working. Rift Energy and Arceus's energy have meshed together before after all so this wasn't new. Following the unification of these two energies, the Palkia soul within Lucas was responding to it.
The signature pink glow of Palkia made an appearance, summoning pink particles. For a moment, Lucas's eyes would flash pink. Applejack gasped after noticing the change in Lucas's eyes, recalling the moment on the Ghost Train. But before anything else could happen, there was a sudden failure. The light of Arceus would pulsate for a moment, harming Lucas which immediately broke his concentration.
"Ow!" Lucas bellowed, followed by the pink glow in his eyes shattering like glass. It didn't exactly work like how he and everyone else wanted. The pulsation from the Light of Arceus had a rather violent reaction, almost as if it was denying this small event entirely, even breaking the gateway apart. Sci-Twi's eyes would shudder as she heard the most unusual sound after the pulsation went off, making her hands tremble.
"Lucas! Are you alright?!" Sci-Twi gasped, letting go of her pendant immediately.
"G-Guess that didn't work. Rift Energy might be the answer right now." Lucas chuckled as his back was smoking. "I tried. Came close, but not quite there."
"Guess we'll have to wait for Twilight and the others to get back." Scootaloo grumbled along with the crowd. A waste of a new gateway as many of them had plenty of places in mind. At least Lucas could still make them but only with the right support.
Sci-Twi then looked at her pendant, noticing the pulsation. It didn't go under her radar at all since it had a specific reaction to Lucas. it has never done that before. Sci-Twi didn't even know it had offensive capabilities. She had to wonder why it suddenly reacted to Lucas in such a way.
Sci-Twi always carries this pendant around with her, but she never put the time she needed into it compared to the Alpha Pokemon or even the newly researched shards. Now, she had a new reason to look further into it, but this would require a different kind of research.
Johto. Out in a mountainous area. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
Lucas's plan failed. But what it did was also cause one other drawback. The energy his plan gave off was still felt by those trying to tap into the gateways once more. It already worked for Daybreaker's group, allowing them to create a gateway that only lasts for 5 days. But it also reached another group attempting the same thing.
Appearing here was a Storm of Rift Energy, fixated on the Johto Region. Over the more mountainous area of the region, this storm would raise the rubble and shake the mountains. But it was not here to cause damage. Instead, it was here to send someone. There was one group who had different plans in mind, consistently sending one pony into this world. Appearing from that storm was Twilight Moonlight.
Once more, she arrived in this world, but not by the usual means. Thanks to Lucas, Twilight Moonlight's group sent her here by reacting to the near-creation of a gateway. "That worked well for us. He doesn't have Prisma's full capabilities yet so it's still flawed. But it'll do. How long can I stay here?"
"Since the gateway wasn't completed, we have at least 9 days to remain here." Compared to Daybreaker's group who only managed to create a gateway that will keep them here for 9 days, Twilight Moonlight's group improved on that and bumped it up to 9 days. It was still limited and imperfect, however. Speaking to Twilight Moonlight from the other world was none other than Silver Swirl herself. "Be careful, alright? Don't be too drastic this time. Just try and find Prisma and bring him back here." Silver Swirl ordered. She knew how Twilight Moonlight gets with her missions. She was rather aggressive and unrelenting with a consistent streak of destruction.
"I'll bring Prisma back this time. The main one is here in Johto, just as we read. And this time, I'll have more time on my hooves."
Blackthorn City.
Ready to depart from Johto, they would take the S.S Aqua. A boat that traverses ocean paths using hydraulic power. Their destination was the Kalos Region and coming along with them was the surprise guest of Diancie who was just happy to be here. That is until one her servants immediately took action.
"Wait!" Moving here at high speeds and leaving behind a trail of dust was none other than Merrick. "Princess Diancie!"
"Yes, Merrick? Is something wrong?" Diancie faced her servant.
"You can't possibly be leaving for another region right now?!"
"What's the problem? Hasn't she already done it before?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Only limited to the Kalos Region!" Merrick jumped up and down with steam erupting from the side of his head. "And we've only used the pedestal scarcely! Plus, it's energy is being absorbed by that vortex! You can't leave now of all times!"
"No need to worry. I've called for help from the Pokemon Rangers. Your pedestal's energy will be contained by the devices they have." Celestia said. "If you don't mind the use of technology."
"Not at all but..." Merrick grumbled. "You can't leave to another region, even if it's the one we were born and raised in. You could end up elsewhere!"
"That's the plan~" Diancie giggled. "I don't get to do much outside of Kalos and this is my chance. I'll be fine as always."
"You haven't even gone across most of Johto the second you arrived." Merrick groaned.
"The S.S Anne won't go straight to Kalos. We'll have to take another ship after we're done with this one and nothing's stopping you all from coming along."
"But we must stay at the Diamond Domain at all costs. It's far too risky to leave it out in the open." Merrick vehemently disagreed. "Princess Diancie! If you're going to leave, you will at least make your visit short. A day or two!"
"A day or two? That's not any fun." Diancie grumbled. "How about you come with us, Merrick?" Choosing to let him come along, Diancie picked up the Carbink. "As your princess, I allow it."
"Oooh...Curses." Merrick groaned. He couldn't object to this since Diancie used her princess status to her advantage which she doesn't do all that often. She just wants to have fun as herself instead, which the other princesses could relate to. The rest of the Carbink were already making their way to see their princess off before they return to the Diamond Domain.
The S.S Aqua.
Indeed, Merrick was dragged along. He was the only Carbink that was brought here. Now on the ship, they could sit back and wait for it to reach its next destination. Celestia looked outside to see the Dragon Holy Land and the spot where the Diamond Domain forced itself onto.
It could be seen from this part of the ship easily but the existence of the Rift Vortex underneath would be invisible for the most part. Celestia made sure that this would be known to the public since the Pokemon Rangers would soon be heading there. As it stands now, the Diamond Domain was safe from Necrozma's clutches, for now.
With the ship preparing to depart, the Carbink outside would jump up and down, bidding farewell to their princess until she returns. They had full faith in Ash and his friends to keep her safe. So did Dace. Merrick, wasn't on the same page as he was already fearing the worst. Right as the ship was ready to depart, Ash ran into two familiar faces on board. Straight from Johto itself, but also heading elsewhere during this Pokemon Festival.
Hollow and Jewel.
"Oh, Hollow! Jewel!" Ash exclaimed.
"Morning..." Hollow replied to Ash with a rather weak voice. Ash immediately spotted bags under his eyes. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" This was then followed up by a weak smile.
"Look at you all! Healthy as the day we last saw you!" Jewel said, with more energy behind her voice. Noticeably, she was holding something covered in a cloth in her arms.
"We haven't seen you at the Pokemon School for a while, Hollow." Twilight pointed out. "I just thought that was because of the gateway problems we were having. A lack of them."
"Well, I couldn't leave my home at all with that distance. I wouldn't have had enough time." Hollow shrugged, followed by a sigh. "A lot happened. One major thing happened and I guess I can come back to the school pretty soon...By the way, is that Diancie with you?"
"Hm?" Ash would turn his attention to what was in Jewel's arms. At that moment, he heard a light cry.
"I know you hear him. Here he is, Ash." Jewel would answer Ash's curiosity immediately Lo and behold, with enough months passing, the baby of Hollow and Jewel was born. A baby boy in the hands of Jewel. "Our little boy Earn."
"Aww, cute!" Twilight, Diancie, Celestia and Luna gushed at the baby boy who was currently fast asleep. They could already see the resemblance. He appeared to have Jewel's blonde hair and Hollow's face.
"He was born just a few months ago and is already as healthy as he can be. And more. Hollow's been couped up at home, unable to do all that much."
"Mhm." Hollow confirmed. "It's his first Pokemon Festival too, so we're going to make sure this goes well for him. So far, nothing's gone wrong in this year's Festival. Only positives since we're getting gateways back."
"Uhh...Yeah." Rainbow Dash squeed as she was obviously lying. A few things have occurred that could be considered going wrong. The threat of Daybreaker's group was still out there.
"I've never seen a Human Baby before." Diancie peered over.
"Oh, my. That is a Diancie. And Zeraora?" It was only now that Jewel realized such a Mythical Pokemon was present here. The passengers on board obviously saw her. Some knew who Diancie was and some didn't, spotting this Pokemon for the very first time.
"Aren't your hands made out of rocks? You might hurt him." Rainbow Dash uttered. "I mean...unless you can control it, like Bisharp or Rapidash."
"Umm..." Diancie looked at her own hands, knowing that they were as hard as rocks. The Jewel Pokemon puffed her cheeks, realizing that she might end up hurting Earn in the process. "Mmm!"
"I'll have you know that the princess's hands are delicate, as they should be!" Merrick frantically jumped up and down, roaring at Rainbow Dash yet again.
"That was in my ear..." The pegasus groaned. The S.S Anne was off, ready to head to its next destination. It would be a long trip, but the Pokemon Festival exists even on ships.
By this point, the afternoon Sun had risen over the Johto Region. Here on the ship, there was a buffet going on where Ash and his friends could freely feast. And feast they did. it was already expected of Ash, Pikachu and Rainbow Dash to absolutely demolish the food with their wild ways of eating.
Zeraora was in the same boat as them, showing no mercy to the food in front of her. Compared to the others who had a more refined way of eating. Mainly the princesses. Diancie watched how Ash, Pikachu, Rainbow and Zeraora demolished the food in front of them, wondering if she could do the same.
Merrick showed a fussy face, not wanting the princess to act in such a way. But when looking over at Celestia, Luna and Twilight, they encouraged her to do so since there was no shame in it. But the way they ate was still polished compared to Ash and Rainbow Dash.
Taking this advice from her fellow Princesses, Diancie would do just that, eating the way she wanted. In the end, it was the same way she always does.
In the kitchen, Celesita's Alcremie was currently present, wishing to whip up something for her favourite trainer. "Cremie!" Alcremie immediately whipped up a swirl of cream from her bare hands, going for Celestia's favourite flavour. Vanilla. The cooks gasped as a tall tower of cream was made right in front of them.
Of course, Alcremie couldn't do it on her own. She could only make the cream after all. Naturally, this wasn't taken well by the Pokemon of the chefs, who would try and rant at Alcremie, but that wasn't going to stop her. All of Ash's Pokemon were free to wander the ship as well as Luna's Pokemon. Some skipped out on having a meal, only to end up in rooms were food could still be found.
"Snorlax!" Snorlax was already on his way to find a new buffet, going straight for the kitchen. Following him were Totodile and Gible who wanted a bite as well. There wasn't just one room with a buffet. The S.S Anne during the Pokemon Festival was absolutely loaded with things to do and eat.
"Bay! Bay!" Currently, Bayleef was being pulled back by Ash and Luna's Gliscor since they didn't want her bothering Ash. Bayleef tried her best to overpower them, but it was no use. The two Gliscor pulled her away from this interruption. Ash and Luna's Pokemon would continue to interact with each other while moving across the ship, which was also flooded with plenty of Pokemon.
Many Trainers had sent their own Pokemon out to roam the ship, which brought many other interactions. Oshawott could already be seen flocking to a Mawile with hearts in his eyes, only to be halted by Snivy's vines and many more. They would all be occupied indeed.
All the while this was happening and everyone was enjoying themselves, there was one guest who wasn't exactly as ecstatic at the moment.
Located on the higher levels of the ship, sitting in luxury was none other than Twilight Moonlight. She managed to enter the S.S. Anne, specifically following Ash due to this connection to Prisma.
At the moment, it was currently her. None of her allies have shown up to assist her. At least, not yet. The harsh counterpart of Twilight was patiently sitting on the bed, knowing it would be foolish to act at this very moment. She was outnumbered by many powerful trainers currently on Ash's side. And Ash is a powerful trainer to boot.
"Once nightfall hits and everyone's asleep, that's when I'll act. But my counterpart has an Absol with her, doesn't she? And there are other nocturnal Pokemon." Twilight Moonlight said to herself, already plotting her next move. Right now, she couldn't do anything at all and simply had to wait. I have to sort that out as well. But how?"
At that moment, the door to her room opened up. Opening it was one of the Pokemon roaming around, who got curious. In this case, it was a Nidorino who was joined by a Nidorina. "Nido?"
"!" Twilight Moonlight gazed at them both, immediately sending a sense of fear through their hearts. The Nido-Duo were intimidated, closing the door and zipping away from Twilight Moonlight. She would continue to sit here, staying silent while also using her magic to lock the door.
But while she was here, she might as well do something to kill some time. In this case, she would lie down instead. That was her solution instead of doing anything active. By the time she wakes up, it'll be nightfall. Twilight Moonlight wasn't afraid to be nocturnal as well.
Currently, three Twilights were getting closer and closer Two of which were on the same boat while another was all the way over at the Kalos Region. There was a fourth one, but she had her own method of getting around while also focusing on her Prisma mission as well.
Twilight Sparkle was already putting herself to sleep after finishing her meal. She would rest for a while before continuing. Both Twilights were now asleep.
Alola. An Unknown Island.
Meanwhile, at the Alola Region, Daybreaker's group were still on that island. They had yet to leave it. Not just because it was smack-dab in the middle of the ocean, but because of Necrozma's current predicament.
When trying to remove these diamonds from his body and the Unown, they found themselves struggling. The diamonds around Necrozma's body were not coming off at all. Try as they might, nothing was working. They tried smashing against them, but that was a failure. Chipping away wouldn't do a thing either. Daybreaker even used her overwhelming flames against them and yet they did not melt or face any form of destruction.
"Just what are these diamonds made out of?!" Daybreaker roared. "My flames can't melt them?!"
"Drat! If my Unown were freed, this wouldn't be an issue!" Second Wind groaned. "I can't stay here! I have a new kingdom and country to rule!" Second Wind was more worried about losing her position of power. "If anypony from the previous Pegalysium finds out about my absence, it'll all be over!"
"Worry about that another time!" Daybreaker bellowed. "J! Aren't you going to do what you do best? You were so confident yesterday."
"I can't tell where we are. What is this island anyway?" Hunter J was currently facing problems herself. The Alola Region was brand new to her but her technology wasn't helping either way. She was looking at a map of Alola on her phone, only to find absolutely nothing on her location. "I don't think this island is on the map."
"So they sent us to an unknown island? Curse them." Daybreaker scoffed. "But clever...Sending us to a completely different region. I'm not sure how they pulled it off...but I'll remember this."
Appearing from above were Daybreaker and Second Wind's troops who tried searching for a way out of here by simply taking flight and finding another location. They returned with news but from the looks on their faces, it wasn't positive. "Your majesty. We've flown out of the island and..."
"And what? What did you find?" Daybreaker questioned.
"The same island." The troops answered with nervousness in their voice. "We ended up finding this island instead and nothing else."
"So...It's one of these islands." Daybreaker narrowed her eyes. She was familiar with these types of islands that feel like they're in the middle of nowhere. They were always mysterious and perfectly placed in certain positions. "That's troublesome, but not impossible
"Well...The most we can do is wait for the 5 days to be over for us. And then we'll try again."
"We won't do just that," Daybreaker added. "We'll do more than that. We'll explore this island a bit until those 5 days are over for us."
"What's there to find on an island such as this?"
"Here's your first guide as a Queen from yours truly," Daybreaker smirked. "If something isn't on the map at all, then there is obviously something off about it. The fact that it's out in the middle of nowhere is the first red flag. And now that we know it isn't on the map and flying out of it brings us back, tells us that there's something here. Something we can use."
"Without my Unown though..." Second Wind groaned, unable to utilize the power of the Unown at all. She was always used to having others do her dirty work for her. And while she still had some of her troops here, she got comfortable with the Unown fast.
Daybreaker's group would stay behind here at the mysterious island, using it to their advantage instead of just doing nothing. There was indeed something peculiar about it and they have yet to explore it. Now was the time for them to see what it had to offer. Gardevoir couldn't be bothered to do so. But she'd rather find something else than sit around, sulking in her own weakness.
Johto. S.S Anne. Late Afternoon.
The ship was still moving. It wasn't time for Ash's group to depart just yet. With the late afternoon sun rising, another day of the Pokemon Festival was slowly about to come to an end. Celestia was currently looking at the schedule of the S.S Aqua, seeing that she had a few stops left until she could catch another ship that would take her to Kalos.
Earn would wake up, already meeting Ash. Upon meeting him, the son of Hollow and Jewel would grab onto Ash's face with vigour pulling on it. Ash allowed it to happen as Earn had quite the grip on him. Now he could really see Hollow's face when looking at him.
"Mmmrgh..." While asleep, both Twilights suddenly started twitching. It happened at the same time, but this was not a coincidence. There was a reason for it. Both of them felt the same thing.
It prompted them to wake up in unison, having the same shocked reaction. It was a new type of feeling that neither had felt before. It was similar to when Twilight Sparkle met Twilight Wish but greatly elevated. And it all happened outside.
Many pressed their faces on the windows of the S.S Aqua, witnessing what was appearing on the seas. A flash of dimensional energy happened over the ocean, followed by a certain structure appearing. This was the reason Twilight Sparkle and Twilight Moonlight had such a sudden shared reaction. Lo and behold, it was none other than the Dimensional Castle of Twilight Wish.
"Twilight Wish is here?!" Luna gasped upon seeing the familiar castle. This was unforeseen, but both Twilights promised that they would see each other again soon. And that was very much true.
Sparkle and Moonlight had both seen Wish's Castle, having separate reactions. Twilight Sparkle was elated to see the castle since it meant she would reunite with her counterpart rather soon. Twilight Moonlight kept her serious expression, however. For her other counterpart to be here, she knew that it was serious and it obviously involved her. She moved away from the window, staying silent once more.
As for Twilight Wish, she made the castle park right next to the S.S Aqua. The Dimensional Energy latched itself onto the side of the ship, essentially glueing itself there. The doors to the castle open, showing Twilight Wish herself. But while some familiar faces were happy to see her, the counterpart was here for a completely different.
"Two of me are on board of this ship. I hope I'm not too late." She was aware of not just Twilight Sparkle but also Twilight Moonlight. This one plan from Lucas kickstarted this moment but it was really the cause of the Light of Arceus that brought it all together. What will occur once all three Twilights are in the same room together?
Johto. The S.S Aqua. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
Arriving here on the seas of Johto and parking right next to the S.S Aqua was the Dimensional Castle Twilight Wish uses. She was here for one reason. Twilight Wish was aware of two Twilights being in the same area this close to each other and now that she was here, a certain reaction went off that alerted Twilight Sparkle and Twilight Moonlight.
All she had to do was get up there on the S.S Aqua. While she didn't have wings, she had levitation. Using her magic, she carried herself through the air.
"Hold it. You haven't paid for this ship. No access." An employee halted Twilight Wish, holding his hand out the second she got near one of the platforms.
"Marill!" A Marill, who was wearing a cap and an employee on this ship would do the same.
"Pay?!" She jerked back. Quickly, she looked into her saddlebag, searching for a form of currency to use. "Can I still get on if I just showed up? Will this do?" She revealed a small bit of currency that she was carrying with her. It was not much at all.
"Hmmm..." The employee and Marill observed the currency. "Sorry. No can do. This isn't the right currency anyway.
"Ah." Twilight Wish lowered her head in defeat. "Figured. Different world, different currency."
"It's alright. Let her on." Allowing access for Twilight Wish was Princess Celestia. She had all the power here after all. The employee and Marril understood, giving entry to Twilight Wish.
"Oh, thank you, Princess Celestia!" Relieved, Twilight Wish shot herself on board, ending her levitation. "Glad I showed up at this time. The castle was ready to go somewhere else. Honestly, I was hoping for Sinnoh..."
"Another Twilight..." Ash gawked, seeing Twilight Wish for the first time. The resemblance was there yet again but this Twilight looked a bit more like Twilight Velvet. At least when looking at her mane and tail style. "She looks like her mom this time. Feels like we've done this before..."
"Pika."
"Oh!" Twilight Wish jerked up after seeing Ash. Immediately, she saw Prisma, much like how she saw that enigmatic character in Hilbert and the others. "Ooh...You look like him the most."
"What are you doing here?" Twilight Sparkle approached her other self.
"I'm hoping you felt it too. I sure did. Do you remember that feeling you got when you first met me?" Twilight Wish got straight to the point, making sure her counterpart was immediately fixated on it.
"Yes? And...I got something else recently. But it didn't feel like what happened last time." Twilight Sparkle was on the same page. "But you just showed up here though."
"We probably shouldn't be too close with each other." Twilight Wish moved back. "Because there's one more of us on board. I didn't show up when you were near another Twilight. You called her Sci-Twi, right?"
"One other? That would mean..." It clicked for Twilight. She knew who the other Twilight was. The more aggressive one. "Is she here?! Right now!"
"Mmm...Right now." Twilight Wish confirmed it without holding back at all. Twilight Moonlight was indeed on the S.S Aqua right now. And of course, Twilight Moonlight herself was already planning ahead, listening in on this conversation. She had her head near the door, staying silent and observant. "It's dangerous for all four, a minimum of three of us to be near each other."
"Why would it be?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "Ash has been around Red and the others before. What's so different about this?"
"Well, for us...there's a different rule. Only me and Moonlight know this. No matter what, the four of us cannot meet up again. We each have to be distant from each other two of us should at least be near one another. Never together."
"But why? Wouldn't it be a positive if all four were together?" Luna wasn't seeing the flaw here at all.
"It should be. But there's a massive drawback. One that was left behind by Prisma." Once more, Prisma was involved in this and Twilight Wish and Luminaria knew about this drawback. "It's a bit faint but we know it. Before we split up, Prisma made sure that reuniting would spell a disaster."
"Of course it's Prisma..." Twilight Sparkle sighed. "But why would all four of us lead to that? Wouldn't it be a positive based on what we've heard"
"Uhh..." Twilight Wish grimaced, looking to the side. "I was going to save this until the right time. But now is the right time. You should hear this. What's the name of that one Twilight who's apparently evil? I never got her name. Only heard things about her. She looks like all of us but she's like our alter-ego though."
"You mean Midnight Sparkle?" There was only one pony that came to mind and that was Midnight Sparkle, as said by Ash.
"That's the one!" Twilight Wish confirmed. "That's who we should be careful of. Twilight Luminaria's alter-ego is Midnight Sparkle. Except her name is Midnight Luminaria instead. That's another thing we all share in common. During their last confrontation, Prisma did something to her that birthed an alter-ego. But Midnight won't show up if the two of us meet. Not even for a moment."
"Of course not! Twilight's all good!" Rainbow Dash praised her alicorn friend, placing her hoof around her neck.
"I don't know about all..." Twilight grumbled, being rather modest and humble about herself.
"But it's important to know this. I don't mean to sound rude but it's true. Both Twilight Moonlight and Sci-Twi are the closest to becoming Midnight. If we're to reunite, the chances of us emerging as Twilight Luminaria become split. It's either Midnight or Twilight."
"Is that why Twilight Moonlight was after you?" Celestia referred back to when Twilight Wish was being hunted down by Twilight Moonlight and her group. That hunt was still going on to this day.
"Oh, no, no. That was another reason entirely. Either way, I can't get too close to her if there's more than two of us around. I was thinking of coming here to warn you all and prevent the three of us from meeting up. As long as I can do that, it'll be fine. Plus...I'm in a bit of danger myself by being here."
Twilight Wish was onto something. Sci-Twi already became Midnight Sparkle once and even though she was defeated, that part of her still remains. After all, Zeraora sensed her presence upon seeing Sci-Twi just once. Ash knew this too and now this puts a new perspective on things.
Either Twilight Moonlight or Sci-Twi will result in another emergence of Midnight Sparkle. On top of that, there was also the fear of Prisma returning. Those two powerful figures returning could spell something truly horrific the likes of which have never seen before.
Twilight Moonlight was aware of this as well. And after listening in to this, she moved away from the door, knowing what was coming next. Her existence of the S.S Aqua was known by the others now.
"So, where is she?" Celestia shifted her eyes, searching for Twilight Moonlight at once. Ash's Lucario was already out, using his Aura to sense her presence. Lucario was thinking about how Twilight Moonlight's Aura would be identical to Sparkle and Sci-Twi. Twilight Wish even had the same Aura as the three of them so Moonlight should definitely have it.
To conceal herself, Twilight Moonlight hid her Aura as this made her completely invisible to Lucario's ability to read Auras with ease. The Aura Pokemon sensed plenty of Auras near and far but failed to find Twilight Moonlight's.
"Rrr." Lucario shook his head, unable to get a read on her Aura. It was only Sparkle and Wish's Auras that were present here. Avoiding Lucario's detection, Twilight Moonlight would head elsewhere. So much for waiting until the night. She had to act now otherwise it might be over for her. For 9 days at least.
"You can't find her Aura?" Ash translated. "You're sure she's on this ship?"
"Positive." Twilight Wish was fully confident. "She knows a lot of spells that'll help her here and there. She's probably using an Aura Concealment spell to hide herself."
"She can do that?" said Rainbow Dash. "I wish we had Pinkie or Fluttershy here right about now. We could hear her hoofsteps or even pick out her scent. I mean, you all smell the same right?"
"Gross!" Twilight Sparkle and Twilight Wish collectively replied to Rainbow Dash's comment.
"Oh, we'll find her. And we'll have plenty of questions to give her. Plus, she's Wanted at the moment." Celestia promised, narrowing her eyes at the door in front of her. The search for Twilight Moonlight had begun.
"Just to help me out...I need your assistance. Please." From her saddlebag, Wish held out a Poke Ball, calling for help from her own Pokemon. And it was a Pokemon no one here had seen before.
"Meowscarada!"
"Oh! Who's that?!" Naturally, Ash and the others reacted to this feline Pokemon.
"Meowscarada. The Magician Pokemon. This Pokémon uses the reflective fur lining its cape to camouflage the stem of its flower, creating the illusion that the flower is floating. With skillful misdirection, it rigs foes with pollen-packed flower bombs. Meowscarada sets off the bombs before its foes realize what’s going on."
"This isn't my first time interacting with Moonlight. Neither is it Meowscarada's. After a bunch of close encounters with her, she's gotten pretty good at sniffing her out."
"Meow." Meowscarada also looked rather proud of that, even if that wasn't her true speciality. Enough encounters with Twilight Luminaria have allowed her to gain this speciality. Immediately, the Grass-Dark-Type would begin searching for Twilight Moonlight, knowing what scent to follow.
Meanwhile, Celestia and the others would set off to search the entire ship.
"I'm so lost on what's going on..." Hollow was still rather tired, unable to keep up with these recent developments.
"Worry not. You three should sit back as a family." Luna suggested. "We wouldn't your baby getting caught up in this."
"Neither will you, Princess Diancie!" Merrick was already predicting what Diancie would try and do since she was also on board this ship. "All this blabber about alternate universes and counterparts is something you should absolutely stay out of and-"
"Too late!" But Diancie was already on her way, making Merrick gasp with shock. She was excited to be involved with Ash's adventures once more and she would also love to help. Quickly, Merrick would pursue the princess before anything terrible happens. Neither knew how dangerous Twilight Moonlight could be.
Twilight Moonlight was already back in the room she decided to stay in once the hunt began. She teleported there to save up time but to also think of a solution. Right now, she was being searched and could be arrested without a doubt. After what she's done, no doubt they would take her in.
"I can't have them stop me now. Not when I'm this close. If they find me with scent, I'll have to drown it out with something." Her eyes were quickly surveying the area, seeing what she could do. If anyone spots her, they'll know she looks exactly like Twilight herself. And there was also the fact that her Cutie Mark was that of the moon and other factors that would give her away.
Looking at the room, she eyed down the beautiful vase of daisies that were placed here. Exactly what she needed. Twilight Moonlight used a spell on the daisies, immediately summoning a powerful scent that they would not usually give out at all. But thanks to Twilight Moonlight's magic, she elevated the scent to a greater level.
Opening the door, she let the scent of the daisies run wild across the ship, but it wouldn't just be strong. It had another effect that Twilight Moonlight added. But she also couldn't stay in this room forever. She had to be on the move.
The scent of daisies quickly flooded the rooms of the S.S Aqua, especially when involving those who were just casually enjoying themselves on the calm seas of Johto. An elder man and his Farfetch'd were nearby, being the first to feel the effects.
"Oooh...Now might be a good time to sleep, wouldn't you agree?" The effect was a Drowsy Effect, intended to knock them all out. It was already showing off its effect, making the old man and his Farfetch'd yawn. The two of them were put to sleep immediately, but not of their own will.
And soon, this effect would hit everyone else. The Pokemon who were sent out to roam the ship would be strong victims of it and even their trainers. Many Pokemon would pick up on the scent of the daisies which is very much pleasing. However, it wasn't quick to put all of them to sleep.
Some Pokemon did yawn, but they had the energy to stay up for a little while. Those in the kitchen were certainly affected which was a massive red sign.
"Oooh...We can't fall asleep now. We haven't finished tonight's meal." For a cook to fall asleep at this time was a huge mistake, especially when they were still cooking. But some of them failed to muster the strength to wake up. One cook ended up plating her face in a bowl of food, falling asleep.
"Cremie?! Alcremie!?" Alcremie gasped after seeing the sudden shutdown in the kitchen. Left and right, cooks were falling asleep, leaving their food unattended. Something like this was not only unacceptable, but it was also not safe. With no one to tend for the kitchen, other problems are bound to appear. And of course, she was next. "Al...Cremie..." The Fairy-Type yawned, powerless before the sweet scent of Drowsy Daisies. Unable to stay up, she would also fall asleep, lying on the table.
The length of Twilight Moonlight's spell was truly impressive, being able to move such great distances, even taking out the captain and everyone in the control room. The Control Room was inactive at the moment while the ship was still moving. With no one to move it, it was bound to run into even larger problems than the kitchen.
But for Twilight Moonlight, this was all necessary until she could find a way out of it. Leaving the ship wouldn't do. She was planning on getting out of here any time soon. Not until she completes her mission.
There were places that the scent hadn't reached just yet due to the S.S Aqua's size, but it would certainly get there. Ash's Pokemon were affected too since they were all roaming the ship. It was only natural for some of them to fall asleep as well. But not all of them fell asleep.
Some of Ash's Pokemon had the strength to stay up a bit longer, but they couldn't keep it up forever. From Krookodile to Torterra, they were running out of energy already, even if the afternoon Sun was preparing to set, just to give way for the Moon.
"M-Man..." It wasn't long until Ash and the others felt it too. When searching for Twilight Moonlight, they came across the daisy scent which would drown everything else out. Meowscarada already lost Twilight Moonlight's scent in exchange for this. "I'm already tired?"
"Pika-Pika..."
"For all of us to suddenly feel drowsy...? This is Moonlight's doing." Twilight Wish already knew who was behind this drowsy feeling. Who else but Twilight Moonlight? "She's trying to slow us down..."
"Meowscarada..." Meowscarada groaned as her movements were slowing down. At this ate, they wouldn't find Twilight Moonlight at all and she could potentially get a lot done while they're all asleep.
Shutting this down immediately was Celestia. By using her magic, she managed to reverse the scent on her friends and family, erasing it with her own spell. Ash and the others were immediately forced awake by this jolt of magic that struck their senses. Just like that, they were back to full energy before they could be put to sleep.
"If we can't find her with Aura or potentially scent, we'll have to find her another way. Rainbow Dash." The Sun Princess turned to Rainbow Dash, knowing what she had to do.
"Already on it!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, throwing one of her Poke Balls into the air. Out of it emerged Luxray. The Pokemon with X-Ray Vision.
"Luxray!" With X-Ray Vision, Luxray could look through the walls and lock onto Twilight Moonlight since her Aura was completely invisible. The unison of Luxray and Meowscarada could lead to them finding Moonlight. These two cats wouldn't let their friends down for even a moment. With his eyes flashing, Luxray was already looking through the walls of the ship and what he saw caught him off guard.
He saw how many others were currently asleep or were being put to sleep at this very moment. Many were tired, some were even falling asleep at the worst possible time. He had only one pony to find and she was behind it all. Seeing all of the bodies asleep, Luxray decided to follow this trail, hoping it would lead him to the culprit.
The further Ash and the others went, the more people and Pokemon they saw completely slumped and asleep. The scent already reached them. Not only that, the Sun was setting, showing signs of the Moon making an appearance. Diancie wasn't exactly an expert at searching but she was trying her best, passing by the fallen people and Pokemon who were snoozing.
Zeraora was also on the move, moving as fast as she could to try and find Moonlight. Even the sound of Thunder that she left behind wasn't enough to wake up those who had fallen asleep. Pikachu hopped over a pile of people who fell asleep on the same spot, having sweet dreams in the process.
By now, no one knew where Twilight Moonlight was at all and not even Luxray could find her. Lo and behold, his X-ray was failing him, unable to detect the counterpart of Twilight Sparkle. "Lux...!"
"Still can't find her? But how?" Rainbow Dash said with confusion in her tone. Surely by now, Luxray would be able to find Twilight Moonlight with his X-ray.
"For Luxray's X-ray to fail as well...Do you think she could be using another spell for this?" Luna questioned. "She's already gotten a head start over all of us."
"She could be anywhere but we just don't know." Celestia's eyes rapidly moved across the area. "If we don't hurry, another spell of hers could fool us."
They had to keep moving but at this point, they were hoping that they would eventually run into her. And the best way for them to do so was to cover more ground. Moving in a group just wouldn't do. Moving past the many doors, the group would split up into smaller groups just to track down Twilight Luminaria.
In her mind, Twilight Sparkle was thinking of another method that would help her find Twilight Moonlight. "If I can get close to her, I can feel her." A rather dangerous one that involved both of them meeting up. She was going to use the distance to her advantage. She knew that getting close to Twilight Moonlight would spark a certain reaction within her that would be rather uneasy. And that was exactly what she was going to do. Leaving the group, she would see if she could get close enough.
Running up the stairs, Twilight could feel that strange sensation within her acting up. She wasn't going to slow down at all until she was near. Rows of people and Pokemon completely asleep were passed by as the rays of Moonlight from outside were beginning to shine through the ship. The employee and the Marill from before had also been knocked out by the scent of Drowsy Daisies.
Twilight Sparkle ended up in the dressing room of the S.S Aqua. This room was meant for those who would partake in a clothing party, mainly at night. The room is overflowing with colourful clothing, racks upon racks of garments hung haphazardly from the walls and strewn across the floor a wild and boisterous celebration. But no one was going to be using this at all since many were slumbering.
Everything was quiet on the ship, aside from the occasional boom of thunder that came from Zeraora's movements. But this silence was rather eerie, making Twilight Moonlight all the more elusive. Twilight and her partner Espeon slowed down when entering this room, hoping to find Twilight Moonlight in here. She felt a strange feeling in her heart, indicating that she was getting close.
"Moonlight. If you're here or near...I want to talk to you. Please?" Twilight wished to chat with her other self instead, wanting to do things differently since it was her.
Appearing in this room by releasing her concealment spell was none other than Twilight Moonlight herself. She used another spell to hide herself from Luxray's vision, successfully eluding them with different methods. "I was hoping you would say that."
"!" Surprised that it worked, Twilight Sparkle turned to see her counterpart. And now that the two of them were this close to each other, that sensation was going off once more. It was unlike what happened with Twilight Wish at all. This one was very uneasy for her.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Twilight Moonlight said. "That sensation. That's our true self calling to us."
"Are you talking about Midnight or not?" Twilight questioned.
"Not her. Never her." Twilight Moonlight moved the clothes aside when getting closer to Twilight Sparkle. "It was inevitable for us to meet eventually. I was hoping it wasn't like this though."
At last, Twilight Sparkle and Twilight Moonlight encountered each other during the early night when the Moon was rather bright, the ship was silent and the people and Pokemon were asleep. Such an encounter could have different outcomes and Twilight was already thinking about the worst now that she's seen her other self from another world. Her more aggressive self. Just what will become of this interaction?
Johto. The S.S Aqua. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
Encountering her other self in the changing room of the S.S Aqua was Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Moonlight appeared before her, responding to her words which was rather surprising. Given how she was, it didn't seem like she would be the type to just reveal herself in this way.
"I heard it all. Everything that was said about me. Do you honestly think I'm going to cause that?" Twilight Moonlight revealed how she was listening in on everything else.
"I don't know...Are you?" Twilight Sparkle wasn't fully sure. "From what I've heard and seen, you're not exactly the safest Twilight to be around.
"Of course not. Do you think I'd let her show up?" But Moonlight denied such a possibility. She was against the possibility of her being the result of Midnight Luminaria appearing. "I've grown past the point where she'll ever be a problem for me."
"You have?"
"If you're going to believe Wish, then you'll have to believe me. I certainly believe in myself
"But you're still trying to capture Ash. You're even planning to destroy him and you've attacked areas too."
"I have. But I have to. And I'm not leaving here until he comes along with me. I don't want you getting in the way."
"Well...I won't let you. I'd never let anyone threaten my friends.
"I see..." Twilight Moonlight closed her eyes but then put on a smirk. "Unfortunately, you can't really leave this room now. You're already stuck here."
"What?!" Swiftly turning around, Twilight saw that the door to this room was suddenly gone. Expunged and removed from sight. There was no indication of this at all. Not a sound or sign. It was just gone.
"Right now, you're in my Moon Space. It's my own personal space from my own personal spell. You should stay here until I'm done with my mission." Twilight Moonlight walked past her, only for Twilight Sparkle to stand in her way.
"Personal space or not. I won't let you harm Ash and take him away!" Twilight objected along with Espeon.
"Esp!"
"Mmm." She closed her eyes once more, letting out a deep grumble. "Silver warned me about something like this. And I agreed with her. No matter what, no harm should be brought upon you. But I'm not afraid to take action when needed. You're going to move aside and I'm taking Ash with me. And by extension, I'll also take Wish with me. We need her as well."
"Then won't you need me too? I'm also Twilight."
"Eh. I don't really care all that much for Wish. I've only ever been in interested in Prisma, but it's still important that she comes with us. Especially when she has one of these." From her saddlebag, Moonlight revealed that enigmatic regalia. Or at least, a part of it. It was still one half of a crown that let off a strange light.
"What is that?" Twilight gawked at the regalia, gazing at its beautiful shine.
"This is Twilight Luminaria's crown. Or at least, a part of it. Now, it's just a split-up regalia. I have this piece and Wish has the other one. The remaining four have yet to be found. Once all four of them come together, then the crown will be restored and it'll help in keeping Prisma from ever returning."
"That looks just like the Empess's crown." Twilight also recognized the style of that crown as the one Empress Twilight wore. And a little bit of Celestia's design was plastered on it.
"You and that other Twilight don't have those pieces, so we have no reason to take you in. But believe me, taking Wish in isn't something I'm too fond of. But it has to be done."
"You're not going to stop are you...?" Twilight Sparke lowered her eyes, knowing that Twilight Moonlight was dedicated to her mission.
"Not for a moment."
"Then, I have to stop you." Twilight declared.
"So be it. I'll make this quick so it isn't too hard for you." Twilight Moonlight would whip out her own Poke Ball. A Pokemon Battle between the two was about to happen. "Let's do it my way though."
"Your way?"
"I'm never doing this for Prisma. But for you, I'll do it. Where I come from, we settle things with Pokemon Battles. Much like the Pokemon Leagues in your world."
"So it's just like Scione. Okay. I accept then." Twilight accepted it. Much like what Scione did to Sci-Twi, the same was happening between Moonlight and Sparkle. Both held out Poke Balls of their own before going for their first Pokemon. For now, Espeon would have to stand back.
"Appear! Aegislash!" Her first pick was a powerful one, reminiscent of Twilight's own brother, Shining Armor.
"Aegislash!"
"Go! Togekiss!"
"Togekiss!" Spinning in the air was Togekiss. This battle was about to take place within a dressing room of all places but there would be no one around to hear it. All thannks to the Moon Zone Twilight Moonlight created.
"I'll go first! Togekiss, use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Kiss!" Going first was the Jubilee Pokemon. From her wings, beautiful multi-coloured rays were generated that moved at high speeds, rapidly raining down and illuminating the dressing room.
"King's Shield!"
"Aegis!" Putting up a defensive stance, the rays were promptly shielded by Aegislash's shield. They furiously beat down against the shield, leaving behind strong impacts, but ultimately failed.
"Now, use Iron Head!"
"Slash!" After blocking the Air Slash, Aegislash would envelop its bladed body in a white light before advancing towards the Flying-Fairy-Type.
"Here it comes! Sky Attack!"
"Toge!" Togekiss swiftly evaded the incoming blade that swung towards her. She moved at breakneck speeds, enveloping her body in a brilliant golden aura before flying to the side. Aegislash's bladed body ended up striking the floor while also cutting apart some of the clothes just from the sheer force of the swing.
Togekiss then ascended, but she didn't get too high. After all, this was just a dressing room, not the outdoors. Aegislash eyed her, continuing to use Iron Head as it approached the Jubilee Pokemon. After reaching the ceiling of this room, Togekiss descended with a full-force dive. Her blazing body crashed into Aegislash's glowing body as a loud clang emerged from the sheer impact.
"I've heard about your world and what you've done! Why aren't you willing to help us stop Prisma's return?!" Twilight Moonlight closed one eye due to the strong pressure that was made. The clothes that were hung up would flow fiercely and some of them would even fly off where they were set.
"Because I don't want to see my friends get hurt! And I'd rather stop it my way! I've heard about Prisma and I know how dangerous he is! Togekiss, push through!"
"Toge..!" Togekiss added more strength to her attack, forcing herself forward. Aegislash was doing its best to keep her from getting through.
"Who are you even working for that'll attack all these places and even threaten to capture Ash and Wish?! You ruined Wish's home and she can't go back now!"
"The Arcane Institute. The ones who'll help stop Prisma from returning! I've dedicated my life to helping them since my home was taken away! Our home! I kept some memories of our past life as Twilight Luminaria and I've lost two of my homes in two different lives!"
"Aegis!" Aegislash was unable to push through, resulting in it being launched back and crashing into the ground. Twilight Moonlight flinched at this while Togekiss hovered over her enemy with grace and power. "Slash...!" Aegislash could still get up, however.
"My home was destroyed by the remains of Prisma. The sheer essence of him destroyed everything..." Twilight Moonlight grit her teeth, already reminiscing about that day. "Even without a physical body, he was overwhelming.
"Both homes? Even after the utopic world came and went?"
"That's right. You don't have any memories of Twilight Luminaria. But I do. I'm the only one that ever received them. And for that, the Institute took me in. I was a major key to stopping Prisma's return."
Universe 10. Years ago.
The name of my Universe is classified as Universe 10. It's where I was born and raised. Upon birth, I was born with the memories of Twilight Luminaria from the very beginning. For a baby, this should be impossible and unsafe. I had to live with those horrible memories of what happened to that world until I was of age. And I always felt that no one should ever know of this.
Twilight Moonlight was but a filly. A filly who didn't do much in this small town she was born and raised in. Cursed by the horrific memories of what became of that utopic world, the town she lived in was the absolute opposite compared to this young pony, who kept that serious expression on her face even at such an age.
The town she lived in couldn't be any more different. A cluster of cozy cottages were huddled together on the edge of a tranquil lake, their thatched roofs adorned with wildflowers. This was a world where ponies and Pokemon lived in peace, much like Twilight Wish's world.
Along the main street, a towering statue of a golden pony proudly stands, a symbol of protection and watchfulness.
But Twilight Moonlight did not engage in any of that. Instead, she spent her time in this small library located near the edge of the town. This library, compared to others, was incredibly miniscule. It was located in a small town after all.
Twilight Moonlight would rather stay here, reading the history and magic that was on the table while her fellow townsfolk did so much more. The young Moonlight would look outside of her window, watching their actions, but taking no part in them.
She had no one by her side, aside from her own Pokemon. With Pokemon existing in this world as well, it was natural for anyone to have one. And in Moonlight's case, she had only two Pokemon. Ohsawott and a Shiny Eevee, both of whom could be seen asleep.
Right next to them was a fragment of that mysterious crown. She's always had it with her, but never understood its existence. Not all of Twilight Luminaria's memories carried over after all.
In her time, she learned about the basics of Pokemon and Magic on her own, having no teacher to assist her at all. Much like her counterparts, she was quite the prodigy in learning. But even with this disposition, that did not stop the locals from knowing about her existence or even interacting with her.
"Twilight! Wanna come out with us!" Peering through her open windows were other foals her age. Naturally, these foals were always eager to make new friends. And to them, they wished to interact with Twilight Moonlight on a greater level. Going beyond just having a chat.
Moonlight shifted her eyes while gazing at her book. The look she gave intimidated a few of them. There was something about Twilight Moonlight's gaze that was rather imposing even at a young age.
"There's a beauty contest coming from the city. We were thinking...That Eevee of yours could qualify." The colt said.
"Eevee?" Eevee heard that, having his ears perk up with interest, forcing him awake. To be called beautiful was quite the compliment. Since he was a Shiny Eevee, it was quite obvious why he would be called that. "Vee, vee!" Eevee was by far more outgoing than Twilight Moonlight, showing interest in this contest. He wanted to look his best.
"Trainers can be involved too. I'm going as a Milotic. My mom even made out the right clothes for me." A filly proudly said. "It's said to be the most beautiful Pokemon, so that's an obvious victory for me."
"Don't believe everything the Pokedex says. There are way more beautiful Pokemon than a Milotic." The children had their usual banter kids usually have.
"No. I'm too busy for that. The fate of this world could be at stake at any moment." But she denied them in a heartbeat. Using her magic, she levitated their bodies and placed them further away from her home. Afterwards, she shut the windows, valuing her privacy.
"Vee..." This also meant Eevee was excluded. Truly a shame. He wished to be involved, but he would also stay by Moonlight's side. There was an obvious bond between the two, showing that Twilight Moonlight did indeed have relationships. However, it didn't go beyond that at all.
The foals walked away, confused by Twilight Moonlight. They would talk about her, finding it odd how she was so couped up in that library. Day and night, week to week. Knowledge was power and she took it literally while using it to prepare for the worst.
With these memories, I had no time to do anything else. I was always thinking about that previous life and world. And more importantly, a way to avoid such a scenario like that from happening again. I spent the majority of my early youth, day and night planning to break through my memories because I always knew that Prisma would return. I had to be ready and better than my previous self. But on that day, Prisma's essence arrived.
Without anyone else expecting this, this small town was a victim of a surprise attack. An attack from the essence of Prisma. It appeared one day as simply a form of energy. Two eyes of intense ferocity appeared in the air, followed by a bellowing voice. Twilight Moonlight could still remember that voice and how overpowering it was.
"₵Ø₥Ɇ Ø₦! ₩Ø₦'₮ ₳₦ɎØ₦Ɇ ₵Ⱨ₳ⱠⱠɆ₦₲Ɇ ₥Ɇ?! ₮ØØ ₩Ɇ₳₭ ₮Ø ₮ⱤɎ?!" It was the voice of Prisma. It was a such a powerful voice that it created wind pressures and tremors through the air itself, shattering windows and shaking trees. The town was already taking damage from his presence and the locations behind him already suffered. The landscape in the distance had been ravaged by Prisma's essence which was as furious as a thunderstorm, typhoon and earthquake combined.
When looking at those two eyes, immediately, Moonlight knew that it was Prisma. And the memories she was given were kicking off. The destruction and disappearance of that utopic world came back as well, immediately sending a powerful migraine through the little filly's eyes. The day she feared had already come. And so soon. She was still a child by this point.
In this world, Pokemon Trainers were still capable of battling and they indeed stood up to the essence of Prisma. It was only a few of them, but they were still here. After being challenged, he summoned his own Pokemon. But they were not in their physical forms either.
By this point, after what happened in the utopic world, they were essences just like Prisma himself, losing their true forms. But that did not take away from their power. By his will alone, Prisma summoned Essences of his Pokemon to challenge those who stood before him. But he only chose four Pokemon in response to the many teams of Pokemon that tried taking him down.
They were the essences of Dialga, Palkia, Reshiram and Zekrom. Two Dragons of tremendous power. Their essences were still fearsome and mighty. Any attack thrown at them was shrugged off or barely did a thing. Fierce blasts of fire and lightning lit the town up, scorching the buildings.
The space of this town was also being disrupted by Palkia's Essence, making it all an absolute mess. Left and right, Pokemon were fainting, unable to defeat the force that was Prisma. All the while, the young Twilight was watching from the library through the windows.
Prisma still had the strength to live on, unleashing his essence. It was obvious that this was his current ace in the hole. He had unfinished business and unleashed his wrath on my home. That essence of his was rather new and fresh but it also wouldn't last long. Even so, it was enough time for him to leave behind plenty of destruction
"₮₩łⱠł₲Ⱨ₮! ł ₭₦Ø₩ ɎØɄ'ⱤɆ ⱧɆⱤɆ! ł ₳ⱠⱤɆ₳ĐɎ ₮ØⱠĐ ɎØɄ ₮Ⱨ₳₮ ₮Ⱨł₴ ₩₳₴₦'₮ ₮ⱧɆ Ɇ₦Đ!" At that moment, Prisma called out for the name Twilight. And that sent shivers down Moonlight's spine. She was the one he was after.
Twilight Moonlight was unfortunately not ready for this. She was aware that she was not powerful enough to stop Prisma, even as an essence. Fearful of him, she had to flee. Not just from the library, but also from the town. Above, bolts of lightning were raining down thanks to Zekrom's essence.
She eluded Prisma's eyes, using an early version of that concealment spell she used in the current day. She could only use it for a very limited time, but Twilight Moonlight was going to use the most of it, swiftly leaving the town she was born and raised in. The library she was always in was soon struck down by a blast of lightning. The roof was pierced, destroying the books that could be found in there.
The trail of destruction continued outside of the town. The forests were levelled by Prisma's wrath, as well as any small civilizations that were unfortunate to be in the way.
I had no proper attachment to that town. I was so fixated on my old home that the one I had never grew on me all that much. Even if it was where my parents gave birth to me. They managed to escape the destruction, but I never saw them for a long time after that fateful day. But I never wished the worst for them. Prisma wanted me. And the Luminaria within me couldn't let that happen.
After leaving the town, she ended up in the wilderness and did not slow down at all. Twilight Moonlight was out in the open while still being able to hear the sounds of destruction in the distance. The booming voice of Prisma was still strong enough to travel great distances. Days upon days, the young filly kept moving, avoiding Prisma's gaze.
The concealment spell she had would run out, resulting in her having to wait until it can be used in them. The filly used the environment to her advantage, hiding in caves, bushes and anything she could find. All the while, Prisma continued moving across the land, searching far and wide.
She had to keep moving but not forever. Prisma let out a harrowing cry that signified one thing. Just as Moonlight said, it was an ace in the hole and wouldn't last long. It was only temporary as Prisma was unable to remain in this world. His essence, along with the Four Dragons would start fading away.
Just like that, he was gone. His terror was short-lived but it left quite the impact. Twilight Moonlight was too far from home to know where she was. Despite being a studious pony, she wasn't too skilled with her geography. Without no one to guide her, she was lost.
Being out in the wild, I had to grow as a Pokemon Trainer without the need of my books. Just like how I taught myself back home, I had to do the same out in the open. It wasn't easy and it would be a while until I left the wilderness.
Being out here meant she was vulnerable to the Wild Pokemon who would see her as prey. While some were peaceful and didn't mind at all, there were bound to be those who thought otherwise. Moonlight had no food or water with her. There was no time for any of that when the terror of Prisma arrived. She had to get some food and water out here on her own.
All the while, the memories of that lost world were still strong, unable to leave her mind. She even tried using a memory-wiping spell on herself to remove them, but not only was it inefficient, Moonlight was too young to properly master something as strong as that.
For weeks, Twilight Moonlight lived in the wilderness, keeping to herself and straying away from any Wild Pokemon unless necessary. Any Pokemon that attacked her were dealt with by her Eevee and Oshawott. Not only that, she also managed to catch some new Pokemon.
One encounter led to her coming across a Petilil, who would one day become her Hisuian Lilligant. After saving her from an aggressive group of Paras who had her cornered, Petilil grew attached the young filly, wanting to be by her side. She felt safer that way.
Twilight Moonlight went on her own adventure but without a clear path. She had no set destination in mind. Without anywhere to stop at, the young unicorn lost track of time. That is until one day, she was found by somepony else. The same ponies she would work with.
Through the rays of the sun which were rather blinding at this time, she saw the visages of ponies who were wearing the same clothing. These clothes had arcane patterns around them and right next to these ponies were their own Pokemon who helped them get through the land.
I was found by the Arcane Institute one day. They took me in and they already knew who I was even if I was from a small town. They knew about Prisma and so many other things that caught my attention. They were the only ones I could turn to at this moment since there was no one else.
The Arcane Institute.
This institute was located in a city that was more advanced than where Twilight Moonlight once lived. It was a place that Prisma hadn't reached yet, appearing in one piece.
The city stood tall, its towering spires reaching towards the heavens, casting long shadows on the cobblestone streets below. Strange wisps of glowing magical energy dance through the air, creating an ethereal ambience that crackles with power. In the centre of the city, a massive crystal dome pulses with a vibrant purple glow, warding off any unwanted intruders.
But the true appeal was the institute. The Arcane Institute was an imposing marble tower, topped with towering spires and adorned with intricate glyphs along its outer walls. The ponies of this institute brought the young Moonlight here, already recruiting her.
She gawked at its impressive size as she couldn't even see the top. This was where she would stay and learn since it was an institute after all. As she approached, the air tingled with an electric energy, and a soft glow emanated from the stained glass windows that lined the central hall.
Inside, other students of this institute were all around Twilight's age, assigned to this school. They were all unicorns. No signs of earth ponies or pegasi anywhere, but they each had their own Pokemon as seen by the Poke Balls at their disposal. Twilight Moonlight walked past many of them who were all here for the same reason. This institute only had one goal and it involved Prisma and Twilight Luminaria
Inside, the main chamber is filled with rows of bookshelves, stretching high towards the ceiling, each filled with ancient tomes and crackling arcane artefacts. Moonlight would have another library to be at since the old one was now long-gone, beyond repair.
Since they knew I was connected to Twilight Luminaria, I was recruited instantly since I mattered. My memories were scanned and they found what I was harbouring within.
The filly was placed on a table as a magical device was placed on her head. With her eyes closed, the device read her memories, letting out a mystical glow. Assisting the device was a Gothitelle along with a few other Psychic-Types. Those working here at the institute did not waste any time getting to know about Twilight Moonlight. They instantly learned about the memories Moonlight was harbouring.
"Yes. She's indeed related to her. But she's only one out of four." A scientist here at the Arcane Institute said as the device was removed from Moonlight's head. "What should we do now?"
"Twilight. It'll be you who stops Prisma's return. After what has been done to your home and lands beyond, something like that cannot happen again. We here at the Arcane Institute will make sure that becomes a reality. For our world and others that will fall prey to Prisma's terror."
"I know. I want to stop him from returning again." Twilight Moonlight was already on the same page as them. "Please help me grow so I can prepare for that day."
"Good. You'll start learning here and hone your skills as a Pokemon Trainer. You will become stronger than any trainer here. But before that, there's somepony you have to meet who is behind this main mission of ours. You will have to meet the Pokemon Professor."
After fleeing her home town due to the essence of Prisma wreaking havoc on it, a young Twilight Moonlight was eventually found by the group known as the Arcane Institute. Those at this Magical School knew who she was all thanks to Twilight Luminaria's existence. They even knew how Prisma was and immediately had to recruit her. At this moment, she was off to see this world's Pokemon Professor before she could fully learn and grow here.
The Professor's Lab was a spacious and cluttered room, strewn with books and arcane artifacts. The shelves are stacked high with potions and mysterious vials, while ancient diagrams are pinned to the walls. A faint smell of alchemical reagents lingers in the air, mixed with the sweet scent of burning incense. a large table displays a delicate glass apparatus, bubbling and hissing with coloured liquids, joined by three Poke Balls.
This was not only a lab but an office for the one who runs this institute. But there was no sign of anyone at all. Instead, there was this tall metallic pillar that connected to the floor all the way to the ceiling with red orbs on the front and side standing at the centre.
"Welcome, Twilight. We're glad to have you." A voice came from the metallic structure, greeting the young unicorn. The red orbs would also flash each time his voice would echo out. "And I was certainly expecting somepony like you."
"You're the professor?" She gazed at the mechanical pillar. "Seriously?"
"I am. You'll have to excuse a lack of a physical body. I no longer have one. I'm just a consciousness now. And you could say I'm in the same situation as you."
"My body's not in a machine though..." She squinted, thinking about something else.
"Not that, my little pony. I'm talking about the world that came before. I used to live in that world and I am one of the very few survivors. My body was lost ever since that world vanished, but not my consciousness. Just like you, I remember everything."
"You have those kinds of memories too?" She made a prolonged gasp. Then you know about-"
"Yes. I know who Prisma is. How could I not know who he is? To think that he almost made a full appearance in this world. Truly a terrifying character. I assume my members of staff have informed you of why you're here and what we wish to do."
"They have. And I want to do the same. I was trying to stop Prisma from returning but I didn't have enough time. I wish I did..." She lowered her eyes, showing anger rather than sadness. She was more frustrated than sad, wishing she could've have the capability to stop Prisma. But Twilight fled in fear after what she had just witnessed. Any child would.
"In the Arcane Institute, you'll have all the time in the world to develop your skills. Not just your mental skills but also your skills as a Pokemon Trainer. The type of skills needed to stop Prisma's revival. Because I can assure you, there is a high possibility of it happening." The Pokemon Professor added. From his red orb, he showed Moonlight a holographic video of this institute and what it had to offer.
It was essentially a Pokemon School but with a different set goal. And different ways of doing things. Twilight watched what it had to offer, seeing the possibilities laid out for her. For any other child, this would be a lot to take in. But for Twilight Moonlight, she wouldn't have the same problem.
"Then do you know about this thing then?" From her dusty bag, she pulled out the piece of the missing crown, showing it to the Professor. "My parents said I was born with it and I just can't be away from it at all. It's connected to me and my memories won't tell me why."
"That crown belonged to a very powerful and important pony. The only one who could stand up to Prisma and challenge him. And you are one part of her, just like that crown. It's reassuring to see a piece of it, honestly. You are one half of Twilight Luminaria, which is exactly why we have plenty of hope just from your existence. You, Twilight, are proof that even with Prisma's revival being highly possible, there'll be a way to stop him."
"So, what can I do? What can I pull off that'll make me equal to Twilight Luminaria?"
"I started this institute to prepare for Prisma's revival The students here are trained to grow as Pokemon Trainers and to also help stop the coming storm. There are other worlds beyond ours, Twilight and in each of them, the key to removing Prisma from the equation exists. Three of you. Three girls with the same face and the same name. All connected to Twilight Luminaria."
From his red orbs, he showed another projection. This professor had knowledge of the other Twilights, even showing their faces. It wasn't that hard since they all shared the same face. There, Moonlight saw her three selves.
The two Twilight Sparkles and the solely named Twilight. Also known as Twilight Wish. He had images of them as children Each of them were fillies plus a young girl. Twilight was stunned to see three more of herself. Seeing someone with the same face was absolutely bewildering. It even triggered her memories, making her reminisce about the lost world and the brief instances that she received.
"But Prisma is a crafty character...He has counterparts of his own, Twilight. More than what you have. 10 of them. 10 different boys with the same face but different names"
Another projection appeared, showing Twilight Moonlight the 10 Boys. Ash, Red and all the others, perfectly lined up. Even they had young faces and appearances, which was another testament to the professor's incredible resource.
"While they exist in other worlds, it's difficult for us to reach them. But we will soon have the technology to travel to different universes. "
"I know those faces. Urgh..." She lowered her head which was ringing because of the memories. Somepony her age still couldn't fully handle it and it only caused her pain when it came up.
"I knew it. You're stocked with memories. Unlike me, you can't handle them. Not at your age. But that can change over the years." The red orbs went off again, this time, unleashing a mystical energy that would flow through the area. The energy enveloped Twilight Moonlight, interacting with her headache.
Thanks to the Professor's power, he managed to soothe the pain, allowing the young unicorn to relax. Twilight took a deep breath as this has never happened before. Usually, she has to force herself to power through the pain until it goes away. But now, there was someone who could fend it off.
"Alright...Where do I start?" Dedicated to stopping Prisma's return, Twilight Moonlight was already a registered member the day she was found. She had no qualms. In her mind, stopping Prisma was all that mattered to her since she was in that library herself planning for that day. While she failed the first time, she was going to make sure the second time wouldn't be a failure.
Moonlight was taken into a class. A student with her potential was only deserving of the best. She did prefer to work alone, away from others and that was exactly what she was going to get when entering this classroom, which already had an empty feeling. But she wasn't the only one here. Sitting here in this class, also appearing as a child was a young Silver Swirl.
"Hey! Are you in this class too!" The absolute opposite of Moonlight, she waved at Twilight, grabbing her attention. The young Moonlight paused for a moment, showing a grimace upon reacting to this other unicorn.
"I thought I was getting a class of my own? Who is she?" Twilight questioned as this was not what she expected. Nothing about Silver Swirl's presence screamed solitude.
"This is Silver Swirl. Another gifted unicorn. While she doesn't have the same benefit as you, there's something unique about her. Silver Swirl has something known as Rift Energy within her."
"Rift...Energy?" That name also sounded familiar to Twilight Moonlight but it wasn't clicking with her.
"She's the only pony capable of tapping into it. Both of you are crucial ponies. More so than any other student here. Silver Swirl will be monumental in our mission when it comes to travelling to other universes." The staff member explained. "You will have to be her classmate until all is said and done."
Not exactly the ideal outcome for Twilight. She preferred to work alone. And when with Silver Swirl's presence here, she was going to work alone either way. Preferably, while sitting away from the bright unicorn. In the corner of her eyes, she already spotted a seat that was away from Silver Swirl's table, going straight for it.
The young Moonlight kept a straight face when looking at Silver Swirl's bright smile. And when looking at her, she used her magic to slide to the side, moving across the floor before reaching for her seat. To shield her face, she managed to grab the nearest book while sliding, already having enough magic capability to do two things at the same time. After finding her seat, she locked onto the book she managed to grab, ready to lose herself in it.
"So you're Twilight?" That didn't stop Silver Swirl though. "You really do look like the pony the Professor showed in that hologram. You're actually connected to Twilight Luminaria?"
"Mmm. And I'm the one who's going to stop Prisma from returning. Everyone else here is going to contribute in some way, I suppose. Including you." While wishing to be distant, Twilight Moonlight was very blunt with her words, holding nothing back.
"That is pretty important. The Professor called you the chosen one too, I believe. I'm known as a Guardian Angel where I come from. I'm also a princess." She grinned, hoping to grab Moonlight's attention
"You're a princess? Then what are you doing here of all places?" Twilight briefly spoke with her while her eyes moved across the book in front of her. "Shouldn't you be in a castle somewhere?"
"Well, not in this world. Truth is, this isn't my universe. I showed up here because of this." From the tip of her horn, Silver Swirl unleashed Rift Magic. A small piece of it. It would appear as an orb, swirling and sparkling while also captivating Twilight Moonlight.
This caught her interest since it was such a cosmic power and Silver Swirl had access to it. The Twilight Luminaria within her recognized this otherworldly power without a doubt.
"I only did it briefly. The Professor's counting on me to make it happen again. You see, my home was also attacked by an essence of Prisma. It was brief but fierce. I managed to escape by accidentally creating a gateway to this universe. The Professor says that it happened by emotion."
"Well, can you do anything else with it?"
"N-Not right now. But that's why I'm here! To learn and improve. And soon, I'll be back in my universe, ready to take on my role as princess. I'm the future Guardian Angel where I come from and I hope to be one for all worlds that could suffer under Prisma's wrath. With you and I working together, we can make it happen!"
"We're not working together." Twilight shifted her eyes, disregarding that possibility. "It'll be me doing most of the work since my past self was the one who defeated Prisma. No one else can do it."
"Wow. You already have full confidence in yourself because of that. But, you know...My parents taught me that working together is the greatest strength and that will help us a lot against Prisma."
"Maybe for you. But not for me." Twilight Moonlight would continue reading her book but this wouldn't be the last she'd have to hear from Silver Swirl. Since they were the only two students apart of this class, it was only natural that they would interact with each other, albeit differently to how most students go about it.
For the past years, Twilight Moonlight was trained to prepare for Prisma's returning honing her skills when it came to Magic and becoming a better Pokemon Trainer. In terms of magic, that was easy for her since she was a prodigy in that department. But Pokemon Battling was a different story.
Sat in her class, she was fed more and more information to prepare for the coming of Prisma's potential revival and how to stop it. Laid out by the Pokemon Professor, Twilight Moonlight grasped the larger world beyond what she knows. Other worlds that existed and followed their own rules as well as those who would get in her way. She learned who her eventual enemies would be. Not just Prisma. But those who would support Prisma in an attempt to keep him around.
I spent all those years in the Institute going through many Pokemon Battles. Simulations and Mock Battles were what I was thrown with every single day. I even had my magical limits pushed, but that wasn't an issue for me.
At a young age, Twilight Moonlight was absolutely out of her league in a Pokemon Battle. She fell over along with her Ohsawott, taking a hit from one of the Institute's Teachers who was already better at her at Pokemon Battling. It wasn't just one Pokemon, but multiple. Twilight Moonlight was not taken lightly at all by the Institute.
"Osha...Oshawott..." Oshawott groaned while on the ground, filled with scratches and tatters. All the while, the opposing Pokemon appeared healthy and fresh, receiving either minimal damage or no damage at all which was rather sad in Moonlight's case.
"Come on, Twilight. Your past self was able to get the hang of this with ease. Don't you want to be better than her?"
"I do..." That was one of her wishes. Knowing who Twilight Luminaria was, she wished to be as great as her just so Prisma could be stopped. But so far, that wasn't the case. Twilight Moonlight would try again and so would Oshawott. All the while, the professor observed from the top of the Institute.
One day after the other, she was being absolutely dominated by stronger trainers. Not just from the teachers but by other students who were training to match the strength of a powerful army. All of these students were here to distribute overwhelming force at the end of the day when they arrive at other worlds.
After a day of hard training involving Pokemon Battling, Twilight returned to her room, absolutely in shambles. She took a deep sigh, knowing she'd have to keep this up. But Twilight Moonlight wasn't the type of student to complain about this. Instead, she was only thinking about how she could do better next time.
And there to try and cheer her up was Silver Swirl. Compared to what Twilight Moonlight was going through, Silver Swirl had it easy. She was in a better state. When there was no one to talk to after being put through the wringer, there was Silver Swirl, who was the only pony aside from the staff members that she talked with.
None of the other students really did so. Only Silver. Twilight Moonlight would prefer to go about her day without Silver Swirl talking to her, trying to act tough so that she could prepare for tomorrow's lesson. Even if Twilight Moonlight tried ignoring her, she couldn't. And a part of her didn't wish to.
It was endless. But necessary. I had to go through the harshest levels of training to become as powerful as I am today. The same went for my Pokemon."
Days turned to years as she went through rigorous training to improve herself. And over time, she grew as a trainer indeed. Her strength was noticeable each time she was knocked down. She was an expert at growing and that was undeniable. All this time, Moonlight just needed that push.
The same teachers who absolutely dominated her were being pushed back. Her Oshawott grew stronger. So did her Eevee and Petilil. Over time, these Pokemon evolved and so did Moonlight's age. Back to back defeats strengthened her resolve and also made her rather aggressive.
Older now, she had a Dewott by her side who absolutely destroyed the opposing Pokemon who tried getting the best of her. Right next to her was Umbreon, who evolved from an Eevee. Twilight Moonlight adopted a very aggressive battling style that was easy to notice.
She stood over her defeated opponents with an imposing presence. She surpassed her teachers. All of them. Moonlight became the defacto most powerful trainer in the Arcane Institute, realizing her hidden potential. But there was obviously more to grow.
She would continue to learn on her own, just like how she did back in her old town. However, due to how much Twilight Moonlight grew, she became her own teacher. No one here at the institute could teach her. Thus, Twilight Moonlight was on the verge of finally being sent out on her own mission when the time was right.
Johto. The S.S Aqua. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
"I've failed to capture any of Prisma's counterparts and that is unacceptable!" Twilight Moonlight bellowed at Twilight Sparkle while her Aegislash got back up. "This time, I'll come back with an achievement! Whether it's capturing Ash or Wish and I won't let even you stop me! Understood?!"
"Moonlight..." Twilight slowly said after hearing about Moonlight's past. She then flinched once a flash of magical energy came from Twilight Moonlight's body. "What the...?"
The magic radiating from her body was fierce and aggressive shaking the dressing room. The clothes would start floating all over the place, creating a clothing storm. Twilight's emotions were connected to her magic, much like the other Twilights. But hers was all about aggression and that correlated with Aegislash.
Aegislash would let out that same glow as Moonlight, surprising Sparkle and Togekiss. She was incorporating magic into her Pokemon, giving him a boost. "What is this...?" Twilight Sparkle uttered.
"Under the Moon, my magic is absolutely limitless!" Twilight Moonlight declared as the Moon from the outside would respond to her words. It would let out a vibrant flash along with small sparkles flowing out. "Aegislash! Use Swords Dance!"
"Aegis...!" This Swords Dance would be unlike any other. By raising it body, Aeigslash built up an intense pressure of Infinity Energy that could be felt. The energy around its bladed body would extend, becoming an even larger sword.
"Watch out, Togekiss! Get ready!"
"Toge!" Togekiss nodded in understanding. Something absolutely titanic was coming her way.
"Finish her!".Moonlight roared while slamming her hoof on the floor to replicate a blade coming down.
"Slash!" Aegislash brought this massive blade down which sliced off a huge chunk of the ceiling. At that moment, Twilight Sparkle used her own magic. Affecting Togekiss's body, she would teleport the Jubilee Pokemon the second the blade came down.
The entire dressing room was completely cut in half by Aegislash. Twilight saved Togekiss from that devastating blow. The walls came tumbling down as all the clothes were absolutely ruined. Moonlight gasped after seeing her attack absolutely miss, shifting her head to the side.
"If you're going to use magic, then so will I." Princess Twilight said. "I won't let you take any of my friends."
"You're making this way too hard for all of us...!" Moonlight's eyes flared with a magical glow, followed by a flash of magic from her horn. From her saddlebag, she revealed another Poke Ball. "I'm changing up the rules then! I'm making it a double battle!"
Much like how Scione changed the rules, Twilight Moonlight did the same. She launched the Poke Ball into the air, summoning her Hisuian Lilligant. "Lilligant!"
"You forced my hoof, Twilight! Even against myself, I won't hesitate to crush my opponents." Moonlight declared with a powering voice. But Sparkle was not moved at all. She would stand her ground, just to make sure her friends are safe and sound.
"Espeon!" Right by Togekiss's side was Twilight's Espeon. If she was going to use two Pokemon, then Espeon felt that it was right for her to get involved. Twilight would take this battle differently after hearing what Moonlight had to say. It gave her new perspective even though she knew Moonlight had a righteous goal at the end.
But while that was happening, the ship was currently in peril. With the captain and his crew asleep thanks to Moonlight's Drowsy Spell, the ship had no one to properly control it. On top of that, the kitchen was on fire since the chefs were asleep and something like this didn't go unnoticed.
Mainly by Princess Celestia's group. The Sun Princess was drawn towards the fire after sensing and seeing smoke in the air. She figured that would lead her to Twilight Moonlight, but instead, it led her to the kitchen, where the cooks and Alcremie were asleep.
A fire had started. A fierce one that set the fire alarm off. It already left the kitchen by this point, heading elsewhere while many were currently asleep." Oh! Alcremie!" Celestia gasped, quickly using her magic to grab Alcremie who was close to being enveloped by the flames.
As for the raging flames that were spreading across the ship, Luna would immediately respond to them. "Frillish!" Her Frillish used Hydro Pump to douse the flames. A strong burst of water would strike the flames, destroying them rapidly. Assisting in this was Ash's Dracovish who used Water Gun.
"If they fell asleep too...What about the captain's room, sister?!" Luna was already thinking about the captain's room and how that could've been affected. They knew where they had to go next and it wouldn't be where Twilight Moonlight was. Before they could find Twilight Moonlight, they had to ensure the ship was safe and manageable at the moment.
However, there was something that gave them an indication as to where Twilight Moonlight could be. The powerful slash that Aegislash delivered was felt by many as it sent a strong tremor across many floors of the S.S Aqua. It was mainly felt from above.
Ash immediately made his way to that part of the room before anywhere else. He could count on Celestia and Luna to handle the Captain's room while he went for the source of that tremor. Following him were Twilight Wish and Rainbow Dash.
"Lilligant! Attack with Victory Dance! Use Iron Head, Aegislash!"
"Lilligant...!" Lilligant would approach the two enemies in front of her with a move neither have seen before. It was a dance to usher in victory which is what Lilligant and Moonlight were believing. And under the power of the moon, Lilligant's strength was elevated. Joining her was Aegislash, whose strength was elevated thanks to Swords Dance.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Esp!" Together, Espeon and Togekiss would use Dazzling Gleam. From their bodies, a beautiful shine would emerge, attempting to blind her opponents. But with the power of the moon, that was ignored. Lilligant and Aegislash didn't even see the flash as it was invisible to them.
This allowed them to keep on moving but they still had to deal with the rainbow rays. Before Espeon could unleash them, she was struck by Lilligant's devastating kick which pierced through the light barrier. "Gant!"
"E-Esp!" Espeon cried out after being delivered a mighty. Togekiss was in the same boat as Aegislash cut through her Dazzling Gleam barrier, dealing super-effective damage to the Jubilee Pokemon. Both of Twilight's Pokemon were sent flying, but not without retaliation.
While they were launched back, they managed to unleash the rest of Dazzling Gleam from their bodies, sending the rainbow rays forward. Lilligant managed to dance around the rays, avoiding them with grace and elegance. Aegislash attempted to slash some of the rays away and while it succeeded for the most part, some of them landed and managed to deal damage.
Twilight looked behind her, seeing the floor was falling apart thanks to this battle. If this keeps up, even more problems will surely arise. She couldn't battle Moonlight for long and had to do something about this. But Twilight Moonlight wasn't about to go down so easily and even then, the Moon Zone was still active, showing no sign of an exit anywhere. Even with the room split in half, there was nowhere for Twilight Sparkle to go. Suddenly, the ship would shake, surprising Moonlight and Sparkle. This was the result of one thing. The ship was out of control with no one to properly keep it in check. Thus, these types of problems quickly sprouted.
Outside, the S.S Aqua was heading straight for Olivine City, but not for the docks. Instead, at this rate, it was bound to crash into the buildings of Olivine City. As the journey continues.
Johto. The S.S Aqua. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
At this very moment, the ship to Johto was on a course to crash into the buildings of Olivine City. Appearing in the captain's room were Celestia and Luna, who saw them completely slumped over, having pleasant dreams. The sisters grimaced at the sight of this before then seeing Olivine City in the distance. It was incredibly close and on the verge of making contact. At this rate,the city will either be sliced in half or crushed. Those at Olivine obviously noticed this and saw how the S.S Aqua was nowhere near the port.
"Sister! Do we even know how to manage a ship?!" Luna bellowed with panic in her voice. She went up to the front of the ship, looking at all the options in front of her which she had no knowledge. She's only been on a ship as a passenger. Not as a member of the crew. Her eyes were rapidly moving across the controls, unsure of what to do. She feared that if she did anything, it would worsen the situation. "Um...How do you stop this thing?! Centuries of living and not a bit of knowledge about this!"
"Starswirl never taught us this...We never needed a reason to anyway." Celestia lowered her head. "So much for like skills. But!" She would soon raise it, having her own solution. "We'll have to steer it with magic. We're surely strong enough to move an entire ship!"
"W-We've never tried that, have we?" Luna nervously chuckled. "I suppose it's better than nothing." Together, the alicorn sisters would use their magic on the ship, doing what they do best.
A golden and blue glow surrounded the S.S Aqua from every point thanks to the unification of these two great powers. This as a rather advanced form of telekinesis that was solely focused on a ship which has never been done before until now.
Those awake could feel a sudden shift in the ship's movements. There was an odd balance for it at the moment that they couldn't describe. Celestia and Luna both growled when trying to slow this ship down. That was the best they could do since they didn't have enough time to turn it. Bringing it to a halt was the best thing to do.
With all of their might, they managed to stop the ship but it was an incredibly close call. They barely stopped the ship from crashing into Olivine City as it lightly tapped a piece of land nearby.
"Hah..." The sisters released collective sighs, glad that they avoided a catastrophe.
"Alright...She's most definitely being apprehended after this." Celestia said, now having a greater drive to find Twilight Moonlight. The main problem was finding her location since that Moon Zone of hers shielded her actual location.
In the dressing room, the standoff between Twilight Sparkle and Twilight Moon was halted after they both felt the ship's bizarre movements. Once it stopped, it looked like their battle was about to continue once more, much to Twilight Sparkle's chagrin. She didn't wish to continue any further but the fate of her friends were on the line right now.
"You'll only end up harming everyone onboard! I know you don't want to do that!"
"Tch! I don't wish any ill intent on them. Especially not against you. But if you didn't get in my way...!"
"You can stop this, Moonlight! You don't have to keep doing this!" Twilight pleaded. "You're dedicated to stopping Prisma, just like Wish. But you don't have to do it like this. Not when it puts the lives of others in harms way."
"Enough!" Twilight Moonlight bellowed. "This is where I finish it! I've been under the Full Moon for a good amount of time now. This means the extent of my limitless magic can keep showing itself."
"Gh!" At that moment, Twilight suddenly felt her energy gradually depleting. She was starting to feel tired even though she showed no signs of exhaustion so far. Twilight Sparkle had plenty of energy to spare and now it was starting to leave her body. "W-What is this?"
"Espeon?" The same went for Espeon and Togekiss. Both were losing their stamina, feeling their bodies twitch and shudder, almost as if they were trying to reset something within her.
"T-Toge..."
"I've affected your Body Clock. Right now, your Circadian Rhythm is shifting, changing your cells and the time you need to sleep. I know for a fact you're a hard-working pony since you're me. You would hate to fall asleep at this time, wouldn't you?" Lo and behold, Twilight Moonlight could force another to change their own body clock, disrupting what they were used to. And even her own counterpart was no exception.
"Moonlight..." Twilight grunted, trying to keep herself awake. She and her Pokemon had the strength to try and stay awake but it was a struggle. Having to fight their own body clock was a challenge indeed.
"While I was the one to suggest a Pokemon Battle, I don't play fair when necessary. When it comes to Prisma, I'll do what I can to succeed." Twilight Moonlight said, revealing her tendency to shift the tide of battle outside of just the Pokemon. It was unfair but she saw it as necessary. "If this were under different circumstances, I would have had a fair battle with you.
With the scent of daisies gone, Twilight Wish's Meowscarada could now focus on Twilight Moonlight's scent, continuing on her path. After moving through droves of tired out and asleep people and Pokemon, Meowscarada reached her destination. She came to an immediate halt around the room that was cut in half by Aegislash's Swords Dance.
"Meow! Meowscarada!" Meowscarada bellowed after coming to a halt.
"So this is the place?" Twilight Wish said after gazing at the split hallway and rooms. Indeed, this was the area, but there was no sign of Twilight Moonlight anywhere.
"W-Where's the other room?" Rainbow Dash noticed a lack of an opposite room. There was one on the right side but none on the left room. It was as if it was completely gone. But that was only because it was being shielded by the Moon Zone.
"Meow." And Meowscarada knew this. While her magic tricks weren't authentic or even full-on magic, she still understood the basic concept of magic and there certainly some of it going on over here.
"Luxray!" This time, Luxray could see Twilight Moonlight's x-ray as well as Twilight Sparkle. This was the right room as he alerted Rainbow Dash immediately.
"But we still can't see where the room is." Ash uttered. "How are gonna reach her if we can't see it?"
"There's one way. I'm hoping this works." Twilight Wish had an answer to this inconvenience. It wasn't just Twilight Moonlight who had a unique form of magic. While Twilight Wish could perform a less potent version of teleportation that requires a specific chant, she still had access to other spells. And one of which was perhaps her best.
"I wish to see past her magic. I wish to see past her magic." She once again wished for something to occur, but it didn't involve teleportation. From her horn, a beautiful pinkish light would appear that immediately fixated itself towards the missing room.
To the amazement of Ash and the others, the magic that was concealing the secret room was dropped by the power of wishes. The Moon Zone was affected, resulting in the hidden room being revealed. There, Twilight Moonlight spotted Ash and the others, no longer hidden from their sight and instead, completely out in the open. But this could be seen as either a positive or a negative.
"Ash..." Twilight Sparkle grumbled while still trying to force herself to stay awake, looking back at her friends.
"Ash Ketchum." Twilight Moonlight spoke his name with a certain intensity in her voice. She was waiting for this moment and not only that, she spotted Twilight Wish. Now that all three Twilights were this close to each other, that odd feeling within them connected to Twilight Luminaria or even Midnight Luminaria was going off once more.
More than two Twilights were within the same distance, resulting in this collective reaction. All of their eyes would unleash a signature purple glow, much like how Ash and Lucas one had a greenish glow in their eyes. The same thing was happening for them.
They then started emanating the same Magical Auras from their bodies which would vibrantly flow and pulsate. From it, Ash and Rainbow Dash could see the silhouette of Twilight Luminaria. It was faint but it was there. Ash could especially feel it. The Prisma part within him was essentially reacting to this moment.
Unierse 10. The Arcane Institute. Nightfall.
This reaction from the three Twilights was able to reach Universe 10. Twilight Moonlight's home world. Those researching otherworldly travel took notice of this, especially Silver Swirl. A large screen that was fixated on the four Twilights and the 10 Counterparts was where they discovered the reaction. It showed three purple lights that were aggressively beeping and flashing with sparks of electricity emerging out of them.
"Not good!" Silver Swirl gasped. "It's a negative reaction instead of a positive one! All three of them are in the same space together but this isn't a sign of Twilight Luminaria!!"
"Then that means Midnight Luminaria is the one trying to appear instead." Speaking on this was none other than the Pokemon Professor. His voice reached this room despite his consciousness being stuck inside of a machine in his own office. That didn't stop him from chatting to those within the institute. "Midnight is less of a threat than Prisma, but now we should bring Twilight Moonlight back. This means she's next to some of her counterparts."
With his order, a gateway was opened. This was their chance to retrieve those crucial to their ultimate plan. The technology they had surpassed what Daybreaker's group had, allowing them to open up a gateway that would last for only 9 days. But this time, they could open that would only exist for a brief moment, just to retrieve one specific Twilight.
Johto. The S.S Aqua.
A new gateway was opened, entering the room where Twilight Moonlight was by simply focusing on her. It appeared with a loud boom and a strong wind pressure that made their manes flow.
"Right now?!" Twilight Moonlight gasped as even she was shocked to see the gateway appearing now of all times. Twilight Wish was equally surprised as this meant that she could be captured right about now.
Ash gazed at this gateway while holding onto his hat, seeing the background within it. He could just slightly see the Arcane Institute and the buildings that surrounded it. But instead of someone leaving the gateway to come and retrieve them, the gateway would do it instead.
This gateway was limited after all as it started a gravitational pull that was felt by the others. It began pulling Twilight Moonlight back since she was the one who travelled through in the first place. But now, it was fixatd on Twilight Wish and only her since she was being hunted by the Arcane Institute's forces. However, it did not mean to drag Twilight Sparkle.
With her body clock disrupted, she couldn't find the proper strength to keep herself still. Grabbing onto her and Twilight Wish was Meowscarada who couldn't afford to let either of them pass through that world.
"Stop!" Twilight Wish roared, noticing Twilight Sparkle being involved in this gravitational pull. "You'll bring another one through! The wrong one!"
"Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Ash had to act fast and now was the best time to do so.
"Pika...Chuuuu!" Leaping off the floor was the Mouse Pokemon who would focus on the gateway since that was the source of the problem. With a flash of lightning from his body, he zapped the gateway with 100,000 volts of electricity. This gateway was weaker than the standard ones, making it vulnerable to damage.
Those at the Arcane Institute who opened the gateway felt a powerful surge of lightning reach their location. But the screen was telling them that this wasn't just some random Thunderbolt. Not at all. This Thunderbolt belonged to a specific Pikachu. On the screen, a Red and Blue energy signature came on. The signature of Prisma. Thanks to Pikachu's Thunderbolt, this reaction was possible.
"Prisma..." The Pokemon Professor spoke with a grizzled voice. Seeing Ash reminded him of Prisma and sparked a certain negative reaction for him. The researchers saw that the gateway was beginning to die out because of Pikachu's Thunderbolt which greatly disrupted it.
So their response was to keep it active until they've completed their goal. Quickly, they would use everything in their power to try and maintain the gateway's stability. The result was the gateway growing in size and intensity, gaining an even stronger pull than before.
All three Twilights were starting to fall over because of this reaction. It was specifically tailored towards them as to be expected.
"Not like this..." But Twilight Moonlight didn't wish for this to happen. She saw that Twilight Sparkle was on the verge of being pulled in. At that moment, she decided to do something herself instead of just letting this happen. From her horn, she mustered up her limitless magic, creating a great flash from it.
The accidental unison of Pikachu's Thunderbolt and Twilight Moonlight's flash greatly interfered with the natural flow of the gateways. Those on the other side of Universe 10 saw their gateway collapse failing to stick around as they intended. Thus, their connection to Universe 1 was cut off.
The end result was all three Twilights feeling their bodies settle down peacefully. But while they didn't have to worry about the gravitational pull, there was something else. Specifically, Twilight Sparkle, Twilight Moonlight and Twilight Wish each had Rift Particles flowing out of their bodies at this very moment.
"What did you do...?" Twilight Sparkle groaned.
"I had to stop that gateway. Even if it meant I couldn't take Wish back with me. The institute won't be happy with this, but I had to do it. Even if it means another drawback will hit soon."
"What drawback?" Rainbow Dash questioned while helping Twilight off the floor.
"Under most circumstances, my magic should not interact with gateways. And now that I've done it, I won't be able to return home for a while...instead, I'll end up somewhere else I know nothing of." Twilight Moonlight explained, revealing that her location could change soon to somewhere random.
She risked her own safety for the sake of keeping Twilight Sparkle away from Universe 10, much to the surprise of Ash and Rainbow Dash, even if it meant she couldn't take Wish with her.
"Not just me." But Twilight Moonlight revealed more to it. "With the Rift Energy inside of us at the moment, the next time a gateway opens up for us, it'll..." Before she could finish her sentence, Twilight Moonlight would fall over. "Ugh..."
Olivine City.
With the ship properly stopping at Olivine City, everyone onboard woke up. Once awake, many left the ship, bewildered after the sudden knockout they received. The S.S Aqua would stick around Olivine City for a while since it was moving freely for minutes without any supervision and during that time, Ash's group would stand outside the ship.
Out there with them was Twilight Moonlight herself was currently inactive. She pushed herself, resulting in a knockout. Celestia now had Twilight Moonlight where she wanted her but the circumstances were not what she was expecting. When waking up, Twilight Moonlight saw everyone in front of her. The distance between the three Twilights was still short and close even after all of that.
"Well, now that you're awake we can finally have a chat with you." Princess Luna spoke.
"Mmm..." A disgruntled Twilight Moonlight said, knowing she was practically caught. She was the best at what she did but apparently, not in her own world.
"You nearly caused Olivine City to be crushed by the S.S Aqua," said Celestia. "And caused a fire that almost went far enough to ruin the entire ship."
"Tch." Twilight Moonlight scoffed, having no response for that."
"Hah...At least it's over." Celestia sighed. "You're out of your own world and in ours now, so there's no fleeing. There are a lot of authorities looking for you, Moonlight. You'll be indefinitely apprehended.
"As if that's going to happen." Twilight Moonlight saw that as an impossibility. "I may be out of my world, but believe me, I'm not confined at all." Technically, she was. Luna had placed magical restraints around her hooves to keep her in check. "Metaphorically speaking. And you!"
"Eeep!" Twilight Wish gulped after being spotted, receiving Twilight Moonlight's sharp gaze..
"You knew what would happen if three of us were in the same area together and you still showed up either way?! You're still around us too!"
"I mean, yeah..." Twilight Wish nervously giggled. "That's my bad."
"Thanks for saving me though." Despite all of that, Twilight Sparkle thanked Twilight Moonlight for saving her life. "That was a close one. You could've brought me and Wish through but you didn't."
"I'm not here for you. Only her. And..." Twilight Moonlight closed her eyes. "Apologies for the ruckus. But I always do what I have to do to succeed in my goal. A little bit of destruction is necessary since there are those who will get in my way."
"Isn't she forward?" Luna uttered, surprised at how brunt Twilight Moonlight was. She wasn't quite like Empress Twilight but there were some similarities.
"Besides...I'm only going to be here for 9 days until I return to my universe. It's longer than my previous limit, but now I no longer have to worry about anything else interfering with my transportation. Do you what you want, but you won't keep me here. I'll be free and in the meantime, I'll continue on my mission until I'm done."
"Mmm..." Celestia narrowed her eyes. That was a problem. The fact that she couldn't be kept here forever due to the limitation of her Rift Travel. "Alright then. So be it. If that's what you think then we'll do everything in our power to stop you."
"Eh?" What did Celestia mean by that? Judging by Twilight Moonlight's reaction, there was a slight sense of intimidation involved. Celestia had quite the look on her face when saying that, followed by a devious smile. The Sun Princess was up to no good but with only good intentions involved. At least for the entire world. For Twilight Moonlight, not so much.
Johto. The S.S Aqua. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
"Let me out!" said Twilight Moonlight with a bellowing roar as she was surrounded by a Magical Forcefield made by Celestia. After hearing what Twilight Moonlight shared, Princess Celestia had a solution to this upcoming issue. Twilight Moonlight only had 9 days until she returned to her world and apparently, unlike before, nothing was going to hold her back. Not even the devices made by the Ranger Union and International Police that specifically counter Rift Travel.
"This'll do just fine. It's certainly strong enough." Celestia put on a wide grin. "I wasn't slacking when it came to learning about Rift Magic. Ever since it became so rampant in Equestria, I've been studying and learning about its traits.
"What are you planning? Somepony like you wouldn't just put me in this without something in mind after what I just revealed. That smile of yours speaks volumes. What are you planning to do?"
"Well..." Celestia grinned, showing a rather devious and intimidating expression that even made Twilight Moonlight jerk back. "I was thinking of running tests on you to see what would keep you around. Perhaps petrification from a Cockatrice. Then again, there are Pokemon that can grant us that are more common. Or maybe we should have Dusknoir temporarily remove your soul from your body." Celestia twirled her mane, having rather devious ideas in her mind.
"!" Moonlight let out a small gasp.
"One of those sounds rather cruel, don't you think?" Luna added.
"They say the inside of an Ursa Major is the equivalent of outer space. If we were to place you in there...No that wouldn't do either." She shook her head while making Luna fear the most. Where was her sister getting these thoughts?
"S-Sister?"
"Maybe the Shift Stone can change up your biology and that'll keep you around. We could have Manaphy switch your body with someone else who will suffer a different punishment and you'll take their place. Or perhaps sealing you will keep you steady. Or maybe we should drop you in the Arcane Sea where enough Rift Energy will override your immunity." The Sun Princess slowly nodded, thinking of ways to get past this advantage Twilight Moonlight had. "How was that? Was I intimidating enough?" However, she put on a cheery and hopeful expression once more, facing her friends.
"Um..." Luna paused for a moment before letting out a slight shrug. "Decent? You were never that great at being threatening. Even when catching her, you're still too gentle, sister." Good enough for Celestia.
"Y-You wouldn't...And even so, those will be completely ineffective against me. No matter what my body will return to its original universe." Twilight Moonlight shuddered. It seemed to be effective on Twilight Moonlight who was trying to act brave. But she'd be lying if she was intimidated by some of these threats. She wasn't even aware of the kind of pony Celestia was to know if she was bluffing or not.
But Ash and his friends knew that when push comes to shove, Celestia is not afraid to go the distance just for the safety of others. But perhaps, only the sealing part would be up her alley Everything else was very different for the Sun Princess.
"No. I'm not doing any of that. Instead, we're taking you to Lucas." Celestia had something else in mind that she very much prepared and was holding back until now.
"We are?!" Luna gasped before pulling back. "I-Is that not dangerous?! She wishes to capture Ash and all we'd be doing is bringing her another person related to Prisma?"
"I can safely say that Lucas is better that crafting gateways than your group. He isn't limited aside from needing help from our own Twilight. You've all been dealing with artificial gateways and Rift Magic. Lucas, however, has access to the natural flow of it. Even if he didn't have it from the start."
"Mmm, yeah." Twilight Sparkle slowly nodded. "He wasn't born with but he looks like he has a good grasp of it."
"It won't work. He's not the only one with access to Rift Energy. I'll be back home without anything to stop me." Twilight Moonlight was rather confident.
"We'll see. We also have our Twilight as backup." The Sun Princess glanced at Twilight Sparkle.
"Oh!" Twilight Sparkle stood up tall. "R-Right! I'll do my best! What do I have to do exactly?"
"Just as backup, your own Rift Magic will have to come into play." The Ruler of Equestria explained. "I know enough about Rift Magic to know that the natural version of it is more efficient than anything artificial. You and Lucas have that advantage. Plus, there's Cold Colt if he's available."
"Hm. Shouldn't you three feel uncomfortable right now?" Diancie noticed that the three Twilights were no longer going through that strange feeling within their bodies despite being so close to each other. They were completely fine.
"Oh, yeah. We're completely fine right now." Twilight Wish added. "I came here for that reason but...It's not going off anymore."
"Huh. I suppose so." Twilight Moonlight spoke, on the same page as Twilight Wish. "Right now, the three of us should be fighting Midnight Luminaria's potential influence. Well, two of you at least. I'm not held back by that flaw."
"So highly of yourself." Twilight ish side-eyed her aggressive counterpart. "But why? Why isn't anything happening with us now?"
"Interesting..." That was something Princess Celestia would also have to look into.
"Princess Diancie. This is exactly what I was worried about when we joined this journey." Merrick shook his head, fearing that it was only going to escalate from here.
"But it's also the kind of adventure I was looking forward to." Diancie thought otherwise, even if the ship almost burned down or crashed into Olivine City. "Maybe not what almost happened. But still."
"We'll head to Lucas and work from there. I know for a fact he's trying to make a gateway and is horribly failing." Celestia ordered. "We have a lot on our plate everyone so let's work smarter not harder. Moonlight. Once we cut your connection, you'll have to answer to the Ranger Union and Interpol after this. They'll be the ones"
"Tch." Twilight Moonlight kissed her teeth, still believing in her eventual escape. But for now, she was going to be kept under the watchful eye of Celestia's group, coming along with them all the while she was unable to do anything even under the Full Moon.
"Ooh...What happened?" Clearly, Hollow's own body clock was out of touch thanks to what he's had to deal with. He woke up minutes after everything had finally settled down. And considering his current condition, it was best that he did.
Twilight Moonlight stay silent for the most part. Her Poke Balls were confiscated, placed under the grasp of Luna at the moment. She could try all she wanted, but she wasn't breaking free from here in this current condition. All she could do was sit around and observe.
"My magic is supposed to be limitless under the full moon...and yet these two spells are holding me back. What kind of ponies are these two?" Twilight Moonlight couldn't understand it herself. She had full faith in her magical capabilities since she was a prodigy and essentially the chosen one back in her universe. But that was only in her universe.
"They're alicorns so they have that advantage." Twilight Sparkle spoke to Moonlight while standing next to Wish. "Their magic is above ours. Even though I'm an alicorn myself."
"Alicorn, huh? We don't have those types of ponies in my universe. It's all earth ponies, pegasi and us unicorns."
"Alicorns don't exist in your world? Oooh..." This came as a surprise. A world without alicorns was unheard of for Twilight Sparkle. "What about you, Wish?"
"Mm-mm. No alicorns in my universe either. I guess they're rare in certain universes." Even Twilight Wish lacked an alicorn. And to a certain extent, so did Sci-Twi, even though she technically became an alicorn albeit humanized. "But I've heard about them prior to showing up here."
"That would explain the wings on Twilight Luminaria..." Moonlight closed her eyes before putting on a smirk. "Hmph. That means one thing. If I continue on my path, eventually I'll become an alicorn."
"You? An alicorn?" Twilight Sparkle leaned forward and back, finding that rather difficult to believe.
"You became one. What's stopping me from achieving that goal? We're all the same pony after all."
"I'm not sure how that works...At least I hope so."
"When I become an alicorn, it might be after I stop Prisma's return. Or even before that and becoming an alicorn is the key to stopping him. After all, Twilight Luminaria was an alicorn herself. "You won't see me giving up. Both of you. I'll succeed no matter what, even if I'm stopped multiple times."
Twilight Moonlight was certainly dedicated and fearless. That much was true. Her upbringing is mainly responsible for that anyway. Compared to her three counterparts, she was the most hardened of them all and also the one to harbour as much potential as Twilight Sparkle and Sci-Twi.
Moonlight still needed to sleep and she would guarantee herself a full recovery by the end of it all. The unicorn was completely unbothered by who was watching her.
"So...Ash told me how you broke the Moon Zone. You have the power to grant wishes?" Sparkle asked.
"Not really? It's not like Jirachi's power or anything like that. Moonlight's speciality comes from her connection to the Moon. As for me, wishes are my speciality but they're limited." Twilight Wish explained. "It's somewhat new for me and it doesn't really go the distance. But it definitely helps. I wish I could use it to save my home though..."
Wish still had to think about her home. To return to it was to cause trouble yet again. But with a small smile appearing on her face, Twilight Wish wondered if that could change after meeting Twilight Sparkle's group.
"Well, I'd best be going now. My time in this place is almost up." It would be time for Twilight Wish to return to the Dimensional Castle, which meant she wouldn't be coming along yet again. The castle couldn't sail after all. But she would certainly be back, especially when the time calls for it.
Kalos. Courmanine City. Day.
At last. The Kalos Region. Arriving here, Ash and his group would meet up with the rest of their friends once more. They reunited over at Courmarine City. An exclusive resort area made popular thanks to its clear skies and mild atmosphere while also housing a port.
"Ah! You're back! I was starting to get worried again!" Sci-Twi sprinted over to Ash.
"We're here. No need to worry." Ash said before catching Sweetie Belle in his arms, who came running over
"Maybe we should. You brought her?!" Rarity immediately locked onto Twilight Moonlight and the bubble she was currently in. They all soon spotted Twilight's counterpart sitting there, restrained yet serious.
Exiting the ship and ending up in the region she was originally born in was Diancie along with Zeraora who had bags under her eyes. Safe to say that Zeraora slept well. So did Hollow, Jewel and their son Earn. But Earn was still out for the moment, as silent as a Mimikyu. Merrick breathed in and out, falling over out of exhaustion before being picked up by Espeon.
"What happened while ya'll were gone?" Applejack questioned as it seemed that a lot has developed while the group was seperated.
"A lot. And more to come." Luna said casually when walking past Applejack.
"At least you're back. I can finally use these again..." Lucas uttered with relief. Now that Twilight Sparkle was back, new gateways could be made. A that moment, he looked to the side, spotting Twilight Moonlight's sharp glare.
Moonlight was already thinking about how to bring both Ash and Lucas back to her universe. Even when outnumbered, the unicorn did not hold anything back. Lucas put on a nervous smile when seeing Moonlight's gaze, unsure of what to say in response. All he could do was look elsewhere.
"It's you!" The CMC ran up to Twilight Moonlight, recognizing her. She was the same pony who saved them from a potential Despair Plant and for that, they were grateful.
"I believe we've spent our time well here at Kalos. Both of our groups. It's we got a move on." Celestia said. "Right now, Daybreaker's group is out there somewhere and they are certainly not going to let this rest. Staying in Kalos won't be the best play admittedly."
"So...Where to next?" Sci-Twi asked.
"I had somewhere in my mind...but I couldn't do it without some Rift Energy to back me up." Lucas raised his arm. "Heck, I was thinking of doing two gateways instead of one this time."
"You won't have to do just gateways, Lucas. Your Rift Energy will have to be centred around her next." Celestia instructed, referring to Twilight Moonlight. "I'll inform you later. Right now, you can open a gateway to wherever you wish."
"Got it. Help me out here, Twilight." Lucas walked forward, rubbing his hands together as Rift Sparkles were already beginning to form. And wherever they were going, Twilight Moonlight was certainly coming with them.
Noticeably, even with Twilight Sparkle, Sci-Twi and Twilight Moonlight being in the same area, that strange feeling wasn't showing up. Sci-Twi didn't even feel it once. It has yet to show up for her. As for where they were going, Lucas had to make a few connections since he missed out on two days.
And one of these locations would be none other than beyond the beautiful Las Pegasus. A great place to stop by for the Pokemon Festival and would certainly be lively. Moonlight could care less though, but she had no idea what was coming her way very soon.
Alola. A Strange Island.
Daybreaker's group were still trapped on this mysterious island, struggling to find a way out of it. Their only option was to explore and see what they could find before their 5 days were up. They currently had 3 days left before they returned to their universe.
Gardevoir had already fallen asleep, deprived of Aura and lacking the spirit to do much else. The Aura Vampire would lie down while under the Alolan Sun. Too lazy to do anything and couldn't be bothered to try. Gardevoir was truly reliant on the Aura as if her life depended on it when it really didn't.
During their search, they did indeed come across something interesting that neither of them could ignore. They went deeper into the island, noticing a strong lack of Pokemon. No Pokemon inhabited this one island but that didn't mean it was lacking something.
Burning down a wall of vines was Daybreaker, just by using her presence alone to do so instead of making direct contact. And when burning through anything in the island that got too close to her, the Solar Queen, Second Wind and Hunter J came across something curious. They were moving across this rather large island for 2 days now and finally, they found something in the lower areas.
At first, it looked like a cave, but not quite. The group saw a faint light coming from the entrance of this hollowed-out spot which was certainly new. Why would this island let out any form of light, especially one that had a light blue colour within it. When advancing forward, they approached this hollowed-out area and found something else beyond it.
"A room?" Daybreaker uttered. Hidden in this strange island was a room. A futuristic one too. It was a large vaulted room made entirely of obsidian, its smooth black surface reflecting the soft glow of neon lights. A strange, otherworldly hum fills the air, creating an eerie ambience.
"Look at this..." J moved her hands across the walls, feeling their texture. "It's obsidian...That's incredibly rare."
"Hmph. Nothing to break the diamond though." Second Wind groaned. "This is probably just an abandoned area that no one had any use for. It's far too modern to be ancient."
"I don't think so. This is a lot like that secret world you found, J." Daybreaker pointed out. "Curious...It looks like some sort of laboratory."
It did have that laboratory feeling. But it didn't look like any lab that either of them have seen before. Much like that tower, this place had things they've never seen before. Specifically, magic symbols on the walls. The same magic symbols that were on that monolith.
On the ruined table, Hunter J picked up a damaged book that was missing a huge chunk of its pages and cover with minimal words being spared. And one word that was spared was at the bottom of one of these pages which J noticed.
"Hm. Written by Professor Greystar." J read the name on the bottom.
"If I had to guess, this might be one of the areas that existed in Prisma's world." Daybreaker was already going the Prisma route. And the second she said so, the room gave out a reaction.
The room turned red, letting out a blaring alarm. This place wasn't as dead as they thought it would be. It was very much active but for only one reason that they would soon find out. A sound could be heard coming from the room that was completely artificial.
"Prisma. Prisma. Searching for Prisma." It specifically reacted to the name Prisma. Not even the name Greystar sparked this reaction. The artificial voice was malfunctioning, as if it was trying to say something else but it was clear it wasn't stable. And neither was this room. There was indeed a door here that would shut itself immediately.
Daybreaker's group were trapped in this laboratory, unaware of the type of forces that were about to be unleashed upon them. They just couldn't escape from things related to Prisma. So far, no one could. Daybreaker only came here to find a way out of the island and to free Necrozma from these mystical diamonds.
Instead, she was about to receive something else as seen by the obsidian walls opening up. The laboratory was putting on some sort of defence specifically centred around Prisma himself.
But even though he wasn't here, that didn't stop the lab from taking action. Daybreaker, Hunter J and Second Wind each had the same reaction after gazing at what was being revealed beyond those walls. As the journey continues.
Equestria. Las Pegasus. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
Beautiful Las Pegasus. Its beauty can only be improved by the existence of the Pokemon Festival. With another gateway opening up, Lucas and the others passed through, with Lucas stumbling and wobbling upon exiting. Once again, his body was not yet used to this power.
Passing through were some rare characters in the form of Zeraora and Diancie as well as a Wanted Character in the form of Twilight Moonlight, who was dragged along, scowling and pouting about her current position. Present here at Las Pegasus were the Hippogriffs. They were finally taking part in their first Pokemon Festival and Las Pegasus was a great place to start.
"Thanks, Lucas. I missed out on one of the Pokemon Contests so I figured I'd catch this one." Sweetie Belle was the one who recommended it for the sake of catching the next Pokemon Contest. It would still be a while before she involved herself in the Grand Conference.
"No problem..." Lucas was about to drop, only for Zeraora to hold him. "You know, I think I'm getting better at it...This time, it only took me 8 seconds to almost fall over when showing up."
"Do you have your outfit ready? Or do you need a spare from the Contest?" Rarity asked.
"I'm fine. It doesn't start in a few hours so I'll have time. Enough time to practice." Sweetie Belle was already off to get a head start.
"Pokemon Contests? I've heard of those. Is one happening here?" said Diancie, recognizing the existence of Pokemon Contests.
"Heard of them? We didn't get to show you one of 'em back at Kalos. Well, there were Showcases there instead." Ash answered, already knowing what Diancie was thinking about.
Pokemon Contests interested Diancie but she had yet to really see them. Only word of mouth for these past years. But that could all change today. Diancie didn't just want to see it, she wanted to be a part of it.
"Hmm..." Wishing to make herself her own dress, Diancie was first thinking about how she could just Mega Evolve since that switches up her appearance. But the Jewel Pokemon wanted to try something new. With her own hands, she started constructing a Diamond Dress. The Diamond Dress was constructed to fit Diancie's build, having a longer appearance than her Mega Evolved form.
"Ooh, wonderful! But...Is it safe it to wear it? Might be a bit clunky." Rarity observed. Diancie already tried putting on the Diamond Dress, putting it over her body first. While it did manage to fit her, it came with a crucial flaw that not even Diance saw.
It was indeed too clunky, just as Rarity said. After all, it was a dress of diamonds. Diancie pouted, realizing the drawback of such a dress. It still looked good on her so that was the only positive. "What a shame..."
"It's for the better. You can't be that exposed to everyone, Princess Diancie," said Merrick. "Even if you've been out in the open all this time. You will have to view it instead."
"Aww..."
"Tch." Twilight Moonlight, who was still within the bubble made by Celestia would groan while planning her eventual escape. She looked over at Las Pegasus, witnessing how much of a contrast it had compared to her home. Where she comes from, it was only ponies and Pokemon with no Humans around. But even though Las Pegasus was the same, the style was very different to where Twilight Moonlight comes from.
Celestia would be the one to keep an eye on Moonlight since it was her bubble after all. She had to make sure she could keep it stable even if Moonlight's magic was stronger. Even still, Celestia knew how to have fun and focus on her job at the same time.
With a Pokemon Contest happening here for Coordinators to come and far to view, it was only natural for one coordinator in particular to eventually show up.
Arriving here at Las Pegasus at a much earlier time than Ash's group was another odd group which had an ancient character with them. That would be Lena Ketchum and Team Rocket. Joined by Diadora, they were here for only one reason and it was not for the shards that they were working together. Tailored to Jessie's needs, they were here for the Pokemon Contests.
"I don't understand...How will this help us find the shards?" Lena questioned. She was alienated about Pokemon Contests and mostly everything else in the modern day. She wasn't even sure what to make of Las Pegasus in all of its grandeur.
"It won't. I'm just here for the contest~" Jessie hummed, rubbing her hands together.
"I thought you'd given up on that." James asked. "You even had that chat with Sweetie Belle."
"Oh, yes, I did. I'm over contests now. But the profit? No way!" In reality, Jessie was still focused on how much money she could make from this, ironically saying it while in Las Pegasus of all places. "I'm not going to be out there showing my beauty. Someone else is going to do it for me and we'll rake in the cash!"
"Oh, no. I've never been that into contests." James denied, assuming Jessie was referring to him.
"Not you! Her." In reality, Jessie was looking at Lena.
"M-Me?" The ancestor of Ash pointed at herself out of confusion.
"Her?!" James and Meowth collectively said.
"I pray for moments like these. It's always just you two boys so it's nice to have someone like Lena around. And this is the chance of a lifetime for me!"
"Hold on! She doesn't know the first thing about contests! You're sending her into something fresh!" James tried being reasonable with Jessie.
"It's a competition, isn't it? What kind of competition? Will I have to battle?" Lena already threw some questions in, showing how much she wasn't aware of this. All she knew was that it was some sort of contest.
"Hm. You would think a lot like him, wouldn't you?" Jessie narrowed her eyes as she should've expected this. Lena was practically a mirror of Ash, being the blueprint for how he currently was. "But don't worry. It's not too late. You don't have to worry about those shards either."
"I don't? Mmm..." Lena wasn't really seeing it. "Seems like a waste, Jessie."
"Ah, you need to enjoy yourself. There's no shame in taking it easy." Jessie shook her head.
"I suppose...I haven't had the chance to do that much in this world since I've been so focused on reaching the shards before he does. But taking a break won't hurt." Lena would try it out. She was curious about it anyway.
"Great! Let's get you dressed and put you in a practice session. We have a few hours until it really begins." Jessie grinned, using this is a chance to make some quick money. Never before has a coordinator had someone as what could be considered their manager but Jessie was about to take full advantage of this.
For both sides, there was a lot to do and they had yet to really converge. But at this rate, Lena's existence might end up reaching Ash since they were in the same city. At the moment, Ash was trying out some Festival Spices that were plentiful and come from all across the world.
"Ash..." Twilight Sparkle and Sci-Twi both said with uncertainty in their voices. The spices they were looking at was brought over by the Saddle Arabians who were eternally grateful to Ash.
"Just for you, Ash. You can try these spices out for free.
"It's fine, Twilight. This'll really pack a punch for sure." Ash grinned, pouring some spices onto his food to give it that extra flavour, even if he had no idea what they possessed. "Never got to try these before."
"Yeah, yeah!" Encouraging him was Lucas who wanted a swing at them.
"It's not a full-on contest. It's sort of like a...mock one." Applejakc explained to Diancie about this city's contest. "They're just gonna show their stuff and be done with it. If it were the real deal, it'd be way longer and there'd be a battle too."
"Oooh..."
"But I ain't all into contests. Or Pokemon Battling." The earth pony shook her head. "But I do love spending time with my Pokemon. They're a part of the family after all."
"Scep. Sceptile." Sceptile greatly agreed which was also shown by a nod.
"Well, all of my Carbink feel like family to me." Diancie would grab Merrick, delivering a strong hug to him. "They're not just my servants and subjects."
"Mmmrgh...T-Thank you, Princess!" Merrick groaned, surprised by her own Princess's grip strength.
"So...Is she just gonna stay here the entire time?" Focusing on Twilight Moonlight was Apple Bloom.
"She'll be kept here until we can truly find a way to keep her from returning to her own universe," Celestia explained. "Ooh, makes me sound a bit menacing, doesn't it?"
"I told her she's wasting her time." Moonlight uttered.
"Aw, but she saved our lives. Did she really do something bad?" Unaware of the damage she's done, Apple Bloom and by extension Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle saw Twilight Moonlight as a good figure.
"If you count putting everyone's lives on a ship in grave danger as bad then yes. Absolutely." Luna answered. "When she permenantly stays here, we'll have either Interpol or the Ranger Union come for her. But, we do sense some good in her but that won't save her from judgement."
"Well, now's a good time to get to know this Twilight!" Pinkie Pie slid over, deciding to chat with Twilight Moonlight. "I'm so excited to meet you! Heard a lot about you! You're pretty scary, honestly."
"Good. I need to instil fear into my enemies, especially when it comes to stopping Prisma. If he does return, he'll fear me this time." Moonlight vowed with an intense voice.
"Oh. Intense. So, am I in your world? What am I like? I mean...if you've met yet. I assume you have since you're a Twilight." At this moment, Twilight Moonlight was about to have her first experience chatting with Pinkie Pie. She had no idea that this was going to be way longer than she expected.
Contest Hall.
Today's contest would be different from the rest. Instead of the usual two stages, there would be one stage only but it would still be enjoyable. No ribbons were available for this contest, meaning there was no risk of losing this one. But that wouldn't stop the coordinators who always have victory on their minds. Sweetie Belle was one of these ponies, who wanted to get some good training in. But while she was practicing, someone was getting dressed.
"Hold still, Lena!" Jessie bellowed as she was currently dressing Lena in a Contest Uniform that could be used for free. The sounds of Lena grunting revealed that she wasn't too keen on one thing. Dresses. "You'll knock them out!"
"This is completely uncomfortable for me!" Lena groaned. "Why can't I just wear my current clothes!?"
"You'd be seen as a scamp if you went out there. And blue really matches your colour! See?"
"Oh..." Lena came out of the room, wearing a beautiful blue dress. The dress left her shoulders uncovered, instead, it's supported around her neck and flows down into a graceful round neckline. It's a loose fit which gives the dress a relaxed, yet graceful look.
Her arms have been covered fully. The sleeves broaden towards the bottom, allowing for bracelets to be visible. Below the waist the dress widens every so slightly and has an accordion style. The dress reaches to just above her knees and is the same length all around. She was also wearing t-straps, which added simplicity and elegance. To top it all off she's wearing a simple, but stylish necklace and an opulent bracelet. Her hairstyle was also altered, appearing in the style of a ponytail and as the final touch, she had red lipstick on with her eyelashes darkened.
"Not bad!" James gave an approving thumbs-up. "Even on someone from the past, it still looks good!"
"Mmm..." Lena grumbled. She was not the biggest fan of this. "Modern-day clothing is so strange...But interesting. What good does this do though?"
"It's meant to 'Wow', Lena. Plus, with this look, you'll gain victory even if your Pokemon does all the work." Jessie giggled before freezing for a moment. "Ah! I forgot about the Pokemon!"
"Well, don't look at me. I ain't going out there." Meowth would back away, already suspecting that Jessie would choose her.
"A Pokemon is needed?" Lena scratched her hair. "Hm. I'm not sure I should call the Noble Pokemon for this. I was told to only do it for important instances and they would join in a contest."
"What do we do? Do we call the Rocket Prize Machine? People will suspect that it's us..." Jessie spoke with Jessie and Meowth, scheming something.
"We might have to put on that Gardevoir Evolution Line disguise from before. It might work today." Jessie pondered. "I took ballet classes once, ya know."
"Is something wrong?" Someone else entered this room, grabbing the attention of Team Rocket and Lena. When they looked over, lo and behold, when bringing up the Gardevoir Evolution Line Disguises they once used, the one person who was tricked by it before showed up.
"Well, we-" Jessie's sentence froze as she, James and Meothw collectively screeched when looking at the person in front of them.
May.
"It's the 2nd Twerpette!" They each said in their minds in unison.
"I heard you didn't have a Pokemon. Is everything okay" May asked as the diguises Team Rocket had were completely elusive once more.
"W-Well, we're just having a small issue!" Jessie giggled nervously. "We made a goof and didn't bring a single Pokemon with us. For her, anyway!"
"Oh, that's a shame. Well, it's not that much of an issue. You can always..." Before May could finish her next sentence, she eyed down Lena' recognizing that face. The dress wasn't doing any favours but her face was.
That signature gaze, that hairstyle even if it was slightly altered and those lightning bolt birthmarks were impossible to forget. May knew of one person who had this signature look. Her old travelling friend. "Ash..."?
"No, no. I'm not my many-great grandson. I'm Lena." Lena quickly corrected her.
"Grandson? You're his Grandma?!" May bellowed while vigorously pointing at Lena. "You look so good for your age!"
"Well, I'm actually his ancestor. I was flung through time which explains my age." Lena chuckled, attempting to take a step forward. But the second she did so, the ancestor of Ash would trip. She was not used to walking in these types of shoes or even a dress. "Wah!" Face first, straight onto the smooth carpet. "Uuugh..."
"You have to walk like a lady too, Lena." Jessie kneeled. "None of that sprinting or bolting that you do, even if it's your charm."
"These restraints..." Lena groaned when slowly getting up. "How can someone move in this?"
"I can tutor you on that too." Jessie nudged when helping Lena up.
"Maybe that's not cut out for you though." May had something else in mind. She would prefer to see Lena in her element since she was partaking in the Pokemon Contest. "You need to wear something more your style or you'll mess up in the Contest."
"What do you think we're here for?" Jessie side-eyed May, opting for the more fabulous look. "And we're still dealing with the No Pokemon issue."
"My style..." Those words resonated with Lena. A smile graced her face as that was truly up her alley. "Yes! I'm sure that'll leave everyone amazed!" She pumped her fists, already rustling her dress.
"You sound and act like Ash too." May chuckled. "But you don't have to worry about a Pokemon. There are rental Pokemon here and they're all well-trained."
"Rental? Hm...Not sure what that means, but I'm guessing it means I can partner up with whichever!" Lena cheered. "I'm ready!" Once more, she would try and bolt off, searching for that rental Pokemon. To make it easier on her, Lena grabbed her dress, raising the lower part of it to avoid another trip.
"Lena, wait! I know what you're thinking but don't do it! Think of the beauty!" Jessie swiftly followed her with James and Meowth doing the same.
"She looks pretty excited. And if she's anything like Ash, she'll really put on a show." May smiled. "I should get myself ready too while I'm still here. I really wanna impress them all."
However, while Team Rocket and Lena were gone, there was one more individual in this room who hasn't left yet. And that was for one reason only. It was because of May's existence which was noticed by Diadora. She hid inbetween the clothes, instantly recognizing May.
While Ash was seen as the King of the Sea, prior to Delia, May was known as the Queen of the Sea, being the surrogate mother of Prince Manaphy. Much like how all the Samiyans recognized Ash, Diadora was sure to recognize May. "The Queen of the Sea's here too...I could use this to my advantage. But how?"
Diadora closed her eyes, thinking about some words that came from her uncle. The King of Pokelantis. But nothing really stuck since her uncle never spoke to her about scenarios such as this. "Improvisation it is then." She would have to think of something else. For now, she was going to spy on May since she was connected to Ash.
"Hm?" However, Diadora didn't go unnoticed by May. Immediately, she was spotted, causing her to flinch, squeak and cover her face with the clothes. But her lower body was still available. May would simply let it go and continue what she was doing.
Many other coordinators were starting to enter the room, immediately making it packed. Diadora grimaced as this wasn't the most efficient way to spy on someone. A bunch of chatter hit the dressing room as there was plenty of gossip going off. Diadora sighed as she was already bumped into by some of the coordinators, making it harder on herself.
Noticeably, entering this room was the Queen of the Hippogriffs or Seaponies, Queen Novo. It wasn't just Diadora sneaking around. Novo had her own disguise on which came in the form of a fabulous cloak that make her stand out along with black glasses.
Thanks to that cloak, she wasn't discreet at all. Since the Hippogriffs were here at Las Pegasus today, it was only natural for the Queen to be present here, wanting to be unnoticed despite what she was wearing. The Hippogriff Queen slid by the crowd of coordinators as she was here for the same reason.
She was here for the Pokemon Contests.
However, with Lena and Ash being in the same location, another connection happened. The shards that Lena possessed and the shards that Sci-Twi possessed were resonating with each other. Much like how the two Twilights had a connection, so did these shards which was obvious.
But not only that, Sci-Twi's pendant was letting out a faint glow. The upstart Pokemon Trainer noticed this glow, holding up her Arceus Pendant, wondering what this could mean.
At this very moment, one great power was attempting to return. A power that was known by many but possessed by few as the journey continues.
Equestria. Las Pegasus. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
Here at Las Pegasus, a special Pokemon Contest was going on. No battles would be done. Just a full-on showcase of flair for this special contest and a strong lack of ribbons. Jessie managed to get Lena Ketchum invested in this, at least for a little while. And after a ton of makeup, Lena passed by many coordinators and those who were coming to see this small contest, looking rather unkempt.
"Rental...Rental..." After being told about Rental Pokemon from May, Lena Ketchum was on her way to partner up with one while still wearing the dress that Jessie set up for her. Holding the lower part of the dress up to sprint, Lena bolted her way past the other coordinators. "Morning! Is this where I can find a Rental Pokemon?!"
"W-Well, yes..." The employee pulled back. "They're just over there, lined up inside of those boxes."
"Thank you!" Lena bowed before sprinting once again. The spot to rent out some Pokemon was just up ahead. Sitting in front of her was an assortment of boxes, each holding different Poke Balls with Pokemon within them. Lena could team up with any of them at this very moment.
Lena was the only one here since every other coordinator had their own Pokemon. Lena wasn't sure which Pokemon she would team up when glancing at them. The ancestor of Ash grit her teeth, unsure of who to pick. So, in all her unique wisdom, she went for as much as she could, unaware that she only needed one.
"I'm counting on all of you!" Lena said with excitement.
"Um...You only need the One Pokemon..." A staff member said.
"Just one?" Lena paused, glancing at the Poke Balls in her hand. "Hmm...That seems like a waste to leave them all out. But if so, then I'll choose this one." After choosing her Pokemon, she raised the Poke Ball into the air triumphantly. After that, Lena was ready to remove the fancy getup she had on for something more her style.
"Lena, wait! Whatever you're thinking, reconsider!" Jessie pleaded, wishing for Lena to keep this beautiful look.
"Sorry, Jessie. But I'm going with my own style!" Lena would remove this style instantly for something catered towards her. She effortlessly ripped parts of the dress off, revealing her true clothes which were still on her. Her own style was her original look. Lena even managed to remove the lipstick from her lips while also bringing her hair back to how it previously was, which was just Ash's own hairstyle.
Jessie fell down to her knees, gutted by this reversal. All that hard work to get her dressed up went to waste. All the while, Lena had the brightest smile on her face. "All that hard work...For what? She's going to be seen so differently out there..."
"Now I'm ready." Lena gazed at the Poke Ball, throwing it into the air. "Whoever you are, please help me in this!"
"Clefairy!" Out of it emerged Clefairy. This would be the Pokemon assisting her. Lena had no Contest experience and this was her first time unleashing a Poke Ball. A first time for everything and much like her descendant, she was very eager to take a huge swing at it.
"Hoooooot!" Meanwhile, Ash and Lucas just got done trying out some Saddle Arabian spices on their food, only to suddenly breathe fire due to how hot they were. Ash and Lucas managed to use Flamethrower together, spewing crimson flames into the air.
"Told you. But you two handled that better than I imagined." Twilight Sparkle shook her head. After they used Flamethrower, Ash and Lucas collectively slumped over with smoke coming out of their mouths.
During that time frame, Pinkie Pie has been chatting to Twilight Moonlight this entire time while she was still stuck in the bubble. For 70 straight minutes and the contest had yet to begin. There was still time to spare. "So, it's not all bad I mean we got to go to space! How crazy is that?! I think we can even further than that pretty soon!"
Moonlight could be seen having a straight face, practically zoned out as she was absolutely bombarded by information from Pinkie Pie. With her hooves restrained, she couldn't even cover her ears. Minutes upon minutes of listening to Pinkie Pie chatter about herself and the things she's done.
As for Sci-Twi, she was still looking at her Arceus Pendant, wondering why it was letting out a faint glow. If she had to guess, something else related to Arceus's power somewhere here. Curious, Sci-Twi wandered off, a little spaced out at the moment. She would soon venture through Las Pegasus, passing by the droves of Pokemon, Ponies, Hippogriffs and Humans that were present here.
She pouted, trying to make the pendant glow with a stronger rate but something was off. While it was glowing, Sci-Twi wasn't sure if she was getting close or not and she wasn't even aware about what was causing it. In her mind, she believed that the shards were the cause of this and there were new ones here at Las Pegasus. She was partially right. There were other shards here but they were in possession of Lena's group. There was a second reason for this.
And speaking of Hippogriffs, Sci-Twi unknowingly passed by a rather important figure. That would be Queen Novo herself. Putting on a disguise that was too flashy to be considered discreet, she was also here for the Contest but it seems as if she did not want anyone else to know about this. in the dressing room, she managed to put on a Contest Dress tailored to her.
It was an authentic Seaquestria dress that was rather rare considering how the Hippogriffs had to flee Mount Aris in the past. But now that they didn't have to worry about the Storm King, this type of dress would be exposed to the world once more, right on the Queen.
"So far, nothing..." Novo commented, opening the exit to the Contest Hall, where Sci-Twi passed her. "Excellent. I still have a few hours left until it starts so now is a good time to get some practice. This looks solitude enough."
Novo was about to get in some practice before the Contest could begin. She would slip forward, finding the best possible place to practice on her own without anyone noticing. Las Pegasus was an incredibly crowded place after all so she really needed this one spot.
Alas, it wasn't as free as she wanted it to be. Somepony else found this spot to be perfect for practising and that pony was Sweetie Belle, who was already working alongside her Pokemon.
"!" Novo grimaced as her glasses nearly fell off. This was the one spot she needed and it was already taken. But where else could she go at this moment?
"Great, great!" Sweetie Belle cheered. "Way to go, Teddiursa!"
"Ah, it's just a child." Novo sighed. "I bet she doesn't even know who I am. Why was I so worried?" Sweetie Belle wouldn't mind, either way, royalty or not. She would much rather continue practising with her Pokemon. Novo pranced over, keeping her distance from the young unicorn.
"Hm?" It didn't take long for Sweetie Belle to notice the Queen of the Hippogriffs. The dress she had on was appealing but Sweetie Belle could definitely tell she was a Hippogriff based on her build from the front. "Nice dress!"
"Thank you...Just don't mind me, sweetie." Novo commented before pulling out her own Poke Ball. She never had one before but after the events with the Storm King, she now possessed one. And out of it emerged her partner. Primarina.
"Primarina!"
"Primaina...." Sweetie Belle gawked. It's not often she got to see a Primarina. "Oh, right! Focus! Do it, Teddiursa!"
"Teddi!" Nodding in understanding, Teddiursa used Night Slash. She generated an aura of darkness around her claws before spinning on the spot. The result was a black tornado that would soon be sliced in half by Teddiursa's surprisingly sharp claws.
"Ah..." Novoc ouldn't get the chance to make another move once she saw what Teddiursa pulled off. The Black Tornado was now split into individual parts and yet they were still stable and staying airborne.
Teddiursa then took a mighty leap, jumping through the Split Black Tornado while also using Swift. The stars of Swift emerged from his body, illuminating the Black Tornado with rays piercing through the darkness. Teddirusa would then emerge from the eye of the storm and right at the top, summoning a larger Swift Star on top of her head.
"That's the one!" Sweetie Belle applauded. "Let's work on that and create different versions of it!
"...Oh dear." Novo realized how outclassed she was instantly. Sweetie Belle, who was just a child, had impressive skills that could 'Wow' others. It certainly wowed Queen Nova and even Primarina who had their jaws dropped. But Primarina would soon applaud it herself.
"Prima!"
"Ooh! I should've started working days before this festival started! The kids are this skilled already?!"
"You're from Seaquestria, right?" Sweetie Belle said. "You've probably got something new I've never seen before in a Contest, right?"
"W-Well um...Yes. Different regions, different styles, right?" Novo tried playing it off cool, but in reality, she was absolutely intimidated by Sweetie Belle's skills.
"I can't wait! Can you show me right now?!"
"Hey, mom! Do you think I could get a Master Ball for-" Appearing around the corner was none other than Princess Skystar, who could potentially give away Novo's disguise. Quickly, Novo would rush over, shoving her hoof into her own daughter's mouth. "Mmm?! Mmm-mmm!"
"Not right now. I need Primarina to have full energy for the contest."
"Oh, right. Gotcha." Sweetie Belle understood, even if it was a lie. "By the way...Isn't that...?"
"Nopony! She was just on her way right now." Swiftly, Novo would grab Skystar, slipping away from this solitude spot while Primarina would wave farewell.
"Blah! What was that for...? I'm supposed to be the one who keeps stuff hidden." Skystar asked.
"You could've given away my identity..." Novo wished to stay discreet while Skystar was completely out in the open with no disguises whatsoever. She wasn't sugarcoating anything.
"Why's it such a big deal? I mean, it should be since you're the Queen. Everyone's gonna love seeing you here even if they don't know who you are from the start."
"I want to keep this as low as possible, Skystar. We're not out of the whirlpool just yet. The Storm King wasn't our only enemy. While he was the most dangerous, there are more out there."
"It's fine. We've got the best protection we could ask for. The whole of Equestria's got our back after all. What's there to worry about?" Skystar saw no issue considering they had Ash, the entirety of the Sea Temple and Equestria to back them all up.
"A lot. There's always a lot to worry about. There's no such thing as permanent peace." Novo shook her head. "I'm just curious about these Pokemon Contests since I've only heard about them here and there. I don't want to draw too much attention to myself so I have to be incognito, taking on another identity."
"Well, uh..." Skystar paused for a moment. "Not sure how your enemies would be here and also, who would you even be known as?"
"I'll go as a mystery coordinator. I'll play it off as if I've been an expert coordinator from the start even if I come from Seaquestria. I won't give them a name and they'll only name me based on my appearance. See this fabulous dress on me? That'll be how I get my name."
"Oooh..." Skystar gawked. "That's a great idea! But won't you get busted?"
"Not for a moment." Novo scoffed. "Before you came along, I was also a bit of a trickster back in my day. I've matured but I still have my old tricks in me. All I need to do is to really give off that Expert Aura. But that's a different kind of challenge. That little girl was so talented and it's only been 4 or 5 years since we've encountered Pokemon?"
"Why not just ask her then?" Skystar then suggested that Novo sought advice and help from Sweetie Belle herself.
"...You're kidding, right?" Novo lowered her glasses. "Me? Taking lessons from a child? I mean, she seems sweet but...really?"
"I mean, she's better than you isn't she? In every way." Skystar shrugged, laying it on thick. "Plus, Primarina's only good at singing which is totally fine, but I don't think Pokemon Contests are looking for that."
"Mmmrgh...I only have a few hours." Novo bit her hoof. She was contemplating it, wondering if she should head to Sweetie Belle for advice. However since she had no skills as a coordinator and this was her very first attempt at this, there was only one efficient solution. "Fine...I'll ask her for help."
Admitting that she needed help, Novo lowered her head, returning to the solitude area where Sweetie Belle was still practising. Right as Teddiursa was prepared to use that Swift and Night Slash Combo, along came Novo, who kept her name discreet.
"Oh, hey!" Sweetie Belle waved. "Back so soon?"
"Ahem..." Novo cleared her throat. "I just need to do one thing. For this small contest, I want to gauge how good you are as a coordinator."
"Wait, what?" Skystar uttered before being hushed by Novo. Queen Novo was taking a completely different approach. She wasn't going to tell Sweetie Belle about her lack of Contest Skills. Instead, she was still going to keep up her fake expertise as a way to learn from Sweetie Belle.
"I'm uh...rather experienced in my craft, but I don't get out there that much." Novo flipped her hair. Skystar's jaw dropped after seeing what approach her mother was taking.
"I'd love to!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, already up for it. Why wouldn't she be?
"Bingo." In her mind, Novo hit the jackpot. This way, she could learn from a good coordinator while playing it cool.
"Mom..." Skystar silently said.
"Hmm...Why isn't lighting up all that much?" Sci-Twi grumbled when looking at the Arceus Pendant. She would still stay in the radius of this energy, making sure she wouldn't lose it. Eventually, she entered the Contest Hall, where the shards were definitely close.
Sci-Twi still wasn't getting a strong signature at all even though she was in the same building as them. Something else was in the way. Something was disrupting this connection. Sci-Twi continued on her way until she came across the dressing room. This was where the light would hit an impasse, mainly because the shards were here.
Sitting there at the dressing room where all the coordinators were readying themselves was a bag. Specifically, Lena Ketchum's bag and in it, were the other shards. But standing around them were Team Rocket who kept it safe for Lena. Jessie was huddled next to the bag, having her dreams crushed by Lena's decision. And it was all thanks to May, who received a devious glare from Jessie. Yet again, May foils her plans even in the modern day. Not unlike Ash.
"Her?!" Jessie pulled back after seeing Sci-Twi appear. This was only making things worse for her. "Why'd she show up of all times? Is she here for the contest?"
"Doesn't look like it." James answered before showing his friends what truly mattered and it was around Sci-Twi's neck. "Look at her neck. Doesn't that look familiar?"
"That's Arceus's symbol...What's she doing with his symbol?" Meowth squinted. "It's glowing too."
"Not that much. What an embarrassment." Jessie scoffed.
"Are the shards in here? What am I gonna do to force them out...?" Sci-Twi sighed as she might have to find it in public, right here in the dressing room. "Hah...After this, I'm going to train Spike to sniff out shards."
"I've already been practising!" Spike the Dog popped his head out of the bag, raising his paw.
"Shards? Is that why she's here?" Jessie gasped silently. "Is she onto us already?"
"It can't be. The twerp doesn't even know yet. At least I hope not." James grimaced. "We'd better keep the bag away from her then. It looks like she knew that they'd be in here somewhere. But she can't sniff them out."
Wandering the room, Sci-Twi found nothing at all. Since the shards were in the bag, she had no clue, unless the pendant glowed at a good level. But that wasn't happening right now.
"Okay...What's your deal, pendant?" Sci-Twi started speaking to the pendant. "I wish I knew more about you. Heading to Arche Valley's on my mind but you're still so mysterious. I thought learning from the valley would help me deal with you a bit better..."
"Alright, people! Only 3 hours until we can begin!" A staff member exclaimed when entering the dressing room, announcing to the coordinators. "Remember, all of you are going to be in the same room instead of just back-to-back solo performances so get ready!"
With Sci-Twi having no luck, she would move away from the dressing room, trying her luck elsewhere if possible. However, the second she left the room, the pendant would flash for a moment, immediately causing Sci-Twi to turn around. "Wah! Hey!"
Without her own control, the pendant was forcing Sci-Twi to head back inside of the dressing room. She had no control over her movements as the pendant was doing something completely new that she's never seen before. it was practically moving on its own, bringing Sci-Twi along. As for where it was taking her, the pendant was going straight for the bag, knowing where the shards were.
"She is onto us!" Team Rocket immediately assumed Sci-Twi figured out where the shards were. Together, they would pick up the bag, bolting away as quickly as they could.
As soon as Team Rocket left the room, the pendant would swerve Sci-Twi's body, making her turn and instantly pursue Team Rocket. Sci-Twi wailed, passing by the other coordinators who witnessed her effortlessly slide across the floor with her as only the back of her shoes were touching the ground.
"Wow...She can move without stepping?" May uttered with amazement, unaware of what was going on. No one was. The pendant couldn't communicate and Team Rocket didn't have all the context, thus, resulting in an unlikely pursuit while Sci-Twi was the vehicle for this pendant.
"Arceus if that's you, this isn't funny...!" Sci-Twi bellowed, looking distraught and confused at the same time. But alas, she couldn't do anything about this and hope that the pendant would come to a halt eventually. The shards inside of both of their bags were glowing, responding to each other's presence, as if they wanted to reunite once more.
And yet again, with time passing, Pinkie Pie was still rambling on to Twilight Moonlight. All of her adventures were still coming up which would be fascinating to others, but not to Twilight Moonlight, who pressed her face on the golden bubble with a tired face.
"If Celestia did this just to torture...It's super-effective." Moonlight groaned. She was going to be here for a while until the 9 days were up, much to her chagrin. While she had the seriousness to talk back to anyone, it seemed that Pinkie Pie could negate that with her endless chatter.
Equestria. Las Pegasus. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
The Afternoon Sun was here, beaming down on Las Pegasus. And at this moment, Team Rocket were being pursued by Sci-Twi, but not by Twilight's own will. The Arceus Pendant was dragging her body, using it as a vehicle to chase down Team Rocket. They were moving across the Contest Hall before eventually exiting it, swiftly moving past the crowd that came to see this small contest.
"She's not stopping! How's she even doing that?!" Jessie bellowed, seeing how Sci-Twi was effortlessly sliding across the floor without taking a single step even though she wasn't in control. No one was quite sure what to make of this scenario as their eyes were focused on Sci-Twi sliding.
"See. I told you Humans don't just walk. Explain that?" A Hippogriff father said to his son while Sci-Twi passed by them both. The bag that Jessie and James were carrying was truly loaded and heavy for them in every possible way. So much stuff that Lena possessed was girthy and stacked, requiring them to put in all of their muscle while also trying to outrun Sci-Twi. As for Sci-Twi's speed, she was moving considerably faster than she usually should thanks to the pendant dragging her.
They immediately tried slowing Sci-Twi down by knocking some things over. There was a massive assortment of items everywhere at Las Pegasus relating to the Pokemon Festival and some were immediately knocked off the tables. But alas, that did nothing. Thanks to the Pendant, Sci-Twi could easily move through the obstacles without slowing down. Team Rocket screeched.
"We can't lose her on foot, maybe by air!" James locked onto one of the nearby attractions. The Tangela Vine Swing Attraction from the very first Pokemon Festival was present once more. It would have to do since nothing else here could take them into the air.
Some of the Pokemon were excited to take a swing at it, only for Team Rocket to nab it from them. Jessie, James and Meowth intercepted them. With the full weight of the bag at their grasp, Jessie would bite onto the vine with no no holds barred.
"Tangrowth?!" Tangrowth after seeing the vine being swiped by Team Rocket. Jessie would be the one to swing them while using her teeth, showing a truly daring act considering how high the vine swings get.
To the amazement of everyone nearby, Team Rocket managed to swing through the air while having a massive bag on them. James and Meowth held onto dear life while Jessie was harming her teeth just to avoid Sci-Twi at all costs. Team Rocket were truly dedicated to what they set their minds too and that much will always be true.
"I'm surprised Jessie's not weighing us down at all," James uttered, not even bringing up the massive bag.
"Hrrrgh!" Jessie growled, attempting to flare her eyes back at James but she couldn't since she had to focus on the vine.
The Arceus Pendant slowed down, eventually coming to a halt. The light faded away once the shards got further away. The vine carried Team Rocket away while Sci-Twi was left to just stand there. She was still perplexed after what just happened. Truly a rush. Sci-TwI still had no idea that the other shards were in that bag and after this experience, she was definitely going to Arche Valley to figure something out. First, she had to figure out where she was in the first place.
"I don't get this thing at all, or even who those people were." Sci-Twi sighed. "Now might be a good time to heat to Arche Valley for answers. But first, I want to do something else" Lowering her head, Sci-Twi walked away with exhaustion to do something else. Las Pegasus would welcome her with open arms thanks to the variety of activities here. Might as well take a swing at them.
Outside the Contest Hall, Lena was currently practising with the Rental Clefairy she chose, preparing for the small contest. This would be her first time training with a Pokemon since the entire time, she's only been calling for the Noble Pokemon to assist her in certain things,
"Alright. You have moves...but how can I know which ones you have?" Lena pondered, unsure about what moves Clefairy has.
"Cle?" Clefairy couldn't communicate it with Lena, unfortunately, leaving her in the dark.
"Well. We'll figure it out together. But I believe I need that thing called a Pokedex..." Lena closed her eyes before putting on a smile. "Oh, well! Let's try whatever we can! Clefairy!"
But sharing Ash's enthusiasm and energy, Lena would take a swing at trying anything. And that was by throwing out poses . Lena held her arms up, baring her fangs. Clefairy would do the same, mimicking Lena's movements.
"Clefa!" Clefairy cried out which resulted in her using Metronome. Since her hands up were, it was able to active Metronome, causing the Fairy Pokemon to wag her finger.
A random effect was incoming. The attack that was chosen was none other than Steel Beam. A powerful silver energy formed in front of Clefairy's mouth before being unleashed a beam.
"Hm?" That was the sound Lena made before having her face engulfed by the silver beam. Afterwards, Lena blinked as her hair was stood up and her face was smoking a little bit. "Impressive...We can use that to our advantage."
"Contests aren't all about battling. Not this one though." Walking over to Lena was May, who was currently geared up in her Contest Uniform.
"I was told that they were meant to be flashy, right?"
"Mhm. Make them really stand out. I can tell this is your very first contest so it might not click at first."
"I can do it!" Lena pumped her fists. "I just need to find that sweet spot. "We had one move that was successful! What was that anyway?"
"Metronome. But it's random and it's never going to be the same effect all the time. Not sure how that would work in a contest though."
"Works for me. Let's try it again! Metronome!" Even after hearing that, Lena was still going for it.
"Fairy!" Clefairy admired Lena's energy and would go for it once more. She didn't intend to harm Lena since that was just the nature of Metronome's randomness. But Lena didn't mind it at all. Lena cheered Clefairy on as she was then hit by a gust of wind. Hurricane had been used on Lena, launching her into the air where she bellowed out of amazement and shock.
May shrugged, seeing too much of Ash in Lena. That was a positive to her since it felt like she was involved in Ash's wild adventures once more. "Well, it's nice to have some familiarity."
Speaking of practising, it wasn't just Lena's first go, but also Queen Novo. Taking on an incognito appearance, she asked Sweetie Belle for help, but she didn't really outright say it. She made herself appear as an experienced Coordinator, asking Sweetie Belle to show her some moves, just so she can draw inspiration from them.
Sweetie Belle already had Teddiursa out but this time, she was joined by Plusle and Minun. She might as well show her another performance that isn't limited to just Plusle and Minun.
"We have an expert here with us, you three, so let's really impress her." said Sweetie Belle. "Teddiursa, let's use that same trick from before. But this time...Plusle and Minu, you two should use Thunderbolt."
"Teddi!" Teddiursa would once again use the Swift and Night Slash combination from before, already spinning on the spot to generate that black tornado by using the energy of Night Slash as the conduit. The Split Black Tornado was summoned once more which would be followed up by Plusle and Minun.
"Plus!"
"Minun!" The duo of Electric Rodents would also jump into the air where Teddiursa was, summoning a Swift Star on her head. To join her, Plusle and Minun surrounded themselves in a flash of electricity, blasting the Swift Star above Teddiursa. Without even hitting their friend, the combined 100,000 volts of lightning would mesh with the Star, causing it to grow.
The Star would expand, reaching a larger size while having a storm of electricity surround it. Novo was still amazed by how effortlessly they pulled it off. Skystar would whistle out of amazement, immediately writing notes down.
"Mmm..." Sweetie Belle narrowed he eyes. "Maybe not that. Let's try something else when hitting that star. Try using Light Screen above it!"
"Minun!" Minun would take another strong leap and by doing so, she summoned a screen of energy that would be placed right above the massive star. To the surprise of Novo and Skystar, the Light Screen was completely solid and capable of being used as a platform.
"Great, great! Just stay on that platform for a bit, Minun. Now, Pluse! Use Hidden Power Ice!"
"Plus!" Plusle would add the finishing touch by unleashing a blast of energy that soon transformed into a ray of ice, heading directly at the Light Screen. Minun would stand perfectly still on the Light Screen Platform which was then struck by the Hidden Power. Minun felt a shiver run through her feet as the platform was frozen in seconds.
"M-Minun!" Minun put on a shivering grin but managed to keep her balance. Just like that, there was now a Frozen Light Screen Platform over the Swift Star and the Split Black Tornado. The cherry on top was the descent of small snowflakes that dropped from the platform.
"That's the one!" Sweetie Belle jumped for joy, applauding their efforts. "Way to go, you two!"
"So...You just put multiple moves together and work from there?"
"Yeah? Isn't that what you do?" Sweetie Belle faced Novo. "Oh, I bet you use only one move, huh?"
"Let's go with that...But how do you manage it? it looks like a disaster waiting to happen!" Novo exclaimed. "Especially with such small bodies. "
"Lots and lots of practice. It wasn't easy for me at first. Making moves appear as flashy as they can was pretty easy. Anyone can pull it off. But getting your Pokemon to do beautiful tricks was the real challenge. I had some great teachers to help me out with that though. Dawn and Fantina were my biggest helpers."
Novo was also learning from this even if she wasn't saying it directly. She learned that even if Sweetie Belle was really good at this despite being so young, there was still a lot of practice and hard work that had to go into making this a reality. "And if you've got a strong bond with your Pokemon, it works even better! That's what I think!" She giggled as Teddiursa, Plusle and Minun ran up to her, embracing their trainer for a hug.
Sweetie Belle was tackled to the ground by the three of them, receiving a comfortable, soft and slightly electrifying hug from these three tiny Pokemon.
"Hm." Novo looked over at Primarina who also looked back at her. "We have a strong bond, don't we?"
"Rina. Primarina!" Reading her response, Novo heard Primarina agree that they did have a strong bond. Why wouldn't they since Primarina was constantly by her side?
"Of course you do!" Skystar got in between then, confirming what Primarina already said. "You saved her life when she was a smaller Pokemon. I mean, you two didn't do all that much since we were stuck down there for so long, but I saw it all happen."
"I suppose so. You're more of a singer though, aren't you?"
"Prima," Primarina admitted. Admittedly, she wasn't going to be pulling off any stylish tricks with this body. At least, she didn't think so. But since she was a Water-Type, she was sure to generate some flair. Novo had yet to try it out and by watching Sweetie Belle, some pointers on how to utilize certain moves could be picked up on with ease.
"Care to show me again?" Novo asked. Sweetie Belle would be glad to show her some more performances. She was out here practising after all so why not? Those 2 hours would go by with all of these preparations.
Lena and Novo were both learning in their own ways. Lena was more about Primary Research, trying out new skills thanks to Clefairy's Metronome, no matter how random they were or how many times she would get hurt. Novo was focused on Secondary Research, choosing to gather the knowledge instead and use it all when the time came.
From Sweetie Belle's Pokemon moving around, creating dynamic performances with the moves they had at their disposal, to Lena getting smacked to the side by a random move from Metronome or even gaining an affliction. All the while, May and Skystar both watched it all play out.
The 2 hours came and went and now it was time for the main event to begin. All coordinators were ready and the crowd was already seated. Present here at these seats were Rarity, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Diancie, Merrick and Applejack who were here to support Sweetie Belle, even if there wasn't a ribbon at all. One could see this as a Mock Contest.
"Afternoon!" But even if it wasn't the full thing, present here was Marian. The Master of ceremonies of Pokemon Contests. There was no way she wasn't going to be here. The only difference here was that there weren't any judges. "Thanks for coming, because today we have a different kind of contest for you! I'm sure you've already heard about it but this is one Stage Pokemon Contest. Figuratively and Literally!"
The literal part came from the fact that there was only one podium and curtain here. All the coordinators already emerged out of the curtain, standing at this podium which was absolutely massive, allowing all of them to stand on it.
"There aren't any ribbons involved either. What's the point of this you may ask? Equestria's first-ever Grand Festival is on the horizon and pretty soon, the coordinators who are eligble to enter it will get their chance. This is just for fun, even though they all are, but it's also to scout. New coordinators or Upstart Coordinators are being looked for since Pokemon Contests are now changing. It's a whole new world we live in after all."
"What does she mean by that?" Rarity questioned, only for Applejack to shrug it off. Marian hadn't revealed the truth just yet, but she was about to.
"Whether it's before or after the Grand Festival comes and goes, Pokemon Contests are gonna have an all-new look from now on! Still a lot of the same, but for our neighbours here at Equestria and beyond, you'll see something great! And this contest is going to be the start of it. The rules are simple! Just do what you would always do during a contest! Show off your best moves and see if you can work together to make something amazing! Just make sure you don't hurt anyone~"
"Alright, let's do this Blaziken!" May already chose her partner. Her very first Pokemon. Blaziken.
"Blaziken!"
"I'm so glad Jessie recommended this to me..." Lena grinned with glee as a high sense of excitement was rushing through her right now. She was beginning to experience what her many-great Grandson experiences all the time. "This is so exciting!"
"Not to worry...There's no way I can embarrass myself here." Novo had a different reaction, thinking about how she could stand out. "I'll just take what I've seen and pull it all off to the best of my abilities.
"You all have the same time limit! 2 minutes at best! There won't be any judges for this one but rest assured, this won't be forgotten. Are you all ready? Go!" Marian gave the call.
Immediately, all coordinators took action. So many different moves and combinations were spouted out which were drowned out by the sound of the crowd who already expected great things from this. There was a sudden outburst of moves, ranging from the fierce flames, the mystical flash of fairy magic, the growth of the grass and the burst of lightning.
"Oh!" Lena covered one eye after all the lights went off. "I didn't think it'd get this hectic from the start." Lena was right about how hectic it was. It was as chaotic as it was beautiful.
A Power Gem was mixed with a Dazzling Gleam, making the rainbow rays rapidly deflect off of each gemstone. Spheres of Aura Sphere and Focus Blast were both used against each other, playing ping-pong essentially with how they were bouncing back and forth. The clash of two Fighting-Type moves created a beautiful Orange and Blue light that resembled the Sun and the Moon.
Grass and Ground went well with each other, creating what was essentially a land sculpture. Someone else had the same idea, using Air Slash and Hidden Power Electric to create a place in Cloudsdale. So many ideas that focused on combinations but some of them were even solo and that was just as beautiful.
Diancie was in awe. She finally got the see a Pokemon Contest and it was amazing, even if it was a smaller version. Merrick saw the appeal too. He was right to come along since he would've missed out on this wonderful sight.
"Blaziken, use Fire Spin!"
"Ziken!" May's Blaziken would perform a handstand, generating a spiral of flames around its leg. By doing so, Blaziken performed a breakdance which resulted in the flames around its feet spiralling into the air. A tower of spiralling flames went upwards.
The way Blaziken was moving would make it different from a spiral of flames. The Fire-Fighting-Type would then cross its legs together, creating a tall X-shaped fire Spin. Blaziken kept its position too, making sure these flames wouldn't die out just yet. May wasn't done at all since there was more she aimed to do.
"Wow...This is amazing!" Lena gawked. "But if I want to show everyone else what I can do, then I need to really try something special and I know just the thing!" With an idea hatching in her mind,, she would walk up to Clefairy, deciding to take a different approach which was a page out of Jessie's book.
"Okay, Clefairy. Use Metronome on me." Lena was about to use a move on herself, being as daring as her descendant.
"Cle?" Clefairy blinked for a moment. So far, she knows that Lena is a wild character but she didn't think she was this wild. But when looking at Lena's face, there was a strong sense of confidence there. Clefairy nodded in understanding, deciding to try out Lena's wild plan. It would definitely help her stick out.
"Fairy..." Clefairy wagged her finger once more. A random move was being selected and she had no control over it. Whatever she chooses would surely do something in the midst of this chaos.
From Clefairy's entire body, she managed to unleash Rising Voltage. A burst of lightning appeared around Lena's body, immediately shocking her. But that wasn't all it did. Clefairy raised the attack, prompting Lena to rise up as well.
Lena started ascending with the lightning flaring out of her body as she was taking the electricity very well. Much like Ash, she could take the electrifying pain as her anscension drew many eyes towards her. From both the other coordinators and the audience.
"Oh, you cannot be serious..." Novo was in disbelief. She didn't even think that someone could use Contest's moves in such a way. Not many do it only because they wish to avoid taking any damage. But when it's done, it's truly something else.
"Haha!" Lena laughed, greatly enjoying herself as the electricity raised her hair.
"Hang on..." Rarity took a good look at Lena since she was the only Coordinator currently in the air right now. And when looking at her, she noticed a familiar face Ash's face. "That's not Ash...Is that..."
"Lena?!" In unison, Rarity and her group spouted Lena's name. When Sweetie Belle looked up, she also saw Ash's face on Lena, finally recognizing her.
"Nice, Lena! Let me add to that! Go, Blaziken!"
"Blaziken!" Blaziken would send the X-shaped flame by moving its leg, placing it behind Lena Not only was Lena now surrounded by an Aura of Lightning which was carrying her but she also had a massive Fire X behind her. May didn't mind assisting her out at all. She was a new friend of hers after all.
Teddiursa already used Swift which was followed up by Thunder Punch as a reference to what Plusle and Minun did. She added Night Slash into it, generating that Dark Tornado to replicate the unison that Plusle and Minun performed with her. This time, the tornado was split into two parts instead of multiple, allowing it to exist on two sides. It looked a lot like Drill Pigtails the way it was split up as the two tornadoes had massive stars on top of them.
"I don't have much time...Primarina! Use Sparkling Aria and Icy Wind at once! Carry yourself with it!" Novo would finally make a move and it would be a combination move. A difficult task on her first go but she was willing to try.
"Prima!" Primarina sang in the midst of all this noise, forming an orb of water above below her. This orb would lift the Water-Fary-Type, allowing her to use it as a platform as seen by what Sweetie Belle pulled off. And to add something extra, Primarina attempted to breathe onto the bubble, but she was already losing balance. She wasn't used to combination moves just yet.
The Soloist Pokemon gasped as she was feeling wobbly. She could fall at any moment now and the bubble was also starting to fail. Novo grimaced as her glasses almost fell off. Was this already going to be a disaster? She was at least hoping no one would notice but judging by how high Primarina was, they might.
But grabbing onto her was Lena. She saw that Primarina was struggling and on the verge of falling, prompting her to catch the Soloist Pokemon. She was in the air too after all. "I got you."
"Time!" Marian called it. 2 minutes were up and those 2 minutes were well spent. Lena breathed in and out, finally experiencing what everyone in the modern day does.
Lena listened to the crowd but she was more focused on how much fun she had. Novo let out a sigh of relief, glad that it didn't end in failure. This small contest ended with Primarina being right next to Lena, who was certainly the most-looked at right now. That was still a success.
Outside of the mission of finding these shards, Lena found something else that was always within her thanks to her family lineage, but it was constantly being blocked off due to the criticial misson at hand. But experiencing that enjoyment that only existed in the past was wonderful. For everyone here, this small contest was Wonderful.
Equestria. Las Pegasus. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
After an amazing performance from all the coordinators here, this small contest was over. Lena was brought back down after being lifted up by Rising Voltage, of all things. All coordinators and their Pokemon did a great job making this stand out for something that lasted only 2 minutes at best.
Once they were done and they received cheers and applause from the crowd, they would depart from the large stage, heading back to the dressing room. But in Lena's case, she would be leaving the Contest Hall
"Well done, Clefairy." She said with her hair smoking from all the electricity. The Fire Spin didn't help at all.
"Clefairy!" Clefairy was glad to help. She would be returned to her Poke Ball where she would be placed back in the rental box until next time when she was needed.
"That was a bold play on your part, Lena. You might need to freshen up after this. You're a bit of a mess." May pointed out. Lena was previously struck by random moves from Metronome which carried over and was stacked on by new Metronome Moves.
"I really do." Lena chuckled. "This was worth the try in every possible way! I was missing out!"
"Wait! Lena!" Seeing Lena Ketchum, Sweetie Belle tried reaching her. This was Ash's ancestor and it would make Ash truly happy if he saw his many-great grandma. But she was lost in the crowd of coordinators plus the audience that was leaving the area. Lena was already long gone from here.
"Where'd they go...?" Meanwhile, Lena was searching for Team Rocket since they had left the Contest Hall by now. Now she had to find her group, unaware of what they had to go through.
Sweetie Belle lost sight of Lena Ketchum. She looked around, trying to spot the Time Traveller. But alas, no sign of her at all in this massive crowd.
"Sweetie Belle! Way to go!" Running over were her friends and family, here to congratulate Sweetie Belle for her performance. All the coordinators deserved praise after what they pulled off in such a small space after all.
"Oh, thanks. But did you see that? I know you had to, she was up in the air and everything.
"We saw her, alright, she certainly matched the appearance of the one in the book. And that Thunderbolt birthmark speaks volumes." Rarity replied, revealing that she and the others definitely saw Lena's face and how similar to looked to Ash. "To think she'd be here.
"I think so. That had to be her. But I missed her..." Sweetie Belle sighed. "I was gonna bring her to Ash and it would've been so great."
"Hmm...No way to track her scent with Slurpuff..." Rarity pondered. "And this place is far too occupied for Audino to hear her.
"Whaddya think she was here for?" Applejack asked. "Come to think of it, she ain't just running around the place for no reason. She got sent through time, didn't she?"
"Mmm?" Rarity had no clue since very little about Lena was revealed to the rest of the public. "What do Time Travelers do in their spare time anyway? You'd think Dialga would take notice of this though. It noticed Ash and tried to misplace his younger and older consciousness."
Lena Ketchum was still far from their reach. But not May's reach. Exiting the Contest Hall as well was Queen Novo who was relieved that things didn't turn out poorly. Her Primarina got to be up there with Lena Ketchum, but that was only because Lena saved Primarina from falling.
Looking back at the Contest Hall, Novo knew one thing. She had to improve and fast. Almost everyone there were able to pull off some impressive performances. Even Lena, who had zero experience with contests, had the benefit of being as wild as Ash. It seems to run in the bloodline. If she doesn't improve and gain her own style, she would be left in the dust by other upstart coordinators.
As for the outcome of this contest, as said by Marian, it would be the beginning of a new direction for the Pokemon Contests. At least for Equestria. The land of Equestria would have something else that separates it from the other regions which have Contests.
Once the coordinators and audience were gone Marian approached held in her hands a poster that was given to her by the people running this contest hall. Equestria was eventually going to be met with a Pokemon Contest Program meant for upcoming coordinators in the future, similar to what Gyms do. It wasn't revealed to the entire public just yet and the Grand Festival for Equestria was still on the horizon. But Marian was already thinking about the best time to reveal this.
As for where Team Rocket was, they ended up near the outskirts of Las Pegasus, essentially away from the public. In an attempt to escape from Sci-Twi and the Arceus Pendant, they went the distance and ended up at the outskirts of this Cloud City. They were lucky to be on something solid instead of having to deal with the clouds.
"What a waste..." Jessie sighed while lying on her back, slightly exhausted. "We've missed the Contest by now for sure. My money!"
"Counterpart or not, that Purple Twerpette loves to get in our way. From the Original to the New!" James bit his glove, weeping about this.
"At least we got away. And the shards are still in one piece." Meowth looked inside of the bag, seeing the shards in their mint condition. Their supposed special power has yet to be truly revealed even in small instances. "But ya think the twerp might come for 'em too?"
"He's with the Twerpette a lot. The pony and human version of her. There's no doubt he's onto us. And if he is, we'll surprise him with Lena. She still doesn't know we're in Team Rocket and these new disguises are the longest we've kept on." Jessie answered.
"She still knows us as Jessie and James though..." James pointed out. "Think it's time we chose different names? You're the one always changing it when it comes to contests."
"Hmm..." Jessie pondered for a moment. "Never had to do it all that much outside of Contests. I'll think of some new names for us. Only the best that I deserve. But right now...I was just want to lie down after coming a long way here and back." Jessie closed her eyes, taking in the soft and comfortable air of Las Pegasus.
But then, she remembered that there was a hotel here and she would much rather prefer that than sleeping on the ground. It wouldn't hurt to take a hotel and meet up with Lena there, who was still searching for them. Plus, Jessie had to know if Lena made any money after this. Unfortunately, no.
"That's about it, I think. That brings us to today!" Pinkie Pie had just finished speaking with Twilight Moonlight which went on for hours. "What do you think?"
"...You all passed away and came back to life?" Lo and behold, Twilight Moonlight was actually interested in what was being said. At first, she was annoyed and disinterested in whatever Pinkie Pie had to say. But after hearing about what she and her friends have done, been through and experienced, it caught her interest.
"Mhm. We didn't get to visit that Ambrosial Plane though..." Pinkie Pie sighed. "We came back too soon. What a bummer."
"Mew-Mew..."
"You don't sound that distraught by that." Moonlight narrowed her eyes, finding Pinkie Pie to be rather odd character. This whole conversation showed Twilight Moonlight who Pinkie Pie truly was.
"But enough about me! Tell me about yourself!" Pinkie Pie squeed, wanting to hear from Twilight Moonlight.
"I'd rather not. I already explained a lot about myself to Twilight Sparkle. Besides, I'm tired after hearing from your blabbering mouth." Moonlight closed her eyes, wishing to rest a bit. "It's all I can do inside of this bubble."
"Ah, it's fine. I heard what Twilight told me last night." Pinkie Pie was already caught up thanks to what Twilight Sparkle shared. She knew about Moonlight's past and her progress up until this point. "Doesn't sound too unfamiliar."
"Hm? Are you saying you already know of something similar to my past?"
"Well..." Pinkie rolled her eyes repeatedly, putting on a few shrugs. "Our Twilight was a little bit like that. She wasn't that fond of us from the start. I don't think she liked the Welcome Party I set up when she showed up at Ponyville. Sci-Twi was the same. She did a lot of things on her own until she met Ash, Sunset and our other selves. I guess all Twilights are like that. Well, maybe not Wish."
"I suppose. But we couldn't be any more different from each other. One of them resists me a lot and the other two have no idea what's really at stake. They think they can stop Prisma with their relaxed tactics. But I know better." Twilight Moonlight uttered, looking at the sky and thinking about Prisma. "I'm the only one out of the four that has memories from Twilight Luminaria and I've seen what Prisma can do. In both of my lives."
"I'm sure we've got it covered." Pinkie Pie begged to differ. "We promised to stop Prisma from ever showing up. And I mean...it got pretty close on the Ghost Train but we stopped it."
"Think that as much as you want. I know the truth. Everypony back at the Arcane Institute knows." However, Twilight Moonlight was so adamant in her words that they given away as fact. And she did have a strong source since she possessed memories of Twilight Luminaria.
"What are you gonna do when this is all over though?" Then, Pinkie Pie laid out a question that focused on the aftermath of the Prisma Situation. "I mean, when you stop Prisma from returning, then what? I bet everything will be totally fine back in your world."
"Afterwards...? I...Don't know." Surprisingly, Twilight Moonlight didn't have anything else planned in advance. She was always dedicated to her mission of defeating Prisma, even at birth. When she was born, she was given the memories of Twilight Luminaria which made her cry constantly since she didn't understand it as a baby. But after growing up, it's all that's been on her mind and nothing else.
Twilight Moonlight had nothing beyond defeating Prisma. Pinkie Pie hit her with something super effective that never crossed her mind.
The afternoon Sun continued to move as time went by. Ash and Lucas still had smoke coming out of their mouth after trying those spices but the heat subsided. This did not stop them from trying out some more since the spices were still wonderful and added that extra touch to the food. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash tried her luck with the games here at Las Pegasus.
Late Afternoon.
Hours of having fun brought the late afternoon Sun into play. And at the moment, Sci-Twi returned to Ash's side, finally deciding to ask for a new gateway. After what happened with the Arceus Pendant, she needed the help from Arche Valley immediately.
"Hey, Lucas. I might need another gateway right away." Sci-Twi requested. "If it's not too much of an issue for you right now."
"Mmm? Sure." Lucas responded with a full mouth. He would gladly make a new one for her. "Where do you wanna be?"
"Well...I'd like to head back to Arche Valley. This pendant was being pretty odd right now and honestly, I don't think I can understand it all that much. I need more help when it comes to Arceus and I can't think of a better place to be."
"Hm-hm." Lucas nodded in understanding. "I hear ya on that one. I mean, I know a lot about Arceus but I've never seen that pendant before. Arche Valley, you said?"
"If you're going to open up the gateway, it needs to be somewhere else." Twilight Sparkle said, laying out the rules for Lucas before he goes ahead and makes a new one. "Princess Celestia suggested that every gateway should connect to different individual locations. Plus, some of the more important locations need to be in certain areas for safety.
"Right, right. Uh...Where should I put it this time?" Lucas still wasn't caught up to Equestria's geography. On top of that, he had to think of the best place to put the gateway to Arche Valley since it was an important area.
"Mmm...How about?" Ash put his fingers on his head, trying to come up with something. "Got it! We can put it in your world, Twi!"
"My world?" Sci-Twi's world was chosen. For one reason. Ash trusted Sci-Twi with Arche Valley's gateway without a doubt and she would certainly need all the help when it comes to the mysteries of Arceus.
"Mhm. Lucas hasn't given your world a gateway yet so now's a good time to do that. How does your own home sound?"
"Well...I wouldn't mind that at all actually." Sci-Twi shook her head. "We'd have to go quite the distance to head back to my home but still. Having a gateway to Arche Valley would do wonders for me. Oh, but you won't be able to create a gateway immediately after making a new one, right? Maybe just start with the one to Arche Valley. It's over at Kalos after all and there's one to Courmarine City here."
"Then it's settled. It won't take too long to get to your home, right? How close is Canterlot to Las Pegasus?" Lucas asked.
"Not too far. We'll be there in no time. And while we're going for Arche Valley..." Ash had something else in mind instead of just opening a gateway to Arche Valley.
"Ash! Ash!" Rushing towards Ash before he could leave were the CMC. They just had to tell Ash about who they just saw at the Contest Hall. "You've gotta hear this!" Scootaloo jumped up and down frantically.
"What happened? Is something wrong?"
"Something did happen! It's your really great grandma!" Sweetie Belle cut right to the chase. "I saw her!"
"Really?!" Now Ash's attention was drawn to someone else entirely. Hearing about his grandma Lena was too important to ignore. But unfortunately for Ash, with how much time has gone by, while he heard about Lena, he would unfortunately miss her yet again.
Lena had already left Las Pegasus as she was currently moving through the air with Hisuian Braviary carrying her and Team Rocket. Their time at Las Pegasus was pleasant and also surprising. For better or for worse. But they had to continue their mission to find those missing shards.
"Thanks for telling me about this contest, Jessie. I almost missed out on something wonderful. Maybe stopping to do something else won't slow us down all that much." Lena thanked Jessie.
"Lucky you...You got to have fun." Jessie grumbled since she had to keep her distance from Sci-Twi the entire time. She didn't even get to try out all the activities here at Las Pegasus. "So...Where to next? Is your intuition kicking in?"
"I thought there were some shards at Las Pegasus. A strong part of me felt it. But I guess not. Let's try somewhere else this time. And I think we may have to go higher into the sky."
"Higher into the sky? Wouldn't that mean..." James paused before realizing where this would take them. "Are you thinking about Pegalysium?!"
"Oh, yes. That's the place I've heard about. That's where we should be." Lena grinned, revealing that the next location was none other than Pegalysium itself. The question was; Which Pegalysium was it? While it was rather exciting to head to the nation in the sky, thanks to Second Wind's actions, there were now Two Peegalysiums. The original and the new one made by Second Wind meddling with time, also known as Pinnaculum Pegalysium. Only time will tell when they get up there.
Universe 11. The Solar Empire. Late Afternoon.
Universe 11. The Home of Daybreaker and her Solar Empire. At the moment, the gateway to Universe 1 was still open with the ruler of this world still absent, stuck on that mysterious island. But her subjects and entire empire had no idea that their Queen stuck elsewhere. And there was no way for them to know.
"Daybreaker and her group haven't returned as of yet. They only have 3 days until they can make a return." Empress Twilight said. "And we haven't heard from them at al. What happened to communicating with us?" Gathered here was not only the Empress but also Nightmare Rarity, who stayed in the shadows away from the Sunlight.
"Mm...Something fishy is going on." Nightmare Rarity shook her head. "Daybreaker probably got herself into something she can't immediately burn her way through. I can bet. But I can also bet that she's completely stubborn when it comes to vanishing."
"She would've spoken to us eventually by now...Perhaps she did run into massive trouble." Empress Twilight thought to herself before putting on a smile. "That would make things harder for us, honestly. But it would also bring some benefits. Daybreaker's quite the problem."
"Mmm...Is she?" Nightmare Rarity pouted.
"Of course she is, Rarity. She may have started this alliance, but she's spearheading everything, practically taking the role of our boss. I used to be an all-powerful Empress and now look at me. Reduced to being one of her minions."
"I wouldn't say you're a minion but whatever. I'm rarely here anyway, darling." Nightmare Rarity shrugged. "But that could just be our similarities. Daybreaker's made out of the same magic as me when I emerged as a Nightmare.
"But I can't just forget about her now. I need to stick around her for a bit longer. Especially since she's the only way I can obtain power again." The Empress scowled. "And what's worse, I need to deal with that Poke Ball issue."
"Oh, right! You got caught by Colress!" Nightmare Rarity cackled, pointing her hoof at Empress Twilight, absolutely taunting her.
"Shut up! I was blindsided! And those new Pony-Capturing Poke Balls can work on you too even if you are a Nightmare!" She bared her fangs, barking at Nightmare Rarity. "Colress has been planning this from the start. And by extensionm Ghetsis. I just know it. They discovered a whole new world with a different species so why wouldn't they begin working on this? But they'll rue the day they caught me because once I reach a comfortable spot with my power, things will change."
"Really? So what are you going to do right now? If I were you, I'd rely on Team Plasma for help right about now."
"Not yet. I have something else in mind. Let's try and talk to Starlight for a while. There's something I need to experiment with." Empress Twilight wasn't slacking either. Her drive for vengeance was burning bright. She would not rest until Universe 1 was conquered since everyone there absolutely ruined her colossal empire.
Scheming as always, she didn't wish to answer to Daybreaker forever either or even be the Pokemon of Colress which was absolutely embarrassing for her. She was still technically human since she was originally Sci-Twi so this made it all the more irritating to her. Unaware of what Daybreaker was doing at the moment, Empress Twilight would take advantage of this at once. But not by taking control of Daybreaker's Solar Empire for a while. There was something else.
A gateway to the Human World was finally opened. Done by Lucas, this gateway was done at Sci-Twi's own home. A gateway to Arche Valley was opened up in between her home. And helping Lucas as always was Twilight Sparkle, who was in her Human Form. And even in this form, the Rift Energy would flow and this time, it came from her hands.
When opening the gateway, nearby Pokemon scattered since they immediately saw Lucas's fingers at the edge of it. Naturally, the people of Arche Valley noticed this as well. How could they not since the gateway was right in front of the entrance to their town?
"There we go..." As always, Lucas felt out of it after making a gateway. With a smile on his face, the Trainer from Another Sinnoh collapsed, only for Ash to catch him. "Now, let me rest a bit before I make another."
"This makes it so much easier for me." To say that Twilight was relieved was an understatement. Not only would she have a place to go to for Arceus's knowledge, but it was also a reassuring place to be.
"If you need me...Get me started in about 4 hours or so." Lucas suggested before twitching for a moment. "Maybe 8."
"We're gonna set one up at Eindoak too. It'll take a while." said Ash. "But are you sure you're okay, Lucas? You might really pass out for a long time after this."
"Pssh. No way." Lucas denied it. "I've been through worse. Believe me. But ya know...I've been thinking about something. I was accidentally given this kind of power. What did you and the others get? I mean, if we're all technically the same guy, there's gotta be something more than this."
"Mmm...Not sure." Ash wasn't quite able to figure something out. "We just do what we do. I haven't seen Red or Hilbert do anything yet though."
"Well, I want to figure this out. Baraz and Meray will know what to do." Without hesitating, Sci-Twi would walk straight through the gateway to Arche Valley.
Kalos. Arche Valley. The Pokemon Festival.
Arche Valley.
A town where the people here are deeply connected to the Creator Deity Arceus, able to communicate with him and receive power as well. The last time they were here, the two worlds were still separated from each other. But now that they were officially One World, sharing it with each other, things were bound to change for this town connected to Arceus. But not in appearance. It still looked the same after all.
Knowledege about Arceus here was strong and personal as well. Sci-Twi, while not from Arche Valley, was a part of it since he briefly learned from there, discovering the Light of Arceus.
"Baraz and Meray aren't here?!" But as soon as she got here and asked for Baraz and Meray, in a short time, Sci-Twi was hit with an inconvenience.
"Sorry. But they actually left months ago, I believe. I think it was just 3 days after our worlds became one." One of the townsfolk said. Alas, Baraz and Meray were long gone from Arche Valley, off doing their own thing.
"Aw..." Naturally, Sci-Twi was let down, prompting her Equestrian Counterpart to give a comforting pat on the back. "What a waste. What am I gonna do with this thing then?"
"The Arceus Pendant? I'm afraid to say but...We can't help you with this one either." Alas, even the people of Arche Valley couldn't easily solve the mystery of the pendant or even delve deeper into what it could do. Perhaps, Baraz and Meray were the best ones for this job.
"So where did they go?"
"Well, there isn't a set destination. But one thing was clear. They knew about something greater beyond just our worlds becoming one." While lacking any information about the pendant, he could at least tell them about what Baraz and Meray went off to do, remembering the day they departed.
It was 3 days after the wish Ash made became a smashing success, putting two worlds together so that they would emerge as one. Worldwide joy was made because of this with many relieved and satisfied hearts. But even with all of this happiness, there were those who knew that such a wish would have a drawback. Much like many things out there in the world. Sheena knew this. N knew this.
And so did Baraz and Meray.
They were already tapping into the Divine Powers of the world and by doing so, they learned of what was coming. The Brother and Sister duo knew what they had to do and they unfortunately couldn't take the time to enjoy the breath and lengths of this new world.
"Oh? Where are you two going this time? It's a time for celebration." The same man speaking to Sci-Twi in the present said to them.
"While this is good and all, there's been a great balance upset." Baraz explained. "This hasn't happened before in the history of the universe."
"Our worlds are so different from each other and their respective powers are now bound to live together forever. We obviously want that, but we can't leave it unchecked. Since this universe was made by Arceus and now it's gained a new one, growing in size, the power of Arceus is being thrown out of balance."
"It's up to us to fix that balance as soon as possible. If we don't, then all of this would've been a waste."
"Where will you go then?"
"The Light of Arceus and Primordial Magic could be anywhere. We can track down Arceus's power thankfully, which will lead us to places brimming with those two. As soon as we get there, we'll try and subdue it." Meray revealed the main plan. It was about tempering the mixture of two great powers.
They should exist with each other from now on since this was a brand new existence. However, if they are left unchecked when together, then it could result in something catastrophic. Once they left on their mission, that was it. For the entirety of the past few months, Baraz and Meray have been elsewhere.
After that, we never heard from them again. They haven't returned to Arche Valley just yet. They have the entire world to explore and it's a big one. Bigger than what it used to be.
"I see. That explains it." Sci-Twi sighed after hearing about Baraz and Meray's reasoning for departing. They had better things to do it seemed and the mystery of the pendant wasn't on their mind at all. "So I'm in the dark with this pendant."
"To be fair, we never knew this thing existed in the first place. Baraz and Meray told us that you found it in Dahara City, right?"
"I did. It was given to me and I think it was because of the Witch. She's the one who set me up to find this pendant and I don't know why." A confused Sci-Twi would hold up the pendant, unsure as to why the Witch would want her to hold it.
"There aren't many Arceus accessories in the world. Most barely know that they exist. What you have here is special and unheard of or unseen. All other Arceus Items were moulded in the past and there has never been one done in the present. It's good that you're thinking about it." The man would grab onto the pendant as well, knowing Sci-Twi was the right one for it. "You can be trusted with such power."
"Oh. T-Thank you!" Sci-Twi stuttered, glad to hear it. "Well, I don't want to leave just yet. I'll make the most of what I can while I'm still here. There has to be something I can at least read that could help with the pendant."
"You're free to do so. Now um...I'm a bit busy myself. Good luck." The man would say his farewells before continuing his own work.
"Wait...Do you have something for me? Maybe something to cool me down?" Lucas asked, weakly raising his arm. He could use some valuable knowledge to help temper the perplexing feeling he receives after opening a gateway.
But what he needed right now was some rest so he was ready for another gateway to be opened up. Ash and Twilight would gladly take him elsewhere at the moment and the gateway leading back to Sci-Twi's home was a good call.
However, while Sci-Twi was heading for the library where she could grab an array of information, her presence here wouldn't go unnoticed at all. Not by the people living here at Arche Valley, but by someone else. Hisuian Zorua could feel it while within Twilight's bag. Her body would shudder, conjuring up a bad feeling which immediately made her go deeper inside the bag.
As soon as she went to touch the door to the library, another hand touched her shoulder. Sci-Twi turned, thinking it one of her friends coming to speak with her. But while it wasn't any of her friends, it was someone she knew about. The Merchant from the Past.
"Volo?"
"Hello there. I didn't think you'd be here too." Volo greeted. "But we had to meet each other later again at some point. Especially when it comes to searching for those shards."
"Oh, well, I'm not here for the shards right now. I'm here for something else." She revealed that she was on a different mission, but it still related back to those shards. "It's just my pendant. It's been a bit weird recently and I need to figure something about it."
"Is that it? Well, that's also important, I guess. Can't have you focusing on one thing after all." Volo wagged his finger while Spike and Zorua side-eyed him. Alpha Pikachu didn't have that much of a reaction to him though. He couldn't get a read on Volo at all.
"Right. But I'm doing my best. I've actually found new shards. They look a lot like Ghost-Type shards based on their colour so I'm getting somewhere at least."
"I wonder if it's because you have this thing to help you out." Volo would reach his hand for the pendant, being the next person to touch it. "After all, it-" But as soon as he touched the pendant, something shocking happening.
Or rather, searing. A sharp burn struck Volo's hand once he touched the pendant, causing him to retract his arm. The Merchant from the Past groaned as there was smoke coming out of his hand.
"Oh my gosh! Are you alright, Volo!?" Sci-Twi gasped as that was a complete accident. It didn't happen when she touched it. It didn't happen when that old man touched it either. But it certainly did for Volo.
"I'm fine...Boy, that thing's hot. You don't feel it?" Volo would hold onto his burning hand with his other hand to soothe the pain.
"N-No. It's never done that before. That's why I'm trying to figure out everything about it."
"It reacted to me so violently...Perhaps, it already knows. I should've thought about this pendant a bit more." Volo thought to himself when looking at the pendant. "This'll heal. It's just a light heal so don't worry about it. Anyway, about the shards...I was going to comment about how that thing's really helpful in finding it."
"Well, yeah. But it's been acting up recently. I'm not sure I can find any shards with its current behaviour. What about you? Are you having an easier time?"
"Mmm...Not really. I found one type of shard but that's about it so far." Sci-Twi had to admit.
"Well you might be happy to hear this. As a merchant, it's also my job to obtain anything valuable that can be sold. And during my own adventures in this new world, I came across some interesting things. There's something that might pique your interest, Twilight. Do you want to see it?"
Sci-Twi was definitely curious. What could Volo be referring to? Whatever it is, it would have to relate to the search of these shards since that was what Volo was most focused on to get someone else involved in them.
Volo brought Sci-Twi inside the library where this mystery item would be revealed. Once they sat down, Volo took this item out of his bag, revealing to be a note. Sci-Twi leaned in as Volo had not one but two of them at his disposal. These two notes were revealed to be poems.
"These are poems I found and they aren't just for show. This is what they read, Twilight. The first one is..."
"Once there were two. And one looked upon time's steady pace. And one looked upon the expanse of space. And the two set out: the fullness of future did they seek, the world's far end would they greet.Two different paths each walking alone a path their own, though they walk with Almighty Sinnoh."
"Back in my time, we referred to Arceus as Almighty Sinnoh. But now that I know its name, this poem makes more sense."
"Who are the two that it's talking about?"
"Mmm...I was only thinking about Arceus honestly. But in Hisui, we saw Almighty Sinnoh in two images. Both were Dragons. One with a blue colouring and another with a pinkish colouring. The two tribes in Hisui modelled themselves after it too. The Diamond and Pearl clan."
"Oh! It has to be Dialga and Palkia then!" That was the main conclusion Sci-Twi came to. And it was the right one even if Volo referred to them with the same name.
"Dialga and...Palkia?" Volo learned the names of these two Great Dragons. "Odd names but alright. Then I suppose this other poem refers to them?"
"Let our wishes reach heaven's crown,' the people together vowed. So they and their Pokémon bore stone to the peak of heaven's mount. The people carved the gathered stones in shapes of Pokémon, the ten Pokémon upon Sinnoh shone its almighty light upon."
"I'm not sure about that one. The last one sounds like Arceus but the rest, I don't have a clue." Sci-Twi couldn't understand this if her life depended on it. "Or even who the ten Pokemon are."
"But you can understand this part, right? Almighty Sinnoh AKA Arceus stands at this heavenly place, resting and acting in small instances."
"Did you find these in the past? I mean, your time."
"Actually, I found them in the present." Despite the fact that these poems were focused on the past, especially when Arceus was still known as Almighty Sinnoh, Volo claimed that he came across them in the present day. "Turns out, it's not just the shards, me or the Alpha Pokemon that were flung through time. These poems came through as well. As for where I found them, during my travels in this world, I knew I had to go back to Hisui. Otherwise known as Sinnoh in the modern day."
"I guess they would be in the same area as they were in the past..." She slowly nodded. "But that's really lucky though."
"It is, isn't it? Perhaps its fate." Volo chuckled. "But these poems hold great value. And since you have that pendant with you, I have a feeling, not sure if it's a good or bad one, that this will all come together for something great."
"So...Do you think I can use these poems to help with the shards?"
"Maybe not these two. But there are other poems. A total of 20 but it seems I was able to find only two of them. These two are parts of a series of old poems that have been unearthed around the Hisui region and now they've been thrown into the present. Judging from the handwriting, it appears they were all written by the same person. Not sure who though."
"20 Poems?" Sci-Twi gulped. "Gee, that's... a tall order. But you're the one handling them, right?"
"But of course. I've read them myself so I know what they look like. I'll multi-task and focus on those shards and I'm still wishing you the best of luck. When I bring back more poems, I'm positive they'll help in your quest."
"Wait. We should find a way to get in touch with each other. I mean, it's nice that we've run into each other repeatedly but just to be safe, you should have a way to contact me."
"Ooh..." Volo scratched his hair, shifting his eyes. "I'm...not exactly the best with your modern devices, I'm afraid. I don't think I can adapt to them."
"Well, you have to reach me somehow. Don't worry. This'll be very easy and I'll show you the ropes!" Sci-Twi promised him that it would be simple and sweet. Volo was about to get himself something that he could contact Sci-Twi with but he wouldn't find it here.
The Human World.
Volo was brought all the way back to the Human World for this. He would pass through the gateway, gazing at its cosmic wonder since it wasn't here before. She didn't stop by her own home. Instead, she ran right past it. Inside her home was Lucas, who was resting on her couch for a while until he had the energy to make a new gateway. Poor Lucas had to expend himself back to back with no sign of gaining further resistance.
When Sci-Twi and Volo walked past the building, Volo would briefly turn his head, looking through the windows. There he saw Lucas, which immediately made him narrow his eyes. After that brief glance, they were off. They weren't stopping at Sci-Twi's house but somewhere else.
They were about to stop at Canterlot High. Sci-Twi's new school that she got adjusted to quickly and where many of her new friends could be found.
"Here! This is where you need to be." Sci-Twi introduced. "The school provides a lot for its students. I can ask for a backup phone. I was thinking of an Xtransceiver but...Maybe not. This is much quicker."
"This is what a school looks like in your world? Goodness." Volo grimaced at the school. "It's so...colourful."
"Not as colourful as the world opposite to this. I'll just get you a quick phone that you can use for yourself. The distance between us won't matter anymore."
When opening the doors, Volo would gander at the school's interior. But most importantly, the students. They had yet to experience the Pokemon Festival but thanks to Lucas, that was going to happen fairly soon. He just needs the time to recover and be back on his feet. Nearby, Sci-Twi's friend group could be spotted, prompting her to rush over and introduce them to the Merchant of the Past.
And upon seeing them, Volo put on a smile, which was noticed by Sunset Shimmer, who would spot the uniquely dressed fellow. Volo certainly stood out with those clothes. When seeing that smile, Sunset's smile would fade, immediately sending shivers down her spine. The same shivers that Zorua felt when first seeing Volo.
Something about him rang poorly in Sunset Shimmer's mind and heart. Something rather uneasy that she couldn't make out past that smile of his. She had to wonder; what kind of person did Twilight bring with her?
Arriving here to give Volo an easier means of communication, Sci-Twi introduced the merchant from the past to her friends for a brief moment. By gazing at Volo, while others saw a uniquely dressed character that made his way into Canterlot High, Sunset Shimmer briefly saw someone else. She wasn't sure how or how a menacing presence suddenly shot through her heart.
"This is the one I was talking about." Sci-Twi introduced. "This is Volo. The merchant from the far past of Hisui. And Volo. These are my friends."
"Afternoon~" Volo greeted the six of them. with that innocent smile of his. " "I'll just be quick and on my way, if you don't mind. Twilight didn't bring you up. Or rather, anyone else so far."
"I haven't? M-My bad." It was only now that Sci-Twi realized she's kept Volo to herself as of now.
"Well, great to meet you! It's always fun to see a Time Traveller!" Pinkie Pie already introduced herself, zipping over to shake Volo's hand. And Volo, gladly indulged. "I mean, most of Twilight's team is full of Time Travelers, but ya know!"
"I noticed. All Alpha Pokemon. You're lucky their existence here doesn't break anything. And neither do I it seems! I have nothing to worry about."
"You've only been here for how many months?" Rarity questioned. "I hope you've done more than just wander around. The future, at least our own future, is exemplary."
"Mmm...As a merchant, I just collect. But I've yet to really sell something to others." Volo wagged his finger, revealing that he actually hasn't done all that much. He's just been collecting, finding old poems and those mystical shards. "But...I think now might be a good time to start."
"I don't think it's legal to sell anything here in the school. Unless its food or school property." Fluttershy added. There were rules here and Volo was certainly from an era were those rules didn't exist. But that wasn't going to stop him.
"Hoh? But then you'll miss out on all of this." Volo knew how to hit their sweet spots and tastes. From his bag, he revealed and array of items that he's gathered from the past.
Lo and behold, Volo had quite the options. For gemstones, he had Lapis Lazuli, quartz, diamonds and pearls, jacinth and even alexandrite. There was even food from the past that he had stored up in perfect condition which Sunset and the others have never seen before. Pinkie Pie already licked her lips upon seeing some of these options.
Volo even packed some wonderful clothes to purchase. Ancient clothing was shown, tidied and cleaned to be as beautiful as possible. Volo had Gold Dust of all things, some sort of glowing pylon, a starry dress, an exotic-looking chew toy, an unknown cube, a glowing horn that resembled a unicorn and something that appeared to be a halo which was floating.
"Oooh...!" The girls were naturally amazed. And the same went for Sci-Twi, who was seeing these for the very first time. She was missing out.
"Are some of these...magical items?" Sunset Shimmer gawked. Some of these items looked a bit too fantastical to be simple merchant items.
"I wasn't just collecting shards and poems. This universe is too interesting to pass on a good sale." Volo revealed that he didn't limit himself to this parallel world. He's already been to the other regions since he was previously in Arche Valley. "I have here magical items that I've collected."
"S-Should we buy them?" Applejack shifted her eyes as she wasn't sure if taking magical items was a good idea. It was magic after all and it can catch anyone off guard.
"Well, as a merchant, it's my job to also be careful about who I sell these to. Even though I grabbed some of them from the present, they are still considered ancient. I know very little about these forgotten items that were tossed away or either lost in specific scenarios."
"I don't think you should be having them at all." Sunset Shimmer added, narrowing her eyes at Volo as she had a different tone on her.
"Hm?" He glanced over at Princess Celestia's former student.
"You found some of these in Equestria. And they're not forgotten since some of us study about these." But this didn't slip by Sunset Shimmer. Not when she was adept in magic compared to everyone else here.
"Oh, really? You have magical knowledge?" Volo blinked for a moment.
"Well, she's actually from Equestria, but she lives here with us now!" Pinkie explained when grabbing Sunset's shoulders. "If anyone here knows about magic, it's her!"
"Ah. So this is just your human form, correct? Interesting. Not sure why you'd want to stay here forever though?" Volo shrugged while chuckling. "Your original world is leagues better than this. Based on what I've seen though. Just saying."
"Hmph. This right here is a unicorn horn! The magic is still showing from it."
"Really? Who's horn is it then?"
"Well..." Sunset froze on that part, trying to figure out whose horn this belongs to since she was so well-versed in Equestrian knowledge. "I don't know. But the fact that the magic around it is still active isn't a good sign at all."
"Sunset..." Sci-Twi tried calming things down since there was a noticeable rising tension between the two.
"No worries. It's my job to keep them safe and out of the wrong hands. But...Perhaps I'll keep them with me for a bit longer before really selling the best of the best."
"Who are you even planning to sell this to anyway?" Sunset questioned. She needed to know who would be receiving such rare items. Items like these would possibly head to powerful figures. Good or Evil.
"Whoever deserves it. Items such as these only belong in the most capable of hands as you can imagine. Or in some cases, hooves. And you don't seem to be up for the task, Ms Expert."
"Mmmrgh..." Already, Sunset was getting irritated by Volo.
"Now, now. I'm sure Volo knows who deserves this and who doesn't." Sci-Twi got inbetween them. "At least I hope so."
"Well, my bag isn't going to get full anytime soon, but I would love to sell this to someone who really needs it. However, the smaller items speak for themselves. Would one of you love a gemstone?"
"Yes, please!" Rarity replied in an instant, holding out plenty of money. She eyed down the gemstones and the starry dress, wanting as much as possible. "I'd like the alexandrite and perhaps the dress!
"Splendid. This world's currency is odd but...I'm sure I can make it work." Volo took the money before passing over the alexandrite and the dress. The fashionista was elated. "We're going to look wonderful when we finally enter the Pokemon Festival soon!"
"I can't take it anymore! Let me grab a bite!" Pinkie Pie obviously went for the food, paying up. Volo was happy to do business with them. Sunset pouted as she witnessed the money pass by. Volo would simply look back at her with that smile on his face when trading these items with his newest customers.
"Pleasure doing business with you." Volo waved farewell, continuing on his way to purchase a phone. And soon, he'll be out of here, continuing his search for the shards.
Volo received his own phone, purchased by Sci-Twi's own money. It had a nice white and gold texture that was rather appealing to the eyes. With this, Volo could communicate with Sci-Twi easily even from a great distance. Of course, he still has to know how to work it. Thankfully, Sci-Twi would explain it to him and at a perfect pace so he wouldn't be overwhelmed.
After that, Volo was on his way. Where to? Wherever he can. He was a travelling merchant after all and there was still a lot for him to see while on his quest to find the remaining shards. But right after walking out of Canterlot High, standing nearby just to meet with him was Sunset Shimmer, who was away from her friends and standing near the walls of Canterlot High.
"You stayed this long just to talk to me again?" Volo turned to face Sunset, almost as if he knew she would be waiting for him outside. "Don't you think you're a bit too judgemental?"
"I am. There's something about you. I can't tell but you feel like a handful." Sunset showed herself, still being cautious around Volo.
"You don't have to worry too much about the magical items, Sunset Shimmer. Worry about spending time at the Pokemon Festival with your friends, alright? Unless, you do want something from my catalogue."
"You're the one who sent Twilight on this mission to find these shards. And they aren't just regular shards. They don't even come from this time or world."
"Well, of course. They're just as special as the magical items I'm carrying. If not more." Volo's eyes lowered a bit as he put on a rather uneasy smile. "I'd say, they're far more special. Because they're connected to the Hallowed God Arceus. Your friend Twilight seems to be catching up with all the Arceus knowledge there is which is wonderful to see. That's just what I need for my mission to find the shards."
"What's your plan?"
"Well, I'd like to return to my time after all of this is done. I doubt I'll come back once the shards are all found or even if your time leak problem is solved."
"..." But Sunset Shimmer was still greatly judgemental.
"Boy. You're a sharp-eyed one, aren't you?" Volo scratched his face for a bit. "To be honest, I'd say you sort of rub me the wrong way too. A bit too pushy and fiery honestly."
"You're not going to sell some of these rare items to the people of your time, are you?" That was one of Sunset's biggest concerns. "If you do, who knows what that might do to our world? And the world beyond that. It'll completely ruin the flow of time."
"You're the expert apparently. Even after having Pokemon around for only 4 years, you catch on fast. But you don't have to worry about time being disrupted. It's already facing a predicament and believe me, I wish to avoid the worst as much as you do. And so far, nothing can really fix the Time Leaks happening up there. Except maybe Arceus."
"Is that why you're doing this? For Arceus?"
"You could say that. It's something new that I discovered not too long ago and it's absolutely wonderful!" Volo expressed. "For the longest, I and many others at Hisui believed different things about Almighty Sinnoh and slowly but surely, I started to uncover the truth behind our region's Legends and Myths. I mused about the existence of a Pokémon that could equal Dialga and Palkia, who we all thought were the same Pokemon. And in a way, they are. But there is obviously more to it.2
"Are you talking about Giratina?" Sunset Shimmer let out a light gasp.
"The one who was banished by Arceus. It's a peculiar Pokemon but...there's a reason why it's banished after all. You wouldn't want to get too knee-deep into it, would you? But I don't mind." Volo smirked. "I came close to uncovering the truth behind Hisui's Mythology and then, I ended up here. And I must say...I'm rather frustrated and glad. The state of the world in my time is...not really ideal."
"But you said you would head bakc after all of this is done. Are you saying you want to stay here? And you have the nerve to call me out for sticking in the Human World." Sunset Shimmer pouted.
"Don't mistake it, Sunset. I'm not staying here anyway. I still want to go home. But is it so wrong to want things to change? I heard about a region where Truths and Ideals run strong. And I lean more towards those ideals. Becoming a merchant of the Gingko Guild helped me chase those ideals. I've always sought answers when facing difficulty in my life. These larger-than-life entities were the key to those answers!"
Sunset Shimmer was getting a bit worried. It looked like Volo was beginning to lose his composure just thinking about it. Like a child ranting about their favourite toy, food or show, Volo seemingly couldn't help himself.
"Hisui eventually becomes Sinnoh. It's in a much greater state in the future. And yet, that doesn't matter. The answers I'm looking for never come into fruition in the future and will always exist in the past. The only ones who can change that are the Creation Trio. Dialga. Palkia and Giratina. And the One above All. Arceus. You can imagine how much I wish to meet such a Pokemon. There is just so much I wish to say and do in the presence of the Creator Deity."
Volo took a deep breath, slowing down at last. He almost lost himself there, startling Sunset Shimmer. Once he regained his composure, he looked at Sunset Shimmer with that signature expression on his face. Sunset Shimmer was already judgemental of Volo but now she was just confused.
Based on what she heard, it sounds like he was just itching to meet with Arceus who would answer certain questions for him. Sunset wasn't sure what they were, but they must be truly special if Volo is willing to go to Arceus of all Pokemon.
"But...That's something I have to wait for and I'm still working towards. And those shards are a strong part of it. As for these magical items, they're just playing second fiddle. When I return to my time, I know for a fact that everything will change. And it will all be because of me."
"What do you mean by that...?" The way Volo said it was rather chilling.
"Well, you can help me out, if you wish to know. Twilight is already a ton of help, joining me in my mission to find all of the shards. You're a good friend of her. Mind chiming in."
"I promised her that I'd help with her shard hunt too. All of my friends did. But I'm not 100% sure about this since I've finally met you. If this was before I met you sure but...There's a strong part of me that doesn't want to do this. You're serious about this but..."
"I see. Nervous? That's fine." Volo shrugged. "You're still young after all. You have a lot to learn, Sunset. Perhaps if you were older, you would understand where I'm coming from. The biggest questions pile up with age. You have a lot to learn and so do your friends. Twilight is already learning quite a lot as you can tell."
"I'd rather learn from someone else other than you, honestly." Sunset side-eyed him, continuing to be brutally honest. "Twilight's had quite a few teachers but I'm not sure you're one of them."
"Harsh." Volo whistled. "Very well. How about I impart some more knowledge in my own way? For a young trainer such as yourself, how does a Pokemon Battle sound?" Volo surprisingly offered a battle with Sunset Shimmer, holding up a Poke Ball with a different style. It looked like it was made out of wood compared to the modern-day Poke Ball.
"Fine. You're on." Holding out her own Poke Ball, Sunset would accept Volo's challenge. A short Pokemon Battle between the two of them was about to begin here at Canterlot High.
It would happen at the back of Canterlot High where less damage would be done to School Property. The two Trainers stood away from each other, finding their spots. No one else would be watching their battle. It would just be between the two. Sunset Shimmer already knew that she was strong. She took on the role of Equestria's 3rd Gym Leader for a while until rearrangements were made. She definitely has the strength. But how does it compare to a Human Trainer? Especially one that comes from the far past.
"Go! Braixen!" She went for her first Pokemon. Her trusted partner Braixen.
"Braixen!"
"Hm." Volo put on a light smile before summoning his own Pokemon. Appearing from that old Poke Ball was none other than a Gabite.
"Gabite!"
"Gabite...That's going to be a problem." Sunset already narrowed her eyes, knowing this wasn't going to be that easy on her. But she had to do her best. She had no clue how strong Volo was and had no way to gauge his strength at the moment. "Be careful, Braixen."
"Xen." Braixen already had her hand on her wand, ready for the worst.
"One thing is for sure. No matter the era, generation of century, people your age are always going to think the same. The questions I searched for aren't limited to the past, Sunset. Allow me to show you just how serious I am about my ideals."
"Then show me. I'll go first! Braixen, use Flamethrower!"
"Braixen!" While Braixen was weak to Gabite, that wasn't going to stop her from trying. Whipping her wand out, the Fox Pokemon released a quick but strong stream of scarlet flames immediately.
"Agile Style. Dragon Claw."
"Gabite!" Suddenly, the second the Flamethrower was unleashed, Gabite would intercept its movements. A glimmer appeared in his eyes, prompting him to move at greater speeds. He would zip forward, dashing past the Flamethrower with ease before summoning a draconic on his claws.
"Xen?!"
"What is that speed?!" Sunset Shimmer gasped as she suddenly saw Gabite incredibly close to Braixen. The Cave Pokemon would unleash Dragon Claw, slashing the Fox Pokemon and ending her Flamethrower.
"B-Brai!" Braixen cried out, sliding back from the sharp hit. But despite how swift that attack was, there seemed to be a lack of force behind it. Or rather, the force wasn't as powerful as it should be.
"Now, use Dig."
"Bite!" After delivering a swift slash, Gabite would burrow through the ground the second he touched the ground. He dug at quick speeds, barely giving Sunset and Braixen time to really comprehend this swiftness.
"Braixen! Get ready to use Psybeam when it pops back up!"
"Brai!" Braixen understood, putting both her hands on the wand to anticipate Gabite's next appearance. She would looked around her, following the trail of dirt that was kicking up thanks to Gabite's movements. Once the trail came to an end, Braixen saw where Gabite was about to emerge from. She would try and intercept him the second he got up, unleashing a spiralling psychic beam.
However, even that wasn't quick enough. Gabite burst out of the ground, evading the Psybeam which failed to catch up to him. Gabite was just too fast at the moment for Braixen to keep up. And once he avoided the Psybeam, he delivered a super-effective tackle to the Fire-Type.
"Mm...I'm taking this seriously. But are you?" Volo questioned.
"Of course I am!" Sunset roared. "Retaliate, Braixen! Use Trick Room!"
"Braixen!" Seeing that Gabite was faster, Braixen opted to shift the dimensions so that she would be quicker instead. When flying through the air after being hit by Gabite, she shot out a Psychic flare from her wand. This flare would expand rapidly, generating a Psychic Field that reached her and Gabite. The Cave Pokemon looked around him to see the dimensions rapidly shift. But Volo just kept that smile on his face.
"This should help us greatly! Psybeam once more!"
"Brai!" Braixen would use this opportunity to use Psybeam yet again. This time, it should be fast enough to reach Gabite and properly land.
"Dragon Claw."
"Ga!" However, Gabite still had time to fight back. He used Dragon Claw once more, slashing at the Psychic Beam. There was a brief clash between the two of them but they inevitabley tied with Psybeam blowing up and fizzling out.
"Go, Braixen! Flamethrower!"
"Braixen!" After Psybeam failed, it was time to try out Flamethrower once more. She would release a stronger burst of fire from her wand which would tear through the grass.
"Dig."
"Bite!" But all it took was Gabite moving ahead of Braixen once more. And this time, instead of just immediately burrowing, Gabite would leap through the air instead. When moving through the air, he avoided the Flamethrower, outspeeding it as well.
"But how?! Braixen should be faster under Trick Room!" Sunset Shimmer couldn't understand it. How could Gabite still be swift enough to make the right plays? Nothing has worked at all yet.
"Truth is, sweet Sunset...Gabite was actually slower than Braixen the entire time." Volo winked. "Perhaps not by a large margin, but slow enough for Trick Room to matter. I've simply been using a unique style that you don't know about yet."
"Bite!" Along came Gabite, who would finally start burrowing. But he would do it while divebombing himself towards Braixen. The Fox Pokemon's pupils shrunk once she saw Gabite heading her way.
"Redirect it!" But even still, Sunset Shimmer was going to go down easy.
"Brai!" As quickly as she could, Braixen unleashed Flamethrower at Gabite the second he started diving. The flames finally reached Gabite, engulfing his entire body. But it wasn't very effective at all. And immediately, Gabite started tearing through the flames, reaching Braixen with brute strength. Gabite would bring Braixen with him underground, biting the Fox Pokemon's neck while also burrowing through the ground.
"Oh, no! Braixen!" Sunset gasped as a strong burst of dust emerged once the two of them burrowed underground. Now, Braixen was at the mercy of Gabite and Sunset Shimmer had no idea of knowing what was happening down there.
Keeping his mouth on his neck, Gabite wasn't letting go of Braixen for even a moment. Braixen was being dragged underground, taking continuous super-effective damage.
"Well, I'd say this battle is as good as done. Short but sweet, right?" Volo leaned his head. But Sunset Shimmer begged to differ.
"I don't think so! It isn't over yet! If you can hear me, Braixen! Use Psybeam on yourself!"
"Xen..." Braixen could indeed hear her partner. She closed her eyes, wincing at all the pain she was feeling. But by finding the strength she needed, she aimed her wand at Gabite's back, channelling all of her Psychic power into this one attack. She barely managed to turn the wand, unleashing a stupendous Psybeam.
Underground, a beautiful yet destructive pink energy would erupt, causing Sunset Shimmer to flinch while Volo held onto his hand. This outburst created a strong gale as a chunk of rubble would also fly up. And out of it emerged Gabite who ended up taking damage from it. Braixen would also fly out, dealing damage to herself, but it was the only way.
"Oooh...Daring." Volo nodded in agreement. "That's the kind of energy needed for this path."
"Are you alright, Braixen?!"
"Braixen...!" Braixen was hanging in there, but she did take considerable damage. From Dig, Dragon Claw and her own Psybeam. The effects of Trick Room were still active, unintentionally giving Gabite a strong advantage.
"I told you this isn't over yet, Volo. As if I'd let someone like you walk all over me!" Sunset Shimmer grinned, glad to see that she was still in this. She definitely wanted to defeat Volo thanks to that strong drive within her.
"You're good. You certainly have that drive to win, I'll admit." Volo nodded, giving props to Sunset and Braixen. "Honestly, you remind me of her a bit. And thinking about her...slightly irritates me, honestly." Volo's stare suddenly intensified. It was the same stare he always had but there was just something about it that rubbed Sunset the wrong way.
"!" Sunset Shimmer backed up for a moment.
"I've been holding back on you this whole time. Let me show you how far apart we are, if you don't mind." Volo still spoke in a friendly tone but there was something chilling about it. "Dragon Claw. Strong Style."
"Ga!" A sudden surge of Draconic Energy erupted from Gabite's body as this Dragon Claw was going to be far different from the previous ones. The energy would flare fiercely while Volo just kept his smile. All the rubble nearby would also started shattering just from this force alone.
"Brace yourself, Braixen! Psybeam, once more!"
"Braixen...!" Braixen had to muster up something stronger than what she previously did. Alas, she couldn't so she had to put up with the current level. Gabite stomped onto the ground, creating a crack beneath him. After that, he would rush at Braixen, having the Trick Room to thank for a greater burst of speed. Braixen then unleashed a mighty Psybeam, attempting to overpower the Cave Pokemon. But she had no idea how different this Dragon Claw was from the rest.
With ease, Gabite cut through the Psybeam with his claws, showing no signs of struggling at all. Psybeam meant nothing to him as it was as smooth as butter. Braixen couldn't even put any more into this attack. All she saw was the visage of Gabite rapidly approaching, tearing apart her purple beam. And just like that, she took a powerful Dragon Claw.
The attack slashed past her as Garchomp appeared on the other side. With the beam fizzling out just from the force of the slash, Braixen dropped her wand. But right as her wand was about to fall, she was then launched back by a potent outburst of wind which sent her flying.
Sunset gasped, quickly holding her arms out to catch her partner. She managed to do so, but in return, she took some damage as well. The impact of Braixen harmed Sunset Shimmer as she ended up falling down with her. The Trainer and the Pokemon both groaned, tumbling and sliding on the ground. Braixne had fainted, granting this battle's victory to Volo and his Gabite.
"And that's that~," Volo said before returning Gabite to his Poke Ball. "Well...Are you convinced now? At the end of the day, you're still a bit of a rookie, I would say. All the more reason why you have so much to learn and who better to do it than someone from the past?"
"Kh..." Sunset growled while holding her partner in her hands.
"Everything here is just what I need to reach Arceus. Don't you understand?" Volo would kneel, getting his face close to Sunset Shimmer who was both intimidated and angry. "What I tried to accomplish in the past, I can get it done in the present and carry it over. You and your friends are great for chiming in. But I'm hoping you'll see beyond just a simple fetch quest. Alright?"
Volo then stood up, leaving Sunset to hold onto her fainted partner. It was high-time he got going. However, this would not be the last time Sunset Shimmer saw him. Volo knew it. Since she and her friends would be assisting Sci-Twi, another encounter with Volo was very much possible.
He was a rather odd character and Sunset Shimmer couldn't understand him. On top of that, he had many rare items at his disposal and his end goal was Arceus. But Sunset had to wonder what was beyond just receiving answers from Arceus himself. Based on their conversation earlier, there was something else Volo was looking for.
"Hoooh..." Waking up was Lucas, who was refreshed. His energy was replenished, ready to craft a new gateway, only to eventually drain himself once more. Lucas actually kept track of time and realized that it didn't take almost an entire day for him to be back to his full strength. 7 hours was still enough time for the afternoon to stick around. "Only 7 hours this time. Maybe I am getting better at this."
Rejuvenated, Lucas would hop out of the couch, ready to tackle the rest of the day, even if it was rather late. As soon as he strolled out, feeling brand new, he was startled by the faces he saw in front of him. Multiple grins that belonged to the faces of Sci-Twi's friends.
"Gah!" Lucas bellowed after seeing their wide grins. The way they were smiling was eerily creepy, even if Sunset Shimmer was the only one showing a different expression. A rather gutted one after her loss against Volo. It wasn't just an ordinary loss though. There was something about it.
"You're up? Great!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Now you can get us started on the Pokemon Festival by making a new gateway!"
"Right away, huh? I mean I was thinking that but I wanted to do something else before that..." Lucas scratched the back of his head.
"You'll pass out again, right? That's okay. We came prepared." Rarity wagged her finger, bringing a positive to this.
"You did?" He blinked, wondering if Rarity and the others truly had a solution to Lucas's blowout after making a gateway. "Oh, great! That's great! What is it?!"
"I'm not exactly a doctor...but I do know of something that can soothe the body. And it's all in this!" Whipping out an object that she kept behind her, Rarity revealed a needle syringe. And when looking at that needle, a primal fear emerged from Lucas for a moment, prompting him to jerk back.
"Y-You know...maybe you can try something else?" Lucas backed away.
"Oh, no, no, no, darling. I had to rush to the store to get this readily available. It's meant to soothe the body and reduce pain, wooziness and other irritating symptoms. I'm confident it will work on you." Rarity uttered when stepping forward, intimidating Lucas. "Anything to ease the pain."
"Uh, actually...Maybe we can just use the gateway to Arche Valley. I mean, that's easy, right? You don't wanna just go to Eindoak immediately, right?" Lucas was trying to get out of this. "Plus, who needs needles?" But Rarity wasn't having it. The two of them looked each other in the eyes, communicating via eye contact alone.
While Lucas was inclined to believe that this needle would help, there was obviously a sense of fear there. Rarity saw it but she also wished to heal Lucas and remove those irritations. And to also get a trip to Eindoak which will lead to Unova. She's already been to Unova as a pony, taking the mirror, but she'd love to do it as a human.
"...Hold him down!" Rarity ordered and Applejack and Rainbow Dash would do just that. The two of them threw themselves onto Lucas, attempting to restrain him.
"Wait, wait!" Lucas pleaded as he narrowly avoided the hands of Applejack and Rainbow Dash. He zipped to the side, jumping over the table nearby which prompted Rainbow Dash to fall over. Lucas was quite nimble, making it difficult to immediately inject him.
Applejack slid to the side, trying to intercept him, only for Lucas to use the couch pillow as a shield. He quickly took it out of the couch, holding it up to block Applejack's advances. The farm girl found herself slamming her face against the pillow, completely blocked.
"We can have a battle to settle it!" Lucas suggested. It was a back-and-forth between the two sides with Lucas doing everything in his power inside of Sci-Twi's own home to avoid getting an injection. It was clear that he feared needles in some way. Fluttershy simply stood by watching while Pinkie Pie would join in since this just seemed fun to do. Running around and trying to catch Lucas was a blast. All the while, Sunset stood there, thinking about her battle with Volo.
After a few minutes of rapid movements, Lucas ran out of space to flee. Mainly because he was finally cornered by Applejack and Pinkie Pie finding the perfect spot. Twilight's fridge. Making a last attempt to run, he tried charging through them, only to fail thanks to Pinkie Pie using a party mask to startle Lucas. Caught off guard by the mask, Lucas fell down, prompting Rarity to finally make her home.
"Gotcha!" Rarity got on top of Lucas, holding the needle high. Lucas, trapped by the girls who held onto his arms, was too late to save himself. His pupils shrunk once he saw the tip of the needle approaching him. Rarity spared no mercy for the Trainer from Another Sinnoh. The needle came crashing down, touching Lucas's shoulder.
Afterwards, a bloodcurdling scream from Lucas powered through. In the end, it wasn't painful at all but that was only natural since Lucas did have a fear of needles.
"Aahh..." Lucas groaned as he was finally let go. But Lucas would lie there for a moment, taking in what just happened. It was if his life flashed before his eyes even if it was just an injection.
"There we go. That wasn't so bad, was it?" Rarity said, putting the syringe away. "The next time you make a gateway, you'll be completely fine."
"Sunset. Are you alright?" Fluttershy asked, noticing Sunset's sudden silence.
"Oh. I'm fine. Just a bit tired since it's getting late." Sunset answered, obviously lying. "Maybe we should get some rest back at the next world." In her mind, she thought back to Volo's words and what they meant.
"Everything here is just what I need to reach Arceus. Don't you understand? What I tried to accomplish in the past, I can get it done in the present and carry it over. You and your friends are great for chiming in. But I'm hoping you'll see beyond just a simple fetch quest. Alright?"
"Girls. Do you think we should really go through with this whole shard thing?" Sunset asked, wanting answers from her friends.
"Why not?" Pinkie asked.
"Volo wants to do more than just find them. His goal is to meet Arceus and receiving answers. That sounds fine but...don't you feel that something's off?"
"Not really." Pinkie Pie shrugged. "I wanna meet Arceus too! My counterpart's already got that chance more than once!"
"Are you saying Volo creeps you out?" Rainbow Dash nudged. "Don't worry about it."
"Maybe it's just me then..." Sunset pondered. "I can be too careful. The last time we trusted someone, they tried to control us. Twice. And I was one of them."
"I understand your concerns. Volo's a curious character." Rarity agreed. "But he did sell me some divine items!"
"Once we find those shards, we'll know what comes next." Applejack looked at the end goal of all of this. "Besides, if we collect 'em, we'll be keeping 'em for ourselves. Volo's gonna only have a few when ya think about it."
"I guess so..." Sunset saw where Applejack was coming from. It never crossed her mind. "That's why I have all of you around. No way I could've thought of anything else on my own."
"Let's start by enjoying this Pokemon Festival, shall we?" Rarity winked. "It's back to Eindoak and from there, we'll explore this world at last. We've all waited too long for this! Even if I've already been there a few days ago..."
"I'll get started." Lucas sighed, ready to open up a gateway to Eindoak. Of course, it had to be somewhere else and never in the same spot. He already had a gateway for Arche Valley around Sci-Twi's house, so now it was time for somewhere else to receive Eindoak's gateway. And there was no better location than the forest where Eindoak's gateway originally sat.
Equestria. Las Pegasus. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
Switching back to Las Pegasus, the city was 10x more beautiful during the night. All the lights came on at this very moment. Resting here was Celestia's group, who stayed behind this entire time. But not for long. They would soon depart elsewhere during this festival.
Sound asleep was Zeraora, who was seen lying next to Rainbow Dash in the Las Pegasus Hotel which once belonged to Gladmane. No one was losing any sleep at the moment, except maybe Celestia. She was still thinking about where Daybreaker could be. On top of that, there was the thought of Cobalion.
Quite a bit to think about. And one thing she would definitely do would be dreaming about meeting with Cobalion again. But before that, coming up to her was Princess Diancie, who was currently carrying a plethora of items. The Jewel Pokemon found herself participating in all the activities of Las Pegasus, even winning some games.
"Welcome back." Celestia greeted. "How was it?"
"The best!" Diancie said with enthusiasm before covering her mouth, realizing that others were asleep. "Oh...Sorry."
"Glad you're enjoying yourself, Diancie. I am too. Perhaps not as much as I want too..." Celestia's smile transformed into a frown for a moment. "Even if you're a ruler, you can evade your duties during your free time."
"Hmm...Not me." Diancie smiled as she didn't have to face those problems. "But I've never had to do much, honestly. I didn't even know there were other princesses out there for the longest time."
"But it's not all bad. I have my friends and family with me. And one day, I wish to start my own family." She closed her eyes, already thinking about the past. In her mind, she envisioned herself with Cobalion and the thought of it gave her a dumbfounded face. "Wonderful..."
"Tomorrow is a new day. No idea what to expect but that's what makes it so much fun...and terrifying at the same time." Celestia would make herself comfortable, using her magic to cover herself with the sheets. "Whatever comes my way, I'll be ready for it as always. That's my job as Equestria's Ruler."
Diancie watched the Sun Princess clock out, peacefully resting under the Equestrian Moon. At the same time, Twilight Moonlight was also sound asleep, resting while still restrained. Diancie would soon get ready for bed as well, placing her prizes down.
However, Twilight Moonlight, while restrained, was still passively up to something. Without even being awake, her magic was active, all thanks to the Moon. She did say that under the Moon, her magic is limitless. And while Celestia's magic was superior, managing to restrain her, it was clear that it was still trying to make a reversal. Twilight Moonlight wasn't one to give up so easily.
By now, the Pokemon Festival, which would only last for 3 weeks was still young with more time left on its plate. And yet, things will not slow down. Not just in terms of the entertainment, but also what was lurking in the festival. Zeraora was still having issues with her rage and it didn't change while asleep.
The Thunderclap Pokemon was having dreams about her home, wishing to return to it. But she couldn't, unfortunately. It was taken away after all by the darkness that was Necrozma. While her rage wouldn't explode in her sleep, it would certainly get her riled up, turning it into a nightmare. That was all that Zeraora saw. A nightmare. And this nightmare would continue since she was still being hunted herself, lost from her own universe while the main threat was still out there, attempting to ruin this world as well.
Universe 11. The Solar Empire. Nightfall.
Back at Universe 11, Empress Twilight and Nightmare Rarity were currently discussing matters with Princess Starlight. A Starlight who managed to win in her world and make everyone truly equal. While also keeping herself in power, obviously, emerging as an alicorn.
"Nightfall has dropped and still nothing from Daybreaker. She only has a day left until the gateway brings her back. Something is clearly wrong." Empress Twilight Spoke with them. "We need Daybreaker to reach our ultimate goals, so we can't have her running into trouble already. I'm guessing it's the result of that world's Celestia and that intrustive Ash Ketchum."
"Probably. Or something else might've gotten in her way." Starlight answered. "Either way, it would be lucky for us if she never came back,
"But there is something else we're not focusing on. Even if our Daybreaker fails...What about the next?" Empress Twilight's eyes narrowed.
"The next?" Nightmare Rarity and Starlight collectively said.
"I received news from Team Plasma a few months ago. It was about a situation that happened back at Hoenn. Apparently, there was an instance where that goody-two-shoes Celestia almost awoke as Daybreaker. Don't you realize what that means? That Celestia has a high enough chance to become Daybreaker."
"Mmm, you have a point. What's stopping her from releasing that alter-ego of hers? If another one shows up, it could be even worse for us." Nightmare Rarity saw the angle, already thinking about the worst possible scenario. "Oh, that's just awful to think about, darling."
"There is no other Daybreaker in existence aside from the one we have. But for another one to show up...that would make things harder for us." Empress Twilight leaned forward. "We've been sheltering ourselves from their eyes for too long. Eventually, we'll have to launch a counterattack on that universe. They defeated me but I won't back down so easily."
"You're thinking of heading to that world again, aren't you?" Starlight questioned. "The last time you went there, it ended poorly for you. Even in another world, you lost. Horribly."
"Not this time. Perhaps later on. But there is something I wish to do and it involves Necrozma. The ultimate goal of that Pokemon is to gather enough light to satisfy itself and you can bet it'll absorb absolutely everything to realize that goal. And we can use that to our advantage."
"Are you thinking about capturing Necrozma? If so, that's impossible since he already has a Poke Ball."
"Not unless we break it. Once a Poke Ball breaks, the Pokemon that was connected to it will be absolutely free. It's as simple as that. But making it happen is a true task. We'll take Necrozma's Ultimate Power for ourselves when he's complete. And the only thing that could make that happen is the Magic Siphoning Jar."
"Pssh! Good luck finding that!" Nightmare Rarity cackled. "It's long gone by now."
"But it's not impossible to make." Empress Twilight made a quick retort that silenced Nightmare Rarity. "After all, I absorbed Grogar's essence, making him a part of me. I know how to make another Magic Siphoning Jar."
"Then why not make one, darling?" Nightmare Rarity questioned.
"This one is taking its sweet time. I need this jar to be the best that it can possibly be. Enough to steal power from the mightiest of Pokemon. It will far surpass the previous one. With Grogar's knowledge, I can make it happen."
"Alright then. When will you go through with it? Surely you know when and how to make it happen." Princess Starlight asked.
"Daybreaker has already decided on one thing. One day, she will launch an attack on Universe 1. The biggest threat to us all. It will be Universe 1 vs Universe 11. Obviously, my forces will be there since I want to see Universe 1 absolutely crushed. But once everything reaches its climax, the deciding moment will come. The day both worlds will fall and I rise to power once more. But I need to make sure it all falls into place perfectly."
"With no setbacks or flaws? Impossible. Your resources have taken an absolute dive!" Nightmare Rarity taunted.
"I know!" Empress Twilight barked.
"But we'll play our part as well. I'm pursuing something else that isn't conquering. The nightmares that I have to offer have expanded ever since Universe 1 got their wish."
"As for me? I stayed out of your invasion against Universe 1 and everything else." Starlight said. She didn't really do all that much during the invasion or anything related to that. "I spent all that time making the Pokemon in my world equal. But...I have enough time on my hooves so I know what to do."
"As for me, I'm going to make my move. It's been a while but...I'm going back as a Human." Empress Twilight revealed that she would be returning to who she originally was. Before becoming a pony by entering Equestria, she was another version of Sci-Twi who emerged as Midnight Sparkle. It has been years since that fate-changing day.
However, before they could all split up, at that moment, the gateway outside would suddenly make a noise. The gateway would pulsate aggressively, prompting the scientists to move back. Something was happening and someone was passing through it at this very moment.
The Empress, Nightmare Rarity and Princess Starlight quickly made their way to the lab to see what all the ruckus was about, postponing their plans for this one moment.
"No way..." Much to Empress Twilight's chagrin, Daybreaker had returned. She moved through the gateway and right behind her was none other than Necrozma, who was free from the diamonds. They still had one day left but they all returned sooner than expected.
Daybreaker put on a smile, looking far more optimistic than before. In reality, the problem she came across was solved and she found her way back home. The mysterious island on Alola was only a mild inconvenience to her.
"I'm back." Daybreaker declared. "Sooner than you thought I'd return. I had to because I ran into a rather confusing inconvenience."
"Tch." The Empress scoffed. She was hoping that this remaining day would be used to her advantage, but it seems not. Daybreaker chose the worst possible time to show up.
"But I've also made quite the discovery." Daybreaker didn't come back empty-handed. While she didn't get Necrozma all the light in the world and failed to defeat Celestia, she did discover something. And it was back at the mysterious island which had a connection to Prisma.
"What were you even doing?" Empress Twilight questioned, genuinely curious about what Daybreaker went through. While everything else would be easy to understand, the last bit of information was on a different level. Daybreaker saw something at the island which had a secret area. Something that apparently freed Necrozma from his diamond restraints and more.
"You'll be pleased to know...that we have the best possible ally with us," Daybreaker answered. She was not referring to Necrozma, who was considered a great ally thanks to his grandiose potential. But there was someone else. Someone who could be considered unlikely.
At this point in time, during a peaceful night, Celestia was dreaming of her greatest desires. And for once in her life, it did not involve cake. Normally, it would. But things are different now. This time, she was having dreams of Cobalion, specifically a wedding.
Celestia dreamt of herself walking through the aisle. Possibly the biggest aisle in the world for what was seen as the greatest wedding of all time. Standing there was Cobalion, who was wearing a suit which only fit him thanks to the power of dreams. Naturally, Celestia imagined Cobalion with a rather handsome yet unnerving face. It was Cobalion trying to pull off a smolder even though it is biologically impossible for him to pull it off. But everything was possible in a dream.
In the sky, a head would poke through. It was none other than Luna, who was currently viewing her little sister's dream. She expected to see a plethora of cake, as usual. But not this time. This is the first time she was seeing her sister appear in a wedding dress.
There she was, wearing her ideal dress while approaching Cobalion. Weeping at this were her parents Sunlight and Eventide as well as the many friends she's gathered across the years. Nothing was going to ruin this dream for her and Luna was going to make sure of it. She would slip into this dream, observing any potential odd occurrences.
"Glad you could show up for this dream, Luna!" Celestia said, standing next to Cobalion with the brightest look on her face. "Isn't this just the most wonderful thing you can imagine?!"
"Umm..." Luna observed Cobalion's face and how uncanny it was. To see Cobalion exhibit a vastly different facial expression was unsettling. But Luna understood that this was her big sister's dream and Cobalion was her very first crush so this was to be expected.
"This is nice and all but I'm not sure Cobalion would be here. He doesn't seem like the type to do so. Not to ruin your dream but since it might be a reality eventually..."
"He'll definitely be here." Celestia said, coming face to face with Cobalion. "He may not look like the type but he'll show up. It's a promise!" Celestia wrapped her hoof around Cobalion. "Dream big, Luna. In this world, dreaming big isn't impossible. I mean, you've had your first crush too, right? Imagine something like this happening to you one day."
"Hmm..." Luna closed her eyes as she was also thinking about her own wedding. Suddenly, she hi-jacked Celestia's wedding, spawning her dream version of Ash right next to Cobalion. Celestia gasped after seeing Luna invade her dream. "Mhm. It is wonderful. You're right."
"Luna! You infiltrated my dream!" Celestia bellowed.
"You said imagine. So I did. And there's no shame in sharing dreams since it tends to happen from time to time."
"But this is supposed to be what my special day will one day look like. We can't both share it..." Celestia grizzled her teeth.
"I'm eager to have that special day show up for me as well." Luna stood proud, puffing her chest out. "I think I'd love to become a Queen before you do, while you're still the Princess. At least I can always reach Ash compared to Cobalion."
"Before me? Not for a moment. If there's one thing that's for sure, I'm always ahead of you, Luna" Celestia used her wing feathers as fingers, wagging them.
"Of course, you'd go there..." Now it was Luna's turn to grizzle her teeth. A sister squabble occurred between the two, but that was only natural since they were siblings. Siblings will argue while the Dream Creations of their respective crushes stand there with the same silly faces. "But it doesn't matter Right, Ash?"
"Of course." The Dream Version of Ash had a rather deep voice. Deeper than what he usually has, which caught Celestia off guard. "Nothing matters in the face of our union."
"Ash doesn't speak like that. You and I both know that. I thought you didn't like those romance novels."
"I don't but it's complicated..." Luna grumbled while blushing lightly.
Meanwhile, Darkrai was peeking through the crowd, watching this Sibling Squabble occur, but he certainly wasn't going to get involved at all. Darkrai sank into the shadows, continuing to patrol the dream realm while Luna bickers with Celestia for a little while.
Hopping into this dream was Diancie, who was sleeping next to Celestia. Because of how close they were, the Jewel Pokemon was able to be in the same area as Celestia. And upon arriving, she gazed upon the beautiful wedding that had been set up here in a Dream Version of Canterlot. It was her first time seeing it and even witnessing a wedding.
Diancie had never heard of a wedding before so this was certainly a first. But alas, she wouldn't know what it was since Celestia and Luna were still going at it, comparing their crushes. Of course, this was just limited to words and never evolved into anything beyond that. Thankfully.
She wasn't the only one sharing this dream. Right near Celestia was Twilight Moonlight, who was perfectly hidden in the crowd. Unable to escape this dream, she was forced to watch this all play out until she wakes up. If only she could dream about stopping Prisma.
Equestria. Las Pegasus. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
A new day has come, prompting Celestia to wake up. The dream she had was over. Stretching her hooves and yawning, the Sun Princess was greeted by the very Sun she raised and lowered. But in this Grander World, the Sun can pull it off on its own. Diancie also woke up, rolling out of the bed and making a loud thud noise since her body was made out of rocks. That thud managed to wake others up, such as the CMC.
"It's a new day!" Rainbow Dash bellowed when waking up. "That means one thing! The Battle Frontier!"
"Zera?" Zeraora groaned, rubbing her eyes as her terrible dream was broken by Rainbow Dash's voice. She needed that, otherwise, Zeraora would've woken up with violent tendencies to unleash.
"I've waited long enough. The next Frontier Brain is going down, I promise that!" Rainbow Dash roared, waking Applejack up from her sleep.
"Today?" Luna yawned as she also woke up, finishing her patrol and taking the time to rest as always. "And yet...The Equestria League has yet to start."
"I'll just do a little bit of training and then it's off to Manehattan. No clue what the next Frontier Battle is gonna be so I'll try whatever."
"Mmm..." Fluttershy, who currently had bed hair, saw that her Xtransceiver had gone off. Calling her at this moment was Ash, who was also awake at this moment. She picked it up to see that Ash, Twilight, Lucas and Sci-Twi were currently at Eindoak Town after Lucas made a new gateway. They were waiting to reunite with their previous group as they even sent a picture to Fluttershy. It was them with the Human Counterparts. All of the Human Counterparts could be seen posing with them, pulling off different faces and greetings with all three Pikachus in the middle.
"Bit too early for a battle, isn't it?" Celestia's yawn was extended, prompting her to slide out of the hotel bed. "Are we on the second week? I believe I've lost count."
"Somewhere during the second week of the Festival. So far, so good honestly." Luna would unleash a long stretch as she could hear and feel her bones breaking. The Moon Princess grimaced, realizing how good of a sleep she received. Perhaps too good.
Celestia also received messages on her Xtransceiver this early in the morning. Looking at it, she saw updates from the Ranger Union, revealing that they dealt with the Diamond Domain's Rift Pedestal. An image was sent to her, showing Kidd Summers and the other Pokemon Rangers around the Pedestal, granting it extra Rift Energy to keep it active.
Another one was of an update of Canterlot Castle and it looks like while she was asleep, her mother and father ended up appearing. And during the entire night, they ended up goofing off with Premium Polish, partying the night away with the other Canterlot Guards, who were roped into this mess. A mess was made of the castle, but that didn't matter since it made Celestia smile.
"Well. I have a good feeling about today." Celestia said when closing the Xtransceiver. "I still have yet to find Cobalion. Let's see if we can fix that."
"We should be at the Pokemon School right about now but nah.." Scootaloo grinned once she was fully awake. "The Pokemon Festival's the second-best holiday out there!"
"Above or below Summer?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Below Summer. Hearth's Warming is still on top." Scootaloo answered, prioritizing Hearth's Warming, then after that is the Pokemon Festival and finally, Summer Vacation.
"The Pokemon Festival doesn't mind if you skip school or not." Luna said while walking past her. "But hopefully, you're learning something along the way. Your Pokemon will teach you and you'll teach them."
They made their way out of the hotel, re-entering Las Pegasus's active outdoors. But they wouldn't be here for long. Now, they would be heading elsewhere and Manehattan was up next for Rainbow Dash. But it might just be Rainbow Dash and a few others heading to Manehattan.
Luna held out her own map, observing where she could go today. If she had to guess, Celestia might try and find Cobalion a second time. But not this time. Celestia had something else in mind after what she said last night. The Sun Princess wished to do more than just taking on threats to her home.
"If you're preparing to tackle the Battle Frontier...Then I suppose I'll do some battling of my own." Celestia spoke, revealing what else she had in mind.
"You don't normally do official Pokemon Battles at all, Princess." Sweetie Belle said. This much was true. Every time Celestia participated in a battle, 99% of them time, it was the fate of the world or others at stake. Celestia has never been in an official Pokemon Battle for the fun of it.
"You're right. First time for everything. You all have so much fun going through your own Pokemon Battles and all I do is just watch them from afar."
"Well, there aren't any competitions happening right now. Unless you want to start one as soon as possible. You have that power after all."
"It's fine. I'll find a battle. Not here at Las Pegasus but somewhere else." Celestia smiled, knowing where to be if she wanted to participate in a battle. It was high-time Equestria's Ruler indulged herself in the exciting wonder of a fun Pokemon Battle. Her sister and her friends have all done it by now. There was one place she chose to go to which no one else ever thought about.
Magehold.
Magehold.
The Sun Princess made her way to the home of the vampires, choosing to have her Pokemon Battle there. The hoof of Equestria's Ruler touched down on the soil of Magehold. The Land of the Vampires has gone through a grandiose change, especially with entertainment finally returning. After Rosa Maledicta and Opal Vivacitiy's defeat, hope returned to this eerie land.
"You chose Magehold?! Really!?" Coming along after hearing where she decided to go was Rainbow Dash, who was in absolute disbelief. "Why?!"
"Magehold is safe terrirtory for us to walk on now ever since Fantina came into power. There is nothing to worry about. No fear of having your soul stolen and placed in a plant."
"R-Right..." The pegasus gulped, gazing at the menacing castle in the distance. Of course, there was the Heavenly Maiden Tree which cancelled out some of the eeriness. It was where Xerneas was resting previously but even after the Black Crusade ended, the tree sat there as a reminder of the hope that befell the world during its darkest moment.
"Yipee!" Compared to Rainbow Dash, the three fillies were excited to tackle this, prancing off with glee and joy in their hearts. Seems that they weren't as scared of vampires as they should be. Perhaps, being around Dragons, Ghosts, snakes, demons and other fierce creatures has completely negated the intimidation factor of the vampires. Rainbow Dash was just cautious instead of being afraid.
The main appeal of Magehold was now the Entertainment Commune, originally made by Fantina once she came into power. Vampires could enjoy themselves at last without needing to think about mass extinctions or anything destructive at all. Fantina found that perfect balance to keep the vampires happy after a Post-Rosa Maledicta Rule.
A thin mist envelops the streets, giving the illusion of perpetual twilight. Shimmering purple lanterns line the cobblestone paths, casting soft, enchanting light that dances on the shadowy walls. These were not enough to harm the vampires, of course. At the center of the city, an immense silver fountain, adorned with exquisite Pokemon, sprays purple liquid instead of water, attracting curious onlookers.
A statue had been erected near the fountain. A statue of Fantina. Showing great gratitude to the Hearthome City Gym Leader who was also the New Lich Queen, the vampires built a statue in her honour. To say that they loved Fantina was an understatement. Already, she was far more beloved than the previous Lich Kings and Queens that came before her.
Sweetie Belle and Rarity wound gander at this statue of Fantina, seeing how the purple liquid perfectly captures her colour scheme. The Pokemon statues were also of Fantina's own Pokemon. From Mismagius to Drifblim.
As you explore, you notice a group of well-dressed vampires engaged in an animated discussion about the latest fashion trends. And there were a lot, as seen by Rarity's dazzling eyes. Her fashionista eyes locked onto the clothes that were available at Magehold, having their own style.
With Fantina at the helm, style returned to Magehold. There was a gothic appearance on many of them which made sense. Magehold, no matter what happens to it and how many rulers it goes through, will always have that eerie feeling behind it.
The Contest Hall that was built here was still around, available to be used with the Magehold Ribbon up for grabs. But by now, Sweetie Belle had all the ribbons she needed and was eligible for the Grand Festival. The other main attraction were the Pokemon Battles and Magehold certainly had them.
Many buildings were rapidly made in the span of a few weeks thanks to Fantina's amazing power that was now hers. Such as a stadium for Pokemon Battles. Magehold wasn't exactly adept in Pokemon Battles since they were rather behind compared to almost everyone across Equestria and beyond with only a few other species lagging behind.
"Welcome to Magehold." Greeting them was none other than Dimstar. The Half Lich Half Vampire Pony and the daughter of the first Lich King. "We meet again so soon, it seems."
"Morning, Dimstar~" Celestia waved. "Glad to be here again. Well, not for the first time but you know what I mean."
"If you're here to meet the Lich Queen, she is at Hearthome City at the moment."
"Hm. Remind me to have Lucas create a gateway inbetween Magehold and Hearthome. With Fantina's permission, of course." Celestia tapped her head. "But we're not here for anything important. We're just here for fun. And I'm here for a Pokemon Battle."
"That so? Alright then." Dimstar shrugged while keeping her serious expression, barely putting on a smile. She was taking her new role as the Lich Queen's Guard, Soldier and many other roles very seriously. "If you're looking for a battle, the Magehold Stadium is available and free to all. "If anyone of you wishes to use the Contest Hall, go right ahead."
"This should be a good way to prepare for the Battle Frontier, right, Rainbow Dash?"
"No thanks. I don't think anyone here at Magehold is strong enough, honestly." An honest Rainbow Dash said. "No offence, but we've got a few years of experience ahead."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." However, Dimstar begged to differ. "I've taken interest in Pokemon Battling and I can safely say that catching up won't be an issue."
"S-Seriously? Are you saying you're already a pretty strong trainer? In that little time?" Rainbow Dash found that pretty hard to believe.
"I don't know...She doesn't look like she's bluffing," said Applejack when observing Dimstar's expression and her tone.
"I have a slight advantage. I am naturally able to adapt to many things since I am Half Lich and Half Vampire. The Lich part in me is where that adaptation comes in. Compared to the former Lich Queen and even the current one, I am almost full-blooded because of my father. The others could not adapt since they only inherited the magic and blood of a Lich during a certain point in their lives. Except for Queen Fantina, who is stronger than all of us."
"Well, can't argue with her, can we? Not that we know much about Liches anyway." Celestia replied. It was difficult to ague with Dimstar there since she knew what she was saying. Next to Merry Dread, she was the closest to a Lich.
"Many vampires are training to become better Pokemon Battlers. Some are even thinking about working at Queen Fantina's Gym. You will find many of them in the stadium, challenging each other but they are very much novices, rookies and greenhorns. If you wish to find a challenge, then I will gladly take you up on that."
"Splendid. I would love to take on that challenge, Dismtar." Celestia held her hoof out. Dimstar would kindly shake her hoof back, appearing as another example of Equestria and Magehold's unity.
Magehold's Pokemon Battle Stadium. Aesthetically different from all the other Battle Stadiums, a plethora of ivy snakes its way up the cracked walls, whispering secrets with every rustle. The whole stadium looms over the surrounding landscape like a fortress of dark power.
Its exterior is adorned with intricate carvings that seem to come alive in the darkness. Inside, the air is heavy with the scent of fresh marble, all thanks to the new dazzle that Magehold received under Fantina's rule. The centrepiece of the stadium is a massive, blood-red crystal suspended above the battle arena, pulsating with an eerie, unearthly glow.
Naturally, there were vampires trying to improve at Pokemon Battling, finally learning to bond with these Strange Wonderful Creatures. The pool of Pokemon here at Magehold has improved as some could be seen with various other Types now.
"Hold it." Dimstar halted them. "There is one massive rule here that is for the sake of our own safety. Under no circumstances must you unleash an abundance of light in the stadium, for obvious reasons."
"No light? What about the Pokemon you have?" Rainbow Dash questioned, pointing out the other Pokemon Types that were very much capable of emitting light. Whether it was the power of Solar Beam, Electric-Types in general, maybe a Flash Cannon here and there and most definitely Fairy-Types.
"While we are no longer limited to Ghosts and Darks, the Pokemon we choose have specific moves that do not unleash heavy portions of light. Light Moves can be used but they must be kept at a minimum." Dimstar would aim her hoof at the rules that were plastered on the walls. "And I've seen your Pokemon. You all have Pokemon that can emit powerful forms of light. Especially that one."
"Zera?" Zeraora pointed at herself since Dimstar was referring to her. It was true though. All of Celestia's friends and family had Pokemon that could generate a ton of light if they wanted to. It's how they fought against Magehold so viligantly in the first place.
"She's not my Pokemon though. But you don't have to worry about Zeraora." Rainbow Dash explained.
"And you won't have to worry about an over abundance of light, Dimstar." Celestia stepped forward. "I'm still going to enjoy myself here without needing to use absolutely everything."
"Hm. Good to hear." Dimstar cracked a smile while closing her eyes. "Now then. Let's make the arena our own and have what you call, 'a Friendly Battle'. But there is something I should tell you."
"Yes?" The Sun Princess leaned forward.
"Even though you are our allies now, I will find great enjoyment in defeating the Ruler of Equestria." Dimstar's smile became rather intimidating. Her tendencies of being a Lich and Vampire were showing and she knew it. While she would agree to this battle, she also wanted to defeat Celestia in front of everyone else. "It will bring great honour and respect to Magehold."
"Ah!" Luna jerked back. "Rude much? I thought-"
"Agreed." But Celestia was not offended by this at all. She welcomed it. The Sun Princess loved a challenge and something thrilling. It would be boring if it was too easy just because of her status. Dimstar was the right pony to issue this challenge to her.
The two of them would get ready, just to make battle preparations. Dimstar knew about Celestia's team but Celestia had no idea what Dimstar had. It would make it all the more exciting though as the journey continues.
Equestria. Magehold. Entertainment Commune. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
Here at Magehold, Celestia's group found themselves at the Entertainment Commune. Viewing how Magehlod has changed ever since the defeat of Rosa Maledicta and Opal Vivacity, they were about to enjoy themselves here and in Celestia's case, she would partake in her first official Pokemon Battle without needing to worry about the fate of Equestria. Or the entire world.
In the meantime, Rarity was checking out Magehold's fashion trends. To think that all of this would've been sheltered for all of eternity if Opal was never defeated. Rarity spotted a dress that was meant to replicate Fantina's clothes and its purpose was not just to get ponies to wear the clothes of their Queen, but to also remind them all of how their nation was free from the cruel Lich Cycle. "Hm. They really grew attached to Fantina, didn't they?"
"Yeah." Pinkie Pie pressed her face against the windows. "Lucky Fantina. She gets all of this and gets to be a Gym Leader still? Her and Ash have it so good."
"Mew-Mew."
Fluttershy was more interested in something else. This was her first time exploring Magehold which made her gain some familiarity. Not because she was captured previously, but because of that semblance of a Vampire Pony within her. But that part of Fluttershy was long gone.
They weren't the only visitors here at Magehold. Now that the nation was open and Fantina's status here was known, others could show up. Such as regular ponies from across Equestria and a few Humans.
"Here you go. An Authentic Magehold Delicary!" The vampires presented their food to their visitors which wasn't exactly pleasant to look at. The vampires here had their own tastes, such as food that was seemingly alive and moving. The ponies looked down, witnessing the soup staring back at them with an abyss-like colouring. Some of them could even hear the food whispering back to them.
"Don't worry about that. Just ignore their temptatious whispers and it'll taste great." The vampires explained, acknowledging the fact that the food was somewhat sentient.
"Mmm..." But while some were intimidated by the delicacies, others would take the risk just to see what Magehold had to offer. Berry Punch was currently looking down at a Magehold drink which was almost as clear as the air. Unsure of what to make of this, she would drink it either way. "Not bad!" Lo and behold, she actually enjoyed it.
"Why, thank you! It's made from the remains of a corrupted air." The vampire explained. "Only way it can be made~"
"Oh..." Berry Punch froze for a moment after learning about the origin of this drink. But she shrugged it off, enjoying it either way. It didn't matter where it came from.
"Look at this! Is it really you?" Noticing the CMC was another filly. The only one here aside from Dimstar who actually recognized them and once appeared in Canterlot during the Junior Cup.
"Night Sprout!" The fillies recognized their fellow filly. And thankfully, there were no ill intentions here. Night Sprout would approach them with nothing to fear.
"Hm. No Premium Polish? That's a shame." Night Sprout noticed a lack of Premium Polish. The one pony she talked to the most and formed a small and brief bond.
"We didn't see you during the whole Black Crusade. Where were you?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Me? I stayed out of it." Night Sprout surprisingly exempted herself from the Black Crusade. "Most of us kids stayed out of that. No way we were gonna go into that."
"Hm. I didn't think that would happen..." Scootaloo scratched her mane. Based on what she saw, she expected even the children to get involved, but it seemed as if they were all exempt from the Black Crusade, perhaps to keep the future generation around as a backup. "So where were you the whole time? Everything got out of hoof so fast."
"We all took part in that contest Queen Fantina made. I mean, I didn't care for it. I only wanted to battle. Speaking of battle...isn't your Princess about to battle? She doesn't look like the type to do that." Night Sprout referred to how Celestia wasn't sure how to deal with this young vampire. "I got away from her, easy peasy.
"That was a one-time thing!!" Sweetie Belle argued. "Plus you blew yourself up!"
"Either way, Dimstar's going to win this without any issue. She's technically the heir to the Lich Throne. She's got this in the bag." Night Sprout grinned before side-eyeing the other fillies. Naturally, the two sides had their own winners in their eyes, creating sparks between them. They would have to see it settled once the battle begins.
Celestia, meanwhile, gazed at a table looking at her Poke Balls. She certainly came a long way from just having a timid Ralts on her side. Now she had fearsome Dragons, a brave-hearted dog and an adorable body of cream. For her very first official battle, she didn't have to think about which Pokemon to team up with. However, she was thinking of keeping Reshiram out of it.
"I'm counting on you all." She smiled when speaking to her Pokemon. Placing her hand on Celestia's back was Gardevoir, who would be there for her.
"Voir."
"Dimstar might not have a good enough response to Reshiram. He might be too strong for whatever Pokemon she has. But that's the thing...I don't know what Pokemon she has."
As for Dimstar, she knew what to expect from Celestia since she was aware of some of her Pokemon. The Half Lich already had her own Poke Balls out on the table. Five of them to be exact. Perfectly matching Celestia's total. But Dimstar wasn't doing this just for the sake of agreeing to a battle. There was something else to it.
Using her invisible tendrils, Dimstar held up her Five Poke Balls, thinking about the outcome of this battle. "I needed a battle like this. Even after Rosa and Opal's defeat, there's still something missing." Being locked up in a cube for centuries until the time to appear was right didn't exactly create a satisfied pony. While she had a naturally long lifespan, Dimstar still missed out on a lot.
But now that it was over, Dimstar was beginning to experience the things she missed out on in her life. She was now the guard and servant of Rosa Maledicta while also getting her family life somewhat back on track Her father was still around and her mother Vivace was present too, albeit elsewhere in the world. But that wasn't enough for Dimstar, who was a bit jaded from things.
At a young age, she was sealed and was entrusted to be the final trump card for saving Magehold from this Great Evil, AKA Opal Vivacity. While she did assist in stopping the Black Crusade, Dimstar wanted to do more. Why? Her encounter with Ash's group during the Black Crusade spoke volumes as to why.
"Prepare yourself, Princess Celestia," Dimstar said to herself, carrying all the Poke Balls with her as the invisibility made it seem like they were floating. "I'm going to enjoy myself. You'd better do the same as well."
The time for them to face off had come. They made their way to the arena, taking center stage. The two ponies of nobility stepped forward. Many would come to watch this battle. This would be a battle against the Ruler of Equestria and the First Daughter of the First Lich King. That can be considered a headliner battle. All other battles in the stadium were ignored or halted just for this one.
Gardevoir stood there with a confident expression on her face, not even being a bit nervous about her first official battle. The way she pumped her fists up showed that she was going to take this as seriously as possible but she would also have to remember to have fun.
There was no referee. Not yet at least. Magehold has yet to really adjusted to the usual staples of Pokemon Battles, so there was seemingly no one to determine the rules. That is until someone did show up. Walking over here was Applejack, who would act as the referee.
Seated were Luna and Diancie, who showed up alongside the CMC and Night Sprout. They made themselves comfortable by getting the best seats possible since Pokemon Battles do tend to unleash some spectacular sights. But for this battle, due to the fact that vampires were weak to light, a majority of that spectacle would have to be held back for their own safety.
"Well, let's enjoy ourselves, Dimstar. Alright?" Celestia spoke to the Half Lich, just wanting a battle that she would remember. Those were the best kind of battles and Ash certainly has an entire catalogue of them.
"That's what I intend to do. I was hoping you'd say that. And you should hope that you don't lose miserably here."
"Believe me, I won't." Celestia chuckled.
"It's gonna 5 Pokemon, right?" Applejack asked. "And once all Pokemon from one side go down, that's it.
"Well...I haven't decided yet. There's one Pokemon I'm not sure I should bring out just yet but I'll wait and see. For now, I'm going to count on 4 Pokemon instead.
"Alright then, your majesty. Both of ya'll can send your Pokemon out now!"
"Appear! Toxicroak!"
"Toxicroak!"
"Eeee! I don't usually get to do this but I can finally get this chance! Call out my Pokemon in an official battle!" Inside, Celestia was geeking out. The childish energy within her was glad to experience this. "Now! Flash in, Arcanine!"
"Arcanine!" The Legendary Pokemon was her first Pokemon to appear. And he certainly flashed in, creating a burst of fire around his body when he appeared.
"Go, Dimstar!" Dimstar would have those that would cheer her on. And in this case, Spectrum Shade was one of those ponies. She could be seen in the crowd, yelling as loud as she could while also holding up a flag with Dimstar's face on it. Clearly, Dimstar's battle prowess has been noticed by Magehold to warrant these flags.
"Don't lose, Princess!" Rainbow Dash would shout back. She didn't have any flags to wave but she would throw all of her support to Celestia. Naturally, Dimstar had home-field advantage and since she was the daughter of the first Lich King, that gave her even more prestige and respect. Prior to Fantina showing up, the first Lich King was the only one who wanted true peace and harmony for Magehold.
"Alright...Go!" Applejack would begin the battle.
"Excellent. Toxicroak! Poison Jab!"
"Tox!" Toxicroak would make the first move. Covering its arms in a poisonous aura, the Fighting-Poison-Type would immediately leap into the air.
"Arcanine! Use Extreme Speed!"
"Canine!" However, Poison Job was promptly intercepted by an attack of blistering speeds. For a split second, Arcanine's body lit up, emanating a beautiful white glow. His body also left the ground but at a faster rate, leaving behind white afterimages. And in an instant, Arcanine tackled Toxicroak, interrupting Poison Jab.
"C-Croak!" Toxicroak gasped as it was forced back to the ground. The first successful hit went to Arcanine but that was only thanks to the swiftness of Extreme Speed. Everything else would have to be done while keeping up with Toxicroak. The Toxic Mouth Pokemon recovered by flipping off the ground, regaining its balance.
"Toxicroak! Stone Edge, now!"
"Croak!" Toxicroak retaliated by summoning massive glowing crystals from the ground itself, causing to rise up with aggression and speed.
"Look out, Arcanine! Close Combat!"
"Canine!" But Arcanine was equipped to deal with Rock-Type attacks. His eyes lit up as he smashed his head against the incoming stones, breaking one of them apart with brute strength. Afterwards, Arcanine would rapidly swing his front paws against the stones.
"Hm." Dimstar put on a smile after seeing Arcanine's performance. It looks like things were going just the way she wanted. This was looking to be a satisfying challenge, but she obviously has to land some hits in as well.
"So far so good. Now it's our turn to go on the offensive. Flare Blitz!"
"Ar!" The Legendary Pokemon would unleash a mighty flare of fire that enveloped his entire body. But he obviously had to keep it at a minimum just so he doesn't harm any vampires. Arcanine ran as fast as he could, leaving behind a trail of fire as he was coming in at full-force.
"Toxicroak! Slice the ground with Cross Chop!"
"Croak!" At that moment, Dimstar went for something daring. With both of its arms crossed, Toxicroak let its fighting spirit burn, prompting it to attack the ground instead of Arcanine. Once Arcanine got close enough, Toxicroak would cut a surface of the arena floor apart.
"Canine?!" Arcanine found himself being launched into the air thanks to the shockwave Toxicroak created. It also interrupted his Flare Blitz, completely shutting it down.
"I should've let you in on this, Princess Celestia." Dimstar smirked as there was something she was keeping from the Sun Princess. "Here at Magehold, we still like to do things our own way, especially when it comes to Pokemon Battles. You're about to see why."
"Ah!" The Ruler of Equestria gasped once her eyes gazed at Arcanine.
Magehold was known for many things. And one of those things was Dark Magic. This entire arena was not exempt from it as there was Dark Magic in the air which would immediately surround itself around Arcanine.
"That's Dark Magic!" Luna bellowed when standing up. "Is that even allowed!"
"Here at Magehold, it is! Come on, Toxicroak!" Spectrum Shade cackled. All the vampires were fine with this. They still had the instinct to indulge in surprising, crafty and dark tricks. That much will never change no matter who is in charge.
"Don't worry about it, Princess! It's a lot like a Frontier Battle!" Rainbow Dash warned.
"Easy for you to say. I haven't seen a Frontier Battle..." Celestia said, narrowing her eyes when seeing Arcanine undergo a Dark Magic affliction. Magehold had their own unique status effect.
In this case, Arcanine's flames were darkened. They gained a darker appearance than usual, now appearing as pitch black. Arcanine groaned as these Pitch Black Flames were negative instead of positive. Once Arcanine dropped to the ground, the flames were weighing him down. It felt as if there were restraints around his body.
"This is fine." The Sun Princess closed her eyes, not minding this at all. "If this is how Magehold does it, then that'll give me a larger reason to win. You already knew the Dark Magic was up there and used it to your advantage. That means you're still using the best of your abilities, Dimstar."
"That's right. I expect you to do the same, Princess. Now, Toxicroak! Poison Jab!"
"It's not time to panic yet, Arcanine! Extreme Speed!"
"Arcanine!" Arcanine could still use Extreme Speed, prompting him to move as fast as he could, becoming a blur once again when approaching Toxicroak. This time, he would duck underneath Toxicroak's poisonous swing, avoiding the attack. However, this was where the Dark Flames came into play.
Acting as a rope, they would pull Arcanine back once he avoided the attack, sending him towards Toxicroak. All part of the plan as Toxicroak would strike Arcanine's back with Poison Jab. Arcanine finally took a hit and it was a poisonous one too. "A-Ar!"
"Croak!" After delivering the hit, Toxicroak would deliver a second one which would launch Arcanine away. Once the Legendary Pokemon was pushed back, the flames would once again pull him in. This gave Toxicroak the opportunity to repeat the process. Back and forth, Toxicroak would land Poison Jab, knocking Arcanine away, only for the flames to pull him back for another hit. Rinse and repeat.
"Those flames are like slingshots! He can't stay away!" Scootaloo bit her hoof. Naturally, Arcanine was poisoned by this. Getting hit with enough Poison Jabs would obviously do this.
"Yes!" Meanwhile, Night Sprout was elated by this. "Keep hitting him until he faints!"
"Let's finish it! Stone Edge!"
"Toxic...!" Toxicroak switched moves, building up Stone Edge. By striking the ground, the stones would erupt, ready to deal a super-effective blow to the poisoned Arcanine.
"I think not!" Celestia roared. "Combust yourself with Flare Blitz!"
"Arc!" But Arcanine wasn't going down so easily. With his eyes flashing red, he would generate his own original flames. Naturally, his other attacks haven't been shut down but these black flames would make it impossible for him to avoid a hit. But he didn't have to avoid the next hit. He just had to overpower it.
From his own body, Arcanine would unleash a powerful outburst of fire, transforming Flare Blitz into something else entirely. Toxicroak's eyes widened as all it saw as a bright crimson energy coming its way. The flaming explosion engulfed its body as well as the stones, breaking them apart.
Dimstar closed her eyes, using her tendrils to block the force and light of the explosion. She certainly didn't see that coming. Meanwhile, Celestia put on a smile when looking at the explosion. A bold play on her part but she didn't mind at all.
Out of the smoke, Aracnine managed to jump out of it, landing on his feet. And yet, the black flames were still around his body. That Dark Magic wasn't leaving anytime soon it seemed.
"T-Toxi...Toxicroak..." Lo and behold, Toxicroak was the first to faint. After wobbling and stumbling around, the Fighting-Poison-Type fell over.
"Hmph. Well done, Toxicroak. Return, please." Dimstar closed her eyes, bringing Toxicroak back. She suffered the first loss of this battle.
"Phew." The Sun Princess sighed, using her wings to wipe some sweat off her head. "That could've turned out disastrous, Arcanine. But we did it."
"Arca!"
"That's one point for Team Equestria!" Rainbow Dash raised both her hooves into the air as her and other Equestrians would cheer for their Princess.
"It isn't over yet! Come on, Dimstar!" Spectrum Shade would lean forward, barking as loud as she could. "She was unstoppable not too long ago. She did a ton of battles the second she got her first Pokemon so she can totally win this."
"Whatever Pokemon she has next, I can't risk it with Arcanine. Those flames won't let him avoid a single hit. Return, for now, Arcanine." Celestia decided to give Arcanine a bit of a break, letting her next Pokemon take the helm. Someone else would have to head out without worrying about the Dark Magic, so as long as they don't touch the air.
"It's your turn! My lovely Alcremie!" Throwing the Poke Ball forward, Celestia's Alcremie entered the stage.
"Alcremie!"
"The next one for the job is you. Indeedee!"
"Indeedee." An Indeedee was summoned. In this case, it was a Male Indeedee as seen by its serious face, which perfectly matched with Dimstar's.
"Normally, Indeedee works better with another Pokemon. But I've made sure to train my Indeedee to be powerful on his own."
"Wow. You really worked hard for the following days you've had the Pokemon by your side. Actually...It hasn't even been that long since the Black Crusade has it?" Celestia was rather impressed. Dimstar certainly showed impressive signs of growth thanks to her Lich Heritage.
"What about you? You're the Ruler of Equestria. Obviously, you would grow just as fast, wouldn't you?"
"I am considered a prodigy. But only in magic. Even so, when it comes to Pokemon Battling it brings something that I've always wanted. This and everything else I've done ever since we met these creatures has brought me excitement after all these years."
"I see. So it's similar to mine. I was always destined to ensure that Magehold would be led in the right direction. As the first born of the Lich King and one of the few remaining descendant of the Lich Species, I had something large ahead of me. I was willing to make my father proud and realize his goals. But now that it's all over, I wondered what I would do next. But I've already found my purpose and it's not limited to protecting Queen Fantina."
"That's wonderful to hear, Dimstar! We princesses do have to deal with this. But the best part is finding others who can expand our horizons. I know it happened the day you met Ash and the others."
"Indeed." Dimstar had to admit it. The two Princesses were bonding with each other this way. It was only natural. Princesses in this world tend to get along rather well, whether it was with common interests or something else entirely. The same went for the Ruler of Equestria and the First Lich Princess. "But enough talk. You haven't seen anything yet. Indeedee."
"Dee." The Emotion Pokemon nodded before holding his hand out. At that moment, the Psychic-Normal-Type would harness the Dark Magic for himself. Celestia gasped, witnessing Indeedee effortlessly holding Dark Magic by pulling it out of the air itself.
This did not spell any good signs. It was one thing for Dimstar's Pokemon to knock Celestia's Pokemon into the Dark Magic. Having one of them grab a hold of it and not suffer anything would certainly make things harder. But the Sun Princess was all for it.
Equestria. Magehold. Entertainment Commune. Magehold Stadium. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
Here at Magehold, the battle between Princess Celestia and Dimstar was ongoing. With Arcanine successfully defeating Toxicroak, it was now Alcremie against Indeedee. In his hands, Indeedee harnessed the Dark Magic that was above the battlefield, gravitating it towards his hand.
The magic would flare, releasing a maelstrom of darkness that appeared behind Indeedee. Alcremie closed her eyes as the vanilla cream that made up her body would be sent flying in the form of smaller drops thanks to this pressure. She would luckily stay on her non-existent feet while keeping her eyes closed.
"I've trained my Pokemon to harness Dark Magic for themselves, not just Indeedee," Dimstar revealed.
"All of them?!" The Sun Princess exclaimed. This battle she was in was going to have a consistent theme here.
"That's right. Each with their own benefits. One example is how it goes exceptionally well with Stored Power!"
"Dee!" After harnessing the Dark Magic, Indeedee used Stored Power, which meshed well with the magic that was gathered into one single point. Alcremie swung his arms, unleashing a combination of Psychic Energy and Dark Magic.
"Alcremie! Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Cremie!" Alcremie would have to counter the incoming blast with a brilliant flash of Fairy Magic. From her body, a flash of rainbow rays were unleashed but the brightness was toned down to keep the vampires safe. The rays reached the blast of Stored Power, initiating a clash. But it did not last long at all.
The Stored Power overpowered the Dazzling Gleam, consuming the rainbow rays into the darkness and reach Alcremie. The Fairy-Type gasped as she was struck by the darkness. "C-Cremie!" She screamed after being enveloped in it to the point where it was impossible to see her entire body.
"Ah! Alcremie!" Celestia gasped. Alcremie's body flew out of the darkness as she was about to crash into the ground at this rate.
"We're not done just yet.! Bring it down, Indeedee! Mystical Fire!"
"Indeed!" Indeedee wouldn't let up. By raising his arm, he would generate a spiral of flames that was affected by the Dark Magic, using it to the fullest and not holding back at all. From above, a darkness would arise, following a spiral of magical flames which came down. And thanks to the Dark Magic, the flames were split into multiples. There wasn't just one spiralling magical flame now.
"There's no way this is fair!" Scootaloo bellowed.
"It's fair to us! Go, Dimstar!" Night Sprout cheered.
"I think not! Use your own Mystical Fire!"
"Al...Cremie!" Lo and behold, Alcremie had her own Mystical Fire. And much like how Arcanine used Flare Blitz around his entire body, Alcremie did the same with Mystical Fire. The most beautiful of flames would form around her body, acting as a shield. In the nick of time, the shield appeared the second the opposing flames approached. The opposing flames crashed into the Fire Shield, leaving behind a powerful impact.
Alcremie barely managed to save herself there, blocking the attacks. She would stumble on the ground, lowering her shield once all the flames were gone. Alcremie took a deep breath as she generally thought she was a goner there. Everyone was now getting truly invested in this battle. They were invested before, but the way these two were battling was better than anything they've seen in this stadium without a doubt.
"Whew...That Dark Magic is going to be a problem. But I can't exactly do anything about it. All I have to do is best it."
"You can try. Indeedee! Hyper Voice!"
"In...DEEEE!" From his mouth, Indeedee unleashed a harrowing and potent soundwave. Thanks to the dark magic, the soundwave was full of corrupted and sinister words. Alcremie heard it all play out which immediately made her wince and grimace. The things she was hearing were truly uncomfortable.
"Alcremie...!" The Dark Magic made it so that Alcremie would hear the suffering of the souls that were wronged. Even though they have now passed on and found peace, the Dark Magic tapped into the past, returning to the time when they were upset and vengeful, giving Alcremie a hard time. "Cre! Alcremie!"
"Now, condense!"
"Deedee!" By clutching his hand, Indeedee manipulated the Hyper Voice without needing to use his voice. He condensed the soundwave, causing it to close in on Alcremie. The soundwave would combust thanks to this surprising action, dealing more damage to the Cream Pokemon.
Truly a powerful follow-up. So far, Indeedee was using the Dark Magic to the best of its abilities, making sure that Alcremie wouldn't have an easy time. And not a single hit has been done to the Emotion Pokemon who was still sitting pretty, completely healthy.
"From this point on, your defences against the Dark Magic will fail you. As we speak, Indeedee is gathering more of it to unleash a greater surge of Stored Power." Dimstar announced. "Bring out your next Pokemon.
"It isn't over yet." But Celestia's words said otherwise. Alcremie wasn't done yet to the point where another one of her friends had to show up. Getting up from the smoke was Alcremie, who was still hanging in there.
"You withstood that?!"
"Cre...Cremie!" She would try and flex her non-existent muscles, manipulating the cream around her body and bulging them.
"Alcremie has great defences, that's why!" Sweetie Belle flailed her hooves around when cheering for Celestia and Alcremie.
"Al...!" But even if Alcremie had great defence, those hits did a number on her. The Dark Magic certainly boosted the strength of these attacks.
"There's one thing we can try, Alcremie. Use Misty Terrain!"
"Cremie..." By putting her arms together, Alcremie would generate a beautiful pink energy that would emerge from her body. She was about to switch up the terrain from something gloomy to a more dazzling and beautiful appearance.
"Mystical Fire!"
"Dee!" In response, Indeedee would unleash Mystical Fire at full force, burning through the pink energy that was approaching. While it didn't stop the magical energy, it did break through and make its way to the Cream Pokemon. A direct hit, followed by an outburst of flames. The aftermath was the entire terrain being filled with Fairy Magic. This was the main approach for Celestia.
"Alcremie..." In exchange for this Misty Terrain, Alcremie had fainted.
"Alcremie's done! This one goes to Indeedee!" Applejack declared, making the home team of Dimstar cheer after their representative received a win. Thanks to how intense this battle was getting. More and more ponies and people were showing up to spectate it.
"Thank you for your help, Alcremie. You did what you could." Thanking the Cream Pokemon, Celestia returned her tasty friend. "With this Misty Terrain, I can fight against the Dark Magic. Maybe. It'll protect my Pokemon status effects, that much is true."
"Perhaps. But here at Magehold, we already have our own terrain that is constantly active. In fact, this whole arena is also surrounded by a Dark Terrain. It's all thanks to a special phenomenon we heard about. My father mentioned that it was known as the Harmony Phenomenon."
"You tapped into the Harmony Phenomenon?!" Celestia was shocked to see the phenomenon appearing her. Dimstar was full of surprises. And one of them was the fact that she discovered the Harmony Phenomenon.
"It only makes sense, doesn't it? Because the Great Evil has been purged and unseen Fantina possesses a new type of energy, the Harmony Phenomenon responded to Magehold."
This was all thanks to Fantina, who brought harmony back to Magehold after centuries of dread. Dimstar could still remember the day the phenomenon appeared. And it had a special appearance too as oppossed to what Celestia's group saw.
3 weeks into Fantina's Reign.
It was only 3 weeks after Fantina became the new Lich Queen. And the end result was a sense of harmony filling the area. Opal Vivacity's magic had been replaced by Fantina's new magic. The Entertainment Commune and everything else enjoyable was being brought back to the vampires at last. All the while, Fantina giggled gleefully, glad she could help out the entirety of Magehold by rebuilding what was lost.
Thus, the Harmony Phenomenon reacted. It appeared one day in two colours. Purple and Black. Purple was there to represent Fantina and the Black represented all of the Vampires of Magehold. The Harmony Phenomenon has been dormant ever since the two worlds met each other and now it had a reason to arrive.
The two energies appeared in the form of pillars. These pillars stood next to each other, reaching the very top of Magehold. Fantina and all the vampires watched in amazement. The two energies were essentially coming to an agreement with each other, deciding to unify as one now that the Great Evil was gone and peace was being brought to Magehold.
Truth is...it was always there. Father even sensed that when Fantina was captured and brought to Magehold, the Harmony Phenomenon was beginning to wake up. It needed that push and Fantina was the right one. Because of her influence on all the vampires and what she did, the Harmony Phenomenon awoke.
The Harmony Phenomenon would grant Magehold its own equivalent to Misty Terrain. A Dark Terrain. It ended up creating a new Pokemon Move thanks to the unity that Fantina created. This was just an example of what the phenomenon was capable of doing, creating moves that do not exist yet.
"As you can imagine, it worked itself to favour us. And I knew right away I had to harness it. As the daughter of the First Lich King and the Royal Guard of the Lich Queen, that's my role." Dimstar finished explaining. "We have ways to go, Princess Celestia. The Harmony Phenomenon is just another step in where Magehold will turn out in the future. Obviously, Queen Fantina won't be here forever."
"That's right...She already plans to relieve her position one day. So eventually, a new Lich Ruler has to rise. It's you, isn't it? You're the heir after all."
"Undecided." Dimstar closed her eyes. "One thing's for sure, the next Lich Ruler will have to be someone with good intentions, steering away from the Great Evil. But as of this very moment, none have proven to be eligble for it. That's why I'm working hard to make sure I'm next. It doesn't matter if I'm the heir or even if my sister Merry Dread is also the next heir."
"Hm-hm." Celestia nodded her head as that was something she quite liked hearing. "You don't prioritize blood or lineage for that position. Not bad. Not bad at all. And you're battling me not just to have fun, but to be strong enough for your subjects. If you do become Queen."
"That's right. I have to be strong enough to defeat anyone, Princess Celestia. Including you."
"Please. Call me Celestia." However, Celestia decided to revoke the princess title from Dimstar's mouth. "After all, we're both Princesses here. No reason to be so formal."
"Oh..." Dimstar paused. She's not quite used to speaking to others without a sense of formality, opting to always be respectful, no matter who she was facing. But Celestia was fine with it. "Um...Very well. Celestia. Now then. Your next Pokemon, please?"
"Alcremie set us up for something wonderful." Celestia's eyes would glow and so would Gardevoir's. It was high time that her ace Pokemon made an appearance. But instead of just moving forward, a powerful burst of Fairy Magic came out of Gardevoir's body, making Indeedee and Dimstar flinch. This would be Celestia's favourite chant by far.
"What is this?!" Dimstar gasped as all the other vampires were in awe. Passion then became a body of light, moving through the air before touching down in front of Celestia.
"Descend from above and carve a ray of light! Passion!"
"Gardevoir!" Gardevoir was up next, ready to take the stage. Cheers would resound the second Gardevoir showed up. Celestia's Gardevoir was a fan favourite across Equestria for a reason.
"I've been waiting for this one." Dimstar grinned. Gardevoir was the one Pokemon she was expecting and couldn't wait to take down. "Indeedee! Stored Power!"
"Indeedee!" All the Dark Energy that Indeedee stored could finally be unleashed. It was the biggest one yet. A devastating Dark Energy was shot out at full force.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Garde...!" Gardevoir held her arm out, generating a small flare of electricity. This flare would then accelerate rapidly, growing in strength before meeting with the massive energy that came her way. With one arm, Passion managed to stop the Dark Magic from going any further.
To everyone's surprise, with one hand, Gardevoir sliced the Dark Energy in half, using Thunderbolt as a bladed weapon. Dimstar gasped as the Dark Energy fell in two directions before blowing up. In the middle of this double-sided explosion with the serious yet beautiful stare of the Embrace Pokemon.
"If you're going to use unique traits with this Dark Terrain, allow me to do the same." Celestia said. "I hope you're ready."
"Voir." Gardevoir kept the Thunderbolt energy on her arm, shaping it to appear as a blade. Gardevoir now had her own Lightning Sword and it already looked like she was very efficient with it.
But while this battle was about to heat up, entering the land of Magehold was the closest neighbour to this eerie area. Showing up here of all places was the Royal Family of the Crystal Empire. Shining Armor, Cadence and the two Flurry Hearts. Being back here was odd considering what they had to go through. But it was all in the past. Hopefully.
"Hah..." However, it appeared as if they were walking for a while despite how close the two locations were together. The older Flurry Heart fell over, landing face-first onto the concrete. "We made it...That took way longer than it should've."
"Gave us some good exercise though. You're the young one here. You should have more stamina." Cadence didn't seem all that tired as she would help her alternate daughter up. "Auntie Celestia is going to be pleased pretty soon. You're positive this is where she is?"
"100%." Flurry Heart nodded. "She's waiting for you right now. Somewhere here in Magehold." The one she was referring to towered over Shining Armor and was the one individual that Celestia was searching for ever since this year's Pokemon Festival began.
"Mmm." Cobalion was dragged all the way here by the Royal Family, who went the distance to make sure that these two new Lovers would reunite.
"This is going to be wonderful!" Cadence squeed. "I got to take part in bringing two lovers from far away distances close to each other!"
"Easy for you to say..." Shining Armor sighed. "You had that sixth sense or whatever."
"This is beneficial for another reason though. With this. I can reach Zeraora since she's with Celestia's group." Cobalion was here for a second reason as he could not ignore his duties. "But...Are you sure the other swords cannot join in?"
"Ah, they can still enter Magehold, but we wouldn't want them getting in the way of your relationship, right? Eh? Ehhh?" The Princess of Love nudged Cobalion, hoping to get a reaction out of him. Unfortunately, Cobalion wasn't one for showing that much emotion. "You get it."
"We should give you something romantic to wear!"
"No thank you." Cobalion shut it down immediately. "I do not do suits and they are non eligible for my size."
"Bah! That's silly!" Flurry Heart begged to differ as she started pushing the Iron Will Pokemon forward. "Try it out and I'm sure you'll love it! Great Aunt Celestia's sure to love it too!"
"Hm. I'd like to see how this would turn out." Cadence knew that it doesn't matter all that much if Cobalion wears a suit or not. Celestia loves him for who he is. But she still wished to see the outcome of this, following the duo.
"Now, Passion! Approach and use your Thunderbolt!"
"Voir!" Gardevoir was about to get up close and personal, continuing to use the Lightning Blade around her arm.
"Stop her, Indeedee! Shadow Ball!"
"Dee!" By using Shadow Ball, he merged it with the Dark Magic, causing a powerful spectral energy to appear. The Shadow Ball had a gravitational field around it thanks to the Dark Magic and its main intention was to push Gardevoir away instead of pulling her in.
However, Gardevoir powered through it, enveloping her body in a beautiful flare of Fairy Magic. She used this magic to resist the Gravitational push, helping her advance. Plus, the Misty Terrain also gave her some resistance to the Dark Magic. And once she came into contact with the shadow ball, Gardevoir sliced it in half with her electrical attack.
Sweetie Belle was already taking notes as this could be used as a Contest Move in the future. Shocked to see Gardevoir slice through the attack, Indeedee pulled back and was soon met by a powerful slash from the Embrace Pokemon. The Thunderbolt Blade connected, shocking him with 100,000 volts. He was electrocuted and launched back which was rather perplexing.
"Quick! Mystical Fire!"
"Indeed!" Indeedee quickly unleashed Mystical Fire from his hands while sliding back, using the Dark Magic to alter its properties. Indeedee would try and weigh Gardevoir down with it.
"Garde!" However, by flipping over the flames with grace and elegance, she avoided the attack before finally unleashing Thunderbolt in its original form. Gardevoir would smite Indeedee from above, giving him another 100,000 Volts.
"Deedee...!"
"Such a swift Pokemon...But this isn't over yet! Stored Power!"
"Indeedee!" Indeedee still had more Stored Power within him. This was naturally stronger than the last one as it was unleashed a massive black forcefield.
"Garde!?" Gardevoir had to actually defend herself against this one. She put her arms up as the destructive ark Magic reached her in seconds. Celestia would grimace after the magic enveloped her partner, causing the stadium to rumble. Indeedee then manipulated the darkness to trap Gardevoir inside. Now that she was within the darkness, she would be kept there, paralyzed in midair.
And thanks to Stored Power, Gardevoir's body was also being smacked by a barrage of invisible Psychic Energy that was all around the Dark Dome. The sound of Gardevoir being hit could be heard by everyone even if they couldn't see what was going on in there. Gardevoir kept up her blocking stance, taking the hits repeatedly.
"Break through the darkness, Passion! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Garde...!" But that would not last. From the darkness, rays of light were piercing through, summoning cracks all across it. Dimstar as her eyes met the most beautiful breakthrough ever. A dazzling and majestic flash shattered the dark field.
Gardevoir was practically a butterfly breaking out of her cocoon. Unintentionally, Gardevoir unleashed a huge chunk of light, but the vampires didn't mind it at all. Instead, they were so enamoured by its beauty and this battle was getting too good to require any limitations. Applejack held onto her hat, whistling at this spectacle.
"With Passion and I working together, nothing and no one can stop us! Psychic!" Celestia declared.
"Voir!" Gardevoir would then descend, using the energy of Psychic to move her body. She would dive directly at Indeedee by using her body as a weapon.
Indeedee expected Gardevoir to use Psychic from afar, but that was not the case. Dimstar didn't expect it either. Thus, Gardevoir would headbutt Indeedee at full force, sending her fellow Psychic-Type flying. The Emotion Pokemon yelped and screamed, rolling and tumbling across the stadium floor.
Indeedee slid right past Dimstar, who looked back to see her partner come to a halt by falling out of the ring and hitting the walls. That was it. That was enough to do him in.
"Indeedee..."
"Indeedee's down and out! Gardevoir wins this one!" Now this was a battle that everyone in Magehold would definitely remember. Celestia had the most satisfied look on her face. Aside from that brief battle against an Ace Trainer and that one battle against Livadi, she's never had one that has gone on this long before with such a lively crowd. This is what Celestia wanted. Pure unbridled entertainment.
"Hmph. I knew she was going to be the problem. No surprise there." Dimstar shrugged, bringing Indeedee back. "You did what you could, Indeedee. Well done."
"That's two of her Pokemon down! We're sitting pretty here!" Rainbow Dash cackled.
"It isn't over yet!" Spectrum Shade grizzled her teeth. "What are you doing, Dimstar?! Finish her, already!"
"Are you fine with staying in for a while longer, Passion?" Celestia asked.
"Gardevoir." The Embrace Pokemon put on a thumbs-up, revealing that she could still go for more. She had the strength and energy to do so.
"This is only ramping up...Celestia." Dimstar grinned before going for her third Poke Ball. "Victory is still within my sights. All I have to do is take down your Gardevoir and my victory is assured."
"You think it's that easy, eh?" Celestia flipped her mane. "I'd love to see you try, Dimstar. You'll find that me and my Pokemon are as stubborn as they get."
"Gardevoir!"
"So are mine...Appear! Tyranitar!" Dimstar revealed a rather hefty Pokemon in her party. She really managed to find some new Pokemon in just a short amount of time. Whether it was by Fantina or other means. And this time, she summoned the fearsome Tyranitar.
"Tyranitar!"
"Tyranitar..." Celestia narrowed her eyes. "Even with type advantage, that Pokemon can be fierce. But there isn't a slither of a Mega Stone anywhere. And yet, I can't be too cautious."
"Hmph. You won't have to worry about a Mega Stone." Dimstar let out a light chuckle. "I told you about how I made sure all of my Pokemon could harness Dark-Type magic. Indeedee was practically the Mage of using that magic. Tyranitar uses it far differently than him. And you're about to see how."
This battle between the two Princesses was raging on. While there was no prize involved, that wasn't going to stop them from giving it their all, even if there was one Pokemon that Celestia was contemplating using. But there was technically something waiting for Celestia. Or rather, someone. Cobalion.
Equestria. Magehold. Entertainment Commune. Magehold Stadium. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
The battle against Celestia and Dimstar continued, with Gardevoir and Tyranitar facing off. Celestia had successfully taken down two of Dimstar's Pokemon while Dimstar so far only took down one Pokemon from Celestia's team. All Dimstar had to do was defeat one more to tie it up, but Celestia was also aiming to take a massive lead. Soon, the crowd here was large enough to make this battle as large as an average Pokemon League Battle.
The Dark Magic around the area could still be harnessed by Dimstar's Pokemon. While Indeedee was essentially a spellcaster when it came to harnessing it, apparently, Tyranitar had its own way of using that Magic in this Dark Terrain that was formed by the Harmony Phenomenon.
"Go, Passion! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Gardevoir...!" Once again, Gardevoir manipulated the Thunderbolt, turning it into a blade. The Embrace Pokemon approached with a trail of lightning coming out of her arm.
"Now, Tyranitar! Dark Pulse!"
"Ty!" Tyranitar responded by generating a burst of darkness in its mouth, ready to unleash it. But that wasn't all. As soon as Passion got too close, she was suddenly struck in the face by seemingly nothing.
"G-Garde!" The Psychic-Fairy-Type gasped as she received a slap to her face that interrupted her movement and threw her off balance. At the same time, Tyranitar unleashed Dark Pulse towards the stunned Gardevoir. The Embrace Pokemon took the hit as she was launched back by the dark explosion. "Voir?!"
"What was that?!" Celestia pulled back as she didn't even see what hit her partner. Gardeovir wasn't sure either once she recovered. She held onto the side of her face as that invisible slap was truly potent.
"Hm." Dimstar certainly knew. "Earthquake!"
"Ranitar!" Raising its foot, Tyranitar put a ton of weight into this next attack, stomping down on the stadium grown. A resounding and tremendous shockwave occurred, causing an earthquake to be born. Golden shockwaves were appearing from the ground which was showing a multitude of cracks.
"Ascend and use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Garde!" Gardevoir could easily fly and avoid this incoming attack. But as soon as she took off, her body was forced down by seemingly nothing yet again. She was dragged down and forced into the golden shockwaves that erupted below her. Gardevoir ended up taking a devastating blow from this. "Voir!"
"What gives?!" Rainbow Dash bellowed, lost on why Gardevoir was taking these hits that would be avoidable. Spectrum Shade and Night Sprout cackled as Gardevoir tumbled and rolled across the floor.
"Is it the same Dark Magic that was pulling Arcanine in?" Celestia pondered. "No...Passion took a hit from this invisible force and was dragged down too...It has to be something else. But what?" Trying to figure it out, Celestia would then glance at Dimstar and her devious smirk. That was when it clicked with her. The answer was hinted at by the Poke Balls floating around Dimstar. "That's it! Tendrils! There are invisible tendrils around!"
"Spot on." Dimstar grinned, confirming it for Celestia. Indeed, the invisible tendrils were active at this very moment, assisting Tyranitar. "But those aren't my tendrils, I can guarantee you. These are Tyranitar's."
"Tyranitar's tendrils?"
"Tyranitar uses the Dark Magic as a suit of Armor. If you could see it, you would know what I mean by that."
"Hmm..." Celestia closed her eyes as she indeed had a method of seeing this suit of armor that Dimstar mentioned. She kept her eyes closed for a moment before opening them. A golden glow exuded from her eyes, allowing the Sun Princess to see beyond what she could currently view.
Lo and behold, there were invisible tendrils there and these ones were on Tyranitar's back. But they weren't exactly fleshy. Instead, they were made out of what appeared to be metal. The Sun Princess gasped as this difficult battle just got even harder than before.
"Tyranitar focuses on brute force and the Dark Magic that's he's been trained to use translates well with it. He has tendrils just like mine only his are of pure steel. Enough to take down your Gardevoir. Now, attack, Tyranitar! Ice Punch!"
"Ranitar" Tyranitar would continue to be on the offensive, approaching Gardevoir while making the stadium floor shake from his movements.
"At least I can see them now! Passion, use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Garde!" Gardevoir would have to count on Celestia to spot where the tendrils were coming from. But that wouldn't be too hard since her and Celestia had strong bond. She formed a flash of light in her hand, ready to anticipate Tyranitar's actions. At that moment, three of the Steel Tendrils on Tyranitar's back would fly forward, attempting to interrupt Gardevoir's Dazzling by targeting the front of her body and her arms.
"Here it comes! Launch yourself back!"
"Voir!" At that moment, Gardevoir unleashed Dazzling Gleam. But she did so by using the force of the attack to create a shockwave powerful enough to move her entire body. And it worked. Dazzling Gleam appeared in the form of a white beam instead of rainbow rays this team, tearing through the ground while also attacking the tendrils.
Gardevoir gained some distance away from Tyranitar as the three Steel Tendrils were enveloped. However, because they were steel, they resisted the blast even if they were pushed back. The rest of the blast went straight for Tyranitar, only for all of the tendrils to form into a single point.
The Steel Tendrils covered the front of Tyranitar's body by wrapping themselves around him. This allowed him to resist what would be a super-effective attack, making the powerful Dazzling Gleam practically ineffective. Tyranitar kept moving while still preparing for an Ice Punch.
"I told you! He uses it as a suit of armour! In the literal sense! It's spectacular in both offence and defence!" Dimstar exclaimed as Tyranitar was as close to Gardevoir as possible.
"G-Garde!" Straight to the face, Gardevoir received a chilling blow from Tyranitar's Ice Punch. But that wasn't going to be the only one. Tyranitar would keep at it, preparing for another Ice Punch to try and freeze the Embrace Pokemon. And thanks to the tendrils, Gardevoir could be restrained as seen by how the tendrils were preparing to grab her arms. They grabbed onto Gardevoir's arms, holding her in place and making her an imminent punching back for Tyranitar.
"Ran!" Tyranitar would start wailing on Gardevoir, delivering cold blows to her face repeatedly. The Embrace Pokemon was being slugged over and over again and yet she hadn't be frozen just yet.
"This should do it! Dark Pulse!"
"Ty...!" Tyranitar would build up a blast of darkness in his mouth, ready to unleash it onto Gardevoir at point-blank range.
"Get out of there, Passion! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Voir!" Gardevoir could still pull off her attacks as seen by the beautiful flash of light around her body. It was to try and blind Tyranitar, however, the tendrils said otherwise. The Steel Tendrils interfered once more, wrapping themselves around Tyraintar's body to shield him from the super-effective blow.
But the explosion was still potent. Potent enough to eclipse both of their bodies as rainbow rays would fly out, racing through the air for everyone to see. Tyranitar was pushed back by this as Gardevoir successfully gauged some distance and broke free from the up-close encounter.
Gardevoir could be seen flying out of the explosion she made, still active in this battle. However, the grasp that Tyranitar had on her wasn't done just yet. Celestia saw that the Steel Tendrils were currently on her leg, making sure the Embrace Pokemon wouldn't go too far.
"Stone Edge!"
"Tar!" Tyranitar summoned glowing crystals around his body before shooting them upwards.
"Not this time! Psychic!"
"Voir!" The Embrace Pokemon used her expert Psychic power on herself. It wouldn't do a thing against Tyranitar but the tendrils was another story. With a mighty mental strength, Gardevoir managed to rip the tendril off her leg while also managing to catch the incoming rocks.
"Send them back!"
"Gardevoir!" The Embrace Pokemon then sent the glowing stones back to Tyranitar, using Psychic to accelerate their speed so that they would pack a greater punch. Once again, Tyranitar protected himself, showing incredible defensive capabilities. The rocks broke apart.
"I need to get past those Steel Tendrils somehow..." Celestia thought to herself. "He's really living up to that status of the Armor Pokemon. But...no one is truly invincible and I know what can deal with those tendrils. After that..."
"If she uses Celestial-Gardevoir, she can end this easily! Or maybe even just Mega Gardevoir!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "I wish I could see those tendrils though..."
"Now, Tyranitar! Use Earthquake!"
"Tyranitar!" Striking the ground, Tyranitar would cause another Earthquake. Now, it was time for Celestia's plan to come into fruition. All she had to do was get past that extra layer of armour that the Armor Pokemon now had.
"Approach, Passion!" And according to her, that was by getting close to Tyranitar. Gardevoir would approach Tyranita while the golden shockwaves were approaching. Dimstar gasped as she expected Gardevoir to gain some distance, but not this time.
"Spin with Mystical Fire!"
"Garde...Voir" Using Mystical Fire, Gardevoir would start spinning while flying, causing the flames to spiral. At that moment, they covered her entire body, turning the Embrace Pokemon into a Flaming Tornado Missle. Doing this, she managed to push through the golden shockwaves that got in her way, breaking through them. The tendrils would once again shield Tyranitar, but this time, things were different.
Gardevoir smashed her body into Tyranitar's body with her Spiralling Flames. While it wouldn't be super-effective against Tyranitar, it would certainly be effective on the tendrils. This whole time, she's been using moves that wouldn't be very effective on Steel. But Fire was certainly super-effective. Tyranitar gasped as the tendrils took some damage, feeling the heat from Mystical Fire.
"T-Ty?!" Tyranitar was not only pushed back but the impact sent a shockwave through his entire body. Gardevoir bounced back after throwing herself at the Armor Pokemon. The Tendrils took some damage as burn marks could be seen on them as well as a bit of smoke.
"Excellent." Celestia grinned as she found her opportunity at last. "Come back, for now, Passion!"
"Voir!" Gardevoir was called back, levitating towards her trainer while taking a deep breath.
"You did well. Hold on for now. We're about to take full advantage of this. We'll need some more firepower." The Sun Princess would use her magic to hold out her next Poke Ball. "Flare in! Arcanine!"
"Arcanine!" Returning to the battlefield was Arcanine. Lua knew that Celestia had a stronger Fire-Type in her team, but she was still contemplating that decision. Reshiram was up in the air, currently making this battle a 4 v 4 instead. But Arcanin was no slouch when it came to exhibiting Fire. He still had some of the Dark Flames around from before, however.
The Misty Terrain was fading. It ran at last, but it served its purpose by preventing any Dark Afflictions on Gardevoir. However, now Celestia's Pokemon were vulnerable to it once more.
"Arcanine! Flare Blitz!"
"Arcanine!" Immediately, Arcanine would charge in at full force, going straight for Tyranitar who would normally be resistant to this. But not the Steel Tendrils. A powerful burst of fire came flying in as Dimstar knew this could end badly for her if something wasn't done at once.
"Quick! Dark Pulse!"
"Ranitar!" Tyranitar couldn't afford to use the Steel Tendrils against Arcanine's Flare Blitz. So the best thing to do was to keep him away. A blast of darkness was quickly unleashed, clashing against the Flare Blitz. The clash was heavy, causing a shockwave to happen below them. A strong wind pressure that was blazing hot would emerge across the area.
Tyranitar had to stand there while struggling to push Arcanine away and so did Arcanine, who was currently airborne.. At that moment, the black flames would act up, interacting with the Dark Magic. Arcanine was immediately pulled away, ruining his Flare Blitz. This allowed Dark Pulse to connect, engulfing the Legendary Pokemon.
Celestia growled, covering one of her eyes in the face of this black and red explosion. Arcanine would roll on the ground, unable to land that powerful Flare Blitz, unfortunately.
"Drat." Celestia kissed her teeth. "But it isn't over yet."
"I'm fairly certain that it is! Earthquake!"
"Tyranitar!" Once again, Earthquake was used. And this was sure to deal tremendous damage to Arcanine if it lands. Celestia had to think fast while Arcanine was still under the black flames.
"All we have to do is outspeed it! Arcanine! Extreme Speed!"
"Canine!" Moving as fast as he could, Arcanine would take off. But he would use Extreme Speed in the air instead of the ground. He took flight, becoming a white bolt of lightning that avoided the Earthquake.
"Quick! Dive down and use Flare Blitz!"
"Arcanine!" It was a set-up for Arcanine to use Flare Blitz while airborne. Thanks to the power of Extreme Speed, he got up there without taking any super-effective damage and by using Flare Blitz immediately, he managed to outpace the Dark Magic before it could ruin his day. Along came Arcanine, diving down at full force. Tyranitar's tendrils had no choice but to wrap around him as protection.
"Stone Edge!"
"Tyra!" But Tyranitar wasn't going to let him get a free hit in. Quickly, he summoned those glowing stones around him, acting as swiftly as possible. The stones flew while Arcanine came crashing down. A paroxysm of Fire and Darkness went off, setting the stage ablaze. By now, the rule to prevent as much light from showing up was ignored. This was too good of a battle for the vampires to care about their own wellbeing.
Direct contact was made, prompting yet another explosion. The end result was Arcanine falling back, fainting. Tyranitar was still standing. However, thanks to the collission, Tyranitar's tendrils were greatly damaged.
"Arcanine..."
"That's it for Arcanine! Tyranitar wins!" Applejack declared. Now Dimstar had tied it up. Two of Celestia's Pokemon were down and out.
"Thank you, Arcanine. You did your best. And you've helped weaken those tendrils for us." Celestia thanked him when returning the Legendary Pokemon to his Poke Ball.
"Tch. This isn't good for Tyranitar...Return." Dimstar had no choice but to return Tyranitar, ready to switch him out. "I'm counting on you! Dhelmise!"
"Dhelmise!" Dimstar summoned a Dhelmise next. Right as Celestia's Fire-Type had fainted, this Ghost-Grass-Type appeared.
"Hm. You know what...I think I'm fine with four." Suddenly, Celestia decided that she would stick with only four Pokemon. She would leave Reshiram out of this battle. For the sake of the vampire's safety since Reshiram could definitely unleash a ton of light and there was one more reason to it. Much like Ash, Celestia wanted to test herself. She would refrain from teaming up Reshiram in this battle, wanting to give herself a challenge.
"Then that means it comes down to my Tyranitar and Dhelmise and your last two Pokemon."
"It does. And we're going to claim victory." Celestia held out her next Poke Ball, letting Gardevoir take a longer rest. "Appear and strike your opponent down, Kommo-o!"
"Kommo-o!"
"Just two more! That means she just has to beat Tyranitar and Dhelmise!" Apple Bloom gasped. "She's got this!"
"As if! Tyranitar's still healthy while Gardevoir took a lot of damage!" Night Sprout begged to differ, continuing to bicker with her fellow fillies. "This is all Dimstar's!"
"Hm." Dimstar then looked up at the crowd, wondering what they were thinking about this battle. Judging by the resounding cheers and applause, they found it to be wonderful. Dimstar wished to be the next Lich Queen and she had to make sure that she could bond with the vampires she was sealed away from for so long. With a smile on her face, that looks like it was going to be the case.
"Hitting Dhelmise won't be too hard for Kommo-o. It's the Dark Magic I have to worry about. What can it do with that kind of power?" Celestia pondered. She was just going to have to probe around the edges to see what could surface. "Kommo-o! Fire Punch!"
"Ko!" Iginiting his fists in a fearsome blaze, the Dragon-Fighting-Type had the perfect move to deal with Dhelmise.
"Dhelmise! Gyro Ball!"
"Dhel! Dhelmise!" Dhelmise would start spinning on the spot, using its slow speed to its advantage. But instead of approaching Kommo-o, something else happened. The flames around Kommo-o's fist were suddenly being pulled away from him.
"Kommo?!" Kommo-o gasped as his flames were heading elsewhere. They were heading for Dhelmise, which is techinically what he wanted, but it didn't pan out the way it should have. Dhelmise was using the Dark Magic to bring the flames over to it, causing them to surround the Sea Creeper Pokemon.
And by doing so, Dhelmise now had control of the power. It was now a Ghost-Grass-Type using the power of Fire. To surprise Kommo-o even more, the Sea Creeper Pokemon unleashed what appeared to be Fire Blast. It even had the signature symbol.
"Mo?!" Kommo-o ws in shock as he immediately put up his arms to block. A blazing explosion went off, eclisping his body. Celestia didn't expect the attack to be sent back to her. But it didn't just stop there. Dhelmise now had the fire around its body, permanantly.
"What is this...?"
"Your flames are now Dhelmises. Making you unable to use Fire Punch anymore."
"Kommo-o?" Kommo-o wasn't sure if that was true. Dimstar was essentially saying that Kommo-o no longer had access to his super-effective move. He looked at his hand, trying to use the attack, but nothing happened. No flames would sprout out.
"That can't be...Use Fire Punch!"
"Mo!" Kommo-o tried again, this time with Celestia at the helm. However, nothing happened, yet again. Kommo-o's Fire Punch was gone. "Kommo?!"
"So it's like Disable..." Celestia grizzled her teeth. The difficulty of this battle has increased yet again with Kommo-o's Fire Punch being out of the picture.
"Yes. But believe me...Unlike Disable, I can take away all of your moves." Dimstar put on a devious grin. This was way worse than Disable. If Celestia was not careful, Dhelmise could steal every single move in Kommo-o's arsenal, making him practically powerless. "Try not to lose anything. Anchor Shot!"
From its body, Dhelmise released a powerful anchor that came racing in at high speeds. If this hits, Celestia won't be able to switch out, forcing Kommo-o to stay in and struggle. But neither of them were planning to switch at all and Celestia couldn't afford to lose another move.
"Deflect it with Close Combat!"
"Kommo!" Kommo-o fought back, delivering a mighty forward hook at the anchor. Direct contact unleashing a powerful shockwave that would flow through the anchor, reaching Dhelmise's body.
"D-Dhelmise!" Dhelmise certainly felt that. Its entire body started shaking thanks to the shockwave. The anchor was also retracted immediately. Dimstar growled as Kommo-o wasn't going down that easily. His Close Combat was still active, but it wouldn't do a thing to Dhelmise either way. It was the other two moves that Dimstar had to worry about.
"Clanging Scales!"
"Koooo!" Kommo-o folded his arms, soon unfolding them and unleashing a huge roar, sending blue shockwaves towards the Sea Creeper Pokemon.
"Power Whip!"
"Mise!" To fight against the incoming shockwaves, Dhelmise summoned a gigantic green whip of energy. It swung through the air, moving the rubble aside. The whip met with the powerful shockwave which would shatter the tiles on the stadium floor. Some of the vampires even had to close their eyes thanks to the sound of the two attacks colliding.
It was a tie between the two, but Dhelmise wouldn't let up with Power Whip. It swung the whip once more, bringing it down the Scaly Pokemon. Swiftly, Kommo-o would leap to the side, narrowly avoiding the whip which ended up smashing the ground. Dhelmise then moved the whip across the ground, attempting to sweep Kommo-o with it.
Kommo's legs were struck by the whip, sending him into the air. This allowed Dhelmise to move the whip upwards, delivering a powerful blow to Kommo-o's back, sending him higher into the air. After that, Dhelmise was about to try and whip him back to the ground for more damage. Kommo-o would grab onto the whip, using it to recover.
As soon as he grabbed onto it, the whip was being brought down, allowing Kommo-o to jump off it and avoid the impact.
"Now, use Clanging Scales!"
"Mo!" While in the air, Kommo-o unleashed Clanging Scales. The blue shockwave came crashing down, ready to knock Dhelmise upside its anchor body.
"Now's my chance! Gyro Ball!"
"Dhel! Dhelmise!" Once again, Dhelmise used Gyro Ball while the blue shockwaves of Clanging Scales were incoming. By doing so, it once again started pulling the opposing attack towards it. The blue shockwaves would slow down, losing their immense power and instead started flowing towards Dhelmise's body. Celestia and Kommo-o collectively gasped as now Clanging Scales had been absorbed.
"Gotcha." Dimstar snicked. Now, Clanging Scales was exempt from Kommo-o. His own signature move was gone.
"Not good! That's his strongest move!" Rainbow Dash screeched as the odds were not in Celestia's favour at the moment.
"Now all that's left is Close Combat and whatever the fourth one is. But Close Combat won't do a thing to Dhelmise." Sweetie Belle bit her hoof.
"The other move in her arsenal is Clangarous SouL..." Luna answered, knowing what the 4th move was. "But that won't do her any good now. The best thing my sister can do is use Close Combat but..."
"Hooh...These Pokemon Battles have me sweating bullets too much." Rarity breathed in and out, using a fan to cool herself off due to the intensity of this battle.
"Darn it. It's just Close Combat and Clangarous Soul now. What do I do? I can't hope to hit Dhelmise with this. But if I send out Passion, do I risk her moves being taken away too?" The Sun Princess thought to herself.
Dimstar could see Celestia thinking hard. She had the Sun Princess startled and shaken thanks to this usage of Dark Magic. "So much for that. Now, Power Whip!"
"Mise!" Dhelmise would swing that massive green whip once more by materializing it. Now, Kommo-o had two moves remaining. Kommo-o gasped as he was struck by the massive whip, not once, not twice, but three times. A triple strike to Kommo-o was done, causing him to stagger. But it would go beyond three.
Kommo-o was being whipped around rapidly by Power Whip which would deal heavy blows continuously. All the while, Celestia was trying to figure out a way to overcome this.
"That Dark Magic is so potent and versatile...Unless...!" At that moment, Celestia had an idea. She was a prodigy when it came to magic and Dark Magic was not an exception. "I've got it! Kommo! Ascend and head for the Dark Maic!"
"Ko!" Hearing that, Kommo would narrowly avoid the next whip before leaping into the air.
"Whatever you're planning, I won't let it happen! Anchor Shot!"
"Dhel!" Dhelmise tried intercepting Kommo-o as quickly as possible, removing the whip and switching it for an anchor that went upwards. Kommo-o was going straight for the Dark Magic, which seemed like a bad idea. Arcanine did it before by accident and it brought a drawback for him. Another drawback could come for Kommo-o and he was already lacking any moves to fight against Dhelmise.
"Touch it, Kommo-o! Harness it's power!"
"Kommo-o!" In a surprise twist, Kommo-o was going to harness the power for himself. Once his claws touched the Dark Magic, it started wrapping itself around his body. The anchor would reach Kommo-o, only for the Dark Magic to block it. Everyone gasped while Kommo-o started grimacing. This Dark Magic was rather painful even if it was made from the Harmony Phenomenon. He wasn't used to it as it was invading his body.
But with the help of Celestia's assistance that would all change. "Don't fight it Kommo-o. You have to let the darkness take you in." If there was anypony who knew about this, it was Celestia. She had once tapped into Dark Magic when informing Twilight Sparkle about Sombra returning. She knew that Darkness could be a powerful ally instead of a devastating foe.
Kommo-o closed his eyes as he allowed the Dark Magic to flow through him. His connection to Celestia allowed for this to phenomenon to occur. The fierce darkness would calm down, becoming gentle instead. No longer was Kommo-o feeling any pain from the darkness invading his body. Instead, he was welcoming it.
Kommo-o then descended as a surge of darkness surrounded his body. Once he landed, the darkness would minimize, but it would stick around. This time, it stayed around his claws and nowhere else.
"You harnessed it...? That easily?!" Dimstar pulled back while Luna put on a smile. That was her big sister right there. Always full of surpriss.
"You're not the only one who has experience with Dark Magic. When you've been around as long as me...Well, we've both been around for a long time actually." Celestia smirked. "And that correlates with my Pokemon. The stronger our bond, the better we work together."
"Hmph. But what can you do that can really touch Dhelmise? All you have is Close Combat, don't you? This battle is mine. Dhelmise will take everything your Gardevoir has to offer too."
"...I wonder about that." Celestia said. The way she said those words struck some intimidation into Dimstar. The Half Lich Half Vampire wasn't sure what was coming, but she had to be ready. "Dhelmise! Phantom Force!"
"Dhel!" The Ghost-Grass type suddenly disappeared. Its body entered another dimension, leaving this one entirely for a brief moment. Kommo-o would simply stand there, waiting for Celestia's call.
"Use Close Combat!" It was the only move that could be used to deal any damage. While it wouldn't do anything, Kommo-o was going to use it anyway.
As soon as Dhelmise appeared in this dimension once more, it would try and attack Kommo-o from behind. Kommo-o sensed the Sea Creeper Pokemon as he sudenly put on a smile of his own. "Ko!" The Dragon-Fighting-Type swivelled, swinging his fist at Dhelmise. What appeared to be a pointless attack, was actually a powerful one.
In fact, it was super-effective.
Kommo-o made contact with Dhelmise, striking the front of its body and sending it flying with a single punch. "D-Dhel!"
"What in the Primordial Magic?!" Dimstar pulled back to the point where her tendrils dropped the Poke Balls out of pur shock.
"Excellent hit, Kommo-o!"
"How did she hit it?!" Scootaloo was absolutely flabbergasted. So was the entire crowd.
"It's simple. I had Kommo-o use Close Combat as a Dark-Type move as the extra layer. A super-effective type against Ghost." Celestia smirked. "I'm rather good at mixing moves if you must know. If you can create something new with the Dark Magic then so can I. A Dark-Type Close Combat doesn't sound too bad, wouldn't you agree? Let's call it Dark Onslaught."
"Ko!" Kommo-o now had access to a Dark-Type move, giving him an advantage and a way to properly hit Dhelmise. The darkness would radiate from his claw as he put on a sly grin.
"Not bad. But Kommo-o can't take much more I can imagine! Power Whip!"
"Dhelmise!" Dhelmise now had to put in more effort since Kommo-o had a Dark-Type attack.
"Now! Dark Onslaught!"
"Ko!" Using his newly obtained move, Kommo-o used an alternate version of Close Combat. He lunged in, approaching the massive whip that came swinging his way. Kommo-o managed to punch through the whip, going straight through it and approaching Dhelmise. But Dhelmise wasn't done. It would quickly summon another whip out of thin air right as Kommo-o came close. At that moment, the two Pokemon hit each other. Kommo-o's gut was struck by the whip while his claw smashed into Dhelmise's body.
With both of them taking a hit, they collectively flew back. Kommo-o would tumble and roll while Dhelmise would crash thanks to its weight and body structure. Just like that, both Pokemon ended up taking each other out. While Kommo-o suffered the most damage, that Dark Onslaught helped him even the playing field.
"Kommo-o..."
"Dhelmise..."
"Both of 'em are out!" Applejack declared. Now it was down to one Pokemon each. The crowd was very much satisfied and more. This was an excellent battle. To think that they would've missed out on all of this if the Black Crusade was a complete success. This was truly entertaining. Both trainers returned their Pokemon, thanking them for their hard work.
"Alright. Rest up, Kommo-o. It's down to just you and Tyranitar, Passion."
"Voir." The Embrace Pokemon nodded in understanding.
"Hmm..." After returning Dhelmise's Poke Ball, Dimstar sat there pondering for a moment. "Well. I'm getting what I wanted, Celestia. This isn't exactly how I envisioned it though. I wanted to show them that I can take down anyone as their future Lich Queen, ensuing their safety."
"I'd say this is a great way of showing it." Celestia grinned. "Equalizing with me is a great showcase, Dimstar. But it's obvious you have was to go in terms of strength. And so do I. Even though I'm already the Princess and Ruler of Equestria, I have to get stronger as well. Not just stronger than my enemies who would threaten this world and beyond, but to be stronger than myself."
"Yourself?" Dimstar repeated.
"I have a darkness within me that I want to avoid. That darkness even took on its own form and emerged as Daybreaker. That's why I have to improve as well. We both share a common goal."
"I see." Dimstar sighed. "Being around you is...rather soothing. It's a lot like being around Queen Fantina. Centuries of being sealed away have almost robbed me of these feelings. I now have no reason to think about them anymore. Just like in the past. Now, appear and finish it off! Tyranitar!"
"Tyranitar!" With his Poke Ball being thrown into the air, Tyranitar was back in action.
"Let's finish this, Passion!"
Gardevoir!" Gardevoir flew in, ready to finish it off. All she had to do was get past Tyranitar and his defences.
It all came down to this. Gardevoir vs Tyranitar. And already, those Steel Tendrils were active. However, they had still taken damage thanks to Arcanine's actions from before. They weren't as tough as they were previously.
The stadium was now full with a large enough crowd. But there were others watching who weren't seated. Such as Cobalion. He was watching from afar, knowing that Celestia was currently having a battle. With a smile on his face, he knew that Celestia was doing an amazing job out there.
"Go, Passion! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Garde....!" Raising her arms, Gardevoir generated a majestic flare of Fairy Magic that she held over her head. The sparkles would flow around rapidly and the light rays would pierce the darkness. "Voir!" With his pupils flashing for a moment, Gardevoir released a multiple of rainbows.
"Earthquake!"
"Tyranitar!" In response, Tyranitar had to use Earthquake, summoning a gigantic golden wall of shockwaves that would meet with the rainbow rays. The rays rapidly beat against the shockwave, trying push through. Both attacks failed to succeed, resulting in them collectively exploding.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Voir!" The Embrace Pokemon took flight, moving through the massive cloud of smoke and dust as she had a bolt of lightning in her hands. She was coming straight for Tyranitar but she wasn't using the Lightning Blade this time. The Pyschic-Fairy-Type smashed the blast of 100,000 volts onto Tyranitar's face, sending a powerful surge of lightning in and out of him.
"T-Ty!"
"Counter with Ice Punch!"
"Ranitar...!" Tyranitar growled when looking up at Gardevoir, whose hand was still on his head. He would deliver a quick uppercut to Gardevoir's stomach while she was this close, causing her to cough and sending her upwards.
"G-Garde!"
"Stone Edge!"
"Tyran!" Tyranitar followed up by using Stone Edge. On top of that, he also used the Steel Tendrils. The tendrils and the stones would fly side by side with each other, making sure that Gardevoir would receive an absolute pummeling.
"Use Mystical Fire!"
"Gardevoir!" That is until Gardevoir recovered in the air, unleashing a flare of magic fire from her body. This flame would be sent downwards, meeting with the stones and the tendrils. The Steel Tendrils suffered more burn damage from this while the stones were being held back. Gardevoir growled, intensifying the flames while the tendrils were starting to melt away.
"Push through it with Dark Pulse!"
"Tyranitar!" With Stone Edge failing, Tyranitar switched it up, using Dark Pulse next. The beam of darkness shot up, boosted by the Dark Terrain's power as it pierced through Gardevoir's flames.
"V-Voir!" Gardevoir was hit by the darkness which broke through the Mystical Fire, knocking her out of the sky.
"Follow it up with Ice Punch!"
"Ranitar!" Rushing forward, Tyranitar would try and strike Gardevoir before she could hit the ground. The tendrils would also flying in, making sure that they would catch Gardevoir.
"Psychic!"
"Garde!" However, by using Psychic on herself, Gardevoir managed to swivel and recover in the air, flying past the tendrils that tried to grab her. Not only that, she expanded her Psychic power when flying past the tendrils, surrounding them. Now that they were growing more and more fragile, Gardevoir crushed them. A few tendrils of Tyranitar were destroyed, becoming too brittle.
"Ran!" Tyranitar felt this but it wouldn't slow him down. He swung his chilling blow at Gardevoir, only for the Embrace Pokemon to swivel around the punch. After performing a graceful dodge, Gardevoir grabbed Tyranitara's face, shoving him into the ground by forcing her own body forward with a Psychic push. It was a heavy knockdown too. "T-Ty!?"
"Gardevoir...!" Gardevoir stayed on top of Tyranitar, keeping her face there so that he wouldn't get back up. Tyranitar growled as his eyes woul flash red right afterwards.
"Earthquake!"
"Ranitar!" While he was pinned down, his tail was still usable. The Dark-Rock-Type slammed his tail on the ground, generating a powerful shockwave that would rise up, launching him and Gardevoir into the air. Tyranitar dealt super-effective damage to himself just to break free.
"G-Gardevoir...?!" The Embrace Pokemon flinched as that rising Earthquake perplexed her.
"Now's our chance! Grab her by using your tendrils! Then use Ice Punch!"
"Tyranitar!" Using the tendrils in midair, he attempted to restrain the Psychic-Fairy-Type, but Gardevoir wouldn't let it happen for a moment.
"Psychic!"
"Voir!" Once again, she launched herself with Psychic, giving herself a push that allowed her to narrowly avoid the tendrils. Tyranitar landed back down after failing to touch the Embrace Pokemon. His tendrils were waning at this point with only a few of them being strong enough.
"Now use, Dazzling Gleam!"
"Garde!" From her hand, she generated a rainbow sphere that she would use in an up-close exchange. Gardevoir dropped down at high speeds, touching the ground before floating above it. She left a trail of dust due to her speed, homing in with this physical Dazzling Gleam.
"Tyran!" Tyranitar was still using Ice Punch, approaching Gardevoir too. The two Pokemon made close contact as Dazzling Gleam and Ice Punch were smashed against each other. A mighty clash between the two occurred, resulting in a shockwave that blew away chunks of the stadium. They growled at each other with one side trying to overpower the other.
The sheer power of their clash made the rubble rise and even forced the hairs and tails of everyone in the crowd to rise. It could be heard from outside the stadium, revealing to everyone just how intense this was. The light of Dazzling Gleam even went out of the stadium, shooting its rays into the sky as they pierced the dark clouds.
"Merge Mystical Fire and Thunderbolt! Plasma Bolt!" It was time for Gardevoir's ace in the hole to be revealed.
"Gardevoir!" She yelled as loud as she could, switching the energy of Dazzling Gleam with something else. In one arm, she managed to use both Mystical Fire and Thunderbolt at the same time. This, plasma was created and from it, came Plasma Bolt. A might burst of plasma met with Tyranitar's Ice Punch, melting it in seconds. The Dark-Rock-Type was in disbelief after seeing another element in play.
This was the absolute limit of Gardevoir in her standard form. There was no usage of Mega Evolution or Celestial-Gardevoir. This is what she could do on her own. But there was still room to grow in her original form and that was shown by the breakthrough that she had. She won the clash, defeating Ice Punch and slugging Tyranitar in the face with an air shattering punch.
Tyranitar was launched away, having multiple shockwaves leave his body. The Armor Pokemon went straight for Dimstar, crashing into her. Dimstar tried using her tendrils to block, but it was too late. She was sent flying with her partner. The duo crashed into the ground outside of the stadium.
"Garde...Gardevoir..." Gardevoir breathed in and out as she truly expended herself in that battle. More than she expected.
"Tyranitar..." Tyranitar had fainted. Granting this victory to Celestia's team.
"Hah..." The Sun Princess sat down as that exhausted her truly. Even without using the power of Celestial-Gardevoir. With a thunderous applause from the crowd this battle was over.
"Amazing..." Dimstar groaned, looking up at the black sky which had a bit of light pouring through it. The Dazzling Gleam broke through the dark clouds, letting the equivalent of sunshine beam down. Dimstar then helped Tyranitar by first getting him off, comforting the Amror Pokemon by rubbing her tendrils over him. "You did your best, Tyranitar. I'm proud of you. My friend."
"Tyranitar."
"Yes! We won!" The CMC stood up, raising their hooves for their team's victory. "That's our princess!"
"Aw...!" Night Sprout and Spectrum Shade collectively groaned, wishing that Dimstar won this. But, one thing was for sure. They greatly enjoyed this battle, so they couldn't be too mad at it. It was a spectacle to behold.
Celestia would lie on her back, needing some time to rest. Gardevoir would get on her knees, also wanting to replenish. In unison, Celestia and Gardevoir started laughing. This was for one reason only. For the first time ever, they knew how Ash and Rainbow Dash felt.
This was the Pokemon Battle they went through and it was something else. It was unlike the ones that involved the fate of Equestria or the world. Truly, a blissful experience even if it took a lot out of them. To think that they were missing out on this.
Celestia just wanted to lie there for a moment, looking up at the small body of light that was piercing through. Watching this battle in all of its glory was obviously Twilight Moonlight. And to say that she was amazed was an understatement. She saw it all happen and was left speechless. Just like how the entire crowd was left pleased and satisfied.
Equestria. Magehold. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Quite the exciting battle came to an end between Celestia and Dimstar, with Celestia claiming victory. It was worth coming here to Magehold. Celestia enjoyed herself and so did Dimstar as both of them were in the stadium's waiting room. All of their Pokemon were back to full strength, healed up and refreshed.
"Whew. I needed that." Celestia sighed while lying on a couch. "Not too shabby for my first big official Pokemon Battle, right?"
"Personally, I would have sent out Reshiram." Luna added when looking down on her sister. "I'm surprised you didn't unleash him. I hope you aren't feeling insulted by this, Dimstar. Having my sister not use everything in her arsenal to challenge you."
"I have no regrets. Even if you didn't send out Reshiram, that battle was truly enjoyable." But Dimstar didn't mind. As long as she got to have a fun battle, that was all that mattered. This was the most that Dimstar was smiling. Being exempt from the Black Crusade mission and everything surrounding it was heavenly for her.
"Well. I'm satisfied as well." Celestia stretched her hooves. "But I'm not quite done with Magehold just yet, I believe. This is an entire land that we didn't know about for a long time, even though it's in Equestria."
"Magehold is home to many secrets. I was sealed away for centuries so any new ones that have emerged aren't in my memory bank. But everything else prior to that moment, I know about. Even the Primordial Magic."
"I suppose so. Liches are the closest thing to it. Similar to us alicorns. Did your father teach you?" Luna asked.
"He did. He said it was rather mandatory that I had to learn about the Primordial Magic since I was Half Lich. What about you?"
"We learned about it as well when we were young and just starting out as Starswirl's students. We didn't think too much about it, however. Too much else on our plate." Celestia answered. "To think that the Lich Queen was attempting to go straight for it. But it would've been pointless. No one can tame that kind of magic."
"Well, not no one. Those higher beings who put Ash and Jirachi on trial perhaps. They are most definitely related to it. I can imagine that those angels know more about it than us or even Starswirl.
"Perhaps we can ask Lightwing when we get the chance. She's our guardian angel now. Equestria never had a guardian angel until now." said Luna. "Not sure if we need one though. I'd say we do a decent job at defending ourselves but..."
"Guardian Angel?" Twilight Moonlight, who was in the bubble, repeated. The last time she recalled the word 'Guardian Angel', it was spoken by Silver Swirl. From where she comes from, she was also a Guardian Angel and this universe had one as well.
"Angels? Haven't seen one in ages." Dimstar looked up, saying something rather surprising that made the two alicorns lean forward.
"You saw an angel?!" The Royal Sisters collectively said.
"I did. When I was rather young. My father actually saw more angels than I ever did. He showed me one, which was another lesson in learning about Primordial Magic." Dimstar did have some knowledge that extended far past Magehold. She had her father, the First Lich King, to thank for that.
"Come on...Fit!" At the moment, the older Flurry Heart was trying her best to fit a suit onto Cobalion. But she would soon come to find out that nothing was really working. The young alicorn had already gone through 30 different suits that were lying on the ground, unable to match Cobalion. The 31st suit was being used but that one was also failing.
Meanwhile, Cobalion stood there with a straight face, unbothered by this. He could barely even feel Flurry Heart's actions since his boy was as hard as steel. Strangely, the clothes would also rip when trying to fit on Cobalion. The store owner stood there with an elevated face. She didn't mind that the clothes were being ruined simply because Flurry Heart was paying a huge helping of money thanks to her wealth.
"Hah...Hah..." An exhausted Flurry Heart fell flat on her face. "I give up. Why won't anything fit? I've seen creatures larger than you wear suits!"
"I told you that they were not for me." Cobalion shook his head. "But you tried your best. I am fine with how I am and I can assure you that Celestia feels the same way."
"Then go to her. I know she's waiting and seeing you will make her happy." Cadence encouraged.
"Mm. It will also be a good opportunity to see how Zeraora is doing." Cobalion would make his way to Celestia while the older Flurry Heart would lie there, defeated. Walking up to her was her baby self and Manaphy. Both would poke her face while she was currently out of stamina.
"They won't fit him. But what about-" Cadence was about to face Shining Armor, attempting to put him in a suit. But as soon as she turned around, her husband was gone, knowing what was coming and immediately departed. All that was left was a faint afterimage of where he once was.
As for Fluttershy, she was elsewhere in Magehold during the entirety of the intense battle. Currently, she found herself in a Botanist Shop. The same shop that Fantina entered and found the seed to create the Heavenly Maiden Tree.
Ever since she visited it, the shop has received some fame, being one of the first examples of entertainment returning to Magehold. And now that Fantina was the Lich Queen, this small shop that belonged to a vampire and her daughter had transformed into something bigger.
It received an upgrade, growing in size as the building had extensions onto it. Inside, a marvellous assortment of potted plants, from delicate orchids to towering carnivorous flora, line the shelves, their leaves and petals swaying gracefully as if moved by unseen hooves. And now, the pony living here wasn't working alone. She had other vampire ponies assisting her. It was now a bigger business while still staying confined in her home. But the number of ponies here isn't what stood out.
It was the fact that some of them were being held up by plants who managed to grab onto them. Alas, even though this business had grown, there was a reason why this mother was the only one working here. Not many were trained well in this. And those who were trained still had ways to go.
"Afternoon!" The Botanist greeted Fluttershy. "Don't mind this. These greenhorns are still in training."
"Oh, alright. I was just hoping to see if I could maybe plant a seed myself."
"Hm? Is it because of Queen Fantina?"
"Yes. I heard she's the one who made that Heavenly Maiden Tree outside."
"She was! And it was thanks to my assistance!" The botanist put on a rather proud face, boasting about it. "I mean, it was also because she encouraged my daughter. Things were so dull here and I had to grow the same plants over and over again for years with little progress. But that's all changed now."
"Aw, this one is so cute!" Fluttershy gravitated herself to one of the plants sitting on the table. These plants were very much sentient, including one that was of three peas in a pod. They each had these adorable eyes, finding their home in this pod. Once they saw Fluttershy getting close, they would yelp, closing the pod up as if it was a zip. Another group of plants that caught Fluttershy's attention was a pumpkin that looked rather lazy. Its eyes were droopy as it would let out a unique yawn.
"Oh-ho-ho-ho. Don't let those adorable faces fool you, dearie." The Vampire Botanist chuckled. "They're harmless now but they become feisty when they grow up. But you can train them to be peaceful. Here's your first seed~" She would pass the seed over to Fluttershy, giving her full access and a free try to creating her own special plant. "Anything you want and it can happen."
"Anything I want? Hmm..." Fluttershy would go into a deep state of thought. There was one thing that's always been on her mind and comes up regularly. Becoming a tree. She's had that wish fulfilled once but now she was thinking about it again. But this time, things would be different. "I know!"
"Now. I don't expect yours to grow so quickly. I suspect that Queen Fantina's sprouted instantly because she was destined o be the next Lich Queen. So it might take a while before yours sprouts up."
"That's fine. I hope mine has a Pokemon living inside of it too~" She squeed, excited about what this seed will grow into.
"Since you're still here, mind getting my shop's name out there? I know who you are. You're the pony who has a bit of a vampire inside of her. I mean, you're not one anymore or even showing signs of it, but it'd be wonderful." The botanist pleaded, flashing her eyes at Fluttershy. She even tried pulling off the puppy-dog eyes tactic, but it didn't look good on her at all.
"Oh. I guess I can help with that." But Fluttershy went with it either way.
"Great! And if there's ever a problem, you can come right to me~!"
Pegalysium. Newcloud Path.
At last, Lena Ketchum's group had arrived at Pegalysium thanks to the help of Hisuian Braviary. It was a rather long trip. Longer than they thought it would be. But that was all thanks to the height of Pegalysium. Now that they were here, they landed on a place known as Newcloud Path. A path that was made entirely out of clouds.
Up ahead. it had a narrow, winding mountain trail that snakes between towering cliffs and dense foliage. The air is crisp with occasional gusts of wind rustling through the trees. Along the path, there are intricate carvings of mystical creatures, etched into the rocks with remarkable precision and artistry. Naturally, Lena's group couldn't step on them since they were clouds. They weren't pegasi, unfortunately.
"Hmm...We still have to go on foot for this." Lena observed. "Do you need to rest up, Braviary?"
"Viary." Hisuian Braviary did need the rest. He's been flying since yesterday and he was rather spent. He was glad to hear that Lena would let him take a break, finally.
"On foot?!" Jessie gasped. "We'll fall right through! Can't he just walk along the cloud?!"
"No, Braviary's too tired. He needs to rest. Besides, we can sort this problem out with ease."
"How? We don't have a way to step on those clouds unless we have got wings." Diadora asked.
"Oh. That's easy. Like this." To the shock of Team Rocket, Lena Ketchum did the most casual yet surprising thing out there. She would get off Braviary and immediately touch the cloud. But she did not fall through. Instead, much like a pegasus, her feet were stationery as the cloud became solid for her.
Naturally, Team Rocket were flabbergasted by what they were seeing. Lena stood on the cloud as if nothing was wrong. The only thing that seemed somewhat natural was seeing Lena wobble, trying to keep her balance.
"Oooh...They're a lot bouncier than the clouds below." Lena said. That was the only thing on her mind when stepping on the clouds.
"How did you do that?" James questioned. "Do you have secret wings we don't know about?!"
"Hm? Oh, no, no!" Lena chuckled, seeing why Team Rocket would be befuddled by this sight. "Truth is, it's the egg that I ate."
"Egg? team Rocket collectively said. Lena was referring to the egg that was shaped a lot like the Arceus Symbol and had a strong connection to the Creator Deity.
"Mhm. I didn't think too much about that egg when I first saw it, but it's rather surprising. It's the reason why I'm able to figure out where some of these shards might be. And it's also the reason why I'm able to stand on the clouds. I'm practically a Flying-Type right now! Think about it in that way."
"This whole family is so lucky it's unfair...!" Jessie grizzled her teeth, wanting to curse the Ketchum Family for their incredible luck.
"Tell me about it..." Diadora related to Jessie on that part. She was jealous of Ash since he was the King of the Sea when she wished to be the Queen of the Sea. But that title went to both May and Delia.
"Ah, but you three can't really walk on the clouds, can you?" Luna found one other predicament. Team Rocket weren't exactly airborne beings and neither did they eat a special egg related to the Creator of all Things. Thinking hard by pressing her fingers on her head, Lena came up with something. "Aha!"
With her bare hands, Lena would face the other clouds, digging her hands into them. Thanks to the egg, she could interact with the clouds perfectly. And much like a pegasus, she started moulding it. Team Rocket gawked as Lena was playing around with the clouds as if they were clay. But that wasn't all.
"Please pass me the Fairy Shards. It'll do us a great service." Lena requested. She looked like she knew what she was doing and who were Team Rocket to object? Meowth dug into the huge bag, whipping out the Fairy-Type Shards they found over at the Changeling Hive. Once they were passed over, Lena would get to work.
With a wide grin, she started harnessing the power of these shards without any issue. A beautiful pink glow left her hand, prompting Lena Ketchum to pull off something that only pegasi and alicorns could do. She unleashed Fairy Magic onto the clouds as the pink rays would fly out. Just like that, Lena Ketchum created a new path that was layered over the Cloud Path.
A beautiful pink platform was made, completely solid and eligible for Team Rocket to use. Jessie would gently touch the Fairy Platform, finding it to be completely solid. Diadora and Team Rocket now had a way to move across the sky without worrying about falling.
"There you go. This is just a small bit of what the shards can do." Lena said. Team Rocket finally saw just what these shards were capable of. Only a small bit of it since the Fairy Shards were once something larger according to Lena. These weren't just valuable for their glimmer and shine. The power they held was also very valuable in so many ways.
Team Rocket would step on the platform, safely walking on it while Hisuian Braviary was sent back to the era he came from. Moving on foot, Lena would start running, wanting to get a move on. Team Rocket soon followed, running behind the distant ancestor of Ash Ketchum.
While running, Lena already came across a long vine that led to the higher points of this area. She grabbed onto them, climbing her way up the area which would bring her to another cloud platform. Lena would have to use the power of the shards once more to make another Fairy Platform for Diadora and Team Rocket's safety. She was doing all of this since she could detect where there may be some shards. It wasn't perfect but it certainly works.
"Up here should be the Flying-Type shards." Lena uttered when making a new platform. "Once we get a hold of it, travelling through the air will be easier than ever. We won't always have to call for Braviary."
"Do you think we could use them too?" James asked.
"Probably. If you have enough of them, you can harness their power. But after this, the shards will have to return to how they originally were and they should never be used again." Lena answered. "I'll return to my original time and everything will flow as it should."
"Sounds like a mistake to me." Jessie shook her head. "Why would you want to leave this all behind? Look at what you can do!"
"It's amazing yes. But it's for the best. I shouldn't be here at all. If this were any other situation, Dialga would've interfered, but it's letting me stay around. Until I fix everything." Lena looked down, letting out a deep sigh. "It's a shame. Being able to harness this power and to meet so many new faces, explore different areas and even take part in contests...all of that will cease to exist. But I won't have any regrets."
"Really. You're a strong-willed gal for that." said James. "I couldn't imagine leaving all of this behind for a better future."
"Me neither." Jessie was on the same page, crossing her arms and looking to the side. "But honestly...when you say it like that, I can see why. You're lucky that Dialga is letting you do all of this. You'll completely forget our faces, won't you?"
"Ahaha! I don't think so." Lena chuckled. "A part of me feels like I will remember you. Even if time returns to normal. I-" Right before Lena could say anything, she saw that Team Rocket came to an immediate halt, having petrified faces. There was something behind them that stunned them. When turning around, Lena saw what was responsible for this. Or rather, who was responsible for this.
The Indigo Union from Pinnaculum Pegalysium were present here, facing Lena's group with the Unown. They were present here at Pegalysium even if they were seen as enemies. There were quite a lot of them, easily outnumbering Lena, Team Rocket and Diadora.
The Unown looked down at them, hovering over the group while Lena slowly stood up. So much for having a nice talk with Team Rocket and smoothly searching for the shards. It was only natural until she ran into trouble, but she wasn't expecting it to be from Pinnaculum Pegalysium. She didn't even know about their existence until now. The ancestor of Ash showed no fear in her face. It became completely serious instead.
Team Rocket on the other hand were absolutely terrified. Mainly because they knew what the Unown were capable of and how cruel the Indigo Union can be. They were once the Indigo Alliance but their tendencies did not change.
"What do we have here? Your face looks awfully familiar." One of the soldiers said, recognizing Lena's face. But that was mainly due to Ash's face. And since Ash and his friends were massive enemies of the Grand Queen Second Wind, it did not spell anything positive for Lena Ketchum and her group. Now that they were surrounded, there was a high chance they could be captured. But after that, what would come next?
Pegalysium. Newcloud Path. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Up at Pegalysium, Lena's group came across the Indigo Union who work for the Grand Queen Second Wind. An unfortunate time to run into this union during the search for the shards. Surrounded by these soldiers who were in enemy territory away from Pinnaculum Pegalysium and the Unown which were encircling them with their massive eyes, this was quite the unlucky predicament.
"You're not Ash Ketchum but you look a lot like her. Either way, it's a shame you ended up here." One of the soldiers spoke when pointing out Lena's face. Seeing Lena, they made that connection to Ash which only gave them a stronger reason to threaten them. Then again, anyone outside of Pinnaculum Pegalysium was seen as an enemy and would eventually be under the rule of Second Wind.
"Lena Ketchum's the name. I'm his ancestor." Lena spoke to them before seeing one of the Unown getting closer to her. At any point, she could be hit with a Hidden Power.
"What do we do?" Diadora questioned since this was her first encounter with the Indigo Union.
"Just stay still and they won't zap you..." James silently answered.
"Excuse us. But we have to get going, please." Lena put her hands together, requesting that she and her group leave as soon as possible to continue their quest. "We'll be out of your hair fairly soon."
"They're humans so they come from below. Either way, they're already in this vicinity. Capture them. This one is the most valuable." He aimed his polearm at Lena, seeing value in her. "The Ketchum relation is too important to ignore.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Jessie frantically waved her arms, only to be silenced by the Unown and their cries. She scrunched her face, standing completely still as she had no say in this. Neither of them did. Such was the way of the Indigo Union.
The guards ordered them to keep moving while they had their eyes on them. When moving ahead, having the Unown and Polearms pointed at them.
Lena didn't have time for this. She had to continue on her quest and something like this couldn't hold her up. But she knew that making a move right now with these numbers wouldn't be the best idea, even if she was thinking about it. Right now, her group were captive, appearing at the wrong place at the wrong time. Luckily for Team Rocket and Diadora, there was a solid ground up ahead for them to step on since Lena couldn't make a new platform at the moment.
After touching the solid ground, their eyes met with something shocking and the reason for the Indigo Union being here. The Indigo Union were working on something here at Pegalysium. Under the noses of the original Pegalysium, a factory was being built.
A Factory of Rift Energy.
It was hidden behind a huge mass of clouds that also packed some mist to further conceal it. This Rift Factory was a sprawling complex of interconnected buildings, each one towering and angular, with metal walkways spanning the gaps between them. Standing in the middle of it all was a massive cloud stands a colossal machine, its gears turning and pistons pumping as rune-covered conduits pulse with cosmic energy.
It seems that Pegalysium wasn't devoid of the Rift Energy all that much even after the two worlds became one. But the existence of this factory was already a sign that it wasn't as perfect as the Indigo Union would like. Lena was aware of Rift Energy but it wasn't her biggest concern. Just the shards. And yet, this still caught her interest.
"It's a Factory of Rift Energy? They built this?" Jessie observed. It did not look that recent at all. Something like this would've taken time to make. But just by looking at the Unown, she could see that being a possibility.
Speaking of the Unown, there were more of them present here, using their power to upgrade the Rift Factory. Clearly, the Indigo Union and mainly Second Wind, were trying to recapture Rift Energy. At the moment, the factory was only unleashing the energy and it has yet to be utilised.
Second Wind obviously wanted that cosmic power for herself since she got a taste of it before she altered time. Even after the drawbacks it brought, the Grand Queen sought this power yet again.
"Who are these?" One of the workers here questioned after spotting Lena's group.
"I told you trespassers would show up here eventually. Especially during this festival. And this one right here is apparently the ancestor to Ash Ketchum. You can tell by the face."
"Ancestor? Mmm, that's the least of our worries, honestly. You might want to take this one to Queen Second Wind. She's just returned after all and she'd love to see this one. Drop the others through the clouds."
"Drop?!" Jessie and James collectively said. Turns out, they weren't going to be taken captive. Instead, they would be dropped off Pegalysium from a high height which was far worse.
"Don't worry." Lena turned to face them. "No one's being dropped. This is just a small hiccup."
"You're taking this far too casually..." Diadora grumbled as she couldn't understand how Lena could stay so calm in this scenario. She was being threatened to be taken captive just because of her connection to Ash while Team Rocket and Diadora would be dropped off Pegalysium.
"A shame you won't be able to move all that much though. Unown. Hidden Power."
The Unown would conjure up something that would restrain Lena Ketchum, making sure that she wouldn't be able to try something. Knowing that this was Ash's ancestor, the drive to do something wild was very much there. Lena looked up as the crimson rays struck down on her while Team Rocket and Diadora closed their eyes.
However, to the shock of everyone, nothing happened. No chains, cuffs, ropes or anything that could restrain Lena appeared. She was still herself, free as she could be. Lena looked at herself as she even expected something to happen. But alas, she was completely fine. She then looked at the soldiers and the Unown with a straight face. They were rather confused as to why nothing happened. The Hidden Power has never failed before.
"...Try again." The Unown would take a second wind at it, unleashing another Hidden Power, causing Lena to flinch and close her eyes. But once again, nothing happened. Lena simply scratched her hair, confused and completely lost. She thought that she was supposed to take damage or lose access to moving at all based on what the Indigo Union said.
"What is this?!" The soldiers and workers pulled back. "Why isn't it working?!"
"Hidden Power should always work no matter what..." Diadora gawked before realizing what could be giving Lena Ketchum this surprising immunity to the same attack that struck fear into those over at Equestria. Diadora thought about the egg that Lena ate and how that connects to the Unown. "Unless...!"
"Hm. I don't have a clue myself...Maybe it's because of that thing!" Lena then turned everyone's attention to the massive machine in the centre. But this is exactly what she wanted. This was a fake out by Lena, who immediately harnessed the power of the Fairy Shards once more. She kept them concealed in her hand the entire time, hidden from the eyes of the Indigo Union.
A brilliant pink flash went off in her hand, eclipsing her body and the bodies of those around her. She used more of the Fairy Shards unique power as if she were a Fairy-Type Pokemon. By doing so, she trapped the soldiers and workers nearby in a Magical Spheres. The soldiers soon realized that they had been juked and trapped by a magical bubble. It was rather embarrassing that they fell for the oldest trick in the book, but the way Lena said it was rather convincing.
"Hey! You..." Before he could say anything, the bubble had a secondary effect. A calming mist that would go off, immediately soothing their souls. "Aaah..."
"Time to go!" Lena and her group would take off now that they had the chance. But of course, their actions didn't go unnoticed by the other soldiers around here. They were on the run, attempting to flee from this factory and continue their mission.
"Lena! How did you ignore it?!" James questioned while carrying the massive bag on his back.
"Isn't it obvious?! It's the egg that she ate!" Diadora answered. "The Unown are too closely related to Arceus for her to completely ignore the Hidden Power! But I didn't think it wouldn't have an effect on her!"
"Oh! Great thinking, Diadora!" Lena grinned. "That changes everything! Which means this will be a breeze getting through!"
"Will it?! They can still hurt you!" James pointed out that Lena wasn't invincible. She was still vulnerable to damage, much like anyone else. It was just the Hidden Power that didn't matter to her anymore.
"Woah!" Lena came to a halt was she nearly fell into what appeared to be a cauldron of Rift Magic, similar to what Zecora has. But this one looked far more volatile than that cauldron. In fact, when getting a closer look at the Rift Energy in this factory, Lena's group saw how virulent it appeared. Something was very off with this Rift Magic.
It was aggressively bubbling as if it was lava and some smoke was coming out of it. It was very much an imperfect version of what everyone knows and for a good reason. The Indigo Union was merely trying to replicate that Cosmic Power that was once plentiful prior to the unification of the two worlds.
Leaving the factory was the first objective since they had no other reason to be here. But one thing was for sure, the existence of this place wasn't so hidden now that Lena's group has seen it. With a group of Unown behind them, they had to keep moving. Hidden Powers were used, bringing down a red rain that was not that threatening to Lena, but very much Team Rocket.
Jessie screeched as she was nearly struck by one of the rays which would blow up behind her. Meowth would hold onto Lena's legs, knowing he could get around faster by sticking around with her.
Pinnaculum Pegalysium. Second Wind's Palace.
While all of that played out, Second Wind was back in her palace, lazily sitting on her throne. She was just glad to be back after having to stay on a strange island for a while and moving from place to place. She was not yet aware that her hidden factory was currently holding the ancestor of her enemy.
But even after getting away from all of that, her duties as the Queen were not finished. While slumped over on her throne, she was looking at a projection yet again. And once more, it was of Daybreaker.
"It's settled then. We haven't been paying too much attention to this whole Prisma thing but now we have a good reason to do so." Daybreaker said.
"Let it wait another time." Second Wind grumbled. "We already had to go through that mess. The only benefit from that, at least in my case, was learning about that secret lab and what lies beyond it."
"There isn't enough time to slow down, Second Wind. Those in your universe are growing stronger and stopping them will be harder than it needs to be unless Necrozma can catch up."
"That won't be an issue for long..." Second Wind groaned. "I'd wager that very soon, my secret Rift Factory will be ready for use. That way, I can tap back into that cosmic power."
"I doubt it. Controlling that power has been difficult for even us. The gateway we made was very limited so your factory might not do much for us."
"Bah! Nonsense!" Second Wind bellowed, sitting up from her throne. "It's just taking some time. I can guarantee you something marvellous will come from it! And in any case, what's your next plan? I'd rather not get up for this one."
"Depends. After what we learned about Prisma, one thing's for sure. Ash Ketchum must be kept alive." At that moment, Daybreaker brought up Ash's name. "The benefits he could bring up are just too big to ignore."
"I'd rather he be wiped from existence but...whatever." Second Wind wasn't too big of a fan of keeping Ash around. "As long as he gets to live a miserable life, that's fine."
"Great!" Daybreaker grinned. "As for our next mission, we can put all our efforts into gathering as much light for Necrozma. We've been focused on taking light from the land, but now, we should be aiming higher. The Legendary Pokemon should be our next goal."
"Legendary?" Second Wind's eyes slightly opened. Legendary Pokemon were worth paying attention to due to how powerful and important they were. "Hm. Go on."
"Reading up on Necrozma, there seem to be two Pokemon that are closely connected to him. They are Solgaleo and Lunala. I know of this long ago, and yet, I couldn't find those two Pokemon. I searched many universes but came across neither a Solgaleo nor a Lunala. Apparently, this is because of a place known as Ultra Space, which I cannot reach. But that can all change fairly soon and your universe is the best place to take that chance."
"Hmph. Alright then. How are you going to do it with this world now on high-alert after the Jirachis put everything together? I've heard that Celestia gathered many rulers across the world, and I wasn't invited...They'll know that we're up to something. They already figured us out after what happened in Tropezete." Second Wind questioned, pointing out the drawbacks.
"Cozy Glow, of course. She's learning at the Pokemon School, acting as our perfect spy. I can guarantee that she'll come back with something valuable."
Equestria. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
Speaking of Cozy Glow, she was currently still present at the Pokemon School during the Pokemon Festival. Instead of heading out there and partaking in the festival, this year, she was staying in the school. But it wasn't just her. There were still students present in the school, but they were actually taking the time to enjoy themselves. The school was filled with Festival Attractions and many other things to entertain the youth.
All the while, Cozy Glow sat there alone, reading the news. She recently found out about what happened in Tropezete Town, seeing the actions of Daybreaker and Necrozma. Princess Celestia made sure that it got out to the world, just to remind everyone that not everything was fine and peachy even with a unified universe. Tropezete Town was still a dark place, unable to generate any light thanks to Necrozma.
The people of Tropezete have left their beloved town which distanced themselves from the Pokemon Hunters. As for the Pokemon Hunters, heading back to Tropezete Town would do them no good anymore now that their spot had been given away. At this moment, Tropezete Town was a ghost town of an area that was once beautiful and vibrant.
"That should be me..." Cozy Glow puffed her cheeks as there was a strong sense of jealousy when reading this. She flipped the pages, turning to see something else with Daybreaker's group involved. This time, it was the scenario over at the Diamond Domain. While that was more contained than Tropeze Town, it was still on the news and the Pokemon Rangers were also on the image.
"I could be out there right now." Her eyes lit up with flames as she aggressively smushed and crumpled the paper. "It's not far! They get to go places, search for Rare Pokemon and mess around with Rift Energy. I should be doing the same. I'm part of this alliance too, darn it!" Her frustration came from the fact that she wasn't seen as important enough to be highly active.
After all, they sent her to be a spy here at the Pokemon School. And while that was still a job, Cozy Glow wished to tackle the bigger missions. Hunter J, Team Plasma, Second Wind, Gardevoir and even Malamar have all of these opportunities, being incredibly versatile.
"I bet I could do something better than them. I can't just sit around here forever. But there has to be something..." Her eyes shifted from place to place, trying to find something to do. Alas, there wasn't much. Well, nothing that Cozy Glow was interested in. While kids her age were participating in party games and thinking about what other fun activities they could do, Cozy Glow was only thinking about absolute power.
"Drat." She lightly hit the table. "Not much. But...I guess there's one thing I could try. I've only been in this school for a few weeks, but I doubt anyone really knows about me. It's a larger world now and there's way too much out there for me to ignore. I could start by making some friends."
Rubbing her hooves together, the little filly had a plan. Making friends was a rather sweet plan but there was an ulterior motive behind it. For the most part, Cozy Glow has been keeping a low profile, mainly because she didn't want anyone knowing she was with Daybreaker's alliance. As long as she was seen as an ordinary pony, that was all that mattered and so far, she was pulling that off expertly.
Eyeing down the students, there were plenty of species here, all new to Pokemon. Cozy Glow at least had the advantage of being around Pokemon longer than the Dragons, Hippogriffs, Yaks and Griffons. Knowing this, she could use that benefit. Why not throw out some teaching of her own?
She would hop off the table, prancing forward and finally getting herself involved in the Pokemon Festival. But as soon as she went to try something, she was grabbed a nearby Dragon, who swept her off the floor. "Gah!"
"Drop everything you're doing!" The Dragon exclaimed, being rather enthusiastic about something. They were all rather enthusatic since something had caught their attention. "We're going to view a Pokemon Battle for free!"
"All Pokemon battles are free." A colt said. "Except the ones with tickets."
"W-What's going on?"
"It's another Frontier Brain battle. We missed out on Princess Celestia's battle over at Magehold. Apparently, it was amazing!" News about Celestia's battle would obviously travel fast. Why wouldn't it? She was the most important figure in Equestria and it's not often they get to see her battle.
But while the students missed it, there was another incoming. It did not involve Celestia, but it did involve Rainbow Dash. She did say that today, she would tackle the next Frontier Brain and after Celestia's fierce battle with Dimstar, that battle was about to commence.
The students of the Pokemon School were invited to come and view the battle and after that, it was right back here. This was one major benefit of being in this school. They get to go anywhere since the best way to experience Pokemon was via exploration and up close experiences.
"Great..." Cozy Glow wasn't too fond of it, but she would fake a smile before forcing herself off the excited Dragon. But, this could at least bring some interest. Cozy Glow knew one thing. Ash's friends were the sworn enemies of Daybreaker's group so watching them battle could be seen as a positive. She'd at least get to know how they battle and relay whatever valuable information she could to Daybreaker's group. But really, Cozy Glow wished she could do more than just be a spy.
Equestria, Magehold. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Here at Magehold, Celestia was ready to depart after getting enough rest and time. It was a pleasant time being here at Magehold, far better since Fantina was the Queen, but she had to get going. The rest of the Pokemon Festival was waiting. But she would obviously leave with some gifts from Magehold. Celestia found herself wearing some accessories and a gothic hat.
She was about to make her way to Manehattan, where Rainbow Dash's next Frontier Brain battle could begin. Celestia began flaunting her accessories, making the children laugh. She took the time to get to know the vampires of Magehold outside of the Black Crusade. Naturally, a good chunk of them were peaceful and they outnumbered the members of the Dread League.
"Well, I'm not sure how to react to you all having such high pain tolerance." said Celestia after learning more about a vampire's biology. On this day, she learned that the vampires did not mind a plethora of painful things as proven by how the children react to Ghost-Type Pokemon.
"It's absolutely concerning." Luna shuddered. "Almost as much as what you're wearing."
"Why? I think it's unique. It also looks like I'm truly a part of Magehold." The Sun Princess giggled before wiggling around these strange feelers that were placed around her neck. Just looking at them and the way they moved made Luna grimace, cringe and jerk back to the point where her stomach was turning.
"It does look silly, you have to admit." Someone else spoke to Celestia. It was a very familiar voice. A voice so special that it made Celestia forget about everything and immediately face the one who spoke those words.
The Iron Will Pokemon, Cobalion, of course.
"C-Cobalion!" Celestia said, stuttering on the spot and immediately freezing as fast as a flash freeze. This is not how she wanted Cobalion to see her.
"Afternoon." Cobalion casually greeted.
"T-The Leader of the Swords of Justice!" Merrick definitely knew who Cobalion was but Diancie didn't. The rather fussy Carbink was rather flabbergasted to see such an important Pokemon here. But not as much as Celestia.
"Aah...Hah..." Realizing what she was wearing, Celestia was unsure of what to say next. But that instinct of hers would do something for her. With her face turning red, she immediately used her magic to obliterate the items that she purchased. Just like that, they were absolutely vaporized. The children were absolutely mortified by what they saw. They didn't mind terrifying things, but absolute annihilation was a different story."I-I-I didn't think I'd see you here! Or you'd see me in that!"
"It's fine. I was almost put in a suit and it would've looked all the more silly." Cobalion uttered. He then fixated his attention on the Plasma Pokemon, who was standing behind Rainbow Dash, trying to crouch and stay hidden. But she was too tall for that to be possible.
"Zera..." Zeraora grumbled upon seeing Cobalion. The two have encountered each other already, mainly due to Zeraora's rampages.
"Zeraora. It hasn't been too long. But I can see that so far, things are fine here, are they?"
"You were already trying to calm her down, right?" Fluttershy questioned.
"We encountered each other at the Crown Tundra. We were already made aware of Zeraora's Rampages and did our best to intercept her. We knew that these outbursts of rage were caused by something within her but we had no way to exterminate it. But we did count on Zeraora finding peace in some way. And she is lucky enough to encounter all of you."
"Rrr..." Even if that was the case, Zeraora still felt uneasy. The Thunderclap Pokemon could be seen twiddling her paws, feeling rather embarrassed. The relationship between her and the Swords of Justice was actually closer than expected for her to give out such a reaction.
"Aw, you don't have to feel embarrassed!" Rainbow Dash cackled. "I mean, you weren't like that before."
"It's a first, Rainbow Dash. After all, she's only at least around the same age as a child." Cobalion explained.
"Say what?! You mean...she's a kid?!" Rainbow Dash gasped. The Pokemon they were taking care of was not even considered mature. She was around the same age as someone like Sweetie Belle. The Ranger Union, Mustard and Kidd Summers never told them this. That makes her among the youngest of the group, meaning Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Applejack exceeded her in terms of age and maturity.
"Indeed. So looking after her is of utmost importance. She can be left on her own until that rage within her is gone forever. In a sense, you're, how do you say, foalsitting her?"
"Ah..." Rainbow Dash scratched the back of her hair as she never expected to be taking care of a Child Pokemon. Zeraora didn't exactly look or sound like a child, but that was simply the nature of the Strange and Wonderful Creatures known as Pokemon.
"I can trust you all with her though. I can imagine those at the Ranger Union did the same. But I and the Swords will be checking in on Zeraora here and there, just to be sure."
"Um...Excuse us for a moment!" Celestia zipped over to Cobalion. "We'll be spending some time together. I've been waiting for this since the festival began. Anywhere to go?"
"I...wasn't thinking about heading elsewhere. I was mainly sent here by the Royal Family of the Crystal Empire."
"Well, I have the best place in mind!" Celestia squeed.
"Mind if I come along?" Putting on a cheeky smile was Twilight Moonlight, who would stare at Celestia in a certain way. Celestia knew she couldn't just leave while she was keeping Twilight Moonlight around.
"Right...I almost forgot..." Celestia sighed. "I regret dragging you along."
"It's not so bad. I got to see how you all battled and the way you act around each other. And I have to say...you're noisy. Every single one of you. I'm surprised you two are in the same boat as them." Moonlight gave her honest and harshest opinions. "Celestia. Luna. I thought you'd be more composed but, this seems to be a rowdy universe in general."
"Shows what you know..." Luna grizzled her teeth.
"Is that the Twilight Moonlight we've heard about?" Cobalion recognized that name but never the face. However, looking at her now revealed how much she looked like Twilight Sparkle.
"Maybe I could come along and see how you do romance. I don't expect anything spectacular or pleasant."
"Shows what you know..." Celestia said the same thing as Luna.
"I don't know. She has a point." Cobalion smiled, making Celestia gasp in shock as he agreed with Twilight Moonlight. "You have to admit, we work better when we're having fun instead of something romantic. Neither of us are exactly masters in romantic speech."
"Well...Yes." Celestia puffed her cheeks. "I never had the time for it for centuries and you...Well, you're so serious."
"I was sheltered my entire life as well, so perhaps I don't have room to speak. But I know one thing. This won't last." Twilight Moonlight smirked. "Your first love won't be your last. Perhaps you'll find someone else. Or never."
"Mhm..." Celestia grizzled her teeth before putting on a smile. She had something to say to Twilight Moonlight that would trump everything she's said. "Perhaps you're in the same boat too, Moonlight, since there's a good chance you'll never receive that either."
"Eh?"
"After all, you do have a lot of crimes around you. Right now, I'm only holding you until something can be done about you returning to your universe automatically. But if I had to guess, for all of your crimes and how long you'd be behind bars...The vandalization of historical structures would be 25 years. Violent Disorder, 5 years. Endangering the lives of others even if unintentionally, 7 years. Assault and attempting to destroy Ash would be Life. And trying to kidnap Ash and the others would also involve Life."
"Mmmrgh..." Twilight Moonlight was speechless as she couldn't say anything back to this. It had yet to sink in how much trouble she was in.
"But hey. Since you're the closest to our Twilight, perhaps you can become an alicorn down the road. So it won't be so bad~" Celestia winked.
"Geez. Was she always that harsh?" Rainbow Dask asked as this was a side of Celestia no one in Equestria has seen before. The words she was dishing out were super-effective and silenced Twilight Moonlight.
"I could...just leave and come back another time," said Cobalion. "Continue my duty and-"
"No, no, no! It's fine!" Celestia frantically shook her head. "Luna. I'm switching things over to you."
"Me?!" Luna pulled back as now she would be in charge of keeping her eyes on Twilight Moonlight. "How long are you even going to be gone? It's been 5 days and she only has four until her body returns to her own universe."
"You're not too busy, are you?" Celestia wiggled her eyebrows, hoping she could trust her little sister while she spends time with Cobalion.
"Don't pin this on me." Luna puffed her cheeks. "I already had to go through so much during the third Pokemon Festival! There is no chance I'm foalsitting this one while you spend some time with Cobalion!"
"I have a name, you know..."
"Fine, fine." Celestia sighed, understanding where Luna was coming from. "It hasn't been that long since the Black Crusade or even the Storm King. We have to reach a compromise. We can't risk locking Moonlight up, that much we know. So..."
"If you're struggling so much, I'll take over. Making her appearance under the endless Moon of Magehold was none other than Nightmare Moon. She crept out of the shadows, opting to be the one to watch over Twilight Moonlight."
"Oh, thank you! A thousand thanks!" Luna was relieved to hear that, putting her hooves together when facing her alter-ego. This would do just fine since Nightmare Moon isn't one to have a ton of fun.
"Do whatever it is you need to do." The alter-ego of Luna would wrap her magic around Celestia's overtaking it completely. Twilight Moonlight gasped as she had to deal with yet another alicorn keeping her captive.
"Time to go! We'll meet up at Canterlot~" Just like that, without wasting any time, Celestia flashed herself and Cobalion out of Magehold, heading elsewhere.
"I know where they're heading. But never mind that. Back to the topic of your Frontier Battle, Rainbow Dash."
"I almost forgot after what just happened." Rainbow Dash scratched her mane as everything that transpired here was rather stunning, to say the least. Once they were all gone, departing to Manehattan for the next Frontier Battle, Nightmare Moon would smirk while gazing at Twilight Moonlight.
"What...?"
"Twilight Moonlight, eh? Not a bad name. You'll be perfect for my team."
"T-Team?"
"Hehe." Nightmare Moon was still fixated on forming a team of her own even after reconciling with Luna. She wanted to be more than just Luna's alter-ego who lurks in the shadows and mainly shows up at night. Nightmare Moon had dreams even though she was made out of Luna's dreams. And unfortunately for Twilight Moonlight, she was going to be involved in that dream.
Unova. Eindoak Town. Afternoon.
All the while, Ash and his group were currently at Eindoak Town, which received its gateway back. Thanks to Lucas's actions, the bridge between Eindoak and the Human World was made once more, in the same spot too. It was only a matter of time before every area had gateway, just like the early days of the two worlds being one. The people of Eindoak were already gazing at the gateway with some of them planning on passing through it.
"Haah..." Lucas could be seen lying on the ground yet again while everyone else was having a picnic. His face touched the picnic blanket, groaning and grumbling. Poor Lucas couldn't even enjoy the food in the way he wants since his body has completely shut down at the moment. "I thought you said that syringe would soothe my pain."
"Sorry, Lucas, darling. I really thought it would!" Rarity apologized when sitting next to him. It was her idea to use the needle on him, hoping for a positive outcome. Alas, that was not the case. "It seems that it doesn't cover Cosmic Pain."
"Man...Enough is enough!" Lucas stood back up, roaring a the top of his lungs. "I can't feel my legs that often! It's not getting any better here, man! There's gotta be something I can do."
There was only one thing Lucas could do in this instance. Call for his friends. Whipping out his phone, Lucas would target Red and the others, who were currently elsewhere during the Pokemon Festival. The first person he called was none other than Brendan.
"Hey, Lucas. Glad you called. We only heard about you opening gateways here and there. Great job, buddy."
"Yeah, that's cool and all, but the outcome is not the best for me, Brendan."
"Why not?" Speaking through the phone was none other than Hilbert's voice as he ended up joining in. "You've got the power to open up gateways! How cool is that?!"
"It's not cool when you feel out of it afterwards. "Ever since I opened up my first gateway, it's been taking me out of it back to back and it's not getting any better. I need to fix this as soon as possible, but I don't know how."
"I don't know why you're calling me though...I don't think Red, Ethan or Hilda have the answer. "And I know for a fact Hilbert doesn't have it."
"Hey!"
"Figures..." Lucas sighed. "I just thought that since we're all technically the same, one of you guys would have something special inside of you. I've got Spatial Energy from Palkia so ya know..."
"Hmm...Maybe. Nothing's really happened to us though. I don't think we've got something special in us except for maybe Prisma's soul or something. But if something does come up, we'll let you know."
"Well, if it's not any of you...Maybe the others? What about Nate, Calem, Elio and Victor?" Lucas asked, bringing up four other trainers.
"Well, they're gonna have to show up here first." Brendan could be heard laughing through the phone. "I don't think any of them had plans to show up here. Except maybe Nate after he heard about what Hilbert and Hilda were gonna do."
"Is Nate here? Is he?!"
"Well, I wouldn't know. Haven't heard of him since we all left our own universes. We still can't go back to them yet which is a shame. But this place isn't so bad. Maybe you can open a gateway back home, so it's not all bad, actually."
"Hm-hm." Lucas slowly nodded his head. "Nate could be here, you say? Or he might not?" At that moment, Lucas was ready to hang up the call, having something in mind. "I haven't opened up a gateway to my own world yet so I could try that. But before that, I need to ring up Nate."
"Hold on. Not before you open up another gateway on this new day~" Rarity halted him.
"No thanks." Lucas grizzled his teeth. "That syringe of yours made me fall over longer than before, so I guess it had some effect. Whatever you're planning, I'm not hearing it, Rarity?"
"But I was going to think of the best possible place to take us! I've heard a lot about a place called Pegalysium! A place in the sky is just the most wonderful thought!"
"No way. Pegalysium? Pass on that. Plus you can't fly and you could totally fall through it!"
"That's why I'm counting on you, darling. I know for a fact you can drop me down at the right spot where I won't fall. Won't you?" Rarity slid over, poking Lucas in the face. She was trying to convince him but Lucas wasn't having any of it.
"Try all you want, you can't sway me...!" Lucas grimaced, leaning back while Rarity leaned forward. "Maybe Nate though, I don't know! I should really call him!"
"They're getting along well, aren't they?" Pinkie Pie said when watching Lucas and Rarity chat. Getting along also involved a bit of squabbling, according to Pinkie Pie.
"I don't even know where I'd put the next gateway..." Lucas grumbled while holding onto Rarity's wrists, keeping her at bay.
"Princess Celestia already decided on a spot to place it." Breaking it up was Twilight Sparkle, who got in between them. "Lucas. I'm sure we'll figure something out for you. Maybe another one of your friends does have the cure. If you're going to open a gateway to Pegalysium, you'll have to do it at Cloudsdale. So it'll still be in the sky."
"Right..." Lucas sighed, taking out his phone once more. He scrolled through the list of his friends, searching for Nate. When finding Nate's name, he would begin the call. "I was thinking of making a gateway back to my world. Maybe it won't hurt so bad..." The phone started ringing before finally receiving an answer. Lo and behold, Nate picked up the call but it was unknown as of now if it was from his own universe or this one. He was about to find out.
"Oh, great. Nate. I'm so glad you picked up, it's been a while." Lucas greeted. He was glad to hear from another friend and this time, he was hoping for some good news.
"Finally, someone called me," Nate spoke through the phone. "You have no idea what I've been doing so far."
"Well, same here. I mean, maybe you have. It's been making the news and I've been pretty popular. Unless you're in our original universe then nevermind."
"Oh, no. I'm here." But Nate revealed that he was indeed in this Universe. More of Ash's Counterparts were currently active.
"You have? How come we didn't hear from you then?" Lucas questioned.
"About that...Something happened. I didn't show up here by a gateway or something."
"You didn't? I figured you would've taken the Infinity Gateway or something. Are you saying yo got here before me? Did everyone get here before me?!"
"Nah...You're gonna have to here to see it, Lucas. I showed up here with raw power. But it was totally by accident. Right now, I'm in the weirdest place...There's a bunch of Dragons around but...not the ones I'm used to seeing. They're so different and I don't think they're Dragon-Types.
"Dragons? Are you in the Dragon Lands!" Twilight only knew of one area that fits Lucas's description. "Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine. Whoever this is. But uh...if Lucas could come over right now, that'd be cool. I tried calling the others but that was a bust."
"How come? You have their numbers, don't you?" But Lucas was sure that Nate would be able to call Red and the others.
"It was only recent, Lucas. My uh...Xtransceiver's been damaged and only your number's around. Help."
"No need to worry! I'm on my way!" Lucas hung up the call, knowing what he had to do. Pegalysium and his own world could wait. One of his friends needed help. "Alright! Nate showed up here with something else that wasn't a gateway! That can mean only one thing. He has something that might be able to help. I might be grasping at straws here, but we'll see. And if I get this whole wobbly issue down, then I'll open that gateway."
"If he's at Dragon Lands and needs help, I think I know what might be going on." Ash uttered, already having a good inkling as to what Nate might be going through. But he was only guessing. He'd have to see it for himself.
"Hang on! You haven't fully recovered yet, Lucas!" Twilight halted the Sinnohan Trainer. "You can't possibly be thinking of making a new gateway right now! Right...?"
"Hehe." He was indeed thinking about it. Lucas was ready to make another gateway without needing to wait. Much like Ash, he jumps into action when he sees fit, even at the risk of his own health. And when it comes to his friends, he'll get to work as soon as possible. And as a bonus, Nate had something special.
Rubbing his hands together and stretching his arms, Lucas was prepared to risk it all, not yet fully recovered and aiming to open up a new gateway that would lead to the Dragon Lands. Lucas would make it at Route 4 specifically since it was the closest aside from Castelia, which already had a gateway.
Behind him was Twilight Sparkle, who had her Rift Magic at the ready, but Twilight wasn't 100% sure that this was a good idea since Lucas was still feeling off. He twitched his arms, getting himself ready while also generating tiny space particles on his fingertips.
"Are you sure about this, Lucas?" But a cautious Twilight Sparkle had to wonder if this was the right call. It hasn't been done with Lucas still feeling perplexed and the outcome could be anything.
"Positive. Let's do this." Lucas wasn't about to have a second thought when it came to the safety of his friends. He was all-in on this and nothing was going to stop him it seems.
"Alright..." Twilight was still unsure, but what would try it out regardless. With his hands out and Twilight's Rift Magic emerging, the unification of these two completely different cosmic abilities would go off. Lucas welcomed the Rift Energy, holding his hands out and channelling the Spatial Power within at such a weakened state. At first, it looked like it was actually working. A spark of Cosmic Energy was appearing in the middle, ready to expand into a gateway.
"Ghhhh!" But it was a failure. A complete failure. Lucas fell over immediately as his body would receive a sharp pain. Afterwards, his body would pulsate for a moment, prompting in him hitting the ground hard. "Oh, man...That was a bad call."
"I told you it was too risky. There was no way you could've done it without going through a full recovery. And now you've prolonged it." Twilight facepalmed as this is exactly what she warned Lucas about. "Oh well...Who am I to say? I've done some reckless things here and there."
"Looks like we're gonna have to take the long way there to the Dragon Lands. It's a good thing you made a gateway over at Castelia, huh? Using that will take us straight to Canterlot and we'll head to the Dragon Lands from there." Ash kneeled, facing his counterpart.
"Yeah...Hope Nate's doing well. I mean, he can take care of himself but it sounded pretty serious on the phone." The Sinnohan Trainer from another universe sighed.
He would be helped up by Ash and Twilight collectively, needing extra support to get off the ground. His arms and legs had given up and needed the time to replenish. Poor Lucas had to go through all of this with seemingly no cure. But with Nate apparently having something else that helped him get to this universe, perhaps there was a chance. But doing this action while still feeling woozy would have other consequences that Lucas was not yet aware of.
Equestria. Manehattan. The Battle Carnival.
For Rainbow Dash's group, it was back to Manehattan and for one reason only. The next Frontier Battle would be tackled. Rainbow Dash was already sitting on one victory but there were still a few more to go.
She stood before the Battle Carnival which was also the Battle Frontier, returning to take it on once more. She lost her first battle here and reclaimed victory. Now, Rainbow Dash was hoping to be on a continuous winning streak up until the very end. She saw this as a prelude to the Equestria League and as a way to improve.
Present here were the students of the Pokemon School, who were allowed to come over and view a Frontier Battle. But not just view it, but learn from the Battle Frontier.
"Okay! It'll be a little bit before the battle begins, I can assume. We talked about this last time but this is your chance to find a profession in Pokemon that you love." Teaching them today was Potion Nova, who did not bring her massive potion with her this time. If it was even slightly out in the open, chaos would surely ensue. "I heard some of you want to be Frontier Brains. They're not exactly Gym Leaders but they're similar. You'll see what we mean when we get there."
"Do we have to do the weird gimmicks as Frontier Brains?" Raising her hoof was a Seapony.
"Apparently. If you didn't, it wouldn't be any different from Gym Battles. That's what makes it fun, right?!"
"Aaah..." However, the reactions from the children said otherwise. While some of them enjoyed the thought of gimmicks, others thought differently. Mainly the Dragons. The young Dragon students weren't sure about how they felt when it came to having gimmicks in Pokemon Battling.
"Boo. That's just lame." Smolder, who was in the crowd, would give a thumbs-down. "What about winning with just what you have? Winning with a gimmick is lame and losing with one is even lamer."
"I mean...yes. But it's just as fun as using a potion. It's always random. Just saying. And as Frontier Brain, you don't have to worry about limiting yourself all that much compared to a Gym Leader."
"I'd rather be a Gym Leader." A Dragon expressed. So did the other Dragon Students.
"If being a Frontier Brain isn't up your alley, that's fine. But I know some of you are still interested so I'll still walk you through it all."
"None of this is really for me. I'm here for something else." Speaking to herself was Cozy Glow, who was only interested in seeing how the battle would play out since it involved Daybreaker's enemies. And among that group was the Mythical Pokemon Zeraora as well as Mew. Ash's friend group certainly had some rare and powerful Pokemon that Daybreaker's alliance would want and have already tried pursuing.
"But...If you think gimmicks aren't your thing, you can just choose not to do it as a Frontier Brain." Potion Nova smiled, leaving one eye open as she caught the interest of those who had a different mindset of Pokemon Battling.
"We can?!" Some of the Dragons uttered at the same time. Potion Nova hit the jackpot with those words.
"That's right. But it's only the final one. Everything else has something unique but the last Frontier Brain is the rawest form of Pokemon Battling. Of course, you'd have to be incredibly strong and that's what you're all aiming for, right?"
"Not really. Not me at least." Sandbar shook his head.
"When you put it like that..." Smolder's opinion rapidly changed once she learned that there was more to it. Potion Nova had them right where she wanted them.
"Do you get anything special as a Frontier Brain?" Cozy Glow spoke up, wanting to know if there was something worth achieving as the final Frontier Brain? A strong Pokemon maybe?"
"Not really. You're just at the top of the food chain, that's all." Alas, that was the only answer Cozy Glow would get it since it was that simple. The young pegasus was rather disappointed in this revelation. What a waste of a question. "At least, that's what I think. This Battle Frontier's slightly different from the rest so, who knows? One thing's for sure, you're going to love this. Get ready to see how riveting a Frontier Battle can be."
"Ms Nova. Can I study potions instead?" Cozy Glow switched the topic when speaking to Potion Nova, bringing up her potions. "All of this isn't really that exciting for me."
"I can tell. But it's great that you're interested in Potions. I mean, everyone in the school is so..."
"But I want to know absolutely everything about them. I don't have magic of my own since I'm just a pegasus. A part of me wishes I was born a unicorn so potions are the next big thing. And they can interact with Pokemon too?"
"You're rather young so I'll have to teach you and everyone else the small steps of Potion Brewing."
"I know I can do more than the small steps!" She exclaimed, putting on a bright smile.
"R-Really? I mean...I did the same when I was a kid but most of it was with my friend Ebony. Not many use potions, especially not kids. Are you that interested in it?"
"Mhm!"
"Mmm...Alright." Potion Nova slowly nodded her head. "I guess I can give you extra lessons on potions after school if that's what you want. For now, take a gander at this battle. There's always something interesting to come from them."
The carnival was soon flooded just for the view of this Frontier Battle. They were still new to Equestria so it was only natural for the carnival to be flooded with guests and there was a bonus thanks to the existence of Yaks, Dragons and other species.
This was also their first time seeing a Carnival.
"What kind of building is this place?" Gallus squinted his eyes, looking at all the colours of the carnival. "Ah, my eyes..."
"This is a carnival. Great, isn't it?" Sandbar said, obviously finding it pleasing. But for other species, the sight of the Battle Carnival was perplexing to the eyes. Yona was especially feeling it. Even if she's seen colourful things here and there, the Carnival took the cake, easily.
All other yaks were having the same reaction to the colours and yet, it wasn't making them upset. They just weren't sure what to make of it. But one thing was for sure, they knew what they could do. Their confusion was quickly staved away once their noses picked up on the sweet scent of food. The Battle Carnival had plenty of food to go around. Catering to all species.
"Carnival's aren't so bad!" Yona switched up immediately, already loving carnivals if it meant she could consume free food.
"You might be right." Smolder nodded in agreement, hovering over a sweet selection of gemstones. Specifically, Type Gems have been selected and were being displayed as food. Perfect for the Dragons. Naturally, because they were children, there was no hesitation.
Hands and hooves were flying in at high speeds and abundant numbers, rapidly grabbing their personal favourites. Entire tables were being emptied out by these hungry mouths. The employees were stunned to see all the food they prepared swiftly disappearing. It wasn't just the students but their Pokemon as well. Smolder's Charmander seems to have adopted the same appetite as a Dragon.
"Char! Charmander!" The Fire-Type could be seen eating the Fire Gem, scarfing it all down.
"Is that safe for your Charmander?" Sandbar asked while holding a pie.
"It's fine. He's used to it." But Smolder wasn't bothered at all. This was not the first time he's consumed something Charmanders aren't known for eating at all. Potion Nova was a bit worried that the children may be a bit too hyperactive before the battle can begin. They might not even focus on it. But nothing a little potion couldn't fix in case it gets to that level.
She also knew that the best way to burn off that steam was by letting them partake in the Carnival's activities since it wasn't just a place to watch battles and eat.
The one who would be partaking in this Frontier Battle was currently in her own room, receiving a polish. The Celebrity known as Sharon, who was among the first to be chosen as a Frontier Brain. She wanted to look her best before battling, getting her eyelashes done and polishing her face.
Like the celebrity she was, Sharon would make sure that she stands out from the crowd, no matter who her apparent was. Such was her style and it also helped that she was nicknamed the Princess, even though being a Princess in Equestria is not that rare.
"Miss Sharon. It's almost time." An employee walked in, informing Sharon that her battle was on the horizon. "A lot of students have shown up for today's battle it seems."
"Perfect. Let the kids here watch how a celebrity battles. Nessa missed out on her opportunity, focusing too much on Ash like some schoolgirl crush. I know how to really grab the attention of others. This battle's going to show them a lot of style." After freshening herself up, Sharon would take out a Poke Ball, already having her first Pokemon at the ready.
She made her way out there and immediately, right next to the Princess were cameras. They were not meant for the opponent but for her. They only showed up after she was done freshening up. She even stopped to pose for the camera, making sure that they got her good side. Rainbow Dash had no idea what kind of battle was coming her way.
Speaking of Rainbow Dash, she was peacefully waiting for her next battle, already registering herself. Once registered, she made her way to the location of the second Frontier Brain. Neither of these Frontier Brains had differing power levels and any of them could be challenged at any time.
Upon entering, she already knew who she was facing next. This room was an opulent lounge, adorned with velvet curtains and gold accents, reminiscent of an old theatre. It was also filled with the scent of expensive perfume, reflecting a plethora of lights from overhead chandeliers, mingling with the sound of excited whispers.
The room was decorated for a show, already having cameras plastered across the walls that would watch all of this play out. Only Sharon's Arena had this display, for obvious reasons. Rarity and Sharon weren't so different as she would already make sure the camera was looking at her, looking her best. Joining in was Pinkie Pie, who would try and look her silliest.
"Oh yeah...This is definitely Sharon's Room." Rainbow Dash commented. "Who else would it be? Sharon could do anything, honestly."
"She might let you and your Pokemon wear dresses." said Rarity, putting an unspoken fear into Castform's eyes and a nervous look in Rainbow Dash's.
"Uhh...I hope not. Not sure what that would do." The pegasus could do without that. She wasn't against dresses but her Pokemon were a different story entirely. If this were Sweetie Belle participating, then her Pokemon would most definitely enjoy it.
"So, it's you, Rainbow Dash." said Sharon, who walked through the doors, greeting the pegasus. Some of the cameras went straight to Rainbow Dash, getting all up in her face. "I should've figured you'd be up next."
"Yeah...So far it's just been me and Lightning Dust, huh? Slow days..."
"It'll get better. First, I want to thank you and the others. Saving Nadya back there." Sharon brought up the whole situation with Nadya. "If we knew sooner, we would've acted but...that would've made things worse for us."
"Ah, it was nothing!" The pegasus laughed. "So, what's it gonna be? Judging by all the fancy stuff, is it gonna be...dressing up? Because if so..."
"No, no, no. That won't do. No one's exactly found the perfect formula for that kind of battle style. Instead, I proposed something better. Something that would be pleasant...or awful depending on your taste." Sharon winked. "I don't want to get your Pokemon too into it immediately and hopefully, they haven't eaten yet."
"Eaten? Ooooh!" Pinkie Pie's ears perked up as her pupils shrunk. "Do you mean...This is a-"
"That's right. You're standing in a Battle Restaurant." Sharon revealed the theme of this Frontier Room. It was all about food. Not fashion or even theatrics despite the appearance. "I made sure to ask my Daddy to pick out the best culinary chefs and food options out there to make this one possible. Plenty of recipes from across the world were chosen."
"I get to eat?! Oh, this is great! Best Frontier Facility so far!" For Rainbow Dash, this was seen as an absolute win. A battle that allows food? Perfect.
"Aw...C-Can I join?" Pinkie Pie scrunched her face as she wished she had joined the Battle Frontier just so she could relish in these delicious options that have yet to be seen.
"I would say it's just your Pokemon. But you get to eat too as well if you want." Sharon shrugged. "I'm a bit of a culinary expert myself, if you must know. I trained in a lot of things just to be great at them and cooking is one of them."
"Let's start right away! Right away!"
"Not yet." Sharon slowed her down. "Preparations need to be made. I still have a few things to do. So you should prepare yourself as well while you're at it. I'll be waiting and so will the crowd." Sharon would walk off, needing a bit more time to ready up, giving Rainbow Dash the same amount of time and something to truly look forward to.
"Hmm...I don't know how many Pokemon I should bring in this. But it doesn't matter. All of them have some pretty good tastes."
"Rainbow Dash. She hasn't told you everything, I suspect." But Luna wasn't too quick to go with the flow even if she wasn't participating. "There might be more to this one than just food."
"Don't worry. I know there's something beyond this." But Rainbow Dash wasn't slow. This wouldn't be a battle without some drawbacks. "That's why me and my Pokemon are ready to start feasting, believe me."
"Castform!"
"You should take a good long look at this, Zeraora. You're gonna see what I'm really made of. Well, with some eating here and there." She would face Zeraora, wanting the Thunderclap Pokemon to witness this battle. Knowing that Zeraora was the same age as the CMC or around it, she was practically a child and Rainbow Dash was here to impress. Zeraora was interested in Rainbow Dash without a doubt.
She was the one who was mainly there for her so the Thunderclap Pokemon would definitely take the time to watch her battle. It was bound to be a rather delicious one. At least, that's how it would seem at face value. While Rainbow Dash was ready for something unexpected, Sharon and her devious smile indicated at something that would catch the pegasus off guard.
All the while, Cozy Glow, who steered away from her classmates, would walk off to do some action of her own. While she did want to observe the battle, she also wanted to see if she could manipulate it. Knowing that Zeraora was part of Rainbow Dash's party, now was the perfect time for the young pegasus to try something. As possibly the weakest member of the Daybreaker alliance, she was certainly the most ambitious.
Equestria. Manehattan. Battle Carnival. The Battle Frontier. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Here at the Battle Carnival, Rainbow Dash's battle against Sharon was up next, but some preparations were being made. She was made aware that this Frontier Battle would involve food. Apparently, the best of the best, which pleased the mind of Rainbow Dash. But to prepare for the worst, the pegasus was undergoing an extra bit of training with her Pokemon.
"Okay! Here it is!" Pinkie Pie would assist in that training by making as much food as she could along with Applejack. A table of food was laid out for Rainbow Dash and her Pokemon, ranging from cupcakes to apple pies. "Sorry. We couldn't make any of them taste super bad at all. Just couldn't help it."
"But it'll help ya stomach down whatever they try and trick you with." Applejack said. This food was made to help Rainbow Dash and her Pokemon power through the food that might not be as pleasant as they thought.
"Got it. I mean, I'm not the biggest fan of pies, so this'll totally help." Rubbing her hooves together, Rainbow Dash would indulge in what has been offered up.
Her Pokemon started devouring the food in front of them. To train their stomachs and their taste buds, they would snack on the delicacies which were made with only half of the love they usually have. Typically, Applejack and Pinkie Pie pour a lot of love into their food, but because this Frontier Facility was going to involve eating, they had to hold back, refraining from making the best possible food that they could.
And when tasting the food, Rainbow Dash found it to be peculiar. While it was true it wasn't the best of what her friends were known for making, it still had care put into it. Rainbow Dash grimaced as she wasn't sure if she enjoyed this taste or disliked it. It was a weird middle ground, but it would have to do.
"It's already the afternoon. A new gateway should've shown up somewhere else by now. Just to be sure." Taking out her Xtransceiver to call Ash was Rarity, who had to know what new gateway has been made. "Afternoon, Ash. How goes things?"
"Hey, Rarity. We're just passing by Manehattan right now. What's up?"
"Well, Rainbow Dash is about to go through her next Frontier Battle."
"Right now?!" Ash gasped, clenching his teeth as he already had something else he was doing. "Oh, man...I'm gonna help Lucas find Nate at the Dragon Lands."A bit of a tough choice for the Alola Champion, who would have to choose between the two scenarios. Cheer on his friend or help his other friend find another friend. The latter was seeming more up his alley.
"I'm not stopping you, Ash." Lucas moved his head into the frame. "If you wanna go and watch the battle, do that. Me? I'm gonna focus on finding Nate. But man...I'd love to watch that Frontier Battle too."
"Hmm...I guess Pikachu and I can catch up later." Ash pondered before reaching a decision. "Alright. I'll see you at the Dragon Lands. Plus, I'm sure Nate's doing alright."
"In a place full of Dragons? I know he can take care of himself but he sounded serious on the phone..." Lucas had his doubts here and there.
"Spike will vouch for them." Twilight spoke through the Xtransceiver, knowing the Dragon Lands well and Spike's relationship with it. She would easily stave off any fears thanks to this knowledge. "With how things are, I doubt Nate is going to get hurt, but I do have to wonder how he got here without needing a gateway..."
"Sounds good to me. I'll be right there!" Ash grinned as his decision reached a positive conclusion. Hanging up the Xtransceiver, he was already on his way.
"Mmm..." As for Rainbow Dash, she was still unsure of what to make of this food. She found no enjoyment or disgust from it. Applejack and Pinkie Pie merely shrugged as they weren't sure themselves. When they weren't trying all that hard, this was the end result.
All of her other Pokemon had different reactions. Braviary looked like he was about to cry while Luxray lowered his head. Whether it was in shame or disappointment was unknown. Castform didn't seem to mind at all, having a blast regardless of the taste. Altaria felt the same way but Mienshao was clearly against it. So against it, she refused to eat anymore, crossing her arms and turning her head.
"Well, at least we know who's not willing to eat it." From what Fluttershy saw, it looked like Mienshao might not participate in this Frontier Battle. But she did tackle the very first one, so it wouldn't be that bad of a loss. It was time for the rest of her teammates to have their turn as well.
As for who might tackle this battle against Sharon, Braviary might be a good pick since he was struggling to enjoy the food. Luxray looked to be in the same boat while Altaria and Castform looked like they wouldn't mind whatever food they were offered. Depending on how many Pokemon Rainbow Dash could bring into this battle, she certainly had her pick.
As for the preparations of this battle, the food that would be offered was being made by the chefs of the Battle Carnival. Plenty of options were already selected for Rainbow Dash's team to tackle and they were very much different from what Applejack and Pinkie Pie had to offer.
The food here wasn't just any ordinary food. The chefs were all pouring unique spices onto them as well as adding new flavours that was sure to freshen things up. After all, this was going to be a Frontier Battle so it needed something surprising.
Sneaking through the carnival and heading towards the kitchen was none other than Cozy Glow. Using her small body, she would try and go unnoticed and since she was so small, many wouldn't notice her, too busy focused on the food. "Mmm...Something smells good." But even Cozy Glow wasn't immune to the delicious scent coming from the kitchen. Her wings would flutter in response to these options.
Her hooves were leaving the ground as she felt like gravitating towards them. But she quickly plastered herself back to the ground, remembering why she was here. Aware of Ash's group being present in this spot, she had to really show Daybreaker's alliance just how capable she was. No longer would she be a spy and the weakest of the group.
"Well. Looking for something?" Alas, she wasn't completely invisible. It was only a matter of time until someone spotted her. One of the cooks here spotted Cozy Glow.
"Ah! I uh..." Cozy Glow froze on the spot, unable to slip through without anyone spotting her. So much for that plan. But even though she was foiled in that department, the little filly was still crafty as seen by how she made a quick recovery with her next choice of words. "Sorry. I was just attracted to the food."
"Hah!" The burly chef unleashed a quick chuckle that was thunderous, making the little pegasus jump. "I don't blame you. But this isn't the type of food you should be coming for, no, no, no."
"Why not?"
"You're here to see the upcoming battle, aren't you? I don't want to spoil anything...but the food here has multiple different effects." The chef would gladly give a hint to Cozy Glow. "Once the Pokemon takes a bite out of it, it'll spice up the battle in different ways. If you're familiar with this Battle Frontier, you'll know
"Oooh...Could some of the food knock them out or put them to sleep then?"
"That depends. One of them can put a Pokemon to sleep as if they had been hit with Hypnosis or anything similar." Music to Cozy Glow's ears. She was about to take full advantage of this.
"Can I try?!" She asked. "I want to add my own effect in it!"
"You want to add something? Really?"
"Mhm! I'd love to do something more than just watching. It sounds like so much fun."
"Well...Aren't you a little young for that? The cooks here are experienced in their job which allows us to add the right effects to our food. We don't just sprinkle spices and flavours in."
"Don't worry, sir. I actually have a bit of a cooking experience." Cozy Glow winked, revealing she had some expertise in the culinary arts. Possibly not that much since she was still a child. "You can count on me making something special."
"If you say so. We'll give you one plate of food for you to use. Then, we'll make sure that it shows up during the battle." The cook allowed it.
Cozy Glow was elevated to hear this. She would have her chance and wasn't going to dissappoint at all. The food that she would experiment on will be added to this upcoming battle but she would do more than just make a random effect that would confuse Rainbow Dash and her Pokemon.
"After this, they'll think differently of me, without a doubt. I'll be able to snuff them all out before or even towards the end of this year's Festival. Cozy Glow was trying to take them out of the equation, completely rendering them useless. That was the thought racing through her mind. The fewer enemies, the better.
Both sides were hard at work. Rainbow Dash's side was attempting to prepare for the worst possible outcome, training their stomachs and taste buds while the side of Sharon was whipping up a plethora of delicacies that looked delicious at a first glance but some were definitely traps which would be impossible to spot.
At last, the time had come. Rainbow Dash's stomach was full along with all of her Pokemon. Eating before a Pokemon Battle is a good approach since it means they will be at their absolute best for this one. Refreshed and rejuvenated, she took a step forward, entering the Facility of Sharon. Ash had shown up just in time to watch this battle take place, surrounded by the crowd ponies, dragons, yaks and humans alike.
"Alright, Sharon! I'm ready!" Rainbow Dash declared. "My Pokemon and I are psyched and active!"
"Good." Sharon smiled, sitting on a couch with all the cameras focused on her. Soon, some of them locked onto Rainbow Dash once she made this declaration. "I was waiting for this. And now that we're both ready, I believe it's time to really lay out the rules for you." Getting up from her seat, and smoothening her hair, Sharon stepped forward. "You see, Rainbow Dash...I'm not going to battle you first."
"Y-You're not?" It seems that the battle with Sharon wouldn't be instant. Instead, something else would stand in Rainbow Dash's way.
"Not at all. Naturally, someone as I has to be last. I made sure that the facility would grant me that access. Which means, you'll have to face other Trainers before you can reach me."
"I'm battling more than one trainer?!" The pegasus pulled back. She didn't prepare for this. She merely expected it to be one battle against Sharon and that would be the end of it unless a rematch was on the horizon if she loses. But now it seems that Rainbow Dash would have to try and claim victory in the face of other trainers who would stand in her way.
"That's right. 3 different trainers will try and defeat you. And each time you go up against one of them, you'll be met with the culinary options. You should definitely know that each food option that's presented to you will have a different effect. Some good, some bad. It's similar to the battle with Nadya that you just had. It's all up to chance. if you can manage to defeat all three of them, you can come to me."
"Is she gonna have to take random breaks during each battle to eat something or is it after?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"You'll get that chance in random spurts, so be ready at all times." Sharon snapped her finger. "Don't think this is the only room for my facility. A girl such as myself needs more than this. You're simply standing in the first stage of my Battle Restaurant. Try and reach the last one, if you can."
"Mm." Rainbow Dash gulped as she has yet to go through a battle such as this. But she was ready to take the challenge head-on. She wasn't sure who these three Trainers were but she had to imagine that they were strong.
"And as for how many Pokemon you can use? For each battle, only two, but you can use all of them. It'll be a 2-on-2 battle each time, so good luck~" Sharon waved farewell before walking off to her own stage. "Bring in the first Trainer. I should warn you though. I've trained with these people ever since I was a child. They helped me get to where I am today, Please welcome my Laundress, Barbe."
Walking through those doors was the first Trainer. A Laundress, who was responsible for the cleaning of anything made of fabric in the household of Sharon's Rich Family. She was a rather gentle-looking lady, appearing in her 40s, and slightly stout.
"Good afternoon, dear." The Laundress Barbe greeted Rainbow Dash, giving a light bow to the multi-coloured maned mare. "I'm your first opponent before you can reach Lady Sharon."
"Uh, afternoon. Glad to have this battle with you." Rainbow Dash would bow back, seeing this as a proper meeting to the Laundress.
"I don't doubt for a moment that you can make it through me." Barbe showed kindness, encouraging Rainbow Dash by praising her.
"Oh, really? You think so?" The pegasus was glad to hear it, letting out a chuckle. "I mean, no offence, lady. But I'm pretty confident in myself too!"
"But overconfidence can also get you in trouble~. Lady Sharon learned that the hard way when she was young. And a lot like you."
"A lot like me?"
"Allow me to show you." She took out a Poke Ball of her own, having her first Pokemon at the ready. "I was the one who humbled her so don't let me do the same to you."
"Right!" Rainbow Dash whipped out her first Poke Ball. The referee was very much present here, ready to call everything that happens in this 2-on-2 battle and beyond.
"If she gets lucky, whatever food she finds might heal her Pokemon, I'm guessing." Fluttershy said. "If not, then going through all three trainers plus Sharon will be rough."
"I'm positive Rainbow Dash and her team can stomach their way through this. It seems like all of them will be participating and two of them clearly won't mind what comes next."
"Yeah. But if the food doesn't stop them, the other Pokemon will." But Ash knew that the food was just an addition. It was the strength of the Pokemon that truly mattered here. And looks can be deceiving which is something that Ash knew all too well. That sweet-looking Laundress was not to be underestimated for a moment.
"Let's go! Altaria!" For her first Pokemon, Rainbow Dash sent out her Altaria.
"Altaria!"
"Please help me, Cinccino."
"Cinccino!" Appearing on the stage was a Cinccino, who was the perfect Pokemon to help a Laundress when keeping things neat. But also a formidable Pokemon due to the variety of moves Normal-Types get.
"Made it!" Quickly rushing to the seats was Cozy Glow, who showed up at the last second when the battle was just about to start. Breathing in and out, she didn't want to miss this since somewhere in her battle, her food would show up. It was unknown if it would be in this battle, the next two or even the final one. Either way, the little pegasus was ecstatic to eventually see it appear.
"Ready? Battle Start!" The referee gave the call.
"Watch this! Altaria, use Ice Beam!"
"Tari!" Altaria would be the first to attack. Ascending into the air, the Humming Pokemon built up a chilling aura in her beak before transforming it into a beam.
"Cinccino, use Rock Blast, please!"
"Cino!" In response, Cinccino revealed a super-effective attack in the form of Rock Blast. Materializing a rock in its hands, the Scarf Pokemon unleashed it as it soon split into multiple rocks. The Ice Beam and Rock Blast met each other with the rocks rapidly beating against the chilling beam of Ice. Both attacks couldn't exactly push through even if the beam would freeze them. It resulted in a tie, creating an icy blue explosion.
"Go, Altaria! Hyper Voice!"
"Altaria!" Altaria used her speciality. Her bellowing voice which was beautiful to listen to. From her beak, a mighty soundwave was unleashed, blowing the smoke away thanks to the force oti.
"Ci!" Cinccino took the attack as it was pushed back by the soundwave, sliding on the ground.
"Go for an Iron Tail, my dear!"
"Cinccino!" Cinccino's tail would light up, receiving a steely strong texture. The Scarf Pokemon then leapt into the air, ready to swing the tail downwards.
"I know this approach! Hyper Voice again!"
"Alta...!" Altaria was ready to blast the Normal-Type in the air before it could even unleash Iron Tail. However, instead of going for a direct blow with Iron Tail, Cinccino did something else. It unleashed the light that was around Iron Tail, using it as a weapon. The light energy from Iron Tail was reflected off this bright and beautiful room, immediately blinding the Humming Pokemon. "Ta!"
"Cinccino!" This allowed Cinccino to land Iron Tail, delivering a powerful overhead to the Dragon-Flying-Type. Altaria took the blow, finding herself to be the one heading down. The other students certainly felt that hit as Altaria hurled through the air, hitting the stage. Thankfully, her wings acted as cushions, allowing the Humming Pokemon to bounce on the floor.
"Altaria! Are you alright?!"
"T-Tari!"
"It's not quite over yet. Seed Bomb, if you please!"
"Cino!" From above, Cinccino released another attack. This time, it was a Seed Bomb. A large seed was shot out, having an explosive energy waiting inside.
"Watch out! Use Ice Beam on the Seed Bomb!"
"Taria!" Quickly, Altaria released a short-burst Ice Beam that moved as fast as it could. The Ice Beam came flying out instantly, meeting with the explosive seed. It wasn't as strong as the previous Ice Beam, resulting in it being slightly pushed back by Seed Bomb. But either way, it managed to protect Altaria from further damage as the two attacks died out, resulting an explosion that was rather close to the Humming Pokemon.
"Whew..." The pegasus sighed. "That could've gone south fast. But we're still sitting pretty right now."
At that moment, a ringing sound went off. It was time for this Frontier Facility to reveal its main theme. The food. The battle came to a hold for a moment. From the walls of this facility, a table was revealed, sliding out with the delicious options appearing before them.
"Ooh. It's time to feast." Barbe said. This was the moment in the battle where things might change or stay the same depending on what happens. Cozy Glow had a bright grin on her face, waiting to see if her food was here. But alas, it was not. She viewed the options that appeared on the table and there was not a sign of hers.
"Wait...Is that it?" Cozy Glow uttered, confused by what she was viewing. She swore that her food would be automatically selected based on what the chef said, but that didn't seem to be the case. "Is this all the food?" She was not yet aware of the rules of this Frontier Battle.
"Not at all." But Potion Nova debunked it swiftly. "This is just the first battle. There's more waiting after this one."
"Ah...Good to know."
Rainbow Dash looked down at the table which came her way. In front of her were five of the most pleasant-looking dishes out there that didn't look like they would disappoint. All of these have been made by Sharon's personal cooks, as to be expected.
"So...It's a random effect, huh?" The pegaus gulped. "And it could mess me up too since I get to eat too."
"Don'#t be shy. Lady Sharon's cooks would never make food that tastes horrible. Only food that has varying effects."
"Wait, so it's not about tasting bad?!" Applejack and Pinkie Pie got it all wrong. They thought it had something to do with the taste, but unfortunately, that was not the case. In fact, the food was made to be as delicious as possible. In reality, it was the effects that mattered but they had no way to insert that into their own food when training with Rainbow Dash. Thus, Rainbow Dash was going in blind. It wasn't a matter of if she could stomach it. It was matter of if her Pokemon could continue battling in their best condition.
"Of course, my own Pokemon gets to have a bite as well." But it wasn't all one-sided. Barbe's Cinccino got have that opportunity for herself. Cinccino waltzed up to the table, eager to get a bite too.
"Here goes. Are you ready, Altaria?"
"Altaria?"
The pegasus was ready, taking a deep breath as she made her choice. She would go for the pasta that was in front of her since that looked the most pleasing to her. Altaria went for some spaghetti in response Rainbow Dash's pasta. Both dug their faces into the dishes, wasting no time and throwing away any hesitation.
"Mmm...!" Rainbow Dash, Altaria and Cinccino all felt great pleasure after consuming the food.
"T-Tari!" For Altaria, the effect kicked in. While the food was delicious, the side-effect, was not. Immediately, the Humming Pokemon felt her wings wobble and tremble rapidly, confusing her greatly. Everyone watched as Altaria's fluffly and playful wings suddenly turned limp. "Altaria?!"
"No way!" Rainbow Dash screeched. Altaria's Greatest Defence and her method of flying was gone. Now, they appeared as if they were crumpled and flat.
"Gross!" Some of the students expressed after seeing this. Altaria with deflated wings just looked absolutely horrific and unpleasant to the eyes.
"That's a shame. Deflated wings," said Barbe. "The effects here aren't just status effects, dearie. They're more than that as you can see, so you truly have to be ready. And as for sweet Cinccino, it looks like his physical strength has grown."
"Cinccino!" And as for Cinccino, he received a boost. The Scarf Pokemon flexed his arms, feeling stronger. The physical strength of Cinccino has just been increased, giving him an edge.
Things have been made harder for Rainbow Dash now that Altaria's wings were deflated. With this stunning drawback, she had no way of flying which meant that at best, Altaria was going to have to battle on the floor which was still manageable. However, Altaria's defence which came from her cloud-like wings have been crippled, leaving her vulnerable. This was only the first opponent in this Frontier Battle. Two more trainers were waiting and at the end was Sharon.
Equestria. Manehattan. Battle Carnival. Battle Frontier. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
For Rainbow Dash's next Frontier Battle, she took on the Battle Restaurant which had three trainers to tackle before she can even reach Sharon. The Frontier Brain. Altaria and her took their first bite and while nothing happened to Rainbow Dash, Altaria received a bad side-effect.
Her wings were deflated, losing their playful and soft cloud-like appearance entirely. That also meant that Altaria's defences had been cut since it was thanks to her wings that she had such good defence. Meanwhile, Cinccino, who also ate the food, received a boost in physical strength, giving him an advantage.
"She can't battle like that, can she?" said Pinkie Pie. "All that fluffy goodness is gone!"
"All of Cinccino's attacks are going to land because of this." Rarity bit her hoof.
"Hm-hm-hm. Once again, my potions prove to be amazing." Of course, Potion Nova was involved in this. Her potions were responsible for the gimmicks in the Battle Arcade and they have now carried over at the Battle Restaurant. It seems like every Frontier Facility involves her potions. "No hard feelings though."
"This is making us Dragons look bad." Some of the Dragon students weren't too pleased with this. They were obviously supporting Altaria since she was a Dragon.
"M-Maybe the beak can still work?" Smolder tried looking on the bright side.
"Please don't tell me this is gonna carry over until the end." Rainbow Dash grizzled her teeth. "We're gonna have to improvise on the floor, Altaria!"
"Tari?" Altaria gasped. The thought of battling on only the floor was rather intimidating. She was all about the sky and nothing else, but at this rate, she would have to tackle her greatest disadvantage. "Altaria...!"
"Now, Cinccino! Use, Rock Blast, if you will!"
"Cinno!" Taking advantage of this scenario, Cinccino generated a mass of rocks in his hands. There was no way for Altaria to avoid this so this meant that the attack would land and deal super-effective damage.
"We're not completely powerless! Moonblast!"
"Altaria!" Altaria still had access to her moves, such as Moonblast. By drawing on the power of the Moon itself, she generated a pink sphere that showed up in front of her beak. At the same time, Cinccino and Altaria unleashed their attacks. A giant rock and a large sphere were thrown out, meeting each other.
The clash was fierce and heavy, resulting in both attacks equalizing upon contact. Altaria could still keep up in terms of the strength department. However, this was where the setbacks appeared. Even though she managed to stop one Rock Blast, it was a continuous attack. The remaining rocks came flying in, moving through the smoke and surprising Altaria.
"Tari?!" Shocked, Altaria would receive these rocks that would repeatedly crash into her. The Humming Pokemon took heavy damage from this which was elevated thanks to the loss of her fluffy wings. The Dragon-Flying-Type was launched back by the rocks, staggered and stunned.
"This should do it. Use Iron Tail, next!"
"Cinno!" Cinccino would continue attacking, hardening his tail and moving in for another heavy blow. Altaria was still staggered by the Rock Blasts and thanks to Cinccino's speed as such a small Pokemon, he got there swiftly, delivering a powerful swing to Altaria's face. "Cinccino!"
"T-Taria!" Crying out, this battle was not looking good for Rainbow Dash. And Zeraora felt the same way. She was rooting for Rainbow Dash and seeing her being put on the backfoot like this was upsetting, prompting the Thunderclap Pokemon to cry out and lean forward, attempting to jump in.
"Slow down, Zeraora!" Ash and Luna held Zeraora back, preventing her from jumping in. Doing so would ruin things. She would just have to watch how things would play out. But Ash and Luna knew that Rainbow Dash wouldn't let something lik this overwhelm her forever.
"This isn't over yet! Wings or not, she can still fly!" Rainbow Dash roared. "Use Ice Beam on the floor!"
"Alta...!" Altaria's head was leaning back after the Iron Tail that she received. And the second that Cinccino went for another one, the Humming Pokemon quickly jolted her head forward, aiming the chilling beam of ice downwards. By doing so, not only did she avoid the incoming Iron Tail, but she made herself airborne. The force of the beam sent her upwards while intercepting the Iron Tail.
Everyone's heads went up to see Altaria taking flight once more. But it wouldn't be forever. She still couldn't fly and could fall down at any second, leaving her incredibly vulnerable.
"Rock Blast, please!"
"Cinccino!" Cinccino wouldn't let her get away. Yet again, Rock Blast was used, aimed upwards to pursue the Humming Pokemon.
"Go higher! Hyper Voice!"
"Tari! Taria!" Altaria would keep herself in the air a bit longer. And she did so by using Hyper Voice, generating a mighty shockwave that would send her upwards once more. Not only that, but it would hold back the Rocks, keeping them from reaching the Dragon-Flying-Type.
"Nice work! But we still need to take down that Cinccino and I know just the play! Dive down with Dragon Pulse!"
"Aria!" By turning around, Altaria would send herself towards Cinccino, using yet another beam to launch herself. This time, it was Dragon Pulse, which propelled her downwards and at great speeds too. The force of Dragon Pulse had enough strength to slingshot Altaria.
"C-Cinno!" A successful contact. Cinccino was struck by the incoming missile that was Altaria, causing both of them to hit the ground hard. A large smoke cloud appeared thanks to this stunning impact and from it, out flew Cinccino.
"Oh no! My dear, Cinccino!" Laundress Barbe gasped upon seeing Cinccino take a rather rough blow.
"This will finish it! Ice Beam!"
"Tari!" Altaria would also fly out of the smoke, but by using Ice Beam. There was no way she was going to run on the floor so she had to improvise by using her own moves to propel her through the air. And it was rather efficient as seen by how she used Ice Beam to launch herself towards Cinccino. Another direct tackle by Altaria, who knocked Cinccino further away.
"Cinccino..." From that devastating follow-up, Cinccino tasted defeat instead of Altaria, fainting.
"Cinccino is unable to battle! Altaria wins!"
"Yes! Made it through the first Pokemon! Now there's just one more left! Awesome work, Altaria!"
"Tari." Altaria was glad to hear it. Even with her disadvantage, she could still make a turnaraound. Zeraora was especially happy to see this. It seems like she had nothing to fear after all.
"Zera!" The Thunderclap Pokemon was excited and elated after seeing Altaria make a comeback, prompting her to unintentionally shoot lightning from her body which made the crowd jerk back. Poor Ash received a bunch of shocks because of this.
"Oh, my sweet, Cinccino." Barbe sighed before returning her partner. She was now down to one Pokemon while Rainbow Dash still had her Altaria out, albeit very damaged. Altaria took a ton of damage, especially with her greatest defence being crippled and yet she hung in there and seized victory for herself. "Then, it's up to you. My dear Rotom!" Barbe sent out her next Pokemon, which was a Rotom. Specifically, it was a Wash Rotom.
"Rotom!"
"Rotom, huh...? Return, for now, Altaria." Rainbow Dash chose to bring Altaria back, letting her rest. Her wings were still inactive after all. "You're up! Castform!"
"Castform!" Flying out of Rainbow Dash's saddlebag was Castform, ready for a battle. Rainbow Dash's approach was to have Castform's radioactive cells kick in for this battle. Plus, any Ghost-Type moves will be ineffective as long as Castform remains in his Normal Form.
"This will do! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Rotooom!" Its entire body started jittering, building up 100,000 volts of electricity from within. And out of the washing machine door, a blast of lightning was unleashed upon Castform.
"Use Hurricane!"
"Cast!" Castform had a powerful response. By spinning his entire body, he generated a strong gale of wind that would act as a barrier and a counterattack against the Thunderbolt.
The strong zephyr would clash with the lightning bolt which caused a volatile reaction. Sparks would fly everywhere thanks to the outburst. To everyone's surprise, Hurricane managed to push through the Thunderbolt as Castform overpowered Rotom-Wash.
"Ro!" Shocked by this, Rotom-Wash would fly back to avoid the fierce wind that absorbed its Thunderbolt.
"Please, use Hydro Pump!"
"Tom!" Opening its door once more, Rotom unleashed a high volume blast of water against the Hurricane. This one had a greater effect than Thunderbolt as seen by how it managed to hold the Hurricane back. Thanks to this equal power, the Hydro Pump managed to stop the Hurricane, resulting in a tie.
"Go for it, Castform! Reflect Type!"
"Form!" It was time for Castform's speciality to kick in. Flying through the smoke and the water, the Normal-Type unleashed the power of his radioactive cells, locking onto Rotom. He was about to mimic its typing but he would do more than just that. By focusing on the Electric-Water-Typing, his cells would release a shockwave of the two types as usual. The students witnessed Rainbow Dash's Castform's cells in action.
A burst of lightning and water flew out of his body, eclipsing the entire area. This was a way for him to get some quick damage in and it was rather effective. Rotom-Wash never saw it coming as seen by how it was both shocked and launched by the radioactive outburst. "Rotom?!"
And by copying the typing, the radioactive cells in Castform's body would also change his form. In this case, it went straight for his Rain Form thanks to the Water-Typing.
"Now, use Energy Ball!
"Form! Castform!" Castform would tap into the power of nature, approaching Rotom-Wash at the same time. The Plasma Pokemon would meet with Castform based on what Barbe said next.
"Use Thunderbolt once more!"
"Ro!" Rotom's Thunderbolt was shot out at the approaching Castform, making it a near-up-close encounter. Castform generated the ball of nature in front of him, using it as a shield. The lightning bolt made contact with the sphere, resulting in an explosion that did not favour Castform.
"C-Cast!" Castform cried out as his sphere was destroyed and his body was immediately electrocuted. Even though he was in his Rain Form, he had the Electric-Typing thanks to Reflect-Type, which gave him some resistance.
"Hydro Pump!"
"Tom!" Rotom followed up with Hydro Pump, but it would be the one getting up close and personal this time. Opening its door, the Plasma Pokemon approached Castform, attempting to trap him inside.
"Cast?!" Castform gasped, but it was too late to zip away. Right before everyone's eyes, Castform was pulled in and locked inside of Rotom.
"Aaah!" Rainbow Dash's eyes nearly popped out of her head and so did the others. "Castform!"
"Oops. A bit of a habit on Rotom's part." Barbe chuckled. "Oh well. Perhaps we can give Castform a bit of a wash. Battling whips up a lot of sweat after all, even if you can't see it."
"Rotom-tom!" Rotom continued to use Hydro Pump, pulling it off as if it were cleaning clothes. In this case, it was cleaning Castform.
"C-Cast! Castform!" Naturally, this was uncomfortable and perplexing for Castform in every possible way. His small body was being turned and spun around by a fierce torrent of water. His eyes were also spinning as he was obviously getting dizzy from all of this. He was so lucky that he managed to copy both the Electric and Water-Typing but he was still taking damage continuously. Meanwhile, Rotom was floating there with its smile, enjoying this greatly.
"Get out of there, Castform! Energy Ball!"
"Form!" But try as he might, Castform's Energy Ball was useless. He summoned the ball of nature, only for it to be absolutely crushed by the spiralling water. It was moving too fast for the Energy Ball to properly build up.
"Weather Ball!"
"C-Cast!" Another Ball Attack was used, but even his signature move was made irrelevant. It was made out of Water so all that did was just allow Hydro Pump to grow even stronger.
Castform was getting absolutely battered by the spiralling waves with seemingly no way of breaking free. And everyone had to hear this beatdown as they could hear Castform's cries and each time his body would bang against the glass door and the walls of Rotom-Wash.
"Come on, break out of it, already!" The students were certainly getting into it, screaming from the crowd.
"Zera!" So was Zeraora, who would witness a Pokemon Battle without needing to worry about someone losing their home or anything related to it.
"I think this one is about to wrap up, dearie." Barbe chuckled. "After this, it will be Altaria. I should warn you...once your Pokemon faints, that's it. They won't be able to join in the next battle, I'm afraid."
"Say what?!" This certainly made things harder. If either one of her Pokemon faints, they won't be able to tackle the next trainer or even reach Sharon. The Battle Frontier was truly a place where a Trainer's true strength can be revealed before they could enter the Equestria League. "No way, that's going to happen! We'll do our own spinning! Hurricane!"
"C-Cast...Cast! Castform!" Castform mustered all the strength that he could. There was one attack that was far beyond Weather Ball and Energy Ball. Hurricane. He would use his own spiral. With his eyes glowing, Castform released a strong gale of wind that had a stronger and faster build-up than the other two attacks. The wind would meet with the Hydro Pump, clashing against its spin which would result in a volatile reaction.
"Ro?" And Rotom certainly felt it. Its smile transformed into a frown, indicating that something was very wrong in there. The force of Castform's Hurricane was actually causing Rotom's body to shake. The clash of Hurricane and Hydro Pump was the main cause of this. Rotom wasn't in control of the other spinning force from within. "Tom! R-Rotom!"
"R-Ro! Rotom!" But nothing in this vain. It was used to drying clothes. Not a Hurricane. Castform was indirectly harming himself in the process, but he had to do what he had to do. Castform was currently trapped within his own Hurricane, taking more and more damage. He closed his eyes, trying to take in all the pain while Rotom was struggling to keep its door locked.
The door was aggressively shaking, unable to contain the chaos happening inside. And just like that, the door would burst open, releasing a mighty burst of water and wind. Rainbow Dash closed her eye as the strong burst of elements came flying in her direction. She was drenched by the water while still managing to keep her hooves on the ground. The rest of the crowd also found themselves being drenched by the water which was spread out by the fierce wind. And speaking of the fierce wind, it ended up shooting Castform out of Rotom-Wash while also carrying the Plasma Pokemon through the air.
A truly risky play from Rainbow Dash and Castform, but an effective one nonetheless. Perhaps a bit too effective as seen how by Rotom-Wash hit the ground hard. Joining it was Castform who would also drop. In the end, both of them fainted.
"Castform..."
"Rotom..."
"Both Rotom and Castform are unable to battle! Thus, the winner of this stage with one Pokemon left is Rainbow Dash!" That was the end of the first stage, prompting an applause from the crowd. They had two more battles to look forward to and the final one with Sharon, which made the students absolutely giddy. They were starting to ignore the gimmicks that they found lame in the beginning due to how exciting this was.
"Zeraora!" Pleased by this, Zeraora would unleashing a flare of electricity from her body, shocking Ash once more.
"Y-Yeah...It's great, Zeraora." But Ash was absolutely used to this by now. Being around Pikachu created this stellar resistance to such powerful outbursts.
"Hmph. Maybe the next battle is where it can really shine." Cozy Glow was just waiting for her food to show up, just to sabotage everything and prove herself to Daybreaker's alliance.
"Phew." Rainbow Dash sighed before walking over to her downed partner. "It was worth it in the end. Thanks, Castform. You helped us get through to the next stage."
"C-Cast..." Castform was happy to hear that. He helped Rainbow Dash get through this and kept Altaria safe for the next battle. Unfortunately, he couldn't take part in the next one.
"Well done, Rainbow Dash." Laundress Barbe congratulated the pegasus for a hard-fought battle on the first stage. "Perhaps, I didn't need to teach you a lesson."
"Well, I've got some great friends with me, that's why." She giggled. "But geez...That was just the first stage? And that's all before I can even take on Sharon?"
"I did say I trained her. Lady Sharon had plenty of teachers in her life and two more of them are waiting for you just beyond this stage. But before that, you should heal. While you may not be able to let Altaria battle next, you can still heal all of your Pokemon. With this."
The food would make another appearance. From the walls, the table appeared a second time, this time, with a second batch of food. Neither of it was what Cozy Glow made. Instead, all the food here was healing food, allowing Rainbow Dash's party to freshen up before the next stage. The Battle Frontier was difficult but not unfair.
"Thanks!" Thanking the Laundress, Rainbow Dash made her way to the table, to freshen herself and her Pokemon up. She didn't have to worry about any side-effects this time. But if this battle was anything to go by, the next batch of food would mess either one of her Pokemon up, tackling their greatest strengths.
"Zera?" So amazed by what she saw and invested, Zeraora wished to jump in there and join the battle, wondering if she could get a turn.
"I'm sorry, but you can't join, Zeraora." Fluttershy said. "It's just Rainbow Dash's six Pokemon that she's already registered. But you can still watch."
"Ora..." Zeraora pouted. It was a shame she couldn't join. She wasn't even Rainbow Dash's Pokemon which was another setback. All she could do was watch, which wasn't a bad thing at all.
The Dragon Lands.
During the Battle, the Dragon Lands, which was where Twilight Sparkle, Spike and Lucas were heading to, was still dealing with a surprise guest from another universe. Of course, that guest was none other than the Trainer Nate, who wished to leave the place. But something was obviously keeping him at bay.
Not only that, but at the Dragon Lands, there were craters everywhere. Not that there weren't craters before, but suddenly, there was a mass increase in them. They were very much recent as seen by the smoke coming out of them. But it wasn't just smoke.
It was also plasma. The same element that Zeraora, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Celestia's Gardevoir and to an extent Rotom can tap into. It was fizzling and sparking from the craters, running across the Dragon Lands. And completely unconscious, fainted after a battle were many Dragon-Types.
Since these were the Dragon Lands, it made sense for them all to have Dragon Pokemon, but all of them have fainted. And it wasn't a result of all the Dragons battling each other, even though that would be common here, but it was done by someone else. Someone that Ember was facing, concealed by the smoke. It was the one they called Nate, who was the only Human here.
"Oh, you're something else.." Ember said, looking at the silhouette of Nate, who was standing there with an intimidating aura. All the other Dragons were actually intimidated by him and backed away. They lost the battle after all, but it wasn't quite over yet. the Dragon Lord Ember was about to take her on. Before Twilight's group can get here, they will be met with a rather shocking sight. As the journey continues.
Equestria. Manehattan. Battle Carnival. Battle Frontier. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Successfully defeating the Laundress Barbe, Rainbow Dash moved onto the second stage of the Battle Restaurant. Her next opponent was awaiting her. Thankfully, the next batch of food she and her Pokemon received had healing properties, even if she couldn't let Castform battle in the next stage. As for the crowd, the seats they sat on would start moving, shifting stages just to keep up with this current battle.
"This is the one. Without a doubt." In her mind, Cozy Glow was still thinking of the food she offered up and the surprise that was waiting behind it. It didn't show up in the first stage but she was confident that it would make an appearance on this stage next.
"So, do you think Altaria's wings are gonna go back to normal? They stayed the same even after she ate the food." Sandbar asked.
"Eeeh..." Potion Nova clenched her teeth, rapidly shifting and rolling her eyes. "Well, after the battle is over. I made it so that the effects of my potions run out after a Frontier Battle comes to an end. So unfortunately for Altaria, she's stuck with those deflated wings until this is all over."
"Harsh, don't you think?" Rarity side-eyed Potion Nova, finding that to be a bit cruel to Altaria, who absolutely loved to fly.
"They wanted me to make it a challenge for the Trainers so I had to come up with something." Potion Nova pouted, feeling a bit bad. "It's fine though. Rainbow Dash looks like she can manage just fine even with these disadvantages."
"Of course, she can. Ash trained her after all. She can still win this." Scootaloo uttered. With the seats shifting to the next stage, Rainbow Dash would also appear there and waiting for her was the next opponent.
"Welcome! I see you've already gotten past Barbe." Standing there was another servant of Sharon's family household. A rather large and muscular man stood there with his arms crossed.
"Yeah. And you are...?"
"I am Lady Sharon's bodyguard. I've been protecting her from harm since she was a child." He said. "Hector's the name. Lady Sharon's fortitude came from me...but you haven't reached her yet. And you'll never experience this since this is as far as you go."
"Pssh. If you say so." She held out her next Poke Ball. "Let's make this quick. I've got plans after this Battle Frontier and I'm just starting to look even cooler in front of everyone watching this."
"So quick to be humbled, are we?" Hector would hold his Poke Ball out as well. "Fine then. My Sawk and I will put you in your place!" Hector revealed his first Pokemon and it was a Sawk.
"Sawk!"
"Go! Mienshao!" For Rainbow Dash's third pick, the Martial Arts Pokemon Mienshao was unleashed.
"Mienshao!" It would be Fighting-Type against Fighting-Type. A fair matchup since neither really had any advantages or disadvantages, making this a promising battle from the start.
"The next batch of food that comes by...I won't even bother to eat." Hector shook his head, revealing he wouldn't take the chance of eating the food that was offered up. "I prefer to do things naturally."
"Same here. And I think Mienshao feels the same way. But if it comes down to it, I'll take a swing at it. Plus, the food just tastes so good..." Rainbow Dash's mouth almost melted after speaking those words.
Watching this play out elsewhere was Sharon, who was in her own stage. This entire time, she's been observing Rainbow Dash's battle with Barbe, seeing how she moves. And so far, Sharon liked what she was seeing.
"Battle Start!"
"Let's start off strong! Close Combat!"
"Mien!" Mienshao moved in, ready to use her strongest move possible to truly wrap this battle up in as soon as possible.
"Answer with your own Close Combat!"
"Sawk!" But Sawk also had Close Combat in his arsenal. Both Fighting-Types approached each other, ready to engage in the true definition of Close Combat. Both of their arms crossed each other, resulting in an immediate clash as they just barely missed each other's faces.
The two Fighting-Types then entered a fierce up close exchange. Mienshao relied on her swift movements as to be expected, throwing in a rapid flurry of strikes. But Sawk was in the same boat, having swift strikes as well. Their arms moved at high speeds, appearing as blurs as sparks would appear just from their hands and paws clashing with each other.
Mienshao was trying to put the pressure on Sawk, but found that it would be harder than that. Sawk was focused on defence more than offence as seen by how he was deflecting and meeting some of Mienshao's attacks. Mienshao snarled seeing her attacks being deflected. She could try speeding up as much as she want, Sawk was going to keep up with her.
"Sawk!" Sawk's true speciality came in the form of his chop, as seen by how he managed to slide one in. After deflecting an incoming strike from Mienshao, he delivered a mighty chop to her head.
"M-Mien!" Mienshao's head started shaking from that impact as she was staggered. Afterwards, Sawk would perform a mighty backhand that knocked her aside. The Martial Arts Pokemon was sent flying, tumbling and rolling on the floor before managing to recover.
"Return, Sawk." At that moment, Hector returned the Karate Pokemon, already switching him out for someone else, surprising Rainbow Dash. Judging by how swiftly he made this change, she believed he was about to send out a Flying, Fairy, Psychic or Ghost-Type to mess up Mienshao. "Appear! Throh!"
"Throh!" Instead, It was the brother of Sawk. Throh. Hector had the two Unovan Martial Artists in his party while also facing off against another Unovan Martial Artist.
"Switching out already? Okay then." Rainbow Dash wasn't complaining. The sooner she can take down all two of his Pokemon, the better. "Hit back, Mienshao! Use Aura Sphere!"
"Mien...Shao!" Mienshao generated a ball of concentrated Aura in her paw, soon launching it at the Judo Pokemon. Throh was certainly slower than Sawk, but he still possessed great strength.
"Vital throw!"
"Throh!" Throh couldn't hope to avoid this attack. So instead, he was going to throw it back at Mienshao. With his hands out, he met with the Aura Sphere, managing to hold it. The fierce Aura would pulsate as Throh certainly needed to put a ton of force into keeping this attack from properly landing. But after containing it, the Judo Pokemon would throw it back at Mienshao!"
"Shao?!" Mienshao gasped seeing her own attack returning to her, prompting the Martial Arts Pokemon to sway her body. She narrowly avoided the attack as the strength that Throh threw it back at gave it stunning speed. The Aura Sphere crashed into the walls of the stage, finally coming to an end.
"Come close. If you dare." Hector smiled, suggesting that Rainbow Dash should get up-close and personal with Throah. But obviously, Throh was an expert at up-close exchanges.
"Oh, I'll get close, alright. Knowing this, Rainbow Dash would still go for it. Use Acrobatics, Mienshao!"
"Mien!" Mienshao had a super-effective move waiting. She took off, swiftly moving through the floor and preparing for a mighty leap.
"Earthquake!"
"Throh!" Stomping on the floor, Throh created a mighty tremor that spawned golden shockwaves. However, thanks to Acrobatics, Mienshao leapt over the incoming shockwaves, allowing her to approach Throh.
"Mienshao!" Mienshao landed a super-effective blow, striking at Throh's face.
"T-Throh!" Throh certainly felt it, as seen by how Mienshao started driving her foot into his face, making the attack linger. Afterwards, Mienshao leapt off Throh's face, performing a stylish backflip for the audience. However, even after dealing such a super-effective hit, Throh did not move back. Instead, his feet stayed right where they were and his movements did not change.
"Woah...He took that?!" A stunned Rainbow Dash said. She at least expected Throh to slide back or something.
"Do you think I wasn't prepared for super-effective attacks? As Lady Sharon's bodyguard, you have to be ready for everything and whatever moves you have won't be guaranteed to instantly win, Rainbow Dash."
"We'll see about that." Rainbow Dash grinned while having a sweat drop appear on her head.
"She's the one with a Braviary, right? Why doesn't she just use that?" Gallus pointed out.
"Sometimes Rainbow Dash makes things challenging for herself. It's more fun that way. She got it from Ash since he loves battling with the opposite type a lot." Sweetie Belle answered.
"It's supposed to be fun?" Gallus wasn't seeing it. In his mind, using the best possible type was always the most efficient play, no matter what. "I mean, looking at this is fun but..."
"I'll break through those defences! Watch me! Close Combat!"
"Mienshao!" Mienshao would have to unleash a flurry of attacks on Throh since she had him beat in the speed department. Wasting no time, the Martial Arts Pokemon approached her fellow Fighting-Type.
"Hmph. Brace yourself, Throh!"
"Throh!" Throh would spread his arms out, preparing for the worst. Instead of delivering a swift counterattack, he was going to take all of these hits. And he certainly did. Mienshao started unloading a fierce flurry of strikes against the Judo Pokemon, hitting his chest. Throh stood there, taking all of those hits.
Everyone was shocked to see Throh standing there, receiving a barrage of hard and swift blows and yet his body was still not budging. He stood there as if he were an iron wall. But this iron wall couldn't be broken through with bare fists.
"Mien...!" Mienshao snarled, trying her absolute best to break through his defences. But there was a reason why these Pokemon were the bodyguards of Sharon. Taking heavy hits such as these were why. Throh just looked at Mienshao's snarling face with an unchanging serious expression, which was his only expression.
"Is that all?" Hah!" Hector chuckled. "So much ferocity! And for what?! Perhaps I can just wait you out until your Pokemon run out of stamina."
"Keep talking old man! This isn't the first brick wall I've run into!" Rainbow Dash was a bit off based on what wall she was going up against. "And it won't be the last one I break! Go, Mienshao!"
"Mien!" One of Mienshao's strikes looked to be far stronger than the rest based on how hard she cocked her fist back. It was so strong that it actually made Throh's eyes go up, along with Hector's. This next hit wasn't to be taken lightly.
"Now! Vital Throw!"
"Throh!" Right as this next strike came flying in, Throh would grab Mienshao's arm, stopping the attack entirely. But that wasn't all. After grabbing her arm, the Judo Pokemon would perform a One-Hand Reversal, bringing the Martial Arts Pokemon down by grabbing not just her arm but also her heel.
"S-Shao!" Mienshao gasped as she laid on her back with one arm and one leg up while Throh kept her there.
"Now! Seismic Toss!"
"Throh!" At that moment, Throh would unleash one of the most devastating Fighting-Type moves out there. Seismic Toss. First, he threw Mienshao into the air, allowing her to break free from this hold. But not for long. Throh would also leap into the air, continuing his attack on his airborne foe. Throh grabbed onto Mienshao, ascending higher in the stadium. The two fall to the ground head first but Throh lets go at the last second, leaving the Martial Arts Pokemon to crash.
"Mienshao! Are you okay!" Rainbow Dash cried out as her mane was blowing elegantly thanks to the fierce shockwave.
"M-Mien...!" Mienshao growled while on the floor, absolutely staggered by that blow. She was still active and able to battle, but she was certainly perplexed by what she had to experience. Standing over her was Throh, who wasn't going to leave her spot.
"I believe this is where your Mienshao meets its end," said Hector. "That previous strike did look intimidating enough, I must admit."
"Come on, Rainbow Dash! Whip out your Z-Move and win!" Pinkie Pie cheered, suggesting the usage of the Fighting-Type Z Move. Just then, with a bell sound going off, it was time for the food to appear. The walls opened up to reveal the table of food. Four options, just like before. Rainbow Dash was technically saved by the bell in this instance, having the time to take a break even if Hector wouldn't partake in the food.
And on that table was Cozy Glow's food. The brightest smile appeared on her face as her own selection finally made an appearance and the surprise that was waiting in it. This was the moment she was waiting for.
"Bingo! My meal is here!" She giggled with glee and excitement. Rather malicious excitement. "I'm not a novice when it comes to magic. And the spice I've added is sure to render Rainbow Dash useless. Her body will turn numb and still and let out an energy that'll affect even her Poke Balls so her Pokemon won't be able to do much either. Then, all the blame can go straight to the Battle Frontier and I'm totally safe."
She did have something devious waiting. The plan was to render Rainbow Dash static and still with a strange energy that would apparently hit even her Pokemon, minus Mienshao, of course. The Battle Frontier would take the blame, bringing this battle to a halt and Cozy Glow would have successfully defeated one of the Mane 6, making Rainbow Dash unable to do much at all.
Afterwards, she would focus on the rest of them, having Pinkie Pie on her mind next. The young pegasus already thought about tackling Pinkie Pie's Mew since it was such a rare and powerful Pokemon.
"It isn't over yet. Return, for now, Mienshao." To save Mienshao, Rainbow Dash chose to recall her. "Alright. I can't get past Throh with strikes. I got it."
"Not just strikes, but everything else. You'll need a lot to really stop my Throh. His body has been made to take attacks such as brute force. And my Sawk is a master of deflection, as you've already seen."
"Oh, yeah? Everyone's got a weakness. I don't care how durable your Throh is." Rainbow Dash held out her next Poke Ball, swearing that she would take Throh down. "Go, Altaria!"
"Altaria!" Returning to the stage was Altaria. Her wings were still deflated, unfortunately. Until the entire Battle Restaurant comes to an end, she was stuck like this for now.
"Altaria. I know this is pretty risky, but let's try eating again. We'll see if this one heals you in some way." Rainbow Dash would take the risk, choosing to go for the food instead of finding another way out of this mess. She was hoping that the food in front of her would be enough to rectify Altaria's current setback.
Hector and Throh would simply watch as the duo went straight for the table. Everyone leaned in with anticipation while Cozy Glow was rubbing her hooves together, waiting for the outcome. Once this goes off, she can head back to Daybreaker's alliance, showing the group just how capable she could be. However, there was just one thing Cozy Glow didn't account for that soon clicked into her head.
The correct choice.
With four options in front of them, it was only natural for there to be a chance of Rainbow Dash choosing a completely different dish. And that is exactly what occurred. Cozy Glow's giggles ceased and her body was the one turning still once she saw Rainbow Dash taking a completely different dish.
Instead, Altaria was the one about to take Cozy Glow's dish. "Wait...This isn't how it's supposed to be!" The young pegasus was screaming internally, realizing the one fatal mistake she missed. And it was too late to stop what was coming as Rainbow Dash and Altaria went straight for it.
"Mmm-mm!" The dish that Rainbow Dash indulged in was obviously delicious, soothing her fears and worries.
As for Altaria, the food she ate had a special spice involved. All the other dishes had spices of Potion Nova's potions involved just to give out different dishes but Cozy Glow added her own twist to it, just for the sake of bringing down Rainbow Dash. However, it was clear that this was meant for only Rainbow Dash and no one else.
"Tari?"
"What's wrong Altaria?" Rainbow Dash asked while her mouth was still full.
"Tari...Alta...!" Altaria squinted her eyes as her body was suddenly pulsating with pink sparkles flying out. Her wings were not returning to normal, unfortunately, but something was happening to them. They were starting to wiggle in response to Altaria's pulsating body. Even Hector had to pay attention to this odd occurrence.
Right before everyone's eyes, Altaria was seen transforming into something else. Something more compact. Everyone gasped as the Humming Pokemon's body was turned into a cube. Her body became smaller and more restrained, giving her a less dynamic appearance.
"W-What is this!?" Rainbow Dash swallowed her food before looking in disbelief.
"She's a cube! How's that fair?!" Smolder exclaimed before looking at Potion Nova. "Miss...!"
"Uh...I-I didn't add that effect to my potion!" Potion Nova herself knew that this wasn't one of the options in the Battle Restaurant. "I don't even have a potion for that! Honest!"
"Well, this is um..." Hector scratched his hair. "One of the reasons why I didn't take the risk. This is an odd scenario."
"Well...At least I know it works. I guess the Frontier is still going to take the blame and Miss Potion Nova too. But I really wanted to take down Rainbow Dash. She can just catch another Pokemon to fix this...!" Cozy Glow was rather irritated by this. Her plan was a bust, affecting the wrong Pokemon. However, there was something else that Cozy Glow didn't see coming.
Her potion worked a little too well. Not only did it turn Altaria into a cube, but it started turning the floor into a bunch of cubes. Rainbow Dash looked down to see the floor being broken down into even more simpler shapes. Squares were already used to build these, but now they would be turning into the alternate variant of cubes. The pegasus took flight, keeping her hooves away from the floor. "Woah..."
The walls were being turned into cubes as well as it seemed to only affect Altaria and the environment. Not exactly others. Cozy Glow groaned as her plan was to keep Rainbow Dash in this state and capture her. Her body would be miniscule by the end of it and she would be kept as a prisoner, unable to move or do anything else. Alas, poor Altaria was the victim of that and the environment didn't really receive that large of an impact.
"Hm. You can call it quits now if you want, Rainbow Dash." Hector suggested. "No shame in doing so with this predicament. The Frontier is truly sorry for this mishap."
"Mmm..." The pegasus closed her eyes. Altaria's predicament was an odd one. It seems like this was it for her. She did her best so far, defeating Cinccino and managing to make it to this stage of the Battle Restaurant even with this setback. That would be two Pokemon down, leaving Rainbow Dash with only four.
"Tari!" At that moment, Altaria cried out to Rainbow Dash. She already knew what her best friend was thinking and she absolutely refused to let it happen. Altaria didn't want to accept her defeat here.
"Altaria?" Rainbow Dash gasped after hearing her partner's cry. "You wanna keep going?"
"In that state? Impossible!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Alright. If you say so." Rainbow Dash put her trust in Altaria, not doubting the Humming Pokemon for a second. If Altaria believed she could still do something, then so be it. "And I know what we can do! I wasn't sure about this, but it doesn't hurt it to try it now!" At that moment, Rainbow Dash whipped out her Aerial Goggles, placing them on. And on those goggles was the Mega Stone.
Mega Evolution was nigh.
By tapping onto the Mega Stone, Rainbow Dash harnessed the power of Mega Evolution as a golden energy fly out, resonating with the Altarianite. Since the Altarianite was within Altaria, the energy it let out of would flare out of the Dragon-Flying-Type's body.
Eyes were wide as they marvelled as the brilliant light that emerged from the cube. Altaria's cubed body would glow, releasing brilliant rays for everyone to see. "Altaria! Mega Evolve!"
"Altaria!" At that moment, with a stellar flash, the cubed body of Altaria was enveloped, causing her to become a body of light. She would ascend, taking flight once more as the light forced Hector and Throh to squint. Sharon already stood up for this after seeing Altaria's body become a cube. She oversaw all of the options in her own Battle Restaurant and never expected this. But her and everyone else didn't expect what would come next.
Altaria's body was once again transforming. The power of Mega Evolution was breaking through, bringing Altaria to less compact and compressed form as seen by the energy silhouette forming. However, it wasn't the average Mega Altaria that was appearing.
Right before everyone's eyes, Mega Altaria looked slightly different. The appearance was still that of Mega Altaria which was very recognizable, however, the major difference was the fact that she looked blockier than before.
Right before everyone's eyes, Altaria's body was surrounded and made out of individual cubes. The cubes stayed behind but they no longer kept Altaria's body in one spot. Now, she had her original body back, fluffly wings and all, but with a rather stylish appearance. It was almost identical to the Digital Magic that the Aura Vampire Gardevoir found.
And just like the Digital Magic, it had the most peculiar energy radiating from it. These two energies greatly resembled the Dragon-Type and Fairy-Type colours but they didn't have their usual appearances. There was something rather otherworldly about them.
"What is that...?" Ash gawked.
"Pikachu..."
"I don't believe it..." But even though Potion Nova never made this type of potion, the end result is something she knew about and it put a smile on her face. "Mega Evolving while in that state has created a new types of matter. Two of them even. They have that same appearance as Dark Matter or Anti Matter."
"A new type of matter? Then what are they called?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, they're new so they don't have a name. But if I had to guess and give them a name, it looks like Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter. This also might be the result of the Harmony Phenomenon since Altaria and Rainbow Dash put their trust into each other."
"Awesome..." The name that Potion Nova gave them was truly spectacular to listen to. Not to Cozy Glow. That internal screaming from before would shatter windows if everyone could hear it. This completely turned her plan upside down.
"What do you mean Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter! Those aren't things, are they!?" She pulled on her mane, wondering if it could get any worse than this.
"So it's new, huh?" Rainbow Dash grinned. "I'm not one to use something like this out of nowhere. Seems a bit unfair but...I gotta know what this does."
"Prepare yourself, Throh! This could be bad!" Hector warned.
"Throh!" Throh was ready. Matter or not, the Judo Pokemon was ready for any challenge, taking on his signature stance. Meanwhile, Altaria, who had no idea what she has just unlocked would continue battling.
One thing was for sure, Mega Evolution fixed the problem but created something new in the process. And the Harmony Phenomenon seemed to be another factor in all of this. The power to continue even in a rough spot was a semblance of harmony after all as the journey continues.
Equestria. The Dragon Lands. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
At last, Twilight, Spike and Lucas showed up at the Dragon Lands, searching for Nate. They stood right at the entrance of the area and already, they were met with a captivating sight. The craters that possessed the rare element of plasma were still around, scorching the earth. It did add some more flair to the Dragon Lands, giving it that extra intimidation factor.
"This is plasma. What happened here?" Twilight observed, keeping her distance from the fierce element. "Did Zeraora reach here earlier? No...Princess Celestia and the others wouldn't let her out of their sight." To discover why there was Plasma of all things present here, they ventured further through the Dragon Lands.
Noticeably, there was a strong lack of Dragons. Whether it was Equestrian Dragons or Pokemon Dragons. None of them were around the many spots of the Dragon Lands, doing their usual thing. That was due to one major reason. They were all in one spot, focused on one person and that would soon be revealed to Twilight's group.
The Dragons were spotted at one spot where the craters were at their most present and the plasma was at its most powerful. There, the Dragons were all either on the ground or completely bewildered and stunned by what they had encountered.
"Ember!" Spike gasped, seeing Ember in the middle of a Pokemon Battle. Or rather, at the end of it.
"G-Gabite..." Falling on its back was Gabite, who was defeated by the Pokemon standing before Ember. A Shiny Haxorus was seen, standing victorious over its fellow defeated Dragon-Type.
"Haxorus!" Haxorus roared, celebrating his victory.
"I tried..." Ember sighed, lowering her head and putting on a smile afterwards. "Too much for me. But I have no regrets."
"Sorry about that." The silhouette of nate stood behind the smoke which would soon be revealed to the eyes of Twilight and Spike. However, instead of seeing Nate for who he truly was, something else happened. Something that Lucas didn't see at all.
"No way...Dad?!" Twilight gasped, suddenly calling out her father. In her own eyes, at this very moment, she was looking at her father, Night Light, standing there with a Haxorus behind him.
"Your dad? Uh, I'm seeing Uh, but I'm seeing Haxorus right now. Two of them." But in the eyes of Spike, he saw someone completely different. His own Haxorus which started out as an Axew and could transform into its final evolution at will. Equestrian Haxorus to be exact. In his eyes, he saw Equestrian Haxorus standing behind Haxorus.
"Are you sure? I'm pretty sure that's my dad." Twilight knew who she was looking at and that definitely looked like her father But Spike knew he was looking at Equestrian Haxorus, even though he was right next to him.
"Espeon?" In Espeon's eyes, she ended up seeing Absol of all Pokemon. And as for Equestrian Axew, he ended up seeing Spike. Specifically, an older version of Spike, who was taller and appeared as a teenager.
"What are you two talking about?" But Lucas was rather confused since he was seeing someone else entirely. In Lucas's eyes, he saw Nate's true appearance and not something else. "That's Nate, right there."
"I don't know who you're seeing, but that's obviously an ancient Dragon." In the eyes of Ember and everyone else, they saw someone completely different. In their eyes, Nate appeared as this old Dragon that looked ancient and wise. Everyone here saw someone differently but it was only Lucas who truly saw Nate for who he was.
"At least you still recognize me, Lucas." Nate sighed. "This is exctly what I've had to deal with."
"So, we're all seeing someone completely different." Twilight pondered. "Someone we either love or admire. But Lucas. You said that it's Nate, so can you see his real form."
"Yep. Hat and everything." Lucas nodded.
"Well, that explains it. I think there's something up with Nate for this to happen." Twilight tried figuring out what could've caused this confusion. Why is Nate being perceived in different appearances?
"Yeah! Obviously!" Nate bellowed. "This is so weird! I don't know what happened but for some reason, everyone sees me differently! They don't know who I really am! I showed up to this world and everyone just started approaching me all of a sudden. As if they knew me."
"Heh. I guess you're going through what Arceus goes through." Lucas chuckled. "We all see Arceus is one form. His real form is something else. I saw it for a split-second, but believe me, it's something already."
"It must be the same reason you showed up to this world. You said you didn't use a gateway to show up here, right? What did you use to enter our universe, Nate?"
"Well...It was all so sudden and I had no time to react. I was just minding my business, planning to meet up with my friend Hugh. When all of a sudden, I felt something weird open up within me." Nate recalled that very moment to the best of his memory since it was so swift. "I wasn't sure why it was there, but I knew what it was. It was Plasma. I even heard the cries of Reshiram and Zekrom in the distance, even though I couldn't see them anywhere. Next thing I know, I'm here."
"Are you saying you have Plasma on you?" Twilight leaned her head forward. "Like...Pure Plasma?"
"Well, yeah...I can feel it. And it doesn't even burn or anything which is so weird."
"Ah. You're in the soame boat as me then!" Lucas chuckled, approaching Nate and patting him on the back. "I had a pretty wild run-in with Palkia, remember? You got lucky. You didn't have to battle Palkia to get something special."
"I guess it's kinda cool. My entire body's plasma right now so..."
"Your body's plasma?! Is that why everyone's looking at you differently?"
"I-I think so. I don't get it though. It's not like Plasma's that hard to look at or anything. It looks a lot like lightning after all." This confused Nate just as much as it confused Spike.
"Or maybe...It's not natural plasma." But Twilight, with a smile on her face, was already onto something. "Why would we be looking at someone else if your body was currently surrounded by plasma? Obviously, it's special and I think Reshiram and Zekrom are the cause of it."
"Boy, she's smart." Impressed by Twilight's intellect, Nate looked at Lucas.
"Right?"
"I'm guessing it's archaic. And it's definitely related to Prisma. Ash had Dialga within him. Lucas has Palkia and you might have Reshiram and Zekrom in you. Either one of the two or maybe both. We're not dealing with ordinary plasma here. Not that it was every ordinary to begin with."
"Cool, but can you help me? I don't wanna go my life looking totally different. I mean...a bunch of fangirls came rushing to me, thinking I was a celebrity or something." Nate sighed as his experience in this form has been a rather unpleasant one.
"Hmm...Let me try something." First, Twilight would surround her eyes in Rift Magic, deciding to look past her own father. The cosmic power would alter her vision, mainly when looking at Nate. And with the versatility of this magic, Twilight saw Nate's true form.
Much like his counterparts, he shared the same face as them, being another piece of Prisma. But Twilight didn't just see Nate's true form. She also saw the plasma and how different it looked. It wasn't the usual plasma or even the special plasma that Reshiram, Zekrom, Zeraora or even Celestia's Gardevoir was capable of. There was an ethereal and galactic appearance behind it.
"Ah, so that's what it is. We're dealing with a type of Cosmic Plasma. Never thought I'd say those words before. That's why you look so different to everyone else."
"I'm surprised you're not dangerous to touch or stand next to. This stuff doesn't hurt at all." Lucas could also see the plasma just fine without needing Rift Magic. He was also touching it, completely fine and feeling no pain whatsoever.
"That's the other problem. I can't get too close to others or I'll just hurt them. I can hold my items pretty well though. The Poke Balls are doing just fine. Totally immune, just like you."
"I don't see the problem. We had a great time." Ember smiled.
"You kept me here for days!" Nate bellowed. "You thought I was some ancient dragon!"
"You're not?" A dragon said.
"Right. Sorry for keeping you here. We got a bit carried away." Ember apologized as she and the Dragons managed to keep Nate around for a few days. "You have to admit. Even though you were stronger, we did a great job keeping you from going anywhere."
"As for how we're going to fix that problem of yours..." Twilight had to think about a solution to Nate's current problem. He was yet another victim of the Prisma situation and had no control over what he was doing.
Manehattan. Battle Carnival. Battle Frontier.
Meanwhile, at the Battle Frontier, after breaking out of a cube-like state thanks to Mega Evolution, Altaria found herself tapping into a newfound power. Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter. Her body still had a semblance of the cubes yet, making her seem blockier than usual.
This was all caused by Cozy Glow, who intended Rainbow Dash to eat the dish she prepared, becoming a cube so that she could be easily taken away and captured. But alas, Altaria consumed it instead and by using Mega Evolution, unlocked Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter, bringing a new power into the universe.
"Hmm..." Ash would squint his eyes, observing the Dragon Mattere and Fairy Matter a bit closer. There was some familiarity when looking right at it. "Feels like I've seen this before. But where?"
"I wanna see what this can do. Use Dragon Pulse, Altaria!"
"Alta...!" Testing out the Dragon Matter, Altaria took a deep breath, building up the draconic energy from before. At that moment, the Dragon Matter would react to this attack. The energy would pulsate as if it had a heartbeat, building up the arcane power even more.
"Here it comes, Throh! Prepare to launch it with Vital Throw!"
"Throh!"
"Taria!" From her mouth, the Dragon Pulse was unleashed, but something was different. Not only was Altaria pushed back by the force of her own blast, but the appearance of the dragon-shaped blast would start manipulating the surrounding area itself. Right below Throh, the floor which had been affected by the cubes, would soon summon the faces of other dragons. The Judo Pokemon gasped as these dragons rose up, baring their fangs. Quickly, Throh would grab onto them with Vital Throh, holding the draconic faces.
But he also had to look out for the incoming Dragon Pulse. And the closer it got, the more Dragons rose up from the ground. The air itself was summoning dragons, replacing the particles.
"Tari!" But Altaria, who was unable to properly control this new kind of power, crashed into the walls after being launched back by her own attack.
"Throh!" Throh managed to throw the faces of the Dragons away, but he was unable to stop the main Dragon Pulse as it would connect. It was a direct hit and a fairly mighty one too. This entire time, Throh has shown incredible defences, barely budging from any attack. But thanks to the power of Mega Evolution, he was actually pushed back this time.
"Altaria! Are you alright?!" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Alta...!" Altaria groaned, shaking her head. Crashing into the walls of the stage also brought its own effect. The Dragon and Fairy Matter would latch themselves onto the walls.
Ash and the others watched the walls transform as the foundations were being broken down in exchange for something else. A portion of the walls were transformed into Fairy Dust, scattering themselves into the wind while letting out sparkles. Some of them even looked like they had wings. Another portion summoned more dragon faces which would join the Fairy Dust, flying elsewhere by leaving the Battle Frontier, phasing through the facility.
"Wow! That was amazing!" Smolder cheered and so did the other students.
"And beautiful! Do it again!" Silverstream pleaded.
"I don't think she can control it." Potion Nova observed, seeing the downsides to this newly obtained power. "That was certainly accidental. Altaria doesn't know what she's dealing with."
"Well, how does she control it?" asked Fluttershy.
"This isn't just a newfound power in the world. Since it's Matter, it's new to the universe and I don't think Altaria can get adjusted to that so easily."
"Oh, yeah? Watch us! Moonblast!"
"Altaria!" Altaria flew forward, leaving the walls and gathering the power of the Moon. However, even this had its differences. When calling on the power of the Moon, the Fairy Matter would shoot into the sky, phasing through the Frontier Facility. In a few seconds, it ascended and reached the skies, piercing the clouds themselves.
It truly was gathering power from the Moon. Not only that, the pink light would linger in the sky before manipulating the very clouds it pierced. The clouds would start dropping sparkles and Fairy Magic, bringing about a beautiful sight for everyone else to see. Surely, this would look better during the night but it was still a wonderful sight.
The sparkles fell back down to the Battle Frontier before converging into one spot. Before everyone's eyes, the pink-shaped sphere was summoned. However, Altaria was struggling to hold it. "A-Alta!"
"What's wrong, Altaria?!" Rainbow Dash shouted upon seeing Altaria struggling to shoot out the sphere of Fairy Magic. This was unusual for her since she had no problem using it every single time. She couldn't even shoot it at all. Moonblast was just hovering there awkwardly.
"Can she not control even her Moonblast?!" Rarity gasped.
"Is that so?" Hector smirked. "In that case...Seismic Toss, Throh!"
"Throh!" Throh would take advantage of this scenario, choosing to attack Altaria at a rather still state. Unable to shoot Moonblast even though the sphere was right there, she was vulnerable.
However, getting too close to her had its own setbacks. The Dragon Matter from before that invaded the air particles were still around. They were invisible at first but once Throh reached a certain distance, they became visible once more. Throh's body found itself being caught by the Dragon Matter as the roar of a Dragon could be heard.
"T-Throh!" Surprised, Throh was then launched back by the roar, unable to get close to Altaria. The Judo Pokemon would tumble and roll on the floor before getting right back up.
"Where'd that come from? I'm so confused right now."
"It could be the Two Matters are trying to adjust themselves to our world." Potion Nova theorized. "To be honest, I don't think this battle is going to be the same as always."
"T-Tari! Alta!" Unable to properly hold the Moonblast, the attack would combust right in front of Altaria's face. She ended up taking her own attack, sending the Humming Pokemon back.
"Al...Taria...!" Altaria groaned as this was not going according to plan. The energy was just far too uncontrollable for her since it was so brand new. Even in her Mega Evolved state, she couldn't understand it. Rainbow Dash gasped as the Dragon and Fairy Matter would aggressively shake, weighing Altaria down. Right as Altaria tried getting back up, she suddenly de-transformed. Back to her original form, Altaria was unable to continue, taking a super-effective hit from her own attack due to how uncontrollable it was. "Altaria..."
"Altaria is unable to battle! Throh wins!" A roundabout way of winning, but it has happened.
"Sorry about what happened, Altaria." Rainbow Das recalled the Humming Pokemon. "I'll make it up to you, I swear."
"Well, I'm not proud of this victory, but it is what it is, Rainbow Dash." Hector expressed, not wanting to win in such a way. But what could have been done?
"It's fine." Rainbow Dash sighed, placing the Poke Ball away. Now, she was down to just 4 Pokemon for this Battle Restaurant. Meanwhile, Hector was still standing strong with his Sawk and Throh currently active. "It's not over yet though. I can still win this. I don't know what this Dragon and Fairy Matter is all about, but after this, I'm gonna find out."
"Well, it might be sooner than you think," Hector smirked, obviously referring to the possibility of him defeating Rainbow Dash.
"Pssh. You wish, old timer. I'm gutted but I'm not weak." She then whipped out her next Poke Ball. This was Mienshao's Poke Ball as she had unfinished business with Sawk and Throh. "Let's go! Mienshao!"
"Mienshao!"
"Let's avenge Altaria, Mienshao. Doesn't matter how tough Throh and Sawk are. We'll beat them both and reach Sharon by the end of this!"
"Mien!"
"And as for me, I know what I'm looking into after this." Potion Nova smiled, finding something brand new to put her research into.
"Channel your Aura, Mienshao!"
"Mien!" Tapping into the Aura that lay within thanks to Aura Sphere, Mienshao had an azure flare emerge from her body.
"Now! Use Close Combat!"
"Shao! Mienshao!" Mienshao took off, leaving behind a blue trail as her Aura would fade away once it was all channelled.
"Here she comes! Seismic Toss!"
"Throh!" Throh was already prepared to launch Mienshao away. All he had to do was grab onto the Martial Arts Pokemon at the right moment.
"You're tough! But not faster! Go, Mienshao!"
"Shao!" Mienshao would slide to the side, kicking the air so hard she created an air pressure sending it straight towards Throh. The Judo Pokemon was struck by this Air Pressure which didn't even move his body. But it did deal some damage, causing him to flinch since it targeted his face. After causing that flinch, Mienshao would zip behind the Judo Pokemon, making sure she avoided his throws at all costs. "Mien!"
"T-Thro!" Throh received a hit to the back of his neck from Mienshao's sharp strike, causing him to stagger. His defences weren't looking as sharp as they previously were. And this was all thanks to Altaria's newfound power. The damage it dealt to Throh made a difference.
"What the?!" Hector soon noticed this break in Throh's defences.
"Throh!" But even after this, Throh still managed to grab Mienshao. He wasn't faster than her, but he could still catch her attacks. Once the Martial Arts Pokemon went for a leg sweep, not only did not not lift Throh's feet off the ground, the Judo Pokemon would move one of his arms back, grabbing onto Mienshao's arm.
"Mien!"
"Gotcha! Now, do it, Throh!"
"Throh!" With Throh grabbing onto Mienshao's arms while facing away from her, with all of his might, he leapt off the ground. And by doing so, he dragged the Martial Arts Pokemon with him. Both were airborne as yet another Seismic Toss was inbound for Mienshao. But this time, Rainbow Dash wouldn't it to be pulled off with perfect execution.
"Here goes nothing! Acrobatics!"
"Shao!" There was one flaw in this. Only one of Mienshao's arms were restrained. The other one was completely free since that was all Throh could do in this position. This allowed Mienshao to make a reversal and it was a truly impressive one. She flipped over Throh's arms, using her legs to grab his arm.
"Throh!" Throh gasped after seeing Mienshao's legs clamping onto his arm which created a larger compromising position. Now, Seismic Toss wasn't as perfect as it could be. Thus, the two of them were about to drop.
"Shao! Shao!" With Mienshao holding Throh's arm, she would flip the direction, making Thorh at the bottom and her at the top. This allowed Mienshao to be safe once they both fall. Throh couldn't afford to let this happen and neither could Hector.
"You have to let go, Throh!"
"Throh!" Listening to Hector, Throh would release his grip on Mienshao's arm. And this prompted Rainbow Dash to strike at the right moment. This is what she was waiting for.
"Let go, Mienshao!"
"Shao!" But Mienshao wasn't going to drop with Throh. Instead, she removed her legs from her arm, soon, kicking his back to send him down at a faster rate.
"T-Throh!" Tking a super-effective blow to the back, Throh was about to hit the ground. But against all odds, he managed to maintain some balance, plastering his hand and feet on the ground, getting on all fours and cushioning the worst of the blow. It still hurt as seen by how his body was shaking. "Throh...!"
"Now dive with Acrobatics!"
"Shao!" Along came Mienshao, attacking with a Dive Kick. And unfortunately for Throh, he didn't have enough time to perform a counterattack since his body was staggered after that uncomfortable landing.
Right as he turned around, Mienshao slammed her foot onto his back, dealing another super-effective attack which resulted in a hard crash, creating a tall dust cloud. Mienshao hopped out of the cloud, sliding and taking a deep breath after that adrenaline rush of an attack.
"Throh..." Just like that, Throh had fainted. His defences had been broken and conquered.
"Throh is unable to battle! Mienshao wins!"
"Hah! Got past one!" Rainbow Dash raised her head, feeling relieved. Her friends and the students cheered for her hard efforts while Mienshao wiped some sweat from her forehead. "Great going, Mienshao."
"Mien."
"Well, I take back what I said." Hector uttered while bringing back Throh. "You're something else, aren't you? Perhaps I don't need to humble you."
"Hehe." The pegasus grinned. "You said you made sure to protect Sharon from everything, right? Well, I don't mean to brag, but I guess I've taken on every kind of opponent there is. There's nothing out there my Pokemon and I aren't afraid to challenge."
"I can believe that." Hector chuckled. "Perhaps after this, you can apply to become a bodyguard for Lady Sharon! You have the makings of one."
"N-No thanks. I'm fine with being the Champion down the road. Couldn't be a bodyguard."
"So be it. But perhaps you'll change your mind once victory is mine. Appear! Sawk!"
"Sawk!" Returning to the scene was Sawk. Sawk was swift enough to match Mienshao and he was even an expert at deflection compared to Throh, who was the best at counters and durability. Mienshao would certainly have a hard time dealing with the Karate Pokemon.
"Sawk's a pro at deflection. Mienshao can't just hit him fast enough cause he'll keep up." Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes, assessing what she had to deal with. She found her approach when it came to dealing with Throh. Now, she had to do the same for Sawk. "So that means, the heaviest hits are what I need. I shouldn't focus on moving fast since that'll leave Mienshao wide open."
"Do ya think she knows what to do now?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Oh, for sure." Ash and Scootaloo said in unison. "We can see it in her eyes."
"But...I also gotta be fast enough to land them. Close Combat, Mienshao! Hit him hard!"
"Mienshao!" Once again, Mienshao moved in with Close Combat. Hard hits were the main focus. Not swift ones. But that didn't mean Sawk couldn't deflect those ones either.
"Answer with your own Close Combat, Sawk!"
"Sawk!" Ready for the exchange, Sawk would stand there, waiting for Mienshao to approach. At that moment, Mienshao cocked her arm back, delivering a mighty forward swing. However, that swing was soon deflected by Sawk as to be expected. Rainbow Dash wasn't surprised there, but she wouldn't cease her approach. She was going to keep on working on it until she hit a sweet spot and so would Mienshao.
After blocking the impact with one arm, Sawk used the other arm to strike at Mienshao, only for the Martial Arts Pokemon to lean back, narrowly avoiding the attack. Mienshao did some deflection of her own, performing an upward kick to knock Sawk's arm upwards. Sawk grunted before swinging his other arm, going in for a karate chop. Once again, Mienshao avoided the attack by the skin of her teeth, performing a backflip to do so as the chop would strike the ground with the weight of a hammer.
Mienshao moved back in, going for a hammer fist from above, focusing on those heavy hit instead of anything fast. But some speed was still put into them. Sawk saw the incoming hammer fists, blocking the first one with his arms by putting them over his head. As for the second one, he deflected it, leaving Mienshao wide open. The Martial Arts Pokemon gasped, receiving a sideways chop to the chest.
"M-Mien!" Mienshao groaned when receiving a chop to the chest, but she kept her balance and strength. The Martial Arts Pokemon slid on the floor, not having that much time to breathe since Sawk was finally deciding to move. The Karate Pokemon ran at Mienshao with another chop incoming.
"Sawk!" Sawk came in for another sideways chop, prompting Mienshao to duck it. Her ears were almost hit by the attack as the other arm of Sawk came crashing down just to try and blindside her. But Mienshao saw that coming too, using her own arms to block it.
"Shao...!" Mienshao growled upon blocking it. That attack had some weight to it. She also needed to unleash some weight if she wished to win this. Right as Sawk removed his arms, he saw a punch coming from Mienshao, prompting him to deflect it. But this wasn't a straightforward strike. Mienshao made sure to make this singular punch as fast as possible, bringing afterimages around them.
"There it is!" Rainbow Dash saw an opening. "Go, Mienshao!"
"Shao!" Mienshao found her opening which saw her delivering a swift knee to the stomach.
"S-Sawk! Sawk actually took a hit. Focused on deflecting the swift punches with both of his arms, this left him wide open for a heavy blow to the chest. And it was certainly heavy, making the Karate Pokemon stagger and launching him back.
"Oh, yeah. We've got you all figured out!" Rainbow Dash and Mienshao collectively grinned at Hector and Sawk.
"Acrobatics!"
"Shao-Shao!" Mienshao continued her attack, not letting up since she had to put Sawk on the backfoot now. Mienshao was moving fast once more, flipping everywhere to try and befuddle Sawk. But the Karate Pokemon saw these movements and was ready to deflect the incoming hits.
"Sawk!" Seeing a side-kick coming, Sawk managed to deflect it, only for Mienshao to perform a backflip, gaining her distance. Once she moved away, she zoomed back in with a strong leap. Instead of delivering a punch or a kick, she threw her body at Sawk. "Sawk?!"
"Mien!" There was no way for Sawk to deflect an attack that involved the entire body as seen by how he was tackled by the Martial Arts Pokemon. This still counted at Acrobactics, bringing a super-effective blow to her fellow Fighting-Type.
Sawk stumbled back which prompted Mienshao to immediately bring the pressure. His defences were wide open at this moment, meaning swift strikes would certainly be effective.
"Close Combat!"
"Mienshao!" Taking advantage of this stagger, Mienshao would deliver a barrage of swift strikes. The first few landed, hitting Sawk's face, arms and chest. The Karate Pokemon received an onslaught of swift blows before finally regaining his composure. He barely managed to get back into a defensive stance, deflecting the next hits. But they weren't as precise as before.
Since Mienshao got an early start, delivering those blows to him, his deflections were behind. He did manage to deflect some of the incoming blows but some of Mienshao's strikes managed to land. Now, she could truly put the pressure.
"S-Sawk! Sawk...!" Sawk growled as now he was the one struggling. Mienshao smirked, knowing she finally had Sawk right where she wanted him. She wasn't going to let up as her strikes were starting to push Sawk back. His feet were being dragged across the ground thanks to Mienshao's onslaught. The students cheered louder and louder, obviously on Rainbow Dash's side,
"Now is our chance, Sawk! Counter!"
"Sawk!" But Sawk had an answer for this. This entire time, he was saving this one attack for the right moment and it would show itself. The next hit he received prompted him to deliver a devastating counter. He swung a fierce chop at the Martial Arts Pokemon, hitting her face. Mienshao gasped when receiving this blow to the face, causing her to fly back. This was the hardest hit Mienshao has received thus far in this whole battle.
"Now! Reversal!" But of course, Sawk wasn't the only one with a strong retaliation.
"Mienshao!" All the damage Mienshao took in this battle would be channelled into one powerful attack. When flying back, her whole body was glowing, releasing a powerful orange wave that could be seen tearing through the floor.
"Sawk?!" Sawk gasped upon seeing this wave which packed plenty of power.
"Chop it, Sawk!"
"Sawk!" Sawk raised his arm, attempting to slice this attack in half. But it was no use. Once he swung it down, the Reversal immediately overpowered him. Mienshao definitely had a rougher time in this battle compared to Sawk and Throh, allowing her Reversal to be extra powerful. It consumed Sawk, resulting in a brilliant orange outburst for everyone to see.
"Mien...Mien..." Mienshao breathed in and out, attempting to catch her breath as she hit the ground hard thanks to Sawk's counter. She sat there, looking at the smoke cloud that emerged thanks to her mighty Reversal. Was that enough to get her through this?
"Sawk..." Indeed, it was. Sawk had fainted.
"Sawk is unable to battle! Mienshao wins! Thus, the winner of the second stage is Rainbow Dash!"
"Yes! We did it! Second Stage clear!" An elated Rainbow Dash quickly flew over to Mienshao. The Martial Arts Pokemon groaned, glad that it was over with. At least, for now. This was only the second stage after all. "You're awesome, Mienshao! Truly awesome!"
"Mien."
"That Reversal always comes in handy doesn't it?" Pinkie Pie wiped a tear from her eye in the midst of all this cheering. "It's so beautiful to see every time."
"Zera! Zeraora!" Zeraora yelled with happiness.
"Now she just needs to get past the third stage and then all that's left is Sharon," said Ash. "You've got this, Rainbow Dash. I know it."
"Well done, Sawk." Hector smiled when returning Sawk to his Poke Ball. "And the same goes for you two. An amazing display of strength there. If only you were Lady Sharon's bodyguards. I'm confident no threat would be able to touch her at all."
"Thanks, Hector. And hey. When I become the champion, everyone's gonna be totally safe. No one's gonna wanna cause any trouble when I'm around." Rainbow Dash boasted, seeing a champion as the equivalent of a hero. And she technically wasn't wrong considering she was friends with quite a few champions. To be one herself would be glorious in her eyes.
"I see. Well, there is just one more stage left for you to take on before you can reach Lady Sharon. The opponent before you is an odd one. Don't let him confuse you."
"Uh...Okay?" Rainbow Dash was giving a bit of a warning of who her next opponent was. She expected some trickery based on what Hector said but after everything that's happened here, trickery wasn't something she was too worried about. Before she could head to the next stage, the walls opened up, revealing the food options. New dishes were served up and they all involved healing. Mienshao certainly needed it.
Down to just four Pokemon now, the final stage was up next before Sharon could be tackled. At the same time, this very battle had sparked something new. Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter, which were adjusting themselves to this universe. Never before have these two forms of energy ever existed until now.
And in the eyes of Ash, he felt as if he had seen it before somewhere. It felt and sounded familiar to him even though it was his first time witnessing its creation. Unbeknownst to many, his Grander World was about to see yet another development.
At this moment, in the vast expanse, the creation of two forms of Matter would be formed. The universe bows before the creation of Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter, which could only exist by adjusting themselves to this Grander World. There, they appeared in their rawest arcane forms. The entire universe had to shift its very nature, force and everything around it to allow room for these newfound matters to exist.
Never before has something like this happened and never before have energies such as these been a concept. Until now. Thanks to an absolute accident, the universe gave way to the two forms of Matter, which would exist from now and forever. Something similar to a Big Bang went off, resulting in an Admiral blue and Pink Energy flashing in the darkness.
This phenomenon even created a new zone of space with its own appearance to complement these two forms of matter.
It was a wonderful creation zone of Dragon and Fairy Matter, appearing as a celestial realm floating amidst the stars, with swirling clouds of colourful cosmic dust stretching as far as the eye can see. A celestial melody resembling that of a Fairy's cry and Magic resonated through the air, composed, followed by the crackling and fierce power of a Dragon. Sparkling orbs of pure magic dance around the nebula, illuminating the space with their ethereal glow.
Observing the creation of this wonderful phenomenon, all the way from the Ambrosial Plane was none other than Strident Heart. She managed to see every particle and piece of this phenomenon take place by viewing it from a cloud. This cosmic cloud acted as a sort of window or crystal ball, showing Strident Heart what has occurred.
"Mmm...!" Naturally, the strident Angel was bothered by this. While most would be happy to see the creation of something new, mainly forged by the bond between a Trainer and a Pokemon, Strident Heart thought otherwise. To her, the fact that the beings on Earth managed to create new forms of matter that had to reshape the universe was already reminding her of the Jirachi situation.
Strident Heart didn't immediately see it as positive. "Those mortals...Dragon and Fairy Matter? Something like that shouldn't exist. Not only that...but the dangers they could bring. If Dark Matter and Anti Matter are anything to go by..."
Unlike her fellow angels, Strident Heart has become increasingly irritated and bothered by what the mortals have created in the midst of this Grander World. Slowly but surely, Strident was starting to see their creations as a blight upon the purity of the world even if it was by accident. As beautiful as the Dragon and Fairy Matter was, she sensed the danger that could come from it.
Equestria. Manehattan. Battle Carnival. Battle Frontier. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Finishing up the second stage, Rainbow Dash entered the third stage of the Battle Restaurant. Eating the healing food here at the restaurant, her Pokemon were back to full strength, but now she was down to just four. And the previous two battles have made her lose Altaria and Castform. If she loses another Pokemon here, she would be at a bit of a disadvantage. But one thing was for sure. Rainbow Dash was adamant in making sure she doesn't drop out of the Battle Restaurant for a moment.
"Cozy Glow, are you alright? You haven't exactly been all that gleeful recently." Potion Nova noticed Cozy Glow's expression. She was still bitter about how her plan inadvertently allowed Rainbow Dash and Altaria to unlock two new types of matter, ruining everything for her.
"Hm?" She snapped out of it after Potion Nova called her name. "Oh, sorry, miss. I'm a little out of it. This battle's great and all but..."
"If you want, you can head home if you're feeling tired or unwell." Worried about Cozy Glow, Potion Nova was thinking about the best for her. But Cozy Glow didn't need to head home. Technically speaking, she doesn't have a home.
"Afternoon, my little pony!" Standing there was an eccentric character who was already pulling off poses the second she saw Rainbow Dash. The last trainer was dressed with style which complimented the appearance of the Battle Restaurant.
"And you are...?"
"Who am I? Well, you'll be pleased to know that I am Lady Sharon's soon-to-be fiance! Maxime's the name!" He pulled off another pose.
"This is the one I was talking about." Hector opened the door to this room, getting a few words in before he left. "That right there is the odd one, but he means well."
"But of course I do. You've reached the final stage and I am the obstacle for Lady Sharon. Naturally, victory is already decided for me since the love I have for Lady Sharon gives me power. Her love is there, but you'd best believe it fuels me as well."
"It means he's been turned down by Lady Sharon. Multiple times." Hector translated.
"Mmm!" Maxime flinched, keeping a smile which turned crooked for a moment. Judging by that reaction, it was very much true.
"That so?" Rainbow Dash squinted her eyes, giving Maxime a slightly judgemental look. "That's rough buddy. Can't speak on it though."
"It's inevitable, alright? We've been friends since childhood." Maxime cleared his throat. "But never mind that. You won't reach Lady Sharon at all. I even wore my best outfit for this! Behold, the outfit of a Victini!"
"That's supposed to be Victini?" Rainbow Dash observed the outfit, seeing how it was just a suit with shoulder pads, a cloak and some really high boots. Nothing about it was creaming Victini.
"It's the colour scheme of one, obviously. It signifies my victory. What better way to do so than to replicate the colours of the Victory Pokemon itself? " Maxime smirked.
"If you say so. Now hurry up and send out your partner. I'm winning this. The last two battles really awakened something in me and I'm feeling more confident than ever." The pegasus whipped out her Poke Ball.
"Very well then! Show yourself! Greninja!"
"Greninja!" Entering the stage was the Ninja Pokemon Greninja.
"Let's go! Mienshao!" For Rainbow Dash, it was back to Mienshao, who was refreshed after consuming some healing food. She was able to battle once more at full strength.
"But first!" Maxime clapped his hands, prompting the walls of the stage to open up. There, the table of food would show itself this early even before the battle can begin. "Why don't we get a head start? By feasting on the food I prepared. Looking at the food, there was clearly something unique about them. The four dishes that were seen spelt the word love, obviously the work of Maxime.
"Uhh..." Rainbow Dash grimaced when looking at them and so did Mienshao. "She could already imagine the type of effects that could come from eating either of these. Rainbow Dash was also starting to believe that this would be the food that greatly affected her at last.
"Eat this and an effect so beautiful will appear and grace this stage. It won't bring any downsides to your Pokemon at all! Trust me!" Maxime let out a bright grin that would blind Rainbow Dash and Mienshao.
"How romantic!" Rarity thought otherwise, being on the same page as Maxime.
"No thanks. I'm good." But Rainbow Dash would skip out on this.
"Grenin." Even Greninja refused to eat this, turning his head away.
"You too, Greninja?!" Maxime was gutted to hear that. The three of them weren't going to bother with it. Mienshao wouldn't do it just to prove how strong she was. "Hmph. Fine then. I'll have to change up the scenery for myself since Lady Sharon is watching!" The only one to eat the food would be Maxime. He zipped over the table, only doing this because Sharon was observing this battle.
And obviously possessing strong feelings for her, he wanted to impress Sharon at all costs, just so that the chances of him getting together with her would skyrocket. And apparently, eating the food contributed to that. Once he scared down one of the dishes, the effect kicked in.
His eyes would glow, unleashing a bright light that illuminated the stage. Rainbow Dash squinted at the sight of this light which would decorate the stage with hearts. Maxime laughed as all the hearts flew across the room for everyone to see. A pattern of flames would also appear on the walls while also flying outside the centre of each heart.
"Behold! This is meant to represent the fires of my love for Lady Sharon!" Maxime exclaimed. "There was supposed to be more to really sell the appearance but this will have to do!"
"Good to know...! And this is just one food?" Rainbow Dash groaned. She was glad she and Mienshao didn't partake in the rest of the food, otherwise, this would truly be hard to look at. Sharon was watching this and immediately, she groaned and facepalmed. This isn't the first time something like this has happened and it certainly won't be the last.
"Maxime..." Sharon could only groan his name and watch how this battle would play out. While she doesn't want to play favourites, she was hoping that Rainbow Dash would silence him as soon as possible.
"Battle start!"
"Alright, Mienshao! Aura Sphere! Go!"
"Mien!" Mienshao would start off strong, putting her arms together to form a sphere of concentrated Aura. One shot of this Aura Sphere was bound to unleash super-effective damage.
"Go Greninja! Slice it with Water Shuriken!"
"Ninja!" From his hands, Greninja conjured up a shuriken of water that would soon be launched, ready to meet with the Aura Sphere. The two blue-coloured attacks met with each other, entering a momentary clash. Water Shuriken tried slicing through while Aura Sphere attempted to consume the shuriken. Neither happened and both attacks had to blow up in front of each other.
"Move in swiftly with Aerial Ace!"
"Ninja!" In a flash, Greninja was gone, ready to strike at confounding speeds.
"Mienshao, use Acrobatics!"
"Mienshao!" But Mienshao also had a swift move in her arsenal. The two Flying-Type moves would be used against each other as Mienshao and Greninja would zip through the air, clashing their arms against each other. The two Pokemon locked eyes before entering a swift aerial exchange.
Sparks of their exchange could be seen as their strikes were both swift and hard. Mienshao managed to land a blow on Greninja's face, only to be pushed back by a speedy blow to the chest from the Ninja Pokemon. Both Pokemon pushed each other away with only one of them dealing a super-effective blow. Both Mienshao and Greninja slid on the floor when recovering.
"Close Combat!"
"Shao!" Mienshao would move back in, ready for a super-effective blow of her own.
"Hm-hm! Mat Block!"
"Nin!" By slapping the floor, the second Mienshao got close enough, a mat was spawned, acting as a shield for the Water-Dark-Type. Mienshao's paws struck the mat, failing to reach Greninja. The Fighting-Type gasped as the force of the mat would launch her back.
"Mien?!"
"Now for a spread of Water Shurikens! Shape them to resemble hearts, Greninja!" Maxime exclaimed, wanting the Water Shuriken to appear in the form of hearts. That would be his way of spreading his love some more.
"Nin..." Greninja looked back at Maxime with lowered eyelids as he was certainly not doing that. Plus, he couldn't pull it off regardless.
"Or not..." Maxime cleared his throat. So much for that idea.
"Greninja!" Greninja would use Water Shuriken either way. In his hands, not one, not two, not three but four shurikens were created. Holding them, Greninja would launch them into the air as they would soon duplicate themselves. Mienshao gasped upon seeing multiple shurikens in the air, all targeting her.
"Close Combat! Destroy them all!"
"Mien!" With her eyes flashing, Mienshao was prepared to take out every single one of these shurikens. They all homed in on her, prompting the Martial Arts Pokemon to precisely target each of the individual shurikens.
Her arms moved with a blur, destroying the shurikens as they dispersed into water. She was careful to cover every shuriken that came her way, not missing a single one since they were all locked onto her as if they were heat-seeking.
"Wide open~Aerial Ace!"
"Ninja!" But this was all part of Maxime's approach. With Mienshao focused on all of the shurikens, this left her wide open to Greninja's next attack which was Aerial Ace.
"Shao?!" Mienshao gasped, realizing that Greninja was coming her way. She immediately tried switching her next strike towards the Ninja Pokemon, only for Greninja to juke her out. He created an afterimage, avoiding Mienshao's attack. In reality, he was right behind her, delivering a swift kick to her back. At the same time, the remaining shurikens would land on Mienshao, dealing more damage. Mienshao went slidng on the floor, lying there for a moment.
"Now to keep you steady! Water Shuriken once more!"
"Greninja!" Greninja would form two more shurikens, leaping into the air. And this time, it was to pin Mienshao down. The shurikens targeted the long fur on her arms.
"M-Mien!" Mienshao growled as the part of her body that was attacked didn't bring immense pain. But it still hurt since it dug through just to stab into the floor.
"Not good! Break out, Mienshao!"
"Mien...! Mienshao!" Mienshao snarled, trying to pull her arms up. Alas, that didn't work, surprisingly. She couldn't just blow the shurikens away by leaning forward. She couldn't lean forward at all.
"No way those are strong enough?!" Rainbow Dash leaned back. The shurikens didn't look that strong considering their size but they were actually restraining Mienshao from doing anything at the moment.
"They're just water. How can they hold Mienshao in place like that." There was some things about Water Shuriken that
"But they are!" Maxime shouted. "Greninja doesn't want to admit it, but because of the love I have for Lady Sharon, even the weakest-looking attack can bring great weight!"
"I don't think that's it...But that water's still impressive keeping Mienshao down like that. It's gotta be something else."
"Disagree. That Harmony Phenomenon of yours already proves it. However, my power transcends harmony. It's love, obviously, which is basically an extension of Harmony anyway. If only..." Maxime's mouth would tremble as he slowly balled his fist. "If only Lady Sharon could see that potential harmony..."
"Dude. You've been trying since childhood? And you haven't given up at all?" Rainbow Dash uttered.
"Gutted? Yes. Give up? No!" Maxime wagged her finger. "It's more than just our childhood memories, my friend. It was a vow. You see, I am a servant, but I didn't start out as one. I was a friend of hers from the start. But tragically, I wasn't allowed to spend all that time around Lady Sharon due to my status. We were practically from different worlds."
"So...you just decided to become her servant just to get closer? Is that it?"
"Eh! She asked me to be her designer. My family specializes in tailoring, if you must know. That was the only way I could spend time with Lady Sharon. And over time, we grew a strong bond that soon transformed into a vow. Lady Sharon had dreams of her own future and she stated that she'd like to see me in that future. How wonderful is that?!"
"Mmm..." Sharon grumbled when listening to this conversation, closing her eyes out of embarrassment. "He's partially right." Surprisingly, Maxime wasn't far off, even if there were some things that weren't true.
"Well...I can't say much on that." Rainbow Dash shrugged.
"That's how it is, Rainbow Dash. Surely, you feel the same way, don't you? Isn't there someone in your life you love to start a new life with?"
"No way!" Rainbow Dash bellowed, pulling back from such a notion. She got a bit flustered by Maxime's words. "As if that's a thing for me. At least...I don't think so."
"Your reaction says otherwise. And I believe that's what will help me win this battle. My love is far greater than yours and it'll be cemented with the defeat of your Mienshao! Aerial Ace from above!"
"Greninja!" Greninja would come crashing down from the skies, preparing a divekick. Mienshao growled, trying her best to push through the Water Shurikens. But try as she might, she was unable to do so, even the entire time when Maxime was going off about his past Sharon, she couldn't do it.
"Try kicking up, Mienshao!"
"Shao!" Mienshao had one approach she could try. While her arms were restrained, her legs were completely free. She quickly raised them to try and intercept Greninja's attack. The Martial Arts Pokemon barely pulled it off, blocking the dive kick with both her legs. The impact was strong, making her legs tremble since she was on the receiving end. She pushed Greninja off her, managing to save herself from a super-effective blow.
"Impressive. But what about the second one?" With a smirk, Maxime knew that Mienshao would have a harder time with a second Aerial Ace from above, especially when it was coming in so swiftly as seen by Greninja performing yet another dive kick. Mienshao's legs were still trembling as she tried getting them back up for another counter, but it was too late. She was moving too slow for that to work.
Right on Mienshao's chest, Greninja performed a mighty dive kick. Mienshao gasped and coughed as a smoke cloud emerged thanks to the impact. With her body trapped, Mienshao was hit the most devastating blow in this entire Frontier Facility. The shurikens around her arm could be seen dispersing as the smoke would clear, revealing the outcome.
"Mienshao..." Mienshao had fainted.
"Mienshao is unable to battle! Greninja wins!" Mienshao was out of the Battle Restaurant, which left Rainbow Dash with only three Pokemon. Braviary, Whirlipede and Luxray, to be exact.
"Thanks for everything, Mienshao. You did your best. Get some rest, alright?" She thanked Mienshao for the hard-fought battle, returning the Martial Arts Pokemon to her Poke Ball.
"And that's that. One more left and we can call it a day." Maxime chuckled. "Convinced now, Rainbow Dash?"
"Well, one thing's for sure. Love powers our Pokemon." Rainbow Dash smiled, admitting to that part.
"Precisely. Perhaps my love surpasses yours. That's why I snatched victory from your Mienshao and I'll do the same with your next Pokemon. I know for a fact she was watching that." Maxime grinned, thinking about what Sharon thought about this victory. But in reality, she was not pleased, hoping that Mienshao won that exchange against Greninja.
However, Rainbow Dash had a bit more to say to Maxime. "But I've got a different kind of love that powers me." She held out her next Poke Ball. "I'll show you what it is! Go! Luxray!"
"Luxray!" Appearing on the stage was her third Pokemon. Luxray.
"Let's make this quick, Luxray." A glimmer appeared in Rainbow Dash's eyes, signifying how serious she was going to get. And the same went for Luxray, who also had a glimmer in his eyes.
"Greninja! Go ahead and use Night Slash!"
"Greninja!" Creating blades of darkness in his hands, along came Greninja.
"Luxray! Discharge!"
"Lux...! Luxray clenched his teeth as a powerful burst of lightning would first flare around his body before emerging, creating a wide radius. A radius wide enough to reach Greninja which made the Ninja Pokemon see that he couldn't simply approach Luxray.
"N-Ninja!" Greninja was electrocuted by the Discharge, taking a super-effective blow as his dark blades would fizzle out.
"Now's our chance! Head in with Wild Charge!"
"Ray!" Following up from Discharge, Luxray used Wild Charge, surrounding himself in even more electricity. After Greninja hit the ground, the Gleam Eyes Pokemon threw himself forward, becoming a bolt of lightning.
"Eek!" Maxime was actually worried about this due to his reaction. His eyes almost popped out of his face, prompting him to make a quick action. "Get out of there, Greninja!"
"Grenin!" Greninja had the method of recovering thanks to his agile body. He would flip up from the floor before then leaping to the side, narrowly avoiding the Wild Charge. Luxray missed, but he wasn't done just yet.
"Chase him down!"
"Ray!" Sliding on the floor, Luxray made a quick turn, turning just like a bolt of lightning just to make sure this Wild Charge landed on Greninja.
"Greninja?!" Greninja's eyes would also bulge once he saw Luxray going in for another attack. All Greninja could do at this moment was continue fleeing. He ran as fast as he could, fleeing from the incoming Luxray. Greninja was certainly faster than Luxray when it came to running on foot, but thanks to Wild Charge, Luxray could keep up, tailing Greninja.
"Mat Block!"
"Ninja!" Greninja would have to put up a shield instead of running forever. He came to a stop, quickly slapping the floor. Once more, he created a mat out of thin air, causing it to emerge from below. Right in the nick of time as Wild Charge connected with the mat. Luxray couldn't properly land the attack as he was pushed back by the mat. Not only that, he also suffered recoil damage in the process.
"R-Ray!"
"Close one! Now, use Aerial Ace!"
"Ja!" Once the mat dropped, Greninja would move in, lighting his feet with a white glow. Luxray shook his head after the recoil and smashing into the mat, opening them to see Greninja's foot. Right in his face, he received a powerful kick that could be heard by everyone else. Luxray growled as Greninja drove his foot further into Luxray's face. "Ninja?"
Greninja expected to send Luxray flying, but the Gleam Eyes Pokemon would stand his ground, refusing to be launched back. It took a lot of willpower and muscle power to make this happen as seen by how much he was straining his face and body.
"Use Discharge!"
"Ray!" But that wasn't going to stop Luxray from unleashing an attack. By standing strong on the floor, he managed to unleash a burst of lightning from his body this close to Greninja.
"G-Grenin!" Greninja cried out as he was the one who was pushed back. The Ninja Pokemon would tumble and roll on the ground, not performing a swift recovery like before. That Discharge was super-effective, especially that close.
"Hehe! Keep at it!" Rainbow Dash put on a rather devious smile. "Crunch!"
"Lux!" Switching up his element, Luxray embedded his fangs in a dark energy, leaping into the air, ready to bite at Greninja while he was currently on the ground.
"Quick, Greninja! Water Shuriken!"
"G-Grenin!" Greninja only had time to create a small Water Shuriken in his hand, quickly throwing it into the air. He managed to land it, throwing Luxray off balance in the air.
"L-Lux?!" Luxray received a shuriken to the face, interrupting his Crunch and causing him to fall. But if he was going to fall, it was by taking Greninja down.
"Wild Charge!"
"Lux...Ray!" While falling, Luxray would use Wild Charge, sending himself down at a faster pace. Greninja gasped as he was then hit by an incoming Luxray missile. Luxray ended up giving Greninja the same treatment he gave to Mienshao, avenging her.
And it was rather cathartic. While Luxray suffered recoil damage, jumping out of the smoke, he was still standing. But as for Greninja, out of the smoke came aggressive crackles of electricity followed by a downed Ninja Pokemon.
"Greninja..." Greninja had fainted.
"Greninja is unable to battle! Luxray Wins!"
"See that?! That's what I was talking about, Maxime!" Rainbow Dash pumped her hooves. "It's something me, Luxray and all my friends have!"
"Luxray!"
"Oh, goodness..." Maxime shook his head, rather perturbed by this while recalling his Greninja. At that moment, he got on his knees, holding his head and screaming to the sky. "That must've been awful!"
"Huh?" Rainbow Dash blinked out of confusion.
"Lady Sharon certainly saw Karma take its place...Greninja lost the same way he defeated Mienshao...How can it get more embarrassing than that?!"
"I don't think it's that big of a deal..."
"Aww. I feel him." Silverstrem thought otherwise and so did Rarity. The two of them were invested in Maxime and everything surrounding him. "That must be embarrassing."
In reality, Sharon was pleased by this, having a visible smile on her face. The contrast between how Sharon and Maxime felt was Night and Day indeed. "But, it's fine!" Maxime stood back up in a heartbeat. "Victory is still within my sights, Rainbow Dash and I don't intend to let it slip away from me! Especially since this is my first go at the Battle Frontier, so I really have to make an impression for Lady Sharon."
"Bring it on then. Luxray and I are ready!"
"In that case...Go! Escavalier!"
"Escavalier!" Making an appearance was the Cavalry Pokemon Escavalier. His final Pokemon and the final obstacle for Rainbow Dash to overcome if she wanted to reach Sharon.
"It's just Escavalier now. It's a Steel-Type so its defence is top-notch. Plus, it's a hard-hitting Pokemon too..." Rainbow Dash said to herself. "Luxray already took some recoil thanks to Wild Charge. This is gonna be a rough one. Unless..."
Just as Rainbow Dash predicted, another serving of the food would appear. Emerging from the walls was another table, ready to bring a random effect to the battle. Rainbow Dash was actually planning to use the food to try and turn things around for her.
"Well? What say you, Rainbow Dash?" Maxime wiggled his eyebrows, wondering if Rainbow Dash would partake in the food this time.
"...We'll take it." She would take the risk this late into the battle. Her friends and the students gulped when hearing that. The duo approached the table, ready to indulge in the delicious yet chaotic food.
"Rainbow Dash! If Luxray eats the wrong one, it could all be over!" Pinkie Pie screeched. "I'm not one to turn down good food but...turn it down!"
"Nah. We're eating." Rainbow Dash grinned, rubbing her hooves together. In reality, there was another reason why she was taking the risk. Truth be told, she didn't see a risk at all. Not when she had the answer to avoid the worst possible outcome.
"Wait a minute..." Maxime was starting to see what Rainbow Dash eluding to. Based on the look on her face long with Luxray's, there was one obvious answer to all of this. The duo started snacking on the food, wasting time. "You aren't!"
"That's right! Luxray can sniff out which is good and which is bad!" Rainbow Dash laughed while her mouth was full. She had used Luxray's X-Ray Vision to detect which food was safe to eat. And after doing so, Luxray went for the one that benefitted him.
"I-Is she allowed to do that!" Flabbergasted, Maxime had to know if this was legal. In his eyes, this just seemed like cheating.
"It's allowed." Instantly, the referee confirmed that it was eligible. Nothing was stopping the Pokemon from using the best of their abilities to their advantage except for maybe some exceptions here and there. But this was not the exception. Luxray was the perfect Pokemon for this Frontier Facility.
"We're gonna need that chance. So get ready, Luxray."
"Lux...RAY!" Luxray roared as the food he consumed replenished him. A strong flare of lightning left his body, frying the rest of the food and the entire table.
"W-We need to end this now, Escavalier." Maxime stuttered, worried about what was coming next. "As soon as possible!"
"Esca!"
"Alright!" Rainbow Dash hopped over the fried table along with Luxray. "Let's finish this, Luxray! Together!"
"Ray!"
"Alright then..." The referee looked at both sides, seeing that Rainbow Dash and Luxray were back in action, not needing any more time to snack on the dishes. Not that there was much left thanks to the table and the rest of the food being absolutely fried. "Continue!"
"Head in, Escavalier! Drill Run!"
"Cavalier!" By enveloping its lance in an orange energy, Escavalier would approach Luxray, having a super-effective move to put an end to this at once.
"I don't think so! Ice Fang!"
"Luxray!" Luxray would encounter the Drill Run at a close range. And since Escavalier wasn't exactly the fastest Pokemon, this allowed Luxray to prepare himself with enough time. Once Escavalier got close enough, Ice Fang and Drill Run connected with Luxray biting into the attack.
Clamping his teeth onto the drill, Luxray sent a chilling aura that ran through Escavalier's lance. The Cavalry Pokemon gasped as its lance was being frozen over. But at the same time, the lance was moving so fast that it was still managing to harm Luxray's teeth, rapidly hitting it and still counting as super-effective damage.
Both Pokemon moved back with Luxray's teeth shaking and Escavalier's lance almost frozen. Both Pokemon glared at each other with intensity before hearing the words of their trainers in unison.
"Discharge!"
"Iron Head!"
"Lux!" Luxray would unleash his Discharge while Escavalier covered its lance in even more iron. As if it wasn't hard enough. Right as Luxray unleashed the blast of lightning, Escavalier used its own light to draw it in. It managed to protect itself by makign its lance a lightning rod, nullifying and avoiding any damage done to it. Now, Escavalier was in possession of a lightning lance.
"Haha! Now for a stunning reversal! Your own electricity against you! Strike, Escavalier!"
"Cavalier!" Along came Escavalier with an Iron Head that was mixed in with the electricity of Discharge. However, Rainbow Dash was not impressed. She was the one who used Steel Wing with Electric-Types moves a lot of the time after all and this wasn't any different.
"Wild Charge!"
"Ray!" Luxray would meet with Escavalier once more, setting his body ablaze with lightning. Becoming a lightning bolt, he crashed into the lance, creating a powerful shockwave. Both Pokemon slid back before moving in for another attack. It was a clash between Iron Head and Wild Charge as Luxray and Escavalier were going back and forth, causing plenty of sparks to appear.
"Cavalier!" Right as Escavalier went for a powerful thrust, Luxray would leap over the lance, getting some airtime. And at that moment, Luxray would crash into Escavalier, going for that same aerial tactic. But unlike before, Escavalier wasn't instantly taken out. Instead, it just pushed the Bug-Steel-Type back.
"Can't risk another recoil, so let's finish this! Discharge!"
"Lux...!" Luxray raised his front legs, building up a great surge of lightning that he was going to make sure would finish things off for good.
"Use Megahorn, Escavalier!"
"Esca!" Escavalier was prepared to pierce through Luxray's Discharge, thrusting its lance as hard as it could while advancing. It was a direct hit to Luxray's chest once he stood up, preparing to unleash Discharge. A strong strike that everyone felt was done to his chest, making the Gleam Eyes Pokemon grimace in pain.
But that wasn't enough to put him down. Luxray roared as loud as he could, unleashing his attack either way. He once again kept his feet on one spot, not moving for a moment. Escavalier's eyes widened as it was blasted by a mighty surge of lightning. The result was the lightning causing a strong silence after it fizzled out, followed up by the lance leaving Luxrya's chest.
"Escavalier..." Unable to take such a blow, Escavalier would fall on its back, fainting.
"Escavalier is unable to battle! Luxray wins! Thus, the winner of the final stage is Rainbow Dash!"
"Yes! All three done!" Three consecutive battles have been challenged and completed. All thanks to the efforts of Rainbow Dash's team. She beat the three stages, making her eligible to take on Sharon. A thunderous applause was given to the pegasus which she greatly enjoyed. She also ended up enjoying the incoming hug from Luxray, who quickly ran over to pounce on his trainer. "Ow! Luxray!"
"Lux!"
"Hah...Tragic..." Maxime sighed while approaching Escavalier. "I lost with Lady Sharon watching. But...this isn't so bad I suppose. Great work, Rainbow Dash. I suppose my love wasn't strong enough."
"Aw, I don't know about that. I'm not at expert at love, but I guess I could feel it based on how hard you were battling." The pegasus spoke back. "Thanks for the battle, Maxime." Meanwhile, Sharon was pleased to hear that. Pleased to see Rainbow Dash win and for Maxime to tone it down a bit. But she certainly didn't expect what was coming next.
"Yes...My love wasn't strong enough...Which means I have to love even harder!" Maxime took something away from this and it wasn't what Sharon wanted to hear. "That's it! If I do so, then I'll get stronger and stronger and become truly unbeatable! Then, the vow Lady Sharon and I made in the past will truly come to pass!"
"Uh, sure..." Rainbow Dash would let him do his own thing. "Speaking of Sharon, I gotta go and take her on. After some healing, obviously, so..."
"Yes, yes. But you should also know this in advance. You still have your Luxray with you. Which means, even though it will still be a 2 on 2, you're allowed to let Luxray battle, making it a 3 on 2."
"Seriously? Nice!" Music to her ears. This would give Rainbow Dash an even greater advantage having a third Pokemon to back her up against Sharon's two Pokemon. "Sharon, here I come!"
"Well, it's my turn then." Sharon got up, knowing what was coming next. So far, all three battles have been difficult, but Rainbow Dash has managed to overcome them. The last one would be the hardest without a doubt. It was time to see if she could defeat another Frontier Brain.
As for the students, they found themselves having the best time, seeing a Frontier Battle at its fullest and it was now reaching the very end. If only Cozy Glow could find the same enjoyment as her fellow children. But the only enjoyment she wanted was stripped away in exchange for Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter. As the journey continues.
At last, Rainbow Dash has reached the final stage. There, the Frontier Brain Sharon was waiting for her. She was down to just three Pokemon and luckily for her, even though this was a 2 on 2, she was allowed to have a third Pokemon battle. It was only her Braviary, Whirlipede and Luxray that were all left.
The final room was where Sharon could be found with all of the cameras fixated on her. And the second Rainbow Dash entered the room, there was a row of lights that were set up for her, making her arrival rather grand. The pegasus closed her eyes from all the lights as they even reflected a light off her, causing large Rainbow Dash projections to appear on the walls and even the massive curtains hanging from above.
"Well done, Rainbow Dash. You made it through all three Trainers and with just three Pokemon left at the moment." Sharon was currently seated on a luxurious seat. She wasn't alone. Not just because she had the camera crew near her, but also because the three trainers that Rainbow Dash managed to defeat were also present here. Barbe, Hector and Maxime had all shown up at this stage, applauding Rainbow Dash's efforts.
"Congratulations, dearie!" Laundress Barbe would applaud. "It's so nice to see you make it here so soon!"
"Indeed. A shame that I lost even after all that planning. Apologies for that, Lady Sharon." Maxime pouted. "But I swear, if it were the other way around, I-"
"Maxime...Not now." Sharon raised her finger, halting him. "If you really wanted to impress me, you could've refrained from the food."
"I put a lot of work into that though..." Maxime sighed.
"Now that you're here Rainbow Dash, your chance to clear another Frontier Facility is right in front of you. If you can manage it, that is. And it'll all be done with eyes from across the region!" Sharon then waved her arms to the camera, revealing something beyond just a simple Frontier Battle.
"Wait! This is live?!" The pegasus gasped.
"But of course, it's live~!" Sharon winked. "Across Kalos, Johto and other regions, this battle is available for many people to see." Sharon flipped her hair when looking at the camera. And not only that, this room would reveal something else. The curtains above would move aside to reveal a second crowd. There were other people here, cheering for Sharon. A majority of them were all fans of her who came to support their favourite celebrity.
"Geez, that's a lot. They outnumber me." Pinkie Pie scrunched as her support for Rainbow Dash was quickly outnumbered by Sharon's supporters. "But that's fine! I've got all my friends to add it all up. And you kids are big fans of Rainbow Dash too, right?!"
"...Eh." Alas, the students were not that big on Rainbow Dash, even after seeing the past three battles. Only a select few students considered themselves fans.
"Kids these days..." Pinkie Pie grumbled before slumping over.
"...Hehe!" Rainbow Dash put on a bright grin once she realized this was being broadcast to an audience outside of Equestria. Immediately, she got in front of Sharon, making sure she was at the forefront. "Hey, everyone watching! Watch me win this! I'll take down my second Frontier Brain!"
"Ahem!" Placing her hand on the pegasus's face, Sharon pushed her aside. "I believe the opposite will take place. And you're showing off for the camera in the wrong way. Unless this is your first time. You'll see not only an amazing battle, but my amazing celebrity skills kick in."
"Oh, yeah? What if I don't make that happen?" The mare smirked. "I don't mean to brag but I'm kind of a celebrity myself. I'd say a hero's more special than one."
"So you say. But you'll soon find out why heroes only come up here and there and why we celebrities are on everyone's mind, day to day, week to week." Sharon would soon take out her own Poke Ball once she walked to the left side of the stage. "Year to year!"
"Guess I'll be a celebrity myself then. And I'll start by beating you!" Rainbow Dash's Poke Ball was also held out once she entered the right side of the arena.
"Zeraora!" But while the cries of Sharon's supporters were louder than Pinkie Pie's would ever be, there was one major factor in all of this. Zeraora. She would cry out Rainbow Dash's name, prompting the sound of thunder to go off. Not only did it startle some of Sharon's fans, but it also made Zeraora the loudest in the room. Who needs multiple fans when you have Zeraora?
"Thanks, Zeraora." Rainbow Dash was glad to hear Zeraora's supporting cries. "I won't let you down."
"The Challenger Rainbow Dash still has a third Pokemon, meaning this will now become a 3 v 2." The referee explained, laying out an extra rule. "The rest of the rules are the same."
"Prepare yourself for the battle of your life, Rainbow Dash. Appear, my beloved partner! Ninetales!"
"Ninetales!" Out of the Poke Ball emerged her Pokemon. A Kantonian Ninetales.
"I'm counting on you! Luxray!" Out of her Rainbow Dash's Pokemon emerged Luxray. Right as the two Pokemon emerged, the lights from before would act up again. The projections of Ninetales and Luxray were shown on the opposite sides as their names were also displayed underneath. Sharon went out of her way to really make this battle pop.
And right next to the faces of these Pokemon were the respective trainers and their own names. Rainbow Dash was getting a taste of what the Equestria League would be like when she it finally comes around.
"Ready? Battle Start!"
"Let me go first! Luxray! Use Discharge!"
"Ray! Luxray!" Clenching his teeth and letting the electricity within him build up, the Gleam Eyes Pokemon unleashed a titanic flare of lightning.
"Respond, Ninetales! Fire Blast!"
"Nine...Tales!" In response, Ninetales's pupils glowed orange as its whole body was surrounded in a fiery aura. It then fired five blasts of fire from its body right when Luxray's Discharge was unleashed. When seen above, the blast looked like a 大. The two searing attacks met with each other, beginning a mighty clash of elements.
The whip-like movements of the electricity would strike at the intense flames, creating an array of sparks. It looked like Discharge would cut through the attack, only for Fire Blast to combust, enveloping the lightning in its blaze. Neither attack won it, resulting in yet another tie during Rainbow Dash's entire run.
"Here goes! Wild Charge!"
"Ray!" After the Discharge failed, Luxray would go in for an up-close strike, bolting off the floor and giving himself an aura of electricity.
"Hmph. Scorching Sands!"
"Tales!" But Ninetales wouldn't be fooled by the concealed smoke. Instead, it had one attack that was perfect for it. All nine of her tails would rise before being slammed on the floor. By doing so, Ninetales summoned a stream of sand that brought along the ferocity of fire.
"Lux?!" Luxray gasped as the stream soon transformed into a tidal wave. His eyes were raised and his movements came to a halt once he saw what he was encountering. The Scorching Sands crashed down on Luxray, dealing super-effective damage and even carrying him as if he was in an actual tidal wave.
"Oh, no! Luxray!" Rainbow Dash screamed as the Scorching Sands would disperse, spitting Luxray out.
"We aren't done yet! Fire Blast, once more!"
"Tales!" For a second time, Ninetales would unleash a Fire Blast, attempting to follow up from Scorching Sands while Luxray was this vulnerable. Unable to defend himself, Luxray was hit by the attack, finding himself consumed in yet another blazing force. Luxray would tumble on the ground, fairly hard too. Smoke was even leaning his body since he had to deal with Scorching Sands and Fire Blast at the same time.
"L-Lux...! Ray!" And yet, Luxray got back up, still active and able to battle. A super-effective attack and a heavy attack such as those two weren't enough to put this stubborn and resilient Pokemon down. However, there was a problem. The Fire Blast left him with a burn. Flames flared out of Luxray's body.
"Hmph. That's just an addition to my victory." Sharon smiled. "Don't worry, I won't let the burn finish Luxray off. Ninetales will do it herself."
"I wonder about that..." Rainbow Dash grinned. "You've just activated Luxray's ability! Guts!"
"Luxray!" But this was also a positive for the Gleam Eyes Pokemon. With his eyes flashing a crimson light, his ability, Guts, kicked in. The red energy surrounded his body, granting him a boost in strength. Sharon's smile quickly faded upon seeing this power boost.
"No good if Luxray doesn't land a hit. That Scorching Sands covered a fairly wide radius." said Luna, thinking about Scorching Sands.
"Get in there, Luxray! Crunch!"
"Luxray!" Luxray would once again bolt off, covering his fangs in darkness.
"Keep him at bay! Energy Ball!"
"Tales!" From her mouth, Ninetales generated a pulsating ball that was tapping into nature itself. Shooting it forward, it was expected to keep Luxray back just so Crunch doesn't land.
But instead, Luxray would use it on Energy Ball. With his mouth wide open, the Electric-Type took a bite down on the Energy Ball. He stopped the attack in its tracks, using his brute force and boosted strength not only to squish the ball to the point where it looked like a stress ball, but completely crushing it afterwards. Ninetales gasped as her attack was erased, just like that. And Luxray wasn't done. He was still approaching with the darkness around his teeth.
"Ray!"
"Quick, Ninetales! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Ninetales!" But in response, Ninetales would generate a beautiful light from her body that allowed her to blind Luxray. The light flashed Luxray's eyes, slowing his movements down and breaking his focus.
"R-Ray?!" Not only that, but the rays of Dazzling Gleam would fly out, rapidly bombarding the Gleam Eyes Pokemon while he wasn't looking. Not that he could look at the moment. The rays all struck Luxray, successfully pushing him away from the Fox Pokemon.
"Hang in there, Luxray! Discharge!"
"Lux...!" Opening his eyes which were still feeling the effects of Dazzling Gleam, he released a quick Discharge from his body. He didn't need to look carefully since Discharge always covers a wide radius.
Ninetales gasped as the electricity blazed through the air, successfully reaching her body and dealing damage. "N-Nine!" Both Ninetales and Luxray slid back, gazing at each other. At the same time, Luxray suffered some Burn damage, having his body twitch as scarlet flames would burst out for a moment.
"Not bad. Not bad at all." Sharon nodded. "Watching all of those battles you took part in already let me know how good you were. But you are quite the tenacious one, aren't you?"
"It's a pegasus thing." Rainbow Dash spoke back. "But you haven't seen anything yet, Sharon." Right when the two of them were speaking to each other, the bell would ring, confirming that the food was about to make an appearance at last.
This might be the final time it shows up. This time, the food would appear from below. The floor would open up, bringing a table in the scene with brand-new dishes. Upon seeing this, a grin graced Rainbow Dash's face as she was more than ready to use this to her advantage. She was completely allowed to have Luxray use his X-Ray vision just to spot the magic inside of each food.
"Luxray." Once more, Luxray used his X-Ray vision to see which food was safe to eat and which one would bring an unfavourable element. There, he saw which one was safe to eat and would bring some benefits.
"Go ahead. Let's see what you get. But I already know that your Luxray can see through it, so it's not too big of a deal." Sharon uttered as Luxray rushed over to the table, knowing which would be the best food to consume. Not only did he know which one was the right one, but it was also the most enticing food yet. All four of them were. Since Rainbow Dash was taking on Sharon, the food all appeared as elite as they could be, much to Luxray's pleasure.
"Lux...Luxray!" Luxray greatly enjoyed the five-star meal in front of him, devouring it like a maniac since it was so thrilling. The scent was very alluring too. But not only that, but the flames around his body would vanish. The effect of Burn was deleted thanks to the effect of this dish, removing the continuous damage from Luxray's body.
"Oh! That was like a Burn Heal! The Burn's completely gone!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "And as a bonus, that still means Luxray's Guts are still in effect. So he didn't lose the attack at all."
"He didn't. That much is true. But will it matter in the end?" Sharon wasn't bothered at all. The table dropped back to where it came from, prompting Luxray to run back to the arena.
"We'll see about that. Wild Charge! Go for it!"
"Lux!" Luxray swung back into action, illuminating his body and launching himself at full force. If this Wild Charge lands, it was bound to be a hefty one, even if there was some recoil involved with it.
"Scorching Sands!"
"Tales!" In response, Ninetales would use Scorching Sands to try and stop Luxray's Wild Charge once more, knowing this was an all-purpose move to deal with all of Luxray's attacks.
"How am I gonna get around this?!" However, Rainbow Dash still wasn't sure how to deal with Scorching Sands. It covered a wide radius, much like Discharge. "Just try and power through it, Luxray!"
"Ray!" Luxray would try his best. Charging through this tidal wave was seemingly the best thing he could do. With all of his might, he crashed into the wave of blazing sands, attempting to power through it. It was a strong collision between the two attacks as Luxray put his all into this next assault.
For a moment, it looked like Luxray was about to successfully push through it. But alas, it wasn't enough. The sands overshadowed him, forcing the Gleam Eyes Pokemon back. Luxray was once again carried by the sands, losing his Wild Charge. Being free of the Burn didn't mean anything at all. After all, the second effect of Scorching Sands was a Burn effect. Luxray was right back to where he started.
"One more time!"
Slamming her tails on the floor once more, bringing yet another wave of Scorching Sands. Luxray, unable to defend himself yet again or even properly counter such an attack, was hit with a second Scorching Sands. Sadly, Luxray couldn't handle a double Scorching Sands as the attacks overlayed him. With a snap of Sharon's fingers, the sand would finally disperse with perfect timing.
"Luxray..." Just like that, Luxray had fainted, leaving Rainbow Dash with only two Pokemon, bringing this back to a 2-on-2.
"Luxray is unable to battle! Ninetales wins!" With this victory, Sharon's fans cheered while Zeraora growled, slamming her fist on the seats. But it wasn't over yet. Rainbow Dash still had a chance, having two Pokemon on her side while Ninetales still took damage.
"Thanks, Luxray. You were great." Rainbow Dash thanked him for a stunning battle, throughout the Battle Restaurant. He was brought back to his Poke Ball, getting some well-needed rest. "Up to you! Braviary!" To combat the Scorching Sands, Rainbow Dash chose the one Pokemon who could avoid it with ease. Her Braviary.
"Braviary!"
"Braviary? Just for my Scorching Sands? Oh, I believe this victory is mine then."
"Ninetales took some damage back there, so if Braviary wins this, the next Pokemon that Sharon has will go down pretty quickly. And she'll still have Whirlipede with her." Sweetie Belle uttered. "There's a chance."
"It's only one bit of damage though," Luna replied.
"I've heard about your Braviary, actually. He's your best Pokemon, right? Well, you'll be pleased to hear that Ninetales is my best Pokemon as well. Ever since she was a Vulpix and I was a child, we've grown at the same rate as each other, making us a powerful pair." Sharon crossed her arms. "Our best Pokemon going up against each other."
"Nine!"
"If she's your best, then taking her down here will make things easier for me." Rainbow Dash grinned, still being fully confident in all of this. "Braviary and I, even if we've been friends for only 4 years, way shorter than you, we've had a strong growth as well. I trust him and he trusts me. Which is why even if I win or lose, I don't feel too bad."
"Braviary!"
"Then we'll see whose bond is stronger, even if that Harmony Phenomenon of yours! Energy Ball, Ninetales!"
"Tales!" From her mouth, Ninetales would release a concentrated ball that tapped into nature's brilliance.
"Here we go! Brave Bird!"
"Vi!" Igniting his body in a majestic orange Aura, Braviary spread his wings as wide as he could, ascending higher into the air. The lights reflected off his body, showing multiple projections of him everywhere. Once the Energy Ball was shot, Braviary came crashing down at full force.
With swift movements, Braviary flew underneath the Energy Ball, avoiding it and accelerating through the air at the same time. With Energy Ball missing, Ninetales was struck by Braviary's full-force tackle. "Nine!" The impact would carry Ninetales through the air while Braviary received some recoil in the process.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Tales!" While in the air, Ninetales managed to use Dazzling Gleam. Form her body, rays of rainbows came crashing down on Braviary who just suffered recoil damage. He was bombarded by the beautiful rays that attempted to bring him down. But while they dealt damage, Braviary was still airborne.
"Superpower!"
"Viary!" After taking all of those rays, Braviary would envelop his wings in another powerful Aura. He once again accelerated through the air, preparing to absolutely slug Ninetales with a heavy blow.
"Ninetales?!" Ninetales narrowly avoided it by dropping to the floor. The force of Superpower swung over her head, bringing about a strong wind pressure.
"Fire Blast!"
"Nine!" After landing, Ninetales would unleash her blazing attack, shooting upwards.
"Hit it, Braviary!"
"Bravi!" But Braviary wasn't quite done using Superpower. Even though he missed the attack, he was still able to pull it off by swinging his wings down at flames. A direct blow resulted in a powerful explosion when both attacks collided, unfortunately, Braviary took most of it since the attack blew up in his face. "Vi...!" Braviary was sent flying back thanks to the explosion, but he was hanging in there.
"Keep at it! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Charge through with Steel Wing!"
"Viary!" By putting his wings together, he used Steel Wing as a shield. His wings were covered in a silvery light, making them as hard as steel. When descending, Braviary blocked the incoming Rainbow Rays, easily approaching Ninetales. The rays would bounce off his wings. Ninetales gasped as she was smacked in the face by Braviary's wings, finding herself being launched away.
"How's that?!" Rainbow Dash cackled. "There's more where that came from! This isn't Braviary and I's best!"
"Vi!"
"Hmph. Return, for now, Ninetales!" Sharon decided to recall her Ninetales, opting to switch her out. "Alright. You've shown me what you can really do without that phenomenon of yours. Appear! Vespiquen!"
"Vespiquen!" Appearing onto the stage was Vespiquen. The Beehive Pokemon. Once she showed up, her projection would replace Ninetales's.
"We're doing an excellent job giving the crowd what they want, Rainbow Dash. No time to slow down. And I intend to make this as quick as possible. Vespiquen! Use Attack Order!"
"Vesp!" Vespiquen released multiple grubs from her body with a single shout as they came in at a swift rate thanks to their small and almost hard-to-see bodies. The grubs moved so fast that they looked like a windstorm, making them more visible this way.
"Here they come, Braviary! Knock 'em all away with Superpower!"
"Braviary!" By clapping his wings together while they were powered up, he managed to create a thunderclap. This thunderclap was a boosted-up wind pressure which would tear through the windstorm of grubs. The grubs were all scattered by the force of the Superpower, causing them to fly everywhere.
"Now, go! Brave Bird!"
"Viary!" After pushing all of the grubs away, Braviary advanced with a full-throttle Brave Bird. But Vespiquen would be ready for this, knowing that Braviary was super-effective against her.
"All it'll take is one Brave Bird!" Pinkie Pie stood up, raising her hooves and so did Zeraora when cheering for Rainbow Dash and her Pokemon. All the students would cheer both sides on, not really caring who won this, even if there were some rooting for Rainbow Dash.
"Nice! But it's not that easy! Vespiquen! Defend Order!"
"Quen!" The opposite of Attack Order. Those same grubs from before would reappear, but this time, they would defend their Queen. Vespiquen had the grubs surround her body from all sides like a shield, granting her full protection. Braviary crashed right in the Grub Shield, leaving behind a powerful explosion upon impact. While the explosion eclipsed them both, Vespiquen had a better defence thanks to the grubs cushioning most of the blow.
"Bravi...!" Braviary groaned after being blown back by the devastating impact. He barely managed to recover in the air, winded by his own attack. Vespiquen was in the same boat, almost hitting the floor.
"Not yet! Power Gem!"
"Vesp!" Quickly, Vespiquen would disperse the grubs in exchange for beautiful gemstones that were shot out as sparkling rays.
"Block it with Steel Wing!"
"Vi!" At an equal pace, Braviary's steel-clad wings would form as he barely managed to block the incoming gemstones. They would crash into his wings, breaking apart into nothing.
"This is where we finish it!" Rainbow Dash's right eye would flash, prompting Braviary's right eye to also flash. For a split-second, a bit of the Harmony Phenomenon kicked in, attempting to unleash Rainbow-Braviary. But the duo did not tap into that power yet. "Brave Bird, one more time!"
"Braviaray!" A second try at Brave Bird was made. Braviary was going to make this one count. He was moving so fast that he created his own wind pressure that blow all of the curtains. Sharon and Vespiquen knew that if this one lands, Defend Order might not guarantee absolute safety. The impact would just result in the same outcome, gradually weakening Vespiquen.
"Only one thing left to do then..." Sharon said as Vespiquen held her hand out, ready to confront Braviary. "Destiny Bond!"
"Vespiquen!" The ace in the hole and the only way to guarantee that Braviary would fall. As soon as Braviary got close enough, a spectral energy left Vespiquen's body, enveloping her reaching Braviary. The Valiant Pokemon tackled Vespiquen, dealing super-effective damage. That one Brave Bird did seal the deal. All Braviary needed to do was land it once. "V-Vesp..."
Unable to take such an impact, Vespiquen found herself flying back while Braviary suffered recoil. The Beehive Pokemon fell on her back, rather softly despite how hard she was hit. But she wouldn't be the only one to fall. As soon as she touched the floor, Braviary felt something.
Destiny Bond reached him, just as Sharon planned and its crushing effect took place. His pupils would shake before turning white. The sound of a failing heartbeat went through as his body was frozen still.
"Braviary...? Braviary!" Rainbow Dash yelled upon seeing Braviary freeze on the spot to the point where even his wings were completely still. And just like that, once Vespiquen fainted, so did Braviary. Such was the law of Destiny Bond.
"Braviary..."
"Both Braviary and Vespiquen are unable to battle! One Pokemon each!" The referee called out. Using Destiny Bond at the last second was a clever play, even if it made Pinkie Pie, Zeraora and Scootaloo groan.
"Aw! She could've won that!" Scootaloo pulled her mane. "I hate Destiny Bond! Why does something like that even exist?!"
"Zera..."
"So that's what it feels like to be hit by Destiny Bond." Rainbow Dash closed her eyes before returning Braviary. "Glad I didn't use Rainbow-Braviary...Or it would've been way worse. Thanks for doing your best though, Braviary. I won't let your loss go in vain."
"A risky play on my part. I figured that Vespiquen wouldn't get past Braviary, even with Power Gem. So I bet it all on Destiny Bond." Sharon explained. "And it was worth it. Now it's down to our last Pokemon."
"Yeah. it is." Rainbow Dash sighed. "But...even though Braviary's my strongest...he wasn't my first Pokemon."
"Hm?"
"That title goes to him! Whirlipede!" Her first-ever Pokemon was summoned onto the stage. The Curlipede Pokemon. Whirlipede.
"Whirlipede!"
It was all down to Whirlipede and of course, Ninetales. Sharon soon sent out the Fox Pokemon as her last Pokemon, who was very much super-effective against Whirlipede. But Whirlipede was no stranger to facing the Stronger Type. Once Ninetales emerged, the final stretch of this Battle Frontier could come to an end. It was the most exciting one thus far, especially for Rainbow Dash.
In a way, it felt like a slice of the Equestria League and what it had to offer. Multiple Powerful Trainers who would use their all to take her down.
"I'm not gonna lose this one. If I do, it's back to the start and that's not gonna happen." Rainbow Dash said to herself. "I've come too far to lose here. So let's make it this one count, Whirlipede!"
"Pede!"
"I know I can count on you, Ninetales! Be your best and win this!"
"Nine!"
"Let's go, Whirlipede! Rollout!"
"Whirlipede!" As always, Rainbow Dash's Pokemon would go first as seen by how Whirlipede began revving himself up. He spun on the spot, building up a ton of speed and power.
"Fire Blast!"
"Ninetales!" Ninetales would also do some building up for her own. From her mouth, a surge of flames appeared. And the one to unleash their attack first was Ninetales. The Fire Blast was unleashed right as Whirlipede was still building up some speed.
But once he had enough, he took off. And with precision and excellence, he drifted past the Fire Blast, narrowly avoiding its aura. His body grazed a bit of the flames but he managed to avoid any super-effective damage, making his way towards the Fox Pokemon.
Directly into Ninetales, Whirlipede landed the first, dealing super-effective damage that left the Fox Pokemon staggered. Whirlipede would bounce back after his powerful crash. Not only that, thanks to Speed Boost, his speed had increased.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Nine!" While sliding back, Ninetales released an onslaught of rainbows at Whilriplede, with some even coming from the sky.
"Roll, Whirlipede! Get away from them!"
"Pede!" Rolling as fast as he could, Whirlipede would flee from the incoming rays, distancing himself from Ninetales. The rays chased him down, moving at high speeds as some would crash into the ground, leaving behind beautiful glitters and sparkles. The eyes of the crowd followed Whirlipede, who was moving as if his life depended on it.
"Rollout, again!"
"Whirl!" Whirlipede then performed a drift, allowing him to turn and avoid some of the rays. But that meant he would be getting closer to the rays by using Rollout. On the bright side, not only was he faster, but his Rollout would grow in strength after being used consecutively. And that was indeed the main goal of Rainbow Dash.
Whirlipede moved as fast he currently could as the rays would fly by him with some nearly hitting their mark. Whirlipede managed to outpace them, finally reaching Ninetales.
"Leap and use Fire Blast!"
"Ninetales!" But all it took was Ninetales leaping through the air, avoiding the incoming Rollout. And after a magnificent leap, Ninetales unleashed a Fire Blast from her mouth, right on top of Whirlipede. The flame came down, almost missing Whirlipede thanks to how fast he was missing. A piece of it managed to land, causing the flames to combust and in turn, enveloping Whirlipede.
"W-Whirl!" A super-effective blow that launched Whirlipede. But it did not knock him off balance.
"Scorcing Sands! I won't let a single move beat me!"
"Ninetales!" Slamming all nine tails yet again, the tidal wave of sand and fire would appear in this battle once more. Only Braviary could've avoided this. But since he was down, Whirlipede was the only one left to deal with it.
"Not this time! This time, we're beating it! Go for it, Whirlipede! Rollout!"
"Whirl!" Whirlipede would engage with the Scorching Sands head-on. Previously, Luxray tried it and failed, so what can Whirlipede possibly do? There was one advantage Whirlipede had over his teammates and it was something he's always been the best at. Once he approached the Scorching Sands, by performing a light hop while rolling, he landed on it as if it was just another surface to casually move on.
Whirlipede was using the attack as a platform. He was a like surfer riding the waves or a vehicle on the road. Either way, he had the answer to such an overwhelming attack.
"What the?!" Sharon was certainly taken aback by this. Se couldn't believe her eyes. Whirlipede was rolling on the Scorching Sands, using his speed to protect him.
"This is all thanks to Brawly! I made sure to learn from my teachers! Go for it, Whirlipede!" Rainbow Dash took this method from Brawly, who was all about surfing. Since they were good friends, this was only natural.
"Stop him, Ninetales! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Nine! Ninetales!" Ninetales definitely had to stop this attack. She unleashed a barrage of rainbows which flew over the tidal wave of blazing sands. Whirlipede had even better motion control on the sands than he did on the floor since they were constantly moving, allowing the Curlipede Pokemon to really find his groove.
This was shown by how he could evade the incoming rays with swift movements by zipping and drifting with excellence. The rays would miss Whirlipede, piercing through the sands and failing to hit their target.
"He's getting closer! Cover him with another Scorching Sands!"
"Tales!" Ninetales would summon another wave of sand just to try and cover Whirlipede in it. However, before the second wave could even land, Whirlipede had reached a good enough speed to get even closer to Ninetales. Not only did he outpace the second Scorching Sands before it could land, but he also crashed into the Fox Pokemon for super-effective damage. "Nine!" But it wasn't over yet.
Whirlipede kept going. He spun his body more and more, keeping it on Ninetales body as he was pushing her away. Ninetales was currently being dragged through the stage by the Bug-Poison-Type while taking continuous super-effective damage.
"Fire Blast! Quick!"
"N-Nine!" Ninetales unleashed a Fire Blast, but there was one problem. She couldn't reach Whirlipede. Her neck and head were over him, causing Fire Blast to miss. Truly, a compromising position for her.
"In that case...Dazzling Gleam!"
"Nine!" There was one move that was sure to land. Dazzling Gleam. The light was already beginning to shine from her body, ready to envelop the Curlipede Pokemon.
"Go, Whirlipede!"
"Pede!" Whirlipede cried out as he could see the bright light of the Dazzling Gleam approaching. In response, he would unleash a strong burst of energy that caused him to launch off Ninetales's body with a full power Rollout. A shockwave struck Ninetales's body, interrupting the Dazzling Gleam. Both Pokemon were sent flying, but Ninetales certainly flew at a faster rate.
Not only that, but she hit the walls of the stage, fairly hard. And even before that, the table that was meant to summon the food was about to rise up, only to be crushed by Ninetales's body, unable to be used. The table crumbled and the lights would flicker as some of them took damage thanks to Ninetales crashing into them.
"Ninetales..." With such a heavy crash, Ninetales had fainted at last.
"Ninetales is unable to battle! Whirlipede wins! Which means the winner of this Frontier Run is Rainbow Dash!" It was over. The Battle Restaurant run was over, with Rainbow Dash emerging as the victor. Four hard-fought battles and she came out on top. Truly, she was a stronger trainer than before and it showed.
"Haaah! Yes!" Sitting down, Rainbow Dash was relieved. "Man...Is it just me...or have thee battles been getting more and more stressful? I never got this tired before. But who cares?! I won! We did it, Whirlipede!"
"Whirl."
"Zeraora!" Now Zeraora truly had an excuse to enter the stage. The battle was over, prompting her to jump off the crowd seats, immediately hugging the multi-coloured maned mare. "Zera!"
"Ow-ow! Zeraora!"
Sharon's fans were gutted that she lost, but they still enjoyed themselves. And the students certainly loved every bit of it. Truly, the best trip yet and a look into what the role of a Frontier Brain entailed. Cozy Glow, who meddled in this Frontier Facility for a moment, did pay attention to it all and was certainly impressed. Her jaw was dropped, showing her the kind of enemies she and Daybreaker's alliance were truly going up against.
"Oh, we might be in trouble..." She thought to herself.
"We did our best. Thank you, Ninetales." Sharon walked over to her partner, helping her up.
"Ninetales."
"Thanks for the battle, Sharon!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "That was awesome! Had me scared there, honestly."
"Congratulations, Rainbow Dash." Sharon had to clap for her. And so did her servants, who showed Rainbow Dash all of their respect. "I believe someone is deserving of the Silver Taste Symbol with this victory."
"You know it!" Rainbow Dash has conquered yet another Frontier Brain.
And on her first try this time. Her appetite was satisfied and yet she wanted to rest either way. With the brightest smile on her face, followed by another powerful hug from Zeraora which quickly ripped that smile away, the future for this Trainer from Cloudsdale was looking bright. As the journey continues.
Unova. Near Undella Bay. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
At this moment, Celestia was with Cobalion. After the two finally met up with each other, taking the opportunity to spend some time together during the Pokemon Festival while time was still ripe. The Unova Region was Celestia's decision upon teleporting. What better region to tackle than the one that Cobalion comes from? And so far, things were doing well. They went across the land, having all the time to themselves.
But, they also had all the opportunity to discuss recent events and how to manage them. After all, Celestia was still the Ruler of Equestria and Cobalion was always true to his duty. They found themselves walking by another beach out in Unova as the calm ocean waves could be heard.
"You forced them away from the Diamond Domain. But you're worried that they might cause more harm without any eyes on them." Cobalion was obviously referring to Daybreaker's group and the attack they launched on Tropezete Town and the Diamond Domain.
"I haven't heard anything about them yet. Most likely, they already returned to their own universe, but they'll be back. After all, somewhere in our world, Team Plasma is still around. Losing the gateways was a huge detriment. Even still, we have Lucas to thank for reviving them, but..." Celestia sighed after responding.
"Perhaps, we relied on those gateways all too much in the past. If they were not all that frequent, things would have been different. And it seemed like that was about to happen once a plethora of them vanished."
"Mm...a part of me wants to agree with that, but if I'm being honest...Simple travel such as that is what I prefer." An honest Celestia preferred the easy travel that gateways brings. Saves all the work of long travels. All these years and she's not yet used to these distances. "It'd be much better if I had a gateway that led to you."
"I don't stay in a single spot. Truth be told, I don't have a home of my own."
"No? Your entire life and there's not one place where you consider your home?"
"Unova is my home, in reality. But you will never see me in one place. Even with Shining Armor as my student and my appearance at the Crystal Empire being scarce, I always have to keep moving. The threats that live in this world, even before we met, are abundant. You never know what can threaten everyone's lives."
"Mm-mm." Celestia agreed wholeheartedly. Everytime she thinks something is fine, the most unexpected thing shows up and turns everything upside down. No matter how big or small, anything could become a threat. "How about this then?"
"Hooh...it's getting chilly all of a sudden." Celestia felt a chill run through her body, which was rather odd. The Sun was shining and they were near a beach. "Luckily, I can warm myself up with ease." Using her magic, Celestia generated a body heat around herself, granting her protection against the chill.
"Hm. It is getting noticeably chillier." Cobalion wasn't that affected by it. His steel body gave him a grand resistance after all. Even so, he still felt the shift in the temperature. "Strange. This part of Unova is not usually cold. This is one of the warmer regions."
"Well, it's fine. There should be a nice spot for us nearby. I've been keeping up with Unova's geography. More than any other region."
"I wonder why." Cobalion already knew why that was the case. Celestia grimaced, already being figured out. But this spot they were heading for, wouldn't be as close as they thought. They continued to pass by the wonderful beaches around this part of Unova, seeing the sights and all the Pokemon nearby.
The sandy shore of this new world stretches out as far as the eye can see, with the crystal-clear waters gently lapping against the beach. The more the duo walked across the sand the more they felt the welcoming warmth beneath their feet, and the salty scent of the ocean fills the air.
But that was all changing. A sudden gust of frigid wind cuts through the warm coastal air that would cause a shiver to run down anyone's spine. But not these two. Not with Cobalion's resistance and Celestia's magic. And without them even noticing all that much, the scenery was beginning to change.
Water-Types were still present in the seas but some Ice-Types were visible to the eyes. Why would there be Ice-Types in such a warm area? Possibly, the same reason the temperature was beginning to change. Celestia then felt a slight change of magic in the environment, prompting her to come to a halt.
"Oh, right. Something is strange, Cobalion." said the Sun Princess. "Is an Ice-Type responsible for this?"
"If it was an Ice-Type, perhaps it could be Kyurem. But Kyurem wouldn't have a reason to decrease the temperature on any place unless he has a reason." Cobalion closed his eyes, slowly shaking his head before reopening them. Lo and behold, the second he opened his eyes, everything changed.
The whole scenery was different. The Iron Will Pokemon gasped as standing before him was now a snow-swept land. Now the chill made more sense.
"I knew there was something weird about the magic here. The scenery's changed." Celestia soon saw it herself once she blinked for a slight second. It was practically the opposite of a Blink it and you'll miss it scenario.
"I've been through this part of Unova before...and this was never here." Cobalion knew his geography well thanks to being around for so long. Every length and breath of Unova was knowledgeable and this area was certainly not in his memory. It didn't make sense for it to be so close to the beaches of Unova.
Magic was afoot, but Celestia wasn't sure what kind of magic it was. It didn't feel like Equestrian Magic. She couldn't even tell if it was Pokemon Magic. There was just something off about it. But now that the two of them were here, they wouldn't turn away from it. Why would they? Considering who they were, a place such as this shouldn't be ignored.
They stepped forward, venturing into this strange snowscaped area. When looking behind them, they no longer saw the beautiful beaches but only the white snow that fell and covered the land.
Celestia dug into her own saddlebag, whipping out a map. The Sun Princess came prepared after all, especially when it came to getting out there. She opened up the map to see what part of Unova this was, because this didn't seem right. However, to her surprise, when observing the map for a while, this place did not come up.
Of course, Unova had cold areas with the coldest being Kyurem's Castle, but those areas were far from here. Celestia and Cobalion were mainly at some of the hottest spots of Unova. Near Undella Bay and Undella Town.
"It doesn't even appear on the map. What is this place? Is it the result of the new world we live in?" Celestia had to wonder if a new terrain was formed because of how the world has changed. That would be a reasonable conclusion..
"Perhaps anyone residing in there can answer that for you." Cobalion came to a stop, referring to what was seen in the distance. There was a town here. An actual town was present in this mysterious area, sitting there. This town didn't appear on the map either, making it equally strange.
Spotting this town and seeing it nowhere on the map, Celestia and Cobalion knew that they had to approach it for some answers. The whole place looked like an average snowy area but there was just something very off about it.
They arrived at the town, moving through the beautiful snow and stepping foot on new grounds. This town was nestled in a valley between towering mountains of ice and snow. Giant icicles hang from the eaves of the wooden houses, glinting in the pale winter sunlight. The Sun could still reach this place despite how hidden it was earlier, bringing its rays through the cloudy and misty skies.
Upon entering, the biting cold wind carries the faint sound of sleigh bells, echoing through the streets. And indeed, there were residents here. Not just average residents, but Humans and Ponies. In fact, despite there being wooden houses, some of these buildings looked more advanced than others.
Celestia gawked at the structure, seeing buildings that were on par with what Castelia, Lumiose or any big city in the Pokemon World were capable of. She even saw some buildings that reminded her of Manehattan. It as starting to register for Celestia. A place that borrows elements from the Pokemon World and her home Equestria? Sounds all too familiar to her.
But these residents were not partaking in the Pokemon Festival from the looks of it. Nothing from the Festival could be spotted. No attractions, no banners, nothing. Even still, it was a beautiful place to look at. And speaking of the residents, Celestia and Cobalion paid attention to their clothes.
In this snow-capped land, the residents wore clothes to keep them warm, obviously, but some of these clothes looked rather advanced, much like the buildings. They carried a futuristic feeling to them. But some weren't even wearing clothes to keep them warm. Instead, some were seen using Fire to do so. Not just having Fire-Types warm them up but conjuring Fire themselves.
Celestia watched as a young girl flicked her finger, causing a spark of flames to appear in front of her. She was using it to not only warm herself but to also heat up some marshmallows just for her Totodile. Others were casually using fire around them, either fueling already existing fires or creating new ones once another died out. And they did this with hand motions.
Celestia knew what she was looking at. Magic. These were humans who could effortlessly use magic. The ponies made sense but she is very much not used to seeing Humans pull off magic.
"Magic. Actual magic. But it doesn't feel like it's Equestrian or that it even comes from this world." said Celestia.
"I felt it too." Cobalion could also feel the magic, but it was mainly the Pokemon Magic that he picked up on. "It is most definitely otherworldly.
"Excuse me. Little girl. What is this place?" Celestia managed to speak to one of the ponies here who was speeding through the streets.
"Hm?" The young filly came to a halt once her name was called. "Ooh...Princess? You look a bit different. A bit."
"I do?" The Sun Princess blinked, leaning back before using her magic to bring out a mirror from her bag. Looking at herself, nothing seemed all that different about her. She looked the same. "Mmm..."
"You aren't Equestrian residents, are you?" Cobalion asked. Since the magic here didn't feel like it came from this world, he felt the need to ask where this girl and the others come from.
"Equestria?" The little girl repeated with a strong sense of confusion in her tone. "Umm...Sorry. I don't know what that is."
"You don't?" This came as a shock to Celestia. A pony who didn't know about Equestria? "Then what is this place? This town? I've never seen anything like it?"
"Do we have visitors?" Before she could respond, a few of the residents approached and among them was an old man who spoke. Upon approaching, he noticed Celestia and immediately had a similar reaction to the little girl. "Princess? Why the new look?"
"Again?" Celestia pouted as they obviously had to be referring to her. They clearly recognized her appearance and yet something was very off. Celestia looked completely fine after all. "Nevermind that. You know that you're in Equestria, correct?"
"Mmm...Can't say. Never heard of it." Alas, even the old man and the other residents weren't aware of such a name. "Why? Is something the matter?"
"The Magic here doesn't feel Equestria or like anything I've experienced before, that's all. Everything about this is rather odd and frankly, almost perplexing. I've never seen this town and this area isn't on the map, even with Starmap's expertise."
"Oh? This place? Our home, Frostfall. What of it?"
"Well, it's just that...I didn't see it earlier and only when I blinked for a moment, it just showed up. One minute we're at the beaches and the next, we're in this cold area."
"Could it be...that you're not our princess?" A lady spoke, realizing that Celestia might not be the princess that they were each referring to. Celestia wasn't even aware that there was another princess in the conversation.
"Ah, you're just as confused as us. Well, we're in the same boat then." The old man sighed, slowly facing away from Celestia and Cobalion. "Truth be told, we shouldn't be here. Clearly, this isn't our world."
"So you come from another world then. Another universe?" Cobalion questioned.
"We do. But...we already know that something is wrong." A flame-covered man answered. "The last thing we remember is seeing a bright flash. I believe it was due to an intense battle but I wasn't able to register it in time. Not many could. We figured that our bodies would be destroyed but here we are."
"Something brought us here but we don't know what. But Princess Azurelia is doing what she can to free us, even if we cannot go anywhere else. It's only Frostfall and the snow-scaped lands. Nothing else in sight."
"Nothing else? You haven't seen the rest of Unova? You've been trapped here then?!"
"Afraid so." That was the sad truth. These mysterious people were stuck in this frosty area, unable to see the rest of the world. It was unknown how long they've been here as they couldn't even answer that. "One thing is for sure. The Princess who is helping us comes from somewhere else as well. Not from our world. I'm not even sure she even comes from another world."
"Who is your princess? I'd like to speak with her and I'll see what I can do. I can't leave now since you're all facing an issue. Not that I can leave either way." The Sun Princess shrugged. The residents pointed ot the largest building here. It appeared as a castle but without all the grandeur. That was where they would find the Princess.
Moving through Frostfall, they saw that the town was rather festive currently. It looked like it was setting up for Christmas and Hearth's Warming. That didn't seem right though since it was far from those two festive holidays.
Either way, they were enjoying themselves as if it was those two festive seasons. Celestia would stop to view this town's festivities, partaking in the cake that was free to consume. The Sun Princess couldn't help herself. When looking at the items here, she saw that the name was very much different than she expected.
It seems they weren't celebrating the two seasons but rather a merger of the two. The banner above her read "Hearth's Christmas." While those two names were very familiar, there was obviously something different about it, further revealing just how mysterious this place was. But despite its mystery, there was a strong sense of unity.
To see Ponies and Humans occupy one town and call it their home while the Humans utilize magic was one of the greatest things Celestia had ever seen.
"You seem exceptionally happy, Celestia. A new cake caught your attention?" Cobalion noticed this aura of happiness around Celestia and on her face.
"This town. It's exactly like the world I've been dreaming about, Cobalion. I'd say it's perfect if it weren't for the confusion. One day, things might end up like this. Where ponies, humans, dragons Pokemon and all other species can live in one place as if it's normal."
"The chances of that happening are high. With you at the helm and the way the world is developing after all." Cobalion smiled, believing that Celestia could make something like this a reality one day. She was the Ruler of Equestria after all and she had the capability to do so.
Celestia let out a light giggle, pleased to hear that. The duo continued on their way to the castle to meet with the princess, whose castle was also decorated with that festive feeling. No guards stood at the castle and the doors were unlocked, making it rather welcoming.
The design of the castle bore a slight resemblance to Canterlot Castle but with some notable features missing. And since it was sitting in a town, it was noticeably smaller. Opening the door, the castle looked bigger on the inside, sporting that grandeur that was missing from the outside.
And yet, there weren't any guards inside. This castle did seem rather empty despite how decorated it was. There weren't many rooms either. Thanks to this size, this castle was very much limited, only having two floors. When moving through the castle, Celestia could feel the lonely aura exuding from the castle. There was something sad about it, especially since there was a princess currently here.
As they entered a chamber in this castle, their eyes are immediately drawn to a figure standing by the window. The soft glow of the morning sun that pierced through the misty skies illuminates her delicate features, yet she exudes an aura of strength and resilience. Standing there was the Princess who looked rather familiar.
"Hello? Can I help you?" The Princess speaking to them was a pony who looked a lot like Celestia, but with notable differences. Celestia herself gazed what was almost the spitting image of her. Standing there was the only other alicorn here and the princess who was helping these residents.
"Oohhh..." Now Celestia's confusion had been broken. It made sense why the others mistook Celestia for this princess. The resemblance was certainly there. The two observed each other, moving their heads in unison and trying to see if the were seeing things correctly.
They waved their hooves in front of each other, being in perfect sync. To Cobalion, it was rather amusing to see them move in such unison, flapping their wings at the same time. Both of them were seeing correctly. There was indeed a resemblance.
"Goodness. Am I seeing things...?" Azurelia's jaw would slowly drop before reforming into a smile. A rather shaky one too as seen by how her mouth was trembling. She had a certain reaction when looking at Celestia. But the same went for when she looked at Cobalion. "Mother! Father?!"
"W-What did you say?" Was Celestia hearing things wrong? It sounded like this other alicorn was referring to her as a mother.
"You look like her, but taller! And you're definitely him!" Azurelia uttered with the most spectacular smile on her face. And without hesitation, she went to hug both Cobalion and Celestia. Her grip was rather strong, strong enough to even move the Iron Will Pokemon. "I didn't think I'd ever see you two again!"
"Apologies. But I'm not sure we're your parents." Cobalion wasn't sure about that, being upfront with Azurelia.
"You're not...?" The alicorn pulled back, taking a longer look at them. "N-No. You're definitely them. I know your faces anywhere. No matter how much time passes, I'll never forget your faces."
"I'm sorry. I just thought that...You know..." Azurelia's smile transformed into a frown. A rather gutted one. And so was her heart.
"Hold on, Cobalion." But Celestia wasn't ready to write it off just yet. "First things first. You're the princess, obviously. What's your name?"
"My name is Azurelia." She introduced herself. "Princess Azurelia. Apologies for the sudden hug. Just an instinct of mine. I couldn't help myself. I really thought you were my parents. I mean, you look a lot like them. Mainly you, Cobalion." She even knew the name of Cobalion despite how closed off this town was from everywhere else.
"Well, you know who I am." said Cobalion. "As for Celestia, I can see why you had such a reaction. The resemblance between the two of you is strong. Obviously, you'd refer to her as your mother."
"But it's not just a coincidence we look similar. It's also the name. My mom is also named Celestia."
"Oh." The Sun Princess uttered before looking at Cobalion and then back at Azurelia. There was one thought rushing through her head that brought a sudden realization. "Oh!"
"You came here for something else. Not that though." The other alicorn shook her head.
"The residents here said that you come from somewhere else. Not even their own world." Cobalion added. "You're not from this universe or theirs, are you?"
"No. I'm afraid not. This isn't my home. Neither is this town. I never had a place known as FrostFall after all. But we both ended up here."
"The world you come from...Are your parents by chance...named after us?"
"That's right. That's right!" Azurelia's smile returned. "Cobalion and Celestia. I don't mean to brag, which...I shouldn't, but that's where I get my name. It's a union of both their names."
"Then that explains it. From another universe, we are your parents. But not in this one."
"R-Right! Right!" Celestia puffed her cheeks as her face turned red. She cleared her throat as she was essentially looking at her own daughter. Even though she wasn't from this universe, the fact that her parents were both Cobalion and Celestia said a lot. "That's what I was going to say. Thank you, Cobalion."
"Even still...I know those faces anywhere. And those names." Azurelia responded. "And seeing them makes me so happy...The perfect time to be happy. Then again, it's the only time around here."
"Well...I'm sure the different universe thing doesn't matter. Not for a moment." Celestia uttered.
"It doesn't?" Azurelia and Cobalion said in unison.
"Not for a moment. If you feel that we're your parents, then why not? Different universe or not, it changes nothing. After all, my niece is in a similar boat." The Sun Princess chuckled, referring to the fact that the older Flurry Heart from another universe found a new home here, coexisting with her younger self.
"Really? Well...That cushions things for me, honestly." The other alicorn was truly glad to hear it. "I mean, you're much taller than my Celestia. Plus, you're also an alicorn, just like me."
"I wasn't? Not even there?" It was surprising to hear that Celestia in that other universe was not an alicorn but her daughter was.
"Mm. Maybe if you were, things would be different." Her smile faded away as a certain memory popped up in her head. "Truth is, I was so happy to see you because I thought I lost you both. Ever since that incident."
"You're free to tell us what it is. Have no fear." Cobalion welcomed Azurelia to share whatever it was she was harbouring to him and Celestia.
"Well...Both of you, in another world, gave your all to protect me. Where I come from, I was the first alicorn baby to ever exist. Other alicorns only existed because they used to be pegasi, unicorns or earth ponies. But not me, even though my mother wasn't an alicorn. News about my existence got out there and I was a target for a terrifying force. I was saved thanks to the both of you, but it took you giving yourselves up to make it happen."
"So, that's why you reacted to us in such a way. Were our bodies destroyed or taken away?" Celestia asked.
"Taken away. I don't know where, but you were gone. And I was all on my own. I still managed to grow up since Virizion, Terrakion and Keldeo took care of me in your absence. But I never stopped missing you and I always wished for you to return. Even had to try and search for Jirachi, which didn't work out."
Azurelia's past was one that was devoid of her own parents, even though she knew what they looked like at a young age. But now, that wish to see them again practically came true. Funnily enough, it was also done by the Jirachi since something like this was only possible due to how Jirachi changed the universe itself.
"It's all fine now. it feels fine now that I'm seeing you, even if things are different. But I know this isn't my world. There's quite a few technicalities here."
"About that. What of this place and why is it so hidden?" Cobalion got back to the other topic.
"Oh. As for why things are this way, there's a reason for it. And it's something I haven't been able to stop just yet. Not that I have the experience." Azurelia took a deep breath as this issue was something she as an alicorn apparently couldn't easily solve. "There's something here at Frostfall. Just north from here. It's not the one that brought us all here, but it's the one keeping us from leaving. It calls itself a Desire."
There it was. The cause of this issue. A Desire. Knowing this, Celestia knew what had to be done. She was experienced enough to deal with Desires, having the perfect cure. "Take us to the Desire."
North of Frostfall.
They went north, which would obviously be the coldest part of this hidden area. The hooves of this family stepped through the deep snow, leaving hoofprints of differing sizes. Azurelia's was slightly smaller than Celestia's while Cobalion's was bigger than all three of them combined.
Using her magic, Celestia protected herself yet again and it seems that Azurelia could do the same. When heading north, they would head to the source of the Desire and thankfully, this area wasn't too large. Frostfall was a small time and the surrounding area, while large, wasn't as vast as the Frozen North.
The Desire specifically sat over a massive hole in the snow, appearing in its purple form. And that was just it. It was only its purple form and nothing else. There was no silhouette or outline of another individual. Instead, it was ball of Rift Energy hovering there.
"Princess. You've come back. But with nothing new to offer, I presume." And yet, the Desire still had the voice. It was that of an old man. A disgruntled voice too.
"Not this time. This time, I'm ready!" Azurelia said with her chest out, showing a great ordeal of confidence. "Because now...I've brought my parents with me!"
"Princess Celestia? And Cobalion?!" The Desire recognized who these two were based on the tone of his voice.
"So you know who we are. Then obviously, you know why we're here." Celestia stepped forward, moving past her daughter with a smile on her face. "Seems like while everything here comes from other worlds, you're a resident of this one. And yet...you're keeping others from different worlds here?
"Yes. For as long as I can. Until I'm truly satisfied. But that hasn't happened yet...and I feel as if it won't ever happen. You know this all too well, Azurelia."
"I do. I wish I was powerful enough to stop you, but..." She lowered her head. "I don't have the means to do it. That can all change and we can all go home happy. That's really what I want for everyone, sir. Including you."
"If only you could. But here we are. Months and months have gone by and despite being a princess, you're unable to solve this. A lack of a body to reach. I'm just a mass of Rift Energy after all."
"Why? Why do this?" Celestia asked, wondering what this Desire was all about. "You have to have a reason to keep them trapped here. Not only that, but you don't even have any semblance of a body, which is new for a Desire."
"Why? A missed opportunity on my part. For years, I was exempt from the Christmas Holidays. I always found it to be a confusing time. Lost in it. I did not detest it, but I was just confused. It was until a most pleasant moment with my family that was also eye-opening that changed it all." The Desire used his power to create a memory projection made out of Rift Energy.
There, he showed them what things were like before he emerged as a Desire. The old man was visible as a Rift Projection and around him was his family. Christmas Holidays came and went and yet one thing stayed the same for so long. The old man never found any enjoyment out of it. Not a slither of it. Not a taste, not even a ration of Christmas.
He watched as his family were at their happiest during this one time while he just stayed the same, unchanging in many ways. But the reason for this indifference was also shown. Another projection appeared, showing the old man in his younger years.
"Even back then, I never found interest in it. Some found that odd since I was a child, showing no love for such a time. Couped with my studies and my future, I had no time for it. And even after reaching my goals..." As time went on, he grew, improved and achieved the goals in life that he wanted. And yet, Christmas was practically an afterthought for him.
The older he got, the more distant he grew from others, especially during Christmas. But not when it came to his family. The one thing he would always return to. This was for one reason. He wished to understand it. That wasn't to say he didn't feel any love.
"It was a shame. I was practically asking why I couldn't find the meaning of this season. No laughter that was brought to me or anything of the sorts. I had nothing to latch on to. My world stayed the same for the longest but so did Christmas. Always staying the same with slight changes.
For some of his age, it seemed like a slow burn. Time went by so slowly for him, especially since Christmas came at the last month of the year. He was growing more and more jaded, unable to truly grasp this holiday, even though it was practically everywhere.
"I didn't understand it at all. But then, I did. I have my grandchildren to thank for that. I finally felt what Christmas was when I lost something important to me. Losing Stoutland was hard. At that moment, I thought I would absolutely despise this holiday. And yet, because of my family, that was never the case. They dropped their Christmas experience just to come to see me. But that was also a part of Christmas." He did eventually find it, seeing what it was truly about. His grandchildren and his own children came to him in his weakest time after Stoutland's passing.
"So then...what happened?" Celestia had to know how this all led to a Desire.
"It was not that long ago, Princess Celestia. It was only last year. Now that I was finally understanding Christmas, finding it at last, a repeat of the past occurred. The next Christmas that came by, my own daughter was going through what I felt in the past. I couldn't believe my eyes. She always loved the holiday but everything happening in her life changed it. She's always the one who invites me during this season. It crushed that piece that I was missing to understand this season. I couldn't stand to see my daughter in such a way."
"And that's how the Desire within you awoke." Celestia pieced it all together. Years of this experience, culminated into the old man forming his Desire.
"Exactly. I will understand it. Every day in this space is Christmas. Despite all that I see here, nothing hits that feeling I felt that one year and I won't stop until I do."
"I understand." Celestia closed her eyes. "I understand what you mean. But I know for a fact that's the Desire talking."
"What?"
"You're speaking for him. I know that much. While it's nice that you're doing what you can to fulfil his Desires, something like this isn't the way to go. He'll never get that feeling again if you don't free him."
"I understood it too, mother," Azurelia uttered. "After all, I was born on Christmas."
"You were?" Celestia faced her daughter.
"Mm. The day I was born was on the morning of Christmas. But when next year's Christmas came by, that's when you were taken away from me. Christmas is my happiest and saddest time since it's where I met and lost you both. I felt where he was coming from, but I just don't have the method to stop him."
"I do. I'm freeing him from the Desire. After that, he'll head back to his family. Especially to hsi daughter." Celestia narrowed her eyes before using her magic to throw a Poke Ball into the air. Out of it emerged the Embrace Pokemon, Gardevoir.
"Gardevoir!"
"Don't try and stop me, Princess Celestia." The Desires, despite having good intentions, carried them out in the wrong way. And that also resulted in them being rather hostile, as seen by how this Desire would lash out at Celestia's group. The attacks appeared in the form of Rift Whips, vibrating the snow thanks to their movements.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Voir!" With one arm out, Gardevoir generated a magical flash that immediately stopped the incoming whips that would threaten to harm her trainer.
Cobalion would use Sacred Sword against these Cosmic Whips, slicing them in half. He rapidly swung his extended sword, cleaving and cutting away. Aurelia yelped once one of the whips came close to her. She used her own magic to put up a barrier, playing things defensively compared to her parents who were taking down the whips.
Gardevoir would fly forward, attempting to get up close and personal with the Desire. She was known for freeing others from the Desires after all. She would zip around, avoiding the whips that nearly got her. She even had to block some of them with her arms.
Right as one of the whips came close to her, the Mega Stone that Celestia had in her saddlebag would go off. It flew out of the bag, letting out a radiant light the second one of the whips managed to land on Gardevoir. There was a cosmic explosion that blew away a good chunk of the snow. But while Azurelia let out a gasp, Cobalion smiled, knowing what was coming.
Out of the Cosmic Light, Celestial-Gardevoir emerged. The unification of Celestia and Gardevoir, appearing as a single being. She wiped away the cosmic smoke, stronger than ever. The next whips that came close were immediately grabbed by her bare hands. She held onto the cosmic power, using Mystical Fire to incinerate them. The Desire was struggling to keep her at bay, unable to generate strong enough Cosmic Whips.
"You don't have to go through this anymore!" Celestial-Gardevoir bellowed with the power of the Royal Canterlot Voice coming through, making Celestia and Passion's voices audible to Azurelia's ears. And even the old man residing in the desire. Celestial-Gardevoir held her hand out, pushing through the Rift Whips by using Psychic which would condense the cosmic power until it was crushed.
Just like that, Celestial-Gardevoir touched the centre of the Desire. Upon making contact, she utilized Equestrian Magic and Fairy Magic, sending a brilliant Gold and Pink light that would dazzle not only the Desire, but also the entire area.
It was as if the Sun was rising as the lights could be seen from afar. The citizens of FrostFall watched in amazement as the most glorious light bestowed the skies, giving it a truly heavenly feeling. The Desire couldn't stop this. The Rift Energy within was being expunged. A cosmic sound emerged because of this as the light rays began piercing the space that kept this entire area hidden.
The Desire had been defeated, dispersing into purple particles. And falling out of it was the old man, free of his Desire. With his eyes closed, he was currently over the massive hole where the Desire once sat. Quickly, Cobalion galloped as fast as he could, leaping over the massive hole and catching the old man before he could fall into it.
Celestial-Gardevoir hovered there for a moment, looking back at Azurelia. The princess was stunned by what she had just witnessed. The unification of two beings to create someone entirely new was astonishing. And it was her own mother. With a smile on her face, Celestial-Gardevoir ended the fusion, returning both hosts and their physical form.
"Oooh..." The old man, who was fittingly wearing a Christmas outfit, would groan, feeling rather perplexed. He was too old for this. Not as old as Celestia or Cobalion, but still.
"Rest easy." Cobalion uttered, looking up to see the effects of the rays piercing the space and the Desire being defeated. Cracks were beginning to show, revealing that all of this was about to come to an end. "It's all over now."
"So soon though..." Azurelia put a frown back on. "That means only one thing. With the Desire defeated, everything will go back to normal. Such as my place in this world." Alas, Azurelia wasn't meant to be here. This was not her universe, even though Celestia welcomed her.
The same went for those at FrostFall. They got to witness a truly splendid sight thanks to Celestial-Gardevoir. But this might be the only sight they get to witness. With the space breaking apart, the town and all the residents here were exuding blue particles that would gracefully fly out of their bodies.
More of the Sun was breaking through, bringing the rest of its rays. The blue skies of Unova were returning as the residents of Frostfall would at least have the chance to see it in all of its glory. No longer was it misty clouds. Now, they saw what the a piece of the rest of the world. And it was truly beautiful.
"Mother. Father. I'm at least glad I got to see you again, but...It's a shame it's so soon." Azurelia was gutted. "And it happened again. Why don't I get to spend all the time in the world with you."
"I'm sorry, dear. It is what it is." Celestia approached her daughter who was exuding the same particles. From her eyes, a teardrop was appearing. "Smile, knowing that you saw us again at such an age."
"I'm only 25." She sniffled. "I have plenty more years ahead of me as an alicorn."
"It's not all over, Azurelia." The Sun Princess placed her hoof on her daughter's face. "I promised myself I'd reach the other universes I lost contact with. Part of my Universal Alliance. Now I see there's another universe I need to reach.
"So...we'll see each other again?! You mean it?!" Hope was brought to Azurelia's eyes.
"I mean it. It's a promise. Until then, make sure you're doing well. Be the best ruler you can be. Celestia asked. Azurelia nodded, making sure it would become a reality. "Happy Birthday by the way. And even though it's not the correct month, Merry Christmas."
With that, Azurelia was gone. Once she dispersed into cosmic stardust, so did the chilling space. It was all over. The sunny beaches of Unova were seen once more. Celestia stood there for a moment, contemplating what she had just experienced. While short-lived it was an experience she would never forget. Seeing her own daughter was something else. She at least knew what she looked like and no longer had to dream.
"Are you alright?" The Iron Will Pokemon asked.
"I'm fine. I'll be fine knowing what's out there." She turned back with a smile. "Let's head on, Cobalion."
Despite all being over, the town of Frostfall was still around. The people there did not fade away. Instead, they were merely free from the hidden space and were now out in the open. Although, there was now a chilling aura around their own, making sure it was always snowing.
Clearly, while they were not from this world, they weren't going anywhere. And that was for one reason that Celestia already figured out. There was one Human she knew about who could effortlessly use magic that isn't Equestrian or Magic. Scione. The Sun Princess figured out that this was yet another example of Prisma's lost universe. Frostfall was one of those lost areas, but this time, the residents of that area stuck around.
"Well...I know where I'm coming later on." Celestia had answers for these citizens since they came from this lost universe. But there was something else on her mind. Her drive to bring all the gateways back was greater than ever. To restore the Universal Alliance and to see Azurelia again.
Equestria. The Dragon Lands. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
As the Moon started to rise and the Sun began to set, another day at the Pokemon Festival was coming to a close. And this entire time, Twilight Sparkle was fighting tooth and nail to solve an issue that Nate was dealing with. Since his true form was different based on who saw him and his body was surrounded by Plasma, Nate couldn't exactly live his life like he always has.
Currently, Nate was being blasted with a plethora of Rift Energy from Twilight's horn. He stood there taking the full brunt of it all. The Dragons watched as Nate, who appeared as an Ancient Dragon to them was surrounded in a great storm of Rift Energy.
"Alright. With that, you should look like your original self." Twilight put an end to the magic.
"Really...?" Nate blinked. While he saw himself as who he always was, the question was if the Dragons saw his true form. As long as they see Nate for who he truly is, then it was a good sign and Twilight would be an absolute life saver.
"Mmm...Looks like it." Ember observed. Indeed, Nate was back to how he was in the eyes of the Dragons. "What a shame. I liked you better when you were a Dragon."
"Hah..." Nate was just relieved. But before he could really cement it, he crossed his fingers, hoping for one thing. "Please say it's permanent."
"It should be. As for the plasma...I can't do anything about that. Sorry. You're stuck with it for now and it's not safe for you to be near anyone vulnerable to it. Which is practically the majority of the population.
"Figures." Nates snarled for a moment. While his true form was visible, the Plasma around him was still present. Alas, Twilight couldn't erase it at all.
"It looks like the Plasma is stuck to you. Nothing worked whenever I tried removing it. It probably has something to do with the fact that it helped you enter this universe."
"There has to be a way to get rid of it. I mean, having Plasma's' cool and all but..." Gutted, Nate would take a seat on a rock, contemplating things. He didn't really get to have all the fun he could in this new world since he's had to avoid so many people. "How'd it end up like this? Was it rough on you too, Lucas?"
"Nah. Not really. It was just confusing more than anything." Lucas wasn't in the same boat as Nate. At least when it came to their newfound abilities.
"You can't go anywhere else with that kind of body. You're lucky that plasma doesn't do all that much against the Earth and Rocks. So we have to find a compromise." Twilight took a deep breath, letting her brain work once more.
"Can we find a compromise later? Boy, I'm tired." Nate asked. "Running around, trying to get away from some fans I don't even know and taking on so many Dragons."
"How'd you even get roped into a battle with them?" Spike asked.
"They saw me as an ancient Dragon and challenged me. I mean, I'm not one to turn down a challenge, but I've got limits, man." Nate groaned. Things were not so favourable for him.
"Sorry about that. You looked a lot like the Dragon we were told about in stories." Ember approached. "And hey. If this is bothering you so much, why not just stay here?"
"Stay here?" Nate repeated
"She said the Earth and Rocks aren't that affected, right? You're better off staying here than heading anywhere else." Ember shrugged as the other dragons nodded in agreement fully behind that decision.
"I guess." Nate realized that Ember raised a good point. A very good point. Funnily enough, the Dragon Lands were the best place for Nate to stay. "Ah, but I really wanna explore the rest of this world!"
"We'll make you an honourary dragon then. I mean, you appeared as one not too long ago. How's that sound?" Ember even suggested making Nate an honourary Dragon Lands citizen. After seeing him as someone else, he technically made the cut.
"Mmm...If we're going to keep you from harming anyone else..." Twilight charged up her brain power. "I got it! Wait right here!"
"Where are you going?" Lucas asked as Twilight immediately took flight.
"I'll be back by tomorrow morning. Get some rest until then. I might have an answer to your problem, Nate!" The Princess of Friendship might have something to deplete all of Nate's issues as she would fly away.
"I guess this isn't so bad." He placed his hands on his face, trying to make himself comfortable. Sleeping in the Dragon Lands certainly can't be comfortable. At least to a Human. He tried finding a spot to sleep, but nothing looked all that pleasing. But it was all Nate could do and the only place he could rest. "Man...This is the only way I'm gonna get some sleep, huh?"
"Don't you have a tent in your bag?" Lucas questioned, knowing Nate has something to keep him comfortable in such a rigid place.
"The plasma fried my tent, Lucas. Anything that isn't Earth just gets ruined. I'm surprised my bag and clothes are still around." Even his tent had been taken out. Only his bag, clothes and the Poke Balls were in one piece. The Plasma didn't seem to target them all. Having no other option, Nate would have to deal with this.
He laid on his back, letting out a deep sigh and resting his head on a rock. Compared to everyone else that's entered this universe, Nate was dealt a bad hand.
"You could try a cave if this doesn't work." Ember stood over him. "It could rain here, despite how it all looks."
"Pass. I'm good with this. Thanks, anyways, uh...Dragon Lord, right? Sorry for going all out against you like that. Should've held back a bit."
"It's fine. If you didn't I'd be upset. That'd be the greatest level of disrespect."
"Hm. Fair enough. But ya know...I didn't get the chance to really explore this world thanks to the Plasma. I can't get close to anyone and I can't let others see me since I look like someone else. Most of the time, it's someone famous. But now, I guess I can get that chance. Mind telling me everything about this place?"
"We can do more than that. We can tell you everything that's happened." Spike said. He had everything that Nate wanted to hear and more. He saw everything play out from day one, making him the best dragon to talk to. Nate smiled, knowing he would get a piece of this information that he couldn't exactly view himself.
Canterlot. The Pokemon School.
it was back to the Pokemon School after the students all got to witness the Battle Frontier, seeing Rainbow Dash emerge as the victor. However, not all of them returned since some had to head home or enjoy the rest of the Festival this late at night. Some of them even live at Canterlot.
But one pony who has yet to return home was none other than Cozy Glow. While the Festival continued through the night with so many lights on, the young filly snuck into the Pokemon School. It wasn't open at the moment, but that didn't matter to her. Not when she used a Pokemon to break through.
"Togepi!" It was the Togepi she caught, who has a similar disposition and temper as the filly pegasus. With her bare fists, she broke through the walls of the school, making a sizable hole for her and Cozy Glow.
"Great going." Cozy Glow said upon witnessing the perfectly formed hole.
"To." But after smashing through it, the devious Togepi turned around holding her hand out as she demanded something in return. She wasn't doing this for free despite being Cozy Glow's partner. But calling them partners was a stretch.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." This duo wasn't like other Pokemon Trainers. Togepi was still upset about being caught by Cozy Glow of all ponies, making her truly bitter. So, to try and compromise, she demanded payment and Cozy Glow would oblige. She took some gems out of her saddlebag, having them stored up.
"I can't wait to get out of here..." Cozy Glow was eager to leave this universe just to reunite with Daybreaker's group. Although she had no proper home she chose to stay at the Pokemon School. When she wasn't itching to head to Team Plasma's new kingdom or it wasn't time for her to enter Universe 11, this was the spare base for her.
And since the Pokemon School was empty at this time, it was just her and Togepi. Being alone in the Pokemon School with an expansive darkness was rather dreary. That is until some light was unleashed by the other item in Cozy Glow's bag. The only way she can communicate with Daybreaker's group.
A small device that perfectly fit in her hoof, surrounded by Rift Energy, was used. It travelled between universes and dimensions, reaching Universe 11. Appearing as a Rift Projection was Daybreaker herself.
"Cozy Glow." Daybreaker turned to face Cozy Glow. "Update? I can only assume that's why you're calling me right now."
"Ah...You're not going to like this." Cozy Glow had to be honest with her. Hiding something from Daybreaker was too much of a risk in her book.
"What?" The Solar Queen narrowed her eyes as a frown formed on her face. The absolute fear that one look brought was super-effective against Cozy Glow. So effective that even Togepi was startled.
"Mmm!" The young filly closed her eyes. "It was supposed to be something else! I tried turning one of those ponies into a cube. The one called Rainbow Dash! I was gonna make her a cube and she'd be so small that I'd capture her! That would be one problem out of the way! But instead...the Pokemon ate the food that the magic was in, and then Mega Evolution happened and all of a sudden, the two of them created Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter!"
"...I'm sorry...What?" Daybreaker froze for a moment.
"They...created Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter. The power of Mega Evolution broke through one of the potions I made. I didn't think about what would happen if a Pokemon took it. That was my bad and I messed up."
"You accidentally created two new forms of matter? Dragon and Fairy Matter?" Daybreaker's ears were not lying to her. She heard those words correctly from Cozy Glow. "From a Potion and Mega Evolution?"
"Well...yeah. I mean, they couldn't control it, but they have it now. And it's weird. So weird. I swear it would've gone in my favour if I thought about the Pokemon! Honest!"
"It's alright."
"Huh?" Not the response she expected. Cozy Glow expected something completely different, more along the lines of absolute disappointment or anger, which would lead to Daybreaker taking action upon the pegasus.
"What you've done is very impressive, Cozy Glow. We call these 'Happy Litte Accidents'."
"You're not mad? Not gonna punish me?"
"Why would I? Do you realize what you've done? Matter is something that always connects to the Universe, no matter what form it takes. You've just brought something new to that universe. Something for all to use. Well, I assume only Dragons and Fairies, anyway. And by extension, we can use it too. Well done, Cozy Glow."
"Oh...T-Thank you!" The pegasus grinned rubbing the back of her hair as she didn't expect the compliment. There was something rather satisfying about receiving praise. Cozy Glow couldn't quite describe it.
"We'll have to bring you back to Universe 11 so you can replicate it. You know about the potion that causes it, right?"
"Oh, I sure do!" She stood with a proud expression on her face. "Learning from Potion Nova's classes really helped out and I know the right recipes and all."
"Excellent. We just need one missing ingredient. Mega Evolution. Since you brought it up twice, this effect might not work no matter what. That is the tricky part, honestly." Daybreaker pondered. Getting access to Mega Evolution was easier said than done. No one in her alliance had the power. "I'll have to get to work on that. For now, using Universe One's Dragon and Fairy Matter will have to do."
"Do I get something else in return? I mean, I did such a good job."
"Hmmm...Sure. You'll get something. For starters, you can't possibly hope to sleep in here all the time."
"Uhh...I couldn't think of anywhere else. And Team Plasma really doesn't want me in their kingdom." She squeed.
"Although you can only stay in my universe for 5 days, The home I made for you doesn't matter since your body will just return to this world. So, now that we've sorted out creating out own gateways that same home will be brought over to that universe. Living beings are limited but not items."
"Yes!" A home at last. She always had this home but could never make the most out of it. Now, that was all about to change.
"Keep this up and I'll get you more. And you can do so by helping us discover Mega Evolution. That will be our next mission."
"We're going all the way with Mega Evolution? Right now? What about the whole Necrozma Light thing?"
"It's also a part of it. Mega Evolution has plenty of Light Energy in it after all. I will ave a group that focuses on tapping into that power while you will continue to stay here and do whatever you can. Perhaps your accidents can bring another benefit. Good luck." Daybreaker bid farewell to the young filly, ending the communication.
"Hm-hm-hm. I'm rising up in the ranks." Cozy Glow chuckled, feeling like she was on top of the world at the moment. She actually ended up getting recognition for her blunder.
"Toge." Togepi groaned.
"You're just jealous because you haven't done anything important yet. I bet Malamar and Gardevoir are doing better than you. Hah!" Taunting Togepi, she would hold out the Poke Ball to recall her. Cozy Glow was riding that high and wouldn't let go of it just yet. She was about to try and keep the momentum going. No use in slowing down right now after all.
Thanks to her blunder, two new forms of matter were now a part of the Universe. Not only did this bring potential benefits to those in Universe 1, but the enemies of Universe 11. This was an unknown form of power that no one has yet to fully understand. But it was just the beginning, especially in this Grander World.
Equestria. Manehattan. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
In the middle of the night, many were asleep and yet many were awake. Such was the way of the Pokemon Festival. Ash's group found themselves spending the night in Manehattan.
Having her eyes closed but not actually asleep was Twilight Moonlight, who was patiently waiting for her time to break free from this magical bubble. She could just wait for the 9 days to be over, but the alternate Twilight would rather do things herself. Her time in this universe was almost up.
Under the Moon, her magical power was greatly elevated, but even against an alicorn, it wasn't enough. For now. She sat there, patiently, focusing on herself and nothing else. And by doing so, Moonlight's magic was growing and growing even further, getting stronger.
"Almost." Twilight Moonlight uttered. She was still being kept by Luna, who took over for her big sister. Currently, Luna was in the Dream Realm, doing what she usually does. But even so, Twilight Moonlight was not left unattended. Staying out here until he was needed was Darkrai, who was lurking in the shadows. He kept an eye on Twilight Moonlight, making sure she didn't try anything. "Tch. If only you weren't here."
"You wouldn't be in this mess if you ceased your attack on Ash. And also any attack on certain locations." The Pitch Black Pokemon pointed out.
"I already told you why I did it and you still want to protect him? You'd really risk it all on your bond with him just to prevent absolute destruction?"
"We understand motivations. That does not mean we have to tolerate them. And we will risk it all on that." Darkrai added. "Ash is a friend of mine and everyone else. We look after our own, even if they have the soul of a destructive individual within them. I figured that with your extensive knowledge, you would have already figured that out."
"Tch. I don't believe in that." Moonlight scoffed. "I've learned that eventually, the darkest side will show up. The best you can do is just delay it but it'll arrive, one way or another. I knew about Prisma's return when I was a baby and I had to live with that for so long."
"If you're so dedicated to defeating Prisma, why not try and understand those who are close to Ash? You're only focused on him and his counterparts after all."
"Nothing else matters but them. I'll be out of your hair once I take care of all ten of them. I shouldn't be in this universe either way, but until Prisma is stopped, you'll be seeing or hearing about me repeatedly."
"That so? Then I suppose at the end of the day, you're the one who is most likely to become Midnight Luminaria." Darkrai hovered around Moonlight and her bubble. "You said you conquered that part of you and you'd never become her. But I have a feeling that isn't the case. If everyone will eventually unleash their darkest side, what makes you so different?"
"I know that I won't ever become her. Twilight Luminaria's memories were given to me. Not any of my three counterparts. And speaking of which, the Human variant is without a doubt the one to most likely become her. I heard she once became Midnight Sparkle and even after her defeat, that part of her still exists."
"That's true. But there's one thing to guarantee that she won't ever return. Once again, taking care of our own is what decides it. I'd say she has a less likely chance of unleashing her compared to you."
"Pssh!" Moonlight scoffed at that notion. "I doubt it. "She's the weakest of the four. There's no way she can avoid what's coming."
Speaking of Sci-Twi, instead of falling asleep, she was hanging out with her Pokemon. Out of their Poke Balls were Kubfu and Bulbasaur, who Sci-Twi would try and get to know better and the way she would do that was by just hanging out instead of training. Then again, this was her own form of training. Bulbasaur would balance a plethora of books from Sci-Twi's bag, juggling them around. He launched them into the air before effortlessly catching them and stacking them in a single file afterwards.
"Great going, Bulbasaur!" She giggled, holding Bulbasaur's vines and shaking them as if they were arms.
"Kub! Kubfu!" Kubfu jumped up and down, wanting some praise of his own. And the only way he saw that happening was by doing something impressive.
"I know, I know, Kubfu. You want to do some actual training. So..." Digging in her bag, she pulled out another object for her to tackle. It took quite a lot of muscle power for her to remove this item. "I brought this. A Training Block. It's made out of Steel and pretty hefty. This is perfect for you. Go on and give it a shot."
"Kubfu...!" This was perfect. With a smile on his face, he could test out his strength against the Steel Block. The Wushu Pokemon took a deep breath, thinking only about destroying the block. "Fu!" He used Aerial Ace, running as fast as he could as his paw was enveloped in a white light. The Fighting-Type threw a punch at the block, expecting to break it. But in the end, not only did he not break through it, but his body would vibrate, causing him to jitter and move back. "Ku-u-u-ubfu!"
"Ooh. Not quite. Try again. But maybe a Fighting-Type move. If you do that, the attack is elevated since that's your speciality."
"Fu!" The Wushu Pokemon shook his head, trying to act cool and pretend that never happened. He tried shaking his arm to shrug off the pain, but he couldn't. Using his other arm, he would use Focus Punch, channelling all of his strength into a single point. Focusing his mind, the energy would build around his paw. With his mind fully focused, Kubfu would try again against the block. "Kubfu!"
And this time, it was a smashing success. The orange energy would combust upon connecting, bringing about a brilliant flash as the steel block received a hole straight through it. Not only that, but many cracks appeared on the rest of the block. He didn't quite destroy the whole but he came close and that was all that mattered.
"Wow! Nice, Kubfu!" Sci-Twi said with glee. "That's a great sign."
"Fu." Music to Kubfu's ears. With his arms crossed and the biggest smile on his face, he felt lke he was on top of the world.
"Do you want to go again? I have a good feeling that we have a ways to go before we can take on Mustard. He told us to come back at a later time, so let's be ready for him, alright?" In her bag, Sci-Twi had another Steel Block in waiting. While she would hang out with Bulbasaur, Kubfu would receive physical training.
Ponyville. Twilight's Castle.
As for Twilight Sparkle, she had returned to her castle over at Ponyville, previously at the Dragon Lands helping Nate with his Plasma Problem. While she managed to restore Nate's true form, at least for now, she couldn't quite get rid of the plasma that was still around his body. So, she came to her castle to try and find a solution.
The Rift Cauldron was on her mind immediately, of course. She figured that using all the Rift Magic in it combined with her own would come up with an issue to handle Nate's issue.
"What are you doing, mom?" Entering the room she was in were the two Flora Ponies she created. Daisy and Paradise.
"Just working. Don't worry about it. What have you two been up to this entire time?" Twilight asked.
"Not much. Just been busy searching for Pokemon. Are you making something new with that cauldron? Is there another problem we have to solve?" Paradise asked.
"Not at all. Nothing that you two can do anyway. This requires cosmic power." With her horn flashing, Twilight unleashed a flare of Rift Magic onto the cauldron. She's been at this for a while and at this very moment, something emerged from it.
She created something to shield everyone from the plasma while still making Nate visible to everyone. The goal was to make sure that Nate could touch everything else without scorching it, aside from the earth and rocks. From the cauldron emerged a cosmic cloak.
Its fabric was moulded from the cosmic energy of the Rift while having stars as its pattern. The size of this cloak was made to fit a Human instead of a pony as Daisy and Paradise marvelled at its beauty.
"This'll do. I'll call this little creation the Cosmic Cloak. Made to protect others from plasma."
"Can I put it on?!" Daisy requested, loving its appearance. "Please?!"
"Sorry, but I have to get this to Nate. He's been having a hard time with all the plasma around him and I want to remove that. But I'll make you something to wear." Finished with the cloak, Twilight used her magic to neatly pack it. "You two can go back to whatever you were doing and I'll see you later."
"We heard you ran into more versions of yourself though." said Paradise, bringing up Twilight Moonlight, Wish and Sci-Twi. "What's that all about?"
"Umm...I'll tell you later. It's a lot." Twilight promised. It truly was a lot to share considering it all tied back to Prisma. And yet, new things were being discovered.
Johto. Seas of Johto.
Still, the Dimensional Castle of Twilight Wish was still moving along the seas of Johto. The fourth Twilight was also on her own, but she was never truly alone when she has her Pokemon with her. Compared to the other three Twilights who were focusing, training and working, this Twilight was relaxing.
Lying on a couch located here at the castle, Twilight Wish was still on the run from her pursuers, unable to return to her universe unless she wishes to bring harm to her home once more, which was an obvious 'No'. But being on the run allowed her to experience this universe for the first time. After all, it was the universe where Prisma was the most present.
Only two Twilights were focused on stopping Prisma's return while two more wished to protect the ones harbouring Prisma's soul. But Twilight Wish clearly wanted a more passive approach to this.
"Hah..." She still felt lonely at the end of it all. There was just something missing in all of this and she knew exactly what it was. By using her magic, she brought over a picture sitting on the table. This picture consisted of Twilight Wish's friends from that universe. "I wish you all here right now. Megan. Spike. Applejack. Firefly. Everyone. It's so much harder when I'm not with you."
She isn't quite used to doing things on her own. After all, she was being hunted. Twilight Wish was more about doing things with her friends and yet, due to recent events, she couldn't even reunite with them. All she could do was stay in this universe until the Prisma issue is solved. As long as it comes to an end, Twilight Moonlight's universe will cease all pursuit on her.
For now, Twilight Wish would have to be on standby at the moment. She still had backup in the form of Equestria after interacting with Princess Celestia. And yet, there was an empty part of her that wished she could leave the castle without having to worry about a time limit. After all, it wasn't just Twilight Moonlight who was running a Time Limit. Neither side has perfect Dimensional Travel after all.
With all four Twilights thinking hard in their own way, there was a connection neither of them expected. Despite it being nightfall, there was a bit of sunlight poking through. The light from the lowered Sun started scattering through the upper atmosphere.
It was as if the Moon itself was reacting to the four of them. It was obviously reacting to Twilight Moonlight since she gets a bonus just by being underneath the Moon. Only Twilight Moonlight was thinking about the Moon and its benefits, but not what else could come from it when it came to her other counterparts.
Her magic was rising and rising, but as a result, it was directly responsible for this connection. Twilight Moonlight has been in this universe longer than she's ever been which was a first. But this also meant that a new reaction was formed. One that was unexpected and unforeseen.
All four Twilights had the same reaction. They each stopped what they were doing, having their eyes widen and their pupils shrink. In that instance, the four of them had a mighty connection. Together, they all saw the visage of Twilight Luminaria appearing in their eyes.
"W-What's happening...?!" Twilight Moonlight uttered as her magic was reaching a point where not even she could properly control it. Darkrai gasped, being at the ready for this sudden turn of events. The bubble of Luna was beginning to be pierced by the rays of Twilight Moonlight's magic.
"All four of you need to come together. As soon as possible." Speaking to not just Twilight Moonlight but also all the other Twilights was the voice of Twilight Luminaria herself. Not only did they see her visage but they also heard her voice at the same time. The echoing voice of this alicorn made their heads rings.
"Bulbasaur?!" Bulbasaur and Sci-Twi's other Pokemon quickly ran to her side once they saw her get on her knees, feeling the echo in her head.
"Mom?! Are you alright?!" The same went for Twilight Sparkle, who hasn't yet left the castle. She dropped the cloak, almost falling over as the echoing voice was louder for her compared to the other two.
Twilight Wish wasn't as disturbed by it but it was still rather vexing to hear. Without them even expecting it, Twilight Luminaria's voice invaded their heads, telling them to do one thing. Come together. All four Twilights have never been in the same room together.
"You have to do it before all 10 of Prisma's Halves reunite." And in her words, the four Twilights had to do it before all 10 of Prisma's selves can do the same.
The bubble that Luna created was immediately shattered, freeing Twilight Moonlight. But this was done by her own will. It was done by Twilight Luminaria. Darkrai would raise his arms, blocking the rays of light that came from Twilight Moonlight. In the end, she wasn't the one who freed herself. Twilight Luminaria did it for her.
"What the...?" Darkrai gawked in amazement.
"Apologies." Suddenly, she started speaking through Twilight Moonlight, taking control for a moment. "But I need to make sure she is free."
"Who are you?" Darkrai questioned.
"I am Twilight Luminaria." She finally introduced herself even if it wasn't in her actual body. Once again, Twilight Luminaria was taking control of someone's body just to further realize her plans to stop Prisma. "I don't have much time. My magic is still limited so I have to make the most of what I can in every instance. But I can increase it if all four of them reunite."
"You're going to put them together?"
"If all four of them come together, my true form will emerge and I can finish what I started by making sure Prisma doesn't return. My own soul has been inside of them, much like Prisma's own soul, so I'm aware of everything. And I'm afraid, Twilight Moonlight might have the right idea."
"By destroying Ash? You're in agreeance with that?"
"Not necessarily destroying him. But from how things turned out back in my world, there has to be some destruction involved. I don't have time to explain it all. Not when I'm on a time limit. I need to reach the others and by merging with the nearest Twilight, I can extend-" But before she could finish, fighting this control with all of her might was Twilight Moonlight.
"Leave!" Moonlight yelled, attempting to use her own magic to remove Twilight Moonlight's chatter. "I don't need you here right now! I can do this on my own!"
Fighting for control, Twilight Moonlight fared much better than the Aura Vampire Gardevoir. Mainly because she and Twilight Luminaria were practically the same pony. With her eyes aggressively flashing, Twilight Moonlight was in some control but Luminaria had control as well, essentially making it half.
"I should at least thank you for freeing my body from that bubble. But everything else, I can do on my own." Twilight took a deep breath.
"You can't stay here forever though. You're running on a time limit."
"I know...Ash is nearby, fast asleep. So there is no way I'm going to waste this opportunity. He's coming with me."
"No. He's not." Darkrai would still be the main bastion who would keep Twilight Moonlight at bay.
"Reunite with the nearest Twilight first." However, Twilight Luminaria suggested something else. Merging with Sci-Twi should be her first focus, but Moonlight wasn't having any of it. "This is the longest you've been in this universe and so many different effects could happen."
"I don't care. As long as I complete my mission. So, if you'd kindly leave my body and give me all the control I need...!" Twilight Moonlight would cast a spell that attempted to expunge Twilight Luminaria. In response, Twilight Luminaria would cast a spell of her own just to reverse this. Two different magical colours emerged from Moonlight's body, being a representation of the magical clash.
"Now's my chance." But Darkrai had a clear response to this. While these two were bickering, he would summon a Dark Void to put her to sleep. He moved through the darkness with all of his might before slamming it against Twilight Moonlight.
Before she could properly react, Twilight Moonlight was hit by the Dark Void as this interference disrupted the magical clash. With Dark Void successfully landing, it was inevitable that Moonlight would be put to sleep.
"Sorry. But you can't stop me that easily even with my limited magic." At that moment, Twilight Luminaria spoke to Darkrai while Moonlgith's eyes were lowering. "If we're entering the Dream Realm, so be it. That way, I'll have an even greater advantage."
"What?" What did she mean by that? Darkrai tried figuring it out as fast as he could, but before he could do so, the light from the magical clash returned but it mainly showed Twilight Luminaria's magic instead. With Moonlight knocked out, Luminaria won, enveloping Darkrai in this light.
And just like that, Darkrai was gone, entering the Dream Realm accidentally. Dropping to the floor and completely asleep was Twilight Moonlight, who was no longer in control. But she wasn't the only one to fall asleep.
The connection between the four Twilights was so potent that they all fell asleep. In unison, they dropped to the floor and closed their eyes. Twilight Sparkle fell over, sleeping in her own castle as the Flora Ponies watched. Twilight Wish was still on her couch so that much didn't change.
But Sci-Twi fell down on the ground, right outside as well, where the cold was at its most prevalent. At this very moment, due to Twilight Luminaria's actions, all four of them were about to share a dream. But it wouldn't be Moonlight's dream, Wish or any of the sparkles.
"Ooh..." Getting up was not just one Twilight, but all four of them. Twilight Sparkle, Wish, Moonlight and Sci-Twi were all in the same spot. The same dream at the same time. And yet, neither of them were asleep prior to this. They were all doing their own thing until a surprise event occurred.
Because of Twilight Moonlight existing in this universe longer than she normally does, her magic grew to a point where it allowed Twilight Luminaria to take control. And thanks to Darkrai's Dark Void, this prompted all four of them to fall asleep despite them being distant from each other. Just a mess of things that led to this moment. The first to get up was Twilight Sparkle. Following her were the other three. All four of them felt the soft texture of grass beneath them so at least the surrounding area was comfortable.
"What happened? What was that all about?" The most confused was Sci-Twi, who stood back up. She was the least involved in this since she was worried about other things that aren't counterparts or alternate worlds.
"I'm getting sick and tired of these mental shenanigans." Twilight Sparkle groaned, already knowing that this involved the mind in some way. She's been through enough of these experiences to know that.
"Wait...You all showed up here?" Twilight Wish was the first to notice that she was not alone in this Dream. All four of them were present in the same area, this close to each other, even though it was within a Dream.
"You!" Sparkle and Wish said in unison. Seeing Moon here was alarming in every single way. She was currently free and in the same space as them.
"I should've figured you'd be involved in this somehow..." Twilight Sparkle could only let out a disappointed sigh.
"Don't blame me! I didn't do it this time!" For once, she was right. This was not on Twilight Moonlight. Even though she was involved in some way, the one responsible for this was Twilight Luminaria. "Even though I was slightly involved. But you can blame that Darkrai friend of yours and also the one truly responsible for getting us into this mess. I'm not even sure how she got you all here with me."
"You're talking about Twilight Luminaria, aren't you? I heard her voice all of a sudden. It was out of nowhere and I didn't see it coming." Twi-Wish added. Neither of them saw it coming.
"So...You're not responsible this time?" said Twi-Sparkle. "But why would she-"
"I'm glad I got you all here in one spot." The one responsible would show herself immediately, still running on limited time. She appeared in a flash of magic, but only as energy, yet again. However, instead of being a mass of magical energy, she now had the build of a pony. It was a sign that her magic was increasing, albeit slowly. Her face and everything else were still obscured by the an unknown magical darkness. However, when looking at her mane and tail, the four Twilights all saw bits of their hair colours and especially the hairstyle.
"Is that her...?" Sci-Twi was getting a glimpse at Twilight Luminaria for the very first time, albeit as a mass of energy. There stood the culmination of all four of them. Their superior in this instance.
"Apologies for the inconvenience. But this was my golden opportunity to bring you all here. If I didn't I would have to wait another time for my magic to reactivate." Luminaria spoke to them with a grandeur voice. "This is the closest all three of you have been with each other, even if it is just a dream."
"Who's dream is this though?" That was the question that Twi-Wish wanted an answer to. Since all four of them were put to sleep by Darkrai's Dark Void, it wasn't exactly a single individual's dream and no one here really recognized the entire scenery. It didn't look all that familiar to Twi-Sparkle. Not to Sci-Twi, not to Twi-Wish and not to Twi-Moon. But Twi-Moon could somewhat make out what this place might be thanks to her instilled memories of Twilight Luminaria.
"It's all four of your dreams. They have merged into one and brought about this." Luminaria answered. "And because of that, it is also my dream. This is where I can have an upfront conversation without all of you. Sorry for the voices in your heads. There was no other way."
"We never finished talking in my dream." Twi-Sparkle pointed out. "There was still so much I wanted to ask you."
"I'm sorry, but I'm still running on time. I will have to share a lot with you. It's urgent so please listen."
"Twilight!" Before she could start, breaking through the Dream Realm was none other than Princess Luna and Darkrai. Of course, Darkrai would eventually show up since he was the one who cast Dark Void. They appeared from the sky making their landing right next to Twi-Sparke and Twi-Wish. "I came as soon as Darkrai informed me! Are you alright?!"
"We're fine. Nothing bad's happened to us." said Twi-Sparkle.
"Ah-" Right before Luna could respond she noticed that there were three other Twilights. All four were finally together but everything seemed completely fine. "Y-You too...? You were all dragged into this?"
"Don't look at me. Darkrai should've explained to you what truly happened." Twi-Moon scoffed.
"And is that...Her?" Luna's eyes soon went up when spotting the one known as Twilight Luminaria. Slowly but surely, the long-lost pony from another universe was being revealed to the rest of the world. As for the appearance of this dream, it obviously had a noticeable structure but it was something that Luna didn't recognize.
The Dream of a Legendary Princess possessed a sprawling castle, with turrets that reach towards the sky and a grand entrance adorned with intricate stained glass windows. It borrowed elements from Canterlot Castle, the Crystal Empire and many other castles across Equestria.
"There will be no conflict in this dream. Not even from you, Luna." Twilight Luminaria ordered. "I am just here to tell you all what needs to be done. To stop Prisma from ever returning. You four must reunite and form my body once more and only then, will we be able to prevent another wave of destruction."
"You want us to bring you back? But then...how come we aren't combining if all four of us are this close?" Sci-Twi questioned.
"This is only a dream, so it's impossible for you to merge. But when you do, in reality, I will arrive. My soul exists in all of you and is waiting to be unleashed, much like Prisma's."
"What are you going to do to Ash? And Nate? And everyone else?" Twi-Sparkle asked the most pivotal question.
"Isn't it obvious? She has the same idea as me. Destroy their souls." Twi-Moon answered for her. "That way, it can all come to an end."
"Well, I don't think we should be doing that!" Twi-Wish objected, speaking back to Twi-Moon. "I always opted for the safer route. If we only target Prisma's soul and stop it somehow then all 10 of them will be safe."
"That won't work." Twi-Moon scoffed. "What needs to happen is for every bit of their soul to be taken out. Nothing more, nothing less."
"M-Maybe we can just coexist with Prisma?" Sci-Twi had a third suggestion that didn't involve targeting anyone's souls.
"There are options, yes." Twilight Luminaria uttered, grabbing their attention. "I have been thinking of every possible solution to this upcoming issue. After all, Prisma and I were in battle before our universe was lost and our souls were within your bodies. Moonlight. You are the only one that was embedded with my memories. A few of them, at least."
"Because...?" Moonlight leaned forward.
"Truth is, I did trust you, Moonlight. You seemed to be the only one who could handle my memories. I'm terribly sorry that I gave them to you as a baby. But your plan to destroy their souls, while effective, isn't the way to go."
"What?" Twilight Moonlight's approach was shut down. "But you said some destruction was involved."
"And you also told me if push comes to shove, I might have to do something drastic when it comes to Ash." Even Twi-Sparkle chimed in, bringing up an important comment Luminaria gave to her in a previous dream. "What do you mean by that?"
"There is destruction involved. No longer can I seal his soul away. I'm afraid that to stop Prisma, we will have to destroy the souls of all 10 of them." Twilight Luminaria revealed a rather shocking decision that made Twilight Sparkle, Twilight Wish, Sci-Twi and Luna gasp in unison. That was not the response they wanted to hear. "However, that's not all. Once the souls are all destroyed, I will attempt to remake them seconds before their absolute end. And with it, restoration will occur."
"O-oh..." Twilight Sparkle suttered. "You mean, you can bring back their bodies?"
"I'm afraid not. Bear witness." To give a demonstration, Twilight Luminaria began affecting her dream just to show them all what she meant by that. From the dream, she created Ash and his 9 counterparts as they were all floating in the air with their souls being visible.
There, the four Twilights saw the 10 Souls in all of their glory. Each of them had different colours that was vibrant as they could be. Some burned with the spirit of fire while others flared like the flash of lightning. This is what was truly inside of their bodies.
Twilight Luminaria then made it so that their bodies started twisting along with their souls, signifying their bodies being destroyed which made Sci-Twi almost close her eyes in horror. "Destroying their souls unfortunately means destroying their bodies. With it, Prisma will not return. Instead, in their place will be a new entity. Someone to replace them all."
The Dream then showed all the destroyed bodies spiralling in one spot as the souls, which were almost completely destroyed, merging as one. But they were not merging to create Prisma. Instead, only one individual emerged. A silhouette of an unknown figure.
"He will be an entirely new being. He will have his own soul and his own life. But at the cost of losing his memories. That is the most likely way to stop Prisma."
"You can't do that!" That was something Twilight Sparkle vehemently disagreed with. "You'd be erasing Ash from existence y doing that! Losing all of his memories?!"
"All other options I've thought about would end in failure or would only delay the inevitable. I had to choose the best possible outcome and this is the one that was truly flawless."
"But...Losing Ash forever, and he wouldn't even remember us? He wouldn't even be the same person. You'd be taking not just Ash away but the others from all their loved ones too. Red, Brendan, Nate! All of them! That can't be the outcome in all of this."
"I never actually thought about that..." Twi-Moon was even shocked by what she was hearing. A complete replacement was not what she was expecting.
"That's horrible..." Twi-Wish was absolutely stunned by what she had witnessed and heard. It even made her stumble back. As for Sci-Twi, she was mortified by that. All those precious memories with Ash will cease to exist. His body will cease to exist and the only remnant of it will be this new Human who was a combination of all 10.
"Then.." Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes as her mouth was trembling. "I'll just go for another option that's just as good as that one! Even better! I'll stop Prisma my own way and-"
"That won't work." Twilight Luminaria objected. "I know what you are already thinking. I've seen it myself. I understand the power your world holds and how you can connect with others. But not with Prisma. If I could avoid destruction, believe me, I would. But Prisma is beyond saving. Mainly because I failed him."
"What do you mean you failed him?"
"While we had a battle that was finished once our universe was lost, the truth is, we were once close. As close as we could be." There was a past with Twilight Luminaria and Prisma. "Back then, I was still just a filly, growing up as the daughter of a King and Queen. My life was as swell as it could be. And I would have said the same for Prisma."
The dream showed the young Prisma, who wore sponsors all over his cape, much like Champion Leon. He was a child prodigy in his time after all. The usual knowledge was shared with them. The fact that Prisma was this incredibly powerful trainer even at such a young age, winning battle after battle and getting progressively stronger.
"I watched Prisma from afar, hearing about his rise to fame to the point where he was as recognizable as the many forms of royalty out there. I had never seen his face until one day."
The Dream of Twilight Luminaria dug into the past some more, showing all of them her very first encounter with Prisma. And it was on a wonderful mountainside which had a colossal sea that possessed light particles ahead of it. The peaceful mountains rise majestically, their light-capped peaks reaching towards the heavens, while their lush green valleys could beckon adventurers to explore their secrets. Nestled amidst a cluster of towering pines, a shimmering waterfall cascades down the granite cliffs, its gentle roar providing a tranquil soundtrack to the serene surroundings.
Sitting there was the young Prisma. He sat there, gazing at the beautiful sight underneath the wonderful sunset. But his smile wasn't exactly wonderful. The Child Prodigy held up a Poke Ball, looking directly at it with a saddened stare. In his mind, he could only hear one thing.
Cheering. People, ponies, dragons, hippogriffs and many other creatures were cheering his name. Not too long ago, before he came over and sat here, he was in a Pokemon Battle for many to see. Naturally, Prisma won and received titanic praise for not just his victory, but his skills and seemingly unstoppable strength. Someone like Prisma would obviously become popular.
And yet, it brought him no happiness. There was not a shred of joy behind those eyes. He sighed when looking at his Poke Ball, attempting to forget about those cheers.
"Hey! What's got you all down?" A voice spoke to Prisma from behind. It was the voice of a young Twilight Luminaria, who stood before the Child Prodigy, away from her castle.
"Hm?" The Young Prisma looked over. He then turned his head, putting his Poke Ball away. "Go away."
"Uh, this is my family's mountain." Twilight Luminaria leaned forward. Her family possessed this mountain, making it hers by extension as well. "But it's fine if you want to sit on it. Not like it's forbidden."
"Hah..." Prisma sighed once more, lowering his head. "Just when I thought I could get away. You were watching the match, weren't you?"
"I was. From my balcony. And it was an amazing battle. Probably the best I've seen so far." Twilight Luminaria put on a wide smile. "I've heard about you but I didn't know you were that good. I'm Princess Twilight Luminaria. Heard of me?"
"No not really..."
"Huh?! No way...I've heard of you but you haven't heard of me? I'm pretty popular in my own right, actually. Next in line to rule all of Unilight. The whole nation and beyond.
"So you're going to be the one who rules over this entire world? I don't believe that." Prisma shifted his eyes to the side.
"It's not natural though. My parents rule it and so will I once I'm of age." She stood proud as hte rays of the sunset would reflect off her. "And once I'm in charge, I'll end up making Pokemon Battles a greater spectacle than before. They're the second thing in the world that interest me the most! First is reading."
"They don't need to be. They're fine the way they are." But Prisma would rather they stay how they currently are instead of being even larger.
"Hm? You want them to stay the same instead of becoming something bigger? That's strange. I thought you would've liked it? You know, the publicity and all..."
"I could do without all of that, Princess. Not like I want it."
"Oh. Well...I figured that since you're so popular..." Twilight Luminaria slowed down with her speech, scratching the back of her mane. "You're already ranked number eight. Just a bit more and you'll be number one. But judigng by your looks, you're not all that excited about it, are you?"
"Not really. But I'm still going to win all of this regardless. And maybe then, I'll find some meaning to all of this."
"What kind of meaning?"
"Winning isn't all that satisfying, honestly. It should be, but I don't know why." Something was missing within Prisma. Something that he just couldn't understand. However, Sci-Twi could since she was informed by Scione and by witnessing a further look into the past, she was starting to see what it might be.
"You're weird. You're riding a huge wave and you're not all that excited about it? Never met anyone quite like you." The filly alicorn let out a light chuckle. "Well, if you're having any problems, maybe you can turn to me."
"Turn to you?"
"That's right. I've got my own meaning, Prisma. When I'm the ruler of Unilight, I'll make sure I'll solve everyone's problems. This world isn't exactly perfect, but it could be a lot better still. If there's anything that's bothering someone, I want to make sure I can solve it in the best way possible. And hey. I can test out just how good I'll be by helping you."
"I don't know. You don't seem all that experienced." Prisma was doubtful.
"I am experienced though! I get a lot of private tutoring at home if you must know! And I can prove it to you right now." Confident in her skills, Twilight Luminaria believed she coul turn that frown upside down. Prisma, obviously found that to be unlikely since she seemed very inexperienced. Then again, he wasn't exactly experienced in that category either. In the end, both had ways to go. The two would babble against each other as the sun continued to set, with Prisma doubting Twilight's every word and Twilight doing everything in her current power to affect Prisma.
"However, as years went by, I was unable to see Prisma as much. My duties as the next in line came first before anything else. All I could do was watch his battles. Occasionally, I'd encounter him here and there and we were forming a bond. In fact, it was the only bond that Prisma was starting to truly experience."
Time played its role and the two were growing rather distant of each other. Even still, Twilight Luminaria was the one individual that Prisma interacted with more than anything. He ended up growing up with the Princess of Unilight. Prisma grew stronger over the years and Twilight Luminaria's rise to power was going strong.
The interactions between the two were seemingly the same as before. Much like how they were as kids, Prisma appeared uninterested, keeping that same look on his face while Twilight Luminaria kept that high energy within her, constantly chattering.
They walked side by side when Prisma wasn't battling or when Twilight Luminaria wasn't occupied with her duties.
"I never understood it myself. I had this goal in mind when I became the leader, to help everyone. My subjects. And yet, I could never help Prisma. I began to notice that he was growing distant from everything and everyone else. Not just me. It was as if he was sinking into an indescribable darkness. And perhaps, I was too late to save him."
That was all Twilight Luminaria decided to share. She was running on a time limit after all, meaning that there were still missing points from the past. The projection of the past came to an immediate end.
"So...you were friends with him? Then why would you want to erase him?" Twilight Sparkle questioned.
"Friends? I wish I could say that. But honestly, I don't think Prisma ever saw me as a friend. Unfortunately, I could never understand him, no matter how hard I tried. And when the worst possible outcome occurred, I knew it was too late to save him. So, I had no choice but to seal away his soul, but he was always just as good as the best, if not better, so he sealed my soul away as well."
"So that's an extension of what Scione showed me." Sci-Twi got some more context to the past thanks to Twilight Luminaria. It was as if more and more missing parts were being revealed here and there.
"I do not have time to show the rest to you. Only when you have all merged I can continue from here. But...I can tell that you are all rather hesitant."
"Not just hesitant. I'm not doing it." Twi-Sparkle put her hoof down. "I'm not bringing you back just so you can erase my friend."
"Neither am I. This isn't how I wanted to do it. I didn't want to see anyone get hurt." Twi-Wish was on the same page as Twi-Sparkle. Sci-Twi obvously didn't want this. Not for a moment.
But Twi-Moon? Everyone else turned to face her as she was the one who first brought up the idea of destroying the souls in the first place. They immediately expected her to take that route and so did Twilight Luminaria, who spoke to her. "You'll assist me, right? You know what we have to do."
"Mmm..." Twi-Moon closed her eyes. "As much I'm all for destroying the souls...I cannot merge with you and any of them."
"What...?" This was a surprise to Twilight Luminaria and the others. She refused to merge, rejecting Twilight Luminaria's offer.
"I've been doing some thinking of my own. Where my life would go after I stop Prisma's return for good." She referred to when Pinkie Pie asked her about her eventual future. "It never crossed my mind what I'd do after that. But one thing's for sure, I'm not done living my life yet. So much of it has been occupied with stopping Prisma after all and becoming one with you will ruin that."
"Ah...That's why." Not exactly the answer Twi-Sparkle expected, but at least Twi-Moon wasn't onboard with merging as one.
"I see..." To Twilight Luminaria, this was rather upsetting. A strong part of her truly believed that her counterparts would all be in agreement, but that was not the case. They were all different in their own way and yet there was a part of them that were united. "Then in that case...I'm afraid I'll have to take matters into my own hooves. Once again."
"You'll start by getting us out of this Dream." Twi-Moon ordered. "Your magic won't last, after all. Right?"
"And after this, I'll stop Prisma in my own way." Twi-Sparkle stated. "I'll do what I can to avoid destruction and I won't risk the souls and memories of my friends for it."
"If so, then prove it to me. Prove to me that your way is superior and the better outcome. By battle." Twilight Luminaria would descend as her hooves touched the ground. "Where I come from, we settle strong disagreements with a Pokemon Battle. You four should prove to me that your ways are superior and that you can do this without my return. Show me your resolve."
Much like what Scione said, everything is settled by a battle from where Twilight Luminaria comes from. And in a dream, this was no exception. Right in front of her, she generated a Poke Ball, ready to battle.
"Fine then." Twilight Sparkle agreed. She wanted to prove Twilight Luminaria wrong and one way of doing that was showing her resolve. "I know the two of us here don't exactly see eye to eye. But this time, let's throw our differences aside."
She obviously referred to Twilight Wish and Twilight Moon. They definitely had their differences. But if there was ever a time to forget about it and tackle something bigger, it was now.
"Fine." Surprisingly, Twi-Moon agreed to do so, taking out her own Poke Ball. "I can postpone my mission right now, just to take out another obstacle that'll slow me down."
"I agree. And I want to show her that my resolve is good enough to be the best option." Soon, Twi-Wish revealed her Poke Ball as well. Sci-Twi gulped before mustering the strength to hold out her own Poke Ball.
Soon, all four Twilights had their respective Poke Balls out, ready to challenge Twilight Luminaria. Luna and Darkrai chose to observe this battle since it would be between five ponies who were essentially the same.
"I'm going for you! Absol!" For Twi-Sparkle, she chose Absol.
"Help out! Meowscarada!" For Twi-Wish, she chose Meowscarada.
"Appear! Samurott!" Twi-Moon's choice was Hisuian Samurrot.
"Here goes...Out you come, Rapidash!" And finally, Sci-Twi chose Alpha Rapidash. Four of some of their strongest Pokemon have arrived. All four of them stood side by side with Samurott and Meowscarada looking each other in the eyes. Obviously, these two were not on te best of terms thanks to the interactions between their trainers. But they already knew there was someone greater than that standing before them.
"Those are your choices? Very well then. Show yourself." Twilight Luminaria finally showed her Pokemon. And it was one that neither expected. Not even Twi-Moon.
Appearing from the Poke Ball was a Pokemon that looked familiar but very different. It appeared to be a mechanical, bipedal Pokémon whose appearance retains numerous visual traits from both Gardevoir and Gallade. Its arms consisted of gauntlets with large magenta blades protruding from the sides. It had parts of Gardevoir's dress and the blades and headpiece of Gallade.
"Gardevoir...Or Gallade?" Twi-Sparkle wasn't exactly sure what she was looking at. But perhaps the Pokedex could fix that.
"Iron Valiant. The Paradox Pokemon. It has some similarities to a mad scientist’s invention covered in a paranormal magazine. The swiftness of its blade is only matched by its natural movement speed. It bares a striking resemblance to Gardevoir and Gallade."
"Do your best to last as long as you can." Twilight Luminaria suggested.
"Are you saying that we can't win? Don't make me laugh. Samurott, use Ceaseless Edge!"
"Samu!" Unsheathing his blades, Samurott would advance, being the first to rush in. Obviously, there wasn't going to be a shred of teamwork in this battle.
"Moonblast." Twilight Luminaria ordered. Iron Valiant would ready itself, generating a ball of Fairy Magic from its blades. The ball was then condensed into energy that surrounded the blades, turning them into bladed weapons. Once Samurott approached, Iron Valiant swung its blades, clashing with the Water-Dark-Type. It was a potent clash.
But not a long-lasting one. Samurott swung as fast he could, clashing back and forth with Iron Valiant, only to lose the exchange. With a graceful and powerful swing, Iron Valiant slashed Samurott's chest, landing a super-effective blow. The Water-Dark-Type rolled on the ground, taking the first hit which was rather staggering.
"Go, Absol! Use Night Slash!"
"Meowscarada! Thunder Punch!"
"Sol!" Lighting up his horn with darkness, Absol lunged forward, having his own blade at the ready. Joining him was Meowscarada, who covered her paws in lightning. Iron Valiant was very much ready for two Pokemon to approach it. All it needed to hear were the words of Twilight Luminaria.
"Close Combat." With that order, Iron Valiant would rapidly move its eyes, easily seeing both of these Pokemon approaching. It used both of its blades to catch the Slash and Punch at the same time, performing a perfect block. Absol jumped back before rushing in for another slash. Once he swung his horn, it was parried by Iron Valiant's blade. And as for Meowscarada, she was forced back by the force of Iron Valiant's push.
Both Absol and Meowscarada swung as fast as they could when trying again, trying to put pressure on the Paradox Pokemon. And yet, they couldn't. Iron Valiant could be seen catching their every move, blocking and parrying all of their attacks with ease.
Sparks of lightning and bursts of darkness kept flying out as the attacks were failing to go through. Iron Valiant could not only effortlessly block and parry their moves but it could also counter. The Paradox Pokemon would deliver a double slash to both of their chests, making the two Dark-Types gasp and stagger.
Once they were both staggered, freezing on the spot after that super-effective blow, Iron Valiant did it again by slashing downwards, starting from their heads to their legs. The Dark-Types were soon sent flying because of this, crashing through the walls of this dream.
With just a few hits, these Pokemon found themselves stunned. Getting hit by Iron Valiant felt unreal to them. It even left Hisuian Samurott on the ground for a little while, taking him some time to get back up.
"It isn't over yet! Samurott, use Aerial Ace!"
"Samurott!" Once he got back up, Samurott moved at confounding speeds, attempting to outspeed the Paradox Pokemon. But the Fairy-Fighting-Type was still ready. Seeing Samurott's appearance, it performed a backflip to avoid the downward swing.
After avoiding it, Iron Valiant moved in with another Close Combat, striking Samurott's face. The Formidable Pokemon cried out as it felt like being socked in the jaw. But far worse. Right as he was about to receive another slash, Sci-Twi took action.
"Use Dragon Pulse, Rapidash!"
"Rapidash!" Alpha Rapidash got involved, holding her breath in and unleashing a dragon-shaped shockwave from her mouth. She knew this wouldn't do anything to Iron Valiant since it had the Fairy-Typing. But what it would do was create some distance.
The blast hit the ground, causing a larger shockwave to appear. This ended up knocking Samurott away from Iron Valiant. Iron Valiant was immune to the attack, but not the shockwave. It slid back, only moving a few feet from its spot.
"What was that for?!" Twi-Moon turned to face Sci-Twi as she saw this an attack on her Samurott.
"S-Sorry. But Samurott would've taken another hard hit there." Sci-Twi uttered. "I had to do something. That Pokemon is fast and strong."
"It's not unbeatable though! Giga Impact!"
"Sol!" Absol finally got back up. And once he jumped up, he enveloped his body in a white light that would propel himself forward.
"Use Power Gem, Meowscarada!"
"Meow!" Meowscarada followed up by unleashing a barrage of sparkling gemstones that soon turned into rays of light. These would fly alongside Absol, showing signs of teamwork. Only Twi-Sparkle and Twi-Wish had some semblance of unity from the looks of it.
Iron Valiant's eyes would flash upon seeing these attacks coming its way. Still using Close Combat it would cross its arms building up an intense power that was shaking the ground itself. And with a mighty slash, it managed to deliver a slash so powerful that it ended up cutting the Power Gem in half. The attack had been disrupted, but it didn't stop there.
Absol crashed into the slash, attempting to power through it. He snarled putting his all into this, but it looked like he was about to be launched back by the immense slash which would rend the air itself.
"Help Absol! Use Flare Blitz, Rapidash!"
"Dash!" Rapidash stomped her hoof, having an attack that would also propel her forward. She enveloped herself in a brilliant flame, soon launching herself at the Paradox Pokemon. She assisted Absol by crashing into the slash, attempting to move it forward. And with their powers combined, they were preventing it from going any further.
"Hmm..." Twilight Luminaria observed how things were playing out and already, she reached her decision. "Maybe your resolve isn't strong enough. It's there but not quite at the level you want it to be at."
But it was no use. Despite how hard they tried and the fact that they managed to keep it at bay for a while ultimately, Iron Valiant won the struggle. The slash would envelop Absol and Rapidash as it kept on moving. Samurott put up its blades, getting in front of Twi-Moon to shield her from the incoming attack. Meowscarada did the same by getting in front of Twi-Wish.
However, this one attack knocked all of the Pokemon away, being completely out of their league. Their trainers felt the impact and the force, causing them to fly back as well. Just like that, victory went to Twilight Luminaria. Luna gasped as that was one of the quickest victories she's ever seen. Twilight Luminaria's strength surpassed all four of her counterparts, solidifying why she was the complete version of them.
"Ngh..." Down on the ground with Absol next to her was Twi-Sparkle. All of them were on the ground with their Pokemon next to them, fainted after just one powerful Close Combat swing.
"You're dedicated, yes. But if that's all you have, then you can't hope to find another alternative." Twilight Luminaria commented. "My time is almost up, I'm afraid. However, I will return. As for you Twilight Moonlight, you cannot return to your universe just yet. Not when you're this close to your counterparts. I apologize that it has to come down to this."
Just then the Dream of Twilight Luminaria and all the four Twilights was coming to an end. It could be seen wobbling and waving, ready to bring them all back to reality.
"Before I go, you should know this. Twilight Moonlight. Do not return to your universe just yet. I will use my magic to keep you around a bit longer. And when all four of you are close, you will hear my voice. The magic from Twilight Moonlight has grown to a high enough level to where I can have a slightly easier time showing up."
"This isn't over..." Twilight Sparkle started getting up along with Absol. "We won't let it end like this."
"If that's what you think, then the next time we meet, do your best to prove me wrong. I'll be waiting and watching." Just like that, the dream was over. And right as ended, Twilight Sparkle fell over, unable to stand.
Equestria. Ponyville. Twilight's Castle. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
And the same went for the outside. Due to the battle that occurred in the Dream Realm, Twilight Sparkle was down for the count, unconscious at the moment. Daisy and Paradise gasped after seeing their mother fall unconscious for a seemingly unknown reason. She couldn't handle everything that happened in the Dream Realm. And neither could all of her counterparts. All four of them found themselves in the same state, going through the same thing.
But even when unconscious, Twilight Sparkle still found the strength she needed to try and open her eyes. They were slowly opening, only to close right afterwards. She needed time to recover before she could wake up. However, the memories of what she experienced would not leave her at all.
Equestria. Ponyville. Twilight's Castle. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
A new day has come. And waking up to this new day were the four Twilights. Each of them went through the same experience, encountering Twilight Luminaria in their dreams. When waking up in unison, each of the Twilights were currently free from Twilight Luminaria's control. For now.
Now, they knew that there was a chance for her to return, all thanks to Twilight Moonlight's magic growing to a high enough level. Opening her eyes, she met with Daisy and Paradise who stayed by her side since night.
"Are you alright?! You just fell over all of a sudden!" Paradise asked. "Were you sleeping or..."
"It didn't feel like you were sleeping. We watched you the whole night and you weren't snoring or anything like that." said Daisy.
"You waited all night for me to wake up?" The Princess of Friendship blinked. A smile formed on her face after hearing that. She was glad to have such good friends by her side, even if they see her as their mother. "Thanks. I'm fine now but...I have a lot more work ahead of me."
"Are you still taking the cloak with you?" Daisy questioned as her eyes followed Twilight's movements, seeing her pick up the Cosmic Cloak which would cover the plasma around Nate's body.
"Yes. Glad I didn't forget about it. But the dream I had, even though it was 100% real..." Before she could continue moving, Twilight came to an immediate halt. "I didn't think Twilight Luminaria would be like that. I thought she'd be an ally but...destroying his soul and making someone new from it? That can't be."
Now, she didn't know what to think. All four Twilights had Luminaria inside of her and at any moment, she could potentially take over just to try and reunite and merge them all. Twilight Sparkle thought that Twilight Luminaria would be something else. While her goal was seemingly noble, destroying another's soul and replacing it with a new being who will lose all memories of the past just did not sit right with her.
Twilight had to wonder if it was just the potential return of Prisma that was the problem. Perhaps, the return of these two individuals from a lost world was the problem. Stopping Prisma's return was still vital but now, Twilight Sparkle thought about stopping Twilight Luminaria's return as well
"Um...What do you mean?" Unfortunately, Daisy and Paradise were not caught up to speed. They weren't even aware about the whole Prisma situation, completely focused on doing their own thing.
"It's fine. I'll tell you all later. Right now, I have to get this to Nate. I'll be right back, okay?" Continuing on her way, Twilight Sparkle was off.
Manehattan.
As for Twilight Moonlight, who took the brunt of everything that happened last night, she was no longer in a magic bubble, but instead, she was given a bed to sleep on just so that she could heal. She soon woke up at the same time as Twilight Sparkle, meeting with the ceiling of the Manehattan Hotel. She didn't have to worry about her body being restrained, but now she had to worry about it being taken over. After seeing the ceiling, she then saw the face of Pinkie Pie and Applejack looming over her.
"Morning sunshine. Or moonlight." Pinkie Pie snickered. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine. I'm fine." She sat up. After recovering, Moonlight looked at her hooves, seeing no restraints or any sign of magic around her. She was a free pony. "I'm still out of the bubble? This is surprising."
"Princess Luna wanted you to get some sleep. She may be strict, but she never bothers anyone when their sleeping." Pinkie Pie explained.
"Where's Ash Ketchum?!" Immediately, she had to know where Ash was, wanting to capture him once and for all.
"Ash left. No use trying to look around Manehattan." But Applejack shut all possibility of Twilight Moonlight pursuing Ash at all. She was too late to do so.
"So...I've failed yet again." Irritated and frustrated, Moonlight gripped the bed sheets and clenched her teeth. "Impossible. I keep failing to catch him. How? I've trained so hard and yet he slips away from me every time."
"That's how it is. Ash is tricky like that. It was never gonna be easy taking him away." Applejack answered, taking her hat off and somewhat feeling for Moonlight. Working hard to get nowhere no matter how hard you try can be frustrating.
"That can't be though." But to Moonlight, that wasn't a good enough excuse. She has dedicated her life to this and now that she's finally had opportunities to enter this universe, back to back, Moonlight has failed her mission. It made her start to wonder. "Am I not as good as I thought I was...?"
"Hey, don't feel too bad about it." Pinkie Pie zipped over after seeing Moonlight's serious frown transformed into a doubtful one. "I mean, I'm not all for targeting my friends and everything, but you're doing your best. You're doing it all for the right reasons but going about the wrong way, that's all."
"There is no other way. I even heard it from Twilight Luminaria within the Dream Realm. Destruction is the only solution as violent as it may be. The option to further seal his soul won't do any good. I've been dedicated to stopping Prisma from the beginning and seeing him level my home even if I had no attachments, drove my dedication even further. Maybe if he was still his own separate being, I wouldn't have to target Ash Ketchum and the others. But I must."
"Can't think of anything else, can ya?" Applejack shook her head.
"You'd do whatever you can to protect your home, wouldn't you? In this case, your entire world."
"We would. And we have. But we never give up on the second option." Pinkie Pie explained. "I mean, sometimes when we try out the second option, it doesn't go so well, so option one works out in the end. But most of the time it works!"
"Tch. I haven't given up just yet. I'm not one to doubt my own abilities...but clearly, something is wrong. The first time was annoying, but I didn't think too much about it. But after that, I'm surprised the Arcane Institute didn't punish me at all. When I return to my universe, I doubt much will change."
"Ain't it obvious? They know how hard it is too." Putting on a wide grin was Applejack, who couldn't help but boast a bit.
"So...What methods do you even use?" Curious, Twilight Moonlight decided to ask something that's been on her mind recently.
"Well, usually, we try and understand each other. That's what we do. It doesn't always work which is a bummer. I don't think Ghetsis or Empress Twilight are gonna understand us. No way." Pinkie had to admit that it wasn't a sure-fire solution. There were just some individuals who were beyond understanding.
"Yup. That's when a good ol' Pokemon Battle solves everything." Applejack added.
"And you've succeeded every time, eh? I suppose it's your universe, so who am I to judge it?" Twilight Moonlight pondered for a moment. "Either way, Prisma isn't limited to one universe, even if all of them are starting to show up at this one spot. Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not doing this to destroy your world. I'm doing it to protect it."
"Mmm...Attacking the Tree of Beginning and other places doesn't seem like protecting, honestly."
"Because if my group never tackled them, it would've been too late. Prisma is a pre-emptive character, so we have to keep up and outpace him. Because of that wish Ash Ketchum made, everything from that Lost Universe will return. Destruction is all that we have on the table. As long as everything Prisma has set up is terminated, then the possibility of him showing up will leave his resources greatly crippled."
"Forget about it for one day." Pinkie Pie suggested. Hearing all of this gave Pinkie Pie one strong conclusion in her mind.
"What?
"Yeah! Destruction this, destruction that. You sound like you work a little too hard. Kick back, relax, take a load off. I mean, you didn't really do that even inside of that bubble."
"I don't have time to rest. I have time to continue my mission. Plus, Twilight Luminaria brought one other benefit and that's by giving me a longer time in this universe and I don't plan to waste it. Even then, it feels like I'm making zero progress. Everything in this universe is so difficult to deal with and I don't know why..."
"Then don't waste it. Have some fun." Pinkie nudged Twilight Moonlight, encouraging her to try something else entirely that doesn't involve capturing Ash. "I can tell. You're pretty tired~"
"Kh! You wish!" Moonlight leaned back. "I'm just...slightly bewildered. I went through quite the experience after all. Perhaps I need more time to rest and gather my thoughts. Then, I'll be completely fine afterwards."
"Excuses. It won't bite, I swear!" Pinkie thought otherwise, hugging Twilight Moonlight and pulling her off the bed. Twilight Moonlight gasped after being pulled away. Immediately, she tried using her magic to force the earth pony off.
"W-What the?! My magic?!"
"Well...Princess Luna still didn't wanna take her chance." Applejack revealed that while Luna didn't interrupt her sleep and let her rest peacefully, she was still cautious of Twilight Moonlight and for good reason. Twilight Moonlight groaned as she was currently powerless despite being able to move freely.
Thus, this left her in the clutches of Pinkie Pie. To many, that was a benefit. But to some, especially newcomers, it was shaping to be an overwhelming experience.
Pinnaculum Pegalysium. Second Wind's Palace.
"What?!" A thunderous shout came from the castle for many to hear. It was done by the Grand Queen Second Wind, who was hit with rather unpleasant news. It was only now that she received the news of a specific event that happened over at the original and true Pegalysium. "What do you mean it was attacked?! With that large of a numerical advantage?! How?!"
"S-Sorry...We didn't expect it at all." One of the soldiers said, absolutely intimidated and almost blown back by Second Wind's shout. "We didn't think they'd keep us that occupied too. We struggled to bring this information to you."
"My Rift Factory..." This was about Second Wind's Rift Factory. "Those intruders could've ruined everything. If I'm to have all the Rift Energy I need in this new world, losing even a bit will ruin all the progress! How badly was it damaged?"
"This woman who looked a lot like Ash Ketchum used a strange power to pierce through the factory's foundations with ease. Not only that, but the Unown had no effect on her. Their Hidden Power couldn't touch her at all. It was if she was immune and could say no to any damage or effect done by it."
"You have to be joking? Of course, the name Ash Ketchum had to come up in this conversation. I don't know how, but somehow, this is all his fault." Second Wind paced back and forth, thinking about what to do. "I get away from the island and days later, this happens? Paramount might even catch notice of this and my Rift Factory plan will be foiled even more."
"We can always repair it with the Unown's power." Another soldier suggested. "So the damage won't be too significant."
"Yes, I know that you fool! That's not the issue here! It should've been in absolute secrecy and judging by what you're telling me...they got away, didn't they?" She grizzled her teeth, hoping that for the soldiers' sake, these intruders didn't get away at all.
"T-They got away." Alas, they got away. That was not what Second Wind wished to hear. She was so irritated by that, her own magic started showing up around her wings as her mouth and eyes were rapidly trembling.
"Of course they did...You said one of them looked like Ash Ketchum correct? And the other four?"
"Unidentifiable, I'm afraid." Once again, Team Rocket proves to have near-flawless disguises that only get broken and torn off afterwards.
"Curse it! Daybreaker already has plans to advance on this world and crush our enemies, but she's taking far too long. If this persists, I'll have to take matters into my own hooves. But even so...I'm lacking the necessary firepower compared to before." Second Wind bit her hoof, rapidly thinking of a solution to this unforeseen issue.
Even though she got what she wanted, thanks to the efforts of Ash and his friends, she lost a great ordeal of things that would've made her unstoppable. The Rift Factory was meant to rectify that, but even that has suffered some damage. Second Wind still had plants to conquer the original Pegalysium and add it to her own while also exacting revenge on Equestria for getting in her way repeatedly.
"The best form of firepower we can possibly rely on is Necrozma. That Pokemon has titanic potential in every conceivable way. All it needs is enough light, but its hunger is so hard to please." Necrozma came to mind. Second Wind was turning to Daybrekaer's Pokemon in this scenario.
Before she could think of anything else, the Unown suddenly began to communicate with Second Wind. They interrupted her train of thought, sharing something vital with her. It was related to Lena Ketchum and how she managed to avoid the effects of Hidden Power.
"...What? You know why she was immune?" Second Wind translated. She was the only one who could understand the Unown. "You sensed a great ordeal of light in her possession, you say?" At that moment, a smile formed on her face. There was a golden opportunity. "I see. It relates back to the Creator Deity Arceus. That is how you were able to sense that power."
"You mean...the Creator of all things Pokemon?!" The soldiers gasped.
"But of course. Only the Unown would know about this. I always knew that Arceus had a plethora of light. More than any Pokemon in existence. Arceus has always been an end goal for all of us and we haven't crossed that bridge yet. But fragments of his power is another story. The woman was apparently harbouring enough light to feed Necrozma. It might even satisfy him."
"So...W-We're going back for her?"
"But of course. They're telling me she was holding some shards in her hand. That is what gave her the power to flee from you fools. We've been focusing on different worlds just to give Necrozma and not as much on our own world. As much as I'd like to avoid that, this might be the optimal choice. Tell me where this woman is? How far did she get? Even if she did get far, I'll make sure we track her down."
Pegalysium.
As for regular Pegalysium? They were not yet aware of the Rift Factory that was hidden somewhere. But it has definitely been seen by Lena Ketchum's group, who were more focused on finding the shards rather than foiling Second Wind's plans. Team Rocket knew about Second Wind and her actions, already aware of the things she has done and the Rift Factory was just another piece of information to carry.
Flying through the skies of Pegalysium, moving through the clouds was none other than Lena Ketchum herself. And she wasn't flying with Hisuian Braviary. Instead, she was flying by herself. Nothing else attached, except for a beautiful light blue aura around her body.
"This is amazing!" Lena chuckled, spinning through the air and moving through some more clouds. This was all thanks to the Flying-Type Shards she successfully found. Her senses were right, leading her to the shards which were hidden in Pegalysium. This is what it felt like to fly and Team Rocket and Diadora soon felt that same joy.
"Don't drop me! Don't you dare drop me!" Screaming at the top of her lungs was Jessie, who was holding onto James for dear life, even though she had the same aura around her.
"We can both fly...You won't drop!" James groaned as Jessie was clawing at his face and chest when holding onto him. James was already comfortable with flying and so was Meowth.
"Boy. This sure beats any other form of travelling." Meowth said with a relaxed sigh. "I'm the best of all the Meowth with this around.
"Thank you for telling me about the temples. Now we have three shards." Lena found them thanks to the ancient temples found over at Pegalysium. Now, her group possessed the Fairy, Bug and Flying Gems. "Next, let's try finding the Water and Normal Gems. My senses are telling me those should be the next ones. Probably easy to find."
"Mmm..." Diadora grumbled, looking at the sky below and everything else with a disgruntled face
"Is something wrong, Diadora?" Lena asked, hearing her grumble and already feeling her emotions.
"Uh. I didn't get to do much back there. Or anywhere else. Feels like I'm just tagging along." Diadora sighed, feeling a sense of unimportance. "Way to go telling me to join you. I'm wasting my time here."
"You wanted to exact revenge on me thanks to the past, right? I didn't think you had given up on that goal." Lena chuckled, still not bothered by Diadora's threats.
"At this point, I'm losing interest. I wanted to avenge my uncle, the King of Pokelantis and myself since you robbed me of gaining divine power by consuming that egg. I was lucky to be sealed inside of the Sea Temple to stay around for centuries. Even still..."
"Maybe revenge just isn't for you." Lena flew over. "Perhaps you'd better off with your people back at the Sea Temple. You were there for a long time, right? Best to be around them than me.
"Are you saying I don't have what it takes to defeat you?"
"Kind of!" Lena cackled, making Diadora snarl. "Even though I invited you, you don't have to follow us forever."
"Not yet. Besides, you said we should go for the Water and Normal Shards next, right? The Sea Temple might be the best place to be for the Water Shards. Everything about it is water."
"Glad to hear it!" Lena winked before accelerating through the air, knowing where she wanted to go next. Diadora gave an amazing suggestion that made the eyes of Team Rocket light up. The Sea Temple Samiya was still a goldmine to this day. Team Rocket would know. "The Sea Temple it is!"
It was off to the Sea Temple. Using the power of the Flying-Type Shards, they could also move through the air a lot quicker. The amazing power these shards possessed were truly coming into play the more they were gathered, especially in certain scenarios.
Universe 11. The Solar Empire. Daybreaker's Castle. Day.
Meanwhile, at the castle of Daybreaker, her plans were still being advanced on. And after going through many options, the Solar Queen, just yesterday, reached a conclusion after discussing things with Cozy Glow. The options for Daybreaker were numerous and not a single one slipped her mind.
The gateway that her Universe managed to summon was being charged up as another one was about to be used. They were still limited to just 5 days, but they would make the most of it.
"Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter are the new most valuable things we can set our sights on. But to make sure we can tap into that power that Cozy Glow accidentally made, we'll access the power of Mega Evolution.
"Mega Evolution? We're tackling that next? You can't seem to focus on one thing, can you?"
"Yes. But it all ties back to feeding Necrozma. Universe One is our best candidate, yet again. We'll be making a return to it once more, as soon as it is. Not just that, but Necrozma is rather upset about what happened earlier."
"Ready as always, your majesty." Supporting her was this universe's Spitfire along with Tempest Shadow. Behind them was an entire fleet of ships, ready to take out and enter Universe One. But they weren't attacking it. Only stealing from it.
"Good. Celestia managed to find out about us in the end. This was all thanks to that one Pokemon of Twilight Sparkle. Absol, was it? The power to sense a disaster is amazing. And we are indeed walking disasters." Daybreaker smiled, letting out a small chuckle. "Naturally, we need to avoid that at all costs. Only Ghetsis's Kingdom can evade detection from others, but we aren't going there. Malamar. I'm counting on you."
"But of course." Assisting her in this endeavour would be Malamar. Another member of this alliance. And by being a part of this team up, for the past months, Malamar has managed to expand his own resources.
Appearing over the horizon, Malar showed up riding what appeared to be a giant pod with his face on it. Malar was busy, gathering as much as he needed. And the result as a large pod that he could use as a vehicle, standing on top of it was it moved across the ground. This was given to him by the resources of the Solar Empire and the Twilight Imperium.
But not only that, Malamar had his own minions with him. Other Malamars. They creepily emerged from the shadows, riding their own pods. These pods were smaller than the main Malamar but still intimidating. All of them had their faces on it which gave off an uneasy feeling that even made Spitfire shudder.
The pods were made out of metal, but not only that, there were other Malamars inside of them. Not only could they be ridden on top, but also from within. Malamar had his own little army with him, possessing the might of a strange machine and the usual Psychic and Dark abilities.
"With my recent developments, I can absolutely nullify Absol's ability to detect any potential disasters on a grand scale. If you had told me about this Absol, I would've done it sooner." Malamar uttered.
"Yes, yes. Once you nullify it, we can make our move. We'll target as many places as we can when searching for light and Mega Evolution without needing Celestia breathing down our necks. As for the lab we encountered, we can leave that be for now. Prisma can wait another time. Open the gateway."
With her command, the gateway to Universe One was opened once again. The residents of the Solar Empire watched as they saw yet another gateway open up in the sky. Their ruler was once again heading out.
"I'm always used to sitting around instead of jumping into the action a lot of the time. But because of Necrozma, I have to." Daybreaker was a very active ruler, only because of Necrozma.
She could not trust Necrozma with anyone else. He was far too dangerous. He needed someone powerful to keep him steady. And Daybreaker was powerful enough. With a smile on her face, she was eager to jump back into Universe One. While having malicious intentions, a part of Daybreaker was rather excited, as if, visiting Universe One brought a unique feeling to all of it.
"Don't think you'll get enough rest, Celestia. It'll never be over, unless you become like me."
Equestria. The Dragon Lands. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
Here at the Dragon Lands, Nate was caught up to speed. His ears were blessed with the events that Spike shared with him. Patiently waiting for Twilight to return, he got to hear everything. Nate laid on his back, looking up at the almost blue skies that were mostly coloured grey and red thanks to the Dragon Lands.
"Hmmm...Sounds rough." And the main thing he took away from all of this was the fact that it was all rough and overwhelming to go through. And he was right. "Well. I guess I'm no stranger to stuff like that, but, I've never had to go through all of that."
"That's what I said." Agreeing with him was Lucas. "This world is one of a kind. Makes me wish I was here sooner."
"No. No you don't." After what Spike has seen, Lucas definitely didn't want to be here sooner. Then again, knowing Lucas and how he was connected to Ash, perhaps it wouldn't have mattered either way.
"I can't wait for Twilight to show up. Once this plasma problem goes away, you'd best believe I'm exploring far and wide. No way I'm gonna let something like this slow me down." Nate stood up. "And I'll start with the Dragon Lands. I've been around here the longest so far, so why not? Then again, not like there's much here. No offence."
"Eh. We like it how it is, even if it's pretty dull." said Ember.
"Fair enough. Plus, I did have a lot of fun battling with you all. It took my mind off of things." Nate faced the Dragons with a smile. "You've only been with the Pokemon for 4 years and you caught on that fast? This nation's pretty impressive, if you ask me."
"Hm-hm." All the Dragons felt proud of themselves. To have a powerful trainer compliment them in such a way was very fulfilling. The Dragons loved power in every sense and the existence of Pokemon only elevated that.
"I'm something of a Dragon Master myself." Nate wasn't afraid to do some bragging of his own.
"You are?!" Spike and Ember collectively said.
"You know it! I've caught a lot of Dragon-Types, believe me." With a grin so bright that the sun rays could bounce off it, Nate was getting the Dragons all excited. "And after having a battle with you all, I've gotta say...You're decent."
"D-Decent?! But you just said it's impressive we caught on that fast for only four years!" Ember roared.
"That's true. Your strength's pretty impressive. But if I'm being honest, that's all you have. It's just power and that's kinda it. Nothing else. I mean, you've got all these Dragons by your side, even the ones that aren't really Dragon-Types and it's all raw power."
"Did you really just throw raw power at him?" Lucas was even shocked to hear that. Being good friends with Nate, he was already aware of how effective that approach was. Not at all.
"That's our speciality. And well..." Ember thought back to the battle with Nate. It started with just a few Dragons who challenged him and they were immediately dealt with in just a minute. Then, it evolved into more Dragons challenging him, interested in his strength. They were dealt with swiftly too. Then another and another until soon a majority of the Dragon Lands were tackling Nate, challenging him to a battle. And of course, they all.
The only one who lasted long enough and didn't go down in under a minute was Ember, who put up her best fight, but alas, lost either way. When looking back at it, their speciality didn't really amount to anything, which was a shame. "Mmmrgh...Ah, that's annoying to think about."
"But it's fine. It happens. I wasn't exactly all that from the start, ya know." Nate added. "You're fresh to this world. Four years isn't that much, so there's ways to go. I mean, you guys have a Pokemon School, right?"
"Yeah, but I don't attend it." Despite being of age, Spike does not attend the Pokemon School. Neither does Ember or some of the Dragons here. Dragons do attend it now, however. "I've still got mentors, either way. There's Ash, Drayden and some other Dragon Trainers who help me out."
"Drayden too? Nice." Nate approved since he was also from the Unova Region, knowing Drayden well. "Well, if Drayden taught you some stuff, then allow me to share some more with you. I'm not the Dragon Expert compared to him, but I know some things any Dragon Trainer would love to hear."
"Yeah...?" Spike and Ember had their eyes light up as they leaned forward to hear what Nate had to say.
"Come with me and you'll experience it." Nate walked off, encouraging them to come along. He would be yet another mentor for Spike. But this time, Ember was added to the equation. While older, she also had a lot to learn. Nate was not a Dragon Master but he does have plenty of experience with Dragons to make him eligible as a Dragon Teacher.
"Oh? Are you heading west?" A Dragon asked as a few others were flying with her, just now appearing from the west. "Right now or..."
"That's right. I've got some stuff I wanna share. If you're curious, that is. It'll be good to kill some time before Twilight gets here and I'll know when she shows up." said Nate.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. North's not exactly the safest place to be at right now. We just came back from it." However, the Dragon said otherwise, suggesting they refrain from heading west.
"West? The West's not that dangerous." Ember shook her head.
"Y-You didn't hear it? The entire time?" Shocking the Dragons, no one else heard the sound of what was coming from the west. But it had to be something rather crucial
"I don't think so. We were too busy challenging him." Another Dragon said when pointing at Nate. "And we were asleep too."
"What happened?" As Dragon Lord, Ember had to know about this. The entire Dragon Lands were under her watch after all and there was something she missed.
"We just now saw it. It's so strange. It looks like the same type of energy that comes out of Dragon Pulse, Dragon Claw or any of those moves."
"That so? Interesting. West it is!" That only prompted Nate to venture forth just to see what was over at the west. He did not hesitate and why would he? Plasma or not, the thrill of the adventure was too strong to pass out on something so interesting. Following him were Lucas, Ember and Spike.
"Is it Clair and the other Dragon Trainers? I heard they showed up here, right?" Spike had to wonder if it was them. The Trainers over at Blackthorn City brought it up afterwards.
"They did. They were talking about how they saw something in their dreams." Ember recalled the moment when Clair and other Dragon Trainers showed up. "Not sure what they were talking about."
They arrived at the west where this mysterious energy was. And just over the horizon, they saw something that many have already seen, but only in Manehattan. Now, it showed up here at the Dragon Lands and it was rather fitting for it to make an appearance. A great force of wind blew in their direction, causing them to power through just to reach their destination.
A mystical light could be seen glistening from the horizon, acting as a Sun. There, they saw one of the newest forms of Matter that has come into fruition.
Dragon Matter.
"What is that?" Spike's eyes would light upon witnessing the new form of Matter in its rawest form.
Nestled in a chasm here at the Dragon Lands, the Dragon Matter was brimming and found a place to reside, creating an ethereal landscape over at the west. The air was alive with a crackling energy, sending tiny sparks and the scent of ozone wafting through the chamber. In the centre of the chasm, a massive crystal pulsates with a vibrant, multicoloured light, casting a kaleidoscope of hues upon the walls. These crystals were not here before and the energy was not peaceful. It was fierce, much like a Dragon. The sound it made was both unfamiliar and yet it sounded like a Dragon's roar.
Flickering waves of iridescent energy ripple across the surface, casting an arcane glow upon the surroundings. A constant hum permeates the air as if an invisible force is vibrating through the very stones. As for the chasm, it was unfamiliar to Ember as it was never here in the first place. Its dimensions were seemingly endless, surrounded by sheer cliffs that reach towards the sky. Intense heat emanates from the depths below that could cause sweat to bead on someone's brow and make their hair stand.
"Stay back." Lo and behold, standing there in front of the Dragon Matter was none other than Clair herself along with the other Dragon Trainers who came far and wide.
"Oh! You're Clair!" Lucas and Nate both recognized Clair, mainly due to their own universe instead of this one.
"Hm?" Looking closely, Clair only recognized one individual in this group and that was Spike. "Aren't you Spike? Drayden's student?"
"This chasm wasn't here before. And what is that thing?!" Ember needed answers. Just what was she looking at?
"It's awesome! I've never seen anything like it before!" Nate felt like geeking out at the sight of this Matter. Everyone here kept their distance away from the chasm and the Matter since it was very much unknown. For now, all they could do was observe it.
"Well...I want to say that its Dragon Energy. But I don't think so." Clair, who was a Dragon Expert, wasn't even sure what she was looking at. "It's only recently that we've seen this. It just showed up unexpectedly and we figured that it would have been something that was already around. The dreams some of us Dragon Trainers had told us about this power but..."
"Whatever it is, it's obviously Dragon-related. I can hear it." Lucas said. Standing still and focusing on the roar of the Dragons, he could hear them rather closely. "That's definitely a Dragon's roar, but there's no Dragon in it. This isn't our usual energy. Not from our world...or even this one."
"Do you think we came here for nothing?" One of the Dragon Trainers asked. "We've just been looking at it this whole time. Plus, we can't really interact with it."
"Well, we're not going to leave it. That dream we all had wanted us to come here. Never before has this happened. I think that this energy is what caused us all to have the same dream." Dragon Trainers have never had the same dream before and if they did, it would probably be about becoming Dragon Masters.
But this was different. They wondered what caused them to come here and now that they were looking at the Dragon Matter themselves, they were starting to figure out the answer. Perhaps, the Dragon Matter was the cause, even though it had only showed up yesterday, making it impossible for it to be the cause. And yet, it was the very reason they were all here.
"Feels familiar too..." Narrowing his eyes, there was a sense of familiarity when looking at it. The same sense of familiarity Ash had when he first saw the Dragon and Fairy Matter appear over at the Manehattan Battle Frontier.
"Yeah. I know what you mean." Nate was on the same page. He and Lucas felt as if they had seen this Matter before.
"Twilight's gotta see this." Spike held out his Xtransceiver, ready to call Twilight. Not only that, he would call for the rest of his friends just so they could witness this stupendous sight. But at the moment, only Ash, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight and Rarity were available at the moment. "Twilight. Are you near?"
"Almost. I'll be there soon with the perfect answer to Nate's problem. What's up?" Twilight Sparkle asked, having the Cosmic Cloak on her back.
"Oh, wonderful cape you have on." Rarity immediately spotted the cape, complimenting Twilight. "It suits you!"
"It's for Nate, not me. But thanks!" She squeed, glad to hear that compliment.
"Forget about the cape! Look at this!" Spike turned their attention to something far more important. He faced the Xtransceiver directly at the Dragon Matter and the Chasm it was in, letting them witness it.
"The Dragon Matter!" Ash, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity collectively said as their voices were loud enough for not just Spike to hear, but Clair and those who were nearby.
"Dragon Matter?" They ended up learning the name of this energy. The reason it was unknown to them was because it was brand new. Fresh to the world.
"Sweet! It showed up here too!" Ash leaned forward, bumping his head onto his own Xtransceiver. "We get to see way more of it! Check out how cool it is!"
"Pikachu!"
"Goodness. Even from this far, it's so bright." Rarity had to squint her eyes when looking at it. That was how powerful it was.
"Hah! If you're wondering how this thing's possible, you can thank me and Altaria for that." Rainbow Dash took this as an opportunity to snatch all the glory, even though Cozy Glow was the crux of it all. "
"What have you guys been getting up to while I was gone...?" Twilight missed out on some sights. She skipped out on Rainbow Dash's battle and left the Dragon Lands yesterday and all of this went down.
"So this is what it is..." Clair slowly nodded. "Our dream was leading us to this thing. Something completely fresh to the world. Not a bad find."
"Wait. Doesn't that mean standing near it is dangerous?" One of the Dragon Trainers commented. "Do you think there's radiation?"
"Nah. It's just weird, that's all. I got to use it for the first time and I don't know a lot about it. But it's not radioactive or anything like that." Words straight from Rainbow Dash's mouth. "What about you Twilight?"
"How should I know? I didn't know this thing existed. I mean come on. Dragon Matter? Really?" Just saying it sounded absurd to Twilight, even in the context of the Pokemon World. "Are you telling me this thing is similar to Dark Matter, Anti Matter and all those alike."
"I mean...yeah. Potion Nova figured it out, so I thought you would too." Rainbow Dash whistled. "She figured out the other one was Fairy Matter too so..."
"Fairy Matter?" It got even more absurd to Twilight. There was a second one which was the complete opposite to Dragon Matter. "Not that surprised anymore. Well, it's not like anything we've seen before, that's for sure. If it matters, then it's probably about to be apart of the entire universe. Did Potion Nova tell you that?"
"She did. Apparently, it needs to adjust itself. Get used to everything. Not sure how long that will take." Fluttershy answered.
"Then the Dragon Lands is a target of it. It's adjusting itself to the world we live in." Clair smiled. "How exciting. This is a fresh form of Dragon Energy. Newer than anything out there. Our dream of improving was related to this thing and I'm starting to see how."
"Yeah but like...We're not gonna touch it are we?" A younger Dragon Trainer said. "How are we going to improve with this? We've never dealt with something like this before and I don't think we can touch it."
"Good question. We came all this way for it, but we never anticipated this." Clair had to wonder. Where do they go from here? Right now, they were just viewing it as if it was an art exhibit or a monument.
"Oh..." Looking at it for quite a while was Spike, who was still aiming the Xtransceiver at it. However, something occurred. At that moment, Spike felt a bit uneasy when looking at the Dragon Matter in front of him. Looking at it wasn't exactly making him sick. It was something else. Something he couldn't describe.
It felt like the Dragon Matter was speaking to him. Not only that, but he was viewing it a bit different. In his eyes, the Dragon Matter appeared as a luminescent amalgamation of vivid hues, reminiscent of a nebula's vibrant dance. Its essence pulsates with an ethereal glow, shifting between shades of iridescent blues, fiery oranges, and shimmering purples. It still retained that ethereal appearance along with the ferocity, but there was a different viewpoint for the Baby Dragon.
While it felt like Spike was being spoken to by the Dragon Matter, it also felt like it was messing with him. Just looking at it was causing him to react in a certain way. At that moment, Spike dropped the Xtransceiver. His arms went a bit weak and his head was ringing.
"Spike! Are you alright?!" Nate kneeled after seeing Spike drop the Xtransceiver and holding his head while letting out groans.
"Hey, Spike! What's wrong?!" Ember would ask him as well.
"I don't know...Maybe there is some kind of radiation with it." Spike grumbled, getting on one knee. "It sounded like it was talking to me or something."
"Talking to you?" Clair would face the Dragon Matter once more. She tried listening in for something, but nothing was coming up. She was standing near it this entire time, observing its mystique and yet, she never experienced the same thing. The only thing she heard were the roars of a Dragon. Clair couldn't hear a voice at all. "I can't hear anything."
"Neither can I." Ember was out of the picture too despite being a Dragon herself. None of the Dragon Trainers could hear a voice. Only Spike.
Suddenly, something appeared around Spike's face that caught Lucas, Nate and the other Dragon Trainers off guard. But not Ember. Red spots appeared. Four of them to be exact.
"I-Is he infected?!" Nate bellowed, already fearing the worst after seeing those spots.
"What?! What?!"
"Rela. You're not hit by radiation or something." But Ember quickly calmed everyone down. "Looks like it's about that time. You're going through the Molt."
"The Molt...?" Spike repeated.
"Didn't think it'd happen out of the blue. Unless it's because of that thing." Ember then focused on the Dragon Matter, wondering if it was involved in this somehow. "And those aren't spots. Those are scales. It's a sign of you reaching adolescence Spike."
"Adolescence...I'm gonna be an adult!"
"That's not what adolescence is but...you technically won't be a baby anymore. You don't really act like one though." Ember smiled. "Although...now that you're going through the Molt, that's gonna have your family kick you out. That's what happens to all young dragons who reach adolescence.
"Kick me out?!"
"Spike. I'm not a Dragon. You're not getting kicked out." But Twilight reassured him.
"Whew...Right, right. Guess I should've figured that out. So, this is it? Just some scales on my face?"
"Well, not just that. One of the side-effects is-" Right before Ember could finish, it happened. The side-effect she was about to bring up went off in the form of a burp. Spike puffed his face, feeling something rise before releasing a burst of fire. The green flames flew out, hitting Lucas in the face. "Uncontrollable burps. Nice shot."
"Yeah...Nice shot." Lucas coughed as his face was smoking. Spike's mouth was also smoking. After unleashing that fire breath, the scales around Spike's face were suddenly growing at a rapid rate. They could be seen popping up in seconds, decorating Spike's face and making it a mess.
"I-It's not usually this fast! Is it actually from that thing?!" Now Ember was starting to be convinced that the Dragon Matter was the cause. While the Molt was natural for adolescent dragons, it shouldn't be this quick "I think we should get you away from this thing!"
"M-Maybe" Spike was starting to agree before unleashing a fire breath yet again. This time, this breath launched him back, having enough power to do so. He ended up distancing himself from the Dragon Matter without his own will. They would all walk away from the Dragon Matter, leaving it be.
But as soon as they all left, the fearsome and mighty energy would crackle, letting out another roar which was then followed by the Dragon Matter seeping parts of it into the earth itself. Every second, it was working to find its place in this universe. And the Dragon Lands seemed to be a better start than the Battle Restaurant.
For better or for worse.
The chasm where the Dragon Matter was located was left alone. All the Dragon Trainers left it for now to stay at one spot. And there, the many Dragon Trainers who come far and wide were interacting with the Dragons of the Dragon Lands. To kill some time, they were about to impart some knowledge on these fresh Dragon Trainers.
There were enough Dragon Trainers to teach them all, making the Dragon Lands a place for learning, which is not really all that common for a place like this. And of course, their respective Dragon Pokemon were summoned onto the scene. Whether for demonstrations or maybe a battle.
"Oh, man.." Spike sat down, holding a mirror that Clair lent him to see the development of the Molt. Rather quick, even though he was just now receiving it. "It's not so bad, I guess. Could be worse. I wish it wasn't my whole face. I would've looked pretty cool having a few scales."
"The Dragon Matter probably boosted it then," Nate commented. "It didn't react to anyone else except you."
"Yeah. I looked at it, heard a voice and then this happened. How come none of you heard anything?"
"I have a lot of experience with Dragon Energy myself and I couldn't hear a thing. I would say it only reacts to Dragons but, you didn't hear anything either. Dragon Lord Ember."
"Yeah. Maybe I wasn't looking at it long enough. That's it." Ember came up with a theory. "Either way, get ready to have the best part of a Dragon, Spike."
"I can't wait..." Spike put on a smile before frowning. "Ow...Is it supposed to hurt?"
"Not really. No." But Ember confirmed that pain doesn't really come along with it. The Dragon Matter was still a huge talking point since it was potentially the cause for this rapid Molt development. Not only that, but only Spike could hear voices from it.
Lucas and Nate were pondering about something themself. They felt as if they had seen Dragon Matter before. Now they were wondering if they could hear it talk. There was a part of them that was thinking about it. When closing his eyes, the plasma around Nate's body would jolt up for a moment, but that was it.
"So much for learning from you, Nate. I was even looking forward to learning from you, Clair."
"I'm flattered. I've heard things about you, Spike. From Drayden." Clair would also sit down next to Spike. "You're a fast grower, aren't you?"
"That's what I said. Just 4 years? Pretty nice." Nate could only call this a marvellous achievement.
"I guess so. I mean, I wouldn't have grown that fast if it wasn't for Ash. He was my first mentor. And my best. Don't tell Drayden I said that though."
"I was already interested in the Dragons of your world. Before we merge. Granted, you don't exactly have any special abilities compared to our Dragons. No offence. But you do have something unique. You and every Dragon here are ushering in a new age of Dragon Trainers. Maybe one of the best so far."
"You think so?" Spike and Ember collectively said.
"It's one thing to be us, a Human and bond with our Dragons. But to be a Dragon yourself and bond with another Dragon? Well, that's practically a match made in heaven, if you ask me. It's sort of like that one Pokemon. Oranguru, was it? It's a Pokemon that can throw a Poke Ball and become its own trainer."
"Makes sense. Dragons understand Dragons a lot more." Nate saw no flaw there. It made perfect sense in his mind.
"Hmm...Lucky. Wish I was a Dragon. Then it'd be much easier!" Lucas was already thinking about it. Technically, he did have a Dragon within him after what happened on the Ghost Train.
"Drayden sees a lot of potential in you. And that goes for all Dragons here. Who cares about centuries of living with Pokemon being non-existent." Clair shrugged. "You don't need things like the beginning of time to grow such a deep bond with them."
"Well, maybe Drayden didn't think about which Dragon is going to be the best Dragon Trainer first." Ember leaned forward, pointing at herself. All the ponies are focused on being the first Equestria Champion. I've got the Dragon Master path on my sight."
"Uh! I-I was thinking of becoming the first one though!" Spike raised his arm.
"That's the spirit." Clair loved to hear it. It made her heart feel good seeing new Dragon Trainers here and there. She looked around, witnessing the training these Dragons were receiving. It was worth coming here indeed, just to see how things were developing.
The universe got bigger and so was the pool of Dragon Trainers. Those who battle and bond with some of the mightiest types of Pokemon out there. The power balance might even tip because of this and Dragons such as Spike would be responsible. Proud of himself after receiving recognition from two powerful Dragon Trainers, he was still on his way to becoming an even greater Dragon Trainer. And as a bonus, he was reaching adolescence, even if it was rather uncomfortable.
But right as everyone was sitting peacefully, below them, something was emerging. A faint and weak crack formed underneath, bothering one of the dragons. It was minor at first, prompting the Dragon to move her foot away, but it would soon start growing. The enigmatic energy would grow and grow, forming more cracks.
The energy from before that seeped into the Earth was starting to act. The Dragon Matter would not stop at one area for obvious reasons. It was trying everything. Nate and Lucas felt it. They were the only ones who did. Until Spike also felt it too. The Trainers from Sinnoh and Unova put on their serious faces. They knew something was approaching.
Right where Spike's group was, a burst of Draconic Energy would rise up, startling many others as seismic tremor rippled through the valley. The ground quivered, cracks forming as if the earth itself were gasping for breath. A collective gasp echoed as a blinding burst of iridescent energy erupted from the heart of the valley, spiralling skyward in a radiant display.
The Dragon Matter was highly active.
The luminous burst soared higher, its brilliance painting the sky with hues of emerald and sapphire. But with its awakening came an unexpected surge of unbridled power. Arcs of crackling energy lashed out, weaving through the air in erratic patterns, threatening all in its wake. The fearsome appearance of this energy would tower over everyone, making sure no one would miss it.
"What's this all about?!" Ember gasped. "Why's it here now?!"
"The Dragon Matter's spreading! It's not staying in one area anymore!" Clair gasped.
"Figures it would act up now of all times...!" Lucas commented. "What's with this thing?"
Now, Nate and Lucas could try and see if they could listen in on this. And indeed they could. By focusing their attention on it and feeling as if they have felt it somewhere, Nate and Lucas were also hearing that Spike was hearing. There was indeed a voice coming from it. But even they had no idea what it was saying and yet it was captivating them. The voice was hard to make out but it had this welcoming feeling to it.
"What's it doing...?"
"I think it's changing the environment...Look!" Ember pointed out. The Dragon Matter's presence infused the air with a mystical energy, tingling with an unspoken promise of change. The hard ground was fluctuating, going through multiple changes in a matter of seconds that no one could keep up with.
The Dragon Matter, in an attempt to find its place in the universe, decided to alter areas and change up their appearances. The Dragon Matter would pause for a moment before summoning itself below the others. Nate's group looked down to see the iridescent energy appearing beneath them, getting this close.
And immediately, it went to swallow Spike. The Dragon Matter manipulated its energy, forming it into a Dragon's Maw to grab Spike and consume him before he could even process what has just happened. It happened so fast for anyone to notice.
"Spike!" Ember screamed, failing to catch Spike in time. Her claws attempted to grab onto him, but it was far too late. The Dragon Matter swallowed him and went through the ground itself. He was gone before he could even yell, but Ember could certainly yell for many to hear. "Spiiiiiike!"
At this very moment, Spike was within the Dragon Matter itself. His body was consumed by it, dragged into the newly formed energy that no one could properly understand. He was not harmed in any way, despite the fact that it looked like a maw had caught him. The red scales around his face were still present, even in here and they were increasing in numbers at an even faster rate.
Being inside of the Dragon Matter itself was the cause of this. Despite how empty it appeared, there was a surface and Spike certainly felt it. He hit an unseen floor, landing flat on his face. He could not hear the voices of his friends. Ember's screams were not reaching inside of here.
Mainly thanks to the sound of the Dragon Matter. The roars were stronger than ever after all as well as other unknown sounds that couldn't be described, completely blocking anything else happening outside.
"Ow...Today's so weird. I can't tell if it's good or bad." Spike grumbled when getting up. And once he got up, his heart skipped a beat and his pupils shrank. This was due to one thing that was felt across the matter itself. It was impossible to ignore and the Dragon Matter made sure that Spike took notice. He was not alone inside of this mystical energy. He slowly raised his head, looking past all the lights and crackles to see another. Standing there was the visage and build of a man. But not just any man.
It was Prisma.
Slowly, he turned his head, knowing that Spike was here. His presence exuded power, a formidable energy that both intrigued and alarmed Spike. The eyes of Prisma and all of their intensity were finally seen. This was the first time Spike was also truly encountering Prisma. In fact, it was the first time anyone was encountering Prisma in this universe.
Prisma and Spike made eye contact for the very first time and Spike was beyond flabbergasted. He's only seen Prisma in projections and heard of him. And now, he was seeing what might be the actual Prisma in the flesh.
In the midst of an ethereal expanse known as the Dragon Matter, where hues of otherworldly light danced and coalesced into shifting patterns, young Spike found himself in the company of a figure whose aura exuded an enigmatic and fearsome presence. Prisma. A being whose past held the weight of legendary actions that came from that lost universe.
Spike's eyes widened as he surveyed the luminous realm, his curiosity piqued by the sheer spectacle of it all. He didn't think he'd be inside the Dragon Matter while still molting. And he didn't think he'd be seeing Prisma.
Prisma turned slowly, the coat swirling around his form as he fixed his intense gaze on the boy. His eyes held a depth that seemed to draw from his past and Spike just couldn't make out what kind of gaze this was.
"You...You're Prisma." Spike got up as fast as he could, flabbergasted by the being in front of him. His full appearance was given to Spike.
"So you ended up in here. How unfortunate." Prisma spoke. For the first time, Spike heard his voice and there was a grand sense of power behind it. In Spike's ears, it sounded a lot like Ash's voice, but much older. It also had a mix of Nate, Hilbert, Ethan and all the others mixed in there.
And when he spoke, the force of the Dragon Matter would flow in a certain direction that made Spike flinch. Prisma took a step as he was currently approaching Spike, deciding to get close, much to Spike's dismay.
"Uhh...!" Unsure of what to do, Spike would dig into his bag, trying to take out a Poke Ball. He feared that Prisma was about to attack him. The Dragon Matter was almost slowing him down, sending a great ordeal of pressure his way and that all correlated with Prisma's footsteps. Each step he made caused the Dragon Matter to start shaking and pulsating. It was far too late for Spike.
Prisma got closer than he expected as his shadow was cast over the baby Dragon. Spike's jaw dropped, gazing up at the Storied Figure. Those eyes and their emerald glow pierced his gaze, leaving him stunned. Spike then closed his eyes, gripping onto his Poke Ball as hard as he could, planning to unleash it at the right time.
"Hmm.." Unexpectedly, Prisma poked Spike in the face once he kneeled to get on his level. This was not the interaction Spike expected as Prisma would poke him a few times, having a face of curiosity while still appearing intense.
"Ow. Hey...!" Not quite what Spike thought would happen, even though his thoughts did involve Prisma getting physical. Just not in this specific way.
"A talking baby Dragon." He would then continue to bother Spike's face, pinching his right face cheek. "And one that molts too."
"Cut it out!" Spike groaned after having his face pulled in such a way. Prisma was also touching the scales around Spike's face which only made it all the more uncomfortable.
"What do you think you're doing here inside of the Dragon Matter?" Prisma removed his hands from the Baby Dragon's face.
"What am I doing here? I was pulled in here." Spike attempted to rub his face but he didn't want to risk touching the red scales which were everywhere. "And I'm guessing it's your fault!"
"My fault?" Prisma repeated as Spike's finger was locked onto him.
"Well...Who else would it be? I didn't think you'd be in here." Spike had a good point. How else would he be in this Dragon Matter? He suspected that Prisma pulled him here.
"Hmph. I'm not actually here. What you're seeing now is just my spirit form."
"Wait so...you're not actually in the Dragon Matter?" This changed things. Spike thought the real Prisma was actually here but that didn't seem to be the case.
"But don't be mistaken. I am Prisma at the end of the day. And you're the first being I've seen in a while. To think that a Baby Dragon would be the first. You're lucky that you're a Dragon. Anyone else inside of this matter would find themselves suffering as their bodies would melt away."
"O-oh." Spike was incredibly lucky. Being a Dragon gave him immunity to the effects that this newly formed energy would bring. "As for how you were brought here, the Dragon Matter has a mind of its own. It targeted you, specifically."
"But why me? Why not anyone else?"
"It reacts to Dragons mostly. Most likely, you looked at it for too long. The same will go for Dragons outside. I can already see them." Prisma crossed his arms, raising his head and gazing up at the skies of the Dragon Matter, which was basically everywhere.
"Ember! Everyone!" Spike soon remembered that the Dragon Matter suddenly caused an outburst from the outside. And now that he was inside here, he feared about the scenario happening outside.
"Do you want to see? I can already see it at all..." Prisma could actually see the events occurring outside even though it looks like he's staring at the Dragon Matter only. Spike couldn't see a thing, or even heard anything happening outside.
Equestria. The Dragon Lands. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
Speaking of the outside, Lucas and the others saw Spike sink into the ground as the Dragon Matter grabbed him via a Dragon Maw. And now, in the midst of all of this, the Dragon Matter was still going wild, trying to find its place in this universe, no matter how destructive the method may be.
"What happened?! Is Spike okay?!" Ember rapidly touched the ground, sliding her claws over it and even hitting it to see if she could reach Spike.
"The Dragon Matter pulled him down! But I don't think it was into the Earth itself!" Clair exclaimed. Just then, a thunderous sound from the Dragon Matter went off, obliterating one of the nearby mountains. "But at this rate, this part of the Earth might be ravaged by the Dragon Matter. It seems to be losing control."
Dragons, despite boasting a strong disposition, were reasonably intimidated by the Dragon Matter and how it appeared. Their home was essentially being renovated, moulded into something else for the Dragon Matter's own preferences. They immediately backed away from it once they saw the energy ripping through the ground and consuming all the rubble, not even letting them stick around.
Saving their lives were the Dragon Trainers from other regions who had far more experience than them. They immediately sent out their respective Dragons as a form of retaliation. The Dragons who were unable to flee in time were saved by the Dragon Pokemon who came rushing or flying in.
"What's going on?!" Arriving here at last was Twilight Sparkle. Appearing in the skies and holding the Cosmic Cloak, she witnessed how things in the Dragon Lands skyrocketed instantly. At first, it was rather standard here and all of a sudden, the Dragon Matter decided to start moving, aggressively tearing through the earth. "Where's Spike?! Spike!"
"Spike's gone. But we'll find and rescue him later. Right now, we should try and stop that from spreading any further." Lucas casually said.
"Wait, what?" Twilight blinked. Lucas wasn't exactly giving her any context.
"Stop it? How?! Look at that thing!" In Ember's eyes, stopping this thing seemed impossible as it didn't really have a physical form and it was colossal.
"There's nothing in this world that can't be tackled. The only way we can hope to stop such a thing is by attacking it. Physical or not." Clair said, holding a Poke Ball out. "Appear! Druddigon!"
Clair had the right idea. So did the other Dragon Trainers. Once they sent out their respective Dragons, they all decided to attack it. Collectively, Dragonbreath, Dragon Rage and Dragon Pulse were all used against it. But the second these attacks approached, they were absorbed by the Dragon Matter.
Right before their eyes, their own attacks became food for this newly formed energy, allowing it to grow in strength. The Dragon Matter unleashed another roar after consuming these attacks, immediately shutting down any ideas from the Dragon Trainers.
"It absorbed it and grew from it?!" Clair actually had the same idea in mind, but after seeing what the Dragon Matter did, it was all out the window.
"It's matter. Just like other forms of matter, it responds to something similar to it. Just like how water plus water makes more water. And in this case, Dragon-Type moves are beneficial to it." Twilight already deduced what this was by basing it on other forms of matter.
"Twilight...Spike was pulled down." Ember decided to be the one to share the news with Twilight. Upon hearing it, Twilight was distraught. What did Ember mean by he was pulled down? There was only one place he could be, but it wasn't what Twilight was thinking. "The Dragon Matter took him. It just showed up at this part of the Dragon Lands and snatched him. And only him."
"Spike's been taken by the Dragon Matter?" Twilight was almost at a loss for words. This was not the news she wanted to hear.
Inside the Dragon Matter.
Prisma heard and saw everything, He saw how the Dragon-Type attacks were completely ineffective, only feeding the Dragon Matter which is what it wanted. And at that moment, he saw Twilight Sparkle for the first time. With his eyes narrowing, he had a reaction to her existence.
"Twilight." He knew her name. But he was mainly thinking about Twilight Luminaria. That face reminded him of her. While the build was smaller, the mane style was also familiar as well as some of the colours. Seeing her wasn't exactly positive, especially with how things ended.
"Twilight?" Spike was glad to hear Twilight's name, but he couldn't see her at all. All he could see was Matter and Prisma, who he was keeping his distance from. He at least expected Prisma to start attacking him but being stuck here with nothing was somehow more terrifying. "I wish I could see or hear what's going on Can anybody hear me?!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, trying to break through the Dragon Matter. But alas, it still didn't work.
"You won't reach them by screaming," Prisma said, knowing it was all pointless. Not for him though. All sounds and sights from the outside were his to observe, even if he was just a spirit.
"How are you able to do it...? You're blocking me from doing it, aren't you?"
"Blocking you? No. You're brand new to Dragon Matter, so it makes sense that you wouldn't understand it. As for why I can do it? Why wouldn't I be able to effortlessly use my own creation?"
"Your...creation?" Was Spike hearing that right? It sounded like Prisma claimed that he created this. "But...Rainbow Dash and Altaria created it. Not you. It's brand new."
"Brand new? To this universe, yes. But from my lost universe, it was rather old. Not as old as me but older than what your world currently has. Because I created Dragon Matter. I am the master of it."
"You created it?! No way!"
"Much like other things from my world, it has been brought back. I planned to bring it back once my true form returns so that I can remake it once more. But it seems that someone has already done it for me. I expected it to be one of them, honestly." Prisma then looked over at Nate and Lucas. Two parts of him. "My other souls. Lucas and Nate. Despite what I've said, my voice can't be heard from outside either."
"So, that wasn't you speaking to me?" Spike thought that Prisma was the one responsible for those faint voices, but apparently not.
"Not at all. Those were the Dragons. My Dragons." Prisma faced Spike. "Because the Dragon Matter is returning to the universe, my spirit managed to find someplace else to reside, while my souls are still scattered. Right now, I exist within the Dragon Matter, no matter where it may be, but only as a spirit."
"Then you can get it to stop, right?" Spike questioned.
"Hm?"
"It's your creation. So you can totally stop it!" Spike exclaimed. "Even if you're just a spirit right now."
"Hmph. I'm not the one who's making it move in this manner. It's doing it on its own, trying to find its place in this universe. This universe is very different from what it knows, obviously. But, I do have the power to calm it down."
"Then why won't you?"
"I have no desire to do so." Prisma crossed his arms. He wasn't even thinking about stopping it. "I'm going to let it keep going until it finds its sweet spot eventually." What Prisma said horrified Spike. This meant that the Dragon Matter might keep on going and going, never stopping until its satisfied. "Unless you yourself can stop it. Can you?"
"I..." Spike froze on his words when looking at Prisma. A strong part of him was hesitant to answer. It felt like if he responded in a specific way, it could lead to a plethora of trouble with him. "I can try. I'm a Dragon too, ya know!"
"An inexperienced one. You know little about the Dragon Matter. And the same goes for all those outside. Trying is not good enough in this scenario."
"I've got a solution I can try. You said you can tell it to stop, right? Well then..." Spike mustered up a ton of courage as his mouth was trembling. From his claws, he held out a Poke Ball. "Battle me!"
"Battle you?"
"Y-Yeah. If I win, you have to stop it from moving!" Spike declared as he boldly challenged Prisma to a battle.
"...I refuse." But Prisma turned it down, much to Spike's surprise. He figured that since Prisma was connected to Ash and the others, he wasn't one to turn down a battle. But it seems that he was wrong. "I refuse to battle someone weaker than me."
"I'm not weak!" Spike shouted. He knew he was not weak. Not one bit.
"On your own, no. But against me? The answer is obvious. You have heard of me, so you obviously know you're completely out of your league. Besides...I cannot hope to battle you in here. I am just a spirit." But the reality was that Prisma was just a spirit right now. He could not perform a Pokemon Battle at all.
"Mmm...Then I can try and stop it with my own voice! You said it reacts to Dragons, right? Since I'm a Dragon, maybe I can do something about this. In my world, we're used to testing out the waters, so I'll always keep trying." Spike kept his confidence, planning to break out of here. Prisma would observe this himself, seeing what Spike could do. "If those Dragons that are apparently in here can hear me, I'd like for you to stop!"
But there was no response. He called out for these Dragons and yet nothing happened. "Hello?!" Spike tried again. "I know you were the ones speaking to me earlier?! I'd like to talk to you and know why you pulled only me in! Please?! I can hear your roars so-"
"That won't do." Prisma shook his head. "Those words will not reach them. Whether you are polite or not. But clearly, you aren't going to stop."
"Geez...How am I gonna speak with them? There's gotta be something!" Spike growled as the Molt was rapidly increasing by the second. He was still going through it after all. "My actions. Maybe my actions can do something about it!"
Actions do speak louder than words sometimes and Spike was going to take a shot at it. By holding his arms out, he would tap into the Dragon Magic he learned as a Dragon Trainer. From his claws, the signature golden light of a Dragon Trainer appeared, letting out a beautiful glow. Prisma watched as the light appeared, not appearing impressed at all.
Spike then raised his arms, letting the light of the Dragon Magic shine as bright as he could. But it couldn't even compare to the light coming from the Dragon Matter. And it didn't even do anything. The light had no effect or response. These Dragons could not be reached at all.
"You had the right idea. You just lacked the power." Prisma walked past the Baby Dragon. "This is the kind of power that you're missing." To demonstrate what Spike was lacking, Prisma raised his arm, mimicking what Spike did. But better and far more brilliant.
From his hand, Prisma unleashed his own Dragon Magic which had a greater flare. Spike covered his eyes as this Dragon Magic came in two colours. Red and Blue, with a tiny bit of Gold in there. Despite being a spirit, Prisma could still do something and this was an example. Spike's eyes widened as he witnessed the pinnacle of Dragon Magic. It lit up the Dragon Matter Space compared to what Spike previously had. It had a spiral-like appearance when hovering over Prisma.
"This is what you should be aiming for." Prisma said. "As a Dragon Trainer, this is the kind of power that you would have eventually sought out. And the kind of power to call for the Dragons."
"Amazing..." In a way, Spike was learning from Prisma, watching his actions and hearing his every word. "That was amazing! It was Red and Blue?! What does that mean?"
"That is my own power." Prisma lowered his arm. "Something you cannot reach. You are simply a child after all and you obviously have years to go. By the time you're old enough or have grasped its power, it will be too late for you to do anything."
"I guess so..." Spike lowered his head as Prisma was 100% right. "But why tell me this? Not the last part. But everything else."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, to be honest...I thought you were gonna attack me when I first saw you. I heard a lot about you, Prisma. You're what Ash and the others are related to. Plus, you come from a world that you apparently destroyed. I was pretty intimidated by you and I guess you can't do much since you're just a spirit. So why are you telling me this? You make it sound like I'm gonna leave, which would be great but..."
"You've heard everything correctly." But Prisma basically confirmed it all. Not a single debunk or an attempt to defend himself. "I caused a mass wave of destruction during my greatest battle. All of it is true."
"So then you are dangerous...You destroyed your own world?" Whatever Spike planned to say afterwards was thrown out of the window. Prisma shut it all down and brought back that intimidation to the baby Dragon. "Why?!"
"Why?" Prisma looked onwards. He then focused on the scenario outside, looking at Twilight Sparkle. Prisma stayed silent for a while after that question and most of that time was on Twilight Sparkle. Spike couldn't see who Prisma was looking at and he wished to do so. "She would say that she failed me. Ridiculous. After I'm free, this world will be mine to tackle. It isn't my own, even if parts of it are returning."
"You're going to try and destroy it too?!"
"I have unfinished business. It doesn't matter what universe it is." Prisma said. Those words struck fear into Spike's heart. But they also drove his determination to prevent such a thing since it sounded like Prisma was planning to send a wave of destruction to his world too. "Eventually, it will look like the universe I once had, but different."
"Then, I won't let that happen!" Spike had a bad feeling about this and wished to avoid it from coming true at all costs.
"Then, will you take another try? " Prisma turned to face Spike once more. "I may be a spirit and have no Pokemon with me. But I'm not defenceless. I'm never defenceless."
"Yeah. I'll try. You can't do much since you're just a spirit, so maybe I can knock you around without too much to worry about!" Spike wasn't about to let Prisma's words stop him again. He was about to take full advantage of the fact that he was a spirit and that was about it. "Go! Axew!"
"Axew!" Entering the Dragon Matter was Axew. And as soon as he emerged, he transformed into his final form. A golden light would envelop his body as he underwent an enlarged transformation. Appearing from the light which would shatter was Equestrian Haxorus. "Haxorus!"
"So this is an Equestrian Haxorus." Prisma already knew what kind of Haxorus this was. "Very well. I accept your challenge. No matter the situation, even if my body is just a spirit, I will battle, even if I prefer to battle with my Pokemon.
"Haxorus. We're breaking out of this thing. And we're gonna start by taking Prisma down!"
"Xorus!" Haxorus was ready. He wasn't 100% sure what was going on, but he was always prepared to fight by Spike's side. And considering Prisma was brought up, Haxorus was going to give it his all against the Storied Figure. They locked eyes for a moment as Prisma was unphased by the roar of Equestrian. Haxorus.
"Attack me. Do your best and do not disappoint." Prisma demanded, fearless in the face of a Dragon.
"We always do our best! Haxorus! Use Close Combat!"
"Haxo!" The Axe Jaw Pokemon's eyes fixated on Prisma, ready to unleash his wrath by lunging in with an incoming onslaught of strikes. But as Haorus drew closer, an unusual sight unfolded. The Dragon Matter ground beneath Prisma began to shimmer with an iridescent hue, and a radiant aura enveloped him, pulsating with an intense brilliance.
In that charged moment, Prisma raised his hand, not in fear but in a gesture of tranquil command, ready to defend himself. The air crackled with an otherworldly energy, and a serene calmness enveloped the once tumultuous scene. Prisma was using the power of Aura, much like Ash. But this Aura of his was unlike Ash's.
Haxorus hesitated, the primal instinct to strike subdued by an inexplicable force emanating from Prisma. The Dragon's massive frame quivered slightly as it stared into Prisma's eyes, captivated by an unseen power.
"Haxorus! What's wrong?!" Spike asked, seing Haorus stop in his tracks, trembling and quivering. To his shock, Haxorus was intimidated. He was afraid of Prisma. "You're...scared?"
"Xorus..." The Dragon-Psychic-Type was doing his best to move forward, but he couldn't. When looking at Prisma, it felt as if he wasn't looking at a human. The aura he emitted was a manifestation of raw power, a palpable force that made even the fearsome Haorus hesitate in his presence. To him, it didn't feel like a power born of malice or ill intent, but rather an innate force of nature that seemed to draw from the very essence of something else. Haxorus stepped back as Prisma's fame was starting to look a bit different to him. A silhouette that seemed to shift and reform, never settling into a single shape.
Haxorus was essentially unable to battle, getting on one knee and submitting. Just as Spike was about to say something, he looked up at Prisma, seeing the overwhelming force as well. Spike soon knew what he was up against.
This whole time, he believed that trying was still worth it but after witnessing Prisma's defensive Aura, that was not the case. Trying was a waste, just as Prisma said.
"I...I surrender." Spike got on his knees. He had to surrender. He couldn't bring himself to do anything else.
"...What a shame." Prisma closed his eyes. He was rather disappointed by the outcome and expected more from Spike since he was so confident in himself."It seems that you truly are incapable of taking me on. Not just in the strength category."
"Gh..." Gutted, Spike tried gripping onto the Dragon Matter as if it was grass or dirt but ended up getting nothing. This was the being that might return one day.
"But I suppose you are just a baby. Very soon, you'll become an adolescent." Prisma turned, facing away from Spike and Haxorus. "Even then...It'll be far too late. As for what is happening out there, I believe you should see for yourself."
Prisma raised his finger, swishing it around a bit before opening a hole in the Dragon Matter. But it didn't lead to the outside. Instead, it allowed Spike to see what was happening out there. Prisma would give this to Spike, just to show him how the events outside were unfurling.
"Although...There's something different about this Dragon Matter. It's mine and yet...it feels different."
They weren't exactly the best. The Dragon Matter has not been soothed or calmed down in any way. And with its rampant movements across the Dragon Lands, it already got ahold of some of the Dragons. Specifically the Dragons.
It did not target any of the Humans here for even a split second. The Dragon Matter would grab some Dragons, lifting them into the air and halting their attacks. The Dragons tried breaking free, using all the strength that they could, but it was no use. The Dragon Matter was starting to get comfortable with this area as its strength was growing. Despite holding onto them, the Dragon Matter brought no harm to them.
"Let go!" A Dragon yelled at the top of her lungs. But even though it wasn't harming them, it would still bring something to the table. The Dragons who struggled to break free had their eyes and mouths hit with a stream of Dragon Matter. They became silent, frozen and paralyzed by the energy that was entering them. It was almost as if they were being fed.
"What's it doing to them?!" Ember pupils shrunk.
"It's transforming them..." Twilight felt like she was going to be sick based on what she was seeing. The bodies of the Dragons were starting to pulsate and bubble, attempting to undergo a transformation. The Dragon Matter would also try and shape the Dragons themselves. "It's a part of its development. No wonder it was only targeting it Dragons."
"It only wants Dragons." Clair grizzled her teeth. "It's like its feeding on Dragon attacks and Dragons themselves. Why would our dreams tell us to come here if something like this was about to show up?"
"I don't know. But there has to be a way to defeat it. Even Matter can be stopped." Twilight uttered as the wind was fiercely blowing thanks to the Dragon Matter. "The best thing we can do is try and relax it, but I'm not sure how we're going to do it..."
Before they could come up with something, one of the transformations was complete. Right before their eyes, they witnessed how one of these Dragons became something else. Something that was still befitting on this world. This Dragon now had a sleek, ice-coated dragon with crystalline scales that sparkle like freshly fallen snow. His build was previously big and burly but now it was sleek while still retaining some of that bulk.
Another Dragon was soon changed as her form shimmered, her skin turning into glistening scales of emerald green, delicate wings unfurling from her back as she transformed into a graceful Dragon of the Forest. She already had emerald green scales, but now they were brighter and looked like they would camouflauge especially well in the forest.
"It's turning them into Pokemon..." An amazing phenomenon was taking place. The Dragons were being turned into other Dragon-Type Pokemon. New Dragon-Types that have never been seen before.
Another emerged as a sturdy dragon with earthy brown scales resembling rugged terrain. Its wings bear patterns resembling rocky formations, and its tail ends in a boulder-like structure. It has powerful claws and a determined, resolute expression.
Another Dragon became a mysterious Pokemon, emanating an aura of Psychic energy. Her body appears translucent, with swirling patterns that seem to shift with its thoughts. It has telepathic abilities and can manipulate reality using its psychic powers.
All the Dragons who were caught found themselves becoming Pokemon, but not the Pokemon themselves. They were still being held, unchanged. Those who did change were placed back on the ground by the Dragon Matter as it was seemingly done with them. Not with their home though. It was still tearing it apart.
"Hey! This isn't so bad!" Naturally, seeing these changes was pleasing. They were now their own Pokemon. In an attempt to find its place, the Dragon Matter decided to create new Dragons made out of its own energy.
The Dragons were checking themselves out, liking the new looks. They never thought they would become Pokemon themselves but here they were.
"Oh, that's so awesome!" Lucas and Nate had stars in their eyes. They just witnessed the creation of new Pokemon right before their eyes.
"W-Well...That's another thing we know about it. It was able to do it that quickly?" Twilight rubbed her eyes.
"Amazing. It can do that?! But...why isn't it doing anything to the already existing Dragon Pokemon." Ember noticed how the Dragon Pokemon weren't affected. Why is that? They are still Dragons. Or is it perhaps that they were already Pokemon?
But the newly formed Pokemon just didn't care. They were too busy admiring themselves. The amount of thoughts and ideas that were entering their head were tremendous. Some had rather shifty and sneaky plans in mind thanks to their newfound abilities.
The things they could do now that they were Pokemon. They were stronger than before. Faster too. All the benefits of a Pokemon were now theirs and some were even thinking about the moves they could learn. They could feel the Infinity Energy within their bodies, now possessing them. Some had two Infinity Energies since there a selection of Dragons who became Dual Types.
"You know, I don't think I won't mind it tearing up our home. If something as great as this can happen again, then who cares if it goes wild and-" And along came the drawbacks. Despite how amazing this was at first, the Dragons were starting to lose their natural speech. "Ha...Ha..." This Dragon tried spouting out her words but failed to do so. This would be natural for her but not anymore. At that moment, they started speaking as if they were Pokemon and they knew this.
Rapidly, all of them were losing their natural sense of speech, speaking Pokemon names that were unheard of before. New names were heard but now the positives of these transformations were being quickly overshadowed by the drawbacks.
"Nevermind! It's not awesome!" Lucas shook his head. Now it was all turned upside down. Realizing that their way of talking had changed to the point where they could only say their new names, it was about to turn into pandemonium. The Dragon Matter went from dangerous, to rather fun and swiftly back to dangerous.
"What a shame...I actually wanted to try it." Ember shifted her eyes to the side. She at first wanted to experience the feeling of becoming a Pokemon but after seeing how it can regress your speech, she would pass, immediately.
"I would say that one of the two is the least of our problems, but now they're not our problem!" Twilight exclaimed as now they had to worry about the Dragons who have turned into Pokemon and the destruction of the Dragon Lands. Both had to be dealt with and fast.
"We can stop it." Standing side by side were Lucas and Nate who showed no fear in the face of this energy. Someone had to do something about this energy, but the Dragon Trainers couldn't really get through it. That wasn't going to stop Lucas and Nate from trying.
"You two? What can you do?" Twilight questioned.
"If it responds to Dragons, then we might as well let our own Dragons take a shot at it." Nate smiled. He and Lucas were on the same wavelength as in their minds, battling the Dragon Matter was the obvious answer, no matter what. "If we don't do anything now, this won't end."
"I agree. Any other detail out there can be addressed later. Right now, stopping this thing from at least ruining the Dragon Matter and the Dragons is our top priority." Standing in front of them was Clair with a Poke Ball out. I'm counting on you! Druddigon!"
"Druddigon!" Out emerged her Druddigon. A Shiny Druddigon to be exact.
"Go! Garchomp!" For Lucas, he summoned his Garchomp into the fray.
"I need your help. Haxorus!" And finally, Nate was accompanied by his majestic Shiny Haxorus. All three of them had their own Dragons out while Ember watched. The Dragon Lord wasn't sure at first since this Dragon Matter seemed rather overwhelming and the three trainers in front of her were obviously leagues above.
"What are you waiting for? Chime in." That is until Nate spoke to her, having faith in Ember. "You've got Dragons too, don't you? So you can help us get through this thing."
"Right! I'm the Dragon Lord, so this is what I should be doing." Ember nodded in understanding, taking out her own Poke Ball. "I won't let some weird matter or whatever stop me. Gabite!"
"Gabite!" Now it was four Dragons.
Lucas's Garchomp lets out a low growl, sensing the looming threat. His sleek, powerful form gleams in the sunlight as it braces for battle. Nate's Haxorus stands tall, its keen eyes fixated on the swirling mass of Dragon Matter, its sturdy claws ready for action.
"Twilight. You've got Rift Magic and all other stuff up your sleeve, so we're counting on you." Lucas recommended the usage of Rift Magic.
"Rift Magic, huh? Mm. I'll see what I can do. The rest of you should keep it from getting any further. Please." Twilight pleaded. From her horn, she prepared a flare of Rift Magic and her own alicorn magic. While she wasn't exactly thinking about using it in the first place, it was a good thing that Lucas recommended it.
"You got it. There's nothing in the universe or any other universe that we can't tackle. Let's go, Haxorus! Use Earthquake!"
"Haxo...Rus!" By clenching his fists and striking the ground, Haxorus would send a resounding tremor that would meet with the Dragon Matter. Right as the Dragon Matter targeted another Dragon, it was met with the mighty shockwave of the Earthquake, halting its movements.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Nate called out to the Dragon Matter and it already responded once the Earthquake hit it. It ended up being the only thing that kept the Dragon Matter back and wasn't absorbed. "Based on what we've seen and heard, you're sentient, aren't you? And if you are, you forgot about us! Try taking us on, why don't you?!"
"Garchomp, use Dragon Rush!"
"Gar!" Garchomp rushed in, enveloping his body in a brilliant yet fierce blue light that launched him through the air. He was getting physical with the Dragon Matter. With all of his might, Garchomp crashed into the Matter but had no effect in the process. Instead, Garchomp would deal no damage to it or even budge it as the aura of its Dragon Rush was absorbed.
"Right...All Dragon Moves don't work on it. Oh well. Worth a shot anyway! Stone Edge!"
"Garchomp!" Right as Garchomp was about to get grabbed by the matter, he saved himself by unleashing a barrage of glowing crystals from his body. The crystals spun around rapidly, striking at the Dragon Matter once it generated maws to try and snatch Garchomp as well, but was promptly interrupted by the stones.
"Use Stone Edge!" Garchomp wasn't the only one with Stone Edge. Druddigon and Gabite had the same move at their disposal. From below, sharp crystals would rise, piercing through the Dragon Matter from the front and sides.
"Yes! A direct hit!" Ember exclaimed, putting her hands together. "Pierced through and everything."
"Don't get too excited," said Clair. "It doesn't look bothered by it at all. Just focus on giving Twilight enough time."
"Sorry, sorry. You're right. Gabite, use Dig!"
"Bite!" Burrowing underground was Gabite as he would get down there as fast as he could.
"Not gonna fight back all that much? Fine by me. Go, Haxorus! Close Combat!"
"Join him, Garchomp! Swords Dance!" With these Dragons advancing, the Dragon Matter still stayed in one place while tearing the area apart some more. At that moment, some of the Dragon Pokemon were beginning to undergo some change at last.
The Dragon Matter figured out what it wanted to do with these existing Pokemon. Before it could go through with the transformations, Garchomp, who took flight and avoided the streams of Dragon Matter that were littered all over the place, slashed at the energy with his claws. He managed to cut it in half, interrupting and preventing the transformation process.
Haxorus roared as he was aggressively hitting each and every Dragon Matter obstacle in his way to get in close. With brute strength, he punched a hole through one of the matter, getting closer to the main problem. The main Dragon Matter received a low from Haxorus's fist which caused a shockwave that reverberated through it. The Dragon Matter could be seen fluctuating, wobbling and pulsating because of that.
"Wow..." Spike watched the two of them in action and how well they were doing compared to the others. Rarely does he get to see some Dragons working together like this. He last saw this kind of Draconic Union when Drayden, Drake and Lance took on Kyurem. Prisma kept his serious face, eyeing down the battle, but most importantly, Twilight Sparkle, who was building up her Rift Energy.
"H-Hax!" But it wasn't long until Haxorus and Garchomp took some hits of their own. The Energy would grab onto their chests as if it was a leech, holding onto them. Now that it had them, it would try and change how they appeared and functioned, going for something completely different.
"Flamethrower!"
"Drud!" Druddingon stopped this immediately by unleashing a scarlet stream of flames which would burn through the Dragon Matter. After burning it away, out of the ground came Gabite, who went to attack another part of the matter. His attack was weaker in comparison, unable to make the Dragon Matter vibrate or even knock a piece off. But he still managed to get a hit in.
"Earthquake!" Together, Clair, Nate and Lucas bellowed the same words. The three Dragons would collectively channel all of their strength into their claws with the same moves. Druddigon would stay in one spot while Garchomp and Haxorus approached the Dragon Matter.
The Matter would respond by forming something new. It appeared to be an unfinished Dragon with a unique appearance that neither have seen. It attempted to create a new Dragon out of its own energy on the spot, but it was clear that it was not ready yet. But it was ready to block the incoming attacks. With its mouth wide open, it zoomed in for a wide bite.
All that resulted in was Garchomp and Haxorus collectively slamming their claws into the mouth of this newly created and unfinished Dragon. A grandiose orange flash emerged once the double Earthquakes landed. The Dragon was promptly destroyed as the two Dragon Pokemon would charge through at full power. With their Earthquakes combined, the aura of the attack would envelop their bodies, making them appear as orange comets ascending into the air.
The Dragon that stood before Haxorus and Garchomp was being broken down the further they pushed through. And once more, they landed a hit on the Dragon Matter, directly at the centre. And following that up from below was Druddigon's Earthquake. The triple Earthquake caused tremendous vibrations through the Dragon Matter.
With their shouts, Nate's Plasma Aura was acting up. It seemed to be reacting to his actions, crackling aggressively. And this rising Plasma Aura was noticed by the Dragon Matter, which froze for a moment. Not just because of the powerful hit it received, but also because of the plasma. Prisma narrowed his eyes when looking at the Plasma react in such a way.
For a moment, the roars of Reshiram and Zekrom were heard.
"Now's my chance!" Twilight's eyes flashed as she used this moment to unleash her magic. A great flare of Rift Magic flew out, enveloping the surrounding area.
She struck it with a cosmic power while it was at its weakest, doing more than just holding it back. Twilight would use a soothing spell and greatly elevated it with Rift Magic to give it a cosmic effect. After seeing Twilight Sparkle use the Rift Magic, Prisma closed his eyes while Spike and Haxorus bellowed with glee.
The Dragon Matter did actually have some form of sentience. The Dragons that were apparently living within it were proof of this. Nate and Lucas heard it too. The voices from the Dragon Matter. The roars of Dragons that were rather familiar to them could be heard as well as the mention of a name. They heard the name Prisma coming from the Matter, even if it was faint.
Everything was settling down at last. The Dragon Matter lowered itself, ceasing all actions. It would stick around, but not around this area. The damage it did the Dragon Lands were left behind as it would slither away. Everyone watched as it returned to where it emerged from. The chasm.
As for those who were turned into Pokemon, their bodies were turning to how they were thanks to Twilight Sparkle's efforts. By soothing the Dragon Matter, it ended up reversing what it caused. But not the damage done to the Dragon Lands. Their time as Pokemon was short-lived but it was for the best. Their builds were back as well as the way they speak.
Inside the Dragon Matter.
"They did it! Yes!" Spike was over the moon for this. He didn't doubt them all for a moment. His friends pulled through once more. Him and Haxorus jumped for joy, seeing the Dragon Lands safe once more, even if there was noticeable destruction.
"Hm. So in this world, she uses that form of magic. Rift Magic." But Prisma was mainly focused on the Rift Magic that was used by Twilight Sparkle.
"How's that, Prisma?! We beat your Dragon Matter!" Spike took the opportunity to taunt Prisma.
"Merely soothed and forced it back to the chasm. I expect nothing less from my other halves and Twilight." But Prisma was not upset by this in any way. Not one bit. He was intrigued about the Rift Magic and a part of him expected Nate, Lucas and Twilight Sparkle to pull it off.
"Yeah, but they still won! I wish I was there, but that was still so awesome! And this entire time he's been in the Dragon Matter, his Molt was allowed to develop peacefully as the energy was boosting the process.
The red scales around his body were starting to grey out, losing their vibrant colours. But right before Spike could react, his body was turned to stone. He would perform one more jump, only to be turned to stone in midair from his head to tail and his body didn't even fall. It stayed in the air. Haxorus gasped, caught off guard by this as he witnessed his best friend become a stone statue, which was naturally uncomfortable for him in so many ways.
"Xo?!" It was so alarming that Haxorus reverted to an Axew, horrified by what he saw.
"He's fine. Being in the Dragon Matter has helped his growth into adolescence." Prisma staved off Haxorus's fears in a heartbeat. The stone would not last that long. Axew watched as it started cracking. A white glow emanated from the cracks as the Dragon Matter was reacting to this development.
The energy would crackle and roar within this space, shattering the stone that kept Spike. And there was a reason why he was in midair even with his body being turned to stone. Axew gasped as he couldn't believe his eyes With the Molt now over, Spike's adolescence has shown itself at last.
Spike now had wings.
"What just happened...Did I just sprout what I think I did?" Noticing that he was in midair, Spike looked to his side to see those magnificent body parts on him at last. The one thing other Dragons from the Dragon Lands have and now he had access to them. The glorious wings. "Wings...I have wings! Check me out, Axew!"
"Axew! Xew!" Glad for him, Axew would leap into the air to hug his airborne friend. Axew himself was a flightless Dragon but that didn't matter since that never bothered him or the rest of the Axew Species.
"You've now reached adolescence." Prisma walked off. "You can thank the Dragon Matter for deciding to do so. And I will be elsewhere. The Dragon Matter will continue trying to exist in this universe and wherever it shows up, my spirit will be there."
"Prisma? Where are you going?"
"Only my spirit is available. My souls are still locked away and I'm going to try and unleash them." Prisma dug his hands into his pockets when walking away, ready to change locations.
"We'll stop you from returning, you know!" Spike declared.
"I'll show up. That is a fact." Prisma turned his head to Spike. "Since you're the first being I've seen in this new universe, I'll say this. Spike. We'll meet again. Whether it's within the Dragon Matter or in reality when I eventually return. Until then, get stronger and surpass the strength you had. No point in battling if you keel over so swiftly."
"Hold on! How am I gonna get out of here?!" Spike cried out, realizing he was still trapped within the Dragon Matter. But Prisma said nothing. Instead, his spirit would vanish, leaving behind Red and Blue particles.
He wasn't the only one who would start vanishing. With the Dragon Matter being soothed and returning to the chasm, it was also reversing what it did to Spike. His body would start fading along with Axew's. Both were about to return to reality, but Spike would now think about what had just happened.
He was the first to encounter Prisma. Not only that, he spoke to Prisma. Interacting with him and it wasn't what he expected. As if Prisma wasn't mysterious already, now that mystique to him had risen. And after all of this, Spike received a few lessons from the Storied Figure that he was sure to remember. And of course, this entire encounter.
Equestria. The Dragon Lands. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
The afternoon Sun had risen and the Dragon Matter's fierce movements had stopped. As such, Spike was brought back to the real world, emerging from the ground. Axew joined him as their encounter with Prisma came to an end but based on Prisma's words, they would not be the last.
"Spike!" Twilight and Ember rushed to him, seeing Spike on his back. He was a bit befuddled in the head after leaving the Dragon Matter. It wasn't exactly comfortable. Even the Dragons who were turned into new Dragon-Type Pokemon felt out of it, solidifying that Dragon Matter, in some way could leave uncomfortable effects, even if it couldn't cause damage for the most part.
"Oh geez..." Spike was soon helped up by Equestrian Axew, who wasn't as affected. He wasn't in the Dragon Matter for that long and he was naturally far more resistant than any Dragon here at the Dragon Lands, even as just an Axew. "Glad that's over with."
"But check it out. Guess who's got wings?" Spike was about to showcase the greatest benefit that the Dragon Matter brought to him. His wings.
"Umm...I don't see any." But Ember's response quickly changed the atmosphere. Spike blinked for a moment, attempting to flap his wings. If they were there. But alas, they weren't.
"What the?! B-But...my wings! I swear I had them!" To Spike's disappointment, not only did the Dragon Matter reverse what was done to the Dragons of the Dragon Lands, but it also took away Spike's wings. After all, the only reason he went through the Molt was because of the Dragon Matter. "No way...My wings."
"Hm. It looks like after the Dragon Matter slithered away, it reversed the Molt Effect it brought to you." Clair observed. "That's a shame."
"That can't be!" Spike was absolutely gutted by this. He got on his knees, looking at the damaged ground in disappointment. He was truly looking forward to flying, much like all the other Dragons here at the Dragon Lands.
"Look on the bright side, Spike. At least you'll know what it feels like when it does happen." Ember tried cheering him up, reminding Spike that one day, he would receive the Molt legitimately and wouldn't have to require an otherworldly power.
"I guess so." Spike could at least live with that. But he didn't even get the chance to fly with them. What an absolute waste.
"So what happened in there? You were inside the Dragon Matter. Did you get hurt or something?" Nate asked.
"Yeah. You were dragged down by that maw." Lucas added "It looked like you went into the earth."
"No. I was fine. It didn't hurt at all. But I ended up meeting with someone in there. It was Prisma." There it was, Spike dropped the most important detail in all of this.
"You encountered Prisma?! Inside the Dragon Matter?! Are you alright?!" Twilight asked with a bellowing voice. Nate and Lucas also had their eyes widen while Clair and Ember had no reaction to this. They weren't as informed about Prisma compared to the others.
"I'm fine. All he did was poke me. But I saw some stuff from him." Spike would never forget that interaction. "Haxorus tried taking him on, but he was so intimidating that even Haxorus couldn't do anything.
"Axew..."
Twilight paced, her mind swirling with concern. There was something else she had to know since Spike encountered Prisma. "What did he say?"
Spike's eyes darted, recalling the encounter. "Not much. He only said that he'll be elsewhere in the Dragon Matter. His Spirit is in it while his souls are in Nate and the others. And we even talked about a few things."
"Man..." Lucas frowned. "Haxorus couldn't even face him? That's... unsettling. It's not like a Haxorus or most Dragons to be that hesitant."
"Well, rest up for a while. You might need it. Just like how you'll need this cloak, Nate. This will keep the plasma away from the others. At least, I hope so." Twilight finally revealed the cloak to Nate, holding it out to the Unovan Trainer.
"Great to hear it and see it." Nate smiled, gazing upon the cloak. As for Spike, he would still take in everything that happened back there. He wasn't done sharing his encounter with Prisma. In there, Prisma essentially gave Spike lessons, which was unexpected. Lessons about how to become a better Dragon Trainer, practically encouraging him in the process, which caught Spike off guard.
"You've gotta hear the rest of it, Twilight."
Dodge Junction.
The afternoon sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the vibrant festival grounds. Colourful banners fluttered in the gentle breeze, adorned with many beloved Pokémon here at Dodge Junction. And despite lacking any grass, Dodge Junction made up for it with its lively spirit. Plus, the decorations were a massive bonus.
The air was alive with excitement as trainers from all corners of the region gathered, their faces lit up with smiles as they navigated through the bustling stalls. The aroma of freshly cooked treats filled the air, drawing people closer to stands adorned with Pokéball-shaped snacks and colourful candies.
In one corner, a stage hosted a Pokémon costume contest. Trainers paraded around in elaborate costumes resembling their favorite Pokémon, while a cheering crowd applauded their creativity. A group of friends dressed as Eeveelutions stole the show with their synchronized dance routine, their Jolteon, Vaporeon, Flareon, and others showcasing their unique moves.
Amidst the festivities, a section for Pokémon grooming and pampering stood bustling with activity. Pokémon of various shapes and sizes relaxed as groomers meticulously brushed their fur or polished their scales, giving them a spa-like treatment that they clearly relished.
This was where Sci-Twi currently was. She and Ash showed up here at Dodge Junction after leaving Manehattan and was currently seeing Rapidash receive hair treatment. Alpha Rapidash received a ponytail, which was fitting since her pre-evolution also had a ponytail-styled hair. Now, she looked like a bigger version of her pre-evolution, even though that's what Rapidash already was.
"Looking great, Rapidash!" Sci-Twi applauded.
"Dash!" Rapidash would even show off her new mane, flaunting it and letting it flow.
"Man. You can do that with Rapidash's mane?" Ash was more impressed by the fact that Rapidash's mane could go through hair treatment. The employees here would then lock onto Pikachu, Alpha Pikachu and Zorua, having them on their sights. They wanted to do their fur next.
"Pi!" The Pikachu duo flinched, pulling back and grimacing. They would much rather skip out on that and this entire spot. Pulling on Ash and Sci-Twi's legs, they wanted out of here. The group would depart from this attraction while Rapidash would keep this style, for now, as if it reminded her of her pre-evolution.
They set their sights on another attraction here at the Pokemon Festival. Already, they've gone through quite a lot and were almost done with the place. Ash's eyes gravitated to the food located here at Dodge Junction, wanting to take a bite out of them.
"By now, a new gateway should've shown up." Ash spoke, "Might be to Pegalysium. That's been coming up a lot."
"Mm. By the way, Ash. About last night and what I went through." Twilight wished to bring up the scenario that occurred in the Dream Realm, where she and the other Twilights encountered Twilight Luminaria.
"Luna told me everything. Whatever it is, don't worry about it." Ash said. "You did your best against her."
"You're only saying that because you haven't come across Prisma yet." She pointed out. "I lost to her in that dream and I didn't get to prove anything to her. What if she ends up being right? If Prisma does show up, then we might not have many options available."
"No way." Ash denied that. "Even if Prisma does show up, no way I'll let it all go wrong. My soul's gonna be just fine. It isn't going anywhere."
"Really?"
"Oh, yeah! Count on it. No matter how bad it gets, I won't vanish." Ash put on a beaming grin, making a promise to Sci-Twi.
"Not when I am here." Speaking through Ash and directly to Sci-Twi was King Sombra. "While I haven't found Prisma's soul, he won't hope to overtake it while I am present."
"Well, you two have each other's back. But who's got mine?"
"You." Ash referred to the Equestrian Twilight Sparkle and Twilight Wish. Twilight Moonlight was left out of the picture since she was up in the air at the moment. "And if not that, then you've got Rapidash, Pikachu, Zorua and all of your friends to back you up."
"Pikachu!" That much was true, prompting Alpha Pikachu to nod. All of her Pokemon would have her back and that went for her friends back home, plus Ash himself.
"Now let's eat!" Ash exclaimed, ready to devour. The place in question served food from Pegalysium specifically. Pegalysium-based food were available for them to devour and they had their own dishes that have been cultivated, grown and perfected over the years.
Pegalysium gladly brought their food here, offering it to those from Equestrian and beyond.
On the menu, there was something known as a Solar Flare Sundae. Dessert extravaganzas featuring glowing, radiant fruits and ice creams served with a splash of shimmering syrup, reflecting the warmth of the sun.
Another selection of food was more on the sweet side. Known as North Sweets, they were delicate, translucent candies resembling gemstones, made from sugar or honey infused with flavours like lavender, rose, or exotic fruits. They could also reflect the colourful hues of the sky, based on the Aurora. The teeth of the children were letting out aurora colours after biting into these sweets. They showed them off, becoming walking disco balls.
One selection of food caught Ash's interest. Cloud Puffs were the name. Light, airy pastries resembling fluffy clouds, filled with unique creams or delicate fruit compotes. These were seen being dusted with edible shimmer to mimic the sky's glimmer.
"Well, hey there, Ash!" Greeting Ash was Cherry Jubilee, who was helping run this food attraction. "Like what you see?"
"I sure do! What is this stuff?!" Ash replied as he and Pikachu were starstruck by the food in front of them.
"Pegalysium came over and let us try some of their dishes out. All sky-related, if ya haven't noticed." Cherry Jubilee nodded before shifting her eyes directly at Sci-Twi. "Hm? Bringing someone with you. Lucky girl, having him by your side." She slid over to Sci-Twi, nudging her and calling her lucky. In Cherry Jubilee's eyes, this was something else entirely.
"N-No! Not like that!" Sci-Twi rapidly shook her head. "Just as friends!"
"Whatever you say." She would go with what she initially thought, easily reading Sci-Twi. "By the way, don't ya look a lot like Princess Twilight?"
"Twilight!" Speaking her name right after Cherry Jubille was someone else. Sci-Twi stood at attention was it was a rather powerful voice. It came from the kitchen area of this building and it was said by none other than Siebold, who was joined by all of his cooks from his own restaurant.
"Not so loud. You startled her." But he wasn't the only familiar face that Sci-Twi spotted. Another familiar voice rang through her ears which was softer than Siebold's. It was Bertha of the Sinnoh Elite 4.
"Siebold!? Bertha?!" To her surprise, two Elite 4 Members from different regions were here. But not just that, they were her other mentors. Two people who have helped her as a Trainer.
"Sorry. All this commotion...It's louder than my own restaurant."
"How have you been, Twilight?" Bertha asked when walking up to her. The last time they saw each other was at the previous Pokemon Festival and once again, for the fourth one, they've met a second time.
"I've been...good. I could be doing a bit better though." She admitted.
"That means something is wrong." But much like how Cherry Jubilee read Sci-Twi like a book, so did Siebold. "I hope you're not faltering as a Trainer."
"No, no, no. I swear I'm getting better." Sci-Twi rapidly shook her head. "I've grown without a doubt. I've gotten stronger over the past months and I even got the chance to enter the Master's Dojo."
"The Masters Dojo? All the way at Galar?" Bertha was already aware of this dojo.
"Mhm!" She proudly said with a wide smile. That was one thing that Sci-Twi achieved with flying colours. "I'm not done with it yet. I have to train up Kubfu and Bulbasaur before I can return there."
"Ah, Mustard...I wonder how is that rascal is doing?" Bertha closed her eyes, feeling nostalgic. The name Mustard was familiar to her.
"You've met Mustard before?" Ash questioned.
"I have, I have. Back when he was still the Champion of Galar, even before Leon."
"Cool! I knew he trained Leon back then, but I didn't know he used to be the Champion of Galar."
"I went up against a Champion..." It sunk in for Sci-Twi. She never stood a chance in the first place.
"Held it for 18 years. He was the most impressive trainer of his time." Siebold, even though he was much younger, was still knowledgeable about this. "Galar tends to be a place where the most battle-centric trainers can be found. "He was Leon before Leon."
"Man...So who beat him back then? It's gotta be someone strong!" Ash could only imagine who could've taken down a champion that was around for 18 years. Perhaps, it was someone who was still here in the present.
"No one, actually." Bertha would gladly explain it all. "Mustard went completely undefeated for those 18 years. Even though he was around longer than any other League Champion before or since he only lost the title after his prowess in battle began to wane. It's a sad experience that Mustard won't ever bring up and for good reason. His beloved partner Pokemon passed during that time frame."
"Oh, man...So that's why he quit?" Ash asked as the atmosphere changed a bit after Bertha brought that part up.
"No. While it affected his battling skills, he stuck around. But what truly ended it was after refusing a suggestion by the then chairman of the Galar Pokémon League to have a match rigged in his favour. Mustard retired from the Galar League entirely and traveled around the world."
"So, you took on Mustard in the past?" Sci-Twi spoke.
"I did. I threw my hat into the Galar Pokemon League for a while and was defeated. I was so young back then and I never went back to Galar since. But nothing's stopping me from going back in the first place. It's good to see that Mustard is still doing what he does best and teaches the next generation. Since you completed all the trials, it's going to take a while before you can battle Mustard.
"Wait! You mean when I go back I'll have to..." It clicked for Sci-Twi. She would have to take on Mustard by the end. "Battle him?!"
"That's right. It'll be your last lesson." Bertha confirmed.
"No need to worry, Twilight. Train hard and you'll do better against Mustard. It won't be so one-sided." But Ash had faith in Sci-Twi that she could pull it off when the time comes. And if not, she'll at least give Mustard a great battle.
"Easy for you to say! You've been travelling and battling for how many years?!" Sci-Twi bellowed as Ash had a massive edge over her in every category.
"Then eat, if it's bothering you. I've been looking into Pegalysium recipes ever since they showed up here." Siebold suggested, offering up some dishes he made. Some of these options were made by him and his cooks who dabbled in making Pegalysium dishes.
Ash was already seated, ready to indulge in these sky-suppers. He went for the Cloud Puffs immediately as they were served up for him.
At that moment, Ash got to experience the cream filling inside of them. And immediately, his mouth was melting. His eyes and face would wobble as the most brilliant taste was felt. Pikachu soon took a bite out of them and received a similar reaction. The duo found themselves slamming their faces on the table out of pure bliss and joy.
Forcing himself out of the Poke Ball just to eat was Munchlax as very soon, all of their Pokemon would start snacking on the Pegalysium Delicacies.
And while Sci-Twi was enjoying a lightning bolt-shaped meal, something within her, which was laying dormant for the longest was almost active. After the encounter with Twilight Luminaria and Twilight Moonlight's magic growing in this universe, the soul of Twilight Luminaria grew a bit bigger.
It was faint, but there, previously appearing as a tiny flicker. But because of Twilight Moonlight, it became as bright as a flashlight, showing that it had room to grow.
Sitting right next to the soul of Twilight Luminaria was none other than Midnight Sparkle. After all, that part of Twilight never left her. It was still there, waiting to return. Sci-Twi had two beings lying dormant. Midnight Sparkle's spirit has been faint for the longest ever since her defeat, but it has not died out.
But these two essences did not ignore each other. They were very much aware of each other. Within Sci-Twi, the Spirit of Midnight Sparkle and the Soul of Twilight Luminaria were at odds with each other.
Their respective energies got close, initiating a clash. It was a fight for dominance over Sci-Twi. Only one of them wished to return to the real world but for different reasons. One wished to stop Prisma's return at all costs while the other had the same mindset as Empress Twilight Sparkle. After all, the Empress was from a world where Midnight Sparkle won and those same ideals rang true for Midnight Sparkle.
Sci-Twi couldn't feel it at all. Both of them were far too weak and faint to really grab her attention. But what did grab her attention was the wonderful taste these Cloud Puffs offered. Now she knew why Ash and Pikach had such a reaction to it.
The Ambrosial Plane.
Meanwhile, far from Equestria, far from Kanto. Far from Pegalysium and far from any place on the Earth and beyond was the Ambrosial Plane. A wondrous place which was an afterlife for those who have come and gone. And of course, it merged with the Pokemon World's afterlife, making it a much bigger and better place.
And currently, at this moment, something rather significant was about to happen. The Angel known as Lightwing, who defended Ash and Jirachi at the Cosmic Trial, was facing other angels higher than her.
Lightwing harbored a deep desire to become a Guardian Angel and guide and protect residents on Earth, especially after the trial.
"Well, Lightwing. We've heard your requests and taken everything into consideration. You are eligible to become their Guardian Angel."
"Yes!" Success. Lightwing was the offiicial Guardian Angel of Earth. It was her first time becoming someone's Guardian Angel as the other angels celebrated her accomplishment. Not Strident Heart. She had a different opinion, especially when it came to certain residents of that planet. "Thank you so much!"
"However!" But it wasn't quite over yet. The higher angels had more to say. "Though you have the spirit and kindness to protect them, you are lacking strength."
"Ah..." Lightwing froze for a moment. "R-Really?"
"You are strong. But maybe not strong enough to protect them from the horrors they must face. As an angel, it's only natural that you live peacefully, but there are times where conflict is unavoidable. With this new world and the threats that target it, conflicts will be plentiful. These threats are not just limited to the Earth, but to all life in the universe."
"That is what I was getting at before." Strident Heart commented. "But this would not be a problem if everything was how it usually was. You would defend them even though they are the root of all the problems that arise?"
"It'll be fine, Strident."
"You will undergo trials...specifically trials centered around the Pokemon."
"The Pokemon? Just them?"
"Even to us, they are the most unusual creatures in existence. Even we cannot fully comprehend or understand all of them to the fullest. Which is why we will give you a trial. The first trial commenced in the Hall of Reflection, where you will be presented with a mirror that will reveal the emotions and struggles of a person on Earth. Without the ability to directly intervene at the moment, you must learn to empathize and provide guidance through whispers of encouragement and subtle signs. You must understand the people you will be guarding. But...knowing who you are, that won't be too much of an issue, we believe."
"Right! I'm ready!" Lightwing said with full enthusiasm. While she was approved to be a Guardian Angel for Earth, she had to finish a few things before that and some of them involved understanding the Strange and Wonderful Creatures known as Pokemon.
Strident Heart saw it as a waste of time, prompting her to walk away. It wasn't adding up to her. Strident held a perspective contrary to Lightwing's altruistic nature. Strident Heart, while an Angel, believed that the residents of that world were inherently flawed, often causing their own problems. And she wouldn't be 100% wrong. She kept on questioning the purpose of protecting beings who, in their view, created their own challenges through their actions.
While Lightwing advocated for the potential goodness within them and the power to forge a new future in this Grander World, Strident Heart harboured skepticism, feeling that intervening in human, pony and other species' affairs might enable their destructive tendencies. After all, there was a reason why Angels have not come to Earth all that often.
Strident Heart still felt like she had to do something. That trial never escaped her mind. And for an angel, Strident Heart was having rather unpleasant thoughts as the journey continues.
Equestria. Manehattan. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
From the heavens above, piercing through the beautiful clouds was a ray of light. Not just any ray of light, but the light of Lightwing. She was once again visiting this world, but not in her physical form. The Angel Lightwing couldn't appear in her physical solid form but instead had to show up as an Astral Projection.
After receiving permission to become this world's Guardian Angel, to properly re-enter in her physical form once more, she had to learn from its residents. She was tasked with learning to empathize and provide guidance while being subtle and being an Astral Projection was the way to go.
"I'm rather excited. Aren't you, Halo?" Lightwing found this to be enticing. To visit the Pokemon World again was a great feeling, even though she wasn't physically there. Appearing next to her in an Astral Form was her Wisp Friend Halo. She would start with Manehattan, focusing on a visitor from another universe different to this.
Twilight Moonlight could be seen with Pinkie Pie and Applejack, still having her magic restrained by none other than Nightmare Moon. Forced to stay in this universe a bit longer thanks to Twilight Luminaria's actions, she could not continue her mission at the moment. Not with Luna and Nightmare Moon eyeing her down. Lightwing would pay close attention to this scenario.
"Nightmare Moon wants you to join her? Really?" Pinkie Pie, who was currently speaking to Twilight Moonlight, was discussing matters about what happened yesterday.
"That's right. Last night before that whole Dream Incident occurred, Nightmare Moon suggested something to me. Something that I turned down in a heartbeat."
"And you're still denying it? What a shame." Nightmare Moon scoffed. "I proposed that if you join my group, you will be cleared of all your crimes. I would see to it personally."
"You're only suggesting it because my name has Moon in it." She grumbled.
"Correct!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed. "I was even thinking of a name for it. It has to be something that goes well with Midnight or Moon. There has to be another M-related name at the end that translates to Team. But what...?" The alter-ego of Nightmare Moon pondered.
"As if. I have my own group that I'm a part of. Joining yours is out of the question. I refuse to break my loyalty to them."
"Ooh! I'd like to be in this team!" Pinkie cried out.
"Impossible." But Nightmare Moon shut her down in an instant. "I've made it so that it can only be eligible for specific members. The Moon needs to truly shine and ponies and Pokemon with names related to the moon are a part of those specific categories."
"Mew?" Mew poked his head out of Pinkie Pie's mane, wondering if he could join. Technically, he can become any Pokemon, even the ones related to the Moon.
"Hmm...You do technically count in a roundabout way." Nightmare Moon pouted. "And besides, you two aren't exactly the best fit. The group I have will be tasked with missions."
"Hey! If we put our minds to it, we can get anything done!" Pinkie and Mew said with confidence.
Just then, Lightwing decided to read their minds, just to know what they were thinking. At most, Moonlight was bickering with all of them, expressing her dedication to this one mission while Nightmare Moon was vehemently trying to get Twilight Moonlight on her team.
However, their minds said otherwise. Lightwing focused on Twilight Moonlight's mind first, seeing what she was thinking. And while she was still boasting great confidence on the outside, on the inside, it was a different story.
"Even with all the extra time Twilight Luminaria gave me, will it be enough?" Moonlight was still doubtful about her capabilities after failing to capture Ash. Unbeknownst to her, an angelic presence had been observing Moonlight, curious about the turmoil hidden beneath her determined façade and of course, it was part of her mission.
Twilight Moonlight's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Her external confidence was a shield to the doubts gnawing within. Scenes of previous failed attempts flashed before the angel's eyes - the near misses, the escapes, the frustration that slowly eroded her unwavering belief in herself. By reading Twilight Moonlight's mind, Lightwing could look into her memories as well.
"I can do this," Twilight Moonlight thought, her inner voice laced with conviction, yet the angel could feel the doubt lingering beneath the words. "I've trained my whole life for this so there has to be a point where I can succeed."
"Hm." Lightwing slowly nodded her head, realizing that despite the strong disposition Twilight Moonlight shows from the outside, much like everyone else, there was a contrasting side that said otherwise. She would then shift her attention to Nightmare Moon, just to see what her thoughts were saying.
"If only you just take the offer, Twilight Moonlight." Nightmare Moon was still on this. "Your intentions are far more noble than what I once had. My pursuit for dominance over Equestria and an ever-lasting night came to an end. When will you realize that this is all pointless?"
Nightmare Moon was actually attempting to help Twilight Moonlight. That offer about joining her group was genuine and a way to eliminate her crimes. Nightmare Moon could see Twilight Moonlight's point of view in all of this and considering she shares the memories of Princess Luna, she knew about the Twilight Luminaria encounter. Lightwing saw it all for herself after reading these thoughts and memories.
She then went to focus on the minds of Pinkie Pie and Applejack, seeing what they had to offer. But at the moment, they weren't exactly going through anything serious. Pinkie Pie was thinking about a name that Nightmare Moon's group could have while Applejack was only thinking about this conversation in general. Mew was just thinking about what he could eat next and that was about it. They were completely fine, which meant other minds and emotions had to be read, but something else had to be done before that.
"Alright. Just subtle whispers." Lightwing figured that now was a good opportunity to speak to them without being there. But she would only speak to Twilight Moonlight who was having heavy doubts. With a light voice, Lightwing whispered to Twilight Moonlight, sending her messages that might help her. "Believing in yourself doesn't mean the absence of doubt but the courage to press forward despite it. But maybe you should take it easy for a while, especially in this world."
"Huh?" Twilight Moonlight gasped. She rapidly turned her head, attempting to see where that voice came from. But of course, she couldn't see Lightwing at all. The angel smiled. She left Moonlight with those words which felt like her own whispers.
"Mmrgh!" However, Twilight Moonlight shook her head, reflecting those words away. Her dedication to her mission was strong indeed. But a part of her was genuinely getting tired of this. Chasing Ash and his counterparts around was rather irritating to her, especially when she kept failing. "I need to be elsewhere."
She chose to walk off just to clear her head. Right now, she was powerless since Luna restrained her magic for the meantime. Until her magic rises underneath the Moon, of course. She also couldn't hope to find Ash without her magic, meaning she was stuck here in Manehattan at the moment.
Twilight Moonlight found solitude over at Manehattan's park. It was now just her as she did not take Pinkie Pie's suggestion. Left alone in the park, Twilight Moonlight stood in contemplative silence, the angel's words echoing in her mind. Despite how brief they were, the words of an angel were very effective.
She sat on a weathered bench, surrounded by fluttering flags, colourful posters, and vibrant balloons adorning the park in celebration of the very man she had failed to capture time and again. She saw the face of Ash on some of these posters and flags among other faces, but it was mainly him. Ash's popularity in Equestria was truly significant and was continuing to rise.
Her gaze drifted across the cheerful displays, each item a testament to The Enigma's widespread popularity and influence. Crowds bustled nearby, chatting enthusiastically about his enigmatic persona, his charisma, and the remarkable events he seemed to effortlessly orchestrate.
He had his fans. Plenty of them. Some young, some old and they were debating who Ash could and should defeat. His fame expanded past the ponies and reached some of the Dragons, who, much like Nate, saw him as one of them. He certainly connects well with Dragons.
And then there were the Changelings, who saw Ash as their King for a while before Thorax took over during the Black Crusade. He helped pull the Changelings out of their darkest moment and earned their respect.
As she watched the masses celebrate his existence, Twilight Moonlight's thoughts swirled in turmoil. How could someone she was tasked to capture be so revered by the masses? Doubt gnawed at her determination once more. But there was now one other thing on her mind. Seeing how beloved and popular he was, capturing Ash would definitely leave an impact on Equestria. She wasn't exactly focused on its inhabitants. Only the halves of Prisma.
After all, she didn't wish to see Twilight Sparkle harmed in any way since this was her home, but taking Ash away would count as some form of harm at the end of it all. "How annoying...!" Moonlight placed her hooves in her hair, trying to understand it. But in that moment of contemplation, amidst the bustling park and the celebratory fervour, a realization dawned on her.
Ash Ketchum wasn't merely a target to the world—he was an enigma even to her, a puzzle she hadn't yet deciphered. His allure and influence were undeniable, captivating not just her, but cities, towns and other species. Even if Prisma returns and destroys it all, that love would still be there.
With a renewed sense of purpose and determination, Twilight Moonlight understood that capturing Ash would require more than just skill and strategy. It would demand an understanding of his enigmatic nature, an insight into what made him so revered by those around him.
"If that's how they do it in this universe...then I'll try it out myself." Leaving the park, Twilight Moonlight felt a new determination stirring within her. Since she was in this universe, which went about things differently than her universe, might as well play on their level. Twilight Moonlight wasn't one to give up, even if she had doubts.
Lightwing quickly noticed when reading multiple minds at the same time. And after catching Moonlight's thoughts, her jaw dropped. Her message certainly had an impact on Twilight Moonlight, but she was hoping that Moonlight would refrain from capturing Ash. "Oops. I don't think that's how I should've done it..." She bit her hoof. On the bright side, Twilight Moonlight would take the time to try to understand him.
"Well...I've finished every book there is." Chrysalis, whose eyes were baggy, had read all the romance novels that she managed to buy, carrying them in a cart. She returned to Manehattan, moving by herself the entire time. "And honestly, it was all worth it."
To Chrysalis, every moment of it was absolutely satisfactory. She got to experience so many stories, even if some of them were identical to each other. And after finally finishing them all, Chrysalis wall to the ground, exhausted. She was so into them that she rarely took the time to sleep.
Lightwing kept going, moving away from Manehattan and focusing on the rest of the world. She saw sprawling metropolises aglow with neon lights, where people hurried about their lives, consumed by the ebb and flow of daily routines. Some weren't partaking in the Pokemon Festival and had jobs to attend to. Yet, amid the chaos, she witnessed acts of kindness—a stranger offering a helping hand, a child's laughter echoing through the streets, and friends embracing in joyous reunions.
Lightwing's heart swelled with compassion as she observed the natural world—a lush rainforest teeming with life, majestic mountains reaching towards the sky, and vast oceans shimmering in the sunlight. She looked down to see the view of some Pokemon readjusting the environment just to fix their homes in this Grander World.
Lightwing did have a destination in mind. She wished to see how Ash was doing considering Twilight Moonlight would eventually try a different approach with her.
"Oh?" Just then, something else caught her attention. Not from above, but from the side. Flying next to her was none other than Strident Heart. Yet another angel has joined the fray. "Strident! You're here! Are you assigned to be their Guardian Angel too?"
"Absolutely not. But I am here to observe this world. You're so dedicated to protecting it despite what it brings to the table. You're my friend and I've never doubted you before but this time..."
Lightwing's wings shimmered as she turned to face Strident Heart, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. "What do you mean, this time?" she inquired, her voice carrying a gentle tone laced with concern.
There was a hint of solemnity in Stident's voice as he replied, "I've been watching you, Lightwing. Your unwavering dedication to this world is admirable, but it worries me. I'm seeing all of this through with you to the end, to see if this really is a world worth fighting for."
"You'd better believe that it is!" Lightwing grinned. Eventually, she arrived at Dodge Junction where Ash was currently located at. And over at Dodge Junction, he could be seen with all of his Pokemon, enjoying the Pegalysium delicacies. Ash's Snorlax, Sci-Twi's Munchlax and the Alpha Snorlax that Siebold could be seen next to each other, fighting over who gets the next dish.
"Eugh...I'd be fine if it was everyone else but him."Strident Heart scoffed when looking at Ash.
"Hm? Still bitter about Ash beating you in that trial?" Lightwing teased. Strident Heart grumbled, feeling a little gutted at that remark.
Much like Twilight Moonlight, Strident Heart was going through a moment where she questioned everything surrounding Ash. Whereas Twilight Moonlight wondered why she couldn't capture Ash, Strident Heart questioned why Ash was, in her own eyes, invincible. She brought everything to the table to make the universe against Ash and yet he still won, being free of anything. The only thing that Strident Heart had that could be his downfall was Prisma, but he was missing in action and only one individual has seen him. Spike.
Strident Heart required justice against Ash Ketchum, believing the new world him and the many Jirachi have created brought too many flaws that could lead to an unprecedented disaster.
"Aah...Aaahh...!" However, at that moment, just when they thought they were invisible, someone saw them. Specifically, Sci-Twi saw them. Her arms were shaking while pointing at the two angels in the air who were only Astral Projections.
"What's wrong, Twilight?" Ash asked while stuffing his face.
"Aren't those...angels?!" Once she pointed out that they were angels, Lightwing and Strident collectively shrieked. They have been seen but only by Sci-Twi. This was all thanks to the Arceus Pendant around her neck. It was faintly glowing, allowing her to see the divine beings in their Astral Form.
"Angels?! Oh, is Lightwing here?!" Ash looked to where Sci-Twi was pointing, but alas, he didn't see or hear.
"How can she see us?!" Lightwing bellowed as her trial might be done for now that she was visible to someone.
"It must be that Arceus Pendant...And I believe she can hear us too." Strident Heart observed. That was very much true. Sci-Twi could also hear them talk.
"H-Hello~" Lightwing tried playing it off, waving to the Human Counterpart of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Strident Heart sighed, looking to the side as this was not supposed to be possible in any way.
But once again, the mortals have found a way to defy everything she's ever known. Strident knew that it was only because of that pendant that Sci-Twi could see her, even if she shouldn't be allowed to wear such a thing. Lightwing would descend, getting closer to Sci-Twi which was obviously not what she was supposed to do for this trial. "Ah! Lightwing!"
"That pendant of yours is the reason, is it?"
"Aren't you that angel that defended Ash?" Sci-Twi saw the trial as well, thanks to Strident Heart making it visible for everyone in the universe to see. Even the parallel world since it was a part of Universe 1.
"That's right. A pleasure to meet you." Lightwing greeted, meeting Sci-Twi for the first time.
"Uh...I can't see her." But Ash was left in the dark, as well as his Pokemon. Even Lucario, with his Aura, couldn't see Lightwing at all.
"That thing around your neck is a Divine Item." Lightwing pointed out. "How did you get a hold of it?"
"A Witch gave it to her." Strident Heart said before Sci-Twi could. "Or rather, led her to the path where she could receive it. Arceus-related items were originally outside of our supervision and jurisdiction, but now that they're one, that item is considered a Divine Item."
"It is? And aren't you the one who put Ash on trial?" Sci-Twi questioned.
"I am. I should have won that trial and not only that, you must speak with respect, mortal."
"S-Sorry!" Sci-Twi scrunched her face before attempting to change her words to be rather formal. She believed she had to use her Thees and Thous. "Thy meant to say...I believe you're the angel who attempted to umm..Thou..."
"It's fine, it's fine. Talk however you want!" Lightwing was on the more relaxed side. "It's your free will after all."
"Ah. Okay." Sci-Twi was relieved to hear that.
"When you officially become the Guardian Angel of this world, Lightwing, you'll have to deal with that item on her neck."
"My pendant? But it was given to me." She would hold onto her pendant as that was being targeted.
"Now that it is classified as a Divine Item, unless it was given to you by a Divine Being, you are not eligible to wield it." Strident Heart laid out some rules for Sci-Twi. "Not only that but those shards you are carrying. They are classified as Divine Items as well. You won't be holding them any longer. That goes for the others that are searching for them."
"B-But...the shards come from the past. Doesn't that mean they don't count?" Sci-Twi questioned. She had a point. They came from 200 years in the past, before the universal merge.
"I'm afraid she has a point" Lightwing frowned. "It's a rule we've had in this universe before it merged with the Pokemon World. As an angel, I have to follow those rules that have been laid out. But...When I become your Guardian Angel, maybe I can work around it."
"I think not." Strident Heart shook her head. "Even if you were to speak to our higher-ups, I doubt they will change your mind. Mortals have never been allowed to wield such power. Twilight Sparkle doesn't even have a clue as to what these shards can do and the potential her pendant brings."
"Mmm..." Sci-Twi grumbled feeling attacked at that moment.
"It's alright." But Lightwing would be there to comfort her. "It's a new universe so things will be rather rocky and will take time to adjust. When I become your Guardian Angel, I promise the best for you." Those words brought a smile to Sci-Twi's face. Not only that, but Lightwing had the most comforting aura. It was so serene and beautiful that it brought peace to her soul.
Meanwhile, Ash could only move his head around back and forth, generally confused by what he was seeing. If only he could see. Siebold and Bertha had the same reaction as him.
"Hah..." Strident Heart sighed. But seeing as Lightwing was her best friend, she would put some faith in her. "You'd better be right about this, Lightwing."
"Um, before you leave. Do you think you could tell me what else I can do with this pendant?"
"Mmm...Aah..." But at that moment, the rules hit Lightwing, making her grimace. "Apologies. But until I become your Guardian Angel, I'm disclosed from sharing any Divine Usage information with you. My deepest apologies!"
"It's fine. Thanks anyway."
"Right. I came to check on Ash, but he seems to be doing fine as always. I think leaving him alone is for the best."
"Mhm." Sci-Twi could agree with the angels on that before then looking at the confused Ash Ketchum.
Ash scratched his hair while pointing at himself. Clearly, Sci-Twi was referring to him in some way, when it was really Lightwing. The two Angels were about to depart as Lightwing would continue her trial. But staying behind for a little while was Strident Heart, who looked back to gaze at Ash.
"Live your life, Ash Ketchum. Eventually, true justice will appear." Strident Heart vowed it. That was the one thing she wished to see out of everything thus far. Simple justice.
But Lightwing was worried that Strident Heart's natural flow of justice was being obscured all because of her determination to punish Ash. She looked back at her fellow angel with a worried expression. But she did not fear the worst. What did she have to fear, honestly?
Equestria. The Dragon Lands. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
"Oh yeah. This is much better." Wearing the Cosmic Cloak that Twilight made for him was Nate. Once he put it on, not only did it look good on him, but just as Twilight intended, it held the plasma back, covering it. He would flap the cape as it majestically blew with the wind.
"Works just as expected. Since the plasma is on a small scale, it was easy to make a cloak that can block it without wasting too much magic." Twilight explained."If only Rift Magic didn't need so much magic for usage.
"Thanks, Twilight! Now I don't have to worry about electrocuting or frying anyone. Right, Lucas?" To demonstrate, he would casually pat Lucas on the back and nothing occurred.
"Well, I was immune from the start, but sure." Lucas shrugged before a shining grin met his face. Something was on his mind that now that Nate wasn't a walking plasma. "Now let's test out your plasma!"
"Yeaaaah!" Nate was on the same page, holding his finger up. Surprisingly, he managed to generate plasma in his finger. He's had enough time to understand what he had in his possession. "I've been getting used to it, so this'll be fun!"
"Absolutely not!" Twilight bellowed, making the two of them flinch and grimace. "Surely, you two know how powerful Plasma is?!"
"Right, right, we know," Lucas said, trying to pacify Twilight's concerns. "But come on. Put some trust in him. Nate's not one to slip-up so easily. We'll be careful, promise."
Twilight hesitated, looking between the eager faces of Nate and Lucas. "Alright, but just a small demonstration. And I mean it—small. I put that cloak around you for a reason, Nate. You're supposed to keep it away from harming anyone else."
Nate nodded enthusiastically, a mischievous glint in his eye. He concentrated, a small orb of vibrant, crackling plasma forming at his fingertip. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it soaring upward, the ball arcing gracefully before dissipating harmlessly into the sky, leaving a trail of sparkles in its wake.
"Hm. Alright then." Twilight was slightly impressed. "But still. This thing is new to you to, Nate. It forced you into our universe, changed your appearance so that others perceive you differently and it made you a walking hazard." Twilight sighed, slightly relieved but still cautious. "I suppose you have a better handle on it since you've been with it for a little while. But remember, restraint is key. We don't want any unexpected accidents."
"Don't worry about it. I'll be fine. Plus, I heard Lucas can manipulate space now, so it's only fair that I get this." With a smirk, Nate snapped his fingers and created a flicker of plasma. Lucas joined him by also snapping his fingers and creating a purple flicker of space particles.
"This better not be responsible for bringing Prisma or I swear to Arceus..." Twilight closed her eyes as one of them was already twitching. First Lucas and now Nate. Dealing with these two felt like dealing with two Ashes at the same time. Now she was truly starting to see the similarities between them.
"Isn't this the time you open up one of those gateways?" Ember spoke.
"Oh, right, right. We didn't get one yesterday or today as of yet. Lucas, you know what we need to do."
"You got it. I've been waiting for this." Lucas cracked his fingers, gearing himself up. "You're gonna love this, Nate."
"If you're gonna open it now, hear me out!" Naturally, the Dragons had their choices. A plethora of them started blabbering and hollering to Lucas before he could even hold his arms out. The Trainer from Sinnoh was bombarded with multiple requests yet again.
"Hush!" But silencing them all was Ember. As the Dragon Lord, she could do so but she also had a strong sense of command that she gets from her father. "I'll say where he'll open the gateway to. The Dragon Lands never had a gateway, even before our worlds came together. So, there's one place I'd like you connect us to."
"Sure. Say the word."
"As Dragon Trainers, we want to be better than before. And we've heard here and there that there are some great places to visit. But the one place we think we'll do great at is Opelucid City."
"Oh, where Drayden is. Good choice, good choice." Nate was cool with that. He himself knew that Drayden was a great Dragon Trainer.
"Really? I thought it was going to be that one Gym in Galar?" Another Dragon uttered, having a completely different Gym in mind.
"I thought you were going for that Lance guy." Another Dragon thought about Lance instead, but Lance didn't have a Gym since he was an Elite 4 Member. Even then, the Elite 4 wasn't the place to get Dragon Training at all.
"Blackthorn City is a place where we train Dragon Trainers." Clair pointed out. "You could always try your claw at that."
"Oh, right, right. Mmm...But Unova apparently has a Dragon Village somewhere out there? And that's where Kyurem is." Ember crossed her arms as she already knew which region was the best choice. "I've made up by mind. Make it Opelucid City."
"Opelucid it is!" Lucas was going for Opelucid. With his arms out and Twilight right behind him, the duo were ready to open up yet another gateway in this Grander World.
Nate would also watch how this would all play out. He witnessed how a cosmic energy flew out of Lucas's hands and soon formed into a circular portal. A gateway. But it wasn't a true Rift Gateway without the power of the Rift. Out of Twilight's Horn, Rift Magic was shot, entering Lucas's body. His body was soon enveloped in a cosmic aura that would fuel the portal right in front of him.
The visage of Opelucid City could be seen appearing, showing the Opelucid Gym. And just like that, a new gateway was made. The gateway to Opelucid City. And after finishing it, Lucas, whose body would jitter and wobble, was about to fall over once more, feeling drained.
"Oh, man! Lucas are you alright?!" Nate went to catch Lucas and at that moment, the plasma within him would react. Twilight watched as the plasma from Nate surrounded Lucas's body and just like before, it didn't cause any harm to him. Instead, something else occurred.
The plasma cushioned it all. The perplexed feeling that Lucas received was being erased. Lucas blinked as he was no longer feeling the urge to fall over. Instead, he was revitalized.
"Hey..." Lucas stood up tall, back to how he was. "I'm better already."
"Nate? Did your plasma heal him?" Twilight questioned.
"Uh...I don't know." But Nate did it unconsciously. The plasma reacted on its own.
"Oooh...!" At that moment, Twilight made a wonderful discovery that made her eyes sparkle and her mane flare. There it was. The ticket to quicker gateways. "That's it! Oh, that's perfect!"
"What? What is it?" Spike and Ember collectively asked.
"Glad we met you, Nate! Really glad!" Twilight got all giddy. "Your Plasma helped you enter our world. So obviously, it has gateway-like properties as well. And that same plasma helped heal Lucas, and he was already immune to it from the start. As much as I'm not fond of the Prisma connection and what that might do, this is a huge benefit."
"Really?" Nate looked at his hands, moving his fingers around a bit to generate some plasma flickers. "I guess that makes sense."
"Wait. Doesn't that mean he can do it over and over again?" Realizing this was the Dragon Garble. From what Twilight was saying, they found someone to heal Lucas so he could keep going. "Oh, great!"
"Hey, he's right!" The other Dragons realized. Once this was revealed to them, those requests were about to come flooding in once more now that Lucas was back to full strength."Okay, now do Galar!"
"Try Dragon Village next!" Back to square one. These questions were coming back to bombard Lucas, giving him no time to rest.
"Thanks, Nate..." Lucas was glad that Nate healed him, but upset since he was being flooded with requests yet again.
"You two!" Twilight would suddenly pull the two of them close to each other, having a golden opportunity. "We can cover a lot of ground with this. There'll be a Gateway Boom in no time, but they obviously have to be in different areas."
With Nate onboard, Lucas could open multiple gateways in one day without needing to fall over, drained. Obviously, this was related to Prisma in some way, but this would be the one thing from Prisma that could with a strong benefit.
Appearing above the Dragon Lands as Astral Projections were Lightwing and Strident Heart. Lightwing was still undergoing her trial that would make her Earth's official Guardian Angel. Lightwing showed up to see how things were going for Twilight Sparkle, who was another factor in these two worlds becoming one. Lightwing saw and heard everything, seeing that there were no minds to read in this instance, aside from maybe how Lucas thought about the gateway thing.
While he was glad to be helping create new gateways, he was sort of missing out on the Pokemon Festival. But that was something that Lightwing didn't need to deal with. Not when Lucas was surrounded by good friends who can provide that enjoyment.
"They seem to be doing well," Lightwing observed. "I think everything is fine here."
"Not quite..." Strident Heart thought otherwise, flying to the west of the Dragon Lands for one specific sight. She was going straight for the Dragon Matter. Thanks to the speed of the angels, they were able to reach the west fairly quickly. In just a few seconds. "Back in Manehattan, you did not focus on the two forms of Matter that recently appeared."
"Oh, right. Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter. Pretty impressive for them to make something like that, right?" Lightwing grinned before gazing upon the new form of matter in the universe. After causing a ruckus in the Dragon Lands, it went back to sitting there, still trying to find its place.
"Impressive, yes. But it's wrong. For starters, the Dragon Matter is Prisma's creation. No one here can even grasp it. Not only that, but it's forced it and the Fairy Matter have been attempting to readjust themselves to the universe. Do you not see the issue here?"
"Well...What makes it so different from something like Anti-Matter?" But Lightwing saw the other side to it. "It's a new type of matter that we've never seen before. Let's see how it adjusts to this universe and see what comes from it. And if things go wrong, we'll probably intervene."
"Most definitely. Mortals shouldn't be able to change the natural order of the universe in such a way. First Ash and now this? But this isn't the only rising issue. Perhaps there is someone else you should turn your attention to, Lightwing."
"Hm? Who?"
Unova. The Harmonia Kingdom. Afternoon.
The Harmonia Kingdom. Home to Ghetsis and Team Plasma after making a deal with the Rift. This kingdom has been obscured from the rest of the world for the longest, meaning it was free to grow and advance. Its residents were the people of the past who were frozen and freed, now finding a new home under the rule of Ghetsis.
Because of this, the kingdom was now a peculiar blend of technology and ancient wisdom. Because some of these people from the past had plenty of knowledge that would be hard to find in the history books, it brought great value to Team Plasma. And with it, allowed some of the residents to work for Team Plasma. The harmony within Harmonia was a facade to many, even if ponies such as Princess Luna had a good feeling that it was out there somewhere.
Not to Lightwing and Strident Heart, who could easily enter and see it. This is where Strident Heart brought Lightwing after leaving the Dragon Lands. Their Astral Projections broke through the Cosmic Barrier as they would come to oversee this kingdom, watching how much it has grown in just a short time.
As Lightwing and Strident Heart traversed the Cosmic Barrier, they beheld the potential of Harmonia, which could become something bigger in the future. It was slowly becoming a tapestry of ancient wisdom and futuristic innovation. But the main place they were heading for was Ghetsis' throne room.
Guided by their Astral Projections, they navigated the intricate pathways of Harmonia until they reached the heart of the kingdom—the grandiose throne room of Ghetsis. The room itself was a testament to the kingdom's duality, adorned with artefacts of bygone eras and cutting-edge technology, all reflecting the ambitions of its ruler.
Ghetsis, a figure of imposing presence, sat upon the throne, an dark aura surrounding him. As Lightwing and Strident Heart materialized within the chamber, they felt the weight of Ghetsis's scrutiny, a subtle yet profound assessment of their presence.
"While I'm watchful of Ash Ketchum and his actions, there is another individual who we all must keep our eyes on." Strident Heart said when looking at the sinister Ghetsis.
"Right...Ghetsis." Lightwing slowly nodded her head. This was the one thing Lighwing and Strident Hear could agree on. As Angels, they could see evil from a mile away. "He's been stopped a few times, but he keeps going."
"He's a Human who can most definitely meddle in divine affairs. His goal isn't to stop at Earth, of course. Much like the Former Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta, the entire universe and beyond is his goal and he's avoided losing everything he's created or stolen. What will you do when you become the Guardian Angel of this world?"
"Well...For Ghetsis, I'm not sure." Lightwing grumbled. "I've never dealt with someone like him. But I do know that I want to keep this world safe and Ghetsis won't ever let that happen. But obviously, he's more dangerous than Ash. You have to agree with me on that."
"Of course I do. But both of them are dangerous in their own ways." Strident Heart stayed adamant. "Ash Ketchum is dangerous on...I wouldn't say accidental level, but even I'm not sure what it is. But Ghetsis is dangerous for obvious reasons. And if they things continue to go like this for both of them, things might go their way forever."
"And why should I stop?" Ghetsis said with a devious smirk.
"?!" At that moment, Lightwing and Strident Heart collectively gasped. They were heard by Ghetsis, who knew they were there. Just like how Sci-Twi could hear them, so could Ghetsis. But he didn't have a specific item on him. His crimson eyes went up, locking onto the angels.
"H-He can hear us too?!" Lightwing shuddered while Strident Heart growled. "How?!"
"You can thank the Rift for that... Ghetsis got off his throne, stabbing his cane through the floor. "How lucky am I to have angels in my presence?" Ghetsis's voice echoed with a chilling confidence, his gaze fixated on Lightwing and Strident Heart, relishing their shock. His demeanor exuded an unsettling blend of arrogance and power, a dangerous combination that sent shivers down their incorporeal forms.
"You heard everything, didn't you? You vile mortal...!" Strident Heart grizzled her teeth.
"Hmph. Very soon, I won't be mortal. Eventually, I'll be in the realm of the immortals. I will enter a whole new world while ruling the one I leave behind. I would be offended by you comparing me to Ash Ketchum...But he's a formidable foe."
"Both of you are to receive your comeuppance. For you, Ghetsis. There is a special punishment waiting for you. Whether during your end or when you are finally brought to justice."
"Hm-hm. As if that's going to happen. After all, I was watching the trial that you gave to Ash Ketchum. You did an excellent job. A shame you lost. But if you had won, I'll admit, I wouldn't have the enjoyment of defeating him myself." Ghetsis cackled, finding the entire Cosmic Trial to be absolutely humorous. "But of course...it's not just your skills to cast judgement that are impressive. Now that you're here, a new level of power can come to me."
"!" Strident Heart quickly realized what Ghetsis was talking about. Ghetsis will do anything to gain more power if it means his goal of ruling everything gets even closer. And the Angels were no exception. "Lightwing! We need to leave. Now!"
But right before that, the angels were struck by a Dark Aura infused with Rift Magic that affected even their Astral Projections. Caught off guard by the sudden assault, Strident Heart and Lightwing staggered, their astral forms flickering as the dark aura intertwined with their essence. Their connection to the celestial plane wavered under the potent onslaught of Rift Magic that was being heavily influenced by Dark Aura. Because Rift Energy was on the same level as Divine Magic, it was a perfect match.
Ghetsis smiled as he took the time to manipulate the area around him, buying time by chatting with the angels. "Lightwing, brace yourself!" Strident Heart's voice resonated with urgency as she struggled against the invasive forces. With a concerted effort, she summoned a protective barrier, attempting to shield them from further corruption.
The dark aura, however, persisted, its tendrils snaking around them like malevolent serpents. Lightwing concentrated, channelling her celestial energies to counteract the sinister influence, trying to create a sanctuary within their astral projection, a realm immune to the dark aura's grasp.
"Don't be mistaken. I'm not sure I can absorb your power as of yet. Before I can confirm that, I'll have to use your divine power in a different way. Perhaps extraction can work." Ghetsis pondered what he was going to do with this Divine Power once he gets his hands on it.
"You...You won't get your hands on such power!" Strident Heart's eyes would flare as a divine light flared out of her body. With plenty of might, she managed to pierce through the darkness. Lightwing managed to do the same as both of their celestial powers resonated in tandem, creating a radiant surge that pushed back against the encroaching darkness.
In a burst of blinding light, the dark aura dispersed, leaving behind a lingering echo of its malevolent presence. Strident Heart and Lightwing, their astral forms weary but intact, locked gazes, their determination unbroken. However, they were very much intimidated by what Ghetsis had just pulled off. They couldn't be here and they certainly couldn't intervene since they were not allowed to do so. Quickly, they had to flee from here.
"You won't escape with that power up for grabs!" But Ghetsis refused to let them both leave with such power. With his arm out, Ghetsis unleashed a stream of darkness with Rift Particles around it, attempting to capture them.
Strident Heart and Lightwing felt the malevolent energy surging toward them, threatening to ensnare their astral forms. Knowing the stakes, they focused their remaining strength on evading Ghetsis's assault and leaving the Harmonia Kingdom entirely.
In a synchronized movement, they evaded the dark stream, manoeuvring swiftly through the celestial expanse. However, Ghetsis's dark magic was relentless, twisting and curving to pursue them with a voracious hunger. He used the power of the Rift to swap spaces, targeting Lightwing in time. Right as Lightwing was about to exit the throne room, she was caught.
"Lightwing!" Strident Heart gasped as her body already left the throne room. Ghetsis cackled, pulling Lightwing in. The angel groaned and squirmed as the darkness around her was absolutely dreadful in contrast to her hopeful magic.
"I-I'm not as powerful as an Astral Projection...I can't move..." Lightwing was lacking the strength to break out of such a grip.
Strident Heart, horrified by the sight, desperately sought a way to intervene. She strained against the limitations of the Astral Plane, attempting to bridge the gap between their realms, but she was constrained by the rules governing their celestial existence.
"Lightwing, hold on!" Strident Heart's voice quivered with urgency, her celestial essence pulsating with frustration. But she noticed that it was getting weaker. Ghetsis was diminishing this form of hers, slowing down her movements.
Ghetsis, revelling in his triumph, tightened his grip on Lightwing, the darkness suffocating her celestial form. The rift-infused power ensnared her, rendering her unable to muster the strength needed to break free.
Lightwing, her essence dimming within the oppressive darkness, fought against the overwhelming force, her determination flickering like a fading star. "Strident Heart, don't... don't risk yourself... for me. If he gets you too..."
Strident Heart couldn't risk herself being captured. She already made it this far out of the throne room, so it would be a waste to be caught as well. She wished to save her best friend, but for now, she had to retreat.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Strident Heart gritted her ethereal teeth, torn between the desire to rescue her friend and to bring justice down to Ghetsis. As much as her heart ached to intervene directly, she knew the risks were too great.
But she wouldn't abandon Lightwing. Not for a moment. Right now, Strident Heart was powerless and unable to do anything in this form.
Reluctantly, Strident Heart severed her connection to the physical realm, her astral form receding from the throne room and hurtling back toward the sanctuary of the Ambrosial Plane. The ache of leaving her friend behind gnawed at her celestial essence, but she knew that staying would only jeopardize both of them.
"Hmph. I can trust she'll be back soon. The fact that you two entered my kingdom despite the barrier is troublesome. I'll have to give it an upgrade. And you are to be our Guardian Angel correct?" Ghetsis chuckled as she held Lightwing by the neck, dangling her. He could even hold her in this Astral Form.
"I'll be everyone's guardian angel...but not yours...!" Lightwing said with a serious face. "Whatever you wish to get out of me, won't happen. You don't understand an angel."
"We'll see about that." Ghetsis scoffed. "In fact, before I try something out with you, perhaps, you have enough Light Energy for Necrozma. Yes, most likely."
"!" Those words struck fear into Lightwing's heart. Hearing Necrozma being brought up was terrifying. The Pokemon that can absorb seemingly anything. And now, an angel was about to be his next target. Ghetsis obviously wanted the power for himself, but he was not opposed to giving it to Necrozma, whom he saw great potential in as well.
An Angel was now in the clutches of Ghetsis. What's worse, it was the soon-to-be Guardian Angel of Earth. Ghetsis was clever to bide his time, doing little to nothing outside of his Kingdom. All of his efforts went to growing his kingdom and making it the best that it could be. And with Lightwing in his disposal, he could use the Divine Magic within, if he could reach it.
Lightwing, the soon-to-be Guardian Angel of the world has been captured by Ghetsis. She was still in her Astral Form which should not be touched at all. And yet, Ghetsis could touch her without any issues. With Strident Heart fleeing to prevent Ghetsis from having two angels, she would make her way back to the Ambrosial Plane to spread the news.
Encasing Lightwing in the Dark Aura, the Ruler of the Harmonia Kingdom carried her off to Colress's lab, where the Divine Magic within her could be extracted for personal gain.
"Impressive. You actually managed to catch an angel. Here I thought I'd never see one until my end." said Colresss as Lightwing was placed down on a large table. As Lightwing lay on the table, her luminous form struggled against the dark aura imprisoning her. Her ethereal wings quivered, emitting faint, flickering glows, a silent testament to her resilience despite being ensnared.
Colress leaned over her, his eyes glittering with a covetous gleam. He extended his hand, cautiously reaching into the shimmering essence enveloping Lightwing. The energy sizzled and crackled against his skin, yet he persisted, undeterred by the searing sensation.
"Ooh! So this is Divine Magic. Such extraordinary power," Colress murmured, his voice tinged with a mix of fascination and avarice. "The essence of an angel, the very embodiment of celestial energy. Lord Ghetsis, you've truly outdone yourself this time."
Ghetsis, standing nearby, wore an insidious smirk. "Not my best feat, honestly. She was already weakened by being in this form. But the real feat will be extracting and harnessing this divine magic. However, before that...that other angel is off to share this. Since they're the only ones who can pass through the cosmic barrier, she could send more angels here and that would ruin everything. Colress. We will be crafting a stronger barrier than before."
Colress nodded, his mind already abuzz with plans. "Oh, I'm already on it. And I have a good feeling that her magic can help make a better barrier than before. I'll get to work right away." Team Plasma's scientist wouldn't waste any more time. He was prepared to extract the magic from within.
The Angel was powerless in this situation. And this wouldn't be the end of it. Ghetsis also had plans to feed her magic to Necrozma. He already suspected that an angel could have tremendous levels of light.
"Once it's extracted out of you, it's off to Necrozma. And while you're here, perhaps my subjects should know about your existence. They'll be relieved to know that they have an angel here." Ghetsis walked off, planning to use Lightwing's presence here for other gains.
"Now then. How do I do this?" Colress pondered. "You look like a pony...Perhaps the Pony-Capturing Poke Ball I made would work. Perhaps. Maybe not during this state. As for taking out your Divine Magic, this is what Rift Items are for." Colress came prepared, having a collection of Rift Objects at the ready. He's spent a lot of time working on them, mastering his craft.
On the items laid many Rift Items that served different purposes. Colress surveyed the array of Rift Items with a meticulous eye, each one crafted with precision and purpose. He mused aloud, his voice tinged with a scientific curiosity and a hint of ominous intent.
"Now that I think about it...the Pony-Capturing Poke Ball might serve as a conduit, a containment vessel for celestial energy," He pondered, eyeing Lightwing's ethereal form with a calculating gaze. "If it breaks, that's fine. I have multiple in store."
Colress went with the Poke Ball first, seeing what could come from it. The scientist lobbed the ball, sending it straight for her Astral Form. However, the second it got close, the Poke Ball would freeze. And at that moment, it would combust. The Divine Power around Lightwing may be being held by the Dark Aura, but it was still radiating enough power to affect whatever else came close to it.
"Hm." Colress let out a quick nod. "Those Poke Balls are made out of Dynasite as well. Good to know that they're not strong enough. Not yet at least. With your magic, I could make something stronger."
Now, Colress could finally focus on the power of the Rift. His fingers hovered over an assortment of Rift Objects, each emitting a faint, otherworldly hum. Among them, a shimmering crystal radiated a serene glow, hinting at an untapped potential.
"This Crystal of Convergence," Colress murmured, his gaze fixated on the softly pulsating gem. "It holds the ability to channel and stabilize other energies. I did something similar to this when I crafted that Protean Gauntlet. This might be the ticket. Hope you're ready."
"C-Can't we just...talk?" A nervous Lightwing grinned, trying to put a stop to this. "I mean, I'm sure you've always wanted to see an angel, right? You've heard of one, right?"
"Mmm. I'm always more of a science man. Never had time for angels. If anything, I always saw them as just another thing in life to tackle once I move up the ranks of science." With a decisive gesture, Colress selected the crystal, holding it aloft as its iridescence intensified, resonating with the cosmic aura permeating the room. He moved toward Lightwing, his intentions clear as he attempted to align the crystal's frequencies with the essence of the captive angel.
"Let's see..." he muttered, his focus intense as he aimed to siphon the divine magic while containing it within the crystal's harmonizing field. Lightwing closed her eyes, bracing herself for the worst.
The Angel felt an uncomfortable sensation as her magical energy was seen. The crystal was actually managing to grab a hold of it. It appeared as a beautiful golden sparkle that resembled a star. It began gravitating towards the crystal as a grin graced Colress's face. However, that's where it ended. Colress only managed to grab a small bit of it as the crystal was aggressively shaking in his hand.
The scientist gasped as once the piece of light entered the crystal, it sent a shock to his arm, prompting him to stop. The crystal was aggressively vibrating just trying to contain this one piece of light. It amazed Colress how this small piece could cause such a reaction. "Ooh...Oh, looks like that's it. That is as much as it can absorb. For now. But this is excellent, just look at this..."
Colress was getting giddy just thinking about the potential this could bring. If just one piece of light the size of a toothpick could be this strong, then the rest of Lightwing's magic could be astronomical. Now, it was time to test it out and the first objective was forming a stronger barrier.
Meanwhile, in Ghetsis's twisted plot, the announcement of Lightwing's presence to his subjects sent ripples through the Kingdom of Harmonia. Lightwing, despite being restrained and weakened, had the ability to hear incredibly well. She could hear past Colress' lab thanks to the perk of being an angel and she immediately listened in on Ghetsis' voice.
She heard him announce it all to his subjects but in his own vision. He described Lightwing's presence here as a benefit to the Harmonia Kingdom. After all, what better guardian is there than an angel? Whispers of an angel in the kingdom spread like wildfire among the populace, evoking a spectrum of reactions from fear to awe. Yet, unbeknownst to Ghetsis, some hearts stirred with a flicker of compassion at the plight of this celestial being. The fear came from the fact that some people just weren't ready for angels.
But that didn't matter to Ghetsis. As long as they knew, that was all that mattered. After giving his speech, he looked up at the barrier, waiting for it to be fortified with a new power. Colress emptied the crystal, dropping the piece of light into the device that powers the barrier, adding a brand new element.
The barrier was already being protected by Ghetsis' Rift Magic and now it would be joined by another power. The two cosmic forces combined, immediately reacting to the barrier.
The fusion of the Rift Magic and the celestial energy from Lightwing's essence sparked a luminescent reaction. A surge of iridescent waves rippled across the barrier, weaving a complex web of intertwining energies. For a moment, it crackled with an otherworldly brilliance, casting prismatic hues that danced across the sky, captivating those who dared to look upon it.
Ghetsis observed the barrier with a cold satisfaction, a twisted smirk playing at the corners of his lips. To the unsuspecting eye, it appeared impenetrable, an impervious shield bolstered by formidable forces. The people, stirred by fear and wonder, gazed at the spectacle above.
The barrier had been fortified, gaining a Divine Strength to it. And combined with the Rift Energy, it created something new. Ghetsis was very much pleased by this. "Excellent. This will do well to feed Necrozma. Contact Daybreaker immediately." He turned to face one of his grunts, who nodded in understanding.
Lightwing could only lie there and wait for help in some way. And while lying there, she would think to herself, knowing something that Colress didn't. "This isn't good...I can't be a guardian angel at this rate. But...with my wellbeing in danger, it's not just Strident that'll feel it. I've made my connection to the Earth after I was selected to be its guardian. I just hope it reaches everyone else. But at this rate...
Alola. The Mysterious Island.
It was back to that very island that Daybreaker's group found themselves trapped on for a few days. Daybreaker once again reappeared with that same group but with her ship and more backup. She wasn't done with this island, considering she made a staggering discovery.
"Why did we have to come back here...?" The Aura Vampire Gardevoir grumbled.
"Excuse me, your majesty? What makes this place so special in the first place? I don't see that much light." Spitfire, leader of Daybreaker's aerial forces, questioned. No one was really seeing an abundance of light for Necrozma to absorb.
"We met someone here who was of great help. He helped free Necrozma of those diamonds. And apparently, he comes from that world that Prisma used to live in. I didn't care too much for it, but now I most certainly do. We might have found a goldmine for Necrozma." Daybreaker led them to the secret lab hidden on this island.
She once again gained access to the entrance which was cleverly disguised by the nature of this island. As an order, some of Daybreaker's forces would stay behind. They would guard the outside, even if no one else could enter this strange island since it was unknown. That wouldn't stop Daybreaker from being cautious.
Gardevoir, usually composed and elegant, appeared visibly uneasy, her stolen aura pulsating with discomfort. She's been like this for a while anyways. "I despise this place. It always feels like it drains my aura," she murmured, casting wary glances around. "I haven't even gotten a good fill in so long."
However, Daybreaker ignored the complaints, her focus fixated on a distant structure partially hidden by the island's foliage. The lab was still the same as they left it. Absolutely ruined. But not abandoned.
Waiting for them was someone else. The last time they were here, something from the walls revealed itself. The walls began to open up. Behind these walls as a pillar that was made out of an unidentified metal. It stood there, touching the top of the secret area while having a red orb in the middle.
Spitfire, Tempest Shadow and all the other ponies widened their eyes at this gargantuan pillar. The orb in the middle appeared to be looking at them. It didn't just look like an orb, but also an eye.
"Queen Daybreaker. You actually returned."It also spoke. This was the individual that Daybreaker brought who her previous group met when first appearing here.
"I keep my promises. I told you I'd come back professor, as long as you can repay your offer." Daybreaker replied.
"A Professor? Like a Pokemon Professor?" Tempest Shadow uttered. It would make sense that this was the home of a Pokemon Professor. But not of this universe.
"Your world, by all lengths and breaths, had the most amount of light possible. You said that it makes this world and any other look frail in comparison."
"That's right. Even though your Necrozma has the highest level of hunger out there, in my world, even the tiniest bit of light could bring it to its true form. Ultra Necrozma."
"Ultra Necrozma?" Some of the ponies here said. This was their first time hearing about Ultra Necrozma. There was something beyond this Necrozma and apparently, in Prisma's world, the smallest light could unleash that form.
"Enough days have passed. I can give you a fragment of light." This entire time, Daybreaker and the Professor made a deal that took some time to prepare. "In exchange, you will keep your end of the bargain and help revive Prisma."
"Right, right. But why would want to revive someone like him? Based on what I've heard, even I wouldn't enjoy being around him." Daybreaker questioned, curious as to why the Professor wanted Prisma back.
"I hate Prisma. More than anything and anyone. Because of him, my world was lost and is only now returning in small instances. But there is one thing I must admit. I was also envious of his power. The type of power he held was tremendous. He also had the unique ability to connect to Dragons more than any other type. I failed to receive it before my world came to an end. Help in his revival so I can take what he possesses myself."
"We'll do our best. Getting a hold of Ash Ketchum is going to be a difficult task though, but we'll make it work somehow. And I'll need Necrozma at his best." The small bit of light was passed over, emerging from the red orb. Necrozma hovered slowly, embracing the light that came his way. And once it entered him, Necrozma got a taste of the world Prisma once had.
Necrozma felt it all and it was marvellous. It was similar to the Sea Temple Crystals, in which just one bit of it could display a high level of enjoyment for the Prism Pokemon. Necrozma's body could be seen flaring with a grandiose aura, confirming that he had a great fill.
"This was just one..." Spitfire was a bit intimidated by this, removing her glasses. "Is it really that goo?"
"It will take a few more days for me to generate another one. I have to tap into the power of this world to even get a small piece of it. In my state, I can't do it quickly enough." The Professor explained. In reality, he was tapping into the power of the World to generate just a bit of light. "The locations from my lost world are the only ones I can properly pull power from but it is not enough."
"That's fine. All we have to do is know the names of these places and I'll see what I can do. This whole Prisma thing isn't so bad after all, I suppose." Daybreaker was rather pleased with what she was seeing. "Ultra Necrozma is the end goal of all of this and this might be instrumental to reaching that form."
"So, is that what we have to do next? Capture Ash Ketchum?" Tempest Shadow questioned.
"Tall order, yes. It won't be easy getting to him." Daybreaker suspected as much.
"How do we even approach someone like him? He's not just an average trainer." Spitfire pointed out as she couldn't see an optimal way to get to him.
"It's not just him. Apparently, there are 9 others. If we can't get him, we can get the other 9. But I can imagine it won't be easy either since they're all similar to him." Daybreaker was very much aware of all 10 of Prisma's halves and she already knew what to expect. "Ghetsis will be rather jealous if we pull it off, honestly."
The Professor, having observed the group's interactions, chimed in with a hint of caution in his voice. "Direct confrontation won't work. We'll need a more subtle approach, perhaps an offer he can't refuse or a situation that compels his involvement."
"Tell me about it." Tempest Shadow groaned. "That whole Sea Temple debacle explains it all. I say we try again at that temple."
"Mmm. No way." Spitfire shut that down immediately. "I was not a fan of that."
"It isn't just the only way. There are two Pokemon who matter just as much. Both possess astronomical levels of Light. Solgaleo and Lunala."
"Who?" Daybreaker was hearing about them for the first time. The names of these Pokemon weren't familiar to her at all.
"It should be the same in this world. After all, this is the Alola Region. If Necrozma can get a hold of these two Pokemon, then he can get closer to satisfying his hunger and will continue to live on."
"Go on." Daybreaker was ready to hear everything she could from the Professor.
"As the Pokemon Professor of my world, I know a lot about Necrozma. Prisma encountered one as well in the past and defeated it. But clearly, this one is different from the one Prisma took on. Solgaleo and Lunala were the two Pokemon it absorbed to reach its ultimate and final form. That goes for all other Necrozma. Much like how a Spoink needs to keep bouncing to live, Necrozma needs all the light it can get to survive and those two Pokemon have always been its biggest targets."
"Where are they then?" Spitfire asked. Since these two were so special, she figured they had to be Legendary Pokemon. By that logic, they would have specific locations that only they can be found in.
"You won't find these Legendary Pokemon out in the open. Just like Dialga and Palkia, they don't stay in one place. As for the ones in this world...I haven't the faintest clue where they might be. But if you can somehow find them, then that will do a great service to Necrozma."
"Excellent. Love to hear it." Daybreaker smiled. "I have to thank Malamar for blocking Absol's ability to sense danger. Wherever we strike, the only way Absol will know is by the news. But it'll be too late. Tempest. I need you to contact Hunter J and see what she can do about the Solgaleo and Lunala thing."
"Yes' ma'am!" Spitfire was on it. Hunter J was the Pokemon expert of the group so she could easily look into Solgaleo and Lunala.
"How do you feel, Necrozma?" Daybreaker wanted to know how Necrozma was feeling after getting such a good snack. The Prism Pokemon was rather pleased. Still unsatisfied but pleased. If this is what he could obtain in just small fragments, Necrozma was looking forward to what else could come from this.
"Well, we're getting somewhere good. Not since the time we invaded the Sea Temple has Necrozma had such a good meal. Let's keep this up, okay? We have 5 days until we return to our world." Daybreaker walked off, leaving the Pokemon Professor. "Gardevoir. This is your universe, so you don't have to worry about the gateway bringing you back. I need you to do something for me."
"Please, please, please say it involves Aura..." Gardevoir was genuinely praying for the chance to absorb more Aura. She was hoping that is what Daybreaker was about to spout out.
"Oh, but it does. You went for Ash because of his tremendous level of Aura. How about the others? There are 9 of him out there in the world and-"
"Nine?! That's fine! I can track them all down! I'll take their Auras, for sure!" Gardevoir cut her off, jumping to conclusions.
"No, you can't," Daybreaker uttered, gutting Gardevoir's enthusiasm. "If you can't deal with one, what makes you think you can handle 9? No, no, no. You need a different approach for them. After all, you and I are going to search for the power of Mega Evolution."
"You mean...Just us two?"
"Of course. You're the only Pokemon here with that capability. No one else can Mega Evolve, so to get our hands on that Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter, we'll be looking for that stone. Unless you're not ready for Mega Evolution."
"No, no. I'm sure I'm ready. It never crossed my mind though..." The Embrace Pokemon pondered.
"It'll be worth your while. The Kalos Region is where we need to be. We only have 5 days on the clock so let's at least see what we can reach."
Daybreaker's group were off, leaving the secret lab. Of course, they would have to leave the island as well, which was a problem from the very beginning. But not anymore.
The Professor was behind the island's movements. With his red orb glowing, he sent a pulse across the unknown island which was another location that once came from Prisma's world. Even though it came from another world, the Alola Region was still a thing.
As the view of the other islands of Alola were revealed in the far distance thanks to Professor's actions, Daybreaker smiled as the Golden Sun of Alola beamed down on her face. So many golden opportunities and that was signified by the glimmer and sparkle in her eyes as the journey continues.
Equestria. Manehattan. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
Away from the Angels, secret areas, there was Zeraora, experiencing a rollercoaster for the first time. Encouraged by Rainbow Dash, the Thunderclap Pokemon found herself on a rollercoaster which was currently ascending. Recently, she hasn't had any signs of letting her rage out, feeling completely composed.
It was thanks to the people, ponies and Pokemon she's been around that she could feel calm and happy. But right now, the rollercoaster invoked the opposite feeling as seen by the look on her face.
"You're gonna love this, Zeraora. It gets the blood pumping!" Rainbow Dash said with absolute glee. But while Rainbow Dash was psyched, Zeraora wasn't feeling it.
"Ze...!" In fact, Zeraora looked rather uneasy. Her mouth was trembling as she noticed that she was getting higher and higher. The Electric-Type couldn't help but look to the side, seeing the view of Manehattan's buildings get smaller and smaller.
Rainbow Dash noticed Zeraora's discomfort and immediately shifted gears. It was at that moment, she realized that Zeraora wasn't exactly pleased to be on here. "Wait, a second. Are you afraid of heights?" Right as Rainbow Dash said that, it was too late. The Rollercoaster was at the highest peak and was about to drop.
As the rollercoaster reached its apex, Zeraora's eyes widened in sheer panic. Her claws instinctively dug into the safety bar, her heart pounding louder than the rushing wind around her. Before any further words could be exchanged, the rollercoaster plummeted, gravity taking over as the cars descended with incredible speed.
Screams of those onboard went off as Zeraora let out a yowl that echoed through the air and parts of Manehattan, a mix of terror and surprise escaping her as the wind whipped past. Rainbow Dash, sensing her distress, reached out a hoof, trying to comfort the Thunderclap Pokémon. "You've got this, Zeraora! It's just like a really fast thunderbolt!" she exclaimed, trying to lighten the mood.
"Zera!" But unable to handle it, Zeraora would cling to someone safe. In this case, it was Rainbow Dash.
"Wait, hold on!" Rainbow Dash bellowed but was soon met with an electrifying gift. Due to Zeraora being absolutely petrified, she accidentally unleashed a burst of lightning from her body which shocked Rainbow Dash. There was now a burst of lightning trailing from the sky, livening up the ride. "Ghhhh!"
The coaster moved through many twists and turns while Zeraora kept holding onto Rainbow Dash, not letting go until it was all over. And poor Rainbow Dash had to take all of the lightning and by extension, so did Castform who was in Rainbow Dash's saddlebag. "C-Castform!"
Thankfully, no one else was shocked and it was only Rainbow Dash and Castform who had to take the brunt of it all. It also made for a rather nice sight. Some ponies would look up to see a lightning bolt trailing through the sky, even if it involved Rainbow Dash being electrocuted.
After a few minutes of rapid movement, it was finally over. Zeraora was free from it as her blood was rushing. That was just a part of it. Everyone else would get off while Zeraora sat there, unable to move at the moment.
The Thunderclap Pokémon, still in a state of panic, looked mortified at what she'd accidentally done. She released Rainbow Dash quickly, leaving the cat and taking a few steps back, her ears drooping in embarrassment.
"It's alright, Zeraora! No harm done," Rainbow Dash reassured, shaking off the residual tingling from the electric shock as smoke came from her teeth. Castform would do the same but his entire body was now smoking.
Zeraora, though visibly calmer now that the ride was over, still seemed apologetic. She murmured an apology, sparks flickering nervously around her fur. The more time she spent around this group, the less her rage was starting to show which was a tremendous positive.
"Hey, no worries! It's all part of the adventure," Rainbow Dash said, giving Zeraora a reassuring smile. "But you won't have to worry about going back on that thing. I promise." She chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
"Ze..." Zeraora managed a small smile, realizing that despite the initial fear and the accidental shock, she'd made it through an experience she never thought she would. And she'd done it with friends by her side. Understanding Zeraora's discomfort with the rollercoaster, she decided to introduce the Thunderclap Pokémon to less intense but equally fun experiences. And there was plenty to offer.
"Alright, how about something a bit more laid back?" Rainbow Dash suggested, leading her through the bustling streets of Manehattan. They wandered through the colourful markets, trying out different treats and interacting with the locals, Zeraora cautiously tasting some of the delights Rainbow Dash recommended.
Next, they found themselves in the spacious park of Manehattan, filled with ponies and Pokémon enjoying various activities at this time while the Sun was slowly setting. Rainbow Dash showed Zeraora a game of Frisbee, where she effortlessly soared through the air to catch the disc, her speed and agility impressing the Thunderclap Pokémon. Naturally, she startled everyone here since she makes the sound of thunder due to her swift movements. It even threw others off their game and focus.
The rest of Rainbow Dash's friends such as Fluttershy and Rarity would hang around Zeraora, showing her what she was missing out on. Rarity had all of her Pokemon lined up, having new outfits for them. Zeraora would have the honour of wearing them, even if she wasn't too big on dresses.
"Rrr.." She grimaced looking at the design of these dresses. Rarity already took the time to craft one for her as Pheromosa held the dress out.
"Darling, you simply must indulge in a bit of fashion!" Rarity exclaimed, gesturing towards the ensemble of clothes she had prepared. "Don't be shy. Just a brief test and you can take it off whenever you want."
Zeraora, not particularly keen on the idea of wearing dresses or accessories, hesitated for a moment. However, Rarity's genuine excitement was infectious, and with a bit of persuasion from Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, Zeraora tentatively agreed to try on an outfit.
Rarity meticulously draped a stunning garment over Zeraora, adjusting it to fit perfectly. The Thunderclap Pokémon, feeling a bit out of her element, glanced around awkwardly, her friends cheering her on. It was still rather nice to have others cheer her on after what she's been through.
Alas, Zeraora still disliked it. In response, she used her plasma to burn away the clothes. Rarity's face would twitch as she was rather hurt by it. She tried keeping her smile up, but it was quickly broken. Seeing this, Zeraora rushed over to Rarity who huddled next to a building, rocking back and forth. To make amends, she picked up the pieces of the dress, attempting to put them on to make Rarity feel better. Of course, there was nothing left.
"It's alright, Zeraora..." Rarity stood up, taking a deep breath before transforming her gutted frown into a cheery smile. "I made a spare just in case!"
"Leavan!" But Rarity came prepared as Leavanny whipped out another dress from Rarity's bag.
As the day progressed, Rainbow Dash introduced Zeraora to various ponies and Pokémon, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and friendship. Zeraora, initially reserved, found herself warming up to the cheerful ponies and their Pokémon companions, sharing playful moments and laughter.
Zeraora, initially reserved, found comfort in Fluttershy's soothing demeanour. With Fluttershy's encouragement, Zeraora mingled with the gentle Pokémon, exchanging friendly gestures and getting acquainted. Not all of Fluttershy's Pokemon were here since they weer all back at the Pokemon House, but she grew a bond with the three Pokemon by her side at all times.
They watched street performers, listened to live music, and even participated in a friendly game of tag with other Pokémon in the park. Zeraora got involved once she saw the Pokemon chasing each other. Eager to show off her speed, she took off at lightning speeds, easily outpacing them all.
Naturally, this made it unfair and Zeraora lowered her head, apologizing for making it too difficult for the other Pokemon. The Thunderclap Pokemon was rather eager, but as Cobalion revealed, she was still a child at the end of the day. Rainbow Dash made sure to tailor the activities to suit Zeraora's comfort, ensuring she felt included and at ease throughout.
As the sun began its descent, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, Rainbow Dash and Zeraora found themselves perched atop a hill overlooking the city. The view was breathtaking, the city lights twinkling below them.
Zeraora nodded, a soft smile gracing her features. Though the rollercoaster was a bit much, the rest of the day had been filled with new experiences and wonderful moments, all thanks to Rainbow Dash's thoughtful guidance.
With the evening setting in, they made their way back, the day's adventures creating a bond between them that would last far beyond the fun-filled afternoon. "You know, Zeraora, today was pretty awesome, right?" Rainbow Dash said, glancing at the Thunderclap Pokémon beside her. "You might not have liked the rollercoaster, but we had a blast together, didn't we?"
"Ora." Zeraora certainly enjoyed today. But, despite this great level of joy, there was something missing, In her mind, the home she once had was impossible to forget about. It brought more than just enjoyment, but peace.
Rainbow Dash noticed the subtle change in Zeraora's demeanor, a fleeting moment of nostalgia crossing her expression amidst the joy of the day. Sensing the shift, Rainbow Dash approached Zeraora with a gentle understanding.
"You still miss your home, huh?" Rainbow Dash spoke softly, her tone empathetic as she sat beside Zeraora, the city lights twinkling in the distance.
"Zera." Zeraora's smile softened, her gaze distant for a moment before returning to Rainbow Dash. With a nod, she conveyed the sense of longing and nostalgia that lingered in her heart despite the wonderful day she'd had. Alas, she couldn't return to it since it's been ruined by Necrozma.
"Yeah. I feel you. Missing home beats a lot. Even if you're having a lot of fun." The pegasus sighed. "But, what can we do? Kidd and the Ranger Union left you in our care, so we're doing to do our best to try and make you a new home."
"Hold on. Your home is Alola, isn't it?" At that moment, Rarity spoke up as something came to mind. "Can't we just go to the Alola in our universe?"
Rarity's observation piqued Zeraora's interest. The mention of an Alola in their world brought a glimmer of curiosity to her eyes, a flicker of hope that perhaps there was more to this than she initially thought.
"Zera?!" Zeraora stood up, her voice tinged with a mix of surprise and intrigue.
Fluttershy nodded gently, adding her thoughts to Rarity's observation. "Hmm. It's not the same world though. But it's the same region at the end of the day."
Zeraora mulled over this revelation. The idea that there could be an Alola in this world, albeit different, sparked a new perspective within her. It wasn't her world, but it held echoes of familiarity and a semblance of home. "Zee....!" It was so exciting that she was generating electricity around her.
"Oh, yeah. I didn't really think about that." Rainbow Dash now thinking about that possibility as it never crossed her mind until now. "That's a great idea, Rarity! Great going!"
"Hmph." Rarity smiled, glad of a small but impactful achievement since it struck Zeraora's heart. Zeraora nodded slowly, the notion stirring a newfound sense of possibility within her. The idea of exploring a different Alola, even if not her original one, felt like a step toward reconnecting with something familiar.
With a small smile, Zeraora expressed her gratitude to her newfound friends for shedding light on this possibility. And she did so with a hug, grabbing Rarity and Fluttershy.
"G-Goodness...!" Fluttershy bellowed as her face felt like it was about to pop. At least she wasn't shocked by electricity. Despite the differences and the vastness of the worlds they inhabited, the notion that there might be a piece of Alola waiting for her here gave her a sense of hope and purpose.
"Well then..." Rarity uttered while in Zeraora's clutches. "Off to Alola then. I was thinking of moving locations. Shall we call Lucas and have him open up a gateway?"
"You bet. I'll call Twilight right away. Once we get enough sleep, we're high-tailing it to Alola!" Rainbow Dash whipped out her trusty Xtransceiver.
The night was beginning to arrive as the late afternoon was bidding its farewell to the world. As the night settled in, the city's lights painted a picturesque scene against the dark sky. Zeraora had something to look forward to tomorrow morning.
Nightfall graced Manehattan as yet another day of the Pokemon Festival came to an end. This was, for the most part, the second most peaceful Pokemon Festival out there as many have not noticed too many issues. The very first Pokemon Festival was still the safest one out of all of them.
Zeraora, sitting a bit off to the side, was lost in her thoughts, her gaze fixed on the stars above as she was thinking about Alola and how she might see it again, even if it wasn't her Alola. But she had to imagine it would feel familiar. Rainbow Dash and the others were currently asleep inside of Manehattan's hotel while Zeraora stayed outside. But she wasn't the only one who stayed awake at this time.
Zeraora, sensing Pheromosa's presence, glanced over with a small nod of acknowledgement. Next to her was Bayleef who was also awake under the night sky and right behind them both were Nightmare Moon and Twilight Moonlight, who was still under Nightmare Moon's watch.
"Look at you. Completely composed now." Nightmare Moon pointed out. "Well, how is it?"
"Ze?"
"I mean, how does it feel to be around others? It's not so bad of a feeling, honestly." Nightmare Moon could relate. She once wished to be on her own due to her ideals, but soon found enjoyment around others. "It helps, doesn't it?"
"Phero." And Pheromosa was here to ensure that if Zeraora loses it by some chance, the Lissome Pokemon would catch up to her and fix it all. Zeraroa had to ask Pheromosa immediately if the Alola here was as wonderful as it was back in her world before it was absorbed by Necrozma. "Mo..." While Pheromosa hasn't been to Alola all that much, she can safely say one thing. It was a pleasant place to be at. "Pheromo!"
"Zera!" Zeraora was elated to hear that. Granted, she was also hoping to find the exact spot she used to be around her entire life. Hopefully, that was still available in this world.
"You all can go to Alola. I'm going for Ash Ketchum." Twilight Moonlight, who decided to approach Ash in a different way, would pass on Alola.
"No, you're not." Nightmare Moon used her wing feathers to perform a finger wag. "You're under my supervision after all. You're coming to Alola and enjoying the view. Unless you want to join my group and be free of your crimes."
"Tch. As if." But Twilight Moonlight was very much adamant about that. Her loyalty ran strong. "Besides...how are you even restraining my magic? I can still feel it growing but..."
"Hm-hm." Nightmare Moon smirked. "My magic deviates from others. It's the result of me being Luna's alter-ego. You can't hope to free yourself from me, no matter how much your magic grows."
Dodge Junction.
Going through a deep thought of her own at the middle of the night was Sci-Twi. While Zeraora stared at the night sky, thinking about her home, Sci-Twi held up her Arceus Pendant, thinking about the angelic encounter she just had.
Strident Heart spoke about how the pendant was now classified as a Divine Item. it was how she was able to see the angels in their Astral Project and one day, she might have to give it up since mortals are not allowed to wield such power.
"Arceus. I wish I could speak with you. You'd be able to fix all of this, right?" Sci-Twi said, hoping to speak with Arceus. But the Alpha Pokemon did not respond.
Sci-Twi was in deep contemplation, her gaze fixed on the Arceus Pendant in her hands. The weight of Strident Heart's words lingered heavily on her mind—the realization that wielding such power might not be sustainable for a mortal like her.
"Doing okay?" Ash and Pikachu walked up to Sci-Twi, checking up on her.
"I'm fine. I'm just worried about what I saw. I only got to see the Astral Projections of those angels because of this thing. I might have to give it up."
"Nah. You don't have to give it up."
"I hope not. I was thinking about Arceus too. I've never actually spoken to him or seen him. If I could, then he would solve everything, wouldn't he? He helped you out of the trial after all."
"Yeah. It would be pretty great if he showed up. He doesn't show up a lot but back when things were new for both our worlds, we saw Arceus here and there."
"You did? Frequently?"
"Kind of. Arceus had to show up to get us all used to this new life. Showed up for Celestia too. She saw him first." Ash closed his eyes. He wasn't there when Celestia first met Arceus, but he was told about how the exchange went, picturing it in his head. This also went for when Arceus would show up at Ponyville for a bit to update them all.
In the wake of Arceus's explanation, Celestia pondered the implications. The notion that their worlds were merely pawns for some cosmic curiosity seemed unsettling. Yet, in the midst of uncertainty, a sense of responsibility began to bloom within her. That's how it was from the start. From the very beginning, this was all just for the RIft's amusement, wanting to see new and exciting things as if it was a child.
And in the end, many went along with it, growing together while being worlds apart. Despite how terrifying it was to have a Cosmic Being toy with their worlds just for some entertainment, they learned how to appreciate the new life they were given. Ash remembered how Arceus would show up to Ponyville, towering over everyone. The ponies would always look absolutely starstruck when viewing Arceus, especially when he spoke.
To Sci-Twi's ears, it was fascinating how adversity can often lead to unexpected bonds when she didn't quite believe in that from the start. Despite the initial unease and the unsettling nature of their circumstances, it was heartening to hear that the inhabitants of both worlds found common ground so quickly. It seems like this experience helped them appreciate the uniqueness of each other's existence. Granted, they had help from Ash and other experienced trainers to really make them comfortable.
"Good times. And now, here we are." Ash would lie on his back, feeling the hard ground of Dodge Junction. "Arceus and everyone pitched in to make this new world we live in. You can't reach Arceus right now, but it's not the end of it, Twilight. It never is. He'll show up."
"At the right time, I'm guessing. But if Arceus doesn't show up in time, I could lose this. And the shards too since they apparently count" Sci-Twi scrunched her face before facing Ash. "You won't let that happen, right, Ash?"
"No way. I didn't give up when I was put on trial and I'm not stopping now. If you ever have trouble, Pikachu and I will be there. I mean, you've got Pikachu's ancestor right by your side so there's that too."
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Thanks. I might need it when I go to Summer Camp soon." Sci-Twi was relieved. "But you'll be doing something else, won't you? I don't think you have time for Summer Camp."
"Ah, I went to a Pokemon Summer Academy once. And a Summer Camp years later. So I've got time for sure." But Ash was no stranger to Summer Activities that keep him in one area.
"Oh, but I bet it won't have any Pokemon in it." Sci-Twi grumbled. "I would've loved that, but my world still isn't used to it. I need to know what a Pokemon Summer Camp feels like."
"You totally can." Ash slid over, putting his hands together as well as Pikachu. "Not in this world but yours. I can just talk to Professor Oak."
"Really? That easily?"
"Well, yeah. Professor Rowan opened up a Summer Academy in Rowan, so I bet Professor Oak can do it too." No matter what, Ash always had Twilight's back. Whether it's Princess Twilight or the Human Twilight. "Right now, let's keep going until this festival ends. Where to next?"
"Well...It's been brought up so many times lately. How does Pegalysium sound?" Sci-Twi stood up, finally wishing to go Pegalysium.
Ash Ketchum nodded in understanding and could grant that wish. The two of them would perform their own Handshake. It was done by having the side of their fists clash before raising them into the air in unison. That was a promise. But of course, some rest for the time being.
Equestria. Dodge Junction. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
With the Sun rising over Equestria, at this moment, Ash and Sci-Twi were off to another location during the Pokemon Festival. This time, it was straight to the nation in the sky. Pegalysium. Since it would be a trip to a place that was above the clouds, Sci-Twi wanted to make sure she was ready for this. She's been there previously and things went well, but considering that this was now a bigger world, she couldn't be too careful.
"Off already?" Bertha said, speaking to them before they could depart.
"Mhm. We're going up. Straight to Pegalysium, where all that great food comes from. I bet we can get some more while we're up there!" Ash rubbed his hands together, looking forward to more Pegalysium delicacies.
"It'll be right above the clouds so..." Twilight was rather nervous and for a good reason. "But, I've got faith we'll be fine. I mean, it's habitable at the end of the day. Nothing to worry about."
"Really? Why the sudden purchase of a parachute?" Bertha pointed out how Twilight was stuffing her bag with gear that would very much help in the air. "If you're so intimidated, why not stay behind here at Dodge Junction?"
"Mm-mm! I'm fine." She grinned, mustering up some courage. "Just can't be too careful. Bigger world means a bigger sky and a change in the environment. Plus, I have to see it for myself and I want to bring the rest of my friends along. Sunset and the others are still in Unova, so we have to pay them a quick visit."
"Will they be using that stone of yours to change forms?" Bertha asked.
"Uhh..." Thinking about it, only Rarity changed from a Human to a Pony when she passed through. Sunset Shimmer already has a lot of experience since she was born and raised in Equestria, but the same couldn't be said for the others. She's seen her friends as their pony counterparts, so it wasn't too out of the ordinary.
"Okay. You'll call them and I'll guide them there. We've got a fun way of travelling up Pegalysium now." Ash uttered, referring to the sleek and smooth pathway near Canterlot. "You coming, Bertha?"
"An invitation? For me? Well, I wasn't thinking about going up to Pegalysium. I only showed up at Dodge Junction because I heard about the food. And I'm not really an aerial person, for obvious reasons." Bertha closed her eyes before putting on a smile. "But isn't that what this Festival is for?"
"Are you going to be okay? I heard that pathway moves a bit fast and..." Sci-Twi thought about how it would affect Bertha.
"My age won't be an issue, Twilight. I may not look like it, but I can handle a good amount of speed." But Bertha wasn't one to underestimate herself even in her old age. Celestia was far older than Bertha, but due to her being an alicorn, she still maintained a lot of energy.
"I believe her." Ash nudged, believing wholeheartedly that Bertha had that kind of energy in her old age. The Ground-Type specialist would be high in the clouds which was rather ironic to think about. With everything ready, they set off for Pegalysium, were the clouds could taste exactly like candy or something else that was sweet.
Alola. Akala Island. Heahea City.
Beautiful Sunny and warm Alola. Appearing here was a brand new gateway, made by Lucas. After getting into contact with Lucas who was with Princess Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash's group appeared here to fulfill a promise to Zeraora. And this time, Lucas wouldn't have to worry about feeling drained and perplexed right afterwards when opening one. With Nate using his plasma, he could recover swiftly.
And this was proven once Lucas stepped through the gateway, brand new. He stretched his muscles, feeling completely fine. The most pleased look on his face formed, knowing he was A-Okay.
"This is much better." Lucas expressed after stretching his arms. "Now, I've got nothing to fear."
"Zera..." Zeraora graced her eyes on Heahea City as she finally arrived at Alola. Considered the "front door" to Akala Island, this town's residents treasure visitors and welcome them most warmly. And the atmosphere certainly did the same for Zeraora. Once she arrived, the warmth of Alola was felt by her.
Zeraora recognized this warmth as it was the same one that was found in her universe. And when looking in the distance, she recognized the scenery. Akala Island was a familiar place to her. She knew that she was going to the Alola Region, but the Thunderclap Pokemon never thought it was be instantly familiar to her.
"Well...?" Naturally, Rainbow Dash had to know how Zeraora was feeling at the moment. And judging by the look on her face, there was a clear reaction. "Feels like home, right?"
"Ora."
"Sounds like she recognizes it. But maybe she'll recognize other areas that aren't towns or cities." Fluttershy hovered over, suggesting that Zeraora tackled the wilds of Alola. After all, she was a Wild Pokemon and that was where she was living before Necrozma attacked.
"It doesn't hurt being around that thing?" Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle was speaking to Nate about the plasma around him. Thankfully, the Cosmic Cloak that Twilight made for him not only concealed the Special Plasma, but it made sure it wouldn't damage others who got close or anything else.
"Not at all. Now that I'm thinking about it...It's not so bad." Nate smiled, thinking it was pretty neat that he could control the power of plasma, even if he couldn't control the aura around him. "Wish it wasn't so dangerous though."
"Do you think Prisma had plasma? Is that why you can use it?" Scootaloo asked. "I bet that's why."
"I hope not." Twilight Sparkle was praying that wasn't the case. "I'm also hoping whatever you two do doesn't help in Prisma revival."
"Relax. You've got nothing to worry about." Lucas and Nate said unison. But hearing that made Twilight worry a lot more. This was something that Ash would say and now two of them spouted it.
"Alright..." Twilight sighed. "We're here to make Zeraora feel at home. And judging by the look on her face, it might be working. We've gone a few days without any sign of a rampage, so let's keep it up."
"Do you think being in Alola will get rid of the rage entirely?" Rarity questioned.
"Pssh. That's not how it works." Twilight scoffed at that notion. "Even if this is Alola, something like that doesn't just go away instantly. It takes time."
"But you have to admit. It's mostly because of Ghetsis and Daybreaker. If we just find a way to get rid of that stuff, then there's no more rage." Rainbow Dash did have a point there. It's not like Zeraora wanted to let the rage consume her.
"Well, I'll let ya'll handle that. I'm going somewhere else. We're in Alola, so Tapu Fini's here." Applejack had other plans and that was meeting with Tapu Fini. The Pokemon that helped her family reconcile with Bright Mac and Pear Butter.
"Why? Are you going to try and catch Tapu Fini?" said Nate.
"Mm-mm." But that wasn't on Applejack's mind. She just wanted to meet with the Pokemon she was thankful for. "See ya around. Come on, Apple Bloom. We're going by boat to Poni Island."
"Great!" The little earth pony skipped along when following Applejack. "Can we stop for some of the food though? I heard there's something called a Mala...uhh..."
"Zeraora. What's the one place that you went to the most or stayed around at longer than anywhere else." Fluttershy had to know, just to make Zeraora comfortable.
"Ze..." There was one place that came to mind. The place she used to hang around before Ghetsis and Daybreaker's forces invaded. She was hoping that it was still here in this universe.
Harmonia Kingdom.
A day has passed ever since Ghetsis captured Lightwing, ordering that her Divine Magic be used to strengthen the barrier and grant Necrozma some new food. The people here were led to believe they were under the protection of an angel while Lightwing could only lie there, peacefully awaiting her rescue from the other angels.
Colress was approaching Ghetsis's Throne Room, ready to update him on what the other members of the alliance were up to at the moment. In his hands, he held a pad that showed their current activities. One half of Daybreaker's forces were at Alola, searching for Solgaleo and Lunala while the other half were heading for the Kalos Region for the power of Mega Evolution.
Then there was Second Wind, who was searching for Lena Ketchum. Each side was busy with their plans that involved total power and domination. "Hm. They seems to be the only ones doing anything else. We've been couped up in here for a while." Colress chuckled before finally entering the throne room. "Lord Ghetsis. You'll be pleased to know that-"
But as soon as he entered, he saw Ghetsis standing there instead of being seated. But not because he wished to, but mainly due to something else that was occurring which was also unseen.
Ghetsis was frozen. Not exactly frozen stiff, but he was certainly not moving from that spot as the Dark Aura around him was aggressively showing.
"Lord Ghetsis?!" Colress dropped his pad due to the pressure of Dark Aura filling the room, making his hair and clothes flow.
"Do not...interrupt me!" Ghetsis growled as his eyes appeared to be baggy, showing exhaustion. His body was shaking as he aggressively gripped his staff.
"What happened?!"
"Those angels...They acted fast upon learning about one of their own being captured. In my sleep, they infiltrated my mind and dreams as a way to punish me. I have not slept at all because of this." Colress stepped back, taken aback by the scene before him.
The air in the throne room crackled with an ominous energy, Ghetsis's torment palpable as the dark aura surged around him. The weight of celestial retribution bore down heavily on the ruler of the Harmonia Kingdom as he had to perform a counterattack once he detected danger.
The Dark Aura he possessed was in a struggle against the cosmic forces from beyond. But he wasn't without his own cosmic assistance. Power from the Rift was being used to give Ghetsis a fighting chance, but of course, this came at the cost of his stamina. Ghetsis was forcing himself awake, lacking any proper sleep.
Ghetsis, visibly shaken, was fighting to maintain his composure. His voice quivered with a strong sense of frustration. It was only natural for this to happen. Strident Heart promised this after all.
"Colress...Forget whatever you were about to share. Focus on helping me win this struggle." Ghetsis ordered.
"R-Right!" Colress stuttered. He dropped everything else just to help Ghetsis overcome this struggle. Hearing this all the way from Colress's lab was Lightwing thanks to her greater hearing. A soft smile graced her face, knowing that her friends were trying to save her.
Granted, Ghetsis' Dark Aura wasn't just appearing around his throne room, but also Colress's lab. Ghetsis anticipated that they would come for her there. Thus, Ghetsis has been using a plethora of energy to fend them off. Only Colress knew about this at the moment and Lightwing, of course.
The pad laid there on the ground, showing the alliance and their current activities and how they were progressing with it. Under Daybreaker and Second Wind was Cozy Glow, who was at the very bottom. Her activity was minimal in comparison to all of them, causing her to be ranked so low as Malamar and Gardevoir were above her.
Ghetsis would be stuck there until something was done. Never before has he had to deal with such an attack, especially from a higher force out there. Clearly, he wasn't meant to keep an angel captive which resulted in this outcome. But did Ghetsis care? Not at all. After all, power was power and he would take it for himself, no matter the cost.
After quickly entering his lab, Colress eyed Lightwing, being highly suspicious of her, especially with that grin on her face. "You...You sure called for help quickly, didn't you?"
"Hehe. Not my fault ~" Lightwing playfully said. "I have Strident to thank for that. She's always making sure that things get done as soon as possible. And she's my best friend, so there's that. I'll be out of here in no time."
"Hmph. Keep dreaming. There is no way we're letting the presence of an angel escape from us." Colress begged to differ. "I've dabbled in cosmic power already. Divine Magic won't be any different and I'll certainly feel wonderful if I can surpass such a power."
"You don't have to do it though. It's far too dangerous, even for clever minds." Lightwing said, wanting Colress to back out of it immediately. "Going any further can end up in disaster. You should stop while you're at it, Colress. For your own safety."
"And what makes you say that?" Colress was frantically searching for the right item to use to assist Ghetsis. "Science requires plenty of risk if you knew that."
Lightwing studied Colress intently, her ethereal gaze holding a weight of knowing beyond the present moment. "You could be using your mind for something much better than this, Colress. I know it because I've seen it."
Colress's scepticism wavered, a glimmer of curiosity flickering in his eyes. Those words piqued Colress' interest. Lightwing knew more than she was letting on. "...What do you mean you've seen it?"
"Just like how there's not just one Ghetsis out there, there's also another Colress out there. Because of this new world, we can look into other worlds that weren't there before. And in a lot of them, you changed." Lightwing continued.
"I turned in other worlds? I doubt that. Even if that's the case, you won't see a change in this universe. My mind is set on what I want to do now that I'm tackling greater powers out there."
Lightwing thought otherwise. While Colress stayed adamant, Lightwing saw another possibility. However, she might not get to see that possibility if she stays trapped like that. The angel was hoping that the other angels saved her in time as her magic was at risk.
Pegalysium.
"Woohoo!" At this moment, Ash, Sci-Twi and Bertha were taking the pathway to Pegalysium, feeling the acceleration it brought. Thankfully, it wasn't too fast that it was deemed dangerous. Ash enjoyed this as always while Sci-Twi was holding onto Ash for dear life, rather terrified.
Bertha seemed completely fine, unbothered by these heights and this speed. Sci-Twi was not opening her eyes until they got to the top and the same went for Zorua, who was quivering inside of the bag.
"There it is!" Within his sights, Ash could see Pegalysium and one of its many islands. Sci-Twi would open her eyes a bit to see this area for herself. And up ahead was a location known as Flock Falls. An island oasis suspended amidst the skies, known for its breathtaking cascading waterfalls and unique avian community.
"Ghh!" Sci-Twi was startled by the sudden emergence of a creature only exclusive to Pegalysium. Majestic Skywhales, gentle giants with iridescent scales and translucent wings, gracefully glide through the heavens, their haunting songs echoing across the skies. They reminded her a bit of Wailord, but not as large.
"Those are Skywhales right there!" Ash pointed out, knowing his Pegalysium Beastiary. "You're gonna see a lot of awesome Pegalysium creatures. But they're not Pokemon."
"They're not?!" Sci-Twi bellowed, trying to overpower the sound of the wind. She was then distracted by the nearby floating gardens. Next to their botanical marvels was a home to a kaleidoscope of vibrant insects. These were known as Skyfire Beetles, whose bioluminescent trails would look much better during the night.
"There are Equestrian Pokemon back down there. But what about Pegalysium Variants?" Bertha pondered if such a thing could exist. Equestrian Variants existed. What about the possibility of Pegalysium Variants?
"Huh...Never thought about that."
Among the floating peaks and valley, were the beautiful yet dangerous Sky Serpents, who gracefully navigate the currents, their undulating bodies adorned with opalescent scales that catch and reflect the sunlight, creating mesmerizing patterns across the skies. The last time Ash saw them, they didn't have scales and they were just clouds. It seems they went through a change the last time he was here.
At last, they arrived at Float Falls, which was the island in rotation today thanks to Pegalysium's constant movement. Ash carefully helped Sci-Twi off, who was a bit petrified after that adrenaline rush. Now that it was all over, Sci-Twi could look at this island for all its glory which stunned her and Bertha.
In its entirety, it was an intricate network of verdant treehouses and aerial pathways woven through the branches of ancient, towering trees. Flock Falls was home to a diverse array of birds, from graceful rainbow-winged parrots, whose feathers shimmer with every hue of the spectrum, to a flock of majestic crested skyfalcons, known for their keen eyesight and impressive hunting prowess.
The island's lifeblood is the Crystal Cascade which was titled on the map, a series of crystalline waterfalls that tumble down from the highest peaks, their waters sparkling with an otherworldly luminescence. These falls not only provide nourishment to the island's flora but also serve as a gathering place for the avian community, offering a serene backdrop for their daily routines.
"Wow..." Sci-Twi's eyes lit up. Zorua popped her head out of the bag, marvelling at this glorious sight. She couldn't believe all of these creatures were not Pokemon. These were a part of her world before the Pokemon World arrived. But of course, there were Pokemon here too, mainly Flying, Bug and Grass-Types.
"Great, isn't it? Thanks to Starmap, we can find a place like this." Ash said. "I wanted to check this place out first and we scored it."
"Pikachu."
"In my old age, I never get tired of seeing new sights." Bertha spoke, loving what she was seeing. "Coming along was a great idea. A shame Siebold won't get this chance."
"Yeah..." Sci-Twi slowly walked forward, getting more sights. Perched atop the tallest trees were intricate structures woven from branches and vines, serving as homes to the island's avian inhabitants. Each species crafts their nests with unique materials and architectural styles, creating a colourful mosaic of habitats amid the canopy. They were a bit far from civilisation, but why head there when they can experience this place first?
Their journey began as they traversed the winding pathways that meandered through the thick canopy. Ash led the way, his keen eyes scanning the horizon for something new. Sci-Twi listened intently, occasionally pausing to jot down notes about the flora and fauna they encountered. This was a part of her world after all and she had to know all about Pegalysium to its fullest.
As they ventured deeper into Flock Falls, they stumbled upon a gathering of rainbow-winged parrots, their iridescent plumage dazzling in the sunlight. Sci-Twi gasped in delight, reaching for her binoculars to observe the avian spectacle up close.
Their exploration led them to the edge of the Crystal Cascade, where the trio paused to marvel at the shimmering waters cascading down the cliffs. Ash pointed to a distant cliff, indicating it as a landmark on Starmap's map. "That's where we're headed next," he declared, a glint of excitement in his eyes.
Suddenly, the sound of wings flapping caught their attention. A pair of Crested Skyfalcons soared overhead, their sharp eyes fixated on something below. Sci-Twi gasped as these creatures were much larger at a closer view. Ash cautioned Sci-Twi to remain still as the majestic birds circled above, their presence a reminder of the wild beauty and untamed spirit of Flock Falls.
They were certainly having a blast with eyes on them. Whether it was the eyes of the Pokemon or the natural wildlife that populated this area. But there were other Pokemon eyes on them. Specifically, three.
The eyes of the Unown.
Searching for Lena Ketchum, who caused quite a bit of trouble for Second Wind's group. But when searching for Lena Ketchum and her team, the three Unown spotted Ash and Sci-Twi, recognizing them immediately. Ash and Lena obviously looked alike due to their strong genes. And while they weren't related, the Unown already knew of the threat that was Ash Ketchum. Instead of engaging, they flew off to spread the news. Perhaps this would be useful to their queen Second Wind.
Zeraora's favourite location was being tracked down. There was one place in her version of Alola that she loved to be at and she was hoping it was here. Their journey led them through lush landscapes, vibrant towns, and serene corners of Akala Island until, finally, they stumbled upon a place that seemed to echo the essence of Zeraora's memories.
Amidst their explorations, Rainbow Dash's group stumbled upon a hidden grove—a peaceful sanctuary surrounded by towering trees and a gentle stream trickling through the foliage. The atmosphere exuded tranquillity, and the air was filled with the soft rustling of leaves.
"So...Is this it?" Rainbow Dash mused, gazing around the serene space.
Zeraora, feeling a surge of emotions upon seeing the familiar scenery, approached the grove tentatively. As she stepped inside, a wave of nostalgia washed over her, memories of peaceful moments flooding back.
"Ora," She murmured softly, a sense of comfort washing over her as she realized this was indeed the place she once frequented, now finding its counterpart in this world.
Rainbow Dash and the others observed Zeraora's reaction, sharing a moment of quiet satisfaction at having found a place that held such significance for her. In that tranquil grove, surrounded by nature's embrace, Zeraora found a piece of her past, a sanctuary that would hopefully help her feel more at home in this new world. It was all coming back to her. Shot for shot, spot for spot, it was the exact same location she once lived in.
"Zera!"
"I think so. This is the place." Fluttershy confirmed after seeing the absolute glee on her face. Zeraora stepped into the cove, the warm sands under her paws, the scent of the sea filling the air around her. Emotions swirled within her as she stood there, taking in the familiarity of the surroundings.
"Zeraora!" Zeraora's heart soared with joy and relief. Her intuition hadn't led her astray. This was indeed the place she longed for, a sanctuary she had missed dearly. Wasting no time, she took a leap and landed on the daisies that could be found here. "Ze!"
"Well! A job well done, team!" Rainbow Dash was rather proud of herself and her friends. Rarity, Fluttershy, Castform, Audino, Raboot and Bayleef all agreed. "We found her favourite place and we didn't have to worry about any rage for a few days. This was a smash hit!"
"Should we leave her for a while? She might need some time to rest in such a familiar place," said Rarity.
"Probably. This is her home, after all. It's just like how she remembered it. Maybe we should call the Ranger Union and tell them what happened. They'll be glad to know that Zeraora found her home." Fluttershy even suggested a call from the Ranger Union and of course, Kidd Summers. But they would have to get a hold of them in the first place, which wasn't always easy and they've certainly never done it before.
"Right, right. No more outbursts if she's here. At least, I hope so. She'll be at peace here, away from Necrozma or Ghetsis. It's her new home which is basically her old home." Rarity continued. "It was nice being around her for that amount of time."
"Yeah..." Rainbow Dash's smile would stay there for a while before slowly dropping, realizing what this meant. Now that they've found Zeraora's favourite location, this might be where they have to part ways fairly soon. After all, this is what Zeraora wanted from the start.
But Rainbow Dash was a bit gutted by this. A part of her was going to miss Zeraora, knowing what was coming next. But leaving her for a while to embrace everything seemed like the best option. As the others agreed leaving her to rest in this cherished sanctuary, Zeraora glanced back at her newfound friends. Their support, their efforts to help her find this place, filled her with a sense of gratitude she couldn't fully express.
"Ora..." Zeraora murmured softly, acknowledging their care and understanding their unspoken decision to give her some time alone in this special spot.
Rainbow Dash, though proud of their success, couldn't shake the pang of sadness that crept into her heart. The realization that their time together might be drawing to a close weighed heavily on her. She had grown fond of Zeraora's company, and the thought of parting ways, even temporarily, tugged at her.
Fluttershy sensed Rainbow Dash's conflicted emotions and stepped closer, offering a supportive smile. "It's okay, Rainbow Dash. Zeraora needs this time. But it's not goodbye forever. Alola isn't going anywhere."
Rarity nodded in agreement. "Exactly. She'll have her time to settle here, but we'll check in on her. We'll make sure she's doing well."
"Yeah. It's not our first time being here." The multi-coloured-maned mare slowly responded before turning away and departing with her friends.
Heahea City. Heahea Beach.
The group found themselves over at Heahea Beach for the moment, deciding to stay there for a while. Their Pokemon were sent out to enjoy the beach under Alola's Golden Sun. Milotic could be seen in the water, carrying Raboot on her back. Laying on her back on the water was Audino, who was drifting away.
Popping his head out of the water was Mew, who transformed himself into a Wailmer. And by doing so, Pinkie Pie could ride on top of him, calmly moving across Heahea's waters.
"Great going sending Zeraora to her favourite spot." Pinkie Pie said. "Wish I could've been there to see it. The look on her face must've been the best."
"Oh, it was." Rarity said as she and Pheromosa could be seen resting on the beach chairs, having glasses on to block the view of the Sun.
"It's a shame. I'm gonna miss her. It was pretty cool having her around." Rainbow Dash expressed. as her head was over the water.
"But this is needed. It's her home after all and even though she can't return to her original universe, she has this place as the perfect replacement. They say you can't replace what you love the most but..." Rarity shrugged, trying to bring the positives to Rainbow Dash. It wasn't that Rainbow Dash couldn't see it, but the bond she was building with Zeraora left a mark.
"It's for the best anyway. Now I know how other trainers feel when saying goodbye to their Pokemon. Even if I wasn't her Trainer."
"Not too late to say your farewells," Fluttershy uttered. "I'm sure Zeraora would love to say goodbye before it's all over." Fluttershy's gentle reminder nudged Rainbow Dash to consider saying her farewells to Zeraora.
"Mmm..." With a quiet resolve, Rainbow Dash submerged her head into the water, knowing that it was all for the best.
Meanwhile, Zeraora was still enjoying herself, reminiscing about the past by viewing the familiar sights. Even the same Pokemon from before could be seen, really solidifying that this was a perfect mirror. In the quiet solitude of her cherished place, Zeraora found a moment of respite, a chance to reconnect with a piece of her past and begin anew in this Alolan haven. And though she was now alone, the memories of her time with Rainbow Dash and the others would linger, reminding her of the bond they shared.
Zeraora realized she didn't exactly say anything to Rainbow Dash before she left. The Thunderclap Pokemon was hoping to get her last words in. But right now, Zeraora didn't want to down herself. Not when she was back home.
However, when climbing up her hill, something caught her eyes in the distance. From this far, she could barely make out anything in the foreground, but there was one thing that was very much familiar to her eyes.
"Zera?!" To her shock and horror, Zeraora spotted the troops of Daybreaker. Their mission to learn about Solgaleo and Lunala involved Alola in every category, which of course, made them visible to them. They could be seen around Route 5's Lush Jungle.
And upon seeing them, a reaction came from Zeraora. They were the ones who invaded her original home in the first place and now that she's found a new one, they were here yet again. Naturally, this invoked an aggressive reaction. That peaceful spirit was disturbed thanks to the presence of her invaders, prompting plasma to emerge from her eyes.
Zeraora's tranquil moment was shattered as she spotted the troops of Daybreaker in the distance, their presence an unwelcome reminder of past turmoil. The sight of those who had invaded her original home filled her with a surge of emotions. Anger, fear, and a resurfacing of the pain from her past.
The Thunderclap Pokémon's initial shock quickly transformed into a fierce and defensive reaction. Her tranquil demeanour shifted into a defensive stance, her eyes crackling with the telltale signs of her Electric-type power. The plasma, a manifestation of her intense emotions, emerged, reflecting her distress and anger. Alas, that peace that Rainbow Dash and the others managed to create was about to be shattered, bringing back that signature rage.
"Ze..." Zeraora growled lowly, her instincts urging her to protect her newfound sanctuary in Alola from those who threatened it. She didn't know why they were here, but she knew that it was unacceptable for them to be in this universe in the first place.
Deep-rooted memories of the invasion and the subsequent hardships flooded back, igniting a spark of determination within her. This was her home now, and she wouldn't allow anyone to disrupt the peace she had found.
"Z-Zera...!" Despite the turmoil in her heart, Zeraora hesitated. She didn't want to unleash her power in this serene place, but the threat of Daybreaker's presence stirred a turmoil within her that was difficult to contain. And thanks to the magic of Ghetsis, the Thunderclap Pokemon just couldn't do it.
With the visage of Ghetsis appearing in her face, Zeraora's electricity would cause an outburst, resulting in the lightning rising to the sky and unleashing the sound of thunder.
Naturally, this was heard by Rainbow Dash, those at Heahea City and nearby. The pegasus and her friends gasped after seeing the lightning reach the sky. And yet, it did not attract the forces of Daybreaker, who were too focused on their mission.
"Oh no...Zeraora!" Rainbow Dash gasped, knowing what this meant. And alas, nothing good was about to come out of it.
Pegalysium. Flock Falls.
Meanwhile, Ash, Sci-Twi and Bertha were still venturing across Flock Falls, basking in its glory. As their journey continued, a gentle rustling in the foliage nearby caught their attention. Bertha's trained eye spotted a rare and elusive Crystal Feather Finch, its plumage shimmering with a breathtaking iridescence.
"Looking at all of this, perhaps a Pokedex-like creation should be made for these creatures," Bertha added, motioning for a Pokedex that wasn't actually a Pokedex. The Finch seemed unbothered by their presence, perched delicately on a nearby branch, its feathers refracting the sunlight into a mesmerizing array of colours.
"Well, I'm already on it." Sci-Twi was somewhat doing that. She used her phone to capture the image of this Pegalysium-exclusive creature.
As Sci-Twi completed her picture, the Finch suddenly took flight, disappearing into the foliage with a soft rustle of wings. The trio exchanged excited whispers, revelling in the thrill of witnessing such a rare sight.
Determined to continue their exploration, Ash led the way, following the winding trails deeper into the heart of Flock Falls. The landscape changed as they ascended, the canopy thinning out to reveal a stunning vista of the Crystal Cascade from a higher vantage point.
At the edge of a cliff, they discovered a hidden overlook, a natural balcony offering an unobstructed view of the sprawling island below. The trio stood in awe, taking in the breathtaking sight of the cascading waterfalls and the vibrant tapestry of the avian sanctuary spread out before them.
Unknown to them, the Unown who recently spotted them were off to spread the news. But first, they relayed it to the soldiers of Second Wind. They were on a mission to find Lena Ketchum thanks to the shards she had on her, but instead, they found her descendant.
Receiving the news, the soldiers of the Unown used their power to communicate with the other Unown. It soon created a string of telepathic communication that latch onto the next Unown, no matter how far they were. From island to island, the Unown were receiving word of Ash's presence and it eventually moved past the original Pegalysium and up to Pinnaculum Pegalysium.
"Ash Ketchum is here?" Second Wind spoke through one of the Unown. Her voice was infected with irritation upon hearing that name, for obvious reasons.
"Should we engage? It's only him and two other humans. One of them looks a lot like Twilight Sparkle though..." A troop asked.
"You fool. We're trying to keep a low profile. And if there's one thing I know, it's that Ash Ketchum and his group are unbelievably rowdy." Second Wind wished to avoid anything that would even lead to King Paramount's forces finding out about her actions. "After that little Royal Phantasy, which I was rudely uninvited to, Ash and Paramount are closer than ever. If we engage with him, that will just open a cascade of issues."
"Do we continue pursuing the woman then? We haven't found her anywhere in Pegalysium just yet."
"Most likely, she's left, but the Unown recognize the power from those shards, so we can track her down. As for Ash Ketchum, this is still a golden opportunity..." Second Wind had to think for a moment. "You said that he's at Flock Falls, right? That place is completely unbothered. Not with that remnant of the First Destiny Pegasus staying there. If we're lucky, it will take care of our Ash problem for us. Even I wouldn't dare to tackle it."
"So, we leave them be?"
"Pfft. As if. Revenge is too sweet to pass up on. But we won't cause a ruckus. Use the Unown and trap him. It's better to keep him silent than alert attention and Flock Falls is the perfect place for that." Second Wind still wanted her payback either way. Ordering her troops, the Unown knew what to do.
Flock Falls had a relation to Windkiss, according to Second Wind. It was certainly a beautiful place, but nothing was really making it seem like Windkiss had something to do with it. But in Second Wind's words, something that Windkiss left behind might do the job for it. Maybe.
When moving further through Flock Falls without any interruptions, they came across a secure clearing amidst the trees, shielded from the morning sun. Not thinking too much of it, they moved the leaves aside, coming across another section of Flock Falls.
"What's this?" Ash spoke. Hidden within the heart of Flock Falls lies a secluded cave, veiled by a cascade of vines and nestled behind the veil of the Crystal Cascade itself. The water could be heard pouring from above with some of it leaking through the cave.
Within the depths of this cave, there was the sudden presence of swirling winds. Ash felt the breeze, making him laugh for a moment. Sci-Twi shuddered, freezing up a bit from this breeze. "Ooh...It's cold in here all of a sudden? Where was this wind before?"
"Hmm..." At that moment, Ash came to a halt when feeling the wind. Sci-Twi bumped into him, wondering why he came to a sudden halt.
"Is something wrong, Ash?" Bertha questioned.
"This wind..." Ash grumbled, crossing his arms as he was currently reading the winds themselves. This was Sci-Twi's first time witnessing him do such a thing. Bertha's lessons from the past certainly came into play down the road. "Oh, yeah! It feels familiar!"
"Familiar? I didn't know wind could feel familiar?" An intrigued Sci-Twi spoke before looking back at Bertha. "Can it?"
"No clue." But Bertha was lost on this.
"It's all in the Aura, Twilight." But of course, Ash had the Aura to thank as he was currently using it to read the winds themselves. But these weren't regular winds. Ash continued on his way, using his Aura to read them. And by doing so, he could even see the winds in a different colour. In fact, he could see the winds entirely while Sci-Twi and Bertha couldn't.
To Ash, they appeared in the colour blue. But an Aura Blue. Specifically, a light blue. "There's always something new to find in Pegalysium. It started with those temples and now we're right here." He said while following the wind.
"Great, but I don't-" Before anything else could be said, up ahead was a wall of wind that could be seen by them all. "Oh my...What is that!?"
This wall of wind appeared to be a manifestation of the island's turbulent aetheric energies, woven into a whirling tempest. It was a swirling vortex of gusts, an elemental barrier that stood before them and was certainly dangerous in its own right.
"Looks like a wall of wind. I've never seen wind in such a compact space before." Bertha said as they stood before this formidable obstacle, feeling the sheer force of the gales emanating from the barrier. The wall pulsed with radiant energies, a mesmerizing display of swirling currents that seemed to dance and shift, much like the flowers that can be found on Pegalysium.
"Yeah. But it's totally safe." Despite how intimidating it looked, Ash confirmed that it was perfectly fine and safe to travel through "Well, for us, anyway."
"H-How do you know?! I thought you've never been in this spot before?!" Sci-Twi bellowed.
"The wind's telling me." Ash grinned, raising his finger. "Or I guess...Windkiss is telling me."
"Windkiss? You mean the First Destiny Pegasus?" said the Human Counterpart. "I don't...hear her though. Where is she?"
"Can't hear her? Hmmm...Must be the Aura then." Ash said since only he could hear her voice within the wind. "Well, all you gotta know is that she's telling us to go through it.
"Won't it blow us away?" But of course, Sci-Twi had to think of the worst possible outcomes which might happen in such a mystical place.
"Trust Ash." Bertha placed her hand on Twilight's shoulder. Putting her trust in Ash was certainly a good thing since he was confident in what he was saying. Ash wouldn't dare steer them wrong. And to prove it, he immediately rushed forward with Pikachu.
"Yahoo!"
"Pikachu!" Both of them bellowed after jumping right through the Wind Wall. Sci-Twi flinched and gasped, fearing that Ash would be launched, but of course, that did not happen. Instead, Ash and Pikachu successfully went through as the hole they made would close up immediately.
"Okay then. If they can do it, so can I?" Sci-Twi was ready, always putting her trust in Ash.
She closed her eyes, focusing on what Ash did. The whispers of the winds that came from the Legendary Windkiss. Slowly, she extended her hand, feeling the invisible threads of aetheric energy respond to her presence. Lo and behold, there was no damage whatsoever.
Sci-Twi was completely fine as she successfully passed through, ending up on the other side. Her eyes open in disbelief. She couldn't believe that she passed through a wall of wind and wasn't launched, swirled or punished in any way. Afterwards, Bertha went through, already knowing that she would be completely fine.
Looking at Ash, Sci-Twi wonders why she questions him at all since he was teaching and guiding her in this Grander World. Ash could only grin and laugh at this, knowing that Sci-Twi still needed time to get used to everything. Princess Twilight and the rest of his friends only needed 4 years after all.
"Well, take a look at this." As for what was on the other side, standing before them was an object which rested in this part of the cave.
Sitting there was an item of unfathomable beauty and mystery. Its form defies conventional description, for it exists in a state that transcends the boundaries of traditional shape and perception. Ash, Sci-Twi and Bertha definitely didn't know what they were looking at.
This mysterious object was an enigmatic structure that appeared to be ever-shifting, its form in a constant state of flux and metamorphosis. It is as if the very essence of the prism defies the limitations of three-dimensional space, presenting an ever-evolving array of mesmerizing geometries, colours, and textures that dance and ripple across its surface.
"So...What is that thing? Is Windkiss telling you about that as well?" Sci-Twi pondered.
"I don't hear her voice anymore. It looks like the wind ends here." But Ash lost contact with Windkiss's voice. He couldn't hear her anymore which was odd. All that was left was this object that had no traces of wind anywhere else.
As the adventurers drew closer to the ITEM a soft and resonant voice, seemingly emanating from the depths of the ever-shifting artefact, filled the air around them.
"Travelers of Flock Falls, well done for effortlessly passing through the Wall of Wind" An ethereal voice intoned, echoing gently through the verdant surroundings. The voice carried a melodic cadence, imbued with a sense of ancient wisdom and serene tranquillity, captivating the attention of Ash, Twilight and Bertha.
"You three...You aren't the worthy ones. Who are you?" The voice questioned, not even taking into account Ash's presence.
"Uh...We're just travellers like you said." Sci-Twi uttered. "And what even are you...?"
"I am not the artefact. This is the wonderful creation of Windkiss. Made to be the inheritance for those worthy. But it appears that the three of you are the one who showed up here. Unacceptable."
"Well, we were just curious. This place is brand new to me and we thought we'd check it out." Ash explained. "No idea what this place is though or what that is. But what do you mean we're not worthy?"
"Pikachu?"
"You are not the first to arrive here. And neither are you the first to be unworthy of this inheritance. You trespass upon hallowed ground, stained by the actions of those who sought to steal our essence,"
Ash, Twilight and Bertha exchanged bewildered glances, perplexed by the accusatory tone of the ethereal voice. They realized the voice within the item had somehow perceived them as a threat due to the actions of the previous group that had invaded this very area.
"Woah, hold on. We're not here to steal it." Sci-Twi leaned over, immediately debunking such a claim.
"Said by the Indigo Alliance in the past. We will not make the same mistake. Turn away now, lest your intentions echo their folly. We shall not allow our essence to be taken by those who seek to disrupt the harmony of our sanctuary," The voice warned, the subtle glow of the item flickering with an unsettling aura of vigilance.
Stricken by the sudden turn of events, the adventurers hesitated, realizing that the item, despite their pure intentions, deemed them as potential threats due to the tarnished history of past intruders.
"Hey, Windkiss led us here, ya know!" Ash bellowed back at the voice. "We're just checking it out."
"You would have heard of its existence in the first place and yet you say you only came to view it? Unlikely? The power from this is too colossal for it to be a mere tourist attraction."
"Wait. You said it was for an inheritance or something. Who for?" Bertha was curious about something else entirely.
"For Windkiss's descendants. Those rightful to it."
"Oooh..." Ash definitely knew who it was talking about. He has already met Windkiss's descendants and the most notable one who was the oldest was Windflash. "So it's for them, huh? Hm, I guess it checks out why they haven't been here yet."
"Wait? Who? Descendants?" Sci-Twi blurted.
"Yeah, yeah. Windkiss's descendants. They're around for sure. But it looks like they haven't shown up here. Windflash and everyone in her family just do their own thing. They don't really get involved with stuff Windkiss made."
"Hm. So this thing has just been stuck while the rightful owners were living their lives." Bertha said.
"Can't blame them though. The Indigo Alliance, or Union now, wanted everything Windkiss or any Destiny Pegasi left behind. They caused Shooting Star's family a lot of trouble because of it. So, a bunch of years went by and her family stayed out of sight. Twilight just found them recently."
"Are you saying you know those who are worthy? Perhaps this is a lie." The voice uttered, not believing Ash from the start.
"No, way. It's true. They're doing something else now. Now, they're teachers over at the Pokemon School but...I guess you wouldn't know about that being stuck here."
"We will deem if you are speaking the truth." The voices within took action. From the item, a stream of wind flew out, moving at a gentle pace. It was about to see if Ash, Sci-Twi and Bertha were speaking the truth.
All the while, the Unown from before and the troops arrived at Flock Falls under the order of Second Wind. They gathered around the secret passageway that was not really a secret to them. The Indigo Union has been here before, but they have failed.
Only because the voices knew that they were not worthy. They were the reason it was so defensive when encountering Ash's group. The power that this strange item possessed was something they clearly wanted but after that one encounter, even Second Wind found it to be too risky to return to.
Despite that, Second Wind didn't want to take any chances as her forces were ready for Ash's group if they end up leaving that secret area. The Unown, by using their collective power, looked through the secret area, viewing everything happening from within.
They saw through the walls and even the Wall of Wind with ease, ignoring its magical properties. Beyond it was Ash's group, still around and perfectly fine. However, they also saw a force of wind around their bodies, attempting to see if they were telling the truth or not. The Unown would try and update this to Second Wind, sending a message to her telepathically to another Unown.
"Tch...Of course, he's telling the truth. He'll pass with flying colours." Second Wind sighed through one of the Unown. "But maybe...someone else can change that." At that moment, Second Wind had an idea. An awful and wicked idea. "They'll listen to Ash Ketchum, but will they listen to Prisma?"
Pegalysium. Flock Falls. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon
Hidden in a secret cove here at Flock Falls, Ash, Sci-Twi and Bertha came across an unidentified object that was made by Windkiss and was to be inherited by her descendants. The voices within were examining Ash's group, seeing if everything they said was the truth.
All the while, the Indigo Union were outside, being the reason for the mysterious item's defensive nature. They had their Unown at the ready, knowing confrontation with Ash would only lead to a plethora of issues.
"We don't sense even a slither of a lie from you." And thankfully, they saw the honesty. "Apologies."
"No problem. Not like the Indigo Union's gone just yet though." Ash wasn't bothered at all. He was used to it by now. "They could show up here again sometime."
"What even is this thing supposed to be?" Sci-Twi kneeled to face the unidentified object. "And how did Windkiss make something like this."
"Since you are not the ones who will inherit it, you cannot perceive its true form. Her descendants and bloodline are the only ones that can properly view this form. You spoke of her descendants, knowing them."
"That's right! Windflash and her family! I think she's over at the Pokemon School right about now." Ash continued. "All of them are. But if they could be here right now, it'd be awesome."
"It is only natural that they would be in hiding. After all, Windkiss created this item in response to the rise of the Indigo Alliance. Their existence dates back to even before Windkiss was born." The voices resonated again, revealing more information. "Flock Falls holds significance in Windkiss's lineage. It's a place where the energies of nature converge, amplifying the artefact's power. The resonance here acts as a safeguarding force, ensuring its concealment and true form until the rightful heirs can access it."
Bertha nodded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "It's like a harmonic nexus, a convergence point for the artefact's purpose to be realized. And they've avoided it for this long?"
"Can't blame 'em. They went into hiding" Ash shook his head. "But even if the Indigo Union's somewhere else, Windkiss's descendants don't really get all that involved with stuff she left behind. Even after Twilight told 'em everything, they stuck to what they knew and had. Ash scratched his head, taking in the gravity of the situation. "So, until Windflash and her family come here, this thing stays hidden?"
"I don't believe it...They aren't motivated to appear here?" The voices couldn't believe what they were hearing. But they had to be there to really see it all. Windkiss's descendants did not have plans to show up here.
"Doesn't sound like they have much of a reason." Bertha shook her head, laying the hard facts. "Even after the Indigo Union was driven elsewhere."
"I guess you're just stuck here untl they need a reason." Sci-Twi shrugged. "But...if they did show up, what would they use it for?"
"You said that the Indigo Union was driven elsewhere? But...this item was meant to do just that and more. Are you saying that they have been defeated?"
"Well, they're still around, but we took it to 'em and kept them from messing with Pegalysium." Ash and Pikachu collectively smiled as they were involved in fending off the Indigo Union. "I mean, they still show up and cause trouble, but ya know..."
Hearing this, the voices within the item finally showed themselves, no longer being as formal as they could. The object shimmered as out of it emerged the projections of the individuals within. And much like the Clock Door over at the Sky Monarch, this item also had a pony within. Multiple of them. Projections of ponies appeared, gazing at Ash's group.
"So then what is our purpose?" The Glowing Ponies asked. The main reason they were made was seemingly negated based on recent events.
"Eehh..." Ash couldn't really answer that. Neither could Sci-Twi or Bertha. They were just exploring after all. "Ah. I know! Since they still show up, the Indigo Union's not out of Pegalysium's hair just yet. That's it!"
"It isn't the same." The Glowing Ponies sighed. "And what even are those creatures with you?"
"Oh, you've been missing out." Ash said while holding up not just his Pikachu, but Sci-Twi's Alpha Pikachu as well. And to say that Twilight was stunned by seeing Ash hold up two Pokemon, especially one being heavier than the other was an understatement.
"Well, should we leave you now?" Bertha asked. "I think we've done and seen everything we can here. Aside from using it."
"Wait." The ponies spoke. "What about our purpose? Windkiss is already long gone so we were hoping that her descendants would eventually emerge and discover this item."
"Mmm...You can't do much like this and there's not much you can do now that the Indigo Union's not as powerful as used to to be." Ash scratched his head, pondering the situation. That's when something clicked in his mind. "I got it! I get that you were made to stop the Indigo Union, but they're not the only problem out there right now."
"What else could there be? Are you suggesting threats from other lands are present?"
"They totally are. For starters, they built an extra Pegalysium over this one after messing with the Clock Door. And there's a whole bunch of trouble outside of Pegalysium and back down at Equestria and beyond."
"Contact with Equestria? And just when the founders of Pegalysium did everything to ensure both nations wouldn't meet with each other." The Glowing Ponies were even aware of Pegalysium's origin and how it relates to Equestria.
"Even if the Indigo Union isn't as big a threat, but they're still a problem...there might be other dangers out there. You could protect this place or help in other ways."
"Great thinking, Ash!" Sci-Twi was this as a positive.
The ponies within the object exchanged glances, their luminous forms shimmering faintly. "Perhaps you're right. But how do we ensure her descendants find and understand this? They don't even want this item."
"I got nothing. Maybe they might keep it as a family heirloom if they find it." But Ash was stumped on this.
"Ridiculous!" The ponies bellowed. "That is absolute disrespect to this item's creation. But, it has to enter their hooves somehow. You will have to ensure that it ends up in their grasp. We have waited for far too long.
"Can we even touch it?" But Sci-Twi wasn't 100% positive about this. The energy that this item gave off was very much mystical and could be dangerous.
"Totally. Here goes..." Ash was about to take that risk. Moving his arms forward, he was already feeling the energy coming from this indescribable item with mixed dimensions. It felt warm but also somewhat welcoming.
"Be warned, Human. The artefact you are about to hold wields the fierce energy of many gales, coalesced into a single magical force that can match the very heat of magma itself, almost reaching the level of the stars and-"
"Got it!" But it didn't matter as Ash could perfectly hold it in his hands. So much for that magma-like heat. "This is pretty warm."
"Oooh, it is." Sci-Twi felt the same, putting her hands over it. The ponies within were rather embarrassed. Years of being stuck here and their grandiose power didn't seem too big of a deal for Ash's group. It seems that the world and the power structure around it has greatly developed while they sat here with the item.
"Pika?!" But at the moment, Ash's Pikachu used Iron Tail, reacting to something approaching. He leapt into the air, deflecting a crimson beam that almost struck Ash. The red beam would hit the walls of the cave instead. Sci-Twi yelped while Ash and Bertha immediately turned their heads to where the beam came from.
Appearing here were the Unown.
"Unown!? That means..." Ash already knew the answer to this. If the Unown were here, so were the Indigo Union. However, they didn't show themselves. Instead, it was just the Unown as the troops of Second Wind did not appear here. The Unown made their way through the Wall of Wind, using their Hidden Power to easily do so.
"What are those things?!" The voices within questioned. But that was just the distraction. The remaining Unown were hiding behind the Wall of Wind. Using Hidden Power, they shot at the ground, unleashing its many effects. The ground was met with a crimson light which soon latched itself onto the walls.
And from the Unown, the voice of Second Wind spoke, using other Unown to do so. "It's only natural that the artefact would not deem you as a threat. But I can guarantee it will see Prisma as a threat. Let your surroundings change and give you a taste of Prisma's world."
Around Ash's group, the Crimson Light would rise, covering everything with a blinding appearance. The intention of the Unown was to bring the view and existence of Prisma to the artefact. And while they lacked the power to revive Prisma they could do one thing. Mimic Prisma's world.
Illusion of Unilight.
And it was a success. The red glow faded and the eyes of Ash were slowly opening. He was completely fine, unharmed. So was Pikachu. Both of them found themselves somewhere else that wasn't a cave. In his hands, he still held the artefact from Windkiss as that wasn't taken away.
"Huh?" Ash found himself wearing a red cloak and completely different clothes. The same clothes that a Young Prisma wore. Only Sci-Twi could recognize this specific look but Ash kept his original hairstyle and not Prisma's hair.
"Twilight! Bertha!" Ash cried out for them as he found himself outside of a stadium. No sign of Twilight or Bertha or even the Unown that appeared. "Man...We're in an Unown Space." But Ash was fully aware of where he was. He's dealt with this before.
"Pikachu..."
Ash and Pikachu also noticed that there were others around them that weren't Twilight or Bertha. People were here. But not just humans, but ponies. This place was an area where towering skyscrapers adorned with colourful banners representing different species dot the skyline. Pokémon, humans, ponies, dragons, changelings, yaks, and various other species coexist peacefully, each contributing their unique talents and abilities to Unlight's community. This was indeed Prisma's world as Ash was viewing it in another light.
This time, at its fullest.
The massive land of Unilight was visible to his eyes and what it used to be before it was lost. Only the Unown could recreate a part of it. The residential areas are designed to cater to the needs of every species. There are sprawling forests and lush green spaces where Pokémon roam freely and live in harmony with nature. Sturdy and cozy homes equipped with magical enchantments accommodate ponies and other creatures that prefer natural habitats.
This was the world that Celestia envisioned and once existed. It was also a world that Ash dreamed about, but not exactly via an illusion from the Unown. As they ventured further into the city, Ash noticed a wonderful mix of Pokémon, humans, and other creatures interacting harmoniously. He's seen sights like this before but never with this many species together. Not even the Pokemon Festival has reached this level yet.
As Ash and Pikachu navigated the colourful streets of Unilight, they encountered a variety of creatures, each going about their day with cheerfulness and a welcoming spirit. The city was a marvel, bustling with activity and resonating with a harmonious vibe that filled the air.
To think that Prisma once lived here. Where did it all go wrong?
He turned to face the stadium, seeing what it entailed from the outside. The stadium was a mesmerizing sight, a convergence of ancient architecture and futuristic design. Par for the course when it came to Unilight. He could even see a bit of the inside from this distance. Its sprawling structure appears as if woven from the very fabric of the universe itself.
The entrance was guarded by towering figures of Golurks, who were welcoming visitors into a corridor adorned with holographic murals depicting legendary matches from aeons past. And from the stadium, Ash could hear the sounds of cheers and applauding. The sound of a Pokemon Battle being viewed.
Currently, he couldn't find Twilight or Bertha and he definitely knew that this world was 100% fake. The Unown were only showing him this. "As cool as this is, I gotta find them. Where are they?"
"Pikachu. Pika?" Ash and Pikachu would love to explore this world, but their friends came first.
"Ash Ketchum." The voices spoke to Ash. "Use our power to find them."
"Your power? But I thought only Windkiss's descendants could use it?"
"They can. And they are the only ones who can perceive its power. But we spare a surrogate magic that will help you track your friends."
"Many thanks." Ash very much appreciated it. With a shimmering glow, the voices allowed Ash to harness its power temporarily. And with it, he immediately used it as a GPS. A blue ray of light would point directly at the stadium, telling Ash to approach there first.
As for the ones responsible, the Unown were in the sky, looking down, observing Ash's movements. They transmitted the vision of this illusion to Second Wind, making sure she was getting a good view of it.
"Hm? What is this?" Second Wind was rather displeased by what she was seeing. She expected a completely different outcome than this. "You fools! He's only wearing the clothing of Prisma! The artefact cannot possibly register him as something else entirely."
"A-Apologies." Speaking through the other Unown were Second Wind's troops. "But this was the best that the Unown could do. They could only replicate the world but replicating Prisma seemed impossible for them."
"Tch. Of course, it is." Second Wind hated hearing something like that. "Whatever. We can still force it out of him. Make sure that you target Prisma specifically. His soul is in there after all and I can think of one other way to unleash him." But the Grand Queen wasn't about to call it quits. Not when she had Ash in this illusion.
Ash continued on his path, approaching the stadium. The Golurk immediately allowed him through, stepping aside from him as the doors would open and unleash a brilliant light. Ash saw how much it mimicked a Pokemon League Stadium from the indoors. That much was the same even in Unilight.
And just like a League Stadium, there were other Trainers visible who were passing by. Immediately, they locked onto Ash, specifically recognizing him as the Legendary Prisma.
"Looking good Prisma!" A Human Pokemon Trainer said after running past Ash. Of course, he referred to him as Prisma since he was wearing his clothes and did look like him thanks to that face. Not quite the same hairstyle though.
"Hey, Prisma~" A Griffon Trainer would wave at him, flashing her eyes before passing by. Other Trainers gave their greetings, calling him Prisma. All of them recognized him as his fame was undoubtedly vast. Ash waved back at them, even though he knew he wasn't Prisma. But he technically was Prisma.
Ash was then led to the waiting room of the stadium where other Trainers were seen. Naturally, they greeted him too while some would move away upon seeing his arrival. "Wow. They really respected Prisma, huh?" Hearing this, Ash had to wonder what Prisma was actually like back in his world. Based on what he's heard about him, none of this is really adding up.
While venturing further into the stadium's waiting room, Ash couldn't help but ponder the enigma surrounding Prisma. "Pikachu," Ash murmured softly, leaning closer to his partner. "This isn't how Prisma is supposed to be, right?"
"Pi." Pikachu shook his head, mirroring Ash's confusion. This world seemed to have constructed its own perception of Prisma, perhaps influenced by legends and stories that might have taken on a life of their own. But he had to think about Twilight and Bertha first as the beam of light was getting stronger, meaning he was getting closer.
As Ash mulled over these thoughts, a Trainer approached him, adorned in a striking outfit adorned with various elemental symbols. "Hey, you're Prisma, right?"
Knowing that he took on the appearance of Prisma slightly, he would respond immediately. "Uh, yeah, that's what they call me here."
The Trainer's eyes lit up with excitement. "I've heard so much about your battles! They say you're one of the most powerful trainers out there."
Ash scratched his head, feeling a bit perplexed by the exaggerated reputation attributed to him. "Well, I guess that's kinda true. Maybe not here." The waiting room buzzed with anticipation as trainers exchanged greetings and whispered about the legendary Prisma's presence among them.
Ash couldn't shake off the feeling of being out of place. He longed to find Twilight and Bertha, to break free from this illusion and return to his own reality. He knew this was not real after all. The blue ray of light emanating from the power Ash borrowed led him to a certain corner of the waiting room, pointing directly at a door marked with intricate symbols.
"Ash Ketchum. She is just up ahead. Continue at once." The voices blurted. Without hesitation, Ash headed toward it, hoping that beyond this door lay the answers he sought and the reunion with his friends. The other Trainers couldn't receive their answers at all from Ash.
Ash's path led him to another door which had regal decorations around it. And standing there were two Dragon Guards, wearing armour and holding staffs that were surrounded in flames. They certainly looked like they came straight from the Dragon Lands as Ash had to wonder if that place also exists here.
"Excuse me. I'm looking for a friend of mine." He said to the guards with no fear, who would soon lower their eyes to meet with Ash and his Pikachu. "Her name's Twilight and-"
"P-Prisma!" These stout and tall guards were actually intimidated by Ash's presence, seeing him as Prisma. So much for their bold appearance. Once they saw Ash, they stuttered and stumbled on their words, surprising the duo. "Of course. Right this way." Without hesitation, they would step aside. But not only that, they seemed to know who Ash was referring to know when he brought up the name Twilight.
The doors would open, revealing the beauty that was waiting ahead.
As Ash and Pikachu step into this ethereal space, they are greeted by a harmonious blend of soft, iridescent hues that mimic the colours of a twilight sky. The walls, adorned with intricate tapestries woven from threads that seem to shimmer with a faint, ever-changing glow, depict scenes of the celestial dance between day and night.
The room is bathed in a gentle, ambient light that seems to emanate from delicate fixtures resembling crystalline orbs suspended from the ceiling. These orbs emit a soothing, subtle luminescence, casting intricate patterns of soft shadows that dance across the room.
Seating arrangements consist of gracefully crafted chairs and plush cushions upholstered in fabrics reminiscent of the colours found in twilight. Subtle purples, dusky pinks, and hints of deep blue. The furniture seems to meld seamlessly with the room's ambience.
In one corner, a small fountain burbles softly, its waters glimmering with a faint iridescence. The gentle sound of flowing water adds to the tranquil atmosphere, creating a sense of calm and serenity.
Delicate floral arrangements, comprising otherworldly blooms that seem to shimmer like stars, adorn various surfaces, infusing the room with a subtle yet captivating fragrance. This was a room fit for royalty.
"Check it out...What Trainer do you think this is for?" Ash marvelled at the sight.
"Pika..."
"Ash!" Just as promised, the artefact would lead him to his friends. Well, only one of them was seen at the moment and it was none other than Sci-Twi. The sound of her running over could be heard as Ash turned to face her in this luxurious room.
"Ah, sweet! Twilight!"
"Pika!"
But Twilight also looked different. She kept her Human appearance in this world of various species but came with her own clothes. Her figure, adorned in flowing iridescent robes, shimmered like the fading light of dusk. Her hair, a cascade of opalescent strands, seemed to hold the essence of stars, twinkling with each movement.
The crown upon her head was a delicate arrangement of ethereal crystals, each one representing a different facet of twilight, dusky purples, soft pinks, and hints of midnight blue. Her eyes mirrored the enigmatic depths of the evening sky while still keeping that signature purple appearance. Sci-Twi definitely changed up the most.
"Oh, I'm so glad you showed up so soon, Ash! What just happened?" A flustered Sci-Twi asked after reaching Ash. "One minute we're at the cave at Flock Falls and the next...I'm in here for some reason. It's nice and all but..."
"Man. Sweet Dress." Ash complimented after observing the getup but not the other appearances outside of the clothes
"Y-You think so..." Sci-Twi was rather glad to hear that, especially from Ash. It even made her blush a bit. "Never mind that! What is this?! Where are we?"
"This is Prisma's world. I know that for sure." Ash confirmed from the start. "And these clothes..."
"I know those clothes. That's what Prisma wore!" Thanks to what Scione showed her, Sci-Twi recognized the getup immediately, grabbing the red cape. "You mean we got sucked into that lost universe?!" She would screech, already thinking about the worst.
"Nah. It's just an illusion made by the Unown." But Ash staved off her fears immediately. "The Indigo Union probably did this, but I don't know why. I'm wearing Prisma's getup and you're wearing uh..."
"I guess I'm a princess now." Sci-Twi giggled. "They started calling me that the second I showed up here. I wasn't sure what to think. I was still stuck on that Unown part. If you're wearing Prisma's clothes...who am I supposed to be?"
"Twilight Luminaria. Who else?" Ash nudged. "But I guess you're a Human Version of her. Kept the glasses and everything."
"She didn't have glasses in my dream," Sci-Twi grumbled, adjusting her glass afterwards. "Well...How do we get out? What do we do to break out of an illusion."
"We can get out of here, no problem. Just gotta find Bertha. Wherever she is." That was all they needed to do. Afterwards, they would be out of here.
"Princess Twilight." Entering the room was a well-dressed woman who would bow her head. "The battle is about to start and...oh. Prisma's already here?"
"Hey." Ash waved, followed by Pikachu and Alpha Pikachu doing the same.
"Um...Sorry if I'm interrupting anything. But Prisma. Y-You're up next. The seats are ready, Princess Twilight." The employee of this stadium said.
"Uh...Ahem!" Sci-Twi cleared her throat, trying to sound like a princess. Sci-Twi was quick on her feet, using her identity to use this as an advantage to find one person. Bertha. "Before you do that...could you do one thing for me? A woman has gone missing. Her name is Bertha. I was with her not too long ago and now I've lost sight of her. I would like for you to find her. Please?"
"Nice." Ash gave a thumbs-up for that formal speech.
"Apologies if I sound rude but, Bertha isn't missing." That is until the woman dropped a bombshell.
"She's not?" Ash and Twilight collectively said when looking at each other and back at the woman.
"She's just outside the stadium. I believe she's already finished preparing herself. All that's left is for you to show up. Prisma."
They now knew where Bertha was. At the arena. But perhaps, nothing drastic happened to Bertha since it was only Ash and Twilight who had any relation to Prisma's lost universe. The Unown and by extension, Second Wind continued to watch the events play out. So far, everything was moving at a calm pace but Second Wind wanted to see more.
She didn't want any entertainment. All she wanted was for Prisma to show up. And with a devious look on her face, she had a good feeling that specific moment was coming. Especially when they mentioned Bertha's name. Once her name was spoken by Ash and the employee, Second Wind grinned, having something wicked brewing.
Illusion of the Unown. Unlight. Unilight Stadium. Day.
The massive land of Unilight. Created by the Unown and appearing as an illusion, Ash, Sci-Twi and Bertha were brought into this Lost Universe. While Ash and Sci-Twi managed to reunite with Ash wearing the same clothes as Prisma and Twilight rocking a regal dress that relates to Twilight Luminaria, all that was left was Bertha, who was at this stadium's field.
Ash, who was being called Prisma by all the citizens of this illusion, would make his way to the arena where Bertha was waiting. The second he stepped out, the most booming cheers came through. It was a full house as they were all elated to see Prisma'sa arrival. This was bigger than any Pokemon League Ash has been to or seen. The numbers were tremendous and were greatly elevated thanks to the various species that can be found. Indeed, Bertha was there, still in her usual getup as nothing had changed about her. Bertha was still herself.
"Bertha!" Ash cried out after entering the stadium. Once he showed up, a thunderous applause and cheer followed as they believed he was Prisma.
"There you are. I was wondering when you'd show up." Bertha wasn't bothered at all. Perhaps it was her age that helped her power through this. As Ash approached, the cheers grew louder, the audience thrilled to witness what they believed was Prisma's arrival. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, but Bertha's tranquillity juxtaposed the fervour surrounding them.
"Are you alright, Bertha?" Ash asked, concerned about how she was handling the situation. "You don't seem that bothered."
"I've seen a fair share in my time, Ash," Bertha reassured him. "This illusion may be perplexing, but it takes more than a mere trick to rattle me."
The stadium's energy surged as the illusionary world continued to weave its narrative, projecting an image of grandeur and fame onto Ash, who wore Prisma's attire. The cheers and adoration from the audience intensified, their belief in his legendary status unwavering.
Despite the confusion of being perceived as someone he wasn't, Ash remained determined to break free from this illusion and reunite with his friends in reality.
"Ooh." As for Sci-Twi, since she was seen as Twilight Luminaria, she received a special seat that would bring her to the arena. Much like how the commentators get their own space, Twilight found herself sitting on a moving chair that was carried up the stadium interior.
Afterwards, the seat would stop at a high place, allowing Sci-Twi to view the arena without anything blocking her way. Twilight was getting a taste of what it felt like to be a Princess, similar to her Equestrian Counterpart. She cleared her throat, putting on a smile as she quite enjoyed it.
"Are you alright, princess?" One of the employees of this stadium asked. Sci-Twi glanced at the employee, her expression maintaining the regal grace that befitted the illusionary persona she had been assigned in this world.
"Oh! Uh, yes, I'm fine. Thank you," She replied with a polite nod, adjusting to the unexpected turn of events. The stadium employee seemed satisfied with her response and continued with his duties, leaving Twilight to take in the view from her elevated seat.
The atmosphere in the stadium crackled with excitement, the cheers for "Prisma" intensifying as Ash approached Bertha. While the illusionary world projected an image of grandeur onto Ash, and bestowed Twilight with an elevated view akin to royalty, Bertha remained an anchor of calmness amidst the illusionary storm.
"Man...Is this what it was like?" Ash said while hearing the cheers of Prisma's name. "It'd be cool to check the whole place out but...We should get going. I don't know why the Indigo Union wanted to bring us here." Ash put his hands together, already knowing of a way to break free.
"Not so fast." But it wasn't like Second Wind was going to sit back and watch. Even though that is what she's been doing. The Unown of her Troops would descend a bit, hovering over the stadium's arena while projecting Second Wind's booming voice. "I should've known you'd be completely fine even after being sent here."
"Second Wind!" Ash cried out after hearing her voice and spotting the Unown. Sci-Twi would soon look up, holding onto her Arceus Pendant.
"You just couldn't stay at the lower lands for your Festival. Of course you would show up at Pegalysium. And you would be immune to Windkiss's Breezeseal."
"Breezeseal?" He finally learned the name of the item he was holding.
"I expected you to be safe by the end of it. After all, I was hoping that the Breezeseal would've made you a part of the winds itself."
"She's right." The voices within uttered. "Our greatest power is being able to seal others and make them a part of the winds themselves. Removing their physical bodies as they merge with nature. Windkiss built us for that very reason."
"It's fine. If anything, this has only fueled my drive to exact vengeance upon you. Even though it's Celestia that I hate the most. Bringing you here to this illusion of Prisma's Lost Universe might be one of my greatest decisions, even if it doesn't look like it."
"Why would you bring us here? What are you planning?" Bertha questioned, knowing fully well that this illusion could be broken out of. It wasn't permanent at all.
"To unlock Prisma, of course. Once he makes his appearance, the Breezeseal will do what is necessary." Second Wind could be heard making a light chuckle. "After all, it seals who it deems an absolute threat. And you, Ash Ketchum, are the biggest one here."
"Me?" Ash said before listening to the sound of the crowd. It seemed like they weren't aware of the Unown at all. They were still cheering Prisma's name. Sci-Twi got off her seat, leaning over and witnessing how the crowd wasn't reacting to this at all. Not even the bodyguards or employees were doing anything. Not too long ago, they were completely interacting with them but now, they were acting as if Second Wind and the Unown weren't here.
"They're not doing anything? Why?" She wondered before glancing at the Unown themselves. "Unless..."
At that moment, one of the Unown rose from the ground, concealing itself before making its move. Bertha gasped as it was right behind her. The effects of the Unown's Hidden Power would kick in, leaving Bertha stunned as the red light would stay there, pouring every once in.
"Oh, no! Bertha!" Ash cried out before turning to face Bertha. The energy emitting from the Hidden Power seemed extra potent, creating a strong pressure.
"How will you feel after one of your friends receives an unsatisfactory effect?" Second Wind spoke before having the other Unown attack. Right before Ash could do anything, the other Unown unleashed their Hidden Power. As soon as he went for Bertha, the red rays of Hidden Power brought another effect.
Ash found the space around him slowing down as the Unown created a bubble that messed with time. It was enough to slow Ash down and continue to affect Bertha.
"Pikachu! Makeshift Volt Tackle!" Ash growled within the bubble, managing to get an attack name out.
"Chu...!" By combining Quick Attack with Thunderbolt, Pikachu was able to mimic Volt Tackle while in the bubble. The electricity would crackle violently as the Mouse Pokemon broke through it, moving at high speeds. He zoomed through the air, tackling the Unown.
The Unown cried out as a mighty shockwave sent it flying. But it was too late. The effect had already reached Bertha. Bertha kneeled on the arena floor, having a crackle of red lightning pulsate out of her body. Thanks to Pikachu's attack, he freed Ash by breaking the bubble.
"This will do nicely. That Professor mentioned something about rage. Let's see if it works." Second Wind uttered. The plan was to trigger Prisma's awakening and to Second Wind, the best way to do that was by targeting Ash's friends. Bertha was among that friend group.
Bertha could be seen transforming into something else. Red tendrils snaked their way out, writhing like living entities, piercing through her flesh. The vines emerged violently, tearing through her clothes and burrowing into the earth below, anchoring her in a macabre display of transformation.
Her once-ordinary eyes became pools of scarlet, the pupils pulsating with an otherworldly light that sent shivers down Sci-Twi's spines. They seemed to bore into the very soul of anyone who dared to meet her gaze. Bertha's visage was now an unsettling enigma, bathed in an unnatural crimson glow that cast eerie shadows across her contorted features.
The sinewy vines continued their relentless ascent, entwining around her form in intricate patterns reminiscent of arcane symbols or circuitry. They coiled around her limbs, encasing her in an ethereal web of crimson lines that pulsed with an unsettling rhythm. Each vine throbbed with a faint red luminescence, casting an eerie illumination upon her body as if infusing her with an unearthly energy.
Throughout the transformation, Bertha remained eerily still, a statue within the intricate web of pulsating vines. The transformation seemed both a fusion and a perversion of nature itself, as if something ancient and alien had awakened within her, reshaping her into a being that defied comprehension.
"Excellent! It feels just like when I made those Zombie Ponies." Second Wind boasted. "Well, almost like it. It's one thing to turn her mindless and ruin her body, but to trap her in an illusionary world? A staggering bonus. And I heard this is only possible in Prisma's Universe."
"Guhh..." Bertha let out a raspy groan and gasp. Her body essentially became one with the ground itself, all the while the smiles of the crowd were still present, only adding to the eeriness of this all. Ash growled, shifting his eyes to face the Unown and by extension, facing Second Wind. That look in Ash's eyes pleased Second Wind greatly.
"I like that look in your eyes, Ketchum." Second Wind's tone changed into an excited one. The Grand Queen of Pinnaculum Pegalysium believed that this might be enough to awaken Prisma. "How does this make you feel~?"
"Bertha! Hang on!" But Ash was strong-willed, not faltering for even a moment. He was focused on saving Bertha.
"You're serious? How?" But Second Wind didn't understand it. She was sure that Ash would lose it and allow Prisma to take control somehow, but alas, that did not happen. Sure, Ash was upset, but not to the point where Prisma's soul might awaken. Sci-Twi was horrified by what she was seeing. Another one of her teachers underwent a horrific transformation that plastered her to the ground.
"Hmph. If that won't work, then perhaps there's another way to force him out of you. Confront your own friend and I can only hope there is one way to save her." Second Wind essentially ordered Bertha to attack Ash and Pikachu, trying whatever she could to free Prisma. At last, a battle was about to take place in this arena, but it was not the usual kind or anything to be excited about.
The battlefield crackled with anticipation as Ash and his trusty Pikachu stood on one side, while Bertha, with her red vines pulsating, loomed confidently on the other. Ash's Pikachu, cheeks sparking with electricity, faced off against the transformed Bertha. The air buzzed with energy, a charged atmosphere signalling the impending clash.
"I don't wanna hurt you, Bertha. But I've gotta free you somehow. Get ready, Pikachu! Use Quick Attack!"
"Pikachu!" With a lightning-quick burst, Pikachu lunged forward, a streak of yellow and black aiming straight for Vinelith. But before the Electric Mouse could reach its target, Bertha's vines flickered into action. With an elegant swish, they intercepted Pikachu's Quick Attack, halting his advance mid-charge. "P-Pi!" The ground shivered slightly as Bertha's defensive manoeuvre held firm.
"Use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...!" Pikachu bounced back, shaking off the surprise. With a defiant chirp, he gathered electricity, crackling sparks dancing along his cheeks. Once he regained his balance, A burst of energy exploded from Pikachu's cheeks as he unleashed a dazzling Thunderbolt, a sizzling surge of electric power hurtling towards Bertha.
But the transformed Bertha wasn't unprepared. With a resonating hum, the earth beneath her stirred, as if answering her call. A shimmering barrier, woven from the surrounding terrain, materialized, blunting the Thunderbolt's intensity as it crashed against the protective shield.
Ash raised one arm due to the potent impact that caused the dust to aggressively flow and rocks to fly.
"Ash! Don't hurt her too badly, please!" Sci-Twi yelled from afar, her voice reaching Ash thanks to the intensity.
"I know!" Ash bellowed back. "I really don't wanna do this to my friends..."
At that moment, the vines around Bertha would summon something from below. Appearing to assist her were Red Vine creatures that didn't resemble Bertha at all. This was just a side-effect of the transformation. Ash gasped as Bertha received support, even if she didn't wish to do this. But thanks to that single Unown using the advantage of this universe, Bertha had no choice.
"I need your help! Gliscor! Heracross! Talonflame!" Throwing three Poke Balls into the air, Ash summoned three Pokemon who could take flight. When observing this battle, Ash noticed that Bertha was still focused on using the ground to her advantage even when undergoing a transformation.
"Gliscor!"
"Scatter! Get in close to Bertha and hold her steady!" Ash had a new approach. Perhaps holding Bertha in place would do. Once he has her still, he can try his best to break this transformation.
The summoned Red Vine creatures, their vines pulsating with energy, took the initiative. With a synchronized motion, they extended their red tendrils, aiming to ensnare the trio of Pokémon in a coordinated assault. Gliscor reacted swiftly, soaring into the air with a powerful flap of its wings, evading the incoming vines. "Gli!"
"Heracross, use Megahorn! Talonflame, Brave Bird!"
"Hera!" Heracross lowered his horn, charging headfirst into the fray, using his immense strength to break through the encroaching vines. Talonflame executed a skilful aerial manoeuvre, dodging the vines and swooping in to aid its teammates. It then used Brave Bird to accelerate through the air at high speeds which caused Talonflame to break through the vines.
The creatures, undeterred, intensified their assault, red vines lashing out like whips, attempting to corner the Pokémon. Gliscor, airborne and agile, utilized its aerial advantage, diving down in a calculated swoop. Its tail stinger glinted as it launched a barrage of Poison Jabs, aiming to weaken the creatures' defences.
"Here we come, Bertha! Go, Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu leapt the highest into the air, even more than the Pokemon that can actually fly. With the Sun shining down on his body, the Mouse Pokemon approached Bertha with a Quick Attack, planning to close the distance. The ground below would tremble, summoning pillars of Earth to try and intercept him. The Electric-Type would successfully land on one of the pillars, swiftly running down them to gain some more movement.
He leapt onto the next, running on it as well. But there were some more pillars rising from different angles that Pikachu could run on, otherwise they would slow him down. They were aggressively erupting from below, trying their best to keep the Mouse Pokemon away.
"Gliscor, use Stone Edge!"
"Scor!" Gliscor would slam his tail onto the ground, assisting Pikachu. Intercepting these pillars were large crystals that matched their length. The crystals would pierce through the pillars that almost touched Pikachu, giving him all the time he needed to get in close.
"Now, use Electroweb!"
"Pika! Pikachu!" Close enough, Pikachu summoned an orb from his tail, flinging it forward. The orb then transformed into a web, made to catch Bertha. Even though it would harm her since it was still electricity, it was at least a way to restrain her. Right as she tried to block it with her red vines, the orb landed down on time, trapping the transformed Elite 4 Member.
"Yes!" Sci-Twi cheered at this effort. "Keep at it, Ash!" But unbeknownst to her, there was another Unown behind her. Second Wind didn't leave Sci-Twi out of the equation, knowing how close she was to Ash. While Ash took care of Bertha's transformation, another Unown would use Hidden Power from afar without needing to worry about the bodyguards.
After all, they weren't reacting in the way they should. Spike, Hisuian Zorua and Alpha Pikachu were cheering Ash on as well, but only two of them could detect the danger. Zorua and Alpha Pikachu turned their heads to see a red ray flying their way. Sci-Twi heard the sound of the ray getting close, turning her head to see a crimson light as her eyes widened.
With Bertha pinned down, the vines she controlled would slow down as well. This was Ash's chance to free her from this transformation. "Alright! I'll try and-" Before that could even happen, the shriek of Twilight froze him. It wasn't Bertha in peril.
"Twilight?!"
"Pika?!" Ash and his Pokemon turned to see Sci-Twi restrained by the Unown as well. The Unown's red rays struck Sci-Twi, their Hidden Power taking effect as the crimson energy surrounded her, trapping her within a glowing aura. The Unown's power coursed through her, rendering her motionless as she struggled against the unseen force, her Arceus Pendant pulsating faintly amidst the red radiance.
"No way! Twilight!" Ash cried out, his voice tinged with urgency and concern. He instinctively moved closer, attempting to reach her, but the issue was Bertha was still prominent, separating him from Sci-Twi. But it wasn't just her. Alpha Pikachu, Hisuian Zorua and Spike were caught as well, entangled in this otherworldy barrier.
"Hahaha!" Second Wind thoroughly enjoyed this instance. "Did you think I forgot about her?" The Unown, under her command, seemed to have seized Sci-Twi and the Pokémon, intending to use their connection to Ash to provoke a reaction, possibly triggering Prisma's awakening.
"Ah, the little princess," Second Wind taunted from above, her voice resonating throughout the stadium. "It's fascinating how fragile your connections are. But let's test their strength, shall we? Without a doubt, I can unleash Prisma this way by putting both of their lives on their line. If only I had enough Unown to wipe them out of existence."
The Unown's power intensified, encasing Sci-Twi and the Pokémon in a tighter grip, exerting pressure on their forms. Sci-Twi's Arceus Pendant emitted a faint glow, its energy struggling against the crimson aura ensnaring her. Ash clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. He couldn't allow Second Wind to manipulate his friends, but he wasn't sure who to tackle first. Gliscor, Heracross and Talonflame then noticed the vine creatures slowly growing in size, managing to move on their own without Bertha's own power.
"Go on. Let him free. Based on what we know, Prisma is superior. You might need his help~" She hummed with a cruel tone while the sounds of cheering kept going off.
"..." Ash stood there, in between his friends who were in rough spots. Second Wind, while not here, was most definitely smiling through this. The crowd kept cheering for Prisma, not because they wanted him to win, but because they knew he was going to win. But at the moment, it didn't look like Ash, who was the stand-in for Prisma. was about to achieve victory. Not with these circumstances.
Pinnaculum Pegalysium. Second Wind's Throne Room.
Back in the real world. Second Wind was enjoying the view from her throne room, even taking the time to bring some food over, just for her amusement. Second Wind cackled and giggles at Ash's current predicament, finding this to be the best form of revenge.
"I was going to have your grandmother become my hostage, just so I could force you out. But instead, I'll just deal with you first." She thought to herself. "Makes me wonder what would happen if I took her out of the equation? Would you cease to exist? That would be wonderful."
Second Wind was still looking for Lena Ketchum, wanting to completely crush the Ketchum family and everyone surrounding them. Second Wind was also thinking about where this would put her in the alliance. She could see it now. Above Ghetsis, above Empress Twilight and above Daybreaker. She would be praised for accomplishment, defeating the one person they couldn't.
The jubilation was immense for the Grand Queen. It might end up making her the leader of the alliance since she was the only one who succeeded in this.
Illusion of Unilight.
"Well? What's taking you so long?!" Second Wind barked after seeing Ash just standing there, waiting for him to do something. "Perhaps it's sinking in right now. Yes, that's it."
The voices within the Breezeseal would notice this themselves. They wondered why Ash wasn't making a move as Second Wind was hoping that the item would automatically seal Ash away. Pikachu looked at Ash with a worried look on his face. He feared that this silence was a sign of Prisma appearing.
Ash felt the weight of the situation bearing down on him. The echoes of Second Wind's taunts reverberated in the arena, mingling with the cheers that surrounded him. His determination remained steadfast, but he grappled with a decision, knowing the potential consequences of any action he might take.
Pikachu's worried gaze mirrored Ash's concerns, the unspoken fear of Prisma's awakening casting a shadow over their attempts to free Sci-Twi and companions. Seconds felt like eternities as Ash stood amidst the turmoil, his mind racing through possibilities. He couldn't afford to let Prisma's essence take control, but he also couldn't stand idly by while his friends were in danger.
The voices within the Breezeseal resonated with Ash's internal struggle, sensing the delicate balance between his resolve and the looming threat of Prisma's emergence. The Breezeseal, with its mystical power, managed to detect something within Ash.
But it was not Prisma.
"You don't have all my friends where you want them." said Ash, finally speaking. A smile graced his face as his thoughts weren't fixated on Prisma. They were fixated on someone else.
"Of course I do. What are you talking about? The other Pokemon at your disposal? Send them out and I'll just make things worse for them, if that wasn't clear enough." A pompous Second Wind scoffed. "This is excellent payback for you ruining so much that I built."
"Not all of them." Ash grinned. There was one other friend he was referring to and it was not a Pokemon. However, Second Wind wasn't following at all. It wasn't just Prisma's soul that was within him. Creeping up behind the Unown by blending in with the shadows another individual who was pulled into this illusion.
The Unown that held Sci-Twi and the others was unaware of what was emerging behind it. It was a shadow. But not just any shadow. The Shadow of Sombra. His eyes shimmered in the darkness.
The Shadow of Sombra emerged from the darkness, his presence unnoticed by the Unown as he navigated the shadows, his eyes glinting ominously. His aura exuded a dark energy, cloaked in an otherworldly darkness that contrasted sharply with the arena's illumination.
The voices within the Breezeseal hummed in recognition, sensing the arrival of the shadowy figure. They understood the complexity of Ash's strategy, recognizing the potential impact of Sombra's presence in this illusionary realm.
Before the Unown could react, this time, it was the one who received a sneak attack. It couldn't even make a sound as its body was enveloped in darkness. No one heard anything except for Sci-Twi's side.
Meanwhile, Second Wind, oblivious to the impending threat lurking behind her, continued her gloating. "You think you have some kind of leverage? I have no interest in your petty games, Ash. I know for a fact that I'm close to unleashing Prisma in some capacity. Now hurry up and break already!"
But Ash kept that smile on his face. It soon turned into a grin which caught Second Wind off guard. But as she continued her tirade, the Shadow of Sombra moved with deliberate intent. He remained silent, his eyes focused on the Unown, his presence an enigma in the midst of the chaos.
Ash was not bluffing and Second Wind soon realized this. "Unless...!" Finally realizing that Ash did have some sort of advantage, the Grand Queen used the Unown to view the rest of the stadium. And once she switched her view back to Sci-Twi, she saw that her group was free. "What?!"
Not only that, but Sombra was gone, leaving the Unown on the ground, soaked in its worst possible fears. Second Wind realized that someone had attacked her Unown without her even noticing. And before she could use the other Unown to view it, they were hit with a sneak attack as well.
Sombra moved swiftly as a shadow, covering the next Unown, which in turn, cloaked Second Wind's vision as she couldn't see who was behind it. Only darkness from this point of view.
"Who is it?!"
"Guess you don't know everything about me!" Ash grinned as it seemed as if Second Queen wasn't aware of Sombra a part of Ash. "Hang on, Bertha!" Ash took advantage of this scenario, rushing to Bertha while she was still trapped.
"No you don't! Stop him!" Second Wind bellowed. But before the other Unown could do anything, the Shadow of Sombra cloaked another one's vision, engulfing it. Only a few red rays were unleashed from above, making this interception rather weak. Weak enough for Ash's Pokemon to easily block.
"Hera!" Heracross would slice the ray apart with his horn while Gliscor used his claws to crush them. Talonflame would even fly directly at one of the Unown, avoiding the rays and delivering a powerful Brave Bird.
Ash finally reached Bertha, placing his hands on her face, taking the pain of the electricity with ease. Ash would soon tap into the power of Aura, using it as a means to free Bertha of this horrific transformation, his hands glowing with a vibrant energy. Channelling his inner strength, Ash focused his Aura towards Bertha, seeking to dispel the malevolent transformation plaguing her.
Bertha, caught in the throes of the dark transformation, trembled as Ash's Aura infused her, his determination and compassion guiding the energy. The dark tendrils writhing around her body recoiled against the incoming Aura, resisting the purifying force attempting to free her.
With unwavering resolve, Ash continued to channel his Aura, pushing against the darkness that entwined Bertha, determined to break the sinister hold and restore her to her true form. And he had all the time he needed thanks to his Pokemon and Sombra.
One of the Unown managed to withstand Sombra's sneak attack, gathering the strength it needed to stay in this. And by doing so, it would focus on Ash while he was wide open, making sure not to waste this next Hidden Power as the crimson energy could be seen charging up.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Sci-Twi would intercept this next Hidden Power by having her own Pikachu join in.
"Pikachuuu!" Alpha Pikachu backed up the best friend of his descendant, sending a blistering Thunderbolt that would shock one of the Unown who managed to withstand Sombra's darkness.
As Ash's Aura surged forth, pulsating with unwavering determination, it clashed against the malevolent energies ensnaring Bertha. The dark tendrils that had entwined her began to recoil, pushed back by the sheer force and resolve of Ash's Aura.
Bertha, caught in the grips of the sinister transformation, shuddered as Ash's powerful Aura infused her being. His determination and unwavering commitment to freeing her were palpable in the radiant energy that enveloped her.
And with that, Ash dispelled the power of the Unown with his Aura, freeing Bertha. The red energy would fly out of her body, dispersing into the air as it was joined by a beautiful azure blue light.
"Oooh..." Bertha sighed as her pupils returned to normal. The vines would crumble into nothing. Bertha exhaled deeply, her eyes returning to their normal state as the last remnants of the transformation vanished. She looked up at Ash, gratitude and relief shining in her gaze.
The tendrils that had ensnared her body crumbled away, dissolving into nothingness, as if the malevolent hold over her was shattered by the brilliance of Ash's Aura and the Pikachu's intervention.
"Thank you, Ash...Rather quick, wouldn't you say?" Bertha said, her voice filled with appreciation for Ash's unwavering determination and the aid of Sci-Twi and the others.
"Are you kidding me?!" Naturally, Second Wind was fuming. "You were supposed to-" Second Wind's frustration echoed through the Unown's attempts to maintain their hold over the situation, yet their powers were weakened by the disruption caused by Sombra who was showing them all of their fears.
"You don't have to keep watching." Sombra interrupted Second Wind before she could spot anything else. The one Unown she was using to view this encounter was suddenly met with the Shadow of Sombra. Second Wind gasped as the only view of the illusion that she had was cut off once Sombra enveloped the last Unown in darkness.
And finally, the crowd reacted to this. Everything else but this was ignored. If anything, it was actually the right time to finally respond since Ash's group was victorious.
"Bertha!" Sci-Twi rushed to join them by leaving the special space, a mixture of relief and concern etched on her face. "Are you alright, Bertha?!"
"Yes, dear, I'm perfectly fine now. That was on me. So much for my observations when I was caught off guard." Bertha reassured, placing a comforting hand on Sci-Twi's shoulder.
"Amazing work. All of your." Even the Breezeseal had to give it compliments and praise. "You had us worried there, Ash Ketchum. We honestly thought something dark would've erupted from you."
"Well, there's something dark in me, alright. I could always count on Sombra, no matter what. No one ever sees him coming. And I'm not gonna let Prisma take over, that's for sure." Ash confidently said, pointing at himself. "But I don't think we're done yet. Once we break out of this illusion, we're gonna get out of that cave as fast as possible."
Ash knew that Second Wind wouldn't let this end peacefully. Not when there were the rest of the Indigo Union was still waiting outside. They weren't out of the woods yet, or in this case, Flock Falls. And neither was the potential return of Prisma, as the journey continues.
In the middle of the cave, a flash of Aura emerged, breaking the illusionary world made by the Unown. The Aura shattered the power of the Unown as Ash and his group appeared, right back where they previously stood. In turn, the Unown would be sent flying after their illusion was broken, bouncing on the ground. However, they weren't out of the clear just yet. While they freed themselves from the illusionary world, the Indigo Union was still an issue.
Ash would help up Bertha who was still dazed after being freed from that horrific transformation. Now that they were free, the next and final goal was to exit the cave and escape the Indigo Union.
"This isn't over, Ketchum!" Using the other Unown outside, Second Wind's voice would reach a volume loud enough to bypass the wind wall and the echo. "Block them from exiting!"
As the Unown outside heeded these commands, their powers surged, charged with the intent to seal the cave entrance. But their actions were more drastic than anyone anticipated. The Unown, channelling their energy, summoned an amalgamation of their powers, morphing them into a colossal wall of swirling, chaotic energy.
The mass of energy materialized into a formidable barrier, crackling with unstable power. It expanded rapidly, encasing the cave entrance in a maelstrom of crackling, wild energy that pulsed ominously. The Unowns combined might transformed the cave's mouth into a vortex of unrestrained force, swirling and crackling with an erratic, unpredictable energy field.
"What is that?!" Sci-Twi murmured, eyeing the disorienting storm at the cave's exit. The Wind Wall was also targeted, finding itself dispersing in the face of this energy.
"If this crushes you, then that's wonderful. But if not, it'll at least incapacitate you, which will give me another chance to free Prisma." Second Wind spoke.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaa...Chuuu!" Attempting to stop this barrier, Pikachu released a powerful flash of lightning from his body, meeting the energy with 100,000 volts. But upon contact, the chaotic mess would disrupt the electrical attack, adding it to this violent barrier. That didn't do the trick at all.
"There is an extension to this cave that was hidden by Windkiss. Use that." Thankfully, the voices within the Breezeseal would gladly help out, revealing another passageway in this seemingly small cave. But it wasn't as small as they thought.
"Got it! Use Iron Tail!"
"Chu...Pika!" Pikachu would lunge at the wall behind him, delivering a powerful swing with a hardened tail. The attack did the trick, shattering the wall and revealing that extra passageway. Now that they had this extension, they would get a move on.
The group hurriedly advanced, moving through the alternate route amidst the cave of Flock Falls. The Unown's barrier, fluctuating with uncontrollable energy, presented an obstacle that could not be easily bypassed as it was constantly approaching.
As they traversed deeper into the cave's recesses, they stumbled upon a narrow crevice hidden within the rocks. It seemed too small for an adult to pass through, but Ash noticed it widened further inside. Without hesitation, they crawled through the narrow passage, emerging into a cavernous chamber on the other side.
However, their respite was short-lived as the Unown's power surged, creating vibrations through the cave. The energy barrier's fluctuations intensified, threatening to collapse the cave's inner chambers. Since it was a union of Hidden Powers, they had different Types involved.
The Thunderbolt that Pikachu previously used was shot out, threatening to smite them. The bolt would fly over their heads while startling Sci-Twi. More flashes of lightning would fly out, aggressively hitting the walls and even scorching parts of it.
"Donphan! Krookodile! Gliscor, I choose you!" Ash would summon three Ground-Types to absorb these attacks. He previously summoned Gliscor in the illusion world and now he was sending him back out. Three of his Ground-Types emerged, immediately meeting with the violent bursts of lightning from the barrier. They were completely ineffective, shielding Ash's friends.
"Hippowdown!" Reacting to this, Bertha sent out her Hippowdown to block one of the lightning bolts. Now it was four Ground-Types taking the hit, but only three of them could move fast enough to keep up with the Pokemon Trainers. Once Hippowdown blocked one of the lightning bolts, Bertha recalled her.
The group found themselves in a precarious situation. As the Unown's energies grew increasingly unstable, the cave's structural integrity became more fragile by the second. The rumbling of the cave intensified, and loose rocks began to tumble from the ceiling. Very soon, it could all come crashing down.
The three Ground-Types would continue to shield them from other elements, not just electric. Gliscor intercepted a stream of fire from the barrier, taking the hit and using his Type Advantage. But there were some that could very well harm Gliscor, such as a whip of water.
Krookodile was pushed back by a barrage of snowflakes that moved a rapid pace. And as for Donphan, there was a Fighting Energy in there as seen by orange shockwaves which would push him back. But they kept on pushing despite the damage they took.
Ash and his friends dashed through the cavern, seeking any opening or passageway that could lead them to safety. The Unown's barrier outside continued to unleash its violent power, causing tremors that reverberated through the cave's walls. Sci-Twi was helped over a gap in this cave by Ash, who pulled her forward before the barrier could get closer.
"Oh! Over there!" Sci-Twi pointed to a fissure in the cavern wall. It appeared to lead to a narrow passage that spiralled upwards. Without hesitation, they raced toward the opening, squeezing through the tight space.
The passage twisted and turned, gradually ascending. The walls were rough and uneven, making the climb challenging. Loose debris tumbled down from above as the Unown's barrier continued to bombard the cave with chaotic energies.
As they ascended, the fissure gradually widened, allowing them to move more freely. Rays of sunlight peeked through cracks in the rocks, signalling their proximity to the surface. Ash would return his three Pokemon to their Poke Balls right as they were nearing the end.
Finally, they emerged from the narrow passage onto a ledge at the mouth of another cave opening. The Unown's barrier's frenzied energy crackled in the distance behind them, illuminating the cavern in erratic bursts of light. That cave was practically done for, taking a plethora of damage in the process. All those elements absolutely crushed the cave, causing it to crumble.
"Whew! Made it!" Ash exclaimed, relief washing over him as he surveyed the beautiful landscape outside the cave. The sight of the open sky filled them with hope despite their predicament. But they had to do one last thing. Shield themselves fro the view of the Unown.
The Unown would survey the destroyed area, searching for Ash's group. But they found nothing and no one. Just a bunch of rubble in the process. They hid in the lower sections of Flock Falls, evading the Unown's view and staying quiet. The crackle of Infinity Energy could be seen across the ground and the rubble of the cave before eventually dying out.
"Tch. What a waste." Second Wind growled. A wasted opportunity on her part. But she wasn't one to give up so easily. The Unown would keep on moving, seeing if they could spot Ash while also going for the fainted Unown within the rubble of the cave. "Tell me when you see him."
"I think we're free..." Sci-Twi silently spoke while peering her head over a bush. "Do you think we can go now?"
"Yeah. I think now's a good time to keep moving." Ash nodded while looking down at the Breezeseal, knowing what he had to do with it. Quietly, they made their way out of Flock Falls, taking a different route. They would have to head to another island and unbeknownst to them, anywhere with civilization would be perfect. After all, Second Wind's troops were trying to avoid any eyes from the Sky Monarch.
Glideville. The Pokemon Festival.
The nearest island they could reach was a place known as Glideville. A picturesque town perched on the edges of fluffy cumulus clouds, with charming cobblestone streets and whimsical, pastel-coloured buildings that seem to float amidst the azure skies.
"Man..." Ash sighed, taking a seat on a nearby bench. "We dodged something big there."
"Pikachu..."
"Ash. Did you know that Sombra would show up?" Sci-Twi asked, wondering if Ash was already aware that Somba would've made an appearance and saved her.
"I did. Had you all fooled, didn't I? Keeping that look on my face." Ash laughed, finding it an accomplishment that he could convince Sci-Twi and Second Wind that he was actually worried when in reality, he could always count on Sombra.
"You had me so worried!" Sci-Twi barked at Ash, her glasses nearly falling off while causing Ash to flinch. "What if you actually had Prisma take over?!"
"S-Sorry!" Ash raised his hands. "But I could always count on Sombra to show up, no matter what. Even then, Sombra's soul is in me, so I trust him to keep Prisma out."
"I guess so..." But she was still rather worried. Sci-Twi would sigh afterwards, just glad that whole debacle was over. "We still aren't out of the woods with this whole Prisma thing."
"It's wonderful that you had Sombra to rely on, Ash," said Bertha. "But the fact that she was trying to force Prisma out of you? You would think that she'd wish to avoid something like that."
"Yeah. But it was because of the Breezeseal." Ash looked at the mystical artefact in his hands. "If Prisma's soul did end up taking over, I would've been in a lot of trouble. Glad you saw through it though."
"No need to give us thanks. If only you used the power of the Breezeseal against the Indigo Union. But I suppose we can be used for greater threats beyond Pegalysium. Speaking of which, will you take us to Windkiss's descendants now?" The voices within questioned.
"You bet. I think they're down at Equestria right now. Today's a school day. When we get down there, we'll see what they do." That was all that was left to do. Send it to Windflash and her family. If they won't take it, then that would raise some problems from the Breezeseal. But they had to see what would happen first.
Alola. Akala Island.
Back on Alola, as the sound of thunder rumbled across the Alolan sky and a bolt of lightning illuminated the air, the group at Heahea Beach recognized the telltale signs of Zeraora's resurging rage. Their hearts sank with the realization that her moment of peace had been abruptly shattered.
Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity swiftly made their way to the spot where Zeraora had been, their concern evident on their faces. But upon arrival, their apprehensions were confirmed—Zeraora was nowhere to be seen.
The landscape remained serene, mirroring the peace Zeraora had found in this place, but her absence sent a chill through the air. The Thunderclap Pokémon, so recently surrounded by the familiarity of her cherished spot, had vanished, leaving behind a disquieting emptiness.
"Zeraora?" Rainbow Dash called out, her voice carrying a hint of worry. "Where did she go? She was just here!"
Pinkie Pie scanned the area, her usually cheerful expression replaced by a look of concern. "I don't see any marks of plasma anywhere. She must've really been in a hurry."
Fluttershy's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of the Thunderclap Pokémon. "Do you think she... went after someone she noticed?"
Rarity's brow furrowed with worry. "She wouldn't just charge into a confrontation, would she? Not after finding this place. It has to be that. But who?"
Rainbow Dash's thoughts raced, a mix of concern and urgency filling her. Her concern for Zeraora shot through the roof now that she was gone. "Did Daybreaker show up again? Or was it someone else?" Rainbow Dash uttered. But thankfully, that's why her friends were here. Pinkie Pie already summoned one of her Slurpuff, relying on his sense of smell.
Slurpuff would have to track down Zeraora by following her scent. That wouldn't be too hard since she was the only Zeraora they'd come across. They had to rely on the scent since there wasn't a trace of plasma anywhere. And perhaps, also Audino's hearing just in case the sound of thunder came by.
With a shared sense of urgency, the group quickly mobilized, scouring the surrounding area, hoping to locate Zeraora before her rage led her into a situation she couldn't handle alone. The worry for their Thunderclap friend weighed heavily on their hearts, driving their search for her through the serene landscapes of Alola. And another fear was the group that she had spotted.
Diving Peak Tunnel.
Diving Peak Tunnel. A location on Akala Island that is a long, featureless tunnel connecting two routes. Wild Pokemon can occasionally be found scurrying around it and at the moment, Daybreaker's troops found themselves here during their mission. As Daybreaker's troops gathered within the eerie confines of Diving Peak Tunnel, Spitfire took charge, outlining their plan to open an Ultra Wormhole. The small, featureless tunnel provided the necessary concealment for their operation.
"Looks secure enough so far," Spitfire commented before turning to face Tempest Shadow and the other troops. "Alright. This is a good enough place to open it."
"The Ultra Wormhole? In this small space?" Tempest Shadow replied. They were actually planning to open up an Ultra Wormhole which connected back to Solgaleo and Lunala. The two Pokemon of interest.
"It'll fit. We don't want anyone else finding out about this. If we head to the Altar of the Sunne or the Altar of the Moone, then that's going to raise some suspicions without a doubt. We'll rely on those two as a last-ditch attempt. Let's try out our first few options."
"Fair enough. But do you think those two Pokemon are going to react to this? One Ultra Wormhole isnt going to be enough." said Tempest Shadow.
"Team Plasma can open up a good one for us. They promised us that they'd make the Ultra Wormholes strong enough for Solgaleo and Luna to appear." Spitfire smiled with confidence, removing her glasses before looking at the very end of this long tunnel. "Rainbow Dash."
"Yes, captain?" A part of this team was Rainbow Dash. But not the Rainbow Dash of this universe. It was the one from Universe 11, a part of Daybreaker's Empire. Rainbow Dash, a member of this universe's Daybreaker's team, snapped to attention as Spitfire addressed her.
"I need you and your group to be on the lookout."
"Sure thing, captain!" Rainbow Dash replied crisply, her demeanour reflecting discipline and focus, a stark contrast to the Rainbow Dash her counterparts knew. Her group nodded in unison, ready to carry out their orders.
Spitfire's gaze flickered with determination as she continued to brief her troops. Tempest Shadow, though a bit skeptical, remained silent, not having much to say about this. This plan was crucial to Daybreaker's agenda of acquiring the two legendary Pokémon which would benefit Necrozma greatly.
Rainbow Dash and her group dispersed throughout the tunnel, their eyes scanning every inch, watching for any signs of interference. The air crackled with tension as they stood on alert, ready to act at a moment's notice. The people of Alola were rather peaceful, but that didn't mean they weren't abundant.
In the dimly lit confines of Diving Peak Tunnel, the troops of Daybreaker prepared for the unfolding of their mission, poised to execute their plan to harness the power of the Ultra Wormhole. All they had to do was wait for Team Plasma's actions. It wasn't just an Ultra Wormhole they wanted, but an Ultra Wormhole that would warrant the intervention of Alola's Legendaries.
And at the moment, following Daybreaker's group was Zeraora. Zeraora's heart raced with a mixture of fury and disbelief as she stealthily followed Daybreaker's troops, her rage guiding her steps toward the inconspicuous Diving Peak Tunnel. As she stood near a mound of rocks, she glimpsed figures inside the tunnel, and her eyes widened with shock.
Among the troops of Daybreaker, she saw a familiar figure, one that appeared to be Rainbow Dash. However, this Rainbow Dash seemed different, aligned with the forces that had caused her so much pain and loss. Her mind raced with conflicting emotions, grappling with the sight before her.
"Ze?" The Thunderclap Pokémon crouched low, hidden in the shadows just behind these rocks, her muscles tense with anger and a desire for revenge. Seeing Rainbow Dash, or someone resembling her, among Daybreaker's forces filled her with a surge of conflicted emotions.
In fact, seeing her tempered Zeraora's rage. Rainbow Dash's presence and existence was now enough to warrant another reaction from the Thunderclap Pokemon. It was a sign of their bond which was enough to interact with that darkness Ghetsis and Daybreaker planted.
Zeraora's instincts urged her to rush in, to confront those who had invaded her world and now threatened this version of Alola. Yet, a part of her hesitated, mindful of the peaceful sanctuary she had just discovered thanks to Rainbow Dash. She knew that giving in to her rage could lead to consequences she might regret.
As for this Rainbow Dash, she was standing outside the tunnel, being on the lookout. She had yet to even notice Zeraora. No one had recognized her as of yet. For a moment, Zeraora paused, considering her next move. The turmoil within her was overwhelming, torn between her desire for vengeance and the need to protect the newfound tranquillity she had found in Alola.
Tempest Shadow would have a discussion with Team Plasma, reaching them all the way from Alola thanks to the technology she was given. The same one that Cozy Glow obtained. Speaking to her was a Team Plasma grunt instead of Colress, who was a bit busy at the moment thanks to the Ghetsis and Lightwing situation. Colress wasn't the only one who had access to all the scientific devices, of course.
"Hm?" It didn't take long for Zeraora's presence to be noted. Daybreaker's forces were filled with pegasi after all and it was only natural for some of them to spot the Thunderclap Pokemon from above. The vigilant pegasi patrolling the area swiftly noticed Zeraora's presence, their keen eyes trained to spot any potential threats from above. "Hey...Hey! It's Zeraora!"
"Ze?!"
Upon receiving the alert, several others swiftly descended from the sky, their wings beating a rhythm as they circled around the area where Zeraora concealed herself. Their presence loomed over her, their expressions a mix of caution and readiness, prepared to respond to any perceived threat. Of course, Zeraora was a big threat to them in so many ways.
Zeraora was caught, failing to stay hidden for long. She stepped back with the electricity within her body pulsating. But her eyes soon focused onto Rainbow Dash, still thinking about her. Spitfire was informed of this, naturally and immediately emerged from the tunnel.
"Look who it is. Been a while, hasn't it?" Spitfire smiled upon seeing Zeraora. The Thunderclap Pokemon also recognized Spitfire and was more than displeased to see her.
Spitfire's smile faltered slightly, sensing the intensity of Zeraora's emotions. She raised a hoof in a gesture of caution, trying to maintain composure in the face of the Thunderclap Pokémon's aggression. "Here to ruin things for us? If you know what's good for you, you'll back down.
"Zera...!"
"But you did escape from us so..." Spitfire also remembered how Zeraora was captured and managed to escape due to the interference of Ash and his friends. This caused her smile to falter. "If we're taking our time with Solgaleo and Lunala, then maybe this is just an early gift."
The tension in the air crackled like electricity, the standoff between Zeraora and Daybreaker's forces teetering on the edge of confrontation. But Zeraora just couldn't take her eyes off Rainbow Dash. To see her here, in a different outfit, was rather jarring.
Especially since she only has good memories of Rainbow Dash, compared to someone like Celestia or Twilight Sparkle, who resembled Daybreaker and Empress Twilight. The Thunderclap Pokemon placed herself in a situation that she could have avoided, but her instincts said otherwise. And the rage that was planted within her took over yet again.
But she wasn't without help. The encounter still took place on Akala Island after all, which meant her friends were nearby at. At this very moment, running through Akala Island was none other than Pheromosa, who was holding up Pinkie Pie's Slurpuff who would help guide the way. On her back were the four ponies who could all fit and latch onto her thanks to the Lissome Pokemon's tall stature. Rainbow Dash was hoping that they weren't too late.
Alola. Akala Island. Diving Peak Tunnel. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Here at Diving Peak Tunnel, Zeraora spotted the familiar faces of Daybreaker's forces, letting her anger get the better of her. But that anger, while still prominent was tempered a bit after seeing Rainbow Dash in this group. But of course, this was only the Rainbow Dash of another world. Seeing her caught Zeraora off guard for obvious reasons.
"Why's she looking at me like that?" Rainbow Dash noticed Zeraora's gaze. It was mainly locked onto her and only briefly looking at others.
"I know why." Spitfire could answer that. Caught up with the information of what occurred back at the Diamond Domain, the Captain of Daybreaker's Aerial Forces. "Where's all that rage you're always carrying By now, you would've lunged in."
"Ze...!" That riled Zeraora up some more, but it wasn't quite enough to let her loose. The existence of Rainbow Dash is what was leaving Zeraora in this state. The one time she wished she could let her rage get the better of her, it wasn't happening. It was just like the Diamond Domain situation all over again.
With that smile staying on Spitfire's face, at that very moment, an Ultra Wormhole opened up. The sudden appearance of an Ultra Wormhole interrupted the charged atmosphere, diverting the attention of both Zeraora and Daybreaker's forces while Spitfire kept her focus on the Thunderclap Pokemon. The swirling portal shimmered with otherworldly energy, casting an eerie glow within the tunnel.
"Right on cue," Spitfire commented. "That's our first step to forcing them out. As for which Ultra Beast leaves that wormhole? We'll have to wait and see. But you might not be around to see it all happen since we're taking you back to Queen Daybreaker."
"Zera!" Zeraora finally took action, knowing she could just avoid Rainbow Dash and target everyone else. As Zeraora lunged forward, determined to thwart Daybreaker's forces, a resolute figure intervened, descending from the shadows in the ground. Golurk, standing as a stalwart guardian, intercepted Zeraora's advance. Zeraora's Plasma Fists were immediately negated by Golurk's presence due to his Ground-Typing. "Ze?!"
"Gol!" In response, Golurk used Hammer Arm, swinging at the Thunderclap Pokemon.
"Ze...!" With a swift reaction time, Zeraora managed to evade Golurk's direct hit, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the attack. The Thunderclap Pokémon couldn't just lunge in and call it a day.
But it wasn't the only Golurk. Emerging from the ground were more of them. Groups of Golurk who were a part of Daybreaker's Forces would emerge. Zeraora's sharp instincts picked up on the emergence of additional Golurk from the ground, each one a stalwart guardian aligned with Daybreaker's forces and a perfect counter to her. The Thunderclap Pokémon was already outnumbered but she might also be outmatched.
Zeraora, no matter how angry she was, couldn't hope to easily power her way through this. It wasn't just Princess Celestia who had a bunch of Golurks as her guards. Daybreaker's world was no exception from the looks of it.
These Golurks all had their own Trainers who immediately gave out orders to catch Zeraora. The Gourks would close in on Zeraora with their hands out, ready to snatch her. Zeraora didn't have many options for these Ghost-Ground-Types. Her best attacks would be ineffective. She one move in her arsenal that she could use and that was Fire Punch. While it wasn't the best move against the Golurk, it could at least touch them.
By igniting her fists, Zeraora throwing a blazing punch at the Golurk with all of her might, only to accomplish nothing. The impact of this one Fire Punch seemed weak despite packing a lot of power that was enough to create violent sparks. The Golurk in front of her would stand there, barely budging.
"Ora?!" Zeraora was stunned. How did that not at least push it back Just this one interaction was enough to gut her spirit. The Golurk, practically unaffected by Zeraora's Fire Punch, stood firm against the powerful strike.
The Thunderclap Pokémon, momentarily taken aback by the seemingly minimal impact, felt a wave of frustration washing over her. The realization hit her that her usual arsenal of Electric-type moves was ineffective against the Ground-type Golurk, leaving her with limited options and one of those options didn't seem that impressive.
The coordinated efforts of Daybreaker's forces were evident as the Golurk closed in, their ghostly presence and sturdy forms making them formidable adversaries. Zeraora, despite her strength and determination, found herself at a disadvantage.
As the Golurk prepared to restrain her, Zeraora's mind raced for a solution. She couldn't overpower them with her usual attacks, but she needed to break free and protect her new home. Before she could be grabbed by the other Golurk in front of her, she leapt off its chest, evading the incoming grab.
"Zeraora!" Zeraora tried again, swirling in the air and going for another Fire Punch. She switched her focus to the next Golurk. She brought the punch down, targeting the head of this Golurk and letting more sparks fly.
"Golurk!" The Golurk that received a blow to the head made a sound but it wasn't one of pain. Instead, it was the Golurk retaliating with an Ice Punch.
"Z-Ze!" Zeraora couldn't avoid this next one, receiving a chilling blow to her stomach. She was sent flying straight towards another Golurk who went to hit her. The goal was to weaken Zeraora so that she was unable to fight back and an incoming Hammer Arm from another Golurk would solidify that.
She couldn't find the right time to properly recover, resulting in another fierce hit that would knock her away. And this would persist with the other Golurks taking turns.
Zeraora, despite her attempts to break free, found herself caught in a relentless assault from Daybreaker's Golurk forces. The Thunderclap Pokémon, now battered and dealing with the combined efforts of the spectral troops, struggled to maintain her composure.
As she was sent flying toward another Golurk with outstretched arms, ready to seize her, Zeraora's instincts kicked in. Midair, she twisted her body, narrowly evading the clutches of the approaching Golurk. However, her evasive manoeuvres were cut short as another Golurk seized the opportunity and lunged at her with a grab.
"Ze...ra!" Zeraora grunted as she was caught in the firm grip of the Golurk, their ghostly presence adding an eerie dimension to the struggle. Despite her resilience, Zeraora found herself restrained, her options dwindling as the Golurk forces closed in. Soon, the other Golurks would grab onto Zeraora's legs and arms, making sure sure wouldn't go anywhere.
"Excellent." Spitfire nodded at this wonderful sight. "It's a shame you're not as mad as you used to be. Because you don't want to risk hurting her, don't you?"
"Rrrr...!" The Thunderclap Pokemon growled as she was sandwiched by the Golurk. She aggressively shook her head as that was the only body part that she could move.
"Queen Daybreaker is going to love it when we bring you back. But we need a way to restrain you..." Spitfire removed her glasses, knowing Zeraora wouldn't go down so easily. She still had her Poke Ball, meaning throwing another Poke Ball her wouldn't do a thing. But with another smile forming on her face, Spitfire had the perfect response.
Despite this, Zeraora fought back with all that she had. She knew that her electricity wouldn't do a thing to the Golurk, but she wasn't oblivious to what else it could do. The Thunderclap Pokemon would unleash a flare of plasma from her body, deciding to try her best as the Golurk stood there unphased. But her plan wasn't to hit the Golurk with the plasma. It was to hit the environment
Zeraora's plasma attacked the Earth, whipping and crackling against it with intensity. And by doing so, she generated an electrical shockwave that would rupture the ground. It was enough to push back the Golurk, allowing the Thunderclap Pokemon to break free from their grasp. Spitfire merely frowned at this.
"Zera...!" Zeraora took a deep breath, managing to keep herself in this. After breaking free, Zeraora would zip forward, approaching Spitfire's group while she still had the chance. However, it was once again, not that easy. Once she had the chance to use Plasma Fists, her legs were grabbed. The Golurk weren't so easily stopped, unfortunately. Looking back, Zeraora was then pulled away, almost hitting Spitfire's face. The electricity didn't even latch onto Spitfire like it normally would.
Pulled back, Zeraora was then thrown against one of the rocks, flying right through it. The Thunderclap Pokemon was in a rough spot at the moment, tumbling and rolling on the ground as her opponents were plentiful and healthy. Zeraora laid there on the rubble of rocks, groaning and looking up at the Automaton Pokemon that approached her.
"You were much better back in your world. It took a lot of Team Plasma to stop you. But it looks like you've gone soft." Spitfire pointed out, taunting Zeraora in her moment of weakness.
"Rrr!" Zeraora snarled at the group who were laughing at her. Multiple laughs came from each of the troops, looking down on the Thunderclap Pokemon. All that rage meant nothing to them. They weren't even intimidated. To Zeraora, this was rather humiliating. So humiliating that all that pent-up anger was essentially being negated.
Above her, the ships that Spitfire and her group were in charge of revealed themselves. Concealed by magic, they blended in with the azure skies, having the perfect form of camouflage. Zeraora looked up to see the ships that were above her, powered by magic and aimed directly at her. In the end, she was disgustingly outmatched, all thanks to her spotting Universe 11's Rainbow Dash.
But this was just the beginning. At last, a Pokemon was emerging from the Ultra Wormhole. Zeraora gasped, hearing the sound of the Ultra Wormhole vibrating as an Ultra Beast was about to emerge.
Emerging was an Ultra Beast with a body made of electrical wiring and a mesmerizing glow. It was an Ultra Beast that resembled a vaguely humanoid mass of electrical wiring. Its 'head' is a white, brightly glowing electric spark with numerous points and no visible face. Below its head is a mass of black cables for its torso and limbs; there are white bands resembling zip ties throughout its body.
It was none other than UB-03, Lightning. Also known as Xurkitree. Zeraora's eyes widened as an Ultra Beast would emerge within the tunnel, immediately creating an electrical surge upon entering. This was the one electrical entity that startled Daybreaker's Aerial Forces.
"That's our cue." Tempest Shadow spoke. They weren't just going to open this Ultra Wormhole for Solgaleo and Lunala. The plan was to also capture the Ultra Beasts. As soon as Xurkitree emerged, Tempest Shadow's group would use their magic against the Glowing Pokemon.
Her group consisted of mainly unicorns, who collectively used magic. Magical rays of various colours were sent out, catching the Ultra Beast off guard.
Xurkitree, who has just now entered this world, was caught off guard. The magical rays, unleashed by the unicorns, converged on Xurkitree, disrupting its initial movements and catching it off guard. The Ultra Beast, accustomed to its home world, was momentarily stunned by the sudden barrage of magical energy.
"What? Did you think we didn't hear your movements? You leave the sound of thunder behind, of course you were stalking us. So I made sure Team Plasma focused on Xurkitree's home world."
"Zera?"
"It's to keep you in check. Since you can absorb electricity, this Pokemon will help us rob it from you." Spitfire informed. The revelation struck Zeraora like a bolt of lightning, the ominous implications of Daybreaker's plan sinking in.
The Ultra Beast Xurkitree, a living mass of electrical energy, was not just a powerful adversary for Daybreaker's forces but also a tool designed to exploit Zeraora's unique abilities. After all, she was once used to power the technology for Team Plasma and the Twilight Imperium.
And as an extension, food for Necrozma.
Unova. Harmonia Kingdom.
And it was all heading back to the Harmonia Kingdom. The resources of Team Plasma were highly beneficial in all of this. While Colress did something else, the rest of Team Plasma focused their efforts on opening up Ultra Wormholes. Far easier to access than a Gateway.
On the many screens, the Ultra Wormhole leading to Xurkitree's home could be seen, but it wasn't the only one. There were other Ultra Spaces that they had planned. After all, they were the ones responsible for Ultra Wormholes appearing in Equestria in the first place.
As the screens flickered with the mesmerizing images of Ultra Wormholes, the coordinated efforts of Daybreaker's forces and Team Plasma reached a critical juncture. The convergence of magic and technology painted a vivid picture of conquest and exploration, with the Harmonia Kingdom at the epicentre of these interdimensional endeavours.
The Thunderclap Pokemon stood up, attempting to try a second time. This time, trying to save Xurkitree. The Golurk and the ships stood in her way, but regardless, there was a strong sense of bravery in her.
Due to the events unfolding, Zeraora's rage wasn't the most controlling factor right now. She was actually maintaining a form of control. Spitfire found it endearing but pointless at this point. Especially since she's succeeded in getting Xurkitree out here.
As the magical onslaught subsided, leaving Xurkitree vulnerable, the Ultra Beast succumbed to Daybreaker's forces. Its once-unpredictable movements are now aligned with the intentions of the captors. The glow from Xurkitree's electrical wiring shifted subtly, indicating its shift in allegiance.
Spitfire, standing amidst her troops and the captured Ultra Beast, grinned confidently. The success of their plan seemed assured, and the unfolding events marked a significant triumph for Daybreaker's ambitions.
"We just need the one Xurkitree. The rest will come later. And we'll start by having it take all of your electricity." Spitfire stepped forward. "Golurk. Keep at it. And let Xurkitree finish things off."
"Gol." Understanding the orders, the Golurk would approach Zeraora once more, giving her something else to worry about. Now, if she gets restrained once more, she would end up losing her electricity, leaving her incredibly vulnerable.
At that moment, the limbs of Xurkitree would fly forward, bypassing the Golurk and going straight for her. Zeraora gasped, seeing the black cables flying in, attempting to grab her. Quickly, she would use Plasma Fists against them, swiftly knocking them aside and avoiding an attack on her. The black cables were moved back before taking some of the plasma Zeraora had gathered, granting it to Xurkitree.
"Zeraora!" But of course, Zeraora wasn't forgotten about by her friends. In the distance, she could hear it. The voice of Rainbow Dash. Zeraora, even in the midst of her struggles, found solace in the reminder that she wasn't alone. The bonds forged with Rainbow Dash and her friends resonated, offering a glimmer of hope in the face of overwhelming odds.
"Hm?" Spitfire would hear this voice which was familiar to her as well. Just ahead, a dust cloud could be seen forming and the cause of it was Rarity's Pheromosa and her incredible speed. She got here just in time.
"Zera!" When seeing her Rainbow Dash, the brightest smile formed on Zeraora's face. Another reason for her rage to slowly die down.
The Lissome Pokemon came to a screeching halt once she spotted the Thunderclap Pokemon, spotting the number of Daybreaker's forces up ahead. The sight of them made the eyes of Rainbow Dash and her friends widen and almost bulge out.
"Oh geez...What did you get yourself into?" Rainbow Dash nervously said when hopping off Pheromosa's back. "And...what is that?"
Naturally, the appearance of Xurkitree also stood out to her and the others. The unexpected appearance of this Ultra Beast caught them off guard. They've never seen a Pokemon like that and the Ultra Wormhole was helping them realize that it was not of this world.
"Xurkitree. The Glowing Pokemon. One of the mysterious life-forms known as Ultra Beasts. Astonishing electric shocks emanate from its entire body, according to witnesses. It appeared from the Ultra Wormhole. It raided a power plant, so people think it energizes itself with electricity. Although it’s alien to this world and a danger here, it’s apparently a common organism in the world where it normally lives."
"Is that...me?" It also didn't take long for Rainbow Dash to spot her counterpart from another universe. She would also see Spitfire among the group, recognizing some faces here.
In fact, when looking at them, Rainbow Dash noticed that a majority of them looked like they came straight from the Wonderbolts which caught her off guard. The group then looked up, seeing the ships in the air which caused them to grimace. While they picked the best time to show up, they also showed up at the worst possible time.
"An Ultra Beast and an Ultra Wormhole? What's going on here?" Rarity questioned.
"Don't worry about it." said Spitfire "It's only Zeraora's concern. And since you're with her, she might spill it to you. If she gets out of here, that is."
"I don't know why I'm surprised you're on Daybreaker's side..." Rainbow Dash grumbled upon seeing all these familiar faces wearing uniforms that showed their allegiance to the Solar Empire.
"I don't know why you would think otherwise from the start. After all, it's always been our duty to serve our Princess. Well, Queen now." Spitfire proudly said, followed by the other troops nodding. "No matter the world. But to be honest, I feel a bit nostalgic, seeing you like this. How long has it been since you've all had those looks?"
She referred to all four of them. In her world, they have drastically changed. Almost to the point where they looked unfamiliar. Years have passed in Daybreaker's world where so many ponies have changed. Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were no exception.
"That's Chief Pilot Rainbow Dash to you." She quickly corrected her counterpart. "Isn't it great that I got this role and-"
"Yeah, whatever." But Universe 1's Rainbow Dash cut her off. "I know you're gonna try and take Zeraora away with you and that's not gonna happen! But what's your plan with the Ultra Wormholes?!"
"Like I said. Don't worry about it. What you should worry about is showing up here at the worst possible time. Outside of our own world, we have the absolute right to strike down anyone that gets in the way of Queen Daybreaker's plans." As soon as Spitfire said that, the magical ships above could be heard making noise.
Rainbow Dash's group found themselves in a staggering scenario with greater numbers. Zeraora held her arm which took some damage during this battle.
"Pheromosa...Grab Zeraora and let's leave. At once." Rarity would much rather avoid confrontation. Pheromosa nodded in understanding, knowing what to do be done. This was one battle that they should 100% avoid. At that moment, the cannons from the ships revealed themselves.
The ships were equipped with special cannons that harnessed the power of concentrated light magic. These cannons would emit focused beams with incredible precision, moving at the speed they were expected to. Right before Pheromosa could make a move, these light beams came crashing down, targeting Zeraora.
"Zera!" Zeraora took the hit, receiving a shot of light to her arm. Rainbow Dash gasped but before the name of the Thunderclap Pokemon could be called, the other ships would start raining down their light magic. Rays of light came crashing down, attacking the landscape.
The onslaught of magical light beams from Daybreaker's ships descended upon the landscape with a relentless force. The radiant energy struck the surroundings, causing explosions and upheaval.
"Audino!" Already, Audino had the correct conscious to use Protect, forming a green barrier above her friends at the right time. Right as a light beam came flying in, it would crash onto the shield, but it wasn't the only one. More and more would start raining down, damaging the area repeatedly.
But Zeraora wasn't protected. The barrier didn't reach, unfortunately, causing her to be caught in most of the mess. The Thunderclap Pokemon's only choice was to try and outrun them. But that wasn't all. The Golurks were ordered to use Hyper Beam to continue this onslaught. The Automation Pokemon would release concentrated beams of Infinity Energy to further tear everything apart.
The air resonated with the chaotic symphony of magical explosions and the roars of Ultra Beast Xurkitree, reacting to the disturbances. Amidst the turmoil, the friends realized the urgency of the situation. Retreat became the only viable option as no one was willing to tackle all of this.
Audino's barrier was excellent in guarding them, still staying up since it didn't have time to take a break. All of these attacks that were repeatedly hitting it counted as one, allowing the barrier to stay active. Pheromosa looked over at Zeraora who was still away from the barrier, receiving most of the damage.
"Nothing wrong with excessive force here." Captain Spitfire proudly said while the outbursts of energy went off. "After all, your universe is one big threat in so many ways. You took down the Twilight Imperium. Defeated the Dread League and you single-handedly merged two universes and made an entirely new one. We have all the reason in the world to go all out on you. Even if I don't have everything with me."
"D-Dino!" Audino's barrier was starting to falter. It could be seen cracking, showing signs of failing.
"We can't reach Zeraora like this!" Rarity covered one eye in the midst of this mess. "What do we do?!"
"Oooh! I know!" Pinkie Pie brainstormed the perfect response before looking at Mew. Mew nodded in understanding, knowing what had to be done. "Go for it, Mew!"
"Mew...MEW!" Mew would close his eyes, going for a transformation. The Genetic Pokemon was about to transform into the right Pokemon for the job as his body was glowing a radiant light. The Pokemon he was choosing was considered the biggest of them all and the only one who could really disrupt all of this.
Audino gasped as her eyes bulged, seeing her friend undertake a colossal transformation in this barrier. Mew was choosing Wailord for this transformation. Spitfire and her group witnessed this transformation as their eyes widened as well. The shimmering light subsided, revealing the massive aquatic form now present in the midst of the turmoil.
Mew, now in the form of Wailord, emitted a resonant cry, echoing through the chaotic battlefield. The massive Pokémon floated above the ground, his colossal body providing a shield against the magical onslaught from Daybreaker's forces. Not only that, but he would also touch the ground, causing a shockwave and tremor to appear.
"Mmrrgh!" Spitfire grumbled due to the force of this shockwave. The dust could be seen rising thanks to Wailord's massive size, covering a good chunk of the area. This would also push some of the Golurk back as there was something to budge them. But of course, this would also affect Zeraora. The ships in the air felt the pressure that Wailord's impact left, causing their light beams to misfire elsewhere.
Audino's barrier shattered thanks to this as her body was on top of Wailord. So was everyone else. Zeraora was picked up by Wailord's massive body, finding some relief away from the onslaught.
"Time to go! Quick, Mew!" Pinkie Pie hollered. Now was a good time to flee the scene with this advantage. Mew wasn't exactly the fastest as a Wailord but he would at least be able to shield his friends from all the attacks thanks to this massive body.
"No, you won't. It's your turn, Xurkitree." But this only allowed Xurkitree to take action. With Spitfire's command, the Glowing Pokemon unleashed some of the plasma it took from Zeraora, using it against the group. And with Mew appearing as a Wailord, it was a bad time to be a Water-Type.
Right as Wailord ascended, reaching some of the ships which prompted them to move out of the way, Xurkitree built up a Thunderbolt around its body. From its body, Xurkitree shot a blast of 100,000 volts, laced with plasma too. Poor Mew took the damage since he was the biggest target at the moment.
"WAIL!" Mew cried out in the body of Wailord, taking a super-effective blow. But it wasn't just him, everyone else but Zeraora took the damage.
"Ghhh!" As the volts coursed through their bodies, the group grimaced and cried out in pain. The sudden assault left them reeling from the intense electrical shock, their muscles tensing and nerves jolting with each passing moment.
Rainbow Dash tried to power through it, but she felt the brunt of the assault either way. The pain surged through her like a torrent, leaving her temporarily incapacitated. The others, too, struggled to withstand the unexpected attack, the aftermath of Xurkitree's Thunderbolt rippling through their forms.
It was far worse for Mew, whose movements were disrupted because of this. So disrupted that he started falling. His body was paralyzed by just one hit and yet he tried to maintain some balance. The ships did not relent, firing rays of light at Mew whilst he started falling, making sure that he would drop. Everyone tried holding on, but their bodies were still feeling the effects of Xurkitree's attack.
Wailord could still get them out of Diving Peak Tunnel and the one place he could take them was the sea. Mew spotted it, doing his best to turn his body to the side while it was falling. He was so glad that Wailord despite being absolutely colossal, was somewhat lightweight.
More and more rays would batter his body while he fell, but he had to endure it for all of his friends. Zeraora would grip her claws into Wailord while also grabbing onto Rainbow Dash to ensure her safety. Spitfire watched as Wailord and the others would drop into the sea near Diving Peak Tunnel and the two Routes in between it.
Upon crashing, a massive splash was caused thanks to Wailord's massive body. They all entered the sea as they found their method of escape. But it was not a pleasant one. Instead of rising to the ocean, they sank despite Wailord's appearance. This was because Mew left the form of the Floating Pokemon as soon as they crashed.
"Mmm..." Spitfire narrowed her eyes as she wasn't one to give up so easily. "As if it's that easy. Don't let them escape with Zeraora."
The sea, though offering a momentary respite, was not an ideal refuge. It wasn't over yet for them. Spitfire's team wasn't about to let them get away with Zeraora. Not when this moment was so ripe and golden.
For now, Rainbow Dash's team managed to escape, but for how long? They were unable to stand against these numbers, even if they weren't the most plentiful out there. That didn't change the fact that they had quite the firepower with them.
And now, they had an Ultra Beast on their side. Specifically Xurkitree. But this would not be the only Xurkitree. Plans to summon more were already decided. All for reaching Solgaleo and Lunala which would eventually lead to Necrozma's potential satisfaction.
Unova. Akala Island. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
Within the seas of Akala Island, Rainbow Dash's group found themselves swimming while their bodies were in pain. Recently, they were electrocuted by Xurkitree, who was summoned here by Daybreaker's Forces. After a rough encounter, they managed to distance themselves from their opponents, but not for long.
"Guuuhhh!" Rarity threw her head up, gasping for air. Everyone else would raise their heads, managing to receive some air in the process.
"Ugh... made it," Rainbow Dash groaned, trying to shake off the lingering effects of the Thunderbolt. "Is everypony okay?"
"Mew..." Mew was still paralyzed, which wasn't exactly good for him while around water. Pinkie Pie would hastily grab Mew lifting him from the water, saving him from any more damage. Audino would support Fluttershy on her back while Pheromosa using her tall stature, supported everyone else.
"It's alright, Mew. You did your best." Pinkie comforted the Genetic Pokemon, praising him for saving them all. But they weren't out of the clear just yet.
"Dino." Thankfully, Mew had Audino to heal her. The Hearing Pokemon would hold her hands out, using Heal Pulse on Mew's body. It wouldn't remove the paralysis but that could be dealt with as well thanks to Refresh.
They had to find someplace to land on and the nearest area was Route 5. Audino would use Refresh on Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash as well since their wings took damage from all that lightning. As they reached the shore, the group stumbled onto the sandy beach, each step accompanied by a sense of fatigue and pain.
Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and the others gathered on the beach, taking a moment to regroup and assess their situation. The distant sounds of the waves crashing against the shore provided a calming backdrop, contrasting with the turmoil they had just faced.
On land, they dried off thanks to the Golden Sun of Alola. Rainbow Dash took out her Xtransceiver to inform her friends, only to see that it was fried. "No way! My Xtransceiver! It's fried!"
"Mine too!" She wasn't alone. Pinkie Pie's Xtransceiver was unresponsive. The culmination of the water and the fierce electricity from Xurkitree led to this. All four of them had their Xtransceivers damaged.
Rainbow Dash frowned as she inspected the non-functional Xtransceiver. The device, a valuable tool for communication and coordination, was now rendered useless by the combination of water and Xurkitree's electrical attack. She glanced at her friends, each sharing a similar realization. "Looks like we're cut off for now. No way to contact Lucas, Twilight, or anyone else," Rainbow Dash said, a hint of frustration in her voice. She tried turning her Xtransceiver on to the best of her abilities, rapidly pressing the buttons.
"Zera..." Meanwhile, Zeraora watched as Rainbow Dash angrily touched the buttons, feeling some guilt in all of this.
"Darn it!" Rainbow Dash felt like slamming it, but that wouldn't help things at all. She tried shaking it to get the water out, but that wouldn't do any good. At that moment, her hooves received a shock thanks to the electricity, causing her to drop it and granting her some swift pain. "Ow!"
"We can't reach everypony else with this." Rarity groaned, placing her Xtransceiver back in her bag, just in case. "Applejack's gone to find Tapu Fini. I have no clue where the others went to but they should still be in groups. Surely, they heard the thunder and the destruction."
"I hope so. Maybe someone here at Route 5 can help." Fluttershy suggested. "We-" But before another word could come from her mouth, both she and Audino's hearing went off. Fluttershy and Audino, with their acute hearing, picked up the distinct sound of what sounded like an approaching aircraft.
As the noise grew louder, it became evident that something was flying towards them. The others, catching wind of Fluttershy's and Audino's reactions, strained their ears to listen. Rainbow Dash already knew that it was Spitfire's group. They were once again using their ships' camouflage magic to blend in, becoming as clear as the skies themselves.
Rainbow Dash already knew that it was Spitfire's group. They were once again using their ships' camouflage magic to blend in, becoming as clear as the skies themselves. They had little time to rest, unfortunately. Their enemies were searching for them, refusing to slow down for a moment.
In one of the cockpits of the ships, Captain Spitfire monitored the situation closely. She was determined to locate Zeraora and capture her for Queen Daybreaker and way to mask the Ultra Wormhole plan.
"Keep your eyes open, everypony. We're not leaving until we find Zeraora," Spitfire commanded her crew. The ships continued their search, weaving through the skies in pursuit of their elusive target. Spitfire's gaze was fixed on Akala Island below, narrowing her focus on potential hiding spots or locations Zeraora might be drawn to.
Without hesitation, they all started moving again, trying to put as much distance between them and Daybreaker's forces as possible. The damaged Xtransceivers were a setback, but they needed to find a safe place to regroup and come up with a plan. A beach certainly wasn't going to help.
As the ships closed in on Rainbow Dash's group, Spitfire couldn't help but smirk. The open beach offered little cover for the fleeing Pokémon and their companions. She relayed orders to her crew to descend quietly and surround the area. Rainbow Dash's group, still recovering from their recent ordeal, quickly noticed the approaching ships. Panic set in as they realized they were trapped on the exposed beach at the moment.
Rainbow Dash couldn't even see the ships at the moment, but she knew one Pokemon that could. Luxray. Even then, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie could see them. Thanks to their Fairy Magic, their eyes were glowing, allowing them to spot these special aircrafts.
Spitfire had a plan to try and force them out. And it involved damaging the surrounding area. The magic within the ships would recharge.
As the ships prepared to unleash their destructive force, Spitfire's grin widened. She knew that causing damage to the beach would force Rainbow Dash's group out of hiding. In her mind, they couldn't have gone that far and she was right. The crew members aboard the ships adjusted their magical devices, aiming for strategic locations that would disrupt any attempts at concealment.
Rainbow Dash, realizing the imminent danger, quickly discussed their options with her friends and Pokémon. They needed to find cover and regroup, but with the ships closing in, their choices were limited.
In a moment of desperation, Zeraora took charge. Despite the pain she endured from the previous encounter with Daybreaker's forces, the Thunderclap Pokémon leapt forward, signalling the group to follow her. She dashed towards a rocky outcrop at the edge of the beach, a potential hiding spot from the impending magical barrage.
Spitfire, observing the movement, could somewhat sense the Thunderclap Pokémon's intent. She ordered her crew to focus their attacks on the rocky area, hoping to flush out Rainbow Dash's group. The ships fired bolts of magical energy, causing explosions and chaos on the beach. It was a good thing it was empty and unoccupied at the moment but the same couldn't be said for Route 5.
The rocky outcrop provided some cover, but the relentless assault continued. Zeraora, with a determined expression, gestured for the others to stay low. The Thunderclap Pokémon's instincts were keen, and she led the group through the rocky terrain, dodging magical blasts.
Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and their Pokémon companions followed Zeraora's lead, weaving through the rocks as the magical bombardment intensified. The explosions sent sand and debris flying, creating a hazardous environment. Eventually, this kind of destruction could reach Route 5 where other Pokemon reside.
Despite the chaotic situation, Zeraora maintained her focus, guiding the group towards a cave nestled within the rocks. But that did not last as one of the light beams slashed the cave in half. They gasped as the cave was destroyed. The light energy even removed some of the sand, causing a shockwave that would knock them all back.
Meanwhile, in the sky, Spitfire continued to command her forces. She observed the targeted beach area, expecting Rainbow Dash's group to reveal themselves. The crew members aboard the ships scanned the aftermath of their attacks, searching for any signs of movement.
"Aha!" Picking up on heat signatures, they spotted the ground. Mainly Zeraora, who was giving off the most energy out of anyone here thanks to all that Plasma. "Let's cut some of them off. I can bet that they'll be trouble when together. That's how they get their strength."
"Way ahead of you." Tempest Shadow was on the same page. Some of them were going down to encounter the group, knowing how dangerous they could be together. But alone? Rainbow Dash and her friends are far more vulnerable.
The group, led by Zeraora, reached a narrow passage between towering rock formations. The Thunderclap Pokémon assessed the surroundings, her instincts guiding them through the maze-like structure. They needed to find cover and regroup before Daybreaker's forces closed in.
As they traversed the narrow passage, a sudden burst of magical energy erupted behind them. The shockwave propelled them forward, stumbling over uneven ground. Zeraora, with a protective instinct, shielded the others from the brunt of the force.
The rocky labyrinth presented both challenges and opportunities. Zeraora recognized the need to outmanoeuvre their pursuers and exploit the natural cover provided by the terrain. The group pressed on, their determination fueled by the hope of escaping the relentless pursuit.
In the concealed ship, Spitfire grinned with satisfaction. She observed the group's movements and anticipated their path through the rocky terrain. The crew members aboard the ship readied their magical devices for another assault, eager to close in on Rainbow Dash's group.
The group, led by Zeraora, emerged from the rocky passage into a more open area. The moon cast an ethereal glow on the landscape, revealing the challenges that lay ahead. The Thunderclap Pokémon, surveying the surroundings, spotted a series of interconnected caverns further ahead.
"Through there!" Zeraora pointed towards the cavern entrance, signalling the group to move quickly. The interconnected caverns offered a potential refuge, allowing them to regroup and strategize against the relentless pursuit.
Spitfire, determined to capture Zeraora, directed her crew to intensify the magical assault. The ship unleashed a volley of magical beams, targeting the area around the cavern entrance. Explosions echoed through the night as the magical energy collided with the rocky landscape.
Despite the chaos, Zeraora guided the group towards the cavern entrance. The Thunderclap Pokémon's agility proved essential as they evaded the magical onslaught. For a brief moment, they were safe. They also had to stay quiet while here, but unbeknownst to them, Spitfire's group was reading the heat signature of Zeraora as they weren't that far away at the moment.
"Okay...I think we'll do fine in here for a while." Rainbow Dash sighed, laying her head against the wall. "If we keep low, they won't find us. Maybe. Hopefully."
"We can't reach the others with these damaged Xtransceivers either." Rarity groaned before noticing pebbles in her mane. "Oh! My mane!"
"Zera..." Zeraora stood alone in the corner of this cavern. She felt tremendous guilt because of this. After all, she was the reason that Spitfire's team were now in pursuit. Zeraora's electric-blue eyes reflected a strong remorse. She understood the gravity of the situation, realizing that her presence had inadvertently exposed her newfound friends to danger.
Zeraora blamed herself for everything. The rage and the pursuit were all on her and she had no doubt about that. The Thunderclap Pokemon looked back at her new friends, seeing the trouble she's caused them by being around. In Zeraora's mind, perhaps being away from them was the better decision. The Mythical Pokemon would walk off, planning to distance herself from them. It was for the best.
"Zeraora?" Rainbow Dash noticed Zeraora's movements which were getting further away. "Zeraora, wait! Where are you going?!"
"Ze..." Elsewhere. To get away from all of this. She found it unfair to bring her burden down to everyone else. Zeraora's gaze remained fixed on the ground, a mixture of guilt and sorrow etched across her features.
"It's alright. It's not your fault, honest!" Rainbow Dash was trying her best to mend things. "We're not letting you face this alone. We're in this together, remember? I mean, this isn't my first time dealing with something like this."
"Cas!" Castform cried out from the bag, agreeing with Rainbow Dash.
Despite Rainbow Dash's heartfelt attempt to console Zeraora, the Thunderclap Pokémon remained steadfast in her self-blame. She seemed determined to distance herself, carrying the weight of guilt like a heavy burden. Rainbow Dash exchanged concerned glances with her friends, realizing that Zeraora might need some time alone to process her emotions.
Rainbow Dash would continue following her, making sure she didn't go at it alone. She didn't want the Thunderclap Pokemon to carry it all with her. The underground tunnels were dark, with occasional glimmers of crystals illuminating their path. The air was thick with a sense of unease, knowing that Daybreaker's forces were still on their tail.
As they navigated the twisting passages, Rainbow Dash just couldn't reach Zeraora at the moment. Zeraora looked back, confused as to why Rainbow Dash was still around. But as they kept on moving, a beam of light would suddenly intercept them from the middle. Rainbow Dash gasped as she was nearly struck by this beam of light. The light would split this part of the cave in half.
Zeraora grunted, covering one eye as there was an explosion nearby. And poor Rainbow Dash and Castform were the closest to it. The duo went flying back, tumbling and rolling as their bodies scraped along the hard ground.
"Zera?!"
"Ugh...!" As the dust settled, Rainbow Dash and Castform were left shaken, their forms battered from the unexpected explosion.
"There you are." And entering this part of the cave by descending from the destroyed ceiling was none other than Spitfire herself. Spitfire's entrance, accompanied by her imposing crew and the Ultra Beast Xurkitree, sent a shiver through the cave's atmosphere. The debris from the earlier explosion still hung in the air while Zeraora snarled at them for harming Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash, now on her hooves, glared at Spitfire, her expression a mix of defiance and frustration. "You're just like my world's Spitfire. You just don't know when to quit, do you?"
Spitfire smirked, the unwavering determination in her eyes contrasting with the chaos surrounding them. "Quit? Not until we have what we came for. And, Rainbow Dash, you can make it easier for everyone by handing over Zeraora. After all, my Rainbow Dash is a pro at following orders and I expect you to be the same. Just saying."
Zeraora's gaze shifted between Spitfire and Rainbow Dash, a silent plea for understanding in her eyes. She knew her presence was a catalyst for the conflict, yet she yearned for a resolution without further harm.
Rainbow Dash, however, stood firm. "You're not taking Zeraora. We're not letting you exploit her." From her saddlebag, she held out a Poke Ball.
"Really?" Spitfire chuckled, the sound echoing in the cave's confines. "Alright then. I'll indulge you with a Pokemon Battle. How about that? But you should take a look at the numbers. I'm not going to make it a 1 on 1. And I won't even use my own Pokemon Xurkitree will take care of things from here.
"I...I can take them." But Rainbow Dash wasn't going to let this throw her off her game.
As the standoff unfolded, Zeraora stepped forward, her body poised for action but her eyes reflecting a desire for a different resolution. Rainbow Dash gasped, seeing Zeraora get in front of her. Confused, Rainbow Dash then saw Zeraora put on a less defensive stance and more of a casual one. "Zera."
"Zeraora? What are you doing?"
"Ze." Suddenly, Zeraora gave up right there and there. In her mind, fighting back was going to lead to more problems, especially when Daybreaker's forces were absolutely relentless right now. Far worse than what occurred back at the Diamond Domain.
"Y-You're giving up?!" Rainbow Dash's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't fathom Zeraora willingly surrendering, especially after all they had been through so far.
"Castform?!"
"Oh? Excellent!" Spitfire grinned, nodding in approval of Zeraora's decision. "Glad you saw through it. You're not so silly after all. Giving yourself up to protect your new friend was the best decision you've made so far."
"You can't give up!" Rainbow Dash bellowed. "Not like this!"
Zeraora glanced back at Rainbow Dash, her expression holding a mix of regret and determination. "Ze. Zera." She nodded, trying to convey a message that went beyond words. Despite the turmoil in her heart, she seemed to believe this was the best course of action.
Spitfire gestured to her crew, signalling them to move forward. "Smart move, Thunderclap. Now, make it easier for everyone. The rest of my team has probably met with the rest of your friends on the other side of the cave. If you don't want any more problems, you'll back down. I'm not opposed to a peaceful resolution if it's for the better."
Rainbow Dash clenched her teeth, torn between the impulse to fight and the understanding that Zeraora had her reasons. The Poke Ball in her hoof was shaking as she was itching to retaliate. But Zeraora's eyes said otherwise. Looking at them, Zeraora wished to avoid any conflict that involved Rainbow Dash's harm.
She reluctantly placed the Poke Ball back in her bag after seeing Zeraora's emotions. With a heavy sigh, Rainbow Dash refrained, for Zeraora's sake.
"Good choice. Now, Xurkitree, do your thing."
The Ultra Beast, suspended in the air by magical energy, emitted a bright glow and was brought to the Thunderclap. Arcs of electricity crackled around it, creating an intimidating aura. Spitfire's crew prepared themselves for whatever would happen next.
Zeraora looked back at Rainbow Dash once more, a silent plea for understanding in her eyes. Despite the circumstances, there was a hint of reassurance, as if she believed that this sacrifice was necessary for some greater good. The black cables of Xurkitree would move forward, ready to grab the Thunderclap Pokemon
Rainbow Dash was doing her best not to take action. But her entire life has been about taking action and now, the one time she needs to do something, she couldn't do it. All for the sake of her friend. Rainbow Dash wasn't sure if that was the loyalty within her doing this.
But that's when it hit her. At the end of the day, she was loyal to her friends. And no matter how new they are, she would keep that loyalty, especially to those who need and deserve it. And even though she was being loyal to Zeraora by allowing her to go through with this, that other part of Zeraora saw loyalty in a different light. And that loyalty was making sure nothing bad happens to her friends. "No way...."
"Hm?" Spitfire's ears perked up after hearing Rainbow Dash's voice.
"No way I'm letting that happen! Castform, use Reflect Type!"
"Cast!" Castform already had the same thing in mind. Jumping out of the saddlebag, the Weather Pokemon would lock onto the nearest Pokemon. Currently, there were two Electric-Types here so either one would do. He looked at Xurkitree, immediately copying his typing.
The radioactive cells within Castform would go off once he copied the Electric-Typing and after doing so, he unleashed a fierce burst of lightning from his body. Castform had his own way of attacking multiple enemies thanks to his special cells. The crew of Spitfire, minus Spitfire herself, gasped at the sight of this thunderous outburst as it would pass through Zeraora, granting her strength thanks to Volt Absorb.
Xurkitree was, of course, pushed back, lacking the same ability as the Mythical Pokemon.
"Mmm..." Spitfire groaned, taking off her glasses as she was shielded by some of her crew members. "I should've known. You were always like this, Dash."
"Zera?"
"I'd never turn my back on you, Zeraora. That involves making sure you're safe." Rainbow Dash with the utmost confidence and most importantly, loyalty to Zeraora.
"Ze..." Zeraora was frozen. At that moment, she finally realized what she had. Not just a new home that was identical to the one she lost, but also a friend who would truly be there for her. No one was there for her back in her world but now, that has all changed. Knowing this, Zeraora smiled, getting highly emotional to the point where a tear was appearing on her face.
"Have it your way." Spitfire shrugged. "But there's one thing you should know. My team was going to attack you anyways. After all, you would've left with our plans and we can't have that."
"Yeah, we'll we're taking you down. And you can go back to Daybreaker and let her know who you're messing with."
"Oh. You have no idea who you're messing with." With a smile forming on her face, Spitfire suddenly gave off a menacing Aura. "There's a reason why we took down the Dread League before you did. You're about to find out why."
The surrounding atmosphere seemed to shift. It was as if the very air was charged with her commanding presence. Rainbow Dash, still ready for a fight, felt a sudden unease. The intensity of Spitfire's gaze seemed to pierce through her, as if analyzing every thought and emotion. Rainbow Dash, while affected by the pressure, gritted her teeth and stood her ground. She wouldn't let Spitfire's intimidation tactics get the best of her.
"Together, Zeraora?" The pegasus looked back at the Thunderclap Pokemon.
"Zera!" Zeraora nodded in understanding, ready to battle alongside Rainbow Dash and Castform.
"Okay then! Zeraora! Use Close Combat!"
The clash between Zeraora and Xurkitree commenced with a surge of energy. Xurkitree, being an Electric-type Ultra Beast, unleashed a barrage of Thunderbolts, creating a dazzling display of electrical power in the cavern. Zeraora, nimble and agile, dodged the attacks with swift movements, her fur slightly bristling with static.
"Zera, use Close Combat!" Rainbow Dash commanded, recalling the powerful fighting moves she had witnessed Zeraora execute before.
"Xurkitree! Use Dazzling Gleam!" Spitfire commanded as she was in control of Xurkitree here. And by extension, the ships above would attack as well, unleashing their rays of light.
Zeraora leaped forward, her body enveloped in a burst of fighting energy. Coming her way were multiple rays of light, from Xurkitree and the ships. "Reflect-Type!" Rainbow Dash bellowed, having Castform use Reflect Type once more, this time on Zeraora.
He would mimic the typing again, even though he was already in the form. And by doing so, he sent another electrical blast from his body which would greatly benefit Zeraora. Volt Absorb kicked in once the lightning reached her, increasing her strength. Just what she needed. The electricity would also block some of the incoming rays of light, causing them to clash with the lightning.
"You can do it again?!" One of the soldiers gasped.
"No limit to how many times I can do it, unless the Pokemon has no type!" Rainbow Dash cackled, taking full advantage of Reflect Type's greatest strength. Realistically, there was no limit and she was using it for the first time. "Go, Zeraora!"
She landed a series of rapid strikes on Xurkitree, each blow resonating with force. Xurkitree recoiled from the impact, its cables swaying with the force of the assault.
"If I beat you, then I'm sure I can defeat my world's Spitfire!" Rainbow Dash grinned.
"Don't count on it. No matter the universe, you could never beat me. Well, except for speed..." However, Xurkitree retaliated with its own arsenal of moves. It emitted a dazzling glow, signalling another Dazzling Gleam. It would quickly fight back by bombarding Zeraora with a barrage of rainbows.
"Zera...!" Zeraora slid back, taking some damage in the process. But she was still in this.
"Energy Ball!" Hearing Spitfire's command. Xurkitree then put both of its cables forward, generating a ball that was connected to nature itself.
"Weather Ball!"
"Cast!" Castform would do the same, generating a ball of light in his mouth. Both attacks were unleashed at the same time but one would intercept the other. Weather Ball came flying in, striking the Energy Ball and ensuing a clash. The two attacks blew up around each other, creating a green and white smokescreen.
From the ships, the Golurks were dropped. Having a stark advantage in this battle, they emerged, ready to back up their captain. Zeraora snarled, knowing this wasn't going to be any easier than last time. But now, Rainbow Dash ah her back.
"I need your help! Whirlipede! Braviary!" Quickly, Rainbow Dash threw two Poke Balls into the air, summoning Braviary and Whirlipede in direct response to the Golurk.
"Whirlipede!"
"Braviary!"
"So be it." Spitfire smirked, not bothered at all. In her mind, she was betting on Tempest Shadow to deal with the rest of Rainbow Dash's group on the other side of the cave while she dealt with the main problem.
The showdown between these two was now underway. Zeraora's fate as well as the rest of her friends was resting on this one battle. The odds were stacked against them, but Rainbow Dash wasn't one to quit even with this difference. Even if she fails, she was going to do what she can to protect Zeraora.
Alola. Akala Island. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
In a rough moment, Rainbow Daash, Castform and Zeraora were encoutering one part of Spitfire's crew who managed to find them. Away from Rainbow Dash and Zeraora, the rest of her friend group were elsewhere in this cavern, still recovering from the onslaught they had to deal with.
Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were currently by themselves, only to hear the sound of a loud explosion, followed by a rumble. The distant echoes of the recent battle lingered in the air as they tried to comprehend the situation. That was the cause of the rays of light splitting a part of the cavern in half.
"What was that?! What did they get themselves into now?!" Rarity stood up after hearing and feeling the rubble. Her mane was still full of pebbles and a bit wet.
"Ow!" The impact of the tremor dropped a barrage of pebbles onto Pinkie Pie's mane, forcing her to the ground as some of them bounced away when touching that cotton-candy hair.
"Do you think they were found?!" Fluttershy expressed her concern, her eyes reflecting worry.
"Most likely. Just like you." But that wasn't the only voice in this cave. They weren't by themselves. With Pheromosa quickly turning her head, finding their way into this cavern was Tempest Shadow, who Spitfire already expected to be here. "Mmm. I'd much rather be going after Zeraora right now, but whatever,"
"You!" Rarity exclaimed, her initial relief turning into irritation. The confrontation between the two groups unfolded in the cavern, adding another layer of tension to the already eventful day.
As they confronted Tempest Shadow, the cavern seemed to tighten with an electric charge, mirroring the intensity of the earlier battle. The air crackled with unresolved tension as the two groups faced off.
"You don't need us! Why come for us then" Rarity demanded, her tone revealing a mix of annoyance and suspicion.
"Zeraora could easily pass our plan off. And you already saw the Ultra Wormhole and Xurkitree," Tempest Shadow replied casually, her mismatched eyes assessing the group before her. "We can't let you leave with that knowledge. Especially not you three."
"Wow? We're famous?" Pinkie Pie grinned, already knowing that those words involved a strong sense of familiarity. And in a way, they were. Only because of their achievements in helping take down massive threats.
"That's right. We know how dangerous your group is. Queen Daybreaker takes you more seriously than.." Tempest Shadow had to pause when thinking about who else there was. "Everyone. The Dread League. Discord. Grogar. All of her fiercest enemies that she's crushed. But surprisingly, you and this entire world are larger than them."
"Well, we don't mean to brag~" Rarity was feeling the urge to brag either way. Putting on a confident face before shaking her head, getting back into the seriousness of it. "But if you know this then perhaps you'll let us go, right? You wouldn't want any trouble."
"Yeah. Plus, we already had to deal with our Tempest Shadow and it wasn't easy, ya know." Pinkie Pie raised her hoof, bringing up this universe's Tempest. "Know what I mean Fizz-"
"Don't you dare." Her true name was the same in Universe 11. And as soon as those familiar words were uttered, Tempest Shadow released a fearsome gaze with her tone intensifying. Pinkie Pie scrunched her face and flinched, pulling back in response to Tempest Shadow's reaction.
Fluttershy, always a beacon of kindness, tried to diffuse the tension. "Can't we all just get along? We're not looking for trouble."
Tempest Shadow scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "Can't do. This universe is set for failure anyway. Once Necrozma gets all the light he can from this universe, that's it. Queen Daybreaker will decide what to do with this world. Most likely, it'll become an extension of her empire. It's practically the same world but bigger. You'll have your use, if her majesty wants you."
"Phero...!" Pheromosa stepped forward, shielding Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Audino and Mew would do the same as all three of their Pokemon defended them.
"Want to take your chances" Tempest asked, pointing out the numerical difference here.
"Numbers don't mean a thing!" Rarity scoffed. "When we're together as friends, even the odds aren't all that impressive. Especially since we've grown and improved after the Dread League debacle."
"Friends? That whole Friendship thing? Do you really think that means anything in the grand scheme of things? You're just ponies in a world that's far beyond your understanding." Tempest Shadow shook her head, so did the other troops.
Rarity, indignant, retorted, "Well, we've faced our fair share of challenges before. This won't be any different."
"Maybe we could talk and find a way to solve whatever issues there are without resorting to battles or conflicts." Fluttershy attempted to mediate. "I mean, we do it a lot recently, actually."
"I don't think so. Shoot them." Tempest ordered.
With the order, the troops would fire. Their horns lit up, unleashing rays of magic that would fly at them all. The unicorns would go first as Tempest Shadow, who recovered her horn in Universe 11, unleashed a beam as well.
Audino, ever the protective figure, reacted swiftly. "Audino!" She called out, using the ever-reliable Protect to shield everyone from the incoming magical onslaught.
The Protect barrier formed a shimmering, translucent shield around the group, absorbing the magical beams and preventing any harm from reaching them. As the Protect barrier held strong, the beams dissipated harmlessly. Tempest Shadow's expression hardened as she observed the resilience of her opponents. "Persistent, aren't you?"
The group were in agreement to not confront them. They chose to avoid a battle since, despite the big talk Rarity made, the odds were stacked against them. Audino would then expand her barrier, pushing the beams away and even reflecting some of them. Some of the beams would crash into the troops, knocking them over while creating a good enough pressure to stun Tempest and the others.
The best Pokemon for the job to take them away was Pheromosa, who would once again be tall enough for all three ponies to latch onto her. But Audino was on the larger side, making it a bit harder.
As the confrontation continued, a distant echoing sound reached their ears, a reminder of the ongoing battle between Zeraora and Xurkitree. The urgency in the air heightened, and the group realized they were entangled in a larger web of events.
Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth as she faced the overwhelming forces led by Spitfire. The cavern echoed with the sounds of battle, interspersed with the roars and crackles of Xurkitree's electric attacks. Rainbow Dash, Castform, and Zeraora stood firm, determined to stand their ground against the aerial forces of Daybreaker.
Joining the battle were the Golurks, who emerged from the shadows and were summoned by their trainers. Zeraora looked to the side to see the faces of these giants emerging, ready to bump up the difficulty. One of them was even appearing behind Rainbow Dash, who was about to send out two Pokemon to help out.
Spitfire, her gaze fixed on Rainbow Dash, wore a confident smirk. "You always did love a good challenge, Dash. But this time, the odds aren't in your favour."
Rainbow Dash glanced at her surroundings. The cavern, once a place of relative safety, had turned into a battlefield. Xurkitree's electric attacks illuminated the darkness, creating a chaotic and disorienting atmosphere. The narrow passages made it challenging for Rainbow Dash to evade the relentless attacks of the aerial forces.
"This isn't good," Rainbow Dash muttered, her eyes scanning the area for potential cover.
"Cast!" Castform agreed, understanding the dire situation they were in. The Weather Pokémon's form shifted to that of a rock, providing some semblance of cover against the incoming onslaught.
Spitfire, perceptive as ever, noticed Rainbow Dash's attempt to regroup. "No hiding, Dash! We'll find you, no matter where you go."
As the aerial forces closed in, Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. She knew she couldn't outrun or outmaneuver the entire squadron. Instead, she opted for a daring move. "Zeraora, we need your help. Can you create a distraction?"
Zeraora, though initially unsure, nodded. "Zera."
Rainbow Dash seized the moment, her wings propelling her forward in a burst of speed. Dodging magical beams and aerial acrobatics, she aimed for the densest part of the enemy forces. Castform, maintaining his rock form, followed closely behind.
Zeraora, with a burst of speed rivalling Rainbow Dash's, moved in the opposite direction. Her presence drew the attention of several enemy pegasi, diverting their focus from Rainbow Dash. Zeraora's agile movements and electrifying attacks posed a significant threat, forcing the enemy forces to split their attention.
If there was one thing that was for sure, it was that Zeraora had the speed advantage. This would help against the numbers but it wasn't a sure-fire success. Spitfire and the others tried following her movements, but Zeraora was quite the speedster, leaving behind trails of lightning.
"Use Superpower, Braviary!"
"Viary!" By tapping into Fighting Energy and performing a thunderclap, Braviary's large wings generated powerful gusts of wind, targeting the ships in the sky while also knocking around all the dust and dirt in here. The added visibility allowed Whirlipede to unleash his Rollout, causing him to crash into some of the troops, knocking them over. And of course, receive a Speed Boost.
Rainbow Dash, seizing the opportunity, took to the skies alongside Braviary. The imposing Pokémon unleashed a series of Aerial Aces, striking down enemy pegasi with precision. Whirlipede, utilizing his speed, zipped all over the place. However, Xurkitree caught him with his black cables, using Power Whip to slap the Curlipede Pokemon.
"W-Whirl!"
As for the aerial ships, they barely moved in response to Braviary's Superpower. Rainbow Dash gasped as the rays of light came down on her. Defending her was Braviary, who used Steel Wing as a shield. And it was an excellent shield. Thanks to the steel coating, it created a blinding light that would affect those who looked at it while also bouncing off the Valiant Pokemon. Either way, even Braviary was forced back down.
"Use Brave Bird!"
The aerial skirmish intensified as Braviary's Brave Birds collided with enemy forces. He moved at high speeds, charging at one of the ships with a blazing aura. Only for one of the Golurk to get in the way, using Hammer Arm to strike at the Valiant Pokemon.
"Vi!" Braviary was soon knocked down to the ground thanks to that poweful downwards swing.
In the midst of the chaos, Xurkitree unleashed another Dazzling Gleam, aiming for the trio. Rainbow Dash, quick on her hooves, veered to the side, narrowly avoiding the magical blast. Castform braced for impact, shielding himself and Rainbow Dash from the incoming attack.
Zeraora growled as she couldn't get there in time to stop the attack. But looking away was a bad call as rays of light were shot her way. Zeraora was bombarded by them, taking repeated damage which began to tear the cave apart. Thanks to the boosted strength from before, she managed to take these hits well, but not for long.
"Use Plasma Fists!"
"Zeraora!" Igniting her fists with plasma, she struck the ground, sending plasma waves at high speeds to try and hit multiple targets. Unfortunately, this was stopped by the Golurk who stood in the way, allowing the attack to hit them with no effect.
"Nice moves, Dash. But you can't keep this up forever," Spitfire taunted from above, her voice echoing through the cavern. She was right. No matter how hard Rainbow Dash tries or how much bravado she possesses, she couldn't take on this many opponents.
However, Rainbow Dash grinned, undeterred by the taunt. "Who says I plan to? Braviary, use Superpower!"
"Braviary!" With his talons lighting up, Braviary struck the ground, causing that tremendous power to not only generate a tremor but also create a temporary shield of clouds around Rainbow Dash and her friends. Spitfire observed the manoeuvre with interest, expecting nothing less from Rainbow Dash, no matter the world.
As the cloud shield dispersed, Rainbow Dash scanned the area for potential escape routes. The cavern's intricate passages offered limited options, and the numerical difference remained a pressing challenge.
Zeraora, in her distraction efforts, engaged in a high-speed chase with a group of enemy pegasi. Her agility and boosted strength kept them on their hooves, preventing them from regrouping with the main force. Despite the odds, Zeraora's determination shone through.
Rainbow Dash, considering her next move, noticed a series of narrow tunnels branching off from the main cavern. "This way!" She said to them all.
"Form!" Castform responded, keeping close to Rainbow Dash as they navigated the labyrinthine passages. Braviary would soar through them while Whirlipede just kept rolling, gathering all the momentum he could. The tunnels provided a degree of cover, disrupting the cohesion of the enemy forces.
Spitfire, realizing the potential threat of the tunnels, issued orders to her troops. "Fan out! Don't let them escape into the tunnels. We need to corner them."
The aerial forces adjusted their formation, attempting to block off any escape routes. Rainbow Dash, however, had a plan. "Castform, create a fog! Use Weather Ball!
"Form!" Castform fired a quick Weather Ball directly at the ground, releasing a thick fog that enveloped the tunnels. The dense mist reduced visibility, creating confusion among the pursuing forces.
Rainbow Dash, relying on her agility, darted through the fog-covered tunnels. The echoes of her hooves against the rocky terrain masked her movements, making it challenging for the enemy pegasi to track her.
Spitfire, frustrated by the sudden turn of events, barked orders to her troops. They were not letting them get away. However, the ships would have a hard time flying in here, so those within the ships were ordered to stay behind. The rest of Spitfire's group who were on Ground Level would take it from here.
In the misty labyrinth, Rainbow Dash and Castform continued their evasion tactics. Zeraora, having concluded her distraction, joined them in the tunnels. The trio moved with calculated precision, exploiting the confusing terrain to outmanoeuvre their pursuers.
However, Spitfire's determination remained unyielding. She wasn't one to back down, especially when pursuing Rainbow Dash. As the fog gradually dissipated, the aerial forces regrouped.
The echoes of heavy footsteps reverberated through the dimly lit caverns as the Golurks persisted in their pursuit. Their massive, imposing figures moved silently through the tunnels by flying instead of running, closing in on Rainbow Dash's group with relentless determination.
Rainbow Dash, Zeraora, Braviary, Whirlipede, and Castform pressed on, keeping a vigilant watch for any signs of the approaching Golurks. The ominous atmosphere within the caves was heightened by the occasional echoes of the Golurks' mechanical movements.
As they manoeuvred through the winding passages, the group's pace quickened. Rainbow Dash's instincts kicked in, guiding them through the labyrinth with an uncanny sense of direction. However, the Golurks, being relentless in their pursuit, adapted to the cave environment, using their Ghost and Ground types to their advantage.
Suddenly, the cavernous tunnels widened into a larger chamber, providing a temporary reprieve. Rainbow Dash seized the opportunity to assess their situation. The Golurks would even phase through the caverns, attempting to catch them off guard. The hands of these giants would fly out of the walls, appearing as intimidating as possible.
"Zera!" Only for Zeraora to use Fire Punch. She was stronger than ever before thanks to Volt Absorb, making her hits heavier compared to last time. This time, the Golurk actually staggered and were pushed back, showing growth.
The group swiftly implemented the plan. Zeraora unleashed a surge of electric energy, creating a protective barrier around them. The crackling electricity illuminated the chamber, casting eerie shadows on the cave walls. Braviary spread its wings wide, poised for a counterattack, while Whirlipede prepared to use its Poison-type moves.
As the Golurks entered the chamber, their eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity. Undeterred by the electric barrier, they advanced with relentless determination. The confrontation unfolded a clash between Rainbow Dash's group and the Golurks in the heart of the cavern.
Braviary, with a mighty flap of his wings, sent shockwaves through the air, targeting the Golurks with powerful Aerial Aces. Whirlipede, using his swift movements, struck with Rollout which was also stronger than before.
Despite their efforts, the Golurks proved resilient. Their Ghost typing granted them immunity to Normal and Fighting moves, rendering some attacks ineffective. The mechanical Pokémon pressed on, adapting to the evolving conditions of the battle.
Rainbow Dash grit her teeth, realizing the difficulty of their predicament. Braviary's wings shimmered with light energy as it unleashed Steel Wing, striking the Golurks with as much force as he could. But that didn't stop them at all and they still had the rest of Daybreaker's troops to worry about who were right behind them.
The Golurks, towering figures with glowing eyes, seemed to materialize from the shadows, appearing at every turn. Their mechanical bodies moved with an unsettling fluidity, undeterred by the maze-like structure of the caves. The echoes of their footsteps reverberated through the stone, creating an ominous symphony of metal against rock.
"Keep moving!" Rainbow Dash urged her companions. The sense of claustrophobia grew with every passing moment, the oppressive darkness closing in on them like an unseen adversary. Zeraora's pace quickened, the urgency in her movements reflecting the imminent danger.
The cavern's walls, adorned with ancient rock formations, cast eerie shadows that seemed to come alive. The Golurks, with their ghostly presence, appeared as spectres emerging from the depths of the caves. The combination of their imposing figures and the disorienting environment intensified the feeling of dread.
Rainbow Dash couldn't shake the sensation that the Golurks were not just pursuing them physically but on a deeper, more visceral level. Their very presence felt like a relentless force.
Suddenly, the cavern widened into a massive chamber, revealing towering stalactites and stalagmites that loomed like sentinels in the shadows. The group took a moment to catch their breath, the respite short-lived as the Golurks closed in.
"I can't lose them at this rate! There has to be something I can do...!" Rainbow Dash growled.
As if responding to her words, the Golurks emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing brighter as they closed the distance. The rhythmic echoes of their footsteps reverberated through the cavern, creating an unsettling cadence that seemed to pulse with malevolence.
"Only one thing I can do." Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, hearing the wingbeat of the pegasi nearby. "In here, Braviary! Let's do it!"
In unison, they tapped into the Harmony Phenomenon, ready to unleash Rainbow-Braviary. But not the full thing. Just for a bit since Rainbow Dash was beginning to run out of steam. Right as the Golurk approached them, suddenly, a mesmerizing pillar of rainbows began to descend from the ceiling, swirling and twirling with an ethereal glow. At first, the Golurk were captivated by the beauty of the spectacle, marvelling at the vibrant colours that seem to dance and shimmer around the duo.
However, they soon realize that this pillar of rainbows is not just a benign display of colours. As it descends further, the very fabric of reality within the cavern begins to warp and distort. The once sturdy walls of the cavern start to crumble, forming a shockwave thanks to this union.
This also opened up a new pathway in this cavern that they could take. While they had the time, they took this pathway before the troops of Daybreaker could show up. But that wasn't enough. Even with the usage of the Harmony Phenomenon, they were still unable to escape them.
"No way! You can't be serious!" Rainbow Dash was in disbelief.
As the Golurks closed in, Rainbow Dash felt a surge of determination. She knew that a direct confrontation wouldn't be enough against these formidable adversaries. With a resolute expression, she soared into the air, her wings creating a gust of wind that ruffled the group's fur, feathers and skin.
"There's only one thing I can do..." There was one other option at her disposal. Even riskier than the brief Harmony Phenomenon.
The Sonic Rainboom.
"Return! And hold onto me Zeraora!" Rainbow Dash shouted, her voice echoing through the cavern as she recalled Braviary and Whirlipede while Castform stayed in her bag.
The cavern's atmosphere became charged with anticipation as Rainbow Dash was picking up speed. It was the only way to outrun them while also cutting off their movements. Zeraora held onto Rainbow Dash, unbeknownst of what was coming.
Rainbow Dash had faith in her friends, believing that they would do well on their own. She couldn't afford to go back for them in this scenario. Not when things were getting dire. And with the pegasi and Golurk closing in, now was the time to make a full getaway.
Rainbow Dash's eyes glowed with determination as she initiated the Sonic Rainboom. With a burst of speed, she rocketed forward, breaking the sound barrier. The air around her shimmered with a dazzling display of colours as the shockwave rippled through the cavern.
The Golurks, caught off guard by the sudden burst of speed and energy, attempted to shield themselves from the impending shockwave. The chamber vibrated with the sonic force, causing stalactites to tremble and stalagmites to shudder.
The Sonic Rainboom reached its climax as Rainbow Dash, surrounded by a rainbow-hued shockwave, soared through the narrow passage. The force of the explosion created a chain reaction, causing the cave's rocky formations to crumble and collapse.
Stalactites and stalagmites shattered, filling the air with debris as the Golurks struggled to maintain their composure. The overwhelming force of the Sonic Rainboom echoed through the cavern, creating a chaotic symphony of destruction. It even launched some of the troops back thanks to the pressure.
Rainbow Dash was out of here, breaking through the walls of the cavern which ended up harming her. She found herself outside along with Zeraora and Castform as the golden Sun of Alola beamed down on her. Feeling the pain of charging through the walls, Rainbow Dash would fall to the ground, finding herself on a cliffside where the sea was right underneath it.
"Hah...Hah..." Rainbow Dash sighed, catching her breath after performing that mighty Sonic Rainboom. She laid there on the ground while Zeraora sat down. As Rainbow Dash caught her breath, Castform joined her on the cliffside, their forms outlined against the azure sky.
The aftermath of their escape was visible behind them, the cavern they had just traversed now a chaotic jumble of rocks and remnants. The Golurks were momentarily halted by the obstacle, navigating the wreckage to continue their pursuit.
Zeraora, too, took a moment to recover from the intense escape. She observed Rainbow Dash with a mix of concern and gratitude. The Thunderclap Pokémon seemed to appreciate the lengths Rainbow Dash had gone to ensure their safety. Zeraora was starting to regret almost giving herself up.
"Good job, everypony," Rainbow Dash said, offering a reassuring smile to her Pokémon companions. "We made it out of that mess. Right now, at least...Boy, that was rough."
The group slowly rose to their feet, ready to press on. Rainbow Dash glanced at Zeraora, recognizing the Thunderclap Pokémon's internal struggle. The bond between them had deepened through adversity, and Rainbow Dash felt a responsibility to support her newfound friend.
"Zeraora, you alright?" Rainbow Dash asked, concern etched across her face.
"Zera." The Mythical Pokemon grinned, glad to have Rainbow Dash as her friend who would do all of this for her.
"Congratulations." But alas, there was no time for a break. Approaching the cliff was none other than Spitfire herself, joined by Xurkitree. It was just the two of them this time. "You managed to avoid my team. Using the Sonic Rainboom too? Not bad."
Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed as Spitfire and Xurkitree appeared on the cliff. The adrenaline from their escape hadn't faded. But at least, it was just them now. "Spitfire..." She looked behind her, seeing that she was in yet another rough spot since falling here would mean dropping into the sea from a high height.
Spitfire chuckled, a mixture of amusement and confidence in her expression. "I expected nothing less. But this time, it's just you and me. No interference from your friends or their Pokémon. My team will find their way here soon enough."
"I don't get it. Why are you doing this? Daybreaker hasn't been around as much as Princess Celestia. So how come you're doing all of this?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"It seems you're the one who doesn't get it, Rainbow Dash." Spitfire shook her head. "We've always followed the Princess, no matter what. And after what happened to Princess Luna, we knew we had to support her even more."
"Yeah, I know what happened. Flurry Heart spilt everything but..."
"It's not about what's right; it's about loyalty. If you saw how bad things were in our universe, perhaps you'd understand. Princess Celestia, in all her years of being alive, went through the most crushing moment in her life and it's what made her stronger.
Rainbow Dash's eyes widened at the revelation. The tragic turn of events painted a different picture of Daybreaker. A leader born out of loss and desperation. Spitfire remembred it all, especially when Daybreaker came to her.
Universe 11. Equestria.
It was 8 days after Celestia emerged as Daybreaker. After losing her sister Luna during the war against the Changelings and Dread League, Celestia adopted a harsher way of ruling, crushing those who took her sister from her. In just 8 days, she managed to win this conflict with her newfound power, showing no remorse to those who caused all of this.
In the aftermath of the devastating war against the Changelings and the Dread League, Equestria was left in a state of disarray. The once harmonious land was now grappling with the aftermath of the conflict, and the citizens were trying to rebuild their lives. However, the ascension of Celestia into her alter ego, Daybreaker, cast a dark shadow over the realm.
Daybreaker ruled with an iron hoof, her once warm and nurturing demeanour replaced by a ruthless and authoritarian approach. The loss of her sister, Luna, during the war had left a scar on Celestia's heart that festered into a burning rage. Consumed by grief and the desire for vengeance, Daybreaker declared a new era of strict control and punishment.
Under Daybreaker's rule, dissent and opposition were swiftly crushed. The once vibrant society of Equestria now lived in fear, with everypony afraid to voice their concerns or stand against the tyrannical ruler. The Sun, once a symbol of hope and warmth, now seemed to scorch the land, mirroring the oppressive atmosphere that Daybreaker had created.
Spitfire, the skilled and fearless captain of the Wonderbolts, had always been a staunch supporter of Princess Celestia. However, the day she was summoned to meet Daybreaker, the changed and formidable version of her beloved princess, she couldn't help but feel a mix of apprehension and curiosity.
The meeting took place in the Grand Hall of Canterlot Castle, which now bore the marks of Daybreaker's harsh rule. The once lively atmosphere had been replaced with an oppressive silence as Spitfire stood before the imposing figure seated on the throne. The sun princess's fiery mane and stern gaze gave her an air of authority that left Spitfire uneasy.
"As the Captain of the Wonderbolts, I saw all the effects of everything that happened with the Dread League and Changeligs firsthoof, losing comrades and friends to them. Right then and there, I knew the pain and grief that Queen Daybreaker must have felt after losing Princess Luna."
Despite the new and rather intimidating approach to ruling Equestria, crushing all enemies, new or old, Spitfire found a sliver of empathy for the tormented ruler.
"I'm glad you understand, Spitfire." Daybreaker, however, surprised Spitfire by acknowledging the sacrifices made by the Wonderbolts and expressing understanding of the difficult choices they had faced during the conflict. The princess, though unyielding in her rule, seemed burdened by the weight of her responsibilities and the pain of her past. "I knew I could count on you. Right now, almost nopony can count on me, but I have to do this."
The cool night air embraced her, bringing with it memories of a time when the world was not weighed down by the oppressive rule of Daybreaker. The moon hung in the sky, casting a soft glow on the city below, but Spitfire's thoughts were far away, lost in the haunting echoes of the past. It was also a reminder of Luna's presence which was now gone.
Her mind drifted back to the early days of the war against the Changelings and the Dread League. The Wonderbolts, once a symbol of unity and grace, had been thrust into a brutal conflict. Spitfire vividly recalled the faces of her comrades, the camaraderie that had fueled their flights, and the laughter that echoed through the halls of their training facility.
"All that empathy clashed with my loyalty, and when we started understanding each other, I couldn't help but wonder if all those sacrifices made in the name of Equestria would mean something in the future. I had all my doubts from the start."
"I can sense the conflict within you, Spitfire." Daybreaker turned back to face Spitfire. "All that Loyalty pulling you in different directions. But right now and forever, embrace the power of the sun, and you'll find necessary clarity that surpasses the shadows of doubt. Equestria needs ponies like you to usher in a new dawn."
"I'm counting on you, Spitfire," Daybreaker said with a smile on her face, having her full trust in Spitfire and the Wonderbolts. It was her duty to serve and protect her. And that did not change even in those trying times.
"This is what it takes to make sure we get true harmony. The way we went about it wasn't cutting it, since it wasn't helping us win that war. Your world may have won with it, but I can guarantee you, it's not gonna last. Come on. You should know that I'm right about this." said Spitfire.
"But doing all of this and capturing Pokémon? What's up with that?!!" Rainbow Dash retorted, frustration evident in her voice. Hearing it all made her reflect but everything else wasn't up her alley. "I know what you're getting at but...You'd just go with all of that"?
Spitfire chuckled, dismissing Rainbow Dash's objection. "Sometimes sacrifices are necessary for the greater good. You can't always see the bigger picture, Dash. Daybreaker ensures Equestria's prosperity, even if some have to bear the burden. And I'm not about to let her down. Xurkitree! Power Whip!"
"Well, I'm not losing either way! Zeraora! Fire Punch!"
"Zera!" The battle continued on this cliff. Zeraora ignited her paws while Xurkitree swung its cables around which would extend thanks to Power Whip. The attacks clashed, sending sparks everywhere. Zeraora would jump over the next swing, leaping towards the Glowing Pokemon.
Xurkitree would say its body, avoiding incoming Fire Punch which struck the ground instead. After evading it, Zeraora was smacked by one of the cables, taking the first hit. Afterwards, Xurkitree brought another one of its limbs down for a follow-up.
"Zeraora, use Plasma Fists!"
"Zera!" Zeraora quickly changed elements, unleashing the power of Plasma. Her paws met with the cable, sending a powerful plasma burst around the area. This battle was beginning to break the cliff, putting their lives in jeopardy as the clash between Zeraora and Xurkitree intensified. The Glowing Pokémon's cables crackled with electricity, while Zeraora's fur brimmed with energy. The sky echoed with their powerful strikes, each blow threatening to shatter the fragile environment around them.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
Suddenly, Xurkitre's attacks grew fiercer. The next Dazzling Gleam was even more powerful than before. This was thanks to Xurkitree's Beast Boost. An ability all Ultra Beasts possess. Dazzling Gleam was greatly boosted as the stream of rainbows started flying in at greater speeds.
Zeraora tried punching away at all of them, using Close Combat to do so. But she couldn't stop them all. Some of them overpowered her attack. Zeraora was blasted away, pelted by these rays. But she still managed to slide on the ground, recovering regardless.
Rainbow Dash and Zeraora, battered but determined, stood there with fire in their eyes, eyeing Spitfire and Xurkitree. Spitfire, her usually confident demeanour slightly shaken, glared at Rainbow Dash. Xurkitree even displayed signs of wear from the intense battle.
Spitfire gritted her teeth. "Impressive move, Dash. But this doesn't change anything. You're gonna wear out pretty soon, I can tell!"
"As if..." Rainbow Dash, fueled by a mix of exhaustion and determination, retorted, "You can't keep doing this, Spitfire. There has to be a better way."
Zeraora took a step forward, her voice resonating with a mixture of weariness and conviction. "This doesn't have to continue. We can find a solution that doesn't involve more destruction."
Spitfire scoffed, a defiant smirk on her face. "You're naive if you think negotiations will solve anything. Daybreaker's vision is the only way to ensure a stable world."
Rainbow Dash, refusing to back down, tried to reason with Spitfire. She shook her head as her mane was messier than ever now. "I get that you want to support Daybreaker, but there's no way I'm gonna let this be it. Not like this."
Spitfire's expression hardened. "You don't understand, Dash. Daybreaker's world is different. We need strength to protect it and the way you do it just won't cut it. Power Whip!"
Once more, Xurkitree brought down Power Whip on a battered Zeraora. The Thunderclap Pokemon prepared herself, igniting her paws in flames as she swung upwards at the incoming cable. There was another clash, but this time, Xurkitree won it. Overpowering Zeraora, it began to push the cables down, causing Zeraora to snarl.
She was doing her best to stay steady, making sure the whip wouldn't come down. At the same time, the cliff below them was giving out and the nail in the coffin was a mighty push from Xurkitree. That push caused the edge of the cliff to break apart with Rainbow Dash and Zeraora being the victims. The Power Whip struck Zeraora, which in turn, struck Rainbow Dash too.
At that moment, the cliff broke and with it, Rainbow Dash, Zeraora and Castform would fall. They screamed at the top of their lungs and as they plummeted, the world seemed to blur around them. The distant sounds of the cavern, the crackling electricity from Xurkitree, and the echoes of their recent confrontation faded away. Rainbow Dash, Zeraora, and Castform found themselves in a free fall, the rush of wind drowning out all other noises.
Right then and there, the three of them would fall to the sea, but not before Zeraora, with all of her remaining strength, grabbed onto Rainbow Dash's body, shielding her and Castform from the incoming impact. Together, all three of them returned to the water.
Spitfire walked over to view it all from the broken edge of the cliff. She stared with a stern expression, hearing the silence in the atmosphere. She actually didn't intend for them to fall but this worked out for her either way.
"Hmmm....Thunderbolt." Spitfire ordered, wanting to make sure that they were defeated. Xurkitree unleashed a blast of lightning from its body, 100 volts of it. Upon contact, it created a fierce reaction that was sure to damage anyone who was near it. Spitfire knew it wouldn't harm Zeraora thanks to her ability, but Rainbow Dash was another story.
For seconds, there was no response. No sign of them emerging. Spitfire stayed there for 20 more seconds until she gave up, walking away with Xurkitree. She saw no shadows or signs of the three of them moving around. The Captain of the Wonderbolts from Universe 11 continued on her way.
In reality, Zeraora protected Rainbow Dash from all the damage. Rainbow Dash suffered no pain whatsoever, but now the two of them, exhausted and injured, were in the sea, barely having a lot of strength at the moment.
As they floated in the water, Rainbow Dash slowly opened her eyes. The sea gently rocked them, and the warmth of the Alolan sun reflected off the water's surface. Zeraora, still holding onto Rainbow Dash, ensured they remained afloat.
"Zera...ora?" Rainbow Dash looked at the Mythical Pokémon, gratitude and concern in her eyes.
"Ze..." Zeraora weakly nodded, acknowledging Rainbow Dash's unspoken sentiments. She had indeed shielded Rainbow Dash and Castform from the worst of the fall. But that was all she had to offer right now. Drained, Zeraora fainted, losing consciousness at the worst possible time.
Rainbow Dash was feeling it herself, needing the time to rest. But she couldn't rest here. Perhaps, Spitfire would've accomplished her goal afterwards as Rainbow Dash needed the oxygen. It looked like it would be the end.
That is until someone appeared. From a glance, it looked like a butterfly, but not quite. It had a very pin aesthetic to it which made Rainbow Dash immediately think it was Pinkie Pie. But it was not.
Whoever it was, came to their aid. Right before Rainbow Dash could pass out, her oxygen was preserved by a shimmering veil of psychic energy, forming a protective barrier around the struggling individuals. The energy acted as an invisible life preserver, preventing them from drowning.
Rainbow Dash gasped upon receiving air. Her eyes were blinking as her heart was racing. At that moment, it was the one who saved her life. It was not a pony. But a Pokemon.
The Guardian of Deity Akala Island. Tapu Lele.
The trio, now enveloped in the calming embrace of Tapu Lele's psychic barrier, gasped in relief as the threat of drowning dissipated. With gentle movements, the guardian deity guided them towards the shore, gliding effortlessly across the water's surface. It was an unexpected intervention as all Rainbow Dash heard next was this before passing out after exhaustion.
Alola. Akala Island. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
"Oooh..." Waking up slowly and meeting with the beautiful night sky was Rainbow Dash. Time had passed for the Moon to rise. After being saved by Tapu Lele, she found herself on dry land once more, still on Akala Island. But there was no sign of Spitfire or her crew.
"Lele?" Instead, Tapu Lele appeared before her, hoving over her friends after one of them woke up.
"Who are you?" Immediately, the Pokedex was taken out to scan this new Pokemon.
"Tapu Lele. The Land Spirit Pokemon. This guardian deity of Akala is guilelessly cruel. The fragrant aroma of flowers is the source of its energy. As it flutters about, it scatters its strangely glowing scales. Touching them is said to restore good health on the spot."
"So you're one of the Island Guardians. Like Tapu Fini..." The pegasus gawked as she met another Legendary Pokemon. And it was one that saved her life.
"Lele." Tapu Lele revealed that it brought them to Brooklet Hill. The best fishing spot in the Alola region. Its series of cascading waterfalls make it look like a terrace field. Rainbow Dash couldn't hear the sound of those ships nearby as everything was rather silent at the moment.
"Gee...Thanks." Naturally, she had to thank Tapu Lele for this. The Pokedex wasn't exactly adding up since nothing cruel about Tapu Lele was showing. But it wasn't all sunshine or rainbows, or in this case, moonlight and stars. Rainbow Dash soon realized that the rest of her friends wereat that cavern, encountering Tempest Shadow's group. "Wait! Ah, I almost forgot! My friends! Are they okay?"
"Le." Tapu Lele could show them. It has been minutes since Rainbow Dash, Zeraora and Castform were saved and at the moment, they were distanced from that cavern. Rainbow Dash stood up, stretching her muscles as her wings were finally getting back in order.
Once she recovered, the pegasus took flight, viewing Alola from a higher height. Rainbow Dash soared through the night sky, guided by the sparkling moonlight. Tapu Lele, the guardian deity of Akala Island, floated alongside her, leading the way. The cool breeze brushed against Rainbow Dash's feathers as she made her way towards the cavern where her friends were last seen.
But Rainbow Dash just couldn't leave Zeraora behind. She looked back to see the Thunderclap Pokemon resting in a field of flowers near the sea. Tapu Lele noticed this, freezing in midair. Rainbow Dash then paused for a moment before deciding to let Zeraora rest some more. After all, she's been through a lot. She would come back for the Thunderclap Pokemon once she checks up on her other friends.
As for where they were, they were still in the cavern, currently avoiding Tempest Shadow and her group by laying low and hiding. Tempest's group were searching for them but were surprised to find them nowhere. The sound of her hoofsteps along with the Golurk could be heard within the cavern.
Despite having the Golurk on their side, the forces of Daybreaker could not find them. And that was thanks to one significant advantage. Mew. The Genetic Pokemon underwent a transformation, appearing as Cofagrigus. And by appearing as the Coffin Pokemon, he placed his friends inside of him to hide their bodies.
However, even Mew that passing by as a Cofragigus wouldn't grant him an easy escape since Tempest Shadow could easily suspect a transformation from him. Thankfully, a dabble of unicorn magic from Rarity would fix that. While not as experienced in magic compared to Twilight, she could at least use concealment, such as allowing Mew to blend in with the environment. Much like those ships that blend in with the sky, Rarity pulled it off for the Genetic Pokemon. The Golurk would phase through these walls, only to find no one.
"We're wasting time. Let's go." Tempest Shadow saw this as a time waster. Searching for them was going to delay the plans further. She decided it was best for them to leave. The noises in the cavern have come to an end a while ago after all. Hearing this, Rarity and her friends were greatly relieved.
Tempest's group would depart. Mew would stay there for a while, making sure they got a good distance. And after a minute, the Genetic Pokemon would open his coffin while Rarity's spell ran.
"Haaaah...!" Rarity gasped after dropping to the ground. Being in a Cofragrigus was a rather haunting experience and it was no different when Mew took on this form. "What was all of that in there?"
"Mew." Mew giggled right afterwards, finding it rather humorous. He definitely knew what was in there.
Rarity, though concerned, maintained a degree of composure as she was being carried by Pheromosa, who had to crouch thanks to her tall stature. Even someone as tall as her was placed inside the coffin as her pupils were shrinking and growing after what she witnessed. But they wouldn't have to go through that again. For now.
They had to get a move on now that they were away from Daybreaker's Forces. Their time in the cavern wasn't over. With Audino's ears twitching after what she heard in there. They wouldn't have to worry about Spitfire either. She was already gone from here after pursuing Rainbow Dash.
The three friends made their way toward the source of the disturbance from before just to see if Rainbow Dash, Castform and Zeraora were alright, navigating through the cavern's twists and turns. As they approached, they could see the aftermath of the explosion. Rocks and debris scattered across the ground, with a part of the cavern split in half by the force of the impact.
Some of this was caused by the Sonic Rainboom which had the most destructive power out of all of them. But of course, the battle that took place around here was also responsible. Rays of light, the usage of plasma and more.
"What in Equestria happened here?" Rarity gasped, observing the aftermath of the chaotic scene.
"I don't know, but I hope Rainbow Dash and Zeraora are okay," Fluttershy added, her worry deepening.
Pinkie Pie, however, had a slightly different perspective. "Duh. A Sonic Rainboom happened here." Surprisingly, she knew what caused some of this destruction without even being there to see it. "I can sort of sense it."
"No you can-... Nevermind." Rarity shook her head, disregarding it. Before they could continue searching for Rainbow Dash, they suddenly heard wing beats. The group gasped, fearing that they weren't away from Daybreaker's forces just yet. There might be some more lying around.
Their three Pokemon got in front of them once more with Mew planning to undergo another transformation. However, he saw the shadow of the pony appearing in the cavern and immediately recognized the manestyle. No transformations were needed here.
Thankfully, they had nothing to fear. It was simply their friend Rainbow Dash, who was very much doing well. She appeared and reunited with her friends.
"Oh, there you are!" The pegasus exclaimed.
"Rainbow Dash! You're okay!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, rushing over to give her a tight hug which nearly knocked her over.
"Yeah, thanks to Tapu Lele. I knew you guys would be fine by yourselves." Rainbow Dash laughed as she was joined by Tapu Lele, who was right behind her.
"Tapu Lele," Rarity and Fluttershy collectively spoke when eyeing down the Island Guardian. While they haven't seen one before and only Applejack has seen Tapu Fini, now they had their first Tapu encounter
"Where's Zeraora? Is she alright?" Pinkie Pie was more worried about Zeraora, who was nowhere to be seen.
"She's fine. I had to leave her to rest but she'll be up eventually. It's getting late too so we might need the rest." The multi-coloured-maned mare would sigh. "I mean, even with Daybreaker's team out there..."
With the coast clear and Spitfire plus Tempest Shadow's team no longer a threat to them at the moment, Rainbow Dash and her friends could leave the cavern at last. The Silver Moon from Alola could be seen sending rays of light through the destroyed ceiling, briefly reminding them of the rays they had to deal with. But these were far more welcoming and safe. It was time for them to go and take a rest. But after this, they were sure to inform their friends, especially Princess Luna.
Guided by Tapu Lele, The group settled in a secure spot, surrounded by the natural beauty of Brooklet Hill. The gentle sounds of water and the soft rustling of leaves provided a soothing background for their impromptu gathering. Despite the challenges they had encountered, they made it out, even if it did require concealing themselves.
Brooklet Hill.
Waking up at last was Zeraora. After being saved by Tapu Lele, she would also gaze at the night sky. But instead of standing up, Zeraora would lie there, looking up at the moon and the stars around her and taking everything in.
The events that unfolded, from the Isle of Armor to the encounter with Spitfire's forces, played in her mind like a vivid tapestry. The bond she had formed with Rainbow Dash stood out as the defining thread, weaving through the dangerous moments.
In that quiet moment of reflection, Zeraora felt a profound sense of connection and gratitude. Rainbow Dash had not only saved her but had shown her the power of friendship, loyalty, and the willingness to stand by one another in the face of adversity. The bond they shared transcended the familiarity of her lost world, creating something new and vibrant in this unfamiliar land.
The night's gentle breeze carried with it a sense of peace, and Zeraora took solace in the tranquillity of the surroundings. The stars sparkled like distant promises, and the moon illuminated the path ahead. With Rainbow Dash and the others nearby, Zeraora found a sense of belonging that surpassed the echoes of her past.
As she lay there, absorbing the beauty of the night, a faint smile played on Zeraora's lips. The journey ahead might be filled with challenges, but she knew she wasn't alone. The bond forged with Rainbow Dash and her friends was a source of strength, a guiding light in the darkness. And under the cosmic tapestry of the Alolan night sky, Zeraora heard and saw those familiar wingbeats. Returning here was Rainbow Dash to add to that solace.
And in her mind, perhaps staying with Rainbow Dash wasn't a bad idea. And besides, the new home she found had a gateway.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon Festival.
Meanwhile, while everything else happened there, Ash, Sci-Twi and Bertha approached the Pokemon School, leaving Pegalysium with the Breeze Seal to meet with Windflash. However, they had no luck. Windkiss was not present at the Pokemon School today and it was already late, meaning she was somewhere in Pegalysium the whole time.
"Bummer. I guess we can try again later." Ash said while holding the Breezeseal. "I'll promise I'll get you to her or anyone in her family."
"I should get going now," Bertha said as she was about to make her departure, having places to be during the Pokemon Festival. "But it was wonderful seeing you two again. Especially you, Twilight. You've definitely grown."
"Oh well..." Sci-Twi smiled, flattered by this compliment. "Thank you very much!"
"Maybe we'll meet again for a third time down the road. Good luck, especially with that whole Prisma thing." Before she left, Bertha placed her hand on Sci-Twi's shoulder, imparting one more message for her. "And to do that, make sure you take good care of Ash."
"T-Take good care?!" She stammered at such a sentence, having something else in mind. Bertha smiled before finally leaving, going for the nearest gateway that would take her to the Unova Region.
"Guess you're going in here right now." After carrying the Breezeseal for hours, Ash would finally decide to place it in the bag. Opening it, the ponies within the Breezeseal spotted the items Ash was carrying before becoming a part of them
"At least poke holes in them to give us a better view." The voices pleaded after being placed inside. "The modern world is strange..."
Sci-Twi waved as Bertha left, then turned to Ash with a thoughtful expression, seeing her pass through the gateway and leaving this part of the world. Once Bertha was gone and Ash safely put the Breezeseal within, they had the rest of the Pokemon Festival to themselves, still having energy to spare.
Later in the evening, as the festival reached the end of its next day, Ash and Sci-Twi found themselves sitting near the Pokemon Battle Arena. A lively crowd had gathered to watch a tournament featuring skilled trainers from different regions.
"Ash...About what happened in that illusion world from the Unown. It wasn't like what I thought it would be." Sci-Twi brought up the discussion of Prisma and Twilight Luminaria's world. "Not at all."
"Same here. I mean, I knew it was gonna be loaded but...I didn't think Prisma had that kind of reputation. Everything I heard so far made it seem like he's dangerous." Ash pondered as well. During his time as Prisma, he was only showered with adoration and praise. "That's all they kept doing."
"But even Twilight Wish saw him as dangerous. When I saw you wearing those clothes, they were the same ones that Prisma wore at a younger age. Maybe everything went wrong as he got older."
"Hmm...You're on to something." Ash was seeing Sci-Twi's point. And she could certainly back it up. After all, she and the other Twilights learned about Prisma's past with Twilight Luminaria. "Okay! I know what we've gotta do next! We're taking another spin at that illusion world!"
"Again?!" She screeched.
"Yeah. We can head to the Sky Monarch and ask them to send us to Unilight. Then we'll know what's really going on."
"Umm...Maybe a later date, Ash." But Sci-Twi would much rather skip out on that. "How does that sound? Let's just enjoy ourselves, even though you always manage to enjoy yourself."
"Hm? Oh, sure. We can do that." Ash was instantly on board with it, understanding Sci-Twi's request. "Wanna rest here and head somewhere else right now?"
"Sunset and the others should still be in Unova. I wonder how they're doing?" Sci-Twi had to wonder about what Sunset and the rest of her friends were up to at this very moment. Surely, there was no way it was wilder than she had to go through. "I think they're probably meeting with Volo too. They promised to help me find those shards."
"I haven't actually seen Volo." It occurred to Ash that Volo's appearance was unbeknownst to him. The two have yet to meet but he already knew that he and Sci-Twi were on good terms. But perhaps, Sunset Shimmer thought otherwise.
Alola.
In the skies of Alola, the ships of Spitfire's team were still on the move, continuing their mission. They had already opened one Ultra Wormhole up, successfully capturing Xurkitree, but they weren't done yet. One Ultra Wormhole wasn't going to do. They needed Team Plasma to open up more if they wanted to get Solgaleo and Lunala's attention.
"Lucky them to evade us like that." Spitfire spoke. "This universe is so tricky...From the Sea Temple to this? It won't be easy stopping them from stopping us."
The skies above Alola, usually a serene haven, were now fraught with tension and the looming presence of Daybreaker's forces. Despite their initial setback, the team remained resolute in their goal to summon Solgaleo and Lunala.
"You know...if we start focusing all of the Ultra Wormholes on Alola, won't it be far too obvious?" Tempest spoke. "I say we open them in other regions."
"Not a bad idea, but that could just draw more attention. Especially if each of those regions' Legendaries take notice. I wouldn't mind encountering one but..."
"It'd be better than doing it on their home turf. But we'd still have to keep it as discreet as possible. Alola's already a quiet region, but I hear that Johto is in the same boat."
"The Johto Region, eh...?" That piqued Spitfire's interest. Tempest Shadow might be on to something. Spitfire mused, considering the potential advantages of diverting their attention to a region known for its quieter ambience. "Alright. Not a bad call. Let's keep our minds on Johto for a moment. We'll come back to Alola after we meddle in that region for a bit."
The crew members, attuned to their leaders' directives, adapted their magical preparations for this modified strategy. The ships veered away from the serene skies of Alola, their destination now set for the Johto Region. Daybreaker's forces sought to exploit the mystique of Johto's tranquillity, initiating a subtle yet impactful campaign to open Ultra Wormholes.
As the ships altered their course, they left a wake of uncertainty and tension in the skies of Alola. The altered plan aimed to secure the advantage of surprise, a tactical move to catch both the locals and any potential Legendary Pokémon off guard. Spitfire's determination remained unyielding, fueling the Aerial Forces' mission to bend the fabric of reality to their will.
Watching this from afar was one of the Island Guardians. Specifically, Tapu Koko. Guardian of Melemele Island. It knew that these intruders and invaders would be back. They were aware of the Ultra Wormhols after all and the things that Alola had to offer could not be ignored. Tapu Koko, while unable to see their ships, could hear them in the sky.
Time was ticking for the Pokemon Festival and yet there was this ominous feeling in the air. Something was amiss. Not just because Daybreaker's Forces from the Solar Empire were here, but something else that could shake the world. And the ones that could do it were the Solar Empire.
In the cold night, under the skies of many regions, this ominous feeling would permeate, but most would not feel it. Most were only thinking about what to do next in the Pokemon Festival while they still had time.
As for Daybreaker herself, the Queen of the Solar Empire was forced to get out there and be more active when it came to Necrozma's goal. But she was also thinking about Gardevoir's goal. And speaking of which, away from Alola, she arrived at the Kalos Region. The one region that was all about Mega Evolution.
The Solar Queen Daybreaker, her blazing mane billowing ominously, partnered with the enigmatic Aura Vampire Gardevoir had their nefarious mission to unearth the elusive Gardevoirite. Their quest led them to the North of Kalos in the dead of the night.
While the rest of her team focuses on summoning Solgaleo and Lunala, she was more focused on the power that is Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter. Such power, while new to this world, could be tamed. This feeling in the air could only be caused by Daybreaker as something massive was coming.
Under the cover of darkness, The Solar Queen Daybreaker and the Aura Vampire Gardevoir embarked on a journey to the distant Kalos Region to find the elusive Gardevoirite.
The duo traversed the landscapes and navigated through the eerie silence of the night, leaving the oppressive daylight of the Solar Empire behind for this brief mission. Kalos. The one region held the promise of unlocking Gardevoir's true potential, but also a way to unlock the power of Dragon Matter.
Nestled in the South of Kalos, hidden from the prying eyes of trainers and adventurers, lies a location that was suppossedly a place where Mega Evolution can be obtained. This mystical location is a breathtaking expanse of lush, untamed wilderness, filled with ancient forests, cascading waterfalls, and shimmering, ethereal meadows.
Daybreaker only found this thanks to the help of Malamar. Part of this dark alliance, Malamar showed Daybreaker the way to where she could obtain the Gardevoirite without needing to worry about being in the public. Joined by the two were Daybreaker's soldiers, here to support their Queen.
"Are you positive this is where I can find it, Malamar?" Daybreaker questioned. "You said there how many spots centred around Mega Evolution?"
"I once came here searching for Mega Evolution myself, but my species can't Mega Evolve," Malamar explained. Malamar's dark, hypnotic eyes gleamed in the dimly lit area as he nodded assuredly.
With a graceful motion, Malamar extended his long, psychic tentacles, pointing towards a concealed entrance within the valley. "I'm not exactly welcome in here. I tried finding power but was quickly met with disappointment and I had to retreat afterwards. Be warned, the guardians are formidable, and only those with true strength and purpose can pass through unscathed."
"That won't be an issue then." Confident in her abilities, Daybreaker was positive she could make it out of here even if there were guardians. "Where can I find the Gardevoirite in there?"
"The Full Valley doesn't show Mega Stones out in the open. When I came here, I learned that they instead manifest." Despite not being able to Mega Evolve, Malamar's nefarious plans allowed him to gather plenty of information that, while he couldn't use for himself, could impart to others. Of course, those only in his alliance.
"Manifest Mega Stones?" Daybreaker repeated. "Really now?"
"I was unable to do it. But since you have a Gardevoir, perhaps you can make it work. Maybe." Malamar would back away while riding his massive pod. "But those guardians had the nerve to say that it's more than just manifesting them. It's something that I don't understand."
"I don't know about this..." Gardevoir was feeling rather uneasy about this. She hasn't been as confident as she used to be due to these past days.
"The sooner we get it done, the better," Daybreaker said otherwise. "I also can't have you sulking all the time if you barely do anything. We'll get you back on your feet with this."
"It's not like you're giving me much room to improve..." Gardevoir would grumble before following Daybreaker and her soldiers would walk forward, ready to enter this mysterious area. Standing before them was a waterfall, beautifully resting in-between two massive trees. Appearing there were tranquil shores of a hidden lake.
As the group approached the concealed entrance near the tranquil lake, a subtle hum of energy surrounded them. The air felt charged with an otherworldly force, heightening the anticipation of what lay beyond. The moonlight reflected off the surface of the hidden lake, creating an ethereal glow that seemed to guide them forward.
The soldiers, clad in Solar Empire regalia, cast wary glances at the imposing trees and cascading waterfall. The journey into the heart of the Full Valley was not only a quest for the elusive Gardevoirite but a test of their strength and loyalty to Queen Daybreaker.
Gardevoir, with uncertainty lingering in her eyes, followed Daybreaker closely. The weight of the responsibility to unlock her true potential and prove her strength to herself and her Queen rested heavily on her shoulders. As they entered the concealed passage, the atmosphere changed. The air became charged with an ancient energy, and the surroundings seemed to pulse with a mystical power.
The path led them deeper into the lush wilderness, winding through towering trees and meandering around sparkling meadows. Occasionally, mysterious shadows flitted through the underbrush, and distant whispers of Pokemon echoed in the stillness of the night.
Daybreaker looked around her, hearing the voices and seeing the energy appear. In her eyes, she witnessed the usual colours of Mega Evolution, confirming to her that this was the place. But when listening to these, she quickly found out that they didn't sound welcoming at all.
In fact, they sounded rather hostile, aggressive and even confrontational. These voices already knew what to expect, all thanks to Malamar's previous visit. They sensed that Daybreaker was no different.
Daybreaker, ever confident and determined, pressed forward, her soldiers following suit. The group soon found themselves standing before a colossal stone arch, adorned with enigmatic symbols that seemed to resonate with the very essence of Mega Evolution. But even when standing near it, Gardevoir felt nothing
"This must be the entrance to the heart of the Full Valley," Daybreaker declared, studying the ancient carvings on the arch. With a devious smile on her face, Daybreaker spoke once more. "We'll force our way in if we have to."
As Daybreaker declared her intent to force their way in, the enigmatic symbols on the colossal stone arch flickered, reacting to the queen's bold proclamation. The guardians, sensing the intrusion and the challenging energy emanating from the Solar Queen, responded in kind. The whispers grew louder, taking on an almost menacing tone, as if the very essence of the Full Valley itself resisted the intrusion.
Gardevoir, feeling a sense of unease, glanced around nervously. The meadows that once seemed tranquil now felt like a battleground of conflicting energies. The soldiers, loyal to their queen, gripped their weapons tighter, ready for whatever might unfold.
As Daybreaker stepped forward, a sudden surge of energy enveloped her, causing her to momentarily wince. It was as if the Full Valley itself was testing her resolve. The ancient symbols on the arch pulsed with an intensity that matched the beating of her heart.
Just then, Daybreaker turned her attention away from the stone arch and toward the lake. She saw the water ripple, knowing someone was about to emerge from it. The area was about to bring a proper response to her intentions and words.
The rippling waters continued to reveal the majestic form of the first Guardian Pokémon. The Milotic, with its serpentine grace and captivating presence, bore the Aura of a defender of the Full Valley.
"Milotic!"
The soldiers, now on high alert, readied their weapons, unsure of the intentions of this beautiful yet powerful Pokémon. Gardevoir, despite her earlier unease, found herself captivated by the Milotic's beauty. The tense atmosphere shifted as the guardian Pokémon approached Daybreaker and her entourage.
The Milotic's large, expressive eyes regarded Daybreaker with a mix of curiosity and wariness. It seemed to sense the Solar Queen's determination, and its bellow softened into a melodic hum.
"I was waiting for this. You're not going to stop from getting a Gardevoirite." Daybreaker declared. The alicorn wasn't about to let a guardian stop her from her goal. She eyed down Milotic with an intense glare as the Tender Pokemon did not hesitate to confront these intruders.
"Milotic!" The sudden tension in the air shattered as Milotic, usually serene, faced Daybreaker with determination. The tender guardian Pokémon wasted no time and unleashed a powerful Hydro Pump, sending a high-velocity stream of water hurtling toward the Solar Queen and her entourage.
In response, Daybreaker, displaying her formidable magical prowess, conjured a barrier of shimmering energy. The Hydro Pump collided with the magical shield, creating a dazzling display of water droplets and fiery energy. The soldiers, behind Daybreaker, braced themselves against the force of the impact.
The Milotic, undeterred, continued to channel its energy. The whispers in the air intensified, echoing the Pokémon's determination to protect the secrets of the Full Valley. The clash between Daybreaker's magic and Milotic's Hydro Pump created a standoff, each force pushing against the other.
Daybreaker, her eyes narrowing with unwavering resolve, intensified her magical barrier, pushing back against the force of the Hydro Pump. After pushing it away and dispersing the attack, her troops would immediately retaliate The spears they held possessed magic as well. Aiming them at the Tender Pokemon, rays of light began flying out.
The Solar Queen's troops, empowered by the magic-infused spears, retaliated with a barrage of radiant energy beams. The rays of light streaked through the air, aiming for the agile Milotic.
"Lotic!" The Tender Pokémon, with graceful and serpentine movements, slithered through the attacks, evading some of the incoming rays with its fluid motions.
Some of these rays would land, pelting its body which only irritated the Water-Type. As the rays landed and pelted Milotic's body, it retaliated with a swift and decisive move. The end of Milotic's serpentine body began to glow with draconic energy, signalling the use of Dragon Tail. With a powerful swing, Milotic lashed out, creating a whirlwind of draconic force that repelled the approaching attacks.
The Solar Queen's troops, caught off guard by the sudden countermove, were pushed back by the force of Milotic's Dragon Tail. Some soldiers stumbled, while others managed to maintain their footing. Afterwards, Milotic would advance, approaching the intruders.
"Now's your chance to make yourself useful, Gardevoir! Don't just stand there!" Daybreaker yelled at Gardevoir, who was rather static during the whole thing.
"Oh!" The Embrace Pokemon gasped before realizing she needed to take action. Gardevoir, quick on her feet, used her psychic abilities to create a telekinetic shield around the soldiers, helping them withstand the impact of Milotic's Dragon Tail. Afterwards, she took the energy from that shield and converted it into a Psychic Ball. Using Psyshock, the ball would then unleash three thick masses of energy forward, homing in on Milotic with precision. The guardian Pokémon, caught off guard by the sudden counterattack, attempted to dodge, but the relentless Psyshock projectiles proved challenging to evade entirely.
The impact of the Psyshock sent ripples through the guardian's serpentine form, causing it to recoil momentarily. "Milotic!"
Daybreaker seized this moment, directing her soldiers to capitalize on the opening. They launched another wave of light beams, aiming to further weaken the Milotic. The Tender Pokemon gasped, trying to slither away as quickly as possible, only to be bombarded by the rays.
"Excellent." Daybreaker smiled at that splendid follow-up. But judging by the look on her face, it wasn't over yet. Milotic was still standing. With the smoke and dust clearing, the eyes of Milotic would glow, signalling that it wasn't yet finished. From the smoke, a beam of ice would come flying out, revealing that Milotic had used Ice Beam.
The beam would fly straight past Daybreaker, targeting her soldiers. The soldiers gasped as the Ice Beam collided with them at high speeds. Upon impact, a layer of frost began to envelop their bodies, and the unforgiving cold spread rapidly. The soldiers struggled against the freezing effect, their movements becoming sluggish as the ice-encased them.
"Ice? Clearly, you haven't been paying attention." With a sly smile, the hope that Milotic had to freeze the intruders was about to be ripped away. Her mane and tail, wreathed in celestial flames, intensified in their fiery glow. An aura of intense heat enveloped Daybreaker, countering the freezing effect of Milotic's Ice Beam.
The soldiers, feeling the sudden surge of warmth, found relief as the encroaching frost began to melt away. The Solar Queen's powerful aura acted as a protective barrier, shielding her forces from the icy grip that had threatened to permanently immobilize them.
Daybreaker's sly smile turned into a confident grin as she witnessed the reversal of fortune. Milotic narrowed its eyes, failing to trap them all. It had to keep trying, otherwise Daybreaker and her forces will enter Full Valley
"It's not just ice. Even Water doesn't mean anything to me Here, let me show you." Daybreaker stepped forward. The way she said it was incredibly threatening. Attempting to put out her flaming mane, tail and even aura, Milotic unleashed yet another Hydro Pump at the obvious Fire Specialist.
The Hydro Pump collided with the seemingly vulnerable Daybreaker, only to be met with a startling turn of events. Instead of extinguishing the flames, the water evaporated upon contact with the Solar Queen's intense heat. The Hydro Pump dissipated into steam, leaving Daybreaker unharmed and her fiery radiance unscathed.
"Milo?!"
A triumphant smile returned to Daybreaker's face as she rekindled her radiant aura. "My turn." Daybreaker would respond in kind, ready to throw her own attack in as well. By holding her breath, she began gathering an intense amount of fire, much like a Dragon. The fiery energy coalesced into a powerful Fire Beam that shot forth with blazing intensity. The beam soared through the air, aimed directly at the Milotic, who had just witnessed its Hydro Pump evaporate against the Solar Queen's radiant heat.
The Fire Beam, a manifestation of Daybreaker's formidable control over fire, struck with scorching force. The Milotic, caught off guard by the sudden counterattack, recoiled as the flames enveloped its serpentine form. Milotic screamed out in pain as even though it was naturally resistant to Fire, these flames were on another level. The ground was being scorched, obliterating and burning the beautiful grass that resides at the entrance to Full Valley as well as evaporating the lake itself.
Afterwards, a blazing explosion occurred on the spot where Milotic stood, creating a rather thunderous sound along with generating a fierce wind pressure that even made Gardevoir flinch
The area resonated with the aftermath of the intense battle as the radiant flames from Daybreaker's Fire Beam scorched the landscape. The once serene entrance, adorned with lush grass and a shimmering lake, now bore the marks of destruction and transformation. The flames had obliterated the grassy expanse and even evaporated the tranquil lake.
"Milotic..." Milotic, the guardian Pokémon, lay unconscious, defeated by the overwhelming power of Daybreaker's fiery assault. It failed to defend the entrance and now Daybreaker's team could enter with no one to stop them. However, there were other guardians that Milotic was counting on, waiting in Full Valley.
Daybreaker, her mane and tail once again wreathed in celestial flames, surveyed the aftermath with a triumphant expression. "That's that." She declared. After taking down Milotic, all that was left was breaking into Full Valley, not having time for any secrets, unless they involved receiving the power of Mega Evolution.
Daybreaker then faced the entrance. The colossal stone seemed to not matter to her at all. Not when she had the power to destroy it. And if she wasn't going to do it, her soldiers certainly will. But Daybreaker would do it either way, hoping that the voices around were watching her.
The Solar Queen, showing no hesitation, raised her horn, which glowed with an intense solar energy. With a swift and powerful motion, she directed the energy towards the colossal stone arch, unleashing a concentrated beam of radiant power. The beam collided with the ancient structure, cracking and disintegrating it under the force of Daybreaker's formidable magic.
The soldiers, following their queen's lead, joined in the effort to dismantle the entrance. With a combination of magical attacks and sheer strength, they shattered the remaining pieces of the stone arch, clearing the way to the heart of the Full Valley.
As the dust settled and the remnants of the entrance scattered, a newfound path stretched before Daybreaker and her entourage. And just like that, the entrance to Full Valley was revealed, no longer concealed as a radiant light would shine through even during the night.
The Solar Queen, her aura ablaze with determination, led her forces into the mystical expanse, leaving behind the destroyed entrance and entering the Full Valley in pursuit of the elusive Gardevoirite and the secrets of Mega Evolution that awaited them within.
Full Valley.
Full Valley. A majestic and sprawling Pokémon-exclusive location nestled between towering mountains and lush forests. The valley gets its name from the vibrant and diverse ecosystem that thrives within its borders. The valley was characterized by its rich biodiversity, unique geography, and the harmonious coexistence of various Pokémon species.
The valley opens up into vast meadows where Pokémon of different types will normally peacefully graze and interact based on its design. Obviously, since it was late, a majority weren't doing such a thing. Some were asleep or relaxing in their specific spots.
But this beauty was threatened by Daybreaker's presence. As soon as she stepped into the wonderful grass of Full Valley in the middle of the night, the small spot of grass beneath her hoof would burn just from her presence, a stark contrast to the serene and harmonious environment that surrounded her.
The Pokémon in the meadows, sensing the intrusion of Daybreaker even from afar, stirred uneasily. They could feel that ominous presence entering their home. It confirmed to them that Milotic had failed to shield it from any intruders. Some of them even sensed her once she destroyed the passageway.
"So...We have to somehow manifest a Mega Stone. Thinking about wanting it probably won't do the trick." Daybreaker shook her head. "Scout the area and see what you can find." With that order, Daybreaker's troops would scatter, seeing what they could find for the power of Mega Evolution.
"Gardevoir. You're staying with me." She ordered, knowing that Gardevoir was the key to all of this. And as the Solar Queen, she was going to keep the Embrace Pokemon as close to her as she could.
As Daybreaker and her troops scattered to explore the Full Valley, the Pokémon inhabitants, unsettled by the ominous presence, watched cautiously. Some maintained their distance, eyeing the Solar Queen and her soldiers with a mix of curiosity and wariness. The once harmonious atmosphere now carried a subtle tension as the Pokémon observed the intruders in their tranquil haven.
Gardevoir, staying close to Daybreaker as ordered, could feel the collective unease among the Pokémon in the meadows. Her psychic sensitivity picked up on the disturbance caused by their presence. She glanced around, exchanging glances with some of the nearby Pokémon who seemed to regard her with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Alas, unlike any other Gardevoir that is known for connecting with others, this Gardevoir couldn't care less. If they had plenty of Aura to absorb, then perhaps, she would care. But only for their Aura. There were a lot of Pokemon here without a doubt, but none that could suffice a good Aura Meal.
Daybreaker, aware of the delicate situation, focused on the task at hand. The soldiers, with keen eyes, scouted the area, searching for any clues that could lead them to the manifestation of the elusive Mega Stone. The Solar Queen, leading by example, examined the surroundings, her keen senses attuned to any subtle shifts in the magical energies that permeated the valley.
And with these voices being around, it was only a matter of time before the next guardian took action. The second Guardian of the Full Valley, perched high on a rocky outcrop, observed Daybreaker's team with keen eyes. The defeat of Milotic had not gone unnoticed by the eyes of a Flygon.
Flygon, determined to protect the sanctity of Full Valley, prepared to avenge its fallen comrade. The Dragon and Ground-type Pokémon remained hidden, waiting for the right moment. As Daybreaker and her soldiers continued their exploration, Flygon gauged the Solar Queen's intentions and the impact her presence had on the delicate ecosystem of the meadows. The other Pokémon, still wary of the intruders, remained on alert.
Flygon, calculating the right moment to strike, bided its time and it saw the best and first opportunity to take care of Daybreaker's troops. Thin out the numbers. By taking out Daybreaker's soldiers, the Mystic Pokemon wouldn't have to deal with all of them at once. By slipping into the shadows, it was ready to strike.
The Pokemon here all hid and kept their distance, intimidated by Daybreaker's troops, especially since they were holding spears which packed quite a punch. But unbeknownst to them, the second Guardian was already on the move.
One of the soldiers would aim his spear at a den of Pokemon, wanting them to scatter just so he could investigate them. The Pokemon ran in fear with the spears aimed at them, but their fear was staved once they saw Flygon appear behind this soldier.
The shadow of Flygon hovered over him as it took a while for this soldier to register. Once he figured it out, he immediately gasped, turning around, but it was too late to scream. With a precise and calculated strike by using Dragon Claw, Flygon incapacitated the soldier, ensuring that he would pose no immediate threat to the Pokémon inhabitants of the Full Valley.
The remaining soldiers, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows, continued their exploration. Flygon, having thinned out the numbers and sent a clear message, retreated into the shadows once again, preparing for the next opportunity to strike and defend the sanctity of the Full Valley.
Flygon moved with the stealth and precision befitting a guardian seeking to protect its home. The atmosphere took on an eerie tension as the Dragon and Ground-type Pokémon silently and methodically targeted Daybreaker's soldiers, one by one.
As soldiers ventured deeper into the meadows, investigating different areas with their spears raised, they remained oblivious to the looming threat of Flygon. The first soldier incapacitated was not an isolated incident; it was the beginning of a calculated and strategic campaign.
A soldier investigating a patch of tall grass suddenly felt a chilling presence behind her. Before she could react, Flygon emerged from the shadows, wings flaring, and swiftly neutralized the threat. Another soldier, attempting to explore a rocky outcrop, found himself face to face with the mystic Pokémon, and his cries were muffled before they could alert his comrades.
The Full Valley, once filled with the sounds of peaceful Pokémon interactions, now bore witness to a quiet horror as Flygon systematically took down Daybreaker's soldiers. The remaining troops, scattered throughout the meadows, grew uneasy as they realized their numbers were dwindling, and a sense of paranoia crept into their ranks.
Some of them started seeing the rest of their fellow soldiers lying there, unconscious. Now, they were starting to notice the aftermath of Flygon's attacks but they weren't aware of this Pokemon's existence.
Whispers of concern circulated among the remaining soldiers, their nerves on edge as they tried to comprehend the situation. The once-confident exploration had turned into a tense and unsettling experience. Shadows danced in the moonlight, and every rustle of grass or distant cry of a Pokémon intensified their paranoia. The eyes of Flygon peered through the dark, preparing for yet another attack.
Flygon thinned out quite a lot by staying so secretive, but the Mystic Pokemon knew that the real problem was Daybreaker herself and by extension Gardevoir.
Daybreaker, still focused on the quest for the Gardevoirite, remained unaware of the silent menace stalking her soldiers.
"Hmmm...Is it something spiritual or mental?" Daybreaker pondered when trying to find the answer. Meanwhile, Gardevoir was lagging behind, walking at a slow pace and still showing low spirits. But before Daybreaker could decide on something, Flygogn was ready to take her out next.
But Daybreaker was prepared as her eye would glint upon sensing hositily. As Daybreaker's eye glinted upon sensing the heightened hostility, a moment of intense anticipation gripped the meadows of the Full Valley. Shadows played tricks on the moonlit landscape, and every rustle of grass seemed to carry a hidden threat.
Flygon, poised to strike at the Solar Queen, hesitated as Daybreaker's heightened senses detected the imminent danger. The Mystic Pokémon, with a keen awareness, prepared for a confrontation.
The soldiers, still on edge and increasingly aware of their vulnerability, looked around nervously, their spears at the ready. The once-tense atmosphere escalated, and even the resident Pokémon in the meadows sensed the impending clash.
Gardevoir also sensed the shift in energy. Her gaze turned toward the shadows where the threat lurked, her psychic abilities attuned to the tension in the air. "W-Who's that?!"
"Clearly not a Ghost-Type..." Daybreaker uttered. "You'll show yourself...and I won't ask again." Daybreaker, determined to uncover the source of the hostility, spoke with authority, her horn letting out a glow. At that moment, Flygon would attack, trying to get the jump on both of them.
However, it was met with a sudden outburst of fire from Daybreaker's body as she cast another offensive spell. The dome of fire emerged, reaching Flygon and attacking its body. "F-Fly?!" The dome of fire enveloped Flygon, its wings and scales illuminated by the intense heat.
Even as a Ground-Dragon-Type, the heat was intense for it. The Dragon and Ground-type Pokémon, caught off guard by the unexpected counterattack, roared in frustration as it struggled within the fiery barrier. Afterwards, the barrier would push Flygon back but it would recover in the air.
"Nice try." Daybreaker turned to face Flygon with a smile. "You're the next guardian, aren't you? You should know by now what happened to the last one. If you're smart, you'll forget whatever attack you have in store and help me manifest a Mega Stone."
"Flygon!" Obviously, Flygon wasn't going to do that. Flygon, undeterred by Daybreaker's offer and unyielding in its duty as a guardian, roared in defiance.
"Fine then. No matter how many guardians come at me, I'm leaving here with that Gardevoirite." Daybreaker stepped forward before looking around, trying to see if she could hear her troops. But they barely made a sound at all this entire time, mainly because they were stealthily taken out and only a few remain.
Daybreaker knew that at this very moment, it was her, Gardevoir and Flygon until she saw her troops. But Daybreaker also had a feeling that Flygon wasn't alone in this, outside of just being a guardian of Full Valley. Daybreaker sensed more than just Flygon at play. The Mystic Pokemon would attack, unleashing a Hyper Beam from its mouth for a quick and easy victory, but it wouldn't be that easy.
Daybreaker, with her radiant mane and tail ablaze, summoned forth her magical prowess. The air crackled with energy as she unleashed a powerful spell that created a claw of fire, cutting the beam in three straight patterns. The Hyper Beam, severed into fragments, combusted upon being cut, resulting in a thunderous explosion that echoed through the meadows.
Afterwards, through the smoke, Daybreaker would cast a spell that summoned flaming whips from her horn while Flygon was currently vulnerable, needing time to recharge. The whips lashed through the remaining haze, targeting Flygon with relentless precision. The guardian Pokémon, caught off guard by the sudden and dynamic assault, gasped as the fiery whips crashed down onto its body.
"F-Flygon!" Afterwards, the whips would send it flying, causing Flygon to crash through a tree which came tumbling down. Not relenting in her attack, Daybreaker cast another spell, this time going for the traditional beam which came flying out. Flygon just barely managed to gain some recharge time after using Hyper Beam. With a swift movement, it managed to fly out of the way, avoiding the beam which would damage the area some more.
"Gon!" In retaliation, Flygon would use Earthquake, slamming its tail on the ground to create a powerful tremor. Out of the grounds, golden shockwaves appeared, racing towards Daybreaker. The Solar Queen would simply spread her wings, using them as a way to avoid the attack, only to be surprised when these golden shockwaves grew to larger heights. Flygon had wings as well so it was not oblivious to this.
Noticing this, Daybreaker quickly put up a shield to defend herself from the shockwaves. The attack was heavy, pushing Daybreaker back a bit.
"Gardevoir! Now would be a good time for you to do something." Daybreaker said to the Embrace Pokemon who clearly had an advantage here.
"Right Right!" Gardevoir nodded, putting her hands together and summoning a ray of light. She was prepared to use Dazzling Gleam, sending multiple rays of different colours straight at the Mystic Pokemon. But Flygon was still prepared, using its mastery over the skies to evade.
The Dazzling Gleam, despite its brilliance, failed to make contact as Flygon manoeuvred with grace through the aerial assault. Gardevoir would take a second shot at it, only for those other forces to reveal themselves at last, just as Daybreaker suspected.
Before Gardevoir could unleash her attack, shadowy appendages emerged and seized her arms, restricting her movements. The Ghost-types, unseen until now, revealed themselves as they continued to manipulate the shadows to hinder Gardevoir's actions. "What?!"
Daybreaker, perceptive as ever, immediately recognized the unexpected threat. The alliance between Flygon and the Ghost-types added a new layer of difficulty to the battle.
One of the shadows came her way, threatening to grab her, only to stop midway. The radiant, fiery aura emanating from the Solar Queen proved to be an effective deterrent against the encroaching darkness. The intense heat emitted by Daybreaker's fiery mane and tail created an invisible barrier, warding off the shadowy influence that sought to grasp her. Daybreaker would them swing her beam of fire, striking the other shadows around Gardevoir and fending them off.
"Maybe now is a good time to try out my new arsenal." At that moment, Gardevoir decided to use the many forms of energy she managed to steal from Twilight Luminaria, even if she didn't have total control over them. Feeling that she was rather slow at the moment, the Embrace Pokemon figured that she could keep up by doing this.
Even though, she has not been properly trained to harness a majority of them. Only the Digital Energy and that was a disaster for her. The air crackled with the remnants of Twilight Luminaria's energy, manifesting in ethereal glows that surrounded the Embrace Pokémon.
The energy she tapped into was some sort of Fire and Ice mixture In her hands she generated a new type of energy that revealed its name in front of her very eyes. Frostfire.
The Embrace Pokemon gasped once unleashing this energy, having a wicked smile on her face. This looked incredibly promising. The Fire part might not help here but the ice was sure to do something to Flygon.
However, as the Frostfire energy surged in her hands, it backfired unexpectedly, causing a volatile reaction. The combination of Fire and Ice energies clashed within her, creating an unstable and chaotic force that threatened to overwhelm Gardevoir.
"Ghh!" Gardevoir cried out as the Fire and Ice rebounded all across her arm, sending all the pain to her. An attack was still launched in the form of a Frostfire Stream but it was certainly uncontrolled.
The stream narrowly missed Flygon, reaching the skies instead. But the aftermath was a red and blue explosion which would freeze some trees and burn some of them down thanks to this volatile combination. Daybreaker had to shield herself momentarily against such a force as it nearly struck her, not just Flygon.
The contrasting forces of Fire and Ice left her in a state of agony, a physical manifestation of the untamed power she had harnessed from Twilight Luminaria. Daybreaker, witnessing Gardevoir's distress, moved swiftly to assist.
"You fool! You haven't properly trained with them yet and you went and used one of them?!" Daybreaker scolded her.
As Gardevoir winced in pain from the consequences of her hasty actions, Daybreaker, with frustration in her eyes, continued to channel her fiery aura to counteract the freezing effects on Gardevoir's arm. The cooling flames danced around the Embrace Pokémon's afflicted limb, attempting to bring balance to the conflicting forces of Fire and Ice.
"B-But I thought..." Gardevoir groaned. "I thought I could do it. It still counts as Aura and-"
"You were amazing and skilled in that Delayed Aura Ataxia realm but not anymore. You're back in the real world after so many years. At best, you're just a long-lasting Gardevoir, but that isn't all that special." Just then, Daybreaker would lay the harsh truth down. This has not yet been processed for Gardevoir ever since she left that realm, where she was far stronger and had a ton of advantages.
Daybreaker's words hung heavy in the air, delivering a reality check that Gardevoir had yet to fully grasp. The Solar Queen's stern expression held the weight of truth as she confronted Gardevoir with the harsh reality of her current abilities.
Daybreaker then turned around upon seeing Flygon unleash a Hyper Beam to try and take both of them out at the same time. Not dropping her guard for a second, Daybreaker unleashed a bright barrier that blocked the Hyper Beam.
"You have potential, but potential alone won't make you powerful. You need to face the fact that you're not as special as you once were. But that doesn't mean you can't become something more." After speaking those words, she would shoot a radiant beam at Flygon while it was recharging, knocking the Mystic Pokemon back once more. Flygon showed an impressive level of durability to be this strong.
"Besides...Don't you remember what I said to you back then?"Daybreaker then brought up that brief moment she and Gardevoir had when they were in a rather rough spot against Twilight Luminaria. Gardevoir could already remember the words.
"Then trust me, Gardevoir. You can't go at it alone. Not anymore. Not in this age compared to the previous ones. If you want to achieve your goals, even with such overwhelming foes in your way, you must fully trust us."
"On your own, you can only get so far," said Daybreaker. She then faced Flygon who got up once more. And this time, she was going to make sure this was the last encounter.
"Fly..Gon!" Flygon, with all of its might, summoned another Hyper Beam, not hesitating for a moment. But this time, the shadows would fly in, merging to increase their durability against Flygon's heat.
The shadows would reach Daybreaker first, preparing to envelop her body whole. Standing there, Daybreaker was unbothered, having a response for even this. A protective aura of shimmering embers envelops Embera, before suddenly appearing as a pincushion. And much like a pincushion, sharp spears of flames would erupt, piercing through the shadows and the Hyper Beam.
Both attacks were stabbed through by the flames, but not only that, they would fly far enough to reach the attacks. Flygon and the Ghost-Types gasped as they flames would combust the second they touched them, creating the most brilliant yet vile blaze out there.
As the flames subsided, the aftermath revealed Flygon, defeated and fallen. The Guardian, despite its impressive durability, succumbed to the overwhelming power of Daybreaker's fiery onslaught. The Full Valley, once echoing with clashes and shadows, now bore witness to the triumphant moment as another Guardian met its end.
This part of the valley was on fire thanks to Daybreaker, already ruining the homes of so many Pokemon. Gardevoir stood up, taking in everything Daybreaker said to her.
"Let's go." Daybreaker continued on her way, focusing on the task at hand. Gardevoir wouldn't say anything. She would just follow her.
It was now just Daybreaker and Gardevoir. The rest were missing in this valley. Even so, Daybreaker and Gardevoir managed to press on, moving through more of the area. They passed by crystal-clear waterfalls that cascade down the sides of the surrounding mountains, creating a soothing atmosphere. And yet, when Daybreaker came by, the water would feel the heat, almost evaporating just by Daybreaker being a little big near it.
They even passed by mystical forests which were untouched at the moment. The trees are adorned with luminescent flora that lit up the area at night, creating an enchanting and magical ambience.
Daybreaker was still listening in on the voices, unphased by them completely. No matter what they said, she would not leave, neither did she show fear. If anything, it was the voices that had to fear Daybreaker, considering she stopped two guardians already.
"No point in moving around any longer. After all, we won't find any altar or something of the kind." Daybreaker pointed out, seeing this as a pointless endeavour. "It looks like the only option right now is to use our minds. I've already gotten tired of mental games recently, but it'll have to do."
Daybreaker closed her eyes, deciding to focus on a more mental and spiritual game seeking answers and insights that transcended the physical landscape, all to obtain the Mega Stone. Gardevoir would do the same, attempting to mimic Daybreaker.
Manifestation was something associated more with the mind after all, but even when knowing this, Daybreaker knew it wouldn't be so easy from the start. However, she had to take her chances. Gardevoir wouldn't even try to tap into any of the many energies she stole. It was best that she used what she already knew. And as a Psychic-Type, anything with the mind was up her alley.
That was when the final guardian appeared. It was another Ghost-Type, specifically, a Mismagius. And it made quite the appearance. The Ghost-Type Pokémon made its presence known in a grandiose manner, capturing the attention of both Daybreaker and Gardevoir.
Daybreaker, still in the midst of her mental exploration, opened her eyes to witness the arrival of the final guardian. The intensity of her gaze, paired with the radiant aura that surrounded her, conveyed a readiness to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Gardevoir, mimicking Daybreaker's focus, stood prepared for the unfolding encounter with the enigmatic Mismagius.
"Mismagius!"
"You'd better be the last one," Daybreaker spoke. Alas, Mismagius could not catch her off guard.
"I think so..." Gardevoir uttered. She was now ready to confront her opponent instead of just standing by and sulking. Daybreaker's words were responsible for that.
"Mismag..." But as Mismagius spoke, those voices from before came out of its mouth, deciding to be more audible than before.
"You've made it this far, we'll admit. The farthest anyone has gotten." The voices of Full Valley spoke with multiple echoes when using Mismagius as a vessel. "But that's it. You are ineligible to possess the power of Mega Evolution."
"Eligible or not, it doesn't matter," Daybreaker retorted, her confidence undeterred. "I don't seek permission and I've come too far to be denied."
"Your heart is far too lost for this power to be yours or to even manifest it." The voices bellowed. The proclamation that they were ineligible to possess the power of Mega Evolution hung heavily in the air. "You are not only a tyrannical force, but not of this world either. Even those with cruel hearts can tap into the power that you seek."
"Is that so?" The Solar Queen narrowed her eyes. "You're saying that I'm worse than any of them, eh?"
"Gardevoir. Your quest for immortality has led you down this dark path." The voices then decided to speak to Gardevoir, seeing things from her perspective. "You do not have to go through with this. It is not too late to change."
Gardevoir, on the other hand, felt a twinge of conflict within her. The voices had struck a chord, invoking the echoes of her past quest for immortality and where it's led her. Yet, Daybreaker's influence and her own desire to change drove her to push against the shadows of her past.
"I've made up my mind. I've also come too far to quit. And if Mega Evolution is the way to go, I'll gladly go all the way."
"Both of you...You are both lost in your own ways. Especially you. Daybreaker. We will show you all how pointless this all is, by letting you see everything behind the shadows of your past." At that moment, the Mismagius vessel would unleash a spectral force of great proportions that appeared beneath Daybreaker and Gardevoir.
As the spectral force emerged beneath Daybreaker and Gardevoir, the very fabric of their surroundings seemed to warp and twist. Shadows coalesced, forming ephemeral images that mirrored moments from their pasts. The voices of Full Valley intended to reveal the hidden corners of their memories, exposing vulnerabilities and shadows that lingered within.
Daybreaker, though defiant, couldn't help but feel a surge of discomfort as the spectral force began to consume her. She tried casting a spell to break free, but it was too late. The flaming beams she shot out tried breaking out, only to be pulled back in and swallowed by the darkness. Gardevoir was already consumed by the spectral shadows before Daybreaker as even the sky turned darker than usual.
Full Valley was unleashing its full power against the intruders. The two of them gasped as everything around them went dark. The fragments of their past and what led them to this point were about to be shown to them in an attempt to incapacitate the intruders.
Equestria. Before it became the Solar Empire. The eyes of its ruler would open to see the beautiful halls of Canterlot Castle. The eyes of Daybreaker, or in this case, Princess Celestia. One minute, she was viewing the area of Full Valley in the Kalos Region and the next, she saw her castle.
She felt her mane, no longer feeling the blazing heat that it once possessed. It was back to that ethereal appearance. Celestia was a bit out of it.
"Sister? Are you alright?" Just then, a familiar voice rang through her ears. The voice of the one she had lost and was the cause of her emerging as Daybreaker. The unexpected voice of Luna, her beloved sister, echoed through the regal halls of Canterlot Castle. Daybreaker's eyes widened slightly at the sight of Luna, alive and well, a stark contrast to the memories that had haunted her for so long.
"Luna?" Celestia uttered after seeing her sister. To see Luna again was stunning, even if she's already seen Universe 1's Luna. But this was her Luna. Only a memory of her. And the layout of this entire scene was familiar to Celestia. And yet, seeing her sister sparked no massive reaction from her.
"All of this must really be taking a toll on you," said Luna. "You can't falter now. Not when the Changelings are starting to turn up their aggression."
"Oh, that's right..." It hit Celestia. This presentation of the past was when the war against the Changelings and the Dread League was still ongoing. This war was the cause of it all.
Celestia would take a step, observing everything around her, especially from the outside. The golden sun of Equestria would beam through the windows and down on Canterlot. Everything looked so peaceful from out here. But Celestia knew that everything was not actually peaceful since there was a war going on and she was in charge of handling it.
The war against the Changelings and the Dread League had tested her resolve and reshaped the trajectory of Equestria. Despite the outward tranquillity, the echoes of conflict lingered within the halls of Canterlot, a constant reminder of the sacrifices made and the struggles endured.
She saw how peaceful her subjects looked, but Celestia knew they were living in fear. Fear of their home being attacked by either the Dread League or the Vampires and it was her job to keep them safe.
"It hasn't even been that long ago since that war." Celestia commented when looking outside the window. She knew that this was the result of the Mismagius and the power of Full Valley and was not easily fooled. And yet, she indulged in this.
"You abandoned centuries' worth of values that has always cultivated this." The voices echoed through the ethereal realm, their words resonating in harmony with the memories unfolding. The shadows danced as the voices continued, their tone carrying both wisdom and an air of judgment.
As Celestia and the illusionary Luna strolled through the enchanting grounds of Canterlot, bathed in the gentle glow of the sun, Luna's voice carried a mixture of nostalgia and warmth.
Celestia's gaze lingered on the memory, a bittersweet reflection of the moments when they shared the responsibilities of ruling Equestria. "I'm not sure that you are fine." Luna continued, her voice carrying a longing for the unity that had defined their reign. "I'm worried that this all is changing you, sister. Everypony is." Luna spoke. "Everything that you've been doing is unlike you."
Celestia recalled a moment like this. It was when Celestia started making rash decisions that she greatly hesitated to do. Back then, Celestia replied by saying she was perfectly fine and no one should bother her again. But now, in this fragment of a memory, she gave a different response to Luna and the voices.
"I made those decisions because if I didn't, who would?" Celestia replied, seeing herself as responsible and believing in her decisions. "Becoming Daybreaker was the only possible outcome for me. I couldn't keep relying on my complacent ways any longer. If I wanted to win and ensure harmony for my subject, I had to resort to this.
"Even then, this is not the only path you would've taken." Mismagius and the Voices would then alter the scenery, changing it into something else. An alternate outcome. In her world, Luna perished, thus, allowing Daybreaker to appear. But according to the voices, that wasn't the only outcome.
The ground beneath her would shatter, along with the skies, changing the scenery entirely. As the ethereal realm shifted, the surroundings transformed into an alternate reality, one where the choices made during the war led to different consequences.
She looked around her to see Canterlot yet again. But this time, she appeared as her current self. Daybreaker. Same mane and all. But something was different. While she would emerge as Daybreaker by making these choices, a third opposing force would appear. She looked over in the distance to see that half of the sky was Day and Night.
And underneath the Night Sky, there laid a castle with a new civilisation that was never there in the first place. It was brand new, sectioned somewhere near Manehattan.
"Even if you would have avoided your current situation, this would've occurred. Your sister originally perished but another outcome would be her fearing you after your ascension as Daybreaker. Thus, she would flee and start the Lunar Republic." said the voices.
As the voices revealed the alternative outcome, Celestia's eyes widened at the sight of Luna transformed into Nightmare Moon. The broken skies mirrored the shattered destiny that unfolded in this alternate reality, where the consequences of Celestia's choices led to a tragic twist.
In this altered reality, Luna became Nightmare Moon after refusing her sister's new ways. The Lunar Empire, born out of Luna's fear and desperation, stood as a testament to the fragility of their once powerful sisterly bond. Celestia,
"A confrontation with Luna over Celestia's choices exploded as a furious Celestia rejected Luna's authority, transformed into Daybreaker and crowned herself sole Empress." The voices continued their haunting narration, emphasizing the inevitability of consequences. Nightmare Moon could be seen emerging from her own castle in the distance, growing to a ginormous size. Her fangs bared, approaching Canterlot Castle and ready to consume it.
Daybreaker gasped before witnessing her own troops pass by her. Soldiers by the dozen would fly by, approaching the massive figure of Nightmare Moon. Not only that, but Nightmare Moon's own troops would emerge and thus, another section of the war broke out.
The chaotic scene unfolded before Celestia's eyes, a grim reflection of the consequences of the choices she could have made. The shattered realm bore witness to a colossal struggle between the Solar Empire and the Lunar Republic, a conflict that could have been the result of Luna's fear and the ascension of Daybreaker.
The massive form of Nightmare Moon loomed over the fractured skies, her ominous presence casting a shadow over the beleaguered Canterlot Castle. The air crackled with magical energy as soldiers from both sides clashed in a fierce battle, with Equestria taking all the damage.
The voices echoed through the broken landscape, emphasizing that no matter the path taken, destiny would weave a complex tapestry of triumphs and tragedies. The massive Luna came crashing down on Daybreaker, enveloping everything in sight. Daybreaker would close her eyes as the scenery would change once more.
Everything shattered as another outcome would be revealed. A third reality was shown to Daybreaker based on her choices during this war.
In this third reality, a desolate wasteland stretched out before Daybreaker's eyes. The once vibrant and harmonious Equestria had been reduced to ruins, scarred by the ravages of a relentless war. The echoes of the voices resonated through the barren landscape, narrating the tale of a world undone by the consequences of Daybreaker's choices.
The Solar Empire and the Lunar Republic were but distant memories, their once-mighty forces now reduced to remnants of a bygone era. The remnants of their armies lay scattered across the lifeless plains, a haunting testament to the devastation wrought by a conflict that knew no end.
Celestia, or rather Daybreaker in this reality, stood alone in the midst of the desolation. Her regal form was a stark contrast to the grim surroundings, and the weight of solitude hung heavy in the air. The once-proud ruler surveyed the ruins, a silent witness to the legacy of a war that had extinguished the flame of harmony.
The Changelings and the DreadLeague were stopped, yes. But now, there was seemingly nothing left and civilization for all was reset to a dark time.
"You're joking, aren't you?!" Daybreaker raised her head, speaking to the voices. "Do you think I would let this happen?!"
The voices, ever-present and remorseless, continued their narration, underscoring the irreversible consequences of Daybreaker's choices. "In seeking power, you lost everything. The world you ruled, the bonds you cherished, all sacrificed on the altar of your desires."
"It is not a matter of what you would let happen; it is a matter of understanding the repercussions of your choices. Your world was destined to meet a dark outcome."
Mismagius and the Voices would then shift the scenery multiple times, showing Daybreaker various outcomes with dark endings while also attacking her mind. Back-to-back realities were shown to her. A reality where Discord, the mischievous spirit of chaos, played a pivotal role in shaping a reality where his influence led to a complete divergence in the timeline.
This was Discord's way of bringing harmony, by putting an end to this conflict. But even then, Daybreaker would retaliate against the Spirit of Chaos who tried to stop her, worsening things and throwing Equestria and beyond into anarchy.
One vision depicted an unending war against the Dread League, a reality where Daybreaker's relentless pursuit of power only intensified the conflict. The Solar Empire, perpetually locked in battle with the Dread League, faced eternal strife, and Equestria became a battleground without respite.
In yet another reality, the harmonious unity that had defined Equestria for centuries shattered. The very essence of harmony fractured, leading to internal strife among the pony tribes, creating a fragmented land devoid of the once-prevailing peace and camaraderie.
These diverse alternate realities showcased so many possibilities. Each reality presented its own challenges and opportunities, ultimately serving as cautionary glimpses into the potential paths that the Solar Queen could have taken during the tumultuous times of war.
Essentially, Daybreaker was being told that no matter what she did, things would always turn out for the worse. As she kept falling, she saw and more realities with dark outcomes.
With each passing vision, Daybreaker took damage not just from the inside but also the outside. The echoing voices tried to sow doubt, but Daybreaker's resolve remained unyielding. In the eerie silence of a metaphysical realm, Daybreaker found herself at the epicenter of a spectral maelstrom that would spin her around and lay some more damage onto her body and mind. She didn't have time to recover as the realities were showing up at a rapid pace.
She was then shot to the ground, hitting it at full speed. Despite being battered and pelted by these realities which attacked her mind, the weight of the potential outcomes didn't break her spirit; instead, it fueled her determination to prove them wrong.
Daybreaker laid there on the ground after being battered. Around her was a view of all the realities playing out at the same time in small cracked screens.
"You will leave Full Valley and this universe. Return to your own where you are doomed to live a life most miserable." The voices ordered.
"What a load of rubbish..." she declared, rising against the illusions that sought to imprison her in despair. Daybreaker's descent slowed, and her surroundings began to stabilize. The visions of alternate realities grew less chaotic as she wrestled control over her own narrative. She would slowly get up, her hooves trembling.
The Mismagius vessel and the echoing voices watched, sensing a shift in the cosmic energy. Daybreaker, fueled by an unshakable will, was determined to carve her own destiny, free from the predetermined narratives presented before her.
"I don't expect a bunch of voices and a Pokemon to understand what I've been through..." Daybreaker took a deep breath when standing up. "Everything I did was for my subjects and true harmony. You say that my world is doomed to have a dark outcome no matter what? What a load of rubbish."
As Daybreaker stood amid the fractured visions of alternate realities, her mane ablaze with newfound determination, the echoing voices attempted one last effort to dissuade her. She put on a smile, unphased by everything that was thrown her way.
"You cannot escape the shadows within," They murmured, their words carrying an air of finality. "Your spirit may blaze, but darkness will always linger."
Daybreaker, however, stood resolute. The flames of her spirit cast defiant shadows that danced across the fragmented scenes. With each step she took, the screens displaying the twisted destinies of alternate paths began to shatter. The cracking sound echoed through the ethereal realm as Daybreaker forged her own narrative.
"I've faced the darkness within myself," She declared, her voice cutting through the lingering echoes. "I'm not just taking on the form of my alter-ego. I'm embracing my true self. It doesn't matter what you say. I can create my own destiny for me and my world."
As the shattered screens fell away, the Mismagius vessel trembled, its form flickering in the face of Daybreaker's unyielding will. The echoing voices faltered, overshadowed by the radiant strength emanating from the Solar Queen.
In this moment of defiance, Daybreaker reclaimed control over her own narrative, rejecting the predetermined fate the voices sought to impose. The cosmic energy within Full Valley resonated with her indomitable spirit, and the once-illusory visions were beginning to fade away, aggressively wobbling. The voices were doing all they could to maintain them, wanting Daybreaker to submit.
"And besides...this isn't my universe." A devious grin met Daybreaker's face. The way she said it was rather terrifying, even for the Ghost-Type. The voices weren't giving up either, trying what they could to stop Daybreaker.
At that moment, they used their power to summon the various characters from these illusions, further attacking Daybreaker. Daybreaker, undeterred by the attempts to revive the illusions, faced the summoned characters with unwavering determination. As the figures from the shattered realities materialized, they emanated an ethereal quality, each one carrying the weight of an alternate destiny that Daybreaker had cast aside, even if the voices say that they were possible.
Her eyes flared with intensity, and the flames that surrounded her intensified, casting a brilliant light that sought to dispel the lingering shadows. The characters, mere echoes of potential fates, advanced hesitantly, uncertain of their purpose in this defiant act of will.
With a wave of her horn, Daybreaker summoned a radiant wave of fire that surged forward, consuming the illusory figures. The ethereal echoes began to waver and dissipate, their forms disintegrating into fragments of shattered possibilities.
"I've already made a promise to Necrozma. I would at least like to fulfil them. And after that, this world will become an extension of my Solar Empire, especially Full Valley." Daybreaker declared.
The illusions of Nightmare Moon, Changelings, Discord and other familiar faces screamed as they vanished, unable to despair Daybreaker at all.
"And before that...I have to find Gardevoir." Daybreaker wasn't done. There was Gardevoir, who was in her own illusion that tried to make her surrender.
In Gardevoir's illusions, she was going through reality in her pursuit for a longer lifespan which involved absorbing the Aura of others. There, she sat alone, taking in everything.
The Embrace Pokemon remained seated, surrounded by the echoes of guilt and pain that the illusions sought to amplify.
In the far reaches of the past, Gardevoir's life began as a Ralts in a serene and quaint town. The small community was nestled amidst lush landscapes, where humans and Pokémon lived in harmony, forming deep bonds with one another. Gardevoir's days were filled with joy and laughter as she grew alongside the humans and Pokémon of her town, cherishing the moments of connection and friendship.
As time passed, however, the inevitable cycle of life began to unfold. The humans and Pokémon she had grown close to started to age, and some eventually passed away. Witnessing the fragility of life and experiencing the pain of loss, Gardevoir found herself confronted with a profound fear. Fear of mortality.
"You sought immortality out of fear, Gardevoir," the Voices intoned, their words carrying both knowledge and judgment. "Your actions have caused suffering, and the town you once called home is marred by the consequences of your choices."
Mismagius, the vessel for the Voices, continued the sombre narrative. "The illness that befell the inhabitants, the suffering you brought upon them, it was all a consequence of your quest for immortality. The very pursuit that sought to escape loss became the source of pain for those you cared about."
Gardevoir's illusions showcased the aftermath of her actions, portraying the suffering and despair that lingered in the wake of Delayed Aura Ataxia. The once-thriving town was now a shadow of its former self, its inhabitants suffering from the effects of the illness.
"You withdrew into isolation, burdened by remorse," the Voices continued. "But isolation won't absolve you of the impact your choices have had. Redemption lies not in solitude but in facing the consequences and seeking a path forward."
"But you were simply afraid, Gardevoir. It isn't too late." the Voices echoed, attempting to offer a glimmer of hope amid the shadows of Gardevoir's past. They recognized the root of her actions – fear, the driving force behind her quest for immortality.
The illusions shifted, portraying a potential path forward for Gardevoir. In this alternate reality, she stood amidst the ruins of the once-thriving town, but this time, her demeanour was different. Rather than succumbing to isolation, she was surrounded by those affected by Delayed Aura Ataxia. This was far kinder than what Daybreaker went through.
"You can still mend the wounds you caused," the Voices encouraged. "Face the consequences, seek forgiveness, and work towards healing. Redemption is a journey, and it begins with acknowledging the mistakes of the past."
Gardevoir, within the illusions, was presented with an opportunity to change the course of her narrative. The voices urged her to confront her fears, reach out to those she had inadvertently harmed, and actively participate in the rebuilding of the fractured community.
The decision was in Gardevoir's hands. Whether to embrace the chance for redemption or remain ensnared in the chains of guilt.
"I'm afraid she already refuses." Suddenly, the voice of Daybreaker broke through this illusion. The voices, Mismagius and Gardevoir gasped as a crack in the illusion appeared. Out of it emerged the Solar Queen.
Gardevoir, caught in the midst of her own guilt-ridden illusions, looked up in surprise and confusion. The radiant presence of Daybreaker, though not reassuring, represented a disruption to the carefully crafted scenario.
The illusion wavered, struggling to contain the conflicting energies of Daybreaker and the alternate reality it sought to project. The voices were momentarily silenced, witnessing the unfolding struggle between Gardevoir's inner turmoil and Daybreaker's unwavering determination.
"You remember what we agreed on, Gardevoir? They're right about it not being too late." Daybreaker held her hoof out to the Embrace Pokemon. "I've promised others I'd grant them their wish. That goes for you too. From Necrozma's satisfaction to your eternal life.
Gardevoir recalled the words from before. Those words Daybreaker spouted earlier were rather berating and harsh, but at that moment, Gardevoir realized that there was some encouragement behind them.
Gardevoir hesitated for a moment, the echoes of her guilt still lingering in the illusion. The conflicting emotions tugged at her, torn between the haunting shadows of her past and the possibility of redemption held by Daybreaker's outstretched hoof.
The Solar Queen's eyes, fierce and determined, met Gardevoir's gaze. In that unspoken connection, Gardevoir found a glimmer of reassurance, an unexpected beacon amid the tumult of her own regrets. Everything she's done with Daybreaker so far has been so different from what she's done. If anything, this was the closest she's been to someone ever since her time as a Ralts.
"Come," Daybreaker urged, her tone softened. "We'll reach the peak of power together. And no one will stand in our way." Gardevoir, slowly overcoming the shackles of her illusion, reached out and placed her hand in Daybreaker's hoof. And from it, something unexpected occurred. It already happened when facing Twilight Luminaria and it happened again. But with a greater effect.
The Harmony Phenomenon manifested with radiant brilliance, weaving through the unravelling illusions like a celestial dance. Its energies resonated with the connection forged between Daybreaker and Gardevoir, creating a harmonic synergy that surpassed the expectations of both the voices and Mismagius.
In the midst of this cosmic ballet, the Harmony Phenomenon began to purify the remnants of Gardevoir's guilt and the lingering shadows of Daybreaker's past. The radiant energy surged, creating a harmonious equilibrium that embraced both light and darkness in a delicate dance of transformation.
And then, the impossible happened. Manifesting out of thin air were two stones.
A Mega Stone and a Gardevoirite. The voices and the Mismagius couldn't believe it. Something that should have been impossible became possible. But these two stones were not normal. There was something dark about them which is never associated with Mega Evolution.
"But that can't be..." Naturally, the voices and the Guardian were flabbergasted.
The Harmony Phenomenon, attuned to the intricacies of the cosmic balance, acknowledged the anomalies within these stones. Rather than rejecting them outright, the Phenomenon seemed to recognize the potential for a unique evolution, one that transcended the conventional boundaries of Mega Evolution.
Daybreaker and Gardevoir, bound by a shared destiny and the transformative influence of the Harmony Phenomenon, approached the mysterious stones with a sense of determination. The dark aura surrounding the Mega Stone and Gardevoirite began to interact with the radiant energies of the Phenomenon, creating a mesmerizing interplay between light and shadow.
At that moment, when Gardevoir touched the stone, another grandiose event occurred. The Mega Energy would envelop her body. In the wake of this transformative display, the echoes of the voices and the illusory power of Mismagius waned.
From it, Gardevoir was undergoing Mega Evolution. But not just her. Daybreaker found herself surrounded by a Dark Power that resembled the flames that she possessed. A burst of Fire and Darkness would fly out, shattering the illusion and returning them to Full Valley.
Kalos. Full Valley. Night.
A powerful resonance between the radiant energies and the dark auras unfolded. The Harmony Phenomenon, previously responsive to the joyous and peaceful balance, now witnessed an unprecedented fusion of contrasting forces.
Mismagius flew back as a pillar of Fire and Light shot from the ground and straight through the air. Gardevoir wasn't just Mega Evolving. Something else came from this newfound union. Daybreaker was nowhere to be found the voices and Mismagius could feel her.
From the flames that lit a good chunk of the valley ablaze, a devious and menacing silhouette could be seen. From a first glance, it looked like Mega Gardevoir, but there was a difference. Mismagius and the Voices sensed Gardevoir and Daybreaker as one. Their energies were together instead of separate, creating something new.
The union of Gardevoir and Daybreaker into a singular, formidable entity resulted in an intense surge of energy that surpassed the conventional boundaries of Mega Evolution but was strongly similar to what Celestia and Passion already have. In fact, it was the same power they accessed. They had merged, much like this universe's Princess Celestia and her own Gardevoir.
The swirling cosmic energies resonated with the newfound entity's malevolent aura, causing the Harmony Phenomenon to undergo a transformation of its own. It absorbed the amalgamation of Fire and Darkness, intertwining with the radiant light and casting an otherworldly glow across Full Valley.
All the Pokemon in Full Valley started fleeing the emergence of this being and her power was so tremendous that it actually brought harm to the area.
The once-vibrant and harmonious Full Valley now succumbed to the destructive forces unleashed by the merged entity of Gardevoir and Daybreaker. The air crackled with the tension between the opposing cosmic powers, creating an otherworldly spectacle that defied the serene nature of the valley.
The ground beneath quivered and convulsed as the conflicting energies surged through every inch of the landscape. The lush meadows that once housed Pokémon of various types were now marred by the turbulent clash of Fire and Darkness. The vibrant flora wilted and disintegrated as the harmonious ecosystem fell victim to the relentless assault of the fused entity's power.
The crystal-clear waterfalls that cascaded down the sides of the surrounding mountains now distorted into chaotic torrents, their once-soothing sounds replaced by the tumultuous roars of an unnatural cataclysm. The lakes, once teeming with life, now boiled and evaporated under the scorching influence of the darkened flames.
The towering mountains that stood as sentinels around the valley trembled, their foundations shaken by the discordant energies that tore through the very essence of Full Valley. Rocks and boulders cascaded down, carving scars into the majestic slopes that had once embraced the peaceful coexistence of Pokémon.
As the energies continued their chaotic dance, the skies themselves seemed to be at war. The once-clear expanse overhead now churned with tempestuous clouds, illuminated by flashes of intense light and shadow. The cosmic forces clashed with such ferocity that the very boundaries between the ethereal and the material began to blur.
The soldiers were not safe either. They carried their fellow troops, running for the hills, if there were any hills left at this point. They knew that their Queen was responsible for this, but they had no idea what has just been summoned onto this world.
The fleeing Pokémon, terrified by the unfolding catastrophe, darted through the crumbling meadows and vanished into the safety of the surrounding mountains. Full Valley, once a haven of biodiversity and coexistence, now crumbled under the weight of the destructive energies, a tragic testament to the consequences of the merged entity's ascent.
Mismagius tried stopping this, only to be struck by the titanic power as well. With a flash of her eyes, this merged being would release an attack that consisted of Fire and Fairy Magic. The Magical Pokemon gasped as the attack enveloped her body in a flash.
"Mismagius...." That was the last Guardian of Full Valley. All three have failed. The once-proud guardian, now consumed by the cataclysmic energies, became one with the chaos that enveloped Full Valley.
It didn't stop at Full Valley, however. Locations across Kalos were beginning to feel this power.
The unleashed power of the merged entity surged beyond Full Valley, extending its influence across the Kalos region like an insatiable tempest. As the entity pressed forward, locations that once thrived with life now quivered under the ominous presence that approached.
In the heart of Kalos, vibrant cities felt the tremors of the impending calamity. Buildings shook, and the skies themselves seemed to darken with an otherworldly aura. Pokémon and people alike, once bustling through the lively streets, now recoiled in fear as the energy encroached upon their homes.
On the outskirts of Lumiose City, the sprawling Prism Tower, once a symbol of Kalos's grandeur, stood as a silent witness to the encroaching darkness. The radiant glow that once illuminated the city's nights began to flicker and dim, replaced by an unsettling, eerie radiance. As the energy seeped through the streets, Lumiose City itself seemed to groan under the weight of an impending transformation.
Further south, the lush forests surrounding Santalune City withered in the face of the encroaching energies. Trees that stood for centuries began to lose their leaves, and the once-tranquil melodies of forest Pokémon were silenced by an overpowering force.
Even the azure beauty of Azure Bay, which stretched along the coast, felt the intrusion of the merged entity's power. The crystalline waters darkened, and the gentle waves turned tumultuous under the influence of the cosmic maelstrom.
Amidst the festivities of the Pokémon Festival, an atmosphere of joy and celebration suddenly shifted into one of disarray and alarm. The radiant energy that erupted into the sky cast an intense, blinding light that stole the attention of everyone present. The once-clear waters of Azure Bay grew murky and turbulent, reflecting the upheaval occurring within the mystical depths.
Pokémon trainers and spectators alike turned their gaze upward, their festive spirits dampened by the sudden intrusion of an overpowering force. Gasps echoed through the crowd as the brilliance in the sky outshone the dazzling displays of the Pokémon Festival. The cheerful atmosphere evaporated, replaced by a collective unease that spread like ripples across the gathered crowd.
The luminous energy above seemed to defy the boundaries of the festival, overshadowing the very essence of celebration
Reacting to this was Zygarde, specifically, its cells. As the Guardian of the ecosystem, something like this couldn't be ignored. Something grand threatened it. It wasn't sure what but it was very obvious that it was there.
The normally tranquil rhythm of their collective existence was disrupted by the overwhelming energy that cast a looming shadow over the Pokémon Festival. Like a pulse echoing through the vast network of cells, Zygarde sensed an imminent threat to the delicate balance it sought to protect.
However, despite it starting in Kalos, it wouldn't stop there. Other regions would feel this power.
The pulsating waves of dark power radiating from Kalos rippled across the fabric of the Pokémon world, transcending regional boundaries. As the sinister energy expanded its reach, it sent shockwaves through the hearts of Pokémon and humans alike, stirring an unsettling awareness of an impending threat.
In the Galar region, Pokémon battling at the Battle Tower suddenly paused, their attention drawn to an invisible force permeating the air. Trainers exchanged uneasy glances as a subtle tension gripped the otherwise competitive atmosphere.
Hoenn, known for its tropical landscapes and diverse Pokémon habitats, experienced an unusual disturbance. Pokémon in the wild exhibited signs of restlessness, and even the ancient Legendary Pokémon Kyogre and Groudon, guardians of the seas and lands, stirred in their slumber as if sensing the disturbance echoing from afar.
At the Ranger Union, the Pokemon Researchers were attempting to make sense of all this. Their best scientists were struggling, looking at all the readings on their screen. "Is Groudon waking up again?! Where is this coming from?!"
"I-I don't know! I've never seen something like this!" But alas, they couldn't understand it.
The researchers exchanged worried glances, attempting to make sense of the chaotic influx of data. Pokémon Rangers, normally dedicated to ensuring harmony between Pokémon and humans, found themselves thrust into a situation beyond their usual scope of expertise.
One researcher pointed at a map, where different regions were marked with ominous glows corresponding to the energy surges. "It's not just Kalos. The disturbance is spreading to other regions. Unova, Alola, Galar... even the distant Sinnoh. And look at Equestria!"
Sinnoh's majestic landscapes, home to some of the oldest known Pokemon out there, felt the subtle tremors of the approaching darkness. Even the renowned Pokémon Lake Guardians, Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, shared a collective unease as the echoes of the dark power reverberated through the region.
The Unova region, rich in history and home to mighty Dragon-type Pokémon like Reshiram and Zekrom, experienced a palpable shift in the elemental balance. Kyurem was the one who felt it, holding Snowdrop close to him to keep herself from this sudden pressure. Pokémon Rangers and Trainers alike felt a growing sense of urgency, as if an unseen force threatened the harmony of the region.
Alola's serene islands, home to unique species and the guardian deities, detected an ominous disturbance in the threads of their mystical connection with the Pokémon world. The guardian deities, Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Fini, shared a collective concern as they sensed the encroaching darkness. They already knew that Daybreaker was behind this somehow after what happened previously.
"What is that?!" Twilight Sparkle, who was currently in Alola with her friends, bellowed upon seeing the ray of light in the sky and feeling the intense power.
Twilight's lavender eyes widened as she gazed skyward, the brilliance of the light obscuring her vision momentarily. The power emanating from the cosmic disturbance resonated deeply within her, and an inexplicable weight settled in the pit of her stomach.
"Twilight, what's happening?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her multicoloured mane ruffled with concern as she hovered beside the lavender alicorn. Zeraora, who was wide awake, narrowed her eyes at this towering ray of light.
"I... I'm not sure," Twilight responded, her usually composed voice tinged with uncertainty. The magical aura surrounding her horn flickered briefly, reacting to the cosmic energies that transcended the boundaries of Alola.
Pinkie Pie, ever the optimist, bounced on her hooves. "Maybe it's a new Pokemon we haven't seen before! Or maybe it's a Z-Move going off!" She looked on the bright side compared to everyone else.
"I don't think so..." Luna shook her head as her pupils would shudder. The Moon Princess felt like she had a good feeling about what this was and it terrified her. So did Nightmare Moon since she came from the same type of magic that created Daybreaker.
And of course, this reached Princess Celestia herself. She was with Cobalion at the Unova Region, feeling the power from this distance. And of course, this was not alien to her at all. Celestia knew this power. She has used it before after all.
"Oh no..." Sensing it, the Sun Princess knew what this meant. Only one other pony could do this and ironically, it was technically her. But not on her own, of course. Looking in the distance and gazing at this ray of light, one of Celestia's fears was coming to life. "Daybreaker..."
Equestria wasn't safe either. All of its locations and beyond would feel this new rise in power. The radiant energy surged through the heart of Equestria, reaching every corner of the magical land. From the bustling streets of Canterlot to the serene orchards of Sweet Apple Acres, the inhabitants of Equestria felt the seismic shift in the currents. Unseen forces intertwined with the very essence of magic, causing ripples that resonated beyond the borders of the peaceful land.
High above Equestria, where the clouds formed the vibrant city of Cloudsdale, a group of pegasi and Flying-Types engaged in graceful aerial displays. The joyous atmosphere turned tense as an unseen force disturbed the very clouds beneath their hooves. They immediately lost their balance thanks to this disturbance. The clouds swirled with an unnatural energy, casting an eerie glow that hinted at the cosmic turmoil unfolding below.
Those at the Crystal Empire observed the Crystal Heart with growing concern. The crystalline structure pulsated with an erratic rhythm, reflecting the grand upheaval resonating through the very heart of Equestria.
Even Magehold, finally experiencing peace and harmony would be disturbed. But for once, it was not from someone in their own home but from outside. There was seemingly no place in the world that didn't feel this.
It was as if the world was trying to tell them about how this kind of power should not exist. And for the first time, the Grander World would witness what kind of threat this new power poses as that light in the sky wasn't just for show.
In a catastrophic display of power, the radiant ray of light descended from the heavens, striking with unrelenting force. The chosen area, previously thriving with lush vegetation and vibrant wildlife, now faced the wrath of the malevolent energy. This beautiful land located in the Sinnoh Region was unfortunately the first target.
Upon impact, the devastating force tore through the landscape, ripping apart the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Trees were uprooted, their once-green canopies reduced to splintered debris. The rich soil, which had nurtured countless Pokémon and plants, now lay disturbed and barren, stripped of its vitality.
The impact's shockwave resonated through the affected area, causing irreparable damage to the habitats that had flourished there. Rivers and streams, once teeming with life, now ran murky with debris, disrupting aquatic Pokémon and leaving a trail of environmental degradation in their wake.
As the aftermath unfolded, the once-bustling ecosystem lay in ruins, shrouded in a pall of smoke and environmental decay. The Pokemon emerged to witness the profound transformation of their once-verdant surroundings into a desolate and wounded landscape.
The air was heavy with the acrid scent of destruction, a tangible reminder of the irreversible harm inflicted upon the delicate web of life that had thrived in the targeted area. It was practically beyond repair and this was just the first example. On top of that, there was now a colossal hole in the middle, ruining any chance of this being salvaged.
Kalos. Full Valley.
This amazing power did not last, however. With the body of this fused being glowing, the Harmony Phenomenon ended, granting them all the time that they had. The two would split, returning to their normal selves. While it was brief, it was an amazing rush of power.
"Hah...I think we're done." Daybreaker took a deep breath as that her first time expercing that power. The once-mighty and fearsome fusion had dissipated, leaving behind a lingering aura of the extraordinary forces that had briefly converged. "Let's go Gardevoir. We got what we came for."
"Oh, right. Ooh, I feel a bit tingly inside." The Embrace Pokemon shuddered out of excitement. Now that was the kind of Aura she was looking for. Truly magnificent.
They left Full Valley in its current state. Ruined and set ablaze. A testament to the unfathomable power they wielded when united.
As they moved forward, their journey continued, fueled by the promise to fulfil the wishes they had made to Necrozma and the quest for the Gardevoirite. The echoes of the powerful fusion resonated in the air, a reminder of the unprecedented strength that lay within the bond they shared. With determination in their hearts, Daybreaker and Gardevoir ventured forth, continuing their mission. And Gardevoir now had a new resolve and drive.
Malamar and the rest of Daybreaker's troops stood outside, seeing the duo emerge. Gardevoir had quite the look on her face as she held the Mege Stone in her hand. Meanwhile, Daybreaker carried the Gardevoirite with her magic.
"You...Actually did it?" Malamar was stunned. He felt that power. They all did.
"A bit tricky but...Nothing too outlandish." Daybreaker shrugged it off. "Alright. Enough standing around. The night is still young after all and we have some more work to do before our 5 days are up. 4 days on the clock for us now."
"Where are we going next?" Gardevoir asked.
"Well, next, we're going to unlock Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter for ourselves. We can't do it in this universe though. Cozy Glow has the recipe, so it's her turn to chime in." They were off to Cozy Glow, seeking the newfound power of Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter.
The destruction of this one area didn't just have consequences for this one spot. The massive hole in the middle made by that ray of light caused a hurricane of some sort. A hurricane appeared on the ground itself instead of the air. The nearby seas would ripple as those using boats would bear witness to the catastrophic event.
The waves would rise and lower inconsistently, unsure as to how they should react to this. A light thunderstorm appeared above, clashing with the hurricane. The hurricane would greatly affect the winds from great distances as many Water-Type and Flying-Type Pokemon tried fleeing from the catastrophic scene.
Its effects rippled through the environment, disturbing the delicate balance of nature. Pokemon of various types struggled to find shelter, their natural instincts urging them to escape the turbulent forces unleashed by the destruction of the verdant area.
The light thunderstorm above intensified, with lightning crackling across the darkened sky. Unsettled by the unprecedented events, both human and Pokemon inhabitants sought refuge, unsure of what had triggered this catastrophe.
The hole that was left behind was suddenly getting deeper. The damage wasn't done just yet. This destruction was single-handedly readjusting the environment itself but with strong negative effects. Water sources around the affected region started to evaporate rapidly, leaving parched land in their wake. The skies darkened further, shrouded in an ominous aura that made even the bravest Pokemon uneasy.
"K-Kazam!" The negative energy interfered with the psychic abilities of certain Pokemon, leading to widespread psychic disturbances. Psychic-type Pokemon, known for their superior mental senses, experienced heightened stress levels, causing psychic storms that induced confusion and distress in their respective spots.
"Spoink...Spoink!"
"What caused this...?" One of the fishermen had to wonder. This level of destruction was unreal. Not even Yveltal, who almost extinguished every last bit of life on this planet pulled this off. Its destruction, while deadly, was tamer than this, only withering the environment.
As the fishermen exchanged worried glances, one of them, a seasoned sailor with a weathered captain's hat, spoke up, "I've sailed these seas for decades, and I've never seen anything like this. Yveltal's wrath may have been fearsome, but this... this is something else entirely. It's as if the very essence of the earth is rejecting itself."
"Do you think it's...Arceus?" One of the Fishermen had to wonder if Arceus was somehow responsible.
"No. Not at all." But even the captain could tell that Arceus was not responsible for this, even though he could cause this level of destruction. Someone else was at play here, after all, using a newfound power to its destructive intent.
"Aaahh..." All the while, Ash was sound asleep alongside Pikachu. The duo slept so peacefully that they weren't even disturbed by the event. The events unfolding in Full Valley and beyond seemed to have no impact on their serene dreams, and the guest room provided them with a tranquil haven.
"Pika..." The rhythmic rise and fall of Ash's chest and the gentle snoring of Pikachu created a harmonious melody, untouched by the turmoil that had transpired. As the world outside continued to grapple with the consequences of Daybreaker and Gardevoir's powerful union, the young Trainer and his faithful Pokemon found solace in the tranquillity of their dreams, a temporary respite before the challenges that awaited them in the waking world.
Sci-Twi certainly heard it. Her jaw dropped after what she had just witnessed, waking up to see the most brilliant yet intimidating light there was. That was not a dream even with the light gone. What she witnessed was very much real and its implications were rather intimidating.
As of yet, no one had a clue as to what this one event would lead to. That ominous feeling within the air came from Daybreaker and Gardevoir's successful mission and yet, that feeling has not yet fizzled out. There was more to give as the journey continues.
A new day has come and the aftermath of Daybreaker and Gardevoir unlocking the power of Mega Evolution left a striking consequence on the world, especially to one area in particular. And despite it all happening in one area of Sinnoh, it was potent enough to start affecting other locations.
But instead of going for anything on the ground, the skies were the first victims. Residents of Pegalysium who were nearby could feel the effects even from here. A ripple of energy that seemed to transcend the boundaries of their own nation. The once serene and free-flowing clouds above started to react strangely, displaying vibrant hues of swirling colours as if the very fabric of the atmosphere was affected.
"Hoo! What's happening back down at Equestria?!" A pegasus exclaimed, holding onto her hat. Other pegasi would gaze at the effects from their homes. The pegasi also found it challenging to control the weather as the magical currents became more turbulent and difficult to predict.
"Hold tight, everypony! Looks like something major is going on down there!" Another pegasus shouted, her wings flapping to keep herself steady amidst the atmospheric turbulence. But that was no good. The very clouds and air that they were the masters of were seemingly out of their control. The pegasus went flying, losing control as the clouds would aggressively spiral, matching that of a storm.
As the pegasi struggled to maintain control, the once-clear skies became a canvas for an unexpected celestial display. Brilliant streaks of light, vivid and chaotic, danced across the heavens, creating an otherworldly spectacle that defied the usual order of Pegalysium. The sky seemed to protest, resisting the attempts of the pegasi to restore its calm.
Unpredictable currents of air clashed, creating ethereal patterns in the cloud formations. The colours shifted rapidly, ranging from intense purples to fiery reds, reflecting the turmoil in the skies above. Thunderous roars echoed through the sky, accompanied by unpredictable lightning strikes that arced across the clouds. The traditional harmony between the pegasi and their skies had been shattered, replaced by a tempestuous upheaval.
However, thanks to its height, Pegalysium wasn't as affected and it wouldn't last for that long. But was still potent nevertheless and that was just the first time such a power was released.
As the skies began to settle, Pegalysium gradually returned to a semblance of normalcy, but the memory of the celestial upheaval lingered in the collective consciousness of its residents.
Sinnoh. Hearthome City. The Pokemon Festival.
News of this event would undoubtedly spread across regions, further intensifying the sense of unease that had gripped the world for one night. But not only that, there was a bit of a weather change involved. Sinnoh got the worst of it since the ray of light crashed down there and the effects were showing.
"Oooh...Hot all of a sudden."Over at Hearthome, Fantina felt a change in the weather. The weather patterns were thrown into disarray. Clouds of various colours gathered in unusual formations in the far distance, causing spontaneous rain showers of glittering water droplets. Sunbeams refracted through the coloured clouds, creating stunning rainbows that arched across the sky.
Those at Hearthome were hoping this wasn't another Dread League situation. After what happened last time, they could do without any of that.
"Queen Fantina!" Suddenly, arriving here at Hearthome was Dimstar, a former member of the Dread League. She came all the way from Magehold to Sinnoh, flying overnight.
"Morning, Dimstar." Fantina greeted, unbothered by what had just occurred. Being around vampires, skeletons and other terrifying things throughout her life has granted her such an immunity.
"Are you alright?! I came to check up on you!" Dimstar frantically questioned, coming to her queen's aide.
Fantina chuckled lightly, her demeanour seemingly unfazed by the abrupt weather change and the extraordinary events that had unfolded.
"Oh, dear Dimstar, you don't need to worry about me. This weather isn't so bad." Fantina responded with a theatrical flourish of her hand.
"I don't know about that..." Dimstar squinted her eyes when looking up at the disrupted skies. She was glad that she was half Lich, granting her some resistance to the sunlight. "But did you feel it? Last night, an incredible surge of power happened and it seems that it originated from Sinnoh. It felt reminiscent of the Dread League's ominous presence, and I couldn't help but rush here to ensure everything was alright. I feared the worst, given our history."
"Hmm...I didn't feel it but I know everyone else did. I was asleep during that time." Alas, Fantina didn't feel the power. Much like Ash and Pikachu, she was having a good night's sleep.
"There's no way you slept through that...Who could possibly sleep through that?" She said, unbeknownst to Ash and Pikachu.
"But something happened. Everyone is saying it came from the North." Fantina pointed to the north of Sinnoh. The Gym Leader looked past Mount Coronet and anything else in the distance, saying what everyone else learned.
"Rain and intense heat? At the same time? What did that ray of light do..." A stunned Dimstar spoke. "My father spoke about something like this to me when I was young. About a light so strong it affects living things and nature, impacting them in various ways. Is this what he meant?"
"I don't think we can do anything about this one, Dimstar. But someone can." said Fantina.
"Oh! But, your majesty! Another reason I showed up here is because Princess Celestia called for me. She's making a quick meeting over at Canterlot."
"Hm?" The most crucial part was revealed. Dimstar's second reason was still concerning this sudden event and it all traced back to Princess Celestia. In two ways, really.
"Well...You said you can't do much about it. So, would it be best that if I spoke in your place?" Dimstar requested. "Right now, my father is off to meet with his half family, so he can't speak instead."
"You'll do great, Dimstar." But Fantina had full faith in Dimstar for this role. She did have that serious disposition that her father carries here and there and she knew for a fact that Dimstar was capable enough to discuss these matters.
"Right! My greatest thanks, your majesty!" Dimstar expressed her gratitude and left Hearthome City, her graceful wings carrying her towards Canterlot.
Kalos. Out at Sea. The Sea Temple Samiya.
Despite the Sinnoh region being a target for the ray of light, the issue did start at the Kalos Region in the first place. And the seas of Kalos, much like the seas in other regions, would violently move. Unfortunately, the Sea Temple and the residents living there had to face the turbulent issue from last night to today when moving across the seas of Kalos. The grand halls of the Sea Temple resonated with the echoes of crashing waves and the creaking of the structure against the surging tides.
"Oh goodness!" Alo, the Royal Advisor, held onto his staff and beard while leaning back against the wall. "Even into a new day?!"
The once serene seas surrounding the Sea Temple now churned with uncontrollable energy, mirroring the unrest caused by the unleashed power of Daybreaker and Gardevoir. The Sea Temple, normally accustomed to the gentle ebb and flow of the waves, found itself caught in the throes of a tempest.
"I think I'm going to be sick...That's not possible for us, right?" The young Enola covered her mouth. The People of the Water have had to deal with these movements since last night and the seas have not tempered for them at all. The Water Pokemon that lived here weren't having an easy time either.
Not even Manaphy, who was Prince of the Sea. He would hold onto the nearest pillar to gain some balance. "M-Mana...!"
"Royal Advisor, Alo! We've tried using the power of the crystals and even they're struggling to keep things at a steady pace!" One of the guards screamed at Alo.
"The crystals too?!" This surprised Alo. The fact that the power Sea Temple Crystals were having trouble came as a shock. This didn't mean they weren't capable of stopping it, but they couldn't easily temper the sea.
"What's causing this?!" A woman asked. The People of the Water couldn't understand how their crystals weren't as efficient at the moment. They voiced their concerns upon learning about the crystals' difficulty in maintaining control. The revelation added another layer of complexity to the situation, leaving the temple's residents bewildered and seeking answers.
"It seems...that the disturbance in the seas is a consequence of a significant upheaval in the power of Mega Evolution," Alo said with a grumble. "I'm not sure what but the natural power of Mega Evolution must have been trying to make sense of something."
"What do you mean by that?" But it wasn't clicking with any of them.
"His Majesty has probably seen it somewhere in the world. There has been a great upset in the power of Mega Evolution." Alo commented. "We might have to move the temple to his majesty's location if we can reach him." The decision to reach out to Ash had been made. But first, they had to calm the seas down. They were greatly disturbed after all in many regions.
Equestria. Canterlot.
"Oh, man...This all happened last night?" Ash caught up with the news. Naturally, since a place like Canterlot would be among the first to be informed immediately. Sci-Twi told him what she saw last night as well as holding out the newspaper to him and Pikachu.
"Pika..."
"I have no idea how you managed to sleep through all of that..." Much like Dimstar, Twilight couldn't understand it. "But, yes. A ray of light just showed up in the sky. Apparently, it hit somewhere in Sinnoh and no one knows where it came from. And look at what it's done in just one night."
"There's snow and hot weather near each other?" Ash was reading the effects that this damage left behind. He even saw the massive hole that it made. The image of this hole was taken for everyone to view and it was absolutely colossal. Entering Canterlot were some members of royalty, invited here by Princess Celestia.
Celestia had to cut her time with Cobalion and essentially the entire Pokemon Festival just for this. As such, Cobalion was over at the Canterlot Gardens. But he knew he wouldn't be here for long. He was waiting for the rest of the Swords of Justice, knowing that they had to be on the move since something colossal attacked the world.
At that moment, Sci-Twi's phone would start ringing. All the way from another part of the world was the phone number of Sunset Shimmer. "Sunset?" She would answer it.
"Uh, Twilight...Just calling to see if you're doing alright." Sunset spoke to her with a nervous tone.
"What happened? Is everything alright for you?" Sci-Twi asked. "What's going on over there? Are you and the others okay?"
"Well, it sounds like you're fine, but we're not." Sunset Shimmer grumbled. "You have to be here to see this. Something wild just happened around us." As soon as she said that, an odd sound could be heard through the phone. Sci-Twi's eyes widened at Sunset's words, a mix of concern and curiosity filling her expression. "We were just exploring parts of Unova and out of nowhere, this ray of light showed up."
"I saw it too. A lot of people did. But are you all okay?"
"It was just a scare. No one got hurt, thankfully. What do you think caused something like that?" Sunset questioned.
"Mmm...No clue." Ash crossed his arms. "But when I think about it, there's only a few Pokemon and stuff that can do this."
"Hang on, Sunset. We'll be there as soon as possible." Sci-Twi opted to meet with the rest of her friends to see what they've come across. Their time in Canterlot was coming to an end either way, so might as well had to the next location. It was back to Unova once more.
Canterlot Castle.
Meanwhile, inside Canterlot Castle, some of the rulers were seated. There were still a lot missing from this, but this wasn't the Royal Phantasy and yet it required a lot of attention. "Thank you for coming on such short notice." Celestia began, her voice carrying authority and concern.
As you may have already heard, a disturbance of great magnitude has occurred, affecting not only Equestria but regions beyond our borders. We are facing a grand upheaval, and I believe I know who is responsible for this."
"Is it Second Wind? Has she finally made her move?" King Paramount immediately believed it to be Second Wind. The power of the Unown can be cataclysmic if many of them are involved. While Second Wind's number of Unown has been greatly cut down thanks to Ash and his friends, they were still a force to be reckoned with.
"Isn't it obvious? It's probably Team Plasma. They've stayed hidden for a while now and it would only make sense for them to catch us all by surprise by pulling this." Another ruler spouted.
"I had to cut my conte-" Queen Novo, Queen of the Hippogriffs paused as she almost exposed herself. "Cut my practice sessions short because of that pressure. Right. That's it."
"I say it's probably another one of our old problems. This level of destruction was last matched by Yveltal, who nearly took the lives of everyone. And the ones who can prompt such an event are-" Another ruler uttered, treading back to the Dread League.
"It wasn't us this time..." Dimstar narrowed her eyes once the Queen looked her. The relations between the Dread League and many others were still weak, obviously.
"Whoever it is, one thing is for sure...It's the fault of a Pokemon. As much as it pains me to say this, no pony, griffon, dragon or any creature that originally came from our time could do such a thing. "You've all gotten a bit too comfortable with them. Yveltal should have been the final straw if you ask me."
"What Pokemon would do this? Yveltal was being controlled. It wouldn't have a good reason to cause such destruction. And besides, it was a ray of light, not darkness." Dimstar added, defending Yveltal.
"We haven't really thought about it all that much. We were made to adjust to the Pokemon World by the Rift. But now with the Rift being so absent and us being left with this larger world, should we start thinking about how the Pokemon affect us in the long run? They're here to stay forever, so things like this can't be ignored."
"Exactly! This isn't the Royal Phantasy but you started it form some new rules for this new world. That Threat Level chart isn't going to do us any good if we can't keep an eye on these creatures." One king vehemently argued that the Pokemon residing in their lands might be responsible for the disruption. He pointed fingers at the mystical creatures, claiming that their unknown powers and origins made them a potential threat to the stability of the realms.
"Ridiculous!" Queen Nova scoffed. She stressed the need for unity and cooperation rather than casting blame on innocent beings. "We can be just as powerful and dangerous as them. They just have easier access to that kind of power."
"That's the problem though..." The king grumbled.
The room continued to buzz with discussions, and tensions rose among the gathered rulers. Each leader had their own concerns and perspectives, leading to a cacophony of voices that echoed through the grand hall in Canterlot.
"It could be just a magical imbalance." One ruler suggested that the disturbances might be a consequence of the magical imbalance caused by various magical entities, not limited to Pokemon alone. His viewpoint aimed to diffuse the growing tension and encourage collaboration. And he technically wasn't wrong. Daybreaker was involved after all, but she was only one entity.
The bickering continued, with accusations and counter-accusations escalating. Princess Celestia, in an attempt to restore order, raised her hoof to call for attention.
"In a way, you're all right." Celestia closed her eyes. "The one responsible for this disruption is none other than Daybreaker."
"Daybreaker?!" All of them collectively bellowed.
"That's right. What she did wasn't anything new, technically. It's the same power Passion and I have when we emerge as Celestial-Gardevoir. I felt it. We're the only ones who have ever used something like that. And now...Daybreaker might have tapped into that same power."
"What? How?" Cadence asked. "She's eligible for Mega Evolution and the Harmony Phenomenon? Can that even work based on what she wants and how she acts?"
"Daybreaker has her own view of Harmony and I'm guessing the phenomenon reacted to her in some way. And probably, the Gardevoir who absorbs Aura was involved."
"That light was her?" Dimstar's eyes widened, equally shocked to learn that Daybreaker, the alter-ego of Celestia was capable of such a thing. Albeit with support from Gardevoir.
"I already knew it was her. When I took the time to sleep for a while, Luna came to me in my dream, speaking about how Rainbow Dash and the others encountered Daybreaker's Forces on Alola. They were very much here last night, away from Universe 11."
"Are we under attack then?!" Queen Nova gasped, fearing that this might be Daybreaker's Empire launching an attack.
"Not yet. But Daybreaker has eyes on this universe. Without a doubt, it possesses the most light out of any universe out there that we know of. Not even her Necrozma can absorb it all in a short time. "The fate of not just Equestria but the entire world, no...universe could be at stake just because she wants to feed Necrozma as much light as possible."
"So then...What do we do?" Cadence questioned.
"What we can and always have done. We've come this far to make this new world of ours possible." Celestia faced all the rulers. "I've seen a lot of worlds. Similar to ours but different all the same. The things they've been through were already hard enough and knowing Daybreaker, she won't skip out on them. We've always done what we can to protect our world so let's not stop now and go above and beyond that."
They all can certainly agree to that. At the end of the day, they wanted their world to be safe. No one wanted a Yveltal situation again but on an even worse scale, as the entire universe was being threatened.
As Celestia's words echoed in the hall, the assembled leaders began to discuss strategies and formulate plans. The cosmic upheaval had brought nations together, forging alliances against a common threat that transcended borders and realms. Celestia, while she would miss out on the rest of the festival, focused on her duty as Ruler of Equestria and its safety.
Unova.
Sunset Shimmer and her friends, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy, were around this area that was affected by the ray of light and power surge. They were somewhere near Chargestone Cave, witnessing how a simple forest was affected overnight.
The group had chosen a picturesque clearing deep within the forest, surrounded by ancient trees and vibrant flora. As they gazed at the aftermath, they noticed a peculiar sight not far from their chosen spot. A mysterious mist began to seep out from the base of a colossal, twisted tree with glowing vines.
"Well...would you look at that." Volo was the most interested in this, looking up at the damage. He was with them as well, witnessing the ray of light in all of its glory. "That light...could it have been from Arceus? No...Probably not. Arceus would never do this."
"Please don't tell me the shards are somewhere there..." Rarity gulped as they ended up here when focusing on that shard-collecting mission Volo started.
Intrigued yet cautious, the friends gathered around the strange area. Rainbow Dash, always the fearless one, flew up to get a better view. "Hey, guys, check this out! It's like the mist is coming from some kind of portal or something!" Curiosity piqued, Sunset Shimmer approached the mist cautiously. The air felt charged with magic, and the mist sparkled with enchanting colours.
Fluttershy, on the other hand, noticed the distant sounds of mysterious creatures emanating from the other side. "Um, guys, I think we should be careful. There might be some Pokemon there that we've never seen before."
Applejack, ever the practical one, nodded in agreement. "Eh. It's just Unova. We've seen a lot of 'em here and there, ya know. I don't think the Pokemon changed a lot like this place. And if they did..."
"This is soooo cool! What if there's a whole new world on the other side, filled with magical parties and super-duper fun stuff?" Pinkie Pie, with her Pinkie Sense tingling, bounced around with excitement.
"Why would there be another world past the mist? Although at this rate..." Sunset Shimmer, considering the possibilities, thought for a moment. "Nevermind. I don't think we have much of a safe distance here. The heat around here is hotter than yesterday. But there shouldn't be mist at all." As they watched, the mist shimmered even more around the heat. The weather was still trying to fix itself.
The group found themselves at the threshold of adventure, torn between the allure of the unknown and the safety of their Pokemon Festival experience. The once-static foliage began to exhibit a pulsating energy, causing the trees and flowers to glow in brilliant hues.
Volo kept a smile on his face, unbothered by all of this, but very much intrigued. To Volo, this appeared as an opportunity instead of something to gawk at.
"That light was dangerous...Right?" Sunset Shimmer gawked when looking at this. The dangerous possibilities haven't been shown to her and her friends yet, aside from the power surge and the ray of light. But the aftermath and how it transformed the area looked rather dazzling.
But that was just one part of what the light had done.
Not too far from here, nestled within the dense Chargestone Cave, where a community of Steel, Rock, Electric and Ground-type Pokémon thrived such as Joltik, Drilbur, and Magneton. The energy ripple that originated in Sinnoh triggered a chain reaction, sending shockwaves through the very essence of Chargestone Cave.
As the energy permeated the cave, the magnetic fields became intensely charged, causing disruptions in the natural equilibrium that Electric-type Pokémon relied on. The once-stable environment now crackled with erratic energy, sending jolts of confusion and distress through the Pokémon residing there.
Galvantula, known for their intricate web networks that glowed softly in the cave's ambient light, found their homes disrupted. The normally calm and collected Elektross began to show signs of agitation as the magnetic interference affected their ability to navigate the cave's dark passages.
This energy had an effect on the Pokemon themselves. Not just the environment. The disruption in Chargestone Cave reached a tipping point, leading some Pokémon to enter a berserk state. The damage done to that verdant part of Sinnoh was not the end of it. Not at all.
Sunset Shimmer and her respective group found themselves in this part of Unova when enjoying the Pokemon Festival. Near them, a forest area was greatly disturbed by the ray of light. Joined by the Merchant of the past Volo, their first Pokemon Festival Experience led to this. But one could say this isn't out of the ordinary.
"Umm...Where are the Pokemon?" Fluttershy said. She peered into the mist, expecting to catch a glimpse of some friendly or curious creatures. However, there wasn't a sign of a single Pokémon. The forest felt eerily empty, and the mist added a touch of mystery to the atmosphere.
"Maybe they're all asleep?" Pinkie Pie shrugged.
"Mmm..." Fluttershy was rather disappointed, lowering her eyes. She was hoping to see all these Pokemon in their natural habitat.
"Isn't it obvious? They can't live here anymore." Volo slid over, having a constant smile on his face. He was the most experienced here when it came to Pokemon since he was from 200 years in the past. "That ray of light caused so much damage to this place and altered it that the Pokemon don't want to live here anymore.
"All of them? You would think we'd see some of them passing by if that was the case...Where did they go?" Rarity asked.
"It'll be tricky for them to find a new home. Most likely, that might count for everywhere else. That light was felt by everyone, obviously." Volo added.
Rainbow Dash scowled, her frustration evident. "So, this is all because of that weird light show? That's messed up."
"The Pokemon... they must be so scared." Fluttershy, with a saddened expression, whispered,
"So they can't go anywhere? Poor little guys." Applejack was a bit distraught by it.
"Well, I wouldn't say everywhere is unhabitable. Just that the selection of Pokemon that once lived here won't have an easy time finding a new home. And if there is a new home, it's probably all the way over at another region. They'd have to hope that region is suitable too."
"Does that mean...The world might come to an end?!" Rainbow Dash envisioned the entire world crumbling because of this. If every place in the world goes through this, then it might be over for the entire planet from just a single ray of light.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." But even Volo knew that wasn't the case. But it wasn't like it was impossible for the world to be threatened in such a way.
"Volo! Do you have anything in your bag to help this forest?"
"Ah! Good idea, Fluttershy." Volo put his hands together. quickly grabbing his massive bag. After all, he's gathered plenty of items that have multiple purposes. Some were magical thanks to this merged world and the fact that Volo comes from the past. "Sunset. You're the magic expert here, aren't you? Maybe by taking a look in here, you'll know what'll work."
"Mmmrgh..." Sunset would merely grumble, narrowing her eyes at Volo. That battle the two of them still left a bad taste in Sunset Shimmer's mouth, especially since she lost.
Volo placed his bag down, opening it up and showing off his collection. All these magical items are what truly mattered in this scenario, but some of them served other purposes that might not work on a forest. Surely, there had to be something here in Volo's collection that would respond to this mess.
Sunset Shimmer took a closer look at the mystical items within Volo's bag, searching for something that could aid them in restoring balance to the forest. Everyone was counting on her to find something and as much as Sunset Shimmer wasn't all for Volo's presence, she was willing to help.
After a careful examination, Sunset's eyes widened. Among these items, there was something that resembled a flower. "Well, I guess this might work. This Enchanted Bloom has the ability to purify the surroundings and restore the natural balance. It might be our best chance to help these Pokémon and this forest. But it can only restore a forest."
"Good enough. Use this and just might bring the Pokemon back here. But if they're already long gone, it'll still be free for new Pokemon to take." Volo replied.
"Hold on. It's not that the forest isn't destroyed. It's this mist..." Sunset Shimer narrowed her eyes. "Not sure if the bloom can work here. Nothing like this has happened before."
"Let's at least try." Fluttershy was handed the Enchanted Bloom. Once it was in her hands, the magic around it would respond to being touched. The eyes of Fluttershy and her friends widened at the view of this mystical light. "Oh wow...Is it working already?"
"Looks like it..." Sunset observed, impressed that it was reacting so quickly.
However, due to the malevolent energy that plagued this area, a negative reaction instead of a positive one occurred. As Fluttershy held the Enchanted Bloom, the mystical energy within it reacted with the malevolent force that lingered in the mist. Instead of the expected calming glow, the bloom emitted a faint, ominous shimmer, indicating that the negative energy was resisting the purifying properties.
"Oh! Did I do something wrong!?" Fluttershy would drop the item as the mist would aggressively vibrate and shake.
"Not even that worked...?" Sunset Shimmer frowned, realizing the extent of the corrupted influence in this particular area. "It looks like the corruption is too strong here. The Enchanted Bloom is only making it worse. That shouldn't be possible though...."
Fluttershy's expression shifted to concern. "What do we do then? We can't just leave this place like this."
Volo, ever the optimistic and resourceful merchant, pondered for a moment. "Well, if the Enchanted Bloom won't work, maybe there's something else in my bag that can counteract this corrupted energy. Let's see..." He began rummaging through his extensive collection of magical items. "What say you, Sunset? Anything else.
"That was the only thing that could work..." Sunset would simply sigh. Nothing else in that bag would apparently work, despite how mystical some of them appeared. "I don't think much of it will. Some of these things I don't even know about or recognize. I think we should just call it quits. This place is beyond saving."
"I suppose. What a shame though..." Rarity was a bit bummed out by this. And the fact that there might be more of this out there was rather concerning.
As Volo searched, the corrupted mist thickened, followed by sudden sounds. The girls all gasped once they heard this sound as they immediately thought about the Pokemon. And they were right. The sounds they heard were all Pokemon sounds, specifically.
However, they weren't Pokemon that were native to this forest.
Specifically, it was the Pokemon from Chargestone Cave, who have had their homes disrupted by the energy surge would begin their rampage, affected by the energy. It led them out of their home and here, pulled towards the energy coming from the forest which was elevated by the Enchanted Bloom.
The sudden appearance of the enraged Pokémon from Chargestone Cave added another layer of chaos to the already tense situation. The forest echoed with roars, hisses, and metallic screeches as the rampaging Pokémon arrived here.
"Woah...Maybe it did work!" Naturally, Rainbow Dash thought that the Enchanted Bloom actually succeeded in an alternate way. The rest of Sunset Shimmer's friends felt the same way except Sunset herself. Volo was also judgemental of this.
The mist around here would warm up, keeping in line with this forest's original temperature. But this wasn't everything returning to normal. The aftermath of what Daybreaker and Gardevoir have done was forcing this world, much like the reaction to Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter, to make sense of this all. After all, the balance of Mega Evolution has been greatly disturbed.
Fluttershy, much like her Equestrian counterpart was off to see these Pokemon for herself. She also wanted to see how they were doing in this altered environment. Her friends would all advance, not yet leaving the forest as they intended.
They watched the outcome of the Enchanted Bloom interacting with the forest as it wasn't quite done yet. The mist would dance, being far more active than before as some of it could be seen wrapping around the trees, decorating them. This was the most active mist anyone has ever seen, almost as if it had a mind of its own.
The ominous shimmer would blend in well with the mist, but it brought some unfavourable effects. One part of the area was cold while the other was warm, creating an inconsistent balance. The mist couldn't decide which one it was and each of the girls reacted differently.
Applejack smiled, rather enjoying the heat from one side while Rarity and Rainbow Dash were shuddering from the cold. Pinkie Pie was suddenly sweating as her movements were slowed down.
"How come you aren't slowing down?" Pinkie Pie stuck her tongue out, looking at her friends who were moving at their regular pace. It wasn't like Pinkie Pie to be this slow, but this was just the effect of the mist.
"I don't know. Why are you slowing down?" Rainbow Dash shuddered from the chill. "I'm pretty cold here though!"
"It's this mist..." Sunset Shimmer squinted as she got something else. Her vision was obscured because of the mist, but not in the usual sense. The colours around her were rather inconsistent, confusing her. "It doesn't make any sense. Did the Pokemon have to deal with this?"
"Times like this call for the right kind of gear." Volo was already well prepared. From his bag, he put on some goggles he collected along the way, using them to protect his vision. "A shame I don't have enough for you, girls. We might have to cut our journey in here short if nothing of interest happens."
"You're only saying that because of the shards, darling," said Rarity, searching for something warm. "Maybe they could do something about this."
"Hm?" Fluttershy would stop, hearing a nearby sound. A Pokemon was around at last, bringing a smile to her face. But it wasn't one to be happy about considering what was coming next.
At that moment, one of the Pokemon from Chargestone Cave appeared. Emerging from the mist was a Boldore. It was as if Boldore was perfectly hidden in the mist
"Boldore!"
"Fluttershy!" Pulling her away was Applejack, who barely managed to get Fluttershy out of Boldore's range. The Power Gem that was unleashed would miss Fluttershy, bringing down a rain of gemstones that pelted the ground.
"It's a Boldore!" Sunset Shmmer exclaimed.
"No...It's a Galvantula!" However, Applejack saw a completely different Pokemon. Sunset blinked for a moment, looking back at Applejack with confusion on her face.
"What do you mean?"
"I see a Ferroseed though..." But Rainbow Dash saw another Pokemon entirely. She saw Ferroseed instead. And it wasn't that there were multiple Pokemon present here, surrounding the group. They were all looking at the exact same figure that appeared from the mist, attempting to attack Fluttershy.
"Well now..." This interested Volo, putting quite a smile on his face. Coming here and using the Enchanted Bloom was worth it without a doubt as it brought something new to the table. "Looks like you're all seeing someone else. I'm seeing Drilbur instead."
Similar to what Nate went through with that strange plasma, the girls were seeing multiple Pokemon in one instead of something or someone they admired. This was simply an effect of the mist. But one thing was for sure, it was a rampaging Pokemon that was attacking out of anger.
Boldore could use Power Gem, but not Galvantula. Or even Drilbur. In Volo's point of view, he saw Drilbur use Aerial Ace, which was also seen by Sunset and her friends. Pokemon that shouldn't be able to use Aerial Ace were all using it even though it was the same being.
Thus, they were greatly confused, because they had no idea what was coming their way. From one point of view, it looked like Ferroseed was tossing its small body towards them, but from another, Galvantua was swinging a web that had the power of Aerial Ace behind it.
Because of this lack of understanding of what they were facing, the best thing to do was just avoid it to the best of their abilities. However, this also caused all of them to move in different directions based on what they saw, causing even more problems.
All the girls bumped into each other, crashing and smashing their heads. Funnily enough, this actually allowed them to avoid the incoming attack since they all fell over at the same time. Volo was standing still as the attack passed by him. He saw the energy of Aerial Ace fly by, slashing a part of a tree.
"Oooh...Why'd you run into me?!" Rainbow Dash barked when standing up.
"The attack was coming this way. Didn't ya see the web?!" Applejack replied. Right on time, something touched the back of her body. It was indeed that very web she saw, coming from Galvantula's mouth.
The farmer gasped as she was being pulled back by Galvantula's web, but her friends saw something else entirely. They saw Drilbur emerge from the ground, pulling her away. Ferroseed, for its small size, managed to summon vines from its body to pull Applejack away.
"Applejack!"
"Not even these goggles can see past this." Volo took off his goggles as they were rather pointless. While they helped against the mist, they couldn't make out which Pokemon was actually visible.
"You let her go! Whichever Pokemon you are!" Acting quickly was Sunset Shimmer, who launched her Poke Ball forward. Emerging from it was Litleo.
"Litleo!"
"Litleo! Use Flamethrower!"
"Lit...Leo!" From his mouth, Litleo unleashed a scarlet stream. It didn't matter what Pokemon was attacking them. All they knew was that they couldn't allow it to continue and harm Applejack in any way. The scarlet flames flew over Applejack, making sure they didn't hit her.
But that was the problem. Because the size was so inconsistent with Galvantula being the biggest, the flames would fly over Ferroseed and Drillbur and their short size.
"I missed?!" Sunset Shimmer was stunned. How could she miss? Surely, the Galvantula part would've been hit thanks to its size but even that was a failure. Sunset just couldn't understand. In response, what appeared to be Power Gem yet again was unleashed by the Pokemon. At least that attack wasn't difficult to view since it all it took was the Pokemon to summon sparkling gemstones and shoot them forward.
Litleo would run around the stones, narrowly avoiding them and preventing any super-effective damage.
"I see what it is now!" Volo finally saw what the problem was. He knew why they were all seeing someone differently. "The mist is making it so that all these Pokemon are attacking in perfect unity. Quite literally. It's forcing you all to see another Pokemon as they're all in one instead of being seperate."
"So it really is just one Pokemon! They fused?!" They at least knew the truth. It was only one Pokemon which is why they were all facing one attack and not multiple different attacks.
"Does it matter! Just stop 'em!" Applejack bellowed. She could care less about which Pokemon it was as long as it was stopped. Right before she could say anything else, the web of Galvantula would wrap around her mouth. "Mmm! Mmmrgh!"
"That makes it easy then. Flamethrower!" For Sunset Shimmer, she at least knew that it was only one Pokemon that she could target.
"Leo!" Another Flamethrower was unleashed which was then fought back by a Power Gem from the Mist-Powered Pokemon. The flames and stones clashed, meeting in the middle. The clash would end with Litleo's Flamethrower managing to power through.
Litleo was hoping to land the attack this time, but he missed yet again. Flamethrower, while strong, wasn't the most efficient right now. Pokemon such as Galvantula and Ferroseed were sitting pretty not needing to worry about the attack.
In response, after placing Applejack on the back of Galvantula, the confusing Pokemon would then use Flash Cannon, which obviously came from Ferroseed. After being exempt from having the Flamethrower hit it, a silver light would fly out, tearing through the grass. The Fire-Type gasped as he was struck by the swift beam of light, taking the first hit in this battle.
"L-Lit!" Litleo cried out as he was sent flying from that single Flash Cannon. The power behind it was also estranged. It hit hard, even against a Fire-Type such as Litleo.
"I've got a Pokemon of my own. And she can get in close without a doubt! Go Staraptor!" The Human Rainbow Dash had her Staraptor to count on, summoning the Predator Pokemon.
"Staraptor!"
"The key's obviously getting up close and personal, duh?" Rainbow Dash had her own approach to taking on this opponent. If long-ranged attacks won't do, then close-ranged attacks might be the trick. "Go, Staraptor! Use Aerial Ace!"
"Staaaar!" Along came Staraptor, flying at high speeds and covering her wings in a brilliant light. However, even Staraptor wouldn't have an easy time. In her eyes, she saw a Tynamo. One of the smallest Pokemon out there. But the size of this next attack wasn't so small as the Pokemon would unleash a Discharge.
A fierce flare of lightning flew all over the place, shocking Staraptor and preventing her from getting close. "S-Star!" Taking the super-effective blow, Starapor cried out as she started falling, her body already paralyzed.
"No way!" Rainbow Dash bellowed.
"Quick, Litleo! Use Thunder Fang!"
"Leo!" Litleo would run past Staraptor while she fell, deciding to get up close as well, surrounding his adorable fangs with a fierce spark of lightning of his own. Leaping into the air, Litleo came crashing down, only to be blocked by the claw of Drilbur. To his shock, his attack did nothing. Not that did it low damage, but that it had no effect. "Lit?!"
"You're serious...It has an immunity because of the Drilbur part?!" It just kept getting worse for Sunset Shimmer. This Pokemon also carried Type Adavtages and the Drilbur part was immune despite it appearing as a multiple Pokemon. She couldn't understand how this Mist worked. Not one bit.
The Pokemon would then toss Litleo away, causing him to roll on the ground. As he and Staraptor were getting back up, Sunset Shimmer and Rainbow Dash struggled to figure out the best way to defeat such a rampaging force. It wasn't that it was highly destructive compared to most rampaging Pokemon, but that it was so tricky and hard to predict.
"It's probably deciding on what form to use." But Volo saw it immediately. "Your Electric-Type attacks won't do a thing to it. Your best option is to use Fire or focus on Flying-Type attacks considering which Pokemon it appears as.
"I wish I had my own Pokemon..." Pinkie Pie teared up as she had no Pokemon to battle with. Even with all of this time, a majority of the people back at the Human World had no Pokemon by their side. They were very much behind. That goes for Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy.
While the duo faced the Amalgamation of Pokémon, it continued its relentless assault, alternating between different attacks based on the Pokemon it projected. The inconsistency in size and moves made it challenging for Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer to land the most efficient hit possible.
More webs would fly in, this time, they multiplied instead of appearing as only one. The Pokemon was now targeting all of the girls, wanting to restrain them. Applejack would try and call out which directions the web were coming from, but her mouth was still sealed.
No one knew where to go, yet again. They already had trouble with just one web. Multiple just made things harder. Stunned and confused, the webs from all these inconsistent angles and directions would latch onto them. At least they knew which part the webs were latching onto.
"Unhand me!" Rarity screeched at the top of her lungs, aggressively shaking her arm to try and force the web off. "It's so cold and silky!"
"Darn it! This isn't fair!" Rainbow Dash would complain as her neck had been caught by the web which would start wrapping around her mouth. "Mmm?!" All of their faces were being targeted mainly. The webs would rise to the top, targeting their eyes and mouths to keep them from retaliating in any way.
"Litleo...! Flamethrower!" Sunset Shimmer managed to get some words out before her face was covered.
"Leo!" Thankfully, Litleo had the perfect answer. With all of his might, he would breathe a strong stream of flames that would meet with the webs. He burned them down, freeing everyone from the webs. The girls all gasped for air after being freed, some of them got on their knees.
But this rampage wasn't over yet. The Boldore part of her would begin charging up an obscene amount of Infinity Energy. They didn't have time to collect their thoughts as the energy was building up around the Pokemon.
"What is that?!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "What now?!"
"It looks like Self-Destruct." Volo observed. "But why would it go for that if it has the advantage? Unless..." Volo was trying to make sense of this decision. It hit him. This Pokemon, while in a rampaging state, was rather clever in its choices as seen during this entire battle.
"Mmm?!" Poor Applejack was stuck and unable to move. She was the closest to the incoming attack and might be a victim of Self-Destruct.
"Get her, Staraptor! Move in!"
"Star!" Staraptor would take off, focusing on saving Applejack. She at least had time to come to her rescue while the Ferroseed part was building up energy. Staraptor held out her talons, grabbing onto the back of Applejack and swooping in at the very last second.
The Pokemon would unleash a great blaze of Infinity Energy with the intention to destroy whatever it could around it. The girls and Volo were already on the run while Staraptor carried Applejack through the air.
They managed to get to a safe distance as the explosion went off. The nearby trees and flowers would be obliterated. They all covered their ears and eyes when this explosion went off, feeling the intense wind pressure nearby. Staraptor nearly lost her balance while carrying Applejack thanks to the pressure, but she managed to hold on even with the paralysis.
They opened their eyes to see what looked to be a hopeful sight at first. Ferroseed had fainted, using that very attack. That much was still natural as the view of Ferroseed dropping was a good one. But it was all crushed once they saw that Galvantua and the others were still there.
"But it should've fainted! Why?!" Sunset Shimmer bellowed.
"Just like how it chooses which type to use, it probably decided which Pokemon has to go," Volo explained. "This mist has made these Pokemon a bit twisted. I'm not even sure they're rampaging right now..."
"Okay...Maybe leaving here is still on the table?" Rarity pleaded, wanting out of this mess. "Clearly, there aren't any shards here and maybe we should just leave them to their own devices.
"If we leave them alone, they might not stop here." But Sunset Shimmer wasn't about to stop here. "These are Pokemon that are found in Chargestone Cave, so they're not from here. Just like how the Pokemon here had their home affected, I'm guessing these Pokemon are just as upset, if not more.
Fluttershy, ever the empathetic one, tried a different approach after Sunset Shimmer's words. "Wait, maybe we can communicate with it. They might be upset because of what happened to their home in Chargestone Cave. Maybe their just scared and lashing out."
"Mmm...That's certainly not it." Volo begged to differ. If that was the case, the other Pokemon that originally lived here would lash out, but this was clearly the work of the mist. "But go on."
As Fluttershy attempted to approach the Illusionist Pokémon with a calming demeanour, Sunset Shimmer and her friends prepared for another round of attacks. However, they hesitated, intrigued by Fluttershy's attempt at diplomacy.
The Amalgamation of Pokémon, seeing Fluttershy's gentle approach, seemed to pause for a moment. Its illusions wavered, revealing a conflicted expression on its face. The conflicting emotions echoed through its illusions, mirroring the internal struggle it was facing. Obviously, the Pokemon didn't wish to do this, but it was the mist that was making things harder for them.
"Is she really doing it? That easily..." Pinkie Pie's jaw dropped when observing the momentary pause.
Just as the group thought they might have made a connection, a powerful surge of dark energy emanated from the Illusionist Pokémon. The mist around it thickened, and a distorted roar echoed through the forest. The Amalgamtion Pokémon roared, pushing Fluttershy away.
"I guess diplomacy's off the table," Rainbow Dash muttered.
"But...I thought..." Fluttershy stumbled back after being caught by Rainbow Dash. "My counterpart is an expert at this from what I hear...Why can't I do the same?"
"Well, the answer to this problem is clear." Volo would step forward. "Ferroseed went down of its own volition. We just have to defeat the rest of them. But you all aren't strong enough."
"Not strong enough?!" Sunset and Rainbow would collectively yell. "We don't know what we're going up against, that's all."
"But I do." Volo, confident in his skills, would hold out his own Pokemon. He would take on the strange Pokemon on his lonesome, seeing the rest of them as a burden at the moment. From his Poke Ball, he summoned his Togetic.
"Togetic!"
"It switches its type based on who it's facing. But because it decided to take Ferroseed out of the equation, that means the best type against it is Flying, but it still has Electric on its side." Volo spoke, observing all the opportunities and obstacles. "But even still, Flying will get the job done better than any type at the moment."
"So then...can you stop it?" Rarity asked.
"Oh, yes I can. All that matters is that I can hit every single one of them. And I won't miss. Togetic, use Dazzling Gleam!" Volo's Togetic faced off against the strange Pokémon, ready to engage in a battle of wits and strength, but mainly wits.
"Toge!" Togetic started off by unleashing rainbow rays from above, appearing in numbers plentiful enough for this Pokemon. The Mist-Powered Pokémon retaliated with a mix of attacks, constantly shifting between the appearances of various Pokémon. Togetic, however, could pierce through the illusions with its innate Fairy Aura. The rays came crashing down, meeting with the Pokemon and their many appearances.
The result was only one of them taking a hard hit and that ended up being Drilbur. It was used as a shield for the rest of the rays, flying back. Afterwards, the Galvantula part would use Power Gem, sending those sparkling gemstones forward.
"Not enough damage. Cut through with Air Slash!"
"Togetic!" In response, Togetic released a barrage of sharp blades of air which would cut through the wind itself. And even the gemstones. The rocks of Power Gem were sliced through by the blades, reaching the opposing Pokemon. Quickly, it used one of its Pokemon to take the hit yet again and in this case, it was Boldore, who could resist the Air Slash.
And yet, the attack was still strong to push them back. Just then, they would reveal another Pokemon that was living in Chargestone Cave which was an Alakazam. Upon appearing, it would use its own sharp attack in the form of Psycho Cut.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Getic!" Togetic soared through the air, avoiding the tearing blades of Psychic Energy while also approaching the Strange Pokemon with rainbow rays from above.
As the battle unfolded, Volo demonstrated a deep understanding of Pokémon battles, countering the Illusionist Pokémon's moves effectively. He anticipated the illusions and focused on the real form hidden behind them. The clash of energies between Togetic and the Illusionist Pokémon created an intense atmosphere in the misty forest.
The girls watched the battle unfold, realizing that Volo's experience and expertise were crucial in this situation. He was very much above Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer in terms of skill. The Mist-Powered Pokémon, sensing the formidable challenge from Volo and Togetic, intensified its attacks. Various attacks, illusions, and unpredictable movements filled the air. Volo remained focused, his expressions shifting with the dynamics of the battle.
With each exchange, the mist seemed to react, almost as if it responded to the clash of powers between Togetic and the Illusionist Pokémon. The intricate dance between illusion and reality continued, creating a spectacle in the heart of the mysterious forest.
As the battle reached a critical moment, the Mist-Powered Pokémon unleashed a particularly potent Discharge, creating an electrifying vortex in the mist.
"Is that it? Dazzling Gleam!" Volo and Togetic responded with determination, pushing back against the surging power. The flash of Fairy Magic in the form of a body sphere would push the electricity away.
"I believe this is the end. Ancient Power!"
"Togetic!" Togetic's body illuminated a beautiful white as multiple fossilized rocks were ripped from the earth below, uppercutting the Pokemon. Since it was briefly using Galvantula for the Discharge, the Ancient Power was super-effective. But Volo wanted to take down all of the Pokemon, not just one.
The rocks would rapidly fly out of the ground, swarming the Pokemon on every side. Galvantual, Tynamo, Alakazam and Drilbur were being absolutely battered. It was non-stop as Volo stood there with an unchanging smile.
"Not yet. Can't be too careful with these rampaging types." Volo wagged as his finger as he wasn't letting Togetic stop until all of them were down. All these hits which were non-stop finally did the trick. The Pokemon had no proper response to this. No way to block, no way to dodge. Not even with Tynamo's small size.
And just like that, it had fainted. Upon fainting, the Pokemon that it took the form of would become separate once more. All of them fell to the ground, finally being their own individual beings. The rubble of the rocks would drop as everything went silent for a moment upon this defeat.
In response to this defeat, the mist was opening up. The erratic energy didn't take kindly to this loss it seems. With the mist opening a hole to show the clearer sights of this forest, it would let out an eerie howl.
"Well now..." Volo narrowed his eyes. This was an unexpected outcome. They watched as the open hole all of the mist would unleash one more effect that had yet to reveal itself until now.
As the mist receded, revealing the clearer sights of the forest, a mysterious energy pulsated through the air. The eerie howl echoed, and the surroundings seemed to respond to the defeat of the Illusionist Pokémon. It sounded as if this forest was about to burst.
But while the girls were fearful of the potential destruction, immediately running for the hills, Volo, would follow them, albeit slowly, had something else in his mind. The merchant had a feeling that the forest was about to reveal something else.
They exited from the forest, gauging their distance as they would soon see what became of it. Right before their eyes, the forest would vanish. In a brilliant flash of Infinity Energy, the forest would be enveloped in a light. And just like that, it was gone.
Not a trace.
"W-Where did it go? It just vanished..." A stunned Rainbow Dash commented. All that was left was ground. Nothing else.
"An entire forest, gone. Just like that..." Sunset Shimmer gawked.
Volo, on the other hand, remained remarkably composed, his gaze fixed on the spot where the forest once stood. There was a calculating expression on his face as if he had anticipated this turn of events. "There isn't a trace of it. I'm not sure if it was obliterated or it went elsewhere."
"So...Everywhere else in the world. Will everyone have to deal with this?" Pinkie Pie gulped, thinking about the terrifying implications. Just like what Volo said before, everywhere else might have to go through a similar experience or something entirely different that was unexpected.
One thing was for sure, the world may not be the same anymore after what Daybreaker and Gardevoir have done. It wasn't just a random attack on one part of the world, but a disruption of this new world's natural order. An order that hasn't yet been fully established, especially with the involvement of Dragon Matter.
Unova. Mistralton City. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
Back to Unova once more. After passing through the gateway made by Lucas, Ash and Sci-Twi found themselves in this region yet again. No one else other than Sunset Shimmer's group was aware of an entire forest just disappearing in a brilliant flash.
That was merely an example of what Daybreaker and Gardevoir have caused. During a time when Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter are trying to adjust themselves to this world, the balance of Mega Evolution and by extension, Infinity Energy has been greatly disrupted. The New World was facing a bit of a crisis and not even the usual guardians from each respective region could sort it out immediately.
At Mistralton City, a city that is known for having a cool climate and is subject to rain during the spring, autumn and even summer, it was completely fine.
"So...What do you think, Professor Oak?" Sci-Twi said when trying to reunite with her friends. Mistralton City was close to Chargestone Cave at that forest that had suddenly vanished. On her phone, she was currently speaking with Professor Oak, who was obviously caught up to date.
"I would say it's nothing to worry about, but..." Professor Oak would speak. "From what I've heard, Mega Evolution's balance never gets upset. For the most part, Mega Evolution, no matter who uses it, always stays the same and never fluctuates. This is a first."
"Celestia said she knows that it's Daybreaker," Ash added. "Something like this never happened with Rainbow Dash or Celestia. I don't think a lot's happened with the Harmony Phenomenon when I think about it."
"Maybe it's because Daybreaker doesn't come from this world? Oh, but Gardevoir does..." Sci-Twi theorized but couldn't quite figure it out. "I don't come from this world, technically!"
"Ah, you don't have to worry about a thing, Twi. You're not gonna mess up the world or anything." Ash would reassure Twilight, even with the existence of Twilight Luminaria and Midnight Sparkle.
"Easy for you to say..." Sci-Twi simply grumbled afterwards. "After what I saw. And what about you and Prisma? Isn't that world-changing?"
"Mmm...Good point." Ash nodded in agreement. Both of them were technically holding something destructive. More-so Ash.
"Now, they should be somewhere around here. Unless they've gone elsewhere. I can just call them and-" Right before Sci-Twi could make a call, something was felt nearby. It wasn't the result of the power surge from before showing the rest of its effects. Those who had no idea what it was would immediately get inside, fearing that everything around them might collapse or aggressively tremble again. "Is it another one?! Already?!"
"Is everything okay over there?" Professor Oak asked. Everything was completely fine for him over at Pallet Town. It was only near Mistralton City and it wasn't even causing that much of a ruckus. Nothing looked like it was about to collapse or anything of the sort. Judging by the direction, it was coming from the nearby seas of Unova.
"Oh, I know this!" Immediately, Ash was fully aware. By looking in the distance, he and everyone at Mistralton City would bear witness to the emergence of the Sea Temple, Samiya. Samiya rose majestically from the depths of the ocean, its ancient architecture and mystical aura capturing the attention of everyone in Mistralton City. The sight of the temple emerging brought a sense of relief to Ash and Sci-Twi, knowing that this wasn't a significant event tied to the balance of the New World. Even though it technically was "Sweet! Samiya's here!"
"Pikachu!"
"So that's the Sea Temple." Professor Oak was shown the temple through his phone, witnessing it for the first time. Elsewhere in Mistralton City, Sunset Shimmer and her friends saw it as well. They were here too, as well as the Merchant from the Past, Volo. They laid their eyes on the Sea Temple for the very first time after only hearing about it.
Excitement and awe filled the air as Mistralton City's residents and visitors marvelled at the sight of Samiya. The Sea Temple's emergence was met with gasps of amazement and whispers of wonder. The Pokemon in the vicinity seemed to sense the significance of the moment, with some displaying joyful cries.
"This is incredible!" Sunset exclaimed, her friends nodding in agreement. "I never thought I'd witness something like this."
"It soothes the soul after what we just witnessed." The Human Counterpart of Rarity smiled.
"Isn't that the thing Ash is the King of?" Rainbow Dash questioned. She recalled that Ash Ketchum is apparently the King of the Sea, but she has only heard about it. Only Sunset Shimmer could confirm it. "Lucky...He gets to command that thing?!"
"But what's it doing here?" Fluttershy asked.
Volo observed the Sea Temple with a contemplative expression. It seemed that even someone with his extensive experience found the sight of Samiya to be a rare and extraordinary occurrence. He had just experienced something intriguing over at that forest that was now gone and now this has come up.
The Sea Temple definitely predates him by many centuries and not even he has heard about it. But looking at it, he already knew it was of great significance. This whole world was highly significant for him.
The Sea Temple Samiya.
The People of the Water were definitely here for Ash. After arriving at Unova, the guards of the Sea Temple stood outside, knowing that their king would come. And indeed he did. Ash could be seen running over at full speed with Pikachu, elated to see them again.
The guards greeted Ash with deep respect and admiration upon his arrival, always having a good chunk of hope in them. The citizens inside the Sea Temple would look through the holes and windows, waving at their king.
"Ah! Your majesty!" One of the guards exclaimed, a mixture of joy and reverence in their tone.
"Hey guys!" Ash came to a screeching halt. "Is everything alright?"
"We're glad to have met you so soon. It's of the utmost urgency, your majesty." The guards spoke.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. Everyone felt it. Well, I was kinda asleep with Pikachu so I didn't..." Ash was already caught up to speed, but he was sure the Sea Temple had more to offer.
"Pikachu..." Pikachu giggled.
"Slow down, Ash!" Sci-Twi could barely keep up with the speeding Ash Ketchum. She would breathe in and out after catching up at last.
"Royal Advisor Alo is waiting for you inside, Your Majesty. He says that there's been a great upset in the power of Mega Evolution. The seas were trembling and practically out of control for us. Even the power of the crystals couldn't guarantee a perfect balance."
"Woah man...Even the crystals?" That came as a shock to Ash. The Sea Temple Crystals did manage to save the temple from destruction but it wasn't as easy as it should have been.
"Hmm...Get a good view of the temple, Twilight." Oak pleaded, wanting to look at the temple some more. This was the closest he'd be right now. Ash would approach, here for his subjects. While Ash isn't exactly an expert when it comes to these situations, he would be there for his friends regardless. Plus, his actions do speak louder than words when the world is facing an issue.
"I don't believe it...he really is the King of the Sea." Peeking from behind a row of trees were Sunset Shimmer and her friends. Sunset Shimmer, having known about Ash's connection to the Sea Temple, couldn't help but smile at her friends' reactions.
"I told you." Sunset grinned at her friends. "Ash has a way of getting involved in the most incredible things. I guess you could say he earned his title."
Rainbow Dash, still processing the information, shook her head in disbelief. "King of the Sea? Seriously? That's so... cool. I mean, I'm not all about the sea, but still."
"I didn't even know you could become a king without being born into it," Fluttershy whispered.
"Does that mean I could be a Queen?!" Immediately, ideas swirled in Pinkie Pie's vast chamber that was her brain. She imagined what kind of Queen she would be and what she would rule. Food came to mind immediately.
Pinkie Pie grinned and bounced with excitement. "Imagine the parties and celebrations we could have! How do I become a Queen? How'd you say he became King again, Sunset?"
"Do you realize what this means?" At that moment, with a sparkle in her eyes, Rarity saw a golden opportunity. "Having a friend who is a king opens up numerous possibilities. We could have exclusive royal...anything! All the reputation in the world. What's bigger than the sea?!"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes playfully. "You guys are getting ahead of yourselves. I bet Ash isn't even thinking about all this royalty stuff. He's too busy focusing on what just happened recently."
"Do you think we're allowed inside? I mean, we're his friends so..." Pinkie Pie questioned.
"I know your Equestrian Counterparts are allowed in, but not sure how they'd react to you..." Sunset observed when seeing Sci-Twi enter the Sea Temple.
"We can hear you!" Alas, it took one of the guards to call out to them from the distance.
"Eeek!" The girls would yelp as they had been spotted. So much for concealing themselves. They slid out of the trees, minus Volo, who was nowhere to be seen. It took Sunset Shimmer just now to realize that Volo was absent at the moment.
"Uh! W-We were just..." Sunset was frantically trying to explain herself.
"Have no need. Your faces are too familiar and we've been made aware of counterparts. You may enter." Thankfully, there was no need for explanations or excuses. The guards of the Sea Temple were well aware of Ash's friend group. Apart from just resembling their Equestrian Counterparts, Ash speaks about his friends a lot, including these six.
"Whew...." The group exchanged glances, and with a collective breath, they stepped inside the Sea Temple. It would be their first time experiencing the Sea Temple, especially at its fullest.
The Tranquill Gardens.
A serene and lush area within the temple grounds, adorned with vibrant marine flora and intricately designed pathways. The Tranquil Gardens serve as a place for meditation, reflection, and a connection to the natural beauty of the sea. A central koi pond reflects the temple's towering spires, creating a peaceful atmosphere for both residents and visitors. And there, Alo stood with his bushy beard still wet from last night's turbulent experience.
"We're here, Alo! Everything okay?" Ash asked.
"Glad you could make it, your majesty." Alo appeared before his King. And standing next to Alo was Donoma. The Sea Temple's Seer with her crystal ball at the ready. Naturally, she already saw something like this happening.
"Just in time too. The crystals are currently gathering their strength after they were used to save us." Donoma explained. "I am a bit worried that they're losing steam recently."
"That aggressive feeling from last night has died down...but it's left quite the impact on the world. Never before has there been such an upset in the balance."
"That's because of Daybreaker and Gardevoir. That's who Celestia's guessing is behind this." Ash answered. "It's not just Mega Evolution but the Harmony Phenomenon. Celestia and Passion use it and never did anything like that."
"Is that it? The Harmony Phenomenon is involved?" Even Alo didn't know about this. "Well, it's all new to me as well. I only know about Mega Evolution. Do you perhaps know how it happened?"
"Nah. I wasn't there. No one was. It just happened out of nowhere but...I was totally asleep." Ash laughed. "But you came to me because I'm guessing you know how to fix it."
"You could say that. There is a first for everything, your majesty. The Sea Temple isn't known for Mega Evolution, but it's delved into it in the past. But this kind of Mega Evolution is different from the rest."
"What makes it so different though?" Sci-Twi asked as it wasn't clicking. "Is it because Daybreaker's not from this world? That can't be it."
"It's not that. Mega Evolution transcends worlds. No matter when or were, its power can be used." Alo shook his head. "It's the method on how it was unleashed."
"Mega Evolution requires a powerful bond between a Trainer and Pokemon. That happened, but there's more. The way it was obtained was seemingly unexpected." Donoma held out her crystal ball. "I couldn't see where it came from, but I was at least able to make out what caused it. This Daybreaker character must have created a Mega Stone."
"Created a Mega Stone? By herself?" Ash said as he and Sci-Twi leaned forward to see the projection of Donoma's vision. In the ball, they saw the image of Daybreaker and Gardevoir manifesting a Mega Stone and Gardevoirite out of thin air, creating a new one.
"Mmm. Not with her own hooves. It is a manifested Mega Stone." Alo explained. "Mega Stones are not known for manifesting but there is one known way they can appear. The way to manifest them is to tackle your greatest flaws, fears and insecurities. But for someone like Daybreaker, it should have been impossible."
"How impossible are we talking?" Sci-Twi questioned.
"It's said that those who have a dark heart can never manifest one. That's how it should be. If you are not pure of heart, the Mega Stone will not manifest and yet...she pulled it off." Donoma shook her head.
"It should have ignored her entirely. Daybreaker single-handedly broke a rule in the natural order, which was a major contribution to the disturbance we all felt.
"Hmmm...Yeah, I can see why." Ash wasn't all that surprised. While he was shocked to learn that a Mega Stone could be manifested, albeit in a specific area, Daybreaker overcoming her flaws and fears didn't come as a surprise. Not after learning about her past.
"Goodness, your majesty. You already know?" Alo was rather shocked.
"Daybreaker's still Celestia. Both of them are pretty strong-willed." Ash explained. "But as for Gardevoir...she must've gotten a huge pep talk to pull it off with her."
"Pika..."
Sci-Twi, intrigued by the information, pondered aloud, "So, they manifested a Mega Stone like that? That's...remarkable. What about the ray of light? Did you see or hear about that?"
"We did. The ray of light that struck a part of the world will bring other consequences, but they won't matter to Daybreaker because this isn't her universe. Your majesty. We ask that you help us maintain the world's balance before something like this happens again. If that power is unleashed once more, it might spiral out of control."
"You got it!" Ash pumped his fist. "I'm here to help. I don't wanna see this new world we all made just fall apart."
"Pikachu!"
"Excellent. We managed to maintain the balance of the seas, but it expended a plethora of the crystals' power. On top of that, it seems that Kyogre is currently on the move to correct things, but we don't think it can do it on its own." Alo grumbled while stroking his beard.
"I thought those things had infinite power," Sci-Twi replied.
"They have heaps of it. Almost limitless. But even they had their limits, even though their potential is boundless." Donoma explained. "Recently though, they've been struggling. It's because of this new world and how it's trying to adjust itself to everything. That's where the issue of Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter comes in."
"Oh, you heard about it too?" said Ash. The Sea Temple Residents were already caught up with that it seems.
"Mhm. The universe has not yet finished adjusting itself to welcome these new forms of matter. So when that Mega Evolution occurred, it disrupted the process and the impossible manifestation just worsened things. But if we can use the crystals, we could put an end to the current level of damage, until the next one potentially shows up."
"Are you sure they're ready?" But Ash had to be 100% sure.
"Well..." Alo looked down. "Not really. They haven't recovered properly since last night. And because of the imbalance, the crystals, for the first time in their existence, are struggling. Come and see, your majesty." Alo would lead them to the chamber where the crystals were resting. Ash and Sci-Twi followed Advisor Alo with a sense of concern etched on his face. The well-being of the crystals was crucial as they were currently the best thing to use during this moment.
As Sunset Shimmer and her friends explored the Sea Temple, they couldn't help but be mesmerized by its grandeur. The Tranquil Gardens, with its vibrant marine flora and reflective koi pond, captivated Rarity's artistic eye.
"Oh, the inspiration! I can already envision a fabulous fashion collection inspired by the Sea Temple's aesthetics," Rarity exclaimed, already mentally sketching designs in her mind.
Pinkie Pie, true to her energetic self, bounced around the Tranquil Gardens, taking in the sights. "This place is awesome! I bet we could throw the best underwater party here!"
Rainbow Dash smirked. "I can already imagine racing through these spires. Think they'd let me?"
Fluttershy, who had been quietly admiring the marine life in the koi pond, nodded in agreement. "Yes, let's make sure we do everything we can to help."
The group continued their exploration, taking in the beauty of the Sea Temple while keeping in mind the critical issue that they themselves experiencence rather recently.
Rarity found herself in one of the many areas of the Sea Temple. The Hall of Coral Arts.
A grand hall dedicated to the skilled Coral Artisans, showcasing their masterpieces of coral-stone carvings and sculptures. The Hall of Coral Arts serves as both a gallery and a workshop, allowing visitors to appreciate the craftsmanship and creativity that brings the sea-inspired art to life.
Rarity, with her eyes sparkling with inspiration, entered the Hall of Coral Arts. The grandeur of the hall left her breathless as she took in the intricate coral-stone carvings and sculptures that adorned the space.
"Oh, darling, this is absolutely divine!" Rarity exclaimed, marvelling at the craftsmanship displayed in each piece. She moved from one masterpiece to another, her fingers lightly tracing the delicate details of the coral art.
The sea-inspired sculptures depicted a myriad of aquatic life, capturing the essence of the ocean with an artistic touch. Rarity couldn't help but imagine incorporating these exquisite designs into her future fashion collections.
The workshop area of the hall caught her attention, where skilled Coral Artisans were engaged in creating new pieces. The sound of chisels and hammers resonated in the air, blending with the gentle hum of the Sea Temple's magic.
"I can't believe the level of artistry here. These Coral Artisans truly have a gift," Rarity mused, her mind already buzzing with ideas for her own creations.
As she continued to explore the Hall of Coral Arts, Rarity found herself inspired not only by the art but also by the dedication and passion of the artisans. The Hall of Coral Arts, with its splendour and artistic energy, became yet another chapter in the exploration of the ancient wonders that awaited in this magical realm.
"Rarity? You look different." The Water Weavers, people who can expertly weave Water itself and make clothes and accessories out of them would recognize Rarity. Rarity turned gracefully at the sound of her name, her eyes meeting the gaze of the Water Weavers who had noticed her presence in the Hall of Coral Arts. The resemblance between her and her Equestrian Counterpart did not go unnoticed, and the Water Weavers, with their keen eye for detail, recognized her immediately.
"Back so soon? Here to make new designs with us?" A woman asked, showing off a newly made Water Satchel.
"Oh. No, no, no. I'm not the Rarity you know." But she quickly corrected them. "I'm afraid I'm not the Rarity you know. I come from a different world, but it seems that creativity and a love for fashion are universal traits."
"Really? Are you a lot like your other self?" A man asked.
"You could say that. We're both quite the fashion designers if I do say so myself. And she'd say the same thing too if she were here right now. I suppose creativity knows no bounds across worlds." Rarity flipped her mane.
The Water Weavers exchanged glances, appreciating the connection between Rarity and her Equestrian Counterpart. "I guess it's not all that different. If you have an interest in Water Weaving or coral artistry, we'd be more than happy to share our knowledge with you."
"I am. How are you doing that?" Rarity would walk over, amazed by what she was seeing. "Touching water as if it were solid..."
"Your Equestrian Counterpart asked as practically the same thing. And just like her, we'd be glad to show you." One of the Water Weavers held up a Water-made outfit, dazzling Rartiy's eyes.
Rarity's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, I would be absolutely thrilled!" Practically a repeat of what her counterpart went through, Rarity was about to find a new hobby. One that can only be done here at the Sea Temple.
Luminsea Halls.
Sunset Shimmer found herself exploring a part of the temple known as the Luminesea Halls. A breathtaking hall illuminated by the soft glow of bioluminescent organisms. The Luminescent Hall served as a venue for artistic performances, storytelling, and gatherings. The walls are adorned with murals depicting ancient sea myths, and the floor is made of translucent tiles that shimmer like moonlit waves, possibly creating an enchanting ambience for events and celebrations.
Sunset Shimmer stepped into the Luminesea Halls, and the sight that greeted her was nothing short of enchanting. The soft glow of bioluminescent organisms bathed the hall in a gentle radiance, casting an ethereal light that danced across the translucent tiles beneath her feet.
The murals on the walls told tales of ancient sea myths that happened here in the Sea Temple or were involved with it, each stroke of the artist's brush capturing the essence of the underwater stories. Sunset couldn't help but be captivated by the artistic beauty surrounding her.
"Wooo..." Sunset wooed, gazing at the intricate details of the murals. She even got to see an artistic depiction of when Ash saved the Sea Temple from the Phantom Pirates. They stylized his appearance as well as Phantom's. As Sunset continued to explore, she noticed a gathering area where sea-inspired instruments were arranged.
Just then, she met with Enola. The spirited and curious young girl who calls the Sea Temple Samiya her home. "Hey there! She suddenly appeared from above, hanging upside down and startling Sunset Shimmer who would screech. You're new around here, aren't you?" Enola greeted, her voice filled with youthful energy.
"Y-Yeah. I'm here with my friends." Sunset Shimmer said after being startled.
"Hmm...Are you one of King Ash's friends?" Enola would drop from the platform above as if it was nothing. "You look...weird."
Sunset Shimmer, recovering from the surprise, laughed nervously. "Uh, yes, I am one of Ash's friends. But weird? How do I look weird?"
Enola tilted her head, studying Sunset Shimmer with curiosity. "You look like you should be a pony but there's something off about the way you look. Do you have magic?"
"But I am a pony. Biologically. I was born in Equestria. I just decided to live in another world as a human." Sunset Shimmer explained.
"Cool. But any magic?" Enola wiggled her eyebrows, wanting to see some magic from Sunset Shimmer.
"Well...not really. I can't easily do it as a human compared to when I'm a pony. It usually shows up when I start singing."
"Singing? You're in the right place, lady!" Enola would slap Sunset Shimmer's leg, making her wince. She had quite the strength on her for a child.
"Ow..."
"We have our own songs. Not many hear them since we've been missing for centuries but we have our own. You're in the Luminesea Hall right now!" Enola bellowed as her voice echoed throughout the hall.
Sunset Shimmer, rubbing her leg where Enola playfully slapped her, couldn't help but chuckle at the girl's exuberance. "Well, I suppose I'm in the right place then. But maybe later. Right now, there's something important I need to focus on here."
"Hoh...Excuses, excuses." Enola wagged her finger. "Maybe that look of yours is all for show. I bet you can't actually do any magic."
"What?!" Sunset Shimmer's competitive spirit ignited. "Excuses? I'll have you know that I can perform incredible magic if I wanted to. Easily. I just can't."
"You can't...but I can." Enola would put on a wide grin, raising a finger. She could actually generate her own magic casually. From her fingertip, she generated the same light that the Sea Temple Crystals let out. The unexpected display left Sunset momentarily speechless while also affecting her vision.
"Ough!" Sunset flinched as her vision was obstructed by the light. "Well, well, looks like I'm not the only one with tricks up their sleeve..." Sunset commented, a playful smile returning to her face.
Enola chuckled, lowering her hand. "Told you. The Sea Temple has its ways of sharing magic with us. We're a special bunch here. It's not just our crystals."
Sunset couldn't help but be impressed by Enola's natural ability. "You're this young and you can do that? But is it just a light show?"
"Nuh-uh. If I wanted to, I could cook something with this light!" Enola expressed. "I think. Stuff like this is usually used for the crystals or even making a new one. So, what are you really here for if you're his majesty's friend?"
"Well...You probably know by now. And I guess it isn't my business to get involved but...we Equestrians can't help ourselves." Sunset Shimmer shrugged. Enola was well aware of what Sunset Shimmer was talking about. Everyone in the world was on the same page after all.
Instead of heading to where the crystals were, Ash and Sci-Twi were following Alo and Donoma to another section of the Temple, going down some stairs. A rather long pair too. "Alo. This isn't the way to the Sea Crown. Where are we going?"
"Pika-Pika?"
"Apologies, your majesty. But there is something you have to see first. Donoma foresaw something else inside of her Crystal Ball that might be coming into fruition now that you are here."
"Right. This is new to even us, Your Majesty. Right as the seas throw into turmoil because of Daybreaker and the crystals were used to temper it all, I foresaw someone appearing here at the Sea Temple. But it isn't someone I or any recognize." Donoma explained.
Ash and Sci-Twi exchanged curious glances as they followed Alo and Donoma down the long staircase within the Sea Temple. The anticipation of what they were about to witness fueled their curiosity, and Ash couldn't help but wonder about the unknown element that Donoma had foreseen. And it could only be fully realized once Ash showed up.
As they descended into a chamber illuminated by the soft glow of crystals, Donoma continued her explanation. "I saw a figure, shrouded in a mystical aura, appearing within the Sea Temple. The energy around them was unlike anything we've encountered before. It's as if they carry a power that resonates with the very essence of the temple itself."
"A mysterious figure?" Sci-Twi mused, trying to process the information. "But if it's not someone you recognize, who could it be? And why are they coming here now?"
"I believe it's someone who has been here this entire time. Perhaps longer than us." said Alo. "We have heard many stories and legends here at our temple but there are some things even we don't know."
Opening a door in this chamber led them to another part of the temple. This place just seemed to keep getting bigger. "This door was not here before." Donoma said. "Once the surge was felt, it showed itself all of a sudden, but we refrained from opening it until we reached you."
When the door opened, they arrived at a hidden sanctuary within the Sea Temple Samiya, bathed in the light of the Sun which fittingly served as a backdrop for an unexpected encounter. King Ash, accompanied by a group of People of the Water, embarked on a pilgrimage to this secluded spot to witness the celestial reflection upon the sea. Little did they know that this ethereal setting would unveil the presence of the temple's elusive guardian, Safia.
As they approached the retreat, the air became heavy with the scent of salt and sea breeze. The moon cast its enchanting light upon the pools, creating a mesmerizing dance of reflections upon the water's surface.
But what truly mattered was what sat at the centre. There sat what appeared to be a pod.
"A pod?" As Ash and Sci-Twi voiced their surprise at the sight of the pod, Alo and Donoma shared a knowing look. It seemed that the unexpected figure in Donoma's visions was directly connected to this mysterious sanctuary within the Sea Temple.
"Oh, so this is it..." Donoma whistled. We've heard stories about there being a strange pod somewhere in the temple but..we never saw it until now."
"But we never know what the pod is for. It could be a Pokemon." Alo theorized. "Yes, that has to be it. Maybe another Manaphy is resting in there?"
As Ash approached the pod, the surface of the water seemed to react to his presence. Ripples spread across the pool, and the pod emitted a soft, otherworldly hum. The atmosphere was charged with a sense of ancient magic, and the air seemed to thicken with anticipation.
At that moment, the pod was starting to open, surprising everyone. It specifically reacted to Ash once he got close to it since he was the King of the Sea. As the pod began to open, revealing its mystical contents, Ash couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement and curiosity and the anticipation among the onlookers grew.
The pod opened slowly, revealing a radiant glow emanating from within. A silhouette started to take shape, and the features of the mysterious figure within became clearer. To everyone's astonishment, the figure that emerged from the pod was not a Pokémon, but a human.
Unova. The Sea Temple Samiya. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
When arriving at the Sea Temple along with his friend Sci-Twi, Ash, Sci-Twi Alo, Donoma and the Pokemon witnessed a secret pod that was hidden deep within the temple. At last, after centuries, the pod opened, revealing a woman who emerged from it.
The being stepped out of the pod, her gaze fixing upon Ash with a sense of recognition. The Sea Temple seemed to resonate with her presence, and the waters continued to ripple in response.
"That's what was inside that pod?!" Donomoa dropped her crystal ball in shock. "Who is that?!"
"No idea. I've never seen her before, but she's clearly Samiyan." Alo observed. No one here has seen this woman before. They only knew about the secret pod hidden somewhere in the Sea Temple.
Ash, still somewhat taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, approached Safia with a mixture of awe and curiosity. The guardian regarded him with a gentle yet knowing expression as if acknowledging the connection to the Sea Temple even if Ash wasn't from here. The sunlight caught the colour of her attire, casting a light but beautiful glow around her.
"Woah...Who are you?" Ash asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.
"Pikachu?" Pikachu's eyes widened.
"A pleasure to meet you, your majesty." She was 100% aware of Ash's presence, knowing that he was the King of the Sea, addressing him formally. "Glad to be awake after so long. My name is Safia."
"Safia?" Alo spoke that name, wondering if it was familiar in some way. "That Safia?!"
"Who's Safia?" Donoma wasn't caught up to speed with such a name. Only Alo, in his old age, knew of that name.
"I hope I'm not forgetting, but it's said that the Sea Temple Samiya was founded by two people who were the parents of a girl by the name of Safia. They were our ancestors and among the First People of the Water.
"I have slumbered within the heart of the Sea Temple for aeons, fulfilling my role as its secret guardian," Safia explained.
"Secret Guardian? Since when?" Alo and Donoma exchanged amazed glances, realizing that the guardian they had only heard about in legends was standing before them in the flesh. Safia turned her gaze towards Ash, her eyes filled with a depth of knowledge that spoke of the ages she had witnessed.
"Oh. I suppose I'm not technically a guardian. More of a caretaker, actually. Even if the Sea Temple itself has been receiving its fair share of protectors and protection."
"You knew who I was just like that?" Ash spoke.
"But of course. It's my duty to do so. Just as it is to know every citizen of Samiya. I'm grateful that you have finally allowed me to awaken after aeons."
"No problem. So, you've just been down here? Protecting the Sea Temple? Oh, did you chime in when I was about to drown?!"
"No. I wasn't involved then. I wasn't even involved in every instance the Sea Temple has been threatened. I've just been slumbering, unable to do anything else. But that can all change now that I have awoken. Command over me is automatically transferred to the Rulers of the Sea. This involves Your Majesty and the Prince of the Sea. Anything you wish will be done without question."
"Really? Well, I don't know about command..." Ash scratched his hair, unsure about the word 'Command'.
"Apologies. His majesty does not see others as beneath him. I'll make sure to correct myself."
"She talks as if she's an android..." Sci-Twi pointed out Safia's way of speaking. There was something robotic.
"Is my way of speaking too odd? Then, should I speak in the modern-day tone?"
"You know about the modern day? Are you sure you were asleep if it's been that long?" Donoma asked.
"Why, yes. I most certainly do. In fact, I can mimic certain ways of modern-day speech." Safia smiled before suddenly mimicking modern-day speech. "Such as Pokemon Speech."
"Awesome! Can you mimic Pikachu's voice then?" Ash would lift Pikachu, who had that constant smile on his face.
"Of course. I can mimic the voices of many Pokemon. But I do have a finite pool. There are some Pokemon I just can't replicate. My magic won't allow it." The way Safia spoke was different. Through their ears, they suddenly processed the sound of a Pikachu. To them, it sounded like someone was just saying the name of a Pikachu, but they perfectly understood it.
"Pika!" Pikachu gasped after his way of peaking was mimicked by Safia. So did Sci-Twi's Alpa Pikachu.
"Woah man..." Ash was stunned. It was an unusual feeling. All he heard was Pika-Pika but he understood it perfectly. Just like how he can easily understand his Pikachu. "Just like that?!"
"What kind of magic do you have for that kind of ability?" Alo asked. "And why were you hidden inside of the pod?"
"I had to rest there. Only until the next King of the Sea appeared could I awaken. But I was able to at least learn about the outside world, but only where the Sea Temple travels."
"Well, if you're awake, then you're gonna be a lot of help, Safia." Ash smiled.
"I have been listening to your conversations from below. I am well aware of the issue you're all facing at the moment. I promise you that my magic will be of great help. I am in tune with the sea and the temple and I can tell you all that Samiya has been taking too much damage as of recently."
"Tell me about it..." Donoma sighed. "On top of that, even the crystals have been suffering. I've never seen them so vulnerable before."
"That's because their tremendous power is being contested by another tremendous power," Safia answered, already knowing why this was the case. "The imbalance that you're all worried about has greatly crippled the crystals and with the universe struggling to properly adjust everything, using their power will be less simple as it usually is."
"If you know that...Do you know how we can fix it? We've never had to repair the crystals before." For once, Alo was the one requesting guidance.
"The answer is right there." Just then, Safia pointed to the answer. Apparently, it was Sci-Twi.
"Me?!" Twilight leaned back as all eyes were on her. According to Safia, she was the answer.
"Ah, but of course! You're wearing the pendant of Arceus!" Alo exclaimed after approaching Sci-Twi with Donoma. "Why didn't I think of this?!"
"It is tied to Arceus, much like our crystals. We might have to go far to repair them!" Donoma grinned.
"Hold on, hold on!" She would frantically hold and wave her arms. "I don't even understand this thing myself! It's strange and I can't even reach Arceus. I don't think I'm the person to handle this. Why not try my counterpart? She has a Z-Crystal that Arceus helped make with her, doesn't she?"
"You needn't worry, Twilight Sparkle." Safia would move, approaching Twilight by hovering off the ground. They watched as Safia could effortlessly hover. "I can sense your worries. Apologies for facing you first."
Safia extended her hand toward Sci-Twi's pendant, her fingertips emitting a gentle glow as she made a connection with the relic. The pendant responded, resonating with Safia's magic in a harmonious dance of energy. The Sea Temple's atmosphere seemed to respond as well, calming as if acknowledging the presence of a powerful force.
"W-What did you do...?" Twilight marvelled at the magic.-
"Twilight Sparkle, you may not fully comprehend the extent of the magic within you, but fear not. Arceus chose you for a reason, and I am here to guide you in unlocking its potential," Safia reassured Sci-Twi, her voice carrying an air of ancient wisdom.
"Technically, it was a witch who chose me but...sure." Sci-Twi nodded, still feeling a bit overwhelmed by the revelation but willing to trust in the guidance of the mysterious guardian. As Safia continued to channel her magic, the pendant emitted a soft glow, and symbols resembling those found in the Sea Temple began to materialize in the air around them.
"Hmm...Not as simple as even I thought. Perhaps I'm rusty myself." Safia observed. "I need to be as active as I can if I want to fulfil my duties."
"Then let's get out there. What first, Safia?" Ash asked.
"For the most part, the universe will do its best to repair the damage done to the world at the moment, but it will certainly struggle. That can all change if we heal at least one land."
"Just one, huh?" Ash pondered. Where would they go? Anywhere would do so as long as they can heal it before its potential end. "Alright. Which land took some heavy damage?"
"Not too far from here, there is a forest that has recently disappeared from its own location. That is the universe trying its best to find a new location for it. We can reverse it by sending it back to where it came from."
"A forest that left its own location? Did it just up and vanish?" Sci-Twi asked. Safia was aware of the island that had been ripped from its original spot, knowing where it currently was. It was still somewhere in Unova, not ending up in another region. On top of that, it wasn't even destroyed.
"Okay. You're the expert today, Safia. Lead the way." Ash smiled, encouraging her. "We'll get to that forest and see what's up with it. Then we'll see just how much it changes."
"Right then! We shall-" Right as Alo was about to speak, Safia cut him off.
"We shall pursue the forest before it can spiral out of control again."
"Ah...That was what I was going to say." Alo paused as his beard would droop a bit.
"Apologies for the intrusion, Royal Advisor, Alo. Would you like a Seagem as my apology?" From her bare hands, Safia generated what appeared to be a Diamond made out of water. It just radiated value.
"Oh...No thank you." Alo shook his head. He didn't need this, despite how special it was.
"Now, Your Majesty. Allow me to connect myself even further with the Sea Temple." From her body, Safia unleashed that brilliant glow that appeared when she first showed up. Ash and the others would squint as the glow would spread rapidly, sending rays of light that latched onto the walls, ground and ceiling.
Safia's power would then outline the Sea Temple itself in a matter of seconds, giving it that same magnificent glow. At this moment, Safia was increasing her connection to the Sea Temple. A lot has happened over the years after all and the guardian couldn't get sloppy.
Coral Maze Gardens.
The Coral Maze Gardens. A labyrinthine network of coral gardens featuring winding paths and vibrant blooms. The Coral Maze Gardens serve as a recreational area for temple inhabitants, encouraging contemplative walks and fostering a connection with the intricate beauty of the sea. The gardens had the appearance of a popular spot for communal gatherings.
As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, casting hues of orange and pink across the cerulean sky, the Coral Maze Gardens within the Sea Temple Samiya became a lively underwater haven. The Water Pokémon that called the temple home emerged from their hidden alcoves, ready to enjoy the serenity of the evening in the vibrant coral labyrinth.
A group of playful Finneons darted through the winding paths, their iridescent scales catching the fading sunlight. They wove gracefully between the coral archways, chasing one another in a lively game. Their agile movements created ripples that mirrored the playful energy of their aquatic dance.
"Wow..." Present here was Fluttershy, who would observe the Pokemon in their natural habitat, which was a constantly moving habitat.
In a secluded corner of the garden, a serene Milotic gracefully unfurled its elegant coils. The Pokémon's ethereal beauty mesmerized any onlookers as it glided through the water with an otherworldly grace. Its long, trailing fins brushed against the coral structures, leaving a trail of gentle luminescence in its wake.
"Min! Lumineon!" Near the central pool, a school of Lumineons gathered beneath the soft glow of underwater lanterns. Their fins shimmered in various hues, creating a mesmerizing display of colors that illuminated the surrounding coral. The Lumineons swam in synchronized patterns, a silent aquatic ballet that captivated the hearts of those fortunate enough to witness their ethereal performance.
The Lumineons, captivated by Fluttershy's serene aura, swam closer to her, their multicoloured fins creating a kaleidoscope of hues around her. Fluttershy, ever attuned to the needs of her animal friends, began softly singing a melody that resonated with the underwater creatures. The Lumineons, enchanted by the soothing tune, swayed in harmony with the melody, creating an enchanting aquatic ballet.
"This is the best day of my life!" To say Fluttershy was elated was an understatement. She wanted to stay here for as long as she could, even if she was far away from her home. Now she knew what her Equestrian Counterpart felt like. She has never been around this many Pokemon before.
The Cerulean Chambers.
The Cerulean Chambers.
A series of meditation chambers nestled within the east of the temple, the Cerulean Chambers are adorned with intricate mosaics depicting underwater scenes. Each chamber is dedicated to a different aspect of sea spirituality, providing a tranquil space for meditation, reflection, and communion with the oceanic energies.
While everyone else was enjoying their time, snooping around and viewing the Sea Temple for its looks was Volo. Looking at the temple, he could just feel the ancient nature of it. It's amazing to think something this old, older than him has been around for this long.
"Mmm...Nothing about Giratina. But Arceus though...?" His interest in these two Pokemon was still present even here. Although the Sea Temple didn't have a strong connection to Arceus, the crystals were good enough. But it was more than just the crystals.
He looked at the mosaics, seeing that they went past just the Water-Types. Volo observed them and saw what appeared to be a mosaic painting of Arceus. It was the People of the Water bringing a crystal to the Alpha Pokemon, most likely asking him to grant his light into the crystals.
Volo wasn't fully aware of the crystals and their power but he could tell they were rather important. Looking at the painting, he had to wonder if Arceus has been to this temple before. So far, there have been no reports of him doing such a thing. Even the King of Pokelantis has been here a few times as well as those who wanted the power of the crystals. But nothing about Arceus.
"Hm. I was born too late to see or learn about the Sea Temple during my time, but this isn't my time." Volo smiled. "To think...the present day is this immersed. Locations such as a Sea Temple can exist as well as advanced technology and buildings. And yet..."
Despite seeing how impressive the present day was with how things from the past, present and to some extent, the future can perfectly exist alongside each other, something was still missing. The questions he's always had back then followed him into the present.
"That Ray of Light that hit Hisui...Or should I say Sinnoh. It hasn't changed anything for me, Arceus." Volo would look at the painting of Arceus once more. "This world is going through its own turmoil. I doubt it even knows what to do with all of these additions. I could maybe understand it all if I could just reach you. Not even the past, present or future will torment me with all of these questions."
Safia would finally exit the room she's been staying in this entire time, appearing before the rest of the Samiyans. None of them recognized her at all. Her appearance didn't strike a core memory in anyone. Not even a smidge. Safia predated them all and only her name was familiar.
Once she arrived, the secret Guardian of the Sea Temple would bow, greeting her fellow Samiyans. The Sea Temple has had a few guardians that have already shielded it before Safia even woke up. From Ash saving it from Phantom years back, Manaphy keeping watch of it after becoming Prince of the Sea or even the People of the Water defending it themselves. Now, it was time for the original guardian to play her part.
The Sea Temple was once again about to be on the move, this time, going straight for the forest Sunset Shimmer's friends previously explored. The crystals still needed time to properly recharge, thus, using them now would only increase the time. This was where Safia came into play.
"With my connection, I can temporarily give the temple enough power to find this island. I am already tracking it down at this very moment, Your Majesty." Safia said, staying completely still while her body let out a glow, focusing on the forest.
"Sweet stuff. Once we get to that forest, we'll do our best to put it back. Uh...How are we gonna put it back?" The King of the Sea asked, imagining what that would look like. With the crystals currently weakened, he imagined everyone pulling the forest back to its original location.
"That is something we will figure out along the way, Your Majesty. But that pendant on Twilight Sparkle might be of great assistance."
"If I could actually use it..." Sci-Twi lifted up her pendant, wishing she could ta into it with ease.
"Worry not, Twilight Sparkle. As I said, you were given that pendant for a reason. The power of Arceus is resting in that pendant and Arceus himself is most definitely counting on you."
"What would he need me for? My Equestrian Counterpart is more important than me anyways." Sci-Twi saw Princess Twilight as the more important Twilight for obvious reasons. For starters, she was a princess and she has done the most, having the most encounters with Arceus and being excellently well-versed in Pokemon. "Maybe he should go to her instead. She has that Z-Crystal after all."
"I can confirm that all Twilights are important in their own ways, no matter what the world. Perhaps becoming Queen of the Sea will help tap into that power." Safia uttered with a casual tone.
"W-What?!" Sci-Twi shot up and turned red after hearing those striking words. Safia smiled as the implications were very much there. She knew what she meant without a doubt. "Umm...No thanks! I mean, I was a princess in an illusion for a little while but..."
"Ah, you'd make a great queen!" Ash, Pikachu and Alpha Pikachu would collectively say, putting their thumbs up in approval.
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Ash" She would roar at Ash, not wanting to hear that. But at the same time, Sci-Twi did want to hear it but couldn't admit it.
The Sea Temple was on the move, travelling Unova's seas once more. Everyone could make themselves comfortable for the ride until they reached their destination.
Colorful cushions adorned the deck, and woven hammocks gently swayed between coral pillars. The gentle sea breeze carried the soothing melodies of harps and lyres played by musicians stationed on the upper levels, adding a harmonious soundtrack to the idyllic scene.
On the lower levels, Water Pokémon frolicked in the wake of the temple, their playful antics creating gentle ripples that mirrored the happiness that filled the air.
But while helping move the entire temple, a frown formed on Safia's face. Not all was swell for her. Safia was already well aware of her surroundings, knowing about the many things that have happened in the Sea Temple by now. As such, this involved anything from the outside or nearby.
And right now, the world wasn't at its safest. Not since Daybreaker and Gardevoir left a crushing impact. The seas, while always being wild in their own ways, were wilder than before. Not even the Samiyans could safely move across it. Safia, while having a blindfold over her eyes, could see her surroundings, knowing what was nearby.
Sunset Shimmer, who was speaking with the energetic Enola, was none the wiser. Neither was Rarity who was getting into Water Weaving, immediately struggling and neither were Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie.
In Safia's vision, she could see a strong layer of mist in the distance. Of course, it was the same mist that surrounded the forest and even after Sunset Shimmer's group managed to claim victory, it stuck around. But things were different after the second encounter.
Safia could easily see through the mist, knowing that it was of mystical properties, not just the world facing a trembling occurrence. This mist existed for a reason that Volo and the others couldn't react.
As they ventured into the unknown, the bonds between this enigmatic would be tested so quickly, and the destiny of Samiya would unfold in ways none of them could have predicted. Much like how no one expected that power surge last night. as the journey continues.
Unova. The Sea Temple Samiya. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
The Sea Temple was on the move yet again, travelling the seas of Unova but with a set destination. That very same forest that suddenly vanished was being pursued, becoming another example of Daybreaker and Gardevoir's sudden world-shaking action.
The awakened secret guardian of the Sea Temple, Safia was currently guiding them to the forest while the crystals were currently resting. They were already far from Mistralton City and anywhere the original forest could be spotted.
"So, I fill in as a Gym Leader, but I don't really have the time for it." Sunset Shimmer was currently speaking with Enola after encountering her as the two could be found walking in a hallway with coral patterns. "I think my role was passed onto someone else. Now I'm just a substitute. I was never cut out for it anyway."
"A Fire Specialist? Well, it's bad luck for you to be in here then." Enola grinned. "It's all Water! You wouldn't last a second here!"
"Bah. Type Advantages don't matter." Sunset scoffed, learning from Ash. "It's all about skill, Enola. That's it."
"Yeah, unless you're being drowned in water. What do you even do besides that?"
"I don't...really do all that much, honestly. I've only caught three Pokemon and I don't visit Equestria as much. On top of that, my world isn't used to Pokemon just yet. It's so boring without that same spark this world has. I wish we got the same treatment Equestria did..."
"So you left all that behind? For that?"
"Well, yes. But I'm happy there. Starting a new life and everything." Sunset would smile when thinking about all the new opportunities that came with it.
"Seems like a waste to me~"
"A waste? How's it a waste?" The former student of Celestia questioned. "I can still go back to it. I just don't live there permanently that's all. All I have to worry about is the portal being cut off somehow."
"Sounds like you a you problem, miss!" Enola wheezed when pointing at Sunset Shimmer, laughing at her misery.
"My problem?" Sunset's eyes would shake as Enola was coming in hot with these replies. How is it my problem."
"If you're bored, just live in your original world, which is this one. I don't get why you'd wanna give up all the magic and Pokemon for a world like that?"
"Well...you...!" Sunset Shimmer froze on her words, trying to respond in the best way possible. "It's complicated!"
"Really?" Enola was doubtful, putting on a wide grin while Sunset Shimmer scowled at her. "If that was me, I'd just live in my original home and then visit that world here and there."
"You're one to talk." Sunset would grizzle her teeth. "You've been living in this temple for centuries. You're technically older than me and you rarely get out there."
"Jokes on you. With the Sea Temple moving across the seas, I can see everything!" Enola did have an advantage there, being able to view so many sights in various regions. "And I get out there sometimes. But the Sea Temple has a lot of amazing things to offer, you haven't even seen it yet!
"Like?" Sunset questioned when following Enola. As soon as her foot stepped on one of the tiles, Enola's eyes would narrow. At that moment, Sunset Shimmer activated one of the traps found in this temple. The Intricate coral formations in this hallway concealed retractable coral webs. When triggered, these webs ensnared Sunset, limiting her movement. "Hey!" Sunset yelped.
"Like that!" Enola cackled at her. "Better not struggle. The more you struggle, the tighter the webs constrict, making it even harder to get out if you don't have any help. And this is just one trap out of many!"
"Great..." Sunset Shimmer groaned. "Can you get me down now!"
"Sure, sure. Just-" But at that moment, when Enola was prepared to free Sunset Shimmer, all that peace would come to an end.
The once tranquil seas were suddenly disrupted by a fierce disturbance which tripped Enola and others who were currently very active. Sunset Shimmer's body would swing thanks to this disturbance that rocked the temple.
Safia saw it. Another result of Daybreaker and Gardevoir's actions. The forest that she was setting a course to was nearby, but standing in between the Sea Temple was a fierce disaster.
"Your Majesty. I can see the forest up ahead." Safia spoke to Ash, staying perfectly still during this tremor.
"That's cool but what's that rumbling!?" Ash said while holding onto a pillar. Sci-Twi would hold onto Ash while Alo was backed up against a wall, trying to maintain his balance.
"Is it a whirlpool!? A tsunami?!" Twilight asked, holding onto Zorua and Spike for dear life.
"While a whirlpool is involved, it isn't the only issue." Safia was hoping it was just a whirlpool, but there was more to it. Something that no one else expected.
Appearing before them was a colossal whirlpool that materialized without warning, spiralling downward into an abyss of iridescent hues. The water within the vortex seemed to dance with an unnatural energy, emitting an eerie glow that cast an ominous radiance across the darkened waves.
As the magical tempest raged, the sea itself began to rebel against the natural order. Massive tidal waves rose with a malevolent force, crashing against each other in a chaotic symphony. The ocean's surface became a maelstrom of conflicting currents, creating unpredictable and treacherous conditions for any vessel unfortunate enough to be caught within its grasp.
But that wasn't the most striking thing they saw. Right before their eyes, they all saw the forest moving in an erratic manner.
Specifically, that very forest was teleporting across the sea in that same white light, repeatedly appearing in the ocean and being the cause of this violent whirlpool. Back to back, it was placing itself in random spots in Unova's Sea, unable to stay steady.
"Great Gengars...What is happening over there?" A Samiyan gasped.
"A teleporting forest?" Never in her life did Sci-Twi think she would ever see such a thing. No one has. They weren't sure what to make it since the forest was moving so fast. Each time it would appear at another spot, it further strengthened the whirlpool.
"The universe is struggling to find a perfect location for this forest, so it has to resort to these destructive actions." Safia spoke, knowing the reason behind this. "But if this keeps up, this whirlpool could level everything. Putting it back in its original location is the key."
"Well, how do we put it back to its original location?! The crystals won't be as effective right now, right?!" Before Sci-Twi's questions could be answered, the whirlpool would suddenly rise, creating a towering spiral of water.
Another unforeseen consequence emerged, intensifying the magical disaster that accompanied its movements. With each teleportation event, the colossal whirlpool materialized in an even greater form. This magical vortex, fueled by the displaced energies of the forest and the sea, became a towering maelstrom that dwarfed even the tallest of structures.
"It's like its own version of the move, Whirlpool!" Ash exclaimed. Normal whirlpools don't appear like this. He mainly recalls Dawn's Piplup being able to generate tall Whirlpools. But they were never this tall.
"Pikachu?!"
The whirlpool, now a force of nature itself, manifested as a spiralling column of water that rose from the ocean's surface, reaching heights comparable to a grand tower. The sheer magnitude of the whirlpool disrupted the natural order of the seas, creating a visual spectacle of swirling currents and mist that could be seen from great distances.
"That whirlpool is now flooded with Infinity Energy, your majesty." Safia walked forward when gazing at the whirlpool. "Not just for its size, but for what it could do. The universe might go the distance to create something new. But at the cost of destruction."
"Destruction?! What do you mean?!" Sci-Twi would receive that answer once the droplets from the whirlpool were sent flying. These droplets all had Infinity Energy radiating from them. They watched as the droplets dropped down onto the Sea Temple, making a touchdown. Thankfully, when the droplets landed, they did not cause any destruction whatsoever. Instead, they did something brand new.
The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as the droplets took physical forms, coalescing into entities. Ash and the others were stunned by what they were seeing. Right before their very eyes, it looked like the creation of a new Pokemon.
But not quite.
They had shapes. But there was no clear distinction on what they were. No faces, no specific traits, nothing. Much like the Desires, they were practically just silhouettes, but not of familiar faces.
"Did it just create Pokemon?!" A Samiyan questioned. " I don't recognize any of them."
"Neither do I! My crystal ball didn't foresee this!" Poor Donoma couldn't even foresee such a future. Even this was unexpected to her.
"Almost. The universe is attempting to make new Pokemon to temper things, but they aren't quite complete. These are just the building blocks of reality. These are beings that exist in a semi-transcendent state, embodying the potential of all Pokémon species. They're not quite Pokemon just yet."
"Awesome!" Ash's eyes lit up with amazement. He technically saw the creation of new Pokemon before his very eyes, minus the time he saw Applejack's Goletts constructed. But those were familiar faces. These were new yet incomplete.
"Now's not the time to gush over this!" Sci-Twi bellowed, knowing that trouble could come from this.
When observing these Pokemon, they could easily make out what they were trying to be. One of them was a shimmering, luminescent Pokémon resembling a water droplet. It emitted a soft glow that illuminated its surroundings. Despite its incomplete form, it appeared to have a serene and gentle demeanour as seen by how it would peacefully sit down, taking in the environment of the Sea Temple.
Another one was a small, bear-like Pokémon with a body made of tightly compacted soil and rocks. Its fur is a mixture of earthy tones, resembling the layers of sediment found in rocky terrain. This one looked around, rather confused.
Next to it was a lively Pokémon with a body composed of crackling energy. Its form is reminiscent of a living lightning bolt, much like Equestrian Gengar. Immediately, it was on the move, leaving a trail of sparks. The electric currents within its incomplete form give it a playful and dynamic appearance.
And finally, one of them had the appearance of a sleek and agile raptor with feathers that trailed behind it like a comet's tail. Its feathers have a gradient of colours resembling a twilight sky. There were more droplets that have already dropped elsewhere in the Sea Temple.
"They aren't hostile...?" Alo noticed how they weren't attacking anyone at all. Really, all that they saw were these personalities already showing, such as the gentle nature and the electrifying swiftness.
"Not really," Safia said. "The whirlpool is fierce but it has no reason to attack us with what it has spawned.
"Does the Pokedex even react to them?" Ash wanted to see this for himself. Whipping out his Pokedex, he tried seeing if these incomplete Pokemon could be registered.
"No data found. No data found." The answer was No. They were brand new but also unfinished, merely projections of what could be. Ash now knew of new ways the Pokemon World acts when it comes to creating new Pokemon. But he never expected a whirlpool to be one of those ways.
"Do they even know that we're here?" Ash would kneel, facing the bear-like Pokemon. He was wondering if they acknowledged their existence even if they were incomplete. Surely, they had to be sentient.
"I am not sure, Your Majesty. They have some form of sentience but...they might not last for long. The universe might remove them if it cannot use them to temper things."
"Oh, man...So, what can they do?" Ash asked.
"Some Pokemon exist to balance the world. Such as Groudon, Kyogre and many of the Legendary Pokemon we know of. While they don't appear as large as them, the universe is potentially testing out the waters to see if they can affect the world as well. "
"So then that one is meant for the Earth...and that Pokemon is for the sky?" Sci-Twi would theorize which Pokemon fulfilled which goals just by the small details they had. And of course, looking at the water one made her believe that it could deal with the sea.
The Universe, by itself, was taking action against Daybreaker and Gardevoir's actions, making sure that this new existence could find a balance even if it meant causing a ruckus and changing things up here and there.
"Ah, so it's compensation. Honestly, with all our years of being around, there are still things even we do not know about our wonderful world." Alo chuckled. "How is it that you know so much for being inside a pod for so long?"
"Outside of what I hear in the Sea Temple, my parents taught me a lot about the world when I was young. I learned so much about the universe, especially with the help of my magic. I assumed you all have the same capabilities."
"Our magic isn't on that level though..." Donoma replied. Alas, the People of the Water didn't have the same benefits as Safia, who seemed to be a far more experienced version of them, possessing a wider array of knowledge and hidden magic.
Despite there being a bit of peace, the whirlpool and the teleporting forest were still an issue. Clearly, the forest was trying to stay in the Unova Region, specifically around this part of the sea. They had to somehow stop it from moving all over the place and it didn't seem like these incomplete Pokemon were the key to that.
But then, as they were just now surveying the environment, these Pokemon would turn their attention to one person and one person only. In unison, they would creepily move their heads, facing Sci-Twi of all people.
"Um...They're looking at me..." Sci-Twi pointed out, holding onto her Arceus pendant. The fact that they were all looking at her creeped her out. Even the serene one was giving off an eerie disposition now.
Sci-Twi clutched her Arceus pendant protectively, feeling a sudden weight to the situation. The incomplete Pokemon, with their indistinct features, seemed to have a peculiar interest in the pendant she wore around her neck.
"Twilight Sparkle! They want your pendant!" Safia exclaimed.
"My pendant?!" Right then and there, as Sci-Twi would shout, one of the Pokemon took action, approaching her. It was the raptor-like Pokemon that left behind a twilight trail due to its movements.
"Pikachu!" Alpha Pikachu intercepted it. Using Thunder Punch, he would smash his fist against the incomplete Pokemon, protecting his trainer. Alpha Pikachu's Thunder Punch collided with the approaching raptor-like Pokemon, creating a burst of electrical energy. The incomplete Pokemon was temporarily repelled by the forceful intervention.
"Oh, thank you, Pikachu!" Twilight commended. The raptor-like Pokemon, now shimmering with residual electrical energy, took a few steps back but didn't seem deterred.
Sci-Twi, still holding onto her pendant, observed the Pokemon with a mix of curiosity and caution. The incomplete creature, despite the defensive encounter, displayed an air of determination and purpose.
"They must recognize that it is connected to Arceus. Much like how that pendant can help us restore the land, they want it." said Safia.
"Do I just give to them then?!" Twilight figured that giving them the pendant might be the best option right now if this is what they wanted. But they were rather hostile at the moment, suddenly being as fierce as the whirlpool. The sprite-like Pokemon would unleash what appeared to be Bubble Beam, sending a rapid barrage of bubbles forward.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!" Ash would yell out.
"Chu...Pika!" Protecting Sci-Twi was Ash's Pikachu. By hardening his tail, he put it up to block the bubbles as they would crash into the metal.
"Wait." But Safia would halt Twilight from doing such a thing. "Do not remove your pendant."
"But shouldn't we give to them?! You said-"
"I know. But even the universe is not perfect. The whirlpool is still active and the forest could spread more destruction. It isn't guaranteed if your pendant can fix it."
The summoned Pokemon would focus all their efforts on Sci-Twi, wanting that pendant from her. The swift Pokemon that left a trail of lightning behind would advance, being the next to try and snatch it. All the other Incomplete Pokemon would do the same, lunging themselves as Twilight Sparkle.
"Use, Quick Attack!"
"Pika-Pikachu!" At lightning speeds, Ash's Pikachu would intercept the Lightning Bolt Pokemon, crashing his head into it. A spark of lightning flared out once the two collided. Pikachu would push this opposing Electric-Type while the rest of them would pass by. "Pika?!"
The bear-like Pokemon would summon a long arm that was made out of rocks, immediately going for a strong snatch.
But stop this was Safia. By raising her finger, she generated a stream of water which would fly out of the floor itself. The water intercepted the rock arm, cutting it halfway as it would crumble in the presence of this magical water. The incomplete Pokemon, their determination evident, continued their attempts to acquire Sci-Twi's pendant. Each one made a swift and coordinated move, showcasing their newfound abilities and evolved forms.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded, and Pikachu responded by releasing a powerful burst of electricity toward the Lightning Bolt Pokemon, attempting to create a barrier and deter its advance. The clash of electrical energies created a dazzling display, filling the air with crackling sparks.
As for the other incomplete Pokemon, they lunged forward with various strategies, showcasing their individual traits and abilities. The water-like Pokemon surged forward with fluid movements, attempting to envelop Sci-Twi and the pendant. The Earth guardian, now more grounded and steadfast, used its soil-infused strength to create barriers and obstacles in its pursuit.
Safia, maintaining her focus on protecting Sci-Twi, continued to manipulate the magical water to counter the incoming assaults. The Sea Temple, floating amidst the calmed seas, became a battlefield of cosmic energies and elemental forces.
"Twilight Sparkle. We should distance you from them. Your majesty. It's vital that we do not allow them to take her pendant." Safia requested.
"You got it. Alright, everyone!" Ash would speak to his subjects with a wide grin. "I'm counting on you to keep Twilight safe! And I'm also counting on some of you to stop that forest from moving all over the place!"
The People of the Water would obviously heed their King's request. While they may not partake in conflict all that much, they were capable of defending themselves, especially the Water-Types. Ash's words resonated with the Water Pokemon would immediately swim to Sci-Twi's defence, easily outnumbering these Incomplete Pokemon.
"Twilight Sparkle, stay close to me." With a swift motion of her hand, Safia conjured a barrier of magical water around Sci-Twi, creating a shimmering protective dome. The water barrier, infused with enchantments, acted as a resilient shield against the relentless advances of the incomplete Pokemon.
As the protective barrier held firm, Safia directed her attention to the teleporting forest issue that Ash had mentioned. "We should take the pendant to the crystals. The two of them share the same light after all."
"But will it be enough? I still haven't properly mastered it at all."
"You can trust me, Twilight Sparkle. As this temple's guardian, I can do everything in my power to give your pendant strength for as long as I can." Safia put on a smile, making sure she wouldn't let Sci-Twi down. Sci-Twi nodded in understanding, putting her faith in Safia and the People of the Water. But she especially put her faith in Ash.
Safia would lead Sci-Twi to the chamber where the crystals could be found, quickly fleeing this part of the temple which was rather hectic at the moment. With the Water-Type Pokemon that lived in the temple combating these Incomplete Pokemon while the People of the Water were supporting them, the Sea Temple was another catalyst in this issue.
The Lightning Bolt Pokemon, determined to reach Sci-Twi, unleashed a series of rapid movements, leaving trails of sparks as it advanced. However, Alpha Pikachu and the Sea Temple's Water-Type Pokemon worked together to create a defensive barrier, deflecting the oncoming attacks.
The bear-like guardian, undeterred by previous setbacks, summoned earthen constructs to advance. However, the Sea Temple's magical waters rose to meet the challenge, manipulating the surroundings to disrupt the rocky assault.
Naturally, this all reached the rest of the temple, especially where Sunset Shimmer and Enola were. As Enola helped Sunset Shimmer down from the tap, the droplets that spawned these Pokemon would arrive. That was not the end of them.
"What are those?!" The young Enola gasped.
Sunset Shimmer and Enola observed as the droplets carrying the incomplete Pokemon descended upon the area where they were. The shimmering and ethereal forms of the Pokemon were now more defined and distinct, thanks to the cosmic energies that had interacted with them during their creation.
Sunset Shimmer, not entirely caught up with everything that's happening here, looked at the Pokemon with a mix of curiosity and awe. "Are those... Pokemon? They look different."
But of course, they were not here for Sunset Shimmer or Enola. Only Sci-Twi. These incomplete Pokemon sensed the Arceus Pendant and immediately made their way towards it, ignoring everyone else.
Fluttershy, who was enjoying her time with the Pokemon, found herself finishing this happy moment short as the Water-Types swam away. The Sea Temple was under attack after all and their King needed their assistance. Together, the Water-Types would advance, replacing their calm disposition for a serious one. "Wait! Where are you going?!"
Fluttershy pouted as her eyes would wobble. If only she could understand the Pokemon much like her Equestrian Counterpart, but alas, that was not the case.
Rarity, who was enjoying her time learning how to Water Weave, would have her lesson cut short. She saw the Water Weaves put an end to the lesson, dropping their crafted items. "Why are we stopping?" Rarity asked.
"Apologies! But our temple needs us! We can continue later!" One of the Samiyans bowed for this interference. Rarity would see the nearby Water Pokemon swimming as fast as they could, heading to the scene of the battle. Rarity and the rest of her friend group found whatever they were doing cut short once the People of the Water and the Water Pokemon got serious.
Viewing this was Volo, who kept a smile on his face. This interested him a bit, but not as much as the paintings he discovered. And yet, he wished to see what the ruckus was. What would warrant such action in this temple? Clearly, something of great significance, especially since the whirlpool could still be felt from the outside.
Twilight and Safia reached the chamber in time while there was a hectic scene outside. Sci-Twi was protected by the Sea Temple who managed to keep eyes away from her at the moment. There, the crystals sat with low energy. They were still usable but this ever-changing world was throwing them off balane as well. Alo would trail behind, running out of breath.
"Hoh...Centuries of being sealed and all that stamina never changed." Alo expressed, coming to a halt in his old age.
"Twilight Sparkle. "Your pendant and the crystals share a common essence. Together, we can amplify its strength," Safia explained, her focus on the harmonization of energies. The crystals did have some of Arceus' light in them after all so the connection was there.
"Okay...What do I do?" She would lift the pendant, wondering how to harness its power. If she could at least do that, it would be an achievement nevertheless.
"I will lend you some strength, while also connecting with the crystals. Hopefully, it will be enough to give the crystals the right amount of strength. Here." Safia's hand gently enveloped Sci-Twi's, creating a conduit for the harmonization of their energies. As their connection deepened, Safia's innate magic and her connection to the Sea Temple merged with the cosmic power within the Arceus Pendant.
"Now, close your eyes, Twilight Sparkle," Safia instructed, guiding Sci-Twi through the process. "Feel the cosmic energy within the pendant, and let it flow through you. Imagine a connection between your essence, the pendant, and the crystals."
With Safia's guidance, Sci-Twi closed her eyes, focusing on the pendant hanging around her neck. She could sense the pulsating cosmic energy within it, resonating with the crystals that surrounded them in the chamber. As she concentrated, a subtle glow emanated from the pendant, synchronizing with the crystals' faint radiance.
Alo, observing the scene, nodded approvingly. "We're counting on you, Twilight. Have no fear."
"No fear...I'm not afraid but...I'm just worried." As Sci-Twi continued to channel the energy, the crystals in the chamber responded. Their glow intensified, and the low energy they had displayed moments ago began to surge with renewed vigour. The harmonization between Sci-Twi, Safia, and the crystals created a cascade of energy that filled the chamber with a brilliant, otherworldly light.
As Sci-Twi and Safia concentrated on channelling the cosmic energy, the brilliant light that filled the chamber seemed to catch the attention of the slithering droplets that would summon more of the same species of incomplete Pokemon. Their ethereal forms, previously unnoticed, now revealed themselves as they approached the centre of the cosmic energy convergence.
In the midst of the radiant glow, the incomplete Pokemon that had been drawn to Sci-Twi's pendant sensed the heightened energy within the chamber. The water-like Pokemon, the bear-like guardian, the lightning bolt creature, and the raptor-like entity moved with purpose, converging on the source of the intensified the otherworldly forces.
Alo, who had been monitoring the situation, noticed the intrusion. "Good heavens! They're in the main chamber!" Hearing this, Sci-Twi and Safia turned to see the emergence of these Pokemon. The concentration was broken as the light would lose its vibrance, now appearing faint.
"The crystals are still not strong enough. But they might target them as well since they have the same light. Twilight. You-" But before Safia could finish, Sci-Twi cut her off, putting on a serious face at last.
"It's' fine, Safia. I can defend myself." Sci-Twi stepped forward, holding out a Poke Ball while Alpha Pikachu flared his red sacs with electricity. "Here's your chance! Go, Kubfu!"
"Kubfu!"
The atmosphere in the main chamber crackled with tension as the incomplete Pokemon closed in on Kubfu, Alpha Pikachu, and Sci-Twi. The once vibrant energies now flickered, as if the very essence of the Sea Temple was being challenged. Safia would then turn to face the crystals, seeing that they were given some power thanks to the pendant. And to her surprise, the pendant still had a lot of energy to give. Its full potential hasn't been realized yet after all.
"Kubfu! Use Aerial Ace! Pikachu, use Thunder Punch!" Sci-Twi bellowed.
Kubfu, ready for battle, leapt forward with incredible agility. his movements were swift and precise, a testament to its martial prowess. The water-like Pokemon, sensing the incoming threat, attempted to dodge, but Kubfu's Close Combat struck with precision. The clash between the two Pokemon created a surge of energy, sending ripples through the chamber.
Meanwhile, Alpha Pikachu, charged with electrical power, focused on the lightning bolt creature. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt now!" Sci-Twi commanded.
"Pika...Chuuu!" Alpha Pikachu unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt, aiming to counter the electric currents of the incomplete Pokemon. The chamber crackled with competing energies as the Thunderbolt collided with the lightning bolt creature, creating a dazzling display of sparks and flashes.
As the battle unfolded, Safia, with her unique magic, conjured streams of magical water to intercept the bear-like guardian and the raptor-like entity. She had Sci-Twi's back but poor Alo was unable to do anything in this instance. At least, when it came to confronting these Pokemon.
Sci-Twi nodded, acknowledging Safia's support, and turned her attention back to the battle. Kubfu, displaying his martial prowess, engaged in a dynamic exchange with the water-like Pokemon. Their movements were a dance of power and agility, each trying to gain the upper hand.
Kubfu, having gained an advantage in its exchange, shifted his focus to the raptor-like entity. "Kubfu, use Aerial Ace again!"
"Kub!" Kubfu, channelling its inner energy, launched himself at the raptor-like Pokemon. The attack hit with precision, creating a burst of energy upon impact. The raptor-like entity, affected by the swift and hard Aerial Ace, staggered for a moment before regaining its composure.
The water-like Pokemon, having recovered from Kubfu's Close Combat, retaliated with a powerful Hydro Pump. The high-pressure water jets surged toward Kubfu, creating a challenging situation for the Fighting-Type Pokemon.
"Fuuuu!" Kubfu would scream after being pushed back by the Hydro Pump. He went flying, crashing onto the floor right afterwards.
"Quick, Kubfu! Use Fire Punch! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt again!"
"Kub! Kubfu!" Kubfu, displaying remarkable agility, recovered from the Hydro Pump with a series of acrobatic movements. In a swift counterattack, Kubfu unleashed Fire Punch, striking the water-like Pokemon with a blazing paw. It was not-very-effective but it would. The chamber echoed with the sounds of battling Pokemon and the clash of elemental forces.
At that moment, Safia's vision of what happened outside showed her a threatening surprise. This whole time while the Sea Temple was being guarded from the inside, on the outside, the teleporting forest wasn't stopping for a minute. And at last, after so many movements, it came into contact with the Sea Temple.
The once stable and anchored Sea Temple now faced the unpredictable force of the teleporting forest. The collision of these two mystical elements threatened to amplify the chaos within the sacred structure. Outside the chamber, Enola and the Sea Temple's inhabitants felt the reverberations of the collision. The very foundation of the temple quivered as the cosmic energies within struggled to maintain stability amidst the external disruption.
"What's that?!" Ash bellowed as the battle was halted for a while.
As the teleporting forest, shrouded in a soft glow of ethereal white light, collided with the Sea Temple, the clash of these mystical entities reverberated throughout the structure.
The collision unfolded in a series of otherworldly phenomena. The teleporting forest manifested as a fluctuating mass of trees, flora, and otherworldly energy. White light emanated from its core, creating a surreal contrast against the underwater surroundings of the Sea Temple.
The Sea Temple itself responded to the intrusion with a defensive energy, its coral patterns glowing in vibrant hues of blue and green. Streams of water magic flowed along the coral structures, as if the very essence of the sea sought to repel the intrusion of the teleporting forest.
Within the Sea Temple, the clash was felt in the form of tremors and vibrations that rippled through the sacred chambers. The crystals, originally stable conduits of Arceus' light, now flickered as they struggled to maintain their connection amidst the external disruption. The Sea Temple's inhabitants, both Pokemon and People of the Water, rallied to address the unforeseen threat.
"This might be a disaster..." Safia gasped. "It's all happening so fast too."
"Goodness...What to do..." Alo grumbled.
The collision of the Sea Temple and the teleporting forest also drew the attention of those outside the sacred structure. Enola, who had been assisting Sunset Shimmer in navigating the temple's corridors, felt the disturbances caused by the clash of mystical forces.
"I have to do something..." Sci-Twi said to herself. If only she had more experience with this pendant then perhaps she could pull it off immediately. But while thinking that, Sci-Twi also knew that it wasn't too late. With confidence, she rushed towards the Sea Crown.
"Twilight? What are you doing?" Alo asked when seeing her run up to it.
"I should at least try something! Arceus, if you're listening, please help!" Calling out to Arceus, Sci-Twi would remove her pendant, raising it as high as she could. And at the same time, she touched the crystal, making sure the connection was there, trying to imitate Safia.
While she did not possess the same magic as Safia, the magic that she harbours within her did react, especially the light of Arceus which is what kickstarted it. At that moment, Twilight unleashed her own brilliant light that would come from the pendant.
"Take the forest back to where it was...At least do that!" Unsure as to how the power of the crystals works, Sci-Twi would speak to them, making a wish.
It was unclear if they responded to her voice as seen by how the light would start spreading, enveloping her body. The light intensified, creating a radiant aura that extended beyond Sci-Twi's immediate vicinity. The intertwining currents of water and the ethereal nature of the teleporting forest seemed to pause momentarily as if acknowledging the invocation of Arceus' power.
It would soon reach Safia, Alo, Pikachu, Kubfu and everyone else. Not just in this chamber, but the entire Sea Temple. The harmonious glow of Arceus' essence wove its way through the intricate coral patterns, the sacred chambers, and the hallowed corridors of the temple.
Within the Sea Temple's sacred chambers, Water-type Pokemon and People of the Water felt the shift in energies. The once tumultuous clash between the temple and the teleporting forest now gave way to a tranquil dance of cosmic forces. The magic of water responded to the guiding influence of Arceus' essence, creating a soothing atmosphere within the temple's confines.
Ash would smile, knowing Sci-Twi had done something, but it was unknown what it was at the moment. One thing was for sure, her wish did come true. Not just the temple, but the forest would suddenly vanish.
From the seas of Unova, both of them disappeared, leaving behind the whirlpool which would also calm down. All that was left now was a hole in the sea.
Appearing in a brilliant flash was the Sea Temple. And next to it was the forest that struggled to find a proper location. Of all places both ended up, it ended up being in the Human World. As a group of people were just minding their business, the Sea Temple and the Forest just appeared out of nowhere, materializing into the sea of this coast.
The unexpected appearance of the Sea Temple and the teleporting forest in the Human World sent shockwaves through the unsuspecting crowd gathered on the coast. People stared in awe and disbelief as the colossal structures materialized out of thin air, disrupting the tranquillity of their surroundings.
As the coastguard stumbled and fell over in the chaos, the humans on the scene tried to make sense of the surreal sight before them. The Sea Temple stood tall and majestic in the waters. Next to it, the teleporting forest swirled with mysterious energies, its trees reaching towards the sky in an otherworldly display.
"I did it...? I did it!" Twilight bellowed. Her elation echoed as she realized that, in a way, she had succeeded in redirecting the Sea Temple and the forest. However, her celebration was short-lived.
"Excellent work, Miss Sparkle." A downed Alo said with his staff sliding away.
"Goodness." Safia shook her head. "Quite the reaction. And that was your first attempt."
"Wait...This is my world." However, the celebration was short-lived for Sci-Twi. "I wanted to put it back where it previously was! Not here!" Alas, it was still a failure. Now, she brought the problem to her own world which was not yet accustomed to the existence of Pokemon.
The Sea Temple and the forest, now present in the Human World, posed another considerable challenge. However, the whirlpool was nowhere to be found here. It wasn't even starting up at all with the presence of this forest.
"You were a bit too hasty, Twilight Sparkle." Safia approached. "On top of that, you weren't aware of the forest's original location to even know where it needed to be."
"Yeah...My bad." Sci-Twi lowered her head, knowing that she didn't think it through. She just acted on her feet. "I was for sure it'd take me to the best place possible but..."
As for the incomplete Pokemon, they were getting back up as this was only a minor setback. They watched as these summoned Pokemon reformed themselves thanks to their bodies being made out of Infinity Energy. Sci-Twi gasped while Kubfu stepped forward, still eager to continue if he had to.
"Kubfu!"
"Still?!" Twilight bellowed. "But, why? Is it because I messed up the location?"
"Unfortunately, they are still dissatisfied and want that pendant." Safia pointed. "However..."
Instead of continuing to pursue the pendant immediately, the incomplete Pokemon would start dissipating. Their bodies would deconstruct as if they were being unmade right before everyone's eyes. Sci-Twi observed as the incomplete Pokemon started to dissolve into luminous droplets once again. Their ethereal forms dispersed into the air, leaving behind only traces of Infinity Energy that slowly faded away.
"What is happening?" Alo asked in the face of this reversal.
"Perhaps, the universe sees these creations as irrelevant for this scenario. It might be creating new ones." said Safia.
Indeed it was. After removing them, the droplets would begin crafting new yet incomplete Pokemon, trying to gauge their surroundings. Sci-Twi was still a target and after what she pulled, the universe wanted that pendant more than ever. Right before everyone's eyes, new Pokemon were forming from the droplets.
One of them manifested as a majestic avian creature with feathers that shimmered like stardust. Its wings expanded gracefully, creating a mesmerizing display of cosmic patterns. Another took the form of a terrestrial guardian, adorned with crystal-like armour that reflected the ambient light in a dazzling array.
The third Pokemon resembled a graceful aquatic entity, with fluid movements that mimicked the ebb and flow of the sea. Its body seemed to be composed of radiant water droplets, each refracting light in various hues. The final one embodied the essence of flora, with vines and leaves intertwining to create a harmonious fusion of nature's elements.
As these new and incomplete Pokemon took shape, their eyes glowed with an otherworldly brilliance. Unlike their predecessors, there was a sense of purpose and awareness in their gaze. It was as if the universe, in its attempt to restore balance, had created beings that were more attuned to the intricacies of the Human World.
"If we have to battle again, so be it." Sci-Twi held her pendant close.
"Wait. There should be no need for us to battle. The disaster isn't anywhere near us anymore now that we are in your world." But Safia would halt her.
"Fu?" Kubfu looked over. No battling? That wouldn't do, not for a Pokemon such as him.
"They've seen what your pendant can do. Their suspicions were right and they will want it more than ever." Safia continued. "Perhaps, making peace with them is the right approach this time."
"Are you sure?" She asked with a bit of hesitation.
"That should be the case. Their anger was correlated to the ferocity of the whirlpool, but now that it is gone..." Safia would encourage Sci-Twi, wanting her to believe that these incomplete Pokemon would bring no harm anymore. "Avoid any confrontation with them."
Sci-Twi, taking Safia's words to heart, considered the possibility of establishing a peaceful understanding with these new, enigmatic Pokemon. The air around them carried an aura of intention and awareness, suggesting that communication might be achievable without resorting to battle.
"Alright," Sci-Twi said, lowering her guard but keeping a firm grip on the Arceus Pendant. "Let's try to communicate with them. I don't want to fight if we don't have to."
The avian creature, terrestrial guardian, aquatic entity, and flora-inspired being observed Sci-Twi with eyes that seemed to hold an innate wisdom. They emanated an energy that resonated with the natural world and the cosmic forces at play.
Alo, Safia, Spike and the Pokemon watched intently, ready to assist or intervene if necessary. The Sea Temple and the teleporting forest stood as silent witnesses, their significance in the unfolding events becoming increasingly profound.
Safia, with her deep connection to the Sea Temple and its guardian role, spoke softly to Sci-Twi. "Your pendant holds the essence of Arceus, a force that can bridge the gap between our world and theirs. Use it to convey your intentions and seek understanding."
Taking a deep breath, Sci-Twi focused on the pendant, feeling its divine energy. She projected her thoughts and emotions, attempting to establish a telepathic link with the newly formed Pokemon. The pendant glowed in response, its light creating a subtle connection between Sci-Twi and the cosmic beings.
The avian creature took a step forward, its wings folding gracefully as it inclined its head, acknowledging the attempt at communication. The terrestrial guardian's crystal armor shimmered, reflecting the ambient light in a rhythmic pattern. The aquatic entity swayed with fluid motions, and the flora-inspired being emitted a soothing aura, akin to a gentle breeze rustling through leaves.
"Try to convey a sense of harmony and balance," Safia suggested, her eyes reflecting the hope that a peaceful resolution could be reached.
Sci-Twi nodded, closing her eyes and focusing on transmitting feelings of unity, understanding, and the desire for coexistence. The pendant responded, emanating waves of gentle energy that enveloped the area. The incomplete Pokemon, seemingly receptive to the communication attempt, responded with subtle gestures of acceptance.
The avian creature unfurled its wings, creating a shimmering display that resembled a celestial dance. The terrestrial guardian lowered its crystal head in a nod of acknowledgement. The aquatic entity emitted a melodic hum, and the flora-inspired being released a cascade of radiant leaves that floated gracefully in the air.
Twilight scrunched her face, staying still in the face of these elements. Kubfu growled, ready to jump in, but he was promptly held back by Pikachu. "Kub?"
"Pika. Pikachu." Alpha Pikachu opted for Kubfu to trust in Sci-Twi.
"Here." Twilight Sparkle spoke, holding up a pendant. "I tried taking the forest back to its original location, but I couldn't. If you could please help me..."
As Twilight Sparkle presented her pendant, the incomplete Pokémon gazed upon it with a mix of fascination and agitation. Their forms, still ethereal and not fully realized, flickered as if caught between conflicting emotions.
The avian creature's wings rustled with a hint of unrest, the terrestrial guardian's crystal armour pulsed with erratic patterns, the aquatic entity's fluid motions became more turbulent, and the flora-inspired being emitted a subtle undercurrent of disquiet.
Twilight sensed the unease emanating from the cosmic beings. She understood that her attempts to use the pendant had disrupted their intended balance. In an effort to soothe the agitated energies, she spoke with sincerity.
Her words and the reaction of these incomplete Pokemon would cause the pendant to glow once more but without the involvement of the crystals. Sci-Twi's eyes lit up as the glow would outline her entire body, giving her an aura. Safia smiled, knowing what has been accomplished.
A sense of calm settled over the surroundings, and the Sea Temple and the teleporting forest resonated with the harmonious energy. The incomplete Pokemon, now more attuned to the intentions conveyed through Sci-Twi's pendant, stood in a state of serene coexistence.
Twilight nodded, taking a deep breath to center herself. She focused on the pendant, feeling the divine energy within. "Would it be okay if we worked together? I don't want to see your world break apart, even if it isn't my world either."
The avian creature, now more composed, extended its wings in a gesture of contemplation. The terrestrial guardian's crystal armour glowed with a steady luminosity. The aquatic entity's motions became more synchronized and tranquil, and the flora-inspired being emitted a reassuring aura.
In response to Twilight's plea for cooperation, the incomplete Pokémon conveyed a sense of consideration and contemplation. It was evident that they were beings tied to the fundamental forces of the universe, and their understanding of balance transcended the immediate situation.
The avian creature, acting as a spokesperson of sorts, approached Twilight Sparkle. It emitted a gentle glow from its form, projecting a series of ephemeral images and emotions. These images depicted scenes of cosmic harmony, celestial alignments, and the intertwining of worlds. Emotions of unity and coexistence accompanied the visual narrative. Safia, who could perceive the subtle energies at play, nodded approvingly.
"Ooh..." Twilight absorbed the conveyed images and emotions, feeling the serenity flowing through the atmosphere. She was in tune with the pendant. For the first time, she was starting to truly understand it.
For a moment, Sci-Twi saw the visage of Arceus flash right before her eyes. The Alpha Pokemon's golden silhouette appeared, looking directly at her.
The incomplete Pokémon, now resonating with a sense of shared purpose, acknowledged Twilight's words. The avian creature nodded in approval, the terrestrial guardian's crystal armour emitted a luminous glow, the aquatic entity's motions became serene, and the flora-inspired being exuded a calming aura.
As the connection between Twilight Sparkle and the incomplete Pokémon deepened, a tranquil energy enveloped the area. The luminous pendant in Twilight's hand pulsed with a harmonious glow before fading away. The avian creature, terrestrial guardian, aquatic entity, and flora-inspired being stood together before dispersing. Their bodies would vanish as they were not needed at all, much like the previous Pokemon.
"Hah..." With a relieved sigh, Twilight lowered her head, letting go of her pendant. It was done. Well, a majority of it. The main problem was the fact that the forest far from Unova. On top of that, parts of it have affected the Sea Temple. The flora of the forest could be seen seeping into the Sea Temple, giving it a mix of Water and Grass.
"A job well done, Twilight Sparkle." Safia approached the exhausted Pokemon Trainer. "But the forest is still greatly misplaced."
"Yeah, I noticed." Twilight smiled before letting out a chuckle. "Maybe I should've asked for another favour. Too late for that, I guess."
"Well, it could be worse. The Sea Temple is at least still in one piece." Alo was glad that no colossal damage was done to the Sea Temple. For the most part, they got off easy compared to previous experiences.
"Twilight Sparkle. You must understand that the forest cannot stay in this universe. It must return to Unova, no matter what."
"I know. Do you think I can pull the same trick off again? This time with better focus?" Twilight asked. She got them here and she wished to take them away. Specifically, the forest.
"Let me see." All Safia had to do was find out how much power the crystals received thanks to the pendant. After all, the crystals were involved in this transportation but a lack of focus led to this misplacement. And with just a touch, she felt a great increase. The crystals, while not at full power anymore, had received quite the refill. "Amazing...!"
"What?! What is it?!" Frantically, Twilight would ask.
"The crystals have regained a good amount of strength from this. That pendant of yours was quite effective for its first-time use. Are you positive that you have never used it before?"
"Mm-mm! I don't even know that much about it!" This was simply an example of a higher power at play. The light within connected to the Alpha Pokemon after all and Sci-Twi didn't have control over such power.
Hearing this conversation from a distance and exempting himself from all the conflict was Volo, who came to see all of the ruckus. After witnessing the sudden attack from incomplete Pokemon, he would gaze at Sci-Twi's group, hearing more about something related to the Pokemon he wishes to reach.
"Splendid!" Alo exclaimed. "If you have nothing to interrupt you, then perhaps you can place the forest in its original position."
"Really? Do you think it needs time to recharge or something?" Looking at the pendant, it didn't seem like it needed time to rest or anything of the sort. But with Safia shaking her head, it seemed that she had the power to pull it off again, but without any interruptions.
Twilight held the pendant in her hands, closing her eyes to concentrate. She envisioned the forest in Unova, picturing its lush greenery and familiar surroundings. She made sure that the forest would blend in perfectly, trying to see if she could find its proper location. The crystals in the chamber responded, resonating with the pendant's energy.
"Let the light guide you," Safia whispered, her eyes fixed on the pendant.
A soft glow enveloped Twilight as the pendant's light intensified. The crystals hummed in harmony, amplifying the energy channelling through them. The Sea Temple's aura became a manifestation of unity and cooperation.
With a determined expression, Twilight spoke softly to the pendant, "Take us back to Unova. Please put the forest back where it was..."
As she uttered these words, the pendant emitted a brilliant surge of light. The energy reached out, creating a connection with the displaced forest in the Human World. This was the one thing Sci-Twi could do with the Arceus Pendant, but it could only be done while next to the crystals. It was better than nothing.
Volo would watch the pendant glow, seeing it in action at last. He previously saw it do something after it stung his hand upon contact. But it could do more than just that.
"What just happened...?" Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Applejack were partaking in the Sea Temple food this entire time. Right outside the window, they witnessed not just the same forest that they were at not too long ago, but their own world.
"We're back home?! How?!" Pinkie Pie bellowed before almost choking on the food. They were very much out in the open with many eyes locked onto them. Aside from the mansion that came from a lost universe, this was the first instance of a location from the Pokemon World appearing in the Human World.
"Girls...I didn't swallow my food properly after that..." Poor Applejack was disrupted when eating, specifically when the temple was transported to her world.
The rest of them would glance at the outside, recognizing this coast. It wasn't too far away from where they were. However, they wouldn't be here for long. Right as Sunset Shimmer was about to take a step outside, the floor beneath her lit up. She looked down to see that radiant light appearing once more, freezing on the spot.
The radiant light beneath Sunset Shimmer intensified, swirling around her. The magical energy seemed to respond to the pendant's resonance. Before anyone could react, a dazzling beam enveloped everyone yet again. Sci-Twi had done it a second time but without any disruptions.
Those on the outside witnessed that brilliant light once more, consuming an entire temple and a forest. They were still stuck on those two things but wouldn't have the time to wonder why or how they were here.
The Sea Temple itself began to dissolve into specks of light, blending seamlessly with the vibrant aura created by the pendant. The forest, too, lost its tangible form, its essence becoming one with the cosmic energies.
Within this radiant spectacle, everyone found themselves surrounded by the luminous glow. The pendant in Sci-Twi's hand pulsed with a newfound intensity, its connection to the Sea Temple and the forest reaching its zenith. Those from the outside witnessed these two locations just vanish out of thin air, much like how they appeared. They were gone.
As the light subsided, they discovered themselves in a place that transcended the boundaries of their respective worlds. The surroundings were an amalgamation of Sea Temple aesthetics and the ethereal landscapes of the forest. The crystal-clear waters coexisted with lush greenery, creating a harmonious fusion of elements.
"Hm. This doesn't look that familiar." Alo pointed out.
Twilight Sparkle glanced around in awe, trying to comprehend the scope of what she had just accomplished. "Did we... bring the Sea Temple and the forest to a new realm?"
Safia, too, observed the surroundings with curiosity. "It appears so. We are in a space that resonates with both the Sea Temple and the Forest. Your pendant has created a bridge between dimensions, but this should just be temporary and we should be in Unova eventually."
"Temporary, huh? I hope so..." Twilight chuckled with a nervous tone.
Alo, leaning on his staff, added, "Indeed, this is unprecedented. It seems the pendant's power is far greater than we initially understood. Ah, I wish I knew about it more than I think I do..."
"I for one think you did fine, Twilight." Speaking at last was Volo.
"Volo?! You're here?!"
"He was here the entire time. I suppose I forgot to mention that the rest of your friends were present on the Sea Temple." Safia said. "The ones you attempted to reunite with."
"Not bad, Twilight. For someone who's a complete rookie, in terms of our world, you catch on fast."
"Well...It was by accident!" She grinned. "But I think I'm getting the hang of this. For a moment, I think I saw Arceus."
"You saw Arceus?" Volo's attention had been elevated. To his surprise, Sci-Twi, the so-called rookie Pokemon Trainer saw Arceus, albeit a silhouette of him.
"Just for a bit. I'm not even sure he knew I was there. But it was such a strange but wonderful feeling. Maybe, just maybe, I'm getting somewhere."
"So you say..." Volo smiled before thinking to himself. "So, she's also met Arceus in some way. It's not because of the shards, is it? Just the necklace. But why did he show himself to her? And why was she so worthy of such an item?"
"Twilight!" Coming to see Sci-Twi was Ash as his voice could be heard from a distance, echoing throughout the Sea Temple. And upon hearing his voice, Volo would walk off. Once he left, along came Ash and Pikachu. "Way to go, Twilight!"
"Pikachu!"
"I have Safia to thank for that. I don't think I would've pulled this off if you weren't awake."
"It is my duty to help those that are friends of his majesty." Safia bowed. "Which involves the entire world since his majesty loves it so much. Now that I have awakened, the temple and everything around it is under my full protection."
"So uh...What's up with that?" Ash asked about the bridge between worlds caused by the pendant and crystals. "And where's those new Pokemon go?"
Ash would receive those questions later. At this moment, the Sea Temple and the forest were beginning to exit this dimensional bridge.
Unova.
It was back to Unova. And the best part of it all was the fact that the Forest had been successfully returned to its original location. The tranquillity of Chargestone Cave, the scenic beauty of Route 6, and the bustling Mistralton City had it as company once more.
The forest, which had caused so much trouble, was now peacefully nestled in its rightful place. As such, a part of the world was startling to heal. A ripple of harmony spread throughout the surrounding environment. The once tumultuous energy that fueled the fearsome whirlpool began to undergo a transformation. The cosmic energies that connected the Sea Temple, the forest, and the incomplete Pokémon seemed to extend their influence even to the turbulent waters.
The sea, once caught in the grip of a destructive whirlpool, now experienced a subtle shift. The powerful currents started to calm, and the violent churning began to ease. It was as if the newfound balance brought about by the return of the forest and the Sea Temple had a positive impact on the sea itself.
A job well done from them. They all observed this phenomenon, seeing that this single action had far-reaching consequences. The interconnected nature of the Pokémon world and its elements became more apparent as the healing energy extended to every other nearby areas in Unova related to this forest. The restoration of balance echoed through the sea, signalling a newfound tranquillity that mirrored the harmony within the Sea Temple and the forest.
"This is only one part, your majesty." Safia looked onwards at the afternoon sun and the locations in the distance. That ray of light that struck Sinnoh will still leave behind catastrophic scenarios for many.
"I know. But everyone here's gonna make sure this world doesn't end. We worked hard for it." Ash had faith in his friends. After all, Princess Celestia was currently working on this issue, knowing that Daybreaker was behind it. At last, Daybreaker's threats were taking effect, but as always, this world was ready to retaliate.
"Here. You should have this." Sci-Twi would take off the pendant, aiming to give it to the People of the Water. "You know more about these things than I do. It's best that you use this to fix all the damage."
"I'm afraid not." Safia gently declined Sci-Twi's offer, "I appreciate your gesture, Twilight Sparkle, but this pendant is bound to you. It was chosen for you for a reason after all. While I may have a deep understanding of the many things, the pendant's true potential lies in the hands of its rightful owner."
Twilight looked at the pendant, a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty on her face. "But I don't even know how to fully control it. What if I make another mistake?"
"Not while we're here. We'll help each other, Twilight." Ash reassured when placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Trust in his majesty, Twilight." Alo stepped forward, offering words of encouragement. "You already trust in him so why waver now? With guidance and practice, you will harness its power effectively someday. "
"I guess you're right. Thank you, everyone," Twilight expressed her gratitude. "I'll do my best to learn and use the pendant's power wisely. I won't let any of you down. I promise." With that, she carefully put the pendant back around her neck, feeling a renewed sense of determination.
The ominous feeling in the air from before was still there, but it was balanced by that strong sense of hope which never wavered in this world.
The group, surrounded by the restored beauty of Unova, couldn't help but appreciate the interconnected tapestry that bound the Sea Temple, the forest, the incomplete Pokémon, and the sea. This was just the beginning of what Daybreaker's threats meant to this world as the journey continues.
Unova. Mistralton City. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
After placing the forest back to its original position, here at Mistralton City, Ash reunited with another part of his friend group. In the distance, the aftermath of the event could be seen in the form of the sun rays faintly beaming down on that very forest.
"You saw it first?" Ash spoke to them about the forest. "And you fought multiple Pokemon in one? Lucky!"
"I wouldn't call it lucky...Not knowing what we were up against almost ended us." Shaking her head was Sunset Shimmer. "For a moment, I thought the world was about to end with that ray of light."
"But Ash. I didn't think you being the King of the Sea was real." Rarity slid over, nudging Ash. "If it isn't any trouble, could you maybe lend us some Sea Temple exclusives? I mean, the temple is gone at the moment but still."
"Sea Temple exclusives? Well...They do have this." Digging into his, Ash had something from the Sea Temple at his disposal. Rarity had quite the grin on her face, expecting diamonds and pearls, maybe even rubies and sapphire. "This is pretty sweet!" But all Ash took out was a lantern of some sort. "Check it out! It's called an Aqua Flame Lantern! Alo said that it never goes out if it touches water. How cool is that?!"
In his hand, he held a dazzling lantern that burned with an aquaflame, a mesmerizing blue flame that never extinguished when coming into contact with water.
"I suppose it is nice." Rarity shrugged. Not quite what she was looking for but at least the lantern looked good. "Pass it over, it'll look good in the hallway."
"We've only got like 1 or 2 weeks left of this Pokemon Festival, right? We just got started too." Pinkie Pie spoke. Time was running out for the Pokemon Festival and the humans from the Human World missed out on the first week.
"You're a bit behind. Believe me when I say that a lot has happened. "Sci-Twi replied. "I have a Kubfu and a Bulbasaur by my side and I got to take part in a dojo that gave me them."
"You've still got time though. You're gonna wanna check all of this out." Ash would point his thumb to the rest of the festival, which would still continue even after the world-shaking event. "As for me, I'll be heading back with my last group."
"Are you still going to give that Breezeseal to Windflash and her siblings?"
"Yep. I wanna keep my promise. If she doesn't take it, then it is what it is." Ash looked into his bag, gazing at the Breezeseal as the voices within were waiting for their chance. Everyone looked inside to see this mystical item made by Windkiss, which had no distinguishable form unless they were from Windkiss's family.
But that didn't matter. So as long as it could reach Windflash and her siblings. Even though they weren't all into their ancestor's legacy, Ash still vowed to let the Breezeseal see them regardless.
Alola. Akala Island. Heahea City.
Over at Akala Island, it was as peaceful as always with Daybreaker's group away from here, for now. Princess Luna had returned to Equestria to discuss matters about Daybreaker's actions. Left behind was Nightmare Moon, who could still exist seperately, even from this distance.
In her hooves, Rarity held the newspaper that informed her and everyone about what happened in Sinnoh. "Yeesh! Check out the size of that crater!"
"That's more of a hole than a crater." Fluttershy pointed out. The fact that it even led to the sea made it beyond a crater. The only piece of land left had been ruined as the universe was currently trying to pacify this damage. "It's a shame. I hope the Pokemon there are alright."
"That Daybreaker...Oooh, if she were here, I'd take her down!" Rainbow Dash angrily grizzled her teeth, scrunching the newspaper.
"You could barely stop Spitfire though..." But Fluttershy quickly shut that possibility down. Or at least, questioned it.
"Yeah..." The multi-coloured-maned mare sighed, knowing she was probably not strong enough. Probably. "Ah, whatever.
At that moment, Zeraora approached Rainbow Dash, her resolve evident in the determined gleam of her eyes. The air carried a sense of calm, a stark contrast to the recent tumultuous events. As the Thunderclap Pokémon approached Rainbow Dash, she sought to have a crucial conversation about the future.
"Zera," Zeraora began, her voice carrying a mix of determination and vulnerability.
"Zeraora? What's up? You're away from your favourite spot." Rainbow Dash questioned, seeing that vulnerable look on her face.
"She said there's something we need to talk about." Fluttershy translated. "It's about everything that's happened."
"Ze..."
"Oh. Well, we're all safe now, thanks to Tapu Lele." Rainbow Dash turned to face Zeraora, sensing the weight behind her words. The past adventures and challenges had forged a bond between them, one that went beyond mere camaraderie.
"Zera. Zeraora," Zeraora continued, acknowledging the events that transpired.
"She's saying this. She's still blaming herself for all the trouble that's come our way. But she also saw something important there."
What Zeraora saw; was Rainbow Dash's loyalty. Her dedication to your friends. It made Zeraora realize that she wanted to be a part of that. Even her most favourite place didn't compare to that feeling.
Rainbow Dash regarded Zeraora, absorbing the sincerity in her words. The air became charged with unspoken emotions as the two Pokémon stood amidst the serenity of the morning.
"You...wanna come with us?"
"Ze!" She nodded at high speeds. Zeraora was hoping that Rainbow Dash would say yes. And if not, she could understand since her rage was still a potential issue that had yet to be solved.
"Zeraora," Rainbow Dash responded, her voice carrying a warmth that reflected her genuine feelings. She approached the Thunderclap Pokemon, making sure one thing was clear. "No need to worry. You're one of us. You'll never be alone in this, no matter what."
"Ze...?" The Electric-Type leaned in, hoping that meant what she meant.
"I'm just sugarcoating it. Of course, you can come along!" Rainbow Dash approved, taking flight with excitement. While Zeraora was still technically a captured Pokemon, she was basically free, being Rainbow Dash's team. Zeraora was now fully enveloped in this ever-growing friend group.
A moment of understanding passed between them, reinforcing the unspoken bond that had formed during their shared adventures. Zeraora's decision to stay echoed the enduring strength of friendship that transcended realms and dimensions.
"We're gonna do awesome things together, Zeraora! You, me and everyone!" Rainbow Dash held her hoof out. "And I promise you, we'll stop Daybreaker together!"
"Zeraora!" Zeraora loved to hear it. She was all for this new beginning in her life and to take down those who took her original home from here.
Rainbow Dash and Zeraora embraced the shared path ahead, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them. The skies of Alola and beyond held the promise of new adventures, united by loyalty and the unbreakable ties that bound them as friends.
However, Breaking up this lovely moment was Nightmare Moon, who would suddenly appear in front of Rainbow Dash's group. "Rainbow Dash! Fluttershy! I need your Xtransceiver at once!"
"Nightmare Moon? What's wrong?" Fluttershy asked.
"It's Twilight Moonlight! She's gone!" With a bellowing voice, Nightmare Moon revealed that she lost sight of Twilight Moonlight.
"Seriously!? Did she head back to her universe already?!" Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped.
"No...Not at all. Twilight Luminaria wouldn't let her leave until she reached Ash Ketchum or any of his counterparts." Nightmare Moon debunked that, knowing better. "It happened last night...that whole ting about her magic growing over the night, it seems to have grown to a good enough level."
Last Night.
Last night, which was the same night that Daybreaker and Gardevoir unleashed their newfound power that shook the world, there was a First Quarter Moon in the sky. The world was still shaking because of this unprecedented power surge and of course, Twilight Moonlight felt it.
While Nightmare Moon and many others were startled by this power, Twilight Moonlight formed a smile on her face. As the Alola Region started shaking with the trees violently blowing, the Twilight from another universe had her magic improve to a new level.
Without a sound, not even a silent glimmer, Twilight Moonlight was gone, enveloping herself in a white light. Nightmare Moon couldn't hear it but she could feel it. By turning her head, she witnessed Twilight Moonlight's signature magical aura and that was about it. The body of Twilight Moonlight was out of here.
Twilight Moonlight found the best possible time to flee, especially with the wind pressure getting strong enough to match that of hurricanes. While Alola got off easy with the power surge's fearsome effects, it still caused a ruckus as Nightmare Moon would spot how some buildings were threatening to come apart.
Prioritizing the lives of many over Twilight Moonlight, the alter-ego of Princess Luna risked losing sight of Twilight Moonlight. She was gone from Nightmare Moon's sights, searching for Ash yet again.
Unbeknownst to her at the time, minutes after the ruckus came to an end, she encountered Twilight Sparkle in the dead of the night. Her other self stood before her, expecting Twilight Moonlight to depart from here at the right possible moment. And she certainly found that moment but not without eyes on her.
As the Alola Region simmered down thanks to the fearsome power surge that was felt throughout the world, Twilight Sparkle and Twilight Moonlight locked eyes as the wind would blow around them.
"You're leaving already? Heading to Ash, I'm guessing." Twilight Sparkle spoke to her counterpart.
"I am. Don't try and stop me." Moonlight replied, already planning to go for her Poke Ball. "I want to speak with Ash right now and this is my golden opportunity."
Twilight Sparkle sighed, understanding where Twilight Moonlight was coming from. She knew that Twilight Moonlight had her reasons for seeking out Ash, and it was clear that this encounter could be different from the ones they've previously had.
"I won't stop you," Twilight Sparkle said, her eyes reflecting a mixture of concern and understanding.
"You won't?" Shocked, Twilight Moonlight leaned back. She then narrowed her eyes.
"No. I'm coming with you." Twilight Sparkle smiled. "I still need to make sure Ash is safe from you, since you want to capture him. But I'm surprised. You're going for him instead of Lucas or Nate? Why? They're a part of Prisma."
"Looking at everything surrounding Ash has made me think. My efforts have failed me back to back, even though I trained hard to be the best that I can be. I even had to question my abilities, but it's clear now. There's something specific about him that affects everyone and everything around him. Most likely, it has something to do wit his connection to Prisma."
"Well, I guess you could say that." Twilight Sparkle snickered. She knew the truth behind it and it wasn't a surprise that Twilight Moonlight was goign through the same thing.
"What? What is it?"
"I was like that from the start. Believe me, I didn't understand Ash at all when I first met him." Twilight Sparkle would look up at the night sky, thinking about the day their two worlds crossed. When gateways opened up inbetween her world and the Pokemon World. On that day, she encountered Ash.
You were like that too? Confused by him?"
Twilight Sparkle nodded, a fond smile playing on her lips. "Oh, absolutely. The way he approaches challenges, the bonds he forms with his Pokémon, his unwavering determination—it was all so different from what I was used to. But over time, I came to realize that it's precisely those qualities that make Ash so extraordinary. I never realized how big that first meeting would truly be."
In her mind, that was the most vital moment in her life, meeting Ash and Pikachu for the first time. Ever since she passed through that gateway, both of their worlds changed forever, while still keeping everything that made them special. Twilight also giggled when remembering how the conversation between her and Ash went.
4 Years Ago. Kanto. Pallet Town. Day.
"Holy moly, Pikachu! You see that?!" Ash exclaimed, his finger pointing enthusiastically at the rift in the fabric of reality. Pikachu, always ready for an adventure, hopped onto his friend's shoulder, fixing his gaze on the mysterious anomaly. At that moment, the air crackled with an otherworldly energy.
Suddenly, a hoof emerged from the rift, its colour a mesmerizing shade of purple. "A hoof? Which equine Pokémon is that?" Ash wondered aloud, his curiosity piqued. Out from the rift emerged none other than Twilight Sparkle, accompanied by her loyal dragon assistant, Spike.
The boy, still in his pyjamas, reached for his Pokédex only to realize his current attire wasn't exactly suited for Pokémon research. "Oh."
Twilight, with her sharp, violet eyes, took in the sight of the young trainer and his Pikachu. "Unbelievable, Spike. There's another world past here," she remarked, her voice tinged with amazement. Ash, still processing the sight before him, finally caught up to the conversation.
"Huh? Woah, you can talk?! Or is it just telepathy?" Ash marvelled, zipping around Twilight Sparkle to see what she was using. But it was her mouth, no use of magic or anything of the sort.
"Telepathy?" Twilight responded, a hint of confusion in her voice. Ash, however, was convinced that the pony was indeed speaking on her own.
"No way. You can talk without telepathy. I thought Meowth was the only one that could do that."
"What is he on about?" Spike asked Twilight, sharing in her bewilderment. Twilight couldn't offer an explanation; this encounter was proving to be more perplexing than any magic she had encountered before.
Meanwhile, Pikachu hopped off Ash's shoulder, making his way over to the duo. "Aww, look at how small it is," Twilight gushed, her eyes softening as she observed the electric mouse Pokémon. Pikachu extended his tiny hands toward Spike in a friendly gesture.
"Oh. Hey," Spike replied, shaking hands with Pikachu.
"Pikachu!" he added, conveying his greetings. Pikachu mistook Spike for being a fellow Pokemon the first day they met. So many misunderstandings came from that very day.
"He said hello back to you," Ash translated, kneeling down to pet Pikachu, who blushed in response.
"That's so sweet. Being best friends is always nice." Twilight couldn't help but appreciate the bond between Ash and Pikachu. However, she quickly refocused on the reason for their presence. "Oh right! We're here because of that!" She pointed towards the rift, drawing the attention of both Ash and Pikachu. "That rift appeared out of nowhere suddenly. And then it let out a blinding light that caused this. Ponies were being sent everywhere, and even some of your species ended up in our world."
"So you're from another world, huh?" Ash mused before turning his attention back to the gateway.
"Yes, and we hoped to come through here to find some answers. Luckily, the Rift seems harmless."
"Hm. Well, I got no idea really. I was kinda asleep through it all." Ash crossed his arms, chuckling at the absurdity of the situation.
"This is no laughing matter! This could be dangerous for both of our worlds!" Twilight roared at him, blowing his hair. "At least... I think it will. Spike, go on and tell the others that we should go see Princess Celestia. She may know what to do."
"Roger that." Spike darted through the rift, returning to his world to relay the urgent message.
"In the meantime, I have a few questions for you... uhh." Twilight struggled to recall his name.
"My name is Ash Ketchum." He fully introdcued himself on that day.
"Ash Ketchum! ...What kind of a name is that?" Quite unorthodox compared to where Twilight came from. If she didn't know better, she'd think he was trying to say Ash Ketchup but was unable to say the last part properly.
"Well, what's yours then?" He asked while leaning forward.
"Twilight Sparkle," she responded, prompting a suppressed laugh from Ash.
"Sure thing. Ask away, Miss Sparkle."
"Hmph." Twilight frowned at him, her inquisitive mind ready to unravel the mysteries that connected their worlds. It was a stark contrast to Twilight Sparkle's personality and way of doing things. This meeting already allowed both of them to get a good gist of who they were and Twilight wasn't all that impressed.
Yet, despite what seemed like an unorthodox and chaotic encounter, Ash's actions with unmatched spirit. As time went on, As she continued to observe Ash, Twilight Sparkle noticed the string of fortunate events that seemed to follow him wherever he went. From narrowly escaping dangerous situations to encountering rare and powerful Pokémon seemingly by chance, Ash was surrounded by an aura of extraordinary luck. This, too, was perplexing to Twilight Sparkle, who was accustomed to relying on careful planning and research.
This also rubbed off on everyone else. Very soon, many of his new friends would find themselves facing such moments. Whether it was scenarios where they could've perished or meeting with some of the most powerful Pokemon out there. This new world, even before it became one, was something else.
Over time, Twilight Sparkle and Ash formed an unexpected friendship, each learning from the other's perspective. It was a meeting that would set the stage for the interconnected destinies of the two Twilights and the events that led up to the wake of the power surge that shook the world.
"So...It's always been like this?" Twilight Moonlight said, captivated by Twilight Sparkle's short story.
"Yep. I wouldn't say from day one, but the signs were there. The world that Prisma and Twilight Luminaria used to live in was just like that but the Rift scrapped it and stuck to what we always had instead of just making us composites or something like that."
"Even after knowing this and the existence of Prisma, you still want to protect him." Moonlight commented.
"He's protected us all so much. I should return the favour. I know you don't mean any harm, Moonlight. I know you just want to keep everyone else safe, especially what happened back in your world. But please, don't hurt Ash. Or anyone related to him. "
Moonlight took a moment to absorb the sentiment, the connection between the two Twilights resonating with shared understanding. "I suppose we both have our reasons for seeking him out, then. "I don't get it at all. I need to speak with him myself and maybe I will."
"You won't regret it." Twilight Sparkle smiled, glad to hear it. She was glad that Moonlight would take a different approach this time.
But at that moment, both of their bodies felt funny. That familiar light from before which went back to Twilight Luminara returned. It specifically responded to this conversation after it came to an end, almost as if it was listening in. And that would make sense since Luminaria's soul is in them.
"This light. Is she making an appearance again? We're close to each other but..." Twilight Sparkle wondered. But with her eyes closed, Twilight Moonlight knew what this was.
"I don't have that long in this universe...She'll probably force me back and try again. Or my own universe will show up here to bring me back. Either way...before I return, I need to speak with Ash at once. Take me to him."
Alola. Akala Island. Heahea City.
"What's worse is that I can't find Twilight Sparkle anywhere. I need you two to call her or Ash Ketchum at once." Nightmare Moon requested after retelling what she knew, but not all of it was revealed to her.
"Well uh...About that..." The pegasi would squee in unison, slowly taking out their Xtransceivers. Alas, thanks to Daybreaker's forces, their Xtransceivers were ruined and unresponsive. So much for calling them since their devices were out of commission.
Nightmare Moon grumbled, but she didn't lose hope. Others had Xtransceivers. Spike Applejack, Rarity and the CMC all had them. She would just have to try her luck with them and hope that she wasn't too late since it was already the afternoon. Nightmare Moon didn't regret helping the civilians, but she did regret losing sight of Twilight Moonlight.
Unova. Mistralton City.
Back with Ash's group, as they were enjoying themselves and Ash and Sci-Twi were ready to depart once more, surprising them was the arrival of what appeared to be a gateway. Opening up here at Mistralton City was a new gateway made by the only person who could craft them now.
Lucas.
And indeed, Lucas was seen through the gateway, having his hands out, but he wasn't alone in this. Obviously, Twilight Sparkle was helping him stay stable but he had a new way of staying stable that would soon reveal itself.
Right as Ash was excited to see the other Twilight Sparkle, a third Twilight stepped through first. The one who was hunting him down from the start.
"Ash Ketchum." Stepping here with a hoof on the ground was none other than the other counterpart of Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Moonlight. At last, she caught up to Ash, keeping that serious look on her face as always.
"Twilight?" Sunset Shimmer and the others spouted, recognizing that signature face even without glasses. Twilight's face was just indistinguishable. They were amazed to see their friend's face on another body yet again. Third time in a row.
"I need to talk to you...now." Twilight Moonlight didn't have much time left. Her body was running on a time limit since last night as she was about to return to her universe fairly soon. Ash looked Twilight Moonlight in the eyes, knowing she was here for another reason.
And with this time limit, she couldn't exactly do what she wanted to do. Not when Twilight Luminaria was interfering, even opting to end this quickly despite Ash being this close.
The Arcane Institute. Existing in Twilight Moonlight's world, it stands as an imposing structure, nestled deep within mystical woods. Surrounded by an aura of ancient magic, the institute is shrouded in secrecy, its towering spires reaching towards the sky like fingers grasping at arcane knowledge. The architecture itself seems to pulse with energy, a testament to the potent forces cultivated within its walls.
Founded years ago with the noble goal of preparing ponies for the prophesized return of the powerful entity known as Prisma, their best student, Twilight Moonlight was still absent and even she failed to get things done.
Those at the Arcane Institute expected Twilight Moonlight to be back by now but thanks to Twilight Luminaria, she was allowed to stay in Universe 1 for an extended period of time. Currently, they were trying all that they could to bring her back from that universe, using every resource they had for the gateway.
"How is it that you still haven't reached her?" The Professor of this school, who had no physical body, spoke to his workers with his booming voice. They were working as hard as they could, using every resource in their arsenal.
"I...I don't know!" One of the employees pulled her mane. "The gateway has already closed and when we reopen and close it as soon as possible, she just won't show up!"
"This has to be the work of Prisma somehow." The Professor suspected, immediately pinning the blame on Prisma. "Maybe, a part of him has already awakened. This all weighed heavily on the minds of the faculty, and they were growing anxious in Twilight Moonlight's prolonged absence.
As the tension within the institute reached its peak, the gateway, the focal point of their desperate endeavours, began to wobble. It pulsated with a rhythmic intensity, echoing like a heartbeat. The workers exchanged uncertain glances, captivated by the unexpected movement.
In a surge of magical energy, the gateway fluctuated wildly, and the air crackled with anticipation. Suddenly, Twilight Moonlight materialized in a burst of light, her silhouette surrounded by a faint glow. The employees stared in awe and relief, their efforts finally yielding results.
Twilight Moonlight, appearing rather disoriented, stepped out from the magical portal. Her time was finally up in that universe as that was the longest she's been there and it wasn't even by the technology or magic from the Arcane Institute.
"You're back! What happened?!" One of the scientists questioned as many gathered around her.
"You were gone far longer than we expected, Moonlight." The Professor's voice spoke. "Why is that?"
"I didn't control how long I stayed there," Twilight Moonlight explained.. "Someone greater kept me around for a bit longer. There were forces at play in Universe 1 that I didn't see coming. But I was near Prisma more than I've ever been and-"
Before she could finish her explanation, the Professor's spectral voice cut through the air with an air of frustration. "You failed to stop Prisma yet again. You were close to his counterparts once more and yet his soul is still around, waiting to wake up." The Professor was not pleased. The Professor's disappointment was palpable, casting a shadow over the gathered scientists who would back away from Twilight Moonlight.
The scientists exchanged uneasy glances, realizing the gravity of the situation. The Professor's voice echoed, stern and uncompromising, "What did you spend most of your years learning here for? You are supposed to be a prodigy, one part of Twilight Luminaria herself. Our world is on the brink, Twilight Moonlight. We cannot afford failure."
The Professor's words resonated in the air, a stern reminder of the expectations placed upon Twilight Moonlight. The scientists, sensing the urgency, looked to her for answers. These expectations were also set by Twilight Moonlight, who saw herself as a greater force and the one destined to stop Prisma's return.
"The only thing you've managed to succeed at is attacking Universe's 1's locations that are tied to Prisma. But when face to face with his counterparts, you simply cannot win. Perhaps I overestimated your abilities, Twilight." The Professor's words cut deep, and Twilight Moonlight felt the weight of her own expectations crashing down upon her. The realization that she had fallen short of her own standards and the Professor's hopes was a bitter pill to swallow.
"I'm sorry...I started questioning my own abilities too." She lowered her head. "It's just that the people in that universe are something else." Twilight Moonlight admitted, her voice tinged with self-doubt
"I have been lenient on you many times, believing in your capabilities. You are still the institute's best student, but it's clear that you have more to learn. Come to my office, Twilight. I will continue my talk with you alone."
Twilight Moonlight nodded, a mix of gratitude and apprehension in her expression. The weight of the Professor's disappointment lingered as she made her way to his office. The scientists, aware of the gravity of the situation, returned to their tasks, leaving Twilight Moonlight to confront her own doubts and uncertainties.
"Twilight!" A voice called out, halting her journey to the Professor's office. Turning, Twilight Moonlight saw Silver Swirl, a fellow student and Guardian Angel from another universe. "You're back! I was so worried!"
"Mmm." Serious and stoic as ever, Twilight Moonlight nodded her head, acknowledging Silver Swirl. Despite the concern in Silver Swirl's voice, Twilight Moonlight still didn't see her as a friend.
"I'm guessing nothing good happened back there..." Silver Swirl slowly uttered. "But at least you're back and safe. "What happened that made you stick around for so long?"
"It was just something with Twilight Luminaria. But I would've been forced to stay there much longer if it wasn't for what I heard back there."
"What? What did you hear?"
"I ran into Ash again. But I didn't attack him this. I didn't attack any of Prisma's counterparts since I was trapped in a bubble. But when I came face to face with him again, he told me something." Moonlight started thinking about her encounter with Ash Ketchum and how it led to her return.
It was 5 minutes ago back at Universe 1. Once more, Twilight Moonlight stood before Ash and his friends at Mistralton City. The gateway that Lucas opened up had arrived, bringing Twilight Moonlight, Twilight Sparkle, Nate and Lucas to Unova once more.
"Looking at her just reminds me of Midnight Sparkle, honestly..." Sunset Shimmer said to Sci-Twi, seeing the similarities between the two with noticeable differences. Leaving the gateway and entering Mistralton was Princess Twilight Sparkle as well.
"Oh my gosh! Look at how cute you look as a pony!" Naturally, Twilight's Human friends would gush at Sparkle and Moonlight. They've already seen ponies but to see such familiar faces as ponies was a different story.
"Tell that to her, not me." Twilight Sparkle shrugged as her friends were eyeing her down and Twilight Moonlight.
"Hah..." Twilight Moonlight, whose body was fizzling and running on a time limit in this universe would take a deep breath as she was finally taking a more peaceful approach to the one she saw as a threat. "Ash Ketchum..."
"You're back. Here to try and capture me again?" Ash smiled at Moonlight.
"I've been thinking about something. Ever since I started my mission to take you and your counterparts down to prevent Prisma's return, I've failed to succeed. I didn't understand it at first but looking at everything around you, there's something I've started to realize."
In the parallel universe, the air seemed to shift as Twilight Moonlight contemplated a different perspective, a possibility that might alter the course of her mission against Prisma's counterparts. The encounter with Ash Ketchum held the promise of a new understanding, challenging the rigid beliefs that had guided her actions until now.
"Maybe it's not because I'm weak. I know I'm not weak. But everything around you is what's stopping me. All these allies you've gathered and the way you've managed to make it so big in this world... makes me realize that I was outnumbered in so many ways," she spoke with a tone that carried the weight of her contemplation. "Taking you down would leave an impact on everyone else. It's only you that I want. I want to keep this universe safe so it doesn't suffer any destruction like how mine did for a while."
The seconds ticked away in silence as Ash absorbed her words, allowing her to express the complex emotions that lingered beneath her stoic exterior. Despite the opposing sides they stood on, a thread of understanding seemed to weave its way between them.
"But...this doesn't mean I've given up," She asserted, her determination cutting through the tense atmosphere. "I have to stop you. Even if you don't mean any harm yourself, I can't have you reviving Prisma in any way, shape or form. If it means taking someone special away from everyone else, so be it."
"Heh. Okay. How about a deal?" Ash grinned, leaning in with a proposition. "Maybe next time, you can take me on at your best."
"What?" Twilight Moonlight uttered with a gasp and confusion on her face. So did all of Ash's friends. Did they hear that correctly? Was Ash encouraging this?
"You and I don't wanna see this world, your world or any world get destroyed. I already made a promise that I wouldn't let that happen. Not after we've come this far.
"Yeah. I'll be waiting, Twilight. For the day you can capture me and take me to your universe. Come back when you're stronger.
Twilight Moonlight's stoic facade wavered for a moment, revealing a flicker of surprise and uncertainty. Ash's unexpected proposition had left her momentarily off-balance, challenging the very foundation of her mission. Even after that, Twilight Moonlight was struggling to grasp it all. Hearing this was stunning since Ash was essentially encouraging her to get better.
As she disappeared from Universe 1, the unspoken pact lingered in the air, leaving both Twilight Moonlight and Ash with a sense of anticipation for the unknown future.
Universe 10.
"The nerve...It's like he wants to lose." Twilight Moonlight scoffed, her stoic expression betraying a hint of incredulity, as she recounted the encounter with Ash to Silver Swirl.
"That's what happened?" Silver Swirl giggled, finding it rather amusing.
Twilight Moonlight shot Silver Swirl a stern look, "This is serious, Silver Swirl. He's not taking the threat of Prisma seriously, and it's infuriating. We can't afford to underestimate the danger he poses."
"Sounds to me like he is." Silver Swirl shrugged. "He just goes about things differently. This is why I wanted to stop Prisma differently but...my way still isn't approved."
Twilight Moonlight continued on her way, the determined click of her hooves echoing through the hallowed halls of the Arcane Institute. Silver Swirl watched her leave, knowing that Twilight Moonlight was about to be faced with some harsh criticism from the Pokemon Professor just from the look on her face.
Eventually, she found herself standing before the imposing entrance to the Professor's office. The door, adorned with intricate magical symbols, radiating with ancient magic.
Without hesitation, Twilight Moonlight pushed the door open and entered the Professor's sanctum. Sitting there was the metallic pillar that he could speak through with no physical body to show. "Twilight Moonlight," the Professor's voice echoed, a blend of stern authority.
"Professor. I can tell you all I know and-"
"I heard it all." But he interrupted her, revealing that he heard the entire conversation between her and Silver Swirl. "You made a deal with him?"
"It caught me off guard too. I found it to be pointless since I was so dedicated to my mission. I didn't agree to the deal since I know that I'll eventually capture him."
"These failures can't keep happening. If it were anypony else, I would have expelled you from the institute and this misison entirely. But you are our best shot at the moment, Twilight. I still have faith in you because of your connection to Twilight Luminaria. Many of the students and everyone here do."
The Professor's words hung in the air, a stern acknowledgement of the high expectations placed on Twilight Moonlight's shoulders. The gravity of her failures and the faith he still held in her created a complex tension in the room. As the Arcane Institute's best student, Twilight Moonlight carried the weight of not only her mission but also the hopes of those who believed in her.
"One thing I agree with him is that you will grow stronger. You have room to grow it seems." The Professor said, agreeing with Ash on that one part and nothing more. His best student lacked the extra strength that was necessary for victory.
"I know..." Twilight Moonlight grumbled. Hearing that gutted her. Being reminded of this drawback was rather irritating to er especially.
"However, you can't expect to buy into all of that, can you? I've seen this before."
"You have?" Moonlight looked up at the metallic pillar.
"That exchange is all too familiar to me. Or at least, it's similar to that interaction. He promises not to bring destruction to the world? Even if he wishes not to, he doesn't have an inkling as to how powerful Prisma's soul is. It's for that reason I lost my body, confined to this metal structure while my own soul was still contained. Prisma is a lost cause. But I suppose I forgot to mention those around him."
The revelation added another layer of complexity to the mission, and the weight of the impending threats pressed down on Twilight Moonlight's shoulders. The mystic energies in the Professor's metallic sanctuary seemed to hum with the echoes of past mistakes, urging her to navigate the treacherous path ahead with newfound wisdom. "Are they just as dangerous? But they can't be..." Twilight Moonlight shuddered.
"They shouldn't. But much like those who would still opt to follow Prisma, Ash Ketchum is no different. If anything, he might have a greater following than Prisma. I was so focused on all of Prisma's counterparts and how they could return as one that his allies slipped my mind."
"There's no way they can be. I know they've gotten in my way, but they're only doing it to keep their friend safe. Even so-"
"They don't yet realize what they're protecting. But it's not like it's the same universe as the one Prisma came from. Your own counterparts will obviously keep Ash Ketchum safe, especially Twilight Sparkle. All three Twilights are without a doubt obstacles in our way, as much as it pains me to say that."
"I did try and convine them so many times, but nothing worked. I even encountered Twilight Luminaria in my dream."
"You...What?" That shocked the Pokemon Professor. This was new to him. "Tell me everything else. And after that, we will be absent from Universe One for a while. To improve your capabilities and to prepare for our largest mission we will take."
Twilight Moonlight nodded in understanding. It was back to the life she was used to here at the Arcane Institute. Universe 10 would stray away from Universe One for an even greater mission. One that was dedicated to finally stopping Prisma's revival.
"I can't believe you said that, Ash! You're basically asking her to take you out!" Universe One, Rainbow Dash's voice echoed through the air, filled with incredulity and frustration.
"Hehe. Couldn't help myself." Ash responded with a carefree laugh, his demeanour seemingly unaffected by the gravity of the situation. The exchange between the two friends carried a mixture of amusement and tension, as the unexpected proposition continued to ripple through the dynamics of their group. The atmosphere in Universe One crackled with the complexity of emotions, a blend of camaraderie and the weight of impending challenges.
"I can't say I didn't see that coming." But Princess Twilight Sparkle knew Ash well enough to know that it was just like him.
Rainbow Dash continued to fume, her frustration evident. "Seriously, Ash? This isn't some game! We're dealing with Prisma here, and you're making deals like it's a friendly match."
Ash, ever nonchalant, flashed a grin. "Come on, Rainbow Dash, lighten up. It's just a different approach. Maybe it'll work, who knows?"
"What are you gonna do if she wins though?" Sunset Shimmer brought up that one possibility of Twilight Moonlight winning.
Ash, with a casual shrug, responded to Sunset Shimmer's inquiry. "Well, if she wins, then she wins. I made the deal. I'll stick to my word. It's not like I plan on losing, though."
Sunset Shimmer raised an eyebrow. "You're pretty calm about potentially being taken to another universe."
"Hey, it's a win-win for me," Ash chuckled. "Either I keep doing what I'm doing, or I get a change of scenery. Plus, it might be interesting to see how things work in her universe."
"It's a win for all of us!" Lucas commented. "We'll be taken in too and see the sights."
"Mhm." Nodding in approval was Nate, who was still wearing the Cosmic Cloak to protect everyone from the strange plasma around him.
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "You're impossible, Ash. That goes for you two. You really at the same. What's your name? Nate?"
"That's right." Nate winked at the girls. "Since I'm another counterpart, I'm actually pretty popular back in my world. This isn't my Unova but I'm kind of an icon there and someone with a ton of Pokemon Knowledge. Ladies."
"Euh..." Rarity, Sunset and Applejack would grimace at that wink.
"Twilight Moonlight will obviously be back. But thankfully, we've avoided any catastrophic outcomes." Nightmare Moon commented. "Well, for the most part. Daybreaker's actions say otherwise."
"Yeah, Principal Lu-" Fluttershy shook her head, realizing that this wasn't her Luna. "I mean, Princess Luna."
"It's Nightmare Moon, thank you. I'm honestly surprised you still recognized who I was."
"Well, we'd better get going. Another chance to show the Breezeseal to Windflash and her family." Ash would put his bag back on, ready to depart. "Lucas. Are you alright with opening a new gateway?"
"Are you kidding? I'm way better now that Nate's by my side. Something about that Plasma just recharges me!" Lucas would cackle, raising his hands and generating cosmic energy.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to stay here for a while, Ash." Sci-Twi decided to stick with Sunset Shimmer and the others here at Unova. "Maybe now's a good time to take things slow."
"You got it. That's our cue to leave, Twi."
"I know, I know. I can talk to Windflash any time since she's a teacher at my school. But if we don't manage to let her keep the Breezeseal, then there's only one other option..." Twilight spoke while walking alongside Ash, Nate, Lucas and Nightmare Moon. Lucas would have to choose another location to open up a new gateway so that everywhere has a gateway each.
Harmonia Kingdom.
The atmosphere within the Harmonia Kingdom had grown increasingly tense as Ghetsis remained frozen in his throne room. Colress, meanwhile, had been tirelessly working on creating a barrier to shield Ghetsis's mind from the relentless intrusion of the angels seeking retribution.
In his lab, Colress toiled away with a mixture of determination and frustration. The rift objects, once tools of potential domination, were now being repurposed in a desperate attempt to fend off the celestial forces encroaching upon Ghetsis's consciousness.
"Not good. It isn't just the light that's an issue." Colress assessed when looking over everything. "Lord Ghetsis is now a lot like his own Hydreigon. There's a mishmash of energy clashing against each other. Umbrum Magic, Rift Magic and now Light Magic. All three of them are at odds against each other."
Lightwing, still in her astral form, observed from her captive state, her luminous eyes focused on Colress. "You're struggling with something that might be beyond your comprehension, Colress. Your pursuit of power may have led you astray, but it's not too late to change."
Colress, absorbed in his work, shot her a glare. "Enough of your sanctimonious words, angel." He shut her down immediately, focused on what was occurring with Ghetsis. Things were starting to get out of hand.
Lightwing, still observing from her astral form, chimed in with a hint of urgency. "Balancing such opposing forces needs a delicate touch. If left unchecked, the discord could lead to catastrophic consequences, not only for Ghetsis but for the entire kingdom."
And the effects were showing. Colress, witnessing the transformation before him, recognized the gravity of the situation. The clash of Umbrum, Rift, and Light Magic within Ghetsis was manifesting in a tangible and ominous manner. The once solid form of the ruler of the Harmonia Kingdom was now being encased in an otherworldly material that seemed to solidify with each passing moment.
"Lord Ghetsis!?" Colress muttered, his eyes narrowed.
Ghetsis was now turned to stone, stuck in that same position as his struggle against the Light of the Angels came to an end. And in his defeat. The ruler of the Harmonia Kingdom might as well be a statue. Colress was stunned as all his hard work including the work of the rest of Team Plasma was for naught.
However, the residents of the Harmonia Kingdom could not know about this. Not at all. News breaking out could cause a ruckus and other problems that Team Plasma wasn't willing to take on.
Lightwing closed her eyes, smiling as she knew her friends were up there responsible for this. The angels wouldn't abandon their own. And yet, Lightwing's Astral Form was still stuck here even with Ghetsis being petrified. She didn't understand it, but Lightwing could at least look at that piece of hope that came her way. In her eyes, there were more pieces left to be fulfilled.
There was absolute silence in the throne room around Ghetsis' defeat. All that energy died down, staying completely silent. The residents of the Harmonia Kingdom continued to believe in the protection of an angelic force, unaware of the internal struggles that threatened their ruler.
Pegalysium. Nimbus Archipelago. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
The Nimbus Archipelago. A collection of smaller floating islands linked together, which housed possibly the most number of clouds in Pegalysium. The archipelago is considered a romantic destination and a favourite spot for Pegasi riders to take moonlit flights.
The largest island in the Nimbus Archipelago is Cerulean Isle, which serves as the central hub. It features a sprawling, garden with flora that emit soft, blue light, creating a serene atmosphere. It also came with those singing flowers. The island is a popular gathering place for celebrations and events, with floating platforms serving as dance floors.
Right now, it was a part of the Pokemon Festival and opening the gateway to this part of Pegalysium was Lucas. He had arrived, along with Ash, Twilight and Nate. They were here for Windflash and her family, planning to give the Breezeseal to them.
"Is this the place?" Ash asked upon arriving.
"Windflash said her family sometimes appear around here. I don't think anypony else knew that they were Windkiss's descendants this whole time." Twilight Sparkle said. "Once we get the Breezeseal to them, we'll see what happens next."
As Ash and his companions approached Cerulean Isle, the air around them became filled with the enchanting melodies of the singing flowers. The azure glow from the flora cast a surreal radiance across the floating gardens, creating a nice ambience.
Ash, Lucas, Twilight, and Nate were drawn toward the heart of the island, where the celebration was at its peak. The floating platforms served as makeshift dance floors, where trainers and their Pokemon gracefully moved to the rhythm of the magical music.
As they navigated through the lively crowd, they soon spotted Windflash and her siblings, isolated from the rest and sitting next to an area known as Sapphire Shores. A dazzling seaside that possessed crystalline sand.
"Aha! There she is!" Twilight hollered. At last, they had found Windflash as she was with six of her siblings right now.
"Hm? Twilight?" Windflash noticed them approaching. "My time at the Pokemon School isn't today. Is it?"
"No. We're just here for a different reason. You and your family get around a lot, don't you? Even though you live away from most of civilization up here." Twilight pointed out.
"Everywhere in the wild is our home." Windflash giggled. "I don't think we'll ever get used to being inside of a school or any building. It might take a long time, honestly."
"Glad we found you all. I've been waiting to bring this over." The moment of truth. Digging into his bag, Ash was about to pull the Breezeseal. A mystical object that was rightfully meant to go towards Windkiss's descendants.
Windflash and her siblings gathered eagerly as Ash carefully revealed the Breezeseal. The moment it caught the moonlight, the enchanted item emitted a soft, soothing hum. The Pegasi siblings gazed at it with a mix of curiosity and reverence, their eyes reflecting the glow of the mystical object.
And since they were the rightful owners, they could actually perceive its true form. As Windflash and her siblings gazed upon the Breezeseal, a transformation occurred that was imperceptible to the onlookers. The once complex and enigmatic shape of the mystical item unravelled its intricacies before the eyes of the Pegasi descendants. To them, the true form of the Breezeseal became apparent – a radiant, multi-faced masterpiece.
The crystal-like facets of the Breezeseal shifted and danced, revealing patterns that transcended the understanding of ordinary observers. The alternate-dimensional nature of the artefact unfolded before the eyes of Windflash and her siblings, a sight that resonated with the very essence of their Pegasus lineage.
Windflash, with the Breezeseal cradled in her hooves, marvelled at its beauty. "Wow...What is this thing? it's like a living story," she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe."
Her siblings nodded in agreement, each one connecting with the unique facets of the Breezeseal that spoke to their individual strengths and affinities. The complexity of the artefact resonated with the multifaceted nature of their Pegasus abilities.
"This baby apparently has the power to seal someone inside of the wind. Windkiss made it all all those years ago to deal with the Indigo Union but since no one else in her family took it in all those years ago, it's kinda been stuck in a cave for so long." "Ash explained.
"Descendants of Windkiss. It is an honour to meet you." As the ponies within the Breezeseal spoke to Windflash and her siblings, a chorus of voices echoed in their minds.
"Ooo..." Windflash couldn't help but express her amazement. The magical showcase unfolding before them was unlike anything they had experienced in the wild. The singing flowers, the crystalline sand, and now the sentient voices within the Breezeseal – it was a convergence of magic that left the Pegasi descendants in awe.
"We have been waiting centuries for this moment and now the rightful owners of our creator's work can be passed down at last." The voices were very much pleased. "The purpose of the Breezeseal can be fulfilled now."
Twilight, always eager to share knowledge, chimed in, "Your family's connection to this kind of magic has always been a bit out of this world, and now, with the Breezeseal, you have a bridge to the magical legacy of Windkiss. You never used the Clock Door, but maybe you can use this. Easier to carry too."
"Mmm..." Windflash and her siblings gazed at the Breezeseal pondering for a moment.
"We know that the Indigo Union has been dealt with mostly and there are other threats out there. The Breezeseal can go past our original purpose and be used on all threats in the world."
"Thank you. But I don't think we'll be using it." Windkiss gave her answer and it was the one Ash and Twilight expected for the most part.
"W-What?!" The voices in the Breezeseal were flabbergasted. Ash and Twilight already told them about this a few days ago, but now they saw that it was true. Straight from the mouth of Windflash herself.
The voices within the Breezeseal fell into an astonished silence, their ethereal tones reflecting a mix of surprise and disappointment. The Pegasi descendants, despite being the rightful heirs to this magical legacy, seemed hesitant to fully embrace the mystical artefacts that linked them to their ancestor, Windkiss.
"Sorry. It's like we said. We never looked into our ancestor's legacy all that much. Everything she's created, we've never went for or looked into them all."
"What Ash Ketchum and Twilight Sparkle said were true..." one of the voices murmured in disbelief.
Twilight exchanged a glance with Ash, both understanding that the Pegasi siblings were deeply connected to the untamed world and, for reasons known only to them, were reluctant to delve into the magical legacies left behind by Windkiss.
"Sorry." Windkiss approached the Breezeseal in Ash's hand. "But...That doesn't mean we won't take it. It'll be a nice memento of our ancestor."
"Y-You'll take it?!" The voices stuttered once more. There was hope after all.
"Mhm. Why not?" As Windflash spoke, she approached the Breezeseal, her gaze softening with a mixture of gratitude and reverence. With a gentle hoof, she accepted the artefact from Ash's hands and cradled it against her chest. The magical energies within the Breezeseal responded, casting a subtle glow around Windflash. "We didn't say we wouldn't take it. We might not use it since we don't get involved in a lot of things."
"Aah...Had us worried." The voices within let out a collective sigh.
"Thank you. Twilight. Ash." Windflash said, her voice carrying a tone of appreciation. "We might not use it, but having the Breezeseal as a memento of our ancestor is something we'll cherish. Maybe it'll come in handy someday."
Her siblings gathered around, nodding in agreement. The voices within the Breezeseal, though initially surprised, now resonated with understanding and acceptance. The magical artefact, once created by Windkiss to face a formidable threat, had found a new purpose as a cherished relic within the Pegasi family.
It was a promise fulfilled. Ash's promise was finished and he was done here. Well, not for the rest of Pegalysium. He wasn't leaving the nation in the sky so soon.
The rest of the day would go by normally without anything else serious coming up. It seemed that the Breezeseal and Windflash brought some finale to everything that's happened so far during the 4th Pokemon Festival.
Ash and his friends found themselves partaking in all the wonders from the Nimbus Archipelago. One area on the archipelago known as Lavender Lagoon was renowned for its sweet lavender-infused treats, ranging from pastries to beverages. Visitors can savour these delicacies while enjoying the serene ambience of the lagoon.
Some of this was previously found back at Ponyville when Pegalysium's residents came by to share their food and it was just as good up here. Nate, in particular, seemed captivated by the lavender-infused delicacies, his face displaying a mix of surprise and pleasure with each bite.
"Oh yeah! Sky food is the best!" Nate bellowed. The culinary delights of Pegalysium continued to impress, no matter if someone comes from another universe.
They visited a shop named Mystic Mirage Mews which offers illusionary artefacts, such as enchanted mirrors and trinkets that create temporary illusions. Ash used one of the artefacts to immediately appear as a Dragon. So did Lucas and Nate as the three of them appeared as Dragons that Twilight has never seen before. Pikachu and Eseon did the same, giving themselves ancient and futuristic looks. Pikachu appeared as a primal version of himself while Espeon resembled an anroid. A little bit like Iron Valiant as well.
"Mmm..." Twilight, when observing what else the archipelago had to offer, she saw something that caught her attention. The Moonlit Rendevouz. The poster of this area stated this. Couples often venture to Lavender Lagoon for moonlit flights and romantic evenings. The lagoon's pools reflect the celestial hues, amplifying the sense of magic and intimacy. It's a favourite spot for marriage proposals and cloudy weddings. The jackpot for Twilight. She wanted to go there immediately. "Hey, Ash. How about we-"
"Yeah, great stuff, Pikachu!" But Ash was too busy fixated on what he was up to with Nate and Lucas. At this moment, Lucas and Nate had sent out their Pikachus which were each Ash's Pikachu wearing hats from Sinnoh and Unova. The three Pikachus were undergoing a contest.
A Shock Off to be exact. Both Pikachus were measuring their electricity, seeing who could generate enough lightning to knock out their Trainers first. The lightning bolts were all unleashed on the three Trainers who were willing to be shocked just to test the numbers out.
Twilight lowered her eyes at this, barely surprised that they'd be willing to hurt themselves for this. Ash was expected but she wasn't all that surprised when Nate and Lucas started doing the same thing. The similarities were showing themselves more and more.
But, unlike in the past, Twilight was more willing to get involved herself. She would approach the group and their strange contest but perhaps excluding herself from any electrical action. Minutes would pass. Those minutes would end up as hours as the beautiful Sun in the sky would move at its gradual place, entering the late afternoon.
Twilight.
Right now, it was a Twilight. An Edge between Sunrise and Nightfall. The beautiful colours of the Twilight peered through the grand skies.
The sky itself undergoes a breathtaking transformation during Pegalysium's Twilight. The once vibrant blue canvas begins to blend into a canvas of rich purples, pinks, and oranges. Wispy clouds catch the last rays of sunlight, turning into a canvas of pastel shades. The transition from day to night is a gradual process, allowing the inhabitants of Aetheria to witness a slow, serene metamorphosis.
As the sun disappears completely, Pegalysium's Twilighth unveils a celestial panorama. The stars emerge like diamonds scattered across the velvety sky. Luminescent plants and crystals embedded in the floating islands respond to the absence of daylight by emitting a soft, otherworldly glow, creating a gentle and calming ambience.
"I can see what all the hype was about." Nate said while walking along Pegalysium's beautiful fields. "You've got yourself one heck of a world."
"It was worth putting it all together. There's still some stuff we gotta work on though," said Ash. Currently, all three Pikachu were walking alongside each other, conversing with each other and reminiscing about the past. Ash's Pikachu was even spoiling things for his past selves about the rest of his adventures.
Suddenly, a distant rumble echoed through the sky, resonating like the deep bass notes of celestial music. The ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble faintly, and the air pulsated with energy. A sense of awe and anticipation filled the adventurers as they exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"Woah! What is that?!" Lucas gasped. In the distance, he saw them for the first time. Against the fading hues of the twilight, colossal silhouettes emerged, majestic forms with outstretched wings that seemed to span the entire sky. The shadows, shrouded in mist, danced gracefully on the distant horizons. The Pegalysium Giants, the titans that they were, were soaring through the heavens, their presence felt more profoundly than seen.
The Pegalysium Giants. Their forms were obscured by distance, clouds, and mist, appearing as colossal silhouettes that move gracefully through the skies.
"Oh check it out! I think those are the Pegalysium Giants in the background!" Ash squinted, recognizing those towering figures in the distance. "Man, I still haven't seen them up close!"
"Pikachu!"
"Well, you're not gonna start now!" Twilight exclaimed, closing her eyes as she felt the strong wind pressure. "I'm already counting on Windflash to teach me about it back at the Pokemon School and the same goes for the students. We'll wait for that and then we can head over and-"
The rhythmic beat of colossal wings echoed through the air, creating a melodic symphony of celestial flight. Twilight was interrupted as the adventurers could feel the gentle vibrations beneath their feet, as if the very skies acknowledged the presence of these mountain-sized beings. The Celestial Titans moved with deliberate elegance, their forms occasionally revealed in the shimmering moonlight that broke through the clouds.
At that moment, while Nate was smiling at this pleasing sight, the cosmic cloak that he was given would start fizzling. Or rather, the plasma that was around him would move past the cloak. Nate noticed this as the cloak was beginning to fail but his true form was still visible to Ash and Lucas.
"Uh! Twilight!" Nate pointed out. Upon calling her name, Twilight turned around to immediately saw Nate appearing as her brother this time instead of her father.
"It's running out?!" Twilight screeche. So much for permanent protection. It wasn't as perfect as she wanted it to be. "No need to worry! We can just head back to my place and sort this out! I can restart the cloak!"
Thankfully, Twilight could just start over thanks to the Cauldron of Rift Magic back home. Getting Nate back would mean keeping him away from everyone's eyes since they would see him as someone important. However, Nate would still keep the cloak on him, covering his face with it. Ash and Lucas, who could safely touch Nate, would pull him away, deciding to leave Pegalysium behind.
Unbeknownst to them, one of the Pegalysium Giants was actually watching them. The crimson eyes in the distance locked onto Ash and his group, lingering there for a moment. And afterwards, the Giant Pegasus would fly off, bringing no further interaction.
But right behind it, there seemed to be another giant figure in the distance that resembled a Pidgeot, joining the pegasi wherever they went.
It was back to Ponyville and Nate had to be quite stealthy in this scenario. Having the cloak over his head, his face was hidden but the lower part of his body was still revealed. And depending on who sees him, they'll all view a different lower body part, recognizing it immediately.
"Are we there yet...all I keep seeing are stars with this cloak." Nate asked while moving blindly, only having Ash and Lucas to guide him.
"Just a bit more, Nate. After that, you'll get a good look at Ponyville." Twilight replied, navigating her head and eyes to view everypony else and their reactions. They were certainly eyes on Nate, who would all see someone different.
"Twilight. Why are you covering my Wooper?" Derpy questioned, seeing her Wooper instead of Nate. Despite the two of them being of differeing sizes, the size of this fake Wooper was the same as Nate. Quite the large Wooper and even still, Derpy knew it was hers. "Did he hit a growth spurt too?"
"Wooper?" However, the real Wooper was standing right next to Derpy, asking the same thing. But he mainly saw Derpy, who was the same size as a human.
"How can you even tell it's your Wooper?" Twilight wondered before shaking her head. "Nevermind. Just a bit of otherworldly shenanigans going on."
"Oh my gosh! Is that Rhtythm Rumble with you?!" Some ponies saw celebrities who do have a lot of admirers without a doubt. In the eyes of these girls, they saw a celebrity by the name of Rhythm Rumble.
"Yes, yes, it's time. He's busy at the moment." Twilight babbled, trying to play it off. Nate was at least protected by his friends who would make sure he wouldn't be swarmed. "I should've expected the celebrity part.
"It wouldn't be so bad if either of those celebrities were Pokemon Trainers. I'd give them a good name." Nate chuckled right afterwards. "So, are you gonna make me a new cloak?"
"I might have to refresh this one but it looks like it has a time limit and it's not perfect. Until we figure out how to remove the plasma from you, you'll be stuck wearing that cloak."
"Aww...but no one will get to see how cool I look," Nate grumbled.
"Hey! I personally decided to give it a cosmic appearance." Twilight puffed her cheeks while narrowing her eyes. "I think it looks wonderful on anyone who wears it."
"After the Pokemon Festival's over, you're probably gonna be stuck here, Nate." said Lucas. "You can't go anywhere for too long without being seen as someone else. But I do. I get to go wherever I want by opening up a bunch of gateways."
"Then, what about Red and everyone else?" Nate asked.
"Who knows? I haven't seen anything from them at all. Plus, who knows what they've been doing this whole time? One thing's for sure, we're not leaving this universe any time soon."
"I would hope so." Twilight would suddenly come to a halt. "Until we get this Prisma issue sorted out, you're all staying here. We can't have Moonlight or anyone from the Institute come after you in your own universe while you're separated."
"You mean..." Nate uttered before Lucas and him spoke at the same time. "We have to continue sticking together?"
"That's right. That way, we can better understand the whole Prisma thing and keep you away from any alternate universe shenanigans."
"Hm." For a moment, Ash would ponder. "Does that mean we'll have to find Red and the others and bring them here?"
"Probably. But I don't want them to be too limited. It's not like I'm going to keep you from exploring the world. Just... keeping our eyes out." But Twilight wanted to make herself clear with her intentions. It wasn't to shelter them, because she knows they can all take care of themselves.
"Well, we only have uh..." Lucas held his hand out, counting how many counterparts there were left and the ones that were present in this universe.
Ash, Red, Ethan, Brendan, Lucas, Hilbert and Nate. That was 7 Counterparts in total. Only 3 remain which wasn't all that. Even the Four Twilights have managed to meet up with each other at the same time.
"Hm. Just three. That isn't so bad. All that's left is for Calem, Elio and Victor to show up. And that'll be it." Lucas named the remaining three. "Won't be too hard to reach them. I can open up gateways now after all."
"About that. Princess Celestia will need you for one more thing. You haven't forgotten the Universal Alliance, right?" Twilight brought up a greater collection of worlds past the ones they've already learned about during this festival.
"Nope. You can leave it to me, Twilight. And maybe, I'll eventually get the hang of this stuff." Lucas held his hands up, generating the spatial power from within.
"Twilight...Why are you covering and pulling my dad?" A young filly asked, seeing her father as Nate. Realizing how bad this looked, Twilight would squee, deciding to stay behind and explain it all while Ash and Lucas pushed Nate away, rushing to the castle.
"Sticking together isn't so bad. Red was already doing it, and he doesn't stick around others all that much." Nate was on board with Twilight's plan. "We're not gonna do that whole Boys in Red and Blue thing Hilbert came up with, are we?"
"We probably are. It's gonna be a long string of weeks from now on." Lucas snickered along with Ash. Both of them knew what was coming and it was rather exciting. While they aren't cut from the same cloth, their connection to Prisma made them bond at great speeds.
With the Moon appearing over Equestria, another day in the Pokemon Festival was coming to an end. And it seems that peace, for the most part, was making a return with all current attacks coming to an end. And yet, that ominous feeling was still in the air.
Days and days went by for the Pokemon Festival. And in terms of the threats? Complete silence. And now, the Pokemon Festival was in its final week with only 2 days left to spare. As the Sun brightened over the horizon of Canterlot, emerging to usher in a new day, the Pokemon Festival was starting to simmer down now that it was approaching its end.
The Pokemon Festival had once again captivated the entire world for three weeks, bringing trainers and enthusiasts from every corner to celebrate the joy of this new world. As the final week approached, anticipation reached its peak.
Last year's festival had a song to close things off and something else would be appearing for the final day.
The Grand Finale was planned to be a spectacular display featuring rare and Legendary Pokemon from every region. Excitement buzzed through the air as millions gathered in the heart of the festival's host city which was always Canterlot that kicks things off.
And at Canterlot, Princess Celestia returned to Canterlot after the Daybreaker and Gardevoir incident. Knowing it was her alter-ego from another universe, she was ready for the worst to come.
"Hmm..." The Sun Princess watched from the outside, viewing the entire festival and its ongoings. "Nothing yet, but I just know something's coming. She wouldn't leave that much of an impression and not do anything else. Most likely, by the very end, she'll make her next move."
"The forces at Alola aren't anywhere to be seen." Luna approached, looking outside the window as well. "Perhaps they returned too. Their gateways have time limits still..."
"She's up to something." Celestia narrowed her eyes. "And waiting at the very end is exactly what she would do."
"How do you know?" Luna, skeptical but curious, questioned her sister's intuition.
"At the end of the day, she's still me." Celestia confidently said with a smile. "No matter what happens, we think the same. For the most part. And she wouldn't just now start her biggest moves during the Pokemon Festival. It's such a golden opportunity with so many gathered across the world."
"Seems more like a mistake to me the more that I think about it. That vast disadvantage in numbers." Luna kissed her teeth before shaking her teeth. "But they always manage to escape either way so..."
"Oh?" Before Celestia could reply, with her head aimed towards the skies, she saw that a Flying-Type was headed her way. A Butterfree, to be specific.
"Free!" This Butterfree had something on it. It appeared to be a letter that was wrapped around its neck as a necklace. Clearly, this was a messenger Buttefree. Upon descending, Butterfree would hand the letter over to the Sun Princess.
"Sister, who is it from?" Luna leaned over as Celestia gazed at the back of the letter to see the name. After giving the letter to her, the Butterfree would depart.
"It's from my good friend, Rain Shine. I wonder how she's doing?" Celestia mused, her eyes reflecting a hint of nostalgia. As she opened the letter, the princesses was hoping it was good news. "It's been so long." As the princess opened the letter with a bit of nostalgia, the contents within were clearly important for Rain Shine to write to Celestia after so long. "Oh dear."
"What? Is something wrong?"
"Perhaps I should've invited them to the meeting last week. They didn't get the chance to show up at the Royal Phantasy either even after my invitation."
"Is it because of the effects Daybreaker and Gardevoir left behind?"
"No...It appears to be before that. It looks like they've been facing their own Pokemon Problem. But the power felt across the world has only added to that." At that moment, Celestia would read what the letter had to offer.
"Dear Celestia. If this letter reaches you, then a lot of time has already passed. I'm sorry I couldn't come to the first-ever Royal Phantasy. For these past 4 years, we've experienced the arrival of the Pokemon in our world and have gone through our own Pokemon Encounter. I have no choice but to keep my subjects here. I wish I could tell you the name of the Pokemon but it has been causing me and my subjects a bit of distress. And embarrassingly, I am unable to do anything about it.
The atmosphere in the room shifted as the princesses absorbed the gravity of Rain Shine's situation. Rain Shine and her subjects have been plagued by their own set of challenges and struggles for these past 4 years. Celestia closed the letter, a solemn expression on her face.
"I wish I had known this from the start. I haven't seen Rain Shine in so long so it never crossed my mind what was happening with her subjects."
"What Pokemon do you think it could be? It would have to be one strong enough to withstand the power of the Nirik...Which is a lot of them, actually."
"Whoever it is, it won't pester my friends any longer. For 4 years is already unacceptable." Celestia scoffed. "I'm not going anywhere. Not until I can see what Daybreaker's next move will be. I will have to send a group to investigate and see what's wrong. Hopefully, they're alright."
Ponyville.
Back at Ponyville, Zeraora, who was now a part of Rainbow Dash's team, arrived at Cloudsdale, which would be her new home. In Cloudsdale, Zeraora stood outside the vibrant and colorful residence that now belonged to Rainbow Dash. Excitement bubbled in the air as Rainbow Dash introduced Zeraora to her new home.
"Here it is, Zeraora. Your new home! And your teammates!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed with joy, showing Zeraora all the new friends that would be by her side. Braviary, with his majestic wings, Whirlipede, rolling about playfully, Castform, changing forms with the weather, Luxray, radiating electric power, Mienshao, poised for action, and Whimsicott, floating gently with a whimsical air.
"Zera!" Zeraora, taking in the sight of her new teammates, felt a sense of camaraderie forming. The diverse group of Pokemon represented a range of types and personalities, each contributing to the unique dynamics of Rainbow Dash's team.
"This is gonna be great. Great things are coming, Zeraora, great things." Rainbow Dash beamed, giving her new teammate an encouraging pat on the back. "I'm sure you're gonna love it here. We're like a family!"
In unison, all of Rainbow Dash's Pokemon would close in for a hug with Braviary's massive wings pulling most of them in. They all cried with cheer, glad to have another friend on the team. "Ow! Guys!" Rainbow Dash winced, feeling the impact of the exuberant group hug, her friends' enthusiasm not holding back.
"Zera...!" Zeraora grimaced too, experiencing the intensity of the affectionate gesture. Despite the initial discomfort, a genuine smile formed on Zeraora's face. She may not have been accustomed to such displays of affection, but the warmth and happiness radiating from her new teammates made it all worthwhile.
Once they split up and Rainbow Dash caught her breath, the pegasus cleared her throat, having something else to say.
"Okay. We promised that we're gonna stop Daybreaker together one day, but we don't have to focus on that all the time. We can do a lot of things in our spare time. And one of them...is this." The moment of truth. From her wall, Rainbow Dash took down an image of a specific event that has yet to begin, but was practically close.
The Equestria League. Equestria's first-ever Pokemon League where many trainers would come together to become Equestria's first-ever Champion. "This is what we can aim for. I wanna be the first ever Equestria League Champion." Rainbow Dash held the poster high, a determined gleam in her eyes.
"Ze..." Zeraora's eyes widened in response to Rainbow Dash's declaration about aiming for the Equestria League Championship. The significance of this goal wasn't lost on her, especially considering Rainbow Dash had brought it up before, particularly during her challenge against one of the Frontier Brains.
"With you on our side, Zeraora, I know for a fact we're gonna get to the top. We'll be so strong, there's no one that we can't defeat!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
Zeraora felt a sense of pride in being a part of this team. The prospect of facing the challenges of the Equestria League alongside Rainbow Dash and the other Pokemon ignited a spark within her. She nodded, silently acknowledging the commitment to this new goal.
"Ora!" Zeraora wanted to get started right away. She saw Rainbow Dash in action back at the Manehattan Battle Frontier and knew that she was a pretty good Pokemon Trainer. The Thunderclap Pokemon didn't want to disappoint and also wanted to make sure that she was in tip-top shape.. With high energy, Zeraora dashed out of the house at high speeds, ready to train herself.
"Ah, wait! Zeraora!" Rainbow Dash gasped. She forgot to tell Zeraora one crucial thing about Cloudsdale and pretty much any location in the sky. Unless you were a pegasus, alicorn, a Flying-Type or a Pokemon that can fly without being a Flying-Type, you cannot stand on the clouds.
"Zera?" As Zeraora's foot went straight through the clouds, confusion flickered in her eyes. It took a moment for her to process the reality, and then her body started to drop. "Zeraaaa!" She exclaimed, the surprise evident in her voice as she descended through the cloud cover.
Rainbow Dash, realizing her oversight, rushed to the edge of the cloud. "Zeraora! Sorry, I forgot to mention! You can't stand on the clouds unless you can fly!" she called out, her wings flapping as she descended to meet Zeraora in the air.
"Braviary!" With Braviary following behind, both of them caught up to Zeraora in time, safely catching her. The Thunderclap Pokemon continued her descent as Braviary and Rainbow Dash swooped down, catching her mid-fall. "Gotcha! Forgot about that, huh?" Rainbow Dash grinned, gently setting Zeraora down on the cloud.
"Zeera..." Zeraora grumbled in acknowledgement, a bit embarrassed by the unexpected freefall. Any battles that will take place in the air might not cut it unless there's enough land.
"Don't worry about it. We have plenty of time to get you up to shape. I mean, you're already up to shape. How about we head back down and practice there?" Rainbow Dash suggested, promising Zeraora that she would get the training that she needed even if she was already a relatively strong Pokemon.
The Pokemon House.
Currently returning to the Pokemon House, Fluttershy and Applejack were at the Grass-Type section of the sanctuary. A meadow-like area filled with various toys and play structures for Pokemon of all types to enjoy. It wasn't limited to just Grass-Types as Pokemon like Eevee, Meowth, and Skitty gathered here for friendly interactions and games
"So, how did things go between you and Tapu Fini? Did you meet it?" Fluttershy asked.
"Mmm...Kinda my fault for looking for it. Guess Tapu Fini was just busy." Applejack crossed her hooves. She did not meet Tapu Fini after all. "But it's fine. I'm still grateful for what it did for me and my family. That's all I need."
"If we did find Tapu Fini, maybe we should have had it help Zeraora. It would've brought peace to her already. Maybe." Fluttershy added.
"Maybe. But I'd think we'd do something about that rage inside of her. If only we could force it out of her..." Applejack scratched her mane. "Mmm...I was thinking about having Delta Lucario knock it out of her but...I don't think that's a soul inside of her. Ya think Rainbow Dash can handle Zeraora forever? What if she loses it again?" Applejack, however, pondered a different approach.
Fluttershy's expression turned thoughtful, a hint of concern in her eyes. "Rainbow Dash is strong, but...even though her rage hasn't made a full-on return yet, it's still a problem. We need to find a way to help Zeraora confront and control those emotions. Maybe we can seek help from someone who understands a lot about a Pokemon's psyche."
"Dino. Audino." Audino pointed at herself, believing that she had the answer.
"Sorry, Audi. But an overwhelming Heal Pulse will only calm her down for so long. It won't be guaranteed all the time."
"Audino..." Audino sighed. Her suggestion was turned down, unfortunately.
"I thought you already did." Applejack glanced over at Fluttershy, believing her to be that very pony. She can understand Pokemon just like how she can understand animals obviously.
"Well, I've dealt with angry animals and Pokemon before but...Zeraora's on a different level. It's because of Ghetsis's and Daybreaker's magic that she can't help herself."
Applejack furrowed her brow, understanding the severity of Zeraora's condition. "Well, shoot. We can't let her stay like this forever but...can't think of anything else. If we could see Jirachi again though, that could help out."
"Right now, I'm sure that Rainbow Dash is going to do her best!" Fluttershy bellowed with excitement. "But just to be sure, maybe there is someone we can find. There's quite a few Pokemon that deal with emotions."
"Hm?" Applejack thought for a moment. A few Pokemon do come to mind. The entire Gardevoir evolution line, Blissey's evolution line, Hatterene but her evolution line is on the more dangerous side when it comes to emotions, Indeedee and even the Mespirit that encountered Princess Luna once.
It was at that moment Applejack realized that Psychic-Types were the best when it came to emotions. Celestia's Gardevoir has already tackled Zeraora and even that didn't guarantee the rage to fade away. She wasn't sure about the rest of them and Mespirit was a rare Pokemon to boot.
"I know one!" It was at that moment that Pinkie Pie unexpectedly popped her head out of a bed of flowers, startling her friends. She had heard the entire conversation and appeared with Mew on her back.
"Mew-Mew!"
"You know which Pokemon can help?" Fluttershy asked.
"You were thinking about Blissey weren't you? That was on your mind." Pinkie Pie already guessed which Pokemon Applejack was thinking about.
"How did you..." Applejack paused, wondering how Pinkie Pie pulled it off.
"You could have Mew turn into Blissey and solve it!" Fluttershy gasped, realizing what this could mean.
"Mm-mm." Pinkie shook her head along with Mew. Both of them shut that down instantly. "Nope. No ordinary Blissey's gonna do. But I know one."
"Ya do...?" Applejack leaned in.
"Before this year's Pokemon Festival started, I went to help out a town to get it ready. And they told me about a special Blissey that's been going around, making small towns happy. All the stuff that the Dread League did the world and even the Storm Behemoth left some pretty bad aftermaths. That's where that special Blissey comes in, cheering them up and fixing everything."
"Can't every Blissey already do that?" Applejack raised an eyebrow. That sounds a lot like what any Blissey can do.
"Yeah, but this one's special. It obviously is! She's like a small-town hero for other small towns! I wanted to see it for myself and I think we've got a golden opportunity~"
"How are we going to find it though? Do we have to visit small towns?" Fluttershy, concerned about the logistics, asked.
"Yeah. But we can track her too. All Blissey's smell the same and with my Slurpuff, it'll be easy to find it. Plus, after what Daybreaker did, there's a lot of towns out there that are gonna be shaken up." Pinkie Pie confidently responded,
"All Blissey's don't smell the same, do they?" Applejack faced Fluttershy once more.
"It's not their body scent she's picking up on." Fluttershy giggled while shaking her head. "It's her magic. Blissey's not a Fairy-Type but just like how Charizard is part of the Dragon Family, so is Blissey with the Fairy Family. Thanks to Valerie, we can detect Fairy Magic."
"Lucky gals..." Quite the skill that these two have obtained after being blessed with some Fairy Magic. Applejack couldn't help but be impressed. "But how are ya gonna tell all those Blissey apart? Ain't most of them with Nurse Joys?"
"Duh. That's why we have to find the ones that aren't with a Nurse Joy." Pinkie Pie winked. The unique circumstances surrounding the Blissey they sought made the search more manageable, adding a touch of excitement to their mission. "We've only got two days left of this so we won't be missing out on the Pokemon Festival all that much."
"Alrighty then. I guess we're doing this." Applejack had no complaints. "There's gonna be a lot of towns that felt all of that. But I don't think they're upset or anything."
Only one way for them to find out. While mostly everyone was confused, some locations would feel fear and for good reason. But this was all to make sure Zeraora doesn't cause any more harm as well. It was one thing to have Daybreaker cause a ruckus across the world. Zeraora could do the same but in a longer span of time.
With a shared determination to bring peace to Zeraora's rage, the trio set out on a quick journey during the last 2 days of the Pokemon Festival to locate the special Blissey. But really, she was only special in terms of how she acted, becoming a town hero for many small towns.
Johto.
The tremor left behind by Daybreaker and Gardevoir did settle down, but it didn't spell the end for some of these sudden disasters. Hurricanes were still present in certain areas, disrupting the peace.
But while some Pokemon who are guardians of the world responded to this as well as authorities out there, there was one more party involved in reacting to such damage. A rather new party.
In a secluded valley, nestled between the rolling hills of Johto and ancient forests, a rare celestial event occurred, awakening the dormant energies that have just arrived in the natural world. As the Sun bathed the landscape in its golden glow, emerging from the earth were Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter. The two new forms of matter that are still trying to make themselves comfortable.
Both of them reacted to the damage, but in their own ways.
The Dragon Matter took advantage of this. The fearsome hurricanes were grabbed by the energy which would use the destructive force of the hurricanes to its own benefit. It transformed the destroyed area into new inhabitable areas specifically made for Dragon-Type Pokemon. The destruction was essentially a sandbox for the Dragon Matter.
The Dragon Matter manifested as majestic, iridescent scales scattered across the land, forming patterns reminiscent of ancient runes. These scales emitted a warm, fiery glow, imbued with the essence of draconic power. In their presence, the air resonated with a deep, primal energy, and the ground itself seemed to pulse with vitality. As Dragon Matter spread across the terrain, it created vast, open expanses that radiated an inviting warmth, providing ideal environments for dragons to bask in the ambient energy.
Not only that, it took the Hurricane and placed it in the centre of this area. Just like that, a new area made for Dragon-Type Pokemon with a vicious storm in the middle but not at its full height as it was sunk into the Earth with only the top of it sticking out.
Fairy Matter, with its iridescent glow, began to float gently above the ground, forming ephemeral trails that sparkled like stardust in the sunny air. It moved with a sense of ethereal grace, creating a mesmerizing dance of light that left an enchanted trail in its wake. The air itself seemed to shimmer with the delicate vibrations emitted by the Fairy Matter, as if the very atmosphere resonated with the magic it contained.
It met with some of the hurricanes well, but instead of taking that destructive power, using the damage to make something new or even keep the hurricane around, the Fairy Matter opted to erase what would cause harm.
Its mystical power would transformed, losing its original form for something else. A Fairy Breeze was made, one that would permeate in this new area that was meant for Fairy Pokemon with many benefits. The lands were adorned with vibrant, luminescent flowers and crystalline structures.
The air surrounding these fairy habitats was filled with the sweet fragrance of magic, and the landscape beneath was transformed into a fairy-tale realm of enchantment. Fairy Matter brought forth meadows adorned with mystical dust, where the very ground seemed to sparkle with the promise of whimsy.
And from the Dragon Matter, the eyes of Prisma would glow. Prisma was still within this Draconic Energy since he was the original creator. His spirit was residing with them, watching over the newly created land. But that wasn't all.
In the Fairy Matter, two more eyes would appear. The eyes of Twilight Luminaria. Prisma's spirit wasn't the only one in these new forms of matter.
Under the expansive skies of Equestria, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie were on their way to find this special Blissey. The fields stretched out before them, a tapestry of green and gold under the sunlight. Tackling small towns was the way to go since that's where this heroic Blissey is said to appear at. Pinkie Pie's Slurpuff was currently using his strong sense of smell to track Blissey's magic, leading the way.
Applejack walked beside Fluttershy, who had a gentle expression on her face, clearly ready to extend her nurturing touch to any Pokemon or person they might encounter. Pinkie Pie skipped ahead, occasionally doing a little twirl as she kept an eye on Slurpuff's movements. In the distance, Audino could hear the sounds of the Pokemon Festival currently ongoing.
That's not all. They also saw the effects of what Daybreaker and Gardevoir did to the world. One of the mountains in the distance have been cleaved off with electricity violently crackling from the destroyed spot.
"Boy...That's a shame." Applejack shook her head at that sight.
"It's not hopeless though." Fluttershy used her wings to mimic a finger wag, looking at the positives. "Remember Zygarde? We just have to count on all of those cells and everything will be as good as new."
"It'll be a lot of work though~" Pinkie added. "This is the entire world we're talking about. But it's a Legendary Pokemon so it can fix it no matter what."
"Yeah, but it can fix that!?" Applejack gasped at the sight of a disaster. In the distance, one of the hills of Equestria would start rippling as if it were made out of bubbles. Right before their very eyes, the hills started melting, sending the distorted grass downwards in a surreal display.
As the rippling effect of the distorted hills moved closer, the trio soon realized it was heading straight for them. Pinkie Pie, ever the optimist, tried to find a silver lining.
"M-Maybe it's not as hot as magma?" she stuttered, attempting to look on the bright side with a nervous smile. That would soon be answered once the melted grass laid down its dangerous effects. Rocks were being destroyed by this bizarre combination, covered by the Melting Grass while nearby grass that had been kept safe from Daybreaker's actions were consumed.
Fluttershy took a step back, her wings folding slightly, "I don't think it's just heat we have to worry about." Upon seeing what this grass was capable of, the best thing to do here was hide from it. If caught, they might either be trapped in the grass or they might melt. Either one would be horrific.
The trio hastily made their way to a nearby cluster of trees, seeking refuge from the strange phenomenon that continued to distort the landscape. The air around them seemed to shimmer as the melting hills drew nearer, leaving the ponies with a sense of urgency to escape its path.
They watched how the Melting Grass moved across the land. Any rocks nearby were engulfed and ruined by the bizarre combination of distorted hills and grass. A once-sturdy cliffside succumbed to the effects, losing its shape as the land beneath it became flat.
Thankfully, they were out of its line of sight, but they could expect more like this now that they've seen it. The girls would move away from their hiding spot, continuing on their path and distancing themselves from the Melting Grass. Slurpuff's nose would twitch all of a sudden. When tracking the scent of the Blisseys and their hidden Fairy Magic, the scent of the Melting Grass caught his attention, making him wince.
Slur...Puff?!" Slurpuff grimaced at this scent which was not pleasant to whiff. Poor Slurpuff had to withstand thoug if they wanted to find that Blissey. He had to focus on the scent of Blissey only and try to ignore the Melting Grass. But that was rather difficult since it was so potent, gathering up the scent of the destroyed flora and environment and smacking the Meringue Pokemon in the face with it.
The trio continued to move across the transformed landscape, with Slurpuff leading the way as they followed the lingering scent of the Blisseys' Fairy Magic. They stayed vigilant, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of further unexpected disasters. The effects of Daybreaker's and Gardevoir's actions had left an indelible mark on the land, and the ponies were prepared for anything.
As they journeyed through the changing terrain, the once-familiar paths and landmarks took on an alien appearance. The Melting Grass had altered the topography, and they found themselves traversing landscapes that seemed to defy the natural order. Hills morphed into valleys, and trees appeared twisted and distorted.
However, their journey took an unexpected turn as they approached what seemed to be a serene lake. The water, once crystal clear, now shimmered with an unnatural hue. Slurpuff's nose twitched once again, picking up a different scent from the lake.
"Slur..."
"Slurpuff, what is it?" Pinkie Pie asked, noticing Slurpuff's reaction.
"Slurpuff!" The Fairy-Type Pokemon hesitated, clearly detecting something unusual about the lake. As the trio cautiously approached the water's edge, they witnessed a startling scene. The lake, affected by some unknown force, started to churn and bubble. An eerie glow emanated from its depths, casting an otherworldly light across the surroundings.
"What in tarnation is happening now?" Applejack exclaimed, her eyes narrowing at the strange occurrence.
Fluttershy, her concern growing, observed the distressed Pokemon swimming near the surface. "Those are Corsola! What's happening to them?"
The water continued to churn, and the Corsola seemed to be in distress, swimming erratically as if trying to escape an unseen force beneath the surface. "Corsola...!"
"Hold on!" Fluttershy hollered to them. Mew was the right Pokemon for this job as he immediately took on the form of a suitable Pokemon. In this case, Mew transformed himself into a Swampert.
"Swampert!" Upon taking this form, Mew leapt into the lake for the Corsola. But it wasn't that simple, especially when Swampert got up close. With his body over the water, the light from within would expand, reaching Mew's body. "Swamp?!"
The mysterious light from the lake struck Swampert, the transformed Mew, with an unknown power. The Pokemon winced as the energy surged through its body, dealing unexpected damage. The trio, witnessing this unforeseen turn of events, gasped in concern.
"Swamp...!" Mew cried out as the strange energy fizzled around his body. Not only that, he suddenly detransformed, returning into his original form. "Mew...!"
"It knocked him out of his transformation?! No way!" Pinkie Pie was in disbelief. One hit and her partner was back to normal.
The Corsola, still in distress, continued to swim frantically near the surface, seemingly unaware of the Pokemon that had come to their aid. The trio, standing at the water's edge, exchanged worried glances. The light from below was also enveloping their bodies but it didn't knock them back like it did with Mew.
"As if! grab' em Sceptile!" Applejack bellowed, having her Sceptile come to the rescue.
"Tile!" The approach to save them was done from a distance. Sceptile held his arms out, summoning hidden vines that would fly out. He barely made it in time, wrapping the vines around each of the Corsola. Upon touching them, the strane energy would start burning Sceptile's vines which were soon felt by him. "S-Scep?!"
Looking at it, the enery seemed to resemble that of Dragon Matter. It had the same colourin and energy style. The girls had to wonder if this was Dragon Matter at play and Daybreaker's actions ended up forcing more of it out. Noticeably, Sceptile's vines weren't knocked back by the light but they were still taking damage. Scetile felt the burn but he also felt a sudden increase in his own energy. Specifically, the latent Dragon Energy inside of him that allows him to Mega Evolve.
"Audino" Pulling him back was Audino, who managed to give him the strength he needed to save the Corsola. The Corsola were all pulled out of the lake, saved from the light while Sceptile retracted his vines out of pain.
"Mew?" Mew gasped upon seeing the Corsola in the air, attempting to save them from falling. Powering through what he just took, he quickly turned his body into that of a Torterra. In the nick of time, he saved the Corsola by having them land on his back. "Torterra..."
"Nice save, Mew!"
"Are you doing alright?" Fluttershy looked at the Corsola, hoping that the energy didn't harm them badly. Thankfully, the Corsola were in one piece, taking no damage whatsoever. But they wouldn't have time to rest. Not when the energy was still active here. They couldn't exactly get rid of it after all.
"Yeah, that's gotta be Dragon Matter." said Applejack. As the trio observed the energy in the churning lake, a sudden disturbance occurred beneath them. The ground quivered, but it wasn't an earthquake in the conventional sense. The disasters they faced were anything but natural and always took on unique and unpredictable forms.
"What now?!" Applejack gasped, her eyes widening as she looked down at the ground beneath them.
As they braced for the unexpected, the ground beneath them began to shift and ripple. A peculiar energy seemed to surge from the earth, creating a bizarre pattern that extended outward from their location.
Fluttershy's wings fluttered anxiously as she tried to maintain her balance. "This doesn't feel like a typical earthquake..."
The land beneath them began to warp as the Dragon Matter moved through the earth, rising up. The girls gasped and screeched as the Dragon Matter met with them, only for Audino to use Protect immediately once she heard the energy approaching. Forming a green barrier, Audino shielded everyone from the attack which immediately sent them upwards.
The group continued to yell after being sent upwards and the Dragon Matter followed them, continuing to surround the barrier. Audino held the barrier together with all of her might but some cracks were beginning to appear.
"Now might be a good time to count on Bayleef!" Digging into her saddlebag, Fluttershy was prepared to summon Bayleef, whose unique ability to change fate might come in handy. But before she could do so, the Dragon Matter split the barrier in half with the grip of a Dragon.
Not only that, it separated the group, grabbing two halves of the barrier to the point where the duo were all launched. Mew switched forms, turning into a Pokemon that could hold them all. He instinctively turned into Lugia, the one Pokemon he turns into the most.
Taking on the form of this Legendary Pokemon, Mew used Lugia's massive wings to catch Pinkie Pie and the Corsola, but he was too late to grab Applejack, Sceptile, Audino and Fluttershy. The four of them found themselves plummeting through the air, their barrier now shattered by the Dragon Matter's force. Panic set in as they descended, surrounded by the swirling energy that defied the laws of nature.
The Dragon Matter howled, almost as if it knew what it had done. And it wasn't done with Pinkie Pie and the Corsola, who would grimace upon seeing a bit of the energy coming their way. Mew continued to shield them from the energy as the Dragon Matter would touch his body. Mew was pushed back as well but with greater resilience on his side and yet the Dragon Matter didn't seem to care all that much. The massive body of Lugia was pushed away, moving through the winds and the clouds while the Dragon Matter around this area would keep moving, failing to slow down.
The barrier the four of them were in had come apart as that was all Audino could muster. "Sceptile...!" Sceptile extended his vines, attempting to create a makeshift safety net at the right moment. Fluttershy, her wings fluttering nervously, tried to keep the group focused amidst the chaotic descent.
Up ahead was some sort of forest that was nearby which Sceptile would try and place them in. When reaching the forest, their bodies would suddenly pulsate. A familiar cosmic light would flash as if they had hit something, but they kept moving instead of coming to a halt.
They didn't recognize this cosmic light or the sparkles that came from them as they were already reach the surface of the forest. Thanks to Sceptile, they managed to save themselves from a crushing fall as the Dragon Matter around them would slither elsewhere. The group fell on the net, rather perplexed and dazed.
"Whew, good thinking, Sceptile!" Applejack praised, trying to regain her composure.
Fluttershy, with a hint of relief in her voice, added, "Glad I didn't have to risk Bayleef's leaf for this one."
Sceptile nodded, feeling a sense of accomplishment despite the unexpected turn of events. Audino, always the caring Pokemon, approached the group, ready to offer her assistance if needed.
"Is everypony okay?" Fluttershy asked, her gaze shifting between her companions.
"We're good, but that Dragon Matter is something else," Applejack commented, eyeing the strange energy still present in the air.
The quartet took a moment to gather themselves, assessing their surroundings and contemplating their next steps. They weren't in the same area anymore. They certainly went far thanks to the Dragon Matter as they watched this enigmatic energy move away.
"I think we got separated from Pinkie Pie and Mew." Fluttershy looked up at the sky. They were away from the hills and in another wild, forest-like area. "And I don't see a town nearby. Do you think we're further away from a town?"
"Probably. The Dragon Matter...messed us up outta nowhere. I thought it was just what Daybreaker did."
"Do you think Prisma was involved somehow? Spike did say he saw Prisma inside the Dragon Matter. Maybe he's the one who intercepted us."
"If it was him, the next time we see him, I'll..." Applejack was about to rant about Prisma, only to come to a stop, focusing on what truly matters. "Nah. Gotta find Pinkie Pie first. Where is this anyway?"
"Mmm...I don't recognize this place at all." Fluttershy commented as this area did not look all that familiar to her. It appeared as just another forest but there weren't any Pokemon around at the moment. However, it wasn't just a forest.
The four of them recognized what appeared to be baskets lying around. Baskets with fruits, indicating that this place was somewhat occupied. Not only that, when observing the place a bit longer, they spotted a small fountain, which was right near food stands of some sort.
"Uh...Maybe this is a small town after all." Fluttershy said. They might have found one of their towns by accident. The four of them advanced in this new area, captivated by it. They were hoping this might be where Wigglytuff could be considering the Dragon Matter was nearby.
Lo and behold, buildings were present here. Hut-shaped buildings to be exact. They were either nestled underneath leaves or were on top of trees and hills. This was clearly a nature-built area. The air was filled with a gentle melody of nature, and the surroundings exuded an otherworldly tranquillity. The two friends exchanged intrigued glances as they cautiously stepped into the serene landscape.
In the heart of the clearing, a shimmering pond reflected the lush greenery that surrounded it. Mystical flowers in vibrant hues dotted the landscape, emitting a subtle glow. As Applejack and Fluttershy explored further, they noticed graceful, dragon-like entities with pony features gracefully roaming the area.
"Who are they?" Applejack questioned. These beings would approach Applejack's group, taking notice to them. Fluttershy scrunched her face in the presence of these strangers as she has never seen them before. They didn't look familiar in any way shape or form.
But one thing was for sure, they recognized one of them as someone important. Not by face, but by stature, knowing how height signifies importance, at least when it came to Princess Celestia.
Behind this individual was a Pokemon. They did indeed exist here and in this case, it appeared to be a Chatot. Leaving the bushes were Smeargles, Espurrs and Meowths. Quite the collection of Pokemon here.
"Well, hi. I'm Applejack, and this here's Fluttershy." Applejack greeted the tallest one here. But she didn't get a response. The tallest individual of the group looked at her for a moment, making Applejack feel awkward. Afterwards, she would nudge Chatot while also looking at Espurr.
"Tot! What brings you here?" Chatot spoke for her. She didn't say anything herself.
"N-Nothing. Just pure accident." Fluttershy spoke while looking this leader in the eyes. "W-Who are you though?"
"Tot! Kirin!" Being the translator, Chatot revealed the names of these individuals.
"Kirin?" Applejack and Fluttershy spoke in unison. These were the Kirins that Celestia spoke of.
"Uh..." Applejacksquinted her face, trying to figure out if she recognized them. Alas, the name Kirin didn't ring a bell. Neither did it for Fluttershy. "Never heard of ya. Sorry."
"Your place looks fine. Very fine. We were just looking for a special Blissey that goes from town to town, helping others thanks to the disturbances." The pegasus explained. "We'll be out of your manes as soon as possible once we get to our friends."
"Chatot! How'd you get past the barrier?"
"Barrier?" The same thing they passed through earlier but didn't recognize. But apparently, there was a barrier around the area.
The leader nudged her head towards the Smeargle, communicating with them. But it was also done by looking at the Espurr, who were just as vital to this. Nodding in understanding, the Smeargle began painting something on the ground. Using two specific colours, the Smeargle crafted a familiar-looking energy.
Rift Energy.
Applejack, Fluttershy, Sceptile and Audino collectively gasped when witnessing it. They were involving Rift Shenanigans once more and that barrier was made out of Rift Energy.
"Aw, really?!" Applejack wasn't too pleased about this. "Rift Magic too?"
"Well, at least that's something we're familiar with." Fluttershy looked on the bright side. "Sorry about this. But we'll be leaving soon."
"Tot! Can't leave! Can't leave!"
"We can't leave? Why not?" Applejack questioned. She was hoping that they weren't being kept captive here because of their intrustion.
In response, the leader of the Kirins raised her hoof, pointing to the sky. Applejack and Fluttershy looked up, but they didn't see anything. Not yet at least. Responding to their head movements, their eyes met with the cosmic energy of the Rift which decided to show itself.
But it wasn't the barrier. Their jaws dropped to see what appeared to be a manifestation of a familiar Pokemon. All the cosmic sparkles came together to give shape to a Pokemon that was larger than what it usually appears as. The four of them dropped their jaws to see a Kangaskhan.
Her skin shimmered with an ethereal glow, and her eyes sparkled like the night sky. Luna's newfound energy also granted her abilities beyond those of a typical Kangaskhan, making her a force to be reckoned with
"Is that Kangaskhan?! It's huge!" Fluttershy shouted. It didn't appear as a Dynamaxed Kangaskhan or even any Equestrian Variant. That was 100% a Rift-altered Kangaskhan.
And of course, her baby was with her, always present. This Kangaskhan was in the distance but it most definitely spotted Applejack and Fluttershy, letting out a bright smile.
"That thing made the barrier?" Applejack gawked before looking at the leader. "What in tarnation happened here?"
"Hold on. I can understand Pokemon, so let me speak for you." Fluttershy interrupted. She observed how they all communicated with each other and understood that it all came back to Chatot. But she could also act as a translator. The leader of the Kirin looked at Fluttershy for a moment before back at the Espurr. She nodded in understanding, allowing this to pass.
"Esp. Espurr." The Espurr all spoke to Fluttershy, hoping she could understand them.
"So you're the leader of the Kirin. Rain Shine?" Fluttershy translated, learning the name of this Kirin. This was the Kirin that Celestia spoke of. Her old friend that she has not seen in so long. "And that Kangaskhan has been here for four years?"
"Espurr. Espurr." The Espurr nodded, confirming Fluttershy's understanding. Rain Shine, the leader of the Kirin, looked at Fluttershy with a mixture of curiosity and acknowledgement. "Purr. Espurr."
"They say she's been keeping them here ever since the worlds met. The Kirin have been stuck with Kangaskhan watching over them. They call her 'Starry' for the sparkling pattern on her skin."
"Starry, huh?" Applejack mused, gazing at the majestic Kangaskhan in awe. "She sure is somethin'."
"Esp! Espurr!"
"They said she keeps them all here because she sees them all as her children." Fluttershy continued, revealing that this Kangaskhan saw the Kirin and everyone that shows up here as her children. One big family.
"All of 'em?" Applejack's expression softened as she watched Starry in the distance. "Well, ain't that sweet. A Kangaskhan takin' care of a whole bunch of Kirin. Who would've thought?"
"Esp! Espurr!" But the Espurr crossed their arms, responding to Applejack in denial. It was not sweet at all.
"Well...I don't think they want to stay here forever."Fluttershy shook her head. While motherly love was beautiful, clearly, there was something wrong here.
"Tot! I'm an adult! I'm an adult!" Chatot spoke for Rain Shine one more time, revealing that she shouldn't be treated as a child since she was an adult. The Kirin here were old enough for that.
"Wait...That means..." It hit Applejack. Her, Audino, Fluttershy, Sceptile and all of their Pokemon count as Kangaskhan's children. It was an automatic decision. They were essentially trapped. Applejack's realization struck a chord of concern and urgency. She exchanged a worried glance with Fluttershy, both understanding the gravity of the situation. Applejack and Fluttershy were now sharing the Kirins' predicament with Kangaskhan.
"Espurr... Espurr!" The Espurr expressed their discontent with the situation, emphasizing the complexity and challenges they faced while being watched over by Kangaskhan.
"Tot! Can't leave! Can't leave!" Chatot reiterated the fact that Kangaskhan's influence prevented them from leaving the home of the Kirins.
Fluttershy relayed the message, "Rain Shine and the Kirin are saying they can't leave because of Kangaskhan. It's like she sees them all as her children and doesn't want them to go. That goes for us too. We were already trapped the moment we entered!"
"So for 4 whole years, ya haven't been able to get out?" Applejack asked. The Kirin shook their heads. They have tried but to no avail. Mainly because they were dealing with the power of the Rift, even though Kangaskhan believed she wasn't doing anything wrong.
Rain Shine then aimed her hoof at the Rift Kangaskhan once more, essentially telling Applejack and Fluttershy to go for them. They needed the help. "Tot! Make her understand!" Chatot suggested, still acting as the intermediary.
"Purr. Espurr."
"She said that we'll find ponies from where we come from there. Apparently, Canterlot Guards showed up here." Fluttershy uttered. To their surprise, Canterlot Guards were present in this area, mainly due to Celestia sending some of them here. And unfortunately, they were also Kangaskhan's children.
Now they definitely had to see this for themselves as the Kirin were undergoing a unique problem that was of motherly proportions.
Eventually, they reached a serene clearing surrounded by mystical flowers and gentle creatures. In the center stood Kangaskhan, her ethereal glow captivating the surroundings. She appeared to be in a peaceful state, surrounded by a harmonious aura. The size of her was just as large as a Dynamaxed Kangaskhan but without the reddish-pink glow.
They saw Kangaskhan holding the Canterlot Guards in her tree-sized arms, cradling them like children. The look on their faces spoke volumes. Being treated as a child would be uncomfortable for ponies their age.
"Uh! Can I go now?!" One of the troops asked, but all he got in response was a joyous cry from Kangaskhan and her actual baby that was the size of a castle.
"Tot! Approach carefully," Chatot advised, knowing that the key to reaching Kangaskhan lay in sincere communication.
"Hey! Kangaskhan!" Applejack bellowed, trying to get her attention. She very much succeeded in doing so as Kangaskhan looked down at her. Kangaskhan's cosmic eyes would meet with the four new children in her expansive family. And upon seeing them, she had a completely different vision compared to everyone else.
She didn't just see Applejack, Fluttershy and their Pokemon. She saw them as children. In her eyes, they appeared incredibly young as Sceptile was even appearing as a Treecko. Audino was even seen differently, having a new look that could be considered her pre-evolution.
It sounded like Applejack was just babbling like a baby, having no cohesion in her words, when in reality, she was speaking as clear as she could. Fluttershy would soon start speaking, trying to reach Kangaskhan. But even the words of Fluttershy became babble in the ears of this Rift Kangaskhan.
"KANGA..." Kangaskhan spoke and in response, she held her arms out, going straight for the two ponies and their Pokemon. They looked so adorable to her and she just had to cradle them.
"Hold on! Wait, wait!" Applejack screeched upon seeing this massive hand coming her way. In a split second, Kangaskhan's massive hands gently scooped up Applejack, Fluttershy, Sceptile, Audino, and their Pokemon, cradling them with an unmatched tenderness. The sheer size difference between them and Kangaskhan was comically apparent, yet the immense love radiating from her touch made the situation endearing.
Kangaskhan's eyes gleamed with a mixture of affection and joy as she held her perceived children close to her heart. "KANGASKHAN..."
"Aaaah...!" Applejack groaned within her clutches. She found herself overwhelmed by the inexplicable comfort of Kangaskhan's hold. It was as if they were cradled in the arms of a cosmic mother, and the sensations were unlike anything they had experienced before.
"Oh, this isn't so bad." Fluttershy smiled.
"Fluttershy!" Applejack bellowed before having her mouth closed by what appeared to be a binky. Kangaskhan managed to shove one in Applejack's mouth as it was made out of cosmic energy. It was constructed in Kangaskhan's arms as she had some power from the Rift that allowed her to create things. "Mmm?! Mmm!"
"How did you end up here?" Fluttershy asked the guards while Applejack was struggling to force this item out of her mouth.
"We were sent here by Princess Celestia. The Kirins sent her a message from a Butterfree. We came here to help, but this is not what we expected." The guards answered.
"If Butterfree broke free, then there's obviously a way out, right?"
"I'm afraid they spoke to Butterfree outside the barrier. The letter could pass through and leave, but no living being can leave it. Only enter it."
"Ptooh!" Applejack spat the Cosmic Binky out of her mouth. "I ain't living here forever! We've got two days of this festival and a lot to look forward to. You gotta let us go, Kangaskhan!"
But it was pointless. Kangaskhan just didn't hear any proper speech whatsoever, making this very hard.
"Tot! Impossible!" Chatot blurted, letting them know it was impossible to break free of that grip, unless Kangaskhan wanted to put them down.
"If it's Rift Energy...then there's only one thing to use." Thankfully, Applejack had the perfect response. By closing her eyes, she allowed the Aura within her to build up, concentrating on her inner state. From her body, an azure glow would appear. And upon summoning her Aura, it reacted to the Cosmic Energy around her.
"K-KANGA?!" Kangaskhan felt the Aura. There was a sudden sting on her body, specifically her arms. Her grip on them had greatly weakened, causing her to drop them.
"Sorry. It was the only thing I could think of." Applejack apologized. She didn't wish to harm Kangaskhan but there was no other way for them to break free.
"KA...KANGA..." Kangaskhan closed her eyes, growling for a moment. The faces of everyone watching her scrunched as this growl sounded like thunder rumbling. The eyes then opened, losing their joyous appearance for a more upset and slightly angry look.
"Hehe..." Applejack nervously chuckled. The Farm Girl glanced around nervously, realizing that her attempt to use Aura had agitated Kangaskhan. The once tranquil atmosphere seemed to shift slightly, and the cosmic glow in Kangaskhan's eyes reflected a mix of emotions.
Kangaskhan, who was originally sitting down, would stand up, causing a loud noise to emerge. The leaves around her would fly away as the cosmic energy cast a bright light over everyone as if it were a shadow. Their eyes followed the rise of this Rift Kangaskhan which made some of them shrink back in fear.
"Uh, that was my bad. I didn't mean to..." Applejack tried explaining herself, fearful of what Kangaskhan might do. "I'm just gonna take a break somewhere else." With a squee, Applejack would zip away, wanting to avoid whatever Kangaskhan had to offer.
But in response, Kangaskhan moved her massive arms once more, going straight for Applejack. The Earth Pony screeched upon seeing the arm coming for her yet again.
"It's alright! It's alright!" Shielding Applejack was Fluttershy, who would get in the way, shaking her hooves. Kangaskhan paused, seeing Fluttershy in front of her. She did not scoop Fluttershy up and immediately stopped going for Applejack.
Applejack sighed with relief, grateful for Fluttershy who let her get some distance.
"I don't think she can understand us properly. It doesn't sound like she's responding to our words." Fluttershy observed. She listened to everything Kangaskhan has said and neither has been a proper response to all that has been said. "Have you been dealing with this for four years?"
The faces of the Kirin spoke volumes. Four of being treated as children was not the most pleasing experience. They've had to miss out on the entire world of Pokemon and on top of that, Yveltal's destruction temporarily ended their lives before they were brought back by Xerneas which was rather perplexing.
All the massive events that have happened outside such as Empress Twilight's invasion, the Storm Behemoth, the Black Crusade, Tirek's rampage and so on were unseen by their eyes. All they had were a select few Pokemon.
"Hmmm...This is tricky. I don't know what to do here." Fluttershy was actually stumped. A Pokemon she just couldn't communicate with properly. "I might need some time to think." She walked off with Applejack, needing to gather her thoughts and discuss what to do next.
As Fluttershy and Applejack walked away from the towering figure of Kangaskhan, they exchanged worried glances. The situation with Kangaskhan was unlike anything they had faced before. It was clear that normal communication methods were ineffective due to the peculiar way Kangaskhan perceived the world around her.
"I've never encountered anything like this," Fluttershy admitted, her wings drooping slightly. "I think she might be treating us like little kids, Applejack."
"I reckon she's stuck in her own world, seein' things her own way," Applejack mused, kicking a pebble on the ground. "I just hope we can find a way to get through to her. We can't stay here forever." Thinking for a moment, she then looked up to see one of the Kirin staring at her with a smile. "I wish you could say something. Maybe you've got a way out of this."
But this Kirin stayed silent, much like the rest. Applejack's eyes twitched as the silence was rather grating. This and the massive Kangaskhan that trapped her here didn't make for the best scenario. "Oh, for the love of Celestia! Can't ya just say somethin'?!" Applejack bellowed.
"Hmm...Can't say." The Kirin in question actually spoke, responding to Applejack's previous question.
"Ah!" Applejack and Fluttershy both pulled back. This caught them off guard. One of the Kirin actually responded to them with proper, audible words.
"Gotcha! Sorry, sorry, but that was too good. Oh, you don't know how much I missed jokes. Hi-larity!" She giggled before suddenly bombarding the four of them with a barrage of words. "Am I pronouncing that right? Some words I haven't said in a will. While! While. Hi, I'm Autumn Blaze."
"Uhh..." Despite having a Kirin to talk too, they were a bit stunned for a while. The rapid barrage of words would not stop just yet as this Kirin kept going.
It's a shame you showed up here. Now your Kangaskhan's kids. But don't worry. If you're tired or hungry or reflective and want to sleep, she's got you covered. I saw you in her arms back there, seeing you freak out like that. But forget about that! Oh! Oh, what joy to talk with another creature! It's been so long! You must tell me everything about you! There's so much to say, so much to do! Oh, look at me. I'm going on, and you haven't seen— I mean, have you seen—? What am I saying? Of course, you haven't. By the way, what's that Pokemon?"
"Audino?" Audino's ears caught everything. Even the Hearing Pokemon struggled to process all of that.
"How come...you can speak just fine?" Fluttershy asked.
"Don't worry about that. I'm just glad I get to speak to new faces and see new Pokemon. Oh, the outside world is so lucky to have all those colourful creatures running around. I only saw a few of them in the sky. I think I saw a White and Black Dragon one time, going at it." Autumn Blaze continued. "Did you see it?"
"W-We know about it." Applejack stuttered. "We saw it and everything."
"Well, I'm going to try again, Applejack. There has to be something I can do to try and reach Kangaskhan." Fluttershy said. "I know it's because of the Rift Energy and if push comes to shove, we might have to use the power of Aura."
"Pssh. Good luck with that."Autumn cackled. "She doesn't understand a word we say. All she sees are her lovely babies. Even after getting the chance to talk to her, it didn't matter so this is the best possible outcome for me. Glad you showed up. But I can tell you this. There's a way to sweeten up to her."
"You're not talking about what I think you are..." Applejack grimaced.
"That's right. I did it and it worked wonders for me. I got a lot of things in return from Starry. Act like a baby and just follow what she does. That's my go-to plan and it works wonders for me every time. Star-like food actually doesn't taste bad, ya know. You should try it out."
"Mmm...I'll be right back!" Fluttershy zipped away, taking what Autumn Blaze said. She had an approach she wished to try as Audino followed her.
"Hm. Probably should've told her the other ways to talk to her. Oh well." Autumn Blaze shrugged.
"So what's up with all the other Kirin being quiet? Are you the only one who can say something?"
"No. We can all speak. Every last one of us! But...Oh, I haven't been able to share all of this with anypony in forever! Since they all took that vow of silence. So it's a lot for me to pro-cess. Process?" She paused for a moment. Not talking for a long time has also slightly disrupted basic speech for her. But not by much. "Uh, deal with."
"Vow of silence?" Applejack repeated.
"Oh, you're going to want to hear this." She smirked, having something special to offer to Applejack.
Quite the odd encounter has happened here. First, it was coming across the Dragon Matter and a bit of Daybreaker's actions, then it was right here in the land of the Kirin where they had a silent meeting and the sight of a Rift Kangaskhan, who keeps them all as children. All this while Pinkie Pie was still away from them.
Here at the Kirin Village, where the Kirin have taken on a vow of silence, a massive Rift Kangaskhan kept anyone that enters this village as her children. For 4 years, she's been treating them as such and now Fluttershy, Applejack and a few Canterlot Soldiers were now her children, whether they liked it or not.
"All it hears is baby talk. So here's what we'll do." Fluttershy smiled before sending out the rest of her Pokemon. Out of the Poke Balls emerged Raboot and Bayleef. "I'm counting on Applejack's Aura for this. It's the only thing that works for Rift Energy."
"Audino?"
"That's right. We're going to act exactly like children and have Applejack use her Aura at the right moment." Fluttershy said. "It won't be too embarrassing, right?"
"Ra..." For Raboot, most definitely. He did not want to be seen or treated as a baby in this instance.
"Bay!" Bayleef had a different opinion. She didn't mind at all.
"Ahem." Fluttershy cleared her throat, attempting to come up with her best baby impression. She did have a frame of reference. A lot of references actually. Being the owner of the Pokemon House and taking care of so many Pokemon will obviously involve a lot of babies. But in Fluttershy's mind, the best baby to mimic was the baby of a Kangaskhan.
Her Pokemon watched as she started mimicking the voice of Li'l Kanga. But unlike Safia who had a special ability to perfectly copy any Pokemon's voice, Fluttershy couldn't pull the same trick perfectly. But, she could get close to Li'l Kanga's speech pattern. "I think this'll work. You three should try it too."
"Bay! Bay..." Bayleef took a swing at it, trying to mimic the voice of Li'l Kanga to the best of her abilities. It had to be the right tone which was tricky for Bayleef. Audino did the same, mixing up her tone while Raboot simply watched from the sidelines. He watched as his friends started making random noises, trying to mimic one baby.
Since they were doing their best, Raboot couldn't help but support his friends either way, even for a moment. He wanted to leave as well. "Ra-" Raboot tried it and immediately, he was the closest. The Rabbit Pokemon covered his mouth, shocked by what he just pulled off. His face turned red as his friends eyed him down.
"Wow! That was the best one yet!" Fluttershy cheered.
"Ra!" Raboot crossed his arms, seemingly unimpressed by the praise. He had unintentionally excelled at baby talk, and his pride was wounded.
"Bayleef! Bay!" Bayleef nudged Raboot playfully, trying to lighten the mood. Audino, on the other hand, clapped her hands and smiled in encouragement.
Fluttershy joined in, attempting to keep the atmosphere positive. "Great job, Raboot! I think we're ready to give this a try."
The makeshift baby chorus, including Fluttershy's Pokémon, gathered as they prepared to face Kangaskhan with their unique approach. The challenge ahead was unusual, but the group was determined to navigate it with creativity and teamwork. They set off, ready to present their baby act to Kangaskhan, hoping to find a way to communicate effectively with the enormous Pokémon.
Autumn Blaze's home.
Back with Applejack, Autumn Blaze was about to lay everything down for her. The truth as to why they were all silent except for Autumn Blaze, who did not hold back. Having someone to talk to after so long was utterly satisfying for the Kirin. Her home was noticeably further away from everyone else, located at a higher point of this land.
And can you imagine what our reaction was when we saw the Pokemon? When I saw the Pokemon?" She grinned, thinking back to the past. "It was an amazing time. We used to speak and sing all the time."
"Then what happened? What made ya'll go silent?"
"Well, you're meeting our species for the first time. You don't have a clue about the Nirik." She smirked when looking back at Applejack before transforming her smirk into a frown. "Oh, I hate that day so much."
She could see it now. All of her friends gathered around in their village, conversing normally. They lived their lives to the best of their abilities. Painting and admiring each other's works, talking about their personal lives and so on. All normal things that are to be expected in civilization.
But there was one thing that stuck out with the Kirin. Not only could they access another appearance compared to most species, but their emotions were strongly tied to it. They were unable to hold back what they were saying and thus, some rash words were said.
Those words prompted the Nirik to make an appearance, which were capable of causing destruction. Their emotions did get the better of them, possibly more than any species out there. Pokemon included.
Much like flames, their emotions laid waste to nearby trees, bushes, and anything in the wild. Even their own home fell victim to the destructive force unleashed by the Nirik. The once serene village turned into a memorial of unchecked emotions, leaving the Kirin with no choice but to take drastic measures to contain the chaos.
They looked at the destruction they caused, gutted by it all. And yet, they started arguing again, blaming each other for this. They were all at fault and it seemed as if they would never stop. That is until Rain Shine decided to do something about it. As their leader, it was her responsibility and she was the most composed of them all.
With her command, she created the vow of silence, making sure no Nirik would talk ever again. Not only that, she made her subjects pass through a large body of water known as the Stream of Silence.
As the Kirin stepped through it, the stream not only forced them out of their Nirik forms but also had a calming effect on their heightened emotions.
The once destructive and chaotic scene gradually transformed into a more serene and controlled environment, back to how it previously was. The Kirin, now free from the influence of the Nirik, embraced the vow of silence as a necessary sacrifice to protect themselves and their surroundings.
"But all of that became so boring so quickly..." Autumn Blaze continued. "Most of the things we loved to do just stopped. All the best activities and the things that made us who were are weren't even given a second thought. I was stuck in a silent prison with only voices in my head. But that's when the Pokemon showed up."
Autumn Blaze remembered the day the Rift appeared in the sky, immediately summoning the Strange and Wonderful Creatures to her world. The Rift obviously knew about the situation surrounding the Kirin and couldn't help but get involved, summoning Pokemon that were involved with their predicament.
The Smeargle were there to fill in for the lack of their activities such as painting. The Espurr could connect with their emotions while the Meowth would help with any purchases. And of course, there was Chatot, who would speak for them.
She paused, her eyes reflecting a mix of nostalgia and frustration. "I saw the Pokemon, and their world was so vibrant, full of life. They spoke freely, expressed themselves, and it was like watching everything we lost. I couldn't take it."
"And then..."? Applejack leaned in.
"Even with the Pokemon here, it was still so quiet. It didn't matter how much Espurr or Chatot spoke. The rest of them just wouldn't speak. And neither could I. Entering that stream took my speech away. Until I found a cure." Autumn Blaze smiled, thinking back to that cure. She showed Applejack that cure in the form of blue flowers that she managed to gather one day at a flower bed.
By pure accident or a stroke of luck, she found the flowerbed of these blue flowers, immediately using them to her advantage. By morphing them into liquids, her voice returned to her. Immediately after drinking it, she started chatting away, holding nothing back.
And yet, after finding the cure and speaking her mind, her fellow Kirin just wouldn't say anything.
"I drove my village batty. They didn't like my songs or my jokes. I only had the Pokemon to speak to...but it just didn't feel the same. I can't speak Pokemon after all. So, the only one I could go to was our leader. But she gave me a choice. Stay with all the Kirin without my voice or leave and live with just the Pokemon. Can you guess which one I chose?"
"So... living with Pokemon the whole time. That doesn't sound so bad."
"Hello? Can't understand Pokemon, remember?" Autumn Blaze nudged. "I mean, sure I get to talk with them. But talking with someone else with full understanding is just better. No offence to the Pokemon. And that's when Starry came along. It was only 3 days after our worlds met."
Kangaskhan apparently showed up 3 days later, encompassing the entire land and making all the Kirin her children. Autumn Blaze saw it all from her high point, witnessing Kangaskhan's cosmic size.
"I could speak to her too, but she only heard me as a baby. I thought it was much worse than not speaking at all but...you get used to it. And with everything happening out there, I'm still the only Kirin that speaks."
"I can't believe it..." Applejack gasped after taking all of this. "Nopony should give up feelin'... their feelin's just to keep from gettin' angry!"
"That's what I said!" Autumn exclaimed. "You know, after I started talking again. Try as I might, I couldn't persuade Kangaskhan to let me leave. Bit of a cruel joke for her to not understand me even though I'm speaking. I only show up to meet with Kangaskhan late at night while everyone else is asleep."
"I know what the problem is!" Applejack bellowed, coming to a conclusion on something "If Fluttershy could just understand her, we'd be done here in no time."
"Well, okay. How are you going to do that?" Autumn asked before thinking back to what Applejack did to Kangaskhan. "Oh, wait. That blue thing that appeared around you? What was that thing anyway?"
"Aura. I just need enough of that stuff to-" Applejack's words were immediately brought to a halt. The reveal of her plan was frozen once she heard quite the thunderous footsteps. Her face scrunched along with Sceptile's. Not Autumn's. It was as if she knew what was coming. Turning her head slowly, Applejack saw the sight of Kangaskhan's actual baby that was in her pouch making an appearance.
The large baby appeared, standing over them as she would come to an immediate stop upon seeing Applejack. The one who caught her mother off guard.
Kangaskhan's baby gazed down at Applejack and Sceptile with a mixture of curiosity and innocence. She seemed intrigued by their presence, and her large, cosmic eyes sparkled with wonder. Applejack exchanged a glance with Sceptile, unsure of how to interpret the baby Kangaskhan's reaction. Was she upset after Applejack gave Kangaskhan a scare?
Autumn Blaze, however, seemed unfazed. "Oh, there's the big baby! Always looking for new friends," she chuckled.
"Friends?" Applejack repeated
The Baby would babble, doing what her mother did and reaching her hands out for Applejack. Li'l Kangaskhan took a step forward, her enormous form casting a shadow over the group. It reached out with its tiny, yet colossal, paw as if trying to touch them gently. The gesture seemed friendly, lacking the threatening vibe its mother inadvertently conveyed, but it was still terrifying.
Applejack cautiously extended her hoof towards the baby Kangaskhan. "Uh, howdy there, li'l fella."
The baby Kangaskhan responded with a gleeful cooing sound, seemingly delighted by the interaction. It continued to observe them with innocent curiosity, as if sizing them up as potential playmates.
"Well? Are you gonna use your Aura on her?" Autumn Breeze asked, waiting for Applejack to use the power of Aura.
"Nah. She's just a baby. Plus, she wouldn't understand a thing I'd say." Applejack had a point. Kangaskhan was the only actual baby here. She had better luck trying to speak to Kangaskhan than Li'l Kanga.
Li'l Kanga then sat down while fixating on Applejack, intrigued by the Earth Pony. The two looked at each other for a moment with Li'l Kanga being surprisingly silent. For a baby, she wasn't as active as Applejack was expecting.
"I really wish I could understand you too..." Applejack closed her eyes, wondering why Li'l Kanga was just staring at her. But despit e being a baby, Li'l Kanga responded, directly to Applejack's words.
With a babble, Li'l Kanga raised her arms, pointing to the sky. Eyes followed her arms as they were directed at her mother. Kangaskhan.
"Your mom?" Applejack questioned and she immediately got a response in the form of a nod. The earth pony gasped as Li'l Kanga could actually understand her.
Applejack couldn't believe it. The baby Kangaskhan, Li'l Kanga, seemed to comprehend her words. It was a revelation, and Applejack's eyes widened with amazement. The baby's gesture, pointing towards Kangaskhan, suggested a connection between them.
"Y-you understand me? That's incredible!" Applejack exclaimed, still a bit baffled by the unexpected turn of events. How was it that Li'l Kanga could pull this off but not Kangaskhan?
Li'l Kanga continued to coo and giggle, appearing content with the interaction. It seemed eager to communicate in its own way, making happy sounds that resonated with the group.
"Awww! She didn't do that with me!" Autumn groaned, feeling that she had been cheated. Why was Li'l Kanga suddenly speaking? "Unless...it's because she saw your Aura?"
"Is that why? You saw my Aura, didn't you? Did'ya come here for that?" The Farm Girl questioned. Her question was answered by repeated claps from Li'l Kanga. Seeing this amazed Applejack, but there was one thing she wanted to try. Applejack closed her eyes, using her Aura, but not directly at Li'l Kanga.
The Aura was used as a distance and a way to read Li'l Kanga's emotions. "Maybe it ain't about speaking words. Maybe it's more about understanding each other's feelings." She said as Autumn Blaze witnessed that radiant light once more.
Even when having a cosmic appearance thanks to the Rift, Li'l Kanga and Kangaskhan were still Pokemon at the end of the day and had Auras within them. When reading her Aura, Applejack discovered that Li'l Kanga was actually looking for support.
The baby Kangaskhan was seeking connection and understanding, much like any young creature would. Applejack, guided by the gentle glow of her Aura, responded by offering a comforting presence.
"Well? What did you find out?" Autumn Blaze slid over, unsure as to what was going on.
"Poor little girl's been a bit down lately. It's her mom." Applejack answered. "I don't think she wants Kangaskhan to keep doing this either. She still gets to grow up."
The truth of the matter was that Li'l Kanga wanted her mother to return to normal as well. Keeping them all couped up in one spot and not letting anyone else leave was not the most pleasant experience. And this was all thanks to Li'l Kanga growing up. She's had 4 years to mature, even if she was just a baby. Li'l Kanga understood right from wrong."
"I gotta fix this. Applejack adjusted her hat, knowing what had to be done. "Gotta find and tell Fluttershy first. If I can break down all that Rift Energy, we can reach Kangaskhan."
"Good luck with that. She's overwhelming, isn't she? But, who am I to judge? You look like you've got a better handle on this Pokemon stuff than I do." Autumn Blaze shrugged. "This I've gotta see."
"Sugarcube. Could ya stay here for a while? I don't wanna make your mom worry." Applejack requested, wanting Li'l Kanga to stay here for a moment. If something goes wrong, she doesn't want the baby to get hurt. It wouldn't be by force but collateral damage was a thing.
With a determined spirit, Applejack made her way back to Fluttershy to share the insights gained from her connection with Li'l Kanga. Autumn Blaze followed closely, curious to see how they could use this newfound understanding to reach Kangaskhan, just to grant them freedom.
"Not like it's gonna fix the previous issue." Autumn Blaze said to herself. After all, the silence was still a thing that she wished would be taken care of immediately.
"Fluttershy! You're gonna love this! I-" Applejack was about to blurt out her plans, but upon arriving, she already saw Fluttershy's own plan in motion. "What in tarnation...?"
Fluttershy was playing into the baby part in an attempt to reach Kangaskhan. She was in her arms, curled up like a baby while having her eyes closed. She reopened them, spouting out random nonsense akin to that of a baby. Applejack, surprised by Fluttershy's approach, exchanged glances with Sceptile. Fluttershy was indeed attempting to connect with Kangaskhan by mimicking the baby's talk and actions.
"What's this all about?" Applejack looked over at Rain Shine.
"Tot! Part of her plan!" Chatot spoke for Rain Sine once more, revealing that Fluttershy had her own plan.
Kangaskhan was hearing babble all the time and it wasn't any different with Fluttershy. Raboot grumbled as his imitation made Kangaskhan hold him the closest. The Rabbit Pokemon wanted this to be over as soon as possible while Bayleef suddenly felt sleepy in Kangaskhan's clutches. The pegasus shifted her eyes when opening them, noticing Applejack. "Great! Applejack's here!"
"Fluttershy! I don't think that plan's gonna work!" Applejack hollered from a distance.
"That's why I was hoping you'd show up. I'm just playing my part here so that you can turn her back to normal." Thankfully, Fluttershy and Applejack were on the same page when it came to solving this issue.
"That's mighty great! You should hear this too! It's her baby She knew that this was all wrong and wanted out of here too." Applejack continued, revealing more about it.
"Oh, dear. That's a shame."
"But it's all gonna be fine now." Applejack rubbed her hooves together, ready to solve this problem as soon as possible. Fluttershy and her Pokemon kept Kangaskhan occupied, allowing Applejack to move in. She didn't want to be seen by the Rift Kangaskhan after what happened previously so this was very much needed.
The earth pony went straight for Kangaskhan's legs which were the closest, already chanelling her Aura. And as soon as her hooves made contact, instead of breaking down the Rift Energy as expected, the energy would instead start pulling Applejack in.
"W-What the?!" Applejack felt an unexpected force as soon as her hooves touched Kangaskhan's legs. The Rift Energy seemed to have a different effect than she anticipated, forcing her to slowly enter the cosmic energy. Fluttershy and her Pokémon were caught off guard, watching as Applejack got drawn toward Kangaskhan.
"Applejack?!" Fluttershy gasped as all the Kirins witnessed the Earth Pony being sucked in. The Aura around Applejack intensified, blending with the cosmic energy of the Rift. As she drew closer to Kangaskhan, the cosmic eyes of the giant Pokémon fixated on her. The atmosphere became tense as everyone watched, unsure of what was happening.
"Sceptile!" Sceptile immediately his vines to try and grab Applejack before she could be taken in. The vines grabbed the back of her hooves but even they weren't strong enough to stop this. "Tile?!" Soon, Sceptile was forced forward as well.
Just like that, the two of them had entered Rift Kangaskhan.
Inside Rift Kangaskhan.
As to be expected, the inside of every Rift Being are not internal organs but instead, an entire universe. Kangaskhan's natural organs were replaced by planets, stars, galaxies and everything that made up a universe but of course, on a smaller scale. Applejack's body was larger than a moon after all.
Inside the cosmic expanse that was Rift Kangaskhan, Applejack and Sceptile found themselves tumbling through a celestial wonderland. The vibrant colours of nebulas and the glittering glow of countless stars surrounded them, creating a breathtaking view. The scale of the cosmos within Kangaskhan was immense, reflecting the vastness of the Rift.
Applejack couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the miniature universe encapsulated within the Pokémon. She and Sceptile rolled across galaxies, their surroundings a mesmerizing display of cosmic splendour. Applejack and Sceptile landed on a cosmic platform within the galaxy, surrounded by the celestial dance of planets and celestial bodies.
"Boy...What a day." Applejack groaned after standing up. "We're in Kangaskhan? How come that didn't happen before?"
"Sceptile..."
"Well, we're closer than ever to her. But I didn't think this would happen." The Farm Girl shook her head.
Suddenly, a harmonious hum filled the cosmic expanse, resonating through the galaxies. The cosmic energy pulsated in response to the hum, materalizing what appeared to be the Rift in their distance.
Just as they were adjusting to the cosmic spectacle, Kangaskhan appeared before them. However, she was now in her regular size, sitting atop a planet smaller than herself. The cosmic energy that had surrounded her earlier seemed to have taken a more familiar form.
"Kangaskhan? Hey! Kangaskhan!" Applejack shouted. The Parent Pokemon turned her gaze towards Applejack as she called out. The celestial eyes, filled with a sense of maternal care, focused on the Earth Pony and her Pokémon companion within the cosmic expanse.
"Kanga?"
"Can you understand us this time?" Applejack asked after lunging off a galaxy, landing on the planet Kangaskhan was on. She was hoping Kangaskhan could properly understand her and Sceptile instead of perceiving their speech as babies.
"Kang. Kagaskhan." the cosmic Kangaskhan's response resonated through the celestial surroundings. There was a sense of acknowledgement and curiosity in her cosmic gaze.
"Whew. That's great." Applejack was relieved to hear that. Finally, she could talk to Kangaskhan properly. "Kangaskhan. This is all just Rift Energy messing with you. We've seen something like this before. Right now, out there, there aren't any babies except for ya own flesh and blood."
"Khan..." That was the thing. Kangaskhan understood that. She knew that it was only her baby that was the actual baby out there. But with her eyes closed, Kangaskhan also knew why she was brought here of all places. And it had to do with the Rift Energy in the astral sky.
Their eyes widened, witnessing the Rift's usual appearance but they weren't sure if that was the actual Rift arriving here. It didn't speak, so they weren't sure if that was the actual Rift, but they knew that it was behind this.
Why would the Rift send Kangaskhan here aside from wanting entertainment as always? Applejack was trying to process it. She had to think about everything the Rift has done and how it all makes sense. She put her hooves on her head, thinking as hard as she could.
Everything the Rift has done has mainly been due to how certain Pokemon fit the scenario. In some cases, it was just to overwhelm Equestria, but the latter was only done in certain instances. The meeting between Rarity and all the Sewaddle who would eventually become Leavanny was obvious. So was when Applins appeared in Applejack's farm.
Then, there was the arrival of Duplica at the Canterlot Wedding, who was only put there because the Rift saw a single connection between her and the Changelings. It was small, but it was there. It kept piling on in Applejack's mind. Certain Pokemon were introduced to others by the Rift due to how similar they were. Whrilipede was Rainbow Dash's first Pokemon simply because of the speed aspect.
Miccino who eventually became Cinccino was a neat-freak like Twilight Sparkle herself. And she didn't even have to think hard when it came to Fluttershy and all the Pokemon that surrounded her. Even Applejack receiving the power of Aura was a great example. All of it was planned by the Rift after all, who just had to do something to steer them in the right direction.
And for the Kirin, that was no different. It clicked for Applejack. She finally figured out why. The main reason as to why Kangaskhan was sent here was because there are few things that can temper strong emotions and prevent any harm in the process.
And among them, motherly love is a candidate.
"You...came here to help the Kirin? But they already used that Stream of Silence to make themselves quiet." Applejack gasped once she figured it out. "And all those Pokemon that showed up were for the Nirik too. Was the Rift tryna get 'em all mad so you'd show up or something else?"
"Kan. Kanga." Kangaskhan nodded, her eyes reflecting understanding. It appeared that the Rift had a specific purpose in guiding Kangaskhan to this astral realm to assist the Kirin in their unique predicament. But it wasn't just that. Kangaskhan revealed another reason.
From her hand, she could bring projections since she was filled with Rift Energy at the moment. And from it, she revealed the figure of what appeared to be a clock. Immediately, the projection of this clock was frozen, being as still as stone. For her, time was frozen. Nothing ever developed. And because of this, she could never see anyone past being babies.
"Golly. So time's all messed up for you, huh? But don't worry about it anymore. I'm gonna fix this. Let me use all my Aura on you, turn you back into normal and you can go home." Applejack promised.
The Parent Pokemon's gaze shifted between Applejack and Sceptile, acknowledging their understanding of the situation. It became clear that the Rift's motives, though enigmatic and often chaotic, sometimes had a method to its madness – a method that involved orchestrating connections and moments that could lead to growth and resolution.
In response, the Rift in the sky would immediately object to this. From it, summoned smaller Rift Kangaskhans in an attempt to stop Applejack.
"What the?!" Applejack gasped once these Rift Kangaskhans descended. One by one, they came crashing down, being the oppossing force here.
"Kanga?!" The main Kangaskhan gasped.
"I know this already." But Applejack, a small bit of her expected this. "The Rift won't let it end here. It just wants to see fun. So we'll give it some fun, alright." Understanding the Rift's pursuit of entertainment, Applejack would gladly indulge since there was no other way out of this.
"Out ya come! Lucario!" From her saddlebag, she summoned her Delta Lucario into the scene, who emerged from his Poke Ball.
"Lucario!" The Anubis Pokemon arrived as backup, being in tune with Aura himself. Delta Lucario stood tall when standing before these Rift Kangaskhans and so did Sceptile. With Lucario and Sceptile by her side, Applejack faced the encroaching Rift Kangaskhans with determination.
"You should stand back, Kangaskhan. Let us handle this." Applejack requested as the main Kangaskhan would back away for safety. Lucario! Sceptile! Aerial Ace and Leaf Blade!"
"Sceptile!" The two of them were off. Sceptile and Lucario lunged in with up-close and personal attacks, taking on these Rift Kangaskhans.
The celestial Kangaskhan watched, its cosmic eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and anticipation as the struggle unfolded in this small universe.
Kirin Village.
Back on the outside, many were still stunned after what they had just witnessed. That has never happened before here at the village. But it seemed that the battle happening inside was affecting Kangaskan from the outside.
"K-KANGA! KANGASKHAN?" Kangaskhan cried out as the feeling of Aura was radiating with her cosmic body. The vibrations of Aura and cosmic energy resonated through the connection, creating a unique bridge between the external and internal worlds. The cosmic eyes flickered, showing signs of inner turmoil as the external Kangaskhan struggled to make sense of the unfolding events.
Outside the Rift, the Kirin, Fluttershy, and the Pokémon observed with bated breath. It was an unprecedented moment, and the impact of the internal struggle seemed to ripple through the very fabric of the astral space surrounding them. The celestial Kangaskhan's concern was evident, and its cosmic form shimmered in response to the turbulent energies at play.
"Oh, my goodness. What is Applejack doing in there?" Fluttershy wondered as she and her Pokemon were dropped by Kangaskhan.
The Rift Kangaskhan stood up as she immediately started stomping her feet. By doing this, she caused a tremor that immediately shook the village, making the trees rustle. Kangaskhan had now become a danger to the Kirin Village.
The tremors caused by Rift Kangaskhan's stomping reverberated through the Kirin Village, creating a sense of urgency among the Kirin and the other inhabitants. The ground shook, and the cosmic Kangaskhan's erratic behaviour posed a threat to the safety of the village.
The Kirin, already feeling the weight of their situation, looked at each other with concern, unsure of how to handle this unforeseen escalation. The guards, though initially stunned, snapped into action, directing the villagers to move away from the trembling ground. The Kirin, still without their voices, nodded and gestured urgently, guiding the inhabitants to safety.
The tremors then created destructive dust clouds that came their way, threatening to cover them. Audino had the right idea of using Protect but the Kirin beat her to it.
"Audino?" The Hearing Pokemon uttered as the Kirin antlers lit up with their respective colours. Together, they managed to form a magical shield that would block the fierce dust.
"KANGA!" But that wasn't all. Kangaskhan was violently swinging her arms, trying to expel the Aura within her. It felt like a bad burn going off repeatedly. And by swinging her arms, one of them could hit some of the buildings nearby, either by direct contact or by pressure alone.
The destruction unfolding before the Kirins' eyes struck deep emotional chords within them. Witnessing the harm to their homes and the village they held dear was beginning to trigger a surge of emotions that they had chosen to suppress for years through their vow of silence.
Rain Shine noticed this, terrified of what could come next. She thought that the Stream of Silence would forever keep their emotions in check, but she didn't account for another destructive force to spark these emotions up once more. The leader of the Kirins faced Chatot and the Espurr, informing them to head to Fluttershy, who could understand them very well.
If the Nirik make a return, this whole land will be laid to waste much worse than what happened in the past. And the Stream of Silence might not do the trick a second time.
"Tot! Keep them calm! Keep them calm!" Chatot said to Fluttershy when flying over.
"Purr! Espurr!" The Espurr said the same, but elaborated more on it for Fluttershy.
"I should keep them calm? Or else they'll add more to the destruction?" Fluttershy translated.
"Purr! Espurr!" the Espurr added, emphasizing the urgency of maintaining emotional control to prevent further destruction. The pegasus then looked over at Rain Shine who would nod in response, wanting all the help that she could get. Even she couldn't stop something like this since things were already getting out of control.
Fluttershy nodded back, understanding the gravity of the situation. She focused on the Kirin, trying to convey a sense of reassurance through gentle gestures and comforting expressions. There was one solution. "Audi. You know what we have to do."
"Audino!" Audino cried out. She was more than ready. While earlier today, her plan to use Heal Pulse on Zeraora to remove her rage was shut down, it was brought back for the Kirin. A strong enough Heal Pulse will soothe their emotions, causing them to feel tired. Fluttershy unleashed her Key Stone while Audino summoned her Mega Stone, the Audinite.
Together, Fluttershy and Audino would synchronize, tapping into the power of Mega Evolution as both stones would release their light, forming DNA strands. Audino transformed into her Mega form, radiating a calming aura that enveloped a bit of the area.
The mystical flames from the Kirin were beginning to emerge as their transformations looked imminent. Rain Shine bit her hoof, fearing that it might be too late.
"Audi! Use Heal Pulse!"
"Audino...!" The Hearing Pokemon put her hands together, generating a blissful and peaceful energy that was intended to heal and soothe. But in this case, Audino was only aiming to soothe the Kirin as a green light would rapidly expand.
Mega Audino's soothing energy enveloped the Kirin, creating a tranquil atmosphere amidst the chaos. The mystical flames that hinted at their transformations began to flicker, influenced by the calming aura. Fluttershy, with her empathetic connection, focused on radiating a sense of peace and reassurance.
The Kirin felt the healing influence of Mega Audino's Heal Pulse. As the gentle energy washed over them, the flames of their emotions started to subside. The agitated expressions softened, and the impending transformations were momentarily halted.
Of course, receiving a Heal Pulse of this magnitude when there is no damage caused the Kirin to fall over with smiles on their faces. They felt like they were in heaven with this angelic feeling.
But it wasn't over yet. Kangaskhan was still flailing. The soothing energy couldn't stop Rift Kangaskhan at all desite how far it reached. Signs of Aura were beginning to flash within her, only increasing her irritation. And with it, she swung her arms down, heading straight for Audino.
"Quick! Use Protect!"
"Audino!" Audino gasped, quickly putting her protective shield up. Right in the nick of time as the massive arms of Kangaskhan struck the shield. The impact of this massive arm was so great that it rippled Mega Audino's shield, causing her to stagger. "Dino!"
It happened again as Kangaskhan's tail would hit the barrier next, causing another fearsome pressure. This time, it shattered Mega Audino's shield while sending a strong shockwave. Fluttershy closed her eyes as her mane was violently blowing in the wind. The Kirin, who were lying there with happiness on their faces, were also threatened by this shockwave as Mega Audino was sent flying.
"Audino!" The Hearing Pokemon hit the ground, bumping into one of the trees.
Li'l Kanga and Autumn Blaze had made their way to the scene, witnessing the chaotic events unfolding within Kangaskhan's cosmic realm. The sight of their mother in distress prompted Li'l Kanga's concern. Autumn Blaze was not supposed to be here since she chose to speak and stay by herself but that would all change upon seeing her friends in danger.
"How did this happen...?" Autumn Blaze commented.
Kangaskhan was about to stomp on those she once viewed as her children while the Kirin simply looked up. Her irritated state made her blind to what was hapening around her.
Quickly, Autumn Blaze came to the rescue of her friends at the cost of being seen by Rain Shine. Her emotions reacted to her friends being in danger, prompting her to unleash the power of the Nirik. And by doing so, Autumn Blaze unleashed those mystical flames from her horns, intercepting Kangaskhan's foot.
It clicked for the Kirin, who managed to snap out of their current state when seeing Kangaskhan's foot descending. Now, they had another emotion clicking in. Fear.
The mystical flames of the Nirik burst forth from her horns, intercepting Kangaskhan's foot and preventing further harm. Kangaskhan cried out as the flames were strong enough to sting her foot, dealing a bit of damage. The flames of the Nirik, usually a source of destruction, became a shield against the chaotic onslaught of the cosmic Kangaskhan.
Rain Shine, Chatot, and the other Kirin observed this unexpected turn of events, their emotions now stirred by a mix of concern and surprise. It had been a while since they'd seen Autumn Blaze, immediately knowing it was her.
"Are you all alright?!" Autumn Blaze spoke to her speechless friends, making herself visible.
"What was that...? How did you do that?" Fluttershy commented, unaware of the Nirik form.
"Where's Applejack?!" Autumn also noticed that Applejack was missing. But before she could wonder that, she realized she was in perfect control of her emotions. Autumn looked at her hooves, feeling like her normal self despite appearing as a Nirik, however, she would quickly returned as a Kirin. "Ooh...I was in control?"
This surprised Rain Shine as well. Autumn Blaze appeared as a Nirik for a moment but returned to normal easily. And even before that, she was violent as a Nirik. All the other Kirin saw the first time one of their own was in control and actually used such destructive power for good.
"Huh. I guess anger's like other feelings." It clicked for her. She felt anger since the lives of her friends were threatened but they were for the right reason after all. Autumn blinked before shaking her head, putting her mind back on track. "Nevermind that! Where did Applejack go?"
All of the Kirin aimed their hooves at Kangaskhan, informing her of her position. Autumn froze for a moment before realizing what this meant. "Oh don't tell me..."
Li'l Kanga took this as an opportunity to speak with her mother if she could. She ran past everyone, making her own tremors that were on a smaller scale. Her cries were as loud as they could be, attempting to reach Kangaskhan's ears while she was irritated.
Back inside Kangashan, Sceptile and Lucario were still in the heat of battle. Sceptile's Leaf Blade would slice through the Rift Kangaskhan's while Delta Lucario's breakneck speeds with Aerial Ace allowed him to strike each of them.
In retaliation, the Rift Kangaskhan would use the power of the Rift to their advantage. The cosmic onslaught from Rift Kangaskhan was relentless. Waves of cosmic energy surged towards Sceptile and Delta Lucario, forcing them to brace themselves against the powerful attacks. The vibrant lights of the cosmic dimension intensified with each clash, creating a dazzling and chaotic spectacle.
"S-Scep!" Sceptile cried out when blocking some of these waves.
Delta Lucario, utilizing his Aura abilities, attempted to create a protective barrier to shield himself and Sceptile from the cosmic onslaught. However, they began breaking through, making it hard for Lucario to keep it up. "L-Luca...!"
"Use! Dark Matter!"
"Luca...!" Dispering the barrier and leaping into the air, Lucario put his hands together, tapping in the power of Dark Matter. The forces of the universe coalesced into his paws as a black ball as he launched it down at the Rift Kangaskhan.
The dark energy clashed with the cosmic forces, creating a brief reprieve for both Lucario and Sceptile. Sceptile, taking advantage of the momentary respite, launched into a series of agile movements, evading the remaining cosmic onslaught.
"Sceptile, use Frenzy Plant!"
"Sceptile...!" By digging his hands into the planet, Sceptile summoned massive roots from below which would fly at the Rift Kangaskhan at impressive speeds. The Frenzy Plant attack, powered by Sceptile's strength, aimed to entangle and restrain the cosmic creations. The roots moved with precision, attempting to ensnare Rift Kangaskhans and limit their movements. Delta Lucario, ready to follow up, observed the situation, prepared to act accordingly.
"Bone Rush!"
"Caaaa!" Generating energy bones in his paws, Lucario whacked each of the Kangaskhan once they were all pulled into one spot by Sceptile. Striking them all made it much easier for Lucario instead moving from place to place.
The impact of the Bone Rush caused the planet around them to crack as it was on the verge of falling apart. The stars nearby would ripple from the shockwave.
Applejack managed to defeat many of the Rift Kangaskhan as they would fizzle out, returning to the cosmic force they came from. She took deep breaths, adjusting her hat which almost came off from the heat of this battle.
"Kanga..." Kangaskhan watched it all happen, amazed by what she was seeing. There was indeed hope. But this wasn't the only piece of hope here. In her ears, she suddenly heard voices from the outside that reverberated through the cosmos. It was the voice of her baby.
From the outside, Li'l Kanga was crying out to her mother, hoping she could hear her. Li'l Kanga's cries echoed through the astral realm, reaching Kangaskhan's ears. The cosmic being turned its gaze towards the source of the voice, recognizing the familiar tones of its own child.
Li'l Kanga called out again, the desperation evident in her voice. Her plea reached Kangaskhan, touching the maternal instincts within the cosmic entity.
"Khan..." Kangaskhan's gaze softened, and for a moment, the cosmic madness seemed to waver. The connection with her baby sparked something deep within, and the chaotic energy around her began to diminish. She also saw all those she viewed as children through the cosmic energy, seeing all the destruction caused by her unnecessary size.
"Only one thing left to do. Time to use all my Aura." Applejack saw this as the best time to unleash her Aura so that this could come to an end. All the Kangaskhan were defeated so there was no one standing in her way.
However, to stop this, the Rift summoned one more Kangaskhan. The strongest one yet. A Cosmic Kangaskhan came crashing down, larger than the rest and more in line with the one currently on the outside.
"KANGASKHAN!" The appearance of the Cosmic Kangaskhan brought a renewed challenge. Its heightened cosmic form radiating immense power. The smaller Rift Kangaskhans converged around it, merging into a single entity. This new form was a representation of Kangaskhan's cosmic power, shaped by the chaotic influence of the Rift.
Applejack, Sceptile, and Lucario braced themselves for the impending confrontation. They exchanged determined glances, understanding the magnitude of the task ahead. The Kirin, still lying in a state of bliss from Audino's Heal Pulse, were unaware of the intense struggle unfolding within Kangaskhan's cosmic realm.
"One more huh?" Applejack looked up with a frown on her face but it soon transformed into a smile. The personality of Ash was definitely rubbing off on her. After seeing so many Pokemon Battles and seeing Ash's battles, Applejack has come to find the enjoyment in them. The absolute rush that they entail.
The Cosmic Kangaskhan unleashed a barrage of cosmic attacks, creating shockwaves that reverberated through the astral space. "Kanga!" The original Kangaskhan cried out, holding her arm out to reach Applejack and her Pokemon. The attacks landed, causing astral dust and stardust explosions to emerge.
Kangaskhan looked shocked and gutted. They took that attack head on and it was absolutely mortifying to think what could have happened to them.
However, they were fine. For one good reason. Emerging from the smoke and dust was the light of Mega Evolution. It burst through the aftermath, revealing Mega Sceptile.
"Sceptile!" Mega Sceptile stood tall, his form radiating a powerful and awe-inspiring energy. The Mega Evolution had brought forth enhanced strength and capabilities, ready to face the formidable Cosmic Kangaskhan with another grand power.
"Too bad for you!" Applejack bellowed. "Finish her, Sceptile! Dragon Pulse! Lucario, use Dark Matter"
"Sceptile...!" Sceptile was going to make this next hit count. So were Lucario. Both of them put their all into this as darkness and a draconic energy were all being built up. All the while the massive Kangaskhan was prepared to put an end to this, swinging her arm down.
As Mega Sceptile unleashed the powerful Dragon Pulse, and Lucario hurled the concentrated Dark Matter towards the looming Cosmic Kangaskhan, a surge of energy erupted within the astral space. The attacks collided with the cosmic force, creating a dazzling display of lights and cosmic energies. The shockwaves reverberated through the astral realm, causing ripples that reached every corner of Kangaskhan's cosmic world.
Applejack, still within the astral realm, observed the clash with anticipation. The Kirin, Fluttershy and the Canterlot Guards felt the intensity of the battle even from the outside. The Cosmic Kangaskhan, despite its immense size and power, couldn't withstand the combined might of Mega Sceptile and Lucario's attacks.
Applejack wanted to use her Aura while there was no conflict but she found an opening here, deciding to go for it. Her body would emanate that Azure light which would also appear from Lucario's body. This was all elevated thanks to Mega Evolution drawing more of it out.
The power of Aura, Dark Matter and Dragon Energy enveloped the Rift Kangaskhan's body in a mish-mash of mighty energies that were enough to stop the power of the Rift. But there was no explosion from it. Only a brilliant light.
As the astral dust settled, the defeated form of the Cosmic Kangaskhan dissipated into stardust, returning to the cosmic forces it originated from. The astral space, once filled with chaotic energy, gradually calmed down.
Mega Sceptile and Lucario, having successfully defeated the formidable opponent, could rest easy now. "Whew...That takes care of that." Applejack sighed before facing Kangaskhan. The exertion of her Aura was beginning to tear this universe apart.
Blue cracks appeared in the universe, breaking everything apart as it was also affecting the outside. Applejack was about to free Kangaskhan from this cosmic form at last. The universe that had manifested within Kangaskhan was beginning to unravel, its cosmic energies dissipating into stardust. The cracks in the universe mirrored the breaking of the connection between Kangaskhan and the Rift.
In the outside world, the Kirin Village felt the effects of this astral turmoil diminishing. The destructive forces that Kangaskhan's cosmic form unleashed seemed to subside, leaving the villagers and their homes safe once more.
Kirin Village.
Kangaskhan from the outside would cease her irritation at last. The conflict within her had ended. And even though the Aura from within was tearing her Cosmic energy apart, she was finding peace. The Parent Pokemon then looked down at all those she saw as her children, even her actual children.
"KANGA..." Her voice echoed as she was beginning to realize what she had done.
"Are you okay now?" Fluttershy spoke. And with that, she was also starting to understand their voices once more. No longer was she stuck to hearing them as babies. Her perception of time was returning to normal.
As the cosmic energies dissipated, Kangaskhan underwent a transformation back to her regular form. The celestial spectacle of the cosmic universe within her faded away, leaving behind a sense of tranquillity. Kangaskhan, now free from the influence of the Rift and the distorted perception of time, looked at the Kirin Village and her children with a mix of relief and realization.
"Kanga..." She sighed upon returning. Her baby would return to her original size as well, free from the Rift's involvement. And once she was back to normal, Li'l Kanga rushed to her mother, leaping into her arms for a hug. "Khan."
"Kangaskhan..." She nodded, expressing her gratitude to those who helped her overcome the cosmic turmoil. The Kirin, now able to speak again, used their voices to convey a sense of unity and understanding. The crisis had passed, and the bonds between the inhabitants of the astral realm and those from the Pokémon world had played a crucial role in restoring balance.
Applejack shook her head, feeling rather perplexed after that cosmic experience. At least she got to see the inside of a Rift Being for the first time. Quite the experience indeed.
Autumn Blaze, having revealed herself in her Nirik form to save her friends, looked around at the Kirin and the Pokémon, her presence no longer a secret. "Uh, sorry about this. This was just a brief visit, that's all." She nervously said. "I'll be going now if you-"
But she wasn't going anywhere. Not when Rain Shine approached. Autumn Blaze nervously looked up at her ruler, fearful of what might happen. However, it was the exact opposite of what she thought.
Rain Shine approached Autumn Blaze, and instead of anger or reprimand, she extended a gentle hoof. The leader of the Kirin village looked at Autumn Blaze with understanding in her eyes. And then, without warning, the unexpected happened.
"Thank you, Autumn Blaze," Rain Shine spoke with a soft voice, breaking the silence that had gripped the Kirin for so long.
Autumn Blaze, surprised by this unexpected response, blinked a few times "Y-You can talk!? I thought you went through the Stream of Silence?! I saw it!"
"Must've had the cure already," said Applejack.
"No way. I searched everywhere for those flowers and I couldn't find anywhere. 73 times by the way!" Autumn exclaimed.
"The Meowth and Espurr found some a year ago" Rain Shine said, revealing that the Pokemon already got on that case. "Maybe that's why that Rift thing you spoke of did to us. It sent us these Pokemon who all fill specific roles to help us. Bit of a cruel joke, honestly."
"Ain't it?" Applejack spoke.
"You've been staying silent for a year? Wow..." Autumn Blaze's eyes widened. She was very much impressed by that.
"The realization that anger is within us, but it is our choice how we let it out. We would very much like it if you came back to live with us. I can't say how much we've missed your beautiful voice."
A wonderful compliment that made her face turn red. How long she has waited to hear something like that before. Receiving a compliment is another wonderful feeling that silence couldn't measure up to. All the Kirin then started laughing as those words from their leader was enough to let them express their words.
After seeing how Autumn Blaze handled her emotions and by extension Kangaskhan, they could laugh to their heart's content. Laughter filled the area, attacking Audino's strong ears. But she didn't mind. For the most part. "A-Audino!"
"Kangaskhan." Kangaskhan was truly sorry for this, approaching the Kirin. Even though it wasn't her fault, as a mother, she took responsibility for being unable to stop this sooner.
"Oh, Kangaskhan, you don't have to apologize," Fluttershy reassured her. "We're just glad everything's back to normal."
Kangaskhan nodded appreciatively, grateful for the understanding. The Kirin, having found their voices again, were starting to communicate with each other, expressing their emotions and feelings. The village, once enveloped in silence, now echoed with the sounds of Kirin chatter and laughter.
But Kangaskhan and her baby were far from home. Their natural habitat was elsewhere and they weren't even sure where they were. Being occupied in the Kirin Village for 4 years sheltered them from the rest of the world. Equestria was practically alien to them, just like how it would be to any Pokemon that hasn't gotten to experience everything these past 4 years.
"Oh my...You can't return home." Fluttershy said. "And you don't even know where you are." Just then, Li'l Kanga had a solution for some of her age. She decided to go with Applejack and her friends. They lost their home so they would have to make a new one. The two of them should do just that in this new world.
But they didn't just want to truly enter this brave new world. They wanted help and they faced one pony. Applejack. The mother was truly grateful for what Applejack did for her and wanted to pay her back.
"Wanna come along? Alright then." Applejack held out a Poke Ball, offering a chance for them to join the party.
"Kanga!" Kangaskhan and her baby were on board. With a cheerful spirit, Kangaskhan and her baby allowed the Poke Ball to make contact, absorbing them into the crimson light.
1...2...3...Gotcha! Kangaskhan was caught.
Applejack now had two new members joining her team – Kangaskhan and her adorable baby. Even though they counted as one Pokemon. But Applejack saw them more as teammates. Picking up the Poke Ball, she now had family members on her side.
"Welcome to the family, you two."
With the Kirin Village now in a state of joyous chatter and laughter, and Kangaskhan and her baby finding a new adventure with Applejack, it seemed like the balance and harmony of this world were gradually being restored.
And so, with new friends by their side, Applejack, Fluttershy, and their Pokémon companions prepared to embark on the next chapter of their journey, ready to face whatever challenges and wonders this mysterious world had in store for them.
Plus, they almost forgot about Pinkie Pie this entire time. Once it clicked for them, they knew where they had to go next. They weren't quite done out in the wild after all.
Equestria. Out in a small town. The Pokemon Festival. Late Afternoon.
After experiencing a small adventure in the Kirin Village, Applejack and Fluttershy continued on their way, ready to meet up with Pinkie Pie, whom they were separated from thanks to the present disasters. Applejack also found herself a new teammate in the form of Kangaskhan who was a part of the family now.
Applejack and Fluttershy arrived to see Pinkie Pie, Mew and Slurpuff lying on the floor with their faces full of pleasure in this small town. She managed to find one after all. "Glad you showed up...I had a buffet here." Pinkie groaned. "What did you all do?"
"Oh, you'll love this. But are ya ready to keep going?" Applejack asked when looking down at Pinkie and the empty plates that surrounded her.
"Oooh...Maybe next time." Pinkie looked up at the sky. "I'm done for."
"Slurpuff..." The same went for Slurpuff. Each of her Pokemon were down for the count.
"Can you carry us home?" Pinkie Pie requested, unable to move at the moment out of exhausted joy. Sceptile would do the carrying, lifting both Pinkie and Mew off the ground while Audino had Slurpuff. While two days did remain, the Moon was peeking through the clouds, showing signs of arriving.
Universe 11. The Solar Empire. Canterlot. Nightfall.
A rare sight. The Moon was present up in the night sky of this universe that was all about the golden glow of the Sun. The moon was still needed after all. And on this night and days before that, the birth of one of the strangest forms of matter were done, bringing Fairy Matter to this universe.
Thanks to Cozy Glow's potion and Mega Evolution, they succeeded in summoning Fairy Matter, but only Fairy Matter. Dragon Matter was still missing on account for there being no Dragon-Type Mega Evolutions present.
And currently experimenting on this unique form of matter were Daybreaker's best scientists who worked at the science division. A division known as the Stellar Innovators.
The headliner for this was Sunrise Sparkle, another Twilight who unlocked an alter-ego that was not Midnight Sparkle. Daybreaker put her faith in Sunrise who carried Twilight's smarts and it shows.
Sunrise stared at the Fairy Matter in front of her, seeing it fizzle and sparkle. These past days that they've been with Fairy Matter caused them to see the effects. Compared to Dragon Matter, Fairy Matter took on a more peaceful approach. "Well, we still don't have Dragon Matter with us. But I don't think putting the two of them together will bring any benefits."
"No? That's a shame." Daybreaker commented, resent in the Research Room. "But I suppose that makes sense. We'll use them separately then instead of together. I plan to have all of my forces tap into the power of Mega Evolution and a good amount of them will be using Dragons. What else is there?"
"Your majesty. All this Fairy Matter seems to have a mind of its own." Sunrise continued. "Each night, bits of it have been sneaking out of the labs and even Canterlot, just to enter the outside."
"It acts on its own." Another one of the scientists who appeared to be Moondancer said. "We've had to chase it down a lot but it looks like it reacts to Sunrise more than us."
"You?" Daybreaker faced Sunrise Sparkle once more.
"Well, yes. I'm not sure why though." Sunrise Sparkle didn't have an inkling as to why the Fairy Matter reacted to her at times. Unbeknownst to her, the Fairy Matter still counted her as a Twilight, even if she has abandoned that name. "But only for a bit. It doesn't gravitate towards me or anything. I can tell a bit of it to come back but most of it does its own thing."
"Then I'm entrusting some of it to you if that's the case. Gardevoir and already control a good majority of it. If I can just control Dragon Matter, then it will all be complete."
"What about Team Plasma?"
"Team Plasma are going through their own issue at the moment. Ghetsis got himself involved in Divine Business, attempting to steal the power of an angel. That was his mistake. He wasn't ready for the angels and now he's been frozen solid as stone."
"Won't we be at a bit of a disadvantage without Ghetsis?" Sunrise asked.
"It'll be difficult Ghetsis has spoken to the Rift more than anyone else. He made a deal with it and received plenty of benefits. Losing him will mean we lost lots and lots of valuable Rift Knowledge. Plus, he was kind enough to lend Necrozma Divine Light." Daybreaker continued, thinking about freeing Ghetsis. But not quite yet. "Honestly, he gets so ahead of himselves in his pursuit for power."
"Aren't you the same?" Speaking to Daybreaker and making everypony in here flinch and gasp was Gardevoir, who was in the corner. Sunrise and everyone in here were terrified of what Daybeaker might do since Gardevoir spoke back to her.
"Same to you." But Daybreaker didn't do anything. Instead, she replied to Gardevoir with that same notion. No ill intent was made here, making everypony else sigh with relief. "We're all the same in a way. Chasing power is a wonderful thing. I'm no stranger to getting out there since I need to fuel Necrozma, but Ghetsis takes it to another level."
"Will we need him for Dragon Matter as well, Your Majesty?"
"Maybe. But let's not reach that point yet. Right now, we're going to see how far this Fairy Matter can carry us." Daybreaker gazed back at the pink energy in all of its wonder. "
"Umm...It's acting on its own again." Daybreaker wouldn't have to wait. The Fairy Matter was doing just that as alerteed by Moondancer. On a screen, a view of the rest of the lab was shown to Daybreaker and the others as the Fairy Matter could be seen entering a specific room. The room where the gateways are opened.
"It looks like it's trying to open up a gateway." One of the scientists said, watching how the Fairy Matter spread itself on the devices made to open up gateways.
"Does it know how to open up a gateway? Is it that sentient?" Sunrise Sarkle was equally surprised. How could Matter be this active? "It might be trying to enter Universe 1."
"In that case, let's encourage it then," Daybreaker ordered, deciding to grant the Fairy Matter's wishes. "Gardevoir."
The Aura Vampire Gardevoir nodded in understanding, knowing what had to be done. Daybreaker and Gardevoir were both on a new wavelength that they managed to create. Without even needing to use Mega Evolution, the two of them could naturally interact with Fairy Matter.
With Gardevoir's hands out and Daybreaker's horn glowing, they spread their respective magic onto the Fairy Matter. It was especially effective with Gardevoir since she was a Fairy-Type herself.
Universe 1. Equestria. Rainbow Falls. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
Since it was Nightfall here, the second to last day of the Pokemon Festival was coming to an end. Tomorrow would be the final day of the 4th Pokemon Festival and signs of this were showing. Many decorations here have already been put away along with some attractions.
Ash and Twilight were currently present here at Rainbow Falls under the Equestrian Moon. "So, what's next after this? Gonna keep helping Nate?" Ash asked.
"I have to. Helping Nate is one step closer to solving the Prisma issue." Twilight asked. "Same goes for you and Lucas. Having the souls of Dialga and Palkia inside of you can't be ignored."
"But it's pretty cool." Ash grinned, finding the upside to this. "I bet I could move faster with that kind of control over time!"
"Pikachu!"
"Don't get any ideas, please. Even though...I wanna see that for myself too. And if you could use it without losing yourself, could you imagine the advantages that would give us?"
"Yeah, but I wouldn't use it in battle."
"Huh?" Twilight came to a halt. "What do you mean you wouldn't use it in battle?! You could stop your opponent's movements if you wanted to! Slow them down or even-" But after spouting those words, Twilight Sparkle soon realized why someone like Ash wouldn't do such a thing. "Right. I get you. Not your style."
"You got that right!" Ash confirmed. "I mean, maybe I'll use it if things get way too dangerous when we're facing Team Plasma or someone like that. If we encountered Daybreaker again, we could've stopped her from getting Mega Evolution. Maybe."
"There's just one thing I don't understand. Why didn't Absol detect the disaster?" Twilight was curious about that. Surely, Absol would have warned her about what was coming, even before Daybreaker and Gardevoir's actions. Absol did not detect danger over at Alola and even though the problem had been settled before it could get out of control over at Alola, it was still a mystery.
"Come to think of it, Absol didn't show up then. I don't think anyone saw that coming." Ash thought about it too. Not even the People of the Water saw it coming. Practically everyone was caught off guard by it.
"It has to be something. Maybe something or someone was blocking Absol." Twilight was on the right page. There was an interference at play and she had to assume Daybreaker was involved somehow. Why else would Absol be unable to detect a potential disaster and Daybreaker just so happened to shake the world?
Now the world was dealing with those actions due to being caught off guard. The usual guardians of the world were already on the move to sort these problems out and for the most part, they've succeeded as things were tempering at the moment. However, it was clear that they were still present.
But while thinking about it, a gateway appeared. Made by the Solar Empire, Equestria was about to be faced by one last interference from Daybreaker's forces, just as Celestia expected. But not in the way she thought it would be. The gateway opened up in the sky instead of near the ground, making it far more visible. The cosmic glow of the gateway was at its brightest up in the night sky.
"A gateway?!" Twilight gasped upon seeing the gateway. "You don't think...It's Daybreaker again?!"
Eyes were up at the sky, eyeing the gateway. Especially Princess Celestia. She knew this was coming and was waiting for this moment. But she didn't think it would be during the night. The very last day of the Pokemon Festival hadn't even summoned the Sun yet.
From the gateway, the Fairy Matter would descend. The misty and wondrous appearance of it flowed out of the gateway, appearing beautifully in the night sky. The sight of it was amazing and absolutely beautiful. Those who managed to see them in the sky were enthralled by this dazzling sight. It felt like it was a part of the Pokemon Festival's celebration.
Before descending, the Fairy Matter would dance in the air for a while, mesmerising everyone's eyes while using their sparkles to mimic the stars in the sky. Many where the gateway was visible thought it was part of the Pokemon Festival, believing that the Pokemon Rangers or any other authority were using this to give a dazzling show.
However, the spellbinding exhibition was merely a prelude to a far darker revelation. The true intentions of the matter would be revealed but in a way that deviated from its original purpose.
As the radiant particles lingered in the air, those who gazed upon them became unwitting participants in a malevolent enchantment.
The enchanting mist reached into the minds and bodies of the enchanted spectators. Thoughts began to warp, and emotions swirled in a disconcerting dance. A subtle yet pervasive influence seized the consciousness of those beneath the gateway, distorting perceptions and stirring latent fears and desires.
In Ponyville, the colourful lights and festive decorations illuminated the streets, but all festivities came to a pause as the radiant gateway materialized above. Ponies of all races and those visiting for the Pokemon Festival tilted their heads upward, their eyes wide with a mixture of wonder and trepidation.
"Wow...Do you think the Ranger Union sent that?" Fluttershy questioned when gazing at this pleasing sight.
"Audino..."
"No clue. But it's beautiful. Even if it's not the end of the festival yet but, oh well." Rarity admired. All of her friends and residents had a collective gasp as they beheld the cosmic spectacle.
High above the ground, where Pegasi dwell amidst the clouds, Cloudsdale was in the midst of hosting an impressive aerial display as part of the Pokemon Festival. The normally bustling cloud city fell silent as its residents, led by ponies like Soarin and Spitfire, paused their airborne acrobatics to witness the cosmic gateway. The sky-born ponies gazed upward with wings folded, their expressions a mix of awe and concern.
The range of it was rather limited. It wasn't as expansive as the Moon or even the Rift itself when it first appeared. Only certain locations in Equestria close to each other saw it and they were specifically locations the closest to Canterlot.
As the radiant Fairy Matter descended and danced in the air, residents from these diverse locations found themselves drawn into the enchanting display. The once-united gaze of wonderment and admiration, however, concealed the subtle and insidious influence the corrupted Fairy Matter was beginning to emerge.
All except for Ash and Twilight who weren't as smitten by this sight. They could look away from it but still wonder what it was doing up there and who sent it. Ash and Twilight, though aware of its beauty, remained vigilant and less vulnerable to its captivating influence.
"Wait a second." Ash looked over at those who stared at the wondrous sight in the sky, seeing the looks on their faces. The joyous expressions on their faces were replaced by a distant, almost trance-like gaze as the Fairy Matter continued its celestial performance.
Twilight, her analytical mind always at work, observed the reactions of the crowd with a furrowed brow. Despite the allure of the Fairy Matter, she resisted its influence, choosing to divert her attention.
"Hah..." The effects were starting to show for an innocent civilian. The once-ordinary pony curled up as if undergoing a metamorphosis, her expression a paradoxical blend of ecstasy and distress. Ash, Twilight, and the onlooking crowd were left in a state of bewilderment, unsure of the true nature of this mysterious phenomenon.
Just as quickly as the discomfort had set in, the transformation reached its peak. The pony's body seemed to shrink and dissolve, morphing into a radiant sparkle of Fairy Magic. The once-physical form now existed as an ephemeral manifestation of enchantment, a living embodiment of the corrupted Fairy Matter's influence.
"Are you alright?!" Ash quickly rushed over to this pony upon seeing her in some sort of pain. But that pain was accompanied by a smile instead of a frown.
Just as quickly as the discomfort had set in, the transformation reached its peak. The pony's body seemed to shrink and dissolve, morphing into a radiant sparkle of Fairy Magic. The once-physical form now existed as an ephemeral manifestation of enchantment, a living embodiment of the corrupted Fairy Matter's influence.
The transformed pony, now a living sparkle of Fairy Magic, hovered in the air, emitting a soft, mesmerizing glow. The surrounding crowd, still under the enchantment, looked on with a mixture of awe and reverence. The Fairy Magic sparkled and danced, seemingly content in its newfound ethereal form.
But her face was still visible. Only her face, however. It was stuck in a smiling state, keeping that joyous yet somewhat creepy expression. And unfortunately, she was not the only one. Others here at Rainbow Falls were undergoing the same transformation, unable to stop it due to the captivating vision of the Fairy Matter.
The once-vibrant and diverse crowd found themselves ensnared in a strange enchantment. Ponies, humans and Pokemon, one after another, began to experience the peculiar transformation. Their bodies shrank and dissolved into living sparks of Fairy Magic, leaving only their faces visible in a perpetual state of joyful yet unsettling smiles.
The atmosphere in Rainbow Falls shifted from celebration to a surreal spectacle. The transformed individuals, now ethereal beings of pure Fairy Magic, floated in the air with their perpetual smiles, their expressions frozen in a disconcerting blend of happiness and enchantment.
"What's going on?!" Twilight exclaimed as the Fairy Magic would linger there, bringing an eerie feeling to the atmosphere. Obviously, the Fairy Matter was behind this as Twilight would look back at the mystical energy. Across the nearest locations, many were having their bodies transformed into Fairy Magic for a nefarious purpose.
Cloudsdale became a stage for an unsettling aerial ballet. The residents of the cloud city, known for their agility and grace, now hovered as radiant spectres. The once-thriving community had become a haunting display of Fairy Magic in the sky.
All those who were in the air had their bodies put in a vegetative state where they were constantly smiling. But not all of them had been transformed yet. Their bodies were still intact but they were certainly captivated by the wondrous sight in the sky.
This action was for one reason. For Necrozma. Daybreaker's forces launched one more attack on Universe 1 and it would always come back to the Prism Pokemon in some way. Thanks to Daybreaker and Gardevoir, they manipulated the Fairy Matter to act in such a way, crippling parts of Equestria.
Exiting the gateway were ships from the Solar Empire that had a different appearance this time. These ships undertook circular appearances with ponies piloting them. The air buzzed with an otherworldly energy as the ships descended upon the affected locations, poised to absorb the corrupted Fairy Magic.
"You know what to do. Absorb all the Fairy Magic you can find and return it as soon as possible." Daybreaker spoke to her troops via a screen on these ships, informing them of their current mission. "With their bodies in smaller and far weaker states, they won't prove to be a problem but be on the lookout for those who'll try and stop you."
The ponies aboard the circular ships nodded in unison, their expressions reflecting unwavering loyalty to their fiery leader. With a sense of purpose, they activated devices on their ships designed to harness the corrupted Fairy Matter.
The ships would approach the areas that were currently affected, bringing a dread that most would not see since they were stuck. Ponyville, Clousdale, Saddle Lake, Whitetail Woods and Rainbow Falls were targeted having these ships descend with devious intent.
The circular vessels hummed with dark energy as they hovered above the transformed individuals, absorbing the living Fairy Magic with an ominous glow. Those at Saddle Lake were pulled in, and ripped from the beautiful area.
The ships activated radiant energy fields, creating an ethereal aura around their circular frames. The fields crackled with dark energy, serving as conduits to harness the Fairy Magic from the transformed beings below.
From the underside of the ships, intricate magical tethers extended towards the hovering sparks of Fairy Magic. These tethers glowed with an unsettling intensity as they established a metaphysical connection with the living embodiments of enchantment.
The ships emitted low-frequency harmonics that resonated with the corrupted Fairy Matter. This harmonic resonance, carefully calibrated by Daybreaker's forces, facilitated the extraction process, encouraging the living magic to willingly flow towards the ships. Those who weren't transformed yet were left alone until their bodies became Fairy Magic.
"Daybreaker!" Ash cried out with narrowed eyes, recognizing the design of that ship and knowing who was behind this. It was indeed Daybreaker, just as he and Twilight suspected. One of the ships was heading for Rainbow Falls, here to retrieve the Fairy Magic.
"Hm? Those two aren't captivated at all..." One of the troops recognized how Ash and Twilight were doing just fine. Even those who haven't had their bodies transformed into Fairy Magic were still stuck in place, unable to move in their vegetative states. "Your majesty. It's them!"
"Well, now. Look who it is." Daybreaker decided to show herself, letting one of the ships show her face from the outside. "I am not the least bit surprised that you two are doing well for yourself."
"What are you doing?!" Twilight roared at Daybreaker. "How did you get a hold of Fairy Matter?!"
"You knew this was coming eventually, but perhaps not this soon. But fear not. They aren't perishing or anything similar to that. I'm simply using them as a way to power Necrozma." Daybreaker explained. "They'll remain in Necrozma's body as bodies of light, fueling his life."
"You can't do that!" Twilight protested. "I thought you wanted to take this world eventually. Why would you do this?"
"Mmm." Daybreaker responded with a nonchalant shrug, the dark glint in her eyes betraying the gravity of her actions. The fate of those transformed into Fairy Magic, now destined to become fuel for Necrozma, hung in the balance. "It's not like I'm taking all of them out. Eventually, I plan to release those that have been caught. Only when Necrozma is complete. If I manage to grab some important figures...I'll need them to be around as well for the future. Now watch closely as everyone here becomes fuel for Necrozma."
As Daybreaker's words resonated, the ships initiated the process of extracting Fairy Magic from the transformed individuals at Rainbow Falls. The darkened glow surrounding the vessels intensified, and magical tethers reached down to connect with the living sparks. The once-enchanting beings, frozen in perpetual smiles, now found themselves drawn into the ominous ritual.
"I won't let you! Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted.
"Eve, use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Pika...Chuuu!" Naturally, Pikachu and Espeon would interfere in this. From their bodies, 100,000 volts of lightning and a barrage of rainbow rays were thrown out, intercepting some of these ships. The combined assault of Thunderbolt and Dazzling Gleam surged forth, creating a dynamic barrier of electricity and radiant light. The attacks intercepted the magical tethers extending from the ships, disrupting the absorption process. The Fairy Magic, caught in the crossfire, flickered and scattered in response to the powerful onslaught.
The ships, momentarily thrown off balance by the unexpected interference, attempted to stabilize themselves. Daybreaker, witnessing the resistance from Ash and Twilight, scowled at the interference. "Oh, yeah? Is that it?"
Alas, that wouldn't be enough at the moment. All the Fairy Magic was flowing into the ships, siphoned for Necrozma's usage later as Ash and Twilight were unable to catch some of them that have already left. They could still try and protect the ones that were around here.
"If I were you, I'd check up on Ponyville right about now." Daybreaker said, striking fear into Twilight's heart. Twilight's eyes widened with a mixture of concern and determination. She didn't think about Ponyville where the rest of her friends were.
Daybreaker knew this. It was why she targeted areas close to Canterlot such as Rainbow Falls and Ponyville. However, she wasn't going to let Twilight easily leave, not when these ships could do more than siphon Fairy Magic. Twilight looked back, trying to see if she could spot anything in the far distance.
The ominous ships, under Daybreaker's command, surged forward with a renewed intent. Their darkened forms crackled with malevolent energy as they unleashed a multifaceted assault on Rainbow Falls. Beyond their initial purpose of siphoning Fairy Magic, the ships revealed additional capabilities designed to deal with obstacles.
Solar magical tethers extended from the ships, not to absorb Fairy Magic this time, but to ensnare and bind. These mystical restraints reached out towards Ash, Twilight, and any other potential threats, aiming to immobilize and control their movements.
Ash and Twilight were on the move with Pikachu using Quick Attack to zoom out of the way. The magical restraints hit the ground, dealing no damage whatsoever. But this would soon change once they were transformed. Using the special magic of Daybreaker, the restrains would light up, gaining a blazing appearance.
The grass would be set ablaze by the fierce flames as the tethers then burst through the earth, being far more dangerous than before. "Pikachu, use Electroweb!"
"Pika-chu-pi!" Pikachu leapt into the air, summoning an electric orb that was soon transformed into a web. This web was thrown at the flaming tethers as a way to stop them. The clash between electricity and fire created a dazzling display of sparks and crackling energy.
The Electroweb lashed out at the blazing tethers, creating a temporary barrier that slowed their advance. The air was filled with the acrid scent of burning grass as the elemental forces clashed before equalizing. Pikachu managed to stop the tethers before fizzling out.
"Eve, use Psychic!" Twilight bellowed as she would work alongside Espeon with both of them using telekinetic attacks of their own.
"Espeon!"
Sparks of Psychic energy and flames danced in the air as the battle unfolded as the Psychic attacks exerted their force, the flaming tethers began to buckle under the strain. The intense pressure from the telekinetic assault disrupted their trajectory, causing them to waver and falter.
"You could say I've been going easy on you, but I just didn't have most of my resources with me. Even though this isn't most of it." Daybreaker boasted. "I do need to keep you around though, Ash Ketchum."
"Me?" said Ash. Why would Daybreaker need him to stick around? Daybreaker knew the answer to that and it all came back to Prisma. But that wasn't going to stop Daybreaker from harming Ash.
"Keep Ash around?" Twilight repeated, wondering why that was the case. Twilight Sparkle then thought back to the Fairy Matter since it was still a mystery as to how Daybreaker got a hold of it. "Don't tell me..." It was beginning to click for the Princess of Friendship. "Ash! We should go!"
"Go?" Ash faced her friend with a look of confusion. Ash wasn't one for leaving during a scene such as this. Not when many innocents were trapped as Fairy Magic.
"Leaving?" Daybreaker smirked. "You wouldn't want to waste this place, would you? But then again, everywhere else is still a problem, isn't it? The longer you stay here, the more become fuel for Necrozma down the road."
"Why you...!" Ash's eyes would flare. Daybreaker was certainly pushing his buttons, putting so many lives in danger just to feed Necrozma.
"I'll try and figure something out for them, Ash!" Twilight would cover Ash's body in a purple magic, wanting to keep him safe from what was potentially coming. "Daybreaker wants someone out of you and it's Prisma!"
"Seriously?" This was already familiar to Ash. Back in the illusionary world of the Unown, Second Wind tried the exact same thing, attempting to force Prisma out. But in this case, Daybreaker wanted to keep Prisma inside for a bit longer compared to Second Wind's hasty efforts.
"I can spare some Fairy Matter for a different purpose. Fire it." Daybreaker commanded as she had another used for the Fairy Matter. This usually peaceful form of matter had already been weaponized. As Daybreaker's command resonated through the air, the corrupted Fairy Matter, once a wondrous and enchanting substance, transformed into a fearsome beam of pink energy. The very essence that had captivated the skies and enthralled onlookers with its beauty now manifested as a tool of destruction.
The fearsome beam, charged with malevolent energy, surged forth with an intensity that left a trail of shadows in its wake. The air crackled with the corrupted magic as the beam cut through the atmosphere, its Faye radiance painting an unsettling scene against the backdrop of Rainbow Falls.
Twilight Sparkle turned her head, terrified by what was coming her way. She pushed Ash out of the way to shield him from harm, attempting to put up a magical shield. But she was too late. The beam made contact.
"Twilight!" Ash screamed her name as the pressure of the Fairy Magic was rather fierce for something that was meant to look beautiful. Espeon's pupils shrunk after seeing her trainer take the hit.
But to Ash's surprise, Daybreaker's surprise and even Twilight's surprise, she was fine. The Princess of Friendship gasped, seeing herself in one piece with no damage whatsoever.
"Well then..." Daybreaker gazed with shock in her eyes.
Twilight, realizing that she had emerged unharmed, took a moment to process the situation. The inexplicable turn of events left everyone in a state of bewilderment, the rules of the cosmic conflict momentarily disrupted by Twilight's unexpected resilience against the dark forces.
"Twilight...How'd you do that?" Ash gawked.
"I...didn't do anything." Twilight shook her head.
"She was completely fine and not a scratch?" Daybreaker narrowed her eyes before thinking back to her conversation with Sunrise Sparkle earlier. "Is it the same reason it reacts to Sunrise? Is Fairy Matter related to Twilight in some way?"
Twilight snapped back to her senses before continuing to depart from here. She didn't have time to question why she was fine, as long as she was okay.
"In that case, use what we're already used to," Daybreaker ordered. From the ships, Daybreaker's troops descended, ready to engage in the ongoing conflict. The foot soldiers, dropped onto the battlefield, stood as a formidable presence beneath the looming vessels, while those controlling the ships remained airborne.
They had their staffs at the ready which could produce light magic. Daybreaker could at least count on these to deal damage to Twilight. The rays came flying in at high speeds, attacking the landscape while also bypassing the Fairy Magic that was lingering around. Ash wanted to stop this since more innocents were being pulled in, but he was trusting Twilight on this.
Rainbow Falls was lit up with Fairy Magic, Shadows, Flames and Light Rays but it was not a beautiful moment at all. Many were unaware of the mess happening around them to react at all, stuck with smiles on their faces.
While Twilight remained vigilant, one of the rays of light was unleashed from above instead of on ground level. The light struck the Princess of Friendship's wings directly. The impact was sudden, and Twilight winced in pain as the light magic made contact.
"Twilight!" Ash called out, concern etched across his face as he witnessed the unexpected attack on his friend.
"Ghh..." The light magic wasn't anything to scoff at. After all, it originated from Daybreaker's magic and the end result was a pain that was blazing hot. Twilight's wings felt the heat. Twilight gritted her teeth, enduring the pain as she felt the residual heat radiating from her wings. The unexpected attack had taken a toll on her, more than what she saw the last time she came across Daybreaker's troops back at the Diamond Domain.
As more and more of the Fairy Magic continued to be pulled in, trapping innocent beings within its transformative grasp, Ash remained silent, his gaze fixed on his injured friend. In the skies, pink lights kept flying, wrongfully taken away, not just from Rainbow Falls but nearby areas.
In the midst of this turmoil, Ash's heart emitted an audible beat. A beat that was heard by Twilight, Pikachu and Espeon. There was another sound of that heartbeat as it got louder, this time, reaching the ears of Daybreaker and her troops.
Suddenly, Ash's entire demeanour changed. Standing up and casting his shadow over Twilight, the Aura he usually carries would show itself. Inside of Ash, Sombra saw it for himself. His pupils widened as the visage of a soul appeared before him. The former King of the Crystal Empire gasped in shock as the most blinding light reached him in a second. Before he could do anything, he was eclipsed by the light.
"Ash...?" Twilight uttered while feeling the pain in her wings.
"Pika-Pi...?" Pikachu spoke the name of his best friend, worried by the look in his eyes. Ash was thinking about everything that's been happening. Many were being taken away just to fuel Necrozma while the world was still feeling the effects of Daybreaker's previous actions.
And then, his Azure Aura would take on a darker appearance. Additionally, his hair looked to become a bit wilder even with his hat on as both his iris and pupils shifted from their usual colour, sporting something far more crimson. The one thing Twilight feared happening was coming to fruition.
Prisma was influencing Ash.
The sudden shift in Ash's aura and demeanour did not go unnoticed by Daybreaker's forces. The very atmosphere seemed to react to the transformation, sending ripples of intimidation through Rainbow Falls. The foot soldiers, armed with their staffs, felt a wave of uncertainty wash over them in the face of this unexpected change. They exchanged uncertain glances as the atmosphere around them seemed charged with an unpredictable energy. The sudden transformation of their adversary left them on edge, contemplating the implications of this unforeseen development.
Pikachu, Twilight, and even Daybreaker herself could sense the palpable shift in the air. His friends and the malevolent forces alike found themselves standing on the precipice of something significant, the cosmic conflict taking an unforeseen turn.
"So is that him...?" Daybreaker wondered. She was seemingly unaffected but she couldn't completely ignore the impact of the change in Ash. Her piercing gaze observed the unfolding events, analyzing the nuances of the transformation with a careful and calculating demeanour. While she remained composed, a flicker of intrigue danced in her eyes, acknowledging the first-ever arrival of Prisma.
The troops used their backups in the form of their own Pokemon. They arrived with their own Pokemon which were the Golurks as always. But they had other options at their disposal. Different Pokemon appeared, noticeably appearing as Fire-Types to fit the Solar Empire's look. This was meant to finish things quicker, but they were met with a shocking surprise.
"Gol..."?
The Golurks, typically imposing and unwavering, found themselves stumbling back in the face of Ash's fierce aura. The Fire-Types, designed to embody the Solar Empire's fiery aesthetic, also displayed signs of unease and hesitation. The very presence of Ash, influenced by the enigmatic Pokémon within him, seemed to evoke a sense of fear among the Pokémon allies.
"The Pokémon are scared...?" Twilight observed, her eyes widening with realization. The Princess of Friendship, attuned to the emotions of Pokémon, discerned the unease among the troops' allies. The unexpected influence of Prisma's soul had created a ripple effect, leaving not only the human participants but also their Pokémon companions affected by the profound transformation on the battlefield.
"I was banking on using him later but...let's see what he can do now." Daybreaker smiled, wanting to test this out for herself, showing no fear. "Attack him!"
"R-Right!" The troops stuttered. "Golurk, use Hyper Beam!" One of them shouted as many other attack names were called to be used against Ash.
"No, you won't." Holding his hand out, Ash did the unthinkable. By his will, he managed to shut down their attacks by clenching his hand. To everyone's shock, they couldn't unleash their attacks at all. "I'm taking your Pokemon's attacks and transferring them to Pikachu!"
"What did he say?!" Daybreaker gasped.
In a display that defied the laws of conventional Pokémon, Ash's control over the Infinity Energy became evident to everyone present on the battlefield. Before their eyes, he extracted the energy from the opposing Pokémon, gathering it into a single, radiant ball of power. The very essence of the moves they had intended to unleash now coalesced into a concentrated form of energy, a testament to the extraordinary influence Prisma's soul granted Ash.
Once he completed the extraction, Ash directed the transferred moves to Pikachu. The Electric Pokémon, typically limited to a specific set of attacks, felt the influx of power and knowledge as moves such as Hyper Beam, Flamethrower, Incinerate, Shadow Ball, and more became accessible to him.
"Pika..." Pikachu uttered, his body now infused with the extraordinary moves that extended beyond the usual capabilities of his species. The electrifying Pokémon, usually associated with lightning-based attacks, now bore the prowess of a diverse range of moves that defied expectations.
"Pikachu...We won't let them take them away, right" Ash spoke with his voice deeper than before. It was a mix of Prisma's own voice and Ash's regular voice. Ash was still there but undergoing a different expression than usual.
"Pika...Pikachu!" Pikachu wasn't sure how to feel about this initially. Avoiding Prisma as something he and Ash wanted to do, but now, a part of Prisma was showing. And yet, Pikachu would also stand by Ash's side, especially when it involved his friends being harmed. Plus, he could still her and see Ash.
"Now, Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt and Flamethrower!" Together, Ash called for a union of two attacks in one. The power of Thunderbolt and the newly aqcuired power of Flamethrower. Doing this was reminiscent of how Celestia and her own Gardevoir mix Mystical Fire and Thunderbolt to create the powerful element of Plasma.
"Pikaaaa....!" Pikachu, with a surge of energy coursing through him, unleashed the dual assault. "Chuuu!" A torrent of lightning intertwined with flames erupted from Pikachu's form, creating a mesmerizing display of power that crackled and roared across the battlefield. The fusion of Thunderbolt and Flamethrower resulted in a unique and powerful attack, showcasing the unprecedented capabilities unlocked by Ash's connection with Prisma's soul.
In response to Pikachu's formidable combination of Thunderbolt and Flamethrower, Daybreaker's forces rallied to mount a counteroffensive. The troops, shaken but determined, commanded their Pokémon to unleash a barrage of attacks in an attempt to regain control of the battlefield.
The troops shouted, calling upon attacks that would stop this merged power. The Pokémon under Daybreaker's command responded with renewed vigor. Hyper Beam manifested as a concentrated beam of Infinity Energy, ready to unleash its destructive force, while Fire Blast materialized as a searing burst of intense flames, creating a formidable dual assault.
However, Pikachu's Plasma broke through. The dazzling display of power obliterated the opposing attacks, reaching the other Pokémon aligned with Daybreaker's forces. The troops, caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, looked on in shock as Pikachu's combined assault proved to be more than they had anticipated.
"Hah! Golurk is still immune to electricity!" One of the troops yelled with a cackle. "Your attack won't work!"
"Won't it?" Ash's response, delivered with an ominous tone, hinted at a level of understanding that left the troops uneasy. As Pikachu's Plasma surged toward Golurk, the troops gasped in disbelief, realizing that the attack was not only effective but also managed to hit the supposedly immune Pokémon.
"G-Golurk!" The Golurk screamed as some of them crashed through their trainers.
"Now, Pikachu! Hyper Beam!"
"Pika..." Pikachu took a deep breath, building up all the Infinity Energy within his body. This was a new sensation for him since he has never used Hyper Beam before. Out of his mouth, a fierce blast of Infinity Energy was unleashed, but specifically at the ships in the air.
The Hyper Beam, fueled by the concentrated power of Infinity Energy, connected with one ship in a spectacular display of force. As Pikachu unleashed the formidable attack, a single hit created an explosion that eclipsed the sky. The burst of energy illuminated the battlefield, casting a radiant glow across the clouds. The ships in the air all felt the power of this attack as many of them were knocked out of the sky.
The Fairy Magic that was gathered would fly out due to the ships taking titanic damage from one Hyper Beam. Pikachu used it far more effectively than expected, especially for his first time.
The shockwave from the explosion rippled through the air, carrying with it the echoes of Pikachu's newfound prowess. The heroes, Daybreaker, and her forces alike, watched in awe as the Hyper Beam proved to be a force of extraordinary magnitude.
"He needs time to recharge! Shoot him!"One of the troops who climbed over a downed Golurk exclaimed, taking advantage of the fact that Hyper Beam always needs time to recharge.
However, Ash, demonstrating a deep understanding of the dynamics at play, intervened to change the course of the battle. With unwavering determination, he proclaimed, "I sacrifice half of my Aura to negate the recharge time! Hyper Beam!"
In a decisive snap of his fingers, Ash channelled his own energy to negate the typical recharge period associated with Hyper Beam. The battlefield, once filled with anticipation of an impending attack on Pikachu, now witnessed an unexpected turn of events.
Pikachu, infused with the energy granted by Prisma's soul and bolstered by Ash's sacrifice, unleashed another Hyper Beam without delay. The powerful blast surged forth once again, catching the troops off guard and disrupting their attempts to exploit Pikachu's supposed vulnerability.
"Pikaaaaa!" Another Hyper Beam was shot into the air with no hesitation. The troops in the air that were still airborne tried retaliating by unleashing light rays from above. But upon meeting with the Hyper Beam, the light rays were blown away. All of the ships in the air had been downed, crashing into the ground and releasing the Fairy Magic.
"So this is just a bit of Prisma..." Daybreaker saw what Prisma was capable of for the first time. And it was truly impressive. She was not disappointed.
She observed her forces on the ground as the impact of the ships knocked some of them out from the pressure alone. By himself, Ash took them all down, albeit with the power of Prisma. By this point, Ash had secured victory and yet, something was amiss.
"This isn't over!" Ash declared, his voice carrying a tone of unwavering resolve. Rainbow Falls was now marred by the aftermath of downed ships and scattered Fairy Magic, which bore witness to an unexpected continuation of the conflict. Ash wasn't done. Instead of finishing up here, he would actually continue attacking. Usually, Ash would stop here but the influence of Prisma said otherwise. "You're going to pay!"
"Wait! Ash, stop!" Twilight bellowed, trying her best to get back up even with this damaged wing. Daybreaker narrowed her eyes before ending the transmission. Her face on the holographic screen would vanish right afterwards.
"Pikachu! Use-" But before Ash could spout the next command, Sombra interfered. The soul of King Sombra was now involved, promptly stopping Ash. "Ngh!"
"Sombra?" Twilight gasped, her surprise evident at the unexpected turn of events. Sombra, usually aligned with dark intentions, now found himself trying to rein in the chaotic influence of Prisma's soul within Ash. It was a peculiar twist in the ongoing cosmic conflict.
"I tried to stop it the moment it showed up but it was so abrupt..." Sombra growled as even he was struggling to keep Prisma's soul in check. "But thankfully, at this rate, I can calm him down and bring him to his senses."
Sombra's intervention proved effective as he managed to rein in the chaotic influence of Prisma's soul within Ash. The abrupt shift in Ash's demeanour and actions left him dazed and perplexed, disoriented by the internal struggle he had experienced.
"Gh!" Ash would grimace as once Prisma's soul was affected.
As the conflicting influences receded, Ash found himself on one knee, the haze of Prisma's overwhelming determination dissipating. The battle within him had subsided, leaving a sense of confusion and disorientation in its wake.
Twilight, still recovering from the earlier onslaught, approached Ash with a mixture of concern and relief. She was supported up by Espeon's Psychic, thankfully. "Ash, are you okay?!" Ehe inquired, recognizing the toll the internal struggle had taken on him.
"Man...What happened?" Ash questioned. To Twilight's shock, Ash had no recollection of what had just occurred. Even though he knew what he was facing, the whole thing with Prisma escaped his mind. Ash looked onwards, seeing the downed forces of Daybreaker's troops and the lingering Fairy Magic that was still in the air. He saved them from being taken away, but they were still stuck like this.
And the same went for nearby locations which didn't have a semblance of Prisma to help them. The big attack Celestia anticipated had come while the final day was approaching as the journey continues.
Equestria. Ponyville. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
Daybreaker had launched her big attack and it involved using the enigmatic Fairy Matter to captivate many near Canterlot with a beautiful sight. Afterwards, their bodies were transformed into Fairy Magic that could be collected and sent to Necrozma as fuel.
The circular ships from her Empire were used as a way to siphon them and at this moment, some of them were approaching Ponyville, where many were completely stuck, looking at the beautiful sight in the sky or their bodies had already become Fairy Magic.
"Ngh...Gh!" However, managing to break out of the trance of the Fairy Matter was Fluttershy along with Pinkie Pie. Both of them would grunt, shaking their heads and coming back to their senses.
"Oooh...What was that?" Pinkie Pie uttered with her eyes wobbling. "My Fairy Magic went wild for some reason."
"I think it's because of that." Fluttershy pointed her hoof at the Fairy Matter in the sky. The only reason these two broke free was thanks to the Fairy Magic they were already trained in. "Rainbow Dash! Rarity!" Fluttershy bellowed at her friends, desperately trying to wake them from the captivating trance induced by the Fairy Matter. "Applejack?!"
Not even Applejack was snapping out of it. No one was. They were far too captivated by the sight in the night sky. And on top of that, approaching the scene were the ships, ready to siphon the Fairy Magic. Fluttershy and Rarity were greatly outnumbered, being the only ponies wide awake.
Just as Fluttershy and Rarity felt the weight of the impending doom, a sudden burst of energy erupted from above. A brilliant Hyper Beam streaked across the night sky, striking one of the approaching ships with pinpoint accuracy. The ship erupted into a blistering explosion, catching the attention of the mesmerized ponies below.
"Golurk!" Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie gasped in awe as the powerful attack was revealed to be the work of Golurk, and not just one but multiple of them descended from the skies. These towering Pokemon, allies from Canterlot, soared through the air with Canterlot Guards on their backs. Celestia had foreseen Daybreaker's final assault during the Pokemon Festival and had summoned the Golurk.
The Golurk rained down various attacks such as Hyper Beam and Shadow Ball, targeting the ships that tried to siphon up the Fairy Magic. They were unable to siphon the Fairy Magic because of this interruption and even the Golurk had them outnumbered this time.
However, that wasn't going to fix the enchantment everyone was in. They were still captivated after all. One of the Golurk and the troops descended to meet with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, who were the only ones active.
"Oh, you two are alright." He said. "Just as Princess Celestia predicted.
"We're so glad you're here! We tried waking everyone up but nothing's working!" Fluttershy said with a desperate tone. But she then reacted to what the guard had just said. "Predicted?"
"You only broke free because you're trained in Fairy Magic thanks to Valerie. Her Majesty is also trained in it. She was able to resist and ignore the captivation of that Fairy Matter in the sky." He explained.
"But how do we break them out of it. All this loud noise isn't even working!" Pinkie Pie requested.
"Princess Celestia theorizes that if you can use your Fairy Magic, you could free them." The troop explained. "You're the only two here with the most amount of it after all."
"Just us two though?" Fluttershy said, looking at Pinkie Pie. At the same time, the booming sound of the conflict in the sky startled them.
Pinkie Pie, despite the chaos around her, knew what had to be done. "Well, it's just us here, so...We're not gonna waste Valerie's work, right?"
"I guess so." Fluttershy nodded, finding courage in Pinkie Pie's enthusiasm. "Raboot and Bayleef won't snap out of it, but at least you're still fine, Audi." Thankfully, Audino was fine, thanks to the Fairy Magic within her. "Alright. What to do, what to do..." Fluttershy put her hooves on her head, thinking of the best possible way to free them. Unlike Psychic-Type specialists, who could always enter the minds of others, Fairy Magic took a different approach.
The Canterlot Troop quickly got back to his duty, having his Golurk ascend to deal with the circular ships in the air. Fluttershy was doing her best to come up with something as the main thing that finally hit was the overwhelming Heal Pulse that Mega Audino was capable of.
"It's our best option." Fluttershy said, concluding on her plan. It worked yesterday on the Kirin when they were about to emerge as the Nirik, so she was hoping the same could be said for this scenario which had a joyous emotion involved instead of an irritated one. "We'll overload them with Heal Pulse. That should replace the trance they're all in."
"Great idea!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. Only Fluttershy could do it though since she had the power of Mega Evolution at her disposal. Since Pinkie Pie's Mew was also captivated by it and her Slurpuff certainly can't Mega Evolve, Fluttershy was the only hope here.
The pegasus took out her Key Stone while Audino already summoned her Mega Stone, the Audinite. The time for Mega Evolution was now. The two stones, the Mega Stone held by Fluttershy and the Audinite worn by Audino, resonated with each other in perfect harmony. A dazzling light enveloped Audino's body, signalling the initiation of the Mega Evolution process.
The radiant glow expanded, casting a brilliant aura around Mega Audino as its form underwent a transformative surge of power. The air crackled with the energy of Mega Evolution, and the enchanting light captured the attention of those around.
"Audino!" Mega Audino was here.
"Please work. Use Heal Pulse!"
"Audino...!" The Hearing Pokemon put her hands together, tapping into the soothing energy of Heal Pulse. A brilliant green light left Audino's body, having a radius effect. It would first reach her friends Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash who were still smiling. Fluttershy was also praying that this would work, hoping that this was the answer.
Audino was pushing herself to her limit. This was the most she's ever had to exert Heal Pulse and it showed. Never before has using Heal Pulse been this painful.
"Mmm...!" Doing this was straining Fluttershy as well, affecting her own energy. She and Audino were putting their all into this. Despite the pain and fatigue, Fluttershy and Mega Audino pressed on, fueled by their unwavering resolve. The green light continued to radiate, reaching every corner of Ponyville. The once-captivated ponies, now experiencing the unique effects of Heal Pulse, found themselves enveloped in a profound sense of joy and well-being.
The Canterlot Guards, Golurk, and the troop watched in awe as Fluttershy and Mega Audino persevered, their dedication evident in the powerful waves of healing magic they unleashed. The town, once shrouded in enchantment, was now bathed in the revitalizing energy of Mega Audino's Heal Pulse.
In the expansive night sky above, the clash between Daybreaker's troops and Celestia's forces unfolded with breathtaking intensity. The circular ships, initially perceived as vessels for siphoning Fairy Magic, revealed their hidden capabilities as they engaged in a relentless aerial brawl.
The air crackled with magical energy as the opposing forces darted and weaved, executing excellent manoeuvres in the celestial battlefield. Circular ships soared and spiralled, leaving trails of mystical light in their wake, while Golurk, with Canterlot Guards astride them, responded with agile movements, showcasing their remarkable speed and agility despite their massive frames.
The celestial canvas became a symphony of lights and explosions as energy beams and projectiles shot through the night. The air reverberated with the echoing roars and battle cries of the Golurk and Canterlot Guards, each maneuver calculated to outwit and outmanoeuvre their adversaries. Brilliant bursts of colour erupted across the sky as attacks collided, creating spectacular displays of magic that painted the heavens in hues of radiant energy.
At that moment, by pushing herself enough, Fluttershy and Mega Audino managed to affect everyone in Ponyville. Heal Pulse reached an astonishing vibrance that was at its most beautiful in the night sky.
"Uh..." Rainbow Dash groaned, her voice carrying a hint of disorientation as she began to exit the trance-like state induced by the Fairy Matter. The dazzling display of Heal Pulse in the night sky reflected in her eyes, and the sense of euphoria replaced the confusion that had clouded her mind moments ago.
Throughout Ponyville, similar scenes unfolded as the Heal Pulse worked its magic. Ponies blinked away the remnants of the enchantment, their expressions transitioning from a mesmerized trance to a newfound awareness. The vibrant energy of the Heal Pulse had not only dispelled the enchantment but also left an indelible mark on the night sky, turning the once perilous atmosphere into a breathtaking spectacle of healing magic.
Thanks to Fluttershy and Audino, they were all freed from their trance-like states, but not those who had already become bits of Fairy Magic. They were still stuck in that form.
"W-What happened?" Rarity uttered, holding her head. She soon realized the chaos happening above her. "What is all of this?!"
Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and the other ponies around Rarity also expressed their bewilderment, their eyes wide as they took in the celestial spectacle above. The Canterlot Guards, Golurk, and the troop continued to engage in the fierce aerial battle against Daybreaker's forces.
"When did this happen?!" Applejack pulled back once her eyes met with the battle above.
"Oh, you're all okay!" Fluttershy flew over. "I thought you would be stuck like that!"
"Is the Pokemon Festival over? What happened?" Rarity questioned.
Recognizing the shift in the situation and realizing that their forces were now outnumbered and facing determined resistance, the troops of Daybreaker made a strategic decision. The chaos in the sky began to subside as the circular ships, once engaged in a fierce aerial battle, began to retreat.
The Golurk, Canterlot Guards, and Celestia's forces pursued the retreating troops, pressing their advantage. The night sky, which had been a battleground, gradually cleared as the remaining ships from Daybreaker's forces fled, disappearing into the horizon.
Those who were freed would screech and gasp after seeing the Fairy Magic. The eerie atmosphere was still present after all. Freeing them was another issue as even Heal Pulse couldn't fix this.
Speaking of the sky, the gateway that had been opened up was still present, waiting for the ships to return with the stolen Fairy Magic. At this moment, the ships that have managed to receive Fairy Magic were about to return to Universe 11, seemingly scot-free.
But of course, Princess Celestia wouldn't allow that at all. Arriving at the scene were the Golurk once more, here to prevent many innocents from being absorbed into Necrozma.
The Golurk, with their eyes gleaming with determination, unleashed powerful attacks to disable the ships and prevent their escape. Canterlot Guards, skilled in both magic and combat, cast spells that disrupted the ships' functionality. The combined efforts of the forces on the ground and in the air created a formidable resistance against the retreating ships.
Some of them even blocked the entrance to the gateway by hovering in front of it. The confrontation continued near the gateway, lighting up the night sky once more.
Only those at Ponyville and Canterlot could view this battle. Nearby locations either had their residents taken away or stuck in that vegetative state.
Some of the ships erected shields that absorbed the incoming attacks, deflecting them away from the gateway. The Golurk unleashed powerful Hyper Beams that targeted the ships attempting to breach their defensive line. Each time some Golurk needed to recharge, another group of them would fill in, giving them all the time they needed.
"Your majesty. We can't bring the Fairy Magic back at this rate." Back at Universe 11, one of Daybreaker's soldiers looked back at the Solar Empress while in the other universe, the goal to bring back the Fairy Magic was a struggle. Screens were littered everywhere showing the Solar Empire how Equestria was fiercely fighting back to protect their own.
"If this continues, we might lose all of the Fairy Magic we can for Necrozma!" A scientist exclaimed. Daybreaker narrowed her eyes, seeing the development on the other universe as she just saw all of this as one big time waster.
"In that case...we'll bring Necrozma to them," Daybreaker's declaration sent ripples of anticipation through the room in Universe 11. As she lifted up Necrozma's Poke Ball, a tangible sense of urgency filled the air. The Solar Empress, determined to secure the stolen Fairy Magic, seemed ready to take drastic measures.
The Solar Empress would then approach the gateway to Universe 1 herself, having Necrozma at the ready. However, Daybreaker didn't go through the gateway. Instead, she launched the Poke Ball through it, deciding to stay behind this time.
As Necrozma's Poke Ball rippled upon passing through the gateway and entered Universe 1, the atmosphere in Equestria immediately shifted. The very presence of the Prism Pokémon brought with it an overwhelming sense of dread, sending a chill through the air.
Upon opening, the Poke Ball summoned Necrozma into the realm of Equestria. The Prism Pokémon materialized with an aura of power and darkness, casting an imposing shadow that stretched across the night sky. The Canterlot Soldiers and Golurk, witnessing the arrival of Necrozma, gasped in awe and trepidation.
Ash and Twilight, who were still around Rainbow Falls, looked up at the sky yet again to see the small flash in the sky that signalled Necrozma's arrival. They already saw the fierce clash happening above right near the gateway but it looked like it was about to get worse.
"Is that...Necrozma?" Twilight gasped.
Once Necrozma showed up, he took full advantage of the scenario before him. And despite being in an entirely different universe, he could still communicate with Daybreaker. In his mind, he and Daybreaker shared a telepathic link even from great distances.
"Feast away, Necrozma. It's all yours. But first...use Prismatic Lasers." Daybreaker commanded.
Responding to Daybreaker's directive, Necrozma unleashed the power of Prismatic Lasers. Brilliant beams of multi-coloured light erupted from his form, creating a dazzling display that cut through the night sky with precision. The lasers danced and swirled, painting arcs of radiant energy across the canvas of the cosmos.
The Canterlot Soldiers, Golurk, and the ponies of Ponyville below looked up in awe and trepidation as Necrozma's Prismatic Lasers filled the night with a spectacular yet ominous spectacle. The dazzling lights intensified, casting an eerie glow that rivalled the stars themselves.
The Golurks, stalwart guardians of Canterlot, found themselves in the crosshairs of Necrozma's relentless assault. The Prismatic Lasers struck with supernatural speed and precision, tearing through the air with an unsettling swiftness. The once-imposing figures of the Golurks, symbols of strength and protection, now became harbingers of doom as the eerie lights converged upon them.
High-pitched whirring sounds echoed through the night as the Prismatic Lasers closed in on their targets. The Golurks, unable to evade the supernatural onslaught, resonated with metallic groans as the lasers connected with their towering forms. The beams of coloured light penetrated their bodies with a surreal and haunting precision.
"Go-Golurk..." Some of the Golurk fainted from this, falling to the ground while their trainers flapped their wings, gasping at the sight of their parents descending with heavy damage on them.
"No, Golurk!" Some of them bellowed. But even they weren't safe. Necrozma wouldn't stop at just the Pokemon. Even the trainers were targets. Targets for Necrozma to feast on.
Necrozma would advance, flying straight for the remaining Golurk and the trainers, ready to feast on their energy, no matter how small. At the end of the day, if light was involved, then he could devour it. The remaining Golurk stood their ground, heavily damaged from the Prismatic Lasers, giving Necrozma all the advantage he needed.
The battle against Necrozma unfolded in a nightmarish symphony of chaos and despair. The Prism Pokémon, fueled by an insatiable hunger for energy, proved to be an adversary unlike any the soldiers and Golurk had faced before. His- radiant form hovered ominously in the night sky, casting an oppressive shadow that seemed to suffocate the very essence of light.
Necrozma's Prismatic Lasers continued to cut through the air with malevolent precision, leaving no respite for the remaining Golurk and the disheartened soldiers.
"G-Golurk!" The Golurk were being absolutely battered and it didn't help that Necrozma started grabbing some of them.
Necrozma's radiant form weaved through the air, grabbing hold of some of the struggling Golurk with an eerie grace. The Prism Pokémon, fueled by an unquenchable hunger for energy, drained the life force from the already weakened Golurk. The night bore witness to a haunting spectacle as the once-stalwart protectors were reduced to mere shadows of their former selves.
"G-Golurk!" The cries of anguish and desperation grew louder as the Prism Pokémon siphoned the energy from its captives. The metallic bodies of the Golurk, once symbols of unwavering strength, flickered and dimmed as Necrozma's relentless assault continued.
The soldiers, witnessing the plight of their partners, fought with a mixture of determination and heartache. The once-disciplined ranks now found themselves facing an adversary that seemed to feed on their very essence. The disheartening reality set in as hope waned, and the battle against Necrozma became an increasingly desperate struggle for survival.
The Golurk were now mere husks of their former selves, faced a fate that seemed inevitable. The Prism Pokémon, revelling in the stolen energy, cast a shadow over Equestria that seemed to deepen with each passing moment. The night, once illuminated by the light of friendship and magic, now became a haunting backdrop for the tragic battle between the forces of darkness and the remnants of light.
And once he absorbed their light, once again, Necrozma's illness reminded him why this was never going to be enough. He wanted more. He craved more. And without even seeing it, Necrozma could easily detect where light can be found and his eyes met with the ships in the sky which were carrying Fairy Magic. Necrozma's hunger reached a point where even those on his side were seen as targets.
"Don't Necrozma." But Daybreaker promptly spoke to him in his mind, knowing what he was thinking. This has happened before and she couldn't afford to let Necrozma run wild without any control. Not for a second time.
Necrozma was conflicted between the primal urge to consume and the restrained guidance of Daybreaker, hovered in the night sky with its eyes fixed on the ships carrying Fairy Magic. But, with Daybreaker having better control now, Necrozma refrained from attacking the ships.
As for those ships, they were greatly damaged from the battle, struggling to stay airborne but they could still move. The remaining Golurk hung in there, greatly at a disadvantage but refused to surrender for the sake of innocents.
Necrozma, under the directive of Daybreaker, prepared to unleash Photon Geyser. The night air crackled with tension as the Prism Pokémon channelled its energy, gathering the formidable power needed for the impending attack. The Golurk, sensing the impending threat, braced themselves for the onslaught, their determined gaze fixed on the celestial menace that hovered above.
Photons were gathering into a single spot right in the claws of Necrozma, creating an intimidating sight and sound at the same time. Some of the Golurk would try and respond with their own ranged attacks while others would fly in with physical attacks such as Dynamic Punch, Hammer Arm, Fire Punch and more.
But with a flash in his eyes, Necrozma unleashed the attack the second one of the Golurks got too close for comfort.
The air itself seemed to ripple as Photon Geyser surged forth, a torrent of luminous power that cut through the night like a celestial blade. The attack lashed out with unforgiving force, creating an awe-inspiring yet terrifying spectacle in the night sky.
The Golurk, caught in the maelstrom of Photon Geyser, felt the overwhelming power of Necrozma's onslaught. The ranged attacks were swallowed by the radiant torrent, and those who dared to approach too closely were met with the relentless force of the Prism Pokémon's devastating move.
Explosions of light and energy illuminated the darkened canvas of the night as the clash reached its zenith. The air resonated with the echoing cries of Golurk, a poignant testament to their valiant but seemingly futile struggle against the overwhelming might of Necrozma.
The innocent ponies of Ponyville, witnessing the celestial conflict above, could only watch in awe and horror as the fate of Equestria hung in the balance. Photon Geyser, a manifestation of the Prism Pokémon's insatiable hunger for light, continued to carve through the night, leaving in its wake a trail of destruction and despair.
Necrozma hovered there while the Golurk fell with smoke trailing out of their bodies. The Prism Pokemon was victorious and stronger than ever because of how much light he had absorbed. While small, they still mattered a lot to this seemingly unstoppable force.
Daybreaker looked at the environment before she could order anything else. The Golurk and the Canterlot Guards were down on the ground, defeated while some of her ships were still airborne. The remaining ships were on the ground as well after being downed by the Golurk with the Fairy Magic they siphoned scattered.
Seeing the scattered Fairy Magic, Necrozma would gladly partake in another feast, this time, expecting the Fairy Magic to be far better than the Golurk and the troops.
"Darkrai, use Dark Void!" But at that moment, when Necrozma went straight for one of the Fairy Magic, the voice of Luna rang through the night sky. Coming Necrozma's way was a ball of darkness intended to put him to sleep, but Necrozma was ready for it.
The Prism Pokemon swayed his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the Dark Void that was sent by Luna's Darkrai. Princess Luna had arrived with backup. Joined by her Darkrai and other Golurks from Canterlot.
"Luna..." Daybreaker said when looking at her sister on the screen.
"That's as far as you go, Necrozma!" Luna declared with her voice reverberating through the night sky. "You are not leaving this universe with those innocents!"
Necrozma screeched at Luna, irritated that she would dare get in his way again. He remembers their last big encounter which was around the Sea Temple. Necrozma was superior in that clash and he didn't think this would be any different.
The cosmic entity hovered, its eyes ablaze with an unwavering resolve to overcome any opposition.
"Not this time. It won't go down like before."Luna, undeterred by Necrozma's screech and the memories of their past encounters, stood firm with an unyielding determination to protect the innocents and prevent the Prism Pokémon from leaving with the Fairy Magic. "I promise you that you'll lose today, Necrozma."
The ships took the opportunity to fly away, heading for the gateway as soon as possible. But as soon as they made contact, they would themselves bouncing back. They were denied access back to their universe and some of these ships would go tumbling down, failing to stay airborne.
"Hmph. My sister predicted a big attack at the Pokemon Festival's last moments. Did you think she wouldn't account for your gateways?" Luna, with a confident smirk, revealed the usage of a Rift Device that disrupts gateways. Courtesy of the Ranger Union.
Necrozma was essentially trapped here. The Ranger Union's Rift Device proved to be a formidable tool in thwarting Necrozma's escape plan as he was essentially forced to handle this on his own. Not that he was complaining. This universe was a goldmine of light.
"Go, Darkrai! Dark Pulse!"
"Hm!" Darkrai put his hands together, generating a burst of darkness while the backup Golurk prepared their own attacks from afar. Necrozma would respond in kind, preparing a Dragon Pulse from his claws.
The air would pulsate and flash once more with tension as the opposing forces unleashed their respective attacks. Darkrai, under Luna's command, unleashed a potent Dark Pulse, a surge of darkness that rippled through the night.
The ranged attacks collided in a spectacular burst of conflicting energies, each attempting to assert dominance over the other. The air crackled with the intensity of the celestial struggle as the night bore witness to the cosmic clash. Flares of darkness and radiant pulses intertwined, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle that captivated the ponies below.
Necrozma, on his own, could match this many attacks to the point where they had no choice but to equalize. The attacks from both sides would combust in front of each other, creating a tornado-like wind pressure.
Seizing the opportunity created by the combustive clash of energies, Luna would shout out her next attack. "Now, Darkrai! Poison Jab!" Luna bellowed with her horn glowing
From the colourful smoke, Darkrai would fly forward, along with all the Golurks who were about to get physical. Necrozma, standing alone against the oncoming assault, met the challenge with an aura of regal authority.
The clash began with a symphony of movements, Darkrai's graceful strike, the Golurks' resolute advance, and Necrozma's poised defence. The night air crackled with the sounds of metallic impacts and the subtle hum of ethereal energies colliding. Each movement, each strike, became a part of the cosmic dance playing out against the starlit canvas.
Darkrai's Poison Jab, infused with a venomous energy, sought to breach Necrozma's defences. The Prism Pokémon, however, responded with a calculated evasion, swaying its body to the side with an almost imperceptible grace. The Golurks, undeterred by the evasive manoeuvre, continued their assault, launching a series of physical attacks.
Necrozma blocked some of them, cushioning the blow, only to retaliate with a swift yet heavy Shadow Claw, dealing super-effective damage to the Automaton Pokemon.
Darkrai's Poison Jan and Shadow Claw connected, creating a burst of energy that resonated through the night. The two powerful attacks clashed in a symphony of darkness.
Darkrai, embodying the essence of shadows, faced Necrozma's Shadow Claw with an elegance that defied the chaotic nature of the cosmic battlefield. The Poison Jab, infused with a venomous energy, sought to breach Necrozma's defenses. Simultaneously, Necrozma's Shadow Claw, a manifestation of its regal might, met the incoming assault with a calculated precision.
As the Poison Jab and Shadow Claw collided, the cosmic energies released created a shockwave that rippled through the immediate vicinity. The ponies of Ponyville, gazing upward, witnessed the mesmerizing display of power and magic that unfolded in the starlit expanse.
Darkrai ducked an incoming Shadow Claw, returning with a mighty upwards slash. The attack staggered Necrozma for a bit, but not for long. The Prism Pokemon responded by headbutting Darkrai when throwing his body forward.
Luna got involved, shooting her magic from above to try and catch Necrozma off guard. She supported Darkrai with a powerful beam that struck the top of Necrozma's head.
Thanks to Luna's support, Darkrai followed up with Poison Jab, slashing the centre of Necrozma's body as the impact of the slash was heard by many. This was then followed up by the other Golurk flying in to smash their fists against the Prism Pokemon.
"Golurk!" One by one, they delivered powerful punches, smashing their fists against Necrozma in a coordinated assault. The metallic echoes of their attacks reverberated through the cosmic maelstrom, adding to the cacophony of sounds that enveloped the starlit expanse.
Necrozma, beset by the combined onslaught of Darkrai and the Golurks, found itself entangled in a flurry of blows. The Prism Pokémon weathered the assault with a stoic demeanour. However, the relentless barrage of attacks were filled with unbridled tenacity.
"Now is our chance! Dark Void!" Luna used this opportunity to put Necrozma to sleep while he was still feeling the powerful blows. Darkrai tried one more time, throwing the ball of darkness forward. This time, it actually managed to connect.
The sphere expanded rapidly, engulfing Necrozma's entire form. As the ethereal darkness wrapped around the Prism Pokémon, a momentary hush fell over the cosmic battlefield, leaving the outcome suspended in uncertainty.
However, Daybreaker intervened from another universe. Using her potent magic, she negated the effects of Dark Void, thwarting Luna's attempt to induce sleep. The cosmic struggle persisted, and Necrozma, though momentarily affected, remained an active participant in the celestial clash.
"Curses...!" Luna grit her teeth, the frustration evident in her expression. The ongoing battle showed no sign of resolution, and Necrozma remained a formidable opponent on his lonesome.
"Luna." At that moment, using Necrozma's body, Daybreaker had her voice echo through the Prism Pokemon just to speak to her little sister. "If you know what's good for you, you'll stop here. You're the one pony I don't want to see get hurt, even from another universe."
"I don't want to hear anything from you. You're not my real sister." Luna replied with a strong attitude. "Try all you want but you are not leaving here with all that Fairy Magic."
"Hmph. So you say." Daybreaker smiled, closing her eyes before reopening them. "It's fine. Besides, Celestia and I are always on the same page, aren't we?"
"What?" Luna pulled back.
"You said she predicted a massive attack during this time, right? Obviously, she'd be right. But of course, I would also anticipate something like this. We are still the same pony at the end of the day. Your efforts have been great. I should expect nothing less from the strongest universe. But there are some things you aren't ready for."
Daybreaker's confident smile and her cryptic words hinted at a greater scheme, one that transcended the immediate clash in the cosmic battlefield. Luna, caught off guard, could only watch as Daybreaker disclosed her intentions.
"Blocking my forces returning? Not that big of a deal. I didn't need that gateway anyway. You see...I've found another way to benefit Necrozma with light. You're about to find out one of the best benefits we could have possibly created." Daybreaker announced.
At that very moment, Necrozma began absorbing the energy from the gateway, an ominous glow enveloping the Prism Pokémon. Luna and the others looked in shock and horror as Necrozma was now absorbing the power from the gateway of all things.
The force at which he started absorbing the energy from the gateway was fierce, creating celestial flashes in the night. The cosmic energy was fueling the Prism Pokemon, making the clouds themselves rupture and the wind cry out in pain.
"Necrozma's...Transforming?!" Luna's bellow spoke volumes as to what was about to emerge. The force of this transformation was enough to push back some of the Golurk. The light in the sky was almost as bright as the Sun itself, covering the beautiful Moon and the stars that accompanied it.
Necrozma's new form manifested as a celestial spectacle that defied the norms of reality. The Prism Pokémon, bathed in an intense luminosity, underwent a transformative metamorphosis that reshaped its very essence. The once regal and crystalline body now exuded a radiant brilliance, reminiscent of the cosmic forces harnessed from the gateway.
Necrozma's alternate form was a mesmerizing fusion of radiant hues, its body adorned with swirling patterns of prismatic light that danced like celestial ribbons in a cosmic wind. The edges of its form glowed with an ethereal intensity, casting a luminous aura that painted the night sky in vivid strokes of cosmic energy.
The observers, including Luna and the ponies of Ponyville, were caught in a mesmerizing display of celestial power. Necrozma's new form stood as a testament to the boundless potential of cosmic energy, its presence both awe-inspiring and disconcerting.
"If I were to suit your naming schemes, this would be Rift Necrozma, right? Or maybe, we should call this one Astral Necrozma. Hm. That'll do just fine." Daybreaker said with a bit of glee in her voice. This was the birth of Astral Necrozma. Not quite another evolution but essentially an upgrade for the Prism Pokemon.
As Astral Necrozma loomed in the transformed night sky, Luna and the onlookers could only watch with a sense of awe. Necrozma had borrowed the power of a gateway and many were hoping that it wasn't any other power from the Rift. With Daybreaker's laughter echoing through the night sky, these final moments of the Pokemon Festival were reaching a critical point.
Equestria. Up in the Night Sky. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
Astral Necrozma.
By absorbing the gateway itself, Necrozma underwent a cosmic upgrade. A transformation that has never existed before until now. During the conflict underneath the night sky that was littered with Fairy Matter, the world gave way to this new Necrozma.
Astral Necrozma retained the basic structure of its original form but underwent significant visual changes. Its body takes on a radiant, ethereal quality with a shimmering cosmic glow. The prism-like crystalline structure on its back transforms into an intricate celestial array, resembling a star map. The normally yellow portions of its body turn into a deep, indigo hue, giving the impression of a night sky filled with stars. Its eyes now shine with the brilliance of distant galaxies.
Luna, the many Golurk and the Canterlot Guards looked in horror and shock at this new transformation. Necrozma would let out his signature cry, but now the sound of it was mixed with the eerie sounds of the cosmos.
The roar of Astral Necrozma was not merely an auditory experience; it carried a tangible force, akin to the power of a hurricane tearing through the cosmic expanse. The shockwaves reverberated through the transformed night, further emphasizing the magnitude of this celestial metamorphosis.
"This isn't like a Rift Pokemon at all. This is something else entirely..." Luna already had a bad feeling that Astral Necrozma was far different from every Rift Pokemon she's seen. He has embraced the Rift Energy instead of being given it by chance.
"Luna..." Darkrai hovered in front of Luna. "I know for a fact Daybreaker won't let anything bad happen to you. She's still holding back since her own Luna is gone."
"Oh, you're right. As long as I'm here, Daybreaker can't possibly hope to let Necrozma go all out." That did seem like an advantage on Luna's part. Because of how Daybreaker feels about Luna, she can never bring herself to let the worst happen to her, especially when an example of the worst possible thing was right in front of her in the form of Necrozma.
"Is that what you think?" Daybreaker spoke through Necrozma once more. "You should know that I'm not afraid to step past any boundaries. I warned you to back down earlier and now here we are. Facing down a Gateway-powered Necrozma."
"How long have you had this at your disposal...?" Luna uttered while grizzling her teeth.
"It's actually rather new, but not something that was hard to get used to. Pokemon are already capable of handling Rift Energy within them rather well compared to us ponies or even a Human. Necrozma is no different, but I was a bit hesitant before. I had to make sure the Rift wasn't up to anything. But thanks to Ghetsis, I have nothing to fear."
"I hope you're seeing this, sister...This might spiral out of control sooner than we expected." Luna thought to herself, feeling rather nervous in the presence of this Astral Necrozma. The things he could do in this state terrified her.
"I can just open up another gateway. So for now, let's continue where we left off. Necrozma. Shadow Claw." Daybreaker commanded. Necrozma ignited his cosmic claws with a shadow energy as Luna and her group braced themselves. But right before their eyes, once Necrozma let out a slash, not only did he not move from his position which confused them, but a flash of cosmic energy appeared right next to the Moon Princess.
"What?!" Luna shifted her eyes swiftly as out of that portal appeared Necrozma's claw. Unexpectedly, she was slashed by the Shadow Claw from a completely different direction. This also applied to Darkrai, who received a slash from the side as well.
Necrozma swung his claw more than once as gateways appeared above and under the rest of Celestia's forces. More Shadow Claws appeared, striking the Golurks from different directions and dealing super-effective damage.
"Is this like Hoopa's ability...?!" Luna grunted after being staggered by the Shadow Claw. This reminded her of what Hoopa was apparently capable of. More specifically, the Hyperspace Fury as this attack resembled it.
"Darkrai! Thunderbolt!" Luna bellowed, forming a shield around her to protect herself against the incoming Shadow Claws. The claws would fly out of the portals, smashing the barrier, but they couldn't break through.
Darkrai managed to avoid three Shadow Claws while zooming through the air before unleashing a flash of lightning from his claws. The electricity travelled as fast as it could, striking the Prism Pokemon directly. Darkrai managed to get a direct hit on Necrozma, pushing him back, but it wasn't enough.
"No matter the look, no one's unbeatable! Follow up with Dark Pulse!"
Darkrai would advance gathering the power of darkness in his claws. Necrozma would glare at Darkrai before unleashing his chilling cry. The cry was meant to push Darkrai back, but the Pitch Black Pokemon managed to push through, remaining strong. With all of his force, Darkrai pushed through the pressure before unleashing his Dark Pulse in the form of a black beam.
However, as soon as it got close to Necrozma, a gateway opened. Dark Pulse did not reach Necrozma, but instead, it went elsewhere, reappearing next to one of the Golurk.
"G-Gol!"
"Unless he just has the power of a gateway in general?!" Luna gasped at the revelation of what Necrozma could do. It looked like he was now a walking gateway, able to position attacks whichever way he wanted.
"I can guarantee you, that's not all," Daybreaker spoke. "Dragon Pulse, Necrozma."
Putting its claws together, Necrozma gathered up the arcane power of a Dragon as cosmic sparkles would appear alongside it. The Golurk, acting fast, would unleash Shadow Balls to intercept Necrozma's attack. Multiple blobs of shadows were raining down, each packing super-effective damage if they can hit.
With a flash from his body, Necrozma showcased more of his capabilities. The Dragon Pulse in his hands would suddenly distort when surrounded by the cosmic sparkles, becoming more than just a beam. The Dragon Pulse, while expanding, would distort the gravitational field around Necrozma, causing incoming physical attacks to lose their momentum.
The Shadow Balls reached a slower velocity, but not only that, they started orbiting Necrozma. The Golurks and the Canterlot Troops looked in shock and awe as Necrozma was practically a walking planet as well.
And after gathering all the Shadow Balls around his body, he would fire Dragon Pulse while also sending the Shadow Balls back. It was a fierce combination of Dragon Pulse and Shadow Ball as all the shadowy blobs would circle the dragon-shaped beam, darkening it with a ferocious trail of shadows being left behind.
Luna expanded her shield to block the incoming attack, encompassing all of her allies. The impact of the blast was tremendous upon hitting Luna's shield. It enveloped her massive shield, surpassing its size while lighting up the night sky. The force of it would shake the trees below as well as many forests nearby. The force of the explosion was felt far and wide, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape.
Luna grit her teeth, doing her best to keep this shield up as the ferocity of this impact was practically otherworldly. The celestial energies continued to surge, pushing against Luna's magical defences with relentless intensity. The strain on the shield was palpable, and Luna felt the weight of the battle pressing down upon her.
As a result, Luna and everyone else were pushed down to the ground by the force of this combination. Luna still managed to keep the barrier up but not her balance. As such, the shield hit the ground hard, landing near Whitetail Wood as a massive dust cloud emerged from the impact.
"Ngh..." Luna groaned as her shield was lowered. She successfully kept them all safe after managing to withstand such a mighty attack. But it was not over yet. Not when Necrozma started descending.
Rainbow Falls.
Over at Rainbow Falls, Ash was attempting to rush in there, seeing the conflict in the air descend to somewhere else. After being influenced by Prisma for a moment, he was still ready to help.
"At this rate, they won't make it that far!" Ash exclaimed. "We gotta get in there!"
"No, Ash!" Twilight, despite one of her wings still feeling a burning pain, would hold Ash back. "You can't go!"
"Come on, Twilight...! You gotta let me go!" Ash groaned, trying to move forward. But he didn't want to use his full force since Twilight was injured.
"No way! You were influenced by Prisma! Even if it was for a while, it happened! If you head in there, Daybreaker might force him out of you again, but on a greater level than before!"
Twilight's stern words resonated with Ash, and he paused, realizing the gravity of the situation. The memory of Prisma's influence wasn't there for him but he was informed that he was influenced by him slightly. And the end result was an Ash that intimidated Twilight.
"I can't risk it, Ash," Twilight continued, her voice filled with concern. "After what just happened, I don't want her to exploit any vulnerabilities. Please."
Ash reluctantly nodded, understanding Twilight's point. Despite his determination to join the fight, he couldn't ignore the potential risks involved. Twilight, still recovering from her injuries, couldn't afford to lose Ash to the clutches of Daybreaker's manipulation.
Ash really wanted to help. Just like how he wanted to help those who have been turned into Fairy Magic. But right now, there was nothing he can do. All of his brute force and will wouldn't help him here, not with how things are developing.
"Alright," For the sake of his friends, Ash would accept Twilight's request. "But I gotta do something. I can't just stand here and watch."
"For now, let Princess Luna handle it. I have something that's coming to mind right now." Twilight added, thinking as hard as she could. "I doubt Necrozma is going to leave here anytime soon. Right now, we should focus on saving everyone else here before they're taken away."
"But how do we turn them back?" Ash approached one of the Fairy Magic, holding it in his hands. No one had the solution to revert them to normal just yet after all."
"This is Fairy Magic." Twilight glanced at the Fairy Magic."Down to its very essence. All of that Fairy Matter carries a huge amount of it if it can pull this off. Maybe there's a way to cancel it out. I can only think about the Rift Cauldron right about now. Gather them all up."
For Twilight, using the Rift Cauldron was her best option. If Necrozma was going to tap into the power of the Rift by absorbing an entire gateway, Twilight would have to do the same to save all of these lives. Twilight used her Rift Magic to generate a basket that would fit all the Fairy Magic in. Ash, Pikachu and Espeon would gather all the Fairy Magic around Rainbow Falls, keeping them away from Daybreaker's forces who had already been defeated on this very location.
Practically everyone in Rainbow Falls had become Fairy Matter, meaning all of them were in the basket. Now that they had all of them in, all that was left to do was return to Twilight's Castle and the Princess of Friendship was hoping that her friends were alright.
Ponyville.
Back at Ponyville, those who were freed from the trance before they could be transformed into Fairy Magic kept their eyes away from the Fairy Matter in the sky. Those who were stuck as Fairy Matter were just left there as no one knew what to do with them.
"Everypony indoors!" Mayor Mare bellowed, prompting everyone to enter a building just to ignore the Fairy Matter in the eyes. No one was looking up anymore and just kept moving. Those who didn't live in Ponyville had one other option. Entering the gateway to Pallet Town. Doing that would keep them away from the Fairy Matter entirely.
Bodies were entering the indoors while some were entering another side of the world. Fluttershy went straight back to the Pokemon House, checking up on all of her Pokemon, hoping that the Heal Pulse managed to reach them. Thankfully, her Pokemon were alright. The Heal Pulse didn't leave them out of the picture.
"Oh, thank goodness..." A relieved Fluttershy said, almost falling over. "Quick. You should all get back inside. It's not safe out here." With her order, all the Pokemon quickly retreated to their respective spots. And those who couldn't get indoors would just have to keep their eyes away from the skies.
Right now, Ponyville was in full lockdown until the Fairy Matter in the sky vanishes. And by extension, this spelt the end of this year's Pokemon Festival. No one looked up but they could hear the erratic sounds in the skies.
And at this moment, returning to Ponyville were Ash and Twilight, who managed to avoid the effects of the Fairy Matter entirely. When approaching, they saw that the streets of Ponyville were empty, devoid of life while the festival decorations were still up.
They looked around them to see some Ponies, Pokemon and Humans appearing as Fairy Magic while the rest were indoors, visible through the windows.
"Ash! Twilight! It's not safe out there!" Opening her window to speak to them was Amethyst Star. Everyone then noticed how Ash and Twilight had a basket of Fairy Magic at their disposal, going straight for the rest that were still lingering around.
"Sorry. But do you have any more of this? I want to try and reverse everything here." Twilight requested everyone indoors, expecting some of them to have pulled the Fairy Magic in.
Indeed, some of them have taken the Fairy Magic in since some of them were loved ones. Hearing Twilight's words, the residents of Ponyville, while keeping their eyes away from the sky, would bring the Fairy Magic over. The basket, now filled with the essence, emitted a bright, magical glow. All of this Fairy Magic was enough to reach this intensity.
"Alright. This should be enough for now." Twilight said when seeing the basket. "Let's hope the Rift Cauldron can sort this one out." It was off to her castle where the Rift Cauldron would pack a lot of Rift Energy for usage. Everyone would continue to stay indoors while Ash and Twilight advanced to the castle.
All the while, in the far distance, the crackle of Rift Energy could be heard with the brief flash of a cosmic light. Whitetail Wood wasn't too far from here after all. The danger of Necrozma was eerily close to them.
Canterlot. Canterlot Castle.
Back at Canterlot, Princess Celestia was already busy doing what Ash and Twilight set out to do. Those who have been entranced were snapped out of it by Celestia and Gardevoir's combined might, unifying their magic to break the trance.
But there lies the problem of the Fairy Magic. Celestia held a familiar face in her hooves, wondering how to reverse this mess. The troops who remained in Canterlot would gather all the Fairy Magic they could, not just from Canterlot but from nearby areas that were affected.
"Hmm..." The Ruler of Equestria was in a deep state of focus along with Gardevoir. The two of them used their own Fairy Magic expertise on this, doing what they could to reverse the effects. "At the end of the day, even if affected by Fairy Matter, it is still Fairy Magic. Which means, it's packed with Infinity Energy and the best thing that we can do is reverse it."
Celestia's plan involved reversing the Infinity Energy inside. After all, that was the main thing that drove all Pokemon with Aura being its equal. Her interaction with the Fairy Magic would result in it wobbling, showing that she was most definitely doing something to it.
But while doing this, her mind was thinking about Luna, knowing that she went straight for Necrozma. That was a plethora of danger waiting and Celestia wished she could be there for her sister, but she had to be here for her subjects who have been transformed into potential food for the Prism Pokemon.
More and more Fairy Magic were being brought in for Celestia to handle as they had been successfully retrieved before Daybreaker's forces could capture them. So far, no one has been sent back to Universe 11 or absorbed by Necrozma, but it felt like an uphill battle trying to keep them all safe.
Whitetail Wood.
Back at Whitetail Wood, Luna and her group stood before Astral Necrozma who touched down, letting out a brief cosmic flash from his boy. The remains of Luna's shield would drop to the ground like glass as the area was covered in smoke from the downed ships and the hard impact that appeared earlier.
The Golurk who were defeated were brought back to their Poke Balls to rest, prompting the remaining Canterlot Soldiers to back away and focus on retrieving the stolen Fairy Magic. Plenty of it had been scattered after the ships had fallen and were just lingering there, under threat of Necrozma absorbing them.
It was all riding on Luna protecting all the innocents from Necrozma, which she managed to do so far. But Luna could already tell that it was only going to get harder from here.
"You have the power of a gateway, but you're still Necrozma at the end of the day," Luna said with the wind aggressively blowing in her face. "You're not the first cosmic enemy I've faced."
"He could be the last," Daybreaker spoke through Necrozma once more. "After we're done here, this world will never be the same again. Necrozma and I can already feel it being one step closer."
"And then what...If you do absorb all the light in this world, what will you do next?"
"I thought about it, but I could still use this universe for my own. Add it to my Solar Empire. It is the most rich when it comes to Pokemon and the resources can't be taken granted for. I've already been thinking of a compromise after Necrozma devours everything and more importantly, you'll be there."
"You are still on that? No matter what you say, my answer is No."
"You're not the first Luna that's said that. No matter where I go, all Lunas have the same response. It's rather disheartening. I wish you could see things my way, then we wouldn't have to be in this mess. Well...we'd still be in this mess, but you would be safe."
"Since I'm not the first Luna to do so, then isn't clear that what you're doing is objectively wrong?" Luna questioned. "Why would you go this far Especially for Necrozma?" Luna couldn't quite understand it. If every Luna Daybreaker's met has opposed her, why continue on this path "Are you that far gone"
"You should know that I'm not one to go back on my word, Luna. Each and every Luna I've met, I've tried to bring them back to my universe, to fill in that missing hole. But no matter what...it's always the same. Especially when I come across other Celestia. Granted, Empress Twilight was the one who tackled them mainly, so I had no part in that. But I did tackle every Luna out there. And I even came across Lunas who have lost their Celestias."
Daybreaker continued, reminiscing of her experiences across different universes and how she's met with so many Lunas who have not sided with her. Not even for a second. That seemed to be a burning constant that Daybreaker just couldn't negate.
In Daybreaker's quest to expand her dominion across worlds, she encountered various alternate Lunas, each representing a unique facet of the Moon Princess's character in different dimensions. However, to Daybreaker's dismay, every Luna she encountered harboured an intense resentment and hatred towards her twisted counterpart. Some of these alternate Lunas witnessed the tragedy of their own Celestias succumbing to darkness, and the sight of Daybreaker, a corrupted version of their beloved sister, filled them with disgust and anger.
Daybreaker, blinded by her thirst for power and control, attempted to sway these alternate Lunas to her cause. She argued that her reign brought order, stability, and strength to Equestria, claiming that she had transcended the weaknesses that led her counterparts down the path of defeat. However, the alternate Lunas were unyielding in their rejection, seeing through Daybreaker's delusions and recognizing the tyranny she had imposed on Equestria.
I even came across other Nightmare Moons. Seeing them didn't make things better. If anything, they reminded me about how I became too passive in the past, relying so much on the flaw that was the Magic of Friendship and the flaws of harmony.
Naturally, Nightmare Moon was defeated as well. Each and every one of them fell, losing their empire as it was replaced by the Solar Empire. Seeing them sparked that anger within Daybreaker as that was a past she didn't wish to revisit ever again.
The alternate Nightmare Moons, sensing Daybreaker's internal struggle, seized the opportunity to exploit her doubts and manipulate her emotions. They painted a picture of a universe where strength and dominance were the keys to power, contrasting the supposed weakness of harmony that had led to Nightmare Moon's rise to power.
As Daybreaker engaged with these alternate Nightmares, she faced a relentless barrage of accusations about her previous weaknesses and perceived failures as Princess Celestia. The alternate Nightmares condemned her for being too merciful, forgiving, and committed to the principles of friendship. Daybreaker, in turn, felt a growing frustration with the memories of her own benevolence.
Conflict erupted in each alternate universe as the alternate Lunas fiercely resisted Daybreaker's influence. These clashes between the corrupted Solar Empire and the rebellious forces led by the alternate Lunas became fierce battles, echoing the struggle that occurred in Equestria.
And of course, by the end of them, Daybreaker stood victorious, but at a tremendous cost. She had to watch every version of her sister fall, but none of it compared to her own universe's sister, who had perished instead of being defeated.
"Failing to convince any of them was so frustrating. No matter what, I never strayed from my true goal. And yet, I had to question myself. Failing to convince any other Luna of her vision forced me to confront my own inherent flaws in my ideals. Something I didn't want to admit for the longest."
Daybreaker continued. While Luna couldn't see her, she could already envision what the Solar Queen was feeling at the moment. "To me, defeating all those Lunas felt like I was filling in the hooves of what the Changelings and the Dread League had done."
"So then why did you keep on going?" Luna asked, wondering why Daybreaker would continue down this path if she knew what she was doing was even challenging her thoughts.
"Because I can never go back, Luna." The truth of the matter was that Daybreaker was steadfast in her new goals, no matter how much her ideology was tackled. "I have to keep moving forward. The old ways just won't do it anymore. Harmony may have flaws, but I'll make it perfect. Something my past self could never do.
Luna, resolute in her commitment to the principles of harmony, responded with determination, "I understand...But no matter what...I just won't let it happen." Luna stayed adamant, narrowing her eyes.
"Figures. But I haven't lost hope in you yet. Maybe after you see how pointless all of this is and how I'll succeed in my goals, you'll come to my side, Luna. Necrozma. Let's finish up here as soon as possible."
Astral Necrozma was already geared up for more action. From his body, he unleashed a cosmic storm that blew the trees of Whitetail Woods. Luna grit her teeth against the pressure, standing her ground while the Canterlot Soldiers and the Golurk were holding on for dear life.
"Gather up the rest of the Fairy Magic and return them to Canterlot," Luna ordered when looking back at the soldiers, wanting to keep the innocents safe from Necrozma's grasp.
"Understood, your majesty!" The soldiers nodded in understanding, quickly going for the Fairy Magic. Luna and Darkrai would take on Necrozma together for a second round.
"One Pokemon is never enough for you." Luna grimaced before using her magic to throw another Poke Ball into the air, summoning her next Pokemon. Out of it emerged her Aurorus.
"Aurorus!"
"As long as I keep you occupied, you won't be leaving here with innocents." Luna grinned, having the plan to keep Necrozma around without letting him have the chance to absorb anyone. Even against his new transformation, she showed no fear and was looking into a potential victory.
"Go, Darkrai! Poison Jab!" Luna bellowed. "Support him with Ice Beam, Aurorus!"
Darkrai flew in with another exchange ready for the Prism Pokemon. Necrozma was already prepared, using Shadow Claw once more. Necrozma would promptly put up his claws to block the incoming Shadow Claw as the impact sent him flying forward.
Necrozma's body flew through a plethora of trees while Darkrai chased him down as fast as he could. Upon reaching Necrozma in time, when going in for another Poison Jab, Necrozma would sway his body, narrowly avoiding Darkrai's claws. Necrozma's own claws would slash the back of Darkrai's body, knocking him back.
The Pitch Black Pokemon hit a rocky wall, but he didn't have time to breathe. Necrozma summoned a gateway behind himself, allowing him to rapidly end up in another spot. By going through this gateway, Necrozma appeared above Darkrai, following up his Shadow Claw with an overhead.
Surprised, Darkrai was slammed into the ground so hard that his body would bounce. The Master of Shadows grunted as his hidden legs were grabbed by Necrozma, who spotted them. Showing high tenacity, Necrozma revealed Darkrai's hidden legs, preparing to slam him.
Saving him from another hit was Luna, who would quickly strike Necrozma's back with a fierce beam, staggering the Prism Pokemon. This allowed Darkrai to force Necrozma off him by manipulating the shadows beneath him. These shadows would strike at Necrozma's arms, loosening the grip as the Pitch Black Pokemon flew back.
"Follow-up with Dark Pulse!"
Darkrai, with his shadowy presence, began the confrontation by unleashing a wave of darkness that swept across the woods. The shadows danced and twisted, forming ethereal tendrils that sought to ensnare Necrozma. The cosmic Pokémon, however, stood resolute, its form radiating with a blinding light that repelled the encroaching darkness.
Following up with that was Aurorus's Ice Beam which came flying in from afar. It passed by Darkrai, targeting Necrozma, who would use his newfound cosmic abilities to immediately ignore it. He created a gateway in front of him, sending the attack elsewhere.
The gateway appeared above Luna, attempting to freeze her, only for the Princess of Friendship to fly away as the chilling beam hit the grass, freezing it immediately.
"Prismatic Lasers!" Daybreaker bellowed. Necrozma then retaliated against Darkrai with his Dragon Pulse. Brilliant beams of draconic light shot forth, cutting through the shadows and colliding with Darkrai. The clash of dark and light lit up White Tail Wood which was receiving a harsh beating from all of this.
"Dark Pulse, once more!" Undeterred by Necrozma's fierce yet dazzling display, Darkrai summoned a sphere of energy. The sphere pulsed with dark energy as it spiralled towards Necrozma, aiming to drain the cosmic entity's strength.
Necrozma responded with a defensive manoeuvre, surrounding himself with a radiant barrier of light. The Dark Pulse collided with the barrier, causing a brilliant explosion of contrasting energies.
"Thunderbolt! Aurorus, use Earthquake!"
"Rorus!" Stomping her feet on the ground, Aurorus would summon golden shockwaves that ripped through the earth, causing a mighty earthquake. Assisting her was Darkrai, who would unleash Thunderbolt from above and to make sure that Necrozma would stay on the ground, Luna used her magic to form a mystical chain.
These chains erupted from the ground, appearing beneath Necrozma before the Earthquake could, wrapping around his arms and body, leaving him vulnerable to these attacks. The blast of 100,000 volts came crashing down, electrifying the Prism Pokemon. But once the shockwaves appeared, Necrozma, tapping into his newfound abilities, would leave behind a cosmic illusion.
His Rift Energy would burn through the chains by using the heat of the stars to do so while his body fizzled out, leaving a starry afterimage. That was all the shockwaves managed to hit, missing the Psychic-Type. Necrozma then moved through the air by leaving cosmic afterimages behind, forcing Luna, Darkrai and Aurorus to keep their eyes on him.
Using the light of the cosmos, Necrozma would temporarily flash his opponents to catch them off guard, illuminating White Tail Wood.
"Now, use Photon Geyser!" Necrozma cried out, taregting Aurorus for a Photon Geyser. All his Psychic attacks wouldn't do a thing to Darkrai after all.
"Quick, Darkrai! Dark Pulse, go!"
In a pivotal moment, even after being flashed, Darkrai conjured a massive Dark Pulse, managing to fire as soon as possible. The sphere spiralled towards the cosmic entity, but Necrozma countered with a barrage of Photon Geysers. The beams of light clashed with the dark sphere, creating a dazzling display of energy clashes.
"Let's try this again but with a greater effect! Dark Void!" Darkrai, sensing the need for a strategic advantage, created an immense otherworldly void, an expanding nightmare that threatened to engulf Necrozma. This Dark Void was slammed into the ground, reaching a larger size than it usually appears as.
"Absorb it for yourself, Necrozma!" The Prism Pokémon, undeterred, absorbed the darkness and transformed it into a brilliant light, countering the ominous void with blinding radiance.
Luna wasn't too shocked by this. After all, she has seen Necrozma absorb Darkness before and it was not pleasant. Not for a moment. "It isn't over yet! Flash Cannon!"
"Rorus!" Aurorus continued to provide support from afar, unleashing a silver beam from her mouth. Necrozma, however, was already prepared to absorb this as he braced himself.
"I need your help, Lunar!" At that moment, Luna called for Lunar Ire's help. Lunar Ire had previously taken on Necrozma but it didn't end well. This time, she wanted to make things different as the signature colour of Lunar Ire would envelop Luna's entire body. Right as the Flash Cannon approached Necrozma, Lunar Ire's unique abilities kicked in.
With a single gaze and a dark flash in her eyes, Lunar Ire induced a temporary state of darkness or eclipse, plunging the area into pitch-black obscurity. This was mainly for Darkrai to use to his advantage. Necrozma's vision was obscured, causing him to be snuck by the incoming Flash Cannon. And following up with that was Darkrai with Dark Pulse.
Dark Pulse was perfectly obscured, allowing Darkrai to land the attack. Necrozma cried out but it wasn't over. Darkrai would unleash repeated Dark Pulses from every direction, rapidly bombarding the Prism Pokemon with a series of concealed attacks and Necrozma just couldn't see them coming.
However, with the power of the Rift, Necrozma intensified his brightness to the point where he came his own star. The light pierced the darkness, dispelling Princess Luna's magic. Darkrai would grunt at this sight as his next Dark Pulse was blown away by the expanding light.
"Is that all of you've got What a bore." Daybreaker taunted, finding some enjoyment out of this. After all, she was confronting her sister. "You're still unable to properly beat me, Luna, no matter what the world."
"Things are different here...Go, Darkrai! Dark Pulse! Aurorus, use Ice Beam!" Luna bellowed as her horn would flash, unleashing a beam meant to unite with Dark Pulse and Ice Beam.
As the battle reached a fever pitch, Darkrai gathered energy for a devastating Dark Pulse. The chaotic sphere of dark energy materialized above Darkrai, ready to be unleashed upon Necrozma. Sensing the imminent danger, Necrozma harnessed the power of the gateway, preparing an even greater Dragon Pulse.
White Tail Woods itself seemed to hold its breath as Darkrai's Dark Pulse, Aurorus's Ice Beam, Lunas Magical Blast and Necrozma's radiant power clashed in a cataclysmic explosion. The shockwaves reverberated through the area, distorting the trees and the ground due to their intensity. The clash reached its zenith, threatening to reshape Whitetail Woods itself.
"With this, we'll win!" Luna bellowed, putting her all into her magic to intensify her beam. And for a while, it looked like Luna's side would push through, beating out the Dragon Pulse.
"So you think." But alas, Daybreaker shut it down. With a glimmer in Necrozma's eyes, the Dragon Pulse would suddenly gain an equally astral appearance as the fangs of the Dragon would widen. Stardust sparkles would fly out everywhere as the Dragon Pulse started eating away at the beam.
Luna, Darkrai and Aurorus would groan, doing their best to hold it back but it was actually overpowering their attacks. Luna could even feel the heat of this attack. It felt like an actual star was right next to her and Aurorurs certainly felt it. Just like that, Dragon Pulse would devour their attacks, causing them to explode, eclipsing their bodies.
As the dust settled, White Tail Woods stood on the brink of change. Craters could be seen everywhere from the aftermath of this clash. White Tail Woods was practically a shell of its former self as a massive dust cloud would rise into the air for many to see.
Canterlot.
Celestia most definitely saw it. While working on the Fairy Magic, she was getting somewhere as pink sparkles were flying out of the Magic, signifying interaction with the Infinity Energy. But she was promptly distracted by the sight of the dust cloud in the sky and the cosmic flashes that came from it.
Celestia was fearful of what was happening with Luna. She put her faith in her little sister but at the same time, she feared the worst. Celestia shook her head, knowing she had to continue working if she wanted to save her subjects.
The Sun Princess continued to focus her efforts on only the Fairy Magic and nothing else. And with a burning determination, she was shocked to find a new development. After replacing all the Fairy Magic made from the Fairy Matter with Gardevoir's own Fairy Magic, she broke the trance. The Sun Princess gasped upon seeing this Fairy Magic seperate as a pony who was trapped in it would fall out.
"Ough..." The pony would groan after finally being freed, feeling absolutely perplexed after being in such a state for so long. Celestia now understood the key to breaking the trance and freeing those ensnared by the Fairy Matter. "Princess Celestia?"
"So... if we replace it with other Fairy Magic, we can disrupt it." Celestia observed. This had to be known to others, especially those who are trained in Fairy Magic.
The Sun Princess felt a mix of emotions, relief for those she had already saved and a sense of urgency to help others still affected by the cosmic enchantment. She couldn't let Luna's valiant efforts go in vain since she was out there doing her best to give everyone enough time.
Celestia had ways to go. There was still a lot of Fairy Magic to cover, but she was going to make sure that multiple of them were dealt with, no matter how much it costs her. Looking at Gardevoir, the two of them would nod in unison, knowing what had to be done.
"Hang in there, Luna..."
Whitetail Woods.
Necrozma descended, observing the aftermath and the smoke in front of him, waiting for Luna to show up. White Tail Woods went silent for a while, knowing peace for a while. But it wasn't the kind of peace that anyone would want.
Standing there in the dust was Luna, who would take deep breaths. Aurorus had fainted, unfortunately, failing to withstand the attack. Darkrai was barely hanging in there, holding onto his arm while his body was smoking. All of that light practically burned him.
"Just like always, I win, Luna." Despite the exhaustion and the toll the battle had taken on Luna and her Pokémon, the Moon Princess remained resolute. She may have faced setbacks, but Luna wasn't ready to admit defeat.
"You may have the power now, but it doesn't mean you're right, Daybreaker. I've been in your hooves before...This path you're on will only worsen things for you. I won't let you harm this world or any other," Luna declared, her eyes still filled with determination.
Daybreaker, speaking through Necrozma, chuckled at Luna's defiance. "Back then, I would've understood, but now now. Suffering is subjective, Luna. What you see as suffering, others might see as progress. This world needs a ruler strong enough to shape it into perfection. If you won't join me willingly, then I'll have to force you."
As the dust settled, revealing the battle-scarred landscape of White Tail Woods, Necrozma stood tall, its cosmic form radiating an ominous glow. Luna, despite the odds, was ready to continue the fight.
"Say what you will." Luna wiped some scratches and leaves off her face. Darkrai, summoning the last of his strength, hovered by Luna's side. The Pitch-Black Pokémon may have been battered, but he wasn't out of the picture yet. "Besides, I haven't lost yet."
"Hm?"
"If I can't beat you, I'll at least succeed in keeping you busy, Necrozma." She would put on a grin before summoning one more Poke Ball. And from it, by throwing it into the air, Luna summoned her next and newest partner. The Dragon of Ideals. Zekrom.
Thunder would crack in the night sky, singing the arrival of the Deep Black Pokemon. From the bright light emerged a mighty figure, the Dragon of Ideals, Zekrom. The skies would rumble as Zekrom made his appearance, looking down on Necrozma.
Zekrom appeared with its imposing form and a stern expression, surveyed the battlefield. Luna's grin widened as she felt the powerful presence of her newest ally. Zekrom, standing alongside Darkrai and Luna, emitted an electric charge that seemed to intensify the air around them.
"Zekrom That same Zekrom" Daybreaker commented, recognizing that Zekrom as the one Empress Twilight once had.
"I'm counting on you, Zekrom." Luna said, looking Zekrom in the eyes. Zekrom nodded in understanding before looking at Darkrai as well. The Pitch Black Pokemon always did his best but it looked like he was reaching his limit here. The Deep Black Pokemon would take over from here.
Zekrom, with sparks of electricity coursing through his mighty form, and Necrozma, radiating an otherworldly glow, locked eyes, signalling the commencement of an unprecedented battle.
"Buying time? Even that won't help. Observe." Daybreaker spoke as Necrozma, who was getting the hang of this power, would pull off something rather disturbing. By raising his arms, that gravitational pull he had from earlier would kick in, but it wasn't to deal with incoming attacks. "If you didn't notice, I had Necrozma absorb a bit of Fairy Matter but it pales in comparison to the gateway. However..."
Absorbing a bit of Fairy Matter from the air, Necrozma's gravitational pull had a terrifying result. The soldiers who were retreating with the Fairy Magic were far, but not far enough to reach Canterlot in time.
The cosmic power that Necrozma wielded, amplified by the absorption of Fairy Matter, manifested in a gravitational force that reached far and wide. The unsuspecting Canterlot Soldiers, who were valiantly retreating with the precious Fairy Magic, suddenly found themselves unable to resist the overwhelming pull even from this distance.
As if drawn by an unseen force, the Fairy Magic began to leave the soldiers' grasp, defying the laws of nature. The soldiers struggled to maintain their hold on the magical essence, but the gravitational pull intensified, making it increasingly difficult for them to keep the Fairy Magic within their possession.
The Golurks, sturdy as they were, also felt the strain of the force, their metallic bodies being tugged by the relentless pull of Astral Necrozma's cosmic abilities.
Luna watched in shock and horror as the Fairy Magic would soar through the night sky, heading for Necrozma. It was too late to stop it. Necrozma ended up absorbing the Fairy Magic which contained Pokemon who were unfortunately taken over by the trance.
The absorbed Fairy Magic, tainted by the influence of the trance, merged with the cosmic power within Astral Necrozma. The Prism Pokemon's form flickered and shimmered with the newfound energy, the stolen Fairy Magic now an integral part of its cosmic essence.
"No..." Luna felt a heavy weight in her chest as she witnessed the unfortunate fate of the Pokemon trapped within the Fairy Magic. The once-trapped creatures, now absorbed by Necrozma, became an eerie manifestation of twisted energy. Their presence, once vibrant and lively, was now distorted and amalgamated into the cosmic entity. This also applied to the animals that once lived in White Tail Woods, unfairly taken away.
The transformation of the stolen Fairy Magic served as a grim reminder of the stakes involved. Daybreaker's cunning strategy had not only thwarted Luna's attempts to protect the innocents but had also fueled the power of Astral Necrozma to unprecedented levels.
Daybreaker, speaking through the Prism Pokemon, taunted Luna, "So, do you still want to keep buying time? Necrozma's growing more and more as we speak."
Luna closed her eyes before gritting her teeth. At this point, Lunar Ire would be unleashed, but not this time. She was in tune with Lunar Ire, unable to be engulfed by the Sorrowful Rage Magic. But she was certainly feeling some rage after failing to save those Pokemon and animals. Now, she was definitely not letting Necrozma leave here.
"You won't leave here at all! Zekrom! Use Thunderbolt!" Luna bellowed.
"So be it! Photon Geyser!"
Zekrom, embodying the power of thunderstorms, unleashed a relentless barrage of Thunderbolts upon Necrozma. In response, Necrozma retaliated with beams of cosmic energy, its version of Photon Geyser, creating an explosive exchange of electrical and psychic forces.
Whitetail Woods was set ablaze by this and nearby locations would feel the intensity of this clash. Both attacks would tie, leaving behind craters and a scorched ground thanks to the heat of these attacks. Pure Electricity and Photons were attacking the landscape after all.
"Fusion Bolt!"
The Deep Black Pokémon roared with thunderous might, shaking the very foundations of the battlefield. As the battle escalated, Zekrom harnessed the power of Fusion Bolt, releasing a colossal bolt of lightning from his claws. Once thrown, the electricity would rupture the grass, trees and anything else in White Tail Woods.
"Use Dragon Pulse!"
Zekrom and Necrozma clashed in a titanic struggle once their attacks collided. Each attack resonated with the power of thunderstorms, and cosmic energies, creating a celestial display that could captivate anyone.
"Bolt Strike, now!"
"Meteor Beam!"
Flying through the smoke, Zekrom enveloped his body in an electrifying orb while Necrozma would ascend. Zekrom chased the Prism Pokemon down, who was currently building up a Meteor Beam.
Necrozma was struck by the Bolt Strike as Zekrom caught up. The impact left a powerful thunderstorm that could be heard by many while also launching Necrozma back. But it wasn't enough to stop Astral Necrozma. After flying back, he unleashed Meteor Beam in the form of a stardust wave.
Zekrom put his arms up to block the attack which was heavy to deal with even for him. Zekrom felt his wing arms shake upon contact while also pushing him back, just like he did to Necrozma.
"Not yet! Dragon Claw!" Luna bellowed as Zekrom flew back in.
"Now, use Shadow Claw!"
The clash between Zekrom and Ultra Necrozma intensified, causing the skies above to roar with thunder and cosmic energy. The very state of Whitetail Woods quivered as their attacks collided, creating shockwaves that distorted the battlefield. The sheer force of their conflict echoed across nearby locations, heard by many.
The area crackled with residual energy, Zekrom and Necrozma found themselves in close proximity. The two legendary beings, now hovering just meters apart, locked eyes in a moment of intense connection.
In this intimate space, Zekrom, with a surge of determination, descended towards Astral Necrozma. Zekrom's mighty claws crackled with electric energy as he prepared for a precise strike. The Legendary Pokémon unleashed a rapid series of strikes, each imbued with the power of Dragon Claw.
Not to be outdone, Astral Necrozma responded with swift elegance. Its form flickered with shadows as it materialized a set of ethereal claws. With a ghostly glow, Necrozma's Shadow Claw met Zekrom's onslaught, creating a dazzling display of contrasting energies.
As the claws met and separated in a rhythmic ballet, the surrounding cosmic energy seemed to respond, pulsating in harmony with the movements of the battling legends. The intensity of their close-quarters combat added a layer of intricacy to the already breathtaking spectacle.
Zekrom and Necrozma would interlock claws, entering a momentary struggle in the same position. The rocks beneath them would rise. They looked each other in the eyes, Necrozma, wanting to feast on Zekrom's light while Zekrom appeared furious at Necrozma's actions and the harm he was bringing.
Their clash also created a shadow barrier around them thanks to the intensity. Eventually, the two split up, flying back and sliding on the ground.
"Let's finish this, Necrozma! Prismatic Lasers!"
"I will not lose! Bolt Strike!"
In this charged atmosphere, Zekrom prepared for his ultimate attack, gathering the potent energy of thunderstorms for the grand finale. The Legendary Pokémon's body pulsed with electricity as it unleashed the devastating Bolt Strike. The colossal surge of electrical power surged towards Astral Necrozma with blinding speed, leaving a trail of lightning in its wake.
In response, Astral Necrozma harnessed the radiant energy of the cosmos, forming an array of dazzling Prismatic Lasers. The multicoloured beams of light intertwined, creating a mesmerizing display that danced in harmony with the pulsating cosmic energy that surrounded the Psychic-type Pokémon. Necrozma's attack resonated with the power of the stars, embodying the very essence of celestial might.
The Bolt Strike and Prismatic Lasers collided in a spectacular display of elemental forces. The electric brilliance of Bolt Strike clashed against the cosmic radiance of Prismatic Lasers, creating an explosion of light and sound that reverberated through the cosmic battlefield.
The clash reached a crescendo, enveloping Zekrom and Ultra Necrozma in a swirling vortex of energy. The brilliance of their attacks illuminated the entirety of Whitetail Woods.
Everything went silent once more. As the clash subsided, a moment of breathtaking calm settled over the battlefield. The energies of Bolt Strike and Prismatic Lasers intertwined, creating a celestial tapestry that hung in the void of the night sky. The clash had reached a titanic end.
The aftermath of Zekrom and Necrozma's legendary clash left an indelible mark that was unexpected. As the overwhelming energies subsided, a fierce rift manifested in the sky, a testament to the titanic forces that had collided in the cosmic battlefield.
The Rift, a swirling vortex of electric currents and cosmic radiance, hung ominously in the cosmic expanse. Its edges crackled with residual energies, creating an otherworldly display that captivated the attention of Legendary Pokémon. The very nature of it left behind a mess for this universe to deal with, a fusion of thunderous storms and ethereal light that rippled through the area.
As for White Tail Woods, it was ruined. Done for. The finale of the clash left it in a detrimental state. But only that, it also affected locations such as Saddle Lake and anywhere near it. Just like how Daybreaker and Gardevoir shook the world previously, this clash was shaking nearby areas. Not on the same scale but still troublesome.
All that was left was Luna lying on the ground, out cold from the aftermath. And shielding her from it was Darkrai, who had also fainted in the process.
Necrozma appeared from the smoke and so did Zekrom. Both were still standing. But something was amiss. Necrozma's body was starting to fade. He appeared far more transparent now in his astral form.
"Hm. It looks like we expended too much energy. Our gateway isn't perfect after all." Daybreaker said as she got a bit too into it. Necrozma was fading. "No matter. I think we're done here, for now. This was a good enough test run with Fairy Matter."
Necrozma was returning to Universe 11 as using all of that power burned through the time limit for the gateway within him. Necrozma, being the gateway himself was automatically returning.
Zekrom looked around him to see the aftermath and Luna lying there with Darkrai protecting her. On this night of the Pokemon Festival, which was reaching its final moments, Daybreaker left behind a catastrophic effect that lingered in the night sky and one that would disrupt the land yet again.
Luna succeeded in protecting so many lives that night. But there were some she couldn't reach. Pokemon and animals had been taken away, absorbed by Necrozma for fuel. And now, it was difficult to know if they could ever be saved. Or if even White Tail Woods could be saved.
The Pokemon Festival had come and gone. And last night was when Daybreaker launched an attack that, while mainly fixated on a few locations, left yet another big impact. Not on the same level as what she did previously but nothing to scoff at, especially since there was now a tear in the sky and White Tail Wood was practically inhabitable once more.
The damage only added to current issues occurring across the world thanks to Daybreaker's actions and they were starting to pick back up.
Waking up was Luna, who would meet with the eyes of her older sister, Celestia. For a moment, Luna saw Daybreaker's visage, making her gasp. But thankfully, her vision returned to normal, allowing her to see Celestia instead.
"Luna!" Celestia bellowed her sister's name upon her awakening. The rays of the sun beamed through Luna's room, blessing her face. "Oh, you're awake...I thought you would be unconscious for another day..."
"Daybreaker...Where's Daybreaker?! And Necrozma?!" Luna would also shout, recalling the events of that fateful night, except the final moments.
"Both are gone. Necrozma burnt through so much of the gateway's power that he reached the time limit." Celestia explained. "But..as a result, that was left behind." She would show Luna one of the biggest results of that intense battle. Up in the sky, there was a cosmic tear, similar to what Cosmos once did.
The tear, a swirling vortex of chaotic energy, shimmered with eerie hues of ethereal light, casting an ever-present glow on the lands below. It was mainly at White Tail Wood, where the climax of the battle took place.
The consequences of this celestial battle were felt far and wide. The tear in the sky unleashed unpredictable and volatile magical energies upon the nearby areas, causing strange phenomena and mutations in the flora and fauna beneath its ominous gaze. The once-stable climate became erratic, with storms and anomalies plaguing the lands surrounding the tear.
Luna looked out in awe at what the battle between her Zekrom and Daybreaker's Necrozma led to. She did feel responsible for it since it was her battle too.
"That tear in the sky will have lasting effects unless it's dealt with. I called the Ranger Union and they said it can be handled. Either by them or whichever Legendary Pokemon manages to outdo them before they can finish." Celestia explained. "Daybreaker left scars on the world that will need time to heal and this isn't the end."
"I couldn't save them all, sister," Luna uttered, feeling guilty about her failure. She recalled when some the Fairy Magic entered Necrozma's body. And now, it was impossible to know if they could be freed.
Celestia sighed, understanding the weight on Luna's shoulders. "Luna, you can't carry the burden of the world alone. You did everything in your power, and sometimes, despite our best efforts, we can't save everyone. The important thing now is to learn from this and work together to repair what has been damaged."
"We knew she was going to attack during the final moments but we had no idea that she would use Fairy Matter...How did she control it so easily with only a few days?"
"I'm in the same boat, honestly." Celestia continued. "I figured out how to free them from the Fairy Magic by overloading with my own. It cancels out the one that already exists for another As for the Fairy Magic absorbed by Necrozma, it's a difficult situation. I'm not sure if defeating Necrozma will free them."
"I hope so. I did all that I could and yet..." Luna gripped her bed sheets out of irritation.
"While you couldn't save some of them, you did your best, and you protected many more lives." Celestia reassured. "I promise you. We'll get them back and no more lives will have to be taken by Necrozma. We'll take on Daybreaker eventually and set things right. Besides, you're not alone when it comes to being shaken up in all of this..."
Kanto. Pallet Town. Day.
In the same boat was Ash. While Luna was upset about failing to save those select innocents that were absorbed into Necrozma, Ash was upset about letting Prisma influence him and being unable to help Luna when he wanted to. He was back home at Pallet Town, sitting there with Pikachu by his side.
Ash sat in contemplative silence, staring out into the distance of his bedroom window when the sun's rays hit the ground. Pikachu, sensing his trainer's unease, nuzzled against his leg, offering silent support. The memories of the recent events weighed heavily on Ash's mind, especially the influence of Prisma during the encounter with Daybreaker.
"Hey, buddy," Ash spoke softly to Pikachu, breaking the silence. "I messed up, Pikachu. I let Prisma get to me. Even after everything I said during the Pokemon Festival..."
"Pika..." Pikachu looked up at Ash, his eyes reflecting understanding and empathy. The bond between them had always been strong and Pikachu could sense the genuine concern and regret in its trainer's voice.
Ash and Luna felt the same. One felt powerless while the other felt guilty. While Ash didn't recall having Prisma influence him, only gaining knowledge based on what Twilight told him, he could still feel the aftermath. That bizarre energy was lurking within him.
"I did my best to keep him from influencing you. Any longer and you might have been taken over." Sombra spoke within Ash, being responsible for snapping Ash out of it, even though he was caught off guard by Prisma's soul from the start. "I am shocked. I'm no stranger to souls influencing others but...you are a special case, boy."
"Thanks, Sombra." Ash thanked Sombra for helping him when he needed it the most. "I don't know what I would've done if you didn't show up. Daybreaker got to me with that and I let Prisma out for a while..."
"So, what will you do now?" Sombra asked. "Will you to that Twilight Moonlight girl and surrender yourself? Or will you keep doing what you always do? I expect the latter."
Ash thought for a moment. He obviously wasn't going to choose the first option but the second option, while up his alley, needed some careful thinking. But even after thinking about it, Ash's answer was always the same no matter what. Even when things take a turn, she sticks to what he knows, but more importantly, chooses to improve from it.
It was in Ash's nature. To keep doing what he always did, to face challenges head-on and strive to make things right.
"I'm not gonna give up here. If I'm gonna have to deal with Primsa showing up here and there, I'll make sure that I won't let him take control." Ash replied, determination clear in his voice. We'll find a way to fix this mess and stop Daybreaker. I can't back down now."
At the same time, Ash and Luna, who each had the same thoughts, reached similar conclusions. Despite being distances away from each other, in unison, with determination on their faces, they spouted the same words.
"I won't lose. Next time will be different."
Separated by distance but united in their resolve, both Ash and Luna harboured the same determination to overcome the challenges that lay ahead. The echoes of their shared commitment resonated in the cosmic tapestry of their intertwined destinies.
Equestria. Ponyville. Twilight's Castle.
Back at Ponyville, those who had been turned into Fairy Magic were thankfully brought back to normal by Twilight Sparkle's effects. While Princess Celestia found one way to free them, so did Twilight. By using Rift Energy, she replaced the Fairy Magic, breaking the trance and the transformed state. It took her all night to free them as she was now about to free the final pony.
With a surge of ethereal energy, the last remnants of Fairy Magic dissipated. The freed pony emerged, gasping for breath as if waking from a deep slumber. The once-captive ponies, now released from the enchantment, looked around in confusion, gradually realizing their surroundings.
"Haah...Oh is the festival over?" That pony ended up being Berry Punch, who nearly fell on her back, only for Absol to catch and support her.
"Well, you-"
"No, it's fine. I think I already know." She interrupted. After seeing her surroundings, Berry Punch believed that she might have too much to drink and needed to rest even during the way. She would waltz out of the castle, stumbling and wobbling a bit.
As the sun rose over Ponyville, a sense of normalcy returned to the town. However, the impact of Daybreaker's actions was still felt, especially with what was present in the sky. Twilight looked outside, witnessing the tear in the sky. It was already reminding her of the devious Cosmos but the implications this one had were very much different.
"What do we do about that thing?" Spike asked when looking at the anomaly in the sky.
"No clue. I think Zygarde can fix the damage done to the land but...the sky's a different story. Maybe Rayquaza or Palkia can do it or someone else but...We're not dealing with a Cosmos scenario like before."
"Do you think something's going to come out of there? And is the Rift itself even gonna acknowledge it?" Spike questioned. He was right to ask all of these questions since this was nothing to scoff at. But while he asked these questions and Twilight had to ponder, the anomaly in the sky was already affecting the world at this very moment.
The tear in the sky disrupted the balance of the atmosphere, leading to unpredictable and chaotic weather patterns. Storms, both magical and natural, became frequent and intense. Strange atmospheric anomalies, such as swirling lights and distortions, manifested in the skies.
The Pokemon at Deerling Forest witnessed this for themselves. The winds would blow across their home, forcing them to hide. Trees would swish and sway while the lights about illuminated the lands even with the bright sunlight.
"Deer! Deerling!" The Deerling cried out as some of them were struggling to find places to hide. From above, it looked like it was also about to start raining.
Stepping forward and guarding the Deerling from the fierce winds was none other than Virizion. She guarded the Deerling and other Pokemon behind her. Virizion was able to keep her balance during this weather change, protecting the Pokemon of Deeling Forest.
The tear's influence triggered mutations in the flora and fauna of the affected areas. Plants exhibited unusual growth patterns, sometimes glowing with ethereal light. Animals developed unique and sometimes magical abilities, adapting to the altered magical currents in their environment.
The tear emitted residual magical energies that permeated the environment. This magical turbulence affected the behavior of magical creatures and items. The Ursa Major and her child, the Ursa Minor, felt this since they were magical creatures themselves. The mother held her child chose as they felt rather off about this energy in the atmosphere. They were starting to feel a bit ill.
Unpredictable surges of magical energy could lead to spontaneous magical phenomena, making it challenging for unicorns and magical beings to control their powers. Some unicorns couldn't properly carry items that would've have been a breeze for them. They could still do it but they felt their magic being tempered with, all thanks to that tear.
Universe 11. The Solar Empire. Canterlot Castle. Day.
Revelling in this back at her Universe was Daybreaker. After succeeding in taking some light energy, she discovered how valuable the Fairy Magic was. While not on par with the Sea Temple crystals, it gave Necrozma a good amount. The status of the Prism Pokemon was shown on the screens for Daybreaker to see. And she was very much pleased with the results.
"Excellent," Daybreaker proclaimed with a smile on her face. "Going after the Fairy Magic wasn't that bad of an approach after all. Fairy Matter has proven to be a good power source from our first run with it. I can only imagine what Dragon Matter might do for us?"
"Shall we go for the Dragon Matter next, Your Majesty?" Sunrise Sparkle asked.
"Not yet. We'll make sure to get Mega Stones for our own Dragons eventually. But right now, let's focus on mastering this Fairy Matter. I noticed how Twilight Sparkle, the pony you used to be, managed to be immune to the blast of Fairy Matter. Clearly, there is a connection there."
"So, you're leaving it all to me, then?"
"But of course, Sunrise. I can trust you to make sense of this Matter eventually. I want to know every little thing about it. All we know now is that it can enchant the land and entrance others. The latter being with our influence, of course."
The revelation about Twilight Sparkle's immunity intrigued Daybreaker. She saw an opportunity to delve deeper into the nature of Fairy Matter and its connection to the former Princess of Friendship. Daybreaker's thirst for knowledge and power fueled her determination to unlock the full potential of the magical resource she now controlled.
As she basked in the glow of her triumph, Daybreaker plotted her next moves. The tear in the sky and the lingering magical effects would serve as both a reminder of her dominance and a means to further her ambitions.
The fiery hoof of Daybreaker was not about to leave Equestria just yet. Not until she can completely take all of its light and emerge victorious. Right now, Daybreaker was going to let the result of her actions do the rest for a while. The Solar Empire on the outside celebrated their Queen's achievements and the future achievements they believe she'll accomplish.
As the morning sun bathed Sweet Apple Acres in a warm glow, Applejack couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. The previous day had been eventful as she successfully caught a Kangaskhan, a powerful and nurturing addition to her Pokémon team. Eager to integrate the new member into the family, Applejack couldn't wait to show Kangaskhan around the farm.
With a hearty yawn, Applejack stepped out of the farmhouse and greeted the day. Her Ace Pokemon Sceptile and the group of Golett stood nearby, ready for another day of work. In the midst of the group was Kangaskhan plus her large baby, Li'l Kanga, safely nestled in her pouch.
"Good mornin', y'all!" Applejack called out to her Pokémon, the crisp morning air carrying her voice across the orchard. This involved her family. "Today's a special day 'cause we got a new family member to introduce to the farm. Kangaskhan, welcome to Sweet Apple Acres!"
"Kangaskhan!" Kanga let out a gentle growl, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and warmth. Applejack couldn't help but smile at the adorable scene before her. The baby Kangaskhan peeked out from the pouch, wide-eyed and full of wonder. Sceptile had already been introduced to her but now all the Golett plus the Apple Family could meet her.
"Now, y'all, we got a lot of work to do, and Kanga here is gonna be a big help. Ain't that right, girl?" Applejack said, patting Kanga's side. The Kangaskhan responded with a contented purr, clearly happy to be part of the team.
"The baby too?" Apple Bloom questioned. "She younger than me though."
"Ah, she ain't gotta work. But she can watch us all. One day, she'll become as big and strong as her mom. Well...I think that's how that works."
"Great. But uh...what about that?" Apple Bloom raised her hoof, referring to the tear in the sky. Everyone looked up to see the anomaly caused by that fierce battle which was still present. It has yet to be dealt with and it was just lingering there eerily.
"Don't worry about it." Applejack shrugged it off. "I reckon someone will deal with later and it ain't gonna be us. After what Daybreaker and Gardevoir did, our farm got a bit shaken up, so let's put it back to how it was."
Throughout the day, Applejack and her Pokémon went about their chores with a newfound vigour. Sceptile effortlessly pruned the apple trees with his razor-sharp leaves, while the army of Golett handled heavy lifting and maintenance around the farm. Kanga, though still getting used to her surroundings, showed incredible strength and agility as she assisted in various tasks.
She watched as Machamp surpassed her in strength, obviously hitting the trees with just a poke. That single poke caused a plethora of apples to fall into the basket. While lacking heavy strength individually, all 10 of Applejack's Golett combined could perform great feats when working together.
Tons of manpower was present here at Sweet Apple Acres as always with the involvement of the Applin who occasionally camouflage themselves. All the while, Li'lKanga watched it all from the sidelines. Unable to do anything, she would just lounge around in Sweet Apple Acres and she wasn't complaining.
When attempting to eat an apple nearby, the moment she was prepared to take a bite, it was revealed to be an Applin, hiding its face. Startled, Li'l Kana dropped the Applin who would slither away. That was one thing she would have to get used to.
As the sun moved across the sky to show the passage of time, casting a warm glow over the orchard, Applejack gathered her Pokémon and headed towards the farmhouse for a quick meal. The scent of a home-cooked meal wafted through the air, drawing her closer to the comforting embrace of her family.
Pushing open the creaky door, Applejack entered the cosy kitchen, where Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, and Apple Bloom were busy preparing lunch. The tantalizing aroma of apple pies filled the room, creating an atmosphere that felt like a warm hug.
Launching herself onto the seats was Li'l Kanga who immediately broke the chair upon impact. Luckily for her, she was large enough to see over the table, even for being a baby. Just a stark difference between the two worlds even before they became one.
"This is more like it. Don't gotta worry about any Necrozmas or Daybreakers when I'm home with ya'll. Great having you here, Kangaskhan. Makes this place feel even bigger and better," Applejack replied, a proud smile spreading across her face.
"Do you think you could also be my mom?" Apple Bloom dropped a bombshell of a question that caught Kangaskhan and the others off guard. The filly didn't see a problem with it, however. If Kangaskhan was a Mom, it would be fitting for her to keep that role in this house. Apple Bloom already has a Granny present after all. "But she is though."
"Mmm..." Remembering the meteor from Meteor Mountain, Applejack shrugged it off. No harm in it since Kangaskhan was here to stay. "Eh. Why not? You've still got years to go compared to us. Kangaskhan can fill in for you when I'm not here."
"But you always take your Pokemon with you." Apple Bloom pointed out. No way Kangaskhan was going to stay here every single day considering what Applejack gets up to when around her friends. And Applejack knew that herself.
The evening unfolded with laughter, delicious food, and the comforting sounds of family chatter. Kangaskhan and her baby quickly became part of the close-knit Apple family, seamlessly blending in with the routine of Sweet Apple Acres.
Ponyville Streets. A New Day.
The next morning, as the rooster crowed and the sun began to rise, Applejack decided to take a break from the farm chores and head into Ponyville. There was a hustle and bustle in the quaint town, ponies going about their daily activities, and the lively atmosphere was a welcome change.
The tear in the sky was still there with no visible changes. It was just lingering there like an ominous shadow, waiting to strike. Many felt uncomfortable just looking at it from above. Occasionally, the sounds from that tear could be heard that were similar to rumbles of thunder.
Applejack was out with Kangaskhan, letting her roam around even under that tear. As Applejack strolled through the colourful streets, she couldn't help but notice a familiar face of Ash in the distance. Recovering from the Prisma scenario, he had that smile on his face once more.
"Doing better now, Ash?" Applejack asked, aware of what Ash went through that fateful night. Twilight made sure to inform her friends even if Prisma's appearance was brief.
"Mhm. I wasn't gonna kept down for long. Wish I could do something about that up there." Ash gazed at the tear.
"Baah...Ain't nothing we can do about it right now." Applejack sighed. "Better leave it to a Legendary Pokemon or it might leave one day. Maybe."
"Maybe." Ash nodded in response. "It's a lot like what Cosmos did. Wish Discord was here right now. He's always doing something, huh?"
"Never wants to do something about all of this though when it matters..." Applejack grumbled when speaking of Discord.
As the conversation unfolded, Kangaskhan's keen eyes focused on a small, yellow Pokémon perched on Ash's shoulder. Pikachu, of course. Suddenly, Kanga's eyes widened with recognition. A certain warmth filled her gaze and the same went for Li'l Kanga.
"Pika..."?
"Kan..." Kangaskhan and Pikachu looked each other in the eyes as a spark was initiated. At that very moment, they both recognized each other.
"Pikachu!" With the memories flooding in, Pikachu leapt in for a hug. Kangaskhan would promptly do the same, hugging the Mouse Pokemon.
"Pikachu. Do you know this Kangaskhan?" Ash asked after seeing the interaction.
Kangaskhan nodded, a fond smile spreading across her face. It turned out that one day, she had stumbled upon a lost Pichu who had no one else around him. Sceptile remembered when Pikachu shared that story before he even met Ash. This was that very same Kangaskhan. Kangaskhan, with her nurturing instincts, took the little Pichu under her wing that day, even if for a while.
It was an unexpected but loving reunion. It has been so many years since they have seen each other. Pikachu never gave his proper farewells to them since he left while they were asleep. But that had all been negated now that they've reunited here.
"Small world, right?" Applejack nudged Ash's leg.
Much like how Apple Bloom immediately thought about Kangaskhan being a new mother for her, Pikachu already had that experience in the past. Kangaskhan was his mother when he was a Pichu and Li'l Kanga was practically his sister.
"Pi...Pika..." Thinking about it, Pikachu had some regrets about never giving them a proper farewell. Those regrets were rather strong as a tear was forming on his face. The Mouse Pokemon didn't want to leave them without an answer but he did anyway and he thought he'd never get the chance to fix that.
"Kangaskahn." Thankfully, Kangaskhan understood him clearly. She harboured no ill feelings. Not even a slither. After all, as a mother, she would obviously understand that her children would have to grow up someday. Even if her actual child was still in her pouch after all these years.
"Ka! Pikachu!" Pikachu leapt off Kangaskhan, quickly introducing her to Ash. Thankfully, because of the time he spent with Kangaskhan, he was no longer afraid of being lonely. He found someone to spend all the time in the world with and that was Ash along with all the friends he's made along the way. "Pika-Pi! Pikachu!"
"Hm?" Ash soon realized that he was being introduced to by Pikachu. "Oh, right! My name's Ash! I'm Pikachu's best friend. Pleasure to meet you!"
"Ga!" To thank him for this, Kangaskhan would pat Ash on the head with those girthy arms. Ash, though caught off guard at first, couldn't help but chuckle at the affectionate gesture.
"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu chirped happily, expressing his gratitude as well. The impromptu reunion had turned into a delightful exchange of friendship and shared memories. Kangaskhan was very much proud of Pikachu and his current position.
She could already see that he had grown wonderfully, but she had no idea how much he's actually grown since then. Pikachu would be more than happy to share it all with Kangaskhan and especially Li'l Kanga.
"How about I leave you three alone?" Ash opted to let Pikachu spend time with his Found Family. He glanced over at Applejack, who was in full agreement. She would let them be together for a while, even if she and Ash were part of that family.
In full agreement, Ash and Applejack would go off and do their own thing around Ponyville for a while. It was just Pikachu, Kangaskhan and Li'l Kanga now.
Saddle Lake.
Walking out of Ponyville and heading for the nearby Saddle Lake, Pikachu explained everything he has done ever since he left that fateful day. The adventures he's been on have been plentiful and wild without a doubt.
"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu began, his voice filled with enthusiasm. He recounted the countless adventures, battles, and friends he had made since the day he left Kangaskhan's care. Li'l Kanga, wide-eyed and eager, listened intently, occasionally peeking out from Kangaskhan's pouch.
Pikachu spoke of battling powerful trainers, encountering legendary Pokémon, and overcoming various challenges. He shared the joy of evolving into a Pikachu and the excitement of learning new moves. Pikachu's adventures were not just about battles; they were about friendship, growth, and the unbreakable bond he formed with Ash.
Kangaskhan and Li'l Kanga were captivated by Pikachu's stories, their eyes reflecting a mix of pride and joy. Kangaskhan couldn't help but smile at Pikachu's accomplishments, realizing that the little Pichu she once cared for had become a force to be reckoned with.
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu would occasionally reenact some of his battles, showcasing his signature moves by pulling off the same tricks he's done, such as Countershield and even attempting to mimic moves that could only be done with another Pokemon.
Any mother would be fearful of their child's wellbeing, but when it came to Pikachu, that wasn't the case. He could most definitely take care of himself. After hearing this, Li'l Kanga's eyes lit up with amazement. Her brother, who was now considered her big brother was amazing now. The baby of Kangaskhan now had someone and something to aspire to.
"Kan?" Kangaskhan's eyes widened after hearing her daughter's requests. She could see the spark in Li'l Kanga's eyes, the same spark Pikachu had shown when he was just a Pichu under her care. But perhaps her daughter wasn't quite ready for what Pikachu dealt with. In her eyes, anyway.
Li'l Kanga hopped out of her mother's pouch, running up to her big brother and spouting about how she wanted him to teach her. Pikachu himself wasn't sure about that. Teaching Li'l Kanga would certainly be something new but aside from Mega Evolution, the baby doesn't usually get out there and start battling.
Wanting to learn no matter what, Li'l Kanga mimicked Pikachu's movements with enthusiasm, determined to absorb as much knowledge as possible.
The sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over Saddle Lake. Pikachu, Kangaskhan, and Li'l Kanga sat by the water's edge, enjoying the tranquil moment. The lake's gentle ripples reflected the shared bond between them, a connection that transcended time and distance.
As day fell over the lands surrounding the tear in the sky, a hushed stillness enveloped the area. The celestial scar shimmered with an eerie glow, casting an otherworldly illumination upon the landscape even during a clear azure sky. Unbeknownst to the inhabitants below, the energies within the tear began to stir, resonating with an ancient rhythm.
A subtle disturbance rippled through the air. The tear pulsed with an ethereal energy, sending a cascade of shimmering light across the heavens. Wisps of luminous energy began to coalesce, swirling and dancing in a hypnotic display.
"Pika?" Pikachu heard and felt this disturbance, raising his head to the sky. Now, of all times, that tear was starting to do something else than just linger there. Pikachu narrowed his eyes, being at ready for the worst.
The radiant energy played a haunting melody in the air, echoing through the land. Kangaskhan, sensing the unease among her newfound family, gathered them close. Li'l Kanga nestled in her pouch while Pikachu stood in front of them.
But before any of that could happen, footsteps were heard that would make Pikachu turn his head immediately. And from it, a somewhat familiar face emerged from the trees and bushes. At first, Pikachu thought he saw the face of Cynthia.
But instead, it was none other than Volo.
"Oh? Afternoon~" Volo spoke to Pikachu, Kangaskhan and Li'l Kanga. Volo greeted them with a wide grin, his presence easing the tension in the air.
"Pikachu?" Pikachu was rather stunned. Volo looked so much like Cynthia it was scary. He was unaware that Volo came from the past as this was his first time encountering him. But for Volo, this wasn't his first time seeing Pikachu. He was already aware of Ash, especially since he was the descendant of Lena Ketchum who has also found herself in the present day due to time shenanigans.
"You must be the Pikachu of that Ash boy, right?" Volo spoke, knowing Ash's name. "You're his Pikachu. I can tell."
"Pika..."
"Don't mind me. I'm just here because of that thing." Volo turned his attention back to the tear in the sky. This is the closest spot to that tear. I would've gone to that place known as White Tail Wood but...it looks like whatever battle happened there made that place a hazard zone."
Pikachu tilted his head in understanding, realizing that Volo had his own reasons for being in this mysterious situation that lingered above. The familiar face of Cynthia made him wonder if Volo was also related to her. After all, Ash was related to Lena.
"Haven't heard of me before though. Maybe Twilight hasn't told you yet, but I'm looking for the shards too. And thankfully, it looks like I was right to show up at Equestria this time. Looks like there are some shards nearby."
"Pika? Pikachu?" Pikachu looked around as the 18 Shards that Sci-Twi was looking for came up again. This time, somewhere around Saddle Lake. But right now, Pikachu couldn't see a slither of them.
"Looking around like that won't do a thing." Volo chuckled before looking back at the sky. "That tear up there definitely isn't going to help anytime soon. Not when there a Legends coming for it."
Pikachu's keen instincts tingled with uncertainty. While he was usually adept at gauging the intentions of those around him, Volo presented a unique challenge. The eccentric merchant's unpredictable nature and cryptic demeanour left Pikachu with a lingering sense of unease.
There was just something about him that felt off.
"Pika...?" Pikachu exchanged a cautious glance with Kangaskhan. The electric Pokémon couldn't shake the feeling that Volo held more cards than he was revealing. Despite his friendly demeanour, there was an air of mystery surrounding the merchant. Volo, seemingly oblivious to the tension, continued to gaze at the shimmering tear in the sky.
"Well, I'd better get looking. Unless you can get Ash for me for some extra help, right? I'm not with Twilight right now so I'm searching on my own. But I have found these shards." From his pockets, Volo would reveal some shards that he has managed to achieve on his own.
And in his grasp, he held the Dragon Shards. They carried the signature colour of the Dragon-Type. A sort of bluish purple that can only be described as Arcane. And upon revealing them, there was already a mystical glow with them present. These shards were currently active.
When looking at them, Li'l Kanga seemed the most captivated by them. Her eyes lit up as she was practically frozen at the sight. The light that these shards were giving off would look brilliant in the night. No one else noticed this look that Li'l Kanga was showing.
The Dragon Shards were mainly reacting to one thing and Volo already had a good idea as to what it was. When looking up at the sky, he could obviously refer back to the tear, but that would be too easy. There was something else in the atmosphere and environment. "Seems like the Dragon Matter knows about these little things as well."
At that moment, Li'l Kanga hopped out of her mother's pouch, going straight for the shards. Pikachu and Kangaskhan gasped as the baby swiped the shards from Volo's clutches.
"Pika?!"
"Kangaskhan?!" Pikachu and Kangaskhan called out simultaneously, a mix of surprise and concern in their voices.
Volo, caught off guard by Li'l Kanga's swift move, blinked in astonishment. "Well, that's unexpected! Seems like your little one has a keen interest in these Dragon Shards."
Li'l Kanga, now holding the shards in her tiny paws, looked up at Volo with seemingly innocent eyes. The shards emitted a soft, radiant glow, reacting to the presence of the baby Kangaskhan. But these eyes were not as simple as they usually were. There was now a glow in them.
A Draconic Energy could be seen flaring in Li'l Kanga's eyes. "Pika-Pi!" Pikachu approached Li'l Kanga, trying to gently take the shards back. However, Li'l Kanga seemed determined to hold onto her newfound treasures.
Kangaskhan, observing the transformation in her baby's eyes, felt a mix of awe and curiosity. The Dragon Shards resonated with a hidden power within Li'l Kanga, adding an unexpected layer to their quest. The baby kept staring at the shards with that glow in her eyes intensifying.
At that moment, when Pikachu got too close, Li'l Kanga struck at him, much with her claws to the shock of Kangaskhan, but not Volo surprisingly.
"Pi...Pika?!" Pikachu expressed his surprise and slight discomfort, rubbing his head where Li'l Kanga had struck him. Kangaskhan's eyes widened in concern, not expecting her usually gentle baby to react with such force. "Pika-Pi!" Li'l Kanga stood her ground, a flicker of Draconic energy still present in her eyes. The playful act had taken an unexpected turn, and now even Pikachu was feeling the effects of the mysterious power resonating from the Dragon Shards.
Volo, however, couldn't contain his amusement when seeing this unfold. "Ah, what's this? Usually, it's just Dragons that hoard their treasure. Unless..."
Kangaskhan, torn between worry and bemusement, approached Li'l Kanga with a comforting gesture. "Kan...?"
The Draconic energy in Li'l Kanga's eyes wasn't fading away. Right before everyone's eyes, Li'l Kanga's eyes would sharpen, matching that of a Dragon's gaze.
And without saying anything else, Li'l Kanga ran off with the shards, fleeing the scene. Pikachu, Kangaskha and Volo watched in surprise as Li'l Kanga, now possessed by the Draconic energy of the Dragon Shards, darted away with remarkable speed.
"Pikachu! Pika!" Pikachu cried out to his little sister. Kangaskhan, now fully alarmed, hurried after her baby, her powerful strides covering the ground quickly.
All the while, Volo stood there while the two of them passed him by. Volo, despite the playful tone, couldn't hide a sense of intrigue in his eyes. He pondered the newfound abilities that the Dragon Shards had seemingly awakened in Li'l Kanga.
"I still need those shards back though...But now I can see what else they're capable of. It looks like that baby is becoming a Dragon herself."
This lovely reunion had taken a shocking turn. Li'l Kanga had swiped the Dragon Shards from Volo but was now acting strange. In the words of Volo and from what they have seen, she was acting a bit like a Dragon herself. The permeating energies in the atmosphere played a part in this sudden outcome.
White Tail Wood. Or at least, what was left of it. After a fierce battle during the final night of the Pokemon Festival, White Tail Wood became a hazardous area, filled with rippling energy from both Zekrom and Necrozma, making it dangerous for anyone else to live in or even visit. That wasn't stopping Li'l Kanga, however.
In an unexpected turn of events, Li'l Kanga has managed to be influenced by the Dragon Shards when gazing at them. Thanks to the influence of the tear in the sky and the Dragon Matter now that exists in the world, the sweet baby of Kangaskhan snatched them from Volo's grasp and ran off. Pursuing her was Pikachu and Kangaskhan as they arrived at White Tail Wood.
"Pika?!" Pikachu would soon realize why White Tail Wood was so hazardous now. He came to a screeching halt as right before his very eyes was an abnormally massive and deep hole.
This hole, not only was it disgustingly deep, but it also had lightning crackling within it along with cosmic lightning. Two different forms of lightning would rumble and crackle in the hole, followed by what appeared to be a strong wind pressure.
"Kanga!" Kangaskhan cried out to her daughter. But alas, Li'l Kanga was not listening. The Dragon Shards in her hands were too enthralling to her as seen by the draconic glow in the eyes and her pupils taking on a serpentine appearance.
Pikachu saw that the hole was too wide to cross but he had to reach Li'l Kanga somehow. Thinking quickly, Pikachu's ears perked up as he spotted a fallen tree nearby. Without hesitation, he darted towards it, motioning for Kangaskhan to follow. Together, they pushed and rolled the fallen tree towards the edge of the massive hole, creating a makeshift bridge.
As Pikachu carefully crossed the improvised bridge, the crackling energies from the depths of the hole seemed to intensify. The air around them felt charged with an otherworldly power, making the fur on Pikachu's back stand on end. Kangaskhan hesitated for a moment, her maternal instincts conflicted between the safety of her child and the dangers lurking in the depths.
On the other side, Pikachu approached Li'l Kanga, who was still mesmerized by the Dragon Shards. Her eyes glowed with an ethereal light as the shards resonated with the energy from the hole.
At that moment, the fierce energy from the hole would act up, attacking the fallen tree. Pikachu and Kangaskhan gasped as the tree rumbled and shook in the face of these two titanic energies. The tree was coming apart, failing to hold on for much longer. And very soon, Pikachu and Kangaskhan could fall through the massive hole.
"Pika!" Pikachu would get on all fours, building up a white energy around his body. Pikachu would also use Quick Attack as the white energy enveloped his body.
As Pikachu sprinted along the crumbling fallen tree, the ground beneath shook violently, threatening to give way at any moment. Kangaskhan, watching with fear, could only hope that Pikachu's plan would succeed while she ran back as fast as she could. "Kanga!"
The ground shook, and the two forms of lightning within the abyss intensified with Pikachu's body attempting to make it through the terrifying hole.
The energies from the hole reacted violently to Pikachu's approach, lashing out with cosmic lightning and draconic fury. The air was thick with tension as Pikachu neared the edge of the colossal hole, his lightning trail leaving a glowing streak against the darkened backdrop of White Tail Wood.
Just as Pikachu reached the edge of the hole, the energies surged, creating a barrier of crackling force. The impact was fierce, but Pikachu's determination prevailed. The energies clashed, creating a dazzling display of sparks and light that momentarily engulfed the entire area.
By the skin of his teeth, Pikachu made it to the other side using an extra burst of speed from Quick Attack. "Pikachu!" Now that he was on the other side, Pikachu was the closest to Li'l Kanga, trying to talk her out of it. "Pika!"
But no matter what, his voice wasn't reaching her. All Li'l Kanga could hear was the Dragon Shards. It was if they were speaking to her. Pikachu was cautious when approaching his sister, knowing she would not hesitate to strike back, but Pikachu did not wish to harm her.
At that moment, while the hole would howl violently, the Dragon Shards would start enveloping Li'l Kanga in their light. It was too late to prevent the impending transformation.
The baby's body started to glow with an intense light, and waves of energy pulsed through its form. Li'l Kanga cried out in pain as iher body underwent a metamorphosis. The once adorable creature now experienced the agony of her accidental evolution into something else.
She wasn't just starting to act like a Dragon, she was becoming a Dragon.
Kangaskhan desperately cried out to comfort her distressed baby, but the process was beyond her control. The pain seemed to be both physical and metaphysical as if the very essence of Li'l Kanga was being reshaped. The ground trembled beneath them, and the surrounding vegetation rustled as if reacting to the transformation. Pikachu would back away from their tremor as being near the light was rather searing.
"Pika?!" Pikachu gasped and grimaced when backing away from this potent light. No matter what, he just couldn't seem to get close to her.
The baby's cries intensified as small, yet powerful dragon wings sprouted from her back. The tail elongated and gained a dragon's tip, and her body took on a sleeker, more dragon-like appearance. The radiant light finally subsided, leaving behind the transformed and exhausted Li'l Kanga. But it was hard to tell if she was even the same Pokemon anymore.
She was now her own Pokemon.
Kangaskhan, now facing the evolved form of its baby, expressed a mixture of concern and awe. The once playful and innocent Kanga Jr. had become a majestic creature, though the memory of the painful transformation lingered in her eyes.
"Pikachu..." Pikachu was in disbelief. This was similar to what happened with Bertha. He was starting to notice how encounters from before were beginning to make reappearances but on greater levels. First, it was Second Wind and Daybreaker.
And now, it was Bertha and Li'l Kanga. Pikachu was starting to wonder if this was all connected somehow. It all started from the Fourth Pokemon Festival but now it was truly getting out of control.
Li'l Kanga, now transformed into the majestic dragon, turned her gaze toward Pikachu. The once innocent eyes were now replaced by a powerful and dragon-like aura. She let out a deep, resonant growl, echoing her newfound strength.
"Pika-Pi!" Pikachu cautiously approached Li'l Kanga, his expression a mix of wonder and concern. He could sense the immense power emanating from her evolved form.
Kangaskhan was in awe of witnessing such a transformation but she was also distraught by what has become of her daughter. Scalekin, though exhausted from the ordeal, stood proudly, her wings folded and her tail swaying with newfound grace.
Volo, who had been observing the entire scene, couldn't hide his fascination. This was truly a spectacular development that even he didn't see coming. "Well, well! It seems the Dragon Shards have triggered a remarkable evolution. Just as I had hoped."
In reality, Volo planned this from the start, intentionally holding out the Dragon Shards and captivating the baby. He wished to look into this new Pokemon, seeing if the Pokedex would register it. Digging into his bag, Volo had the benefit of finding himself a Pokedex. It was a beat-up Pokedex hailing from the Kalos Region due to its appearance, showing that it was rather old but still functional.
When holding up the Pokedex, he attempted to read up on this new appearance. The Pokedex, despite appearing beat-up and bruised, was reacting to Li'l Kanga's presence. Unlike the incomplete Pokemon that appeared at the Sea Temple and even the spirits of Zacian and Zamazenta, the Pokedex was beginning to register it.
"Scalekin, the Hatchling Pokémon. Born from an accidental and mystical transformation, this Pokémon is the evolved form of Kangaskhan's baby. The process, though painful, grants Scalekin incredible dragon-like powers. Its wings allow it to glide gracefully through the air, and its tail-tip exudes the aura of a true dragon."
"A Scalekin, born from the essence of the Dragon Shards." Volo spoke, keeping that smile on his face. "Looks like the Dragon Shards are more effect on those with weaker wills. There was no way it was going to work on Kangaskhan and especially not Ash's Pikachu."
"Pi...Pikachu?" As Pikachu approached Scalekin, attempting to communicate with her, the dragon-like Pokémon reacted defensively. Her draconic eyes flashed, and without warning, she lunged at Pikachu with surprising speed and agility.
"Pika!" Pikachu dodged the attack narrowly, the swift movements of Scalekin catching him off guard.
"Ga! Kanga!" Kangaskhan, alarmed by the sudden aggression, stepped forward, attempting to intervene and calm Scalekin. However, the evolved Pokémon seemed fixated on Pikachu, her territorial instincts and newfound dragon-like behaviour taking precedence even though they have never existed before. Not even a slither of it. It was all new, thanks to the union of three different powers.
"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu would backflip and zip back, avoiding the fierce attacks that could knock rocks out of the ground.
"Pika!" Pikachu, now wary of Scalekin's aggressive stance, tried a different approach. He took a step back, lowering his posture to signal submission.
However, Scalekin, driven by the dragon-like instincts that had awakened within her, continued to regard Pikachu with a guarded and territorial demeanour. The glow of her draconic eyes reflected the conflict between the gentle nature she once had and the newfound power coursing through her veins.
"Pika! Pikachu then yelled at Kangaskhan, prompting her to stay back.
"Khan?" Kangaskhan stopped in her tracks under Pikachu'scry. This was for a good reason. Pikachu didn't want her getting hurt and Pikachu certainly didn't wish to harm his little sister. Pikachu wanted Kangaskhan to do one thing. Go and inform Ash and Applejack about this.
Kangaskhan stood there with a saddened expression as she was also worried for Pikachu as much as she was for her daughter. He could get severely hurt since he didn't wish to attack Scalekin for even a moment. He hasn't even attempted to do so after seeing him dodge an incoming tail swipe.
Kangaskhan slowly nodded her head, accepting Pikachu's request. Understanding the potential danger, Kangaskhan turned and began to make her way back to Ponyville. Her maternal instincts urged her to protect her family, even if it meant leaving Pikachu to deal with the challenges presented by Scalekin's evolution.
Meanwhile, Pikachu maintained a defensive posture, keeping his distance from the now-aggressive Scalekin. The conflict between the Kangaskhan's original nature and the dragon-like instincts within Scalekin created a tense atmosphere, one that Pikachu navigated carefully to avoid escalating the situation further.
As Kangaskhan disappeared into the distance, Scalekin's gaze remained fixed on Pikachu, the glow in her eyes indicating the inner struggle between her two conflicting natures. Pikachu could still see the look of his sister there.
Ponyville.
Kangaskhan returned to Ponyville while the sun gradually made its descent, casting a warm, late afternoon glow across the landscape. The quaint town, bustling with ponies going about their daily activities, presented a serene contrast to the events unfolding in the outskirts of White Tail Wood.
Finding her way to Sweet Apple Acres, Kangaskhan sought out Applejack to deliver the urgent news. The Apple family was in the midst of their own chores and responsibilities when Kangaskhan approached. There, she also saw Ash, who was hanging out with the Apple Family at the moment.
"Hey there, Kangaskhan! How'd things go with you and Pikachu?" Applejack greeted with a smile, pausing from her work.
"Kangaskhan!" Kangaskhan replied, her expression conveying a mix of urgency and concern. "Kanga!"
"Hey, wait a sec..." Ash stood up, seeing that Pikachu and Li'l Kanga were absent. And when looking at Kangaskhan's face, he was already starting to piece things together.
In response, Kangaskhan began to convey the events that transpired in the outskirts of White Tail Wood—the evolution of Li'l Kanga into Scalekin, the newfound dragon-like behaviour, and the potential danger it posed. Applejack listened intently, absorbing the gravity of the situation.
"What?!" Ash would stand up tall after what he had just seen Kangaskhan communicate with. So did the Apple Family once they read Kangaskhan's movements.
Whitetail Wood.
"Pi!" Pikachu would jump over a tail slam from Scalekin, continuing to avoid his attacks with maximum efficiency. The Mouse Pokemon kept being defensive, refusing to fight back. Scalekin thought otherwise. She just kept going, showing no signs of slowing down.
It was back and forth between the two. Pikachu would do everything in his power to avoid the attacks while Scalekin's attacks were damaging the already ruined Whitetail Wood. Trees trembled as Scalekin's attacks connected with the ground, and Pikachu's movements left streaks of light in the dimming sunlight.
At that moment, one of Scalekin's attacks landed. The fierce aura around her tail would explode, causing a burst of speed to occur. Pikachu gasped as his eyes quickly shifted to the tail, but it was too late to properly block it. The tail would strike Pikachu's face with the draconic aura surrounding him.
"Pi...!" The impact sent Pikachu tumbling backwards, the dimming sunlight highlighting the streaks of light that marked his movements. Pikachu quickly recovered, shaking off the effects of the attack. Despite the hit, he remained determined to maintain his defensive stance, avoiding direct confrontation with Scalekin. "Pikachu...!"
"He could defeat her right now. With a single hit too, I bet." Volo commented when watching this battle. But it wasn't much of a battle at all since Pikachu wasn't fighting back. "Reminds me of Lena. The Noble Pokemon she befriended have also changed ever since they met her..."
"Pikachu..." Pikachu had few options on his plate. All he could do was shout to his little sister, hoping that his voice would get through, but that had failed this entire time. Pikachu wasn't a stranger to situations like this, but he wasn't an expert at snapping someone back to their senses unless it involved a good jolt.
At best, he was hoping to tire Scalekin out so that she could fall. Surely, she still had the stamina of a baby and baby-like tendencies even under this draconic transformation.
In the distance, the approaching group led by Applejack and Ash quickened their pace, the urgency of the situation evident in their determined strides. A smile graced Pikachu's face once he saw the faces of Ash, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Kangaskhan, Big Mac and Granny Smith.
"Pikachu! Are you alright?!" Ash yelled at his best friend from a far distance. Alas, the massive hole was still there while Pikachu was on the other side.
"Pi...Pika!"
As Applejack's family arrived at the scene and witnessed Scalekin's imposing presence, a mix of surprise and concern painted their expressions.
"Poor girl. What a shame..." Granny Smith commented when looking at Scalekin. In her old age, not much startles or surprises. With how wild the Pokemon World was, this wasn't alarming at all but it was still troublesome and sad to look at.
Apple Bloom, wide-eyed and curious, peered at Scalekin from behind her sister. "Is that Li'l Kanga? What happened to her?"
"Dragon Matter..." Applejack grumbled upon seeing the crackle of Dragon Matter around Scalekin's body. Ash recognized it too. That enigmatic energy that was related to Prisma and by extension Ash himself was at play once more. Previously, it was Fairy Matter and now it was Dragon Matter, back to causing more trouble.
"Kan...Kanga..." Putting her hands together, Kangaskhan was pleading to Ash and the Apple Family. Applejack already helped her out of a rough spot back with the Kirin and now she was counting on her.
"You've got nothing to worry about, Kangaskhan. We're a family now." Applejack reassured her. "And family sticks together and backs each other up. We'll get our girl back."
"But what do we do? We aren't gonna hit her...are we?" Apple Bloom slowly asked as she was hesitant on that part too. She looked back at Kangaskhan who didn't wish that at all.
"I know you don't wanna attack her. But we still have to stop her somehow. Apple Bloom. How many of your Pokemon know Sleep Powder or anything like that?" Ash asked, having one idea on his mind.
"Oh uh..." Digging into her saddlebag and looking all the Poke Balls at her disposal, Apple Bloom started thinking. She had plenty of Grass-Types on her side and they are known for learning moves that can incapacitate opposing Pokemon. "Ah!"
Apple Bloom did recall some of her Pokemon possessing the right moves. From her bag, she grabbed three Poke Balls, throwing them into the air.
"Oddish!" First to appear was a vibrant Oddish, its small blue body and green leaves swaying gently. Next came a Shroomish, who looked like the type to have the right moves to put someone to sleep. Mushrooms do have that power after all. The third Pokémon to join the group was her Skiploom, who she sometimes moves around with.
Apple Bloom addressed her Pokémon with her hooves together. "Alright, ya'll! I really, really need your help right now!" Can any of y'all use Sleep Powder and Spore to help with that?"
Oddish, Shroomish, and Skploom exchanged determined glances, understanding the gravity of the situation. Each of them nodded, ready to do their part in assisting Scalekin and bringing about a resolution to the unfolding challenge. They were well equipped for this. To prevent any harm done towards Scalekin, they would win this peacefully by putting her to sleep.
"What about the Dragon Matter? That thing's gonna be a lot of trouble." Applejack pointed out. The Dragon Matter was potent here thanks to the massive hole in the ground and the energy coming from Scalekin.
"You, Apple Bloom, Granny and I are gonna handle that." Ash smiled, already having things laid out. "Twilight told me that the Dragon Matter doesn't affect Dragon Pokemon. They already had Dragon Energy in them. That means Sceptile, Dragonite, Appletun, Drampa and Dracovish will be fine."
Each of them, minus Big Mac, have Dragons of their own. To avoid the Dragon Matter, their Dragon Pokemon were perfect for this. But they had to hurry as the rest of the plans couldn't be laid out in time with Scalekin's aggressive actions, pressurizing Pikachu.
"Dragonite! Dracovish! I choose you!" Throwing the Poke Balls into the air, Dragonite and Dracovish were summoned. Joining them was Granny Smith's Drampa along with an Appletun from Apple Bloom. From Sceptile, Applejack would initiate the Mega Evolution Process to grant Sceptile that Dragon-Typing. The brilliant light from the Mega Stones would flare, enveloping the Forest Pokemon until he emerged in his Mega Form.
"Sceptile!" Mega Sceptile would emerge. Volo continued to watch from the sidelines, concealing himself until he could have the chance to retrieve his shards.
"First, let's get over that hole." Ash said, hopping onto Dragonite's back for an aerial advantage. The Dragon Pokemon ascended, leaving behind a gust of wind in the process. As for Apple Bloom's Pokemon, they had to get in close and use their respective moves.
"Champ!" That was where Big Mac's Machamp came into play. Heeding Big Mac's request, the Superpower Pokemon rubbed all four of his hands together, grabbing Skiploom, Oddish and Shroomish. With each of them in his hands, the Superpower Pokemon would perform a tremendous leap, having enough strength to get over that colossal hole.
"Skiiiip!" Skiploom cried out as this was the highest she's ever been. Not even skipping could compare to this. She soared through the air with her friends, heading straight for Scalekin.
But alas, it would not be that easy. Scalekin noticed the approached, glaring at them with her sharpened. Using her newfound abilities, the transformed baby would use Dragon Pulse, unleashing a Dragon-shaped shockwave from her mouth to intercept their movements.
"Dragon Pulse!" Applejack cried out, prompting Sceptile to do the same.
"Scep...Tile!" From his mouth, his own Dragon-shaped shockwave was unleashed. But he wasn't alone. Drampa would do the same, merging his Dragon Pulse with Sceptile's. The two Dragon Pulses, met with the singular one, immediately cancelling it out and giving way for the Grass-Types.
"Loom!" Now that they had a clear path, Skiploom, Oddish and Shroomish came together to unleash Sleep Power and Spore. They synchronized their movements, strategically positioning themselves to surround the transformed Pokémon.
Oddish shook its leaves gently, releasing a cloud of Sleep Powder that wafted toward Scalekin. Simultaneously, Shroomish emitted a spore-laden mist, enhancing the calming effect. Skiploom added her touch, creating a gentle breeze that carried the soothing particles toward Scalekin.
Once more, it was not that easy. In response to this, The dragon wings on Scalekin's back not only give her the ability to glide short distances but also serve as a shield, providing additional defence against attacks. A Draconic light would emerge from her wings, reflecting beautifully off the Sun.
Just like that, the Sleep Power and Spore were reflected, much to the shock of the three Grass-Types. But Ash already figured that it wouldn't be that easy, which is why he opted for the assistance of the other Dragons. But instead of attacking, they would serve another purpose. Distraction.
"This way!" Ash bellowed at Scalekin to grab her attention. Scalekin glared at Ash, turning her attention from the Grass-Types. She would unleash a Dragon Pulse, attempting to take Ash and Dragonite out of the sky, only for them to avoid it. This was followed up by Drampa and Dracovish doing the same as they would intentionally miss their attacks.
Their attacks flew by Scalekin with the purpose of grabbing her attention. Scalekin turned to see the attacks, instinctively swaying her body, only to be completely fine. She wasn't aware that they weren't willing to harm her.
"That didn't work...Then try this!" Apple Bloom hollered at them. "Do what Sweetie Belle does and move around! Dance or something!"
The Grass Pokémon, stunned by the initial setback, adjusted their tactics. Instead of directly releasing the sleep-inducing moves, they began a coordinated dance, creating a mesmerizing display of colours and patterns. Oddish's leaves glowed with a soft luminescence, Shroomish emitted vibrant spores, and Skiploom's petals shimmered with an enchanting aura.
The dance served a dual purpose. First, it captured Scalekin's attention, drawing her focus toward the captivating display. Second, it allowed the Grass Pokémon to subtly infuse their sleep-inducing powers into the atmosphere, creating a more ambient and indirect approach.
Scalekin, intrigued by the radiant dance, shifted her gaze toward the Grass Pokémon. The dragon wings on her back adjusted, subtly responding to the rhythmic movements. Unbeknownst to Scalekin, the ambient sleep-inducing particles gradually surrounded her, carried by the gentle breeze created by Skiploom's movements.
As the Grass Pokémon continued their intricate dance, the vibrant energy they emitted intensified. The atmosphere around Scalekin began to change, a subtle shift in the environment that mirrored the calming effects of their sleep-inducing powers.
However, with a flare of energy from her eyes, the Dragon Matter would snap Scalekin out of this mesmerising dance. Once she snapped it out, she immediately flapped her wings, creating a fierce wind pressure. This wind pressure also carried the Dragon Matter with it, which started ripping through the air.
The wind pressure, laced with Dragon Matter, surged through the air like a tempest. The ambient sleep-inducing energies were scattered, unable to withstand the forceful gusts generated by Scalekin's wings. The once-harmonious dance was replaced by the chaotic currents of Dragon Matter, tearing through the environment with an otherworldly intensity.
"Oddish!" Oddish cried out after being launched away. Skiploom would hurl through the air while Shroomish rolled through the ground. And unfortunately for the three of them, their bodies were in the midst of falling through the deep hole.
"Hurricane!" Ash bellowed, prompting Dragonite to use her own Hurricane.
"Drago!" Dragonite flapped her wings, generating a mighty wind pressure of her own to save the three Grass-Types. Dragonite's powerful Hurricane roared to life, countering the chaotic winds laced with Dragon Matter.
The hurricane's forceful gusts intercepted the falling Grass Pokémon, preventing them from plummeting into the deep hole below. The harmonious dance of the elements, disrupted by Scalekin's draconic awakening, now found a new balance under the guidance of Dragonite's aerial prowess.
"Sceptile, use Frenzy Plant!" Applejack bellowed.
"Tile!" To ensure they had a safe landing, Sceptile would place his hands on the ground, summoning massive roots would head straight for the hole. As the three Grass-Types started descending, the roots would appear over the hole, facing the destructive energies below. However, with Sceptile's power, he could ignore the Dragon Matter now that he was a Dragon-Type.
This allowed his roots to resist the fierce power below as they moved over the entire hole, heading all the way to the other side. Skiploom, Oddish and Shroomish managed to land on the Frenzy Plant, away from the hole. Not only did it save them, but it made a bridge that allowed everyone else to pass through safely.
At that moment, Scalekin performed something extraordinary that only it could do. By grabbing all the destroyed trees and rubble with its claws, it began mushing them together by enveloping them with Dragon Matter. Right before everyone's eyes, Scalekin transformed them into gold, rubies and other gemstones. Fit for a Dragon.
"She turned it into gems...?" Ash gawked with amazement.
As the amalgamation of Dragon Matter and Scalekin's unique talents unfolded, the resulting gems sparkled with an ethereal glow. The vibrant hues of gold, rubies, and other precious stones cast a mesmerizing light across the once-broken landscape. The unexpected display of Scalekin's abilities added another layer of mystery to the ongoing events, leaving both observers and participants in awe.
But they weren't just for her to keep for herself like a greedy Dragon. They were also used for attacks. With the gems at her disposal, Scalekin's offensive capabilities gained a mystical edge. The radiant light emitted by the gems hinted at the potential for dazzling, Dragon Matter-infused attacks.
She unleashed the gemstones as rays of light that were powered by Dragon-Type energy, sending a rapid stream of them at at everyone. The rapid stream of gemstones created a dazzling cascade, leaving trails of brilliant light that illuminated the battleground.
Ash and the others faced the oncoming barrage, their instincts and training driving them to evade the gemstones. The gems, fueled by Dragon-Type energy, left behind residual traces of draconic power in the air as they streaked past. Pikachu utilized his nimbleness, darting between the gemstones with quick movements, while Mega Sceptile and Dragonite employed agile manoeuvres to avoid the mystical onslaught.
Some of them were heading straight for Apple Bloom, Applejack and Granny Smith, but not while Machamp had something to say about it. "Machamp! Ma!" With his rapid-fast movements, Machamp would strike all of the incoming gemstones with precise punches.
Machamp took all of them out, saving his family from harm. But it wasn't over yet. The gemstones collided with the ground, trees, and surroundings, leaving a mark of transformation wherever they landed. The once-broken landscape now bore the radiant imprint of Scalekin's Dragon-Type attacks, a testament to the potent combination of Dragon Matter and the gemstones created from the debris.
"Thunderbolt! Water Gun!"
"Draco!" Dracovish would blast away at some of the gemstones, drowning them in water and forcing them to drop to the ground, where some of them would end up in the hole. Pikachu did the same, electrocuting some of these gemstones with 100,000 volts which halted their movements.
"I don't think I can get close..." Apple Bloom was getting worried. At this rate, she might not be able to land any of her moves on Scalekin.
"Ga! Kanga!" At that moment, Kangaskhan ran past everyone, moving on the Root Bridge and heading straight for her daughter.
"Kangaskhan, wait!" Applejack bellowed, but the instincts of a mother were put first even in the face of danger. The rays of light from the gemstones flew in once more with that destructive Dragon Energy, crashing into the Root Bridge.
Sceptile's Bridge was taking a bunch of damage from this. The gemstones were beginning to piece through them, leaving holes which would chip away at the durability of the roots. Kangaskhan just kept moving in the face of all of this, avoiding the incoming rays of light. But not all of them could be avoided.
"Appletun!" Appletun would intercept some of these by using Leaf Storm. A spiral of leaves came flying in, managing to blow these gemstones away, allowing Kangaskhan to keep on moving.
Raising her tail, Scalekin was about to unleash a devastating attack as the aura around her tail intensified. It was right when Kangaskhan was getting closer and closer. And as the tail came crashing down, intercepting it was none other than Dragonite.
"Dragon Claw!" Ash bellowed. Dragonite stopped the attack with her own fierce attack. The attacks collided sending a fierce shockwave around the area, blowing the already ruined trees.
As Kangaskhan reached Scalekin, she extended her powerful arms in a gesture that was a mix of worry and comfort. "Kan...Kanga," she murmured, attempting to communicate with her evolved offspring. The transformation had brought about a majestic appearance in Scalekin, but the echoes of the earlier pain lingered in the air.
Scalekin, however, remained focused on the ongoing battle, the draconic light in her eyes shimmering with intensity. The gemstones, now replenished, floated around her, ready to be unleashed once more. The evolving Pokémon seemed torn between her newfound abilities and her connection with her mother.
Scalekin opened her mouth wide, preparing to unleash a powerful flare of Dragon Matter. Everyone gasped at this sight as the Dragon Matter was building up into a single point. Drampa and all the other Dragons got in front of their trainers to shield them from what was coming, but the already damaged environment might not fare well.
"It's my own energy. So I'm going in!" Ash hopped off Dragonite's back, knowing he would be fine since the Dragon Matter won't react to him. And he was right. Ash would appear in front of Scalekin right as the Dragon Matter was unleashed. While he was airborne, the fierce flare of energy met with his body, stopping upon contact.
There was a fierce draconic outburst from this contact which would normally hurt. But not when it came to Ash. He moved through the smoke, landing on Scalekin's face.
Pikachu, fueled by the strong bond forged through countless adventures and shared experiences, took a step forward. His bright eyes, filled with determination, locked onto Scalekin's gaze. The memories of their time together had to come back somehow even if briefly.
"Pika... Pi!" Pikachu's voice carried the weight of those memories as he attempted to reach Scalekin's heart. His gestures were a plea, a reminder of the times they laughed, faced adversaries, and triumphed together. The Mouse Pokémon hoped that the connection they shared would transcend the newfound Dragon powers that enveloped his sister.
"Maybe this'll help!" Ash, with all of his might, would unleash his Aura, deciding to risk it. The azure light of his Aura would flare. The Aura interacted with the Dragon Matter, causing a rumble and crackle to emerge around the both of them.
The gemstones, poised to unleash their Dragon-Type energy, halted momentarily as Scalekin grappled with the unexpected distraction. The shimmering light in her eyes flickered, caught between the memories of Pikachu's plea and the current clash of energies. The evolving Pokémon seemed momentarily disoriented, giving Pikachu and Ash a brief window to influence the course of the battle.
"Now's my chance! Sleep Powder! Stun Spore!" Apple Bloom commanded, seeing a golden opportunity.
The trio of Grass Pokémon, undeterred by the earlier setback, prepared for their synchronized assault. Oddish shook its leaves gently, releasing a cloud of Sleep Powder, while Shroomish emitted a spore-laden mist, enhancing the calming effect. Skiploom added her touch, creating a gentle breeze that carried the soothing particles toward Scalekin.
The combined efforts of the three Grass Pokémon created a potent mixture of Sleep Powder and Spore, forming a swirling concoction that enveloped the transformed Pokémon. The sleep-inducing particles danced in the air, their collective effect aimed at inducing a peaceful slumber in Scalekin.
As the sleep-inducing mixture approached Scalekin, the Dragon Matter surrounding her responded with a shimmering resistance. Ash's Aura would flare as he would then launch himself off Scalekin's body once the Sleep Power and Spore came in.
The Sleep Powder and Spore mixture, defying the resistance of the Dragon Matter, successfully landed on Scalekin. The swirling particles enveloped the majestic Dragon-type Pokémon, creating a serene and calming aura around her. As the sleep-inducing effects took hold, Scalekin's movements gradually slowed, and her draconic gaze softened.
Amidst the gentle breeze carrying the soothing particles, Scalekin's colossal frame gradually settled onto the Root Bridge. The once ferocious and agitated creature now appeared serene and tranquil, succumbing to the combined efforts of Oddish, Shroomish, and Skiploom. The influence of the Sleep Powder and Spore mixture took hold, casting a peaceful slumber upon Scalekin.
The Root Bridge, constructed by Sceptile's roots, held firm beneath the weight of the transformed Pokémon. Its expansive structure provided a secure platform for Scalekin's rest, ensuring her safety and preventing any further harm to herself or others.
Apple Bloom, Ash, Pikachu, and the assembled Pokémon and trainers watched in collective relief as the situation de-escalated. The Root Bridge served not only as a passage over the hazardous hole but also as a cradle for the sleeping Scalekin.
"Whew...We did it." Ash sighed. "I was thinking about using my Aura...Had to try it at least once."
"Y'all did it!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, a mix of relief and gratitude evident in her voice. She turned to her Grass Pokémon, affectionately patting each of them for their crucial role in calming Scalekin. "Great job, Oddish, Shroomish, and Skiploom!"
"Kanga!" Kangaskhan, overcome with relief and joy, rushed towards her transformed daughter, Scalekin, who was now in a peaceful slumber. The once-agitated draconic energies surrounding Scalekin had subsided, creating a serene atmosphere. The Dragon Matter, which had woven cosmic and draconic energies into a tapestry, now emitted a subdued glow.
The celestial scar in the sky above White Tail Wood maintained its presence, but the once ominous disturbances within it seemed to ease. The harmonious energy of the scene, combined with the familial bonds that had calmed Scalekin, created a sense of tranquillity in the outskirts of White Tail Wood.
The Moon was beginning to show itself at this time, signalling the end of the afternoon. Scalekin was fast asleep because of this while Kangaskhan held her face. For this to happen to her daughter was shocking and heart-pounding for Kangaskhan. This was something she couldn't have fixed herself.
Surrounded by the crackle of the Dragon Matter, Kangaskhan took some damage but stayed by her daughter's side But not only that, the Aura from Ash also showed itself, gently protecting Kangaskhan from further harm. Right before her eyes, her daughter would shrink, reverting to her original size and form.
In the quiet of the night, with the celestial scar shining overhead, Li'l Kanga returned to her original form. The gentle transformation mirrored the harmonious resolution brought about by the bond between Scalekin and her family. Pikachu ran to his sister's side to see if she was alright even though she had taken no damage during all of this.
"Kanga!" She cried out. Li'l Kanga's eyes would slowly open, seeing her mother and her brother.
"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu, who had been by her side throughout the entire ordeal, approached Li'l Kanga with a tender expression. The memories and the unspoken connection they shared formed an invisible thread that bound them as family were flooding back in as the Dragon Matter would disperse. Pikachu extended a gentle paw, allowing Li'l Kanga to nuzzle against him, a silent reassurance that all was well. "Pika..."
"How did this even happen?" Applejack wondered how it got to that point in the first place. What could have caused this?
As Pikachu scanned the surroundings, his sharp eyes searched for any trace of Volo, the enigmatic merchant who had played a role in the events that unfolded. However, it seemed that Volo had slipped away into the shadows, leaving without a trace.
The departure of Volo raised questions in Pikachu's mind. The mysterious merchant's presence had been linked to the Dragon Shards and the tear in the sky, and his sudden exit only added to the air of mystery surrounding him. After all, he was the one who showed them in the first place.
"This is exactly why I need the other shards. I know for a fact that I'm one step closer to Arceus." Volo said when walking off, focusing on Arceus as his ultimate goal.
For now, the focus shifted back to the reunited family, Pikachu, Li'l Kanga, and Kangaskhan. The Root Bridge beneath them symbolized the strength of their bond and the triumph over the challenges they faced together. With the tear in the sky now emanating a tranquil glow, it seemed that the celestial energies had found a newfound balance.
"It's alright now, Kangaskhan," Ash said. "No matter what, we won't let anything bad happen to you and your daughter."
"You're with us now. Anything weird happens, we'll be there." Applejack reassured. That was an honest promise, without a doubt."
She believed that. They've saved her family more than once now. But now, she was a part of this family and had no idea what she was about to face from this point on. Kangaskhan was part of their life now.
As the reunited family gazed at the celestial scar above, a sense of peace and fulfilment settled over them. Li'l Kanga, Pikachu, and Kangaskhan stood together as the journey continues.
A new day at the Pokemon School but yet another day where that tear in the sky still exists. When entering the school, everyone would occasionally glance at the tear in the sky, cautious of what it could do. Entering the class was Potion Nova, who would be teaching today's lesson.
"Morning, morning. Glad you could all show up even after what has happened recently." Potion Nova spoke to her students, referring to the wild events at the Pokemon Festival. "I hope all of your respective homes haven't been ruined."
"Well, that Dragon Matter thing showed up at the Dragon Lands for a while. Does that count?"
"It did?" Potion Nova gasped as all the other young Dragons could confirm it. "I still don't know what to do about that thing...What was that potion anyway?"
"I thought you would know," Smolder questioned.
"I would. Honest. But I don't think I have anything that turns someone into a cube. Not sure why I'd make that though...Just seems uncomfortable."
"Well, nothing good came from it." Apple Bloom grumbled. "Yesterday, my sister's Kangaskhan's kid got affected by it."
"Oh my goodness! Is she alright?!" Potion Nova questioned.
"She's fine. Turned back to normal and all. Nothing a good family love couldn't fix." The filly earth pony smiled proudly. "Even if we had to do a few things first."
"I don't think it's all bad." Sitting there with an innocent smile on her face was the one responsible for the emergence of Dragon and Fairy Matter in this world was Cozy Glow, but that was still something no one else knew of. "Why don't we just use it for good?"
"Well, we could but...it's brought nothing but trouble for us." The teacher lowered her head. "And I never saw it coming. Not even for a moment. How does Mega Evolution even react to that in the first?"
"So...Aren't we going to learn anything today?" Sandbar questioned, realizing class hasn't started yet.
"Right, right!" Potion Nova snapped back to her senses, remembering she had a class to teach. "Well, today I would teach you the usual, but things are different. Pretty soon, we'll be having a Play."
Instead of a lesson, Potion Nova was preparing them all for an upcoming Play. The students exchanged curious glances, intrigued by the mention of a play. Potion Nova continued with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"That's right! Now, I don't actually have a theme for the Play. Principal Twilight suggested that we let you students choose what the play should be based on. Specifically, it has to relate to events that have happened in this world."
"Anything?" Gallus thought for a moment. The options were plentiful since a lot has happened in this world.
"Anything. It can be the day we first encountered the Pokemon and the two worlds crossed paths or even the First Pokemon Festival, which fittingly, is the one festival without a heap of danger. Anything, really. And to help, I brought in some extra guests."
Potion Nova introduced new students to the class who would walk straight through those doors. These ponies were none other than the vampire ponies from Magehold.
The arrival of the vampire ponies from Magehold drew a mix of surprise and curiosity among the students. The vampire ponies were a unique addition to the class, their bat-like wings and mysterious auras setting them apart from the regular Equestrian residents.
"Everyone, meet our guests from Magehold. They've graciously agreed to share their impressive skills when it comes to theathre play," Potion Nova explained, gesturing towards the vampire ponies. "They're around your age groups so it'll be easy to learn from them.
The vampire ponies acknowledged the class with polite nods and friendly smiles, their crimson eyes gleaming with an otherworldly charm. The students exchanged glances, intrigued by the presence of these magical beings. Some of them were still intimidated by the vampires.
"We learned from Queen Fantina herself. She taught us everything we know!" The vampire ponies had one massive advantage. Fantina taught them quite a lot during her time at Magehold. The Hearthome City Gym Leader was the perfect teacher for them and they have most definitely carried her lessons and skills with them.
"I did too." Sweetie Belle raised her hoof. Indeed, Fantina was her tutor for a while, specifically for Pokemon Contests. But perhaps not as long as Fantina since she was trapped there for months.
"Ooh! Can we do the Black Crusade play?!" One of the young vampires suggested, making the pupils of everyone else shrink.
The suggestion of the Black Crusade play stirred a palpable tension in the room. The memories of the perilous event, the threat posed by Yveltal, and the subsequent actions of the Dread League were still fresh in the minds of many. Potion Nova swiftly redirected the focus, acknowledging the sensitivity of the topic and opting for a different theme.
Even though the vampires were free from the Lich Queen's reign and the group known as the Dread League had been disbanded, there was still a nervous air when it came to the vampires.
"Anything but that!" Potion Nova shut that down immediately. She then let out a nervous grin after her bellow, not meaning to shout at the students. She was just startled by such a request. "Sorry about that. Just uh...talk it out with each other and decide what you want to do. N-Not that one though, if you don't mind."
The classroom buzzed with discussions as the students and vampire ponies brainstormed various possibilities. Ideas ranged from the exploration of the first encounters with Pokémon to the vibrant festivities of the Pokémon Festival. The diversity of experiences in this world offered a rich tapestry from which they could draw inspiration.
Potion Nova, with her expertise in magical arts, was particularly intrigued by the prospect of incorporating enchanting elements into the play. She encouraged the students to think creatively, envisioning a performance that not only entertained but also transported the audience into the enchanting realms of Pokémon and magic.
Watching this from afar was none other than Twilight Sparkle herself along with Fantina herself. Fantina had shown up to the Pokemon School since the vampires were all here and she was willing to help out with this play.
"This is going to be Magnifique, Twilight! Whatever they choose will be wonderful! I'll make sure of it." Fantina spoke.
Twilight Sparkle smiled, nodding in agreement with Fantina's sentiments. "Mhm. I have full confidence in them. With you here, things will be much easier. I just hope they don't get too startled by the vampires. Things still aren't smooth with them after the Black Crusade. They're easing in but..."
"They're fine. The little ones have always been sweet, even if they are a bit wild." Fantina continued. And she would know after seeing how the vampires truly are. In reality, when exempt from the Dread League, they just wanted to live exciting lives and now they've gotten that wish with Rosa Maledicta and Opal Vivacity being defeated.
"Alright then. I've called Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy over to help with this play. As for me, I won't be there to see it in action since I'll be helping Princess Celestia. Lucas and Nate should be here soon so that they can help open up gateways to the other worlds." Twilight referred to the Universal Alliance that Celestia made. It has been a while since they've been seen and with Lucas and Nate present, they could reach them once more.
"I got it!" At that moment, Scootaloo hit the jackpot, coming up with an idea. "Let's do the Jirachi Play!"
Her decision was a play about Jirachi. Specifically, when Ash and his friends fought tooth and nail, moving through a vicious dimensional space just to reach all the Jirachis that were trapped in a nigh-unreachable dimension. When they reached all the Jirachi, Ash made the ultimate wish to merge both worlds together so that they would permanently be as one. That was the Play she wished to do.
Potion Nova and everyone exchanged glances, considering Scootaloo's suggestion. The idea of a Jirachi play seemed intriguing, capturing a pivotal moment in the history of both Equestria and the Pokémon world. The concept held a ton of benefits, making it a compelling choice.
"Oh, that one? Not a bad choice. All in favour?" Potion Nova asked the class. Immediately, they were all in full agreement. That seemed to be something everyone could get behind with ease. "Great! It's settled"
"Thanks! Then I'll play Ash!" Scootaloo raised her arm, opting to be Ash.
"Wait, hold on. What makes you think you get to play, Ash?" Gallus questioned, halting Smolder for a moment.
"Because, Gallus, I'm the one who suggested it!" Scootaloo chimed in, her excitement evident. "And Ash is the hero of that story, so I'm pretty sure I get to play the part! Plus, I know Ash closer than anyone in here. Uhh, plus Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom too."
"That's not fair though. Ash is taller than all of us, and you're not tall enough." Gallus pointed out.
"Neither are you..." Scootaloo side-eyed him.
"You could choose me. I've got the charisma and the attitude to nail Ash's character. You need someone with real flair for the role, not just someone who reads about it in a book. Like me or every other griffon here. Mostly me."
"What about me?" Smolder interjected, "None of you have any of Ash's Pokemon? I have a Charmander which is connected to Charizard."
"I do have an Ash Pokemon. I have my Tailow, remember?" Gallus replied.
Silverstream fluttered her wings excitedly. "I could totally be Ash! Think about it, guys. I can bring an awesome mix of pony enthusiasm and griffon spirit to the character. Plus, flying! Ash never flew, but I can add that for dramatic effect."
"Well, actually, under the power of the Sea Temple, he-" Sweetie Belle was about to interject Silverstream's comment, only to be cut off.
Yona chimed in with a thunderous yell, cutting Sweetie Belle off, "Yona think play needs strong hero. Yona can be Ash! Right?"
Ocellus, in her quieter tone, added, "I think any of us could do it. But, um, maybe I could bring a unique perspective to the character? Or we could just bring him here. Just a thought."
Diamond Tiara, trying to assert dominance, added, "I should be Ash. I mean, I'm practically royalty, and Ash is the King of the Sea, right? It's a perfect match."
The classroom was soon filled with the voices of the bickering students, each passionately advocating for their chance to portray Ash in the play. Other students joined the discussion, offering their opinions on who would be the best fit for the role. Smolder, who initially wanted to play Ash, found herself caught in the middle of the debate, torn between her fellow friends.
Potion Nova, attempting to restore order, raised her hooves to get the attention of the class. "Alright, settle down, everyone! We'll hold auditions, and the best actor for each role will be chosen. It's an opportunity for everyone to showcase their talents!"
Despite Potion Nova's attempt to calm the situation, the students continued to voice their opinions, each believing they were the perfect candidate to portray Ash. The lively debate persisted, adding an unexpected layer of drama to the auditions. Potion Nova closed her eyes, knowing of one other option on the table to solve this before it spirals out of control.
"Hah...I feared something like this would happen. Alright!" Potion Nova bellowed at the top of her lungs, halting the students once more. "There's only one way to settle this. You know the rules of the Pokemon School. If you reach an impasse and can't decide on something, there are two options. Consult with teachers or members of staff, which obviously isn't working right now...or option two. A Pokemon Battle will decide it."
"Really?" The students who wished to be Ash spoke.
Potion Nova continued, "A Pokémon Battle between all the contenders. Winner takes the role of Ash. But remember, this is not just about power. It's about capturing the essence of Ash, his spirit, courage, and the ability to connect with Pokémon. So, gather your teams and meet me at the training grounds for a friendly competition. Let's make this a play to remember!"
The students who opted to be Ash, filled with newfound determination, hurriedly left the classroom to prepare for the upcoming Pokémon Battle. The training grounds awaited them, promising an exciting clash that would determine the star of their Jirachi Play.
School Battlegrounds.
The battlegrounds were buzzing with excitement as the students gathered, each with their Pokémon ready for the friendly competition. Potion Nova stood at the center, overseeing the event with a keen eye.
"Alright. Since you're all so dedicated to wanting to be Ash, only one of you will get that role. You will battle with only one Pokemon since we don't want to drag this out. I hope you've picked your strongest because this is the only chance you'll get."
"Hehe..." Scootaloo grinned, holding up her Poke Ball which contained Rapidash. She indeed had her strongest Pokemon with her. Having an equally proud smile on her face was Sweetie Belle, whose Poke Ball contained Meowstic. Both of them had considerably powerful Pokemon on their side who they've been with for four years.
"I don't like the looks on their faces..." Smolder narrowed her eyes before looking at her Charmander. "Alright, Charmander. I really wanna get this role, so we're going to win this."
"Charmander!"
"You know...We Changeling can technically turn into Ash and any Pokemon." Ocellus pointed out that one major advantage. Everyone else wanted to obtain that role while the Changelings could easily emerge as Ash and Jirachi thanks to their transformation.
"They're not listening." One of her fellow changelings shook his head. Some of the changelings were out there on the field, wanting that role for themselves.
The contenders lined up on the field, eager to prove themselves. Smolder, Gallus, Scootaloo, and several others formed a circle, preparing for the Pokémon Battle that would determine who would play the iconic role.
"It's simple. The last Pokemon standing gets that role." Potion Nova laid out one simple rule. "We need to start setting up the play before lunch and before school is over so 20 minutes maximum. All of you, send out your Pokemon."
All at once, several Pokemon would fly into the air. Rapidash, Charmander, Swellow, Piloswine and Liepard entered the scene among many others.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Fantina approached Potion Nova, ready to watch over this battle.
"Eh. They'd just keep bickering. It's better to just let them settle it like this. Rule of the School after all." The unicorn shrugged, knowing there was nothing else could do. "Best option here."
"This is a great option!" Some students were in agreement for this, specifically the Dragon and Griffin students who wanted to see a good battle. They didn't care who won this, as long as they got to see a battle.
"Uhh..." Standing there with dumbfounded faces were Smolder and Gallus, who might have bitten off more than they can chew. The second they spotted Rapidash and Liepard, they were already starting to see some drawbacks. They expected to face Pokemon as small or around Charmander and Swellow, but Rapidash and Liepard easily towered over them.
Charmander and Swellow looked up to see these two giants, knowing that they might already be facing a rough challenge. It didn't matter how many other students there were. These two were going to be a problem since they have actively been in so many battles. One of them even won a Canterlot Junior Tournament.
But Charmander didn't seem afraid and neither did Swellow. Both would puff their chests out, trying to act tough, but the same couldn't be said for their trainers.
Canterlot Castle.
Meanwhile, over at Canterlot Castle, Twilight was arriving to help with the re-emergence of this alliance. All the while, her students were out there fighting for the role of one character. And finally, joining them in this room was Lucas along with Nate.
With both of them present, they could open up as many gateways without issues. Lucas and Nate checked out the scenery, whistling at the sight before them. Nate showed up with a cosmic cloak once more, but he could freely take it off once here at the castle.
"Glad you could make it. This is going to be another special day." Celestia said when greeting them both. "I get to look forward to play and reunite with the Universal Alliance."
"So...How many do I have to open up?" Lucas asked.
"Hmm...How many can you do without straining yourself?" Celestia wanted to make sure Lucas could handle multiple gateways at once. Opening two wasn't too bad but beyond that was a mystery for Lucas.
"Bah, don't worry. As long as I'm here, my plasma will heal you up." Nate reassured, placing his hand on Lucas's shoulder.
"You might have to keep the Plasma on him at all times, Nate. You can only revitalize him after he opens the gateways." Twilight informed. "Just do that and I think Nate will be fine."
"There are at least 20 of them I would like for you to open." Celestia requested 20 maximum. Quite a hefty number, but Lucas was ready to confront it.
"20, huh? Alright. Let's do this." Lucas looked on with determination, putting his hands together to prepare himself. Twilight was also building some Rift Magic to assist him while Nate kept his hand on Lucas's shoulder as support.
Once they all had their positions, Lucas's eyes would flare with the spatial power of Palkia that was residing within him. By holding out both of his hands, the particles flew forward, swarming in multiple positions. Celestia and Luna watched as all the particles flew around the throne room, each possessing the potential to form a gateway.
Appearing in a flash was a gateway. The first one had been made, materializing itself in the middle of the throne room. That was just one and 19 more had to be made. But this was where the challenge came in.
With beads of sweat forming on his forehead, Lucas extended his trembling hand, struggling to maintain the delicate balance required to manipulate the fabric of reality. The portal slowly unfolded, revealing a breathtaking landscape of floating islands and ethereal creatures. However, the effort left Lucas visibly drained.
Undeterred by the strain, Lucas decided to test his limits further. As he attempted to open multiple gateways simultaneously, beads of sweat turned into a cascade, and his breathing became laboured. Each portal required an intricate dance of focus, and maintaining more than one at a time proved to be an overwhelming challenge.
One by one, gateways were beginning to appear. Lucas managed to summon over 10 of them, having 9 more to go. However, the limits of what Lucas could do were starting to show. Nate's plasma was keeping him powered up as there was a sudden reaction that Nate didn't expect. The plasma was intensifying in response to Lucas's strain, almost as if it was trying to save him.
Lucas's eyes glowed with determination as he opened portals to universes with inverted gravity and swirling time. However, the strain became more apparent, his movements slower, and the air around him crackling with the intensity of his efforts. The once seamless process now resembled a struggle against an invisible force resisting his every command.
"Done!" Lucas bellowed as he reached the maximum 20. After finishing up, he would sit down, feeling his body tremble. The plasma from Nate would crackle out of him, tempering further harm. "Man...Nailed."
"Well, done, Lucas. Head back and rest." Celestia thanked him. That was all Lucas had to do for today. "There's a few of them out there but you can open them at another time."
"Are we just going to leave all these gateways out in the open though?" Twilight asked. The gateways being out in the open here was odd, especially if there was trouble lurking somewhere beyond them. Someone could definitely look through this universe or enter it freely.
"Not exactly. While I wanted Lucas to open them up again, the Ranger Union lent me a new and improved Travel Sphere that I was waiting to use for this occasion."
Right on time, one of the guards of the castle approached with a neatly decorated box. And from that box, Twilight and the others would gaze upon a new version of the Travel Sphere.
"The Travel Sphere 2.0." This new Travel Sphere boasted an elegant and streamlined design, marrying futuristic aesthetics with an air of sophistication. Its exterior is composed of a lightweight, yet durable, metallic alloy with a polished, mirror-like finish. The surface was adorned with subtle, luminescent patterns that trace intricate pathways, symbolizing the interdimensional connections it facilitates.
"Oooh..." It felt truly comfortable in Twilight's hooves once she held it.
"With it, we can open and close gateways freely. We're not exiting anymore Rift Problems we've been having ever since our worlds became one." Celestia explained. "More of these are being made but this one is brand new. With it, I can contact my allies from across universes once more and-"
At that moment, while admiring the Travel Sphere, a voice came from the gateway. Celestia, Luna and Twilight turned their heads, viewing one of the gateways that this voice came from. And right before their eyes, they saw what appeared to be the equivalent of Las Pegasus in another universe. However, there was something amiss.
Las Pegasus was lacking any light. Not that it was shut down and inactive at the moment. All forms of light were gone, making Las Pegasus seem rather dead. Much like Tropezete Town.
Seeing that immediately confirmed to them what was happened. Necrozma had attacked. Being unable to reach any of them for a long time left them vulnerable to attacks from Daybreaker. The question was when was this and if those on the other side were safe at the moment. The same went for the other worlds.
After deciding on a Play that reenacts the day all the Jirachi put the two worlds together, the students at the Pokemon School who wished to play the role of Ash were at an impasse. Only one of them could be Ash and whoever has their Pokemon as the last one standing could earn that role.
The field was filled with cheers, and various Pokémon took their positions, ready for an exciting showdown. The battle would not only showcase their Pokémon's strength but also their connection and understanding with their partners.
As the Pokémon clashed, the air was filled with the sounds of moves, cheers, and the excitement of the students giving their all to earn the coveted role of Ash in the upcoming Jirachi Play. The friendly competition brought out the best in the students, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and determination.
Potion Nova watched the battles unfold, observing not just the power of the Pokémon but also the synergy and connection between the trainers and their partners. The decision for the role of Ash would not be an easy one, but the students were determined to make it a memorable and spirited competition.
Standing there, not doing anything with a smile on her face was Diamond Tiara along with her Liepard. The two of them were playing the waiting game, waiting for the right time to take action.
"If I just sit around doing nothing, they'll tire themselves out and will be way easier to beat Ash." Diamond Tiara spoke. A simple but efficient plan that she was going to see through to the end while everyone else tears each other apart. And so far, it was working. All around her, other Pokemon were facing off against each other, mainly because they knew that Rapidash and Liepard were intimidating in every category.
Despite how many Pokemon were present here, the damage being done to the field was rather minuscule. After all, not only were these smaller Pokemon but a lot of them weren't disgustingly strong. The moves they threw out would let out flashes but they could critically damage the surrounding area and leaving fierce explosions.
These were very much young trainers who had ways to go, but their spirit to play this one role was already ahead of that. Facing off were Charmander and Tailow, who locked eyes. Charmander wriggled his claws, waiting for an opportune moment.
"Charmander, use Flamethrower!"
"Charmander!" From his mouth, a stream of scarlet flames came flying out. But while the flame was travelling, Gallus stood there with a smile on his face, appearing unbothered by this. That was because a Nosepass got right in the way of the Flamethrower after being knocked back.
The Flamethrower connected with Nosepass instead, causing a blazing explosion while Tailow was completely untouched. "Hah! Saw it coming!" Gallus boasted.
"Aw, really?!" Smolder groaned. "There's no way you saw that coming!"
"I definitely did," Gallus smirked while Smolder scowled. "This just gives me the chance to have Taillow use Aerial Ace."
"Tail!" Speaking of which, flying through the smoke and over Nosepass was Tailow, who was coming in with Aerial Ace at high speeds.
"Char?!" Charmander gasped before receiving a hit to the face from Taillow's wings. The Lizard Pokemon cried out before stumbling back. But he did not fall over, much to the surprise of Gallus and Taillow. Taillow would fly right back around, going for another Aerial Ace.
"Not this time! Dragon Claw!"
"Mander!" Charmander shook his head, eyeing his blue eyes at the incoming Flying-Type. Surrounding his claws in draconic energy, he would slash at the Tailow the second he closed in. Taillow's wings and Charmander's claws met as the impact caused Taillow's movements to come to a halt for a moment. "Char...!"
"That's it, Charmander! Flamethrower!"
"Char...!" Charmander's mouth began flaring while putting on a smile. He knew what was coming and so did Tailow, who was currently being held by Charmander.
"Low! Tail...!" When attempting to pull back, Taillow saw that Charmander had gripped onto his wings tightly, making sure he wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon. Unable to break free, Charmander blasted the Normal-Flying-Type with scarlet flames.
Tailow was sent flying from those flames, feeling his body sear. As the flames subsided, smoke trailed out of his body as he struggled to recover in midair. Taillow would bounce on the ground a few times before managing to recover at last.
"Nice! Now, use-"
"Piloswine!" Interrupting her by causing a small tremor was Yona's Piloswine. He had used Ancient Power to rip rocks out of the ground. Fossilized rocks to be exact. With a cheerful smile on her face, since she was getting to see different forms of destruction, Yona gave Piloswine the order to unleash the rocks.
"Char! Charmander!" Charmander screeched upon seeing these rocks approaching. So did Taillow. Both of them were highly vulnerable to these attacks. The Lizard Pokemon ran for his life as the rocks came crashing in, smashing against the ground. Taillow would flap his wings violently.
Some of these rocks flew through the windows of the Pokemon School, breaking through them and crashing into other objects nearby. Not the first time this has happened but with a grimace on Potion Nova's face, expenses were going to have to be paid yet again.
"Yona! Isn't it dangerous to be on Piloswine?!" Smolder questioned upon seeing Yona on Piloswine's back, letting him carry her around.
"Is it?" Yona didn't see it despite how vulnerable she was to an incoming attack, as seen by a barrage of Stars flying over her head. She was lucky that those missed her.
Gallus and Smolder looked at each other before sweeing another Swift flying in Yona's direction. From that height, it wouldn't be able to hit Piloswine but mainly Yona. At that moment, both Charmander and Tailow would intercept the stars with Flamethrower and Air Slash, saving her.
As the battles progressed, some trainers started to show signs of fatigue. Pokémon were panting, and trainers exchanged glances, realizing the importance of pacing themselves. Diamond Tiara and Scootaloo, strategically waiting on the sidelines, saw their opportunity approaching.
"Wait a second..." It was at this moment that one of the students realized that Rapidash was nowhere to be found. That was seemingly impossible because he was so big. The young changeling raised her head to see that Rapidash was standing in a nearby tree, using the environment to his advantage.
After seeing this, she would then look to where Liepard was standing, noticing how she wasn't doing anything either. Two of the biggest Pokemon here who were hard to miss were just standing there, inactive at the moment. "Hey! They aren't doing anything!"
Hearing this, the students were starting to realize what Scootaloo and Diamond Tiara were planning. Their heads faced each of them, causing Scootaloo and Diamond Tiara to collectively scrunch their faces. Their collective plan has been discovered.
"Swarm them!" The decision to swarm the two heaviest hitters was decided upon before they could get to work. All the Pokemon shifted their targets onto only two opponents this time. Rapidly, many of them approached Liepard who was still on ground level.
"Oh! Wait a second!" Diamond Tiara screeched now that she had been found. Right before her eyes, a swarm of adorable yet somewhat intimidating Pokemon were heading her way, planning to take down her Liepard. "Use Dark Pulse, Lieparad! Stop them!"
"Pard! Liepard!" From her mouth, Liepard unleashed swirling black circles, attempting to stop the opposing Pokemon. She was finally taking action and the power behind her attack showed. One hit of it caused an explosion that launched other Pokemon away. These Pokemon would faint right afterwards, knocking their trainers out of the Ash role.
Liepard also had the speed advantage, immediately leaping over the Pokemon that managed to get close with incredible speeds. She was going to make sure that she had enough energy to make it to the end. Liepard would hate to let Diamond Tiara down.
"No fair hiding up there! You aren't even battling!" Smolder yelled at Scootaloo for taking a defensive option when everyone else was going at it.
"It's a strategy, so it counts!" Scootaloo objected.
"You can't hide forever! Burn that tree down, Charmander! Flamethrower!"
"Wait, don't!" Potion Nova bellowed, attempting to stop him but it was too late. Charmander already unleashed his scarlet flames onto the tree. Potion Nova was practically powerless to stop the pandemonium that she suggested. The tree was set ablaze once Charmander burned it down. "It had such a nice view from there..."
Rapidash leapt from the tree, avoiding any damage before going straight for another tree. However, that only prompted Taillow to intercept him, using Aerial Ace to take flight. Tailow barely managed to reach Rapidash, hitting his underbelly the second he went for the tree. Rapidash was knocked out of the sky while Taillow was forced back down after that hard hit he pulled off.
"Mmmrgh...!" Scootaloo would grumble at this. So much for her plan which was the same as Diamond Tiara's. She would have to get her hooves dirty if she wanted that role. But before she could say anything, Rapidash was immediately bombarded by a blast of water.
"Spheal!" This came straight from Silverstream's Spheal who had used Water Pulse. A super-effective hit that staggered Rapidash, but that wasn't all. Some of the other Pokemon would gravitate towards Rapidash now that they saw he was on ground level. Now he was about to be swarmed.
Rapidash and Liepard were forced to battle instead of waiting it out. And even though they may be larger, numbers were still a problem since everyone saw them as a threat.
Once more, the field was set ablaze with attacks as well as having a pile of Pokemon gather in two different points two swarm to more Pokemon. And while all the other students were watching this in absolute enjoyment, Potion Nova merely sighed at what she had caused and could only say this.
"Maybe we should've just drawn straws..."
Canterlot Castle.
Back at Cantrlot Castle, Lucas had succeeded in opening up 20 gateways that led to other worlds, reviving the Universal Alliance Celestia had made. As the portal stabilized, the trio could feel the connections being established with various worlds. Beams of magical light intertwined, creating a celestial tapestry that spanned across the room. Princess Celestia, with a sense of anticipation, surveyed the various realms that had been accessed.
However, as her gaze fell upon one particular universe, her expression shifted from hope to deep concern. The once vibrant world now appeared ravaged and desolate. The skies were darkened, and the land bore scars of a catastrophic event. Celestia's heart sank as she recognized the telltale signs of destruction. To see this for themselves, they chose to enter this universe which lost its light.
This universe seemed to have Las Pegasus as its base of operations compared to Canterlot which is the most common location. And when seeing all of this destruction, it was easy to see that the light from it had been taken away. Only one being was capable of this. Necrozma.
"Necrozma was behind this..." Celestia commented, knowing who was behind this. "And by extension, Daybreaker."
The trio advanced cautiously through the ruined streets, the echoes of their hoofsteps mingling with the eerie silence that enveloped Las Pegasus. As they delved deeper into the heart of the city, they discovered remnants of what once was a bustling metropolis, shattered buildings, abandoned homes, and the haunting echoes of a once-thriving population.
Princess Luna's eyes scanned the surroundings. "It's just like Tropezete Town. The absence of light is horrible. How is it that one Pokemon can leave such a void?"
But even though the light here had been taken away, the area was still populated. Emerging from the grim dust and smoke was none other than this world's Princess Celestia, who seemed to dress in the style of Las Pegasus.
The Las Pegasus-styled Princess Celestia approached her expression a mix of gratitude and sadness. "Thank you for coming!" she spoke, her voice carrying a touch of both weariness and resilience. "It's been so long since we've seen you! Months!"
"It's alright." Celestia went up to her other counterpart. "We're sorry for being so absent. We had to find a way to bring the gateways back first. But when did this happen? When did Necrozma show up?"
"It was just 3 months ago..." She could easily recall the day it happened and it was haunting.
This world's Celestia closed her eyes for a moment, allowing the memories of that fateful day to resurface. The area fell into a contemplative silence as she began to recount the haunting events.
3 Months Ago. Las Pegasus.
I remember it vividly. It was a day like any other in Las Pegasus, full of laughter, music, and the vibrant energy of our city. The ponies were enjoying the festivities, and the lights illuminated the night sky. We weren't even thinking about other universes. Just enjoying ourselves as always. But we were never free from trouble even after Empress Twilight's defeat.
The citizens of Las Pegasus were gathered in the heart of their bustling city, revelling in the joyous atmosphere that permeated every corner. The neon lights of the entertainment district illuminated the night sky, casting a colourful glow over the lively streets. Ponies of all kinds were dancing, laughing, and celebrating the unique magic that made Las Pegasus so extraordinary.
In the midst of this vibrant celebration, Princess Celestia, the ruler of Las Pegasus in this world, joined her subjects in the revelry. Her mane sparkled with the same vibrant lights that adorned the city, and her regal presence only added to the excitement. The festivities were not confined to the streets alone; Las Pegasus was home to a grand castle that stood as a symbol of unity and harmony.
Within the castle, a majestic ballroom was filled with enchanting melodies of music. Ponies danced in harmony, their laughter echoing off the walls adorned with intricate designs. Princess Stellar Flare, adorned in a gown that mirrored the splendour of Las Pegasus itself, moved gracefully through the crowd, sharing in the joy of her subjects.
The castle, unlike Canterlot's towering spires, embraced the spirit of Las Pegasus with its architecture. It was a symbol of the close connection between the princess and her people, a testament to the shared magic that made Las Pegasus unique.
As the night unfolded, the celebration reached its peak. Ponies filled the streets and the castle, united in their shared love for the magic that infused their city.
Little did they know that the harmony they cherished would soon be disrupted by the arrival of an ominous force. The skies above the city, once clear and starry, began to darken, signalling the beginning of a nightmarish turn of events.
Suddenly, the skies above them darkened, and a chill swept through the air. The joyous atmosphere turned to one of confusion and fear. They looked to the heavens, and that's when we saw it. Necrozma descending upon Las Pegasus like a harbinger of doom. Joined by Daybreaker's ships, this was just an imposing sight. A shiver ran down Celestia's spine as she continued her account.
It emanated an overwhelming aura of darkness, and with it came another us. Daybreaker. The city and all of Equestria was plunged into chaos as Necrozma began taking away all the light that we had. We did our best to retaliate but...it was too much for us. We couldn't stand up to the Pokemon and we especially couldn't handle Necrozma.
She paused, taking a moment to collect herself before revealing the most chilling part of the memory. "Daybreaker and Necrozma's ferocity was impossible for us to stop, draining the light and joy from our once-thriving city. The neon signs that once lit up the night went out one by one, leaving only shadows and despair in their wake."
The Dazzling Princess opened her eyes, her gaze meeting Universe 1's Celestia's. Many ponies were displaced, and the city that was once the heart of joy became a silent witness to its own demise. The memory of that day is etched into the very soul of Las Pegasus.
The ponies of this world were creeping out of the dust and rubble, gazing at the visitors from another universe while coated by constant darkness. All their fashionable clothes lost their lustre and soul thanks to Necrozma.
"I'm afraid that my subjects might never have hope again. We celebrated for months after Empress Twilight's reign came to an end and then Daybreaker took it all away from us. Even if we receive all of our light back, what can I do to ensure my subject's happiness."
Universe 1's Celestia thought about this herself. This universe had been through rough times and she could only imagine the same can be said for every other universe that Daybreaker has potentially visited. Celestia looked at the environment, knowing she had to keep up, otherwise Daybreaker and Necrozma would be too unstoppable.
The 19 other universes they saw were safe, showing that they haven't been targeted by Necrozma. Yet. It was potentially only a matter of time before they were next and time was of the essence now that Daybreaker was advancing her plans.
The Pokemon School.
The chaotic battle reached its climax as the last two Pokémon on the field collapsed, unable to continue. Those Pokemon ended up being Rapidash and Liepard, who were swarmed until they couldn't take it anymore. But the Pokemon they fought were drained of their energy after doing everything in their power to stop them.
The exhaustion was evident on the faces of the young trainers as well, realizing that the intense competition had led to a draw. The Pokémon School battlegrounds had become a scene of lively commotion, with Pokémon and trainers catching their breath.
"Hah..." Scootaloo breathed in and out when lying on her back. "No fair! I would've won that..."
"My plan..." Diamond Tiara groaned when looking up at the sky.
Potion Nova stepped forward, looking at the determined and tired faces of the students. "Well, it seems we've reached a bit of a stalemate here. Everyone put up a good fight...but we need a decisive outcome for the role of Ash in the Jirachi Play. It's a shame no one won."
"Are you gonna get Ash himself?" Smolder asked, groaning when looking at her teacher.
"Mmm, not quite. Everyone is still going to play a part in this but as for who Ash will be, I've already decided." Potion Nova smiled. "Had to make a bit of a compromise for this since you were all determined to get that role. You're all going to have to swap from time to time. Seems like the best option to me."
The students could get behind that. They'd all get to be Ash but only in certain instances. A fair trade since there was a lot that led up to them finally reaching Jirachi, not just entering that strange dimension.
"Bravo!" Fantina cheered on such a wonderful display. So did the other students, who thoroughly enjoyed the battle that they've witnessed. Easily one of the best parts if not, the best part of the Pokemon School.
"Now, let's focus on getting everything ready for the Jirachi Play. We've got a lot to prepare, and with the talents we have here, I'm sure it will be a performance to remember. We have until tomorrow night to get ready for this."
The students began to disperse, discussing the details of the play and organizing tasks. The excitement in the air was palpable as they looked forward to bringing the events of the Jirachi adventure to life on the stage.
The school buzzed with activity as students, teachers, and even the guests from Magehold worked together to prepare for the upcoming Jirachi Play. The decorations were carefully chosen to reflect the mystical atmosphere of the adventure, and each scene was meticulously planned to bring the story to life.
Fantina, with her experience in performances and creative flair, guided the students in designing and creating the stage props. The vampire ponies from Magehold showcased their magical abilities, enchanting the props with subtle illusions that added an extra layer of enchantment to the play.
Luckily for them, they could wear the exact clothes that were used in that same dimension. As for Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, who were said to appear here and help, played their part.
Fluttershy would help with coordinating the Pokemon so that they were able to follow their lines and roles to the best of their abilities. As for Pinkie Pie, she would have Mew do all the transforming, appearing as Jirachi himself. With Mew, they already had a perfect Jirachi.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the school grounds, the preparations continued into the evening. The enthusiasm of the students remained unwavering as they eagerly discussed their roles and rehearsed their lines. The vampire ponies, with their flair for the dramatic, added an extra touch of elegance to the proceedings.
Under the guidance of Potion Nova and Fantina, the students honed their acting skills, each taking turns to play the role of Ash and other characters during different scenes of the Jirachi adventure. This collaborative effort not only showcased their dedication but also fostered a sense of unity among the diverse group of Pokémon and ponies.
By the time the night fell, the stage was set, and the anticipation for the Jirachi Play reached its peak. The tear in the sky, though still present, was momentarily forgotten as the school transformed into a realm of creativity and imagination.
Tomorrow night.
Yesterday was gone, leading the way for tomorrow which was today. Or rather, tonight. The night of the Jirachi Play had finally arrived, and the Pokémon School was abuzz with excitement. The students, adorned in their costumes and makeup, gathered backstage, their anticipation palpable. Potion Nova, Fantina, and the vampire ponies from Magehold provided some last-minute guidance and encouragement.
The stage was adorned with enchanting props, and the backdrop depicted the mystical realm where the Jirachi adventure unfolded. Soft lights illuminated the area, creating an otherworldly ambience. The tear in the sky, though still present, seemed to fade into the background as the focus shifted to the upcoming performance.
As the curtains drew open, the audience, consisting of fellow students, teachers, and even some residents from Ponyville, filled the seats. The familiar faces of Rarity Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and others were present, showing support for the students' creative endeavour.
The play began with the recounting of when the Rift informed them about what it had done to all the possible ways to put the two worlds together. Intentionally blocking the memory of Hoopa from Ash's head and concealing certain Mythical Pokemon in the process.
Playing the role of the Rift was Diamond Tiara, who was given a potion by Potion Nova that allowed her to appear as some sort of cosmic force. She would speak about how she placed the Jirachis in a separate dimension that was practically impossible to reach.
Not only did she get to play the role of Ash in a way, but she also had the role of the Rift, putting a smile on her face. The journey to save the Jirachi trapped in a mysterious dimension was set during that time. The students seamlessly switched between portraying the various characters, each bringing their unique touch to the performance.
Scootaloo, Smolder and Diamond Tiara, who had all vied for the role of Ash, took turns playing the Trainer from Pallet, showcasing their acting prowess, while others took on the roles of Twilight, Applejack and those involved with reaching Jirachi. The transitions between scenes were smooth, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the students and the guidance provided by Potion Nova and Fantina.
They covered everything. Especially the Golden Stairway. The vampire ponies from Magehold, with their magical talents, added an extra layer of enchantment to the play. Illusions and special effects heightened the drama, captivating the audience and immersing them in the fantastical world of Pokémon and ponies.
With their magic, they created a replica of the Golden Stairway but on a smaller scale and with less of the gold that it possessed. They would also mimic that dimension they travelled through, using the best of their abilities to replicate the cosmic forces by just using their respective lights.
The students were also rather good at capturing the struggle Ash, Twilight and the others had to go through when entering that dimension. It was not an easy time considering it forced many of them out of that dimension. Those who were actually there recalled it all. Rarity even shuddered just thinking about it.
As the play reached its climax, the moment when Ash made the heartfelt wish to merge both worlds, there was a tangible sense of emotion in the air. The tear in the sky seemed to shimmer as if responding to the magical energy emanating from the stage. The moment when Ash breached that final cosmic obstacle and granted that wish was captured perfectly by the last student to play the role of Ash. Taking on that role was Scootaloo, who would spout those same words.
The final scene unfolded with a sense of triumph and unity, symbolizing the strength that friendship could bring. The audience erupted into applause, appreciating the students' creativity, dedication, and the collaborative spirit that brought the Jirachi Play to life.
Backstage, the performers exchanged smiles and congratulatory remarks, basking in the success of their collective effort. Fantina and the vampire ponies expressed their admiration for the students' performances, emphasizing the importance of embracing creativity and working together.
As the curtains closed, and the night sky outside embraced the Pokémon School, the tear in the sky lingered. Yet, for a brief moment, the enchantment of the Jirachi Play had woven a tale that transcended the boundaries between worlds, reminding everyone of the magic that could be found in the shared moments of imagination and friendship.
"Oh, well done! All of you!" Potion Nova beamed with pride as the students returned backstage after their successful performance. The young faces, flushed with a mix of excitement and accomplishment, reflected the shared joy of a well-executed play.
"Ah...How wonderful!" Fantina chimed in, her clapping accompanied by a melodious laugh. "Such passion and flair! I wasn't there but you truly brought it to life!"
"Did all of that really happen?" Silverstream asked. This was also the first time she and other species learned about that fateful.
"Mhm! You can ask my sister. She can tell you the same thing too." Sweetie Belle had the sources. Rarity, of course. And by extension, Apple Bloom had Applejack to back up her claim.
As the excitement continued to linger backstage, the tear in the sky outside seemed to shimmer faintly. Though the play couldn't mend the rift, it had created a momentary bridge between worlds, uniting students, magical beings, and Pokémon in a shared celebration of creativity and friendship.
"Have something to eat and drink if you want and head home for a huge rest." Potion Nova suggested, gesturing toward a table filled with refreshments. The students eagerly joined the festivities, revelling in the joy of a performance well done and the bonds forged through their shared adventure in the ever-growing and Grander World of Pokémon
Nightfall in Ponyville, where many are asleep. Under them all was not just the Moon and the Stars, but also the tear that was visible in the sky. It shimmered silently while lurking with an enigmatic and ominous force. Some were still awake during this time. Among them was Mew.
Over at SugarCube Corner, Mew would get up from his own bed while Pinkie Pie was slumped over, completely asleep and out of it. Right on the bed and the floor, a plethora of sweets and pastries could be seen as she ate herself to sleep. This prompted the arrival of some Rattata who would sneak inside of SugarCube Corner just to snatch the remains.
Mew flew out of his bed, looking back at his trainer with a smile before flying off. In the dead of night, Mew was about to do his own thing while Pinkie Pie was asleep.
"Mew..." Flying out of the window, Mew was out of SugarCube Corner and heading elsewhere. But not before turning himself into his favourite Pokemon, Lugia. His body would emerge as the Diving Pokemon as the force of his wings caused a wind pressure through the night.
Looking up at the figure of Lugia was Absol, who was always up at night to make sure everyone was safe, even if he couldn't figure out why his horn was blocking him from sensing danger. But at least he knew that this was Mew on the move and he wasn't the least bit surprised at him doing this. Looking outside as well as Owlicious along with other nocturnal Pokemon and animals.
Mew was off, heading elsewhere but he would make sure that he would show up in the morning.
As Mew soared gracefully through the moonlit sky, leaving Ponyville behind, the landscape below transformed into a mesmerizing dreamscape. The rolling hills of Equestria morphed into swirling pastel colours, creating a surreal and enchanting vista. Wisps of cotton candy clouds danced around Mew's form, adding to the dream-like atmosphere.
As Mew journeyed further, the boundaries of reality seemed to blur, and soon, the familiar sights of Equestria faded into a kaleidoscope of vivid hues. The stars above twinkled like a thousand gemstones, casting a soft, ethereal glow upon the land below.
With each flap of its wings, Mew felt lighter than air, as if it were gliding through a world made of pure imagination. The gentle breeze carried whispers of forgotten dreams and untold stories, weaving them into the fabric of the night.
Eventually, Mew found itself crossing into the distant region of Unova, where the landscape took on a new and exotic allure. The terrain shifted beneath its feet, transforming into a mosaic of vibrant colours and the most glorious patterns. The air hummed with the energy of countless Pokémon, their voices blending into a harmonious symphony.
As Mew soared over Unova, he felt as though it were floating through a painting come to life. The moon cast long shadows upon the earth below, creating a captivating interplay of light and darkness. Each twist and turn of Mew's flight brought new wonders into view, from towering mountains to lush forests teeming with life.
The tear in the sky cast its own light while hanging over the land ominously. Mew would even raise his head to see this tear, wondering if anything was going to come from it.
Lost in the beauty of the night, Mew continued his journey, drifting ever onward through the boundless expanse of the dream-like world
Unova. Eindoak Town.
As Mew glided gracefully through the star-studded sky, he felt a familiar tug at its heartstrings, drawing it towards a quaint little town nestled among the Unovan countryside. Descending gently upon the outskirts of Eindoak Town, Mew's eyes sparkled with anticipation as it sensed the presence of its dear friends, Victini and Meloetta, waiting below.
Eindoak Town greeted Mew with open arms, its cobblestone streets bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. Mew returned to his original form, leaving the colossal appearance of Lugia. Thankfully, he didn't wake anyone up. But there was a reason as to why Mew chose to come here of all places during the night.
He was here to meet with old friends.
As Mew touched down upon the ground, it was greeted by the sight of Victini's playful flames dancing in the darkness, illuminating the path ahead. Nearby, Meloetta stood with poise and grace, her melodious voice echoing through the night like a gentle breeze.
"Mew, you made it!" Meloetta spoke. She was expecting him and so was Victini. Meloetta left her home just to come all the way to Eindoak. All three Mythicals were currently out in the open during the dead of the night, casually hovering about.
"Mhm!" Mew nodded. "I knew you'd be here too. We didn't get to do much together when the Pokemon Festival came."
"It was too dangerous for that. That festival is always full of danger." Meloetta shook her head.
Victini bounded forward with boundless energy, a mischievous twinkle in its eyes. "We can forget about that. I found something amazing! You have to see this!" Victini said with enthusiasm.
"Victini hasn't told me yet since he wanted you to show up first." Meloetta explained.
"I wanted Hoopa to be here for it too, but I haven't seen him at Arche Valley." Vicitni continued. "It's fine. I can show him later. This is something you're both going to love."
Mew and Meloetta exchanged curious glances before following Victini's lead, their curiosity piqued by its infectious energy. With eager strides, they made their way through the winding streets of Eindoak Town, each step bringing them closer to the mysterious discovery that awaited them.
As Victini led the way with boundless enthusiasm, Mew and Meloetta followed closely behind, their curiosity piqued by the promise of an amazing discovery. Eindoak Town seemed to shimmer with a magical aura under the moonlight, its cobblestone streets illuminated by the gentle glow of street lamps.
The trio wound their way through the quiet streets, passing by quaint cottages adorned with colourful flowers and trailing vines.
As they reached the outskirts of town, Victini suddenly came to a stop, his keen senses detecting something out of the ordinary. With a flick of its fiery tail, Victini gestured towards a dense forest that loomed ahead, its dark canopy casting shadows upon the ground.
"There's something over there," Victini exclaimed, its voice tinged with excitement as it bounded towards the edge of the forest.
Mew and Meloetta exchanged curious glances before following Victini into the depths of the woods. The forest was alive with the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of nocturnal Pokémon, creating an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the air grew thick with magic, the very essence of the woods tingling against their skin. Shafts of moonlight filtered through the dense canopy above, casting dappled patterns of light upon the forest floor.
Suddenly, Victini came to a sudden halt, its eyes widening in awe as it beheld a strange phenomenon unfolding before them. In a small clearing ahead, a swirling vortex of energy crackled and danced in the moonlight, its colours shifting and changing with each passing moment.
"Is that...another gateway?!" Meloetta exclaimed, her voice filled with awe as she approached the portal, her gaze fixed upon its otherworldly beauty.
"Sort of...Just watch." Victini lowered his voice, wanting his friends to take a closer look at what this could possibly be. Mew and Meloetta would keep a down-low, hiding behind some bushes while gazing at the vortex. It wasn't exactly another gateway even though it resembled one.
Victini lowered his voice, wanting his friends to take a closer look at what this could possibly be. Mew and Meloetta would keep a down-low, hiding behind some bushes while gazing at the vortex. It wasn't exactly another gateway even though it resembled one.
As they watched in awe, a golden light suddenly emanated from the portal, illuminating the surrounding forest with its radiant glow. Mew and Meloetta exchanged astonished glances, their hearts pounding with excitement as the source of the light became clear.
Emerging from the portal were beings of pure light and grace. Angels. Angels from the Ambrosial Plane had arrived. The angels from the Ambrosial Plane had descended upon Eindoak Town, their presence filling the air with a sense of divine wonder.
Mew and Meloetta could scarcely believe their eyes, their breath catching in their throats as they beheld the celestial visitors. The angels moved with grace and purpose, their presence imbued with a sense of peace and serenity that washed over the forest like a gentle breeze.
"Aren't those Angels? Why are they here?" Mew asked. He tried seeing if he could recognize any of them. Some of them did appear as ponies, some appeared as other creatures while others were hard to explain. But neither of them looked like the Angel Lightwing or even Strident Heart.
"This isn't their first time here." Victini replied, revealing that he has seen them here at Unova before. "I saw them a few times around Nova."
The angels were here for one reason. And it involved one of their own. This was revealed by the words one angel spoke. "Try as we might, Lightwing still hasn't been freed from his clutches. Perhaps Strident Heart was right about this world."
"The barrier that Team Plasma has made is made out of our own Divine Energy. In just a short amount of time, they've perfected it to the point where it seems unbreakable. How can that be?" Another angel was struggling to comprehend how the scientists of Team Plasma could create such a powerful barrier by only having Divine Magic for a few days.
Mew's mind raced with the implications of the angel's words. The realization that Team Plasma had harnessed Divine Energy to create an impenetrable barrier sent shivers down its spine. "Lightwing's been caught..." This was also Mew's first time hearing about this.
"Either way, they are not unstoppable. No matter how smart they are, they can never understand Divine Magic's full capabilities in such a short time. Especially after their ruler, Ghetsis, succumbed to its consequences. Right now, his very being should be drifting in the Abyssal Depths as his own punishment."
The Abyssal Depths.
The Abyssal Depths stretch endlessly beneath the ethereal expanse of the Ambrosial Plane, a yawning chasm of infinite darkness that seems to swallow all who dare to venture too close. Here, the laws of nature are twisted and distorted, giving rise to strange and eldritch phenomena that defy comprehension.
Within the Abyssal Depths, there is no sense of time or space, only an endless expanse of nothingness that stretches into infinity. The air is heavy with the oppressive weight of despair, and the very fabric of reality seems to fray at the edges, threatening to unravel into chaos.
In the unfathomable depths of the Abyssal Depths, Ghetsis drifted like a spectre, his petrified form suspended in the suffocating embrace of eternal darkness. Time seemed to lose all meaning in this desolate realm, stretching into an endless expanse of nothingness where each moment bled into the next with agonizing slowness.
His consciousness remained tethered to his stony prison, a prisoner of his own folly condemned to wander the abyss for all eternity. The weight of his sins bore down upon him like an unrelenting burden, dragging him deeper into the depths of despair with each passing moment.
The darkness that surrounded Ghetsis was absolute, a suffocating void that seemed to press in from all sides, threatening to crush him beneath its oppressive weight. Shadows danced and flickered in the gloom, their twisted forms mocking him with their malevolent whispers and taunts.
With no landmarks to guide him, Ghetsis drifted aimlessly through the abyss, his senses dulled by the pervasive darkness. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the silence of the abyss was broken only by the distant echoes of his own despairing cries.
As he floated through the endless expanse of nothingness, Ghetsis's mind became a prison of its own making, haunted by visions of the life he had left behind. Memories of his past deeds tormented him, replaying themselves over and over again like a never-ending nightmare from which there was no escape.
Unova. Eindoak Town. Nightfall.
"Without their ruler, they will eventually fall. Then, we shall judge them in the Astral Court. All of Team Plasma." The angel continued. "For now, we need another approach to breaking that barrier. Our own Divine Magic is, surprisingly, failing."
Mew felt a surge of vindication at the mention of Ghetsis's fate, knowing that even the most powerful mortals were subject to the laws of the divine. The Abyssal Depths, a realm of eternal punishment for those who dared to challenge the balance of the universe, served as a stark reminder of the consequences of hubris and greed.
After all, Mew was once used by Team Plasma which left him weakened for long until he reunited with Pinkie Pie, so this was incredibly cathartic to his ears.
"We cannot wait for them to lose their spirit. Not when they could potentially tear more out of Lightwing." Another angel thought otherwise. As the angels continued to discuss their plans, walking off and most likely heading straight for the Harmonia Kingdom, Mew's gaze turned to the portal they had entered through, its shimmering surface beckoning to them.
With wonder twinkling in Victini's eyes like the flicker of a flame, he couldn't contain his excitement. "I wanna see what's beyond there," he exclaimed, his voice brimming with curiosity and eagerness. Mew, too, found itself drawn to the mysterious portal, already envisioning grand adventures awaiting them on the other side, perhaps even a chance encounter with more angels and places they've never even thought about before.
"Yeah..." The New Species Pokemon slowly nodded his head.
But Meloetta, ever the voice of reason, immediately threw a damp blanket over their excitement. "You can't go there!" she objected, her expression a mix of concern and disbelief. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it could be?"
Mew and Victini exchanged sheepish glances, momentarily deflated by Meloetta's practicality. Leave it to her to rain on their parade, even when they were on the brink of embarking on the adventure of a lifetime.
"Aw, come on, Meloetta!" Victini protested, his enthusiasm undeterred. "Where's your sense of adventure? We'll be fine!"
Mew, always one to stir up mischief, couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire. "Yeah, Meloetta, live a little! You never know what kind of fun we could have on the other side!" it chimed in, flashing a mischievous grin.
Meloetta rolled her eyes, torn between exasperation and amusement at her friends' antics. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you," she relented, shaking her head in mock resignation.
And with that, the trio made their way towards the portal, their laughter echoing through the forest as they prepared to dive headfirst into whatever zany adventures awaited them beyond. After all, with friends like Mew and Victini, there was never a dull moment, even in the face of danger and uncertainty.
The Celestial Gardens.
As Mew, Victini, and Meloetta stepped through the portal, they found themselves enveloped in a shimmering light, their surroundings shifting and morphing until they arrived in a location floating amidst the clouds—the Celestial Gardens.
Their eyes widened in wonder as they took in the breathtaking sight before them. Towering spires of marble and alabaster rose from the earth, adorned with intricate carvings and adorned with exotic flowers and plants.
The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of blossoms, and the gentle rustle of leaves added to the serene ambience of the gardens. Above them, the celestial stars twinkled like diamonds in the sky, casting a soft, ethereal glow upon the landscape.
"Wow..." Meloetta was starting to take it all back. This place didn't look dangerous in the slightest. In fact, it was the epitome of tranquillity and serenity, a far cry from the perilous realm she had imagined.
"I should've brought Pinkie and the others...this is amazing! Ash and Pikachu are so lucky to see this first! Or I guess...be here first!" Mew gushed, feeling a bit jealous of Ash and Pikachu, but that quickly subsided.
Mew and Victini exchanged grins, their spirits lifted by the enchanting atmosphere of their surroundings. "See, Meloetta? I told you everything would be fine!" Victini exclaimed, his voice filled with triumph. The next batch of words he had were cut off once the sound of something moving caught his attention.
All three of them looked to their right to see creatures that were most definitely not Pokemon and were exclusive to the Ambrosial Plane.
They were ethereal beings of shimmering light and delicate wings, appearing as some sort of Aurora Sylph as the ground of them started dancing among the celestial flowers, their movements a graceful ballet that mirrors the shifting hues of the aurora borealis.
Each Sylph was adorned with iridescent patterns that ripple and shimmer in the sunlight, their translucent wings trailing ribbons of colour as they flit from flower to flower. Their laughter is like the tinkling of wind chimes, filling the air with a sense of joy and wonder.
Speaking of Sunlight, there was an interesting blend of Day and Night that was visible in the sky as both celestial bodies created a wonderful balance as one side did not overshadow the other.
As Mew, Victini, and Meloetta continued to explore the Celestial Gardens, they encountered more wondrous creatures that seemed to embody the very essence of the ethereal realm. Now they were starting to see how Pokemon Trainers felt when discovering them.
Graceful spirits of light and shadow, known as Luminous Nymphs, glided through the gardens like wisps of mist on the breeze. Their delicate forms were wreathed in ethereal veils of shimmering energy, their movements fluid and graceful as they weaved through the foliage.
Mew, Victini, and Meloetta watched in awe as these Luminous Nymphs moved with an otherworldly elegance, their hearts swelling with wonder at the sight before them. Though they did not know the names of these creatures, it was clear that they possessed a power and beauty beyond anything they had ever encountered before.
Mew, Victini, and Meloetta exchanged excited whispers as they watched the Luminous Nymphs glide gracefully through the gardens, their hearts filled with a newfound sense of awe and reverence for the magical creatures that inhabited this enchanted realm. And as they continued their journey through the Celestial Gardens, they knew that they were on the brink of discovering even more wonders beyond their wildest dreams.
As Mew, Victini, and Meloetta ventured deeper into the Celestial Gardens, they were overcome with a sense of wonder and awe at the ethereal beauty surrounding them. However, their presence in this sacred realm did not go unnoticed by the entities that dwelled there.
Suddenly, they found themselves being watched by beings with complex and impossible-to-describe appearances. These entities, their forms shifting and morphing with every passing moment, radiated an aura of otherworldly power.
However, the Mythical Trio had their senses were completely captivated by the enchanting beauty that surrounded them. The vibrant colours of the flora, the gentle rustle of the foliage, and the ethereal melodies of the creatures that inhabited the realm held their attention completely.
"When did you even find out about this, Victini?" Meloetta questioned.
"I never stay in Eindoak all the time. I'm always moving, wanting to see more and during the Pokemon Festival, I saw this portal show up."
"So it was while the Pokemon Festival was going on. Lucky..." Mew puffed his cheeks, his tail swishing back and forth.. He wished he came across this first instead of having to be surrounded by Daybreaker's invading forces, a tear in the sky and a rippling world. Then again, the rippling world would've still reached him since it reached everyone. "But about Lightwing..."
As Mew, Victini, and Meloetta continued to admire the beauty of the Celestial Gardens, their senses fully immersed in the enchanting surroundings, they were suddenly interrupted by the approach of the mysterious divine beings. The entities, with their complex and ever-shifting appearances, moved towards them with an air of solemnity and authority, their presence commanding attention.
Mew, Victini, and Meloetta turned to face the divine beings, their hearts racing with a mixture of awe and apprehension. Though they had been spotted at last, they couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation at the thought of facing these otherworldly entities.
"W-What are those?!" Mew stammered.
"Isn't it obvious...They're probably guardians..." Meloetta spoke with a nervous tone. This was one of the few things she feared and it looked like it was coming true.
The divine beings regarded them with inscrutable gazes, their eyes like orbs of shimmering light that seemed to penetrate to the very core of their being. They spoke with booming voices in this heavenly place. "You three are still alive. Your spirits and souls are still active."
"Uhh...Just visiting?" Victini shrugged. But judging by the tone in the beings' voices, it was clear that they were not happy about this unexpected arrival. Clearly, Mew, Victini and Meloetta were not supposed to be present in the Ambrosial Plane since they were alive and kicking.
"I wonder what it'd be like to play with them..." Mew had something else to say. That child-like nature of him was taking over once more as he was very much eager to play with beings of a higher plane.
"Time to go!" Victini bellowed. As soon as the gravity of the situation sunk in, Mew and Victini wasted no time in making a break for it, their instincts screaming at them to flee from the looming threat. With a burst of speed, they darted away from the divine beings, their hearts pounding in their chests as they raced through the Celestial Gardens.
Meloetta let out a panicked screech, her fear overriding her usual composure as she quickly followed her friends, her feet pounding against the ground as she tried to keep up with their frantic pace. But their sudden flight only seemed to provoke the divine beings further, prompting them to pursue the fleeing trio with an intensity that sent shivers down their spines.
The celestial beings moved with an otherworldly grace, their forms shimmering with ethereal light as they closed in on Mew, Victini, and Meloetta. With each passing moment, the gap between them grew smaller, their presence a looming threat that left no room for escape.
Mew and Victini's hearts pounded with adrenaline-fueled panic as they pushed themselves to their limits, their every instinct urging them to find a way out of this perilous situation. But no matter how fast they ran, the divine beings remained hot on their heels, their pursuit relentless and unforgiving.
Meloetta's voice rang out in a desperate plea as she struggled to keep pace with her friends, her fear threatening to overwhelm her. But with the divine beings closing in from all sides, their options were dwindling fast, leaving them with little choice but to confront the consequences of their hasty actions.
"I can't wait for them to do something!" Mew excitedly said. "How fast do you think they are?! Faster than us?! Even when I transform?!"
Meloetta's voice rose above the chaos of their flight, her words tumbling out in a torrent of fear and frustration. "I can't believe this! I should've seen this coming! Why did I agree to go through with this?!" She exclaimed, her tone a mix of panic and disbelief as she struggled to keep up with her friends. "If I get put on trial, it's both of your faults!"
Mew and Victini exchanged frantic glances as they sprinted through the gardens, their hearts pounding in their chests with each beat. The divine beings pursued them with an otherworldly grace, their forms shimmering with celestial light as they closed in on the fleeing trio.
The Celestial Gardens seemed to blur around them as they raced through the labyrinthine pathways, the vibrant colours of the flora and the gentle rustle of the foliage a dizzying blur. But there was no time to admire the beauty of their surroundings now, not when their very lives potentially hung in the balance.
One of the divine beings raised their hand, and a shimmering barrier of light materialized in front of Mew, Victini, and Meloetta, blocking their path with an impenetrable wall of energy. The trio skidded to a halt, their hearts sinking as they realized they had reached a dead end.
"I got this!" Mew exclaimed as he was charging up an Aura Sphere.
"Don't make it worse!" Meloetta most definitely didn't want either of them to retaliate. That could just bring more trouble that she didn't want. It was too late though. The Aura Sphere smashed right through the barrier, allowing them to keep moving.
But before they could go any further, another of the divine beings extended their hand towards them, and tendrils of energy shot forth, wrapping around Mew and Victini with a vice-like grip. The two Pokémon struggled against their invisible bonds, their movements restricted by the divine power that held them captive.
As Mew and Victini strained against their invisible bonds, their efforts proving futile against the overwhelming power of the divine beings, it seemed as though escape was impossible. Meleotta looked behind her when seeing the Divine Beings approaching, rather intimidated by the fact that she wasn't restrained. But refusing to let the chase end here, Victini tapped into his inner reservoir of power, drawing upon the boundless energy that flowed within him.
"Mmmrgh!" With a fierce grunt, Victini unleashed a torrent of fiery energy from his body, the flames burning with an intensity that rivalled the Sun itself. These divine bonds that held him captive were no match for Victini's infinite power, disintegrating in the face of his overwhelming strength.
Mew watched in awe as Victini broke free from his restraints, the flames of his power engulfing him in a blaze of fiery determination. Once free, they kept on moving. Even the Divine Beings were surprised by this. This was their first time seeing Victini's Infinite Power.
Once the divine beings approached, Mew grabbed a hold of his two friends, instantly using teleportation to move at a quicker pace.
The enigmatic Luminous Nymphs fluttered around them, their delicate forms weaving intricate patterns in the air as they danced in celebration of the newfound freedom that filled the gardens.
The Aurora Sylphs joined in the chase, their shimmering wings carrying them through the celestial landscape with grace and agility. As Mew, Victini, and Meloetta darted between towering spires of marble and alabaster, the Luminous Nymphs and Aurora Sylphs followed close behind, their laughter mingling with the gentle rustle of the foliage as they revelled in the joyous chaos of the pursuit.
But amidst the whimsical frenzy, the divine beings remained undeterred, their determination unshaken as they continued to pursue their quarry with unwavering resolve. With each passing moment, the gap between them closed, their celestial forms shimmering with divine power as they closed in on Mew, Victini, and Meloetta.
Eventually, their pursuit by the divine beings reached a climax as they found themselves confronted by a towering spire that seemed to block their path at every turn. With their hearts pounding in their chests and their breath coming in ragged gasps, they searched desperately for a way to escape the relentless pursuit.
"I could try turning into one of them and slip by!" Mew suggested, having an escape plan.
"You can't turn into them!" Meloetta bellowed, finding that impossible. "They're not Pokemon like us!"
"Not if I use Ditto first!" Mew smiled, knowing of a way to cheat the transformation. Ironically, Ditto had one massive advantage over Mew. Being able to turn into other beings and items. Not just Pokemon but before Mew could make that decision, he, Victini and Meloetta would all crash into one thing. Or one being. It started with Mew crashing into a blue figure and Victini and Meloetta unable to stop themselves thanks to this high adrenaline pursuit.
Ough..." They fell over, ling on the ground and feeling a bit dazed. The being standing before them was not a divine being. Instead, it was a Pokemon, much like them. Not just any Pokemon though.
As Mew, Victini, and Meloetta raced through the Celestial Gardens, their hearts pounding with the adrenaline of their frantic flight, they stumbled upon a figure that seemed to materialize out of the shimmering mists.
A Lucario, its form bathed in an ethereal glow.
This Lucario being here had this glow to signify one thing. It had passed on. And when looking at the trio, it could see that they had obviously not passed on. But when looking at the trio, Lucario would fixate its eyes on Mew specifically, all the while the Divine Beings were still in pursuit.
Victini's discovery led to this. And while the area around them was fantastical and truly divine, they were immediately flung into trouble by being here as alive beings. Curiosity is a powerful force and this was by far a massive example of what it could lead to.
During a nightly escapade with his Mythical friends, Mew found himself at another realm connected to the Ambrosial Plane with Meloetta and Victini by his side. Thanks to Victini finding out about the portal that the angels were taking to Unova, their nightly escapade led to this divine realm.
Alas, that led them into trouble when dealing with enigmatic divine beings who immediately saw that the three of them were still alive and not eligible for the afterlife. A chase ensued between them and when doing their best to escape from these Divine Enforcers, the Mythical Trio found themselves bumping into a Pokemon that was up here. Not just any Pokemon, but a Lucario, who was specifically looking at Mew.
"What are you three doing here?" Lucario asked, knowing that they were also alive. The fact that they lacked that same divine glow around their bodies like Lucario gave it away immediately.
"Oh, there's a familiar face!" Mew spoke, getting right back up. "So there are others like us up here!"
The Divine Beings with enigmatic appearances got closer, closing in on Mew and his friends. The Mythical Trio would screech as they were currently backed into a corner, next to one of these towering spires. They were still in trouble for trespassing in divine company.
"Wait." Lucario stepped forward, halting the Divine Beings with his arm out. They immediately stopped in the presence of someone who has passed. "I can take it from here." And with a nod of acknowledgement, the celestial entities stepped back, their mysterious gazes lingering on Mew and his companions before they faded into the ether.
As the tension of the chase finally dissipated, Mew, Victini, and Meloetta breathed a collective sigh of relief, grateful for the unexpected intervention of their newfound ally. With Lucario by their side, they knew that they were in safe hands, and that they could finally rest easy knowing that they had escaped the clutches of the divine beings that had pursued them through the Celestial Gardens.
"Now..." Lucario closed his eyes before facing the Mythical Trio. "How did you three get here? The Ambrosial Plane is for those who passed on. And you three are clearly still alive and well."
Mew, Victini, and Meloetta stood there like children who had just been caught. Meloetta hung her head in shame for trespassing on divine territory even though it was not yet her time. They knew that their presence in the Celestial Gardens was highly irregular, and that they would need to tread carefully if they hoped to avoid further trouble.
"Well, it was a portal. That's all." Victini spoke, being the culprit of it all. Since he found that portal, he dragged his friends into this mess. "Some angels left it out in the open so..."
"A portal out in the open?" Lucario's eyes slightly widened when hearing that. "Hm. It must be because of recent events that the angels are slipping a bit. Even so, leaving a portal to the Afterlife out in the open is still a tremendous oversight."
"But it's fine. Thanks for saving us. We could've been put on that same trial Ash was on!" Mew chuckled.
"Did you say Ash?" Lucario immediately recognized that name, having a knee-jerk reaction to it. Lucario froze for a moment when hearing it.
"Do you know Ash too?" Meloetta asked, noticing his reaction. "I guess everyone up here would know him after that trial.
"While it's true that he's known across the afterlife because of the trial and putting both afterlives together...that's not why I know." Lucario shook his head. He knew Ash way before this celestial event took place. "I thought you were the same Mew, but maybe not."
"What do you mean?" Mew tilted his head in confusion before thinking about something rather stellar. "Are there other Mew up here?!"
"Not exactly. All Mews are still down on Earth or either in alternate universes. Up here, the lives of all those across the universe exist, where we can all live at our best, free of everything that caused us turmoil. It's not exactly a place where you should be chased by the Divine Beings."
"Our bad..." Victini and Mew said in unison. They understood that a place like this shouldn't have conflict at all and they nearly brought it here.
"You should probably leave. If that portal is still around, take it before it closes." Lucario requested, seeing it best for them to return.
"Oh, please! We wanna see more of this!" But Mew was far too curious about this place and so was Victini. Both of them didn't want to waste an opportunity such as this.
"Yeah! You're not the only one up here, right?! Where's everyone else?!" Victini bellowed. Both Mew and Victini threw pleas at the Aura Pokemon, wanting to stay here a bit longer.
"Urgh..." Lucario's eyes narrowed as he listened to Mew and Victini's pleas, a sense of frustration evident in his expression. He understood their curiosity, but he also knew the gravity of the situation they were in. But considering who these two were, it would take a lot to make them stop. They are very much used to doing their own thing after all. "Goodness. Luckily for you, I can do this. I'm an angel myself now."
"You're an angel too?! An Angel Lucario?!" Mew and Victini both gawked at the possibility of an Angel Lucario. And right now, they were standing in front of one
"Only by passing." Lucario crossed his arms. "Those who pass on and enter the Ambrosial Plane become Angels as well. And as an Angel, I can allow you to continue exploring the place further but I will have to send you back afterwards."
Mew and Victini's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of further exploration, their spirits buoyed by Lucario's unexpected offer. To encounter an Angel Lucario was a rare opportunity indeed, and they couldn't pass up the chance to see more of this wondrous realm.
"Lucario! There you are!" They would indeed be someone else other than Lucario up here. He wasn't the only angel up here. Rushing through the beautiful flowers as the sylphs flew off was someone wearing a rather familiar outfit. Mew recognized this outfit but only in one instance. It looked like the same outfit Ash wore when at Rota.
Mew did recall seeing the image of the person approaching. It was only one but he recalled it. His mind flashed back to when he saw the painting of Lucario and the man standing next to him. As the figure approached, Mew's heart skipped a beat, his mind racing with recognition and disbelief. It couldn't be, could it? But as the figure drew closer, there was no mistaking it.
Sir Aaron.
"Sir Aaron." And from the mouth of Lucario, that was indeed Sir Aaron himself, standing before the Mythical Trio.
"Quite a ruckus I heard nearby. Did it come from these three?" Aaron turned his attention to the Mythical Trio.
"Are you...that one on the painting?" Mew gawked. "You are!"
"Morning. Or Evening, I guess." Sir Arron chuckled when greeting them. He would soon notice a lack of a glow around the tree of them. Nothing to signify them being Pokemon that have passed on. "Hmm...That's strange. No glow?"
"They're trespassers, Sir Aaron," Lucario asked. "Ended up in the Afterlife by taking a portal out in the open. A complete oversight from the angels."
"That so..." Aaron slowly nodded his head. "The angels haven't exactly been their cheery selves ever since Lightwing got captured. Pretty disheartening to see them getting stressed. But...entering the portal to the Ambrosial Plane is a pretty naughty thing to do. Just saying."
"Eehh..." The Mythical Trio were given that lesson yet again. Mainly Victini and Mew. However, Aaron's tone was less harsh that Lucario.
"Come along." Surprisingly, Sir Aaron was quick to encourage them to stick around as opposed to Lucario who wanted them to leave as soon as possible from the start. "The Celestial Gardens are just the start. Their space is infinite and you could get lost in here forever."
"It's infinite? How?" Meloetta wasn't seeing it. While the gardens were expansive, they didn't seem Infinite. At least, not at first.
"That's how it gets you the first time. But when you're an angel, it's easier to perceive pretty quickly. But that's nothing compared to the heart of the Afterlife." Sir Aaron winked, letting the three of them know that the Celestial Gardens was just the start. "There's something larger than this."
"Larger than Infinity?" Victini gawked.
"Right on that, Victini." Sir Aaron confirmed. "That wish that Ash made and the power all the Jirachis used really changed up everything. Prior to the union, both afterlives were infinite in every possible way. They had to be since it's natural for beings to pass on unless they're immortal. But now that both universes are together, the Afterlives merged to create what I guess you could call a Super Afterlife."
"So it's..." Mew held out his hands, trying to do the math, which he was terrible at. "Infinity Plus two?"
"It's a word that not even the angels have even thought about. But I guess Infinity Plus Two works. Or anything like that. And you won't believe it was like when our afterlives merged. We're even thinking of a new name to give it."
As Sir Aaron shared his insights, Mew, Victini, and Meloetta listened with rapt attention, their minds reeling at the enormity of what he was describing. Infinity plus two? A Super Afterlife? It was almost too much to comprehend.
"Ah, but Super Afterlife just doesn't do it." Sir Aaron shook his head. "I've been trying to come up with something better for a while. Any ideas?"
"Ooh! Ooh!" Mew had something in mind. "I know some!"
"Well, you can tell them...right here." By pointing his hand forward, Sir Aaron suddenly touched reality itself. At first, it looked like he was just touching the air, only for him to open up a Light Door that he would open. The Mythical Trio were once again amazed by what they were seeing.
"Right through here is the hub where everyone gathers. Take a look for yourselves." Sir Aaron smiled before walking through the divine light with Lucario, exiting the Celestial Gardens and approaching what he considers the Heart of the Afterlife.
With a sense of wonder and anticipation, Mew, Victini, and Meloetta followed Sir Aaron and Lucario through the portal, eager to see what lay beyond the Celestial Gardens and discover the true heart of the Afterlife.
Light Canvas.
The Light Canvas. The vibrant hub of the Afterlife where souls converge to embark on their eternal journey of liberation and self-discovery. Here, amidst the celestial splendour of the Ambrosial Plane, souls from all corners of the cosmos gather to embrace the boundless possibilities of their newfound existence.
Species of all kinds from across the universe could be found here. Humans, Ponies, Pokemon, Vampires, Dragons, Aliens and so on. Not a single one skipped out for this magnificent place.
Mew, Victini, and Meloetta stood in awe as they beheld the breathtaking sight of The Light Canvas. It was unlike anything they had ever seen before—a bustling metropolis of gleaming spires and crystalline towers, alive with the vibrant energy of countless souls from across the universe.
The Light Canvas is a bustling metropolis of gleaming spires and crystalline towers, its streets thronged with souls eager to explore the wonders of the realm. Celestial markets bustle with activity, offering a dazzling array of goods and services crafted from the essence of the cosmos itself. Artisans and craftsmen ply their trade, creating exquisite works of art that capture the beauty and majesty of the Light Canvas. Even after passing, business was still a possibility.
Present here were Aura Guardians, much like Sir Aaron himself. They found peace here too, enjoying their lives to the fullest. In this realm, Pokemon such as Spoink could move freely without worrying about their limitations. The Spoink no longer needed to bounce to keep their hearts pumping. They could do whatever they wanted now.
"Wow..." Mew breathed, his eyes wide with wonder as he took in the sights and sounds of the bustling metropolis. "This place is incredible!"
"I should've gone through here earlier!" Victini exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement as he gazed around at the bustling streets and bustling marketplaces.
Meloetta nodded in agreement, her heart filled with a sense of awe and reverence for the boundless beauty of The Light Canvas. "I've never seen anything like it," She said softly, her voice filled with wonder.
"Yeah. Nothing like it. Unless...we see another universe that has one of these." Sir Aaron commented. "But I think two will do, for now."
They wandered through the bustling streets of the city, marveling at the towering spires and crystalline towers that rose up around them. The air was filled with the sound of laughter and chatter as souls from all corners of the cosmos mingled and explored together.
In the celestial markets, they found a dazzling array of goods and services unlike anything they had ever seen before. It wouldn't hurt to try them since some were truly out of this world.
They sampled exotic foods from far-off galaxies, each dish more delicious and tantalizing than the last. They browsed through stalls filled with sparkling gems and precious metals, marveling at the intricate craftsmanship of the jewelry on display.
"Oh! Mew! Mew!" Crying out to Mew was the familiar face of Pear Butter who was right next to Bright Mac. The parents of Applejack, Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom. She recognized that Mew anywhere, being the one that Pinkie Pie is with.
Pear Butter's cry caught Mew's attention immediately. With a joyful chirp, Mew flew over to where Pear Butter and Bright Mac were standing, his heart filled with warmth at the sight of familiar faces. He got to see them in their physical forms instead of just spirits. "I know you! Pear Butter! Bright Mac!" Mew exclaimed, his voice filled with happiness as he landed in front of them.
"Well, how'd you get yourself here?" Bright Mac asked, wondering why these three were here while alive. They've already heard it a few times when being here.
"You know how Mythicals are, dear? Too curious to stop a lot of the time." Pear Butter already knew the answer to them.
"I tried to stop them...Honestly." Meloetta put her hands together. But she was feeling guilty herself as she was starting to enjoy this.
"Ain't no shame in it, dear." Pear Butter shook her head, finding no guilt in Meloetta. "You three ain't the first Pokemon to show up here outta nowhere."
"Everything looks fine here. I thought the angels were having trouble." Mew looked around, seeing how blissful this place were. Everyone was having the time of their lives.
"They are. But angels are naturally good at keeping a cool head. Plus, this realm is just a nice place to be in. Their faces are a different story though. It's a shame what happened with Lightwing. I've got a good feeling they can get her back but...Team Plasma's a tricky foe to deal with."
"We can help!" Mew exclaimed. "My friends and I have stopped Team Plasma before!"
"It's best that you don't get involved. These are Divine Affairs." Aaron suggested. "And Team Plasma seems to be entering a brand new world with what they've taken. Once angels get involved, mortals shouldn't get involved."
"But..." Mew uttered."But we can help."
Sir Aaron regarded Mew with a solemn expression, understanding the earnestness behind his words. "Usually, it'd be fine to help out here. But when it comes to Angels...nothing much you can do." He said softly. "I know Ash would probably wish to do the same thing. For his safety and everyone else, don't tell him or anyone else. It's best that only you three know about this."
"Will things get that out of control if we involve others?" Meloetta asked.
"Afraid so, sweetie." Pear Butter could confirm.
Mew nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "I understand," he said. "But Lightwing really helped us out, trying to make Ash innocent."
"Put your trust in the angels, Mew." Sir Aaron kneeled to get to Mew's level. "I'm sure they can do this. They've got Divine Magic by the dozen." Sir Aaron's words resonated deeply with Mew, reaffirming his belief in the angels' ability to handle the situation. With a nod of determination, Mew made a silent vow to trust in their wisdom and strength.
"Alright...I won't." Mew raised his head, understanding that this could get out of control quickly.
Sir Aaron smiled warmly at Mew, a silent acknowledgement of the trust and courage the young Pokemon displayed. "That's the spirit, Mew," he said, his voice filled with pride. "Believe me, I wish I could do something about this myself. Lightwing's always nice to be around but we're gonna have to wait for her to return."
"Maybe we should head back now, Mew." Victini suggested, actually being the one to suggest returning to Earth.
Mew nodded in agreement with Victini's suggestion. "Yeah, you're right," he said, turning to face his friends. "Let's head back to Earth for now. We've got a lot to think about and plan."
As Mew, Victini, and Meloetta prepared to depart from The Light Canvas, Sir Aaron, Pear Butter, and Bright Mac approached them to bid farewell.
"Great meeting you all," Sir Aaron said, his voice filled with warmth and sincerity. "I wish you the best of luck. I know you're doing well down there. Especially with Ash and Pikachu by your side. You'll be just fine."
"Mm." Lucario nodded in agreement, knowing that as a fast. "May the Aura be with you."
"Thanks, Sir Aaron," Mew replied, bowing respectfully. "At least I can tell my friends about this place, right?"
Pear Butter smiled warmly at the trio, her eyes shining with affection. "You sure can! Take care of yourselves out there," She said. "And don't forget to say hello to our friends and family back on Earth for us. I mean...ya have the meteors so I guess you don't need to."
Bright Mac nodded in agreement, his expression filled with pride. "You've got a lot of folks back home who care about you," he said. "Just like us. See ya tomorrow in the morning if you're still feeling down. I know a great song you'll love to hear."
Mew smiled at the mention of their friends, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart. "I'll do just that." He said, his voice filled with gratitude.
With heartfelt goodbyes and promises to keep in touch, Mew, Victini, and Meloetta bid farewell to Sir Aaron, Pear Butter, and Bright Mac. As they stepped through the Light Door, heading back to the Celestial Gardens which would eventually take them back home, their hearts were filled with gratitude for the friendships they had made and the memories they had shared in The Light Canvas.
Earth. Unova. Nightfall.
It was back to Earth. They passed through the portal, returning to their home as they were still in Unovan territory. The portal was still around, implying that the angels weren't done with their mission just yet.
Looking around, they could see the familiar sights and sounds of their homeland. The stars twinkled overhead, casting a soft glow on the landscape, while the gentle rustle of leaves in the night breeze filled the air. "It feels good to be back," Victini said, his voice filled with relief. "Feels like it was days in there...but that place was nice anyway."
Mew nodded in agreement, a smile playing on his lips. "Yeah. It was." He said. "A bit sad too. But I can't help but wonder what the angels are up to with that portal."
"It seems like they're not done with their mission just yet," Meloetta observed, her eyes scanning the horizon. "We should just take Sir Aaron's advice and keep on going. Let the angels handle this. I should be getting back home too. Tonight was something else."
With a final nod of farewell, Meloetta turned and began to make her way back home, disappearing into the night. Mew and Victini watched her go, feeling a sense of bittersweetness at her departure. "Next time we go out tonight, don't pick something like that again, Victini." Her last words that echoed in the night.
As Meloetta departed to return home, Mew and Victini stood together, watching her go with a mixture of fondness and sadness. "Take care, Meloetta!" Mew called after her, waving goodbye.
"Goodbye, Meloetta! Glad to have you with us!" Victini chimed in, waving as well.
Meloetta turned and waved back, a smile on her face as she disappeared into the night. With a final wave, she was gone, leaving Mew and Victini alone. "Well, it's just us now," Victini said, turning to Mew. "Heading back to Ponyville?"
"Mhm." With that, Mew closed his eyes and began to concentrate. In a flash of light, his form began to shift and change, until he emerged as Lugia, the Diving Pokémon. With a powerful flap of his wings, he took to the sky, leaving Victini behind as he soared through the night.
"See you in Ponyville, Victini!" Lugia called back, his voice echoing in the night.
"See you there, Mew!" Victini called after him, watching as his friend disappeared into the darkness.
And as Lugia flew off into the night, Victini smiled to himself, knowing that wherever their adventures took them, they would always be there for each other. The day that they met during the Pokemon Festival is what created this bond and it has not faded away since.
Equestria. Ponyville. SugarCube Corner.
Mew had returned, reverting to his original form while being spotted by Absol once more in the night sky. Upon reverting her effortlessly flew through the open window, returning to his best friend.
Entering SugarCube Corner, Mew found Pinkie Pie still fast asleep, surrounded by a mountain of sweets and pastries as she hasn't moved since. Mew was definitely tired of moving now. The pursuit the Divine Beings gave him took a lot out of him surprisingly and now he just wanted to rest it all away.
Mew was carrying some crucial knowledge. Knowledge that if shared with his friends, he knew for a fact that Ash would go straight to the source of the problem, which would only sprout more problems. Until it was resolved, it was best to keep it a secret. And Mew was hoping it was very soon.
A worldwide tournament with a series of battles to determine the World's Strongest Trainer. At the pinnacle of this prestigious event stands none other than Champion Leon, revered as a monarch among trainers for his unparalleled prowess and indomitable spirit.
Aiming to challenge the current Monarch Leon is Ash, who had defeated Gym Leader Melony a while back, shooting himself to Rank 35. As the anticipation mounts and the battles commence, the stage continues to be set for an upcoming epic clash of skill, strategy, and sheer determination in the quest for glory at the Pokémon World Championships.
Equestria. Ponyville. Day.
At this moment, on his Rotomphone, Ash has just received a notification about the Pokemon World Championships. As Ash's Rotomphone buzzed with the notification, he eagerly tapped the screen to reveal the message: another Ultra Class Battle awaited him, this time against a challenger from afar.
"Alright! A new Championship Battle!" Ash excitedly said upon seeing his next challenger. He's been waiting patiently for another Championship Battle and now, here it was. "Someone by the name of...Marnie."
"Pika?"
"That's all the way in Galar. Spikemuth, right?" Twilight said, seeing the location of Marnie's whereabouts. Quite the distance there without a doubt.
"Yep, that's the one!" Ash confirmed, a grin spreading across his face. "Spikemuth was...near the Isle of Armor. Somewhere near it anyway. Just gotta follow that same direction."
"It's a long way from here though." Rainbow Dash pointed out. "Do you think you'll need time to prepare?"
"Hmm..." Thinking about it for a moment, Ash made up his mind. "Nah. I think I'm good. Twilight. Rainbow Dash. Wanna swing by Galar with me?"
"Hold on, hold on. Galar's getting cold lately. The weather's been changing over time and thanks to Daybreaker, some areas are gonna be colder than they usually are. I need to keep warm."
"Yeah and that tear in the sky's still not looking all that friendly." Rainbow Dash's eyes would meet with the tear. Once more, it continues to hang ominously over everyone in Ponyville and nearby locations.
"Spikemuth looks pretty small though..." When looking at Marnie's picture and her location, Ash noticed how miniscule the area was. Specifically, the image shared with him showed a town that was rough and tumble. "Smaller towns are pretty hard to find a lot of the time, but we'll manage."
At that moment, the Tear in the sky would howl, alerting and startling many. The sound it made was cosmic indeed and it made some of them think something else was about to emerge from it. But it looked like it was just a bluff and all for nothing. The tear simply howled. The residents of Ponyville were wishing for the Ranger Union or anyone else to properly fix this.
Galar. Spikemuth.
Spikemuth. A small town located at the eastern end of the Galar Region and closest to the Isle of Armor. This rocking town is known for its punk vibe, crammed with shops lined up by jowl. But normally, it isn't aggressively cold. Just as Twilight predicted, wearing something warm was the right approach as the temperature near Spikemuth was rather harsh.
Thanks to the surge, the location of Spikemuth was graced with snow. Not what was shown on the Rotomphone. Showing up here, Ash, Twilight and Rainbow Dash gazed upon the small town, which had another difference compared to what the Rotomphone showed.
"Oh, man..." Ash saw that it was more than rough. It looked ruined. Spikemuth had destroyed buildings instead of ones that looked old.
"Do you think this place suffered because of that surge?" As Rainbow Dash voiced her concern about the town's condition possibly being related to the surge, Twilight nodded in agreement, her brows furrowing with worry.
"It looks like it." Twilight felt the same. "I don't see anyone else around here. Are we sure this is Spikemuth? I know small towns don't have much but..." But before they could fully assess everything about them, bursting out of the trash can were people, which caught Ash and his friends off guard.
These people wore the same clothes with the same motif around them, carrying a flag with them. A flag with Marnie's face. As the group of individuals emerged from the trash can, they wasted no time in introducing themselves to Ash and his friends.
"Oi! What do you think you're doing here in Team Yell territory?!" One of them exclaimed proudly, while the others nodded in agreement. The name they carried was similar to that of Team Rocket or Team Plasma. But it appeared as though this team wasn't as sophisticated and tidy as them.
Ash, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what to make of the sudden introduction. Team Yell's appearance only added to the mystery surrounding Spikemuth and its current state. As the group of individuals emerged from the trash can, they wasted no time in introducing themselves to Ash and his friends.
"Oh, sorry. We don't mean any harm," Twilight replied to them. "We're just showing up at Spikemuth for a Pokemon World Championships Match. Well, Ash was anyway."
"You're the one here to challenge Marine, aren't ya?" A Team Yell lady said, spotting Ash immediately. She and the rest of them were well aware of Ash.
"That's right! We're both in the Ultra Class, so I'm ready to throw down." Ash said with a smile on his face, quickly disposing of his previous expression for an excited one.
"Pikachu!"
"Hmm..." The Team Yell grunts exchanged knowing glances, their expressions shifting subtly as they assessed the situation. They were well aware of Ash's reputation. It had gotten massive and now he has arrived here at Spikemuth. At that moment, the grunts would quickly huddle up, speaking to each other.
"That's him alright...He's famous back at Equestria and now he's here." One of the grunts spoke, his voice carrying a nervous tone.
"This is bad...Isn't he like stupidly strong?"
"He is. Why did Marnie have to choose him as the next challenger? Couldn't it have been someone weaker?"
"It's alright. As long as we're here, Marnie is sure to win. We just have to make sure she never takes him on."
"Hmm..." The Team Yell grunts continued to murmur amongst themselves before turning to face Ash and his friends, their smiles masking their true intentions. Behind the facade of friendliness, they were already devising a plan to hinder Ash's preparations for the battle, hoping to give Marnie an edge and secure her victory.
"You can't reach Marnie." One of them shrugged, claiming that Ash couldn't reach Marnie at all.
"Oh. Why not?" Ash asked.
"You just can't. Not with us in the way. You don't deserve to take on Marnine, since you'll lose." Another grunt shook his head, essentially calling Ash weak.
"Huh?!" Ash frowned at the Team Yell grunt's dismissive attitude. "No way, I'm weak!" He retorted, his determination shining through despite the provocation.
"Pika!"
Twilight stepped forward, her expression stern. "It's not up to you to decide who gets to challenge Marnie. If Ash has earned his place in the Ultra Class, then he has every right to face her in battle."
"Alright,
The Team Yell grunts exchanged uncertain glances, momentarily thrown off by the trio's unwavering confidence. However, they quickly regained their composure, their resolve strengthening as they remained determined to obstruct Ash's path to Marnie.
"Enough talk," One of the burlier grunts declared, stepping forward to block Ash's way. "If you want to get to Marnie, you'll have to go through us first."
"Not that you can!" One of the ladies taunted Ash. She knew he wasn't weak, but in reality, she was doing what she could to stall for time. All of them were. All to make sure that Marnie wins by Time.
Not exactly the most common way of winning something but it wasn't out of the question. The grunts all held out their Poke Balls, challenging Ash to a battle, knowing how powerful he was, so they didn't have to worry about defeating him. They just had to throw everything at him and put up their best defence.
"Fine." Ash would adjust his hat a bit, agreeing to the challenge as he held out his own Poke Ball.
"Ash...You just need to get to Marnie." Twilight knew that this was just a waste of time. "Just forget these grunts and find Marnie."
"Yeah. I'm all for teaching 'em a lesson. They're just getting you on. I've seen this before." Rainbow Dash was on the same page as Twilight, wanting Ash to ignore the grunts. "At least let me take them on."
"I don't run from a battle. Plus, I'll finish this as soon as possible." Ash wasn't one to back down from a Pokemon Battle. Even so, he believed that he could end this quickly.
The grunts would unleash their Pokemon which ended up being Galarian Linoone and Galarian Zigazoon. Multiple of the same two Pokemon were summoned. Seeing these Pokemon for the first time, Ash and Rainbow Dash took their Pokedexes out, reading up on them.
"Zigzagoon. The Tiny Racoon Pokemon. Galarian Variant. Its restlessness has it constantly running around. If it sees another Pokémon, it will purposely run into them in order to start a fight. Thought to be the oldest form of Zigzagoon, it moves in zigzags and wreaks havoc upon its surroundings."
"Linoone. The Rushing Pokemon. Galarian Variant. It uses its long tongue to taunt opponents. Once the opposition is enraged, this Pokémon hurls itself at the opponent, tackling them forcefully. This very aggressive Pokémon will recklessly challenge opponents stronger than itself."
"Dragonite! I choose you!" On Ash's side, he had Dragonite enter the stage.
"Dragonite!"
"All I need is one hit..." Confident in his skills, Ash believed that one attack was all that was needed which would back up the quick victory he mentioned earlier.
At that moment, the grunts would blurt out commands to their Pokemon, having them use Shadow Claw, Night Slash, Fury Swipes, Throat Chop and more moves that allowed them to get up close and personal.
"Now, Dragonite! Hurricane!" Ash bellowed at the top of his lungs. The echo of his yell would ripple through the air of Spikemuth, resonating with Dragonite.
"Draaaa!" Dragonite would also perform a powerful roar as from her body, she managed to summon a fierce gale. The wind howled around Dragonite, intensifying its Hurricane attack and creating a formidable force to reckon with.
Caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, the opposing Pokémon were buffeted by the powerful winds, their attacks disrupted as they struggled to maintain their footing against the raging storm. The grunts were also caught off guard as they were also struggling to stay on the ground.
With screams of surprise and alarm, each and every one of the grunts was sent flying into the air, their bodies carried aloft by the force of the winds. They flailed helplessly as they were tossed and turned by the swirling tempest, their cries echoing through the air as they were swept away.
In just a few seconds the sight of Spikemuth was replaced by the surreal sight of Team Yell grunts soaring through the air, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. After being carried off by the relentless winds for a while, they came crashing down along with their Pokemon.
All of them had fainted. Team Yell had lost in one fell swoop.
"The Team Yell grunts, who had underestimated Ash's abilities, now bore expressions of shock and disbelief as they picked themselves up from the ground. It was clear that they had not anticipated the full extent of Ash's power, and they now recognized him as a formidable opponent not to be underestimated.
"Blimey..." One of them grunted. "We knew he was strong but this is ridiculous..."
"Oh. My bad." Ash noticed that he may have unleashed too much power. He quickly stepped forward, a sheepish expression on his face. "Guess I should've held back a bit."
"Dragonite..." Dragonite chimed in with a remorseful look, acknowledging her part and apologizing for that.
"Hah! Now you're gotta let him through." Rainbow Dash had a different response, laughing in the face of Team Yell.
"Hold it!" However, they weren't the only grunts here. The population of Spikemuth wasn't as empty as it seemed. From the windows of these buildings, more of them showed up. They all had a common goal. To stall for as much time as possible, even if it meant all of them had to battle. "You think you can just waltz through here without facing all of us?"
Twilight let out an exasperated sigh, frustration evident on her face as she listened to the grunt's insistence on battling despite Ash's victory. "Oh come on! He already won!" Twilight groaned, her patience wearing thin with the repetitive obstacles in their path.
"Yeah, but you haven't gotten through all of us." A grunt wagged his finger which just made Twilight grizzle her teeth out of irritation. Twilight fought to keep her composure, knowing that they couldn't afford to waste any more time in their quest to challenge Marnie.
With a steely resolve, Ash stepped forward, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. "If that's what it takes, then so be it. We'll take on all of you," he declared, his voice unwavering despite the daunting odds. "Besides...This gives me a good chance to get myself ready."
In Ash's eyes, it was also a way to warm up. The way he said it was rather intimidating too. Some of the grunts would gulp and pull back at Ash's words. It made them feel like they were about to be punching bags. And that is exactly what was about to happen. As soon as they sent out their own Zigzagoon and Linoone, Pikachu was sent up next.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted, his voice echoing through the snow-covered streets of Spikemuth.
"Pika...Chuuuu!" With a crackle of electricity, Pikachu unleashed a powerful bolt of lightning, aiming to strike down his opponents with all the force of a thunderstorm. With 100,000 volts flying out, the force of the attack was overwhelming, as the lightning surged through the Team Yell grunts' Pokémon, enveloping them in a dazzling display of energy.
In a dazzling spectacle visible even from the outskirts of Spikemuth, Ash's Pikachu proved once again its formidable strength, swiftly dispatching the opposing Pokémon with a single powerful attack.
The grunts could only watch in awe as their Pokémon were overwhelmed by the sheer force of Pikachu's Thunderbolt, their defeat sealed in an instant by Ash's unmatched skill and determination.
Once more, Ash took down a group of Pokemon in one attack, proving to be exceedingly stronger than them. As the dust settled from Pikachu's electrifying display, it became apparent that the Team Yell grunts were far from finished. From every corner of the rough and tumble town of Spikemuth, more of them emerged, seemingly appearing from the shadows themselves.
They poured forth from alleyways, behind crumbling walls, and even from within the trash cans, their numbers seemingly endless. It was as if the very town itself had risen up against Ash and his companions, determined to halt their progress at any cost.
Twilight and Rainbow Dash exchanged worried glances, realizing that Ash was facing an overwhelming onslaught. The grunts were united in their goal to stall for time, and they seemed willing to throw every obstacle imaginable in Ash's path. But despite the odds stacked against them, Ash's resolve remained unshaken. With a determined glint in his eye, he steeled himself for the battles yet to come, finding enjoyment in it.
In a flurry of action, Ash, with Pikachu and Dragonite at his side, faced off against wave after wave of Team Yell grunts in a thrilling montage of battles.
With lightning-fast reflexes and strategic prowess, Ash commanded Pikachu and Dragonite to unleash a barrage of powerful attacks, sending shockwaves and wind pressures rippling through the streets of Spikemuth. Thunderbolts crackled through the air, dazzling displays of electricity illuminating the town as Pikachu's attacks struck true, felling opponent after opponent. Hurricanes would blow fiercely across the streets, lifting any rubble, grunt and Pokemon off the ground.
As the final Team Yell grunt fell to the ground, defeated, Ash stood amidst the aftermath of the intense battles that had unfolded in the streets of Spikemuth. But their respite was short-lived as one of the grunts staggered to his feet, his resolve unbroken despite his defeat.
"Oh, what now?!" Rainbow Dash groaned, already tired of this.
"Y-You haven't finished yet. There's just one more thing," the grunt stammered, his voice shaky but determined. "You have to-"
"That's enough! Knock it off!" With a bellowing sound, a voice shouted at the grunts. The Team Yell Grunts flinched at this voice as they recognized it all too well. Standing behind them and appearing onto the scene was none other than Marnine herself.
"Marnie?!" Team Yell gasped upon seeing Marnie's arrival. Her presence alone seemed to command attention, silencing the grunts and halting their attempts to stall for more time.
"Geez...Making me yell..." Marnie sighed. "I can't believe you lot. What was the point of battling him when you knew you were going to lose?"
"If we kept battling him, you wouldn't have to. Then you'd win the Ultra Class battle with ease! No effort needed!" Team Yell were 100% honest with their intentions and it appeared to be from a place of support. "Anything to make you win!" They knew they had acted foolishly, driven by their misguided loyalty and desire to support Marnie at any cost. But they had no regrets.
"Blockheads...I want to win on my own terms. You always do this." Marnine groaned. This was not the first time something like this has happened. Marnie's frustration was palpable as she listened to Team Yell's honest but misguided intentions. Their desire to support her at any cost was evident, but Marnie knew that their actions were ultimately counterproductive.
Despite their good intentions, Marnie knew that victory achieved through underhanded tactics would be hollow and meaningless. She wanted to win on her own merit, through hard work and dedication, rather than relying on the efforts of others. Like most Pokemon Trainers do.
"Nice! So you're Marnie!" Ash would zoom past the other grunts, returning Dragonite to her Poke Ball and finally approaching the one he was meant to battle today. "
"We're not even supposed to be in Spikemuth. We're supposed to be battling in Wyndon Stadium today...but I had a feeling they'd try something to stop you from showing up." Marnie said with a stoic expression. "They changed the location of the match on my phone when I wasn't looking."
"Wyndon Stadium? You mean I was gonna be stuck here?!" Ash gasped as Team Yell had one more trick that would've stalled for more time. Their determination to hinder Ash's progress knew no bounds, and their devious tactics had almost succeeded in derailing his plans entirely.
"But, we aren't leaving for Wyndon just yet. Either way, I actually did want you to come to Spikemuth." However, Marnie revealed a bit more. "You're the one I wanted to challenge as soon as I got to good spot in the Ultra Class, Ash."
"Yeah?" Ash was all ears for this. "Is this is about your town? It looks pretty beat up."
"It is. It's been suffering for 4 years now." Marnie continued with her tone changing. "Have you heard about that Storm Behemoth thing?"
"Yeah. We took it on." Rainbow Dash spoke. She, Twilight, Ash and all of her friends took on the Storm Behemoth themselves. That 500ft electrical force was quite the challenge and no matter how much time passed, it never stopped coming up. Mainly due to how much impact it had on the world despite being not getting that far.
"Sure, it caused a ruckus around Unova and Equestria. But some of the lightning crossed over the seas and reached Galar. And Spikemuth took a hit from it." Marnie revealed that the electrical pulse from the Storm Behemoth crossed over to another region. In this case, Galar. She could remember it now.
As Marnie recounted the impact of the Storm Behemoth's lightning pulse on Spikemuth, a solemn atmosphere settled over the group. With a distant look in her eyes, Marnie began to recount the events of that fateful day, transporting them back in time to the moment when disaster struck.
4 years ago.
The flashback unfolded like a vivid memory, the scene playing out before their eyes with startling clarity. They found themselves standing on the streets of Spikemuth, the air heavy with anticipation and unease as dark clouds loomed ominously overhead.
In the distance, they could see the silhouette of the Storm Behemoth, a towering figure wreathed in lightning as it unleashed its fury upon the world. The ground shook with each thunderous roar, and the air crackled with electricity as bolts of lightning streaked across the sky.
Despite it starting in Unova and quickly entering Equestria minutes later, the figure of this entity was so colossal that it could be seen from Spikemuth. This small town had the advantage of seeing things far off in the sea and the Storm Behemoth was no different.
As the storm drew closer, the people of Spikemuth watched in shock as the lightning pulse surged forth, crossing over the seas from Unova and Equestria to reach Galar. The pulse was like nothing they had ever seen before, a brilliant cascade of light and energy that illuminated the sky with its otherworldly glow.
With a deafening roar, the lightning pulse struck Spikemuth with devastating force, sending shockwaves rippling through the town and leaving destruction in its wake. Buildings crumbled, streets were torn asunder, and the very ground seemed to tremble beneath their feet as the pulse passed through.
This led to the scenario present here today.
"It didn't help that that weird tremor from the Pokemon Festival made things worse for us." Marine continued from there. "That thing that Daybreaker did ruined all the progress we made to try and fix everything. Now, we're back to square one."
Spikemuth certainly suffered a lot thanks to those two significant events. Twilight also had to wonder if Yveltal 's destruction also set them back since Xerneas's power to heal the world didn't automatically involve all buildings.
"So, I knew I had to battle you. You've helped a lot of people, especially back at Equestria. Aren't you like, their hero? Even though you're from Kanto?" Marnie also revealed why she wanted to battle Ash as soon as possible once she was a high enough rank.
"Well, I guess I am," Ash replied.
"If I battle and become the new Monarch, I could put Spikemuth back in the limelight. Maybe raise enough money to fix all of this damage. No one really wants to give our town the attention anymore, or even take on my brother's Gym."
"So that's why you wanted to take me on." Ash understood it all clearly.
"So can you do it?"
"Well, I don't think me being a Hero means I can just fix all of this in a flash," Ash admitted. "But I get what you mean. I can still help. I could give up a ton of money for you!"
"Can you do that? How much money are we talking about?" Marnie needed to know.
"Technically, Ash is a millionaire. Or...Billionare?" Rainbow Dash wasn't sure herself since she had no clue how much Ash had in his possession.
"Uh..." Thinking hard, Ash never really kept track of just how many he made. He just knew he had a lot due to years of exploring the world and battling. "It's a lot though! That's all you gotta know."
"That would be nice. But repairing the damages won't be the end of it. I want to bring Spikemuth into the limelight. To show that it's not just some dump like everyone says. There are amazing trainers here too. Do you think you could do that too?"
"Yeah, can you?!" The members of Team Yell would shout. They all had the same opinion as they wanted Spikemuth to be more. After all, supporting Marnie was connected to this. "We're powerful trainers too!"
"I don't know about that..." Rainbow Dash thought otherwise. Perhaps they were but considering they were up against Ash, they didn't stand a chance.
"They're all stubborn and loud, but they want the same thing too," Marnie asked. "My brother wanted to take my place, but I couldn't let him do that. A part of me feels bad for him..."
"Can you show me, Marnie?" Ash asked, wanting to see her brother. With a nod of agreement, Marnie led the way. The match between her and Ash was on the horizon, but not without something behind it.
Spikemuth suffered from some world-shattering events and due to its small appearance and identity, it truly got the short end of the stick. No support. No recognition. Nothing. The most it got was Team Yell interfering with Marnie's phone to let Ash know about Spikemuth. But Marnie and all of Team Yell wanted more than what they currently had.
Arriving at Spikemuth to challenge Marnie to an Ultra Class Battle, Ash, Twilight and Rainbow Dash learned of how Spikemuth suffered these past 4 years. It started with the Storm Behemoth and the tremor that Daybreaker caused only worsened it.
Marnie believed that challenging Ash would fix everything, knowing his reputation back in Equestria. Before their battle could begin, Marnie was leading Ash and his friends to her brother.
When heading deeper into Spikemuth, Ash, Rainbow Dash and Twilight would hear the sound of music playing. Intense rock music to be exact, followed by the cheers of Spikemuth's citizens, who all seemed to be Team Yell. This whole town was practically Team Yell territory as said by the grunt that greeted Ash and his friends.
"Oh! What's that sound?!" Twilight covered her ears from this aggressive sound. The sound of screaming, drums and guitars went off with full aggression, making her body shudder. Rainbow Dash didn't cover her ears, but instead, she was taking in this sound, wondering if she liked it.
"Hmm...Doesn't sound that bad." Rainbow Dash commented.
Here at Spikemuth, there appeared to be a stage. And on it, there was a man along with some Pokemon playing the instruments. Noticeably, it was a Rillaboom on the drums, two Toxcitricity who were pulling off those guitar sounds and an Obstagoon for backing vocals. And standing there in the middle was none other than Marnie's brother, his presence commanding as he belted out lyrics with passion and intensity.
"That right there is my brother." Confirmed by Marnie herself.
"Nice. How about we-" Right as Ash was ready to advance, Marnie held her arm out to stop him.
"You probably shouldn't bother him when he's playing." Marnie halted Ash's movements. Thankfully, it sounded like he was nearly finished with his song.
As the music continued to fill the air, Rainbow Dash found herself swept up in the energy of the performance, her own spirit lifted by the infectious rhythm and electrifying melodies. With Twilight and Espeon trembling at this sound, the song came to an end.
As the final notes echoed through the air, Marnie's brother lowered his microphone, his chest heaving with exertion as he caught his breath. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, their enthusiasm palpable as they showed their appreciation for the electrifying performance.
"Piers!" Marnie cried out to her brother once the song came to a resounding end.
"Hm?" Piers glanced over, noticing his little sister. But not only that, he spotted the individuals near him. As Piers scanned the crowd, his eyes immediately fell upon Ash, recognizing him without hesitation. There was a flicker of surprise and curiosity in Piers' expression as if he hadn't expected to see Ash here in Spikemuth. "You actually brought him here?"
"Hey there." Ash greeted. The Team Yell grunts in the crowd would gasp as some of them weren't even aware that Ash was going to show up today. Any other plans they had to stop him from challenging Marnie were already destroyed. "Piers, right? My name's Ash and-"
"It's not just Piers. I'm the Gym Leader here! A real pro when it comes to Dark-Types. Mournful Piers is what they call me!" Piers introduced himself. "And you're Ash, right?"
"Uh yeah. Here to battle Marnie. But not before we do a few things here."
"Did she tell you about to what happened to our town? A real mess, isn't it?"
"It is." said Twilight. "It's a shame it went under the radar for so long. 4 whole years and we're soon reaching the 5th year of us meeting with your world."
"Makes no difference anyway." Piers would turn around. "This isn't anything new for our town. No one really cared all that much for it anyway. Heck, I don't even use Dynamax here so why would they?"
"This town doesn't have any Power Spots?" Ash said. Come to think of it, with how small this town was, Dynamax would seem like a massive issue, especially since there is no stadium around, much like the other towns and cities in Galar.
"Nope. Trainers don't find it all that exciting because of that, but, like I care. I like to do it without Dynamax." Piers shrugged.
"That's not the main issue though. When Spikemuth gets known and praised by many, everything else about it will stand out. Even if no one's even aware of all the destruction." Marine spoke.
"I told her not to." Piers looked back at Ash and his group. "I would've but...things are way too dangerous nowadays, even for us. Battling Ash isn't gonna fix all our problems, Marnie. Not what that Dragon Watchmacallit on the loose."
"You mean the Dragon Matter?" Ash spoke. He could see what Piers was saying. This wonderful world was always teeming with danger here and there but after the emergence of Dragon Matter, now the danger had been turned up to eleven.
"I told you I can take care of myself! I'm stronger now!" Marnie exclaimed.
"Yeah, yeah. Not like I can stop you anyway." Piers sighed. "But if you ask me, it's kinda pointless. I would've done the same thing as you if I had the guts."
"That's why you don't and I do," Marine replied, her tone carrying a bit of resentment. As Marnie turned and walked away, a potent tension hung in the air, leaving behind an awkward silence in her wake. The exchange between Marnie and Piers had laid bare the underlying conflicts and disagreements between them, casting a shadow over their relationship.
"Is...everything okay?" Twilight flew over.
"I wish it was. You're Princess Twilight, aren't you? I wouldn't expect you to know how we're all doing right now." Piers replied.
"Is everything alright with you and your sister?" Rainbow Dash asked. Rainbow Dash's question cut through the tension, prompting Piers to pause and consider his response carefully. He glanced in the direction Marnie had gone, a conflicted expression crossing his face.
"Me and Marnie... we've never had too many differences," Piers began slowly, his voice tinged with a mixture of sadness and frustration. "Believe me, if I could head out there and do what she's doing I would. But even I can see that it's way too dangerous, but I just can't stop here."
In reality, he just wanted Marnie to be safe. Were it any other situation, Piers wouldn't have an issue. But thanks to the Storm Behemoth, the Dragon Matter and Daybreaker, her instinct as an older brother stood on the top. "Everything about it....That job should've been mine. Not hers. Too bad I can't seem to make the grade."
"Ash. Maybe you should-" Before Twilight could ask Ash, he was gone. Along with Pikachu. Both of them were nowhere to be seen, but Twilight already had a good idea as to where Ash could be.
Ash was going after Marnie, who was walking off with a bitter feeling after the brief conversation with Marnie. "Marnie, wait!" Marnie stopped in her tracks, turning to face Ash with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty in her eyes. Currently, Marnie was with another Pokemon, who she would pick up with her arms.
"Morpeko!" It was Morpeko, who added some brightness to the scenario. But not enough to sweeten the sourness Marnie was feeling right now.
"Leave me alone, Ash. You should probably get ready for our battle soon. Get a head start to Wyndon." Marnie said.
"Your brother..." But while it took Twilight and Rainbow Dash listening to Piers's swords to see where he was coming from, Ash already knew how things were from just a brief interaction.
"It's like he doesn't have confidence in me. He wanted to bring Spikemuth back to life too, but all of a sudden, he's changed." Ash listened intently as Marnie opened up about her frustrations with her brother. He could hear the pain and disappointment in her voice and in reality, Ash knew that neither of it was their fault. There were things to blame here and it wasn't any of them.
"But you know..." Marnie paused for a moment. "Maybe he's right. Most of my wins aren't even legit. Team Yell just messes with my challengers a lot. I either never get to battle them or they're not at their best. I don't even know if I'm taking someone on at their best."
Marnie could also see where Piers coming from, all because of Team Yell. She was climbing up in the ranks but some of them were due to technicalities. Even Marnie had doubts about her own strength.
"Nah. He just wants to keep you safe. I know what he means." said Ash, who understood both points of view. "It takes someone pretty strong to keep their sister safe. But you're also pretty strong to do this since no one else will."
"You think so?"
"I know so." Ash pointed at himself with a bright smile. "Team Yell wouldn't be backing you up if you didn't do it. Back home, I wasn't really trying to bring Pallet Town to the light, but it feels good to give it some fame."
Ash could somewhat relate. Pallet Town and by extension, Kanto are considered the boonies. Maybe not on the level of Spikemuth, but Ash could understand Marnie completely and even Team Yell, even though they tried to stop him.
"Really, huh? Here I thought you were royalty or something? King of the Sea after all."
"Well, yea. I don't blame you for that." Ash chuckled. He knew for a fact that everything surrounding him could be interpreted differently by many across the world. He has made a name for himself over his years of travelling. So, everything's gonna be alright. No need to worry. I already promised to help you out."
"Pikachu!"
"Thanks, Ash. I wish I could smile right but...Not really the best at smiling. Not with how things are." Due to how tins have developed over the years, Marnie wasn't exactly known for smiling a lot. But it looked like Ash was giving her a reason to do so.
"Maybe our battle will change that." Ash continued. "Do you wanna talk to Piers first or...?"
"Maybe later. I want to prove myself at last. I've got a good feeling about this one. You're gonna be the first trainer I'll have a serious battle with."
Ash's steadfast belief in Marnie's abilities sparked a glimmer of hope within her, reigniting her determination to prove herself in battle. Despite the challenges and uncertainties she faced, Marnie felt a newfound sense of confidence growing within her, spurred on by Ash's unwavering support.
With a grateful nod, Marnie acknowledged Ash's encouragement, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. Alas, she couldn't make it fully form. Not yet at least. Pikachu and Morpeko looked at each other, crying out and knowing what was coming next. Especially Pikachu. He had a good feeling about this battle.
"Pika!"
"Morpe!"
It was off to Wyndon, where they could finally have their Ultra Class Battle.
Wyndon. Wyndon Stadium.
They had arrived at Wyndom, entering Wyndon Stadium where their Ultra Class Battle was about to begin. As Ash and Marnie stepped into the grandeur of Wyndon Stadium, a hushed anticipation filled the air. The stadium buzzed with excitement, the crowd eagerly awaiting the start of the Ultra Class Battle between two formidable trainers.
Arriving here was the entirety of Team Yell along with Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash. Team Yell definitely outnumbered Twilight and Rainbow by a gigantic margin, cheering for Marnie. The cries they let out were thunderous for their hometown girl.
"Heh! He already battled us earlier so I bet his Pokemon are totally tired!" One of the grunts cackled. "Marnie's gonna win for sure."
"You wish!" Rainbow Dash roared at one of the grunts. "Ash's Pokemon can battle for hours! Plus, he took you all out in one hit!" As Rainbow Dash's defiant words cut through the noise of the stadium, her gaze locked with the members of Team Yell in an intense stare-down.
Team Yell, caught off guard by Rainbow Dash's fierce resolve, found themselves momentarily silenced by the sheer force of her conviction, only to argue back. Rainbow Dash and the grunts grizzled their teeth against each other while Twilight and Espeon simply sighed.
"Ash. I've got a lot of folks back home rooting for me. That means I've gotta be the winner." Marnie said. "I'm grateful for what you doing, but that doesn't mean I won't go easy on you."
"Yeah. But I wanna win too." Ash replied with a grin. "I'm glad you're gonna be giving it your all for the first time. Let's make this battle awesome, okay?" As Ash and Marnie exchanged determined glances, their words echoed with a shared determination to give it their all in the upcoming battle. Despite the pressure and expectations resting on their shoulders, they were ready to face each other with unwavering resolve and sportsmanship.
Arriving here to view the battle himself was none other than Piers. The Gym Leader showed up, here to support his sister despite the tension. After all, he couldn't do what she was doing, even if it was dangerous.
"This a Pokemon World Championships Ultra Class Battle!" The Rotom Drone spoke to the entire stadium. "Introducing the two Challengers for this competition. Currently ranked 29, a rising star from the Galar Region from Spikemuth, Marnie!"
The introduction was then followed up by the cheers of Team Yell. "Yeah! Go, Marnie! Go!" They waved flags with her faces and names on them, showing their full support, much like a fan club.
"And ranked 35th coming from Pallet Town in the Kanto Region, who bested Bea the Gym Leader and Gym Leader Melony and is currently on a winning streak, Ash Ketchum!"
"Go, Ash!" Rainbow Dash and Twilight would shout for Ash. But their cheers were suddenly broken up by Team Yell booing and taunting Ash.
"I can see it! A complete failure!" One of the grunts taunted, downplaying Ash as the taunts kept on coming.
"I can hear it! His losing cries of despair!" Another grunt bellowed.
"Today's battle will be One on One. Will both Challengers please send out their Pokemon." The Rotom Drone asked.
"Gengar! I choose you!" For Ash, he went his Gengar, who entered the scene.
"Gengar!" The shadowy figure materialized on the battlefield, its spectral presence sending a shiver down the spines of those who beheld it.
"Go! Grimmsnarl!"
"Grimmsnarl!" Opposite Gengar stood Marnie's Grimmsnarl, a towering and imposing Pokémon with an aura of dark power emanating from its hulking form.
"You can do it, Gengar!" Ash exclaimed, propping his Pokemon.
"Gar!"
"It's going to be me who'll be the Champion! So I'm coming at you at full force, Ash!" Marnie declared.
"Battle Start!" The Rotom Drone would kick the battle off at last.
"Use Spirit Break! Making the first move was Marnie.
"Grimm!" Grimmsnarl would generate a pink light from its body before rushing in, ready to get up close and personal with the Shadow Pokemon.
"Use Dazzling Gleam!" Ash already had a response.
"Gen!" Gengar would also generate his own light, ascending into the air and surrounding himself in a magical aura with multiple colours. The aura would expand in the shape of a circle, heading straight for Grimmsnarl. It collided with Grimmsnarl, causing a strong crackle of energy which ruptured the stadium floor.
However, despite being the power of Dazzling Gleam, Grimmsnarl managed to push through. Through the rainbows, Grimmsnarl emerged, pulling its fist back for a powerful blow. Only for Gengar to fly upwards some more, avoiding the hit with a constant smile on his face.
"Awww!" Team Yell would groan and shout at that Swing and a Miss. The disappointment from Team Yell was palpable, their hopes of an early victory dashed by Gengar's nimble evasion.
"Great! Use Ice Punch!" Ash thrust his fist into the air, capitalizing on this moment.
"Gengar!" Materializing in his fist was a chilling aura of ice. Spinning in the air a few times, Gengar brought his fist down on Grimmsnarl's body, landing a direct hit and sending the Dark-Fairy-Type down. Grimmsnarl found itself crashing to the ground with a resounding thud as shards of ice would fly upwards.
"Okay! Now use Shadow Ball!"
"Gar!" Gengar would follow up with Shadow Ball, generating a blob shadows in his hands, which he could carry with him while rapidly approaching Grimmsnarl.
"Grimmsnarl, it's time!" Marnie shouted. At that moment, Grimmsnarl raised his upper body up before suddenly bowing down.
"Gar?!" Gengar gasped. It looked like Grimmsnarl was surrendering based on the pose he was doing. On all fours and his head down? That did look like a surrender
"False Surrender!" But in reality, it was a False Surrender.
"Snarl!" Catching Gengar off guard, Grimmsnarl would summon some of his hair would rapidly fly forward. With lightning-fast reflexes, Gengar attempted to evade the incoming attack, but the relentless assault of Grimmsnarl's hair proved too swift to avoid entirely. Several strands struck true, delivering a powerful blow to the Ghost-Poison-Type Pokémon and disrupting its concentration in the process.
"G-Gen...!" Gengar groaned, rolling in the air a bit and recovering as he would then slide on the ground.
"Now that was a crushing blow." Marnie said, knowing that the blow Grimmsnarl got off would matter a lot. This was followed up by Team Yell's cheers now that Marnie got a hit in.
"That's Marnie and Grimmsnarl's speciality. But...That's not the full extent of their strength." Piers knew that they had more up their sleeve. Literally.
Lightly tugging her sleeve, Marnie had a Dynamax Band on her, waiting for the right time to use it. That was her ace in the hole, but the battle was still young. But of course, Piers noticed that Ash had a Dynamax Band on as well. He put it on for this very battle, making it obvious that he was planning to unleash the power of Gigantamax Gengar for the very first time.
"Now, Grimmsnarl! Here we go!" Lo and behold, Marnie was going straight for it, holding up her Dusk Ball and returning Grimmsnarl. Ash gasped as he knew what was coming next. Dynamax.
"My bro might not use it...But I will if it's to win! Gigantamax!" But it wasn't a regular Dynamax. Instead, it was a Gigantamax that Marnie had in store.
Marnie raised her Dusk Ball high, channelling her determination into the imminent transformation. As the ball burst open while expanding in size, energy surged forth, enveloping the stadium in a blinding light. In an instant, Grimmsnarl underwent a spectacular metamorphosis, growing to colossal proportions as it embraced the awesome might of Gigantamax.
"GRIMMSNARL!" Gigantamax Grimmsnarl was here. With a mighty roar, it sent a strong pressure across the arena. Holding up her Pokedex to read up on this was Twilight and Rainbow Dash.
"Grimmsnarl. The Bulk Up Pokemon. Gigantamax Form. By transforming its leg hair, this Pokémon delivers power-packed drill kicks that can bore huge holes in Galar’s terrain. Gigantamax energy has caused more hair to sprout all over its body. With the added strength, it can jump over the world’s tallest building."
Ash stood firm in the face of this formidable opponent, his determination unwavering as he prepared to meet the challenge head-on. With a steely gaze, he locked eyes with Gigantamax Grimmsnarl, his resolve burning brighter than ever.
"Marnie!" Suddenly shouting at her from afar was Piers, who brought his microphone here to make his voice clearer. Marnie gasped once she saw her brother present, who she didn't think would show up at all.
"Bro?"
"You've got this!" Piers shouted, his voice even overpowering the sound of Dynamax Energy in the stadium. With her brother's encouragement echoing in her ears, she felt a renewed sense of confidence surging through her veins.
"Use G-Max Snooze!"
"GRIIIIIM!" Gigantamax Grimmsnarl releases a beam of dark energy from either side of his head at the opponent as it would immediately flood the floor.
"Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Gengar!" Instead of using it as an attack, Gengar used the energy of Dazzling Gleam as a shield. The beams would fly in, crashing into the shield that Gengar formed. The beams aggressively beat down on the multi-coloured shield, trying to break through, but Gengar kept his defences strong.
"Hang in there, Gengar!"
"Gen...!" Gengar groaned as his feet were being pushed back at this moment. The energy kept on coming, trying to envelop the Shadow Pokemon. However, Gengar would not lower that shield even for a moment. The end result was a brilliant flash of Light and Dark that would combust.
From the dust, Gengar would be seen standing there, but his shield had been broken. The Ghost-Poison-Type staggered a bit as he put his all into stopping that attack. "Gengar! Are you alright?!"
"Gengar...!" Gengar was overwhelmed by the initial attack as the effects of G-Max Snooze were beginning to kick out. But he wasn't out of the battle yet. Grabbing his own face and stretching it, Gengar snapped himself back into his senses. "Gen!"
"Nice! He toughed it out!" Rainbow Dash cheered. The crowd was in disbelief as Gengar managed to ignore the effects of G-Max Snooze, keeping himself awake.
"I don't believe it, Morpeko...Has that ever happened before?" Marnie looked over at Morpeko, stunned by what she has just witnessed.
"Morpe. Morpeko."
"Has anyone toughed out G-Max Snooze?" Marnie narrowed her eyes before managing to crack a tiny smile. Slowly but surely, she was getting there. "These guys are kinda fun. No wonder he's so popular. I was right to chase after him."
"Go, Gengar! Use Sludge Bomb!"
"Gar!" Gengar was ready to attack the massive Pokemon standing before him. He would fly in at top speed, which prompted Grimmsnarl to try and stomp on him, only for the Shadow Pokemon to phase right through. The stomp caused a tremor as Gengar travelled in and out of Grimmsnarl, appearing right next to his head and over his shoulder. Grimmsnarl swung his arms, only for those to be phased through as well. Try as he might, Gengar's phasing ability was too tricky.
"Okay then! Use Max Quake!"
"SNAAAARL!" With a tremendous roar, Grimmsnarl flexed his arms and released a powerful shockwave from his body that sent pieces of the ground flying at the Shadow Pokemon.
"Gen!" Gengar would start flying around the incoming rocks which were accompanied by a dust pressure. Try as he might, one of the rocks connected, hitting him directly. With a growl, Gengar would throw two Shadow Balls forward at some of the incoming rocks and directly at Grimmsnarl.
Only for Grimmsnarl to effortlessly catch them. The Bulk Up Pokemon crushed the Shadow Balls in his hands like they were nothing, having even greater strength than before.
"Okay. Now it's our turn." Ash would hold out his Poke Ball as his Dynamax Band would shine. It was finally time for him to unleash this power. Despite the setback, Ash remained determined, his eyes locked on the battlefield as he strategized his next move. Gengar was brought back to his Poke Ball before it was then thrown into the air. "Let's go huge on this! Gigantamax!"
In an instant, the energy from Ash's Dynamax Band surged forth, enveloping Gengar in a brilliant light. The ground trembled as Gengar grew to colossal proportions, his arms emerging from the ground itself. He kept growing and growing before arriving in his new form, his appearance towering over the battlefield as he underwent the powerful transformation into Gigantamax Gengar.
"GENGAR!"
"Now we're talking."At last, Marnie was putting on another smile. This time, it was more visible. It was just as Ash said. Marnie was starting to see how battles with Ash could put a smile on someone's face.
"Gengar! Use Max Ooze!"
"GAR!" With a resounding roar, Gigantamax Gengar unleashed its powerful Max Ooze attack. A torrent of thick, sludgy liquid surged forth from its gaping maw, surging toward Gigantamax Grimmsnarl with incredible force.
"Use Max Starfall!"
"SNARL!" To counter this, Grimmsnarl would use Max Starfall. From above, massive stars would rain down, meeting with the ooze. The two attacks collided in mid-air, creating a spectacular clash of power and energy that sent shockwaves rippling through the stadium.
The combined forces of Max Ooze and Max Starfall created an explosion of dazzling light and swirling energy, engulfing the battlefield in chaos. The ground trembled beneath the sheer force of the collision as spectators watched in awe, marvelling at the intensity of the battle unfolding before them. The barrier around the stadium would even tremble at this collision.
But alas, with three moves used, Grimmsnarl was shrinking, reverting to his original form. His time with Dynamax was over while Gengar was just getting started.
"Way to go, Gengar! Max Hailstorm!"
"GEN!" Responding to his trainer's call, Gigantamax Gengar summoned forth a fierce blizzard of icy hailstones, which swirled around the battlefield with formidable force. The freezing tempest raged on, enveloping the arena in a whirlwind of chilling energy as it bore down upon its target, Grimmsnarl.
"Use Spirit Break!"
"Grimm!" Grimmsnarl advanced, running straight at the attack. He would leap over one of the hailstones that would combust behind him while dodging the rest. Despite the onslaught of hailstones, Grimmsnarl pressed forward with unyielding determination, his eyes fixed firmly on his target.
Drawing upon its inner strength, Grimmsnarl unleashed its signature move, Spirit Break, channelling its formidable power into a devastating blow aimed directly at Gigantamax Gengar. His attack landed square on Gengar's head, making him stagger.
"Man, it's strong...!" Ash commented on Grimmsnarl's strength.
"I think I'll be the winner today!" Marnie declared. "Grimmsnarl! Use Darkest Lariat!"
"Snarl!" With a resolute nod from its trainer, Grimmsnarl wasted no time in launching its next assault. Channelling its dark energy, it summoned forth a swirling vortex of shadowy power, forming it into the shape of a fearsome cyclone.
"Alright! Then use G-Max Terror!"
"GAR!" With a mighty roar, Gigantamax Gengar unleashed its full strength, unleashing a torrent of dark energy which was followed by items that surged forth to meet Grimmsnarl's Darkest Lariat head-on. Grimmsnarl kept spinning, knocking the massive items away while approaching Gigantamax Gengar.
"This is the end for Gigantamax Gengar. Go, Grimmsnarl! Get in there, now!"
"In that case..." Seeing that Darkest Lariat made Grimmsnarl seemingly unstoppable, Ash had a plan. With a glimmer in his eyes, another of his crazy approaches to battle would kick in. "Gengar! Swallow Grimmsnarl!"
Caught off guard by the unexpected manoeuvre, Grimmsnarl found itself enveloped by Gigantamax Gengar's ethereal form. Gengar shut his mouth completely. Marnie, Team Yell and everyone in the crowd were in shock.
"Aw, gross, Ash!" Twilight groaned. She expected this from Ash but it was still unsightly. With Gigantamax Gengar's form receding, the reality of the situation became even more apparent. Gengar's mouth remained firmly shut, still holding Grimmsnarl captive within its eerie confines, even in its regular size. But, he couldn't do it for long, eventually spitting him out.
"Gar!"
"Grim. Grimm...!" Grimmsnarl landed on the battlefield with a heavy thud, visibly dazed from the unexpected turn of events.
The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, astonished by the unconventional tactics employed by Ash and his Gengar. Team Yell's fervent support for Marnie continued, but there was an undeniable buzz of excitement rippling through the stadium as spectators marvelled at the intense showdown unfolding before them.
"Stomping Tantrum!"
"Snarl!" Grimmsnarl would then stomp his foot on the ground as this next attack would be highly beneficial. Since Darkest Lariat didn't properly connect, Stomping Tantrum's power was elevated. With each stomp, red lightning would crackle out. The force of the attack rippled through the battlefield, causing the ground to tremble beneath Gengar's feet.
"Use Shadow Ball! Go!"
"Gengar!" With all of his might, Gengar held up a ball of shadows that would swirl violently. The energy of Shadow Ball and Stomping Tantrum travelled through the ground, each reaching the opposing Pokemon.
The Shadow Ball surged forward with unstoppable momentum, piercing through the rocks and debris churned up by Stomping Tantrum. Its dark aura crackled with intense power as it raced toward Grimmsnarl, seeking to deliver a decisive blow.
Grimmsnarl braced himself against the oncoming assault, its form enveloped in the swirling vortex of energy. With a determined roar, it prepared to withstand the full force of the Shadow Ball, summoning its remaining strength for one final effort.
The Shadow Ball struck Grimmsnarl head-on, engulfing it in a brilliant explosion of shadowy energy. The impact reverberated throughout the stadium, casting a pall of tension over the spectators as they awaited the outcome of the fierce confrontation.
From the dust and smoke, Grimmsnarl could be seen sitting on the ground. He groaned, looking back at Marnie with determination in his eyes. But alas, that was all that he could do. Grimmsnarl had fainted.
"Grimmsnarl..."
"Grimmsnarl is unable to battle! Gengar wins! Thus, the winner of this battle is Ash!" With Grimmsnarl defeated, the tension in the stadium reached its peak as the crowd erupted into a cacophony of cheers and applause.
"Aw, yeah!" Ash jumped for joy in the air along with Pikachu while Gengar had a satisfied smile. Ash and Pikachu would run to Gengar's side, hugging him while he was exhausted. "You did it, Gengar!"
"Yes, yes!" Rainbow Dash raised her hooves into the air while Twilight had a relieved sigh.
"No way!" Team Yell was in disbelief, tearing up and absolutely gutted by this loss, meanwhile, Piers kept a smile on his face. The scene was filled with a mix of emotions, from jubilation and pride to disappointment and determination.
"Grimmsnarl...You did just fine." Marnie was proud of Grimmsnarl for giving it his best. She had no regrets. The crowd would continue to cheer after such a fierce battle that was brief but brilliant. There were even cheers for Grimmsnarl in the crowd, mainly from Team Yell. But even beyond that, the regular crowd admired Grimmsnarl's tenacity in the face of such a towering foe.
"As a result of today's battle. The World Championships Rankings will be updated." With the Rotom Drone speaking, on the massive screen, Ash's rank was beginning to change. No longer was he 35. He shot all the way up to Rank 15.
"Wow, look at that! Number 15!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, nudging Twilight excitedly. "Ash is really moving up in the world!"
Twilight smiled, her eyes shining with pride for her friend. "Just a bit more and he'll be in the Master's 8. He's so close."
As the afternoon sun bathed Wyndon Stadium in its warm glow, Ash stood outside with Marnie, Piers, and Team Yell, the excitement of the battle still lingering in the air. The bustling energy of the stadium had faded, leaving behind a sense of calm and accomplishment.
"Ash...That was everything I could've hoped for." Marnie said. "Thanks, Ash."
"No problem. Grimmsnarl had kinda worried though." Ash laughed. "Talk about power!"
Marnie chuckled. "Yeah, Grimmsnarl can pack quite a punch when he wants to. But you and Gengar handled it well."
"Marnie. Looks like I was wrong. You've grown stronger than what I've become." said Piers, wanting to make things right with his sister. Marnie turned to her brother, nodding silently.
"I know things have been tense between us lately," Piers began, his tone gentle yet sincere. "And I want you to know that I'm sorry for how I've been acting. I just worry about you, sis. Seeing you take all of this one while something wild's happening in the world... it's hard for me to sit back and watch."
Marnie listened, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders as her brother spoke. "I'm sorry too. I didn't take what you were thinking into account too, Piers. I was scared myself. A part of me wasn't sure that I could pull it all off. Even though I lost...it's not as bad as it should be."
"You can turn that loss into power." Piers smiled.
Marnie nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "Yeah... I guess we were both scared in our own ways. But you're right. I can turn this loss into power. And with your support, I know I can face whatever challenges come my way."
"Hey, Marnie!" Rushing over here were Team Yell with tears flying out. Seeing Marnie's uplifted spirits, Team Yell surrounded her, their usual loud and enthusiastic cheers echoing through the air. "You were great!"
"Because of your battle..." One of the grunts sniffled. "People wanna visit the Spikemuth Gym and take it on!"
Marnie's battle with Ash had sparked newfound interest in the Spikemuth Gym, drawing attention to the once-overlooked town and its gym. The grunts of Team Yell couldn't contain their excitement at the prospect of welcoming challengers from far and wide, finally seeing their town gaining the recognition it deserved.
"Really...?" Marnie was in shock. A part of her dream came to reality because of this battle. Battling Ash was truly worth it as she would face him once more. Marnie looked at Ash's smile as he kept his promise. He ended up doing what she hoped he would do. One major part of it anyway.
"Told ya." Ash uttered. With that, Marnie could finally unleash a proper smile. One of pure happiness and gratitude.
"Hey, Ash..." She would place her fingers on her mouth, forming a smile. "Thanks for everything. I'm glad I met you."
"No problem, Marnie," Ash replied with a warm smile of his own. Both would then shake hands once smiling at each other. "I won't forget to pass over some money, ya know. I'm not done."
"I know. Do you think I could come visit sometime? I hear a lot of Gym Leaders here in Galar visit Ponyville. It's not even your home though."
"You're welcome to do so." Twilight waved her hoof, glad to have Marnie over. "You're always welcome to Ponyville."
And so, as the sun sets on another day in the world of Pokémon. Ash and Marnie, whose paths crossed in a battle that ignited dreams and inspired hope. For in the heart of every trainer lies the courage to face challenges head-on and the determination to make a difference.
A new day at the Pokemon School once more. The students were already in the midst of their lesson, working on potions with Potion Nova as always. At the moment, they've managed to create their own potions that were on smaller scales, of course. Present here was Fluttershy, who had some of her Pokemon straight from the Pokemon House.
As promised, some of Twilight's friends would show up to help with the Pokemon School and an example was happening today. "Great work, class. Now, pass it on. These potions are sure to show you the inner workings of a Pokemon. You'll see their entire biology in the flesh instead of on a board or a book." Potion Nova said.
"This feels like it'll be too creepy..." Scootaloo gulped when holding up her potion. The implications of this would be rather disturbing for someone to look at, let alone a child.
"I've seen worse. Plus, how bad can it be?" Gallus uttered. "Their biology can't be that weird."
"You'd be surprised..." Potion Nova uttered. "Once you get to see their biology, you'll write about everything you know about them.
"Be gentle...!" Fluttershy was shaking violently, fearful of what these potions might do to her beloved Pokemon since their biology was about to be shown. Each of the students would hold up the potions to different Pokemon, who would take the potions without hesitation.
Once they drank the potions, the effect was kicking in, surrounding their bodies in a mystical light. Just like that, their entire biology had been shown, out in the very open for everyone to see.
The first to undergo the transformation was a gentle Bulbasaur, chosen by Sweetie Belle. As the potion took hold, the Bulbasaur's form seemed to shift and warp, its outer layer becoming translucent. The class leaned in, captivated, as they could see the inner workings of the Pokemon's biology laid bare. The intricate network of veins and organs pulsed with life, a mesmerizing and disturbing sight that simultaneously filled the students with wonder and a touch of unease.
Gallus could now see where Scootaloo and Potion Nova were coming from. The sight of this made his stomach churn a bit while also making him stutter. Each Pokemon had such a unique biology to them despite appearing so simple. The one that stunned all of them was Klefki.
Through the potion's effects, the class discovers the mystical properties imbued within Klefki's keys, which probably helps with the Fairy Magic. Each of the Pokemon could be seen with their respective Infinity Energies.
Fluttershy couldn't help but gasp softly, her eyes darting between her Pokemon and the spectacle unfolding before her. The thought of her beloved creatures being laid bare in such a manner was both exhilarating and frightening.
Despite initial apprehensions, Scootaloo found herself fascinated by the sight before her. The once daunting prospect of peering into the inner workings of a Pokemon now filled her with a sense of wonder and curiosity. Gallus, too, found himself drawn in, his skepticism melting away as he gazed upon the marvels of nature laid bare before him.
Potion Nova, observing the scene with a satisfied smile, nodded approvingly at the students' reactions. "Remember, class," She said, her voice gentle yet firm, "Knowledge is the key to understanding. You can learn about this when you head home too. We'll do one more before today finishes."
"One more, huh? Great!" Cozy Glow said with a bright smile. But in her head, all of this was just giving her ideas. She was seeing the biology of the Pokemon herself, gaining a greater understanding about how they work. For her rather devious plans, this was beneficial but on the outside, she played it off like it was a fun activity.
"Wow, Cozy! Amazing! You already wrote it all down!" Potion Nova saw that Cozy Glow had written down everything she gathered from their biology.
"That fast?" Apple Bloom peered over along with many other students. The pegasus sat there with a proud smile on her face while all of her classmates gathered around her.
"Let me copy off you!"A Dragon spoke, wanting whatever Cozy Glow got down immediately.
Potion Nova's praise washed over Cozy Glow like a warm wave, her smile widening as she nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, Potion Nova! I just found it all so fascinating," she replied, her tone carefully masking the true intentions swirling in her mind.
As the class prepared for one more demonstration, Cozy Glow couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement coursing through her. This opportunity to delve deeper into the intricacies of Pokemon biology was a valuable asset to her plans, providing her with insights and knowledge that could be wielded to great effect.
"Do you think I could get one Pokemon to test the potions out on?" Cozy Glow requested. "I mean, if you have it, Ms Fluttershy."
"Sure. Which Pokemon?"
"Could you get me an Electivire?" That was the Pokemon she wanted and in her mind, there was a purpose for it. "Electivire will help Necrozma a lot. Daybreaker will be so happy about how much light I'll give her, she'll have to put me on a higher rank than the rest. Plus, it's just a good Pokemon overall with a great benefit."
"Electivire?!" Fluttershy gasped before scrunching her face, thinking for a moment. "Mmm...I don't actually have an Electivire back at the Pokemon House. I have an Electabuzz though but I need to give him an Electrizer if he's to evolve."
"That's fine. I can just come over and-" Before Cozy Glow could say anything, her mind raced back to a brief conversation she had with Daybreaker's alliance. It was small but crucial since it mattered a lot in this situation. Cozy Glow remembered it in this way from the words of Empress Twilight herself.
"Listen carefully, brat. When you're at the school, under no circumstances can you let Cold Colt spot or even hear about you. Even if he doesn't go there. If he does, he'll tell everyone of the future. Believe me, I took you on in my universe and you were an issue, so don't do anything stupid."
"Nevermind. I can wait until tomorrow."She kept herself to the Pokemon School and nothing more.
"Alright, class. One more test run with the potions. Select your Pokemon and grab a sample of their DNA." Potion Nova said, continuing the lesson. As Potion Nova continued with the lesson, Cozy Glow's mind raced with thoughts of her plans and the cautionary words of Empress Twilight. She quickly pushed aside her desire to acquire an Electivire for testing, recognizing the potential risks involved in venturing outside of the safety of the Pokemon School.
But, she could still do something here. Gathering an empty potion bottle, Cozy Glow would scan the DNA options present in the classroom. Everyone had already grabbed some of them which mostly consisted of hairs. There was one DNA strand that Cozy Glow was interested in which no one else has taken that much of.
A piece of a Solrock, which fittingly appeared as a small rock, but with a visible solar light around it.
With a sly grin tugging at the corners of her lips, Cozy Glow seized the opportunity presented by the overlooked DNA sample of the Solrock. As her classmates busied themselves with their own experiments, she surreptitiously collected a small portion of the Solrock's DNA, careful not to attract any unwanted attention.
"When are we gonna try it on our Pokemon?" Smolder asked.
"If you want to, but maybe at home. We're only looking at the biology of other Pokemon right now, but nothing's stopping you."
"Cool! I bet Charmander and I have the same biology!" Smolder grinned when looking at her partner.
"Charmander!" Charmander agreed. These two seemed to be constantly on the same wavelength, acting the same.
"Why don't you just drink the potion yourself?" Silverstream suggested. "I already did."
"You what?!" Potion Nova gasped, dropping some books with her magic as she lost concentration. All the other students would face Silverstream, who had drank a potion.
"W-When did you drink it?! Just now?!" Fluttershy stuttered.
"No. I tried it out when we first had a go at this. I used my own hair." She proudly said. Despite drinking it earlier, Silverstream appeared normal.
"Hah..." Potion Nova sighed with relief. "These kids...Well, I made these potions for the Pokemon so it won't have a reaction to you. You'll be fine."
"Sweet." Silverstream grinned. But as soon as that was said, it was revealed the potion just had a delayed effect for the Hippogriff.
As the mystical light enveloped Silverstream's body, the classroom fell into a stunned silence. Potion Nova's earlier reassurances seemed to hang in the air, their validity suddenly called into question by the unexpected turn of events.
Panic flickered in Potion Nova's eyes as she rushed to Silverstream's side, her horn glowing with magical energy as she attempted to discern the cause of the delayed reaction.
Meanwhile, the other students exchanged worried glances, their thoughts racing with uncertainty and apprehension. They watched in stunned silence as the true nature of Silverstream's biology was laid bare before their eyes.
Every extensive detail of her anatomy was revealed in vivid clarity, from the shimmering scales that adorned her new alternate Seapony form to the delicate structure of her wings. The students, unaccustomed to witnessing such a phenomenon, found themselves grappling with a mixture of awe and fear as they beheld the transformation unfolding before them.
"Oooh...I feel cold all of a sudden." Silverstream shuddered. Some of the students felt sick looking at her biology, and some rushed out of the classroom as they were unable to bear this sight. "What happened?"
"Uh...See for yourself." Pushing a mirror here was Sandbar, who would show her the whole thing.
"Wow! Is that what I look like?! What all us Hippogriffs look like?!" Silverstream was amazed. So were the Hippogriff students.
"Let me try!" The other students of other species were now curious. Some Dragons and Yaks would immediately rip out their fur, hair and fragile scale they had on them just to see how they appeared from the inside.
"I really need to put some sort of safety on these potions." Potion Nova sighed. She still wasn't a pro when it came to taking care of children, but she was trying her best and was a beloved teacher. All she needed to do was find a way to restrain their impulses when she isn't looking.
The sight of Dragons and Yaks hastily plucking out fur, hair, and scales in their eagerness to witness their own biology laid bare was enough to make her realize the need for stricter safety measures in her classroom.
"Alright, alright, hold on a moment!" Potion Nova called out, her voice tinged with a note of urgency. She hurriedly moved to intercept the eager students, gently urging them to exercise caution and restraint.
"Let's not be too hasty, kids," Potion Nova said, her tone firm yet gentle. "These potions were still made with the Pokemon in mind so we have to be careful. We need to ensure that we proceed with caution and mindfulness. I understand your curiosity, but we must prioritize your safety above all else."
"Aw, come on. She looks completely fine!" A Changeling bellowed. "I'd like to see what we look like from the inside. I still have no idea what's in us that lets us transform."
"For now. Let's try and reverse this before something bad happens. I don't want Mount Aris breathing down on my neck. Or the entire Pokemon School." Potion Nova would quickly grab a potion meant for reversing this effect. "And just as crucial..."
With a deft flick of her horn, Potion Nova conjured up a set of safety protocols and guidelines, outlining the proper procedures for administering and handling the potions. She stressed the importance of moderation and responsibility, emphasizing that the pursuit of knowledge should never come at the expense of one's well-being.
"Aww..." The students were hit with limitations, making them groan and sigh as they placed the potions back down. While Potion Nova did enjoy the splendour of discovering new things, especially when it comes to her potions, she still put safety first.
"Hmmm...Do you think I could get a potion for myself?" Fluttershy chimed in, actually wanting a potion of herself. Her curiosity has been highly piqued. "Just for one thing."
Time passed and it became the afternoon. The students started leaving for lunch while some were heading straight home. Another lesson concluded with eventful moments here and there. No student had any regrets coming to this school.
"Those kids worry me sometimes, Twilight." Potion Nova said, present in the Principal's office. "They're so much fun to teach, but sometimes, they can get a bit out of control. I'm worried something bad might happen later down the road.
"Mhm. I remember how that was for me back in my old school." Twilight nodded in agreement, knowing that feeling all too well. Though she had once been a student herself, Twilight now found herself in a position of authority, responsible for the well-being and education of the next generation of Pokemon trainers in this ever-growing world. "Dealing with kids is never easy, especially if it involves a school. All kinds of chaos will happen there."
"I guess so. I never went to school myself. I always was my own teacher since I spent most of my time learning about potions."
"Well, you're here now. Here at the Pokemon School, we're a team, and we're all here to support each other, no matter what. If you ever have a problem, you can always come to me or any of your fellow teachers. Who knows? You might learn something from the students that'll help."
Potion Nova smiled appreciatively, a sense of warmth flooding her heart at Twilight's words. Though she had spent much of her life as a self-taught potion master, she now found herself surrounded by a community of educators and mentors who were eager to share their knowledge and support her journey. "Good to hear it. Now, I should probably get a soda...It's getting hot all of a sudden. Is it almost summer?"
"Mmm...It doesn't get this hot this fast. Summer isn't too far away but..." Twilight observed the heat. She wondered if the surge that Daybreaker and Gardevoir caused was still lingering somewhere around Canterlot.
While all the students were out of the classroom, sitting alone was Cozy Glow, who was still in the midst of a lesson. Her own lesson, to be exact. She made a potion that would allow her to see Solrock's biology, but that wasn't all. Skilled in her own potion-making skills, the young pegasus made another potion that served another purpose.
She played an innocent look on her face while looking at Solrock, who was confused as to why she was continuing for this long.
"Don't worry about it, Solrock. You helped out a lot. But I think I'm going to drink this." Cozy Glow beamed, holding out Solrock's Poke Ball. She would return it to its Poke Ball before placing it away.
As Cozy Glow sat alone in the empty classroom, a mischievous glint danced in her eyes as she gazed at the potion she had concocted. With a confident smirk, she reached out and grasped the vial containing the potion, her mind buzzing with anticipation.
"I know for a fact you'll be useful, Solrock. Not just for me, but also Necrozma," Cozy Glow whispered to herself, her voice filled with excitement as she lifted the vial to her lips.
With a swift motion, she downed the potion in a single gulp, feeling its effects coursing through her body almost immediately. As the mystical light enveloped her, she closed her eyes, preparing herself for the revelation that awaited her.
"Oooh..." Cozy Glow's eyes would flash and sparkle under the effects. She felt a surge of power coursing through her veins, her senses heightened and her perception sharpened to a razor's edge. With each heartbeat, she could feel the very essence of heat and temperature pulsating within her, a newfound mastery over this fundamental force of nature.
With a simple thought, Cozy Glow reached out, her mind effortlessly manipulating the temperature around her. With a flick of her wrist, she could raise the temperature to scorching heights, sending waves of intense heat radiating through the air. With a gentle exhale, she could lower the temperature to bone-chilling levels, enveloping her surroundings in a frosty embrace.
"This'll do just fine." Cozy Glow chuckled. "I'll make them all pass out from the heat with this. Plus, I get to read the emotions of others." All part of her plans as a member of Daybreaker's alliance. But Cozy Glow knew she had a time limit and couldn't keep effect forever. She had to make the most of it and indeed, she would.
As the students of the Pokemon School enjoyed their meal and break time, a sense of camaraderie and joy filled the air. Laughter and chatter echoed throughout the cafeteria as friends shared stories and enjoyed each other's company.
"Maybe we shouldn't stress out, Ms. Nova so much," Sandbar said, worrying for Potion Nova, much like how Potion Nova worries for the children.
"She needs to live in the moment." Smolder added. "Plus, it's not like she has that big a problem with us."
"I guess not," Ocellus commented.
But then, without warning, the temperature began to rise. At first, it was subtle – a faint warmth that crept into the air, causing a few students to fan themselves and loosen their collars in discomfort. Some attributed it to the sweltering summer sun, while others simply shrugged it off as a passing sensation.
But as the heat continued to intensify, it became impossible to ignore. Beads of sweat formed on brows, and the air grew thick and stifling with each passing moment. Confusion rippled through the crowd as students exchanged puzzled glances, wondering what could be causing the sudden spike in temperature.
"It's getting really hot in here," One student remarked, wiping sweat from their brow with the back of their hand.
"Yeah, I feel like I'm melting," another chimed in, fanning themselves with a nearby menu.
"Mmm..." The Yaks would feel this the most. They didn't have a problem with hotter temperatures even if they come from a cold place. After all, they could show up at Canterlot, home to the Sun Princess herself. But there was indeed a limit. The Hippogriffs, who sometimes live underwater as Seaponies, could also feel this heat themselves.
Beads of sweat formed on their fur as they exchanged uneasy glances, unused to such oppressive heat even in their homeland of Yakyakistan.
As the heat became more oppressive, panic began to set in. Some students started to feel lightheaded, their breath coming in shallow gasps as they struggled to cope with the stifling conditions.
However, amidst the struggling students, the Dragons stood out as the only ones seemingly unaffected by the sweltering heat. Accustomed to fiery environments and scorching temperatures, they remained composed and unfazed, their scales gleaming in the sunlight as they basked in the warmth.
"Come on! You guys can't be feeling woozy from this!" Smolder exclaimed along with Charmander. "It's just al little heat!"
"Little she says..." Gallus panted.
"Oooh..." Ocellus groaned before instinctively transforming into someone to cool herself. She immediately took on the form of a Frillish, attempting to stay cool. All the other Changelings would do the same, turning into Pokemon that can keep themselves cool.
While their classmates wilted under the oppressive heat, the Dragons seemed to thrive, their robust physiology allowing them to endure even the most extreme conditions with ease. With a stoic demeanor, they continued their activities, their focus unwavering as they carried on with their studies and training.
Cozy Glow's eyes narrowed as she observed the Dragons, her mind racing with thoughts and plans. The sight of her classmates remaining unaffected by the oppressive heat sparked a twinge of envy within her, fueling her determination to assert her own dominance and control.
"Mmm...I forgot about the Dragons. Cold-Blooded....Seriously?" She scoffed before thinking of a new way to advance her plans. "I might need another potion."
As the oppressive heat persisted, the students of the Pokemon School scrambled in search of relief, their desperate quest for coolness leading them to the vending machines scattered throughout the campus.
With a sense of urgency, they lined up eagerly, their eyes scanning the array of cold drinks and refreshing snacks available. Some reached for bottles of chilled water, their thirst unquenchable as they guzzled down the cool liquid in long, satisfying gulps. Others opted for flavoured sodas and juices, the sweet taste offering a brief respite from the sweltering heat.
But it wouldn't be enough. This was the heat of a Solrock after all and by having them pass out, Cozy Glow would have the opportunity to enact some of her plans without much eyes on her. Right now, that wasn't happening exactly. Not with the Dragons being completely fine and some Trainers ending out their own Pokemon to cool them off.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
In a frenzy, many of the students of the Pokemon School were feeling the heat. The sound of coins clinking and machines whirring filled the air as students frantically inserted money and pressed buttons, eager to quench their thirst and beat the heat. Bottles of chilled water, cans of soda, and packets of ice-cold snacks disappeared from the vending machines in a matter of seconds as the students clamoured for relief.
Outside, the courtyard was a hive of activity as students sought shade beneath trees or gathered around portable fans, desperate for even a hint of cool air. Some resorted to using makeshift fans made from paper or cardboard, while others simply sat with their feet dipped into buckets of cold water, hoping to find respite from the relentless heat.
"Ugh, it feels like I'm melting out here! Does anyone have any ice cubes? I'll take anything at this point!"
"Hey, pass me one of those cold drinks, will ya? I'm about to keel over from heatstroke!"
"I know! I'll try Ice Beam on myself. Maybe it'll help bring down the temperature a bit around here. Shellder, use Ice Beam!" A Hippogriff said to his Shellder.
"Shellder!" Blasting its trainer with ice, Shellder would freeze the Hippogriff. Alas, it didn't last long. The heat immediately melted all the ice away.
Exiting outside to see the effects of the heat and even feel the heat were Twilight Sparkle and Potion Nova. Both of them weren't feeling it as much all thanks to the magic that they put around themselves. "Looks like it's quite a scorcher out here," Twilight remarked, her expression calm as she glanced around at the students desperately seeking relief from the heat. "What caused this?"
"No clue. But at least the Dragons are fine." Potion Nova observed.
"Have no fear! I can fix this! Spheal, use Water Pulse!" Silverstream could be seen blasting others with her Spheal's Water Pulse to cool them off.
"How come you aren't feeling the heat as much?" A young earth pony asked, seeing how Silverstream didn't even appear wet, strongly implying that she didn't use Water Pulse on herself. But she was completely fine while her fellow Hippogriffs were sweating bullets.
"Mmm?" But Silverstream shrugged.
"Aaah..." Scootaloo would sigh, having her Seadra blast her with water to cool her off. The same went for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, who had Lotard and Prinplup do the same. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the heat wasn't going away any time soon and signs of the students passing out were beginning to show.
"Ooh, this is bad." Slilverstream grimaced when looking around her. Very few students here completely fine since some of the Dragons have left the school, heading home for the day or choosing to eat at home where all the gems were waiting for her.
Back in the classroom, Cozy Glow's mind whirled with thoughts and plans as she contemplated her next move. The sight of the Dragons remaining unaffected by the heat only fueled her determination to find a way to overcome their resilience. With a steely resolve, she began to devise a new strategy, one that would involve generating something chilly to counteract the Dragons' natural resistance to heat.
With a sly grin, Cozy Glow set her plan into motion, her mind buzzing with anticipation as she plotted her next move. Little did the Dragons know, they were about to face a chilling challenge unlike any they had encountered before.
"Let's see..." She looked at the potions in front of her, wondering which one would be cold enough. She needed a Pokemon that could generate a cold strong enough to threaten the Dragons. The pegasus brought over the box of Rental Pokemon, wondering which one was the right choice.
As she flipped through the options, her gaze fell upon a particular Pokemon that caught her eye – a Glalie, known for its ability to generate intense cold and ice. With a satisfied nod, Cozy Glow plucked the Poke Ball containing the Glalie from the box, a devious smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"This should do the trick," she murmured to herself, her voice filled with confidence as she held the Poke Ball in her hand. With the Glalie's icy powers at her disposal, she knew that she had the perfect weapon to counteract the Dragons' natural resistance to heat.
As Cozy Glow prepared to unleash the chilling power of the Glalie upon the Dragons, she felt a sudden wave of discomfort wash over her. At first, she brushed it off as nothing more than a minor inconvenience, but the discomfort grew into something more.
"Hooh...Why's it getting hot for me?" it was the lingering aftereffects that she hadn't accounted for. As the heat seeped into her body, she felt a profound sense of weakness and exhaustion wash over her, draining her of her strength and vitality.
"No way! But I thought I'd be immune!" she muttered to herself, a bead of sweat trickling down her brow as she struggled to maintain her composure.
Suddenly, the plan that had seemed so foolproof just moments ago now felt like a reckless gamble, one that had left her vulnerable and exposed. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She had underestimated the consequences of her actions, and now she was paying the price. The heat seemed to press in on her from all sides, suffocating and relentless, leaving her feeling drained and overwhelmed.
"Come out, you!" With a sense of urgency, Cozy Glow swiftly summoned the Glalie from its Poke Ball, hoping to harness its icy powers to provide some much-needed relief from the oppressive heat that enveloped her. As the Glalie materialized before her, its icy aura radiating a palpable chill, Cozy Glow wasted no time in reaching out to collect a sample of its DNA.
With trembling hands, she carefully extracted a strand of the Glalie's icy fur, her movements swift and determined despite the overwhelming heat that threatened to engulf her. As she secured the DNA sample, she felt a surge of anticipation, knowing that she was one step closer to finding relief from the stifling temperatures that surrounded her.
With the DNA sample in hand, Cozy Glow wasted no time in activating the potion she had prepared, hoping that the Glalie's icy essence would provide the cooling relief she so desperately needed.
"Oh yeah...Much better."
As Cozy Glow activated the potion, combining the DNA sample from the Glalie with her own concoction, she felt a sudden surge of energy coursing through her veins. At first, she welcomed the sensation, believing it to be the long-awaited relief from the oppressive heat that had enveloped her.
But as the moments passed, she began to notice a subtle change taking place within her. The icy cold of the Glalie's essence mingled with her own potion, creating a potent fusion of magic that she had not anticipated.
Suddenly, her surroundings began to warp and distort, as if reality itself was bending to the whims of the combined potions. Cozy Glow felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, her senses reeling as she struggled to make sense of the unexpected phenomenon unfolding before her eyes.
As the effects of the combined potions intensified, Cozy Glow found herself engulfed in a swirling vortex of magic, her form flickering and shifting with each passing moment. Panic gripped her heart as she realized that she had unwittingly unleashed forces beyond her control, and now she was at the mercy of the unpredictable fusion of potions.
"Glaile?" Glailie was just hovering there, confused. It had no context to everything behind this.
"Not good..." Cozy Glow would stumble, struggling to properly walk as her vision was greatly disrupted. As she stumbled forward, her hooves made contact with the ground, sending shockwaves of heat and cold rippling through the floor. With each step, the ground beneath her seemed to warp and distort, unable to withstand the intense energies that emanated from her.
In her panicked state, Cozy Glow failed to notice the damage she was causing, her focus consumed by the overwhelming chaos that threatened to consume her. It was only when she felt the ground give way beneath her hooves that she realized the extent of the havoc she had wrought.
With a gasp of horror, she looked down to see that she had burned holes through the floor with her scorching hooves, while simultaneously freezing a portion of the ground with the icy cold of the Glalie's essence. The sight filled her with dread, as she realized that she was no longer in control of the situation.
"Teacher!" Desperate, she called out for any one of the teachers.
Outside, Twilight Sparkle and Potion Nova sensed the sudden surge of chaotic magic emanating from within the Pokemon School. The fusion magic Cozy Glow created was emanating light that would beam through the windows.
"it's coming from inside..." Twilight noticed once seeing the light. She wished to deal with everything outside but the inside was far more volatile at the moment. Knowing that what was causing this originated from within the school, Twilight and Potion Nova quickly made their way inside.
As Twilight and Potion Nova hurried inside the Pokemon School, they were greeted with a scene of chaos and calamity. The intense heat that had radiated from the swirling vortex of magic had spread throughout the building, igniting anything combustible in its path.
With growing alarm, Twilight and Potion Nova rushed towards the cafeteria, where they could see billowing clouds of smoke pouring out from the windows. As they burst through the doors, they were met with the sight of flames leaping from the stovetops and spreading rapidly across the kitchen.
All the precious food everyone prepared had been set ablaze, charred or transformed into smaller bits. This left some students absolutely gutted.
"Aaww! My food!"" Potion Nova exclaimed, her voice filled with concern as she surveyed the scene before them. The food she was saving up was now on fire, completely ruined.
Without hesitation, Twilight sprang into action, summoning her magic to create a barrier around the flames in an attempt to contain them and prevent them from spreading further. Potion Nova followed suit, her own magic intertwining with Twilight's as they worked together to extinguish the blaze and ensure the safety of everyone inside the school.
With each passing moment, the flames began to recede, their intensity gradually diminishing as Twilight and Potion Nova poured all of their strength and knowledge into the task at hand. The students in the cafeteria were escorted outside immediately, distancing themselves from the flames.
"Ninetales!" Throwing her Poke Ball into the air, Twilight summoned her Ninetales into the fray. Not only was he immune to the heat, but he was also in possession of an ability well-equipped for this mess.
"It's all yours, Ninetales!" Twilight would let him have at the flames. With a smile on his face, Ninetales rushed in, gravitating the flames towards his body. With his ability Flash Fire, he could easily eat it all up, increasing his power, even if there was no one to battle.
The chefs here at the Pokemon School were already working hard to prevent the fires from getting out of control. Luckily, a few of them had Water-Types on their side to cool things off. Slowly but surely, they managed to bring the fire under control, until at last, the cafeteria was safe from harm.
That was one issue dealt with.
Exhausted but relieved, Twilight and Potion Nova surveyed the scene before them, grateful that they had been able to avert disaster once again. With a sigh of relief, they turned to each other, knowing that their quick thinking and teamwork had saved the day once more.
"That's great but...where's the root of the problem? This heat still isn't leaving." Potion Nova questioned.
"It looked like it came straight from the second floor of the school. But it might be on the move too." Twilight answered. As Twilight and Potion Nova pondered the source of the persistent heat, a sudden chill swept through the Pokemon School, sending shivers down their spines. They exchanged puzzled glances, sensing that something else was amiss.
"Now w-w-w-what?!" Potion Nova shivered. As the bizarre mix of extreme temperatures enveloped the Pokemon School, chaos reigned supreme. Students and staff alike found themselves caught in the grip of the conflicting elements, with some sweating profusely while others were frozen stiff.
Twilight and Potion Nova, unable to escape the effects of the drastic temperature changes, found themselves immobilized by the intense cold that surrounded them. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, their breath forming frosty clouds in the frigid air as they struggled to maintain their composure.
Despite their best efforts, they were unable to break free from the icy grip that held them in place, their movements sluggish and laboured as they fought against the numbing cold that threatened to overwhelm them.
"Ninetales!" Ninetales was still present, being the answer to this. After seeing his Trainer frozen in place, the Fox Pokemon would stand near her, using his own body heat to melt the ice. As the ice began to thaw under the heat of Ninetales' fiery aura, Twilight's movements gradually returned to her, her limbs no longer frozen in place.
With a grateful smile, Twilight reached out to stroke Ninetales' mane, her voice filled with appreciation. "Thanks, Ninetales...Haaah..." Ninetales would soon free Potion Nova and Espeon, melting the ice away. But Ninetales was just one Pokemon. He needed way more support than this.
Outside, Smolder finally fell prey to the effects. She shuddered on the spot, along with the Dragons. Charmander was completely fine, noticeably, having his advantage over Ice after all. All those who had Fire-Types were doing their best to melt away the ice.
Meanwhile, going straight to the source to see if she could help was Silverstream. "I'm the only one who doesn't feel anything somehow. This'll be a great time to help everyone! Then we'll all be friends with ease, Spheal!"
"Spheal!" Spheal agreed, also being immune. As Silverstream and Spheal ascended the stairs to the second floor, she noticed the lingering chill in the air and the remnants of ice that coated the walls and floor. Unlike the others, she remained unaffected by the extreme temperatures, her natural resilience to cold serving her well in this frozen environment.
The hallways were coated in ice, giving the entire area an otherworldly and frozen appearance. The remnants of the fusion magic were evident, with frost clinging to the walls and floor, casting an eerie glow in the dim light.
As Silverstream cautiously made her way through the icy corridors, her sharp eyes scanning the frozen landscape for any clues, she failed to notice a particularly slippery patch of ice right in front of her.
"Oh...Waagh!" With an unsuspecting step forward, Silverstream suddenly found herself losing her footing on the slick surface. Arms flailing wildly, she let out a yelp of surprise as she began to slide uncontrollably across the ice, picking up speed with each passing moment.
She landed flat on her face due to losing balance, sliding on the floor. Meanwhile, Spheal was rolling on the floor, perfectly in his element. Frantically, Silverstream tried to regain her balance, but her efforts only seemed to send her careening even faster down the hallway, her hooves slipping and sliding on the icy surface. Silverstream managed to cover a lot of ground with these speeds, even if unintentionally.
Eventually, Silverstream's wild ride came to an abrupt end as she collided with a nearby wall, the impact causing her to rebound and land in a heap on the ground.
"Oough..." As Silverstream lay on the floor, still recovering from her unexpected collision with the wall, she blinked dazedly as she noticed a figure standing nearby. It was none other than Cozy Glow, who appeared to be completely out of it, her expression vacant and her movements sluggish.
With narrowed eyes, Silverstream struggled to make sense of the situation. Had Cozy Glow been responsible for the chaotic fusion magic that had engulfed the school? And if so, what had caused her to become so disoriented?
Gathering her wits, Silverstream pushed herself up from the floor and approached Cozy Glow cautiously, her curiosity piqued. "Cozy? Are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
"Spheal?!"
"H-Help!" Cozy Glow shouted at the top of her lungs, melting away some decorations on the wall. She was a walking hazard due to the elements around her. And if she wasn't melting anything, she was freezing it over.
"Whoa, Cozy, calm down!" Silverstream exclaimed, dodging a spray of melted decorations as she reached out to steady her friend. "You're causing quite a commotion."
"H-How are you fine?!" Cozy Glow would soon notice how Silverstream was acting like nothing was wrong. Neither hot nor cold. "Was it the potion you drank...?"
"Hm?" Silverstream thought for a moment, thinking back to the potion she drank that showed her biology to the class. "Well...I did actually put a bit of Spheal's DNA in it. Not just mine. I guess both of it mixed."
That explained why she was completely fine. She had the benefit of resisting the heat and the cold because Spheal was resistant to both. That one mistake made a huge difference.
"I know how to stop this!" Silverstream gasped, coming to her own conclusion. "Spheal! Use Rollout!"
"Wait! What do you mean Rollout?!" Cozy Glow screeched. Silverstream's solution was to have Spheal hit Cozy Glow. While she was the source of the problem, she didn't think it would be dealt with in this way.
"Duh. If it's Fire and Ice, then we've gotta use the one thing that's strong against both. I learned my Type Charts, ya know." She proudly said. "Don't worry! Spheal will make it harmless and it'll be a quick knockout."
"What kind of logic is that?!" Cozy Glow shouted, her voice carrying strong aggression which almost brought out her true self to Silverstream. But before she could continue, along came Spheal, rolling towards her.
As Spheal rolled towards Cozy Glow, Silverstream's heart pounded with anticipation, hoping that her plan would work. She watched anxiously as Spheal gained momentum, the icy Pokemon speeding towards Cozy Glow with determination.
Cozy Glow's eyes widened in horror as she realized what Silverstream had in mind. "No, wait!" She cried out, but it was too late. With a powerful collision, Spheal slammed into Cozy Glow, the force of the impact sending her sprawling to the ground.
For a moment, there was silence as Silverstream and Cozy Glow both held their breath, waiting to see the outcome of the collision. Slowly, Cozy Glow began to stir, groaning as she lifted herself up from the ground. The energy around her had been shattered by Spheal's Rollout. By attacking the source, the potion's effects had been compromised.
To their relief, Cozy Glow appeared to be unharmed, though slightly dazed from the impact. She was on the verge of passing out as she could barely handle a weakened Rollout. Cozy Glow was still a child at the end of the day.
"What... what just happened?" She muttered, her voice filled with confusion. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Such a simple and silly plan solved it all.
Silverstream let out a sigh of relief, relieved that her impromptu plan had worked. "Told ya! It worked! You're okay!" she exclaimed, rushing to Cozy Glow's side to help her up.
The chaos began to dissipate and the effects of Cozy Glow's uncontrollable magic faded away, a sense of relief washed over the Pokemon School. The oppressive heat and bone-chilling cold that had gripped the halls began to recede, replaced by a gentle warmth that enveloped the school.
Silverstream couldn't believe that their seemingly simple plan had worked so effectively.
Cozy Glow's eyes twitched. Her major plan came to an end in such a simple way. While she was glad to be free from the energy around her, she was also annoyed that no one had fainted. If anything, she was the one who was the closest to fainting from that Rollout.
As she glanced around at the relieved faces of the other students and Pokemon, Cozy Glow couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. It seemed that everyone else had escaped unscathed from the chaos, while she had borne the brunt of the consequences, nearly fainting from the impact of Spheal's Rollout.
"No way..." Her eyes twitched with irritation as she watched the others celebrate their victory, their laughter and chatter grating on her nerves. In that moment, Cozy Glow couldn't help but wonder if perhaps she had underestimated her opponents, or if her own plans had simply fallen short of her expectations.
"Great, right? Wait till I tell everyone about this! Now they'll have to be my friends since I saved them!" Silverstream cackled with joy. "What were you doing with all of that around you anyway?"
"I was...trying to stop it with a potion. But it backfired." She was technically telling the truth, but still lying, making sure to hide her true intentions. But despite her frustration, Cozy Glow knew that she couldn't dwell on her defeat for long. There would always be another opportunity to enact her schemes and prove herself as a formidable force to be reckoned with.
"Forget it..." She would sigh, walking off and deciding to call it a day.
As Twilight and Potion Nova entered the second floor, they were met with the aftermath of the chaos that had unfolded. Ice still clung to the walls, while melted decorations lay in puddles on the floor.
"What happened here?" Twilight asked, her brow furrowed with concern as she glanced around at the melted decorations and frozen surfaces.
Silverstream sighed, her gaze flickering briefly towards the spot where Cozy Glow had been moments before. "Well, you see..." She would gladly spill what she discovered.
Despite the simplicity of her plan, Silverstream received praise and recognition for her quick thinking and resourcefulness in bringing an end to the chaos that had engulfed the Pokemon School. Teachers and fellow students alike commended her bravery and ingenuity, grateful for her role in averting a potentially disastrous situation.
As she basked in the praise and admiration of her peers, Silverstream couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her accomplishment. Though her solution may have seemed straightforward, it had been effective in bringing about a swift resolution to the crisis, and for that, she was grateful.
Would this bring her more friends? Maybe. One thing was for sure, she left her own impact and gained notoriety. Cozy Glow, who was away from the Pokemon School, looked at the building as she knew her time there wasn't over. She was going to keep going there until she hit the jackpot.
In the heart of the Changeling Lands, Queen Chrysalis stands before a gathering of young Changelings, their eyes wide with curiosity as they listen to their queen speak. The air is charged with anticipation, as the Changelings eagerly await Her Majesty's words.
"My dear younglings," Queen Chrysalis begins, her voice commanding attention as she addresses the eager crowd, "Today, I want to ask you a few things. About the Pokemon School.
The Changelings lean in closer, their interest piqued by their queen's words. They had grown accustomed to the wonders of their transformed homeland, but the arrival of the Pokémon School had sparked a newfound sense of excitement for them all."
"So...How has the Pokemon School been treating you?" Chrysalis questioned the young Changelings. The Changelings exchanged eager glances, their excitement palpable as they prepared to share their experiences with their queen. One of the younger Changelings stepped forward, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.
"It's been amazing, Your Majesty!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement. "We've been learning so much about Pokémon and their trainers. The bond they share is truly inspiring!"
The other Changelings nodded in agreement, their voices rising in chorus as they shared tales of their adventures at the Pokémon School. They even brought up the heat that they felt yesterday thanks to Cozy Glow's shenanigans. Everything about the Pokemon School was brought up.
"Hm. Wonderful."Chrysalis closed her eyes. Her faith in the Pokemon School was perfect. "I expected nothing less."
"Ocellus. What about you?" Chrysalis faced the shy Changeling. "You were the most eager to go to the Pokemon School, surprisingly."
Ocellus, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness under Queen Chrysalis's gaze, took a moment to compose herself before responding. Her usually timid demeanour softened as she found her voice.
"I-I was really excited to go, Your Majesty," Ocellus admitted, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.
"Really? Not too long ago, you said that it can get a bit too hectic for you. I assume that the lessons are enjoyable enough to keep you going." Chrysalis continued.
Ocellus paused, momentarily taken aback by Queen Chrysalis's astute observation. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before responding.
"Well, it's true that the Pokémon School can be overwhelming at times," Ocellus admitted, her voice tinged with honesty. "But...it's not all bad. It can be fun a lot of the time. I think I can make my own potion now."
"Hm. I see. Perhaps I should swing by that school here and there. Does Ash show up there?"
"Not all the time. I think I've only seen him once." Ocellus replied. "He doesn't visit it that much since he's always doing something else."
"Just once? Tch." Chrysalis kissed her teeth, turning her head to the side. "What a waste..."
"Yeah. That's because Her Majesty still likes him!" One of the Changelings laughed, prompting the others to giggle and snicker.
Chrysalis's expression shifted, a hint of embarrassment crossing her features as the other Changeling's comment hit a nerve. Clearing her throat, she composed herself before addressing the group.
"Laugh now, but eventually, some of you will fall in love with other species," Chrysalis replied, stunning the younger Changelings.
"Ewww!" The young ones would grimace and shout at such a thought.
"Oh, grow up! You all can transform!" Chrysalis bellowed, her voice carrying a mixture of exasperation and amusement.
"I wish I could see Ash too," said Ocellus by herself, her voice barely audible amid the chatter of the other Changelings. She was also hoping that Ash would show up more often to the Pokemon School. Chrysalis heard this herself amidst all of the noise.
"Tomorrow's Career Day for us." Another Changeling raised her hoof, bringing another discussion.
"Career Day?" Chrysalis replied, her interest piqued by the mention of Career Day. Though she had initially been focused on addressing Ocellus's longing for Ash, she couldn't help but feel intrigued by the prospect of the Changelings exploring potential career paths.
"Mhm. We get to be anything in the future. Gym Leader. Elite 4 Member. Coordinator and all of those things."
"Surely you all don't want to be Gym Leaders. I know for a fact you'll trick the Trainers by transforming into someone else, making sure they never get their badges. I'm looking at you, specifically."Chrysalis could see through her children, already knowing what some of them were plotting."
The Changelings froze, their eyes widening in surprise as they realized that Queen Chrysalis had seen through their potential mischievous intentions. Some of them shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny, while others tried to suppress guilty smiles.
"Well, think about what you wish to do tomorrow. Get yourself ready and I will personally show up to see what options there are."She ordered.
The Changelings exchanged glances, a mixture of apprehension and excitement bubbling within them. They knew that Queen Chrysalis's presence at Career Day meant that they would need to approach the event with sincerity and earnestness, setting aside any thoughts of mischief or deception.
As they began to contemplate their future career paths, the Changelings felt a sense of determination wash over them. They knew that their choices would shape the course of their lives in the merged world, and they were determined to make the most of the opportunities presented to them.
Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Day.
A day had passed and the Pokemon School was open once more. This time, it was focusing on Career Day. Inside the school, classrooms had been transformed into showcases of various career paths, each adorned with colourful displays and informative posters. Trainers and Pokémon wandered from booth to booth, eager to learn more about the opportunities available to them in the merged world.
Here to offer these careers were specialists in each field. The classic Gym Battles and Pokemon Contests plus the Pokemon Breeders.
Some students already knew what they wanted to be. 4 years of getting used to the Pokemon World has allowed them to have many favourites.
At the Gym Battles booth, a certain seasoned Gym Leader shared stories of epic battles and strategies, inspiring aspiring trainers to hone their skills and challenge the Gyms scattered throughout the region. That Gym Leader was once a teacher of the Pokemon School before it changed.
Roxanne. Gym Leader of Rustboro.
Her presence immediately drew the attention of the students, many of whom had fond memories of her guidance and mentorship in their earlier years.
"Roxanne! It's so good to see you again!" One of the young ponies said. The ponies were the only ones who knew Roxanne well while many other races were just now meeting her for the first time.
"Good to see you all too. You look like you've been doing well." Roxanne replied. As the ponies gathered around Roxanne, eager to catch up and share stories from their time at the Pokémon School, the other students looked on with curiosity, intrigued by the camaraderie and familiarity between their pony classmates and the Gym Leader of Rustboro.
"Seeing you here means that some of you have decided on becoming Gym Leaders. Right?" The Gym Leader asked.
"I did!" A colt raised his hoof. More of them would raise their hooves, admitting that they were interested in such a role.
As more students raised their hooves, expressing their interest in becoming Gym Leaders, Roxanne couldn't help but feel a swell of pride in her heart. It was a testament to the dedication and passion of the next generation of trainers, and she was honoured to have the opportunity to guide them on their journey.
"That's wonderful to hear!" Roxanne exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "Becoming a Gym Leader is a noble pursuit, one that requires dedication, skill, and a deep love for Pokémon battles. I have no doubt that each and every one of you has the potential to excel in this role."
Roxanne set to work, sharing her knowledge and experience with the aspiring Gym Leaders. Even after her time at the Pokemon School, she still had more to learn and further knowledge to impart. Drawing from her own students at the Rustboro Gym, who had learned under her tutelage over the years, she brought them forward to offer guidance and support to their fellow classmates.
Meanwhile, the other species already knew what they wanted to tackle just from a first glance.
Amidst the bustling activity of Career Day at the Pokémon School, a group of students gravitated towards the Poke Star Studios booth, their eyes alight with excitement at the prospect of pursuing a career in movies. Among them were trainers eager to showcase their skills on the big screen, as well as ponies who had already made a name for themselves in the world of film.
At the forefront of the booth stood members of Poke Star Studios, seasoned professionals who had dedicated their lives to the art of filmmaking. With their expertise and guidance, the aspiring actors and filmmakers listened intently as they shared insights into the industry, offering advice on everything from auditions to scriptwriting to directing.
Among the students, a select few ponies had already established themselves as rising stars in the world of film. Rarity, with her keen eye for fashion and flair for drama, had become a beloved icon in the world of cinema, captivating audiences with her elegance and charm.
Speaking of Rarity, she was invited to today's career day as a representative for Equestria. Each of the PokeStar Studios panels had their own representatives here.
"So...How about it?" Rarity wiggled her eyebrows. "The benefits that come from this are unparalleled. I promise you. Making a movie for the first time was absolutely wonderful, especially with what you get to use."
"Do we? I hear you just stand around one place and you don't do much." A Griffon said. "Sounds boring."
"For the most part, yes. You do just stay in one room that uses the backgrounds. But!" Rarity exclaimed. "There are times when you can go to real-life locations and use them as a set."
Her words sparked a renewed interest among the students, their curiosity piqued by the prospect of exploring real-life locations for their film projects.
"Well, not at your age anyways. Even so, just imagine, darlings," Rarity continued, her voice carrying a sense of wonder, "the thrill of bringing your vision to life in breathtaking locales, from bustling city streets to tranquil countryside vistas. The possibilities are simply endless!"
"I know!" A Dragon raised a finger. "I'll make a movie around a volcano! That'll do the trick!" The other dragons agreed. Greatly. It seemed that they all wanted to film next to a volcano.
"Well, you might have to keep your distance or the equipment will melt." Rarity still wanted them to be careful. Filming a movie in public does carry risks compared to doing it in a studio."
After the dragon's enthusiastic suggestion about a volcano-themed movie, Yona, a yak, raised her hoof with excitement, eager to share her own idea.
"Ooh! Yona have an idea too!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "Yona think movie about ancient ruins would be very interesting!"
"You know some ruins? Where?" Rarity asked.
"Yona doesn't tell any yak about this. Prince Rutherford would be angry." Alas, Yona couldn't share it. She's already spouted it out with a bellowing voice.
"Mmm..." Rarity narrowed her eyes. "Well then, if you say so." The other PokeStar Studios representatives would speak, imparting their knowledge to those were interested.
As Career Day at the Pokémon School continued, the area dedicated to Pokémon Contests was also active and populated. Organizers from various regions had gathered to share their expertise and offer guidance to aspiring coordinators, eager to inspire the next generation of performers.
Among them, the significance of the brief contest held during the fourth Pokémon Festival was not lost. What had started as a small event with only one performance stage had now taken on newfound importance as a way to provide mentoring opportunities for younger coordinators.
In this crowd, the Changelings and Hippogriffs were the most gravitated towards the Pokemon Contests, easily seeing the beauty in them. One could see the Changelings having tremendous potential in contests due to their shapeshifting abilities. After all, the Coordinator can also get involved in the performance by pulling off their own tricks. Not just the Pokemon.
"Here it is. Very soon, we'll be opening a Contest Training Facility. It won't just be the first one in all of Equestria, but the entire world." One of the employees said.
"In the entire world?" Sweetie Belle, who as already a coordinator with enough ribbons to enter the Grand Festival, marvelled in awe along with her fellow students.
"Is that what that contest was about?" Another filly spoke.
"Yes, that's correct," the employee confirmed with a smile, nodding at Sweetie Belle's incredulous reaction. "We're very excited to be pioneering this initiative. Our goal is to provide aspiring coordinators like yourselves with the resources and training they need to reach their full potential in the world of Pokémon Contests. We'll probably build it somewhere around...Manehattan. Or Las Pegasus. One of the two."
"You'll be taught by seasoned Coordinators or even Retired Coordinators." Another employee said. "That way, you can walk into a contest with gifted knowledge. Unless you still want to learn on your own and that's fine.
"Ooh! Ooh!" Sweetie Belle raised her hoof. "Does that involve me? I have enough ribbons for the Grand Conference."
"So do I!" Another young coordinator said. They were all ponies since most of the Pokemon World was introduced to the ponies first and the other species were starting to catch up with Dragons and Griffons having some experience in the earlier years.
"Hehe. Well, you all are a bit young for that, aren't you?" The employee chuckled, kneeling to get to their level. "But, you can teach your classmates."
"I get to be a mentor...?" Sweetie Belle's eyes widened. She would receive a tutoring role of her own, much like how Ash taught her how to battle and Dawn plus Fantina taught her Contest Skills.
With the widest grin on her face, Sweetie Belle turned to her fellow classmates, her chest puffing out with pride as a smile formed on her lips. The young unicorn was about to take full advantage of the opportunity to be a mentor, knowing firsthand the value of mentorship and guidance in her own journey as a coordinator.
"Listen up, everyone!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "You'll be learning from some of us. Just follow our lead and you'll be good in no time. It took me just 4 years to get this good! Almost 5!"
"Do we have to though?" One of the Dragons said. Specifically, a Dragon who was the most clothed out of everyone here. Wearing glasses, and a dress to stay concealed the appearance of this young dragon was rather familiar but not distinguishable.
In secret, this Dragon was Smolder. She was purposefully hiding herself from the others since she did not want anyone to know that she was into contests. Especially not around her fellow Dragons. She made sure no one knew it was her. In fact, she was the only Dragon interested in the Pokemon Contests. "I bet I can teach myself." Smolder said.
"Well...I've never taught anyone myself. None of us have." Sweetie Belle shrugged. "First time for everything though!"
"Ah! I know someone who could use some teaching!" Silverstream bellowed. "My cousin's mom, Queen No-" Before Silverstream could finish, she instinctively scrunched her mouth, cutting off her own sentence. She knew about her auntie Queen Novo's path to becoming a Pokemon Coordinator, but she obviously had to keep it a secret. "Nevermind. Nothing!"
"Smolder! Smolder!" Suddenly, a voice was calling out to Smolder, causing her to flinch. That voice came from none other than Garble. "Where'd she go?" Currently, she was searching for her, but was unable to spot her sister's disguise. She obviously wore this disguise in secret where no one else would see her. As if her reputation depended on it, Smolder couldn't afford ot let anyone see her gravitate towards Pokemon Contest.
Elsewhere, Ocellus wandered through the bustling halls of the Pokémon School, her gaze flitted from one career booth to another, her mind swirling with thoughts and possibilities. Despite the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding Career Day, Ocellus couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that gnawed at her.
With each passing booth, she found herself drawn to different career paths—Pokémon breeding, Ranger training, battling, and even filmmaking—but none of them seemed to resonate with her on a deeper level. She felt lost, unsure of where she truly belonged in this vast and ever-changing world.
As she continued her journey through the school, Ocellus couldn't help but feel a pang of self-doubt. Why couldn't she find a career path that spoke to her? Was there something wrong with her for not feeling passionate about any of the options presented to her?
Lost in her thoughts, Ocellus found herself wandering aimlessly, her footsteps echoing in the empty corridors as she searched for answers. She knew that she couldn't stay undecided forever, but the pressure to choose a path weighed heavily on her shoulders.
There was no career that struck a core. All of her fellow Changelings found something. But not her. "Hm. Nothing. I thought some of these would excite me enough but..."
In the distance, Chrysalis would notice her, currently speaking to Twilight Sparkle who was overseeing all of this. Chrysalis glanced in the direction of Ocellus, her sharp gaze honing in on the young Changeling who seemed lost in her thoughts.
But right as she kept on moving, Ocellus would bump into someone, stopping in her tracks. After bumping into this character, she instinctively transformed into something to make herself unseen, blending into the background to avoid detection. Chrysalis furrowed her brow in curiosity, wondering who Ocellus had encountered and why she felt the need to hide. But with a smile on her face, she knew exactly who it was.
To her surprise, the figure Ocellus had bumped into turned out to be Ash, who had unexpectedly shown up at the Pokémon School that day. Chrysalis observed the interaction with interest, intrigued by the encounter between the young Changeling and the renowned Pokémon Trainer.
"Ocellus? Is that you?" Recognizing her, Ash would speak Ocellus's name.
"Ash? You're here?" Ocellus would reappear in her original form, deciding to appear as herself in front of Ash. "What are you doing here?"
"Chrysalis invited me here. Came to me yesterday and told me about Career Day." Ash explained, revealing that Chrysalis was behind this. The conversation from yesterday came back for this very moment. "Is something wrong? You seem pretty down."
"Pika?" Pikachu would also ask. Ocellus hesitated for a moment. But ultimately, she decided to confide in him since she wasn't afraid to speak to Ash directly.
"I... I've been struggling to find a career path that excites me," Ocellus admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Everyone else seems to have found something they're passionate about, but... I'm still searching."
As she spoke, Ocellus couldn't help but feel a sense of vulnerability, but she also felt a glimmer of hope knowing that she had someone like Ash to confide in. Perhaps he could offer her the guidance and support she needed to find her way forward.
Ocellus's eyes brightened at the thought of adventuring, inspired by Ash's words. "Maybe... I could be like you! Is adventuring a career?" she asked eagerly, her voice filled with newfound enthusiasm.
Ash scratched his head in response, considering Ocellus's question carefully. "Uhh... not really. You kinda just do it. Get out there and see the world. That's what I do," he explained with a shrug.
Ocellus's excitement faltered slightly as she processed Ash's response. "Oh... I should've known," she murmured, her disappointment evident in her voice.
"If you wanna adventure, nothing wrong with that. But are you sure ready for the wide world out there?"
"I'm not sure myself. I was just thinking of doing what you do. Being an adventurer means I'd have to see so many other faces. Maybe I shouldn't go for that just yet."
"What about the Pokemon School? Made a lot of friends here?" Ash would then start walking with Ocellus, asking her a bit more."
"Only a few. Not that many. I don't even make that many friends back home." Ocellus admitted. "At least I don't feel as lonely as before. Did you come to today's career day with a different career?"
"Nah. I don't have a career of my own." Ash was simply here to have fun. "But if you're on the fence about this, stick to the friends you've made right now. And when you're ready, maybe you'll figure out what you wanna do."
"Is that what you did?"
"I already knew what I wanted to do way back then. I always just wanted to see the world when I was a kid." Ash smiled, feeling nostalgic at that moment. "Never regretted it once."
Ocellus listened intently, feeling a sense of reassurance wash over her. As she walked alongside Ash, she couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of hope and determination.
"All my other friends had their reasons for getting out there. Some of them are still on their own journeys. You've still got time to think, Ocellus." Ash reassured, knowing this would be too soon for Ocellus. She wasn't quite ready. "But if there's another path you wanna take..."
"I'll figure it out. I just haven't found something that sticks with me yet. Coming to the Pokemon School was the only thing I was excited for." Ocellus smiled. "I haven't regretted this one too."
Ash returned her smile, glad to hear that she had found some joy and fulfillment in her time at the Pokémon School. He knew Ocellus since he encountered her before when the Changelings were still in their previous forms. Next to Thorax, she was certainy one of the few Changelings to deviate from the old ways. "Good luck. Pikachu and I will be rooting for you. Just like how your new friends will."
"Pikachu!"
As Career Day at the Pokémon School continued, students from all walks of life explored the various booths and opportunities available to them. From Pokémon battling to contest coordination, from Pokémon breeding to ranger training, the school buzzed with excitement and anticipation as students considered their future paths.
Throughout the day, guest speakers and specialists shared their knowledge and experiences with eager students, offering insights and advice to help them navigate their career choices. Some students found their passions ignited by the possibilities laid out before them, while others continued to ponder their options, taking comfort in knowing that they had time to explore and decide.
Meanwhile, Ash spoke with students and guests alike, chatting with familiar faces too. Twilight and Chrysalis both approached Ash, their initial intentions to speak with him were overshadowed by their long-standing rivalry since they both had the same thing in mind. Chrysalis invited Ash here for two reasons. One of them was to spend quality time but Twilight had the samae thing in mind.
Sparks seemed to fly between them as they engaged in a heated exchange, their voices rising in argument while Ash remained blissfully oblivious to the tension brewing around him. He was just having the time of his life.
As the day drew to a close, students left Career Day with newfound inspiration and clarity, ready to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and exploration. And though the future remained uncertain, they had a lot to look forward to in their lives. Eveyrthing was waiting for them to discover bit by bit and step by step in this ever-growing Grander World.
The lovely Crystal Empire. Even at night, it shines beautifully. And at this moment, while many were asleep, currently, five individuals set foot into this area. It was none other than Lena Ketchum, Diadora and Team Rocket. On their quest to find the 18 Shards, they arrived at the Crystal Empire. Lena's special hunch led them here while Team Rocket were rocking a new disguise for the night. This time, appearing as Mimes.
The streets were eerily quiet, save for the occasional whisper of the wind and the distant twinkling of crystalline structures. As they made their way through the labyrinthine streets, Lena's intuition led them towards the heart of the city, where the shards of Arceus's Life Plates were rumored to lie hidden.
"This place should definitely have a shard," Lena spoke. "Are you sure we shouldn't just ask them? We had no problem asking the Changelings."
"Best that we don't. The Crystal Empire and the Changelings Lands are two different things. The Sableye can be a nuisance so they'll probably take the shard.
"You don't think the Sableye found them first?" Diadora gasped quietly, making sure she wouldn't alert anyone.
"Impossible. The shards were broken into smaller pieces but after that, they can't be broken again." Lena answered. "Plus, my hunch tells me that the shards are still buried somewhere here in the Crystal Empire.
"That's why we'll keep them busy." James said. He and Team Rocket were tasked with occupying the Sableye in the chance of them finding the shards. Once those shards are out in the open, the Sableye will come running straight for them.
"We're already knee-deep in their territory. Those troublemakers have probably already sniffed out the shards we have." Jessie uttered. "Well, they won't get the best of us once we get their attention."
"I'm not sure what a Mime is but alright then," Lena said before taking out the Celestica Flute. When playing it, she would summon a Noble Pokemon to her aid. With a crack in the sky, the flute would tap into the past, summoning none other than Ursaluna.
But unbeknownst to them, they were also being watched. Staying up late at night was the older Princess Flurry Heart of another universe. Her baby self was currently asleep alongside her parents, but she was still active even at this time, looking through the castle windows and spotting Lena's group.
With a chuckle, she already had a lot of thoughts brewing in her mind. She looked behind her to see her family still asleep, making sure she wouldn't wake them up. Careful not to disturb her sleeping family, Flurry Heart tiptoed away from the window, her heart pounding with anticipation. She knew she couldn't let this opportunity pass her by, not when there was a chance for excitement and adventure just beyond the castle walls.
With practised stealth, Flurry Heart trailed Lena's group through the winding streets of the Crystal Empire, her presence masked by the shadows of the night. Keeping a safe distance, she observed their every move, seeing what they went for.
As Flurry Heart continued to observe Lena's group from the shadows, she noticed Team Rocket and Diadora spring into action, their eyes darting around the darkened streets in anticipation of the Sableye's arrival. With practised precision, they took on their roles as Mimes, mimicking movements and gestures to blend seamlessly into the bustling cityscape.
"This is stupid..." Diadora grumbled. She was very much not used to or even aware of what a Mime was. She looked ridiculous and felt ridiculous.
"You look a lot like Ghetsis, you know that? The ponies here aren't fond of him so you'd better keep looking like this. Don't blow it for us." Jessie replied, knowing that the residents of the Crystal Empire could potentially match Diadora to Ghetsis. They both had Green Hair and those piercing red eyes
Meanwhile, Meowth took charge of Lena's massive bag, ensuring that the precious shards remained safe and secure. With a watchful eye and a keen sense of vigilance, he guarded their most valuable asset, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
As Lena's group continued to navigate the labyrinthine streets of the Crystal Empire, Flurry Heart couldn't shake the feeling of excitement that coursed through her veins. With each passing moment, their quest grew more perilous and thrilling, and Flurry Heart found herself eagerly anticipating the challenges that lay ahead.
As the night wore on, the streets of the Crystal Empire came alive with activity, the Sableye emerging from the shadows like silent spectres, their gleaming eyes fixed on Lena's group with unmistakable intent. Just as they expected. They were here for some crystals to take with them, but much like how Lena had a hunch for the shards, so did the Sableye. They crawled ontop of the buildings and walls when arriving at the Crystal Empire like they always do.
"Sable? Sableye?" The Sableye uttered, eyeing down Lena's group from a distance. Specifically, their eyes locked onto the bag where the shards were, buried underneath a plethora of other items. They felt like they were about to hit the jackpot but these shards weren't like the many crystals, gems and other stones they feast on.
Unbeknownst to the others, Diadora's eyes locked onto the Crystal Heart, her senses tingling with a truly mystical energy as she felt the magic of the artefact begin to stir. With a sense of intrigue and curiosity, she found herself drawn towards its pulsating light, her mind swirling with possibilities.
As she gazed upon the Crystal Heart, Diadora felt a strange sensation wash over her, as if the very fabric of time and space was bending to reveal something hidden within its depths. And then, in a flash of light, she saw it. Glimpses of a potential future, a path laid out before her like a tapestry woven from the threads of fate.
In these visions, Diadora saw herself standing at the pinnacle of power, her influence stretching far and wide across the land. Much like her uncle, the King of Pokelantis, her dream to be a ruler was not yet expunged as the lessons she gathered from her uncle all those centuries ago did not vanish.
She would promptly stop her Mime Act, walking straight towards the Crystal Heart and looking further into the future. In it, the Crystal Empire showed her what could be. The chance to be a ruler again, but at a cost. The absolute defeat of the Ketchum Bloodline.
The downfall of Ash, who had risen to become the King of the Sea. In this future, Diadora saw herself as the victor, and her vengeance against Lena and her family finally realized.
Diadora basked in the vision of her own triumph, a smile beginning to form on her lips. But at that moment, the Crystal Heart revealed one final glimpse of the future that shattered her newfound confidence. In a fleeting moment, the visage of Ghetsis, her descendant, appeared before her, his imposing figure casting a shadow over the scene.
In that brief but impactful moment, Diadora felt a chill run down her spine, her breath catching in her throat as she beheld the formidable presence of her own descendant. His face was etched with unbridled terror, his eyes ablaze with a fierce determination that sent shivers down Diadora's spine.
Shocked by this unexpected revelation, Diadora staggered backwards, her mind reeling with the implications of what she had just witnessed. Diadora wasn't exactly sure what she should make from that visage.
"Are you alright?" Flurry Heart would suddenly appear behind Diadora, giving her a scare. Diadora would screech, causing a noise this late at the night that was sure to wake someone up. It definitely woke up on guard who was sleeping on the job.
As the guard stirred from his slumber, alerted by the unexpected commotion, Diadora quickly composed herself, her mind racing as she tried to gather her thoughts in the aftermath of the startling encounter.
"Who are you?" Diadora groaned.
"Princess Flurry Heart's the name. I thought Mimes weren't supposed to talk though. Well, I guess Mr. Mime can talk but..." Flurry Heart introduced herself.
"Princess...? You're a Princess as well?"
"Are you one too?" The young alicorn gawked as she was standing before a fellow Princess. "Sweet!" But when raising her voice, she quickly covered her mouth, making sure to not disturb anyone else. "I mean, sweet. I didn't think I'd meet another princess tonight. What are you the princess of."
"Um...N-Nothing." Admittedly, she was no longer a proper princess. The kingdom she used to be apart of is long since gone. She knew that much. She couldn't even be the Princess of Pokelantis since it was now just an abandoned, once-thriving ancient city. Even the possibility of being the Princess of the Sea Temple was out of the question. Ash was the King, Manaphy was the prince and Diadora had nothing.
Flurry Heart's eyes widened with curiosity as she listened to Diadora's response, her youthful enthusiasm undimmed by the revelation that her new acquaintance was no longer a princess in the traditional sense. She had to wonder which region Diadora came from if she was a princess.
Hard to say since she was currently wearing Mime Clothes instead of her usual attire.
"Nothing? But everyone has to be a princess of something!" Flurry Heart exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over despite her efforts to keep her voice down. "Maybe you're the princess of... of..." She trailed off, furrowing her brow in concentration as she searched for a suitable title.
"It doesn't matter." Diadora scoffed. "I'm just here to play the role of a Mime. That is all."
"Gee. Didn't look like that to me. You saw into the Crystal Heart. It showed you your future, didn't it?" Flurry Heart already knew so. She's seen this scenario before.
Diadora's facade of indifference faltered at Flurry Heart's astute observation, her gaze flickering with a mixture of surprise and apprehension. Despite her attempts to maintain a facade of detachment, it was clear that Flurry Heart's words had struck a chord within her.
"I... I suppose it did," Diadora admitted reluctantly, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she glanced back towards the Crystal Heart, its shimmering light casting an ethereal glow across the night.
"It was a bad future, wasn't it?"
"Not at all. I saw myself being the Princess I should've been all those years ago." Diadora shook her head said, partially telling the truth. She definitely wasn't going to mention the part about Ghetsis. "That is the best possible future to me. But...Surely, that heart guarantees the best possible future for you. Right?"
"Well, kinda..." Flurry Heart rolled her eyes and her voice. There have been examples where someone has ended up in the future the Crystal Heart showed them. The biggest example was without a doubt King Sombra. Former King of the Crystal Empire. However, he has managed to defy that future even after succumbing to it for thousands of years, befriending Ash and becoming his ally. The same went for Radiant Hope, who was predicted to become an alicorn. Yet another princess.
But in a mission to save her friend Sombra from the darkness, she never took that path and instead chose a different future. At best, she was a psuedo-alicorn. The Crystal Heart's power to show the future was practically spot on, but the possibility of deviating from that future was there.
However, breaking this moment up were the Sableye, who were on the move, creeping up on Meowth. Meowth was keeping an eye out of the Sableye, but there was something amiss. He couldn't see them at all.
The mischievous Pokémon, cloaked in the shimmering material of the Crystal Empire, crept through the shadows with silent intent, their eyes fixed on Meowth, who stood guard over the bag containing the shards. Knowing that Meowth was on the lookout, the Sableye had come prepared, adapting to their surroundings to blend seamlessly into the night.
"Wuzzat? Who's there?" As Meowth's ears perked up at the sound of approaching footsteps, a sense of unease washed over him. Before he could react, two of the Sableye lunged forward with surprising agility, their bodies blending seamlessly into the shimmering surroundings of the Crystal Empire.
With lightning-fast reflexes, they snatched the massive bag containing the shards from Meowth's grasp, their movements swift and precise as they vanished into the shadows with their prized prize. Despite Meowth's valiant efforts to defend the shards, the Sableye's cunning tactics had caught him off guard, leaving him powerless to stop their brazen theft.
It didn't make sense to Meowth. He could hear them, but he couldn't see them. And surely, he'd be able to see their figures at least, even if they were covered in the crystals. But he could at least see which crystals the Sableye managed to take. In their hands were the Flying and Ground Shards.
"Oh, nice. They're doing that camouflage thing again." Flurry Heart spoke as this was not the first time she's seen them do this. "But they don't usually do it unless it's something important they need to take."
"The shards!" Diadora bellowed. The shards were very important. She could care less about waking up the city if it meant the safety of the shards which were just food to the Sableye.
"Nnhh!" Jessie and James would cease their Mime Act as they were unable to keep the Sableye away from the shards.
"How did they slip by without Meowth seeing them?" Diadora wondered. She couldn't even see them herself. Only hear the footsteps and see the shards.
"Umm..." Flurry Heart knew the answer to that, scratching her mane sheepishly. "I might've helped them out with that. They wanted my help so I cast a spell on them that makes them invisible depending on the camouflage they use. It was for safe and good purposes, I swear!"
"Whatever. You all!" Diadora shouted at the Sableye, grabbing their attention. "I can't see you'd better drop those shards immediately!"
Diadora's stern command echoed through the night air, cutting through the tension as she addressed the mischievous Sableye who held the stolen shards in their grasp. Though she couldn't see them herself, she knew that they were lurking somewhere nearby, their presence betrayed only by the telltale sound of their voices.
"Sable... Sableye!" The Sableye chattered excitedly, their gleaming eyes darting about as they revelled in their ill-gotten gains. Despite Diadora's demand, they showed no signs of relinquishing their hold on the shards, their playful nature shining through even in the face of danger.
Knowing that Diadora wanted these shards, instead of eating them right away, the Sableye would hold onto them, teasing the ancestor of Ghetsis.
Frustration welled up within Diadora as she watched the Sableye toy with the shards, their actions a brazen display of defiance against her authority. They laughed and jumped around before immediately bolting off once they saw Team Rocket approaching.
"Come back here, you little...!" Jessie roared aggressively, attempting to swipe at one of them, only to miss completely. Following them, Diadora lunged forward, her determination overriding any sense of caution as she pursued the fleeing Sableye with unwavering resolve. Team Rocket and Diadora moved around frantically, their shouts of frustration echoing Diadora's own as they raced through the streets of the Crystal Empire in hot pursuit.
In their haste, Jessie accidentally tripped over one of the Sableye, who purposefully stood there to throw her off balance, sending her sprawling onto the ground with a loud thud. James, attempting to leap over her, ended up crashing into a nearby lamppost instead that was pushed there by the Sableye. Multiple of them used their combined strength to move this lampost.
"K-Knock it off!" Meowth got a bit too close, causing some of the Sableye to swarm him and tickle him aggressively. Meowth cackled uncontrollably, tears flowing out his mouth as the lights in the Crystal Empire were being turned on. By this point, many of its residents were wide awake.
Meanwhile, Diadora, determined not to be outdone, attempted to cut off the Sableye's escape route, only to slip on a patch of ice and careen headfirst into a nearby snowbank. Flurry Heart, attempting to lend her assistance, found herself entangled in a tangled mess of ribbons and bows, her attempts to extricate herself only serving to further ensnare her in the chaos.
"Maybe I made the spell too efficient..." Flurry Heart grumbled.
But despite their best efforts, the Sableye proved to be elusive adversaries, darting through the shadows with uncanny speed and agility. Try as they might, Diadora and her companions struggled to keep pace, their frustration mounting with each passing moment as the Sableye vanished into the night, taking the stolen shards with them.
"Drat! I can't see them!" James bellowed. Seeing the Sableye was annoying since all they had to go off were the shards themselves.
"They think they can outdo us?" Jessie put on a devious smile. "We'll see about that!"
Meanwhile, Lena and Ursaluna continued their search for the shards, the sounds of chaos echoing through the night caught their attention. Lena could only guess that Team Rocket had met with the Sableye, as supported by the laughter of the Sableye in the distance. "Hm. Maybe I should help." Lena pondered.
"Ursa."
"Oh? Did you find it, Ursaluna?" Lena asked, wondering if Ursaluna found the shards. Indeed, Ursaluna was close, picking up on that familiar scent. Lena grinned as another shard would be obtained once more.
With Ursaluna's keen senses leading the way, Lena closed in on the spot where the shards were believed to be hidden. As Ursaluna came to a halt and began to dig, Lena watched with anticipation, her heart racing with excitement as she prepared to uncover the precious artefacts.
With each scoop of earth, Ursaluna drew closer to their goal, the anticipation building with each passing moment. Lena's hunch told her that they were on the right track, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as they neared their objective.
Thankfully, Ursaluna's efforts paid off. With a triumphant bark, she unearthed the shards, revealing them glimmering in the moonlight. This time, she discovered the Steel-Type Shards, their metallic surface reflecting the light of the moon with a dazzling brilliance.
"Great! It's the Steel Shards. Excellent work, Ursaluna. That makes four Shards obtained." Right as Lena got off Ursaluna's back, when going straight for the shards, she found out that she wasn't the only one going after them.
Popping out of the ground as well as another Sableye, bathed in crystals. Startled by the sudden appearance of another Sableye, Lena's heart raced with surprise. She hadn't expected to encounter another one so soon.
"Sable! Sableye!" Most notably, she saw that this Sableye was using the Ground-Type Gem. Lena's eyes widened in shock as she realized that one of the shards she had collected was now in the hands of the Sableye.
"Ah! The shard!"
"Eye!" Laughing at Lena, this Sableye didn't come alone. It dug a path for its fellow Sableye, allowing them to move underground. Heads of Sableye would pop out of the ground rapidly, surrounding Lena and the Steel-Type Shard.
At that moment, Lena lunged for the Steel-Type Shard, her heart pounded with determination, knowing that she had to act quickly to prevent the Sableye from snatching it away. But to her dismay, the mischievous Pokémon had anticipated her move, and before she could fully grasp the shard, they lunged forward en masse, their gleaming eyes fixed on their prize.
With a collective cry, the Sableye descended upon Lena and the Steel-Type Shard, their movements swift and coordinated as they attempted to wrest the precious shard from her grasp.
"Sable!" The Sableye would crawl up her body, trying to remove it from Lena's grasp. The ancestor of Ash Ketchum grimaced, shuddering at the feeling of all these Sableye crawling up here.
"Ow-Ow!" Some of them were even clutching onto her hands, trying to force them open. Lena would frantically move around, shaking some of the Sableye off. She continued to shake and shimmy, her movements becoming increasingly wild as she tried to dislodge every last one of the pesky Sableye from her person. With every shake and shimmy, she could feel the grip of the Sableye loosening, their relentless hold gradually weakening under her wobbly onslaught.
"S-Sableye!" And then, with a final, determined shake, Lena managed to dislodge the last of the Sableye from her person, sending them tumbling to the ground in a flurry of mischievous laughter. With a triumphant grin, she tightened her grip on the Steel-Type Shard, holding it aloft as a symbol of her victory over the relentless Sableye.
"Ha! Not so tough now, are you?" Lena taunted, her voice filled with satisfaction as she stared down at the defeated Pokémon. "I win!"
"Sable...Sableye!" But that just prompted the Sableye with the Ground-Type Shard to utilize its power. It only had the shard for a few minutes but it already figured out that they were more than just pretty items. The signature colour of the shard would glow in its clutches, as Sableye was tapping into the power of the Ground itself.
With a surge of energy, the mischievous Pokémon unleashed its newfound power, causing the ground beneath Lena's feet to tremble and quake.
"Oh...Woah!" Before she could react, the earth began to shift and churn beneath her, sinking downward with alarming speed. Lena's eyes widened in shock as she felt herself being pulled downward, her feet sinking into the soft soil as the ground gave way beneath her.
With a gasp of surprise, Lena stumbled backwards, desperately trying to regain her footing as she found herself sinking deeper into the earth.
"Ursa!" Ursaluna let out a concerned roar, quicky following Lena, in an attempt to help her. But despite its efforts, the ground continued to swallow Lena whole, the power of the shard rendering her helpless against its relentless onslaught. With each passing moment, she sank deeper and deeper into the earth, her heart pounding with fear as she struggled to break free from its grasp.
Lena found herself submerged in the earth up to her waist, her surroundings dark and damp as she struggled to regain her bearings. With a frustrated grumble, she rubbed her head, casting a wary glance up at the Sableye hovering above her.
"Tricky little fellas..." Though she couldn't understand their motives, Lena sensed that the Sableye had left her without any malicious intent. Nevertheless, she couldn't shake the feeling of frustration and annoyance at being left in such a predicament.
"Fair play. But I already figured out how to use these a while ago." With a smile forming on her face, Lena would hold up the Steel-Type Shard which she managed to hold onto. Immediately, she also harnessed its power, shocking the Sableye.
With a fortified focus, Lena channelled the power of the Steel-Type Shard, summoning its energy to create a sturdy pillar of steel beneath her. With a surge of power, the pillar rose from the ground, providing Lena with a stable platform to stand on.
Using the pillar as a foothold, Lena propelled herself upwards, her movements swift and agile as she ascended back to the surface. With a triumphant grin, she emerged from the earth, standing tall and resolute as she surveyed the scene before her.
Meanwhile, Ursaluna wasted no time in springing into action, its instincts kicking in as it chased after the startled Sableye. With a fierce determination in its eyes, Ursaluna pursued the mischievous Pokémon, its powerful strides carrying it swiftly across the ground as she closed in on its quarry.
The Sableye scrambled in a panic, realizing that they were no match for Ursaluna's speed and agility. With a series of frantic cries, they darted away, their laughter echoing through the night as they fled from the determined pursuit of the loyal Pokémon. Not until they used the Ground-Type Shard. The Sableye in possession of it used the shard on its legs to boost its movement speed, mimicking Ursaluna's.
By doing this, the Sabeleye would then hold onto its brethren, allowing them to run faster as well. Thanks to this, they managed to easily outpace Ursaluna.
"You won't get away!" Lena grinned, continuing to use the shard's power, but not before sending Ursalune back to her time. She played the flute with her other hand, causing that crack in the sky to absorb Ursaluna. She was thankful for the Peat Pokemon's help, but based on how things were developing, Ursaluna might not be able to keep.
Lena then created steel platforms that would rapidly rise from the Crystal Grounds, rapidly stepping on each of them to keep up with the Sableye.
As Lena continued her pursuit of the Sableye through the streets of the Crystal Empire, the residents were roused from their slumber by the commotion unfolding outside their windows. With bleary eyes, they peered outside, their surprise turning to shock as they witnessed the unexpected sight before them.
The sight of Lena, with her determined expression and steel platforms rising beneath her feet, racing through the streets in pursuit of the elusive Sableye, was unlike anything they had ever seen before. Murmurs of confusion and awe rippled through the crowd as they watched the scene unfold, unable to tear their eyes away from the mess that was happening this late at night.
With a resigned sigh, one of the ponies voiced their thoughts aloud, their tone tinged with a mixture of annoyance and exasperation. "Ah... Are those Sableye causing trouble again?" They remarked, their words echoing the sentiments of many others in the crowd.
Indeed, the residents of the Crystal Empire had grown accustomed to the antics of the Sableye, whose penchant for mischief and mayhem often led to chaos and disruption in their peaceful city. Though they were used to dealing with the occasional antics of the mischievous Pokémon, it seemed that tonight's escapade was proving to be particularly troublesome.
"Now's my chance!" Taking advantage of this, Lena leapt high into the sky, using the power of the shard once more, this time in the air. While airborne, she made the Steel-Type Shard coat her body in a glimmering light. Like the Sun beaming down on Steel, she became a star in the night sky, blinding the Sableye.
"S-Sableye?!"
The sudden burst of light caught the Sableye off guard, blinding them momentarily as Lena descended upon them from above. With a determined gleam in her eyes, she landed gracefully amidst the startled Pokémon, her presence shining like a beacon of hope in the darkness.
With a swift and decisive motion, Lena seized the opportunity to reclaim the stolen shards, her movements swift and agile as she outmanoeuvred the bewildered Sableye. With a triumphant grin, she held the shards aloft, their gleaming surfaces reflecting the light of the Steel-Type Shard as she reclaimed them from the grasp of the mischievous Pokémon. "Gotcha!"
"Eye..." As Lena emerged victorious, reclaiming the stolen shards from the defeated Sableye, she couldn't help but notice their resigned expressions. It became apparent that the Sableye had given up their pursuit, their mischievous antics coming to an end as they accepted defeat.
In reality, the reason they didn't already eat the shards was due to them playing around. The residents of the Crystal Empire, accustomed to the antics of the mischievous Pokémon, were not surprised by this revelation. They had come to expect such behaviour from the Sableye, knowing that their actions were often more playful than harmful.
"Better luck next time~" Lena winked. "That was also a lot of fun!"
But it wasn't over yet. The other Sableye that had the Flying-Type Shards were still an issue that Diadora and Team Rocket couldn't overcome.
And the level of difficulty it brought showed as the Sableye could be seen flying into the air. They had also used the power of the shards to gain the power of flight. "Hah...Long night."
Exhausted and worn out from the frantic chase and the chaos that ensued, Team Rocket and Diadora found themselves on their knees and sprawled out on the ground, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as they struggled to catch their breath.
Jessie wiped the sweat from her brow, her expression one of frustration and exhaustion. "I can't... believe... those Sableye... got the better of us," she panted between breaths, her voice strained with fatigue. "Curse it!"
James nodded in agreement, his energy depleted from the frantic pursuit. "They're just as troublesome as they were when under Vampire Control." he admitted, his words punctuated by heavy gasps for air.
Diadora, equally exhausted from the ordeal, could only nod in weary agreement, her breaths coming in shallow gasps as she struggled to regain her composure.
As Lena approached Team Rocket and Diadora, holding the Steel and Ground Shards in her hands, she offered them a reassuring smile. "Well, I can see you all tried. Don't worry. I know for a fact they won't get away from us," she assured them, her voice filled with confidence despite the challenges they had faced. "The night's still young."
Team Rocket and Diadora exchanged weary glances, their exhaustion evident in their expressions. However, Lena's words of encouragement served to lift their spirits, reminding them of the importance of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity.
"Oooh! Can I come with you?" Flurry Heart exclaimed eagerly, her voice filled with enthusiasm as she looked up at Lena with pleading eyes.
Lena blinked in surprise, not expecting the young Princess to join their group. She wasn't sure who she was, but she could tell that Flurry Heart was a princess.
"Well, um... I suppose so," Lena replied, a hint of uncertainty in her voice as she considered the implications of having the young Princess accompany them on their quest. "After we're done here, we're going elsewhere. I already have a good hunch as to where the next shard is. We'll be going straight to Hisu- Or I guess in this case, Sinnoh next."
With Flurry Heart now joining in just for the fun of it, Lena and her team were off to pursue the Sableye and retrieve the Flying Shard before they could get too far. It was off to the cold regions of Equestria based on where they were heading.
During a search for more of the shards, Lena's group dealt with those crafty Sableye who managed to snatch one of the shards. The Flying-Type Shard. At this very moment, the Sableye, who have covered themselves in crystals to blend in with the Crystal Empire's environment were taking flight. Now that they were away from the Crystal Empire, their camouflage would drop in efficiency.
"Is that what happened with those shards, Miss Lena?" Speaking to Lena was the older Flurry Heart, who was caught on up the whole Shard Debacle. The group were pursuing the Lena
"Mhm. It was also my fault. I got a bit too rash at that moment since I was thinking on the spot." Lena said. "I didn't plan to break them into smaller pieces but...that was the only option that would've worked."
"You never told us about who else was going after them." Jessie questioned. "Who else would want those shards? Besides anyone who knew what they could do."
"I didn't? Guess not!" Lena laughed. "I'm surprised it was just the two of us going for it. I also didn't think he'd have such intentions. I still don't get why you would do that. Volo..." She spoke the name of the one also pursuing the shards. For the first time, they heard the name Volo.
"Who's Volo?" Flurry Heart asked.
"Well...Someone I still consider a friend of mine." Lena spoke. "Even if he's the reason we're in this mess. It was back when I first appeared in Hisui. Meeting the Professor, Akari and everyone there.
200 Years Ago. Hisui. Day.
In her early days in the Hisui Region, Lena's path intertwines with that of Akari, a member of the Galaxy Expedition Team, and other inhabitants of Jubilife Village. She still had memories of the past which had not been lost and Lena vividly remembers seeing the golden silhouette of Arceus, who sent her here. For what reason? She still had no clue.
I was made a member of the Galaxy Expedition Team by Captain Kamado and it was my job to study Hisui, much like them. No one knew where I came from so they didn't know what to do with me. And I knew for a fact that I was too far from my own time. But even so, it wasn't hard for me to get used to everyone there.
Despite never having caught a Pokémon herself, Lena's extensive knowledge and firsthand experiences with these creatures from her travels in the ancient world make her a unique and invaluable resource to Akari and the Galaxy Expedition Team. Lena's approach to Pokémon is rooted in empathy, observation, and mutual respect, rather than the conventional methods of capturing and battling.
Not that Lena was skilled in it anyway. She still couldn't use a Poke Ball after all, seeing it as an apple. She would even start biting the early rendition of a Poke Ball and the biggest surprise was the fact that her teeth didn't hurt.
"Don't bite into it, Miss Lena!"Akari bellowed.
It felt like I was starting a new life in that world, even though I knew I had to return to my time soon. I got the chance to meet so many more Pokemon in Hisui. Jubilife Village reminded me of my own village back in the past. Even after being thrown into the future, I still felt at home.
One day, while exploring the rugged terrain of the Hisui Region, Lena's path intersects with that of Volo, a passionate researcher and mentor figure much like herself.
"Oh. Are you the one who fell from the sky?" Volo said, already aware of how Lena got here. "You must be Lena Ketchum. Heard a bit about you."
"This here is Volo. A Merchant of the Gingko Guild. He also helped teach me a few things about Pokemon." Akari said, introducing Lena to her. "Ooh...I guess I have two mentors now."
Lena smiled warmly at Volo's greeting, acknowledging his awareness of her unusual arrival in the Hisui Region. "Yes, that's me," she replied with a hint of amusement. "I don't suppose you know how to get me back to my time, do you?"
"Not really. But an interesting thing to start with." Volo replied. "But I've also seen you in action. The way you do things is just as old as what everyone in Jubilife does. You won't even use a Poke Ball."
"Well...I'm not really all that used to everything here still." Lena chuckling.
"But if you're lost, I'm currently doing my own research out there." Volo continued. "There has to be a reason why you fell from the sky. Things like these don't just happen and this has never happened."
"Well...I did see a Pokemon before I came here." Lena recalled. "I never got its name. But it did give me this. Something called an Arc-Phone." From her pocket, Lena revealed a special phone that resembled the style of Arceus.
Volo's eyes widen in astonishment as Lena reveals the Arc-Phone, its design unlike anything he has ever seen before. Its sleek, futuristic appearance stands in stark contrast to the ancient relics and tools typically found in the Hisui Region.
"By the stars," Volo breathes, his gaze fixated on the strange device in Lena's hand. "What manner of artifact is this?"
"What's a...phone?" Naturally, Akari and Volo had no idea what they were looking at.
"I don't know myself" Lena shrugged. "But it's been incredibly helpful. The Pokemon who gave me this brought me here for a reason. I just haven't figured it out."
"That shape..." Volo observed the style of the phone. Specifically the golden parts. There was something familiar about them that he was trying to make out."What was the Pokemon that sent you here?"
"I didn't get its name. I did see its shape but...it was so bright for to make anything out of it."
"How about I chime in then?" Volo asked. "If you need help getting back, then maybe own expeditions can mix well with yours. There's something I'm itching to solve myself."
Volo's offer piques Lena's interest. She could use all the help she could get, especially when it came to getting back home. "Work together? Well, sure. I'm already getting help from the Galaxy Expedition Team so this'll help."
"Two of my mentors working together. Wow..." Akari's eyes lit up with amazement for a moment. "Wait. What about your job as a Merchant?"
"Mmm." Volo shrugged. "I can do both, Akari. You don't have to worry about that. Now, you were making your way to Eterna Forest right?"
And so, with their alliance solidified and their resolve fortified, Lena, Volo, and Akari set out on their journey together, united by a common purpose, they would work in unison to help Lena back to her time. However which way they could pull it off.
As Lena continued on her journey through the Hisui Region, the help she got from others, especially Volo, proved to be invaluable. Guided by Volo's knowledge of the region's landscapes and Akari's insights into Pokémon behaviour, they navigate the rugged terrain with ease, their shared determination driving them forward.
For weeks, Lena worked hard, finding the Noble Pokemon and befriending them, such as Hisuian Braviary, Sneasler, Ursaluna and so on. She wasn't sure if she was getting closer to her goal, but she was having such a wonderful time regardless.
As Lena delves deeper into her expeditions throughout the Hisui Region, she occasionally finds herself pleasantly surprised by unexpected encounters with Volo. Whether she's exploring ancient ruins or traversing dense forests, Volo's sudden appearance never fails to catch her off guard.
And over time, I did start to see him more than a friend. All those times we've worked together was building up to something new for me.
As Lena and Volo encounter each other here and there, Lena finds herself increasingly drawn to Volo. His unwavering support, the similar way he reacts to Pokemon much like her and charming personality gradually capture her heart, and she begins to develop feelings for him beyond friendship.
At first, Lena is unsure how to navigate these newfound emotions, hesitant to disrupt the dynamic of their friendship. She finds herself stealing glances at Volo when he's not looking, her heart fluttering at his laughter and the way his eyes light up with excitement.
As time goes on, Lena finds herself daydreaming about moments shared with Volo, imagining what it would be like to explore the Hisui Region hand in hand with him. She cherishes their every interaction, treasuring the moments they spend together and longing for more.
Yet, she hesitates to confess her feelings, fearing rejection or the possibility of jeopardizing their friendship. Instead, she buried her emotions deep within her heart, silently cherishing the bond they share while secretly yearning for something more.
That was my own fault. Maybe if I had told him sooner, what happened next wouldn't have happened. Then again, I was never supposed to be in this time, so it was never a possibility from the start.
As Lena's feelings for Volo deepen, so too does the realization that their time together is limited. The knowledge that she must eventually return to her own time weighs heavily on her heart, casting a shadow over her budding romance with Volo.
Despite the happiness she finds in Volo's company, Lena grapples with the bittersweet reality of their situation. She knows that their time together is precious and finite, and the thought of eventually parting ways fills her with a profound sense of sadness. She did have the power to stay here if she wanted, but she knew that to preserve the balance of time, she had to return one day.
As Lena wrestles with her conflicting emotions, she finds herself torn between the desire to cherish every moment with Volo and the pain of knowing that their love may be destined to remain unfulfilled. She longs to confess her feelings to him, to savor their time together without the burden of secrets or regrets.
And that was when it happened. That fateful day when everything changed. The day they found the shards. Or rather, the items that shards all made up.
As Lena and Volo stumbled upon the mystical life plates, their discovery filled them with wonder and awe. The Electric and Dragon Plates, each resembling the essence of their respective Pokémon types, radiated with an otherworldly glow that captivated their senses.
Lena marvelled at the intricate design of the plates, her mind buzzing with curiosity about their origin and purpose. She couldn't help but wonder about the secrets they held and the role they played in the ancient history of the Hisui Region. Looking at it reminded her of the Pokemon she saw. Arceus, of course.
Meanwhile, Volo's gaze lingers on the Dragon Plate, a shadow crossing his features as he contemplates its significance. As Volo holds the Dragon Plate in his hands, a wave of energy washes over him, causing his eyes to widen in astonishment. He hears strange, ethereal sounds emanating from the plate, a haunting melody that resonates deep within his soul. With each note, visions dance before his eyes, revealing glimpses of a Pokémon unlike any he has ever encountered.
His mind races with questions as he struggles to make sense of the mysterious images and sounds. "Could this be...Almighty Sinnoh?" The very thought sends shivers down his spine, for he knows that the legends speak of a creature of immense power, capable of shaping the very fabric of reality. The people in Hisui believed it to be two Pokemon but Volo had a strong suspicion that it was just one Pokemon.
As Lena and Volo continue their adventures and uncover more of the mystical plates scattered throughout the Hisui Region, Volo's fascination with the shards and the Pokémon they relate to begins to consume him. What started as curiosity soon morphs into an all-consuming obsession, as Volo becomes increasingly fixated on the power and potential that the plates represent.
Driven by his desire for knowledge and power, Volo delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the plates, his thirst for understanding pushing him further down a dark and dangerous path. With each new shard they discover, Volo's obsession intensifies, his thoughts consumed by visions of the legendary Pokémon they are linked to.
Lena watches with growing concern as Volo's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and unpredictable. She tries to reason with him, to pull him back from the brink of his obsession, but her words fall on deaf ears. Volo's mind is consumed by visions of power and glory, his obsession blinding him to the dangers that lurk in the shadows.
Figuring out their power, Volo used the power of the Life Plates for one goal. He wanted to reach Almighty Sinnoh. Otherwise known as Arceus. He and I eventually figured out that these plates were related to Arceus and that was enough reason for Volo to start using their power when he got the chance.
Volo started to figure out what these Plates were before I could. And when he did, he started using their power, experimenting on the Pokemon themselves. The Pokemon turned into ethereal and far more destructive versions of themselves, all as a way to bring out Arceus.
He even used it on his own Pokemon.
With a rather devious grin, Volo brandishes the Dragon Plate, Ignoring any ethical concerns, he presses the plate against Gabite's forehead, channelling its energy into the Pokémon's very being. As the Dragon Plate's power courses through Gabite, the air crackles with anticipation, and a transformation begins.
At first, nothing seems amiss, but then, with a deafening roar, Gabite form begins to warp and contort. Its scales darken to a deep, ominous hue, and jagged spikes erupt from its armoured hide. Its once razor-sharp fins elongate into deadly blades, crackling with raw elemental energy.
"This is it! I'm closer to Arceus! I just know it!" With a fearsome cackle, Volo's Gabite has been transformed into a nightmarish entity of destruction, far more powerful and fearsome than ever before.
"Volo! That's enough!" As Lena stands face to face with Volo, her heart sinks at the sight of the seven Plates in his possession. The gravity of the situation weighs heavy upon her as Volo reveals his dark intentions—to use the Life Plates of the Alpha Pokémon, Arceus, to reach the legendary being itself.
Dread washes over Lena as she realizes the magnitude of Volo's plan. The thought of such a reckless endeavour fills her with fear and uncertainty, knowing that tampering with the very fabric of reality could have catastrophic consequences for the Hisui Region and beyond.
"Don't try and stop me, Lena. Not when I'm this close." Volo uttered.
With a heavy heart, Lena confronts Volo, pleading with him to reconsider his course of action. But her words fall on deaf ears as Volo remains steadfast in his determination, blinded by his obsession with reaching Arceus at any cost.
As Volo begins to channel the power of the Life Plates, a fierce dimensional disruption engulfs the surrounding area, threatening to tear Hisui apart at the seams. Lena watches in horror as reality itself begins to warp and distort, the very foundations of their world crumbling under the weight of Volo's folly.
With no other choice but to intervene, Lena summons forth the remaining Life Plates in her possession, their energy pulsing with a brilliant light. With a final act of defiance, she confronts Volo, standing firm against the chaos that surrounds them.
In a climactic showdown, Lena and Volo's plates clash, their opposing wills locked in a battle for the fate of the Hisui Region. As the dimensional disruption reaches its zenith, Lena was determined to protect Hisui while also gutted by what Volo was doing.
As the fierce dimensional disruption caused by Volo's reckless actions reaches its peak, the once-mystical Life Plates in Lena's possession begin to crack and splinter, their energy dissipating into countless shimmering shards.
With each fracture, the plates lose their divine essence, devolving into mere fragments of their former selves. Lena watched in dismay as the shards scatter across the landscape, their once-glowing aura dimming with each passing moment. Some landed near her while others stuck to Volo.
As Lena rushes towards Volo in a desperate attempt to seize the remaining shards from him, the blinding light of the dimensional disruption engulfs them both. In that fleeting moment, time and space distort around them, folding in on itself like a tattered tapestry.
The shards of the shattered Life Plates, now mere fragments of their former glory, scatter in all directions as the blinding light consumes Lena and Volo. With a flash of brilliance, they are engulfed by the chaos, their forms disappearing into the swirling vortex of energy.
That's how I ended up in the modern day, moving through time again. I could still remember what it was like moving through that dimensional space. But, even though we were both enveloped by that light, I didn't see Volo in there.
In that moment, Lena's senses are overwhelmed by a cacophony of sights and sounds, her surroundings warping and shifting around her as she hurtles through the fabric of time and space. Colours blur and swirl in a kaleidoscope of motion, the very air crackling with raw energy.
As she journeys deeper into the dimensional space, Lena's consciousness feels stretched thin, her mind struggling to comprehend the surreal experience unfolding before her. Visions flicker and dance at the edges of her perception, fleeting glimpses of past, present, and future merging into a mesmerizing tapestry of possibilities.
Through it all, Lena clings to a single thought: the shards of the shattered Life Plates, scattered in the chaos of the disruption. She wondered where Volo was and if he was safe. Right now, she had no clue as to where she was heading.
"Mmm...Mrgh?" As Lena's consciousness slowly returned, she found herself lying amidst the verdant grasslands of the Unova Region. The warm rays of the sun beat down upon her, casting a golden glow over the tranquil landscape. The first Pokemon in front of her that was responsible for waking her up was a Minccino.
"Minccino?"
Blinking against the bright light, Lena struggles to make sense of her surroundings. The modern-day world of Unova stretches out before her, its vast expanse a far cry from the ancient landscapes of the Hisui Region.
As she sits up, a sense of disorientation washes over her, mingling with a profound sense of unease. How had she come to be here, in this unfamiliar place? And where was Volo, the friend she had been so desperately trying to reach?
As Lena's mind races with questions, she takes stock of her surroundings, her gaze sweeping across the rolling hills and lush greenery of the Unova Region. In the distance, she can see the towering spires of Castelia City, a beacon of civilization amidst the wilderness.
Equestria. Frozen North. Nightfall.
"That's why I want to find all the shards and fix everything." Lena finished. "And maybe, I can patch things up with Volo again. Hopefully. I know what he wants but..."
"Oh, Miss Lena. That's-" Flurry Heart was about to express how she felt about this.
"The worst!" Jessie would interrupt Flurry Heart with a thunderous shout. Jessie grizzled her teeth aggressively, as it enraged her and saddened her as seen by the tears flowing. "Breaking an innocent girl's heart like that! That jerk! When I find him...!"
"Well, I don't think that part is that big of a deal." Lena chuckled. "But I have a good feeling that I can make things right. I have all of you with me. It's always better than being alone."
Diadora listened to it all, taking it in. She was rather stunned by what she had heard. And here she thought she had it hard. While Lena did take away her opportunity for control, Lena did go through her own struggles and one of them was a broken heart.
"Life Plates?" James said, attempting to recognize where he heard it from. It clicked with him. Team Rocket do recall the Life Plates when they were at Michina Town. Things from the past just seem to keep coming back.
"Sable" Breaking up this sentimental moment were the Sableye. Their cries could be heard in the sky as they were still airborne. The shards seemed to allow them to fly indefinitely.
"Ah! There they are!" Lena bellowed, using the Steel Shards in a heartbeat. As Lena, Flurry Heart, Team Rocket, and Diadora closed in on the elusive Sableye, they could see the mischievous Pokémon darting through the night sky with remarkable speed and agility. The Sableye, empowered by the Flying-Type shards, moved with uncanny grace and manoeuvrability, making it difficult for Lena and her companions to keep pace.
However, with Flurry Heart leading the way by taking flight and Lena harnessing the power of the Steel-Type shards to create tall Steel Platforms, they were able to narrow the gap between them and the flying Sableye.
As they drew closer, Lena could feel her heart pounding in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she prepared to make her move. With a determined gleam in her eyes, she focused her energy, channelling the power of the shards to enhance her speed and agility.
Lena could see the glimmer of the Flying-Type shard clutched tightly in the grasp of the lead Sableye. With a determined gleam in her eyes, she focused her energy, channelling the power of the Steel-Type shards once more.
"Sorry...but I really need this!" Lena said to the Sableye, thinking about what was at stake here. With a burst of speed, Lena lunged forward, closing the distance between herself and the flying Sableye in a matter of seconds. With lightning-fast reflexes, she reached out, her hand closing around the elusive Pokémon with surprising accuracy.
But to make sure Sableye dropped it, Flurry Heart used her magic to unleash a massive beam of magic. But it was not intended to harm them. Instead, once the beam connected, the Sableye began laughing uncontrollably as they felt incredibly ticklish. Flurry Heart landed a Tickling Spell on them to break their focus.
"Eye?!" The Sableye cackled as Lena managed to slip the shard out of its grasp.
"Gotcha!" With a triumphant cry, she seized the shard from the grasp of the surprised Pokémon, her fingers closing tightly around the glimmering crystal.
As the shard fell into her grasp, a sense of relief washed over Lena and her companions. With the shard reclaimed, Lena would harness its power, gaining the power of Flight herself. Doing so, she would quickly soon to catch the other Sableye, preventing them from crashing into the snow.
As Lena descended back to the ground, the Sableye looked up at her with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. With a reassuring smile, Lena gently released them, watching as they scurried away into the night. That was a rather fun time for them. After all, they were just playing around, even if they can get carried away very quickly.
With the Sableye safely out of harm's way, Lena turned her attention back to her companions, her heart filled with satisfaction at their victory. With the shards reclaimed, Lena and her companions prepared to call it a night. It was getting late after all and Team Rocket were already visibly tired.
"Very soon, Volo." She looked at the Flying-Type shard, thinking about Volo and where he could be. And of course, returning all the shards and uniting them as the Life Plates once more. "I know you're out there somewhere."
Another night in the world. At this moment, while many were asleep, some were, as always, still awake. Such as Absol, who stood outside Twilight's Castle. Another night where he couldn't sense any disasters.
Absol knew that the world was still adjusting itself to the existence of the Dragon Matter, Fairy Matter and the fearsome surge that Daybreaker and Gardevoir created but he just couldn't sense where another disaster would happen. All thanks to Malamar.
Absol was well aware that someone was behind this. His horn wasn't faulty but there was obviously something blocking it from sensing danger. Absol knew that someone didn't want him to pick up on suspicious activities. WIth his eyes narrowing, gazing into the night sky, Absol felt that enough time has passed.
To solve this, the Disaster Pokemon re-entered the castle, heading straight for the one thing he believed would solve this issue.
The Rift Cauldron.
The Dark-Type stood before the Rift Cauldron, gazing at its Blue and Pink glow. He's never used the cauldron before, let alone dabbled in Rift Magic. Absol needed to gain his ability to sense disasters once again and the Cosmic Power of the Rift could break through it. That was a no-brainer due to how erratic it is.
"Absol? What are you doing?" Awake and lighting up the dark room was Twilight. She appeared to see her Pokemon standing before the Rift Cauldron, hearing his footsteps in the night.
"Sol. Absol." Absol nudged his head over at the cauldron.
"It's about your horn, isn't it? I know how you feel but let's not get hasty right now." Twilight spoke. "Next thing in the morning, I'll do my best to restore your ability."
"Absol..." Absol grumbled. He wished he could restore it now and get into action. But taking Twilight's advice, the Disaster Pokemon would call it a night. It's not often he gets to sleep anyways, so now would be the best time to do so. Twilight smiled, glad that Absol could heed her request and she was certainly going to live up to his promise.
Alola. Out on an island. Nightfall.
As the moon rose high in the sky and most inhabitants of the merged world drifted off to sleep, Malamar and his minions emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with malevolence. Under the cover of darkness, they set their sinister plans into motion.
Malamar, perched upon a jagged outcrop, surveyed his assembled minions with a calculating gaze. The other Malamar, their hypnotic eyes glinting with malice, awaited their master's instructions, poised to carry out their dark deeds. Right now, he was also looking for a way to find Solgaleo and Lunala.
"With our Psychic Surveillance, we can possibly track down those two. The Dread League did everything in their power to try and force Yveltal and even Xerneas out. But as for us, we will take a different approach to finding Solagelo and Lunala." The Head Malamar spoke.
With a subtle gesture of its tentacles, Malamar dispatched its minions to various strategic vantage points across the land. Each minion possessed formidable psychic abilities, capable of probing the minds of other Pokémon and ponies and scanning the skies for any signs of Solgaleo and Lunala's presence.
One group of minions descended upon a secluded grove nestled deep within the forest, their telepathic tendrils reaching out to touch the thoughts and dreams of the slumbering creatures within. With delicate precision, they sifted through the subconscious minds of the forest's inhabitants, searching for any whispers or echoes that might lead them to the legendary Pokémon.
Meanwhile, another faction of Malamar ventured to the highest peaks of the mountain range that stretched across the merged world. From their lofty perches, they gazed skyward, their psychic senses attuned to the celestial energies that pulsed through the heavens above. With focused concentration, they scanned the stars for any anomalies or disturbances that might indicate Solgaleo and Lunala's presence.
As the night wore on, Malamar and its minions continued their vigil, their psychic surveillance encompassing every corner of the merged world. Through their combined efforts, they sought to find the two Pokemon of the Sun and Moon.
Malamar could do all of this freely since he didn't have to worry about Absol's interference. Even if Absol couldn't reach the Alola Region in time, he would at least give the warning to his friends if he sensed this. But not anymore. This allowed Malamar to go wild, not needing to hold back his actions.
Of course, he was doing all of this while the Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter were still active, only adding more fuel to fire.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
Another day had passed at the Pokemon School. Lessons were over and students were heading home. Among them was Sandbar, who was soon joined by two of his friends. Silverstream and Gallus.
"Are you heading over to see that Contest Facility get built?" Silverstream asked, bringing up the Contest Facility that was spoken of during Career Day. "A lot of us Hippogriffs are going to be there."
"Not really." Sandbar wasn't really looking into Pokemon Contests at that moment.
"If you don't want that, then let's go to one of those Gyms. Maybe see a Gym Battle. Unless you want to be in one."
"No. I'm not looking to take on the Gyms." But Sandbar wasn't up for that either. "I thought you wanted to."
"Uhh...I haven't gotten into it just yet." Gallus shrugged. "I still haven't trained up my Taillow yet, so there's that."
"Well, you'd be too late to enter it though?" Silverstream giggled. "Everyone's already ahead of you. The Equestria League is right around the corner. I can feel it. Personally, I'm rooting for Princess Luna to win it. It only makes sense."
"That'd just be boring. She'd probably win because she's Celestia's sister."
"Well, not really." Sandbar said otherwise. "I think she has a high chance of winning. More than anyone else based on what she does when training. When she's not dealing with a threat anyways."
"How do you know?" Gallus asked.
"I keep records of each Pokemon Trainer that's qualified to be in the League." Sandbar revealed, stunning the both of them.
"Wait, you keep records?" Silverstream exclaimed, her eyes widening with curiosity. "Like, detailed records of every trainer? Like us?"
"No, just those entering the Equestria League. I've been doing it for a while now. It's just something I do in my free time. Helps me stay organized and keep track of everyone's progress. For 4 whole years, I've been doing it and eventually, it'll be 5."
Gallus scratched his head, clearly impressed by Sandbar's dedication. "That's... actually pretty cool. I had no idea you were into that sort of thing."
"Oh, you have to show us that!" Silverstream asked, wanting to see the records now. She immediately threw the Contest Facility out of the window. Gallus was of the same opinion.
Sandbar's home.
They had arrived.
Sandbar beckoned his friends to take a seat at the wooden table in the centre of his room, where stacks of neatly organized notebooks and folders awaited their perusal. With a smile, he reached for a thick binder labelled "Pokémon League Records" and placed it gently on the table before them.
"Here it is," Sandbar said, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "My collection of records from the past four years. I've kept track of every trainer who's qualified for the Pokémon League, along with their Pokémon teams, battle strategies, and competition standings."
"Nice. Very nice." Gallus approved. "It's like a roadmap to success," he remarked, "It's like a guidebook. So, what are you gonna even use this for? It has to have some use, right?"
"No. It's just fun to do. One of the other Trainers, Daylight Blazer, did the same thing and that's how he developed fast as a Pokemon Trainer."
Silverstream and Gallus leaned in eagerly, their curiosity piqued by the prospect of delving into Sandbar's meticulously compiled data. With bated breath, they flipped through the pages of the binder, marveling at the wealth of information contained within.
And it was truly packed. From when Rainbow Dash was the first Trainer to take on Equestria's First Gym Battle, Spitfire's rapid growth, the establishment of the many smaller tournaments that were held in Canterlot plus the rankings of who was Equestria's top trainers. It was all in here. Sandbar even went the extra mile to include the battles that involved the fate of the world.
Naturally, he held back and didn't get himself involved in those massive threats but he made sure to keep track of them. Even the most fearsome foes have interesting ways of battling.
The most prominent ones here were Ash and Luna, who had plenty of pages. Both were on here for their own reasons. Ash for his mentoring and his varied strategies and Lua was here for her rapid growth and training sessions.
"Wow, this is incredible!" Silverstream exclaimed, her eyes scanning the pages filled with detailed notes and statistics. "I never realized just how much goes into preparing for the Pokémon League. It's like a whole other world!"
You know, Princess Luna goes out to Deerling Forest or Kingdra Durance a lot to practice." Sandbar said. "Only at night though. Sometimes when I go fishing or exploring with Ponyta, she's just there. She's always working hard with every type."
"Well, if you're not gonna use this. I might. Just imagine!" Gallus exclaimed with wonder in his eyes. "Anyone who uses this can't lose!"
"I don't know about that. Even if you know everything about everyone, there's still a chance for you to lose." Sandbar had a different opinion, seeing vast knowledge as something that can also be countered. "If I showed this to Rainbow Dash or somepony else, I'd still bet on Princess Luna to win."
"Do you think she's training now?" Silverstream questioned.
"Probably. Or maybe she's busy doing Princess things." Sandbar wondered at this very moment.
Deerling Forest.
Right as Sandbar said Princess Luna was out at Deerling Forest at this very moment. When there aren't any duties for her to do since her sister does most of it, she trains herself for the upcoming Equestria. To become Equestria's first Pokemon Champion, Luna felt that she couldn't skip even a week of training.
As Princess Luna traversed the serene landscape of Deerling Forest, her resolute gaze was fixed on the path ahead. The forest, bathed in the gentle glow of the Afternoon Sun, seemed to come alive with the whispers of the ancient trees and the rustle of the underbrush.
And so, in the quiet moments between her royal duties, Luna dedicated herself to rigorous training in preparation for the upcoming Equestria League. However, while practising, Luna couldn't help but feel that something was amiss. She looked up at the Afternoon sky while her Darkrai, Gliscor, Aurorus, Florges and Musharna were practising in the background.
She wondered if she would see the Dragon Matter pop up again by surprise. Or perhaps even the Fairy Matter. Luna refocused her attention on her Pokémon companions, determined not to let her unease distract her from her training.
"Hmm..."
Alola.
As Princess Luna and her Pokémon companions continued their training in Deerling Forest, unbeknownst to them, sinister forces were at work elsewhere in the world. Malamar, with its cunning intellect and formidable psychic powers, had been relentless in its pursuit of Solgaleo and Lunala since the previous night.
Even at this moment here at the Alola Region, their psychic surveillance extended further, probing the depths of the merged world in search of any sign of the legendary Pokémon. Hours and hours went by with no success.
As Malamar's forces scoured the land, their telepathic tendrils reached out, probing the minds of Pokémon and ponies alike for any traces of Solgaleo and Lunala's presence. With each failed attempt, frustration simmered beneath Malamar's calm exterior, driving it to redouble its efforts in its relentless pursuit.
"Where are they?" Malamar spoke. "Could they be in Ultra Space? That is the only other location I can think of them being in than there."
With a flick of its tentacles, Malamar extended its psychic tendrils further, delving deep into the recesses of the minds of Pokémon, Humans and Ponies alike. It probed the boundaries of reality, searching for any trace of Solgaleo and Lunala's presence, but to no avail.
As the minutes stretched into hours, Malamar's frustration grew, a simmering anger bubbling beneath its composed exterior. It had come too far, invested too much of its energy and resources in the pursuit of power, to be thwarted by the elusive legendary Pokémon.
All the action from Malamar and its minions extended all the way to Equestria, searching for any clues.
As Malamar's psychic tendrils extended across the merged world, reaching even into the realm of Equestria, the inhabitants of the land felt a strange sensation wash over them. Whispers of unease fluttered through the air, stirring a sense of disquiet among Pokémon, humans, and ponies alike.
In the bustling streets of Ponyville, ponies paused in their daily routines, their ears twitching as if attuned to a distant echo. The sound was rather familiar to them. As if they have heard it before. Malamar was already all too familiar with Ponyville since he launched quite a large attack on it, including Canterlot.
Even within the tranquil confines of Deerling Forest, where Princess Luna and her Pokémon companions trained diligently, a sense of foreboding hung heavy in the air. Luna herself felt a shiver run down her spine, a primal instinct warning her of unseen dangers lurking just beyond the edge of perception.
With each passing moment, its frustration grew, fueling its determination to uncover the whereabouts of the legendary Pokémon no matter the cost. All of it was failing with no progress being done. As the minutes stretched into hours, Malamar's forces were practically doing nothing. That's how it felt to them anyways.
"Nothing..." Malamar grumbled. "Pointless. I would at least expect Equestria to have something. But...if I can't even find them in Alola or anywhere else, then perhaps I'll need another approach. I won't go into Ultra Space. I need them to come to me. And perhaps, the way to do that is to force an Ultra Beast out."
Malamar formulated a new plan to continue his efforts and it involved the Ultra Beasts. But before he could get to work, he suddenly felt a familiar presence. It went all the way back to Equestria, specifically, Twilight's Castle. At this moment, Malamar could sense another powerful energy source that was not Infinity Energy or Dragon Matter.
Instead, it was Rift Energy. Noticing this, Malamar would stick around to see where this Rift Energy was coming from. After all, he didn't feel at all this entire time.
"Absol." Absol's eyes flared as the Rift Energy was currently being used on him by Twilight Sparkle herself. Thanks to Malamar's actions, Absol was blocked from sensing disasters, making sure Malamar could get away with anything. But with Twilight using the Rift Magic on her own Pokemon, she was beginning to break the effect that Malamar cast.
With each passing moment, Absol's senses sharpened, its instincts honed to a razor's edge as it detected the subtle shifts and fluctuations in the world around it. As Malamar watched from the shadows, he realized that Twilight's use of Rift Magic was beginning to unravel his carefully laid plans, threatening to expose its dark machinations to the light.
And once Absol's senses returned, his horn went haywire. Absolutely haywire. It was vibrating at such rapid paces that Absol has never seen before. But Absol fixated on one thing. He was beginning to sense the origin of the problem that blocked his senses.
He picked up on Malamar, who was classified as a disaster. Malamar gasped as he and his minions immediately removed their tendrils from the ground once Absol sensed them.
But it was too late. Absol's senses were attuned to the faintest whispers of danger, and nothing could escape its vigilant gaze. "Sol! Absol!" Absol relayed its findings to Twilight Sparkle, alerting her to the presence of Malamar and how he was the cause of this.
"What?" Twilight gasped. At last, now she had been caught up. "Malamar?! That Malamar?!"
With Malamar's presence exposed, The sinister Pokémon knew that it was only a matter of time before Absol and potentially other forces would come seeking retribution. "Drat. That Absol will ruin everything. We've barely made any progress here."
Malamar wasted no time in implementing its backup plan. His minions approached, carrying something with their tendrils. It appeared to be a bucket but the liquid inside of it was not normal. Not at all. Much like the Rift Cauldron, in it was Rift Energy.
Thanks to Daybreaker's alliance, he was able to get his creepy tendrils on them. This was how he managed to block Absol's Disaster Sense in the first place and now he felt that it was once again a good time to use this power for himself.
"He won't get to me. Not at all." Malamar chuckled. "Not if I have someone in Equestria stop him for me. Those citizens won't do. They're far too fragile for Absol. I need someone efficient but weak-willed. Perhaps someone with enough potential for me to exploit."
With the plan to use Rift Magic to influence innocents in Equestria, Malamar devised a sinister scheme to sow discord and confusion, turning the inhabitants of the land against Absol and its allies. Malamar sought out an individual with enough potential to serve its purposes, yet weak-willed enough to succumb to its influence.
Scanning the minds of Equestria's inhabitants, Malamar's psychic tendrils delved deep into the thoughts and memories of ponies and Pokémon alike, searching for the perfect candidate to do its bidding. And then, it found what it was looking for: a pony with untapped potential, yearning for power and purpose, yet vulnerable to the whispers of temptation.
At that moment, he found them. Malamar sensed three candidates who were elsewhere. Sandbar, Silverstream, and Gallus.
Each of these young ponies possessed qualities that intrigued Malamar. Sandbar, with his meticulous record-keeping, showed potential for greatness yet harboured doubts and insecurities that could be exploited.
Silverstream, with her boundless curiosity and adventurous spirit, longed for excitement and purpose, making her susceptible to the allure of power. And Gallus, with his sarcastic and independent nature plus quite an ego made him vulnerable for other reasons. He didn't seem to have the same weakness as the other two but Malamar could work with it.
Malamar began seeping Rift Magic towards Sandbar, Silverstream, and Gallus, intending to manipulate their desires and ambitions, it encountered an unexpected obstacle in the form of Sandbar's Galarian Ponyta who was sleeping peacefully in his favourite spot.
"Ta?" Ponyta's horn would go off, sensing the incoming Rift Magic from below. He already sensed the Psychic Energy but didn't think too much of it, unlike this. "Ponyta!"
"What's wrong, Ponyta?" Sandbar asked as his partner came rushing in with his horn glowing.
As Galarian Ponyta attempted to repel the encroaching Rift Magic, he threw himself into the emerging cosmic energy that was also packed with Psychic Power.
With a surge of malevolent power, the Rift Magic overwhelmed Galarian Ponyta's defences, seeping into its being and corrupting its radiant aura. The once-pure light that emanated from Galarian Ponyta's mane began to flicker and fade, replaced by an ominous darkness that spread like a creeping shadow.
Sandbar watched in horror as his loyal companion was suddenly struck and infected by Rift Magic, its form shrouded in an eerie glow as it fell under Malamar's control. Just like that, the entire room was overtaken by Rift Magic in a flash. Sandbar, Silverstream, Gallus, and even Galarian Ponyta found themselves engulfed in the swirling vortex of cosmic energy, their forms obscured by the ominous shadows that danced and flickered around them.
Thanks to Twilight breaking the effect, Malamar was advancing his plans, even if it meant he had to get his tendrils dirty with Equestria once more. But this time, Malamar was going to make sure he wouldn't fail.
Sandbar's eyes awakened to see that he found himself in a vortex of Rift Energy that enveloped his entire room. He, Gallus, Silverstream and Galarian Ponyta were all in this spiral, floating aimlessly. Thanks to Malamar, they found themselves in this vortex due to Malamar attempting to stop Absol's actions. Now that Absol's Danger Sense was back in action, Malamar had to act fast so his plans were not disrupted.
"I think I'm going to be sick..." Gallus groaned, feeling a sense of motion sickness with all of this spinning.
"Wow...We're really inside it. This day's been pretty great so far." Silverstream commented, unbothered.
Ponyta. Are you alright?" Sandbar's voice was laced with worry as he reached out to his Pokémon companion, his heart heavy with concern for Ponyta.
But before Sandbar could receive a response, the swirling darkness of the vortex parted to reveal the ominous visage of Malamar itself. With eyes gleaming with malevolent intent, Malamar's sinister presence loomed large over the hapless students, its dark influence casting a pall over the already oppressive atmosphere.
As the swirling darkness of the vortex parted, revealing the ominous visage of Malamar, both Silverstream and Gallus caught sight of the sinister entity that now loomed large over them. Their eyes widened with a mixture of fear and apprehension as they beheld the malevolent presence that had ensnared them within its grasp.
Gallus's feathers ruffled with unease, his sharp eyes narrowing as he assessed the looming threat before them. "What... what is that thing?" he muttered, his voice tinged with trepidation as he instinctively edged away from the dark entity.
Silverstream's fins twitched nervously as she regarded Malamar with a mixture of curiosity and dread. "I've never seen anything like it before," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the tumultuous roar of the swirling Rift Energy
"I need you three to do something for me quickly." Malamar finally spoke with an echoing voice, referring to Absol as he would send cosmic swirls towards their bodies, attempting to control them.
Sandbar, Gallus, and Silverstream found themselves transfixed by the dark entity's command. The cosmic swirls that emanated from Malamar's form washed over them, enveloping their bodies in an ethereal glow as they struggled against the invasive influence of the sinister Pokémon.
"Ta!" Retaliating by using Dazzling Gleam was Ponyta, who had enough strength to do so. The radiant energy burst forth in a dazzling display of light, pushing back against the encroaching darkness and illuminating the swirling vortex of Rift Energy with its brilliance.
"Is that all?" But Malamar was not amused. The radiant glow of Galarian Ponyta's Dazzling Gleam faltered as the overpowering force of Malamar's Rift Energy engulfed them, shrouding them in a veil of darkness that smothered the light. Sandbar, Gallus, Silverstream, and Galarian Ponyta struggled against the onslaught, their forms buffeted by the relentless onslaught of dark energy.
Equestria. Out in the wild. 10 Minutes Ago. Nightfall.
Elsewhere, Absol raced through the lands with Twilight and Espeon in tow, his keen senses on high alert, Twilight's question cut through the stillness of the air. The moon hung high overhead, casting its pale light over the landscape as the trio pressed forward in pursuit of the elusive truth.
"So, you sensed Malamar. He was the one behind all of this?" Twilight asked while flying above her Pokemon. "It must've been Rift Energy. There's no other way for him to pull this off, shutting down every Absol's ability.
"Sol!" Absol cried out in response. Everything else they've done went under his radar. The only ones he managed to pick up on was the incident over at Tropezete Town and the Diamond Domain scenario.
"That's why you also couldn't sense Daybreaker and Gardevoir's actions. They wanted to make sure you never found out earlier." Twilight remarked, her voice tinged with frustration. "That alliance has been troublesome lately. Not that every threat we face isn't troublesome but..." Twilight grumbled.
But they weren't the only ones on the move. Under the night sky, already having a bad feeling as to what was occurring out there was none other than Princess Luna. Luna's expression was grave, her thoughts consumed by the ominous premonition that had plagued her earlier in the day.
"Princess Luna?" Twilight's voice broke through the silence, drawing Luna's attention away from the troubled thoughts that occupied her mind. She turned to face Twilight, her gaze steady and resolute despite the unease that gnawed at her heart.
"You felt it too, Twilight Sparkle?" Luna asked.
"Absol did. Malamar blocked off his ability to sense incoming disasters. It happened sometime during the Pokemon Festival. The same time Daybreaker shook the world. If only Absol could've sensed them earlier."
But before she could finish her thought, a sudden disturbance interrupted their conversation, drawing their attention away from their urgent discussion. Emerging from the ground appeared to be a gelatinous stream of some sort. A dark and purple stream to be exact. And at the moment, this stream was carrying Sandbar, Gallus and Silverstream.
Luna's eyes widened in alarm as she beheld the unexpected sight, her mind racing to comprehend the nature of the strange phenomenon unfolding before her. "What is this?" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with concern as she watched the gelatinous stream carry the trio towards them.
Twilight's heart clenched with worry for her students, her voice trembling as she cried out in alarm, "My students!" Twilight's heart sank at the sight of her students, knowing that they had been influenced by Malamar's dark power.
"Hey, Principal Twilight! Look! I'm Darkstream now. Get it?" Even when influenced, Silverstream could still crack a joke.
"Twilight Sparkle." However, any semblance of humour was swiftly shattered as the voice of Malamar echoed through the gelatinous stream, its sinister tones sending a chill down Twilight's spine. She tensed, her senses on high alert as she braced herself for whatever dark machinations Malamar had in store.
"Malamar..." Twilight grizzled her teeth. 4 years have passed since Malamar's attack on Ponyville and Canterlot. And once more, he was launching yet another attack, but he wasn't alone this time.
"And look who it is. Luna." Malamar continued, gazing at the pony who sealed him with the Elements of Harmony 4 years ago. Of course, with help from Celestia too. "I'm getting a bit nostalgic seeing you two."
"But how did you even break free...? You should be completely turned to stone!" Luna exclaimed, unaware of how the Dazzlings were accidentally responsible for Malamar's freedom.
Despite the passage of time, Malamar's past actions were not to be forgotten, especially since he was Equestria's first big threat. And now, with the dark Pokémon launching yet another assault, Twilight knew that they could ill afford to underestimate the threat that he presented.
"Not again. Not for a second time. Especially not with my students." Twilight declared, her voice firm and unwavering. "And why are you even with Daybreaker's Alliance in the first place? I thought you wanted to be your own ruler."
"The alliance is beneficial to all parties. I am still my own ruler and eventually, I will be the ruler of this universe. Daybreaker has promised me such a thing. She and the others can rule their respective universes but I will gladly take this one for myself. Especially now that both our worlds have merged to create this Grander World." Malamar cackled. "And I believe it's fitting that my grand path to realizing that goal involves defeating you two. It all comes back to the beginning doesn't it?"
"Ooough..." Gallus's eyes would spin and wobble while in the stream. He couldn't utter a single word at the moment, completely overwhelmed by what was around his body.
"I'll have your own students stop you. Although, the middle one is a mystery. He's out for the count, even though he seems to be the most weak-willed one of them all."
"Sandbar!" Twilight gasped when looking at Sandbar, who was unresponsive at the moment. He could not hear this teacher's cries or even the entire conversation.
"Oh, what does it matter? I can just have these two do it for me!" Malamar laughed as his voice faded away in the distance along with his eyes. He was leaving it all up to the two of them and the gelatinous stream he made.
At that moment, the stream would attack, manipulating the limbs of the two students. The stream extended tendrils of gelatinous material to ensnare its prey, attempting to restrain them.
"Hang on, you three! Absol, use Night Slash!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Darkrai, Poison Jab!" Luna would also shout.
"Absol!" Absol's horn would light up while Darkrai's claws were encased in a poisonous energy. Both Dark-Types approached the tendrils, striking against them. Since it was gelatinous, it was susceptible to anything that could cut. Bits of the tendrils would drop to the ground, fizzling out.
But the gelatinous stream was not defeated yet. In retaliation, it released a burst of corrosive acid from its mass, spraying it in all directions with deadly intent. Luna gasped in alarm, quickly conjuring a protective barrier around herself and everyone present, shielding them from the corrosive onslaught.
The acid met with the barrier, sizzling and hissing as it attempted to dissolve the magical shield. Luna gritted her teeth, pouring more energy into the barrier to reinforce it against the acidic assault. Twilight would assist by making her own barrier, merging it with Luna's.
Together, they created a unified defence that was stronger and more resilient than either could achieve alone. The barrier expanded rapidly, its shimmering surface growing larger and more expansive with each passing moment.
As the acidic spray continued to rain down upon them, the combined barrier acted as a formidable shield, repelling the corrosive substance with ease. The barrier's expanded size allowed it to encompass a larger area, effectively shielding not only Luna, Twilight, and their students, but also the surrounding area from harm.
"We can try and rip them out of that thing. If it uses Malamar's own power, then Fairy-Type attacks are especially effective against it." Luna said, using her magic to hold out one of her Poke Balls. Twilight nodded in agreement as she would do the same. Both would launch their respective Poke Balls into the air, summoning more Pokemon to assist in this.
"Togekiss!" For Twilight, she summoned her Togekiss.
"Florges!" And Luna summoned her Florges. Two Fairy-Types were now on the scene.
"And as a part Psychic, it should also be weak to Dark." Luna smirked, looking back at her Darkrai while Twilight looked at her Absol.
"I don't think it will be that easy though..." Darkrai narrowed his eyes, knowing Malamar wouldn't make it that simple. He was a cunning evil genius after all.
Espeon's tail would twitch as she was suddenly sensing something else appearing from the Gelatinous Stream. Malamar, unlike before, had gained his own team without needing to mind control anyone else. While he was using Silverstream and Gallus, he had his own force that were willing to do what he says.
Emerging from the stream were other Malamars, each riding those pods that were shaped like their heads. Dealing with one Malamar was an issue, but now, they had to deal with multiple of them. Each were equally devious, having many nefarious intentions in their minds.
"More?" Luna gasped. "And I doubt they're even under his control with those looks on their faces."
"Hang in there, three!" Twilight shouted at her students, promising that she would free them.
Sandbar's Mindscape.
As Sandbar's physical body lay unconscious, his consciousness drifted into his own mindscape, a realm born from the depths of his subconscious mind. Here, in this ethereal realm of swirling colours and shifting landscapes, Sandbar found himself immersed in a world of his own creation.
The mindscape was a reflection of Sandbar's innermost thoughts, fears, and desires, a place where his imagination knew no bounds. As he explored this surreal landscape, he encountered fragments of memories, emotions, and experiences that shaped his identity.
In this dreamscape, Sandbar found himself confronted by vivid images and sensations, each one a reflection of his past experiences and innermost thoughts. He wandered through fields of shimmering light and shadowy depths, navigating the intricate labyrinth of his own mind with a sense of wonder and curiosity.
Amidst the swirling colours and shifting landscapes of Sandbar's mindscape, a dark and ominous presence lurked in the shadows. It was the manifestation of the dark power that Malamar had used in an attempt to control him, a sinister force that sought to manipulate and corrupt his thoughts and emotions.
As Sandbar traversed the surreal landscape of his mindscape, he could sense the malevolent energy of the dark power pulsating around him, like a tangible force pressing in from all sides. Shadows danced on the periphery of his vision, whispers of doubt and fear echoing through the depths of his consciousness.
"Sandbar," The voice echoed through the ethereal realm, its tone dripping with malice and deceit. It was none other than Malamar's own voice. "How is it that you are resisting me, boy? Here I thought you were completely weak-willed, especially with your own inner fears."
"I-I'm not weak-willed," Sandbar uttered, looking around the area to see where Malamar's voice was coming from as her nervously wandered his own Mindscape.
"You should be. Perhaps you only act weak-willed. Anyone like you should immediately be working for me and yet you're resisting. Why is that?"
"I think I know why." Sandbar leapt over a hill, gaining impressive air time due to the chaotic gravity here. "It's me and Ponyta."
"You and Ponyta? Ridiculous. Last I saw, that Ponyta was foolish enough to get in the way. What can one small Pokemon hope to do." Malamar scoffed at such a notion. "Admittedly, it always takes more than one Pokemon to stop me and even if Ponyta is the reason for this, it won't last very long."
"It's not just Ponyta." Sandbar uttered before spotting what appeared to be his home in the distance. "I also said it's me. It's better than the two of us. Ponyta! Where are you?!" He would then start screaming, his voice echoing through the ethereal realm as he searched for his faithful Pokémon companion
But as Sandbar ventured closer to his home, the presence of Malamar's dark power grew stronger, its tendrils reaching out to ensnare him in its grasp. He gasped, barely managing to avoid those tendrils as he tripped over. Sandbar found himself rolling down a hill because of this, feeling plenty of turbulence.
Sandbar then slid on the ground face-first, grunting and grumbling. Luckily for him, in his own mindscape, he didn't have to worry about any dirt. But he did have to worry about the darkness that was attempting to overtake his mind. Sandbar would use the gravity in this world to lift himself off the ground as soon as possible while the tendrils approached.
"At this very moment, your principal and princess are being dealt with. Even if I fail to defeat them, I will have enough time in the world to continue my plans." Malamar continued before using his power to show Sandbar what was happening outside.
On the outside, Twilight, Luna and their Pokemon were battling intensively against the many Malamar and the Gelatinous Stream, attempting to save the two students.
With a flick of her horn, Twilight unleashed powerful bursts of psychic energy, sending shimmering waves of light rippling through the air to repel the advancing tendrils of darkness. Beside her, Luna called upon her Pokémon companions, directing them with swift and precise commands as they launched coordinated attacks against their foes.
Absol and Darkrai moved with the speed of Darkness, their movements fluid and graceful as they dodged and countered the attacks of the Malamar minions. With each slash of Absol's razor-sharp claws and each pulse of Darkrai's eerie aura, they struck fear into the hearts of their adversaries, driving them back with unwavering determination.
Dark Pulses from both sides were thrown, blending in with the night. Absol would even cut through the darkness with Night Slash, slashing at the Gelatinous Stream.
Meanwhile, Togekiss and Florges soared through the air, their wings aglow with radiant energy as they unleashed powerful Fairy-Type attacks against the Gelatinous Stream. Bolts of dazzling light and cascades of shimmering petals illuminated the battlefield, striking with precision and accuracy to weaken the dark forces that threatened to overwhelm them.
"Dazzling Gleam!" Twilight shouted, having both Espeon and Togekiss unleash rays of rainbows at high speeds. They could crash into some of the Malamar, dealing super-effective damage in the process.
As Sandbar observed the battle unfolding outside of his mindscape, he felt a surge of fear and urgency wash over him. He knew that his friends and mentors were risking everything to protect him and his classmates from the dark forces that threatened to consume them and here he was trapped in his own mindscape, unsure of what to do next.
"Ta! Ponyta!" At that moment, in the distance of the Mindscape, right near Sandbar's home, Ponyta's voice was heard.
"Ponyta?" Sandbar spoke. Sandbar's heart leapt with hope as he heard Ponyta's voice calling out to him from the distance of his mindscape. With a surge of determination, he set off towards the sound, his resolve strengthened by the knowledge that his faithful Pokémon companion was nearby.
As he approached his home, the silhouette of Ponyta came into view, standing tall and proud against the backdrop of the mindscape. With a joyful neigh, Ponyta bounded towards Sandbar, her mane sparkling with magical energy as she raced to greet him.
"I think not." Only for Malamar to interrupt this by sending a powerful Dark and Psychic Wave from the ground, intercepting them both from the middle. Galarian Ponyta and Sandbar were forced away from each other, the force of the impact sent them both flying in opposite directions, their connection severed by the malevolent force of Malamar's action.
Sandbar gritted his teeth as he felt himself being propelled through the air, the swirling colours and shifting landscapes of his mindscape blurring past him in a dizzying whirl. He fought to maintain his balance as he landed roughly on the ground, his muscles tense with the effort of absorbing the impact.
"Oh, dear..." Sandbar scrunched his face as now he was going to start feeling sick. He fought to maintain his balance as he landed roughly on the ground, his muscles tense with the effort of absorbing the impact. "Ponyta!" Sandbar called out, his voice filled with concern as he struggled to regain his footing.
"Ta!" The Unique Horn Pokemon would also cry out.
"It's just you two. This shouldn't be difficult at all. What was this about how it was better if it was the two of you?" Malamar taunted while the two of them were floating. Above them, the tendrils returned, covering the skies above. "With this, you'll become my puppet. And soon, the entire world!"
The tendrils would then drop, merging together to create a giant black claw that went to grab the two of them, including their own home. "You've resisted me for an impressive time. Especially for someone so young and timid. But that is exactly why you were destined to lose."
The claw would then swallow Sandbar and Ponyta, showing them an empty darkness as the sound of the claw closing caused a booming sound across the entire Mindscape.
Sandbar and Ponyta found themselves ensnared within the dark confines of the giant claw, trapped in absolute darkness. Despite their dire predicament, their spirits remained unbroken, their minds free from Malamar's control for the time being.
"He doesn't know yet...But I don't think it really matters." Sandbar knew of another reason as to why he was still resisting Malamar's control. The same goes for Ponyta. Even so, it wasn't that big of a help if they couldn't break free from this. "I'm sorry, Ponyta."
"Ponyta..."
"Use it? I don't know if we should. Not after what it did the first time." Sandbar understood Ponyta and he immediately rejected what he had to say. But Ponyta wanted to do so. Whatever this thing was, it was crucial to Sandbar and Ponyta's resistance to Malamar's power and yet, it was also something that Sandbar didn't wish to use.
At that moment, the Sandbar began reminiscing the day they met. And since this was his mind, his memory would become realized in this mindscape. He could see it all now even in the absolute darkness.
It was 4 years ago. During the early days of the two worlds meeting thanks to the Rift. Many across the world were confused and lost on what was going on. Humans, ponies and other species alike. The gateways were abundant, leading to many locations.
Among one of them was a gateway to the Galar Region and Sandbar found himself passing through that gateway. He arrived at one of Galar's areas, where sunlight danced through the canopy and the air was filled with the gentle melody of rustling leaves. The vibrant hues of the surrounding flora painted a picturesque scene, inviting him to lose himself in the beauty of nature.
As Sandbar trotted along the winding paths, his keen senses caught the faint sound of distressed whinnies echoing through the trees. Concerned, he quickened his pace, following the plaintive cries to their source. There, nestled amidst a grove of ancient oaks, was a sight that surprised him.
Trapped within a shimmering pool of swirling energy, a lone Ponyta thrashed desperately, its once vibrant mane now dulled by the oppressive darkness of the Rift Energy. Noticeably, Ponyta at that time was a Kantonian Ponyta as oppossed to what he is now.
Ponyta was kicking in screaming as he was unfortunate to be involved in the more chaotic parts of the Rift. Ponyta's powerful hooves weren't even helping him now as the pool of Rift Energy was like a maelstrom. This was further evident by how it was beginning to tear up the environment.
Without hesitation, Sandbar stepped forward, his instincts guiding him as he reached out to Ponyta with a reassuring touch. Despite the chaos of the Rift Energy surrounding them, he remained steadfast in his resolve to free the trapped Pokémon from its grasp.
"Are you alright?!" Sandbar called out, his voice filled with worry. With each step closer to Ponyta, he could feel the oppressive energy of the Rift pushing against him. . As Sandbar approached the distressed Ponyta trapped within the swirling pool of Rift Energy, he couldn't help but notice the devastating effects it was having on the surrounding environment. The once serene grove of ancient oaks was now a scene of chaos and destruction, as the Rift Energy tore through the landscape with relentless fury.
The vibrant hues of the flora were marred by the oppressive darkness of the Rift, their leaves withered and wilted as if drained of life. The gentle melody of rustling leaves had been replaced by the deafening roar of the swirling pool, its ominous presence casting a shadow over the once peaceful surroundings.
The ground trembled beneath Sandbar's hooves, fissures forming as the sheer force of the Rift Energy threatened to tear the very earth asunder. Trees groaned and creaked as their roots were uprooted by the powerful currents, their branches thrashing wildly in the maelstrom of darkness.
Amidst the chaos, Ponyta struggled desperately against the swirling vortex, its powerful hooves kicking and thrashing in a futile attempt to break free. But with each passing moment, it seemed as though the pool of Rift Energy only grew stronger, its grip tightening around Ponyta with relentless determination.
However, Ponyta didn't receive the same treatment as the environment. Seeing how fearsome this all was, Sandbar was starting to regret it all. He wasn't thinking straight prior to all of this and now his own life was in danger.
He had acted rashly, driven by a desire to help Ponyta without fully considering the consequences of his actions. Now, as he stood on the brink of danger, he couldn't help but regret his earlier decisions. All this for a Pokemon he just met and knew very little of.
He knew absolutely nothing about Pokemon in the first place and now he was having to deal with all of this. Back then, Sandbar saw himself as incredibly foolish and he would have perished in this forest on that day. But that seemingly foolish action brought a stark positive.
Suddenly, Sandbar watched in astonishment, the swirling vortex of Rift Energy surrounding Ponyta began to take on a different hue, pulsating with an otherworldly light. With each passing moment, Ponyta's form seemed to shift and change, the energy of the Rift molding and shaping him into something new and unexpected.
At first, Sandbar's heart clenched with fear, fearing that the transformation might only bring more danger to his beloved companion. But as he observed more closely, he realized that something remarkable was happening. The chaotic energy of the Rift was not harming Ponyta but rather, it was imbuing him with a newfound power.
In a dazzling display of light and energy, Ponyta's form underwent a remarkable transformation, his once familiar appearance giving way to the sleek and majestic form of a Galarian Ponyta. His mane blazed with vibrant hues of blue and purple, radiating with an otherworldly glow that seemed to defy explanation.
And because of this, Ponyta gained access to Rift Energy himself. His eyes would unleash that familiar cosmic glow as he would suddenly manipulate the entire around him.
Sandbar was stunned, being the first to not only witness the emergence of Galarian Ponyta thanks to Rift Energy, but to also see a Pokemon utilize Rift Energy to such an impressive level. As if he had telekinesis, Ponyta was lifting the entire forest by using his horn. Even the pool of Rift Energy was being ripped from the ground, spiralling around the Unique Horn Pokemon.
However, the immense power coursing through Ponyta's small body proved to be too much to handle. As he exerted himself to control the Rift Energy, a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over him, his strength faltering under the strain of the immense power he wielded.
With a pained whinny, Ponyta stumbled, his body trembling with the effort of maintaining control. The radiant glow of Rift Energy surrounding him flickered and waned, its brilliance dimming as Ponyta struggled to keep it contained.
Ponyta's small body continued to tremble, the strain of his newfound power taking its toll. With each passing moment, it became increasingly clear that Ponyta's strength was waning, his body unable to withstand the immense energy he had unleashed.
As the last remnants of Rift Energy faded away, Ponyta collapsed to the ground, his breathing laboured and shallow. Sandbar knelt beside him, his heart heavy with concern as he gently cradled his companion in his arms.
"Are you sure you want to use that again?" Sandbar asked while trapped in the darkness. That same power could help free them both but it was highly risky.
"Ponyta." Ponyta was incredibly confident. Sandbar hesitated, his concern for Ponyta's well-being weighing heavily on his mind. He knew that using Ponyta's newfound power again could have serious consequences, potentially putting them both in even greater danger. But he also understood that they were trapped in the darkness, with no other apparent means of escape.
"I don't know, Ponyta. We never went back to that thing since it was too dangerous. I didn't want to use that Rift Energy in you again because of how much it hurts you." Sandbar said, his voice tinged with worry. "Your safety comes first."
Ponyta looked back at Sandbar with determination gleaming in his eyes, a silent assurance that he was willing to do whatever it took to free them both from their predicament. Despite the risks involved, Ponyta seemed unwavering in his resolve to harness the power of Rift Energy once more.
"Alright. I'll trust you. Do it, Ponyta. With a heavy heart, Sandbar nodded in reluctant agreement, knowing that they had little choice but to trust in Ponyta's instincts.
With a fierce determination burning in his eyes, Ponyta unleashed the power of Rift Energy once more, channeling its cosmic essence with a resolute focus. As his eyes flashed with brilliant light, the darkness surrounding them shattered into a million fragments, dispersing like mist in the wind.
"What?! Rift Energy?!" Malamar's eyes widened in surprise and disbelief as he beheld the dazzling display of cosmic energy unleashed by Ponyta. The swirling vortex of darkness that had once ensnared them now crumbled before the radiant power of Rift Energy, its malevolent grip shattered by the sheer force of Ponyta's will.
Sandbar watched in awe as the darkness dissipated, replaced by the brilliant glow of Ponyta's cosmic energy. Despite the risks involved, Ponyta's courage and determination had proven to be their salvation, breaking through the darkness and illuminating their path to freedom.
With a triumphant neigh, Ponyta emerged from the dissipating darkness, his mane ablaze with radiant hues of blue and purple. His eyes sparkled with newfound strength and resolve, a testament to the power that lay within him.
Malamar recoiled in shock and frustration, his carefully laid plans unravelling before his eyes. Despite his best efforts to control the situation, he had underestimated the strength and resilience of Sandbar and Ponyta's bond that the young Earth Pony brought up earlier.
As the brilliance of Ponyta's cosmic display filled the air, Sandbar felt a surge of hope welling in him. However, just like before, Sandbar was aware of the toll that wielding such immense power took on Ponyta's small body. As the mindscape began to shatter and dissipate, Sandbar's consciousness gradually returned to the waking world, leaving behind the surreal realm of dreams and visions.
"Ponyta..."
"You did good, Ponyta. Thank you for that." He thanked his partner.
With a heavy heart, Sandbar gently cradled Ponyta in his arms, his concern for his companion's well-being weighing heavily on his mind. Despite their victory, Sandbar knew that Ponyta had paid a steep price for their freedom, his body weakened by the strain of harnessing the power of Rift Energy for a second time.
The Real World.
Back outside, Twilight, Luna, and their Pokémon watched with bated breath as the Gelatinous Stream began to wobble and tremble violently, its once imposing form now faltering in the face of Ponyta's unleashed power. The brilliant glow of Rift Energy surrounded them, casting a radiant light that illuminated the darkness and filled them with a renewed sense of hope.
With each passing moment, cracks began to form along the surface of the Gelatinous Stream, its gelatinous form quivering as it struggled to maintain its hold on its captives. It was clear that something extraordinary was happening, something beyond their comprehension yet undeniably powerful.
"Amazing..." Twilight gawked. "Did it use Rift Energy on itself? Or was it...?"
"Now is our chance, Twilight!" Luna exclaimed, seeing an opening.
With the Gelatinous Stream weakened and vulnerable, Twilight and Luna wasted no time in seizing the opportunity to free their friends from its clutches. With a coordinated effort, they directed their Pokémon to focus their attacks on the stream, unleashing a barrage of powerful moves aimed at breaking through its defences and shattering its gelatinous form.
"Finish it! Dazzling Gleam!" The two of them shouted. Togekiss, Espeon and Florges each unleashed as many Dazzling Gleams as they could while they had the chance. The rainbows would rapidly bombard the Dark Force, piercing it with pure rays of light.
As the combined assault intensified, cracks began to spread across the surface of the Gelatinous Stream, its once formidable defenses crumbling under the relentless onslaught. With a final surge of effort, Twilight and Luna directed their Pokémon to deliver one last powerful blow, channeling all of their strength and determination into a coordinated attack aimed at shattering the stream once and for all.
With a deafening roar, the Gelatinous Stream finally collapsed, its gelatinous form dissolving into nothingness as the darkness was banished from their midst. Sandbar, Ponyta, and the other students were freed from their imprisonment, emerging unharmed but visibly shaken from their ordeal.
"Gross...This is worse than that one squid back home..." Silverstream shuddered.
"I feel so unclean..." Gallus wobbled, feeling absolutely disgusted by what had just happened. "I wanna go home.
As the dust settled and the darkness receded, Twilight and Luna breathed a sigh of relief, their faces drawn with exhaustion but filled with a sense of triumph. But it wasn't over yet.
"All that's left is you all." Luna narrowed her eyes at the remaining Malamar. The opposing Malamar were visibly intimidated as they didn't expect this. It was their job to keep them busy, but even so, they were feeling a sense of fear.
Meanwhile, Ponyta and Sandbar felt great joy. Ponyta laid there with a smile on his face, even if his body was harmed. If only Galarian Ponytas could heal themselves like how they could heal others. Sandbar would help his friend, glad that they were both safe. Now, he could just leave it to his teacher and Princess.
"After this, we're coming for you, Malamar." Twilight declared, determined to reach the Main Malamar.
On this night, one of the members of the alliance was being confronted as his plans have been revealed. Malamar was no longer discreet. There was no Daybreaker or Second Wind to do most of the work and be out in the open. Now that his return was made clear to everyone else, the Overturning Pokemon's plans were being threatened once more.
Knowing that Absol could now sense disasters once more, a troubled Malamar has no choice but to do everything in his current power to keep all obstacles away. Far off in the Alola Region, his plans were still ongoing, attempting to find traces of Solaleo and Lunala.
"This is pointless." Malamar scoffed, moving over a tall hill where the rest of his subordinates could be seen, digging their tendrils in the earth to try and find clues to Solgaleo and Lunala. Try as they might, no clues came their way. The only thing they could go off were the Altars but even those proved to be useless right now.
"Even if Equestria is far from Alola, those gateways have been revived. That blasted Absol can track me down." Malamar commented. "I have no choice but to rely on the Ultra Wormholes. The plan to force those Ultra Beasts here to bring Solageleo and Lunala is foolish, but my options are incredibly slim now."
Heading over to his own pod, which was larger than his minions, he slid his tentacles on it, activating hidden buttons that were perfectly concealed on this bizarre vehicle. From it, a holographic projection of Team Plasma was shown. Specifically, of the Shadow Triad.
"Team Plasma. I need an Ultra Wormhole immediately. Those Equestrians are heading my direction." The Overturning Pokemon said, requiring an Ultra Wormhole immediately.
"At that moment, we can't." The middle member of the Shadow Triad said. "Right now, we're dealing with an Angel Problem, so we can't open an Ultra Wormhole at the moment. You'll have to contact the rest in Universe 11."
"That will take too long. And I need the Ultra Wormholes as a way to further reach Solagelo and Lunala." Malamar groaned.
"That's what we're all trying to do. Force them out with the Ultra Wormholes. Based on your reaction, you've failed to keep Abslo from sensing what you're planning, right? So much for that. Plus if you open up an Ultra Wormhole here, you'll just get more eyes on you, especially in Alola."
"I have to stall them somehow. But it is only those two. Two ponies should not be able to stop me. I plan to make sure it is not a repeat of the past." Malamar's eyes narrowed. "At least try and pass on more Rift Energy. A bucket of it just won't do, especially if I use all of it up."
"I wouldn't use too much of it. Recently, Lord Ghetsis's body suddenly went elsewhere because of how much power he was using. Rift Energy, Dark Magic and now Divine Magic. All of that was too much for even him. Use too much and you could suffer a similar fate." He warned Malamar.
"Are you saying I can't handle it?"
"We know you can't handle all of it. For a while, we won't be able to help you all with our Angel Predicament. Call for help from someone else." With that, the Shadow Triad ended the call.
"Useless. Angel Predicament he says. So be it." An irritated Malamar said, raising his tendrils as he turned his attention to the bucket of Rift Energy. Relying on the cosmic power once more, he would drop his tendrils in, feeding on it to draw out greater capabilities.
The cosmic power surged through him, infusing him with newfound strength and determination. With each passing moment, he felt the energy coursing through his veins, empowering him with the ability to manipulate reality some more.
With a sinister grin, Malamar focused his thoughts on his next move. Absol's newfound ability to sense disasters had thrown a wrench in his plans, but he refused to be deterred. If he couldn't open an Ultra Wormhole himself, he would find another way to achieve his goals.
The last of the Malamar had been defeated. With that, Darkrai used Dark Void on them all, immediately putting them to rest. As for who would take them all in, Nightmare Moon would take that role, using her shadows to summon Canterlot Guards from below.
"That's that. You three should get home right now." Twilight said to her students, leaving it up to the Canterlot Guards to escort Sandbar, Gallus and Silverstream home.
"Many thanks, Principal!" Silverstream waved farewell whilst being carried by one of the Golurk.
"Now then. Where is the nearest gateway to Alola again?" Luna asked.
"I think Lucas opened one up somewhere around Hill Top. If we get there, we'll reach Malamar quicker." Twilight said, recalling the last place Lucas left a gateway. "He left some other gateways leading to Alola. But that's the nearest-" However, Twilight was promptly cut off.
With his newfound cosmic capabilities enhanced by the Rift Energy, Malamar extended his psychic tendrils across the vast expanse, reaching out towards Twilight's group with an unseen presence.
As Malamar's psychic influence washed over them, Twilight and her companions felt a chill run down their spines, a sense of foreboding hanging heavy in the air. They knew that their adversary was closing in, his dark presence looming ever closer with each passing moment.
"Already?!" Twilight looked up as her Rift Magic picked up on this. As they gazed up into the night sky, Twilight and her companions spotted a single cosmic tendril streaking across the heavens, its ethereal form cutting through the darkness like a beacon of ominous light.
With Malamar's chuckle echoing in the night sky. The Cosmic Tendril would come flying down at alarming speeds, attempting to crush them. "Eve, use Psychic to create a barrier!" Twilight called out, her voice firm and commanding. Espeon responded with agility, conjuring a shimmering barrier of psychic energy to shield them from the cosmic tendril's crushing force.
"Esp!" Quickly putting up a shield, Espeon would block the incoming Cosmic Tendril as the impact was absolutely titanic. The moment it hit her shield, it immediately shattered it, sending a shockwave that pushed Twilight's group back. "Eon!" Espeon cried out, receiving the brunt of it.
As the shockwave from the cosmic tendril's impact surged outward, Twilight and her companions were forcefully thrown back, their bodies tumbling and rolling across the rugged terrain. Rocks and debris were sent flying as they skidded across the ground, the sheer force of the blast propelling them with tremendous momentum.
Twilight gritted her teeth against the pain, feeling the rough ground scrape against her skin as she struggled to regain her bearings. Beside her, Luna and their Pokémon likewise fought to recover, their forms battered by this single hit.
"Ngh..." As Twilight and her companions struggled to recover from the devastating impact of the cosmic tendril, a palpable sense of dread hung heavy in the air. The atmosphere crackled with an otherworldly energy, tinged with an ominous foreboding that sent shivers down their spines.
The very essence of the cosmic tendril seemed to defy comprehension, its form twisting and contorting in unnatural ways that defied the laws of reality. "What in the..." Luna was stunned by what she was seeing.
By using the power of the Rift, Malamar was performing some truly unorthodox things, manipulating how his tentacles usually work. Each movement of the tendril sent ripples through the fabric of space itself, distorting the landscape around them in surreal and unsettling ways. Rocks and debris danced in erratic patterns, suspended in mid-air by unseen forces that defied explanation.
The cosmic tendril loomed menacingly over Twilight and her companions, its ethereal form pulsating with malevolent energy.
"Absol! Cut it apart with Night Slash! Togekiss, use Sky Attack! Eve, use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Florges, use Petal Dance! Darkrai, Thunderbolt!" Luna bellowed.
Twilight and Luna's Pokémon sprang into action, unleashing a barrage of powerful attacks against the cosmic tendril.
Absol, his horn gleaming with a razor-sharp edge, surged forward with blinding speed, slashing through the tendril with his Night Slash. Each swipe cut deep into the ethereal mass, causing it to writhe and recoil in agony as sparks of dark energy erupted from the wounds.
Togekiss soared gracefully through the air, surrounded by a swirling vortex of energy as she charged up her Sky Attack. With a deafening roar, she plummeted towards the tendril like a comet, her dazzling wings leaving a trail of sparkling stardust in her wake. The impact of her attack sent shockwaves rippling through the tendril, causing it to shudder and falter under the onslaught.
Meanwhile, Espeon unleashed a brilliant burst of light with her Dazzling Gleam, showering the tendril with cascades of shimmering energy. Each beam struck with pinpoint accuracy, searing through the tendril's shadowy form and illuminating the darkness with radiant brilliance.
Florges pirouetted gracefully amidst a storm of swirling petals, her Petal Dance forming a whirlwind of colour and fragrance that engulfed the tendril in a mesmerizing dance of destruction. The petals sliced through the tendrils with razor-sharp precision, leaving behind a trail of devastation in their wake.
Darkrai unleashed a crackling bolt of lightning with his Thunderbolt, channelling the raw power of the storm into a devastating blast of electricity that surged through the tendril like a tidal wave. The tendrils convulsed and spasmed as the lightning arced through its form, sending tendrils of crackling energy snaking through its ethereal mass.
"No good..." Darkrai commented.
Despite their combined efforts, the cosmic tendril continued to resist their attacks, its otherworldly form twisting and contorting as it fought to maintain its grip on reality.
With every movement, the tendril seemed to warp and distort the very fabric of reality, making it difficult for Twilight and her allies to anticipate its next attack. Each time they attempted to mount a defence, the tendril would lash out with blinding speed, forcing them to dodge and weave to avoid its devastating blows.
Twilight summoned shimmering barriers and conjured bolts of arcane energy to fend off the relentless assault, only for the cosmic energy to tear some of them up. Twilight gasped as Malamar was stripping away her barriers and taking these hits without slowing down for even a second.
For every blow they landed, the tendril seemed to keep going, its form shifting and morphing with eerie fluidity. It was as if they were fighting against an ever-changing nightmare, a relentless force of cosmic horror that defied their every attempt to subdue it.
"If that's how it's going to be, then I'll use my own Rift Energy!" Twilight would slide back, lighting her eyes up. She would tap into the Rift Magic that she possessed, using it as a way to retaliate. Right as the Cosmic Tendril came swinging down, moving the clouds themselves, Twilight's Rift Magic would be unleashed.
Twilight's Rift Magic exploded, forming a fearsome and mighty vortex of bodacious light that enveloped the Cosmic Tendril in its radiant embrace. The tendrils of energy writhed and convulsed as they collided with the raw power of Twilight's Rift Magic, their otherworldly forms warping and distorting under the intense pressure.
With a resounding boom, the two opposing forces clashed in a spectacular display of cosmic energy, sending shockwaves rippling through the fabric of reality itself. The very ground trembled beneath their feet as the sheer force of their clash threatened to tear the area apart.
"Impossible!" Back at Alola, Malamar sensed the other Rift Energy, stunned to find out that Twilight was in possession of it. "She got a hold of it as well! Troublesome little mare...!"
Luna gritted her teeth against the force of the chaos, her wings beating furiously to maintain her balance amidst the tempestuous onslaught. With a swift motion, she summoned forth a protective barrier of shimmering energy, using her magic to shield herself and her companions from the brunt of the cataclysmic forces at play.
The barrier quivered and strained against the titanic clash of energies, each pulse of Twilight's Rift Magic and the Cosmic Tendril's otherworldly power threatening to breach its defences.
"You will not stop me a second time!" Malamar refused to let them get anywhere near close to defeating him. The Overturning Pokemon did not want to suffer another loss at the hooves of Equestria. "You all! Fuel me!"
As Malamar's minions converged around him, their dark auras intertwining with his own, a sinister energy pulsed through the air, suffusing the atmosphere with an ominous presence. The Overturning Pokemon's eyes gleamed with a malevolent light as he tapped into the combined power of his loyal followers, drawing upon their collective strength to bolster his own.
With a surge of dark energy coursing through his tentacles, Malamar's form seemed to swell and contort, his silhouette growing more imposing with each passing moment. The air crackled with arcane power as he absorbed the essence of his minions, channelling their dark energies into his own being with ruthless efficiency.
As the power of his minions flowed into him, Malamar's psychic tendrils writhed and flexed with newfound strength, extending outward like the limbs of some monstrous aberration. His eyes burned with an unholy fervor as he prepared to unleash the full extent of his newfound power upon his adversaries, determined to crush them beneath his heel and claim victory for himself.
With a triumphant roar that echoed across the battlefield, Malamar unleashed a devastating barrage of psychic energy, the sheer force of his attack threatening to tear the area asunder. As the titanic clash between Malamar's overwhelming psychic assault and Twilight's Rift Magic reached its crescendo, the area buckled and fractured under the immense strain.
With a deafening roar, a colossal rift tore open beneath Twilight's group, its yawning maw swallowing them whole with a gravitational pull so powerful it felt as though the very earth itself was being rent asunder.
"What is that?!" Luna gasped at the sight below her. Twilight's focus was broken once the hole also opened up beneath her. Thanks to this, she lost the clash, just as Malamar intended.
Twilight, Luna, and their allies found themselves hurtling uncontrollably into the gaping void, their bodies buffeted by the chaotic energies swirling around them. The world around them dissolved into a maelstrom of swirling colours and incomprehensible shapes, the boundaries of space and time twisting and warping in the wake of the cataclysmic forces at play.
With each passing moment, they were drawn deeper and deeper into the heart of the rift, the overwhelming pull threatening to tear them apart at the seams. Despite their best efforts to fly against the pull, they were inexorably drawn closer and closer to the bottomless abyss below.
The darkness closed in around them, swallowing them whole as they plummeted deeper into the unknown depths. And just like a maw, the hole would close, sealed by Malamar's Darkness.
Alola.
Malamar's body pulsed with the strain of wielding such immense power, the tendrils of Rift Energy pulsating and writhing around him like living shadows. Despite his success in trapping his adversaries in the abyss, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness.
"I won...!" The Overturning Pokemon panted his eyes narrowed in frustration and determination. Despite his momentary triumph, he knew that his victory was far from assured. The threat posed by Twilight, Luna, and their allies could still return since he only locked them in a massive hole. "That hole should keep them occupied for hours. Hopefully weeks or more. But..."
Malamar's movements were unsteady as he leaned heavily on his minions for support, the strain of using that much Rift Energy evident in every trembling tentacle. His vision blurred as cosmic sparkles danced before his eyes, obscuring his surroundings and making it difficult to focus.
"Make sure they stay down there. Keep that hole sealed up as long as possible and stay out of sight." Malamar ordered while also needing time to recover. Malamar's minions nodded in silent obedience, their loyalty unwavering despite the strain of their master's commands.
Equestria. A Colossal Hole.
As Twilight, Luna, and their Pokémon companions regained their bearings, they found themselves in a desolate and cavernous expanse. The walls of the hole stretched impossibly high above them, disappearing into darkness, while the ground beneath their feet was rough and uneven, littered with jagged rocks and debris.
Present here was Rift Energy too, all thanks to Malamar's actions. This was now an abyss of Rift Energy just violently shaking in every possible way, levitating some of the debris.
The air hung heavy with an oppressive silence, broken only by the faint echoes of their own movements reverberating through the chamber. Despite the dim lighting, the darkness seemed to press in from all sides, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls.
Twilight's body trembled with fatigue, the strain of exerting herself to such extremes taking its toll. Every step felt like a struggle, her limbs heavy and sluggish as she pressed forward, determination warring with exhaustion.
The lingering effects of channelling Rift Magic coursed through her veins, leaving her feeling drained and weakened. Each movement sent sharp jolts of pain radiating through her body, a stark reminder of the price she had paid to unleash such formidable power.
"Twilight! Are you alright?!" Luna rushed over.
"I've never had to use that much before..." Twilight grunted. Her Pokémon gathered around her, their expressions mirroring Luna's concern as they offered their support.
Just like Malamar, Twilight was struggling to walk, but since she's been with Rift Energy longer than he has, she could still make some movements. Despite her exertion and the strain on her body, Twilight pushed herself to move forward, albeit with difficulty. Her steps were unsteady, her movements laboured and supported by her Pokemon.
Darkrai would ascend, going straight for the exit which was covered by a horrific darkness. Darkrai believed that he could get past this since he was in tune with the Darkness as well. However, he was met with an unfortunate outcome.
Darkrai's attempt to navigate through the darkness laced with Rift Energy proved futile, as the powerful cosmic forces within the abyss pushed him back with an unseen strength. Despite his formidable abilities, even Darkrai found himself unable to penetrate the barrier of Rift Energy that surrounded them, thwarting his efforts to break free from the confines of the abyss.
"Rift Energy...I can't pass through this either." Darkrai grunted when descending to Luna. "There has to be another way out of this place."
"At this rate, we might not reach Alola." Luna grit her teeth. Malamar was successfully stalling for time by doing this and Twilight was currently feeling heavy effects on her body.
Trapped within the abyss, their only recourse was to come up with anything to save themselves, seeking any opportunity to overcome the dark obstacle that stood between them and their goal. Yet, as the darkness loomed ever closer, threatening to engulf them entirely, the other Malamar were currently on their way to make sure they would stay down there.
Equestria. Under a hole of Rift Energy. Nightfall.
Below the starry night sky, a massive hole had been sealed up by Dark Energy, laced with some Rift Energy as well. This was done by Malamar after a confrontation with Twilight Sparkle and Luna.
Twilight was being helped up by her Absol, currently perplexed and twitching after using so much Rift Magic. Escaping from this place wasn't that easy either, thanks to that seal. Now, they were trapped in this Hole of Rift Energy unless they could come up with something.
Luna would release a flare of magic from her horn, attempting to burn away the Rift Energy to pave the way. And while she could affect it, mostly with Lunar Ire's magic and the help from her Pokemon, the Rift Energy wasn't fading.
"No good. All of you! Appear!" Luna felt that she needed more firepower. With her magic levitating every single one of her Poke Balls, she summoned all the Pokemon she had on her at the moment. From Gliscor all the way up to Manectric. Pokemon of each type were present here.
This involved Zekrom, who towered over everyone here. Once he showed up, he let out a booming roar with a crackle of lightning. Surely, Zekrom was powerful enough to break through all of this.
Assisting her were Espeon and Togekiss, who would try their best with a selection of Dazzling Gleam, Shadow Ball and other attacks in their arsenal. With Luna having all of her Pokemon attack the Rift Energy, a massive onslaught of attacks of each Type were thrown forward, bombarding them Rift Energy.
Flashes of fire, fierce crackle and bursts of electricity, mezmerising Fairy and Psychic rays, pure concentrated Water and Grass and so on were flying all over the place. And yet, nothing. The Rift Energy was taking damage but it wasn't looking like it was going anywhere at all.
"Perhaps if we do it in succession! Zekrom! Fusion Bolt!" Luna bellowed to Zekrom before speaking to the rest of her Pokemon. She took a different approach, planning to overload the Rift Energy as fast as possible. They weren't sure if it was regenerating or anything of the sort but they had to try.
Once more, an onslaught of attacks was seen as Twilight would look over with a rather exhausted face. The attacks were flying in at a faster pace, having small windows of time for Luna and her Pokemon to breathe.
"Drat! How is there still more?! Or is it just growing back?" Luna grizzled her teeth. "Destroying Rift Energy has been done before. We've seen it happen. Why is this one so persistent?"
"It's me..." Twilight revealed the reason as to why the Rift Energy wasn't vanishing.
"You?" Luna turned back to her fellow alicorn.
"Because of that clash, some of my own Rift Energy is sticking around. Malamr took advantage of that. That's why he made this hole in the first place." Twilight answered. "As long as I'm here, it'll never vanish."
"So, Malamar is using you as the vessel. That slimy...!" Luna hated that fact. Malamar didn't just do this out of desperation. Even though he was the least experienced when it came to Rift Magic, someone like him could use its Cosmic Abilities to its most Terrifying Capabilities.
"I can't control it either. Not in this state." Twilight took deep breaths. "I've never had to use so much Rift Energy in one spell. My body feels like it's spinning on the inside."
"Stay strong, Twilight. You shouldn't do anything and let Malamar have his way." Luna said, trying to comfort her.
"I'll call for help." Twilight would have Absol take out her Xtransceiver, helping her hold it. She at least had that. The sooner we get help, the better. I don't think we can get out of here on our own right now."
As Twilight attempted to use her Xtransceiver to call for help, the Rift Energy within the abyss surged in response, its chaotic waves pulsating with newfound intensity. A palpable sense of dread filled the air as Rift Energy reacted violently to the presence of the device, its ominous aura crackling with malevolent energy.
Luna and her Pokemon watched in alarm as the Rift Energy's response grew more pronounced, its swirling mass contorting and writhing with increasing ferocity. The very fabric of the abyss seemed to tremble under the strain, ominous ripples spreading outward from the epicentre of the disturbance.
"Hold on!" Realizing the danger they faced, Luna quickly moved to shield Twilight and her Pokemon from the brunt of the Rift Energy's onslaught, her protective barrier enveloping them in a shimmering veil of magical energy. Yet, even her formidable defences struggled to withstand the sheer force of the Rift Energy's onslaught, the barrier quivering under the relentless assault.
Zekrom would get in the way, shielding every single one of his friends from the energy as well. With his large size and incredibly durability, he would take the brunt of these pulses, standing strong against them.
"My Xtransceiver!" Twilight gasped as her device was beginning to break down right in front of her eyes. The Rift Energy was growing in one spot, increasing in power. And in response, Twilight's body was taking damage since she was the vessel.
"Twilight?!" Luna shouted.
"Sol?! Absol?!" Sensing Twilight's growing distress, Absol let out a low growl of concern, its fur bristling as it instinctively moved closer to its trainer. Espeon gasped, doing the same once Twilight was beginning to drop to the ground. Luna, her expression etched with determination, redoubled her efforts to bolster the protective barrier, pouring every ounce of her magical strength into maintaining its integrity.
"If it grows in strength...I take damage as well." Twilight groaned, realizing what this all was. "Because I'm recovering, the Rift Energy recovers too...I can't handle this!"
Twilight's voice wavered with a mixture of fear and frustration as she struggled to comprehend the dire situation they found themselves in. The realization that her own recovery was inadvertently fueling the growth of the Rift Energy sent a chill of dread coursing through her, amplifying the strain she already felt on her weary body.
Luna's expression hardened with determination as she grasped the gravity of Twilight's revelation. The peril they faced was unlike anything they had encountered before, a relentless cycle of destruction fueled by Twilight's very presence. With each passing moment, the Rift Energy surged stronger, threatening to overwhelm them all.
"That won't happen." Luna couldn't let Twilight suffer all of this damage. The options were thin. Incredibly thin. There was seemingly no one out there to help them and as Twilight recovers, the Rift Energy grows stronger while damaging her body some more. "Florges!"
"Flor!" It would be up to Florges to heal Twilight. Or at least, keep her from suffering as much damage as possible. She used Aromatherapy, covering the Princess of Friendship in a soothing green energy.
"Luna. If this keeps up, the Rift Energy could crush us entirely." Zekrom spoke. "I could maybe protect you, but too much of it might result in disastrous effects. Even my own body might not handle it."
"Don't say that, Zekrom. You'll withstand it. And we'll all make it out of here safely. After all...I know Nightmare Moon won't leave us behind." Luna narrowed her eyes, thinking about Nightmare Moon, who was currently helping Sandbar, Silverstream and Gallus back home. She was fully counting on her to return and help. After all, Luna and Nightmare Moon were one and the same. Parts of each other.
"Gli...Gliscor!" But right now, one of Luna's Pokemon was beginning to waver. The first was Gliscor, who was struggling to withstand this. Following Gliscor was Xatu and after Xatu, Frillish was showing signs of falling.
Luna's heart sank as she witnessed the toll the relentless onslaught of Rift Energy was taking on her loyal Pokémon. "No! You all!"
"F-Frill...!" Frillish attempted to use his intangibility, but even that was being disrupted by the Rift Energy.
"Ges...? Florges." Florges hesitated, torn between her desire to heal Twilight and the fear of inadvertently exacerbating the growing power of the Rift Energy. As she watched Twilight's condition worsen with each passing moment, Florges's Aromatherapy was weakening.
"Don't stop, Florges." But Twilight suggested that she kept going.
"Flor?!" Florges gasped.
"I've been through worse..." Twilight grunted, trying to make things positive. But even she knew that she was saying that to bring some optimism. Ash had definitely rubbed off on her. "Because of Ash, I can say that even during this...But I believe it too."
With Twilight urging Florges to continue, the Fairy-Type Pokémon hesitated for a moment before nodding resolutely. Drawing upon her inner strength and resolve, Florges redoubled her efforts, continuing to use Aromatherapy until Twilight was fine.
As Florges poured her energy into healing Twilight, Zekrom and Darkrai stood steadfast, using their formidable powers to hold back the encroaching Rift Energy as best as they could. Despite the overwhelming odds stacked against them, they refused to yield, determined to protect their friends and allies at any cost.
With Zekrom's crackling electricity and Darkrai's eerie shadows swirling around them, the remaining Pokémon formed a protective barrier, shielding Twilight and Luna from the worst of the Rift Energy's onslaught. Together, they stood as a bastion of hope in the face of despair, their unwavering courage and determination serving as a beacon of light amidst the darkness.
It was only worsening, moving across the entire abyss. At that moment, Twilight and Luna found themselves caught in a moment of respite amidst the chaos. Taking a brief pause from the battle, they exchanged a solemn glance in the midst of this fearsome struggle. Luna needed time to breathe for a moment, looking back at Twilight.
"Luna, do you think we can make it out of here?" Twilight's voice was tinged with uncertainty, the weight of their predicament pressing heavily upon her.
"Even with the longevity of an alicorn, we aren't indestructible or immortal. At this rate, if we don't do anything, I'm afraid we could perish." Luna was honest with Twilight. The chances of them perishing in this abyss was possible. It was just one thing compared to everything they've faced these past 4 years. And yet, it was by far one of, if not the most difficult obstacle they've seen, especially since it involves one of them.
"If it is, I'd probably blame myself," Twilight grunted while responding. "All that time learning about Rift Maic and I can't even break all of this energy away. Malamar used it more efficiently than me..."
"It's not your fault, Twilight. You're free to pin it all on Malamar. To be honest, even after my sister and I defeated him, we never thought about the possibility of him returning, possibly even stronger." Luna replied while using her magic to hold back the energy. "We should've thought about that but...who could prepare for this? Rift Energy will always be so erratic to us. But it won't be the end of us. You've taught me that."
"I have?"
"It was you and everypony else who saved me when I was overtaken by Nightmare Moon. You, Ash and everyone are experts in looking on the bright side and realizing it. So I expect you to do the same here." Luna growled. And in response, the Rift Energy pushed back at her, making the Moon Princess slide. "Even so...I wish I could fix all of this myself...!"
"Flor...Florges...!" Florges was now starting to weaken thanks to the presence of the Rift Energy. She too was about to fall, ending her Aromatherapy.
Twilight's expression softened as she watched Florges struggle against the overwhelming power of the Rift Energy. She knew that they were all reaching their limits, and the situation seemed increasingly dire with each passing moment.
"This is just like what happened with Emerald Aura." Twilight strained her muscles when trying to get back up, reminded of the fate that Emerald Aura received. "I won't let it happen again. But what can I do?"
"Not sure. My options are minimal as well...!" A desperate Luna exclaimed as Darkrai was pushed back. Togekiss, Espeon and Absol tried standing strong against the Rift Energy but it was only a matter of time until it overwhelms them. "Even if we fall here, I'll at least be somewhat happy?"
"What?" Twilight blinked a few times.
"I was afraid that I'd one day be alone forever. Perishing alone on the Moon with all of my years coming to an end. But right next to a fried...many friends, is a much-preferred outcome." Luna smiled. The words she was speaking were scaring Twilight, making her think she was beginning to accept her fate. "But I would like to be with Ash before that all happens."
"Same here." Twilight smiled. Both she and Luna sharing their crush on Ash even in this dire moment. "That's what I want to do one day myself...If I can't use Rift Magic, then I know something else that'll work. Sorrowful Rage Magic. The last ace in the hole."
"That?" Luna looked back after Twilight brought it up. The other alter-egos of Luna and Twilight were brought into the conversation.
"If I unleash Horizon Storm and you unleash Lunar Ire, we might be able to break free from here. But we have to put them together, Princess Luna."
"Together?! That hasn't been done before. That kind of magic has always been on its own and for good reason. Putting it together will be-"
"Not just together. We're going to do what Pyrestar did." Twilight closed her eyes before reopening them with a glint. She decided on what had to be done. "We're going to fuse."
"!" Luna was stunned by Twilight's proposal. Much like how the Celestia and Luna of another universe fused into a being known as Pyrestar, Twilight was suggesting the same thing. Luna looked Twilight in her eyes. Though damaged, she was determined to make this happen if it meant saving everyone here. Luna knew that Twilight wasn't one to immediately give up and was very much stubborn. No use in arguing since she tends to do things that might get her in trouble. "So be it. Let's try it."
Luna agreed.
Closing their eyes and focusing their magic, Twilight and Luna began to channel their respective alter-egos, Horizon Storm and Lunar Ire. The air around them crackled with power as their auras intertwined, blending together in a dazzling display of cosmic energy.
Their bodies were transforming into their alter-egos as the signature colour of Sorrowful Rage Magic would appear. At first, the fusion was violent and erratic, the conflicting essences of Horizon Storm and Lunar Ire clashing violently within their shared consciousness.
Twilight felt as though she were being torn apart from within, her very essence threatened by the overwhelming power of the fusion. Luna, too, struggled to maintain control as her alter-ego's fierce rage threatened to consume her.
The Rift Energy was also beginning to crackle some more with electricity as the two energies collided, sending shockwaves rippling through the abyss. Flashes of blinding light illuminated the darkness, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls of the abyss.
Because of this action, Twilight was actually beginning to gain her strength back, but in response, the Rift Energy was also growing in power, forcing Zekrom to exert more energy to protect everyone. But he was just as dangerous since all of that lightning could hurt his friends.
At that moment, Espeon and Absol would fall. Doing their best to stand strong, the Rift Energy was reaching critical mass. Espeon fell, so did Togekiss and Absol, who tried keeping his legs up, would drop as well.
With each passing moment, the fusion grew more intense, the energies swirling around Twilight and Luna with increasing ferocity. Their forms seemed to warp and shift, merging together in a dazzling display of cosmic power.
Both alicorns would grunt, feeling a strong pain in their respective bodies. Especially Twilight. There was a reason something like this has never been done before and it was beginning to show. Her wings looked like they were about to pop while Luna's horn was spinning. The interaction was practically disrupting their bodies from even the outside, making them fragile.
"Ghhhh!" Twilight growled as she didn't think she could hold on for much longer. It looked like all was lost and her words were even thinking that. "Was this...a mistake?!"
"Let me lend you my strength, Twilight." Deep within, the faint voice of Twilight Luminaria spoke to Twilight Sparkle. Her soul was still there, albeit weaker after previous events. And yet, she could still spare some magic, helping Twilight Sparkle.
With that gift of magic, everything changed. Both eyes of Twilight and Luna lit up as Zekrom witnessed it all for himself. So did Darkrai, who was also hanging in there. They were amazed by what appeared before them.
On the outside, more Malamar had shown up, specifically to strengthen the seal over the massive hole. They cackled maniacally as some of them placed their pods over the hole. By using their own Dark-Type energy, they were prepared to power the seal.
"Mala. Malamar." They collectively laughed.
"Mala?" That is until one of them sensed that something was amiss.
As the Malamar minions worked feverishly to strengthen the seal over the massive hole, pouring their dark energy into the rift, a sudden disturbance rippled through the air. With a blinding flash of light, a new figure emerged from the depths of the abyss, casting a radiant glow that illuminated the surrounding area.
It had been done. The embodiment of cosmic light and purity, stood before the astonished Malamar minions, her presence a stark contrast to the darkness that had engulfed them. With her shimmering wings outstretched and her radiant aura glowing brightly, she emanated an aura of power and majesty that left the minions in awe.
She was only a being of Pure Magical Energy with no clear appearance, but it was apparent that Twilight Sparkle and Princess Luna had become one being made out of Sorrowful Rage Magic mainly.
"M-Mar?! Malamar?" One of the minions stammered, unable to comprehend the celestial being that stood before them.
"Who am I?" She responded as if understanding Malamar completely. "Neither Twilight nor Luna. I am my own being. You may call me Luminova." Her voice spoke to them, carrying an echo that was not only powerful, but also magical, blowing away some of the pods and Malamar.
For just a brief moment, Luminova demonstrated her newfound power with one action. Luminova would project images and messages into the night sky using a dream-like magic. From above, Sparkles would drop, immediately bombarding the pods at high speeds.
This moment was strikingly similar to what Daybreaker and Gardevoir did, but with no negative impact on the planet itself. Instead, it only brought grace. The celestial sparkles she had summoned seemed to take on a life of their own, dancing and swirling through the air with an ethereal grace.
But instead of simply bombarding the pods with force, the sparkles took on a different purpose. As they made contact with the pods, they began to emit a soft, iridescent glow, enveloping the structures in a shimmering veil of dreamlike energy. The minions watched in awe as the pods were gradually drawn upwards, seemingly pulled into the very fabric of the Dream Veil itself.
With each passing moment, the pods vanished from sight, disappearing into the depths of the Dream Veil as if being transported to another realm entirely. The minions could only stare in wonderment as their once-imposing structures were consumed by the radiant energies of Luminova's magic, leaving behind nothing but a sense of profound mystique and awe.
As the last of the pods disappeared into the Dream Veil, a hushed silence fell over the area, broken only by the soft rustle of the night breeze. However, this fusion did not last long.
As quickly as it had begun, the fusion began to wane, the strain of maintaining such overwhelming power proving to be too much for even the mighty alicorns to bear. With a final burst of luminous energy, they separated, returning to their individual forms as they gasped for breath, their bodies trembling from the sheer exertion of the fusion.
Yet despite the brief duration of their union, the effects were immediately apparent. As Twilight and Luna opened their eyes, they found themselves no longer trapped within the abyss, but standing upon solid ground once more. The rift energy that had surrounded them had dissipated, the oppressive darkness giving way to the gentle glow of the moon above.
"Hah...Haha!" Twilight laughed, feeling absolute jubilation and relief. Exhausted but relieved, Twilight and Luna exchanged weary smiles, their bond stronger than ever in the wake of their harrowing ordeal. "I can't believe that actually worked! We fused!"
"For a few seconds. It seems that something like that was still new and unfinished since it used up so much energy." Luna replied.
"That's fine by me. We're out and that's all that matters." Twilight and Luna faced the remaining Malamar with unwavering resolve. As Zekrom and Darkrai emerged from the hole behind them, their imposing presence added to the intimidation factor. They carried all Twilight and Luna's Pokemon, mainly Zekrom who had a bunch of them on his back.
"We've faced far worse than you," Luna declared, her voice steady despite the lingering fatigue from their ordeal. "You may have stalled us for a time, but you won't stop us from putting an end to your plans once and for all."
Swearing on it, the fusion of Twilight and Luna brought the strength of their Pokemon back. Not just Twilights. All of them would be dropped off by Zekrom, who hovered high in the air.
The Malamar realized that it was a colossal mistake showing up here. The remaining Malamar hesitated, sensing the unyielding determination and power emanating from the two alicorns and their formidable Pokémon allies.
Alola. Out in the Wild.
As for Malamar, his form of healing came from his minions. Not the Malamar themselves, but the other Pokemon they were with. The Malamar went over to their pods, opening them to reveal more Pokemon inside. These pods weren't just vehicles for the Malamar but also for the Pokemon they've controlled. Pokemon that had healing capabilities appeared to help Malamar, immediately surrounding their leader.
Some of the Pokémon emitted soothing auras that enveloped Malamar in a gentle, restorative energy, easing his pain and revitalizing his weary body. Others used their powers to accelerate his natural healing processes, expediting the regeneration of any injuries he had sustained during the confrontation.
Despite the combined efforts of the healing Pokémon, Malamar still couldn't shake the lingering effects of the intense clash and the strain of channelling such vast amounts of Rift Energy
"This isn't working." Malamar grunted. Malamar's frustration grew as he realized that the healing efforts were insufficient to quell the turmoil within him. Despite the attempts to mend his physical wounds and replenish his energy, the deeper metaphysical damage caused by his manipulation of Rift Energy persisted. This realization only served to exacerbate his growing sense of unease and instability.
"Mar! Malamar!" Just then, a subordinate Malamar returned with urgent news, interrupting Malamar's inner turmoil. The subordinate likely brought information that could potentially ruin everything else.
"The Pokemon Rangers? How could they have possibly tracked down our location?" Malamar brought up the Pokemon Rangers, who were currently on to them. "Was using all that Rift Energy enough for them to find us?"
The amount of Rift Energy used in that clash is probably what prompted the Ranger Union to send Pokemon Rangers after them. And with the technology they have, tracking down high traces of Rift Energy was not difficult for them.
"Not here. Stop them at once! Or at least stall for more time against them!" With a strong sense of urgency, Malamar issued orders to his minions, directing them to delay and obstruct the Pokémon Rangers dispatched by the Ranger Union. Despite his weakened state, Malamar was not about to let the Rangers reach him. He didn't need them and Twilight's Group at the same time.
The minions, under Malamar's command, swiftly mobilized to carry out his instructions. Hopping onto their pods, they were ready to take off and buy as much time as possible.
"I have no other choice. I am heading straight for those Altars." Despite initially deeming the Altar of the Sunne and Moone as futile locations, Malamar now saw them as crucial to his plans.
He recognized their significance in his quest to locate Solgaleo and Lunala, legendary Pokémon whose power he sought to harness for his own purposes. With the Ranger Union closing in on him and his own physical condition deteriorating, Malamar made the decision to redirect his efforts towards these sacred sites.
"My body is still trembling from all of that Rift Energy. All of that healing was pointless." Malamar grunted. "Was what the Shadow Triad said true? But if that is the case...then I will use it all on the Altars. One way or another, I will find Solgaleo and Lunala!"
Alola. Poni Island. Vast Poni Canyon. Altar of the Moone. Nightfall.
Arriving at the Altar of the Moone was Malamar and his minions. With his body trembling after using such a tremendous amount of Rift Energy, he needed plenty of assistance to do much. In the dead of the night, which was also currently alive due to the Ranger Union getting involved, Malamar arrived at the Altar of the Moone while some were heading straight for the Altar of the Sunne.
"Place me in front of it." He ordered as his minions brought him to the Altar. "The only way to properly use this is by playing a certain flute. But we do not possess it. Instead, we will use the highest amount of Rift Energy to make this work."
A bold play on Malamar's part. He was going to find those two Pokemon one way or another. Rift Energy, when used at its maximum, is capable of great things and Malamar was about to see if it could get him what he wanted. His minions brought over the Rift Bucket, immediately showering it all over the Overturning Pokemon.
Knowing that his body was struggling, Malamar would gladly use all the Rift Energy in that bucket since nothing was healing him at all. As Malamar's minions poured Rift Energy over him, the atmosphere around the Altar of the Moone grew charged with cosmic power. The dark energies swirled and danced around Malamar, intertwining with his own aura in a dazzling display of otherworldly might.
"Yes...Good!" Malamar cackled while feeling the Rift Energy surge through him. Once the Rift Energy entered his body, it would clash with the energy that already left him in such a wobbly state.
Despite the strain it placed on him, Malamar's determination remained unshaken. He gritted his teeth against the onslaught of power, his eyes gleaming with a fierce resolve as he pushed his body beyond its limits in pursuit of his ambitions.
"Now! Show me a sign!" Holding nothing back, Malamar would unleash the all the power of the Rift, smashing his tentacles right into the Altar of the Moone.
The impact reverberated through the Altar, causing it to tremble and quake under the onslaught of power. Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface, and ancient glyphs glowed with an otherworldly light as the Altar responded to the influx of cosmic energy.
As Malamar's tentacles collided with the Altar of the Moone, the ancient stone structure reacted in a way it never had before. The Rift Energy, pulsating through every fibre of the Altar, triggered a cataclysmic response. Instead of harmonizing with the natural energy of Lunala, the Altar convulsed with chaotic power.
The ancient glyphs etched into the Altar glimmered with an eerie luminescence, their meaning twisted and distorted by the corrupting influence of the Rift Energy.
As the Altar trembled and groaned under the strain, its once-pure essence tainted by the influx of cosmic power, the surrounding landscape quaked in response. Shadows danced wildly, casting sinister silhouettes against the moonlit sky, while the air crackled with an unsettling energy.
Despite his triumphant laughter, a sense of unease gnawed at the edges of Malamar's consciousness. He could feel the Rift Energy twisting and warping his very essence, threatening to consume him from within. Yet, in the throes of his maniacal frenzy, he ignored the warning signs, intoxicated by the prospect of newfound power.
"Mar..." The other Malamar watched with a mixture of awe and trepidation, their own tendrils recoiling instinctively from the chaotic maelstrom that surrounded their leader. They could sense that something was terribly wrong, but they dared not intervene, fearing the wrath of their deranged master.
"Surely, it will reac when it is I who is connected to the Moon!" Malamar declared.
The dormant energy surged from the Altar of the Moone, piercing the veil of the beautiful knight sky like a sword throuh the body. The very fabric of reality seemed to tremble in response to the unprecedented disturbance unleashed by Malamar's reckless actions. Above the Altar, the moon itself appeared to pulse with an eerie glow, its surface reflecting the chaotic energies that now permeated the atmosphere.
The Dimensional Distortion that formed above the Altar was unlike anything seen before. It shimmered with an otherworldly brilliance, its edges tinged with hues of violet and indigo that danced and swirled like a cosmic tempest. Wisps of energy cascaded from its center, weaving intricate patterns in the night sky as if heralding the arrival of some ancient and unfathomable power.
Even from afar, the moon seemed to swell in size, casting an ominous shadow over the land below. The very ground trembled beneath the weight of the dimensional rift, its presence casting a foreboding pall over the surrounding landscape.
The residents of Alola were jolted from their slumber by the cacophonous roar that echoed across the night sky. As they stumbled bleary-eyed from their homes, their gaze was drawn inexorably upward to behold the sight that unfolded above them.
High above the horizon, where the moon typically held its serene vigil, a swirling maelstrom of energy now churned and writhed with otherworldly intensity. The once placid orb had been transformed into a pulsating nexus of power, its surface aglow with ethereal hues that cast an eerie pall over the land below.
Gasps of astonishment and trepidation escaped the lips of onlookers as they beheld the enigmatic spectacle unfolding before them.
"The Moon...What happened to it?" Watching this from outside his home was Kukui. The Moon was currently in tune with Malamar's own Mind, as a result of him using Rif Magic to some of its most horrific capabilities.
Akala Island.
Finally arriving at Alola were Twilight and Luna, specifically at Akala Island. And when showing up, as soon as they were rushing to Malamar's location, they already saw the tremendous spectacle he had caused. Luna's pupils shrunk in astonishment once she saw the energy around the Moon.
"That fiend...What has he done to the Moon?!" Luna bellowed. Even though this wasn't her Moon, it was still a big deal as Malamar's power was now reaching the celestial bodies visible in the sky.
"That's Rift Energy around it...He didn't!" Twilight shouted in disbelief.
"Absol!" Absol's horn kept shaking and shaking, telling him and everyone else that the disaster he sensed was now starting to reach a boiling point.
The best thing to do was to prevent it from worsening. At least that way, they'll stop whatever comes next, especially from that distortion in the sky. They were rushing to Poni Island as fast as possible while the Moon would sing a terrible tune for many to hear.
Twilight was immediately reminded of the Fairy Matter incident that took place weeks ago. She feared this was a similar scenario to that and most likely wished to avoid something like that at all costs.
The Rift Energy would shrink, splitting off into sparkles and stardust which would hover around the Altar of the Moone. As a result of pulling off something so powerful, Malamar was hit with nother consequence to his body. By far, the worst one yet.
The grotesque transformation wrought by the unchecked Rift Energy continued to distort Malamar's form, warping his once-regal visage into a nightmarish semblance of its former self. Bulges and protrusions sprouted from his head and face, contorting his features into a grotesque mask of malevolence.
"Excellent...I have tuned my own mind with the Moon itself." Malamar breathed in and out as his minions saw one part of his head bulging. That bulging part was vibrating, even making sounds that resembled a heartbeat. From that pulsating sound, cosmic sounds could be heard.
"M-Malamar..." The other Malamar were stunned by what they were seeing
Despite the grotesque alterations wracking his body, Malamar remained resolute in his single-minded pursuit of his goal. His eyes burned with an unholy fervour as he gazed upon the swirling vortex of energy that loomed above the Altar of the Moone, undeterred by the physical toll exacted by his insatiable thirst for power.
"After this, we tackle the Sun. But dealing with the weaker Celestial Body will do first." Malamar laughed. "But for now...I will rob the Moon of its power!"
Declaring his next move, Malamar began a plan that was truly detrimental to the world in so many ways. Especially since Lunala was in charge of protecting this singular moon. The Rift Energy within his writhing form surged forth like a tidal wave, cascading upward to meet the luminous orb suspended in the night sky. The moon itself seemed to shudder in response to the malevolent energy that enveloped it, its beautiful surface marred by the ominous shadows cast by Malamar's influence.
With a sinister intensity, the Rift Energy surged toward the moon, weaving a web of crackling tendrils that lashed out hungrily, seeking to ensnare the celestial body in their grasp. As the dark energy made contact with the moon's radiant surface, a violent reaction ensued, sending shockwaves rippling across the heavens and casting an eerie glow upon the landscape below.
"Yes...! So this is the power of the Moon! How beautiful!" The Moon had its own energy. A mix of Blue and Purple colours would come flying down, immediately gravitating towards the Overturning Pokemon. Naturally, all of this had colossal effects on the world and Alola was about to feel one of them with the Moon beginning to lose its power.
The effects of the moon's diminishing power were felt far and wide, rippling outward across the islands of Alola with palpable intensity. In the wake of Malamar's malevolent influence, the natural order of the world seemed to falter, as if the very balance of life and energy had been thrown into disarray.
In the absence of the moon's guiding light, the Pokemon of the night stirred uneasily, their instincts attuned to the ebb and flow of cosmic energies now disrupted by the encroaching darkness. From the deepest jungles to the highest peaks, a sense of foreboding descended upon the land. Even after the tremor left behind by Daybreaker was beginning to settle, something else had started up.
The moon's gravitational pull was responsible for generating tides on Earth. With the Moon weakened, tidal patterns would become erratic and unpredictable. Coastal regions and islands that relied on predictable tides for activities such as fishing, transportation, and recreation were taking heavy hits and consequences from this. Low-lying islands, in particular, would experience increased vulnerability to flooding and erosion due to unpredictable tidal surges.
Konikoni City.
Lana's late-night fishing was brought to an immediate end as she was quickly rushing to her home as fast as possible while the seas were going absolutely haywire. All Water-Types were swimming for their lives, trying to find somewhere safe to reside at. But with the Moon's energy being sapped away, it was hard to know where would be safe.
"Hurry, Lana!" Her mother shouted. Her family were already inside but it was hard to know if they were safe. The seas were beginning to reach the lands due to how erratic they were acting. Some of them managed to catch Luna, covering her in water, but she wasn't done yet.
Lana's heart raced as she heard her mother's urgent cry. With each crashing wave, the waters surged closer to the safety of their home, threatening to breach the fragile barrier between safety and peril. Ignoring the pounding of her own heartbeat, Lana redoubled her efforts, pushing herself to the limit as she fought against the powerful currents.
With every stroke of her arms and kick of her legs, Lana propelled herself forward through the churning waters, her senses heightened by the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Despite the chaos surrounding her, her thoughts remained focused on her family, her Pokémon, and the need to ensure their safety in the face of this unprecedented crisis.
As she neared the shore, Lana could see her family waiting anxiously, their faces etched with concern and fear. With a final burst of strength, Lana emerged from the sea and staggered onto the safety of the shore, her chest heaving with exertion. As she collapsed onto the sand, she was enveloped in her family's embrace, their relief at an all-time high as they pulled Lana in.
"What's happening to the Moon?! Is it Lunala?!" One of her younger sister by the name of Harper asked, confused as to what was happening to the Moon since it was causing all of this. Anyone would immediately assume that it was Lunala since it was connected to the Moon, but Lunala would never do this.
"I don't think Lunala would do this..." Lana spoke.
"What?! What's all that ringing?!" Mallow was woken up from her sleep as her bed was shaking. She would screech, along with her partner Tsareena.
Both of them were blindsided by the disaster happening outside. Mallow felt her head ringing as her furniture was tipping and wobbling aggressively. Eventually, she would spot the bizarre sight outside, witnessing something completely off with the Moon.
Mallow's heart raced as she scrambled to her feet, her mind struggling to process the surreal scene unfolding before her. The normally serene night sky was now ablaze with an otherworldly display, the moon's once-soft glow now pulsating with an ominous energy.
"What in the world...?" Mallow murmured, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and disbelief. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the celestial spectacle, the very ground beneath her seeming to shake with the intensity of the cosmic upheaval. As she watched, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread creeping into her heart, a sense of foreboding that told her this was far more than just a natural phenomenon.
"Tsareena..."
The coral reefs surrounding the islands were slowly beggining to wither and decay, their vibrant colors replaced by sickly hues of purple and black. These corrupted Coral Reefs were teeming with malevolent energies and twisted sea flora, their very presence spreading darkness and despair throughout the underwater realms. The poor Water-Types were struggling to find safety.
Rushing through Alola were Twilight and Luna who were heading straight for the sight of the Rift Energy being visible around the Moon itself. "If I had to guess, Malamar's probably at the Alar of the Sunne or Moone. Judging by what's happening, he might have gone for the Moone Altar first!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Altar of the Moone, you say? Understood!" But it would not be that easy. Twilight and Luna found themselves near the many seas of Alola, which were going completely haywire. A tsunami had formed right next to them, causing them to both collectively gasp. The tsunami raged violently, already casting a shadow over the trees and the Pokemon nearby.
"Quick, Absol! Use Night Slash!"
"Darkrai! Poison Jab!"
"Sol...Absol!" That is until Absol and Darkrai cleaved straight through the Water, protecting their friends. Absol's horn and Darkrai's claws severed the Tsunami, splitting it into smaller parts before they eventually turned into droplets.
Afterwards, Twilight and Luna breathed a sigh of relief, their hearts racing from the close call. They exchanged a quick glance, only to be halted once more by something else before they could get going. Their moment of respite was short-lived as a new threat emerged on the horizon. Even more Malamar, their pods glinting ominously in the moonlight as they approached with malevolent intent.
They were standing by, keeping an eye out for any threats that would get in the way of their leader. Luna's eyes narrowed, her expression hardening as she surveyed the approaching adversaries. "More Malamar," she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration. "Curses...We don't have time for you all! Step aside!"
"Mala." As if the Malamar would do so. At that moment, instead of leaping off their pods to start attacking, they would instead open the pods. Twilight and Luna watched in amazement as they witnessed Pokemon emerging from them. But this time, they were Pokemon meant for battle. Pokemon that all of the Malamar have mind-controlled, all coming from different regions.
Twilight and Luna exchanged a wary glance as the Malamar pods opened to reveal a legion of Pokémon, each one under the control of the nefarious Overturning Pokémon. The sight sent a chill down their spines, as they realized the extent of Malamar's influence and power after these past 4 years.
Haxorus, Alakazam, Rampardos, Combusken, Durant, Escavalier and so on. So many Pokemon, all filling certain roles. Heavy hitters, speed demons and long-ranged specialists. The number of them blocked off the horizon while the crackle of Rift Energy could be heard in the distance.
"If we don't make it in time..." Twilight grizzled her teeth.
"Go ahead, Twilight." Luna said to Twilight, shocking the Princess of Friendship "I wield more Pokemon than you. I can occupy them. Go to the Altar of the Moone at once. Worry not about me. "
"Princess Luna..."
"Please. Sometimes, Luna is fine." Luna smiled, allowing Twilight to call her that from time to time. It was a clear sign of their friendship growing past just being princesses. "I will catch up with you and get the chance to teach Malamar a lesson. But of course, you'll do it first."
"Right! Thank you, Luna!" Twilight exclaimed, immediately spreading her wings. Espeon and Absol continued to move on foot, following their trainer. The opposing Pokemon obviously stood in Twilight's way, ready to stop her, only for Luna to intercept.
Haxorus and Gyarados were already preparing Hyper Beams for the Princess of Friendship while some airborne Pokemon were already flooding the skies.
"Stop right there!" Luna used a huge chunk of her magic, adding some Sorrowful Rage into it as well, unleashing a powerful pressure around the surrounding area just to stagger her enemies. With Luna holding off the formidable army of Pokémon that Malamar had assembled, Twilight pressed onward towards the Altar of the Moone with determination in her heart. The Altar of the Moone loomed ahead, currently suffering as the balance was completely disrupted in so many ways.
"Appear, my friends!" With her magic, Luna summoned all of her Pokemon. Once more, they returned to fray, back in action. From the small Musharna to the towering Zekrom. With a resolute expression, Luna addressed the encroaching Malamar, her voice ringing out with authority. "You're going to regret getting in our way," She declared, her words carrying a weight of intimidation.
The Pokémon stood ready, their eyes fixed on the approaching adversaries. Despite the odds stacked against them, Luna felt like she has seen worse. And she has certainly seen far more overwhelming forces with smaller numbers.
Altar of the Moone.
Malamar was still at it back at the Altar, using more of the Rift's power. Malamar remained focused on his goal, convinced that the ends justified the means. He was willing to risk his own well-being in order to harness the power necessary to accomplish his objectives, confident that he would eventually be healed once he achieved his ultimate goal.
"Come out, Lunala. I know you want to. You can't ignore this forever!" Malamar called out.
Just then, a tentacle was slowly protruding out of his bulging area. The sight of the additional tentacle emerging from Malamar's bulging form sent shivers down the spines of the other Malamar witnessing the scene. It was a grotesque manifestation of the profound transformation taking place within him, a physical representation of how far he was pushing it all.
Malamar's laughter echoed eerily in the air as the tentacle continued to extend, its appearance defying all logic and reason. It was a sinister omen, a portent of the unimaginable power he sought to wield at any cost.
As the tentacle stretched forth, it seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, radiating an aura of malevolence that sent a chill through the hearts of all who beheld it. Indeed, Malamar was willing to descend in pursuit of his goals. Because of all this, Malamar was changing into something else.
Something that has never existed in either of these worlds.
Twilight was currently on the move, attempting to reach the Altar of the Moone as soon as possible before Malamar could make things worse. At this very moment, the Overturning Pokemon was drawing power from the Moon itself, robbing it of its energy.
As Twilight traversed Akala Island on her urgent journey to the Altar of the Moone, she couldn't help but witness the dire consequences of the Moon's weakening firsthand. The once serene landscape of the island was now fraught with chaos and turmoil, as the erratic behaviour of the tides and the disrupted lunar cycles wreaked havoc on the inhabitants of Alola.
Everywhere she looked, Twilight saw signs of distress and disarray. Near Paniola Town, a coastal village was inundated by unpredictable tidal surges, their homes and livelihoods threatened by the relentless onslaught of the sea. Panic and confusion gripped the populace as they struggled to cope with the sudden upheaval brought about by the Moon's waning power.
As Twilight hurried towards the Altar of the Moone, her heart weighed heavy with the plight of those affected by the chaotic tides. Despite the urgency of her mission, she couldn't turn a blind eye to the suffering of the coastal villages she passed along the way.
With swift determination, Twilight diverted her course towards the nearest village, her Pokemon companions by her side. As she arrived, she immediately sprang into action, using her magic and the abilities of her Pokemon to aid the beleaguered villagers.
"I got it!" Twilight grunted, using her magic to hold the fierce water. The water would tremble, attempting to fight back against Twilight's control.
"Espeon!" Backing her up as always was Espeon, who would use Psychic to strengthen the grip.
"Absol!" Blasting away any incoming water was Absol, who had used Dark Pulse to do so. This tsunami had been held back but the seas were still not safe. Not with the Moon losing its purpose.
Even with water, there was also Fire around due to some homes taking hits. The fire was already threatening to spread at this very moment, but of course, Twilight was prepared. By sending out Ninetales, she could rely on his ability, Flash Fire to absorb the flames.
And he did just that. The flames were pulled in by Ninetales once he got close, giving him strength. The Fox Pokemon would have a field day with all the flames, rapidly running across Paniola Town and saving many lives in the process. Those finding themselves in high places to avoid the water on the ground were brought down by Togekiss and Twilight once it was safe.
As safe as it currently was anyway. Twilight managed to bring some safety to Paniola Town and by extension Paniola Ranch.
"Oh, thank you..." One of the residents said after being sent down. "What's going on? What's wrong with the Moon?"
"It's Malamar." Twilight looked ahead at the visage of Rift Energy swirling in the air and around the Moon. Malamar was going the extra mile just to find two Pokemon and in this case, he was going straight for Lunala first. But so far Lunala hasn't made a single appearance yet and even Twilight was surprised by this. Pokemon that govern one specific thing of the universe usually show up as she recalled how Palkia showed up during Cosmos's antics.
Even before this, when both worlds became one, two Suns and Moons now exist in the world which was balanced by an even larger Earth than before. Even then, Solgaleo and Lunala did not show up, making Twilight Sparkle wonder where those two actually were.
"Absol!" Absol cried out to Twilight, informing her that they had to keep going.
"Oh, right! Thanks, Absol! You all should probably stay awake!" Twilight suggested before taking flight. Once again, Absol was leading the way while Togekiss would carry Espeon on her back. Ninetales was called back to his Poke Ball once he got his last fill of flames as the group continued on their way to Malamar.
As Twilight continued on her way, she could spot how the weakening Moon kept affecting more areas in Akala Island from above. She was now nearby Konikoni City seeing its state and how it's been affected by the weakening Moon. It suffered the most water damage so far. Twilight was already wishing to help but a part of her knew that she had to get to Malamar as soon as possible. "Ohh...Do I take another stop here? I might burn through more time..."
Twilight paused, torn between her desire to help the beleaguered citizens of Konikoni City and her pressing need to confront Malamar before his dark influence caused even more devastation. Though her heart ached at the thought of leaving them behind, she knew that every moment she spent delaying her journey only brought greater peril to those she sought to protect.
However, that was when the Pokemon Rangers showed up. To Twilight's surprise the Rangers appeared, here to do their job as usual as they had reacted to the strong surge of Rift Energy in Alola and were tackling the issue at hand.
They were already allied with Water Pokemon which all had a similar ability to Flash Fire. Water Absorb. These Pokemon would be face-first with the fearsome waves, pulling them into their bodies. As a bonus, they could easily put out any fires that were visible here.
Relieved to see the Pokemon Rangers on the scene, Twilight pressed on with renewed determination, trusting in their expertise to handle the crisis in Konikoni City. With the Rangers taking charge, she could focus her efforts on reaching Malamar, not needing to worry about stopping for a moment. Twilight picked up her speed, moving as fast as she could.
"Fusion Bolt!" Back with Luna, she was currently taking on the minions of Malamar with her Pokemon. Letting out a bellowing cry, she had Zekrom release a fierce flare of lightning from his body against the minions, who had sent multiple different Pokemon from their pods to stop Luna's advances.
Zekrom's eyes would flare as a colossal burst of lightning erupted from his body. This lighting would be condensed into something even stronger. He gathered all of that lightning, bringing it into a single point and forming a massive ball of electricity that was crackling violently. The Deep Black Pokemon held it high, waiting to unleash it while his teammates were in the heat of battle.
"Everyone, scatter!" Luna shouted, prompting her Pokemon to pave the way for Zekrom's attack. Hearing this they all distanced themselves from their respective opponents. "Now, fire!"
With a mighty roar, Zekrom unleashed the full force of the Fusion Bolt, sending the searing bolt of electricity hurtling towards the minions of Malamar. The air crackled with energy as the bolt streaked through the sky, illuminating the battlefield with its brilliant blue-white light.
Some Pokemon were knocked over by this. But not defeated, which actually made Luna smile. Almost as if she wanted that to happen. As the lightning crackled one of the Haxorus would swipe the smoke and dust away, lunging right at Luna's team. Other Pokemon would appear from the smoke, continuing their assault under the order of the Malamar.
"Defeating you isn't all I'm going to do. I'll be freeing you of your mind control." Luna smiled, having other plans for these Pokemon. Knowing that they were doing the bidding of the Malamar, Luna wished to save them. "But unfortunately, I need to knock some sense into you first! Stone Edge!"
"Scor!" Gliscor would unload a frenzy of stones from his body, pelting the incoming Haxorus with it. Haxorus ould smash its head through the stones, only for some of them to strike its chest and lower body, pushing the Axe Jaw Pokemon back. The stones would fly across the area hitting the opposing Pokemon in various directions. The Malamar all gasped, ducking for cover or hiding behind their pods for protection.
"Gyara!" Roaring at the top of its lungs as Gyarados, who was preparing a Hyper Beam while ascending from above. The sound of the Hyper Beam building up grabbed Luna's attention, prompting her to act fast.
"Discharge!" Luna bellowed once Gyarados was seen.
"Manec!" Exuding lightning from his body was Manectric, who sent a fierce discharge upwards shocking the Water-Flying-Type for exceedingly super-effective damage. Gyarados was stopped in its tracks, immediately dropping from the sk and crashing into the other mind-controlled Pokemon.
Once Gyarados dropped, moving through the dust and smoke once more were other oppossing attacks that would fly by.
"Now, use Psychic!"
"Musha!" Together, Musharna and Xatu would use Psychic, unleashing a mystical glow from their eyes. They grabbed a hold of the incoming attacks with their mind, halting them in place. Not only that, but they would send it back to their owners, hitting them instead.
Some Escavalier came rushing in, attempting to reach Luna herself, wanting to take down the Trainer first. But Luna was ready for it, however, she wouldn't need her magic to retaliate. Right now, she could count on her Pokemon instead.
"Drill through, Excadrill! Drill Run!"
"Exca!" Excadrill wasn't on the surface, but instead, underneath the others. The oppossing Pokemon felt a tremor beneath them, but before they could do anything, Excadrill had burst from underneath, knocking and hitting many of them upwards.
"Mala! Malamar!" Needless to say, the Malamar were beginning to panic. Despite the overwhelming odds, Luna's team fought with courage and determination, pushing back against their mind-controlled adversaries with every ounce of strength they possessed.
As the tide of battle turned in Luna's favor, the minions of Malamar began to falter, their ranks thrown into disarray by the relentless assault of Luna's Pokémon. With each coordinated strike and well-executed maneuver, Luna and her team gained ground, driving back their opponents with unwavering resolve.
The Malamar, realizing that they were losing, resorted to desperate measures in a last-ditch attempt to maintain their contro over this battlel. Rushing over to their pods, they activated a hidden mechanism embedded within, one designed to exert greater power over the Pokémon under their sway.
As the pods hummed to life, a surge of dark energy emanated from within, enveloping the mind-controlled Pokémon in an oppressive aura of malevolence. The Pokémon's movements became more frenzied and erratic, their eyes glowing with an unnatural intensity as the influence of the Malamar's mind-control deepened. The energy kept pouring into them, granting them strength but also harming them in the process.
"I don't think so! Now, Zekrom! Darkrai! Frillish! Go!" Luna saw this as a golden opportunity. Three of her Pokemon wouldadvance, approaching the pods while they were pouring out Dark Energy. "Thunderbolt! Fusion Bolt! And finally, Hydro Pump!"
In unison, they would unleas their attacks from different directions. Darkrai from the left, Zekrom from the right and Frillish from above. Two powerful bursts of lightning were unleashed by Darkrai and Zekrom while Frillish released a high-volume blast of water from above as each attack closed in on the pods.
While they were mainly focused on three pods, what came next would surely affect all of them. After all, Water and Electricity don't mix well for a reason. The collision of these opposing forces created a chaotic explosion of energy, sending shockwaves rippling outward in all directions.
The dark aura surrounding the mind-controlled Pokémon flickered and wavered as the onslaught continued, the intensity of Luna's Pokémon's attacks disrupting the stability of the malevolent influence. With each successive strike, cracks began to form in the barrier of dark energy, weakening its hold on the affected Pokémon and allowing glimpses of their true selves to shine through.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface of the pods, evidence of the weakening hold of the malevolent influence within. With each successive strike, the barriers of dark energy grew increasingly unstable, struggling to contain the raw power unleashed upon them.
Inside the malfunctioning pods, the mind-controlled Pokémon began to stir, their movements growing more erratic as the influence of the dark energy waned. Glimmers of their true selves began to shine through the haze of manipulation, their eyes flickering with recognition and awareness as they struggled against the oppressive force that had held them captive.
"Mar!" Meanwhile, the Malamar overseeing the operation could only watch in horror as their carefully laid plans began to unravel before their eyes. Their attempts to maintain control over the mind-controlled Pokémon faltered in the face of Luna's relentless assault.
Some of them fell back, looking up to see the eyes of Zekrom glaring at them. It was this moment that they realized Zekrom was the embodiment of their inevitable loss. And the look he was giving them essentially told them not to try any mind control on him. Zekrom already experienced it once and he was very much displeased with it in every possible way.
"Now for this. Aromatheraphy, Florges!"
"Flor!" With a beautiful cry, Florges raised her arms, sending a soothing energy across the area tat had one goal. To relieve the oppossing Pokemon of their status conditions. But they were no longer opposing Pokemon. Not after Luna disrupted the mind control. The energy reached all the Pokemon except the Malamar themselves.
"And since I have no one in my team that can use Heal Pulse...All of you should get right back up." Chiming in was Luna, who used her horn to generatae her own version of Heal Pulse. But really, it was just healing magic meant to re-energize the Pokemon.
All the Pokemon that were once mind-controlled were hit with these two beautiful waves of green and dark blue, relieving them of their status conditions and removing plenty of damage from their body.
The once-enslaved Pokémon blinked in confusion at first, disoriented by their sudden release from the dark influence that had clouded their minds. But as the healing energies worked their magic, clarity returned to them, and they began to realize that they were no longer pawns in the Malamar's sinister scheme.
Grateful murmurs and gentle cries of appreciation filled the air as the freed Pokémon rose to their feet, their eyes shining with newfound determination and resolve. Empowered by Luna's kindness and Florges' soothing aura, they turned their attention to the Malamar, who were responsible for this mess."
"M-Malamar!"
"Now then. I think it's best I left you all to your own devices." Luna smiled, letting the freed Pokemon do what they want. She used her Poke Ball to call back most of her Pokemon. Left out was Darkrai as always but also Zekrom who would stay out as extra support. "Hold on, Twilight!"
Vast Poni Canyon.
Back with Malamar, he kept on drawing energy from the Moon, only causing chaos to Alola in the process. But his condition was also worsening as seen by the bulge in his head being opened. From that bulge, the bizarre tentacle was still growing and now it had a reached a length that was as large as Malamar's regular tentacles.
"I can feel it. And hear it!" His eyes would flash with Rift Energy. To Malamar, he could hear a cry. The Cry of Lunala. The Moone Pokemon was responding to him. And why would it when Alola and the Moon are both in danger? Just what Malamar wanted. This dangerous act was seemingly starting to pay off now that Lunala's cry could be heard, even if it wasn't here right now.
"But...we should open up a gateway once it shows up." said Malamar. "I wouldn't want it to have homefield advantage. I will prepare a gateway! Only when Lunala starts making an appearance and-"
"Malamar!" Shouting his name was none other than Twilight Sparkle, who could be seen in the distance.
"That Meddling Mare!" Malamar growled as the bulge and tentacle protruding out of the side of his head were bulging rapidly, almost like a headache when seeing the nuisance that was Twilight Sparkle.
"The Altar!" Twilight gasped once she saw what became of the Alar. It was still in tact but the damage done to it was visible.
"I don't have time for her. Not again!" Refusing to have Twilight get in the way, Malamar would go straight for opening up a gateway. With a flick of his tentacle and his new painful tentacle, he would open up a gateway effortlessly. Pouring all that Rft Energy on himself allowed Malamar to easily open up a gateway, even if it was causing him pain. "Begone with you! I'll send you to a universe that'll be your prison!"
As if that wasn't enough, Malamar would smack the gateway with his painful tentacle, sending it straight towards Twilight, attempting to intercept her mid-flight. The Princess of Friendship acted fast, ready to use her own Rift Magic. But Twilight knew that she might not get another chance to recover if she used so much of it. Thinking quickly, Twilight simply used Sorrowful Rage Magic to intercept the gateway instead.
Channeling her Sorrowful Rage Magic, Twilight summoned a surge of intense energy, weaving it into a protective barrier to intercept the gateway hurtling towards her. The gateway collided with Twilight's barrier with a deafening crash, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
The gateway shuddered and faltered under the force of Twilight's magic, its edges flickering with instability as it struggled to maintain its form. Due to this, the gateway would crumble, failing to stay stable. Even if Malamar could effortlessly open one, he couldn't keep it open at all.
The young alicorn would then descend, meeting with Malamar and a few of his minions. Absol would come to a screeching halt, finally reaching the source of the disaster which caused his horn to stop shaking. Upon showing up, Twilight soon spotted what had become of Malamar. Specifically, what was becoming of him as seen by the grotesque sight on the side of his head.
"Malamar...? What happened to you?" Twilight gasped. Her voice was filled with genuine concern as she beheld the sight of Malamar and the unsettling transformation taking place on his body which was just unpleasant to look at, even for his minions.
Malamar's twisted form seemed to pulse with dark energy, his eyes gleaming with an ominous light as he glared back at Twilight. Despite the pain etched on his features, there was a defiant glint in his eyes, a stubborn resolve that refused to yield to the consequences of his actions.
"It's nothing that concerns you, meddling princess," Malamar hissed, his voice laced with venom as he recoiled from Twilight's gaze. "This is but a small sacrifice for the greater power that awaits me. Which I would reach if you just stayed out of my way."
"That's small?" Twilight replied. "You overloaded on Rift Energy didn't you? You used way more than we normally should!"
"What of it?"
"We're not Rift Creations. I wasn't born a Rift Pony and you aren't an Equestrian Malamar. Both of us aren't suppossed to use so much Rift Energy so consistently. It can absolutely ruin us!" Twilight exclaimed, speaking from personal experience. Just an hour ago, she had to go through the body-staggering effects of the Rift Energy and so did Malamar, but he got the worst of it.
"You... You dare to lecture me?" Malamar's voice wavered slightly, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his tone as he struggled to maintain his facade of confidence. "What of it? Once I obtain enough power, this pain will subside! In fact, despite how much it hurts, it's actually helping me! I can hear Lunala's cries! Even feel it! I'm this close to reaching it and eventually, I'll take Solageleo as well. While they may be meant for Necrozma, I have my own plans with those two. If I can control Solgaleo and Lunala, I will control the Sun and Moon itself!"
"You're just insane..." Twilight said with disbelief in her voice.
"Neccessary for victory." Malamar hissed. "Like I said. This will not be like our first encounter. Victory is within my sights and you are in the way! So leave!" Malamar was prepared to open up yet another gateway as that disgusting part of him was bulging once more. This time, the gateway was opened underneath Twilight and her Pokemon.
This gateway was not only larger but had a fierce gravitational pull to it, much like the one used on the hole. Her Pokemon grunted and growled, trying to resist this.
"Say goodbye, My Little Pony!"
"If I'm going...I'm taking you with me!" Twilight cried out before using her magic on Malamar to hold him with telekinesis.
"What?!"
Twilight's telekinetic grip tightened around Malamar, disrupting his concentration and causing the gateway to waver erratically. The gravitational pull weakened, giving Twilight and her Pokémon a brief moment of respite as they struggled against the force trying to pull them into the rift.
With a determined glare, Twilight channeled her magic, pouring every ounce of her strength into resisting the pull of the gateway. "I won't let you harm anyone else, Malamar! Not while I'm still standing!"
Gh!" Malamar thrashed and writhed against Twilight's telekinetic hold, his tentacles flailing wildly as he fought against her grip. But despite his efforts, he found himself unable to break free, the combined might of Twilight and her magic proving too formidable to overcome. "Release me! You inferior creature!"
"Malamar!" The other Malamar were being pushed away by the pressure, unable to get close or refusing to get close. This was all so stunning for them despite who they followed.
Realizing that he was outmatched, Malamar's expression twisted into a snarl of frustration and rage. "You... You insolent fool! You'll regret this with all of my anger! You-"
But before Malamar could make another move, Twilight focused her magic, channeling it into a powerful burst of energy that surged outward, enveloping Malamar and the gateway in a blinding flash of light. They were gone. Where to? Currently unknown. Only Twilight and Malamar knew. The Moon would keep pulsating, even with Malamar's abscence from Alola. The Night was still young and yet to be finished.
Alola. Poni Island. Far end of Vast Poni Canyon. Altar of the Moone. Nightfall.
Finally arriving at the Altar of the Moone was Princess Luna herself. She descended upon the minions of Malamar with Darkrai and Zekrom, immediately intimidating them all. It didn't help that Zekrom's landing caused tremors and shockwaves that made some of the Malamar flail and wobble.
"Where's Twilight?! And where's your leader?!" The Moon Princess immediately questioned them, flying up to one of the Malamar.
"M-Malamar...!"The minion stammered in fear, unable to hide the panic in its voice.
"They said that they were both dragged into a gateway." Darkrai translated for Luna. "But they're not sure where."
"What?!" Luna gasped. She was too late to come and help Twilight as she pulled Malamar with her into a gateway. Where to? Unknown. None of the Malamar knew where they went and Luna could only wait here and hope for the best. But she could also just apprehened these Malamar right here.
Luna looked up at the night sky where the distortion had occurred and of course, the Moon, which was no longer losing its power but it had been greatly weakened thanks to Malamar. "Twilight..."
Inside the Gateway.
Twilight and Malamar found themselves inside the gateway, but they haven't ended up in another location at all. Instead, they were in the Dimensional Stream of the Gateway.
"What's this?! Why haven't we gone elsewhere?!" Malamar bellowed. "What did you do, Twilight Sparkle?!"
"That gateway of yours is imperfect. It's just one big hole. Now, we're just moving in the Gateway's Dimensional Stream." Twilight explained, knowing how gateway travel works more than him. "I don't plan on staying here and at some point, this gateway is going to give out and end up elsewhere. We'll both be lost because of that. But it'll be a good opportunity for me to stop you right now since it's just us."
Malamar growled in frustration, his tentacles flailing wildly as he realized the predicament they were in. "This is unacceptable! I won't be defeated by the likes of you! Not like this!" Angered, Malamar would use Dark Pulse, shooting it towards Twilight.
Twilight reacted swiftly, summoning a barrier of magical energy to deflect Malamar's Dark Pulse. The attack fizzled out harmlessly against the shimmering shield, leaving Twilight unscathed.
"Dazzling Gleam! Dark Pulse!" Twilight bellowed. Both Espeon and Togekiss prepared a Dazzling Gleam while Absol prepared his own Dark Pulse.
The combined assault of Dazzling Gleam and Dark Pulse crashed into Malamar with formidable force, causing him to stagger backwards under the onslaught of magical energy. The rainbow-hued beams of Dazzling Gleam illuminated the Dimensional Stream, casting brilliant colours against the shifting currents, while the shadowy tendrils of Dark Pulse writhed and lashed out, seeking to ensnare their target.
Malamar roared in pain and frustration as the attacks battered against him, his form writhing and contorting under the assault. Despite his best efforts to resist, he found himself overwhelmed by the sheer power and intensity of Twilight's counterattack.
"You...!" Malamar growled as the bulge and tentacle on his head were beating even faster, reacting to his anger. And by doing so, unexpectedly, without Malamar even doing this at will, a beam was shot out of the bulging tentacle on his head. A Dark Cosmic Beam to be exact.
The beam tore through the Dimensional Stream with devastating force, casting shadows and distorting the space around it as it hurtled toward Twilight and her Pokémon.
Realizing the imminent danger, Twilight reacted swiftly, her eyes widening in alarm as she shouted, "Quick, dodge it! Espeon, Togekiss, Absol!"
Her Pokémon responded in kind, evading the oncoming beam with acrobatic agility, narrowly avoiding the destructive force as it seared past them, leaving a trail of shimmering distortion in its wake. Twilight looked back in absolute disbelief to see Malamar's attack tearing up a piece of the gateway.
"It tore through the dimensions of the gateway...? What's happening to Malamar?!" Twilight then faced Malamar once more who was only hurting himself by exerting more Rift Energy.
With each passing moment, his condition deteriorated, the dark energies swirling around him growing increasingly unstable and unpredictable. He just wanted to see Twilight wiped off the face of the map. Or this case, from the universe entirely.
As the battle raged on, Malamar's deteriorating condition became more apparent with every passing moment. His movements grew more erratic, his attacks wild and unfocused as the dark energies surrounding him spiraled out of control. The bulge on his head pulsated violently, unleashing bursts of Rift Energy that lashed out indiscriminately, threatening to tear apart the very fabric of the gateway itself.
Absol's Night Slash, Espeon's Shadow Ball, and Togekiss's Sky Attack struck true, but their efforts seemed to have little effect against Malamar's frenzied onslaught. Each blow only seemed to further stoke the flames of his rage, fueling his determination to emerge victorious at any cost.
Twilight could sense the perilous situation escalating rapidly, the dimensional stream of the gateway trembling under the strain of Malamar's unbridled power.
"Twilight Sparkle...!" Malamar screamed as he managed to manipulate the tentacle on his head, sending it straight towards Twilight. Absol tried to stop it with Night Slash, only to be slapped aside. The force of the tentacle was heavy as it felt like a train had hit Twilight. Espeon and Togekiss tried to stop it with a combined Dazzling Gleam, only for the tentacle to shatter their light, knocking them away.
Twilight would unleash a powerful beam to defend herself, clashing with the tentacle. She managed to halt its movements for a while, but the fury behind it was absolutely fierce. Twilight grit her teeth, visibly struggling against the Cosmic Tentancle as it was breaking through her magic. After shattering her beam, the tentacle would grab Twilight.
Caught in the grip of Malamar's Cosmic Tentacle, Twilight felt a surge of panic coursing through her veins. The sheer power and ferocity of Malamar's attack threatened to overwhelm her, the tentacle's relentless grip tightening around her with each passing moment.
"You are but a thorn in my side. That's all! An inferior creature like you should not stand a chance against me!" Malamar cackled. Twilight's heart pounded with fear as Malamar's Cosmic Tentacle constricted around her, its crushing force threatening to shatter her bones. With each agonizing moment, she felt the pressure intensify, the tendrils of dark energy searing through her like fire.
It then performed a horrific sight by generating smaller but still large tentacles out of this one tentacle. As the additional tentacles sprouted from Malamar's primary one, they moved with unsettling speed, wrapping around Twilight's face and enveloping her mouth and eyes in a suffocating grip. She gasped for air, her panicked breaths muffled by the dark tendrils as they tightened their hold, cutting off her vision and silencing her cries for help.
However, Twilight had a response to this. Her own Rift Magic. While she wasn't going to use plenty of it, nothing was stopping her from using some of it. Through the tentacles, a cosmic flash appeared as Twilight merged her Sorrowful Rage Magic with the Rift Magic for a greater effect.
This flash would burst through the smaller tentacles breaking them apart. Malamar shrieked in pain as the tendrils that had ensnared Twilight were shattered, the force of her magic ripping them apart. Free from the suffocating grip of Malamar's tentacles, Twilight gasped for breath, her vision clearing as she regained her senses.
"So are you..." Twilight said while gasping. "You and your entire alliance! We just want to live in peace but we have to keep dealing with your shenanigans. Malamar. You'll be the first member of that alliance that we taken down!"
"Ghh! I can't stand you!" Malamar flailed his tentacles around in a fit of rage. "You are-" But at that moment, Malamar writhed in agony at the top of the gateway. His normally serene demeanour was shattered, replaced by spasms of anguish as its body contorted and convulsed in an otherworldly metamorphosis. The bulge in his head was now at its horrific peak.
The transformation had begun gradually, subtle shifts in its physiology that hinted at the dark forces at play. Its tentacles, once sleek and elegant, began to elongate, twisting and warping into grotesque shapes. Strange sigils danced across its skin, pulsating with a sickly light that seemed to emanate from some unfathomable abyss.
But it was not just the physical changes that tormented the Malamar. No, far worse was the maddening onslaught of visions that assailed its mind, a cacophony of eldritch nightmares that clawed at its sanity. It saw stars consumed by ravenous shadows, galaxies torn asunder by unseen horrors, and the very fabric of reality unravelling before its eyes.
Each moment of the transformation brought with it unbearable pain, as if its very essence was being torn apart and reassembled in some blasphemous mockery of creation. Its cries echoed across the bay, a haunting chorus of suffering that seemed to resonate with the very soul of the gateway itself.
"What the...?" Twilight and her Pokemon watched in horror as Malamar's body underwent this grotesque metamorphosis, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief. The very air seemed to crackle with dark energy, as if the gateway itself recoiled from the abomination that now stood before them.
But through the agony and madness, a dark resolve began to take root within the Malamar's shattered psyche. It embraced the cosmic horrors that threatened to consume it, drawing strength from the abyssal depths of its own torment. With a final, guttural scream that seemed to tear through the fabric of reality itself, the transformation was complete.
With a guttural roar that seemed to echo through the very fabric of reality, Malamar emerged from the throes of transformation, reborn as a twisted avatar of cosmic horror.
But right after they got see what he had become, a blinding light enveloped them all as the gateway had finally run out of steam. Both of them had no idea where they were going to end up now.
Over at Twilight's Castle, Daisy and Paradise were still awake at this time, currently cleaning the house. With Cinccino not present here, they took on the role of making sure Twilight's home was spick and span. Both of them even generated brooms made out of their respective flowers, adding an adoring scent to the house.
"It's awfully quiet...Mom hasn't come back yet." Daisy said, noticing a strong lack of Twilight. Right now, Spike and Starlight Glimmer were fast asleep, enjoying their rest.
"She's probably pretty busy." Paradise replied, having full faith in her mother. "Whatever disaster she's dealing with Absol, I'm sure she can handle it."
"Mm. You're right. Probably nothing to worry about. I bet she'll be back soon." Believing in her sister's words and the strength of her mother, Daisy continued to work under the Moon. But while Equestria's Moon was bright, beautiful and healthy, the Moon encompassing the other regions was dim and weaker at this very moment. More than it has ever been.
Ultra Space. Ultra Forest.
"Mmm..." Lying on what appeared to be grass, Twilight Sparkle's eyes slowly opened. The sound of the wind blowing could be heard around her. The Princess of Friendship would get up slowly, grunting and moaning. In her eyes, the landscape of this world is that of large expanding forests. The leaves on the floor are rectangular and resemble paper, and the ground appears to be sandy.
"What is this place?" She asked as her Pokemon were getting up as well. Feeling a sense of unease creeping over her, Twilight scanned the horizon for any sign of familiar landmarks or landmarks that could provide clues to her whereabouts. But all she could see were the endless trees and the soft, sandy ground beneath her feet. Nothing about this place looked familiar.
But she also couldn't see Malamar at the moment. This forest-like area was also eerily quiet. Only the sound of the wind and trees could be heard and nothing else. With each passing moment, Twilight's unease grew, her senses heightened as she scanned her surroundings for any hint of danger or movement. The absence of Malamar only added to her sense of isolation, leaving her feeling a bit vulnerable here.
"It was bound to send us somewhere random, but I don't recognize a place like this at all. Did Malamar come with us? Or did he go somewhere else?" Twilight said while looking at her Pokemon. Absol looked up at his horn to see if he could sense any danger nearby. But while it was silent for a while, Absol's horn started vibrating.
"Absol?!" As Absol's horn vibrated, a sign of impending danger, Twilight's senses heightened, her eyes scanning the area for any potential threats. With a sense of urgency, she motioned for her Pokémon to be on high alert, ready to defend themselves at a moment's notice.
The tension in the air grew thicker, the oppressive silence broken only by the rhythmic rustling of leaves in the wind. It was as if the very forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for some unseen danger to reveal itself.
From the skies above, a cosmic tear occurred. Twilight's eyes widened as she beheld the emergence of Malamar in his new form, his presence casting a sinister shadow over the tranquil landscape.
"No way that's Malamar..." Twilight's jaw dropped at the sight of this new Malamar. She wondered if her Pokedex could register this form. Quickly taking it out, she aimed it at the horror in the sky.
"Malamar. The Overturning Pokemon. Equestrian Variant. This form of Malamar has transcended the realms of its own reality, drawing its power from the depths of unknown horrors across the universe. Embedded with Rift Energy, it is constantly emanating a cosmic glow that distorts perceptions of reality and time."
"Bahahahaha!" Malamar cackled with a booming voice. "I have transcended! What did I say?! Enough of it would be worth it in the end!"
"Absol...!" Absol and Espeon snarled at the Overturning Pokemon in the sky.
"I feel like I can do anything now. I am still in so much pain but this power feels so amazing!" A Mad Malamar bellowed. "And I will start with your precious Equestria, Twilight Sparkle."
"But you can't even get there, can you?!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Watch me. I now have full faith in my own capabilities in this form. Such as this!" To show off what he could do, Malamar fired a bolt of eldritch energy at its opponents, causing significant damage to the ground. The effect of this bolt started tearing through reality itself and leaving behind a trail of chaos and despair.
"What kind of magic was that..?!" Twilight gasped once she saw the bolt before looking back at Malamar.
"It seems my aim isn't perfected in this state. No matter." To demonstrate some more, Malamar would summon those cosmic tendrils once more. But this time, he could control them perfectly. These tentacles would open up, suddenly releasing a cloud of inky darkness that obscures the battlefield, enveloping them in a suffocating shroud of despair.
Twilight and her Pokemon began coughing in this cloud, feeling its dark malice around them. This also left them vulnerable as Malamar would strike his tentacles at all of them. With a surge of eldritch energy, Malamar unleashed a devastating attack that channelled unfathomable horrors.
Caught off guard by Malamar's devastating assault, Twilight and her Pokémon were knocked back by the overwhelming force of the eldritch energy. Despite their best efforts to withstand the attack, they found themselves struggling against the dark power emanating from the Overturning Pokémon.
"Now perish!" Malamar shouted before having his Cosmic Tentacles aggressively beat down on them. As Malamar's cosmic tentacles thrashed violently, Twilight and her Pokémon were battered relentlessly, unable to mount a defence against the relentless onslaught. The force of the blows sent them tumbling through the air, their bodies bruised and battered by the overwhelming assault. "What's the matter? Can't retaliate?"
He would taunt them while continuing his assault. Twilight grizzled her teeth, using Sorrowful Rage Magic to push back the tentacles. After managing to reflect them, Twilight quickly unleashed a beam from her horn as it passed by all of the tentacles, heading straight for Malamar's face.
"Pitiful." Malamar said before negating this immediately. Channelling his psychic abilities, Malamar conjured a shield of pure darkness to ward off the incoming attack. This shield was not merely a physical barrier but a way to counterattack. After blocking the blast, Malamar corrupted it, turning it into an Eldritch Bolt once more and sending it back to Twilight.
Twilight was in disbelief as she quickly put up a shield to block it, however, when blocking it, the bolt would start affecting her shield. Her shield was suddenly turned into fire, turning against her and enveloping her body as she screamed in pain.
The infernal blaze raged on unabated, its heat searing through Twilight's defences and gnawing at her resolve. The flames threatened to overwhelm her, their scorching tendrils reaching out to consume her entirely.
Summoning all her strength, Twilight pushed back against the flames, channeling her magic into a concentrated burst of energy aimed at dispelling the inferno. With a mighty effort, she managed to quell the flames, extinguishing their fiery wrath and emerging from the ordeal singed but unbowed.
"Hah...Hah..." Breathing heavily, Twilight glanced up at Malamar with steely determination, her eyes blazing with defiance even as her body ached from the ordeal. She knew that the battle was far from over, but she would not falter in the face of adversity.
"You're still standing after that? I'll admit, you're tougher than you appear, Twilight Sparkle." Malamar had to throw in his respect. "It's clear that the last time we met, you were still just a unicorn. Becoming an alicorn has certainly helped you. But not for long."
As Malamar's cosmic tendrils descended with ferocious speed and power, poised to strike at Twilight and her Pokémon, a sudden flash of movement caught their attention. Before they could react, something sliced through the tendrils with uncanny precision, cleaving them apart with effortless grace.
The figure that emerged from the shadows was none other than Kartana, the mythical Ultra Beast known for its unparalleled precision and cutting prowess. With its gleaming blades and razor-sharp edges, Kartana's cut made Malamar scream. It seems he could still feel pain in this state.
"Kartana...?" Twilight uttered before thinking about where she was. The paper-like ground in this place was starting to make sense. This was Kartana's homeworld. She was in Ultra Space.
"ElkrapS thgiliwT, erom ecno teem ew." As always, Kartana spoke backwards. Espeon, Togekiss and Absol understood him though and immediately knew who this was. This wasn't just any Kartana. This was the Kartana that appeared in Equestria a few times and was familiar with Twilight and her friends.
"Espeon?!"
"You mean...he's that Kartana?! Oh, Kartana, it's you!" Twilight stood up tall. Now the tables have turned. This time, Twilight was in his homeworld as opposed to Kartana showing up in her world. "So this is Ultra Space, and your home."
"What is that thing?" Even Malamar had no idea what a Kartana was. This was his first time seeing it. My tentacles should be incredibly durable! How did it cut through it?!"
"!Tca eliv a hcus rof mrof euqsetorg ruoy tilps llahs edalb ym! Elbavigrofnu si ydal a mrah oT !ruc luof." Kartana aimed his blade at Malamar, already knowing that he was a massive threat, especially since he would dare harm his friends.
"No matter! I don't have time for this! I have a Pokemon to find and an Equestria to ruin!" Malamar decided to leave here. "Have fun getting back home, Twilight Sparkle!" With his giant tentacles, he began conjuring up a gateway behind him with ease and this time, he had no issue doing it. This new form of his gave him that benefit as he was now classified as an Equestrian Pokemon.
Twilight felt a surge of panic welling up within her as she watched Malamar vanish into the gateway, leaving her stranded in Ultra Space with Kartana and her Pokémon allies. The realization that Malamar was now headed straight for Equestria, intent on wreaking havoc upon her home in that new form with heightened abilities was absolutely terrifying to think about. All of her friends were in danger while the Moon was still weakened.
On this tranquil night, while many were asleep, a cosmic horror was about to surface. Emerging from the sky itself was none other than Malamar himself. He managed to find his way back to his universe and he would continue his terror by opening up a gateway in the sky.
"Equestria...Revenge is going to be so sweet." His voice spoke through the cold night as his eldritch presence brought a chilling aura to the atmosphere, changing it from something gentle to an ominous force. "This would be Nightmare Moon's role, but this is personal. 4 years coming for this."
Residents stirred in their beds, disturbed by the sudden shift in the air and the ominous presence that seemed to permeate the very fabric of reality.
In Fluttershy's sanctuary, the animals and Pokémon stirred restlessly in their sleep, sensing the impending danger that lurked outside. Fluttershy herself tossed and turned in her bed, disturbed by the unsettling energy that filled the air.
"Oh..." Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and she sat up with a start. A feeling of dread washed over her as she sensed the malevolent presence looming over Ponyville. The Pokemon that were nocturnal contributed to her waking up as they were crying and roaring at the sky.
When opening the windows to her home, she saw him. Malamar. His Equestrian Form made him large enough to be seen from here. "Malamar...?" Fluttershy was in disbelief. Her voice quivered with fear and disbelief as she struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation. The Pokémon and animals around her sanctuary cried out in distress, mirroring Fluttershy's own unease at the sinister presence that now threatened their peaceful home.
"I will start with your minds and break you all down. Become my pawns." With his newfound capabilities, Malamar invaded the minds of Ponyville's residents, filling them with horrifying visions and nightmarish hallucinations.
As Malamar's sinister presence enveloped Ponyville, a wave of psychic energy emanated from the towering figure, permeating the very air with a cosmic sense of dread and unease. With his Equestrian form casting an ominous shadow over the town, Malamar's eyes glowed with an otherworldly light as he unleashed his psychic assault upon the unsuspecting residents. Asleep or not.
The psychic onslaught began subtly, like a whisper in the mind, barely noticeable at first but steadily growing in intensity as it spread throughout the town. It started with a subtle tingling sensation at the back of the mind, a feeling of unease that gnawed at the edges of consciousness, causing a ripple of discomfort to cascade through the thoughts of Ponyville's inhabitants.
As Malamar's influence deepened, the psychic assault intensified, manifesting as vivid and terrifying hallucinations that played out within the minds of those affected. Images of nightmarish creatures lurked in the shadows, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent as they stalked through the twisted landscapes of the subconscious.
For Fluttershy, the invasion of her mind was particularly harrowing, as her innate sensitivity to the emotions of others made her especially vulnerable to Malamar's psychic manipulation. As the visions grew more vivid and grotesque, she found herself plunged into a surreal dreamscape of darkness and despair, her every fear and insecurity laid bare before her.
"Ghhh" In her mind's eye, she witnessed scenes of chaos and destruction, with her beloved animal friends transformed into monstrous abominations that turned against her. Soon, the Pokemon House became a twisted labyrinth of nightmare, where every corner held a new horror waiting to pounce.
"Audino...!" Audino fell victim as well. The same went for Bayleef and Raboot who were squirming. Even the strong-hearted Krookodile couldn't resist this.
"That's it...Submit." Malamar cackled, already aware that the residents of Ponyville were going through this horrid feeling.
As Malamar's haunting laughter echoed through the streets of Ponyville, his dark influence continued to spread, ensnaring the minds of its residents in a web of fear and despair. With each passing moment, the psychic assault grew more intense, as Malamar revelled in the anguish of those caught in his malevolent grasp.
For the ponies of Ponyville, the relentless onslaught of horrifying visions and nightmarish hallucinations became unbearable, their minds tormented by the relentless onslaught of psychic energy. As the darkness closed in around them, a sense of hopelessness threatened to overwhelm their spirits, leaving them feeling powerless to resist the overwhelming force of Malamar's will.
"Bayleef...!" Fluttershy looked to Bayleef, knowing what she had to do, even if it was Nightfall. Bayleef nodded in understanding, her leaf glowing faintly with Rift Energy as she prepared to unleash her abilities. Despite the risk of depleting her energy, she was going for it.
"Bayleef!" With a powerful cry, A chunk of Bayleef's upper leaf would fly off, immediately being carried by the winds. The leaf swished and swayed while moving through the night, heading straight for one of the tentacles. Malamar was going straight for Town Hall where Mayor Mare was heading, ready to tear it apart.
That is until the leaf touched that same tentacle, unleashing a bright light. In a flash, Fate had been changed, making it so that Malamar's tentacles never approached Ponyville and instead, went right back to the Overturning Pokemon, saving Town Hall.
But of course, this didn't go unnoticed by Malamar. Malamar's gaze fell upon Bayleef, his eyes narrowing with fury and disbelief as he realized the source of his thwarted attack. The Overturning Pokemon seethed with rage, his tendrils writhing ominously as he prepared to unleash his wrath upon the courageous Pokemon who dared to defy him.
"Ah. You must be the Bayleef with the power to change Fate. You'd make an excellent servant. With you, I am guaranteed to always succeed." It was unfortunate that Malamar had to spot Bayleef. The Grass-Type narrowed her eyes, aggressively crying at the Overturning Pokemon. Fluttershy gulped once Malamar noticed her.
All of her Pokemon either stood behind out of fear or in front of her in defence. Bayleef's ability managed to cancel out the hallucinations they had felt.
"Bear witness to what I am now capable of!" Malamar demonstrated more of his abilities. Malamar emitted a haunting echo that reverberated through the area, his eerie resonance unsettling the minds of its opponents. This ghostly sound induced confusion and disorientation among Fluttershy's Pokémon, disrupting their focus.
Fluttershy felt a strong gravity push her and many of her Pokemon down. This echo could also affect gravity itself as the beautiful trees were being crushed as if a massive anvil was dropped on them.
Suddenly, leaving the buildings were some of the residents of Ponyille. Their eyes were glowing purple, signifying that they had fallen under Malamar's control.
Fluttershy's heart sank as she watched the residents of Ponyville emerge from their homes, their eyes glowing with an ominous purple light. It was clear that they had fallen victim to Malamar's mind control, their actions and words indicating that they now saw the malevolent creature as their superior.
"That's right. Come to me." Malamar uttered, moving his massive tentacles once more. These tentacles would start picking up some of the residents, lifting them into the air.
Fluttershy's heart twisted with anguish as she witnessed Malamar's tendrils snatching up the helpless residents of Ponyville, lifting them into the air like puppets on strings. She could hear their cries of confusion and fear, their voices trembling as they struggled against the invisible grip that held them aloft.
"What are you doing to them?!" Fluttershy took flight, trying to reach Malamar in time. But she certainly couldn't reach him from this distance.
"You will all be gifted some of my power." Malamar announced, beginning to transfer Rift Energy through the bodies of Cheerilee and others. "I believe you should all feel the pain I felt."
To continue his revenge, Malamar wanted Ponyville's residents to feel that bulging pain in his head that caused his to turn into this horrifying form. But unlike Malamar, the residents of Malamar wouldn't be blessed with a transformation.
"Stop it!" Fluttershy cried out, unable to get there in time.
But Malamar paid her no heed, his eyes glowing with malice as he continued to pour Rift Energy into the bodies of the helpless residents. Fluttershy could see the effects of the Rift Energy coursing through their veins. Their bodies twitched and spasmed uncontrollably, their eyes widening in terror as they became vessels for Malamar's dark power. It was as if their very essence was being corrupted by the malevolent energy, twisting them into grotesque shadows of their former selves.
From it, they began feeling the same pain Malamar had to endure for a while but without the mad mind to power through it all. Malamar chuckled, using his many tentacles to pick up more of Ponyville's residents, revelling in his revenge.
"Back you!" Caught off guard by Malamar's glare Fluttershy felt the gravity around her shift, pulling her inexorably towards the ground. Struggling against the overwhelming force, she gritted her teeth and strained to maintain her position in the air, but it was no use. The oppressive weight bore down upon her, pressing her down with a relentless intensity.
Gasping for breath, Fluttershy felt her strength waning as Malamar's gaze held her in its thrall. Audino, Raboot and Bayleef were all pushed down as well, struggling to get back up. Bayleef couldn't unleash her special ability due to the gravity disrupting her.
"You have a unique ability to communicate with Pokemon perfectly. I believe I will need you as well." Malamar cackled, moving one of his tentacles towards Fluttershy.
As Malamar's tentacle loomed closer, Fluttershy panicked but she couldn't do anything about it. Despite her best efforts to resist, she found herself unable to move, paralyzed by the overwhelming pressure exerted by the gravity around her.
With a sense of dread, Fluttershy watched as the tentacle drew nearer, its ominous presence filling her with a creeping sense of unease. She knew that if Malamar were to ensnare her with his tentacle, she would be at his mercy, subjected to whatever dark fate he had in store for her.
Desperation clawed at her heart as she struggled to break free, but it was no use. The gravity weighed her down like an anchor, trapping her in place and leaving her helpless against Malamar's relentless advance.
Being so close to Malamar began to distort her sense of reality as his eldritch presence was tampering with her mind. Malamar, having Fluttershy in one tentacle and many more ponies in his grasp, would loom over Ponyville as his very presence was disrupting the flora here.
And soon, Malamar's revenge would focus on Canterlot. The place where he lost to Equestria. Revenge has never felt so sweet for the Overturning Pokemon.
Ultra Space. Ultra Forest.
Back in the Ultra Forest, Twilight followed Kartana through the dense foliage of the alien world. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her heart, fearing for all of her friends back home. The towering trees loomed overhead, their twisted branches casting eerie shadows that danced across the forest floor. Every rustle of leaves and whisper of the wind seemed to echo with a sense of foreboding. Twilight knew that at this very moment, Equestria was under attack.
"Where are you taking us, Kartana? Is it a gateway?" Twilight asked. Her question was answered once Kartana sliced a curtain of leaves with one swipe. And with that curtain dropping, it was revealed that there was more life on this world. Minimal life. Standing there were two other Kartana and two elderly men wearing straw hats.
"Oh? Who's this you've brought, Kartana?" One of the old men said.
"There are Humans here? How...?" Twilight was stunned to see Humans here. Ultra Space was always an alien place but these two were the exception.
"Yes. Just us two though. Me and my brother." The man chuckled. "We didn't think we'd get a new visitor, let alone a pony. You must be the one Kartna spoke of during his brief visits to your world."
"Y-Yes. My name's Twilight. Twilight Sparkle." She introduced herself.
"Twilight Sparkle, hm? Well, it seems a friend of that Ash character is here, Kartana." The other old man spoke to another Kartana. Specifically, the Kartana that appeared in Alola once and was promptly returned to its home. It was this Kartana, the one that visited Equestria two times and a third one that was not familiar with Equestria or Alola.
"Esirprus lufrednow a tahw. Deedni seiromem doog ha." The Kartana who visited Alola said.
"We are the Kartenvoy. We specialize in Kartana, well...the only three Kartana in this world."
"That's it? Three?" Twilight blinked. That explained why this place was so silent. Only three Kartana exist here.
"Yes. It's a rather small population, isn't it? Smallest there is." The first Kartenvoy chuckled. "So, what brings you here, Twilight Sparkle?" one of the Kartenvoy asked, his expression curious.
"Well...I'm lost in Ultra Space right now. It was Malamar. A lot happened and we both ended up being shot out of here through a messed-up gateway. But Malamar could easily open up a new gateway, leaving me behind."
"Lost in Ultra Space? We saw that thing in the sky, believe us." The second Kartenvoy nodded in understanding. "And besides, you wouldn't be the first person to be lost in Ultra Space."
"I'm not?"
"Not at all. We've had accidents like this before." The first Kartenvoy laughed.
"Accidents?" Twilight's curiosity piqued as she listened intently to the Kartenvoy's words.
"Yes, indeed," The first Kartenvoy confirmed. "Ultra Space is a vast and mysterious dimension, and traversing it can be perilous. Many have found themselves lost here, unable to find their way back to their own worlds."
"But don't worry," The second Kartenvoy reassured her. "With our guidance and the power of Kartana, we'll help you navigate through Ultra Space and find your way back home."
Twilight felt a wave of relief wash over her at their words. Despite the daunting situation, she found solace in knowing that she wasn't alone and that she had allies in this strange and unfamiliar dimension.
"Oh, that's so great to hear" Twilight bellowed. "Can you open up gateways too?!"
"Gateways? Not quite. For a while, we had to wait for an Ultra Wormhole to open up, but there is another way. Something rather recently developed. The Kartana you've met has grown stronger since its last encounter. Strong enough to help with dimensional travel.
"H-How much stronger?"
"The Kartana you met has been training with the other two, increasing their strength as well. Once again, they are on equal footing and their cutting strength have reached new levels. If we combine the cutting strength of all three Kartana's we can access the Ultra Space. Everythig you see around you is teeming in that otherworldly energy, Twilight Sparkle."
"Amazing! They can do that now?!" Twilight gasped with amazement.
"And they have you to thank you for that."
"Uoy knaht I taht roF. Sthgieh wen ot htgnerts ym thguorb em evag uoy leud eht." Kartana flew over, thanking Twilight for this increase in strength.
"But be warned," the second Kartenvoy cautioned. "Ultra Space is a place of great danger and uncertainty. You'll need to stay vigilant and be prepared for anything, otherwise, you could end up in another part of it."
"Got it." Twilight nodded, ready for it. "I need to go back home as soon as possible, before Malamar ruins everything. If he gets his way..."
"Worry not. Let's get started, shall we?" The Kartenvoys nodded at the three Kartana, informing them to begin the process.
The three Kartana hovered in the air, their forms gleaming with a radiant energy as they synchronized their movements. The formation they took was almost close to a star. If only they had more Kartana to make that possible. With precise precision, they began to weave intricate patterns in the air, their razor-sharp blades slicing through sky itself. And by doing so, they interacted with the Ultra Energy present here.
As they worked in harmony, a brilliant glow enveloped them, growing brighter and more intense with each passing moment. The air crackled with energy, and a faint hum filled the space around them, signalling the imminent opening of a gateway to Ultra Space.
Twilight watched in awe as the portal began to take shape before her eyes, strong resembling an Ultra Wormhole. She could feel the energy pulsating through the air, drawing her closer to the wormhole.
"Step through the portal, Twilight Sparkle," one of the Kartenvoys urged. "It will take you back to Equestria, where you can confront Malamar and save your friends."
"Thank you!" With a determined nod, Twilight took a step forward, feeling the pull of the gateway as it beckoned her home. Without hesitation, she stepped through the shimmering portal, disappearing into the swirling maelstrom of Ultra Space.
But it wasn't just her and her Pokemon. Joining her was a single Kartana. The Kartana who she's met a few times now. "Kartana?! You're coming along too?!"
"Dneif a fo sdnah eht ta reffus sdneirf wollef tel reven dluow I dna. Edalb ym fo gnits ecreif eht leef llahs ecaep netaerht ohw esoht."
Twilight smiled gratefully at the Kartana, understanding that it had chosen to accompany her on her journey back to Equestria. With its help, she knew that she would stand a better chance against Malamar and his dark ambitions. After all, Kartana's cutting strength was no joke.
"Thank you, Kartana," Twilight said, her voice filled with gratitude. "It'll be great having you along. I just hope we're not too late."
Their bodies continued to move through Ultra Space as everything was getting faster for Twilight in here. It was certainly different than a gateway in terms of how it felt. She just had to find the right wormhole that led back to her world.
With many of Ponyville's residents under his control, Malamar's influence spread like a dark shadow over the once-peaceful town. The streets were now filled with those who had fallen victim to his psychic manipulation, their eyes glazed over with an eerie purple glow as they mindlessly carried out his bidding.
Buildings and structures trembled under the weight of Malamar's oppressive presence, the space around here warping and distorting as his eldritch powers surged unchecked. Fluttershy and her Pokémon stood helplessly against the overwhelming tide, their efforts to resist Malamar's influence proving futile in the face of his relentless onslaught.
Pokémon and animals alike cowered in fear as Malamar's cosmic tentacles loomed overhead, casting a pall of despair over the entire town.
With each passing moment, Malamar's grip on Ponyville tightened, his malevolent influence spreading like a leeching growth that threatened to consume everything in its path.
"This is wonderful!" Malamar was having the time of his life. "I must admit, your resistance is impressive, Fluttershy. Such a strong-willed mind for a fragile pony such as yourself."
"Mrrgh!" Fluttershy grunted within his grasp. "Y-You're the worst!"
"Thank you. Now I know what I should do next. This should definitely break your will." Malamar spoke, going further and further into madness with his plans. "How does mushing their bodies together sound?"
Malamar's voice echoed ominously through the air, sending shivers down the spines of those who heard it. His eyes gleamed with a twisted delight as he surveyed the chaos he had wrought upon Ponyville, reveling in the fear and despair that permeated the atmosphere.
With a wave of his tentacles, Malamar began to enact his sinister plan, reaching out towards the helpless residents of Ponyville with a malevolent intent. The townsfolk, already under his psychic control, could do nothing but watch in horror as his cosmic appendages closed in around them, trapping them in a nightmarish grip.
Fluttershy and her Pokémon could only watch helplessly as Malamar's tentacles enveloped the innocent ponies, ready to merge them into an uncomfortable mess that Fluttershy just couldn't stop. "Stop it, Malamar!"
"Dark Matter!" A voice came from afar as a blast of Dark Matter flew in at high speeds. The Dark Matter met with Malamar's tentacles, causing a volatile reaction that made him drop the ponies. The collision sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the force of the impact shaking the very ground beneath the ponies. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as the dark energies clashed against Malamar's sinister grip, a fierce struggle unfolding between the forces of light and darkness.
The one responsible for this was Delta Lucario and his trainer Applejack.
"Applejack!" Fluttershy said with a bright smile on her face.
"What?! How are you able to move freely?!" Malamar hissed.
"Hm." Applejack smirked before tapping her head with her hooves. "Got Lucario and Aura to thank for that. Once he felt me seeing all kinds of weird stuff, Lucario snapped me back to my senses. Now, what in tarnation happened to you? What's with that look?"
"Hmph! Aura...What an annoying energy." Malamar's disdain was palpable as he glared at Applejack and Fluttershy. His form, twisted and ominous, radiated with dark energy that seemed to repel the very essence of positivity.
"Annoying, huh? Well, let's see how you like this! Dark Matter!"
"Rrr!" Delta Lucario put his hands together, channelling the Dark Matter once more. He began drawing power from the dark forces of the universe into a single attack, ready to fire.
"Know your place, farmgirl!" Malamar, sensing the impending threat, unleashed a barrage of Rift Energy in response, attempting to disrupt Delta Lucario's concentration. The air crackled with dark and cosmic energies, creating an intense and volatile atmosphere.
"Ca!" From his paws, another blast of Dark Matter was thrown out. The Dark Matter clashed with it, creating a dazzling yet violent flare in the sky. Both attacks imploded in front of each other after equalizing, much to Malamar's surprise.
"How is that you can also tap into the deepest and darkest forces in the universe?!" Malamar questioned. "Aside from Giratina and the rest of the Greatest Legends, no other Pokemon should be capable of such a feat!"
"Is that what you were doing?" Applejack replied as she wasn't even aware that was what Malamar was also doing.
"Applejack! Use the Dark Matter on everypony else!" Fluttershy urged.
"But it's supposed to knock souls out of bodies! I can't do that to someone!" Applejack replied. "I don't think it can remove mind control!"
"Hmph! I see you are still limited compared to what I can do! What a joke!" Malamar laughed. With a sinister gesture, Malamar summoned a swirling void of darkness from thin air, its ominous pull threatening to swallow everything in its path. The ground trembled beneath its insatiable hunger, and a chilling wind whipped through the air as the void expanded, threatening to consume everything in its path.
"Rrr!" Lucario felt the weight of this void as all the rubble was flying directly towards it.
"How would you like to be battered by an endless array of Psychic energy in this void?!" Malamar questioned.
"Psychic?" Applejack smiled while keeping her hoof on her hat. She knew for a fact that against Delta Lucario, that was irrelevant. If this was a Sinnohan Lucario, it would call cause for concern. But not Delta Lucario. "Guess ya ain't as smart as ya look. Go for it, Lucario!"
"Luca!" Lucario would let himself be pulled in by the void, voluntarily going through the air. As Lucario willingly allowed himself to be drawn into the void, the swirling darkness enveloped him, pulling him deeper into its depths. The void seemed to distort reality itself, twisting and warping the space around it as it devoured everything in its path.
But to Malamar's surprise, as Lucario entered the void, his Aura flared brightly, pushing back against the encroaching darkness. The Psychic energy Malamar had hoped to unleash upon Lucario was met with fierce resistance, as the Dark-Ground-Type Pokémon tapped into his own strength to counter the malevolent force. Right before Malamar's eyes, the void had shattered.
"Impossible! How can you resist the power of the void?!" Malamar snarled, his voice echoing through the dark abyss.
"Get 'em, Lucario! Bone Rush!"
"Luca...!" After shattering the void, Lucario generated two bones in his hands, merging them into an even larger bone. With all of his might, he swung it down on Equestrian Malamar's massive.
The Bone Rush descended with incredible force, crashing down upon Malamar's form with a resounding impact. The Overturning Pokemon recoiled under the blow, his twisted body writhing in pain as he struggled to maintain his footing.
"Enough of this!" Malamar roared, his voice laced with fury and frustration. With a cluster of energy, he attempted to summon another wave of Psychic Energy, but found his efforts thwarted by Lucario's relentless assault as the energy phased right through him.
"Rrr! Rrr! Ca!" Lucario, fueled by determination and the desire to protect his friends, pressed on, delivering blow after blow against Malamar's weakened form. With each strike, cracks began to form in Malamar's once formidable facade, his power waning in the face of Lucario's relentless assault.
"My Psychic Energy isn't working!" Malamar cried while being repeatedly slapped in the face by the bones. "Unless...you're a Dark-Type!" Malamar finally found out why Lucario was being such a problem.
With each strike, Malamar's grip on Fluttershy loosened, the gravitational pull dissipating as his focus shifted to defending himself against Lucario's onslaught. Hindered by his inability to effectively counter Lucario's Dark-Type attacks, Malamar found himself overwhelmed by the relentless assault.
"Lucario!" Lucario then delivered the strongest hit with Bone Rush thus far. This blow was strong enough to knock Malamar out of the sky.
With a resounding crash, Malamar's colossal form collided with the earth on the outskirts of Ponyville, sending shockwaves rippling through the surrounding landscape. The ground trembled beneath the force of his impact, and nearby structures quivered as if shaken by an earthquake.
Residents of Ponyville, both those under Malamar's influence and those who had managed to resist, felt the ground shudder beneath them as the reverberations of the collision echoed through the town. Windows rattled in their frames, and loose objects danced in the air as the shockwave rolled outward from the point of impact.
"Doing alright there, Fluttershy?" Applejack ran over to her friend. Thankfully, Fluttershy's body was healthy, recovering from the gravity push.
"W-What...What happened?" Due to Malamar hitting the ground hard with such force, the control he had on some of the residents had faltered.
As Malamar struggled to rise from the ground, his monstrous form battered and bruised from the force of Lucario's attack, he seethed with frustration and anger. The realization that his plans had been slowed down yet again by the resilience and courage of the ponies of Ponyville filled him with a burning rage.
"Blasted ponies...!" He snarled, his voice laced with venomous contempt. Despite his injuries and setbacks, Malamar's determination to wreak havoc upon Equestria burned as fiercely as ever. With a sinister glint in his eyes, he gathered his strength, preparing to unleash another onslaught upon the town and its inhabitants.
He got back up, his new form towering over all the trees here as his shadow loomed over the town. The freed residents gasped upon seeing Malamar's form.
"You are and always will be beneath me! Know your place!" Equestrian Malamar's voice echoed ominously through the air, his words dripping with malice as he sought to assert his dominance over those who dared to challenge him. With a flick of his tentacles, he conjured forth a nebulous cloud, its swirling mass of dark energy pulsating with malevolent intent.
The freed residents watched in horror as the ominous cloud began to take shape, its amorphous form coalescing into a menacing vortex that loomed ominously over Ponyville. Impending doom hung heavy in the air, the eerie glow of the swirling mass casting long shadows across the town as Malamar prepared to unleash his wrath upon all who dared to challenge him.
With a flicker of movement, the vortex began to descend upon Ponyville, its dark tendrils reaching out hungrily as it sought to engulf the unsuspecting town in its shadowy embrace. The residents cried out in terror as they scrambled for cover, their hearts pounding with fear.
"Lucario! Use Dark Matter!"
"Luca!" Once more, Lucario unleashed another blast of Dark Matter, hoping to counter Malamar's Nebula. The swirling vortex of clouds seemed to react with a life of its own as with a voracious hunger, the dark mass eagerly devoured the Dark Matter, swallowing it up into its churning depths without so much as a flicker.
The residents watched in dismay as Lucario's attack was consumed by the malevolent clouds, their hopes sinking with each passing moment. It seemed that Malamar's power was greater than they had ever imagined, his control over the dark forces of the universe absolute.
"Rrr?!" Lucario gasped.
"Useless! Begone with you!" He bellowed, having his nebula extend even more. The tentacles inside would begin snatching up the residents of Ponyville, pulling them into the Nebula.
Malamar's laughter echoed ominously through the air, a cruel reminder of his overwhelming power. The clouds of darkness continued to swirl and grow, casting a shadow over the town of Ponyville as they expanded ever outward. Fluttershy felt a cold shiver run down her spine as she gazed upon the ominous spectacle unfolding before her.
Suddenly, when trying to back away, one of the tentacles snuck up on her, grabbing the pegasus once more. As Fluttershy felt the icy grip of the tentacle wrapped around her, panic threatened to consume her. She struggled against its hold, her heart pounding with fear as she desperately tried to break free. With each tug, the tentacle pulled her closer to the swirling vortex of darkness, threatening to engulf her completely.
"Fluttershy!" Applejack yelled as a nebula appeared beneath her, restraining the Earth Pony as well. Back to back, nebulas were appearing, snatching up as many residents as possible. Even Bayleef was grabbed when trying to use her leaf in time.
"Wallow in your weakness." Malamar taunted. "In the end, victory will inevitably be granted to me."
In a split-second, a streak of light sliced through the swirling nebula and the tentacles with unparalleled precision. The force of the cut sent shockwaves rippling through the air, causing the darkness to shudder and dissipate into the ether. As the debris cleared, a figure emerged from the shadows, standing tall and resolute against the backdrop of chaos.
It was Kartana, the Legendary Blade Pokémon, its razor-sharp form gleaming in the dim light. With a swift and decisive strike, it had severed the grip of the tentacles and shattered the darkness that threatened to consume Fluttershy and the residents of Ponyville.
"Kartana?!" The Ponyville residents all said.
As Twilight Sparkle descended from the night sky, her presence illuminated the darkness with a radiant glow. With determination etched upon her face, she landed gracefully beside Fluttershy, her eyes locking onto the towering form of Malamar.
"Twilight!" Fluttershy called out, relief evident in her voice as she saw her friend's arrival.
"Fluttershy, are you alright?" Twilight asked, concern lacing her words as she surveyed the scene before her.
"I'm fine." Fluttershy replied, casting a grateful glance towards the Ultra Beast. "But I'm also so confused about what's happening."
Twilight nodded in acknowledgment before turning her attention back to Malamar. With a firm resolve, she faced the malevolent creature before her. "Malamar..."
"Twilight Sparkle. I have no idea how you escaped but you've gotten in my way for the last time!" Malamar shouted.
History repeats itself as Malamar faces off against Ponyville once more. The residents were reminded of the past. The day that Malamar terrified them all, being the first example of a major Pokemon Threat. And now it was happening yet again but on an even larger scale. However, just like before, they still had hope that they could get past such a terrifying force. They would have to for their own future.
Universe 11. The Solar Empire. Canterlot Castle. Nightfall.
Due to Malamar's actions in Universe 1, a most promising incident has occurred that benefits Daybreaker's alliance back at Universe 11. In the Solar Empire's Science Division, they at last found out about the condition of the Moon. Specifically, the Moon that has existed across the Pokemon World before the two worlds came together.
The Moon has been severely weakened. While Malamar has stopped drawing power from it, he has successfully crippled it to a point where the right kind of reaction that Daybreaker's Alliance was looking for is rearing its head.
"Look at this. It sounds like there are cries happening around the Moon." One of the scientists said as a certain cry could be heard. Everyone in the room listened in closely to this cry, trying to make out who it was.
"That frequency looks a lot like Lunala's." Moondancer observed when gazing at the frequency. They all came equipped to find these two Legendary Pokemon just for Necrozma. They all listened in some more, seeing the frequency move over and over again.
"Exactly who we need. Excellent work, Malamar." Sunrise Sparkle commented. "And it looks like it's upset. Seems like we didn't take outer space into account."
"So, we're heading to Outer Space?" Another pony asked. Based on what they were seeing, their destination would have the the cosmos themselves.
"Precisely. Lunala probably isn't in the Moon itself but somewhere around it. Or it might be another result of Ultra Space. Whichever one it ends up being. Tell Queen Daybreaker at once." Luckily for them, they had the means to do so. Malamar's wild attempt was paying off for his alliance now that they had a lead on Lunala while Solgaleo was still up in the air.
But as for Malamar himself...
Equestria. Ponyville. Nightfall.
At Ponyville, the terrifying Equestrian Malamar loomed over the town with a vengeance so great it led to this transformation of his Once again, Ponyville has to deal with Malamar but in a brand new form. Vengeance against Equestria after he lost to them. Returning to Equestria was Twilight who had the help of the Kartana. And speaking of Kartana, the one who has shown up twice has made his third appearance.
The nebula Malamar created had been sliced through, freeing those dragged into the darkness thanks to Kartana. Lying on the ground were some of Equestrian Malamar's massive tentacles after being cut open.
"You haven't fully healed yet, Malamar, I can tell." Twilight smiled. "Plus, you could already take damage thanks to Kartana. That new form of yours isn't as tough as you hoped it would be."
"Who needs strength?! All I need is utility to make up for it?!" Malamar scoffed. "But I'll be honest...I didn't expect such a Pokemon to have such strength in cutting."
"Is everyone else okay?" Twilight asked the residents.
"I think so..." But that response wasn't 100%. After the way Malamar attacked their mind and already damaged some of them with his grip, it was clear many of Ponyville's residents were unfit to be out here right now, especially since they were disrupted from their sleep.
"Fluttershy. I need you to get them all away from here." Twilight requested. "And I'm counting on you, Kartana..."
"I hope you realize, Twilight Sparkle...I still have some power over the Moon itself. And now, I will do the same with this Moon!" Malamar exclaimed, looking up at the Second Moon in the sky which was still healthy.
Twilight's expression hardened as she realized the extent of Malamar's power. Controlling the moon could have disastrous consequences for Equestria and its inhabitants. She already saw what it did to Alola and Equestria just couldn't go through the same thing. Malamar raised his tentacles, using his newfound abilities to start interacting with the Moon.
"Not this time...!" But Twilight wouldn't let that happen a second time. "Kartana, now! Leaf Blade!" she called out, her voice resolute as she coordinated with the Ultra Beast to disrupt Malamar's control over the moon.
With a swift nod, Kartana sprang into action once more, its slender form moving with unparalleled speed and agility. It lit up its blade, soaring in for another precise cut.
"Back, you!" Malamar hissed, using his Cosmic Abilities to create a nebula storm. The nebula storm roared to life, swirling with dark energy as it matched that of a hurricane.
As Fluttershy was helping many away from the scene, the Nebula Storm would send out destructive stardust that started raining down on the town. The sparkling particles fell like deadly hailstones, causing destruction and chaos wherever they landed.
Malamar then summoned a shower of small meteors that rained down from above, similar to Draco Meteor as they created a dazzling spectacle. But unlike Draco Meteor, these meteors were packed with Psychic, Dark and Cosmic energy, packing a different kind of punch.
"Lucario, Use Bone Rush!"
"Eve, use Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Rrr! Ca!" Delta Lucario started swinging his bone constructs as fast as he could, knocking some of the meteors away. Kartana would do the same, cutting them into pieces with immaculate precious. Espeon unleashed a barrage of rainbows from her body, striking at the meteors.
"Now, use Quick Attack, Eve! Kartana, fly-in and use X-Scissor!" Twilight bellowed.
"Lucario, get in there with Bone Rush! Sceptile, use Leaf Blade too!" It was time for all of them to rush in and attack Malamar directly.
With each strike of Bone Rush, each dazzling gleam of light, and each precise cut of X-Scissor, Twilight and her Pokémon managed to deflect or destroy several meteors. However, the sheer number and intensity of the incoming projectiles made it increasingly difficult to keep up with the onslaught.
At that moment, Malamar unleashed a wave of dark auroras that washed over his opponents, disrupting their attacks. Despite their best efforts to deflect and destroy the incoming meteors, the sudden onslaught of dark auroras threw them off balance, causing their movements to falter and their attacks to lose their precision.
Lucario witnessed his bones vanish right from his grasp, causing him to be battered by the meteors. The Anubis Pokemon was shot back down to the ground while Kartana used his arms as a shield.
"Lucario! Are you alright?!" Applejack gasped before flinching at a meteor that nearly landed in her direction. Sceptile would grab her out of the way, avoiding the other incoming meteors and a Dark Auroras. Fighting back against the Aurora, Twilight would summon her own Auroras with her magic.
Twilight gritted her teeth as she struggled against the oppressive force of the dark auroras, her concentration wavering under the weight of Malamar's relentless assault. Her Pokémon, too, fought valiantly against the encroaching darkness, but their efforts were hampered by the overwhelming power of Malamar's cosmic abilities.
With each passing moment, the dark auroras tightened their grip, binding Twilight and her Pokémon in place and sapping their strength with each passing second. Despite their best efforts to break free, the oppressive energy seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment, threatening to overwhelm them completely.
As the chaos unfolded outside, Pinkie Pie and Mew remained fast asleep in the cozy confines of SugarCube Corner. Despite the tumultuous events occurring in Ponyville, the two of them were completely oblivious to the danger lurking just beyond their doorstep.
Pinkie Pie lay curled up in her bed, her mane and tail a colourful tangle of curls as she snored softly. Mew, nestled snugly beside her, purred contentedly in his sleep, its small form rising and falling with each breath.
Outside, the sounds of battle echoed through the streets of Ponyville, but within the walls of SugarCube Corner, all was calm and peaceful. The warm glow of the bakery's lights cast a gentle illumination across the room, casting soft shadows on the walls as Pinkie Pie and Mew slumbered on, undisturbed by the chaos raging outside.
With a sudden crash, a meteor smashed through the window of SugarCube Corner, shattering the tranquillity of Pinkie Pie and Mew's sleep. The loud noise jolted them awake, their eyes snapping open in surprise as they were rudely awakened from their peaceful slumber.
"Waha! I'm up, I'm up!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, sitting up in bed and rubbing her eyes, her mane a wild mess of curls.
"Mew-Mew!" Mew, startled by the sudden intrusion, let out a surprised mewl and quickly scrambled to its feet, its eyes wide with alarm as it surveyed the scene before them. "Mew? Mew!"
"Whoa..." Pinkie Pie gazed outside, witnessing Malamar's new form for the first time. She would then screech once one of the tentacles got close to her, swinging by the window of SugarCube Corner.
Pinkie Pie then had her mane stand up once a huge clash occurred. It was between Malamar's Nebula and a combination of Dazzling Gleam, Dark Pulse, Dragon Pulse, Dark Matter and a Magical Flash.
Once the attacks collided, a paroxysm of Infinity Energy and Magic occurred on the spot, blowing the trees and even changing the direction of the winds.
"It's late! What in the name of Arceus is all this noise for?!" Rarity bellowed upon waking up. It seems she wasn't overtaken by the hallucinations by Malamar and was enjoying her sleep until this occurred. With her nightgown on and her mane a mess, she forced her doors open, furious at all the noise
As soon as she showed up outside, she was blown back inside by the force of the attacks colliding. The Earth Pony would land on her couch, face-first too. She groaned with her face in the couch, her body trembling a bit.
"Hah...Hah..." Twilight took breaths as the smoke was clearing. So did Applejack. But Malamar was in the same boat, appearing to be draining his stamina with all of this action. "How's that? I still have more to give."
Malamar, panting heavily, glared back at Twilight with a mixture of exhaustion and frustration evident in his eyes. Despite his formidable powers, the prolonged battle was taking its toll on him, draining his stamina with each passing moment. His once-confident demeanour now faltered, replaced by a sense of weariness as he struggled to maintain his composure.
"You think...you can...defeat me...?" Malamar wheezed, his voice strained as he spoke. "I am...far beyond...your reach..."
"Oh, yeah? You may be powerful, Malamar, but you're not invincible," Twilight retorted. She then looked over at Applejack as the two of them knew what they had to do. Twilight used her magic to pull out her Absolnite from her Saddlebag while Applejack's hat pin possessing the Sceptilite would glimmer under the moonlight.
It was time for Mega Evolution.
"Mega Evolve!"
As the Absollite and Sceptilite glowed with an ethereal light, Twilight and Applejack clasped them tightly, channelling their energies into the mysterious stones. With a brilliant flash, Absol and Sceptile underwent a stunning transformation, their forms enveloped in a dazzling aura as they evolved into their Mega forms.
Absol's fur shimmered with an otherworldly glow as his horn grew longer and more resplendent, exuding an aura of pure strength. Sceptile's body crackled with electrifying draconic energy as his features sharpened, his leafy appendages growing larger and more imposing.
Out of these lights emerged Mega Absol and Mega Sceptile.
"Mega Evolution?!" Equestrian Malamar gasped.
"Go, Absol! Night Slash!"
With a fierce battle cry, Absol leapt forward, its claws gleaming with dark energy as it slashed through the air with incredible speed. The Night Slash attack sliced through the darkness, aiming straight for Malamar with pinpoint accuracy, Malamar tried stopping him with four tentacles, only for two of them to be cut in half while the other two were slashed by Kartana.
"Use Frenzy Plant, Sceptile!"
"Tile!" Sceptile slammed his hands into the ground, causing the surrounding vegetation to surge with power. Vines erupted from the ground, growing rapidly and entangling themselves around Malamar, binding him in place with their incredible strength. Then, with a burst of energy, the vines constricted tightly, dealing a devastating blow to Malamar with the full force of the Frenzy Plant attack.
Growling in anger, released a burst of abyssal energy, engulfing the area in darkness and causing severe damage to enemies caught within its radius. This would also try and cause hallucinations to Twilight's group.
However, their strong wills said otherwise. Twilight flashed her eyes with magic, breaking away the hallucination effect with ease, much to Malamar's surprise. Frustrated, Malamar would dig his tentacles into the ground, summoning another gravitational void.
This void was consuming the ground beneath them all as Malamar manipulated the gravitational forces of the void to crush his opponents, causing them to feel as if they were being dragged into the depths of an infinite abyss. The ground was opening up because of this as a flare of Rift Energy would fly out of it.
Twilight focused her magic, creating a protective barrier around herself and her Pokémon to shield them from the crushing gravitational forces. And, with an impressive reverse, she used her own Rift Magic to create an opposite gravitational pull, sending her friends upwards.
"X-Scissor! Night Slash! And then use Dazzling Gleam!" By sending her friends into the air, her Pokemon got even closer to Malamar. The rainbow rays of Dazzling Gleam flew forward, followed by Absol and Kartana's advances. Malamar found himself being battered in the face by the rays first. Shaking his head, he quickly summoned a cluster of nebula to shield himself from Night Slash and X-Scissor.
But Malamar knew that these two could cut through his attacks, so with quick thinking, he unleashed a blinding flash of light from the nebula just to stun them.
"S-Sol?!" Caught off guard by Malamar's sudden counterattack, Absol and Kartana faltered, momentarily stunned by the blinding flash of light emanating from the nebula. In their vulnerable state, they found themselves unable to react in time as the swirling mass of cosmic energy surged toward them, propelled by Malamar's potent psychic abilities.
As the nebula closed in, Absol and Kartana struggled to regain their bearings, their senses momentarily overwhelmed by the intense brightness and disorienting effects of the light.
With a sickening thud, the nebula collided with Absol and Kartana, enveloping them in its swirling depths. The cosmic energy within the nebula surged and pulsed, exerting its influence over the trapped Pokémon and threatening to ensnare them in its ethereal embrace.
"Lucario, use Dark Matter!"
"Rrr!" Summoning his inner strength, Delta Lucario focused his aura and tapped into the darkest depths of his power. With a resolute cry, he unleashed a powerful surge of Dark Matter, channeling it toward the swirling nebula with pinpoint accuracy.
The concentrated blast of dark energy tore through the fabric of space, hurtling toward the heart of the nebula with unstoppable force. As it collided with the cosmic mass, the Dark Matter unleashed a cataclysmic explosion, its intense energy rippling through the swirling depths of the nebula and engulfing Malamar's form in a blinding cascade of darkness while also freeing Absol and Kartana.
Caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, Malamar found himself overwhelmed by the sheer power of Lucario's attack. The intense darkness of the Dark Matter obscured his vision and disrupted his control over the nebula, causing it to greatly diminish in strength.
"He's looking weaker! Now's our chance! Hit him where it hurts, you all!" Twilight bellowed, seeing a golden opportunity. She had all of her Pokemon rush in at full force.
Absol unleashed a flurry of razor-sharp Night Slashes, each strike aimed with precision to exploit any weakness in Malamar's defences. Espeon and Togekiss followed suit, casting dazzling rays of light with Dazzling Gleam, the rainbow-hued energy cascading toward their target with blinding intensity.
Meanwhile, Sceptile and Kartana coordinated their assault, striking with a combination of Leaf Blade and X-Scissor, their blades slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. With each blow, they aimed to chip away at Malamar's strength, wearing down its defences and leaving him incredibly vulnerable.
As the combined might of Twilight's Pokémon bore down upon Malamar, the Overturning Pokémon found itself besieged on all sides, no longer looking all that formidable.
"Use Force Palm!" Applejack shouted.
"Luca!" Lucario leapt off the ground, passing all of his friends before striking right at the centre of Malamar's chest with a fierce flare of Rift Energy that brought along a brilliant flash. The Overturning Pokémon recoiled in agony, his monstrous form writhing as he struggled to withstand the onslaught.
The sheer power of the blow caused a violent explosion to erupt from the centre of its body, sending shockwaves rippling outward with devastating force.
Caught off guard by the ferocity of the attack, Malamar staggered backwards, its monstrous form writhing in pain as the explosion rocked its very being.
For a moment, all was chaos and tumult as the explosion subsided, leaving behind a scene of destruction and upheaval. Malamar, wounded and weakened, struggled to regain its footing, its dark aura flickering ominously as it prepared to mount a desperate counterattack against its adversaries. But Malamar would just lay there on the ground with smoke emerging from the centre of his body.
"Did we get him? I reckon we might've put a dent in it, at least," Applejack replied, her tone reflecting a similar mix of relief and apprehension.
"I hope so." Twilight breathed in and out. As the smoke billowed from the aftermath of the intense clash, the residents of Ponyville watched from a safe distance, their expressions a mixture of anxiety and hope. They had witnessed the ferocity of the battle, felt the ground tremble beneath them with each powerful blow exchanged between Malamar and its adversaries.
Now, as the air hung heavy with tension, they waited with bated breath, their hearts pounding in anticipation of what would come next.
As Malamar laid there, he looked up at the Night Sky, gazing at the Moon he failed to take power from. And yet, he did not give up. Instead, when taking all of this in, Malamar's anger was boiling which made his Rift Energy surge.
As Malamar's rage intensified, his dark energy surged with newfound intensity, crackling through the air like lightning. With a menacing glare at the night sky, his anger manifested into a sinister transformation, morphing the severed tentacles into smaller, twisted versions of himself.
These smaller Malamars writhed and squirmed with malicious intent, their glowing eyes fixated on their creator with unwavering loyalty. With a collective hiss, they surged forward, ready to enact their master's will and wreak havoc upon Ponyville once more.
The residents, witnessing this sinister transformation, recoiled in horror at the sight of the malevolent creatures born from Malamar's fury.
"Insolent...! Inferior Creatures!" Malamar insulted while getting back up. At that moment, he used his massive tentacles to go straight for Twilight's Castle. The Princess of Friendship gasped once he saw where the tentacle was heading.
The force of Malamar's tentacle crashing through Twilight's Castle sent shockwaves rippling through the surrounding area, leaving destruction and chaos in its wake. Twilight watched in horror as her beloved home was torn asunder by the relentless assault, her heart sinking at the sight of the gaping hole that now marred its once-pristine facade.
"Geeeeh!" Freaking out and lying on her back was Daisy, who was the closest to the tentacle. So was Paradise, who would fall back from the impact. Attempting to slice the massive tentacle was Kartana, who was immediately blocked by the other Malamar who were still massive for their size.
"Ah...What's this?" At that moment, much to Twilight's horror, Malamar found the Rift Cauldron in her castle, grabbing it.
"Stop! You can't take that!" Twilight cried out, her voice filled with desperation as she watched Malamar reach for the Rift Cauldron. But her pleas fell on deaf ears as Malamar seized the artefact in his tentacles, his sinister laughter echoing through the crumbling halls of the castle and Ponyville.
"You were keeping this with you?! Greedy mare." Malamar uttered. Twilight desperately tried rushing over to Malamar, but the number of smaller Malamar would block her way. She would have Espeon, Togekiss and Absol power through them but they just kept coming, throwing attacks out.
Sceptile used Frenzy Plant to cover more ground, only for the smaller Malamar to use their own nebula to block it.
"I need more...More!" With no hesitation and a thirst for more cosmic power, Malamar immediately poured the Rift Cauldron on him.
As the Rift Cauldron's power surged into Malamar's being, a blinding cosmic light enveloped him, radiating with an intensity that illuminated the entire area. Twilight shielded her eyes from the brilliance, unable to look directly at the spectacle unfolding before her.
The light pulsated with raw energy, crackling and swirling around Malamar's form as he absorbed the immense power of the cauldron.
The ground beneath them trembled as Malamar's body thrummed with cosmic energy, the very air vibrating with power. It was a sight both mesmerizing and terrifying. Twilight couldn't believe she let this happen.
Malamar emerged from the radiant light in a transformed state, his form now even more imposing and intimidating than before. His head had swollen to an enormous size, dwarfing his already massive body, giving him a grotesque and monstrous appearance. The tendrils that sprouted from his head writhed and twisted with newfound energy, crackling with dark power.
His body seemed to pulse with cosmic energy, emanating an aura of overwhelming malevolence that sent shivers down the spines of all who beheld him. Malamar's eyes blazed with an intense crimson glow, burning with an insatiable hunger for power and domination.
His tentacles, now elongated and razor-sharp, crackled with Rift Energy as they hovered menacingly in the air, ready to strike down any who dared to oppose him.
"As you can see, nothing can stop my pursuit for power. I will keep growing! And in this state...I can see it all!" It wasn't just his size, but his intellect that also grew. Malamar's voice echoed with an unsettling sense of superiority as he boasted about his newfound power. With his enhanced intellect and cosmic awareness, he believed himself to be virtually unstoppable, capable of foreseeing and manipulating events to suit his desires. His eyes gleamed with a twisted sense of satisfaction as he surveyed the chaos and destruction he had wrought upon Ponyville.
"No way..." Twilight looked on in disbelief.
"None can stand against me now," he declared, his voice dripping with malice. "With this newfound power, I shall reign supreme over all. My vision stretches beyond the stars themselves, and I shall mould this world to my whims."
"Absol...!" Absol snarled. If only he could've sensed this sooner.
"Is that even a Malamar anymore...?" Applejack questioned.
"I...I...!" But before Malamar could continue boasting, something shocking happened. His maniacal smile turned into a frown. "I see it all...But why? Why this?"
Malamar's enhanced perception allowed him to witness the vast intricacies of the universe, from the smallest subatomic particles to the grandest cosmic phenomena. Yet, amidst the sea of knowledge and possibilities, he found himself confronted with a profound realization: despite his newfound power, he remained bound by the fundamental truths of existence.
"So many thoughts...So many scenarios and outcomes. And this is just our universe." The revelation struck him with a sense of existential dread, challenging his very understanding of his place in the universe. Despite his intellectual superiority, he grappled with questions that defied easy answers. Why was he driven to pursue power at all costs? What was the ultimate purpose of his existence? And most troubling of all, was there truly any meaning to be found in his insatiable thirst for dominance?
As he pondered these questions, a wave of uncertainty washed over him, threatening to shatter the facade of invincibility he had so carefully constructed. For the first time in his existence, Malamar found himself facing the unsettling prospect of his own mortality, the realization that even he, with all his power and intellect, was ultimately subject to the whims of fate.
"Is this what the Rift thinks? It can't be..." In that moment of vulnerability, a flicker of doubt crept into Malamar's mind, sowing seeds of hesitation and fear. Despite his attempts to control the world around him, he could not escape the inescapable truth that he was but a mere speck in the vast tapestry of existence, destined to fade into obscurity like so many before him.
"You're smart, Malamar. But you can't handle all that knowledge." Twilight flew up. "Even then, you're so focused on controlling everything that that's what you're seeing. But in reality...Me and my friends know for a fact that there is a point to it all. It's something that you'll never understand."
Malamar's eyes narrowed as he regarded Twilight, his mind still reeling from the revelation that had shaken his very core. Despite her words, he remained steadfast in his belief that knowledge and power were the ultimate keys to understanding the universe.
"You may believe in your friendships and your ideals, but they are mere illusions," he retorted, his voice laced with a mixture of defiance and uncertainty. "I see nothing of it in these visions. It is as pointless as what I have discovered!"
"You have the knowledge of the Rift in you. You're seeing what it sees. But unlike the Rift, you can never see the bigger picture. Not on this level." Twilight shook her head.
"But...this isn't what I wanted!" Malamar bellowed. "I want total control! Not this! I can't contain myself in this state...!"
"That so?" Twilight smiled. "Then you wouldn't mind if we helped you be free of all of this, right? Now, Kartana! X-Scissor!"
"Huh?!" Malamar looked up, seeing Kartana right above him.
"Dneif, neht esruc siht morf uoy eerf ot em wolla!" Kartana descended with incredible velocity, his blade shimmering with a huge amount of Infinity Energy, Malamar's expression contorted into a mixture of panic and realization. In that fleeting moment, he understood the consequences of his insatiable thirst for power, and the burden it had placed upon him.
With a swift and precise strike, Kartana's X-Scissor sliced through Malamar's form, cleaving through the very fabric of his being. As the Rift Cauldron's influence dissipated, Malamar's form began to fracture and dissipate, the cosmic energy that had fueled his transformation returning to the void from whence it came.
"Tcejbo sselhtrow a tuc I, erom ecno." Kartana spoke as the Rift Energy scattered into the atmosphere as stardust and sparkles.
With a final, anguished cry, Malamar returned to his original form, as his voice echoed through the night. The rifts in reality that he had created began to close, the chaos and destruction he had wrought slowly fading into memory. Malamar fell to the ground, defeated.
As the echoes of Malamar's defeat faded into the night, a serene calm settled over Ponyville. Twilight and her friends stood amidst the aftermath of their battle, gazing up at the starry sky with a sense of relief and exhaustion. The cosmic stardust danced in the air, a gentle reminder of the forces they had faced and overcome.
With the threat of Malamar finally vanquished, the residents of Ponyville emerged from the shadows, cautiously venturing back into the streets to assess the damage. Thankfully, it wasn't that much since Twilight's group did a lot to prevent cataclysmic damage to the place.
Twilight walked over to the Rift Cauldron, looking at what once used to be something that packed plenty of Rift Energy. Now, it was empty. Not even a drop of it was left behind. The cauldron has certainly served its purpose, being helpful from start to finish. It helped with so many problems and in its last moments, it ended up playing a part in defeating a major problem.
"I guess that's it." Twilight spoke, lifting the cauldron up with her magic. "But this is far from the end." Twilight surveyed the scene, her heart heavy with the weight of the recent events.
As dawn approached on the horizon, casting its golden light over the town, Twilight and her friends shared a moment of quiet reflection. Twilight knew for a fact that this was not the end.
Malamar was only one member of Daybreaker's terrifying alliance. There were more of them and with Daybreaker advancing her plans, Twilight could expect these peaceful days to be sparse and few. But she was certainly ready for them. Looking up at the Sun in the horizon was already reminding her of the threat that was Daybreaker.
"I don't suppose you're going back, are you?" Twilight smiled at Kartana who flew over. Kartana nodded in response. That response meant only one thing. Kartana was here to stay. But not only that, he would stick by Twilight's side from now on, being another protector of the world she loves.
A new day has come and the Altar of the Moon sat there, damaged because of Malamar's actions. Surveying the area were the Pokemon Rangers from the Ranger Union. All of Malamar's minions have been apprehended overnight and the leader, the Main Malamar, tasted defeat once more at Ponyville. By extension, this meant all of Malamar's forces had been stopped, properly ending his group. That was one member of Daybreaker's Alliance down.
"What a mess...The Altar is centuries old. It won't be easy repairing this." One of the rangers spoke when surverying the scene. "What about the Moon?"
"The Moon should recover with Lunala up there. But I don't think it's going to stay put." Another ranger replied, knowing that Lunala would be on the move due to recent events If it figures out what Malamar was only one individual trying to force it out and capture it, the Guardian of Moon will do everything in its power to avoid that outcome.
"If we could just get to Universe 11, things would be a bit easier for us, but there's something in the way."
"Something hot. When we used our new Travel Spheres to try and entire Universe 11, there was this powerful flame blocking us. Most likely, Daybreaker put it up there. I did hear about that from Princess Flurry Heart. There's a Magical Cosmic Flame blocking people like us from reaching Universe 11."
"Can't exactly put it out. Magic and Cosmic." The ranger grumbled. "Figuring out their next move is going to be hard if we can't reach them."
"Ahh...I wouldn't say that. Jackie already suspects that they'll be going above and beyond to get Necrozma to full strength Literally. He's predicting that they'll go up." The Ranger pointed up to the sky. "Malamar already messed with the celestial body in the sky and most likely, that alliance will go straight for the stars."
"Outer space? Really?"
"Empress Twilight did it. What's stopping them from doing the same?"
Equestria. Ponyville. Day.
As a new day rose, the aftermath of Malamar's attack was being repaired by its citizens. Thankfully, since it was minimal, the repairs wouldn't take that long and overnight, some of them were already finished and the damages vanished. But the one thing that wasn't vanishing was Malamar himself, who was currently lying on the ground, still present.
His eyes were whited out while his body was trembling, still feeling the effects of the powerful slice Kartana did and the huge amount of Rift Energy he had within him.
"So...He's just been here all night?" Appearing here was Rainbow Dash, who was being caught up with everything that had happened last night.
"No one bothered to move him. They were either too tired or working too hard to fix everything." Twilight answered.
"...Is he okay?" Fluttershy questioned, genuinely concerned. The fact that Malamar was on the ground, seemingly unconscious while still trembling.
"He's in a vegetative state. Absorbing all of that knowledge was bound to do this to him. Kartana just accelerated it even after destroying his Equestrian Form." Twilight explained. "He might recover but his brain will never be the same again. Unless someone or something heals it."
"So, he's out of commission for a while, huh?" Rainbow Dash shifted her eyes. She paused for a moment before putting on a wide grin, slowly taking out a Poke Ball.
"Rainbow Dash." Twilight side-eyed Rainbow Dash.
"What?! I can't catch him?! I'll whip him into shape and make him a model citizen, trust me!" The pegasus boasted. "It'll be just like Hollow and Spiritomb."
"I don't think we're dealing with a Spiritomb here. If he doesn't recover from this state, it'd be a bit off-putting to have him on our side in such a poor state. Pretty cruel too. And if he does recover, well..."
"Alright, alright." The pegasus placed the Poke Ball away. "I won't catch him. Yet."
"Right now, it's best to have him be at Canterlot. Princess Celestia might need him since he's connected to Daybreaker's alliance. He'll know a lot. And speaking of that alliance, now we now what their next plan is." The Princess of Friendship turned her attention to the Sun and by extension, the Moon that is currently resting. "They're going after Solgaleo and Lunala."
"Solgaleo and Lunala? Aren't those the Alolan Legendaries?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"That's right. And Necrozma's connected to them. They've probably figured that out and that's why Malamar was so bent on finding one of them."
"But hey, if something goes wrong, if you've got Kartana to count on!" Rainbow Dash pointed her hoof at the Ultra Beast. Kartana staying with Twilight was not an exaggeration. "Look at you, having an Ultra Beast for a Pokemon!"
"I guess so." Twilight smiled. "Ever since that night, Kartana and Twilight became partners. Twilight even held out a Poke Ball. The same Poke Ball that came into contact with Kartana.
"So if that was Malamar's attempt, what will the others do?" Fluttershy asked.
"I don't wanna know..." Twilight grumbled. But if she had to guess, her thoughts were similar to Jackie's. The Princess of Friendship had a strong suspicion that their next target might be up in the stars. After all, Lunala did not appear on Earth during all of that mess.
Universe 11. The Solar Empire. Canterlot Castle. Day.
Meanwhile, in the dark and twisted realm of Universe 11, Daybreaker and the others have already learned of Malamar's defeat. Gathered in her throne room for a meeting were Gardevoir, Second Wind and Cozy Glow. Quite the small selection today.
"Malamar may have lost the battle, but he hasn't failed us entirely," Daybreaker declared. "His actions have stirred Lunala, drawing the attention of the Legendary Pokémon that we need. I guess our other options are out of the window now."
The other members of Daybreaker's alliance exchanged glances, their expressions translated into a bit of worry and curiosity. Second Wind, the cruel queen, leaned forward on her throne, her gaze fixed intently on Daybreaker. "Those ponies back at Equestria are something fierce. How can that humble town be so powerful?"
"You'd be surprised. I'm not all that shocked since I have a Ponyville of my own in this universe. I know first-hoof how much that town can fight back if threatened. Besides, by meddling with the moon, Malamar has provoked a reaction from Lunala, which is what we needed. Lunala will do everything it can to make sure the Moon is safe. And I can only presume that involves both moons."
"What about Solgaleo though?" Present here was the young Cozy Glow. "And where's Team Plasma?"
"Still having their angel problem. The fact that they've gone that long proves that they can handle themselves." Daybreaker answered.
"Do you think I could take some Divine Light from them? Can I?" Gardevoir flew over, wanting a piece of Divine Light. "I bet their Aura will increase my lifespan tremendously!"
"No, no. Let's not go there, yet." Daybreaker shut her down immediately, making the Aura Vampire pout. "Now that we know of a way to get the attention of Lunala and by extension Solgaleo...I believe you all know what we must do next." Daybreaker smiled before dropping a bombshell. "We're going to outer space."
With Daybreaker's revelation hanging in the air like a thundercloud, the members of the alliance exchanged stunned glances. Outer space, the final frontier, seemed like an unimaginable destination, yet Daybreaker's confidence left no room for doubt. That was the next step and quite the leap.
"Outer space?! We're not actually going there, are we?!" Second Wind gasped.
"I mean, if some of you want to, that's fine. I know you have unfinished business, Second Wind." Daybreaker shrugged while leaning back on her throne. "I know for a fact Twilight will be coming with us. She already has ships for space after all."
"Pass." Second Wind would sit this one out. "You're right about unfinished business. There are some things I just have to deal with first and I am not ready for outer space."
"Understood. As for you, Cozy Glow, you're coming with us."Daybreaker glanced over at Cozy Glow, already deciding that she would come along for the trip.
"I-I can't go to outer space!" The young pegasus stammered. "I'm not ready for that! And what about my job being a spy in the Pokemon School?!"
"It'll only be a short trip, I promise. You'll be back to Earth as soon as possible."
"But what can I do? I don't know anything about Outer Space and all that!" She bellowed, bringing up a very good point. "I should just stay back at the Pokemon School. Just to be sure."
"Hmph. There's a reason for me picking you, Cozy Glow. I promise you, it'll benefit us greatly." Daybreaker was still confident enough in Cozy Glow. "You helped us discover Fairy Matter and by extension Dragon Matter. So, I have full faith in you."
"Y-You do?" The young pegasus was stunned to hear that. Cozy Glow's expression softened as Daybreaker expressed her faith in her abilities, her initial apprehension giving way to a glimmer of hope. "Y-Yes, I do,"
"You may not realize it yet, but you have something that we need in all of this. Do your best and I can bet that we will not fail. We might find something new in the process too." Daybreaker reassured. "If things get too out of hoof, I'll have you home safely. I promise."
Cozy Glow's doubts began to fade as Daybreaker spoke, replaced by a newfound sense of determination. "I-I'll do my best," she replied, her voice tinged with determination. And in her mind, she spoke something that she didn't want anyone else to hear. "Aaaaah! Yes! Recognition!"
"Tch. Always soft on children." Second Wind kissed her teeth. Daybreaker certainly wasn't like this with anyone else except children.
"Let's get ourselves ready. Nightmare Moon and Starlight will stay on Earth as well. Twilight is definitely coming with us which will give us a huge number advantage. My forces and her forces will be large enough for outer space. Second Wind. If something goes wrong, contact me."
"I'll be in touch, I guess." Second Wind shrugged.
Daybreaker would get ready, prepared to enter the final frontier that is outer space, but only briefly. They already had the ships they needed. Whether that was Empress Twilight's own ships which have greatly decreased in number ever since that failed invasion or Daybreaker's own ships which were plentiful.
The launch date was today. There wouldn't be a tomorrow or a day after tomorrow. To ensure they have everything they need for their journey, Daybreaker's alliance procures a vast array of supplies and equipment just for space travel. And of course, Poke Balls.
Currently, multiple Poke Balls were being loaded up into a container and they were some of the most Elite Poke Balls only. Ultra Balls Timer Balls and of course, Master Balls. Plenty of Master Balls. They were searching for Legendary Pokemon after all.
As the loading of supplies continued, Daybreaker herself oversaw the final preparations, confident in what was coming next. In her mind, she could picture herself finding Lunala and perhaps Solgaleo. But for now, she was going to stick to one Pokemon. Necrozma was currently in his Poke Ball, hungering for more light immediately, and now, he was heading into the one place where light is very much plentiful, aside from Universe 1's Earth.
Universe 1. Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Day.
"You should've seen it! It was massive!" As a new day at the Pokemon School came, so did something new for Gallus to speak about. He, Silverstream and Sandbar got caught up in Malamar's actions briefly. Gallus was currently going on about the massive tendril that was seen clashing with Twilight and Luna out in the wild. He definitely saw it from afar that very night.
The students who came from Ponyville also remembered it vividly. Their town went trough the wringer yet again, but on the bright side, there wasn't that much destruction compared to previous events.
"Pssh. I don't believe you." However, Sandbar and the others doubted it immediately. Their fellow classmates were very sceptical but they were aware of Malamar's attack last night.
"It's true." Silverstream backed him up. "Before that, we got caught by this weird jelly thing. It didn't feel all too good. I think I can still feel parts of it around me." She would then shudder just thinking about it.
"It's actually true." Sandbar supported it. "The only reason we're still here is thanks to Princess Twilight. And I have Ponyta to thank for that too."
"Mmm...I don't know about that. Why would he suddenly come for you three and not anyone else? I don't hear anything from everyone else here. The worst they got were hallucinations at night apparently." Smolder was still sceptical. "Not us though. We were all safe so it wasn't that big of a deal.
"I don't think she's in today. My sister back at Ponyville said she had something important to do." One of the students from Ponyville said, knowing what Twilight was doing. And right now, she was definitely not in her office. Instead, Twilight was more focused on what Daybreaker's Alliance would be doing next.
Hoenn. The Ranger Union.
At the Ranger Union, they were currently getting alerts about yet another gateway being opened. The Rangers were well-equipped for whenever that sinister alliance makes their move in this universe, especially when a gateway opens up. Even after Malamar's defeat, something was stirring up already.
"Look at this." One of the workers pointed at the screen, seeing where the gateway was showing up. Usually, the gateways are opened on land, sea and even the air. But this time it was different. The Dispatchers at the Ranger Union witnessed a gateway opening up in outer space.
"Outer space?! Has that happened before?!" A gateway opening up in outer space was a rare occurrence, unlike anything they had encountered before. Even if it was brand new, they knew that it was from Universe 11 and they had to act fast. This development raised urgent questions and concerns among the Ranger personnel, prompting them to spring into action.
Dispatchers quickly relayed the information to the Ranger teams stationed across various regions, alerting them to the unprecedented gateway opening in outer space. The Rangers mobilized with precision and efficiency, preparing to respond to this new threat with all the resources at their disposal.
Meanwhile, analysts and researchers at the Ranger Union scrambled to gather data and analyze the nature of the gateway, attempting to understand its origin and potential implications. Speculation ran rampant among the workers, with theories ranging from natural phenomena to the influence of external forces at play.
"Looks like Jackie was right. They are going straight to space. But this soon?" One of the dispatchers commented. Now that they were well aware as to the next action of the alliance, they couldn't afford to wait. Daybreaker's team were already passing through the gateway at this very moment, above the Earth itself
The Ranger Union understood that they had no choice but to respond in kind. Sending their elite Pokémon Rangers into space was a bold and unprecedented move, but it was necessary to counter the threat posed by the alliance and protect the integrity of the merged world.
Urgently, the Ranger Union quickly mobilized their forces, assembling a team of highly skilled and specially trained Pokémon Rangers for the mission.
"Make sure you contact Princess Celestia too. The Rangers established a secure communication link with Equestria, sending a message detailing the situation and requesting Princess Celestia's assistance in this.
They would have to wait for a response from Princess Celestia if she was available at the moment. The ship could already be seen passing through the gateway. But of course, there were multiple of them passing through since Daybreaker was coming well-equipped.
Getting to them as soon as possible might not be soon enough. Since they opened up a gateway in space, the alliance had a colossal advantage. However, the closest to them was Pegalysium which was high above the clouds and just below the corrupt Pinnaculum Pegalysium. The best they could do is try to catch up.
Outer space. The Solar Sword.
The Solar Sword. A marvel of engineering and a spacecraft designed with one purpose in mind: to carry Daybreaker's alliance into the depths of outer space but only when necessary. The time for it to be used has finally come. Built with state-of-the-art technology and equipped with formidable defences, the Solar Sword was a sight to behold. Larger than Daybreaker's aerial ship and even larger than Empress Twilight's main ship.
The exterior of the Solar Conquestor was adorned with familiar Equestrian markings and Sun Symbols, staying in line with Daybreaker's theme. Its hull was reinforced with advanced alloys and shielding, capable of withstanding the harsh conditions of space travel and repelling any potential threats they might encounter along the way.
Perched upon her throne within the command centre of the Solar Sword, Daybreaker exuded an aura of regal confidence as the spacecraft hurtled through the void of outer space. Her eyes were fixed on the Moon in the distance, making that her next large target.
Around her, the crew and allies of Daybreaker's alliance moved with purpose, their anticipation palpable as they prepared to confront Lunala and seize its power for their own nefarious purposes. Technicians monitored the ship's systems, ensuring that all was in working order for the critical moment ahead, while guards stood at the ready, their weapons primed for any potential threats. Among them was Sunrise Sparkle who came along for the ride, being the smartest of Daybreaker's Solar Empire.
Next to the Solar Sword were other Daybreaker Ships as well as Empress Twilight's ships. The Empress herself was on board, putting on a scowling face. Clearly, she was still bitter about how much her Empire has been crippled. Now Daybreaker was calling the shots instead of her but she had to put up with it if she wanted to get back to speed.
What they were about to do to the Moon might be even worse than what Malamar did, depending on how it goes. Cozy Glow was shaking uncontrollably when entering outer space. Never before has she had to go through this. But keeping her calm was Daybreaker who used her magic to lift up the pegasus, bringing her straight towards her.
On top of that, Daybreaker awaited the inevitable arrival of any who dared to oppose her, such as the Ranger Union. Any gateway action will always be picked up by them after all.
"I'll be waiting for you," Daybreaker said, ready for their arrival. "And I'm hoping you can also make an appearance. Me." She referred to Universe 1's Princess Celestia. A part of Daybreaker was getting rather excited by this. The part of Celestia that enjoyed a good thrill was still in there. The thrill of action, that is.
In Canterlot Castle, Twilight was currently with Celestia and Luna. Luna herself had just returned from Alola, dealing with the rest of the Malamar, much like the Pokemon Rangers. Celestia was immediately caught up with everything that happened last night, straight from Twilight and Luna's own experiences. Not only that, she was immediately contacted by the Ranger Union, informed about what Daybreaker's Group were doing now.
"They didn't even take a break from it all. They're already in Outer Space." Celestia spoke after speaking with the Ranger Union. The voices of those from the Union was actually playing from the new and improved Travel Sphere. Not only was it a means of quick transportation, but it was also given a communication function.
"They might be going straight for the Moon, just like Malamar." Twilight's suspicion was coming true indeed. Daybreaker's Team were very much doing what Malamar did but on a greater level.
"Who knows how far they've gone into space? Can we even follow them?" Luna questioned.
"Hmmm..." Celestia pondered. Despite taking on threats that dabble in space travel, she's only been to space once and it was via curiosity. "We do have one way of entering outer space. Or rather, two ways."
"Yeah? What are they?" Twilight leaned in with Luna, eager to know.
"That Rocketship that Team Rocket owns. Is it still around?" Celestia asked, immediately thinking about the one thing that can actually got into space and carry many.
"The Rocketship? Well...last I saw it, it was blasted off into the horizon with Team Rocket. The next time I saw Team Rocket, their Rocketship was nowhere to be found." Twilight grumbled. "I'm not sure they have it with them anyway. If they did, we would've noticed by now. I haven't even seen Tea Rocket for a while now."
"Hm. Then, option two is on our plate." With option one already done for, Celestia was going for the second option. "We'll have to talk with Galaxy Master."
"Him?" Luna groaned once Galaxy Master was brought up. "Really?"
"He's a great ally, Luna. You have to admit. He's also capable of going into space with that tower of his. I'm positive that Reshiram and Zekrom can breathe in space, but we still need to be in something to keep our oxygen." Celestia continued, raising a valid point.
"I know. But sister...Galaxy Master's body is made out of Pure Light. The same light from the Sea Temple Crystals since that is what brought him into existence. I already saw what one crystal did to Necrozma."
"True. But he is without a doubt plenty of help. There's no other way to reach him than speaking with Ash." Celestia pondered.
"Well...I could also speak with Potion Nova." Twilight had her own way of reaching him, putting on a proud smile. Since Potion Nova and Galaxy Master were teammates it was pretty easy to reach him with Potion Nova's help. "I'll talk to her, Princess Celestia."
"Wonderful. We'll be waiting, Twilight." Counting on Twilight, Celestia would focus her efforts on other things. Despite bringing up Reshiram, Celestia herself wasn't planning on heading to outer space, she had the other universes to tend to since they've been attacked by Daybreaker over the past months.
The Pokemon School.
"What do you mean she's not here?!" Alas, as soon as Twilight got back to the Pokemon School, she was shocked to find that Potion Nova was not in today.
"We were supposed to have her for today's lesson, but..." Scootaloo replied. Potion Nova was absent for today's lesson, pushing the option of having them reaching Galaxy Master.. The students were just lounging around in the classroom, doing whatever without a teacher present here.
"If she's not here, then that means..." Twilight reached one conclusion. Most likely, Potion Nova was already tackling this issue at this very moment. It seemed that Galaxy Master and Potion Nova were already ahead, dealing with a problem that transcends Earth itself. Twilight's eyes then turned to the window, gazing into the blue Sky where the Sun beamed down, wondering if the two of them were already in space. Twilight's mind raced with possibilities as she considered the implications of Potion Nova's absence.
Deerling Forest.
Currently, many Rangers had been sent to Deerling Forest over at Equestria. Once enough Pokemon Rangers were selected, they were ready to enter outer space. Among them was Jackie. With the Travel Sphere in hand, they had to be in a completely different area for it to function properly and Equestria was always the place to be. Currently, the rangers were speaking with the dispatchers back at the Ranger Union in Hoenn.
"Since we don't have available ships of our own, you'll have to enter one of the ships and overtake it." One of the dispatchers said. The best way to go about this is by having them take control of one of the ships. That way, they'll have something to use. "Princess Flurry Heart's instructions will help you plenty."
"That's great and all but...there's one thing I'm actually worried about." Jackie said while gearing up with his Capture Stylus, already knowing he'll run into opposing Pokemon in those ships.
"What's that?"
"There are tons of Pokemon already looking for Daybreaker's Team. They probably know who caused that huge ruckus during the Pokemon Festival and they're not gonna stop until they punish her. You know what that means, right?"
"Rayquaza..." One of the dispatchers had already caught on. She knew who Jackie was referring to, making the other rangers and dispatchers gasp.
"That's right. I have a feeling that things might get dicey up there and we'll be seeing Rayquaza pretty soon. Zygarde already started moving after what happened with the Black Crusade and Rayquaza isn't going to be any different. Hopefully, by the time we get there, Rayquaza hasn't already beaten them before we get the chance to have some fun."
"Well, just make sure you don't anger Rayquaza or provoke it in any way. Now, open the gateway." With the usage of the New Travel Sphere, a gateway was immediately opened up and it had one set destination. One of the ships of Daybreaker or Empress Twilight.
Specifically, they would show up in a discreet place of the ship. Thanks to Flurry Heart, they knew exactly which spot they should go for where they'll remain undetected. With Jackie going in first, other rangers would follow as the Deerling of the Deerling Forest witnessed many Pokemon Rangers vanish, entering a single ship. The gateway would then close before the Deerlings' eyes as the Rangers were now in enemy territory.
But they weren't the only ones heading into Outer Space.
The Galaxy Tower.
Just as Twilight predicted, Galaxy Master and Potion Nova were on their way. Currently, the Galaxy Tower was taking flight, breaking through the stratosphere already. Onboard, Potion Nova was closing her eyes, holding onto something due to the velocity the tower was ascending. From the bottom, it was using light energy to propel itself into the air, leaving behind stardust in the process.
"You packed me a space suit, right?!" Potion Nova grumbled while Pikachu rolled on the floor. "I'd really like to make it back to my students! We're supposed to be making Move Potions today!"
"It's fine, Nova. You'll be safe up there. Once we arrive, we'll intercept their movements so they never find Solagleo or Lunala. Space is a big place, so if we throw them off balance enough, it'll stick a massive wrench in their plans."
"Let's just not get lost in space. If things get out of hand, I have the potions for the job. Hopefully. How are we going to stop their movements though?" Potion Nova asked.
"Well...There'll be plenty of ships up there. We won't take them on directly. Instead, we'll do everything in our power to throw them off their course. No matter what, they can't get to the Moon or even the Sun. Somewhere around there, Solgaleo and Lunala are there."
The Galaxy Tower continued on its course, moving at greater speeds once it finally left Earth and reached Outer Space. As the Galaxy Tower continued on its course, hurtling through the vast expanse of outer space at incredible speeds, the stage was set for a monumental clash between three powerful factions. Daybreaker's Alliance, the Pokémon Rangers, and Galaxy Master's Team were all converging in the final frontier, each with their own goals and objectives.
Kanto. Pallet Town. Ketchum Household. Day.
All the while, back on Earth, Ash was now receiving a call from Twilight via his Xtransceiver. He was just outside his home, ready to set off on another adventurous day. "You think they went into outer space?" Ash spoke to Twilight.
"I was hoping that you could contact him. That way, I'd know if Potion Nova was with Galaxy Master in outer space." Twilight spoke back.
With a swift motion, Ash activated his Xtransceiver's communication function, dialing the frequency that would connect him with Galaxy Master's team. As the call went through, he held his breath, hoping for a response that would provide some clarity in the midst of the chaos unfolding among the stars.
"Looks like he's not picking up. That always means he's busy...so he's definitely going straight for Daybreaker." Ash replied, giving Twilight a clear answer.
"So Potion Nova's already up there!" Twilight gasped.
"I say we go up there and help 'em out!" Enthusiastic as ever, Ash pointed to the azure sky, aiming to enter space as well just to chime in. And his adventurous spirit was also eager for it. The same went for Pikachu.
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Are you crazy?!" Twilight roared through the screen at Ash and Pikachu, making the both of them jitter. "You remember te last time we went to space, right!? Plus, there's no way we're going up there without a suit. We got lucky the last time being protected from the vacuum of space."
Ash scratched the back of his head sheepishly, realizing the validity of Twilight's concerns. "Yeah, you're right, Twilight. It's always pretty risky going up into space. But that hasn't stopped us before, has it?"
Pikachu nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Pika..."
"Hah...No." Twilight shook her head before putting on a smile. She was guilty of getting involved in dangerous situations against fearsome foes. The entire Malamar situation was a perfect representation of that. "But I don't think we can go into space right now anyway, Ash. And who knows how far they've gotten. If only we still had that Rocketship with us..."
"The Rocketship?" Ash spoke, recalling the ship that Team Rocket briefly used. At that moment, it clicked for him. "I got it! I know how we can get up there!"
"You do?" Twilight blinked. "Wait, do you know where the ship is?!"
"Nah. But you've gotta see this. Meet met in Pegalysium, Twilight. Bring some backup while you're at it." Ash had something to share with her, immediately hanging up the call.
"Ah, wait-" Twilight's voice was cut off as Ash was already on his way to Pegalysium.
Outer Space. On one of Empress Twilight's Ships.
As the Pokemon Rangers slipped into the secret compartment of the enemy ship, they moved with practised precision, ensuring that their presence went unnoticed by the occupants. Each step was taken with caution, their movements silent as they navigated through the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Okay, we're in. Everyone got a Shift Stone with them?" Jackie asked, looking back at his fellow Rangers.
"I do. Hurry and use it, it's already cramped in here." One of the Rangers groaned as the compartment they entered in was rather small since it was meant for ponies. Not Humans.
Together, they collectively used the Shift Stones, attempting to transform themselves into the forces in this ship to perfectly blend in. They were about to perform plenty of sabotage, taking the discreet path instead of causing a ruckus.
As the energy of the stones enveloped them, their forms shimmered and changed, seamlessly adopting the appearance of the ship's crew. From the light emerged Fake Members of Empress Twilight's Forces.
Once their transformation was complete, the Rangers glanced at one another, nodding in silent acknowledgement of their success. "Nice." Jackie then took off the helmet, revealing that his appearance as a pony was similar to that of his natural appearance. Blonde hair, blue eyes and all. "Is it all good?"
"Yeah~!" Some of the girls would squeak at the sight of Jackie's face before closing their mouths, remembering not to make a sound. With their new disguises in place, they blended seamlessly into the bustling corridors of the ship, their movements now unnoticed by the unsuspecting crew.
As they made their way deeper into the vessel, the Rangers kept their senses sharp, remaining vigilant for any signs of suspicion or discovery.
But there was one issue. Not many, if not all are used to being ponies or have ever been ponies. One Ranger, attempting to duck behind a corner, accidentally bumped into a passing crew member, quickly recovering with a sheepish grin and a mumbled apology. Her movements were disrupted as a pony. Walking on hooves was not as easy as it seemed.
Jackie seemed to be managing fine but even he was wobbling here and there. But with gentle timing, he was starting to get the movement patterns of a pony down.
Meanwhile, some of the other Rangers were struggling to imitate the pony crew's movements, resulting in a few mishaps. One Ranger, attempting to replicate a pony's prancing gait, ended up tripping over their own feet and stumbling into a nearby crate.
Another Ranger, trying to mimic the way a pony flicked their tail, accidentally smacked themselves in the face with their own makeshift tail made out of a piece of fabric. The Dispatchers back at the Ranger Union could already feel the clumsiness from here and simply sighed.
"Kidd was right. We should've trained them in that." One of the Dispatchers said.
For the most part, they were staying out of trouble, mostly standing still while the ships were all approaching the Moon. But while Jackie was beginning to look for something to sabotage, his ears caught onto a familiar voice.
The voice of Empress Twilight.
"At worst, it could end up shattering pieces of the Moon. That would just leave Necrozma with less light to absorb, but it'll be enough, I suppose."
Jackie's ears perked up as he overheard Empress Twilight's conversation, his curiosity piqued by the mention of Necrozma and the potential consequences of their actions. But this wasn't anything new to him.
"But that could all go wrong if Rayquaza shows up." Just like what Jackie was thinking, Empress Twilight thought the same thing. She was also expecting Rayquaza. "The Rangers are the last of our worries."
Just then, the ship, and by extension the other ships out there all received an alert. "Attention. High-Level Threat Pokemon up ahead." The ship was notifying them of a Pokemon out in space that was just up ahead. And there could be only one Pokemon in quesiton.
"It's Rayquaza," Jackie muttered under his breath, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "We knew this was coming."
"Shoot! It's already here!" Empress Twilight grizzled her teeth when looking up at the speaker of the alarm. With her order, her own troops would immediately scatter, heading to their stations to prepare for the Dragon-Flying-Type. With Rayquaza in the picture, that heap of trouble some of them feared was coming true.
And why wouldn't it? Daybreaker's team were currently on a hit list by some of the most vital Legendary Pokemon who protect the planet. After what she and Gardevoir did, there was no way they were going to be exempt from Legendary Trouble.
The Solar Sword.
Upon receiving the alert of the high-level threat Pokémon, Daybreaker's attention was immediately drawn to the approaching figure in the distance. As the green form slowly emerged into view, the unmistakable silhouette of Rayquaza became apparent, its powerful presence casting a shadow over the ship.
"There you are." Daybreaker smiled when spotting Rayquaza. She saw Rayquaza not just as a formidable adversary, but as a potential source of power. "I bet you have a lot of Light Energy for Necrozma to absorb," Daybreaker remarked, her tone laced with anticipation. She knew that Rayquaza's presence in the vicinity could provide them with plenty of light.
For some of the strongest Pokemon out there, Daybreaker was expecting them to possess enough Light Energy to excite Necrozma.
Meanwhile, aboard the other ships in the fleet, similar scenes unfolded as crews reacted to the sudden appearance of Rayquaza on the horizon. Many Engineers monitored the ship's systems, ready to enact emergency protocols if needed to navigate away from Rayquaza's looming presence.
The Sky High Pokemon let out a powerful roar, essentially informing them it was coming straight for them all. Especially Daybreaker. There was no way Rayquaza was going to let them touch the moon, let alone reach it.
"You're here for me, aren't you?" And Daybreaker knew it. "Challenge accepted. I'll blow you away and take all your Light Energy. Weaken him. Fire."
As Daybreaker issued her command to weaken Rayquaza and open fire, a sense of urgency swept through the fleet of ships. Crew members sprang into action, manning weapons systems and targeting the legendary Pokémon with precision and determination.
On Daybreaker's main ship, the crew swiftly activated the ship's arsenal, directing Magical Energy cannons with tons of light towards Rayquaza's imposing form.
Meanwhile, aboard the other ships in the fleet, similar scenes unfolded as crews coordinated their efforts to weaken Rayquaza and drive it away. Many of the forces on each ship, took aim, aligning targeting reticles with the distant silhouette of the legendary Pokémon as they prepared to unleash a barrage of energy blasts and projectiles.
With Daybreaker's command ringing in their ears, the crews of the ships unleashed a volley of attacks upon Rayquaza, unleashing a storm of energy and firepower in an effort to weaken the legendary Pokémon and drive it back. Beams of concentrated energy lanced out from the ships, streaking across the void of space toward their target with deadly precision.
In response, Rayquaza would slither around some of the rays of light, evading them with its serpentine shape. Not only that, Rayquaza found some openings, using Hyper Beam. a fierce burst of Infinity Energy would fly forward, engulfing some of the rays of light and heading straight for the Solar Sword.
However, the beam was immediately stopped by a Golden Magical Shield, preventing it from touching the Solar Sword. Daybreaker grinned as she used her own magic to block it. Not only that, other unicorns on her team were using their own magic to protect the ships. After blocking it, the attacks came flying back, pelting Rayquaza.
As the onslaught intensified, Rayquaza's form shimmered and shifted, buffeted by the force of the attacks raining down upon it. The legendary Pokémon roared defiantly, unleashing blasts of energy of its own in response as it sought to defend itself against the relentless assault.
"Yeesh! They're really going at it out there!" Jackie whistled, seeing the flashes of lights and various attacks flying by. The darkness of space was being lit up because of this clash. But now that they were busy fighting Rayquaza, Jackie and the other rangers saw this as a perfect opportunity to sabotage them.
Just right from the chaos unfolding in the vast expanse of space, the Galaxy Tower was nearby. From its vantage point, Galaxy Master and Potion Nova observed the intense clash between the ships and Rayquaza.
"It's already started." Galaxy Master said. As they gazed out into the abyss, the spectacle of the battle played out before them, the flashes of light and bursts of energy casting a surreal glow across the cosmic landscape. Despite the distance separating them from the fray, Galaxy Master and Potion Nova could feel the intensity of the conflict reverberating through the cosmos, even reaching their ship.
"It's quite the sight, isn't it?" Potion Nova remarked, her voice tinged with awe as she watched the battle unfold.
"Get your potions ready. We're not going in the middle of it, but were are going to mess those ships up." Galaxy Master said.
"I got it!" Potion Nova reached for the array of potions she had prepared for the journey. As she retrieved the vials containing her potent concoctions, Galaxy Master was getting the tower ready to unleash these potions.
The conflict that each faction expected to happen was finally occurring. The Guardian of the Skies Rayquaza, the Tyrannical Forces of Daybreaker and Empress Twilight, the Pokemon Rangers and Galaxy Master's team were all active, just away from Earth but also away from the Moon itself.
Up at Pegalysium, Ash found himself with King Paramount and Queen Luminary. He already found a way to reach outer space and it involved the nation in the sky. Calling for Twilight to show up, who brought the rest of her friends along, they were all within the chambers of the castle.
"If you want to enter outer space, we know the perfect thing for you." Luminary spoke. "Ever since the trouble in space happened, we've been thinking about what else could happen in space that would affect us."
"So, you have your own ship now?" Fluttershy questioned.
"Not quite. We didn't craft one. Instead, we took an already existing one. Ash actually suggested this to us after the third Pokemon Festival."
"The third Pokemon Festival" Twilight pondered for a moment. She was starting to figure out what they were referring to. "Wait, do you mean..."
"Here it is." With Paramount opening the doors, he would reveal what was being kept deep in this chamber. With a bright light captivating all of their eyes, the group looked onward with astonishment as a familiar vessel met their eyes.
The Spaceship. The same spaceship found while taking a tour of the Ethereal Pavillion that was perfectly concealed for a long time. Once belonging to Alien Lifeforms, it has now been taken in by the Sky Monarch. Currently, it was sitting there, undergoing repairs by engineers who were trying their absolute hardest to figure this out.
"Wow...You kept this?" Twilight slowly walked forward as the ship was gaining a fresh new look.
"You took in the books and information from the ship, Twilight. So we decided to take the whole thing after what Ash said." Paramount replied. "After that, we decided to try and repair it for proper use in the future. We don't exactly understand alien technology but the Unown have managed to reshape a majority of it for us."
Rainbow Dash's eyes lit up with absolute elation at the thought of this. Sparkles would even show up in them. "We get to ride on an alien spaceship?! Is this real?!"
"It's safe to fly, right?" Applejack questioned.
"It is. We've made sure that that we can fly it. The Unown changed the controls themselves to something suitable for us all. The only downside is that there is some alien language in there that not even the Unown can read. But that won't ruin your flight." Paramount continued.
"Thanks, guys." Ash approached the ship. "This'll do just fine."
"Hm. Wonderful that you told me about this, Twilight. As if I'm going into outer space without preparations." Rarity said, already having two of her Leavanny carrying luggage.
"Why would some of you enter outer space?" Luminary asked, curious as to why ponies such as Fluttershy, Applejack and Rarity would tackle the vastness of space. Each of them had their own jobs.
"That's easy. We also help out our friends. No matter what." Applejack gave an incredibly clear answer. "Even if it means heading out into space."
"Outer space...just imagine all the new creatures we could find up there!" Fluttershy had a similar reaction to Rainbow Dash, but she was far more interested in cosmic life. Two of them were starting to forget why they were heading up there in the first place.
"Alright. You'll have a pilot and a crew to support you along the way. Good luck and stop Daybreaker. We do need that Moon after all." Paramount had full confidence in them.
"You got it. We'll be back soon!" Ash would be the first to rush in, followed by Pikachu and Twilight. Everyone else would soon follow, boarding the ship from the stars.
As they boarded the spaceship, excitement and determination filled the air. The interior of the vessel was a marvel of alien technology, with sleek surfaces and intricate displays lining the walls. Despite its otherworldly appearance, the ship exuded an aura of familiarity, as if it had been waiting for this moment to take flight once more.
"Check it out..." Ash whistled at the look of the ship. The sleek surfaces and intricate displays captivated their attention, each detail contributing to the ship's futuristic and otherworldly appearance.
"Wow, this is amazing!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement as she took in the sights around her.
"It's like something out of those sci-fi movies I helped with," Rarity remarked, running her hand along one of the smooth surfaces with a sense of awe.
Fluttershy nodded in agreement, her gaze drifting from one display to the next. "It's so...beautiful."
Present on the ship were some Unown, who would also be accompanying Ash's group. Piloting this would be ponies that King Paramount assigned to this Spaceship.
"So, where do you want us to go?" One of the pegasi asked.
"We need to head to the Moon," Twilight said firmly. "That's where Daybreaker and her alliance are heading, and we need to stop them before they cause any more harm. We can at least intercept them if it's not too late."
"Hm. The Moon. Quite the destination but alright." The pony pilot nodded, his expression serious as he inputted the coordinates into the ship's navigation system. With a flick of his hoof, the spaceship began to move, its engines humming as it charted a course for the Moon.
Powered by an unknown energy that only the aliens of this ship would know of, a somewhat ethereal yet spectral light appeared from the bottom of the ship, showing its otherworldly aesthetic. The ship would then take flight as the ceiling of chamber would open up, revealing the azure skies.
The ship rose higher and higher, propelled by the unknown energy that pulsed within its core. The interior of the ship would also light up in response to this.
"Safe travels!" As the ship soared into the heavens, Queen Luminary's voice echoed through the chamber, her words carrying a heartfelt wish for safe travels. It was off to the stars once more. Everyone would feel the velocity and feeling of ascending into the stars as they were already beginning to leave a majority of Earth behind. Since Pegalysium was so high up, it was easy for this ship to reach a high point swiftly.
Outer Space.
Speaking of Outer Space, at this very moment, the conflict up there was still ongoing. Rayquaza continued to be a stalwart defender, refusing to let these invaders from another universe have their way with the Moon and Lunala after what they previously did.
Rayquaza could be seen moving at high speeds, using its signature move Dragon Ascent. Its body would blaze to life with a burst of Draconic Energy, causing shockwaves and sonic booms in outer space while approaching the ships. Currently, they were all being protected by magical forcefields that Rayquaza intended to absolutely demolish.
The forcefields surrounding the ships shimmered and strained against the fierce impact, managing to withstand the sheer force of Rayquaza's assault. However, with each impact, cracks began to form in the barriers, threatening to give way under the relentless barrage.
"Not bad." Daybreaker nodded but she wasn't all too surprised. "Disrupt its sensors."
With the order, the unicorns onboard combined their magic once more, interacting with the ship. By doing this, they started manipulating the fabric of reality itself forming aetheric fields. These fields create disturbances in the cosmic aether.
Rayquaza felt this disruption, crying out at the top of its lungs. The field also had a paralyzing effect to it, staggering the Sky High Pokemon's body, leaving it wide open for another attack.
"Now, fire the Solar Flare Cannons," Daybreaker ordered. By Harnessing the power of the Sun itself, the cannons from the various ships unleashed concentrated bursts of solar energy, gifted by Daybreaker herself since this was her magic in play.
Rayquaza found himself being blasted by solar bursts, setting off mini-supernovas in the black sky and illuminating the darkness of space with their dazzling displays.
But even though it was feeling the pain, Rayquaza continued to endure the relentless barrage of solar bursts, refusing to let Daybreaker's Group. With a fierce determination burning in its eyes, the Sky High Pokémon unleashed its own counterattack, summoning the powerful winds of a Hurricane.
A mighty gust of wind erupted from Rayquaza's body, swirling with immense force as it surged towards the oncoming solar bursts. The hurricane tore through the blazing energy, pushing against the onslaught with a ferocity that matched the intensity of the solar blasts.
The clash between Rayquaza's Hurricane and the Solar Flare Cannons created a tumultuous spectacle in the vast expanse of space, with gusts of wind and bursts of solar energy colliding in a dazzling display of power. The forces of light and darkness clashed with titanic fury, each vying for dominance over the celestial battlefield.
Some of the Supernovas came flying back to the Daybreaker's ships, immediately crashing into the shields. With that, the shields of some of these ships would break down. All except the main one.
Seeing this, Rayquaza was about to take full advantage of this. Moving at full speed, the Sky High Pokemon used Extreme Speed, swiftly travelling through the cosmos. It passed by the Solar Sword and straight for the other ships.
With one of them losing its barrier, the ponies on board were quickly trying to repair the shields, only for Rayquaza to crash right into them. The impact of it caused this ship to start hurtling through space while sending shockwaves that struck the other ships.
On one of them were the Pokemon Rangers, who felt the shockwave from afar. Jackie was currently digging through the wires in his disguised pony form, feeling the ship shake while also hearing the sounds of attacks flying and combusting in outer space.
"At this rate, Rayquaza might take us out too," Jackie said before continuing his work. The more he messed around with these hooves, the more he was getting used to using them, finding that the learning curve was surprisingly easily. "This isn't so bad. Getting the hang of this, actually."
Jackie's nimble hooves worked deftly as he navigated the tangle of wires within the ship, his keen senses attuned to the vibrations and sounds of battle reverberating through the vessel. With each movement, he manipulated the delicate circuitry, subtly sabotaging the ship's systems in a bid to disrupt its functionality.
Jackie was certainly going to do more than just wires. There were other things in the ships that he could mess with and his fellow rangers were doing just that while staying distant from others.
As the ship trembled under the onslaught of Rayquaza's assault, Jackie's actions proved to be a crucial factor in exacerbating the chaos onboard. With the shields already compromised and the crew scrambling to restore them, Jackie's interference further hampered their efforts, rendering their attempts at repairs futile.
With each connection severed or manipulated, the ship's systems faltered, throwing the crew into disarray and leaving them vulnerable to the relentless onslaught unfolding beyond their hull.
"What is it?!" Empress Twilight noticed the strong lack of shields, immediately questioning why they weren't showing up.
"I-I don't know!" One of her troops said with panic in his voice. "They won't start up! It says they aren't connected anymore, but we haven't even taken damage from Rayquaza yet. It was just a brief tremble."
"Someone's messing with us..." Empress Twilight's eyes would narrow as she already suspected that someone onboard was attempting to sabotage them
"You'd better find the source of the interference, now!" Empress Twilight commanded, her voice ringing out with authority as she rallied her troops to action. With absolute irritation and fear in her eyes, she scanned the ship's interior, searching for any signs of suspicious activity amidst the chaos.
Meanwhile, her loyal troops scrambled to assess the extent of the damage and identify the root cause of the shield failure. Empress Twilight would also take off herself, attempting to find the source of the problem.
With the ship's crew now focused on investigating the sudden malfunction of the shields, the Pokémon Rangers knew they had to tread carefully to avoid detection. Jackie and his fellow Rangers ceased their sabotage efforts, blending back into their surroundings and adopting the guise of the ship's occupants once more.
Empress Twilight's imposing presence sent ripples of unease through the ship as her determined footsteps echoed down the corridors.
With each step, Empress Twilight's sharp gaze swept over the crew, her keen eyes scanning for any signs of suspicious behaviour or hidden threats. As she moved with purpose through the ship, her powerful aura lent an air of authority to her actions, compelling the crew to redouble their efforts in uncovering the source of the shield malfunction.
"Someone's here..." Empress Twilight closed her eyes before using her magic to sniff out the issue. She began detecting magical auras, seeing what was familiar and what wasn't. And by doing so, she was able to detect new signatures and there was no magic in them whatsoever. This was obviously coming from the Pokemon Rangers.
Though they had taken great care to conceal themselves, their efforts were no match for Empress Twilight's keen magical intuition. "Pokemon Rangers. Of course, they'd show up now." Now that she was aware of the Pokemon Rangers, they would be sought out at once.
Armed with magical sensors and specialized equipment, the troops scoured every section of the ship, methodically checking compartments, corridors, and storage rooms. With these sensors, they could easily tell who was and wasn't an actual pony. Their keen senses were heightened by the urgency of the situation, spurred on by the knowledge that intruders lurked among them.
The troops moved with speed and efficiency, their training allowing them to cover ground quickly while leaving no stone unturned. They communicated seamlessly with one another, relaying information and coordinating their efforts to ensure that no area was overlooked.
Empress Twilight could also detect who doesn't have any magic with sensors of her own and immediately, she found some Pokemon Rangers pretending to be her soldiers. "Found you."
"!" Once they were found out, Empress Twilight would unleash a pulse of magic from her horn, the surge of magic tore through their enchanted armour, shattering the illusion and revealing their true forms beneath.
With a resounding crack, the Shift Stones that had allowed the Rangers to masquerade as Twilight's troops shattered into fragments, their magical essence disrupted by the force of Empress Twilight's spell. As the pieces clattered to the floor, the Rangers' disguises dissolved, leaving them exposed and vulnerable in the face of Twilight's wrath.
Empress Twilight would walk elsewhere, searching for the rest of the rangers while leaving these ones to their troops. Empress Twilight's Soldiers would hold out their own Poke Balls, summoning their allies immediatel which would only cause an even bigger ruckus on board, but not as big as what was currently happening outside.
Empress Twilight's hunt continued, her keen senses guiding her unerringly towards the remaining infiltrators. With each step, her magical aura pulsed with determination, her resolve unwavering as she closed in on her quarry.
In one chamber after another, the Rangers found themselves cornered by Empress Twilight's soldiers, their cover blown as the soldiers unleashed their Pokémon allies to subdue them. With nowhere to run and no way to hide, the Rangers knew that their only hope lay in delaying capture long enough to complete their sabotage mission.
But Empress Twilight was relentless, her magical prowess unmatched as she sought out the hidden intruders. With a flick of her horn, she sent out pulses of energy that disrupted the illusions created by the Shift Stones, exposing each Ranger in turn.
One by one, the Rangers were revealed, their disguises shattered as they reverted to their true forms. Some attempted to fight back, but they were quickly overwhelmed by the combined might of Empress Twilight's soldiers and their Pokémon allies.
Eventually, she came across the most prominent ranger. Jackie. Jackie could currently seen using his bare hooves to rip open the ship's backup generators. Quite the impressive strength on him as he was currently transformed as an Earth Pony. Perhaps it was the Earth Pony boost or Jackie's own natural strength.
"Hey there," Jackie said, smiling through the helmet.
"That voice..." Empress Twilight froze for a moment when facing this one ranger. That voice was definitely familiar to her. Right as Jackie was about to rip out another power generator, the Empress swiflty unleashed a bolt of magic, trying to knock him out. While she did go for the head, all it really did was blow the helmet off.
And with the helmet off, Jackie's face had been revealed. Empress Twilight was not mistaken. That familiar voice belonged to that familiar face.
"Jackie..." Empress Twilight snarled upon seeing that familiar face.
"Twilight." Jackie's response was calm, almost casual as if they were meeting under ordinary circumstances. Even as a pony, he still had that signature smile on his face. "Been a while, hasn't it?"
"You just had to show up once I'm finally making my next big move. What an annoyance." The Empress scowled at Jackie with her eyes flaring. "You and your Ranger Friends practically walked into a landmine with Rayquaza out there right now."
"Well, we couldn't just let you do whatever you want. To be honest, I was getting worried that you'd given up on the spot after our last encounter." Jackie shrugged.
Jackie's nonchalant response only seemed to further incense Empress Twilight. Her eyes narrowed, a flicker of frustration crossing her features before she regained her composure, making sure he wouldn't get to her again. The Empress did not want a repeat of that rather embarrassing past.
"Giving up?" She scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "Pfft! Hah! Hardly. If anything, I've been biding my time, waiting for the perfect moment to make my move. And now that opportunity has presented itself. Just look at the golden opportunity out there!"
With a wave of her hoof, Empress Twilight gestured towards the chaos unfolding outside the ship, where Rayquaza continued to wreak havoc upon her forces. The urgency of the situation was palpable, yet she remained resolute in her determination to press forward.
"Still bitter about losing Zekrom? I mean, Rayquaza's not a bad fill-in, honestly. But as if that's gonna happen. Or is this still about Necrozma?"
"Necrozma can wait. Daybreaker's too focused on feeding her pet. Me? I'd prefer to take Rayquaza for myself. And there is absolutely no way I'm letting Rayquaza or any Ranger get in my way when I have new plans up ahead! Especially not you, Jackie."
"Really?" He crossed his hooves, slowly nodding his head for a moment. "Mmm, I'm not too sure about that. Not that I don't doubt your abilities but, I don't think you have the spirit to stop me anymore."
"What's that supposed to mean?" The Empress questioned.
And at that moment, Jackie dropped a bombshell of a response that he was just waiting to unleash. Now was the right time to do so with this opening. "Well, you still have a thing for me, don't you?
"...!" That response made Empress Twilight grimace and shake as her face turned red. The fact that she reacted in such a way made Jackie smile, knowing he was somewhat right. "Shut up!" Outraged and flustered by that, the Empress released a blast of magic.
"Ghh!" Jackie grimaced at the beam coming his way, just barely managing to evade it by swaying to the side. The beam would scrape his Shift Stone, breaking the disguise. With the Shift Stone damaged, Jackie's true form would emerge, returning him to a Human as he would slide back.
"I don't have feelings for you! Get real!" The Empress barked. Jackie couldn't help but chuckle at Empress Twilight's vehement denial, though the tension between them remained palpable.
"Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that," He replied with a smirk, his tone teasing. "But you know what they say: actions speak louder than words. You're pretty good at that." His smile quickly dropped once a beam passed over his head, nearly striking him. The Empress's aim was a bit disturbed because of her reaction.
Jackie immediately took off, prompting the Empress to start chasing him down. "Ah! Get back here!" She roared at Jackie, spreading her wings and taking flight.
As they raced through the ship, Jackie glanced back to see the Empress gaining on him, her determination evident in every graceful flap of her wings. He knew he had to find a way to turn the tables and gain the upper hand before she could catch him.
"Oh, great!" Spotting a nearby control panel, Jackie skidded to a halt and quickly began tapping at the buttons, hoping to activate a series of automated defences that would hinder the Empress's pursuit. With a beep, the panel sprang to life, deploying energy barriers and shifting the layout of the corridors to confuse and slow down their pursuer.
"Oough!" Empress Twilight crashed into one of the barriers, halting for a moment. With her face smushed against it, her eyes flared with a purple and crimson light before followed up by an infuriated growl. "Jackie...!" With that growl, she blew the barrier in front of her away.
Thanks to this rage boost, her magic was easily cutting through the obstacles Jackie had thrown in her path while Jackie kept chuckling. He was doing a great job at keeping the Empress occupied, easily getting a rise out of her.
"Ya know! This reminds me of this one girl I knew when I was young!" Jackie continued with a chuckle. "Same reaction and everything."
But that just made Empress Twilight express her anger some more with fierce blasts of magic. She even ended up damaging her ship in the process with these beams flying everywhere. The Empress was dealing more damage to the ship than Rayquaza was.
The Galaxy Tower.
Meanwhile, at the Galaxy Tower, it was in a good enough range while also keeping itself distant from all the chaos happening up ahead. Once it found its position, a hatch opened up on its surface. And from that hatch, a cannon could be seen emerging.
"Okay! These should do just fine!" Potion Nova started pouring potion liquids into the hatch, fueling the cannon. "With these, that fleet will have no idea what's happening!"
"Take aim...!" Galaxy Master held his arm out, waiting for the right moment to shoot the Potions from the cannons.
As Potion Nova poured the potion liquids into the cannon, the Galaxy Tower's systems hummed to life, preparing for the upcoming barrage. With each passing moment, the tension aboard the tower grew as they waited for the perfect opportunity to strike.
"Steady... steady..." Galaxy Master's voice echoed through the chamber as he carefully adjusted the targeting parameters, ensuring that their shots would hit their mark with pinpoint accuracy. Finally, with everything in position, Galaxy Master gave the signal to fire. "Now! Fire!"
The cannon unleashed a powerful stream of colourful potions that all merged together as one powerful liquid, propelling the potions towards their intended targets with incredible speed and precision. The potions soared through the void of space, their colourful trails cutting through the darkness as they homed in on the enemy fleet below.
The liquids splattered across the hulls, coating them in a colourful array of shimmering hues. Inside the ships, the sudden appearance of the mysterious potions sent the crews into a frenzy. Some found themselves overcome by waves of dizziness and disorientation, while others were seized by uncontrollable fits of laughter or bouts of uncontrollable sneezing.
The effects of the potions varied wildly from one ship to the next, with some experiencing temporary transformations into bizarre and fantastical creatures, while others were engulfed in clouds of thick smoke or enveloped in shimmering bubbles.
Thanks to these transformations, they were unable to properly pilot the ships like how they used to. Some of them were freaking out at their sudden transformations.
All of this was confirmed for Galaxy Master and Potion Nova once they saw the ships in the air ceasing all attacks and moving randomly due to a lack of proper control. "Bullseye" Potion Nova cheered. "Wait till the students hear about this!"
"It isn't over yet. We still have that one to deal with." Galaxy Master focused on the Solar Sword where Daybreaker was currently in. That was the biggest one here after all so it wasn't that hard to imagine her being on board.
Of course, this action did not go unnoticed, especially by Rayquaza. The Sky High Pokemon looked over in the direction of where the stream of potions came from, spotting the Galaxy Tower in the distance.
Despite how shocking it was, Rayquaza knew one thing. The Galaxy Tower and those within it were not hostile, recognizing it as a neutral entity at best.
However, just like Rayquaza, Daybreaker was immediately informed about the chaos happening on the other ships. "Your majesty! It seems some random effects have hit the other ships! They're out of control!"
Daybreaker listened intently to the report, her expression unreadable as she processed the information. The unexpected turn of events was certainly cause for concern, but she remained composed, her mind already working on a solution.
"Random effects? It can't be Rayquaza's doing..." Daybreaker narrowed her eyes. The ship began scanning the vast cosmos, extending past Rayquaza. There, they spotted the Galaxy Tower's energy signature.
"Someone else is up here with us, Your Majesty." Sunrise Sparkle uttered. "Some sort of tower. It's probably that Galaxy Master figure.
"Him? Honestly, I wasn't expecting him to show up too. Make sure you get the other ships stable as soon as possible and deal with that tower. I'll continue my time with Rayquaza. It might also be time for me to engage with it personally."
At that moment, the Sun Princess got off her throne, deciding to get into the action herself. This battle was going on for a while and she had a Moon she wished to reach.
"Hang on. You aren't letting me go out there?" Gardevoir questioned.
"I'll come to you when you're needed, Gardevoir. Necrozma and I will manage."
"Wait! You can't leave!" Cozy Glow screeched, not wishing for Daybreaker to leave since she gave the little pegasus a semblance of safety.
"You'll be fine. Gardevoir. Take good care of Cozy Glow." Daybreaker ordered. With her commands given, Daybreaker strode purposefully towards the exit of the command room, having Necrozma at the ready. Gardevoir moved to follow, her expression a mixture of concern and resolve as she prepared to carry out her duties.
As Daybreaker made her way through the ship, she could hear Rayquaza roar from here while also witnessing him tackle the massive shield put up in front of the Solar Sword. This impact shook the shield, bringing cracks around it. The Solar Sword's shield was finally starting to falter under Rayquaza's might.
The unicorns would tremble under this impact before having to deal with an incoming Hyper Beam. Rayquaza unleashed its fierce burst of Infinity Energy. The shield was giving out as shards of it were dropping and dispersing.
Reaching the outer deck, Daybreaker stepped into the vast expanse of space, the starry void stretching out endlessly before her. The distant form of Rayquaza still engaged in battle, while the Galaxy Tower loomed ominously in the distance.
Rayquaza promptly stopped its attack, gazing at the Solar Queen who stood on top of the Solar Sword. Rayquaza's fierce gaze met Daybreaker's determined stare as the two titans of power locked eyes across the vast expanse of space. The Sky High Pokémon hovered in the void, its majestic form radiating an aura of ancient power and primal fury.
Daybreaker stood resolute atop the Solar Sword, her regal bearing undaunted by the presence of this legendary creature. Her mane blazed with the intensity of the sun itself, casting a brilliant light that illuminated the darkness of space around her.
"No way...How is she breathing in space?!" Potion Nova was taken aback by the fact that Daybreaker was casually standing out in space without worrying about her breath. It didn't look like she was using a spell at all to help herself. It all looked natural.
For a moment, the two adversaries remained locked in silence, each sizing up the other. Rayquaza was a bit baffled that Daybreaker would even dare see herself as above it.
"Kindly get out of the way, Rayquaza. Or be food for Necrozma." Daybreaker threatened, only to have a defiant roar from Rayquaza as a response.
Rayquaza's defiant roar echoed through the void, a primal declaration of its indomitable will. The Sky High Pokémon refused to yield, its ancient instincts driving it to protect the sanctity of the cosmos at any cost.
"You said it. Not me." Daybreaker declared before using her magic to hold out a Poke Ball. From it, she immediately summoned her Ace Pokemon Necrozma.
As Necrozma materialized before her, Daybreaker's expression remained steely, her gaze unwavering as she beheld her powerful ace Pokémon. With a nod of approval, she signalled to Necrozma, silently conveying her trust in his abilities to crush Rayquaza.
Rayquaza met Necrozma's formidable presence with its own fierce determination, the Sky High Pokémon refusing to be intimidated by its adversary. With a defiant roar, Rayquaza prepared itself for the impending clash. Up in the cosmos, two Legendary Pokemon were about to engage in battle.
Moving through the skies and finally entering space was the Spaceship of a mysterious Alien civilisation. After being fine-tuned and redesigned by Pegalysium, it was available for travel once more while still keeping a majority of its original design and everything else inside but for simpler use.
Piloted by Pegalysium Ponies and some Unown, they had finally entered the vast cosmos but were still just above Earth. Not only that, they weren't even close to the conflict happening out in space at this very moment.
"Oooh..." This was their second time getting a good look at space and it still amazed them each time. With Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash pressing their faces on the glass, they would gaze at the wonders of the universe they live in.
"Amazing! Look at all of this!" Despite being on a rather important quest, they couldn't help but admire the ship. Thanks to what the aliens left behind and how the Unown patched things up, they got to gaze at the otherworldly things left behind.
Twilight came across a chamber in this ship that just screamed ancient but was still modern considering who used to own this. These chambers showcase the alien's architectural marvels and engineering feats from across the galaxy. She marvelled at holographic displays of celestial cities, space stations, and megastructures constructed by the ancient aliens.
"This must be where they live..." Twilight looked at the holographic displays. "Or maybe used to. That vision of the past we all saw looked like some sort of war after all. And most likely, that's how their ship ended up on our world."
"Mhm. "Applejack nodded in agreement as they continued to view the ship in its entirety. Just how much did the Unown fix? And if there was a point to it, why do so if they couldn't understand all of this technology?
"I don't see them anywhere. Do you?" Rarity tried spotting signs of Daybreaker's group. And indeed, in the far, far distance, there were flashes of light in the darkness of the cosmos. "Is that them?"
"Maybe? Are we near or far?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well...space is much bigger than the sky itself, so I can't say." The pilot shrugged along with the other crew members. "For all we know, we could be an hour away from them."
"An hour? It can't go any faster? I thought you guys fixed this thing." Rainbow Dash questioned.
"We only changed it up. The Unown couldn't quite get everything down after all. There's a bizarre energy that powers this ship and it's been active even after all these years. We're not sure what it is but the Unown managed to sustain it." One of the crew members replied. "For now, this is the best we can do and it's the only one we have."
"Mmmm..." To see this for himself, Ash would use his Aura to try and detect anyone in the distance. With his eyes closed, Ash concentrated closely, seeing what he could sense.
Using Aura in space was brand new to him and a completely different experience entirely. He was shown the darkness of space as to be expected but instead of it being complete darkness, the stars were still visible. Ash focused deeply, trying to see who he could sense.
"Do you see them, Ash?" Twilight asked.
Lo and behold, even in outer space, he could detect Auras as plenty of them were showing up. One by one, Auras were showing up by the dozen, some small, some weak and five relatively strong Auras appeared. "I see them! A whole bunch of them!"
The four powerful Auras that Ash was picking up on were from Rayquaza, Daybreaker, Necrozma, Galaxy Master and Empress Twilight. All four of them had outstanding Auras that were burning bright. "Those Auras...one of them is Rayquaza!"
"Rayquaza?!" The girls collectively said. Among one of the most important Pokemon was currently in the heat of battle. As soon as they spoke its name, the sound of the clash finally reached them. A resounding boom equal to that of a million thunderstorms went off, startling some of them as it was followed up by a bright flash of energy in the distance that illuminated the cosmos.
"Dad..." Ash spoke, thinking about Galaxy Master and his safety. He didn't doubt it but he was hoping he wouldn't suffer any damage in all of this. Based on what Ash could see, things were intense in the distance. There was even a fearsome shockwave that nearly reached the ship.
Speaking of ships, after spotting Galaxy Master, some of Daybreaker and Empress Twilight's ships were heading straight for the Galaxy Tower, ready to deal with that nuisance. Ash saw them on the move, gasping as Galaxy Master was now a target for them.
The pilots now knew where they needed to go after hearing that sound. But they would also have to be careful and keep their distance since this was the only ship they had. One wrong move in this crossfire and it could all lead to a most horrific outcome.
On top of the Solar Sword.
The confrontation between Daybreaker and Rayquaza was here. With the Solar Queen having Necrozma out, she intended to use the Guardian of the Sky as yet another fuel source for Necrozma.
The two Pokemon faced off against each other, releasing roars that managed to overpower the sounds across the cosmos. Some of the ships ceased their attacks, knowing what was coming next. They wouldn't want to risk harming Necrozma as this was about to be a battle between Legendary Pokemon. Some would just go for the Galaxy Tower instead, focusing their efforts on that in the meantime.
"Necrozma! Photon Geyser!" Daybreaker ordered. Responding swiftly to Daybreaker's command, Necrozma unleashed its devastating Photon Geyser attack. With a blinding flash of light, a torrent of powerful energy surged forth from Necrozma's form, streaking through the void of space with pure brute force.
The Photon Geyser tore through the cosmic expanse, blazing a path towards Rayquaza with incredible speed and ferocity.
In response, Rayquaza used Dragon Pulse, gathering its draconic energy. Rayquaza unleashed a Dragon Pulse of immense magnitude, shaping it into the form of a mighty dragon that surged forward to meet the incoming Photon Geyser.
The two attacks collided in a spectacular display of cosmic energy, creating a shockwave that reverberated throughout the vast expanse of space. The clash between the Dragon Pulse and Photon Geyser unleashed a torrent of radiant light and crackling energy, illuminating the darkness of the void with their radiant power.
Through the colourful smoke after both attacks combusted in front of each other, Rayquaza appeared. With a thunderous roar, Rayquaza surged forward, its body enveloped in a blazing aura of draconic energy as it unleashed its signature move, Dragon Ascent. The Sky High Pokémon soared through the aftermath of the clash, streaking towards Necrozma with incredible speed and power.
Rayquaza's Dragon Ascent connected with resounding force, striking Necrozma head-on and sending the Prism Pokémon reeling backward. Despite the impact, Necrozma maintained its composure, its crystalline form pulsating with energy as it prepared to retaliate.
"Meteor Beam!" Daybreaker's command echoed across the cosmos as Necrozma responded with a powerful attack of its own while still flying back. With a mighty roar, the Prism Pokémon extended its arms, summoning forth a concentrated beam of energy from the depths of space itself. And with Daybreaker's magic, he didn't need to charge up the attack. The luminous beam surged forward with incredible intensity, hurtling towards Rayquaza.
Rayquaza would simply slither around it while approaching Necrozma with Extreme Speed, doging the beam. Going on a relentless assault, Rayquaza would fiercely tackle its against Necrozma's body with Extreme Speed, doing it repeatedly.
The Sky High Pokémon's movements were a blur as it relentlessly barraged Necrozma, each collision delivering a powerful blow to the Prism Pokémon's crystalline form. Despite Necrozma's formidable defenses, the onslaught proved overwhelming, pushing it back with each successive strike.
Rayquaza was then about to deliver an even harder attack. Harder than the rest, but at that moment, Necrozma was ready for a counterattack that was uttered by Daybreaker. "Use Gravity!"
Necrozma, heeding Daybreaker's command, exerted his control over the fabric of space itself, altering the gravitational field in the vicinity. As Rayquaza hurtled towards it with Extreme Speed, the force of gravity suddenly intensified, halting the Sky High Pokémon's swift assault in its tracks.
Rayquaza found itself suspended in the altered gravitational field, unable to move as freely as before. Despite its powerful momentum, the sudden shift in gravity brought its relentless assault to an abrupt halt. With a mighty push from Necrozma, the Prism Pokémon launched Rayquaza away, sending it hurtling through the void of space with incredible force.
"Now, follow up with Prismatic Lasers!" Daybreaker bellowed. While Rayquaza was hurtling through space, Necrozma followed up by unleashing a fierce barrage of prismatic beams from his body, making sure Rayquaza would be bombarded by them.
The sky lit up with dazzling hues as the beams of light converged upon their target, bombarding Rayquaza with relentless force. Each beam struck with precision, delivering a barrage of energy that enveloped the Sky High Pokémon in a dazzling display of light and power.
At that moment, by using Hyper Voice Rayquaza's cry reverberated through the vastness of space, generating a powerful shockwave that rippled outward from its location. The intense sound energy created a protective barrier around the Sky High Pokémon, deflecting the incoming prismatic beams with sheer force.
Some of the beams of light scattered and dispersed as they collided with Rayquaza's sound barrier, their trajectories altered by the disruptive shockwave. After deflecting the beams, Rayquaza moved in with another Dragon Ascent, bursting through the cosmos with multiple sound barriers behind it. But this time, Necrozma was ready for Dragon Ascent.
"Meet it with Aerial Ace!"
With its claws lighting up, Necrozma would also move at high speeds, ready to confront Rayquaza in an up close and personal clash.
The beams of light scattered and dispersed as they collided with Rayquaza's sound barrier, their trajectories altered by the disruptive shockwave. Despite the relentless assault, Rayquaza stood resilient, using its own vocal power to fend off the onslaught of prismatic lasers.
As Rayquaza and Necrozma drew closer, the tension in the cosmic battlefield reached a fever pitch. Their auras blazed with power, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle against the backdrop of the star-strewn void. With each passing moment, the anticipation grew, mirroring the intensity of a legendary showdown.
In a flash of light, the two titans collided, their forms intertwining in a whirlwind of energy. The force of their impact sent shockwaves rippling through the fabric of space itself, shaking the very foundations of the cosmos. Sparks flew as their bodies met, each blow resonating with the power of a cosmic storm.
With a deafening roar, Rayquaza unleashed a torrent of draconic fury, its scales shimmering with primal energy. Necrozma, undaunted, met the assault head-on, its crystalline form pulsating with radiant light. Even the forces within the ships couldn't help but gaze at this, especially Cozy Glow, who was definitely blown back by this sight. "Amazing..."
As the battle raged on, their movements became a blur of speed and power, each strike delivered with pinpoint precision. They danced through the void like celestial warriors, their forms twisting and turning in a mesmerizing display of combat prowess.
"Use this opportunity to advance straight for the Moon. Her Majesty can occupy Rayquaza for us." Sunrise Sparkle ordered, seeing this as the perfect time to continue towards the Moon. Daybreaker was already doing an excellent job at keeping Rayquaza at bay. The Solar Sword would stay behind while the other ships would advance, making sure to avoid the battle.
With the order given, the fleet of ships began to surge forward, their engines roaring to life as they set their course for the Moon.
Rayquaza noticed this, attempting to stop these ships by using Extreme Speed. But as soon as it turned its attention away from Necrozma, the Psychic-Type would use Gravity, forming a field around Rayquaza's body. The Sky High Pokemon roared as Necrozma pulled it towards him.
Rayquaza roared in defiance as it felt itself being drawn closer to Necrozma, its attempts to stop the ships thwarted by the unyielding force of gravity. Despite its best efforts, Rayquaza found itself unable to break free from the relentless pull of Necrozma's power.
"This is a good opportunity to take what you have! Drain it, Necrozma!" Daybreaker ordered and Necrozma was glad to do so. By grabbing onto Rayquaza's neck, Necrozma was ready to drain all the energy within Rayquaza. The Sky High Pokemon wriggled its body, smacking the end of its tail against Necrozma and making his body stagger, refusing to be drained.
Despite the resistance, Necrozma maintained his hold, desiring that energy immediately. He would do anything for a good chunk of light after all. The struggle between the two legendary Pokémon intensified, their powers clashing in a spectacular display of cosmic might.
Inside Empress Twilight's Ship.
"Not good! At this rate, they might take Rayquaza's energy!" Jackie watched this from the window, witnessing the struggle between Necrozma and Rayquaza. "Come on, Rayquaza..."
"Jackie!" Meanwhile, Empress Twilight roared, still chasing Jackie through the ship. She slid into the room where Jackie was, finally meeting him in a dead end. "Nowhere to run this time!" She appeared to be a bit out of breath from constantly chasing him across the area.
"Usually you wouldn't run out of breath. Looks like you've taken quite the fall, huh?" Jackie noticed.
Empress Twilight's expression hardened, her eyes narrowing as she took a step closer to Jackie. "You've caused enough trouble already. It's time to put an end to this."
"Not yet." Jackie smiled. "We're not quite finished. I've got you all to myself, Empress and we're gonna go on for as long as possible. You know that, right?"
"Of course, I do! It'll be so satisfying dealing with you! Believe me!" The Empress let out a maniacal smile. "At the end of the day, you're just a human...and I can use this to my advantage!" Empress Twilight cast what is by far her most used spell. She also had control over Gravity itself as she unleashed a field of it over Jackie that would start materializing.
As the field of gravity materialized around him, Jackie felt the weight pressing down upon him, making every movement feel like a struggle. The Empress's control over gravity was still as formidable as ever. That was the one thing that hasn't changed about her.
"Have I taken quite the fall now?!" Empress Twilight cackled while approaching Jackie who was kneeling from the gravity. Jackie struggled against the oppressive force, his muscles straining as he fought to maintain his footing. Every step felt like a monumental effort, but he refused to succumb to the Empress's control.
Gritting his teeth against the gravity's pull, Jackie focused his energy, pushing back against the crushing weight with all his strength. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as he strained against the invisible force..
"Is that all you've got?" he grunted, his voice tinged with defiance as he continued to resist the Empress's spell.
"Tch." Annoyed by his confident nature, Empress Twilight placed her hoof on his head, shoving him on his back so that it would even harder for him to get back up. After that, she stood over Jackie, casting her shadow over him.
"I have plans for you since you gave me the slip way back then. This is just among many personal things." She grinned while looking down at him. "What now, Ranger? No quick retort?"
"I would but...you should probably look to your left."
"Hm?" Curious, Empress Twilight shifted her eyes to the side as something came up in her peripheral. It was none other than one of the other ships. Thanks to the potions, some of the ships were moving erratically and one of them was coming straight for Empress Twilight's ship.
As the ships collided, a violent jolt ran through Empress Twilight's vessel, knocking her off balance and sending her stumbling backwards. She barely managed to maintain her footing, her expression twisting into one of surprise and alarm as she struggled to regain her composure.
Jackie was free from the gravity as the ship was beginning to tilt thanks to the impact. Right before the Empress could do anything, Jackie quickly grabbed her horn, stopping any spells.
"U-Unhand me! You can't just put your hands on my horn!" Empress Twilight yelled.
"As long as I keep you from doing anything, we should be good. I'm leaving everything else up to the others and Rayquaza," Jackie retorted, his tone firm as he held onto her horn.
"Why you...!" Furious, Empress Twilight struggled to get Jackie's grip off her horn, aggressively kicking her hooves around. Since she was an alicorn, her physical strength was above that of an Earth Pony and it showed. Jackie grimaced as he was being moved around by the alicorn's fierce moments.
It felt like a rodeo with the same Empress Twilight moving from place to place, even slamming her body against the walls to try and get the Ranger off. Despite Empress Twilight's brute strength, Jackie held on tightly, taking damage himself in the process.
"Nice try, but I'm not letting go that easily!" Jackie grunted, his voice strained with effort as he fought to keep Empress Twilight restrained. He dug his heels into the floor, anchoring himself against her thrashing movements as he focused all his energy on keeping her subdued.
Back in outer space, the clash between the two Legendary Pokemon had left quite an impact on things, such as fearsome shiockwaves throwing ships off balance.
Rayquaza flew back after engaging in a fierce headbutt with Necrozma, both feeling the impact. The Sky High Pokemon turned its head to see that the ships were getting closer and closer to the Moon. At this rate, Rayquaza might fail to protect it. The Dragon-Flying-Type had to think fast, or it will all be for naught. All the while, Daybreaker put on a devious grin, knowing she was holding up Rayquaza for a long time.
"What's wrong Is that all you've got? So much for the Guardian of the Sky." Daybreaker taunted. With Daybreaker fighting the Sky High Pokemon to seemingly a standstill and the Moon being minutes away from being tarnished, Rayquaza had one option that it could use.
With a flare in its eye, it suddenly summoned something in front of it. By using Dragon Ascent, Rayquaza suddenly summoned what appeared to be a Mega Stone in front of it.
"That's...a Mega Stone!" Daybreaker bellowed with absolute shock in her voice and face.
Rayquaza wasted no time in harnessing the power of the Mega Stone, its form engulfed in a blinding light as it underwent a powerful transformation. By itself, without a trainer, Rayquaza could harness the power of Mega Evolution as a fierce energy enveloped its body.
The blinding light began to dissipate, revealing Rayquaza in its new, awe-inspiring form: Mega Rayquaza. Its sleek body now radiated with even more power, and its already formidable presence seemed to grow exponentially.
"Amazing...You have just what I need." Daybreaker's smile returned. Now, she had a reason to catch Rayquaza. She didn't need to worry about finding a Dragon-Type to Mega Evolve and harness the Dragon Matter when the perfect candidate was right in front of her. "This is what I was looking for!"
Rayquaza knew that it was running on limited time with the ships nearing the Moon so it had to act fast. And the best way to do that was to unleash an attack so tremendous, it would put an end to all of this. Concentrating all of its might, Rayquaza then pulled off one more surprising thing.
Appearing from the darkness of space appeared to be a familiar form of matter that flowed in Rayquaza's direction. The Dragon Matter. The Dragon Matter let out its ferocious sound through the cosmos when entering Rayquaza as it was all being concentrated into a single point.
Daybreaker was in disbelief. The new form of matter that was still adjusting itself to this universe had appeared and Rayquaza was already managing to control it. "It can already control the Dragon Matter?! This could be bad...Necrozma! Let's finish this as soon as possible! Prismatic Lasers!"
Necrozma was not about to lose this. Not when something so valuable was in front of him. Harnessing everything he had, Necrozma was ready to unleash an array of beams of the utmost ferocity.
With a brilliant flash of light, Necrozma unleashed a barrage of Prismatic Lasers, each beam pulsating with raw energy. The lasers streaked through space, converging on Mega Rayquaza by merging into a single, larger beam. Yet, Mega Rayquaza had its own response.
In a bold display of power, Mega Rayquaza unleashed its own attack, harnessing the energy of the Dragon Matter. With a mighty roar, it released a devastating blast of energy, combining the forces of Dragon Ascent and the Dragon Matter into a single, unstoppable attack.
Rayquaza at that moment created a brand new Dragon-Type move that would immediately meet with the lasers. The sheer force of the collision sent shockwaves rippling through the cosmos, causing nearby ships to tremble and shudder. Even the Galaxy Tower felt the reverberations of the titanic clash, causing its structure to sway slightly.
Despite the overwhelming power of the combined attacks, Mega Rayquaza held its ground, its determination unwavering. With a mighty roar, it pushed forward, channelling all of its strength into the Dragon Matter-infused beam.
And then, in a blinding flash of light, the clash reached its climax. Both Rayquaza and Necrozma were caught in a flash of light. Daybreaker promptly put up a massive shield right as the light came her way. Even the ships near the Moon were caught up in this.
Ash and the others felt it from here, holding on for dear life as the brightness of the clash could be seen from afar. The force of it sent the ship hurtling through the air, gaining even more distance from the chaos.
"N-Not good!" Ash groaned as Pikachu gripped his shoulder.
"Pi...Pika!" Pikachu cried out. Fluttershy and Twilight gripped onto Ash's legs and arms while Rainbow Dash's body was glued to the walls.
The pilots were frantically trying to stop this rapid movement, using everything that was newly added to the alien ship. All of Ash's friends were holding onto something or someone while they moved across the cosmos at an alarming rate.
As the blinding light subsided and the dust settled, the ships near the Moon emerged from the chaos relatively unscathed, thanks to Daybreaker's protective magic. They were in one piece still as Daybreaker's shield covered everything.
The aftermath of the clash left the ships hurtling through outer space in random directions, their trajectories altered by the sheer force of the battle. Despite their reinforced hulls and Daybreaker's protective shield, they were still at the mercy of the unpredictable forces of the cosmos.
"R-Rayquaza!" Daybreaker roared with irritation in her voice, echoing in the far distance. Rayquaza successfully distanced her forces away from the Moon, throwing a huge wrench in her plans. But at a cost.
Rayquaza, having exhausted its energy in the tremendous clash, reverted back to its original form and began to descend slowly through the vast expanse of space. The once mighty Guardian of the Sky now appeared weary and spent, its strength depleted from the titanic effort it had exerted.
Even Rayquaza didn't expect to use up all of that energy. Dragon Matter was still new to it even though it managed to harness it splendidly. Rayquaza was heading straight for Earth, spinning through the air as its eyes were closed. The frenzy in space had come to an end with all forces moving far away from the Moon.
An Unknown Planet.
The pilots barely managed to get it all under control. With the help of the Unown, they slowed down the velocity of the ship, but by a hair. They needed somewhere to land and right up ahead as a strange planet.
By the skin of their teeth, the ship would land aggressively on the ground of this planet. It slid on the ground, making a horrible scraping noise while shaking everything and everyone inside. Eventually, it all came to an end.
"Everyone alright...?" One of the pilots groaned as her head was spinning. One by one, the passengers began to stir, groaning and rubbing their heads as they took stock of their surroundings. Ash helped Pikachu to his feet, while Twilight cast a worried glance around at her friends, silently assessing their condition.
"Yeah...Where are we though? Are we back home?" Pinkie Pie asked as both her head and eyes were spinning.
"I don't think this is Earth..." Twilight shook her head. This was definitely not Earth as they were far from it. The strength at which that clash sent them all was tremendous, taking the group to an entirely different part of the universe that they have never been to.
As the group gradually regained their senses, they stumbled toward the nearest window, their eyes widening in astonishment as they beheld the new and enigmatic landscape stretching out before them. It was a world unlike any they had ever seen, its surface shimmering with metallic hues that glinted in the strange, otherworldly light.
It looked like Iron, but not quite. One thing was for sure, they were far from home and on unknown territory. Fitting that they were in an alien ship as well.
After a crash landing thanks to the fierce confrontation in space, Ash and his friends found themselves on another planet somewhere in their Solar System, which of course, was bigger than ever now that everything was together. The ship did suffer damage from that heavy impact, crash landing on this iron-like planet. At least by appearance. It resembled iron but there was a difference.
They found out that this bizarre planet had oxygen in it, making it breathable. The doors would open as they all stepped outside.
"Check it out...Is this iron?" Ash wondered when looking at the environment.
"Hmm..." To see this for herself, Twilight banged her hoof on the ground and to her surprise, a part of the floor felt hard, just like metal, but another part of it would bounce, wobbling and pulsating, almost like foil or rubber. "This is definitely iron. What is all of this?"
"It's hard and bouncy at the same time!" Pinkie Pie giggled with Mew as the two of them started bouncing all over the floor once they found out how strange it was.
"This must be an alien planet." Rarity uttered. The fact that their journey had led to here was quite the leap. From hearing about aliens, meeting with Ultra Beasts who were also classified as aliens and to finally being on a planet that is considered alien.
"Yeah, but I don't see any aliens. Heck, I don't see any buildings here." Rainbow Dash pointed out. It was all landscape with the complete emptiness of any structures whatsoever. "Guess it's a lot like those other stranded planets we have."
"Hmm...What part of the solar system is this?" Twilight began thinking. She's done her studies on her solar system and beyond, so this planet should ring a bell to her. "What planet matches this description...?!"
"Can you fix this?" Meanwhile, Fluttershy was asking the pilots if the ship could be repaired. The damage the ship gained was fierce as even after landing it, the odd material of this planet punctured and pierced through it despite there being a strong lack of spikes.
When looking at the damage, they saw that an odd glimmer was now present in the ship, coming from this bizarre material. The Unown immediately tried patching things up, but even with their combined Hidden Power, they were unable to immediately fix it. It was only gradual as the glimmer was still present.
"Just when we gave it a new design and everything..." The main pilot groaned. "We can have the Unown patch it up but...Not sure for how long."
"What's that sparkle all about?" Applejack gazed at the glimmer.
"I got it!" At last, it clicked with Twilight. She figured out what planet this was. "This is Planet Vinlie! It's situated within 12,000 light-years from Earth. That's how far away we got knocked back!
"Um...That's far, right?" Rainbow Dash asked, unsure of how much of a distance that was. But with Twilight nodded in response, it was clear that it was insanely far away.
"It's in the outer reaches of our own galaxy too. I've heard about this planet before. The books call it a planet that shimmers like a star." Twilight continued before raising her hoof to the sky. "And look! It has its own Small Sun and Moon!"
"Sweet..." Ash gazed up at the smaller celestial bodies. Those two lights in the sky would beautifully shine down on this planet.
"Now what? Do you think Rayquaza's alright? And what about our Moon?" Fluttershy asked, worried about the circumstances back in their respective galaxy. "We're in an entirely different galaxy now."
"Whatever just happened, it sent us flying. That clash over there must've reached its climax. We won't be able to make it back in time with the ship damaged, especially if it means heading to another galaxy." Twilight grumbled. "Then again, the full capability of this ship hasn't been shown yet..."
"Dino..." However, Audino's ears picked up on a sound. With her advanced hearing, something else was happening on this planet. She faced the North of the planet, looking at the vast shimmering landscapes.
"What is it, Audi? Is someone here?" Fluttershy asked.
"Audino." The Hearing Pokemon pointed to the north as her ears were not deceiving her as always. It wasn't just them that was on this planet.
"Could it be...Aliens?!" Pinkie Pie bellowed, making Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack shudder.
"N-No way! It can't be!" Rainbow Dash stuttered.
"What are you three shaking for?" Twilight lowered her eyes in confusion. "You've met Ultra Beasts before. Rarity, you even have a Pheromosa! I just recently caught Kartana too!"
Rainbow Dash shook her head vehemently, her wings fluttering with agitation. "Yeah, but like... we've never seen aliens that come from our universe. The Pokémon came from another world before we merged so this is totally different! Just imagine what they look like!"
Thoughts were swirling in their heads, picturing what aliens from their universe before the unification looked like. Based on the books and movies they watched, they were expecting something completely difficult to comprehend.
"It might not even be an alien at all. But if there's something or someone on this planet, maybe it can help us so we aren't stuck here for too long," said Twilight.
"Exploring a whole new planet? Sounds good to me. We'll be right back, you guys!" Ash and Pikachu immediately took off, waving to the pilot. "Good luck fixing the ship!"
"Pika!"
"Just uh! Be careful out there!" One of the pilots bellowed, seeing the group off as their silhouettes faded into the metallic landscape.
As they ventured forth into the alien landscape, the group couldn't shake the images of the unknown beings that might await them. Rainbow Dash's mind conjured up images of sleek, silver creatures with multiple eyes and tentacle-like appendages, while Rarity imagined elegant, ethereal beings draped in shimmering robes of stardust.
Audino was leading the way, using her hearing to find the source of this noise. Her ears were picking up on the most peculiar sound that she just couldn't make out. Definitely wasn't anything she's heard back on Earth.
As they delved deeper into the heart of Planet Vinlie, Ash, Twilight, and their friends began to witness the fascinating ways in which the planet's unique material interacted with its environment.
They observed as the ground beneath their feet seemed to ripple and undulate, responding to unseen forces with a fluidity that defied conventional physics. Strange, shimmering tendrils of the metallic substance snaked their way across the landscape, weaving intricate patterns that pulsed and shifted with a life of their own.
So far, no life has been seen here. Not even a Pokemon. Espeon looked up at the skies above, getting a good look at the silver colouring. It looked like it was about to rain, but she wasn't sure if this planet could produce rain. There wasn't even any wind blowing. Not a semblance of it.
Within the depths of Vinlie's caverns, tiny metallic-like spheres were starting to move, almost as if they were sensing the presence of Ash and his friends. These unknown spheres that shimmered even in the darkness started rolling, moving through the darkness and lighting it up.
Their surfaces were adorned with whimsical patterns of etched lines and geometric structures, resembling miniature circuitry and machinery. They threw themselves up to the roof of the caverns before going through them. Moving through the roof, the spheres would then emerge onto the surface. And when appearing, they looked like bubbles on the ground. These odd spheres looked at Ash's group in the distance, specifically reacting to them.
As they rounded a bend, the source of the sound finally came into view. A strange, shimmering structure nestled amidst the metallic landscape. It was constructed out of a material that did not look like it belonged on this iron-like planet. In fact, it appeared to be wood and stone.
"What...is that?" Rainbow Dash murmured, her eyes widening in awe at the sight before them. "Some kind of house?"
"Looks like a tower," Ash observed. "We didn't see it that far."
"This structure..." When taking a longer look at the structure, Twilight noticed one thing about it. "It looks Equestrian-made!"
"Equestrian-made?! That can't be!" Rarity gasped. Based on what Twilight was saying, someone from Equestria built this structure.
"But how...?" Fluttershy murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she gazed at the structure in wonder. "Do you think someone else showed up here we before we did?"
Before any of them could formulate a coherent explanation, their attention was drawn to the tiny metallic spheres that had been silently observing them from the non-existent shadows. The spheres, adorned with intricate patterns reminiscent of circuitry, rolled and bounced across the landscape, their movements synchronized as if guided by some unseen force.
"What are those...things?" Applejack wondered, eyeing the spheres warily as they drew closer to the group.
"Bubbles?" Pinkie Pie uttered as that was the first thing that came to mind.
"Those look way too small to be bubbles. They look like they're part of the environment." Twilight observed, seeing how these spheres matched the appearance of the planet's entire landscape. They still had no idea what this iron-like material was and these spheres were not helping.
They got closer and closer, making the group rather cautious. Some were afraid that the planet was reacting in a hostile way to their presence since they were essentially strange visitors. However, to their surprise, instead of pulling off something hostile, the groups of orbs would start gathering in one spot, forming a shape.
They swarmed in that single spot, building and building with excellent precision. Right before their very eyes, these orbs transformed to form what appeared to be a construct of Ash himself, made out of that odd material.
They altered their metallic surfaces to resemble human skin, complete with texture, colouration, and elasticity. They even replicate the nuances of his skin tone, hair follicles and so on. It was like the spitting image of Ash was right in front of them.
"Awesome!" Ash's eyes lit up after witnessing this. He immediately slid over to get a closer look. "It's just like me!"
"Pi! Pikachu!"
"But...how is this possible?" Twilight wondered aloud, her mind racing with questions as she studied the metallic replica of Ash. "Is it because of the material we're standing on?"
"Oh, you might be onto something with that Equestrian thing, Twilight! I bet this is magic!" Rainbow Dash cooed with excitement.
"Maybe. There's a few magic out there that can do this but...I didn't see any magic at play." Twilight scratched her hoof.
Ash would then make movements with his arms, which prompted the Construct to do the same. Ash put on a smile, which the constructs would also do. Then, the Trainer from Kanto would pull off different poses, wanting to see if the Construct could keep up. And indeed, it could. Shot for shot perfection.
"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu applauded such an impressive display of mimicry that was on par with that of Mew. And speaking of Mew, he popped his head out of Pinkie Pie's mane, marvelling at the Construct of Ash and how impressive it was. Mew himself had to transform into a Ditto or Zorua just to get the appearance of a human, pony or any other non-Pokemon's appearance.
The spheres that made up this Ash Construct then noticed how Pikachu climbed up Ash's shoulder as he always does. And in response to this, they would mould more of their body to immediately match this sight. Pikachu watched as a smaller group of those spheres formed into a Construct of Pikachu that was on the Construct Ash's shoulder.
"Pika!?" Pikachu gasped in astonishment.
"Aaah...!" Fluttershy's eyes would also light up as she immediately believed these were creatures. Specifically, alien creatures. The thought of it made the pegasus get all giddy inside.
"Okay! Now do us!" Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie collectively said. However, the Constructs did not transform into ponies. Instead, they would just shrug as Ash and Pikachu, essentially telling them that they wouldn't do it. "Huh?"
"Why not?" Pinkie Pie questioned, only for the Constructs to wag their fingers. They seemed to understand simple gestures and mannerisms at least.
"Hmm..." Twilight moved in closer, her curiosity piqued by the Constructs' refusal to transform into ponies in response to Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie's request. "It's like they're trying to communicate something. Maybe they have their own limitations or preferences."
"Lame." Rainbow Dash grumbled.
"But hey. At least we're not alone on this planet. Maybe they can help us fix the ship way quicker." Ash turned to the Constructs once more. "But uh...who are you all, anyway?"
Right as Ash said that, the structure in front of them would suddenly make a whirring noise, causing them all to reacth. Their eyes met with the structure as now it was doing something and wasn't as still as it should be. From the tower-like structure, a door was forming right before their very eyes.
And this door was also made up of these strange spheres. To their amazement, this entire tower was built off these spheres as they could be seen moving and pulsating all across it. And from it, something was appearing. Two lights that would pierce through the already shimmering landscape, flashing Ash and the others which caused them to squint their eyes in response.
The cause of the lights appeared to be some sort of vehicle that was in the shape of a chariot, made up of the same material as these constructs. And on it, someone was riding this chariot. They all gawked as there was certainly someone else on this planet. No mistaking it this time.
"Whoa..." Ash breathed, his eyes wide with wonder as he took in the sight before him.
"It's...someone else!" Twilight exclaimed, her heart racing with excitement at the prospect of encountering another inhabitant of Planet Vinlie.
This figure seemed large at first, but that was only thanks to the distance. When leaving the chariot by hopping off it, the shape of this figure was that of a pony. Specifically, a foal.
The group watched as this small figure walked through the light, making an appearance. Lo and behold, the mysterious character was none other than a filly.
"Well, I'll be." Applejack removed her hat in astonishment.
"A little girl?" Not quite the character Rainbow Dash or anyone expected to see on this planet. The structure of the tower made sense for it being Equestrian-style, even if it was made up of those strange spheres.
"...What is that thing?" But before they could even speak to her, the girl spoke first, specifically looking directly at Ash and Pikachu.
"Me?" Ash pointed at himself, being the first person this filly spotted. Not the ponies. She then turned her attention to the constructs that mimicked Ash and Pikachu's appearance.
"Pika?"
"Great work copying them, all of you!" She then praised the spheres who would give a collective thumbs-up in their Constructed Bodies.
"Little girl? What are you doing on this planet all alone?" Rarity asked, curious as to why there was a child here on this planet.
"Oh, right! I shouldn't be rude! I need to do greetings first! My name is Doll!" She introduced herself as Doll.
"Doll?" Twilight repeated, her curiosity piqued by the young filly's presence. "What exactly are you doing here on this planet all alone?"
"I'm not alone. I have all of these Nanos with me." She spread her hooves out, referring to the strange spheres around her. Finally, they learned their names.
"Nanos?" Twilight and the others repeated. And for Twilight, when learning their names, she began to piece together what they were based on what she knew. "Oh! Like Nano Technology?!"
"Nano Technology?" Ash said before looking at the Construct of himself who nodded in confirmation.
"Yes, Nano Technology," Twilight confirmed, her eyes alight with understanding as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. "It's a form of technology that involves manipulating matter on an incredibly small scale, often at the molecular or even atomic level. My Human Counterpart and Zero talked about something like this, even if they've never interacted with them."
"Oh...So they're not alien creatures?" Fluttershy's ears would drop, followed up by a frown.
"You must be from Earth then if you know this." Doll said when pointing her hoof at them all. "All of you!"
"And you aren't? How else did'cha end up on this planet?" Applejack questioned.
"Oh, not me. I'm not from Earth." But Doll dropped a bombshell, revealing that she was not from Earth. At all. That only raised more questions.
"What do you mean you're not from Earth?!" Twilight bellowed.
"Born and raised here!" The young pony grinned as her teeth sparkled in this shimmering landscape. "Vinlie's my home planet from start to finish!"
"T-That can't be!" Twilight shook her head while stuttering. "Unless there are more ponies inside the tower."
"Nope. It's just me and the Nanos. Come inside!" Doll would gladly invite them all indoors, prancing away. She wasn't an alien. Or at least, she didn't seem like an alien, even though she was apparently born and raised on this planet. But there were no mentions of any parents and the only ones to keep her company here were the Nanos.
Outer Space. Parts Unknown.
Lost amidst the endless expanse of the cosmos, far beyond the reaches of the Solar System and outside the comforting embrace of the galaxy, the ships of Daybreaker and Empress Twilight floated aimlessly, their once-defined path now scattered and uncertain. Without any familiar landmarks to guide them, the crew members found themselves adrift in a sea of darkness, surrounded only by the distant glimmer of stars and the cold void of space.
"That clash sent us out of the Solar System." Daybreaker said. "Not only that, it's damaged our ships, making it hard for us to immediately return to our Universe. Clever Rayquaza..."
"The Dragon Matter's directly interfering the Rift Energy, Your Majesty." Sunrise Sparkle said. "It might take a while for us to clear it all."
"For it to already know how to use the Dragon Matter...I shouldn't have been surprised from the start. Rayquaza would be a Pokemon that would get the hang of such a power that fast." Daybreaker sighed.
Inside the ships, a sense of unease permeated the air as the crew members grappled with the realization of their isolation. Gone were the familiar sights of home, replaced instead by the vast unknown of the cosmos stretching out before them. With their communications systems damaged and their navigation equipment malfunctioning, they were left with no means of contacting anyone for help.
"Well, we'll do it the old-fashioned way. We'll make our way back to the Galaxy we already know of. Rayquaza only temporarily set us back. We can return to the Moon even if it won't be at our usual speed." Daybreaker scoffed, seeing this as a minor inconvenience.
"No need to panic..." Cozy Glow could be seen in the corner, rocking back and forth due to the current circumstances. "I'm far from home...In an unknown galaxy...! This is the worst! Why'd you bring me along?!"
"I was hoping you could help with Lunala. Obviously, I'm still betting on that, but we might have to wait for a while before we can reach the Moon." Daybreaker explained. "I'm sorry about this, Cozy Glow. I never expected us to be sent outside the Galaxy."
"Hah...At least I'm not alone." She could at least have that positive. It was a long way from home and the travel time was very much unknown. One thing was for sure, their mission to get to Lunala and by extension Solgaleo, has not come to an end. Not for a moment.
As the Solar Sword continued on its way, travelling through the darkness of space with the other ships behind it, the Solar Empire and the Twilight Imperium were on the move once more. But there was just one issue.
Empress Twilight's main ship suffered the most damage out of all of them and was lagging behind with minimal support, needing other ships to help it along the way. And as for Empress Twilight herself, she was currently unconscious along with many of her forces. She was currently being held up by Jackie, who injured himself during that devastating pushback. And unlike Daybreaker, he could actually leave.
The gateway in the secret compartment was still there. Wide open and available for use. He carried the Empress in her arms, aiming to return to his universe at once. But when looking back at the mess and knowing his fellow Rangers were still present, Jackie would be back. Hopefully, at least.
Away from the chaos happening in outer space, Equestria was going through a natural day. Currently, out in the meadows, Spike could be seen with his Pokemon, enjoying a leisurely day and basking in the harmony of nature.
He was already aware that Twilight and the others went into outer space and while they handled things up in the cosmos, Spike was focusing his efforts on being a Dragon Trainer.
"Dei!" Deino could be seen biting into some hard objects, training up her biting strength as well. By this point, Deino grew strong enough to shatter wooden logs bigger than her.
"Great, great!" Spike cheered before digging into his bag. Out of his bag, he pulled out items that cater to the metal category. "I think we're almost ready for metal, Deino! You're already strong enough to break glass, books, wood and even rocks. But what about metal Are you ready?"
"Dei! Deino!" Deinoy felt confident that she could absolutely crush Metal. This is one of the things she was looking the most forward to. To absolutely negate the resistance Steel-Types had against Dragon-Types, Deino wanted A Bite so strong it would make Steel Pokemon fall brittle to her.
"Okay then! Let's go for-"
Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed across the sky, causing Spike and his Pokémon to look up in alarm. Their eyes widened in astonishment as they witnessed a massive, Dragon-like Pokémon hurtling towards them from above. It was none other than Rayquaza, the legendary Sky High Pokémon.
"Isn't that...Rayquaza?!" Spike and all of his Pokemon gasped.
Rayquaza crashed down with a thunderous impact, creating a tremor that shook the ground beneath them. The impact even left a tall smoke and dust cloud that rose up to the skies. Spike and his Pokémon rushed to the fallen Pokémon's side, concerned for its well-being. After an intense battle against Necrozma in outer space and sacrificing a huge chunk of energy for one attack, Rayquaza found itself on Earth, powerless for the first time in its life.
Spike and his team rushed to Rayquaza's side, seeing how huge of a crater it had made. There laid the Sky High Pokemon, down for the count. Spike just had to wonder what happened but he had a strong suspicion that it somewhat involved the mess happening in the skies.
Planet Vinlie. Doll's Tower.
Planet Vinlie. Outside of the usual galaxy Ash and the others know, this planet is composed of an unknown iron-like material which also seems to be populated by Nano Technology known as Nanos and a young pony by the name of Doll.
When entering the tower that was built by the Nanos, they witnessed how Equestrian it looked from the inside. Despite its sleek exterior and cutting-edge technology, the interior of the Tower exudes a warmth and coziness reminiscent of an old cottage home, providing a stark contrast to the cold austerity of the outside world.
"This here is Craft Tower," Doll spoke when introducing them all to her home. "Nice, isn't it?"
"Yeah." Rainbow Dash and everyone could agree indeed. Upon stepping through the threshold, visitors are greeted by the inviting glow of softly lit lanterns, casting a warm and comforting light throughout the space. The walls are lined with rough-hewn timber panels, giving the illusion of a rustic cabin nestled in the heart of the wilderness. A crackling fireplace stands as the centrepiece of the main chamber, radiating heat and casting dancing shadows upon the walls.
The furnishings are simple yet elegant, crafted from weathered wood and plush fabrics that beckon anyone tired to rest and relax. A cosy seating area surrounds the fireplace, complete with overstuffed armchairs and a plush sofa adorned with soft blankets and cushions. A well-worn rug lies strewn across the polished wooden floorboards, muffling footsteps and lending an air of homely comfort to the space.
"Actual wood...Does it exist on this planet?" Rarity banged her hoof on the furniture. She even recognized which wood it was. "I think I have something like this back home! Are you sure you're not from Equestria?"
"Ahaaa..." Applejack immediately sunk into the seats, feeling their wonderful comfort. "Feels good either way..."
In one corner of the room, a quaint kitchenette offers all the amenities of a traditional country home, complete with a vintage stove, copper pots and pans hanging from hooks, and a rustic wooden table set with mismatched dishes and gleaming silverware.
"You get to eat whenever you want on this planet?! With no one else?!" Pinkie Pie was in absolute disbelief. "Lucky!"
"I have it all to myself. Doll took a seat on the couch, facing them all. "It's the only building here on Vinlie and I don't have enough Nanos to make more of them."
"You can't make more of them?" Ash said while looking over at the Nano Construct of himself.
"No. But I'm guessing the reason they copied your look is because they've never seen someone like you before. What even are you?"
"Well, I'm a Human." Ash pointed at himself.
"Human..." Doll scrunched her face before shrugging. "Eh. I've never heard of that before."
"But you know what a pony is. You're one yourself, so how oculd you be born on this planet?" Rarity questioned.
"Truth is...I'm not a full-on pony." Doll had something rather grand to reveal to them. "I guess me being born here is just another way of saying I was created here."
"Created?" They all collectively said.
"I'm actually an Android!" Doll revealed. The group stared at Doll in astonishment as she revealed her true nature as an android—a being created rather than born, and one with capabilities far beyond those of a typical pony.
"An android?!" Twilight exclaimed, her mind racing with questions at this revelation. She was immediately reminded of Premium Polish, who was also a young pony that happened to be an Android. A similar scenario has popped yet again, this time on a completely different planet. "Just like Premium Polish...So that means someone made you."
"Did the Nanons make you?" Fluttershy asked.
"No. Someone else was here before me. My creator." Doll then hopped off her couch before walking over to one of the desks. And on it, there was a picture of a single pony resting there. The one responsible for creating Doll. "My creator...No. My Father. Craft." Doll confirmed, her voice filled with reverence as she spoke of the pony who had brought her into existence.
"That's definitely someone from our world." Rainbow Dash confirmed. "I'm guessing he's the one who made all these Nano things too?"
"Maybe he made his own ship that landed on Vinlie," Fluttershy added.
"Craft..." Twilight repeated, her mind racing with questions. "Do you know anything else about him? Is he still here on Vinlie?"
Doll shook her head, her expression sombre as she gazed down at the photograph of Craft resting on the desk before her. "My father's not here anymore. It's just me. I've only been here for Four Years."
"Four years? That's the same amount of time our worlds have met." Ash uttered. Once again, those 4 years came into play once more. It has been 4 years since the World of Pokemon has met with the World of Ponies, Dragons, Hippogriffs and other species out there. And it seems Doll's creation was around that same timeframe.
"My father told me about what happened back on Earth. He showed up here by accident one day." Even though Doll wasn't made to see it, Craft did tell her about how he ended up on this planet.
4 Years Ago. A solitude home in the West of Equestria.
Nestled somewhere in a nice forest, there was a single cottage, exempt from places such as Ponyville, Canterlot, Manehattan and so on. The Sun would gracefully beam down on this cottage and the pony living on it. Craft.
Four years ago, he was living peacefully in his cottage, enjoying his current life. And especially his profession. Craft enjoyed building new things. Relatively small things to be exact such as toys.
My father used to make toys and other things back at his old home. He was amazing at making them and always made sure to decorate the place with them. And he really enjoyed making action figures and dolls.
And the dolls he made were for his family. Occasionally, Craft would receive letters from his family afar who would write to him here and there. Not only did he write back, but Craft would also send them toys, especially to the younger members of his family. It was a simple living for him.
In Doll's recollection, she could see her father's face lighting up with joy as he carefully crafted each toy, pouring his love and creativity into every stitch and seam. She could almost hear the laughter of his family as they unwrapped their gifts, their smiles reflecting the happiness and gratitude they felt for Craft's thoughtfulness and generosity.
One doll that Craft made looked strikingly close to the Real Doll in the current day. But of course, this was just a toy, made entirely out of rubber. However, unbeknownst to Craft, the day he made this one doll would be when everything changed for him.
Outside, a sudden cosmic flash occurred, startling the old man as he dropped his doll. When turning his head, he spotted the cosmic energy of the Rift. Since this was four years ago, the Rift was still seen by everyone and Craft was not an exception. When opening the door, he saw what the Rift had left behind right near his home.
A tiny vortex of Rift Energy was lying there in the middle of the tress, humming with its cosmic sound. Craft was obviously amazed by what he was seeing. He wasn't aware of what was happenign across the entire world right now. Not the appearance of Humans and Pokemon or even why there was Rift planning to cross the two worlds over in the first place.
But when continuing to stare at the vortex, it would suddenly grow in size, reaching out to the old pony who would gasp in response. Craft's eyes widened as the vortex of Rift Energy expanded, its swirling tendrils reaching out to envelop him and his entire cottage in its shimmering embrace.
He told me that looking at the vortex was almost irresistible. It had a strong pull on him that he couldn't get away from. And that's how it got him and his home.
As he disappeared into the heart of the vortex, the world around him seemed to blur and distort, as if reality itself were being twisted and reshaped by the cosmic forces at play.
For a brief moment, Craft felt a sense of weightlessness as he was carried along on the currents of the Rift, his senses overwhelmed by the kaleidoscope of colours and sounds that surrounded him. It was a sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced before, both exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the swirling vortex released its grip on Craft, depositing him in a strange and unfamiliar landscape. As he staggered to his feet, dazed and disoriented, he realized that he was no longer in the peaceful forest where his cottage had once stood. Instead, he found himself in a world unlike any he had ever seen before.
He arrived on the Planet Vinlie. Craft groaned, his glasses falling off and his cottage being right behind him, still in one piece too.
For hours, weeks, and even months, Craft wandered the desolate plains of Planet Vinlie, his only companion the silence of the empty landscape. Devoid of any signs of life, he searched tirelessly for any semblance of civilization or companionship, but all his efforts proved fruitless. Each day, he returned to his cottage, his supplies dwindling as he struggled to sustain himself in this harsh and unforgiving environment.
But amidst the solitude and isolation, Craft discovered an unexpected gift—the energy of the Rift had infused him with newfound intelligence and insight. With each passing day, his mind expanded, unlocking untapped reservoirs of creativity and innovation. And as he delved deeper into his studies, he stumbled upon a revolutionary discovery: the secrets of Nano Technology.
Using the leftover energy from the Rift, Craft harnessed the power of Nano Technology, shaping and molding it into wondrous creations beyond his wildest dreams. With each new invention, he pushed the boundaries of what was possible, creating marvels that defied imagination and reshaped everything for him.
Because of that Rift Energy, he could create the Nanos, using the material on Vinlie. But that wasn't all. He brought me to life. The doll that was meant for his grandaughter was me and he poured Rift Energy into it, which is how I got all of this life. I was still just an android, but still.
Craft's ingenuity knew no bounds as he continued to experiment with the Rift Energy and Nano Technology, delving deeper into the mysteries of the universe. Inspired by his desire for companionship in this lonely world, he turned his attention to the doll he had created—the one that bore a striking resemblance to the Real Doll of the current day.
With careful precision and memories of his family back on Earth, Craft infused the doll with the cosmic energy of the Rift, breathing life into its artificial form. As the shimmering energy coursed through its synthetic veins, the doll began to stir, its eyes flickering to life with a newfound spark of consciousness.
In awe and wonder, Craft watched as the doll's features shifted and changed, its rubbery exterior morphing into flesh and blood before his very eyes. And as the transformation reached its completion, the doll stood before him as a living, breathing being.
With a gentle smile, Craft extended his hand to the newly awakened doll, welcoming it into the world with open arms. And as they stood together beneath the vast expanse of the Vinlie sky, Craft knew that he was no longer alone, that he had found a companion to share in the wonders of this strange and beautiful world.
More specifically, a daughter.
It was the happiest moment of my life, being brought to life. And after that, he told me everything back on Earth, that made me want to explore it.
With the awakening of the Real Doll, whom Craft now affectionately referred to as Doll, a new chapter began in both of their lives. As Doll embraced her newfound consciousness and identity, she looked up to Craft with admiration and gratitude, seeing him not only as her creator but also as her father.
For Craft, having Doll by his side brought a sense of joy and purpose that he had long been missing in this desolate world. With each passing day, he shared with her the wonders of Earth, the beauty of its landscapes, its inhabitants, and the richness of its history. He regaled her with stories of his life over the years, recounting tales of his family, his adventures, and the many joys and challenges he had experienced along the way.
As they wandered the plains of Planet Vinlie together, Craft imparted to Doll his knowledge and wisdom, teaching her not only about Earth but also about life itself. All the natural things that were learnt on his homeworld and he has held close to his heart were soon given to her. And as they sat beneath the stars, gazing up at the vast expanse of the Vinlie sky, Craft and Doll pondered about Earth, especially Doll.
But because my father had no more food here and the Nanos couldn't make any food, as days went by, he had nothing to eat or drink. And it didn't help him in his old age. That's when it happened.
As Doll returned home with her Nanos after a day of building and exploring, her heart sank at the sight that greeted her. Her beloved father, Craft, lay on the floor, his normally cheerful demeanour replaced by a pallor of illness and exhaustion. His glasses lay discarded beside him as his strength was failing him.
Rushing to his side, Doll knelt down beside Craft, her heart heavy with worry. She gently lifted his head, cradling it in her hooves as she tried to rouse him from his slumber. But Craft remained unresponsive, his breathing shallow and laboured.
As the days passed, Craft's condition continued to deteriorate, his strength waning with each passing moment. Doll remained by his side, offering whatever comfort and solace she could, but deep down, she knew that time was running out.
And then, one fateful day, as Doll sat vigil by her father's side, she felt his hand tremble in hers. With a soft gasp, she looked up to see Craft's eyes flutter open, a weak smile playing on his lips.
"Doll..." Craft whispered, his voice barely a whisper. Right before Doll's eyes, Craft's body was beginning to turn into Rift Stardusts, slowly dispersing. "I'm sorry, my dear. I've... run out of time. But, I can share this with you. Visit Earth one day with the Nanos and explore everything there. You won't regret it and you'll make new friends. Possibly new family. Please promise this to me, my daughter.""
Despite being an android, Doll was capable of crying, much like Premium Polish. Tears streamed down Doll's cheeks as she listened to her father's words, her heart breaking at the thought of losing him. But even in his final moments, Craft remained steadfast in his love for her, his unwavering devotion shining through the darkness.
"I love you, Dad," Doll whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
As Doll recounted the tale of her father's passing, her voice trembled with emotion, her heart heavy with the weight of her loss. She gazed down at the photograph of Craft, her eyes brimming with tears as she remembered the love and warmth he had brought into her life.
"He told me that I should go to Earth, and that's a promise I want to keep," Doll said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I really miss him..."
"Aw, Doll...You can go to Earth, actually. Now that we're here." Twilight said, walking up to the young pony as her heart was also heavy after hearing it. All of them were.
"Really?" She looked over with a smile on her face.
"Really. But we need our ship to be fixed first before that can happen." Twilight added. "Once it's finished, we can grant you that wish and have you leave for Earth."
"We'll get you to Earth." Ash kneeled to face Doll. "That's a promise."
"That's great!" Doll would then burst out with excitement, lunging forward to hug both Ash and Twilight. As Doll embraced Ash and Twilight, her heart swelled with gratitude and hope. The prospect of finally fulfilling her father's wish and embarking on a new adventure filled her with excitement and anticipation.
"Thank you, thank you all so much!" Doll exclaimed, her voice filled with joy. "I can't wait to see Earth, to explore its wonders, and to make my father proud."
"But how are we going to fix the ship anyway? Even the Unown are struggling with it." Fluttershy asked.
"Let the Nanos do it!" Doll raised her hoof as she had full confidence in the Nanos. "If it's technology, they can easily do it! I promise! They can fix or replace whatever's broken"
"Well...The Unown plus the Nanos will make a great combination." Twilight thought about it before nodding in agreement. "Alright then. Go for it, Doll."
With Doll's suggestion in mind, the group quickly set to work, gathering the Nanos and guiding them towards the damaged ship. As they approached, the Nanos hummed with anticipation, their tiny forms pulsating with energy as they prepared to tackle the daunting task ahead.
"Alright, Nanos," Doll said, addressing the swirling mass of metallic spheres. "We need your help to fix the ship and get us ready for our journey to Earth. Can you do it?"
In response, the Nanos buzzed with excitement, their movements becoming more purposeful and coordinated as they set to work.
As the Nanos approached the site of the damaged ship, their metallic forms shimmering in the sunlight, causing the pilots and the Unown to squint. With their tiny bodies buzzing with energy, they wasted no time in getting to work, swarming around the ship like a cloud of industrious bees.
With remarkable precision and efficiency, the Nanos began to assess the extent of the damage, their tiny forms darting in and out of the ship's hull as they analyzed each component with meticulous care. Working together in perfect harmony, they quickly identified areas in need of repair and set about restoring them to their former glory.
With each passing moment, the ship began to come back to life, its damaged systems springing back into action under the expert care of the Nanos. Sparks flew as welding torches ignited, and the sound of metal on metal echoed through the air as the Nanos worked tirelessly to mend the ship's battered exterior.
The ship began to come back to life, its damaged systems springing back into action under the expert care of the Nanos. Sparks flew as welding torches ignited, and the sound of metal on metal echoed through the air as the Nanos worked tirelessly to mend the ship's battered exterior. And with the power of the Unown, this was boosted even further.
With their combined efforts, they repaired the Alien Ship. Good as new and supported by the Nanos. "Alright. This is perfect!" One of the pilots said. "We can get going immediately. But what galaxy are we even in? This isn't our own."
"No clue how long it'll take for us to return to our own galaxy and Solar System." Twilight grumbled. "We just have to put our trust in the Unown and Nanos."
"Oh! You're in the galaxy of some Whale!" Doll exclaimed, revealing that she knew what this galaxy was.
"Whale? What do you mean by that?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"You'll see." Doll giggled, knowing one more thing outside of the Planet Vinlie. ready to take off. With the ship now fully repaired and ready for flight, Doll and her companions wasted no time in boarding. As they settled into their seats and prepared for takeoff, anticipation buzzed through the air. The pilots expertly guided the ship's controls, their hands moving with practiced precision as they initiated the launch sequence.
With a low rumble, the engines roared to life, filling the cabin with a steady hum as the ship lifted off the ground. Slowly but surely, they began to ascend into the sky, leaving the surface of Planet Vinlie behind them. They were actually moving at a quicker pace too.
Thanks to the Unown and Nanos, the ship was faster than before and everyone noticed this. In just seconds, they were already out of Vinlie's atmosphere.
As they soared through the vastness of space, Doll gazed out of the window in wonder, her heart filled with excitement at the prospect of their upcoming journey. She couldn't wait to see what adventures awaited them on Earth. The promise she made to her father was looking to become a reality.
"Wow..." Doll would gaze outside, looking at all the stars in the sky. These stars populated this galaxy's spiral arms, forming brilliant clusters and associations that adorn the cosmic landscape with their radiance. Among them are young, hot stars emitting intense ultraviolet radiation.
This was also Ash and the group's first time witnessing this since they didn't get a chance after that crash landing. Now, they would see it for what it was. "Awesome...So this is the Galaxy we ended up in?"
Scattered throughout this galaxy are vast clouds of gas and dust known as nebulae, where new stars are born amid the swirling chaos of stellar nurseries.
"So...Why did you mention Whale? Is this a whale-named galaxy?" Rarity questioned, wanting to know the name of this galaxy. "Not exactly seeing any whale shapes here."
"Oh. That's because one time, the Nanos managed to leave Vinlie, but they didn't get to reach Earth. They had a limit to how far they could go. But they saw something so amazing they had to show it to us by transforming into it. It was massive! We're living in it right now!"
"Living in it, huh?" Ash nodded his head. "And it's massive."
"Hold on." One of the pilots, looking at the technology in front of him could confirm what this galaxy looked like. "This right here can show us the exact look of the galaxy we're in. And we'll get to see how long it'll take for us to reach our own." With a press of a button and three switch pulls, a screen was projected for everyone to see. This would show them the galaxy that they were currently in.
And once it all came into view, Ash and his friends stared with absolute amazement in their eyes. Now the Whale Galaxy began to make sense.
"No way..." Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped. All of their eyes and pupils shrank at the sight of the galaxy in front of them. However, this was not just a galaxy. In fact, it was living and breathing. At this very moment, they were within a familiar figure.
Ash cried out. As the image of the galaxy materialized on the screen before them, it initially appeared as a swirling mass of stars and cosmic dust. But as they continued to observe, the shape began to take form, gradually revealing the unmistakable silhouette of a colossal creature.
At first, there were murmurs of disbelief and confusion among Ash and his friends as they struggled to comprehend what they were seeing. The shape seemed familiar, yet impossible. It was Ash who first made the connection, his eyes widening with recognition as he gasped in astonishment.
"That's...A Wailord!"
A Wailord the size of a Galaxy.
As the journey continues.
Chapter 422 End.
Equestrian Wailord! The Universe's Biggest Pokemon!
After promising to bring the android Doll to Earth as per an extended promise to Craft, To the shock of Ash, Twilight and everyone else, they were currently in a new galaxy. Or rather, they were in a Galaxy-sized Wailord. And it wasn't just a galaxy that happened to look like Wailord, it was actually a Wailord, currently on the move.
"We're inside a Galaxy-sized Wailord?! Seriously!?" Ash exclaimed, pointing to the outside of the cosmos.
"Looks like it." One of the pilots said when observing the screen. "When we got knocked far away, we most likely went into Wailord's mouth."
"Is that what it's called? I just thought it was just a whale." Doll said as she was the one who brought up the name of this Galaxy. But obviously, the concept of Pokemon was still new to her.
"If we're inside Wailord...Doesn't that mean...?" To test something out, Rainbow Dash took out her Pokedex, wondering if it would read on this Galaxy-sized Pokemon.
"Wailord. The Galaxy Pokemon. Equestrian Variant. Born from a serendipitous encounter with Rift energy, this colossal creature transcends the boundaries of its own world. Its body has expanded to the size of entire galaxies, harbouring its own solar system."
"It's an Equestrian Variant!" Ash gasped. Once again, Rift Energy was at work here and this time, it brought the biggest upgrade to any Pokemon thus far. The World's Largest Pokemon was now the universe's largest Pokemon.
"Not again.." Rarity shuddered. This is the second time they've found themselves inside of a Wailord. Strange that it happened twice.
"The scale on this Wailord is outlandish. It might take us at least 50 hours to leave here." Looking at the screen, the crew saw the distance from this massive Wailord compared to the galaxy they were used to.
"50 hours?! That's too long!" Pinkie Pie screeched.
"Well, for space travel, that's actually pretty short in some cases, but I see what you mean." Twilight shrugged, seeing Pinkie Pie's point. "We can make this ship go faster, right? The Unown and the Nanos can make it happen."
"Does Wailord even know we're in it? Oh!" Fluttershy gawked before facing her friends. "Let's try speaking to Wailord!"
"Out there? Darling, we can't exactly breathe in space." Rarity pointed out.
"No. But Mew can. And so can Pheromosa and Kartana." Fluttershy winked, looking at Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Twilight. "I bet you can speak to Wailord no problem."
"If we're inside Wailord...Does that mean it swallowed planets and stuff or something?" Rainbow Dash was more concerned about if all of this had been swallowed by Wailord.
"Umm...Try asking them!" One of the pilots gasped as something else caught her attention out there. Everyone was about to realize that this solar system was very different from what they know. Outside, there were cosmic explosions occurring, made up of the same Rift Energy that transformed Wailord in the first place.
The sounds they made were horrific as they lit up the cosmos. But flying out of these were Wailmer. Ordinary Wailmer with no distinct appearance and to their surprise, the Wailmer could breathe in space, not needing anything special to do so. However, these Wailmer appeared to be fleeing from something after they emerged out of the Rift explosions.
"They're breathing in space no problem...? But what's chasing them?" Ash wondered when squinting his eyes. Following the Wailmer were none other than Astral Projections. These Astral Projections appeared as a spiralling and formless entity, with nebula claws, terrifying fangs and no legs available but that didn't stop them from chasing down the Wailmer, slashing and swiping their nebula claws at them.
"Those Astral Projections...they're after the Wailmer!" Twilight exclaimed, her eyes widening in alarm as she watched the scene unfold.
"But why would they be chasing them?" Fluttershy wondered, her voice trembling with concern for the fleeing Pokémon.
"Doesn't matter why!" Ash exclaimed, wanting to get out there immediately after seeing the Wailmer being chased down. "Can you open the ship for me?"
"Now hold on there!" One of the pilots exclaimed. "We can't just open this thing! Sure, the Wailmer are breathing in space but we can't be sure if we can breathe in it too. It might just be their connection to Wailord. Let's not get hasty and-" But before he could finish, the Nanos would suddenly open the ship for Ash, doing it themselves.
Everyone gasped while Ash looked onwards as the vastness of space was now open for them. However, to their shock, they ere not suffocating at all. Instead, they found themselves breathing perfectly fine when exposed to the Wailord Galaxy.
"We're...fine..." Twilight, who was about to panic from the start, was shocked to see herself still alive and breathing. "But how?"
"Ain't gotta clue. But I'm not complaining." Applejack sighed as her heat was racing.
"The Nanos already know it's breathable." Doll explained when walking up to Ash. "They want to help out just as much as you do, Ash."
"Thanks, Doll. Nanos." Ash smiled, knowing that Nanos trusted him. He and Pikachu looked onwards before jumping out of the ship. "Hold on, Wailmer!"
"Ash, wait!" Twilight bellowed, but it was too late. Ash was already fixated on helping the Wailmer. Ash and Pikachu were floating through the cosmos, directing themselves straight towards the Wailmer and the Astral Projections.
"Hey! Wailmer!" He shouted out. Surprisingly, his voice could reach them in the vastness of space, alerting the Wailmer.
"Mer? Wailmer!" As Ash and Pikachu drew closer to the Wailmer and the pursuing Astral Projections, the Wailmer turned their attention towards them, their eyes widening in surprise and relief at the unexpected sight of fellow travellers in the void of space. Not only were they surprised, but the way they looked at Ash and Pikachu made it seem like they were familiar with them based on their gleeful reaction.
"Those Wailmer..." Fluttershy took a longer look at their reactions. The Astral Projections would soon notice Ash and Pikachu, immediately letting out a cosmic hiss at them.
"What are you guys...?" Ash wondered when looking at the Astral Projections. They made their way to the duo, immediately hiding behind Ash and Pikachu for safety.
"Pika...!" Pikachu already had a bad feeling about them from the start. The Wailmer huddled closer to Ash and Pikachu, seeking refuge from the encroaching threat.
Meanwhile, Pikachu crackled with electricity, ready to unleash a powerful attack at a moment's notice. His cheeks sparked with energy, casting a faint glow in the darkness of space as he prepared to defend his friends and the Wailmer from harm.
"I don't know why something like this would be inside of a Wailord...But I can't let you hurt the Wailmer." Ash narrowed his eyes, speaking to the Astral Projections.
These Astral Projections would hold their claws out, suddenly summoning a pulsating astral sphere in the middle. These Astral Spheres were then thrown forward, warping the space around them.
"Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...Chuuuu!" With a fierce burst of energy, Pikachu released a blast of 100,000 volts from his body, clashing ith the multiple sheres. The Thunderbolt collided with the incoming Astral Spheres, creating a dazzling display of sparks and energy as the two forces clashed in the void of space. The sheer power of Pikachu's attack sent shockwaves rippling through the cosmos, dispersing the Astral Spheres and temporarily halting the advance of the Astral Projections.
The Projections were then blasted with 100,000 volts of electricity, shocking their bodies. The impact immediately blew them back, causing some of the to hurtle through space. Hissing and roaring at Ash and Pikachu, the Astral Projections would then fly forward at high speeds, intending to get up close and personal.
"Use Iron Tail!"
"Pika!" Pikachu would also fly forward, hardening his tail to match that of Iron. He immediately entered an up-close and personal clash with the Astral Projections, swinging his tail against their claws. He clashed with the first one a few times, knocking it away, before switching to the next one.
The Astral Projection fought back fiercely, but Pikachu's relentless assault proved too much to handle, driving the enemy back with each resounding clash. Slapping the next one away, Pikachu's tail with the other claws, swiftly reflecting and knocking them back.
Seeing that they were being outmatched at the moment, the Astral Projections would immediately form together in a matter of seconds. They wasted no time throwing everything they had at Pikachu. Pikachu watched as the Astral Projections merged to form a larger version of themselves. They were almost as big as the ship. After quickly merging as one, the Astral Projection would immediately bring its claws forward towards the Mouse Pokemon.
The sheer force of its charge sent shockwaves rippling through the cosmos, threatening to overwhelm the Electric-type with its overwhelming power. "Quick, Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted, his voice echoing through the vacuum of space.
"Pikachuuuu!" From his body, an even larger blast of lightning was unleashed, meeting with the Astral Projection. The merged Astral Projection reeled back in surprise, its colossal form writhing as it struggled to withstand the overwhelming voltage of Pikachu's attack.
With a deafening roar, the Thunderbolt collided with the merged Astral Projection, engulfing it in a blinding cascade of electrifying energy. The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the cosmos, shaking the very fabric of space as the Astral Projection was engulfed in a brilliant explosion of light.
From the aftermath of the explosion, the smaller Astral Projections would defuse, ending the giant fusion. Bewildered, they immediately retreated. With the threat neutralized and the immediate danger passed, The Wailmer let out a collective sigh of relief, their hearts still racing after being chased down.
"Doing alright?" Ash looked to the Wailmer, who immediately rushed over to hug him and Pikachu. "Ah! Hold on!" Ash chuckled, trying to gently ward off the enthusiastic Wailmer.
"Wail! Wailmer!" The Wailmer were very much pleased, swarming Ash and Pikachu out of absolute gratitude.
"I know these Wailmer now!" Fluttershy gasped, finally realizing why they felt familiar. After hearing their cries, it all clicked for her. "These are the Wailmer that we helped Wailord find after they got lost! So that must mean this Wailord..."
"You're saying that this is that same Wailord?!" Applejack gasped. The Father of this Wailmer was apparently the entire galaxy based on what Fluttershy was saying. The last time they saw this family, they were just regular Wailord and Wailmers.
"It seems like it!" Fluttershy nodded, her eyes widening in realization. "This Wailord must have grown even larger since then, becoming a living galaxy. And now its Wailmer family is here with it."
"Quite the reunion then." said Rarity. Ash would then bring the Wailmer back to the ship, letting them rest after they were chased down. It seemed that it went on for a while. Possibly hours.
Inside the ship, the Wailmer found a comfortable spot to rest, still visibly shaken from their ordeal but grateful for the safety of the enclosed environment. However, they also recognized Twilight and the others upon first glance. As the 50 Wailmer swarmed around them, they essentially flooded the ponies.
"It's wonderful to see you all again!" Twilight exclaimed, smiling as she returned the affectionate greetings from the Wailmer.
Fluttershy hugged one of the Wailmers tightly, her heart filled with happiness at the reunion. "You've all grown so much since we last saw you!"
Rarity chuckled as she was surrounded by several of the Wailmer, feeling their presence and the weight of their bodies against her. "G-Grown indeed! Goodness!?"
The Wailmer chirped and cooed in response, their cheerful cries filling the air as they expressed their happiness at being reunited with their friends from Equestria. "You're so round..." Meanwhile, Doll was impressed by how round the Wailmer. The Nanos even decided to mimic the shape of the Wailmer, finding a new Pokemon to copy.
"How did you all get here? Well, I can only assume that after your father got his Equestrian Form, you all entered his body, right?" Twilight asked the Wailmer, curious as to why they were in this position. "And what even were those things chasing you"
"Mew! Wailmer!" The Wailmer could most definitely tell them what happened, with Fluttershy being the translator. All 50 of them started retelling the events which were apparently not that long ago.
"Sounds like it was only a year ago that this happened." Fluttershy translated.
One Year Ago. The Seas of Kalos.
Wailord, his Wailmer and Lapras were all swimming on the Seas of Kalos one day, when they all suddenly came across Rift Energy. The energy had been moving erratically, potentially posing a threat to them and their parent Wailord. Wailord knew how wild Rift Energy can be and immediately couldn't let the Wailmer or even Lapras touch it.
Lapras felt the same. She wouldn't want Walmer or even Wailord to be struck by the Rift Energy. In response, Wailord and Lapras had worked together to protect the Wailmer from harm, shielding them from the chaotic energy as best they could.
Wailord and Lapras tried to protect the Wailmer from the erratic movements of the Rift Energy. But the energy ended up engulfing Wailord instead.
Since Wailord was such a huge Pokemon, it made him an easy target for the Rift Energy, which immediately threw itself at the Float Whale Pokemon. After being struck by it, Wailord, instead of taking any damage, was experiencing a growth of galactic proportions.
He faced his children and Lapras out of confusion, blinking a few times before feeling his body change. The Wailmer and Lapras collectively gasped as Wailord was growing in size, even bigger than what he usually is. A cosmic energy was flaring from his body, soon growing bright enough to envelop the Wailmer and Lapras.
With each passing moment, Wailord's size increased exponentially, his massive body ascending from the depths of the ocean and into the vast expanse of the skies above. The Wailmer and Lapras could only watch in wonder and concern as their once-familiar guardian underwent this awe-inspiring metamorphosis.
As Wailord's transformation reached its climax, he loomed over the seas and skies, his immense presence casting a shadow that stretched across the horizon. But it did more than just go over the horizon.
It went over the planet. A pillar of cosmic energy shot out of the Earth and straight into the cosmos. In it, the Wailmer and Lapras were being carried. The Wailmer and Lapras could feel the power emanating from their transformed loved one, a power that seemed both wondrous and daunting in its magnitude.
The pillar of cosmic energy travelled through the vastness of space, passing by planets, stars and other things along the way at incredible speeds. Eventually, it came to an end when leaving the solar system. The Rift Energy, in its erratic behaviour, halted by letting itself combust. A dazzling outburst of cosmic lights were shown before summoning the Equestrian Variant of the Float Whale Pokemon.
Equestrian Wailord.
With a gentle rumble, Wailord's immense form settled into place, his body now stretching across the cosmos as a living embodiment of the galaxy itself. The Wailmer and Lapras looked up at their guardian in awe and reverence, knowing that he had become something far greater than they had ever imagined.
But they could only look at him from the inside, seeing the solar system he had created. They had no idea what he looked like from the outside. However, they could hear his cry, which was absolutely titanic, reverberating through the cosmos.
"So that's what happened, huh?" Ash spoke after hearing how the emergence of Equestrian Wailord came to be. "Wailord's been his own galaxy for a year...And he's been fine with it?"
"Mer! Wailmer!" The Wailmer continued, having more to say.
"This time, it's about those projections. They said that those Astral Projections are representations of Wailord's worries."
"Is that what those things were?" Rainbow Dash gasped.
"You see...Because they can't breathe in space, Wailord's own space is the only place where they can breathe. That's how you were able to survive out there, Ash. Pikachu." Fluttershy translated. "Wailord made sure that it was safe for them to be in. But...The Wailmer haven't been able to see their father from the outside and Wailord's worried about what's happening in there. He doesn't know a thing."
Listening intently to Fluttershy's translation, the group exchanged concerned glances as they processed the Wailmer's revelation. It was clear that Wailord's transformation into a galaxy had brought about unforeseen consequences, including the manifestation of astral projections representing his worries and concerns. Such was the nature of Rift Energy. Responding to emotions and creating something out of it.
"Wailord's worries..." Twilight mused, her brow furrowed in thought. "It must be incredibly lonely for him, being out here in the vastness of space all alone, unable to interact with anyone outside."
"Is Lapras okay?" Ash asked, curious about Lapras.
"Wail!" The Wailmer nodded. "Lapras was indeed fine and safe. All of them were. Well, safe isn't exactly true considering what they had to go through.
"As long as Wailord is worried about his children and Lapras, those things might continue to show up and terrorize them." Rarity spoke. "Surely, there's a way for him to know you're fine, right?"
"If they could tell him, they would, but..." Applejack grumbled. "Can't breathe in space. Once they leave Wailord's body, that's it for them."
"It doesn't have to be!" Ash exclaimed. "No need to worry, Wailmer. We'll make sure Wailord knows you're fine. Then, those Projections are gonna be out of here."
"Pikachu!"
"Great, Ash. But there's still one other problem." Twilight pointed out. "How are they gonna eat and drink? I don't exactly see any food here and the Wailmer didn't go through any transformations like Wailord. They can breathe in this space but what else can they do?"
"Hmm...Good point." Ash pondered for a moment. "What about those planets? Aren't there any food or water on them?"
"Nope!" Doll raised her hoof in response, already having the answer to that. "If I had to guess, since they've been here for a year, those planets haven't had time to grow for enough food or water yet! Father taught me about stuff like that!"
"They'd need more than just one year. Especially for a new planet." Twilight explained. "It doesn't look like the Rift Energy is making those planets grow any faster."
"Then...I know what we gotta do. Pinkie Pie. Twilight. Rarity. You three have Pokemon that can breathe in space. You can tell Wailord what's going on inside first."
"Absolutely!" Twilight nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. "We'll use our Pokémon to communicate with Wailord and let him know about the Wailmer's safety and their current situation."
Pinkie Pie and Rarity readily agreed, ready to assist in any way they could. "You can count on us, Ash," Rarity affirmed, her determination matching that of her friends.
With their plan in motion, the group prepared to utilize their Pokémon's unique abilities to reach out to Wailord and provide him with the reassurance he desperately needed. It was a crucial step in easing Wailord's worries and restoring peace to the cosmic giant and his celestial domain.
"Go, Kartana!" Twilight threw her Pokemon into the air, summoning her new partner Kartana. Rarity would also summon Pheromosa while Mew was already prepared to take action, flying out of Pinkie Pie's mane.
"And as for the planets...Unown. Could you all do something about this?" Ash turned to face the Unown, relying on their own amazing power that comes into play when together.
The Unown responded with a synchronized hum, their collective energy pulsating with determination. As guardians of space and masters of the unknown and connected to Arceus, they were ready to preserve the life of any Pokemon.
"You know...If that doesn't work..." One of the pilots spoke. "This ship might have something. After all, it used to belong to aliens. Who knows what kind of technology they created?"
Ash's eyes widened at the pilot's suggestion, realizing the potential of the alien technology aboard the ship. "Oh yeah! For a second there, I forgot it's super advanced. Maybe something else in here still works that could help out!"
"Mew-Mew!" Mew, Pheromosa and Kartana all left the ship, taking to the cosmic skies. Twilight, Pinkie Pie and Rarity were all wishing them luck, hoping they could reach Wailord. After all, this galaxy was absolutely massive. They had a big mission on their plate and to think this all started after trying to stop Daybreaker's group.
Inbetween a gateway.
The gateway. Usually, a means to enter another world or location easily. But not this time. Standing in the middle of this gateway and surrounded by the Dimensional Stream was none other than Pokemon Ranger Jackie. In his arms, he still held the unconscious Empress Twilight, confused as to why he couldn't return.
"I don't get it. Where's the exit in this thing?" Jackie wondered when looking around him. By now, he should be back in the Ranger Union, but instead, this gateway was still leading to the ship of Empress Twilight.
"Jackie! Something's interfering with the gateway!" One of the dispatchers said when observing the oddity of this gateway. "It looks like it's that Dragon Matter."
"Dragon Matter..." Once again, it came into play. Rayquaza's efforts to fend off Daybreaker's forces succeeded but came with some drawbacks. This was one of them.
"Mmrgh..." Disturbed by all the Rift Energy, Empress Twilight was starting to wake up. Her eyes slowly opened to see Jackie's face and Jackie immediately noticed the Empress's awakening. "Y-You..." Naturally, she was not pleased at all.
Jackie was too late to send her into the Ranger Union thanks to this disturbed gateway. And now, until something was done about it, he was actually stuck here with the Empress once again, with the only way out being heading back to the ship.
Finding Rayquaza after he crashed into a meadow, Spike was currently bringing the Sky High Pokemon with him for healing. And at this very moment, he had Haxorus and Druddigon use their combined might to carry the Guardian of the Sky all the way over to Ponyville until the Late Afternoon Sun arose.
"Spike! W-What is that?!" Amethyst Star bellowed upon seeing Rayquaza's long body. All the other residents noticed this as it was practically impossible to do so.
"It's Rayquaza. Doing okay there, Haxorus?" Spike asked them both after they dropped the Sky High Pokemon.
"Haxo...Haxorus!" Haxorus and Druddigon panted after having to carry Rayquaza. It may be serpentine and long, but it has a ton of weight, as to be expected from the guardian of the sky.
"Sweet Celestia, Spike!" Mayor Mare galloped over with her Stoutland immediately. "You brought a Rayqauza here?! How?"
"Well, I was just in the meadow, training with Deino and all of a sudden, it just came crashing down." Spike explained with his recollection. "I mean, I couldn't just leave it there since it looked so hurt."
"How'd this happen?" One of the residents asked. More and more ponies gathered around Rayquazajust to gaze at the Sky High Pokemon. It's not every day they get to see such a powerful Legendary Pokemon, albeit in a weakened state. Just then, Rayquaza's eyes would open up.
They all grimaced, screeched and squealed upon seeing its eyes open. Some of them immediately zipped back out of fear. But even though Rayquaza's eyes were open, it couldn't exactly move.
Rayquaza wondered why this was the case before remembering how much power it used back in space. It used so much to the point where its own body was out of commission. But it could still raise his head, immediately towering over everyone else.
As Rayquaza raised its head, a hush fell over the crowd as they gazed up in awe at the majestic creature before them. Despite its weakened state, Rayquaza still exuded an aura of power and authority.
Rayquaza's golden eyes swept across the gathered crowd, taking in the sight of the ponies and their Pokémon companions. It had never found itself in such a setting before, surrounded by creatures so different from those it was accustomed to encountering in the vast expanse of the sky.
"I-Is it upset? It looks upset." A worried Snips and Snails collective said.
"I-I'm sure it's just recollecting its thoughts..." Carrot Top gulped.
"Why'd you bring it here and not Ponyville?" Mayor Mare grumbled, shifting her eyes in Spike's general directions.
"Here was closer, I swear." Spike sheepishly said before being started by Rayquaza's roar. The roar of the Sky High Pokemon alerted everyone as it rang through the azure skies. Rayquaza remembered how it got down here and needed to be back to the cosmos immediately before Daybreaker's forces potentially return to the moon in time.
As Rayquaza attempted to take flight once more, the crowd below watched with bated breath, anticipating the majestic sight of the legendary Pokémon soaring into the sky. However, to their surprise and concern, Rayquaza's efforts proved futile. With a strained exertion, Rayquaza's massive wings fluttered weakly, but it remained grounded, unable to lift its colossal body from the earth.
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd as they witnessed Rayquaza's struggle. Spike and his Pokémon team exchanged worried glances, realizing that the legendary creature's ordeal was far from over.
"Oh, it's just showing off. What were we worried about?" Derpy shrugged and scoffed, thinking that Rayquaza was only putting on a show.
"I don't think that's it. It can't fly at all." Starlight gasped after seeing Rayquaza's inability to fly. "How hard did it fall, Spike?"
"Pretty hard. Something must've happened in space for it to come crashing down like that." Spike theorized and he was definitely right on the mark.
However, after looking at all the ponies and Pokemon here and realizing how drained it was, Rayquaza would then spot Spike, who was the smallest here. Rayquaza actually saw Spike help it from that crater, carrying it all the way here. While this wasn't the preferred position, Rayquaza, despite being rather intimidating, was actually grateful for that.
"What's it saying?" Spike looked at the others, needing a translation.
"Don't look at me. I'm not Fluttershy." Roseluck shook her head, being out of the question. Since Fluttershy was not here at the moment, no one could translate what Rayquaza was saying.
"Hmm..." Spike had one other option. Looking at his hands, he let out a golden glow, using the Dragon Energy that he's been trained to use by other Dragon Trainers. While faint in comparison to others, Spike would try his hand at using this to communicate with Rayquaza. "Maybe this'll work."
Spike focused his energy, channeling the power of the Dragon Energy within him as he reached out to communicate with Rayquaza. A golden glow surrounded his hands, illuminating the darkness of the night as he directed his thoughts towards the legendary Pokémon.
Rayquaza, sensing the unique energy emanating from Spike, turned its attention towards the young dragon trainer, its gaze locking onto him with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.
"Can you actually do that with Rayquaza? Seems like a pretty big Pokemon for that if you ask me." Scootaloo questioned.
"I don't know..." Spike pondered for a moment, unsure himself.
In that moment, a silent exchange occurred between Spike and Rayquaza, transcending language barriers as their minds connected on a deeper level. Through the power of the Dragon Energy, Spike was able to reach Rayquaza in some way, much to his surprise.
Rayquaza, in turn, let out a cry of gratitude. The Sky High Pokemon certainly knew how to be grateful, knowing that it was Spike who came for it.
"Oh, it was nothing!" Spike chuckled.
"You understood it?! No way!" Apple Bloom let out a prolonged gasp after Spike briefly interacted with Rayquaza.
Spike smiled modestly, his cheeks flushing with a hint of embarrassment at the sudden attention. "Well, I'm not sure if I fully understood everything, but I think we had a moment there."
"Wonderful. So did you get anything else?" Mayor Mare asked.
"Well, Rayquaza can't go up anymore. Whatever happened up there drained it, so it's stuck. I guess it can just slither now?"
"Do we have to get it back up in the sky, or something?" Scootaloo questioned. "Is that what we have to do?"
"No use in doing that if it can't fly itself. It'll just drop like a noodle if we take it to the skies. If you ask me, it needs to rest."
But Rayquaza couldn't rest. It refused to. Not when the threats in outer space will be on the move again. Rayquaza managed to push them back to another galaxy but that wouldn't last for long. Alas, despite how stubbornly it wanted to head back into space, Rayquaza knew that it couldn't do so right now. It was stuck to the ground.
"I think Rayquaza wants to go back into space," Spike interjected, drawing the attention of the others. "But it's not in any condition to do so right now. It needs time to rest and recover."
"Just so you know...we are not taking care of Rayquaza." Mayor Mare shook her head, already knowing what Spike was thinking. "Fluttershy isn't here to do it herself, so there's only one pony you should go to."
"Uh...Not sure Nurse Joy's a pony." Spike scratched his head.
"Not her. Princess Celestia." Mayor Mare revealed. "I heard that she encountered Rayquaza once. I believe it was the same day she caught Arcanine and this might be the same Rayquaza she met a few years ago."
"Really?! Are you?!" Spike quickly turned to face the Sky High Pokemon. And Rayuaza didn't sugarcoat it either. It recognized that name indeed, especially the face. In fact, Rayquaza took on her alter-ego Daybreaker in space, who was the reason it crashed down to Earth in the first place.
"Speak to Princess Celestia and she'll know what to do with Rayquaza. Best be quick about it, Spike." Mayor Mare instructed.
"Great! But I don't think Haxorus and Druddigon can carry Rayquaza anymore. They're already tired."
"Ah, no need to worry about that." The Mayor flailed her hoof. "We can easily chime in and help you get Rayquaza there. Everypony. You know what to do."
"Aw, but I'm busy." Roseluck had plans for today, even if it was getting late in the afternoon. So did many others, but Mayor Mare didn't want to hear it. They were helping out Rayquaza either way.
With Mayor Mare's decisive instructions, the residents of Ponyville quickly sprang into action, rallying together to assist Spike in transporting Rayquaza to Princess Celestia. Despite their initial hesitations and conflicting schedules, the ponies went for it.
As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the landscape, a coordinated effort unfolded before Spike's eyes. Ponies and Pokemon of all shapes and sizes gathered around Rayquaza, each offering their support. It would take a lot of muscle to make this happen.
Thankfully, Big Mac's Machamp provided a lot of that muscle, easily lifting Rayquaza's body. But it wouldn't be enough to just lift Rayquaza. The Sky High Pokemon needed something to be in for easy and safe transportation, especially in its condition.
With Rayquaza's well-being in mind, the residents of Ponyville continued to brainstorm ways to ensure a safe and comfortable journey to Canterlot. Recognizing the need for a mode of transportation that would accommodate the legendary Pokémon's size and condition, they put their heads together to devise a plan.
"Use this!" Mr and Mrs Cake had the perfect response. Out of SugarCube Corner, they ended up pushing an absolutely massive cart.
"The size of that thing...Where'd you get this?!" Amethyst Star questioned.
"Pinkie Pie saves this thing for huge loads of food here and there, but it's rarely ever used. Now's a good time for it to come into play." Mrs Cake explained. "She won't mind if we use it once. Not that she's here right now."
"Hm. The perfect size." Mayor Mare observed, seeing how it was actually perfect for Rayquaza's size. And if Rayquaza curls its serpentine body, it'll be even easier. "Alright! Load it up!"
With its sturdy construction and spacious interior, the cart provided a secure and comfortable means of transporting the legendary Pokémon. Rayquaza, nestled within the confines of the cart, appeared visibly more at ease, its massive form cradled safely amidst the cushions and supports.
Spike and the other residents quickly sprang into action, securing Rayquaza within the cart and ensuring that it was positioned for maximum comfort and stability. With the help of Mr. and Mrs. Cake, they carefully manoeuvred the cart into position, readying it for the journey ahead.
"Aww, it looks so cute in there!" The CMC, Diamond Tiara and all the other young ones cooed and awed at Rayquaza's little resting spot. Rayquaza looked back at them, not too fond of being spoken to like that. But it didn't roar back in response. Instead, it continued to lie down there.
"I'd say it'll take at least 4 hours for you to get to Canterlot if you move at a nice pace. You can't rush it for Rayquaza's sake. Do you think you can do it alone, Spike?" Mayor Mare asked.
"I'm not alone. I've got my Pokemon with me. But I am gonna need a lot of help pushing and pulling this thing. Getting to Canterlot on foot isn't easy." Spike then took out one of his Poke Balls. "I'll ask Salamence if he wants to pull the cart. And if we need a push, Haxorus and Druddigon have my back. So do my other dragons."
"Wonderful. But just in case something weird happens, especially with all that Dragon and Fairy Matter going around...Starlight, Glimmer. Amethyst Star. Big Macintosh. Go with him as support."
Turning to his Pokémon team, Spike called forth Salamence from its Poké Ball, the mighty Dragon-type Pokémon emerging with a resolute expression. "Salamence, I need your help with just one thing for a while."
With the team assembled and the cart prepared, Spike and his companions set off towards Canterlot with Rayquaza as their passenger. Everyone wished them safe travels, hoping that nothing would go wrong out there. Especially since it might become nighttime fairly soon.
Inbetween the gateway.
Meanwhile, back in the middle of the gateway, Jackie and Empress Twilight were still there thanks to the Dragon Matter disrupting it. The dimensional energy in the gateway disturbed the Empress enough to finally wake her up.
"Finally awake?" Jackie spoke to her once she awoke. "You're lucky. I can't exactly apprehend you since we're stuck in the middle of this.
"Hah...Aaaah!" The Empress screeched, harming Jackie's eardrums in the process. "How dare you?!" After harming his eardrums, despite feeling weak at the moment, the Empress would aggressively slap her hoof across Jackie's face repeatedly.
"Ow-ow!" Jackie cried out after receiving multiple face slaps.
"You've got some nerve! Doing this to me while I'm out! Where are we?!" She questioned while continuing to slap Jackie.
"In!" Jackie's sentences were paused due to each slap from Empress Twilight. "Between! A...Gateway!"
"What!? That can't be!" The Empress actually stopped in response to those words, letting Jackie's face rest.
"Whew..." Jackie shook his head after those ferocious slaps. "Oh, it be. Thanks to you all being up to no good, Rayquaza used Dragon Matter and that completely jammed the gateway."
"The Dragon Matter caused this? You're lying."
"Nope. There's only one exit and it's back to your ship. See for yourself." Jackie would then turn the Empress to the only exit in this gateway. "No way I'm going back there. I can just wait until the Union gets this thing working again."
"Tch. I should've seen this coming. Different forms of matter can interact with gateways in various ways."
"Hm? You knew this from the start?"
"Of course I did. But I didn't anticipate the Dragon Matter. The worst I would have to watch out for is Dark Matter or Anti Matter." The Empress scoffed. "At least I can keep that in mind the net time I use a gateway. And how unfortunate for you that Rayquaza foiled your plans as well."
"Well, not forever. I've got time." Jackie smiled. "Plus, if you head back there, you're gonna be pretty confused. Pretty sure your ship and everyone else are in a completely different galaxy thanks to Rayquaza. And your ship definitely got the worst of it."
"Irrelevant." The Empress crossed her hooves. "I have a backup ship. My empire is crippled, not destroyed. I'll always come back, no matter what. Even when I am in your strong grasp I won't be stopped."
"Well, you could just leave my arms right now." Jackie chuckled, causing the Empress to scowl..
"I need time to recover, but I promise you...when I do, you'll be sorry."
"Okay then." Jackie was already prepared to drop the Empress. "Guess I can do my best to leave you here by-"
"I DIDN'T SAY TO PUT ME DOWN!" She would bellow at the top of her lungs, using the Royal Canterlot Voice as well to elevate it. After realizing what she just said, she looked Jackie in the eyes for a moment. And after a few seconds of silence, the Empress closed her eyes as if nothing happened, trying to shrug it off.
"Alright. How long until this thing opens up on the other side?" Jackie spoke to the dispatch.
"Well, on the bright side, it didn't take that long to for it to do something else." One of the dispatchers at the Ranger Union spoke. "But....something else is wrong. The Dragon Matter doesn't look like it's finished just yet."
"What? What's wrong?" Jackie asked. This even caused Empress Twilight to open her eyes, curious on what else could be happening.
"The gateway is stretching! It's growing in length and gaining its own pull!" The dispatcher exclaimed. "It's acting almost like a vortex!"
"Which side?!" Jackie turned to face the exit, but saw that things were perfectly normal there. Nothing was occurring on that side. Instead, it was the other side that was an issue. He turned his head to see the other side growing in length, slowly opening up.
"It's becoming its own vortex!" The Empress gasped, already knowing what this was. "It could do more than just swallow us and everything else outside it. "It could dissolve our bodies!"
The gateway would then pulsate as the Dragon Matter could be seen bursting through it. This erratic energy was truly violent in so many ways, doing this to a gateway. The pressure it brought flew in their direction, causing Jackie to hold the Empress closely to him, shielding her from most of the pressure.
Jackie then looked back at the gateway, fearing for his fellow rangers including everyone else in there. This was already getting even uglier. "No other option but to warn them all!" Jackie immediately made his way to the exit of the gateway, deciding to return to the ship of the Empress.
Outer Space. The Solar Sword.
Those on the Solar Sword were not yet aware of this incoming vortex that was currently stretching. With their ships damaged from the Dragon Mater, many of them were struggling to pick up on this. Except for Sunrise Sparkle. The alter-ego of Twilight Sparkle sensed this herself.
"Your majesty! Something's slowly heading this way!" Sunrise Sparkle said when monitoring her own screen. "It's a gateway. it seems to be elongating in size."
"A gateway? Is it one of our own?"
"I don't think so. There wasn't a transmission from our universe. It's coming from Empress Twilight's ship though. Whichever gateway it is, the Dragon Matter must have gotten to it as well, because the pressure it's emitting..."
"It looks a lot like a Vortex!" Moondancer gasped and so did the other crew members.
"Hmph. As if it's going to swallow us." Daybreaker scoffed even in the presence of something that could very much end her and everything she has. "We'll deal with this vortex. You'll go straight for that gateway and subdue it."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Sunrise Sparkle nodded as she would personally go there herself along with other ponies who were managing the ship. Now, a few of them remained to manage things, only further worrying Cozy Glow.
"Your majesty. We're closing in on the edge of this galaxy. But we aren't sure if it will take us back to the one we were previously at." One of the ponies said. "This galaxy seems to have some sort of wall around it."
"So you say? A perfect time to use one of the Solar Sword's greatest assets. We'll pierce that galaxy wall.
In the far distance, the screen showed Daybreaker and everyone a massive Galaxy Wall, blocking them from entering the next galaxy. But to Daybreaker, she saw it as something else that could be shattered, no matter how massive the boundary may be.
As for the Dragon Matter, the aftermath of it was crackling around the ships, showing that it wasn't quite done. Coupled with the potions from before, it was leading to even more trouble for them.
The Wailord Galaxy.
The Wailord Galaxy.
Approximately 100,000 light-years in its Galactic Diameter with it being a completely sentient galaxy since it was Wailord himself. Transformed by Rift Energy, he now wanders the cosmos while having his own cosmos within him, where his family was at.
Unfortunately, he was unable to see them or even hear them. All he could see was the universe around him and while it was beautiful, it did not remove his smile.
Meanwhile, inside of his body, at this very moment, Mew, Pheromosa and Kartana were on their way to try and speak to Wailord since they could breathe outside of Wailord's own Solar System. They flew as fast as they could through the cosmos, hoping to find the exit.
Pheromosa squinted her eyes, unsure if they were anywhere near close to the exit. If they at least see something that looks like teeth, that'll be a good enough sign. Mew saw that they weren't going any faster at this rate. Plus, Pheromosa was only really fast on foot, not by floating through space.
"Mew..!" Seeing this, Mew knew that he had to accelerate everyone and the best way to do that was to become a Pokemon that was adept in the cosmos. With his body flashing a beautiful colour, Mew transformed himself in Palkia, emerging as the Spatial Pokemon.
Once he emerged as Palkia, he carried Pheromosa and Kartana on his back and the speed difference definitely showed. Mew travelled at a quicker rate as Palkia which was surprising since Palkia is a much larger Pokemon. However, it was that same reason that it was the Creator of Space.
With this, they could approach Wailord a bit quicker. Hopefully.
Meanwhile, Ash and the others had come across one of the many planets found in Wailord's Galaxy. One of which was a planet that looked older than the rest but not by much This planet could be seen with Water around at least so that was a start while the others were rather dry and just starting out. But with the Wailmer having no food and starving for an entire year this was not good enough. At least they had water, even if it was the entire planet.
"Is that planet good enough?" Pinkie Pie questioned.
"I'd say so. The Unown could help it out." Twilight commented.
"There's only 9 Unown here. Are we sure that's enough?" Applejack wasn't 100% sure about this. 9 Unown wasn't a lot. They could do great things but what does that mean to a planet?
"It doesn't have to be something massive. It just needs to be something small with a ton of impact. Like a seed. Not sure how that would work on a planet full of nothing but water. Go for it, Unown. Do your best."
The Unown would use Hidden Power on the planet from afar, sending a crimson ray forward. However, 9 Unown couldn't possibly fix this, even though they were pouring everything they had. Twilight scrunched her face, hoping they could pull something off. And if not, she was counting on Ash to discover something the aliens left behind that could help.
Speaking of Ash, he was currently with Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, exploring more of the spaceship. And when moving across this absolutely massive ship's interior and many rooms, they found one room located in the far west.
At the centre of this wide room stands a circular platform, upon which unknown symbols and letters of significance are inscribed, glowing softly with a green energy. Surrounding the platform are various apparatuses and other instruments. The place they appeared in looked like some sort of forge with multiple sections being visible across the room.
They weren't sure what this room was for, but they'll do what they can to get something good out of it. The aliens left this all behind and the Unown repaired it. Surely, it had to have some use.
When searching for a way to help the Wailmer, Ash, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash came across one of the many rooms in this alien ship. A wide room with many other sections, coupled with apparatus' and other items.
"What is this stuff?" Ash asked when looking at the apparatus on the desks. Nothing was in them at all. Most likely, when the aliens last left this ship, any kind of liquid had outright vanished over the years. "This place kinda looks like a lab."
The air was heavy with the scent of unfamiliar chemicals, making it clear that this room was indeed some kind of laboratory. Even after all of these years, the scent was still present.
"If I could just read this stuff..." Rainbow Dash grumbled when looking at the symbols. In front of her, there was an alien language, potentially explaining what this room was. But alas, it was pointless. Not even the Pokemon could read it.
"Some of this stuff has to do something. Let's try one of these rooms." Ash opted to take a swing at the rooms. Open entering the one in the middle, the door would automatically open up in response to his presence. Ash and Pikachu squinted their eyes as a blazing hot pressure came their way and was felt by the others.
And past that light and heat, the room was dominated by a large, circular hearth at its centre, surrounded by towering pillars of a material that resembled obsidian and flame-licked walls adorned with odd fire.
This fire emitted a radiant energy, pulsating with vibrant colours ranging from crimson reds to sapphire blues. This was certainly not ordinary fire and once Ash and Pikachu stood in the room, the heat they felt before was no longer there. Instead, it had an innate warmth despite showing no signs of it.
"Wow..." Ash gawked at the fiery area.
"Pikachu..." So did Pikachu, taking in the warmth of this place.
The hearth itself was a mesmerizing spectacle, possessing some sort of molten substance that resembled lava. Unlike lava, this substance casted an eerie greenish light that was as bright as a lampost.
"What is this stuff?" Ash said when getting close to the substance. His body was also near the fire which was soothing to be near.
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash soon felt it, taking it all in as it had a welcoming presence to it. And when looking at this room a bit longer, they saw that it was some kind of forge. It seemed that even the aliens possessed their own forgery and they could be found on a ship of all things.
Some kind of anvil with an odd shape was seen as well as bizarrely shaped tools. "It's a forgery..." Fluttershy gasped once she got a better look at it. But there was something else that caught her attention. Two other things to be exact. Nearby was a row of what appeared to be seats. Rows of them that were still intact to this day, implying that the aliens would take a seat away from the work. But for what reason? In Fluttershy's mind, there was only one possibility.
And right in the middle of it all, At the heart of this forgery lies a massive Crucible of those unique flames, a massive vessel forged from the obsidian-like material.
"This must be some kind of classroom!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "Maybe aliens came here to learn. Like how we used to with Design and Technology when we were young."
"Ugh. I hated D&T." Rainbow Dash already had unpleasant memories of such classes. She never wanted to be in something like that ever again, but lo and behold, it happened once more, this time in outer space.
"A classroom and a forgery, huh?" Ash thought for a moment. "So there's gotta be instructions here somewhere! We can start making something that could help!"
"How about...that?" Fluttershy's fixated her eyes on the walls of the room as eight glowing buttons could be seen floating in midair, not even touching the walls. They also moved across the walls and ceiling, never staying in one place. Ash and the others could see that they were interactive, so they immediately went for it. Pikachu leapt off Ash's shoulder, lunging forward and outstretching his paw straight towards one of the buttons.
"Pi!" With impressive precision, Pikachu pressed the button, being the first to interact with it in centuries. And from it, an eerie light would fly out of it, summoning what appeared to be a screen. The light would then scan Pikachu's body, then Ash and Fluttershy's, going up and down before showing something on the screen.
On it, the visage of an alien showed up. Most likely one of the aliens that used to be on this ship. The way this was laid out looked to be some sort of tutorial video and after the alien spoke, it was confirmed. "Hello! You've selected an alternate language for this tutorial. Most likely, you are from that blue marble known as Earth. Welcome to the Larstar Xyreflame Forgery Class, dedicated to the exploration and manipulation of elemental forces at their most fundamental level."
"Elemental?" Ash repeated before looking at the bizarre flames.
"This Tutorial will show you how to forge Xyreflamess and Nethcore. With this, you'll be able to make items for your daily leisure. Or, to any earthlings watching this such as the one they called Windkiss, to you, they can be items that can revolutionize many things."
"Windkiss was here too?" Ash said after Windkiss's name was brought up.
"Items that interact with an entire world, or the cosmos themselves. For any earthlings watching this, we will make it simple for you and show you a tutorial on how to make a miniature Cloud Stopper. If you wish to cease all functions from a cloud and store it yourself, here's how it's done."
"Cloud? That's a good start!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as her job as a pegasus was dealing with clouds after all. "If we add clothes, we can get somewhere!"
"It won't be like how we usually create clouds." Fluttershy pointed out. Since this was outer space and all the planets were devoid of so many things, there was a lack of any clouds anywhere.
"Let's go bigger than that." But Ash wished to go bigger than just clouds, wanting the Wailmer to be fed well at once. At that moment, the light from the screen reacted to Ash's request, scanning him.
"If you wish to advance to the next stage so soon, a foolish mistake." The alien said with a chuckle. "But for any Earthling foolish enough to proceed in such a way, here are the recipes for various items of this stage."
From the screen, projections of multiple environments would show up. There was one specific theme with them that Ash and the others noticed. Since this tutorial was geared to those from Earth, everything on the screen was related to that planet. The letters shown underneath these items were translated for them instead of being in the alien's natural language.
"Check it out! Grass Generator! Cobblestone Constructor! Floral Forger!" Fluttershy began listing off the items that could be made. "These are all things back on Earth. How'd it know...?"
"Since Windkiss was here and we all found the ship back on Earth, that's gotta be how they know about what we have." Ash answered. It was all being clear to them now. This whole ship may be advanced but it wasn't impossible to understand. "Okay! Let's get to work!"
Now, they had something they could do. And when looking at this room, they started to realize that the other rooms most likely follow the same principle. The items on the table now made sense as Ash picked some of them up, not needing any gloves.
In fact, no gloves, goggles or other gear were needed for this. The Xyreflames didn't seem to be dangerous due to their warmth and nature. They could do this as they were now. Excited to start their work, Ash, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash carefully followed the instructions laid out in the tutorial.
This was all alien to them, but they weren't about to let that deter them. For the sake of the Wailord, they could make it work. With the assistance of the alien technology and the guidance provided, they began to manipulate the unique flames of the forge, shaping them into the desired forms.
Back at that mysterious planet that was nothing but Water, the Unown just couldn't do anything. Their Hidden Power brought no powerful change to the planet and already, they were exhausted. They just couldn't keep this up. Exhausted, they flew back to the ship to recover.
"No good?!" Pinkie Pie bellowed. "Now what?!"
Twilight and the others gathered around, their faces reflecting worry as they observed the tired Unown. They had put so much effort into trying to help the planet, yet it seemed their powers were not enough to bring about the desired change.
"We could wait for Ash, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash to come back, but there's something else I want to try." Twilight said, having one other option on the table. "From her saddlebag, she revealed her two Z-Crystals. The Normalium Z and her exclusive Z-Crystal, the Twilightium Z."
"Are you going to use the Z-Crystals on that planet, darling?" Rarity questioned. "Will that even work?"
"I hope so. The Normalium Z should do something." Even Twilight wasn't 100% sure. "The Twilightium Z will be my backup and if neither of those two work, then I'll try another plan."
"I don't know...Z-Moves ain't that strong, Twilight." Applejack shook her head.
"Even if it's just a small portion..." Twilight gazed at her crystals, wanting this to work. But before she could try it out, after the Unown had unloaded a ton of Hidden Power onto the planet, something was happening to it.
Everyone's eyes were fixated on the planet that was pulsating. Could it be that Unown managed to succeed? Not at all. Instead, this was something else. Something rather terrifying. From the planet, one of the Astral Projections were appearing once more, but this time, with the element of water. Huge claws emerged from the planet itself along with its terrifying face. It was also taking the shape of something else that started to cover the entire planet.
Everyone looked as an Aquatic Astral Projection of a Wailord was created. But this was not their father. Instead, it was but a corrupted version of him, being yet another example of Wailord's fear for his family taking form. This time, the form of this fear looked a lot like Wailord.
As the corrupted Aquatic Astral Projection of Wailord emerged from the planet, a wave of shock and concern washed over the group. They watched in horror as the twisted manifestation of Wailord's fear took shape before their eyes.
"What... what is that?" Pinkie Pie gasped, her eyes wide with alarm. The Wailmer were especially terrified, knowing that was not their father.
"That... that ain't Wailord!" Applejack exclaimed, her voice trembling with fear. "It's... something else...!"
"It's his fear," Twilight realized, her expression grave. "Wailord's fear of his family are just getting worse. And now it's taken the shape of him..."
The corrupted Wailord let out a deafening roar, its monstrous form casting a shadow over the entire planet. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent light as it turned its gaze toward the group, its intentions clear.
But there was a reason for such a fear. Equestrian Wailord was already worried for his family after all and those fears were only growing from here. But from the outside, Wailord noticed something. Thanks to his astronomical size, the Equestrian Variant saw something in the distance.
Right before his very eyes, the Solar Sword of Daybreaker was seen. The Galactic Pokemon already saw how dangerous it was from a first glance. And from his own eyes, he saw what this ship was capable of.
In the way of the ship was the wall of Galaxies, which was a blockade to the galaxy they all knew of. Breaking this would mean one step closer to that galaxy. At this very moment, Daybreaker's forces were close to Ash's group, all thanks to Wailord's gigantic size.
"Pierce through it," Daybreaker ordered, wanting that wall of galaxies out of the way. With the ship's engines thrumming with power, the Solar Sword positioned itself before the fracture. With a surge of energy, the ship activated one of its most potent weapons.
The front of the Solar Sword suddenly ignited, gaining a blazing aura around it and living up to its name. The entire ship was set on fire, but it did not cause any harm to those inside and neither did they feel warm at all. With a solar-like burst, the ship would speed up, going straight for the Galaxy Wall. Cozy Glow screeched as she braced herself for the astronomical impact.
With just one hit, cracks spiderwebbed across the surface in a second as the ship had enough power to deal such massive damage to it immediately. With a deafening roar that reverberated throughout the cosmos, the barrier gave way.
A blinding burst of light erupted as the Solar Sword pierced through the Galaxy Wall, shattering its once-impenetrable facade.
Wailord was in awe and absolute horror. He had just witnessed a wall that was in between two galaxies fall apart. While he wasn't exactly knowledgable on the wonders of space, he knew that it was disgustingly dangerous either way. And unfortunately, his fear of what could happen next kicked in.
He feared that he was next. Wailord was as large as a Galaxy. He could even see other galaxies from afar. The Galactic Pokemon was worried that this massive weapon could target him and by extension, his children and Lapras. He had no idea if they were fine at the moment which only added to his fears and worries, leading to such a problem happening back inside his own galaxy.
"What is that..?" And of course, it didn't take long for Daybreaker's forces to spot Wailord. Instead of the usual galaxy they knew, the one standing in their way seemed to be Wailord's galaxy. Jaws dropped at the size of this Pokemon. It was bigger than any Pokemon they have ever seen and possibly ever will see.
"That's not it. But the signature of this galaxy is similar to ours." One of the crew members said when looking at the screen. Indeed, the Galaxy of the Milky Way and Wailord's Galaxy had a somewhat similar design and layout but with differences here and there.
"That Galaxy's a Pokemon..." Daybreaker looked on in astonishment. It was impossible to miss it since Wailord's Galaxy was absolutely gargantuan. They all recognized it as a sentient entity, recognizing the look of a Wailord anywhere.
"Actually...Since that is a Wailord...The amount of light energy from it must be outrageous." Being the opportunist that she was, Daybreaker also saw this as a way to feed Necrozma some more. She hit the jackpot truly by finding Wailord. Not that he was hard to miss either way.
"You're gonna have Necrozma absorb that?! No way!" Cozy Glow saw it as outlandish. Even those on Daybreaker's ship felt the same. This was larger than anything Daybreaker has had to tackle.
"Y-Your majesty?! Are you sure?!"
"Positive. You all need to have some faith." Daybreaker chuckled. "Look at that thing. No matter the size or shape, it is a Pokemon. Therefore, it has light energy. And I can bet this one has among some the highest out there. Second to maybe Arceus himself."
"Does he even know that we're here?" Gardevoir said when looking at Wailord. She closed her eyes, using her Psychic abilities to read Wailord from afar. Her vision travelled across the cosmos, reaching Wailord's massive size and looking straight into his mind. Immediately, the Embrace Pokemon felt one thing only. Fear and Worry. Two things powering the horrors within his galaxy. "Oh...He definitely knows we're here."
"So it actually is alive?!" Some ponies didn't think the Wailord Galaxy was actually sentient. Now, it was confirmed.
"Let's not battle it, shall we?" Daybreaker got off her throne. "Let's take a different approach. How about a capture? I tried that with Rayquaza but was a bit too late to take a swing at it. This one will be different."
"You're going to catch that thing?!" Cozy Glow pointed her hoof at the Wailord Galaxy. "Look at it! I can only see its eyes and teeth!"
"Why yes. Ready a Master Ball." Daybreaker ordered and immediately from the roof of this room, a hatch would open, dropping a Master Ball to the ground. "With a target that big, I can't miss."
"Where will we keep such a Pokemon after we catch it, Your Majesty?" One pony raised a good point. If successful, this would be the biggest catch of all time but where would Equestria Wailord even be?
"Our own Universe, of course," Daybreaker answered that easily. "Many of the planets in the South Galaxy have been cleared out and destroyed. We can replace it with Wailord. Get me into range."
With the order, the Solar Sword was directed straight towards the Wailord Galaxy, much to the Galactic Pokemon's chagrin. Now, he was a target. He let out a gigantic cry that was louder than any Pokemon cry in existence, opening his mouth wide and shaking the cosmos themselves.
"WAILORD!"
He would generate a sound wave of astronomical proportions, with an intensity far beyond anything experienced on Earth. The cry of Equestrian Wailord would reverberate throughout its entire galaxy, reaching every corner of its cosmic domain. Additionally, the sound waves could potentially propagate beyond the borders of the galaxy, echoing across neighbouring galaxies in the cosmic expanse.
"Ngh!" Daybreaker grunted as everyone in the Solar Sword and the other ships felt the cry. The sheer magnitude of Wailord's cry would be incomprehensible to most beings. It could induce awe and wonder in those who hear it, evoking a sense of reverence for the cosmic forces at play. The force of it was altering the fabric and time and space itself.
Clearly, this was the first time Wailord has ever let out such a cry when knowing what was coming. The planets trembled, the stars would pulsate and the nebula and other cosmic forces out there would fluctuate in response to this cry. Cozy Glow screamed in terror of this horrifying noise as this was far too much for someone her age to hear.
Shielding her from this was Daybreaker, who used her magic to generate a Sound-Draining Field. It enveloped all the ships near and far, making sure no one else would have to hear this horrific sound. Or at least, cushion the sound.
And indeed she did. Daybreaker's Spell was powerful enough to shield their ears as the sound of Wailord's cry resembled that of a million thunderstorms. Still incredibly loud but not as loud as it actually was at the very moment.
Milky Way Galaxy. Planet Earth. Equestria. Deerling Forest. Late Afternoon.
The sound was so titanic that it managed to pass through the gateway that led to Equestria, hidden in one of the ships. Granted, it was delayed but still prominent. The Deerling, Sawsbuck and other Pokemon that were enjoying their day were immediately disturbed by this cosmic sound.
"D-Deer!" Some of the Deerling groaned while others went flying. The many Pokemon here were caught off guard by this and no one saw it coming. Not the trees, not even the sky and especially not the Pikachu Highlands which were nearby.
Thankfully, it only reached those areas but it was still detrimental. Wailord's cry of fear began crushing the trees and causing earthquakes that would reverberate across the land. The Pokemon all looked over at the gateway, wondering what on Earth was going on in there.
As for the gateway itself, because of Equestrian Wailord's cry, the destructive nature of it becoming its own vortex would accelerate. It had been disturbed and was shaking violently.
Empress Twilight's Ship.
With the sound going through all the ships, all those in Empress Twilight's ship felt the intensity of the cry. Even those who woke up were woken up by it.
Jackie was still holding the Empress as they both heard the cry from outside. Not only that, they also saw the Equestrian Variant from afar, only spotting his face. That was the most they could see due to how large he was.
He was so large that his eyes were similar to Black Holes and the front of his body was just one big star cloud. And yet, they could still tell that it was a Wailord.
"The size of that fella!" Jackie whistled. "Too bad we might not get to see it for too long unless we stop that gateway!"
"Jackie...What's going on?" One of the rangers asked after getting back up along with some of Empress Twilight's soldiers. All of them were waking up now.
"We don't have much time to explain it all. But all you gotta know is that our gateway's out of control and might swallow and crush us!" Jackie gave a simplified explanation.
And he wouldn't have to explain any further. The gateway was doing it for him. Right before their very eyes, the Vortex Gateway was tearing down this entire shape, destroying everything that had been built around it. Many items were being crushed and lost to the Rift as it was now accelerating thanks to Wailord's actions.
Seeing this, the Rangers and Empress Twilight's forces immediately ran off. They still had to find a way out of here before the vortex takes them all. That includes Daybreaker's group since it would not stop at just this ship. But so far, no one has been able to figure something out. All they've been able to do see it and run. This ship was already beyond saving, unable to start up or more anymore with some of its engines being destroyed. The only other option was to head to the other ships and find a way out of this galaxy.
However, standing in their way was none other than Sunrise Sparkle, unbothered by what was going on outside. She was joined by other ponies who came from Daybreaker's ship just to deal with the threat of the Vortex Gateway.
"Ah, finally! What took you so long?!" Empress Twilight groaned. Sunrise took a look at the scenario, gazing at the incoming vortex and the Equestrian Wailord outside.
"Pathetic" Sunrise Sparkle scoffed at such a scenario. "Unable to easily solve such an issue? To think you and I are the same pony."
"What was that?!" The Empress roared, attempting to trot up to Sunrise Sparkle, only to feel her wings tremble. She couldn't be hasty since she hasn't received proper care and treatment.
"All of you Pokemon Rangers...You'll be left here to perish with the vortex." Sunrise spoke with a cold tone. "And only then will we stop it."
"As if." Jackie chuckled, refusing to let that happen. "We don't have much time. That gateway's getting faster and faster!"
"He's right. It's moving at a quicker rate than before." Moondancer pointed out. "It looks like it's gotten stronger as well!"
"In that case...We can afford to lose a few bodies." The way Sunrise Sparkle said that was rather haunting. With a flash from her eyes and horn, she suddenly cast a spell that created a propelling force.
It was used on a wide radius in front of her, directed towards Jackie and his group. But this also meant Empress Twilight''s forces were affected too. The force travelled far, immediately reaching the gateway. Moondancer and the other unicorns would cast the same spell, merging it with Sunrise Sparke's.
"W-What do you think you're doing?!" The Empress looked behind her and then back at Sunrise's group.
"The only way to stop it is to condense the gateway. But of course, this will have massive reprecussions. An explosion is inevitable." Sunrise Sparkle explained. "There is a high chance all of you will be crushed in the explosion or the vacuum of space will finish you off either way."
"You're trying to take me out as well?! How dare you?!"
"Not quite. I'm not interested in keeping you around. If anything, I can be better than you will ever be. I have no idea why the Empress decided to put her trust in you, especially after your Empire took a colossal hit. You are an absolute weakling. After all, you used to be Human."
"Ghh...!" Empress Twilight snarled as Sunrise referred to when she was Sci-Twi who eventually became Midnight Sparkle.
"The Empress does want you around. It could be so easy to let you perish here." Sunrise Sparkle revealed her dark tendencies, actually thinking of letting Empress Twilight suffer here. "I could become the new Empress Twilight one day. My own Empress, side by side with her majesty. But she does want you around either way."
"You were a fool to tell me such a thing." Empress Twilight would not let any of that pass, especially now that she knew what Sunrise Sparkle's intentions were.
As the vortex continued to swallow the ship, the Pokemon Rangers and the ponies were feeling their bodies leaving the air. The pull of the vortex was intensifying to the point where they were starting to feel it. Seeing this, Empress Twilight, despite being weakened, immediately used magic to try and propel herself forward.
She closed her eyes, enveloping herself in a magical aura. However, she had little control right now and thus, the aura enveloped Jackie too. The gateway behind them was slowly being condensed thanks to the force as Jackie was starting to move forward.
"You're going to pay for this!" Empress Twilight's irritation led to exacting vengeance on another group closer to her.
"Hold it!" Jackie halted the Empress from doing anything else. "You'll take yourself out being so reckless! Let's just get out of here! And this spell you've cast is pretty useful!"
Using this to his advantage, Jackie would run, managing to ignore the pull of the gateway in the distance. He would have to help the rest of his fellow rangers and even the troops of Empress Twilight.
No matter what, Jackie wasn't letting anyone perish here. Sunrise Sparkle felt differently. Seeing Jackie move, her eyes would glow as she unleashed a blast in Jackie's general direction, scraping his jacket and leaving a hole in it. Jackie grimaced as the alter-ego of Twilight Sparkle was dead-serious. She believed she could stop the gateway while also taking care of the Pokemon Rangers at the same time. Truly terrifying and befitting of the Solar Empire.
At this moment, Spike was on his way to get Rayquaza over to Princess Celestia. Joined by Starlight Glimmer, Big Macintosh and Amethyst Star, he would be protected in the wild from any violent events caused by Dragon Matter. As the afternoon Sun turned into a deeper orange, signs of the night were beginning to show as a beautiful Twilight could be seen.
Spike glanced up at the sky, noting the soft hues of orange, blue and pink that painted the heavens above. The air was filled with a sense of anticipation and determination, a palpable energy that buoyed their spirits as they set out on their mission.
Salamence took the lead, only walking across the land instead of flying. He would only fly in neccessary. The Dragon-type Pokémon moved with grace and precision, its movements steady and sure despite the weight it bore. Haxorus and Druddigon flanked the cart, their imposing figures serving as both protection and assistance along the journey.
As they traversed the winding roads and rolling hills of the countryside, the landscape unfolded before them in a showcase of vibrant colours and lush greenery. Trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling softly as if whispering words of encouragement to the travellers passing below.
All the while, Rayquaza was silent, not making a single noise and instead waiting for when it arrives at Canterlot.
"Skitty!" Leaping into Rayquaza's cart was Amethyst's Skitty, who was curious about the Sky High Pokemon.
"Ah! Don't bother it, Skitty!" Amethyst Star cried out. But Skitty couldn't help herself.
"Deino!" It wasn't just Skitty, but also Deino who hopped into the cart, gazing at his fellow Dragon-Type. Rayquaza let out a mild roar before seeing Deino and Skitty around his cart, moving past the small gaps where his body doesn't fit.
Immediately, as a force of habit, Deino bit into Rayquaza's face, causing Spike to grimace. It didn't help that Skitty started jumping on his body too. Seeing that made him and Starlight Glimmer's Amethyst Star's hearts rush, fearing that Rayquaza might get upset. Quickly, Machamp picked both of them up, distancing them from Rayquaza.
Thankfully, Rayquaza did not react in a hostile manner or anything similar to that. He didn't seem to care all that much, surprisingly. Despite the playful antics of Skitty and Deino, the legendary Pokémon remained unfazed, its gaze fixed on the horizon as it awaited its arrival in Canterlot.
"Whew.." The three of them let out relieved sighs. It's moments like this where they're constantly reminded that some Pokemon do act their size.
"It's a good thing Legendary Pokemon are so understanding..." Starlight sighed.
"Yeah. How much longer do you think it'll take for us to get to Canterlot at this rate?" Spike asked.
"So far, so good. Everything seems fine out here." Amethyst Star noticed.
But at that moment, it appeared. That titanic sound that came from the Wailord Galaxy. Done by Wailord himself. The soundwave travelled through the gateway, right over at the west where Deerling Forest was. The sound it made was cushioned thanks to the gateway, but it was still fierce as it let out a bass-like sound.
Spike and everyone grimaced at the sound which shook the winds themselves. Something that sounded like a million thunderstorms passed through, shaking the trees and the hills. Skitty and Deino went rolling thanks to the pressure, only to be caught by Machamp once more.
"W-What was that?!" Amethyst Star gaped, absolutely stunned by what she had just heard. "A thunderstorm?!"
"There's no rain though! The clouds look perfectly fine too!" Starlight gazed at the heavenly skies, seeing no sign of a thunderstorm at all.
Unaware of what caused that, they were at least going to figure out what else it caused. As the sound waves of Equestrian Wailord echoed through the land, there was a moment of silence and confusion amongst them all.
At that moment, with the trees and blades of grass flowing and the wind shaking, Rayquaza raised his head, knowing something was terribly wrong and sensed a familiar energy. With a roar, he sensed the presence of Dragon Matter. Right on time, thanks to Wailord's tremendous cry, the Dragon Matter had been disturbed, immediately erupting from the ground below.
The group gasped upon seeing this arcane energy emerging, ripping the beautiful hills apart. Like a blade, it cut through the Earth, consuming the grass and morphing the one lush land into something that some of the most fiercest Dragons would reside in. Crags and all. Immedately, Amethyst Star was beginning to panic.
"It's alright! If you get behind me and my Dragons, you'll be fine! The Dragon Matter doesn't affect us!" Spike confidently said, already knowing an immunity to the Dragon Matter.
"Yeah, but it can still pass through you!" Starlight pointed out, making Spike grimace. That just made him panic as well.
"Uh...Umm! Quick, Haxorus! Druddigon! Try and stop it!"
"Haxo!" Haxorus and -Druddigon stood before the Dragon Matter, using their combined strength to hold its advances. Both struck the ground itself with Close Combat and Superpower. Two of some of the strongest Fighting-Type attacks there. They would also rip the Earth, summoning golden and orange energy rays from below that streaked forward.
On opposing sides, the Dragon Matter and the Fighting Attacks clashed, bringing about a gloriously dazzling yet ferocious spark. The Dragon Matter howled and roared when meeting with these two attacks, rippling and pulsating aggressively. Spike bit his thumb, hoping that this would be enough to stop it.
But while Close Combat and Superpower managed to hold the Dragon Matter back, it did not last. The two attacks would eventually combust in front of the energy, leaving behind a crater as rocks would fly. But those rocks would soon be consumed into the Draconic Void as the energy kept moving, only held back for a while.
"Let's pick up the pace! Move, move!" Amethyst Star wasn't looking forward to staying in this spot for that long. Immediately, she shoved her hoof on the cart, attempting to push it forward.
"Good idea! It's risky, but let's move faster, Salamence!" Spike suggested, hopping into the cart to take a ride. Salamence was about to pick up the pace, making this ride rockier. One by one, the ponies and the Pokemon hopped into the cart with some landing on Rayquaza's body. Staying outside of the cart were the larger Pokemon such as Haxorus, Machamp and Druddigon.
Speaking of Machamp, he would stay at the back, letting everyone else move ahead first. "Sala!" Salamence roared as he was on the move, increasing his speed on the ground. He was definitely much faster when it came to the sky but even that couldn't be risked at the moment.
The Dragon Matter was actually heading in their general direction instead of going through random locations, almost as if it was locked onto the group. It painted the land with its violent movements, transforming parts of it repeatedly.
"Champ!" Holding back the Dragon Matter occasionally were Machamp, Haxorus and Druddigon, who each used powerful moves to stall its movements. Usage of Superpower and Close Combat were thrown out in unison, merging to create even stronger attacks while Salamence kept moving.
There was a hill up ahead, right near the train track that leads to Canterlot. They were close but not close enough at the moment. The Dragon Matter's sheer magnitude would even reach locations that it wasn't even touching. Right in front of Salamence, the ground started opening up.
"Sala?!" Salamence gasped, attempting to stop his movements as soon as possible. But while he succeeded in doing so, the cart would propel forward thanks to the force, threatening to push Salamence.
Together, Starlight and Amethyst used their magic to hold the cart back, preventing it from pushing Salamence. Thankfully, They just managed to stop in time. "Whew..." They collectively sighed. But it wasn't time to rest just yet. Not when the ground was continuing to open up and the Dragon Matter was nearing.
"Now what?!" Amethyst questioned, unsure of what to do next.
"You said Dragons are immune to it, right?! Shouldn't that apply to Fairies too?!" Starlight asked Spike, wondering if Fairy Pokemon count.
"I-I don't know. Mega Altaria's both of them and she was fine but I don't know if it was both types that helped her out." Spike wasn't too sure himself.
"Worth a shot then." Starlight dug into her saddlebag, immediately summoning her partner Hatterene.
"Hatterene!"
"Let's hope this works. Hatterene, I need you to get close to the Dragon Matter." Starlight requested. "When you're in there, I'll tell you what to do next."
"Teren." The Silent Pokemon nodded in understanding. She would go straight for the Dragon Matter, taking the risk and testing this theory out. Spike, Big Mac and Amethyst thought that Starlight was going to pull off an amazing Fairy-Type attack that would stop the Dragon Matter in its tracks. That seemed to be the best possible scenario anyway.
Hatterene narrowed her eyes, staring down the fearsome matter which roared at her. The Silent Pokemon's deep violent nature said otherwise, allowing her to stay strong as the colour of the energy was beginning to shine all over here.
At that moment, while Spike was fixated on the scenario up ahead, he would suddenly feel two hooves rub against his body. They were Starlight's hooves and they immediately had one purpose. To tickle Spike.
"Mmrgh?!" Spikee's eyes bulged before he suddenly broke out into laughter. "Bahahaha! Aaahaaa!"
"What are you doing?!"
"Strong emotions power Hatterene...This is just what we need." Starlight was taking advantage of Hatterene's reaction to powerful emotions. And while everyone here was nervous which was a strong emotion, Starlight needed something bigger. Something explosive.
Spike's smaller body meant he was far more susceptible to laughter, but he wasn't the only one. Using her magic, Starlight would envelop Skitty, Deino and Big Mac in her aura, casting a spell on them. In unison, all three of them started breaking out into aggressive laughter.
"Oooh...Ha! Haaa!" Big Mac wheezed once caught off guard by it. Skitty and Deino would do the same as Skitty's laughter was absolutely hysterical.
"Hatter...!" Lo and behold, it was working. Hatterene, could easily hear it and sense it all as Starlight was making sure it was non-stop until the right reaction was made. The Psychic Energy in Hatterene's body was pulsating, making her head tremble as would twitch.
"It's working! You three! I'm sorry about this!" Starlight would then spread her spell a bit further, going straight for Haxorus, Druddigon and Machamp.
"Ma...Machamp!" Machamp bellowed once erupting with laughter as all four of his arms were flailing around aggressively.
"X-Xo...Haxo!" Haxorus got on his knees when laughing. In fact, he was laughing so hard he reverted to an Axew with a strong lack of control. "Xew! Axew!"
"Hatterene!" The added laughter provoked Hatterene some more, bulding up that Psychic Energy.
"That's it...Come on, Hatterene...!" Starlight grit her teeth, praying that this outburst would be tremendous enough to stop even the Dragon Matter. It was better to build it up than to immediately unleash it.
Rayquaza saw what Starlight was doing before glancing over at Hatterene who was about to be enveloped in the Dragon Matter itself. The Sky High Pokemon decided to help at the last moment, even in his weakened state. In all of his might, Rayquaza would perform his own laughter which, of course, was done in the form of his signature cry.
But that was enough.
"HATTERENE!" Reaching her boiling point and having her body enveloped by the Dragon Matter, Hatterene unleashed a bone-chilling cry. But just moments later, a fierce flare of Psychic energy would pierce through the Dragon Matter, followed by a powerful exertion of it all. The Dragon Matter, right before everyone's eyes, would open up like an egg, ripped apart by Hatterene's anger.
The Psychic Waves shook the landscape, blowing away all the massive rubble the Dragon Matter created and immediately crushing them with a telekinetic grip. The Psychic Energy then became dome-shaped field that expanded rapidly, dealing damage to the land just like the Dragon Matter but only for a limited time. Starlight closed her eyes, ending the spell at once.
To everyone's amazement, Hatterene actually succeeded in stopping the Dragon Matter by blowing it away. Not only that, her body was completely unharmed even after being swallowed by the energy.
"Hatt...Hatt..." The Psychic-Fairy-Type took deep breaths. It seems being a Fairy-Type was highly beneficial in this scenario. Total immunity.
"Yes! It worked!" Starlight cheered, jumping for joy in the cart with Amethyst Star while Spike and Big Mac let out deep sighs after going through such torture. "Well done, Hatterene!"
"Terene." Hatterene smiled when looking back at Starlight. Despite Starlight and Amethyst displaying a strong emotion, Hatterene did not start up again. The Silent Pokemon definitely had some principles that were formed after becoming Starlight's friend.
But right as Hatterene was ready to return to Starlight's side, with a flash and crackle, a fearsome burst of energy combusted behind the Psychic-Fairy-Type, immediately blowing her forward. Starlight's smile quickly faded into a face of absolute shock and horror.
The Dragon Matter had returned.
The energy itself didn't damage her. It was the force of the explosion that did so. Hatterene would crash into the ground near Starlight, her back smoking with the Draconic energy.
Alas, she only stopped the energy temporarily. It just sprouted up once again. On the same spot and everything. "No! Hatterene!" Starlight cried out to her partner. The Dragon Matter kept moving, being relentless. More so than usual. So far, it has never shown signs of targeting one specific group but this one was the exception.
Starlight returned Hatterene to her Poke Ball before looking at the approaching terror that was Dragon Matter. A remnant of Prisma that has found its way to this universe after an accident.
"No other choice. Return! Druddigon!" Spike had one other option as he immediately brought Durddigon back. Quickly, he helped Axew up the cart, going for broke with his next approach. "Salamence! You're gonna have to fly!"
"With all of us on board?!" Amethyst Star gasped.
"Champ?!" Machamp then looked at Big Mac. The Earth Pony nodded, already knowing what had to be done. With all four of his hands, Machamp would hold onto the back of the cart, ready to advance too.
"Please tell me you have a Poke Ball for Machamp..."
"Nope." Surprisingly, Big Mac never caught Machamp in a Poke Ball. He's always been out in the open. Thus, he was going to hold on regardless. With Machamp's lower arms grabbing the cart which certainly added extra weight to it, Salamence was ready to take flight. He looked down at the open earth caused by the Dragon Matter before taking off on the spot.
"Sala!" He didn't get a running start but chose to take flight where he stood, which immediately startled the group. It was up to the skies where Salamence truly excelled.
"M-Maaaa!" Machamp yelped after being ripped off the ground in such a shaky way. He was definitely the cause of the shaking. It was done right as the Dragon Matter got close. But instead of dropping a bit, Salamence maintained balance in the air, immediately moving forward.
Everyone looked down, seeing the Dragon Matter swirl and whip the earth, coming to a halt where Salamence was. For now, they managed to avoid it but it felt like the Dragon Matter was watching them.
For Spike, it was more literal. His eyes were completely static when looking at the Dragon Matter. From it, two crimson eyes would glare at him. He knew whose eyes those were or at least, who they alluded to.
The eyes of Prisma.
Outer Space. Near the Wailord Galaxy. Empress Twilight's Ship.
Back to where the source of the issue came from, the cry of Equestrian Wailord was still felt across the cosmos. The ships of Daybreaker and Empress Twilight would ripple and shake, feeling a strong repulsion. The only reason they were still active was thanks to Daybreaker's shield. Well, one of them wasn't active and that Empress Twilight's own ship which was still being swallowed up by the Vortex Gateway at this moment.
"You'd take them out too? That's just harsh." Jackie said, stunned by what Sunrise Sparkle stated. She was willing to let Empress Twilight and he group perish in the Vortex Gateway since she saw them as useless. After the Twilight Imperium was defeated, the Empress has struggled to recover since then.
Sunrise Sparkle saw herself as a better fit for that role, deeming Empress Twilight Sparkle as an inferior counterpart. Naturally, the Empress was not pleased with this but that didn't matter as the gateway was getting closer, gradually ripping apart the ship.
"You're a fool for telling me this...!" The Empress groaned while being held by Jackie. "I will survive this and inform Daybreaker immediately."
"It won't matter." Sunrise Sparkle shook her head. "Her Majesty is already aware of these intentions of mine. It's all a matter of my own restraint and the punishment I could receive will be mild and nothing."
"For all of us, it won't matter if we're taken out by the vortex! You can destroy us at another time." Jackie uttered.
"You rangers will be pushed into the vortex and absolutely crushed. There's no way out of this one." Together, Sunrise Sparkle and all the other unicorns managed to pull the gateway closer with their magic, creating a propelling field around it. It was looking rather dire.
"Can you ty and shut the gateway down at least?" One of the rangers spoke to the dispatch, hoping for a solution.
"We've been trying. This gateway is losing control in so many ways. But! I believe we can minimize it. Just hold on for a little longer." The Dispatchers at the Ranger Union did have a solution but they had to be quick about it since the gateway was getting closer and closer. Shrinking the gateway was their best option since they couldn't close it. Shrinking it would minimize its destructive capabilities at least
The troops of Empress Twilight cowered in fear while the Pokemon Rangers grit their teeth. Jackie kept his eyes on the gateway, showing no signs of fear. As for the Empress herself, she was defiinintely afraid, not wanting to perish here. This would be a truly terrifying way to go. Destroyed by traitors and surrounded by enemies in the vastness of space where the aftermath of Wailord's cry was lingering in the air. But that moment, the gateway was getting smaller and smaller.
"Hm?" Sunrise Sparkle noticed this size decrease while also looking at Jackie's smile. With gateway shrinking the closer and closer it got, the computers and devices over at the Ranger Union were beginning to crackle with electricity, struggling to keep it at bay.
This was something the entire Ranger Union had to tackle. Not just a select few members. Wth plenty of work going into interacting with this gateway, the pull of it was now attracting Jackie and the others but at a slower pace. Lo and behold, with some computers breakin apart, the Vortex Gateway had shrunk to a safe enough size.
Well, safe as can be. It was now as tall as a chair at best but lacked that same ferocious pull that it had. It was there, but not as volatile."
"Great job." Jackie smiled, praising the Dispatchers for weakening the gateway. The Dispatchers at the Ranger Union would cheer with glee, elated that they stopped such a terrifying force.
"Y-You actually did it..." The Empress gawked.
"Nothing we Rangers can't do. That goes for everyone at the Union." Jackie looked at the Empress with his blue eyes. "Defeating you and even those against you. We're pretty versatile, wouldn't you agree?"
"..." The Empress paused for a moment before turning her head and scoffing. "Hmph. In my prime, that would be a different story. But I suppose you're worthy of being some of our biggest enemies. Well done, I suppose."
"What a shame." Sunrise Sparkle sighed. "Oh, well. If the Vortex Gateway couldn't finish you, other options are up for grabs. The vaccuum of space, for example."
"No thanks! Time to go!" Jackie and the other rangers immediatley tried runnning for it, oly to have their bodies hit a magical blockade. Sunrise Sparkle and her team already put up a barrier to stop their advances.
The eyes of the unicorns would then flare as they transformed the blockade into glowing claws that immediately gripped onto some of the Rangers, clasping their clothes. Jackie leapt back along with other rangers, narrowly evading the claws. Jackie would swiftly sway his head, narrowly avoiding a blast from Sunrise Sparkle.
There was little room to flee too and the Vortex Gateway, while smaller now, was still active. Heading in another direction would just lead to takign in the vacuum of space and perishing there. Jackie had to think fast while zipping and leaping to avoid these magical rays. Soon, the room was littered with magical beams.
"It's gonna take a while for a new gateway to show up for us. Running low on options here. What about you?" For this, he had to ask the Empress herself for assistance.
"I know of a way to have us all flee here safely. I may be weak, but I have enough strength for this. It's something I would absolteuly loathe doing most of the time."
"Really? Then it must be good." Jackie jokingly said.
"The Fusion Spell. The same spell that created Pyrestar. It is one of the many spells I decided to grab just in case. I never saw too much use for it since I never wished to fuse with anoyone. But rigt now...there is only way to restore my energy and guarantee our safety."
"Are you saying I should fuse with you? At least take me out to dinner first."
"I-I didn't reccomend you!" The Empress stuttered. "Why would I fuse with someone like you?! I am fusing with my own forces. They are the only ones I can trust. Now throw me to them!"
"Go for it then.!" Jackie granted her wish, launching the Empress towards her own troops. Sunrise Sparkle gasped after seeing her older counterpart soar through the air. And while airborne, using her current strength, Empress Twilight pulled off one of the most impressive spells ever.
"I was saving this for my eventual revenge but I'll show it to you right now!" She declared With a flash from her horn, she enveloped her own troops in a purple light as her own body was visibly cracking. Everyone shielded their eyes from the light.
Out of it emerged what appeared to be Empress Twilight, but not quite. She had the stature and the colours but there was one stark difference. Her ethereal mane emerged from the light, crackling with different colours that were not hers. Her eyes had multiple colours, no longer being their usual purple as various sparkles could be seen.
All scratches on her and any damage had vanished in the face of this new being. A new fusion was born here. The unification of an Empress and her subjects.
"Woo. Check that out." An impressed Jackie said. The other rangers were also impressed. The Empress managed to fuse with her forces instead of just a second individual.
"Behold!" But she certainly kept the Empress' boastful nature. "My ace in the hole and something I have been working on! I am still Empress Twilight Sparkle and you will refer to me as such. But perhaps something far grander than this is needed. Like a million or prime. Those would be splendid. With this, I am back to my full strength as expected Revere my presence as the mightiest pony in existence!"
"Well, it looks like theres one dominating personality in there." One of the rangers said.
"Hm. Fusing with your entire crew? That is quite the feat." Sunrise Sparkle said, not all that imperessed. "I should've brought more to even it up."
"....More?" The Empress paused. Her boastful, proud and cocky nature was immediately shut down as her ears were given a shocking response from Sunrise Sparkle. Without even saying anything else, she and the other ponies could unleash magic from their horns in unison once more. But it wasn't for an attack. Instead, it was for something equally familiar.
The Empress's jaw dropped as her eyes were blinded by a familair bright light. All the ponies from Daybreaker's side within this ship came together, pulling off the same spell as the Empress. Just when she thought she had them beat in that category, they go ahead and pull this.
A flash of fire would happen in the middle of this light, immediately reminding them of Daybreaker. And out of it emerged another fused being. Stepping out of it was a pony who waso built the same as an alicorn. Stature and all. Her appearance matched that of Sunrise Sparkle the most, much like how Empress Twilight was the dominating appearance in her own fusion.
Elements from the other ponies she fused with were shown as well, making sure to appear here and there. And since Sunrise Sparkle herself was also an alicorn, she had that tremendous amount of magic in her as well.
"T-That can't be!" Empress Twilight stepped back in disbelief.
"Unlike you, we've always had a plan for such a spell from the start. With our minds unified, we are of the same thought and movement. We are among her majesty's greatest swor and shield. You may refer to us as Dayastra."
"Why you...!" The Empress was visible annoyed from this. Daybreaker's forces kept 1Upping her at the worst possible time.
"Now, perish." Wasting no time yet again, Dayastra went on the offensive. Unleashing her inner magic that was grealty elevated thanks to multiple unicorns merging with an alicorn, Dayastra created a brilliant nova explosion, threatening to engulf the area in a corona of searing flames.
Quickly, Empress Twilight summons a protective barrier of Twilight energy, matching the colours and all. She barely managed to block it as the intense flames would met the interior of the ship, continuing its gradual destruction even with the votex diminished.
Empress Twilight cloaked herself in a Twilight Shadows that catered to the Moon, moving with stealth and grace, her dark robes billowing ominously. With a sly smile upon her lips, she conjured tendrils of twilight energy, weaving them into a web of darkness that surrounded her opponent.
However, with ease, Dayastra's light would pierce the darkness that came her way. She swung her horn with unmatched ferocity, each strike leaving trails of searing light in its wake. Empress Twilight danced nimbly out of reach, her movements fluid and elusive as she countered with bursts of shadowy magic.
But Dayastra was relentless, her attacks relentless and unyielding. She unleashed a torrent of solar flames, engulfing Empress Twilight in a blaze of radiant fire. The Twilight Enchantress staggered backward, struggling to maintain her composure as the intense heat seared her flesh.
Desperation flickered in Empress Twilight's eyes as she summoned all her remaining strength, weaving a barrier of twilight energy to shield herself from Dayastra's relentless assault. But the Solar Sentinel was undeterred, her determination unwavering as she pressed forward with unwavering resolve.
"You fused with a bunch of random ponies who only serve a few purposes." Dayastra approached the Empress while she was being pressured. "They are many, but weak. Where as we are all trained highly in magic, giving us a greater boost over you in every category.
After getting close, Dayastra slammed her hoof against the barrier with such force, she started cracking it. She continued doing so while also pouring flames on it, repeatedly smashing it and pressurizing Empress Twilight.
"T-This can't be!"
"So much for your debut fusion." Dayastra taunted before releasing a solar flare burst from her horn which not only shattered the shield but also sent the Fused Empress flying. She cried out as her crown fell off her head, tumbling and rolling on the floor.
Wth ease, Dayastra defeated the Empress. The attack was so grand it actually defused all of them. Their bdoeis would flash, revealing all of them as they were currently downed. All the damage their fused self took carried over with fire crackling and sizzling from their bodies.
"Impossible...I can't lose...Not like this!" The Empress snarled her teeth, banging her hoof on the ground in frustration.
"Your time has long since gone, Empress." Dayastra commented. "You were formidable then. But not anymore. Do everyone a favour and retire. Either return to your original world as a pathetic Human or perish in outer space. The latter will free you of any regrets and shame."
"Kh...!" The Empress, formely known as Midnight Sparkle, formerly known as Sci-Twi, looked at the ground in defeat. Her mane was messy. Her crown had fallen and even took chip damage. Even after being defeated by Princess Celestia's group, twice, it wasn't as bad as this. "Darn it all..."
"It isn't over yet." Stepping forward was Jackie, who changed the mood immediately. "You've brought us enough time, Twilight. Thanks!"
"What?" Empress Twlight looked over in confusion. Suddenly, right below the Pokemon Rangers and Empress Twilight's group, a new gateway opened up with a booming sound. And from it, the group of Empress Twilight and the Pokemon Rangers were beginning to sink into it while the vortexx gateway lingered there.
"Escaping?" Dayastra spoke, seeing this as a retreat.
"Oh, I don't know about that..." Jackie smirked as his body was starting to leave the scene. The way he said that made Dayastra go on high alert. She wasn't about to take any chances as the Rangers were all leaving the scene along with the troops. That gateway definitely went somewhere but maybe not where Dayastra initially thought.
Suddenly, in a flash, she unleash a quick bolt of magic meant to intercept them all. Her bolt passed by Jackie's mane, justm issing him, but she didn't entirely miss him. The bolt would stike the Vortex Gateway, interferring with it. The miniature gateway would then be rocketed forward, striking Jackie in the back.
Empress Twilight gasped before her body left this area, sinking into the gateway. Jackie took a hard hit as the back of his jacket and his shirt had been opened up by this Vortex Gateway. And speaking of gateways, the new one would close up immediately.
"Most likely, they're still somewhere around here." Dayastra suspected. Her body would glow, immediately seperating them all and returning them to their individual forms. "Search for them at once." Sunrise Sparkle commanded.
Indeed, her suspicions were right. The Ranger Union opened up a new gateway in one of the ships. Specifically, another one of Empress Twilight's ships. All of them would emerge from another secret room, leaping out. But not everyone left unharmed.
Jackie was the last to leave the gateway as the damage he took was now present for all to see. "Ugh..." The Pokemon Ranger cralwed out of the gateway as his back was smoking with cosmic energy. The attack pierced through his jacket all the way to his skin.
"Jackie! Are you okay?!" His fellow Rangers went up to him.
"Boy this smarts...Is this what cosmic heat feels like?" Jackie grunted while keeping a smile up.
"You fool! You shouldn't have told her that you were stalling for time! Now look at you!" The Empress exclaimed.
"Probably would've done it anyway." Jackie chuckled before passing out. The energy of the Vortex was rushing to his head to the point where he was struggling to keep it together. Just like that, he fell unconscious. All the while energy on his back would continue to flow out like geyser or a volcano, showing no signs of stopping.
"...Get him to the Sick Bay at once." Empress Twilight ordered, deciding to treat Jackie immediately.
The Wailord Galaxy. Inside the Alien Ship.
Meanwhile, Ash, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were learning how to craft something entirely new with this otherworldy forgery. They found themselves grappling with the unfamiliar technology and techniques outlined in the tutorial. Despite their initial enthusiasm, they quickly realized that mastering the alien forge would be no easy task.
"This is more complicated than I thought," Ash muttered, furrowing his brow as he attempted to follow the instructions displayed on the holographic interface. He wasn't about to let this stop him. Not when the Wailmer needed help.
Already, they were beginning to make something speficially focused on Grass and Water. Two heavy fundamentals of life..
Fluttershy nodded in agreement. "It's like trying to learn a new language," she remarked softly. "But...At least it's not impossible."
"If it seems impossible for you, then that is the limitation of an Earthling. How sad." The tutorial alien spoke.
"Says you!" Rainbow Dash grizzled her teeth in response. "There's nothing we Earthlings can't over achieve! We'll get this done, I swear!"
Despite their initial struggles, the trio persevered, methodically working their way through the forging process outlined in the tutorial. With each attempt, they gained a deeper understanding of the alien technology and the principles behind it. As they continued to experiment and refine their techniques, they began to see progress. Small successes and incremental improvements boosted their confidence and fueled their determination to succeed.
"Hey, I think I'm starting to get the hang of this," Ash exclaimed, a hint of excitement in his voice as he manipulated the controls with growing confidence.
Right before their eyes, Ash was the first to successfully make something. Ash did a majority of the hard work and in response, the technology of this ship would finish the rest. Ash looked in astonishment as oddly-shaped tendrils rose from the ground, wrapping around the half-finished item. In his hands, he crafted the Grass Generator.
The Grass Generator embodied a futuristic and otherworldly design, standing out as a striking piece of extraterrestrial technology. Its appearance is characterized by sleek, unknown metallatic surfaces and advanced geometric patterns.
It was also composed of a that obsidian-like material they discovered, with a smooth, seamless finish that seems to shimmer with unearthly colors in the light.
"We did it!" Ash raised it up with absolute triumph in his voice.. "We got a Grass Generator!" Hs friends woud all cheer as they were getting somere after making one of these items. The tutorial video even had a reaction for a scenario if it was a possible.
"Not bad for an Earthling. Not bad." The alien said.
"Alright! I'll go and try it out right now! You guys finish the rest! Just hang on, Wailmer!" Ash immediately took off, deciding to use this generator without wasting any further time. He was in a hurry and he had no idea what else was happening out there. But very soon, he was about to find out. They all were.
In the Wailord Galaxy, born from Wailord's fears, the Water Planet was surrounded by a Whale-like entity that resembled Wailord, but wasn't him at all. With his fears building up, especially considering what was happening outside, it felt like Wailord was about to only add to those fears by causing the worst possible outcome himself.
Immediately, this Corrupted Wailord went on the offensive. Its mouth opened up as it was as black as a black hole. And from it, a Cosmic Water Stream was unleashed. Even though it was beautiful, it was very much dangerous.
Quickly, the Princess of Friendship put up a magical shield around herself and the entire ship after seeing the size of this attack. As soon as the Cosmic Water Stream connected, the pressure was absolutely titanic.
The Cosmic Water Stream continued to batter against Twilight's shield with relentless force, each impact sending shockwaves rippling through the air. But despite the overwhelming power of the attack, Twilight remained steadfast, pouring every ounce of her magic into maintaining the protective barrier.
All 50 Wailmer cried out as their bodies would roll across the ship. So would Doll's body as she immediately lost balance.
By the skin of her teeth, while her barrier was coming apart, Twilight managed to repel the stream elsewhere in the cosmos, ending the attack. As the tension eased and the ship steadied, Twilight let out a weary sigh of relief, her horn dimming as she released the protective barrier.
Seeing that its attack failed, the Corrupted Wailord would then cry out, suddenly summoning a cosmic sea beneath it. Twilight and the others watched in astonishment as the swirling energies coalesced, shaping themselves into a vast expanse of water suspended within the cosmos. The surface rippled and churned beneath the Corrupted Wailord's massive bulk, creating an otherworldly ocean that seemed to defy all laws of nature.
After creating it, the Wailord of Fear would summon a Cosmic Whirlpool, using the Starry Sea itself as a resource. it eerged from the Starry Sea, sending stardusts everywhere. As it spun, it generated a powerful gravitational pull that was starting to draw in nearby asteroids.
And of course, the ship. Already, this Cosmic Whirlpool was sending its pull towards the ship, battering it with Stardusts. Those stardusts were not just for show it seems.
"All of you! Go further into the ship!" Twilight said to the Wailmer, wanting them to be safe. "The same goes for you, Doll!"
"O-Okay!" The young android pony stammered, immediately rushing off with the Wailmer. The group hurried deeper into the ship, seeking refuge from the chaotic maelstrom unfolding outside. The corridors of the ship were dimly lit, casting long shadows as they raced through its labyrinthine passages.
As the Cosmic Whirlpool churned with increasing intensity, the stardust caught within its swirling vortex began to rain down upon the ship like a relentless storm of cosmic debris. The stardust, tiny particles of shimmering light, glimmered and sparkled as they cascaded through the void of space, each mote carrying with it the weight of the universe's infinite expanse.
With every impact, the stardust pelted the ship's hull with a cacophony of metallic clangs and reverberations, creating a symphony of discordant echoes that echoed through the corridors like the pounding of a thousand drums. The ship shuddered and groaned under the relentless assault, its metal plating rattling and vibrating with each successive barrage.
Inside the ship, Twilight and her companions clung to whatever handholds they could find, their bodies buffeted by the violent vibrations coursing through the vessel. The dimly lit corridors were filled with the sound of creaking metal and the roar of rushing air as the ship strained against the forces arrayed against it.
"Eve! Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Sceptile, Frenzy Planet!"
"Espeon!" Together, Espeon and Sceptile would retaliate against such force. Rays of rainbows and massive plants would fly out, meeting with the Stardust Rainstorm.
Together, Espeon and Sceptile's combined assault created a dazzling display of power and prowess as they fought to push back against the relentless onslaught of stardust. With each blast of Dazzling Gleam and each strike of Frenzy Plant, they felt the cosmic pressure flowing their way, blowing their manes.
The pilots on the ship would fall over when trying to move the ship. The stars around them were also beginning to ripple in response to this collision. These stars would combust after feeling the ripple and some were even swallowed up by the Whirlpool.
Drawing upon the intense energy of the exploding stars, the Corrupted Wailord created a cascade of liquid fire, manifesting as molten water that burns with the intensity of a firestorm even from a far distance. Twilight and the others felt the heat as the ship was also beginning to slowly melt because of it.
"Ngh!" Twilight and Rarity felt the heat as their bodies were now sweating. The controls of the ship were also being threatened because of this approaching heat. It truly felt like a volcano or even the Sun was approaching them.
"Milotic! Hydro Pump!" Quickly, Rarity threw her Poke Ball forward to try and cool it off.
"Milotic!" The second she emerged from that Poke Ball, Milotic opened her mouth and let loose a high-volume blast of water. The water travelled through the cosmos, going straight for the liquid fire. It met directly with the attack before it could reach the ship, initiating another clash.
"Back her up, Espeon! Shadow Ball!"
"Dragon Pulse, Sceptile!"
"Scep...Tile!" From his mouth, Sceptile supported Milotic's Hydro Pump by releasing a dragon-shaped shockwave, merging it with the stream of water. Because of this, the attack grew stronger, creating a Dragon Hydro Pump that was actually pushing the Liquid Fire back.
"Espeon!" And to top it all off, Espeon's Shadow Ball would travel around the attacks, heading straight for the Corrupted Wailord. A direct hit from Espeon as she managed to snipe the Fear of Wailord, throwing its focus off balance. This allowed Dragon Pulse and Hydro Pump to charge through the Liquid Fire, diminishing it and eventually striking into the Corrupted Wailord.
The impact resulted in a flash of Dragon and Water Energy, causing the Cosmic Sea to flow and rock violently and sending waves of energy cascading outward in all directions.
"Bullseye! You got it!" Pinkie Pie cheered.
"It isn't over yet." Twilight narrowed her eyes with a drop of sweat on her head. Indeed, she was right. Right as the Corrupted Wailord fell into the Cosmic Sea, it got back up moments later.
Immediately, it pulled off an even more dangerous attack. Infusing water with the searing heat of stars, the Corrupted Wailord transformed liquid into scalding vapour that started enveloping the cosmos in a blistering cloud of steam.
"W-What is that heat?!" One of the pilots cried out as her clothes were burning off. Applejack saw that her hat was starting to smoke along with the saddlebags of everyone here. Even their Mega Stone Accessories were being threatened. Even Milotic was feeling the heat.
"It's like a dying star!" Twilight groaned when feeling this heat. She used a spell to put up a protective shield, attempting to cool everyone off. But even her shield was beginning to burn away as it was set ablaze by the intense heat. "I'm counting on you...Ninetales!" The Princess of Friendship screamed, throwing a Poke Ball into the air. Out of it emerged another one of her Pokemon. Ninetales.
"Ninetales!"
"Go, Ninetales! Power through it!" Twilight bellowed while keeping her shield up. But she made an opening for Ninetales, allowing him to lunge through. The Fox Pokemon advanced, absorbing the flames into his body thanks to Flash Fire and immediately entering the vastness of space.
"Tales!" Ninetales obviously powered up after absorbing these flames. Even ones from the cosmos were not going to stop him. All the heat was gravitating towards his body, immediately taking it away from everyone else. The group could feel themselves cooling off while Ninetales was getting stronger. His fur was rising and his eyes were blazing. "Nine...!
"Now's our chance to end this!" Twilight then held out her Twilightium Z. Taking this opportunity to unleash a Z-Move. "Eve! Ninetales! Ready?!"
Once both of them nodded in response, the Z-Crystal would glow and resonate with their words. With a swift motion, Twilight activated her Z-Crystal, the Twilightium Z pulsating with brilliant energy as it responded to her command. As the shimmering light enveloped her, Twilight felt a surge of power coursing through her veins, filling her with renewed strength and determination.
"You're just terrorizing Wailord's family! Leave! Eve! Ninetales!" Twilight exclaimed, her voice ringing out with conviction as she and her Pokémon prepared to unleash their combined strength against the Corrupted Wailord. Pulling off her own pose, the Infinity Energy from within would flare out, showing the visage of Arceus for a moment.
Twilight then pulled off the star pose by putting both her front hooves out, maintaining her balance. That was the end pose as the lights then reached their peak. Espeon and Ninetales were ready.
"Eve! Ninetales! Harmonic Twilight Starblaze!"
The attack had been initiated. As always, millions of Cutie Marks that represented Twilight's had shown up in small sizes, flowing into the sky before then merging. They combined to form a gigantic version of Twilight's Cutie Mark, larger than the ship itself.
Espeon and Ninetales both moved through outer space as they were pulled into the Cutie Mark. Their bodies resonated with it as the star started vibrating rapidly, letting out stardust. This Gigantic Cutie Mark would move at high speeds, rushing straight for the Corrupted Wailord.
The Fear of Wailord let out a bellowing cry, attempting to stop them in their tracks. This roar had millions of Aqua Stardusts in them, rapidly raining upwards at the Massive Cutie Mark.
But despite its efforts, the combined power of Twilight's Pokémon pressed on, their drive to grant happiness to Wailmer, Lapras and Wailord being all on their mind. And because of that, the Harmonic Twilight Starblaze grew stronger. Powered by the Bonds of Friendship, it would shine even more, becoming its own Sun.
As the Harmonic Twilight Starblaze reached its peak, the energy surrounding Espeon and Ninetales intensified, forming a swirling vortex of light and power that engulfed the Corrupted Wailord in its radiant embrace. With a final surge of energy, the attack collided with its target, unleashing a cataclysmic explosion of light and force that reverberated throughout the cosmos.
Outside of Equestrian Wailord's body, the brilliant flash of light caused by Twilight's Pokemon actually managed to leave his body, visible to everyone's eyes.
"Well, well. What's this?" Daybreaker said upon seeing the light leaving Wailord's body. For a brief moment, she saw the Cutie Mark of Twilight. All the while, the Solar Sword was making its way towards the Wailord Galaxy, getting closer and closer. With the light leaving his body, Wailord let out another cry, but this one was far more relaxed.
It was a soothing feeling that graced his body from the inside. This entire time, he hasn't been able to feel anything else from within. But because of the Twilightium Z, he finally felt something and it was blissful. Wailord thought about his children and Lapras, wondering if they had something to do with it.
At the same time Mew, Pheromosa, and Kartana emerged from Wailord's body the second his mouth opened up once more. They were met with a scene of relief and tranquility despite who was ahead. The once turbulent space around Wailord had now calmed, the chaotic energy dissipating in the wake of Twilight's powerful Z-Move.
The Galactic Pokemon's eyes moved down, gazing at the two Ultra Beasts and the Genetic Pokemon with those black holes. This was quite the surprise since neither of them were his children or Lapras.
"Mosa! Pheromo!" Pheromosa immediately started explaining to Wailord what was going on there. So did Kartana and Mew. Each of them bombarded Wailord with information about his family and who else was in there. He was told about Ash's group being in there and Wailord's own fears creating Astral Terrors that have been pursuing the Wailmer for a year now.
Just like that, Wailord realized that some familiar faces were in him right now. But beyond that, his own family has been unable to eat this entire time. He was right to worry about them after all. It gutted Wailord, knowing he was responsible for the danger happening within, all because of his fears. But alas, he couldn't really stop it since he couldn't interact with his own galaxy.
"Mosa." Pheromosa would touch Wailord's colossal face, letting him know that it wasn't all doom and gloom. There was a way to get them out. After all, these three managed to leave, even if they could breathe in space. The Wailmer also had amazing bodyguards at their side and a ship that could help them leave. "Pheromo. Mosa." Pheromosa could guarantee that.
"Mew!" Mew definitely could guarantee such a possibility, being incredibily optimistic.
"Dneirf dezis-yxalag ym, ton yrrow." Kartana said in his reverse language as always.
"WAIL..." Wailord was glad to hear all of that. A ray of hope was there indeed. But that ray of hope would soon be replaced by a ray of despair.
Moving through the darkness of the cosmos was a Chain of Fire that immediately crashed into Equestrian Wailord's massive body. It was from Daybreaker's group as weapons from the Solar Sword were unleashed. These chains were searing hot and powerful enough to grip onto Wailord's flesh. Een as an Equestrian Pokemon the size of a galaxy, Wailord kept his soft exterior. As soon as they hit Wailord's body, he let out another wail, this time, just as loud as the first one.
"M-Mew!" Unfortunately for Mew, Kartana and Pheromosa, they were right in Wailord's face, taking the full brunt of that galaxy-sized cry. The soundwaves struck their bodies as it felt like multiple trains and meteors came crashing into them.
Poor Pheromosa immediately fainted upon taking all of it. Her fragile body could not handle such a force that shook the stars themselves. Kartana tried staying strong, only to be flung back. The same went for Mew, who tried transforming into a bulkier Pokemon to weaken the pain, but it was no use. He couldn't concentrate.
Just like that, all three of them had fainted. Their bodies were floating in space, lit up by the light of Equestrian Wailord's cosmic Aura.
"Pull him in." Daybreaker ordered, having her Master Ball at the ready. She wasn't about to give up all of this energy. Not for a moment. More chains flew out as they were barely shaking in the face of these cries. All thanks to Daybreaker's magic, of course. A barrage of chains gripped Wailord, mainly targeting his face while also going for his fins.
Once they got a hold of the Galactic Pokemon, the ships all started pulling him in. Wailord wasn't going down so easily, however. Not when he knew his children were still in there, having a chance to be happy once more.
Equestrian Wailord's immense mass resisted their efforts, straining against the bonds that held him. He refused to be taken by Daybreaker's Forces. The chains groaned under the strain and yet they didn't snap. Wailord's body being moved in such a way caused it to push Mew, Pheromosa and Kartana away thanks to the pressure alone.
"There's no way out of this one." Daybreaker said with a smile before exiting the inside of Solar Sword and standing on top of it. "No one to help you this time. You're mine."
"W-WAIL!" Wailord tried another powerful cry, only for Daybreaker to cancel it out with her noise-cancelling shield. She only heard a weaker version of it.
The Solar Queen then charged up her magic, making sure she would get this catch. While she had multiple Master Balls with her, she wanted to make sure this would be as easy as she needs it to be. Her eyes would glow, using a spell to increase her perception. Her wings would flutter with some excitement. But above all else...
Wailord was too big to miss.
"How do they say it back in Universe 1? Ah, that's right! Master Ball, Go!" With all of her might, she launched the Master Ball. The Ultimate Pokemon moved at high speeds, spinning rapidly before reaching Wailord in just seconds thanks to the power behind the launch.
Wailord was too late. The second he tried to unleash another cry, the Master Ball touched his head. The Master Ball opened up, unleashing its powerful effect and a white light that struck Wailord's body. Inside the blinding light, Wailord's consciousness grappled with the sudden turn of events. He felt the pull of the Master Ball's energy, drawing him inexorably into its confines. Despite his immense size and power, he was powerless to resist the magic of the Master Ball.
However, while the light consumed hm, it didn't immediately pull him in. It was trying to but something was wrong and Daybreaker could see it.
Because there were Humans, Ponies and other Pokemon currently inside of the Wailord, the Master Ball was essentially glitching. The Master Ball was definitely not equipped to handle the complexities of capturing a being that contained both Pokémon and other sentient creatures. Especially multiple of them. It was unheard of. As a result, it began to glitch, struggling to reconcile the conflicting energies within Wailord's immense form.
For the first time in history, the Master Ball was struggling to catch a Pokemon.
"How's this eve happening?! I thought it was supposed to be flawless?!" One of the ponies on board bellowed. Frantic voices filled the air as Daybreaker's forces scrambled to regain control of the situation and make sense of this all. But after seeing that light from before, Daybreaker already had an idea as to what might be happening inside of Wailord.
The Wailord Galaxy.
Inside the blinding light, amidst the chaos of conflicting energies, Ash and his friends could feel the instability surrounding them. They clung to each other, highly confused by this gravitational feeling
Ash showed up with the Grass Generator after successfully creating it, narrowing and squinting his eyes thanks to this massive light. "I got it! I made something that can create life! Now what's going on out there?!"
"I don't know! It's so strange!" But Twilight and everyone else had no clue. All they knew was that it felt like something was threatening to suck them in.
"S-Scep...Sceptile!" But Sceptile and the Pokemon could answer this. They've felt something like this before but it was never this intense or even aggressive at all. It was usually peaceful.
This was the feeling of a Poke Ball. An aggressive one to be exact. Not one forged out of friendship and love. Because of how erratic this all was, the Master Ball, in all of its grand power, was threatening to absorb everything and everyone else inside since they were a part of Wailord, but it was still struggling. If anything, it might break everything apart.
"Forget about staying here! Let's leave!" Rarity exclaimed. That actually seemed like the best option right now. Everyone agreed to it as the doors of the ship would immediately close. Right before their very eyes, this galaxy was beginning to vanish as the light of the Master Ball was piercing through the darkness.
The Water Planet was being pulled in as well. All planets that were here were undergoing the same fate. With their destination set on escape, the ship's engines roared to life as it began to manoeuvre away from the tumultuous scene outside. They all braced themselves as they were heading outside, but they had no idea what was waiting for them outside.
Far from Earth, far from the Milky Way Galaxy, the first ever example of a Master Ball struggling to succeed was occurring. After Daybreaker launched it at Equestrian Wailord, it immediately started glitching to the presence of other Pokemon within Wailord. Only only that, but some of them already had Poke Balls but Wailord was still Wild, causing this fearsome confusion for this Perfect Poke Ball.
With a ferocity almost close to a Black Hole, the light from the Master Ball pierced through the cosmos of the Wailord Galaxy, doing its best to succeed. The most impressive part was the fact that despite these obstacles, the Master Ball was still trying to complete its job.
The planets and stars were also being pulled in, categorized as a part of Equestrian Wailord after all. Everyone was holding on for dear life as the ship was trying to flee from here as fast as possible.
"What's going on?!" Returning to their friends were Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy after leaving the classroom.
"Audi says that it feels like a Poke Ball is pulling us in!" Fluttershy translated for everyone. "That's what that light must be!"
"A Poke Ball?! Then that means..." Ash pondered for a moment before gasping. "Daybreaker!"
"Are Pheromosa, Kartana and Mew alright?!" Rarity was worried for those three since they left to go and speak with Wailord. Little did they know, the three of them are currently unconscious.
As the ship raced away from the chaotic scene, leaving behind the swirling vortex and the enigmatic fate of Wailord and their companions, a sudden tremor rippled through the vessel. Twilight and her friends staggered as the ship shuddered, nearly throwing them off their feet.
"What was that?!" Applejack exclaimed, gripping onto a nearby railing for support.
Before anyone could respond, a resounding roar echoed through the cosmos, reverberating through the ship's hull. Peering out of the viewport, they beheld a startling sight: the Corrupted Wailord, rising once again from the swirling stardust, its monstrous form reconstituting itself with an eerie glow.
"It's... it's reforming!" Rarity gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief. This entity was powered by Wailord's fear and based on what was happening out there, that fear persisted, not fading away at all. The moment it reformed, it started chasing them all down.
As the ship continued its frantic retreat, hurtling through the cosmos, the Corrupted Wailord continued to form a cosmic sea, using that to rapidly move through the cosmos. Thanks to the amount of water, the Corrupted Wailord grew closer, its imposing figure casting a shadow over their escape.
By calling upon the geothermal energy of celestial bodies in this galaxy, the Corrupted Wailord summoned a geyser-like attack that erupted with tremendous force, launching towering pillars of water infused with cosmic power. The geyser immediately struck the ship from below, propelling it upwards and disrupting its flow.
Everyone inside groaned as the ship was being hit with a strong gravitational pressure, that threatened to bring them all down.
But just then, right as they were about to face off with the Wailord once more, appearing from the Cosmic Sea with a graceful leap was none other than Lapras.
"Lapras!" The Seafaring Pokemon cried out before using Hydro Pump from above. The Corrupted Wailord had no idea that she was right behind it, only focused on stopping the ship. This left it vulnerable as a high-volume blast of water struck its back.
"Wail! Wailmer!" All 50 Wailmer jumped for joy upon seeing Lapras, who finally made an appearance. The towering pillars of water infused with cosmic power clashed against the corrupted creature, causing it to roar in agony as it staggered under the assault.
"Lapras, you made it!" Twilight exclaimed, relief flooding her voice as she witnessed the arrival of another friend. Lapras would unleash repeated Hydro Pumps, making sure the Corrupted Wailord wouldn't have time to pull off a counterattack. Back-to-back Hydro Pumps flew out, bombarding its back as this gave everyone on the ship a chance to keep moving.
However, this would not last as the powerful pull of the Master Ball was beginning to throw her off balance. "L-Lap!" Lapras felt the grandiose pull as one of her Hydro Pumps missed. All this did was allow the Corrupted Wailord to perform a counterattack.
With a mighty roar, it unleashed a torrential wave of cosmic energy, engulfing Lapras in its powerful grip and sending her reeling backward. "P-Pras!"
"Lapras!" Twilight cried out in alarm as she watched her loyal ally being overwhelmed by the Corrupted Wailord's onslaught. Despite her best efforts to defend herself, Lapras struggled to withstand the force of the attack, her strength waning under the relentless assault.
It didn't stop there. The Corrupted Wailord used its terrifying powers to immediately freeze the Cosmic Sea it originally made, transforming it all into Astra lce. Of course, this meant that Lapras' body would be trapped in the ice. Conjuring frozen water imbued with the frigid temperatures of deep space, the Fear of Wailord created razor-sharp ice shards that slice through the cosmic air with the precision of cosmic projectiles. Each shard carried the chilling cold of the void, bombarding the Seafaring Pokemon.
Lapras found herself surrounded by a barrage of icy shards, each one carrying the freezing cold of the cosmos. With each impact, Lapras cried out in pain as the sharp edges cut into her flesh, sapping her strength and leaving her vulnerable to the relentless assault.
Twilight and her companions watched in horror as Lapras struggled to withstand the onslaught, her body battered and bruised by the relentless barrage of ice shards.
Just then, the ship was starting to rock because of the pull, throwing everyone onboard off balance. it would even start rotating since they were getting closer and closer to the Master Ball.
Twilight and her friends struggled to maintain their footing as the ship gyrated beneath them, their bodies lurching with each sudden movement. Equipment and supplies tumbled from shelves, crashing to the floor as the ship's interior was thrown into chaos.
"Not like this!" Twilight called out, her voice barely audible over the deafening roar of the ship's engines and the creaking of metal under stress.
Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash clung to whatever they could find, their faces etched with fear as they fought to stay upright. Pikachu and the other Pokémon huddled together, their eyes wide with fear as they rode out the tumultuous ride.
"This isn't gonna go on!" Ash objected before looking at the Grass Generator. It was time to use this and instead of firing it at a planet, Ash had a different idea. He fought to maintain his balance, holding the generator with both hands while his legs were rocking. "Hang on, Lapras!"
He immediately aimed the generator in the direction of the Corrupted Wailord, making sure this lands. That Wailord, while not as big as the real-deal, was still a big target.
"Here goes!" Ash cried out before activating the generator. And from it, a verdant beam was shot out at high speeds, racing through the cosmos.
The Corrupted Wailord roared before having its body struck by the beam. As the verdant beam from the Grass Generator struck the Corrupted Wailord, a transformation began to unfold. The astral form of the monstrous creature shimmered and shifted, its dark, foreboding aura slowly giving way to vibrant greenery.
In a matter of moments, the Corrupted Wailord's body was enveloped in a lush layer of grass and foliage. Where once there was darkness and fear, now there was life and renewal. The tendrils of grass wound around its form, weaving a the epitome of natural beauty amidst the vast expanse of space.
Lapras, who had been trapped in the icy grip of the Corrupted Wailord's attack, felt a surge of warmth and vitality wash over her as the grass spread across the astral sea. With nothing else attacking, she broke free from the icy prison, her body rejuvenated by the power of the Grass Generator's transformation.
"L-Lapras..." Lapras sighed with relief. But it did more than just cover the sea with an Astral Aura. Due to the Energy from the Grass Generator reacting to the Cosmic Sea, it created something truly wonderful.
The grass would expand, but so would the Astral Sea. Both of them merged as one to grow and grow at an alarming pace. Ash and the others watched this union between Hope and Despair, forming into a new visage of hope.
Before the astonished eyes of Ash, his friends, and the Pokémon onboard the ship, a wondrous sight unfolded—a new planet began to take shape within the Wailord Galaxy.
From the depths of the cosmic void emerged a celestial body unlike any other, bathed in the radiant light of hope and renewal. Its surface was adorned with lush greenery, vast oceans, and majestic mountain ranges, forming a breathtaking landscape that stretched out across the horizon.
The newly formed planet was a beacon of life and vitality, an unlikely union of the impressive creative power unleashed by the merging of the grass from the Grass Generator and the astral energy of the Astral Sea. As it continued to coalesce and solidify, it became clear that this was not just any ordinary planet. It was a paradise, teeming with potential and promise.
"Ash! You just made a new planet!" Fluttershy marvelled. Instead of just making a planet habitable, a new one was made. By complete accident too.
"Woah..." Ash gawked at the planet he had just crafted. This was everyone's first time seeing a new planet form and it was quite the sight.
"That's awesome!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement. "I've never seen anything like it!"
"It's beautiful," Rarity added, her voice filled with awe. "To think that we witnessed the birth of an entire planet!"
"Pikapi! Pikachu!" Pikachu chirped excitedly from Ash's shoulder, seemingly sharing in the collective sense of wonder and accomplishment.
"That's great and all, ya'll! But we're still getting pulled in here!" Applejack, while she did like the view of the planet, focused on the main problem. The Master Ball issue.
And they were quickly reminded of this when the ship rocked once more. They solved one problem, but now they had to deal with this one that encapsulated an even larger problem.
"If it's a Poke Ball that's pulling us in, then it's probably freaking out since we aren't Pokemon." said Ash when holding onto his hat.
"So! What do we do?! Has this ever happened before?!" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"No way. But there's one thing I'm thinking off." Ash had one idea that came to mind. He held out his hand, summoning the Staff of Sir Aaron to his grasp. Immediately, his Aura was beginning to flicker. "I was already planning to free Wailord from his Equestrian Form but I didn't wanna do it since we'd be in outer space if he returned to normal. But now...We can totally deal with it since we've got a new planet."
"You're going to use all of your Aura to break the transformation." Twilight would gasp. "Ash! That'll be too much! Bigger than anything you've dealt with before! This is a Galaxy after all!"
"Worth a shot." But Ash was willing to take that risk. He wanted to use all the Aura he had to offer just to make this possible. Twilight sighed, knowing it was difficult to stop Ash. And it's not like they could take another option right now."Trust me, Twilight."
"...Alright. But you're not doing it alone. I know you'll have Lucario with you, but we'll all help you make this work." Twilight responded.
"Got it. Can you guys get us to the planet?" Ash requested. The pilots could indeed do that. They would struggle thanks to the pull of the Master Ball but this new planet was absolutely massive, using Wailord as and the Astral Sea as a vessel. On top of that, it was close thanks to the Corrupted Wailord's pursuit.
Ash's New Planet.
The ship had arrived at the planet. Everyone got to see it for what it truly was. A celestial marvel. A realm where the boundaries between the physical and the metaphysical blur into a breathtaking tapestry of wonder. It existed within the vast expanse of the Wailord Galaxy and had a Cosmic Sea on it, a primordial ocean of swirling nebulae, cosmic dust, and radiant starlight.
The surface of this planet was adorned with the Otherworldly Grass, a verdant carpet that seems to pulse with an ethereal glow. This grass, unlike any found in the known universe, possesses a shimmering luminescence that dances with the currents of Infinity Energy flowing through the planet. After all, this was still all within a Pokemon. Each blade of grass is a conduit, channelling the raw power of creation.
The Infinity Energy was the lifeblood of the planet, a force of unparalleled magnitude that suffuses every atom and molecule with boundless potential. It is the essence of existence itself, a cosmic symphony of energy that resonates throughout the cosmos.
It even looke a lot like Earth.
But they didn't come here to admire the planet. They had something far more important on their plate. Ash set foot on his planet along with all of his friends.
Ash would then summon Lucario to the scene for extra Aura Support. After summoning the Aura Pokemon, he would then look at his Mega Stone, knowing what had to come next. Lucario had to be stronger for the Aura to reach greater levels.
"Don't go at it without us." Suddenly, the pilots spoke, approaching with the Unown. "Have the Unown help you."
"The Unown?" Ash looked at the Unown, who had enough time to recover their strength. "Alright. A whole bunch of help is awesome no matter what." With a smile on his face, Ash then raised his arm into the air, channelling the power of Mega Evolution. "Lucario! Mega Evolve!"
"Lu...Caaaa!" With a brilliant flash of light, Lucario underwent Mega Evolution, his form shifting and growing more powerful as he tapped into the incredible energy of the transformation. The Unown, sensing the surge of power, began to gather around Lucario, their psychic energy intertwining with his Aura in a harmonious blend.
As Lucario's Mega Evolution reached its peak, the combined energies of the Unown and Ash's Aura enveloped him in a radiant glow, amplifying his strength and enhancing his connection to the Aura.
Alright everyone! Let's do this!" Ash bellowed as all of his friends surrounded him. Hooves touched his back while the Unown were ready to show him with Hidden Power.
Feeling the combined support of his friends and the Unown, Ash closed his eyes and focused on channelling his Aura. With each passing moment, the energy within him surged, resonating with the harmonious vibrations of those around him.
As the Aura expanded to unprecedented levels, Ash could feel every fiber of his being resonating with its immense power. His body trembled with the strain of channeling such a tremendous amount of energy, his muscles taut and his breath coming in ragged gasps. The staff in his hand pulsed with radiant light, its ancient power surging forth to aid in their endeavor.
Around him, his friends and the Unown stood firm, their determination unwavering despite the overwhelming intensity of the Aura. Each one contributed their own energy to the collective effort, their combined strength bolstering Ash's resolve.
Applejack's Aura would flare out of her in response to his as she was using all of it from within. So did Rainbow Dash and Twilight. A union of Auras were made, brightening up the darkness of space.
Doll and the Wailmer watched how Ash and his friends were fighting so hard for the best possible outcome.
On the outside, much like the Z-Move from Twilight Sparkle and her Pokemon, another light was flying out of Wailord's body. This time, it was the Light of the Aura.
The combined forces of the Aura and the Light of the Rift radiated outward, bathing everything in their path with their luminous glow. Stars shimmered and nebulae danced as the celestial energies intertwined, creating a spectacle unlike anything ever witnessed before.
"Aura..." Daybreaker recognized that energy from anywhere. That confirmed her suspicions. Something was inside Wailord, preventing the Master Ball from working.
"Your majesty. Shall I permit the use of the Rift Seperator?" Sunrise Sparkle questioned the Empress via telepathy.
"Do it. We've never tried it on an Equestrian Variant anyways. Separate the Rift Energy from Wailord. We won't be needing the Pokemon if this persists. Let's see what happens." Daybreaker was also eager to see what outcome will come from this.
With the order, those on the Solar Sword revealed another weapon. One specifically made to deal with Cosmic Energy. All the other ships had this same weapon at this disposal that would open up at the very front. It appeared as a lance with a glowing tip, surrounded by its own Rift Energy.
Once all of them were aimed at Wailord, Sunrise Sparkle gave the order to fire them. All at once, cosmic beams were shot out at Equestria Wailord while the Aura was flying out of his body.
The intense beams of Rift Energy pierced through the astral layers surrounding Wailord, seeking to sever the connection between the Equestrian Variant and the cosmic forces that bound it.
With each impact, the beams of Rift Energy pulsed and shimmered, their power resonating with the swirling energies surrounding Wailord. The combined assault of Aura and Rift Energy created a dazzling spectacle in the depths of space, illuminating the surrounding darkness with a kaleidoscope of colours and patterns.
This was truly an astronomical event.
"If we're correct about this. We can ignore the vessel which is Wailord and take the energy instead." Sunrise Sparkle uttered. And based on what was happening, she was right. Like a snake shedding its skin, the Rift Energy was beginning to peel off Wailord. And thanks to the Aura, it was also beginning to break apart.
Inside the Wailord Galaxy, Ash's eyes would glow with a fierce flare of Aura as he was reaching new levels he never thought he had. Ash's screams then became echoes as he poured everything into this.
"Ash?!" Twilight and all of her friends backed away as they could feel the heat of the Aura. Everything they had to offer was now within Ash as he was channelling it all.
His screams echoed through the void of space, reverberating with unrivalled intensity. Cracks were beginning to form around Ash's body. Blue cracks of Aura that was showcasing the dormant limits within.
"Bayleef! Please save, Ash!" Refusing to let Ash perish here, Fluttershy went for her last resort. Bayleef and her Fate-Changg Leaf.
"Bayleef!" Heeding Fluttershy's plea, Bayleef already knew what she had to do.
As the Rift Energy continued to separate from Wailord, Ash's efforts reached a crescendo. With a final surge of willpower, he poured his remaining strength into the struggle, his Aura blazing with a brilliant light.
At the final moments of this fierce struggle, Bayleef unleashed her entire upper leaves and some of them around her leaves, sending them straight to Ash. This was another case of Rit Energy meeting with Aura, creating another chaotic reaction.
And then, in a moment of triumph, the last vestiges of Rift Energy broke free from Wailord's form as everything and everyone was consumed in the most brilliant light.
However, the reaction had an unexpected consequence. The cosmic energies, once confined within Wailord's immense form, began to diverge. Splitting into two distinct manifestations, they coalesced into separate entities. One was the Wailord, now freed from the cosmic influence, returning to its original size and form. The other entity, however, retained the immense cosmic power, manifesting as a colossal Wailord the size of a galaxy.
With the cosmic forces no longer exerting their influence, the smaller Wailord floated serenely in the void of space, liberated from its cosmic prison. But the colossal Wailord, imbued with the residual energy of the Rift, was drawn inexorably toward the Master Ball, now devoid of any other beings within it.
1...2...3...Gotcha! Equestrian Wailord was caught.
The Master Ball hovered back to Daybreaker size as she caught it. It was now Daybreaker's Pokemon as she had a new entity on her side. "Excellent." Truly a magnificent catch in Daybreaker's eyes. She succeeded in her goal. Because of this, she had no other reason to be this part of the galaxy. The Solar Queen would turn around, returning to the interior of her ship and ordering them to keep moving.
As for the real Wailord, he could be seen falling from above with the remains of Rift Enery around his body like stardust. It was how he was able to breathe in space as it was helping him one last time. It refused to let him perish and would say its final farweell soon.
Speaking of space, with the Wailord Galaxy captured, they were back to the standard outer space. Wailord's body was heading straight for the newly formed Planet which already found its place in the cosmos.
Ash got on his knees after using all of that energy, breathing in and out. He then looked up to see Wailord landing on the planet, causing a huge splash when coming into contact with the water. A smle graced his face, knowing his friends succeeded. Twilight's heart was racing as Ash had once again made her worry. But that was normal for him.
"B-Bay...!" Bayleef groaned after using so much of her power She was feeling drained herself. But she was just glad that Ash was fine.
"Thanks, Bayleef..." Ash was also incredibly grateful. And thanks to Wailord's massive splash, everyone was drenched in cosmic water. From Ash, all the way up to the Unown.
"Aww...." Rainbow Dash groaned as her mane covered her eyes. She could also see stars because of this.
"Oooh, how wonderful." Rarity thought otherwise. Her mane was now sparkling thanks to the cosmic water getting all over her.
"WAILORD!" As Wailord emerged from the water, his massive form casting a majestic silhouette against the backdrop of the new planet, a sense of joy swept over the group. The 50 Wailmer, along with Lapras, eagerly swam to his side, their cries of happiness joining with his own triumphant roar.
The sight of Wailord reunited with his family filled the hearts of Ash and his friends with warmth and happiness. It was a beautiful moment, as the day was won.
Sort of. Daybreaker's group had succeeded in capturing Equestrian Wailord technically and they weren't about to stop now. But to Ash and the others, getting Wailord and the others back home was their next priority. It was a turbulent experience. From the Astral Projections to the discovery of Doll and the Nanos. Truly a story worthy of the cosmos.
On the planet made by Ash, everyone was resting for a bit. Audino used Heal Pulse on everyone that has suffered damage today in some way. A soothing green light washed over their bodies on this beautiful planet.
They found themselves in forest-like area of this planet. Here, towering trees adorned with shimmering leaves reach towards the heavens, their branches intertwining to form a canopy that filters the cosmic light into a kaleidoscope of coloUrs.
The lake's surface ripples with the gentle currents of Infinity Energy, creating mesmerizing patterns that dance across its mirrored surface. At night, the Celestial Lake becomes a canvas for the celestial stars above, their reflections shimmering in the waters below like a thousand scattered jewels.
Surrounding the Celestial Lake are groves of otherworldly flora, their vibrant hues contrasting against the verdant backdrop of the forest.
"Thanks, Audino." Ash had a relieved sigh. Everyone was back to full strength because of her.
"Wail! Wailmer!" The Wailmer, meanwhile, were happily jumping around their father. Wailord had the widest smile on his face as his teeth would beam thanks to the star in the sky.
"I didn't think that thing would make a whole new planet. Those aliens really had something fierce." Rainbow Dash commented when observing the planet before her. "Sucks they left that behind."
"At least we pulled it off." Twilight replied. "Any longer and who knows what else would've come from that galaxy. A shame it's been shattered. That's an entire galaxy destroyed."
"But that just means this one is now a part of our own universe. Well, it was before but, you know what I mean." Pinkie Pie spoke. Indeed, this planet was now officially in this universe. Out in the open too. "Pretty great choice too!"
"I guess you can return home now." Ash faced the Wailmer, Lapras and Wailord. "Unless you guys wanna stay here."
"La. Lapras." However, despite how beautiful this planet was, Lapras, the 50 Wailmer and Wailord wanted to return home to their planet. Earth is where they belong and they prefer it there. They also didn't want to be left alone on this planet since it was practically devoid of other life. Granted, it was a new planet and it needed time to flourish.
"Alright. We'll get you all home." Ash smiled before glancing at the ship, which was currently being repaired by the Nanons once more, courtesy of Doll. However, they would have to find a way to fit Wailord inside of the ship since he was so massive.
"WAILORD." Wailord had a solution. Just this once, they could place him in a Poke Ball, making the transport easier for them. After that, they can set him free.
"Just a catch? Alright then." Fluttershy held out a Poke Ball, deciding be the one to do it. With a quick toss of it since Wailord was impossble to miss with that size, the Poke Ball would land the Float Whale Pokemon's head. The light appeared, pulling him in before dropping into the water, floating and shaking above it.
1...2...3... Gotcha! Wailord was caught. For a brief moment.
"By the way, Wailord. Where are Pheromosa, Mew and Kartana? Are they fine?" Rarity wondered. The three of them haven't returned and unbeknownst to them all at the moment, they were currently unconscious in space. Now that they had Wailord in a smaller space, they could head out there right now.
Outer Space.
With the ship repaired, it was back to outer space. It was once again moving through the cosmos but this time, not inside a galaxy-sized whale. As they travelled away from the newly-crafted planet, there they saw them.
Mew, Pheromosa and Kartana. Passed out by Wailord's titanic cry, their bodies were unable to handle it. It was a great thing that they were able to breathe in space. Otherwise, this would've been far more disastrous.
"Mew!" Pinkie Pie gasped upon seeing her partner floating out there in the cosmos in an unconscious state. Rarity and Twilight screamed too as the ship immediately went straight for the three Pokemon.
"M-Mew..." Mew groaned once he heard the sound of ship's engines approaching. His eyes slowly opened to see a familiar image approaching him. The Unown. Only they could breathe in space properly. The Unown immediately used Hidden Power on all three of them, gently pulling them with them.
Mew's eyes would stay open as he could see the red light of Hidden Power, masking the darkness of the cosmos around him. Safe and soundly, they were brought back inside of the ship, finally with their friends once more.
"Are you three alright?!" Twilight asked as she and the others immediately rushed over to them. Compared to everyone else here, they got the worst of it.
Having to hear and take the force of a galaxy-sized cry was unheard of, but absolutely fearsome. And it showed. Not only were they completely unconscious, but Pheromosa's body was shaking violently..
Rarity pulled back in horror as her partner Pokemon was unable to stop. Her fragile body was the most susceptible to the attack. "Oh my goodness...Darling!"
"Her body won't stop shaking." Fluttershy placed her hoof on Pheromosa's body, immediately feeling a strong vibration.
"Audino!" Immediately, Audino went to use Heal Pulse on their bodies. The green light washed over their bodies, searching for anything critical and there was something critical in there indeed.
However, despite Audino's power, she was unable to heal Pheromosa's shaking. This was something beyond her. She strained herself, doing her best to overwrite it, but it was to no avail.
"I don't think that'll work, Audi." Even Fluttershy knew this. "We need to go back to Earth, now!"
"But what about Daybreaker?! And the whole Lunala thing?!" Rainbow Dash questioned, thinking about the main threats here. Daybreaker wasn't going to stop and she was right. While she did capture Equestrian Wailord, her next target was her first target. Lunala.
"...We'll go back to Earth." Ash decided. Many of them were in agreement with that. They prioritizedf the wellbeing over others over going after Daybreaker. Going after her would mean Pheromosa, Mew and Kartana would be in even greater danger. And of course, the same goes for the Wailmer, Lapras and Wailord.
All in agreement, the pilots knew where they had to go next. It was back to Earth.
On one of Empress Twilight's ships.
Currently, the Empress herself was being discreet. The Pokemon Rangers were all currently onboard of her ship. However, there was a momentary ceasefire, from the order of the Empress. Jackie currently had his back damaged after the Vortex Gateway managed to hit it. All thanks to Dayastra.
He was currently in the sick bay, getting himself checked out and it was rather harsh. The Vortex Gateway left a serious bruise on his back.
"It's impressive you survived that. Your back should be completely ripped apart." One of the ponies said, impressed that Jackie managed to survive that. The worst he got was passing out. His wounds have been tended to, having a bandage around his upper body.
"Great, ain't I?" Jackie uttered with a smile on his face before groaning.
"I can't believe her..." Meanwhile, Empress Twilight was looking through the window, gazing at one of Daybreaker's ships. Knowing that Sunrise Sparkle could get rid of her and the Empress wouldn't be all that bothered didn't sit right with her. Especially when Sunrise's group were now searching for her since they knew the Rangers didn't actually return to Earth. But the Empress didn't know that.
"Don't sweat it. Happens all the time." Jackie said to the Empress. "Bad groups like you go through sabotage and betrayal eventually. Guess it's almost your turn."
"You have some nerve. Protecting me back there." The Empress scoffed when facing Jackie. "Think I couldn't have handled myself back there?"
"You didn't seem too upset about it. Plus, letting others perish isn't the Ranger Way. We couldn't let you go out in the vacuum of space. All of you."
"What do we do now, Empress?" One of her troops asked, wondering what the next play was.
"...Turn back." The Empress ordered. "We'll forget about Lunala." The Empress made the bold decision to leave this mission, getting away from it all.
"You sure about that?" Jackie questioned. "What if they end up finding Lunala and you miss it?"
"I can afford to miss one Legendary Pokemon." She replied. "But do you honestly think you can get anywhere without a ship of your own?"
"She's right. We might have to come back later." One of the Rangers replied, deciding to call this mission on hold until they can return once more.
"Shouldn't we arrest the rangers, your Majesty? If anything, we'd put most of the blame on then since they interrupted us." One of the troops requested.
"Sorry, but we'll be leaving soon. Our gateway technology is just a bit better than yours." Jacie confidently said as all the Rangers could be seen smiling, knowing this to be true."
"Hmph...You can go." To the surprise of the troops and all the other ponies on board, Empress Twilight actually allowed the Rangers to leave freely without them causing any trouble. "For saving our lives...That's all. If you want to continue pursuing Daybreaker, be my guest."
"Many thanks, Empress." Jackie grinned. Right on time, one of the gateways opened up. The Rangers were heading back to regroup, approaching the gateway. Jackie looked back at the Empress while being helped up by many of his fellow Rangers. The Empress looked back at him for a while before turning her head and closing her eyes. Just like that, all the Pokemon Rangers were gone.
For now.
As for Empress Twilight and her forces, they were choosing to return. The very few ships she had left would slow down as they were all behind Daybreaker's ships. The Empress would have to give a reason as to why she was leaving the scene, knowing that she had to confront Daybreaker about this.
It was time for her to make up the best lie possible to get out of this. The best she could do was make up the excuse of having to regroup and gather more ships. She managed to get the Rangers out of here scot-free without any of Daybreaker's forces knowing.
Earth. Equestria. Canterlot. Nightfall.
At last, after hours, they had finally arrived at Canterlot. Enough time has passed to the point where the Moon was now up.
As the travelers approached the majestic gates of Canterlot, the moon cast its gentle glow over the royal city, bathing it in a soft silver light. They got away from the Dragon Matter which was still in the distance, raging on.
Spike and his companions were rather exhausted, but their hearts filled with a sense of accomplishment as they finally reached their destination. Rayquaza lay silent and watchful in its cart, its presence commanding respect as they approached the gates of the royal palace.
However, someone was already anticipating them. It was none other than Luna. "Princess Luna?" Spike uttered. Luna then looked over at the Sky High Pokemon before gazing at Spike and his Dragon Pokemon.
"The Dragon Matter...You came across it, didn't you?" Luna was already aware of the Dragon Matter being nearby, bringing it up.
"Y-Yeah. Did you see it?" Spike questioned.
"I most certainly did. Come inside." She said, allowing them to enter. Luna seemed to know more. Salamence's back was rather tired as Spike immediately returned him to his Poke Ball. He needed the rest. Taking up Salamence's spot would be Machamp, who would push the cart.
As Princess Luna led Spike and his companions through the grand halls of the palace, they wondered what Luna knew. They didn't see her at all today but they did know she dealt with the Dragon Matter during the final moments of the Pokemon Festival.
"What's wrong, Princess Luna? Do you know something we don't?"
"I do. I'm just glad it didn't show up in Ponyville. Yet at least." Luna looked forward. "My sister will tell you the rest, but this is something you should most definitely know. The Dragon Matter is attracted to Dragons. Dragons such as yourself, Spike."
"Me?!" Spike gasped, shocked to hear this. Granted, the Dragon Matter was disturbed by the cry of Equestrian Wailord, but it seems that there was another factor at play that they didn't expect.
Already, a bit more was known about the Dragon Matter. And in Spike's mind, he thought of only one person in this instance. Prisma. He recalled seeing those eyes within the Dragon Matter, sensing Primsa himself. And since Spike has been in the Dragon Matter for a little while, it was farfetched to believe that this was the case.
At Canterlot, under the Moon, Spike's group met up with Princess Celestia after being led by Luna. Reaching Canterlot with Rayquaza in the cart, they learned of something rather important regarding the Dragon Matter. Something Celestia and Luna have already managed to figure out.
Sitting there was Princess Celestia, gazing upon Spike, Starlight, Amethyst and Big Mac. And most importantly, Rayquaza. "Glad you made an appearance tonight. Did Luna already tell you everything?" Celestia asked.
"Only that it appeared in response to him," Luna answered, only giving Spike the bare minimum. But it was a powerful bare minimum. "You can tell him the rest."
"What do you mean? It followed me?"
"Not just you, Spike. It seems to specifically react to Dragons." Celestia answered. "You were around an area that had Dragon Matter nearby and obviously, something happened to trigger it. Not just your presence."
"Well, we did hear something." Amethyst Star spoke. "it was so horrible. The worst sound I ever heard and I have no clue what it was."
"Whatever it was, it woke up the Dragon Matter." Starlight continued. "Caught us off guard, even though we were trying to be ready. Has the Dragon Matter shown up around other Dragons."
"It most certainly has. But only when something disturbs it. A few days ago, a few ponies and their Dragons said that the Dragon Matter showed up around them and only them. It hasn't been too long since the Pokemon Festival ended and already that Dragon Matter's been making more and more appearances."
"Mmm..." Big Mac thought for a moment. Applejack did tell him about how the Dragon Matter is the reason she and Fluttershy found the Kirin and eventually found Kangaskhan. While not a Dragon in his normal state, Sceptile did have Mega Evolution to change that, so most likely, the Dragon Matter reacted to that as well.
"..." The group then looked at Spike before stepping away from him for a moment.
"Ah! Hey!" Spike bellowed once they saw them gain their distance.
"Worry not. As long as nothing too intense disturbs you, it shouldn't show up. But that's the problem. Anything that reaches a certain level can awaken it." Celestia reassured.
"And uh...How many times has that happened recently?" Starlight questioned with a gulp.
"About 5. Mainly sparse across the world." Luna answered. "Your encounter makes it the sixth one so far. And based on what I felt and saw in the distance, the worst thus far. That many Dragons is what made it react in such a way. Rayquaza included.
"Seriously?" Spike would turn to his Dragons and Rayquaza as they were just as involved, unfortunately. This many Dragons made it easier for the Dragon Matter to be highly destructive. "But why? It doesn't even hurt us Dragons. Why would it do all that if it can't hurt us?" Spike just couldn't understand that part."
But Celestia and Luna gave him an answer, aiming their hooves at Starlight and Amethyst. They played a part in this as well for one simple reason. The two unicorns pulled back before looking at each other and back at the Royal Sisters. In unison, they said, "Us?!"
"That's right. It's because there were two Fairies present. And that was more than enough for the Dragon Matter to make an appearance."
"Hold on, hold on! Skitty's not a Fairy-Type though!" Amethyst objected, holding up her partner. "No disrespect, Princess."
"Skitty!"
"Not a Fairy-Type. But she's a part of the Fairy Egg Group." Celestia smiled, knowing her Pokemon biology well. That just confirmed more of it for Big Mac. Sceptile was in the same boat being a part of the Dragon Egg Group. "Like Cats and Dogs or Zangoose and Seviper, the Dragon Matter sees anything related to a Fairy as a threat and the presence of those two played a part in its appearance."
"What do we do then?"
"Well, Luna and I have been thinking and Fairy-Types are the best response to them. They're also immune to the Dragon Matter but they can also stave it away, whereas Dragon-Types can't."
"So why didn't Hatterene stave it away?" Starlight wondered why her partner Pokemon couldn't do the same. She only pulled it off momentarily but the Dragon Matter made an appearance just seconds later. "I had her use so much power to blow it away and yet..."
"They have to use the Fairy Matter themselves to make that happen. In the few instances of it appearing near others, those surrounded by the Fairy Matter were able to fend off the Dragon Matter, even by accident." Luna explained. "If you can do that, the Dragon Matter will leave and seep back into the Earth. Not that it'll stop moving."
"Now, about Rayquaza. I can only imagine why he's down here." Celestia would approach the Sky High Pokemon, finally addressing him. "It's been a while, Rayquaza." In response, the Sky High Pokemon would cry out to the Sun Princess, remembering her well. "You were up there, weren't you? Trying to stop Daybreaker and her team. The Ranger Union told me what happened. You did your best."
"Uh, is there any way to help him? He can't fly anymore. Whatever he did totally drained a good chunk of his strength." Spike asked.
"Well, based on what the Ranger Union said, Rayquaza dabbled in the Dragon Matter himself. In fact, I believe he used it incredibly well despite it being so new." Celestia explained. "But seems like even he can't handle it all just yet. Even if the Dragon Matter can't harm Dragon Pokemon, it can certainly give them a disadvantage."
"We've been here before." said Luna. "Reshiram was also rather powerless for a while, but I assure you, much like Reshiram, Rayquaza will recover. Not sure for how long though."
"We can't heal Rayquaza, I'm afraid. Not yet at least. So for now, he needs time to rejuvenate." Celestia offered that as the current solution until he recovers or something else is done. "But I'm leaving him in the care of Ponyville."
"Huh?!" Spike, Starlight and Amethyst collectively gasped.
"That's right. We can't have someone catching Rayquaza while he's left vulnerable like this. If someone like Team Plasma came across him, that would spell too much trouble for us all." But Celestia had her reasons as always. "That's why he needs to be away from the Wild for a while until he's ready once more. That isn't a problem, right, Rayquaza."
"Umm..." Before Spike could say anything else, he looked back at the Sky High Pokemon, who would nod in understanding. Spike grimaced as Ponyville was about to have quite a large guest.
"Don't worry. I ensure that it will all be alright." Celestia could understand their worries and fears. "I feel confident in entrusting his safety to all of you. Just like how Cobalion and the Ranger Union entrusted Zeraora to Rainbow Dash. Just make sure Rayquaza is safe and rests well."
"I-I got it." Spike nodded in understanding and by extension, so did the others. "We'll do our best. Not sure Mayor Mare will like it though."
"Your majesty." Entering the throne room was one of the guards. "We've just received news from Pegalysium that the ship has returned to Earth. The same ones Ash's group took."
"They're back already?" Celestia spoke, already aware of their departure. She had her connections to Pegalysium to thank for that.
Pegalysium. Sky Monarch.
Descending onto the area it originally took off from, Ash and his friends had safely returned to Earth, landing in Pegalysium. And as soon as it touched down and opened up, exiting it were the Unown, followed by Ash and everyone else. Rolling out of the ship were the Wailmer, followed by the Android Doll and her Nanos.
"How did it go? Is everything alright?" King Paramount asked upon seeing them return.
"Do you have a Pokemon Center up there?!" Rarity immediately rushed over, needing intensive care for Pheromosa. Pinkie Pie would do the same, holding Mew in her hooves.
"W-We don't, I'm afraid. What happened to him?" Luminary looked over at Mew, who was struggling to stay awake. "Did you stop Daybreaker?"
"We had to come back." Three of our Pokemon got hit with something huge and they're in a critical state. We couldn't afford to go back to Daybreaker and risk them getting hurt anymore." Twilight explained. "As for Daybreaker, we have no idea where she and her team are right now..."
"Well...head home for the night," Paramount suggested. "Get a good night's sleep and have your Pokemon recovered."
"Wow...Earth." As for Doll, she was more amazed by what she was seeing. Definitely way more life present here. Granted, she did briefly stay on that New Planet Ash made. "This is where Father comes from?"
"Best we get you somewhere you can live. Your father's home was taken with him, so you're going to have to find a new one." Fluttershy suggested, knowing Doll would need somewhere new to live. She wasn't returning to Planet Vinlie anytime soon. Fluttershy and Applejack would make sure she gets a new home and of course, they would help the Wailmer, Lapras and Wailord back into the world once more.
"Mew..." Mew groaned, being the only one to actually take all of that damage and still be somewhat conscious. Pinkie Pie held him in his hooves like a baby, making sure he was comfortable and not feeling too much stress or pressure. Pinkie was rather worried that Nurse Joy might not be enough for such a problem.
Equestria. Lapras Lake.
As for where Wailord's group would be sent to, it was right back where they last saw them. Lapras Lake. Fluttershy arrived there with just her Pokemon by her side. The rest of her friends were already off doing other things, such as making sure Pheromosa, Mew and Kartana get proper treatment.
The Wailmer immediately leapt into the familiar ocean of the world they love, splashing water droplets everywhere. Fittingly, Lapras would soon enter Lapras Lake. And of course, the big one himself. Fluttershy tossed the Poke Ball in the air, immediately summoning the Float Whale Pokemon.
She made sure the throw was powerful enough to reach great distances. Wailord emerged, almost dropping into the ocean. However, as his title suggests, he could float, hovering over the ocean.
They were all back to where they originally were once more, making Fluttershy feel a bit nostalgic. The Wailord happily bounced around.
"Glad you're back, Wailord. Everyone." Fluttershy smiled. "Now, I'm just hoping things turn out well for Pheromosa, Mew and Kartana."
"WAIL." Wailord had something to admit. He knew why the three of them were in such a state as he overheard it all. Wailord told Fluttershy that he was the one responsible for their conditions. Of course, it was mainly caused by Daybreaker.
"It was you...?" Fluttershy gawked. But she understood it was never his fault from the start. Much like how Craft became even more intelligent with Rift Energy, the same went for Wailord who was aware of his galactic-size. "I understand, Wailord. No hard feelings. I'll make sure they understand too. Now...you all should get going. But before that."
Fluttershy then looked at the Poke Ball, ready to destroy it to set Wailord free. No way her own strength could do it, so she was counting on Raboot to pull it off. However, before she could have Raboot destroy it, Wailord said something surprising that caught Fluttershy off guard once more.
"You...don't want me to?" Fluttershy translated. To her surprise, Wailord didn't want her to destroy the Poke Ball. And by extension, that meant only one thing. Wailord wanted Fluttershy to keep that Poke Ball, as a sign of these two being partners. "O-Oh! Alright! I got it, Wailord!"
Granted, Wailord was still going to swim away, taking care of his family and everything. But he would be Fluttershy's Pokemon now, out there somewhere. And Fluttershy could count on him to show up when it most matters. Lapras then happily cheered for Wailord for finding a Pokemon Trainer such as Fluttershy. And in Fluttershy's ears, she heard a particular word only associated with couples.
"Wait...You two are Husband and Wife!" Fluttershy was hit with the third surprise of the night by Wailord. This time, from the mouth of Lapras. Fluttershy then looked at the Wailmer, finally understanding that they were Lapras's kids too, even if it wasn't by blood.
"...WAIL." And this was confirmed with Wailord blushing in response.
Fluttershy was proud of them but also stunned. Wailord was a Family Pokemon and a huge one at that. He would then swim away with his family. Fluttershy chuckled for a moment before walking off. She definitely needed time to rest and recover herself.
Unova. Castelia City. Pokemon Center. Night.
Taking the nearest gateway, Pinkie Pie, Twilight and Pheromosa immediately went to Castelia's Pokemon Center, getting their Pokemon checked up. Thankfully, no one else was needing care at the moment, leaving their Pokemon available.
Like a worried mother, Rarity was pacing back and forth, even using her magic to levitate from place to place. "Oooh! Maybe I shouldn't have taken her to space! She's a supple Pokemon after all! But that means she can recover faster, right?! Surely?!"
"Since Mew is still somewhat conscious, then I believe they'll recover," Twilight said. "Poor Kartana. I hope he isn't discouraged by all of this. I've only been his partner for a short while..." Waiting for minutes and minutes under the Unoan Moon, Nurse Joy appeared, here to say something.
"Sorry. This might take way longer than I expected." Nurse Joy bowed her head. "Their condition is unheard of. I've never seen anything like it before. But that doesn't mean they can't recover." Alas, it would not be instant and the recovery would take longer. "Not sure how many days or weeks it will take, but your Pokemon will have to stay here until further notice.
"A-Alright..." Twilight sighed, nodding in understanding. It was for the best anyway. Anything else would just put the three of them in further danger considering how wild their days can be. "Come on, girls."
Understanding their Pokemon had to stay, the three of them left the Pokemon Center with heavy hearts. Pinkie was reminded of when she first saw Mew being so defenceless. Rarity was gutted she let Pheromosa experience such a thing. As for Twilight, she had some faith in Kartana considering his strong-willed personality. It was time for them to depart from Unova and return to Equestria.
Twilight then looked up at the night sky, gazing at the Moon. She wondered if anything was happening up there. If Daybreaker and her forces had found Lunala and started another cosmic conflict. But so far, the Moon was silent and so was the sky.
Ponyville. SugarCube Corner.
"Oh, Mew..." Pinkie said upon opening the door to her room. Usually, Mew would fly in with her, ready to call it a night or mess around until they both passed out from excitement. Pinkie Pie would have to spend not one night, not two nights, but possibly multiple nights without Mew. She still had her other Pokemon but there would certainly be a void there.
Her mane was even starting to deflate from its usual playful and bouncy style. Pinkie Pie just had to hope for the best and receive something good later down the road. Hopefully tomorrow. With the lights off, the Earth Pony crawled into her bed, calling it a night.
However, her sadness would not go unnoticed. Not from any higher powers such as Arceus or the one known as Writing Glory. Not at all. Another external force of lesser power would pick up on this.
Far off in the distance, moving at high speeds and leaving behind a huge smoke cloud was one individual. Far from Ponyville, this round individual was moving at a breakneck pace, spotting the quant town in the distance. Approaching from the hills, passing by Pokemon and animals in a flash, specifically a pink flash, it was clear that this was a Pokemon on the move.
Faster and faster. Through the lakes, the forests and hills, this Pokemon was approaching Ponyville while it was starting to settle down for the night. It was rather fast for its size. But more specifically, considering the species, this Pokemon should not be this fast. While Pinkie Pie was snug in her bed with a frown on her face, the Pokemon in question finally arrived.
It was a Blissey.
Responding to Pinkie, Twilight and Rarity's sadness, the Happiness Pokemon had arrived. But this wasn't just any Blissey. This was the Blissey said to move from town to town when there is a heap of sadness. And even though it was only three individuals, the sadness was heavy.
The Happiness Pokemon had finally appeared in Ponyville under the night. She knew exactly which buildings they were coming from. Twilight's Castle, Carousel Boutique and SugarCube Corner. And not only did she sense where they came from, she could see through it.
In a flash, her eyes lit up with energy. Rift Energy, to be exact. This was a Blissey that had been hit with Rift Energy, much like some Pokemon out there.
With her eyes lighting up with a cosmic energy which just can't seem to escape the Ponies no matter what, she looked through the three buildings. In Twilight's Castle, she saw the Princess of Friendship open the doors to her home, unaware of the Pokemon that was waiting for her inside.
For Rarity, she was still awake in her bed. Her eyes wide open as she thought about Pheromosa. And as for Pinkie Pie, she was the only one asleep with a frown on her face. Blissey had one goal in mind that her entire species was dedicated to.
And her first target would be none other than Pinkie Pie. Instead of running, the Happiness Pokemon would approach with a walk, gently making her way to SugarCube Corner. Granted, that also meant finding a way inside, but she would manage.
All the while, in the night sky, a bright flash that looked like a twinkling star went off. Specifically, near the Moon. This twinkle would then fade away moments later as the journey continues.
"Mew..." In her sleep, Pinkie Pie muttered and mumbled the name of her partner. After the events in space, Mew, Pheromosa and Kartana were sent to the Pokemon Center to rest up for an unknown amount of time. Pinkie was obviously worried suck about Mew as the last time she saw him in such a state was after Team Plasma used him as a test subject.
What a shame it was. Pinkie tossed and turned in her bed, reaching the spot Mew usually would. She was already starting to dream about Mew, minutes into her sleep.
As she was sleeping, her mane and tail would rustle, acting as a sixth sense. Phasing through the walls of her home was none other than Rift Energy. And the one using it was that infamous Blissey, who moved through Pinkie Pie's home as if she were a ghost.
"Mmmmrgh...?" A disgruntled Pinkie Pie grumbled, opening her eyes and immediately seeing another pink figure in front of her. For a moment, she thought it was Mew, even hallucinating him. "Mew...?" That is until her vision became clearer.
"Blissey."
"WAAAAGH!" Screaming at the top of her lungs and shaking her own home, Pinkie Pie was absolutely startled. Despite how loud she screamed, Blissey remained unmoved. The Earth Pony took deep breaths, her heart was racing despite such an innocent face looking at her. "A Blissey?"
"Bliss. Blissey?" Not meaning to startle her, Blissey immediately spoke to Pinke Pie, apologizing first before anything else.
"Wait a second... Immediately, Pinkie Pie started recalling how words of a Blissey had been spread across small towns as of recently. And right now, that same Blissey was in her room. "Are you that Blissey? What are you doing here?"
What other reason? Blissey sensed sadness and immediately showed up. That was the case for all Blissey and this one was no different. The only thing different about her was the fact that she had Rift Energy at her disposal.
"Oh, I know why." Pinkie didn't need an explanation. She knew her Pokemon well, especially Blissey. "W-Well, that's super nice of you, but you don't have to come to me. I was feeling down sure, but it's nothing I can't come back from." The Earth Pony then stood up tall on her bed, puffing her chest out.
"Blissey." But Blissey wasn't buying it. Much like how she knew when someone was said, she could also spot a lie.
"Yeah! I'm not buying myself either!" A gutted Pinkie Pie groaned as she was seen through with ease. "Oh, Mew...I wish I could find Xerneas! Maybe it would fix all of this! But I guess that's why you're here."
"Bliss."
"You're uh...that same Blissey, right? The one that's been going from town to town? I mean, the entire town's totally fine. Not everypony's bummed out here." She was on the mark. It was just the three of them.
Admittedly, Pinkie Pie wasn't as excited as she should be when finally encountering this Blissey. Mew was just on her mind too much after all. But seeing Blissey here was a good sign for her. Such a Pokemon showing up was rather comforting.
Even so, Blissey couldn't let that pass for even a moment. Even if it's just one person sad, she'll take action. The Happiness Pokemon would observe the room, but not with any normal eyes. By using the Rift Energy, Blissey managed to see things in a cosmic light.
Much like the Time Flower, Blissey immediately looked into the past, specifically the times Mew and Pinkie Pie spent together. The Rift Energy allowed her to spot specific moments in time.
Sweet memories came by. Both figuratively and literally. Tons of sweets were consumed by this duo plus Spinda and all the Slurpuff. So many sweets that they just absolutely devoured and enjoyed. This involved pastries of course, which Pinkie Pie herself would make. Those were the tasty times.
"What are you doing?" Pinkie Pie questioned as Blissey looked like she was in the zone. Her face was blank when observing the room as she went through more memories. Memories of the day after Pinkie Pie and Mew officially became partners after the whole Landorus situation.
Once they became partners, it was cycling through every transformation Mew could do. Pinkie witnessed how Mew swiftly turned into various Pokemon right before her eyes.
Pinkie Pie giggled with delight as Mew fluttered around her, his pink form shimmering with energy. The two had become fast friends since the mysterious Pokémon had appeared in Ponyville, and Pinkie couldn't help but marvel at Mew's ability to transform.
"Mew, oh Mew! Show me another transformation!" Past Pinkie exclaimed, her blue eyes sparkling with anticipation.
With a mischievous grin, Mew nodded eagerly and began to glow with a soft pink light. In an instant, his form shifted and contorted until it resembled a perfect replica of Pinkie Pie herself, complete with her signature poofy mane and curly tail.
"Wow! You look just like me!" Pinkie squealed with delight, clapping her hooves together. Not exactly what she was expecting but she loved it.
Mew winked playfully before shifting back to its original form. It floated over to Pinkie's side and nuzzled her affectionately before glancing at the assortment of pastries on the nearby table.
"Ooh, you want to try some pastries, Mew?" Pinkie asked, gesturing towards the colourful treats.
"Mew-Mew!" Mew's eyes lit up with excitement, and it nodded eagerly. With a giggle, Pinkie picked up a strawberry cupcake and offered it to her new friend. Mew's transformation abilities were not limited to his appearance; he could also mimic the taste preferences of those he transformed into.
As Pinkie watched in amazement, Mew's form shifted once again, this time taking on the appearance of a miniature Pinkie Pie. The New Species Pokemon eagerly accepted the cupcake and took a bite, its eyes widening in delight at the sweet flavour.
"Yummy, isn't it?" Pinkie asked, beaming with pride at her baking skills.
"Meeew!" Mew nodded enthusiastically, its cheeks bulging with cupcake crumbs. With a mischievous twinkle in its eye, it transformed back into its original form and darted around the table, sampling each pastry with gusto.
Blissey saw more and more, already getting a gist as to the kind of bond these two had. Very much close and full of high-octane enjoyment. Meanwhile, Pinkie had no idea what Blissey was doing until she finally made a move, startling Pinkie Pie once more by gazing into her.
"I-Is everything okay?" Pinkie Pie asked. But really, Blissey should be asking Pinkie Pie that, even if she knew the answer. After viewing everything, Blissey reached her conclusion. Blissey looked at her egg, knowing that it wouldn't be enough. Pinkie Pie's sadness was something that couldn't be solved so easily considering the circumstances.
"Look. You don't have to worry all that much about me. If you're wondering, it's about my Mew. I'm really worried for him, but I've got a gut feeling he'll be just fine. All my friends always are!"
"Blissey?"
"Mhm. That's right. Mew trusts me, so I can trust him to get better."
"Blissey..." But Blissey could see right through Pinkie Pie. Both figuratively and literally. Using her cosmic eyes, she observed the Aura of Pinkie Pie as her own interface showed up. On that Cosmic Interface, the following were said.
Worry at 65%. Doubt at 40%. Hope at 50%. Ability to lie at 12% and so on. Blissey was gifted with the ability to see other's emotions. And when viewing all those parameters and comparing them to Pinkie Pie's natural emotion. Blissey then turned her head, using the Rift Energy to look past SugarCube Corner and view everything else. And what she saw would shock her.
Twilight's Castle.
"Spike?!" At Twilight's Castle, a bellowing shout came from it. To the shock of Twilight Sparkle, laying there inside of a massive cart was none other than Rayquaza, who was brought home by Spike. "Why is Rayquaza here?!"
"Well, uh..." Spike would have to explain himself as Daisy and Paradise were already surrounding the Sky High Pokemon. "Princess Celestia said we shouldn't keep him safe since he's so weak right now. Don't want someone like Team Plasma finding him, ya know."
"Did you have to bring him here? And is this because of what happened back in space?" Twilight thought back to the entire space situation and the fact that such a powerful force sent everyone flying. Including draining Rayquaza.
"It's only for a while, Twilight. Plus, it'll be just like Princess Celestia and Reshiram, so there's no need to worry. I bet you Rayquaza will be back to his full strength eventually."
"Wow...It's so long." Daisy would poke Rayquaza, admiring his build. Meanwhile, Paradise used her Pokedex, scrolling through every detail about Rayquaza. His biology and what he could do and she found quite a long list of it.
"Oh, yeah. i also heard something about the Dragon Matter today from Princess Celestia and Luna. "Spike had one more thing to share. Something rather crucial. "We got attacked by the Dragon Matter today, but that's only because I was around. Something woke up the Dragon Matter and it came straight for us."
"It's attracted you?"
"Not just me, but my Dragons too. Every Dragon. But it needed something to wake it up in the first place. But get this...Fairy Pokemon are just as immune to it as us Dragons. Heck, you can ask Starlight herself! Hatterene made it go away! For like, a few seconds but still"
"Hmm...I figured as much." Twilight pondered for a moment. "A part of her always thought that was the case but now it was very much true.
"So what happened up there? I mean, something must've happened for Rayquaza to come crashing down there."
"Something did happen. We never reached the scene but one's things for sure. A ton of energy was used up for one big attack in space when Rayquaza was battling the Solar Empire. The force of it immediately sent everyone flying, including us. And whatever it was, Rayquaza lost a good majority of his strength because of it. That's probably why he crashed.
"But you stopped Daybreaker, right?"
"We had to come back to Earth, Spike. We couldn't go back for Daybreaker. Not when Kartana, Mew and Pheromosa took a horrible hit. Especially Pheromosa." The Princess of Friendship shook her head.
"Huh? But that means they're still up there going for Lunala, aren't they?!" Spike pointed to the sky. Admittedly, yes. They were still setting a course for Lunala.
But because Daybreaker's group had fewer to loss in that instance, they could press on with their mission while Twilight's group had to return. She looked outside as well, gazing in the night sky and wondering what what was going on up there. She was worried that Daybreaker's forces could succeed while they were down here. For once, Twilight couldn't do anything.
Universe 23. Twilight Imperium.
It was Universe 23. One of Empress Twilight's locations and what was left of it. After she lost that fateful battle, her empire has been absolutely crippled. Crippled to the point where it wasn't really an empire anymore.
The Twilight Imperium's military forces, once renowned for their strength and discipline, were decimated in the battle against Universe 1. Countless ships were lost and while she still had a lot, it was clear that was a massive number drop compared to before.
The same goes for all the technology she once had. The loss of key research facilities and scientific minds set back the Twilight Imperium's technological advancement by years. Many of the empire's most prized inventions and innovations were lost in the chaos of battle, leaving it vulnerable to more technologically advanced adversaries.
With resources diverted to rebuilding efforts and maintaining what little remained of the empire's infrastructure, investment in research and development dwindled, stifling progress and innovation. The only support were from Team Plasma and the Solar Empire, who were constantly doing their own thing a majority of the time.
As for the universe as a whole, ever since she lost, those who rebelled against her found a new purpose in trying to rise up, making this base of operations not as safe as it used to be.
In the wake of these devastating losses, the Twilight Imperium struggled to maintain its grip on power, clinging to the remnants of its former glory by sticking with Daybreaker and others as it faced an uncertain future. Empress Twilight's dreams of galactic domination were slim, leaving her empire a mere shadow of its former self, barely recognizable as the formidable force it once was.
And the way she looked outside the window, gazing into the night sky, it was bugging her. Not just because her Empire was not that much of an empire anymore, but because of what happened on that ship. All of the things Sunrise Sparkle said rang in her head.
"I could become the new Empress Twilight one day. My own Empress, side by side with her majesty. But she does want you around either way."
"I'm not interested in keeping you around. If anything, I can be better than you will ever be. I have no idea why the Empress decided to put her trust in you, especially after your Empire took a colossal hit. You are an absolute weakling. After all, you used to be Human."
"It won't matter. Her Majesty is already aware of these intentions of mine. It's all a matter of my own restraint and the punishment I could receive will be mild and nothing."
Those words irritated Empress Twilight. And it didn't help that she lost a battle against Sunrise Sparkle's group, who proved to be superior, even against a fully-grown alicorn. But that part about her being a human aggravated the Empress even more, causing her to smash her hoof against the window, shattering it.
"What does she know?" Empress Twilight grizzled her teeth. "The nerve of her. I'd expect nothing less from Equestrian Variant who's so full of herself. But this isn't over."
The Empress, despite being shot down so many times, losing so many battles and being overpowered did not give up. There was a strong drive in her to succeed. After all, she's been in power for so many years it would be a waste to just give up here and she knew it.
But there wasn't much she could do. Now that she knew Daybreaker would have little issue with Empress Twilight falling once more, but this time for good, it was absolutely disheartening. She still wanted her around for the alliance but still. The fact that SunriseSparkle came so close to doing so bothered her too but what made it worse was the fact that she had to rely on the Pokemon Rangers to help her.
Her pride had absolutely been shattered. But a part of it was actually cushioned. In her mind, the Empress thought about Jackie and how he saved her life. She could just put the blame on him since he was the one who threw her off her game from the start, but even the Empress knew that was pointless.
A part of her was actually thankful. Thankful to Jackie for saving her even after she tried to crush him. The Empress didn't want these thoughts swarming her mind, so she quickly shook her head to stave them off and focused on what to do next.
"My plans are being set back more and more. What do I do...?" She paced back and forth, thinking of a solution. There wasn't much to use or do as she didn't want to risk being taken down by the rest of her alliance. Then it hit her. Something came to mind. One option that was available that could help.
"I hate to do this...but I'm going back to the Human World." The place she originally came from. Her actual home and world. The Human World. The Empress, while hesitant, decided to return there as a last-ditch effort. She hasn't visited her original home in so long, mainly focusing all of her efforts on this universe. But now was the time to finally make a return.
Universe 1. Equestria. Ponyville.
While everyone else was asleep, Blissey left Pinkie Pie's home with the earth pony following behind her. Blissey was observing Ponyville as a whole, not just the saddened Pinkie Pie. "Wait!" Pinkie bounced out of her home when following Blissey, wondering what she was doing.
She wasn't just checking up on Pinkie Pie. But also Ponyville as a whole and what it went through. Everything was becoming visible to her. From the very first day their worlds crossed over to the current day.
She witnessed the arrival of Darkrai and Malamar and how they were the first big attacks on Ponyville. Then, it shifted to others such as the terrifying Storm Behemoth, the seeds Discord planted, Tirek, Spiritomb, the Black Fire of Ponyville, the Dread League and so on. Ponyville has taken quite a beating over the years and yet was still healthy and bright.
Very impressive. It was also represented by its residents, who each had a strong will. However, Blissey still saw something wrong. Going through all the scenarios at high speeds thanks to the Rift Energy, Blissey saw that Ponyville was some sort of magnet.
"Blissey?" Once more, Pinkie Pie saw that emotionless look on her face as opposed to how the species is constantly known for smiling. Just then, unexpectedly, Rift Energy would pour out of her body, causing Pinkie Pie to back away. The energy poured out like a fountain before swarming around the Happiness Pokemon, enveloping her in the energy.
She lit up this one spot of Ponyville but the light was expanding. Pinkie Pie's eyes lit up at the sight of this expanding light as it looked like Blissey was undergoing some sort of transformation. And from it, something shocking but still related to Blissey emerged.
A massive egg.
Standing hundreds of feet tall, It was a mesmerizing sight to behold, its appearance both delicate and enchanting. It resembles a small, perfectly formed egg, with a smooth and lustrous surface that seems to emit a faint, faye glow. The egg itself is translucent, revealing hints of pink, white and purple colours, swirling within its depths.
Encasing the egg is a delicate lattice of silver filigree, intricately woven to form a protective shell around the precious orb. The filigree is adorned with tiny, intricate patterns reminiscent of vines and flowers, evoking the beauty of nature.
In the light, the egg seems to display reflections that play across its surface like moonlight on a tranquil pond. Its pearlescent sheen captures the imagination, drawing the eye and inviting closer inspection.
Pinkie Pie was so confused. Bewildered even. This was not what she expected from the Blissey that went from small town to town, cheering others up. None of the villagers ever spoke of this and neither has it come up once. Pinkie Pie had no idea what this meant but was too curious not to stick around.
Sitting there even when the Sun rose up was a massive Egg. An egg that was previously Blissey, who came to Ponyville after sensing three sad spirits. Eventually, this happened and she was now a large egg that was involved with Rift Energy. As the Sun rays beamed down on this Mystical Egg, the citizens of Ponyville gathered to view this mystical marvel.
"Oh, what is it now?" Mayor Mare would be used to the wildest things happening in and around her town but she is never expecting something typical. Although, one could argue that a Giant Egg could be typical. It's certainly not the craziest thing they've seen and it could be considered rather tame.
"Check it out..." Ash whistled at the size of the Egg.
"Pika..."
"Who laid this?" Carrot Top asked as she and many others assumed this was laid. But one thing that stuck out for them was the design. It wasn't a plain egg but it had its own unique look to it, much like a regular Pokemon Egg or even Manaphy's egg.
"Could it be...a Pokemon?!" Fluttershy gasped. Immediately, that was about to put a smile on her face. She believed a new Pokemon was about to hatch. One she's never seen before.
"Sorry to dissapoint." But Pinkie Pie had to be the one to drop the hard truth. "It's not a new Pokemon. I was all night and saw it all."
"You saw it? What happened?" Rainbow Dash asked while circling the egg.
"Well, there's a Blissey in there. She just turned into an egg all of a sudden. No clue how or why. It was so weird."
"This is a Blissey Egg?" Applejack replied. The longer they looked at it, it didn't exactly click. Nothing about this screamed Blissey. If anything, something like this would be more up Xerneas's alley with how fancy it appeared.
"How good do you think it'll taste?" Some ponies were mainly thinking about the taste an egg like this would bring if consumed. Boiled Egg mainly came to mind. "W-With the Pokemon out, of course!"
"Has it been like this all night?" Twilight asked.
"All night. She hasn't left that Egg at all." With Pinkie Pie being an eye-witness, Blissye has been in this egg all night, doing nothing. For what reason? Only Blissey knew why. But it mainly had to do with what Blissey saw.
"You said Blissey, right? Oh, in that case...What do we have to worry about?" Hearing the name Blissey brought warmth to them. Everyone here knew how the Blissey species was, always being the embodiment of happiness, especially with those eggs. Naturally, this massive egg held huge promise.
"What if it's an egg that makes yuo infinitely happy!" Sweetie Belle theorized, going with the one thing that makes sense. "That way, you'll never feel sad."
"Trust me. You don't want that." Roseluck shut that down immediately, seeing that kind of happines as a Big No.
"It has to bring happiness somehow. Do you think it's solid or something?" Testing this out, Spike would immediately touch the egg. And to his surpise, it was not solid.
It was bouncy. Almost like a boiled egg but not quite. He gasped once he saw the egg shake and jiggle. This immediately prompted the children and some of the Pokemon to poke it. Each of them started poking the Giant Egg, watching it jiggle and bounce for their amusement.
"Hm. I suppose this isn't the strangest thing that's happened. Surprisingly, not even Rayquaza's presence here is strange." Mayor Mare smiled.
"Wait, what? Rayquaza?" Ash turned to face Mayor Mare, stunned to hear that the Sky High Pokemon was present here.
"Mm. Brought him in as per the request of Princess Celestia. Spike found him absolutely drained and weakened and now he's under our care. Because of course he is. But...I'm not too affected by it." Mayor Mare shrugged it all off. "If anything, this makes our town even more special. I would say we'd get amazing notoriety and publicity from this, but it's best to keep Rayquaza safe. Plus, we wouldn't want an evil team coming here and expecting something good."
"They'll show up either way." Lyra sighed. "It's gotten too popular."
"Blissey! Are you in there?!" Shouting at the egg was Scootaloo, but she received no response. Blissey said nothing this entire time or did anything. Complete silence while many were around the Egg.
"What's Blissey even doing here?"
"It's us three. That's why she came here." Twilight could answer that even without seeing Blissey. "After what happened with our Pokemon, I guess Blissey reacted to us. She was probably already nearby."
"Oh, how considerate." Rarity would wipe tears from her face, glad to hear such a thing. "If Pheromosa were here, she'd be so glad. Then again, I'm sure she knows there are others who care for her."
"So then why's Blissey here? We can be happy again. It's not like our town got demolished. Again." Pinkie Pie wondered. As she recalled, this Blissey only shows up when a town or village is at its lowest. But Ponyville wasn't going through that at all. Not right now and even with its most intense moments, there have been others who have brought happiness either way.
It was just strange all around and the egg certainly wasn't helping. Away from all the commotion around the egg, over at Twilight's Castle, Rayquaza was asleep.
Or at least, he was. His eyes would soon open, gazing at the azure sky through the window. But it wasn't the morning that woke him up. Something else caught his attention. The Sky High Pokemon focused for a moment as everything around him became silent.
At that moment, he sensed it. A familiar energy. The Dragon Matter. But he didn't just sense the Dragon Matter. There was something else present in the atmosphere that was related to it. But it didn't have anything to do with Dragons.
It was connected to Fairies. However, this was not the Fairy Matter that he was sensing. There was a faint scent of it in the atmosphere yes, but a far more familiar presence was felt. Fairy Energy.
The Light Canvas.
Far from Earth and at the very top of existence itself, at the realm where Angels and those who have passed on reside, pressing matters were developing. Rare for this place since it is the embodiment of a paradise. And the residents here knew that as welll as they were enjoying themselves to the fullest.
But not the angels.
Once more, they were having a meeting, discussing matters surrounding Lightwing. Poor Lightwing was still captured by Team Plasma, becoming fuel for them. She has yet to be freed and Team Plasma have already used her Divine Magic for colossal protection, combined with Colress's science as well.
"This is taking too long!" Strident Heart stomped her hoof. "We shouldn't be struggling with mortals! Lightwing should be out of there by now!"
"You must stay calm, Strident Heart. Already, other angels are doing their best to shatter that barrier. However, even when approaching it, it's rather difficult to overcome." One Angel spoke.
"Combining Rift Energy and Divine Magic is unheard of. That is how Team Plasma has managed to forge such a powerful shield that even we struggle with. Most likely, this was part of the deal Ghetsis made with the Rift."
"But it still shouldn't be this strong." Strident grizzled. "Most of the Rift Energy used there was given to Ghetsis as an exchange. He never really gave it all up for his kingdom and kept some of it. But Ghetsis's body should be floating in the Abyssal Depths, completely unresponsive. So how are they still able to keep such a strong defence?"
"That's true. There is one possibility to that. At first, we believed the Rift itself was powering the gateway, but that isn't the case. Instead, something far more terrifying has happened. Ghetsis may be influencing it from beyond."
"T-That can't be?!" That blew Strident Heart back. It's rare for an angel to be shocked but those from Earth seem to break all expectations. "But he's in the Abyssal Depths. How is that even possible?"
"The Abyssal Depths' entire existence is an antithesis to us. But it seems that does not deter Ghetsis from his goals. Much like how this realm is powered by love, the Abyssal Depths is full of nothing but hatred. Those trapped in it are victims of such hatred. But..."
"But...?" Strident repeated.
"But, probably with the assistance of Rift Energy, Ghetsis's own hatred is so astonishingly immense that he might be reaching the outside even without leaving it. Most likely subconsciously. The last person to do such a thing came close but failed. However, Ghetsis might have already surpassed him in that category."
"He shouldn't be able to! How can his own hatred be that great?! Even the most vengeful people can't hope to interact outside of the Abyssal Depths!" Strident Heart bellowed.
"That is true. He wouldn't be able to pull it off much like the rest. But not only has he surpassed them all, much like his own Hydreigon, Ghetsis is gradually becoming sort of mutant."
"While the culmination of various energies was obviously taxing to his body, it also was beneficial, I'm afraid. Eventually, he'll become less and less of a human and we fear that his growth will react to levels that no human is supposed to reach. But all of this is just a theory, for now."
"He grows stronger with each passing day," One angel murmured, her voice tinged with apprehension. "Even from the depths of the Abyssal Depths, his influence spreads like a malignant stain upon Earth."
"I knew it! I knew we shouldn't have let the mortals." Strident Heart faced the other angels. "Didn't I say so?!"
"Y-Yeah. You did." One of the angels stuttered.
"It should've never reached this point. It should've stopped when they took on Discord or even Cosmos. I should've taken action against the mortals as soon as possible."
"To stop this, we are planning to send other angels to prevent Ghetsis' influence, if it is happening. For the first time in billions of years, some will have to enter the Abyssal Depths." The middle angel, who was the tallest of them spoke. The plan was to stop Ghetsis before he could grow any further.
"I'll go!" Strident Heart immediately volunteered without any hesitation in her voice.
"A-Are you sure?! That place is the epitome of darkness." Her fellow angels weren't so sure of such a choice.
"You all would be too afraid to tackle it in the first place." She faced them with narrowed eyes. "I've always wanted to take action involving the mortals to begin with. And now, I finally get that chance. I'm going there and I'll make sure Ghetsis is stopped for good."
"Be careful. Ghetsis, no matter his condition, is crafty. Under any circumstances, you must not allow him to affect you in any way." The Angels warned, knowing that Ghetsis was never safe to approach.
"I promise it." But Strident Heart wasn't about to let this one slip by her. She finally has a chance to do something about those from Earth and there was no way she was going to waste this moment.
Earth. Equestria. Ponyville. Day.
Time passed and the egg still sat there, not moving. Many have already gone on with their day while Pinkie Pie continued to watch it.
Appearing here was Discord. He finally made another appearance, showing up while the egg was still present. He obviously came to see Fluttershy, who was below, waiting for him. The pegasus was seen waving her hooves at her friend, who descended with a five-sided umbrella.
As Discord descended upon Ponyville once more, the Egg immediately reacted to it. At last, it was finally doing something as a part of it was glowing, grabbing Pinkie Pie's attention. It was specifically reacting to Discord while he was descending. It was as if Blissey was reacting to his presence too.
There was a reason for this sudden reaction. Without warning and a resounding crack, the egg emits a brilliant beam of light, arcing through the sky like a celestial spear aimed at the Spirit of Chaos
The ray of light envelops Discord in a shimmering cocoon, constraining its chaotic magic and dampening its ability to wreak havoc upon the town. Though momentarily startled by the unexpected intervention, the spirit soon resumes its antics, albeit on a smaller and more contained scale.
"Ooh!" Discord wobbled and shook. His umbrella immediately dropped as he came crashing down. He hit the ground rather hard too, face-first and all. "Ow...That actually hurt!" And unlike every other, Discord could feel every bit of the pain.
"Oh, goodness! Discord are you alright?!" Fluttershy flew over to her friend. Discord removed his head as there was now a print on the ground of his face.
"Ooh...That's odd. When did it take a dip in quality?" To Discord's surprise, when moving his paw and claw, he felt his Chaos Magic being rather weak. "My Magic is weaker."
"Weaker?" Fluttershy repeated before turning her attention to the egg. Some ponies saw the ray of light from the egg and immediately faced it, seeing that it finally did something.
And it was rather impressive. Weakening Discord's magic was no small feat and yet, this egg pulled it off immediately. "What's up with this thing?" Pinkie Pie wondered. Discord also had to wonder, flying up to the mysterious egg.
"Where did you get this from?" Discord questioned when observing the egg. Discord attempted to look through it, but all he saw as an abundance of pink. Pink everywhere. Pink sparkles, pink stardust, pink glitter and more. There wasn't even a trace of Rift Energy visible.
The Egg then stayed silent as if nothing happened but it was clear it could do something. Something rather powerful. Now, admiring it was dropping. Worrying about it was rising.
Nearby, a group of friends gathers beneath the shade of ancient oak trees, their laughter mingling with the gentle rustle of leaves. Yet, as the day wears on and tensions simmer beneath the surface, the jovial atmosphere begins to sour, giving way to heated arguments and bitter accusations.
As tempers flare and harsh words are exchanged, the once-unbreakable bond between the friends begins to fracture, each member retreating into the safety of their own hurt and resentment. Unable to find common ground amidst the chaos of conflicting emotions, the group reluctantly agrees to part ways, each blaming the others for the rift that has torn them asunder.
Unbeknownst to the friends, the Egg, despite having no eyes whatsoever watched from afar with a heightened vision as it sensed the deepening divide between them. Then, it reacted once more to this scenario.
Unwilling to stand idly by as the bonds of friendship unravel, the egg prepares to take action to mend what has been broken. With a resounding crack, the egg emitted that blinding burst of light once more, enveloping the friends in its radiant embrace.
As the radiant burst of light engulfs the group of friends, a hushed silence falls over Ponyville, the townsfolk watching in awe and disbelief as the once-familiar figures are transformed into shimmering orbs of iridescent energy. Shocked gasps and murmurs ripple through the crowd as they witness the unexpected turn of events, their eyes widening in disbelief at the sight before them.
"T-They're eggs now?!" Ash gasped in utter disbelief.
"Pikachu?!" Pikachu did the same. Even Discord was caught off guard by it a bit.
The friends, now reduced to smaller eggs, emit a soft, ethereal glow, their forms pulsating with the residual energy of the egg's transformative magic. Though their physical appearance has changed, the essence of who they are remains intact, their spirits undimmed by the sudden transformation.
"What's the big idea?!" Rainbow Dash roared at the egg, hoping to get a response. But once more, it was silent. "Hey! If you're in there, you'd better say something!" Knowing that Blissey was in there, Rainbow Dash went to knock on the egg for a response.
But unlike before, this knock was filled with anger whereas the previous ones were filled with curiosity. As soon as Rainbow Dash struck her hoof on it, that bursting light would appear once more, enveloping her. The pegasus gasped before having her body covered in it.
Not just covered, but also transformed. Right before the very eyes of her friends, Rainbow Dash had also become an egg, dropping to the ground. Her face was seen on the egg, colours and all. It made her look like a glorified party egg more than anything. After that, the Egg stayed silent once more.
"T-This is not cool!" Rainbow Dash bellowed. Her voice was squeakier than before, but just a little boy.
"What gives? This isn't the Blissey I was told about." Pinkie Pie was bewildered. Was what she heard from the villagers a lie? This didn't seem like a Hero. If anything, it seemed like a troublemaker.
Its enhanced vision was even more enhanced than before. it could see at great distances, essentially covering all of Ponyville in just a few seconds. In the bustling marketplace of Ponyville, tensions run high as merchants vie for the attention of passing customers. Amidst the chaotic hustle and bustle, a petty dispute erupts between two vendors over the placement of their stalls, each accusing the other of encroaching on their territory. It was something small. Something typical.
But not to the Egg.
As tempers flare and voices rise, the Harbinger of Happiness senses the potential for escalation and prepares to intervene. With a resounding crack, the egg emits a brilliant burst of light, enveloping the quarrelling vendors in its radiant embrace.
In an instant, the vendors are transformed into smaller eggs, their voices silenced and their bickering quelled by the transformative power of the egg. Shocked gasps echo through the marketplace as onlookers watch in disbelief, their arguments forgotten in the wake of the unexpected spectacle.
With the dispute settled and harmony restored, the smaller eggs emit a soft, calming glow, their presence serving as a silent reminder of the consequences of allowing petty grievances to spiral out of control.
But this was all fake harmony. Artificial even. Pinkie Pie and the others knew that very well. Lights were flying everywhere, hitting multiple ponies and Pokemon, turning them all into eggs one by one.
In the tranquil gardens of the Pokemon Festival, a group of children gathers to play beneath the shade of flowering trees with the Pokemon there. Laughter fills the air as they chase one another through the sun-dappled glades, their joyous shouts echoing amidst the gentle rustle of leaves.
Yet, for a brief moment, a squabble breaks out between two of the children over a coveted Pokemon Toy, each insisting that it belongs to them alone. The egg immediately sensed that something like this could break out into tears and it could not let that happen.
Sensing the discord among the children, the Egg prepares to take action. With a resounding crack, the egg emits a brilliant burst of light, enveloping the quarreling children in its radiant embrace.
Just like Rainbow Dash and the others ,In an instant, the children are transformed into smaller eggs, their squabbling silenced and their differences set aside by the transformative power of the egg. Shocked gasps fill the air as the other children watch in disbelief, their argument forgotten in the wake of the unexpected spectacle.
Throughout Ponyville, beams of light streak through the air at dizzying speeds, converging upon unsuspecting targets and transforming them into smaller eggs with each resounding crack.
"It keeps turning others into eggs! But why?!" Scootaloo shouted, ducking an incoming ray that was not targeting her but someone else far from here.
"Stop it!" Ash bellowed at the Egg. "Why are you doing this?!"
"Pikachu! Pika!"
But as soon as Ash spoke up, the Egg reacted to him as well. Using its vision, it sensed something in Ash. Something dark. Or rather, two things.
Two Dark Forces were seen within Ash. The Spirit and Essence of King Sombra and of course, the Soul of Prisma. Both were considerably dangerous in their own right and the Egg knew this as well. Immediately, the Egg realized that Ash was a massive threat. Bigger than anything it's seen. Even Discord. Now Ash was a target too.
Just what was the purpose of this Egg? And why would Blissey allow such a thing? All things Pinkie Pie wanted answers to but she wasn't getting them. This was not the embodiment of happiness at all. Not one bit.
Over at Ponyville, that egg that Blissey became wasn't as peaceful as it seemed. Upon reacting to small instances of negativity, it took action, turning those involved with those instances into eggs. Mild disagreements, childish banter and petty shopkeep arguments were all targeted.
"Woah! Ah!" Ash bellowed, immediately jumping and moving his legs frantically as rays of light came flying down. The Egg, seeing Ash as the biggest threat here, intended to turn him into an egg. "Ah! Oh! What gives?!"
"Why's it doing this?" Starlight wondered.
"Whatever the reason is, it's not cool!" Rainbow Dash roared while being an egg. "Turn me back already?!"
"Let's not rush it." Discord approached Rainbow Dash, picking her up in her contained state. "I'm a bit offended that it would hit me out of nowhere, but..."
"Blissey, stop it!" Pinkie Pie tried speaking to Blissey, but it was unclear if this was her doing it. However, the fact that the egg reacted to Ash made it clear that there was something there. "There's no way this is the Blissey"
Ash kept moving, doing everything in his power to avoid these rays of light. However, right as one of them got incredibly close enough to touch Ash, saving him was Twilight, who used a ray of magic to conjure up a shield. Her shield materialized around Ash in the nick of time.
The ray of light hit the shield, making it ripple before bouncing off. The remaining rays of light crashed into the barrier before bouncing off as well. Afterwards, they came to a halt, dissipating into the atmosphere.
"Phew...Thanks, Twilight."
"Turns us back already! You can do that, can't you Discord?!" Rainbow Dash would yell, along with those who have been turned into eggs. Frantic jumping from all of them was done as it was all so squeaky thanks to their miniscule forms.
"Oh, I don't know..." Discord shifted his eyes from left to right rapidly.
"Discord." But Fluttershy wanted it done immediately as this contained form was just unpleasant for them all.
"Alright, alright. But I would if I could. Honestly. That thing diminished some of my magic and it'll take a while for it to recover." Discord admitted. "You're going to have to wait."
"Why'd it suddenly turn them into eggs? What was the reason?"
"Whatever it is, it still doesn't change things." The shopkeepers from before spoke to each other. "You still have some nerve trying to sabotage my prices."
"I wasn't planning to sabotage you." The other Shopkeeper said. "It was all true though. They would've flocked to me instead." It seemed that the bickering wouldn't stop even when being turned to eggs.
"That's ridiculous. I-" As soon as she tried getting another word in, a mystical glow pulsated from the egg, immediately cutting her sentence. "You know what...It doesn't matter."
"Hah! I win! After this, I'll-" But very soon, he would be hit with the same pulse, stopping any boasting he had ready. "You're right. Why does it matter?"
"Strange..." Twilight observed this sudden change. It's as if their argument came to an immediate end. She then turned to face the children who fought over the toy, asking them a question. "Kids. What were you doing before you were turned to eggs?"
"Krookodile showed us this awesome toy the Pokemon use sometimes. I wanted to try it out and see what the Pokemon see, but you guys got way to obsessive over it, so we started arguing."
"I got obsessive? You kept going on about it." One of the kids replied. "If you wanted something like that, you should've gone to Ms Potion Nova's class. That's what you get for skipping school~"
"What?! I-" His words were cut short too, blocked by that Faye pulse. Just like the shopkeepers, he had a smile on his face and a warm voice. "I guess I can wait it out. I'll have to say sorry to Ms Nova too."
"You...You're right." The other kids felt the same, ceasing any other explosive words. "It's just a toy..."
"I think I got it!" Twilight figured it out based on what she's seen. These two interactions all had one thing in common. Arguments. "It's a Blissey's natural instinct to make others happy, but this Blissey, or I guess this Egg, takes it to the extreme. It silences any conflict by turning others into eggs, giving them a soothing feeling."
"So, it's forcing happiness?" Ash asked while still in the shield.
"Not just that. I bet its main purpose is to eliminate anything that is seen as a threat to happiness. Discord wasn't in an argument. He just showed up to Ponyville and it attacked him. Most likely, it sees him as a threat."
"...Most likely?" Discord was rather insulted by that. He felt that it was guaranteed that he was a threat. Not Most Likely.
"That's probably why his Chaos Magic got diminished in that instance. And as for Ash...It's either Sombra's spirit or Prisma's Soul inside of him that made the Egg react. Or both." Twilight theorized and she was very much on the mark.
"But why? That doesn't sound like what a Blissey would do. A Blissey makes others happy in the best way. How come the villagers didn't talk about this egg thing?" Pinkie Pie couldn't understand it at all. "This isn't making me happy at all."
"What do we do then? I mean, if Blissey knows this and if she can hear us, why isn't she stopping?" Fluttershy wondered.
"I say we crack the egg and find out!" Applejack was opting to shatter the egg. "Open it up and then she's gotta say something."
"I'm with that. Let's do it!" Roseluck and the other ponies were in mass agreement. Cracking the egg was agreed by many of its residents who wouldn't let anything threaten their home. No matter what.
"Now, hold on. Let's not-" Before Twilight could say anything, it was far too late. The other ponies took immediate action against the egg.
"Stoutland, use Giga Impact!"
"Sceptile, Frenzy Plant!"
"Roserade, Petal Blizzard!" Starting with Mayor Mare, Applejack and Roseluck, a combination of attacks were thrown forward by multiple Pokemon. Rising roots, a fierce charge, a storm of petals and many other attacks were seen flying in. Twilight closed her eyes as all of the attacks crashed right into the egg, causing a fierce outburst of Infinity Energy.
"Sweet! Direct hit!" Rainbow Dash cheered. A hit like that was sure to kerfuffle anyone else due to how direct it was. But as the smoke started to clear, it was revealed that the best they did was make it wobble a lot. No visible damage was done to i. Not a crack. Not even a scratch. "No way!"
"All we did was just wobble it? How?" Amethyst Star uttered. Based on how it was easily wobbling and bouncing from light touches earlier, she thought that attacks that powerful would do something even greater.
"Is it really even soft...?" Sweetie Belle gawked.
But just as all the smoke vanished, the Egg paid notice to the attacks done on it. More action was done from it, specifically in response to the attacks. The whole thing started glowing, letting out a deep pink glow. The way the colour was deepening and the energy was gathering made it feel like something explosive was building up.
The sound it made also sounded like a strong build-up. And in that instance, Twilight sensed a familiar energy. Rift Energy. The Princess of Friendship gasped before turning to face everyone who unleashed an attack on it as she bellowed at the top of her lungs.
"Look out!" In a flash, the Egg released more of its pink rays, this time in rapid succession and greater abundance, specifically targeting the Trainers and Pokemon that struck it. Twilight was too late to protect everyone as they were all collectively struck by the rays.
Roseluck screeched after being consumed by the light, feeling her body morph in to the shape of an egg immediately. The same went for her Roserade who was too slow to do anything.
"Aww, come on!" Roseluck groaned.
Sceptile immediately used Leaf Blade on the incoming ray of light, only to be transformed regardless. Coming into contact with it was more than enough to transform his body. "Tile?!" Back-to-back egg transformations were done as Ponyville was gaining more and more eggs and no one was quick enough to stop them.
Just like that, all the attackers were in a compromised position. Perceived as a threat, they wouldn't be attacking anyone else in this state, being vulnerable themselves. The last one to be turned into an egg was Apple Bloom, who dropped onto the ground, wobbling.
"Guess that wasn't the best move..." Applejack grumbled as her approach failed miserably.
"No fair!" Scootaloo groaned. "We get to attack first and we lose?!"
"Rapidash..." Rapidash sighed as his large stature now meant nothing as an Egg.
"Well, at least we know that won't work." Twilight went over to her friends, towering over them. "It perceived all of you as a threat as soon as you attacked it. Anything that can and will threaten it and others will be dealt with."
"That's a shame." Mayor Mare spoke. "But! For the sake of our town, it had to be done. We've faced far too many threats here, especially in succession, so we weren't going to take any chances."
"Well, that does it!" Pinkie Pie crossed her hooves. "No one's gonna keep turning my friends into eggs! Especially boiled ones! Why not fried?"
"Ew, you like fried eggs?" Carrot Top felt like gagging after hearing that.
"Don't Pinkie!" Twilight halted Pinkie Pie before she could do anything else. "Do anything else and it might turn you into an egg too! It'll perceive you as a threat."
"But there's no way. Blissey came here for me, you and Rarity. She wouldn't turn us into eggs and see us as a threat, right?"
"Not Blissey. But the egg itself. I sensed it when it was building all of those rays. Blissey's come into contact with Rift Energy and that's probably how this Egg Form came to be."
"Rift Enery again? Honestly. Why can't it be something new? Like average cosmic energy?" Rarity groaned as she was personally getting tired of Rift Energy.
"The best thing to do is to be peaceful around it. But that'll be tough since one wrong move will aggro it." Twilight faced the egg, narrowing her eyes with a determined expression. She was mainly thinking about how to handle it without any conflict and a part of that involved reaching Blissey herself. Of course, that also meant entering the egg which was on her mind.
Just then, at that moment, the egg started to move. No longer was staying stationary and unleashing light rays. This time, it was on the move. "Huh? Hey!" Quickly dialling Twilight's plans back, the Egg would do the unexpected as it began turning its body. Like a bowling pin, it fell over and like a massive boulder, it started rolling.
Right before everyone's the Egg was rolling across the ground for an unknown reason. "Wait! Where's it going?!" Twilight bellowed as the rolling of the egg was rather swift for something so massive.
"It won't get away!" Rarity dug into her saddlebag, instinctively ready to unleash Pheromosa. However, she soon remembered that Pheromosa was in the Pokemon Center. Remembering this, her body shuddered and froze for a moment. "Oh...That's right!"
"We'll catch up to it!" Ash would break through Twilight's shield, finally freeing himself. He didn't have to worry about being turned to an egg since the main one was going elsewhere. For what reason? They were about to find out for themselves. "Dragonite, I choose you!"
"Dragonite!"
"Get us to that egg!" Mayor Mare bounced along with the other Egg-turned residents. They weren't about to stick around and let that Egg get away.
Discord still had some Chaos Magic. And it was enough to generate a basket just for all the eggs. With a flick of his finger, he made the ground beneath them turn into a catapult, launching them into the air. Mayor Mare and the others screamed when launched by the Ground Catapult before falling back into basket. As a bonus, they were neatly packed is if they were a carton of eggs.
"You're so lucky we're soft..." Rainbow Dash grizzled her teeth at Discord. If their bodies weren't as wobbly as the main egg, that would've ended horribly
"Dragonite! Stop that Egg!" Ash said while hopping on Dragonite's back. Joining him were Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rarity who also hopped onto the Dragon Pokemon's back. For assistance, Discord rubbed his limbs together, kickstarting a cluster of sparks that he would drop onto the cart. Rainbow Dash and all the other Egg Ponies scrunched and grimaced their faces once they saw the sparks fall, but thankfully, it was not to harm them.
Instead, the sparks would act as fuel for the cart despite it not needing fuel. But such was the lawless law of Chaos Magic as the Cart could be heard revving up after receiving these sparks.
"Wait up! Go, Sala-" But as soon as Spike was ready to join them, he heard a familiar cry. It moved across the atmosphere of Ponyville, making his body freeze. It was none other than cry of Rayquaza. The cry of the Sky High Pokemon only reached Spike's ears and no one else's. Rayquaza was calling for him. "Rayquaza...?" Because of this, everyone went off, pursuing that egg.
The Egg was moving beyond Ponyville, leaving its outskirts immediately and into the wild. It would make sure not to harm anyone along the way, avoiding nearby Pokemon. But that didn't change the fact that it can be a bit hostile in the presence of something slightly negative.
"Where's it heading to?!" Ash asked Twilight who was flying beside Dragonite
"Hah! Maybe it's scared of us!" Rainbow Dash boasted and cackled while Discord was carrying them through the air, pulling the cart. Her laughter would soon diminish once she felt the rockiness of this aerial movement.
"For it to start moving like this...Maybe Blissey's found someone else!" Twilight theorized. "That has be to be the only reason! Whoever it is in danger!"
"Like them!" Rarity aimed her hoof in the distance, pointing at a group of Pokemon in the wild. Pokemon are no strangers to disagreements here and there, much like everyone else But unfortunately for these Pokemon, the Egg would solve their issue in a compromised state.
"Bonsly!" It was an argument between a Bonsly and a Maractus, with an Eevee and other Pokemon trying to break up this argument. But the egg would do it for them. With impressive aim, even while moving, the egg would launch Fairy Rays at them, ending this argument. Like the others, they were now just eggs. "Bonsly..."
The egg would not stop there. By making a quick turn, it would detect another source of negativity elsewhere. It rolled across a lake, leaving behind ripples and sending multiple water droplets into the air.
"That's where it's headed next!" Twilight saw where its next destination was. Lo and behold, it was an example of predator and prey. The fierce rivalry between Seviper and Zangoose persisted to this day, no matter the location.
But even the Egg wished to see this rivalry come to an end. Right as the two of them were about to clash for dominance, they were interrupted by a large ray which caught them both. The second they got close, their Egg bodies would hit each other, bouncing and wobbling.
"If this keeps up, it might turn everyone in the wild into eggs! That'll leave them vulnerable to be eaten!" Fluttershy gulped. She knew some Pokemon who absolutely loved eggs and this was not a good look.
"Pokemon eat eggs?" Rarity uttered.
"Some do! Sevipers eat eggs! Feraligators and the Krookodile line like them and the Snorlax line will eat anything!" Fluttershy shuddered with fear. "Twilight! Please tell me you can turn them back!"
"First we have to catch that egg before anything else! But it's not eve paying attention to us anymore! It's just going around targeting anything negative!" Twilight exclaimed as she and the others watched the egg snipe a group of Pokemon from a far distance. The range on that was absolutely insane.
"Guess we're gonna have to get hostile! That way, it'll have to recognize us! Sorry, Twilight! Dragonite, use Hyper Beam!"
"Drago...Nite!" From her mouth, Dragonite unleashed a fierce blast of Infinity Energy which tore through the air. Intercepting the egg's movements, the Hyper Beam crashed into the ground, seting off a wild explosion. This explosions was obviousy noticed by the Egg as it perceived this as a threat.
A threat to nature. An attack like that would naturaly cause problems if it hit the wrong group and Ash knew this. It was the only way to get the egg's attention. It woud stop rolling, standing upright. And while it didn't have any eyes, it felt like the egg was looking right at Ash's group.
"Missed it by that much." Discord thought Ash inteded to hit the egg but missed.
"Alright! We've got it's attention!" Ash pumped his fist before seeing the Egg turn deep red. From its body, that fearsome blast was unleashed once more, but this time, they were ready. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaa...Chuuuu!" From his body, 100,000 volts came crashing down from the sky, clashing with the beam. Pikachu's Thunderbolt entered a struggle with it before both attacks cancelled out. After equalizing, Ash would grab Pikachu whilst he fell, saving him.
Once the clash was a tie, the egg kept moving whie also erraticaly shooting pink rays into the sky, attempting to hit Ash and only Ash. No one else. Dragonite kept moving as well, pursuing the egg while stylishly soaring through the skies and avoiding some of the rays.
As it gained momentum, the egg picks up speed, hurtling through a nearby forest with the force of a runaway boulder, leaving a trail of shimmering light in its wake. Nearby Pokemon watched in amazement when seeing the pink rays light up the sky. It was beautiful, even if it was also dangerous.
In its wake, the forest comes alive with whispers of wonder and awe, as creatures great and small emerge from their hiding places to witness the spectacle unfolding before them. Flying-Types take flight from the treetops, their wings beating in rhythm with the egg's steady advance, while Buneary and Deerling dart through the underbrush, their eyes wide with curiosity.
As the Egg kept going, the landscape begins to shift and change, the towering trees giving way to a vast expanse of rolling hills and sun-dappled meadows. In the distance, the sparkling waters of an unknown place no one has seen before would appear.
"What is that...?" Amethyst Star spoke and she and the others would all gawk at the sight before them. They couldn't believe their eyes.
Up ahead was a Sea of Eggs.
This Sea of Eggs stretched as far as the eye can see, even from this height, its surface rippling with mainy pinkish lights. The eggs bob gently upon the surface of the enchanted waters, their size was noticeably smaller than the main egg which was absolutely huge.
As the Egg of Blissey moves through the strange forest, it drifted towards the Sea of Eggs, drawn by the soothing embrace of its tranquil waters. Here, amidst the shimmering expanse of iridescent orbs, the egg came to a halt, no longer moving.
The group now had more questions than answers that they needed. However, while many of them were amazed by what they were seeing so far, Ash and Twilight each had a different reaction.
Both of their eyes lit up as they immediately gained flashbacks. These were beyond lightspeed flashbacks, moving faster than they could perceive. But from what they could tell, there was a strong familiarity with this area. And for Twilight, the familiarity was even stronger for her. The words that came from her mouth next added this.
When pursuing the massive Egg of Bissey, Ash and his friends found themselves staring at a place that seemed to be a Sea of Eggs. The Egg itself came to a halt, stopping in the middle of the sea of smaller eggs. Not only that, the way it sparkles had a Faye feeling to it, much like the Faye Mountains.
And to Ash and Twilight, they gained a split-second flashback. Almost as if they've seen this place before. Especially Twilight. Even though this was their first time being here, their minds said otherwise.
"What is this place?" Fluttershy marvelled at the sight of the egg-filled area. Dragonite, Discord and Twilight would all descend, getting a closer look at the place. The trees also had eggs sticking out of them, even if they had smaller numbers compared to the sea.
There were more of them amidst the dense foliage and tangled undergrowth, these displaced islands create a surreal juxtaposition against the verdant backdrop of the forest floor. Some rest upon moss-covered rocks, while others lie half-buried in the soil, their smooth surfaces gleaming faintly in the dappled sunlight that filters through the canopy above. But that was nothing compared to the waters.
"It's like a Sea of Eggs. Has this always been here?" Bouncing out of the cart was Roseluck and all the other ponies and Pokemon that became eggs. Yet another location that went under the radar, but this one didn't seem to be Pokemon Heavy. At all. If anything, the only Pokemon here was Blissey and she was still inside of the Egg.
"No...It's nowhere on the map." Twilight said after descending. "Is this where Blissey goes to?"
"You don't think all those eggs are...ponies." Rainbow Dash gulped, fearing that all of these eggs are ponies and by extension Pokemon that have been transformed by Blissey.
"It doesn't look like it." But when gazing at the eggs, there were no faces on them. Ash saw a strong lack of them. Not a single egg here had a face on it and were as static as an average egg.
"I recognize this place," Twilight spoke, grabbing everyone's attention. "But it's never been here before..."
"Yeah." Ash was on the same page. "It was just for a moment, but I saw it."
"If it wasn't anywhere on the map...Then that means only one thing." Twilight reached a conclusion and it was one that was coming up a lot recently. "All of this is connected to Prisma. Or I guess the Lost Universe."
"Are you sure" Fluttershy asked. "This relates to Prisma?"
"Seems out of Prisma's style, doesn't it? All of this looks is Fairy-related..." Rainbow Dash shook her egg body. Prisma was more of a Dragon Guy and this was not his style at. But there was a reason for this connection to Prisma, which Twilight Sparkle figured out rather soon
"If I'm going to get an answer to this, there's only one pony I can turn to you. For once, let me speak with you." Twilight closed her eyes, aiming to speak the soul residing within her.
The soul of Twilight Luminaria.
As soon as she attempted it, the Fairy Matter in this place would suddenly rise, leaking out of the eggs. The group watched in amazement as the Faye energy arose, moving through the air in a beautiful dance. Twilight, unintentionally, was drawing the Fairy Matter straight to her.
As Twilight reached out to connect with the soul within her, it was as if the very essence of the Sea of Eggs responded to her call, resonating with the ancient magic that lay dormant within.
As the Fairy Matter began to rise and swirl around Twilight, the others watched in awe, mesmerized by the enchanting display unfolding before their eyes. Dragonite's eyes widened with recognition, sensing the familiar energy that permeated the air.
"Just this once...Let me speak with you." Twilight said to herself. Knowing that her and Twilight Luminaria weren't on best terms, the Princess of Friendship wished to speak with her incarnation, travelling into her own Mindscape.
As Twilight uttered those words to herself, a profound stillness settled over the Sea of Eggs. The gentle lapping of the waves against the egg-shaped islands seemed to hush in reverence of her movements.
With a deep breath, Twilight closed her eyes, focusing her thoughts inward. Slowly, she felt herself slipping away from the physical world, drawn into the depths of her own consciousness.
Twilight's Mindscape.
As she delved deeper, she found herself standing in a vast expanse that seemed to stretch on endlessly in all directions. The landscape before her was a reflection of her innermost thoughts and emotions, a swirling artwork of memories and experiences, starting from Canterlot and returning to Ponyvillle.
In the distance, a figure emerged from the shadows, bathed in a soft, ethereal glow. It was Twilight Luminaria, her incarnation within the Mindscape, her features illuminated by a gentle radiance that seemed to emanate from within.
For a moment, the two Twilight's simply regarded each other in silence, each searching the other's eyes for understanding. Despite the animosity that had once existed between them, there was a sense of unity in this shared moment, a recognition of the bond that bound them together.
"Just this once," Twilight whispered, her voice echoing softly in the vastness of the Mindscape. "Let me speak with you."
"You may speak." Twilight Luminaria uttered with a bellowing voice. "I see you've come across the Sea of Eggs."
"So, you do know what it is!" Twilight Sparkle gasped. "Oh, that's great! Then, you know what's with that Blissey, right?"
"The Sea of Eggs is another location that came from my own universe. Much like everything else in my lost universe, it's been revived, finding a new area to reside in. But not only that, it brought the Fairy Matter with it."
"And what about Blissey? Is she from that lost universe too?"
"No. That Blissey simply came across the Fairy Matter and it has adapted to her existence. On top of that, there is a mixture of Rift Energy in her, so that obviously helps. The many eggs you see around you are not ponies or Pokemon. No one has been transformed over the past months, unlike your friends as of recently." Luminaria continued.
"Okay then. That's good to know. I figured that was the case. So then, what are these eggs for ?"
"Those eggs...were another way of defeating Prisma. A backup plan." Sticking to her undying mission to stop Prisma's revival and the fierce conflict she had with him back in the lost universe, Twilight Luminaria revealed the intention of those eggs.
"Those eggs? How?" But Twilight failed to see how those mini-eggs could stop Prisma. The main one that Blissey was in made sense. It even sensed Prisma's soul within Ash. "Unless there are others inside of it? But that's how it's always been?"
"The eggs are brimming with Fairy Matter. The main one Blissey has found herself in was one of my most cultivated eggs." Twilight Luminaria, using her grandiose magic, would show Twilight Sparkle a memory of when she created these eggs.
Once more, Twilight would get to look into the Lost Universe where Humans, Ponies, Pokemon and other species lived in harmony before it all fell. She closed her eyes in the face of this bright light as the environment around her would change, revealing Princess Twilight Luminaria's home.
As she opened her eyes, she found herself in the same area as the Sea of Eggs, but way before it gained its unique appearance. The location was a simple forest with a magnificent sea which let out sparkles, glimmers and shimmers. There, Twilight Luminaria, still appearing as a silhouette, was seen 7 more silhouettes of familiar species. Kirins, Hippogriffs, Changelings and some ponies were seen with her, all wearing regal attire from their respective worlds.
"Since I feared what was happening to Prisma, I came up with many contingencies. One of them was crafting a backup in case something went horribly wrong and we failed. The backup were the Starborn Eggs. With my Royal Court across the vast Super Continent of Unilight, we put our heads together and formed special eggs made out of our own magic."
Twilight Sparkle watched as each member of the Royal Court contributed their unique magic and expertise, pooling their talents to craft these extraordinary vessels of power.
The Kirins, known for their mastery over fire and transformation, lent their fiery energy to the creation of the Starborn Eggs. With each blaze of their magical flames, they imbued the eggs with the warmth and resilience needed to withstand Prisma's destructive fury.
The Hippogriffs, guardians of the seas and masters of water magic, contributed their fluid grace and boundless creativity to the crafting process. With gentle waves of their enchanted waters, they infused the eggs with the ebb and flow of the ocean, instilling them with a sense of fluidity and adaptability.
The Changelings, shapeshifters with a deep connection to the natural world, brought their innate sense of harmony and balance to the creation of the Starborn Eggs. Drawing upon the energy of the earth itself, they infused the eggs with the essence of life and growth, ensuring that they would thrive in even the most challenging environments.
And the ponies, with their diverse array of magical abilities and unwavering determination, provided the foundation upon which the Starborn Eggs were built. With each spark of their arcane energy, they forged a bond between themselves and the eggs, forming a connection that would endure throughout the ages.
"So, it's many forms of magic moulded together..." Twilight gawked with amazement. "Is that how Fairy Matter was made?"
"Not quite. All of them are seperate from each other. But the Fairy Matter...that was my own creation, much like how Dragon Matter was Prisma's creation."
"You created Fairy Matter?!"
With a wave of her hoof, Twilight Luminaria conjured forth a vision of the creation of Fairy Matter, revealing the tiring process by which she had harnessed the essence of pure magic to form this ethereal substance.
As Twilight watched, she saw Twilight Luminaria surrounded by a swirling vortex of magical energy, her form bathed in a radiant glow as she channelled the raw power of the cosmos and all Fairy-Type Pokemon living on that world. With each delicate movement of her hands, she shaped the essence of magic into delicate strands of shimmering light, weaving them together to form the foundation of Fairy Matter.
With each thread of magic she wove, Twilight Luminaria infused the Fairy Matter with her own essence, imbuing it with the light of her spirit and the wisdom of her soul. And as the final strands were woven together, a brilliant burst of light filled the air, heralding the birth of Fairy Matter into the universe.
"I gathered every Fairy-Type in the universe to make it possible. A way to match his Dragon Matter and save Unilight. It took all of their own power and my magic to create this new form of Matter."
"That's how it's made..." Twilight witnessed the creation of this mystical matter for the first time and she could only assume Prisma did it in a similar way when making Dragon Matter.
"From them, new Fairy-Types would be born, with the power to defeat Prisma and bring about true harmony for all of eternity. And the main egg had the most Fairy Matter within it, needing someone as a vessel."
"Then who was the vessel?" Twilight Sparkle asked.
"There were many canditates. I even thought about having my Iron Valiant be one of them. But ultimately, due to how things turned out, it was pointless. Our universe was lost in the blink of an eye, leaving the egg with no vessel. That is until Blissey found it." Twiligt Luminaria finished the memory with a wave of her hoof. "No doubt with Rift Energy influence."
"So then, all of that is Rift Energy at play?"
"Almost. My Fairy Matter, or I suppose, your Fairy Matter, should have never come into contact with Rift Energy. Even if it didn't, the purpose of the Fairy Egg would have turned others into eggs regardless. It was intended to turn Prisma and his own Pokemon into Eggs as well."
"But you ended up making something that targets everyone!" Twilight exclaimed, pointing out how the egg went above and beyond what it intended to do. "What were you planning to do if Ash was turned into an egg?!"
"if he was, then that would've made things easier for me. I would not have to worry about erasing Prisma's soul and restarting it with a new one. With everything frmo my universe gradually being revived, the chances of stopping Prisma's return are both high and low."
"Tch. I can't believe I decided to speak with you again." Twilight scoffed, reminded of why she was not fond of her incarnation. The methods she will go to just to stop one threat were unfavourable, especially when it involved a good friend of hers. "And was that part of your plan too? Even the slightest negative thing needs to be turned into an egg?"
"Not quite. That is the influence of Rift Energy merging with Blissey's natural capabilities. However, the Fairy Egg is made to tackle all threats. I knew for a fact taht even if I stopped Prisma, there would be other threats. Unilight would never be perfect, so I had to make sure the Egg was capable of solving every problem."
"Yet you keep making it our problem." Twilight grumbled. "At least tell me how to reverse the effect. Some of my friends have become eggs because of all this."
"There is a way to reverse it. Because you and I are one in the same, you are immune to the Fairy Matter. You discovered that yourself back at Rainbow Falls. But beyond that, you can interact with it and so can those who have dabbled deep into Fairy Magic."
As Twilight Sparkle's Mindscape began to fade away, she absorbed Twilight Luminaria's words with a bit of bitterness but understanding. Though the revelations were weighty and filled with complexities, she knew that she had a responsibility to her friends and allies who had been affected by the Fairy Matter.
It was hers, just as much as it was Twilight Luminaria's.
"...Alright. I'll see what I can do," Twilight affirmed, her voice tinged with resolve as she prepared to return to the physical world. With a final glance at Twilight Luminaria, she gathered her thoughts and focused her energy, she could feel the warmth of the real world returning to her.
As she emerged from the depths of her Mindscape, Twilight Sparkle found herself back in the familiar surroundings of the Sea of Eggs, the gentle rustle of the forest and the shimmering glow of the sea surrounding her. However, something was amiss.
As soon as she returned, the Eggs were suddenly attacking her friends. "W-What the?!" Twilight Sparkle gasped as the eggs were flying everywhere, moving with aggression for something so small. "What happened while I was gone!?" Twilight exclaimed, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of the sudden turn of events.
She knew that something must have gone terribly wrong in her absence, but she couldn't fathom what could have caused the eggs to suddenly turn hostile.
"I don't know! They just started flying at us!" Ash exclaimed, swaying his head and barely avoiding one of the eggs. Pikachu and Dragonite would do the same, needing to move in many directions. The eggs didn't even break when hitting the ground or trees. Quite the durability on them.
"Aaah! Waah!" Pinkie Pie screeched. Meanwhile, Discord was moving the cart of everpony else around, making them screech as well as they felt their bodies wobble and shake.
"Not so rough!" Lyra bellowed before hitting the side of the cart multiple times. Twilight turned to see one of the eggs coming straignt for her. Espeon was ready to save her partner, only for the eggs to turn away themselves. Twilight watched as the eggs did not target her and she knew why.
They knew she was a part of Twilight Luminaria and refused to touch her at all costs, instead focusing their efforts on everyone else, especially Ash.
"I need to make sense of this...I can interact with the Fairy Matter too. I just have to figure out how..." Twilight grizzled her teeth. Interacting with the Fairy Matter mattered more than ever now, but she wasn't sure what to do first. Twilight never really dabbled in Fairy Magic, unlike Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.
And that's when it hit her. First, she used Rift Magic to gain special sight, allowing her to see through certain things. With the cosmis energy surrounding her eyes, she looked at every single egg that was flying around here, leaving the trees and sea. And to her surprise, she ended up seeing not just traces of Fairy Matter in them, but what appeared to be spirits.
The Princess of Friendship gasped as what Twilight Luminaria said was true. Inside those eggs were Fairy Pokemon that no one has ever seen before and have yet to be born. They only appeared as spirits with no physical form and yet, thanks to her connection to Luminaria, Twilight knew they were sentient.
"That's it! Pinkie Pie! Fluttershy! I need you to do something for me!" Twilight yelled.
"Y-Yes?!" Fluttershy stuttered as she was being held by Audino. Audino was Fluttershy's shield, using her durable body to take a barrage of eggs to the back and keeping her partner safe.
"All those Eggs have Fairy Matter in there! Please! Use your Fairy Magic on them!"
"Fairy Magic?! Are you sure?!" Pinkie Pie questioned.
"It's close enough to Fairy Matter, so give it a whirl!"
Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy steeled themselves for the task ahead. Though they were not accustomed to utilizing their Fairy Magic to its fullest extent, they knew that now was a good time to let it reach that extent.
"O-Okay!" Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with determination as they focused their energies on channeling their Fairy Magic.
Pinkie Pie, known for her boundless energy and innate connection to the magical forces of the world, closed her eyes and concentrated, drawing upon the wellspring of her inner strength. With a burst of vibrant energy, she unleashed her Fairy Magic in a dazzling display of light and color, weaving intricate patterns through the air as she sought to calm the agitated spirits within the eggs.
Both of them had beautiful pink lights flying out of them, soaring through the air. They also had to count on their own Pokemon to make this work. For Fluttershy, it was Audino and for Pinkie Pie, it was from all of her Slurpuff.
As Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy worked tirelessly to harness the power of their Fairy Magic, their efforts began to take effect. The egg began to slow their frenzied movements, their movements becoming more erratic as the calming influence of the Fairy Magic washed over them. However, they weren't stopped for good.
All this did was make them react to a familiar calming presence but it did not calm them down. "W-We're not used to this!" Fluttershy groaned. This was similar to telekinesis and it was not pleasant. The only reason they're lasting this long is thanks to the lessons they've learned from Valerie.
"Now to get inside there. I know for a fact this isn't Blissey's fault. One of you has to head in there."Twilight's horn then lit up with Rift Energy. "I can use the Rift Energy to send some of you inside nad get Blissey out of there."
"I'll go!" Pinkie Pie decided. She felt as if it was her, Twilight and Rarity's fault for this scenario and she wanted to make it right. All of this started because of the incident in space and even Pinkie Pie knew that Blissey wouldn't want this. No Blissey would. This was the exact opposite of happiness. "Let me go, Twilight!"
"Alright! I'm counting on you, Pinkie!" Twilight nodded, her horn glowing with Rift Energy as she prepared to send Pinkie Pie into the heart of the Sea of Eggs. With a gentle touch, she reached out and enveloped Pinkie in a shimmering aura, imbuing her with the power to traverse the rift between space. At least, a small space.
As the energy surged around her, Pinkie felt a sense of cosmic power coursing through her veins. With a final nod to her friends, she stepped forward, bracing herself for the journey ahead. With a burst of light, she disappeared into the rift, disappearing from view as she ventured into the Main Egg.
"Woohoo!" Her voice cried out as she jumped right into the egg. She had no idea what was waiting for her inside. Deep inside of that egg, more of that lost universe was waiting in another form.
Originally made as a countermeasure to Prisma's fury, it was practically non-existent along with the Lost Universe. But much like everything from that universe, gradually, it began its revival, resurfacing into existence itself. Pinkie Pie, after being sent into the Egg itself, immediately came across what was lying within it.
Her eyes opened up to immediately see the image of what appeared to be DNA Strands. An entire realm of it. "Wow..." Her body would float there, marvelling at the sight of all the DNA. The landscape itself pulses with vitality, each twist and turn mirroring the genetic variety of Pokémon species.
Specifically, the Fairies. The most dazzling pink light would emanate from these DNA strands, captivating Pinkie Pie's eyes. Her body would land directly on one of the DNA. "Oof!" After landing on what was a rather soft DNA platform, the Earth Pony raised her head, getting a better look at the environment around her.
In front of her were canyons of some sort.
These canyons stretch out before her, a breathtaking expanse of towering cliffs and deep chasms, each formation adorned with intricate patterns reminiscent of DNA strands.
"It's all DNA...Wow..." Pinkie Pie was not expecting this. An entire dimension full of DNA.
Massive rock formations rise like monoliths, their surfaces etched with twisting patterns that mimic the double helix structure of DNA. Each cliff face tells a story of genetic evolution, with layers upon layers of sediment revealing the passage of time and the gradual emergence of new Pokémon species.
"Is this how other Pokemon are made?" Pinkie wondered when strolling across the DNA strand. She had to search for Blissey somewhere here, even if this dimension didn't appear that large. Her ears could hear the sounds of this dimension. They all sounded like heartbeats and flowing water.
And from the DNA, Pinkie Pie could see pink lights flashing from them. Lost in the beauty of the moment, Pinkie reveled in the magnificence of creation's building blocks before their eyes. The DNA was constantly moving, unleashing trails of pink stardust that would rain down from above.
"So then...Where's Blissey in all of this?" Pinkie Pie wondered while continuing her journey through the small DNA dimension. Even during these times, she couldn't help but let her playful nature shine through. With each step, she bounced and skipped along the DNA platforms, her hooves leaving behind faint traces of pink stardust in her wake.
"Maybe this will get Blissey's attention! Woo hoo!" Pinkie sang, her voice echoing through the canyon as she danced along the twisting pathways of DNA. The air was alive with the soft hum of Fairy energy, filling her with a sense of joy and exhilaration.
She figured that happiness would be a good guide here since that was Blissey's thing. Pinkie Pie knew for a fact that Blissey would never do this willingly. Everything happening outside was the wrong example of happiness so exuding her own in thsi realm was the main objective.
With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Pinkie decided to add a bit of her own flair to the already magical atmosphere. Channelling her innate connection to the whimsical energies of Fairy magic, she began to weave intricate patterns of light and colour in the air around her, creating a dazzling display of sparkling rainbows that danced and shimmered in the sunlight.
Pinkie Pie was doing this unconsciously too. She was simply going with the flow and the Fairy Magic within just reacted to these movements.
"Look at me go!" Pinkie giggled, twirling and pirouetting through the air as she revelled in the sheer delight of the moment. With each playful gesture, she added a touch of her own unique magic to the already enchanting landscape, turning the DNA dimension into her very own playground of wonder and delight.
As she moved through the canyon, Pinkie couldn't help but notice the faint sounds of laughter echoing through the air, as if the very essence of the dimension itself was joining in her playful antics. With a grin, she decided to embrace the playful energy of the moment and let herself be carried away by the sheer joy of the experience.
"I didn't know this place even had an echo!" Pinkie exclaimed, her laughter ringing out as she leaped from one DNA platform to the next, her heart soaring with each bound. Despite the seriousness of her mission to find Blissey, Pinkie knew that sometimes a little bit of playfulness was exactly what was needed to lift the spirits and keep going.
With a gleeful bounce and a joyful skip, Pinkie Pie's playful journey through the DNA dimension was about to reach its end already. As she ventured deeper into the canyon, her eyes widened in excitement as she caught sight of the Happiness Pokémon floating in the distance, surrounded by a pink helix of DNA.
"Blissey!" Pinkie exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement as she bounded forward, her hooves barely touching the ground as she raced towards the Happiness Pokemon.
"Blissey...?"
"There are you! Are you alright?!" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Ssey. Blissey."
"Geez. How'd you get stuck in there? Well, don't worry! I'll get you outta there in no time!" Pinkie Pie winked, digging into her saddlebag for a Poke Ball. But as soon as Pinkie held the Poke Ball in her hoof, the DNA around them suddenly reacted, its strands pulsating with a newfound energy. Pinkie's eyes widened in surprise as she felt a strange sensation wash over her, as if the very essence of the DNA was reaching out to her, seeking something.
"What's going on?" Pinkie murmured, her voice tinged with curiosity as she watched the DNA respond to her presence. It was as if the DNA itself was trying to communicate with her, its pulsating energy swirling around her in a mesmerizing dance.
With a grimace, the Fairy Energy suddenly bombarded Pinkie Pie with sparkles. And these sparkles did not cause harm but instead, they brought about a hysterical feeling that intended to incapacitate Pinkie Pie. Defeat by Laughter.
"Mmmm! BAHAA!" Pinkie Pie immediately bellowed with laughter as she was being pelted by these sparkles. Try as she might to regain her composure, Pinkie found herself overcome by the infectious joy of the Fairy Energy, her body shaking with mirth as she struggled to stand upright amidst the onslaught of laughter-inducing sparkles. With each passing moment, the laughter grew louder and more uncontrollable, threatening to incapacitate Pinkie Pie completely.
"Stop! Haha! Please, stop!" Pinkie managed to gasp between fits of laughter, her cheeks flushed with merriment as tears streamed down her face. Despite her best efforts to resist, she found herself succumbing to the overwhelming power of the Fairy Energy, unable to do anything but laugh uncontrollably.
As the Fairy Energy bombarded Pinkie Pie with laughter-inducing sparkles, causing her to convulse with uncontrollable mirth, her grip on the Poke Ball loosened, and it slipped from her hoof, rolling across the DNA platform. With a sudden jolt, the ball opened up, summoning Pinkie Pie's loyal Spinda.
"Spinda?" The Dizzying Pokémon spoke upon emerging, blinking in confusion at the sight of Pinkie Pie doubled over with laughter.
"Spinda! Heeeeelp!" Pinkie Pie managed to yell between fits of giggles, her voice filled with urgency despite her uncontrollable amusement. "The sparkles...They're so weird!" Spinda, though disoriented by the sudden turn of events, recognizing the distress in Pinkie's voice.
"Da!" Spinda knew something had to be done fast. Right as the sparkles were about to reach her next, she immediately used the best move in her arsenal, which allowed her to have an even larger arsenal. Metronome.
With a flourish of her dizzying dance, Spinda activated Metronome, tapping into the unpredictable nature of the move to summon a random attack from her vast arsenal of abilities. With a flash of light, Spinda's body glowed with a pulsating aura as she prepared to unleash her chosen attack.
The attack in question was Whirlpool. Spinda unleashed the power of Metronome, summoning forth a torrent of watter that cascaded through the air like a wave of pure force. The energy surged forward, engulfing the laughter-inducing sparkles in its path and dispersing them with a powerful burst of energy thanks to the Whirlpool's force.
"Waaaagh!" Pinkie Pie screeched as she was carried by the Whirlpool too. Once she was freed from the sparkles, as soon as the attack dispersed, she would hurl through the air, crashing into a DNA. "Thanks, Spinda..."
"Spinda!"
As Pinkie Pie took a moment to catch heR breath after Hbeing freed from the laughter-inducing sparkles, she quickly realized that their respite was short-lived. From the swirling strands of DNA all around them, new sparkles began to emerge, coalescing together into a single entity.
As the sparkles merged and intertwined, they began to take on a coherent form, gradually solidifying into a shape that hovered before Pinkie and Spinda. "Now what?!" Pinkie exclaimed, her eyes widening in astonishment as she beheld the mysterious entity before her.
The DNA started connecting with each other, much like building blocks. With each connection, the strands formed a framework, shaping and moulding the raw energy of the Fairy Energy into a coherent form.
Before their eyes, the stardust gathered and coalesced, drawing upon the essence of the DNA to give shape to a new Fairy-Type Pokémon. Though it lacked a proper physical form, its presence was palpable, radiating with the pure energy of Fairy Matter.
Spinda nodded in agreement, her head still spinning from the dizzying display of Fairy Energy. Though she couldn't fully comprehend the nature of the creature before them, he could sense the power and potential that radiated from it. And there was something rather familiar about it.
As the ethereal form of the new Fairy-Type Pokémon took shape before them, Pinkie Pie and Spinda couldn't help but be struck by its uncanny resemblance to Pinkie Pie herself. The playful hair, the mischievous glint in its eyes, and the exuberant stature—all bore a striking resemblance to the beloved party-loving Earth Pony.
With each pulse of Fairy Energy, the Pokémon seemed to embody the essence of Pinkie Pie's boundless energy and infectious joy, even bouncing around on the spot.
Pinkie Pie gasped in amazement as she beheld the Pokémon version of herself, her eyes wide with wonder at the sight before her. "It's... it's me!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe and excitement. She then used her Fairy Magic, deciding to look beyond this ethereal form.
A sudden realization dawned upon Pinkie Pie when looking into this. With a gasp of astonishment, she pointed at the swirling strands of DNA surrounding them. "Wait a second... Is that my DNA?!" Pinkie exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock as she beheld the massive strands of DNA that seemed to intertwine with her own genetic code.
"What's the big idea!" Pinkie Pie barked at the DNA Strands in the sky. "You can't just go around making kids for me! I mean, it's fun and all but..."
"Spin. Spinda." Spinda then tugged Pinkie Pie's tail, pointing to Blissey.
"I know, I know. Saving Blissey. Guess you heard it all in the Poke Ball. All we have to do is pull her out of it and-"
As Pinkie Pie and Spinda pondered the mystery of Pinkie's DNA intertwined with the strands of the DNA dimension, their attention was abruptly drawn back to the Pokémon version of Pinkie Pie before them. Despite its playful demeanour and uncanny resemblance to Pinkie Pie herself, there was a sudden shift in its behaviour.
To their shock and dismay, the Pokémon exhibited a hostile attitude, its demeanour tinged with aggression and an underlying destructive force. Though it retained the cheerful personality of Pinkie Pie, it seemed to be driven by an uncontrollable urge to wreak havoc and chaos.
"Uh, hold on...what are you doing?" Pinkie muttered, her expression turning somber as she observed the Pokémon's erratic behavior. To her shock, the Pokemon Variant of Pinkie Pie would raise her hoof, suddenly blowing on it. Much like a balloon, she kept blowing on it as it was starting to grow. "Sweet Celestia...!" Pinkie Pie's jaw would hit the floor once she saw the Hoof grow to the size of a building.
As the colossal hoof descended upon them with thunderous force, Pinkie Pie and Spinda reacted with lightning-fast reflexes. The two of them screeched with their eyes almost popping out of their heads. They zipped out of the way, leaving behind smoke figures of their bodies.
Their hearts pounding with adrenaline, they watched in horror as the colossal hoof crashed into the ground with earth-shattering force, sending shockwaves rippling through the air and leaving behind a cloud of Fairy dust and DNA debris in its wake.
"That was amazing!" Pinkie Pie, while intimidated, was amazed by what she had seen. But she didn't have time to keep admiring this. After bringing the hoof down, the form of this Pokemon was starting to become clearer. The mane and tail now had a proper appearance, strongly resembling Pinkie Pie's own mane and tail but this time, with a greater emphasis on the cotton candy aesthetic.
After gaining a proper mane and tail, this strange Pokemon would raise her massive hoof, retracting and shrinking it. After bringing it back, she used it once more, extending it instead of enlarging it. Like a snake, it slithered through the air.
"Yikes! Spinda, use Superpower!"
"Spin...DA!" Channelling a huge burst of energy in her body, Spinda would meet with the extended Hoof.
With a determined cry, Spinda unleashed the full force of her Superpower attack, her body enveloped in a dazzling aura of energy as he charged towards the Pokémon. As the extended hoof came crashing down, Spinda met it head-on, their powers colliding in a spectacular display of strength.
The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, shaking the very ground beneath them as Spinda was immediately launched back thanks to her small body. "S-Spindaaa!" But so was the Strange Pokemon as it would roll across the DNA ground.
Just then, a sound came from the incomplete Pokemon. Laughter. Familiar laughter that resembled Pinkie Pie's own. It even matched her tempo and tone, almost as if it was her speaking. While laughing on the floor, more of this Pokemon's form was becoming clear. Now, its eyes were properly forming along with the rest of its mouth.
Gradually, it was gaining a physical appearance.
With a playful bounce, the newly-formed Pokémon variant of Pinkie Pie hopped back up onto its feet, its body moving in a fluid, almost elastic manner that seemed to defy the laws of physics. It emitted a silly sound as if its body were made out of rubber, adding to its whimsical and unpredictable nature.
As it stood before them, it let out a wide grin, its newly formed eyes twinkling with mischief and excitement. With a mischievous twinkle in its eye, it flashed a grin, revealing its newly formed teeth in a wide, toothy smile.
As the Pokémon variant of Pinkie Pie regained its footing, it wasted no time in springing into action. With a mischievous glint in its eye, it began to spin its body rapidly, generating a mini-twister that whirled around it with increasing speed.
Pinkie Pie and Spinda watched in amazement as the Pokémon transformed into a whirlwind of motion, its form blurring with the rapid rotation. With each spin, the mini-twister grew in intensity, picking up speed and momentum as it rushed towards them with unstoppable force.
"It can do that?!" Pinkie cried, her eyes widening in astonishment as the mini-twister bore down on them with relentless speed. "Quick, Spinda! Metronome!"
"Spin...!" Quickly, Spinda tapped into her random list of her moves. Fittingly, the random move she got was also a spiralling one. Spinda gained access to Gyro Ball as she could feel her body spinning.
Spinda charged towards the approaching mini-twister, her spinning form colliding with the swirling energy of the whirlwind in a clash of titanic proportions. As the two forces met, a brilliant burst of light filled the air, illuminating the surrounding landscape with its dazzling radiance.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still as Pinkie Pie and Spinda battled against this mysteriously powerful force. As the spinning Pokémon clashed against each other, their movements became a blur of motion, each rotation sending sparks flying from the impact of their collision.
"Hang in there, Spinda!" Pinkie suddenly had pom poms, cheering for her partner. But to her shock, the Pokemon would do the same. Separating some of its own energy, the Pokemon Variant of Pinkie Pie would generate smaller versions of itself that would also hold up Pom Poms. Energy pom poms to be exact. "Huh?!"
Pinkie exclaimed, her eyes widening in astonishment as she watched the miniature versions of the Pokémon join in the cheering. But to her dismay, it soon became apparent that these miniature versions were not cheering for her and Spinda's success.
Instead, they actively rooted for Pinkie Pie and Spinda to fail, their cheers filled with malice and spite as they encouraged their original counterpart to defeat their opponents. With each cheer, they added to the chaos of the battle, their energy pom-poms generating sparks that danced through the air with malevolent intent.
"Mmmrgh...You're not gonna beat us!" Pinkie Pie grizzled her teeth. Because of this encouragement, the Pokemon Variant was beginning to gain more and more of its true form. Once the clash ended, the true form of this Pokemon would be revealed.
The familiar pink fur of Pinkie Pie came into view as the back of its legs were stretching, moving around playfully as there were six orbs surrounding the top of its head, almost like a Halo. Its body would also leave the ground, carried by clouds that looked like cotton candy.
Lo and behold, it truly was a Pokemon Version of Pinkie Pie.
With the Pokémon now fully embracing its true form, its wacky powers were unleashed in full force, ready to test Pinkie Pie and Spinda to their limits in the battle that lay ahead.
"I don't think I can do this forever..." Pinkie then faced Blissey, who was still trapped there. She had to find a way to end this quickly and save Blissey so that this could all end. At that moment, the Pinkie Pokemon attacked, approaching Spinda.
As the Pokémon variant of Pinkie Pie closed in on Spinda, Pinkie Pie knew that this was their moment to turn the tide of battle. With a determined gleam in her eye, she called out to her partner with unwavering resolve.
"This is the big one! One more time! Metronome!" Pinkie exclaimed, her voice filled with determination as she urged Spinda to unleash their most powerful move once more.
With a nod of determination, Spinda focused her energy, tapping into the unpredictable power of Metronome. As she channeled her inner strength, a surge of energy coursed through her body, filling her with a sense of purpose and determination.
With a mighty cry, Spinda unleashed the full force of Metronome, its power surging forth like a tidal wave. In an instant, the surrounding landscape was bathed in a dazzling display of light and energy as Spinda's move took effect.
The move that Spinda received ended up being a true heavy hitter. From her mouth, she unleashed the power Fire-Type Attack, Fire Blast. The Pokemon Variant was blasted by this fierce blaze, causing a mighty explosion as Spinda's mouth was smoking.
To their shock and dismay, the Pokémon variant of Pinkie Pie emerged from the smoke and flames seemingly unscathed. Despite the ferocity of Spinda's Fire Blast, the variant stood before them with a smug grin, its face covered in soot and smoke.
As if this were all one big joke, the variant blinked for a moment, shaking its head to scatter the smoke and soot from its face. Then, to their astonishment, it erupted into laughter, its voice ringing out with mocking amusement at their failed attempt to defeat it.
Pinkie Pie and Spinda exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of how to proceed in the face of their opponent's seemingly indestructible resilience. Despite their best efforts, it seemed that the Pokémon variant of Pinkie Pie was not easily defeated, seeing this as one big joke.
"Let's try again! Use Metro-" As Pinkie Pie prepared to issue another command to Spinda, the Pokémon variant of herself wasted no time in launching its next attack. With a mischievous glint in its eye, the variant placed its hooves on the ground, causing the very environment around them to shift and warp.
The ground beneath them began to undulate and ripple, as if it were nothing more than a wobbling carpet. Pinkie Pie and Spinda struggled to maintain their balance as the ground beneath their feet shifted unpredictably, threatening to send them tumbling to the ground.
"Whoa! Hang on tight, Spinda!" Pinkie Pie shouted, her voice filled with determination as she fought to keep her footing. After breaking their balance, the clone would pull the two of them forward.
With its hooves expanding, it would wrap them both in a bow of its own fur. After restraining them, it would suddenly grow its head, laughing maniacally as its eyes appeared as spirals. This kind of happiness was not the type the real Pinkie Pie was used to. This Pokemon may look like Pinkie Pie and laugh, but there was clear distinction.
As Pinkie Pie and Spinda struggled against the clone's tight grip, their efforts to break free seemed futile. Despite their combined strength, they found themselves unable to escape the confines of the clone's grasp. With each passing moment, their struggles only seemed to tighten its hold, leaving them feeling increasingly helpless.
Meanwhile, Blissey could only watch helplessly from within the confines of the DNA dimension, her heart filled with concern for her friends. Despite her desire to intervene and aid them in their time of need, she felt powerless to do so, trapped as she was within the confines of the clone's prison.
Equestria. The Sea of Eggs. Afternoon.
Back in the real world, Ash and the others looked at the Main Egg, wondering how Pinkie Pie was doing in there. All the while, Fluttershy was struggling to keep all of the eggs in check with some of them still aggressivly flying.
"Is Pinkie Pie okay?!" Fluttershy strained.
"I don't know..." Ash grumbled, narrowing his eyes at the egg.
"We have to trust that she'll find a way to handle whatever's going on in there," Rarity said, trying to sound reassuring despite her own apprehension.
"Discord! Please tell me some of your magic is back?!"
"Hold on..." Discord paused for a moment, trying to find that sweet spot. He was also wondering if his magic was available.
"Guys!"
"Guys! Hey, guys!" Before they could get an answer, rushing here was none other than Spike. Seen on the back of his Salamence who was carrying a cart, he finally approached to the scene. But in that cart was Rayquaza, much to everyone's surprise. Spike had brought the weakened Rayquaza here, but for what reason?
"What in the world... Spike, what are you doing here with Rayquaza?" Twilight exclaimed, her eyes wide with astonishment. "Doesn't he need more rest?!"
Spike, panting slightly from his hurried journey, wasted no time in explaining. "Rayquaza wanted to speak to me! It was about the Dragon Matter...and Fairy Matter!"
"We're not dealing with Dragon Mattere here. Just Fairy Matter." Rarity replied.
"I know. But that's why Rayquaza called me. He knows how to reverse it."
"He does?!" They all said.
"But how? How does Rayquaza know how to reverse the effects?" Twilight asked, her mind racing with possibilities.
"It was when I was ready to leave with you. Rayquaza called out to me and only I could hear it. When I went back to the castle, Rayquaza told me that already sensed the Fairy Matter in the air. Even if he's a Dragon-Type, he can sense it too." Spike began explaining. "He told me that whatever we're doing won't stop the egg. At least from the outside."
"So then...What can we do from the outside?" Rarity asked.
"Rayquaza said that he we have to replace it. All of it." Spike answered.
"Replace the Fairy Matter? Seriously? Does that mean like...everything here?" Ash then gazed at all the eggs, including all of his friends who were turned into eggs.
"Well, that's what I guess he meant." Spike shrugged. "No other way to think about it."
"Okay. So we gotta replace it. Then let's take a crack at it!" Ash grinned, putting his hands together.
"Hold on! We still don't know how to control Dragon Matter! It's way too erratic and new to us!" Twilight flew up to Ash. "Ash! I know you're connected to it, but you can instantly use it! Trust me!"
"Yeah, and if you do, you'd have to become Prisma for that! And there's no way we're letting that happen!" Rainbow Dash shouted along with all the other ponies that have turned into eggs.
"I guess so...But I just can't sit around here and do nothing." Ash looked at his hands, wishing he could actually use that power to help his friends.
That's when Rayquaza let out a cry. This cry would reach Ash's ears specifically and no one else's. At that moment, Ash's soul would pulsate. Not his original soul, but the soul of Prisma. His eyes dilated as he could feel that familiar and ominous energy in him once more.
Ash then looked back at Rayquaza, stunned to see that he had such control over Dragon Matter to the point where he could sense Prisma's soul. Or at least, call out to it. Was Rayquaza intending to unleash Prisma. Ash was heavily against that considering what happened last time but the Sky High Pokemon knew that there was another way.
"Rayquaza...You aren't..." Ash slowly said. However, Rayquaza shook his head, revealing that he wasn't going to awaken Prisma. Instead, he opted for something different. To unleash the dormant Dragon Matter within Ash. By pure force, Rayquaza, risking his own health, used the Dragon Matter on Ash's body by summoning it from the ground.
As Rayquaza unleashed the dormant Dragon Matter within Ash, the energy surged through his body, filling him with power and determination. It was a sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced before, a primal force that pulsed through his veins and connected him to the very essence of the universe.
However, Ash also felt an intense burning sensation from within. It was as if his very essence was being reshaped and transformed by the raw power coursing through him.
"Rayquaza! Are you doing?!" Twilight's gasp of horror echoed in his ears, but Ash pushed through the pain, his mind focused on the task at hand. With each passing moment, the power of the Dragon Matter intensified, enveloping him in a whirlwind of energy and emotion.
The Dragon Matter surged forth from Ash's body, it roared with an intensity that shook the very air around them. With unerring precision, it honed in on the eggs scattered across the landscape, each containing a potent concentration of Fairy Energy.
With a ferocious roar, the Dragon Matter enveloped the eggs, its searing energy tearing through the Fairy Energy within. Bright flashes of light erupted as the two opposing forces clashed, illuminating the surroundings with an otherworldly glow. Despite the agony wracking his body, Ash refused to falter. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, channeling every ounce of his willpower into controlling the uncontrollable force within him.
One by one, the eggs were consumed by the Dragon Matter, their contents neutralized and dispersed into the ether. Rainbow Dash and the others found their bodies being restorde to their original form, filling up the cart and breaking it thanks to the original sizes.
"Amazing..." Spike marvelled as it looked like Ash himself was doing this. But it was obviously Rayquaza. Or, it should just be Rayuaza alone.
Deep within Ash, the soul of Prisma was resonating with this reaction. Along with the Soul of Dilaga living within him. The Dragon Matter continued on its path, eventually heading straight for the Main Egg, which was the biggest obstacle here.
The collision between the Dragon Matter and the Main Egg sent shockwaves rippling through the Sea of Eggs, causing the very fabric of the DNA Dimension to tremble and quake. Cracks spiderwebbed across the once-stable strands, and the air crackled with raw Draconic Energy.
Within the confines of the Egg, Pinkie Pie and Spinda felt the reverberations of the impact. The pressure intensified around them, the restraining fur tightening even further as the Dragon Matter's energy surged through the Egg's interior.
"What was that?!" Pinkie Pie bellowed as even the Variant had to wonder what that shaking was.
But amidst the chaos, Blissey's frantic actions caught their attention. Seeing the cracks forming in the helix that had trapped her, she began to pound her fists against the crumbling structure with all of her might. "Bliss! Blissey!"
"Blissey!" Pinkie Pie cried out before taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry about this! I was so bummed out about what happened to Mew, that I-"
"Bliss!" However, Blissey wanted Pinkie to stop right there. Pinkie Pie cannot blame herself. This is natural. Feeling for such a good friend was perfectly fine, especially when they're greatly hurt. It was not her fault things ended up like this and neither was it Blissey's fault.
Blissey smiled, knowing that this was something no egg could solve. Only a simple talk. Her words reached Pinkie Pie, making her smile. In reality, she was worried over nothing. Blissey would still be there regardless, just without all of this Fairy Matter mess.
"Blissey!" Blissey shattered the helix, finally freeing herself. And once she was free, she came crashing down, smashing her fist against the Pokemon Variant of Pinkie Pie. Not only did she smash it against the clone, but she added Rift Energy into it. The Happiness Pokemon was familiar with it after all, unlike the Fairy Matter which did this to her in the first place.
A cosmic outburst occurred, combined with the flow of Dragon Matter from the outside. The two great powers came together to stop another great power, breaking down all of the Fairy Matter around this one Pokemon.
After Blissey's fist collided with the Pokemon Variant of Pinkie Pie, shattering its form into a cascade of Fairy Energy. As the energy dispersed, the chaotic laughter faded away, replaced by a serene calmness that filled the space once occupied by the volatile clone.
Once shattered, Blissey fell down, visibly exhausted. Her body hit the floor, passing through the stardust of the Fairy Matter. And since she was the vessel, her own energy was tied to it. Free at last, she was too weak to continue supporting all of this. For a Blissey, this was rare since they are known for being so durable.
But whatever the Fairy Matter and Rift Energy did to her, it bypassed the strong durability of the Blissey, leaving her in this state.
"Blissey!" Pinkie Pie and Spinda ran over to the Happiness Pokemon, who was downed. Pinkie Pie knelt beside her, gently cradling Blissey's head in her hooves, while Spinda hovered nearby, offering silent support.
"Spin! Spinda!"
"Blissey, hang in there!" Pinkie Pie's voice was filled with worry, her eyes darting around as she assessed Blissey's condition. "I didn't know you were hurt! What happened?!
"Da! Spinda?!"
"B-Blissey...!" It turns out, Blissey was going through her own problems this entire time. Something that not even her natural ability to make others happy could fix. Mainly because she couldn't make herself happy.
Until now.
With Blissey freed and the Fairy Matter losing its anchor, the very fabric of the DNA dimension began to break down. Cracks spread across the sky, and the ground trembled beneath Pinkie Pie and Spinda's hooves as the entire dimension teetered on the brink of collapse.
"Oh, Blissey..." Pinkie Pie now had to know what Blissey went through this entire time. Surely, it had to be after she saved those villagers. Based on what she's heard, Blissey did what any of her many Blisseys would do, but to a greater extent. Once everything fell apart and they were returning to the real world, a familiar energy hailing from Equestria was there to meet them.
Emerging from the Fairy Egg was a beautiful light that everyone would see. The top of the egg would open up, sending a stream of Fairy Matter and Fairy Energy into the air which would also pierce the clouds. And appearing from the light were Pinkie Pie, Spinda and Blissey.
"Aaah..." As for Ash, the Dragon Matter that was forced out of his body would fade away, prompting him to drop onto his knees. Much like Delayed Aura Ataxia, it affected his body with a heavy feeling. "Man...!"
"Ash! Are you hurt?!" Twilight rushed over. "Rayquaza, why did you-"
"It's fine, Twilight...." Ash took deep breaths, getting on one knee.
"Blissey..." Blissey's eyes would slowly open after leaving the egg, seeing the beauty of the world once more. She also saw the faces of Pinkie Pie and Spinda.
"Are you alright?"
"Spinda?"
"Blissey..." Blissey, now fully conscious and rejuvenated, turned her attention to the Fairy Egg, which remained intact despite her emergence. With a thoughtful expression, she approached the egg, a sense of curiosity mingling with her gratitude for her newfound freedom.
"I don't get it. How come it's still around? Blissey's outta there." Rainbow Dash wondered.
"It's because it needs a new vessel." Twilight answered. After learning from what Twilight Luminaria told her, she knew exactly why the egg was still here. "But beyond that...I don't know what it's going to do now that Blissey's free."
"Well, we can't destroy it. It's proven to take our heaviest attacks." Mayor Mare pointed out. "We aren't just going to leave it here, are we? What if it acts up again?"
"Maybe we should just throw it somewhere." Amethyst Star suggested. As long as they're far away from it, they would feel safe for however long.
"No." But Twilight knew that was pointless. "This thing is the first big example of Fairy Matter outside of what Daybreaker did. And because of Daybreaker's actions, the Fairy Matter's gained considerable growth. It won't matter where we put this since the source of its energy will be moving much faster. Very soon, everywhere will have Fary Matter and it can just cling itself onto another Fairy Pokemon. Even if they're just in the Egg Group."
"Does that mean my own Skitty too?" Amethyst Star gasped, holding Skitty close to her.
"Probably. Just like how the Dragon Matter followed Spike and his Dragons...the same can be said for the Fairy Matter. They both may be different but they act the same in a lot of categories."
As they thought about what to do with the egg, Ash got back up, seeing the last of the Dragon Matter dispersing from his body. He felt the rush of the Dragon Matter inside of him for the first time and it was very much different from Delayed Aura Ataxia. That sensation tampered with Prisma's soul as his eyes would flash red for a brief moment before returning to normal.
The Alola Champion would turn his head, gazing at Rayquaza, who looked back at him. Before anything else could be said, the Egg was active once more. After sitting there for a while, the Fairy Matter in the environment would rise Even with Blissey freed, it was not yet finished as it was immediately doing what Twilight brought up.
It was searching for a vessel.
The Egg could be heard vibrating, building up its energy once more, just like before. The ponies all gasped upon seeing the egg light up with a deep pink glow. Blissey raised her head, already knowing this sensation too well, even if she was out of the egg.
The various eggs that were seen laying around, having their Fairy Matter ripped from them by the Dragon Matter would also start vibrating. Everyone watched as the eggs gravitated towards the Fairy Egg at high speeds. One by one, they were entering it.
"What's happening?!" Fluttershy bellowed as a wind pressure was kicking up. At that moment, Twilight could feel the soul of Twilight Luminaria speaking through her body. It was a faint voice but she could hear it.
"It's searching for a Vessel...And it's going to turn us all into Fairy-Types!" Twilight gasped once Twilight Luminaria spoke a few words. That egg, with all of its bizarre power, was intending to force others into becoming Fairy-Types just to find a new vessel.
Before they could properly act, the Fairy Egg unleashed a pink flare that resembled a nebula. The flare would expand rapidly, engulfing the grass and the water as well as shaking nearby clouds.
"Oh! Time's up!" Suddenly, Discord felt all of his magic returning to him. His hair would stand up as his eyes would beep like a clock, signalling the return of his Chaos Magic. With a snap of his fingers, right as the wave of Fairy Matter was incredibly close too all of them, his magic would intercept it.
Twilight's eyes widened as she watched Discord's chaos magic intercept the wave of Fairy Matter just in time, halting its advance towards them. The chaotic energy clashed with the pink flare, creating a dazzling display of lights and sparks as they collided.
With its many random effects, the Chaos Magic would eat up the Fairy Matter, using the air itself to create an Air Mouth. This Air Mouth feasted on the Fairy Matter, letting it all enter its body as the pulsating energy was knocking on it, creating bumps.
With a strong struggle, the Air Mouth completely consumed the Fairy Matter, but it would blow up right afterwards thanks to the potent energy within.
"Hm." Discord shook his hand, rather surprise and disturbed that his own magic struggled for a moment against something like that. He saw first hand what this kind of power was capable of.
"Discord! You did it!" Fluttershy exclaimed.
"I would've done it sooner, but it seems like nowadays everyone has a response to my magic." Discord scoffed. "No fun."
With the immediate danger averted, the group took a moment to catch their breath and regroup. Twilight knew they needed to come up with a plan to deal with the Fairy Egg once and for all before it caused any more trouble. And it could, without a doubt. This was made by her other self after all.
"What to do with this egg...?" She said to herself before coming up with something. Her eyes immediately met with the Spirit of Chaos.
"Discord. Do you think you can keep this thing in your dimension? If it stays there, we won't have to worry about it messing with the world." Twilight requested.
"In his dimension?" The other ponies repeated.
Discord stroked his chin thoughtfully, considering Twilight's proposal. By stroking his chin, he caused his goatee to extend, hitting the ground and rolling it around like a long list. "Hmm, keeping it in my dimension, you say? Well, I suppose it's worth a shot."
"Already?" Twilight was rather surprised he went with it so quickly. She figured there would be some hesitation or Discord waffling about, stalling for time.
He snapped his fingers, summoning a portal to his chaotic dimension. "Alright! I could use a new decoration anyway!" With a wave of his hand, he directed the energy from the Fairy Egg towards the portal, intending to trap it within his realm.
As the Fairy Egg was drawn into the portal, Twilight and the others watched with bated breath, hoping that Discord's plan would succeed. After a tense moment, the portal closed with a resounding snap.
"There. You won't have to worry about it anymore. Especially not me. I doubt all that Fairy Matter or whatever will be able to do a number on my dimension. It's Chaos Central after all."
"I hope so." Twilight wasn't 100% on that. "Even you're worried, aren't you, Discord? About the power of the Fairy Matter?"
"Me? Worried? Hah!" Discord wheezed. "Why would I be? Sure, it's impressive but nothing I can't handle. All this Prisma nonsense isn't nothing to stress about. Not when both of you are keeping them in check." Discord would poke Twilight and Ash's chests. "If only their souls weren't tied to you. This would be so much easier."
"As for Rayquaza...I didn't think he'd already know a bit about Dragon Matter, let alone using it." Twilight then faced the Sky High Pokemon. "He forced some of it out of Ash..."
"I don't think it's anything to worry about, Twilight." Fluttershy walked over. "Rayquaza was just helping in the best way he could. And it worked. He freed everyone else from those eggs."
"But are you even alright? Don't you need time to heal?" Rainbow Dash flew over, pointing out how Rayquaza was only harming himself by using that power.
And indeed, he delayed his healing process. The Dragon-Flying-Type cried out, laying his head back down onto the cart, needing more time to recover. It was worth it though, stopping the Fairy Matter from having its way.
'"Well, let's head home. It's been a turbulent day. Weeks again." Mayor Mare said to her citizens. With all of them in agreement, they would leave the Sea of Eggs. Then again, it wasn't a Sea of Eggs at all.
As the group prepared to depart from the Sea of Eggs, they noticed something peculiar happening around them. The landscape of the Sea of Eggs, once vibrant and bustling with energy, was beginning to dissolve and fade away before their eyes.
"What's happening?!" Fluttershy exclaimed, her voice filled with concern.
"It seems like the Sea of Eggs is disappearing," Twilight observed, her brows furrowed with worry. "Perhaps with the Fairy Egg gone, this place no longer has a purpose. That means...it's also being erased from existence."
The ground beneath their hooves trembled as the surroundings continued to fade, leaving behind only a faint echo of its former existence. The once lively forest and shimmering sea were now nothing more than fleeting memories, gone from existence itself.
That was officially one thing from the Lost Universe being wiped out.
Ponyville. Ponyville Hospital.
Not exactly a Pokemon Center but it was capable of healing Pokemon. At least, now it was. Nurse Redheart and those who work here now had the means to heal Pokemon but it wasn't even close to what the Pokemon Center had. Blissey had been checked up on.
Thankfully, it was nothing serious. She did suffer some injuries after being in that helix and her body was shaking a bit from all the Fairy Energy from within, plus the Rift Energy, but she would be fine.
"You'll be fine. Nothing too bad." The Doctor said.
"Great!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "You're all better, Blissey!"
"Spinda!"
"Blissey." Blissey smiled. Now this was the happiness she preferred. She sat there on the bed, feeling absolutely relieved. She sat there for a while, closing her eyes.
"Do you wanna stay here a bit longer?"
"Bliss." Not for too long. Blissey got off the bed, knowing she had to keep moving. The happiness she brought everyone wa genuine. Those villagers experienced the true Blissey, not needing to worry about the Fairy Egg. Blissey could go back to that, but before doing so, she faced Pinkie Pie once more.
Blissey specifically came to Ponyville just for her, Twilight and Rarity, wanting to cheer them up. But obviously, things went south. Fast. From her pouch, she took out the egg, ready to finish what she started.
"Nah. I'm okay!"
"B-Blissey?" A stunned Blissey said, shocked to see and hear that Pinkie Pie didn't want the egg.
"I was down before, but not anymore. I'm glad I got to help you get outta that mess. Plus, I'm just glad that everyone's out of my mess. Seeing all of that go down, well...that was enough for me. I guess it doesn't take a lot to make me happy, huh?"
"The same goes for us." Suddenly, entering the room were Twilight and Rarity. "Hope you''re doing okay now, Blissey."
"Our deepest apologies for making you rush to our aid. We always had the rest of our friends and family to speak with." Rarity uttered. "We could always find a way to cheer ourselves up."
"Bliss? Blissey?" This was stunning to Blissey. Usually, her species are the ones who cheer others up when they at very low points. But to her surprise, Twilight, Pinkie and Rarity have managed to raise their own spirits.
"Our town is weird like that. And we wouldn't have it any other way." Twilight chuckled. "But we're thankful you showed up just for us, Blissey. Everything that goes on here, we can handle it."
"Well, you've got other places that need your help. A lot happens in our world, so I know for a fact that you're needed elsewhere, Blissey." Pinkie would pat her on the back. "Do what do you best. And if something gets outta hand, you'd best believe we're involved in it."
"Somehow, we're always involved in it. Either we get pulled into the mess or it comes from us." Rarity groaned. "For once, why can't someone else save the day from a massive threat? I mean, I don't mind the spotlight and all but, honestly, must we be so focused on them all the time?"
"Rarity, you made an entire movie around the whole Storm Behemoth plot over at Poke Star Studios. Twilight pointed out. "
"Ah. I'm in the progress of making it, darling. It's not yet done. I've been having Cold Colt do all the special effects. And by that, I mean he's been making a mini Storm Behemoth for me. After I'm done with that, I do think our experience in the Arcane Sea will do perfectly."
"Ooh! If you're gonna do something based on what we did, do the um...uhh..." The Earth Pony paused, pondering on an idea as she thought back to everything they've done together. "Umm..."
"If you're thinking about the Black Crusade, forget it."
"I wasn't gonna say that...I was gonna talk about Fantina." Pinkie puckered her lips, shifting her eyes to the side. "Totally. You could ask her to help you out. And you could get Cheese Sandwich to make some music for you!
"Darling. His music would not fit. Why would I bring him in?"
"He's making a sweet song called Polkamon and I got to listen to a sneak peek of it! You'll love it!"
"Bliss. Blissey!" Hearing all of this was music to Blissey's ears. This entire convesation was happiness in motion. Just friends being friends. For that, the Happiness Pokemon was pleased. She experienced happiness herself, despite not gifting it to anyone else.
Looking at Pinkie Pie and her friends speak brought peace to her mind. There was no reason for her to try and cheer them up or even this entire town. They had it all under control, no matter how hard. And that got Blissey thinking about the entire world itself. She's mainly tackled villages and this was her first town. Being around Pinkie Pie brought a rather nice aura she hasn't felt for a while now.
Universe 23. The Human World.
The Human World. Much like it's Universe 1 Counterpart, it was home to Humans that reflect those from Equestria. But the brightness of it was lost.
All thanks to Empress Twilight. In this bleak world, Empress Twilight's iron grip on power was still strong compared to Equestria. With her enemies vanquished and her subjects cowed into submission, there is indeed no hope for change. Sunset Shimmer and her friends, turned to stone and imprisoned in an undisclosed location, serve as a constant reminder of the futility of resistance.
Empress Twilight's unmatched magical abilities ensure that no force within the human world can challenge her rule. Any whispers of dissent are swiftly silenced, as her loyal followers maintain a pervasive atmosphere of fear and obedience. With the intellect of her Human Brain combined with Magic, it was a devastating combo.
Under Empress Twilight's rule, the human world stagnates, its potential stifled by the oppressive regime. Innovation is suppressed, creativity extinguished, and individuality erased in favor of blind obedience to the empress's will.
Speaking of the Empress, she had arrived. Her body passed through the mirror as she took on the form of her original self. For years, she's been a pony, even going as far as to become a fully grown alicorn. Once she returned, she took a good look at herself, feeling her Human Skin once more.
"I have one more ace in the hole." Her eyes would then gaze at a location that once used to be Canterlot High, but was now a magical fortress.
It was no ordinary fortress; it radiated with a potent aura of magic, a testament to the power she had amassed during her reign.
A sly smile curled upon her lips as she contemplated her next move. Somewhere in there lied an ace in the hole that she wasn't afraid to use.
As Empress Twilight entered the fortress, she was greeted by her loyal human servants, who bowed respectfully in her presence. Their faces bore expressions of unwavering devotion to her.
The corridors of the fortress were lined with magical artifacts and relics, each one gathered from various universes she's invaded and conquered.
Finally, she arrived at the inner sanctum, where her ultimate ace in the hole lay concealed. With a flick of her wrist, she activated the protective wards that surrounded the chamber, ensuring that her secret remained safe from prying eyes.
"I hate that I have to use this, but they've left me no choice." She said as the doors open. Through the doors, were more of her subjects were, there resides two more statues But they were not of Sunset Shimmer and the others.
Instead, they were statues of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor and they were not in Human Form, but rather Pony Form. There, they sat in statis, unable to move and kept there for a scenario such as this.
The Same Cadence and Shining Armor that Flurry Heart struggled to find for the past years. Their location was here, locked in the Human World where they retained their Pony Forms.
"Your daughter for once isn't the main issue." Empress Twilight said to the statues, referring to the older Flurry Heart. "I thought about this as a backup but never believed I'd have to use it. I even found it disgusting to have that as a possibility. But now, I need it more than ever. My options are low, so I am counting on that magic of yours to make a turnaround."
There was only one power Empress Twilight could turn to. Not Daybreaker. Not Team Plasma. No one in her alliance. Instead, she was tackling the one thing completely antithetical to everything she's done but as of recently, even she has been struck by it.
The Moon rises on Ponyville once more. The town known for having its residents involved in some of the wildest events. And just a few hours ago, they went through yet another one involving a Fairy Egg. Pinkie Pie, who was involved in that wild event, was ready to call it a night.
By now, it's already been one night without Mew here, but after what happened recently, Pinkie Pie could sleep peacefully while also giving Mew her best wishes.
But as she was doing so, someone had entered her room. To her surprise, it was the Pokemon caught up in this mess. Turning her head, Pinkie Pie saw Blissey standing in her doorway.
"Blissey. You're still here? I thought you went somewhere else by now." She asked.
"Bliss..." Blissey had a reason. Normally, she would be heading off, helping others, but there was one thing she wished to do. With a smile on her face, she dug into her pouch, moving past the egg as something else was residing in it. From her pouch, Blissey revealed a Poke Ball. Afterwards, she would offer the Poke Ball.
"You want me to catch you?" A stunned Pinkie Pie spoke upon seeing the Poke Ball.
"Bliss."
"B-But aren't you going from place to place? Isn't this gonna slow you down?" Pinkie asked. While true, Blissey found a new purpose after being with Pinkie Pie for a while. Despite going from place to place, cheering others up as a wild and rogue Pokemon, Blissey was never attached to anyone.
Until now.
"Okay then! Throw it here!"
"Bliss!" Doing just that, the Poke Ball would be launched towards Pinkie Pie as if she was the Poke Ball. It bounced on her mane, immediately heading back to Blissey. Touching Blissey's face, it pulled her in before dropping to the floor.
1...2...3...Gotcha! Blissey was caught.
A new friend was added to Pinkie Pie's group as she would trot over to the Poke Ball. She wishes Mew were here to see it, but right now, this also made her happy. She held the Poke Ball close to her face, making sure to cherish this new friend, just as much as she did for Mew and all of her Pokemon.
Unova. Castelia City. The Pokemon Center. Nightfall.
Speaking of Mew, coming to check up on him, Pheromosa and Mew were their Trainers. Before they could truly call it a night, they had to say something to their injured Pokemon as well as give them something.
Get-Well Soon Gifts were brought over to them, consisting of their favourite things. For Mew, it was his favourite food and for Pheromosa, it was all the dresses she loved and the films she enjoyed making the most. Kartana didn't have much but Twilight went the mile to buy him something to cut. If he wakes up, he'll have a block of Dynasite to tackle.
"Get well soon." The three of them said in unison, wishing the best for their Pokemon. Afterwards, they would depart from the Pokemon Center.
"Let's come and see them again in a week or two." Twilight suggested after walking out of the Pokemon Center. "By then, something else would've happened."
"I don't think I can go and continue filming a movie now. But, I can at least hope for Pheromosa's wellbeing." Rarity said. "It won't feel the same with her being away though..."
"I've got an idea!" Pinkie Pie had something in mind that could change that. "Bring the students over! That'll do!"
"The students? From the Pokemon School?"
"Yeah! Let them make movies with you! Twilight, you can make that work, right?"
"Well, sure, I can but, I have to wait for Potion Nova to return. She still hasn't appeared since she went into space with Galaxy Master."
"She hasn't returned?" Rarity questioned.
"I haven't gotten an update yet, even if it's just been a day." The alicorn then looked up to the night sky, along with her friends. "I hope she made it out safe."
All of them had to wonder what was going up there and if Lunala was safe. There was no indication. The Moon seemed fine but there was an ominous aura in the atmosphere, lingering here and there.
The Next Day. Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Day.
Even after another day passed, there was no sign of Potion Nova. She was not present for her class, leaving the students disappointed since they always enjoyed her lessons. Absolute silence filled her classroom as the lesson was immediately discontinued with the teacher being absent.
So, other teachers would take on that role with the arrival of Rarity. She took Pinkie Pie's suggestion and it went through. A happier Rarity showed up for today, here to treat the students with something wonderful, specifically, the students who chose the career path of a PokeStar Studios Actor during Career Day.
"Alright, class. Glad to be here. Today, I'd like to take you all to PokeStar Studios, over at the Unova Region."
"We're heading there?" Even those who showed no initial interest in it from the start such as Smolder were heading there today.
"That's right. Just for fun. know some of you wanted to try it out during, career day." Rarity's eyes then met with Yona, who was the most interested. And speaking of Yona, once those words passed through her ears, the absolute elation on her face said everything.
"Oh, that's nice. We get to make-"
"Movies!" Yona interrupted Sandbar with a joyous cry, causing him to shake and tremble. All the other Yaks would do the same, excitedly cheering and causing a ruckus. Out of all the species here, they were the most excited for PokeStar Studios. The other species were too, but not as much as the Yaks.
"Do you have to be so loud?!" Gallus covered his ears.
"Apparently, the Yaks saw one PokeStar Studios movie and fell in love immediately. I think Pinkie lent one to Prince Rutherford," Twilight explained, her voice cutting through the noise with clarity.
"Ah, that explains it," Gallus muttered with a grimace.
"Alright! Time to go!" Rarity exclaimed. It was time for them all to take off. "We'll be using the gateway to Virbank City, of course. We can find it just around Manehattan,"
Leading the way, Rarity guided her eager students through the corridors of the School. In her mind, Rarity as immediately thinking about Pheromosa and how making a movie without her would feel off. Granted, she's done it before with her other Pokemon even before she met Pheromosa but the Lissome Pokemon brought a nice aura to things that Rarity absolutely loved.
That aura would be exempt today, but the Fashionista was willing to power through it. All the while, her little sister watched her eyes, knowing that something was wrong.
"Sis, is everything okay?" Sweetie Belle asked quietly, stepping closer to Rarity's side as they walked.
Rarity turned to her sister, her smile softening at the concern evident in Sweetie Belle's voice. "Oh, darling, everything will be fine," she replied, mustering up a reassuring tone. "I'm just a tad preoccupied, that's all. But I promise, once we're at PokeStar Studios, I'll be fully focused on helping you all create the most marvelous films."
"It's about Pheromosa, isn't it?" Already, she knew this involved Pheromosa. This whole thing was driven by her.
"It is but, I won't let it get the best of me. Believe me, Sweetie Belle. I have a good feeling about today."
Unova. Virbank City. PokeStar Studios.
As the class arrived at Virbank City, the air crackled with anticipation and excitement. The students, their enthusiasm uncontainable, rushed towards the towering building that housed PokeStar Studios, their footsteps echoing against the pavement.
"Please slow down! It's easy to get lost in there!" Rarity called out to them, urging them to slow down and wait for guidance, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. The allure of the studio's grand entrance, with its promise of creativity and adventure, was simply too irresistible for the young minds eager to explore.
"I'll leave everything up to you, Rarity." Twilight turned around, ready to leave. "Good luck and have fun as always."
As the students entered PokeStar Studios, their eyes widened in wonder at the sight that unfolded before them. The grandeur of the studio's interior, with its towering sets, elaborate costumes, and bustling activity, was unlike anything they had ever seen.
Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom weren't all that taken aback since they've visited PokeStar Studios before. Multiple times, along with some other pony students such as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. But as they watched the reactions of their classmates, the awe in their eyes, the excitement in their voices – they couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of appreciation for the magic of filmmaking.
"It's incredible, isn't it?" Scootaloo remarked, her gaze sweeping across the bustling studio floor.
"I mean it's alright." Smolder tapped her foot on the floor, feeling the clean and fun surface. "Not really my thing. Did we all have to come along?"
"I thought you would like making movies?" Silverstream walked over. "Doesn't it sound fun?"
"Eh. I don't even know what they're all about." Smolder shrugged. Most of the Dragons had no clue what movies are or they knew the bare minimum. Only Spike had the most knowledge on it. "What do we do here?"
"Well, you'll find out once we start getting dressed." Sweetie Belle passed by.
"Dressed?" Smolder froze for a moment once those words hit her ears. Her pupils would also shrink."
"Ooh! I should've brought my own if I knew this was happening today." Silverstream said as she and others would pass by Smolder who was shaken up just by hearing the mention of a dress.
"What's up with you?" Gallus asked once he saw Smolder being so static.
"N-Nothing! Uh...Any masks in this place?!" Smolder took flight, immediately searching for the equipment.
Meanwhile, Rarity had a list of plots that she brought for the students to try out. But while she was going over them, thinking about which one to start with, something caught her eye. From her peripheral, past all the other Pokemon Trainers present here to make their own movies and the students she came with a familiar figure was seen. Shifting her eyes, Rarity, in the distance of the studio saw the figure of a Pheromosa.
"Pheromosa...?" Rarity called out softly, her voice barely above a whisper, as she approached her beloved Pokémon. The Pheromosa continued walking, seemingly unaware of Rarity's presence, her focus fixed on something else entirely.
As Rarity hurriedly made her way through the bustling studio, her focus solely on reaching Pheromosa, she failed to notice one thing off about this. Ignoring the curious glances of trainers and staff members she passed, Rarity's singular determination to catch up to Pheromosa drove her forward.
"Pheromosa, wait!" Rarity called out again, her voice filled with urgency as she closed the distance between them. But despite her efforts, Pheromosa remained oblivious to Rarity's presence, her graceful strides carrying her further away with each passing moment.
It wasn't until Rarity finally caught up to Pheromosa, her hand outstretched in a desperate attempt to reach her, that she realized something was amiss. As Rarity finally caught up to the Pheromosa, her heart pounding with anticipation, she reached out a trembling hand, hoping for some sign of recognition from her beloved Pokémon. But as the Pheromosa turned to face her, a scowl etched across its features, Rarity's heart sank.
"Mosa?" Rarity whispered, her voice filled with uncertainty as she looked into the Pheromosa's eyes. It was then that she realized her mistake – this wasn't her Pheromosa. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks, the differences between this regular Pheromosa and her cherished Shiny Pheromosa glaringly obvious.
"O-Oh...I-I'm sorry. I didn't know, I-" Rarity backed away, finding this awkward and heartbreaking. She got her hopes up for nothing.
"Pheromosa? What is it?" Just then, a familiar voice cut her reaction off. When hearing this voice, something clicked for Rarity. What are the chances that another Pheromosa would be here, especially when Ultra Beasts are rare and only show up via Ultra Wormholes? But it all made sense once the source of the voice approached.
Walking up to this tall figure was none other than Adagio Dazzle.
"Adagio?!"
"Oh, it's you." Adagio said with a straight face, kissing her teeth. This was her Pheromosa. The same one Rarity's Pheromosa took on back at that Canterlot Tournament a few years back. No wonder she was giving Rarity such a scowl. "Meh. I should've seen this coming."
"What are you doing here? Are't you and your family suppossed to be looking for the other sirens?" Rarity questioned.
"Duh. Yeah, we are. That doesn't mean we can't get to do whatever we want. Besides, our search led us to Unova this time." Adagio shrugged. She was just here for fun, dabbling in movies. "But nevermind that. What do you want with my Pheromosa?"
"N-Nothing. I thought it was my Pheromosa." Rarity lowered her head. "My mistake."
"What? Lose her something?" Adagio let out a light chuckle.
"I didn't lose her!" Rarity roared. "She's recovering at the Pokémon Center after sustaining an injury. That's all."
"Hm?" Adagio then looked over at all the students here, seeing an abundance of children, move than usual. "So...You're with kids today today too, aren't you?"
"...Too?" Rarity repeated, realizing what that meant.
Right behind Adagio, other children not part of the Pokemon School were present here. Instead, they were the children who grew to be fans of the Dazzlings.
"As you can see, I'm here with my fans," Adagio remarked, her smirk growing wider as she gestured towards the crowd of children gathered around them.
Rarity couldn't deny the impressive turnout of fans, though she couldn't help but wonder at the sudden expansion of Adagio's fanbase. "I thought you only had music fans? Since when did you have fans of movies?"
Adagio's response was casual, her confidence unwavering as she twirled a lock of her hair between her fingers. "I dabbled in this PokeStar Studios thing one time. And it's only now that I'm showing up," she explained, her tone dripping with nonchalance. "I'm doing a musical, if you must know. And what's up with your group?"
"I-" Rarity soon realized she dropped the list when rushing over here. "Whatever comes to mind. That's all."
"Comes to mind? Are you sure you're one of the popular actors here? I saw a picture of you on the wall earlier and I didn't think I'd see you here in the flesh. I would've expected your Pheromosa too. Make my own feel vindicated."
"W-What do you mean vindicated?" Rarity stuttered.
"Isn't it obvious? She's still a bit bitter after losing to your Pheromosa back at the Canterlot Tournament." Adagio grinned before leaning next to her partner. "I mean, I'm not all that bothered by it. Kinda. Sorta. A bit. And I figured that she'd like to 1UP her on something. But it's a shame she isn't here. Skipping out on a golden moment like this."
Rarity bristled at Adagio's insinuations, her pride stung by the suggestion that her Pheromosa was somehow inferior. "Hah! She doesn't have to be here to better! Pheromosa and I have the experience!" Rarity scoffed. "We've been here far longer than you two have."
"Oh, you'd be surprised what this Pheromosa can do. Being stuck in Canterlot Castle in that Poke Ball has let her hear a lot of things. Believe me." But Adagio wasn't bothered. "Looks like you're going to have to stick with these kids."
"And you won't? You have children with you too!"
"I will. But I have my sisters and my mother, of course. And I guess our manager Baron Alberto too. I won't be dragged down by fith-grade acting."
"Fifth-grade?!" Rarity spluttered, her incredulity evident as she struggled to find words to express her outrage.
Rarity narrowed her eyes, seeing through Adagio's attempts to provoke her. "I know what you're trying to do... You're trying to get some negativity out of me. I thought you and your sisters gave up on that," She remarked, her voice tinged with scepticism.
Adagio merely shrugged, her smirk unyielding. "Eh. We like to mess around with others here and there," she admitted with a chuckle. "And it looks like it's working on you."
"Nice try. I won't be swayed by your games, Adagio," Rarity declared, her tone firm and unwavering. "I have more important things to focus on, like ensuring these students have a fun time."
"If you say so, but I wanna give Pheromosa here some satisfaction. Since she can't outdo your Pheromosa, she'll have to put up with beating you. Let's put our movies up against each other, Rarity and let the people here judge both of them. Then we'll see who's on top."
"Deal." Rarity immediately took the challenge, not hesitating for a moment.
Her decision was made. For a second time in a row, Rarity and Adagio would take each other on, this time in movies. Adagio easily got Rarity to be involved in this, attacking her while she was a bit vulnerable thanks to Pheromosa's absence, meanwhile, Adagio's own Pheromosa was active and healthy at the moment.
Eavesdropping and watching from the side were Sonata and Aria. They heard it all and have differing reaction as always. Aria's exasperated reaction didn't escape Sonata's notice, and she couldn't help but grin mischievously as she watched Rarity and Adagio's interaction unfold.
"No way she fell for such an obvious taunt," Aria muttered, her frustration evident as she facepalmed.
But Sonata's excitement only grew at the prospect of the upcoming competition. "Ooh, this is gonna be so much fun!" She exclaimed, rapidly tapping her feet on the floor "I can't wait to see what kind of movies they make! It's gonna be epic"
"What do you think even happened to her Pheromosa?" Aria wondered, a bit worried for Rarity and her Pheromosa.
"No clue. By the way, do you wanna slip that part in the movie? You could sing about Paul without making it obvious!" Sonata teased Aria about her crush on Paul.
"Quiet!" Aria nudged Sonata's head. "I'm not doing that!"
With their agreement in place, Adagio and Rarity parted ways, each focused on their own preparations for the upcoming movie-making challenge.
As they ventured off in separate directions, their minds buzzed with ideas and plans, determined to create films that would captivate and impress. Mainly Rarity, who had to do her best without Pheromosa. Their second showdown would be imminent here at PokeStar Studios as the journey continues.
Unova. Virbank City. Poke Star Studios. Afternoon.
When coming to PokeStar Studios with some of the students from the Pokemon School, Rarity had started a competition with Adagio. Rarity, determined to succeed, came back to her students with a new approach. An approach that she promises will outclass whatever Adagio has to offer.
"Alright! Change of plans!" Rarity appeared before her students. "We're going to be competing against someone in this!"
"We are? I thought we were just here to have fun and learn." Sandbar said.
"Yes, well, it seems our definition of 'fun' has taken a bit of a competitive turn," Rarity replied with a hint of excitement in her voice. "We have an opportunity to showcase our talents and creativity in a competition against another group. Think of it as a chance to apply everything we've learned so far in a real-world scenario."
Sandbar scratched his head, still a bit uncertain. "I guess that could be fun too."
"Absolutely!" Rarity exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious as she addressed the rest of the students. "Now, let's get to work. We have a film to make, and I have every confidence that we'll create something truly spectacular together."
"Now, get yourself suited." Rarity said "By no means I am letting Adagio beat us. We'll be making a movie based on when I defeated her back at the Canterlot Tournament."
"That's what we're doing?" Silverstream blinked. "Are you sure? That doesn't seem like it'll be too long."
"Positive. We can tackle everything that led up to my match against her. Let's get to work." Rarity and the students set to work, finding their own studio. Their studio had the equipment they needed, especially the costumes of the Pokemon that Adagio took on during that tournament.
Rarity remembered it all well and so did the students who have seen the tournament for themselves.
"Come on, everypony, let's move with purpose!" Rarity's voice rang out with a hint of authority as she directed her students to don their costumes and prepare for filming. There was a noticeable shift in her demeanour, a touch of sternness creeping into her tone as she focused on the task at hand.
"Time is of the essence, darlings. We have a schedule to keep, and we mustn't waste a moment," she continued, her gaze sweeping over the bustling activity of the set. "Attention to detail is key, so let's ensure that every costume is fitted perfectly and every prop is in its rightful place."
Her words carried a sense of urgency, reflecting her determination to see their project through to completion with the utmost professionalism. Though her strict tone may have caught some of her students off guard, it was clear that Rarity was fully committed to ensuring that their film surpassed all expectations. Anything to defeat Adagio a second time.
Meawhile, Smolder moved quietly with Charmander by her side, her eyes scanning the room as she searched for what she needed. As she slipped past her classmates who were busy gearing themselves up, she made sure to keep her movements discreet, not wanting to attract any unwanted attention.
Stepping behind a curtain into another part of the dressing room, Smolder's gaze landed on the array of masks, costumes, and dresses before her. While her classmates focused on their assigned roles and costumes, Smolder had other plans in mind.
Carefully, she began to sift through the various garments, her eyes narrowing as she searched for something specific. Among the racks of costumes, her attention was drawn to the dresses, each one more elaborate than the last.
With a sly grin, Smolder selected a dress that caught her eye. As Smolder donned the dress, a mischievous gleam danced in her eyes.
"Charmander?" Charmander spoke.
"Ssshh. Quiet, Charmander," Smolder whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "I don't want anyone to find out about this."
As Smolder was about to try on another dress along with going for a mask, her senses heightened at the sound of approaching hoofsteps and chatter. Quickly, she glanced around the room, her heart racing as she realized that someone was headed towards her hiding spot.
Thinking quickly, she took the dress off, placing it on Charmander instead. As the other students entered the room, Smolder held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she remained concealed with a large Tyranitar Helment that covered most of her body.
"I think Princess Luna might be the first Equestria Champion," One of the students remarked as all of their voices carried across the room.
Smolder strained to listen, her ears perking up at the mention of Princess Luna and the Equestria Champion. Despite the excitement of the conversation, she remained perfectly still, her disguise concealing her true identity as she eavesdropped on the conversation unfolding nearby.
The classmates turned their head, looking directly at Charmander, who was sweating bullets. So was Smolder underneath that large Tyranitar helmet which was too big for her, but made a perfect hiding spot.
Inside the helmet, Smolder's heart raced with apprehension, her breaths shallow as she prayed that their ruse would hold. Despite the discomfort of the cumbersome helmet, she remained steadfast, determined to maintain her cover at all costs.
The classmates lingered for a moment, their eyes narrowing as they scrutinized the scene before them. But then, as if satisfied, they turned away, their attention drawn to something else in the room."Pfft. Wrong clothes, Charmander." One of them chuckled.
"That was close..." Smolder remarked, her voice a mix of relief and apprehension as she removed the Tyranitar helmet. "I can't let anyone else know that I like dresses. For a Dragon, that's super embarrassing! Garble doesn't even know about it either."
Her confession carried a hint of vulnerability, a rare glimpse into a side of Smolder that she kept hidden from her peers. Despite her tough exterior, she harboured a secret that she feared would be met with ridicule or judgment if revealed.
"Charmander." Charmander had one suggesstion. Why not just embrace it in front of everyone? Save her all the trouble of needing to be stealthy. After all, she did something like this back at career day, sticking around the Pokemon Contest area.
Smolder's initial reaction was one of disbelief. "Are you crazy, Charmander? The other dragons will tear me apart for years if they find out. Dragons don't wear dresses," she replied adamantly, her voice tinged with fear and defiance.
Despite Charmander's well-meaning suggestion, Smolder couldn't shake the deep-rooted fear of being ridiculed or ostracized by her fellow dragons. In a society where conformity and strength were valued above all else, she was not willing to take that risk. Not when she also had quite a popular Pokemon with her.
Outside the dressing room, the atmosphere was a whirlwind of activity as the students prepared for the upcoming movie challenge. Excitement buzzed in the air as they brainstormed ideas, gathered props, and donned costumes in eager anticipation of the filming ahead.
However, amidst the chaos, Rarity's voice rang out with increasing authority and precision. As the students attempted to get creative with their props and costumes, she was quick to intervene, her strictness growing by the minute.
"No, no, no!" Rarity exclaimed, her tone firm as she surveyed the scene before her. "That won't do at all. We already have the most accurate costumes here so there's no need to tamper with them."
Sweetie Belle watched from the sidelines as Rarity's strictness intensified. She couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in Rarity's demeanour, the way her normally creative and imaginative approach to movie-making had been replaced by a rigid adherence to rules and standards.
Deep down, Sweetie Belle knew the reason behind Rarity's sudden shift in behaviour. It was her missing Pheromosa, the absence of her beloved Pokémon companion that had left a void in her heart and a shadow over her usual joie de vivre. Without Pheromosa by her side, Rarity's passion for filmmaking seemed to have dimmed, replaced by a sense of duty and responsibility that weighed heavily upon her shoulders.
As Rarity observed Yona and the Yaks in the studio, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of apprehension. Despite their excitement and enthusiasm for the filmmaking process, their rough and powerful movements were causing chaos and mayhem wherever they went.
With each thunderous step and mighty swing of their limbs, the Yaks inadvertently knocked into props and set pieces, sending them tumbling to the ground with a resounding crash. Rarity winced as she watched her carefully arranged set being disrupted, her nerves on edge as she tried to maintain order amidst the chaos.
"Careful, darlings! Watch where you're swinging those hooves!" Rarity called out, her voice tinged with a hint of panic as she attempted to rein in the Yaks' exuberance. But her words seemed to fall on deaf ears, as the Yaks continued their boisterous antics, oblivious to the havoc they were wreaking.
With a frustrated sigh, Rarity darted about the studio, frantically trying to salvage what she could of her carefully crafted set. But try as she might, it seemed that her efforts were in vain, as the Yaks' rough and tumble approach to filmmaking continued to wreak havoc at every turn.
In stark contrast to the chaos unfolding in Rarity's studio, Adagio's group operated with perfect control that bordered on eerie. As they moved about the studio, their movements were precise and calculated, each action executed with the utmost efficiency and skill.
Adagio herself exuded an aura of confidence and poise as she directed her team with effortless grace, her every word carrying the weight of authority. With her sisters Sonata and Aria at her side, they worked in perfect harmony which was no problem for them.
These three know how to work together and it gave them a massive boost. This also helped the children since they would have three different mentors on their side.
As they prepared for their film shoot, Adagio's group displayed a level of professionalism that was unmatched, their attention to detail and commitment to excellence evident in every aspect of their preparations. From the meticulously crafted set pieces to the flawless execution of their performances, they left nothing to chance while also just having a good time.
Despite how harsh and pompous Adagio always is with her high and mighty personality and ego, when working with the children, she appears to be rather kind.
Instead of berating the children for their mistakes or shortcomings, she gently corrected them with a supportive hand, guiding them towards improvement with patience and understanding. As the children worked alongside her, they found themselves drawn to Adagio's nurturing presence. They were finding new reasons to be fans of the Dazzlings.
"Here. You don't have to worry about getting it perfect," Adagio said as she knelt beside a struggling child. With a patient smile, she offered her assistance, guiding the young pony through the task with a steady hand and encouraging words.
The child's face lit up with relief and gratitude as Adagio's kindness washed over them, dispelling their fears of failure and inadequacy.
Despite her once aggressive and destructive nature, Adagio's Pheromosa had undergone a remarkable transformation over time. Once known for caring little for those around her and focusing solely on her own desires, she had softened considerably in the presence of Adagio and the other members of their group.
While she still retained a certain level of aloofness and disdain towards others, particularly those she deemed unworthy of her attention, there was a newfound sense of patience and tolerance in her interactions. She watched this all play out and put on a light smile afterwards.
"Pheromosa! Try this!" As a child approached Pheromosa with a suggestion, the Ultra Beast regarded him with an intense gaze, her imposing presence causing the young pony to hesitate for a moment, intimidated by the sheer power and aura of the Lissome Pokémon.
But then, to the child's surprise, Pheromosa's expression softened ever so slightly, losing that intense stare. "Mosa." Pheromosa agreed to try it out instead of dismissing the child.
Sonata could be seen attempting to balance a stack of props on her head, her expression one of exaggerated concentration as she wobbled precariously. Aria, standing nearby with a deadpan expression, watched her antics with a sceptical eye, silently questioning her sister's antics.
"Are you even taking this seriously?" Aria questioned.
Just then, the young ponies in Adagio's group paused in their preparations, their ears perking up as they heard the distant sounds of commotion coming from Rarity's studio.
"What's that noise?" One of them asked.
"It sounds like chaos," Another pony remarked. "I wonder what's going on over there."
"Ignore it," Adagio instructed, suggesting that they pay no mind to it. "We have our own work to do. Let Rarity deal with her own studio's problems."
Back at Rarity's studio, her Pokémon companions worked to support the children with their freedom. The twelve Leavanny meticulously crafted accessories and extra clothing parts for the young ponies, eager to contribute to the creative process.
With nimble movements, the Leavanny wove pleasant designs, their silk threads glinting in the studio lights as they brought their creations to life. "Van. Leavan."
"Oh, this is geat, Leavanny." Diamond Tiara spoke after being lent one of the accessories.
But their efforts were met with an unexpected response from Rarity, who, despite her initial excitement, quickly intervened with a firm hand and some magic, pulling the accessory away. "No, Leavanny," she declared, her voice tinged with disappointment as she examined their creations. "We don't need these."
The Leavanny's faces fell in confusion and disappointment, their efforts seemingly in vain as Rarity rejected their contributions. They knew Rarity is not usually like this in the studio. At all.
"Ampharos, that light won't do! You have to increase the brightness!" Rarity said to Ampharos who was generating light from his body. She passed by him, ordering him to increase the light even if it would harm the eyes of the others.
"Ampha..." As the light intensified, the children squinted and shielded their eyes, struggling to adjust to the sudden increase in brightness. Some winced and complained, while others tried to soldier on despite the discomfort, determined to do their best despite the challenging conditions.
This isn't as fun as it should be." Gallus sighed. "I wasn't all that excited for it in the first place but geez."
All the other students felt the same, even those that have already been in PokeStar Studios before. There was no excitement at all and any semblance of it was being ripped apart by Rarity's strict commands.
Rarity, caught up in her pursuit of perfection, seemed oblivious to the growing discontent among her students. Her focus remained fixed on achieving her artistic vision. Definitely, there was a part of Pheromosa that contributed to Rarity's spirit but with Pheromosa in the Pokemon Center, badly injured, that spirit was in the background.
"Yaks can't take it anymore!" Yona yelled as she and the yaks were done with this, stomping their hooves out of frustration.
"Ah! You'll break it!" Rarity used her magic to hold up some of the equipment due to the Yaks stomping. "Do you know how expensive these are?!"
"Yaks wants to go to another studio booth!" Yona bellowed.
"I'm with them. This is a bummer." Silverstream sighed as her cheery smile was stripped from her face.
"Another studio booth?!" Rarity gasped.
Rarity's eyes widened in disbelief at Yona's declaration, her shock evident as she processed the request. The idea of abandoning their current studio booth for another seemed unfathomable to her, a stark departure from the meticulous planning and preparation that had gone into selecting their filming location.
"But... but we're already here," Rarity protested, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she struggled to comprehend the sudden upheaval of their plans. "And we've invested so much time and effort into this studio booth. Surely we can find a way to make it work?"
Just then, the yaks left this studio booth, deciding to go to another and work on their movie there. "Wait! You can't go! We need to finish the movie!" Rarity yelled.
"Not with this atmosphere." A Hippogriff said as other students were beginning to do the same. "We're out of here."
"This is a lesson!" Rarity bellowed at them. "Your grades will be affected by this, if you must know!"
"You're not even a teacher at our school. We don't need to listen to you." A Dragon said with disrespect in his tone.
Rarity's protests fell on deaf ears as Yona and the yaks, along with other students, made their way out of the studio booth, determined to seek a more welcoming environment elsewhere. Despite Rarity's insistence on staying and finishing the movie, the overwhelming dissatisfaction among the students made it clear that continuing under the current circumstances was untenable.
As the exodus from the studio booth continued, Rarity's initial shock gave way to a sense of resignation. Though she had hoped to salvage the situation and salvage the day's filming, it was clear that her efforts had fallen short. With a heavy heart, she watched as her students departed, their determination to find a more conducive environment for their creative endeavours unwavering.
"Sis..." Sweetie Belle's voice was filled with concern as she looked at Rarity. "I know it's because of Pheromosa, but this just isn't fun. Or you. I think I'm gonna go to another studio too with my friends."
"B-But Sweetie Belle..." Rarity's initial instinct was to protest, to try to convince Sweetie Belle to stay and give their current situation another chance. But as she looked into her sister's eyes, she saw the sincerity of her words and the disappointment reflected there.
Rarity was then left alone as the room seemed bigger. Even with her other Pokémon companions by her side, Rarity couldn't shake the sense of desolation that hung in the air.
Rarity turned to face a giant mirror, her reflection staring back at her with gutted sadness. "It's not my fault, is it?" She asked aloud, her voice barely above a whisper.
As she gazed into the mirror, a flicker of movement caught her eye, and the image of Pheromosa materialized before her as if conjured by her thoughts. But upon closer inspection, Rarity realized that it was only an illusion. A trick of the light, perhaps, or a manifestation of her own guilt and self-doubt.
Rarity then remembered the countless times she had shared with Pheromosa, the laughter and camaraderie they had enjoyed as they worked together to bring their creative visions to life. Pheromosa had always brought a greater sense of enjoyment to the scene, her playful spirit and boundless energy infusing their filmmaking endeavors with a sense of magic and wonder.
But now, without her by her side, Rarity couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. The studio booth felt emptier, the air heavier, as though the very essence of their shared creativity had been dimmed in Pheromosa's absence.
Just then, emerging out of her Poke Ball was Froslass, who forced herself to appear. "Froslass!" The Ice-Ghost-Type heard it all and decided to make an appearance.
"Froslass?" Rarity uttered as she looked up at her Pokémon companion. It suddenly clicked for her. The connection between Froslass and Pheromosa, the shared essence of their being. Both Pokémon were once the same person, Yuki, whose spirit and soul had been split, emerging as these two distinct entities from different locations.
They may be different, but they are the same. In a way, it was Pheromosa still being with Rarity. Froslass was just stern compared to the kind Pheromosa. And that was the mirror between them.
And now, as Froslass fixed her with a piercing gaze, Rarity couldn't shake the feeling that she was being judged, her every flaw and failing laid bare before Froslass.
"I..." As Rarity stood before the mirror, confronted by Froslass's impassioned cries, she saw something else.
It was as if the mirror itself was a reflection of the internal struggle she was facing, a battle between the two halves of her own persona, embodied by Froslass and Pheromosa.
Froslass, with her stern demeanor and unwavering judgment, seemed to embody the strict and perfectionist side of Rarity, the part of her that demanded excellence and adherence to high standards, even at the expense of joy and spontaneity.
In contrast, Pheromosa represented the carefree and playful spirit that Rarity had lost touch with, a reminder of the joy and creativity that had once defined their partnership.
"Lass! Froslass!" Froslass's voice rang out, sharp and unforgiving. Though her words were unintelligible to Rarity, the underlying message was clear. Her Pokémon companion was holding her accountable for all of this.
Froslass didn't want Rarity to become like her and by extension, neither did Pheromosa. As Rarity stood before the mirror, feeling the weight of Froslass's stern gaze upon her, she was suddenly surrounded by her other Pokémon companions. They gathered around her, their presence a comforting reminder of the bond they shared and the joy they had experienced together.
In that moment, memories flooded back to Rarity. Memories of the times before Pheromosa had entered her life, when she had found happiness with all of them here at the Pokemon Studio. She remembered it all and how things were just as fun back then as they were with Pheromosa in the future.
"I'm sorry. All of you. How could I forget? I suppose I needed Blissey's egg after all." Rarity let out a tear, apologizing to them. "I'm just worired about Pheromosa..."
But as she spoke the words aloud, Rarity felt some clarity. She knew that she couldn't continue to dwell on her worries and fears, that she had to find a way to move forward and rediscover the joy and spontaneity that had always been a part of her.
"I need to apologize to the children," Rarity knew what she had to do more than anything.
Meanwhile, the students all found another studio to enter. As the children entered Adagio's studio, they were met with a quizzical gaze from the imposing figure of Adagio Dazzle herself. Her expression was one of mild surprise.
"What are you all doing in here?" Adagio's questioned.
The children exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how to respond to Adagio's inquiry. They had stumbled into her studio by accident, drawn in by the promise of excitement and adventure, only to find themselves face-to-face with one of the most formidable figures in the world of entertainment.
"We...we were just looking for a place to continue our movie-making," Silver Spoon spoke, her voice trembling slightly under Adagio's piercing gaze. "We didn't mean to intrude."
"Aren't you supposed to be with Rarity?" Aria' asked.
"Um, well, we were with Rarity," one of the children admitted hesitantly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "But things...didn't go quite as planned, so we decided to find a new studio."
"Yaks don't want to be around her!" Yona reiterated, her voice firm and unwavering. She stood tall, her eyes meeting Adagio's without hesitation.
"Really now?" Adagio's tone was laced with intrigue as she leaned in slightly, her interest clearly piqued by Yona's bold assertion. "And why's that?"
"It's because of Pheromosa." Sweetie Belle spoke, making sure that no one else would bad mouth Rarity. "She misses her a lot and that's changed things."
"Mo?" Adagio's own Pheromosa turned her head, listening in on this.
"You see, Pheromosa isn't just any Pokémon to Rarity," Sweetie Belle explained, her words resonating with a sense of heartfelt sincerity. "It's like she a part of him. That's what I've seen a lot of the time. It's like with Ash and Pikachu. She was badly injured, and now she's in the Pokémon Center. Rarity's just worried about her."
"Oh, uh...I didn't know."
"Well, she didn't have to be harsh with us." Gallus crossed his arms. A bit of sympathy rippled through the students as they absorbed Sweetie Belle's words. It was clear that Pheromosa's absence had cast a shadow over their friend's life, leaving her feeling lost and alone.
Some of the students could back that up since they've seen Rarity's movies and have heard things from Sweetie Belle here and there.
"Yeah. I figured." Adagio shrugged.
"Figured? You mean you knew!?" Sweetie Belle gasped.
"Why do you think I challenged her to a competition?" Adagio then walked over to the students. "Believe me, I've gone through something similar to that. Not with my Pheromosa, but with my sisters."
"That's right!" Sonata yelled in the background.
"She's heated right now," Adagio continued, her tone softening slightly as she addressed the group. "But I promise you, it'll hit her like a truck, and she'll come running back to you, saying sorry."
"That's why she's the best!" Some of the students cheered, fangirling over Adagio. Adagio herself was very much proud of this, having a smug look on her face.
As if on cue, Rarity burst into the studio, her expression frantic as she scanned the room in search of her missing students. Her eyes widened in relief when she spotted them gathered around Adagio, their expressions animated as they engaged in conversation.
"There you are!" Rarity exclaimed, rushing over to the group with a mixture of concern and gratitude. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"
The students turned to face Rarity, their expressions shifting from surprise to relief as they saw her approach. Sweetie Belle stepped forward, her voice filled with concern as she addressed her sister. "Rarity! Are you okay?!"
Rarity took a deep breath, her earlier panic melting away as she took in the sight of her students safe and sound. She offered them a shaky smile, her voice filled with gratitude as she spoke.
"L-Listen...I'm sorry. All of you," Rarity began, apologizing to them all. "I don't know what came over me. I was so worried about Pheromosa that everything else went blank for me,"
Adagio made sure to listen carefully as all movie-making activities were brought to a halt thanks to her words. Rarity continued, her voice filled with genuine regret.
"But that's no excuse for how I acted to you all. "I know you wanted to have fun and I do too all the time here. I shouldn't have taken that away from you. I'm sorry. I'll try and make it up to you."
As she spoke, Rarity's gaze softened, her eyes looked over at Adagio's Pheromosa, reminded of her own. "I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me," Rarity said softly.
The children ended up forgiving her, with Sweetie Belle being the first. "Don't worry about it. Honestly...I would've done the same if that was any of my Pokemon."
Tears welled up in Rarity's eyes as Sweetie Belle spoke, her heart overflowing with gratitude and relief at her sister's forgiveness. She enveloped Sweetie Belle in a tight embrace, her voice choked with emotion as she whispered her thanks.
"Oh, Sweetie Belle, thank you," Rarity murmured, her words filled with heartfelt sincerity. "I don't know what I would do without you."
With her students' forgiveness secured, Rarity felt a renewed sense of determination to make things right and ensure that she lived up to their trust and confidence in her.
"Hmph. Are you done with the make up?" Adagio spoke with a smile on her face. "If I recall, lessons from that school only last until 12:00 to 12:30. Clocks ticking and we're almost done."
"Oh... OH!" Rarity exclaimed, realizing they were all running short on time. "Everyone back to the studio, quick!"
As the clock ticked closer to the deadline, Rarity's group sprang into action, getting back to what they were doing previously. Despite the time crunch, they could now have fun, just as originally intended.
In Rarity's studio, the atmosphere was much, much better than before as her students and Pokemon raced against the clock, each one fully immersed in their tasks. Leavanny deftly wove some sleek costumes and props, while Ampharos bathed the set in a warm, inviting glow.
Despite the rush, there was a sense of joy and camaraderie among Rarity's group. Laughter filled the air as they worked side by side, each one bringing their own unique talents to the table. Even Rarity herself couldn't help but smile as she watched her students and Pokemon work together, their enthusiasm infectious.
As the final moments ticked away, both Rarity's group realized that they had run out of time. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to finish filming the last part of the film. However, as they looked around at the unfinished sets and props, there was a sense of satisfaction in the air.
"Ah...It is what it is." Rarity shrugged it off. "Adagio wins this one, I'm afraid."
"Aww...!" Sweetie Belle pouted, actually wanting to win this one.
"Okay! I'm ready to-" Wearing a mask that gave her a voice filter, Smolder finally emerged, ready to act. But she was far too late since time was up. So much for that. "Oh, no way..."
"Charmander..."
Across the studio, Adagio couldn't help but overhear the excited chatter coming from Rarity's group. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she listened. In that moment, she realized that there was no need to continue the competition any further. The joy and camaraderie that had been fostered between the two groups was far more valuable than the words of some judges.
"Let's go," Adagio said to her sisters, ready to depart. She could leave here with a warmer heart than before.
But more importantly, so could Rarity. The lesson was over and all students had to return home. But some decided to stick around a bit longer here at PokeStar Studios, wanting that enjoyment some more. And Rarity would gladly indulge.
On the road again were the Dazzlings and their mother. After finishing up at PokeStar Studios, they were back in the Human World, continuing the search for their fellow sirens. Sonata could be seen almost asleep, completely surrounded by food she's eaten. Every bit of it was junk food.
"Well, where to next?" Aria asked. "So far, we haven't found a single one. We're getting nowhere."
"I know. It's frustrating." Adagio placed her hands in her massive hair, trying to make sense of it. "We followed the clues and not a single one of them has shown up. What gives?"
"Don't give up hope now." Their mother, Vivace spoke. "You're not thinking we're truly the last of our kind, are you?"
"We weren't thinking that." Both Adagio and Aria said.
"But, I have faith they're still out there. Even if it's taking us a while, at least we sirens live long." Vivace looked on the bright side.
"And if we are the last of our kind, we might have to get busy and fix that." Sonata sat up, making a joke that made her two older sisters grimace. As for their mother, she just laughed that.
"We're out of clues right now." said Vivace. "If we're to find them, we might have to retrace our steps. We can't sit around and wait for them to come to us."
"What if that works?" Sonata asked. "What if waiting for them to come to us pans out? I mean, that's been our backup plan."
"Your backup plan?" Vivace would slow down the vehicle a bit, turning her head to face her daughters.
"Our backup plan is that if we get popular enough for the entire world to know about us, then the other sirens will have to come out of hiding." Adagio explained. "In the 3rd Pokemon Festival, we got to perform the closing song and we're getting into the movie business just this morning."
"The first plan's not going so great. So we're going for the second plan." Aria spoke. "It's way up our alley and easier for us than going on a search."
"Fair enough. Succeed with your best skills. That's the kind of enthusiasm I-" But before Vivace could finish, up ahead, she would stop her vehicle once she saw someone on the road.
She grimaced at the sight of this person, rapidly stopping the van as it would make a screeching sound, causing the Sirens to rock as Sonata fell off the seats. As Vivace brought the vehicle to a halt, the Dazzlings peered ahead to see who had caught their mother's attention. The girls would hold their heads after the bumpy ride.
A Pokémon battle was underway, and standing at the centre was a figure who, at first glance, resembled Ash. "Is that...Ash?" Aria questioned, the darkness of the night masking the face of this trainer. But when they all looked ahead, thanks to the flames of what appeared to be a Charizard lighting the area up, something was amiss. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that it wasn't Ash but one of his counterparts.
Red.
"I know that guy...I think." Sonata uttered.
"Hey!" Adagio immediately got out of the van, yelling at Red. "What's the big idea?! Get off the road!" As Adagio stepped out of the van, her frustration evident as she marched over to Red, who remained focused on the intense battle unfolding before him. Ignoring her initial outburst, Adagio tapped Red on the shoulder, trying to grab his attention.
"..." But no response from him, as always.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" She exclaimed. "You can't just stand in the middle of the road like this!"
Adagio's attempt to capture Red's attention was met with a surprising turn of events. Just as she approached him, a sudden burst of energy erupted from the ongoing battle. Charizard, in a swift and powerful motion, unleashed a ferocious attack on its opponent, causing a dazzling flare of energy that illuminated the surroundings.
Adagio staggered back, startled by the unexpected display of power. She watched as the intense clash between Pokémon unfolded before her, realizing that Red remained utterly unfazed by the spectacle. His focus remained solely on the battle, his expression calm and composed despite the chaos unfolding around him.
The oppossing forces in question were masked figures, who were revealed to be bank robbers, their Pokémon in the middle of a battle as they clashed with Red and his Charizard.
With a swift and decisive strike, Charizard unleashed a powerful attack, sending one of the robbers' Pokémon, a Boldore, flying backwards.
"Charizard!" Charizard unleashed a blistering Flamethrower attack, engulfing the remaining Pokémon in a searing inferno. The flames blazed through the hard road as the robbers' Pokémon were swiftly defeated, unable to withstand the overwhelming force of Charizard's fiery onslaught.
Adagio flinched for a moment as the battle came to a swift and decisive conclusion, the robbers incapacitated and their Pokémon defeated. Charizard stood proudly amidst the aftermath, towering over his defeated Pokemon.
Red approached the defeated criminals with a steely resolve, looking down at them with such intensity. The bank robbers screeched, immediately dropping their bags of money and returning their Pokemon. Terrified of Red and not wanting to deal with him any further, they made a run for it.
"We're sorry!" They yelled while running off into the distance where police sirens could be heard.
With all that said and done, Red turned to face Adagio at last. His expression was still stoic.
Adagio shook her head, trying to regain her focus. "Umm...Anyway! Like I was saying, don't just stand on the road like that!"
As she spoke, Sonata, her curiosity piqued, joined her sister outside the van. "Oh, you're Red! You're one of Ash's counterparts!" Sonata exclaimed, recognizing the Pokémon Trainer.
"That Red?" Adagio faced her sister before looking back at Red. "Ugh. That explains the Aura."She would then step back, cleaning some dust off of herself.
Sonata strolled up to Red, her curiosity getting the better of her. "What are you doing here in this world?" She asked. "Shouldn't you be back at your world? Like Kanto or something? Or maybe even Equestria."
"..." Red remained silent as always.
"Yeah. This place is pretty boring compared to both worlds," Aria chimed in, echoing Sonata's sentiment as she joined her sister near Red. "Unless you've been here multiple times."
The latter was very much true. Red has been here before as seen by the smile on his face. Despite this world lacking a strong connection to Pokemon, Red finds himself here at times. The same goes for Ethan, Brendan and Hilbert.
Red would then look over at the van before nudging his head at it. Adagio blinked for a moment, unsure to what he was trying to say. Neither could Aria. None of them could properly read Red's body language. All except for Sonata.
"You want a ride? Well sure!" She translated.
"H-How'd you understand him?!" Aria stammered. Nothing from Sonata implies that she can properly read body language but she witnessed an example of it today.
"Oh, need somewhere to be, sweetie?" Vivace questioned. "We can make that work. Come along."
Red nodded gratefully before approaching the van. Returning Charizard to his Poke Ball, he climbed into the van, taking a seat among the Dazzlings and their mother.
"Welcome aboard!" Sonata greeted him cheerfully, her enthusiasm infectious as always. "We've got plenty of room here.. You're not the first guest we've had here. Especially not one with a serious look on his face." She referred to Paul."
"Where are you even heading?" Aria asked before then looking at Sonata, needing her to translate what Red was about to say.
"..."
"You're heading to Sunset Shimmer's home?" Sonata translated. "Really? How come?"
"Aw, her?" Adagio then chimed in. "What's someone like you going to her home for? You don't look like the type to bother with someone like her."
"I think she's like the Fire-Type Gym Leader when she heads back to Equestria. Even though she stays at that school most of the time." Aria replied to Adagio. "Is that why you're going to her? To give her some pointers?"
Right on the mark. Aria was 100% correct. That's exactly why Red was heading there. He did make a promise to Sunset Shimmer to help her get stronger, especially with that brief battle they had.
"Help her? What, so she's like weak or something?" Adagio snickered, taking the opportunity to taunt Sunset Shimmer even from afar.
"If she's receiving training from Red, she's probably stronger than you." Aria pointed out, giving Sunset Shimmer some props.
"Pssh. You wish."
"You don't think the Fire-Type Trainer can easily beat the Bug-Type Trainer?" The older sister rolled her eyes at such a notion.
"Not my fault I have two Pokemon that just so happen to be bugs." Adagio scoffed, crossing her arms at such a response. "Besides, Type Advantage isn't everything."
"You'd make a great Bug-Type Gym Leader though!" Sonata raised her arm before being shoved aside by Adagio.
"Anyway, I'd catch more Pokemon if I wanted to. Believe me." She would lay back on the seats. Adagio has only caught one Pokemon officially and that was her partner Kricketune. Pheromosa was only given to her. "If there was one Pokemon I could catch...It would be a Gardevoir."
"Same." Aria and Sonata collectively said. All three of them were in agreement, having a preference for the same Pokemon. But Adagio had one extra reason.
"Ah. You want a Gardevoir because of Princess Celestia. I thought you weren't her student anymore?"
"I've only been her student for like 2 years. But I've already learned a lot. And no, her Gardevoir's not why I want one, it's just a beautiful Pokemon. Not as beautiful as me though." Adagio boasted. "You two want one for the same reason?"
"I just think it looks neat." Sonata was honest before grinning in Aria's direction. "But Aria wants one because she probably wants to know how Paul feels about her and-"
"You wish that was why!" Aria covered Sonata's mouth, causing her to muffle.
"Not a bad idea." Vivace raised a finger, indulging in Sonata's words. "Getting a Pokemon to know how someone feels about how. How sweet."
"Mom!"
"What? Don't act like you wouldn't have done it. It's natural for us Sirens." Vivace chuckled. "If we want to know something, we'll go to huge lengths. Sometimes, a little mind control helps. A little. Or you just could tell him how you feel. That works too, Aria."
"Urgh..." The middle sister was embarrased, lowering her head and blushing. She didn't wish to talk about this any longer. When lowering her head, she would take out her phone, immediately turning it on to see Paul's phone number. Aria was a bit tempted to call him right now to maybe steam things off.
"I'm not too shy about it." Sonata proudly said. "I know someone who I can confess to no problem. What about you, Adagio?"
"No one."Adagio shut it down immediately. "Never in a million years. And I'm currently in my early millions. No one can handle all of me."
"I don't know..." Sonata twirled her finger while pointing at Adagio. "You're sitting next to someone who totally could."
"Gah!" Adagio's body would shiver for a moment before turning to face Red, who looked back at her. Red would then look away, acting as if nothing happened. "Gross..."
"I thought you'd like the strong, silent types?" Sonata asked.
"Live with someone who probably has no musical taste? As if." The older sister simply groaned at such a notion.
"Gee. Thought you'd like that since he wouldn't criticize your music." Aria taunted, followed by a snicker from Sonata. Adagio simply shook her head, putting on a smile as well. She did find it rather humorous. All of this was just sisterly banter.
The van continued on its way, heading straight for the town where Sunset Shimmer could be found.
As the night went on, two of the sisters were currently asleep. Aria and Sonata obviously. Only Adagio was asleep while her mother parked the van near a lake, falling asleep as well. All seemed silent right now, but there two individuals still awake at this time.
Adagio would be asleep, but she was only halfway there. Adagio's eyes fluttered open halfway, her senses alerting her to a presence missing from the van. With a groggy mind, she sat up, blinking away the remnants of sleep as she noticed Red's absence inside the van. Sitting up, she wondered where he had gone at such a time and her answers were given upon hearing a specific sound.
It sounded like flames, prompting her to look outside. Right now, near the lake, Red could be seen with his Charizard, Pikachu and his Lapras at this very moment, not appearing tired at all.
"What are you doing? It's late." Adagio would ask while rubbing her eye.
Red glanced up from his task, his expression unreadable as he regarded Adagio with his silent glare. Without a word, he gestured towards the lake, where the flames were perfectly standing on the water without showing signs of being put out. Not even once.
"Oh..." Adagio blinked a few times when seeing the fire perfectly standing on the water. "You couldn't wait until the morning to try this? Don't you sleep?"
"..." Red shrugged. That answer only raised a lot of questions for Adagio that she didn't want answered.
"Whatever. I guess this looks nice anyway." She would then look at the flames on the water, taking the moment to admire it. "I didn't think someone like you would try this out. You don't look like the type."
But Red dabbled. Much like his counterpart, he knew how to make flashy sights, even past that serious nature. As for Adagio, she was absorbed by the view of the flames, seeing it move around while Lapras was swimming. It made for a rather calming sight, especially this late at night.
"Say...Since you're Ash's counterpart, are you dealing with that whole Prisma thing?" Adagio questioned. "Heard a lot about that. You're not dangerous, are you?"
Adagio's question hung in the air. As she awaited Red's response, her mind couldn't help but wander to the topic of Prisma, the amalgamation of Ash, Red, and other legendary trainers from the various regions. The idea of such a powerful entity dwelling within Red's counterpart sparked a sense of unease within her, mingled with a growing apprehension about the potential dangers it posed.
Red remained silent for a moment, actually giving Adagio an answer. But of course, it was by silence, however, this tme, Adagio could read it.
Judging by that look in his eyes, it was confirmed. Red actually did go through an instance where Prisma did show up, albeit for a brief time. "Y-You did?!"
The memory was a strong one, a fleeting glimpse of power and chaos that threatened to consume him from within. In that moment, he had felt the overwhelming surge of Prisma's presence.
He remembered it since it was not too long ago. Red saw the visage of the Fairy Matter in the sky. He was there. He was there when Daybreaker used the Fairy Matter on Equestria for the first time. Much like how her actions managed to get Prisma out of Ash's soul due to anger, Red went through the same thing. Much like Ash, it didn't last long and he was back to his senses, but he could not forget that moment.
The first time that Prisma was actually influencing him. And this was not too long ago either.
"Seriously? S-So you are dangerous!" Adagio leaned back. However, at this moment, Red was not dangerous, however, that sense of a threat was certainly within him.
"..." Red would simply smile at her.
"Well...As long as you get it under control," She grumbled. Though she hoped for the best, Adagio couldn't shake the lingering sense of unease that gnawed at her thoughts. "Now get some sleep already. It's late."
Red watched her go, his expression inscrutable as he pondered her words. Red settled down in front of the lake, his thoughts still consumed by the memory of Prisma's awakening. He simply watched the flames dancing around the lake while Lapras was putting herself to sleep. Though sleep eluded him for now, he would eventually clock out.
Sunset Shimmer's Home. Day.
As the night slowly passed, giving way to the first light of dawn, the van continued on its journey, winding its way through the quiet streets until it finally arrived at Sunset Shimmer's home.
The morning sun cast its golden rays upon the landscape, illuminating the town with a warm glow. The air was filled with the gentle chirping of birds and Pidgeys and the soft rustle of leaves as a new day began to unfold.
Sonata's voice rang out with a cheerful tone as she emerged from the van, her expression bright and energetic despite the early hour. "I slept like a Queen!" she exclaimed, stretching her arms above her head in a luxurious stretch, allowing her muscles to relax and unwind.
As Adagio stepped out of the van, her expression was less than enthusiastic, her features twisted into a slight frown as she surveyed their surroundings. The warm rays of the morning sun danced upon her face, but they failed to lift her spirits, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of reluctance about being at Sunset Shimmer's home.
"Ugh. Do we really have to be here?" she grumbled, her voice tinged with irritation as she glanced towards the familiar abode.
Aria, noticing her sister's discontent, furrowed her brow in concern. "You still don't like her?" she questioned, her tone gentle yet probing.
"Still bitter about the whole Battle of the Bands thing? I thought you got over that. I mean, we all did," Sonata remarked.
"I got over it too. Not Sunset. I never forgave the Human Counterparts in this world and Sunset is no different," she admitted, her voice tinged with a hint of resignation.
"Well, if you don't wanna come along, be our guest," Aria simply shrugged it off.
Meanwhile, Red stepped forward and knocked on the door of Sunset Shimmer's home, the sound echoing through the quiet morning air.
As the door creaked open, revealing the familiar figure of Sunset Shimmer on the other side. "Red! You're here!" She said with a smile before noticing the familiar faces of the Dazzlings. "And...you brought them? You three are here too?"
As Sunset's gaze swept over the trio, Aria stepped forward with a casual greeting. "Thought we'd pay a visit," she offered with a nonchalant shrug, her tone light despite the tension in the air.
Meanwhile, Sonata, ever the embodiment of enthusiasm, frantically waved her arms in greeting, a wide smile plastered across her face as she tried to diffuse the growing tension with her infectious energy.
However, Adagio remained silent, her expression darkening as she observed the exchange from a distance. Her scowl spoke volumes. Sunset's own expression mirrored Adagio's, her features contorted into a scowl of her own as she eyed the trio with a mixture of suspicion and irritation.
"Did you have to bring her along too?" Sunset's voice dripped with disdain as she directed her question at Red. She wasn't too fond of Adagio being here too. It seems that the two of them never made up, unlike Sonata and Aria.
"We won't be long. Right?" Adagio smirked before looking at her sisters.
"Well, I mean, we're not doing anything right now..." Sonata shrugged while rolling her eyes. "Why not visit old friends?"
"Well, I called for Red only, but whatever. Red promised to train me today and help me out with something. You'd better get in right now." Sunset grabbed Red's arm, pulling him in. "Come on."
As Sunset spoke, her tone left little room for argument. Adagio exchanged a glance with her sisters before nodding reluctantly, realizing that they had little choice but to follow.
"Fine," Adagio conceded, her voice tinged with resignation as she followed Sunset's lead, her sisters trailing behind her.
"It'll be great having you with us, Red." Sunset spoke once she let them all in. "It's pretty early in the day, so we can get a head start. We can do a tiny bit of training and get out there."
"Are you two heading somewhere?" Sonata asked.
"Not just us two. But all of my friends. You see...That Alpha Pokemon thing's come up again. Heard of it?"
"Alpha Pokemon? Oh, araen't those the big Pokemon this world's Twilight's been catching? How many does she have again?" Aria spoke, recalling the Alpha Pokemon.
"There's been another sighting of them. But this time, the Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter showed up." Sunset Shimmer continued, making three of them gasp. "Twilight's already called Ash to come over today and since Red was close, I figured I'd call him today to help out."
"Does the Pokemon have Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter?" Sonata questioned.
"Not sure. Professor Oak wasn't too descriptive when he told us. All he said that there was a bunch of Alpha Pokemon. Usually, there's only one, maybe two. But a lot of them have gathered up and it could be big trouble. This world still isn't used to Pokemon like how it is back in Equestria."
"Oooh! We get to go on an important mission?!" The eyes of Sonata lit up. "With such a big group too!"
Adagio's groan cut through the excitement in the air, her reluctance evident as she voiced her concerns. "Do we have to?" She groaned. "Why should it matter to us?"
"Uh, pretty sure it does." Sunset Shimmer walked over. "In case you don't know, the Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter are back at Equestria and they're just as dangerous as they sound. If no one takes care of them, it'll be a huge deal."
"Then handle it. Don't drag us into it."
"It could drag you into it too." Sunset pointed at Adagio. "Especially the Dragon Matter. It'll tear everything apart and it's tough to escape from. Next thing you know, you'll be swalloed up by it as it rips open the ground. It passed through an entirely different world just to show up here, ya know."
Adagio's lips tightened into a thin line, her resistance faltering. With a frustrated sigh, she begrudgingly conceded, her pride swallowing her pride for the sake of the greater good.
"Tch," Adagio clicked her tongue in annoyance, her reluctance evident. "Whatever. We're not doing anything yet, I guess. Wish we had new song ideas already."
"Ash will be here soon, I bet. So before we head out, let me just get myself warmed up, ready, Red?" she asked, her voice tinged with anticipation.
Red nodded in response, his expression stoic as ever. Without a word, he stepped forward, ready to assist Sunset in her preparations. Both would walk out of the building, ready to find a spot to practice.
It would be quite the Mammoswine of a group. Ash's group and Red's group combined would make this the largest Alpha Pokemon search yet. But also one that calls for this many numbers. Both the Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter have found their way into this world as well and some Alpha Pokemon are already surrounded by it. Pokemon as powerful as them being around such powerful forces could only spell disaster.
"Okay, Red! This time, you'll see just how much I've improved." Standing at the park, Sunset Shimmer spoke to Red, planning to show her all the growth she's received thus far. The park was clear this early in the day, allowing for a free-form battle. The Dazzlings had also gathered here, seated to see this battle play out.
It would all be a practice session before they set off to find the Alpha Pokemon. Red nodded in acknowledgement, his expression unreadable as he held out a Poke Ball of his own.
"Here goes! Litleo!" Sunset exclaimed, launching the Poke Ball upwards.
"Litleo!" With a burst of light, Litleo materialized before them.
"..." From Red's Poke Ball, emerged the towering figure of his Snorlax, his massive form casting a shadow over the park as he lumbered into position.
"Snorlax."
"Send them both flying, Red! To the Moon!" Adagio's voice broke through, her words laced with a hint of malice as she openly rooted for Red's victory. Sunset's eyes narrowed slightly at Adagio's taunt, but she dismissed it. She ignored the distraction and turned her attention back to her Litleo who was already flaring out flames from his body, ready to get into the heat of things.
Red held his hand out, showing Sunset Shimmer that she had at least 5 minutes. 5 minutes to show him what she's got. "5 minutes? That's no problem. I bet, in those 5 minutes, I can actually push you back."
"Here you go." Showing up was Vivace, who had food for her daughters. Their personal favourites were brought, lent over to the three sisters. Just as they were ready to indulge in it, Sonata ran up to the two Trainers, wanting to take on the role as referee.
"Let me coach!" She said while holding up her food. "Battle Start!"
"Go, Litleo! Flamethrower!" Making the first move was Sunset Shimmer.
"Litleo!" Holding his breath in and exhaling, Litleo released a crimson stream from his mouth, burning some of the grass immediately as the scarlet flames approached the Normal-Type.
"..." Red, as always, didn't need to say anything, but his Pokemon knew what to do.
"Snorlax!" Snorlax's eyes flashed as he used High Horsepower, channelling an earthly power into his large paws. Thrusting them forward, he met with the scarlet flames, blocking them immediately. The flames spiralled upon touching Snorlax's paws before being blown away. But Snorlax didn't just destroy the flames, he would also start approaching Litleo, ready to get up close and personal.
"Now, Litleo! Dig!"
"Leo!" Right as Snorlax came close, Litleo burrowed underground, evading the incoming strike from the giant. Litleo was now underneath Snorlax, ready to emerge at any moment.
"..." But Red had an answer for that. High Horsepower was that very answer. With Snorlax still channelling it in his paws, he would strike at the ground, attempting to force Litleo out. Shockwaves travelled through the park grounds, shaking the trees and the benches while sending rocks into the air.
"Oh! Woah!" Sonata held her food close to her, feeling the shockwaves.
"I figured you'd try that!" But Sunset Shimmer expected something like this from the start. "Deeper, Litleo!"
"Lit!" Litleo was currently moving deeper and deeper underground, using that to avoid the shockwaves, gaining some distance. Snorlax had no way of knowing how deep Litleo was in the ground and neither did Red. Snorlax looked around him, wondering where Litleo would appear from.
"Now!" Litleo emerged from the ground, going straight for Snorlax's back with a paw strike and concentrated Ground Energy. He managed to land a hit, striking Snorlax's back with all of his might. But all of his might wasn't enough to even push Snorlax.
"L-Leo?!"
"Snor." Snorlax turned his hand, immediately delivering a powerful backhand strike, moving his arm back and landing the attack on Litleo. A super-effective blo, which had sent Litleo flying.
"Oh, no! Litleo!"
"L-Lit! Leo!" Despite taking a super-effective blow from such a large Pokemon, Litleo managed to recover and regain his balance, but barely.
"...!" Red then pointed at Snorlax as he was about to kick things up from here. Snorlax would face Litleo with a turnaround as his eyes were seen glowing.
"Lax!" From them, he had used Hyper Beam, unleashing a powerful beam of destruction, completely fueled by Infinity Energy.
"Run for it, Litleo!"
"Leo!" Quickly, Litleo would run to the side, barely evading the incoming beam. Hyper Beam hit the ground, unleashing a powerful outburst that managed to push Litleo back from the pressure and shockwaves alone.
"Wild Charge!"
"Litleo!" Litleo slid on the ground after being pushed back, immediately surrounding himself in a flare of electricity. The Lion Cub Pokemon then launched himself at Snorlax, going in for a full-force tackle. Snorlax obviously needed time to recharge from Hyper Beam, leaving him vulnerable to this electrifying attack.
Straight to the face, Snorlax took the hit as the impact unleashed a burst of lightning. Snorlax closed his eyes, slightly feeling the attack, but he still didn't budge. Litleo received recoil damage from this, as to be expected as his body fell back from the impact.
"Snorlax!" However, recovering sooner than expected, Snorlax suddenly grabbed Litleo while he was in midair, not letting him touch the ground.
"L-Litleo?!" Surprised, Litleo was now in the clutches of Snorlax.
"Not good! Get out of there, Litleo!" Sunset cried out as the Lion Cub Pokemon was trying his best to escape Snorlax's grasp.
"Snor...!" Snorlax's eyes would flash while holding Litleo, showing he was about to unleash a Hyper Beam. And with Litleo stuck, there was no way for him to stop this. He couldn't block it or evade it. He just had to take it.
Except for one attack. "Flamethrower! Up close!"
"Leo!" Litleo replied with Flamethrower as his mouth was still free. At the same time, Hyper Beam and Flamethrower were both unleashed, meeting at such a close range.
As both Hyper Beam and Flamethrower collided, the park would feel the fearsome pressure, the intense heat and light illuminating the park grounds with a blinding glare. The ground trembled beneath their feet, the very air vibrating with the force of their collision.
And then, with a deafening roar, the two attacks exploded in a brilliant burst of light and heat, sending shockwaves rippling outwards in all directions.
From the explosion, Litleo flew out, bouncing and tumbling on the ground. "Litleo..." Alas, he had fainted, unable to take all of that damage. The smoke and flames all cleared as Snorlax could be seen standing, still healthy.
"That's it!" Sonata called it with her food in her mouth. "Snorlax wins! Which means Red wins!"
"Aw!" Sunset held her head. "That was only 3 or 4 minutes! Sorry, Litleo."
"Leo..." Litleo sat up, shaking his head as he was very much bewildered right now. Red would return Snorlax, putting on a smile afterwards. Not quite the time threshold he was looking for but one thing was for sure, Sunset Shimmer performed well, doing her best to get the edge over him. And while she didn't succeed, Red saw the passion and growth.
"You're too strong for me, Red." Sunset Shimmer sighed when picking Litleo up. "I still have ways to go. Thanks, anyways."
"Bravo!" Suddenly, Adagio started clapping. "Great battle. Great battle." She was only saying that since Sunset Shimmer lost. "Makes it worth showing up here."
"Hmph. If you're so happy about this, why don't you face him?" Sunset Shimmer questioned when side-eyeing Adagio.
"Me? Face him?! You're definitely insane." Adagio scoffed. "Asif I'd challenge that. I've got better things to do."
Sunset Shimmer raised an eyebrow at Adagio's dismissive response, a hint of challenge in her gaze. "You talk a big game for someone who's only been watching from the sidelines," she remarked, her tone laced with thinly veiled sarcasm.
"And I plan to keep it that way." Adagio had no shame, smiling proudly.
Sunset Shimmer simply rolled her eyes at Adagio's bravado, choosing not to engage any further. Instead, she turned her attention to her fallen Litleo, offering him a reassuring pat on the head as she began to tend to his injuries.
"Come on, Litleo," she said softly, her voice filled with gentle encouragement. "Let's get you patched up and ready for our search. Twilight and the others should be ready by now."
"Where are we even going to find these Alpha Pokemon?" Sonata asked.
"That'll be Rainbow Falls. Even this world has its own version of Rainbow Falls but just a bit different." Sunset Shimmer answered. "That's where we'll find them. It'll be all 13 of us over."
"12." Vivace, the Mother of the Dazzlings corrected. "I won't be joining you in this search. But I'll make sure to standby."
"..." Red walked by Sunset Shimmer before pointing his thumb at the van, telling her and the others to hurry. This battle they had burned through some time after all. They all made their way to the van, ready to meet up with Ash's group at once.
It was a weekend, which meant the girls were all available to help Sci-Twi in her continuous search for the Alpha Pokemon. Today, a few of them have been located as well as the emergence of Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter in this world. The group met up near the big city, where Ash could be seen talking.
"Hm? Red?" Ash recognized Red once he approached, leaving the van.
"..." As always, Red greeted with silence and a smile.
"Aw, those three too?" Rainbow Dash recognized the van of the Dazzlings as all three of them exited it.
"Sorry." Sunset Shimmer said when leaving the van. "But they, well, two of them, wanted to come along and help out."
"Where my sisters go, I go." Adagio spoke. "Let's hurry up and get this over with. I've got a new song planned already and I want to get started on it as soon as possible."
"Did'ya have to bring the killjoy too?" Applejack questioned Sunset Shimmer.
Sunset Shimmer sighed, casting a sideways glance at Adagio. "I mean, I'm not all for her being here but...At least you don't have to worry about anything going wrong. Not with these two juggernatus." She then wrapped her arms around Ash and Red's shoulders, pulling them both in. "We'll be fine!"
"So, what Pokemon is it?" Aria ran over, excited to know about the Alpha Pokemon of the day.
"It's quite a few. Professor Oak told me that there's 5 of them over at Rainbow Falls." Twilight, also known as Sci-Twi said, revealing it to them. From her phone, she showed the information Professor Oak passed on.
For the Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter to be active here meant that at least one Dragon and one Fairy-Type were involved. And indeed, that was the case. Visible on the screen was an Alpha Sligoo and an Alpha Kirlia. However, that Sligoo looked a bit different from what it is seen today.
"Wow, an Alpha Sliggoo and an Alpha Kirlia!" Sonata exclaimed, peering over Twilight's shoulder at the screen. "They look so cool!"
"They sure do," Sunset Shimmer agreed, studying the images intently. "But what's up with that Sliggoo? It looks different from what we're used to seeing."
"Sliggoo. The Snail Pokemon. Hisuian Variant. A creature given to melancholy. In the past, Its metallic shell developed as a result of the mucus on its skin reacting with the iron in Hisui’s water. Its four horns are a high-performance radar system. It uses them to sense sounds and smells."
"Do you think those two are what the Dragon and Fairy Matter reacting to?" Rarity questioned. "I mean, I assume that's why they've appeared."
"Probably. The other Alpha Pokemon weren't Dragons or Fairies." Sci-Twi responded. "It's only 2 out of the 5 that were discovered there."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Vivace. Can you get us to Rainbow Falls faster than the Train?" Ash asked.
"Easily. But...I'm not sure I can fit all of you in." Looking at the group, Vivace knew that the Van wouldn't be able to fit all of them inside. Counting them all, that would be 12 people plus the inclusion of Pikachu, Hisuian Zorua and Spike. Quite the cast of characters.
"We could split up," suggested Rainbow Dash. "Some of us could take the van with Vivace, and the others could catch the train. We'll meet up at Rainbow Falls."
"That sounds like a plan," Sunset agreed. "Vivace, could you take a group in the van?"
Vivace nodded. "Of course, dear. Some of you. Come with me. The rest, take the train and we'll meet you there." Pulling off a gesture, she called for some of them to join her. Entering the van would be Red, Rarity, Applejack and the Dazzlings, of course.
"I know where I'm going." Sunset Shimmer faced her friends who would take the train. She would be joined by Ash, Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. "Got your Poke Balls ready?"
"Uh, I have at least 15 of them. So enough for all 5. I'll only need the five if I battle the Alpha Pokemon. If things get too rough and out of control, I'll use more than 5. Hopefully, it doesn't reach a point where I need to use all of them."
"Most of these are Quick Balls." Looking in Sci-Twi's bag was Pinkie Pie. "Those are the ones that work on the first go, right?"
"Most of the time. I'd rather avoid a battle for today for the most part. Since we'll be dealing with 5 Alpha Pokemon, it'll be the hardest one yet." Sci-Twi prioritized a quick and efficient way to get it all done. "I just hope Hunter J hasn't gotten there yet."
Rainbow Falls.
As the van and the train journeyed towards Rainbow Falls, the landscape outside the Big City changed gradually. Rolling hills and lush greenery passed by, with occasional glimpses of Pokémon habitats and serene lakes. With this world still getting used to the existence of Pokemon, some of these Strange and Wonderful Creatures already found their favourite spots, settling there.
Inside the van, the atmosphere was lively as Vivace drove skillfully along the winding roads. Applejack and Rarity chatted animatedly, occasionally pointing out interesting landmarks along the way, seeing Pokemon they've never seen before.
Meanwhile, in the train car, the group settled into their seats, chatting amongst themselves as they watched the landscape rush past. Ash and Sci-Twi discussed strategies for dealing with the Alpha Pokémon, while Sunset Shimmer checked her phone for updates on the situation at Rainbow Falls.
Eventually, they arrived at Rainbow Falls, which was not quite what they expected. In contrast to its Equestrian Counterpart, the Rainbow Falls in this universe was not exactly how the name implies. It was still located at a high point but the location itself appeared to be a Waterpark.
"It's a Waterpark?!" Ash and Sunset Shimmer collectively said.
"What, you didn't know?" Rainbow Dash uttered as those born and raised in this world were already aware of this fact.
"I...only heard about it and assumed it was just like the one back at Equestria. Guess I was wrong."
"A Waterpark?! Score!" Sonata's eyes lit up. "Great choice, Twilight!"
"I was a bit confused when I found out they were at a Waterpark. But honestly, everything looks fine." Sci-Twi noticed that there wasn't anything wrong here at the moment. The Waterpark was functioning perfectly with people enjoying themselves.
"Uhh...I don't really see any Pokemon here either." Fluttershy also noticed a strong lack of Pokemon. No one here seemed to even be aware of the Alpha Pokemon's presence and were just having fun.
As the group surveyed the scene at Rainbow Falls Waterpark, they realized that finding the Alpha Pokémon might not be as straightforward as they had hoped. The bustling Waterpark was filled with laughter and splashes as people enjoyed the various attractions, but there was no sign of any Pokémon, let alone the Alpha Sliggoo and Kirlia
"Now what?" Applejack asked as things became silent for this group for a while. "Any ideas?"
"Hmm..." Ash pondered. "Well, we just search as always. But...Let's also have some fun here. Man, it's been a while since I've been to a Waterpark."
"Aren't we supposed to be taking this seriously?" Adagio questioned, believing that this was something that had to be taken seriously. These were Alpha Pokemon after all.
"Of course, we're taking it seriously," Sunset Shimmer reassured. "But there's no harm in enjoying ourselves a little while we search. Who would pass up on a chance to enjoy a Waterpark?"
"Aw...We're gonna get wet, aren't we?" Aria groaned, tugging on her clothes which she did not wish to ruin. Not now, not ever.
"Oh, please. Since I heard we were getting to Rainbow Falls, I made sure to come prepared." But Rarity was well prepared. Much like Misty or any one who specializes in Water-Type Pokemon, swimming gear was available for locations such as this. She brought more than enough to cover all 12 of them.
"Then get changed. All of you." Vivace ordered while stepping back into the van. "If you see any seashells, pass some onto me. It's been a while since I've collected them."
"Alright then." Ash rubbed his hands together, strolling off to get geared up. "Let's do this!"
"Pikachu!"
They all made their way to get changed to fit the theme of the Waterpark. Wearing their own swimsuits as well as spares that Rarity brought, they were geared up with some of them feeling a chill. For some of them, they looked good as the designs fit them well. Others were simple but effective, such as Ash and Red, who wore blue and red Swimming Trunks.
"Check it out, Red! I've got a lightning bolt on the side!" Ash said, finding his swimming trunks to be cool. Keeping in line with his theme, the lightning bolts represented Pikachu as they were on both sides.
"..." For Red, his had flames on the side, a perfect contrast to Ash as this was meant to represent his Charizard.
"This is really the spare you had?" Applejack groaned as her swimsuit was the equivalent of a gym teacher at a school. Rather uncomfortable for her in many ways.
"Well, why didn't you bring your own, Applejack?" Rarity asked once she stepped out with her swimsuit. "You knew we were heading for Rainbow Falls."
"I didn't think I needed to swim." Applejack groaned.
"Umm..." Peeking out of the door was Twilight, who was not leaving the room just yet. "Could you guys go ahead? I'll catch up eventually. Maybe."
"Oh? Embarrassed to show yourself?" Rarity asked, sensing that Twilight was a bit embarrassed based on what she was wearing.
"M-Maybe not when Ash is around. Ash could you go ahead?" Sci-Twi pleaded, mainly wanting Ash to go on ahead so that he wouldn't see her. "You too, Red. If you don't mind."
"Uh, sure." Ash replied before venturing off. "Come on, Pikachu."
"Just go." Once Ash and Red were gone, Adagio appeared, pushing Sci-Twi forward so that she would show herself.
"Oh..." Sci-Twi grumbled, wishing she was in something else. "Why couldn't it have been a lab?"
"What are you so down about?" Adagio quesitoned. "Shouldn't you be proud of this? Why'd you even agree to wear it in the first place?"
"Easy for you to say." Sci-Twi felt a bit cold. "Hooh! I don't think I'm used to cold areas actually! It's close to Summer, right?"
"It's surprisingly chilly around here, now that I think about it." Rainbow Dash scratched her hair. "Ah, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. Come on! Let's try one of the rides here! The Rainbow Rapids!"
"Rainbow Dash has been here a bunch of times!" Pinkie Pie slid over, pointing at her multi-coloured maned friend. "She's beaten Splash Spectra and Aqua Vortex! Ten Times!"
"...Alright. Later." Adagio walked away, not interested in this whatsoever. She was going to do her own thing, but Sonata was very much interested.
"Let me take a swing at it!" She said excitedly.
With everyone suited and ready to go, they split up to cover more ground in their search, while also having some fun in the process. Immediately, Ash and Red were already having a competition while at this waterpark. Both challenged each other to see who could find an Alpha Pokemon first.
"Alright, Red! Let's try these Wataer Slides! Maybe there's an Alpha Pokemon there! Let's see who comes out on top!"
"Pi-Pika!"
"!" Red was all for it, putting on a smile. Immediately, the two of them tackled two Water Slides, beginning their search. They didn't waste time when searching for these Pokemon, passing their heads through the falling waves.
As Ash and Red navigated the twists and turns of the water slides, their determination was evident to everyone around them. With Pikachu by Ash's side and Red's stoic demeanor, they stood out among the crowd with their unique approach to the search. Red was moving so quickly while still being so serious at the same time which made for a bizarre sight.
Their energetic movements and competitive spirit drew curious glances from other visitors at the waterpark, who couldn't help but wonder what the two were up to.
"Mommy, isn't that the man from the video?" One of the girls recognized Ash based on the recording of his match against Bea.
With each slide they tried, Ash and Red emerged at the bottom, shaking their heads in disappointment as they continued their search for the elusive Alpha Pokemon. Despite their efforts, they found no trace of the rare creatures amidst the thrills of the waterpark.
"Not here!" Ash exclaimed, his voice echoing through the aquatic playground as he swiftly moved on to the next spot, determination burning bright in his eyes. Red followed closely behind, his silent resolve matching Ash's determination step for step.
"Pikaaa!" Pikachu was having even more fun, going down one of the Water Slides and feeling the rush from within.
As for Red, his presence exuded an undeniable aura of intensity and power that the people here felt. As he moved through the waterpark, his mere presence seemed to unsettle those around him, causing some to cast nervous glances in his direction.
His stoic expression spoke volumes just from a first glance. Even without actively trying to assert himself, Red's aura commanded true power. He turned his head to one of the people, hoping to spot a Pokemon only for the woman to screech. "I don't want any trouble, sir!" She wailed, intimidated by Red.
"...?" Red just scratched his face, confused.
Adagio found herself a comfortable spot near the edge of the waterpark, away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd. Stretching out on a lounge chair, she closed her eyes and basked in the warmth of the sun. The sounds of laughter and splashing water surrounded her, creating a soothing ambiance that eased her mind.
For Adagio, this moment of relaxation was always welcomed. She allowed herself to forget about the Alpha Pokemon and the impending search, choosing instead to focus on the simple pleasure of soaking in the sunlight. Not that she cared about them in the first place.
"I could listen to some soothing music right about now." With a contented sigh, Adagio let herself drift into a state of blissful tranquility, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the waterpark without a care in the world. Mainly only caring about herself.
Feeling the gaze of admirers upon her, Adagio couldn't help but smirk knowingly. She was accustomed to attracting attention wherever she went, and she had no qualms about reveling in the admiration of others. With a subtle tilt of her head and a flicker of her eyes, she acknowledged their stares with a confident yet alluring demeanor.
"It's just that easy. She said, proud of her own beauty." She then looked over at Red, who was currently still searching for the Alpha Pokemon. Adagio wanted to see if it would be effective on mr Strong and Serious over there. "Let me try something for a moment. "Oooh, Red~!"
"...?" The counterpart of Ash glanced over, stopped for a moment once his nme was called out. There, he saw Adagio trying to strike him with looks, seeing if she was as effective as she truly ws even against the most serious of people.
"Well? What do you think?"
"..." However, Adagio's attempt to capture Red's attention with her charm seemed to have fallen flat, much to her surprise. Despite her confidence in her own allure, Red remained unaffected, simply continuing on with his search for the Alpha Pokemon without giving her so much as a second glance.
"Ah! No way!" Perplexed by Red's indifference, Adagio couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration. It was a rare occurrence for her to encounter someone who seemed impervious to her charms, and she found herself slightly disconcerted by the experience.
"That guy...!" Adagio grizzled her teeth. "He didn't even say anything bout me or respond! Not that he says much in the first place but still!" Adagio's frustration grew as she dwelled on Red's lack of response to her attempts at charming him. It was a blow to her pride, accustomed as she was to effortlessly captivating those around her. The fact that Red remained unmoved by her allure was both baffling and irritating, stirring up emotions she wasn't accustomed to feeling.
"Oh, he's just playing hard to get. That's all." Adagio's eye twitched, not one to let herself lose so easily. Not to anyone else, especially not when it came to her looks. "He already beat Sunset Shimmer in a battle so there's no way I'm letting him beat me in this way."
While Adagio was having the burning spirit within to try and charm Red, in the waters of this Waterpark, a pink energy was slowly flashing. An energy that was obviously not meant to be here.
Bubbling in the waters was the Fairy Matter. It was indeed here, but it was not as active as it usually was. And yet, its presence here was being by a certain Pokemon. Without a doubt.
The Human World. Rainbow Falls Waterpark. Afternoon.
"Woohoo!" During the search for the 5 Alpha Pokemon, Ash and his friends arrived at the Waterpark known as Rainbow Falls, very different to its Equestrian counterpart.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Waterpark, Pinkie Pie and Sonata were having the time of their lives. They were riding the waves at an attraction known as Tidal Wave Bay, a massive wave pool that simulates the exhilarating experience of swimming in the ocean.
Pinkie Pie and Sonata rode the crest of a towering wave, their laughter blending with the sounds of rushing water and delighted screams from other park visitors. With each rise and fall of the wave, they whooped and cheered, their spirits buoyed by the thrill of the moment.
Despite their enthusiasm and joy, Pinkie Pie and Sonata's attempts at surfing the waves were less than graceful. They bounced and wobbled atop the water, their balance precarious as they struggled to maintain their footing. With each wave, they flailed their arms in a desperate attempt to stay upright, their laughter mixing with the occasional yelp as they tumbled into the water.
Determined to make an impression on Red, Adagio squared her shoulders and struck a confident pose, hoping to catch his attention. With a toss of her hair and a coy smile, she approached him with all the poise and charm she could muster.
"Hey there, Red," she greeted, her voice dripping with subtle allure. "How goes that search?"
But once more, Red showed no major reaction and was casual about it. Adagio's eye twitched as Red was tougher than she expected. Not just when it came to Pokemon Battles.
"Oh, this guy...!" Undeterred by Red's lack of reaction, Adagio maintained her composure, refusing to let his stoicism get the better of her. She decided to take a different approach, trying to engage him in conversation.
"So, Red, what do you think of this place?" she asked, flashing him a playful grin. "Pretty exciting, huh?" But before her plan could take full effect, the fun that Sonata and Pinkie Pie were having reached Adagio, splashing water on her.
Adagio recoiled as the splash of water hit her, causing her to take a step back with a surprised expression. She stood there with her playful hair wet, grumbling and growling. Her body started shaking, feeling cold from the water as she spoke, "Those two...!"
"..." Red said nothing. Only giving her a smile and placing a towel on her as assistance.
"Hmph. T-Thanks." Adagio said before walking off to feel warm. But she would definitely try again eventually.
Meanwhile, with Ash, he had sent his Lucario, Gengar, Sirfetch'd Dragonite and Dracovish out to enjoy the Waterpark and to obviously help with the search of the Alpha Pokemon.
Dragonite and Dracovish were already in their natural habitat, especially Dracovish. Dragonite could be seen sitting in the pool, feeling relaxed. But this obviously put a ton of eyes on her as many people were seeing Dragonite for the first time.
Dragonite, with her majestic presence, drew the attention of many park-goers, who marveled at her impressive size and graceful demeanor. Some approached cautiously, eager to take pictures and interact with such a rare and powerful Pokemon.
"Come on...They're way bigger than the rest of their species. Where are they?" Ash wondered when searching for the Alpha Pokemon.
With Twilight, she was beginning to approach Ash, who was seen searching for any Alpha Pokemon. Twilight was finally confident enough to approach him. The moment when she asked him to go somewhere else was due to the swimsuit she was given.
Clearing her throat, Twilight shimmied her way towards Ash, moving at a Slugma's pace. With each step, her head was shaking aggressively, her nervousness being raised with each passing moment. But her confidence was slowly catching up.
"Maybe he'll like this...Uh, Ash." But right as Twilight was about to speak with Ash, hoping for his opinion, that's when it happened.
The crowd that had gathered around Ash was buzzing with excitement and admiration, eager to meet the renowned Pokemon Trainer who had recently made waves with his battle against Bea. That video didn't just reach Canterlot High after all. Sci-Twi was immediately overshadowed by them all as they just had to speak with Ash who was getting popular even in this world too.
"You're the guy from the video, aren't you?!" A young boy asked as Ash was bombarded with questions.
"You look taller up close!" A young girl at the front of the crowd shouted this question, her eyes wide with wonder as she looked up at Ash.
"Are those scars on your face?"
"How many Pokémon do you have?" A boy pushed his way through the crowd to ask this burning question.
"Ash! Ash! Look at me!" Twilight tried getting his attention, only to be intercepted by a louder question from someone else.
"Uh..." Ash wasn't able to answer them all since these questions were flying in at lightning speeds.
Disheartened by the overwhelming excitement of the crowd and Ash's inability to respond to her amidst the chaos of questions, Twilight sighed in resignation. It seemed that her chance to approach him and strike up a conversation had been thwarted by the fervent enthusiasm of his new fans.
Turning away from the bustling scene, Twilight walked away from the crowd, her shoulders slumped in disappointment. She found somewhere to sit, having a slumped frown on her face.
"Geez..." Twilight lowered her head. "What a waste..." But in response to this, the Fairy Matter that was lurking somewhere in the water would bubble up once again.
Seemingly in response to Sci-Twi's emotion.
Back with Adagio, she was trying another approach to getting Red's attention. This time while Red was going for a drink even during his search for the Alpha Pokemon. Feeling thirsty, he targeted some of the sodas here.
"Perfect! This'll have to work!" Determined not to let her previous failures dampen her spirits, Adagio resolved to try a different approach to catching Red's attention. As he headed towards a refreshment stand, she seized the opportunity to intercept him, hoping to engage him in conversation.
"Hey there," Adagio greeted Red with a charming smile as she sidled up to him at the refreshment stand. "Mind if I join you for a drink?"
Red glanced at her briefly before nodding in acquiescence, gesturing for her to proceed. He didn't seem particularly surprised or intrigued by her presence.
"Try this one. I had it once and it was pretty good." Adagio would get the drink for Red. This drink had a silver-like appearance to it, glistening under the Sun.
"Strangely, it reminds me of home." Adagio continued. "I remember when I was young, there used to be something deep in the ocean that was so delicious that we-"
As Adagio returned with a drink for Red, her smile remained charming and inviting. She presented the beverage to him, its silver-like appearance catching the sunlight as it glistened enticingly. Without hesitation, Red accepted the drink, taking a quick sip.
However, the moment the liquid touched his tongue, Red's eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly withdrew the drink, setting it down with a puzzled expression. There was something unexpected about the taste or sensation that had caught him off guard, prompting him to react swiftly.
He noticed how his mouth was starting to shake, prompting Red to bolt off immediately. This went south in just a matter of seconds. What was delicious to Adagio wasn't so delicious to Red it seemed.
"Ah! Wait!" Adagio's cry echoed, but Red was already moving away swiftly, leaving her standing there with a mixture of frustration and disappointment. She had yet again failed to elicit any significant response from him, despite her efforts to charm and engage him.
"It tasted good to me..."
"Gee. Someone's struggling." Taking notice of this was Sunset Shimmer, who would snicker at Adagio. Sunset Shimmer's snicker caught Adagio off guard, and she shot her a sharp glare.
"What's so funny?" Adagio retorted, her tone laced with annoyance.
"Just watching you try to impress Red," Sunset replied casually, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "You're not having much luck, are you?"
"Hmph. Just some inconveniences that's all." Adagio crossed her arms. "How was I supposed to know he wouldn't like the taste?"
"Really now? Or maybe your looks aren't as effective as you hope they were. At least, not to Red." Sunset grinned.
Adagio's jaw clenched at Sunset's comment, feeling a surge of irritation rising within her. "Oh, please. As if I need to prove anything to you," she retorted sharply. "If you're so positive about that...Why don't you try and charm him?" Adagio questioned.
"Me?!" Sunset pulled back, caught off guard by the question.
Adagio smirked, enjoying the opportunity to turn the tables. "Yes, you. You seem to have a knack for winning people over, don't you? Or are you only good at it when it suits you?" she teased, raising an eyebrow. "Scared?"
"I'm not scared! I haven't tried it or anything and it hasn't come up once." She shifted her eyes.
"Prove it then." Adagio chuckled, clearly enjoying the playful banter. "Well then, go ahead. Show me how it's done," She challenged.
Sunset took a deep breath, trying to muster up some confidence as she approached Red. She made sure to walk with purpose, her posture straight and her expression friendly yet determined. As she drew closer, she noticed Red washing the taste out of his mouth, a slight grimace on his face indicating that whatever he had just ingested wasn't to his liking.
"Hey, Red," she greeted, her voice warm but casual. "Finding any luck in your search for the Alpha Pokemon?" She hoped to engage him in conversation first, wanting to ease into whatever approach she was about to take.
"..." Red took a deep breath after getting the taste out of his mouth before looking at Sunset Shimmer.
Sunset waited patiently for Red's response, observing his demeanor carefully. She could sense that he was a man of few words, and she didn't want to overwhelm him with too much conversation all at once. Instead, she offered a friendly smile, hoping to put him at ease despite the awkwardness of the situation.
"You know, after we finish finding these Alpha Pokemon, Red, mind helping me catch another Pokemon of my own? It's been a while since I have and it'd be nice if we could do more than just battle together." Sunset requested and she immediately hit the jackpot. She went straight for the things that interested Red.
Red regarded Sunset with a nod, appreciating her straightforward approach. He appreciated her understanding of his quiet nature and her willingness to engage with him on topics that mattered to him. While he didn't express much outward enthusiasm, the slight tilt of his head indicated his interest in helping Sunset catch a new Pokémon after their current task was completed.
"..." Red's silence spoke volumes as he acknowledged Sunset's request, silently agreeing to lend her his assistance once their current mission was accomplished.
Sunset then let out a sly smirk in Adagio's general direction, causing her to flinch and grimace with her teeth grinding. "No way!" Adagio bellowed. "That's a cheap shot...Involving Pokemon!"
Sunset Shimmer then placed her arms around Red's own arm, deciding to go with him while searching for the Alpha Pokemon. Red just looked confused as to why Sunset was hugging his arm.
"Two can play at that game..." Adagio snarled. Adagio's reaction didn't go unnoticed by Sunset, who simply flashed her a mischievous grin in response. She understood that Adagio was trying to compete for Red's attention, but Sunset wasn't about to back down from a challenge.
As Sunset wrapped her arms around Red's arm, she felt his confusion but ignored it, determined to play along with her own strategy. She kept her grip firm, subtly signalling her intent to stay close to Red as they continued their search for the Alpha Pokémon.
Anything to grind Adagio's gears was acceptable in Sunset's mind. That rivalry between the two of them had never went away ever since then and it was only being fanned while they were competing over the biggest flame.
And from this, a competition between the two began.
Sunset focused on engaging Red in conversation, finding common interests as they searched for the Alpha Pokémon together. She made sure to stay close to him, keeping up her cheerful and friendly attitude to draw him in. Since she knew Ash way more than Adagio and Red was Ash's counterpart, she attributed everything from Ash to Red for an easy victory.
On the other hand, Adagio adopted a more direct approach, using her natural charisma and allure to catch Red's eye whenever she could. She flaunted herself, making bold moves to capture his attention and leave a lasting impression.
And as a bonus, involving Pokemon. Red loves Pokemon, so why not try that and Sunset Shimmer did not take too kindly to that. This involved bringing up Pokemon Red hasn't seen yet or even certain challenges back at Equestria that might pique his fancy.
But so far, Red wasn't captured by any of them.
Meanwhile, the people in the Waterpark were suddenly starting to feel a bit cold. Not because of the water, but due to something else.
"Hmm...Getting cold all of a sudden. Isn't it close to Summer by now?" A man said, feeling the chill.
As the chill spread through the Waterpark, whispers of confusion and concern rippled among the visitors. Some wrapped towels tighter around themselves, while others exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of the sudden change in temperature.
"I thought it was supposed to be warm today," remarked a woman, rubbing her arms to fend off the cold. "This isn't normal."
A group of children playing in the shallow end of the pool shivered and huddled together, their teeth chattering as they felt the unexpected chill in the air. "Why is it so cold, Mommy?" one of them asked, casting a worried glance at her parent.
"Oh geez..." Rainbow Dash, when trying to enjoy some of the attractions, felt cold all of a sudden, along with Rarity and Applejack. "What gives?"
The trio exchanged puzzled glances as the chill crept over them, interrupting their enjoyment of the Waterpark's attractions. They huddled together, seeking warmth and reassurance as they tried to make sense of the sudden change in temperature.
"Is it just me, or did it just get really cold all of a sudden?" Rainbow Dash shivered, wrapping her arms around herself in a futile attempt to ward off the chill.
"It's not just you, Rainbow. I'm freezing too," Rarity replied, her teeth chattering slightly as she glanced around at the other visitors who were also affected by the cold.
Their attention was then drawn to Adagio and Sunset who were fiercely competing for Red's affection, even if it was just a game. They took it to the point where the two of them were now physically butting heads.
"You're stealing my game plan here!" Sunset growled at her. "I was suppossed to go with the Pokemon Approach! Stick to your looks! Unless that's all you're good for~"
"Hah! You wish!" Adagio barked back at her. "I've got more than looks to offer, if you must know!"
"Come on, Red! Let's have a quick battle. Maybe that'll force the Alpha Pokemon out and it'll be fun." Sunset grabbed his left arm.
"Forget that. You already battled her in the morning. Have some time with me." Adagio would grab his left arm. The two rivals looked at each other with intense gazes, fighting to take Red.
Caught between Sunset and Adagio, Red found himself in an unexpected predicament. Each girl was vying for his attention, their competitive spirits driving them to increasingly desperate measures. As Sunset and Adagio both grabbed onto his arms, their intense gazes locked in a silent battle of their own, Red couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
"...!" Poor Red grimaced at all of this.
"Let go of him!" Sunset insisted, her grip on Red's arm tightening.
"No way! He's mine!" Adagio countered, refusing to back down.
Just then, in response to Adagio and Sunset's argument, the pink energy inside of the water would become even more visible. It was the Fairy Matter as it would let out a bright pulse. This pulse would then correlate with the chill in the atmosphere as the hands of some of the people here were starting to freeze with ice being overlayed over them.
The sudden escalation of the situation caught everyone off guard, including Red, Sunset, and Adagio. As the pink energy pulsed and the chill in the air intensified, Red narrowed his eyes. He glanced around, noticing the ice forming on the hands of some of the people nearby.
"What's happening?!" Sunset exclaimed, releasing her grip on Red's arm as she turned her attention to the unusual phenomenon unfolding around them.
Before anyone could react further, the pink energy surged once more, sending out another pulse that rippled through the Waterpark. This time, the ice spread more rapidly, encasing not only the hands of those nearby but also starting to creep along the edges of the attractions and pools.
"That's...Fairy Matter!" Sunset Shimmer gasped as the Fairy Matter finally showed itself. But not only did it show itself, the Pokemon responsible for it would emerge.
The pool in this Waterpark would shake for a moment as arising from it, levitating with a Psychic energy was none other than Alpha Kirlia.
"Kirlia...!" As always, bigger than its natural species.
"The Alpha Pokemon!" Sunset and Adagio collectively said. As the imposing figure of Alpha Kirlia emerged from the pool, Red, Sunset, Adagio, and the rest of the group watched in awe and apprehension. The Fairy Matter it emitted seemed to intensify with its presence, causing the freezing effects to spread even further throughout the Waterpark.
"Lia!" With a cute smile on her face, Alpha Kirlia put her hands together, causing the people here to freeze a bit faster. But most notably, Sunset Shimmer's arms were also beginning to freeze as she was feeling the chill.
Feeling the chilling effects of Alpha Kirlia's Fairy Matter, Sunset Shimmer gritted her teeth as she struggled against the encroaching frost. Her arms began to stiffen, the cold creeping through her veins and numbing her movements. "What's going on...?!"
As the icy grip of Alpha Kirlia's Fairy Matter spread, panic rippled through the crowd as more and more people found themselves trapped in frozen prisons. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack stood frozen in blocks of ice, their expressions frozen in shock as the cold enveloped them. Other park-goers suffered a similar fate, their bodies encased in ice as they struggled against the numbing chill.
"It feels like I'm cold-blooded for some reason!" Sunset shivered.
"This is my chance! My chance to catch a Kirlia!" Adagio's eyes flashed. This was the closest she was going to get to having a Gardevoir on her team. By catching Kirlia, she would eventually be able to evolve into a Gardevoir. But because she was wearing a swimsuit, her Poke Balls were back in her clothes. "Ah!"
Not everyone was given an icy prison but it was quite a lot. After trapping some of them in ice blocks, Kirlia then turned her attention to Red, Adagio and Sunset. Specifically those three. But her eyes would also look in the distance thanks to her being airborne, gazing directly at Twilight Sparkle.
Earlier, the Fairy Matter reacted to Sci-Twi based on her emotions and after what Sunset and Adagio did, the Fairy Matter was fully available. And when seeing her, Kirlia manipulated the energy, sending it straight for Ash. It travelled through the atmosphere, breaking through the cold and targeting the Alola Champion.
Immediately intercepting this was Gengar, who phased through the surfaces of the Waterpark, travelling as fast as he could. "Gen...Gar!" By using Dazzling Gleam, Gengar illuminated his body in a beautiful rainbow light. This light intercepted the flowing Fairy Matter, blocking its advances. But not only that, the two forces of Fairy Energy meeting created a reaction that caused them both to fizzle out.
"Kirlia...!" Kirlia grumbled before descending into the water she came from. But now, her location has been compromised. Due to her sudden action, she made herself aware of everyone else here, especially Ash's group.
Once she left, the chill would drop. Sunset Shimmer's body would stop freezing along with those who were in the middle of being frozen. With Kirlia's retreat, the icy prisons surrounding the trapped individuals began to dissipate, melting away as quickly as they had formed.
Red's Charizard helped with the melting process, using his own flames on these ice blocks. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and the other frozen park-goers were freed from their icy confines, their bodies gradually returning to their normal state as warmth flooded back into the area.
Sunset Shimmer let out a relieved sigh as the freezing sensation faded, grateful for the sudden change in temperature. "That was close," she remarked, shaking off the remnants of the cold.
"What was that all about?" Ash asked. "Kirlia was underwater the whole time? Are all the Alpha Pokemon underwater?"
"Pikachu?"
"I didn't think a Kirlia could breathe underwater," Twilight replied. "They'd all have to have been down there as soon as the park opened because we didn't see them for minutes until recently."
"That chill." Meanwhile, Sunset Shimmer was still thinking about the chill she felt within. So were Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack. "Just what was that?"
"It felt like my blood was cold." Rarity uttered.
"Same here." Rainbow Dash could confirm that. To the three of them plus Sunset Shimmer, they pointed out how it was mainly their blood that was cold.
The group exchanged puzzled glances, contemplating the mysterious chill that had swept through the Waterpark. It seemed to have affected them on a deeper level than just surface discomfort, penetrating to the very core of their bodies.
"It's like the cold went straight to our blood," Sunset mused.
"Your blood? Hold on..." Sci-Twi thought for a moment. "Kirlia was the one who emerged from the water, right?"
"I think so." Sunset Shimmer confirmed. "That's all we saw. None of the other Alpha Pokemon showed up."
"So Sliggoo didn't show up either." In Twilight's mind, she was starting to piece it together. "That means the Dragon Matter probably didn't show up either. But based on what I'm hearing, it sounds like you four were going through the same thing Dragons go through."
"What?! Are you saying we're cold-blooded?!" Rainbow Dash gasped.
"Well, I wouldn't say you are, but maybe that's what was happening to you. Dragons, reptiles and liazrds are usually cold-blooded so anything cold is pretty dangerous to them. Somehow, Kirlia must've been injecting some of that in you with the Fairy Matter."
"But wouldn't that make sense with Dragon Matter or something like that?" Sonata questioned. That sounded like something the Dragon Matter would do instead."
"Well, I'm not 100% sure, but there's only one way to find out. Did any of you see where Kirlia went?"
"Gengar!" Gengar certainly did. He knew exactly where to go and that was underwater.
"Looks like we'll have to head down there." Ash translated for them.
"Underwater...? For a long time?" Rainbow Dash gulped.
"Looks like it," Ash confirmed, though his own expression betrayed a hint of uncertainty. "Maybe the other Alpha Pokemon are down there and this is the only way we're gonna find out."
"We can't hold our breath for that long though." Rarity pointed out. "I mean, I assume we'll be staying down there for a while."
"No problem." Ash grinned before facing the Dazzlings. "Can you three cast the spell on us."
"Sure, sure," Adagio said nonchalantly. Together, her sisters would twirl their fingers in unison, tapping into the magic within. From their fingertips, sparkles of magic, representing their respective colours would fly. Ash and the others were surrounded in this dazzling magic, specifically around their heads.
This was obviously the Underwater Breathing Spell, made to give them the ability to breathe underwater for 20 minutes in total. No more than that.
"Don't you three need that spell too?"
"We're Sirens. We don't need the spell." Adagio replied. Even if they were in their Human Forms, their biology was still there, giving them that advantage.
With all of them set, they approached the spot, following Gengar's lead. There, they stood over the area Kirlia was previously over. Adagio was already thinking about catching Kirlia, and since she was a Siren, she could stay underwater for as long as she wants, not needing to worry about a time limit.
"Here goes." Ash said. Taking a deep breath to steel themselves for what lay ahead, the group plunged into the water, their bodies enveloped by the cool embrace of the underwater spot, originally meant for entertainment.
One by one, they all started dropping inside, passing by what was originally just normal waters. But the deeper they went, they saw something ahead. Right ahead appeared to a flash of light, almost like an entrance. The light grew brighter as they approached, casting dancing reflections on the marble structure of the Waterpark. It beckoned them forward, seeming rather inviting.
The light got brighter and brighter the close they went as they could feel its energy. The energy of this light felt rather familiar, specifically to Ash, Red and Twilight as they squinted their eyes. The three of them were the first to pass through, seeing nothing white right afterwards.
They emerged from the light, finding themselves in a completely different area. There was definitely something beyond the Waterpark. Ash and his friends immediately found themselves in a sprawling underwater garden, where every surface is adorned with an explosion of colours reminiscent of a rainbow. The walls are draped with curtains of swaying seaweed in every shade imaginable, while the sea floor is carpeted with anemones, each one a brilliant burst of colour.
"Wow...It's a Garden!" Fluttershy gushed at the sight before her. Towering above the swaying seaweed were clusters of coral reefs with brilliantly hued coral formations in shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, creating a stunning backdrop.
"So this is the Real Rainbow Falls." Sunset Shimmer gasped. Now it was all accurate. While not a waterfall much like its Equestrian Counterpart, the appearance of this area was very much just as magical.
This was where Kirlia went. And potentially, by extension, the other Alpha Pokemon. When standing in this Underwater Garden, Ash, Twilight and Red were zoning out for a bit. It happened again. That familiar sensation within their minds. This felt familiar to them and by now, they've begun to figure out that whenever they get that feeling, that can only mean one thing.
It was connected to Prisma and Twilight Luminaria in some way.
The Human World. Rainbow Falls. The Underwater Garden. Afternoon.
The true Rainbow Falls. Located underneath the Waterpark with the same name, it led to an Underwater Garden where Alpha Kirlia and presumably the other Alpha Pokemon are.
Rainbow Garden was an enchanting underwater oasis, connected to Prisma and Twilight Luminara in some way based on what Ash, Red and Sci-Twi felt.
They were all greeted by an explosion of rainbow-based colours that danced and shimmered in the gentle currents. The sea floor is carpeted with a lush carpet of rainbow-coloured seaweed, their fronds swaying gracefully with the ebb and flow of the water.
Towering above the swaying seaweed are clusters of coral reefs, each one a masterpiece of colour and texture. Brilliantly hued coral formations in shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet create a stunning backdrop against which the marine life of Rainbow Falls plays out its daily existence.
Wandering through the Rainbow Garden, visitors encounter an endless array of underwater flora and fauna, each more dazzling than the last. Anemones of every colour imaginable cling to the rocks and coral formations, their delicate tentacles waving gently in the current. Sea fans unfurl like delicate fans and yet no Pokemon has been seen as of yet.
"Pika..." Pikachu got near the waters, placing his hand in it and feeling the coolness. "Pikachu."
"Wow! How long has this been down here?" Fluttershy would kneel, getting close to the water as well.
"Do we have any Poke Balls?!" Adagio questioned, needing to know if Poke Balls were available right now.
"I brought Ash's bag and stuffed everyone's Poke Balls inside." Sonata came prepared, holding Ash's bag up. "It's a bit wet though. Sorry, Ash."
"Oh! Up ahead! I think I see Kirlia!" Pinkie Pie would point onwards, immediately spotting Alpha Kirlia.
As they peered ahead, they could indeed see Alpha Kirlia, her graceful form illuminated by the gentle glow of the chamber. She seemed to float effortlessly in the water while also laughing at them. As Alpha Kirlia fluttered away, her laughter echoed through the underwater chamber, filling the space with a playful energy. "Lia! Kirlia!"
"Wait!" Twilight cried out. "Kirlia!"
They followed Alpha Kirlia deeper into the chamber, navigating through winding passageways and glittering coral reefs. The light from her aura guided their way, illuminating the path.
"She's not as aggressive as most Alpha Pokemon. She seems playful, actually." Rarity noticed how different Alpha Kirlia was to the rest.
"Probably just a trap." Rainbow Dash felt uneasy about this, believing that Kirlia was luring them into a trap since she has been down here before.
"Who cares?! This is a golden opportunity for me!" Adagio could care less. Not when there was a Kirlia up for grabs.
As the chase continued, Alpha Kirlia led the group through a series of underwater platforms, darting effortlessly from one to the next with her graceful movements.
They encountered narrow passageways lined with jagged rocks and twisting tunnels obscured by thick seaweed. Alpha Kirlia effortlessly navigated through these obstacles, her graceful movements allowing her to glide effortlessly through the water.
The group, however, found themselves challenged by the maze of underwater platforms and obstacles. They had to carefully maneuver through narrow gaps and dodge protruding rocks, all while keeping pace with the elusive Alpha Kirlia. The further they went, the more Ash, Red and Sci-Twi recognized this area.
"This place kinda reminds me of the Sea Temple. But it's not a temple at all..." To Ash, this was similar to the Sea Temple. This area reminded him of the Sea Temple mainly instead of anything from Prisma's past. The platforms here had certain designs that looked like they could come straight from the Sea Temple.
As they kept moving, Ash and Red were suddenly receiving more than just visions in their minds. When looking to the side, they gained visions that materialized in the area itself. The duo gasped as they saw faint visages of what appeared to be Prisma himself.
There, Prisma stood as a vision. A mirage even. The two of them couldn't tell what he was doing but they could see a certain action being pulled off and it was being done against someone else who wasn't as clear. And this would not be the last vision they saw.
Moving through the sections, they continued to see more visions of Prisma. They passed by a bioluminescent grotto that showed the visage of Prisma ripping something from the ground itself, but they just couldn't make it all out. Then, when leaving this section, the next section was an archway. This time, the vision of Prisma was close to them as they would also pass by the archway.
They watched as Prisma walked through the Archway, carrying some sort of crystal with him. It was a rather large crystal and its design looked familiar to Ash's eyes. It strongly resembled the Sea Temple Crystals even if the image was faint.
Moving to another section, they found structures in this underwater area. This section of Rainbow Falls was characterized by towering columns of coral that rise majestically from the sea floor These natural formations resembled the arches and spires of a grand cathedral, adorned with colourful corals and delicate sea fans.
"Is that...A Cathedral?" Sci-Twi came to an immediate halt. Everyone gazed at the sight before, taken aback as they didn't expect to find structures down here.
"People used to be here? No way." Aria spoke. Ash and Red stared, getting another vision of Prisma in this cathedral. There, they saw their incarnation walking in it with the crystal, seemingly reaching his destination.
"Imagine the history behind this place," Rarity remarked, her eyes tracing the intricate patterns etched into the coral walls. "It must have been a bustling underwater metropolis at one time, I bet."
"Over there! Look!" Rainbow Dash spotted Kirlia once more, this time at the altar of this cathedral. Right next to her were the other Alpha Pokemon.
Alpha Vespiquen, Alpha Machoke, Alpha Whiscash and Alpha Carnivine. Four of them were spotted, but there was no sign of Alpha Sliggoo. Not only that, but these Alpha Pokemon were all trapped in ice blocks. The sight of the frozen Alpha Pokemon sent a wave of concern through the group. They hurried toward the altar, their footsteps echoing softly in the underwater cathedral.
Ash and Red then saw Prisma stop in front of this cathedral as he was looking at someone. It was another human, surrounded by 10 more Humans. Each of them were dressed in a certain way that also brought some familiarity. Ash wished he could see the visions clearly but he could at least theorize.
And from what he could decipher, there was a blue theme going on with these people. Could these also be People of the Water, much like the ones he knows? The fact that this all took place underwater was leaning Ash towards that possibility.
"Don't tell me Kirlia froze them too! Why?!" Sci-Twi wondered. "And hold on...Doesn't that mean there's 6 Alpha Pokemon here instead of 5? I don't see Sliggoo anywhere..."
"Yeah. Where's Sliggoo?" Ash noticed a lack of Sliggo as well as he was no longer gaining visions of Prisma. The same went for Red.
"Kirlia...!" Kirlia grinned. She was very much responsible for this but the reason was unknown.
"Hold on, Adagio!" Sci-Twi got in the way, halting her before she could make a move. "Something's not right here." "Little trickster. You won't be laughing once we catch you."
Adagio halted in her tracks, her gaze fixed on Alpha Kirlia as she floated near the frozen Alpha Pokemon. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tinged with impatience.
"It's a bit odd that Kirlia isn't exactly aggressive. Well, not in the usual sense. She tried freezing us back on the surface and she's already frozen these four. If she wanted to, she could do it again to us right now, but she hasn't."
"Kirlia? Why are you doing this?" Fluttershy asked.
"Lia. Kirlia." To their surprise, Kirlia actually answered, having more restraint than the average Alpha Pokemon. Perhaps it was that Psychic mind. When following her arm, she pointed at Ash, Red, Adagio, Sci-Twi and Sunset Shimmer specifically, singling each of them out.
"Us?" They each said, minus Red.
"Why us?" Sunset Shimmer questioned. "What did we do?"
"Lia. Kirlia."
"Mmm..." Fluttershy scrunched her face, wishing she could understand Kirlia just like her Equestrian Counterpart. "I wish I could understand her right now."
"She said it's because of our feelings." But there was someone who could translate for them all. It was Twilight. Everyone looked at her as her eyes were flashing a bit with Fairy Matter. "When she saw what was happening with us, she-" Sci-Twi came to an immediate halt when she realized where her next batch of words might go.
"She what?" Aria wanted to hear the full sentence.
"W-Well...I'm just saying what's roughly being given to me! Ahahaha!" Sci-Twi would nervously blush. "B-Basically! Sunset and Adagio fighting over Red is what caused it! That's it! Kirlia responded to their emotions since, you know, she's the Emotion Pokemon and all."
By saying that, Sci-Twi managed to avoid involving herself and Ash. She knew she was also the reason since she was trying to get Ash's attention.
"She started it!" Adagio pinned the blame on Sunset Shimmer in a heartbeat.
"Hey! It was just a game, that's all!" Sunset would cross her arms. "A little competition! It's not like I actually like him that way! I mean, I do but...Nevermind!"
"Same here! I was just testing him, that's all!" Adagio tried sugarcoating it as well. "It's not what you think. Definitely not!"
"Either way, Kirlia was trying to stop all of that." Twilight faced the Emotion Pokemon once more. "I guess she's just extreme when it comes to what she does. That's different from most Alpha Pokemon who just act on aggression. But what did these four Pokemon do? And where's Sliggoo?"
"Kirlia." Kirlia would descend. There was a reason for all of this. But she wouldn't be able to answer it immediately. Instead, she would have to take them somewhere. The Emotion Pokemon told them all to come along, taking them somewhere else that wasn't the cathedral. This place was empty and abandoned after all, having nothing to offer, other than the mysteries behind it.
They went straight to the north of this area, finding themselves in another section, which was by far the biggest section. The closer they got, the more Ash and Red's eyes were beginning to gain more visions. This might be the biggest one yet.
At the heart of Rainbow Falls lies an area with prismatic colours, a tranquil oasis surrounded by an unknown material. Here, the waters are crystal clear, allowing sunlight to penetrate and create mesmerizing patterns of light and shadow on the sandy seabed below. The waters were completely prismatic.
"Kirlia!" Kirilia introduced them all to it.
"She says...This is the Prism Oastl." Twilight Sparkle translated thanks to Kirlia using Fairy Matter to speak with her.
"Wow, this place is incredible!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the breathtaking sight.
"It's so beautiful," Fluttershy murmured, her voice filled with awe as she gazed around the oasis.
"I've never seen water like this before," Sunset Shimmer remarked, her gaze lingering on the shimmering hues of the oasis. "It's Prismatic...How?"
"I bet it has all kinds of flavours!" Pinkie Pie was already thinking about tasting the water. The way it appeared wasn't just mesmerizing but also delicious. It reminded her of certain sweets that come in various colours. Whether individually or together.
"Gross! Don't taste it!" Rainbow Dash bellowed, causing Pinkie Pie to freeze in place, staving her curiosity.
"But I can!" Being a Siren, Sonata could taste the water without suffering any drawbacks. That is until Aria pulled her back, not being so sure about this.
"As if. We've never seen water like this," said Aria. "Who knows what this water is? Strange waters are never a good sign. Period."
"Then this is something else from the Lost Universe that showed up. Not just the mansion." Sci-Twi said. "Ash. Red. What do you think think?"
Meanwhile, Ash and Red were both stunned by what they were seeing. Once again, relating to Prisma, this struck a chord in their memories. They were a bit zoned out when looking at the oasis, obviously feeling some sort of way.
At that moment, they both felt a barrage of memories hit their head. Those visions from before that they saw were starting to come together. They saw Prisma once more.
"Lia. Kirlia." Kirlia then started speaking to Twilight, explaining everything she could to them.
"You gained knowledge from the oasis by entering it?" Twilight translated. It turns out that Kirlia learned quite a bit by entering that oasis. And potentially, her reason for being less aggressive might be because of this oasis.
"Kirlia!"
"Keep them from entering the oasis?" She translated once more, turning her heads to Ash and Red who were still staring. Kirlia knew that these two being close to the oasis would bring trouble without a doubt.
"Okay, you two. I think you've looked at it enough." Sci-Twi held Ash's arm, pulling him back while Sunset pulled Red back.
"Is Sliggoo in there?" Aria wondered if this is where Sliggo was since so far, no one has seen it at all in this underwater area. A frown suddenly met Kirlia's face as she knew the answer to that too.
Just then, right on cue, the pool would start bubbling, sending out small rainbow bubbles. However, something was wrong as Ash and Red immediately felt it. Everyone turned to the oasis, hearing a sound coming from it. The bubbles were increasing in size with each moment, growing in numbers.
And suddenly, emerging from it was a giant submarine which splashed the Prism Water. The group gasped as they were not the only ones here. Kirlia immediately put up a shield around everyone, protecting them from the water. She knew that no matter what, their bodies should not come into contact with the Prismatic Water.
"A Submarine?! Who is that?!" Sunset Shimmer squinted her eyes as the Prismatic Water reflected off the barrier, almost as if it was sunlight.
"Well. Looks like fate just can't keep us away, can it? How annoying?" A familiar voice came from the submarine when it was opening up. Ash and Twilight collectively gasped as the woman emerging from it was also dressed for the waterpark, having her own swimsuit. She was aware of this location after all as it was none other than the Pokemon Hunter herself.
J.
"J!" Ash cried out her name. Alas, J did indeed beat them here, even if no Alpha Pokemon were caught yet.
"A part of me was expecting you. I'm so irritated that I was right, but it looks like I have that Kirlia to blame too." She looked at Kirlia, already being familiar with her. "You just had to find them and bring them along, didn't you?"
"Kirlia...!"
"I haven't forgotten about you, Kirlia. You think you can keep the other Alpha Pokemon from me? Not for long." J grinned as she still had her Protean Vambrance on her arm even when wearing a swimsuit.
The girls either looked in fear or snarled at Hunter J, who simply snarled back. This encounter in the Underwater Garden was rather unexpected, especially in a place related to Prisma and Twilight Luminaria. Sci-Twi shuddered a bit, feeling some fear, but she quickly gained confidence.
"Where's Sliggoo?!" Ash questioned.
"Being a hard one to get close to. That's all. But no matter. Regretfully, I'm not going to engage with you all that much. Too much of a hassle." Hunter J shrugged. "Plus, I even brought my best swimsuit for this. So, I'll just let something else handle it."
"Something else?" Sunset Shimmer repeated.
"It's so wonderful the two of you showed up." Just then, J's gaze met with Ash and Red's specifically. She knew one crucial thing based on past events. She knew who Prisma was. "How about you do the dirty work for me? And bring him out."
Wasting no time, Hunter J shot an energy from her vambrace. But instead of targeting Ash and the others, she specifically targeted the oasis. And the energy she used was specifically Dragon-Type Infinity Energy. Everyone looked around them as the Dragon Matter was appearing.
The waters would swirl violently, sending splashes everywhere while also exuding Dragon Matter from them. At last, the Dragon Matter made its appearance, but it came from J of all people. The girls held onto each other as the ground as the Dragon Matter was beginning to crack the ground.
The water would rapidly fly at Twilight, threatening to cover her, only for Pikachu to intercept with a Thunderbolt!" Pikachuuu!" He cried out, shooting 100,000 volts at the water. But it was not over. While he stopped one, more were suddenly beginning to rise from the ground, as if they were geysers.
Kirlia tried acting as fast as possible but was immediately knocked upwards by the Prismatic Geysers. "Kirlia!" Because of this, Ash and Red were covered in the Prismatic Waters as it erupted underneath them.
"Ash! Red!" All of them said once they were caught by it. J grinned, successfully covering them thanks to the energy she used. Now, there was only one thing left to do.
"You two have Prisma's soul in you. I think I'll do what Daybreaker did and have you weaken them for me with enough rage." J spoke. "But this time, you'll be targeting them instead. You'll have no choice after all."
"Gghhh!" Ash groaned, holding his head as he could hear that familiar sound again. The sound of Prisma. It sounded like a heartbeat but with tons of aggression, going on with no end. It made Ash's head ring along with Red, who was clenching fists.
"Why you...!" Genuinely offended by that, Adagio snarled at Hunter J, who would get back in her submarine and let the Dragon Matter run wild in here.
Deep within, the soul of Prisma was ringing. Louder and louder. Faster and faster. The water here was reacting to the soul within, solidifying that connection they had. Kirlia fell down after being launched by the geyser, taking some damage in the process. She was too late to prevent this as she knew what was coming next.
This would be similar to what Daybreaker did. However, in J's case, she was letting Ash and Red do all the work for her instead, taking advantage of their strengths. And with seemingly no way to stop this, it looked like it was about to happen here in Rainbow Falls.
Prisma's Second Awakening.
As the tension mounted and the Dragon Matter surged around them, the group braced themselves for what was to come. Ash and Red, their minds clouded by the relentless call of Prisma's soul, felt their emotions boiling over, their hearts pounding even faster.
"J...!" Just then, Ash spoke J's name. But his voice was different, almost as if there was someone else speaking through him. An unfamiliar voice to Twilight and her friends came through. But it was not a new one. It was the voice of Prisma.
"No... We can't let this happen!" Sunset Shimmer exclaimed, her eyes blazing with determination as she watched her friends struggle against the influence of Prisma's soul.
"Kirlia...!" Kirlia grunted while getting back up, immediately speaking to Twilight Sparkle. Right now, there was nothing no one could do. Except for Twilight herself.
"You want me to go in there?" Twilight translated as Kirlia wanted her to enter the waters. "But isn't that dangerous?!"
"Kir. Kirlia." Kirlia explained that since Twilight had Fairy Matter in her as opposed to Dragon Matter, she would be fine. These two forms of matter were the complete opposite of each other after all and one was made to counter the other.
Sci-Twi was the only one who could safely enter it right now. Everyone else would be at great risk if they dare interact with it. Something had to be done while Ash and Red were struggling. Kirlia also wanted everyone else to make sure Ash and Red never come into further contact with the water at all costs. That would just make things worse.
"You have to go in, Twilight!" Sunset encouraged. "Whatever's in there, maybe it can help!"
"B-But..." Sci-Twi stuttered.
Twilight hesitated, looking at all of her friends. Entering a body of water involved with such a destructive force was not something she ever anticipated, especially with Hunter J down there. And when looking at Ash struggling, she did not wish to see him in such a state.
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Twilight nodded resolutely. "Alright, I'll do it. But everyone needs to stay close and be ready to help if anything goes wrong."
"You'll need these!" Sonata brought over Ash's bag which had all the Poke Balls inside. Immediately, she emptied the bag of everyone else's Poke Balls except for Sci-Twi's giving her the bag. Having her own Pokemon support her was very much needed right now.
"Thanks." She grabbed the bag before standing before the waters. Not only that, but she also felt Kirlia's hands touch her leg. She truly wasn't going at it alone. Not when her Pokemon and Kirlia would be here. "Kirlia?"
"Kir..." Even if injured, Kirlia was still immune to the Dragon Matter thanks to being a Fairy-Type. Not only that, she also had some control over the Fairy Matter which was a bonus. Kirlia was coming along and she was not going to restrain herself.
"Okay. Here goes." Taking one last look back at Ash, Sci-Twi would descend into the waters, jumping right into the Prismatic Oasis with Kirlia. . As she descended into the shimmering depths, the waters surrounded her, their iridescent glow casting a surreal light on her surroundings. She focused on the task at hand, pushing aside any doubts or fears that threatened to hold her back. Immediately, the water within started reacting to her presence.
The inside of it was as stellar as it was on the outside. Everything here was prismatic but not only that, she could see the Dragon Matter too. No wonder Kirlia didn't want anyone else but her and Sci-Twi to enter it. Ash and Red could enter it but there was a reason beyond that. And very soon, Sci-Twi will find out.
Sci-Twi also noticed how a familiar light was wrapping around her body as if it was dressing her. It was the Fairy Matter. Lurking in the waters, it came to Twilight Sparkle, reminded of Twilight Luminaria. She closed her eyes, feeling the mystical energy affect her body as it was seemingly giving her a new appearance. A rather familiar appearance she saw back in the illusion world the Unown had constructed.
Back outside, Ash and Red's eyes would flare as the two of them suddenly stood up tall. They went silent for a moment, having serious expressions on their faces. The intimidating aura was now surrounding both of their bodies. It was dark but still had some colour to it. Everything became tense all of a sudden.
The atmosphere grew tense as the second awakening of Ash and Red unfolded before them.
The girls watched in awe and trepidation as the two young men, now under the influence of the Soul of Prisma once more, stood before them with an aura of power. Power that neither of them have ever seen before in their lives and now they were encountering it for the first time.
A horrific chill ran through their bodies as even Adagio grimaced at this feeling. Why did it feel like her worst fears were hitting her all of a sudden? All of them felt that way.
"Oh no..." Sunset Shimmer gasped. The worst possible outcome was beginning to emerge.
"Take me to J. Now." Ash ordered. His way of speaking had changed yet again, taking on the speech patterns of Prisma himself. Pikachu looked up at his partner, knowing that this moment had come yet again. But it felt different from the last time which was still dangerous.
The Human World. Rainbow Falls. Prism Oasis. Afternoon.
A Second Awakening has occurred.
Due to the actions of Pokemon Hunter J, both Ash and Red have undergone a Second Awakening, their original souls influenced by Prisma's souls as seen by their crimson eyes and menacing aura. Ash and Red stood before the two of them It was right here at the true Rainbow Falls, right next to the Prism Pool.
"Move aside." Ash ordered. "I'm going to J!" Despite the awakening, the goal was clear. Ash and by extension Red were going after Hunter J.
"Ash...We can't do that right now. Not when you're looking like that." Rarity got in front of him and Red.
"That's not just Ash. It's Prisma too!" Sunset replied, revealing it to her friends. This was their first time encountering a part of Prisma. This time, with two individuals instead of one. They've heard of Prisma here and there but only for a little bit and they never expected to meet him at all.
"Out of the way! All of you! We're going to J!" Ash said. But it was also Prisma speaking to them. There was no soothing or welcoming familiarity in his voice anymore.
"Woah, now! You're mad, but you can't go in there!" Applejack interjected. "Kirlia told ya'll not too! That water's already messing with you so ya can't go all in!
"Right! If you enter that pool, who knows what'll happen to you!" Rainbow Dash admitted.
"I don't care," Ash spoke before taking a step, intimidating the girls. The step he took sent a pressure that they all felt while Red simply stood still. The people they were speaking too were Ash and Red, but they were clearly being influenced, unfortunately encouraged by Prisma's soul.
"You're not going." Adagio would get in front of them all, already wielding her Poke Ball. "Not with all of us here. That's final."
"So, you're all going to stand in our way?" Ash uttered as that was more of Prisma speaking.
"Ash, wait!" called out Fluttershy, wanting to reach her friend. "This isn't like you! You shouldn't go through! Leave it to Twilight and Kirlia!"
Ash turned to her, his eyes reflecting an unknown horror that sent shivers down her spine. "If I don't go, J will just continue."
"But that's what she wants you to do! You're falling into her trap!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, knowing that this was all what J wanted.
"Trap or not, I'm still going." But that did not bother Ash one bit. Prisma's influence was too strong at the moment, fueling their anger and driving them toward revenge. Ignoring the pleas of their friends, Ash and Red advanced.
"Pika-Pi!" Pikachu chirped desperately, nuzzling Ash's cheek in a futile attempt to calm him. But even that wasn't working.
"Then battle us!" Adagio declared, shocking the others. "You're not getting through unless you defeat us!"
"Are you crazy?!" Pinkie Pie screeched, now that was just asking for an immediate loss. "We'll get creamed!"
"Fine then." But even with Prisma's influence, they were Pokemon Trainers first. They were not ones to back down from a challenge.
"Oh geez..." Sunset Shimmer feared this would happen but there was no other choice. She held up her own Poke Ball along with Rainbow Dash, Aria and Sonata. These were the only ones who had Pokemon with them while the others could only stand back and watch.
With a swift motion, Sunset released her Pokemon from its Poke Ball and in this case, it was her Braixen. For Adagio, she summoned her Pheromosa, Aria summoned her Brionne while Sonata summoned her Vaporeon. Last was Rainbow Dasho, who brought out Staraptor.
"Sit this one out. Pikachu." Ash said to Pikachu with his voice being distorted. From his hands, he summoned a Poke Ball out of thin air, shocking the others.
"What?! How did he...?!" Sonata was starstruck. The Poke Balls were kept in Ash's bag which was with Twilight Sparkle at this very moment. Prisma already displayed some of his power by bringing his Poke Ball back to him.
"Dragonite! I choose you!"
"Dragonite!"
"Pika..." Pikachu was very much worried. He wanted to help Ash but he just couldn't do it with Prisma involved. Dragonite looked back, seeing the crimson stare coming from Ash and Red.
"Dragonite! Don't do this!" Fluttershy spoke to Dragonite. "That's not fully Ash in there!"
Dragonite paused for a moment as Fluttershy's gentle voice reached her ears. Turning her head slightly, Dragonite regarded Fluttershy with a look that seemed to betray a flicker of recognition buried deep within its primal instincts.
Right before everyone's eyes, Dragonite's own eyes were burning with Draconic Energy. The Dragon Matter. Her eyes would flare as she was also being influenced herself by Prisma, the creator of Dragon Matter.
"Oh no..." It was too late as Fluttershy stepped back. Dragonite already picked a side. The influence of Prisma's soul, intertwined with the power of the Dragon Matter, had swayed Dragonite's loyalties, drawing the powerful Pokémon into the escalating conflict unfolding before them.
Despite Fluttershy's heartfelt plea, the bond between Dragonite was not about to have second thoughts. She was going through with this, even if her expression was one of regret.
As Red called forth his Charizard from its Poke Ball, the majestic Pokémon emerged with a fierce roar, its wings spreading wide as he took to the air. Though not inherently a Dragon-Type Pokémon, Charizard's connection to the Dragon Egg group stirred a latent response within his body, causing it to react to the presence of the Dragon Matter.
"Charizard!"
"Mmm...!" Sunset Shimmer gulped and flinched. Red was not holding anything back by sending his strongest Pokemon and that terrified her. But it wasn't time to get cold feet right now.
"W-We're not actually gonna try and win, are we?" Rainbow Dash stuttered. She knew for a fact that battling these two was just asking for trouble.
"No. We just need to buy enough time for Twilight to do whatever she needs to do." Sunset Shimmer said. That was easier said than done as they were standing in front of two absolute titans of power.
Charizard, Dragonite, Ash and Red all had a menacing aura and glare coming from them, appearing larger than life, making it known that they were practically unstoppable.
"We'll go first! Pheromosa! Use High Jump Kick!" Taking the lead was Adagio, who had Pheromosa perform the first attack.
"Mosa!" At high speeds, she took off, deciding to use her speed to her advantage. By doing that, she could potentially avoid as many attacks as possible and stall for enough time, knowing how fragile her body was.
"Dragon Claw!" Ash would clench his fist along with Red, even if Red didn't need to say anything to launch an attack. They clenched their fists as if they were claws, prompting Dragonite and Charizard to do the same.
With a fierce roar, Dragonite's claws ignited with draconic energy, forming into razor-sharp talons as she prepared to counter the incoming attack.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Dragonite lashed out with a ferocious Dragon Claw, meeting Pheromosa's High Jump Kick head-on in a clash of titanic strength. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the sheer force of the collision reverberating throughout the underwater area and shaking the Prism Pool while everyone else closed their eyes.
Despite Pheromosa's impressive speed and agility, Dragonite easily caught her movements as the two were locked in a power struggle. Pheromosa looked to her side, seeing Charizard approaching with his own Dragon Claw. Quickly, she leapt off Dragonite's claws, narrowly avoiding the next Dragon Claw and performing a backflip.
"Hydro Pump!" Together, Aria and Sonata would have their Pokemon unleash a dual Hydro Pump as Pheromosa landed in the middle of the two Water-Types.
"Brioooo!"
"Vapoooor!" The dual Hydro Pump attacks collided with Charizard and Dragonite, creating a powerful deluge that engulfed the two imposing Pokémon in a cascade of surging water.
However, despite successfully landing, Charizard and Dragonite powered through it, using their strong claws to cut the water apart, shocking the girls. "Not even a pushback?!" Aria gasped, at least expecting Charizard to be knocked back since he was vulnerable to Water-Type attacks.
"Braixen, use Psybeam!" Sunset Shimmer ordered.
"Xen!" Braixen summoned a shimmering beam of psychic energy, channeling her power towards Charizard and Dragonite with precise aim.
"Pheromosa, Ice Beam, now!" Adagio's command echoed Sunset's, her own determination fueling her Pokémon's actions. With a swift motion, Pheromosa unleashed a freezing blast of ice energy, aiming to encase Charizard and Dragonite in a veil of frost and chill. This would especially mess up Dragonite since she was the most vulnerable to it.
"Break through with Dragon Claw!" Ash ordered and this time, it would just be Ash while Charizard stayed back.
Under Ash's decisive command, Dragonite surged forward with incredible speed and power, her draconic instincts taking over as she prepared to counter the incoming Ice Beam. With a fierce roar, she charged ahead, her claws glowing with draconic energy as she aimed to break through the icy assault with her Dragon Claw technique.
Despite the freezing blast of ice energy hurtling toward her, Dragonite powered through it. As Dragonite continued to press forward, her sheer power overwhelming the combined assault of Ice Beam and Psybeam, the state of the underwater garden seemed to tremble in response to her unstoppable advance. Ripples spread across the surface of the Prism Pool while some rocks were beginning to fall from above.
Despite the girls' efforts to repel Dragonite's onslaught, they found themselves struggling to hold their ground against the relentless onslaught. The sheer force behind Dragonite's Dragon Claw technique was overwhelming, threatening to break through their defences and push them back further.
Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rarity would screech once the pressure caused some rocks to drop and hit the ground. They were in a wild danger zone without a doubt.
Dragonite landed a successful hit, striking Pheromosa's body after obliterating the Ice Beam and Psybmea. Pheromosa gasped as she could cough from the initial blow to her chest. "P-Phero!"
The impact sent Pheromosa hurtling backwards, her body colliding with Braixen as they were both thrown off balance by the force of Dragonite's devastating blow. Pheromosa gasped for breath as she struggled to regain her footing, the collision having knocked the wind out of her and left her momentarily stunned. The same went for Braixne was both of them were immediately downed.
Not letting them have time to breathe, Dragonite continued the attack, going for a downward attack while Braixen and Pheromosa were on the ground. The two of them saw eyes as fierce as a firestorm and thunderstorm at the same time when Dragonite's body came into view. But that was when Rainbow Dash came to their save.
"Aerial Ace, Staraptor!"
"Staraptor!" With a swift command from Rainbow Dash, her Staraptor dove into action, streaking through the air with blinding speed as it executed the Aerial Ace maneuver. With precise timing, Staraptor swooped down toward Dragonite, aiming to intercept her attack and disrupt her assault on Braixen and Pheromosa.
As Dragonite descended with menacing force, Staraptor collided with her mid-flight, their bodies clashing in a powerful collision. Despite Staraptor's valiant effort, Dragonite's overwhelming strength proved too much to contend with.
With a mighty blow, Dragonite swiftly repelled Staraptor, sending her careening backward with formidable force. The powerful impact sent Staraptor hurtling through the water, her body crashing against the unforgiving walls of the underwater garden. "R-Raptor!"
Brionne and Vaporeon, undeterred by Staraptor's setback, rallied to their trainers as soon as possible. "Brionne, use Moonblast!" Aria commanded.
Simultaneously, Sonata urged her Vaporeon onward. "Vaporeon, Shadow Ball!
With synchronized precision, Brionne and Vaporeon unleashed their potent attacks, casting Moonblast and Shadow Ball toward Dragonite. The radiant Moonblast shimmered brilliantly, while the ominous Shadow Ball crackled with dark energy, both hurtling toward their draconic adversary with incredible speed.
"You're just wasting my time." Ash said with a cold tone. "Crush them, Dragonite!" Not needing a Pokemon Move, Dragonite simply caught the attacks in her claws with ease.
"Gonite!" The radiant Moonblast and ominous Shadow Ball dissipated harmlessly against Dragonite's formidable defences, showcasing her incredible strength and resilience.
The girls gasped in disbelief as their attacks were effortlessly nullified, realizing the daunting challenge they faced against the relentless power of Ash and Red under Prisma's influence. Dragonite, empowered by the intense aura of Prisma's soul, loomed ominously over them, her crimson eyes gleaming with an otherworldly fervour as she prepared to retaliate once more.
"They're so strong...!" Sunset Shimmer grizzled her teeth as there were sweatdrops appearing on her head. "Braixen! Use Flamethrower, quick!"
Braixen unleashed a scorching Flamethrower from her wand-like branch, sending a torrent of searing flames hurtling towards Dragonite. At the same time, Pheromosa darted forward with blinding speed, her lithe form a blur as she launched a flurry of lightning-fast strikes at Dragonite, aiming to exploit any openings in her defences.
The combined assault struck Dragonite head-on, the Flamethrower engulfing her in roaring flames while Pheromosa's rapid punches and kicks hammered against her armoured body. Dragonite roared in defiance, her draconic aura flaring as she endured the onslaught, taking every hit with excellent defence.
"Come on...!" Adagio grit her teeth, needing Pheromosa to put some pressure on if possible.
"Is that all you've got? You were never on my level in the first place." Ash uttered. The words coming out of his mouth were things he would never say to his friends or anyone else. But that was the part of Prisma speaking. "I think I can end this now."
As Dragonite weathered the storm of attacks, her gaze locked onto Pheromosa with the Dragon Matter flaring frmo her body. With a swift motion, she seized the opportunity to counter, her movements fluid and precise despite the relentless assault. As Pheromosa launched another barrage of strikes, Dragonite expertly dodged and parried, her movements graceful yet deadly.
"Dragon Claw!"
"Drago!" With a resounding roar, Dragonite surged forward with incredible speed, her form enveloped in a draconic aura as she charged towards Pheromosa with unstoppable force. Adagio and Pheromosa could only watch helplessly as Dragonite closed the distance in an instant, her powerful momentum driving her straight towards them.
To their shock, she was faster than Pheromosa, who was constantly getting faster thanks to Beast Boot. Yet Dragonite could match that with ease, having a flare of Dragon Matter trailing out of her body with her swift movements.
"Pheromosa, watch out!" Adagio shouted.
But it was too late. With a thunderous impact, Dragonite's Dragon Rush collided with Pheromosa head-on, the sheer force of the attack sending her hurtling backwards with tremendous force. Pheromosa crashed to the ground with a resounding thud, her body skidding across the rocky terrain as she struggled to regain her footing.
"M-Mosa...!" For someone like her, this was not ideal. She was far too fragile to afford heavy hits such as this.
Adagio watched in horror as her Pokemon lay stunned on the ground, the impact of the attack leaving her battered and vulnerable. She gritted her teeth, her hands clenching into fists as she struggled to contain her frustration and fear.
"Why you...!" Adagio growled.
"You can't keep this up." Ash pointed out. And this entire time, it's mainly been Ash who's been battling while Red and Charizard watch, only adding to the intimidation factor. "Time to end this. Hurricane!"
"Dragonite!" Dragonite's eyes blazed with Dragonite as she unleashed the devastating Hurricane attack. As powerful winds swirled around her, gathering strength with each passing moment, the area pulsated with electricity, heralding the impending storm.
Rarity and the others got down for their own safety as they could feel their bodies attempting to be swept away. The swirling winds grew in intensity, whipping up debris and creating a vortex of destruction. With a mighty roar, Dragonite unleashed the hurricane upon them, the powerful winds tearing through the air.
"I don't think so! Vaporeon! Protect!" That's when Sonata had Vaporeon jump in front of everyone.
"Vaporeon!" Sonata's quick thinking prompted Vaporeon to leap into action, summoning a protective barrier just in time. Vaporeon surrounded her self and the others with an aquatic shield of energy as the hurricane roared towards them. The protective barrier absorbed the brunt of the attack, deflecting the powerful winds and keeping them safe from harm.
The hurricane raged against the barrier, its ferocious winds buffeting against the protective shield with incredible force. Vaporeon grit her own teeth, doing her best to keep the Hurricane away.
The winds grew stronger, threatening to sweep everyone away into the tumultuous maelstrom. Fluttershy's heart raced with terror as she clung desperately to the ground, her senses overwhelmed by the chaos unfolding around her.
"V-Vaporeon...!"
"Protect!" It wasn't just Vaporeon who had Protect.
"Braixen!" Backing her up was Sunset Shimmer and her Braixen, who created another protective shield, merging it with Vaporeon's. As Braixen's barrier merged with Vaporeon's Protect, the combined strength of their defenses created a formidable shield against the raging hurricane.
The two shields interlocked, reinforcing each other against the relentless assault of the winds. Together, they formed a solid barrier that pushed back against the storm's fury, providing a glimmer of hope. But that was hope was being ripped away as the Hurricane continued to close in, forcing the two of them to pour more of their Infinity Energy into this.
Eventually, the Hurricane would disperse, sending rubble everywhere. Vaporeon and Braixen breathed in and out, obviously using a lot of energy in that initial moment as they dropped their shields.
"Hmph. You managed to withstand that," said Ash.
"Says you." Adagio, stubborn as ever, spoke back to Ash. "We've lasted more than 5 minutes against you. Looks like you're the ones getting sloppy." She even called back to the battle Sunset Shimmer had against Red and how that lasted 3 to 4 minutes. But with all of them working together, they extended that, but for how long
"Please, Twilight. Hurry." Sunset Shimmer said, hoping that Twilight found a solution already. She wasn't sure what was going on inside the Prism Pool, but she was hoping it was good.
"Can you withstand the second onslaught, however?" Ash questioned, sending chills down their spines.
Deep within the Prismatic Waters.
With Twilight along with Kirlia, she kept going deeper and deeper into the prismatic waters as it was much bigger than it appeared. "How deep are these waters?!" Sci-Twi wondered as she was holding Kirlia closer to her. The familiar energy around her body kept dressing her, making sure she was clothed for whatever was coming next.
Eventually, there was something ahead. An open hole in these waters that led somewhere. There was finally an end to this. Twilight peered into the opening, trying to discern what lay beyond. The swirling currents obscured her vision, but she could sense a powerful energy emanating from the other side.
Twilight and Kirlia fell through the hole, ending up in another area. An area that was rather dream like and brighter than the Underwater Garden as they would fall down onto some grass.
"There was another place through here...? What is this?" Sci-Twi groaned when getting back up. Once she and Kirlia stood up, Sci-Twi noticed that she was now wearing the same dress she wore when she was in that Illussion World.
The clothes of Twilight Luminaria, but fit for a human instead of a pony. Sci-Twi was shocked to be back in these clothes once more even if there weren't any Unown around.
"These are Twilight Luminaria's clothes. How did-"
The area they found themselves was strikingly similar to the abandoned cathedral ruins they saw earlier. However, they were cleaner with no cracks or damage whatsoever, letting out bright lights. Not only that, but the design of this area strongly resembled the Sea Temple.
"Is this the Sea Temple? It can't be..." She uttered.
As they took a few steps forward, Twilight couldn't help but notice the presence of individuals who bore a striking resemblance to the Samiyans she had encountered in the Sea Temple. These people, engaged in conversation and going about their daily activities, much like the Sea Temple she knew.
The sight filled Twilight with a strong surprise. "Samiyans? Here? Hey!" She called out to them, but they did not respond to her. "It's me! Twilight Sparkle!" She continued but there was still no response at all.
Twilight's calls echoed through the chamber, but the Samiyans continued their activities as if they hadn't heard her. It was as if Twilight and Kirlia were mere observers in this ethereal realm, invisible to its inhabitants.
"They can't hear me. Are we...not actually here?" Twilight then looked at her hands, noticing a glow coming from them. The fact that this place felt dreamlike was backing that up. "Kirlia. Did you know of this place from the start?"
"Kir. Kirlia." She pointed at herself, referring to the Fairy Matter. It was thanks to the Fairy Matter that she was able to see this all for herself and it was natural for Twilight for obvious reasons. Just then, that's when they saw him.
Prisma.
There he was, walking forward with the crystal in his hand as he passed by the Samiyans here. Just as Ash suspected earlier, that was indeed a crystal that resembled the ones from the Sea Temple. Twilight's heart skipped a beat at the sight of Prisma, feeling very much scared. Here, in this Sea Area, stood the legendary being whose existence leaked into this universe as well. His presence was overwhelming, suffused with an incredible aura.
"So that's him. That's Prisma. And are these visions of the past?" Twilight wondered before following Prisma to wherever he was headed with that crystal.
Eventually, Prisma reached a room that had an altar. The same altar seen earlier when her friends discovered this place. But this time, it was in its full design as many people were standing there. But the longer Twilight stayed here, the more she realized that there were more than just Samiyans here. She saw Seaponies here too.
This was her first time witnessing them as well as they were casually with the Samiyans. Then again, she wasn't sure if this place was Samiya, however, the person standing at the altar was very familiar.
Up ahead, she spotted a familiar face at the altar. A man who strongly resembled Alo, the Royal Advisor of the Sea Temple as Prisma was approaching him. He was very much close to the Alo she knew but with some differences, such as a good mixture of white and blue instead of white and gold.
Next to him were other Seaponies and one of them strongly resembled Queen Nova while another resembled Skystar. Height and all. Sci-Twi had no idea who they were unlike her Equestrian Counterpart, but she knew this was all strikingly important.
Twilight couldn't shake the feeling that she was witnessing a pivotal moment in this universe's history based on what she was seeing.
As Prisma and the man who resembled Alo exchanged words, Twilight strained to hear their conversation, hoping to glean some insight into the mysteries that surrounded them. But try as she might, their voices were muffled, as if they were speaking in a language that she couldn't understand.
"What are they saying?" Sci-Twi was rather confused and a bit frustrated but undeterred. Just then, Twilight's eyes widened in astonishment as a flash of Fairy Matter fixed that for her, allowing her to comprehend the ancient language spoken by Prisma and the man who resembled Alo. Listening intently, Twilight absorbed their words.
"Master Prisma. Are you sure about this?" The man who looked like Alo asked.
"I am. Use this Crystal as a last resort." Prisma spoke with his powerful voice. "We have gone through 88 Billion of them. I plan to make this the last. Because this universe, much like the rest will come to an end."
"So Prisma already knew that his universe was coming to an end?" Twilight spoke.
"This crystal has all of my energy in it. Dragon Matter and all. I even placed it in the oasis for a further boost, just in case." Prisma continued when looking down at his crystal.
"Does Queen Twilight Luminaria know?" The one who resembled Queen Novo asked. "She wouldn't like you using the Prism Pool for such a thing."
"But she should understand, right mom?" The one resembling Skystar spoke up. "I mean, this is all bigger than us. Is our universe really going to end?"
"It will. And it's not just because of the Rift." Prisma closed his eyes. "I've seen it 88 Billion Times and I've had enough. Alo. Novo. All of you. You have to see me through this. We have to Reset the Universe."
"They were going to reset the Universe?!" It hit Sci-Twi lik ea truck. The universe Prisma came from was already planning to be taken away in the first place. But not just from the Rift, but also Prisma himself.
She knew Prisma caused some type of destruction as seen by the few cities from the lost universe that have shown up and were absolutely demolished but she didn't think it would transcend that. Was Prisma actually planning to destroy his own universe or was he the cause of it all being destroyed?
"If that is what you wish, Master Prisma," Alo said as his tone was heavy. He was afraid of this. Naturally so. But so was everyone else. "Are you positive this is what you want?"
Prisma's gaze was steady, his expression resolute as he met Alo's apprehensive eyes. "Yes," he affirmed, his voice carrying a weight of certainty that brooked no doubt. "I'll be the one to destroy this universe. Then it'll all be over."
"What about us?" The one who resembled Skystar asked with a nervous tone. "We won't disappear forever, right? Right?"
"..." But Prisma didn't give an answer to all of that. There was something rather haunting with it. Instead, she said something else that did not meet Skystar's question. "No matter what, no one will stop me from doing what needs to be done. Not even Twilight Luminaria. If I see you all again in the next universe, well..."
Just then, the visage of this memory was beginning to fade away. The voices were being muffled out as Sci-Twi could no longer hear anything else from this conversation. "Wait! I need to know more!"
But that was all she was getting. Once she ran towards Prisma, trying to reach her, his visage would vanish upon contact. Prisma was gone and very soon, so would this entire area. The Samiyans, the Seaponies and the Water Pokemon that lived here. All of them were gone.
Suddenly, right in front of her, a flare of Fairy Matter would appear but not only that, some Dragon Matter appeared as well. As the memory left, Sci-Twi's attention snapped back to the present, her senses immediately drawn to the flare of Fairy Matter and the ominous presence of Dragon Matter swirling before her. With a gasp, she realized who was hovering there. A convergence of opposing forces, embodied in the form of Alpha Sliggoo trapped within the turbulent currents of Dragon Matter.
"Sliggoo!"
"Sliggoo!" Sci-Twi called out, her voice filled with relief and concern as she saw the Alpha Pokémon emerge from the dissipating energies of the Dragon Matter. She hurried over to Sliggoo's side, hearing the roar of the Dragon Matter as she kept her distance.
"We need to get you out of here," Sci-Twi continued, her mind racing with thoughts of how to help Sliggoo. She knew that lingering in the presence of Dragon Matter could be dangerous, especially for a Pokémon as vulnerable as Sliggoo.
"It's okay now," she reassured Sliggoo, gently reaching out to comfort it. "You're safe."
"Goo..." Sliggoo blinked in bewilderment, still recovering from its harrowing experience. It seemed to recognize Sci-Twi's voice, its gaze shifting to meet hers as if seeking reassurance.
"Lia. Kiria." Kirlia spoke, explaining something else to Twilight before she could free Sliggoo.
"So that's how I was able to view it. The Prism Pool combined with Fairy Matter and Dragon Matter helped me look into this memory. But who's memory is it?" She thought before shaking her head. "That doesn't matter. Kirlia. Can you use the Fairy Matter to free Sliggoo? Or have you already tried that?"
"Kir. Kirlia." Kirlia nodded in response to Sci-Twi's question. She's done this before but failed to do so. This was also connected to why she froze the other Alpha Pokemon.
"Alright. Try it with me this time." Sci-Twi held her hand out. "I'm connected to it too. More than I thought. So go on and use some of my magic. I know I have some in me along with Fairy Matter."
"Kir?"
"Trust me, Kirlia," Sci-Twi said with a smile. Immediately, Alpha Kirlia sensed her emotions, feeling the strength behind them. Trusting in Sci-Twi with all of her heart, she touched her hand as a beautiful light appeared.
A gentle glow emanated from Kirlia's body as she extended her other hand towards Sliggoo, her Psychic energy intertwining with the Dragon Matter. With careful precision, she began to unravel the swirling draconic vortex that ensnared Sliggoo, using the inherent harmony of Fairy Matter to counteract the chaotic influence of the Dragon Matter.
It was amazing. Kirlia felt a greater connection with this energy that she's never felt before. It felt so natural yet new at the same time. Sci-Twi could say the same thing. It was especially familiar to her, knowing this feeling very well.
"Kir/!" As Kirlia focused on freeing Sliggoo, a sudden sense of danger washed over her. Reacting swiftly, she sensed the incoming threat and instinctively used her Psychic powers to push Sci-Twi out of harm's way just in time.
A beam of energy, shot by none other than Hunter J and her forces, narrowly missed Sci-Twi as she was propelled to safety by Kirlia's quick thinking. The beam struck the ground where Sci-Twi had been moments before, sending debris flying in all directions.
"J!" Twilight shouted.
"Surprised you made it this far." J said while on top of her submarine. "I was banking on you being finished off by the Dragon Matter inside the pool. How did you even survive all of that?"
"Kirlia trusts me. Way more than she trusts you."
"Ah, it doesn't matter. It looks like you've weakened the Dragon Matter for me. We couldn't get close but thanks to you, our chances of catching Alpha Sliggoo shot up. I was also hoping that Ash and Red would do it instead with their own Dragon Matter but you surprised me..."
"You tried turning them on me and my friends, but that won't last. I'm sure of it. Sunset and the others will get them back to their senses and you won't get any of the Alpha Pokemon." Twilight declared with a strong voice. "Not while we're here."
"Kirlia!"
J chuckled arrogantly, unfazed by Twilight's defiance. "You're in no position to stop me, little girl," she retorted, her tone dripping with contempt. "You may have survived so far, but your luck ends here. You should've stopped back when I knocked you off but you're still here."
With a flick of her wrist, J signaled her forces to advance, ready to capture Alpha Sliggoo and exploit the power of the Dragon Matter for her own sinister purposes.
"I need your help! All of you!" Grabbing Ash's bag, she threw her Poke Balls into the air, summoning all of her Alpha Pokemon. Alpha Rapidash, Munchlax, Luxio and Dusknoir.
"Pika!" As for Alpha Pikachu, he leapt out of Ash's bag, making his appearance and standing beside his fellow Alpha Pokemon.
"Forgetting something? You're not the only one with Alpha Pokemon." J grinned while holding out a few Poke Balls as well.
From them, she summoned a non-Alpha Pokemon which was her Salamence. After that, she summoned the Alpha Pokemon at her disposal which were Drapion, Bronzong, Honchkrow, Skuntank, Gyarados and Toxicroak.
The grunts of Hunter J would also send out their own Pokemon, only increasing the odds against Twilight's side. As the grunts of Hunter J released their Pokémon, the battlefield became even more crowded, further stacking the odds against Twilight and her team. From the ranks of J's minions emerged a diverse array of Pokémon, pressuring Twilight.
"Please! I need you all to give Kirlia and me some time to free Sliggoo!" She pleaded to her Pokemon, who would do just that. They would give Twilight as much time as she needed.
As the battle commenced, both sides wasted no time in unleashing their Pokémon's powerful moves and tactics.
Alpha Rapidash, with flames dancing along her mane, charged forward with blinding speed, her Hooves of Fury striking down opponents with precise kicks. Munchlax, towering over its foes thanks to his size as an Alpha Pokemon, unleashed waves of crunches, its massive jaws closing around its adversaries with bone-crushing force.
Luxio unleashed fierce discharges from his body, electrifiying his opponents in this underwater system while the Prism Pool above was floating over them all.
Meanwhile, Dusknoir loomed ominously on the battlefield, his Shadow Punches striking true and phasing through enemy defences with ghostly precision. Pikachu joined Luxio in a display of lightning, merging their attacks occasionally.
Hunter J's forces were not to be underestimated either. Drapion, with its venomous stinger, lashed out with Poison Tail, swinging it violently. Bronzong tolled its ominous bell, its Psychic powers bending reality itself as it unleashed a torrent of Psychic energy upon its foes.
All of them were going wild. Gyarados unleashed torrents of water with its Hydro Pump attacks, threatening to overwhelm Twilight's team with sheer force, only for Munchlax to swallow the water with his mouth, gladly taking it all.
Toxicroak, agile and venomous, moved with blinding speed, its Poison Jab strikes leaving trails of toxic energy, immediately clashing with Rapidash who was also moving swiftly across the area.
"Come on...!" Amidst the chaos, Twilight and Kirlia remained focused. Channelling their Fairy Matter, they worked hard to weaken the Dragon Matter ensnaring Sliggoo while there was a brawl happening behind them.
Creeping up behind them and moving past the battle was Hunter J, readying her Protean Gauntlet. Kirlia gasped once she saw J approaching. "Lia?!"
"Hurry up and free it already. You won't mind if I help out, right?" J said, her footsteps echoing ominously as she drew closer and closer. With a flick of her wrist, she activated her Protean Gauntlet, utilizing Fairy-Type Energy from it.
"Kir!" Kirlia braced herself, her psychic powers pulsating with energy as she prepared to confront the formidable Pokemon hunter.
J shot out a flash of Fairy Magic, only for Kirlia to do the same by using Dazzling Gleam. Very soon, both forces would clash against each other.
"Kir...! Kirlia!" Kirlia gritted her teeth as she poured all of her psychic strength into maintaining the barrier against Hunter J's onslaught. She could feel the strain of the battle taking its toll, but she refused to yield, knowing that the fate of Sliggoo depended on their success.
Meanwhile, Hunter J's expression remained cold and focused as she directed the full force of her Fairy Magic against Kirlia's defences. Her Protean Gauntlet glowed with an eerie light as she poured more and more energy into her attacks, putting the pressure on.
"As expected from an Alpha Pokemon. But you're already injured, so you can't keep this up." J grinned as Kirlia was stull suffering from the damage she took back at the underwater garden. J's own Fairy Energy was beginning to win, pushing through Kirlia's.
Grimacing with effort, Kirlia struggled to hold her ground, her determination flickering like a candle in the face of a fierce wind. Sweat beaded on her brow as she strained against the onslaught, her muscles trembling with exertion as she fought to maintain her protective shield.
But despite her valiant efforts, the relentless assault of Fairy Magic began to take its toll. Cracks began to form in Kirlia's barrier, allowing thin tendrils of Hunter J's energy to seep through. "Lia...!"
"Pika?!" Alpha Pikachu turned to see Kirlia struggling, attempting to help her out. But before he could do anything, Salamence unleashed Hyper Beam against him.
"Sala!"
Reacting swiftly, Pikachu attempted to evade the oncoming onslaught, zipping to the side with lightning-fast agility. However, the Hyper Beam was too fast and too powerful to completely avoid. The searing energy grazed Pikachu's side, sending him tumbling through the air with a pained cry.
"It's over for you! Now, be a good girl and come with me!" J declared as Kirlia got on one knee.
"Kir...! Kirlia!" Kirlia shouted. The words that came out of her mouth shocked Sci-Twi who fully understood what they were thanks to the Fairy Matter. Those words involved Prisma, but not in the way she expected. Sci-Twi heard Kirlia speak about how "She had to finish what started in her Lost Universe."
"Kirlia...Are you not from Hisui?" Sci-Twi gasped. It seemed that she wasn't dealing with a Pokemon from the past. But rather, a Pokemon from the Lost Universe.
Just then, jumping out of the bag was none other than Hisuian Zorua, finally taking action. Normally, shy, she mustered the courage to retaliate against the attacks. From her body, she used Bitter Malice right on Hunter J.
Caught off guard by the sudden counterattack, Hunter J staggered backward, her expression contorted with surprise and frustration. The Bitter Malice struck her with unrelenting force, enveloping her in a shroud of dark energy that sapped at her strength and resolve.
"Ngh!" J grunted as she was hit spine-chilling resentment. Her body staggered from it as she felt all of Zorua's sadness and anger throughout the years rushing through her. This gave Kirlia the opening she needed as she stood back up, managing to gain the upper hand.
"Kirlia!" The gleaming rays pierced through the lingering darkness of Bitter Malice, cutting through the shadows with their luminous brilliance.
Caught off guard, Hunter J found herself engulfed in the radiant onslaught. The dazzling light enveloped her form, illuminating her silhouette against the backdrop of the battlefield. Despite her attempts to defend herself, she was unable to fully withstand the sheer power of Kirlia's assault.
"Gah!" With a cry of surprise and frustration, Hunter J staggered backwards, the brilliance of the Dazzling Gleam overwhelming her.
With Hunter J momentarily incapacitated by Kirlia's powerful Dazzling Gleam, the oppressive influence of the Dragon Matter surrounding Sliggoo began to wane. As if responding to the shift in the balance of power, the swirling vortex of draconic energy surrounding Sliggoo began to diminish, its grip on the Alpha Pokémon loosening.
The once turbulent currents of Dragon Matter now subsided, revealing Sliggoo's form within the now-clear waters of the Prism Pool. Freed from the oppressive influence of the Dragon Matter, Sliggoo stirred as it landed near Sci-Twi.
"Sliggoo..."
"Why you...!" J growled while getting back up, glancing at Kirlia and Zorua with a destructive intent.
Everyone! Time to go!" Twilight urged her Pokémon, screaming at all of them.
Her Alpha Pokémon swiftly responded to her command, disengaging from their opponents and regrouping around Twilight. They began to withdraw, moving quickly to put distance between themselves and Hunter J's forces.
The only way out was up as they had to jump into the Prism Pool above them. Quickly, Kirlia used her magic to grant everyone else a barrier of Fairy Magic, knowing that they couldn't pass through it so safely without some protection. She used up all of her remaining strength to make this happen, covering every single Pokemon here.
Sci-Twi and her Pokemon each jumped upwards, finding their bodies taken by the Prism Pool. But J and her men weren't about to let them escape. "After them!" J ordered as she headed back to the submarine along with her men. It would start up again, making its way to these prismatic waters.
As they ascended through the pool, Twilight could hear the sound of J's Submarine nearby, already moving through the prismatic waters. They needed to reach the surface quickly, before Hunter J could catch up to them. With every stroke and kick, they propelled themselves upwards.
"Think you can escape with those Alpha Pokemon? Think again." J scoffed. "Fire!" The front of the submarine would suddenly open up, revealing a cannon. And from it, energy was being charged.
As Hunter J's submarine unleashed its formidable weapon, a burst of energy crackled within the cannon's chamber, building towards a devastating release. It was seen in the form of a blue and black beam, flying straight at them all.
"Dragon Pulse, Rapidash!"
"Rapidash!" Clashing with the beam was Alpha Rapidash's Dragon Pulse.In that moment, the two energies seemed locked in a fierce struggle, pushing away some of the waters and leaving some space. But gradually, Twilight's Dragon Pulse began to gain the upper hand, its relentless force pushing back against the cannon's energy.
And then, in a brilliant burst of light, the Dragon Pulse managed to break through, overwhelming the cannon's energy and shattering it into harmless sparks. Thanks to the Dragon Matter inside of these waters, Dragon Pulse was stronger than ever.
The submarine went back, hurtling through the waters while staggering as it gained distance from Twilight's group. J grit her teeth, looking onwards as the view of Twilight Sparkle was getting smaller and smaller.
Back at the surface, the battle against Ash and Red was looking grim. No matter what, Sunset and her group just couldn't find an opening. The girls were breathing in and out, clearly exhausted by all of this, but for the sake of Ash and Red, they had to keep going. All the while, the underwater breathing spell was starting to run out for everyone except for the Sirens.
"It isn't over yet! Volcarona! Litleo! Go!" Sunset Shimmer would summon the rest of her Pokemon immediately.
"Go! Kricketune!" Adagio would send out her Kricketune for backup. Aria sent out her Ledian and Croagunk while Sonata summoned her Lopunny. And last was Rainbow Dash who brought out her Pangoro.
".,." Red finally decided to step in, walking forward as he would join in on this battle, which intimidated the others.
As the battle continued, it became increasingly evident that Dragonite and Charizard were simply too powerful for Sunset Shimmer and her friends' Pokémon to handle. Despite their best efforts and the assistance of their newly summoned Pokémon, they found themselves struggling to keep up with the overwhelming strength and skill of their opponents.
Dragonite and Charizard seemed to grow stronger too, their attacks becoming more relentless and ferocious. Sunset Shimmer and her friends fought as hard as they could, but it soon became clear that they were outmatched.
Pheromosa tried going in for an attack, only for Charizard to catch her attack. Then, with a mighty Dragon Claw, Pheromosa was sent flying. As Pheromosa's body was flung through the air, the force of Charizard's Dragon Claw attack proving too much for her to withstand, Sunset Shimmer and her friends watched in dismay as their ally was sent hurtling towards the ground. With a heavy thud, Pheromosa landed on the battlefield, her strength depleted and her body unable to continue the fight.
"Pheromosa..."
"No! Pheromosa!" Adagio cried out.
The same went for their other Pokemon. As Dragonite unleashed her Hurricane, Brionne and Vaporeon found themselves struggling in a similar position. Despite their valiant efforts to counter with Moonblast and Hydro Pump, their attacks were quickly snuffed out by the ferocity of Dragonite's raging storm.
Meanwhile, Aria and Sonata found themselves caught in the midst of the Hurricane, carried aloft by the ferocious winds. Very soon, they would be airborne along with their Pokemon.
"Sonata! Aria!" Adagio screamed, seeing her sisters fall to the hard ground after being swept up. The two of them would groan, their bodies injured as they laid next to their fainted partners.
As Lopunny and Ledian launched their counterattack in a desperate bid to avenge their fallen comrades, they found themselves facing Charizard's strength. They were swiftly engulfed by the powerful Flare Blitz, the intense flames engulfing them and leaving them unable to continue the fight.
"Lopunny..." Lopunny cried out after falling to the ground, having flames around her body.
Staraptor did her best, but an uppercut from Dragonite's Dragon Claw finished her off as a tired Rainbow Dash cried out her partners name. "No...Staraptor." Staraptor hit the ceiling of the area before dropping to the ground.
"Goro!" Pangoro would try his best, only to be struck by Dragon Claw as well. With a fierce battle cry, he unleashed a barrage of heavy strikes, his fists pounding against Dragonite with all his might. Yet even as he fought as hard as he could, he was no match for the sheer strength of The Dragon Pokemon.
With a swift movement, Dragonite retaliated with a ferocious Dragon Claw, the force of the blow overwhelming Pangoro's own strikes and leaving him vulnerable to attack. Just like the rest, Pangoro was unable to withstand the devastating blow, his strength faltering as he fell to the ground, defeated. "Pangoro..."
It was a grim moment as Volcarona would soon fall to Charizard who pursued it through the air. The Bug-Fire-Type was crushed by Dragon Claw which sliced past it, sending it spinning through the air before it hit the ground.
"It's over." Ash declared when staring down Sunset Shimmer and Adagio, who only had Litleo, Braixen and Kricketune left.
"Stop it, Ash! Red!" Just then, holding the arms of Red and Ash were Applejack and Rarity, trying to snap them back to their senses. "Can't you see you already won?!"
"Unhand me!" Ash declared, shoving Applejack off her. Red did the same as both Applejack and Rarity fell to the ground from the force of his push which was stronger than they expected. That was more of Prisma's voice coming through.
"I can't keep this up." Sunset Shimmer closed her eyes, her voice waining as she held her arm. "I'm sorry, Twilight."
"Don't you dare give up now!" Adagio would growl at Sunset Shimmer, slapping her in the face. Sunset was shocked by the slap, but it was not one out of hatred, but one of support.
"Adagio?" Sunset's eyes shot open in surprise, the sting of Adagio's slap snapping her out of her momentary despair.
"Since when have you given up? You and your annoying friends never give up and now you want to start here? Ridiculous!" Adagio barked at her. "I won't give up for even a second and I never have! Neither should you since you try and make yourself seem better than me!"
It was very true. Adagio knows what it's like to not give up. It's why she was such a nuisance for so long. Even in this ferocious encounter, she was still keeping up that stubborn nature.
Sunset's eyes widened in shock at Adagio's words, the impact of her slap reverberating through her thoughts. Adagio's pointed words cut through Sunset's hesitation, igniting a spark of defiance within her.
"You're right," Sunset replied, her voice tinged with gratitude. "I'm sorry. Thank you, Adagio."
"Don't say thanks. I can't stand my rival being in such a state." Adagio admitted to Sunset Shimmer being her rival. Despite her harsh words, there was sincerity. Sunset finally realized that Adagio didn't actually hate her at all. That fact brought warmth to her heart.
In response to all of this, Braixen and Litleo started glowing. Sunset Shimmer gasped along with her friends as they saw their bodies enveloped in a white light, followed by a burst of flames. This meant only one thing.
They were evolving.
"Braixen? Litleo?" Sunset Shimmer gawked.
As the light subsided, it revealed the newly evolved Pokémon standing proudly before their trainers, their forms now enhanced and empowered. Braixen had evolved into the majestic Delphox, her elegant disposition radiating with newfound strength and wisdom.
"Delphox!"
"Pyroar!" Litleo had transformed into the mighty Pyroar, his mane ablaze with fiery intensity, exuding a regal presence befitting his evolved state.
"You evolved! You both look amazing! Delphox and Pyroar, you've become even more incredible than before."
Delphox and Pyroar gazed back at Sunset with confidence, ready to continue the battle with renewed strength. They've come this far. All of their battles were finally culminating into this one moment where they have reached the apex of their transformations.
"Hmph. So, evolution," said Ash. "But this is far as you go. Evolution won't save you."
Sunset met Ash's gaze. "We'll see about that. Delphox, Pyroar! Flamethrower!"
With a nod from their trainer, Delphox and Pyroar both unleashed a powerful stream of fire, aiming to engulf Ash and Red's Pokémon in a relentless onslaught of fiery attacks.
"Kricketune! X-Scissor!" Helping them was Kricketune, who would use X-Scissor. Dragonite and Charizard immediately responded with Dragon Clw and Flare Blitz, continuing the battle.
The battlefield erupted into a chaotic clash of elemental powers and fierce physical attacks as Delphox, Pyroar, and Kricketune fought tooth and nail against Dragonite and Charizard.
The battlefield erupted into a chaotic clash of elemental powers and fierce physical attacks as Delphox, Pyroar, and Kricketune fought tooth and nail against Dragonite and Charizard.
Despite their own formidable strength, Ash and Red couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for their opponents' determination and resilience. With each attack, Delphox and Pyroar were unleashing destructive bursts of flames, stronger than what they previously could do.
"Hmph. Not bad." Ash could pay his respects. "But this is where it ends." With his eyes flaring, Dragonite and Charizard merged their attacks as one. "Draco Meteor!"
"Dragonite!" While Dragonite used Draco Meteor, Charizard would use Flare Blitz. The combined force of Draco Meteor and Flare Blitz created a cataclysmic explosion of fire and draconic energy, engulfing the battlefield in a blinding inferno. The earth trembled beneath the onslaught as the fiery meteors rained down with unstoppable force, threatening to consume everything in their path.
"Go! Meteor Blitz!" By merging their attacks, they created a new move. One fitting of such fury and power.
Delphox and Pyroar strained against the onslaught, their forms bathed in the intense light of the blazing meteor shower. With gritted teeth and determined eyes, they summoned every ounce of their strength to counter the devastating attack.
"Push through it!" Sunset Shimmer shouted, her voice barely audible over the deafening roar of the conflagration. "Flamethrower!
With a mighty roar, Delphox and Pyroar unleashed a final surge of power, channeling their fiery energy into a dazzling shield of flames. The barrier shook under the relentless assault of Draco Meteor and Flare Blitz, already beginning to break apart in the face of a titanic force.
The clash reached its climax as the two opposing forces collided in a blinding explosion of light and heat. The girls all closed their eyes in the face of this light while Red and Ash simply stared.
Then, as suddenly as it began, the explosion subsided, leaving behind a smouldering battlefield strewn with debris. Through the clearing smoke, Delphox and Pyroar emerged, battered and bruised, their fiery auras burning brightly amidst the devastation.
Sunset Shimmer and Adagio stood side by side with Adagio supporting Sunset Shimmer up since she took some damage during all of this. Sunset glanced over Adagio who supported her up with her arm, putting on a smile.
"This might be it." Sunset Shimmer panted. "Thanks for saying all that by the way, Adagio. it was nice of you."
"Don't mention it. Really." Adagio kissed her teeth before smiling. "You're not all bad and annoying. For the most part."
"So that is your limit," Ash said. "Now! Finish-" Right before he could say anything else, emerging from the Prism Pool was Twilight who came with Sliggoo and Kirlia.
And as soon as Sliggoo left the pool, so did all of the Dragon Matter in the area. Kirlia fell to her knees, removing the shields from everyone she brought up with her.
"...!" Since Sliggoo was surrounded by all the Dragon Matter, once he left the pool, all of the Dragon Matter influencing Ash and Red was beginning to fly out of them as they held their heads in pain.
"Ghhh! Gaaaaaah!" As Sliggoo emerged from the Prism Pool, a wave of energy radiated from its form, dispersing the Dragon Matter that had enshrouded the area. Ash and Red staggered, clutching their heads in agony as the influence of the Dragon Matter was fading away.
"What's happening?" Sunset Shimmer asked with a tired voice.
"When we broke the Dragon Matter down there, it meant the one messing with Ash and Red would be disrupted. All of it was underneath the Prism Pool instead of being within it and it was all in Sliggoo." Sci-Twi explained.
They continued to scream and scream as their auras would flare, making a sound as terrifying as thunder. The girls closed their eyes before witnessing Ash and Red faint. Their Pokemon would immediately snap back to their senses, the ominous glow leaving their eyes.
"Ash! Red!" Sunset Shimmer screamed their names once they fell. Dragonite and Red looked around, bewildered by what had just happened. They recalled everything.
It was all over as there was a moment of silence. But they couldn't stay here forever looking at the fainted Ash and Red. "J might come back up. We need to leave." Sci-Twi said.
With no time to waste, the group gathered their Pokémon and made their way out of the area, mindful of any potential threats from Hunter J or her forces. As they left the vicinity of the Prism Pool, the atmosphere felt tense with the weight of what had just transpired.
All those injured were picked up by the larger Pokemon such as Dusknoir and Rapidash and some were returned to their Poke Balls. The incident that happened down here was shielded from the rest of the world. Both worlds, even. However, it was something neither of them would ever forget.
The Human World. Rainbow Falls. The Underwater Garden. Afternoon.
Emerging from the Pirsm Pool was Hunter J's submarine. She had returned to the Underwater Garden, finally leaving the area beneath it. But she was far too late. Twilight and her friends were already gone, along with the Alpha Pokemon.
"Darn it! They got away!" J furiously hit the walls of this underwater garden. The worst part was that she knew it was too late to go after them. Enough time has passed for them to make a full getaway out of the Underwater Garden the Water Park.
Hunter J clenched her fists in frustration as she watched the empty space where Twilight and her friends had been moments ago. The opportunity to capture the Alpha Pokémon had slipped through her fingers, and she seethed with anger at the thought.
"Those meddling brats!" she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "They won't get away with this. Not when we have the method of awakening Prisma. All it'll take is another awakening for us ot have a second chance. Let's go."
With a determined scowl, she ordered her crew to set course for their next destination, her mind already plotting her next move against Twilight and her friends. Hunter J was not one to be deterred easily, and she vowed to make them pay for foiling her plans once again.
In the Van.
After passing out, Ash and Red were brought back to the van, away from the Waterpark. There they laid, their bodies unconscious after using Dragon Matter. To Sci-Twi, this was too similar to Delayed Aura Ataixia and how Ash would burn himself out because of it. But this time, it wasn't of his own full volition.
"Ash..." Sci-Twi spoke his name while watching over him while Sunset spoke Red's name.
"Red." Sunset's voice was laced with concern as she gently brushed a hand over Red's forehead, checking his temperature. The exhaustion and strain on their bodies were evident, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for her friend.
At that moment, both of their eyes would open while groaning. Twilight and Sunset were the first people their faces met. As Red's eyes fluttered open, he found himself met with Sunset's worried gaze. Her touch on his forehead was gentle, and he could feel the warmth of her hand against his skin. Blinking a few times to clear his vision, he tried to focus on her face.
"...?" Even when silent, his voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, as he struggled to sit up slightly. The exhaustion weighed heavily on him, but he managed a weak smile.
"Red! You're up!"
Meanwhile, Ash, lying nearby, also began to regain consciousness. His gaze met Twilight's, and he squinted slightly against the light. "Twilight... Sci-Twi?" He muttered, confusion evident in his voice. "Where are we?"
"Back in the van! Oh, you had us so worried!" Sci-Twi hugged Ash with all of her might.
"Twilight. Did you save us?" Ash said with a weak voice, remembering what happened back at the underwater garden. He vividly remembered the battle that transpired there.
"We did. Once Sliggoo was freed, the Dragon Matter in the area vanished." Sci-Twi said with relief in her voice.
"So, we got influenced by Prisma again." Ash closed his eyes. This was the second time it has happened even after her promised himself that he would never let it happen more than once.
"But Ash, it wasn't your fault. It was J and-" Before Sci-Twi could finish, Ash got off the seats.
"It's alright." Ash spoke. "Guess I'm not all that ready to stop it just yet." Instead of being frustrated, Ash accepted that this whole Prisma thing was beyond what he expected. He's used to this by now. There were some things he just wasn't ready for. But those same things could always be outdone, but the time was not yet ready for that.
"Oh, Ash..." Sci-Twi quietly said, worried about him.
"Are the Alpha Pokemon okay?"
"We had them thawed out. They're currently out there." Vivace pointed through the window, showing where the Alpha Pokemon were all gathered. This included Alpha Kirlia, who was still injured. All of them were since there were no Pokemon Centers in this world.
"Great." Ash was glad for that. Guess they aren't aggressive anymore it looks like." The group apart from Vivace left the van, approaching the Alpha Pokemon, who were showing no aggression at all after being freed. They were grateful instead.
"It's good to see them all safe," Twilight said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she approached the Alpha Pokemon.
Sunset nodded in agreement. "We've been through a lot today, but at least we managed to come out on top."
As they reached the Alpha Pokemon, they began tending to their injuries and comforting them, relieved that they were all okay despite the intense ordeal they had just been through. They would need more than this to heal them. A Pokemon Center was the right thing to use.
"How would some of you like to come with us?" Sci-Twi asked, wondering if they were curious enough to join this group.
The Alpha Pokemon looked at each other and then back at Sci-Twi and the others, some nodding in agreement while others seemed uncertain. However, their expressions conveyed a sense of gratitude towards the group for their help and care.
Alpha Kirlia, despite her injuries, managed to stand up and approached Sci-Twi, looking up at her with determination in her eyes. With a soft smile, Sci-Twi extended her hand towards Kirlia, offering her a place among them.
"Kirlia!" Kirlia did not hesitate, immediately agreeing to be with Twilight. In fact, she decided to become her partner. "Kirlia!"
Suddenly, the other Pokemon agreed, flocking to Sci-wi mainly. They were mostly drawn to her, surrounding the apprentice of Professor Oak. Sci-Twi was overwhelmed by the response of the Alpha Pokemon, who chose her over anyone else. As Kirlia stepped forward to become her partner, Sci-Twi's heart swelled with gratitude and determination.
The attention shifted to Alpha Vespiquen, Sci-Twi and the others approached her with curiosity. The Alpha Vespiquen stood tall and regal, exuding an air of dignified grace as all Vespiquens do. Despite being the last one remaining, she seemed calm and composed, observing the group with a keen eye.
Adagio was shocked. Vespiquen looked her in the eyes as the older sister of the Dazzlings realized one thing. She got on her knees, uttering,
"No way...Another Bug-Type." That would be her Third Bug-Type. Slowly but surely, she was unintentionally becoming a Bug-Type Trainer.
As Vespiquen approached Adagio, the older sister of the Dazzlings couldn't help but feel a mixture of surprise and intrigue. She had never expected to become a Bug-Type Trainer, yet here she was, faced with another Bug-Type Pokemon joining her team. It was a realization that both amused and bewildered her.
"Hah...I guess she's beautiful either way." Adagio mused, a wry smile tugging at her lips.
Vespiquen regarded Adagio with a regal air, acknowledging her new Trainer with a sense of respect. Despite Adagio's initial surprise, she couldn't deny the sense of connection she felt with Vespiquen. It was as if the Bug-Type Pokemon had chosen her for a reason.
"Fine. Whatever. I guess you can come along. Not sure why you chose me though."
"Probably because you're both divas." Sunset Shimmer snickered, teasing Adagio. "Or, so I've heard about Vespiquens." Sunset Shimmer's teasing remark earned a playful glare from Adagio, who couldn't help but chuckle at the comparison.
Vespiquen buzzed contentedly at Adagio's side, seemingly pleased with her Trainer's acceptance. It was a curious bond that had formed between them, one that Adagio was eager to explore further as they continued their journey together.
As the day drew to a close and the vibrant hues of the setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and pink, it was time for the Dazzlings to bid farewell to their friends. All Alpha Pokemon were now in safe hands and away from Hunter J. Because of this, they could depart and go their own ways once more.
"Thanks for helping us out. Not sure if we would've made it out of there." Sci-Twi said to the Dazzlings.
"Same goes for us. That could've been ugly." Aria replied. "Could've been our last moments down there too."
Sonata chimed in with her trademark cheerfulness, though there was a hint of wistfulness in her voice. "Yeah, it was fun hanging out with you guys, especially at the Waterpark! Next time, let's hang out there without any Alpha Pokemon business, okay?"
Before they left, Adagio suddenly approached Red, putting her hands together. "Ahem. Red. This isn't for any particular reason but..." From her hands, she revealed a number of some sorts. "You can call me if you want. Or whatever."
"But you can always call me, Red." Sunset appeared, slightly shoving Adagio to the side. "You know where I live. We can keep training because of that."
"He'll call me first, obviously." Adagio would also shove Sunset Shimmer to the side.
"But he can just come to my house anytime." Sunset shoved back as the two would shove their shoulders against each other. Yet again, they were fighting for Red, while Red simply smiled with silence.
"..." He accepted the number from Adagio with a nod of appreciation and then turned to Sunset with a grateful smile. I
As the two girls continued their friendly rivalry over him, Red chuckled softly, feeling grateful for the bonds of friendship he had formed with them. He knew that no matter where their journeys took them, they would always have each other's backs.
Back then, they wouldn't. Even an hour or two before this, they probably wouldn't support each other. But now they could after everything that transpired at Rainbow Falls.
With a final wave goodbye, Red watched as the Dazzlings departed along with everyone else. Though their paths may diverge for now, the memories they shared would forever remain in their hearts, meeting again at some time, without a doubt. Possibly soon.
Equestria. Canterlot. Nightfall.
When returning to Equestria through the portal, Ash and Pikachu gazed upon the room during the night. After what happened back there, Ash needed to improve in some way to make sure Prisma never makes a third appearance. The second one was just as destructive as the first and if Sci-Twi never got Sliggoo out, who knows what might've happened.
"Pikachu. Sorry that you couldn't snap me out of it." Ash said to his best friend.
"Pikachu."
"We've got a lot of work to do. Even if Prisma shows up again, we'll do our best to keep him away." Ash looked at his hands, feeling a ominous air around him. And it was coming from him.
"Ash! Pikachu! There you are!" Rushing here was Luna, who was expecting these two to show up again.
"Luna? What's up?"
"Come outside! Quick!" Luna's voice sounded rather urgent. "It's the Tear! And the Moon...!"
"Say what?!" The tear in the sky was brought up yet again. Ever since the final moments of the last Pokemon Festival, this tear has been lingering there, correlating with the Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter. Now, it was finally acting up, right as Ash returned. Not just that, but something happened with the Moon.
Running to the nearest balcony, Ash would gaze into the night sky, seeing what had occurred while he was gone. His eyes widened along with Pikachu once he noticed what was up in the sk.
"No way!"
"Pikachu?!"
A small piece of the Moon had been destroyed. Not only that, the Tear in the Sky had taken on a slightly different shape, gaining jagged edges while stretching even further than where it originally was.
"The Moon...There's a piece of it gone?!"
"It's small but noticeable. Something happened up there, no doubt from Daybreaker." Luna uttered. "Whatever happened up there is now over since that was the last we saw of what happened with the Moon. The Ranger Union has yet to make a report on everything else."
Seeing a piece of the Moon destroyed, mainly from the side, was a stunning sight. Even more stunning that what happened back at the Human World. Daybreaker and Hunter J were not pulling their punches, doing whatever they can to succeed in their goals.
Even if that means tampering with greater forces and celestial bodies.
Beyond Equestria. Mount Aris.
Something like this could not be ignored by anyone. Especially the Hippogriffs. Sometimes Sea Ponies, they looked up at the night sky to see the Moon itself having a small piece of it destroyed.
"Ooh...That's bad!" Skystar and Silverstream collectively said, pulling on their manes and they were right to have this reaction. The implications of this were terrifying to think about.
Already, some of them were starting to show as the waters of Mount Aris, mainly where the Hippogriffs sometimes emerge as Seaponies were beginning to shake. Just like with what happened to the world when an unusual Mega Evolution occurred, the seas were being disturbed.
"With a piece of the moon broken, this is something we might not be able to recover from." Queen Novo spoke, already knowing how bad this could end up. "At this rate, we might not have either of our homes anymore."
"What do we, Mom?!" Sksytar galloped over.
"Yeah, what do we do, Auntie?!" So did Silverstream. Both of them needed a solution along with all the other Hippogriffs here. They turned to their Queen at this shocking moment, requiring assistance while some of them were fearful of what happened.
"I don't know." But this was something out of Queen Novo's control. This gutted the Hippogriffs as that was not the response they were hoping for. But what could Queen Novo even do about this? That was the Moon itself that had been targeted. "I can't do anything about this, I'm afraid. But I can at least try and keep you all safe. For starters, some of you are not going to school tomorrow."
"What?! Why?!" Silverstream questioned.
"I can't risk anything. Not with that." Novo aimed her hoof at the night sky. "I'm sure your parents understand the same thing, niece. Until further notice, no one is leaving, until we're sure we can be safe."
For their own good, they would all stay here. Neither Silverstream or any Hippogriff here could leave until something is done. Hopefully soon even if this was something far beyond their reach.
Equestrian Canterlot. Canterlot Castle.
"I see." Back at Canterlot Castle, Celestia received everything from the Ranger Union, finally knowing what occurred up there in the cosmos near the Moon. "Alright. I understand and I'll do something about it."
"Sister! Did you receive it! What did they say?!" Rushing through the doors of the throne room were Luna, who had Ash and Pikachu right behind her.
"I did. I got everything from the Ranger Union, Luna." Celestia said with a smile, not as bothered by all of this. "You don't have to worry."
"There's a lot of reason to worry! It's the Moon! I govern the Moon! My Moon Garden! My plants!" Luna held her head as she was stressed. She even left some things on the Moon while she was sealed in it for centuries."
"What broke it off?" Ash asked, needing to know."
"It seems that Rayquaza wasn't the only Pokemon that showed up in space." Celestia revealed that there was another candidate in this mess. "Apparently, another powerful Pokemon intercepted Daybreaker and her forces while Rayquaza wasn't there to defend it."
"Was it Dialga? Or maybe Palkia?" Ash immediately thought about those two Pokemon. They would make a lot of sense since they can breathe in space.
"No. It was a Pokemon by the name of Deoxys."
"Deoxys!" Ash gasped once he heard the name of this familiar Pokemon. Deoxys had finally come into play, fittingly after Rayquaza had his time. "Oh, man...I didn't even think about Deoxys. So it stopped them?"
"Yes. The Ranger Union have confirmed that Daybreaker and her forces have returned to their universe. The conflict up there has come to an end, but at a hard price. A piece of the Moon is now gone. Deoxys couldn't fully defend it all, unfortunately."
"Man." Ash looked down, thinking about Deoxys. "First Rayquaza and now Deoxys. The Solar Empire's coming strong. They're really not gonna stop until Necrozma gets all the light it needs."
"Pika-Pika."
"But this can all be solved. More than just salvaged, but fixed." Celestia uttered, revealing the reason as to why she was still smiling.
"There is?" Ash and Luna both said.
"But of course? Do you honestly think I didn't have a backup for this? Why do you think I suggested the possibility of Discord joining our side? If there is something far beyond our reach, we can rely on him to handle it. This is one of those scenarios, as you can see."
"Awesome!" Ash cheered. "Discord can totally fix it! I think he's checking up on the Fairy Egg right now, but still!"
"Discord? Well, I suppose there's no better candidate right now. He's easy to reach at last." Luna sighed. "I assume that he's easy to reach. I barely see him. The last time I saw Discord, it was when Cosmos attacked and before that, it was during the Empress' Invasion."
"Even Discord won't ignore this. Not when it threatens his friends." Celestia continued. "We'll speak with him immediately and have him sort this out. Once that mising piece is repaired or put back, whichever it ends up being, we can rest easy when it comes to what it will do to our world."
"What about the Tear? It seemed to respond to the Moon's slight damage." Luna questioned as she brought the conversation back to the Moon. "We still haven't dealt with that."
"We'll come back to that. Right now, I need Discord to focus on this. If only I could have him open up Universe 11, but it is what it is." Celestia then used her Magic to bring over one of the Travel Spheres. The new and improved one of course. "Ash. This Travel Sphere will help you head through Discord's Realm with ease."
"These things cna enter his realm/ For real?"
"For real." Celestia winked. "They were built to do so since we always have a hard time reaching Discord. Not anymore. I need you to go to him as soon as possible and bring him here. All of this is urgent. Even for a few hours, the damage done to the Moon can't be ignored."
"Siser, wait. Ash might be tired." Luna halted everything for a while. "Shouldn't we let him rest?"
"It's fine." But Ash was ready. "I already had some rest back at the Human World. A lot happened, but I'm not about to slow down now. I'll go."
"Ash, please." Luna got in front of him. "I can see it in your eyes. You've gone through something major once again, haven't you? And yet you'd still prefer to continue onwards, during the night?"
"Yeah. I guess I do."
"Why must you do this to yourself, Ash?" Luna sighed. "One of these days, you'll reach a limit that could spell something far darker than what we've seen thus far. I know I'm always pushing myself to protect others, but that's my duty as Princess. There are times where even I don't get any sleep."
Luna was right about that. There have been many fierce battles and encounters against certain opponents these past 4 years and some of them barely call for any rest. Ash was in the same boat, even predating Luna based on his adventures.
"I do it because I want to, Luna. You're my friends and I've made a lot of awesome friends here and over in the Human World." Ash revealed his reason for him. It wasn't much of a reason, however. He did it because he felt that it was right and that was all that mattered to him.
Even at the expense of his own health, he'd gladly push on for the sake of this he loves. Luna knew there was no bargaining with Ash. Not with how he was. Celestia also knew this herself.
"Alright. Just...when you get back from the Chaos Realm, sleep afterwards. For as long as you want. Will you promise that for me, Ash?"
"Sure. I promise." Ash grinned, making sure to keep that promise. He wouldn't even think about breaking it to Luna, not even for a second. Holding the Transphere in his hand, Ash tapped into its cosmic power, ready to go. By holding it to the other side, the sphere shot out a beam that immediately summoned a gateway. This was clearly incomplete since Twilight Sparkle herself wasn't here to finish the rest of it off.
But that was where Celestia came into play. Using another Travel Sphere, she transferred some of the Rift Energy into this gateway, filling in for Twilight's spot. The meshing of two Rift Energies caused a reaction that allowed this incomplete gateway to become complete. Thus, it would lead to the Chaos Realm.
"We'll be back soon! Come on, Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed before jumping in. Pikachu would do the same, his cry echoing out once he entered. The gateway would linger there as the Moon Princess held her breath.
Discord's Chaos Realm.
Entering the Chaos Realm, Ash found himself being weightless, free of gravity along with Pikachu. Both their bodies effortlessly moved through the non-existent air in this erratic spot. The gateway behind them lingered as they had a lot of time on their hands to say what needed to be said.
Ash was unbothered by the chaotic sounds here since he was used to it and has heard other wild things in his life. The Chaos Realm was just another fantastical land for him.
"Hey, Discord! If you're not busy with the Fairy Egg right now, we-" But the moment he showed up, he already saw what Discord was up to.
Rapidly, Discord was freaking out. His body was wobbling uncontrollably. His body was essentially glitching, struggling to find any symmetry or balance.
"Discord?! What's wrong?!" Ash flew over.
"Pika?!"
"Magical...Imbalance...!" Discord replied, his voice being distorted in multiple tempos and tones. Discord had another unique ability, which was the ability to sense a Magical Imbalance. And right now, Discord was sensing probably the biggest magical imbalance ever since Tirek attacked.
But this felt more than just a Magical Imbalance. Discord's body was going so out of control he was inadvertently affecting the Chaos Realm around him. Ash saw random spams of Chaos Magic flare through the area, bringing random effects, such as a massive thumb ripping through the space, attempting to press Ash and Pikachu down, only for them to move out of the way.
Above them, the space would act like a vacuum, even having the shape of one as it started sucking up anything below it. Barely, Ash and Pikachu also avoided this themselves. Constantly, there were chaotic effects appearing left and right with no proper control.
Quickly, Ash approached Discord, trying to calm him down. Moving past many effects that would delay him, the King of the Sea managed to reach his chaotic friend, surrounding his hands in Aura.
"Gotcha!" He cried out after grabbing Discord. Using Aura, Ash managed to hold onto him, shielding himself from the Chaos Magic. "Discord! Hey! What's wrong, Discord?!"
"There's a ridiculous Magic Imbalance right now! The likes of which I've never felt before! Honestly, I'm not even sure if it's an imbalance!" Discord cried out.
Hearing this made Ash realise how quickly things were developing around him. Narrowing his eyes, Ash Ketchum was expecting even bigger things on the horizon. Bigger than what he went through back at Rainbow Falls, possibly on the same level of what happened with the Moon and the Tear in the Sky. The enemies of his friends were no joke. Not one bit.
"So, you're saying it's not a Magical Imbalance?" Ash was speaking with Discord after coming to meet with him here at the Chaos Realm. But what he saw surprised him as Discord was going crazy, struggling to keep up with everything happening out there.
"I wish it was," Discord said. "Thinking about it now, it isn't a Magical Imbalance."
"It isn't? Then what is it?"
"Well, there's still an imbalance but it's more like a mishmash," Discord explained to the best of his abilities. "Usually, if it was an imbalance, then it's just obvious what's wrong."
"Yeah. Like with Tirek, right?"
"Not sure when it happened, but whatever you and your friends have been getting yourselves into, everything is spiralling out of control." Discord would poke Ash's face. "Perhaps you can tell me when it happened?"
"Not sure." Ash thought for a moment. "A lot's happened ever since we all met each other. I wanna say it was when the Rift showed up but I don't know."
"If you ask me, I think it's because of her." Discord held his paw out, summoning a sculpture of Empress Twilight Sparkle, blaming her for how things were turning out. "If she never caught wind of us, we wouldn't be in this situation. We're facing a Magical, no, a Cosmic Crisis."
"A Cosmic Crisis?"
"Worse than a Magical Imbalance. Because there is barely an imbalance. Too many parties are too loaded at the moment, whether it's in this universe or another." Discord shook his head, bringing Ash to his home which was currenly stretched out. "Even things from other universes are leaking through, causing trouble for us. Which, I'm not too oppossed to, but..."
"So this involves everywhere else then?" Ash asked when entering his home. "Is this the first time something like this happened Discord?"
"Pika?"
"Mmm..." Discord would think for a moment as his head was expanding, bulging up due to his thoughts swirling. That's when he remembered a similar situation to it. "Aha! It has!" His head would explode, unleashing an energy of thoughts while his head regrew.
The energy of thoughts hovered over to Ash and Pikachu, gently landing in the hands of the Alola Champion. Touching it felt like touching a soft pillow and thorns at the same time.
"I don't usually tell anyone this since it doesn't matter to me, honestly. Now it does. As the Spirit of Chaos, I've been around here for years, even before you were conceived. And during my time, I was lucky enough to experience what's known as a Cosmic Crisis. And it involved those angels up there."
"The Angels?" When holding the energy, Ash would see the images inside.
"Them and a few other parties." Discord shrugged. "Some folks were causing trouble across the vast universe, just throwing things off balance for their own reasons. Even for Chaos, it was getting a bit out of hand, if you ask me."
In it, Ash saw a massive clash that happened across the cosmos between the Angels and some mysterious entities. It was obviously a battle for the fate of the universe, happening away from Earth. Among the angels, he noticed Strident Heart's face in there as she was present during that time. Even Luceras and other familiar faces were spotted.
But above all else, Ash noticed someone. A being larger than the rest who resembled a pony. More specifically an alicorn. In fact, she looked like she came straight from Equestria with her appearance, being a citizen from it, but there was clearly something different about her.
"Hey, who's that?" He asked.
"The equivalent of Arceus in our world before we met. Writing Glory's the name. Even I don't dare to mess with her. As you can imagine, they won and sent those things back to the Abyssal Depths." Discord continued. "A Cosmic Crisis came to an end, and no one had to worry about it ever again. Even with Cosmos being around, she never came close to what happened back then."
"But now it's happening again, right?"
"Exactly! Too many factors are at play right now. Daybreaker alone makes up most of those factors. And aren't you still dealing with Team Plasma or whatever?"
"Yeah. And a piece of the Moon is missing."
"What did you say?!" Discord's eyes and mouth left his body once he heard that. Now he was aware of what happened to the Moon. "Hm. Maybe you and everyone else are better at raising chaos than I thought."
"Yeah. That's why we came here. I was wondering if you could fix the Moon. Putting the piece back or replacing it."
"Well, of course, I can fix it, Ash, my boy!" Discord clapped his hands before gearing up, wearing construction clothes. "What a silly question. Anything for a friend and I can make it possible."
"Awesome. I'll tell Celestia and Luna about this Cosmic Crisis, since it's happening again." said Ash.
"No, no, no." But Discord refused to let Ash do that, hovering to his side. "Ash, look at me. I can see it in your eyes. You went through quite the event, didn't you?"
"Yeah. Guess you noticed." Ash chuckled. "It just happens a lot."
"Leave it to yours truly." Discord was up and ready. "I'll get that Moon done in no time. I'm sure it's not too much damage for me to worry about." Discord strolled towards the gateway, already passing through it and ending up in Equestria. Standing there with Pikachu was Ash who would stare into the chaotic void.
There was a moment of silence for him even with all of this noise around him. After having these few seconds and looking at the Fairy Egg, Ash would approach the gateway as well, ready to leave.
-
Outer Space.
The vastness of space. Not too long ago, it was filled with a fearsome clash of great powers with one threatening to summon the Moon Beast known as Lunala. Instead, the result was the Moon itself losing a piece of it. There wasn't even any rubble floating around.
From the Planet Earth, extending from it with extraordinary length was none other than Discord. He stretched his body, leaving space and immediately appearing in space. The lower half of his body would retract once he ascended, returning to its normal size.
"Hmm. Not even any rubble? Goodness." Even Discord was amazed by what he was seeing. "It looks like someone took a bite out of this thing. Not exactly destruction."
Indeed, the damage done to the Moon looked more like a bite than something smashing against it. The way it appeared matched a bite mark done on an apple or an orange. Discord simply shrugged it off, knowing he had to make a new part of the Moon.
Raising his finger, he would aim at a Moon in the far distance. There was another Moon resting on its own, smaller than this one that everyone has come to know and love. To Discord, that would do just fine as he managed to grab the other Moon by pulling it via a massive chain.
Once he grabbed this Moon, Discord would rapidly move his hands around, messing with it and giving it a makeover. For starters, he changed its colour which was originally dark green. But now, it possessed the same colour as the Moon everyone knew. That goes for the extra Moon that comes from the Pokemon World's side.
After changing its shape, Discord would take a huge chunk of this Moon away. A chunk that was just large enough to fill that hole while this other Moon would never be the same afterwards. But since it was so far from Earth, Discord knew no one would care or know.
Taking this chunk, Discord would carefully fit it in as if it was a jigsaw puzzle. Before that, he was sweating bullets, making sure to be as gentle as possible so that the Moon doesn't suffer more damage. The sweat he was exuding would start summoning rain that would float there thanks to zero gravity.
Thankfully, he managed to repair it, making a new part of the Moon. It was as good as new, almost as if it was never destroyed in the first place." There. A job well done."
Proud of his work, Discord gave himself a pat on the back, summoning another claw from his back, just to pat it. It definitely was not as difficult as it could be and he knew it. Discord was done here, immediately teleporting back to Earth.
Equestria.
As for those in Equestria, they immediately cheered upon seeing the Moon repaired, especially those at Canterlot. They could rest easy knowing their Moon was whole once more. And it was fittingly the night of a Full Moon. But Luna just couldn't shake a bad feeling off her body when looking at this.
"Sister...If they succeeded in damaging the Moon in some way, isn't that a clear sign that they're gradually getting better?" Luna uttered.
"I know. I've already decided to keep up with Daybreaker not too long ago. And yet, it feels like they're still ahead of us." Celestia had the same thoughts as her little sister. "I still have to catch up with every other universe she's attacked while we were deprived of gateways all while worrying about our own."
"So...What do we do? She won't stop with just this. She might come back to the Moon yet again." Luna questioned when facing her big sister. "And she'll certainly be expecting us."
"..." Celestia closed her eyes, thinking for a moment. Because of how hard it was to reach Universe 11, she couldn't really do anything to stop their advances all that much since they were so swift. But something was boiling in Celestia's mind. She knew that Daybreaker was still her, so all she had to do was keep on making similar moves to her.
But when looking at the Moon in the night sky, despite knowing that Discord could fix it, in reality, Celestia was worried of what might come next. The celestial body of the Moon was no joke and anyone that can threaten calls for extraordinary danger. Danger that even Celestia fears might be too much to handle.
The Next Day.
Despite the Moon being repaired, the effects the missing piece brought were still present. They weren't going to vanish overnight. Something like this needed more time. And unfortunately, for the Hippogriff Students, that was unfortunate.
The next day, the young Hippogriffs were already complaining, wanting to go to school since they generally enjoyed the Pokemon School. Queen Novo needed her subjects to be safe until this all blew over since she couldn't do anything about it after all.
These complains did not stay at Mount Aris as a message was sent to the Pokemon School all the way over at Equestria via Pelipper. This Pelipper came from Mount Aris, immediately delivering it to one of the teachers, that being Windflash.
"Oh. All the Hippogriffs can't come." Windflash spoke when looking at the letter. But it wasn't just this letter, there were other letters around her as she was the one receiving them mostly.
Letters from the Griffons, Letters from the Yaks and Letters from the Changelings, all from locations that were far from the Pokemon School. The only students who managed to show up were ponies who were either from Canterlot, Ponyville or any nearby locations.
There were some Dragons among them, however as they were able to get into school today. Probably due to them being used to rough environments.
"So, what now? Do we still learn?" Silver Spoon asked.
"I mean, yeah. So what if they miss a class?" Diamond Tiara shrugged. "They can just catch up alter."
"That's a shame though." Windflash frowned, knowing that the students genuinely loved these lessons. Alas, with Potion Nova still not back, some classes will be empty without a doubt with the only teachers here being Windflash and her family. Plus, the elusive Tobias.
"How did you guys even get here in the first place?" Scootaloo turned to the Dragons who were the only other species here.
"We don't have to worry about any oceans or whatever." Smolder and the Dragons said proudly, having that advantage over the other species. "It was easy for us to show up here."
"Today we're supposed to have an Outdoor Expedition. Are we still having that even with what's happening outside?" Sweetie Belle had to know, wondering if the lessons today were about to be void.
"What do we do, miss Windflash?" Questions would bombard the descendant of Windkiss as they needed an answer. Their love for this school was strong as they wished to do something as soon as possible. Questions were flying her way, passing through her ears and sparking concerns.
"I think you might be overwhelming her, ya'll." Apple Bloom said, worried that Windkiss wouldn't be able to handle all of these questions from the students.
"It's fine." However, Windflash was not overwhelmed. Not in the slightest. This surprised Apple Bloom who saw how composed Windflash was. "I know what we can do."
"Y-You do?" Apple Bloom stuttered.
"Mhm. I'm used to this. I have a large family after all." Windflash's large family was one massive advantage for her. Since she was the older sister of them all, she was naturally capable of handling multiple individuals younger than her. It also didn't matter if they weren't pegasi.
"Aw. No fair." Apple Bloom pouted. She had a large family too, even if extended and made up of cousins, uncles and aunties but she certainly couldn't handle all of them. Not even Applejack or Big Mac could. Perhaps Granny Smith could but Apple Bloom has yet to see that happen.
"I can just do this." Putting her hoof in her mane, Windflash would tap into that amazing magic she possessed. Since she was the direct descendant of the first Destiny Pegasus, her magical capabilities were stellar and unique to her and her family. Once more, it would be shown to the students in all of its splendour.
From her mane, Windflash would unleash a sky that she held in her hoof. The students looked in amazement as Windflash was casually holding a sky.
"Miss Windkiss! What's that?! Is that Sky?!" Diamond Tiara bellowed.
"Oh, yes. This is a Pocket Sky." She explained. "It helps me see into another part of the sky and different locations. It's pretty nifty when needed. If I try hard enough, I can have this look into the rest of my students."
"How?" Sandbar questioned.
"Well...It only ever works on those I care for. For my brothers and sisters, that's never been a problem since I love them so much. But I care for you all too, so it'll work without a doubt. Everyone, grab some Pocket Skies." She didn't stop there. From her mane, she pulled out four more Pocket Skies, available for the other species.
Scootaloo cooed at the Pocket Sky, picking one of them and so did Sandbar, Smolder and Silver Spoon. In their hooves, they all held a Pocket Sky which had a bizarre feeling to it. It felt like a pillow and water at the same time. "Eugh." Smolder shivered a bit when touching them. "How do you manage this, Miss?"
"Alright. With this, I'll be able to teach them." Closing her eyes, Windkiss's wings would suddenly flap. The coloured tips on her feathers would glow, unleashing her signature magic. The students looked in awe as the magic particles flowed into the Pocket Winds.
By doing so, the students she taught would have their own locations tapped into. Coming into view were the Changeling Lands, Mount Aris, Yakyakistan and Griffonia.
"That's a bit creepy, don't you think?" Diamond Tiara pointed out.
"Hello? How is everyone?" Windflash made her way to the Pocket Sky of the Changelings, startling all of them. Chrysalis screeched along with all of the Changelings since a massive face of Windflash was seen in the sky. It felt like a giant had come before them.
The sound of her entering her face in this world was alarming too as it made the skies rumble. Some changelings immediately fainted at the sight of this.
"Miss Windflash?!" A stunned Ocellus said.
"Oh, sorry. I'm used to doing this with my siblings." She said to them all, using her old habits. Her voice was made to be as loud as possible since her head was in the sky. Like a divine being speaking to them, her voice reverberated across the azure skies. "I just wanted to let you all know that we can still continue our lessons."
"These are the kind of teachers you have?" Chrysalis said to her children while covering her ears.
"Today, we'll be having an Outdoor Expedition and Principal Twilight's agreed to let you all come to Pegalysium. Very high up, but that won't matter since you'll be at home. But I can still teach you from afar. Today's lesson will be extended to 3:30 instead of 12:00 this time. I'll give you all time to get ready."
She would then pull her head back, removing it from the Pocket Sky and leaving it there to linger. Some of the Changelings sat and stood thre stunned while the children let out elated cries. Chrysalis grimaced at the sound of these cries as she watched all the Young Changelings jump for joy. They would get to learn after all, albeit from home.
Pegalysium. Soaring Valley.
Soaring Valley.
A breathtaking expanse of land nestled between two towering mountain ranges, where the winds dance freely and the sky stretches endlessly overhead. The valley earned its name due to the powerful updrafts that sweep through the canyon-like terrain, creating perfect conditions for flight. It is a place of unparalleled beauty and a haven for those who seek the freedom of the open sky.
It was also a place for Pokemon to call home and the one to see this for herself was none other than May. She climbed up some of the terrain, gazing at the sights before her.
"Wow..." May gawked. After climbing the cliff, she found herself in an area known as the Aetheric Archways are natural stone formations that span the width of Soaring Valley, forming intricate arches and bridges.
"It was worth coming here. I bet I could get all kinds of ideas for my next contest." May was here simply for inspiration, wanting something new for her contests. And Pegalysium was scratching that itch for her.
May continued her trek through the canyon, marveling at the beauty of it all. The air was crisp and fresh, the sun was shining, and the breeze was gentle and pleasant. But most of all, there was a sense of freedom and tranquility that seemed to permeate the entire area,
The Pokemon that called this place home would appear, either in the sky or on the ground. They were all unique, each one a different species, but they shared one thing in common. A love for the open skies.
As May explored the area, she saw a glimpse of a Pokemon in the distance. The Pokemon were already getting adjusted to this place, especially a spot known as the Skyward Lake. It was a vast lake situated in the middle of the valley, its crystalline waters shimmering in the sunlight. The sight was truly breathtaking.
"And all of this is just up here?" May whistled. "Lucky...But I haven't seen many pegasi yet. I guess I'm pretty far from civilization right now."
While continuing on her path, May was immediately alerted to the sight of these strange flowers that were as tall as trees, just up ahead. She came to a halt, her eyes scanning the flowers. "They're so big...What kind of flowers are these?"
They were giant red, yellow, and blue flowers with large petals, which had the appearance of leaves. These flowers were the size of trees. They were beautiful and majestic, but they were not the singing flowers. Instead, these flowers did something else rather than sing to what was currently happening.
Wanting to take a picture, as May dug in her bag, she suddenly heard laughter. May paused for a moment, lookng at her surroundings, but there was no one there. She then turned her attention back to the flowers before digging in her bag once more. It happened again. The laughter was heard once more.
"Hmm..." May grumbled, observing her surroundings, before looking at the flowers. In just a split second, she managed to spot one of the flowers laughing before it stopped. But May definitely saw it.
"The flowers laugh? No way." May gawked at them. Her first viewing of these sentient flowers and it wasn't the ones that sing.
"Hey!" A voice called out, causing May to gasp, before turning to see a boy approaching her. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, sorry!" May said, startled by the sudden appearance of the boy. It was a young pegasus who was rather disheveled with bed hair. He was one of Windflash's siblings.
"Those are Dreamweaver Flowers. You almost got caught by them." The boy said.
"D-Dreamweavers? What do you mean?" May asked.
"They're dangerous flowers. They like to make up false dreams and they're really good at doing it." The boy answered.
"False dreams?" May was confused by the notion of these flowers giving out fake dreams. "They're flowers, though. I don't get it."
"Yeah, well, they're not just any flowers."
"Hey!" A voice called out, causing May to gasp, before turning to see a boy approaching her. "What are you doing here?"
"I-I'm sorry." May said, startled by the sudden appearance of the boy.
Any longer and they would've made you chase a new dream that you don't want." He shook his head. "If you came across them at night, that'd be way worse!"
"Worse how?" May asked.
"You'd be instantly put to sleep without even knowing it. Even if you're awake, they'll try to make you see something that isn't there." He explained.
He explained. "Some of my brothers and sisters got caught by it once and started chasing some random dream. We snapped them out of it, but it was pretty annoying having to deal with it."
"That's weird." May replied, not understanding the idea behind the flowers. "They can do that...Wow...That's amazing!" May's eyes lit up. Thanks to her time with Ash in the past, she's grown to love the obscure and bizarre things out there and this was one of them. "Do they make dreams of anything or just the ones people want?"
"You can ask them yourself. If you want." He pointed his hoof at the Dreamweavers. "But I wouldn't get too close. They're jokesters too."
"Thanks." May nodded at him before heading towards the flowers, while the boy watched. As she approached them, she was curious to know more about them. "Hello? Can you hear me?"
The flowers giggled at May before suddenly dropping themselves into the ground, lowering their length. This caused May to stumble in surprise as the flowers avoided her. "Ah, hey!" She was too late to properly converse with them.
"But most of the time, when someone figures out what they're up to, they just hide in the soil." The boy shrugged.
"Huh. I wonder why." May mused.
"Dunno. Maybe because they're shy. Or maybe they're just afraid of getting in trouble." The boy shrugged, before the flowers rose up, causing May to stumble again. "My name's New Breeze. Who are you?" The young pegasus walked around May, noticing that she was a human. "Oh, are you one of those Pokemon Trainers?!"
"That's right. May. May Petalburg." May introduced herself. "It's my first time visiting Pegalysium. I was psyched to visit this entire nation in the sky and it's already so great. You know a lot about this place, don't you?" She kneeled to face New Breeze.
"Mm. My brothers and sisters and I live in the wild, so we know a lot about what's here." New Breeze nodded. "I'm the second youngest in my family!"
"How many brothers and sisters do you have then?"
"Umm..." New Breeze would use his feathers to count. "A lot. I never count how many we have."
"Really?" May was surprised by this.
"Yup. But you can ask my big sister, Windflash. She's the oldest in our family. She got a job at a Pokemon School down at that land called Equestria. She's coming up here today for a class."
"Oh, that's awesome! Is she the one who taught you everything about this place?"
"Mm-hmm. She taught all of us!" New Breeze exclaimed. "Big Sister Windflash knows a lot. A lot, a lot. Since we all live out here in the wild away from the towns and cities, we're pretty used to it and no one's better at it than Windflash."
"Oh wow. So your big sister must be a pro at this stuff."
"Uh-huh! And she's super smart, too. She knows all about the plants and the animals, the weather, the water, everything!"
"What about the Pokemon? How much does your sister know about them?"
"Well, big sister doesn't know that much about Pokemon. We're still new to them here in Pegalysium. That's the one thing she doesn't know a lot about and that's why she wanted to go to that school."
"Well...You're looking at a pro as well." May nudged while wiggling her eyebrows. "I'm a pretty great Pokemon Trainer if I'm being honest. If there's anything you need to know, you can ask me. I'll fill you in."
"Oh...You'll be like the one they call Ash Ketchum! The one who's helping Equestria!"
"Ash? Did you say Ash?!" May gasped upon hearing that familiar name. "You know him?!"
"He's a hero back at Equestria.
"He's a hero back at Equestria from what I heard." New Breeze responded. "He started teaching everypony down there about Pokemon and they got amazingly strong so fast! That's what I heard though."
"Typical Ash." May chuckled, before smiling fondly. Hearing that made her heart warm, knowing that Ash was still as active as ever even after all of these years.
"If my sister is good at living in the wild, then I want to be good at Pokemon! I'll be great at that instead!" New Breeze declared. Being a young spirit, he had his own dreams. It was similar to those back at Equestria, wanting to be an adept in Pokemon. It was just too enticing not to try.
"I think I can help with that." May offered.
"You will?! Thank you, Miss May!" New Breeze cheered. The young pony then turned around, suddenly using magic on May by flapping his wings. May gasped as her body was surrounded by an enigmatic aura. "I'll take you to my sister right now! I think she should be up here now!"
"H-Hold on!" May yelled, suddenly finding herself being flown off by New Breeze. He carried May across this island at an impressive speed for his age. His magic was also surprisingly strong for his age as May was much taller than him.
May would see the sights from above as she was taken to where New Breeze's older sister was. This island was massive and full of various terrains. She would be flying through the canyons before coming across this area of the island that looked like the ocean. The edge of this island was seen up ahead, making May scream.
"S-Slow down! You'll fall!"
But New Breeze didn't seem bothered. He flew straight towards the edge and jumped, diving down with May in his grasp. The young pegasus and his companion fell before they would enter the sea of clouds.
"Wow! You're not scared of falling like this?!" A stunned May uttered when seeing New Breeze advance.
"I was the first time. But never again." New Breeze smiled while effortlessly soaring through the air. He would descend lower, going towards another island. He knew Windflash wasn't too far, located on another island. May was in for a wild ride as her own journey up here took a turn. A rather enjoyable one though.
All the while, there was a crisis looming over them all. Even with the Moon repaired, that sense of devastating power was in the air. Whether here, or somewhere else.
The skies of Pegalysium. Currently, Windflash was teaching a class, but with most of her students at home, she used her unique Pocket Sky to communicate with them all. The Pocket Skies were currently being dragged by Scootaloo's Rapidash and Sweetie Belle's Meowstic as the students from the other side would view Pegalysium even from their own home.
"Here is Mistlove's Jungle." Windflash introduced them to it. Mistlove's Jungle was a lush and vibrant sky island enveloped in a canopy of verdant foliage, supported by five clouds. Located amidst the clouds of Pegalysium, this jungle paradise is a haven of biodiversity, housing Pokemon in it.
The Pokemon living here have already started interacting with the plants and environment, holding the special flowers and synergizing with them. This was what Windflash wanted to show her students as she has already seen what her land and the Pokemon can do when working together.
"Chimchar." There was a Chimchar being carried by sentient flowers who were praising it as if i were a deity. Chimchar was peacefully resting on the array of flowers that had decorated it. They even gathered food for it, pampering the Fire-Type. Chimchar definitely wasn't going to let this come to an end.
"This jungle is where a good majority of the Live Flowers in Pegalysium live." Windflash explained. "You've probably heard about the ones that sing already."
"Hm." Gallus looked through the Pocket Sky, observing the scene before being shoved by another Griffon who wanted to get a closer look. All the Griffons would start barging their head through the Pocket Sky, fighting amongst each other. Speaking of fighting amongst each other, some of the Sentient Flowers were doing the same but for a different reason.
There were some aggressive flowers on Pegalysium and these ones were fighting over a Bellossom, trying to gain its attention. Granted, these flowers could deal no significant damage to each other as their attacks were frail and light.
"If you wouldn't mind, I'd like for some of you to approach these flowers and interact with them. See how the Pokemon themselves do it." Windflash ordered. "I'll stay close to those near the more wild flowers."
Sitting there was Cozy Glow, who had a powerful stare on her face. She was barely moving, absolutely stunned and perplexed as if her entire life flashed before her eyes. It was hard to tell if she was even paying attention to the lesson right now. Her head was definitely somewhere else.
"Cozy Glow? What's wrong?" Sweetie Belle noticed.
"I saw some things..." The young pegasus uttered with a weak voice. For someone of her age, she saw things that a child is either never supposed to see or barely even come across. It was all clear in her mind.
The events that took place in outer space.
Yesterday. Outer Space.
It was yesterday on the Solar Sword, with many of Daybreaker's forces behind her. The ships managed to return to the galaxy they were so accustomed to and immediately, they made their way towards the Moon.
This time, Rayquaza was not there to stop them since he had fallen to Earth after expending so much power from the Dragon Matter. It looked like they would be in the clear this time, successfully managing to lure out Lunala and have Necrozma absorb it.
However, there would be someone else there to stop them. The radar immediately picked up on something in the distance approaching. The pilots took note, looking at the radar to see a single lifeform.
"What is that thing?" Sunrise Sparke looked ahead, barely seeing something in the distance. As a mysterious triangular object drew closer, its outline became more defined against the backdrop of the lunar landscape.
"It looks like some sort of triangle?" Moondancer observed.
As the mysterious triangular object drew closer, its outline became more defined against the backdrop of the lunar landscape. Sinister appendages, like dark tendrils, began to unfurl from its sleek surface, undulating in a hypnotic rhythm as they reached out toward the Solar Sword.
Cozy Glow's eyes widened with fear as she watched the eerie spectacle unfold. The sight of the writhing tentacles sent a chill down her spine, and she instinctively sought refuge near Daybreaker, seeking reassurance amidst the looming threat.
A sudden burst of light erupted from the heart of the triangular vessel. The darkness surrounding it dissipated, revealing a form that sent shockwaves through the crew of the Solar Sword.
Appearing from the light was an alien-like bipedal Pokemon that had four forms, each focused on a different stat. The main components that are constant for all four forms are dominantly a red colour, a light blue face, and three light blue dots on its back arranged in a triangle. Following that, there was a purple stripe running down the center of its face and a purple, crystalline organ in its chest. Its white, circular eyes are set inside rectangular, black eye sockets.
This was none other than the DNA Pokemon.
Deoxys.
"W-What is that thing?!" Cozy Glow stuttered.
"Deoxys." Daybreaker spoke its name, already aware of this Pokemon's existence. Hearing this, Cozy Glow held up her Pokedex, reading up on what this Pokemon had to offer.
"Deoxys. The DNA Pokemon. The DNA of a space virus underwent a sudden mutation upon exposure to a laser beam and resulted in Deoxys. The crystalline organ on this Pokémon’s chest appears to be its brain. It is highly intelligent and wields psychokinetic powers. This Pokémon shoots lasers from the crystalline organ on its chest."
"Is it trying to stop us too?" Sunrise Sparkle questioned. "I heard that Deoxys and Rayquaza are normally at odds with us. Shouldn't it be glad that Rayquaza fell to Earth?"
"Unless, it's also here to stop us from reaching the Moon as well." Daybreaker answered. And she was very much right. No matter what it may be, there were forces trying to prevent her from finding Lunala and causing any further damage to this universe.
Deoxys locked onto them, gazing right at the center of the Solar Sword where Daybreaker sat, putting on a devious grin. She already took on Rayquaza and while that ended in a tie, one of them was still up in space.
Confident as ever Daybreaker gave Deoxys a piercing gaze as well. "First it was Rayquaza that stood in our way and now, you want to do the same? So be it."
Just then, a purple flash occurred in Deoxys's eye as it sent a small and thin but incredibly fast beam directly towards the Solar Sword.
As the purple flash erupted from Deoxys's eye, a thin but incredibly fast beam hurtled toward the Solar Sword with deadly precision. The crew watched in horror as the attack aimed directly for Daybreaker, the fiery monarch at the heart of their vessel.
In a split second, Daybreaker's instincts kicked in, and she barely managed to evade the lethal beam. The attack grazed her fiery mane, singeing the edges with its searing heat, but miraculously missing its mark by a mere inch. It just ended up hitting a part of her ship.
Gasps of relief echoed through the corridors of the Solar Sword as Daybreaker emerged unscathed from the brush with death. "Oh, you..." Daybreaker growled, turning her attention back to Deoxys.
"Ah! Now! Fi-" Sunrise Sparkle prepared to unleash an attack on Deoxys after seeing the Solar Queen being threatened.
"Wait." But Daybreaker would halt any attacks on Deoxys. "I'll handle this myself."
Striding forward, Daybreaker stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Deoxys with a different kind of emotion. The crew of the Solar Sword watched in awe and anticipation as their leader prepared to face the formidable Pokémon alone. The hatch to the ship would open up, allowing Daybreaker to enter the vastness of the cosmos once more.
Standing before Deoxys, her radiant form illuminated by the distant starlight, Daybreaker exuded an aura of power and determination. Her fiery eyes locked onto the enigmatic Pokémon she prepared to face this cosmic adversary head-on.
"For having the audacity to attack me in such a way, I'll make sure you're crushed under my power!" Daybreaker bellowed, holding out her Poke Ball which contained Necrozma. "And I'm sure Necrozma can get a good meal out of you."
Daybreaker released Necrozma from its Poké Ball, the towering Pokémon materializing beside her with a deafening roar. His eyes gleamed with a hunger for more light as it fixed its gaze upon Deoxys, ready to unleash its devastating energy upon his opponent.
Deoxys, unfazed by Daybreaker's bravado, met her challenge. With a flick of its tentacles, it prepared to engage in a battle of cosmic proportions against the fiery monarch and her formidable ally. Deoxys was not letting them reach the Moon, no matter what.
"Necrozma! Use Shadow Claw!" Daybreaker's voice boomed, carrying with it the weight of her determination.
With a fierce cry, Necrozma's claws erupted with dark energy, forming into razor-sharp tendrils of shadow that lashed out towards Deoxys. The tendrils sliced through the darkness of space, aiming to strike at the heart of the DNA Pokemon.
Deoxys, however, swiftly avoided the slash as it tore through the cosmos. After evading it, Deoxys would use Flash Cannon, releasing a silver light from its body. This silver light crashed into Necrozma, knocking the Prism Pokemon back a bit. Roaring at its fellow Psychic-Type, Necrozma flew back in for another Shadow Claw, prompting Deoxys to play defence.
Strong swipes from Necrozma were unleashed, followed by Deoxys flailing its tendrils around to clash with each of these slashes. The two cosmic titans clashed with ferocious intensity, each strike and counterstrike.
As the clash continued unabated, it became clear that neither opponent would yield easily. Each blow struck with the force of a collapsing star, shaking the very foundations of reality with its ferocity.
Seeing how Necrozma was on equal footing with it, Deoxys flew back, suddenly changing forms, needing something with more attack power. With a breathtaking display of cosmic power, Deoxys underwent a transformation, having something for Necrozma, attempting to overcome his raw strength. Space itself seemed to warp and bend around it as it assumed a new, more formidable form, radiating an aura of raw, untamed power.
From the blinding light emerged Deoxys, but not in its standard form. Instead, it had transformed into its Attack Forme, a manifestation of pure offensive power.
"Shadow Claw, once more!" shouted Daybreaker as Necrozma flew in for another Shadow Claw while Deoxys would meet it with Thunder Punch.
For a moment, the two cosmic energies seemed locked in a stalemate like before. But then, with a deafening roar, Deoxys's Thunder Punch surged forward with overwhelming force, overpowering Necrozma's Shadow Claw and sending the Prism Pokémon staggering backwards.
Daybreaker watched with a mixture of awe and determination as her ally was momentarily driven back by the sheer force of Deoxys's attack.
"Necrozma, use Dragon Pulse!" In response to Daybreaker's command, Necrozma's form shimmered with radiant energy as it summoned forth the power of the cosmos itself. With a deafening roar, it unleashed a torrent of raw energy in the form of a mighty Dragon Pulse, channeling the very essence of creation into a devastating attack.
The Dragon Pulse blitzed and pulsated with incredible speed, its brilliant glow illuminating the void of space as it hurtled towards Deoxys. As Necrozma's Dragon Pulse surged forward, Deoxys met the onslaught head-on with a powerful Zen Headbutt. Clashing yet again, the two cosmic energies collided in a spectacular explosion of light and energy.
The sheer force of the collision reverberated through the cosmos, shaking the very foundations of reality as the titanic clash between Necrozma and Deoxys reached its zenith. The void of space seemed to quake with the intensity of their battle, bearing witness to the raw power unleashed by these cosmic beings.
Cozy Glow screeched, holding onto Gardevoir's leg. The pilots on the ship would do their best to keep it steady as this clash could very well take them out if they're not careful.
"Your attacks are stronger now, sure. But Necrozma himself gets stronger during battle." Daybreaker grinned. "I always make sure of that! Observe! Prismatic Laser!"
Necrozma unleashed a torrent of radiant energy in the form of his signature move. The Prismatic Laser erupted from his form with blinding intensity, a dazzling display of cosmic power that pierced through the darkness of space.
The DNA Pokémon, caught off guard by the sheer magnitude of Necrozma's attack, braced itself for the impact, striking at the lasers. But when striking against them, one of them immediately went off, setting off an explosion.
As the Prismatic Laser collided with Deoxys in a spectacular explosion of light and energy, failing to stop all of them as they would rapidly bombard it like a rain shadow.
Emerging from the smoke and debris, Deoxys bore the scars of its encounter with Necrozma's Prismatic Laser. Despite the damage it had sustained, the DNA Pokémon showed no signs of faltering just yet. But if something wasn't done soon, it might fail.
Instantly, Deoxys underwent another transformation, its form shifting and contorting with lightning speed as it assumed a new, more agile form. In an instant, it had transitioned into its Speed Forme, a manifestation of unparalleled swiftness and agility.
Daybreaker's eyes narrowed as she beheld her adversary's transformation, recognizing the increased threat posed by Deoxys's newfound speed. With its Speed Forme, the DNA Pokémon would be a formidable opponent indeed, capable of darting through the void of space with outstanding velocity.
Deoxys, now in its Speed Forme, moved with blinding speed, its movements so swift that it blurred into a frenetic whirlwind of motion as it would use Throat Chop for a super-effective blow.
Necrozma, sensing the impending assault, braced itself for the incoming attack. With a swift motion, it lunged forward to intercept Deoxys, but the DNA Pokémon's speed was simply too great.
Despite Necrozma's best efforts, Deoxys darted past its defences with lightning-fast reflexes, the Throat Chop striking true with incredible precision. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the Prism Pokémon's form, staggering it backwards as it struggled to regain its balance.
Deoxys, now a crimson streak of unparalleled speed, darted around the cosmic battlefield with blinding agility, its Throat Chop attack striking Necrozma with relentless precision. Each strike came with the force of a cosmic hurricane, sending shockwaves rippling through the Prism Pokémon's form as it struggled to keep pace with its elusive adversary.
Necrozma, buffeted by the ferocity of Deoxys's onslaught, fought valiantly to defend itself against the relentless barrage of attacks. But the DNA Pokémon's speed was simply too great, its movements a blur of crimson as it darted around the void of space with unmatched agility.
With each successive Throat Chop, Necrozma was being pressured, its form battered and bruised by the sheer force of Deoxys's assault. The Prism Pokémon was taking this storm of attacks that were super-effective every single time.
"It's so fast. But nothing's too fast to stop! Use Gravity!"
In response to her command, Necrozma unleashed a flare of gravitational energy, distorting the very fabric of space around them. The force of its Gravity ability exerted a powerful pull, disrupting Deoxys's frenetic movements and anchoring it firmly in place.
Caught off guard by the sudden shift in gravitational forces, Deoxys found itself momentarily immobilized, its blinding speed brought to a sudden halt by Necrozma's gravity manipulation. The crimson streak of light faltered, its movements slowed as it struggled against the unseen force that held it in place.
But to Daybreaker's surprise, Deoxys, even while held by Gravity, could still retaliate. And the move it used was also Gravity. As Deoxys unleashed its own Gravity ability, the cosmic battlefield shimmered with the interplay of opposing gravitational forces.
Both Pokemon were pushing their gravitational forces against each other, creating a heavy clash that were shaking the nearby ships. Metal groaned and creaked as the immense pressure of the cosmic conflict bore down upon them, threatening to tear them apart at the seams.
Smaller planets and asteroids caught in the gravitational crossfire were not spared from the cataclysmic effects of the clash. Their surfaces trembled and cracked as the opposing gravitational forces exerted tremendous pressure upon them, causing geysers of molten rock to erupt from their cores and sending shockwaves rippling across their surfaces.
A nearby asteroid belt was affected as asteroids were hurled off course, crashing into one another with explosive force as the very fabric of space-time seemed to warp and distort under the strain.
"At this rate, they might destroy everything around us!" One of the pilots gasped. Son, their eyes them met with the Moon which was beginning to feel the struggle.
Cracks formed along the Moon's surface, fissures splitting open to reveal the molten core beneath. Mountains crumbled and valleys were rent asunder as the celestial body strained against the immense pressure exerted upon it by the cosmic struggle.
Suddenly, the Moon would start glowing, catching everyone's attention. The clash between Deoxys and Necrozma came to a halt once they saw it unleashing a beautiful light. Daybreaker's scowl soon turned into a smile as this could mean only one thing.
Lunala was coming.
"Jackpot."
The celestial glow intensified, casting a luminous sheen across the vast expanse of space and drawing the attention of all who beheld it.
In the midst of the cosmic chaos, the arrival of another powerful figure brought it to a halt to let everyone witness it. Suddenly, from the heart of the glowing lunar orb, a dazzling beam of light erupted, piercing through the darkness of space with breathtaking brilliance.
The luminous beam stretched forth like a celestial bridge, spanning the vast distance between the Moon and the cosmic battlefield below. As it extended into the void everything across the cosmos reacted to the approaching presence.
And then, emerging from the heart of the radiant beam, came Lunala, the Legendary Pokémon of the moon. Its graceful form glimmered with an otherworldly luminescence, its majestic wings unfurled in a display of celestial splendor.
"There it is..." Sunrise Sparkle and everypony else on board would gawk at the Pokemon emerging before them.
"Lunala." Cozy Glow uttered, raising her Pokedex once more and reading up on thi Legendary Pokemon.
"Lunala. The Moone Pokemon. Since ancient times, Lunala has been honored as an emissary of the moon. It is referred to with reverence as the Beast that calls the Moon. Lunala is constantly absorbing light and converting it into energy. With its wings spread to absorb the surrounding light and glittering like a crescent moon, it resembles a beautiful night sky. It is said to be a female evolution of Cosmog. When its third eye activates, away it flies to another world."
"I've been waiting for this." The Sinister Solar Queen grinned. This is the Pokemon she came here before and thanks to this aggressive battle, with the Moon being threatened, Lunala made her appearance.
As Lunala descended gracefully from the cosmic heavens, its radiant gaze fell upon Daybreaker and Necrozma, the two figures threatened to engulf the universe in chaos and destruction. With eyes as deep and mysterious as the cosmos itself, Lunala knew exactly who the threats were here.
"Finally!" Daybreaker exclaimed while cackling deviously. "Oh, I've been waiting for this. Lunala. You're just food for Necrozma and now you've shown yourself. All of this is going to pay off splendidly."
Lunala scowled. Such disrespect from Daybreaker, who was only focused on fueling Necrozma. Lunala herself knew just how dangerous Necrozma can be if he ever absorbs enough light.
"All ships! Capture Lunala!" Now that Lunala was here, Daybreaker ordered her forces to begin the capture.
Upon hearing their leader's orders, the forces under Daybreaker's command sprang into action with ruthless efficiency. Everything they had in their ships would be used to their fullest extent for this one Pokemon.
This entire time, they were just holding back since they came here for Lunala in the first place. Rayquaza and Deoxys did not warrant such force, not even the Equestrian Wailord. Not that they weren't strong, but that they didn't want to waste their resources.
But now that Lunala was here, they could go all in.
Energy nets crackled to life, casting shimmering webs of light across the celestial expanse as they closed in on Lunala's ethereal form. Tractor beams hummed with power, their invisible tendrils reaching out to ensnare the Moone Pokémon and drag her into captivity.
Lunala, sensing the imminent threat, let out a haunting cry that echoed through the void, a mournful lament for the fate that awaited it.
As the forces under Daybreaker's command moved in to capture Lunala, a sudden surge of energy disrupted their advance. Deoxys, standing in defence of the Moone Pokémon, unleashed its blinding speed with a ferocity that caught Daybreaker's forces off guard.
Deoxys zoomed forward like a comet streaking through the night sky, its movements a blur of light and motion. Trailing behind it like a comet's tail, Deoxys left a trail of afterimages in its wake, destroying the Tractor Beams and nets with its own energy.
Daybreaker's forces scrambled to react, their weapons tracking the elusive Pokémon as it weaved through their ranks with effortless grace. Energy blasts and projectiles were launched in a desperate attempt to intercept Deoxys, but the DNA Pokémon proved to be a master of evasion, dodging each attack with uncanny precision.
As Deoxys darted and dodged with lightning-fast reflexes, Lunala seized the opportunity to break free from the encroaching net. With a powerful flap of its wings, the Moone Pokémon soared into the cosmic expanse, its graceful form illuminated by the glow of the stars.
"So, you still want to get in my way? So be it." Daybreaker scoffed at Deoxys. "I'll just take both of you with me!"
It was on that day up in the cosmic skies where Cozy Glow saw it all transpire. From start to finish and it absolutely blew her away. And the end of this clash in space was just as alarming.
Present Day.
Recalling the chaotic battle that had unfolded amidst the stars, Cozy Glow's face twisted into an expression of incredulity. It seemed like a lifetime ago, and yet the memories were still vivid in her mind. Being up in space that long certainly messed with her a bit.
She was just a child after all.
"Uh...Hello?" Scootaloo waved her hoof in front of Cozy Glow's eyes.
"Wah!" The young pegasus gasped once she was snapped back to her senses.
"You were saying something? What did you say you saw?" Scootaloo questioned.
"N-Nothing! Nothing!" She dismissed it immediately, not wanting to tell the truth and risk being caught as one of Daybreaker's allies. Cozy Glow forced a smile, her mind racing with thoughts of the cosmic battles that had unfolded among the stars.
"Oh, dear." Windflash suddenly said, coming to a halt once she saw something up ahead. New flowers appeared but these ones were not pleasant. "Echoing Ensarement Flowers."
"What kind of flowers are those?" Silver Spoon questioned.
"Well, they're usually known for their enchanting beauty and deceptive allure. These flowers possess the unique ability to ensnare individuals with weak wills and fears, drawing them into a trance-like state before capturing them within their intricate blooms."
"Oh. Are any of us gonna be affected?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"Pssh! Not me!" Smolder boasted. "I'm totally fine!"
"Same here." Gallus and the other Griffons boasted too, being confident in their selves. "Well, I mean, it's not like we can show up there right now anyway."
"You all should be fine." Windflash assured. "I know for a fact you all have strong wills. Fearful, sure but nothing too bad. As long as you have all of that, the flowers won't target you at all. Unless you're all hiding something?"
"They can sense that too? Well..." Scootaloo rolled her eyes, having something to hide. "I totally am, but I wanna save it, ya know."
"Same here. There's something I want to show everyone else sometime soon." Sandbar spoke.
"Hm-hm." Windflash giggled. "The flowers won't pressure you. Whatever you have won't be a big deal to them."
But it ended up being a big deal to one of them.
From below, one of the flowers showed up to immediately attack Cozy Glow. The young pegasus gasped, turning around to see some tendrils coming for her. She would screech, alerting her fellow classmates and Windflash. Obviously, Cozy Glow had a lot to hide. But not only that, she had a weak will and was very much fearful after what she saw in space.
"H-Help! Heeeeelp!" She bellowed before being taken away by the flowers which also had the ability to take flight, taking on a bulbous form.
"Oh dear! Oh dear!" Windflash grimaced as a student had been captured. Immediately, she would take flight, trying to catch up with her student and the flower. The other flowers flew upwards, passing by Windflash, who was shocked to see multiple of them target one pony. "For that many flowers to target her? That doesn't seem right."
The students all panicked, looking around them to see if the flowers would come after them too. But since they saw what they were capable of, the flowers picked up on their fears. Windflash knew this, turning her head as she was struggling to decide on what to do next. She had to save Cozy Glow but she couldn't leave her students alone.
Watching this from afar was none other than May, who was with Windflash's little brother New Breeze. When searching for her, May looked up to see the sight of Cozy Glow being taken away.
Immediately, based on New Breeze's reaction and the sounds of children screeching nearby and in the sky, May knew something was wrong. Very wrong.
Captured by Sentient Flowers, Cozy Glow found herself being taken away after the flowers sensed her weakness. Due to what she saw not too long ago in space, she was unable to think straight. The flowers sensed this and immediately trapped her in one of them, taking off to the skies to who-knows-where. Only Windflash knew where.
"What do I do?! Do I go for her or...Oooh...!" Windflash wasn't sure who to go to first. One student or multiple students.
"It's alright, Miss!" Scootaloo yelled. Luckily for them, their Pokemon would simply keep them safe, showing no fear. The flowers did attempt to grab the other students due to their reaction, but that was promptly stopped once Rapidash stepped forward.
His hoof hit the ground hard, causing the flowers to halt and immediately back away. Even they knew that messing with Rapidash would result in immediate destruction. They were flowers at the end of the day and those flames are greater than any standard fire out there.
"Oh." Impressed, Windflash saw how the students staved off their fear, forcing the other flowers to retreat. "But still. I can't leave you all here."
"It's fine! We'll be safe!" Sweetie Belle waved her hooves. "We've got our Pokemon to keep us safe, so don't even worry about it!"
"Mhm! You can go on ahead!" Apple Bloom bellowed. All the other children had the same opinion. Surprisingly, each of them were confident in defending themselves and because of that, the flowers did not target them whatsoever. Windflash put on a smile, amazed by what she was seeing and hearing.
"Alright." She would put her faith in them since they were this confident. "Just be safe, children." Ascending higher, she would continue to pursue Cozy Glow, making sure the flowers do not evade her. Windflash went south while the students were left to handle things on their own while the other students looked through the Pocket Sky.
"That's rough," Gallus spoke. "Shouldn't you go with her? I mean, you all sound brave enough?"
"We'd just make her worry if we came along."
"I don't know. We sounded pretty confident when we said we could take care of ourselves." Smolder pointed out, shrugging afterwards. "Check out those flowers. They aren't gonna target us anymore. Not when we're so brave and we've got Fire-Types on our side."
"I wish I was there right now!" Silverstream grizzled her teeth out of jealousy. "If I could bring those flowers back-"
"You'd just cause trouble." Another Hippogriff said, already knowing what might happen if Silverstream ever took one of them back.
"Yeah, I probably would. Hey, Sandbar. Grab me one of those flowers. So when we get the chance to come back to school, I can take them home with me. Oh, and those singing flowers we learned about."
"I'd have to ask first." Sandbar replied. "But we shouldn't leave right now and-"
"Ah, what's there to worry about?" Scootaloo shrugged it off. "Those flowers won't get anywhere near us now. If there's more of us, we can support miss Windflash that way. Easily! How's that sound?"
"I mean...sure." Sandbar uttered. "We could do that.
"Yona thinks you should do it!" Yona immediately entertained the idea and so did the other Yaks as they all spoke in unison. The Griffons didn't help by also encouraging it and so did the Dragons and some of the Hippogriffs. All of them wanted to see it since they were mainly stuck here.
"Don't do it." Speaking through the Pocket Sky and coming into frame was none other than Queen Chrysalis. "The worst case scenario is that you run into something you're not ready for, especially with no guidance in the sk. It's best to stay here where you have absolute control."
"What about her? She could guide us?" Smolder then turned hers and everyone's attention to someone else. Pointing in the distance, the nearest island had someone else running on it.
it was none other than May, who was also following Cozy Glow as she had New Breeze right behind her. Immediately upon seeing her, Sweetie Belle recognized the Trainer from Hoenn from when she was in that brief contest back at Las Pegasus. While she didn't get her name, she recognized that face.
"Hey! It's her!"
May was moving as fast she can, eyeing down Cozy Glow who was screaming and kicking inside of the bulb. She hopped over the terrain around her when trying to get closer and closer. And to her credit, she was closing the gap.
"I just have to reach her! Go, Beautifly!" From her waist bag, she would throw a Poke Ball into the air. Emerging from it was none other than her Beautifly.
"Beautifly!"
"Beautifly, use Aerial Ace!"
"Beauti!" Covering her wings in a bright self, Beautifly would move at high speeds, zooming through the air. This allowed her to immediately catch up with the flowers, but not before passing by Windflash.
Windflash, who had just come into a view, was startled by the swift movements of Beautifly. She didn't expect a Pokemon to start zooming past her at such speeds, let alone go straight for the flowers. Beautifly got closer and closer as it looked like she was about to connect.
"!!" Cozy Glow grimaced once she saw Beautifly getting closer, fearing that she was a target for this Pokemon. Beautifly connected, but the other flowers got in her way, preventing a direct blow. However, the impact sent a shockwave that affected the main flower either way. With the other flowers falling aside, the main one would start dropping, losing its balance.
Windflash and May watched as the flower started hurtling downwards, spinning a few times and making the young pegasus dizzy. She came to a halt on the sky island she was above and thankfully had a safe landing.
"Oooh..." Cozy Glow groaned while in the flower. Despite this, she was still stuck in it. The flower had yet to leave her alone, still preying on her weaknesses.
"Cozy Glow!" Windflash yelled when descending, coming to her student's aid. Not only that, entering this part of the island was May, who moved through the bushes with Beautifly also descending. "Are you alright?!
"No..." The young pegasus grumbled.
"Sorry about that!" May apologized as that wasn't what she had in mind. "I was hoping for Beautifly to grab the flowers instead!" When showing up, she immediately got Windflash's attention, who was just now seeing her. It caught Windflash off guard to see a Human here who was also right next to her little brother.
"New Breeze? Who's that?" Windflash asked.
"Afternoon, sister!" New Breeze would glide over to his elder sister. "I met a powerful Pokemon Trainer today! Her name is May!"
"Hi there!" May came to a screeching halt upon meeting with Windflash. Both would stop just a few feet away from the flower. Speaking of the flower, the other ones from before flew back in, immediately surrounding themselves once more around the main one. Cozy Glow was quivering, fearing that she might not leave this flower. Then again, compared to what she saw up in space, this was small potatoes. "So you're Windflash. Are these flowers playing around like the other ones?"
"No. These are different." New Breeze replied. "The Ensaring Embrace Flowers are the most dangerous ones we have here in Pegalysium."
"I just explained it to my students, but it looks like Cozy Glow was captured either way. These flowers prey on weak wills, fears and anything negative happening around someone." Windflash would give a quick rundown to May while looking over at Cozy Glow. "They can't harm anyone but they can trap them there forever, I'm afraid."
"That's harsh. All that because of those emotions and traits?" May grimaced at such a fact.
"But that's rather strange..." Windflash thought about something for a moment. "These flowers usually use one of themselves to capture others. It always takes one flower to catch one pony. I've never seen multiple of them appear around another."
"It's not common?" May questioned.
"Mm-mm." Shaking her head, Windflash revealed that this was a new development. "It's never that serious. Then again, we haven't come across many ponies in our life that have gone through this."
"I got trapped in it once when I was really afraid." New Breeze grinned, already going through this experience.
"I remember being told about this when I was young by my grandfather. If multiple flowers are around one pony, that can mean only one thing." Windflash cleared her throat. "It means the person inside is pathetic."
"Gh!" A heavy hit to Cozy Glow's spirit and heart after hearing that. But that was just the first example.
"A nuisance."
"Agh!" Another strong hit. Super-effective this time as Cozy Glow raised her head, her body shivering.
"Distasteful."
"Ngh!" A very super-effective hit to the spirit as another negative word was thrown her.
"And above all else, Hopeless."
"Aah!" A critical hit to the young filly. Everything that was said about her struck her ego right in the core, even if she agreed with some of it.
"But you aren't any of that, Cozy Glow." Windflash, despite spouting all of those words, had faith in the young filly. "I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding from the flowers. It's also my first time coming across this much that are this active."
"Y-Yeah...Just a misunderstanding." Cozy Glow grinned while tears ran down her eyes. "You're gonna pay for this, Windflash! One day! I swear!" She thought to herself.
"So, how do we free her? If you need me to take those flowers down, don't worry!" May grinned, already prepared for some destruction if necessary.
"Well, usually, the best thing to do is a Sincerity Offering. That always frees someone from the flowers. When ensnared by the flower's tendrils, anypony has the opportunity to reflect on their actions and offer a heartfelt apology for any deception or harm they may have caused. If any. That way, they'll be freed."
"That's it? Should be pretty easy." May commented. "I hope so at least. All you have to do is confess."
"C-Confess?" Cozy Glow repeated as things went silent for her. She was once again speaking in her mind. "Rats. If I confess, my cover will be blown. I can't afford that. I was already getting somewhere with the Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter and it'd be the worst if I failed here!"
"It's alright, Cozy Glow. We won't judge you at all, I promise." Windflash encouraged as she had absolute faith in the young pegasus, unaware of what she was capable of. It was because of this, she only saw the good in Cozy Glow and anything negative was seen as childish shenanigans. Possibly due to her having such a huge family. "Neither will the flowers."
"Mmm...!" Cozy Glow's face would be scrunched. Her ears would droop and so would her wings. She had to say something since she definitely didn't want to stay in here. "But instead of confessing the deepest things that mattered, she instead went for a different route.
Not wanting to risk the possibility of the flowers doing something worse to her if they find out she was lying, she had one thing that was technically true but wouldn't be as bad as the events in space and the alliance with Daybreaker.
"I'm the one who caused all those potion problems!" Cozy Glow shouted at the top of her lungs. "The giant potion in school and the ones at the Battle Frontier! Those were all me! I did my best to stay silent about it! I also added my own potion in one of the Battle Frontier's foods and that brought Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter into the world!"
"Oh." Windflash uttered as that didn't really affect her. She wasn't well-versed in potions or even the Dragon Matter. "Alright then. That isn't so bad. Well, she confessed so, I think it's best you let her down."
"That was her?" May was actually taken aback by that. This little girl is the cause of Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter entering the entire universe? Truly a shock.
There were a few seconds of silence that filled the area and yet the flowers were not letting go of Cozy Glow. In fact, after hearing all of this, not only did they keep her in, they started glowing, letting out an aggressive sound.
"W-What's happening?!" Cozy Glow panicked. After sugarcoating and holding back all of the information, the flower's demeanour shifted from passive to aggressive. Its delicate tendrils transform into thorny coils, and its once enchanting aura became tinged with an ominous energy. They turned deep red along with a black crackle of magical energy that reverberated across the atmosphere.
"They didn't accept that?!" A stunned Windflash stepped back. The sure-fire method of escaping these flowers was down the drain.
"Elder sister?! Have you seen that black electricity before?!" New Breeze gulped, tugging his big sister's tail. "What does that mean?!"
The students who were making their way to Windflash would soon witness the effects that these aggressive flowers brought once they saw through Cozy Glow's sugarcoating. What started as jolly prance and flutter in this jungle eventually shifted into a dreary place for the other flowers.
Scootaloo and the others saw how the other Sentient Flowers in this jungle started booking it. Rapidly, they were moving across the ground, carrying their dirt and soil while some would hop by using their stems. The black electricity crackled across the jungle area, grabbing some of the flowers.
The students watched as these flowers were restrained by the black electricity, carried through the air. The flowers made sounds that resembled fear and for a good reason. After being lifted into the air, these flowers feared the worst as they were incredibly fragile.
"Charmander! Use Dragon Claw!"
"Charmander!" Saving the flowers from destruction was Charmander, who leapt into the air and slashed one of the black electricity in half. The flower would be dropped, landing perfectly on Charmander's head.
"Meowstic, use Psyshock!"
"Meow!" Doing the same was Meowstic who would pierce some of the black electricity, freeing eight sentient flowers in general. These eight flowers were immediately caught by Rapidash, who didn't even burn them. The flowers were rather worried about that but since Rapidash trusted them, he was able to control his flames so that they took no damage.
The flowers, after being caught and landing safely on Rapidash's back and Charmander's head, would start jumping for joy, letting out little squeaks of happiness with their serene voices. But the area around them wasn't looing so serene at the moment.
"What is Miss Windflash going through over there?" Sweetie Belle had to wonder.
"Do something!" Cozy Glow screeched while still in the flower. "I wanna go home now!"
"Oh dear. Not only don't they accept it, but they're going too far. I've heard from grandfather that something like this is only used for those who are truly wicked."
"You're saying she's wicked?!" May and New Breeze collectively said when looking at Cozy Glow. They looked at her face, seeing how petrified she was. Nothing about that face screamed wicked or even her reactions.
"I-I don't get it myself! This is my first time witnessing this!"
"Well, I'm not gonna sit by and let this go on. Not on a kid." May's face would tighten up as her gaze intensified, getting serious. Digging into her bag once more, she held two Poke Balls out. "Keep those flowers still! Blaziken! Venusaur!"
"Blaziken!"
"Venusaur!" Immediately after appearing, Blaziken and Venusaur knew what they needed to do. Blaziken leapt through the air, its arms wide as it grabbed onto the flowers. Blaziken's grip was strong but its leg grip was even stronger as it used those to lock the flowers too.
Venusaur was straight forward. Her vines would meet with her fellow plants, bringing them to one spot with ease. There was just one problem. The main flower, which was the most aggressive of them all.
"Alright. What do we do about the main one then? If confessing won't do, what else is there?" May questioned as her Pokemon were holding the flowers as close as they could, keeping them under control for the time being.
"There is one more way. The Release Dance." Thankfully, there was a second option on the table for these flowers. "But this is said to be a last resort and I haven't seen that either. To free someone strongly trapped within the flower's embrace, one must perform a dance of liberation while simultaneously confessing personal truths, no matter how embarrassing or difficult."
"Say what now?" May blinked.
"Mmm. That's what it says. It has to be that kind of dance. Someone else must confess something to the flowers in place of the victim. That's how it works. It can be as deep as it can be."
"Well, I don't have anything deep to hide." New Breeze shook his head. The young pegasus wasn't really hiding anything that really mattered that much to him. Neither did Windflash as she also shook her head.
"Neither do I," Windflash commented. "Anything I have might not be enough for the flowers or matter all that much, but I'm not exactly sure.
"Okay. I have some things to say." May closed her eyes. She would step up, deciding to be the one to reveal some things just for the sake of his child. "I'll dance and confess."
"Miss May, are you sure?" New Breeze asked.
"Very sure. All I need to do is dance and say what needs to be said from my side, right?" She looked back at Windflash.
"Yes. But the dance must also be embarrassing."
"Wait, the dance too?!" May exclaimed. It wasn't just her words but also the dance itself. Truly a display of bravado and confidence was needed for this one scenario. "Oh...I'm a bad dancer any way so I guess this'll work in my favour. Alright. Here I go."
The flowers would old back a bit, waiting to see what May had to offer. They agreed to let May try and free Cozy Glow with whatever she has to say. Even her Pokemon were about to watch this.
Showing up at the worst possible time or technically the best possible time were the students of the Pokemon School when trying to find Windflash. All they had to do was follow the pressure of a fearsome energy and they immmediately found themselves at this area. But they were not prepared for what was coming next.
With a flourish, May began to dance, her movements a whirlwind of spontaneity and silliness. She twirled and spun, leaping with abandon as she channelled all her energy into the liberating dance. As May danced, she began to speak, her words a mixture of heartfelt confessions and deep, embarrassing truths.
"I once tried to impress a cute guy by pretending to be a master chef... and ended up burning the entire kitchen down!" she confessed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I had to let Wartortle and Blaziken handle the rest of it and they took the fall for me!"
"I have a secret fear of butterflies! I didn't want to admit it to Beautifly from the start! It just happened all of a sudden and I didn't wanna make Beautifly sad when I saw her evolve at last!" She continued, her voice tinged with laughter despite the seriousness of the situation.
With each confession, the Ensnaring Embrace flower seemed to respond, its grip on Cozy Glow gradually loosening as if moved by the honesty and vulnerability of May's words.
"I once convinced a group of tourists that I was the queen of an imaginary kingdom in the clouds! I even had them bowing down and calling me 'Your Highness' and it didn't help that there was actually a place in the sky! I had to walk around like a giant cloud for weeks with Flying Pokemon even entering my costume as if it was a nest!"
As the dance reached its crescendo, May threw herself into one final, exaggerated flourish, her laughter mingling with tears of relief.
"And... and sometimes, I dress up as Ash when we travel across Hoenn together!" She exclaimed, her voice filled with unabashed joy. "The clothes just looked so cool!"
Hearing all of that, the flowers were satisfied. These confessions, while nowhere near as impactful as what Cozy Glow was hiding, were still strong. Strong enough to make the flowers giggle as they found it rather humorous and so did everyone else.
Since it came from the heart and May held nothing back compared to Cozy Glow who was definitely holding something back, this was a good enough reason. The flowers dispersed, freeing Cozy Glow at last.
Everyone else could be heard laughing. From New Breeze to all of the students that had shown up. May twiddled her fingers, her face red from confessing all of that. Especially the last one. That last part was the hardest-hitting one.
"You dress up as Ash Ketchum." Windflash let out a light giggle. "Honestly?"
"Well, I'm shocked they let that one slide since I was holding something about why I really dress as him." May giggled. "But no one else has to know that."
"Hah..." Cozy Glow would lie down, flat on her face too. "Finally."
"I'm positive the dancing contributed to it," Windflash said. "But well done, May. That was rather sweet of you to do all of that for Cozy Glow."
"Yeah. Hopefully never again. I have a lot more that I don't want to share." May then approached Cozy Glow, picking her up from the ground. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine..." Cozy Glow grumbled. "A bit woozy. The inside of that flower was so weird. I don't think I wanna come up here again..."
"Pfft! Nice dancing, lady!" Gallus laughed along with the Griffons. All the Dragons would do the same, laughing at what May had pulled off.
"Yeah, do it again!" Speaking through the Pocket Sky was Garble who was wheezing to the point that he breathed fire.
"Mmmrrgh!" But that only prompted them to receive a vicious stare from the Hoenn Trainer. Her eyes flared like a supernova as she stared into their souls.
"Eeeeeek!" The Griffons and even the Dragons all screeched, leaving the view of the Pocket Sky.
"May?" Just then, something was clicking for Apple Bloom. The name May and the name Ash being brought up in the same sentence reminded her and the rest of her friends of something. "Hang on a second...Are you...the Queen of the Sea?!"
"Queen of the Sea?" May repeated.
"Oh, right! Ash talked about someone called may when he told us the story about the Sea Temple! Weren't you there too!? Are you the same May?!" Scootaloo had to know if she was standing before the May that Ash brought up.
"Yeah, that's me. I guess you've all met Ash. He even told you about what happened with Samiya?" May put on a smile.
"It is you!" Right now, they were standing in front of the true Queen of the Sea before Delia took that spot. The Mother of Prince Manaphy, May Petalburg.
"I was next to her this entire time..." Little Sweetie Belle realized she was in the presence of May during the Pokemon Festival this whole time. She just didn't have an appearance to go off and there was the fact that no names were called out during that contest since it was so different.
"Is she now?" Hearing Queen of the Sea was Chrysalis, who moved her children aside to look at May Petalburg. Her eyes narrowed at the Hoenn Trainer, eyeing her up and down. "Hmm...Queen of the Sea, are you? Hmph. " "Is something wrong?" May asked.
"Nothing, nothing." Chrysalis rolled her eyes. "Uh, if you wouldn't mind, would you like to come over to the Changeling Lands for a while?"
"How about we go home first?" Cozy Glow asked, wanting to get out of Pegalysium pronto.
"That'll be for the best." Windflash agreed. "For your own sake. But we'll need someone to help you get down to Equestria and I have to stay up here for the children. Our lesson isn't quite done yet."
"I'll take her." May, who was already holding onto Cozy Glow would take that role. "Don't worry about it. She'll be back in Equestria safe and sound. I've already gotten some good views and ideas for next contest I'll go to"
"Oh, oh! Don't leave yet!" Sweetie Belle, Diamond Tiara and other ponies participating in the Pokemon Contests would jump around May. "You're a Top Coordinator, right?! Are you?! Share some stuff with us, please! Especially since you've been with Ash!"
"Uh...I think it's best I get her home before anyone else." May prioritised Cozy Glow's wellbeing. But I guess along the way I can share a few things with you. What's the rush anyways?"
"Yes! And tell us the side of your story when you were at the Sea Temple?!" Sweetie Belle also wanted more details about that event. "I bet you did something amazing there too! Ash said you stayed in a ship a lot of the time or something!"
"Well, umm..." Truth be told, May really did stay inside of a pod the entire time and very soon, they were about to hear her side of the story.
But while they were walking away from this area, Windflash had to wonder about something. She looked back at the flowers, curious as to why they didn't accept Cozy Glow's confessions. They were true, but Windflash had no idea what was beyond that.
A weird feeling coursed through her body that she managed to feel as she then looked over at Cozy Glow. Windflash wanted to believe she told the truth. She even chalked it up to her first time seeing those flowers act in such a way. The descendant of Windkiss wouldn't know for sure. Not yet at least.
Equestria. Near the Faye Mountains. Late Afternoon.
After visiting Pegalysium, May was told to try and come to the Changelings Lands for a while by Chrysalis herself. It was mainly the fact that the Queen of the Sea title was given to her. After dropping Cozy Glow off at Equestria, she was making her way to the Changeling Lands, following a map that was lent to her.
Equestria's map has changed drastically ever since the Pokemon have arrived and the landscape is constantly changing due to certain Pokemon. But thanks to Starmap, May could find the right location as she was near the Faye Mountains.
"Changeling Lands..." May spoke when looking at the map, her footsteps stopped on the beautiful grass. In the distance, the view of the Faye Mountains were very much visible. "It's pretty close. Not too far from here and that afternoon sun's looking deeper. But first! Let's eat!"
Instantly, she summoned her Pokemon, preparing to feast. Blaziken, Wartortle, Beautifly, Skitty, Munchlax, Venusaur and Glaceon were all summoned.
All the food that May had been saving up was immediately placed down on a picnic mat. All of her personal favourites were here along with her Pokemon's favourites. "Time to dig in!"
Wasting no time, her Pokemon began chowing down, enjoying the wonderful taste of human food. But May was still standing, watching them as she had her own hands in her pockets.
"It's so good that we can eat anything together." She smiled. "But it's not the same if you're not here..."
She looked away, remembering all the good times she had with him. "I know you're gone. But you'll always be a part of my heart, Ash. You keep coming up in conversations a lot, huh?" She giggled while eating.
It was a peaceful eating session as her Pokemon were also getting up to their usual antics. Beautifly and Wartortle were fighting over a single slice of cheese pizza. Venusaur and Munchlax were competing in an eating contest and Skitty was playing around with Glaceon. While eating, May looked at the mountains in the distance, seeing the Fairy Magic they exude around the area.
"Oh...Beautiful!" She watched as the Fairy Magic would change colours in a variety of ways. It wrapped around the mountains like a beautiful rainbow. Even her Pokemon stopped eating to admire this sight, all of them having their mouths wide open.
"They are called the Faye Mountains...right? I heard about them. The mountains emit a unique energy called Fairy Magic." She spoke out. But while they were gawking at this wonderful sight, that just made some Pokemon sneak up on their food while they weren't looking. The Pokemon in question were Nickit, Bounsweet, Pichu, Gossifleur and Rookidee. They were hiding behind the trees, looking at the food as they were drooling.
"Pichu..." They quietly moved towards the food, hoping that the Pokemon wouldn't notice. Nickit grabbed the food as Pichu and Bounsweet started to stuff their faces. As this was happening, Munchlax turned his head, spotting the Pokemon as they were stuffing their faces. Munchlax's eyes would glow as he cried out loud.
"MUNCHLAX!"
Hearing his cry, the thieving Pokemon were startled as they looked at him. This prompted Venusaur, Blaziken, Beautifly, Glaceon and Skitty to rotate their heads in a heartbeat, noticing some of their food missing. But the one most upset about this was May, whose eyes would widen when she saw the Pokemon stealing their food.
MY FOOD!" She screamed as the Pokemon immediately scattered. Her rage was intense, almost like a thousand volcanoes going off all at once. "GET BACK HERE! I WILL END YOU!"
"Chu! Pichu!" The Pokemon were running as fast as they could, not looking back. The Pokemon were running as fast as they could, not looking back. May was not holding anything back, immediately pursuing them on foot, her fist raised high. "Get back here! I paid good money to get that!" She would even drift on her own feet.
The Pokemon were heading back to a place where they lived. They were trying to escape into a cave but May would catch up. She would take a strong leap, getting in front of one of the Nickit with ease and blocking his path. "I got you!"
"Kit?!"
She would loom over him, her eyes glowing an untold rage that should never be tampered with. The other Pokemon panicked, fearing that they may have made a terrible mistake.
"You guys..." May's voice got deeper as she closed her eyes before reopening them. "Sorry about that. But if you wanted some food, you could've just asked. Plus, I get a bit too heated about my food sometimes.
Her sudden change in tone would surprise the Pokemon, who were looking at her with awe. Nickit immediately fainted on the spot. "Woah! Are you alright?"
A few minutes passed and May was back at the same spot. This time, she was with the Pokemon who stole from her, allowing them to share the food. They were enjoying the delicious food that she had as her Pokemon were watching them.
"It's a good thing I had extra, right?" She asked, looking at the Wild Pokemon.
"Nickit!" Nickit was jumping in excitement, eating some PokePuffs.
"Pichu-Pichu!" Pichu was also jumping, stuffing her mouth with some berries as all the other Pokemon indulged themselves.
After minutes of consumption, May was stuffed, feeling satisfied as she stood up. "Aah! That's more like it! Okay then. It's straight up ahead and I'll meet the Changelings. Be safe and don't eat too much, okay?"
Quickly, she returned them all to their Poke Balls once they were done. May walked off as the Pokemon watched her leave. She would disappear into the forest, heading to the Changeling Lands. All of her Pokemon would follow, leaving the Pokemon behind.
May only had a bit more to go as she immediately started running. Up ahead was some terrain that looked rather daring and exciting to try out.
If this was May in the past, she would never even dare to tackle them. But she has grown, being more adventurous as her legs were starting to move. She was heading to the rocky wall as the sun was setting. It would be a race against time as she climbed her way up.
"I've...been...so lazy." She told herself. "I think it's time I change. Time to start training and getting myself ready for what's to come. And this is the perfect way to do that!"
Her feet were pressing onto the rocks, keeping her body balanced. But it wasn't easy. There were moments where her legs were shaking, making her grip onto the rocks harder. "I can do this. I can do this." Her gutsy spirit was as strong as a Pokemon with Steadfast or Inner Focus without a doubt.
Faye Mountains. The Changeling Lands.
After climbing for a few minutes, she reached the top, landing on the floor. Her face was sweaty as her hands were also dirty from all that gripping. "Hah..." She smiled before noticing her surroundings.
It was a new view, different from her own. A beautiful sunset was in the sky, shining its light onto the entire area. "Oh my goodness!" She ran towards the edge, looking at the sunset. She would place her hands on the ledge, admiring this beauty.
"Beautiful..." She gasped, feeling the warmth of the sun hitting her skin. There, she would see the Changeling Lands. Home to Changelings and many Fairy-Types. She began sliding down a steep hill to make her way there, eventually arriving at the vast land before her.
"Wow. It's even more beautiful than I expected." May was looking at her surroundings, seeing a plethora of uniquely shaped buildings. A couple of Fairy-Type Pokemon were also seen, either sleeping or relaxing. Since the Changelings were similar to bugs, the number of hives and nests here were stellar.
At the centre was the tallest and biggest hive of them all. May knew that she had to go there. She was walking towards the hive, admiring the land and its inhabitants. A few Changelings and Fairies were looking at her here and there.
"Oh, is that her?" One of the Changelings said.
"Yeah, the one who did that silly dance and confessions." Another changeling giggled, only to be met with an intimidating glare from May. Immediately the two changelings jerked back, looking away.
May walked into the hive, seeing that it was filled with changelings. Some were flying, some were walking. The hive was full of activity and a certain someone was waiting for her arrival. It was straight to the biggest hive for May since that is obviously where Chrysalis would be. Immediately, she was let in by the guards who were expecting her and as soon as she entered, she was met with the interior, which was quite beautiful.
The inside of the main hive was filled with all kinds of things, mostly things related to Changelings. Some furniture was also here. There was a big window on the left, giving a good view of the land. The walls were decorated with green, orange and yellow stripes, representing the changelings' colour scheme.
It carried that royal theme by having a red carpet that was filled with symbols only the Changelings would understand. The room was also quite lit, but not too bright. It was mainly due to the hive having a green aura to it, providing the Changelings with the perfect environment. At the end was the Queen herself, turning her head to face May while having Ribombee by her side.
Umm...Queen Chrysalis, right?" May asked.
"Indeed." Chrysalis nodded when facing May. "And you're the Queen of the Sea, am I right?"
"Well, I wouldn't say that." May giggled. "I was just Manaphy's mother figure for a while, that's all. So, you wanted to speak to me because of that title, right? How come?"
"Come closer, May." Chrysalis used her hoof as a gesture, calling May to come closer. May did so, approaching her and bowing in the process. "Please, rise. There's no need to be so formal. After all, we are both queens, correct?"
"I guess..." May slowly got up, rubbing her hair. "So, why did you want to see me?"
Chrysalis shifted her eyes from left to right for a moment, staying silent momenterily. She then looked back at May, saying something that caught her off guard. "Alright. You have been with Ash longer than I have. Do you have any tips on how to confess to him?"
"Eh?!" May stepped back, completely caught off guard. "Wha-Wha-What?!"
"Do you have any tips on how I should confess my love to him?" Chrysalis repeated her question, not batting an eye. "If you're the Queen of the Sea and since he's the King of share."
"You-You-You love him?!" May was surprised. "Him?!"
"Is there a problem?"
"No, not really. I didn't think you'd be in love with Ash. But uh...I'm not sure I'm the one you should be asking for this." May sheepishly said while grinning.
"Nonsense!" Chrysalis exclaimed. "Listen closely. Me, Luna and Twilight all have one thing in common. It's only been 4 years since our world has crossed over with your world. Aside from getting used to the existence of Pokemon, I've been trying to win in a race."
"A race?"
"Indeed. A race of who can make Ash fall for them the fastest. If you're the one who's been by his side longer than anyone else, you must have some pointers. Twilight and Luna are ahead of me by I believe 1 or 2 years, but I won't slow down. You're the one who travelled across the Hoenn Region with Ash, right? What do you know?"
"Well uh...Ash isn't the kind of guy to really care about love. He's more into his journey, I guess. I mean, we have travelled together for a long time."
"So, you are the one who has been travelling with him the longest, correct?"
"No. I think that title goes to Misty and Brock, honestly. If there's anyone you should be asking, it's Misty. I'm not exactly that into Ash. Not that I don't like him but..."
"Mmmmrgh..." Chrysalis grumbled. "Your face says otherwise. Twilight already has a stark advantage since she is good friends with another girl by the name of Dawn and I have heard things here and there. That Misty girl shows up from time to time too even if its way less than Dawn. I'm not losing to those two. Queen to Queen. Tell me some things about Ash that I can use."
"Wait, if you want that so badly and you think I like him, why are you telling me this?"
"I have a lot of pride and dignity, yes. But I will do anything for the sake of the Changeling Hive and the one I love. If I can learn more about him through you, I can get an advantage over those two. They have an advantage and so will I now that you're here. Queen to Queen. Tell me some things about Ash."
"Wait, if you want that so badly and you think I like him, why are you telling me this?"
"I have a lot of pride and dignity, yes. But I will do anything for the sake of the Changeling Hive and the one I love. If I can learn more about him through you, I can get an advantage over those two. Plus, you're the first person that can give me such information. I'm not the same Queen that Ash battled a few times. I've changed. And yet, this new feeling of love is something I just can't overcome."
"Hmm..." May scratched her chin, thinking about it. "Well, Ash is a kind person. He will never hesitate to help others no matter what. He's determined and never gives up. That's the Ash I know. And he has a soft spot for Pokemon, that's for sure. That's something about him that I really like. A lot. He's very cute and he's always putting himself in harm's way for others."
"I see. Interesting." Chrysalis was listening as there was a Changeling nearby writing it all down.
"To be honest, I'm more into someone else. Drew. But Ash isn't so bad when I think about it." May looked up. "He's really nice and kind. Always helping others and making sure they're happy. Plus, he's pretty adorable. But his naivety gets the best of him sometimes. I'm sure that if you're able to help him out and make sure he's not doing anything stupid, you'll be able to have a strong relationship. It's just his naivety."
"Naivety, huh?" Chrysalis repeated, crossing her hooves. "He is rather naive, that much is true. But he's not oblivious to love. He knows a lot about it."
"I'm sure he'll listen to you and take your words seriously. I can tell he's the type of guy who will listen to you. As long as he doesn't make a mistake. I'd say you should just confess to him."
"Confess? Out of the question."
"Why not? It's better than hiding it."
"I've lived my entire life hiding my feelings. Why would I reveal them now? Love is a strange thing and it's rather embarrassing. It makes me feel weird, especially if it's around him. I'm not revealing it. Not now, at least. If it were anyone else sure, but I get a bit strange around Ash at times. I'd rather just wait."
"Well, there are many ways you can do it. You can do a dance like I did."
"Dance? Oh no, I'm not going to humiliate myself." The Changeling Queen vehemently dismissed that.
"I can see why you're racing for it and you needed my help." May chuckled nervously before noticing something nearby. A giant stack of romance books tat Chrysalis has gathered as of recently. They were all stacked neatly and in order. "Have you been reading these?"
"Indeed." Chrysalis confirmed. "They're just so wonderful and charming. Hah...It makes the heart swoon." She closed her eyes, putting on a wide smile. "These books have provided me with the knowledge I've needed."
"You're taking them seriously." May wasn't too sure about that.
"I wish but..." Chrysalis grumbled, using her magic to bring some of the books over. "They're no good! These won't help me with Ash at all!"
"How come?"
"All these romance books talk about the most ideal scenario. Meeting the Prince of your dreams. Spending time with him and going on adventures. Falling for him and then having him confess to you. Ash is nothing like these boys in these books! He's more complex than that."
"Is he?" May blinked a few times. She wasn't 100% sure about that one.
"Indeed! These books are useless to me. All these cliches won't work on him. We've fought a lot and yet, I'm still unable to get over him. It's not his looks, that's for sure. But sometimes I like to imagine myself in those books and Ash is there too, but the traits just don't match! What a waste! These books are garbage! And not the good kind!"
"Oh...That's a shame."
"Apologies. For centuries I've been feeding off of love in a destructive way. It wasn't until I met Ash and he saved me and my hive that I started to garner feelings for him. I even remember when we first battled. It was during the Canterlot Wedding that I personally infiltrated." Chrysalis was surprisingly proud of that even after all that time has passed. "I took on Ash on that day and I was absolutely furious."
Chrysalis began thinking back to that very day during the Canterlot Wedding. She remembered it well, probably because she lost on that day for the very first time too.
4 Years Ago. Canterlot. The Canterlot Wedding.
"Let's Go! Greninja! Full Power!" The Bond Phenemon was is in effect, and Ash Greninja has arrived. Now, with all of Ash's Pokémon forming the last line of defence, one can only hope that Canterlot remains unscathed. It was when all the ponies from the wedding were captured by Cofagrigus who was amplified by the Rift and joined by the Rift Pony Obsidian.
"Alright! Everyone! Our top priority is saving everyone that's been trapped in Cofagrigus. Greninja. You'll deal with Cofagrigus! Pikachu, Infernape and I will handle Chrysalis. Bayleef! Staraptor! Swellow! You focus on saving everyone who's been captured by Changelings. The rest of you handle the Changeling army. Let's go!" Each Pokémon knew its role as they divided and embarked on their missions.
"Don't let them succeed! Get them!" commanded Chrysalis as the Changelings swarmed in to assail Ash's Pokémon. Greninja swiftly engaged, using Aerial Ace to repel the Coffin Pokémon. Despite Cofagrigus's attempt to ensnare him, Greninja countered with a Double Team maneuver, creating the illusion of multiple copies before launching a swift Water Shuriken at its rear.
Meanwhile, Staraptor and Swellow dove toward the captured ponies, diverting the attention of the Changelings. Bayleef deftly employed Vine Whip to release the captives, while the aerial Pokémon continued to distract the Changelings.
Snorlax stood firm as a formidable barrier, impervious to the Changelings' assaults. Their efforts to dislodge or harm him proved futile, met only with a forceful slap in retaliation.
"Iron Tail! Mach Punch!" The duo executed their attacks with precision, targeting Chrysalis's horn and driving her back under the weight of their combined strength. In response, Chrysalis retaliated with magical beams.
"Flare Blitz!" Infernape countered the magic with a blazing charge, nullifying the attack. "Now, use Flamethrower!" Following up swiftly, Infernape unleashed a scorching stream of flames, causing Chrysalis to recoil in fear.
"What tenacity...How can someone wield such power?" Chrysalis began to comprehend the extent of her disadvantage. Resorting to treachery, she directed a magical beam toward the castle, endangering Fluttershy, Ash's other Pokémon, and Twilight.
"Charizard!" Ash cried out, but before disaster struck, a magical beam intercepted them, knocking them back. Charizard swooped in, rescuing them with a gust of wind that diverted them from the collapsing castle, triggering a massive shockwave.
"How many more these annoying creatures are there?! Why can they do much?! No matter. That leaves all of them to feed on. Their love is going to be delicious for all of us!"
"I was so bitter when I lost that day. But oh my, the way he battled was so amazing. His moves, his commands and how he was able to adapt to the situation. I was smitten by his skills." Chrysalis had stars in her eyes. "I'll be honest with you! That kind of power was exhilarating, even if I lost! It was like watching a fairy tale."
"I guess that's one way to start having feelings."
"I still hated him after that. We had another encounter during the first ever Pokemon Festival and I planned to intercept him in Canterlot Castle. I lost...again and was just as bitter. But it was our third encounter where everything changed. He was the first one that showed me what love really was. Without obviously blasting me with it. He saved my hive and gave us the ability to produce love ourselves. After that, I became so intrigued with him. That's why I'm trying so hard. Even if my methods are not exactly the best."
"I guess. But don't you think it's time you try a different method? Maybe stop trying to make him fall for you."
"Impossible! I'm already too far deep. There's no backing down now. If I'm going to win this race, I'm not slowing down. But, enough about me. Tell me about your relationship. Did you ever have a relationship with Ash?"
"Huh?! What are you saying?" May exclaimed, blushing hard.
"Did you?"
"N-No. I told you I'm not into Ash. We're just friends, that's all!" She rapidly shook her head and hands.
"Hmmm...You're a terrible liar." Chrysalis crossed her hooves. "Either way, it's nice to talk about this with someone. Never before have I expressed so much of this to another. All of my Changelings have their own love but I can never seem to speak to them on this level at all when it comes to Ash. But speaking to you is different, May. I knew I was right to call you here.
"Really? For how long?" May questioned.
"Eh. It hasn't been that long but it feels like it. Whenever I think about Ash in that way or talk about him, I..." Just then, Chrysalis paused, taking a deep breath. She lowered her eyes as she felt her head heating up. "Ooh...A bit hot all of a sudden. As I was saying...I...huh?"
"Chrysalis? What's wrong?" May was watching the Queen's face. It was getting a bit red, which was unlike her. There was a strong blush on her face as she kept breathing heavily.
"Oh..." Just then, Chrysalis would collapse, falling to the floor. May gasped as Chrysalis kept breathing, her body shaking. "It's so warm all of a sudden. But it's not that kind of warm...It's...strange."
"Chrysalis!" May was confused. She would kneel down, checking on her. "What's wrong?! What happened?!"
"My body. It's...strange. Like there's something inside of me and it's burning."
"Burning? Oh, are you sick?!"
"Sick? This is not like any illness I have encountered." Chrysalis panted when looking up at May. Her beautiful white colour was even starting to dim a bit. "What's wrong with me?"
"Do you guys have a doctor here?!" May looked at the nearby changelings. "Send help, please!"
"R-Right away!" A few of the Changelings nodded, leaving the hive. May held the Changeling Queen in her arms while she kept breathing.
"Ribomb!" Ribombee cried out, fearing for her partner since this was brand new. Never before has this happened. The closest is when the Box of 100 Demons was affected. But this was something different.
A few minutes later, some doctors were called as they began inspecting her. Ribombee was crying in fear, unsure what to do. May watched the entire thing, seeing the Queen being tended to. The afternoon Sun dropped as the Moon began to rise. And with all this time passing, the doctors didn't have the best news.
"I have no idea what this is. It doesn't feel like any natural fever we know of. Not to mention the symptoms are strange."
"Strange?" May repeated.
"There are signs that the body is heating up, yes. But there are other symptoms that are strange."
"What kind of symptoms?" Thorax asked. "Do we know anything about them?"
"For starters, she's exhibiting a noticeable pallor with a lot of fatigue. She has a shortness of breath, chest tightness, and hyperventilation. The heat around her is hotter than any fever I know."
"But isn't that normal?" May questioned as some of those sounded rather familiar to other illnesses.
"No, it's not. Her body is not burning and the heat is not coming from within. It's coming from outside. On top of that, her magic is also fluctuating from this. Her body is even dimmer compared to what it was now. We have no idea what's wrong with her. It's like an amalgamation of multiple sicknesses in one.
"Oh no! What should we do?!" The Changelings were beginning to panic. To see their Queen suffer again was unbearable. Chrysalis kept breathing as she suddenly said one word.
"Ash..." Ash's name came out of her mouth all of a sudden. Quite unexpected to be saying that right about now.
"Step aside. All of you." A hoof touched the floor, grabbing everyone's attention. With all their heads turning, there they saw the Mother of Chrysalis and the former Changeling Queen, Mellifera.
"Former Queen Mellifera!" Thorax gasped along with the rest.
"Mother..." Chrysalis slowly turned her head. Her mother came to her in a crucial moment once again. Despite how serious, intimidating and stern she was, she truly loved her daughter.
"So...It's finally happened. I knew this would happen one day, I just knew it. Ever since you all changed your ways, this was the one thing I feared would've occurred." Mellifera closed her eyes.
"Wh-What do you mean?" May asked.
Isn't it obvious? Chrysalis." Mellifera approached her ill daughter. "You've done something no other Changeling has ever done. Something that I warned you about centuries ago when you were just a child. But it seems you've already forgotten it."
"Former Queen, she's ill. Please go easy on her." The changeling doctor pleaded.
"She needs to hear this. All Changelings cannot do this. After all, every single one here is your child and that is how it has always been, from you, to me, to the last and before that. But...you have fallen for someone else. Someone that you actually care for as an equal. And since you are a Queen, this is something that should never be possible. And yet...it's happened. This is the result."
"Wait, are you saying this is caused by her love for Ash?" May raised her hand.
"Correct. As the Changeling Queen, we stand on the top, being able to grow our hive on our own, not needing a Changeling King or anything similar to that. Much like those Vespiquens you humans have. However, when we have feelings for another to the point where they are seen as equal, possibly even a superior, it becomes a problem and leads to this.
"How?" May wasn't understanding it just yet.
"When a Changeling Queen falls in love with someone else, that is a sign of a King. The Queen's magic begins to fluctuate as a result of their own emotions. The magic itself is meant to provide sustenance for the hive, not something to be wasted. If a Queen has these feelings, they will begin to feed off of others' love and the magic will become unstable. The Changeling Queen of 3 Generations ago experienced this very illness. It is called the Amora Scourge.
"Amora Scourge? Everyone here repeated.
"You should have never fallen for Ash Ketchum, daughter. Or at least, you should have never seen him as your equal. If you fell for him but were still seen as above him, perhaps you could've avoided this. But no, you've made him your equal. A King.
"But mother..." Chrysalis panted.
"I warned you. Centuries ago, I told you to never fall in love with anyone. I taught you to have the mindset of the Changeling Queen. The top of the hierarchy, never falling for anyone. You were the perfect successor and you were to follow the teachings. You are the one who must provide sustenance to the hive. The one who is responsible for the future of the Hive."
"Come on! What's so wrong about that?" May glanced at Mellifera who narrowed her eyes. "Can't she just love him?"
"She can love whoever she wants, sure. But as a Changeling Queen, that cannot happen. It's against the rules. A Changeling Queen can never have King. The reason for that is because of the Amora Scourge."
"Well, is there a cure for it at least?" Thorax asked.
"A cure? Well...The previous Changeling Queen never found that cure, but there was one thing that tempered the illness. She went to the pony she fell for, meeting him even in her condition. Perhaps, it has something to do with them or the bond they have."
"Is there any way to help her then?" May then looked back at Chrysalis.
"The only way is to find out the true reason as to why the former Queen was cured. If we find out, we can save her. As much as I hate to say it, she will have to go to Ash Ketchum. He cannot come here himself. It must be from the Queen instead."
"Go to Ash? In her state?" A worried May was concerned.
"If the former Queen was able to at least hold back the illness for a while, even though she never overcame it, then perhaps, Chrysalis might have a chance. But, we can't waste any more time. We need to act fast. I have a feeling that her current state is not that bad. But it could get worse without a doubt."
"I'd like to...I'd like to go to Ash. Please." Chrysalis looked up at May with pleading eyes. Despite her condition, she would take that risk and go to Ash before the illness can get worse.
"Alright." May nodded in understanding. Anything to help Chrysalis get better.
The most unlikely ilness had struck on this night. One based around love. A love that a Changeling Queen can never truly have and yet, here it was. Chrysalis was now the second Changeling Queen to ever go through such a thing and with a cure being up in the air, the only way to help her was to go to the root of it all.
An illness rare to Changeling Queens, known as the Amora Scourge has plagued Chrysalis. Having full-on true feelings for Ash while also seeing him as an equal, possibly even a superior has caused this illness to emerge. The supposed cure was for the Changeling Queen to meet with the one she loves and in this case, Chrysalis had to meet with Ash in her current condition.
The only place to go was to Pallet Town, hoping to meet Ash there while he was asleep. As Chrysalis was being carried, May would knock on the Ketchum Household door. The moonlight was shining down on the Earth, providing a wonderful view.
After waiting a couple of minutes, Delia opened the door, rubbing her eyes. She was a bit tired as she had a bit of a nap earlier.
"Oh...May? Is that you?" Delia was starting to recognize May's face. It has been a long time since she's seen her after all. "You're here a bit late."
"Sorry, but I need to see Ash right away. Is he home?"
"Oh, sorry. But Ash isn't here tonight, I'm afraid. He's elsewhere." Alas, coming here was pointless since Ash was absent.
"Ah...I should've figured." May scratched hier face. "He'd obviously be exploring somewhere.
"Goodness. Chrysalis, is that you?!" Delia looked to the side, facing Chrysalis, who was currently in a bed that was carried by two other Changelings while Mellifera was near her.
"Mrs. Ketchum, I'm afraid she's very ill. It's a very rare illness. It's called the Amora Scourge, a condition exclusive to Changelings. The former Changeling Queen suffered from this." May explained.
"Ash..." Chrysalis spoke Ash's name, groaning from it. "Please..."
"Please, You have to tell us where Ash went, Mrs Ketchum!" May pleaded.
"Truth is...I don't have a clue." Delia lowered her eyes afterwards. "After Ash had a second awakening with Prisma's soul affecting him, he hasn't shown up around here or Ponyville that much."
"Second awakening? What does that mean?" May was not yet caught up on the Prisma situation. Delia would explain it to all with a heavy heart.
"Well...inside Ash, Red and the other counterparts, there exists a soul of a man named Prisma. Whenever Ash is pushed to a certain point where his anger is rising, Prisma's soul can affect him, making him a far more aggressive trainer. His second awakening happened not too long ago and this time, he ended up hurting his friends in the process."
"S-Seriously?!"
"It's not like the Ash we know. So he's been trying to figure out a way to control it so that it never happens a third time or more. Twilight told me he was seen heading elsewhere, but I have no clue as to where. The only ones who would know are his Pokémon and friends. That's all I know."
"Urgh...Ngh...!" Chrysalis's voice sounded raspy. She was looking at the moon, her body shaking.
"Chrysalis...Don't push yourself. We'll find him, okay?" May reassured the Changeling Queen. "Mrs Ketchum, do you think we could call him?"
"He hasn't answered his Xtransceiver at all, I'm afraid. It seems he's not speaking to anyone else at the moment. But, you could ask Pinkie Pie to help you. Her Slurpuff could track his scent and find him. That is a guaranteed way to find him."
At SugarCube Corner, May immediately went to Pinkie Pie, visiting her for the first time. She walked through the doors of the building, seeing a lot of things here. There were many cakes and confectionaries being displayed. The room was well-lit and clean but also with a strong scent of sweets and pastries.
To May, this was the most divine place next to a restaurant. So much food just present and ready to be consumed. Her eyes were ablaze with joy. Up ahead, at this time, Pinkie Pie was still awake, seen working overtime.
"Um, hello." May spoke, gazing at the pink pony before her. "Are you...Pinkie Pie?"
"Yep. And you're May, right?" Suddenly, Pinkie spoke May's name despite meeting her for the very first time.
"H-How did you know I was coming here?!" May exclaimed. "And how do you know who I am?"
"Easy...I'm Psychic!" Pinkie winked before laughing. "Nah, I'm just joking. Ash showed me a picture when he travelled across Hoenn. I remember it!"
"Oh." May chuckled.
"So, what's the matter? Need something to eat? Cause that's easy. Just tell me what you want and I'll give it to ya. How about a cake? Ooh, maybe some ice cream. I've got some fresh ones right in the fridge."
"Ice Cream?" May's eyes lit up. Her immense love for food was kicking in. But she would quickly snap back to her senses, even though this entire place was making her hungry. "No, I'm not here for food. I was wondering if you could have one of your Slurpuff track Ash down for me? I really need to talk to him. He's not even picking up his Xtransceiver.
"That's it? Oh, that 's easy too! Sure, we'll find him." Pinkie was confident. "All my Slurpuff know what Ash smells like! We've been friends with him for so long, we don't even need an item or anything to find him."
"Really?! Oh thank you, Pinkie Pie!"
"It's nothing. We'll get it done in no time. SLURPSSSSSS!" Pinkie Pie yelled out their names and from the stairs, all 6 of her Slurpuffs came running down. They were all cute, but May was more focused on finding Ash. "Alright, team. You know what we have to do as always."
"Slurpuff-Slurpuff?" They all tilted their heads, curiously.
"We have a request from May here and I want you all to go and find Ash. Easy enough. You six can find him without needing a piece of hair, some clothes or whatever."
"Slurpuff! Slurpuff!" The six nodded.
"So uh...What do you need him for anyway?" Pinkie Pie asked as she was about to receive the context from May herself and would be blown away without a doubt. May would explain it as fast as she could to the Earth Pony, who was caught off guard by what she had heard.
Outside, the Slurpuffs were sniffing, trying to get a good scent of Ash. One of the Slurpuffs began running, sniffing the ground. He would stop and sniff the air. Another one would follow and then another. They moved across Ponyville during the night, passing its many buildings such as Town Hall, Twilight's Castle, and others.
They would head outside of Ponyville, entering the rest of Equestria while May, Pinkie Pie and the Changelings were right behind them. "A sickness of love? No way..." Pinkie Pie said after being caught up to speed. "That's just a bummer! She should be allowed to love whoever she wants, even if she's a Queen."
"Hmph. Typical of a pony to look at it in that way." Mellifera scoffed. "Your talks and virtues of Friendship make you blind to the consequences. That's the problem."
"Hmph!" Pinkie would puff her cheeks, crossing her hooves. "Show's what you know, granny."
"What if it doesn't work?" May asked. You said the former queen only temporarily got rid of it instead of completely. She even went to stay with him for the rest of her life to calm it down. That's how far the illness took her. If it can't be cured, then the best thing we can do is-"
"Out of the question." Mellifera shut it down before May could even finish. "We'll see what will happen once we find Ash Ketchum. But until then, there is no point in thinking about that. If it is truly incurable, she'll have to do what the former Queen did. Become Ash's wife."
"W-W-Wife?!" May's entire face turned red. Her body began shaking, her arms moving up and down.
"Yes. As you know, the Queen can't have a King, so she'd be his wife. And if it is true, that might just be her only chance. That is the last resort. For now, we can try and cure it the other way."
"Yeah, I'm sure she won't have to do that." May chuckled nervously, her cheeks still blushing.
"...Wait isn't that just the same thing?" But Pinkie Pie wasn't seeing any difference.
The Slurpuffs were still sniffing, making their way out of Equestria. The night was still young as they were searching the area, passing through different biomes. They were making their way through the mountains and forests, searching every corner. Many locations that Ash and his friends have already visited multiple times and now May was going through them herself.
Suddenly, Chrysalis's body would start glowing, emitting a magical aura around her. Everyone looked at the Changeling, shocked by the sudden light. A beam shot up into the sky, reaching all the way up there.
"What was that?!" Pinkie Pie's eyes widened once she saw the pink beam ascend.
"Oh no! The first major Love Effect of the illness is making its appearance!" Mellifera gasped. "Curses!
"Love Effect?" Pinkie and May both said at the same time.
"Indeed! When a Changeling begins to have romantic feelings for someone, their magic starts to become unstable and as a result, can cause these magical effects to happen. I believe the first is when they emit a strong aura and release a beam into the sky. This is a warning."
"Warning?" Thorax gulped.
"It means that their love is beginning to spread to others. If this effect continues, she will eventually affect everyone, turning them into her subjects. They will be forced to fall in love with Ash Ketchum, no matter what."
"Is-Is that why it's called the Amora Scourge?! Cause it can affect people?" Pinkie bit her hoof rapidly.
"Indeed. As the Changeling Queen, she is able to have a hive, but it's not just the hive that matters. If she is able to have a King and they are not her subjects, she will be able to have a bigger hive, one that is far stronger and far more powerful than anything we've seen."
"Wait a minute. That doesn't make sense. Isn't having a King forbidden?" May was struggling to understand it a bit.
"You are correct. It is forbidden. The former Changeling Queen of three generations ago did it, and look at what happened. But the reason for that is because of the size. The bigger the Hive, the greater the danger. The more she can take advantage of others, the bigger her advantage. She can control them to do anything. And the bigger her power, the stronger her illness. It is a cycle. Of course...this also means others will fall in love with Ash now. If it goes too far, Changelings will not be the only ones. Ponies will become her subjects and the Amora Scourge will spread even faster. The larger the hive, the more her illness gets worse."
"Oh, well, that doesn't seem too bad." Pinkie Pie shrugged her shoulders. "We can deal with a bit of romance, no biggie."
"Not when it affects all of Equestria," Mellifera responded.
"Wh-What?!" May's eyes widened. "Equestria?! Are you saying she can affect everyone?!"
"Indeed. And it won't stop there. It will immediately transcend Equestria and affect other lands. And after that, your regions will be next. Then, the whole world. If this goes any further, Ash Ketchum will not only be Chrysalis's husband, but also the King of the entire world."
That's some magic...!" May was starting to freak out, her face paling. "But Ash can't be a King, can he?"
"He's the King of the Sea and very soon, he might be the King of World.. Then again, I suppose that would make you a Queen."
"Oh, gosh. I don't want that." May shook her head rapidly.
"Well, I don't feel a thing at all. Are you sure it's happening?" Pinkie Pie was curious, looking up at the sky.
"You might not notice it just yet. This is the first time ever since the far former Changeling Queen. Now, hurry before it gets worse and becomes a Love Storm. That will be far worse.
They continued on their way, passing by many mountains. In the mountains, the Slurpuffs kept going, sniffing the ground while treading this rough terrain. One of the Slurpuffs raised their head, catching a certain smell. They were close to Ash and he would stop.
"Did you find something, boy?" Pinkie Pie questioned. The Slurpuff barked in response, raising its paws up and down.
"Slurpuff!" He began to run, leading the way. Pinkie Pie followed along with the Changelings and May. The Slurpuffs ran faster and faster, moving from mountain to mountain. Up ahead, they saw a familiar figure walking away.
"There!"
"That's him! It's Ash!" May pointed, seeing him walk away. "Ash, wait up!" She cried out but he was much farther than she thought. His figure disappeared as he went down the mountain.
"He's heading into the woods. Let's hurry." Mellifera urged them on. They would all make their way down, trying to catch up with him. The mountains played tricks on their eyes, making them think he was closer than he should but, but they still had some ways to go before they could reach him.
Just then, Ash would start running with Pikachu all of a sudden. This caused them to speed up and it didn't help that Ash was surprisingly fast. Fast enough to keep up with someone like Pikachu. He was already ahead, moving away from them.
"Oh no. I can't lose him!" May gasped. "Stop Ash!"
They tried keeping up as fast as they could, scaling a hill as they made their way through the forest. They had to keep their pace, not wanting to lose him. It was already bad enough that they lost him once, they didn't want to do it a second time. Moving through the many bushes and passing the trees, they saw how some of the Pokemon living here were active, even though they should be asleep at this time outside of the many Nocturnal Pokemon.
Currently, they were all moving in the same direction, rushing as fast as they could towards Ash. They had no idea what they were doing or why, but it was a strange sight, seeing them all act this way. They would move through the bushes and trees, seeing a trail of footprints and paw prints left behind.
"The magic has already started affecting them." Mellifera observed when seeing all of these Pokemon moving in the same direction. "The Love Effects will keep increasing until it's the Love Storm. We have no time to lose."
It was difficult for them to move in a clear path with so many Pokemon around. This forest was absolutely packed, not a single space to move around. They had no choice but to push through and go straight, following the Pokemon.
Some of the bigger Pokemon made this even harder, either from their large size of the fact that they could shake the ground itself. It was a race for Ash Ketchum at this point and right now, May's group were starting to fall behind.
"Ash, wait!" May called out once again, trying to catch his attention. But alas, it was no use. They were all far behind and Ash had no idea what was going on. Up ahead was a tall and steep hill that Ash and Pikachu would immediately scale with ease. This prompted the nearby Pokemon to do the same once they approached it.
"Oh, no you don't. I'm not letting you get away." May refused to fall behind. She began to run up the hill, using her hands and feet to climb. She was not the only one doing so. Mellifera and Pinkie Pie were both climbing, the other Slurpuffs helping.
"P-Please...Ash." Chrysalis managed to speak, still looking at the Moon.
Just then, it only got worse as other Pokemon from different locations started approaching behind May's group. They looked behind to see a swarm of Combee followed by their Vespiquen, all coming their way. They were flying as fast as they could, their sights set on Ash.
"What?! Is it already spreading?!" Mellifera gasped. The two Combees that were holding her up were panicking, fearing for their Queen. The Combee and Vespiquen were so focused on Ash that they immediately swarmed May's group while passing them, causing a commotion.
"What the?!" May was shocked, her eyes darting from left to right. The swarm was flying above her, pushing the group back and down. It was not their fault and they were not attacking but just trying to pass through. May's group was severely held back while the Changelings shielded their Queen from any harm.
They kept Chrysalis safe while they all fell back, coming to a halt. The other Pokemon in the distance would then pass by, some almost stepping on them. Once they were all gone into the distance, May grunted, raising her head. She stood back up, gazing at the Pokemon as they continued their chase.
"No...Ash!" May shouted. Time was of the essence right now as they had no idea how long Chrysalis could hold out. They had to keep going, even if it meant being behind so many Pokemon.
Manehattan.
Eventually, they found themselves arriving at Manehattan of all places. They were making their way through the many roads, trying to find Ash. It was late at night and there were few people around, most of them being Pokemon.
"Manehattan? What's Ash doing here?" May asked herself. The Slurpuff sniffed the floor, catching his scent. With a quick bark, the Slurpuff led the way, moving through the streets and going through the alleyways.
Thankfully, they were able to spot Ash in the distance yet again. Once more, he was still walking but he finally came to a halt once The the familiar face of Coco Pommel approached him. The Fashion Designer had a bright smile on her face upon approaching Ash, grabbing his attention compared to everyone else who he was unable to spot as of yet.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Great that Coco stopped him! We'll be able to grab him and we can all get out of here."
"So, um...Ash...I was wondering if you had any plans tonight." She twiddled her hooves, blushing hard. "I don't usually ask this to anyone, actually."
"Oh no...Is she...?" May gasped once she heard the conversation. "It's already spreading this far?!"
Right before she could get her answer, three more ponies were approaching Ash. But the second they got close, Coco, who was usually so sweet and calm, started giving a death glare. The other ponies were intimidated by the fashion designer's gaze and quickly backed away, leaving Ash alone and not advancing any further.
"That's new." Pinkie Pie blinked. "Did she always have that glare? Reminds me of a Fluttershy a bit."
"The Love Effect is strong in this one. It's causing her to act differently. That means the second effect is starting to emerge. Jealousy. That's the second Love Effect."Mellifera narrowed her eyes.
"Jealousy? What's gonna happen next?" May gulped.
"Once the first two Love Effects start kicking in, it'll only get worse from there. Get that girl away from Ash at once!" Mellifera ordered the Slurpuffs.
"Slurpuff!" The Slurpuffs all nodded in unison, leading the way. They ran towards the two, but before they could reach Ash, a giant Swampert had come out of nowhere, standing right in their path. But instinctively, being so defensive of Ash, Coco suddenly took out her Poke Ball, summoning her Glaceon.
"Glaceon, use Ice Beam!"
"Glaceon!" Glaceon immediately obeyed, firing a beam of ice.
"Slurpuff, protect yourself!" The Slurpuffs were caught off guard by the attack and barely managed to evade it. "What's with her?! She's a nice girl! Why is she acting like this?!"
"Her love is causing her to act like that. We need to get Ash away from her as soon as possible. She'll start attacking anyone that comes near him."
"Oh, no. Chrysalis's magic is even affecting Pokemon." May looked back, seeing the Pokemon coming their way. They were all staring at Ash with a loving expression and were about to rush towards him.
"Huh...?" Ash recognized those familiar voices, turning his head to spot May, Chrysalis, Thorax and Mellifera. "May? You're here too? What's going on here?"
"Ash! Come here!" May bellowed.
"Huh? Wait, I need to speak to Ash!" Coco demanded, raising her voice.
"Get out of the way, kid!" Mellifera barked, causing Coco to flinch. Her shout more intimidating than her new glare.
"Glaceon, block them! Ice Beam!" The fashionista commanded her Pokemon with a new type of intensity in her voice. Were it not for the magic, she would never act like this.
"Glaceon!" However, in a twist, Glaceon turned the Ice Beam on her instead, freezing her on the spot. "What the-?!"
"Huh?! Glaceon, why?!" Ash gasped at the sight before him.
"It's only natural! Trainers and Pokemon will even turn on each other if the Love Effect kicks in. They'll do whatever it takes to protect him. Even turn against their own Trainer. And the same will happen to the rest."
Ash would eventually notice the number of Pokemon approaching him. He thought they were all gathering in one spot but in reality, they were all gathering around him. He saw the looks in their eyes, seeing hearts form on them which was a dead giveaway as to what this was.
"Oh man...It's just like the Sweet Scent mess all over again!" Ash grimaced at this rather overwhelming sight before rushing off with Pikachu. The swarm was hot on his tail.
"Ash!" May exclaimed.
"Wait! Don't leave, Ash!" Coco would soon join the race along with other ponies and Pokemon from Manehattan.
"Ash, you're my everything!" A mare named Sassy Saddles was also chasing after him, her eyes wide.
"No way?! You too, Saddles?!" Ash grimaced. So many familiar faces were all gathered, chasing after him with nothing else on their mind but him. It really was like the Sweet Scent scenario but much, much worse. Unlike that one which was just the Pokemon being around him because of his scent, this was an actual illness. A magic-induced sickness that was spreading through the entire region, possibly the world.
Ash managed to find himself a spot to hide as the group kept chasing him. He hid in a dark corner, hoping they wouldn't see him. He took a moment to breathe with Pikachu, but little did he know, his hiding spot was compromised. Some ponies were already lurking in the dark, revealing themselves once the Moonlight shined on them.
"Found you!" One of the ponies exclaimed, revealing their presence. Ash grimaced yet again, swiftly evading an incoming hug from the pony. He dodged the other two before continuing on his way with Pikachu, leaving the two mares in a pile.
Ash made his escape, moving through the alleyways as fast as he could. There were plenty of turns and obstacles here but it was the best way to make sure they couldn't catch him, his movements speeding up constantly. Clearly, Manehattan wasn't the place to be right now as Ash would continue on his way, but that would only mean that May's group would be distant once more.
Dodge Junction.
Ash found himself away from Manehattan and instead over at Dodge Junction this time, running quite the distance. So far, he had lost them all and Dodge Junction was rather quiet at the moment with many of its residents fast asleep. It looked like he was in the clear.
"Man..." Ash sighed. "What was that all about? Did they fall under a spell or something?" Wondering, he and Pikachu would sit down for a moment after going quite the distance, taking a short break. Things fell silent here for them as Dodge Junction looked to be completely safe at the moment with no signs of any one trying to chase him.
"Pika.."
Geez...So much for having a peaceful moment. Guess it's gonna be delayed, huh?" Ash chuckled a bit. "We're still not too far from where we need to be, Pikachu. If I wanna stop a third awakening, I gotta strengthen my soul. This one place is said to really help with that and I wanna be there. For everyone's safety..." He clenched his fist as the reason for his wandering was revealed.
Wanting to avoid another moment like the first or second awakening, Ash was trying to train his soul to the best of its abilities, hopefully keeping Prisma from making a third comeback. Pikachu was obviously with him all the way, not wanting his best friend to go through such a thing. To see Ash be so aggressive in battle was just haunting to look at after all.
But right as he was ready to go, some vines suddenly latched onto his body from behind.
"Huh? Now what?! He tried breaking free, but he was quickly yanked back, his entire body being dragged back. So much for resting a bit and gaining some peace.
"Pika-chu?!" Pikachu was caught off guard by this sudden turn of events. Turning around, he saw that Cherry Jubilee and her Liligant were awake at this time, both looking at Ash.
"Ash, I was thinking we could spend a romantic night together. How's about making this old mare happy, huh?"
"Lili!" Liligant agreed.
"You too?! Pikachu, use Iron Tail!" The Electric Mouse jumped into action, slicing Liligant's vines apart with his hardened tail. With a quick jump, the two would retreat, jumping off the top of a nearby barn. "Gotta get out of here."
"Liligant, use Petal Blizzard!"
"Liligant!" Liligant immediately began attacking, showering the two with a barrage of petals that went upwards, attempting to knock them off the barn's roof.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Pika...Chuuu!" Pikachu retaliated with 100,000 volts, causing the petals to fly everywhere. As the two fell, they would land on a nearby roof, immediately keeping their momentum up. Ash took a deep breath, his heart beating fast. But before he could react, more ponies and Pokemon were approaching, some from Dodge Junction as the magic had woken them up.
"There he is! Don't let him escape!" One of them called out. Ash and Pikachu were on the run yet again as the entire town was now in hot pursuit.
Ash kept running and running, hearing many voices in the distance with many figures chasing him down. And it wasn't like the Pokemon and ponies from before had given up. They were also going the distance just to find him.
All the while, above him, the skies were beginning to turn pink.
The Crystal Empire.
Elsewhere, away from the chaos, the Crystal Empire had yet to fall under this expansive magic. All were asleep peacefully much like Dodge Junction was not too long ago. They were unbothered and in their most comfortable positions while the guards stayed up to defend the empire.
The same goes for Shining Armor, Cadence and the two Flurry Hearts. This family looked absolutely peaceful, not a single one of them being bothered. And that was how it should be and always be during this time aside. Alas, this night was very different from the rest.
Just then, in a flash, Cadence opened her eyes, her body reacting to something. As the Princess of Love, she immediately recognized a strong essence of love in the atmosphere as the magic of Chrysalis already reached the Crystal Empire.
Due to Chrysalis's illness growing worse, the first two effects of the Amora Scourge were kicking in, slowly building up a Love Storm. The first effect was many starting to fall in love with Ash, dropping whatever they were doing and attempting to find him, while the second effect involved jealousy among others. Even Pokemon and Trainers were competing against each other.
Currently, Ash was moving at his maximum limit, having many ponies and Pokemon on his trail.
"What's with you guys tonight?!" Ash questioned while on the move, narrowly avoiding a vine from Liligant. "Yikes!" He would then narrowly dodge the vines and thorns from many Grass-Types, not letting them capture him. They were trying to slow him down with their attacks, but they would fail miserably. Ash and Pikachu were a formidable combo and their teamwork was always flawless even when running from something.
Just then, jumping in front of him was the large figure of a Tropius, who landed right in his path. He would try to pass him, but the fruit Pokemon would not let him, blocking him and not letting him through.
"Tropius!" It cried out, immediately moving its head straight for Ash and attempting to grab him with its mouth.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Ash ordered, allowing Pikachu to move quickly, evading the incoming attack and striking Ash himself. By doing so, he caused Ash to move away from Tropius, stumbling a bit but easily regaining his balance as he kept moving. Larger Pokemon were chasing him down too, shaking the ground and easily knocking others other thanks to their size.
Above them, some pegasi and Flying-Types were trying to block their path, flying right over the two. They went as far as to start diving down to catch the two, but thanks to their swift movements, they would dodge them.
He's been at this for minutes which were soon about to be an entire hour. It didn't matter how many times he dodged them or tried to get away. More and more people and Pokemon would keep appearing, keeping him from escaping and trying to capture him.
May had come to a halt, sitting on a log to rest a bit. "Hah...Hah...Boy, we can't catch a break." They had been at this for a long time, trying to keep up with Ash.
"I didn't know Ash was this fast. We've been at this for a while and he's just not slowing down. If this keeps up, the Love Effect is only gonna keep spreading." Mellifera commented
"My Slurpuff's are getting tired too." Pinkie Pie glanced over at all 6 of her Slurpuffs, who were each lying down on the ground or resting near a tree, panting. "It's late and we really wanna go to bed...but this is important. If we don't save Chrysalis, Ash is gonna get mobbed.
"If only we could have an entire hive help us. Then, we could find Ash in no time." Mellifera groaned. "But they would also end up falling under the Love Effect as well and the Love Storm will spread. If that happens, we're doomed.
"Chrysalis..." May stood up, gazing at her. The Changeling Queen was still being carried by the others. She was looking up at the Moon, her breathing becoming heavier. She was sweating a bit, her body trembling. "Is the Love Storm getting worse?"
"Not yet...but it won't be long. Once the second effect is over, the Love Storm will begin. That is the worst possible scenario." Mellifera sighed before gazing at the night sky.
"What do we do...?" May pondered, looking at the ground. "We can't keep up or reach Ash and there's no way we can get him ourselves. The Love Effect is just gonna keep spreading if we do. Just what...what...?" It was driving May crazy as she held her head, trying her absolute best to come up with something.
"Don't worry too much about it, May." Suddenly, speaking with a weak voice was Chrysalis herself. "Even though you've met me not too long ago, I can still tell how much you care about Ash. You were so determined to find him and save him. You truly love him, don't you?"
"I-I...I guess so." May's cheeks were starting to blush, looking away.
"Then, I'm sure you can think of something. For you to do all of this for me even though you barely know me and my kind. And not to mention, you've been doing your best to save Ash. I have faith in you, May. Please...I'm begging you. I'll do anything if you can just save him."
"..." May stayed silent for a while. She was trying to come up with an idea, but it was proving to be difficult. "Anything...? Anything." May repeated those words as something came to her mind. She immediately raised her head, looking up. "I have one plan that might work."
"Yeah?" Pinkie glanced over.
"If they're all focused on Ash and only Ash and if they're gonna start fighting each other, then there's only one thing to do. They're going to have to earn the right to him."
"Earn the right to him? How will we do that?" Mellifera raised an eyebrow.
"With a battle, of course. A battle between trainers. No matter what, if there's one person loves someone on that level, they'll do whatever it takes to get their attention. I've seen something like this with a celebrity once. He battled his own fans for their attention. If it's the same with these guys, then I know just how to get their attention. They'll stop chasing Ash and fight each other instead. They'll be busy battling and then I can go after Ash. Plus, I was one of those girls back then." May explained. "We just have to give them a battle and get them to stop chasing him."
"But what if that doesn't work?" Mellifera inquired.
"Trust me. It's all I got And if one thing's for sure, people love to Pokemon Battle, especially Ash. No matter where he is, if there's one thing he does, it's Pokemon Battles. That's his true passion."
"Well, you better make it a good show." Mellifera warned her. "How will you get their attention to do it in the first place?"
"I know a thing or two about showmanship. Don't worry about that part. You leave that to me. Pinkie Pie. Do you think you could get a microphone or speaker or something so they can hear me? It's the only way we'll get them to stop."
"I know a thing or two about showmanship. Don't worry about that part. You leave that to me. Pinkie Pie. Do you think you could get a microphone or speaker or something so they can hear me? It's the only way we'll get them to stop."
"I'll do more than that! I'll bake a wedding cake and throw the best wedding party ever!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Don't you worry about a thing, May. We can take a shortcut back to Ponyville!"
"Great." May put her hands together, preparing something fierce. "Just you wait, Ash."
Ponyville. SugarCube Corner.
Taking a shortcut back to Ponyville, Pinkie Pie got to work, baking the necessary cake. A Wedding Cake. Since the love for Ash was strong and it was clear a battle would commence, why not have the ponies battle for the right to marry him? That was Pinkie Pie's mindset as she would begin meticulously crafting a cake worthy of a wedding, adding all sorts of things onto it.
Chrysalis laid in her bed, taking deep breaths while watching Pinkie Pie at work, putting all her effort into this cake. Right before her eyes, the most wonderful cake she has ever seen was being formed. Even more wonderful than what she saw at the Canterlot Wedding. This one was a wedding cake meant for everyone and Ash. Speaking of Ash, Pinkie Pie had a small sculpture of Ash made, placing it on top. It was left on its own, having no one else on top unlike most wedding cakes.
Her masterpiece was done. The largest cake she's ever made without a doubt as she stepped back to admire the beauty she had crafted for the sake of her friends.
"There! All done!" Pinkie Pie finished the cake, smiling at it. "That's the most beautiful wedding cake I've ever made. So what do you think, May? Will this work?"
"Only one way to find out." As for May, she was currently getting herself ready, setting up a makeshift arena. This was done by Fluttershy and all her Pokemon from the Pokemon House. Thankfully, Fluttershy seemingly wasn't under the Love Effect at all. There were no signs of any changes.
"Goodness. Will this work?" Fluttershy asked. "Is everyone that in love with him right now? I hope not. We're not prepared."
"You've seen it yourself. You're lucky that you're not affected. Why is that anyway?" May asked the pegasus, but Fluttershy simply shrugged it off.
"Those that were chasing Ash. Since the magic comes from my daughter, it's only natural that all females would be affected. I can only imagine how upset the males are right now. Ash might become the King of the Changelings if this love storm goes through." Mellifera added.
"Um...Is that it?!" Fluttershy's face would turn into that of fear as she focused her eyes onto the sky. Everyone else looked up to see the night sky gaining a pinkish tint. They gasped, seeing the clouds swirl around, a bright light coming from the distance. This correlated with Chrysalis suddenly gasping, her body shaking more and more.
"What is that?!" Fluttershy cried out.
"The Love Storm! It's entering its 3rd Phase!" Mellifera shouted.
At this very moment, the powerful magic radiating from the Love Storm wasn't just causing its effects to spread faster, but it was also starting to reach outside of Equestria. The storm would continue to increase in size, expanding to other regions with the first region receiving this effect being Unova.
The skies of Unova were quickly beginning to change. The weather would suddenly shift as the skies were getting darker and the wind was becoming stronger. A strange, pinkish light was emitting across the region, replacing the night sky with something more romantic, even if the night sky is something seen as romantic already.
All of Unova was suddenly awakened by the storm's effects, causing the whole region to suddenly wake up. It was a strange occurrence that they could not understand. They didn't know what was going on or what caused it. Soon, their entire region was caught in the Love Storm, but that wasn't the end of it.
From the clouds, massive hearts the size of buildings started falling from the sky. These hearts were not actually physical hearts, but were rather made of pure magic and energy. They were falling everywhere and upon making contact with the ground, they would send their effect in the form of a mist.
Unova was already encompassed and very soon, the other regions went through the same thing. Sinnoh, Kalos, Alola, Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, all of them were hit. The Love Storm was not showing any signs of stopping anytime soon, only continuing to expand, causing the love of the inhabitants of these regions to rise.
The power of the Love Storm was so tremendous that they all had one thing in mind. Go to Ash's Location. As if they all had radars now, thanks to the Love Storm, they could locate the source. All of the regions were in a mad dash, trying to get to his location. It was an absolute madhouse as they all kept running.
It didn't matter how far away they were, they would gladly rush to his location. And thanks to all the gateways that were placed in different regions, leading to different areas in Equestria, they didn't even need a plane to find him.
In fact, they didn't even need directions or maps. All they needed to do was let their instinct take control and their heart would guide them to him.
With Ponyville having a gateway to Pallet Town, the first people to appear were the Pallet Town residents, jumping though the gateway and arriving in Ponyville, rushing out the building. They were all making their way to Ash's location without a second's notice. One by one, Pallet Town's residents arrived and very soon, other residents from across Kanto will be here.
May grimaced at the sight before her, witnessing the storm from afar. She saw how fast it was expanding and just how much the pink light had grown. But she was not deterred. Her mission was set. She was going to save Ash, no matter what.
"Sweet Celestia..." Pinkie Pie gulped at the sight before her.
"Alright! They're here! Now to stop them!" May would grab the microphone, ready to speak as loud as she could. Everything has been set up and all she had to do was grab their attention to let them know that Ash will be here. Hopefully.
But right before she could say anything, Twilight suddenly emerged, descending from above and standing before the rampaging people and Pokemon. May looked over at Twilight, who took a deep breath before unleashing a spell, creating a large, magical barrier, blocking their path. Everyone crashed into the barrier wall, smushing their faces against it while some crashed into each other.
"Twilight!" Pinkie Pie said with glee before frowning. "Wait! Don't tell me you-"
"I'm not under the Love Effect." Twilight cut her off immediately as she was perfectly fine. "I'm already in love with Ash after all. This doesn't affect me." Already, Twilight found one weakness of this powerful magic based on what she's already seen.
"You are?" May spoke as this was news to her.
"I know what's going on. I saw everypony suddenly rush out of their homes. Even Eve just out of nowhere started chasing after Ash, even though he wasn't near him. I have a pretty good guess as to what's going on. Chrysalis is here and it looks like the illness is taking effect."
"Don't tell me you already know about the Amora Scourge." Mellifera stepped up. "It is supposed to be Changeling Knowledge only. How do you know about it?"
"When you're friends with the princesses, you learn a few things and get some great books along with it." Twilight turned her head, gazing at May. "You've already set something up as a plan?"
"Y-Yes! I mean, we don't have Ash right here but..." May tried explaining.
"If that's the case, then let me help. If Ash really is their target, then the last thing they're gonna want is for me to protect him. This'll give them something else to focus on. I've already had to restrain Rarity and Applejack. They're not happy with me right now, but it's not like I have a choice. Not even Big Macintosh is safe from it. This is the best I can do."
"So what should we do?" Thorax asked.
"We'll wait. Get Ash here as soon as possible. I can only hold them back for so long and the Love Storm is getting bigger. We need to stop Chrysalis before they can do any further damage. But we need you all to be here. Only the girls are affected so the boys can still think straight and they can help with the crowd."
"I can do that." Fluttershy, having the most Pokemon with her could get that done easily. Thankfully, a good chunk of her Pokemon from the Pokemon House were still themselves and there were definitely some boys among them.
"Good. Let's hope you can."
With that, all the available people began their next step. Getting Ash Ketchum to this place. Fluttershy's Pokemon would make up most of these numbers as she had her own Pokemon that could sniff someone out. While not as strong as Slurpuff, they could get the job done.
Once more, Ash found a silent place and this time, it was far from any cities or towns. It was a simple and empty clearing. The two were finally able to relax a bit and breathe, sitting on a log together. Pikachu sat on Ash's shoulder, equally as exhausted.
"Hah...Hah...I didn't think it'd be like this, Pikachu. I thought I'd have a break for once."
"Pikachu." The little yellow mouse sighed, agreeing with him.
"But if this is gonna happen, then we're gonna have to do this another time. Maybe we can do this tomorrow. For now, let's just get back home and rest. Tomorrow, we'll have to try and train with my soul."
"Pika..." Pikachu's ears lowered a bit. He knew the importance of this.
"Right now...I just wanna sleep. That's the best thing to do right now." Just as Ash was getting up, he heard the sound of a twig breaking, causing him to stop. "Huh?" He looked to the side, trying to locate the source of the noise. So much for his time to sleep as someone was already here. Sitting up, Ash narrowed his eyes, seeing a figure emerge.
From the trees, slowly walking up was none other than Galar's Gym Leader Bea. "Ash? Is that you?"
"Bea?!" Ash's eyes widened, recognizing the woman immediately.
"What are you doing here? What's going on?" Based on her response, it looked like Bea was unaffected by the magic, completely casual about it and showing no signs.
"Hah..." That was a massive relief for Ash. If anyone had the power to chase him down, it was Bea with how fierce she was. "Long story. Let's just say a lot's happened today."
"Oh."
"Glad you're here. I thought someone else was gonna come and chase me."
"Chase you? What you're talking about." Bea was rather lost. It was a surprise that she has not yet noticed the chaos that was rapidly approaching Ash.
"Ahaha..." Ash chuckled. "Guess you haven't spotted them yet. Boy, there was this huge wave of people and Pokemon chasing me. I couldn't tell if it was a stampede or a horde."
"Hmm..." Bea looked over her shoulder, spotting the same mist that was covering the area. Her eyes then went upwards to witness the magic of the Love Storm, which had fully transformed the night sky, giving it a glorious pink tint. "What is happening to the sky...?"
"No clue." Ash would sit back down before lying on his back. "I'll figure it out in the morning. Can you do me a favour, Bea? Are you here to train tonight?"
"That was the plan, yes?"
"If you don't mind, could ya look out for me? I need some sleep. Wake me up when it's the morning. I've had so many chase me down tonight and I'm just out of it. Especially after what happened yesterday too and a few days before that. I haven't had a good rest in a while now. You think you can do that, Bea?"
"I suppose I can do that.Keep watch of you while I also train. You're a powerful Trainer Ash after you defeated me, so you deserve a wonderful rest. After all, you'll be the one to reach Champion Leon, aren't you?" Ben would sit down near him.
"Yeah...That's the plan." Ash smiled a bit, closing his eyes. "Thanks, Bea. I'm counting on ya. Wake me up if anything happens." Slowly, Ash's eyes would start closing, finally being able to go to sleep. He clocked out, his body letting him experience this blissful feeling.
"Pika-chu." Pikachu jumped off of him, lying right beside him.
"Good night, Pikachu." He would pet the Electric Mouse, feeling him snuggle up against him. Just like that, the two of them were out for the night, falling asleep together. Bea stood tall, keeping watch over them all as she would face the distance, making sure no one else would dare to come close to Ash.
As the minutes passed, Ash was sleeping peacefully, the moonlight shining down on him. He was fast asleep and not even the sound of a distant thunder could wake him up. Just then, as Bea was training as always, she suddenly stopped, her eyes focusing onto the distance. Her pupils narrowed, staring at a particular direction.
She would finally see what Ash was talking about when he mentioned a stampede. Emerging from the darkness were multiple Pokemon and people, coming their way. Their eyes were wide and had a certain, glowing light as they all looked like they had one goal in mind.
"I see." Bea nodded before facing all of the incoming Pokemon and People that were in the multiples upon multiples upon multiples and so on. "None of you are getting close to him for even a second. You can try and challenge me if you'd like."
"Out of the way!" One of the girls shouted, sicking her Metang on Bea. Metang would use Flash Cannon, attempting to force Bea out of the way, only for the Fighting-Type Gym Leader to quickly retaliate.
"Hm!" Quickly, she threw a Poke Ball forward, immediately summoning her Machamp.
"Machamp!"The second Machamp emerged, her body easily took the Flash Cannon as the beam of concentrated light bounced off of her, entering the skies instead and even piercing through one of the pink clouds.
"Machamp!"
"Ash is to one day reach Champion Leon. I know he can do it. And you all are just in the way." Having the utmost respect for Ash after their third battle, Bea absolutely refused to let disrupt his peace. She stuck to her promise, becoming his Night Defender.
It would be Bea and Machamp versus an entire horde of those who fell under the Love Effect. Machamp lunged into action, facing down Pokemon of numerous numbers. In a flash, Machamp's fists were flying forward, knocking aside the first batch of Pokemon that came her way. Her movements were fast and fluid, not giving the enemy the chance to hit her.
Machamp was quick on her feet, rushing across the field as her fists struck her opponents. With an experienced fist, honed through the years via many Gym Battles and tns of training, she sent them flying into the air or crashing into the ground. Any Pokemon that retaliated, like a Bewear that tried attacking her with a Hammer Arm, Machamp would quickly grab its fist, using its own strength against it for an immediate toss.
She was holding her own, fighting as many Pokemon that came her way. A group of Pokemon attempted to mush themselves together, forming a wall to overwhelm Machamp. But that only prompted Machamp to hold her arms out, using her incredible strength to stop them in their tracks. They pushed and pushed, but she refused to budge.
"You will not disturb him. None of you will." Bea declared. "Push through, Machamp!"
"Machamp!" Her arms would push against the group, causing them to be pushed back, separating. She would immediately take advantage, clapping all four of her hands so hard that she generated a thunderous shockwave, sending the group flying.
But even if the Pokemon were getting pushed back, the trainers were not giving up. Some were actually trying to sneak past her and get to Ash, but the moment they tried, Machamp's eyes would dart towards them, glaring. Bea's perception was just as sharp as Machamp's as the Fighting-Type would elbow the ground, creating a powerful tremor that shook the entire area.
The tremor was so powerful that it caused the trainers to lose their footing, tripping and falling over. All of them were knocked down to the ground. Despite all of this, Ash was not disturbed at all, peacefully sleeping without a single worry.
Droves after droves of Pokemon were coming in, all being met with Machamp. Machamp continued fighting, never letting any of them pass by and keeping a lookout. But despite how hard she was fighting, it was not enough to deter them. She was not alone after all.
The skies above rumbled as the Love Storm's strength kept growing and growing. Hearts began falling from the skies, falling onto the area. When the hearts made contact, they would send out a powerful, pink blast, covering the land in a pink mist. Even amidst the pink mist, Bea would press on, defending Ash's sleep.
Minutes passed by, soon turning into an entire hour. Machamp had been at this non-stop and even with the hearts coming down, the trainers would continue to try and get through. The hearts were powerful, but even when they were struck by the pink mist, it had no effect.
Gradually, the numbers were beginning to drop as of now. But really, Bea was only dealing with the current wave that managed to make it here.
"Hah... This is rather tough, isn't it, Machamp? But you can keep this up, can't you?"
"Machamp!" The Fighting-Type responded.
"Good. I'm glad. I trust in you and your strength." Bea nodded while wiping her forward, clearly showing signs of fatigue. Even she couldn't keep all of this up for long. Not against so many Trainers.
"Machamp."
But just as Bea was getting herself ready, a new opponent had entered the fray. Running here was May, who moved past all the fainted Pokemon and people on the floor. With her were Slurpuff, Pikachu and the Changelings.
"We're here!" May exclaimed, panting hard. "Ash!"
"Hm!" Bea immediately assumed her to be another opponent and did not hesitate to stop her in advance. "Machamp! Block them!"
"Champ!" Machamp moved in, all four arms out as she attempted to force May's group away before they could even approach.
"Woah, Woah!" May came to a screeching halt before quickly grabbing one of her Poke Balls. "Blaziken!" The Fire-Type had been summoned, performing a flip upon its entrance.
"Blaziken!" Upon arriving, Blaziken would use Blaze Kick, blocking Machamp's incoming push. Its fiery kick would force the four-armed Pokemon back, making her slide.
"Machamp!" Machamp moved in, unleashing a barrage of attacks that flew in Blaziken's direction. Just like that, a clash between Blaziken and Machamp had begun.
"Use Blaze Kick, Blaziken!" Blaziken was not backing down, kicking the ground with her feet, launching herself forward. The two Fighting-Types came into contact with each other as they immediately unleashed a swift flurry of attacks, their strikes meeting with each other and summoning a gust of wind.
"Ken!" Blaziken's kicks would come in, but Machamp was easily blocking them all, not giving her the chance to hit her. Machamp's punches were just as fierce, her fists constantly moving, but Blaziken would dodge every one of them. The Fire-Fighting-Type swayed its head, using its legs to block and parry some of them as well.
With a quick movement, Machamp would attempt to elbow Blaziken, only for her to dodge and counter, using a Sky Uppercut. Machamp would use her lower hands to protect herself, the force being strong enough to push her back a bit.
A Bea who was starting to run out of steam would narrow her eyes. Out of all the opponents that have shown here so far, May was managing to keep up with her. She was quite the powerful opponent and the fact that she had Blaziken, a Pokemon that was strong against her type was a major factor.
"This might turn out horrible. But for Ash's shake..." Bea clenched her hands, preparing to go all out. "...I will not give up. No matter what, you won't be getting through!"
"Hold on! Hold on!" May flailed her arms. "We're not under the effects, I swear! We're trying to save Ash! We're trying to help him! We don't want to hurt him at all!"
"Help him?" Bea blinked, not expecting that answer.
"Hah..." May took a deep sigh. "Yeah. Just...hear us out, okay? This is something we should've done before I got into a fight with you."
Everything had been explained to Bea by May, giving her a quick rundown. Now everything was starting to make sense. From the Pink Sky to the sudden rush of people and Pokemon, even to the strange hearts raining down. Everything was now clear as day and why Ash was in danger.
"I see." Bea nodded, having heard it all. "So this is all caused by an illness. What a shame. If I knew that, I wouldn't have been so harsh."
"No problem." May rubbed the back of her head. "I can see why you did it anyway. Ash asked you to protect him and you didn't know the whole story. I would've done the same thing."
"Thank you for understanding. It's strange though. What kind of Love is that for them to start acting in such a way? I'm not exactly a love expert, but..."
"Love is a pretty complex thing." May stated, having learned this from the Amora Scourge. "But that Amora Scourge makes it pretty straight-forward. Now that we're here, we can get Ash back to Ponyville where Chrysalis is waiting. Plus, we already have a plan to fix all of this."
"And the Changelings can help too. With your aid, we can definitely stop them." Mellifera stated, speaking up. "For you to be at that for so long just to defend him is admirable."
"That sounds like a good idea."
"I'm surprised though. You didn't try anything with him when he was asleep." May spoke. "Twilight said it doesn't work on her because she's already in love with Ash. Does that mean-"
"Ahem!" Bea cleared her throat, curring May off before she could even finish her sentence. Her face was turning bright red, avoiding eye contact with her. She could hear her heart pounding in her chest. "Anyways. We shouldn't disrupt his sleep. I'll have Machamp carry him and then you can lead the way. Shouldn't we be getting to Ponyville soon?"
"That's the plan. Let's not waste any more time." May nodded. Machamp would gently approach Ash, picking him up from the ground along with Pikachu. Both were now safely in her grasps, snoring in peace. It was a shocker that they were not disturbed even once. Bea had to wonder if she was even needed or not, but she wasn't complaining.
With Ash's location finally secure, May's group and the Changelings would set off for Ponyville, having their next destination secured. They knew for a fact that returning to Ponyville meant having more people and Pokemon hot on their trail now that they were carrying Ash.
Ponyville.
As the sun slowly began rising and the dark sky was changing, the night was coming to an end. The Love Storm was still ongoing, but things had begun to change. The clouds were starting to clear, allowing the sunlight to shine through with all of its grace. They had arrived at Ponyville where Twilight had spent the entire time using a spell to stop the stampede from approaching.
As time passed on, more and more people passed through the gateway, pushing against the barrier and forcing Twilight to increase it some more.
"Finally!" Twilight exclaimed, gradually running out of steam. She had been maintaining the barrier for hours now and it was beginning to take a toll on her. But she had to endure for Ash. "Did you find him?!"
"We did!" May shouted, holding up a thumb. "Everything's all set! Let's distract them with this contest and get Ash to Chrysalis! It's time we stop this madness."
"Right." Twilight nodded, releasing the spell, dropping the barrier. The pink magic vanished, freeing everyone that was trapped inside. Immediately, everyone was back on their feet, rushing out and seeing Ash in Machamp's grasp.
Upon being freed, they started bickering against each other while racing towards Ash, shoving each other out of the way. It was a wild frenzy of arguements and shoving from ponies and Pokemon alike. This was by far them at their most wildest.
"Stop arguing! All of you! We're gonna settle this with a contest! Whoever wins reaches him!" May would announce through the microphone which was also given a megaphone, getting everyone's attention. "How's that?!"
"Contest? What kind of contest?" One of them asked.
"Easy. A Pokemon Batle is the answer to it all!" May answered. "Whoever beats me gets to be with Ash. The loser can just forget about it and get lost."
"Wait! You?!" Twilight glanced over at May. "I thought you were having all of them battle each other!"
"Well, I was, but since they're so persistent and won't shut up, then they'll have to fight me." May put on a rather devious grin when facing all of the people and Pokemon that came this far.
"What?! Are you crazy?!" Twilight exclaimed. All of them against May was outlandish.
"I have an idea! A way to get everyone's attention. Trust me." The Trainer from Hoenn winked.
"Well, I suppose."
"You can count on me, Twi. This is a contest I'm not gonna lose." May smirked, winking.
"If you're doing it, then so will I." Bea stepped forward, standing by May's side. "You can't hope to stop them all on your own. I already had to battle so many of them earlier."
"Arent' you exhausted, Bea? You're really gonna fight for that long?"
"I can. I still have the strength to continue. I'm not a Gym Leader for nothing. I've fought against plenty of trainers. I made a promise to Ash, after all."
"If you two are doing it, so will I!" Twilight would step up, deciding to assist them both. Let's make it the three of us against them. Give Ash as much time as he needs to speak with Chrysalis. Hopefully, the cure shows itself.
"Alright!" May smiled, looking over the crowd. "You can all get started at anytime! If you can beat all of our Pokemon and I do mean all of them, you'll win! So, let's get rolling!"
The Pokemon House.
As the battle at the centre of Ponyville began, the one to bring Ash to Chrysalis, who was currently at the sanctuary known as the Pokemon House, was Thorax. Carrying Ash, who was still sleeping soundly, the Changeling Captain would make his way there, entering the Pokemon House where Chrysalis laid.
Upon arriving, Fluttershy and the Pokemon would see Thorax's arrival. The pegasus and the other Pokemon were quick to notice the man in his arms while Chrysalis would raise her head.
"Is that...?!"
"He's finally here. It looks like everything's going according to plan." Thorax placed Ash onto the bed, right next to Chrysalis.
"Ash.." Chrysalis spoke his name. Just by saying his name, Ash was starting to wake up. This was all it took to wake him up. He opened his eyes, yawning a bit.
"Oh, Chrysalis?" Ash grumbled. "What are you doing here...?"
"Sorry for bringing you here like this, but there's no time to explain. You have to talk with her. Please, do it. I'll tell you the details later. This is urgent."
"It's fine Thorax. As long as he's here. I can talk to him."
"Talk to me? Talk to me about what? What's going on?" Ash blinked.
"All of this is my fault, Ash. It's my own magic. I'm the one responsible for all of this. My own feelings took form and emerged as this, I'm afraid. It left me with this illness as well. The Amora Scourge. My magic has a mind of its own and it's causing the people and Pokemon of Equestria to fall in love with you.
"Huh. So that's what that all was." Ash was beginning to understand it.
"It's a new experience for me. Something rare among Changelings that's apparently never supposed to happen." Chrysalis took a deep breath before looking up at the skies that were slowly being lit up by the golden rays of the Sun.
"I've never felt a love like this. Never has a Queen ever had such feelings for a human, nor does it happen with Changelings at all. Not until I met you. When we first met, it was my desire for revenge and to steal your energy. But the more I hung around you and got to know you, the more my feelings grew. It's something I have never experienced. This is the love that Cadence and Shining Armor have always had for each other. The same love I tried taking for myself 4 years ago."
"Chrysalis..." Ash's eyes were starting to widen.
"When you showed me kindness, that's when the love began to take form and I realized what these feelings were. Even after entering my Purity Form and finding a new way for all Changelings to embrace love, I was still missing something. Now, I've found it. And even though it's causing such a ruckus...I'm glad. I'm glad my feelings reached you first.
"Chrysalis. I get you." Ash would smile back. "You don't have to worry anymore. I was kinda feeling out of it recently but this was awesome to hear. Thanks."
"Mm." Chrysalis's heart was warmed by this. So warmed that the magic exuding from her was beginning to calm down. There was indeed some sort of magic calming effect when the interest of the Queen is the one to approach.
"Amazing!" Mellifera gasped. "The Magic is beginning to subside! Could this be working?" Everyone held their breath, hoping that this was the key to it. However, at that moment, while Chrysalis had a peaceful face, the magic around her body would suddenly shoot upwards. A beautiful pink beam reached the twilight skies, swerving through the clouds before coming to a halt.
They gazed at the light as something was beginning to form from it. Mellifera wasn't sure what this was but there was only one thing she could assume. This was the Final Phase of the Love Storm.
"What is that?" Fluttershy was the first to speak up.
"Could it be...the final phase of the storm?!" Mellifera gasped, recognizing it.
But now, it was no longer a storm. All the energy in the sky across entire regions and all of Equestria would start rapidly flying in this singular spot, forming into something unexpected. Like a twister, vortex or maelstrom, the magic began manifesting into a familiar shape. A shape of a massive Changeling.
They watched as an avatar of some sort would form, gaining the appearance of a Changeling, specifically Chrysalis herself. Its body would be made out of all the Love Energy formed on this night, giving it the appearance of a pink mist.
During their battle, Twilight, May and Bea all looked up to see this giant avatar, absolutely stunned. When gazing at it, Mellifera reached only one conclusion.
"I've heard about this. An Avatar of a Changeling's Love. But I never thought it was real. The Amorah's Ascendence."
"That's...an Avatar?!" Thorax's eyes widened.
"An Avatar of a Changeling's Love?!" Ash was amazed, gazing at the sight. "Awesome!" Even in scenarios like this, he couldn't help but admire the spectacle.
"With that thing here, it has a Divine Purpose. It's said that the Amorah's Ascendence is driven by a singular, unyielding purpose - to spread love and unity throughout the world, transcending boundaries of race, creed, and ideology. However, her indiscriminate approach to love may inadvertently cause upheaval or conflict as she challenges everything that has built up over the years when it comes to love."
"Wow. So what do we do then? What's the big deal? That's not dangerous, is it?" Ash asked.
"It is. By absolute force, it will bring about love. But a less ideal version of it." Mellifera shook her head. "It will surely force the entire world into a state of endless love. No conflict of any sorts. But.. that also means no dreams, ambitions, goals, or personal achievements. Everyone will simply be mindless drones in a state of bliss."
"What?! That's...awful!" Fluttershy cried out. "How do we stop something like that?!"
"The same way we always do!" Ash stood up with Pikachu, gazing up at the Amorah's Ascendence. "We take it down!"
"Ash...!" Chrysalis's eyes widened, gazing at him.
"I'm not just gonna let this thing cause so much damage. Even if it's not hurting anyone right now, it could be later.
"If you're going to do that, you're not doing it in that state." Suddenly, descending from the skies was none other than Princess Cadence. She already sensed a disturbance in her sleep and knew that the balance of love as being thrown out of wack. She was very much right, showing up at the zenith of this mess.
"Cadence!" Ash smiled, seeing her. "Good to see you."
"Ash. You've already managed to make peace with Chrysalis's heart. But that Avatar transcends it. You can battle it and knock it back, but you won't be able to defeat it." Cadence explained when approaching Ash. "It's similar to my own Avatar."
"Oh yeah. The one that only shows up at Valentine's or Hearths and Hooves Day?" Ash recalled that moment. He only saw it once but it was very vivid in his head.
"The same one. But this one can show up whenever it wants. I can't stop the Amorah's Ascendance. Only the one who the original summoner loves can do so. But in an equal state."
"Again? You too? This is supposed to be exclusive to Changelings." Mellifera groaned as even Cadence had knowledge about all of this So much for exclusivitiy.
"An equal state? You mean...I gotta be as big as her?!" Ash pointed at the colossal being that was exuding a radiant aura. This aura was amplifying all the love in the surrounding area and driving everyone else to love Ash even more.
"Correct. And that can only be done if I transfer the magic used for my own avatar. By giving it to you, I can draw out your inner most emotions and manifest them as an avatar. Even though it's past Valentines and Hearths and Hooves, the spell will still work but it won't be as strong, considering the circumstances. So we'll have to settle with that."
"Sounds good. I can't just let this thing mess everything up."
"I'm glad." Cadence nodded, stepping back. "The one thing that drives you the most. Whatever it may be...let it be unleashed!" From her horn, she would summon a beam of magic, firing it directly at Ash. The beam was bright, glowing in the night sky, engulfing him entirely.
Ash closed his eyes, letting the magic envelop his body. Upon interacting with him, his Aura would suddenly start flaring up, the energy radiating throughout his body. Everyone would watch, the light growing stronger and brighter. The magic from Cadence was flowing into him, causing him to levitate in the air.
The magic would begin taking a different form, shaping his body. Instead of a being composed of Love Magic, emerging from the light was a being composed of Aura. A brilliant Azure light blasted through the night sky when rising, catching the attention of everyone here. The being's body was shaped in the image of Ash. With its body and features, the aura would start to change colour.
From a pale yellow, the aura would soon turn blue, giving it the appearance of Aura. This was no longer the magic of Cadence or a manifestation of Chrysalis's love. This was a manifestation of Ash's Aura, which was just as strong and powerful. The light would shine for a few more moments before fading, revealing a new being.
"Is that...Love?" Fluttershy questioned.
"It is. But it's also another one of Ash's deepest emotions. To be honest, I'm not sure if it's his guts, spirit or bravery. It's something so deep that he doesn't even understand. It's like he's an Aura User but at the same time, not. His Aura is so powerful. Even his own aura is a manifestation of his emotions and beliefs. That right there is the Avatar of Aura."
"Aura." Thorax repeated.
"Pika." Pikachu was amazed, watching the being descend to the ground, landing next to Chrysalis.
"WOAH. YOU GUYS ARE SO SMALL NOW." Ash spoke, his voice being a combination of both his own and the Avatar's. The voice was much louder and booming than Ash's, making it hard to even listen to him. It was as if a celestial being was speaking to them all. "THIS IS SO WEIRD AND COOL!"
"Ash, focus!" Cadence bellowed. "Right now, you're bigger than any of your Pokemon! You're going to have to battle without them!"
"ALRIGHT. I CAN DO THIS." Ash would nod, facing the Amorah's Ascendence. "I USED TO WRESTLE WITH MY SNORLAX PLUSH WHEN I WAS A KID! COME ON!"
The Avatar of Aura, standing taller than the Amorah's Ascendence and Ash, would slowly make his way over to the Changeling. The Amorah's Ascendence used magic, shooting a blast at him. Ash would block the attack, holding up his arms, shielding himself. The attack was blocked and not even a scratch was left behind.
The two avatars were now in a face-off, both staring each other down. Seeing that the first attack failed, the Amorah's Ascenence would unleash a Harmonic Resonance. Channelling the harmonious vibrations of love, the Changeling unleashed a wave of energy that only served to bring balance and unity to discordant forces.
Ash would raise his hand, clenching it into a fist before punching forward, using the same move. The two attacks clashed, resulting in a massive explosion, forcing everyone to cover their eyes and protect themselves.
Ash would then channel Aura in his right hand, suddenly summoning an Aura of Lightning, almost as if he was using Thunderbolt.
"PIKACHU'S NOT BATTLING, BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA STOP ME FROM USING THIS! HERE'S MY OWN THUNDERBOLT!" Ash would shout, throwing his arm forward. A blast of azure lightning would shoot forward, flying straight at the Changeling. The bolt would fly through the air, crashing against the Avatar, sending her staggering back.
"Pika-Pi!" Pikachu's eyes sparkled, seeing his Trainer's avatar using an attack. He couldn't help but feel proud and jealous at the same time.
Enraged, the Amorah's Ascendence would unleash a torrential storm of love-infused energy, which swept away many of the people and Pokemon at the Centre of Ponyville with overwhelming force. But the Aura Avatar, thanks to his height, was able to defend himself by placing his hands together, using his body as a shield.
The Aura around him would flare with a divine presence, flowing across the clouds and dispersing some of the Love Magic that infected them.
"TRY THIS! AURA SPHERE!" The Aura Avatar would use this moment to channel energy, an azure light forming in his hands. He was generating his own Aura Sphere, holding his hands out and lobbing it as if he was throwing a Poke Ball. The Aura Sphere was fired, flying at the Avatar. The two attacks clashed, meeting with each other.
But this time, the Aura Sphere would be overpowering the torrent, pushing it back. As if it was a battle between two divine beings, the two forces were evenly matched, struggling against one another. But even if they were at a standstill, Ash was not ready to give up. He would charge more power, causing the Aura Sphere to grow bigger, slowly overtaking the torrent.
The Amorah's Ascendence was beginning to panic, frantically using everything she had to offer for victory. From her horn, a pink lightning would fire, merging with her torrent to try and overpower Ash. But it was futile. Ash would unleash a loud scream, charging even more energy, the Aura Sphere now surpassing the torrent, blowing up the Amorah's Ascendance.
She quickly put her wings up to try and block the attack as the Aura Sphere hit her, creating a powerful explosion. The resulting shockwave was enough to envelop her body as the entirety of the Aura covered her.
The Amorah's Ascendence would unleash a horrifying yet somewhat beautiful screech as she would start falling apart. Her body would begin breaking into multiple pieces, turning into pink mist. After being absolutely shattered, the mist of the Amorah's Ascendence would disperse, vanishing from the land.
"MAN..." Ash took a deep breath, looking at his hands. "IS THAT ALL?"
"Yes. It was." Cadence nodded, smiling a bit. "Well done as always, Ash!"
"I can see why you fell in love with him." Mellifera would smile, finally seeing why her daughter would take such an interest in Ash.
Ash looked at his best buddy with a giggle, who appeared even smaller than before. Thanks to his victory, the Amorah Scourge was dying out. As a result, the Love Storm would slowly dissipate, fading away as the morning came.
The entire event had come to a conclusion. People and Pokemon were snapping back to their senses, blinking as if they had been in a daze. All of them were starting to realize where they were and what happened.
"Wha...Huh?" They started speaking, completely bewildered by their surroundings. May, Bea and Twilight collectively sighed now that it was over. They did a pretty good job distracting them all. All the people and Pokemon here quickly went back to whatever they were doing or wherever they were, completely lost. Some of them would immediately gasp upon seeing the gigantic Ash Ketchum standing before them.
That just confused them even more.
Day.
"Sorry for this, Ash. It looks like I caused so much trouble." Chrysalis apologized, back to full health and better than ever. "It seems like I can't keep my emotions in check. It was never a problem before."
"Hey, it's no big deal." Ash waved his hands. "It was actually a pretty awesome experience. I've never seen anything like that. You should've told me earlier. We could've had a battle with those. Being that big was so awesome!"
"That could've gotten out of hand..." May scratched her hair. "To think you'd end up using an Avatar. Just like the Princess. How did we even get here?"
"On the bright side, we won't have to worry about that anymore." Twilight shrugged. "And we now have a backup power that we never knew was there. Imagine what it'll be like on the right day."
"I can make peace with my heart now, Ash." Chrysalis smiled. "Thank you for listening. You are the first to do that. I have no regrets in my heart whatsoever."
"Aw, thanks, Chrysalis. Don't sweat it."
"I should be going now. I still need to get some sleep of my own. And I can imagine all of you need it as well. I'm sure you had a busy night."
"Very." Twilight nodded. "Let's just say it's another one for the books."
"You can say that again." May would yawn, stretching her arms.
"It at least helped me grow stronger with all of those battles." Bea commented, looking at her fist.
"And I'll be here." Cadence spoke. "In case this happens again. I'll be happy to lend you a hand, Chrysalis. We all make mistakes and you'll have plenty of chances to grow."
"Glad to hear it. See you soon." Chrysalis would walk off with her mother, Thorax and the other Changelings that were by her side. The others would soon follow suit, returning to their homes to rest.
"Hang on a second..." Something finally clicked with Twilight. "I figured out that it doesn't work on those who already love Ash. But you three..." Right as she was about to face Bea, May and Fluttershy, they were suddenly gone.
"What the...?" Twilight blinked, not even realizing they had disappeared. She would look around, trying to find them, only to see Ash standing there. He was completely unaware of their disappearance.
"Twilight. Something wrong?" Ash asked, noticing her expression.
But Twilight shrugged it off before walking off with Ash. The two would speak with each other along the way, ready to clock out and get some rest during the day. Quite the turbulent experience. All of it had piggybacked from the incident at Rainbow Falls but there was some peace involved in it now. No doubt, wilder experiences will come in the future as the journey continues.
In Yakyakistan, the Yaks were currently viewing a movie straight from PokeStar Studios. Ever since they learned about movies, they've been hooked and it became their favourite hobby. The way they're able to view it in their land despite having no screens is by using some sort of magic, making it possible.
Yona was one of those Yaks viewing it, standing next to her Piloswine. Out of all the Yaks, Yona was the most interested in movies, and it's safe to say she has a thing for them. Recently, she's been given movie equipment of her own, courtesy of PokeStar Studios. Once the film they were viewing finished up, the Yaks would all give a loud applause by stomping their hooves and trumpeting.
"So much fun. So much fun!" One of the Yaks exclaimed. They all walk off afterwards, getting on with their day. Yona and Piloswine would continue to stay, watching the credits roll by.
"Yona wants to make a movie like that already..." The Yak said to herself, thinking about the plot of the movie she had just watched. She then gazed at the equipment she had with her, knowing what had to be done. She's been waiting for this day and now was the moment to make it happen.
Wasting no time, she pulled the equipment using a rope she attacked to herself, dragging it along the snow with the widest grin on her face. It was off to her home.
"Yona is going to make her own movie now. A movie about Yona and Piloswine." She would get right to work, picking up the camera and aiming it. She would press the record button, beginning the recording process while she was still moving. She had yet to even return to her home. "Yona, a young Yak, is going to be the star. And Piloswine will play the lead!"
"Pilo." Piloswine grunted, looking at the camera.
"This will be Yona's movie. It's going to be great!" The Yak spoke as she continued walking, moving through the area with Piloswine by her side. But while moving it, Yona was thinking about the premise of her movie. She knew a movie always needed that instead of just randomly doing things for the sake of it. Her eyes would wander around, seeing all the snow, the mountains, the trees, and the clear sky.
"Oh! Yona knows!" She would suddenly stop, gazing at the scenery. The extremely cold scenery before her was the perfect inspiration for a movie. She already had the title for the film and it was 'Frozen Yogurt'. "Yona make a movie about the frosty north! Frozen Yogurt. Mmm...Yogurt..."
"Swin..." Piloswine would mumble.
Using her own home as an example, Yona would get to work, taking a crack at her first movie with just her and Piloswine. With her mind made up, she would start acting, putting herself into the mindset of a protagonist.
"Oh, oh! Yona's character. Yona's character..." The Yak would try to think of what her character would be like. But nothing was clicking for her at all it seemed. She didn't know the first thing about the plot either, considering she came up with this on the spot. But that wouldn't deter her at all.
"Oh, oh! Yona's character is going to be a Yak. And she will live in the mountains with her family. And her name will be...Yona. Yona."
"Swin."
"Yona, the Yak!" She would repeat, not having a creative bone in her body at the moment. From this point on, Yona would just wing it, going with the flow and improvising. She would continue narrating, speaking about the Yak, but her words would become a jumbled mess. She had no idea what she was doing, but she was going to try her best.
This went on for minutes as Yona was just rambling and speaking about the Yaks in general, having a lot to say. She would speak about her family, the mountains and other things she knew about her land, but not much else. It was obvious she had no idea what she was talking about and just saying anything she could. It became less of a movie and more of a diary.
Regardless, she enjoyed herself, but soon started to realize that her movie would have no plot at all if it kept going like this. The Yak would stop, scratching her head, wondering what she should do.
"Hm. What should Yona do now? Where is this story going?" Then, something clicked for Yona. Why not just go to more experienced people when it came to making movies? And the first two people that came to mind were Ash and Rarity.
"Yona's gonna go talk to Ash and Rarity!" The Yak declared. "They'll know what to do. And Yona can show them her movie. Maybe they can help!" With a plan in her head, the Yak was ready to make her way out of here and straight to Ponyville.
However, when she approached the gates, she was stopped by Yak Guards, who stood in her path. They would refuse her, stating that it was still risky to go out there since the world was recovering from a piece of the moon being previously missing. But that wasn't gonna stop her.
"Yona has to make a movie. This is a Yak emergency."
"There are no emergencies."
"Yes, there is." Yona insisted. "Yona can't have a movie without a plot. If Yona has no plot, her movie is a failure. If her movie is a failure, then...it will be the end of the world."
"The end of the world?!" One of the guards exclaimed.
"That's right. So Yona needs to talk with Ash and Rarity. They can help her make a good movie."
"We have no choice. We can't let the world end." The guards would step aside, allowing Yona to pass. "Please, be careful out there."
"Yona will be. Yona will be." The Yak assured.
With the Yak Guards letting her through, she would leave the safety of the gates, setting her sights on Ponyville. She had her eyes on Ponyville the whole time, hoping the guards would let her through. With her mission set, she would walk off, leaving the land of the Yaks and heading towards Ponyville.
Lying just to leave was worth it for Yona. Her love for film drove her to that level easily. With a grin on her face, Yona happily left Yakyakistan, dragging her equipment through the snow once more.
Along the way, Piloswine would walk by her side, the two travelling across the snow-covered ground. She was not deterred by the cold winds and freezing temperatures since she was built for it all. This Frozen Wasteland looked like the perfect place to film a movie.
As they made their way across, Yona would keep the camera rolling, filming everything she could see. From the mountain ranges, the forests, the snow, the sun, the skies, everything. Plus, because of the effects the broken piece of the moon, the enigmatic Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter have done to the world so far, some of the more bizarre sights were visible.
Like a forest of glowing trees and a strange purple mist. But the weirdest of all was the giant, floating ball of energy that was hovering over the land. She had no idea what these sights were or how they got here, but she wasn't complaining. They were good things for her movie and she was going to capture it all.
Obviously, she knew getting close to them was just asking for trouble, so she kept her distance. Doing so allowed her to see more of the sights that these forces have done to the world While dangerous, the Dragon Matter and Fairy were also rather beautiful to look at, which is why the Yak was keeping her camera on.
However, the one thing she didn't account for was reaching Ponyville from this distance. All Train Services were currently on hold due to recent events, so she would have to travel on foot. That's where the problem started.
The journey to Ponyville was quite lengthy and she had no way of getting there faster. She was a Yak, not a pegasus. She wouldn't be able to fly. She also had no car, no bus, and no train. That left her no choice but to walk all the way.
But Yona would press on, having her mind set on this. While walking on the land, she came across one of the many gateways scattered across certain locations. The gateway before her was right near a lake, leading to one part of the Pokemon World.
The way she found it was from whispers. Whispers that sounded like they came straight from the Dragon Matter itself, almost as if it was speaking to Yona, telling her to face this direction before seeping back into the land.
This was a direct gateway to the Alola Region, as seen by Yona poking her head through it. Upon gazing through it, this part of Alola was none other than
Melemele Island, the main island of the Alola Region, which was located close to the region's capital city, Hau'oli City. To her surprise, when lookng through it, she spotted Ash, who was present in Hau'oli City.
"Ash!" Yona immediately recognized him, calling his name. She wouldn't have to go all the way to Pallet Town to find him since he was already present here. What tremendous luck. Or that could've been the Dragon Matter at play since the two were connected.
Currently, Ash had met up wth his friends from Alola on this day as he was seen chatting with Mallow and Lana respectively. When hearing the call, the three would glance in the direction the voice came from, spotting Yona.
"Yona?" Ash spoke her name.
"Ah!" Mallow got past Ash, holding his shoulder and gazing at the yak. "Someone from Equestria showed up! Who's that Ash?"
"Ah, this is Yona." Ash would walk forward. "She's a Yak from Yakyakistan. I didn't even think this gateway connected to Yakyakistan."
"It doesn't." Lana confirmed, already knowing what was beyond that gateway. "And isn't it a bit dangerous right now? The world is still recovering from that event and it could be dangerous."
"Yona walked all the way here! Yona's fine!" She spoke with a confident face
"Y-You did?" Ash stuttered, not expecting her to go that far especially in these circumstances.
"Yona wanted to show Ash and Rarity her movie! It's very important. Yona can't have a movie with no plot."
"Movie!?" Mallow and Lana collectively exclamed, zipping past Ash and making him spin around. Ash was immediately dizzy as the two girls of Alola got in front of the Yak with starry eyes. "Did we hear you right? Did you say you have a movie?!"
"Mm!" Yona confirmed with a nod before dragging her equipment through the gateway. "Yona was making a movie for PokeStar Studios. Yona's first go!"
"PokeStar Studios!" Mallow gushed as she gazed into the heavenly skies. "I've heard about that place! All the way in Unova where all the movies in the world are made! Aah...the place of dreams."
"Yeah. The place of dreams." Lana's eyes sparkled. "I've heard it's where the greatest stories in the world are told, the actors and actresses are the most talented and the films are the best of the best. The place where a dreamer can become a reality. And the best part is, the director doesn't have to pay a dime."
"I didn't know you guys were so into movies." Ash spoke as this was news to him.
"We've been interested in them for a long time, actually." Mallow added. "We've only heard of them and seen very few here at Alola. But there's so much more out there. All the stories in the world, the best films and the most amazing characters. Ah, it's so fascinating!"
"All my stories could become real if I was a movie star." Lana smiled.
"I could do so many different things. The possibilities are endless!" Mallow exclaimed.
"Ash. Yona was hoping Ash could help since Ash has been to PokeStar Studios a lot."
"You've been to PokeStar Studios multiple times?!" Mallow exclaimed before facing Ash. "Ash, how have you been keeping this a secret? You've been to the land of dreams multiple times and haven't told us?!" She zipped over to him, placing her hands on his shoulder while Lana did the same, shaking him.
"Y-You guys didn't ask!" Ash's words were stuttering while he was being shaken.
"Well, we're asking now!" Lana and Mallow shouted. "How many times have you been there?!"
"I lost count!" Ash replied while still being shaken. He didn't expect them to be this interested. "Do you guys wanna go there?"
"Go there? All the way to Unova? Mmm..." Mallow swivelled, thinking for a moment. "I don't think t's worth it. I'd prefer if it came here. For Alola to shoot its own movie for the first time. Ah, imagine it, a movie starring Alolan Pokemon. The audience would love it."
"Imagine it..." Lana would speak up, gazing at the clouds. "The people of the world, coming here for our film. The land of the Alola Region, the first region in the world to ever have its first ever movie The first region to bring its dreams into reality. The first region to show the world it can tell a story."
"In that case..." Ash slowly raised his hand. "I'll handle it. You can count on me to bring some stuff from PokeStar Studios here."
"Can you do that?" Mallow faced Ash with a prolonged gasped.
"Sure can!" Ash pointed at himself. "It's pretty easy. You'll have all the stuff here you need in no time. Is it gonna be just the two of you or..."
"Are you kidding? You think someone like Professor Kukui is going to pass on this? Imagine what he'd do if he got the chance? Maybe Royal Mask can make his movie debut." Mallow giggled when thinking about it.
"And then there's the others." Lana nodded. "Oh, this'll be so much fun!"
"What about Yona's movie?" Yona would speak up.
"Don't worry. We'll do something about your movie, Yona." Ash approached young yak, smiling.
"Yona can really show it to you? Really?" Yona asked with puppy dog eyes.
"Really. It's no problem." Ash held his fist out, prompting Yona to bump it with her hooves. She was very well aware of a fist bump, getting used to other places's gestures.
"So when are we doing this?" Mallow asked. "The sooner the better. If we can get some of the people to act, we can start shooting the film right away."
"I'll head to Unova right away! Come on Pikachu!" Ash wasn't waiting any time, immediately jetting off with his best buddy. "You guys show Yona around Alola, okay?! I might be back today or tomorrow! Depends how fast I get there."
"Gotcha!" Lana smiled, giving him a thumbs up. "See you later, Ash!"
"Come on, Yona!" Mallow exclaimed, guiding the young Yak. "You'll see what Alola has to offer!"
Very soon, Yona would get to see what kind of region Alola was in comparison to where she comes from. For starters, compared to Yakyakistan or even Equestria itself, Alola was rather hot. Compared to the freezing temperatures, the region of Alola was tropical, giving Yona a new experience.
It started with Yona being introduced to Alola's food, specifically the local delicacies of Malasada. She had never eaten them before or many foods beyond where she comes from, but upon tasting the treat, she absolutely adored the flavor, eating a bunch of them. An instant hit for the young yak. In her mind, she was already thinking of somehow adding Malasadas to her movie in some way, choosng to involve the things she loves.
As she was busy stuffing her face with Malasadas, Mallow and Lana would guide her across the island, showing her around. While she was busy eating the Malasadas, the trio would make their way across Hau'oli City, the main city of Melemele Island. Yona would witness an abundance of people going about their business and living their everyday lives, seeing all sorts of people.
Yona's eyes would scan a group of kids playing baseball, a group of young adults playing football, a boy and girl riding bicycles together and a mother and her child having a picnic. Looking at this began flooding Yona's mind with ideas, thinking about her own movie.
From these people and their activities, Yona would stir up more and more ideas. Before this, she had no idea what to do with her own movie, but the people of Alola gave her plenty of inspiration. More so than any place she's been to so far, which isn't a lot admittedly. All she's had to visit is Canterlot, Unova and the Wilds which still had a lot to offer in their own ways.
They would take her to the beach, letting her gaze at the sparkling waters. She had never seen the ocean before but once she did, she was completely amazed, seeing the beautiful waters, the white sand, the clear skies, the gentle breeze, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.
"Aah, so nice..." Yona breathed, gazing at the ocean. "Calm and nice."
"Alola is one of the regions with the nicest weather in the world." Mallow said before taking a small dip in the water. "Warm, sunny, the perfect weather. You could stay here all day and never get tired of it. I couldn't ask for a better home."
"Come in for a swim, Yona." Lana had already entered the waters, suggesting the Yak. "It's very warm. You'll enjoy yourself."
"I-In?!" Yona's smile suddenly shifted into a frown in a heartbeat.
"Aww, come on." Mallow encouraged. "It's not that bad. Looking at the water, Yona froze for a moment as fear from within was starting to show itself. The young yak would step back, her hooves digging deep into the sand, staring at the sea. She was afraid as seen by her rapid expression shift.
"Yona. Are you alright?" Mallow noticed her sudden change, looking at her.
"N-No. Not in the water." Yona shook her head. "Yona doesn't like the water."
"Oh, that's fine. You can just try your hooves at the sand then." Mallow winked, looking on the bright side. "Go on and play with it."
"Play with stand?" That sounded outlandish to Yona. What did she mean by playing? The Yak slowly moved towards the sand, crouching down. She would feel the sand on her hooves, comparing it to the snow that she's been used to for so long, ever since she was born.
But it was much different. Much different than snow. It was grainy, dry, and not very cold. She had no idea how to play with this. The Yak would continue to move her hooves around, watching the sand being dug up and tossed. The sand, despite being coarse, rough and getting everyhere, wasn't that bad.
"Ooh." Yona cooed before messing around with the sand, throwing it in the air, feeling it in her hands and even eating it.
"Ah, no, no, no!" Mallow waved her arms frantically. "Don't eat it, Yona! It's not good!"
"Sand doesn't taste good. Yona will remember." Yona nodded, swallowing the sand. "Yona doesn't know what to do."
"Aahh..." Mallow's pupils shrunk as she was stunned after seeing Yona swallow the sand. It didn't help that Piloswine did the same thing. Afterwards, Yona would drop her body on the sand, rolling against it. Instinctively, she was pretending that the sand was like snow, making a snow angel.
Obviously, that wasn't happening with the sand. The result was Yona moving around on the ground, spreading the sand everywhere and even covering herself in it. Seeing this, Mallow and Lana looked at each other with sweat drops. They knew they were going to have to clean up the sand later.
Up ahead, and slowly emerging from the sand was a stealthy Palossand. This Pokemon, despite being a sand creature, was able to sneak up on the unsuspecting Yak. She didn't even realize he was right in front of her. But the Pokemon would let out a cry, catching the attention of Mallow and Lana as it was emerging to surprise Yona.
"Ah! Yona!" Mallow shouted, trying to warn her. However, there was no need to warn her since Yona ended up steamrolling Palossand, flattening him. Mallow and Lana blinked, stunned by the fact that the sand Pokemon was knocked out by the Yak.
"Palo..." Palossand groaned as Yona's physical strength caught it off guard. Such as the advantage of being a yak and Yona was no different despite being a child.
"Oh. There was a Pokemon under there." Yona stated the obvious, sitting on top of the fallen sand-based Pokemon. Seeing this, she immediately went for one of her Poke Balls, throwing it out and pulling the Ground-Ghost-Type in.
1...2...3...Gotcha! Palossand was caught.
"The strength on her..." Lana spoke, completely bewildered.
"You'd think the sand would at least stop her." Mallow added, seeing the sand Pokemon enter the Poke Ball. Yona was a force to be reckoned with, especially since she wasn't even aware of what she had done.
Afterwards, the trio would leave the beach, deciding to check out another spot in Alola. The next spot would be a grassy area, a large field that had plenty of open space. Yona found herself having the time of her life so far in Alola. It was worth lying to the guards just to be here.
But as the day went on, Yona was starting to feel a bit hot. Being in the sun for so long wasn't something she was used to. The Yak would look at the sky, shielding her eyes from the bright rays. Alola was definitely a stark contrast to her homeland.
"Are you okay, Yona?" Mallow asked.
"Yona's not used to this heat." Yona admitted. "Not even Sun at Yakyakistan is this strong."
"I guess our world's Sun is stronger than what's Equestria and beyond." Lana said. "Isn't it still strange that we have two Suns and Two Moons now?"
"Nah. That's why the world is now bigger since both our worlds came together. It balances it out." Mallow shook her head. "With a bigger Earth, we've got double the sunlight and double the moonlight."
"Hm. Do you think Solgaleo and Lunala will do something about that? I mean, they're not just going to ignore something like this." Lana asked.
"Maybe."
"Solga...Luna..." Yona repeated those names, not knowing what they meant. "Who are they?"
"Oh, you don't know?" Mallow leaned in. "Well, this is a great chance for you to hear it! See, here at Alola, the Sun and Moon have their own emissaries. Solgaleo and Lunala. One is the Emissary of the Sun and the other is the Emissary of the Moon."
"Emissaries of the Sun and Moon. How beautiful." Yona's eyes sparkled.
"But it's not just that. There's a third emissary." Mallow added. "There's Necrozma. He's the Emissary of Light. The Sun, the Moon and Light. Three beings that are the foundation of life. And they're the ones that bring light to the world, giving us the power to thrive."
"Necrozma?!" Yona gasped when hearing that name. Necrozma has been quite well-known recently after what Daybreaker has been But clearly, Mallow wasn't talking about that Necrozma.
"Oh, no. You're thinking of that Necrozma from another universe. Here, Necrozma is actually a good guy. He protects the light. If not for him, Alola wouldn't have all the light it does." Mallow explained, shocking Yona. "He can be a bit aggressive, we'll admit."
"Mhm. He chased poor Nebby through an Ultra Wormhole and could've taken all the light from Alola. Thankfully, Ash was able to calm him down and Nebby helped him regain his original form." Lana added. "We're lucky to have such an emissary."
"Ultra Necrozma's the form that's all about peace." Mallow then looked up. "I'm not sure about this other Necrozma based on what I've heard though. He actually has a Trainer."
"So...Solgaleo and Lunala are like Princess Celestia and Luna?" Yona immediately made a comparison between the two. "Like, their emissaries."
"I mean, you're not wrong." Mallow giggled, seeing the parallel. "If only there was a third emissary of light. Then it'd be matching."
"Who'd even be the third?" Lana asked.
"I can't think of anyone. Oh well." Mallow shrugged it off. "Say, Yona. How about we check out that movie of yours you've been working on? It looks like Ash will be back by tomorrow. We should start preparing for it."
"Preparing. Yona can do that." The Yak was already excited, nodding in agreement. She would walk ahead of the two, ready to go. Only one place to go and that was Alola's own Pokemon School.
Universe 11. The Solar Empire.
It has been approximately a week ever since Daybreaker's mission in space. The Solar Sword appeared as healthy as ever, barely suffering damage during all of that mess. Daybreaker's team succeeded in drawing out Lunala and two other powerful Pokemon in the process. As for the result?
Deep in the labs of the Solar Empire, Sunrise Sparkle and her fellow ponies stood before a massive container in the shape of a sun which as hovering off the ground. And inside that Sun-shaped container as a familiar energy. The energy inside resembled that of the night sky, almost as if a night cloud had been ripped from above and captured.
But this was not just some part of the sky. Instead, the readings on the many screens present in the lab showed one Pokemon this belonged to. On the screen, a holographic Lunala was shown.
"It's only 12% Light Energy," Moondancer commented when reading the stats on this piece of Lunala. "If only we got the rest of Lunala. We'd have 100% Light for Necrozma. And if we caught Solageleo, that would go up to 200%."
"12% is still good." Sunrise thought otherwise. "It's a shame that Lunala managed to get away, but she can't hide forever. Now that we can track her with this part of her, it'll save up so much time."
"Deoxys was so annoying though. it defended Lunala so vehemently that Necrozma only managed to strike one part of Lunala off its body. How much do you want to bet that another Pokemon will try to defend Lunala when we find her again?"
"I wouldn't count on it. Rayquaza and Deoxys are both elsewhere after our clashes with them. The only ones left are Dialga and Palkia but as long as we don't disrupt space or time in any way, we'll be fine. We don't even have to worry about Arceus either."
"Necrozma also took a bite out of the Moon itself. But it looks like that's driving him crazy..." One of the scientists spoke as a sudden rumble could be heard. That rumble had a source and everyone here knew the source for it.
Far, far from the lab and over at the centre of the Solar Empire where Daybreaker's throne room was, rays of prismatic lights were suddenly flying out, shooting through the windows and cracking it. Many could easily see these lights as they would pierce the clouds themselves.
Daybreaker's Throne Room.
"Calm down, Necrozma!" Currently, Daybreaker had to deal with Necrozma herself. She slid back, narrowly avoiding an incoming ray of light that struck the walls of her palace. Necrozma roared violently, his body letting out an iridescent glow that resembled the Moon.
Nearby guards had already been knocked out by the lights, unable to stop Necrozma's rampage. But to Daybreaker, this was a familiar sight as she has seen this before.
"This is just like what happened with at the Sea Temple," Daybreaker recalled this scene when Necrozma absorbed the light from just one Sea Temple Crystal. And by doing that, he went wild, losing control to the point where he didn't listen to Daybreaker immediately.
Now, the same thing was happening again and this time, the attacks were directed at his own Trainer. Necrozma released his Photon Geyser at Daybreaker only for the Solar Queen to slice it in half with a searing flame. The attack would combust, covering the throne room in embers and photons.
"I see. No wonder Lunala is so connected to Necrozma." Daybreaker spoke while the smoke was clearing. "Just by absorbing some of the Moon and Lunala's energy, he's going wild. All of that had the same power as the Sea Temple Crystal."
Necrozma then rushed in with Shadow Claw, attempting to slash Daybreaker as he was acting hostile to everyone at the moment. Daybreaker was ready to engage with the Psychic-Type as her horn lit up for a counterattack. However, all it took was Gardevoir appearing to immediately end this.
She held her hands out, generating a dazzling field of Aura and Fairy Matter, blocking Shadow Claw. After halting the attack, she would use the Fairy Matter to affect the Prism Pokemon, sending a soothing energy through his body. Necrozma growled, feeling the Fairy Matter affect his body from within.
Thanks to Gardevoir, Necrozma calmed down, lowering his claws and hovering back.
"I knew that would work. This Fairy Matter isn't so bad." Gardevoir spoke, bringing the Fairy Matter back to her. She was already getting used to it by this point.
"Thank you, Gardevoir" Daybreaker sighed. "Alright. Now I know. High levels of Light can lead to Necrozma losing it. He grows hostile, struggling to listen to anyone else. And this was just from bits. Not even the full thing."
"What do we do then? What if he goes rogue again?" Gardevoir questioned, not wanting to deal with a rampaging Necrozma. Especially one that is stronger than before.
"I'll figure it out. I can only imagine that reaching his full strength will at least temper him. Necrozma's been trapped in an icy prison for centuries, so it's only natural that he'd act this way when getting so much wonderful light." Daybreaker continued. "But I bet he's also upset that he couldn't absorb all of Lunala."
"So. Let's go back for Lunala then. We know where she is and we can easily chase her down whenever. You''ll let me grab some of her Aura first before he does, right?"
"Right, right. I'm planning to pursue Lunala very soon. But Lunala might also inform our opponents since she made her getaway. I wouldn't want Celestia getting involved in our pursuit. That entire universe is already on the lookout for us after all. I want to deal with them at some point but not before I can complete Necrozma."
"Let me handle that then." Emerging from the shadows and making her appearance was none other than Nightmare Rarity, using her own magic to blend in with the darkness. "If you're so worried about them, I can take over for you."
"You? Really?"
"Really, darling! You see...the night has been whispering to me as of late." She held her hooves out, bringing the darkness to her. "After what you, Gardevoir and Necrozma did to that universe, something amazing has been brewing. The level of nightmares have been increasing. People's fear levels are rising because of you three."
"They are? I suppose so..." Daybreaker thought for a moment
"You left a mark on the Moon itself. You shook their entire planet and you even accelerated Dragon and Fairy Matter in their world." Nightmare Rarity continued. "Before all of that and after the Dread League, they all had this gigantic feeling of hope and dreams which is just bleh. But now? Nightmares are about to become more and more frequent and I'm looking forward to it."
"So. You'll be launching your next attack on Universe 1 now? You barely even touch that world if I'm being honest with you. You and Starlight are always doing your own thing."
"Because we're preparing." Nightmare Rarity winked. "And I know a lot about that universe by now. It has a lot in common with my own after all. Since you're getting closer and closer to restoring Necrozma, allow me to quickly deal with any problems that might slow you down."
"Hm. Alright then. Go for it. But I'd recommend staying away from my counterpart. Do it outside of Celestia's reach. I personally want to deal with her myself. Do what you can." Daybreaker ordered as she also wanted Celestia out of the action. She wanted to make her encounter with her counterpart something special. Aside from that, Nightmare Rarity and by extension, Starlight Glimmer were planning their attack on Universe 1 next.
"Give me some time to prepare." She grinned deviously. "You won't be disappointed."
Alola's afternoon Sun could be seen slowly descending and at this time, Yona was rather exhausted, having an enjoyable time in the region so far. Her body was heating up due to the Alolan Sun and how she has adapted to her natural environment. However, with the Alolan Moon rising, a cooling aura would soon appear, being rather familiar to Yona.
"Yona...tired." The young Yak muttered.
"Let's get you home then." Mallow carried her towards the gateway. Seeing that Ash wouldn't be here until tomorrow, it was best for Yona to head home and come back tomorrow for the filming. "We'll have a ton of fun tomorrow."
"Ash's Friends are fun.." Yona also enjoyed being around two of Ash's friends and was looking forward to the rest of his friends tomorrow.
"You'll have more fun tomorrow." Mallow then placed the young yak on Piloswine's back. "Get her home safe, Piloswine."
"Pilo." The Pokemon grunted, nodding his head. He would walk through the gate, returning to Yakyakistan, leaving Mallow and Lana behind.
"Well, that was certainly something. Do you think more Yaks will show up here, or is it just too hot?" Mallow asked.
We've never really visited Equestria at all, actually." Lana commented. "Usually, ponies come here if they're looking for a Z-Crystal or something else."
"Yeah. But, it's not like we're leaving here. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Besides, we can just make everyone and everything in Alola known to the world. I mean, Ash is popular now, isn't he?" Mallow pointed out.
"That's right." Lana giggled "Alola Champion and all. It's strange that I saw a lot of people the other day crying out his name and trying to head for him. How come you weren't one of them, Mallow?"
"How come you weren't one of them?" Mallow nudged Lana's shoulder.
"Hey, I was busy." Lana blushed, followed by Mallow's laughter. The two of them would walk off, chatting away, awaiting Ash's return tomorrow with the promise of PokeStar Studios being introduced to the Region of Alola.
Yakyakistan. Nightfall.
At Yakyakistan, Yona was walking through the gates with Piloswine, the two making their way through. It was currently night-time and the Yak's home was rather quiet, considering most of the Yaks were asleep. The guards nodded at her, unaware of what she was actually up to so far
"Yona had fun." The young Yak spoke, rubbing her eyes. "So much fun. But tired. Really tired."
"Swin." Piloswine nodded, acknowledging the fact that Yona had a long day. The young yak would look around, gazing at the mountains, the snow, the skies, the forests, and the moon. She was always mesmerized by the beauty of her home and even in Alola, she had a sense of awe.
"Yona has so many ideas for a movie now. But..." Yona then looked at the ground, her eyes shifting to the sides. "Yona doesn't know where to go with it. What should Yona do now? Will she be a good movie star?"
"Swin." Piloswine spoke.
"Mm. Yona will try her best. Maybe she should've asked for some help instead of rushing over there. But Ash is so nice. And his friends are nice. They'll help Yona."
"Pilo."
"It's going to be great." The young yak yawned.
Once back at her home, the Yak would head inside, laying on the soft floor and snuggling herself up. A bright day was waiting for her tomorrow and she just couldn't wait. The career path she wished to take seemed to be clear by this point, but she still had to work her way through.
"Yona's gonna be a star..." She yawned, shutting her eyes. "Mm...a star."
The Light Canvas.
"You all will be entering the realm that no angel is ever supposed to enter unless necessary. Not for 80 centuries has an angel entered the Abyssal Depths." The Higher Angels spoke to them. "The chances of Ghetsis influencing the barrier even when trapped is high and likely. We are unsure as to how he is doing it so you will have to find out for yourself and try to find a way to remove it."
"That still can't be possible." An angel by the name of Vivid Wing spoke. "The Abyssal Depths shut down any source of magic in an individual. How can Ghetsis possibly still have the abilities he has?"
"It is not understood as of yet. There is a rumour, however..." Another Higher Angel spoke. "It is said that the only way someone can affect the outside world even when trapped in that endless dark realm is if their heart is as vile as the depths themselves. But that is only a rumour and has never been proven true."
"If it has never been proven, then how do we know for sure that is not the case?" Vivid Wing asked.
"You will have to find out. If that is the case, then we must stop him as soon as possible." With a wave of their limbs, the Higher Angels opened up a rift into the Abyssal Depths. "Go. Find Ghetsis. Break his connection so that way their barrier is severely weakened."
The rift in the realm before them was haunting, letting out a presence that brought unmistakable dread. This was a rift to a realm that should never be entered as it is the end of one's freedom entirely.
100 Angels were chosen for this objective. Not just a few. They were not taking any chances with this considering what they were dealing with. Never before has a mortal been able to pressure them this much.
The 100 angels were all of different kinds, but they shared the same purpose; Save their comrade, destroy Ghetsis's connection. They are all led by Strident Heart, a higher angel of great power.
The group of 100 entered the rift, being taken to the Abyssal Depths.
The darkness beyond would immediately strecth out as they were in the middle of the portal, not yet entering their destination. The trip to it was absolutely haunting, the dread of entering a place like this filling every single one of them.
The Angels and their divine magic was slowly stripped away as they passed the portal. Their magic, their light, their very essence was all being drained the closer they got to the Abyssal Depths. The portal felt as if they were falling into an endless void. Strident Heart used her magic to strengthen her fellow angels, allowing them to press on.
The deeper they went, they heard the most horrid sounds to ever exist. Sounds that no normal being could ever comprehend. Voices of the damned, wailing, crying, laughing and screaming all at the same time. No angel in the group knew what could be the cause of these sounds, but they did not wish to know.
"What are these sounds...?" One Angel wondered, a little frightened.
"They are the culmination of everything most evil in the universe." Strident Heart explained, telling them regardless. "All of the most vile and cruel beings have found themselves trapped here and are forced to suffer endlessly with the weight of their evil emerging as echoes. No one can escape the Abyssal Depths and their atrocities will catch up with them." Strident Heart answered. "We are getting close to the portal now."
Up ahead, a maelstrom of darkness could be seen, spiralling around and around with the vilest black aura radiating from it. The angels collectively put up a divine barrier when they came near, merging them as one for one efficiently powerful barrier.
Their Divine Barrier met with the maelstrom as it aggressively tried tearing through their defences with the ferocity of some of the most violent entities in the universe. The force and power of the vortex were immense, causing the barrier to struggle. It was only Strident Heart's magic that allowed the barrier to stay strong and keep them safe.
It wasn't just a maelstrom they had to go through, explosions of dark matter were going off around them, attempting to rip them apart. Their barrier held on though as the unity of the angels was truly divine, being able to handle this absolutely virulent experience.
Crushing gravity, sharp invisible attacks that moved rapidly across this horrid space and many other destructive forces attempted to stop the angels in their tracks, but they were able to persevere. The maelstrom soon faded into nothingness, allowing the 100 angels, including Strident Heart, to enter the Abyssal Depths. At last, they arrived into the origin of all Darkness.
The Abyssal Depths.
Darkness and emptiness surrounded them, going on forever with no end in sight. No stars, no sky, no ground, no anything. Just an endless black void. The sight of it, would be haunting to anyone else, but for the angels, they could manage. This place was truly the opposite of where they came from.
"This is the Abyssal Depths...I thought I would never have to enter a place such as this." Strident Heart said, a sense of melancholy filling her.
"This place is...cold." An angel noted.
"Indeed. This place is devoid of anything that could bring warmth. Nothing exists here." Strident Heart replied. "Our first order of business is finding Ghetsis and his connection to the outside world."
But they wouldn't have to search for too long. In the distance, something caught them off guard, surprising all of the angels. In the distance, a flicker of cosmic energy could be seen. It was distant, like a star, but just as visible. The sight of it was perplexing to say the least, since no form of light should exist in the Abyssal Depths, especially not that of a Cosmic Star.
"What is that up ahead? It can't be Ghetsis, is it?" An angel questioned.
"No, this can't be.." Strident Heart's pupils shrank as she flew forward to get a closer look. "This place is supposed to be devoid of light. The only way for that to be possible is if...no.."
Strident Heart's wings glowed a bit as she tried sensing what that was, the closer she got. The closer she got, the more it became clear. There was no mistaking it.
The criminals across the universe that found themselves here were active. No longer were they just floating endlessly, stuck in a constant static state. Now, they were free. Free to move and do as they please. Groans from these criminals could be heard, each unique from their respective planet, solar system or galaxy. The other angels looked down in absolute shock as this was not what they expected.
But they weren't just active, they were also building. In their hands, they held black crystals that they used to create a fortress of black glass, crystal and stone. Their prison was now their home and the structure itself was truly impressive, the size of it being massive and it seemed to go on forever.
"Ghetsis..." And speaking of Ghetsis, there he was.
Currently, he was being held up by the criminals of this place, who supported him in the air. His body was being covered in the cosmic energy that he stole from the angels as he was being forced into the fortress he and the other criminals built. The structure itself was filled with the black crystals that were being used to build it. The walls and roof were all made of black stone, the windows and doors were all made of glass. It was a place worthy of the king of a kingdom.
The cosmic energy surrounding him was being forced onto his skin, forming an armor over his body. The beings here carried Ghetsis forward, immediately spotting the angels as they brought the many they started worshipping as a King to them. And when he came closer, Ghetsis looked rather different than before. The side of his face was pulsating with Rift Energy while his left arm had dark magic flowing out of it. His eyes were constantly shaking, almost as if the energies he had within him were reacting.
"Look who it is." Ghetsis spoke. "The friend of that Angel we captured. What brings you here?
"Ghetsis!" She flew over to him, furious. "I should have known you would somehow influence this place. How are you even able to move and speak after taking so much power in? And how are all of these criminals moving? This place is supposed to nullify any forms of energy, no matter how powerful, how did you bypass that?!"
"How, you ask?" Ghetsis chuckled as his laughter made his Rift Energy shake violently to the point where it caused a ripple in this dark space. "Turns out, I was the perfect being for this place to finally respond."
"What?!"
"This endless space of darkness. It accepted me. And I accepted it. I already embraced the darkness years ago, so all of this? It was never an issue. I was given a chance to finally embrace it, and I took it. Now, the entities here see me as a King and worship me as one. And soon, I will bring their worship to the rest of the universe. As if I am ever finished."
"So, the rumours are true." Strident Heart gasped. "A being so evil that they are capable of affecting the outside world from here. Ghetsis, your heart must be the most vile there is for you to bypass the restrictions of the Abyssal Depths and be able to use the power you have. You allowed the Abyssal Depths to accept you...That should be impossible."
"I suppose so. Not that I know much of this place. But that wasn't the only factor. Look at me, angel." Ghetsis outstretched his arm, showing what had become of him. "All these energies, coalescing in my body. I am what some would call a mutant. My body was never meant to handle all of this, but it did anyway.
Much like his Hydreigon who he injected with the genes of Mew, Ghetsis was going through the same thing but with three great powers. He had the power of the Angels, the Rifts and the Darkness. His body was being broken, but he was still alive.
"You sacrificed your own well-being...For this?"
"Exactly. When I sought my pursuit for my power, I planned to cast away the weakness of Humanity. To transcend it and even the Pokemon themselves. I aimed to become a God. So, I gathered power over the years, no matter what. This was the result. A God who is no longer bound to the limits of his mortal form."
"You're insane! Your body can't hold onto all this power for much longer, you'll perish!"
"Will I?" Ghetsis then let out a maniacal smile that even intimidated the angels. "My body is breaking. But the more I break, the more power I get. As you can see, I have been making this fortress using the power I have gathered. The power is flowing through me and I am only growing stronger. This was part of the deal I made with the Rift. To make my body a pit of potential. To have the power to break and reform."
Everything Ghetsis has done has been leading up to this. His pursuit of power brought this result, where he was now in pain with all of these energies, but absolutely elated, ignoring the pain entirely.
"Mew. Sombra. The Rift. Divine Energy. The alliances I've formed and the plans I've laid out! All of it to transcend everyone! I will become a being greater than you angels! Greater than Arceus himself! This has been my goal from the start and no matter how outlandish it may be!"
He continued laughing, causing a cosmic storm to appear above everyone else. Because of his corrupted body, he was able to influence this endless and devoid space, filling it up. The angels gasped when looking up to see a Cosmic Storm appearing, rumbling with ethereal energy.
"So you don't care at all if your body perishes?!" Strident Heart. "You're despicable! Truly!"
"Why should I care?!" He continued to cackle. "Power is power! I don't need anyone else to tell me otherwise on how to get it or how it does! I do it my way! My entire life I've always wanted to become a ruler! The Ruler of Everything! I planned to start at Unova and eventually spread my influence throughout the rest of the world and beyond! Then, I'd overthrow you pathetic angels since I learned of your existence. And even the almighty Arceus will be mine. No matter what happens to me, my dream will come true. I will make it come true!"
It was all clear to Strident Heart and all the angels here. They finally knew who Ghetsis truly was. An unhinged madman. He's gone off the deep end and his dream was a path of destruction. He had the ability to influence the universe from here, but he won't do it yet.
"And the best part of it all...I have no regrets. As the soon-to-be Ultimate Ruler, why should I?! Now, if you will excuse me, I have to advance my plans. Very soon, the world will make way for my return and...And..." He then took a deep breath, lowering his head as he started breathing out dark energy, truly embodying his heart as vile as the Abyssal Depths.
Just then, the beings in this dark and endless realm would start chanting. In their own languages, they began chanting Ghetsis's name while praising him as their king. Some would kneel while others would raise their fists, tentacles, claws and whatever limbs they had in the air, shouting his name. Some of them started banging their chests and fists against the dark floor, shaking the place and creating ripples.
The chant kept going, getting louder and louder as it spread across the entirety of the Abyssal Depths, transcending its non-existent sound barrier and spreading throughout the universe.
"GHETSIS!! GHETSIS!! GHETSIS!!" The chant was all anyone could hear. "GHETSIS!! GHETSIS!!
Their cheers shook the very fabric of Abyssal Depths, causing some distortions within the space. The chants would not cease as the criminals would continue cheering for the one they saw as their superior.
The voices were everywhere now, sending mighty soundwaves that started disorienting the angels. The Angels had to fly high to try and escape the chant, which was all over. But, Ghetsis's chants were the loudest and could be heard in every part of the Abyssal Depths. His ego was being fed by his chants and he would continue to do so.
The power of their voices would send shockwaves, knocking some of the angels around. The most vile and evil beings out there, who all had their own intentions, were now just followers of the ultimate vile being. "GHETSIS!! GHETSIS!!"
"Hear that?!" Ghetsis spoke, his voice booming everywhere. "It's the sound of my victory! "So...How about it?" Ghetsis looked up at the 100 Angels, materializing one of his Poke Balls in his hand. "Dare to challenge me? Dare to fight back against me, the one who will rule over the universe?! The power you possess and everything you hold dear will belong to me!"
"W-We can't." Strident Heart refused, shocking the other angels. But they were all in agreement. The sight before them was too much for them to handle. "We need to report this at once."
"Heh...Good. Flee from me." Ghetsis taunted. "Flee and spread word of me. Tell them of what is to come. Because, one day, my dream will come true. I'll be back to the rest of the world. No. The Universe. There is nothing out there that can stop me. Even if my body reaches its absolute limit. I will never stop aiming for the very top! I will aim to the best!"
Alola. Melemele City. Day.
"Okay! Let's aim to make the best movie Alola's ever seen!" Back on Earth, the complete opposite was happening. Ash had shown up with all the necessary gear and equipment for PokeStar Movies. "All the things you could ever want for a film." Ash said. "Cameras, costumes, a whole bunch of smart equipments, the whole thing."
"Wow!" Mallow's eyes lit up along with the others. Present here were Sophocles, Lana, Kukui, Burnet and their baby child, Lei.
"Ash. You did an amazing job. I can't thank you enough." Kukui smiled, looking at all the equipment.
"Thanks." Ash rubbed his nose. "I just hope it helps."
"I can't wait." Sophocles grinned. "Imagine the possibilities we could do. Maybe we can show the people the mysteries of Alola's Pokemon. Like a special."
"That could be a good idea. I'd say it's perfect for a first-time film." Lana agreed. "The people would love that."
"They've been wanting to see what Alola's about for a long time now." Mallow nodded. "If we're going to tell a story, let's give them the whole package."
"A story about Alola." Ash placed his hand on his chin, thinking about it. "Works for me. Yona? What do you think?" He turned his attention to the young yak.
"Yes. Yona likes that idea." She nodded. "Yona wants to be in the movie. Can Yona be the star? Can Yona?!"
"Sure you can. How about this?" Ash approached the young yak, lowering himself to get to her level. "Pikachu and I have my our experience when we first came to Alola. How about you make one of your own?"
"One of Yona's own?" Her eyes lit up with childish wonder.
"I don't think you have your own story yet. You've been doing all sorts of things so far. So why not make a movie about a newbie who's not used to Alola and their experiences here?"
"Experiences in Alola." The Yak muttered. "Newbie. Alola. That sounds...interesting. It sounds interesting, doesn't it, Piloswine?"
"Piloswine."
"Nice." Ash stood up. "I guess everyone else is just playing themselves, huh?"
"Hm. I won't just be playing as the dashing Professor Kukui." Kukui put on a smile. "I'll also be acting as the Masked Royal!"
"Oh yeah, yeah!" Ash nodded his head rapidly, vehemently looking forward to that. "That'd be awesome!"
"Masked Royal?" Yona looked up, not knowing about that. "Is that another person? Like the Royal Mask."
"He is the Royal Mask. He just has another form. Like a Rotom!" Ash said, giggling a bit. "It's pretty amazing, actually. You're gonna love him. You can't miss him."
"Ooh." Yona nodded, her curiosity growing by the minute.
Suddenly, rushing here at high speeds and not wanting to miss out on this for a moment was Olivia. She was seen moving as fast as she could, driven by the thought of a movie being here, in Alola. This was news she couldn't possibly miss.
"Ash!" She exclaimed, stopping right next to him and holding his shoulder. "You didn't tell me a movie was coming to Alola!" Right behind Olivia, other people were rushing in, wanting a piece of the action.
"S-Sorry. I guess I didn't let a lot of people know, huh." He looked to the side, seeing all the people that gathered here. And it was quite the list. So many familiar faces were present. All the people Ash has met in Alola, minus Lillie's family since they were still on their quest. "Oh man...that's a lot of people."
"Pika..."
"We're not letting this pass." Olivia said. "We've been waiting for a day like this for the longest! And we're not going to miss a single bit of this."
"Is this gonna be enough, Ash? Will it get overcrowded?" Mallow slid over to Ash, asking him.
"Nah. It just means we've got more muscle." Ash saw no qualms with this. He was eager to have multiple people and Pokemon onboard for this movie. "This is Alola's First ever movie, so let's make it count with everyone, okay? Yona. You're gonna through what you did yesterday and after that, everything that happens next will be all up to you."
"Yona will do her best. Thank you, Ash." Yona bowed her head. "Thank you so much. Yona will repay this someday."
"Don't worry about it.
"Ah! What am I doing?! I was in such a hurry I didn't check to polish myself!" Olivia gasped. "I'll be right back!"
"Same here." Mallow said, running off. "I can't believe I didn't think about it. Be right back."
"W-Wait for me!" Sophocles ran as well, the three girls leaving. Others would start dashing away, scrambling to get themselves ready just for the regions first ever movie. They were already planning on getting into places, doing what they do best. Ash smiled at this before petting Lei on the head, making his little brother from Alola giggle.
After a good hour or so, the preparations were done. The filming had begun and Yona was already getting a feel for the camera, recording everything. From what she went through yesterday to what she was about to today. The process of this film was an enjoyable one. Yona retreads her steps, remembering everything from yesterday and even meeting with everyone else, getting to know the people that Ash has been with in his time in Alola.
As the filming progressed throughout the day, the cast found themselves immersed not only in their roles but also in the joy of simply being together and creating something special. Despite the professional nature of the production, there were plenty of moments when the cast couldn't help but let loose and have fun, often leading to hilarious antics and lighthearted goofing off.
During breaks in filming, the cast members would often gather in small clusters, sharing stories and inside jokes as they waited for the next scene to begin. Kukui ended up dressing up as the Masked Royal everywhere, just needing to get it in.
And then there was Yona herself, the heart and soul of the production, whose was just lost in the magic. Everything was just natural for her in every possible way. And that made it all the more enjoyable.
Together, they formed a tight-knit ensemble, united by the love of Alola and the love of their craft And as the day drew to a close and the final scenes were filmed, the cast couldn't help but feel a sense of ultimate satisfaction, knowing that they had created something truly special together.
Yona would look over the horizon of Alola, gazing at the beautiful sights that the region had to offer. She was amazed by the sight, not knowing a place could be this breathtaking. This was a moment she wanted to savour even if she could always come back to Alola another time. There was just something about this region.
"Alola's so beautiful." The young yak commented, smiling.
"Yeah. It sure is." Ash was right by her side, agreeing with her. "I was blown away the first time I came here. And being back here makes things all the more better. That's why it's my second home."
As the late afternoon Sun began to set, another day was coming to an end. But this day was a wonderful one and was one Yona would remember. It was her first day in Alola, after all. And the first day of filming for her first-ever movie. An unforgettable experience for her indeed.
Currently searching for the shards was Lena Ketchum, joined by Team Rocket. At this moment, using Lena's keen ability to predict where a shard might be, they found themselves in the Sinnoh Region. Her group was in possession of the Fairy, Flying, Ground and Steel-Type shards and were now searching for the Fire-Type Shards.
"I have a hunch that we might find it here." Lena said, stepping foot in the Alola Region. "We've found the Fairy, Flying, Ground and Steel-Type ones there, so now let's shoot for Fire."
"You chose Alola just because it's hot?" Jessie asked.
"That's right!" Lena grinned. "And man, this place is hot! The Sun here is wonderful! It's so strong!" She held her arms out, taking in the heat of Alola, smiling all the way.
"You think this is hot?" Jessie spoke, knowing how hot Alola can be since she, James and Meowth spent months upon months and months and so on on the Islands during their Vacation. "It's not that bad. Try coming here during the summer."
"Okay!" Lena put her hands together. "Let's find those shards! Whether in the water or the sands of this place."
"Can we take a break first?" James slid over to Lena along with Jessie and Meowth as they both had grins on their faces while their eyes are closed. "No shame in enjoying the place while we're on a mission, right?"
"Huh?" Lena blinked. "Well, I guess so...We did it before and-"
"Great!" Jessie cut her off as she and James immediately pushed Lena forward, making her fall on her face. "Come on! Let's go shopping and have a good time!"
"Shopping?" Lena repeated as she had never been shopping once. The concept of it was very much new to this woman from centuries upon centuries ago. Even entering the modern day, it hasn't ever crossed her mind once.
"You're gonna love this one!" Meowth smiled. "An old folk like you ain't got a clue on this kinda stuff!"
"It does!" Jessie and James grinned. "Come on, Lena! Let's shop until our feet hurt!"
"But I have sandals." Lena replied with confusion in her voice. To their surprise, she was wearing sandals the entire time instead of boots or anything practical for moving across the entire world when looking for shards.
"That's not what I meant, you doofus."
"I'm not a doofus." Lena pouted. "I'm Lena. That's my name."
Jessie and James let out a sigh. "You're not used to slang, huh?"
"What's slang?" Lena tilted her head. Clearly, she still had a lot to learn, even if all of this would be forgotten once her mission comes to an end.
Hau'oli City. Hau'oli City Mall.
Hau'oli City.
A coastal city situated on Melemele Island and is known as Alola's Largest City. They arrived at Alola's massive shopping mall, a place known as the Hau'oli City Mall, where the people of Alola go to purchase their desired items. Any and all things someone needs or wants can be found here and more.
Lena was amazed by how the inside of the mall looks, seeing all the different shops lined up and the amount of people that were inside.
"Wow." Lena said in amazement. The absolute scale of this place took her back as she saw an array of options before her. All the things she's seen in the modern age had their needs and wants filled, but this was something else entirely. "This is the Hau'oli City Mall, correct? This place is so big and grand."
Her eyes met with a store where they sold a vast array of different Pokemon-themed clothing, the majority of them being themed after Alolan Forms of Pokemon. "What are these?! Camouflage clothes?! A way to blend in as a Pokemon?! That's a great idea!"
"Pfft. They're just clothes." Jessie said, folding her arms.
"Clothes?" Lena asked. "Oh. So they're not actually real Pokemon, right?"
"Not at all." James laughed. "Though I've had the occasional person mistake me for a Furfrou."
"A...what now?" Lena raised an eyebrow. "Fur...Furfrou?"
Alas, that Pokemon escaped her mind. She's only seen a certain number of Pokemon compared to her descendant who was constantly getting the full catalogue.
Oh! Maybe this can help us find the shards faster!" Lena slammed her fist into her palm. "Some Pokemon might have already found some of the shards, so if we buy some Pokemon-themed clothing, we can walk around town disguised as Pokemon and communicate with them!" Somehow, Lena found a way to involve this with her Shard Quest as she zipped over to the woman at the counter. "Excuse me. Do you think I could use these to blend in and talk with other Pokemon?"
"Oh dear." The woman giggled. "You must not be from around here, right?"
"That's right." Lena smiled.
"You have no idea." James and Jesse collectively though.
"The clothes in here are just for fashion. There aren't any powers that make you look like a Pokemon or make you understand them. You can't speak their language. The clothes are just for fashion. Sorry."
"Fashion?" Her eyes shifted to the clothes. "Like those Pokemon Contests? So the clothes aren't actually real, they're just made to look like the real thing. I see, I see." She nodded. "That's strange but clever! To think people would go out of their way to dress like Pokemon." She thought about this. "Hmm. Is this a popular trend? Or is this just a local thing?"
"Wha..." Lena was speechless. "Around the world, you say?"
"Mhm. Right now, we're doing a massive sale since Alola's going through its first filming process. Just yesterday, we had equipment and other things from PokeStar Studios come to our region and everyone's just excited. So we're doing a 70% discount on everything."
"Mhm. Right now, we're doing a massive sale since Alola's going through it's first filming process. Just yesterday, we had equipment and other things from PokeStar Studios come to our region and everyone's just excited. So we're doing a 70% discount on everything."
"Really?!" Appearing in front of the counter at high speeds were Jessie, James and Meowth. "PokeStar Studios is here?!"
"Yes. It's an exciting day for all of us in Alola. We're all excited to see our Region in a movie."
"What's a...movie?" Lena asked. Obviously, since she was from many, many centuries ago, the concept of movies and such were nothing but a foreign idea to her.
"Ah! What a great choice to come to Alola next!" Jessie swooned, holding onto the counter as her eyes sparkled. "The spotlight of the silver screen. The dazzling world of entertainment! And n Alola? It'll be so easy to gain fame! You said it showed up just yesterday, right?
"That's correct. They've been working hard at filming, though it seems like a lot of people want to star in the movie as well. Even if there already is a protagonist."
"That's perfect!" James smiled. "It's the first time that this movie will air, right? If we can become famous actors for this film, we'll be set for life!"
"Oh-ho! Great idea, James! We can't lose to a bunch of nobodies!" Jessie's eyes widened. "We'll be the Stars of Alola! Easily! We're already beautiful and talented."
"Well, it's good to hear you all so happy. Eveyrone is. After all, we have our region's champion to thank for bringing the equipment over.
"The Region's Champion?" Lena tilted her head. Jessie, James and Meowth collectively grimaced once the realized who was about to be brought up.
"Right." The Woman nodded. "Our Champion, A-"
"Let's get ourselves ready!" Jessie interrupted Lena once more, not wanting her to know that Ash was here. Team Rocket were already under a disguise as always and were doing their best to make sure Lena doesn't realize that they were enemies with her descendant. So, to make sure that they don't slip, they decided to act like the usual trio they are and not say anything to Lena that could possibly reveal their secrets.
On top of that, Ash and his friends were also searching for the remaining shards, so no matter what, Lena could not meet Ash at all. "If we're going to be Stars, we can't waste a single moment! Come on, let's find the perfect clothes to wear!"
"O...kay." The woman said, surprised by Jessie's quick interruption.
"You have to come with us too, Lena!" James said. "We need to make you look your best!"
"Me? Oh. Okay. As long as I don't have to wear a big dress again." Lena spoke. Soon, they were moving through the entire mall, seeing just how it was changing just for one movie. They were all moving rapidly across the place, more-so than usual as they wanted to make sure they had everything they needed before meeting PokeStar Studios and wondered if they could star in the movie.
This movie was basically just about Alola as a whole, so everything the region had to offer was going to be utilized to the absolute maximum. The people, the land, the buildings and even the Pokemon. This was a massive opportunity for anyone who was involved, not only for the people who lived in Alola but for everyone else around the world who was eager to watch.
Jessie and James were determined to get the best and most luxurious items they could find, seeing how incredibly cheap everything was now. All of this just to find a role in the film as the entire city and possibly beyond were captivated by the thought of having a part. Lena was still new to all of this, so she just followed along, letting Jessie and James pick the best things out for her.
"Oh, Lena! You'd look beautiful in this!" Jesse gushed, holding up a dress. "Come on, try it on!"
"You should wear something nice and formal. You can never go wrong with a suit, right?" James added.
"Uh. Well." Lena rubbed the back of her neck. "I suppose I could give it a shot. After all, if I'm going to blend in, I should look my best, right?"
"Absolutely!" Jessie and James smiled. They were all so determined to get the best role in this movie that they were willing to look their best, even going so far as to have Lena dressed up like a doll.
The Ancient Woman was a bit confused, but she went along with it. After all, she was curious about what the people of the modern day have in store. She was also wondering just how she'd be able to fit into the movie, thinking about her own goals that have been placed upon her.
"Hey, Lena." Jessie spoke, getting the woman's attention. "Since we're here, let's look for a good dress for you to wear. We can-"
"We can shoot it near the volcano!" This time, Jessie was cut off, but it wasn't from someone in her group. Her pupils would shrink once a familiar voice came through. It was the voice of Ash, who had entered this part of the mall along with his friends Twilight, Mallow, Rarity and Fluttershy, all of whom were looking for outfits themselves. Minus Ash, who would just wear what he always has.
Today, he brought his other friends along to help with this movie, bringing extra muscle to it all.
"The Twerp and Twerpettes!" Jessie and James collectively thought to themselves, immediately looking at Lena, hoping she didn't recognize Ash's voice and especially face. The two have never crossed paths even once but both were are of each other's existence through the news.
"That would be a great idea." Mallow smiled. "We can make the food right on the beach, too. Everyone can relax and enjoy the water."
Thinking fast, Jessie and James had to conceal Lena somehow. Without warning, Jessie grabbed the woman and held her up, placing her on the rack and hiding her behind all the clothes. James and Meowth hid underneath, joining Lena.
"Oh, Ash! Darling! Stay here for a moment while we pick something out." Rarity requested.
"Uh, sure. How long do I gotta wait for?" Ash asked, knowing how long the girls can take when picking out clothes. Twilight, Mallow and especially Rarity will not only take their time but also pick a vast array of options.
And boy was he right as they immediately started going wild. Since everything here was cheaper thanks to the movie, the girls didn't need to worry about cost as much, so they went absolutely ham. They were pulling out dresses left and right, looking through each and every single one.
Ash and Pikachu watched as clothes started flying through the air, forcing the two of them to catch everything that came their way. Some of them landed on their faces while Pikachu was absolutely drowned by the clothes.
"Oh, what about this?!" Mallow spoke, showing one to Twilight. "I could wear this when we try out Vast Poni Canyon!"
"Oh, yes!" Rarity swooned. "I think you'd look gorgeous in that!"
"I think this one would fit you perfectly, Rarity." Twilight held up a dress for the Fashionista.
"Oh, that's gorgeous!" Rarity said, taking the dress and examining it. "How lovely! And the fabric is very good as well! Not too scratchy."
"That's the beauty of Alolan Clothing, dear." Mallow grinned. "We have some of the best stuff when it comes to quality and fashion."
"I can see." Rarity nodded. As they were chatting away and piling up the clothes on poor Ash and Pikachu, Jessie and James would keep holding onto Lena, stealthily pushing her around to make sure she didn't move. Ash was too busy looking at all the clothes coming his way to even notice his ancestor, even though her face had been covered by some clothes James picked out.
"Pika?" Pikachu noticed this slightly odd sight but they didn't pay too much mind to it. The four of them then ended up in another side of this store, distancing themselves from Ash's group.
"To think the twerp would be here now of all tmes. And he's the one who brought all the equipment here?" Jessie grizzled her teeth.
"Twerp? What's a twerp? Is that a type of Pokemon?" Lena asked while removing the shirt from her face.
"Don't worry about that!" Jessie chuckled while patting her on the back. "All that matters is that we're here now and we have some wonderful outfits. Don't we?"
They would continue to shop here, but making sure to stay away from Ash and his group. But they would now have to keep a low profile, making sure the two never spot each other even once.
After shopping for the first few minutes, the three of them, plus Meowth, had their hands full of bags, carrying around a plethora of clothes. They were mostly dresses, suits and casual clothes that would be perfect for this hot Alolan climate. Not only that, but Lena was given a mask. Specifically of one of the Island Guardians. Tapu Koko.
"So...we're really going to disguise ourselves as Pokemon? I thought the clothes didn't have any powers?"
"No. It doesn't." James shook his head. "But there's a lot of different costumes out there. You can buy some that look like real Pokemon, so we found some for you."
"For me? Oh. Why?"
"Because we're going to blend in, and if we're blending in as Pokemon, that means you should too, right?" Meowth asked.
"Oh. So that's why." Lena nodded. "That's actually smart. By pretending to be a Pokemon, we can easily communicate with the real thing and ask them if they've seen the Shards. I'm glad you three tried my suggestion!"
"Sure, sure. Let's go with that." Meowth replied, not wanting Lena to think that they did this just to help her with her Quest. They were just trying to avoid Ash.
With their bags filled with an assortment of clothing and Lena now donning a Tapu Koko mask, the group made their way out of the Hau'oli City Mall, eager to continue their search for the Fire-type shards while maintaining a low profile to avoid any encounters with Ash and his friends.
As they wandered the streets of Hau'oli City, blending in seamlessly with the bustling crowds of tourists and locals alike, Lena couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the prospect of exploring this vibrant region. The warm sun beat down upon them, casting a golden glow over the city as they made their way towards the volcanic landscapes where they hoped to find clues to the whereabouts of the elusive shards.
As Lena and her companions navigated the bustling aisles of the Hau'oli City Mall, they found themselves in a constant game of cat and mouse with Ash and his friends, who seemed to appear in every corner they turned.
"Uh oh, they're coming this way again!" Meowth hissed, peering over a rack of clothes as Ash and his group approached.
"Quick, hide!" Jessie exclaimed, grabbing Lena and ducking behind a display of tropical-themed shirts. James and Meowth followed suit, squeezing themselves into the cramped space as Ash and his friends passed by, completely unaware of their presence.
"Phew, that was close." Jessie whispered, peeking out from behind the shirts as Ash and his friends disappeared from view.
"Too close for comfort." James agreed, wiping sweat from his brow.
"But we can't stay here forever." Jessie pointed out, glancing around nervously. "We need to finish our shopping and get out of here before they find us again."
Urgently, the group resumed their shopping, darting from aisle to aisle in an attempt to avoid detection. But no matter how hard they tried, it seemed that fate had other plans, as Ash and his friends continued to pop up wherever they went.
"Why does it feel like we keep running into each other?" Mallow asked as the group passed by a stand selling Alolan-themed souvenirs.
"I don't know." Ash replied, scratching his head before passing by once more. Lena and her group quickly ducked behind a display of brightly coloured beach towels, hoping that they had managed to escape detection.
Alas, this would not be the last they passed by each other.
Ducking into the dimly lit aisles of the electronics store, Jessie, James, and Meowth pretended to browse the latest gadgets while keeping a watchful eye on Ash and his friends, who perused the shelves nearby. Lena marveled at the array of sleek devices on display, completely unaware of the tense standoff taking place just a few feet away.
"Ohoo..." Her eyes were ablaze with wonder as she was fidgeting with one of the electronics.Is this some sort of magical item? A communication device? How does it work? Is it something you carry around?" She looked over to Jessie, who was busy spying on Ash and his group.
When they got near, Jessie would suddenly pull Lena down, forcing the woman to sit on the ground with her and James while Meowth hid on top. The electronics store was not clear for them at all. And neither would the next spot.
With Ash and his covering the same spots as them, the group sought refuge among the colourful displays of the toy store, blending in seamlessly with the crowds of excited children and their parents. Jessie and James deftly manoeuvred through the aisles, using oversized plushies and action figures as makeshift barricades to shield Lena from view.
Lena was currently sitting behind a huge Snorlax plush, amazed at the sight of the soft creature. She was petting it and enjoying its texture, not aware that Ash was also here. She moved her hands across the toy, feeling the soft fur and smiling to herself.
"Wow. I've seen Snorlax before, but this is even softer than the ones I've encountered." A stunned Lena commected before digging her face into its plushy body. "Soft~!"
"Ah! Let's try this one! Please?!" Bellowing was Sweetie Belle, who came here with her big sister Rarity as she was going straight for the biggest and most luxurious looking doll that she could find. It was a giant doll that resembled a human and a Pokemon mixed together, looking like a strange mixture of the two. "I bet I could have Meowstic mess around with this one!"
"Oh, Sweetie. Don't cause a ruckus." Rarity said, smiling at her little sister. "You don't have to yell for this, you know?"
"I'm sorry."
"I think Snorlax might be asleep for most of the shots. So...Let's just get this Snorlax just in case." Looking over at the Snorlax plush was Ash, who had been wandering the aisles with Mallow, Lana and Rarity.
"Not that one, dear. How about this one?" Rarity suggested, pointing towards a slightly smaller Snorlax plushie. Thinking on their feet, Meowth would slice the back of the plush open with his claws, revealing the cotton inside and quickly filling the space behind the Snorlax where Lena was hiding. He made sure to cut a hole just enough so that the woman could breathe.
"Oh? Uh. Well." Ash rubbed the back of his neck. "That's a good point. That one would be perfect for the shot!"
"It is?" Mallow asked, raising an eyebrow. "Huh. Didn't think that would be a perfect fit.
"Alright. I'll take this one, then." Ash walked up to the Snorlax plush. While he was doing so, Lena was still inside, unable to see what was happening outside except from behind. Jessie, James and Meowth rapidly bit their fingers once Ash picked the Snorlax Plush. It didn't help that he was physically strong, able to easily carry it even with someone else inside.
Lena was this close to Ash. The closest she's ever been. But she couldn't see him and didn't hear his voice, only the sound of his breathing as she was being carried.
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy..." James was muttering over and over, trying not to panic. Lena was being taken away and eventually, she'll want to get out that plus. But the only way was for Ash to drop the plushie, and he would. But then she'd be face-to-face with him and his friends.
Jessie and James would both have heart attacks, worrying that this might be it. But all it would take was for Meowth come up with something. All they needed was to make the Snorlax Plushie null. With his claws out once more, he had James and Jessie pick him, throwing him at the plushie as fast as they could.
Meowth landed a direct hit, slashing the head of the plushie. With one good hit, the top of it came right off, thankfully missing Lena since her head wasn't targeted at all. Meowth would crash into the walls above the entrance, going over everyone and going unnoticed too.
"Woah!" Mallow exclaimed, seeing the Snorlax head split and fall off. "W-Why'd it just come off?!"
"Aw, man." Ash pouted. "It broke."
"Oh, it's okay. Rarity said, patting his back. "We have other options. Surely there's another large Snorlax Plush somewhere here. And if not, there are many, many other things we can use."
"I guess." Ash replied, still looking a bit sad about the fact that his chosen plushie ended up breaking. As Rarity tried to comfort him, James and Jessie would dash forward and snatch the body of the Snorlax. Lena would be hidden inside, but not for long.
"We'll fix it!" Jessie blurted out, playing the role of someone else that could repair this plush.
"Yes! We'll fix it. And you'll have your...Snorlax thing. It'll be good as new." James added.
"Really? That's great!" Ash smiled.
"Yes. Now, let's go, shall we? Before it gets even more crowded." Rarity asked, leading her friends away from the scene.
Jessie and James would sigh in relief as they watched the trio disappear into the crowd, grateful for their quick thinking. "That was too close." James said, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"No kidding." Jessie agreed, nodding her head. "If it wasn't for Meowth, we'd be goners."
"Way to go me..." Meowth groaned before dropping from the wall. Lena would leave the plus, having cotton all over her body. She didn't really mind. Now she knew for a fact that this wasn't a real Snorlax and was just a creation of one.
"So this is what a toy is." Lena commented, being all casual about it. "Fascinating. People today actually go out of their way to make stuffed replicas of Pokemon? Why?"
"Well, that's a good question," James said. "You can get it later. For now, let's get out of this place." They would cut their shopping experience here at last, already having a lot of items at their disposal.
The four would leave the store and head out of the mall, now fully dressed up and ready for their next search. "Wow. You were right. That was fun!" Lena had a wide grin. "I've never been shopping before. At least, not in the way people do it today. It's so different than what I remember."
"It's easily one of the best parts of today." Jessie nodded. "People love the shopping. I mean, they really love the shopping. There are so many stores and so many things that you can get. And if you're in a place like Alola, it's even better since the weather is always warm."
"I'm more excited to find the shards than ever!" Lena pumped her fist. "I have a feeling we can easily-" Just then, before she could finish, something caught her attention. A rather delicious scent wafted through the air, tickling her nose. "Hmm? Aaah...What's that?"
Gravitated towards the delicious scent, Lena found herself approaching a food truck that was celebrating Alola's first movie. But she wasn't the only one heading for it. The glorious scent met with someone else. Not too far from here, Ash picked up on it.
"Man, something good's being cooked up...I just know it." Ash's stomach growled as he was also making his there too with his eyes closed, showing absolute bliss.
The two Ketchums approached the same food truck that was singing a delicious tune to them. A tune they just couldn't deny it. Team Rocket and Twilight's group each had different reactions. For Twilight's group, it was natural of Ash to do this as they had smiles on their faces.
But for Team Rocket? They were panicking, unable to think of anything quick enough to pull Lena back in. It didn't help that the two of them were running straight for the Food Truck, having the same energy within them.
Lena and Ash would be standing side by side, looking at the menu, though unaware of the other's presence.
"Wow! This all looks so good!" Ash's mouth watered as he stared at the menu. "These aren't Malasadas though! What are these?!"
"Ooh! These look good, too." Lena pointed. Both of them had their faces pushed against each other while gawking at the options before them. The food here was definitely unlike anything that they have ever had, and the smell was so tantalizing that they could hardly contain themselves.
"Excuse me!" Both Lena and Ash would say. Their eyes would widen once they saw each other, their hearts almost stopping once their eyes met.
Instead of Malasadas, this truck offered something entirely new. Homemade cooking from this family was given out, making these items for everyone who wanted some. Lena still had her mask on, and Ash had no reason to wear one. So they didn't realize it was each other. That is until Lena removed her mask, wanting a better look at the Homemade cooking.
Even after taking it off, both were too focused the food in front of them. "Like it? To celebrate Alola's first ever movie, we're giving out our homemade cooking." A woman said, standing next to her husband and son. "How would you both like to also try your hand at an eating competition we're planning?
"Eating contest?" Ash asked.
"Back at our own home, we sometimes have them for fun. We want the movie to capture our lives too!" The son smiled.
"Sign me up! I wanna try everything here!" Ash was all for it.
"Mmm! Mhm!" Lena nodded her head vehemently. "Yes, yes! I'll take a bite of anything! Oh. How would I win though?"
"Simple. We'll have you guys eat the food here and the first one to finish it wins. Of course, we can't have you get sick from all the food, so you have a time limit."
"Time limit, huh?" Lena said, thinking. "Okay! I'll participate!"
"Great!"
"Wait." The son looked over at Lena, seeing her face for the first time. He immediately made the connection between Ash and Lena, seeing how they looked so similar. He knew who Ash was since he was Alola's Champion, but Lena was a surprise. "Wow...Champion Ash. I didn't know you had an older sister. You two look so much alike. Are you twins or something?"
"Uh..." Both of them were caught off guard by the question, looking at each other in surprise.
"Twins?" Ash rubbed the back of his head. At that moment, they finally locked eyes with one another. A spark occurred between the two, like a lightning bolt materializing into existence. Both gasped as the face they were each looking at was their own.
"W-what?" Lena blinked, taken aback by the sudden shock of seeing her descendant's face. "T-this can't be!" She thought to herself, struggling to process the reality of the situation.
"You...You're my super-great-great grandma! My ancestor!" Ash pointed at Lena.
"My extremely-great and distant grandson! My descendant!" Lena pointed back at Ash.
They had no words to describe what they were feeling right now. It was the first time the two had ever seen each other's face. Sure, Ash saw Lena's face in a family book thanks to some time shenanigans and Lena has seen photos of Ash here and there, but those were just pictures.
All it took was their love of food to finally encounter each other. During Alola's first time filmng a movie with equipment straight from PokeStar Studios, Ash and Lena crossed paths and immediately recognized each other. Twilight and the others noticed this immediately once Lena's mask came off.
That face was far too similar to Ash's to the point where it was almost scary. The same hairstyle, the same black hair, that signature lightning bolt birthmark on their faces, they looked exactly alike, minus the clothing and the obvious height difference. Lena was naturally older.
"This is weird..." They both said at the same time, feeling their worlds flip upside down. The two of them would immediately pace around each other, accidentally mimicking each other's movements. They tried seeing if they were looking into a mirror despite the height difference. Both would hold their faces and rub them, still feeling like this was a dream.
"My descendant..." Lena spoke while staring into Ash's eyes. And when the two looked at each other for a while, Lena started rubbing Ash's face, smushing it about. "Ah! How cute! You look just like my little brothers back home!"
"And you look just like me! Or is it the other way around?" Ash questioned, still unsure if what he's looking at is reality.
"What is this? Is this a dream?" They would ask themselves, pinching their cheeks and trying to wake themselves up. However, they both just ended up hurting each other's cheeks.
"Ow!" They yelped, feeling the pain. But now they knew it was 100% real. Both were completely separate. Ash was born in the present and Lena was born centuries ago. They were the only living proof of their family's bloodline.
"It's over!" James got on his knees, holding his hair in defeat.
"I'm so glad I've met you!" Elated about this, Lena hugged her descendant with tremendous joy in her heart. "My own descendant! I didn't think I'd get the chance since I was so busy!"
"Same here!" Ash hugged her back. "I really wanted to see you when I heard someone like me was going around and I saw your picture! You're like Ultra-great Grandma! Should I call you granny?"
"Me? A Grandma" Lena paused for a moment. "Oooh! I never thought I'd be called one. Am I that old?"
"You're not even supposed to be in this era!" Jessie vigorously pointed at Lena.
"Looking at you reminds me of home." Lena then released her arms from Ash. "Your eyes are the exact same as mine. You have my father's eyes. And my mother's face too. Your hair's a mess, but it's fine since it's natural. The color, the texture, it's perfect. My brother's had the same type of hair. But your clothes are weird."
"But you're wearing those clothes, grandma." Ash pointed at Lena's getup which was also modern. Granted, that was all Lena had to wear when she was thrown through time.
"Well, they're on the same page." Twilight spoke. "Makes sense since they're related. But Lena acts a lot like him, doesn't she?"
"She does." Rarity nodded. "Just a bit more mature."
"Ah! The food!" Lena recalled the food before her, shifting her attention back at it along with Ash.
"Or...maybe not." Rarity took it back. Now that Lena had met Ash, Team Rocket couldn't hide her from him anymore. Luckily for them, they still made sure to hide their real names with fake ones and their appearances were always disguised. They could at least have that benefit.
"Now, since the two of you are interested, let's get the contest going, shall we?" The woman spoke, getting the two to remember what they were supposed to do.
"Right!" Lena nodded her head.
"Alright!" Ash was grinning ear to ear, wanting to test his mettle.
"Aaaaaaaah..." The two of them would sigh out of their mouths, their hungers satisfied as they were sitting side by side, enjoying their new friendship. After the contest, the two of them were declared tied, neither being able to win due to the sheer amount of food they had. The appetite the two of them had were very much equal as well.
"That was amazing..." Ash had a huge grin, his face covered in different sauces.
"Mmm...So full. But delicious. The best meal I've had in ages." Lena also had a wide smile. The two would glance at one another, locking eyes for the second time.
"Ahem." Getting in between them was Twilight, who had something to say. "Well, now that you're both satisfied, isn't there something you want to talk about?"
"Oh, right! Grandma! I didn't introduce you to my friends yet!" Ash jumped up, moving his arm to show all of his friends. "Check it out! These are my friends! A whole bunch of them from Alola and some from Equestria! And right here's my partner Pikachu." He held his hands out, having his little partner jump onto them.
"Pika!" Pikachu chirped.
"My. So many of them." Lena's eyes were shining with glee, happy to see just how many friends her descendant has made. Since she came from the far past, the ponies and their world never crossed over with hers back then. Everything here was past her time and it was as wild as she could imagine.
"Not exactly what I was referring to, but..." Twilight shrugged before flying up to Lena. "Afternoon. My name's Twilight Sparkle. Princess Twilight, sometimes."
"A Princess?" Lena's eyes widened. She had yet to meet an alicorn until now.
"This right here is Fluttershy." Twilight continued to the introduction as Fluttershy happily approached Lena with a surprisingly wide grin.
"Hi! I'm Fluttershy! I-If you're Ash's ancestor, you must've seen Pokemon I've never seen before in the past! Right!? Could you tell me all about them? Please?" She spoke, a lot louder than usual as she was incredibly eager. She was not going to pass up the chance to know about the past and all the Pokemon involved. Her love for Pokemon was on par with Ash's after all.
"Yeah, yeah! I have!" Lena was in the same boat. Since she was much like Ash, her love for Pokemon was on the same level as she enthusiastically nodded her head. "You won't believe the Pokemon I've seen!"
Approaching Lena were the rest of the girls, introducing themselves to this century-old woman. Technically, she was potentially as old as Princess Celestia since she came from a time so ancient and far gone.
"I'm Applejack!" Applejack tipped her hat.
"And I'm Rarity!" Rarity bowed. "A great pleasure to meet you."
"I'm Pinkie Pie!" The Earth pony waved her hoof.
"I'm Rainbow Dash! The bestest friend of Ash and the fastest in Equestria!" Rainbow bragged, trying to make herself look impressive in front of Lena. Very soon, all of them gave their introductions, saying a bit about themselves and their connection to Ash. Not only that, but those involved with helping with the movie would speak up, letting Lena know of their involvement and such.
"And this is just one part of Alola." Ash pointed out. "I made a lot of great friends here! And even outside of Alola, I made a lot more back home at Kanto, then at Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh and so on! It's pretty great."
"That much, eh?" Lena gawked at the cast of characters before. "Now I know how my own grandma feels when she looks at our family."
"So, what I was trying to say was..." Twilight spoke up. "The shards. Isn't that what you're looking for?"
"Oh, right! The shards!" Lena gasped. "You know about them?"
"Well, my Human Counterpart told us about them. She currently has the Ghost Shards with her I think." Twilight explained.
"Your...human counterpart?" Lena repeated, rather lost.
"Yes. I have a human counterpart. I have a lot of counterparts, actually." Twilight nodded. "Like...a lot."
"Ah! You said Ghost Shards, right?! That makes another one's whereabouts known!" Lena's eyes lit up. "That means we only have 13 shards left!"
"Which shards did you get?" Fluttershy asked as Lena faced Team Rocket. The three of them sighed, knowing what they had to do as they brought Lena's massive bag over. Digging into it, they revealed the shards that they currently had at their disposal.
The Ground Shards, Fairy Shards, Flying Shards and Steel Shards. Add up the one Twilight's counterpart has and that easily makes 5 in total. Ash and the others gazed at these shards in all of their glory, seeing how they beautifully reflected off Alola's Sun.
"Just 13 more and my mission will be complete." Lena continued. "And today, I have a good feeling that I can find the Fire Shards here in Alola."
"Hang on. There are shards here in Alola? Since when?" This was news to Kukui. To everyone in Alola. They knew a lot about their beloved region but the thought about these strange shards being here was not one of them.
Unbeknownst to them, because Lena and Volo had a powerful encounter 200 years ago, the Life Plates they were fighting over had shattered, eventually becoming the shards that have been scattered. All 18 of them were now across the planet.
"Hm. They sort of resemble the Z-Crystals we have here." Kukui looked at the shards, picking one of the Flying-Type Shards and examining it. "A similar texture."
"Z-Crystals?" Lena repeated. Everyone here had something they weren't fully aware of at all, making it even. Indeed, when taking a closer look at them, Ash and his friends noticed how the Shards resembled the Z-Crystals.
"It's over...Our advantage..." James lowered his head. So much for keeping the Shards to themselves.
"It was fun while it lasted." Meowth didn't seem too bothered by it compared to Jessie and James.
"Not yet..." Jessie grizzled her teeth, still having some hope. While Ash and Lena were finally aware of each other, she wasn't counting it all out yet. There was still a chance. "It's not over yet. If anything, this could speed things up for us."
"Ash's Ancestor, you say?" Approaching Lena was Burnet with Lei in her hands. "Look Lei. It's your brother's far-flung grandmother."
"Brother?! A-Are you my descendant's mother?!" Immediately, Lena assumed Burnet was Ash's mother based on what she said to Lei. The young Lei would raise his hand, trying to reach Lena who reminded him so much of Ash via the face. That face certainly has an impact.
"Oh, no, no, no." Burnet chuckled. "I'm just another friend of his, that's all. His mother's waiting for him back in Kanto. We're just his friends, but thank you either way."
"Heh...Then who's he?" Lena looked at Lei. "Is he really Ash's brother?"
"Not by blood. But they are brothers by heart." Burnet replied. "As young as he is, he looks up to his big brother.
"Big brother, eh? Then...that would make him my great, great, great, great ummm..." Lena was trying to piece it together, not exactly being an expert on family trees and how they could work outside of blood relations. "Vastly-Great Grandson?"
"If he sees Ash as a brother, then that means he might see you as a Grandmother too." Burnet laughed.
"I'd love that." Lena nodded.
"Hey. So...since you're related to me..." Ash got Lena's attention. "Does that mean you have Pokemon too? I bet you've got a bunch of Pokemon!"
"Oh, no. I don't have any Pokemon." To everyone's surprise, Lena was not exactly a Pokemon Trainer. "I can call upon Pokemon from the past with the flutes I was given but they arent mine. Besides, I have a very important mission to attend to."
"Mission? What mission?" Mallow asked.
"I have to gather the Life Plates. By putting the shards back together, they'll restore to their true form. The Life Plates.
"Did you say Life Plates?!" Ash bellowed, startling all of his friends. "The same ones that Arceus has?!"
"What do you know about Arceus?" Lena raised an eyebrow.
"You have no idea." Twilight shook her head. Ash's knowledge on Arceus is very much first-hand since he's been around the Creator Deity multiple times. He was a Legendary Pokemon but was also the Original One, the creator of everything in this universe.
"Amazing!" Kukui held up one of the shards, being even more interested in them. "These shards are related to the Original One?! Seriously?!"
"Isn't Arceus the first ever Pokemon?" Mallow questioned along with some of the people here working on this movie. The name Arceus did not escape the people of Alola at all.
"Yeah. And if you're collecting them, that means that the Life Plates must've been destroyed at some point. How?" Ash was also curious.
"It's a long story." Lena's smile faded, knowing the reason for it. She's already told Team Rocket the entire story, so she believed it was best that Ash and his friends know too.
"Lena. If you don't mind, I'd like to take these back with me to my lab." Kukui requested. "I can scan them and figure out exactly what they're made of. We can find out where they came from and how they can fit back together."
"Really?" Lena's eyes widened. "Can you help me fix them?! You can restore the Life Plates?!"
"I don't think so." Twilight shook her head. "No way that can be done. The Life Plates can't be brought back so easly."
"No, no." But obviously, Kukui knew that. This was related to Arceus so there was no way they could just use technology to bring the shards back to what they used to be. "You said you need just 13 more right? How about we help you out with that? How long does it take for you to find one of these?"
"Umm..." Lena held her hand out, counting with her fingers. "Not that long. Maybe weeks apart or so. But I only showed up in this time months ago and I've only found retrieved 4 of them. So it might take a while until I find the rest of them.
"That's where I can come in." Kukui grinned, pointing at himself while winking. "If you tell me where the next Shard is, I can take the proper measures to locate it. Once we find a location, we can have an entire team sent there to scour the area and retrieve the shard."
"Well...I actually have a way to predict where they can be." Lena added, scratching her hair. "I think it's because of that egg I ate back in my time. But I guess that can help me out."
"You said Fire right? Then it's gotta be there!" Ash pointed at Alola's Volcano at Akala Island. It was the only island that had a volcano thanks to Wela Volcano Park. It was a popular tourist destination, but it was also a natural habitat for many Pokemon.
"We were going to film around the volcano actually for our movie." Lana stepped forward. "So if you're gonna look, why not join us? I'm sure having someone from the past will definitely make this movie even more special."
"Ah! Many thanks to all of you!" Lena's eyes lit up with joy. "Having so many of you help me find the shards is wonderful! The past is so amazing!"
"If you'll let us take a look at these shards, we can maybe help you find the rest of them sooner." Sophocles suggested, holding his hand out for the shards. Team Rocket grimaced, not wanting them to get a hold of the shards they and Lena managed to obtain. But it seemed like the choice was no longer theirs.
"If the shards were split up from the Life Plates, then they're all over the place. They could be anywhere in this world." Twilight didn't even know the half of it. The clash Lena and Volo had was monumental on that fateful day, where even multiple shards being together couldn't restore them.
Not yet at least.
Kukui's Home.
Lena went to Kukui's home as in there, he'd have all the proper tools necessary to analyze the Shards. Not only that, but he wanted to take a closer look at them as well. They were fascinating pieces of history after all, having a connection to the Original One, the creator of their entire world. Joining him was Sophocles who was just as interested.
"Amazing..." Sophocles and Kukui were gawking at the Shards, examining them closely. Each Shard was made of a different element, each having a beautiful color to them. Not only that, but the textures and shapes were unique, unlike anything that had been seen before. It was all just brimming with Infinity Energy.
"I wonder if the Life Plates looked similar to these." Sophocles wondered, having the same thought as everyone. The only one who could confirm that was Ash who has seen the Life Plates for himself. He's even met the Creator Deity Arceus multiple times, having a unique relationship with the Creator Deity.
"Look at how they react to each other when near." Kukui would bring the shards close to each other, seeing them emit a radiant glow. Almost as if they were come together but they just couldn't. "They can't quite get something started."
"Wow! You can detect that with all of this?! Science is so amazing!" Meanwhile, Lena was blown back by what the modern day had to offer. It was far more advanced than she could imagine, and the devices used to study these Shards were beyond her comprehension.
"The Infinity Energy is a lot stronger with them around." Sophocles mentioned, having the same thought as Kukui. "This much of it is almost on par with a Z-Moves Energy and they're just in small bits and shattered. This is definitely related to Arceus since it's this strong."
"So...C-Can you find the other shards?"
"Hard to say," Kukui held his head. "These shards want to get together but they can't. You wouldn't happen to know of a way to reunite them right?"
"Not really. But I figured that if I find them all, then maybe they'll reform as the Life Plates they used to be." Lena just wasn't sure and was going off her own theory. "After that, I'll return to my own time where everything will be back to normal. I hope."
"Well, let's not worry too much about that. First thing's first, we need to find the remaining shards. After that, we'll go from there." Kukui reassured Lena. "I mean, they're obviously very important if you're going across the world to find them."
"Mhm! Mh!" Lena nodded her head rapidly. "I have to find them all as soon as possible! Before he does!"
"Who's he?" In the lab too was Burnet, who was watching the three examine the Shards.
"Volo." Lena revealed that name to Kukui, Burnet, Sophocles, and anyone else in here.
"Volo?!" Ash gasped upon hearing that name. He's heard it before since Sci-Twi met him already and both agreed to find the shards. In fact, it was Volo who first brought up the existence of the shards to them just around 2 months back.
"Who's Volo?" Sophocles questioned, also having no idea.
"The one who I was at odds with. Both of us were going against each other 200 years in the past. When Sinnoh was called Hisui back then. Volo attempted to use the power of the Life Plates to reach Arceus, which started ripping up time and space itself. I did my best to stop him, preventing all of it from being ripped apart, but we both ended up going through time and the Life Plates shattered. Now, Volo is looking for the shards and so am I. I just know he's out there searching for them.
"There's no way!" Ash bellowed. "If that's true then...Twilight's with bad company? Is that what you're saying?"
"Ash. Have you already met Volo?" Lena faced her descendant.
"I never met him. I just heard about him. He came to Twilight just 2 months back and asked for help in finding the shards. She agreed to help him out and I was gonna help her too. So did my other friends over at that Human World. But we've only found one shard and that's the Ghost Shards."
"What?!" Lena quickly rushed over to Ash, holding his shoulder. "Ash! If that's true...then your friend is in great danger!"
"She is?"
"Volo is most likely tricking her. He wants to finish what he started back at Hisui! If she has one of the Shards and he has a few, he could be on his to continuing his mission from before! This other Twilight you're talking about could be in trouble!"
"No way. For real?" This took Ash back. He only thought of Volo as a good person based on what he heard from Sci-Twi. But with his ancestor revealing new information, this was beginning to make him second guess his Human Counterpart's actions.
"If she's working with him, then that means he's probably using her to gather the Shards. He's most likely already tricked her into thinking he's a good guy, but in reality, he's using her to obtain the power to reach Arceus. And that came at the cost of ripping apart time and space itself.
Volo played it all off casually, appearing as nice and simple to Twilight as possible. Ash only heard it from Twilight since he's never met Volo directly. But now, with his ancestor telling him the truth, he was beginning to see the man in a completely different light.
He had to wonder if Volo was near Twilight right now at this very moment.
The Human World.
At the Human World, speaking of Sci-Twi, she and her friends have already left school and were heading towards the park. With the sun still out, it was the perfect opportunity for some afternoon fun. But their plans would be altered, thanks to a certain someone showing up.
"Ah! Twilight! There you are!" Called out the voice of Volo, appearing behind her as always.
"Ah! Volo." Sci-Twi greeted him.
"I heard just a few days back, you went searching for an Alpha Pokemon, right? How did that go?"
"It was uhh...an experience, that's for sure." Sci-Twi giggled. "Things almost got out of control during our search, but we handled it. I haven't found any new shards yet. I'm just stuck on the Ghost Shards."
"Well, you might be glad to know that I've found some of my own. Not too long ago." From his pockets, Volo revealed the Dragon Shards he had on him. "Dragon Shards. I thought these would be the hardest to find but...Guess my luck."
"Dragon Shards..." Sci-Twi cooed when looking at these shards. "I guess we're making slow progress with them."
"Yes, but we can speed it up, I just know it. This thing you all call Summer Vacation is closing in right? Perhaps you'll have more time on your hands to find the shards without having to worry about school."
"Hmm. You're right." Sci-Twi nodded her head. "That's not too far off from now. If I can find the remaining shards during Summer Vacation, that'll burn up a lot of time. I can have Ash come over too since he's always a big help."
"About Ash...Perhaps you should leave him out of it. You don't have to have him get involved." Volo suggested, trying not to sound too harsh.
"Huh? Why not?"
"I talked with one of your friends the other day. Applejack, was it? She told me about what happened at that Rainbow Falls area. Ash and another boy by the name of Red went through something wild, didn't they? Like a soul possessing them. You all could've perished based on what I've heard."
"Well, yeah...It's a whole thing with this part of them could Prisma. It's a long story, really." Sci-Twi then had a frown form on her face. "Ash and Red weren't in their right minds and were driven by rage. I was able to snap them out of it by removing the source of the problem but...that part of them is still in them."
"So, they can't control their power if they have too much negative emotion, correct?" Volo asked, wanting to confirm it.
"That's right." Sci-Twi nodded, sighing. "Prisma's soul takes over theirs and they enter an awakening state where they become more aggressive. Ash and Red went through their second awakening back there and it's affected Ash a bit after it was over. I'm really worried about him..."
"Well, give him a break then." Volo snapped his fingers. "I think he's been through enough and he needs to rest. You're better off not having him get involved. Just the two of us can handle the shards. What do you say?"
"Just the two of us, huh?" Sci-Twi pondered on this for a moment. Ash was already a ton of help naturally, but recent events might change things. "What about the rest of my friends? They're still involved."
"Right, right. Sunset Shimmer and the others. They're all great too, even if they're constantly slipping. Seems like they're not as outgoing as finding the shards as you or even Ash. But at least they don't have to deal with an alternate soul.
"Hmm." Sci-Twi closed her eyes, taking in everything. She's been thinking about how it's been hard for her friends. They haven't exactly found other shards except for the Ghost-Type Shards. "I guess it's because they're al so busy with their own things. It's a shame. They really do their best to help but..."
"Ah, don't worry about it too much." Volo shrugged before getting closer to Sci-Twi. "How about this? I'm feeling lucky today so why not try searching for some new shards right now? Just the two of us. A part of me believes me we can find one at maybe...that Unova Region."
"Unova? Oh, sure. It's not too hard to reach Unova. But how do you know where another can be?"
"Hm. As a merchant, finding all sorts of items can be very helpful." Volo winked. "The same way I found these Dragon Shards, I have something that's a ton of help. Something that's led me to all sorts of things. It's one of those old and ancient magical items I've picked up across Equestria. Even though it's only shown me the Dragon Shards, it gets the job done."
"I don't have school tomorrow, so I think I can spare some time and visit Unova. Which part of Unova are we going to?"
"We'll find out very soon. I'll give you some time to gear up. And perhaps, take a look at that map again. Who knows? We might get lucky." Volo shrugged while walking beside Sci-Twi to her home.
"Alright. I'm pretty familiar with Unova here and there, so I think I'll have what I need for it." Sci-Twi would smile. But as she waltzed away with Volo, listening in on this was Sunset Shimmer, who hid behind a tree. She didn't appear, not wanting Sci-Twi or Volo to know she was listening in
Sunset already had her experience with Volo, judging him since he was carrying many magical items that were not to be tampered with even if he was just a merchant collecting things. Her battle with Volo resulted in her defeat and in that instance, she saw a part of Volo's true nature. There was something rather intimidating and chilling about it. The way he spoke to her after he won. It was almost like she was in the presence of something beyond her.
"What are you up to, Volo?" Sunset asked herself, looking down. Sunset couldn't fully trust Volol. Not at all. Not when she felt something else from him. Something that Lena herself has already seen and experienced first-hand. Fearful of this unexplainable aura, Sunset Shimmer did not wish to have Sci-Twi be alone with him for too long, especially since they were heading to Unova soon.
"I have a bad feeling about this. I just know it." Sunset said, feeling a terrible foreboding feeling.
Alola. Melemele Island. Iki Town. Kukui's Lab.
"Ash! Listen to me! You have to get your friend away from Volo as soon as possible!" Lena said with heavy urgency in her tone. Ash saw his ancestor being 100% serious as any plans to have fun for the entire day were cut short because of this. "She needs to know at once! She needs to be away from Volo's influence!"
"Lena. Calm down." Kukui held his hands up, trying to settle her. "We can't exactly get her attention now. We need to be patient and wait until she can answer. You said they're at the park, right? Then that's where we'll go."
"But Volo can't be trusted! I know that first hand!"
"It's alright. I can just call her." Ash went for his Rotomphone, having a way to contact Sci-Twi even from this distance. The transmission reached the other world easily as Sci-Twi's ID showed up, connecting to her phone. But at this very moment, the call was being disrupted all of a sudden.
"Huh? A disruption? What gives?" Unbeknownst to him, not only was Volo right next to Sci-Twi, but with a smirk forming on his face, he was already aware. With the Dragon Shards in his hands, he was already up to something. There was a reason he wanted it to be just him and Twilight searching for the next shards.
It wasn't just Ash's encounter with Lena that was special. This moment happening all the at the Human World was also special somewhat. And right now, inside of Lena's massive bag, the Fairy Shards were beginning to pulsate a bit, almost as if they were responding to something.
After learning about Volo's true intentions from Lena, Ash was made aware that Twilight was in grave danger. Volo was simply using Sci-Twi as a means to retrieve the shards and use their power to reach Arceus, threatening Time and Space.
At the same time, both were planning to find more shards over at Unova as attempts to contact Sci-Twi were cut off. Ash couldn't reach her at all, his Rotom Phone failing to gain a connection.
"Oh, man! I can't reach her!" He's tried calling her repeatedly but got nothing. "What gives?!"
"Volo..." Lena knew the answer to that. "He wouldn't want you to find out so soon. But there's no way he could've known we were talking about him right now. Could he?"
"Then I'm going to the other world!" Ash declared. "If he's really that dangerous, then I gotta tell Twilight right away! She needs to get away from him!"
"What about the shard here?" Princess Twilight said to Ash, referring to the Fire Shard at Akala Island. "Shouldn't you go for that first?
"I'll leave that to you guys. It'll be easier if you just search for it." Ash left that to his friends since they could cover more ground. "I don't know if he's gonna hurt her but..."
"Keep the shard here then." Lena approached her massive bag. "Volo shouldn't be anywhere near them and if we were to take it with us while searching for them, that could put them at risk. Maybe I should just-" But right as she opened it, a glorious and dazzling pink glow came from it.
"Woah. What's happening?" Sophocles was taken aback by the beautiful light coming from Lena's bag.
"The Fairy Shards are reacting? But I haven't used them at all." Lena gawked at this phenomenon, not knowing the reason for it. As the Fairy Shards reacted to something, Lena looked back at the table where the other shards were kept at. Obviously, they had their own reactions previously but that was only because they were brought close to each other. The Fairy Shards, however, were separate and yet they reacted all on their own.
Noticeably, Twilight Sparkle's body would start jittering a bit in reaction to the shards and only here. Her eyes flashed with a dazzling energy as she could feel herself connected to it. Much like how she felt a connection with the enigmatic Fairy Matter, it seemed that the Fairy Shards were no different.
"Is someone affecting them from elsewhere?" Lena picked up the shards. "Does Volo have some Fairy Shards I don't know of?" Even Lena herself couldn't understand it since it was starting to go against what she knew about these shards.
"Pass me those shards, Lena." Kukui requested. As the Professor, he was curious and wanted to examine them a little more since Lena couldn't figure it out herself, Kukui suggested a bit of science to try and figure to out, even if these shards were beyond that.
"Here. Please be careful." Lena handed the Fairy Shards to him, trusting in his abilities. Once placed on the table, the current technology was being used to analyze them.
Unova. Eindoak Town.
They had already arrived in Unova with the main location being Eindoak Town. Found somewhere in-between Castelia City and Nimbasa City, Sci-Twi and Volo passed through the gateway, entering the abundant world of Pokemon.
"You can sense where they can be, right?" Sci-Twi asked.
"With an item I picked up, yes. It saves up a lot of trouble since I always had to go off guesses. This thing is amazing." Volo replied, revealing something from his bag. Through his many collections, among one of the newest collected ones was a golden bracelet, appearing like a watch.
"What's that?"
"Your friend Sunset Shimmer may know if we asked her. But I quickly found out what it was when I put it on. I already tried testing all the other items I collected on the Dragon Shards but nothing was clicking. So when I tried this Bracelet on, I actually got a reaction out of it. Like this."
He then held up the Dragon Shards, connecting them with the Bracelet. As soon as the Shards were within its vicinity, the Bracelet glowed in a radiant purple and yellow color. It was responding to the Dragon Shards and only the Dragon Shards. Sci-Twi gawked as colour would then form into a pulse, showing her a certain direction.
"It's a compass. And it's pointing us in the direction of the Dragon Shards. Amazing, isn't it?" Volo grinned. "It can detect where a specific item is at, leading me to a whole bunch of treasures. I actually found where the next shards are because of this, but I just couldn't reach it at the moment. That's where you come in. You have a lot of Alpha Pokemon that can maybe get the job done."
"Really? Where are they then?"
"If we go North from here, we can find a large mountain pass known as Ventsone Path. It's on the more far north of Unova and it's not that easy to reach. I tried my hand at it not too long ago but...it didn't go so well. The shards there are the Rock-Type Shards. This bracelet was immediately able to deduce that the Dragon Shards have other variants, so it told me what other shards were nearby. The Rock Shards were among them."
"More than one shard? I thought it was just one shard you picked up on."
"That's right, but the Rock Shards seemed to be one in location. The other ones seem to be moving because of Venstone Pass's strong weather conditions. We'd be lucky to grab the Rock ones first. So, what do you say?"
"I'll do my best!" Sci-Tw said with enthusiasm. "I'll see what I can do when we get there!"
"Good. You're always a big help, Twilight." Volo gave her a thumbs up. "To think that you're still considered a new Pokemon Trainer. You don't really come across as one, honestly."
"Well...I've only been introduced to Pokemon for like 2 years now. But it's been fun. Dangerous, but fun." Sci-Twi said before walking with Volo. But as they were walking off, right behind them and keeping her distance was Sunset Shimmer. She was wearing a disguise, having a hat and sunglasses on as she already had a bad feeling about Volo. Hiding behind a tree, she continued to observe them while slowly walking.
Noticing this was Carlita, who was petting her Hydreigon. Not only did she recognize Sci-Twi from afar, but she easily recognized Sunset Shimmer, even with the disguise on.
"What are they up to this time?"
The Human World.
In the Human World, the girls were all gathered up at the park. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rarity were all sitting together, waiting for Sunset Shimmer. Since her, Sci-Twi, and Volo had gone ahead, the others wanted to keep each other company and stay updated.
"You said she went to Unova?" Fluttershy asked.
"She did. And without us." Applejack had a frown, being slightly disappointed. "And all because of that Volo fella."
"Why's she so suspicious of him? I thought he was cool." Rainbow Dash said, crossing her arms.
"Eh." The girls didn't really understand why Sunset Shimmer was so suspicious of Volo.
"If she's this cautious, then maybe there is something about Volo we're not seeing. But I just don't see it." Fluttershy added.
"I can't blame her." Rarity had her doubts as well. "Sunset Shimmer does have a tendency to jump to conclusions, but that doesn't mean she's wrong."
"Now what do we do? Do you think we could catch up with them?" Rainbow Dash asked, wondering if they could catch up to the three of them. They weren't even aware that Sunset Shimmer was being stealthy about it.
Just then, before they could decide on something, running past them was Ash who had shown up in this world. Leaving Alola, he went all the way back to Equestria, passing through the portal and entering the Human World.
"Ash? What're you doing here?" Fluttershy pointed at him, recognizing him instantly.
"You guys!" Ash stopped to face them. "Is Twilight gone?! Where is she?!"
"Yeah, she's not here." Applejack answered.
"Did she leave with Volo?!"
"Volo? Yeah. They left a while ago." Pinkie Pie answered. "I think like an hour ago or something. But they're probably in Unova already."
"Unova, huh? The gateway to Eindoak's not too far then." Ash quickly realized. "I gotta get there fast!"
"Huh? What's going on?" Rarity raised an eyebrow. In the corner of her eye, she noticed someone else approaching. Someone who strongly resembled Ash. Approaching here was Lena who swiftly followed her descendant, not wanting Volo to get an advantage at all. The girls were absolutely flabbergasted they were seeing. A woman who looked exactly like Ash.
Ash certainly wasn't going to explain it all since he was in a hurry. "There's no time! Just follow me!" He quickly ran off, with Lena and the girls following suit. They didn't even have time to properly greet themselves, but Ash knew Lena could explain it. Except she didn't, passing by them as well since they weren't going to slow down at all.
"Hold on! Who the heck is that!? Is that your sister?!" Rainbow Dash bellowed, needing answers.
"No time to explain! I'll be right back!" Ash yelled back before disappearing into the distance with Lena.
Unova. Blizzard Ridge.
Blizzard Ridge.
A formidable mountain range located somewhere up north in the Unova Region. Its towering peaks and jagged cliffs are constantly battered by fierce winds and heavy snowfall, earning it a reputation as one of the most treacherous and inhospitable regions in all of Unova.
The terrain of Blizzard Ridge is rugged and unforgiving, characterized by steep cliffs, sheer rock faces, and deep crevasses. The mountains are cloaked in a perpetual blanket of snow and ice, making footing precarious and visibility limited. Narrow pathways wind their way through the rocky terrain, often obscured by snowdrifts and ice formations.
"Hooh...You didn't tell me we'd be entering a cold area! I know the North is usually cold but...!" Sci-Twi started shaking.
"This is Blizzard Ridge. I passed by here before and it's just one area that can lead us to Ventstone Pass. If you're cold, I have you covered." Thankfully, Volo had something for Sci-Twi, giving her a thick white coat for her to wear from his bag. He came prepared, not wanting her to struggle when getting those shards.
"Ah! Thank you! I didn't expect the air to suddenly drop like this. I was caught off guard."
"My bag is all-purpose and it's constantly growing. I've been collecting a lot of things, including clothing. There's so much I can't keep track of." Volo explained as he and Sci-Twi kept walking through the cold, harsh mountainous area. Not too far behind was Sunset Shimmer, still keeping her distance and observing.
Thankfully for Sunset Shimmer, she had her own way of keeping herself warm. She sent out her Delphox, having it cast a fire spell that kept her and her Pokemon warm. With the fire constantly surrounding her and Delphox, she was as warm as a Magcargo.
Coming all the way here to Blizzard Ridge easily took a few hours, cutting through a good chunk of time. Already, the late afternoon Sun was in the sky, sending its orange lights through the cold sky and giving it a nice tint.
She took her steps with Delphox being right behind her, following their every move as her feet dug into the snow, leaving behind footprints of her boots.
"Where's she going?" Sunset was watching Sci-Twi and Volo, but at this point, she was beginning to think that there was no harm done. So far, it seemed that Volo was just helping Sci-Twi out, not really doing anything suspicious. Sunset didn't fully trust him after the battle she had with him before. She got a glimpse of his true colours back then, but Volo was so good at hiding that.
Suddenly, touching her shoulder was someone else, giving Sunset Shimmer a fright. Turning around, it was the familiar face of Carlita, who was also following her.
Sunset wanted to scream after being startled, but Delphox promptly covered her mouth before any noise could be heard. Carlita simply snickered, knowing how she caught Sunset off guard.
"So. How come you're out here spying on those two?" Carlita questioned.
"I could ask you the same thing. Are you following them?"
"No. Just you." Carlita shook her head. "I saw you back at Eindoak. Pretty easily through the disguise too and you were just eyeing those two down. Am I right?"
"Well...you're not exactly wrong. But it's because I'm not trusting of him." Sunset pointed at Volo, who was still walking with Sci-Twi. Carlita tilted her head to see Volo in the distance before facing Sunset once more.
"Him? Why? He seems fine. He's actually helping your friend. You don't seem to think so?"
"He's hiding something. Something that's beyond his own comprehension. I can't tell you why I know, but he's not someone we should fully trust." Sunset had a serious expression, having her eyes locked on Volo. "There's something about him I just can't figure out. A power of some sort. It's a feeling that's coming off him."
"Hmm. Well, that's pretty vague. I don't see anything. Not yet at least, but I get what you mean." Carlita wasn't writing it off yet "If you're supsicious of him...then it's a lot like my brother."
"Your brother?"
"Mhm. My brother Damon almost got away with something serious years back, trying to reactive the Sword of the Vale. Ash, Me and the others stopped him, but we didn't see it earlier. He meant well, but didn't quite go about it in the best way."
"Y-You have an evil brother?"
"Not evil." Carlita wagged her finger. "He just messed up that's all. Based on what you're saying...is Volo like that to you?"
"Well...I mean...I guess. I was suspicious of him when he revealed he's collected a lot of ancient items from Equestria. Tons of magical items from the past that belonged to many figures are just with him now because he's merchant. A lot of those items shouldn't really be sold off or taken so carelessly. I was wary of him but I didn't want to just outright assume anything. So I was gonna take this slow. And that's when we battled."
"You can tell me along the way. They're already out of view." Carlita pointed out how Volo and Sci-Twi had gone ahead. Thanks to all this chatter, they had managed to slip away while Sunset was telling her story.
"Ah! We lost them!" Sunset screeched, causing some of the snow to tremble.
"Not for long." Carlita grinned before running ahead. "Hurry up and don't fall behind!"
"Hey! Wait!" Sunset Shimmer was quick to follow Carlita.
Meanwhile, Sci-Twi and Volo continued their path through Blizzard Ridge, reaching a narrow path between two walls of rock. The blizzard was only getting stronger, making it hard to see and hear. It was only the two of them, not knowing they were being followed.
"You really think this is a shortcut?" Sci-Twi asked.
"Of course. It's the fastest route." Volo replied, using his compass to show them the direction. The light it emitted acted like a radar, showing that this ancient item was most likely the earliest version of a radar. At least from Equestria.
"It's not going to get us lost is it?"
"Oh, no, no, no." Volo shook his head. "As long as you keep an eye on the light, we'll be alright. Best be careful too. The Pokemon here aren't friendly, I promise you.
"Oh. Well, I have my friends. They can defend me." Sci-Twi was confident, having a few Pokemon to count on.
"Wonderful. Just look above you at all times. You'll find that an Onix can potentially drop from above." Volo pointed up.
"An Onix? From above? Isn't it too big for that? And why would an Onix be in such a cold area? It's a Rock-Type. This place is more fit for Ice-Types, no?"
"Rock-Types don't usually mind the cold. Not just because they're super-effective against them, but it they're so hard-bodied that most cold-based attacks won't do much. As for falling from the sky, Onix's body is hard enough that they can survive a fall like that. How it gets up there to begin with, no clue. It caught me by surprise by showing up at that cavern."
Up ahead was a cavern that was shaped like a wide archway. It was a small opening between two giant walls of rocks, allowing them to get through. However, the moment the two of them walked in, Sci-Twi immediately felt the difference in atmosphere.
As they passed through the area, the ceiling above gave off a reflective light that didn't resemble ice but mostly crystals. But the air was different. The air felt heavy and there was something in it. An odd feeling that was almost similar to a Poison-Type move, but not exactly. Volo was unbothered since he's been past here before, but Sci-Twi was experiencing this for the first time.
"What's this weird feeling?" Sci-Twi asked, feeling her skin starting to itch. She wasn't allergic to anything, but she was sure something was bothering her.
"They should be dropping at any point..." Volo said, his eyes on the ceiling. He had a smirk, looking at the crystals.
"Right now? Where?" Sci-Twi tried looking for the Onix but she couldn't see them at all. They couldn't be that hard to miss considering how large they were and how their bodies were the oppossite colour of the crystals here.
"Oh, yes. Just look above you. The Onix are coming." Volo said before pointing upwards. Right on cue, from the ceiling, large chunks of crystals were beginning to break off, revealing the presence of many large snakes, known as Onix. The Pokemon were hanging off the ceiling, blending in perfectly.
"What the?! Are those Onix made out of crystals?!" Sci-Twi gasped, seeing the Pokemon start falling towards her and Volo. Their sharp bodies were glowing a bit, being a little more menacing. When dropping, some of them caused shockwaves, sending across the cavern while some were beginning to fall in Sci-Twi and Volo's direction.
Sci-Twi screeched before quickly bolting in the other direction. Volo casually backed away as the Onix dropped like a Rock Slide going off, crashing into the ground. The entire cavern was shaking, making the walls vibrate a little.
"It's like a rock slide!" Sci-Twi was terrified as she was trying to dodge the falling Onix. "How'd they even get up there in the first place?!"
"You know how to defend yourself, right? This is the perfect chance to see how you handle this situation." Volo simply stood and watched, keeping a safe distance from the falling Onix.
"Right! Pikachu!" Sci-Twi called for her partner. From her bag, jumping out of it was Alpha Pikachu who was waiting the entire time, conversing with Hisuian Zorua and Spike.
"Pika!" The Electric Mouse emerged. Volo was rather impressed that an Alpha Pokemon was even able to fit inside of her bag, even if it was just Pikachu.
"Taking on a bunch of Onix with a Pikachu? Bold, but I can respect it. I can assume that you got that from that Ash fellow, right?"
"If Ash can beat Ground-Types with his Pikachu, I can try and do the same! Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Chu! Pika!" Pikachu jumped up as his tail glowed a brilliant white. Swinging it at an approaching Onix, the force behind the swing was enough to send the Rock Snake flying across the cavern. This was just one Onix that was sent flying as there were multiple of them to deal with. After this one Onix was slapped to the side, the others would go on the offensive.
One of the Crystal Onix, after shaking its head from the previous Iron Tail, would charge straight at Sci-Twi. The young woman had a determined look, not backing down from the large Pokemon.
"Pikachu, use Dig! Get in and come out under it!" Sci-Twi instructed.
"Chu!" Pikachu went underground, moving beneath the Crystal Onix. Just as it was passing him, Pikachu came back up and delivered a swift Iron Tail to the underside of the Onix's face, hitting it with a solid and strong Iron Tail. This was enough to make the large Onix collapse in one go. Such was the power of an Alpha Pokemon. Naturally stronger than the average member of their species.
"We got another one, Pikachu!" Sci-Twi was starting to get the hang of it, having her Pikachu's attacks work in her favour.
"Pika-Pi!"
But the rest of the Onix would begin attacking in teams as some of them used Rock Blast, sending the projectiles flying straight at her and Volo. Volo remained relaxed as Sci-Twi screamed, seeing the boulders coming her way.
"Break them with Thunder Punch!"
"Pi-ka-CHU!" Pikachu punched the rocks, shattering each one in one hit. His fists moved with a flash of lightning, causing them to break instantly. Each strike was like a miniature bolt of electricity, easily breaking the rocks into nothing.
"Wow. You're doing well." Volo had his hands behind his back, loving what he was seeing. Sci-Twi's battle skills have very much improved over time as she was no slouch and very much quick on her feet.
"I have to! I can't let them get the better of me!" Sci-Twi exclaimed, but it wouldn't be that easy. The other Onix would slither back, leaving one Onix on its own. But for one good reason.
This one Onix would slam its tail on the ground, using Earthquake. It was a strong Earthquake that would cause a lot of the cavern to crack and break, even damaging the floor where Sci-Twi was standing. Golden lights would erupt from the ground, racing towards the Mouse Pokemon.
"Watch out, Pikachu!"
"Chu?!" Pikachu wasn't expecting the Onix to pull off a move like that, so he was caught off guard. But he had no chance to escape, getting caught up in the earthquake.
"Oh no! Pikachu!" Sci-Twi held onto her ears as she could see Pikachu struggling. But the Onix were relentless. Once Pikachu was sent into the air, they used Rock Blast once more, aiming their rocks at the poor Mouse Pokemon
"Pika!" Pikachu cried out as the rocks collided with his body. It was a fearsome barrage of rocks that would keep him airborne for a while, dealing damage over time. Being tossed around the air, the Onix would try and slam him down, trying to crush him.
"I won't let them beat us, Pikachu!" She dug into her shirt pocket, pulling out another Poke Ball to support Pikachu. "Go! Dusknoir!"
Coming from the Poke Ball was the Alpha Dusknoir, catching Pikachu as he fell. "Dusknoir!" Pikachu looked up, swiftly saved by his fellow Alpha Pokemon as he hovered before the Onix.
"Dusknoir! Use Shadow Ball! Send them flying!"
"Dusk!" Dropping Pikachu, Dusknoir would generate a blob of shadows in his hands before approaching the Onix with it. Quickly, the Onix would try and strike Dusknoir with Rock Blast, only for the Gripper Pokemon to zip to the side, flying over the rocks with impressive agility.
He approached two of the Onix, slamming the Shadow Ball into them as he expanded the blob to a size large enough to encompass them both. With them trapped, the explosion would send the two Onix flying.
"Follow up with Dark Pulse! Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
The rest of the Onix would roar, trying to intimidate the two Pokemon. But it wouldn't work, not when they were working together. Dusknoir would then start using Dark Pulse, firing the blast from his hands and striking the other Onix. Some of them tried using Harden to block the attacks, but it wasn't enough to withstand the attack.
Pikachu and Dusknoir were starting to put the pressure on, using Iron Tail and Shadow Ball to send the Onix flying. Swift and hard blows from the two were bewildering the Crystal Onix, leaving them perplexed as some of them were fainting in just seconds.
The last Onix would soon fall by an overhead smash from Pikachu's Iron Tail. Pikachu promptly backflipped off the last Onix's head as there was now a pile of these Pokemon down for the count.
"Yeah! Great job, you two!" Sci-Twi cheered. Pikachu would face her with a smile while Dusknoir crossed his arms.
"Well. A nice showing." Volo applauded. "I suppose I wasn't needed for them. Well done, Twilight."
"Thank you, but..." Sci-Twi looked back and saw the cracks that formed, having a feeling they shouldn't stay. "Maybe we should go before something happens."
"Oh, something will happen. The last time I defeated them, a swarm of snow just came from the walls. It was quite the surprise."
"Snow?" Right on time, just as Sci-Twi repeated that word, the walls of this space would break, letting the cold air rush into the cavern. It was already freezing, but it was made worse thanks to the cold air coming in. Sci-Twi faces the walls before seeing a chilling air fly out, bringing something absolutely destructive very soon.
The blizzard's winds were so fierce that they began blowing the snow that fell off the mountains, bringing a heavy amount of it into the cavern. It wasn't just a storm, it was a snowstorm.
Sci-Tw's glasses became incredibly crooked at this sight while Pikachu and Dusknoir collectively gasped. Zorua zipped the back immediately, hugging Spike and squeezing him with her impressive strength.
"This is a bit worse than last time." Volo simply shrugged before grabbing Sci-Twi's arm, running off. "Let's keep going, shall we?"
"Wait, wait, wait, wait!" She frantically said while being pulled away from Volo. As Dusknoir was returned to his Poke Ball and Pikachu started running alongside Sci-Twi, the Snowstorm swallowed up the Onix, but caused them no harm. Their bodies were tough enough to handle this even when fainted but the same could not be said for those who defeated them.
Outside of the cavern, the cold weather would start affecting the entire Blizzard Ridge, making the place even more dangerous than before. But the real trouble would begin soon.
"Woah. I thought it was cold, but it's only gotten worse. We gotta hurry before it gets out of hand!" Sunset Shimmer and Carlita were rushing towards the cavern. But before they could, they could feel the ground rumbling underneath them.
"Woah. An earthquake?" Carlita wondered if this was a common occurrence in this mountain range.
"No. Something's coming. Something big!" Sunset was right as her pupils would shrink. It was incredbly close to her, specifically, right beneath them. As they stood in the middle of the path, a large hole would form below them, causing the two to scream as they fell into it.
The two girls held onto each other while screaming, caught off guard by the sudden hole that emerged. The Snowstorm was strong enough to cause such an event even if it hadn't reached the area yet. It wasn't even an earthquake and yet it pulled this off.
"Aaaaah! Delphox!"
"Hydreigon!" Carlita quickly raised her Poke Ball.
As they fell, the two of them would grab their partners, having them save them. As Sunset held onto Delphox's back, her Fire Pokemon would create a fiery wall, protecting them from the falling snow. As for Carlita, her Hydreigon easily caught them, preventing them from landing too hard.
"Thanks, buddy." Carlita thanked her Pokemon, seeing how quick he was to react. However, poor Hydreigon couldn't be out here for too long since he was a Dragon-Type. After catching Carlita, he quickly retreated back to his Poke Ball, not wanting the cold air to get to him.
"H-Hy!" Hydreigon was still glad to help, descending to the ground with Carlita's safety intact.
"Are you okay?!" Sunset asked Carlita.
"Y-Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Nothing I'm not used too." She chuckled before adjusting her hat. For a Dragon-Type Trainer like her, this was the one place she shouldn't be at. When looking at their surroundings, they saw that they were somewhere else in this area. Somewhere that seemed rather ancient.
On the walls, there were drawings and writing that appeared to be similar to how the Unown appear. This cold area located north of Unova wasn't just another cold place. It seemed to possess some history to it.
"Oooh. Look at these drawings. What do you think they are?" Carlita walked over, taking a closer look. She could tell that this area wasn't something she should just brush off.
"Who cares? We need to catch up to them!" Except, Sunset Shimmer would brush it all off, wanting to keep up with Volo and Sci-Twi. Carlita was rather curious but could stave her curiosity off for today. Now that she knows of this place's existence, she could always just come back. But first, the main objective was finding those two.
Ventstone Pass. Nightfall.
At last. After passing through a majority of Blizzard Ridge, Sci-Twi and Volo came across a summit in this area, leading to the entrance of Ventstone Pass. They would finally reach the end of this part of Unova. And there it was. Ventstone Pass.
It was an incredible area that was a massive and expansive pass between a set of mountains. The windy area would give way to a much cooler air, but that's not what was special about this place. What made this area so special was that the air was always moving, being so strong that it was impossible for most to traverse. Because of the powerful winds, the rocks in this place are worn away over time, creating many strange and bizarre rock formations.
And because of its ever-moving air, the area has been dubbed as Ventstone Pass, as the wind is constantly flowing through, messing with the stones and rocks of this place as if it were a playground.
"We've finally made it. Just in time." Volo had his magical compass, pointing at the direction of the shard.
"Woah...Look at that place." Sci-Twi looked all around the place, seeing the rock formations. Some of them seemed to resemble Pokemon while others appeared to be random. It was a fascinating and mystical sight. "It looks cool."
"And dangerous. But the wind doesn't really affect the Rock Shard, so we should be fine." Volo looked up, witnessing the Moon in the sky appearing as it was getting late.
"I don't wanna walk through here at night." Sci-Twi had a shiver, thinking about how cold the winds would get. Do you think we could slow down a bit, Volo? Just for tonight?"
"Just for tonight, you say? Well, the shards aren't going anywhere, so why not? This place is dangerous, but I know a spot that's safe. If you'd follow me."
Their journey would take a break as they approached the area they've been heading for, already feeling the chill. That blanket Volo gave her was starting to give out when coming face to face with greater conditions. She was hoping it wouldn't be too late for it to fail here. At least until the morning comes.
Elsewhere, Ash and Lena were searching everywhere, trying their best to see where Sci-Twi and Volo had gone. But they had no leads. No clue on where they would've gone. Ash was practically running blind at this point. "I should've asked Pinkie Pie to have her Slurpuff follow Sci-Twi's scent." Ash said, knowing he was too hasty. And since they were gone, he was too late to catch up with them when he got here, but not too late to try and find them.
"That was a good idea, but we can't turn back now. If we do, Volo might get even more time ahead of us, Ash." said Lena.
"We'll make it." Ash thought otherwise, surprising his ancestor. He then faced her with a serious look on her face, knowing what he was doing. "I promise. I'm not about to let anything bad happen to Twilight. No way. Even if it takes up some time, I'll find her and Volo. I'll save her."
"But are you sure? Heading back to Alola will take time and-"
"I'm not giving up on this." Ash shook his head. "You know how serious this is. Volo can't be trusted and he has Twilight with him. I have to get her away from him."
Unbeknownst to them, the two were taking a break since the Moon had risen. There was still time and no matter how far it may be, how much it's wasted, Ash wasn't one to slow down when it comes to scenarios such as this. Not when his friend was in the midst of someone dangerous.
Lena was rather surprised by what she was hearing as she opted to keep on going, but even she had to admit there was no lead. Time was definitely of the essence as it could lead to something catastrophic.
With the Moon up in the air, Sci-Twi and Volo found a spot away from the fearsome wind, having a little fire going on. In front of them was a small campsite with the two sitting near the fire. Sci-Twi and Volo ate whatever snacks they had on them, eating them as it was a quick meal for the day. Sci-Twi shuddered, still feeling some of the coldness around her.
"Hooh..." She held onto her arms. Even with the campfire, the chill in this area was certainly strong. "I didn't think the cold could still reach me, even when we're like this. Are you not cold?"
"I'm used to it by now, honestly." Volo was relaxed, completely unbothered by the cold.
"I need some more heat." Digging into her bag, another Poke Ball was taken out. This time, emerging from it was Alpha Rapidash. This particular Alpha was the one that belonged to Sci-Twi. With Rapidash, she could easily warm herself up some more as the flames of a Pokemon are definitely stronger than natural fire.
"Rapidash!" The Fire Horse Pokemon trotted a bit, letting her flames flare out in the middle of the night, giving this area some extra glow.
"She'll keep us warm for the night." Sci-Twi sat near her Pokemon, holding onto her. Rapidash was happy to be out and about, feeling the wind blow through her fiery mane. "So, Volo...What will you do after you find all of the shards?
"What will I do? For starters...I'll return to my own time. I'm obviously not supposed to be here, after all." Volo looked up as that much was obvious.
"I'm surprised you don't want to stay here. You seem so interested in the modern age."
"It is wonderful but, there are things that I have to sort out in my own time. And when I retrieve all the shards, well..." Volo paused, staying silent for a moment. "Once they're all retrieved and put together, then that way, my chances of meeting the Original One will increase. I'll reach my goal."
At last, he revealed his final goal to Sci-Twi, bringing up the Original One, also known as Arceus. And that title didn't escape Sci-Twi at all. "You mean...Arceus? Arceus is who you want to meet?"
"Exactly," Volo confirmed it. "I failed previously when I was so close. But I'm not one to give up and I can still have a chance in all of this."
"Huh. Well, that's great. I wish I could say the same." Sci-Twi looked down, holding onto her Arceus Pendant. "Even I haven't met Arceus at all."
"?" That response caught Volo off guard. The complete opposite of what he initially thought when he first saw Sci-Twi with the pendant on her neck. He assumed that she had strong connections to Arceus based on it. "You...haven't met Arceus?"
"No. Not even once." Sci-Twi sighed before looking up at the night sky. "When I got this pendant and went to Arche Valley, I was sure I'd get the chance to meet Arceus at least once. Ash has met him multiple times, so has my counterpart and her friends back at Equestria and so on. But...not me."
"Hm." Volo would keep listening as this piqued his interest. Hearing this was beginning to stagger this time traveller in ways he didn't expect. The things he expected from Sci-Twi were being thrown out of the window due to this recent development.
"But I guess it's not that big of a deal, honestly. Even if I do want to meet him just once, the most I get are visages and I still don't understand this pendant fully. I'm not sure what I'd do if I'd ever meet Arceus but...I guess it's my love for Pokemon that keeps me going for that goal."
"I see." Volo spoke. "So...We are in the same boat. And here I thought you already met Arceus."
"You thought I met Arceus?" She let out a slight gasp.
"Just a bit." The man from 200 years ago chuckled. "You're surrounded by big figures after all, aren't you? I would've expected you to have already encountered Arceus in some way. I suppose not."
"Sorry. It sounds like you really want to meet him. If I met him, I would've told you so much, I just know. It but..."
"It's fine." But Volo had no qualms with that at all. "Besides, looking at how things are now, it looks like all thos encounters with Arceus haven't changed much. No one's seeking those answers that I've been yearning for That just means I have a greater drive to reach him."
"You want to ask Arceus questions?" Sci-Twi leaned forward, getting more information on Volo's goals.
"There is a lot I need to know but no one but Arceus can tell me so. What about you?"
"Wel...I've always been into science, honestly. The existence of Pokemon threw me for a loop when I found out about it and there are some things I still don't understand. That's why I'm getting new mentors. I was even surprised that Magic existed in my world before the Pokemon showed up. From my world, the merged world and what lies beyond...it's a lot to take in, honestly. And I'm over here with Alpha Pokemon who also come from the past." Sci-Twi would huddle her legs, taking it all in.
Quite the drastic change in her life has occurred. The same goes for everyone else but she was definitely feeling rather perplexed by it all. It's only been around 2 years after all.
"And here I am talking with someone else who also comes from the past. The same time as the Alpha Pokemon." She glanced at Volo, smiling. "It's all so weird and it feels like new surprises are flying in regularly. All this and I haven't even met Arceus once."
"Then..." Volo stood up, holding his hand out. "How about we work hard to reach Arceus together?"
"Huh?"
"You want answers, right? And I do too. We've been working together from the start either way, so why not put in more effort? Together. Let's reach Arceus by the end of it all. What do you say? We could use the help. We'll be stronger and have the power to meet the Original One."
"Okay! I'll do my best!" She would meet with his hand, giving him a shake. "We'll find all the shards and meet with Arceus!"
On this night, the two of them had strengthened their resolve and bond, growing closer. Now, they truly shared a goal. "But uh...Can we sleep now? I'm so tired..." Sci-Twi would yawn, still feeling out of it.
"Haha. Of course. It's been a long day."
Afterwards, they would let the night pass on as always. Rapidash was kept out to guard them both along with Pikachu. Zorua was already fast asleep along with Spike as the winds of Venstone Pass blew on. While Sci-Twi fell asleep almost instantly, Volo was left awake, thinking to himself.
"It's just the two of us, huh? So, she hasn't met Arceus yet. It seems my initial theory was wrong. I was very wrong about you, Twilight Sparkle." Volo thought, seeing Sci-Twi's pendant glimmer a bit from the fire. It felt like Arceus was watching from the pendant. Somehow. But that could just be in Volo's head.
As a smile met his face, Volo let out a light chuckle, rather amused. "Goodness...Things aren't going to be the same, are they? The present is an odd place indeed."Afterwards, his eyes would shut off, soon falling asleep as well.
Elsewhere in Ventstone Pass, Sunset Shimmer and Carlita had already arrived, but had no clear directions unlike Volo and Sci-Twi. They had no idea where to look for those two, not knowing they were sleeping for the night.
"Ugh! Where are they?!" Sunset Shimmer said, feeling a chill run down her spine. She and Delphox were shivering, feeling the winds getting colder.
"They're not here." Carlita pointed out, looking around the area. "Maybe they went ahead, but this place is rather large. They could be anywhere. We might have to walk a little further to find them."
The trek was not easy for them. Even with Delphox here, the winds were a challenge. They were blowing rather strong, causing Sunset and Carlita to cover their eyes. It was also making it hard for Sunset to hear properly as her ears were being clogged. The rocks of this mountain pass were constantly being carried by the wind, almost like they were floating. Some were being smashed up against the walls of the mountains, shattering into smaller pieces.
"Gah! What is this place?! Why is the wind so strong?!" Sunset gripped onto Delphox's dress for safety.
"This place is dangerous! It's too windy and the air is thin! If we're not careful, we'll fall down and hit the rocks!" Carlita cried out, having a hard time breathing.
"Well, I'm getting tired here!" Sunset yelled. "But I can't just stop now even with all of this wind! I can't stand this!"
"Over there! Let's try that spot! It looks a lot more stable and calm!" Carlita pointed, seeing an area that seemed safer than the rest. The wind levels were weaker there, most likely being a safe spot, much like what Volo found.
"Okay, okay! Let's hurry!" Sunset Shimmer agreed as she and Carlita ran towards that area. But while approaching it, the rocks would start flying their direction, being sent by the strong wind.
"W-What?! Rocks?! What's happening?!" Sunset shrieked, seeing the rocks flying around. One of them came straight for her, only for Delphox to catch it with Psychic, sending it elsewhere.
But those weren't the only rocks they had to worry about. They ran as the rocks were moving around in an erratic matter, smashing and crashing everywhere. Delphox shielded her trainer and Carlita, constantly using Psychic to catch as many of them, redirecting them or sending them flying elsewhere, only for the ferocious winds to catch them.
"Hydreigon! Go!"
"Hydreigon!" Carlita released her Hydreigon once more, using Dragon Rush to knock some of the rocks away the second he emerged from the Poke Ball, but not every single one. As they continued their run, Sunset would have Delphox throw the rocks into a wall, having them break apart.
Closer and closer, they were reaching their spot, avoiding as many rocks as they could. And the ones that got too close were either stopped by Delphox or broke upon hitting Hydreigon. His body was durable enough to the point where some rocks would break upon contact.
But as soon as they made it, the area would start to break apart, forcing the two girls to fall. It happened again much like what occurred at Blizzard Ridge.
"Grab my hand!" Carlita quickly stretched her arm, barely managing to catch Sunset Shimmer. Hydreigon would swoop in to catch Carlita while using one of his heads to grab Delphox. Carlita pulled Sunset up, saving her from another hard fall. They would safely ascend with Hydreigon, sighing in relief.
"That was close!" Carlita exclaimed after pulling Sunset up.
"Too close. Thanks." Both would breathe in and out, trying to recompose themselves. Ventstone Pass was not being kind to them all, throwing harsh conditions at the girls and their Pokemon. But it looked like they would have the chance to rest.
As the two would take a moment to breathe, they reached the area they were originally heading towards, seeing how safe it was. Already upon getting close to it, they could feel a strong lack of wind that threatened them. A perfect place to take a breather.
"At least the winds aren't that strong. And there's no sign of snow here anywhere." Carlita checked her surroundings. "This'll do just fine for tonight."
"Yeah..." Sunset was glad, getting on her knees and taking in a deep breath. She was just relieved to be out of the cold. Delphox and Hydreigon felt the same way. Staying here the entire night wasn't ideal but needed. She would sit near the wall while Carlita recalled Hydreigon to his Poke Ball.
"Well...We didn't get to Volo at all." Carlita spoke. "We can try again tomorrow if the two of them are still here. It'll be tough, but it's better than nothing."
"Yeah. At least we got somewhere to stay." Sunset rubbed her neck, stretching it. "I wish I did something about Volo from the start. To bring her out here in such a dangerous place? What's he thinking? And now here we are..." In perspective, these past weeks have been rough on Sunset Shimmer since there was a lot to worry about.
Right now, she didn't want to think about it and only wished to rest it all away. She would lie back against the wall, yawning and letting the stress of the day go. Carlita saw this, seeing the weariness in her eyes. No use in talking about any of it right now since Sunset Shimmer was absolutely exhausted.
"Get some rest, Sunset. I'll watch the place." Carlita said, taking a seat near her.
"Thanks," Sunset said, her eyes drooping. She couldn't stay up, not for a moment longer. She'd be out before she knew it.
As the Sun rose over the horizon, the next morning came, showing that the weather in the Ventstone Pass was still its frenzied self. Strong winds blew the rocks around, continuing to cause a ruckus. Sci-Twi and Volo were already up, continuing on their mission to find the Rock Shards. Volo led the way, letting his bracelet do all the work as they were getting closer and closer to the item.
"Just a bit more. Based on what the Bracelet is telling me, it looks like it's over there." Volo pointed ahead, showing Sci-Twi the spot where the rocks could potentially be. Right in front of them was a rather steep cliff that seemed to drop a long way down. The wind was stronger here, making it a risky climb.
"We can get down from here." Digging into her bag, a Poke Ball was taken out. And from it, she summoned Alpha Kirlia. It was Kirlia's time to get into some of the action when searching for the shards.
"Kirlia!"
"Alright, Kirlia. I need you to levitate us down safely." Sci-Twi kneeled to meet with Kirlia, giving her a command.
"Ria." The Psychic Pokemon nodded. As soon as she nodded in response, Kirlia then noticed Volo on the side. With a smile on her face, it quickly dropped once she saw Volo. It was like she was glaring daggers at the man, feeling his presence.
"Is something the matter, Kirlia?" Twilight asked.
"Kir..." Kirlia's senses went off. Her ability to sense emotions was going off the charts, alerting her of Volo's true intentions. It wasn't exactly what was shown on the outside. Kirlia had sensed a strong malice within Volo, one that could potentially lead to disastrous events.
"Kirlia? You alright?" A worried Twilight Sparkle waved her hands in front of Kirlia's face.
"..." But the Psychic and Fairy-Type wouldn't do anything. Not just yet. She observed Volo who looked back at her, focusing on his emotions. What she saw was an aura that was filled with ambition and drive. His goals were not malicious at all, but they did have a tinge of it. And when glancing at the bracelet, the same thing can be said.
"Scared of something?" Volo said to the Emotion Pokemon, seeing her eyes widen. He could tell that something was wrong, but it was best not to let it show. Kirlia's face shifted from fear to curiosity. She had a strong suspicion, but didn't know why. But as soon as Volo glanced at her, he smiled a little. "You're a Kirlia, no? Your species evolves through emotions, no? Well, I hope you're not scared of me. There's no reason to be."
"Kirlia..." The Pokemon nodded, but had no clue what to think. She looked back and saw Sci-Twi giving her the usual smile.
"It's alright, Kirlia." said Sci-Twi. "Volo's a friend. You don't have to worry about anything right now. So please, work with us."
"...!" Upon hearing those words, Kirlia would turn and nod, smiling back at her trainer. If her trainer had no problem, then perhaps the problem was just in her mind. But Kirlia was still cautious. And since her trainer trusted this person, so did Kirlia. "Kirlia. Kir!"
"Great! Thank you." Sci-Twi smiled and petted her Pokemon's head. Sci-Twi believed in Volo, especially after their conversation last night. She felt like she gained a stronger connection with him because of it, allowing her to see a part of him that she's never seen before.
Facing the area, Kirlia used her impressive telekinesis to levitate both her trainer and Volo down to the floor. As the two were descending, Sci-Twi had the chance to admire the view below while Kirlia managed to clear some of the many rocks. Her impressive Psychic Powers allowed her to effortlessly move them despite being so small.
Like a gentle feather, they were brought down to the lower lands of Ventstone Pass, finding themselves in a rather flat section of the land. And once they touched the ground, the bracelet went wild, telling Volo that the shards were right here.
"It's here! The shard!" Volo noticed.
"Really?! Where?!" Sci-Twi jumped, looking around. "I don't see it."
"The shard's buried beneath the rocks." Volo explained. He would walk up to a spot and place his hand on the wall, touching the rocks. "But...the power is coming from here. It has to be somewhere underneath."
"In that case..." Thankfully, Sci-Twi had a nice range of Pokemon for various actions. With another Poke Ball up, she threw it into the air. "I need your help! Machoke!" From the Poke Ball, emerging was Alpha Machoke, ready to assist his trainer.
"Machoke!"
"Machoke. I need you to lift this wall and pull out the shard from the inside. Pikachu. Use Dig and help Machoke out."
"Pika-Pikachu." With a salute, Pikachu could do that, along with Machoke. Sci-Twi could count on Machoke's Super Strength to help rip the shards out. And if not, Pikachu would always enter the Earth himself.
"Okay. Go!"
Pikachu and Machoke went straight to work, using their abilities to do their best. Pikachu would jump forward and begin digging into the wall, tearing it open. The ground below would tremble a bit while they went to work and at the same time, Kirlia shifted her eyes at Volo, keeping an eye on him.
She wasn't sure what she felt from him. It felt like there was something dangerous there but at the same time, there was something else. The Emotion Pokemon was struggling to really understand it.
The two Pokemon were doing a splendid job, working hard to help Sci-Twi. The girl could only hope the shard was right there, not wanting this trip to be for nothing. After minutes of standing around, Machoke and Pikachu would finally finish the job, pulling the shards out.
"Chu!"
"Machoke!"
"You two did it!" Sci-Twi cheered as the shards was finally out, being revealed to the world. The Rock Shards have finally been obtained.
"At last. This is a great relief." Volo took the shards, smiling with glee. "Now, we have three shards. Dragon, Ghost and Rock. Now, all we have to do is find the remaining ones. Each shard of each type. That means we have a total of 15."
"Just 15? That covers all the types, right?" Sci-Twi asked, making sure she was getting the numbers right.
"Mhm. There are 18 types and we have 3 so far. It'll be a long way until we complete this, but I have faith that we'll make it. Let's call this one a day, shall we?" Volo grinned, placing the shards in his bag.
"Twilight! Twilight!" Suddenly, Sci-Twi and Volo heard someone screaming her name. And upon checking the direction, they would see Sunset Shimmer and Carlita running over to them, both with tired expressions.
"Sunset? Carlita? W-What are you dong here!?" Quite the surprise for Twilight, easily exceeding the shards.
"Finally...we found you..." Carlita was wheezing, trying to catch her breath. "We were looking everywhere...and had no luck...until now. How do you still have more energy than us?"
"Volo..." Sunset glanced at Volo, seeing him give her the usual smirk. The look of seriousness in Sunset's eyes said it all. The fact that she came this far and put herself in risk just because she was judgemental of Volo's actions.
"Sunset Shimmer. How nice of you to join us." Volo was a little too relaxed with Sunset, having no issue seeing her here. "And unexpected. Who's this?"
"Don't worry about that." Sunset stepped forward. "You came all the way out here to a place this dangerous just for those shards. Even if they were always here, this is a bit too much, don't you think?"
"Hm? From what I hear, dangerous scenarios aren't too much of a big deal for you and your friend group." Volo shrugged. "Why would this be any different?"
"Yeah. And look, Sunset. Carlita. We got the Rock Shards now! Slowly, but surely, we're getting them all!" Sci-Twi held the shards out.
"Twilight, listen!" Sunset exclaimed. "I should've told you this before, but I just have a bad feeling about him. I think we should leave."
"A bad feeling?" Sci-Twi repeated. "About Volo? Why?"
"After our battle, when we lost...he showed me a part of him that I bet he hasn't shown you at all. He went on about why he wanted to meet with Arceus, and the look in his eye and the way he said it all didn't seem right."
"What gave you that idea?" Volo chuckled. "I only told you about my objective to reach Arceus. Meeting with the Original One will give me closure. The burning questions I have can only be answered by him."
"I can believe that. But everything else behind it, not so much. You're hiding something from us, Volo. I know it. And the look on your face said it all." Sunset pointed out. "There's more to your goal than you're letting on and I bet it's not for a good reason.
"H-Hold on, Sunset." Sci-Twi would stutter, holding her hands up. "Don't jump to conclusions just yet. Let's slow down for a moment."
"A bit harsh, honestly." Volo scratched his hair. "Do you really think that little of me, Sunset? I'll admit, I did go a bit overboard during our battle but...there's no need to judge. And if I am hiding anything, why don't you find out yourself? You've already been chasing us this whole time."
"Huh?" Hearing that made Twilight turn her head, facing Volo before looking at Sunset Shimmer.
"Thought I didn't recognize you this whole time? Don't you think I didn't notice you when you followed us from Eindoak all the way to here? It's kind of obvious. And here I thought you didn't want to tag along."
"?!" Hearing that made Sunset and Carlita tense up, knowing what he meant. Volo knew all along.
"You were following us the entire time?" Twilight said with confusion in her voice. "W-Why didn't you say anything or show yourself?"
"Probably because she just doesn't trust me all that much." Volo guessed.
"Sunset, why would you follow us and not say anything? You should've just talked to me about it." Sci-Twi was rather shocked.
"Twilight. It's not like that."
"Then, what is it? If you didn't trust Volo, why didn't you say anything sooner?" Sci-Twi questioned, seeing her friend shake her head.
"No, no. It's not that. Look, it's complicated."
"She probably didn't want to bother you." Carlita guessed.
"But..." Twilight didn't really have the best response, seeing her friend and her friend's companion not have the words.
"To be fair, I kept your presence a secret even though I knew you were following us." Volo spoke. "Guilty on that part. But it made it all the more fun."
"It's just a feeling, Twilight. I had it when I first encountered the Dazzlings and I've been getting the same vibe since I battled him. He's not exactly someone who's safe to hang out with. And the fact he brought you out here without warning? Something's definitely off."
"Why didn't you tell me then? We're friends, aren't we?" That was Sci-Twi's own burning question. If that was the case, then Sunset Shimmer would've told her from the start.
"..." Sunset looked down, unable to come up with a response. She could tell the truth and say that the main reason she was going along with this was because she was still shaken up by Volo's words. The fact that he was so driven to reach Arceus and the way he acted about it.
"I don't know why I didn't say anything from the start...To you or the others...But..." Sunset lowered her head before looking back at Volo. "In any case, I just want you to be careful."
"Around Volo? Why would I? He's not dangerous at all." Sci-Twi had a different opinion of him. "I get what you mean but, Volo's not a threat. I trust him. Honestly."
"You trust him?! You barely know him, Twilight!" She outstretched her arms out at Volo, who just shrugged it off as well.
"She does have a point. We only met a few weeks ago and it's not like you know everything about me."
"You're right, but..." Sci-Twi tried to think of the right words. "If you think I can't trust him, Sunset, I don't know if I can trust you. And after all we've been through together. And the others...You and your friends are my new mentors. My new friends. But if you think he's dangerous, then I can't just agree."
"Wait, Twilight. Hold on-"
"You didn't tell me anything about you following me. Spying on me too. Can I even trust you?" That question hit Sunset like a truck. Now, Sci-Twi was having her doubts about the trust she had in Sunset. She knew Sci-Twi was being honest but, the way she phrased her words were rather painful.
"Look, Twilight, I'm sorry. But I did what I thought was best. Maybe I was wrong and everything...but I just can't let you stick around Volo. Not when I have this feeling."
"Well, I disagree." She shook her head. "You haven't given him a chance, Sunset. I'm heading back home and pretty soon, when Summer vacation comes along, I'll have more time on my hands to go and search for the shards with him. You'll do the same, won't you? But if you can't trust him, I can't trust you."
"..." Sunset grumbled, closing her eyes as this was one of the hardest scenarios she's ever been put in. Even harder than when she was once evil and obsessed with power. "I don't want that. Not from my own friends. But I also make sure that my friends are safe. I'm not gonna give him the benefit of the doubt when I have this strong gut feeling, Twilight. That's all it is."
"I can take care of myself, Sunset. I don't need your protection of anything." Sci-Twi was getting visibly angry, showing it by folding her arms. "If you can't accept Volo, then fine. Go on ahead."
"Now, now. Let's not get too heated here." Carlita tried calming things down between them.
"I'm not going anywhere without you." Sunset said. "And I have a lot I want to say to Volo, so I'm also taking him with me."
"No, you're not." Suddenly, Sci-Twi held out a Poke Ball, causing Pikachu, Spike, Kirlia and the rest of her Pokemon to gasp. By holding the Poke Ball out to Sunset Shimer, Sci-Twi was telling her that she wasn't about to take any of this.
"W-What...?" Sunset was flabbergasted by what she was seeing. Once more, Twilight was an obstacle in her path. But this time, it was much like the second time as opposed to the first time when she encountered Princess Twilight. It felt like history was repeating itself.
"I'm not going anywhere without him." Sci-Twi said, having everyone go wide-eyed. "I won't let you bad mouth my friend. Even if you're also my friend."
"Fine then." Sunset would reluctantly hold out her own Poke Ball. "Then, there's only one way we can settle this. Twilight. If I win, then you'll stick around and see what I have to show and say."
"And if I win, then you'll at least give him a chance." It was settled. Here at Ventstone Pass, Twilight and Sunset would have a Poke Ball as the two stared each other down.
Carlita grimaced at this sight while Volo was quite intrigued. This was quite the development as these two good friends were about to throw down. And for what reason? Volo himself. But the outcome was clear. Either Sunset would succeed in revealing Volo's true intentions or Sci-Twi would succeed in proving her innocence.
Only one side could win this battle and whoever does will certainly change things up to a large degree. Kirlia, Zorua and Machoke all had bad feelings about this and so did Kirlia. But Volo remained rather unphased by this. All he wanted to do right now was watch it all play out.
After encountering each other here at Ventstone Pass, Sci-Twi and Sunset were about to have themselves a battle with only one side being the victor. To defend Volo or to reveal Volo's true colours. The two friends stood away from each other, choosing to battle at the flat lands of Ventstone Pass. It made a perfect battlefield, not too big and not too small. Both girls stood opposite of each other, staring their opponent down.
"I have more than six Pokemon with me and you only have three. Let's make it fair and use three Pokemon each." Sci-Twi suggested.
"Three? Okay. I can do that. You're the challenger, so I'll let you make the first move."
"I guess I'll be the referee." Carlita felt like she couldn't stop this battle from happening due to how heated they were. But it was up to her to make sure that this was a fair match. "Three Pokemon each. Once all three Pokemon from either side are unable to battle, the other side wins. So, bring out your first Pokemon, you two."
"Go! Dusknoir!" For Sci-Twi, she summoned Alpha Dusknoir, choosing one of her heavy hitters from the start. If she was going to win, it would be with maximum efficiency.
"Dusknoir!"
"Volcarona, go!" For Sunset Shimmer, she unleashed her Volcarona.
"Volcarona!" As the two girls stared each other down, Sunset Shimmer was determined to see the truth. But Sci-Twi strongly thought otherwise in every way, especially after last night.
"I won't let you bad talk my friend." She had to make sure that her friends were safe, regardless of their differences. "Even if you're my friend. I'll defeat you and you'll give Volo a chance."
"We'll see about that." Sunset Shimmer replied with narrowed eyes. Clearly, the tension was strong n the air and their Pokemon could feel it. Watching from the side were Kirlia, Pikachu, Zorua and Delphox, who weren't saying at the moment. They would only observe.
"Dusknoir, use Shadow Ball!" Sci-Tw started things off.
"Dusk!" From his hands, Dusknoir generated a blob of shadows. He then seperated them, making two Shadow Balls and launching them with all of his might.
"Counter with Hurricane, Volcarona!" Sunset Shimmer commanded.
"Rona!" Volcarona created a tornado-like storm by flapping his wings around, sending the two Shadow Balls back towards Dusknoir. The Hurricane was large and vicious, picking up any nearby rocks and blending in well with Ventstone Pass's environment.
"Dusknoir, defend with Shadow Punch!"
"Noir!" The Shadow Pokemon punched the ground, generating a large amount of shadowy energy. The force was strong enough to create a barrier of shadows, stopping the two Shadow Balls. And when he saw an opening, he used the shadows to form to large fists that would rise from the ground, aiming at Volcarona.
"Quiver Dance!"
"Vo!" Volcarona flew around the shadowy fists, easily dodging the attack. And he wasn't done there. As he was moving, the Fire Moth Pokemon was able to gather energy within his body, making the flame on his body grow in size.
"Volcarona! Use Fiery Dance!"
"Volca!" In an instant, the fire on his body increased, turning into a burning aura that surrounded his body. And with the Quiver Dance he did earlier, his speed increased drastically, giving the Sun Pokemon a massive boost in speed. He was flying so fast that the winds generated from him were incredibly powerful, creating a large updraft.
"Dusknoir, use Dark Pulse! Take him out!"
"Noir!" The Shadow Pokemon released a black pulse, aiming it directly at Volcarona. But the Bug Pokemon was simply too fast, moving around the Dark Pulse and flying behind Dusknoir.
"Now, Volcarona!"
"Rona!" In an instant, Volcarona cloaked his body in flames and dashed right into Dusknoir, creating a powerful impact. The fire-clad Volcarona struck the Shadow Pokemon, sending him tumbling across the ground.
"Dusknoir!" Sci-Twi gasped.
"Don't let him rest! Bug Buzz!"
"Roooooona!" Volcarona used the vibrations in his wings, sending it straight into Dusknoir's ears. He was hit by a deafening sound wave that caused him immense damage.
"D-Dusk!" Dusknoir held onto his head, struggling to get back up. Afterwards, the Bug Buzz would materialize a light green energy that took the form of a giant green bug, slamming its pincers onto the Shadow Pokemon. Dusknoir was pushed back and slammed into the wall, groaning and moaning from the pain.
"Is that it?" Sunset Shimmer asked.
"Dusknoir's not done yet." Sci-Twi shook her head as Dusknoir immediately ripped himself out of the wall. He had a serious look on his face, staring straight at Volcarona. The damage he sustained was quite significant, but he was still capable of fighting.
"Now, Dusknoir! Earthquake!" Twilight would slam her fist into her palm as an example.
"Dusknoir!" From the ground, Dusknoir generated an immense amount of energy, shaking the entire floor. He then stomped his feet, generating a golden shockwave that travelled towards Volcarona.
"Stop it, Volcarona! Hurricane!"
"Volcarona!" Flapping his wings, he sent a vicious Hurricane that would meet with the Earthquake. These two staggering attacks collided, creating a devastating clash that shook the entire battlefield. Once they clashed, a mixture of a destructive wind pressure and a powerful shockwave exploded, pushing both sides back.
"Volcarona!" Sunset bellowed while using one arm to cover her face.
"Dusknoir!" Sci-Twi shouted, covering her eyes with both arms.
The smoke cleared up and the two girls saw their Pokemon in bad shape, but not completely beaten. Their attacks clashed, leaving both parties hurt and fatigued. But neither were willing to give up, even in their state.
"You alright, Volcarona?!"
"Volcarona!" Sunset Shimmer's partner gave a cry of reassurance, ready for the next command.
"This is my chance! Shadow Ball, go!"
"Use Bug Buzz!"
Dusknoir threw another Shadow Ball, only for Volcarona's sound waves to stop it. Volcarona managed to release a second wave, this time being much stronger than before. It crushed the Shadow Ball, disintegrating it before reaching Dusknoir. The Bug Buzz was loud, making it difficult for him to hear. Afterwards, the energy would combust around Dusknoir's body, pushing him back and dropping him on the ground.
"Dusknoir..." Dusknoir had fainted.
"Dusknoir..." Dusknoir had fainted.
"Dusknoir is unable to battle! Volcarona wins!" Carlita announced as the first victory went to Sunset Shimmer and her Volcarona.
"Just because you Alpha Pokemon on your team, doesn't mean you'll automatically win." Sunset spoke to Sci-Twi, who would glance back at her. "After all, I sometimes re-enter Equestria for my part-time job as its 3rd Gym Leader. I've battled more times than you have, even if I only have 3 Pokemon. So, don't underestimate us."
"Right." Sci-Twi was a bit embarrassed by her attitude, thinking she was just getting cocky. She recalled Dusknoir back into his Poke Ball and decided on her next Pokemon. "But you're forgetting I've been taught by Ash! I'm not a slouch either! Go for it, Rapidash! Use Flame Charge!"
From the Poke Ball, a bright light emerged and from it, Alpha Rapidash made her appearance.
"Right." Sci-Twi was a bit embarrassed by her attitude, thinking she was just getting cocky. She recalled Dusknoir back into his Poke Ball and decided on her next Pokemon. "But you're forgetting I've been taught by Ash! I'm not a slouch either! Go for it, Rapidash!"
From the Poke Ball, a bright light emerged and from it, Alpha Rapidash made her appearance.
"Rapidash!" She reared her head, releasing a powerful neigh. The two Fire-Types stared at each other, knowing that this battle would test their friendship. The way it was playing out, this friendship was beginning to crack.
"Alright, Volcarona! Fly in with Fiery Dance!"
"Rapidash, use Dragon Pulse!"
"Dash!" Thanks to his unique status, Rapidash tapped into Dragon Pulse, shooting a powerful beam of draconic energy that formed into the shape of a dragon. It met with the fiery Volcarona, exploding upon contact and causing a massive smoke cloud. Volcarona went flying through the smoke, having his flames dwindle.
"Now, Rapidash! High Horsepower! Finish him off!"
"Rrrr!" With a mighty cry, Rapidash charged straight into Volcarona through the smoke at high speeds, bashing her head and horn directly at him. Volcarona staggered from the blow as a shockwave sent him back, causing the Sun Pokemon to bounce on the ground for a while before landing.
"Volcarona..." Volcarona had fainted.
"You were saying?" Sci-Twi smirked, looking at her. Sunset simply glared back at her, rolling her eyes and returning Volcarona to his Poke Ball.
"Don't get cocky." She held out her next Poke Ball. "This isn't over just yet. I can get ahead of you, no doubt about that. Go, Pyroar! Show her the strength of a true leader!"
"Pyroar!" Sunset Shimmer's Pyroar would emerge from his Poke Ball, standing proudly as he looked at Rapidash. His mane would flow elegantly in the wind with flames spurting out of them.
Now, both trainers were down to two Pokemon each. The fact that they agreed to use only three Pokemon made this battle all the more intense. Things were heating up and Volo simply watched the entire thing with a straight face. But occassionally, he let out a smirk.
"Hm." The man from the past watched the two girls fight, seeing the anger and frustration in their faces. He had no qualms with what was happening. Not one bit. He did seem to look at Sci-Twi more than Sunset Shimmer.
"They say a true friend would never turn their back on you. Even if their opinion differed, they'd be able to reach an agreement. But look at the two of them. It seems their bond isn't as strong as I thought. Perhaps Sunset Shimmer's words hold some truth after all." He thought to himself.
"Pyroar, use Flamethrower!"
"Rapidash! Dragon Pulse!"
"Py...Roar!" The Royal Pokemon unleashed a fierce stream of fire while Rapidash used Dragon Pulse. The two attacks collided, creating a powerful impact. Neither were pulling back, giving it their all. The power behind their attacks was quite remarkable, showing how strong their bond was.
The force of the collision even caused one of them to slide back. In this case, Sci-Twi. Her body would slide back a bit frmo the collision, covering her face. "Go in, Rapidash! High Horsepower!"
"Dash!" Stomping her feet on the ground, Rapidash would envelop her body in an orange light before rushing in, approaching her fellow Fire-Type.
"Meet it with Acrobatics, Pyroar!"
"Py!" In an instant, the lion was gone, zipping around Rapidash. But Rapidash, being a speed demon naturally, would also start zipping around Pyroar, meeting his movements. The two Pokemon would constantly disappear and appear in the blink of an eye, making it impossible to track where they were going.
The two Pokemon them butted heads in a flash, pushing each other back. Afterwards, they would dash around the battlefield, meeting each other with incredible speed. Each clash generated a shockwave, causing the winds to blow wildly. Rapidash and Pyroar slid back upon colliding with each other, however, with unbridled tenacity, Pyroar rushed back in a flash, meeting with Rapidash and tackling her face.
"Rapidash!" Rapidash neighed , sliding back from the initial blow, only to gaze back at Pyroar with an intensive glare. Pyroar was coming back for another Acrobatics, planning to put on the pressure. However, when anoter strike from the Lion Pokemon came in, the Fire Horse Pokemon would sway her body to the side, narrowly dodging the attack.
"Now, Rapidash! Kick him!"
"Dash!" Finding an opening, Rapidash would strike Pyroar's body with her hind legs, dealing super-effective damage by channelling High Horsepower. It was so effective that Pyroar was thrown all the way to Sunset Shimmer's feet. He managed to recover, jumping back and glaring back at his opponent.
"Tch." Sunset scoffed with a bit of irritation on her face. "Flamethrower!"
"Roaaaar!" Pyroar released another stream of flames from his mouth, stronger than the last one as it ate up all the rubble in the area, moving like an out-of-control train.
"Rapidash, Dragon Pulse!"
"Dash!" Another Dragon Pulse was fired from Rapidash, colliding with the flames and cancelling them out. This was a perfect chance for the Fire Horse Pokemon. She would run in, cloaking her body in an orange glow. She was about to finish Pyroar off, charging right into him.
"Pyroar! Jump over her!" Sunset commanded.
"Py!" Pyroar jumped up, managing to leap over the attack. He was about to land, but suddenly, his trainer had a different idea right when the iron was hot. "Wait, Pyroar! Bite her horn!"
"?!" Sunset's command shocked both Sci-Twi and Rapidash, seeing the lion go down and latch his teeth onto Rapidash's horn.
"Dash?!" She was taken aback, trying to shake him off. But his grip was strong and now, the two Pokemon were locked together.
"Rapidash! What's wrong?!"
"Roar!" Pyroar cried out, his mouth still on Rapidash's horn.
"Rapidash! Don't fall for his trick! You can still win this! Use High Horsepower and toss him away!"
"Dash!" Rapidash cloaked her entire body with orange light, kicking the Lion Pokemon as hard as she could with her hind legs. Unfortunately for Pyroar, his body was large enough to leave the rest of him vulnerable even when latching onto Rapidash's horn. She was able to send Pyroar flying all the way into the air, having him fly up high.
Pyroar was airborne, floating through the air but not completely off balance. He managed to catch himself, landing on his feet, not far from his trainer. The fight wasn't over just yet.
"Flamethrower! Up close and personal! Make sure she doesn't see it coming!" Sunset ordered.
"Pyroar!" Pyroar rushed in, unleashing a Flamethrower that was point blank range. As if Rapidash and Sci-Twi were going to let that casually happen.
"Flare Blitz, Rapidash! Charge right through it!"
"Rapidash!" She cloaked her body in a veil of fire, running in and meeting with Pyroar's Flamethrower. The scarlet stream of Pyroar's Flamethrower flew out, meeting with the burning Rapidash, engulfing the two in an explosive collision. The two Pokemon were in the midst of the blast, neither holding back. Sci-Twi gasped as the pressure of the explosion sent her back yet again. This time, she ended up falling on her back.
"Agh...!" She screeched when falling on her back, the many pieces of rubble flying past her.
"Twilight!" Sunset cried, seeing her friend get up. But that was not important. The important thing was that the fight was not over.
The flames dispersed, revealing Pyroar and Rapidash in the centre. Both slid back, somehow still active and able to battle. The two Fire-Types drive to win was as hot as their flames, but they also understood the circumstances of this all.
"Ngh...!" Sci-Twi groaned, getting on her knees to help herself back up. "Not yet. We're not done here, Sunset."
"You're starting to irritate me, Twilight..." Sunset clenched her hands, her irritation rising. "Look at you! You're doing all of this for him?! You're gonna risk our friendship for Volo?!"
"I'm not riskng our friendship!" She got back up. "I'm doing this so we can have an understanding. Just give Volo a chance and maybe...just maybe...you can trust him. Just like I trust you."
"Twilight...We can have that understanding without having to throw a Pokemon Battle, you know!"
"You wouldn't listen! And just like before when we first met, the only way we can really talk is by battling! Just like what happened at the Friendship Games! We had to battle and then, we were able to understand each other better. Right now, we're no different."
"..." Hearing those words, Sunset would recall the day she fought her. When she was her enemy and they had competed at the Friendship Games when Sci-Twi was still from another school. In a way, this was a strong repeat of the past. While the circumstances were different, it all felt so familiar. "It doesn't have to be like before. But...if that's what you think, so be it! Let's finish Rapidash off, Pyroar! Hyper Voice!"
"Py...ROAR!" From his mouth, Pyroar unleashed a loud and powerful roar that generated a soundwave. It picked up the rubble, crushing some of them while being wide enough to encompass the entirety of Rapidash.
"I am not losing this! Rapidash, Dragon Pulse!" Sci-Twi had her partner release her strongest attack, aiming at the approaching soundwave. The Dragon Pulse emerged at a size large enough to compete with the Hyper Voice, colliding with the roar. The fangs of the Dragon and its claws would grab the soundwave, pulling it apart. The Dragon Pulse was begininng to power through the Hyper Voice, forcing Pyroar to use more strength to power his Hyper Voice.
The force of their clash was so great that they were actually beginning to trigger the fearsome winds of Ventstone Pass. Usually, this area would be safe since it had weak winds, but thanks to this battle, the winds were picking up, generating from their clash.
"Push through, Pyroar! Louder! Louder!"
"Rapidash, don't let him push you back! Harder!"
Both trainers and Pokemon were giving it their all, refusing to give in. The ground below would start to crack, feeling the immense pressure of the Hyper Voice and the Dragon Pulse. Just then, the Dragon Pulse, with all of its might would throw the Hyper Voice into the air, causing it to miss, but the Dragon Pulse would just fade away right afterwards.
"Are you kidding me?!" Sunset growled. "Acrobatics! Go!"
Pyroar became a blur ocne more, trying to outspeed Rapidash in her own game. Rapidash took some deep breaths, only to have one of them interrupted by Pyroar striking her. "D-Dash!" Rapidash neighed in pain before being hit by another strike from Pyroar's swift movements.
"Rapidash!"
"Hang in there, girl! Flare Blitz, now! Finish him!"
"Dash!" With an intense flame around her, Rapidash tackled the Lion Pokemon, throwing him away. Pyroar recovered by digging his paws deep into the ground, still being active in this blazing battle.
"You're actually getting on my nerves here, Twilight! If you won't listen, then I'll make you! Use Flamethrower, Pyroar!"
"Roar!" From Pyroar's mouth, the flamethrower was fired.
"You wish! Rapidash, kick the rubble up! Create a wall!"
"Rapidash!" Rapidash cloaked her body once again, this time with an orange veil and kicked the rocks that Pyroar's Hyper Voice made. The rubble was lifted off the ground and in an instant, the flames would crash into the pile of rubble, causing it to combust into flames.
"Hm. Carlita was it? Are you sure these two are friends? The way they're battling, it looks like they hate each other. That's not friendship. That's rivalry. And not a healthy one at that." Volo spoke, having the girl stand next to him.
"Don't talk so casually. This is all your fault, ya know." Carlita looked at him. "Fighting over you is bringing out the worst in them. And I don't know if we can help them through this. I can see why Sunset Shimmer wanted Twilight to come back home with her."
"Hah...Hah..." Both Twilight and Sunset started panting, trying to catch their breath.
"This is getting ridiculous." Sunset muttered, having her head hang low. "Why won't you just listen to me?!"
"I could say the same about you." Sci-Twi was visibly tired, trying to stand her ground. "If you never hid this from me, maybe this wouldn't be happening. Do the others know?"
"T-They do. I told them a day after my battle with Volo. And-"
"So you told them before you told me?! How long were you going to hide it, Sunset?! I can't believe you!" Sci-Twi was gutted by what she heard, shaking her head. "Hiding all of that from me...That's the worst!"
"You're being just as stubborn here!" Sunset held her arm, gripping it tightly. "We've all been through a lot. A whole lot! We're supposed to trust each other, no matter what. You're just being stubborn and that's the last thing we need."
Their emotions were burning bright as their Pokemon's flames. But not only that, something within them was beginning to emerge. In unison, Sunset and Twilight's eyes would both flash with magic. The flare of Flames and the Flare of a Sparkle appeared in both of their eyes, signifying that their magic was emerging. And this time, the reason was quite clear. Much like their first encounter at the Friendship Games, Sci-Twi was summoning her alter-ego. Her dark variant to be exact. Midnight Sparkle.
As for Sunset Shimmer, her alter-ego, Daydream Shimmer was also beginning to arise, being summoned by Sunset's anger. Their alter-egos appeared behind them as towering figures, having ethereal forms, essentially becoming avatars instead of fully manifesting and becoming them. Daydream Shimmer was not a being that associated with anger at all, but this battle changed that. In fact, the appearance of Daydream Shimmer, while much like how she previously appeared, was slightly different.
Much like when Sunset Shimmer became a demon, this version of Daydream Shimmer looked like it was borrowing elements from Demon Shimmer. Her hair was a bit longer and she had a darker hue to her. Even her eyes were red. It was a sight to see.
"Well now, what's this?" This was Volo's first time seeing these forms, albeit as avatars.
"Go, Rapidash! Flare Blitz, full power! Take him down!"
"Pyroar! Stop her with Flamethrower!"
Their last command, both Rapidash and Pyroar charged at each other, cloaking their bodies in flames. They would collide, creating a devastating explosion and a huge wave of pressure. The impact was so strong that the flames pushed the winds of Ventstone Pass back.
The two avatars protected them, having a powerful magical field that would block the pressure, preventing them from being harmed. But the girls were unaware of what was happening to them. They were just too caught up in their rage and anger to even notice.
As the smoke cleared, it was revealed that both of their Pokemon had fainted. The fight was finally over, with both sides coming out of it tired and exhausted. Neither side could muster the strength to send out their next Pokemon, so the battle was considered a draw.
"Both sides are unable to battle. Maybe we should call it a day, you two." Carlita suggested, not wanting this to continue any further.
"No." Sunset Shimmer said. "We're not done yet. Twilight."
"Mmrgh." Sci-Twi grumbled, her glasses being crooked as she was hunched over, her hand on her knee. "Let's finish this, Sunset. This is one battle I refuse to lose."
"And neither am I." Sunset would glance at Delphox, knowing what she had to do. Delphox's face was one of worry, fearful of what was happening. She was hesitant to battle, knowing this was getting out of control fast. "Come on, Delphox!" The tone in her voice was drastically different. The voice of her alter-ego was leaking through, showing how angry she was.
"D-Delphox!" Delphox stuttered, her face filled with dread. In the end, she stepped forward, ready to battle.
"I need one you to battle for me!" Sci-Twi faced her Pokemon. Pikachu, Kirlia, Machoke and Zorua all received a fierce glare from their trainer, intimidated by what they were seeing, especially Zorua, who would hide in Sci-Twi's bag.
"Pika..." Pikachu was frightened, holding onto his tail.
"Kirlia..." Kirlia had her hands on her face, trembling in fear.
"Come on! Don't tell me you're all afraid to battle all of a sudden?!" The voice of Midnight Sparkle came through, her anger and rage leaking through. She was furious.
"K-Kirlia." Kirlia would be the one to step forward, wanting this to be over. Initially, Pikachu was planning to step forward and if not him, Sci-Twi would grabbed another Poke Ball. But Kirlia, despite being afraid, stepped forward. She was the only one brave enough.
"Pika?!" Pikachu was shocked that Kirlia would step up since he was actually planning to take this pot.
"Lia." Kirlia looked back at Pikachu, seeing his worried face. The Psychic-Fairy Pokemon knew that this was a battle that would put a strain on her trainer's bond with Sunset Shimmer to the point where it might be ruined forever. So she wanted to fix it.
"Good girl. Let's get this over with, Kirlia." The voice of Midnight Sparkle would fade, leaving just Sci-Twi's normal tone.
"Delphox. Make sure that Kirlia is taken care of. Understand?"
"Del." Delphox nodded her head, preparing herself. The two Psychic-Types looked at each other with undestanding in their eyes. They felt rather powerless as the magical aura coming from their trainers was stupendous and intimidating.
"Kirlia! Bombard her with Dazzling Gleam! Don't hold back!"
"Lia!" Kirlia's body began to glow a beautiful, rainbow colour. She released a series of sparkling lights from her body, aiming straight at Delphox.
"Delphox! Counter them with Psychic! Push those beams back!"
"Fox!" Delphox held her staff, generating a blue aura that would push back the Dazzling Gleam's attacks. The Psychic Pokemon was pushing the rainbow-coloured beam back, using more strength to overwhelm the light.
"Keep it up! Pressure her, Kirlia!"
"Kirlia!" Kirlia focused all her energy into her beams, trying to push through. The battlefield was now littered with flying streams of rainbows that might at lightspeeds. These beams would be relentless, trying to overwhelm Delphox.
"Del!" Delphox was no slouch, able to keep up as she effortlessly waved her wand, firing her Psychic at the rainbow beams. They clashed, resulting in a devastating blast. However, Kirlia's attack was slowly gaining the advantage.
"Not good enough! Delphox! Focus and use Dazzling Gleam yourself! Overwhelm her!"
"Delphox!" The flames on her wrists would begin to grow, forming into a giant, flaming aura. Afterwards, a large, flaming ray would be released from her hat and wrists, flying towards the beams before gaining a rainbow-like energy around it. Kirlia gasped at the attack coming her way, quickly ramping up her own Dazzling Gleam in an attempt to block.
"Lia! Lia! Lia!" Her cries were loud, unleashing a larger and more powerful beam of her own, hoping it would be enough to stop the incoming attack.
"Urgh! This is pointless!" Twilight groaned. "Use Psyshock! Take her down!"
"Kir!" Kirlia would then ascend, using levitation to move through the air as she generated three thick masses of Psychic Energy. Two on her hands and one above her head. "Kirlia!" In an instant, she fired the Psyshocks, aiming straight for Delphox.
"Destroy them, Delphox! Solar Beam! Fully charged!"
"Del!" With a simple point of her staff, she gathered enough solar energy in a single instant. Her body began to glow a brilliant green, her eyes closing and her mouth opening wide. Daydream Shimmer would then raise her arms, affecting the weather itself thanks to the magical pressure she was emitting. This allowed Solar Beam to instantly charge up.
"DELPHOX!" The Fire Fox Pokemon would roar, her Solar Beam firing from her mouth. It was large and powerful, obliterating the Psyshocks with ease. The Solar Beam then made a direct hit, engulfing Kirlia in the devastating power of the sun.
"Kiiiiiirrrl!" Kirlia cried as the Solar Beam was too much for her, pushing her back as the explosion sent her flying.
"This is where I end it! Don't give a her a chance to rest! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Del!" Delphox's body glowed a rainbow color once more, sending a barrage of rainbow rays while Kirlia was flying through the air.
"I told you! This is a battle I refuse to lose!" Sci-Twi roared. "Kirlia! Mystical Fire! Burn them away!"
"Kirl!" From her body, she summoned a small ball of fire that would expand and engulf her body. She would then create a ring of fire around herself, protecting her. Once she stopped, she would aim her ring of fire at the incoming rays, setting them alight and turning them into flames. The Mystical Fire burned away the Dazzling Gleam.
"No way!" Sunset was in disbelief, seeing the attack go right through her own.
"You won't defeat me that way, Sunset!" More of Midnight Sparkle was leaking through as seen by her grin and the way she leaned forward. Her hands were even forming into a claw shape, showing signs of her losing it. "Get all up in her face and scorch her! Mystical Fire!"
"Kir!" In a flash, Kirlia had teleported away. This caused Sunset to look around frantically, wondering where she went.
"She's gone?!"
In another flash, Kirlia reappeared right in front of Delphox, startling her. Delphox looked down, seeing a flaring energy glowing across her entire body as Kirlia was going straight for her chest.
"Kirlia! Don't hold back! Finish her at once!"
"Liaaaaaaaa!" Kirlia unleashed the fire within her body, pushing her attack against Delphox.
"De-" Delphox couldn't even let out a scream, feeling her chest get burned by the Mystical Fire. The flames roared out, engulfing the Delphox, throwing her back as the sheer force of the blow was pushing her.
"This is my chance! Delphox! Flamethrower!"
"Phooooxxx!" The Fox Pokemon roared, breathing out a powerful stream of fire. The flames would engulf Kirlia and cause a massive explosion, but Kirlia managed to use Psychic, preventing herself from being sent flying. Due to this devastating clash, a strong tornado would arise from Ventstone Pass, growing in a matter of seconds.
The winds were so strong that they even started picking up the debris, creating a powerful vortex of wind and rock. The earthly structures were being ripped off thanks to the pressure, even some of the grass and the soil were being sucked up into the tornado.
A huge rock from the tall structures would fall from above, heading straight for Sci-Twi and Sunset Shimmer, threatening to crush them. Carlita and the others all gasped upon seeing this garganutan rock that could easily end this battle for good. However, the sheer magical auras of Sunset and Sci-Twi were pushing against the tornado, even preventing the large boulder from reaching them.
Volo's eyes widened as he saw their magical auras absolutely crush the boulder with ease, shattering it into dust. Such power from such a heated clash that was testing their friendship.
"Twilight!" Sunset yelled, her hand easily removing the smoke around her.
"Sunset!" Twilight would clear all the debris as the ground beneath them continued to open up. Both of them had their eyes and arms covered with the traits of their alter-egos as they were gradually becoming them.
"This is where I finish it once and for all! Kirlia! Psyshock!"
"Delphox! Use Psychic! End this now! We can't let her win!"
"Kir!"
"Del!"
As the vortex continued to grow and the wind became more violent, Kirlia and Delphox would collectively raise their arms, summoning their respective powers. Storms of Psychic Energy emerged around their hands, combining and turning into one. So much Psychic power in one spot as the magical auras were in tune with such ferocity.
"Finish her!" Together, Twilight and Sunset bellowed the same commands, serious about their victory.
In unison, Kirlia and Delphox unleashed their attacks against each other, creating a devastating impact. Their powers collided, resulting in a massive Psychic explosion. The vortex of winds would grow to the size of a mountain, having all of the rocks, dirt and grass swirling around in a dangerous fashion. The wind was so intense, it was threatening to throw anyone and anything up into the air.
The avatars of Midnight Sparkle and Daydream Shimmer had a powerful aura around them, keeping them safe. And speaking of the avatars, they suddenly had their eyes wide open, staring at each other.
"..." The avatar of Daydream Shimmer looked straight in the eyes of Midnight Sparkle's avatar.
"..." Midnight Sparkle's avatar returned the look, glaring back at her.
As the smoke and dust cleared, with the thunderous psychic sounds dying out, both Kirla and Delphox had fainted, falling to their knees. The battle between their trainers was a draw, resulting in a standstill. But in terms of how their friendship was doing, it was not. It was crumbling apart.
"Ugh..." Sci-Twi was struggling to stay up, using her knees as support.
"Ngh...!" Sunset was leaning forward, trying to keep her balance.
"They're done, Twilight! Give up already! You're making a fool of yourself!"
"You're the one making a fool of yourself, Sunset!" She retorted. "Don't you think you're overreacting here? If you had just listened to me, maybe we could've found another way to get through this. Instead, you've been hiding things from me and I didn't hear it from you. That hurts more than this stupid fight."
"If you had just trusted me! Trusted me with Volo and everything else! The second he came into our lives, it's like all of we've been through doesn't matter anymore!"
"You're one to talk about trust! You never said a word to us from the start! You're acting just like a villain."
"I'm the villain?! That's rich!" Sunset scowled. In response to this arguement, their alter-egos would sparkle and shimmer even brighter than before.
"Sunset! Twilight! Come on! Stop this already! Your Pokemon are worn out and you two are still bickering like a bunch of children." Carlita begged, trying to break through their rage. The second she stepped forward, the ground below started to open up some more. Carlita gasped as the two alter-egos would then fly at each other, creating a fierce shockwave that blew the girl away, having her fly through the air. Thankfully, Volo would catch her.
The two avatars would go at it as this battle was not yet over. Them tieing only fueled the conflict further and their alter-egos, especially Midnight Sparkle, would gladly battle some more.
"You're so frustrating!" Sunset shouted.
"Right back at ya!" Twilight shouted back.
"What is going on here?!" Carlita shouted, her face filled with concern and fear. She couldn't believe this. Energy whips from the clash would fly across the air, crackling and slashing the cliffs of this mountain pass.
"This is quite something. Hmhmhm..." Volo chuckled. "These two. Their bond is certainly strong. It's a shame. A real shame. They've gone too far and now, it's up to their alter-egos."
"I've been waiting for a rematch! You caught me by surprise the last time, Daydream!" Midnight grinned. "I can get my revenge and finish what I started! This time, Friendship won't save you!"
"Keep dreaming! I can take you on without my friends, Midnight!" Daydream would fire a magical ray at her opponent, forcing the dark variant to dodge. She would fire back with her own magical ray.
"I see. They're fighting their inner darknesses. Their alter-egos represent their worst aspects, which is why they're battling each other. But what's the point if they're only doing this out of rage and anger?" Volo commented before whistling. "My, my. This is certainly interesting. But this should be the right place to stop it."
"How are we gonna stop this?!" Carlita screeched while watching these two titans clash, sending magical flashes that were almost blinding.
"I'll handle this." Dropping his bag, Volo did have something that could put an end to this magical clash. He's collected many of them across Equestria after all and among one of them, was a gemstone that resembled a rainbow. After grabbing it, Volo, without wasting any time, raised into the air.
The gemstone reacted to this clash, letting out a sparkling light that would shine brighter and brighter, eclipsing his body, Carlita and everyone else here. The two avatars were about to shove two large magical spheres at each other for a devastating blow, but right before it could go off, the light from the rainbow eclipsed them as well.
The two avatars screeched once this light met with their bodies, the energy shooting into the sky to the point where it pierced the clouds themselves. Afterwards, the light would shoot downwards, dispersing and clearing the area, calming down the howling energy that was formed from this battle.
As the light faded, the effect that this item pulled off brought a rather shocking result. There, Sci-Twi and Sunset were laying on the ground, worn out and exhausted. However, standing above them, in physical form too, were their alter-egos. Surprisingly, they had been seperated from the bodies of their owners, but they weren't happy at all.
The two girls had their eyes wide open, seeing their alter-egos towering over them, having their eyes filled with malice and disdain. It was almost as if the girls were seeing the dark sides of themselves.
"Huh?" Midnight Sparkle was surprised, looking at her hands and seeing that she was out of her Sci-Twi's body. Even Daydream Shimmer was blown back by it, not expecting to be separated from Sunset Shimmer's body either. "What? How did we...?"
"What's the meaning of this, Volo?!" Daydream Shimmer growled, glaring at the man.
"It seems my little item was able to seperate the two of you from your vessels." He would say, having the gemstone glow a rainbow color before returning to its original state. "To be honest, I was just hoping to calm you two down and end this but...this was the last result I was expecting."
"So...We're our own individuals beings now, huh?" Midnight Sparkle would say. "Whatever. It makes no difference to me. As long as I have this body, I can do as I please." She would ascend, deciding to leave here. "I don't have to worry about being stuck in an endless space forever. I can do whatever I want! Many thanks, Volo, dear!" With a maniacal laughter, she would fly off, being as free as she could be.
"Hey! Get back here! This isn't over between us!" Daydream yelled as her anger was getting the better of her. She also took off, flying off in a completely different direction. Very soon, the two alter-egos vanished into the distance.
"Ugh..." Sci-Twi stood up, her glasses off and completely broken from the event. Helping her up was Volo, who would give her back her bag. "Volo?"
"That part was my bad. I didn't think they'd split from your body." Volo admitted. "Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah..."
"Good." He looked at Sunset, who was still laying on the ground. "It's a shame what happened here. But at least this is over. Let's head back and call it a day already."
"...I'm not going back." Sci-Twi dropped a bombshell, surprising Sunset Shimmer, Carlita and even Volo.
"What?!" Sunset bellowed, groaning while getting back up.
"Why not, Twilight?" Carlita asked, concerned about her.
"I've decided." The girl would grab her bag. "I'm going to follow Volo from now. I can't go back now. Not after this. I can't face the others now. Not when my anger is still flaring."
"Are you serious?!" Sunset roared. "This is because of Volo, isn't it?! If it wasn't for him-"
"You'd still be hiding everything from me!" Twilight glared, stll distrustful of Sunset. "I'm going with Volo. We made a promise to each other last night. To find all the shards and reach Arceus. I wanted to do it with you and the others, because you're my friends. But now, I'll be going on my own. Don't worry, I'll find them and help Volo, so he can return home."
"Twilight! You can't do this!"
"Watch me. And when I'm done, I'll be back and everything will be normal." She turned away, walking with Volo. "Let's go, Volo."
"If that's what you want, then fine. Let's go." The man walked with her, having them vanish into the distance, leaving Sunset and Carlita all by themselves.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Sunset screamed, punching the ground. She would continuously strike it out of pure frustration. The most frustrated she's ever been. She completely lost and felt incredibly powerless to do anything about it. And due to all of this pent-up energy, Sunset would faint, passing out.
"Oh, no. Sunset!" Carlita gasped, rushing to her side. The girl would be cradled by Carlita, holding her close.
"Why...? Why didn't she listen...?" Her last words before she was down for the count. On this day, a friendship was greatly shattered. It was hard to tell if it hadn't come to an end, but one thing was for sure. Things would not be the same anymore.
Nearing the arrival of Summer too, Twilight would not be there for the last days of the school semester. None of her friends would be seeing her. And as another large consequence, Volo was able to separate Midnight Sparkle and Daydream Shimmer from their hosts, creating an unintended result. The two alter-egos are free and able to wreak havoc across Equestria. What will happen now that they're their own entities?
Much like Nightmare Moon and to some extent, Daybreaker.
After a heated battle between two friends, Sci-Twi had officially gone with Volo. Not just to continue finding the shards with him, but distancing herself from her home, confirming that she wouldn't be showing up tomorrow for school or even for when Summer Vacation arrives.
"Ash?" Sunset woke up to see the face of Ash. She had been brought to the Castelia's Hospital to be looked after, being given a private room to rest.
"Awesome, you're awake." Ash sighed in relief. "How are you feeling, Sunset?"
"Ugh...Totally horrible." She grumbled.
"Well, the doctor did say you're suffering from mental and physical exhaustion." Ash recalled. "She did mention that the emotional toll from the fight with Sci-Twi contributed to your collapse. And with the way you were hitting the ground, your hands were starting to bruise. Carlita told us everything that happened."
"Right...What happened at Ventstone Pass. Volo..." She gripped the bed sheets, clenching her teeth. "He went with her. I can't believe it. After all of that...she went with him. Ugh, she's so stubborn."
"Sunset."
"I just don't get it, Ash. I thought our friendship was stronger than that. I didn't mean to hide it all from her, but I didn't know how to tell her. And the more I hid it, the more it was difficult to come out and say it. Why didn't I just say anything from the start?"
"You don't have to beat yourself up too much about it." Entering the room was Lena Ketchum. Upon arriving, Sunset was shocked to see someone else who strongly resembled Ash. "It's Volo's speciality.
"W-Who are you?" Sunset gasped, leaning back at the sight of Lena.
"Apparently, this is Ash's far-far ancestor." Carlita explained. "She's also from the past, just like Volo. But she's been through time twice."
"T-Twice?!"
"I come from a time before Volo. Centuries upon centuries ago is where I'm from. I was sent forward through time, ending up in the same era as Volo. And for a second time, I was sent to this era." Lena broke it down easily. "I've had a bit of experience with the man myself when I showed up a Hisui. Something like this has happened before.
"It has?" Sunset blinked.
"Well, not in this scenario. Volo and I were close. Very close. I even had feelings for him. He had some feelings for me too. But his quest to find Arceus drove him mad to the point where I didn't recognize him."
"And Twilight's with that guy...? She sounded lik she was obsessed with finding Arceus too. If I had told her sooner, she wouldn't have joined him. It's all my fault."
Beating herself up for it, Sunset also had to wonder about Midnight Sparkle and Daydream Shimmer, who were now their own beings. She saw the two of them fly off in to the distance, doing-who-knows-what.
"I wish I got there sooner. When we were trying to find you, this one place called Blizzard Ridge got messed up by a strong snowstorm. All the Pokemon there needed our help, so we couldn't show up right away." Ash revealed. "Sorry we were late."
"Don't apologize. It's not like you knew any of this was gonna happen." Sunset looked down, absolutely gutted and unsure of how to take all of this.
"I swear, we'll find Volo and get Twilight back." Ash put his hand on her shoulder, wanting her to know that everything will be okay. "No way we're gonna let them leave our sights, alright?"
"You can't even contact her anymore, Ash." Carlita approached him. "Your phone keeps getting disrupted when you try calling her, so how are you gonna find them?"
"I found you guys thanks to Pinkie Pie helping me out. Her Slurpuff tracked Twilight's scent. Even if she's with Volo, we can always find her because of that." That was the biggest positive in all of this. The Slurpuff and their powerful sense of smell was truly a trump card in so many situations when trying to reach someone. This was no different.
"Hm." Lena smiled when hearing his descendant's words. "This isn't exactly what I expected when I finally met you, Ash. To be honest, I thought we'd spend some time together as a family. Even if it was brief, my mission comes before everything else it seems."
"Yeah. That happens a lot around here." said Ash when facing his ancestor. "But it's fine. We'll get that chance. First, I gotta focus on finding Twilight more than anything right now. If they're looking for the shards, then they're gonna be all over the place."
"Then let's go, Ash." Sunset stood up, wanting to do the same.
"Woah, hold on. You need to rest, Sunset." Ash tried to stop her. "Just for a bt, alright? Until you feel better. If you ask me, you should head home and get some strength back there. I'll take care of it from here."
"A-Alright."
"And talk to the others back home," Carlita added. "I know they're worried about you and Twilight."
"Okay. I will. I promise." Sunset said, getting up.
"Now!" Ash put his fist in his palm. "I'm not wasting any time here. If that's what Volo's deal is all about, then I'm game. We're going after him, but we'll be travelling in a different way.
"A different way?" Lena tilted her head while Carlita already knew what Ash was suggesting.
"Yeah. We're going by Sea." Ash grinned. "I can ask the Sea Temple to carry us across the seas while we track them down. And hey, we might even find some shards along the way."
"But aren't you like the King of the Sea? Why do you need to ask?" Carlita nudged Ash, stating the obvious authority that he had in all of this.
"But it's nice to ask." For Ash, it was just good manners.
"Alright. Then I'm coming with you." Lena stepped forward. "I have a score to settle with Volo myself. And I suppose...this'll be another way for us to bond as a family, right Ash?"
"Sounds good to me." Ash gave a thumbs-up. "But before we go, there's something I gotta finish at Alola first." Before they could all set out to sea, Ash had one final thing to take care of back at the Alola Region.
Alola. Melemele Island. Hau'oli City. Afternoon.
Back at Alola, its first-ever film was nearing completion as the people here was truly having the time of their lives, getting to dabble in PokeStar Studios. By this point, the film was in its final stage with just a few things left to tackle. And once Ash returned, he spoke of what he was about to do next after this.
"Really? You'll be going on Sea?" Mallow spoke, sitting on a rock.
"Yeah. We're gonna search the entire world if we have to. We'll be going by Sea to cover more ground and find Volo and Twilight." Ash would say, standing next to his Pokemon.
"Ash is leaving so soon?" Yona, the star of this film, would approach him. "She was hoping he'd stay around longer. Even longer than this."
"It's alright, Yona. We're nearly done with the movie and I came here to finish the rest of it with you all." Ash kneeled to get to her level. "You'll still see the movie to the end with me."
"Aw! But Yona invited friends over for extra parts!"
"Friends?" Ash repeated. It seems that despite the movie nearing its end, Yona wanted some of her friends to join. And those specific friends were none other than the other students from the Pokemon School. Ash looked ahead to see that Smolder, Sandbar, Gallus and Ocellus were here at Alola as well. However, there was no sign of Silverstream. "Oh, you're here too?"
"Heeey." Smolder waved, her eyes half-lidded. "Yona invited us over and I knew we had to come over! I missed out on the trip to PokeStar Studios last time. I was too busy getting dre-" She paused, not wanting to expose herself. "Finding the right costume. Not gonna miss out on it this time."
"And the movie is pretty much almost done." Sandbar said. "It didn't seem like a bad idea to show up for the last moments. Yona said she wanted us to have a cameo here."
"Yona did want friends to appear. So Yona invited all her friends! Except for Silverstream, though." The girl revealed that the Hippogriff was nowhere to be seen. "Silverstream is still stuck at her place."
"Oh, right, because of the Dragon and Fairy Matter. But how come you showed up Gallus? Is your place safe now?" Ash glanced at Gallus.
"No way!" Gallus scoffed. "I had to sneak out even with the terrain being messed up. And I didn't want to miss this either. If I'm getting a cameo, I'll make it count. I'll be on screen as long as I can!"
"I'm not sure that's what a cameo is..." Ocellus silently said, not wanting to burst his bubble.
"I should maybe give you all detention for sneaking out while each of your respective homes are trying to minimise any harm." Princess Twilight, also being the Principal of the Pokemon School, narrowed her eyes at the five of them. "But, I don't want to ruin your fun. Not in this moment."
"Hah..." The students sighed with relief.
"By the way, Ash. If you're going, then we're all going." Twilight faced Ash. "If my counterpart's having trouble, then I'll be there for her. Just like how you're gonna be there for Sunset Shimmer. And that's why you have to let us tag along, right?"
"Yeah, yeah." Rainbow Dash flew over. "After what happened last time, there's no way we're letting you go at this by yourself. We're going together."
"That's right. She's our friend too after all." Rarity agreed.
"Thanks you all. Glad I could count on you. But uh...What about Rayquaza? He's still resting up at your castle, Twilight. You're not gonna leave him there are you?"
"Well uhh...About Rayquaza." Twilight rubbed the back of her ne. "That's a good point. I don't think Spike can take care of him for too long while I'm gone. But, Starlight, Daisy and Paradise will be there to make sure he's kept out of harms way until he's brought back to full strength. I'll send a letter to Paradise telling her. It's a good thing we can do that."
"Good call." Ash nodded.
"Before we leave, we should probably go and speak to Pheromosa, Mew and Kartana one more time." Rarity added. Her Pheromosa, Pinkie Pie's Mew and Twilight's Kartana were still injured and at Unova's Pokemon Center. "Just so we know that they're alright and we'll be off to sea for a little bit."
"Gotcha. Before we do that though..." Ash rubbed his hands. "Let's finish up this movie, everyone!"
"Yeah!" The Pokemon, ponies, yak, dragon and humans cheered, being ready to finish this film.
As the afternoon sun let out its majestic glow across the region, it was a sign of something coming to an end. The movie itself was a wild ride from the start and it was about to get even crazier. Lena watched as the people of Alola, including the students of the Pokemon School, would be working on the film. And even when it was reaching its final moments, she was amazed by the whole ordeal.
"Amazing. I've never seen such technology. This is truly the future..." Lena said with awe. She then saw her descendant running up to her, carrying Yona on his back.
"Hey, Grandma! Come on! Join in!" Ash said with a beaming grin. "Have a part in the movie!"
"Oh! I get to have a part?!" Lena sat up with elated eyes, sharing the same enthusiasm as her descendant. "Wonderful!" Just like that, Lena joined in with the fun, doing her best to give her best performance.
"Wow. They really are alike." Mallow giggled, seeing the two.
"Hahahaha!" Ash and Lena would both be on the set, acting out their roles, Lena only got a cameo but she made the most out of it. Much like her descendant, the two of them would be at their happiest. And for Lena, it was even more special since she was a woman of the past, getting the chance to enjoy all the new things.
And on top of that, Alola felt familiar to Lena. Though she was born in Kanto, the region had a homely feeling to it. She was treated to the warm environment and the sun, making her feel like she was back home at her village. That was how Ash felt when he spent his time in Alola. Just a wonderful feeling. In fact, being here in Alola was able to temper any issues and hardships they encountered. Lena hung out with Burnet and Olivia, spending time with them as they would even start dressing Lena.
Lena wasn't all for dresses, but she didn't mind it. Olivia and Burnet giggled when seeing their friend wearing a beautiful dress.
"Oh my! It looks lovely on you." Olivia commented. "You're a real looker now, Lena!"
"It's a bit tight though...Are all dresses this tight?" Lena questioned.
"Only when they fit you." Olivia chuckled. "You're looking great though. I guess your looks as wonderful through time since you're technically far older than all of us combined."
Yes, it was a wonderful time. And at last, the final part of the film had been completed, bringing it to an end. With the film being finished, all that was to do was send it to the actual PokeStar Studios in Nimbasa City and soon, they would have the video processed and brought back to them.
Once done, Ash stood at the beach, staring into the vast ocean. He could hear the waves crash against the shores and the sound of Wingull and Pelipper chirping above. A calm, serene day that was the perfect atmosphere.
With a smile on his face, he knew that the Sea Temple was coming soon, ready to pick him up and the others who would travel by sea. He did this by placing his hand in the water, letting his Aura flow. This was the only way to call for the Sea Temple and it was perfect since he was the King of the Sea.
In the distance, the Sea Temple could be seen approaching in a flash of light, responding to Ash's Aura. Using the Light Speed mechanism they invented, the Sea Temple would leave its current destination, where it was in the world and minutes later, arrive at Alola, right where Ash was.
The Sea Temple, Samiya. It made quite the splash when arriving at Alola, causing the waters to ripple and even creating a small wave that would move further and further. The people were in awe when seeing this gargantuan structure emerge from the depths.
There it was. Samiya.
Seeing it also brought some peace around the area. And as the Sea Temple emerged for the people of Alola to see and marvel at, taking a peek and keeping their distance were Yona and her fellow students. With the filming done, they could just go home right now and call it a day.
However, something else was on their mind. Only two of them to be exact. Smolder and Gallus mainly. They weren't quite finished yet since they only got brief roles in this movie, appearing as cameos. While they had fun, they were craving something else. And the moment the Sea Temple showed up, an idea was brewing.
Calling for the Sea Temple, Ash witnessed how the structure known as Samiya had arrived, using its light-speed mechanism to leave its previous location. Beckoning it's King's call, it showed up at the beautiful Alola Region for yet another matter of urgency.
"So this is the Sea Temple?" Lana was amazed. "You have this all to yourself, Ash?!
"Not bad..." Kukui commented, having seen the Sea Temple before. He was in awe of its size.
"This is amazing." Burnet gasped.
"It's beautiful." Mallow put her hands on her face, her eyes wide open. The people of Alola chattered and marvelled at the ancient structure before them. Much like what they have in Alola, this was a piece of history appearing before them.
As the water droplets flew through the air, beautifully reflecting off the light of the sun, the two guards at the front of the temple would kneel, welcoming the arrival of the King.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty." Both guards would say, bowing down to Ash.
"Thanks guys." Ash approached, stepping foot on his temple. And once he was at the entrance, here to greet him were his subjects. The People of the Water, also known as the Samiyans. Walking through the gates as always was his Royal Advisor, Alo.
"Oh, Your Majesty." Alo walked out. "Good to see you again as always. Is this another moment of assistance?"
"Hey, Alo. Everyone." Ash looked at the Samiyans. "Yeah, 'm gonna need some help getting around this time, that's all."
"Your Majesty!" Rushing out of the temple was the young girl known as Enola, high with energy as always. Following her were the other young Samiyans as they were met with Alola's Shining Sun. "Guess what, Your Majesty! I found some cool rare rocks today! Look!" She held out her hands, showing him three shiny stones that emanated a unique, mystical glow.
"Ohoo! Never seen these before!" Ash kneeled to get a closer look as he and Pikachu had their eyes light up.
"Afternoon, your Majesty." Walking out was none other than the Sea Temple's Guardian, Safia, who had her hands clasped together. "The temple and its residents are ready to take you across the seas."
"Good to hear, Safia." Ash stood up, turning to face her. "We're heading out as soon as we're ready."
"Let me get a closer look!" Just then, Mallow, Lana and Sophocles approached the Sea Temple, getting a closer look at it. The people of Alola would also come over to explore, taking the time to marvel at this ancient temple.
Not only that, but the People of the Water would walk out, setting foot on land as they felt Alola's hot sands. They've been to Alola before when the Sea Temple was travelling across the world as always, but they've only viewed it from within their temple. Now, they were deciding to step out and explore for a little while.
"So are those Samiyans?" Lana questioned as she and the others looked at the people walking out of the temple. It would be the Samiyans first contact with Alolans other than Ash and his friends. Most of the time, they mainly see other ponies, Pokemon across the world and occassionally humans in other regions but only at Port Towns or beaches. Such as right now with Hau'oli Beach.
"The People of the Water." Kukui spoke. "I've heard stories about them before. To think they actually exist and I'm seeing them right now."
"You already knew Ash was the King of the Sea not too long ago. All that publicity made you aware." Burnet nudged her husband. "And this is what surprises you?"
"I guess..." Kukui chuckled.
"Ah. Alola. This region does remind us of our own Sea Temple." Alo basked in the sunlight, his eyes closed.
"You should try the food here sometime, Alo. It's awesome!" Ash recommended.
"If Your Majesty says so, then I'd love to try it out." Alo chuckled with his beard and moustache wiggling.
"Oh, yeah! You gotta try it." Ash grinned, pointing his thumb at a nearby restaurant. "They make some awesome malasadas here."
"You might be right about the familiarity part, Royal Advisor Alo." Safia spoke when stepping forward. "While not vital or massive, Alola does have some history with Samiya. The Sea Temple itself has visited this region before. But, it was centuries ago. Just days before I was even born."
"D-Did you say centuries?!" Olivia gasped.
"That's correct. Everyone from the Sea Temple, including myself are centuries old. We, the People of the Water once sealed ourselves in our own temple for its safety. More centuries passed and after his majesty showed up to save it, becoming the King of the Sea, our bodies were freed just 10 years later." Safia explained. "Although, I was sealed even before that."
"So this girl is..." Lana looked at Enola plus the other children.
"That's right! I'm your senior!" Enola boasted, putting her hands on her waist. "I'm actually way, way, way older than all of you combined! You're standing in the presence of a senior, so bow down before me, mortals!"
"Don't get carried away, Enola." Her older brother Adriel would palm the top of her head.
"Hoooh...You all look good for your age!" Olivia gawked.
"Oh, stop it!" One of the Samiyans giggled at Olivia's compliment..
"I have to admit, this place has a lot of similarities to our own. But the weather is much hotter." A Samiyan spoke, walking alongside a young Alolan.
"Is that right?" He responded. "You know, you kinda look like my uncle. I have no idea why. It's a weird coincidence."
"You remind me of my son." The Samiyan said, scratching his hair.
"You're got eyebrows just like mine!" An Alolan child said to a Samiyan.
"Hahahaha! Your eyes are just like mine too!" A Samiyan would respond. This would occur for many of the Alolans and Samiyans, sharing resemblances with each other. Each of them would point out how much they resembled one another, even down to their physical features.
It was strange indeed. Some of them even had similar hairstyles, speech patterns, the same way they walk, even down to their voices and accents. Kukui observed all of this along with Twilight as something was brewing in their heads.
"Hm. Do you think some of the people from the Alola are descendants from the Samiyans?" Twilight questioned, thinking the same thing as Kukui.
"I was just about to ask you that." Kukui smirked while responding. "The stories I heard about the Sea Temple are short but one of them involved the Temple appearing here at Alola for one day and one night only. It's said that our own ancestors came across the temple and made an impression but that's all we got."
"Hm. Have I seen this temple before?" Walking over to the Sea Temple was Lena, who was also a relic of the past. While she wasn't centuries old like the Samiyans, she did come from the same era. Seeing the temple was like a blast from the past for her, reminding her of the ancient locations she's visited during her own journey across the world. "Maybe. Maybe not actually."
"Oh! Y-You look just like His Majesty!" Alo would be the first to see Lena, getting a look at her. All the other Samiyans and Alolans would stop talking when seeing the woman who was the spitting image of the King.
"Whoa...Is that his sister?" One of the Samiyans whispered.
"Or his Auntie?" Enola whispered to the others.
"It can't be his mother. We already know who and what his mother looks like." Another Samiyan whispered back.
"This here's my ultra-great and very far ancestor! Grandma Lena!" Ash introduced while Pikachu outstretched his arms to show Lena's resemblance to him.
"Pika!"
"Hello there." Lena waved gently as they all got a better look at her.
"Grandma Lena?!" All the Samiyans repeated, being amazed. Realizing they were standing in the presence of their King's other relative, they would all rush over, stopping what they were doing to pay their respects.
"His Majesty's grandmother? What a pleasure to meet you." Alo bowed to her.
"Please, stand." Lena waved her hands, feeling flustered. "It's no big deal. Really."
"Grandma's helping us long the way. There's one thing I want you all to help me out with. It's my friend, Twilight. The other Twilight, I mean. She's gone with someone named Volo. We don't know where they're going, but we're gonna use the Sea Temple to go looking for her. Can you guys do that for me?"
"Your Majesty. You know that is not a problem. Whatever the issue, we are more than willing to lend you our support. We will find her for you, no matter how far she may be. With the Sea Temple, we can travel the seas at lovable speeds."
"Then let's not waste any time. Everyone, board the Sea Temple. We're leaving as soon as we're ready!" Ash declared, raising his fist while looking back at his pony friends. "Pinkie. Are your Slurpuff doing okay?"
"All 6!" Pinkie's Poke Balls were in her hair. All 6 contained a Slurpuff.
"Great. If we're gonna look for Twilight, we'll need to have a good scent. But before we start searching..Rarity. Pinkie. Twilight. You said you wanted to visit the Pokemon Center, right?"
"Of course! I have to tell Pheromosa as soon as possible and see how she's doing!" Rarity nodded.
"And my Kartana." Twilight agreed. "I hope he's in good spirits as always."
"I really wanna see Mew again!" Pinkie Pie would bounce on the spot, missing her partner.
"I'd say let's stop by there first. We can take a ride on the Sea Temple to reach Unova and see how they're doing." Ash suggested. "Let's get rolling."
With that, the group that would go on this mission would step forward, preparing to enter the Sea Temple. Ash would look back at his friends from Alola as they immediately gave them their farewells and best wishes.
"Best Wishes to you all!" Mallow called.
"Safe travels as always! Make sure you find a Kyogre out there while you're at it!" Lana shouted. "It's a big sea out of the after all and Kyogre's big too!"
"Oh, Kyogre is sometimes with us when needed." Alo casually said, stunning Lana.
"What?!"
"Ash!" Burnet yelled out. "Make sure you come and see our movie when you're done! You might not be there for when it releases but you can still watch it! We'll send you a copy when we're done! Promise!"
"Alright, Burnet. Thanks a lot." Ash waved, heading inside the temple.
"And take care out there!" Kukui added while the little Baby Lei would flail his arms, trying to reach Ash.
"Are you three coming." Before she could fully enter, Lena looked back at Team Rocket, who had not moved an inch. "What are you waiting for? Aren't you three coming with us? We always work together after all.
"R-Right!" Team Rocket, still wearing disguises would stutter, immediately tailing after Lena. That would be extra help on this mission as now Team Rocket would be teaming up with Ash and his group. Not the first time it's happened. It seems that whenever there's something that opposes both of them, they always come together.
The Sea Temple. Samiya.
Sneaking on board were the five students of the Pokemon School. They were doing their best to stay low while moving through the halls. They were lucky enough to have the Sea Temple pass by their homes and with no one looking, the five students managed to sneak in undetected, aiming to do one quick thing.
"If I had known that's what a cameo was, I wouldn't have been in it." Gallus spoke, holding a camera in his grasp. "Even if the film's finished, I wanna have a longer scene."
"Same here." Smolder was of the same mind. "Let's film something in the Sea Temple. That'll make everyone glued to the screen."
"I don't think we should be in here right now." Sandbar spoke. "We can just live with the small cameo we have, can't we?
"And Yona is already the star. Yona has all the screentime." Yona spoke, having her eyes sparkle. "And Yona is grateful for that."
"Bah." Smolder dismissed it. "No way I'm passing up on this opportunity. Just look at this place. It's so huge..."
"Well, if you're gonna film it, make it quick. The Temple might leave at any moment. And the King will probably have us thrown off." Ocellus spoke, looking around and seeing the architecture of the temple. It was all beautiful to see, but she did feel bad for sneaking in here without permission.
"Ash won't throw us off." Gallus scoffed. "Isn't he like really great friends with your Queen? She even has a crush on him. We'll be fine."
"But we are breaking in and filming without permission." Sandbar brought up. "If they catch us, we'll-"
Right on cue, the Temple started moving. As the structure was leaving, it caused the waves to form and crash, making a small wave. All the Alolans would gasp and cheer, happy that the Temple was leaving the shores and heading out. Too late to leave now. The Temple was on the move.
"Oh, man. I knew it." Sandbar sighed, knowing the situation they were in. "Why'd I even follow you all in here!"
"Awesome. Now we can take our time." Gallus said, looking at the bright side. "We might even get more sights this way."
"It won't matter if it's not added into the movie." Smolder crossed her arms, grumbling. "That's a bummer."
"Duh. We could just make a short video." Gallus suggested. "We have the tools for it, right? Just film the sights and maybe we'll get some good stuff to show later."
"We're in so much trouble..." Ocellus ducked her head down. Once more, she has been roped into a mess such as this and was fearng the worst. But a part of her knew that Ash wouldn't mind at all. Then again, if someone other than Ash finds her, it might be the opposite.
"Let's explore and see what we can find!" Smolder would run off while Gallus followed, eager to explore and take in the sights. Sandbar and Yona would look at each other, feeling a sense of dread while Ocellus just stayed behind, unsure of how to proceed.
"Hey, hey! Over here!" As the Temple was moving across the waters, the five students would go on a search for the perfect angle and view to capture. In a certain hallway, the view from the window was perfect.
"Woah." Smolder was amazed by the sights outside. From the sea below and the clouds above, the scenery was a breathtaking one. And she wasn't the only one. The others also stopped when seeing this view, finding it absolutely astonishing.
"Wow..." Ocellus gasped, seeing the view from the window., seeing some Flying-Types zoom by in unique flying patterns.
"The view is wonderful. So many clouds." Sandbar said, taking the sight in. Looking at this made them almost not care about their little mission. But it hasn't even been that long, so Sandbar shook his head. "Wait! What about School?! And our parents?!"
"Don't worry." Smolder placed her hands on his shoulders. "They won't notice. Trust me. Our parents are pretty lenient with us, so they'll be fine. And I bet the others at the school won't miss us either."
"Ohooo!" Meanwhile, for Lena, this was her first time being inside the Sea Temple. Her first experience and she was already loving it. "It's amazing! How did I miss this during my travels?!
She was at the main hall of the temple. The Main Hall of the Sea Temple Samiya stood as a majestic monument to the temple's rich heritage and spiritual significance. Carved from the coral bedrock and adorned with luminescent marine motifs, the Main Hall serves as the heart of the temple.
Tall pillars, reminiscent of towering sea stacks, rise from the floor to the ceiling, supporting the vaulted ceiling adorned with intricate mosaics depicting scenes from ancient sea myths and legends. Stained glass windows, crafted from translucent sea glass, filter the sunlight, casting kaleidoscopic patterns of colour onto the marble floor below.
Beneath the vaulted ceiling, a series of cascading waterfalls flow down the walls, their crystalline waters shimmering in the ambient light. The soothing sound of cascading water fills the hall, creating an atmosphere of tranquillity and reverence.
In the centre of the hall, a large, circular dais rises from the floor, serving as a focal point. On the dais, a large statue of Manaphy stands, its eyes seeming to gaze upon all who enter the hall. The statue is surrounded by a pool of water, the source of the cascading waterfalls.
"Man. When did you guys build this?" Ash looked at the Manaphy Statue which was actually new. Very much new. It even had colours on it that matched the Pokemon it was based on.
"Pikachu?"
"I'd say...Last Week, Your Majesty. Manaphy already has his own Statue next to yours at the throne room, but he vehemently wanted another Statue of himself for the main hall." Alo answered.
"Your Majesty. The recharge time on our Light Speed Mechanism will take a while. Until then, we'll have to travel slowly."
"That's fine." Ash responded, not minding the slow pace. As long as the Sea Temple was moving, that was all he cared about. He then looked at Pinkie Pie, who already sent each of her Slurpuff out. "So, where do you think she is, Pinkie?"
"It looks like the Slurpuff are all sniffing to the South." Pinkie Pie spoke, having the Slurpuffs sniff the air. "That's probably where she is."
"South it is. After we're done in Unova, we'll head there. I'll try and talk to Twilight and mend things with her and Sunset. Plus, we'll get some of the shards too along the way. Maybe." Ash clenched his hand, vowing to resolve all of this.
"What about Midnight Sparkle and Daydream Shimmer? Carlita told you about what happened and you told us that those two are now their own beings. Just like what happened with Nightmare Moon." Twilight questioned. "Are they going to be trouble now?"
"Hm. I dunno." Ash answered, looking at the clear blue skies. "Midnight's gonna be a problem but Daydream? It sounded like she was acting on anger when chasing after her. But I don't think she's the type to cause problems. As for what they're doing right now...I don't have a clue."
They only had to wonder right now until they get something. For now, they would move across the seas of the world once more, focused on their current mission.
Unova. Castelia City. The Pokemon Center. Nightfall.-
The Sea Temple had arrived in Unova as the Moon was up, stopping by Castelia City for a brief moment. Here, Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were here to see their Pokemon. The girls would step outside of the Sea Temple, entering the city's Pokemon Center.
At this time, the Pokemon Center was still open, the lights shining through. In this Night Shift, many had gone but Nurse Joy and her Audino were always there. Present there were their Pokemon as well. Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie entered the room where their Pokemon were resting.
"You're back." Nurse Joy smiled.
"Nurse Joy." Rarity stepped forward, approaching her Pokemon. Pheromosa and Mew were in the same room, both in stable condition. Pheromosa was still resting, while Mew was hugging a ball, his eyes almost awake.
"Hey, Nurse Joy." Pinkie Pie smiled, approaching her partner, Mew.
"We were wondering when you'd show up. I'm afraid they'll still need more time to rest. The damage they took is beyond anything I've seen ever. Pheromosa still had it the worst, so she's been resting the longest. Mew is only half-awake, so he's recovering too. Kartana's been trying to force himself awake, but he can't seem to do it yet. Your Pokemon are strong, but the injuries they have is not something that's easily cured. And the fact that Mew is half-awake is proof that they're not 100%.
"Oh. Alright." Twilight slowly nodded her head. "At least they're recovering. Kartana obviously wants to cut something badly right now if he's trying to force himself awake."
"That's true." Nurse Joy chuckled. "They should be able to recover. Eventually. I'm sure they'll wake up and be back to full strength. You can talk to them, even if they won't respond."
Doing just that, Rarity walked up to Pheromosa, gently caressing the Bug Type's face with her hoof. Pheromosa would let out a gentle sigh, leaning into the touch. She was still not in a state to speak, but she did know that her trainer was here for her.
Pinkie Pie would hug her Mew, nuzzling against the Psychic-Type. Even if the pink feline's eyes were half-open, he would let out a soft giggle, hugging his trainer back. Pinkie's Slurpuff would also lick the cat-like Pokemon's face, showing their love for him.
As for Twilight, she would have to enter another part of this room to see Kartana. Unlike the other two, the Drawn Sword Pokemon was still laying down, his arms folded together. His eyes were closed, and he seemed like he was asleep.
"Kartana. You there?" Twilight would ask, hoping that her partner would respond. There was a brief moment of silence as the Pokemon continued to lay there, his eyes still closed. And for a second, Twilight feared that Kartana wouldn't be the same. "Kartana?"
Kartana didn't respond. He was currently resting as right next to him were objects that he would absolutely love to cut when he gets the chance. But alas, right now, he couldn't. Twilight would leave Kartana, letting him get the rest he needs.
"Sorry. I'm not sure when they'll wake up. But, you can count on me and Audino to take care of them.
"Thank you so much, Nurse Joy." Rarity gave a grateful smile. "We should get going now. We'll visit you again when we can. Take care, alright."
"You take care too." Nurse Joy nodded her head.
With that, the trio would leave the Pokemon Center, returning to the Sea Temple.
The Sea Temple. Samiya.
The Sea Temple would be on the move once more, heading out to the seas. Enough time had passed, allowing the Lightspeed Mechanism to be used once more. Thanks to the Slurpuff, they knew they had to head to the South, meaning that they would have to go past Hoenn and into the Southern Seas.
"Alright! It should have enough power to jump at lightspeed!" One of the Samiyan Guards bellowed. "Everyone, brace yourself! The temple will be jumping in a few moments!"
"Ready, everyone?" Ash glanced at the others, ready to see the temple jump in lightspeed.
"T-This thing's about to move at Lightspeed?!" Jessie and James were terrified.
"Ain't that dangerous?!" Meowth questioned.
"It's scary the first time but fun the second time. Trust me." Rainbow Dash grinned, already making herself comfortable.
The Sea Temple was ready to jump, using its mechanism to reach its destination in the blink of an eye. In a flash, it was moving at incredible speeds, causing ripples in the water.
"Wow..." Lena's jaw dropped when seeing this, feeling the speed the Sea Temple was travelling at. It felt like it was going faster than the average boat. The light of the Sea Temple would rapidly pass by thanks to this speed as everything happening around her was occurring incredibly fast. But in Lena's eyes and everyone else's, they were able to savour this moment, their perception of time and speed being altered.
The Sea Temple passed by many locations in Unova in the blink of an eye, causing a sonic boom that could be heard by everyone. In an instant, they were far South of Unova and even further East, passing by the Orange Archipelago and entering the Southern Seas. With a brilliant flash, the Sea Temple had entered the South, stopping at its destination.
It was now in the Hoenn Region.
Everything settled in for Lena and Team Rocket, their bodies unable to register the speed they just went at. They were not used to such speeds, the G-Forces getting to them immediately.
"Oooh..." Jessie was laying flat on her face already, completely bewildered.
"So it's Hoenn." Ash said now that they've arrived, gazing at the region before him. Comparable to Alola in terms of the heat, they found themselves close to Lilycove City.
"Does that mean they're currently at Lilycove City?" Twilight questioned before looking at the Slurpuff.
"Puff..Slurpuff." All 6 of them started sniffing the air, trying to see if they could catch a scent. Since they felt Sci-Twi's scent at the south and now they're arrived at the South which was at Hoenn, that meant that she could be here.
"Anything, Slurpuff?" Pinkie asked.
"Slurpuff. Slur. Sluuurpuff." Each of them would point in one direction, leading the group towards Lilycove.
"That means we're close." Ash narrowed his eyes. "If we're gonna find Twilight and Volo, then I'll bet it'll be here. We're gonna be going by foot!"
"Then we will be waiting here, Your Majesty." Alo nodded along with the soldiers of the Sea Temple. "If they are not here, then we will be ready to move once more. Best wishes, Your Majesty."
"Thanks!" Ash would then leap forward, landing on Lilycove City's grounds. His friends followed, leaving the Samiyans behind. Since it was Nightfall, Hoenn was a bit colder right now, its Moonlight illuminating the night sky. Lena stepped out with Team Rocket, hearing the sounds of the night permeate across the area.
The Slurpuff led the group to Lilycove's Beach, their noses pointed in the same direction. The five Pokemon would lead them towards the city's shore, sniffing the air to make sure they had the right scent.
"This is the spot, Slurpuff. Right?" Pinkie Pie questioned.
"Slur. Slurpuff." A Slurpuff answered with a nod. Just then, they were starting to pick up on her scent, making their noses twitch and their eyes sparkle. That was without a doubt her scent. No mistaking it. They then turned their attention to the north of Lilycove City, following the scent once more.
In the distance, Lilycove was still active. With the Night, the people were still enjoying the sights and the sea, some of them having a midnight walk along the shore. The city was always a great spot to visit as well, having many activities for those who wished to partake in them, aside from Pokemon Contests which were closed for the night.
Right in the middle of the city, the Slurpuff continued to track Sci-Twi's scent, making their way to Lilycove's Pier. The large and bustling pier that extended over the water and allowed ships and boats to dock was where the Slurpuff had found the source of the scent.
"Slurpuff. Slur." One of the Slurpuff would approach the water, pointing at a ship that was currently sailing in the distance. "Slur."
"A ship?" Pinkie Pie repeated. "Oh! Maybe she's on that ship! If we follow her, then we might get there."
"She's on that ship? Positive?" Applejack questioned.
"Only one way to find out.2 Ash held out a Poke Ball, having one of his Pokemon ready. "Dracovish1 I choose you!"
"Draco! Dracovish!" Appearing in a flash of light was the Fossil Pokemon.
"Alright, buddy. We gotta chase down that ship and hopefully catch up with Twilight." Ash mounted his Dracovish, sitting on his back. "Ready when you are!"
"Vish!" Dracovish cried out.
"I'm coming too." Rarity had her own Pokemon summoned. "Come, Milotic!
"Milotic." Rarity's Pokemon appeared, her beautiful form shimmering. Both Water-Types, with their Trainers on their backs, would jump into the seas of Hoenn, making quite the splash. Joining them were their friends as Fluttershy and Twilight sat on Dracovish's back. Pinkie and Applejack would go for Milotic's back, joining Rarity.
"If they're sailing away, that means they probably found out where another one of those shards are." said Fluttershy. "Maybe."
"Hold on! How are we going to follow you?!" Jessie questioned as she, James and Meowth were lacking a Pokemon to help them travel the waters. It'll take them some time to head back to the Sea Temple too.
"I have that covered." Thankfully, Lena had an answer to that. Digging into her pockets, she would hold out the Flying-Type Shards, relying on their power "I can use the shards to fly us over there. That'll be our way of traelling.
"Woah! You can do that Grandma?!" Ash gasped as this was news to him. He and the others weren't aware of Lena's unique ability to harness the power of the Shards.
"Yes. Now hurry before the ship gets too far!"
"Right! Full Speed ahead, Dracovish!
"Vish!" Dracovish would speed across the waters, his fins acting like the tail of a fish, helping him swim. Milotic did the same, both of them trying to reach the ship.
Lena grasped the Flying-Type shards in her hand, having a light blue energy envelop her body. Jessie, James and Meowth would place their hands and paws on her, allowing the energy to flow through them as well.
"Up!" Lena would lift her hand into the air and with her power, she and Team Rocket would float into the air, following the ship from the skies.
"What in the world?! What are they?!" Some people from Lilycove gasped and marvelled at the sight of these four floating in the sky. They left trails of energy behind in the night sky, following the ship that supposedly had Sci-Twi on it.
Sci-Twi and Volo were actually on a boat, currently on their way to the next location. As expected, they were still after the remaining 14 Shards of Arceus's Life Plates, the only thing keeping them apart. And Volo was more than happy to assist her with her journey. Sci-Twi was in a bit of deep thought at the moment while the boat sailed across the water. She was on a bed, looking at the ceiling above her.
She wished to just forget about it right now and focus on her mission, slowly closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep. But she couldn't. Her mind was still lingering on that day. The moment when her friendship with Sunset Shimmer was tested, and it resulted in failure.
Even though's only been a few days since the fight, it's felt like an eternity. She had no idea how Sunset was doing and vice versa. Her body growing tired as she put herself to sleep.
As for Volo, he was busy reading up on a book, sitting in a chair while the ship was sailing. The night was peaceful, and the boat was travelling the seas, heading to the next destination.
"Hm." He then noticed how the Dragon Shards in his possession were shining brightly, their energy emanating from the stones. Curious, he picked them up, seeing that they were resonating with something. With a smile forming on a face, he knew what this meant. "Oh. For it to just start glowing? That means only one thing. More of the shards are getting closer and closer to each other. This is truly wonderful."
He was right on the mark. He and Sci-Twi had the Dragon, Rock and Ghost Shards, making that three, while Ash's group had the Flying, Fairy, Ground and Steel Shards. They technically would have the Fire Shard, but Lena cut her exploration in Alola short and never retrieved it. Thus, Eight Shards were approaching each other, making their energies grow and react.
"We're on the right track." Volo smirked. "The more we collect, the closer we'll be. This is exactly what I wanted.
He would then gaze up at the sky, his eyes shining under the moonlight. The clouds were thinning as the stars and the moon were becoming clearer.
"This is the path that leads us to Arceus, Twilight Sparkle. Just follow it and you'll understand." But of course, Volo didn't want anyone stopping his goal, not even for a moment. Knowing that the other shards were closing in, he decided to take action while Sci-Twi was asleep. Much like Lena, he could also harness the power of the Dragon Shards.
Lena could only do it thanks to the strange egg she ate many centuries ago during her travels but Volo had his mystical reason for doing so. Using the shards, his eyes would glow the same colour as the shards, a faint outline of a dragon's head appearing behind him.
"Let's make sure the others can't interfere." He whispered, knowing the power the Dragon Shards possessed. He would send a beam of energy down into the sea itself, a ripple forming on the water. His goal was not to sink the ship or anything. No. It was to send a message.
A message that would cause the sea to erupt, a burst of energy appearing, the water forming a pillar that shot into the skies.
Ash and the others immediately noticed this pillar as it illuminated the night, carrying the same draconic colouring as the Dragon-Type.
"Is that a...Tidal Wave?!" Fluttershy gasped, seeing the pillar of water suddenly appear. But that was certainly not a tidal wave. Not at all. The Pillar of Water was brimming with Dragon Energy, causing the bubbles to appear and dissappear at lightning speeds. Of course, such a reaction was beginning to affect the Pokemon in the Waters, sending Dragon Energy through the waters while they were just minding their business.
Lena gasped when seeing this energy flowing, recognizing this sight immediately. She's seen this before and knew where this was going. The Dragon Energy roared through the waters, blitzing through it and startling some of the Pokemon living down there. It wasn't until it came across a Lanturn that was shining his light on a group of Horsea that the Dragon Energy took action.
It enveloped the Lanturn's Light, the Pokemon startled when the Dragon Energy flowed through his body. Lanturn groaned his body was beginning o go through a transformation. The light shone brightly as his eyes glowed a bright yellow, the light surrounding him and his form changing.
"Lan...Lanturn?" The Pokemon's voice would sound more masculine, the light fading and revealing a brand new Pokemon. This wasn't Lanturn anymore, the Pokemon now a Dragon-Type Variant of his own form. Appearing as a rather large being, he emerged from the ocean, bestowing his new look to all those who could see it
He retains some elements of his original appearance but takes on a more dragon-like appearance. His body elongated and becomes sleeker, with scales covering its skin. His tail becomes more serpentine, and fins transform into wings reminiscent of a dragon's. The antenna-like structures on its head become more pronounced, resembling horns. There was still light emanating from it, but now it had a purplish blue colouring, much like the Dragon-Type Energy.
"Wyrlight!" He cried out, the name of his new form given to him. With the power of the Dragon-Type, his body and powers had evolved.
"What the...!" Ash and his friends gazed at the new Pokemon before them. They've never seen a Pokemon evolve like that before. Pikachu immediately recognized something like that. he recalled how Li'l Kanga, the baby of Kangaskhan, was affected by Dragon Matter and had her own Dragon Form. A similar scenario was happening here and of course, it was caused by the same man.
Taking out the Pokedex, Ash would read about this new Dragon Pokemon that resembled Lanturn. The Pokedex immediately registered something for it despite it being completely new, just now coming into existence.
"Wyrlight. The Brightening Pokemon. Once a humble Lanturn, Wyrturn undergoes a divine transformation into a Dragon-Type. Its body takes on the appearance of a dragon, with scales glistening like sapphires in the sunlight. With the antenna on its head, it can produce a raging Dragon Energy that brings about unknown effects."
"It's just like what happened with Li'l Kanga!" Applejack gasped. "It ain't even the same Pokemon anymore!"
"Did Volo do that?!" Fluttershy questioned.
"No doubt it is." Lena said while flying above them. "Because the shards are linked to Arceus, even when shattered and no longer Life Plates, they have the Divine Power to create new life. New Pokemon! This is the power of the Shards."
"Create new Pokemon!? Just like that?!" An astonished Twilight bellowed.
Wyrlight, upon entering the world, would perform its first major action, it's mind immediately racing to hostility. Wasting no time, it aimed its antennae at the skies, unleashing a massive Dragon Energy towards the heavens. All eyes immediately followed the energy, watching as it blasted off towards the skies.
Once it hit the Night Skies, it created a small crack, opening up the dimension itself. They all gasped, seeing a crack in the sky form as the clouds would tremble and the ocean would rumble. The Dragon Energy had ripped open the very sky and caused something to drop from the heavens.
Dragonic Rain started to pour, falling from the crack. The droplets fell across the land, some of them falling on the ocean's surface. The droplets would glow once they hit the water, the Dragon Energy flowing within the droplets. The colour of these rain droplets were a purple-ish blue, the colour of Dragon-Type, rapidly growing in numbers. The clouds themselves had changed colours, no longer the light grey and white, now turning to a dark and ominous purple.
"Oh, man! What's going on?!" Ash watched as the water started to boil, the heat of the rain being too much for the ocean. The waves grew, the winds started to blow and the rain was falling rapidly. The heat of a Dragon's Fires were present, causing the sea to rise, the waves forming a gigantic wave.
The wave would grow, the size of a mountain, the water taking the form of a dragon. Ash and his friends gawked at the sight, the gigantic wave now a beast in its own right. Volo watched from the distance his own creation, having used the Dragon Shards to create a Dragonic Rainstorm that will have unknown effects.
"In order to reach Arceus, only someone willing to go above and beyond what an ordinary human can do is needed. Only I can achieve that, Twilight Sparkle. And with Arceus on my side, the world will change. It will become better. I'll make sure of that.
Back at Equestria, over at Ponyville and in Twilight's Castle, Rayquaza, who was currently resting up to heal, felt it. The presence of a Dragon was here, but it wasn't just any normal one. He felt the power of a Dragon, one that had the power to rival him and any other Legendary Pokemon. Even from all the way here, the King of the Skies felt the presence, his eyes snapping open.
The action that Volo has caused had a massive effect, the clouds and sky now a dark purple, the rain and droplets pouring and falling from the sky. Rayquaza let out a cry that immediately woke everyone inside of the castle up, their bodies trembling at the roar of the Legendary Pokemon.
"W-What was that?!" Spike gasped, falling out of his bed. Rayquaza's roar moved across all of Ponyville, waking everyone else up from their wonderful sleep. Some fell out of their beds while others were jumpscared, believing that they were being attacked by something.
Rayquaza obviously couldn't leave since his body was still recovering from the damage it sustained, but he wished ot be out there. As the Guardian of the Skies, he could just sit by idly and let it all happen. Spike rushed in to the room Rayquaza was being kept in, seeing the Pokemon staring up at the ceiling.
"R-Rayquaza!" Spike entered the room, gasping. "What's wrong!? What's happening?!"
Rayquaza's cries went on and on, informing Spike of what he felt. Far from here and all the way to Hoenn, a great power was tampering with Hoenn's climate and weather, the Legendary Pokemon's instincts being set off. He knew that something was volatile was occurring out there.
The Night Skies above pour with an unusual rain. Rain that was filled with Dragon Energy. The waves were growing and the clouds were spreading. Ash and the others could feel the temperature rise as the rain continued to pour, the waves crashing.
"What's going on?!" Rainbow Dash yelled out.
"This can't be good!" Lena yelled, seeing the clouds change colour. The rain was falling heavily and the wind was growing faster, the droplets hitting the ocean. The heat was rising and the waves were growing more aggressive.
"Pika Pi!" Pikachu and the others were feeling the heat of the rain, their skin already getting burned by the droplets. Dracovish let out a hiss, the droplets stinging his body. Milotic's body was feeling the effects too, his body burning and stinging. The girls all screeched, feeling the rain sting them.
"Man, this stuff smarts!" Ash yelped. From Twilight, she would cast a spell, having a forcefield form around the group. This would protect them from the heat, the rain and the waves, the water bouncing off the barrier.
But even when bouncing off, the barrier would still receive damage, the water and rain being able to hurt the shield itself. The Dragon Rain would start increasing rapidly, gradually reaching the level of a rainstorm. And speaking of a storm, blue and purple lightning was starting to flash, thunder being heard.
From the clouds, there would be a loud roar, a shadow appearing in the clouds. All of a sudden, the waves would part, revealing a massive, serpentine being that rose up from the ocean. This was the cause of the massive waves and the giant one that was heading straight towards Ash's group.
"Whoa!" They gasped, seeing the gigantic Water-Type before them.
The being in question was another massive Dragon emerging from the seas. This was yet another Pokemon that had been affected by the Dragon Energy. This time, it was a Lotad, but not just any. This was a brand new form, the Lotad being turned into a Dragon.
Its form had changed, becoming a dragon, resembling a Lotad. It has a wide, leafy, yellow flower growing from its head, the leaves having a purple outline. Its body is red-orange with several thin, rectangular growths running the length of its back and a light gray underside. Its head is broad, and it has a flat, black nose. There are two thick leaves extending from the back of its head.
These leaves are white on the inside and have jagged edges. Two green, leaf-like appendages float on both sides of its head, while its oval, red eyes glint. It has long, wavy, saggy arms that end in three-fingered hands with small, oval pink pads on the fingertips. The pads are the source of its powerful water attacks.
"No way...Is that Lotad?" Rainbow Dash spoke, seeing the Pokemon.
"All of that rain...It's turning Pokemon into dragons!" Applejack pointed out, seeing how the Dragon Rain was turning them. "It's the same thing that happened to Li'l Kanga."
"And now it's happening to the other Pokemon!" Fluttershy gasped. "At this rate, all the Water Pokemon here will get affected by the rain!"
"It'll be a swarm of Dragon Pokemon that'll start causing chaos!" Rarity cried.
"Grrhh!" Lena growled before eyeing down the ship in the distance. With all of her might, she shouted at it. "Volo! Can you hear me?! Stop this at once!"
But her voice was drowned out by the crack of Draconic Thunder, the waves crashing. The Dragon Pokemon roared, its eyes glowing and the Dragonic Rain continuing to pour. More and more rain would hit the ocean's surface, creating a storm.
Popping out of the waters were other Water-Type Pokemon, each and every single one of them transformed into a Dragon-Type. The Pokemon's bodies had changed, becoming a dragon, the same case as Wyrlight.
So many familiar Water-Types undertook this evolution, each and every single one of them roaring in anger and hostility. From Feebas, Corphish, Huntail and Gorebyss, Seaking, Starmie and Tentacool and many more, these were some of the Pokemon in the ocean, all of them transformed and becoming a part of the Dragon Family.
"This is so cool...but so scary same time!" Rainbow Dash was in awe, seeing the new forms of these Pokemon.
"They're all Dragon Types!" Applejack's eyes bulged.
"It's like they're not even the same species anymore." Pinkie Pie said.
"I'm not about to have my darling Milotic turn into a Dragon!" Rarity shook her head. "Milotic! We'll need something to speed ourselves up. Use Hydro Pump!"
"Milotic!" Her Pokemon responded, turning her head around and unleashing a Hydro Pump. The powerful water attack would flow, blasting the waves and causing the group to fly up, moving fast and avoiding the rain. Ash, Twilight and Fluttershy watched as their friends were zooming across the seas at a greater pace thanks to the strength of Hydro Pump.
Milotic kept going, not slowing down for a second as the distance between the ship and her grew closer and closer. But just then, the water would shift, a massive shadow appearing beneath the waves. A giant figure was under the ocean, something that was moving at great speeds.
"W-What's that?!" Rainbow Dash's eyes widened when seeing the shadow. It was getting closer and closer, the figure moving underneath the water. The waves were growing more rapid, the sea rumbling.
"That's gotta be another Dragon Pokemon!" Applejack guessed. "The size of it is enormous!"
"We can't stop! We're so close! Right, Milotic?!" Rarity looked at her Pokemon, the Water-Type nodding her head.
"Mil!" She nodded her head. And indeed, they were close. Thanks to the Hydro Pump approach, Rarity's group had caught up to the ship, almost reaching the boat.
With all of her might, Milotic would leap up, landing onto the ship. The crew gasped, seeing a large Water-Type jump up onto the boat, landing with a thud. Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash managed to arrive at the boat as well, their bodies falling off. Milotic slid on the floors of the boat, sliding all the way and crashing against the walls.
"Milotic!" Rarity screamed, getting up from the floor and running towards her Pokemon. She would check up on her Pokemon, making sure that she was alright. "Are you okay, darling?!"
"Milotic..." The Pokemon moaned, feeling her body sting. She hit the floor hard but she would be alright. Rarity sighed in relief, seeing that her Pokemon was alright. Rarity then turned her head, looking in the distance where all the Pokemon were present. Ash's group were still behind, about to come across these Draconic Forces.
"We'll have to deal with Volo ourselves right now." said Rarity. "Ash the others might be a bit behind. We have to keep going."
"Rarity, wait!" Twilight yelled, watching as Rarity and the others were heading to the inside of the boat, ready to confront Volo.
They ran inside the ship, searching for the man who was responsible for all of this. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Milotic would move across this boat while many were currently asleep, undisturbed by the event happening.
"Volo?! You here?!" Rainbow Dash demanded, hoping to find the man.
"I don't see him, Dash." Applejack shook her head. "Do we even know what he looks like?
"No clue. I've never seen him before. We've only heard of him with no clear description on his appearance." Rarity pointed out, the girls continuing to walk through the boat. They would stop and look at the door, noticing the light shining from the other side.
"What do we do if we run into him?" Applejack questioned.
"We knock him out and grab Twilight, duh. If he's the one responsible for this rain, no way we're letting Twi stay around a guy like that. No way!"
"And he's clearly up to no good." Rarity spoke. "We can't allow him to continue. If Twilight's truly with him, we're getting her back."
"Oh? Is that so?" Just then, a voice called out, stopping the girls. The group would turn around, seeing the door behind them open, the light shining. And right there was Volo, standing there, gazing at the group.
And once they laid eyes on him, their eyes widened once they saw his face. That face was incredibly familiar to them. They've never seen Volo before at all but that face reminded them of someone else. The Sinnoh Champion, Cynthia.
"What in tarnation..." Applejack removed her hat, her mouth wide.
"I'm not seeing things, am I?" Rainbow Dash's wings would stop flapping as she descended to the floor. "That face..."
"It looks a lot like hers..." Rarity shuddered. "If Lena is Ash's Ancestor from the past...then that must mean Volo's descendant is...
"Cynthia." The four of them said.
"Hmhmhm." Volo chuckled. "This is the first time I'm actually hearing about my own descendant. What a surprise. I haven't even thought about my descendants at all when I came to the present. It's rather good to know my bloodline persists to this day. Then again, 200 years isn't that far apart..."
"Who cares about that?!" Rarity stepped forward, pointing her hoof at him. "What matters more than anything is you! Who are you, Volo?! Why are you doing all of this?! You're using the power of the Dragon Shards to cause so much destruction and ruin! Just what are you after?!"
"Oh. My name is Volo, that much is true. But you're not going to get anything out of me." He grinned, his eyes shining. "Why do I do this? I do it for the sake of my goal. A goal that'll only be accomplished when Arceus is in my grasp. You can't understand why I do this. But once the world has been reformed, you'll know. You'll see. That is the only way for us all to achieve a better world. And I won't let anyone stand in my way."
"Oh, really?" Rainbow Dash huffed, glaring at him. "I don't think you'll be the one deciding that! We'll just have to get through you and Twilight if we have to!"
"Twilight is a dear friend to us. We're not letting her stay with a creep like you." Pinkie blew her tongue at him. "I mean, Sunset made you sound like a creep. Maybe you're not? But your actions definitely speak for themselves. You're a bad guy, mister. A bad guy. You're gonna get a lot of ponies mad."
"Am I? Hmhm. It's fine. You can think that. All I'm concerned with is getting my hands on Arceus. That's the only thing that matters. When it comes to Arceus, there is no Good or Evil. Only those who seek and those who are content. And I'll admit, I'm the former.
"Tsk." Applejack scoffed. "That's just a bunch of nonsense talk. Whatever you're doin' is not good and I ain't about to let you get away with it!"
"Tell me girls..." Volo closed his eyes before opening them with an intimidating aura. "From what I've heard about your group...you've all met Arceus, haven't you?"
The group of ponies were completely silent when he mentioned that, not a word coming out of them.
"That's correct. You've seen Arceus. You've heard its voice. You've heard its power. It is a magnificent and glorious being, one that's capable of many miracles. The Original One. The Hallowed God and the Being that started it all. Of course, before we crossed over with your universe that is. Your universe has its own beginning with its own God, doesn't it? And yet, you were lucky enough to encounter Arceus. So, I must ask...what was it like? How did it feel to be graced by the presence of a God? Did you feel honoured?"
"Uhhhh...." None of the ponies could answer, unsure of what to say.
"You're a very interesting group of ponies. You've faced Arceus, you've heard its voice, and yet...you don't seem too amazed. You're not in awe."
"D-Don't be absurd!" Rarity stuttered. "We were blown back when we first encountered Arceus! No doubt about it! He's helped us from time to time, even saved our lives once! Of course we're honoured!"
"Yeah! We met him and you didn't!" Pinkie Pie taunted. "So how's that?!"
"That's it?" Volo sounded disappointed, letting out a sigh. "Oh, dear. That's the most disappointing thing I've heard in a long time.
"Hey!" Rainbow Dash was about to step forward, only for her body to start trembling. She stopped her actions, her body shuddering. Something was going on. Something strange. Her body was reacting to something and whatever it was, she wasn't liking it.
"What's going on...?" Applejack shuddered.
"Truly disappointing. You've been in the presence of Arceus multiple times and that is all you have to offer? What a waste. A waste of a Divine Meeting. Arceus's power, Arceus's glory...You didn't even bother to ask questions, I assume? Questions about the universe. The point of it all. So man perfect opportunities were ripe for the taking and all you did was sit and listen. Not even a conversation."
"T-That's not true!" Rarity yelled. "As if you know what else we've done when with Arceus!
"And yet, you don't seem like you're trying to refute that statement. Arceus is wasted on you all. It's wasted on everyone in your world. That's why I want to meet it. Arceus deserves to be in the hands of someone who truly appreciates it. I want to meet him, understand him and know his ways. In order to do that, I must have his power. And I'll do anything for it."
"Anything?" Applejack repeated.
"Yes! For years I've been following all things Arceus and I have been pursuing the truth of it all! To think that some ponies from a world that was never apart of ours to begin with met Arceus a few times before I did! And they don't even go the distance to ask questions! To learn about its origin! What a disappointment! Being in your presence..." Volo then raised his head before lowering it, facing the girls. "Disgusts me.
"Disgusts him?!" Applejack was bewildered. "Why you..?!
"That's it! We're not gonna deal with you!" Rainbow Dash would quickly hold out one of her Poke Balls. We're taking Twilight back and that's that!"
"That's it! We're not gonna deal with you!" Rainbow Dash would quickly hold out one of her Poke Balls. We're taking Twilight back and that's that!"
"Aah.." Volo closed his eyes, his body trembling and wriggling a bit as he held out an ancient Pokemon from 200 years ago. "I'm in the presence of lost potential. I guess I'll have to take care of it. This won't hurt a bit."
"We'll be taking her back and we're not going to stop! Get ready!" Rainbow Dash threw the Poke Ball. "Go! Zeraora!"
"Get out there! Kangaskhan!" Applejack would choose Kangaskhan, throwing her Poke Ball forward.
"It's up to one of you! Slurpuff!" Pinkie Pie would hold out her own Poke Ball.
"Get ready, Milotic!" Rarity already had Milotic out, prepared to battle with her.
All of their Poke Balls flew through the air, their Pokemon appearing right in front of Volo. Kangaskhan, Milotic, Slurpuff and Zeraora all stood before Volo with narrowed eyes. Li'l Kanga immediately recognized Volo, remembering him from when she became a Dragon Pokemon by accident. But she never knew that Volo was the one to cause it, never seeing him as a threat.
"Kangaskhan.." The Mother Pokemon growled, her fist ready.
"Milotic..." The Water-Type hissed, her fins moving and ready to use an attack.
"Slurpuff!"
"Zera...!" Zeraora's eyes flared with lightning, ready to attack at any moment. Even when facing down all of these Pokemon, Volo didn't seem the least bit intimidated. In fact, when looking at Volo's disposition, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie were immediately reminded of that same aura Cynthia gives off.
"Hmph. That's what I figured. A group of ungrateful, disrespectful ponies who refuse to acknowledge the truth. The truth of Arceus. That's what you've all turned out to be. You're all unworthy of its power. Unworthy of its grace. You're nothing but a waste. And because of that, I'm going to have to eliminate you. I'm sorry. I'm not cruel." He threw his Poke Ball forward, summoning a fearsome Pokemon. "Come forth, Spiritomb!"
"Spiritomb!" Appearing in a flash was Spiritomb, its dark form flaring out before them. The Ghost-Dark-Type Pokemon floated before the girls, their Pokemon growling.
"Spiritomb. Make quick work of these nobodies. Dark Pulse. Now!" Volo commanded.
"Tomb!" Spiritomb's body would release a burst of Dark Type Energy, the energy surrounding its body and flowing out. It had a radius-like appearance, flowing out at high speeds and damaging the furniture here.
"Stop the attack, Zeraora! Use Plasma Fists!
"Zera!" The Electric-Type roared, her fists sparking with electricity. She would rush forward, the dark energy heading straight towards her. Zeraora would leap into the air, the energy passing beneath her as she flew through the sky.
She then approached Spiritomb, the lightning crackling fiercely around her paw. But as she brought her fist down, Spiritomb, using its spectral body, would contort and turn its body around, the attack missing as Zeraora went past it. But of course, Zeraora's lightning always lands regardless, a bit of it shocking Spiritomb, but it barely felt it.
"What?!" Rainbow Dash gawked.
"Kanga! Rock Slide!"
"Kangaskhan!" Kangaskhan would stomp her foot, unleashing a powerful array of stones that were aimed straight at Spiritomb. But the Ghost-Type Pokemon would float back, avoiding the attack and moving around the room. It would then move into the walls, hiding and disappearing, its body merging with the darkness.
"Spiritomb, Dark Pulse. Once more." Volo instructed.
"Tomb..." The Pokemon's voice was echoed, its body forming from the shadows. The Pokemon would release another burst of dark energy, the girls gasping as the attack was flying right towards them.
"Ze?!" Sensing it faster than anyone else, Zeraora would quickly hold her hands out, trying to stop the attack. The electricity crackled around her hands as she tried to halt the attack. The Darkness collided with her hands, pushing against her, the power and strength overwhelming.
"Zera...!" Zeraora was putting her might and strength into it, doing her best to hold the attack back. Her feet were sliding across the floor, the attack pushing her.
Quick, Milotic! Hydro Pump!" Rarity cried.
"Milotic!" The Water-Type would unleash a powerful stream of water that was aimed right at the dark energy. It pushed it back, getting it off Zeraora's paws. The high-volume blast of water would then race right for Spiritomb, the Dark Type having no way of stopping the attack.
"T-Tomb!" Spiritomb's body was struck by the large jet of water, the Pokemon moving back and staggering a bit. This immediately allowed for the other Pokemon to take advantage while the iron was hot.
"Aha! Slurpuff! Dazzling Gleam!
"Slurpuff!" From Slurpuff's body, a barrage of rainbows were fired off, striking the Ghost-Type. Spiritomb was hit, the Pokemon taking super-effective blows.
"Kangaskhan, use Aerial Ace!
"Kanga!" The Mother Pokemon would leap forward, her fists glowing white and her speed increasing. She would dash through the air, striking Spiritomb at high speeds.
"Tomb!" Spiritomb was being barraged with attacks, Kangaskhan, Slurpuff and Milotic all attacking the Ghost-Type. They would continue their attacks, not holding back in the slightest.
"Yeah! Zerora! Plasma Fists!" Rainbow Dash saw her opening too no that Spiritomb was being bombarded with these attacks.
"Zeraora!" Zeraora would leap into the air again, her paws and hands surrounded by lightning. She would land on Spiritomb, the Ghost-Type not able to stop her, the Thunderclap Pokemon bringing her fist down. "Ora!" Spiritomb went skidding and bouncing off the floor like a rock thanks to that girthy blow.
"Hah! Great job, Zeraora!" Rainbow Dash complimented.
"Tsk." Volo clicked his tongue. "That it? This is nothing. You'll need more than this to even scratch my Spiritomb. Behold! Extrasensory!"
"Tomb!" The Ghost-Type's body started to shine, a bright light flashing. All of a sudden, an intense force was unleashed from Spiritomb's body, the power causing a shockwave to emerge.
"Ngh!" Applejack was blown back, the power and strength being enough to send her flying. Rainbow Dash and the others were blasted back as well, hitting the floors and walls, groaning. The sheer force of Spiritomb's Extrasensory was enough to make a mess out of the room they were in.
"Ah!" Rarity groaned, picking herself up from the floor. She would see her friends on the ground, a little roughed up, and their Pokemon, still standing, but feeling the effects of the attack. The furniture and the walls would be moved around as the glass of the nearby windows would shatter. While many tumbled and fell over, Zeroaora managed to recover, digging her paws through the floor.
"Oh, dear." Rarity gasped, seeing her friends like that. "Applejack? Pinkie Pie? Rainbow Dash? Are you okay?"
"Urgh..." They were a bit dazed, slowly regaining themselves.
"Zera...!" Zeraora snarled at Volo, who would smirk back at them all. Rarity looked to the side, seeing that her Milotic had fainted from the Extrasensory, the Pokemon's eyes shut.
"Milotic..." Rarity held her fainted friend, the Pokemon not moving at all.
"R-Return, Milotic." Rarity would bring her back to her Poke Ball, her Pokemon's form turning to energy and returning back. Rarity looked back up at Spiritomb, the Ghost-Type gazing at the group.
"Over so soon?" Volo scoffed. "Don't tell me that your disappointment is a part of your strength? This can't be the level of the strength of those who met Arceus. No, this can't be. You can't be so weak. Come now. I know you can do better than that."
"Ugh...!" Applejack clenched her teeth, trying to get up from the floor. She had her hooves on the floor, pushing herself up and grunting.
"Come on, now. Don't you have anything more to show me? Anything more to demonstrate? Show me that you have something that makes you worthy of Arceus's glory."
"Y-You..." Rarity shook her head. She and the others were not liking his words at all, feeling their bodies flare up in anger. "You have no right to speak about Arceus like that! You have no right!
"No right, you say? Nonsense!" Volo stomped his foot. "I'm the one who's been following its story the longest, researching its existence for for most of my life! You're just a bunch of ungrateful ponies! If there's anyone here who knows what's best for Arceus, it's me. For years, the way the world works and all the grief that comes from it has been impossible for me to understand. I've always been searching for an answer. An answer to all the sorrow in the world. And it all starts with Arceus! The One Who Rules All! The Original God!"
"Does Twilight know..." Rainbow Dash groaned while getting back up.
"But of course. We're both aiming to find Arceus. She knows of my goal and my reason. That's why we're a team, aiding each other. You came to bring her back, but do you honestly think she'll come along with you? Her trust in Sunset Shimmer has already been cracked. What makes you any better?"
"Unlike that, we know who you truly are!" Rarity got back up, her mane a mess. "You're insane and delusional!"
"Hmph. Only ponies such as yourself would say that." Volo snickered. "Only I can truly understand Arceus. I will find it. With its power and its might, the world can change.
"What's so funny, Volo?!" Rainbow Dash got back up. "The way the world works...That's just the way things are! We can't change that. But if you really are Cynthia's ancestor, then that means you can't be that bad. You wanna get rid of everything that's sad, but you can't. I bet you Cynthia herself knows that too. She's never tried to erase everything and make everything the same. You're the crazy one here, not her!"
"Heh." Volo chuckled, a smile forming on his face. "What does it matter what my descendant thinks? To me, it sounds like she's failing to see the truth as well. After all, my own ancestors that predate even me, lived in Hisui and worshiped Arceus one or two millennia ago. The Celestica People."
"The Celestica People?" The girls repeated.
"Yes. They lived in Sinjoh before moving to Hisui, or as it's known now, Sinnoh. And among these people was a Hero. A Hero who befriended Arceus. He was the first Human to ever meet the Original One and have the privilege of calling it a friend. He was able to touch Arceus and feel it. He befriended ten Pokémon, who had received Arceus's blessing, and gathered the Plates in order to find Arceus."
"Someone aside from Sheena's ancestor met Arceus first...?" Rarity uttered, remembering that a member of her family, Sheena's ancestor, was the one to first encounter Arceus. Damos.
"My People were the closest to the Creation Trio and the Original One more than any human existence. We were the equivalent of Gods to humans. We were the first to learn of Arceus banishing Giratina for its violence where no other human could have ever known. But..." Volo's grin dropped, his body shuddering. "My people gradually vanished over time. As time went on, we grew to be more and more forgotten and left behind. Our history was lost to the ages, only being remembered in ruins and statues. The rest was lost to time. The Plates were scattered and the knowledge of Arceus was erased."
"So then that means you and Cynthia..." Applejack gawked.
"That's right. Me and my disappointing descendant are the rightful descendants of the Celestica People! The last living survivors." Volo proclaimed. "As the remaining descendant of that clan, it is my right to reach Arceus! I will have the honour of being the one to understand and learn all its ways. I will inherit my ancestors legacy!"
"I don't believe it..." Pinkie Pie was gobsmacked. "Is all of that even true?"
"He doesn't sound like he's lying." Applejack replied.
"Yes. Only I can connect with Arceus, just as my ancestors did. These shards...they are a part of my clan's legacy. They may be shattered, but they are still originated from the Life Plates." Volo held up the Dragon Shards. "So tell me...Do you think I'm crazy now? Will you deny me my right?"
Rarity and the others were absolutely speechless, having no clue what to say. He was serious. There was no lie in his words. The history of his family was real. They were descended from the Celestica Clan, the very ones who knew the most about Arceus and the Original One's ways. Volo's actions were starting to have some clarity to them, even though they were still dangerous.
"With the power of the shards, I can finish what my ancestors started and transcend all that is human. I will become a Demi-God! I will be the one who will understand Arceus and know its secrets. And by using these shards, I can create life, just like Arceus! You've already seen such power for yourselves with all of these new Dragons that emerged."
Speaking of which, the crack of Draconic Thunder could be heard again, the winds growing fast. Ash and his group were still behind, not too far from the ship, still riding on Twilight's shield while facing the obstacles in front of them.
"All shards will become one yet again." Volo turned away from them. "And then, I'll return to my time, where I can set things right. The future will be one where grief and sorrow no longer exist. Just as the Ancient Hero and my people sought out."
"Volo..." Suddenly, walking out here was none other than Sci-Twi, who was eventually woken up by all of this madness.
"Twilight?!" Rainbow Dash gasped.
"Twilight, thank goodness." Rarity breathed a sigh of relief. "I was so worried about you.
"I heard it. I heard most of it when showing up here anyway." Sci-Twi said, revealing that she heard most of Volo's speech, getting a good gist of it.
"You did?! Lucky break for us!" Rainbow Dash had a wide smile on her face. "That means you know how weird this guy is! I mean, we didn't hear all the stuff about his family and all that, but it's the gist of it!
"That's right. I know all about his plan and his ambitions." Twilight nodded her head, walking past Rarity and the others. Volo watched the girl walk towards him, the science expert not taking her eyes off of him. "He told me beforehand."
"What?" Rarity jerked back after hearing the Human Counterpart to Twilight respond.
"Volo's not crazy, girls."
"T-Twilight! What do you mean he's not crazy?!" Rarity was aghast.
"His plan isn't that bad."
"What do you mean his plan isn't that bad?!" Applejack was also bewildered.
"His ancestors all vanished over time and now it's just him and Cynthia. Volo just wants to reach Arceus and try and understand it, is all. His people were close to Arceus on such a great level. A level that I'm expecting I'm pendant to pull off someday. Is it wrong for him to inherit the will and legacy of his people?"
"Well...Not really!" Pinkie Pie shook her head. "But, it's just...It's...How do I say it?"
"Volo isn't going to do anything that'll hurt anybody." Twilight stated. "I can assure you of that. The only thing that matters to him is Arceus. He's not the sort of person who would hurt someone."
"Yeah, because we look reel healthy right now." said Rainbow Dash, pointing out the battle they were having earlier and the destruction of this room.
"Volo." Sci-Twi faced Volo. "You don't have to be so aggressive with them. They're still my friends at the end of the day.
"Right, right. Sorry about that." Volo held his head. "I lose my cool a bit when it comes to Arceus. I was just disappointed by the missed opportunity your friends here had. But perhaps...because they've only been with the Pokemon World for 4 years...I was expecting too much. Still, there's a part of me that can't let it go. To think they had the chance to get close to Arceus and didn't even try. What a waste."
"Please, stop this battle. All of you." Sci-Twi requested. "I've already made up my mind when I decided to go with Volo. He's not who you think he is, I promise."
"You promise?!" Rainbow Dash stepped forward, getting angry. "Look around you, Twi! Look at all of this! We've seen what he's done to all these Water-Type Pokemon and to us! This guy isn't good news!"
"Hm. I was only trying to stop you." Volo smirked. "Much like what Sunset Shimmer tried, you're going against your friend's own decisions. Do you think you can just ignore her wishes like that?"
"Volo. Turn the Pokemon back to normal." Sci-Twi requested Volo, wanting the Pokemon to be back to how they were. "Please. If you're really my friend, you'll do it. Please. It's not right to do this to them."
"Hmhm." Volo closed his eyes, smiling a bit. "Right, right. I got carried away when trying to stop them. I wasn't even sure what the shards would've done."
"Then you should've tested them before using them." Sci-Twi pointed out.
"This is the most I've been able to use them, Twilight. After they shattered from their original states, they became powerless. But now that more of them are relatively close to each other, their resonance is growing stronger. And since they're resonating, their power can grow exponentially." Volo held the Dragon Shards up, gazing at the power that they contained.
Heeding Twilight's request, he would use their power once more, generating a brilliant flash of light. All of the Dragon-Types around the sea were affected, the light being blinding to Rarity's group. The light erupted from the boat, shining and illuminating the sky, the clouds turning pink and blue, the storm calming down.
"What's happening?" Rainbow Dash asked, shielding her eyes.
"It's the light!" Sci-Twi looked up at the sky. "He's returning the Pokemon back to normal!"
All of the Pokemon who were affected were being returned to their original selves. All of the Feebas, Huntail, Gorebyss, Wyrlight and Tentacool and others would go back to their normal forms. The Pokemon would all glow, the light covering their bodies and erasing the Dragon energy that had overtaken them.
All around, the Water-Type Pokemon would go back to how they were, no longer having Dragon Energy or becoming a Dragon-Type. Their bodies were cleansed, the Pokemon's appearances restored. All around the ocean, the Dragon-Types would go back to how they were, the Water-Types returning to normal.
And as soon as that happened, all of the Water-Types were safe, no longer having Dragon energy within them.
"Pokemon and ponies, all safe and sound." Volo smiled. "I'll have to find another way to create life with these. Without relying on other Pokemon."
"He...actually did it?" Applejack blinked, seeing that the Pokemon were okay.
"I'm sorry, girls." Twilight spoke, facing her friends. "But this is my choice. I'm staying with him. I've got a lot to learn, and he'll be teaching me."
"Twilight...You can't be serious, can you?" Rarity asked, feeling her heart break.
"It's a decision I made long before I got here."
"So you were just gonna disappear without telling us?! You're not even gonna tell Ash?!" Rainbow Dash aimed her hoof all the way outside, revealing that Ash was outside.
"Ash?!" Sci-Twi gasped, looking in the distance of the sea.
"Even if you're another Twilight, you're still our friend. I'm not going to let you leave." said Rarity.
"You're not going anywhere, Twilight. None of you are." Rainbow Dash huffed.
Sci-Twi then held onto her Arceus Pendant, staying silent for a moment as her hands were trembling. When it came to Ash, it was a special case. Her love for Ash was so different from the feelings she has for Sunset and her friends. The thought of affecting Ash so much struck a special part of her heart.
"Volo. Let's leave. I don't know if I can face Ash right now." Sci-Twi turned to Volo, still trembling. "I don't wanna think about this anymore. Please. Let's just leave."
"As you wish, Twilight." Volo said, holding out his Poke Ball. "We're ending our battle, I'm afraid."
"Oh, no! This isn't over!" Rainbow Dash stomped her hoof.
"Return, Spiritomb." Volo called back his Pokemon, returning the Ghost-Type to its Poke Ball. He would look to Sci-Twi, who would turn to her friends, giving them one last look.
"This is my choice, girls. Don't get in the way." Sci-Twi warned.
"But..." Just then, before Pinkie Pie could finish her sentence, the boat would start shaking, a crackle of energy running through it.
"W-What's going on?!" Rainbow Dash tried to maintain balance, not sure what was happening. They witnessed a familiar energy running through the ship and around it, fizzling at high speeds even after the Draconic Rain came to an end.
"The Shards...Because more of them are closer to each other now, the power they're emitting is close to a single Life Plate!" Volo gasped. "I underestimated the power of the shards! Their resonance has become so great that they're emitting a great energy. They're starting to create an unstable reaction!"
"A reaction?!" Sci-Twi repeated, seeing the Dragon Shards crackle in Volo's hand. Zorua yelped, jumping out of Sci-Twi's bag along with Pikachu and Spike once they felt the energy from within. The Rock and Ghost Shards inside of Sci-Twi's Shards were starting to vibrate, the power emitting from them being too great.
This was thanks to Lena, who was getting closer and closer, having the Flying and Fairy Shards at her disposal. The closer the shards get, the greater the power that emits, becoming unstable.
"Twilight! You have to leave with me. Now!" Volo held her wrist, the girl jerking back.
"B-But, Ash.."
"This one might help us!" Volo would grab the Rock Shards, relying on their power. If the shards were going to be this tremendous, might as well use their power for a safe outcome while available. At this very moment, five different energies were going off, each managing to reach the power of a single Life Plate.
Dragon, Fairy, Flying, Rock and Ghost were reacting to each other, creating a huge wave of energy that was raging around and underneath the ship, reaching the waters. But Volo knew that there was something else boosting this level of intensity. "Could it be that the Dragon Matter is getting involved...?!" He would then look at the Dragon Shards as they were beginning to react to the presence of Dragon Matter, which had been awakened.
"Oh!" In the sky, Lena felt the Flying Shards in her hand react, the energy within the shards flaring up. She was starting to lose control, her body getting a little shaky, the energy within her body getting out of control. Lena couldn't properly fly because of this and the same went for Team Rocket, who were holding onto her, unable to stay steady.
"Woah! Hey, what's going on?!" Jessie gasped. She screeched as Lena was spiralling out of the air, moving erratically.
"This reaction...!" Lena tried maintaing herself. "That means there are more shards nearby! But I never expected them to have this strong of a reaction! I can't control the Flying Shards' power!
"What're we gonna do?!" Meowth panicked. "I ain't going out like this, and I'm certainly not finishing off out here! We're so high up, we'll end up like splatters!"
"Grandma?!" Ash looked up, noticing Lena and Team Rocket spinning through the air, the Shards reacting. Digging into his pockets, he acted fast. "Go! Dragonite!"
"Dragonite!" Rising upwards was Dragonite, the Dragon/Flying-Type ready to help her Trainer.
"Hurry, Dragonite! Catch Lena and the others!" Ash pointed upwards.
"Draaagon!" Dragonite nodded her head, moving upwards towards Lena. Moving at high speeds, Dragonite held her arms out, swiftly catching Lena's group before they would fall. Upon grabbing them, Lena's body began to calm down, her hold on the shards ceasing. By loosening her grip on the shards, she would stop using their power, seeing that they were going haywire.
Ash then looked ahead, gazing at the boat in the distance and seeing the energy getting more and more volatile. This was clearly the first time this was ever happening and it was making quite the impression. And as they got closer, the clashing energies were beginning to open a hole in the sea itself.
"Woah! What's going on?!" Ash gasped.
"The powers are creating a reaction." Lena informed him, pointing at the boat. "They're trying to create an opening in the sea!"
The hole in the sea opened up rapidly, surpassing the strength of a maelstrom, whirlpool and anything else. The waves would become erratic, the sea beginning to split. It was becoming bigger, the Dragon Matter also reacting and moving out. With the ocean opening up, the Dragon Matter would roar out, joining the energies of the shards in this chaotic symphony.
"Sweet Celestia...That thing's as big as a Wailord!" Twilight Sparkle gawked at the absolute size of this hole which had various colours for the available types rushing out of the shards.
"Your Majesty!" Suddenly, crying out to her was none other than Alo, who was here with the Sea Temple, rushing to the aid of its King. It travelled the seas as fast as it could, using the power of the crystals to increase their speed. The crystals were still damaged, but for the sake of their King, they were willing to use some of its current power. "It isn't safe here anymore!"
"Your Majesty!" Safia ran forward, standing near the edge of the Sea Temple. "That hole...it will take you to another part of the world entirely if you go through! We must leave!"
"But my friends...!" Ash turned around, seeing the ship that they were on. While thinking about them, he saw the emergence of what appeared to be large rock platforms emerging from the ocean. This was being caused by Volo, who was harnessing the power of the Rock Shards to protect himself and Twilight, fleeing the scene.
In the distance, Ash sa a glimpse of Volo for the very first time, even if it was only from the back. And right next to him was Sci-Twi. He gasped upon seeing them before feeling a strong pull from the massive hole. Naturally, something this destructive would try and pull something in. And with the sea splitting, the boat they were on was slowly tilting towards the hole.
"Aaaahhh!" The girls would fall down the ship, hitting the floors, and falling over.
"Applejack! Rarity! Pinkie Pie! Rainbow Dash!" Ash gasped. But very soon, everyone on his side would be next. They all groaned as they were being pulled forward by the rampant energies, their bodies sliding. The People of the Water quickly used the crystals to form a light shield that would envelop Ash's group and Rarity's group, expanding to a certain limit.
Just like that, they were all pulled inside of the massive hole, the boat completely tilting and entering the hole, going through the sea. The hole was closed off by the sea, the sea reforming and acting as though nothing happened. The people on the Sea Temple, Ash's group, Team Rocket and Rarity's group were all gone.
And in the end, the Dragon Matter was left behind, roaring out at the water as the energy of the shards would get weaker. Now that the shards had been distanced away from each other, the energy of the shards were starting to grow weaker and weaker, the power within them not reacting.
As for the Dragon Matter, it roared, gazing at the ocean that had been disrupted, the storm having stopped. Sci-Twi, who was on a rock platform, looked back at the ocean, shocked and horrified by what she had just witnessed.
"W-What happened to them...?"
"Most likely, they've gone to another part of the world." Volo answered. "Not sure where but the shards have calmed down now. But to see them do all of this is astronomical."
"Ash...Everyone..." Sci-Twi watched with sadness in her heart. She turned away from them and witnessed them fall somewhere else in the world. Just when she was getting some peace of mind, this had happened. With her eyes lowered, she was hoping that the next time they meet, it is after they meet Arceus and on much better terms. "I'm sorry...Ash."
The sun had just set on a beautiful day, the stars appearing and the moon rising in the distance. The sun had just finished its journey across the sky, having set in the horizon. It had been a while since Ash and his friends were pulled into the hole, disappearing.
With that, they were no longer in the ocean, their surroundings no longer being the vast expanse of water. Ash groaned, his eyes slowly opening up. A shadow loomed over him. The shadow of the Sea Temple, to be exact. Wherever he had been sent, it was certainly far away from Sci-Twi.
After going through a large hole, Ash, his friends and the Sea Temple ended up elsewhere in the world, having a rocky landing. Thankfully, wherever they landed had some land and sea. When getting back up, Ash saw that his surroundings was a strange mix of the sky and the sea being closer to each other than expected.
"Where is this...? Where are we?" Fluttershy asked.
"I don't recognize this place at all." Twilight groaned.
They were in a place where towering cliffs kiss the clouds, their rugged edges disappearing into the misty heavens above. Below, the azure sea stretches endlessly, its waves crashing against the rocky shores with a rhythmic melody that echoes throughout the land.
"What the...Why's the sky so close?!" Rainbow Dash gasped once she got back up, looking up.
"Goodness." Alo and everyone in the Sea Temple were just now recovering, having been thrown in this world by the sudden appearance of the hole. They would all look up to see the skies above and how they were practically touching the sea, the clouds above them.
"The sky is practically touching the sea." Safia uttered. "And the clouds are so close to each other."
"Ooh..." Enola raised her hand, her fingers touching the clouds and feeling how soft they were.
"So close to each other...!" Another Samiyan would feel the softness of the clouds and even the warmth. Truly a heavenly feeling as the other Samiyans would interact with them.
"So this is where this hole leads to." Twilight observed. "That part of the sea leads to this location? Even if it was by pure accident..."
"That doesn't matter right now." Rarity got up, shaking her head and removing all the rubble in her mane. "She went with Volo. He took her."
"Twilight went with him." Rainbow Dash said.
"And we're here because of that guy, too." Applejack groaned, trying to get up.
"And we're here because of that guy, too." Applejack groaned, trying to get up. "I can't believe it...She's really sticking with him?
"What happened?" Ash asked, wanting to know everything. And indeed Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie had something vital to share. They didn't waste any time explaining the situation with Twilight and Volo, giving Ash the full rundown on the situation.
"Volo...?" Ash repeated.
"Yeah, we met him on the ship. He had Sci-Twi with him." Rainbow Dash replied. "And...you're not gonna believe whose his descendant."
"Is it someone I know?"
"Yeah. And guess who.." Rainbow Dash's smile dropped. "Cynthia."
"Cynthia?!" Ash's eyes widened. "What?! That guy's Cynthia's Ancestor?! No way...!"
A stunning revelation. It seemed that Ash wasn't the only one with an ancestor in the present. He was just now learning that Volo was the descendant of Cynthia. A good friend of his who came from a family line that was the closest to Arceus. Very soon, Ash and the others would be informed of everything that Volo said, from start to finish.
"I see.." Ash spoke. "So that's how it is. That's why she decided to stick with him, huh? Because of the history of his people."
"Yeah.." Twilight Sparkle looked down, gutted by what her Human Counterpart decided on.
"We tried our best to talk it out of her, but it was hopeless." Rarity sighed. "There was no convincing her at all.
"I bet he used something to mind control her. That's gotta be it!" Rainbow Dash suggested. "It's gotta be some kind of brainwashing. There's no way Twilight would just abandon us like that.
"It didn't seem like it.." Rarty spoke, recalling the look in Sci-Twi's face. "She said she was sticking with him by her own choice. Not like we can say that it was a bad decision, though. Volo said that the people in his clan were close to Arceus, and he just wants to inherit his ancestor's will and legacy."
"Yeah, but...!" Pinkie Pie tried replying, but couldn't find anything. As they all sat underneath these close skies while the boat was lying there, greatly damaged by the trip it went through, in Ash's mind, he was already reaching a conclusion.
Twilight looked over at him, seeing his face and having an idea of what Ash was about to say. While the girls were all disgruntled by it, Ash saw something else as he would stand up.
"Then we'll wait." Ash spoke. "If that's her choice, we'll wait for her. She's probably too hit to see us again, so we'll just have to wait. When she gets the chance to come and see us, that's when we'll talk to her."
"Are you kidding me, Ash?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, standing up. "That's what you wanna say?!"
"Yeah." Ash nodded his head. "We can't force her to see us if she doesn't want to. I'm not one to leave my friends behind, but I also trust her. She sees something in Volo, and even if I don't understand it, I'm gonna put my faith in her."
"So, we're just gonna let her stay with him?!" Rainbow Dash couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah.." Ash nodded his head. "She wants to do what she believes in right now, and that all leads to Arceus. After the fallout she had with Sunset, if we just bug her, it's not gonna end well. We're gonna have to let her choose when the time is right. I trust her. So until then, let's keep moving forward and wait. That's the least we can do for her. We'll meet again but not so soon."
"But, Ash.." Rainbow Dash was about to say more, but stopped herself, feeling like there wasn't anything else to say. All she could do was look away and sigh, knowing that her friend was making the right call.
"Ash is right." Twilight agreed. "Forcing her to meet with us won't help at all. We can't make her decisions for her. For now, all we can do is wait. When the time is right, that's when we'll meet again.
"I don't know, Twilight.." Pinkie Pie whimpered.
"You told us that you saw the way she was." Twilight told the Pink Pony. "She was still hurting over what Sunset did, and even after that, we tried forcing her to meet us. We can't go through the same thing again. If we want her to be happy, we have to let her come to us when she's ready."
"And we'll have to hope that she'll be ready soon." Twilight Sparkle stated.
"Mhm. And besides..." A smile returned on Ash's face. "We're gonna be looking for the shards too. We're gonna cross paths again, sooner or later. I wanna help Grandma get back to her time after all."
"Well, you said it better than I did, Grandson." Walking over was Lena, who joined in on the conversation. "Honestly...I didn't think you'd decide on that. Letting her go through it all alone. Even though I know what your friendship is like, I was expecting you to try and go after her. But you've chosen the most mature path. I'm surprised."
"Well...it was a tough call, but this is the only way we can handle this." Ash told her. "And if we do meet up sooner or later, then I just gotta work from there."
"Hm. Well, then..." Lena's smile grew. "We should get going. The sooner we get out of this place, the sooner we can move on."
"So uh...What is this place exactly?" Applejack questioned, needing to know. No one could really recognize it. Not even the Samiyans. That is until Ash and Twilight's eyes would flash when looking at the skies a bit longer.
Flashes went through their head. Flashes of Prisma and Twilight Luminaria.
"This place...It's another place from the Lost Universe!" Twilight gasped, her eyes flashing with Fairy Matter while Ash's flashed with Dragon Matter.
"Yeah..." Ash gawked. "I don't know the name, but it's from that universe for sure."
"Really? Another one of these places?" Fluttershy asked. "I guess it found its own spot now that it's been revived."
"Man, just how weird was that universe?" Pinkie Pie placed her head through the clouds. "It's got so much. Even this! No wonder it was like a utopia back then! If there was a place like this, then I would never wanna leave!"
"Hmm..." Ash took out his Rotomphone, wondering what region this area had found itself in. When checking the map, he discovered that he and the others were somewhere in the Galar Region. "Oh, we're in Galar. So this place found itself here, huh?"
"Galar...?" Rainbow Dash raised her eyebrow, confused. "Really? What part of Galar is this?"
"It looks like it's somewhere near the Wild Area. I can't tell what part. All the clouds and the sky are way too close for me to see everything else." Ash informed. "Wonder how that works...
"Your Majesty!" One of the guards rushed out of the temple, coming to a screeching halt. "Your Majesty! Big news! We've tried looking beyond but it seems that there is nothing else except this land.
"What are you talking about?" Ash questioned.
"We tried seeing where we could sal in these close seas, but when scouting the area, we found that there s nothing else. Just more of it as far as the eye can see."
"That can't be right. You should at least spot the Wild Area at a certain angle, right?" Rarity questioned, not too sure of it.
"We haven't seen anywhere else. Only water, cliffs and clouds. The rest of the sea is just more of the same. This place doesn't seem to be an island either. It's all one massive piece of land."
"You're serious?! Then does it even connect to Galar or is this a part of it?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"We're stuck?!" Pinkie Pie screeched, her tongue aggressively moving left and right. This area from the Lost Universe was not only larger than it seemed, but somehow, the rest of Galar had been cut off. The sea was not connected to Galar, being its own entity. Neither was the sky. They were their own entities. Almost as if they were in an another world entirely.
The Sea Temple. Samiya.
"Ow..." This whole time, in the lower levels of the Sea Temple, Gallus, Smolder, Ocellus, Sandbar and Yona were bewildered, sprawled across the floor. The actions that happened outside reached them, and the whole ship was tipping, pulling them in.
"Oh...That hurt." Smolder winced, getting up. "What was that all about?"
"I have no clue." Sandbar groaned. "One moment, we were on the surface. Next moment, everything was getting dark."
"I think I heard a roar out there...and thunder.." Gallus mentioned, recalling the vicious sound of a Dragon's Roar and thunder. All that chaos disturbed even them, causing them to end up elsewhere in the Sea Temple. They weren't even aware of the location they were currently stuck in or what led to that ruckus.
By this point, they were very much far from home, in an entirely different part of the world that was seemingly cut off from everywhere else, being on its own. Once they recollected themselves, they noticed the room they were in had a large slide leading downwards to what appeared to be some type of abyss.
"A slide?" Sandbar observed. "A Water Slide?
"It doesn't look like it leads to any water. What's up with all that darkness?" Gallus squinted, trying his hardest to look beyond to look past the abyss. But all he could see was darkness. "Is this even a part of the Temple?"
"What do we do now? Yona not sure if Yona can go on."
"I don't see any other way out." Smolder pointed out. "Plus, something great could be there, waiting to be filmed."
"Are you sure? We got knocked down to this part of the Sea Temple and we have no idea what caused all of that trembling. Maybe we should just show ourselves and try and head home. By now, it should be midnight." Sandbar suggested.
"No way. Take a look at that!" Gallus pointed at the abyss. "There's a reason a slide is right here of all places. Pretty redundant to have a Water Slide in a Sea Temple, but eh. I bet there's something there. Might as well go and find out."
"Yeah. And who knows, we might find a way home or something cool." Smolder suggested.
"Ooh!" Yona's face lit up, a sparkle in her eyes. "Yona will be famous if Yona finds something! Then everyone will respect Yona!"
"I'd rather be alive and safe than gain respect." said Sandbar.
"Trust me. The latter's way better! I gotta see this for myself!" Wasting no time, Smolder jumped in, throwing the camera to Gallus. "Get a good view of this! Haha!"
"What?! Do I have to hold it this time!" Gallus yelled.
"Hurry! Hurry!" Yona jumped onto Gallus, urging him on.
"Argh!" Gallus was pushed forward, jumping in the abyss along with the others, sliding down the water slide.
"Yay! Go! Go! Go!" Yona cheered. "Do it! Do it!"
"I'm not a performer, Yona! I'm not doing any tricks!" Gallus groaned, doing his best to keep the camera steady. Sandbar held on tight to Yona while Ocellus transformed herself into a Bronzong to increase her weight.
As they descended, the slide would soon lead them into a dark tunnel, the slide leading all the way down into an abyss that had no end. With the camera rolling, they would fall deeper and deeper, the tunnel growing darker.
"Woo hoo! Hahahaha!" Smolder laughed, enjoying the thrill of this ride. She felt like she was going faster, feeling a bit of the wind on her face, a smile appearing on her lips. "Woo! Go! Go! Go!"
"This would be way better if there was any water! Or if we were even safe!" Gallus exclaimed. As they kept going, the darkness continued to envelop them, masking their bodies completely to the point where they might as well be invisible. Sandbar closed his eyes when the darkness got closer, fearing the worst.
However, rather quickly, something up ahead was seen. The darkness began to disappear, revealing a light in the distance. The light was strong enough to alert all of their eyes, having a bluish colour to it, keeping in line with the Sea Temple's water theme. Once the light got brighter, it was revealed that waiting for them were two massive doors that were open wide, the light shining out of them.
"A door?!" Sandbar shouted. "So even this leads to somewhere new!" More the Sea Temple's secrets were being revealed, even by newcomers. But at the speed they were travelling at, they wondered if they would even be able to see what was beyond that door without suffering critical damage. The five would crash through the doors, entering the light.
And what awaited them was a magnificent sight. The light blinded their vision for a moment, their bodies feeling the warmth of the sun, the fresh breeze and the soft sand. Their eyes would soon adjust, their surroundings finally coming into focus.
But they weren't outside or on a beach or anything. Instead, the room they found themselves in appeared to be another a sanctuary. The shape of this area took the form of a colossal nautilus shell, its spiraling chambers drawn, painted and sculpted into the coral bedrock of the temple. The chamber's exterior is adorned with carvings resembling the delicate ridges and patterns found on the surface of a nautilus shell, the patterns forming intricate and mesmerizing patterns that draw the eye inward.
The chamber's interior walls are a deep shade of blue, a color reminiscent of the deep sea and its waters. At the very centre was an alcove, concealed behind a shimmering veil of enchanted seawater. The alcove also had a massive sculpture of Manaphy at the very top, with a sculpture of Kyogre below him.
"Ahaha! Jackpot!" Smolder stood when admiring this place, smiling at the sights around her. "Man, this place looks amazing!"
"Is it some kind of sanctuary?" Ocellus asked. But it wasn't really showing any signs of being one. There were no Pokemon at all, the place completely empty. The only thing that was here was this sculpture and that was it.
"No Pokemon...Maybe they come here at certain times?" Sandbar scratched his mane.
"Who knows? We're probably the first ones to find this." Gallus commented, looking around.
"Ohh.." Yona sighed. "Yona wanted to see cool stuff. This is only one thing."
"Well, it just looks like this is the only thing that matters." Gallus approached the Alcove, getting a good view of it with the camera. But as soon as he got too close, the Alcove reacted to his presence. The water that was around it began to rise up and the statue of Manaphy and Kyogre began to react, their eyes flashing.
"Ah!" Gallus gasped his body was suddenly outlined in a blue light. He didn't have time to react, completely caught off guard. The camera had been dropped as Gallus could feel his body leaving the ground, the light surrounding his entire being.
"Gallus!" Ocellus gasped.
"Not good! You might've triggered something!" Sandbar shouted as the time to panic was nearing.
"Huh? Huh?!" Gallus felt himself being raised into the air, the light surrounding him. "Wait! I can already fly!"
"Gallus!" The others shouted, the blue light engulfing his entire being. As soon as that happened, the Gallus was thrown into the alcove, which would summon a veil of water in the entrance. Gallus could be seen being placed in some sort of seat that suddenly spawned from below the alcove, being surrounded by a sphere of water.
"W-What's happening?! Get me outta here!" Gallus was unable to break free, feeling trapped in this seat. The chair was made out of the finest and purest pearls and coral, and its cushions are crafted from the softest and smoothest sand dollars and anemones, all of which are found on the bottom of the ocean.
In front of Gallus, he was shown some sort of interface that was made out of water and bubbles, a type of screen appearing before him. On his hands, he felt circular water spheres suddenly appear that he could himself grabbing. At that moment, the inside of this Alcove let out a voice that spoke to Gallus.
It was obviously a foreign sound, but it was made for Gallus to understand. He heard a beautiful song rush through his head that would speak to him in just a few seconds, but allowed him to process everything.
"Gallus! What's going on!?" Smolder picked up the camera, rushing to the alcove but unable to pass through.
"This thing...It said it's a Defense Mechanism or something like that?" Gallus uttered.
"A defence mechanism?" They all repeated.
"Yeah, that's what it's saying. It's saying that this place is a defense mechanism." Gallus would start moving his hands, making the water spheres move accordingly. He cooed at the sight before turning his head, suddenly getting a view of the outside. The mystical interface allowed him to view the area outside the Sea Temple, giving him a good look of the place.
Gallus was amazed by what he was experiecing. The moment he turned his head, he got another look of the outside from the west instead. Turning his head again gave him a view of the east. "This thing is allowing me to view the entire outside of the temple! I can see the ocean, the sky, everything!"
"Really?!"
"You have been selected for the role of the Guardian. For this task, you have been granted the title of Guardian, and as Guardian, it is your duty to protect this place, as it has protected you. Should anyone threaten the safety of this temple, the power of the ocean itself will rise up to defend it. It will not allow anyone to cause harm to this temple." The interface spoke, having an echoing voice.
"A Guardian?! Me?!"
"You have been chosen for the role. This is the duty you have been chosen for. The ocean has seen it within you and has accepted it. You have been selected to become a guardian of this temple."
"What does that mean? Why me?" Gallus questioned.
"Only those who have been selected can become a Guardian. To Protect the King of the Sea, The Prince of the Sea and the Ocean." The voice continued.
"So that's what this thing was. You just had to accidentally walk into it." Smolder lowered her eyes, not impressed.
"Please! You would've done the same!" Gallus pointed out and he was very much correct. Smolder, putting on a smirk, would've done the same thing.
"Well, at least it's not dangerous." Sandbar sighed, relieved. "Let's get out of here already."
"Are you kidding!?" Gallus was stunned. "There's no way I'm passing up this opportunity! I'm gonna get a good run with this stuff and show how much fun it is!"
"Huh?!" Everyone else was surprised.
"So, I basically control the entire Sea Temple right now? Sweet! Let's see how this works!"
"No, you're not supposed to be a Guardian! Get out of there!" Smolder tried breaking through, but couldn't pass through the water. "What do you think you're doing?!
"Says you! I bet I'd be an awesome Guardian! Watch! I'm gonna do a little experiment here. Try not to freak out, okay?" Gallus smirked.
"Why are you asking us that?! It's not like we have a choice!
"I'm a Guardian, so I get to have some fun with this." Gallus chuckled, pressing a glowing, transparent button on the interface, a bright light filling the inside of the Alcove. And the outside as well.
"Wh-What's going on?" Sandbar gasped. "What is he doing?"
"It's just a little test. Just a little test..." Gallus said, the light becoming blinding.
At the top of the Sea Temple, Alo and Safia were still thinking about what to do in this situation, trying to find a way out of this area. They would all gasp as they felt the Sea Temple beginning to move, a strong quake occurring.
"W-What was that?!" Enola gasped, almost falling over.
"Something's going on!" A guard alerted everyone.
"Your Majesty, please get back." Safia urged Ash, not wanting him to be a part of this. Right before their very eyes, the Sea Temple started rising from the seas. But it wasn't just ascending, from the bottom, something was beginning to protrude out.
Bursting out were massive legs, large and thick, and covered in a shiny, smooth surface, looking like a crab's legs. At the very top of the legs were large claws, both of which were the size of the Sea Temple, with one of them being smaller.
"Whoa!" Ash was taken aback, his eyes widened by what he was witnessing. "Awesome!"
"What the heck is that?!" Rainbow Dash shouted, her hooves trembling.
"I don't know!" Applejack answered. "What is goin' on?!"
"What are those things?!" Twilight Sparkle gawked at the giant legs, unable to believe her eyes. "Did they always have that?"
"Goodness! The Spiritual Defence of the Sea Temple has been unleashed!" Alo quickly ran out of the temple, rushing to Ash as fast as he could in his old age. He was shocked and appalled by what was going on, a bit nervous about it.
"Alo, what's happening? Why's the Sea Temple acting up all of a sudden?" Ash asked.
"Your Majesty, the Spiritual Defence has been unleashed." Alo stated.
"Spiritual Defence?"
"Yes, the Spiritual Defence. It is a powerful defensive system that the people of the Sea Temple created a long time ago. The Spiritual Defence can take control of the temple's structure, changing it at will and taking various forms." Alo explained.
"That's what this is?!" Pinkie Pie pointed at the legs. "But why did the Sea Temple turn into that all of a sudden?!"
"It seems that the Spiritual Defence has chosen the form of the Sea Beast. It mainly reacts to the spirit of whoever is fulfilling the role of a guardian. " Alo explained. "But the Spiritual Defence has not been used in so long..."
"Wait, I thought Safia was the Sea Temple's Guardian." Fluttershy glanced at Safia.
"I am. But this predates me. Exactly 7 years before I was born and when the Sea Temple was still new." Safia explained. "However...the reason it hasn't been used so long is because it was too dangerous.
"Dangerous? Why is it so dangerous?" Ash asked.
"Because no matter who takes on the role as guardian, the Spiritual Defence cannot help but act on its own. And it chooses a form at random, not caring who is the Guardian or not." Alo stated. "The Spiritual Defence has been dormant for so long, but now that it's active again, there's no telling what will happen."
"Wait, if no one's in charge, how does it work? Is it doing its own thing?" Rarity inquired.
"Exactly." Safia replied. "And no one's able to stop it. Only a true guardian is able to gain control over the Spiritual Defence and tame it. Anyone else is just going to be along for the ride."
"What if someone is in control right now? Maybe someone's taking on the role of guardian right now." Twilight theorized.
"No one in Samiya would be bold enough to approach the Spiritual Defence, not since it was sealed away. And no one outside the temple should even know how to operate it." Alo mentioned. "...Unless..."
"Someone found it.." Rarity realized. "Maybe it's an intruder."
"That can't be. There are only a handful of people who are even aware of the existence of the Spiritual Defence. I know the names of all the Samiyans and they haven't left. And not only that, no one should even be able to enter the depths of the Sea Temple without my permission." Safia added.
"That probably means it's not a Samiyan." Ash walked forward, approaching the Sea Temple and looking up at it. He was staring at the legs, seeing how big they were and how they were holding the Sea Temple off the ground.
"Y-Your Majesty! Please be careful!" Alo stuttered, holding his hand out hile the Samiyans inside and outside were beginning to panic.
"Hah..." Ash took a deep breath, building up his voice. "Hey! It's me! The King of the Sea!" At that moment, from his mouth, Ash would actually announce his title to the Sea Temple. Ash has never done this before until now, his voice booming across the ocean and reaching the ears of the Sea Temple.
His voice was loud and clear, being carried by the wind and entering the foundations of the Sea Temple. With his words having reached it, the Sea Temple's eyes, which were located near the claws, would open up, the blue eyes shining.
Of course, this voice also reached Gallus, who would receive it. He was caught off guard by Ash's booming voice, almost falling over. The camera dropped, the sphere surrounding him, allowing him to control the Sea Temple.
"Woah! Who's talking?!" Gallus bellowed.
"Be very careful, Your Majesty! The First King of the Sea, my father, attempted to have the Spiritual Defense answer to him, but because of its nature, he had to seal it away!" Safia yelled, warning him. "It might not answer to you either! Please, get back!"
"I won't know unless I try." Ash stepped forward, looking at the eyes and raising his voice again. "If you're here to help, I would greatly appreciate it! But if not, we need to get out of here! So, will you lend me your strength, Samiya! We have to get back home! And back to the Sea!"
When saying that, a blue light would shine from the eyes, the entire Sea Temple starting to shake and tremble. The guards would gasp, fearing the worst.
"Your Majesty, please run away!" One guard urged.
"I-I'll protect you, Your Majesty!" Another guard shouted, standing by Ash's side and taking out his weapon, ready to protect his king.
"Please, come back here! It isn't safe!" Alo begged, his hands together. But it was at that moment, the entire Sea Temple would let out a roar, a roar that shook the ocean and the seas, causing a tidal wave to form. The water was sent flying, the wave crashing into the nearby islands and the rocks.
"W-What's happening?!" Smolder shrieked, her body shaking. Gallus, are you the one behind this?!"
"N-No! It wasn't me!" Gallus stuttered. "I was just testing things out and then that happened!"
Ash was staring down the Sea Temple, unphased by its actions, his eyes focused. From the eyes, a pillar of light would emerge, shining upon the temple and the sea. The Samiyans all covered their eyes, blinded by the light.
But as the light reached Ash, his Aura would suddenly block it all, emerging from his body and forming a barrier, blocking the light from getting too close. Twilight and everyone reacted as the massive light was being blocked by this Aura that was roughly Ash's size and shape. Ash kept his serious expression when staring down the Sea Temple, not moving for a moment.
"He's just taking it! Awesome, Ash!" Rainbow Dash smiled, amazed by Ash's actions.
"It's because of Ash's resolve." Twilight quietly said, alerting her friends. "Everything with my counterpart, the shards, Volo, the Dragon Matter, Prisma and more. Ash has been through a lot. He's seen us being put in so many dangerous scenarios that it's all coming together right now. He doesn't want the Sea Temple itself to start causing trouble either. Right now...I think just like my counterpart, Ash is reaching something new."
Unable to break through his Aura, the Light of the Sea Temple would diminish, slowly fading away. It saw that it was unable to overpower Ash. He was very much not the same as the first King of the Sea from the past.
And as it disappeared, the Spiritual Defense would stare Ash down once more, actually calming down. Ash's serious expression then turned into a smile, prompting the Sea Temple to start kneeling, facing its King.
"He did it! It responded to him!" Safia exclaimed, a wide smile forming on her face. "Outstanding, your majesty!" The Samiyans would all cheer, praising their King for his actions.
"Awesome, Ash!" Rainbow Dash cheered.
"I knew you could do it!" Twilight said.
"He's amazing..." Fluttershy gasped, smiling at the sight. Truly, at this moment, Ash proved why he was the King of the Sea. He then raised his arm, prompting the Sea Temple to poke his finger with its own.
"Glad you're calm. Ready to help out?" Ash spoke.
The Sea Temple was very much ready to serve its King, just as intended. The Spiritual Defence, which was too dangerous to the point where the first King of the Sea was forced to seal it away, was now tamed and controlled by the second King of the Sea, a new power joining his arsenal.
"Thanks." Ash then turned, facing the far horizon where the clouds kiss the waters. "Alright. Let's start by getting out of here. And after that, we're going straight for the shards."
They were on the move, trying to find a way out of this strange place that was a part of the Lost Universe. The Sea Temple, now serving its King as intended, would stroll across the seas and the land, its head moving through the clouds. While Gallus had his fun controlling the Sea Temple and getting the hang of its Spiritual Defense, the others were on the move, trying to escape.
"Gallus, come on! Get outta there already!" Smolder banged on the door, the water preventing her from passing through. "You're having too much fun in there!"
"Oh, come on. Just a little longer, okay?" Gallus smirked, playing with the interface.
"This is so stupid." Smolder rolled her eyes. "Come on, Gallus. Get out. This is a bad idea."
"Relax. I'm the guardian, remember? It's my job to play with this stuff." Gallus pointed out, using the interface to scan the area outside the Sea Temple. "To be honest, I think you're just jealous, Smolder. You wish you could do this too."
"You're not wrong." She admitted. Smolder wished she was the one to accidentaly enter the alcove, the thought of playing with a giant temple making her feel giddy. "Just a bit, though."
"Don't worry, I'll find a way for all of us to join. I bet there's something in here that can do that." Gallus checked out the interface, wondering what other functions were in this thing. But as he did, a blue light would emerge, brightening the area. Gallus gasped as the light would then reach the others, catching them off guard.
"Woah, what is this now?!" Sandbar yelped, the sphere surrounding him, turning blue. The sphere began to shrink and the boy found himself being thrown around inside the sphere, his body becoming one with it.
"Sandbar?!" Ocellus shrieked.
"It's not stopping!" Yona panicked.
"Haha!" Gallus chuckled, watching it unfold.
"What is going on?! Why's this happening?!" Sandbar shrieked, feeling his body become one with the sphere. "How did this even happen?!"
"Don't know. But whatever it is, it looks fun!" Gallus observed the sphere, seeing Sandbar's face inside of it. The sphere was changing, forming a new body for Sandbar. As the transformation ended, the sphere would change, its colour shifting to yellow.
"Aha! There you are!" Suddenly, entering this part of the room was none other than Twilight, who burst the door open. The others would gasp, seeing the Princess of Friendship. "So you're the ones who activated the Spiritual Defense!
"Oh, hey there." Gallus waved, smiling. They have been busted now that Twilight had found them. After learning that someone in the secret part of the Sea Temple activated the Spiritual Defense, she and a few others decided to check it out. Some of the Samiyan Guards could also be seen appearing here.
"So, it was you guys, huh?" Twilight raised her eyebrow, her eyes glowing. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Oh, hi, Principal Twilight.." Sandbar nervously waved.
"Hi." Gallus replied, casually. "I guess you guys are wondering what's going on."
"Well, yeah. I am." Twilight sighed.
"Gallus got chosen by this thing and became it's guardian. I'm guessing you found out about it from the outside..." Ocellus explained while Gallus tried hiding his face behind the interface.
"I see." Twilight narrowed her eyes. "Hah...Well, that's not the most surprising thing that's happened so far. But it's dangerous for you all to be out here. Your parents must be worried sick about you all."
"Yeah, sorry." Sandbar bowed his head. "I don't think we have a way out of this place yet."
"We're not stuck here, are we?" Smolder asked.
"We're still trying to find a way out of here. It's already past midnight." Twilight approached them. "Now, come on. Get out of there."
Responding to Twilight's words, the Alcove would shoot Sandbar out, causing him to spin across the floor, his eyes rolling as he became dizzy. However, it would not spit Gallus out, keeping him in.
"You too, Gallus." Twilight requested.
"Umm...I'd love to, but uh...this thing won't let me." Gallus chuckled, realizing he was stuck. He tried moving forward, attempting to leave, but himself unable to move from this spot.
"You're stuck?" The Princess of Friendship tilted her head. "Seriously?"
"Yeah.." Gallus lowered his head, the camera lowering with him.
"That's weird. Maybe there's a reason why you can't leave." Twilight suggested. "Can't you turn it off or something?"
"Well, I was trying to figure out what to do, but then I kinda messed around with it, and now this happened. But I think I'm getting the hang of it." He made a sheepish grin.
"Okay..." Twilight sighed before facing the guards. "Do any of you know how to remove him?"
"N-Not exactly. The First King of the Sea sealed it off before we could know every detail about it." One guard answered.
"Hmm.." Twilight pondered on her next action. Her mind raced to one solution. The solution she's always had with her from the start. Magic. Shrugging off, Twilight's horn would glow, the water that was blocking her path would disperse. "Looks like the only way is through magic."
"I'm not sure about that, Principal Twilight." Gallus told her. "If you try anything, this thing might act up. Like really bad.
"Well, we can't stay here. We have to get back to school and our homes." Twilight stated, stepping forward. "Besides, I'm a professional."
"I think that's your ego talking, Principal." Gallus chuckled.
"Maybe." Twilight's horn glowed, preparing to cast a spell. "But it's better than not trying." From her horn, a ray of magic was unleashed, hitting the alcove. As soon as that happened, the Sea Temple's eyes would flash, a red aura suddenly appearing. The sphere surrounding Gallus would start to glow, becoming brighter.
Gallus grimaced as Twilight continued to pour her magic inside, trying to get him out. The Sea Temple fought against Twilight's Magic, using its own magic to combat against her. Twilight narrowed her eyes, sensing some retaliation.
The guards shielded their eyes as the magic would aggressively fly everywhere, hitting the walls, ceiling and the floor. Twilight could feel a strong resistance against her, but she was also pushing the magic of the Spiritual Defense back as well.
"Come on!" Twilight focused, pushing the magic even further, forcing her way into the Alcove. The magic would continue to fly, the two types of magic fighting one another. Twilight was doing her best to force her magic inside, but the magic of the Sea Temple was preventing her from doing so, refusing to budge.
"Esp!" Espeon cheered her on, encouraging her Trainer to keep pushing.
Twilight's eyes would glow, focusing even harder, her body trembling. As she was fighting against the magic, she felt her horn being hit with an electric shock, a surge of electricity running through her body.
Quickly, Twilight would use some of her Sorrowful Rage Magic along with Rift Magic, boosting her capabilities. With a final surge, she managed to push her magic through the sea Temple's, her magic overtaking the Sphere that was surrounding Gallus. Gallus cried out as he felt his body being pulled, a bright light filling the room.
The guards were forced to cover their eyes while Twilight, using the magic to pull Gallus out, would be surrounded by the light as well. It was a powerful sight, a mixture of red and blue magic. Once Twilight pulled hard enough, Gallus was forcefully ripped out of the alcove, crashing onto the floor.
"Ooohoo.." Gallus groaned while on the floor, absolutely bewildered. "Did it work?"
"Sure did. Are you alright?" Twilight helped the young griffon up, her body aching.
"My everything hurts.." Gallus stood, wincing. "Man, I'm not even the one who does magic. How do you put up with all that?"
"Practice." Twilight replied. "Alright. Now that that's over with, getting ourselves back home is the next objective.
"Hold on! If Gallus is out, doesn't that mean the Temple will stop moving?!" Smolder gasped.
"Huh?" Twilight gasped, her eyes widened. She realized the mistake she had caused. "Oh, no..."
Right on cue, the Temple was beginning to come to a halt as tremors were felt, the Sea Temple starting to fall apart. The quakes were so strong that the guards were being pushed out of the temple, unable to withstand the power.
"Ahh!" Twilight was almost swept off her feet, the floor shaking. The Temple was attempting to stop, slowly descending back to the water. The others were losing their footing, struggling to stand up.
Soon, everyone else in the Sea Temple would feel it, absolutely confused by it all. Without anyone as a host, the Sea Temple would return to its original state, getting them nowhere. Seeing this drawback, Gallus managed to get back up with all of his might, gazing at the Alcove.
Since he was the reason it started up again, the young griffon was about to try and rectify it. Having no second thoughts, he threw himself towards the Alcove, taking flight. He would land right on top, sitting on it and facing the others.
The second he entered, the Spiritual Defense reacted to his presence, recognizing him immediately. His entire body would be surrounded by a blue light, the sphere once more surrounding him. Everything was coming back, giving Gallus the interface once more.
Gallus immediately placed his hand on two of the spheres, gripping them with all of his might. By doing so, he would feel a connection with the Sea Temple, becoming its host once more. His mind and the Sea Temple's were synced, both connected by a mysterious bond.
Just like that, the Sea Temple would rise, the legs appearing once more. This time, the legs would actually start moving, the Sea Temple now able to walk.
"Yes! There we go!" Gallus grinned. He managed to keep it moving, preventing any more tremors from going on across the entire Sea Temple. Knowing he pulled it off, he would let out a proud and hearty laugh, feeling a rush. "I told you I'd make a great guardian! See?!"
"Yeah yeah..." Smolder grumbled, her head spinning.
"Ugh..." Twilight groaned while getting back up. "M-My bad. Didn't know the temple would do that.
"No problem. It was worth it." Gallus responded. "I got to be in here again."
"Wait. You were able to activate it, even though you're not a Samiyan?" Twilight inquired.
"Yeah. Pretty neat, right? I was chosen."
"And it was just a random chance that you stumbled into it? And it chose you?" Twilight's mind was racing, finding all of this weird. She could sense something strange, feeling the Aura of the Sphere surrounding Gallus. "Well...In that case, you're going to have to keep this temple moving until we get out of this place. I'm leaving it up to you, Gallus."
"Really? Haha, yes! I'll gladly take that offer! This is so cool!" Gallus smiled. "Don't worry, Principal. I'll get us all out of here.
"Glad to hear that." Twilight sighed, relieved. Granted, getting out of here was easier said than done since this strange area was seemingly in one spot and nowhere else. "You guys are going to need to help me find a way out of this place. If not, we'll be stuck here forever."
At the upper levels of the Sea Temple, Lena was looking out at the expansive land, sea and sky before her, taking in the sights. Even if this place was seemingly endless, it was beautiful to look at. She was leaning on the railing, the wind blowing through her hair, feeling the fresh breeze.
"Hah.." Lena let out a sigh, taking everything in. The air, the ocean, the sounds. It was a nice moment. One that she felt she deserved after the events that happened last night.
She had been awake for a while now, not having slept much. Her mind was still filled with the thoughts of last night, remembering her experience. She was mainly thinking about Volo, her former friend and enemy. And of course, the man she fell in love with. Her suspicion of him being in the present too and continuing his mission was true.
It was a shame that this was Volo's path. A part of her wanted to talk to him and convince him not to follow through with his plan. But that wouldn't be easy considering the last time they talked, she ended up fighting him. And even if she was successful, what would happen afterwards?
Lena looked at the Fairy and Flying Shards in her hand, seeing the mystical powers within them and the trouble they were causing. Lena just wished to restore them all as soon as possible and return to her time, hoping that things would finally end.
But it would not be so easy.
"Volo..."
"Okay. We've been walking for hours, so it's time to put our heads together and bust out of this place!" Ash spoke in front of his subjects AND his friends, addressing everyone.
"Yes, Your Majesty. However, we are not sure where we are. No matter how much we have searched, we haven't been able to find a way out of here. It's just as an endless array of land, sea and sky." A Samiyan Soldier spoke.
"So, what are we going to do now? Are we trapped here or something?" Rainbow Dash asked, concerned. "I can't be stuck here forever! I'm gonna become the first ever Equestria League Champion!"
"And I have to be there for Pheromosa when she recovers!" Rarity leaned forward.
"My family needs me!" Applejack would shout as well
"All my Pokemon back at the Pokemon House will be so worried if never come back." Fluttershy spoke. All of them had their reasons for getting out of here and returning back home, not wanting to stay here forever.
"Well, we've got the Sea Temple Crystals to count on." Ash turned his attention to the Crystals placed in the Sea Crown Altar. "Now's a good enough time to use their power."
"Your Majesty. The Crystals haven't recovered fully yet. They still need time." Safia approached her King. "Are you positive we can use their power?"
"Yeah. I know they're still resting up. But we gotta do something and we gotta do it fast. Don't worry. I've got an idea." Ash grinned.
"Very well, Your Majesty. Please proceed." Safia stepped back, bowing her head.
"Okay." Closing his eyes, Ash would focus on his Aura, summoning the Staff of Sir Aaron out of thin air to aid him. He grabbed it, preparing to use its power. Clearly, Ash was about to use his Aura to figure something out, but he would go a step further. "Okay. Rainbow Dash. Applejack. Rarity. Pinkie. Fluttershy. I'm gonna need your Z-Crystals for this. Think you can use them?"
"Our Z-Crystals?" Rainbow Dash would take out her Fightinium Z, Fluttershy unveiled her Firium Z while Pinkie Pie held out her Mewnium Z. Applejack and Rarity didn't seem to have theirs on them right now, leaving them back home.
"What're ya planning?" Applejack questioned.
"We're gonna give the crystals some more power and get them back to speed." Ash spoke before holding up the Pikashunium Z. "The Z-Crystals all have light in them, so we're gonna pass some of that power to the crystals."
"Oh! An excellent idea, Your Majesty!" Safia clapped. "The Z-Crystals posses a similar light to the Crystals!"
"They do?"
"Indeed. It's even presumed that the Z-Crystals are a lot like the Life Plates that belong to Arceus. The Original One." Alo approached.
"Huh..Now that you mention it..." Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. "We heard something just like that back at Kukui's Lab. I think it was Lena who said they looked a lot a like."
"Could it be that Z-Crystals and Life Plate come from the same thing? Is that possible?" Fluttershy asked as there was now an extra layer of mystery to these Z-Crystals. And as a bonus, it also played into the connection the Alolans and Samiyans have.
"Maybee." Ash took a guess. "Well, anyway, the point is the light inside the crystals can recharge the crystals' power, making them work again. Then, we'll use Lightspeed!"
"L-Lightspeed!?" One of the guards gasped. "Y-You're majesty. The mechanism is made for Lightspeed Travel, not the Crystals. We have never used them to travel at lightspeed due to how much power that would take. That is why we created a mechanism for it."
"But if we were to do so, it would be ven greater than the Mechanism. The Crystals are far superior to the mechanism we created anyways." Alo replied, backing Ash up. "And I suspect his Majesty is planning to help the Crystals withstand the immense amount of power needed for Lightspeed. Using the Z-Crystals for it should lessen the strain."
"You got it." Ash nodded before facing the Crystals. The Samiyans had faith in their King, who had full confidence in his plan. He was willing to take the risk and help his friends. "I'll use Aura to boost their power, giving them enough strength to handle the trip."
"But your Majesty! What if this does not work?! This is a serious risk you are taking!" A guard pleaded.
"Then we'll try something els." Ash would then place his staff down on the floor, letting his Aura flow through his body. His boy would exude an azure light, the Aura surrounding his body. The Staff would also glow, resonating with his Aura. "Come on. Let's try this."
Soon, his friends would hold up their Z-Crystals, aiming them at Ash. They would focus on their friendship, letting their thoughts reach him. This would result in an array of different lights appearing, the energy being sent to Ash.
He would gasp, feeling the energy entering his body, the staff reacting as well. He felt the energy flowing through him, the Z-Crystals giving their light. The Aura surrounding him would grow, the energy intensifying.
As soon as the energy was ready, Ash would close his eyes, his mind connecting with the Crystals and the Staff. He could feel the energy coming from all of them, the power flowing through him and the crystals.
With that, the Samiyans were stunned by the display. They couldn't believe their eyes, watching their King using his Aura to connect himself and his friends with the Crystals and the Staff, giving them all the energy needed for a boost.
"Don't just stand there! Prepare to travel!" One of the soldiers said to his fellow Samiyans, ordering them to use the Crystal's power for Lightspeed Travel. Quickly, the soldiers and guards would all rush to the Crystals, getting ready for their travel.
Ash was keeping the energy flowing, letting the power build-up. With each passing second, the energy would grow more and more, reaching a certain threshold. It was then that Ash would open his eyes, the Aura bursting around him.
His eyes were blazing with Aura, changing from their usual colour to the azure beauty that Aura always has. The People of the Water held their hands out, closing their eyes and humming a specific melody. A melody meant to resonate with the Sea Temple Crystals.
It was a soft and calming tune, a song of tranquility. The melody reached the Crystals, causing the gemstones to respond, emitting their own light. The Samiyans would all begin praying and whispering their chant, the melody resonating with them as well. Joining in was the Prince of the Sea Manaphy, who would also chant that melody.
"Mana...!"
The melody would reach Ash, who was still pouring the energy into the Crystals and the Staff. He listened to the soothing tune, hearing the words the Samiyans were saying. With a clear mind, he would begin repeating their chant, saying it in unison with them.
"Mana...!"
Soon, a powerful wind would blow around him, the staff spinning in the middle of the air, the energy coming from the Z-Crystals still flowing through the staff. The energy was becoming more and more intense, the staff's spinning becoming faster.
"Mana...!"
With their song continuing, the entire Temple was covered in a beautiful golden light, a shining beacon on this endless sea and land. Everyone was stunned by this sight, amazed by the beauty of this light.
Twilight ran over, finally showing up and seeing the amazing sight. She watched the light shining from the temple, the golden light covering the endless area. She would join the others, her eyes staring at the shining temple, mesmerized by it. But not only would she gaze at the sight, she would take out two of her Z-Crystals. The Normalium Z and her exclusive Z-Crystal, the Twilightium Z.
"Take mine as well, Ash!" She would hold the Z-Crystals high, letting their light enter the Sea Temple and the crystals inside. Ash was able to sense this light as well, the light entering his body and adding to the power that was already being used. And since the Twilightium Z was also made by Arceus who worked alongside Twilight to create it, the energy inside was astronomical.
The aura around Ash was shining brightly, the blue colour becoming more and more vivid. The Samiyans continued chanting, the melody flowing throughout the entire Sea Temple. They all joined in, letting their voices fill the temple, their words echoing throughout the area. Ash's hair would start rising, glowing two specific colours. The Light of Aura and the Light of Arceus.
The Samiyans would notice this, the glowing of Ash's hair. This was something they had never seen before, a phenomenon unknown to them. The chant would continue, their hands glowing a bright blue. Lena would watch from afar, watching her descendant at work.
She was shocked to see the glowing in Ash's hair, seeing him emit two lights. She was confused and astounded, wondering what this was all about. However, she would just continue to watch, seeing the lights emanate from Ash and his friends.
"Now!" Ash declared, his voice echoing as the Sea Temple would take off in an instant, moving across the endless sea and sky at speeds unimaginable. And the temple was not alone, the entire area was beginning to change.
Because of the speed they were moving at, the Temple was beginning to enter a strange space, the endless world around them starting to fade. As the speed increased, the Samiyans, Lena, Twilight and everyone else could see the area beginning to distort, their vision becoming distorted.
"Ash!" Twilight yelled while holding onto a pillar. "Did you figure out how to travel through space with Lightspeed!? Since when?!"
"Hehe!" Ash grinned while turning around. "Sci-Twi taught me that! Science is so amazing! If we move at light speed, we can leave this place and end up in a totally different place!"
"I knew you were learning a lot, but this is insane!" Twilight replied, her face being squished a little bit. Pinkie Pie giggled while feeling her face wobble as they were moving, seeing the distorted view. Rarity was panicking, feeling her face becoming one big ball of flesh.
"W-What is going on?! Is my face turning into a water balloon?!" Rarity screamed.
"Haha, no way! It's just the weird light thing going on! My eyes are seeing like 5 of you!" Rainbow Dash laughed, her vision becoming blurry. "Oh wow, that's really weird."
"I'm so glad I've never flown at Lightspeeds before!" Rainbow Dash yelled, her face becoming distorted as well. The speed was so fast that everyone's bodies were beginning to twist, their faces and everything becoming stretched out.
But before the worst could happen, they passed through the space, the temple vanishing in a grandiose flash of light, leaving behind a trail of golden sparkles.
Equestria. The Seas of Equestria. Nightfall.
The Seas of Equestria. Currently tranquil and at peace. But they would soon be caught off guard by a sudden burst of light, a golden trail shooting through the seas, heading towards the lands. It was the Sea Temple, flying across the vast expanse.
"Your Majesty! We've done it! We've finally managed to escape!" One of the Samiyans called out. Once they all realized where they were, a wave of relief would wash over them. They had escaped from the mysterious land, leaving behind an empty void. The Samiyans chattered, expressing their happiness.
"Finally, we're out!" Applejack sighed.
"Yeah! We're free!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Haha! Now, we're actually home! I recognize this area!"
"Yay! We're going home! We're going home!" Pinkie Pie cheered.
"That was a wild ride..." Twilight sighed, relieved to be back.
"Well, we're back to Equestria now." Ash smiled, his Aura disappearing. And just as he planned, the Crystals maintained their balance, the power having been restored. With that, the Samiyans could rest easy.
Not only that, but they would cheer for the King, reminded of why he was their ruler. They would thank him for his help and praise him for his actions. He truly proved why he was the King of the Sea, earning the respect and gratitude of his subjects.
Ash smiled back at all of them, accepting their gratitude. Being out of here felt greatly rewarding. Despite everything that's happened so far, Ash and everyone else had been working together and were finally rewarded with the results. The dangers that they face and the threats and obstacles that stand in their way, in the end, they were able to come out of it smiling.
The King of the Sea could rest easy, knowing that the Sea Temple Crystals had been restored, and they were headed for the last one. Ash then looked into the Night Sky and at the horizon, thinking about Sci-Twi. This was not over. Their paths will cross again, for better or most likely, for worse.
As the journey continues.
Chapter 463 End.
The Race for the Shards Begins! Celestia's Big Approach
Alola. Melemele Island. Iki Town. Kukui's Lab. Day.
"What? You want us to keep the Shards?" Speaking to Ash from the phone was Kukui. He called him all the way from Equestria, informing him of something rather crucial, while also entrusting the shards to him. The Ground and Steel-Type were to be kept by him.
"Yeah. After what happened, it's for the best. If too many shards get too close to each other, it'll lead to something crazy." Ash explained, referring to the huge hole that opened in the seas of Hoenn right near Lilycove City. "You should've seen the size of it!"
"So if five of them are near each other, they'll cause that kind of reaction." Kukui sighed. "I'll hold onto the Shards, don't worry. And the same goes for the Fire Shard here, wherever it is.
"Thank you very much!" Lena's face came into the frame as she pressed her face against the phone, unsure of how this device worked. Kukui backed up when she pressed her face on it, slightly alarmed.
"Hah...Don't worry, Lena." Kukui assured. "These'll be in good hands. Good luck finding the rest. How many do you need to find again?"
"The ones on our side are the Flying, Fairy, Ground and Steel Shards. Volo's side has the Dragon, Ghost and Rock Shards. The Fire Shard is also somewhere in Alola. And since there are 18 Types, that means we have to find 10 more. The Electric, Water, Bug, Ground, Poison, Dark, Psychic, Grass, Ice and Fighting Shards.
"Got it." Kukui nodded, writing the types down. "So, you're still out at sea, right?"
"Yeah." Ash's face would smush next to Lena's. "We're gonna be looking for the rest of the shards for a bit."
"Right. You guys do that. Be careful, okay? I would say stay out of trouble, but knowing you, that's a lost cause." Kukui joked, making Ash giggle.
"Yeah, probably. Thanks, Kukui."
"Alright, Ash. Stay safe. And thanks."
With that, the call would end, leaving the two alone. Kukui then looked back at the two shards at his disposal, wondering what could possibly happen if all 18 of them are close to each other. Either they are fully restored or something cataclysmic happens.
Equestria. Out at Sea. The Sea Temple. Samiya.
"So, how are we even gonna find the other shards?" At the Sea Temple, Rainbow Dash had to know how finding the other shards would work. Volo had his own way of finding them thanks to that bracelet he found, while Ash's group might have to just wing it.
"Easy!" Lena stood tall and proud, beating her chest. "I can predict where a shard may be!"
"You can?" Rainbow Dash and Pinkie said unison.
"Lena here ate some weird egg in the past that lets her guess where a shard could be." Jessie slid over, outstretching her arms to Lena. "It's how she found some of them and she even came to Alola because of the Fire Shard.
"It's not consistent but it sure is helpful." James crossed his arms, nodding.
"She's a walking treasure tracker!" Meowth exclaimed.
"Ohoo! That's so cool, Grandma!" Ash's eyes lit up. "What kind of Egg did you eat?!"
"Well, it was an egg that apparently relates to Arceus. I didn't know that at the time and I was just hungry, so I ate it." Lena admitted with a sheepish grin. "Tasted great, but it also gave me this ability to sense the Shards. And it also made it so that I can harness their power." Lena then held out the Fairy Shard.
"Only you and Volo can harness it's power?" Rarity leaned forward, gazing at the shards and their excellence.
"Mhm. Volo can do it because he's a descendant of the Celestica People, so it's something that's always been within him. I have the Egg to thank for this though."
"Mighty useful. So, are ya picking up another shard yet?" Applejack nudged.
"Hmmm..." Lena closed her eyes, focusing on the shards and their powers. She could sense the faintest of connections, her mind trying to locate the next one. But then, the connection would become stronger, leading her to a specific direction. She was able to see something no one else could. Much like how Aura Users and Lucario could view others from certain distances with their Auras, Lena gained a special view, showing her the remaining shards in a black space as they were all glowing brightly. "Okay...I see it.
The level of brightness on some of the shards signified which ones were at least nearby even at great distances. Three of them were currently glowing bright. That being the Grass, Water and Bug-Type Shards.
"So, which one are we going for?" Ash asked.
"They're both shining bright, but it looks like the Water Shards are letting out a bit more. So we should go there first. But it doesn't seem like the Water Shards are on land." Lena would kneel, placing her hand on the floor. She moved them across the smooth marble floor of the Sea Temple, concentrating her accidental ability. "Not on land, which means...It's probably somewhere in the Sea. Somewhere South."
"The Sea?! Awww!" Hearing that made Rainbow Dash realize how difficult it would be to find the Water Shard. The Sea is massive after all and the shards are rather small. Even if they are glowing, the fact that the water is so vast and large makes it nearly impossible.
"Of course, it had to be the Sea..." Applejack lowered her head, not too surprised by it.
"That'd be impossible!" Pinkie Pie bellowed, her mane shaking. "We'd have to look across the entire South Sea to find those shards! That'd take like...like..like...forever! I'm not sure how long that is, but it's a really long time!"
"And there's a chance a Pokemon might've already eaten it or something. Water-Types are said to have the most amount of Pokemon out there." Fluttershy commented, the fear of finding a Water Shard only to see a Pokemon swallow it and digest it filling her mind. "Oh, my..."
"No way we can build something for that." Jessie shook her head. Team Rocket, while great at building amazing things just to get the job done, the grand scale of the Sea was another story.
"Heh. Yeah, but it's not impossible." Ash grinned, not even the slightest bit intimidated by it all.
"You see a bit too confident." Jessie shifted her eyes at Ash, lifting her glasses a bit, but not too much to give away her identity. "Don't tell me you think we can find those Water Shards that easily?"
"We totally can! Right, you guys?" Ash faced the Samiyans.
"But of course. After all, his Majesty is the King of the Sea." Alo nodded while stroking his beard. "All Water-Types bow to him when he unleashes the power of the Sea Crown. That includes any Pokemon who can dwell in the sea."
"Oh, yeah! That's right!" Rainbow Dash's smile returned. "Duh! How could I forget?!"
"Eh? Really?" Lena said with a stunned expression. "Y-You can do that? I knew you were the King of the Sea, Grandson but this is bigger than I thought..."
"Lucky you." James bit his shirt. "Having so many people around you to help out..."
"It's pretty sweet. All my friends always help out when we need each other." Ash grinned, looking at the Samiyans.
"His Majesty doesn't see us as his subjects, but his friends. Because of that, it elevates our bond and makes us even better." Safia approached them. "If only my Mother and Father were here to see how far our Sea Temple has come."
"I'm sure they're glad, Safia," Alo added. "After all, you are technically the Princess of the Sea, even after all of these years. Your parents would be proud to see you."
"Thank you, Alo." Safia bowed her head before facing Ash. "Your Majesty. Let's begin and have you wield the Sea Crown once more."
"Alright. Sounds good to me." Ash grinned, looking forward at the altar were the Sea Crown was kept. All those individual crystals counted as the Sea Crown, especially when together. Recently, they've just been revitalized and were ready for use once more. Manaphy hopped off, standing near Ash.
"Mana!"
Once more, the People of the Water would have to pray to unleash the power of the Crystals. In this case, they would pray for the Sea Crown to emerge yet again. Manaphy started singing, humming a beautiful melody as his body was beginning to ascend, leaving the marble floor.
This caught the attention of the others, the song reaching their ears and touching their hearts. The melody was filled with serenity and tranquility, a soothing tune that resonated with their minds. The Samiyans joined in, chanting and humming a similar melody. The crystals would glow, releasing their light as it would gravitate towards Ash.
His body was beginning to shine, the crystals' lights surrounding his body. The aura around him would grow, reacting to the Crystals and Manaphy's melody. The Samiyans continued their chant, their voices growing louder. Ash's would gain a Golden Aura that was as bright as the sun.
The crystals would all release a bright light, the energy filling the room. Ash would close his eyes, his senses focused. And just like that, he stood there with his Radiant Aura which was the Sea Crown itself, facing his friends.
"It's so beautiful seeing it a second time." Rarity admired, gazing at the Golden Aura.
"Mhm. Sometimes I wish I could have that Aura." Fluttershy admitted, thinking it would suit her. "It's like the light of the Sun.
"Oh, really?" Ash uttered before pointing at all of his friends. "In that case, here you go!" To their surprise, Ash would affect them all with a single point, not even touching them. In a flash, their bodies were feeling something grand emerging from within them. They all looked at their hooves, seeing their bodies emitting an aura.
The girls gasped, seeing the aura around them, their eyes wide open. All of them had gained that beautiful golden light, the auras shining brightly.
"Hah!" Rainbow Dash would fly up, feeling her aura around her. It was the same one that Ash and Manaphy possessed, an aura of the Sun. "I can already fly, but now I can move in the water no problem!
"Beautiful!" Rarity checked herself out, seeing the Golden Aura. She was happy to have her own Aura, immediately leaving the floor, easily taking flight.
"This is incredible, Pinkie!" Twilight approached, her own aura shimmering. All of them were already getting used to the flight it gave them, even though Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy can already fly. "Now we can easily swim through the water and travel to the bottom of the sea!"
""Yeah! Never was a big fan of swimming, but now I'm loving it!" Applejack twirled in the air, enjoying the power.
"Mhm. It's like I have wings that are meant for the Sea." Fluttershy's eyes glimmered, a soft smile on her face. "This must be what Water-Types feel like."
"Now, to tell them all." Speaking of Water-Types, Ash would take flight, leaving behind a Golden Trail of his aura, heading straight for the sea. "Hey! Everyone! Can you hear me?!"
As Ash was heading to the waters, the Pokemon below would turn their heads, sensing something. It was Ash, calling out to them, the Golden Aura being visible from a distance. His aura was calling to the Pokemon, who could hear his words loud and clear. One by one, the Water-Type Pokemon around these seas would pop their heads out of the waters, emerging and gazing at the Sea Temple, which was currently on the move.
Water-Types of so many different varieties would gather, coming out of the depths of the sea. Ash was seen from above, flying out and waving at them. They all came to the King of the Sea, heeding his call.
"I'm gonna need your help with something. Somewhere way out in the South, there are these Water Shards that we're trying to find. They're blue and pretty small. They look a lot like these." Ash gave a demonstration, holding up the Flying Shards in his hand. "If you see them, can you let me know? Cause we're gonna be searching for them all across the South Seas. I'm gonna need your help! Please!"
Ash would plead with the Water-Types, asking them for their assistance. He hoped they could all help him find the Water Shards, using their knowledge of the sea. Of course, they would obviously help, serving their King. Each of them let out their respective cry, the seas being filled with an array of sounds.
"Alright! I'm counting on you!" Ash said before pointing to the south. "Go for it, everyone!"
Just like that, the Water-Types stopped whatever they were doing, diving down into the water and swimming off. Their mission was clear and simple: search the South Seas for any sign of a Water Shard. With the help of their King, they would spread far and wide, covering the area. Following them to the South was the Sea Temple while Ash himself would fly through the air. His friends joined him, taking flight with their golden auras too.
"You think this'll work, Ash?" Rainbow Dash flew next to him, having faith in the Pokemon of the Seas.
"For sure. I have faith in all of them." Ash smiled before accelerating through the air. "Hey, how about I race ya? You're super fast in the air, but I bet I'm faster with this!"
"Nuh-uh!" Rainbow Dash shook her head before pursuing Ash, the two zooming across the skies. Ash's aura would trail behind him, Rainbow Dash doing the same with her Rainbow Trail which merged with the Golden Trail.
In the sky, seven rays of light flew by, heading South. They would soon reach the shores, flying along the waters. And just like that, they were on their way, racing the wind and the waves. All seven of them were having the time of their lives, laughing and enjoying the trip.
The journey was a rather lengthy one, taking quite some time. However, the group had their fun. Flying together, they were able to make the trip rather entertaining. Nearby cities and towns would see these lights, watching them zip through the air. They were in awe, watching these mysterious lights and rays flying by.
Canterlot. Canterlot Castle.
At Canterlot, the afternoon Sun had arrived, the warmth reaching the city. Time went on with no issue whatsoever. Any issue happening across the world would be assessed by Princess Celestia, who was allied with the Ranger Union and so on.
She would stand by her balcony, the breeze blowing through her hair, her mane and tail flowing along with the wind. The clouds were so white and pure, the Sun shining down on the entire city. The princess was gazing into the skies, looking out into the vastness of the world. At the same time, she was currently chatting with the Ranger Union, using one of the Travel Sphere's many functions. The new version of the sphere wasn't just for opening gateways, but it could also act as a video call.
""So, that's what Ash and the others are doing." Celestia spoke, getting news of what Ash, Twilight and the others were currently up to. "Goodness. There's always something new."
"Yes, it is quite the predicament." The man on the screen was no other than Professor Hastings, the man in charge of the Ranger Union's Technology. The Chief of Technology to be exact. "It all comes back to Arceus it seems. And so far, Arceus is seemingly asleep again. It's strange to say the least."
"What about Daybreaker and the others? Any updates on them?" Celestia questioned.
"Recently, we've been getting something. They've popped in and out of universe here and there, up to no good as well, but they seem to be acting in short bursts. They haven't been using Necrozma to absorb as much light as they usually do. Instead, it seems like they're just stealing from a few sources and going. But the one who's showing up the most is that Nightmare Rarity."
"Nightmare Rarity..." Celestia repeated, her expression growing solemn. The last time she heard of her was when Luna battled her in the Dream Realm, but their battle was cut short. Nightmare Rarity hasn't been seen for a while compared to the others.
"Most likely, it's who works under Nightmare Rarity. Luna told us before how she has her own minions of the night. The similiarties between her and Nightmare Moon are obviously strong since they come from the same magical source. New ones have appeared it seems."
"New ones? What do you mean?"
"Some of our Rangers spotted what appeared to be Pokemon that have been affected by Nightmare Rarity's magic. They even gain that same night-like appearance, their bodies becoming a shadowy colour."
"Are they alright?!" Celestia gasped.
"They are fine. When we found them, their transformations weren't complete, so we were able to save them. But it's clear that Nightmare Rarity could be planning something big. She might be planning to affect us all with that same magic. I assume."
"A very good chance." Celestia looked out into the horizon. "But this time...I'm not going to take any chances. Too many times Equestria, Kanto and everywhere else have been caught off guard by these attacks from other Universes. This time, we'll reverse it on them before they get the advantage. If Nightmare Rarity is truly planning something, we'll strike first. And the others as well."
"Oh. Really?" Hastings said with a slight gasp. "Positive? That would mean you'd have to open a gateway to her universe then. And strike when she leasts expects it. Are you sure about this? She's dangerous and she could be ready for that."
"Even so, we must take the initiative and go on the offensive. We'll have to strike at a moment she doesn't expect." Celestia was going all the way with this, not wanting to hold anything back. "When did you last see these Pokemon that were affected?"
"Just 6 Days Ago, I believe. Not too long ago. There's a chance they could be on the move again somewhere in the world. We'll get a notice of their own gateway opening up."
"In that case...When their gateway is about to open, that's when we'll open our own. That way, they'll never know a gateway is appearing in their universe. We'll strike from behind, hitting them and leaving before they can retaliate."
"R-Really?" Hastings was astonished by this proposal. Celestia was taking this a step further, taking the initiative.
"I'm sure. I'll need your help again, Ranger Union. Soon, I'll focusing on taking down another part of that alliance My counterpart, Daybreaker, and everyone surrounding her have been causing too much harm and chaos to our home. Many of these scenarios have even shaken the world. So, now, we're going to stop it. Before they get the chance."
"I see...That is rather surprising." Hastings said, rubbing his chin. "Very well, we'll be on the lookout. Good luck, Princess." His hologram would vanish along with the video call.
"Luna." Celestia turned her head to see her sister Luna standing nearby. This entire time, she's been in this room, concealed by the shadows of the sun's shades. "It's time. Our enemies are starting to stir, so we're going to hit them while they least expect it."
"Thought you'd never ask." Luna smiled. "This will be my speciality. I've dealt with Nightmares more than anyone and I have unfinished business with her. I'll stop her before the worst can happen, just like any other nightmare. But are you sure about this, sister?"
"I am. Let's go to them for once. We won't be sending everything to their universe, but we will be sending a force there. Just enough to catch them off guard and attack from behind."
Celestia was not pulling her punches with this. Taking everything in, she wanted to put a stop to this alliance as soon as possible. She looked at her subjects above, prioritizing their well-being. Celestia knew that these enemies of hers were very much capable of doing the worst to the world.
From the Tremors caused by Daybreaker and Gardevoir plus Malamar attacking the Moon, the Sun Princess was now taking full initiative. And in her eyes, a blazing determination would burn. More than usual.
The blazing determination in there had a greater flare than before. A flare that matched that of the Sun. But this solar determination, while one that had a ton of drive for a better future, had something else behind it. And Passion could faintly sense it. It was mild, but there was something there that her heart responded to. A great sense of hope, but also something else.
The Pony-Pokemon Hybrid who is the daughter of Princess Celestia and Cobalion. Hailing from a universe where both Celestia and Cobalion vanished on the day of her birth, leaving her to be raised by the ponies in Canterlot plus the other Swords of Justice, her aunts and uncles, and the this universe's Luna.
Naturally, since she is half Pony, half Pokemon, she is the first of her kind. Being the first ever hybrid of a Pokemon and an other completely different entity and with her mother being an Alicorn and her father being a Legendary Pokemon, Azurelia is one powerful Princess. She also counts as a Pokemon, but is treated like royalty for she is the heir to Equestria and the Lady of the Sword.
This is her story in her Universe.
Equestria. Canterlot. Day.
As the morning sun painted the sky in hues of gold and pink, the city of Canterlot stirred to life with the bustling energy of anticipation. Streets lined with colourful banners and adorned with floral arrangements bore witness to the approaching Summer Sun Celebration, a time-honored tradition that had long been synonymous with joy and reverence for Princess Celestia.
But this year, as the ponies of Canterlot prepared to pay homage to their beloved ruler, there was an added air of solemnity mingled with the festivities. For Azurelia, the Pony-Pokémon hybrid who stood as both heir to Equestria and Lady of the Sword, cast her own radiant presence over the city, much like her mother.
In the streets of Canterlot, ponies were putting up decorations and getting the town ready for the event that's only a few days away. In the main square, a couple of colts and fillies were playing in the fountain and others were just chattering with friends.
"Do you think Princess Azuerlia will show up for this year's Summer Sun Celebration?" One pony said, petting her Lillipup.
"I'm not sure. She's never shown up for the previous ones at all. Ever since her parents vanished on her birthday, when it comes to the Summer Sun Celebration, she's always hidden. It's only her birthday that she really stands out." The other pony replied.
"Yeah. I feel bad for her. She's got no parents to raise her. All she has are her aunts and uncles, her 'guardians' as she puts it. I don't think she likes the word 'mothers' or 'dads'."
"I've heard she calls them her 'Auntie Celly', her 'Uncle Lio' and her 'Auntie Lulu'."
"Hehe. Those are nicknames. I've seen her around here a few times. She's a real sweetheart, even though she's got a bit of an attitude and her 'Sword Aura' as she puts it, is a bit overbearing."
"Yeah. You've gotta love her though. She's a Princess, but she doesn't have the arrogance like some of the nobles here. In fact, she's quite humble. She's a real gem, but she's very lonely."
"I can't imagine why."
As they spoke about Equestria's Princess, setting everything up, all the way inside the castle, the ponies and their Pokemon were currently decoratiing the place for this respected celeberation. Nobles from across Equestria were invited to come to this party as the Pokemon of the Guards and Servants would set the place up for the special occasion.
Banners of Equestria, which were very different from the one in the main universe, having the Symbol of a Sun, Moon and Swords, were being put up everywhere as the Guards made sure everything was perfect. The nobles were conversing as they walked around the castle, taking in its majesty as the Princesses' Pokemon guards stood around. Some of the tallest and bulkiest Pokemon were standing around the main hall as the rest were patrolling the castle.
Meanwhile, in the Royal Gardens, two Gardevoir and two Gallade were tending to the flowers. Two Gardevoir, one male and one female, and two Gallade, also one male and one female, were looking after the beautiful flowers that the royal family had been growing for generations. The male Gardevoir and Gallade were trimming the bushes while the female Gardevoir and Gallade were watering and pruning the flowers.
"Azurelia! Azurelia!" A voice boomed through the hallways of the castle, making the Guards, nobles and Servants stop what they were doing and turn to the source. Stepping forward was none other than Princess Luna, who was now the Ruler of Equestria due to the mysterious absence of her big sister.
Her height was still the same, her mane was longer and had more of a darker look to it and her eyes were a light blue colour instead of the normal violet. Different from her sister, she wore a dark blue cape, a dark blue crown on her head, her hooves had metal covers on them and her wings had metal guards on them.
She looked at the nobles with a glare before turning her attention to the Guards, who were standing to attention and looking up at her with a determined expression.
"Where is that girl? Another Summer Sun Celebration and she's completely absent once again. What does she have against the Summer Sun Celebration?"
"Probably nothing, Your Majesty. Maybe she's just trying to figure out a few things. Like where her parents have gone. That would be very depressing, don't you think?" The Guard said.
"Of course. I know that already. But this is getting tiring. She needs to learn that her duties are more important than her personal needs. She can't hide forever."
"I'm sure that's not what she's doing. She's probably just out and about. You know she doesn't stay here often."
"Yeah, and the last time she left the castle, we had a crisis on our hooves. I hope she's not out getting into trouble. After all, ever since she returned from this universe she was apparently stuck in for a while, she's been outside a lot more. I barely see her in the castle. Where is she now?"
Flareout Fields.
Far from the castle in a vast field, Azurelia was on the move, galloping towards her destination with a sunny smile on her face. Not too long ago, she found herself transported to another universe, also known as Universe 1. The Main Universe that connects to all. And in that Universe, she met that world's Celestia and Cobalion. While they weren't the same ones as the ones back in her home, it felt nice to meet them again. It was like she was with her parents once more, even if they had a short time together.
And ever since she met them once more, Azurelia had a spark of inspiration and determination, feeling that she would one day meet her parents from this yet again. It made her want to explore the world even more and see what else is out there.
She was currently in a place known as Flareout Fields, a place far from Canterlot. As she galloped, her hoofsteps were creating mini fire blasts that disappeared after a second. The flames were bright red and were glowing with great energy. This was thanks to the nature of these fields, which housed many Fire-Types and had a very high temperature.
Noticing a hill ahead, Azurelia quickly ran up it and jumped off the edge, spreading her wings and gliding across the sky with a joyful expression.
She enjoyed this life, despite the lack of her parents and the occasional teasing she gets. However, despite her young age, her mind and body were matured enough for her to know that it was alright. And since she met the ones from the main universe, Azurelia one day wished to see them again and visit that universe.
And for that reason, she was currently searching for a way to do so.
"I know I can return to that universe one day! And this time, I won't have to wait for an accident for that to be possible!" Azurelia spoke, flying through the sky.
As she flew, she noticed a couple of Butterfree up ahead, floating through the sky and dancing around. Smiling, Azurelia waved to them as they would cry back at her. "Free! Butterfree!"
"Gee, thanks!" And of course, Azurelia understood them. Since she was half Pokemon, she had the ability to understand Pokemon speech, like any Pokemon. She could speak it too, but she would often choose not to, especially if a lot of other Pokemon were around. It was something that was natural to her.
She would greet the other Pokemon here, briefly speaking to them each time she passed by them, which was very often. They would always respond and some would fly around her.
"When I find a way to return to that universe, I'm gonna spend as much time with as possible." She said to herself, thinking about all the family time she'll get to spend with them. "We don't usually focus on travelling to other universes, but I'm sure we have something."
Azurelia was in search for anything that could take her to Universe 1, just to have the rest of her family around her. She only has her uncles, aunts and other family members around her. But not her mother and father.
"It would be so cool. My family and my new family." Azurelia thought. "Maybe we'll have a feast or something."
However, Azurelia was brought out of her thoughts by a sudden sound. Something was moving at high speeds, its feet hitting the grass faster than Azurelia did when she was galloping. Azurelia looked around, trying to locate the source. Right behind her, she could see a green figure moving as fast as the wind, the wind itself pushing against her back and Azurelia was beginning to notice that this individual was getting closer.
Looking back, Azurelia was surprised to see a very familiar face. It was none other than Virizion.
"Hey, Aunt Virizion! What are you doing out here?" Azurelia greeted her aunt with a smile. Virizion smiled back and slowed down until she was dashing beside her niece.
"Finding you." She answered. "Another day of you missing out on the Summer Sun Celebration as always. But recently, you've been out of the castle and Canterlot even more ever since you returned when stuck in that universe. Everyone is worried about you."
"I've just been so excited, Auntie!" Azurelia was flying backwards while facing Virizion. "Ever since that experience, I learned that travelling to other universes was real and possible! After all, I met my parents from another universe! If I could get there once, I can do it again! And that's why I'm out here today!"
Virizion smiled. "Of course. We all know about that, dear. But...That's easier said than done. You can't exactly travel to another universe that easily."
"I know, I know. That's why I've been going out a lot more. Because I've been trying to search for a way to open up a gateway or a portal that universe, so that I can meet with them again!" She outstretched her hooves. "You understand that, right, Auntie?"
"I do understand it. But perhaps tell everyone else that before you start running, sweetie." Virizion let out a slight chuckle. "You only go on about meeting them in that universe and that's all.
"Oh! Sorry! I guess because I keep leaving the castle early in the morning to get a head start." Azurelia squeed. "My bad. I'll be sure to tell everyone when I get back."
"Speaking of returning, we should head back. It's almost time for the celebration and you'll be the star of the show." Virizion spoke, picking up her pace.
"Aw, but I want to find something to return to that universe!" She pouted. "That's the whole reason I'm out here searching. Auntie Virizion. You're a Legendary Pokemon, right? You've gotta know of a way to do that, right? Right? Is there something I can use?! Please?!"
"Well...How about we sit and down talk about it first." Virizion requested. Azurelia continued to pout before slowing down her movements, eventually dropping to the ground, deciding to just stop all action.
"Alright."
The two would sit near the end of Flareout Fields, which had a huge cliff that led to a vast lake which was had a beautiful sparkle to it. These sparkles were magical, radiating with Equestrian Magic but also Infinity Energy, the power that flows through every Pokemon.
"Alright, tell me." Azurelia said, her voice serious. Virizion sat in front of her, crossing her legs and looking up at her niece. "If I'm going to return to Universe 1, what can I use?"
"Well, you're lucky that you've only recently shown up. It's been 3 weeks since you've returned to us and now that you've informed everyone of another universe out there, it might be a good time to inform you of this."
"Inform me of what? Is there some secret universal travel machine that I don't know about?!" Azurelia gasped "Is that it?!"
"Not exactly. But, you'll be pleased to know that there are Pokemon capable of travelling to other dimensions. With absolute ease as well. Either for the fun of it, or as their job."
"Pokemon that can travel dimensions? Oh, yeah. I learned about them when I was young. Auntie Luna had me learn a lot about Pokemon at an early age and I got it all fast since I'm Half Pokemon. But that dimension stuff...I never really thought too hard about it. Is that the answer?
"I'm afraid not. I just wanted you to hear this. Dimensions and Universes are completely different things."
"What's the difference?"
"Quite a lot. I'm not the best one to explain it all, but just know that wherever you went was not a dimension, but a Universe. There's a big difference."
"Ah. I get it now. So, which Pokemon can do that, Auntie? When I was being taught, I learned about Palkia, the Creator of Space. And also Hoopa the Archdjinn that can warp space and seizes anything. Do you think I could get help from them?"
"Maybe. Not sure about Hoopa, but possibly Palkia. Then again, Palkia is difficult to reach. The Entire Creation Trio can't be reached. None of us, not even myself and the other Swords can hope to reach them." Virizion had to lay it straight to Azurelia, letting him know about these drawbacks.
"Oh..." Azurelia slowly said.
"Truth is...Years ago, not too long ago after your birth, many tried their best to bring them back somehow. Some even tried searching for Dialga to have him reverse time. But...No luck."
"So, I can't get their help."
"It's not that easy, my dear."
"Then what can I do?"
"Hmmm..." Virizion was thinking about this herself, but there was no easy answer to this. "No one has given up on your parents just yet, just like you haven't, Azurelia. Regions from across the world have been trying their best to find them. They're still alive out there, that much is true. I can feel it. Cobalion, I, Terrakion and Keldeo all have this special connection, so we know for a fact Cobalion is somewhere out there. Your parents are alive so we've never given up."
"But what's the point if we're making no progress?" Azurelia lowered her head, gazing at the sparkling waters. "Scientist can't even figure something out and no amount of magic is helping at all. If they could have helped, then surely they would have done so by now."
"I know." Virizion placed her hoof on Azurelia's back, trying to comfort her.
"...I really miss them. I just want them back. I know that everyone wants them back, but I'm the one who wants it most. All I have are Aunts, Uncles and you guys. But, you're not the same as Mother and Father. Even though you've been like a mom to me, Auntie. N-No offense, by the way!"
"None taken. We all know how you feel." Virizion reassured her. "It's understandable."
"I wish they were here. If only we could have some sort of sign. Auntie Luna always tells me to have faith and I'm trying my best to do that, but it's been years and we've made no progress. And all she does is talk about my royal duties and the importance of my role. I don't wanna hear that!" Azurelia crossed her hooves, looking to the side, feeling a bit bitter.
"Luna is a lot of things, but she does her best to keep Equestria and the rest of the world at peace and in order."
"Yeah, well...She doesn't look that bothered by Mom vanishing. That's her sister and she just acts so cold all of the time. It's like she doesn't care."
"She's just putting up a brave front. Trust me, she's really worried about Celestia. The day she found out her sister vanished was the worst day of her life. You were just a baby, so you never saw it. Luna wishes she could bring her sister back too, but so far, nothing can be done as of yet.
"Hm." Azurelia then looked up before standing. "Well, I'm not gonna slow down now. I know the Summer Sun's Celebration's soon, but I've never attended it anyway. There has to be a way to reach that universe and I'm going to find a way how."
"Azurelia." Virizion spoke while also standing up, trying to slow her down.
"I never had that drive in me to really push myself until I ended up in Universe 1. But now that I know it exists out there, I'm gonna do everything I can to head back there. And one of those ways is by getting stronger."
"Getting stronger?"
"Mhm. I was always born with a ton of Magic Potential because of my parents and after what I saw in that Universe and how wild it is, I know what I gotta do." With a grin forming on her face, she raised her hoof, pointing to the heavenly blue skies and straight towards the Sun. "I'm gonna force my way into that universe! My Magic will pierce the heavens and open a way through space! I will be able to open a gateway to Universe 1 if I put all my heart and soul into it. And with that power, I will find a way back there!"
"..." Virizion stayed silent for a moment before suddenly breaking out into laughter. "Ahahaha!"
"Huh?!"
"You are something else, Azurelia. That's quite the leap in ambitions, don't you think? Opening a gateway to that Universe by sheer power? Ahahaha!"
"I-I'm serious!" Azurelia blushed at her Auntie's chuckling.
"I know you are, dear." Virizion chuckled. "You've got an amazing amount of ambition. I can see where you're coming from. It's still an outlandish thing to think about but...I'm not saying it's impossible. You do have the most potential out of anyone I've seen. You're the first of your kind after all."
"Not just that, but I've got one other advantage, Auntie! If Hoopa can't reach Universe 1 and Palkia's too difficult to reach...then I'll do it myself. I've got the Genes of a Legendary Pokemon after all. I'll do what Palkia and Hoopa can't do for me."
"I see. Well, I'm not sure I can stop you either way." Virizion ceased her laughter. "After all, who am I to stop the bonds of family? But...I do ask that you be careful. Whatever you're about to do, make sure you are around friends. Going at it alone is not ideal."
"But I can totally do it by myself, Auntie. I'm strong enough."
"You've never really tested your full strength. In fact, you've never even been in a battle. If you're planning to go out into the vast world, there is a good chance you'll run into plenty of danger."
"I-I guess." Azurelia stuttered, thinking about it for a moment. "Well...I'm only gonna do one thing and I'm gonna need one good spot. Breaking through to that universe isn't gonna require me to go anywhere specific, anyway."
"Well, I wouldn't say that." Virizion shifted her eyes, knowing something.
"Eh? What? What is it, Auntie?"
"There is a place that can help you, but we've never considered it even once since it can't bring back your parents. But now that you've brought up another universe, perhaps it can be of use at last."
"Yeah, yeah?" Azurelia would jump up and down rapidly. "And it's called...?"
"At the Summit of the Unova Region, there exists a Summit made out of Stars. It was named after your Mother since Cobalion would sometimes take her there to view the constellations and see the stars dance. It is a place built on the stars themselves. The Celestia Summit."
"Ooooooooh." Azurelia nodded her head.
"Unlike most long-lasting locations in our world, this one is relatively new. It was brought into existence 5 years before your birth. Around that time was when your Mother and Father decided to be together forever. They say their love was strong enough for the stars themselves to grace them with a mountain in their honour. And Cobalionwas the one who named it after your mother."
"I never knew that..." Azurelia was learning new things now. A place dedicated to her Mother and Father's love was out there somewhere at the very peak of the Unova Region.
"At that Summit, it's said that one's magical prowess is elevated to a grandiose degree and they can connect with the universe in ways that they couldn't do before. Human, pony, dragon, changelings or Pokemon. It doesn't matter who. Of course, it's never been done since not many can reach the Summit and even then, those reach the summit are unable to comprehend the power and might of the universe. At least, that's a theory."
"I bet I can do it though. Since I'm a hybrid and half-pony, I have a bit of a better chance than everyone else. And not just because I'm a princess."
"Indeed. Your magical power is a lot higher than most."
"So, that's where I should go. I'll head there and find a way to that other Universe. I'll connect with the stars and the universe and find my way back there!" She raised her hoof again, looking towards the skies and imagining what the Celestia Summit looked like.
"And that's your goal, eh? To find a way to open a portal to Universe 1?"
"Yup."
"Well, alright. Just make sure you don't lose focus and keep your head high. And remember, be with your friends when you go. You'd best tell Luna about this as well. She can prepare you for the journey. It won't be easy to reach the Celestia Summit. There's a lot that goes into reaching it, believe me."
"I got it, Auntie!" Azurelia grinned before gazing at the blue skies above. "Just you wait. I'll do the impossible when I get there."
Canterlot. Canterlot Castle.
"Absolutely not!" Luna quickly said, turning away from her niece and continuing with her work, her blue eyes darting over a map. "The answer is a clear no."
"Whaaaat?!" Azurelia exclaimed before grabbing hold of the Alicorns' back.
The two of them were currently within a royal study, which had a vast array of knowledge to it and books that detailed everything related to both Equestria and other worlds and creatures.
Both Celestia and Luna loved reading and the entire room was built in a way where both siblings could read and research whatever they wanted. However, after that sudden incident, Luna would begin to delve into information, hoping to find some sort of sign or clue about her sister's disappearance.
"I've been hard at work for years now. All day, day by day. Often staying awake at night and eating little just to find my sister. But every now and then, the worry creeps up on me. And now it seems that the worst of these events occurred. You want to go to the Celestia Summit.
""That place is off limits." Luna replied. "Only the truly skilled are able to climb the Celestia Summit, but it is a near death-trap. Death and casualties were reported during the time the mountain was being built. Not to mention, you're simply too young, Azurelia. You're far too young."
"Why?!"
"It's a long climb up the mountain. You'd have to navigate some dangerous terrain and would also have to reach a certain point where your magic must be elevated to its greatest level before you reach the Celestia Summit."
"With a boost and determination, that should be easy! Plus, my magic's already at a high level thanks to my genetics!"
"Well, a high level to you, isn't the same as a high level to me. Yes, you are strong for your age, but a strong body means nothing against the odds." Luna shook her head before casting a spell on a part of a map she had opened up on a table, using it to create a replica of the world in holographic form.
Azurelia stared at this model, her blue eyes zooming across the whole image as she could see each and every country that was out there and the seas and mountains and everything else that could be found on this world.
"The Celestia Summit is located right at the very peak of the Unova Region, an area completely inhabited by Pokemon. Easily some of the most powerful Pokemon you can come across." She explained, a laser pointer pointing at the place she was talking about.
The place in question was located within the middle section, taking up 20% of the region and was situated in the mountains. Atop that area was the mountain itself and Azurelia could see that this place was burning as bright as a fire and had multiple lightning bolts crashing into the sides. Clusters of stars could be seen flying around this summit, dancing like butterflies and giving off their shine.
This mountain was unique, shining out into the world with an unworldly shine and showing just how special and unique it was. It truly stood out. And what it was situated on was no normal land. In fact, it was the a place brimming with Infinity Energy, that infinite energy that made up all living creatures. This particular energy was the basis for Aura and its energy was flowing through all of life and all living things. And this mountain was located at the source of this very power, making it a mystical place to behold.
"P-Pretty..." Azurelia gasped.
"Perhaps. But going to that Summit means perishing. We never got to fully explore it after its creation and its composition is completely different to any normal mountain. There is an abundance of Infinity Energy that makes it one of the most dangerous places to live and survive. Even Pokemon have to be cautious when there."
"How have you never done anything about it? All those years and you didn't think to go exploring?"
"Why would we? That Summit has only been the target of Pokemon Trainers wishing to test their strength and improve. It has never been a place that we've needed at all. But now you're wanting to explore it and do something we've never even bothered with. Honestly, I wonder what's gotten into your head lately that you think you can reach that summit."
"I told you! I saw my parents from another universe! I want to reach it and meet with them again and that summit might be the only way to do it. I can't find my parents in our universe, so I want to see them in another. You said that summit isn't useful since it can't bring them back, but I've found another use for it! Auntie Virizion told me it would help raise my magic level, so all I need to do is ascend with my own magical energy."
"Ugh...Virizion..." Luna rubbed her forehead before walking over to the balcony of the room. Stepping forward, she rested her hoof on the edge and closed her eyes. "The answer is still No. Even if Virizion allows you to do so, I'm still the highest authority surrounding you. And I say you can't. Just give it up. That Summit can't be accessed yet. There is no point."
"B-But why?! How would you know if you won't let anyone explore it?!" Azurelia barked. "Besides! Don't you wanna see them too?! Even if they're not the same ones, you'd still get to see them!"
"...Even so, they are not the same, but their existence in the world is what matters and their presence does as well." Luna said, staring out into the sunset. "Now, if you're quite done, return home. Today's Celebration has begun. You shall sit next to me and enjoy the food, music and games. That is what you shall do."
"No!"
Luna then turned around and stomped the ground, surprising the girl. "What did you just say?!" She took a step closer, her gaze hardened as the other princess grew intimidated.
"I...I d-don't wanna have fun...I don't want any more birthday parties. Every birthday of mine is just the day my parents vanished. No birthday is special if my parents aren't here."
"..." Luna stayed silent.
"Why can't I do the things that'll benefit me the most?! You're not my Mom!" That shout from Azurelia reverberated across the halls as she accidentally used her Royal Canterlot Voice, the force of her words shaking everything in the castle.
Luna's eyes widened, Azurelia's words piercing her soul with how harsh those words were. Of course, they didn't do anything to her, but her words clearly had an impact on her, if the shocked expression said anything.
Azurelia then slowly backed away before turning around, running off while closing her eyes, so that she could avoid her Aunt's stare.
Luna just watched her as she was about to leave, feeling like those words meant something more to her than what Azurelia realised. She knew for a fact that Azurelia was running off to reach the Celestia Summit regardless.
"Tsk! Uhhh! Tsk! Tsk! Why is Auntie such a worrywart?! Why can't she understand?" As the sun set over the horizon, Azurelia galloped, heading for a passageway she knew and had memorised after having to cross it so often. "I bet she'd stop me if she had a reason. But there's no way she can guess what's at the end, even though she probably knows."
Azurelia ended up going on her own, forgetting to bring anyone along since she was so heated to even think about it. The Hybrid would look into the horizon, setting her sights for the Unova Region. It would be a long run from here since the distance between Unova and Equestria was colossal. Taking something like a plane would take around 10 hours to reach t, but she'll do it no problem. She couldn't risk asking help from anyone back at Canterlot since Luna has full authority.
When trotting along the wilds, she spotted something up ahead. A carriage was passing by, carrying many ponies in it, who were just casual civillians. The carriage they were using in question wasn't an ordinary carriage.
It was a mobile home.
Not only did it look fancy, but it could also fly as well! Azurelia's eyes lit up, realizing she might have found her way of transport. "That's great!" She immediately galloped her, rushing to the Mobile Home just to speak with the ponies there.
The Carriage was long and yellow in colour with a large wheel and had some many details to its design, adding extra flourish to its entire build. The wheel was slightly off the ground as the Moblie Home soared across the landscape. Azurelia then jumped in front of the Mobile Home and cried out.
"Hi, guys! Can you please give me a ride to the Unova Region? Pretty please! I'll repay you afterwards! Or..."
She lifted her front left hoof, revealing the Royal insignia, her Cutie Mark and proof of her being an heir to the throne. Of course, this would give her any means of transportation she would ever need to. But they recognized her immediately based on her appearance alone.
"Princess Azurelia?!" The ponies inside along with their Pokemon gasped in shock to see such an important figure here. The inside of this carriage consisted of a family of 4, a mother, father and two children, one boy and one girl. And of course, their Pokemon.
"Uhhhh...Yeah! The one and only!" She struck a pose and looked over at the driver. "Hey, please? Take me to the Unova Region! I know its kinda far but...I'll be sure to pay you all, promise! Hehehe."
"Ohoo! There's a Princess in our home!" The girl spoke. She had a Pichu running along her back and a little Shinx was snuggling in her arms, making little sparks.
The Dad stepped out first before kneeling down, not wanting to stand tall over her. "Of course, Princess. Anything you need, just speak. This is quite the surprise though..."
"Yeah. No way she's gonna fit in here with that height." The boy said before being nudged by his mother, not wanting to get in trouble in any way. "Oof!"
"Sorry for the surprise arrival. I just need to get to Unova as soon as possible. And you all have a Mobile Home, which is pretty fast. Well, as fast as can be at least."
"It is a long way there, isn't it? Are you in a hurry, Princess? And isn't the Summer Sun Celebration soon?" The Mother asked.
"Eh. I've never attended a single one either way, so I don't care. But yeah! I'm in a rush. A total rush! There's one place in Unova that I wish to reach as soon as possible. I'd prefer not to stay here and let the sun do its thing for any longer." She began to sweat as the Sun, which was now dipping under the horizon, was moving across the sky quickly, preparing to set. "Ehehehe. It's not good."
"Alright. Jump in, Princess. We'll get you to Unova no problem."
"Cool! Thanks, everyone."
And thus, Azurelia jumped into the Mobile Home and she'd enjoy the trip that was soon to follow. And once the Moon took the Sun's place, that would signal the start of a brand new adventure for her.
The Mobile Home, now deciding to hurry due to the request of the Princess, would have the back of it unfold into its actual form. This was its original form, for the front could also be its body and the rest would transform and open up. As this happened, the front, which was actually a device attached to the actual Mobile Home, would float in the sky and now allow the Home to actually take off, using its advanced engineering.
"Hah...Haha..." Meanwhile, the girl was staring at Azurelia with starry eyes, panting with joy. "I'm sitting near a Princess. A Princess of all people." She was gushing over Azurelia and wanted to stay near her at all costs.
"Eh. Calm down, sis. At least we can brag to others." The boy chuckled, finding the reaction humorous.
"How lucky are you to find us? Do you wanna stay with us and not take an airship to Unova?" She asked the pony princess. "What's it like being a Princess? Can I be a Princess? How do I become a Princess? Please tell me!"
"Gempen. Please don't pester the Princess." Her Father said.
"Aw." She frowned as Azurelia giggled.
"You see, I'm heading for the absolute peak of Unova. A place known as the Celestial Summit. And once I reach it, I'll be able to do the impossible and open a portal to another universe. That way, I can see my parents from another universe."
"Wait, what?" The boy uttered, stunned by what he had just heard. "That's what you're going to do?"
"Goodness. Isn't the Celestial Summit known for being a place filled with powerful Pokemon?" Her Mother asked. "Most never succeed in reaching it and those who do leave with bewildered minds and defeated spirits from what I've heard."
"I knew a guy who's auntie tried her hoof at reaching the summit. She was never the same again after she returned. "The Father stated. "I've heard the stories but...No one's truly understood the effects the place has on its climbers and only the very few truly understand. In a way, I feel bad for those people that risk their lives and lose themselves."
"That totally shouldn't be what that Summit does." Azurelia pouted. "My Mother and Father decided to be together on that very summit and it was even named after my Mother. It should be a symbol of peace and happiness!" She couldn't understand this fact and was fully disappointed by it.
"But opening a portal? Can you even do that?" The boy aked.
"Maybe not." Gempen replied. "But if anypony can, then its Princess Azurelia! Right, Princess?
"Sure. But first, let's just reach the base." She shook her head before huddling up, her smile slowly vanishing from her face.
"Is something wrong, Princess?" Her Mother inquired with concern.
"No. Well...actually, yes. There was just a bit of a scuffle with Autie Luna."
Canterlot. Canterlot Castle.
Luna sat in her room within the castle. The bedroom had been renovated in a more calming way after Luna had transformed into the Nightmare Princess.
This room was all white now with plenty of pictures of nature, the moon and her family adorning her walls. Plenty of plushies were lying around and plenty of other stuff were around her. And like every royal, she had her own throne to sit on. And currently, the Nightmare Princess was sitting on it, thinking about what had just occurred.
"What am I going to do with that girl? It's not like I don't see where she's coming from...But it's too soon, too sudden. I fear for her safety as well, yet she's stubborn and is bound to head there whether she gets permission or not."
She turned and spotted the moon through her window, floating in the nightly dark. "Sister. Cobalion..." She got up and stood before the window before she stared at the celestial body in the sky. Her mind was focusing on them both. She had to think long and hard about her decision.
"Your Majesty. Our forces are already out of Equestria and are heading to Unova. No sign of Princess Azurelia yet." A guard walked in as Luna already sent some of her forces to stop Azurelia before it's too late.
"Ugh. This is irritating." Luna sighed as the Guard bowed and left the room. Luna looked outside the window, the sky filled with nothing but the moon and the stars as her eyes glanced down at the vast city of Canterlot, watching the lights of the buildings flickering below. "Sister. I wish you were here right now. You were more of a mother and a ruler than I ever was."
Luna would then start reminiscing of the past. Specifically, the day Azurelia was born. A day Luna was so proud to see a new member in the family.
Years Ago.
It was years ago and Luna was currently rushing through the Streets of Canterlot, heading straight for the castle. It was a momentous day for many across Equestria and by extension, the entire world. The birth of someone special was today and Luna wasn't about to miss it.
She rapidly moved past those on the streets, causing wind pressures from her movements alone. One Pokemon had almost tripped by accident and a Pony jumped out of the way by the speed of her canter.
She felt the need to rush even harder, her wings ready to open and fly.
"Am I too late?!" Luna burst through the doors of Canterlot, causing the guards to spin and fall over as she was quickly making her way to her big sister's location. She passed by many within the castle, causing quite a ruckus with her speed. This is the fastest she's ever flown, the thrill of seeing something new fueling her. "Sister!" She opened up the door that would lead her to Celestia, expecting her sister's foal to be born any moment now.
The second she opened the doors to her sister's room, standing there were the Swords of Justice, all of them looking at Luna and the rest were grouped around Celestia, with Cobalion in the centre. And once they all faced Luna, sounds could be heard. The sounds of a baby crying.
In Celestia's hooves, baby Azurelia could be seen, already being born and squirming and squawking in Celestia's grasp. Her wings were flapping and her cries echoed across the walls. Celestia smiled and quickly made her way over to Luna and Cobalion was with her, keeping close.
"Ah! Sister!" Luna caught her breath. "I came here as soon as I heard...!"
"And you made it in time." Celestia laughed. "Right on time. Look at her." She carefully passed the baby over to Luna, who held it carefully, gazing at her and smiling.
"Why...she has your fur. And your mane." Luna said, noticing that Azurelia had her colours and the length was the exact same as Celestia, long and flowing the point where it was her blanket. "At this age too?"
"She's the first of her kind. The first Pokemon-Pony Hybrid." Terrakion spoke. "That's never happened once in the past, and this little one will change the world as we know it."
"She has the genes of both a Pokemon and a pony." Virizion added. "Her potential is already stellar, without a doubt. Especially considering who her parents are."
"Hmph." Cobalion smiled, having pride swell in his chest. "My mate gave birth to our firstborn, the first of a new race. A perfect fusion and combining of races and species in order for a bright future. I was a bit hesitant at first but..."
"So what's her name?" Luna asked.
"I was thinking of a powerful name." Cobalion raised a hoof. "A name that will be revered by generations to come, especially in our family. A unique one that-"
"Azurelia." Celestia cut him off.
"...What?" The Leader of the Swords of justice had his train of thought broken. Celestia already had a name picked out for her.
"Let's call her Azurelia. It's perfect don't you think? Your Azure Coat and my Celestial Mane. Together they make Azurelia."
"Hm!" Cobalion looked down, thinking about it for a moment. "It actually is perfect. That's an excellent name. I was actually thinking about naming her Calystea, but it just sounds dumb in comparison to Azurelia."
"Really? I was thinking of Cobalestia." Keldeo added. "I thought you'd name her that. But...yeah, Calystea kinda is a silly sounding name. Ehehe."
"For shame, Cobalion." Virizion patted his leader on the shoulder.
"Just my mind boggling me! That's all it is!"
"Bahaha!" Terrakion laughed out loud.
"Tch."
Azurelia would start laughing, her laughter causing a flash of magic to constantly appear on her horn. Her magic was so tremendous that Luna was already showing signs of feeling weaker from it. "Whoa...! Amazing!" Keldeo admired.
"This kind of magic will grow into something larger." Celestia smiled. "She'll be around so many loved ones no doubt."
"Including me?" Luna asked.
"Obviously. You're her aunt. I'm sure you'll take good care of her just like how we will. Being a Ruler is going to be different now that I have my own child." Celestia held Azurelia close to her. "But I'll love every second of it."
But that happiness was quickly taken away. As the Sun began to set, giving way to the Moon, the unthinkable happened. Celestia and Cobalion had both dissappeared. Vanished like dust on the wind, or in this, stardust in the cosmos. They left behind nothing behind at all and no sign of them remained.
It was only 10 hours before their sudden disappearance. The castle was in a frenzy with many trying to figure out what happened. They spoke to each other, speaking about what they witnessed and what to do.
"I don't know! Their bodies just vanished into stardust!" A pony exclaimed, panicking.
"But how?! What caused it?!" However, that was impossible to answer since it was out of the blue. There was no logical explanation. As they were all in a rush, standing there with a shocked expression was none other than Luna, who was absolutely silent. And in her grasp was the baby Azurelia, the girl silently weeping over the events of the day. Even as a baby, she knew that her parents were gone, despite never really getting a good look.
Luna was gutted by this. And just as quickly as their smiles were brought forth, the winds of sorrow blew and covered their bodies in shadows and a vast darkness filled their hearts.
Present Day.
"...Honestly. I hate this." Luna grumbled as she sat on the balcony. She had her head lowered and her eyes narrowed.
The light of the moon glistened upon the world, with everything giving off a peaceful sheen. She sighed as the memories were running through her head, remembering every little bit. "Sister. Were you aware this would occur?" She raised her head and looked to the skies, her gaze staring off into the distance.
"I get it. Azurelia wants to bring the family together again. That's the last piece. Bringing our parents and Cobalion back from that Universe they ended up in will be the happiest time. She doesn't even want me, just the originals. In a way, I kind of understand."
"She may be acting on her emotions and desires...but..." Luna closed her eyes, as her chest was hurting a bit. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and moved back towards the inside. She opened her eyes. "But what if she never comes back?"
She headed towards the doorway when her hooves were stopped. She prioritized not just the safety of Equestria, but also Azurelia's safety. After the mysterious disappearance of her sister and Cobalion, Luna wanted to make sure that no other member in her family is taken away from her. Azurelia was currently the closest she had left, aside from some distant members.
"I've already lost a sister. I am not losing a niece." Luna grunted. With a glint in her eyes, she was going to make sure that Azurelia was safe and back home in one piece. Even if that means going out there herself.
Near Unova. High in the Skies.
At the other side of the world, the Mobile Home was reaching its destination at a rather fast pace. While not as swift as a plane, it was definitely fast and could keep up. Azurelia didn't get to see everything with how long it took to reach the location, but it didn't bother her that much, thanks to the family keeping her company and allowing her to pass the time.
"I swear. For a child of a Legendary, I never expected that." The father stated, chuckling while shaking his head. The mother was cooking food up and was preparing plenty.
"Indeed. I'm not even joking, that princess of yours is amazing. I'm starting to admire her more now."
"Hmmmmm!" Gempen's mouth watered at the smell and she licked her lips.
Azurelia sighed in delight before chuckling with glee. "Oooooh. That smells divine!"
The Dad just laughed, a Pidgeotto resting on his back. "Well, that's only fair, you've got a strong mother, father, friends and other family. Not to mention some important people from Equestria too, like those royal sisters and other high authority figures."
"Yeah. Yeah!" Azurelia then frowned before sighing once more. "...Still...that isn't a normal thing for me. I don't have a proper family and...the royal duties. They feel like a hassle."
"We could be your family, Princess! Then we won't have to worry about royal duties. The kids and Pokemon could play with you more." The girl would blurt out.
"Ehehe...you're sweet, but we'd both feel bad for leaving everyone else. This is gonna sound childish and all, but...family should be by my side, no matter the consequences. And they're missing the chance to be next to me. I want them by me more. The only family I have left is Auntie Luna." Azurelia fiddled with her hoof, as a depressed look was in her eyes. She was saddened by the fact that family wasn't around her.
"...Mmmmm." Gempen pouted. "Them guys suck then!"
"Gempen..." Her mother shot her a glare, but was pretty calm about it. She only crossed her hooves.
"Well, sorry. How come they can't do anything to make Princess happy? They haven't even met us and they'd probably be real mean."
"Azurelia knows more about them than you or any of us, so I would say something like that. And well...we just don't have time anymore." The father added.
"Yeah. Plus, if you were in her place, they wouldn't try and make you happy!" The boy chuckled, teasing his sister a bit before she flailed her hooves at him, pouting.
The girl was prepared to speak further, only to hear some clicking coming from the front door. Her and her parents turned to the front and the two Pokemon in their laps jumped out their hooves.
"Hey, what's going on, now?"
"Ugh. What could that possibly be?"
"A problem probably." The Mother added, grumbling a bit before getting up to fix the issue. Azurelia just watched the scene, not too bothered by it, since it had nothing to do with her. But after what she just heard, maybe something would make the parents and kids angry. "Hang on! I'll get to it."
The door then burst open and a horde of soldiers and even a few Pokemon came running through, blocking the Mobile home. These were the forces sent in by Luna, stopping the vehicle and restraining the driver. He protested as well. "Hey! Stop it! Let me go, this instant! We're going to crash!"
And of course, Azurelia's gaze widened at the sight, causing her to raise her head, growling. "Auntie...!" She wasn't exactly pleased to see those guards, but it was to be expected, they had a job after all.
"Princess. Glad we found you. His Majesty is requesting your immediate return home!" The Lead Guard informed, standing in the doorway to face her and the others. "Hmph. Disgraceful, talking with strangers and doing such a dangerous thing on such a precious holiday. Princess, please have mercy on us and return to the Palace."
"No way!" Azurelia barked. She couldn't believe this was happening, but she figured they wouldn't leave her alone. Luna truly went out of her way to do something as ridiculous as this. The Lead Guard stared at the child, not willing to budge from his own stance. "I don't care what Auntie says. I'm going. And you're going to let this family go through and be on their merry way!"
"Afraid not. This family might potentially be tried for harbouring you without prior consent and that's enough to have them locked in chains."
"No one said a thing like that!" Her anger increased, the sound of a raging aura surrounding her as she stepped closer and closer, moving closer to the Guard, getting in his face. "Take me back now and let this family through. If you dare harm them, then-"
Just then, something would bang against their ship, causing many to lose their balance. The impact was so hard and they could feel their ship tilting down a bit before righting itself. And just as the Ship balanced out, another force crashed against the side, attemptng to crash the carriage.
"Now what?!" The Father gasped.
"Sala!" Outside, the roar of a Salamence could be heard before another bang against the ship went through, causing some items to fall over. They looked through the window to see the source of the problem and to their shock, it wasn't just Canterlot's Forces that were in the air.
Sky Pirates.
A bunch of rambunctious people who sailed the air with their Flying Type Pokemon and captured ships to capture treasure. A long ago profession that is now almost obsolete, thanks to the law, the use of planes and advancements in technology, most pirates fell from their grandeur centuries ago. But of course, sometimes, things from the past manage to make a comeback.
"Surprised?!" One guy exclaimed, having a fearow carrying him above a flying skiff. He had plenty of treasure around his neck along with goggles, wearing a large bag on his back, the symbol of his gang stitched on. He grinned a toothy grin as his face was covered in black markings. "We caught a great prize, boys! You have a special package right here!"
"I think I see an alicorn in there. Is that...the princess?!" Another shouted in joy. They could see Azurelia sticking her head out a window.
"It is...Jackpot." The leader found quite the catch, not wanting to miss out on this moment.
The Soldiers all moved to defend the vehicle with the Pokemon teaming up and fighting the other Pirates off with their Trainers following them. The two ships in the air would enter a scuffle in between this simple mobile home, hoping to protect a single child. Azurelia was still in a stunned state once the conflict broke out.
"Salamence! Use Hyper Beam! End this instantly!"
"Sala...!" From its mouth, Salamence began charging up an orange ball, releasing a great burst of energy in the form of a beam.
"Golurk!" Retaliating were the Golurk who belonged to the Canterlot Guards. These ghost and ground type Pokemon would get in front of the beam before it could hit, enduring the attack and would launch a counter of their own. Their attacks collided before pushing each other, only one breaking free to head for their opponents and causing them to smash against a building, sending a boulder over.
A Skarmory was released by one of the pirates, heading straight for the men to combat against their Arcanine, Blaziken and Swellow. Their cries rang across the air as the two ships rammed into each other, getting close. Azurelia was frozen as she witnessed the commotion. She knew the army had full intent of protecting her, and the pirates had every intention to bring her away.
A sudden swish caused a gasp as one of the enemy pokemon managed to jump onto the windowsill, staring right at her. A Seviper hissed out as the Girl shrunk back before taking a deep breath, glaring at the enemy and a gasp came from those watching the fight. "A Seviper's got a grip on the windowsill!" A Guard shouted.
"Eeee!" Gempen freaked out. The filly her heart stop in that moment before she stumbled a bit, the vehicle going through more stress. Quickly, her brother would take action, deciding to do something alongside his Pichu.
"Pichu! Quick attack, quick, quick, quick!"
"Chuuuu...!" A smile formed on her lips as the little creature sprinted as quickly as possible. In that brief instance, her tiny body rammed right into the side of the window and sent Seviper soaring, knocking the Poison-Type back to the ship it came from.
"Sevi...!"
"Geeeh...thanks, Tool." Gempen breathed.
"Mmrgh..." Azurelia growled while looking out at the conflict nearby. She wasn't happy at what was unfolding. This conflict was created because of her presence, because these people wanted to capture her. The Hybrid stepped forward, deciding to get involved and force the Sky Pirates away, showing she wasn't afraid.
As the battle raged on outside, the Mobile Home was taking more and more damage since it was in the middle of it all. It was mainly the Sky Pirates who were landing hits on it and that was what infuriated Azurelia. She opened up the backside and just walked out, with the family yelling at her to step back inside.
"Hey there, Princess. Come with us and you won't end up harmed in anyway." One pirate suggested, only to recieve a glare from the small hybrid.
"You guys are ruining everything. You and Auntie." She spoke with an annoyed tone, her eyes flaring with sparks of magic showing. "i don't have time for you and I want to get to the Celestial Summit already."
"Huh? The Celestial Summit?" A pirate spoke. "Are you crazy? Even for a Princess, that's just plain stupid."
"Maybe it actually would be better for you to come with us if that's were you're going!" Another pirate chuckled. "It wouldn't even be illegal in that case!"
"You sound just like my Auntie..." Azurelia spoke, her horn suddenly glowing.
"Your Auntie's a Pirate?" One Pirate misunderstood.
At that moment, Azurelia's magic would be unleashed, surrounding the entire night sky with the blaze and energy of the Sun, acting as if it was daytime. The power would even explode and unleash the power of Infinity Energy and Magic as one entity.
From her horn, she unleashed Hyper Beam, using a Pokemon Move. The Hyper Beam raged out at high speeds, shocking the Pirates as three of their Pokemon were engulfed in the attack.
The family gazed in awe as the Hyper Beam also struck some of the nearby ships, weakening them to the point of falling towards the earth below. The other Pirates were in shock at what they had witnessed. "W-What was that?!"
"That was...Hyper Beam?! But how?!" The Captain exclaimed.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm Father's Daughter. I'm half Pokemon, meaning everything he can do, I can do as well." Azurelia stated. As they were shocked, her next move was immediate as she held nothing back. From her horn, she used Air Slash, summoning blades of winds to soar out and slam into the two airships above. They crashed with an audible sound as they fell apart, with pieces beginning to float down.
"Salamence! Hyper Beam! Blast her! Now!"
A blast was aimed directly at Azurelia and before anyone could react, the young princess cast a spell, putting up a large golden shield that blocked the beam entirely. With a smile on her face, she spoke. "And of course, I'm my Mother's Daughter too. I don't just have access to Pokemon moves, but I'm just natural at using magic!"
"She can use Pokemon Moves and Magic?! How is that possible?!" Clearly, this was the first time they had ever witnessed this. Even the guards were stunned by this.
"She's so cool..." Tool spoke with admiration in her eyes.
Azurelia kept her grin up before using Stone Edge, summoning giant stones and flinging them at the foes nearby, scattering and bruising the Pokemon in their path. To ensure they get the picture and the conflict is over. As more attacks followed, the Leader was scrambling to give some sort of order.
"Don't get cocky, Princess. Fearow! Use Hurricane! Right now!" The Captain shouted.
"Fear!" The Bird Pokemon got into position and blew a gush of wind as a cyclone started to form, blowing its way towards Azurelia, who would counter that attack. As the vortex spun and spun, approaching her, she closed her eyes before stomping her hoof down and raising a forehoof, smirking as her horn sparked. From the skies, the cyclone disappeared with no evidence to it appearing at all.
"Huh? Where's the Hurricane!" The Pirate exclaimed.
"She must've countered the effect somehow!" The Soldiers spoke to one another. They were flabbergasted by Azurelia's skill, both her combat and magical ability being very refined. Despite the fact that she has apparently never been in a batte before.
"All of you and Auntie don't realize just how powerful I can be." Azurelia would take flight, hovering over everyone and everything here. From here, her golden glow would surround the place, highlighting the clouds. She cast a grand spell that would rid their area of those getting in her way. A powerful and ancient spell that would be needed in these kinds of situations.
The pirates and the soldiers all were covered in a blinding light as they would find themselves in another area entirely. They were actually standing outside a certain cafe and some others were gazing with curiousity while trying to make sense of what just happened. As that occurred, Azurelia would make a soft landing, returning inside the Mobile Home, sighing.
All the Pirates and Soldiers were elsewhere and it was just Azurelia and the Family. There would be a pause, the silence in the air piercing and striking their hearts. Soon, after that short period of time, the silence was broken as the kids ran forward.
"That was totally wicked!" Tool shouted, grabbing one of her forehoofs and shaking it around like mad. Her family chuckled with a few snorts. Azurelia sighed before laughing a bit.
"That's why you're amazing, Princess!" Gempen found another reason to idolize her. Her family would gather around her, smiling softly. The smiles directed at the young one, clearly showing their genuine trust in her, made the young filly laugh and blush as a response. Her soft smile brought comfort to those she cared for.
To Azurelia's surprise, she was getting attached to this family despite knowing them for a few hours.
"She was amazing, wasn't she, everyone?" The Father would chuckle before patting Azurelia's head gently.
The girl blinked as she turned towards them, thinking it over. She wasn't really expecting anything like that, but in this moment, they had shown her nothing but kindness. Just how much did this family care? Or rather, was this just them being kindhearted?
"Princess? How can we repay this? All of what you've done." The mother would bow and soon her Husband would too, the two children looking downwards, knowing the offer is serious.
"Huh?" Azurelia stared and the family were taking out money and jewels. She didn't expect this gesture and shook her head. "Please. Don't. That doesn't interest me. You know, after all. The only thing I'd like...is to go to the Celestia Summit. That's all. But...I've dragged you all into this mess. I'm sorry. I didn't think about it and..." She bit her lip before sighing, holding her head down and sighing, not wanting to look at them. "You said you'd be willing to take me anywhere I pleased."
There was a pause between them until the dad looked at the wife. Her gaze was one of confusion and the guy raised his finger to his lips, silently telling her something.
"I see." He smiled as his wife's eyes went wide. Soon she would nod, turning towards Azurelia with a gentle smile. "Alright. We will, Princess Azurelia. Now then, let's keep going It's probably going to be a long journey. Our ship will be arriving to Unova within the hour so, don't worry."
Azurelia smiled happily and nodded her head. The boy stood in his spot as his parents began talking before his sister pulled him away, excitedly wanting to speak.
"Coooool!" She cried out.
"Those eyes when he wanted a second to breathe...Ugh, please tell me that's not me." His sister laughed, punching her brother. With a happy expression on her face, she would follow the family as they led her through this rather extravagant home.
Unova.
At last, they arrived at the Unova Region, the Mobile Home slowly descending in the mountainside. It would finally land after a slow descent and once it hit the ground, the door slid open. The Family and Azurelia got off the Vehicle and before her eyes was the grand view of the entire region and from a bird's-eye view.
She spotted the city lights on one part of the region while in another area, she could see a town-like location with several people roaming around. At this point, the day had turned into night and it was quite late as the moon illuminated everything.
At the very far distance stood the location she wished to reach. Shining beautifully under the night sky and was more grand and wondrous than it would appear. There it was. The Celestia Summit. In all it's splendour and glory. All the stars around it were already visible.
Her eyes shone as the mother turned and smiled at Azurelia. "This is as far as we go, Princess." She spoke.
"Truly? How unfortunate." Azurelia frowned, but understood why they would go no further, as their car was heavily damaged by the whole ordeal earlier.
"Yes." The Father nodded, setting his hooves across his chest. The family would have to bid farewell to Azurelia, who was on her own at this point. They would all look towards her. The children, her spouse and even the Pokemon. "Well then...I wish you luck with your journey, Princess."
"To reach a far-off place to find them again. It's dangerous." His wife said as she lowered her head in respect, the rest of the family following suit. "You will succeed, Princess, and all will be as it should."
"Thank you all for everything." Azurelia gave a soft smile before taking flight, ready to travel onwards. However, her smile would soon turn into a sad frown. Seeing such a friendly family, but now they are saying goodbye? She was so caught up in her thoughts and was growing a bit melancholic that she wasn't watching where she was going.
She nearly bumped into a nearby Braviary, causing him to spiral through the air before gaining his balance. "Vi! Braviary!" Braviary yelled at her.
"My bad! Sorry!" She apologized before continuing on her way. The Hybrid glanced towards the family once more and they were now walking away, allowing her to be by herself. A glint appeared in her eye, with a sudden glow beginning to shine around her.
"Gooood Luck...!" The Family waved as their Mobile Home turned its body around. They were all ready to head off once again. Their kids and Pokemom waving from the window.
But as Azurelia's figure was vanishing in the distance, another hoof would step forward, grabbing their attention. The Family looked elsewhere from the window, their eyes widening once they saw that another figure had appeared. Another royal and powerful figure. Their jaws dropped once they saw the pony standing there.
Princess Luna.
The Celestia Summit.
The Celestia Summit.
Azurelia flew her way up this colossus, making it the primary destination she had to get to, even after that situation earlier. She flew as fast as she could through the night sky, passing many buildings in Unova, not even stopping for a moment.
And after 3 hours, she reached her destination, setting foot on the very beginning of it. The grassy area was sparkling with lights, already having a beautiful setting that drew her in. It was so majestic, and the sights were very mesmerizing. Stars littered across the area, the dark clouds acting as a blanket for this beautiful location. It's amazing how a mountain this large has such an uncharted peak.
The atmosphere of Celestia Summit is imbued with a sense of tranquility and majesty, as if time itself slows to a standstill in reverence to the cosmic spectacle unfolding before the eyes of those fortunate enough to venture there.
There was so much Azurealia did not yet know or see or understand and right in the middle of it all, this massive hill was shining brightly with its own essence. Azurelia couldn't help but move closer. A place filled to the brim with mystery, enchantment and of course, hidden secrets.
She looked onwards, seeing how long the path to the top was. She couldn't even see the very top from this distance and that's how big and massive the summit was.
She would need to wait and climb the whole way there to make her dream come true.
And if she is successful. Then she wil be elated. Truly over the moon. "Wait for me. Mom and Dad." Azurelia would start galloping through the area, heading right for the entrance to the next part. Onwards, to her goal. To the very top, the celestial summit. The destination she hopes will change everything.
With a smile on her face, Azurelia was already thinking about the possibilities that she could have with that Universe. They were so bright and plentiful that she couldn't stop smiling. That is until she was interrupted.
While galloping, a cluster of stars came raining down all of a sudden, catching her attention. When looking up, she saw that a Pokemon was emerging from the cluster and it was none other than an Aggron.
"Aggron!" It roared, bringing its fist down and striking the ground in front of Azurelia. A gust of wind was created with dust filling the area with a haze as the rocks scattered to the winds. However, the hybrid was pushed back, not having time to counter with her own abilities. She slid back, caught off guard by Aggron's sudden appearance.
"An Aggron?" She gasped. "Oh right...Auntie Virizion did say that some Strong Pokemon could be found here."
She took a few moments to see just where she is as everything began clearing up. The dust was settling and the area was being revealed. Azurelia was about to give off an angry remark for interrupting her trek when she froze at where Aggron was facing.
"Please. You're in my way, Aggron." Azurelia spoke. "I need to get through and reach the top.
"Gron! Aggron!"
"I'm not trespassing, I swear." She replied, understanding him thanks to her Pokemon Biology. "This is where my Mother and Father once came to. it's named after my Mother as well. If you aren't going to move aside, then I'll have to get confrontational.
"Agg...!" Aggron grunted as he did not back down or turn away. It seemed Aggron wished to defend his territory as is custom. She could sense his hostility, noticing that Aggron won't back away. So the question remained, was she truly going to get violent to make her way up? Based on what Aggron did next, that might be the case. The Steel-Rock-Type slammed his fist into the ground, using Earthquake, sending waves and waves across the area.
Azurelia's Magic would raise and cover her form and the ground completely, lifting both her and the earth up so the quake's damage wouldn't affect her. After avoiding the Earthquake, she would then unleash a blast of magic, striking Aggron in the centre. The Steel-Aggron Pokemon slid back, barely moving from that blast of magical force. It stomped it's feet, retaliating with Flash Cannon.
"Aggron!" From his mouth, he unleashed a silver beam and the girl dodged, jumping to the left as the blast slammed into the ground. At that moment, the young filly would launch a retaliation of her own. A giant beam would erupt from her horn, coming in the direction of Aggron, colliding into his chest and launching him up, breaking away at his body.
Azurelia would begin rising higher and higher as Aggron landed on his feet, raising his claw to crush her. Before Aggron could hit, she'd shoot upwards. That caused the hand to miss and bash right into the mountains. Rocks shattered as the Iron Armor Pokemon recoiled.
"Hm!" Azurelia's eyes flashed as she would suddenly summon what appeared to be an Aura Sphere from her horn, with a blue swirl of energy forming into a sphere and it would fly out at high speeds towards Aggron, impacting and stunning him. It was a truly super-effective hit, and that hit was enough to weaken Aggron, resulting in Azurealia starting her advance.
Wasting no time, she would fly past Aggron, not wishing to continue this battle any longer. Her steps would end as Aggron stood back up, gazing straight at the filly. Azurelia was definitely far faster than him as she was already past and making her way forward.
Azurelia kept moving, not even sparing the Pokemon a single glance as she continued to walk. She was not in the mood for entertaining anything and anyone at this point. She was too focused and she wasn't looking behind her either. But she would soon see why this place was so dangerous. Aggron wasn't the only obstacle.
Once she was some ways ahead, the sound of thunder echoed from behind her. At once, Azurealia took cover as she noticed a Bolt Striking the ground, blasting pieces of rock everywhere. These bolts were packing the energy of the stars, giving it more power. From the heavens, a Pokemon would emerge from the flashes. This time, it was a Metagross.
"Metaaaaa." Metagross hovered over, glaring down at Azurealia. She could feel the energy coming off the Steel-Psychic-Type.
The powerful Pokemon used its powers, flashing blue and enveloping her in a Psychic hold. "Ah! Hey! Let go, now!" She grunted, struggling against its force.
Metagross tried forcing her away, to send her far away. It was going to make sure that Azurelia wouldn't go any further than this, planning to cut her journey short. "I said...Let Go!" She bellowed, her eyes flashing with a brilliant radiance as she shattered the Psychic Hold around her, stunning Metagross. Now was her chance.
Taking her opportunity, she let her Infinity Energy rage forth and unleashed a Hyper Beam. The full brunt force of a Hyper Beam was able to send Metagross crashing into the Mountain, creating an audible impact, which stunned the Pokemon even further. It took a second and the Pokemon shook its head, only to be faced with the blue sky and the starlit sky above. Metagross could no longer move on its own as it fell.
As the Pokemon was in its shocked state, Azurelia decided to continue forth, leaving this whole ordeal in the dust. At least, she tried to. Immediately, Metagross would use Psychic on the ground itself, causing it to be sent upwards and break into smaller fragments and these pieces of earth were launched at Azurealia from a distance.
She'd start sprinting, weaving around and dodging the sharp pieces of rubble trying to strike her down. They struck against the mountainside, flying passed her legs, but just barely missing her body. In an instant, one would crash right behind her, splintering the rocks behind and scatters some more. She'd sprint further and further before she jumped away from a cluster of rocks falling near her.
They would strike, her narrowly escaping her fate. The rocks crashed near her and just as soon as this mess would stop, she could spot another Pokemon coming in at a very fast speed. Azurealia felt this Pokemon would be just as strong as Aggron and Metagross were. The next opponent showed itself as an Electrivire, the Electric-Type rushing in with starry lightning around it.
"Electivire!" It cried out, preparing a Thunder Punch.
"Ugh!" With quick reflexes, the Electivire would send her reeling back with an electrical charge and she stumbled a bit, now flustered and even a bit angry. As the Pony got her balance, she would put her hooves together and slam them against the ground, a few bits of electricity racing along her body.
She'd focus on her energy and release a pulse that would stun the electric-type. It would strike and stop Electrivire, providing enough time for Azurelia to land a hoof against Electrivire.
"Please move!" Her body charged with a white glow and the intensity of an inferno. And in that instant, she would send a flash of light, landing a devastating blow that would send it careening and shattering the nearby boulder.
Azurealia huffed in annoyance. And so the battles kept continuing, one after another, never ceasing. Despite the exhaustion, her determination would remain. This determination would drive her through each and every opponent as her life would be threatened over and over again by a series of fights against all these powerful Pokemon.
Moments of sheer intensity kept going over and over for the Alicorn Hybrid as she made her way to the top of the mountain. She had been through plenty of battles as there seemed to be no end to the amount of Pokemon who were getting in. She came across a Tyranitar, an entire horde of angry Gengar and Beartic who didn't like her entering this place, a couple of Centiskorch.
Azurelia would smash her head against the Tyranitar who stood in her way, growling at the Rock-Dark-Type before the Alicorn would use her air-slash to knock it back. Tyranitar retaliated with Dark Pulse, shooting a black and purple beam right at the Hybrid, causing her to spin through the air. Azurelia grimaced, managing to recover by sliding on the ground.
And after sliding on it, she swayed her head, avoiding a snipe from Beartic's Ice Beam. She then zoomed to the side, avoiding the moving Ice Beam that tried tracking her down. Using her telekinesis, she grabbed Beartic and tossed it back towards its own allies.
Beartic went straight into Tyrantitar as the two of them would stagger. This left them wide open for one of Azurelia's attacks. In this case, an Aura Sphere. The Aura Sphere shot forward and combusted around the two of them in an azure explosion.
Centiskorch would take the opportunity and use its fire types of attacks, using Flamethrower against the hybrid who took to the sky, unleashing her a cold wind pressure that would put out the Flamethrower easily. She turned to the nearest source and countered by smashing it with a Stone Edge, a cloud of debris flying everywhere as the land beneath their feet broke.
Azurealia's powerful hits were no joke, knocking out all the Pokemon with their strength. She kept flying, going over the downed Pokemon and even shining a light bright enough to stun the Gengar that stood in her way.
"I have to keep going. Please get out of my way. I have to...keep...going!" She continued, taking a beating from the attacks that followed suit. It was a battle of the elements. Of the very essences of the earth and stars.
On and on, the fight continued. Not once did Azurelia give in to the constant stream of threats. Her emotions continued to brew and her emotions continued to stir the storm in her chest. She also had to deal with the summit's starry dangers. The stars in this area were as beautiful as they were deadly. The blue-white starry clusters were ready to strike her at any moment, only held at bay thanks to her incredible agility and fighting prowess.
Azurelia would throw a boulder right at a cluster, the boulder colliding and blowing up with the clusters, leaving her room to dodge another blast. Her hooves slammed against the earth below as she raced forward. Using her aura and magical essence, a certain green energy surrounded the girl and she was racing against the night winds, moving at such incredible speeds that the world was becoming nothing more than a blur around her.
She ran forward, passing more and more and more of the star clusters while several tried to take her out. These dangerous clusters of the cosmos were targeting her as well, looking to stop her, to crush her dream, so she can not meet those lost ones at the end.
More and more, Azurelia pressed on. She was actually getting closer to her destination, showing high amounts of determination and vigor to reach her goal, whatever may lay there for her.
"I'm so close...I think I can see the top from here!"
"Gar!" But there was one more Pokemon standing in her way. Rushing in at even faster speeds than Electivire was a Garchomp. Garchomp cried out, with a powerful roar and Azurelia was pushed away. She rolled across the ground, grunting in pain. Azurelia got onto her feet, groaning as the rubble fell from her long mane. "Garchomp!"
"Ngh..." The Pokemon-Pony Hybrid shook her head, still keeping herself standing. "You're potentially the last one in my way. Please move, Garchomp."
"Gar!" The dragon roared, refusing to let her through. Just like every other Pokemon here, Garchomp would stand in her way.
"Fine. So be it." Azurelia spoke before stepping forward. She began walking in Garchomp's direction, moving at a normal pace. Garchomp would do the same, its feet stomping on the ground with each movement. The two eyed each other down while approaching, their energy and presence was so overwhelming, it was changing the colour of the skies to a mix between White and Black.
They started speeding up, walking faster and faster to the point they were breaking out into a full sprint. Once they neared, their energy built up as did the intensity in the air. And once their forms touched, a huge surge of power erupted throughout the region.
All the star clusters, Garchomp and Azurelia all broke apart into a massive starstorm, knocking them both back. The nearby starry waters in this area would fly up and cause massive splashes thanks to the impact. The two growled at each other as Azurelia would unleash a blast of magic from her horn. The dragon would intercept it with its own blue beam via Dragon Pulse, the two attacks colliding and crashing against each other.
Their clashes would bring more and more damage, splitting rocks in the process. From the mountain, some areas would start collapsing as the blasts started smashing into the cliff and the environment surrounding the place.
Garchomp would rush in, using Dragon Claw to strike at Azurelia's head. The Princess groaned as she was knocked down to the ground by this draconic impact, allowing Garchomp to rush in for another attack. "Ah!" Azurelia gasped, quickly zooming out of the way avoiding a second Dragon Claw, which crashed into the ground.
Azurelia lifted her head and moved to retaliate with a devastating Magic attack that would've been too much for Garchomp, but the creature dodged, the beam ending up hitting the ground, and created another shockwave. It caused Garchomp to lift off the ground for a moment as it moved in for a Dragon Rush.
"!" Azurelia saw that Garchomp was much faster than she expected. Quickly, she put up a shield of magic around her form, blocking the dragon from touching her as her shield got cracked by the force of the Dragon-Ground-type's attacks, until her eyes shone brightly with Infinity energy. And at that moment, Garchomp flew backwards before making another appearance, lunging towards her and biting her wing. She wailed out as it did, gnawing and gripping her tightly.
"Urgh! Get Off Me!"
Garchomp bit harder, using its power to crush and grab Azurelia in its maw. She used her magic to generate a great pulse of energy that would release the Pokemon, freeing her and it stumbled backwards. It almost looked down for the count until the wild Pokemon gained its senses and raced at the princess. She saw it approaching at high speeds and was trying to think of a response, before she realized how low the Dragon went.
She sidestepped and hopped over a second time, allowing the Pokemon to dig into a wall and cause the whole surface to tremble and crack. But Garchomp was quick on its feet, ripping itself out of the wall and immediately striking at Azurelia with a direct Dragon Claw.
Azurelia's eyes widened once she felt that painful clawing sensation right in the shoulder as the dragon managed to find an opening. And in that single instance, he was sent flying like a slingshot across the terrain. Azurealia managed to steady herself, rolling to get herself back on her feet.
"Hah...Hah..." Azurelia took deep breaths, her legs feeling a bit weak due to what had happened. She stood up, having scratches all of her as she was being put through the wringer.
"Gar...!" Garchomp growled at Azurelia, seeing how banged up she was.
"I'm not...stopping. Never..." She got onto her hooves, fixing her gaze right back at Garchomp. Her drive to see her parents again was immense. The love for her family wasn't something a beatdown could stop. Garchomp could respect that drive and the love she had for them. But even it knew when enough was enough.
"Chomp. Garchomp."
"No way." Azurelia lowered her head as everything fell silent. Even the sound of the stars grew quiet and Azurelia stood there, seemingly immobile. In her mind, everything was racing for her. So many things were going on and Garchomp was unmoving. The Ground-Dragon-Type refused to back down either, only the silence keeping the two occupied. The silence in their thoughts, the only noise coming from their breaths as their lungs became strained.
The thoughts of her family. All she could imagine, no matter where she was or what she was doing, was that event from a few years back. She even thought about the ones she met in the Main Universe and that only added to her reasoning to keep fighting, to keep pushing onward to the unknown. She had so many people she wanted to see and wanted to know.
"I'm this close. I've made up my mind. And no one is going to stop me." She raised her eyes as a blazing aura suddenly erupted from her. Her eyes were glowing, having the intensity of an actual inferno while everything around her shook. From her form, this sudden eruption would shoot out a large blast of aura and magic in a glorious display, shooting to the skies as the Cosmos Shine illuminated even the night.
"G-Gar?!" Garchomp squinted its eyes, raising its arms to shield its view of the light. A great surge was happening from Azurelia. One that was straight from her emotions.
"I'm finishing this at once!" Suddenly, a light appeared around her horn, slowly rising up. Garchomp's eyes widened as Azurelia, much like every Pokemon, was learning a move.
She had learned her Father's Move. Sacred Sword. Her form gleamed like the cosmos itself as her aura had now increased even more. "Move!"
Azurelia lifted her head, before immediately running again as Garchomp let loose a barrage of powerful Draco Meteors and Stone Edge, attempting to halt her momentum. She would weave between the fragments, zipping right across the ground and passing the smaller fragments, shattering a larger boulder before Garchomp finally made another direct lunge, using Dragon Rush at full force and meeting head on with the princess in a burst of blue draconian flames, blinding everything.
And right on the ground, right near the impact zone, an indent appeared from the Dragon Rush, the flames being blown away as the Dragon fell back. Azurelia was the only one standing after this exchange, panting and shaking as she could barely breathe anymore, using all that was left of her strength.
"I..I want to see them again!" Azurelia shouted loudly as if trying to plead her case to the world itself, the Dragon staring as the alicorn came up to him, her eyes sparkling with intensity.
"Gar..." There was silence and the princess stepped in closer, wondering what her opponent's response would be. Right before Azurelia could do anything else, her aura suddenly vanished. That beautiful glow in her eyes faded along with her Sacred Sword.
"Ah..." Azurelia was spent, using more energy than she ever imagined. That power she felt drained her, causing the Princess to drop and faint, right in front of Garchomp. Azurelia had fainted.
"Garchomp." Garchomp was astonished. In a manner of minutes, this girl had gotten to that point? She truly was an amazing young hybrid of Pokemon and Pony.
Silence filled the area once more as Garchomp stared her down. What should it do now? Should it stand here and continue its role as Guardian? The Pokemon pondered this for some time, considering just what should be its next action, before looking up into the sky.
"You've done enough, Garchomp." Stepping forward and arriving at the scene was none other than Luna. The Goddess of the Night was present as she was taking her steps forward.
"Gar?
"Sorry that my niece has caused you so much trouble." Luna passed by Garchomp before standing in front of her downed niece. "But...to think she actually made it this far. Perhaps she is stronger than I gave her credit for. Hah..." The Pony gazed down before bending down to take her body. She turned and looked up at the summit.
"Garchomp..."
"But she still has so much to learn, especially when it comes to battling." Luna sad while carrying her. "And to be honest, I was a bit of a fool myself. It was't that I ignored her wishes...but I never gave her the support she needed. Not fully. Part of this is my own fault."
"..." Garchomp didn't say a word. Luna took a breath and gave her thoughts. She then looked over at the peak of the Summit, knowing what she had to do. Thinking about it for a while, Luna wanted to make it up to her niece, deciding to head to the peak.
"However...Perhaps being where my sister and Cobalion once sat together might do something" And without another word, Luna would slowly ascend, rising from the ground with ease and she rose as light radiated and emanated from her form. She approached the peak with Garchomp standing by, letting it happen.
It was the least he could do.
The Peak.
The very top of the summit. The absolute peak. At the peak, the stars were at their most plentiful. Floating nearby, just around the peak and a few feet away, a giant white star greater than everything else. The warmth of it was wonderful. So wonderful that it managed to wake Azurelia up, who found her body floating nearby, gasping softly.
"Ah!" Her eyes were wide, gazing all around, now back within the world of consciousness. She found herself sitting down right near her Auntie, Luna, who was sitting peacefully. With a slight confusion, the Princess blinked before sighing. "Auntie..."
"Hey, dear. Are you alright now? After taking on Garchomp?" The Moon Princess asked her. Azurelia looked downward, sighing softly and a hint of melancholy was still showing, as evident by her glum eyes.
"Oh, right...I passed out. I have no idea what that was...I felt so powerful, but I couldn't handle it all. Gah." Azurelia shook her head, the rage starting to boil and come forth. She did all she could but that wasn't enough? It felt so unfair to her, it was definitely one of the most difficult battles she had.
"You did your best." Luna reassured her. "Enough for me to bring you up here."
"What? You brought me here? This is the Peak of the Summit?!" Azurelia questioned and then blinked. She suddenly grabbed her Auntie, looking hopeful as her eyes began watering. "Is this...? Did I reach the..."
"Mm." She nodded, leaving her speechless as the young girl could now stare up at the beautiful star. She took some steps towards the white star, her gaze falling on the ground and soon. "Wow..." The Starry-Peaks was not something to take lightly, as it would seem.
This was what her Mom and Dad spent their last days on, enjoying a romantic moment under the stars. This is where they shared their final kisses together and had a joyous time. It was like...all those moments were preserved here, right where she was.
She was here. The place where she could open up a gateway. However, Azurelia suddenly didn't feel the urge to do so. "I'm...here. I can finally get the ability to make it happen...but now that I'm here." She mumbled, lowering her head as her thoughts were taking up most of her mind. Luna, watching this happen, lowered her head with a frown. "I'm not strong enough. So what am I supposed to do now, Auntie?"
"Azurelia...I'm sorry." Luna apologized. "I should've had more faith in you. Your strength and your potential. I never really treated you like family. We're always bickering amongst each other. But I always understood you wanted to see your parents again. I just couldn't risk anything. I lost my sister unexpectedly. I don't want to lose my niece. I was lonely once, that's how I became Nightmare Moon."
"And you didn't want that to happen again?" Azurelia was starting to understand.
"I never want to be lonely again, Azurelia. I'd say that's rather selfish of me, because I want you to be as free as I am. As free as you want to be. Not like a caged bird. Just...please try and understand that your family will always be concerned."
"..." Azurelia stood still, turning towards her Aunt, who took off her tiara and brought it close to her, clenching it tightly. The Moon Princess had tears in her eyes, unable to hold them in anymore. Seeing that she hurt the Princess. She wanted to make things right somehow.
The girl started stepping in, grabbing her aunt in a tight hug. "Auntie, I'm sorry! I was stupid! I just wanted to find a way."
"There was a time I felt a lot like you, I swear." Luna spoke before the girl looked into the eyes of her Auntie. "I don't care if I am royalty. I'll never be okay with letting a family member disappear or fade away forever. I couldn't handle it then and now...it feels like I'm reliving old memories again. It's how I'd imagine Celestia must've felt that day. You weren't even a part of this world."
"Auntie..."
"Let's work together. I'll make your dream a reality. We'll find a way to reach that Main Universe, just like how we're working hard to find your parents." Luna promised her. She looked around and nodded. "I swear it.
"Mm! I got it, Auntie!" Azurelia smiled. The Princess nodded and turned around, allowing herself to face the large star before her. The two of them made up, finding solace in their hearts. They stared into starry night sky once more as the large star felt like a Sun, giving it a twilight-like feeling. It was easy to see why it was so connected to her parents.
Soon, they would head home and along the way, Azurelia spotted the family she was with for a while, waving at them
The kids ran forward, happy to see her. Her aunt would lead her home and eventually, everyone would reunite with the Poke-Pony. In a manner of minutes, all their bags were carried out by their Pokemon and it was time for the family to part ways.
Across all existence, no matter were, stories of all kinds are constantly happening with new ones springing to life. And this universe is no different as the journey continues.
Out in the vast seas of Equestria, many Water Pokemon were heading South. Under the servitude of the King of the Sea, they were in search of the Water Shards. They were moving like crazy, zooming at their top speeds and stopping whatever they were doing.
At the same time, the Sea Temple was following all of these Water-Types to the South while the 7 Golden Lights in the sky would zoom by. Many would be able to see these beautiful sights going through the afternoon skies and they looked even better during the late afternoon.
In the night, they will definitely look their absolute best, however, that never came to be. Mainly because they ended up finding the Water Shards.
Yes. Thanks to the assistance of all the Water-Types in the area and beyond, each single one that Sea Temple passed by, Ash and his friends were able to come across the location of the Water Shards.
Lo and behold, there they were.
Moving aside some rocks, Ash and his friends were staring down the Water Shards, which were buried underneath some rubble this entire time. Thankfully, a Pokemon hadn't swallowed them.
"Awesome! We got the Water Shards!" Ash cheered, grabbing these shattered parts of Arceus's Life Plates and raising them high.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu held his paw high, celebrating.
"Nice! That just means we have 9 shards left, right?! We're way ahead of Volo by now!" Rainbow Dash flew around. "Let's keep this up!"
"Thanks, you guys." Ash faced all the Water Pokemon here. "This really helped. And if you find the other Shards, let me know."
All the Water-Types cried out in response to their King. Ash's friends thanked the Pokemon, bowing their heads and expressing their gratitude. This was a moment to be happy.
"Alright. So, what next?" Applejack asked, facing her friends.
"We ask Grandma which shard we go for next. The nearest one is the one we'll go straight for." Ash said while ascending with his golden aura. They returned to the Sea Temple, landing down as their Golden Auras would vanish The Sea Crown would leave them all, the crystals returning to normal. Lena would approach her grandson, seeing him holding the two shards he managed to retrieve.
They returned to the Sea Temple, landing down as their Golden Auras would vanish The Sea Crown would leave them all, the crystals returning to normal. Lena would approach her grandson, seeing him holding the two shards he managed to retrieve.
"Alright, Grandma. You have a guess where the next one is, right?"
"Hold on..I'm trying to figure this out." But at the moment, Lena was fixated on a Samiyan Puzzle that was shown to her. The Woman of the Past would gawk at this strange-looking puzzle that was in the shape of a star. The People of the Sea have such intricate puzzles, even ones like these. She ws in awe at how advanced the puzzle was, even though the pieces were quite small.
But what was even more impressive was seeing the hands of the Samiyan move at high speeds when interacting with this puzzle, assembling the pieces in an instant. With one flick, the pieces would fly together, the star being fully assembled. The woman would stare at the completed puzzle in awe, marvelling at its beauty.
"Wow...that was impressive.." Lena was astounded by the puzzle skills, having never seen something like that before. The Samiyan would hand the puzzle to her, the woman taking it in her hands. She gazed at the shining piece, smiling. "Thank you. That was wonderful. It's almost like you're a master at it."
"You could say that." The woman chuckled. "It takes at least 20 years to master it."
"20 years!?" Lena was stunned. "Mmm...That's a lot of work."
"Ahem." Rarity slid over, clearing her throat to Lena. "Lena...Shards?"
"Oh! Sorry, Rarity. Let me check which Shard it is." Lena would hold her hands out, closing her eyes and focusing her ability. After a bit of time, she would open her eyes and speak. "It's the Grass Shard. It's somewhere in the East. Far from here."
"North East or South East?" Jessie repeated.
"Mmm..." Lena focused on again. "It looks like it's...South East. Far. We're already at the South, so if we just keep heading East, we'll eventually reach it."
"Great. Then let's head out, you guys." Ash declared. "We'll go straight to the Grass Shards, and we'll have a race to see who gets there first."
"Understood. Although it's getting rather late, so we'll have to move at a steady pace, Your Majesty." Alo said. "By this time, many of us will be asleep."
"Right. We'll be careful, so don't worry." Ash promised, looking at the darkening skies. The Sun was setting and the night was arriving. The stars were visible and the moon was rising, taking the place of the Sun. "Man. This is gonna be a fun night."
And indeed, it was.
As the Sea Temple was moving at a steady pace, everyone aboard would relax. In the night, it was a bit cooler, the air breezing across their faces. They were at the highest point, the balcony on the top of the Sea Temple. It was a huge platform, enough to fit a few people.
With Sandbar and his fellow students, currently, they had their XTransceivers out and were talking to their respective parents and guardians.
"Sandbar, sweetie. We were so worried about you since you haven't back home since yesterday." Speaking to Sandbar was his mother on the XTransceiver. Her voice was filled with worry, relieved to see her son safe and sound.
"Sorry, Mom. There were some crazy things happening and I ended up stuck somewhere." Sandbar scratched his head, not sure what to tell her. There was quite a lot that happened defeat after all.
"Bah! I should've known!" As for Gallus, he was currently getting an earful from his guardian which was Grampa Gruff, who absolutely blasting him with loud words and insults.
"Gallus! I should've known you'd cause trouble! You always do!" Gallus lowered his head, hearing the booming voice. "If I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn't have let you go! Now look at the trouble you've gotten yourself into!
"Grampa..."
"And why are you upside down?! What have you gotten yourself into now?!!" He said, when in reality, he was holding the XTransceiver upside down, making it look like Gallus was the one who was upside down.
"Umm...I'm not the one upside down, Grampa."
"Don't lie, Gallus. Don't lie to me. I should-"
"I'll bring home some gold." To silence his Grampa, Gallus would hold up some of the Sea Temple's gold, showing him. He would even more the Xtransceiver to show him some of the gold littered across the area.
"Ah-Ah...Gold? Ohhh, wow! That's quite a lot." Gallus's grampa's tone changed, his eyes wide and a smile on his beak. His wacky eye would observe the sight before him, pressing on the screen before pulling back. "All is forgiven. I trust you, Gallus. Bring home a lot of gold!"
As for Ocellus, she was speaking with Queen Chrysalis, who didn't look the least bit upset like Grampa Gruff or even worried like Sandbar's mother. With a smile on her face, she had a different reaction.
"It's good to know you're doing well. You're with Ash and you're surrounded by friends. You're not feeling too overwhelmed are you? It's not too much, right?"
"I've been doing fine. It's not so bad so far. I think. But...I'm still scared..." Ocellus admitted, her voice wavering. "I'd like to be home soon."
"Just ask Ash to have the Sea Temple get you home. You feel the most confident when speaking to him after all. Come back home safely. Celestia's actually planning a large advance towards our attackers from other universes. It's best to have you home and safe from any trouble."
"Alright. Goodbye." Ocellus would end the call before turning to face her friends. All of them have just finished their calls, but noticeably, Yona and Smolder never called their respective Guardians at all. Their Xtransceivers never came out.
"Didn't you two get any calls or call someone?" Gallus asked.
"Nah. Not like Garble's gonna answer me anyway." Smolder shrugged.
"Yona wants to sneak back in without being noticed. So it looks like Yona was always there." Yona explained. "Yona can't call other Yaks."
"Hm." Gallus slightly nodded his head. "Well, it looks like we're gonna be on this temple for a bit longer. At least until we find those Shards and get home."
"Mhm. I hope it doesn't take that long." Ocellus expressed her fear. "I don't want anything bad happening."
"Yeah. And I'm getting kinda hungry here..." Smolder felt her stomach grumble, patting it.
"Oh, yeah. We've been on this temple for a day. I don't think anyone brought anything." Gallus recalled.
"Yona didn't. Yona just wanted to go."
"Hungry?" One of the Samiyans approached the children. "No worries. We'll prepare a feast."
"You will?!" Gallus was astonished.
"Of course. After everything the King has done, a feast is in order. Tonight, before many are asleep, we shall have a feast for us all." She continued. "In fact, I believe the Feast is halfway done. Please make your way to the main dining hall."
The kids had the widest smiles on their faces, even Ocellus. Food was truly a wonderful thing that everyone could get behind and a feast was even greater. They were making their way to the Dining Hall, following the Samiyan as their heads were swirling with food options. All the things the Samiyans eat, they'll get to try out. And of course, Smolder was thinking about the possibility of there being gems. Being a Dragon and all.
The Dining Hall.
A vast and sparkling chamber, its walls adorned with the symbols of Samiya, underwater landscapes, and scenes of bountiful harvests from the sea. At the centre of the hall stands a long banquet table crafted from polished coral and adorned with ornate seashell centrepieces. The table stretches the length of the chamber, lined with plush seats of coral, alabaster, and mother-of-pearl.
Tall coral pillars rise along the periphery of the hall, their surfaces depicting Kyogre and the many Water-Type Pokemon that live across the Seas of the World. Stained glass windows crafted from translucent sea glass filter the Moonlight and of course, the Sunlight, casting vibrant patterns of colour onto the marble floor below.
It was truly a feast for the eyes, but also for the belly. At this time, the Samiyans were setting the table, placing plates and cups for everyone to sit. The dishes were placed down and the options here were outstanding. There were plates filled with options that they have never seen before and could only be found here in the Sea Temple, made by the Samiyans themselves.
And of course, some familiar foods that can be found outside of the Sea Temple made their appearance. They were all lined up beautifully for Ash and everyone else to see. The variety of food and dishes here was something else.
"Aw, yeah!" Ash rubbed his hands together, grinning at the sight. Since Ash was the King, he got his own seat that was beautifully decorated. Right beside him was his own personal seat that was meant for him and his friends.
"Now this is what I'm talking about." Smolder said with a grin, her mouth drooling at the food. "No gems but I can work with this! This is awesome!"
"The presentation is wonderful." Rarity admired, gazing at all the food.
"Please enjoy yourselves for tonight, everyone." Safia bowed her head along with all the cooks who helped make this possible. "And may our travels be safe and our quest for the shards successful. To the King of the Sea."
"To the King of the Sea." Everyone repeated, raising their cups and chalices.
"Pikachu." Pikachu raised his cup, the rest of the Pokemon following.
"Oh, please." Ash blushed a bit, waving his hand. "You guys don't have to toast to me like that. Just have fun, alright?"
"Alright." Everyone cheered, taking their seats and enjoying the feast.
"This is incredible. All of these things..." Rainbow Dash stared at all the options. "They look great. I didn't know the Samiyans had food like this."
"It's because of the sea. Most of the ingredients and the food can only be found here. And it's only a Samiyan who can truly prepare these dishes." A cook explained. "Only we can make the true dishes of the People of the Water."
"That's right. And only those who have the Sea Crown's power or are blessed by the King of the Sea can eat these foods." Another cook said, pouring water into some of the cups. "The power is what allows us to truly cook these dishes and prepare them."
"I blessed you guys? How?" Ash said while his mouth was full, scarfing down a ton of food at high speeds.
"We can tell by how much energy we have. We can last for days and even a week. That is how strong your blessing is. It's the strongest one yet, surpassing the past Kings and Queens."
"Wow. I didn't know that." Ash swallowed the food in his mouth before taking another bite.
"So, if we eat this, it's gonna make us feel good, right?" Smolder was eager to taste some of the dishes, her eyes fixated on the feast.
"Yes, it will. Eat as much as you'd like. And there's plenty of drink as well."
"Then I won't waste any time!" Smolder immediately dug in, grabbing whatever she could and stuffing it in her mouth. Her eyes were wide and sparkled, enjoying the taste. "Mmmmmm! This is so good!"
"Yeah! These are pretty good." Gallus took a bite, the food tasting great.
"They are..." Ocellus tried out the food. "Oh, my!
"Char! Charmander!" Smolder's Charmander greatly agreed when devouring some of the food.
"It's good to see you all liking it. I'm glad." Safia smiled. "I hope we can continue to have your approval and support, King Ash. The Samiyans are glad to serve under you."
"Thanks, you guys." Ash thanked, digging into the food. "And I'm glad you guys are here with me."
"Aaah!" Lena was just as fierce as an eater, much like her descendant. The way she took out the food was amazing, almost like her body was absorbing the food.
Team Rocket were just happy to be a part of this feast. They barely get to eat this much and they weren't going to waste this golden chance. While they weren't as wild as Ash, Lena or even Pinkie Pie, they were tearing the food apart.
"I've needed this!" Jessie exclaimed.
"This is great!" James chimed in. "Better than what I used to eat as a child, maybe! And that was already top quality!"
"Glad we got to have a moment like this." Meowth added, stuffing his face with more food.
"Gee. You sure can eat, old lady." Enola said to Jessie.
"Who are you calling old?!" Jessie roared while her mouth was full, making Enola giggle.
"By the way...Do you know about a girl named Diadora?" Lena asked, bringing up Diadora, who noticeably wasn't with them at all. "We split up not too long ago since she said she wanted to try and catch some Pokemon of her own.
"Oh, Diadora? Yes. She's quite a stubborn girl." One Samiyan added. "Very stubborn. She wishes to be the Queen of the Sea one day, as a way to live up to a legacy apparently.
"Eh..." Lena slowly nodded her head, knowing what that meant.
"But she means well. Everyone here knows that. It's why she's one of us. We found her on her lonesome one day and rescued her. Even if it isn't by blood, she's a Samiyan at the end of the day." The Samiyan spoke highly of Diadora, looking at her from a more positive lens. Just like how Lena did, even if Diadora tries to play herself off as menacing.
Yes, they enjoyed themselves this night, feasting away. Ash was happy to have everyone by his side. As they ate, the Samiyans would play their music, performing a song of the sea. It was just a wonderful time to be around those he loves.
Elsewhere, in an attempt to stop whatever Nightmare Rarity has planned, Princess Celestia is planning a pre-emptive attack, deciding to take down another member of Daybreaker's Alliance as soon as possible. Allied with the Ranger Union and others, some of the Pokemon Rangers were currently out in the wild, riding their bikes as they were currently heading for an area where more Pokemon who have had their bodies infected by Nightmare Rarity's magic and are beginning to turn.
Thankfully, they arrived just in time, spotting a Pokemon who was starting to transform. It was a Mudsdale, who had a purple aura surrounding its body.
"Alright. There's one." One of the Rangers whispered, getting out his Styler and holding it forward. The others did the same, approaching the transforming Mudsdale. "Let's stop it. I can sense its panic."
"Got it." They all got their Stylers ready, the devices shining brightly. "Capture On."
They all launched their capture devices, which were made by the Ranger Union and their technology. The Stylers would wrap around the Pokemon's body, but this would be an extremely difficult capture. Nightmare sparks were flying out of its body due to the struggle, blending in with the Night Sky.
"Yeesh!" She grunted "It's really resisting! It's a wild one!"
"Not gonna stop us though! We'll save it before it completely loses itself. It's already starting to become aggressive." The leader of the Ranger Unit declared, focusing on his Styler.
"Hah!"
The Mudsdale bucked wildly, letting out a mighty cry. But it was no use, the Rangers would not let this happen.
"C'mon. You can do it, buddy." The Ranger focused on the Styller, feeling its energy flow through him. "I know you're scared. We won't let you suffer."
"M-Mudsdale!"
With the help of the Rangers, the Mudsdale would be tamed, returning to normal and having its mind cleared. The Mudsdale's panic would cease and it was safe from harm. Its body was no longer affected by the Nightmare Magic and it was no longer hostile. The Ranger would approach, reaching his hand out.
"It's okay now." The Mudsdale would let out a soft neigh, its voice a sign of peace and relief. "I'm glad. Let's get you somewhere safe, okay?"
"Mud. Mudsdale."
"So far, none of the Pokemon we've rescued have been turned. Guess that Nightmare stuff isn't that strong on them, huh?" The Ranger spoke.
"Maybe not. But who knows how long that'll last." One of his comrades responded. "It's a miracle none of us have been affected either."
"Good point."
"Alright, guys. Let's keep it up. We're not quite done with this area yet so-" Before he could finish his sentence, from the nearby lake, something would rise up. They turned their heads, seen the water bubble up all of a sudden. Everything went silent for a moment as the bubbles were changing colour.
A black and purple aura would emerge as the bubbles were gaining the same texture as the night sky. One by one, they were all being coloured this way, a purple glow illuminating the area. Soon, the water itself would be turning, the black and purple aura spreading throughout the entire lake.
"What the..." The Ranger uttered, his eyes widening. The water would begin to change, the bubbles increasing in size, the bubbles floating and the surface becoming distorted.
"Is this how the Pokemon were affected?" One of the Rangers would kneel, looking at the lake. "They fell into this and got infected by that aura? Is that how it happened?"
"Possibly. The aura seems to have spread throughout the entire lake." The Leader would say, his Styler's display showing the readings. "Nightmare Rarity might already be planning to spread her magic in different ways."
Seeing this made it clear to them that Nightmare Rarity was making quite the advances. All the more reason Celestia wished to stop it before it could get out of control. But as the Rangers observed this sight, something was beginning to rise from the lake itself. Their eyes widened as all the water was being carried up by something.
"Huh?!" They looked up, seeing the source of the disturbance.
From the depths of the lake, an entity would emerge, its form obscured by the veil of darkness that enveloped it. Slowly, almost languidly, the figure rose from the water, its presence casting a palpable sense of unease over the onlookers.
As the figure left the water, the moonlight revealed its true form. A grotesque creature with a single, piercing eye that gleamed with an unsettling beauty. Its entire body had the same nightmare texture as it hovered there menacingly. It was a blob-like creature due to its round body that was filled with Nightmare Aura, a large eye staring them down.
The creature opened its eye, staring directly at the Pokemon Rangers, who were flabbergasted by what they were seeing.
"W-What is that!? A Pokemon?!" One of the Rangers bellowed. That was certainly not any Pokemon she or the others have seen in their life.
"Oh, I'm a no Pokemon, Human." Unexpectedly, the creature would speak. Her voice was feminine, almost sultry and seductive, but with a slight growl mixed in as it would even echo, even though she had no mouth. "Greetings to your Universe. You must be the Pokemon Rangers based on your look."
"What are you...Or who are you?" One Ranger gawked while Mudsdale slowly backed up.
"I am Oculus Gloom. Excellent and Loyal Right Hand to the Veiled Mistress herself. Nightmare Rarity. Pleased to make your acquaintance." The Creature introduced. "I see you have yet again forced the magic out of these Pokemon. What a shame. Not a single one has yet to become a Nightmare Variant. All because of you meddling Humans."
"So you come from her universe, huh? Here I thought it was just Nightmare Rarity making an appearance here." The Ranger spoke.
"Oh, no, no, no. The Veiled Mistress is far too busy and perfect to ever travel here herself unless she decides to. So, that is where I come in. I am here to ensure our plans are running smoothly. And as far as I can tell, things could be much faster, honestly. Especially if you Rangers weren't so nosy."
"That's what we do best." One of them grinned at the blob creature with no arms and only an eye. "We've already been handling you and your alliance back to back. After all, this is our universe you're messing with."
"Yeah. Usually, we deal with threats that are in our world, but nothing's stopping us from handling threats from other universes." Another would grin. "That's what makes the Pokemon Rangers and the Union so awesome."
"Ah, yes. Every Universe has that one group, don't they?" Oculus would speak, her tone growing menacing. "A group that constantly meddles and just slows everything down for no reason, isn't that right?"
Suddenly, the water that she infected would start shaking. A sudden intimidating energy filled the atmosphere as the Rangers could feel it.
"W-What's going on?! Is something coming?!" One Ranger checked her surroundings.
"No...It's coming from her!" The Ranger then faced Oculus Gloom.
"Let it be known, Humans. Her Eminence has great plans for your universe. As disgusting as it may be, it has a stunning amount of potential for beauty. A beautiful place enshrouded in a glamorous Nightmare. As a Nightmare Monster, it is my duty and many others to make sure that beauty becomes a reality. Of course...I prefer to do it at my base of operations. But just for tonight, I will gladly show you my proper greeting!"
From her body, a sudden psychokinetic force would emerge, blasting the Rangers away and causing the Mudsdale to run. The ground was torn up, the rocks were floating and the water would be rising up. Oculus would raise her body up, the moon casting a shadow on the Rangers.
As the Rangers recovered, from Oculus's blob-like body, tentacles would emerge, the tendrils glowing purple would open up, having claw like parts at the very front. Two of the Rangers immediately had their faces grabbed by these tendrils, the claws clenching tightly. The voices were obscured once caught, the claws making an uncomfortable sound.
They squirmed, trying to force the tendrils off their faces as the Nightmare Energy was increasing in brightness. "Ah, what delectable dreams you all have. Do not fight my power instead let it consume you. Join the Ever-growing Nightmare.
"Let them go! Mudsdale! Use Earthquake!" The Leader would order, but the Mudsdale would just stand there, fear in its eyes. Its legs would tremble, the mudhorse backing up as Oculus would look directly at the Pokemon.
"Ah, I see that the Nightmare Seeds are still within you. The fear in your eyes is beautiful. Truly." Oculus would continue to corrupt the two Rangers, the Psychic Force growing stronger and the tendrils' grip increasing. At that moment, the two Rangers would drop to their knees, their bodies trembling and their eyes wide.
"G-Guys?!" The Leader bellowed as their eyes would be coloured in a starry night pattern, the colours being the same as the night sky. Oculus would release her grip, dropping the two, whose heads hit the ground. "Hey! Talk to me!"
They would then stand up, their hair flowing and changing into that same pattern as their eyes. The rest of the Rangers stared, the two now wearing malicious grins.
"Ah, so wonderful. The first humans to fall under the power of Nightmare. A new Nightmare Variant has been born." Oculus was pleased with the outcome, seeing the results. "It's a pleasure. And now, it's time for the rest of you."
The water from the lake would rise, the tendrils emerging. In a matter of seconds, the Rangers were grabbed by the tendrils, the claws squeezing their faces tightly.
"Don't worry. This won't hurt...Much." Oculus giggled before the psychic energy would increase.
"Ugh...No way!" The Rangers struggled to break free, but their movements were slowing down, their eyes turning the same. The two Rangers were able to stand up, the Nightmare Magic now in their minds and bodies.
"Tonight is a beautiful night, isn't it?" Oculus looked up at the Night Sky. "I believe it is time. Yes, indeed. The time to launch our attack on this universe is approaching. Soon, all shall fall under the power of the Nightmare. And this universe will become a beautiful Nightmare. A perfect and lovely dream. Yes, I can see it now."
Hoenn. The Ranger Union.
At the Ranger Union, communication with that team was immediately cut off. The Dispatch speaking to the Rangers found her communication gone. Just like that. She gasped with her hands over the keyboard. "Communications are down! All communications have been completely destroyed!"
"What?!" The rest of the Dispatchers gasped.
"I heard it all." She said, her face filled with terror. "They were attacked by that monster from their universe. I'm not sure what that monster did to them but...I couldn't reach them. Their signal cut off."
"What about your team?" One Dispatcher asked another.
"So far, my team is fine." He responded. "But I have no idea if it's because the area they're in doesn't have any of those monsters, or it's a different case."
"What about the Pokemon we've rescued? Are they safe?"
"Yes, they're safe. We have the Pokemon under strict surveillance, so they won't get harmed by any of these creatures. I'm not sure if that thing was the only one that showed up here. We thought it was just Nightmare Rarity on her lonesome doing it."
"Well, now we know. She's about to attack our universe soon. And since it's nightfall in other places of the world right now, we'll need to make sure those regions are safe. Call Princess Celestia at once!"
Back at Canterlot, Celestia had gotten news about this sudden attack immediately. She was the first one to be notified of this and was ready to strike back as soon as possible.
"If Nightmare Rarity is launching an attack, then that means we can attack her before she gets a chance to." Celestia declared. "She's launching an attack from her universe and she thinks it'll be easy. No, she's not. We'll strike her and her forces, and take them out before they get a chance to attack. We'll be attacking her from her own universe."
"Sister...Are you sure about this?" Luna asked, her sister looking her straight in the eyes.
"I'm certain. If we attack her from her universe, we'll be striking from behind. She won't expect it. I've already sent some of my forces ahead to open the gateway to her universe. The Rangers have managed to locate a part of her universe. We couldn't find her main base yet, so this will have to do for now."
"So, when is the gateway opening?" Luna questioned, getting closer to her sister.
"Soon. It's opening in a matter of minutes." Celestia declared, a serious expression on her face. "Luna. I'm going to need you to handle everything in the Dream Realm and the Hyperdream. I know for a fact that this will involve the dreams of others. Anything that tries to attack the others in their dreams, stop it."
"I know. I will do my best sister. But shouldn't we tell everyone else? Anyone planning to sleep or already asleep must be warned about this." Luna asked.
"I've got that covered. Those who are awake, I'll let them know. And those that are asleep, you and Darkrai will be the ones to tell them so that they aren't caught off guard. Nightmare Rarity is just getting started, so she hasn't unleashed her full-scale attack yet, so we're going to beat her to it. I'll make sure she doesn't even get the chance to."
"Understood." Luna nodded her head. She then looked at Darkrai, who was already more than ready. The two of them closed their eyes, immediately having everything around them go black. They were transported to the Dream Realm and the Hyperdream, respectively.
Universe 5.
As for the one named Oculus Gloom, she was already returning to the Universe she came from. In this case, Universe 5. A Gateway was open in that universe, right in front of a massive palace that was shaped like a crown. From the outside, it was a sight to behold, rising majestically from the landscape like a dark beacon in the night. Its towering spires pierce the sky, their twisted forms reaching towards the heavens in a silent plea for dominion over the world.
The very centre of it, much like a crown, had a beautiful gem in the middle, shining brightly and illuminating the night. This gem was made from Nightmare Magic, letting off that same energy. The location of this area was noticeably in Ponyville. Or at least, what was left of Ponyville. Now, it had been transformed from a town to a city.
In a flash, Oculus would reenter the Universe she came from, appearing before the gate of the palace. In this place, there were others like her. Other monsters with unsettling appearances, their bodies in the texture of the night sky, radiating Nightmare Magic. These were all Nightmare Monsters.
Their appearances were definitely out there. Some were creatures with a nightly-skeletal frame covered in tattered, shadowy robes that billowed behind them like smoke. Its face is hidden beneath a hood, and its eyes gleam with a malevolent light from within the darkness. Another batch of monsters were similar to Owls, with feathers that shimmer with a dark light and eyes that glow with an eerie, hypnotic gaze.
Some were shaped like trees with a black bark, the leaves being the same. But the branches were very long and the leaves were shaped like blades. And these creatures also had eyes as a lot of them were just nervewracking to look at.
This beautiful place was home to such terrifying monsters.
"Lady Oculus Gloom." One of the Nightmare Monsters greeted her.
"My, my. You are all on your best behaviour, aren't you?" Oculus spoke as she was currently carrying the captured Rangers with her tendrils, bringing them over. "The Mistress has big plans for this world, so do not fail her. Very soon, we will be spreading the Nightmare Magic and turning everything into a truly, beautiful place. A nightmare-filled world. Our kind will thrive here."
"Which Region will be first?" A Nightmare Monster asked.
"Her Nightly Grace has decided that the best region to infect first will be this one." Oculus declared, pointing to a certain region in the map. It was the Hoenn region. "It is quite a lovely region, isn't it? Far beyond the setting sunlight out upon the sea, it radiates with a natural beauty. It is a lovely place, but the Mistress believes it could be more lovely with a little nightmare magic, don't you agree?"
"We all agree." The creatures of the night agreed, looking at the region on the map.
"As always, I will be in my Lair, making sure everything goes according to plan. I have already performed my greeting to that universe, show them yours. Prepare the Darkened Citadel. We will soon invade. An army of Nightmares spanning such beautiful numbers."
"We will do so immediately, Lady Oculus Gloom." The Nightmare Creatures bowed. This Darkened Citadel in question was a fortress with a very tall and spiky architecture. It was the size of a mountain, built from the remains of what used to be the Crystal Empire, and it had a strong purple aura coming from the inside, its doors being opened.
"Ah, a wonderful sight as always." Oculus Gloom gushed. "With this, we can easily twist the land into a Nightmare. And to think, very soon, those Pokemon Creatures will be joining our beautiful nightmares. Anywhere will be transformed into the most darkening utopia~"
But right as they were about to enter the Nightmare Citadel, elsewhere, a gateway was opening up. One of the monsters was able to sense it, seeing the gateway that would lead to this very universe. It had over 500 Eyes on its body as it was shaped like a Serpent with no limbs, its face was shaped like a skull with an elongated mouth and a long tail.
"Hoh? It must be that Universe." Oculus said, squinting her eyes. "Don't tell me they think they can just immediately show up here? Where we are at our most plentiful? That would be a truly foolish approach. Unless...They aren't just sending someone here..."
In that gateway, a glimmer was shown. No one knew what that meant, but it certainly wasn't just someone flying out of that gateway. And since the gateway was in the sky itself, that meant that whatever was coming through that gateway would making its entrance from above.
Nightmare Rarity's plans against Universe 1 were beginning, but aiming to intercept them and launch the first attack was none other than Princess Celestia's side. And right now, the first action was underway as a gateway appeared over this night-filled universe.
And what emerged from the gateway was something rather unexpected. Away from the city, a bright flash would suddenly hit the skies. As Oculus and the rest of the Nightmares looked up as the light was acting as some sort of Sun. The Night Creatures could not look at it, due to their eyes not being able to handle such brightness.
"W-What is this?! Is that Sun?!"
"No! This isn't the Sun!" Oculus could tell, that this wasn't exactly the Sun. The Night Creatures would use their hands to block out the brightness, their nightly bodies taking damage. Whatever this was, it was meant as a way to weaken this world The Nightmare Monsters all hissed and growled, some of them collapsing and trying their best to stand up.
The source of this from the other side were thanks to Pokemon. At this moment, some Pokemon were using Sunny Day to bring a sun to the other side of the universe, to blind the Nightmare Creatures. The way this was pulled off was by them transferring their energy through the gateway, which in turn created the Sun.
The Sun's heat was enough to affect the night sky, brightening in and overtaking the darkness gradually. The Canterlot Guards were having their Golurks use Sunny Day. Usually, they don't ever use moves such as this, but for this occasion, Celestia had ordered them to change up their moveset, needing something to counteract the Night. The Golurk held their hands forward, letting the energy flow
"Her Majesty made the right call going for this. We weren't able to use it against the Dread League when the Black Crusade was happening. But now is our golden chance." One of the troops said.
"Not only that, but she's also experienced with this type of magic. Unlike the Dread League, Princess Celestia knows how to combat against Nightmare Magic." Another spoke. "This way, we have a better chance of winning and gaining more advantages. Pour more in Golurk!"
The heat was so strong that the night would start to dissipate. The Moon's shine would be lessened and the Stars would disappear, their light no longer being seen. Even the Nightmare Monsters were affected, the Night Energy that surrounded their bodies were starting to diminish, the brightness was too much.
"How rude of them!" Oculus bellowed before floating away, deciding to do something about this. Her body would fly through the air, using the Nightmare Magic to keep herself up. She would head straight for the Fortress, which had a lot of its energy being sapped by the brightness.
"Ahhh, how dare they!" Oculus growled. "This is simply rude! Rude and unnecessary! We're about to launch an attack on their world and this is how they greet us? There's no beauty in that!" Oculus would have those tendrils pop out of her body once more as she entered the main room of this Fortress. The main room was the size of a massive castle, and in the middle, it had a large machine-like device with a large core in the middle, and this core was a huge ball of the Nightmare Magic.
Oculus would extend her tendrils to the orb, her claws grasping the core. She would start harnessing the power of the orb, having her tendrils connect with the device and have the power flow through her. The tendrils would spread all over the Fortress, the purple energy beginning to shine.
The Nightmare Magic would spread all over the Fortress before flowing across the area, covering the sky with an ominous, dark-purple glow.
The Nightmare Monsters, whose eyes were closed, were able to open them and see the darkness cover the Sun's bright light. It would retaliate agains the Sunny Day, the Night Sky returning. The Night Sky was darker, and it was spreading far. The Nightmare Monsters would let out a mighty roar, the Nightmare Magic spreading throughout the area.
roar, the Nightmare Magic spreading throughout the area.
The effects of the Sunny Day were being fought back against by the Nightmare Magic, the darkness fighting back. Light and Dark would clash in the sky, causing ripples that were visible from afar. From the other side, the Golurk felt the ripples as they moved through the gateway. Their bodies would shake once the ripples passed through, feeling a strange pressure.
"This isn't good!" One Guard said as the gateway would flash a bit, almost being blinding.
"Is this normal?!"
"No, it's not! They must have something to combat Sunny Day." The Guard deduced. "But it's fine. We're not the only ones with this approach."
Indeed, he was right. From different parts of Equestria, this was not the only gateway being opened up. Multiple Gateways were opening, all of them being opened by the Canterlot Guards. In a matter of seconds, each gateway would have Sunny Days fly through. Plenty of the Golurks would hold their hands out, channelling the power of the Sun and letting its energy pass through the gateway.
The Sunny Day would reach the other side, and the effects were instant. Locations in Nightmare Rarity's Universe would be lit up by a sudden Sunlight. The Darkness would be overwhelmed by the bright rays. The consistent darkness here would be pierced by the golden rays of the Sun, causing the Nightmare Monsters in those specific areas to shriek.
Celestia already knew that individuals such as Nightmare Rarity, who was very much like Nightmare Moon, would be weak against the light, not just the Magic of Friendship. The two being rely specifically on the Night and the Moon. The Moon is the source of their power, and the Night is the source of their influence.
Seeing this was none other than Nightmare Rarity and it was right in her base of operations. A transformed version of Carousel Boutique, now going by the name of the Eclipsed Citadel. While the bottom resembled the building it used to be. the rest of it was twisted and shaped like a crown. And atop the building was the Gem.
Inside of the palace, thousands upon thousands of Nightmare Monsters were already inside, ready to launch their attack on the other Universe. The ones aside paled in comparison and most likely, there were more of them elsewhere in this universe, itching to attack. The design of the palace the equivalent of a labyrinth, and its walls were composed of twisted crystal spires that rose from the ground in jagged peaks.
Since Nightmare Rarity was still Rarity, the fashionista part of her still showed based on what made up the interior of this castle. The floor, ceiling and the walls were all made of crystal. But the floors were decorated with the patterns of Nightmare Magic, and the ceiling was adorned with chandeliers. The light from the crystals and the chandeliers would reflect the light and give the palace an eerie and dark feeling, even though it was shining brightly.
But this place was still home to ponies as was all of Ponyville. Inside, ponies were trapped, having their dreams twisted and manipulated by the Nightmare Magic. They were trapped in cells and locked up, the ponies in these cells having the same texture as the night. But unlike the monsters, the texture wasn't as solid. Some ponies were free, being guards.
These Ponies were dressed up in royal attire, wearing masks with stars and moons on them. Others would serve Nightmare Rarity for simple needs. In the throne room, Nightmare Rarity sat. The throne room was located near the top of the palace. The floor and walls were the same, but the room was lit up by the moonlight. The window was shaped like a crescent moon and it was the perfect position for Nightmare Rarity. And to stroke her own ego, the room was designed beautifully, almost like a royal palace.
In the middle was the throne, and it was shaped like a crystal moon with Nightmare Rarity sitting atop. She even had a face of herself on the very front, the image of her face carved in the center. There were also large statues of her as well, the same texture as her and her mane being a lot longer.
"Oh? So Celestia is trying to stop us in advance? Very much unlike her." Nightmare Rarity spoke as she was currently stroking a cat. Of course, it was her cat Opalescence, however, even her own cat had been infected by Nightmare Magic. The texture had covered her whole body, even her eyes were in that texture. She was even fierce than before, having a larger appearance and having the same starry eyes as the other creatures.
She even had a few stars and moons on her body, glowing purple. "Well, that won't do at all. This is our time and I have great things planned. Using the power of what I can assume to be Sunny Day to counter my magic is clever, but not flawless, I'm afraid. As if I haven't prepared for this. Oculus. I know you can deal with this little nuisance as soon as possible."
As if telepathically linked, Oculus would do jus that. While the skies above were aggressively rippling, Oculus's own eyes would pulsate. She then let out an unnerving giggle as the the power from the core would expand to even greater heights. The darkness was starting to push back the Sun's energy cancelling out the effects of Sunny Day.
"Oh, my. Now this is beautiful. Such a wonderful sight." Nightmare Rarity smiled at the ripples, the light and darkness clashing. "This is a beautiful sight to behold. To see the power of my magic and the power of Sunny Day fight each other. But let's put this one to an end. And erase those gateways."
Just as she said, the energy coming from the core would suddenly start affecting the gateways themselves. The ripple effect would affect the gateways as well, causing the gateway to become distorted. The cosmic energy they possessed would shake violently, sending astral shockwaves outwards.
"G-Gol!" The Golurk were knocked back by the Astral Shockwaves, causing the portal to distort even more. The Canterlot Guards would find themselves being knocked back as well, rolling, tumbling or sliding on the ground.
This applied to every gateway across Equestria. The Canterlot Guards and all the Golurk would all be affected by the astral shockwaves. Because of this disruption, the gateways were beginning to close and dissapate. Some would explode violently, sending a bright blast everywhere.
The explosion was strong enough to send the Canterlot Guards flying. Those who were standing up would feel the explosion, some of them falling down or getting blown back. The force from the explosions was enough to tear up the ground, the shockwaves being that strong.
The Golurk would fall onto their backs, their bodies hitting the ground hard. Their eyes would lose its colour, becoming grey.
"I'm afraid not." Nightmare Rarity chuckled. "This isn't how it works. We'll come to you and decorate your universe! So please, make yourselves comfortable as we appear. Open the gateways."
With that order, across her world, her own gateways were beginning to open up and she had the resources for that. In Nightmare Rarity's universe, her forces use something similar to the Travel Spheres, but not quite. These spheres were shaped like Unicorn Horns and they were black with a purple outline.
These Horns would be raised into the air by the ponies and Nightmare Creatures as Rift Energy was flowing through them. The cosmic energy would shoot upwards and also forward, causing the ripple effect to be visible from afar. The ripples were even more massive than the ones from the other universe, and the rifts themselves would appear in the air.
Oculus exited out of the Fortress, gazing at the sight of the gateways emerging from the sky itself. She was pleased by the sight, her single eye squinting menacingly. All the Nightmare Monsters in the area would then move towards the Darkened Citadel, entering it.
Hundreds upon hundreds would fill it up as this fortress was more than capable of holding all of them. And since this fortress was already gigantic, it wouldn't take long for them to get in there.
"Let the nightmare spread. Spread across the land and the Sea. Let it shine in the sky and the clouds. And let it spread to their dreams. Let the nightmare spread~" Oculus said when watching them all enter. Once everyone was in, the Fortress' doors would begin to close.
Now that their Fortress was filled up, it was ready to set off and begin its devious actions. All the creatures in the fortress were prepared to spread the Nightmare.
Universe 1.
Straight through the gateways, the Nightmare Monsters were beginning to emerge. They would pour out from the rifts, the Nightmare Energy flowing as they let out their most horrifying signature cries. In a matter of seconds, they were in the other Universe, the gateways remaining behind until all of them were out.
They started flooding the lands of Equestria, the darkness spreading. From the skies, a rain of Nightmare Magic was coming down. The droplets were small but their impact was massive, their energy changing the landscape. The water would change to that same texture and the ground would become black.
The guards watched as these Nightmarish beings from the other universe made their appearance, and it was a truly horrifying sight. The way the Nightmare Creatures would emerge was that their bodies would emerge from the ground, having a shadowy appearance.
And the Nightmare Monsters were more than ready to spread their dark influence, having plenty of ways to do so. Each of their appearances were to thank for that since many of them were varied in their appearances and their abilities.
"Well...So much for weakening them first." One of the guards gulped while having a crooked smile. "Oh, well. Now we know what it's like to be the first to attack, right? Right?"
"Uh...Right!" The others laughed nervously, before focusing on the threats in front of them. "Stop them, Golurk!"
"Gol!" The group of Golurk would fly forward or even stand back, ready to drive these Nightmare Creatures away. But the Nightmare Monsters wouldn't have that, already making their attacks.
A creature made from Nightmare Energy, looking like a tree would open its mouth and the energy would turn into a beam. The Golurk would fire back with a Hyper Beam, which would clash with the Nightmare Magic. The two beams would push against each other before cancelling out, ending in a stalemate.
Through the smoke, the Golurk flew forward, holding their hands out to block the advances of the Nightmare Monsters. These monsters weren't small either. Their sizes were rather impressive, some even matching the Golurk as they would push against each other, the Golurk trying to hold them back.
Some were even smaller than the Golurk and could move a lot faster. They would fly through the air, shooting at the Golurk with the beams and blasts of Nightmare Magic. The Golurk would use their arms to defend themselves, shielding themselves from the blasts.
The Golurk had the strength and defence to hold them off, cementing themselves as Equestria's best defenders. They were definitely able to take a hit. Using Dynamic Punch and other heavy blows, they would push the smaller creatures back, their arms glowing blue.
But there was another wave of Nightmares headed their way, more creatures were pouring in. This time, they were a lot smaller. They were about the size of a baby and they were shaped like babies, having a baby-like physique. But they were covered in the textures of the night sky, their bodies having stars and moons on them.
Some had eyes, and some did not. They would float through the air, flying directly towards the Golurk. These smaller ones were much faster and agile than the previous ones. The Golurk were quick to catch up with them, using their hands to block and attack them.
The baby-shaped monsters would attack the Golurk with their claws, but these creatures had no arms or hands. They would scratch the Golurk, but these attacks didn't even leave a mark. The Golurk would swipe at the Baby-shaped monsters, but their swings would miss, the monsters dodging.
"Gol!" The Golurk was surprised and shocked that these creatures were moving so fast. Some of the baby-like monsters were able to scratch their faces, but there was minimal damage.
But that still wasn't an issue for the Golurk as some of them would take flight, being able to cover battles in the sky and on the ground, truly being a versatile Pokemon.
"Gol! Gol! Gol!"
With their Hyper Beams, the Golurk would fire them at the creatures, blasting them and the ground around them. The beams would tear up the ground and would cause a powerful explosion. The force was strong enough to destroy blow away some rock formations in the wild, the smoke rising from the ground.
But as the Golurk would think the threat was over, they saw a massive swarm of the Baby-shaped creatures. It was far too many of them, their numbers were in the thousands. They were all floating through the air and they would charge at the Golurk, flying straight at them.
The Golurk would brace for the attack, ready to defend themselves against this swarm. The swarm would be relentless, attacking the Golurk as they tried to fight back. There was no way to tell just how many of these things there were, and they were just small enough to squeeze into tight spaces.
Even their claws would have the ability to inflict damage.
Elsewhere, from the other gateways across the world, the Nightmare Creatures were beginning to emerge, flying out and letting their presences be known. Many were even bigger, the sizes being comparable to buildings.
Their presence would send a shockwave, the tremors shaking the land. They would let out a mighty cry, the cry causing the earth to tremble.
One was a giant, shadowy spider-like monster. This creature would have 8 legs, its body made up of shadows. It would move quickly, letting its presence be known as its eyes would stare. Its 8 eyes were shaped like the moon and they were glowing a bright purple.
Another would be a large, humanoid figure with a face that is covered by a helmet and a long, flowing robe. Its form was wispy and ethereal, made from the very shadows. The shadow would rise up, its form being that of a tall, humanoid shape. One by one, the eyes of the shadows would open,
Over at Las Pegasus, the Nightmares were starting to attack. From the skies, a massive horde of Nightmares were coming straight for the city. Some of the creatures were the same size as the buildings, but the smaller ones would be the main threats.
Since Las Pegasus was a city that was active even during the night, the ponies here would witness these creatures flying towards the city. Many were quick to react and would run for safety and stop what they were doing. But these Nightmare Creatures also had unique ways of arriving.
One of the ponies at the many slot machines would witness the screen go dark, and when she turned her head, her eyes were wide. On the screen, the face of a creature would appear. A large eye would appear, glowing purple and it would have a wide grin. "Oh!" She bellowed as two disguisting claws would crawl out of the machine, ready to grasp the pony's face, but she was lucky to run away.
From the tables, one would notice a card that appeared. It would have a strange, alien-like pattern and the card would have a glowing eye. "What's this?!" The Pony gasped, the card floating and the eyeball blinking.
From the casino's floor, a portal would open, and a strange, tentacled creature would emerge, rising up. Its eyes were glowing, its body being shadowy and it had a disturbing smile on its face.
It was just like that, the Nightmare Monsters would make their appearance. In a matter of seconds, they would have taken over the entire casino, trapping any ponies inside. Thankfully, the Canterlot Guards had also arrived here, riding on the backs of their Golurks.
The Golurk would touchdown and the Guards would hop off their backs. One of the Nightmare Monsters present here was a Rhino-like monster with a large horn and it had 6 legs, two on each side. It was made from the very shadows and would let out a roar. It would charge forward, aiming for one of the Golurk.
"Gol!" The Golurk would block its horn, holding their arms out to block it. The Rhino-like Monster would slam its head into the Golurk's body, the attack pushing the Pokemon back. Its physical strength was certainly a force to be reckoned with. The Golurk would retaliate, throwing its arm and hitting the Rhino in the face.
But the Rhino wasn't deterred, letting out a roar and using its head to charge at the Golurk again. This time, it would push the Golurk into a wall, the attack breaking the wall. But the Golurk wasn't going to be finished just yet, standing up.
The two were locked in battle, but the Guards weren't done, having their own Golurk use their own attacks. The other two Golurks would use their Hyper Beam, firing a large blast.
The attack would hit the Rhino in the back, the attack pushing the Rhino back. The attack was strong enough to send the Rhino stumbling. This would allow the other Golurk to charge forward, using its arms and throwing a Shadow Punch.
However, upon connecting, the Rhino grinned, suddenly standing up in a bipedal position and tanking the blows. Not only was strong, but it had quite the durability on it.
"Hehe." The Rhino Monster chuckled after taking the attack. "You're a funny one. A bit too light for my taste. I think you could use a bit of a spruce. Here, let me help you." His horn would suddenly start glowing, the power pulsating.
"Golurk, get back!"
"G-Gol?!"
"Gol!"
The Rhino would charge forward, suddenly having its entire body covered in a nightmarish aura. Similar to something like Flare Blitz or Volt Tackle, the Rhino was engulfed in nightmares, its body surrounded by an aura of nightmares. The Rhino would charge straight into the Golurk, its body slamming into the Pokemon.
The Golurk that tried to stop it would be knocked aside, flying in different directions and landing onto the ground. After knocking the Golurk aside, this Nightmare Rhino would continue moving, going on an absolute rampage. It would crash into the walls and destroy anything in its path, its speed and strength enhanced by the Nightmare Magic.
It was now in a berserker-like state, charging forward and crashing into the walls, breaking them down. And it wasn't slowing down anytime soon, potentially planning to rampage across all of Equestria and beyond.
The Guard could do nothing but watch, unable to stop this beast. The Nightmare Rhino was far too strong, even for their Golurk. It had been enhanced by the Nightmare Magic and they didn't have a way to counteract it.
The Crystal Empire.
In the Crystal Empire, things were safe at the moment, with everypony being told to stay inside. There was no need to panic yet since the threat hadn't reached the empire yet. They were all seen entering one sole building, located just near the outskirts of the Crystal Empire, surrounded by a magical aura.
"Alright. I think that's everypony." Cadence said as she closed the door. "We have all the residents of the Crystal Empire safe inside. With this magic, the Nightmare Monsters won't be able to enter. Not even one."
"Yeah." Shining Armour added. "They won't be able to pass through. And with the protection of the Crystal Heart, they won't be able to harm us from the inside. And thankfully, we know a bout these Nightmare Creatures thanks to you." He would then face his daughter from an alternate universe. The older Flurry Heart, who was holding the baby Flurry Heart of this universe in her hooves. "Since you were in Daybreaker's alliance once, you know a lot about these Nightmare Creatures, don't you?"
"Mhm! A lot! For the most part, they're a lot like Nightmare Moon and also like Daybreaker since she's made from the same kind of magic. Their bodies are just full of that magic, which makes them dangerous."
"And what's their biggest weakness?" Cadence asked.
"Light! Just like Nightmare Moon, light is a big weakness for them. But they're also weak to those who have strong wills and can't have their dreams easily corrupted. Most of the time, they target the dreams of others to try and corrupt them, so that they can't resist the corruption. And those who are corrupted become a part of their ranks. And then there's Fire."
"Fire?" Cadence repeated.
"Yeah. Not all of them, but some Nightmare Monsters are actually weak to fire. It can burn away their darkness and weaken their strength. Great Aunt Daybreaker found this out when she first encountered Nightmare Rarity before they teamed up. Even the weakest of her flames could drive her back. I'm not sure about the other Nightmare Monsters and what they're weak too."
"Shouldn't they all be weak to Fire too?" Flash Sentry asked. "They're made from the same magic, right?"
"I thought so too. But apparently, it's based on how high they rank. Nightmare Monsters all have ranks. From Beautiful Secretaries all the down to Night Grunts."
"Night Grunts?"
"Yeah. These are the monsters that are the least powerful and the weakest. They're the first ones that you encounter. There's a hierarchy. But they're not all equal. The higher-ups aren't that vulnerable to Fire. The more powerful they are, the less vulnerable they are. I'm guessing that Nightmare Rarity only got harmed since Great Aunt Daybreaker is just that strong that her fire can affect anyone. Not even Nightmarish beings such as herself can be spared from that."
"Okay, I think that's enough. You can tell us the rest once this is all over." Flash Sentry said. "It's best for you to get inside as well, Princess."
"I will. Don't worry." Older Flurry Heart nodded, putting the Baby Flurry Heart down. The little one looked up, looking around the room as the doors were being shut. Both of them would be kept safe in here, so no need to worry.
Flash Sentry and the others would make sure everything was ready for this fight. He would close the door, locking it. As soon as the doors were shut, he would stand back with his fellow guards. Cadence on the other hand would play her part in this, heading straight for the castle and taking things frmo there, making sure everypony was alright.
Magehold.
Elsewhere, in Magehold, the home of the Vampires, even they were getting themselves ready. It wasnt too long ago that they were freed from a dark rule and could finally enjoy true happiness, even building their own Entertainment District. But now, a threat even greater than the Dread League they used to have here was now approaching.
Overseeing this was Dimstar, who was taking charge at the moment. "Alright. These Nightmare Monsters aren't too different from us. While they don't draw from the same magical power we do, they're still beings of darkness. So, it's best to approach them with caution. Our magic can help keep the darkness at bay since we also use a form of Dark Magic." The Half-Lich Half-Vampire spoke to them.
Normally, the Lich King of Queen would be here making this speech. However, Fantina, who became the new Lich Queen due to the same way Ash became the King of the Sea was not present. Most likely, back home at Hearthome City.
"A major advantage is that all of you will be unable to have nightmares. And even if you do, it won't have much of an effect. We vampires were born and raised in a dark environment already, seeing some of the most terrifying things imaginable. Even standing alongside them or creating them. It's not going to phase us." Dimstar pointed out.
"We'll keep the Nightmare Monsters from spreading, so don't worry." Another Vampire said. That vampire being Eccentrick. A cheery gal who loved Pokemon Contests. "There's nothing for us to be afraid of at all! We're like, totally immune to that stuff!"
"Mhm. Mhm." The other Vampires odded in agreement.
"Don't get too confident." Dimstar, using her invisible tendrils, would poke Eccentrick on the nose, making it squish. "It's not often that we deal with Darkness ourselves. For the longest, Vampires have been against forces that combat the Darkness. But this is an exception. For once, the Darkness is our enemy. So we have to be ready."
"Y-Yeah. We'll be careful." Eccentrick said with a smile, her cheeks flushed as her nose was still being squished.
"I'm not just talking about yourself. All of you will have to be careful." Dimstar reminded. "We've just now entered an era of peace and happiness. Let's make sure it doesn't leave our sights and return to sorrow."
Kanto. Pallet Town. Nightfall.
Outside of Equestria and over at some of the regions, right at Kanto, Pallet Town was currently being met with the Canterlot Guards who were stationed here. They were sent by Celestia in advance.
"Mrs Ketchum. Make sure you don't fall asleep, alright?" One of the Guards spoke to Delia. "I know that sounds difficult, but for this, Princess Celestia has requested that many should try and keep themselves awake for the time being. In the case you do fall asleep, Princess Luna will be there to protect your dreams for potential Nightmare Attacks. And there will also be someone to keep an eye on you."
"Thank you." Delia smiled. "I'm sure I'll be fine. The same goes for everyone here in Pallet Town. Everyone else is trying their best to stay awake."
"Oh, yes, yes." Walking over was Professor Oak in his pyjamas. "I think we'll all do fine. Pallet Town is no strange to staying up at night at times."
"...P-Professor. Aren't you a bit old? Won't you fall asleep easier than most?" A Guard asked.
"Nonsense. I'm still young. And I don't have a problem with staying up. I'll be just fine. In fact, I'm going to go do some research on the Nightmare Creatures while I'm up. In case they show up. I'm going to need some more information about them. Maybe I could create a device to detect their presences." Professor Oak suggested, his eyes shining.
"Samson. You're wearing your Pyjamas right now. Are you sure you can stay awake?" Delia leaned forward, teasing him.
"Bah. In the worst case scenario, Ash's Noctowl can just wake me up. Or any of us up. It's a nocturnal Pokemon for a reason." Oak pointed out. "So can Gliscor by the way."
"Right, right." Delia chuckled before looking out into the nightly horizon. She was already thinking about Ash, hoping for his safety. She had a feeling that he was already aware of this situation and would most likely get involved himself, like he always does.
Back in Equestria, through one of the gateways, it had arrived. The Darkened Citadel.
Inside the Citadel, the Nightmare Monsters would be ready, standing at the ready. And leading them all would be a high ranking monster that appeared as a Fox-like creature with truly starry appearance, having five tails in total along with a glowing symbol on its forehead, its eyes glistening.
This Monster's name was Silent Fur. A fox-like creature with an appearance that was almost like Ninetales, but obviously, this was not a Pokemon. Its body was composed of the very nightmares itself.
"The time is nigh, everyone." Silent Fur said. Her voice was soft, but it held a certain commanding tone. "It's time we pay our new neighbours a visit. And bring some Nightmare Magic with us."
Silent Fur would raise her tails, her eyes glowing. The entire Citadel would then start floating through the air, rising from the ground. It was as if the whole fortress was alive. From the fortress, something was emerging. It looked to be a giant paintbrush of some sort, the tip glowing with Nightmare Magic.
This brush was being carried by the Citadel, being its weapon. The Fortress would then start moving the brush across the grass, leaving a trail of blackness. This blackness would spread, and it would be accompanied by the purple Nightmare Magic.
The brush would then move, the citadel moving across the land, creating a dark trail.
The Nightmare Monsters were more than prepared, all of them flying out of the Citadel and through the night skies. With the brush and the Citadel behind them, they were all prepared to cause some nightmares. The Nightmare Magic would start spreading all throughout Equestria.
In a matter of seconds, the skies would start to get cloudy, the clouds covering the night. This cloud was created by the Nightmare Monsters and was filled with their dark energy.
Around this area, some Pokemon were nearby, witnessing the Nightmare Magic approaching. It already started enveloping the trees, giving them sentience and transforming them into tree-shaped Nightmare Monsters. The nearby lake would also change, the water turning black and a lot more viscous. The water would take on the appearance of a large eye, creating a new Nightmare Monster.
"Jolt!" The first to spot the darkness were a few Eeveelutions, and they were the Jolteon, Umbreon and Espeon. They would all stand back, watching as the darkness came straight towards them. Three Eevelutions hissed, trying to push it back with a Thunderbolt, Dark Pulse and Psychic, but their attacks would be ineffective.
The Jolteon's Thunderbolt would fizzle out before even hitting the dark energy, and the Espeon's Psychic would have no effect, the attack passing through. The Espeon and the others would watch as the darkness slowly crept towards them, and even the light of the Moon wouldn't deter it.
The darkness would soon envelop them, their forms covered in darkness and changing. Very soon, if this keeps up, this could be the fate of all those in the way of the Nightmares. This was truly the beginning of Nightmare Rarity's attack on Universe 1.
A large paintbrush with Nightmare Magic was moving across the landscape. used by the Darkened Citadel, a large fortress that was brimming with Nightmare Magic, the darkness would slowly spread all across Equestria. The sky, the waters, the forests, and the ground were all being claimed.
Pokemon in certain areas would try and hide, trying to evade the Nightmares. But their efforts were futile, and the darkness would catch up to them eventually. Any cove, hollow or even the ground itself wouldn't be able to stop the spread.
Aside from the painting of the landscape, there were the Nightmare Monsters that would surface. And alas, Dodge Junction would be invaded by these monsters. 12 Monsters in total arrived, all of them landing on the ground and letting out their signature cries.
These 12 Monsters would start swarming the location, one of them immediately ripping off the train tracks. They would destroy anything in their way, tearing up the place and spreading the Nightmare Magic.
"Eugh! What are those things?!" The Mayor of Dodge Junction screamed as she saw the creatures invade her town. Just as one of them was about to reach her, it was intercepted by the slash of a Scizor. Flying in was the Bug-Steel-Type, who had used Bullet Punch on the creature.
The creature was knocked away, crashing into a wall. It was followed by a Corviknight, who had used Aerial Ace on another Nightmare Monster. Of course, this was done by the Wonderbolts led by Spitfire, who were already here.
"Gross..." Soarin commented when looking at these monsters. "What are they? They look a lot like Nightmare Moon with those textures."
"Duh. They're made out of the same magic. It's not that hard to figure out." Fleetfoot said. "But...they're so unsettling to look at."
"I'll say." High Mane raised her hoof, covering her eyes. "Just looking at them makes me shiver."
"Are you all alright?" Spitfire faced the residents of Dodge Junction.
"F-Fine...Ruined my sleep though." Cherry Jubilee groaned, holding her head as she was helped out of her home by two of her Pokemon. Her Bellossom and Lilligant, the two helping her.
"It's actually good that you're awake. This is no time to be sleeping." Spitfire said "These guys are made out of Nightmare Magic. They feed on dreams. It's best to stay awake and let them have nothing to eat."
"Well, well, what do we have here?" One of the Nightmare Monsters that appeared as a bird with a long tail and a long beak spoke, his voice rather smooth and suave. "Those look like the Wonderbolts. Yes they do. Obviously they'd still be around in this universe, unlike ours. What's the point of them, really?"
"What do you mean by that?" Soarin questioned the Nightmare.
"Where we come from, the Wonderbolts were deliciously overtaken by our Nightmare Magic. The Veiled Mistress made sure that they would be turned into nothing but show ponies that would dance the Nightmare Waltz for our amusement. A waltz that brings us pleasure, and the same could be said for those who have been taken. Even the former leader herself."
"Hah?" Spitfire lowered her glasses as they were obviously referring to her.
"Oh, yes, yes. It's all quite true. That little firebrand of yours was reduced to a simple pony that would dance for our amusement." The monster snickered.
"So...what happened to me?" Spitfire questioned.
"Ah, that. Your body is now used for our own amusement. The body is just used for decoration. And for other things. The body is a puppet for us to control, and the mind is the only part that is left. And all you can do is watch in horror as your body is being controlled by the Nightmare Magic, performing various acts that you have no control over. And all you can do is scream in vain as you're unable to do a single thing. Truly the worst outcome."
"That so." Spitfire placed her glasses back on. "Hm. Bummer. Here I thought I'd have a cooler end than that. Guess not. But that's alright. Because I can make up for that by beating you all. Stepping foot into our universe was a big mistake. Now you're gonna face the wrath of the Wonderbolts."
"Hmph. As if. You're facing a group of Nightmarish Beings." One of the Nightmare Monsters laughed, this one resembling a zebra with a mane of shadows. "You're all facing creatures who have been born in the night. And we thrive off the dark. So I doubt that your little attempts is going to be enough to stop us."
"We'll see. Some of you should get these ponies away from here. And try and find some way to wake them up if some are asleep. I don't think they're able to resist these guys for much longer."
"Right." High Mane, Fleetfoot and High Voltage nodded before heading over to the others and helping them out.
"As for you all...This shouldn't be a problem. We'll finish up here and cover the other areas. Pretty soon, we'll be coming to you." Spitfire smiled. "Go for it, Scizor! Use Bullet Punch!"
"Sciz!" The Bug-Steel Type nodded as his claws would glow blue. He would then fly forward and unleash a barrage of punches, flying past the monsters and striking them. The force was enough to push the monsters back, some of them falling back.
"Okay, Corviknight! Steel Wing!" Soarin shouted.
"Cor!" The Corviknight would fly over, using his beak to peck at the monsters, the impact being strong enough to send one or two tumbling. Retaliating, the Nightmare Monsters would counterattack, attacking the Wonderbolts.
One would use its tail which was in the shape of a fork as it would fly in at high speeds. The tail met with Corviknight's steel body, the impact being strong enough to knock him back. The Corviknight would let out a squawk, flying backwards.
"Cor!"
"Now use X-Scissor, Scizor!" Spitfire ordered, and Scizor would deliver the finishing blow. The Scizor would deliver the blows with his arms, using X-Scissor and pushing them all back. The force of Scizor's X-Scissor was heavier than they thought, knocking most of them back and sending them flying.
The remaining few would try and charge at the Scizor, but the Scizor would quickly dodge, moving aside and avoiding the blows. The Scizor would then jump and use his claws to scratch at their bodies. The Nightmare Creatures gasped as they were actually being pushed back, witnessing the power of the Scizor.
They tried fighting back, but Scizor proved to be too fast. With his movements being a lot quicker than expected, easily surpassing them all, Scizor would deliver the final blow and land the finishing blow, striking each of the Nightmare Monsters. His last blow would have a green flare emerge, engulfing these creatures of the night.
The last ones would be downed, their bodies falling down and onto the ground. But their bodies wouldn't just fall, they immediately started dispersing into black mist. Their bodies were made of the same substance, and when they were attacked, their bodies would dissipate, their bodies fading into the stars that were seen in the night sky.
"That's that." Spitfire dusted her hooves as the ponies of Dodge Junction cheered. Their home avoided potential destruction thanks to the Wonderbolts, who managed to drive back these Nightmares.
"Cor!" Corviknight squawked in victory.
"Good job, everyone. That's this place safe." Spitfire told them all. "For now, at least. Let's go check on some of the other areas. Hopefully they're doing fine. Dodge Junction should be safe for the time being but some more of those monsters can show up. The rest of you should start leaving as soon as possible. To Canterlot."
"To Canterlot? Oh, are we heading into that secret hideout again? Goodie." Cherry Jubilee clapped her hooves, a smile on her face. "I haven't been there in such a long time. And it's where I keep all my goods."
"We've used it a lot when something big attacks Equestria. This will be no different." Spitfire said. "You know the drill. Stay in there until everything dies down. But this time, we'll be going straight to Enemy Territory sooner than expected. We'll need to be ready for that."
The ponies of Dodge Junction would be led by three of the Wonderbolts to Canterlot. Hopefully, there weren't any more Nightmare Monsters nearby. For now, Dodge Junction was safe. But for how long? More were bound to arrive soon.
Canterlot.
Already at Canterlot, many were being brought to that underground bunker that Princess Cadence had shown Twilight in the past. Since it was hidden from the public, it would be a perfect hiding spot to keep everypony safe. Granted, now everyone in Equestria knew of its existence after being down here a few times, but at least their attackers never checked here.
Ponies from across Equestria were gathered here, being brought to the safety of the Secret Room. A perfect hiding spot, away from Nightmare Magic. There was also a form of protection here as well, keeping the Nightmare Magic out.
This protective barrier was created by Celestia and her magic. Celestia already had access to Light Magic, which was a known weakness of the Nightmare Monsters. Celestia had used this Light Magic to create a barrier around this Secret Room that would keep the Nightmare Magic out. And even if it did get inside, it couldn't affect the ponies within.
Celestia watched from her balcony as many ponies were brought to safety, being taken below Canterlot.
"Your Majesty. We've evacuated everyone from Ponyville to here." One of the Guards spoke to Celestia. "Everyone in Ponyville is safe as well. The same goes for everypony in Manehattan, Fillydelphia and Baltimare."
"Good. That means most of Equestria is safe, including the Pokemon from the Region." Celestia said. "Many of them have already fled to our cities as well. Most likely, they'll use their magic to infect those cities and towns, making them inhabitable unless someone else is a Nightmare as well."
"About that. We've spotted some sort of Fortress somewhere in the East. It was moving across the land." The Guard said. "It was carrying this Giant Paintbrush made from Nightmare Magic. And it was spreading that same Nightmare Magic."
"A Fortress?" Celestia squinted her eyes using her telescope. She would view more of Equestria, taking in the sights and visions of what was happening. Thanks to this telescope, she could get some great distance, focusing on the East.
And she saw it. The Darkened Citadel, flying across Equestria and spreading its Nightmare Magic. The Darkened Citadel was moving across the lands, painting the land with that Nightmare Magic. Even though she was powerful, Celestia couldn't be everywhere at once. She could only view Equestria from here. But as long as she was here, she could make sure that Nightmare Magic couldn't enter this Secret Room.
Unova. Opelucid City. Nightfall.
It was not too long until some of the Nightmare Creatures reached one of the many regions. In this case, moving through a gateway, some had entered Opelucid City in the Unova Region. Moving across the skies were aerial Nightmare Monsters, flying in and letting out their cries. Some of these creatures were reminiscent of bats, but with more nightmarish designs.
Among these bat-like monsters, one stood out. It was a much larger bat-like creature, having a wolf-like appearance with a very wide wingspan. It had razor-sharp claws and a pair of large fangs. This Wolfbat would lead the small army of Nightmares as they flew into Opelucid City, ready to spread the Nightmare Magic.
"Let's start infecting their dreams already!" One of them cackled as they flew through the air, flapping their wings to drop Nightmare Magic all over the city. The droplets of Nightmare Magic would rain down and drip onto the roofs of the buildings. These Nightmare Drops would stick to the roofs, beginning to spread.
From the Nightmare Drops, the Nightmare Magic would spread all over the rooftops, spreading its influence all over the place. From the drops, some of the Nightmare Monsters would emerge, crawling out of the Nightmare Drops. Their forms were based on the night itself, some appearing as dog-shaped monsters, and others appearing as cat-shaped monsters.
Their appearances were a lot more nightmarish than they appeared since their bodies were made out of Nightmare Magic. Many of these Nightmares Monsters would emerge from the drops, their numbers increasing.
But the question was if they would succeed in affecting these residents of Opelucid City. The city was rather silent at the moment with all the lights being off. There was no response from anyone in the city yet.
"Is it working? Is it working?" One of the Bat Monsters asked, flying over to a window and tapping on the glass. He tapped on the windows of one of the houses, trying to get a reaction out of the occupants. However, to his shock, there was no one there. In fact, none of the homes had anyone living in them.
Opelucid City was completely abandoned.
"W-Wha? Huh?! Where is everypony?!" The Bat Monster gasped.
"Yeah! Where is everypony?! What's the big idea!" Another Bat Monster questioned, flying over to another house and looking through the windows.
But alas, it was all for naught. They saw no signs of anypony anywhere in Opelucid City. It was completely abandoned.
"Dang it! No fun at all! Where is everyone?!" The Wolfbat growled, flying above the city. "What's the point of infecting dreams if there's noone to infect?!"
"If you're looking for my citizens, don't bother." Just then, someone actually responded, grabbing the attention of these Nightmare Monsters. Stepping forward was none other than the Mayor of Opelucid City himself. The Dragon-Type Gym Leader. The Spartan Mayor Drayden.
"Hah? So there is someone! But why's it just him?!" One of the Bat Monsters questioned Drayden, flying over to him and growling.
"This city is empty. It has been for quite some time. I already had everyone evacuated hours ago. As soon as Princess Celestia informed us, I warned my citizens and had them flee from Opelucid City." Drayden explained, adjusting his tie. "They've all gone elsewhere to find refuge from whatever threat is coming."
"What?! Then what was the point of coming here then?!" The Wolfbat groaned. "So annoying! Not even one citizen to infect! All because of this guy!"
"And I'm not leaving anytime soon. And neither are they." Based on what Drayden said, it wasn't just him here. Someone else was with him, revealing themselves to be Iris. Standing right next to Drayden were those who worked at his Gym. Each were Dragon Trainers who had Pokemon of their own.
But there was one more person. She made quite the entrance as one of the lights in the city would finally turn on. The Wolfbat raised their heads, following the light as standing up there was none other than the Champion of Unova herself.
Iris.
She stood on the rooftop of one of the buildings, standing there with a proud look on her face. Behind her was Haxorus who looked ready for battle.
"Hehe! Tough luck! Guess you guys should've gotten here sooner!" Iris taunted them. "Sucks to be nocturnal sometimes. But either way, you're not infecting any dreams tonight!"
"Bah, whatever! You're still victims here at the end of the day! There may not be a bunch of people here to infect, but you all will have to do!" The Wolfbat declared before letting out a loud roar.
"You can try." Drayden crossed his arms. "You're not the first invading force we've had to deal with. And I doubt you will be the last. So you better bring your worst."
"Yeah! And besides...it's late!" Iris hollered as she was currently in her pyjamas instead of her Champion Clothes or casual wear. "I was gonna have a great rest tonight until you guys decided to show up now! You're gonna pay for delaying what could be the best sleep ever!"
The Bat Monsters would fly towards the Gym Trainers, and they were ready. "Salamence! Flygon! Garchomp! Go!" Drayden and the others would throw their Pokeballs, and the three Dragon-Type Pokemon would emerge.
"Hup!" Iris would hop over to the next building's rooftop as Haxorus followed her. She landed on another roof with ease, facing the bat monsters that were coming straight for her. "Alright, Haxorus! Use Dragon Pulse!" Iris shouted.
"Haaaaaaax!" The Axe Jaw Pokemon would let out a mighty cry, releasing a sphere of draconic energy from his mouth that would soon transform into a dragon-shaped beam of energy. The Dragon Pulse would fire straight at the bat monsters, the attack hitting them directly and pushing them back.
The Dragon Pulse would knock a few of them out of the skies, causing them to crash into the ground. The impact would cause the Nightmare Magic to disperse, the monsters fading away as the Nightmare Drops would disappear.
Salamence, Flygon and Garchomp would fly around the city as their trainers rode atop of them. Using their physical strength, Salamence and Garchomp would swipe at the bat monsters that were flying towards them.
Flygon would use Sandstorm, the attack creating a tornado of sand that would hit the Bat Monsters. The Sandstorm would push them back, causing them to crash into the buildings and fade away.
Haxorus would join them as he would also use Dragon Pulse on another group of Bat Monsters. The attack would send them crashing into a building, causing them to fade away. Drayden's Druddigon would use Fire Fang, biting onto the bat monsters and burning them with flames.
The Wolfbats could clearly see that there was a gap in strength right now. And the Pokemon were able to keep them at bay with their power and abilities. One of them would fly over to the Wolfbat and speak. "Should we retreat?"
"Retreat? Are you kidding me? We've prepared for one-sided moments like this. It's time for our ace-in-the hole." The Wolfbat grinned before raising his wings. The Bat Monsters would fly over to him, ready for anything. "Ready for it? We're going to combine!"
"Combine?!" Iris gasped as the Bat Monsters surrounded the Wolfbat. The Bat Monsters would then merge with the Wolfbat, combining with him. The way their bodies were going up against each other was disturbing, but in a matter of seconds, the Bat Monsters and the Wolfbat would merge together, forming something new.
The body of the Wolfbat would shift and change as his size increased. His body would grow in size and his body would become much more nightmarish than before. The Wolfbat would let out a loud roar as the transformation completed, a new monster emerging. A monster that resembled a wolf with the wings of a bat and a body made of nightmares.
"Woah..." Iris was stunned by the sudden appearance of this Merged Monster. Things have certainly escalated quickly for this to happen.
"How do you like this, Humans?! The Veiled Mistress gave us the ability to merge together! And we've been waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it! And that's right now!" The Wolfbat roared as the remaining Bat Monsters would merge with him, turning into Nightmare Drops and covering the body of this merged creature. "With this, we become 10x stronger than before! Our strength rises to that of some of our superiors or at least near their level!"
"So this is a lot like those Despair Plants when they merge. What a disturbing creature..." Drayden commented as he watched the monster grow in size. The combined Bat Monster was a lot larger than before, being the size of a Gyarados. "But if you say you're 10x stronger than you were, then you'd best not disappoint. Show me if you can live up to that claim."
The combined Bat Monster would let out a loud roar, unleashing Nightmare Magic from his body. The Nightmare Droplets that covered his body would release Nightmare Magic, raining it all over the city. The Nightmare Droplets would focus on Iris's group this time, planning to infect their dreams directly.
The Nightmare Droplets would descend upon them, trying to reach them. Iris would jump out of the way while Haxorus would use Dragon Claw to slice through some of the Nightmare Drops. Garchomp and Druddigon would dodge as well, using their claws to slash through some of them. Flygon would use Stone Edge, shooting stones through the air and hitting some of the Nightmare Droplets. Salamence would shoot Dragon Breath at some of them as well.
Drayden's Druddigon would use Scale Shot, firing scales from its body that would hit some of the Nightmare Droplets. The combined Bat Monster would try and attack them directly, flying in and striking some of them with its claws. Its wings would flap as he would strike them with his wings.
Iris would dodge and leap onto another roof, facing the combined Bat Monster. The Axe Jaw Pokemon would stand by her side, glaring at the enemy. "You know, you look kinda cool! But you also look super gross! I'm not sure if I should be intimidated or amused!" Iris taunted the Nightmare Monster.
"It doesn't seem much stronger at all though." One Dragon Tranier commented as they stood next to Drayden. "Do you think it's bluffing? Or is this really its true strength?"
"All it really did was just merge and grow bigger. That's about it." Drayden said. "If this is the true extent of its power, then it's not much of a threat."
"You think so?" Iris questioned them before smirking. "Kind of a bummer. I guess we can end this now, right? After this, I'm going straight to bed!"
"We can't sleep, Iris. Unless we want to risk our dreams turning into nightmares." Dayden reminded.
"Oh yeah. Forgot about that." Iris rubbed her head. "Then I'll stay up all night! That's fine too!"
"Hmph. Are you positive we aren't much of a threat?" The Nightmare Monster spoke, putting on a grin with those sharp teeth. "Check again."
"What?" Iris blurted before slowly turning her head. And right before her very eyes, a terrifying sight was seen. Some of the buildings here were starting to fade away, surrounded by Nightmare Sparkles.
Nightmare Sparkles were sparkles that came from the Nightmare Droplets, and they would begin to affect the environment. This meant that the buildings were starting to disappear, the Nightmare Magic claiming the area.
"Some of these places were built upon dreams, right?" The Nightmare Monster smirked. "So if these dreams turn into nightmares, then these buildings will fade away!"
"No way! That's horrible!" Iris gasped. Some of these places have been built up on dreams that others have made. Dream homes, dream shops and other locations. Some would fade away while others were being transformed into their worst possible state.
The buildings would transform, being affected by the Nightmare Magic. Each would take on a darker form, the walls being dark and the windows being pitch black and tailored to the Nightmare Monsters. This was just an example of what Nightmare Magic could do.
However, they were just being transformed or taken away, but the energy was also flowing towards the Nightmare Monster itself. All that energy that had crushed the dreams of those who owned them would be stripped away, becoming food for this merged monster.
"Our Mistress has given us this ability to absorb the Nightmare Magic that comes from these places! If we consume enough Nightmare Magic, then we'll become even more powerful!" The Nightmare Monster revealed, actually gaining extra power from this and feeding on the energy. "And I'm sure you've already guessed by now...but this will be the same for everywhere else!"
Castelia City.
Elsewhere in the Unova Region, in Castelia City, the Nightmare Magic had already arrived and begun infecting the city. Nightmare Droplets had descended upon the area, caused by more Aerial Nightmare Monsters.
Looking outside was Nurse Joy, witnessing the Nightmare Monsters flying through the city. She watched as some of the buildings started to fade away thanks to the Nightmare Magic. Inside the Pokemon Center were Pokemon Trainers, all of them watching in horror as some of them stood by their Pokemon.
Outside, the Golurks from Canterlot along with some of guards were present here as well, doing their best to keep everyone here safe. The Golurk raised their arms, feeling the Nightmare Droplets bombard them rapidly, trying to infect them.
"Goodness!" Nurse Joy gasped before facing the people and patients here. "It's alright everyone! Just stay indoors and out of sight! Keep yourselves awake at all costs! As long as you stay awake, you'll be safe!"
"B-But that's impossible! We can't force ourselves to stay awake forever!" An old man bellowed.
"And how long will this even last for?!" Another trainer questioned.
"I don't know! But we have all those guards out there to protect us! So just hold out until then!" Nurse Joy reassured them. "In the meantime, I have to stay awake as well. For the sake of the Pokemon, I have to keep everyone safe. That's what we Joys do after all."
Nurse Joy would walk over to the doors of the Pokemon Center, making sure they were locked tight. She had to make sure that none of them could get inside here. And while this was happening, with Pheromosa, Mew and Kartana, they were still resting up in a room in the Pokemon Center.
Their bodies were still greatly damaged, especially Pheromosa. They found themselves asleep at this point even unconscious. However, despite being the one to have taken the most damage thanks to her fragile body, it was Pheromosa would slowly grunt, feeling the battle happening outside as her eyes slowly opened, her fingers twitching.
"Mosa...?"
Universe 5.
Viewing all of this from her base was Oculus Gloom, who sat in an area that once was Town Hall, but had been transformed into her personal base of operations. Matching her eerie appearance, the top of it had a Massive Eyeball floating above it that served as a symbol of fear.
Any trace of Town Hall had been replaced with very small things from its original design sticking around, mainly due to what Nightmare Rarity saw as beautiful in her eyes. The interior of Oculus Gloom's base was decorated with Nightmare Matter and Nightmare Sparkles, creating a rather ominous yet regal atmosphere. Across the walls were eyeballs upon eyeballs, all twitching and moving, looking in various directions while making disturbing squishy sounds.
Oculus Gloom herself was sitting on a throne that was made of Nightmare Matter and Nightmare Sparkles. Each of these eyeballs also acted as cameras, allowing her to see what was happening in the main universe through the eyes of the many Nightmare Monsters attacking.
She got a good view of how things were developing at the moment, viewing everything through these eyeballs. And she saw the terror unfolding within Equestria and the Regions. A smirk formed on Oculus Gloom's face as she saw the Nightmare Monsters bringing terror to the ponies and humans alike.
She already witnessed the Nightmares move across the landscape, painting it and consuming some of the Pokemon and now, she was witnessing Opelucid Town being the first area to have some of its dreams being taken away.
"So far, so good. Even though they'll prove to show great resistance considering how strong that universe is, eventually, they'll fall prey to the Nightmare Magic and we shall spread our influence." Oculus Gloom snickered. "Soon enough, the entire universe shall be ours. But of course, to make that possible, we'll need to take over some truly powerful figures. Such as those princesses for starters."
She focused on one of her eyeballs, seeing that one of the Nightmare Monsters was heading straight for the Crystal Empire, which technically had four Princesses. Cadence, the two Flurry Hearts and Radiat Hope, who wasn't really a princess but mainly a Psuedo Alicorn. She was close enough to count.
The Nightmare Monsters moved across the snowy lands, their gaze fixated on the Crystal Empire. The way they were moving across the snow-capped ground was so aggressive, some would even melt the snow away from sheer force alone.
"Yes. If we can get four of them, we'll have a significant advantage without a doubt. The power of four alicorns, especially since two of them are prodigies." Oculus then looked at another eyeball, seeing that some Nightmare Monsters were already creeping up on other smaller kingdoms with less powerful figures residing there.
She was already viewing the potential candidates for capture. But the question was if they would succeed in taking over any of them. Oculus Gloom had full faith that they would, knowing that this universe would soon be theirs.
Oculus Gloom felt like she could just sit back and let it all play out while still giving commands from afar. She didn't need to leave this base unless necessary. She could also receive messages from here as one of the eyeballs would glow, shining a dark energy in her direction.
"Lady Oculus." One of the Nightmare Monsters spoke. "We're currently heading for a place known as Seaquestria, located at Mount Aris. Where the Hippogriffs reside."
"Ah, good. Make sure you get the Queen, her daughter and her niece too." Oculus ordered. "Their magic could be of some use later down the road."
"It's not just that, Lady Oculus. We've spotted something significant in the distance. It's the Sea Temple." It was revealed that one of the Nightmare Monsters had spotted the Sea Temple where Ash and his friends currently were. This immediately caught Oculus's attention.
"The Sea Temple, you say?" Oculus leaned forward. "That place hadn't crossed my mind. The Veiled Mistress did go on a mission with Daybreaker's forces two years ago to try and retrieve the Crystals from the Sea Temple. She already has history with that place."
"Should we go for it?"
"But of course you should. It would please the Veiled Mistress greatly, especially if we are to harness the power of those Sea Temple Crystals. Of course, we will have to alter their energy from being light and make it one of the night instead. Infect all Samiyans and everything they have there with Nightmare Magic as well. All to prepare for us seizing the Crystals of the Sea Temple." Oculus Gloom commanded.
"Understood. We shall proceed with caution. These beings have proven to be quite resilient." The Nightmare Monster said before cutting the connection. Oculus Gloom smirked as she sat back in her throne, relaxing herself. She didn't expect to gain access to the Sea Temple right off the bat. But now, she would use it to her advantage.
However, as she was about to sit back again, something came up. Another one of the Eyeballs would light up, but it would also make a blaring sound that caught her attention. This alarm indicated that something was amiss.
"An alert? Already? What could that possibly be?" Oculus Gloom questioned as she activated the eyeball, getting a view of what was happening. "Hm?"
Just then, she would see something unexpected. In the distance from the view of one of the monsters, something bright was beginning to approach at high speed, moving across the landscape and towards the Nightmare Monsters.
"What the...?" Oculus Gloom questioned. "Something is approaching. Something with Light Magic." And based on the power behind it, it was powerful as well.
"Is it Princess Celestia?" One of the Nightmare Monsters questioned. They would all get their answer once they saw what was approaching.A wave of Fire was seen coming towards them, moving across the ground. One of the natural weaknesses of the Nightmares was heading their way, moving just like a Tsunami.
They all gasped at this sight, witnessing the wave of flames coming their way at high speeds, towering over all of them. Their Nightmare forms began to tremble at this sight, watching the wave come straight for them. Instinctively, they would try fleeing from the scene.
However, their attempts would be in vain as the Wave of Fire would crash into them, engulfing them entirely. The wave would wash over them, the Nightmare Monsters letting out screams as they were consumed by the flames. They faded away as they were burned alive, being erased from existence.
The cause of this was from none other than Princess Celestia herself, who was seen in the air, floating alongside her partner Gardevoir but also Reshiram, the one who had unleashed the flames in the first place. The view of Celestia and her group was obscured thanks to the damage the eyeball took from Reshiram's attack.
Oculus Gloom watched as the Nightmare Monsters were erased by Celestia, the Nightmare Monster pulling her blob-like body back. "Princess Celestia?! She's already making an appearance! So directly?!"
Princess Celestia was not pulling her punches at all. She was serious when she wanted to take another group of Daybreaker's alliance down. Sometimes she does show up for the action, but that mainly reaches a certain point. However, very early on, the Ruler of Equestria was already out in the open, taking action.
Her gaze could be seen as the flames from Reshiram's attacks would linger a bit. The look in her eyes were as as fierce as those flames as she was looking directly in the location of that eyeball, staring directly into it. And the Nightmare Monsters could feel it as they trembled even more, sensing Celestia's gaze.
Afterwards, this Eyeball would finally break apart, unable to capture anything else on that side. Oculus Gloom was left speechless as she was staring at the broken Eyeball. "Not good...She already had that array of Sunny Days attack our Universe from the very start? Is she really that serious about coming to us first and ending this?"
Celestia was going straight for Enemy Territory, and Oculus Gloom knew that this was only the beginning. Compared to previous threats, Celestia was, for once, playing a more direct role this time, being the aggressor while still defending the world she loves so dearly.
Within Enemy Territory, the Veiled Mistress was sitting in her throne, gazing out into the Universe. She was watching everything unfold, witnessing the Nightmare Monsters begin their conquest and spread Nightmare Magic all over. She had her own eyeball that she viewed the events from, its scale being so wide that it caught multiple locaitons.
And there, she saw Celestia directly attacking the Nightmare Monsters. This was nothing new to her, having seen Celestia appear and attack her forces before. But unlike in past cases, this time, it seemed different.
This time, Celestia was showing no hesitation in appearing right away. Normally, Celestia would wait until her forces did some damage before finally stepping in to continue the momentum from there. But this time, she went straight for the Nightmare Monsters, scorching them with flames from Reshiram and even her Gardevoir's Mystical Fire.
"My, my, Celestia. The way you're acting. It looks rather familiar." Nightmare Rarity commented. "This aggressiveness and direct approach. That intense look in your eyes...if I'm not mistaken..." She thought for a moment, only knowing one pony that could match this current look.
"It reminds me of Daybreaker."
Equestria. On the seas of Equestria. The Sea Temple. Samiya.
At the Sea Temple, many were currently asleep, unaware of the Nightmare Monsters attacking Equestria and other places. Ash and many others were many others were peacefully sleeping, the Nightmare Monsters unable to reach them.
Ash and Twilight slept in their rooms, both of them laying in their beds and dreaming peacefully. Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Lena and Team Rocket were slump in these guest rooms that were lavish, almost seeming like they were meant for royalty.
The 5 Students were most definitely fast asleep as they laid in these beds that were incredibly comfortable, sinking into the soft beddings. The Pokemon rested in their own ways as well.
Everyone was asleep here, not realizing that danger was heading their way. In her sleep, Rarity would grunt a bit, tossing and turning in her sleep. She mumbled under her breath, closing her eyes tightly. She wasn't having a nightmare, but something was up with her.
Rarity could feel it in her subconscious. Something was wrong. Something was approaching the Sea Temple. Something evil. And since she and her friends were asleep, that meant only one thing. The threat of them having their dreams invaded by Nightmare Magic.
Nearby, the Nightmare Monsters were approaching as there were even some for the seas, flying through the water. These Nightmare Monsters would emerge from the waters, letting out screeches.
There were many of them, flying through the air and ready to invade the Sea Temple. The ones in the water appeared as sea-serpents or even massive crabs and squids, moving through the ocean and ready to invade the temple.
"Do you feel that?" One of them spoke, feeling something from the Sea Temple nearby. It wasn't the crystal but rather someone in there.
"Oh, yes. I do, I do." Another replied with a devious cackle. "That presence...it reminds me of the Veiled Mistress herself. A very familiar presence."
"That means only one thing. The Rarity of this Universe is in there." They already figured out. Since Rarity and Nightmare Rarity were technically the same pony, albeit from different universes and one was an alter-ego, the presence was still the same.
"You're right...It is. Ah, the Veiled Mistress will be glad. Another Rarity to add to her collection. Her growing collection of her many counterparts will gain a new addition and possibly the best one. She will make an excellent statue decoration."
"Indeed. Let us bring her to the Veiled Mistress so we may turn this Rarity into a statue as well!"
The Nightmare Monsters would fly towards the Sea Temple, the creatures moving across the waves. They had more than one goal. Apparently, there was another which was consistent across other universes. Nightmare Rarity apparently has other Raritys captured. And much like some residents of Ponyville, they ended up as decorations.
Currently, in Rarity's dream realm, the fashionista was seen in her boutique, working on some dresses. She had her mannequins in here as well, each of them wearing beautiful gowns. Rarity hummed to herself as she was working on these gowns, creating more dresses for her clients. Alongside her were her Pokemon. Her Milotic, Ampharos, Lopunny and her 12 Leavanny were working with her. And of course, her Pheromosa was present as well.
All of them were playing their part in some way in this simple dream. It may be simple but it was what brought joy to Rarity's heart. And since Pheromosa was currently in the Pokemon Center, it was only natural that she'd involve her in her dream, just like she always has in the past. After everything that's happened, Rarity needed this.
"How are you doing over there, darling?" Rarity questioned.
"Phero~mosaaaa!" Pheromosa would reply, waving to her trainer.
"Wonderful! You're doing wonderful, dear!" Rarity praised. She wanted this moment to last for as long as it could. And technically, it can. This was her life before Pheromosa took that damage from Equestrian Wailord. When she ends up recovering, it could be like this once more. Just as it always has.
With her Leavanny all chatting amongst each other, being the Pokemon she's been with since the very beginning, to Lopunny, who was the most recent Pokemon in her team. Nay, her family. To Rarity, they were all a part of her family. The Leavanny were siblings to each other and her. The same goes Milotic and of course her Ampharos and Lopunny.
And Pheromosa herself? She was like a daughter to Rarity in some sense. Not so much Froslass, but there was a bond there for sure. Life like this sure was sweet for her. But much like what was happening in reality, it can't stay perfect forever.
She would then stop for a moment, looking out the window as an odd presence filled the atmosphere, forcing Rarity to halt her actions. "Hm?"
She was starting to feel something in her own dream, her ears perking up. She could sense it as she would turn to the door, wondering what could be happening. Something was heading their way as Rarity walked over to the doors of her boutique, opening them.
Once she stepped outside, she gasped, witnessing Nightmare Monsters flying towards the Dream Realm. From the skies themselves, they began tearing through as their bodies would start leaking into her dream.
"Sweet Celestia! What are those things?!" Rarity screeched at the sight before her. The Nightmare Monsters crawled their way into her dream, ripping the blue skies apart with the Nightmare Magic they brought with them.
And from the rips in the sky, more Nightmare Monsters would fly into the Dream Realm, beginning to invade it. Upon spotting Rarity, one of them would speak in an eerie tone. "Yes, yes. That is definitely her. She looks just like the Veiled Mistress herself!"
"You got that right! Look at that beauty! I bet she'll make a beautiful statue!" Another one added.
"Statue? What do you mean by that?" Rarity questioned before gasping. "Who are you!? W-What even are you all?"
"I heard that this one is the strongest of them all, apparently. The Strongest Rarity. But of course, our Veiled Mistress is above that." Another one said.
"Veiled Mistress? What are you talking about?!" Rarity questioned, not knowing what they were talking about, or even who they were talking about. That is until it clicked for her. They specifically mentioned Rarity in the plural sense. And when looking at these monsters, she went to one candidate. "You all...Are you from Nightmare Rarity's universe?!"
"Hm. How rare. Usually, most Raritys refer to the Veiled Mistress as another name as a sign of respect. But this one is brave enough to call her by her true name." One of the Nightmare Monsters commented.
"She would look wonderful in the Veiled Mistress's chambers. Perhaps she could be placed in the centre around all the others that have been captured." Another one suggested. "No doubt about it."
"Then let's hurry and grab this one. Then, we'll infect the various dreams here." The Sea Serpent-like monster would speak before lunging towards Rarity. Its fangs would bare, laced with Nightmare Energy.
"Wah!" Rarity would scream as she ran for cover, heading back inside of her boutique. She would slam the doors shut, locking them up. However, the Nightmare Monsters would immediately burst into the building, breaking through the doors. "Yeeek!"
The doors would break apart as the Nightmare Monsters flew in, breaking into Rarity's boutique and heading straight for her. Already, the Nightmare Magic was beginning to spread, covering the walls of the building and the landscape outside gradually. The Sea Serpent-like Monster slithered in, chasing after Rarity as she tried escaping from them.
Rarity noticed how the dream versions of her Pokemon were suddenly still, frozen in place. She was confused by this, noticing how they weren't moving at all. That was until she saw that their eyes were pitch black. Their eyes were the source of the Nightmare Magic as it started spreading to the rest of them.
"My darlings!"
"They're just dream versions of your Pokemon at the end of the day. Which means they can easily be infected and turn to us. Not that they were real to begin with." The Sea Serpent Nightmare Monster cackled, catching up to Rarity who was trying to escape.
Immediately, the Dream Versions of her own Pokemon would start chasing her down too, moving after Rarity with the intent to capture her. Pheromosa was already moving swiftly after her trainer, sprinting across the area. Right behind her was Lopunny, followed by all of her other Pokemon.
"Why is this happening now?!" Rarity cried out. She was running through the streets, hoping to get away from the Nightmare Monsters. But every step of the way, they would be hot on her tail, following her wherever she went.
Milotic would try and stop Rarity, shooting a stream of Hydro Pump at her. She dodged the attack, barely avoiding the blast of water. Ampharos would release bolts of electricity from her body, trying to stun Rarity. Rarity ducked to avoid the Zap Cannon, quickly getting up and continuing to run.
"Not good...All my Pokemon are currently having their own dreams so I can't even send them out right now!" Rarity said to herself. Her Poke Balls were useless since her Pokemon were having individual dreams. If they were all sharing a dream, then she'd be able to summon them. But right now, they were apart from each other.
Rarity ran as fast as she could, trying to flee from the Nightmare Monsters. She was sweating as she made her way down the streets of this dream realm, hoping to lose them somewhere. But alas, these Nightmare Monsters were persistent and would not give up on her.
Breaking through one of the walls out of sheer force was Pheromosa, who appeared at high speeds, leaving behind an afterimage. She was coming straight for Rarity with clear intentions of capturing her Trainer. Seeing Pheromosa moving towards her, Rarity gasped. She lunged forward, her arms out to grab her Trainer.
However, Rarity would duck at the last second, avoiding Pheromosa who flew over her. Rarity would slide across the ground, managing to get away from the Nightmare Monsters. She would gasp for air as she was tired from running, putting her hoof on her chest. For her to avoid a Pokemon as fast as Pheromosa meant one thing.
She was dreaming of herself being faster than usual. The dream version of herself right now was able to evade Pheromosa. But Rarity knew that this would not last forever. After all, this was her dream. And in reality, she was nowhere near as fast as Pheromosa who was now being used as a Nightmare.
"Huff...huff..." Rarity panted, taking deep breaths. She would look behind her, seeing that her Pokemon and the Nightmare Monsters were still after her. "What am I supposed to do...?" Rarity wondered as she looked around. At the moment, she was in the middle of a street, alone. There was no one here to help her.
"Where are you, Rarity? Come out, come out, wherever you are~!" One of the Nightmare Monsters spoke, his voice echoing all over the place.
"We've got you surrounded! You can't hide from us forever!" Another one spoke, causing Rarity to shiver. She could hear them all around her, meaning that she was stuck. No matter where she went, they would find her. Her best option was to stay hidden as much as possible. If only she could wake up right now. If only she could inform her friends in their dreams, who were also asleep at the moment.
"I...I can't wake up..." But Rarity could already feel that she was unable to wake up at the moment. She couldn't pull herself awake. Even if she wanted to, there was nothing she could do. This Nightmare Magic prevented her from waking up.
Equestria. Out at Sea. The Sea Temple. Samiya. Nightfall.
This was thanks to what was happening in the real world. The Nightmare Creatures, without needing to come in contact with the Sea Temple, already found a way to affect those within it. And that was done by infecting the waters themselves with Nightmare Magic.
The magic covered parts of the waters which the Sea Temple travelled underneath. The Nightmare Magic flowed into the Sea Temple itself, entering through small cracks and holes in it. The Nightmare Droplets would slowly leak into the areas below, falling onto the heads of those who slept.
"Your Majesty! Everyone! Please wake up!" But not everyone was affected. Currently awake was Safia who was shaking crying out to Ash and the others, already sensing the Nightmare Magic nearby. Her cries would be ignored as Ash and the others remained asleep, not even feeling a thing. The Guards, who were obviously awake to protect the Sea Temple, found it to be impossible to wake them up.
"It's no good, Guardian Safia! Try as we might, they just won't wake up!" One of the Guards reported to her.
"It must be that Magic that's layered over the sea. Whatever it is, it's preventing anyone from waking up!" Safia assumed before hearing the roars of one of the Nightmare Monsters, which was so strong that it could be heard from the outside in the distance.
They were getting closer and closer by the minute, with some of them already having invaded their dreams. "What do we do now?! We can't warn anyone else of this to bring them to safety!" A Guard questioned.
"We'll have to try something else regardless. Few of us are awake and I can try and defend the Sea Temple from any further attacks." Safia said before facing one of the Guards. "We can try and place a shield, using the power of the Crystals. It won't last long, but it should buy us some time."
"Could we use it to wake them all up as well?!"
"Hopefully. Try that approach. The Crystals should have more than enough power to force them awake. Go and-" Before Safia could finish, the Nightmare Monsters of larger sizes would bash their bodies against the Sea Temple and even underneath it, rocking it greatly. Safia lost balance as she stumbled a bit.
Some of the guards would fall over as Ash and the others continued sleeping, unaware of the danger that was surrounding them. Safia grunted as she held onto the walls of the Sea Temple, holding herself up.
Outside, some of the Nightmare Monsters would latch onto the Sea Temple, grabbing onto it. They would start pushing it back and forth, trying to sink it. The smaller Nightmare Monsters would move across the outer layers of the Sea Temple, ready to infect it with Nightmare Magic.
They would touch the Sea Temple, covering it with Nightmare Magic. The Sea Temple was being infected as some of it was covered by the Nightmare Sparkles. The Nightmare Monsters would push the Sea Temple back and forth, trying to tip it over.
Quickly, the Guards ran off, attempting to reach the room with the Crystals. Safia was left behind as she could only watch them leave, hoping they could make it on time. Safia herself would have to guard the rest of the Temple in the meantime with what she has. And even without the power of the crystals, the daughter of the First King of the Sea had the power to do so.
The Dream Realm. Rarity's Dream.
Back in Rarity's Dream Realm, she was currently hiding in what was the dream version of the Ponyville Schoolhouse, hoping to hide from the Nightmare Monsters. She hid under a table, breathing heavily as she heard them all around. "Urgh...What do I do?" Rarity questioned. The sound of the Nightmare Monsters echoed throughout her dream realm, causing her to tremble. She shivered, feeling fear overcome her.
She would shake in place, the Nightmare Monsters still searching for her. "Come out, come out, Rarity~! We just want to turn you into a statue!" One of them taunted.
"Once you become a Nightmare Statue, you'll be spending the rest of eternity with the Veiled Mistress!" Another one added.
"There's no need to worry though! You'll be one of her favourite statues, so you have nothing to fret!" Yet another one spoke. "But you should most definitely be afraid!"
"As if I'd be afraid of you!" Rarity yelled back. Surprisingly, she wasn't terrified at all. "After what I've been through, none of this is even close to being a nightmare for me!"
"That so...?" Following her voice and her huffing, one of the Nightmare Monsters would locate Rarity, spotting her hiding under this table. He chuckled, lunging towards her. "Then this shouldn't even scare you, right?"
"Huh?!" Rarity would notice this Nightmare Monster heading straight for her, giving her no time to react. She screamed as the Nightmare Monster was inches away from her, its claws stretching out to grab her.
"The Veiled Mistress has come across many versions of herself that are absolutely terrified. As they should be. But you...you're not scared at all. Quite brave, aren't you?" The Nightmare Monster commented while grabbing Rarity, pulling her out from under the table.
Rarity struggled, trying to free herself from its grasp. But despite this, she did not feel scared at all. This Nightmare Monster could see this, and he found it amusing. "Such bravery. I suppose you are the quote on quote 'Strongest Rarity'."
"Let go of me!" Rarity demanded as she was in its grasp. She was staring at the Nightmare Monster, glaring into its eyes. She was filled with defiance as she showed no sign of fear. "I'm not about to become some decoration for somepony else!"
"But it'd be an honour. The Veiled Mistress, upon her ascension into power, was able to see other versions of herself across different universes. Naturally, she saw the beauty in them all, wanting to keep them all to herself. And so, she took them for herself." The Nightmare Monster explained.
"Took them...?" Rarity questioned before gasping.
"Well, not all of them. Some are still out there, but it is only a matter of time. She admired their beauty since they were her, naturally. Keeping them as decorations is a reminder of how beautiful she truly is."
"Decorations...?! You mean you've turned other Raritys into statues?!" Rarity gasped.
"And now you'll be one of them! Right in the centre!" The Nightmare Monster declared before cackling. Rarity grunted, struggling to free herself from its grasp. However, she was unable to do so, especially when the other Nightmare Monsters came flying in, joining the one who captured her. They all laughed at Rarity while she was being held, unable to break free from this.
"Now then. Let's leave and-" Before the Nightmare Monster could finish, something as dark as them came crashing down at high speeds, slashing the arm that held Rarity captive. It cut right through, causing it to fall apart as the Nightmare Monster gasped.
It would let go of Rarity as she fell onto the floor, falling to safety. She landed safely before looking up, witnessing the source of the attack. Descending into this Dream was none other than the Pitch Black Pokemon himself.
Darkrai.
He had used Poison Jab to cut the arm off, hovering in front of Rarity. He stood in between her and the Nightmare Monsters, who were glaring at Darkrai. "Darkrai!" Rarity cried out, seeing the Pokemon of Princess Luna.
"Did I arrive just in time?" Darkrai asked, looking back at Rarity who nodded. He turned back to face the Nightmare Monsters, giving them a glare. "Looks like I did. Good thing too."
"Ah...I wish it was sooner though." Rarity sighed. "And where is Princess Luna?!"
"Focusing on other dreams at the moment. Right now, she's dealing with someone else. In the meantime, I decided to step in. So here I am." Darkrai answered before facing Rarity.
"Y-You...You're that Darkrai Pokemon!" One of the Nightmare Monsters cried out. They recognized him immediately, knowing who he was.
"And the one from that Princess too. What a waste!" Another pointed at the Dark-Type. "You should be with us! You're not one of them! You belong with us Nightmare Monsters!"
"Hmph. Is that what you think?" Darkrai questioned before smirking. "Do you really believe I would side myself with you creatures?"
"Of course! You cause Nightmares yourself! You spread nightmares, don't you?! So why side yourself with them when you could join us instead?!"
"Yeah! You're one of us! Quit wasting time with these other creatures and join up with us! We could use your kind of power to reach our goal at a much quicker pace!"
"You wish." Darkrai scoffed before turning his back to them, holding Rarity close. "Your Nightmares are not different from a tyrant's actions. You and I are not the same. And besides, you've targeted my friends and the world I love. Unacceptable."
"Oh, my hero~!" Rarity gushed while giggling. Darkrai grumbled before turning back to face the Nightmare Monsters.
"Listen, Rarity. Right now, that universe where Nightmare Rarity comes from is invading our own at this very moment. Nightmare Magic has already begun spreading across the landscape, with Nightmare Monsters taking action in Equestria and the Regions." Darkrai revealed.
"W-What?!" Rarity gasped, hearing this news.
"We're facing another attack from another universe yet again. But this time, Princess Celestia is planning to change things up. She's aiming to go straight to enemy territory early one before it can get any worse. First, getting rid of the threats here is top priority." Darkrai explained.
"And I take it that includes those Nightmare Monsters attacking us here." Rarity assumed.
"Exactly. These ones right here. We can deal with them here and now and right after that, we'll head to their universe. Universe 5. The Nightmare Universe. That's where Nightmare Rarity is residing." Darkrai told Rarity before facing the Nightmare Monsters. "For now, let's deal with them."
"I don't have my Pokemon with me though. And even the ones I've dreamed up have been infected by Nightmare Magic!" Rarity pointed out. "I'm not sure I'll be of much help at the moment, darling."
"Don't worry." Darkrai placed Rarity down. "For this instance, I'll take the role of your Pokemon. Since you can't call out your Pokemon at the moment, I shall stand in their place until you can wake up."
"Really? How sweet of you!" Rarity gushed once more, squealing.
"Besides...these Nightmares can weaken the dreams of others, so whatever you dream of, eventually, they would have overcome it." Darkrai added. "For that, battle alongside me as if I was your Pokemon. Once this battle ends, I'll try and wake you up.
"Then let's do this!" Rarity nodded before facing the Nightmare Monsters. They were watching the two, wondering what they were going to do.
"Hah! Just you two?! Don't make us laugh!" One of them mocked.
"Two against 10 of us Nightmare Monsters? There's no way you can defeat us!" Another one added. "And besides...now that we have you two in one spot, we can easily do this!"
Immediately, the Nightmare Monsters would combine their strengths, unleashing a unified Nightmare Beam as beautiful and as terrifying as the night sky right at them both. Darkrai simply stood there, gazing at the beam as it headed straight for them both. Rarity gasped at this sight as the beam had engulfed Darkrai, stopping once it came into contact with him.
The Nightmare Monsters cackled when watching the beam of Nightmares form into a ball, placing Darkrai inside it. They were expecting him to be flooded with Nightmares immediately. However, their expectations would be wrong as they saw Darkrai emerge from the Nightmare Ball.
"N-No way...How did he break out?!" One of them questioned as Darkrai had then shattered the Nightmare Ball, causing it to fall apart.
"Do you think Nightmares can work me? I cause Nightmares. And the Nightmare Monsters that come from Nightmare Rarity are no exception. Your Nightmares won't affect me." Darkrai scoffed before glancing at Rarity. "And unlike you all, I don't need to rely on Nightmares in battle. You're all vulnerable to whatever else I have to offer."
"I-Impossible!" Some of them stuttered backing away. It was at this moment that they realized the kind of opponent they were going up against.
"As it stands, I am your Nightmare."
"A wonderful delivery, Darkrai! You should stop by PokeStar Studios sometime!" Rarity cheered, admiring the Pokemon of Princess Luna. "Alright, Darkrai! Show me something splendid! Use Poison Jab!"
Darkrai nodded before vanishing from their sights, appearing behind one of the Nightmare Monsters. He jabbed his claws into their backsides, poisoning them immediately. He retracted his claws, using so much force to the point where the Nightmare Monster was launched into the air.
The Poison Jab left behind a trail of Purple Poison, dripping from his claws. Immediately, Darkrai would vanish from the Nightmare Monster's sight, leaving behind an afterimage. The other Nightmare Monsters gasped seeing one of their own falling just one clean hit from Darkrai.
Three of them would unleash an array of Nightmare Spheres, attempting to bombard Darkrai with them. However, they had no effect. Darkrai would stare at them while taking their attacks, having no reaction to them at all.
"I already told you. Your Nightmares won't affect me." Darkrai stated before vanishing from the spot. He would appear above the Nightmare Monsters, descending down.
"Now, use Dark Pulse!" Rarity commanded.
When descending, Darkrai unleashed a wave of darkness below him, sending it crashing down on the Nightmare Monsters. The blast would strike them, shattering the ground with ease as they were struck by Dark Pulse.
The Dark Pulse would then rise up, rising to the skies before Darkrai unleashed another one, firing it straight at them all. The wave of Darkness would crash into them, creating a black explosion as they were being pushed back. Dark Pulse caused a massive smoke cloud to cover the area, hiding the Nightmare Monsters.
"Y-You...!"One of the Nightmare Monsters growled. "I bet you're still vulnerable to physical attacks! Get him!" It would order Pheromosa, the Leavanny and all of Rarity's Pokemon who were infected with Nightmare Magic. Immediately, they would charge at Darkrai who stood there, not even bothering to dodge them.
Instead, he would hold his hands out, catching them all. Darkrai gripped them all as he held them back, grunting. All of Rarity's Pokemon tried pushing him back but Darkrai wouldn't budge, keeping them back with his strength alone. "G-Grrr...!" Darkrai grunted as he held them back.
"Now use Thunderbolt!" Rarity ordered.
Darkrai grunted as sparks of electricity would form around him, shocking the infected Pokemon. They all screamed in pain as they were being electrocuted. The Nightmare Monsters watched as Darkrai unleashed Thunderbolt from his body, zapping all of Rarity's Pokemon with 100,000 volts.
After unleashing Thunderbolt, Darkrai would release them as they all fell onto the ground, twitching. They were paralysed thanks to Darkrai's Thunderbolt as they laid on the ground, unable to get up.
"Phe-mo-sa!" Pheromosa cried out, trying to get up but failing to do so. Darkrai glanced at them before vanishing, appearing above the Nightmare Monsters who were shocked at what they witnessed.
"Use Thunderbolt, once more!" Rarity commanded. Darkrai obliged as he released another stream of 100,000 volts, striking the Nightmare Monsters. The Thunderbolt would strike them, electrocuting them all. Some of them would fly back, rolling across the ground.
"T-This is unfair! We're supposed to have unlimited potential in here!" The Nightmare Monsters cried out. In a desperate attempt, they all tried showering Darkrai with as much Nightmare Energy as possible, sending Nightmare Spheres, blasts, streams, spears and so on.
However, Darkrai would simply stand there, taking all of these Nightmare Attacks without any sign of damage. His body radiated with purple energy as he endured all of the Nightmare Energy without being affected by it. This caught the Nightmare Monsters off guard, watching Darkrai withstand their attacks.
"Unfortunately for you...Flurry Heart informed me of what you creatures were capable of. I was never worried about you in the first place. And when I learned that unlike me, you all can feel fear..." Darkrai would start ascending, his eyes flashing black and white. "That you never stood a chance in the first place.
"M-Monster!" One of them cried out. Indeed, Darkrai struck fear into them out of sheer overwhelming presence.
"Oh really? They can feel fear? Then in that case..." Rarity grinned. "Use Dark Void!" Darkrai nodded before unleashing a wave of Darkness from his body, which took the form of a Black Hole. This Black Hole would absorb the Nightmare Monsters who were pulled into it. They cried out as they were dragged into Dark Void, unable to escape from it.
Once pulled in, all they were met with was darkness as their senses were beginning to drop. Soon, they would all be put to sleep. Dark Void would shrink before disappearing, causing all the Nightmare Monsters to drop. Just like that, they had all fallen asleep.
Rarity cheered at this sight, seeing that Darkrai had defeated all of them. "Wonderful, Darkrai! Simply wonderful!" She praised while Darkrai crossed his arms, successfully winning this battle and preventing a nightmare for Rarity. Now all that was left was to wake her up. "Ah, that could've gone horribly, no doubt!"
"It's not over yet." But Darkrai wasn't slowing down at the moment. Even with the Dream Versions of Rarity's Pokemon fading away as well as the Nightmares fading away inside of Rarity's dream, there was more to do. "Right now, there are many more across the Dream Realm that are having their dreams invaded. Nightmare Monsters are attacking multiple dreams of others at this very moment."
"But surely you can wake them up from the outside? Right? Or even the inside!"
"I'm afraid not." Darkrai grumbled. "Whatever they're doing out there, they've managed to force their victims into a deep sleep to where an action from the outside might not be the best approach. Luna and I have opted to stop it from the inside. Even after defeating these Nightmares, I doubt you can just wake up in real life, right?
"N-No...I certainly don't feel like it either. It's as if something is stopping me from waking up." Rarity admitted.
"Exactly. Whatever they've done out there, it forced many others to sleep deeply. And because of that, the effects of what they did reaches to the Dream Realm as well. Thankfully, it's not everyone across the world, but if nothing is done soon, it could lead to more issues in reality. Many will be in danger if this continues." Darkrai explained.
"Then what are we waiting for?! We should wake the others up!" Rarity urged Darkrai.
"Which is why I need your assistance. Luna's focusing on other dreams currently and she instructed me to focus on yours first. So I need you to help wake the others up from here. Luna states that the best thing to do is to have multiple people, ponies, Pokemon or any other species share the exact same dream. Doing so will overload the Nightmare Magic, especially if you're all having pleasant dreams."
"Ah, that can be done. We've been down this road before, sharing dreams." Rarity nodded, already knowing what had to be done. "But for all us to have pleasant dreams...That would require you and Princess Luna to defeat around...who knows how many of those Nightmare Monsters there are right now."
"There's only one way to find out. We need to hurry." Darkrai advised Rarity before holding her close. "In the Hyperdream, Luna can sort Dreams in categories, alphabetical names, chronologically and so on, so she'll have an easier time. But that doesn't mean she can get it done right away. We already know who's dream we've chosen to flood. I'll be counting on you, Rarity. Wake the others up while we deal with these Nightmare Monsters."
"You can count on me, Darkrai!" Rarity nodded.
Reality. The Sea Temple. Samiya.
Meanwhile, in the Sea Temple, the Guards gathered in the room containing the Crystals, entering with Safia leading them. "Alright, men. We need to place a shield around the Sea Temple. It's not permanent, but it should be able to buy us some time while we try and wake everyone up!" Safia commanded.
The Guards would nod as they gathered near the Crystals. These Crystals were imbued with Sea Guardian Energy, having been passed down from generation to generation. These Crystals were given to the First King of the Sea who was granted them by the light of Arceus.
The Crystals were floating in mid-air, radiating with the powers of the Sea Guardians. And currently, the 9 guards would hold onto these Crystals, pouring their own energy into them. Safia herself would grab onto the middle Crystal, closing her eyes.
She began focusing on placing a shield around the Sea Temple itself, hoping to prevent further Nightmare Monsters from entering. The Crystals would flash to life with their golden radiance as they absorbed the Guard's energy, preparing to release a barrier.
However, things were not going according to plan as the Nightmare Monsters outside the Sea Temple would latch onto it, starting to sink it once again. The Sea Temple rocked, causing some of the Guards to fall over, unable to concentrate.
"Goodness!" Safia cried out before yelping, seeing the Nightmare Monsters outside. They were sinking the Sea Temple, trying to tip it over. Safia would hang onto the Crystal, gritting her teeth. Right underneath the Sea Temple, by far the largest Nightmare Monster so far had latched onto it, pushing it back and forth.
This monster, which appeared to be another Sea-Serpet, would smash its head into the temple, trying to break in. It wanted to infect it with Nightmare Magic so badly as it kept smashing into it. Safia grunted, hanging onto the Crystal as the Sea Temple rocked. She was struggling to place a shield around them.
The tremors were throwing the balance off for Safi and the Guards. The Sea-Serpent would then manage to find an open, using its sheer brute force to break into the Sea Temple. It broke through one of the walls, allowing it to enter the Sea Temple. It slithered through as the Nightmare Monsters would start flooding the area, ready to infect the sleeping bodies.
"Oh no..." Safia gasped. She could not finish placing the shield as the Sea-Serpent would stretch its arm out, grabbing onto Safia. She let out a cry as she was snatched by the Nightmare Monster, who laughed at her.
"Gotcha~!" It taunted while pulling her out of the Sea Temple. Safia screamed as she was taken out of the Sea Temple, being pulled out of it. The Sea-Serpent would pull her out, flying off with her.
"Guardian Safia!" The guards yelled out. Some of them ran towards the hole, witnessing Safia being flown off by the Nightmare Monster. She struggled to free herself from its grasp, unable to do so.
"Ngh!" Safia groaned, trying to break free. "Let me go!"
"Not until we turn you into a Nightmare Statue! You'd look wonderful amongst the Veiled Mistress's collection!" The Sea-Serpent cackled. It flew off with Safia while she was kicking and screaming, hoping to free herself from it. But alas, she was stuck and there was nothing she could do at the moment.
"Drat...we can't protect the Sea Temple and wake everyone up at the same time." One of the Guards assumed before looking at the sleeping bodies. The situation was very compromising at the moment, with the Nightmare Monsters creeping in closer and closer. They had no idea what to do.
It looked like the Sea Temple was about to be fully infected with only the guards here to protect it. That is until the Spiritual Defense, despite being unresponsive at the moment, would start waking up.
The Dream Realm. The Hyperdream.
In the Dream Realm, Luna was currently hard at work. Using her capabilities within the Hyperdream, she managed to pull multiple other Lunas from other Dreams that come from the past. Lunas who have had dreams in the past not too long ago were dragged out, here to assist the current Luna.
There were over 30 Lunas present, helping Luna locate certain dreams. And to make things easier, they sorted them out alphabetically, chronologically and so on. Already, Luna got to work, finding certain dreams to save.
And already, in such a short amount of time, more than 60 Dreams have been invaded by Nightmare Monsters. And they were increasing as time went on. Luna was working fast as she could to stop them from invading any more dreams.
The Main Luna was currently with a Luna who had a dream a month ago. Within that dream, she was immediately searching for Ash's dream. But there was one issue. The Nightmare Monsters have already began throwing the Dream Realm and the Hyperdream out of wack. Since the Hyperdream connected trillions upon trillions of dreams across time in the form of these large bubbles, they were starting to move all over the place at an erratic pace.
It was making it difficult for Luna to find Ash's dream. "Where is it...?" Luna questioned as she moved from bubble to bubble, trying to find Ash's dream. But it seemed to be impossible as the Hyperdream was moving around randomly.
"Curse these Nightmares!" A past Luna shouted. "Already, they've managed to disrupt the Hyperdream! I can't keep up with all of these dreams! And they're still coming in!"
"They've even obscured some of the categories! Look!" A past Luna from 3 months ago shouted, pointing her hoof at what the Nightmare Monsters have already done. Usually, Luna sometimes finds dreams based on name, but thanks to the Nightmare Monsters, the letters of these names have been scrambled, broken apart and hard to recognize.
Not only that, but they have already made some of the Dream Bubbles foggy to the point where the Lunas couldn't look inside of them properly. Some of the bubbles were completely hidden, blocked out by Nightmare Magic. Luna grunted, seeing this.
"They keep moving! Changing everything!" Luna's eyes followed the bubbles as more of them were being disrupted at this very moment. Luna would try and find more of her past selves but even those categories were being interfered with. "Drat! They're far exceeding 60 while we'll be stuck with 30!"
"It's no surprise." A Luna from 8 Months ago spoke. "After our first encounter in the Hyperdream, it's obvious that Nightmare Rarity would try everything in her power to make sure that our control over the Dream Realm and the Hyperdream is compromised in some way. It seems she's had enough time to make her minions powerful enough to cause this much chaos."
"We have to do something. Otherwise, we will lose the Dream Realm!" Another Luna shouted.
"Calm yourselves!" Luna ordered all of her past selves. "I'm aware of how dire this situation is! But if we panic, then we'll allow Nightmare Rarity to take control of the Hyperdream quicker! We must remain calm!" Luna explained. All of the Lunas would nod, following her orders.
"What do we do then?" One of them questioned.
"Hmm..." Luna closed her eyes, running through a list of ideas in her head. "The Hyperdream is still our creation and we still have power over it. Even if these Nightmare Monsters can disrupt it with ease, nothing is stopping us from fixing it. However, we'll have to try a different approach if we want to succeed. Finding the dreams we want won't do. Instead, we should target the dreams Nightmare Rarity has sent her Nightmares to, focusing on them instead. Once we defeat the Nightmare Monsters within that Dream, we'll be able to wake up the people involved."
"They outnumber us greatly! And unlike Darkrai, we aren't immune to Nightmares!" A Luna pointed out. "Defeating them in their own dreams will prove to be challenging!"
"Challenging indeed. But not impossible." Luna smirked before facing all of the Lunas present. "What we can do is use our combined power to disrupt the Dream Realm as well. If they're doing it, so will we."
"An interference across many dreams? Is that the approach?"
"Exactly. Our magic can be powerful enough to disrupt them, much like how we manage them. It is risky though..." Luna bit her lip. "To do that would mean greatly damaging the dreams of others. The worst case scenario is that we shatter the dream bubbles, destroying them for good. Which means all the dreams within those bubbles would be shattered and taken away from others."
"So do we risk it? Or do we stick to the original plan of just waking the ones in trouble up?"
"Either way, someone is going to suffer. With all of the Nightmare Monsters attacking various dreams right now, there's no way we can get to them all. Except for Ash." Luna brought up Ash. "He's a big dreamer and I know for a fact he won't allow his dreams to be overtaken. I always have faith in him when it comes to that. Right now, Ash is without a doubt battling any of those monsters, past or present. It will be his dream that we flood."
"Hmph. No arguments there. Ash is a massive dreamer. We'll make it so that his dream is the one everyone shares." Another Luna agreed. All of the Lunas nodded, already knowing what to do now.
"Good. In that case..." Luna held her hooves up, readying herself. "We must act quickly! Make sure not to destroy the dreams!" All 30 Lunas readied themselves, their horns glowing. What they were about to do would be absolutely colossal, but risky to the entire Dream Realm. But it was a risk they were willing to take.
The Darkened Citadel was still on the move. It was heading straight towards a nearby civilisation. In this case, it was heading for Manehattan. Silent Fur, the one in charge of the Darkened Citadel, would gaze into the distance, seeing no light source from Manehattan. Of course, Manehattan and its residents have been sent away to hide until this was all over.
Silent Fur was resting atop of the Darkened Citadel, waiting for the moment to arrive. Currently, the Darkened Citadel was approaching Manehattan. Silent Fur gazed into the distance, seeing the empty streets of Manehattan.
"So. I see they have already fled to safety." Silent Fur assumed before chuckling. "Smart choice. It'll make it easier to capture them all once they return home. We'll have this place transformed into a Nightmare Fortress, much like what happened to Canterlot. All that remains is to infect it with Nightmare Magic."
"Right. The Veiled Mistress wants Manehattan to become another Nightmare Fortress. Understood." The Nightmare Monsters said, nodding.
Silent Fur would chuckle, staring into the city of Manehattan. "This day will go down in history. The day this supposedly important universe is redecorated into something truly beautiful. The Nightmare Forces will take control, bringing Nightmare Rarity to absolute power."
Suddenly, Silent Fur would feel something strange in the air. She could sense something happening nearby, wondering what it was. She turned to face one of the Nightmare Monsters. "Do you feel that?" Silent Fur questioned.
She then turned her attention back to Manehattan, spotting something up ahead. In the distance, she could barely see it but it appeared to be a group of Golurks, all stationed at Manehattan. They were obviously expecting an attack.
"What...? That's..." Before Silent Fur could finish, she would feel a powerful tremor rush across the earth. The tremor was strong enough to shake the Darkened Citadel, catching the Nightmare Monsters off guard. The Darkened Citadel would rock back and forth as Silent Fur almost lost balance, holding herself up.
At this very moment, the Golurk were all using Earthquake, causing this sudden tremor. Golden shockwaves rapidly moved through the ground, shaking the earth itself. The Nightmare Monsters cried out as the Darkened Citadel shook greatly, struggling to stay above the ground.
Back-to-back tremors attempted to knock the Fortress over as Silent Fur grunted, trying to steady herself while many Nightmare Monsters were falling over, unable to handle the tremors. "Hm." Silent Fur grumbled a bit before sighing. "Very well. If that's how they want to play..."
The core of the Darkened Citadel would glow brightly as the large paintbrush on it would start transforming. It would retract, losing its paintbrush form and taking on the form of something else.
It suddenly emerged as a Lotus Flower. The Lotus Flower attached to the Darkened Citadel would open up as petals shot out from it, moving across the sky. The Nightmare Monsters watched as dozens upon dozens of these flower petals approached the Golurk who continued using Earthquake.
These flower petals would unleash beams of purple energy from them, showering the Golurk with their attacks. The Golurk cried out as they were being bombarded by the Nightmare Beams. The Nightmare Monsters cheered, watching this unfold. Silent Fur scoffed before facing the Golurk.
Not only did these petals act as attacks, but they also served as a way to infect them. The Golurk looked at their arms and shoulders, seeing that they had been covered in Nightmare Magic. The Golurk and their Trainers gasped as they realized that they had been infected by Nightmare Magic.
"I wouldn't celebrate too soon." Silent Fur warned the Nightmare Monsters before raising one of her five tails. "It's time to make an example of these Trainers."
The Golurk all stood there as they were being infected by Nightmare Magic. Suddenly, a bright light would emerge from all of them as they were transforming into Nightmare Monsters as well. Their Trainers watched as the Golurk underwent this transformation, growing larger and becoming more monstrous than before.
The Canterlot Guards backed up as the transformations continued. Eventually, the Golurk would all undergo the full transformation, turning into Nightmare Monsters. These new Nightmare Monsters looked similar to their previous forms, just with more Nightmare-themed designs and features.
Their eyes were glowing red, with a symbol resembling Nightmare Rarity's insignia. They each grew larger, standing taller than the Canterlot Guards. They were snickering while gazing at the Guards. They chuckled darkly while approaching them.
"I believe this is the perfect way to show the might of the Nightmare Forces. And having the Golurk on our side will be very much useful. Once we-" However, another tremor would occur, causing Silent Fur to grunt once again. This time, it was happening below them.
Confused, Silent Fur would use one of the many eyes found in this fortress, placed there by Oculus Gloom herself, to oversee what was interrupting them all from underneath. She used it to view the underground and what she saw surprised her.
The Golurk, using their intangibility and their speciality as Ground-Types, emerged from the ground below, striking their fists at the bottom of the Darkened Citadel. Their impacts would send golden shockwaves across the Darkened Citadel, rocking it greatly. The Golurk kept rising from the ground, repeatedly punching the fortress, attempting to destroy it from below.
Some had even decided to phase through the fortress, making their appearance. The Golurk rose up from the ground, joining their corrupted counterparts. Silent Fur grunted as she watched this unfold. The Golurk would stand before the Nightmare Monsters in their respective areas, towering over some of them.
"Hm...Is this some kind of ambush? Were these Golurk planted here beforehand?" Silent Fur assumed before smirking. "Doesn't matter. They are outnumbered. And they have been infected by Nightmare Magic already. There's no need to worry. At most, they're just a minor threat, especially when in our own Fortress."
The Nightmare Monsters would nod, agreeing with Silent Fur. They weren't worried about the Golurk at all. Especially when they outnumbered them greatly. In different rooms, the Golurk all faced different Nightmare Monsters.
The Golurk may have managed to successfully enter this fortress, but destroying it from the inside was easier said than done. Especially against numbers like these. The Golurk would still take them on as the battle would begin between the Nightmare Monsters and the Golurk.
Up above and not too far from here, the Wonderbolts were approaching, focusing on their next location, which was Manehattan itself. In the distance, Spitfire could see it, the clash between the Golurk and the Nightmare Monsters. Ths involved the battle happening at Manehattan and the one inside the Darkened Citadel, even the latter was only shown by shockwaves emerging out of it.
"Yikes. They've already started over there." Spitfire observed. "I think that's the thing Princess Flurry Heart calls a Darkened Citadel. Right?"
"Looks like it. She said it's impossible to enter unless you're a Nightmare Monster or if you can phase through it." A pegasus named Fire Streak revealed. "And the Golurk have managed to get inside. Seems like they're fighting them."
"How are we gonna get in though?" Soarin asked. "Do we just wait for the Golurk to mess it up enough for us to enter? I mean, we could do that..."
"Duh. We go for the best option. Attack it!" Spitfire held out another one of her Poke Balls, throwing it into the air. "Go! Flygon!" Spitfire called out as the Ground-Dragon Pokemon emerged from its Ball. Flygon stretched itself out, getting ready for battle. It would flap its wings, hovering in the air. The other Wonderbolts followed suit, with Soarin sending out his Corviknight, Fire Streak sending out Talonflame, Fleetfoot sending out her Salamence and High Winds sending out her Charizard.
More and more Wonderbolts unleashed their respective Pokemon, many that could take flight. Once Flygon and Corviknight were out, many other Flying-Type Pokemon would appear from the Poke Balls. Multiple Drifblims, Noiverns, Dragapult, Toxtricity, Skarmory, Archeops, Aerodactyls, Mandibuzz and more appeared from the Poke Balls, awaiting Spitfire's commands.
"Alright! Let's go!" Spitfire ordered. Immediately, all of the Wonderbolt's Pokemon would fly straight for the Darkened Citadel, preparing to attack it. Silent Fur was alerted by the eyeballs of others from the distance approaching them. She turned to see the Wonderbolts, accompanied by their Pokemon.
"More?" Silent Fur questioned before smirking. "Well then, more to infect. Let them come, so that they can gain a beautiful makeover." Silent Fur was unbothered, even when seeing Air Slashes fly towards the Darkened Citadel.
The blades of air would strike the fortress, creating a massive explosion. It was followed up by Dragon Breaths, Energy Balls, Stone Edges, Flamethrowers, Steel Wings, Thunderbolts and other attacks. All of these attacks would hit the Darkened Citadel, causing explosions to erupt across it.
Silent Fur simply waited as the Wonderbolts kept attacking the Fortress. She knew for a fact that their efforts would be meaningless. But she allowed them to do so. The Wonderbolts kept attacking the fortress, hoping to break it from outside.
"Far too predictable." Silent Fur commented. "They all think they stand a chance. Unfortunately for them, even before this fateful night, the seeds of our attack have already been planted beforehand. They may have that Flurry Heart to share information with them, but we have our own in their group."
Canterlot. Secret Area.
Over at Canterlot, in the secret room where everyone across Equestria would be kept in, they were already making themselves comfortable. Very comfortable. Ever since the last two major attacks on their world, the ponies here have transformed what used to be a place full of rocks and old mine carts into something more luxurious and suitable for royalty.
Many were sitting around a giant fireplace, sparked up by someone's Fire-Type to make sure the flames lasts for a long time. On one side of the room was where the kitchen was located, with every type of food imaginable. There were tables with all types of drinks, with various bathrooms and even a pool.
On the other side of the room was where all the sleeping bodies were being kept. It was a large area where all of the beds were present, along with the Healing Machines to heal them all, courtesy of the Pokemon Center.
There were couches everywhere as well, where the families of those who fell asleep would sit, waiting for them to wake up. Others simply sat around the fire, trying to enjoy themselves despite everything going on.
The Guards were present, protecting everyone and making sure no one falls asleep. Even the rocky walls have been transformed, turning them into a fancy palace. With all of the various decorations, a library and even a theatre, there was plenty to do while they hid out here.
"Aah...I really wanna sleep, but I can't." Scootaloo yawned. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle nodded, agreeing with her. They all had bags under their eyes as they were exhausted, unable to fall asleep. They had been awake since the start of all this, thanks to Nightmare Rarity. And they still hadn't fallen asleep.
"Yeah...It's hard to stay awake for this long." Apple Bloom added.
"It's awful. We can barely keep ourselves from falling asleep. How do the adults do it?" Sweetie Belle questioned before noticing something. "Still though...I can't believe a world where my sister's like Nightmare Moon exists. I never imagined her turning evil like that."
"Is it getting to you, Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo asked.
"Nah. I'm not hit by it." But Sweetie Belle was surprisingly fine. "We've met evil versions of others, haven't we? There's Empress Twilight and Daybreaker. I'm not too surprised. It's still a bummer to think about though. What happened? No way sis would just let that kind of magic take her over. Something must've happened."
"Yeah. It's a shame. But hey! You don't gotta worry about your Rarity ending up like her, right?" Apple Bloom assured Sweetie Belle. "She's way too strong for that."
"Y-Yeah...you're right." Sweetie Belle smiled a bit before facing Scootaloo. "How long do you think it'll be before this all over? Hopefully soon..."
"I dunno. It'll be over once we wake up. If only we could fall asleep!" Scootaloo grunted while yawning. "At least we're safe in here."
"Right. The Nightmare Monsters can't reach us." Apple Bloom remembered. "Not like they can find us anyways. I'm pretty sure the others are dealing with them. Not just our friends, but the League and all those Elite Trainers too."
They giggled amonst each other while looking at the fire. All of them were having a good time in here, feeling completely safe. However, while they were all enjoying themselves, deep within this area, something strange was occuring. Something no one noticed at all.
It started off small as a rock would roll across the ground, moving through the area. None of the guards or anyone else paid attention to it as it rolled through the floor. The rock would then vanish in thin air. Suddenly, more rocks would roll across the ground, disappearing in thin air.
No one was paying attention to this as many more rocks were rolling through the place, vanishing in thin air. It was happening across various areas of this underground base. More rocks would roll through as many rocks vanished from sight.
Following that, something would slither over the area where the rocks once were. It was some sort of slimy substance. The slime would move across the ground, swallowing up the rocks that disappeared earlier. It left a trail across the ground as many more rocks would disappear from sight.
Just then, it spoke. "Oculus said that this place would be harbouring most of the ponies from Equestria. Wonderful. It's been too long since I've feasted on the dreams of ponies~." The voice giggled as this slime monster was soon revealed to have the same texture as all the other Nightmare Monsters. It was a Shadow Slime Monster, oozing across the ground, travelling through the area.
The underground area of the Canterlot Mines was beaten up by this, growing its size gradually. It could sense the presence of others in here, knowing that they were all awake. But not for long. Giggling maliciously, from its body, it would unleash a night-sky smoke, covering this area and moving on.
This smoke would ascend, travelling the Canterlot Mines as it went up. "Can't sleep? Don't worry. I can fix that." The Shadow Slime uttered as it was planning to put them all to sleep. Soon enough, all of Canterlot Mines would be covered in Nightmare Smoke, with the Shadow Slime laughing amongst itself.
"Aah..." Minuette yawned as she leaned back, relaxing near the fire. "I'm so tired..." She closed her eyes for a moment, sighing. She was close to falling asleep for a split second but stopped herself.
"I'm trying not to." Minuette grumbled. "But it's so hard. I wish Nightmare Rarity would leave us alone already."
"Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for this to end. I'm tired as well." Moondancer admitted while yawning. She was trying to fight back her sleepiness as well.
"Goodness. I thought I already got some sleep in the afternoon. Why am I yawning now?" Fleur De Lis questioned while yawning. She was sitting by herself, taking a sip of tea. She was clearly exhausted.
"Man...This is the worst. I wanna sleep so badly!" Lyra groaned, stretching herself out.
"It's fine..." Carrot Top reassured her. "We've stayed up for longer than this. But...I do feel out of it..." Carrot Top herself was yawning. Many ponies were beginning to feel the effects of this Nightmare Magic, as if they were about to fall asleep.
Their Pokemon felt the same way as well. They would start yawning, finding poses to get comfortable in while some tried fighting it. Applejack's Pokemon were trying to stay awake, just like their Trainer. But they were struggling as well. Big Macintosh's Machamp was curled up in a ball, resting itself while Granny Smith's Drampa laid on his back, trying to fight back his sleepiness.
"Yes...Yes..." The Monster spoke, already sensing that they were beginning to fall asleep. "Slumber away now, my little poies~. Relax yourself and fall into a deep sleep~. And let me feast on your dreams~. Ooh, I can already imagine what they'll be like~."
"Banette!" Suddenly, a cry of a Pokemon could be heard, echoing across the Canterlot Mines. It was none other than Fancy Pants's Pokemon Banette who was the only one staying awake, showing no signs of sleeping. The monster heard this cry from afar, sensing the presence of someone who was just fine in all of this.
"Hm...?" The monster grumbled. "One of them is fine? But how?"
That was all thanks to Banette's Ability. Insomnia. An ability that prevented Banette from falling asleep. No matter how tired he gets, Banette would always remain awake. It was quite a helpful ability. And unfortunately for this Shadow Slime Monster, it was capable of detecting others who were not feeling sleepy.
"Wake up, now." Fancy Pants stood over them all. "This is no time to be falling asleep."
"Dear...We're trying." Fleur rested her head on the table. "How is it that you are wide awake?"
"Oh, believe me. I am tired out of my mind, darling. But when I was a young colt, I would always stay awake to pull pranks on others. My parents had to give me a harsh talking to just to get me to sleep. So trust me. This isn't anything new to me." Fancy Pants revealed. "As for all of you..."
"That's cool and all...but can you at least do something to keep us up?" One pony asked, struggling to stay up.
"Hmm..." Fancy Pants thought for a moment. "Ah. Which one of you here has a Pokemon that knows Wake-up Slap? That should wake them all up." Fancy Pants requested.
"I-I do..." A pony raised her hoof, her face on the floor. "My Jigglypuff...Grab her Poke Ball. It's the one that's a Love Ball.
"Very well then." Fancy Pants would have Banette fly over to retrieve this Poke Ball, opening it to release Jigglypuff. The Normal-Fairy Type yawned before rubbing her eyes.
"Jiggly..." She uttered, not realizing what was going on. Banette would tap Jigglypuff to get her attention. He pointed to the many ponies who were struggling to stay awake. Jigglypuff blinked, looking at them.
"Wake-up Slap." Fancy Pants ordered. Banette repeated it to Jigglypuff who nodded. She understood as she floated over to these ponies. They were struggling to keep themselves from falling asleep as Jigglypuff floated over to one of them. A drowsy Carrot Top looked up to see a pink energy forming around Jigglypuff's paw as she would deliver a slap across Carrot Top's cheek.
"OW!" Carrot Top yelped upon receiving the Wake-up Slap as she immediately awoke. She rubbed her cheek, groaning a bit. But already, she was more awake than before.
"Are you awake now?" Fancy Pants asked.
"Yes, I'm awake!" Carrot Top bellowed, wailing a bit. She would even start sobbing as the slap was harder than expected. "Oh, gosh! My cheek hurts so much!" Carrot Top cried out.
"Excellent. Jigglypuff, please wake the others up as well." Fancy Pants requested. But Jigglypuff was already feeling tired herself. She obviously couldn't wake everyone up since she was on her own. Banette could help, but he was just as tired as the others.
"Jiggly..." Jigglypuff yawned, trying to float over.
"Hm. This won't do. She can't possibly wake them up on her own." Fancy Pants started thinking. He was already feeling tired himself, but was hanging in there. When his eyes would slowly close, Banette would whack him on the head, keeping him in. "Thank you my friend. Now...to keep them all awake...we need something loud."
"G-Go to her." Carrot Top aimed her hoof at Vinyl Scratch, who was down for the count. "She's got two Pokemon that could help...an Exploud and a Noivern. Hurry."
"Understood." Fancy Pants instructed Banette to retrieve these Poke Balls, which contained the Pokemon Exploud and Noivern. Banette retrieved them before releasing them both.
Vinyl's Exploud and Noivern emerged from the Balls, waking up instantly. They stretched themselves out before yawning. Both Pokemon were ready for action as Exploud let out a roar. Fancy Pants cleared his throat before facing them.
"Both of you. I need your assistance. Do you think you can wake everyone else up?"
"Ploud!" Exploud and Noivern knew that they most definitely could do that. Both Pokemon faced everyone here, having one move in their arsenal that was bound to wake them up. Exploud inhaled deeply while Noivern opened its mouth.
Together, they both used Boomburst, unleashing sonic waves that would spread across the entire Canterlot Mines. The sonic waves would blast through the area, shaking the place greatly. The many ponies who were almost asleep were forced awake by this Boomburst attack.
"OOOWWWWW!" They all screamed while covering their ears. Their Pokemon would also cry out while covering their ears. The sonic waves were shaking the entire Canterlot Mines. Some ponies fell off their chairs, landing on the ground. Others managed to hang on while some Pokemon hid underneath tables.
The Boomburst attack lasted for about 20 seconds until Exploud and Noivern stopped using it.
"Ooh..." Many groaned, slumped over in unfortunate positions while some had their ears ringing. Other Pokemon were rubbing their ears, grunting in pain. Fancy Pants sighed before facing Exploud and Noivern.
"Well done, you two. That certainly woke them up." Fancy Pants commended them before facing the others. "Now then, it looks like we're all wide awake." Fancy Pants chuckled. "Don't you just love how All-Purpose Pokemon Moves can be?"
"Aha..." Scootaloo babbled as everything was spinning for her. Everyone else had random effects happening to them thanks to that volume, but it was worth it. Everyone was wide awake.
"No, no, no!" Just then, screaming violently was none other than the Nightmare Monster. Furious, it would burst its slimy body through the lower levels, rising up. "Why are you all awake?! I demand answers!" The Shadow Slime Monster demanded to know why they weren't asleep.
"What...?" Fancy Pants turned to see the Shadow Slime Monster emerging from the bottom levels, quickly making its way up. Everyone would lay eyes on this monster, gasping in horror. "Goodness! What is that thing?!" Fancy Pants shouted.
"That was supposed to be flawless. Absolutely flawless. How did I fail!?" The Shadow Slime Monster questioned before gazing at Exploud and Noivern. It narrowed its eyes, recognizing these two Pokemon. "You two! You're the ones responsible for this, aren't you?!" It accused the two Pokemon who backed away, ready to fight.
"How did it get inside?! The Guards and Pokemon are supposed to protect us!" Carrot Top shouted.
"Did you really think you were all safe in here? After the previous two massive attacks done to your world, it was only a matter of time until we realized where you all were hiding during those events. So we had someone infiltrate your group to allow us access here." The Shadow Slime revealed, causing the ponies to gasp.
"N-No way..." Scootaloo uttered.
"Someone here is with you?!" Sweetie Belle leaned back.
All of them began suspecting each other, wondering who it was. Whoever it was, it must have been someone powerful enough to avoid being suspected.
Everyone was on edge as they waited for this Nightmare Monster to reveal itself. Eyes were shifting from place to place, wondering who it was. They all began suspecting each other, unsure of who it was. The tension was so thick that everyone could cut it with a knife.
"Ha...You ponies and Pokemon are so clueless." The Shadow Slime chuckled as it slithered closer towards them all. Everyone was backing up, still suspecting each other. The Guards would stand in front of everyone, ready to protect them from this Nightmare Monster.
Suddenly, laughter could be heard, right behind Fancy Pants himself. Everyone slowly turned around to see who was laughing. Standing there, laughing hysterically, was none other than Vinyl Scratch herself.
"V-Vinyl?!" Octavia gasped as all eyes were on her.
"Finally! You ponies have discovered my identity! Too bad it's too late~!" Naturally, Vinyl was much of a talker, which made this one a giveaway immediately. This was not Vinyl Scratch at all.
"It's her?" Fancy Pants questioned while Banette growled, facing her.
"Of course. I thought it would be obvious. As if the real one would even sleep to begin with? She would probably just play music to keep herself awake at all times." The monster would then start taking on its true form. Its body would transform into something that was definitely not Vinyl Scratch or a pony.
Instead, this Nightmare Monster strongly resembled a Changeling, a Changelings but with Nightmare Magic corrupting its features. It kept Vinyl's hairstyle and glasses while having its own unique features as a Nightmare Monster. Its eyes were glowing red while having two pairs of wings, four legs and a horn. It also had the Nightmare Forces insignia across its forehead.
"A Changeling?!" Fleur De Lis gasped.
"Oh, but of course! Back in my universe, I used to be a part of the Changeling Hive. I was one of Queen Chrysalis' best soldiers. But that was before I joined the Nightmare Forces, giving up my old life to serve the Veiled Mistress. I am the last Changeling in my world as the others are but decorations now, living in an endless slumber. And now, I shall do the same to all of you!" The Changeling cackled before pointing a claw at everyone.
"Then what happened to the real Vinyl?!" Octavia questioned, needing to know.
"I caught her off guard and put her straight to sleep. That music of hers was too loud, so it became her downfall. The truth is, my fellow Nightmare Monsters and I have been lurking in secret, waiting to pounce. We've been biding our time, hiding in the night skies themselves.
"The Night Skies?!" Moondancer gasped.
"That's right." The Shadow Slime spoke. "Our bodies perfectly camouflage in the skies themselves when it is nightfall. For a week now, we've been hiding and observing. Now is our time to strike. Once we infect all of you, then Canterlot will truly become the first Nightmare Fortress of this world. And that's not even the half of it!"
"We'll show you a beautiful makeover!" The two monsters said in unison before cackling. While outnumbered, they didn't feel outmatched, especially with these sizes.
The Dream Realm.
In the Dream Realm, the Lunas were focusing their magic into one spot. They all gathered around, connecting their hooves together while aiming their horns in the same direction. All of them were focused as a bright light emerged from them.
They were all gathering their magical power together in one place. Luna herself was leading this as they were about to send this light across the Dream Realm itself. With all of their combined power, they sent it shooting across the Dream Realm itself, travelling across trillions upon trillions of dreams.
The light would travel across these bubbles, shining brightly as it moved through each one. The Lunas watched as the light moved through every dream bubble, shining brightly. The light would go further and further as it travelled across the Hyperdream, enveloping as many bubbles as it could.
They had to control how much power they using, so as to not accidentally destroy these dreams. The current Luna had her eyes open wide, a bright light emerging from them as she controlled the flow of this light. The Lunas themselves were controlling the intensity of this light to make sure it doesn't get too bright.
It was harder than it looked as each of the Lunas would have sweat appear on their faces, their teeths being clenched. The bubbles here were trembling, affected by this light. It looked like it was unstable due to how much of it was shaking. None of them have ever had to do this before after all.
"I'm not sure we can keep this up!" A Luna from 6 weeks ago yelled out.
Many of them were struggling to keep this up, mainly the ones from many weeks ago, months ago and even one or two years ago. They were the weaker Lunas. Lunas that have yet to either conquer the magic of Lunar Ire within them or make peace with Nightmare Moon.
The current Luna was the strongest thus far, along with the Lunas from the past 10 Months. But even they were struggling to keep this up as all of the Lunas were sweating profusely.
"Just a bit more...! Please hold on!" Current Luna ordered.
"We...can't...!" Another Luna from 1 year ago grunted before collapsing onto the ground. She fell unconscious, unable to handle it any longer. Many Lunas were starting to collapse as well, overwhelmed by this.
"Hold on!" Current Luna begged. "Please...!" Sweat dripped from her face as she was beginning to lose control over this light. If they lost control over it, it would become unstable and likely cause some dreams to be destroyed.
Just then, from one of the dreams, something was beginning to emerge. From the dream itself, one of the Nightmare Monsters was beginning to rise out from it, reacting to Luna's actions. This Nightmare Monster was massive, towering over the Lunas themselves.
This Nightmare Monster had the appearance of a Dragon, by far being the most terrifying one thus far based on appearance alone. It appeared to resemble the Dragons from the Dragon Lands, specifically the fully-grown ones. Much like the former Dragon Lord Torch, this one was huge, right around that size as well.
"W-What the...?!" One of the Lunas gasped upon witnessing it.
"Ah...This is where the Disturbance was coming from. Of course it had to be from you, Luna. Hmph. And to think I was hoping for this Disturbance to be Darkrai ." The Nightmare Monster grumbled before facing the Lunas.
"A Dragon?!" One of the Lunas shouted.
"I was just about to feast on the most wonderful dream." The Dragon would place its claws on top of the bubbles, slowly approaching the many Lunas. "Until you all disrupted it. How annoying. I'm sure my fellow Nightmares are annoyed since their meals have been interrupted as well."
"S-Stay back...!" The Current Luna growled.
"You all seem rather busy. It would be a shame if someone were to interrupt you all~." The Dragon taunted while getting closer to them all. Its mouth would slowly opening, charging up what appeared to be a Nightmare Breath. The Nightmare Monsters unleashed Nightmare Breaths as the Lunas gasped, knowing that this was a fatal attack.
Not taking the risk, the Lunas all broke up their spell, stopping the light as the Dragon unleashed its attack. The Nightmare Breath shot out from its mouth as all of the Lunas dodged it. The beam of dark purple energy would shoot across the Dream Realm, vanishing into the endless space.
"Darn it...Our spell!" Current Luna bellowed as the spell was incomplete. Their plan failed as the Lunas would back away from this Nightmare Monster. The Dragon would chuckle, staring at them all.
"Look at you all. I count at least 30 Lunas. I assume you're all from different dreams. The Veiled Mistress informed me of your impressive capabilities in the Dream Realm. Especially when it comes to the Hyperdream. You battled the Veiled Mistress in the Dream Realm, but ultimately, the battle was cut short. I don't doubt that it would've been in the Veiled Mistress's side.
"Who...are you?" Current Luna demanded to know while backing up with the other Lunas. The Dragon chuckled before bowing down to them.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Crag, one of the many Nightmare Monsters chosen by the Veiled Mistress herself to serve under her. And you are all Lunas, correct? I know all of you originate from different dreams." Crag stated while facing them all. "At least 30 of you. Quite a lot."
"Leave now." Luna ordered the Nightmare Monster. "You and your Nightmares should flee the Dream Realm at once, lest you want to deal with us all!" Luna threatened while the Lunas prepared to attack.
"I know for a fact all of you aren't strong enough to stop me. Not in your states. You used too much magic, didn't you? I can sense it." Crag teased them as he could tell that they were weakened. "And besides. I can't leave yet. I have a meal to finish~."
Crag would gaze at one of the bubbles, looking at one dream in particular. The Lunas noticed this, wondering which dream he was eying. Crag's eyes would glow brightly as Nightmare Magic would emerge from them, shooting towards the bubble.
The Nightmare Magic would strike the bubble, causing it to shake. "No! Stop!" Luna ordered while all of the Lunas charged up their magic, attacking Crag together. The Nightmare Monster would simply raise his tail, blocking their attacks.
Their beams of moonlight struck his tail, unleashing an explosion on contact. However, Crag emerged from it, unharmed by their attacks. "I'm afraid you're too late. Enjoy the show~." Crag warned them before the bubble would be surrounded in a great surge of Nightmare Magic.
Chains of Nightmare Energy would then wrap around it, keeping it trapped. "What's...happening?" A Luna questioned.
"I am claiming some dreams as my own. With these chains, anything it wraps around, it officially becomes my own possession. Not only that, I can also draw upon their power for myself!" Crag explained before bursting out in laughter. "Ah...And this is a special one. If I'm not mistaken...Isn't this the dream of Arceus?"
"?!" The Lunas gasped upon hearing that. Crag would use his Nightmare Magic to crack open the bubble, gazing at what was inside. He laughed upon seeing who was in there.
The fogginess was fading away, showing that this bubble contained one of Arceus's many dreams. Specifically, one of the many ways he dreamt of creating all of existence before he even did so. The Lunas gazed inside, shocked to see what was happening.
"Arceus...!" Current Luna shouted while watching the dream being cracked open. Crag would cackle maliciously while looking into this dream.
The Dream of Arceus had been found in this mish-mash. The absolute worst one that the Nightmare Monster could've found. And with his capabilities revealed, the situation had already escalated. This was an opportunity the Dragon would not waste and one the Lunas just couldn't allow to happen.
Back in reality, the brawl inside the Darkened Citadel continued. The Golurk and the Nightmare Monsters were moving across the Darkened Citadel, various attacks flying all over the place as it mostly took place in the hallways.
The Wonderbolts Pokemon were flying around the Darkened Citadel, unleashing attacks against it. The Darkened Citadel would launch Nightmare Beams at them, trying to shoot them down. But the Wonderbolts Pokemon avoided them, continuing to attack the fortress.
"Let's keep this up! Our Pokemon are handling the fortress just fine!" Spitfire cheered as her Flygon unleashed Dragon Breaths from its mouth, striking the citadel. The other Wonderbolt's Pokemon unleashed more attacks at it as well. The Golurk were keeping the Nightmare Monsters busy as well.
However, Silent Fur wasn't worried. She sat on her seat, overlooking the battlefield. She gazed down, smirking to herself. "Hm...They may be doing damage, but it won't be enough. I have something that will surely defeat them all~."
Silent Fur would stand up, raising her five tails. All of them would glow brightly, signalling that she was about to unleash a powerful move. The Nightmare Monsters around her witnessed this, backing up.
"Everyone! Back away!" They all backed away from the Golurk and Wonderbolts' Pokemon. Silent Fur smirked before slamming all five tails against the ground below. A bright light would emerge from them, filling the Darkened Citadel with its radiance.
"Is it gonna explode or something?!" Soarin grimaced.
"No clue! But whatever it is, we won't let it stop us! Flygon! Respond with Flamethrower!" Spitfire ordered as Flygon unleashed a stream of fire from its mouth. All of the other Wonderbolt's Pokemon followed suit, unleashing their attacks together.
At the same time, the Darkened Citadel unleashed its attack. From below, bright Nightmare Energy would emerge from it. It was in the shape of a crescent moon as Silent Fur was grinning wickedly. The crescent moon would be unleashed, shooting across the area.
It would slash through the Wonderbolt's Pokemon attacks, heading straight for them. "Huh?!" Spitfire shouted. The crescent moon cleaved through all their attacks as if they were butter, overpowering all of them. They narrowly dodged it, all collectively flying out of the way just in time. Spitfire had a bit of her mane grazed by the attack as it missed her.
"Woah! That was close!" Soarin observed as the crescent moon Nightmare Beam kept going. The Golurk tried phasing through it, but were hit by it as it tore through them, injuring them. Their bodies were durable, but they still took heavy damage from this attack.
"Gol...Golurk!" They cried out before falling to the ground below, damaged greatly. The Wonderbolts Pokemon managed to avoid getting hit by this attack, stunned by how powerful it was.
"That thing was so fast!" Fleetfoot bellowed while recovering. The Wonderbolts Pokemon would retreat from the Darkened Citadel as the Nightmare Monsters chuckled amongst themselves.
Spitfire grimaced a bit before noticing an opening in the Citadel, caused by the battle inside and the attacks from the outside. There was enough room for them to enter through. "Aha!" Spitfire called out to them as her Flygon flew towards it. She was about to take advantage of this opening to enter the fortress.
The other Wonderbolts Pokemon followed suite as Silent Fur raised her tails again, preparing to repeat the same attack. The Nightmare Monsters got out of the way as Silent Fur slammed her tails against the ground again, unleashing the crescent moon Nightmare Beam once more.
But just in the nick of time, the Wonderbolts managed to enter through the opening, avoiding Silent Fur's attack. They were finally in the Darkened Citadel itself as the Golurk were trying to recover from Silent Fur's attack.
"Alright! We're inside!" Spitfire celebrated. So did the other Wonderbolts with some of them having sighs of relief. They were getting somewhere and entering enemy territory was a great step-up, especially since they plan to go to their Universe rather soon once they deal with all of this.
"Do you really think you ponies and Pokemon are safe inside here?" Silent Fur questioned while sitting on her throne. "You may have entered the fortress, but you will never be safe here. This place is our home. And we Nightmare Monsters are always one step ahead."
Getting a better look at this citadel, the interior of it was certainly familiar. When looking at it, it was clear that elements from Ponyville's buildings were taken to make this. Much like Nightmare Rarity's palace and Oculus Gloom's base, it was all just a corrupted version of Ponyville, enveloped by the nightmares.
"Alright, you all." Spitfire faced her team. "Let's try breaking it from the inside now. Blast it apart!" Spitfire ordered as the Wonderbolts Pokemon nodded. They were about to attack the interior of this Darkened Citadel itself to break it from the inside.
They flew onwards with their Pokemon, who would start unleashing attacks at the walls of this Darkened Citadel. They were on the move with their Pokemon letting their attacks fly everywhere, attempting to break this fortress down.
Naturally, they would come across some Nightmare Monsters who attempted to fight them. The Wonderbolts Pokemon and Golurk would fight back while Spitfire and her teammates aimed to break this place down from the inside.
"Flygon, use Earthquake!" Spitfire ordered as Flygon stomped its feet against the floor. Following that, a massive earthquake would erupt in here. It would spread throughout the entire Darkened Citadel itself, causing it to tremble.
"Now's our chance! Corviknight! Steel Wing!" Soarin ordered as Corviknight flew towards the wall, slashing it with its wings. Fire Streak's Talonflame would follow suit with Flame Charge as it flew at full speed towards the wall, punching it with flaming fists.
High Winds' Charizard would unleash Flamethrowers at the same spot, blasting it multiple times. At the same time, Thunder Wave's Jolteon would use Swift towards the same spot, shooting stars at it. The Golurk helped as well, unleashing punches against the same spot.
All of them were working together to bring this fortress down. And they were succeeding as cracks were beginning to appear. Silent Fur narrowed her eyes as the damage being done to the fortress couldn't be ignored. The Wonderbolts, with the combined might of the Golurk, could tear this place down if more time goes on.
The Wonderbolts passed by some of the Golurk that were battling against the Nightmare Monsters, continuing on their way and even supporting some of them with their Pokemon.
From the corner, one of the more larger Nightmare Monsters was appearing from the shadows. This monster was larger than the rest but still managing to fit in the fortress. Spitfire gasped, looking to the side as she witnessed a Nightmare Monster that appeared to be a massive mouth with teeth and a lack of eyes.
Its body was wide with no arms and legs whatsoever, being completely limbless. The Nightmare Monster had rows and rows of razor-sharp teeth and a tongue. It towered over the Wonderbolts Pokemon and Golurk alike as they gazed up at it.
This monstrous creature opened its mouth wide as two pairs of wings emerged from behind it. "Oh gosh..." Spitfire uttered while backing away. This Nightmare Monster was unlike anything else they've seen so far as it's large size intimidated them all.
"W-What is that thing?!" High Winds questioned.
"Gross!" Fleetfoot exclaimed. The Golurk were stunned by this one as well, disgusted by its appearance. The Nightmare Monster howled with a haunting voice before moving towards its prey. It would slither towards them, opening its mouth wide.
"Eugh!" Spitfire grimaced. "Flygon, Flamethrower!" Spitfire ordered as her Flygon unleashed a stream of fire from its mouth. However, the Monster would end biting into this attack, swallowing it whole.
"?!" Spitfire leaned back, stunned. Afterwards, the Nightmare Monster would unleash an attack from its mouth. It was none other than Flygon's Flamethrower as it had alternated it somehow. Spitfire and the others narrowly avoided this attack as Flygon backed up.
"H-How did it do that?!" Soarin questioned. The Golurk were shocked by this as well.
"Did it copy Flygon's Flamethrower?!" Fleetfoot shouted.
"So gross!" High Winds grimaced.
After unleashing the attack, the Monster would slither towards them once more, attempting to consume them whole. Spitfire and her teammates ordered their Pokemon to fly away while the Golurk phased through this monster, avoiding its attack.
The Nightmare Monster continued on its rampage, consuming everything in sight. It had the ability to mimic attacks, turning them into its own. This was a Nightmare Monster unlike any other. Silent Fur smirked from up above while gazing at the battle.
"Go forth, my pet. Consume all those who dare disturb us~." Silent Fur commanded as her pet Nightmare Monster obeyed. Spitfire and her teammates attempted to attack it from afar, firing beams from their Pokemon. However, the Nightmare Monster would devour these attacks once more, spitting them back out in the form of a beam.
"F-Fly!" Flygon cried out as it was struck by the beam, crashing down to the ground below. Spitfire and the others had to avoid this attack as well before checking up on their Pokemon.
"Flygon! Are you alright?!" Spitfire asked while landing near it. Flygon had fainted, unable to continue battling at this rate. Spitfire recalled Flygon into its Poke Ball before facing her teammates. The Nightmare Monster was continuing on its rampage, consuming everything in sight.
"That thing has a mouth of steel!" Soarin shouted. "It's able to swallow anything that hits it!"
"Yeah, but I bet it can't deal with direct attacks!" Spitfire exclaimed, holding out another Poke Ball. "Go! Gallade! Use Psycho Cut!" Spitfire released her Gallade as it appeared from a burst of light. Gallade dashed forwards towards the Nightmare Monster with blades of psychic energy surrounding his hands.
"Gal!" He would leap up towards the Nightmare Monster who opened its mouth wide. Gallade swung his blades downwards, striking the side of its body. The Nightmare Monster attempted to bite down on Gallade, only for the Psychic-Fighting-Type to narrowly avoid its clamp.
Gallade continued slashing it from the outside, delivering Psycho Cuts nonstop. "Now! Corviknight! Brave Bird!" Soarin ordered as his Corviknight emerged from a burst of light. Corviknight charged up a blue aura of energy around itself before flying towards the Nightmare Monster.
Corviknight crashed into it, dealing heavy damage to this monster. "Charizard! Steel Wing!" High Winds ordered as her Charizard emerged from a burst of light. Charizard unleashed steel wings from its back before flying towards this Nightmare Monster. Direct attacks did seem to be the best approach to dealing with this monster, but they weren't sure if they were dealing enough damage to it.
The Nightmare Monster retaliated by swinging its tongue at the Pokemon before biting down on Corviknight. "?!" Soarin gasped as Corviknight was caught by this Nightmare Monster. "Corviknight!" Soarin shouted while it was consumed by this monster.
"Corvi!" Corviknight cried out before it was swallowed whole. Soarin grimaced as he couldn't believe that just happened. He was concerned for his Pokemon inside of this Nightmare Monster as Silent Fur laughed. "Let go of him!"
"Quick Gallade! Use Close Combat!" Spitfire ordered as Gallade leaped up to this Nightmare Monster. Heavy and swift slashes were dealt to its body as Gallade kept striking it. Spitfire narrowed her eyes while Gallade was fighting off this Nightmare Monster, trying to free Corviknight from its grasp.
These heavy hits from Gallade proved to make the monster stagger a bit, releasing Corviknight from its mouth. Soarin breathed a sigh of relief while Gallade jumped away, landing next to Spitfire. Corviknight, however, felt the strange susbtance from the monster around its steel body, making it shudder.
"Return, for now, Corviknight." Soarin returned Corviknight into its Poke Ball before glaring at the Nightmare Monster. He was furious that it ate his Pokemon like that. But it was coming after them next as it slithered towards them. The Golurk were attempting to assist them by attacking it from the outside.
"Gallade! Use Psycho Cut!" Spitfire ordered as Gallade leaped up, preparing to slash it once more. The Nightmare Monster opened its mouth wide, ready to consume Gallade. At the same time, the Golurk were using Phantom Force to phase through this monster, damaging it from the inside.
This Nightmare Monster unleashed Flamethrowers from its mouth, aiming them at the Golurk. Some of them narrowly avoided this attack while others took damage from it. The Golurk that phased through the Nightmare Monster were struggling to break free from its body. The Nightmare Monster would start glowing all of a sudden, preparing an even greater Flamethrower attack.
Gallade was about to deliver Psycho Cuts to it once more, unaware of what was coming. Spitfire gasped upon realizing what was about to happen. "Gallade! Get away!" Spitfire ordered as Gallade stopped in his tracks. The Nightmare Monster unleashed a crimson stream of flames down to the floor instead of Gallade, engulfing it in a sea of fire.
Everyone gasped at this sight as the flames approached them all. Spitfire ordered Gallade to use Protect as the Psychic-Fighting Type would summon a barrier around them all. The impact of the Flames was tremendous while burning against the barrier. Gallade struggled to maintain this barrier as Spitfire gritted her teeth.
"We're barely hanging on! Keep it up, Gallade!" Spitfire encouraged her Pokemon who was doing his best to keep this shield active. The Nightmare Monster continued unleashing this attack as everyone was trapped inside the barrier.
Silent Fur smirked from up above while gazing at them all. "No matter how strong they may be, they're no match for my pets. I've raised them well~." Silent Fur stated.
"Gallade?! Where are you?!" Spitfire called out while coughing. The Nightmare Monster actually took damage from that, feeling winded. But it didn't take as much damage as Gallade, who was kneeling on the floor. Gallade's barrier had taken most of the damage as Gallade was on his knees, panting.
"Gallade!" Spitfire ran over to her Pokemon, helping him up. The monster was also beginning to get back, slowly making a recovery. It was willing to continue its rampage.
"Some of you! Stick around and deal with this thing! Others, follow us!" Spitfire ordered as some of the Wonderbolts would stick around to stop this monster. The Golurk remained to deal with this monster as Spitfire, Soarin and Fleetfoot would flee from here.
"You all handle this one! We'll catch up!" Spitfire ordered as her group would advance, leaving the other group to handle this Nightmare Monster.
Silent Fur narrowed her eyes, watching them advance. So far, the Wonderbolts have proven to be very stubborn, refusing to fall to any of these Nightmare Monsters. She needed to think of a better strategy to stop them. Because so far, they've found a way to press on.
"They're rather troubling..."
The Dream Realm. Hyperdream.
In the Dream Realm, Crag had drawn power from Arceus's Dream, gaining some extra strength from it. He cackled, feeling the divine power from it as he prepared to face off against the Lunas himself. All of them were wary of Crag as he grinned.
"Hm...The Power of Arceus. Even just a bit of it already feels wonderful. You Lunas are quite lucky that I am alone." Crag warned them.
"You fiend! Release his dream!" Current Luna ordered as they all prepared to fight Crag. The Nightmare Dragon cackled before charging up a powerful Nightmare Breath in his mouth. He unleashed it towards them as a divine energy could be seen around it too. It was a corrupted version of Arceus's Light, covered in Nightmare Energy.
The current Luna put up a shield to block this attack as Crag laughed. The impact of the beam hitting the shield was staggering as Crag was pushing harder, wanting to break through. Luna struggled to keep this shield up as the Lunas assisted her, adding their magic to hers.
Their shields expanded, however the beam was still pressurring them. Crag was laughing hysterically, knowing that they wouldn't last long against this attack. "Your shields will break soon enough! And I shall claim this Hyperdream as my own!"
"Curses...!" Current Luna grunted. Crag was increasing the power of this attack as it became brighter, shining across the Dream Realm. The Lunas all did their best to resist this attack but they were on the verge of breaking. Some of them were still weak after that spell they used earlier, so it made things harder for them.
Crag was enjoying every second of this as the Lunas were losing against his power. The Nightmare Dragon laughed before pressing forward, unleashing more power onto them all.
"I-I can't...!" One Luna cried out, beginning to lose control over her powers. Her connection to the Hyperdream was starting to fade as she fell to the ground. Another Luna would follow her example as she collapsed to the ground. The others were struggling to hang on as Crag laughed.
"Ha! Already, two of you have fallen! Just how pathetic are all of you?!" Crag taunted them while pushing more Nightmare Energy into the beam. The Lunas tried their best to resist this attack but more of them started collapsing. The light from the beam shined brightly as Crag laughed, knowing he was winning.
"Ngh...!" Current Luna grunted while struggling to maintain this shield. Crag laughed as it was only a matter of time until he breaks through. The Lunas were falling left and right as Crag laughed. Soon enough, it was the current Luna who remained, losing her shield as she ducked to narrowly avoided the beam. Crag chuckled, gazing at the lone Luna.
"Ah...This power is splendid!" Crag relished in this power as he kept drawing on it even more. The chains he put around Arceus's Dream would start multiplying, immediately flying over to more dream bubbles nearby. Crag would begin draining these dreams as well, obtaining more power from it.
More and more dreams were being chained up by Crag as he laughed. The Lunas all gazed around, horrified by this. Crag would start absorbing the dreams that were chained up by him, gaining more power from it. Luna had to think fast, otherwise Crag would be too strong to stop.
"Luna!" Bellowing nearby was none other than Darkrai, who was seen carrying Rarity. "Are you alright!"
"Darkrai! Rarity!!" Luna called out as Darkrai flew over to her.
"This place...This is the Dream Realm?" Rarity gawked as this was her first time getting a good look at the Dream Realm in its entirety. She was in awe by it all as Darkrai landed next to the current Luna.
"That Dragon's drawing power from Arceus's Dream! He's becoming more and more powerful by the second! And I fear he might become too strong to stop!" Luna explained as Crag was absorbing more dreams. Darkrai noticed this, widening his eyes. "My control over the Hyperdream isn't as absolute as it was before. Not with these Nightmare Monsters running around..."
"Then allow me to take over." Darkrai volunteered. Luna widened her eyes, staring at Darkrai. "You need time to recover, correct? So let me take over while you do so. Go into their dreams and gather more help while I handle this one."
"B-By yourself! Darkrai, are you sure?!" Luna questioned.
"I'm sure. After all, your plan is to have everyone gather in one dream, isn't it? You won't accomplish it at this rate. Go on ahead, Luna."
"But...I want to find Ash's dream. I just can't with all of this mess." Luna closed her eyes. "If I could only find it..."
"Then search. Search while I keep him busy. Have Rarity assist you. Darkrai would drop Rarity, causing her to float in this dreamy space. "This battle will be taken over by me." Darkrai declared as Crag eyed the Pitch Black Pokemon down. Crag laughed before facing Darkrai.
"By yourself? A bold fellow." Crag taunted. "It's going to be your demise." Darkrai narrowed his eyes while Luna and Rarity would fly off to find Ash's dream. Crag laughed before charging up another Nightmare Breath in his mouth. "I'll give you credit for trying though! Allow me to finish you off quickly!"
Crag would unleash this beam towards Darkrai who would fly forward, knowing that he was immune to Nightmare Energy attacks. Darkrai would fly straight towards this attack, prepared to clash against it.
"Darkrai!" Rarity called out as Luna brought her along, searching for Ash's dream. Crag laughed before unleashing this beam against Darkrai, determined to take him out. However, Darkrai would simply fly through it, taking no damage as he was perfectly fine. Crag widened his eyes, shocked to see that Darkrai wasn't harmed at all.
"What's this?!" Crag was actually surprised as Darkrai would then slash his claws at the Nightmare Monster's face, landing a direct hit.
"From this point on, you Nightmares won't even taste a bit of victory!" Darkrai declared while unleashing Nightmare Shards towards Crag. The Nightmare Monster grunted, flying back as Darkrai went on the offensive. The Pitch Black Pokemon would fly around Crag, unleashing waves of Dark Pulses towards him.
Crag countered by unleashing a massive wave of Nightmare Flames towards Darkrai. The two of them were unleashing attacks at each other as they flew around one another. They clashed against one another as their attacks would create explosions, causing shockwaves throughout the Hyperdream itself.
Luna and Rarity distanced themselves from that battle, hoping not to get caught in it. Luna narrowed her eyes, thinking about Darkrai's words. If she wanted to gather everyone together in one dream bubble, she needed to find Ash's dream and fill it up with as many dreamers as possible. But that was easier said than done since the Nightmare Monsters made many of the Dream Bubbles foggy while also scattering them.
"How are we even going to find Ash's Dream in any of this?" Rarity questioned, seeing this as a massive mess. "Oh, it's so disorganized!"
"We'll find him." Luna was confident. "Because I believe that Ash will know what to do. He always does. Once he sees those Nightmare Monsters invading his dream, he'll undoubtedly know where to go next." Luna explained before closing her eyes. "Ash...Wherever you are...Please...Show us the way..."
Ash's Dream.
Speaking of Ash's Dream, he was currently in the middle of a battle, encountering the Nightmare Monsters himself. Sharing a dream with him were his Pokemon as Pikachu, Lucario and Gengar were assisting Ash while the dream civillians stayed back, watching this fight unfold.
Ash and Pikachu were atop a flame cloud while facing a Nightmare Monster that resembled a Shadow Ball. This one was a floating shadow ball with glowing red eyes and horns. It hovered towards Ash and Pikachu as they stood their ground. Lucario and Gengar were dealing with the other Nightmare Monsters as well.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed before leaping up, preparing to strike this Nightmare Monster with Iron Tail. The Shadow Ball Nightmare Monster opened its mouth wide before unleashing a stream of dark energy towards Pikachu. Ash widened his eyes as Pikachu narrowly avoided this attack.
"Watch out, buddy!" Ash called out as Pikachu landed ontop of the cloud once more. The Shadow Ball Nightmare Monster hovered towards them as Ash and Pikachu both glared at it. "Alright, Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered as Pikachu charged up electricity in his cheeks.
"Pika...Chuuuuu!" Pikachu unleashed a massive bolt of electricity packing a total of 100,000 volts, but as a dream variant, even more, towards the Shadow Ball Nightmare Monster. The monster was sent flying, crashing against the cloud below as Ash cheered. The dream civillians watched in awe as Ash and Pikachu fought off this Nightmare Monster.
"Gengar!" Gengar fired ghostly flames from its mouth towards the Nightmare Monster resembling a Slime. This Nightmare Monster would melt as Gengar smirked before noticing another Nightmare Monster resembling a giant eyeball. The Eyeball Nightmare Monster would launch beams from its pupil, forcing Gengar to dodge them.
"Curses! Why's he so strong?!" One of the Nightmare Monsters questioned while Gengar laughed. Lucario would use Force Palm to strike down another Nightmare Monster resembling a Ghost. The Ghost Nightmare Monster cried out as it was sent tumbling across the ground.
"Alright, Gengar!" Ash grinned. "Dazzling Gleam! Full Force!" Ash ordered as Gengar nodded. The Ghost-Type would charge up fairy energy in its body before unleashing a blinding ray of light towards all of the Nightmare Monsters here. All of them cried out as the Dazzling Gleam struck them all, the light being one of their greatest weaknesses.
"Time for the finisher!" Ash clenched his fists as in this instance, he was actually gaining control of his own Dream, being able to do whatever he wants within it. He pointed to the sky, his eyes flaring to life as the Sun in the sky would shine brighter than ever before. The Nightmare Monsters all cried out as the rays of light struck their bodies.
Just like that, all of them had fainted once the solar light reached its apex. They laid there in various positions, completely bewildered. "W-What...was that...?" One of them questioned before passing out.
"Alright. You said you guys were with someone called the Veiled Mistress? Who's that?" Ash questioned while approaching them, crossing his arms. "And what's the big idea showing up here to cause all this trouble?"
"T-That would be our glorious Queen. Nightmare Rarity." One of them answered, intimidated by Ash. Pikachu hopped down to them as well, glaring at them.
"Nightmare Rarity, huh? Figures..." Ash then looked up at the azure skies. "That means something's happening with everyone's dreams. I'm probably not the only one getting attacked here. That right?"
"Rrr...!" Lucario growled at the Nightmare Monsters, demanding that they answer Ash. And the way Lucario looked at them struck fear into these monsters.
"Yes!" One of them gulped. "We've infiltrated many Dreamers' Dreams, intending to conquer them!"
"And take over all of existence with our Queen!" Another one stated as Ash narrowed his eyes.
"So that means out there in the Dream Realm...A lot of people are facing Nightmare Monsters." Ash said to himself. "Which means I need to wake up, don't I? But I just can't at the moment."
"Pika." Pikachu noticed this as well. He couldn't force himself awake and neither could Gengar or Lucario. They were trapped in Ash's Dream for now, but it didn't have to be this way.
"Alright." Ash put his hands together. "If that's the case, then Luna's out there doing her best, isn't she? Along with Darkrai. If I can't wake up right now and there's a whole bunch of dreams being attacked, I'd better help out."
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible!" One of the Nightmare Monsters bellowed. "We've blocked off your dream by making it foggy. All dreams have been obscured and we've even scrambled them. Our High-ranking Commander Crag is out there at this moment, no doubt, succeeding in the mission. You can't possibly hope to stop all of this."
"Watch me." Ash smirked before facing his Pokemon. "Alright, guys. We're gonna get Luna's attention. Let's shine like crazy!" Ash ordered as all of his Pokemon nodded. Pikachu grinned while hopping atop Ash's shoulder.
"Pikaaa!" Pikachu exclaimed. "Chaaaaa!" Pikachu started charging up electricity in his cheeks, letting loose bolts of lightning across this dream. Gengar would use Dazzling Gleam to the fullest extent, creating blinding rays of Fairy-Type energy. Lucario would exert his Aura, launching waves of blue energy towards the sky.
The dream civilians gasped upon witnessing this as Ash was grinning. "Keep it up, everyone!" Ash encouraged them as his Pokemon continued unleashing these bright attacks into the sky. The Nightmare Monsters hissed at this sight, unable to handle all of the light that was being focused in one spot.
Ash would even advance the brightness of the Sun even further, making it shine brighter and brighter. The Nightmare Monsters all cried out as they were overwhelmed by Ash's Pokemon. Ash's Dream was getting brighter than ever as Ash was emitting his own aura, shining brightly as well.
Outside this Dream, when searching for Ash's Dream, Luna and Rarity would spot a powerful light coming from one of the bubbles. Luna narrowed her eyes before recognizing Ash's aura. It was coming from there as Luna smirked.
"There it is! Ash's Dream!" Luna beamed. "And it appears he's already noticed what's happening." Luna flew towards that Dream Bubble as Rarity followed her. Ash's Dream was glowing brighter than ever as Ash kept influencing it to shine like crazy. He was intending to get Luna's attention with this as it proved to be working.
"This Dream...It's so bright!" Rarity exclaimed while shielding her eyes. Luna narrowed her eyes before heading straight for Ash's Dream. The two of them squinted while approaching Ash's Dream, amazed by how bright it was.
"I think Ash noticed what's going on. We're close!" Luna stated as she headed straight for that bubble. Ash's Dream was shining like crazy as the Nightmare Monsters inside were struggling to remain conscious. Together, Luna and Rarity moved through the bubble, entering Ash's Dream.
Upon arriving, they witnessed Ash and his Pokemon shining like crazy while the Nightmare Monsters were unconscious. Ash's Dream was so bright that they had trouble seeing. Rarity tried looking around before covering her eyes, the radiance overwhelming her.
"Ash!" Luna and Rarity collectively shouted. Ash and his Pokemon ceased their attacks, noticing the two mares.
"Luna! Rarity!" Ash beamed. "Worked like a charm!"
"Thank goodness!" Rarity breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ash! It's horrible!" Luna would gallop over to Ash, coming to a screeching halt. She took deep breaths, trying to catch her breath since she was still exhausted from using so much earlier. "The...Hyperdream...!
"It's alright, Luna. You're fine in here. Dream big." Ash said, informing her that she could dream to restore her stamina. After all, Ash had conquered his dreams since he defeated the Nightmare Monsters here. Right now, this was the freest dream out there. Luna took deep breaths before calming herself down.
"Alright...I'm fine. Listen Ash. The Hyperdream has been invaded by Nightmare Monsters. They've scattered around every Dream Bubble in this Hyperdream while claiming dreams as their own. Right now, there are so many of them that it would be impossible to reach them all, not to mention they have scrambled so many of the dreams here." Luna explained before gazing up at the sky. "But...We managed to find yours. Thank goodness..."
"Princess Luna figures that if we use your Dream and bring everyone else inside of it, we can all gather in one place and overpower the Nightmare Energy everywhere else." Rarity added on. "After all, your dreams are some of the strongest out there."
"Really? You came to my dream first? What about everyone else?" Ash asked.
"I chose yours because you dream big, Ash." Luna smiled. "I trust it and it certainly will have enough space to make it work. I can imagine that these monsters failed to stop you since you had great control over your dream. The Stronger the Dream, the harder it will be for them to take control."
"Hm, hm. I gotcha." Ash nodded. "So we just gotta gather everyone else here? No problem. Do you think you could move my dream to everyone else?"
"I can try." Luna took a deep breath. "I'm already in this one, so I can freely restore my magic without worrying about any setbacks. I'll use my magic to try and reconnect the bubbles and move your dream around. It will be exhausting, but I must do it. For everyone's sake." Luna stated before raising her horn.
Her eyes would glow while performing this spell. She was trying to reconnect all of the dream bubbles here and move Ash's Dream to them. And this time, she didn't have to worry about expending herself. Luna quickly noticed that because she was in a dream, she could use as much energy as she wanted.
From Ash's bubble, a massive string of light would form from Luna's horn. It shot up into the sky, connecting to the various Dream Bubbles nearby. Luna would attempt to connect Ash's Dream to everyone else's as she used as much magic as she could. The string would multiply, reaching as many dreams as it could as they would light up once they connected with Ash's.
From a distance, Darkrai and Crag noticed these strings of light shooting up into the dreamy sky. "What in the world?!" Crag questioned while Darkrai nodded.
"Seems Luna's taking action. Very smart of her. With these strings, she can connect everyone else to Ash's Dream." Darkrai explained. "Right now, they're moving Ash's Dream to everyone else's. Even with all of these scrambled dreams, Luna will find a way to unite them all."
String by string went by, lighting up all of these dreams. And it was only a matter of time until everyone inside of these respective dreams felt it. Luna was growing winded as she was linking dreams together, knowing she just needed to hold on for a little bit longer. Ash, Pikachu, Gengar, and Lucario stood by, watching this happen.
Twilight felt it in her own dream as she widened her eyes, noticing these strings of light. "Wait...Is that...?" Twilight wondered before gazing up at the sky. The individuals who had their dreams connected by the string were at random, but the number of dreams that Luna connected were numerous.
In Rainbow Dash's dream, she was facing off against Nightmare Monsters but would soon feel the connection. In Fluttershy's dream, the same applied as well as Applejack's dream. Ash's friends would all feel and see the light across their dream bubbles as Luna kept connecting dreams together.
Luna then managed to draw them all in, causing the bubbles to speed up as they were approaching this single dream bubble. They all entered Ash's bubble, being absorbed into it which in turn, caused it to grow in size. Each time a bubble entered, Ash's Dream would grow bigger as Luna continued on her spell.
With great power, the bubbles that Luna managed to connect in the Hyperdream was entering Ash's Dream as they became one. She eventually lowered her head, ending the spell as there were some dreams out of her reach due to how scrambled they were. But most of them had been gathered as Ash's Dream expanded.
The dream civilians around them widened their eyes while gazing up at the sky. The stars above shined brightly as Luna panted before gazing at Ash. "Everyone...is here..." Luna announced as Ash, Pikachu, Gengar, and Lucario gazed around, witnessing this.
"Awesome!" Ash cheered. "Way to go, Luna!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu applauded.
"Ow...What happened?" Rainbow Dash held her head. "Oh man...My head feels like it got struck by lightning."
"Rainbow Dash! Fluttershy! Applejack!" Ash beamed while running over to them. They were all on the floor, recovering as Ash helped them up. "You guys alright?!"
"Ash? I think so." Applejack answered while getting up. "Did somethin' just happen?"
Twilight and Pinkie Pie showed up next along with many familiar faces. A good chunk of Ash's friends had arrived here as Ash looked around.
"W-What?" A confused Dawn sat up, rubbing her head. "Where am I? How did I get here?"
"Uh...?" May had also shown up, her eyes spinning a bit. Present here were many of Ash's friends he's met across different regions as well as those he's met in Equestria and beyond.
"Ash? What's going on?" Goh asked while walking over to Ash. Chloe followed suite as she looked around. "Where are we?"
Gathered here were many Gym Leaders mainly. The familiar faces of Brock and Misty were present as well alongside Gym Leaders such as Roark, Gardenia, Brawly, Brycen, Roxanne, Volkner and Roxie.
"Hah?!" Mallow bellowed once she realized she was not in her dream anymore. She and Lana had also shown up here. "H-Huh?! Where am I?!"
"Man. That's a lot. But this is great." Ash grinned. "Do you think this will be enough, Luna?"
"It has to be. This many dreamers combined together...I just know this will be enough to overcome the Nightmare Energy out there." Luna stated as all of the dream civilians gathered around Ash. Ash and Pikachu gazed around at all of them before grinning.
"Okay then." Ash adjusted his hat while facing everyone else. "Hey guys! Sorry to interrupt your dreams! But there's just one thing we gotta do so we can sleep peacefully from now on." He would then look at Luna, letting her handle things. She would be the one to address them all as she stepped up, facing all these Dreamers.
"Attention, everyone!" Luna called out, gaining their attention. The dream civilians would face Luna as she nodded. "I'm sure you're all wondering what's happening. I know because it's only natural for you all to feel that way. So let me explain everything that's happening." Luna stated as everyone listened.
Absolutely everything from start to finish will be explained. And from this point on, Luna was expecting their assistance. But she wouldn't have to fear any apprehension. Not with so many of Ash's friends here. If there's one consistent thing about all the folks he's met here and there, it's that they're always willing to help a friend out. But they just had to know the situation they were in at the moment.
In Nightmare's Rarity's Universe, at her throne room, she was seated upon her throne, having everything around her be silent since she was out of the action. There was nothing more for her to do as Silent Fur reported everything to her. Nightmare Rarity sighed, bored out of her mind as she closed her eyes.
She was waiting for Crag to return, believing he would succeed. And so would all of her forces. But Nightmare Rarity wasn't just going to do nothing. She wanted to entertain herself after all.
"I can imagine how things are going back in that universe, but what about the Dream Realm? I expect Luna to already in action." Using her magic, Nightmare Rarity would open the floors to her throne room all of a sudden. Rising from the open floor was a glowing sphere that was packed with Nightmare Energy.
It wasn't just a sphere, but a way for Nightmare Rarity herself to view the Dream Realm. Luna had her own way of doing so and so did Nightmare Rarity. Due to the attack she's launched on the Main Universe, she was able to view that world's Dream Realm thanks to the many Nightmare Monsters lurking in it.
Granted, she could only see the dreams that her Nightmare Monsters were currently in and the only way for her to see it all is for her to be there herself.
However, there was a huge list of dreams for her to gaze at as Nightmare Rarity smirked. At this moment, many dreams were suffering nightmares, allowing Nightmare Monsters to feed off them. Nightmare Rarity would channel that Nightmare Energy to the orb she created as it would show her images of the Dream Realm itself.
So far, her minions were getting their feed as Nightmare Rarity witnessed countless dreams being tainted by Nightmare Energy. This was sure to make her rule easier. However, she noticed one oddity. Among these many Dream Bubble, there was one bubble that was larger than the rest.
Thanks to Crag's presence, she could get a good look of the Dream Realm from the outside and that one bubble was making sure its presence was heavily known based on how bright and massive it was.
"Hm...? What's this?" Nightmare Rarity questioned while narrowing her eyes. From that bubble, she could sense Ash Ketchum's aura as well as Princess Luna's. These two were already present in that large dream bubble as Nightmare Rarity raised an eyebrow. "This Dream Bubble is massive. What is Luna up to?"
Wanting an answer, she would use her magic to communicate with one of her Nightmare Monsters in another dream bubble nearby. Nightmare Rarity narrowed her eyes while contacting one of her monsters. In another Dream Bubble, there was a Nightmare Monster resembling a black bird as it was feasting on a nightmare.
"You. What's going on? Are you aware of that massive Dream Bubble?" Nightmare Rarity questioned as this monster widened its eyes. The Dream Civilians around this monster were cowering while gazing up at the ceiling. They all witnessed the image of Nightmare Rarity appearing as they backed away.
"V-Veiled Mistress!" This Nightmare Monster bowed its head. "I am unsure. All of a sudden, many dreams some of our forces were preying on all started moving. They seem to have gravitated towards a single dream bubble as we were unable to consume them."
Nightmare Rarity narrowed her eyes, gazing at this Nightmare Monster. "Moving? Luna must be behind this. Hmph. Of course she's taking action. No doubt she's united many dreamers together to overpower our Nightmare Energy." Nightmare Rarity stated, already aware of such a tactic. The Luna of our universe tried the same thing and look where that got her. Make sure she doesn't succeed. Flood that dream bubble with Nightmare Energy. I'll be watching."
"Understood, Veiled Mistress!" This Nightmare Monster stated before fading away. Nightmare Rarity ended the transmission before sighing, reclining in her throne. She wasn't worried about this tactic failing as she smirked.
Universe 1. The Dream Realm, Ash's Dream.
Back in Ash's Dream, Luna had explained everything to everyone. Twilight and Pinkie Pie were shocked to learn that the Nightmare Monsters invaded this Dream Realm, scrambling many of the dreams here. Ash's friends from Equestria and beyond were also surprised to hear this as well.
"Gee...That's a lot. Why's it that there's always danger around you, Ash?" Dawn questioned, wondering why there was danger around Ash so constantly. And consistently too.
"Just when I was enjoying my dream too..." Misty sighed, feeling disappointed. "I was a mermaid again and everything and then this happens..."
"All the food I could eat...gone..." Misty was grasping the air, bummed out by her dream being interrupted. "But...I might not get the chance to eat that much if those monsters stick around."
"But now you all know of the scenario." Luna spoke. "Right now,If we wish to defeat them, we all need to combine our strength. A collective dream will be able to overcome the Nightmare Energy out there. And that's why I've brought you all here."
"I understand what's going on." Brock stated. "So all of us will be enough? You're positive about that Princess Luna?"
"Exactly." Luna nodded. "And Ash's Dream is perfect for this strategy. After all, his dreams are the biggest out there from what I've seen with Arceus being tied. Combined with all of yours, Nightmare Energy will surely fade away."
"Do we all have to dream of the same thing?" Roxanne questioned. "Or do we dream whatever we want?"
"Dream what you like. This dream will adapt to all of your wishes." Luna stated. "Right now, Ash has conquered this Dream. Meaning that this dream bubble is free for everyone to do as they please within it. And with so many dreamers here, Nightmare Monsters won't be able to stop us. The stronger this Dream is, the harder it will be for them to take control. That's why I chose Ash's Dream for this tactic. It's simply the best option we have."
"Alright! So all we gotta do is dream real hard!" Ash stated. "Don't hold back, everyone! Dream your hearts out!" Ash encouraged as the dream civilians all nodded. It was decided that they would all work together and it helped that many of them were good friends, so cooperation was bound to occur.
"I already know what I want." Ash smiled, dreaming up some food for himself. He already ate at the Sea Temple in reality but that wasn't going to stop him from having another feast. In front of him, a huge table was conjured up, filled with all sorts of food. Ash widened his eyes while drooling as Pikachu hopped onto the table, joining Ash.
"Nice!"
"Ah, Ash!" May slid over. "I was gonna dream of a feast! Let me have some of this!" May requested before dreaming up some more food options. Ash grinned as May conjured up some more food on the table. Spoonfuls of her favourite foods appeared before May as she nodded.
"Alright! Time to dig in!" May exclaimed while taking a seat next to Ash. Together, they would both indulge in this dream feast, having the same massive appetite as one another. Ash and May would stuff their faces with food as they enjoyed this dream.
"Ah, what I want in my dream..." Brock smiled, already knowing what he wanted his dream to be about. His dream was centered around Nurse Joy as he started daydreaming about her. Around Brock appeared multiple Nurse Joys as they were all dressed in nurse outfits. Brock immediately started fantasizing about this as he was surrounded by these Nurse Joys.
"Ah...This is heaven!" Brock stated while blushing. The Nurse Joys surrounding Brock would bring him great joy indeed. Meanwhile, Dawn was already dreaming about a certain dress she wished she could wear at contest. She imagined herself wearing said dress and twirling around in it.
"Oooh...This is exactly what I wanted!" Dawn beamed while posing in this dress. "It's so pretty! Too bad it's so expensive in real life!" Dawn admired her reflection while in her dream.
"Piplup!" Piplup applauded.
"Mmm!" Thinking hard, Fluttershy dreamt of an advanced and perfected version of the Pokemon House, wanting to see its best possible version. Fluttershy envisioned the Pokemon House being 50x larger than it was, appearing out of thin air and occupying this dream, surprising everyone else.
They found themselves surrounded and standing in this massive Pokemon Sanctuary as they gasped. The dream civilians would find all sorts of Pokemon here as Fluttershy blushed. "A-Ah...This is what I wanted..." Fluttershy smiled while gazing around at all the Pokemon.
Very soon, they all started dreaming of what they wanted. One by one, the dream civilians would start flooding Ash's Dream with their own wishes and desires, making it a massive dream. A variety of things came to life, and more started appearing in this dream bubble as Luna nodded.
"This dream is getting stronger by the second. Very good." Luna stated. This was by far the most occupied dream at the moment, building up enough power that would surely overpower the Nightmare Monsters, especially with how everyone interacted with each other's dreams.
"This'll do!" Roxie had dreamt of a massive music set that she was absolutely going to blare at maximum volume. Since this was a dream, the sound would be greater than what it was in reality.
"Hold on, hold on!" Roxanne halted her. "If you play with that much volume, you'll just leave our dreams vulnerable to the Nightmare Monsters! We'll wake up and have to force ourselves back to sleep!
"Bah, it's fine! You heard Princess Luna anyway. We can't wake up because of all this Nightmare Energy out there! So why not enjoy ourselves!" Roxie argued as Roxanne sighed.
At another side of this dream, there was a massive pool area that Applejack dreamed up for herself. She conjured up a massive pool along with a pair of sunglasses for herself as she had fun in this dream.
"Ah...This here's some nice relaxation!" Applejack smiled while resting on a floatie. On the opposite end, there was Brawly's dream, which involved him surfing on the Arcane Sea. The massive sea that was brimming with Rift Energy. To surf on the cosmic seas in real life would be so wonderful for Brawly.
For Brycen, he kept it simple, dreaming up a place where he could train his Pokemon and improve himself. Volkner would dream about a place he once visited when he was a child. Gardenia dreamt of a huge selection of Grass-Types since her love for them was absolutely overwhelming! She was currently hugging a Rillaboom, Tangrowth and a Florges at the same time, having rather impressive strength.
With so many dreams showing up and interacting with one another, Ash's Dream Bubble grew bigger by the second. But of course, the Nightmare Monsters, ordered by Nightmare Rarity, wouldn't just sit around and let this happen.
The Hyperdream.
While everyone was enjoying themselves, outside of this dream, Darkrai and Crag were clashing against each other. A black explosion went off with Darkrai flying out of it. He skidded across the top of a Dream Bubble, creating cracks in it while Crag laughed.
The only way Crag could affect Darkrai right now was thanks to the power he had absorbed from Arceus's Dream. This allowed him to damage Darkrai, who was largerly immune to Nightmare Magic overall. But not right now.
"Hm, hm, hm! You've done quite well, Darkrai!" Crag praised him as Darkrai grunted, gazing up at the Nightmare Dragon. "I can see why Luna would rely on you! But your luck has run out!" Crag declared before unleashing another Nightmare Breath towards Darkrai.
Darkrai flew up, narrowly avoiding this beam as he glared down at Crag. Darkrai charged up dark pulses in his body before launching them towards Crag. The Nightmare Dragon laughed before dodging the Dark Pulses. He hovered towards Darkrai before slashing his claws at him.
"You're running out of time, Darkrai! More and more, I can feel bits of Arceus's Dream enter my body! Soon enough, I shall become all powerful!" Crag declared while unleashing a shockwave from his claws towards Darkrai. The Pitch Black Pokemon grunted, narrowly avoiding this attack as he flew around Crag.
"The longer I stall you, the better." Darkrai stated. "Luna is gathering dreamers together as we speak. Once she's finished, it's over for you Nightmares."
"Stall me? You have yet to even destroy the chain I've wrapped around Arceus's Dream!" Crag cackled, knowing that Darkrai failed to break it. "By the time Luna shows up, I would've already had a plethora of Arceus's power, to where I will be unstoppable! Even with all of those Dreamers, they won't be able to stand against me!" Crag laughed, believing that he was winning.
"Perhaps..." Darkrai narrowed his eyes. "But I'm still going to fight until the very end. While I'm still here, you won't get everything Arceus has to offer!" Darkrai declared before charging up a Dark Pulse attack in his hand.
Crag laughed before holding both his claws ou, generating a pitch-black Nightmare Sphere. In unison, their attacks were unleashed as they collided against each other, sending black waves across the Hyperdream. Crag and Darkrai pushed their attacks forward as they attempted to overpower one another.
Darkrai grunted, pouring all that he had into this attack. Meanwhile, Crag simply looked casual about it, laughing as he increased the Nightmare Energy of this attack. "What's wrong, Darkrai? Can't handle this?" Crag questioned as Darkrai kept pushing forward. "Maybe this is better for you!"
Crag suddenly transformed the beam into a massive Nightmare Fist as it smashed towards Darkrai, striking through his beam. The Pitch Black Pokemon widened his eyes before the fist struck his body. "Guh...!" Darkrai groaned out as the Nightmare Fist sent him crashing against a Dream Bubble.
Crag didn't stop there. While Darkrai had his back against this bubble, Crag would send a barrage of Nightmare Claws forward, striking Darkrai. "Argh...!" Darkrai cried out while being pelted by these Nightmare Claws.
"What's wrong, Darkra? Ah, I see! Your power is nothing compared to mine!" Crag bellowed while launching these Nightmare Claws. Darkrai narrowed his eyes, trying to endure this onslaught of Nightmare Energy. "I'm the High Commander of Nightmare Rarity! I'm far superior to you!" Crag declared while Darkrai continued enduring these attacks.
Eventually, he ceased this attack as Darkrai shook his head, hanging in there. He was certainly a resilient one as Crag laughed. "Impressive...You managed to withstand all of that. But you won't last much longer!" Crag stated before charging up Nightmare Energy in his mouth. Darkrai grunted before noticing this.
Darkrai looked at the Dream Bubble he was pinned on, not wanting to risk it taking any damage. He held his claw out as a Nightmare stream of destruction was unleashed towards Darkrai. The Pitch Black Pokemon widened his eyes before conjuring up a Dark Pulse, using it as a shield.
Darkrai tried maintaining this Dark Pulse Shield as Crag kept unleashing this Nightmare Stream towards him. The Dream Bubble behind Darkrai began cracking as Crag laughed. "Under no circumstances am I losing this!"However, Darkrai refused to make himself look weak for another moment.
With his other claw, he would use Thunderbolt, merging it with his Dark Pulse Shield. Crag widened his eyes while Darkrai was combining these two attacks together, aiming the thunderbolt part of this shield towards Crag. With great effort, Darkrai launched this Thunderbolt merged Dark Pulse Shield towards Crag as it struck him.
Crag widened his eyes, taken aback by this as Darkrai smirked. He combined two of his most powerful moves together to create a shield that would counteract the Nightmare Stream. The shield pushed forward before striking Crag, forcing him to cease his attack. The Nightmare Stream vanished as Crag growled before being launched back.
Darkrai then took advantage of this, leaping off this Dream Bubble and charging towards Crag. Covering his body in the energy of Dark Pulse, Darkrai charged towards Crag with great speed, his claws glowing with dark pulses. Crag recovered before widening his eyes, seeing Darkrai approach him.
"Useless." Crag scoffed at this, using his newly obtained power to form a Nightmare Wall between himself and Darkrai. The Pitch Black Pokemon crashed against this wall, halting his attack. Crag laughed before unleashing another Nightmare Beam towards Darkrai.
However, Darkrai would move around the Nightmare Wall, surprising Crag. By using the Dark Pulse as an energy shield, he broke through, crashing his body into the Nightmare Dragon's. The impact caused Crag to flinch, giving Darkrai the opportunity to slash his claws at Crag's face.
"Ngh..!" Crag actually felt that one as he moved back. Darkrai narrowed his eyes, refusing to give Crag any openings to attack him. Crag rubbed his face, seeing that he had been harmed by Darkrai's attack. "Huh...? Well, that's odd. Despite by growth, you can still keep up and damage me? Preposterous. You Pokemon are far too strong for your own good."
"Strong for our own good? More like we're strong for the right reasons. To protect those we love and cherish from obstacles like you." Darkrai scowled. "You are not winning this and I am not losing to you."
"You say that, but I doubt that you can keep this up forever." Crag would them cause two massive Nightmare Claws to emerge above him. But they weren't the only ones. He would then multiply all of them repeatedly as Darkrai widened his eyes. These Nightmare Claws multiplied into dozens before hundreds as Crag grinned.
Crag would launch all of these Nightmare Claws towards Darkrai as the Pitch Black Pokemon widened his eyes. Soon, a rain of claws came crashing down on him, rapidly slashing Darkrai as he grunted. Crag kept launching these Nightmare Claws towards Darkrai as he was pelted by these numerous attacks.
"Nnng...!" Darkrai grunted, feeling this attack overwhelm him as he was launched back. He crashed against many Dream Bubbles, causing them to crack as Crag laughed. Darkrai shook his head before noticing that one of these bubbles was about to pop due to his impact against them. But Darkrai just had to hold on for as long as possible. For Luna's sake and the sake of everyone's dreams.
Speaking of Luna, the Moon Princess gasped, raising her head and sensing the presence of Nightmare Creatures nearby. Ash's Dream was attracting them as she narrowed her eyes. "Seems they've arrived." Luna stated as Ash and Pikachu jerked their heads to the skies.
From the heavenly blue skies, a crack formed as Nightmare Monsters poured in from there. Luna gritted her teeth upon witnessing this. "They're here!" Luna announced as the dream civilians all gazed around, seeing these Nightmare Monsters arrive here.
Since Ash's Dream was packed, every Nightmare Monster aside from Crag were sent here, swarming the skies and crawling across them, gazing at the various Dreamers. They were like ants approaching this dream bubble as Luna narrowed her eyes.
Ash and Pikachu faced these Nightmare Monsters as Twilight came up beside Ash. "These are the Nightmare Monsters? Just looking at them sends shivers down my spine..." Twilight stated while gazing up at them. The amount of them blocked out the Sun and even the skies as well.
"With this many of them swarming the dream, they'll try and drown out any control we have over it, unless we keep that control." Luna stated as Ash gazed around at these Nightmare Monsters. Pikachu clenched his fists, ready to defend this dream.
"There they are!" One of the Nightmare Monsters hollered. "All the Dreamers that escaped from us!"
"Forget any other dream! This is the Dream to be in!" Another one stated as the dream civilians ran while the Dreamers knew what was coming next and what had to be done.
"Alright, everyone! They're here!" Ash announced. "We're all sharing one dream, so let's make it count!" Ash declared while Luna nodded. "I'll always dream big! Starting now!"
Ash already started dreaming of something else as the Nightmare Monsters all charged up Nightmare Breath attacks in their mouths. Pikachu hopped onto Ash's shoulder as his cheeks sparked with electricity. "Pika...!" Pikachu stated while Luna raised her horn, charging up her magic.
"They're so disturbing..." Roxanne shuddered while gazing up at them.
"No kidding..." Brawly agreed "I'm no one to judge on looks but these guys...are ugly. I can't even say that to any Pokemon without being rude."
The Nightmare Monsters immediately started spewing out Nightmare Breath towards Ash's Dream as a wave of Nightmares came raining down, matching the ferocity of a rainstorm. Ash dreamt of a massive fan that would materialize out of thin air. The fan would start spinning towards these Nightmare Monsters, blowing their storm of Nightmares back.
The force of the spinning fan resembled that of a hurricane, sending the Nightmare Energy back towards the Nightmare Monsters themselves. They all cried out while being hit by this attack, their own Nightmare Breath being blown back towards them. But of course, that wouldn't be enough.
More and more kept breaking in, planning to overpower this dream and this time, they would appear from the ground, bursting out of it. Luna was unleashing beams of Lunar Magic towards these Nightmare Monsters as Ash narrowed his eyes. More and more kept appearing as Twilight widened her eyes.
The ones in the sky would keep approaching, slingshotting their bodies down at high speeds towards Ash's Dream. Some would hit the ground hard, creating massive Nightmare Craters as they kept coming, not slowing down for a moment. The dream civilians all cried out while running away from these Nightmare Monsters.
Once they made landfall, they immediately started attacking and approaching Ash's Dream Civilians, moving in the most erratic ways possible. Knowing how serious this was, everyone started dreaming whatever they could to put a stop to them.
"Mmm...!" Rainbow Dash thought hard, dreaming up a Rainbow Tidal Wave that would erupt from the ground, engulfing these Nightmare Monsters. They found their bodies pushed back by a colourful wave as Rainbow Dash grinned. However, it took a group of them to corrupted the Tidal Wave, quickly stripping it of its colour, turning it black.
Rainbow Dash widened her eyes, seeing this tidal wave turn black before being overwhelmed by the Nightmare Monsters. The rainbow wave became a pitch-black wave as it would crash against Ash's Dream, adding more Nightmare Energy to it. The buildings here would be struck by the wave, corrupting them instantly.
Meeting with these waves were dreams from multiple people, ponies and Pokemon alike, coming up with an array of things. From Fluttershy, she conjured up a massive forest, summoning a plethora of Pokemon to combat these Nightmare Monsters.
Roxanne would dream up a massive mountain that would erupt from the ground, slamming against these Nightmare Monsters. Gardenia would also dream of a massive Grass-Type Forest as it would surround Ash's Dream. This would come crashing down, smashing against these Nightmare Monsters, trying to overpower them.
Volkner would dream up a massive thunderstorm, having bolts of lightning strike these Nightmare Monsters as Brycen would dream up multiple ice pillars to freeze them. The Gym Leaders all banded together as they started dreaming up numerous things to push these monsters back. Outside of just using things that tied to their Type Speciality, some even dreamt of their favourite things.
From massive piles of clothing which would drop on the monsters, having the weight of anvils, to dreaming up massive Pokemon such as Wailord to slam against these Nightmare Monsters. Applejack dreamed of a massive apple tree as she conjured it up, having it fall on these Nightmare Monsters.
"Think, think, think...! Aha! This'll do!" May and Dawn also joined in on this, dreaming of all sorts of Contest outfits along with performing some moves they've used in Contests.
May dreamt up a large tower of flowers as Dawn would conjure up a massive poffin, laced with a potent knockout flavour. They would dream up many different Contest Outfits as well, sending them all crashing down towards these Nightmare Monsters.
"Nice!" The two high-fived each other right afterwards.
In the midst of this, Nightmare Rarity watched everything unfold, not bothered by it in the slightest. She reclined on her throne while sighing. "Oh Luna...Are you really doing all of this? Hmph. Pathetic." Nightmare Rarity stated while gazing at Ash's Dream.
She would see Ash's Dream growing in size despite all of the Nightmare Monsters attempting to flood it with Nightmare Energy. Ash and his friends know how to retaliate hard, but Nightmare Rarity wasn't too worried at the moment. Not when she saw a chance of victory.
One of the ways was when the Nightmare Monsters began using their own dreams. Or rather, dreams they had fed on earlier. They would also unload a plethora of things, ranging from nightmares they had consumed to other things. Nightmare variations of the things these dreamers love were thrown out, clashing with these current dreams.
Nightmare versions of Contest Moves were launched towards Ash's Dream as Nightmare Variations of gym battles were unleashed. Nightmare Trainers appeared, appearing out of thin air to battle alongside these Nightmare Monsters.
From one Nightmare Monster, it had dreamt of a Pokemon Contest it devoured as it replayed the memories within itself. The screen appeared out of thin air, displaying the Nightmare version of said contest as it showed these Nightmare Monsters performing these moves.
"They're using contests against us?!" Dawn gasped upon seeing this. Nightmare versions of the appeals round were performed before these Nightmare Monsters performed the Battle Round against Pokemon they've devoured.
Soon, the area was lit up with a mishmash of so many things from both sides, resulting in all sorts of Dreams and Nightmares clashing against one another.
"Okay! Now it's my turn!" Roxie was getting all giddy about this as she leapt onto the stage she dreamed up, conjuring up a guitar for herself. With the set ready and everyone focused on each other, she was about to catch all of their attention. Roxie wouldn't need to do any testing since she dreamt for it all to be perfect.
"Hm?" Roxanne turned her head, noticing Roxie on the stage. She widened her eyes, realizing what was coming. "Ah, wait! Roxie! Warn everyone first!"
But it was too late. Roxie already started playing her guitar as music blared out of nowhere. The volume was loud enough to get everyone's attention as the Nightmare Monsters gazed around, seeing the source of the noise. "This is it! Everyone, listen to my music! Let's drive these Nightmare Monsters away!" Roxie exclaimed before starting to sing.
The music was so loud that it echoed across Ash's Dream, reaching everyone in it. But Roxie's music wouldn't just be regular music, but rather, special musical attacks. Roxie was singing lyrics as she summoned Musical Notes to appear out of thin air, striking against these Nightmare Monsters.
These Musical Notes would slam against them before exploding, forcing these Nightmare Monsters to back off. Roxie kept playing as she was in the zone, feeling this song and the energy behind it. "Now this is what I'm talking about! Music to dream of!"
However, because of how powerful the sound was, everyone else covered their ears, unable to handle it. "R-Roxie!" Volkner yelled while covering his ears. Some of them were sent flying as entire buildings were being ripped out of the earth itself thanks to this music.
It was the most aggressive song too, making everyone wish for Roxie to stop this madness. However, this was a dream after all and Roxie's music would affect these Nightmare Monsters the most. Her music was overwhelming them as she kept playing.
"Roxie! Tone it down!" Roxanne screamed at the top of her lungs, but her voice was drowned out by Roxie's music. All Roxie could do was grin while unleashing more and more Musical Notes towards these Nightmare Monsters.
"A-At least it's effective!" Ash bellowed out while covering his ears. Pikachu did the same as he was struggling to endure the volume.
"Pi...ka...!" Pikachu cried out, his eardrums were being overwhelmed by this as Twilight covered her ears, wishing for Roxie to calm down. Fluttershy's Audino got the worst out of all of them due to her powerful hearing. The Hearing Pokemon was shaking violently in the presence of such a sound.
Equestria. The Canterlot Mines. Nightfall.
In the Canterlot Mines, the Nightmare Monsters that snuck into the secret area were many ponies across Equestria came to hide would start attacking. The slime monster and the Nightmare Changeling would swarm these ponies as they all cried out.
The Slime Monster used its body to capture them, trapping some of the ponies and Pokemon inside of its ooze body. They were struggling to break free but found that their movements were greatly slowed down. "Gah! What is this stuff?!" A pony questioned.
The Nightmare Changeling would then morph its hoof, transforming it into a massive tentacle before lashing it against the ponies, wrapping around some of them. "Uwah!" Minuette cried out, trying to wiggle free as she widened her eyes.
"N-No way...I'm being wrapped up like a birthday present!" Minuette gasped while being pulled towards the Nightmare Changeling. It grinned before morphing its other hoof into a Nightmare Tentacle as well, preparing to wrap it around Minuette. However, they were stopped as a powerful sphere struck against these Nightmare Monsters.
The Nightmare Changeling scoffed before hitting its tentacle onto the roof of this secret area, causing rubble to fall down towards Moondancer. The nerdy unicorn widened her eyes before gasping. Umbreon widened his eyes before leaping up towards Moondancer, pushing her out of the way as they fell to the floor.
The rubble kept dropping as the Nightmare Changeling moved its tentacle across the ceiling, destroying more of it. The Slime Monster released these captured ponies and Pokemon as they all cried out while falling to the ground. Moondancer grunted, recovering while gazing up at the Nightmare Changeling.
This entire place was beginning to come down thanks to all this falling rubble, ruining the decorations and set-up. The Golurk of the guards would fly in to stop some of the rubble while also using their strength to push some off the Pokemon. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom already had their Pokemon out.
Rapidash, Meowstic and Appletun respectively. They unloaded attacks on the Nightmare Slime Monster and Nightmare Changeling as these Nightmare Monsters laughed. Scootaloo narrowed her eyes before charging at them. "Ah! Nothing's working here! I thought they'd be weak to fire!"
"They should be." One of the guards nearby said. "But Princess Flurry Heart specified how some Nightmare Monsters are weak to fire. Not all. These Nightmare Monsters must be resistant to flames" He stated while trying to keep this place intact. The Slime Monster unleashed Nightmare Goo towards the walls, corroding them.
The Nightmare Changeling was using Nightmare Hooves to break through the ground, weakening this place further. The Nightmare Monsters grinned while continuing their assault as this place was becoming too unstable.
"Everyone! Out!" One of the guards ordered as everyone obeyed. Many Pokemon and ponies would escape this collapsing area as they all rushed towards the exit. Nightmare Monsters pursued them as the Nightmare Slime Monster aimed for the exit, trying to block it off. The Nightmare Changeling transformed its head into that of a giraffe, extending it far longer than usual as it would attempt to destroy the exit.
The citizens gasped as the Nightmare Changeling bashed her head against the entrance, blocking it off. With an upside-down grin that was downright terrifying, it gazed at them all with pure malice as the Slime Monster crept up on them all.
Right now, they were all cornered with their only exit being out of the way due to these Nightmare Monsters. Their hideout was now a bust, no longer a safe haven for them during this intense attack.
Out at Sea. The Sea Temple. Samiya.
At the Sea Temple, Safia was still being held by this Nightmare Monster, unable to break free at all. The Monster cackled, showing her what was becoming of the Sea Temple. Right now, heavy damage was being dealt to it thanks to all the Nightmare Monsters attacking it.
Safia widened her eyes, seeing how brutal they were to the temple as the Nightmare Monsters continued assaulting this place. She was in absolute horror after seeing what was being done to her home. "My home...Your Majesty. Everyone..."
"And it's only going to get worse!" The Nightmare Monster laughed while unleashing Nightmare Breath towards this place. Safia gritted her teeth, enduring this as she glared at the Nightmare Monster holding her. The guards inside were doing their best, trying to defend the Sea Temple while also protecting their queen.
But these numbers were far past theirs and it was only a matter of time before they were overrun. The Nightmare Monsters all laughed, taunting Safia and everyone in the Sea Temple as they kept attacking it. Nightmare Monsters were smashing against the walls as cracks formed, letting seawater pour in.
"Wallow in your weakness, Human! There's nothing you can do here! Accept your fate!" The Nightmare Monster holding her declared as Safia stayed silent.
This couldn't be where it ends. Not at all. Not when she was still the guardian. But right now, she couldn't protect her home. However, Safia knew that there was one option left. She lowered her head, scrunching her mouth as her heart was beating faster, nervous about this option. But when looking at the Sea Temple and the damage it was suffering, there was no other choice.
"For the sake of my home and my friends...I have to use it." She would suddenly grab onto her blindfold that was always on her face, pulling it off. Safia revealed her eyes, which were as golden as the Sun itself. They had a greater shine to them than any other Samiyan's golden eyes ever did as the Nightmare Monster widened its eyes.
She would glare up at this Nightmare Monster as it stumbled back. "Huh...?! Those eyes!" The Nightmare Monster cried out as Safia kept glaring at it. This power resembled the light that came from the Crystals, but it came at a great cost. However, Safia didn't care about that right now. Not when her home was in danger.
Safia unleashed a powerful golden aura that forced the Nightmare Monster to let go of her. Her hair fluttered in the water as she narrowed her eyes, charging up this golden energy within her body. The energy spread out immediately, reaching the waters as Safia's light swam towards these Nightmare Monsters.
They all widened their eyes, feeling this golden energy before turning around, facing Safia. "What the...?! What is this?!" The seas and the sky themselves would start rending apart as Safia unleashed this golden light. The Nightmare Monsters hissed, vulnerable to Light, obviously, as they backed away.
"Ngh...! That light! It hurts! It's so bright!" One of these Nightmare Monsters cried out. Safia kept unleashing this golden energy as the Nightmare Monsters found that they were losing control over the Sea Temple and the area around it. However, the reason why she was so hesitant about using it was due to the fact that it was beginning to damage the Sea Temple itself along with the Sea and Sky.
The temple trembled as golden crackles of energy spread across it. Tsunamis were beginning to rise along with thunderstorms from above. The Nightmare Monsters growled before gazing down at Safia. "You foolish human! Look at what you're doing to the Sea and Sky! You'll destroy both of them if this keeps up!"
But that didn't stop Safia as she kept unleashing this golden light. She would start floating as large pillars of water erupted from the ocean below. The Nightmare Monsters were then blown back by the full expulsion of this energy as Safia unleashed all of it, sending the Nightmare Monsters flying.
The end result was a massive golden explosion that blew them away before striking the sea as well. This explosion reached the sky, splitting it apart as Safia widened her eyes. Her eyes were shaking violently as the glow was beginning to fade away, knowing that she overdid it. She started descending gently, her body landing on the Sea Temple.
What she did was strikingly similar to what Volo did to the sea back at the seas of Hoenn. Safia panted while gazing up at the sky and sea, seeing how damaged they were. Golden cracks ran across the surface as Safia shook her head.
"I'm sorry..." She apologized. Clearly, she was never meant to remove that blindfold, however, it was necessary. For a moment, Safia forgot about the consequences and immediately acted, putting others first instead of herself. Above her, the pillars of water from before would start forming into something truly violent, shaking the ocean and rumbling the skies.
Tsunamis would be formed while thunderstorms raged above as Safia widened her eyes. The Nightmare Monsters she sent flying recovered before gazing up at these pillars of water. "The sea...! It's acting strange!"
"That light she unleashed...! It must've agitated the waters!" Another Nightmare Monster stated as the pillars of water all came crashing down. These Nightmare Monsters widened their eyes before fleeing as a massive tsunami came crashing down, sweeping them away. But this also threatened everyone inside of the Sea Temple.
Safia, while on her back, looking up to see the tsunami covering the sky above her, coming her way. Unable to move due to how much energy had been used, Safia merely closed her eyes, ready to accept her fate. If this was truly her end, anyways.
Equestria. Out at Sea. The Sea Temple. Samiya. Nightfall.
Betting it all on one thing, Safia removed her blindfold, revealing her secret, which were these magnificent eyes that packed tremendous power, but with a colossal cost. Giving it her best to stop the Nightmare Monsters, she caused a fearsome disaster to occur, endangering the lives of everyone else in the temple while they were still asleep.
Immobile and out of energy, Safia was prepared to accept her fate, knowing she did the best that she could. But the next thing Safia knew, she was being protected by a barrier of light. She widened her eyes while gazing up, seeing that a barrier of light had protected her from this tsunami.
It was from a guard who managed to crawl his way over to the crystals, placing his hands on them. Because the Nightmare Monsters were blown away, this one guard had the chance to approach these crystals to protect Safia and everyone inside the Sea Temple.
"S-Success..." He groaned, his strength giving out as he fell to the ground. Thanks to his efforts, he managed to shield the Sea Temple from further harm as the ferocious tsunamis, pillars of water and storms all dispersed immediately, returning the Sea Temple to its former glory.
However, the barrier held strong as Safia smiled, relieved to know that someone was able to protect her home. While the Sea Temple was heavily damaged, at least it was safe. However, Safia had done irreversible damage to the sea and sky, making it seem like Volo's actions were nothing compared to hers.
The larger Nightmare Monster that was previously held Safia would resurface as it gazed up at the barrier. It narrowed its eyes before growling. "Such power from those Crystals...And that one Human's eyes...Those humans." It muttered before gazing down at Safia.
It wasn't worth it to continue attacking the Sea Temple with the barrier up. For now, it would have to retreat. But it would remember Safia for this action. The Nightmare Monster sunk back into the depths of the sea, disappearing from sight as Safia sighed, knowing that she went too far with that power.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty...I've put everyone at risk..." Safia apologized before closing her eyes, resting her body. For now, she would rest, unable to do anything else. The barrier of light would remain until Safia would recover, protecting the Sea Temple from further harm.
The Dream Realm. Ash's Dream.
Back in the Hyperdream, Ash's Dream was still under attack as Nightmare Monsters kept flooding this dream. Roxie's music was blaring throughout the area as everyone covered their ears. Roxie was grinning, proud of what she was doing, but it was clear that it was beginning to overwhelm everyone here. Friend and foe.
Buildings were breaking apart as Ash's Dream civilians all cried out. The Nightmare Monsters laughed while pushing forward as Luna gritted her teeth. "We need to do more!" She exclaimed while charging up Moon Magic within her horn. In response to this, another Nightmare Monster would also light up its horn, aiming it directly at Roxie's set.
Luna fired her beam as the Nightmare Monster fired its Nightmare Beam towards Roxie's set. The two beams clashed against one another as Luna narrowed her eyes. The Nightmare Monster, not wanting to deal with a clash, manipulated its beam to fly to the side, avoiding Luna's beam before striking Roxie's set.
The beam pierced through one of the large speakers before Luna widened her eyes. "Roxie! Look out!" Luna hollered as the Nightmare Monster grinned, unleashing more Nightmare Breath towards these speakers.
"Eh?" Roxie raised an eyebrow before gazing back at her set. Nightmare Breath struck one of the speakers before detonating it, blowing Roxie and her set up into the air. Roxie cried out while being launched as Ash widened his eyes, witnessing this.
"Roxie!" Ash cried out while Pikachu gasped. Roxie landed on her back, her set was an absolute wreck as she groaned. The Nightmare Monsters laughed before charging towards Roxie, ready to overwhelm her. With the music gone, some of them could finally take action. Granted, a good chunk of them were still stunned from the music that they listened to.
"How dare you!" Roxanne, furious at her good friend being harmed, summoned a Poke Ball in her hand, calling for one of her Pokemon. "Cradily! I need your help!" Roxanne called out before tossing this ball as a Cradily emerged.
"Cradily!" Her Pokemon exclaimed as Roxie sat up, seeing these Nightmare Monsters come closer.
"Cradily! Use Ancient Power!" Roxanne ordered as Cradily nodded.
"Cra!" The Barnacle Pokemon would charge up rocks in front of it before throwing them towards these Nightmare Monsters. The Ancient Power slammed against these Nightmare Monsters before exploding as they cried out. The Ancient Power was also altered by the dream of Roxanne, receiving a size increase and an abundance increase of power.
A rain of rocks came crashing down towards these Nightmare Monsters as they cried out, being pelted by these Ancient Powers. Roxie widened her eyes before gazing back at Roxanne. "Roxie! Are you okay?!" Roxanne cried out as Cradily defended its trainer, unleashing more Ancient Power.
"Yeah!" Roxie responded, getting back up immediately as if nothing happened. "Just a dream after all! I'm totally fine!" Roxie stated while summoning another guitar in her hands. Roxanne sighed before smiling.
"Well, we're getting in their way and stopping them but there's so many of them still!" Twilight exclaimed while having her Espeon unleash a barrage of Dazzling Gleam. "We're not going to get anywhere at this rate! We need to think of something!"
"I'm dreaming all that I can here!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed while conjuring up a massive hoof that broke through the skies, stomping on the Nightmare Monsters. This hoof would multiply, rapidly stomping on each Nightmare Monster while Rainbow Dash grinned. But the Nightmare Monsters simply countered this with Nightmare Hooves of their own as they stomped against Rainbow Dash's Hooves.
Her dream hooves were quickly overpowered before shattering as Rainbow Dash widened her eyes. She grunted, feeling this Nightmare Energy strike against her as she cried out. "Uwah!" Rainbow Dash was sent flying as Twilight gasped.
"Mmmrgh!" The Nightmare Monsters were also getting visibly annoyed and irritated. "At this rate, we won't be able to get anything valuable from this dream!" They felt the same way, seeing no progress being done here as Nightmare Rarity watched them all struggle.
"Then let's try this! Let's perform a Nightmare Condense!" One Nightmare Monster exclaimed as they all grinned, agreeing to this idea. Nightmare Rarity widened her eyes, surprised by this. "If we condense this dream down into a concentrated area, we can drain the dream faster!"
The Nightmare Monsters would quickly cease their respective battles, swarming the skies as Ash and everyone gazed around, wondering what they were doing. Twilight widened her eyes while seeing these Nightmare Monsters swarm together, pulling off something that not even Luna was aware of.
The Nightmare Monsters could be seen expending their own Nightmare Energy from their bodies as it would flail around like a violent whip. This Nightmare Energy would then swirl around them all as the Nightmare Monsters grinned, seeing it work.
This energy would form into a large sphere that floated above Ash's Dream, revealing a Nightmare Core that resembled that of a black sun. Nightmare Rarity widened her eyes upon seeing this while Ash gazed up at this core.
"What is that...?" Ash questioned while seeing this Nightmare Core. From this core, which was brimming with Nightmare Energy, it would start forming a kind of gravitational pull on everything within the dream bubble. Ash widened his eyes as the dream around them was beginning to shrink a bit, being drawn into this Nightmare Core.
"I-It's sucking the dream in!" Twilight cried out.
"The buildings! They're disappearing!" Dawn pointed out as Ash's Dream was slowly starting to vanish. Nightmare Rarity crossed her arms, grinning while seeing this happen. The Nightmare Monsters laughed while Ash's Dream was vanishing at a slow pace.
All the Dreamers looked around them to see this dream being condensed. This also meant that everything they've dreamed of was being minimized as well. Items that were conjured up by everyone were being sucked towards this Nightmare Core as the Dream Civilians all cried out, seeing this happen.
Ash gazed up at this Nightmare Core before widening his eyes. The core would have multiple eyes and mouths emerge from it, all laughing maliciously as Ash backed away. "Ngh...!" Pikachu shuddered while gazing up at this Nightmare Core.
"Not good! With so many dreams inside of Ash's dream, if condensed like this, they'll all be consumed at once! Ash's Dream will vanish completely!" Luna exclaimed before narrowing her eyes. "This has never been done before!" Luna added while gazing around, seeing everyone's dreams begin to be condensed by this Nightmare Core.
"This sacrifices a good chunk of our own Nightmare Energy to pull off, but it will be so worth it!" The Nightmare Monsters declared.
"Dreams condensing...?!" Twilight questioned, finding this concept new. She gazed up at this Nightmare Core as it kept drawing in Ash's Dream along with everyone else's.
"Kyaaah! Save us Brock!" All the Dream Nurse Joys huddled up against Brokc, squishing his body and making him grimace.
"O-Ow! Too close! Too close!" Brock cried out while being squished by the nurses. Applejack tried dreaming of something massive, only to find that it was shrinking thanks to this Nightmare Core.
"No way! Dreams can't disappear like this!" Applejack cried out.
"They can..." Nightmare Rarity spoke up as Ash's ears perked to life, hearing this. Nightmare Rarity reclined on her throne, gazing at Ash before speaking up again. "Dreams are fragile things. Especially in the presence of Nightmare Energy. They can vanish as easily as you'd expect, especially in such a large scale." Nightmare Rarity explained as Ash clenched his fists.
Pikachu narrowed his eyes as Nightmare Rarity continued. "As easy as a flickering flame, dreams can be snuffed out just like that." Nightmare Rarity continued, her voice moving across this dream for everyone to hear. "After all, dreams are fragile little things. They can be corrupted or consumed without much effort. In my universe, I discovered that long ago." Nightmare Rarity stated while gazing around.
"Consumed...?!" Ash questioned while gazing around. Suddenly, he felt a part of himself being drawn towards this Nightmare Core as well. Ash widened his eyes while gazing down at himself.
"The Luna in my universe tried stopping such a thing, but she failed. Our worlds are similar yet different, but it seems you all have the same outcome. Failure is upon you and I do believe that this dream is about to be a massive steal." Nightmare Rarity snickered.
"Hmph...You underestimate me." Luna narrowed her eyes before charging up her magic. She aimed her horn at this Nightmare Core as a beam fired towards it. However, the core would suck it up as Nightmare Rarity laughed. "What?!"
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Interacting with that Nightmare Core will only speed up the process and possibly end up doing more harm than good." Nightmare Rarity stated as Luna gritted her teeth. "But I'll say this: Good luck. You need it. After all, if this dream is consumed, Ash Ketchum and all of you will lose consciousness for a long time. Long enough for us Nightmare Monsters to overwhelm this world."
Ash narrowed his eyes before gazing back up at this Nightmare Core. The condensing was picking up as everyone could feel their feet leaving the ground. The pull on this dream was growing stronger as Pikachu held onto Ash's shoulder, trying to hang on. Everyone would start holding onto each other as the beautiful scenery was coming apart at the seams.
Nightmare Rarity watched this unfold before chuckling. "Enjoy your final moments of consciousness, everyone. Soon, our nightmare energy will consume all of you and you'll wake up to a world filled with nightmares!" Nightmare Rarity bellowed.
The Pokemon that were summoned via dreams would vanish too as well as all the Dream Civilians, leaving only the Dreamers and this crumbling area. At the same time, the Nightmare Monsters were harming themselves, expending more of their energy just to succeed, putting everything on the line for their Queen.
"A-All of you! If our own unique dreams aren't working....!" Luna grunted, trying to stay stable. "Dream of the same thing!" Luna declared as Ash widened his eyes. Nightmare Rarity raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
"Everyone! Dream of the same thing! We have to resist this condensing!" Twilight exclaimed as Ash nodded. Ash and everyone started dreaming up the same thing as Nightmare Rarity scoffed.
"Oh please. Trying to resist with the same dream? You'll all still lose consciousness and that's when we'll-" Nightmare Rarity's words were cut off as she widened her eyes, sensing the sheer amount of Dream Energy erupt from Ash's Dream. An item was forming above them all, conjured up from the same thought.
Luna used her magic to send a message through their heads making sure everyone was thinking of the same thing and nothing else. With this item appearing, the core attempted condensing it. And for a moment, it did, but it would resurface, growing larger than before. The core would condense it again, but it would grow once more due to how many people kept dreaming of it.
Back-to-back, the item kept shrinking and growing repeatedly as a great struggle ensued. However, this also came at a cost for the Dreamers. Their heads were shaking violently as they grunted, enduring the immense strain this brought them.
Each time they struggled against the Core, their heads were taking damage, trying to maintain their thoughts on the same thing. Nightmare Rarity leaned forward, seeing this happen as the Core kept struggling against the Dreamers.
"Is this the extent of their dreams? How pathetic. They're pushing themselves far too hard." Nightmare Rarity stated while observing this. "At this rate, your heads will explode. Can you really keep this up?" Nightmare Rarity questioned as Ash and everyone continued resisting this Nightmare Core.
"Nngh...!" Ash grunted while holding his head as Pikachu shook his own head. Luna kept focusing as she gritted her teeth.
"N-Ngh...!" Twilight groaned, feeling a migraine build up as Fluttershy squeaked while clenching her head. "The pain...It's hurting us...!" Twilight exclaimed.
"I don't know if I can do this anymore!" May cried out while trying to endure this.
"Just a bit more...!" Luna's eyes flared to life as she ended up using her normal magic and Sorrowful Rage Magic in unison, releasing a grand amount of power towards this item. "I'll transfer every ounce of my dream into this if I have to!" The Moon Princess exclaimed as that flash of magic contained her dream, expelled in one great spell.
The flash merged with everyone's dream which was the same thing, allowing this item to grow larger. And that was the tipping point. This entire Dream was engulfed in a bright light and an eclisping darkness as Nightmare Rarity shileded her eyes.
Hyperdream.
The result was this massive Dream Bubble unleashing a powerful pulse of Light and Dark spreading across the entire Dream Realm, affecting all the bubbles. Each and everyone would them shake as this would even be felt by Darkrai and Crag during their battle. The two paused, gazing around as they witnessed this.
The pulse came their way, forcing Darkrai to widen his eyes before blocking it with a barrier of Darkness. Crag did the same, only with a barrier of Light as these pulses clashed against one another. Not only that, the force of it struck the chains that Crag had formed, destroying them immediately. This meant that the dream of Arceus was released, flying off thanks to the pulse.
"My Dreams!" Crag exclaimed, witnessing Arceus's Dream Bubble fly off. He tried reaching for it, only for the pulse to stagger him and Darkrai. Many Dream Bubbles bounced against each other, shaking from this pulse and being scrambled some more. They were already disorganized thanks to the Nightmare Monsters, but now they were even more messed up.
Darkrai witnessed Crag attempting to fly for the dream, quickly unleashing a Thunderbolt towards Crag, striking him before he could fly after the bubble. Caught off guard, Crag would crash against a Dream Bubble, gazing back at the Pitch Black Pokemon.
Crag growled before narrowing his eyes. "Ngh...! Why you...!" Crag exclaimed. Darkrai held his claw out, electricity still sparking around it.
"Now you can't draw more power from Arceus's Dream." Darkrai stated, lowering his claw.
"Hah. Whatever. I've still gathered a good bit of power from it. Enough to take you on!" Crag declared, continuing to use the stolen power of Arceus to form barriers of Light as Darkrai narrowed his eyes. The Dream Battles raged on across the Dream Realm, but it seemed that Ash and everyone had managed to overcome the Nightmare Condense.
Within Ash's Dream, the core had bursted immediately, unable to handle what was thrown at it. Nightmare Rarity widened her eyes before gasping as this explosion blew everyone away. Ash and everyone cried out while being launched as the Nightmare Monsters all scattered, flying back from the blast.
"Oh" Nightmare Rarity gasped, seeing how empty Ash's Dream was. Everything about it was gone, leaving only the Dreamers and the Nightmare Monsters. "It appears you've succeeded. Well played, Dreamers. But that's the only thing you'll succeed in today." Nightmare Rarity stated while gazing at Ash and everyone.
However, as a drawback, many of them had their heads ache greatly from that resistance as Ash held his head. Pikachu did the same while Twilight groaned. Luna widened her eyes while feeling dizzy. "Ngh...!" She grunted, feeling the strain that everyone experienced.
"It hurts..." Mallow groaned.
"My head...It hurts so much..." Dawn whined while holding her head. Many of them were out of commission, unable to focus at all. But thanks to the amount of Nightmare Energy expelled, some of them would start waking up, their bodies fading away in the Dream Realm.
"It seems it worked. My body...It's fading!" May exclaimed before smiling. "We're waking up!"
"W-What...?!" Nightmare Rarity widened her eyes, seeing this happen. One by one, everyone started waking up as Nightmare Rarity gritted her teeth. "Impossible! That Nightmare Condense should've worked! There's no way that would've failed!" The Nightmare Queen hollered.
Ash and everyone gazed around, seeing that they were fading as well. "Ah...! It's happening to us too!" Ash exclaimed, seeing that he was waking up at last.
"Tch...! You Dreamers continue to surprise me!" Nightmare Rarity stated before gazing around. The Nightmare Monsters were recovering as they would glare at the Dreamers.
"Your Majesty! What now?!" One Nightmare Monster questioned as Nightmare Rarity gazed around. Ash and everyone were fading as they gazed up at Nightmare Rarity. The Nightmare Queen was silent before sighing.
"It isn't over yet, obviously. Luna still has unfinished business in the Dream Realm, what with Darkrai taking on Crag. And besides...they still have to deal with everything else on the outside. I have a feeling they'll also be back here. So for now, retreat." Nightmare Rarity declared as the Nightmare Monsters widened their eyes.
"Retreat, Veiled Mistress?!" Another Nightmare Monster questioned as Nightmare Rarity gazed at them.
"For now. I'll leave some of them in the Dream Realm to deal with Luna and the others. But for the rest of you, return to the real world. We need to regroup. We may have failed to consume their dreams right now, but there's still so much more to do." Nightmare Rarity declared as Ash's body would leave the Dream Realm, gazing into Nightmare Rarity's eyes.
She turned around, reclining on her throne as she gazed up at the sky of Ash's Dream. "We'll retreat for now. But this is far from over, Dreamers."
The Real World. The Sea Temple. Samiya.
"Gah!" Waking up was Ash's first reaction as he sat up in bed. He panted heavily while gazing around before gazing at Pikachu who woke up as well.
"Pika...!" Pikachu cried out while sitting up in bed as well. Ash took a few deep breaths before gazing around. His friends would wake up too as they groaned, rubbing their heads.
"Ugh...That Nightmare Condense nearly made my head explode!" Rainbow Dash cried out while sitting up in bed. She would gaze around, seeing that everyone was waking up as Twilight sat up as well. Once they were all awake, they heard the sounds of the ocean since they were still in the Sea Temple.
They slept through a good chunk of the conflict but woke up just in time to be around the destructiveness that was occurring. The rumble of thunder in the sky cracked and the sound of a tsunami crashing against the Sea Temple was present.
"That sound...What's going on out there? " Ash questioned, knowing that the storm was still raging on. Pikachu hopped off the bed before gazing outside the window of this Sea Temple. He widened his eyes upon seeing the state of the sea and sky.
"Pika...!" Pikachu gasped while gazing outside. Ash would get out of bed before rushing towards the window, gazing out as well. Twilight widened her eyes, seeing that the sea was so damaged while the sky was split apart.
Ash and the six girls all gazed outside at the chaos around them, witnessing how the golden barrier of the Sea Temple defended them all. "W-What happened...?" Twilight questioned.
"Ugh..." Groaning on the floor while the barrier pulsated was none other than Safia herself. She laid on her back while groaning as Ash widened his eyes, seeing her there. The Samiyan Guardian lifted her head before gazing around.
"Safia!" Ash called out while running over to her. He knelt down before placing a hand on her shoulder as Safia gazed up at Ash. "Are you okay?!" Ash questioned, concerned for the Guardian. Pikachu rushed over as well before widening his eyes.
"Pika...!" Pikachu gasped upon seeing the state of Safia. She was wounded but it wasn't anything life-threatening. Her eyes were exposed now to them, violently twitching with small flickers of light going through them. Safia blinked multiple times before gazing up at Ash.
"Your Majesty..." Safia stated before gazing around. "All of you...I'm glad to see you're safe." She said while lyng there. "But I'm sorry. I tried my best to prevent any damage from the Sea Temple...As a guardian, I have failed. Please forgive me..." Safia apologized.
"It's alright, Safia. You did all you could while we were all asleep." Ash smiled before helping her sit up. "But what happened out there?" Ash questioned as Safia sighed.
"Nightmare Monsters. They attacked the Sea Temple as soon as you all fell asleep. I tried defending this place, but I went too far and removed my blindfold. It was responsible for keeping my eyes hidden. My Lifelight Eyes."
"Lifelight Eyes?" Ash and the others repeated. Safia nodded before gazing up at them.
"Samiyans are blessed with these eyes that can see things that many others cannot. it is why we all have Golden Eyes. However, mine possesses another trait. My Father, the first King of the Sea, revealed that my eyes are akin to that of the Crystals. But unlike the Crystals, my eyes are a lot more unstable." Safia explained.
"Unstable...?" Twilight questioned.
"Yes. Because of that, I can't remove my blindfold. My mother gave me the blindfold to protect me, to never remove it. But I had no choice but to use my Lifelight Eyes against the Nightmare Monsters." Safia explained. "Using them comes at a great cost however. Right now, I'm unable to see due to how much energy I used to defend this place. I feel like I've done irreversible damage to both the Sea and Sky. I truly am a failure of a guardian..." Safia lowered her head while clenching her fists.
"Safia..." Ash frowned, seeing how down she was. He closed his eyes before standing up, clenching his fists. "Everyone else in the Sea Temple is asleep...Right?"
"Y-Yes...So far, only ou all have managed to awaken. The guards stayed awake to defend them temple, but many are injured and unconscious. The barrier can't hold forever and the monsters may eventually break through it..." Safia explained as Ash nodded. "But...if you use the Crystals..."
"It's alright, Safia. I know what we gotta do next." Ash was already one step ahead as he looked at his friends. "We'll use the Crystals to wake them all up and defend the Sea Temple."
"Ash..." Twilight widened her eyes before nodding. "Yeah. We'll help you wake them all up!" Twilight exclaimed as Safia smiled.
"Thank you...I don't know what else to say." Safia thanked them as a tear ran down her face.
"But wait! We need Samiyans to activate those crystals!" Rarity uttered. "Most are unconscious, asleep or too busy! How are we going to make this work?!"
"His Majesty is the King of the Sea. One Crystal will respond to him as opposed to multiple which requires us Samiyans." Safia answered.
"One will do. Come on!" Ash bolted off, heading towards the main chamber as Pikachu followed suit. Everyone would run after him as Safia attempted to stand up, only to fall to the ground.
"Agh...!" She grunted, unable to move, but was quickly helped up by Audino. "Audino..." Safia widened her eyes as her Pokemon carried her towards the main chamber.
Canterlot. Canterlot Mines.
At the Canterlot Mines, alas, they were unable to fight back against the two Nightmare Monsters that invaded their area. A majority of them had their bodies placed inside of the Shadow Slime, slowed down and restrained thanks to it. Others were knocked out while a few were resisting this corruption, trying to free themselves.
"Come on! Let go of us!" Apple Bloom cried out, trying to break out of this slime.
"Ah...!" Sweetie Belle struggled as well. "It's so sticky! I can't break out!"
"Those Nightmare Monsters...They got us good..." Scootaloo gritted her teeth before gazing around, seeing many ponies and Pokemon be consumed by the Shadow Slime as it spread across this mine. Many were already having their minds flooded with nightmares, forced to sleep within the sludge.
"So much for that." The Nightmare Changeling taunted. "I think we're done here. Let's report back to the Veiled Mistress and tell her the good news." The Nightmare Changeling stated while gazing at the Nightmare Slime Monster.
"Yes. I believe we've done enough damage here." The Nightmare Slime Monster stated. "A gateway should open for us fairly soon. And before that, let's destroy this part of Canterlot as a parting gift!"
Speaking of which, a gateway had opened up behind them, revealing their Universe. The two Nightmare Monsters cackled before flying towards it, ready to depart from this world. They were about to bring everyone down here to their Universe and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
Everyone inside, many who came from across Equestria's various towns and cities cried out, doing their best to get out, but it was no use. Nightmare Energy was flooding the mine, preventing any escape as the Nightmare Monsters flew towards this gateway, cackling and laughing while leaving this universe.
Universe 5.
Once they passed through the gateway, they had arrived at Universe 5. Home to Nightmare Rarity and her Nightmare Monsters. They landed on the ground as the Nightmare Changeling grinned.
"Veiled Mistress! We've returned!" The Nightmare Changeling called out, followed by cheers that came from the Nightmarish Reisdents of this City that was once a town. The residents of Ponyville who were captured inside of this Slime Monster immediately recognized this city, seeing former elements of what used to be the original Ponyville before Nightmare Rarity took over.
The Nightmare Monsters cheered and roared before gazing down at their returning allies. Massive Nightmare Monsters stood before them, lCearing the way for their Queen as the Nightmare Monsters flew towards the buidling that used to be Town Hall, but was now Oculus Gloom's base.
As for the streets, formerly the bustling centre of Ponyville, now named Shadowsong Square, lies in darkness, its cobblestone streets cracked and overgrown with weeds. SugarCube Corner, Sweet Apple Acres and many more were no longer the places they used to be, having small remainders of their previous appearance.
Mayor Mare, who was also trapped inside, had her jaw drop upon seeing this city. "W-What...? Is that Ponyville?!" Mayor Mare exclaimed. The Nightmare Changeling gazed back before grinning. "Our Town..."
"Heh. Not anymore!" The Nightmare Changeling responded. "Now that you are all in our Universe, each of you will undergo the proper transformation. Just like me, you will all become Nightmare Monsters, serving under our Veiled Mistress!" The Nightmare Changeling declared as the Nightmare Slime Monster chuckled.
"Wait." Suddenly, the voice of Nightmare Rarity broke through the skies as she had something to say. "Take everyone to Oculus Gloom, except for Sweetie Belle. Bring her to me. I wish to speak with her personally." Nightmare Rarity declared as the Nightmare Changeling widened its eyes.
Sweetie Belle gazed up before widening her eyes. "Huh? Me?!" She questioned as the Nightmare Slime Monster nodded, complying with this request.
It was now just her on her lonesome, her hooves touching the streets of this corrupted Ponyville. And with all these Nightmare Monsters present, Sweetie Belle was no longer around any friendly faces, let alone familiar ones. Nightmare Rarity wanted to see her, and the little unicorn had an inkling as to why. And she did not like it one bit.
Sweetie Belle, now freed from the Slime Monster, was brought into the building where Nightmare Rarity waited. The Nightmare Changeling widened its eyes while gazing at the Veiled Mistress as Sweetie Belle gazed around, seeing the Nightmare Monsters around her.
She walked through the halls of this building, gazing around before arriving at a large room. Nightmare Rarity sat on her throne in all of her nightmarish excellence. "W-Who...?" Sweetie stammered, her voice barely above a whisper as she struggled to find the words to express her confusion and apprehension.
"Welcome, Sweetie Belle," Nightmare Rarity's voice rang out, smooth and melodious yet tinged with an unmistakable edge of darkness. Her eyes gleamed with an otherworldly light as she regarded the young filly before her, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths.
Sweetie's gaze flickered between Nightmare Rarity and the Nightmare Changeling standing nearby, her mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance between Nightmare Rarity and her own sister, Rarity, yet there was something inherently different, something darker and more sinister lurking beneath the surface.
"You must be surprised to see someone who looks so identical to your sister. Tell me...How has she been faring lately?" Nightmare Rarity questioned as Sweetie gazed at her.
"R-Rarity...She's fine. Um...Who are you?" Sweetie Belle questioned while gazing at Nightmare Rarity.
"Me? I am Nightmare Rarity. But you may call me Veiled Mistress." Nightmare Rarity introduced herself before gazing around. "This here is my Universe. Universe 5, as it's apparently categorized. I am the Nightmare Queen here, ruling over this place and keeping the peace. And aiding me are the Nightmare Monsters here."
"So, you're her! You're Nightmare Rarity!" Sweetie Belle backed up with a bellowing voice, aiming her hoof at Nightmare Rarity. She was standing before another version of her sister who absolutely intimidating.
"I would say to mind your tongue and refer to me as the Veiled Mistress, but for you, I'll allow it." Nightmare Rarity stated while reclining on her throne. Sweetie Belle gazed at Nightmare Rarity before narrowing her eyes. "I've been watching it all from here. My Universe against yours. So far, I can see why it's known as Universe Prime. Sometimes Universe or the Main Universe. It's even considered the Strongest Universe, despite how flawed it is."
Sweetie Belle backed away while Nightmare Rarity reclined on her throne. "You have quite the lucky universe. To be the first and by far the most dynamic and expansive universe out of all of them. I can safely say that winning this will not be easy, especially considering your universe's track record. But nonetheless, I plan on succeeding. We Nightmare Monsters will succeed." Nightmare Rarity declared.
"You brought me here to tell me all of this? Why?" Sweetie Belle questioned while glaring at Nightmare Rarity.
"Not really. It should be obvious why I brought you here." The tall unicorn chuckled a bit. "After all, you're my sister. Or at least, a version of my sister. So I thought it would be nice if we talked." Nightmare Rarity answered.
"What...?" Sweetie Belle muttered, just confused at the moment. Nightmare Rarity stood up from her throne before descending down the stairs as Sweetie backed away some more.
"But I also brought you here for an offer. After all, how often is it that I get to see my little sister again? Even if she's a version of her." Nightmare Rarity stated while approaching Sweetie Belle. She was significantly taller than her, gazing down as Sweetie gazed up.
"An offer?" Sweetie Belle questioned as Nightmare Rarity nodded.
"You're not the first Sweetie Belle I've encountered. There's been a few, actually. Thanks to my alliance with Daybreaker, travelling to other universes has become easier and easier. And I can safely say that each Sweetie Belle I've met have been..well....Disappointing." Nightmare Rarity explained. "Granted, I've only met 5 so far, but the consistency is rather immaculate.
"5 others? W-What did you say to them then?"
"The same thing I'm saying to you, with fewer numbers, of course. It started with my own Sweetie Belle in this universe. After my gorgeous ascension into power, it was only natural that I have my own sister join me. But she refused. She kept rejecting my offer as I told her how much better she would be as a Nightmare Monster. And I meant it too." Nightmare Rarity explained while gazing at Sweetie Belle.
"Ngh..." Sweetie narrowed her eyes while backing away some more. "What did you do to your Sweetie Belle...?"
"Well, I can't just leave my sister alone. I always have to keep watch over here. So, I turned her into a decoration piece." Nightmare Rarity answered as Sweetie widened her eyes. Nightmare Rarty would then turn hSweete Belle's attention to the wall, revealing her twisted decoration.
On the wall was a statue of Sweetie Belle, petrified in stone. She was wearing a dress as well as a tiara while smiling. It was clear that Nightmare Rarity took care of her. However, her face was completely frozen with a look of horror as Sweetie gazed up at it. There were 5 of them in total, all wearing matching clothes and completely petrified. And near it was another batch of decorations that were of various ponies from Ponyville.
"W-What?! Those ponies! And myself! W-Why?!" Sweetie exclaimed while gazing around.
"Wonderful, isn't it? I had trouble wondering where I wanted to put them all. But after thinking long and hard, I decided that they should decorate my throne room. This way, they can remain close to me at all times!" Nightmare Rarity explained while Sweetie was stunned.
"Aah...Ahh..." Sweetie Belle stepped back, petrified by what she saw. Nightmare Rarity gazed at Sweetie before sighing. She saw so many familiar faces on that wall, knowing that they were innocent ponies who didn't deserve this fate. And yet here they were, decorating her throne room.
"I had to do it to the other Sweetie Belles that just couldn't comply with me. So, I had to keep them close too." Nightmare Rarity stated while gazing around. "It's unfortunate really. Each Sweetie Belle I've encountered refused my offer. I guess some things never change. Such as that stubbornness." Nightmare Rarity sighed before gazing down at Sweetie Belle.
"But why?! How could you do this?! Aren't you still my sister?!" Sweetie questioned while Nightmare Rarity gazed at her.
"Ah, why indeed? In a way, I'm going through the same thing Daybreaker did. After all, she lost her Luna and that's what turned her into Daybreaker in the first place. She's been searching for a way to bring her back while also overtaking various universes, of course. As for me, I already have my sister with me. 5 of them, in fact. But unlike Daybreaker, I won't be so foolish as to cling onto hope like that. Instead, I simply embrace it." Nightmare Rarity explained.
"Embrace it...?!"
"Yes. Embracing the fact that I have sisters everywhere. Sisters who are all living their lives happily in their respective universes. However, I've grown tired of this. I've seen what happens when I try to have them join me. They refuse. And they live the rest of their days being a decoration piece. I could just go from universe to unverse, meeting every other Sweetie Belle. But I've decided that enough is enough." Nightmare Rarity stated while gazing down at Sweetie Belle.
"W-What do you mean...?" Sweetie backed away some more while Nightmare Rarity approached her.
"I do have to admit, your universe seems to be the most important out of all of them. That involves you. You can be the one Sweetie Belle who ends up changing everything. I can't ignore how important your universe is. Every major event that happens seems to revolve around this universe. And you can be the key to all of it. So, Sweetie Belle, my offer for you is this: Join me. Become a Nightmare Monster and aid me in taking over this multiverse!" Nightmare Rarity offered while gazing down at Sweetie.
"W-What...?" Sweetie widened her eyes before gazing at Nightmare Rarity.
"That's right. Join me and you can have a whole new life! You'll have powers unlike anything you could ever dream of! You can be powerful beyond belief! You can be the best Sweetie Belle to ever exist! All you have to do is join me and be a Nightmare Monster!" Nightmare Rarity explained as Sweetie backed away.
"No! No way! I would never do that! You're evil! I'm not joining you!" Sweetie exclaimed while Nightmare Rarity shook her head, pouting her lips.
""Sweetie Belle. It's rude to reject someone like that. Especially your big sister. Come on now, you can join me. I promise you'll love it here. Everyone is happy here." Nightmare Rarity stated while Sweetie kept backing away. "And besides, you're the one Sweetie Belle I won't let go. Since you come from that universe, there's a lot of potential, no doubt."
"Why? How'd it come to this for you? How'd you even become Nightmare Rarity in the first place?!" Sweetie questioned as Nightmare Rarity gazed down at her.
"Oh, how? Well, I have Nightmare Moon to thank for that. In this universe, even after we defeated Nightmare Moon years back, she still existed, revealed to be a separate entity who originated from the Moon. We had a nice chat and...I'm sure you can guess the rest."
"S-So then...It's Nightmare Moon's doing! You're corrupted by Nightmare Energy!" Sweetie exclaimed as Nightmare Rarity just stood there, not giving an answer. "Hah! I knew it!" However, the little unicorn had a strong reaction, prancing around. "I knew my sister wouldn't just become evil out of nowhere!"
Nightmare Rarity widened her eyes before chuckling. "Heh...Evil?" Nightmare Rarity questioned. Sweetie Belle stopped prancing once that queston hit.
"Huh?" Sweetie questioned while Nightmare Rarity gazed down at her.
"Evil, huh? What does that even mean?" Nightmare Rarity questioned while gazing at Sweetie Belle. "My Sweetie Belle asked that question too. When I told her how much better it would be if she joined me, she questioned what evil even means. It was such a silly question from her. After all, every universe has its outcome and mine is where I just naturally win. And since I am the victor in my own universe, I decide what Evil is. And I can say that this not Evil. This is simply how this universe functions." Nightmare Rarity explained.
"That's not true!"
"Oh, but it is. You of all Sweetie Belle's should be knowledgeable about this. In every universe, there is a determined and absolute outcome. It varies from universe to universe. In my universe, this is the outcome. Sure, it can change, but only if someone from another universe intervenes. I mean, look what happened with Empress Twilight. She took on your universe and lost. Twice, even."
"Well, that just means you're gonna lose too! Once Ash and the others show up here, they'll defeat you! They always do!" Sweetie declared as Nightmare Rarity raised an eyebrow before smirking.
"They always do, huh?" Nightmare Rarity questioned. "Well, I can't wait to see them try." Nightmare Rarity stated while gazing down at Sweetie Belle. "Unlike Empress Twilight, I plan to change things up. If they enter my universe, it could disrupt the outcome, which I won't allow to happen. Not when I have my ace in the hole."
"W-Whatever it is, it won't happen!" Sweetie Belle shouted. "You said this was because of Nightmare Moon, right? So then that means the good part of you is still in there somewhere!"
"Are you seriously saying that? You don't even know me." Nightmare Rarity shook her head.
"But you're just corrupted by Nightmare Magic, aren't you? This is just...just a bigger version of Mind Control!" Sweetie Belle shouted at the top of her lungs. "All you need to do is break free from it!"
"Mind Control? Sweetie Belle, I chose this path. And I wasn't brainwashed either. Like I said, Nightmare Moon and I had a nice chat. In which, she did try to Mind Control me, but I won our battle. And after that, I accepted her Nightmare Energy into myself. I allowed it to corrupt me and alter my body. Because I understood what it meant to become a Nightmare Monster. And after becoming Nightmare Rarity, I made this universe what it is today. A paradise where Nightmare Monsters reign supreme." Nightmare Rarity explained.
Sweetie widened her eyes before gazing up at Nightmare Rarity. "This was my choice. Nothing else. I became Nightmare Rarity willingly."
"B-But..." Sweetie gazed up at Nightmare Rarity while stepping back some more. "Ngh...!" Sweetie felt the urge to cry while gazing up at Nightmare Rarity. She looked so similar to her sister, Rarity, but her personality was drastically different. "Rarity..." Sweetie muttered with a trembling rip.
"If you want further proof, take a gander at what is left of that so-called good part that's in me." With a fearsome and wide grin that showed her sharp fangs, Nightmare Rarity's head started pulsating with Nightmare Energy as it was beginning to open up. Sweetie widened her eyes while gazing at Nightmare Rarity as the pulsation grew louder and louder until Nightmare Rarity opened up.
It was horrific and disgusting to Sweetie Belle's eyes, seeing a head open up like that. Nightmare Rarity's head opened up vertically as a purple ooze dripped from the crevices. Sweetie gazed into the abyss that was inside of Nightmare Rarity's head as she witnessed something that shocked her.
There was the original Rarity. But she was no longer as beautiful as she usually was. Hovering over Nightmare Rarity, her body was as withered as a tree during winter time, with cracks all over her as her horn and Cutie Mark were cracked as well. Her mane was dishevelled while her eyes were completely white.
Sweetie Belle was in disbelief while gazing up at this. "Rarity...?" Sweetie questioned before Nightmare Rarity closed up. Sweetie gazed up at Nightmare Rarity while taking multiple steps back.
"As you can see, that's the so-called good part of me. Any part of it has been withered and spent. And of course, since I now decide what is Good and what is Evil, I have no need for this anymore. It's useless and serves no purpose. If only I could just remove it entirely. Oh well." Nightmare Rarity stated while gazing at Sweetie Belle.
"How could you do this?! You're the worst! Rarity would never do this to anyone! Ever!" Sweetie exclaimed.
"Different universe, different universe, darling. And very soon, you'll get to experience that same type of nightmarishly beautiful feeling. When you become one of us Nightmare Monsters." From the ceiling, Nightmare Tendrils would start leaking out, aiming for Sweetie Belle.
The little unicorn gazed up, seeing these Nightmare Tendrils lurking over her, ready to strike at any time. "Y-You wouldn't. You turned the other Sweetie Belle's into decorations! Why me?!"
"Like you said. You come from the most crucial universe. Do you think I'd pass out on what could potentially come from you? I don't think so. Especially since you're the only Sweetie Belle in the Multiverse that is a Pokemon Trainer There are some Pokemon I wish for you to eventually command and I need you to be one of us to make that happen."
"No way!" Suddenly, Sweetie Belle, digging into her Saddlebag, would hold out one of her Poke Balls, making Nightmare Rarity raise an eyebrow. "I'll defeat you! I mean t!"
"Are you challenging your Big Sister? How adorable." Nightmare Rarity grinned while flipping her mane. "I accept your challenge then. Just to put you in your place. Let's see how long you can last." Nightmare Rarity stated as Sweetie tossed out her Poke Ball, unleashing her Meowstic.
"Meowstic!"
"I was lucky to recall my Pokemon back before they were pulled in by that slime monster. And now I can use them against you!" Sweetie declared as Meowstic stood by her side.
"Very well." Nightmare Rarity stated before flashing her horn, as a Nightmare Monster formed from the ground, creating a barrier around the throne room to prevent any of this from escaping. This Nightmare Monster appeared as a humanoid with blue skin and wore armour over itself, wielding a large sword.
Sweetie widened her eyes upon seeing this Nightmare Monster. "A Knight?" Sweetie questioned as Nightmare Rarity smiled.
"Yes. He's a Nightmare Monster of mine that was captured from another universe. He is one of my favourites. But don't let that intimidate you. I'm sure you and Meowstic here can handle him." Nightmare Rarity stated while reclining on her throne. "Go ahead. Show me what you can do." Nightmare Rarity encouraged Sweetie to fight as Sweetie narrowed her eyes.
"Let's go, Meowstic! If we beat her, we'll win it all and stop this! Use Shadow Ball! Then Psychic!" Sweetie declared as Meowstic nodded before charging up a Shadow Ball in her paws, forming an eerie blob. The Psychic-Type fired it at the Knight Nightmare Monster as Sweetie followed up with a Psychic attack.
The Knight Nightmare Monster raised his sword as both attacks were deflected thanks to it. Sweetie widened her eyes before narrowing them again. "Psychic again! Then Energy Ball! Make it a combo!" Sweetie declared as Meowstic nodded.
Using Psychic, she levitated the Knight Nightmare Monster off the ground before firing a green orb of energy at the Knight. The green orb was combined with Psychic as it struck the Knight repeatedly, causing him to grunt. "Again!" Sweetie declared as Meowstic launched another combination of Psychic and Energy Ball.
But this time, the Knight was ready. Raising his sword, he would slash the attacks apart before jumping towards Meowstic, swinging his blade at Sweetie's Pokemon. "Meowstic, look out!" Sweetie Belle cried out as Meowstic narrowed her eyes before blocking this swing with her own psychic energy.
Sweetie's Pokemon grunted before pushing the Knight Nightmare Monster away from her, making him back up. "Now! Another Shadow Ball!" Sweetie exclaimed as Meowstic formed another eerie blob in her paw before firing it at the Knight. The Knight Nightmare Monster gazed at this attack before slicing it in half, nullifying it immediately.
After destroying it, the blade was swung onto Meowstic, a direct hit landing on her. Sweetie widened her eyes upon witnessing this. "Meowstic!" Sweetie cried out while Nightmare Rarity just reclined on her throne.
"M-Meow...!" Meowstic went flying, tumbling and rolling across the floor. The Constraint Pokemon groaned, coming to a halt once her body hit a pillar. Clenching her teeth, Meowstic opened one eye, gazing at the Nightmare Knight.
"I can't risk using Trick Room on that thing...He's obviously slower with all of that size, so that'll just make him faster." Sweetie Belle said to herself. "I have to stick to just these three moves."
The Nightmare Monster would then approach, dragging his blade across the floor, building up Nightmare Energy within it before aiming it at Meowstic. He swung the whole blade across the ground, sending a barrage of Nightmare Energy that would erupt from the floor, rapidly approaching Meowstic.
"Meowstic! Get out of there!" Sweetie Belle shouted.
"Meow!" She quickly rolled away, dodging the Nightmare Energy that erupted from the floor before jumping back, avoiding a horizontal slash from the Knight.
"Use Psychic! Then Shadow Ball!"
"Stic!" Using Psychic, she levitated the Knight Nightmare Monster, raising him in the air. She then fired a Shadow Ball from her other paw, towards the Knight as it enveloped him in a purple light.
Sweetie Belle widened her eyes, seeing the Knight Nightmare Monster unharmed and not affected by this attack. "What?!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed before widening her eyes. The Knight Nightmare Monster would swing his sword, generating a large Nightmare Slash that would travel towards Meowstic. The radius of this slash was so wide Meowstic's options to avoid it were very thin.
"Meowstic, stop it with Psychic!"
"Meow!" Meowstic utilized Psychic, channelling a huge chunk of her Psychic Energy into stopping this Nightmare Slash. The Constraint Pokemon held it back, gritting her teeth while Nightmare Rarity observed this.
"That's it, Meowstic! Push it back!" Sweetie Belle encouraged her Pokemon as Meowstic grunted, doing her best to push it back. The energy from the clash would send sparks flying everywhere, damaging the pillars and walls of this throne room. Like a fierce tornado, Meowstic could feel the pressure from this Nightmare Slash as it would even blow in Sweetie Belle's direction.
"Ngh!" Sweetie Belle held her hoof out once the pressure reached her. Meowstic grunted before pushing the Nightmare Slash back, sending it towards the Knight Nightmare Monster as it struck him back. The Knight flew back before skidding across the floor, creating friction with his sword.
"Oh. Not bad." Nightmare Rarity applauded, actually impressed by what she was seeing. "I must admit, that was quite impressive. It takes a lot of power to stop an attack like that, especially since that Nightmare Monster is considered one of my strongest. And yet you managed to push it back towards him. Color me impressed." Nightmare Rarity stated.
Her Constraint Pokemon panted heavily, sweating profusely before looking up at the Knight Nightmare Monster. The Knight got back up right away, still standing tall and barely looking like he took that much damage at all.
"Once you join us, the control I'll have over other Pokemon will be excellent. You'll be in charge of the Pokemon in my empire once you're one of us Nightmare Monsters. But right now, you're far too weak for that sort of responsibility." Nightmare Rarity shrugged.
She knew that they couldn't win this. The Knight Nightmare Monster was so much stronger than them and Meowstic was running low on stamina already. If this kept going, Sweetie Belle and Meowstic would be defeated.
"I believe I've seen enough. Wrap it up, darling." Nightmare Rarity ordered with a smirk. The Knight would then begin building up a tremendous amount of Nightmare Energy within himself as it would flow into his blade.
"Meowstic can't stop that...!" The little unicorn shuddered before digging into her saddlebag once more, this time, taking out two Poke Balls. Right then and there, the Nightmare Monster swung his blade down at full force, prepared to knock them both out. "Stop it, Prinplup! Teddiursa!"
"Prinplup!"
"Teddiursa!" Both Pokemon cried out while appearing in front of Sweetie Belle. They blocked this Nightmare Slash with their respective attacks. Prinplup had used Aerial Ace, blocking the slash with his flippers. Meanwhile, Teddiursa had used Night Slash, barely managing to stop it. The slash was redirected, hitting the side instead of Sweetie and Meowstic directly.
The Nightmare Monster glared at the two Pokemon before backing up while Nightmare Rarity gazed at Sweetie Belle. "Three Pokemon, huh? How interesting." Nightmare Rarity stated while gazing at Sweetie Belle.
"That's not all! Go, Plusle! Minun!" She wasn't done. Unleashing her last two Pokemon, she unleashed Plusle and Minun who appeared beside Sweetie Belle. Nightmare Rarity raised an eyebrow before chuckling.
"You're really giving it your all, huh?" Nightmare Rarity questioned while reclining on her throne. "Well then, I guess I should too. Knight! Finish them all!" Nightmare Rarity ordered as the Knight Nightmare Monster nodded. He built up Nightmare Energy once more before swinging his blade, preparing to knock all four Pokemon out.
"Alright, you all! You're smaller, but we can use that to our advantage! Swarm him! Plusle and Minun! Use Discharge! Fly in with Aerial Ace, Prinplup!" Sweetie commanded as Plusle and Minun charged up electricity within their cheeks while Prinplup rushed towards the Knight Nightmare Monster.
"Prin...!" Using Aerial Ace, Prinplup swung his flippers, slashing across the Knight multiple times before dashing around him, striking the Knight repeatedly. Plusle and Minun fired Discharge at the Knight, electrocuting him as he grunted.
"Now! Teddiursa! Night Slash! Meowstic! Shadow Ball! Prinplup! Ice Beam!" Sweetie declared as Teddiursa charged up darkness within her paws before swinging her claws at the Knight Nightmare Monster, striking him multiple times. Meowstic formed another eerie blob of energy before firing it at the Knight while Prinplup fired a beam of ice, striking the Knight.
Nightmare Rarity watched as Sweetie commanded her Pokemon. She was amazed by the teamwork all four of her Pokemon displayed. Each one was utilizing a different move while coordinating with each other. Even Meowstic was participating, despite how exhausted she was. Nightmare Rarity narrowed her eyes before standing up from her throne.
The smaller sizes also allowed them to dodge the Knight Nightmare Monster's swings easier, making it harder for him to hit them. The Nightmare Monster swung his blade, launching Nightmare Slashes, but was unable to land a single hit on the Pokemon. Not only that, but Teddiursa would also latch herself onto the Nightmare Monster's back, striking him continuously while Plusle and Minun used Discharge against him.
Prinplup would clash with the blade with Aerial Ace, causing sparks to fly everywhere. The Nightmare Monster would expel an outburst of Nightmare Energy from its body, knocking Teddiursa off his back before striking Plusle and Minun with a Nightmare Slash, sending them flying. Prinplup avoided this outburst before swinging his flipper at the Knight Nightmare Monster's face.
"Aerial Ace, one more time! Back him up with Energy Ball, Meowstic!"
"Prin!" Prinplup rushed in, a white light surrounding his flippers as Meowstic would charge an Energy Ball in her paws. The Penguin Pokemon was about to strike as the Nightmare Monster readied his blade once more. However, things were different this time. As soon as Meowstic unleashed the Energy Ball, it travelled at high speeds, causing Prinplup to whack it.
He boosted its speed, but he wasn't aiming for the Monster. Instead, Prinplup redirected this Energy Ball towards Nightmare Rarity, surprising the Veiled Mistress. "What?!" Nightmare Rarity exclaimed before using magic shielding herself from this attack as it exploded against her barrier.
The sneak attack failed, causing Prinplup to grimace. He was then slashed by the Nightmare Monster, falling back and rolling across the floor. The smoke from the explosion faded away, showing Nightmare Rarity's rather disappointed and upset face.
"I'm disappointed in you, Sweetie Belle. Pulling a sneak attack on your sister? How could you?" Nightmare Rarity questioned while Sweetie narrowed her eyes. "And not only that, you're underestimating me. I may look like your sister, but I'm nowhere near as fragile. You should know this by now." Nightmare Rarity stated while gazing at Sweetie Belle. "For that, you'll need to be taught a lesson. This battle is over."
Suddenly, the Knight Nightmare Monster would raise his blade high into the air as Nightmare Energy flowed through it. He swung the blade downwards, unleashing a surge of Nightmare Energy that travelled across the entire throne room.
Sweetie Belle widened her eyes before crying out. "Run!" Sweetie exclaimed as Plusle and Minun bolted off, avoiding this Nightmare Slash. Prinplup attempted to fly away, but ended up getting struck by this attack, immediately passing out. Meowstic tried to run as well, but she was caught by this surge of Nightmare Energy as well.
"Meowstic! Everyone, no!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed while seeing her Constraint Pokemon being struck by this Nightmare Slash. Meowstic grunted before collapsing onto the floor. The Knight Nightmare Monster gazed at the rest of Sweetie's Pokemon while Nightmare Rarity sighed.
"How disappointing." Nightmare Rarity stated while gazing down at Sweetie Belle. The Knight Nightmare Monster approached Meowstic before kicking her aside, sending her crashing into a pillar. "The battle is over. Now then, Sweetie Belle, it's time for you to become one of us Nightmare Monsters." Nightmare Rarity declared while approaching Sweetie Belle.
The Nightmare Tendrils from earlier were leaking out once again, aiming for Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle shuddered, her pupils shrinking at the intimidating sight flying in her direction. She lost the battle and now it seemed like she was about to lose everything else about herself.
Universe 1. Equestria. Out at Sea. The Sea Temple. Samiya.
Back at the Sea Temple, Ash and the others were rushing to the main Chamber where the crystals were located. Pikachu followed after Ash while Twilight and her friends followed suit. Safia was carried by Audino while gazing up at Ash. Standing in their way were the Nightmare Monsters, who managed to resurface after being blown away.
They gazed at the group, ready to attack them while Ash clenched his fists. "Move." Ash simply said as the Nightmare Monsters didn't listen. "Then I guess we gotta go through you! Pikachu! Quick Attack!"
"Eve! Use Dazzling Gleam!" Twilight commanded while Espeon jumped ahead.
"Pika!" Pikachu moved at lightning speeds, tackling the Nightmare Monsters out of the way as Espeon fired a blinding ray of light, clearing the path for the group.
More and more Nightmares Monsters appeared before them, blocking their path towards the Main Chamber. Their bodies crawled upon the Sea Temple with some even bursting out of the ground to surprise them. "Sirfetch'd, I choose you!" Ash threw a Poke Ball forward as Sirfetch'd appeared.
"Sirfetch'd!" He declared while Ash narrowed his eyes.
"Charge through, Sirfetch'd! Fury Cutter!"
"Sir!" Sirfetch'd charged forward, his leek enveloped in a green energy while he slashed multiple Nightmare Monsters in front of them. They were knocked back while Ash and the others passed through them. Sirfetch'd led the way while protecting the group.
While running, the massive Nightmare Monster could be seen in the distance outside the Sea Temple, caught in the middle of the disasters caused by Safia's eyes. It roared while being affected by these disasters, slamming its body against the barrier created by a single Crystal.
It roared while trying to break through before gazing down at the Sea Temple. It raised its tail before swinging it towards the temple. The tail slammed against the temple, creating a powerful shockwave that nearly brought everyone down to the floor.
Ash, Twilight, and their friends were struggling to stay on their feet while running through these halls. But right up ahead was the main chamber as the doors to it were wide open. "Almost there!" Ash exclaimed as Sirfetch'd nodded. He used Fury Cutter once more, piercing through the Nightmare Monsters with a clear strike.
It roared while trying to break through before gazing down at the Sea Temple. It raised its tail before swinging it towards the temple. The tail slammed against the temple, creating a powerful shockwave that nearly brought everyone down to the floor.
Ash, Twilight, and their friends were struggling to stay on their feet while running through these halls. But right up ahead was the main chamber as the doors to it were wide open. "Almost there!" Ash exclaimed as Sirfetch'd nodded. He used Fury Cutter once more, piercing through the Nightmare Monsters with a clear strike.
"There! We made it!" Twilight exclaimed as they entered the main chamber. Ash gazed around before gazing at the crystal pedestals. He dashed towards them, gazing at them while Twilight and the others followed. They finally reached their destination and knew what to do immediately.
"Q-Quickly, your Majesty...Everyone." Safia grunted.
"We got it. Let's not slow down for even a moment. Watch my back, you guys." Ash requested before approaching one of the crystals. Since he was not a Samiyan but the King of the Sea, he could only use one Crystal.
Ash placed his hand upon this Crystal, staring into it before a bright blue aura surrounded it. It was reacting to Ash as the other Crystal started glowing as well. The energies of these two Crystals were combining together while the Nightmare Monsters barged into the room.
Twilight and her friends widened their eyes before turning around, facing them. "Espeon! Dazzling Gleam!" Twilight declared as Espeon fired a blinding ray of light while Flareon spewed fire in their direction.
"Go, Braviary!" Rainbow Dash threw one of her Poke Balls into the air as Braviary burst out. He swooped down, creating a mighty gust of wind that blew the Nightmare Monsters back. The Nightmare Monsters roared, attempting to approach the group.
"Viary!"
"Ampharos, I need you!" Rarity would throw a Poke Ball forward as Ampharos emerged. "Zap Cannon!" Rarity exclaimed as Ampharos charged up electricity before unleashing a surge of it. The Nightmare Monsters shrieked while being electrocuted as the group focused on defending Ash while he activated the Crystals
Some of the Nightmare Monsters started merging their attacks for greater power, such as when a massive Nightmare Sphere was formed before being thrown at them.
"Audi! Use Protect!" Fluttershy, after gasping, had Audino take action.
"Audino!" With her arms out, Audino formed a barrier around them all as the Nightmare Sphere collided with it, causing it to crack and shatter. Audino grunted, doing her best to hold the barrier up "D-Dino!"
The Sea Temple was still taking damage thanks to the disasters occurring in the Sea and Sky and it was only getting worse from here. The tremors caused by the massive Nightmare Monster striking the Sea Temple didn't help either as it shook constantly. The thunderstorms above would batter the Sea Temple while the tsunamis rocked it
"First, I'll wake everyone up!" Ash declared, deciding to use the power of the Crystal to wake everyone in the temple else up first. He concentrated, focusing his energy into the Crystal as the energy from both Crystals were combined. Ash grunted before clenching his teeth. "Ugh...!" He felt his head throbbing as the Crystal's light grew brighter and brighter.
The energy from the Crystal travelled across the Sea Temple as it illuminated every hall and room. Nightmare Monsters were blinded by this light while it travelled towards each sleeping Samiyan. The Samiyans, who twitched in their beds, were currently going through their own nightmares thanks to what was occurring in the Dream Realm, but now, they began to awaken.
Their eyes slowly opened before widening at this bright light. "Huh...?" One Samiyan groaned before gazing around. "What...? What's going on?"
"Huh? That light..." Another Samiyan muttered before gazing around. Soon enough, all of the Samiyans throughout the Sea Temple awoke thanks to the Crystals. They gazed around while rubbing their eyes, wondering what was happening. Alo woke up as well while gazing around.
"What's going on...? Is it morning already?" Alo questioned, his mustache wiggling, waking itself up. "Wait, that's not the sun. What's that light?! It's so bright!"
Once they all woke up, Ash would use the Crystal one more time for his next action. To clear the area of Nightmare Monsters. After all, they were weak to Light Element attacks and Ash planned to utilize this. Mixing well with his Aura, the light would be outstanding, sending its radiance far and wide.
This energy reached the Nightmare Monsters inside the Sea Temple and would strike them one by one, knocking them out and defeating them. Their bodies would fade when exposed to the intense light of the Crystal, vanishing without a trace.
They continued illuminating the Sea Temple, reaching even the giant Nightmare Monster who hissed while shielding its eyes. The light from the Crystals shined upon it as it growled. The light emitted from these Crystals would then travel across the sea, heading towards the disasters that were occurring thanks to Safia.
However, the disasters weren't stopping at all. They raged on as one of the tsunamis would catch the large Nightmare Monster, whose body was being pierced by the rays of light from the Crystals. The large Nightmare Monster roared before being dragged towards the disaster, being swept up by it.
The Sea Temple was not exempt from this. It would start rocking as the Tsunami would start carrying it as well. The waves of this Tsunami would carry the Sea Temple with great intensity as all the Samiyans were just beyond confused. They woke up and they were immediately met with this mess.
Things weren't getting better for the Sea or the Sky at all. Ash held onto the Crystal Pedestal while gritting his teeth. "Gotta slow this down...Next...!"
In the distance, a massive rock formation similar to a mountain was up ahead, being their blockade. And since the tsunami was carrying them with such ferocity, there was a chance they could crash into it. The Samiyans looked onwards in horror when witnessing this all play out. From the disrupted skies to the massive wall, they had no idea what they had gotten themselves into.
Equestria. Near Manehattan. The Darkened Citadel. Nightfall.
Back at the Darkened Citadel, Spitfire was currently on the move, traversing in this sinister fortress with her Pokemon following alongside her. The Lieutenant was making her way towards the throne room of Nightmare Moon, knowing that she must defeat her in order to stop all of this.
The Nightmare Monsters who lurked across the halls of this Citadel would attempt to strike her, but were always beaten by the ferocity of her Electivire. Electivire would attack Nightmare Monsters with Thunder Punch, electrocuting them while also sending them flying, breaking through the walls of this fortress.
"I lost sight of Soarin already? How" She spoke to herself. She was mainly looking for the centre of the Citadel, needing a way to bring it down. Everywhere she went, she was faced with danger as Nightmare Monsters flooded the halls. They crawled upon the walls like bugs, planning to strike her at any time.
"Electivire, Thunderbolt!" Spitfire declared as Electivire fired a bolt of electricity at the ceiling. This Thunderbolt spread across the ceiling like a web before striking all the Nightmare Monsters. All of them screeched before falling down while Spitfire and her Pokemon made their way through the halls.
Electivire would swing his fists around, attacking more Nightmare Monsters before they could approach. Spitfire gazed around while marching through these halls before gazing back at Electivire. "Good work, buddy! Let's keep going!" Spitfire exclaimed while Electivire nodded.
They turned a corner before being faced with a Nightmare Monster that appeared to be an Ox. This Nightmare Monster roared before charging towards them. "Thunder Punch!" Spitfire declared as Electivire charged up electricity within his fist. The Ox Nightmare Monster raised its hooves, ready to slam them down onto the group.
Electivire swung his fist upwards, striking the Ox Nightmare Monster under its chin before electrocuting it. "Nice one! Now let's find the centre! I'm sure it's nearby!" Spitfire exclaimed while Electivire nodded.
Observing this from the centre of the Fortress was Silent Fur, who narrowed her eyes. She was using the various eyeballs to spy on Spitfire, seeing how far she was advancing through the Citadel. Silent Fur would then turn her attention to the other Wonderbolts struggling against the Nightmare Monster that was just a mouth.
The Wonderbolts were struggling to deal any meaningful damage to this Nightmare Monster as it constantly took heavy hits and dealt its own heavy hits back. That didn't mean it wasn't getting weaker. It was still taking damage here and there, but not enough significant damage.
"This is hopeless!" High Winds grunted while dodging a bite from this Nightmare Monster. "How can we even beat this thing?!"
"It's useless! No matter what we do, it barely takes any damage!" Another Wonderbolt shouted. "And I'm getting tired here...!"
"We need something strong enough to stop it one go but..." The Wonderbolts felt themselves being pushed to their limits, needing rest and the same went for their Pokemon. Charizard would roar before flying straight at the Monster's mouth, only for it to catch Charizard, moving its head forward as he flew into the Monster's mouth.
"Charizard!" The Wonderbolts exclaimed as Charizard vanished into the darkness that was this monster's mouth. The Nightmare Monster closed its mouth, consuming Charizard while the Wonderbolts widened their eyes.
"Oh no!" High Winds gasped. "Charizard!"
The Monster, after closing its mouth, would start approaching the Wonderbolts, it shadow looming over them all. Its body towered over them all as they shuddered. Right now, their Pokemon were not in the best condition to fight, especially against this Nightmare Monster. They gazed at the Nightmare Monster while backing away.
"This is it...We're done for!" A Wonderbolt exclaimed, fearing the worst. However, suddenly, the body of this monster would start lighting up before it erupted with flames. The Nightmare Monster shrieked while the Wonderbolts widened their eyes. They gazed up, seeing Charizard erupting with flames as he blasted this Nightmare Monster from within.
The Nightmare Monster burned before exploding, evaporating into nothing. Charizard burst out of the Nightmare Monster before landing in front of the Wonderbolts. He panted heavily, gazing at them before smirking. The Dragon Pokemon smirked while winking at the Wonderbolts while they smiled.
"Charizard! You did it!" High Winds exclaimed while gazing at Charizard. "You defeated that Nightmare Monster!"
"Yeah, but now look at him." Fleetfoot pointed out as they gazed at Charizard. He was heavily exhausted, breathing profusely before falling onto the floor.
"Charizard!" High Winds exclaimed while gazing at the Dragon Pokemon. "He's exhausted! He can't continue on like this!"
"Neither can I..." One Wonderbolt would fall on her back, panting heavily before gazing up. "I need to rest..."
The Wonderbolts needed rest as well, feeling the toll of this battle taking a number on them. Even Charizard was exhausted while Silent Fur observed them all. "Looks like this is over." Silent Fur declared before gazing down at the battlefield.
Silent Fur's agitation grew before turning her attention back to Spitfire, who was actually getting closer and closer to the centre of the Citadel. Silent Fur as starting to get worried. Worried that they might actually succeed. Spitfire was barging through the walls with Electivire's strength, trucking through the fortress with brute force.
And with the Golurk brawling with the other Nightmare Monsters, things were falling apart. This whole fortress was about to come crumbling down thanks to the efforts of Spitfire and the Wonderbolts.
"Drat. I'll have to get myself involved soon if she actually makes it to the centre. We were supposed to overtake all of Manehattan and redecorate it for this plan. But it seems the world still stands and that troubles me. I might have to use the other weapon of the Citadel to deal with it." Silent Fur stated.
However, before she could do anything else, breaking through the walls was Electivire, standing tall with a proud smirk upon his face. He glanced at Silent Fur while slowly swaying her tails, clearly displeased with the damage he's done to her walls.
Spitfire, behind Electivire, stood before Silent Fur while glancing up at the towering five-tailed fox monster. The Commander of the Wonderbolts had found her in the dark throne room, making her way to this centre. "Aha! This looks like the main room!" Spitfire exclaimed before gazing around. "Now where is...uhh...?"
The room was darkened, meaning not a lot was being seen. Other than her, it was Silent Fur and her Nightmares. But even then, everything was being covered in some sort of fog, covering nearly everything that was present. "Hm? Hello? Are you listening? Answer me, will ya?" Spitfire questioned.
Silent Fur was staring her down with that sharp look in her eyes. Her gaze was like a stone statue, completely frozen yet ever watchful. Spitfire continued looking up and around the dark room, wondering where Nightmare Rarity was. This wasn't the throne room.
Electivire would point at Silent Fur, exclaiming that she was here the entire time. Spitfire and her Pokemon's eyes widened upon seeing this massive five-tailed fox standing in their way. She stood amongst this darkness, which hid many of her features.
"Well, pony. You've done well to find your way here. Rather impressively too. Unfortunately, I cannot allow you to move on." Silent Fur simply declared while gazing at Spitfire and Electivire.
Spitfire narrowed her eyes and spat out, "You got a name, lady?"
"None that is pertinent to you." Silent Fur replied with a small smile.
"Okay then...Got one of those goons you're working for up ahead?" Spitfire asked. "You look important enough for that. Not exactly Nightmare Rarity, but whatever."
"You are not fit to approach or even meet with the Veiled Mistress herself. And to do so would be unwise." Silent Fur's tails swirled around her, almost like a protective barrier. "Only if you and your entire world become one of us Nightmare Monsters. An army made of clones of each individual."
"Y-Your entire world...? Seriously?"
Silent Fur nodded before declaring, "Correct. Every living organism shall become a member of our empire and you can still be saved. We have already turned multiple worlds into our empire and will eventually take this world. So why not just save some time and join us willingly now?"
Spitfire grimaced before exhaling deeply. "It's not the first I've heard something like that. I mean, not too long ago, we took down the Dread League who tried wiping all life out. And like, 2 years back, we stopped Empress Twilight's attack on our world, taking out a good chunk of her Empire. By this point...well...we're kinda used to this, I think.
"Perhaps. But at some point, your universe will reach its limit. Your universe is so vast and diverse, it's a shame to lose such a precious place. It will be the Empire of Darkness' honour to preserve its beauty for you. Do not worry. We are already replicating the designs of the cities and the various monuments built in this world."
The dark throne room's walls and ceiling were illuminated, showing off images from their universe. Buildings and monuments were shown in the blue sky. These included the Crystal Empire, Canterlot Castle, and multiple buildings and structures such as those of the various Pokemon Regions. Silent Fur did this to prove her point.
It was a mock-up art of what this universe would look like if controlled by the Nightmares. After seeing all these fake displays, Spitfire grimaced, gripping her hand. "Wow. Looks like you're all showoffs and not much bite, huh?" Spitfire commented while glancing up at Silent Fur. "I guess that makes sense. It's a universe where Rarity rules so it's all for show."
"Do not disrespect the Veiled Mistress with your informal speech." Silent Fur spoke up a bit as the room around Spitfire started morphing. The pegasus and her Pokemon gasped as they saw Silent Fur's head suddenly grow in size, resembling the dark sun over the nightmare sky above. The size of her head was a large as a Train, showing her ferocious fangs as she stared into Spitfire's eyes.
She would open up her mouth, preparing to bite into Spitfire and Electivire with full ferocity. The fire-maned wonderbolt watched the massive jaws before flying out of the way, managing to dodge the Nightmare Fox's bite. However, the winds caused by this sudden attack were powerful, knocking Spitfire down from the sheer intensity of her jaws closing in.
"Ugh!" Spitfire would tumble and roll across the ground, crashing into one of the pillars. Electivire would be pushed back as well before gaining his footing. "Ow...!"
"To teach you a lesson, I will be devouring your dreams. They are my dessert for the night!"
The shadows within Silent Fur's mouth would spread out, completely engulfing the inside as a series of glowing yellow teeth suddenly appeared, attempting to devour Spitfire whole. Her eyes would be hypnotized by the radiant glow of the Nightmare's mouth while Electivire would attempt to get in the way.
"Use Thunder Punch!"
"Vire!" Electivire swung his fist forward, only to realize it wasn't connecting with anything. To his confusion and shock, the Nightmare Fox had actually evaded his powerful Thunder Punch, something incredibly impressive for someone who had such a huge head. How could he miss such an easy target?
After missing, the head of Silent Fur returned to its original size before she swung two of her tails at Electivire, striking his chest and sending him back towards the pillar, striking it. After hitting the pillar, the Nightmare Energy would appear on his chest, wrapping his body against the pillar and trapping him there. Electivire widened his eyes, attempting to break free, but wasn't able to.
"Ah! Electivire!" Spitfire questioned while seeing the massive Nightmare Fox swerving around, opening her mouth again.
Like a vacuum, she started inhaling the very air around her, attempting to bring Spitfire in her direction with such a massive gust of wind. "No...No!" Spitfire couldn't stop the incredible forces coming from this five-tailed monster. She grunted, trying to fly through the gusts, but could only fly back, barely being able to maintain her position.
Not only did the Nightmare Energy trap Electivire, but it was also starting to put him to sleep, causing his eyes to droop while seeing his boss struggling in the distance. "E-Elec...!"
Electivire tried shocking himself awake, but his exhaustion from fighting earlier was slowing him down greatly. The electricity was little, it barely even tickled his fur. It was barely lighting his Thunderbolt tail, barely igniting any part of his body at all. His attempts were slowing down even further before eventually, Electivire lost consciousness and closed his eyes.
"Vire..."
"Huh?! Electivire!?" Spitfire noticed this before being blown away by the wind once more. After being put to sleep, Electivire's entire body was enveloped in a Nightmare Pod, turning him into an Egg, trapped underneath the Nightmare Monster's tail.
"A fine addition to my collection. You may keep your memories of your Pokemon with you and enjoy those in your nightmares." Silent Fur remarked while using her second tail, holding the Dream Trapped Pokemon high.
"What did you do to Electivire, huh?!" Spitfire angrily exclaimed as Silent Fur glared down at Spitfire, narrowing her eyes.
"The same thing that will happen to you and everyone else." Silent Fur coldly replied. "Everyone in this fortress will soon be trapped in a fierce slumber until they are ready to become one of us. By force, of course."
"Yeah, right! Go! Sharpedo! Gallade!" She threw out two more Poke Balls while calling on two of her other Pokemon. Gallade burst out of his Poke Ball, followed by a mighty Shark that snapped his jaws.
"Gallade!"
"Sharpedo!"
"Go for it! Gallade, use Close Combat! Sharpedo, use Aqua Jet!"
"Lade!" Gallade rushed in, his blades glowing as he targeted Silent fur's face. In response, Silent Fur raised all five of her tails up, swiftly moving them forward at these two Pokemon.
"Sharpedo!" His shark fangs glowed white before his body was shrouded in a raging sea. The Sharpedo rushed in at great speeds, swimming through this dark void and straight towards Silent Fur. Her tails clashed with Sharpedo's Aqua Jet and Gallade's Close Combat, nullifying their attacks completely and leaving them stunned.
Gallade and Sharpedo were disoriented, not sure how the attacks were pushed back as Silent Fur swung all five of her tails, aiming directly at the two Pokemon.
The tails then spewed out Nightmarish lightning bolts from the end, all aimed for Sharpedo and Gallade. Gallade put his arms up, trying to defend himself, while Sharpedo went flying back from the impact of the bolts of lightning. All he could see was darkness from Silent Fur's thunderbolts striking his body.
It was especially fierce for Sharpedo since he was vulnerable to anything electrically based. "Sharpedo!" Spitfire cried out after watching her beloved Pokemon get struck by Silent Fur's attack. The electricity would also scatter across the room, attacking Spitfire and Gallade due to its frantic movements.
All three of them, Sharpedo, Spitfire, and Gallade groaned, feeling the intense waves of electricity from Silent Fur's massive tails. Like a berserk thunderstorm, Silent Fur's five tails moved in different directions, unleashing all these bolts of lightning, electrocuting the whole room.
Sharpedo was then carried up by the electricity as it held him in place. His body was weakened by these thunderbolts, meaning he couldn't swim in this Nightmare. He floated helplessly as Silent Fur took this opportunity to capture Sharpedo by entrapping him in a Nightmare Pod.
She would raise Sharpedo above the air, bringing him over towards her. "Oh, how cute. Like a Shark would truly put up a fight against me, someone who is well-versed with controlling Pokemon and the ocean." She mocked him.
Gallade was stuck, feeling his feet glued to the floor and wouldn't let up. "Darn it!" Spitfire yelled under her breath before hearing a chuckle come from Silent Fur.
"You're just as stubborn as I thought you were, pony." The Five-Tailed Fox would then start approaching Spitfire, her tails menacingly moving around her. As Silent Fur approached her, Spitfire stood firm, despite being knocked to the floor from the shock. "A good run, but not good enough. Not against us Nightmares."
"G-Gallade!" Gallade attempted forcing himself up from the ground, wanting to protect his Trainer. Spitfire's body was heavy. The Thunderbolts from Silent Fur were weighing her down, making her limbs tremble before gazing up at the dark throne room.
Above her was Silent Fur's dark body, towering over the wounded and electrocuted Commander of the Wonderbolts and her Pokemon, prepared to deal the final blow. Spitfire, wriggling her body around, managed to get one more Poke Ball out. It was Scizor's Poke Ball, rolling across the floor and hitting a nearby pillar.
"Scizor!" The Poke Ball then popped open, releasing Scizor, who quickly intercepted one of Silent Fur's tails. Silent Fur gasped, surprised at his sudden appearance as Scizor started to dig in his pincers into her tail. "Scizor!" Scizor managed to catch one of her tails.
He pulled this Nightmare Fox down a bit before glancing back at Spitfire, seeing her injuries. Scizor held his sharp claws out, clamping them in Silent Fur's direction while keeping guard of his trainer. Spitfire weakly gazed at Scizor, his face reassuring her as she was slowly able to lift herself off the ground, managing to get onto her hooves.
Spitfire exhaled, seeing Silent Fur approach, before standing tall. "Even with all you've taken...you won't best me."
"On the contrary. I believe we will. Whether you admit defeat or not." Silent Fur countered. Spitfire then felt tremors moving through the fortress, signifiying that the conflict was growing bit by bit. But if she doesn't wrap this up soon, she could be taken out while inside the fortress as well.
Back at Universe 5, the many ponies and Pokemon were brought to Oculus Gloom's base, viewing the interior from their place on the bottom floors of the complex. On the screens and projections surrounding the base that appeared as eyeballs, multiple points in time could be witnessed and watched with incredible clarity. All happening at once, able to be watched by countless citizens and members of this city.
And of course, this would be the place where they would be transformed into Nightmare Monsters. Multiple tentacles with strange eyes surrounded the group, attached to the walls, ceilings, and the floor itself. These were the sources of Nightmare Energy throughout this city. They spread Nightmare Energy and controlled the Nightmare Plumes as well.
From inside her private chambers, Oculus watched the events unfold, her eyes scanning across the screens in front of her. She turned her head, viewing the number of Ponies and Pokemon brought here by the Shadow Slime and Nightmare Changeling. "A reasonable amount. One I would prefer not to lose too much. It will be wonderful to turn them all into Nightmares." Oculus spoke, slithering to all of them.
Her singular eye gazed at all of them, her size massive as she observed every single being that was trapped inside of the Shadow Slime, which had grown to a size large enough to hold all of them. Residents from Ponyville, Manehattan, Dodge Junction, Las Pegasus and more, trapped by the Shadow Slime that ensnared their forms, some crying and struggling.
"I welcome you to the last world you shall see before becoming Nightmare Monsters. And thus, the newest addition to the Nightmare Empire and a city for myself."
The way it would be done was with the various objects in her base, which looked utterly painful and torturous. They were a sight to behold to the masses of people captured, being a horrible reminder of what awaits. These objects would slowly form as they were meant to be transformed into nightmare goo. This was Nightmare Magic at its worst.
"Of course, for you ponies, it will be easy to transform you, but the Pokemon will be a different story. Never before have we transformed a Pokemon into a Nightmare Monster, so this will be a first." Oculus remarked. "I shall have the Pokemon transformed first."
The Pokemon roared, cried, wailed howled, barked and so on to protest this. Try as they might, all of this complaining wasn't doing a thing as they were all trapped in this one monster who essentially nullified their moves.
"After they are transformed, the process should become much faster. They will be far stronger than the average Nightmare Monster, no doubt.
The nightmarish objects surrounding the groups were moving towards them with glowing eyes. The residents from Manehattan and Ponyville feared for the worst as the object was looming closer. Its mechanical parts came apart and shifted, ready for a full conversion of its victim.
"Now, I shall begin with the Pokemon."
Suddenly, the screens displaying the battles that were occuring throughout this city all turned into static. Oculus widened her eyes, her gaze immediately focused on the static that covered the screens.
"What...?"
All of the screens displayed the same thing. It appeared to Fire, followed up by a solar light. In the background was a silhouette of a pony, their features not being made clear, but it seemed they were the source of this sudden light. Oculus stared at the screen, wondering what was happening.
"A pony with sunlight...?" She wondered, her eye moving side to side. The single-eyed monster gasped, pulling her blob-like body once the figure came into view, the flames would sway to the side, showing the face of Princess Celestia. The Solar Mare's eyes narrowed at Oculus Gloom while the single-eyed monster slithered back.
"Princess Celestia!" The ponies all exclaimed upon seeing their ruler, Princess Celestia. For her to cause these various eyeballs to lose sight of the scenario meant only one thing. The Nightmare Monsters that were point of views have been defeated by Princess Celestia back in the main universe.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Oculus questioned, leaning at the only Nightmare Monster's eye which hasn't been destroyed yet. Celestia knew that someone was watching from the other universe, gazing right into Oculus's eyes. The Nightmare Monster would then observe her eyes, seeing how many of them have been damaged.
A total of 15000 Eyes have been destroyed by Celestia, but of course, she was not alone. Assisting her were her Pokemon. Gardevoir and Reshiram helped destroy plenty of them too with their incredible strength, having the right attacks that made the Nightmare Monsters vulnerable.
"If you can hear me..." Celestia spoke, her voice travelling through this one Nightmare Monster's eye and back to Oculus Gloom's base. "You've had your fun attacking our universe. But now, we're coming straight to you and ending this right way. Even if it's one-by-one, I'll bring down this alliance Daybreaker's made. Malamar was first and you're next."
The way Celestia was speaking was fiercer than usual. The ponies all recognized this. Her voice was far more intense than normal, carrying some aggression in it. The fact that she defeated all those Nightmare Monsters, more than anyone else has this entire time backed it up.
"Hmph. I expect nothing less from the Sun Princess either way. But even so, there is no way for her to approach here safely. Using our gateway, she'll be met with a stream of Nightmare Energy. We've even infected the space around our Universe with plenty of Nightmare Magic just in case anyone dares try and invade us instead." Oculus Gloom proudly said.
The eyeball would give out, cutting off the view of Celestia as Oculus would turn to face all the ponies. "Hmph. Don't get too hopeful now. Your Princess won't save you. She canot possibly hope to arrive here in time She'd have to deal with all the Nightmare Energy we've placed in the gateway. Even then, the-."
Before Oculus could continue, the sound of a gateway opening up could be heard from the outside, near the outskirts of the city. This gateway would open up, releasing a beam of light from within that absolutely obliterated all the Nightmare Energy. Oculus's eyes widened, witnessing the Nightmare Energy that was stored in the gateway fly out and be burned by the golden flames.
Oculus growled, narrowing her eyes. "How could she possibly destroy our gateways so easily?! And even worse, without suffering any injuries at all?" She questioned while gazing down. "It can't be possible..."
The Shadow Slime, along with the rest of the Shadow Slimes in the city, began to quiver and shake, trembling with fear. All of the Shadow Slimes could feel a great amount of power, a powerful aura. This power would travel from the gateway, heading straight for the city. It was Princess Celestia.
Once she stepped through the gateway and set foot here, she was joined by her partner Gardevoir and Reshiram. But not only that, right behind her were the other Canterlot Guards and their Pokemon, ready to assist her in taking down Nightmare Rarity's Empire.
As she walked forward with Reshiram and Gardevoir flying beside her, moving through the gateway were the vampires from Magehold. Many of them flew through, revelling in the darkness above them as it felt like they were in their natural element. Since Vampres thrived under the darkness, the Nightmare Realm was basically their playground.
"Alright. I'm going straight for Nightmare Rarity." Celestia spoke. "The rest of you, focus on getting everyone else out of here and to safety." She ordered before taking a deep breath. Her eyes opened, looking directly at the biggest building here, knowing where to go.
"We'll have them back in no time!" Eccentrick said with glee with in her voice, flying off with her fellow vampires."Don't worry about it!"
"If something happens, we will let you know, Princess." Dimstar bowed her head while taking flight. The Golurks and Canterlot Guards all passed by Celestia, setting out for their missions. An alert sound was played across the city, informing them of Celestia's arrival and the enemies that were heading here.
Instantly, Nightmare Monsters were summoned to attack the invading forces, creeping out of the ground and the buildings, even the shadows themselves. And since even the residents here were Nightmare Monsters, they would get involved too, dropping everything they were doing and preparing to defend their home.
Celestia and her Pokemon, however, were prepared to deal with them all. They wouldn't slow them down one bit. "Let's go. Reshiram, Passion."
"Garde!" Passion nodded in understanding, immediately ascending high into the air. So did Reshiram as the two of them were going straight for the Eclipsed Citadel. Celestia took flight as well, joining them while her wings were cloaked in flames.
The three of them would then soar towards the palace while the Canterlot Guards and Golurks, along with the vampires, dealt with the incoming Nightmare Monsters. But getting to Nightmare Rarity's palace was not that easy. Flying out of her palace were other Nightmare Monsters.
Nightmare Monsters resembling dragons, phoenixes, and even pegasi flew out of the Eclipsed Citadel before making their way to the trio. A Nightmare Phoenix soared above, releasing a flurry of purple flames that the trio barely dodged.
"Passion! Dazzling Gleam!"
"Gardevoir!" Passion fired a powerful ray of Magical Energy, blasting the Nightmare Phoenix out of the sky before it could do any damage. The Nightmare Phoenix shrieked as it fell out of the sky, crashing onto the floor and exploding into bits.
"Reshiram, Fusion Flare!" Reshiram exhaled a powerful surge of fire, burning away any Nightmare Monsters that were approaching. A Dragon Nightmare roared before flying in their direction, attempting to strike them down. Reshiram glanced at this other Dragon who tackled his body, sending a bit of a shockwave across the air.
"Fusion Flare!" Reshiram unleashed his flames again, burning away the Dragon Nightmare and sending it straight towards the ground. He landed on the floor, leaving a large crater upon his impact. Reshiram would then turn his attention to a massive Phoenix Nightmare that soared through the skies, spreading its wings.
More and more Nightmare Monsters flooded the skies, making sure Celestia would never each their Queen. They would swarm around the trio, attacking from all sides. Celestia narrowed her eyes, unphased by these numbers. So as long as she reaches Nightmare Rarity, none of this was a worry for her.
Speaking of Nightmare Rarity, inside of her throne room at the very top of the palace, she observed the events occurring. "Hmm. Celestia's here. Not surprising. But I didn't expect her to show up so soon. She's really serious about taking me down, isn't she?"
From her throne, Nightmare Rarity could see the trio making their way through her city, destroying Nightmare Monster after Nightmare Monster. She then looked up at her throne room, seeing Sweetie Belle currently being surrounded by Nightmare Energy as the tendrils held up. "As for you, Sweetie Belle, you have quite the willpower, don't you? For you to resist an immediate transformation is impressive.
"Ngh..." Despite how hard she was resisting, it was impossible to keep this up forever. Her body was still being changed by the Nightmare Energy, becoming one of them. And even if she did, the only thing that awaited her was a horrific fate. "N-No..."
"Although...if Celestia gets in here already, it could prove to be very troublesome, no doubt. I'llhave to avoid confrontation with her for as long as I can until then. After all, Crag is to bring me some of Arceus's power." Nightmare Rarity then brought up the Dream Spheere from the floor once more, wanting to see the progress in the Dream Realm.
In the Dream Realm, she saw that Crag was still dealing with Darkrai who was also putting up a great fight, resisting defeat for the sake of everyone's dreams. Narrowing her eyes, Nightmare Rarity spoke to Crag through the Dream Realm.
"Crag. You've been in there far longer than expected. Have you gotten some of Arceus's power?"
"Some of it, Veiled Mistress. Even though the Dream has fled from me, I have still gathered some of his power. It has become a part of me now."
"Excellent. pass some of it over at once. We are to use some of Arceus's power to advance our goals after all and now would be a perfect to experiment with it. Currently Celestia's forces have arrived here and I wish to use some of that Divine Energy already."
"As you wish, Veiled Mistress. I-"
"Hold it right there!" However, another voice travelled through the Dream Realm, interrupting Crag's sentence. It was Luna, who flew past the massive Dream Bubbles, coming to Darkrai's aid. Now that she had helped many wake up, avoiding the possibility of them becoming nightmares, she was attempting to finish up here by stopping Crag and the other Nightmare Monsters inside other's dreams.
"L-Luna...!" An injured Darkrai said, looking at his trainer.
"Darkrai?!" Luna gasped, seeing the state of hr partner Pokemon. Darkrai, while stll in the battle, had taken heavy damage thanks to the Divine Power that Crag had stolen and used against the Pitch Black Pokemon. "You look...!"
"Don't worry. I'm alright." Darkrai responded.
"Princess Luna. A bit too late." Crag chuckled deviously. "I have already gotten my caws on some of Arceus's power and it is absolutely delicious. Darkrai hasn't been too bad of a. It's a surprise he's still in this, honestly. A bit annoying too."
"You cur!" Luna snarled at the Nightmare Dragon.
"Now, Veiled Mistress. I shall send some of Arceus's divine energy over. Be cautious, as its power is unlike any other." Crag declared, raising his hands in the air.
"Divine energy, you say?" Luna widened her eyes, wondering what they could possibly do with it.
"Very good, Crag. Send it to my throne. I'll utilize it later. Right now, I should get a bit more involved now that Celestia's there. But I won't go to her. No, no, no. I think I'll deal with her little sister first." Nightmare Moon got off her throne, obviously referring to Luna. "I have unfinished business with you anyway, Luna."
Nightmare Rarity decided to come to the Dream Realm next. She was going to face off against Luna, prepared to finish what started in the Dream Realm 2 years back. With Celestia here, now she had to start making her own moves, knowing how quickly it could all spiral out of control. And she was not about to let the chance of using Arceus's power escape her. The burning minutes of this conflict were growing hotter and hotter now that both rulers from their respective sides were in the same universe.
Equestria. Out at Sea. The Sea Temple. Samiya. Nightfall.
Back in the Sea Temple , it would have hit the mountain up ahead, however, after a moment of brief silence, the large mountain was broken through by the fearsome power of the tsunami. The tsunami's ferocity was not being halted one bit, blasting its strong waves through the mountainside, completely demolishing the rock structure.
The Sea Temple was safe from crashing into a mountain, but was instead caught in a wave and carried across the sea by this wave. The Samiyans were all in disarray, feeling the temple pick up speed. They all gripped onto the walls, trying not to fall over from the intensity of this wave.
Struggling to reach one of the crystals in an attempt to stop this was Ash, who was moving forward with all of his might but kept losing his balance as the Sea Temple moved. "I can't get to it! My feet are stuck!" Ash exclaimed, trying to free his feet but couldn't.
"Ash, are you alright?!" Twilight shouted, still holding onto the Crystal Pedestal.
"I can't move! And the crystal is right there!" He grit his teeth, his movements being held back by the unbalanced temple. The Sea Temple continued moving along with the waves. It was not able to stop the motion and momentum, moving faster and faster, making Ash struggle even more.
"I think I'm gonna be sick..." Pinkie Pie whined, her body sliding against the floor and hitting the wall. The water inside the temple would also flow everywhere, creating puddles of water for everyone to slip and slide around. The temple was completely drenched with the salty ocean water.
"S-Sceptile...!" Applejack, who was being carried away, managed to throw one of her Poke Balls into the air, summoning Sceptile who was airborne upon emerging. "Use...Frenzy Plant! Grab a Crystal!" She quickly screamed.
"Tile!" Sceptile's hands glowed green as he raised them, unleashing a flurry of vines from his hands. They pierced the walls, attaching themselves to the wall. Sceptile, while using his vines to keep himself in place, was also trying to grab one of the crystals on the pedestal, managing to snag it with his vines.
"Sceptile! Over here! Pass it!" Ash held his hand out while holding onto a pillar, attempting to stay on his feet. Sceptile, hearing his Trainer, threw the crystal over at Ash, allowing him to catch it with one hand. "Thanks, Sceptile!"
Ash managed to catch the crystal while gripping onto a pillar. "Got it!" Now that he had one crystal in his hand, Ash could harness its power once more, attempting to slow down the Sea Temple's momentum.
Things were very much rocky for him which would normally throw his focus off. But Sceptile would quickly fix that. The massive roots he summoned with Frenzy Plant acted as obstacles as Ash's body would smack into one of them, bringing him to a halt. Others would come to a halt once their bodies hit the roots.
"Ahh! Thanks, Sceptile!" Fluttershy smiled as she managed to stand on her two hooves. The Samiyans were glad they had someone like Sceptile here, saving the day and preventing them from being tossed around like rag dolls.
Holding the crystal close to him, Ash would harness its power, focusing his mind on the Sea Temple's movement, wanting it to slow down. The temple would start slowing down, allowing everyone to gain their footing and stand up properly.
The light would radiate from the crystal, shining brightly and illuminating the entire Sea Temple. It directly interacted with the tsunami, clashing with the powerful force of nature. The waters, after coming into contact with the light, would stop moving and the sea would calm down. The waves would settle and the tsunami would come to a sudden halt. This involved the Thunderstorms too, calming down and ceasing their rain and thunder.
The clouds would part and the sun would shine once more. Everyone inside the Sea Temple took deep breaths, relieved at the fact that the temple had stopped and the storm outside had died down.
"That was crazy!" Rainbow Dash remarked, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "This temple, I swear! It's always so safe and dangerous at the same time!"
"I'm surprised we're all okay..." Twilight sighed before gazing at the crystal in Ash's grasp. "It's a good thing you can use it without being a Samiyan, even if it's limited to one."
"If we had stayed asleep for any longer, we would have met our end." Alo commented, relieved that the Sea Temple was not destroyed. "To think that we were attacked by these Nightmare Monsters..."
"It's not just that." Ash placed the crystal back in the pedestal. "Right now, Nightmare Rarity's started attacking our universe so it's way worse out there. I have no idea what's going on back there."
"So it's another big attack on our world? Again?" Pinkie Pie questioned, tilting her head.
"We're used to this by now though." Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves.
"But we need to stop her now before it's too late. I hope Princess Celestia and everyone else are doing okay back there." Twilight remarked. "I'm guessing we go straight into the heat of things too, right?"
"You bet. You saw what happened back in the Dream Realm. Luna's still in there, fighting to keep everyone's dreams safe. And Nightmare Rarity's got something planned, no doubt. I know the rest are doing what they can, so let's chime in. We gotta hurry." Ash answered. "Alo. Do you think you and everyone can have the Sea Temple travel at Lightspeed again? We really need to get going."
"Of course. It may be difficult since we are all a bit shaken up from the ordeal, but we can still manage."
"Awesome. I'm also gonna need some of you to get Sandbar and the others home safe." Ash faced Twilight and the others. "Pretty sure their parents and guardians are super worried about them right now, so they've gotta go back as soon as possible. So you guys, do you think you can do that?"
"Of course. We'll take care of that." Fluttershy volunteered to be the one to help them get home. Pinkie Pie offered a hoof in that as well.
"Alright. I just gotta call Ember to let her know." Ash took out his Rotomphone, wanting the Dragon Lord to be aware of Smolder's whereabouts, especially at this time. Selecting her Trainer ID, Ash started calling for her.
Ember picked up after a couple of rings, her image appearing on screen. "Ash! There you are!" Her voice was immediately that of alarm, showing how concerned she was. "What happened to you? Why didn't you pick up earlier? We've been trying to reach you!"
"Uh, sorry. Got a bit preoccupied." Ash admitted, rubbing the back of his head.
"I tried calling you, Twilight, or anyone else! But you all wouldn't respond!" Ember continued. "Especially with what's been going on right now... Please tell me you know about everyone being captured?"
"Huh?! Wait, what? Captured?!" Ash exclaimed, followed by everyone else getting close to Ash, their eyes focused on the screen.
"It's mostly everypony and Pokemon that went inside that secret base that got captured. One guard saw it all and reported it back to Princess Celestia. Right now, Princess Celestia's gone to that universe, and I'm still here. I just got done dealing with some Nightmare Monsters."
"You said everypony, right?!" Rarity zoomed in, accidentally shoving Ash aside as she was up close and personal in front of the screen." Does that mean Sweetie Belle!?"
"What about Apple Bloom?!" Applejack joined in, pushing Rarity aside, almost causing her to fall over.
"What about Spike?!" Twilight, followed by Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. All of them were shouting their friends' names, demanding answers.
"I-I don't know about Spike. I don't think he went to that base since he would've had to bring Rayquaza with him too. Rayquaza wasn't there so I don't know where Spike is right now."
"They're all in her Universe...!" Twilight spoke, her heart racing, realizing the implications of what was happening. "So while we've been asleep dealing with those Nightmares, she's taken our friends and family."
"We gotta go! Now!" Rainbow Dash flew up to her friends, rapidly shaking Pinkie Pie. "They probably took my parents too!"
"What about you, Ember? Is everything alright for you in the Dragon Lands?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, I'm fine, plus some others. But some aren't waking up right now. Those Nightmare Monsters snuck up on us and caught a lot of us off guard. But don't worry. We won but some of them got put to sleep and we can't wake them up right now."
"If we're gonna get to Nightmare Rarity's world, we'll need a gateway. I don't have a Travel Sphere or anything like that on me." Ash uttered. "If Celestia went through, then she's got a gateway up. Let's use that. Do you know where she put it up, Ember?"
"Um..,Not really. You're gonna have to find it yourself. I don't she put it in Canterlot though. She probably put it somewhere else."
"Great. How're we gonna find it? That's like, the entire country we've gotta look at. We're wasting time, and who knows what she could be doing right now." Pinkie Pie grumbled.
"If we can't find it, we'll have to open up our own gateway. There should be some spare Travel Spheres at Canterlot Castle" Twilight revealed.
"Okay! Let's head for Canterlot!" Ash exclaimed as Alo and theSamiyans already knew what to do. Set a course for Canterlot.
Universe 5.
In Universe 5, Oculus Gloom continued monitoring the various screens. While Celestia and the others had made their way into her city, she was observing the many other events occurring around. She was keeping tabs on everything, watching the various locations.
In one of the cities, it would show the battle between the Shadow Slimes and the Golurks. The Golurks were dealing heavy damage to the Shadow Slimes, but these monsters weren't going down so easily. Their gooey forms were extremely flexible, letting them dodge attacks. They even had a form of regeneration too.
The Shadow Slimes, along with the rest of their kind, had an ability to turn into their original state. If they were attacked by anything, they could transform back into a puddle and avoid any further damage. But it didn't mean they would be able to avoid getting attacked.
When turned back to their normal form, the Golurks were capable of picking them up and tossing them into the air, or even slamming them into the ground. With their strong bodies, these slimes were not a problem at all.
While they did manage to overwhelm the Golurks in a different way, the Golurks were simply too tough for them to do anything. Unlike what happened in the Canterlot Mines, these Golurks were not caught off guard and had more numbers on their side.
Larger monsters were used against the Golurk, ones that were able to overwhelm the Automaton Pokemon. Some even matched the size of the Golurk
These powerful attacks were enough to deal massive damage to the Nightmare Monsters that came to the rescue, but they had the sheer number to their advantage. And while the Golurks were stronger than the other members, their strength was not enough to defeat these Nightmare Monsters.
Meanwhile, moving through the streets of this city were Dimstar and the vampires, all flying above. Dimstar, with her invisible tendrils that could only be seen through special means, grabbed some Nightmare Monsters without even knowing what they were being held up by. The Nightmare Monsters were greatly confused as it looked like nothing but air was holding onto them.
After grabbing them, she would toss these Nightmare Monsters aside, continuing on her way. It was mainly Dimstar who dealt with the Nightmare Monsters that came in the direction of the Vampires since she was leading the way. Her tendrils being so massive allowed her to reach some of them before they could even get too close.
"Do you see any of the Equestrians yet?" Dimstar turned to one of the vampires, who was currently emanating a dark energy from his eyes. This allowed him to view through buildings at great distances, seeing what was happening. He was scouting, searching for the Equestrians, looking through walls and doors, finding the locations of the various prisoners.
That is until he came across the building of Oculus Gloom. He looked through the building, managing to spot the heat signature of various Pokemon and ponies, restrained and ready to be transformered. The sight caused him to gasp. "I found them! It's that building on the left! It looks like that single-eyed monster has all of them trapped."
"Good. That way then!" Dimstar's group made their way to Oculus Gloom's complex, which was the transformed Town Hall.
As for Princess Celestia, she had already dealt with the Nightmare Monsters that stood in her way. After clearing out a good portion of the area, she was finally able to get closer to the castle that Nightmare Rarity had created. The Nightmare Castle loomed in the distance, looking incredibly eerie, fitting for a Nightmare Monster.
Celestia's eyes were focused on it, targeting the very top of it. Since she was a Ruler herself, she knew for a fact that most rulers keep their throne rooms at the very top of their castle. This meant Nightmare Rarity would be waiting there, ready to face her. From her horn, she was building up a huge beam, planning to blast through it.
With all opponents in the air dealt with, Celestia was free to unleash a devastating attack, which could open a path. From her horn, a golden beam was unleashed, striking the very top of this castle, destroying the first layer of the building. She managed to strike the ceiling, leaving a large hole for her and the others to pass through.
She, Reshiram, and Gardevoir all entered this hole, flying through and landing in the hallway of this castle. They would quickly turn their attention to the doors, noticing how grandiose they were. Celestia would make her way towards the door, her hooves clicking against the floor.
Reshiram felt himself squeezing in this place, unable to fit properly. Not wanting to risk any innocents getting hurt, Celestia returned Reshiram to his Poke Ball, allowing him to rest inside. The three of them would make their way through the door, entering another chamber.
This room was an assortment of dark colors, mainly purple, blue, and black. It had a sinister appearance to it. The Nightmare Castle had a unique layout, one that was far different than any other castle. In this room, Celestia was greeted with a long hallway with a staircase that led to the next floor. So far, no throne room. It was as simple as it all seemed, which was only natural since it was designed in Rarity's taste.
"Let's move. She has to be up here." Celestia declared, making her way up the stairs with Gardevoir and Passion following. They would go up to the second floor, entering a hallway that was similar to the last one. They would come to a door, which Celestia pushed open, and entered another room.
However, she would soon find out that this castle came with its fair share of dangers. Not in terms of Nightmare Monsters being in it, but in terms of what the castle itself could do. As Celestia walked, the stairs beneath her would start to wobble and shake. Look down, she and Passion saw that the stairs themselves suddenly morphed, gaining what appeared to be sharp teeth.
"Garde!" Gardevoir quickly flew up, grabbing Celestia and pulling her up as the stairs transformed into a monstrous creature.
"What the...?!" Celestia and Passion's eyes widened as the stairs became a living entity, trying to devour the two. Each part of the stair was a pair of teeth, clamping down, trying to catch the two.
And it wasn't just the stairs. The walls themselves would also morph and twist, becoming mouths that were drooling and hungry. The doors would morph too, their handles becoming sharp. Everything was changing, coming to life.
"Passion! Psychic!"
"Garde!" Passion would create a telekinetic forcefield, protecting herself and her trainer from these hungry walls, doors, and stairs. They were all moving about, attempting to devour them. With a simple psychic attack from Gardevoir, the staircase would be thrown away, crashing into the wall and being reduced to mere wood again.
"I'm guessing this castle is alive, and the very foundation of it is an actual living entity." Celestia remarked, landing on the second floor. She then glanced back, seeing the other floors, walls and the ceiling, all moving about. She would narrow her eyes, taking a deep breath.
So far, no sign of Nightmare Rarity. This was still the top of the castle and yet it was rather long. But Celestia had to keep moving. The Princess would continue forward, with Passion and her following behind. As Celestia went along the hallways, she eventually came across Nightmare Monsters that were also indoors, these ones following a common theme.
These Nightmare Monsters appeared as Knights, much like the one Sweetie Belle took on in the throne room. Their armor was pitch black, their spears glowing and their eyes shining bright. They grunted, spotting Celestia and charging forward. The Sun Princess narrowed her eyes, ready to blaze through these obstacles too, just to take down one Nightmarish leader.
With Oculus Gloom, she was already beginning her work on turning Pokemon into Nightmare Monsters. Some Pokemon were lined up while restrained, struggling to get out of their bonds. All around them were objects that could turn them into Nightmare Monsters. Stacked together like sardines, one of the objects moved closer, ready to make contact with them.
"Now, it's time for your transformation." Oculus Gloom declared as the objects came even closer. The Pokemon could feel the energy radiating off these objects, their faces contorting with horror and fear.
Their strength had already been weakened thanks to the Shadow Slime's strange body, leaving them unable to break free or fight back. Some of their Trainers were forced to witness this as the objects got closer.
"This is what will happen. First, your cells will be infected by Nightmare Energy, transforming you. It will feel absolutely excruciating. After your cells are infected, your own DNA will change and alter your appearance, giving you a new look befitting our universe. Your memories will be intact, thankfully, but you will care not for them and only want to serve the Veiled Mistress. This is the fate that awaits you."
Oculus Gloom spoke, her voice sounding ominous and threatening. She was clearly enjoying the situation, watching these poor Pokemon become her minions. And it was only a matter of time before they infected. The Nightmare Energy started spreading through their cells, beginning the transformation.
The Pokemon roared and whined, feeling a terrible pain that they could not escape. Oculus Gloom watched in amusement, ready to witness her newest creations. However, when observing this, she saw that some of the Pokemon, despite being weakened, were managing to resist the Nightmare Energy infecting her cells. Looking at one of her screens, she witnessed how the cells of a few Pokemon were fighting bak, slowing the progress down.
"Hm. It seems that some Pokemon just have stronger cells, making it a bit more difficult. But it's only a matter of time until they succumb." She commented. "Your cells can fight back, but in your state, it's only temporary. As for you ponies, it will practically be swift for you. Your cells are far weaker than theirs. It's why I'm infecting them first."
"Let us out! Let me Pokemon go!" Scootaloo banged on the Shadow Slme, but her hooves were far too weak to even swing them that hard. Not that she could break out. She watched as her Rapidash was being turned into a Nightmare Monster, struggling with the process.
"You'll get used to this. We can't have you interfering." Oculus Gloom told her, gazing at Scootaloo. "After all, be grateful. You will all be the first ponies to become one of us. All the rest are but decorations."
"Decorations." Some of the ponies gasped and murmured amongst each other. They were unaware of Nightmare Rarity's obsession with making others decorations.
"Oh, yes. If you all were from any other universe, the Veiled Mistress would have taken great pride in having you as decorations, showing off your beauty and grace. But not this time. This time, she's going to use you for her purposes. Your Universe is conisdered the best of them all. But once we've overtaken it, that will all change and that title will go to our Universe.
Oculus Gloom revealed, causing the ponies to gasp. The thought of their universe being ruined was enough to terrify them. But the thing that made it worse was knowing they were unable to stop it. So many of them in one room, captured by this Shadow Slime Monster in this massive room that could fit it and not a single one could break free.
The Pokemon were lucky to have strong cells that helped them resist, but they couldn't keep it up forever. Eventually, their will to resist will give out, letting the Nightmare Energy infect them.
"As for your Princesses..." Oculus slithered away while moving her eye around her body, causing her to face the Ponies while heading in another direction, making some of them shudder. "The Veiled Mistress has something special for them. Instead of decorations, they get a special treatment. Something that would put the rest of you to shame."
"If you're talking about my daughter, forget it!" Speaking through the crowd of ponies was Twilight Velet, mother of Twilight Sparkle. Oculus's eye moved over to her, narrowing. "My daughter and even my son are still out there! You think you're so confident when you haven't even come in contact with them yet. Hmp!
"Honey..." Night Light gulped while looking at Oculus Gloom's creepy eye. "Careful with your words...We're restrained after all. What are you gonna do if you say something she doesn't like?"
"Hoh? Looking at you, you do resemble Twilight Sparkle, don't you" Oculus Gloom chuckled. "Well, as much as I'd like to get into this little spat, I have plenty to deal with right now. And I'm afraid, your daughter is not here. But eventually, she'll be found and dealt with soon enough. In just this single night, we will overtake your entire Universe. It's only a matter of time. Especially with what happened to this universe's Twilight."
"W-What What did you do?" Moondancer shuddered.
"Twilight Sparkle was obvously the first to go against our Veiled Mistress. Obviously, she lost and the result was her being sent to the Moon itself. Much like how Luna was in the past. However, unlike Luna, Twlight Sparkle isn't just trapped on the Moon...On the contrary, she's the one who gives us power. in this endless night."
"What did you say!" Twilight Velvet and all those close to Twilight bellowed.
"She is our power source! Her alicorn magic combined with the Veiled Mistress's Nightmare Magic and the power of the Moon have created a wonderful combination. She is our Moon!"
A truly shocking revelation was made. The Moon up there that shines in this endless night was not just a standard Moon. Not anymore. Due to the events that have happened here, that Moon was none other than Twilight Sparkle herself.
The Princess of Friendship was currently trapped and being used as a power source. Such was her punishment and loss for taking on Nightmare Rarity, who showed no sympathy for her former friend. Not anymore. This was truly a Dark Universe where one of the worst possible outcomes has occurred.
"And I'm sure you can guess the rest. There is only one way to stop such wonderful power from flowing." Oculus said with a devious glee in her voice. "How are you with Destroying your own Daughter?"
In the Dream Realm, Divine Power was gathering up in a single spot. A powerful aura could be felt all around the realm as Crag held his hands in the air, his body emanating a cruel darkness. He was sending the divine energy he obtained from Arceus, sending it over to the real world. But he wasn't just gathering it all into a single spot. With Luna and Darkrai being his opponents, Crag would also use Divine Power against them.
Luna's eyes widened as she felt an immense surge of power coming from the Dream Dragon, sensing the incredible amount of divine energy that was emanating from him. "Is this...? Could this really be...?" She uttered.
"This is Arceus's power!" Darkrai answered, confirming her suspicions. The pressure that was building up was becoming overwhelming, forcing Luna and Darkrai back. Crag cackled, putting his claws together, generating a crackling pulse of Nightmare Energy mixed in with Divine Energy.
"It was a delight getting to deal with you two, but it's about time I finished this. My dear Mistress wants the power of Arceus immediately. So this must end swiftly. Don't worry. This power won't destroy you, no. It'll make you one of us, a Nightmare. Just like everything else." Crag's claws crackled and sparked, creating a cataclysmic flare of Nightmare and Divine Energy.
He would then unleash the flare, directing it straight at the two. The energy was coming at them, a bright light that was a mixture of black and gold, but Luna narrowed her eyes, her horn flashing as she decided to respond to such an attack.
Luna's eyes lit up as she unleashed her own flare, clashing with Crag's. The two flares collided, resulting in a sonic boom that would reverberate throughout the realm. Luna was pushed back by this Sonic Boom and so was Crag, who was actually surprised by her retaliation.
"Impossible! You managed to tie with it?! This was the power of Arceus, no doubt! How were you able to handle it?!"
"You only took a bit of his power. While it's still intimidating, that doesn't make you unbeatable. You're also sending some of it to Nightmare Rarity after all, so you're already losing some of that power. Which means, I can easily overcome you in no time."
"Bah! I will keep half of the power while the other half goes to the Vfeiled Mistress! And after we're done here, we'll continue to take power from Arceus's Dream until there is nothing left." Crag snarled.
"Even so, Luna...Be careful." Darkrai spoke. "Arceus's Dream isn't the only one he's stolen power from. He can surprise you with something unexpected, so watch out."
"He is correct. Such as this!" Crag would suddenly clench his claws, grabbing the space in the Dream Realm as if it were a blanket. By grabbing it, Crag began pulling the space in front of him forward, which in turn, started pulling Luna and Darkrai his way.
"Ack! W-What is this?!"
"Gah! The space itself is being pulled forward!"
Crag would continue pulling the space, creating a force that was dragging his opponents in. Luna, however, wouldn't let it get the better of her. She would create a telekinetic force, using the power of her mind to pull the space back towards her, preventing herself from moving.
"Go, Darkrai! Poison Jab!" Luna bellowed while manipulating the space around her. Darkrai nodded, advancing towards Crag, lacing his claws with Poison. Darkrai suddenly sped, up, becoming a bit of a black blur as Crag would swing one of his claws directly at the Pitch Black Pokemon.
Darkrai managed to dodge, flying under the claw before then delivering a direct hit to Crag's chest. The impact was heavy, causing Crag to stagger and lose his control of space, stopping the pulling motion.
After delivering the blow, Darkrai would repeatedly slash at Crag's claw with heavy hits, lifting him into the air each time. Body shot after body shot kept raising the Nightmare Dragon, keeping the pressure up. However, Luna then noticed how some of the Dream Bubbles above were starting to fall, no longer floating properly.
She gasped as it was revealed that Crag, while being continuously struck, managed to manipulate the Dream Bubbles above him by messing with space once more and was now sending them towards Luna and Darkrai with the weight of a building behind them.
"Darkrai! Watch out!"
"Hm?!" Darkrai didn't have the chance to dodge, not knowing what was happening above him. Crag's manipulation was incredibly subtle. Dream Bubbles would start pouring on them all in massive numbers, Luna put up a protective barrier around herself as the bubbles were covering her, essentially flooding her and Darkrai.
Crag cackled as he was also being flooded by them, but he made sure he wouldn't take any damage as the three of them had their bodies hidden from the Dream Realm, masked by the Dream Bubble. However, not even 5 seconds later, Crag came flying out of the Dream Bubble, receiving another hit that sent him upwards.
"What!?" Crag was in disbelief as Darkrai had delivered his strongest hit yet.
"Go! Dark Pulse!" Luna shouted. The Pitch Black Pokemon wasn't done as he would also fly upwards, having a Dark Pulse ready in his claws. The Darkness around his claws would be clenched, preparing to be used as a Physical Attack instead. Darkrai flew past Crag, going over him and deciding to attack from above.
He cocked back his arm and claw before diving down at high seeds, becoming a black streak as the shadows were being trailed behind him. Before Crag could react, he would receive a heavy strike directly on his chest, which sent him plummeting through the Dream Realm as darkness danced around his body, leaving him staggered. This was followed up by Luna unleashing a beam of Lunar energy, hitting the Nightmare Dragon directly and forcing him even further down.
"Go for it, Darkrai! Dark Pulse and Thunderbolt! Together!"
Darkrai would generate Darkness on his left and Lightning on his right, immediately flying down once more at his best speeds. Crag's eyes widened as Darkrai ruthlessly slammed both attacks onto the top of his head, generating an intense burst of power.
The sheer explosion of this attack would blow Crag away, sending him hurtling through the Dream Realm before his body ended up stopping in front of one of the Dream Bubbles. He would struggle, his body trembling as he was bewildered by how quickly the tides were turning. Darkrai was now performing well with Luna by his side, which stunned Crag. He initially thought it was because he gave up some of that Divine Power to the throne room, but this was rather ridiculous.
"Now, Luna! Get ready to end this!" Darkrai shouted as Luna was prepared to attack, her horn shining bright.
"Alright!" Luna closed her eyes, her magic building up inside her horn, preparing to finish the battle by obliterating Crag, ending this Nightmare. But while she was building it up and Crag's body was starting to stagger since the Thunderbolt had paralyzed him, something would fly through the Dream Realm, heading in Luna's direction.
Luna's charge-up was interrupted as a nightly- beam the size of a string came up to her The Moon Princess gasped, instinctively putting up a barrier instead of unleashing an attack as the string would collide with her shield, resulting in a paroxysm of Nightmare Energy.
"Nnngh!" Luna gritted her teeth, her eyes widened. She would quickly see that the blast came from Nightmare Rarity, who had made her move to stop her. She was using a string of her hair as a makeshift beam.
She did say she would be showing up to the Dream Realm to finish what she started with Luna 2 years back and she certainly wasn't lying. This was a reminder to Luna that she wasn't done with her, wanting to put an end to her for good.
"V-Veiled Mistress!" Crag gasped.
"Luna." Nightmare Rarity spoke, hovering above them all to feel better than the rest as a smug smile met her face. "My, oh, my. You've kept Crag occupied for a while, haven't you? Especially your Darkrai. What a splendid job you've done."
"Mmrgh..." Luna grumbled while eyeing her down.
"And I'm so glad I could interrupt the moment too. That was just perfect."
"V-Veiled Mistress. If I may speak.." Crag groaned, his body still trembling. "I was just about to deliver the final blow to them, so please do not be concerned. I'll handle this."
"You won't. Because I'll be the one doing that." Nightmare Rarity stated, making Crag's eyes widen. "I need you to gather more power from Arceus's Dream, alright? Do you think you can manage that?"
"O-Of course! Yes!" Crag nodded rapidly. "Anything for you, my Mistress!"
"Good. Then go ahead." She said as Crag nodded, beginning his ascent into the sky. Luna and Darkrai glared, ready to give it another go. The Nightmare Queen would start descending slowly, keeping her eyes on her. "Now then. Unlike last time, I don't believe there'll be any interruptions if I'm not mistaken. Right now, out there, your universe is clashing against mine. I suspect that by the time I'm finished here, everything back out there will be over. And in my favour of course. If not, then I'll have to finish up everything else."
"I highly doubt that." Luna scowled. "You're right about one thing. There won't be any interruptions. After all, the last time we confronted each other in here, I had yet to control Lunar Ire. But now, I am in full control, unlike last time."
"Hoh? Do you think I was just sitting around, twiddling my hooves after that?" Nightmare Rarity questioned. "You'd be very wrong, Luna. I have been quite busy, making plans and setting things up. Dreams are what are most important to me, so I made sure to prepare myself for the day I fully conquer this Dream Realm. Especially since it's the largest I've ever seen. Dreams of the past, present and even the future are stored here, all for my taking. And it's only a matter of time until it becomes mine. You'll just become an obstacle in my way."
"Darkrai. Can you continue?" Luna asked, glancing over to her comrade.
"I'm still beat up, but I can go on." Darkrai held onto his arm, still suffering from the damage Crag dealt to him this entire time. "But what about Crag? One of us will have to deal with him."
"No need to worry," Luna smirked, knowing something that Nightmare Rarity didn't. "There's someone that'll deal with Crag. Let's focus our efforts on her. We'll force her out of our Dream Realm and bring her whole empire down. I'm positive that it won't be too long."
"Hah!" Nightmare Rarity hollered with a bellowing laugh. "Haha! Oh, I'm actually hoping that it's long. Because then, you'll get to see the outcome on the outside when it's all over. So do try your best, Luna."
Universe 5.
Back outside, in Oculus Gloom's base, she had revealed that this world's Moon was none other than Twilight Sparkle. This shocking revelation was enough to stun the Pokemon and even their Trainers. It was an absolutely devastating truth, and the thought of it being real was enough to bring chills to their spines.
"S-She's the Moon?" Twilight Velvet murmured, her body trembling.
"Yes. The Veiled Mistress knew how much of a problem she could be, so as a result, she was made to become the Moon itself. That way, any attempt to break our overflowing power source will require the destruction of the Moon itself. And of course, Twilight Sparkle herself. We Nightmare Monsters can simply return even after being destroyed. We are made from the Nightmares or many after all, so in a sense, we are immortal. We are eternal. And the only way to stop that is by bringing an end to Twilight Sparkle."
"You're lying!" Moondancer protested.
"Am I?" Oculus Gloom chuckled, turning her gaze back to the Pokemon, all of whom were struggling to fight back the transformation.
Some of the Pokemon and even their Trainers had given in, succumbing to the Nightmare Energy and were now beginning their transformations, screaming and crying as their cells were changing, becoming the stuff of nightmares.
The process was already taking place, starting from the very core of the body. Their bones were shifting and cracking, changing into a far more monstrous form, and their organs were beginning to shift as well. Some of the Pokemon's faces were distorting, becoming terrifying.
Scootaloo was forced to watch as her Rapidash was no longer recognizable, his body morphing and changing, the sound of bones breaking was loud enough to hear. She would look down at her own body, realizing that she would be next.
"S-Stop! Let him go!" Scootaloo tried to move about, attempting to wiggle her way out, but nothing was working. Her limbs were too weak and she could hardly even move.
"Much like how it is pointless to resist the transformation, it will also be pointless for you to even try and defeat us." Oculus Gloom continued. "I know for a fact you cannot bring yourself to destroy Twilight Sparkle. Even if she is not the one from your Universe. I tell you this because this confirms our victory. You cannot hope to stop us, no matter what you do. Your universe has lost and the Nightmare Monsters are unstoppable."
"Oh, Twilight..." For Twilight Velvet, that was soul crushing. To hear that her daughter was the very power source for this enemy was too much for her. The thought of destroying her own daughter was horrifying and she didn't know if she could even attempt to do so. No one would wish to do such a thing.
As a result, Twilight Velvet and friends of Twilight suddenly had Nightmare Energy surrounding their bodies, reacting to their emotions. They would soon find themselves getting closer to their restraints, almost like they were being pulled forward.
"Hm. It appears the Nightmare Energy is responding to you. How fitting." Oculus Gloom uttered. "By learning this, you have gained a new Nightmare. The Destruction of your Daughter or Friend. Either one works. With this, corrupting you will be 10x easier than it was before."
Just then, the walls of this area would break open, resulting in debris falling down. Oculus Gloom's attention turned to the source of the disturbance, seeing some Nightmare Monsters fall down.
"Hm?!" Oculus gasped as through the smoke and the dust was none other than Dimstar and the Vampires, all of whom had managed to break in.
"Dimstar!" Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and some of the Ponyville Residents bellowed.
"Found you. It looks like you're doing what I expected." Dimstar narrowed her eyes, her tendrils floating around, unseen by everyone else. "Are you all alright? You're not hurt, are you?"
"Well, this is a surprise." Oculus Gloom slithered to the side when gazing at the Vampires. "To see fellow Creatures of the Night such as your self assisting them is strange. To think that you Vampires actually sided with them. How pathetic."
"They saved us from centuries of darkness, so we owe everything to them." Dimstar scowled. "While we still live in darkness, it has a brightness to it very much needed. And right now, you Nightmare Monsters and your Universe are attempting to take that light away from us. So we won't stand for it."
"Yeah, yeah!" Eccentrick bellowed, waving her hooves and supporting Dimstar. "What she said!"
"We're gonna save all of you. So hold on." Dimstar would then extend her tentacles, aiming straight for the Shadow Slime Monster, who was unable to see the tendrils coming its way. No one could.
The Shadow Slime Monster was suddenly struck by a powerful impact, causing the whole body to shake and tremble. A massive dent was formed on its body, which caused it to wobble and stagger.
"Wh-What...!?" Oculus Gloom was baffled, feeling the impact despite not being the one hit. The Shadow Slime Monster was thrown to the side, the ponies within being freed from its grasp. All of their bodies were still covered in slime, so they were still rather sluggish.
"Ugh..." Mayor Mare groaned, her body covered in slime. All of them groaned as they were trying to get the slime off of their bodies as they laid there. Oculus Gloom would growl before glaring at Dimstar. The vampires immediately rushed over to try and grab all the ponies, taking them away.
"You will not interfere! Begone!" Oculus Gloom hissed, extending her own tendrils and shooting them towards the vampires. Dimstar noticed how she had tendrils herself, quickly blocking the incoming attack by having her own tendrils clash against hers.
"D-Dimstar...Our Pokemon..." Apple Bloom groaned while being picked up by one of Dimstar's tendrils. The Half-Lich Half-Vampire glanced at the Pokemon, seeing how some of them had started transforming, and others were already done, their bodies looking nothing like they used to.
"It's too late. It's already started. You can't do anything about them now. If I were you, I'd be more concerned about yourselves!" Oculus would lash out, swinging her tendrils in multiple directions. Dimstar's eyes widened, quickly throwing her vampires aside before getting hit, her body moving around rapidly.
Dimstar's tentacles would be sent flying, the impact strong enough to cause the half-lich and half-vampire to spin around in circles. She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain. She then narrowed her eyes, deciding to respond in kind.
"I won't let you stop us!" Dimstar would suddenly extend her own tendrils, shooting them directly at Oculus Gloom. The single-eyed monster was hit by the attacks, feeling the impact of Dimstar's invisible tentacles.
However, despite being unable to see Dimstar's invisible tendrils, Oculus Gloom was still managing to block them. She could sense the attack coming, her senses allowing her to feel the air currents and movements in the area.
"I gotcha!" Ecentrick, using her Reverse Magic, placed her hoof on some of the Pokemon here, undoing the transformation that took place. Oculus was stunned. The magic would overlay the Nightmare Energy, promptly reversing it to what the Pokemon originally had. Infinity Energy.
"Impossible...She has the power to reverse it so easily...?" Oculus Gloom was dumbfounded, never expecting something like this.
Those who were grabbed would be led out by the vampires one by one, all of whom were making their escape. But some of the ponies were still unable to get up, their bodies still covered in the Shadow Slime.
"You aren't going anywhere." Oculus Gloom snarled as her eye would suddenly flash. From the floor, a dark substance would emerge, shooting up. It was like a liquid, a black puddle that emerged, and it would cover the floor, spreading itself around the entire room.
"What the heck is this stuff?!" Eccentrick yelped, her hooves being covered in the stuff. The vampires and the ponies were all shocked, their feet, hooves covered in the dark liquid.
"This is the liquid that makes up my body. While it is not my main form, this is the substance I'm composed of. This liquid will cover your entire bodies, keeping you in place and making you unable to move. If you think any of you are leaving, you are greatly mistaken. Especially you, Lich.
Dimstar gasped, her eyes widened as Oculus Gloom turned to her. "Having a Lich as a Nightmare Monster will also do us wonders. You're not just an obstacle, but a powerful one. I can't let you leave. If I do, then my Mistress will be disappointed."
"Ngh...!" Dimstar growled, struggling to break free from the substance. Oculus Gloom would cut off the exit to her base, preventing the others from escaping. That substance would rapidly move across her base, blocking off all doors, windows, and exits.
The vampires who were moving through the base found the entrances being covered, which would trap them all. The entire building was covered in a dark substance, which would make it extremely difficult to escape.
Dimstar snarled at Oculus Gloom, knowing she wasn't leaving here as soon as possible. She would have to get past this problem first and it certainly wouldn't be easy. Not when Oculus Gloom was Nightmare Rarity's Right-Hand and most loyal Servant.
Within the Palace, Celestia was having to deal with the obstacles inside. There were Nightmare Knights, the same ones as the one Sweetie Belle had defeated earlier. All of them were coming her way, attacking her. In response, Celestia had brought out her Kommo-o to take on these Nightmare Knights and their heavy weapons.
At the same time, the castle was attempting to sabotage her, being filled with Nightmare Monsters that exist in the walls, stairs and so on. Kommo-o had blocked the swords that were aiming to strike, parrying their attacks and striking them with his claws. He would unleash Dragon Claw, launching some of them back with sheer strength.
He would then proceed to unleash a flurry of blows on the Knight, landing multiple hits before finally knocking them away. Kommo-o's arms were swift, delivering heavy strikes to the Nightmare Monsters, showing why he is the Dragon type known for his fists.
Celestia was quick to follow, releasing a powerful flash of light that dispersed some of the Nightmare Monsters. Their bodies fizzled out, vanishing into nothingness, their energy being sent back to the Veiled Mistress.
Gardevoir's Dazzling Gleam would do the same thing, sending the remaining Nightmare Knights back, which left a clear path for her and her Trainer. As Kommo-o was dealing with some of the obstacles, Gardevoir's eyes would glow as she levitated objects with her Psychic, creating a pathway through the castle.
One of the doors opened up, revealing to be another monster with a massive mouth. These doors and the entrance they held would release a storm of Nightmare Energy, shooting out to hit Celestia and Passion, who narrowly managed to dodge the attack, running into the hallway.
"Passion! Plasma Bolt!" Celestia bellowed after dodging it.
"Garde...!" By combining Mystical Fire and Thunderbolt, the result is the powerful Plasma Bolt. A powerful beam of electricity and fire would strike the door, leaving a hole in the entrance and a charred spot where the monster was. The door would melt, collapsing to the floor, allowing her and Passion to run through.
"Kommo-o! Dragon Rush!" As Kommo-o continued battling the Nightmare Monsters, Celestia had him deliver a swift attack that was far more devastating, sending the opponents flying. They were all knocked back, which made Kommo-o's way to his trainer easier.
"Go!" Kommo-o nodded, joining Celestia and Passion. The group would make their way through the hallway, running down the steps while being careful of the floor and stairs.
Eventually, while moving, Celestia suddenly heard a voice inside her head. She paused, as the voice rang out to her, the Sun Princess narrowing her eyes. She looked to the right, noticing that the sound was coming from that direction.
Celestia stopped her movements, her gaze being focused on the door in front of her. Gardevoir and Kommo-o, alongside Passion, looked at Celestia, confused.
"Gardevoir...?" Passion uttered.
"That voice..." Celestia's eyes widened, recognizing the voice. It was familiar. She would start walking over, approaching the door. This door didn't have any special tricks to it. So far, this was the most normal door in the castle, which was strange. And the room itself was the size of a broom closet.
And in this room, which was a mere broom closet, was a pony who had been missing since the attack began. Celestia's eyes widened upon opening the door, realizing that this room was some sort of ballet room. And in it was a statue of Luna, one that was dressed in a ballet outfit.
The Princess of the Night had been turned into a statue, frozen in time, and she was here.
"Luna...!" Celestia gasped, rushing over to her sister. It appeared that the only thing Nightmare Rarity couldn't freeze was her voice as she was constantly calling out her sister's name.
"Sister..." Luna cried out. That was only the word she could spout. But it was enough for Celestia to know that it was really her. Celestia could hear the sorrow in her voice. The cruelty behind this was clear. Nightmare Rarity had turned her version of Luna into a statue, making her a living decoration.
Celestia placed her hoof on Luna gently, her eyes narrowing. Touching the statue allowed Luna to finally stop spinning, standing perfectly still. Luna's eyes would meet her sister's, who was clearly distraught, seeing the state of her younger sister. With her horn glowing, Celestia would begin to use her magic on the statue, hoping she could turn it back.
Thankfully, that was the case. Her magic was strong enough to return her sister back to her normal self. The material of the stature shattered before fizzling out, revealing Luna to be standing there.
"Sister...?" Luna uttered with a weak voice as she collapsed. Celestia managed to catch her, looking into her little sister's eyes. Her eyes were hollow and void, no longer full of life. But she was still able to speak, so she was conscious, even though her eyes looked lifeless.
"It's alright, Luna. I'm here." Celestia held her close. "What happened...? She turned you into a statue? Flurry Heart did mention how Nightmare Rarity would go from universe to universe, taking the princesses of the world and turning them into statues, decorating her castle with them."
If only this Luna could say anything else. She was far too weak right now, the effects of her transformation into a statue being clear. Her body was incredibly cold, shivering. Celestia would hold onto her, trying to warm her up with her magic. The warmth of the Sun would surely help, and she was more than happy to provide it.
It even burned away the ballet dress that Luna was wearing, removing it completely as a way to be free from Nightmare Rarity. But she wasn't free just yet. Not until everything else was done.
Luna actually did feel warm, but she wasn't saying a word, her eyes looking at her sister. Luna couldn't stay here. Not in this universe. Not with this conflict happening. Celestia wasn't sure which Universe she came from to take her back and she couldn't exactly say it right now.
"You need to be somewhere safe. Far away from here. Kommo-o." Celestia then faced Kommo-o. "Take her back to our universe. Send her to the Pikachu Highlands. They'll keep her safe there. Once you do, come back."
"Ko! Kommo!" Kommo-o bowed. He would then carry the weakened Princess, heading straight for the exit. Celestia would turn her gaze back to her sister, whose body was still quivering.
"Don't worry, Luna. You'll be fine. We'll handle things from here. I promise." Celestia spoke, causing Luna to look her way. The Moon Princess's body was still shivering, her eyes not blinking. But she did eventually nod her head, letting Celestia know that she had understood.
She would watch her sister walk away, her body being held by Kommo-o. She had faith that the Pokemon would be able to bring her sister back to her Universe safely, knowing how much strength they have.
But for the Princess of the Night, it was over for her. She couldn't do a single thing anymore. This Universe's Luna had already fallen and her place was taken by her own.
"Nightmare Rarity...!" Celestia growled, furious at what Nightmare Rarity had done to her sister. Alternate Universe or not, Nightmare Rarity had no right to do such a thing. Not to any princess. And that's what made her so unforgivable. She had a greater drive to bring her empire down as she continued on her way, searching for the throne room.
This anger that was burning up in Celestia was potent indeed. Potent enough for a small flicker of flames to show up in her mane.
Luna and Darkrai would be forced to endure the wrath of the Nightmare Queen, who had entered the Dream Realm to put an end to the both of them, aiming to finish what started 2 years ago.
Flashes of Magic that mirrored the Night went off. One from Luna and one from Nightmare Rarity. With Darkrai, the two were putting their best foot forward. Darkrai had unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt, his body surrounded by electrical power.
The Pitch-Black Pokemon had become an electrifying sight, becoming a living weapon as he would dash over, only for Nightmare Rarity to leave behind an afterimage of herself that was surrounded by rather explosive magic.
"Gah!" Darkrai cried out when struck by the explosion, the force throwing him off course. He would be blown back, his body trembling. Nightmare Rarity chuckled, watching the Pitch Black Pokemon struggle to get back up, his body covered in bruises.
"Try again, darling~" Nightmare Rarity taunted while giggling.
"Grrr...!" Luna's eyes were narrowed, glaring at the Nightmare Queen. Luna's horn would flash, unleashing a beam of energy directly at her. Nightmare Rarity's eyes would widen as the beam would suddenly be cut off, the explosion being halted and the light dispersed.
"Oh, you were aiming for me, weren't you?" Nightmare Rarity snickered, having blocked the attack with her hair, her hair forming a wall to protect her.
"Luna!" Darkrai shouted, getting up. Luna's eyes would widen, feeling an extreme pressure.
"What?! Gah!" Luna was suddenly slammed by the air, feeling an impact from above her. It was a force so heavy and powerful that it managed to knock her back, causing her to fall through the space of the Dream Realm.
The Moon Princess would find her body crashing through multiple dream bubbles before managing to recover. But the second she recovered, two long Nightmare Streams would fly in her direction, straight from Nightmare Rarity's mane. Luna gasped, narrowly managing to sway her body and evade the two streams.
The streams would turn around and strike Luna again, forcing her to dodge once more. The two strands would keep chasing her, moving around rapidly. Luna would fly down, but the strands followed her.
"How annoying...!"
"They aren't just strands of hair! They are extensions of my mind. If I want them to follow you, then they'll follow you no matter where you go! I'm controlling them!" Nightmare Rarity smirked. "And if you think you can escape, then think again!"
Nightmare Rarity's two strands would suddenly split apart, becoming a total of 4. Two strands had merged together, making two new strands. Luna's eyes widened, watching as the 4 strands would come her way.
In response, Luna cast a spell that made the Streams soft, slowing them down and causing them to become easy to avoid. The strands of hair would continue following Luna, but their movements had slowed down drastically. After slowing them down, Luna would then look up to see some Dream Bubbles being thrown her way, covered in Nightmare Magic.
The bubbles were like bombs, and if Luna got hit by them, she would be sent falling down, giving Nightmare Rarity a chance to land an attack on her. However, that would also mean that the dreams would be endangered, breaking apart.
Thinking fast, Luna would summon a massive pocket of Magic, forming a large sphere around the area, protecting it. The Dream Bubbles collided with the sphere, but it managed to hold up, keeping the bubble intact.
"Hah...At this rate, even one dream might fall apart." Luna muttered.
"That's the idea." Nightmare Rarity smirked. "If a single Dream is destroyed, it will be an incredible setback for you and Darkrai. You can't afford to do so since you're so dedicated to protecting the dreams of everyone. Quite the weaknesss you two have."
"You call it a weakness, but I believe it's a strength. It shows how much we care for the dreams of everypony." Luna replied. "Unlike you. Which shouldn't be the case since you used to be somepony who cared for others. The Rarity we know. What happened? How could you let Nightmare Moon overtake you?"
"Bah. I wasn't overtaken. I welcomed her. We made an agreement. And of course, I ended up being the one to overtake her in the end when her guard was down. And ever since then, I've been living this life to the fullest, doing whatever I please."
"By doing this to your own home? You abandoned everything and turned your own friends and family into decorations. You aren't Rarity anymore. Not in this Universe."
"Hm." She rolled her eyes. "That's why this isn't your Universe. Get used to it. There are some worlds out there that just have a pre-destined outcome. This is just how things were always meant to be."
"Ngh..."
"Besides. Do you know how good it feels to have power over your friends? To have your family bow down to you? To be feared and respected? I've always wanted a massive level of attention and now, I have all of it in my world! And right now, you and your universe might ruin it for me! So beat it!" From her body, Nightmare Rarity would unleash a powerful storm of Nightmare Magic that would spread far and wide in an instant.
Darkrai found himself being launched back by the storm, being unable to endure it. He would cry out, his body being sent flying through the Dream Realm.
"Darkrai!" Luna shouted, watching him fly. Nightmare Rarity had sent him back to the real world, leaving him unable to help. It was a devastating loss, leaving Luna alone with the Nightmare Queen.
"Now then. Without your friend, what do you intend to do? Are you going to surrender and let me have my way? Because otherwise, I can make sure the dreams here never happen." Nightmare Rarity chuckled.
"Tch! Go, Zekrom!" Luna quickly summoned another Poke Ball, unleashing Zekrom. The Dragon Electric-Type burst out of his Poke Ball with a crash of lightning, flying alongside Luna.
"Gh!" Nightmare Rarity actually looked intimidated the second Darkrai arrived. Zekrom's presence was enough to cause her to flinch.
"As long as I have my friends with me, no matter how many, I can win this!" Luna declared with Zekrom roaring at the top of his lungs.
"Kh...I forgot that she had a Zekrom." Nightmare Rarity grumbled. Seeing Zekrom here made her think for a moment. Unlike Darkrai, who took a lot of damage, Zekrom was healthy and ready to fight.
"Alright! Use Bolt Strike!"
Zekrom roared, flying through the sky, gathering up the lightning energy needed. His body was surrounded by electrical power, becoming a living lightning bolt. And with a single swipe of his claw, the electrical energy would be fired directly at Nightmare Rarity.
The Nightmare Queen growled, having her two strands of hair block the attack, which would result in the strands being destroyed. Nightmare Rarity's strands of hair were no match for the raw power of a Legendary Dragon.
"Hah!" With Zekrom's power, Luna was now able to push back the Nightmare Queen. Zekrom would charge up his Dragon Pulse, his mouth glowing bright with a purple light. He would fire a beam of energy straight for her, catching the Nightmare Queen off-guard.
Nightmare Rarity just barely managed to create an afterimage of herself to avoid the beam. She would find the two of them charging her way, forcing her to move out of the way, evading them.
"Zekrom could be a problem." Nightmare Rarity said to herself. "And I bet she has more Pokemon that have yet to battle. If I am to win this, I'll have to resort to my more greater spells. But first..."
Nightmare Rarity would fly up, summoning her dark clouds. They were dark clouds of Nightmare Magic, and the second she called upon them, Nightmare Rarity would begin unleashing a torrential downpour of Nightmare rain.
However, this rain had different properties compared to the rest and it was mainly Zekrom who would feel it the most.
"What is this?!" Zekrom grunted, the rain coming in contact with his body, feeling the Nightmare Energy. It was strong enough to make him falter. His body started slowing down, the rain coming down harder.
But it wasn't just heavy. This rain was doing something unique to Zekrom. Around his body, bizarre scales were forming, covering his body. This wasn't a form of corruption, but something else.
"Hohoho! I was saving this for Necrozma, but I guess you'll do!" Nightmare Rarity chortled, seeing how the scales were now beginning to glow, the light growing stronger.
"Z-Zekrom?!" Luna cried out, not expecting to see this happening. "What did you do to him?!"
"Something meant for Legendary Pokemon. Think of it as an adhesive. It'll stick to the Legendary Pokemon and make their power more explosive than it is normally! Like a ticking time bomb. Originally, we were going to use it on Necromza once he absorbed enough light from other universes. But it looks like I'll be testing it out on him instead. That's fine, however. Zekrom naturally has a ton of energy. This is a good way to test the waters."
"For Necrozma? You mean Daybreaker's Necrozma?" Luna gasped.
"Spot on! I'm not too big a fan of Daybreaker being in charge. While she's a great leader, I obviously want to stand at the top. So me and the others came together to find a way to deal with Nerozma, but only when he's at his absolute best. When he ends up getting all the light that he needs to finally restore his full power, that is when we will strike. But that time hasn't come yet, so I'll try it out on Zekrom. I worked hard to create this spell."
"Zekrom! Use Dragon Pulse!" Luna shouted. Zekrom would begin building up Draconic Energy in his body, preparing the attack. However, the second he was about to release it, his body would begin to tremble, the light from the scales getting stronger. And with an intense burst, Zekrom's Dragon Pulse flew out but it resulted in an explosion.
"Gah!" Zekrom cried out, the explosion sending him flying back, his body trembling. It would reach Luna as well, causing her to shield herself, protecting herself.
"Wh-What's going on with Zekrom...?" Luna wondered.
"Hm-hm-hm! Works just like how I expect it to! Marvellous! Right now, Zekrom's power is rising, overflowing even. It's too much for him to handle and it's building up, causing the scales to glow. They will eventually go off and explode, resulting in an immense explosion. And that's just for the first phase. In the end, the energy will build up until he'll no longer be able to handle it, forcing him to let it out."
"Why you...!" Luna growled.
"Did you really think I was going to take on a Zekrom? Are you insane? There's no way I can defeat him in combat. So the next best thing is to make him lose by force. If the scales keep glowing, his power will only grow. To the point where he will have no choice but to unleash an attack to expend it. That will destroy the dream bubbles, and you can't afford that, can you?"
"Ngh!" Just as Nightmare Rarity said, Zekrom would unleash another attack from his body, but this time, it was unintentional. It forced itself out of him as a Fusion Bolt was unleashed, combusting in front of him. Zekrom would struggle to contain the power inside his body, gritting his teeth.
"Oh, dear. It's happening sooner than I thought. Perhaps because this is my first time testing the waters with this spell. Regardless, with this..I can win!" Taking advantage of this, Nightmare Rarity unleashed a beam of Nightmare Magic directly at Zekrom, landing a direct hit.
"Ze...Zekrom!" Luna cried out. Zekrom was then launched in her direction, his massive body coming her way. Luna quickly tried slowing him down with his magic, but his weight was far too much. As a result, Luna was hit and sent flying through the Dream Realm, the impact being enough to disrupt her mind, her thoughts getting jumbled.
Nightmare Rarity wasn't letting up. She would launch some more Dream Bubbles at Luna, who would just barely recover. By using her magic, Luna would be able to deflect the bubbles away. However, some would still hit, which would result in a few dream bubbles taking damage, their contents being exposed to the open air.
Zekrom would try catching some, only for his energy to explode from his body yet again. A burst of electrictiy flew out, damaging some of the Dream Bubbles in the process. Seeing this, Zekrom would cease his intention to catch them, resulting in him being slammed by a barrage of Dream Bubbles.
"Ah! This is splendid!" Nightmare Rarity cackled, revelling in this. "Where's all that bravado, Luna?! I bet you were excited to have Zekrom finih things for you! Trusting in his power! Well, look at you now! Look at how pathetic he is!"
"Zekrom...!" Luna was struggling, trying to come up with a plan. But nothing was coming to mind. She was unable to focus on anything else, the situation growing worse by the second. Another outburst of Zekrom's energy would go off, shocking Luna with 500,000 Volts of electricity, the shockwave knocking her back.
"Oh, dear. What a shame. I'm going to enjoy watching the dreams of countless individuals fade into nothing. Especially if it's your fault. This is a wonderful sight."
"Y-You coward...!" Luna growled, her body staggering from the volts. "Using such tactics...I thought you felt confident in your strength? Believing that you could defeat me ever since our last encounter."
"Hmph. Rich coming from the one using Legendary and Mythical Pokemon to do all the work." Nightmare Rarity chuckled. "I'm simply taking the opportunity presented before me. Don't be so naive."
"Grr...!" Luna scowled, hating that this was happening. She knew she couldn't let any dreams fall. Not when she was in charge of protecting them. So the Princess of the Night would do the best thing she could do, which was to try and stop Zekrom's rampage, trying to hold his body down and calm him.
However, before she could do so, something caught Nightmare Rarity's attention. Something very intriguing. The Nightmare Queen would turn her head, her gaze shifting elsewhere. Her eyes widened as she spotted a Dream Bubble belonging to a certain someone.
"Well, what do we have here?" With a snicker, she used her magic to bring the dream over. And the one this dream belonged to was none other than Luna. "Ah...This is one of your dreams, isn't it? The Dream you had when you were just a filly."
"Don't you dare...!" Luna hissed, her eyes narrowed.
"Hmmmm..." Nightmare Rarity would hum, looking at the dream. "A little filly dreaming of her sister. How cute. And it looks like this is all before Nightmare Moon was a growing force within you. When you still had a good relationship with Celestia at the time. Lovely. But I wonder...if this is a dream of the past, what would happen if I ruined it? Hm?"
"You wouldn't!"
"Duh! I would! If I ruin this dream...then how will that affect your relationship with you sister? I wonder if that will reverse everything that's led to your powerful bond now. That's an interesting thought, isn't it? Let's see what happens!" Wasting no time, from Nightmare Rarity's body, she would summon her Tantabus, a black monster resembling a shadowy stallion.
Luna's eyes would widen. "No! Wait!" She shouted. The Tantabus would enter the dream, resulting in the dream turning black, a white moon forming above.
"Stop!" Luna bellowed, trying to fly towards it, but she was unable to. Her body was still recovering, and her limbs wouldn't move, preventing her from getting to the bubble
"Hm-hm-hm...Hahahaha!" Nightmare Rarity would laugh, enjoying the sight. As this dream was being corrupted, Luna's body would suddenly start feeling a powerful surge of magic rushing through her. A rather painful one too.
"Ah! What the...?!" Luna would groan, feeling a powerful rush of pain, the magic coursing through her.
"Oho. Since this dream has your sister in a good light, ruining it has caused an extreme change in your magic. Most likely, because of Nightmare Moon. Without this Dream being how it should be, your resentment towards your sister will grow from this point. And since you've already made peace with Nightmare Moon, that peace is being disturbed in the past."
"Rrgh!" Luna cried out, feeling the effects. Even the dream was changing, showing a different scene. Nightmare Rarity would watch, finding the changes quite funny.
"Now then. What other Dream of yours can I find?" Nightmare Rarity looked around. Using her magic, she would start organizing the Dream Bubbles much like how Luna does. But this time, Nightmare Rarity was in control, finding the most precious Dreams of the Lunar Princess.
"Ooooh, this looks tasty. How about we give this one a go?" From her body, a Tantabus would break out, entering the bubble, which would cause a change in the dream. Another powerful surge of magic would course through her, causing Luna to scream.
"I'm guessing this Dream has a similar theme to the last one. Oh, wait! I know! This is when you first raised the Moon! A rather crucial moment for you. This was when you got a glimpse of when your sister's popularity when it comes to the Sun. And how you were less popular. Granted, you didn't think too much of it in the beginning since it was your first time. Let's change that shall we?"
The Tantabus would corrupt the Dream, changing the scene. Instead of thinking little of it, the past Luna was immediately dreaming of her sister overshadowing her, showing a sense of resentment and hatred towards her.
"Ngh! Stop it!" Luna groaned. She felt a powerful surge of magic coursing through her body, her powers fluctuating. With the past affected once more, the magic that she shared with Nightmare Moon was violently moving around.
Nightmare Rarity wouldn't stop, searching for more Dream Bubbles belonging to Luna by organizing them. Zekrom's energy would burst once more, sending him flying even further back. Luna would try catching him, but with her own power fluctuating, she couldn't focus her magic on anything.
The Tantabus would start flying through various dreams of Luna's past, infecting them with Nightmares. It was mainly the dreams that were precious to her, where she had a good relationship with her sister at the time.
The changes would affect the future, causing an effect in the present. Luna's magic would continue to fluctuate, the Nightmare Energy coursing through her body. Her magic was unstable, her mind not in the right state.
Nightmare Rarity would keep this up, searching for more Dreams and Corrupting them, resulting in more and more Nightmares flowing through Luna. At the same time, the past and present was changing, making Luna's feelings towards her sister worsen.
Zekrom was losing his ability to fight back. He was struggling to control the energy building up within him, his body growing more volatile. He was struggling, and the more Nightmare Rarity kept this up, the more the scales would glow, his energy building up even more.
"This is truly wonderful! Now, acept your fate, Luna! Accept that I've won this! And that you're not going to do anything about it!"
"N-Never...!" Luna snarled, her body shaking. She was struggling to stay afloat, her eyes gazing at Nightmare Rarity. "I will never give up. As long as I have my friends with me and a world I need to protect, I will always find a way!"
"Oh, dear. I'm afraid not. I don't want to hear you say that. After all, your words will be meaningless in the end." Nightmare Rarity smirked. "Once Zekrom's power gets too much, he'll have no choice but to expel it all. And if I'm correct, that will cause him to explode, taking out the dream bubbles and destroying them all. You've failed, Luna. I've won." "Gh...! Th-That can't happen...! Not now!" Luna was horrified.
"But if you want me to make it easy on you, here. I'll do you a favour and knock you out!" From her horn, Nightmare Rarity unleashed a powerful beam of energy.
Luna was unable to dodge, getting hit in the side. The Moon Princess was sent flying, crashing through the air. She was then sent down, slamming against the ground of the Dream Realm, which would have the same effects as a meteor crashing. Luna wasn't aware that the Dream Realm had a ground at all, believing it was just a vast space.
"Z-Zekrom..." Luna groaned while on her back, gazing up. Her strength was waning, her body exhausted. The laughter of Nightmare Rarity echoed across the Dream Realm, the Nightmare Queen taunting her. Luna would also look up to see Nightmare Monsters beginning to emerge from the Dream Bubbles that they've already conquered.
"You can't get out of this. I'm not going to let you. You and Zekrom will stay here, and watch the dreams fade away. And once the dream bubbles are gone, you and your precious friend will be stuck here forever. And no one will find you." Nightmare Rarity chuckled, approaching Luna. "I'm going to enjoy watching you lose. Just like how I've lost. And the second your heart has shattered, I'll absorb the magic within you and your friends."
Universe 5.
Meanwhile, in the real world, Dimstar's group stood before Oculus Gloom, with the Nightmare Monster standing proudly. All the exits and entrances were covered in a dark liquid that made up Oculus'sown body, making it difficult to escape.
Dimstar stood strong, glaring at Oculus Gloom with fury in her eyes. Not only that, the Pokemon that had already turned into Nightmare Monsters were also standing in front of her. There were 13 of them, all corrupted and standing at the ready.
"Ohoho! Look at all those Pokemon! You must really care for them! What a shame that they're going to be part of my collection!" Oculus Gloom laughed, her body trembling in excitement. "I can't wait to decorate the halls with all of you!"
"My Stoutland..." Mayor Mare was in shock as her own Stoutland was among the corrupted, his eyes glowing purple. His body was covered in Nightmare Energy, becoming a Nightmare Monster.
"All of you, stay back." Dimstar ordered. "You're all far too weak and injured to get involved in this. If you get too close, you might fall prey to the Nightmare Monsters. So stay back and let me handle things."
"But we can't get them to safety, Dimstar. All this gross stuff's blocking our way." Eccentrick pointed out. "How do we keep them safe?"
"Like this." Using her magic, Dimstar conjured up a barrier that would protect her allies, including the Pokemon. The barrier was powerful, and it would hold for quite some time. It would prevent any Nightmare Monsters from coming their way, keeping them protected. "The rest of you will focus on removing this substance while I take care of her."
"Foolish Lich. You have no idea what you're dealing with." Oculus Gloom cackled. "In this universe, we've already dealt with all of you Vampires. The Veiled Mistress even made you all special decorations in the castle."
"Is that so?" Dimstar narrowed her eyes.
"Yes. Your species were some of the easiest to deal with. You are also creatures of the Night, so manipulating you was not an issue for the Veiled Mistress. Espeally after crafting something to defeat you."
"And what would that be?"
"This." Oculus Gloom would bring up the dark liquid, causing a change in the environment. The room would turn pitch black, leaving the entire space in darkness. Everyone was left blinded, unable to see a single thing. Even the vampires. Only Dimstar was able to see a thing. The vampires and the ponies all gasped once everything was filled with darkness, not expecting this.
"Wh-What happened?!" Apple Bloom was the most shocked, not able to see anything. "It's so dark!"
"Hmm...!" Dimstar growled while narrowing her eyes. "What is this? What are you up to?"
"Ah...Seems you can see through the darkness. That must be because of your Lich Half." Oculus Gloom eerily said. "No matter. You'll be able to witness what will become of your fellow vampires. You all come from a land where some of the most common nightmares are a regular occurrence. You're used to living in a harsh and dark place. Normally, nothing nightmarish should affect, you correct?"
"Exactly. So what's the point in doing this?" Dimstar questioned, her eyes following Oculus Gloom's movements each time she would vanish and reappear in the darkness.
"The Veiled Mistress made sure that would never be the case ever again. Using her amazing power, she merged every ounce of her Nightmare Magic to create a new variation of Nightmares. One that is made to affect even those that are immune to such things."
"Hmph. That's a lot of effort just to go after us. I guarantee you, there is nothing we fear. Especially not me." Dimstar declared. "So whatever you throw at me, I'll be fine."
"Ah...Tell them that." Oculus giggled deviously, prompting Dimstar to turn her head. There, she witnessed her fellow vampires all with faces of fear, terror, and horror. They were all experiencing the same nightmare, their minds being filled with one thing that struck fear into all of them.
"Wh-What?! Everyone...!" Dimstar gasped, seeing the other vampires all suffering the same effects. They were all terrified, unable to fight back. It was almost like they were paralyzed, unable to move a single inch.
"I-It can't be..." Eccentrick's heart was beating fast as she stepped back, mortified by what she was seeing. Or rather, who she was seeing. All the vampires were viewing the same individual. The one being who brought fear into their hearts and was terrifying enough to be considered a Nightmare. A Nightmare to all Vampires.
Very soon, Dimstar would enhance her vision, seeing what they were seeing, and she was also shocked to see the being in front of her fellow vampires.
It was none other than Opal Vivacity.
The beautiful yet cruel vampire who brought them all so much suffering for centuries and the sister of Dimstar. She was the only one they truly feared after what she had done to them all. Robbing them of enjoyment and true freedom for so long while working alongside the former Lich Queen and the other Lich Kings and Queens of the past, bringing Magehold into a grim time.
While Opal was no more, the memories of her and what she did to them were still fresh, causing them all to have the same fear, the same Nightmare.
"Opal..." Eccentrick and the other ponies were in shock. They weren't aware that this was a Nightmare, but that is exactly what made this magic so effective. It looked like Opal Vivacity herself was actually here.
"If I recall correctly, Opal Vivacity was a plague on Magehold, wasn't she? The perfect Nightmare to use against the vampires. Remind them of them who had such an overpowering presence over them all. It's so delicious, watching them tremble in fear." Oculus Gloom chuckled. "But of course, there's you Dimstar. You aren't the least bit terrified of her."
"Of course not! She's already been defeated so I have nothing to fear!" Dimstar roared.
"But your fellow vampires haven't gotten over her yet it seems. Unfortunately for you, this kind of fear...Fuels my strength!" From the dark floor, a tendril would rise, uppercutting Dimstar without her even seeing it. The attack caught her off-guard, the lich's body flying through the air.
"Ugh!" Dimstar bounced on the floor, her movements invisible to everyone else who were only viewing the darkness. The vampires would cry out in fear, the illusionary version of Opal approaching them.
Cries from the darkness came out, the vampires screaming at the sight of Opal Vivacity. The ponies couldn't see a thing. All they could hear were the voices of the vampires and the screams of fear.
Dimstar growled as another pair of tendrils would strike at her body, knocking her around. She was unable to see them coming in time, having her body moved around by these attacks.
"You vampires are such weaklings. Your fear of Opal is a delight! The perfect fuel for me!"
"Shut up...!" Dimstar hissed, trying to locate the Nightmare Monster. But with her senses clouded by the dark, it was difficult. Oculus Gloom wasn't moving, allowing Dimstar to see her position. This wasn't a problem until Oculus would teleport herself, the tendrils following Dimstar and striking her, moving around in the dark.
Dimstar's body would be struck, her limbs being thrown about as the tentacles kept her from being able to react in time. Eventually, she would crash, bouncing on the ground. She was struggling, unable to find the right moment to strike back.
"We Nightmares are fueled by the fears of others! With it, we can perform much better, no matter what!" Oculus cackled while rapidly beating down on Dimstar's body with her tendrils from above, whipping her. "Your fear is quite delicious! I hope it lasts a long time!"
Oculus continued to laugh while aggressively beating down on Dimstar. Not only that, but the Nightmare of Opal Vivacity would start harming the Vampires. At least, that's how it seemed. In reality, it was the Pokemon that have already been transformed who were attacking them, their appearance masked by the darkness, giving them the illusion that it was Opal Vivacity who was hurting them.
"How dare you...!" Dimstar's eyes would flare as she unleashed a black burst of darkness that would blow away the tendrils. But right after blowing them back, Oculus Gloom's body would start opening up. "What...?"
"I'll try and see what can scare you, Dimstar. But for now, I'll just have to knock you out first. And with these fears, I know for a fact I can pull that off with absolute ease. Now...Face my Nightmare Black Hole.
From Oculus Gloom's body, she would unleash a powerful vortex, a massive and destructive suction. This would be enough to suck up Dimstar's body, the lich trying to keep herself planted, her hooves digging into the ground.
"Urgh!" Dimstar grunted. She would then look back at everyone else, her gaze shifting to her fellow vampires. They were too terrified by Opal Vivacity to notice the vortex, the Pokemon attacking them.
Dimstar attempted to put up a shield, only being able to pull that off at the moment. She then witness the Vortex expand, flying towards her instead of just pulling everything in.
Her eyes widened once she saw the Vortex coming her way, prompting her to greatly increase the size of her shield. The second the vortex hit the shield, a powerful explosion followed right afterwards, a shockwave being sent across the area.
The ponies were thrown back, their bodies colliding against the barrier, which didn't budge. However, the impact would be enough to make it flicker, causing Dimstar to feel weakened. The building had a huge hole blown through it because of this impact, the debris flying around.
Dimstar was knocked out of the building, flying through her own shield and out into the open, rolling across the dark grass, forming a crater.
"Hmph." Oculus Gloom snickered as the vortex would cease. It would be too much for her to keep up, the Nightmare Monster feeling exhausted from using it.
Dimstar groaned, slowly getting back up as Oculus Gloom levitated herself out of her base, exiting outside. She looked down at Dimstar while the battle around them continued. Streams of Hyper Beams and Nightmare Energy could be seen flying everywhere.
"Not bad. For a Vampire-Lich Hybrid. But this is as far as you get." Oculus Gloom smirked as Dimstar's shield would collapse. Once it did, the ponies, Mayor Mare and the Pokemon were all exposed, no longer protected by the shield but they were still unable to see anything.
"Now then. I will take the pleasure of finishing you off and adding you to my collection. And once that's over, I'll deal with the others. After all, there are 13 Pokemon and 13 ponies. I'll need way more than that. And you're getting in the way of that, Dimstar. Once you're dealt with, you'll have no choice but to watch as your friends fall one by one, unable to do anything about it. Don't worry. I'll make sure you're an amazing Nightmare Monster after this."
"I think not..." Dimstar stood back up. Oculus scoffed at this attempt to be brave, responding to it by generating another powerful attack. Her eye would pulsate as she summoned a disgusting black sphere out of thin air, one the size of a building.
Oculus would then drop the sphere as it would crackle violently, getting ready to explode upon contact. Dimstar would be forced to put up a shield, blocking the sphere, but the shield wouldn't be strong enough, breaking apart.
The second it broke apart, the sphere would explode, the impact enough to knock back Dimstar. The Lich would fly through the air, her body being tossed about. She was sent crashing down, her body slamming against the ground, leaving a crater.
Oculus wouldn't stop there. She would generate another one of those spheres, throwing it at Dimstar. Dimstar would quickly conjure a barrier, but her shield was still far too weak. Just as it was about to drop, a bolt of lightning would fly over Dimstar, crashing into the Sphere, causing an explosion.
"Huh?" Oculus turned her head, spotting a familiar face. Standing before Dimstar was a human alongside a Pikachu. Behind him were six ponies in total and their own Pokemon. It was none other than Ash and his friends as they had finally arrived in this universe.
"We're here, Dimstar! And it looks like we're just in time." Ash declared.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu cried out.
"Ash! Everyone!" Dimstar bellowed, having the happiest face she's ever displayed in her life. Using one of the Travel Spheres, they had finally shown up in Universe 5 and two of them had the most displeased looks on their faces. Rarity and Applejack. After all, their sisters have been captured.
Oculus stared down Ash's group, a little agitated that they were here. The things she's heard from this group were troublesome, considering how difficult they were to deal with it. The Canterlot Guards noticed Ash's group arriving, also showing glee on their faces. They were more than happy to see them all. Ash put his hands together with a bright grin before shouting out.
"Okay! You guys look like you're having fun! So now, it's our turn! We're bringing an end to this!"
Inside the Castle, Celestia moved further through the halls, defeating as many Nightmare Monsters as she could, until she finally came across the throne room of Nightmare Rarity.
However, no one was there, but Celestia did manage to find someone else. Up on the ceiling, restrained by tendrils, was Sweetie Belle, unconscious and wrapped in the tendrils.
"Sweetie Belle!" Celestia called out, witnessing Sweetie Belle undergo a Nightmare Transformation a majority of her body was covered in scales, a Nightmare Energy coursing through her. By now, Sweetie Belle was mostly a Nightmare Monster as her cells and DNA have been fully rewritten by the Nightmare Magic.
Celestia used her magic, casting a spell that would destroy the tendrils, causing Sweetie Belle's body to fall. She would catch her, lowering her down. Celestia looked at the filly, seeing how much she's changed, which was a lot.
"Ngh..." Sweetie Belle's eyes were twitching, slowly opening up. The Nightmare Energy crackled around her body, making the little filly twitch in pain as her eyes were as black as the deepest darkness.
"Sweetie Belle? Sweetie Belle, are you okay?" Celestia asked, hoping that the Princess was still conscious.
"Princess..." Sweetie Belle uttered, her voice sounding a lot deeper, a lot more distorted.
"Sweetie Belle...Can you hear me?" Celestia tried reaching her, hoping she could help Sweetie Belle recover.
"P-Princess..." Sweetie Belle muttered, her mind being clouded. Clearly, she hadn't lost herself yet. And Celestia would have the perfect spell for the situation.
"Hold on, Sweetie Belle. Let me-" Celestia said, but her words would be interrupted once she sensed an attack incoming. Coming her way was some type of slash which snuck up on her, moving through the shadows, almost undetected.
Celestia's eyes as Passion would put up a Psychic Shield, catching the attack. And it was a good thing she did as she was able to catch a glimpse of her assailant. It was one of the Nightmare Knights.
This was none other than the same Nightmare Knight that had defeated Sweetie Belle and her Pokemon. He dragged his blade across the floor, slowly moving out of the shadows and showing himself. It remained here, guarding the Queen's throne while she was away.
"Hm..." Celestia scowled, glaring at the Nightmare Knight. She was prepared to fight, holding Sweetie Belle's body. The Knight slowly started approaching sound of his sword scraping the floor made a rather haunting sound, a sound that would be expected in a horror movie.
"Garde...!" Passion stood in front of Celestia and Passion, readying herself. But right now, Sweetie Belle wasn't safe here. Not all. Especially in her condition. So the Princess of the Sun would have to protect her. A shield was formed around the little unicorn, forming into a bubble as it would act as Sweetie Belle's protection.
"Stay in there. You'll be safe." Celestia whispered, gently placing Sweetie Belle's body inside, her body resting against the bubble's surface. Celestia would then stand up, staring at the Nightmare Knight. She would need someone to guard Sweetie Belle's barrier just in case. Taking out another Poke Ball, Celestia would summon her Arcanine.
"Arcanine! Protect Sweetie Belle!" The Princess ordered.
"Arcanine!" Arcanine nodded.
The Nightmare Knight would start picking up speed all of a sudden, getting closer and closer. The Knight would charge his sword, a burst of Nightmare Energy being unleashed as it would fly straight for Celestia.
"Gardevoir!" The Knight slashed, finally unleashing an attack, but Passion would block the attack, holding the Nightmare Knight back with Psychic.
A great wall of Psychic Energy arose once the blade connected, the Knight's sword struggling to slice through. But as it would continue to struggle, Passion would find herself struggling as well, feeling the strength behind the sword. The Embrace Pokemon growled when struggling against this blade.
However, she managed to push the Knight back, knocking him back, his sword sliding across the floor. The Knight would stop and pick up his sword, looking at the Princess.
Celestia would point her horn forward, firing a beam of light, but the Nightmare Knight would deflect the attack, sending it right back at her. Passion would catch the attack with her Psychic Energy, stopping it.
"Passion! Use Mystical Fire!"
"Garde...!" From her hands, she would release a flare of magical flames that flew through the air, heading straight for the Knight. The Nightmare Monster had his body engulfed in flames, sliding back across the floor. He was still standing strong, quickly swinging his sword and releasing an air pressure. This would cut through the fire, dissipating the flames.
After destroying the flames, the Knight would stab his blade into the floor, unleashing a surge of Nightmare Magic that would flow throughout the floor. The Princess' eyes widened, the surge getting closer. Passion would respond to this by using Thunderbolt, slamming her hands on the floor, sending a wave of electricity that would cancel out the surge.
However, the Knight was gone, the smoke covering him. Celestia couldn't even feel his presence anymore, having lost track of him. This caused her to step back, Passion taking a defensive stance.
"Gardevoir...?" The Embrace Pokemon would try and sense him, only to be caught off guard. Out of nowhere, the Nightmare Knight would appear right next to Passion, thrusting his sword forward, the blade landing directly. Passion grimaced, the blade sending her flying while also unleashing a powerful outburst of Nightmare Energy that would send a pressure around the area.
Passion crashed, bouncing across the floor, skidding as she was also sent through a pillar. After being sent flying, the Nightmare Monster turned his attention to Celestia. He immediately swung his sword, wasting no time.
Celestia reacted in time, releasing a bright flash of magic as a shield and an attack were combined, both colliding against the other. Celestia would struggle, her hooves firmly planted as she was pushing back.
The Nightmare Knight kept up the pressure, the blade slowly coming closer to her body. However, Celestia would use a little trick. The light would suddenly burst, blinding the Knight as the Princess would move her head.
"Voir!" Passion would recover, using Psychic to grab the Nightmare Monster's body from afar. She would hold him, lifting him up in the air, preventing him from moving. "Garde-Gardevoir!"
Celestia didn't waste a second. She would immediately charge a blast of light, firing a laser. The attack would fly towards the Knight, landing a direct hit on his chest He was sent flying, crashing against the floor.
"Gardevoir!" The Gardevoir would then slam him into the wall, keeping him there. However, the Knight could fight back against the Psychic Hold. By expelling Nightmare Energy from his body, he was able to break free.
Passion put her arms up, blocking the pressure of the Nightmare Energy, protecting herself and the Princess. The Knight would then land on the floor, his body crouched down. He would pick up his sword, holding it in front of him.
"This thing is quite resilient isn't it?" Celestia spoke while looking back at Sweetie Belle, who was still suffering. Her body was still being transformed even with the tendrils away from her. After all, her cells and DNA have been greatly altered. Right as she turned her attention back to the Nightmare Knight, he was building up an immensely powerful attack.
He would hold his sword in front of him, the blade slowly growing in size, a powerful surge of energy being built up. It would cause his body to shake, the scales on his body glowing, the dark blade getting larger and larger.
"Passion! Use Dazzling Gleam!" Celestia shouted.
"Gardevoir...!" From her hands, she would release a brilliant and dazzling light, her entire body engulfed in the glow. She would launch a barrage of Magical Bolts and Blasts, each one being aimed at the Nightmare Knight.
However, the Knight wouldn't move, instead focusing on his attack. As the bolts and blasts made contact, he would be hit, but the attack wasn't doing a lot to him.
The Nightmare Monster would hold the sword, pointing the tip at the ground as he would then spin around. He would swing his blade, releasing a devastating attack. A massive vortex was released from the blade, creating a violent wind that would blow away everything around the area.
"Goodness!" Celestia grunted, using her wings to protect herself from the vortex. She was pushed back, the wind blowing her body away. Passion was pushed back, trying to fight the wind, using her psychic to keep herself grounded.
As for the vortex, it was destroying everything in its path. It tore up the walls and the pillars with some of them threatening to fall on Sweetie Belle. However, Arcanine would use Flamethrower, burning away the falling walls and pillars, saving her.
Backing Passion up was Celestia, would unleash a powerful Golden Beam. With this attack, the vortex was blown away, the blast clashing against the tornado, destroying it. After destroying it, through the smoke, the golden beam would continue flying as Passion was seen flying alongside it, charging up another Dazzling Gleam and preparing to get up-close and personal.
The Embrace Pokemon would charge forward, the beam of light following her. The Knight would then move to the side, avoiding the beam as it would blast the wall, exploding. He would then clash swords with Passion, the two battling in close combat.
Passion was using her Psychic Energy to enhance her moves, the Embrace Pokemon clashing against the Knight's blade. Her hands would glow, her psychic power surrounding her palms. She would unleash a powerful burst, the energy colliding with the blade.
The Knight responded with a similar counterattack, his hands glowing a dark purple. His Nightmare Energy would clash with the Psychic, the two elements struggling. Both powers were evenly matched, but the Knight would push further, his hand gripping his sword.
Right as he was about to deliver a devastating hit, Celestia used her magic to generate a solar light that was at its absolute brightest. The Knight would be blinded by this light, his body unable to move, his grip weakening.
Passion took the opportunity to strike, slamming Dazzling Gleam onto the Nightmare Monster's chest. The second the attack made contact, the Knight's body was met with a great flare of Fairy Magic that shined beautifully, piercing its armor repeatedly, blasting his body.
The Nightmare Monster's armour would be destroyed, his body blown back. He would bounce across the floor, his body tumbling until he would crash, sliding across the floor and stopping right at the entrance of the throne room. Chunks of his armour went flying in the air before fizzling out, dispersing into nothing.
There, the Nightmare Knght laid, sitting against the door of the Entrance to the throne room. His armour was broken, leaving the rest of his body exposed. Naturally, it was just a bunch of Nightmare Energy since that is what made up his body.
His blade would lie next to him, no longer letting out that fierce surge of Nightmare Energy. Passion was panting, standing tall before facing her trainer. "Gardevoir!"
"Good job, Passion. Now, let's hurry and wrap things up here." Celestia praised, rushing over to Sweetie Belle, who was still stuck in the barrier. Celestia promptly lowered the barrier, checking Sweetie Belle's condition.
"Ngh..." Sweetie Belle moaned, her eyes barely opening up, revealing how distorted and black her irises had become. Celestia, having the solution to this problem, would cast a spell on Sweetie Belle, healing the young filly.
Sweetie Belle's body would glow, the transformation beginning to reverse, her skin and fur regrowing, her horns returning to normal. Soon enough, her transformation would stop, returning Sweetie Belle to her original state.
"Ah...Huh? P-Princess...Celestia?" Sweetie Belle gasped, feeling better than before, though she still felt rather exhausted.
"Sweetie Belle." Celestia smiled, giving the little unicorn a gentle hug. "You're okay. Are you hurt? Does anything feel different?"
"I feel so cold..." Alas, Sweetie Belle still felt the effects of the Nightmare Energy, feeling chilly and weak. Celestia would cast a healing spell, helping Sweetie Belle overcome the cold and regain some strength. Her body was warmed up, removing the chill.
"Th-Thank you, Princess." Sweetie Belle uttered, smiling as she was helped up.
"Alright. Let's get you out of here as soon as possible." Celestia added, promptly placing the little unicorn Arcanine's back. She shuddered, still feeling woozy thanks to the Nightmare Energy. It would take her a while to fully recover, but she would be alright.
"Okay. Arcanine, please guard Sweetie Belle. Make sure no harm comes to her. Head back to our Universe and go to where Kommo-o is heading. You two will likely meet up along the way."
"Arcanine." The Legendary Pokemon nodded.
"Sweetie Belle. Arcanine is going to escort you to safety. I have some business to take care of. So, please head out as soon as you can." Celestia told her. "I'm bringing an end to all of this as soon as possible. After this, we won't have to worry about Nightmare Rarity and her universe anymore."
"P-Princess...The throne..." Sweetie Belle would groan, her hoof slowly moving and aiming at the throne room. Since she was kept captive here for a while, she heard about Nightmare Rarity's order to have Crag transfer Divine Energy to her throne. "It has...Arceus's Power in it."
"What?!" Celestia exclaimed, surprised by this information. "Arceus's power? In the Throne?"
"Yes..." Sweetie Belle uttered, unable to continue speaking. Arcanine then knew he had to start moving, immediately rushing off as Sweetie Belle closed her eyes, resting against his back.
Celestia then focused on the Throne, noticing that it was covered in a veil of darkness. Divine Energy had been transferred over for Nightmare Rarity to use eventually. Celestia would approach the Throne, glaring at it. Now that she had this knowledge thanks to Sweetie Belle, she wasn't about to miss this crucial detail.
Knowing that this throne apparently had some Divine Energy around it, the Sun Princess already had a solution to dealing with it. Destroying the throne. However, as she planned to do so. Suddenly, the Nightmare Knight would start moving. He would rise back up, his body shaking, his armour and body slowly being repaired.
He repaired at a lightning-fast pace, the Knight's body regaining its form and the armour slowly piecing itself back together. Celestia and Passion both gasped once they sensed and heard something far behind them. The Nightmare Knight was moving, and fast. He was charging straight for them, his sword swinging.
Celestia would immediately respond with a flash of light, a barrier being erected. The Knight would crash against it, the impact unleashing a powerful explosion that would eclipse the entire throne room, blowing a hole in the roof.
Outside, Ash had helped up Dimstar, looking directly at Oculus Gloom. They were in the middle of a standoff, the Nightmare Monster and the group staring one another down.
"So you must be Ash Ketchum." Oculus Gloom spoke in her eerie tone while descending. She would touch the grass, landing and standing tall, her gaze fixed on Ash's. She was staring at him, studying him, taking him in. "I've heard quite a bit about you. How you have become quite the thorn in our sides for our alliance. The fact that you and your friends keep interfering is quite bothersome."
"Yeah. We do that a lot." Ash then stood up after helping Dimstar up. "Only because you keep messing with our friends and family."
"Where's my sister?!" Rarity shouted, her eyes twitching. She demanded to know where her little sister was and the same went for Applejack.
"Up there..." Dimstar raised her hoof, aiming at Oculus Glooom's base. "Apple Bloom's in there, but she's surrounded by darkness, trapped with the others. As for Sweetie Belle, I'm not sure where she is..."
"You want to know where Sweetie Belle is?" Oculus Bloom squinted her eye, speaking in a giddy tone. "As we speak, the Veiled Mistress has probably transformed her into one of us. Her cells and DNA have most likely been altered by now, making her a part of our wonderful family."
"What?!" The group was taken aback, their hearts dropping.
"Y-You're lying...!" Rarity snapped, tears building in her eyes.
"It's true." Oculus spoke up. "The Veiled Mistress made sure she received special treatment. It's only a matter of time until her transformation is complete."
"N-No...No!" Rarity sobbed, unable to stop herself from crying. Applejack was also heartbroken, her face showing sadness and shock.
"I'll admit. You and your friends have done an admirable job. However, you've only slowed us down. We've dealt with your interference for far too long. And we are getting impatient. Especially the Veiled Mistress. And I will not have you interfere with us any longer. For this, I will make sure that every single one of you is dealt with. Your Pokemon will be transformed and used as tools and then your bodies will be converted to become new Nightmare Monsters! That's what the Veiled Mistress desires. So it shall be done."
"Heh." Ash would suddenly grin, having a completely different reaction. Oculus noticed this, confused as to why Ash was putting on a smile.
"What is so funny, Ash Ketchum? Do I amuse you?"
"Nah. That whole thing about Sweetie Belle? I maybe would've believed you...But I can sense it. Her Aura. Sweetie Belle is fine. She's safe. Whatever you guys did to her, she's totally fine." Ash told her, making Oculus Gloom tremble, shocked by this revelation.
"W-What?! You're lying! Sweetie Belle is definitely-!"
"Ask him that." Ash would point ahead, already seeing the proof of it all, showing it to everyone. Up ahead, Arcanine could be seen running with Sweetie Belle on his back, the little unicorn safe and sound.
"Sweetie Belle?!" Rarity gasped, her tears of sorrow turning to tears of joy.
"Gah...!" Oculus Gloom growled in rage. She was beyond enraged. This was not good. At all.
"Oh, Sweetie Belle! Darling!" Rarity would rush to her little sister, using her wings to fly over and embrace her, kissing her forehead. "Are you okay? What did they do to you?"
"Ugh..." Sweetie Belle was a little sick, feeling the effects of the Nightmare Energy. Her eyes would open, meeting with her sister's face. "R-Rarity?"
"How...How was she freed...?" Oculus Gloom muttered, trying to process this. This visibly annoyed the single-eyed monster. It would then occur to her. "Celestia!"
"Alright. Use the gateway we came from, Arcanine." Ash suggested. "We used it over at Deerling Forest. She'll be safe there. We'll take care of the rest."
"Arcanine." The Legendary Pokemon nodded before quickly dashing off, Sweetie Belle holding on to him. It brought Rarity great joy to see her little sister safe. While she wasn't healthy, she was hoping that would be solved later.
"Now, there's one more thing we gotta do. We'll get everyone else outta here!" Ash pointed upwards, declaring this to Oculus Gloom. "Dimstar. Can you keep going?"
"I'm a little beat up, but I can still do something. Only I can see through that darkness thanks to my eyes." Dimstar replied. "I can use that to try and save them all. But some of them are going through their own nightmares and even some Pokemon have already been turned.
"Don't worry about that." Rainbow Dash grinned, holding a Poke Ball out. "My Luxray can see through that darkness, no problem. Trust me."
"I'll have my Ampharos light the whole place up." Rarity would also hold a Poke Ball out. "We can get them all out!"
"I'm glad to hear it. Alright. Come with me." Dimstar stood tall, spreading her vampiric wings out, ready to take flight. "Let's move!"
"You won't be going anywhere!" With a vicious yell, Oculus Gloom would also ascend, revealing terrifying tentacles from her body. However, she was unable to intercept Dimstar thanks to Ash, who had Pikachu use Thunderbolt.
"Pika-Chuuu!" 100,000 Volts raced upwards, shocking some of the tendrils, stopping them from moving. This would allow Dimstar and her friends to escape, the vampire taking flight, followed by Rainbow Dash who moved through the air and Rarity and Applejack who stayed on foot.
"Grr...! No!" Oculus Gloom growled. Her gaze turned back to Ash, who was now with Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. She was absolutely livid, her body shaking, her single eye glaring down at them.
"You...!" Oculus Gloom pointed at Ash with one of her tendrils, her rage reaching a fever pitch. "I'm going to destroy you, Ash Ketchum. And every single one of your friends."
"Bring it on then!" Ash bellowed, adjusting his hat. Pikachu did the same, his cheeks sparking with electricity. "I'm not afraid of you! None of us are. We've taken on way worse!"
"Silence!" Oculus lashed out, her body growing, the darkness spreading around her. She would then transform the tendrils into spikes, sending them at Ash and his friends.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Eve, use Shadow Ball!" Both Ash and Twilight bellowed, prompting their Pokemon to take action. Pikachu hardened his tail with Iron while Espeon summoned a blob of shadows in front of her mouth, firing it. The two attacks would combine, clashing against the spikes, exploding upon impact.
Pinkie Pie's body would jitter thanks to the impact, giggling. She then promptly took out a Poke Ball, throwing one of her Pokemon out. In this case, it was Blissey.
"Blissey!"
"Okay, Blissey! Use Blizzard!"
"Bliiissey!" With a happy giggle, Blissey unleashed a cold blast of wind and snow that flew across the area. This would freeze some of the spikes, preventing them from moving.
"Audi! Use Hyper Beam!"
"Audino...!" Putting her hands together, Audino would generate a sphere of energy, releasing a devastating beam that blew away a large group of the tendrils. Oculus would then unleash a barrage of Nightmare Spheres everywhere, shooting them from her tendrils. Pikachu would be blown back by the barrage of spheres, forced to run across the ground.
Espeon would also be struck by some of them, causing her to hiss, her body being tossed about. Oculus Gloom continued the pressure, unleashing some of the spheres at the Trainers, only for Twilight to put up a shield.
"I got it!" Twilight proclaimed, her horn glowing. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, along with their Pokemon would move behind Twilight's shield, being protected by the magical forcefield.
Oculus Gloom was not amused, her rage growing as she would unleash more attacks, her body expanding, the tentacles and tendrils growing larger, moving and wiggling. They would form a dark cloud around her, spreading the darkness. The darkness would then start combusting aggressively, the Nightmare Energy causing the ground to be scorched, the grass burning up, leaving only ash behind.
Moving through the smoke and the ash was Pikachu, who had used Quick Attack, dashing in at lightning-speeds. Oculus Gloom's tentacles would try to intercept him, but the Electric Mouse was too fast. He would dodge and weave through the tentacles, avoiding the attacks.
Pikachu would use his powerful tail to swat away the tendrils, destroying them while he dashed towards Oculus Gloom. "Use Thunderbolt!"
"Chuuu!" Pikachu would leap into the air, his cheeks sparking with electricity as a huge orb of power was charged up. He would release a devastating thunderbolt, the attack blasting Oculus Gloom's body, walloping her.
Following up was Espeon, who unleashed Dazzling Gleam from afar, bombarding the Nightmare Monster with rainbow rays. These attacks would push Oculus Gloom further into the air.
"Use Hyper Beam!" Together, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie would bellow the same command.
"Blissey...!"
"Audino!" Audino would release another Hyper Beam as she was joined by Blissey who would also use Hyper Beam. Both attacks were sent flying at Oculus Gloom. She was forced to move away, avoiding the beams by distorting her own body and leaving a massive hole on it as the two beams flew by.
The hole would immediately close, regenerating in an instant. Suddenly, multiple eyes would start forming around Oculus's Gloom's round blob-like body. They would start opening and closing, each of the eyes having a different eye color.
"What the-?" Ash uttered before seeing power beams of Nightmare Energy fly out of each eye. Pikachu was caught off guard, barely dodging the beams while Espeon would block them.
Audino and Blissey needed time to recharge for Hyper Beam, leaving the two of them wide open. Their bodies were rapidly bombarded by the beams, aggressively striking them. The two Normal-Types cried out as they stood there, taking this beating while their trainers hid behind them. It was a good thing Blissey and Audno were known for being such durable Pokemon.
"Perish! The lot of you!" Oculus yelled while continuing to unleash these beams. These beams would strike the ground, blowing a hole through the earth. This continued, the beams not letting up. They would even hit others in the distance, such as the ponies and Golurk.
Oculus went crazy with these beams, hitting everything she could, even the buildings around them, the homes, the streets, everything. And she wasn't stopping anytime soon.
The Dream Realm. Hyperdream.
Back in the Dream Realm, Luna was still on the floor, forced to watch the Nightmare Monsters corrupt various dreams. But these dreams were specifically hers and the dreams of other ponies.
She couldn't move, forced to sit here and watch this nightmare. There were countless numbers of them, each one of them having a pony, their minds being taken over by the Nightmares.
Luna could only cry, unable to do anything. "No...Please stop..." She pleaded, wanting this madness to stop. She wasn't sure what was worse. The fact that this was her dream or the fact that they were targeting the dreams of others.
She was so focused on watching that she failed to notice the sound of her own hooves. Something was touching her hoof. It was small, something soft and fleshy. It was moving, trying to reach for her. It was from one of the Nightmare Monsters, creeping up on her. This monster was prepared to over Luna in Nightmare Energy, ready to make her one of them.
"Not like this...!" Luna snarled while Nightmare Rarity cackled. Zekrom was still suffering, his body struggling to contain all of this power. More and more, Zekrom was unleashing devastating attacks that would continue to explode, threatening the dreams here. Luna then clenched her teeth, tapping into her Sorrowful Rage Magic and using the power of Lunar Ire to help herself up.
She would rise, getting on her hooves, her mane and tail flowing intensely. Her eyes would glow as her magic would surge. Nightmare Rarity noticed Luna getting back, scoffing.
"And what will you do?" The Veiled Mistress taunted. "Take a look, Luna. So many of your dreams have been affected by my Nightmare Monsters and my Tantabus. You've already lost this war. The only option you have left is to accept your fate and join us. It's either that or become a Nightmare. Or...If you want to save them all, you have to accept the fact that you must sacrifice yourself and turn into a Nightmare. Only then will your friends and family be free."
Luna could only growl, her eyes showing anger. She was beyond enraged. There was no way she would let the Veiled Mistress win. Even if the odds were against her, there was no way she could accept that.
"Never!" Luna bellowed. "I refuse to become one of you! Even if it costs me my life! I will not give in! I will not bow to the likes of you! And I will not become a Nightmare! And neither will any of my friends and family! And neither will Zekrom!"
Zekrom roared, his eyes glowing brightly. His body was still trembling, the black aura surrounding him growing brighter. He was going to burst. But even when knowing this, Zekrom would still his try his best.
"You haven't won yet!" Luna used her magic to summon her Poke Balls throwing them. "Go my friends!" From each of these Poke Balls, her Pokemon appeared.
Gliscor, Musharna, Aurorus, Florges, Manectric, Frillish, Excadrill and Xatu had emerged. They would all stand by Luna, looking at their enemies.
"Go! Do your best!" Luna bellowed, the Nightmare Monsters and Tantabus staring her and her Pokemon down. They would all battle in Zekrom's place, rushing in and approaching these Nightmare Monsters.
In an instant, the Dream Realm was lit ablaze with this battle. Nightmare Monsters and ponies were clashing against each other. The battle was intense. It was a fight to the end, both sides going all out.
Various moves would be thrown around, some of them landing on targets, but others missed. Nightmare Monsters were being taken down, but the Tantabus would keep coming, their bodies shifting into different shapes and sizes.
Luna would eye down Nightmare Rarity, going straight for her. Nightmare Rarity welcomed her approach as the two of them had their horns glow. Luna's eyes were a bright gold and Nightmare Rarity's eyes were a glowing white. They clashed their horns against each other, the two of them pushing forward.
"Why are you resisting?!" Nightmare Rarity shouted, feeling a little bit of pressure. "Surrender already! I've practically won this already!"
"In your dreams!" Luna shouted with her Royal Canterlot Voice, managing to overpower Nightmare Rarity, knocking her back. The force of her magic sent the Nightmare Queen back.
Luna would then fly up, charging a powerful beam. From her horn, a powerful light was generated. The Nightmare Monsters and Tantabuses would all stare at the Moon Princess, her body trembling, the attack charging. Nightmare Rarity responded with her own beam, using a similar attack.
The two of them fired their beams, the two attacks colliding against each other. This caused a massive explosion, a blinding light flashing throughout the entire Dream Realm. The blast was strong enough to blow away some of the Tantabuses, the blast spreading out. Flying through the dream smoke was Luna, who would approach the Nightmare Queen, surprising her.
"What?!" The Veiled Mistress gasped as she was then grabbed and pushed upwards by Luna.
"You...! You're not actually that powerful, are you?! Not on your own! If it wasn't for your army and your little tricks, you would have lost a long time ago!" Luna spoke while holding the Veiled Mistress, flying higher and higher, pushing through the Dream Clouds.
"What are you going on about?!"
"Your powers are not your own! It's all thanks to your army and your Tantabus, you were able to take over my realm! Without them, you would've lost a long time ago!" Luna snapped.
"That's not true! You're just being delusional!"
"Am I?! After all...You became this because of Nightmare Moon! Which was originally my own magic!" Luna grinned, knowing what she was saying since this all originated from Nightmare Moon
"Gah! You're lying! Don't speak to me about things you don't understand!"
"I can see you panicking now that I'm this close! I've got you right where I want you!" Luna laughed, still rising through the sky. "Now, Zekrom! Let's do this!"
"Ngh...!" Zekrom was struggling, his body twitching. He knew what Luna was suggesting. If he was going to unleash his exploding power, he might as well use it on the main problem. With all of his might, Zekrom stood up, taking flight. His body was still crackling with electricity, his power growing.
"Zekrom...!" Luna and Nightmare Rarity would both be shocked when they saw the Legendary Dragon flying through the Dream Clouds. Luna then turned Nightmare Rarity around, directing her towards the Dragon of Ideals. Nightmare Rarity lashed her hair at Luna, trying to force her off. But Luna was not letting go. Not for a moment.
Zekrom was moving towards the two, the black aura around him growing stronger, his body pulsating. As the two struggled, Zekrom was drawing closer and closer, his body twitching, the aura growing wilder and wilder.
"Zekrom! Hurry! I won't be able to hold her for much longer!" Luna cried out, still holding onto the Nightmare Queen. Nightmare Rarity would then unleash a blast of Nightmare Magic from her mane, trying to push Luna away. However, Luna's grip remained firm.
Zekrom's eyes would flash, his body glowing with his signature red. He would then unleash a powerful roar, his mouth opening wide, an incredible amount of pressure building. His power was surging, the aura growing brighter and brighter.
"NO! STOP!" The Nightmare Queen's eyes were wide open, seeing this powerful explosion coming straight for her. The explosion would then happen, the energy released blowing Zekrom away. The power would spread, causing the Dream Clouds to disperse and explode.
Nightmare Rarity screamed, her body being bombarded by the tremendous power. Luna held on, feeling the power as well. A bright light was unleashed, the explosion engulfing the Veiled Mistress's body.
As the blast was released, a loud screech was heard. The Tantabus and the Nightmare Monsters all froze, the monsters being hit by the explosion. The Dream Bubbles all rippled from this pressure, the entire Dream Realm quaking. Everything fell silent.
It took a few seconds, but the smoke was cleared, the dream clouds dissipating, revealing the aftermath of this explosion. Standing before Luna was the Veiled Mistress, but something was off.
"Ngh..." Nightmare Rarity uttered, her body twitching, her form flickering, the dark mist around her was starting to leak out aggressively. "I...I...No..." Due to the damage, a huge chunk of her body had been greatly damaged, giving her an appearance that was anything but beautiful.
Nightmare Rarity's body was covered in cracks, her legs trembling, her body shaking. She looked weak and frail, her appearance no longer appealing.
"I-Impossible! How?!" The Nightmare Queen gasped, not believing what was happening. Her Nightmare Monsters were also affected, their bodies cracking as well. "My beautiful body! What have you done?!"
"Heh...That puts a scar on your beauty, doesn't it?" Luna grinned, also greatly injured, but still standing tall. Her grin angered the Veiled Mistress. Nightmare Rarity was at her angriest. She couldn't believe it. Her beautiful body was cracked and damaged, the dark mist leaking.
As for Zekrom, that was the most amount of power he had unleashed, which actually helped him move easier. The spell was still affecting him but now he would have to start from the beginning to build up all of that power again.
"Grr...! Curse you...!" Nightmare Rarity snarled, her anger causing the cracks on her body to expand, the Nightmare Energy leaking. "You've ruined my beautiful body! LUNA!"
Outraged, Nightmare Rarity would expel all that Nightmare Energy from her body, shooting it upwards with great ferocity. "You shall pay for this!"
Luna would then gasp, seeing a massive Nightmare Storm rapidly flood the Dream Realm from above. It was coming fast and was going to completely overwhelm them. Luna tried something but she was too damaged to do so. So was Zekrom as he needed time to recover. Nightmare Rartiy's yell could be heard in the storm, her rage reaching its maximum already. She was beyond furious.
Her body was shaking aggressively, the Nightmare Monsters around her were all losing their minds, their bodies falling apart. All of her power was being unleashed, affecting even her own monsters and the Tantabus.
Luna would still try and do something, staring down the Nightmare Storm above. It was all coming down to the wire here. The Veiled Mistress was at her most vulnerable right now but certainly her most powerful.
"Whatever it takes..I cannot lose here." Luna said to herself. "Everything I've been through...I've come too far to lose here. There's far too much on the line that I love. That I wish to protect. So even if my magic becomes null, I won't let you win."
Her words fell deaf on Nightmare Rarity and her screaming. From above, the Nightmare Storm would then unleash a gigantic beam with an insane radius, threatening to engulf everything in the Dream Realm.
Luna and Zekrom could only brace themselves, seeing this massive attack heading straight for them. Luna's hooves were planted as she stared the Nightmare Storm down, Zekrom hovering, waiting for the impact. Right as it looked like there would be a collision as the nearest Dream Bubble was about to be engulfed, something happened.
It was all cleared. The Nightmare Beam was promptly dispersed by another great power. One that would shock Luna and Zekrom. The Veiled Mistress's eyes would widen, her heart dropping. She was shocked.
"What the...?!" She gasped, seeing the person who had saved them. Or rather, Pokemon. Descending from above with a light that matched the Moonlight was none other than the Pokemon opposite to Darkrai. The Giver of Joyful Dreams herself.
The Lunar Pokemon, Cresselia.
"Cresselia!"
The Dream Guardian had made her appearance, the Nightmare Storm having no effect on her whatsoever. She would use her psychic power to deflect the Nightmare Storm, preventing it from engulfing anything else.
"C-Cresselia!" Luna had a wide smile form on her face. She was more than happy to see her again. And it was the exact Cresselia she helped save months ago, making an appearance. "Cresselia...I knew we'd meet again some day...!"
"Cre...!" Cresselia would fly to her friend, greeting her with a warm hug. This gesture would make Luna shed a few tears. Seeing Cresselia here brought immense joy and hope to the princess. Cresselia was paying Luna back for saving her months ago. And what better way to do so than saving the Dreams of others? Such was Cresselia's duty.
"W-Who is that...?!" Not even Nightmare Rarity knew who this was, seeing Cresselia for the first time. "What nonsense is this?!"
Cresselia would eye the Nightmare Queen, floating in the air. Cresselia, while gentle, was showing some anger when facing Nightmare Rarity, who had threatened so many Dreams. "Cre...Selia...!" She hissed, glaring at the Nightmare Queen.
Luna then stood up right next to Cresselia, having the strength to continue once more. All of Luna's Pokemon would stand by her while Nightmare Rarity twitched uncontrollably, visibly angered and confused.
"This is it. This is where we finish it." Luna declared, holding her hoof up, pointing at the Nightmare Queen. "This is our chance. We can end this right here. Together."
"Cresselia!" Cresselia very much agreed. This has gone on long enough and she was planning to end this once and for all. The final confrontation was now with both sides at their strongest and weakest at the same time.
In the Dream Realm, Luna managed to deal critical damage to Nightmare Rarity, ruining her beauty in a reckless attack. Naturally, the Veiled Mistress was enraged, her anger creating a Nightmare Storm that threatened to destroy the entire Dream Realm. Dreams of Past, Present and Future were threatened. However, Cresselia had arrived, her to stop those who would dare ruin sweet dreams and here to help Luna after she helped her months ago.
"T-That thing! Destroy it!" Nightmare Rarity would order her Nightmare Monsters and Tantabuses to move forward, ready to fight. They were still recovering but their bodies were already repairing themselves.
Luna readied herself in her condition, still having the will to continue. Cresselia saw how badly Luna was injured and knew that if she were to continue from this point on, it could spell her end. So, to fix that, Creselia's body would start shining all of a sudden.
Luna's eyes widened, the Dream Guardian's body was releasing an incredibly bright glow, a beautiful light that surrounded the Lunar Princess. This would cause her body to be enveloped in a soothing warmth. Not only that, but that light would also fly out of the Dream Bubbles, flowing towards Luna, entering her.
"What...?!" Luna gasped, the light entered her body, filling her with newfound strength, her wounds slowly healing. Not only that, but the light was helping her with her magic, giving her the power to continue fighting. "Is this Heal Pulse? No...It's something else. It feels like the Dreams themselves are helping me!"
"Cre...Cree! Cre-Cresselia!" Luna heard Cresselia's voice, her head turning. Her eyes were met with the Dream Guardian's, the two gazing into each other's eyes. Cresselia had a unique power when it came to dreams. Something that not even Luna had access to. With ease, she was able to heal Luna and restore her strength, granting her the power to keep fighting.
Luna's eyes were wide with amazement. She couldn't believe that the Pokemon before her was capable of such a thing. But the fact that it was happening, showed that Cresselia's power was no joke.
"Thank you." Luna uttered, grateful that she had such a powerful friend here. Cresselia's power went even further, reaching Zekrom, healing the Dragon of Ideals and restoring his power as well. All of that energy within his body that tried building up again was reset.
It would take him a little bit of time, but he was given a second chance, his body no longer being constricted by that power. The Deep Black Pokemon would stand up, letting out a powerful roar to show that he was able to continue on. To the shock of Nightmare Rarity and even Luna, Cresselia ould easily interact with the Dream Realm the same way they could. Anyone that had the ability to interact with Dreams and Nightmares in any way had power here, but Cresselia showed she had something extra compared to them all.
"Ngh...! Curse you! Curse you!" The Nightmare Queen cursed, her rage and frustration continuing to build. "What is this nonsense?! Why are you meddling with my affairs?! Do you know who I am?! I am the Veiled Mistress and the Veiled Mistress does not lose to anyone! Not even to you, whoever you are!"
"Together, Cresselia." Luna smiled before turning her attention back at Nightmare Rarity. Both sides were more than happy to put an end to all of this. "Go, Cresselia! Use Moonblast!"
"Cresseli!" Cresselia would cry out as she would battle alongside Luna as if she were her trainer.
"Get them! All of you!!" Nightmare Rarity cried, sending her monsters forward, all of them rushing to attack Luna, Cresselia and Luna's Pokemon. Nightmare Monsters and Tantabus were one side while Luna and her Pokemon were on the other.
Both sides were ready to clash against each other. Nightmare Rarity, furious, would lash out directly at Cresselia, aiming at the Dream Guardian.
"You! Get out of the way! You don't belong here!" The Nightmare Queen screamed, using her tendrils to try and strike at the Dream Guardian, who would fly in circles, dodging the attacks.
"Cree-sselia!" The Lunar Pokemon would unleash a powerful Moonblast, the sphere flying towards the Nightmare Queen. Nightmare Rarity now had a huge reason to worry. Since she was badly damaged, her body was very much vulnerable right now. She promptly dodged the attack, flying to the side, barely missing the attack.
She then responded with a blast of dark energy, firing a beam of dark matter at Cresselia, hoping that would be enough. The Nightmare Queen had a grin on her face. She thought she had won. But unfortunately, she did not. Cresselia used her Psychic abilities, stopping the beam in midair, the energy suspended.
"What?!" The Nightmare Queen was shocked. She was using her power to hold the beam in place, the darkness trying to push forward.
"Cresselia." Luna would then step in, her horn glowing. With a flick of her hoof, she would cause the beam to fly back, firing at the Nightmare Queen.
"Ahh!" Nightmare Rarity screamed, her body being struck. She was hit hard, her body shaking, her wounds expanding and the cracks growing bigger. Nightmare Monsters shielded her, taking the blow in her place. The Tantabuses, however, were not affected, their bodies absorbing the damage, the darkness regenerating.
"Ngh..." Nightmare Rarity would groan, her body trembling, the Nightmare Energy leaking. "No...Impossible...How can I lose...?" She gasped, feeling her strength draining. "If I were at full strength, this wouldn't be a problem. How can I be losing now of all times?"
Luna and Cresselia would fly in, charging straight for the Nightmare Queen, the two ready to end it. As the two flew forward, they were suddenly stopped by a massive swarm of Tantabuses, all of them forming a wall in front of them.
"Cresselia! Push through it with Psychic!" Luna suggested, hoping that would help.
"Cresselia!" With her Psychic abilities, the Dream Guardian would use her powers to blast the wall, her Psychic pushing against the Tantabuses.
"Inconceivable! You won't take everything from me!" The Veiled Mistress cried, her eyes burning with anger. "I won't lose! I won't lose to anyone! I've worked too hard for this! And I'll never allow it!"
The Nightmare Monsters would all gather together, creating a massive cloud of darkness. It was like a massive ball of darkness. Luna's eyes would flash as she would unleash her Royal Canterlot Voice, yelling out loud, "Stop it! All of you!"
Cresselia would add on, the Lunar Pokemon releasing her Moonblast from afar, shooting the attack directly into the massive orb. The sphere was pushed back, the Nightmare Monsters and Tantabuses were all screaming.
The attack was pushed back, the explosion caused a massive ripple in the Dream Realm, the bubbles around the entire place quivering, the dream clouds rippling. Luna and Cresselia were blown back, their bodies shaking.
Nightmare Rarity would have the orb engulf her, using the Darkness around her. "N-No...! No! I won't accept this! I won't accept it!" The Nightmare Queen kept denying the truth. It was all crumbling down, her beautiful plan falling apart. She couldn't stand it, her entire plan falling apart. But she did have one last thing to bank on.
She would fly off, basically retreating for now. But not for long. When flying, she left behind a stream of Nightmare Energy to distract them, giving her some time. "I still have the power of Arceus to bank on!" She would say. "And then I will be able to create a new body that will be perfect. Just you wait, Luna! I'll destroy everything you love! I'll destroy all the dreams in your world and then I'll do the same to every universe you've allied yourself with!"
"Grr...! Come back here!" Luna would shout, chasing after her. But the Nightmare Queen would use her Tantabuses and Nightmare Monsters to buy her some time. A swarm of them would fly out, charging straight at the princess, trying to stop her from chasing the Veiled Mistress.
With Crag, he was still dealing with Darkrai, the two rapidly moving across the Dream Realm. But Darkrai was starting to wain, his strength slowly failing him. This allowed Crag to land an attack on him, the large hand-like construct slapping him away, tossing him across the Dream Clouds.
Darkrai would then hit the ground, tumbling. But Crag wasn't looking so healthy either. He had also taken some damage after all, but was in a better condition than Darkrai. He would then move over, stomping his foot down, forcing Darkrai to dodge.
"Hmph." Crag would eye his enemy, seeing the damage. Darkrai had suffered more injuries than Crag had. It would seem like he had the advantage. "Looks like you're reaching your limit, Darkrai. You should just surrender already."
"Never..." Darkrai panted, his body shaking. He could see how bad he was, the damage affecting him. He was then pushed up against a Dream Bubble, held up there by Crag, who manipulated his claw to be massive, holding him there.
"Ngh..." Darkrai's eyes flashed. He was trapped. Crag would then tighten his grip, applying pressure. Crag was also pouring Nightmare Energy all over him, dealing repeated damage. Crag would cackle, thinking he was about to win.
"Heh...Looks like you're done for, Darkrai." Crag smirked. "And since you're in a weakened state, you'll become one of us at a faster rate, no doubt! This is where we win, Darkrai!"
"Grr...! Gah!" Darkrai snarled, trying to escape but he was far too weak right now. It looked like this would be where he truly reached his limit. That is until something from above came crashing down, slicing Crag's claw.
"What the-?!" Crag gasped, his claw being cleaved. This gave Darkrai a chance to escape. Crag would look up, seeing the culprit. It was Nightmare Moon, flying down, her horn glowing.
The alter-ego of Princess Luna had arrived at last, descending with a smile on her face. "Sorry for being late, Darkrai. I was a bit busy dealing with other Nightmare Creatures."
"Finally..." Darkrai grunted, relieved to see her.
"Princess Luna! You dare get in the way of the Veiled Mistress's plans again?!" Crag barked, his hand-claw regenerating.
"Do not confuse me for Luna. We are the same being, but you will refer to me as Nightmare Moon." Nightmare Moon scoffed. "And you Nightmare Monsters plus your so-called Queen have been stealing my style."
"What are you talking about?!"
"The idea of taking over the realm of Dreams? That's my thing, not hers." Nightmare Moon smirked, landing on the ground, her wings spreading out. "You face the Original. All things Nightmare Energy related trace back to yours truly."
"Nonsense. You may be the original, but the Veiled Mistress is the one we answer to. Now, surrender yourself and accept your fate, Nightmare Moon." Crag demanded. "Darkrai is already on the brink, so his loss is nigh. Soon, you will be next."
"Is that right?" Nightmare Moon grinned, eyeing Darkrai. The Mythical Dark Pokemon was in rough shape, not having the strength to keep fighting. She then smiled back at Crag, the look on her face signifying she knew something he didn't. And that atually intimidated him. "Alright then. Perhaps this will change your mind."
In a flash, Nightmare Moon would approach Crag, her body becoming a black mist that flew right at the massive creature. Before Crag could do anything, Nightmare Moon would enter his body, disappearing inside him.
"What are you- Gah!" Crag screamed, his eyes flashing.
"Now, allow me to show you the power that the Original wields." Nightmare Moon spoke as her voice echoed within Crag's mind. "The power that only I, the original, am capable of. At the end of the day, this is my magic."
Crag was screaming, his body trembling. He was shaking, his entire body shaking. From the inside, Nightmare Moon was corrupting his very soul, her dark power surging. She was going to corrupt him, her own power spreading.
"Ngh! Nghhh! Hnnngh!" Crag growled, his body crackling, his form shifting, growing and growing. The corruption was taking hold, her darkness filling him.
"This is it, Crag. This is what it means to wield the power of Nightmare Energy. You've only scratched the surface." Nightmare Moon would then exit his body, her body reforming. As she did so, the darkness that was escaping from him would then be sucked into her, the black mist being absorbed.
"Now's my chance!" Darkrai saw this as a chance to finally finish him off. With all of his remaining power, he would dash towards Crag, his arm crackling with energy. Darkrai would slam his hand into Crag's chest, unleashing a powerful surge of energy.
Crag's eyes widened, a huge explosion rocking his entire body. With a harrowing yell, his body would shatter, exploding and scattering. All that was left of him were fragments, pieces of his body scattered everywhere.
Darkrai would collapse, the Mythical Pokemon exhausted. He would fall flat, his breathing heavy. Nightmare Moon would stand tall, her body still sucking up all of that corruption, her power growing.
"Gah...!" Darkrai groaned. "That...took everything out of me..."
"And yet, it was still worth it, wasn't it?" Nightmare Moon said while still absorbing the corruption. "Well done for holding out for so long. Rest well, Darkrai. We'll take it all from here."
"Ngh..." Darkrai would do just that. Spent and out of energy, he closed his eyes, allowing his mind to go to sleep.
"There, that should give him some time to recover." Nightmare Moon then turned her attention to the other battles happening in the distance. "Now then...I guess it's time to put a stop to this."
Nightmare Moon would then fly, moving through the Dream Clouds, seeking out the Veiled Mistress. It would seem that the tide was finally turning.
Back in Equestria, the situation was dire for Spitfire's group. Spitfire herself was still in the midst of battling Silent Fur. Her Scizor clashed with the Nightmare Monster, both of their arms locking. Silent Fur and Scizor were staring each other down, their bodies trembling, sparks flying.
Spitfire was still pushing, putting more force into the battle. However, the Nightmare Monster was proving to be stronger, pushing back against her. Silent Fur would then force Scizor back, slamming her to the ground, causing a small tremor.
Silent Fur would then leap forward, tackling Scizor, his body slamming into the ground. Spitfire gasped, seeing her Pokemon getting thrown around.
"Scizor!" Spitfire called, seeing Silent Fur attempt to pin Scizor. The Bug-Steel-Type managed to roll away, narrowly avoiding the tackle. Spitfire would then run to the side, dodging Silent Fur's tails as they swung at her.
Silent Fur's mouth would open, her tails swinging, attempting to strike her. Scizor managed to catch the tails, using his pincers to keep the tails away. Silent Fur was not pleased, her body growing, her tendrils flailing.
"Hold her there, Scizor!" Spitfire shouted.
"Zor...!" Scizor growled, still trying his best to keep Silent Fur at bay. With all of his might, Scizor held on, his hands trembling. However, Silent Fur had used that symbol on her head again, her body glowing with black light.
This would cause a reaction within Scizor, who would scream, his body being drained of his life force. "Sci...Scizor!"
"Scizor! No!" Spitfire yelled, the symbol on Silent Fur's forehead draining Scizor of his power. Scizor would feel his body losing strength, the Nightmare Monster's power overcoming him. "Scizor! Hang in there!"
"It's pointless! You've done well to last this long, but I'm afraid this is where it all ends. After this, I will make sure to paint your entire world in a beautiful Nightmare Coat!" Silent Fur laughed, the symbol on her head glowing brighter.
"I don't think so!" Spitfire removed her glasses before suddenly whipping out a Mega Stone. In an instant, the stone would glow, reacting with Scizor. The stone would flash, engulfing Scizor in light. The light would burst out Scizor's body, forcing Silent Fur to back away, her symbol fading.
Scizor would roar, his body changing and transforming. His form was engulfed in a red aura, his body shifting. The Infinity Energy would pulsate aggressively, making this room shake. As the transformation completed Mega Scizor had emerged.
The Mega Evolution had occurred, the red aura surrounding his entire body. Scizor eyed Silent Fur down, his pincers clicking.
"Scizor!" He would dash forward, his speed greatly increasing. He would reach Silent Fur, who was shocked by this transformation. Silent Fur tried using her tails to stop him but they were promptly sliced, her tails cut apart.
"Hm?!" Silent Fur was actually hurt by this, seeing two of her tails fall off. They would land on the ground, the tails slowly turning into Nightmare Energy. "I see...So you finally have the means to properly damage me. Too little too late, I'm afraid. You spent most of your time moving across the citadel and struggling against me. Even if you had that power from the beginning, it wouldn't have made a difference."
"Really?" Spitfire smirked. "You think I didn't know that? Why do you think I've been holding out on using it this whole time? I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it."
"What?" Silent Fur was a bit surprised, the Nightmare Monster not expecting Spitfire to say such a thing.
"You see...I could've used this if I wanted to at any time. I've been wasting time, letting my Scizor get beaten around. And the longer I wasted time, the angrier and angrier he would get." Spitfire explained. "And now, he's at the perfect boiling point."
"W-What are you talking about?" Silent Fur stuttered.
"Hehe!" Spitfire rubbed her hooves. "You don't know this, but Mega Scizor melts thanks to all that Infinity Energy in him. And since he's already taken a lot of damage and I just now Mega Evolved him, the next batch of hits is gonna be explosive. Isn't that right, Scizor?"
"Sciiiiz!" The Bug-Steel-Type's body was actually starting to melt, the Infinity Energy leaking. The energy was building up, his body trembling. Silent Fur took a step back, realizing her mistake. She should've taken them seriously, underestimating their determination.
"Are you insane? You'd jeopardise your own Pokemon's wellbeing for this?! What if you miss?!"
"I won't miss. Not with this!" Spitfire exclaimed as Scizor started dropping his melting parts onto the floor itself. Pieces of him were starting to fall off, the Infinity Energy dripping. Due to how intense it was, the floor started melting as well immediately. The floor and walls would immediately feel the Infinity Energy as holes were already starting to form.
Silent Fur would gasp, not expecting such an outcome. She would take another step back, but a large explosion would occur from behind, a powerful burst of Infinity Energy being released.
This caused the whole building to shake, the walls melting. Silent Fur was sent flying, the Nightmare Monster being blown back. Parts of her body would hit the wall, the Infinity Energy burning her. She would scream, the Infinity Energy melting her body.
"Such power! It's so explosive and volatile! How can a Pokemon wield this kind of power without going insane?!" Silent Fur shrieked, her body slowly burning up.
"I've been waiting for this! Scizor wasted a lot of energy battling you, so now he's just waiting to explode with all of this! Spin Scizor! Get it everywhere!"
"Sci-ZOR!" Scizor spun, his body becoming a ball, his body rapidly spinning. The Infinity Energy would leak out, hitting everything in sight. The floor, the ceiling, the walls, and Silent Fur would all be struck by his powerful attacks.
This would cause massive damage, the entire room exploding, the Infinity Energy melting the place. Spitfire laughed while all of this was coming apart. Silent Fur, who was usually calm and collected, was now a complete mess, her body burning up.
Intimidated, Silent Fur would decide to flee from this part of the fortress. "These two are out of their minds!" Silent Fur would escape, fleeing to another part of the Darkened Citadel. However, she would soon find out how much this Infinity Energy could actually affect the entire fortress.
With the explosion occurring, the Infinity Energy spread out, hitting a lot of the walls, floors and ceiling. The whole building was now in the midst of destruction, the whole fortress falling apart. The entire fortress would be completely destroyed, the walls melting, the structure falling apart.
The other Wonderbolts inside felt it. The building was shaking, the whole place was breaking. The others were still fighting against the Nightmare Monsters, doing their best to hold them off. They would all feel the fortress crumbling.
Instead of freaking out, they knew exactly what this was. A smile formed on their faces, their eyes brightening. This is not the first time Spitfire has done this. "Nice." Soarin commented, seeing the walls starting to melt.
However, they soon realized that they could potentially be crushed under all of this rubble if they didn't leave. "Alright, let's get outta here." Soarin said, seeing the others agree.
"Gotcha." Fleetfoot would pick up her pace, running towards the window. All of them followed Fleetfoot, all of them rushing towards the nearest exit. As they ran, the ceiling above them was falling, pieces of it coming down. Fleetfoot and the other Wonderbolts would jump out the nearest window, escaping the destruction.
"Ohhh!" The others would all stare at the sight. They were outside and saw the entire fortress starting to fall apart. The Infinity Energy was eating away at the fortress, the entire thing was melting, the fortress breaking.
The Nightmare Monsters would also flee, trying to escape the collapsing citadel. "This is bad...!" They all shouted, seeing the place fall apart. Some of the Nightmare Monsters watched as the fortress came apart.
The fierce burst of Infinity Energy even flew out, flying into the distance. A powerful blast of energy flew through the air, the energy traveling far. Back inside, Silent Fur was still running, fleeing from the explosions.
She was in the midst of fleeing, wanting to speak with the other Nightmare Monsters back in her universe to give them an update on what was happening. "Oculus! Terrible news! Our fortress!"
But Oculus Gloom did not respond, her voice not heard. She was unaware that Oculus Gloom was greatly occupeid and that Nightmare Rarity had taken critical damage. This was not a good sign at all.
"I'm trying to reach the other one, but it's not responding. What's going on back in our Universe?!"
Universe 5.
Nightmare Rarity had fled the Dream Realm, heading to her world to recover her strength. Her plan had gone completely wrong, things not going the way she wanted. Her plans to steal Twilight Sparkle's friends and take her powers backfired. All thanks to Luna and Cresselia.
She cursed, her body flickering. She was still very much damaged, the cracks all over her body expanding. She had taken so much damage and it showed. But as she was returning to her throne room. she came across another scene. A scene of Celestia attempting to destroy her throne.
Celestia was pouring a beam against it, trying ot break through the Nightmare Veil. Passion was doing the same, using Dazzling Gleam to do so. The Nightmare Queen would stare at the sight before her, seeing them all there.
"How dare you...?!" Nightmare Rarity hissed, her eyes wide. Celestia and Passion would stop what they were doing, turning their heads to see their opponent. Their eyes would widen when they saw her. The Veiled Mistress was currently in a mist-like form, the dark mist barely able to keep itself together.
At last, Nightmare Rarity and Celestia came face to face with each other. The two powerful ponies glared at each other, Nightmare Rarity's eyes burning with hatred. This was not how it was supposed to be. Her Knight had been defeated, lying there on the floor with scattered body parts and a broken sword. No matter what, he was no match for Princess Celestia.
"You look like a mess." Celestia said, her eyes narrowing. "I take it that everything did not go the way you planned."
"You! I'll never forgive you! You and your precious family...You've ruined everything! Ruined my life!" Nightmare Rarity screamed, her dark mist shaking. "I'll destroy everything you love, just like you did to me!"
Celestia remained silent. Passion was still at the ready, watching Nightmare Rarity closely. They were all on edge, Passion keeping her eyes on Nightmare Rarity. The Nightmare Queen's body was flickering, her body slowly cracking. From the way it looked, Nightmare Rarity was on the verge of absolute defeat. Celestia was near the throne, blocking her from gaining some of Arceus's power.
"You can give up now. You've lost. Just accept that." Celestia declared. "Stop all of this at once. Your Empire has reached its limit now. You are no longer able to keep it all together. You can no longer fight back. You're finished."
"Ngh..." Nightmare Rarity grunted, her anger building. "I...I will never accept this. Not when I have a chance! Opalescence!" Suddenly, flying out of the throne was Opalescence, who was hidden this whole time. She flew out of the throne, rushing towards Nightmare Rarity.
Opalescence's body glowed, a strange energy flowing through her. "It's working...!" Nightmare Rarity grinned, seeing that her plan was in motion.
"What...?" Celestia was a bit surprised. She watched as the kitten would fly into the Nightmare Queen's body, merging with her. Opalescence would enter her mistress's body, merging with her, her form dissolving. The energy coming off from her as Divine Energy. Opalescence had brought it over to Nightmare Rarity due to hiding in the throne the whole time as backup.
The Divine Energy would then flow into the Nightmare Queen, her body absorbing it. "Mistress!" Passion gasped.
"Yes...!" Nightmare Rarity cackled. "At last...With this, I can fix myself and continue on! All thanks to you, my loyal little kitty!" The Veiled Mistress would then let out a loud laugh, the cracks on her body closing and sealing. Her body would start to glow, a powerful surge of light enveloping her body.
Celestia would step back, her eyes wide. She watched as Nightmare Rarity's body would start changing. Her body shifted and changed, the dark mist growing larger, her body becoming more beautiful and appealing. Her dress started glowing, the dark mist expanding.
The size of her was reaching astronomical levels, her body shifting, growing and changing. Passion would step back, her eyes wide. She could not believe it. What she was seeing was insane. The amount of energy pouring out from her body was immense, the dark mist expanding. She expanded beyond her own castle, her body growing.
"What is this...?!" Celestia gasped, her eyes wide, seeing the Veiled Mistress grow larger and larger. Passion's heart was racing. She had never seen such an insane transformation before. It was rather terrifying. Almost as if it was not from this world. Or even any other world.
This was strikingly similar to what happened with Malamar, but this time, it was done via Arceus's Power.
Nightmare Rarity would cry out, her voice booming across the entire Empire, shaking the land. "Yeeessss! This is what I've been waiting for! The power of a God! And now, it's all mine! Even if it's not all of it I'll never lose to anyone ever again! Not now that I have this kind of power at my disposal!"
Her laughter echoed throughout the Nightmare Empire, reaching every corner and edge of her land. The entire realm would shake, the sky and ground trembling. Nightmare Rarity would cry out, her body continuing to grow.
The Nightmare Queen had become a colossal being, her body towering over her own castle. Her body had changed, the mist surrounding her expanding. Her dress had transformed, the mist forming a dark coat with the symbols of all the Elements of Harmony, her crown becoming a large halo. Her horn was more like a tower, her eyes piercing.
She had become a being of immeasurable proportions, her body towering over the entire Nightmare Empire. With the power of Arceus flowing through her, she had reached new heights. And there was something else. Due to the Nightmare Monsters gaining power under the Moon, those that have been defeated would immediately return to life, their bodies reforming.
Celestia and Passion would gasp, seeing the Nightmare Monsters start to rise from absolutely nothing but thin air, returning to their former selves. The Nightmare Queen had become a being beyond comprehension, her body growing more powerful.
Ash and the others looked up, the boy's eyes wide. "Oh man..?!" He exclaimed, his voice trembling. The others would also look up, seeing the sight before them.
"That's right. The Veiled Mistress has taken some of Arceus's power and is using it for herself." Oculus Gloom explained. "And that's not all. Now that she's reached this level, the possibilities are endless!"
"N-No way...!" Twilight's eyes were wide, staring at the colossal being above her. "She has some of Arceus's Power?"
"Now you understand that you are bound to fail! Give up! The Veiled Mistress is at her strongest! Not even your friends and their Pokemon can stop her!" Oculus Gloom cried out, laughing. "You should just surrender now, while you still have the chance!"
"As if! We're still here, so we can still win this!" Ash argued, refusing to back down. All of them were. They would never give up. Even when things got tough, they always found a way to push through it. And they were going to do it again.
Back in the throne room, Celestia grimaced at this sight. She had seen this before. And she knew that if left alone, things would only get worse. Right as she was about to do something, someone else would return from the Dream Realm.
Luna and Cresselia would fly into the throne room, with Luna falling over, panting. Cresselia would gently float by her side. "Luna!" Celestia gasped, seeing her sister return. "Are you alright?"
Due to being out of the Dream Realm, all those injuries Luna suffered had returned. They could only be healed back in the Dream Realm thanks to Cresselia's power. Now that she was back to reality, she was back to square one.
"Ugh..." Luna grunted, feeling her body ache. She fell flat on her face, groaning. The injuries she took were still present, never tended to at all. "Sister..."
"What happened, Luna?!" Celestia gasped as her pupils shrunk once she saw one of the injuries on Luna. Specifically on her upper area. This injury was pulsating aggressively, due to Luna being unable to receive proper healing this whole time. She's been battling hard after all and was only hanging in there thanks to the properties of the Dream Realm. But now that she was back here, the wound was getting worse.
"Sister...I-I...I can't move...!" Luna groaned, her body hurting. Her eyes would start to droop, her body losing its strength. Not even Cresselia could stop this. She didn't even know it was that bad. She had just shown up recently after all.
"Luna!" Celestia cried, holding her sister up. She laid her head on her chest, trying to make her comfortable. "What happened?! Who did this to you?!"
But she would get her answer thanks to the laughter from Nightmare Rarity echoing across the realm. Her laughter was vicious while Celestia stayed silent, holding her injured sister in her hooves. All that laughter was being drowned out by Celestia's own silence as she took it all in.
All she could hear was the laughter from Nightmare Rarity, her voice booming. Taking this all in, Celestia referred to how Nightmare Rarity had captured so many Lunas, turning them into decorations. She also recalled how so many innocents were turned into decorations as well, including children.
Even Sweetie Belle was almost turned into a Nightmare Monster as well. Thinking about that, thinking about what her sister went through, thinking about everything that has happened so far, all of her anger was rising. The flames of wrath within her were rising, her eyes burning with fury.
Celestia would then gently place Luna down on the floor, her horn glowing. Passion would watch silently, feeling her Trainer's emotions shift. With Luna safe and secure, Celestia would look up, staring at the colossal being before her.
"Cresselia. Take good care of her. I'll deal with this myself." Celestia said.
"Creee!" Cresselia nodded, flying over to Luna. The Dream Guardian would hover over the alicorn, hoping to heal her. But even Cresselia knew that there was no way she could help Luna at the moment. And as she did so, Celestia would spread her wings, her body engulfed in a white light.
As Nightmare Rarity laughed, gazing directly at her counterpart from another universe. The Main Universe's Rarity. She spotted her heading for all the captured ponies in Oculus Gloom's base, trying to free them. But she would stop, looking up, seeing her.
She stared up at her, the Veiled Mistress's gaze piercing her. "Ah, my counterpart. Once again, I'll make you a wonderful decoration. I've already added other Raritys." She smirked. "I'll put you in a beautiful display, where everyone can see you!"
Nightmare Rarity would then use her massive to grab Rarity, the Nightmare Queen trying to get her. But a burst of light would stop her. Right as she was about to grab Rarity, a golden light pierced through her dark body, causing her to shriek and retract her hoof.
Rarity gasped, her eyes wide as she saw Celestia. Her body was glowing with a golden aura, her wings spreading out. "H-Huh?!" She gasped, seeing the princess fly up. But there was something slightly different about Celestia. Her mane, while the same as always, was starting to let out a small flicker of flames here and there.
"Princess Celestia!" Rarity exclaimed, watching her fly up. Everyone else looked up to see the Sun Princess flying up into the sky. As she did, all the captured ponies and Pokemon would notice as well, their eyes widened.
"Celestia!" Nightmare Rarity growled, the Nightmare Queen looking at the princess.
"You...You harmed my sister. You turned your own friends into decorations. You turned others into monsters. And now, you're planning to turn my own friends and family into decorations!" Celestia declared, her voice loud enough for everyone in the Nightmare Empire to hear. "You have no shame for even harming our own sister! No matter the universe! You disgust me."
"Hah! Cry about it! What are you going to do?!" Nightmare Rarity laughed, mocking her. "Even with Arceus's power, you can't touch me! It doesn't matter if I have a piece of his power or not! I'm not at the top!"
"Not at all. Clearly, you have no idea how Arceus's Power truly works. You aren't unstoppable with it. Allow me to demonstrate." Celestia would then raise her hooves up high, her horn glowing. In an instant, the sky would start to darken, the clouds turning a darker colour.
The sun would then start to be blocked by the clouds, the skies becoming dark. The whole world would suddenly turn dark, the night sky appearing. The Nightmare Empire's landscape would then start changing, the Nightmare Monsters below letting out gasps.
Celestia was changing the landscape. The land was shifting, the Nightmare Empire changing. The darkness was spreading, the area growing darker. Nightmare Rarity would gasp, feeling a strange power from within her. "What is this...?" She would try retaliating with Arceus's Power too, but found that she couldn't overlay the power of the moon over the sun.
Nightmare Rarity could not override Celestia's power, the Nightmare Queen gasping. "Impossible! I have Arceus's Power?! How can you override my power?!"
But Celestia would not reply. Instead, from her horn, she unleashed a stellar flash. A beam of light would shoot out, piercing through Nightmare Rarity's body. Nightmare Rarity hissed as her voice was drowned out by the sound of the light which enveloped her entire body.
Everyone else covered their eyes, trying to avoid being blinded. Everyone could hear the Nightmare Queen scream out, her voice echoing as everything went white. As the journey continues.
Everyone could hear the Nightmare Queen scream out, her voice echoing. She would tremble and shake, the entire Empire trembling. As Celestia unleashed her attack, Rarity's eyes would widen, her heart racing. She could not believe what she was seeing.
The Nightmare Queen would be struck by a powerful blast of light, the massive being falling back. The entire world shook, the ground trembling. Celestia had attacked her, striking her with a beam of light. Nightmare Rarity would scream, her voice echoing.
Her Nightmarish Body would start falling back, the Nightmare Queen shrieking. Her colossal form was falling back, the Divine Energy failing her. She would fall down, crashing into the ground. She would crash into her own castle, a huge chunk of it being smashed into pieces.
Celestia would stop firing her beam of light, her horn stopping. The skies cleared, the Moon in the sky shining down once more. Nightmare Rarity would fall, her form now back to normal size. She would collapse in the remains of her destroyed castle, falling flat on her face.
Her body was back to normal, the power she stole from Arceus gone. It left her body immediately, appearing as golden particles before dispersing into nothing. She would lay there, unable to move. Celestia would fly down, her body engulfed in a golden aura.
She would descend to the ground, her eyes focused. She would land on the ground, staring down at Nightmare Rarity. The Nightmare Queen would struggle, trying to get up. But she couldn't, her strength depleted. "Ngh...Ugh..." She grunted, feeling her body ache. She was still very much damaged after all.
"I-Impossible...H-How...?" Nightmare Rarity stuttered, trying to get back up. "How is this possible? H-How could you..."
"You ended up taking his power from his dream. But that would've only worked in the Dream Realm. Once you used it in reality, it was already over for you." Celestia explained. "You could only use it to such an extent. Now surrender. Do so and all of your Nightmare Monsters stop at once. It's over now."
"Kh...!" Nightmare Rarty stuttered before getting a closer look at Celestia. While it was brief, she saw something familiar. The flicker of flames around her mane reminded her of someone. For a brief second, she saw Daybreaker's visage flash over Celestia's. Her eyes would then widen upon seeing this. While it was brief, it was clear that the sudden rise in power that Celestia experienced was due to her emotions coming out.
While not uncommon, the way they emerged this time was different. After seeing what Nightmare Rarity had done to others, Celestia's rage was packed into that attack, giving her a boost in strength. Nightmare Rarity would tremble, seeing Celestia's expression.
She was actually terrified, the Nightmare Queen actually scared. She felt fear for the first time as Nightmare Rarity, feeling the anger in Celestia's eyes. Celestia stared down at the Nightmare Queen, her eyes burning. It was enough to intimidate the Nightmare Queen, Nightmare Rarity starting to feel that fear.
But she wasn't about to give up. She shifted her eyes, turning her attention to Oculus Gloom in the far distance. The whole battle paused once Nightmare Rarity fell, everyone looking at the sight. Even Oculus Gloom had stopped as she was in absolute disbelief.
"This isn't over...Not at all. Because clearly, you haven't been informed of one crucial thing." A wicked smile met with Nightmare Rarity's face as the Moon above would start shining brighter. Just as Oculus Gloom said, the Moon gave the Nightmare Monsters power. No matter what, they would always return and the same went for Nightmare Rarity, whose body was starting to glow.
Her body started to heal itself, her wounds closing up. "As long as the Moon is here, I can keep regenerating. And even if you take away my Nightmare Power, I can still be powerful on my own. In the end, it doesn't matter if I have Arceus's power or not."
"You're kidding!" Celestia gasped, stepping back as she witnessed multiple Nightmare Monsters returning from nothing, their bodies reforming. Even the ones that were defeated would start to rise again, their bodies being restored. The Nightmare Monsters that had been defeated by Celestia's group would rise back up, the monsters standing tall. Ash and the others looked aorund them, seeing all the Nightmare Monsters rise once more.
Nightmare Rarity would laugh, seeing Celestia's shocked expression. "See? No matter what you do, they always rise up. And that's all thanks to a little someone I made into the Moon itself! It's truly amazing what you can do with this kind of power!"
"Kh!" Celestia growled along with Passon, the two of them staring down Nightmare Rarity and all the Nightmare Monsters. From the looks of it, it seemed like it wouldn't end here.
Nightmare Rarity would cackle some more before turning into a misty, flying off. This prompted Celestia to immediately pursue her, trying to catch her. "Come back here!" Celestia demanded, her body glowing.
"Celestia!" Twilight cried out, trying to get her attention. But the princess would ignore her, continuing to chase after the fleeing Nightmare Queen.
Nightmare Rarity laughed, moving through the streets of her Empire. She would make her way to her castle, which was in shambles. Her body would enter her castle, going inside. Celestia would try entering but she would be blocked by Nightmare Monsters who had just risen up.
"Out of my way!" Celestia declared, using her magic to blast them away. She would then fly into the remains of her castle, her eyes searching for the Nightmare Queen. The Nightmare Monsters would pursue her, trying to attack her. But Celestia would continue expel them with light, continuing her pursuit.
In the far distance, Oculus Gloom was laughing, facing Ash and the others once more. "As you can see, we can keep this up forever! There will be no end to this until we are victorious! As long as the Moon shines, we will continue on!"
Oculus Gloom would then start to spread out, her body starting to engulf the others. "And now, let's put an end to this!" Oculus Gloom would try absorbing the others. They would all dodge her, avoiding her tendrils.
"Pikachu! Electroweb!" Ash shouted, Pikachu throwing out a net, catching her. This would trap the creature, binding her in place. Oculus hissed, her body restrained while also being electrocuted.
"Hyper Beam!" Both Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie yelled, their Audino and Blissey unleashing powerful blasts of energy. The combined power would hit Oculus Gloom, striking her with full force. The creature would scream, feeling her body burn.
"Now, Eve! Dazzling Gleam!" Twilight exclaimed, her Espon unleashing a powerful beam of light. The light would then spread into multiple rays, rapidly piercing Oculus's body. Oculus Gloom screamed, the beams of light burning her.
Oculus bellowed as she would unleash a vortex of darkness from her eyes in an instant. It would knock back everyone, sending them back. Ash and the others were pushed back, the boy rolling across the ground.
He would get up, seeing Oculus Gloom break free, her body stretching. From her blob-like body, she would send her tendrils through the Earth, the tendrils flying through the ground. They would pop up, trying to attack the others.
"Iron Tail!" Ash called as Pikachu's tail would glow, striking the tendrils away. They would retract, trying to attack again. "Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaaaa!" Pikachu unleashed a massive bolt of lightning, the bolt striking Oculus Gloom. The lightning would hit her body, electrocuting her. Oculus Gloom shrieked, feeling the electricity surge through her body.
"Pointless!" Oculus yelled. "Try as you might, you'll never win! Even if you defeat me, I will just return! And the same goes for my comrades!" Oculus Gloom laughed, her body growing larger. The black blob-like creature would grow in size, her body rising.
"What do we do?!" Fluttershy questioned. "We could be at this forever!"
"Maybe not." Ash said, his eyes looking up at the Moon. The boy would look around, seeing all the Nightmare Monsters rising back up. He noticed how the Moon would glow each time they would arise. It didn't glow previously until recently. "It's something with the Moon..."
Meanwhile, Dimstar's group, they stood before the corrupted Nightmare Pokemon, attempting to save the ponies and vampires from this nightmare they were experiencing. Holding off the corrupted Pokemon were Applejack and Rarity while Rainbow Dash and Dimstar focused on freeing everyone.
"Lux!" Rainbow Dash's Luxray used his X-Ray Vision to see through the darkness that enveloped the area. He could see through it, allowing Rainbow Dash to properly act in this dark area. Some of the Nightmare Pokemon attempted to sneak up on her, only to be seen. Luxray would use Discharge, electrocuting the Nightmare Pokemon.
Rarity's Ampharos would bring some light into the scene, weakening the Nightmare Monsters while also allowing Rarity and Applejack to see clearly, giving them an advantage.
"Hold still." Dimstar went up to one of her fellow vampires who was still seeing Opal Vivacity, absolutely terrified. She had been in this nightmare for so long and could not break free. But with Dimstar's powers, she would be able to bring her back and with no distractions.
Dimstar would place her hooves on the vampire's face while a battle went on behind her. With the help of Applejack and Rarity, the two managed to hold off the corrupted Pokemon for her. Rainbow Dash and Luxray would assist in making sure that Dimstar didn't get hurt.
"Ngh..." Dimstar grunted, struggling to wake the vampire from the nightmare. Her mind was completely wrapped in darkness. Her mind was trapped in this dream realm, unable to break free. It was like she was bound to it. But Dimstar knew better. There was a way to get her out.
The vision of Opal Vivacity was entering her eyes too, but she had was never afraid of her in the first place. Even if this was an illusion, Dimstar knew that the real Opal Vivacity was already gone. The one she saw right now was nothing more than a fake, a copy. And all she had to do was remind her of this.
"It's alright." Dimstar told her. "You know what this is. Don't let it control you. It's nothing more than a mirage." She told her. "Now open your eyes.
With that, one of the vampires would open her eyes, gasping. After dispelling the Nightmare from her, Dimstar would focus on the others, moving her tendrils towards them. Her tendrils would touch their foreheads, waking them up from the nightmares they were trapped in.
All the vampires would soon have their nightmare of Opal Vivacity fade away, their minds freed from the illusions. Now that they were awake, they were now in a different dream realm, being protected by Rainbow Dash's group.
"Ohhh!"Eccentrick gasped, feeling her body tremble. "Wh-What...?" She stuttered, almost falling over but being caught by Dimstar's tendrils.
"What happened...? I was in that nightmare for so long." One of the vampires said. "I couldn't escape it."
"Don't worry about that. Now, let's focus on everything else. How are you three doing back there?" Dimstar gazed at Rainbow Dash's group, seeing them take care of the Nightmare Pokemon.
"Oh! Apple Bloom!" Applejack was able to see her sister again, immediately running over while Sceptile used Frenzy Plant, restraining the Pokemon with vines. Applejack ran up to her little sister, hugging her. "Oh, I'm so glad that you're safe."
"Ah!" Apple Bloom hugged her big sister. "Applejack!"
"Oh Geez..." The ponies all grumbled, their heads spinning from seeing so much darkness and fighting all these monsters. They had been through a lot and were just now regaining their composure. Getting them to safety was the next priority but the other vampires were also bewildered. As for the Nightmare Pokemon, the last of them, Rapidash, had been defeated by Ampharos.
With all of them defeated, the Nightmare Energy would begin to leave their bodies, returning to nothing. All the darkness in this area would fade away as well, the darkness slowly dissipating.
"Good work, Luxray." said Rainbow Dash. "Now let's-" But before anything else could be done, bursting through the walls with intense aggression was Nightmare Rarity herself. The Nightmare Queen had returned, her body glowing with fury.
"You..." Her eyes narrowed, staring down her counterpart with a maniacal smile. Rarity gasped upon seeing her nightmarish counterpart. Her body was slowly reforming, no longer being a mist as her hooves would pop out from the ground. Her body would then reform, her head emerging from the walls. "You all have gotten in my way enough! I'll make you pay!"
Her eyes were wide, staring at the ponies and vampires with hatred. She saw her Nightmare Monsters all defeated, her body shaking in rage. This was the final straw. She then looked directly at Rarity, who narrowed her eyes. "Don't think I've forgotten about you, my counterpart! Soon enough, you'll join all of the other Raritys I've captured and decorated!"
"As if!" Rarity exclaimed, standing strong. "I bet it looks absolutely tacky!"
"Pah! Shows what you know! You don't know true beauty when you see it!" Nightmare Rarity spat. "But don't worry! I'll teach you a thing or two!"
"How could you do all of this!?" Rarity aimed her hoof at her Nightmare Counterpart. "You turned your own friends into Nightmare Monsters! Even Sweetie Belle almost became one! And you put them on display for everyone to see! How could you possibly me another version of me?! You're nothing like me at all!"
"Really now?" Nightmare Rarity cackled. "Oh, but you see, it should be 100% obvious by now! This was always likely to happen!"
"What?!"
"You all are so oblivious to it all. Can't you see that the possibility of you becoming just like Nightmare Moon was always there?" Nightmare Rarity would hover over them, slowly moving around them. "Not just you, but everyone else. If you just take a look, you'll see how the possibility of someone you know turning evil is there!"
"Kh!" Rarity would narrow her eyes, glaring at her counterpart.
"It's quite possible. After all, Nightmare Moon was just the start and she was never the only one. You, Applejack! You could become a Nightmare Variant as well!" Nightmare Rarity pointed her hoof at Applejack. The Earth pony gasped, her eyes wide. "You as well, Rainbow Dash! Don't think you're safe! Even Pinkie Pie has a chance!"
"Y-You're lying!" Rainbow Dash protested.
"Am I?" Nightmare Rarity would deviously grin. "The fact that I exist or the fact that Empress Twilight and Daybreaker exist in their own universes as well is proof of that! Every single one of you has a darkness lurking within that could be awakened. And I do mean all of you!" She would aim her hoof at all the ponies and Pokemon.
All of them from Moondancer to Berry Punch. Each of them had the potential to become a darker version of themselves. And all of them were staring at Nightmare Rarity. They were all at a loss for words, not knowing what to say.
Nightmare Rarity would laugh, seeing the looks on their faces. She had hit them hard with this information. The fact that she existed and that Daybreaker and Empress Twilight existed was proof of that. It was a chilling thought. That all of them could become just like her. Whatever could push them to such a level was unknown but the thought of it was certainly terrifying.
"That's right...So in the end, your struggle against Darkness is everlasting. As long as you live, as long as any of you live, there is always a chance of one of you turning evil." Nightmare Rarity explained. "Even if you think it won't happen to you, you can never be sure. You'll never truly be free from darkness. How about I save you all the trouble and let you embrace it!"
Nightmare Rarity took action, trying to grab at them with her hooves. "Hahahaha!" Nightmare Rarity laughed as her hooves would move towards them. She would try grabbing at them, moving towards the others. But a beam of light would strike her, a powerful flash of light blasting her away.
"Gah?!" Nightmare Rarity gasped, being pushed back. She would cry out, feeling the powerful magic course through her body. She would then turn her head, looking directly at Celestia. The princess was standing there, her eyes burning. Her horn was glowing as she unleashed another beam of light.
Celestia had returned to help them, chasing after Nightmare Rarity. Now, she stood before her, unleashing her attack on the Nightmare Queen. "Hmph. You're still here?!" Nightmare Rarity growled. "Get lost already!"
"Is everyone alright?!" Celestia asked, her eyes still locked onto her opponent. "That's enough, Nightmare Rarity! Just surrender already! I don't want to have to resort to even more battling from this point on! You've already caused too much damage! It's over!"
"Over?! Don't make me laugh!" Nightmare Rarity spat, her body reforming. "Don't you see...? As long as I have the power of the Night, this will never be over and my chance of winning will rise. All I have to do is tire you all out and I can make that happen. "And it's all thanks to the Moon!"
The others looked up at the sky, seeing the Moon in the sky. It was shining brightly. It had been giving the Nightmare Monsters power this whole time. Now that she had the power of the Night, she would never be defeated. All she had to do was keep this going until they were defeated.
"The only way for you to stop me is by destroying it. But I know for a fact you won't even dare to do so." The Nightmare Queen grinned. "After all, you want to save this universe, don't you? Pathetic!"
"Destroy the Moon...?" Celestia gasped, hearing this. She stared at the moon, her eyes widened. Doing so would weaken them, but Celestia wasn't sure if should take that risk. This Universe, while completely overtaken by darkness, still had some hope. At least, that's what she believed and destroying the Moon wouldn't do any good. Celestia thought hard about what to do, trying to think of another way to deal with this.
"Is there really no other way? There has to be..." Celestia never had to deal with an issue that strongly related to the Moon. The closest was Nightmare Moon, but she only sealed her in it.
"Don't do it, Princess Celestia!" Apple Bloom yelled. "The Moon...The Moon is Twilight!" She cried out. "Don't destroy it!"
"Huh?!" Celestia was surprised to hear that.
"What?!" Rarity gasped, her eyes widening. She couldn't believe what she heard. So did Rainbow Dash and Applejack as they were just now hearing about this. All the Ponies and Pokemon were already aware thanks to what Oculus Gloom said to them.
"That's right...I personally turned my universe's Twilight into the Moon itself! So she will forever give me and my empire power!" Nightmare Rarity laughed. "And thanks to her, we have a new chance to win! So, Celestia! Will you destroy the Moon to stop me or will you surrender?!"
Things went silent once more for Celestia. She couldn't decide on what to do. To destroy the Moon would mean saving this universe. But that would mean destroying Twilight, who was the Moon. She would never do such a thing. Yet again, Nightmare Rarity had done something horrible that put the lives of others at risk.
Celestia would not respond, not knowing what to say. She felt a great amount of anger towards the Nightmare Queen, but she could not bring herself to take this far. This was one step too far, even for her. Those flames she had been feeling earlier were starting to recede as Celestia felt her rage subside.
"Oh, how typical of you. I knew you wouldn't be able to do it." Nightmare Rarity snickered, seeing Celestia's reaction. But at that moment, Nightmare Rarity's cocky attitude would fade away once she sensed something even more terrifying than before. Her pupils shrank when looking at Celestia, seeing something that terrified her.
Dimstar and the others would feel this presence too, their eyes widening. Celestia was still lost in thought as her body started moving on its own. From her horn, a radiant light would pour out, lighting up the area. "P-Princess?" Scootaloo asked, seeing Celestia's expression change. She said nothing as she was preparing to unleash a powerful spell on Nightmare Rarity.
"Useless! I told you! As long as the Moon is up, I'll be perfectly fine afterwards, recovering to act again!" Nightmare Rarity's horn would light up too while cackling. She was preparing a powerful attack for Celestia as well.
But as soon as she unleashed her beam, it was immediately overpowered in an instant by Celestia's. "Gah?!" She gasped, feeling the force behind her beam. It was far more powerful than before. Nightmare Rarity was struck by the powerful beam, being pushed back. "Khhh...?!"
Her body was being burned by the light, feeling it course through her body. The beam then broke through the entire building, curving upwards and carrying Nightmare Rarity through the air. Nightmare Rarity screamed, her body being pulled through the air by the beam of light. Another powerful flash emerged, but this time, it was even stronger than the last.
All the Nightmare Monsters hissed and cried out, their bodies exposed to an absurd amount of Light Magic. Nightmare Rarity would yell with them as all of the Nightmare Monsters would be hit by this magic. It felt like the Sun had returned to this world, but it was much more powerful than ever.
The Nightmare Monsters were all caught in the blast, their bodies burning. Their bodies would then start to dissipate into nothing, the Nightmares fading away. Nightmare Rarity screamed, her body burning as she would be pushed back, her body flying up into the air. Afterwards, a solar explosion occurred, blowing away the dark clouds that enveloped the sky.
All the darkness above was absolutely eradicated, the Sun's radiance shining down on the Nightmare Empire. All of Nightmare Rarity's minions were now defeated, their bodies disappearing. With the Sun above, the Nightmare Monsters had been defeated by an astronomical amount of light.
As for the ponies and Pokemon, they would look up, seeing the temporary Sun shine through the sky. Nightmare Rarity would start falling from above, her body smoking as every ounce of her magic had been obliterated. Oculus Gloom would start melting, unable to stay together as everything related to Nightmare Rarity's magic would start diminishing rapidly.
Everyone was in awe at the absolute power Celestia had displayed, amazed that she was able to pull this off. Nightmare Rarity dropped to the ground, forming a crater as she truly been defeated.
"Wow..." Ash breathed out, seeing the power Celestia unleashed. "Talk about power..."
"Pika...."
"She's amazing..." Twilight Sparkle gasped.
Nightmare Rarity's eyes would spin, her body completely immobile. "Ngh..." She grunted, her body hurting. Her horn was cracked while her body was smoking, completely burnt. Celestia would stand there, silent once more.
"Princess...?" Moondancer spoke as Celestia would turn her head, her eyes glowing. They would all step back, terrified by the look in her eyes. The glow would vanish, Celestia calmed down as she took in a deep breath.
She placed her hoof on her head, feeling a little light-headed. That was enough magic for her to handle for today. It was all too much. "Oh dear..." She stuttered, trying to keep herself standing. She then looked down, seeing the Nightmare Queen's form, still smouldering. Celestia actually felt the intensity of the magic she had used, recognising it. It immediately reminded her of Daybreaker, making her gasp.
It was all over. She had finally done it. Nightmare Rarity had been defeated and all of her minions were defeated, making this another member of Daybreaker's alliance done for. All of them were now gone, leaving only the Nightmare Queen. But Celestia had taken it a step too far with her magic to the point where a semblance of Daybreaker emerged for a moment.
The Nightmare Monsters were all defeated, but the Moon was still up, shining brightly. It was still the normal Moon, even if it was now Twilight Sparkle herself. There was still so much to deal with, but for now, they had won.
Once it was all over, everypony would be sent home, moving through the gateway. All of the ponies and vampires were sent back to the universe they knew. All of them would be sent home to rest and recover, especially Luna. And while they did so, Celestia and Passion would be left behind.
Celestia would stand there, watching as they were sent home. The others would leave, returning home to recuperate. Celestia and Passion would stay behind, letting them go. With everything said and done, they had no further business here. They could finally rest now.
But before they did that, Celestia would take a look around, seeing the destroyed castle. She would walk around, observing the landscape, seeing how much damage had been done. The castle was in shambles, the building practically destroyed.
The land was in shambles, the darkness having faded away. Those who have been turned inito decorations would be brought to Universe 1 to eventually have their bodies restored. Celestia and Passion would look around, seeing the aftermath. The Nightmare Empire was in ruins, never to rise again.
Afterwards, Celestia would move through the gateway, returning to her universe. Celestia and Passion would return to Equestria, the two of them appearing in front of Canterlot Castle. But as everyone left and this entire universe was now silent, quietly moving through the rubble was the extremely tiny remains of Oculus Gloom, the last bits of Nightmare Rarity's power.
"Curse them all...How could they do this do us? Curse that Celestia. Curse them all..." Oculus Gloom hissed, her body reforming. She would continue moving, planning to seek vengeance. "I must report this to the other universe...To Daybreaker and the rest. I'll make them pay..."
Oculus Gloom would continue moving through the castle, deciding to inform Daybreaker and the others. But in her current state, that would be highly difficult, but she vowed revenge. Revenge against Universe 1.
A new day rises. After defeating the Nightmare Empire and Nightmare Rarity entirely, all those captured were back home safe and sound. As for Nightmare Rarity herself, she was immediately sent to Tartarus, punished for her crimes and unable to see her universe again.
Celestia would return to Equestria for this new day, finding that her little sister was waiting for her. "Sister!" Luna yelled out, running up to hug her. She was finally healed, no longer wounded now that she got proper treatment. Luna would hug her sister tightly, relieved to see that she was okay.
"Luna. Glad to see you're already better." Celestia said, hugging her sister with great strength. "I'm sorry I took so long to help you."
"It's alright, Sister. I'm just glad you're okay. And all of this is over. We can finally rest easy."
"Indeed..." Celestia agreed.
"So, you defeated her, right?" Luna asked, looking at her sister. "Nightmare Rarity. She's gone now, right?"
"She is. I've ordered her to be sent to Tartarus immediately. Nightmare Rarity is now gone. The Nightmare Empire is gone. That makes another member of Daybreaker's Alliance down. I promised that I'd start taking them all down as soon as possible so that they can harm us no more after all."
"What are we to do about that Universe, however? All its residents were Nightmare Monsters. What's to become of it? It could be rather empty."
"Don't worry. They've been turned into decorations, but we can return them to their original forms. The same goes for the other Lunas and Raritys from other universes that were captured and turned into decorations. We'll restore them too and send them back to their respective universes."
"Wonderful." Luna smiled, her eyes closing. "I was rather worried about that universe since it was only populated by Nightmare Monsters. That's wonderful to hear and I'm positive Cresselia will feel the same."
"Cresselia? She's still here?" Celestia questioned. Speaking of which, emerging out of thin air via teleportation was Cresselia, the Lunar Pokemon appearing in front of the two.
"Cress!" She cried out majestically.
"You see, Cresselia is already aware of all I've done in the Dream Realm. Since our worlds are now one, we oversee the same realm to make sure everything is fine. I suppose we've never crossed paths at all in the Dream Realm. Then again, it's only been a few months since our two worlds have merged. So as an agreement, Cresselia has decided to stay and help us keep everything in order."
"W-Wait! Does that mean...?!" Celestia's eyes widened upon hearing this.
"Hehe!" Luna grinned before using her magic to hold out a Poke Ball. That confirmed Celestia's suspicion. Luna had caught Cresselia, making the Lunar Pokemon a part of her team. "Now we can protect the Dream Realm at even more efficient rate and be close to each other."
"Luna...Don't you think you're getting a bit too strong for everypony else?" Celestia pouted while leaning in. "The first ever Pokemon League in Equestria is near and you have a Darkrai, Zekrom and now a Cresselia on your side. Isn't that somewhat unfair for the other Trainers?"
"It is completely fine!" Luna proudly said, puffing her chest forward. "I'm sure everypony else is working hard to get stronger too so that they aren't left in the dust. And who knows? Maybe one of them will catch their own Legendary or Mythical. I know Rainbow Dash already has a Zeraora. Plus, there's a chance they may not be in any of my matches."
"True. Very well then." Celestia sighed.
"So, what now, sister? What's to be done?" Luna asked.
"Well..." Celestia turned her head, staring at the azure skies through the window. "Now that Nightmare Rarity is finished, I want to turn my efforts to the one in charge right now. Daybreaker and her Solar Empire. Undoubtedly the strongest out of all of them and the biggest threat aside from Team Plasma. Currently, in light of Ghetsis and Team Plasma being rather absent, Daybreaker is the one in charge this time. So, if we defeat her, the rest of the alliance will crumble, falling apart. She is our next obstacle.."
"Are you planning on challenging her so soon, sister? Wouldn't it be best to wait for a bit. You look like you wish to take her own immediately based on the look in your eyes." Luna questioned.
"I'm not going for her right away. I need time to prepare. But you could say that I am planning to strike soon. Slowing down isn't an option and neither is resting." Celestia said with a stern tone.
"No rest? Sister. Everyone's been through a lot recently and the window for rest as been getting smaller and smaller constantly. Wouldn't it be best to give our friends a break?" Luna inquired.
"We don't have the luxury of rest, Luna. And even if we do, a threat from that alliance is bound to pop up. Time and time again, they've launched attacks on peaceful times and cause so much distress for everypony else. It's only a matter of time before they launch their greatest attack and greatly ruin our world." Celestia told her sister.
"Sister..." Luna could see the flames in Celestia's eyes. She was speaking the truth. But Celestia did not want to stop. She would not rest, no matter how much she wanted to.
"Before they can get the chance to do anything else, much like Nightmare Rarity, we'll go to them and stop them in advance. Only then can we have peace at last. We won't be able to rest until then."
"I understand but...You don't usually rush into these things, sister. Something about you is different right now. Are you alright?" Luna brought up, observing her sister's eyes.
"Hm? I-I'm fine. Really. It's just that we've had to deal with too much in such a short span of time. First, it was Malamar, then it was Empress Twilight, Second Wind, the Dread League and now Nightmare Rarity. Eventually, it could potentially be Ghetsis next and we already know how dangerous he can be. It's only a matter of time before another massive threat appears and possibly joins them or works alone. So, I want to stop this once and for all." Celestia explained. "Through every means necessary, I will defeat them all until a bright new day can come."
"I understand that as well but...I'm worried that a bit of Daybreaker is starting to emerge from you." Luna said, making Celestia gasp. The Sun Princess froze as she remembered the innate power she used against Nightmare Rarity when her anger was rising. There was no mistaking it. That magic she felt was from the Daybreaker part that rests deep within her.
Celestia certainly didn't wish to unleash any more of Daybreaker at all, knowing what that could lead to. She could become her alter-ego and go down the same path as Luna did with Nightmare Moon, but with potentially no return. Much like Nightmare Rarity was unable to become the true Rarity once more.
"M-Maybe you're right, Luna." Celestia shook her head. "Maybe I am rushing into this and need to relax for a bit. But there's no way I can rest knowing that someone like Daybreaker is out there. I'm sure you feel the same about her." Celestia told her sister.
"Very much so. She's quite powerful, having an empire that's even bigger than that of Nightmare Rarity. She has far more allies and her empire is the largest we've heard of so far. We'll have to face her eventually. Even if you wish to prepare, that's something that can't be done in an instant." Luna told her sister.
"True." Celestia nodded. She was glad Luna was here to snap her out of it. "I'll slow it down a little bit. Thank you, Luna. But I am going to have to assess all the damage that's been done and focus on some repairs. While major damage hasn't been done to our world compared to the previous attacks, it still needs to be cleaned up."
Ponyville. Twilight's Castle.
Back at Ponyville, everyone else was resting, spending time with their Pokemon. As for Twilight, she was just waking up, feeling refreshed. She yawned, stretching her hooves before taking a look around, seeing Espeon sleeping next to her. "Morning, girl." She greeted, waking her Pokemon up.
"Espe..." She yawned, getting up and stretching too. "Es Esp. Es Espeon!" She said, feeling excited.
"Ah...Just being in that universe made me so tired..." The young alicorn sighed. "But, now we don't have to worry about that. And I guess that's everything nightmare-related dealt with. At least this one didn't mess the world up too much. It could've been way, way worse.."
"Esp..."
"But I wonder where Spike went...He's not here right now." Twilight said, looking around. Spike was nowhere to be seen. She was unaware that he left during the night the sea in Hoenn opened up, leaving with Rayquaza. And speaking of Rayquaza, Twilight saw no sign of him either considering his size.
"Hmm? Where are you, Spike? It's morning already." She began opening many doors here, searching for a sign of Spike anywhere. But Spike was nowhere to be seen. "Spike?"
No matter where she went, there was no sign of Spike or Rayquaza. There were no traces of them left behind at all. Twilight felt a little worried, hoping that nothing bad happened to them. Spike didn't leave a note behind so she wasn't sure if he had gone off somewhere, especially after what had just happened last night.
"Oh no. I hope they didn't get into any trouble." Twilight gulped before spotting Starlight nearby. "Starlight. Have you seen Spike?" Twilight asked, running up to her.
"Spike? No. I haven't seen him in a while. He went out with Rayquaza 2 days ago, I think. And he hasn't come back ever since."
"Oh, no! You don't think something bad happened, do you?!" Twilight panicked, worrying that her assistant may be in trouble.
"Not sure. Last I saw him, he said something about Rayquaza wanting to fix things, so he went with him. Apparently, there's a massive hole in the sea somewhere. But I don't know anything else. Sorry." Starlight shrugged.
"A hole in the sea? Ah, right!" Twilight smacked her own face. "The hole near Lilycove City! That makes sense...Ever since five of the shards got close to each other, it left quite a dent in the sea and a bit of the sky. Rayquaza would try and deal with that as its job." Twilight concluded. "But in his condition? Can Rayquaza even do much?"
"I doubt it. He's still pretty tired." Starlight shrugged. "But I bet with him around, Spike will feel way safer. He's weakened but not defenceless. Not sure how he's gonna get to Hoenn while dragging Rayquaza though."
"Yeah..." Twilight took a deep breath. "I'd better call him to make sure he's okay. Plus, I'll have to make a stop at the Sea Temple again. It's about the shards after all."
"Gee, what have you and the others been up to this whole time?" Starlight questioned while wathing Twilight preparing herself.
"A lot. But with Nightmare Rarity done with, I'd say our problems are getting smaller and smaller. But they're not done yet. We have to deal with the new issue of Volo and Daybreaker's still a problem. An even bigger problem than Nightmare Rarity. But I have a feeling we can pull through." The Princess of Friendship smiled before walking out, leaving Starlight Glimmer puzzled.
"W-Who's Volo?"
Lapras Lake. The Sea Temple. Samiya.
"Waaah..." Waking up at last in the Sea Temple, completely unbothered by the events last night, was Team Rocket. Jessie opened her mouth wide, yawning as she woke up. James rolled out of bed, falling to the ground with a thud. Meowth would yawn as well, getting up.
"Oh, man..." Meowth yawned. "That was some night."
"You said it." Jessie nodded.
"I don't think I slept that much at all. I heard a lot of commotion out there. Wonder what's going on." James said, standing up.
"Whatever it was, it's over now." Meowth grumbled while crawling out of bed. "Plus, this is the best bed we've ever felt in our lives. I hope we never have to leave it behind."
"We might have to leave it all behind." Following that was the voice of Lena, who was speaking to a Samiyan. That sentence made Meowth, James and Jessie gasp as their eyes widened, glancing in Lena's direction.
"Searching for the shards is going to lead us away from the Sea naturally. I can sense that not many of them are underwater or anywhere near water. But it's great that you helped us get to the Water Shards." Lena said to the Samiyans.
"Ah it isn't a problem, Ms Lena. Anything for a relative to our Majesty. We'll at least get you to your next destination and see you off there. After that, it'll be your own journey." Samiyan said, nodding.
"Man...I guess that means you're gonna be leaving soon, huh," Ash said to his ancestor.
"Looks like it. But it's not the end yet, Ash. We're still going to meet again. In fact, I can tell that this won't be the last time we'll meet." Lena smiled as she looked at her descendant. "I will see you again one day. I promise."
"Okay!" Ash nodded. "But if we're gonna meet each other, I'd really like to call you sometime! If only you had an Xtransceiver...Do you think you could buy one?"
"Umm..." Lena scratched her hair, wondering if she could. She hasn't been exactly focused on collecting money in the modern-day and wasn't sure what an Xtransceiver looked like.
"That won't be an issue. Have this, darling." Rarity had her covered, whipping a spare Xtransceiver from her Saddlebag. "I figured Ash would want to speak with you again if you departed from each other, so I made sure to purchase a spare in advance. Even before we encountered each other at Alola. So here you go."
"Really?" Lena gasped. "Thank you, Rarity! I appreciate it!" The two smiled at each other, Rarity handing Lena the device. "Well, I should be going now. I can't let Volo get ahead of me. It's been fun. And good luck with everything else, my descendant. I'm so glad my family line is still around."
"Same here! And thank you so much! I'll make sure to call you as soon as possible." Ash waved goodbye to his ancestor before walking off with his friends.
"We'll get her to her next destination safely, your majesty." Alo spoke to Ash, walking alongside him. "Not only that, but after that, we'll have the evolve the Sea Temple itself."
"Evolve the Sea Temple? You're giving it an upgrade?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"Indeed." Samiyan nodded. "You see, ever since the Sea Temple was built, it has not evolved or changed at all. While it has been useful, the time to evolve it has arrived. Especially due to recent events. We don't think we can suffer another attack or disaster. It needs to become better. It must evolve into something even stronger. So, once we return Lena to the next area, we shall set out to improve the Sea Temple."
"Aw, that's gonna be so cool!" Ash's eyes lit up. "It'd be like a Pokemon evolving. I wonder what it'll look like when it's done."
"It will require all Samiyans to make it work. But, we will also be needing your assistance, your Majesty." Alo added.
"Huh? Me too?" Ash pointed at himself.
"Mhm. You are the second King of the Sea ever and the first King of the Sea helped with the creation of the Sea Temple when he was rather young. Those are King of the Sea have the gift to command the Sea itself and the ability to do more with it. With your help, we will be able to evolve the Sea Temple into something far greater than it has ever been." Alo explained.
"Huh..." Ash would slowly nod, getting it.
"In fact, before you leave, there is something we'd like for you to see, your majesty." Before Ash could leave, there was one more thing he had to do in the Sea Temple. In fact, this would also mean that he'd get to see his ancestor a bit longer.
Things were steadily returning to normal now that the Nightmare Empire had been defeated. As normal as they can be, however. But Celestia knew that this would not last for long. The Sun Princess was more determined to defeat the alliance once and for all, a bit of Daybreaker trying to emerge, but held back so far. And as for Ash, there is one more secret the Sea Temple has to offer. It never seems to run out of it at all as the journey continues.
"Hah...Hah..." Trekking along the lands of Equestria was Spike, who went all the way from Ponyville to here and was still on the move. This entire time, he's been moving with Rayquaza, who was currently being pulled by Haxorus and Salamence. Rayquaza this whole time has been watching carefully, waiting for Spike to reach his destination.
Obviously, he couldn't reach Hoenn from this distance, but thankfully, there was a gateway up ahead that would lead him to the Hoenn Region easily without needing to travel by boat.
"We're almost there, aren't we?" Spike asked, panting heavily as he stopped for a moment. He took a deep breath, his body sweating a lot. "This gateway should take us straight to Dewford Town...That's good enough. But first..." Spike would then drop to the ground, falling flat on his face. "I gotta rest."
"Hax..." Haxorus sighed while Rayquaza glanced down at Spike, feeling concerned for him. He had been pushing himself hard, trying to get to his destination, not wanting to keep Rayquaza waiting. But even Haxorus reached his limit. He took a deep sigh, the light within him shining as he reverted to an Axew, unable to keep his transformation up any longer. "Axew..."
The two of them would lie there, resting in the sun for a little while, taking a short break. Rayquaza would continue watching, not saying anything at all. Spike was pushing himself hard just to reach Hoenn, specifically the waters of Lilycove City. He felt guilty for making him go through this much. Even Salamence was spent having to move this much without flying.
As he rested there, Spike could see the gateway in front of him. He just had to wait until he got his strength back before heading through it. Spike has been moving for over 2 days, travelling across Equestria just to get to this one gateway and now that he was near it, he lacked the strength to go any further.
"So hungry...I should've packed some food before leaving..." Spike grumbled, patting his stomach. He could go for some gems right about now. He could even go for something else that wasn't gem-related for once. He would then look up at Rayquaza, who was still watching him. "I'm so sorry for making you wait, Rayquaza. I'll be there soon, I promise. I just need a little break. Don't worry, though. We're gonna be there before you know it."
Rayquaza knew that Spike wouldn't be able to make it that far. Not in this condition. Not like he could do much either since he was still weakened, resting in a large cart of all things. But that didn't mean he couldn't make it easier on Spike. Now that they were near the gateway, Rayquaza, using the amount of power he's managed to recover, would manipulate the Dragon Matter that was resting deep within the land.
"Hmm...?" Spike felt the ground shake as he saw the ground rumbling, bits of Dragon Matter emerging from the ground. "What's happening?" He questioned, getting back up. The Dragon Matter would move in front of him, wrapping around him and Axew, lifting them off the ground ever so slightly. Spike gasped while Rayquaza used more Dragon Matter, using it to create a pair of wings on his back.
He would then use these wings to push himself forward, taking flight. The two of them would be pushed forward, moving towards the gateway with ease. Since it wasn't too far, Rayquaza didn't have to use that much energy to do this.
Hoenn. Dewford Town.
Once they neared the gateway, they would be placed down, Rayquaza hovering above the ground as Spike was released from the Dragon Matter. They found themselves on the grounds of Dewford Town, feeling the sand on their bodies. Spike was still unable to move, too tired to even so do as his body would just rest on the sand, staring at the town.
"Well, at least you're getting some more strength back. But we're a long way from Lilycove City. How are we gonna get there at this rate? And I'm still hungry."
Obviously, Rayquaza couldn't do anything about that. Sure, they've reached Hoenn, but they'll need a lot more energy at this rate and Rayquaza wasn't about to risk wasting more.
"Oh? Spike!" In the distance, the Gym Leader Brawly would call out, noticing Spike. "Is that you, man?!" He yelled out, running in his direction. It didn't take him long to get to him and once he did, he would kneel down, helping Spike up. "Hey, you okay? What are you doing h-" Brawly's sentence was immediately cut off once he saw the Pokemon in the cart near Spike.
Rayquaza groaned, staring at Brawly with his tired eyes. Brawly was in absolute disbelief, seeing the Legendary Pokemon present here. In a cart too, no less. R-Rayquaza?!" Brawly bellowed. His shout alerted some of the nearby residents who would soon spot the Sky High Pokemon too.
"Wow! Is that Rayquaza?!" A child yelled, pointing at the Pokemon. Rayquaza would sigh, feeling a little annoyed at all the attention he was getting
"It is! Oh my gosh! It's Rayquaza!"
"Rayquaza?!" Naturally, the citizens would start gathering around the Pokemon, looking up at him in awe. Rayquaza was rather tired, not having the energy to deal with this. He wasn't here for this, but he didn't have the energy to escape either. He just had to lie there and listen to all of this.
Brawly would pick Spike and Axew up before facing everyone else. "Alright, guys. They obviously look pretty out of shape right now. Best to give them some space, alright?" Brawly ordered, trying to get everyone to leave. For Rayquaza's sake.
"Aww. But I want to talk to Rayquaza." The kid pouted as they all spoke while walking away. Brawly managed to give them some space, allowing Rayquaza to be able to rest. He would take a deep breath, closing his eyes as he finally got a break from all the attention. "So...What's going on now? You wouldn't just casually show up with Rayqazua after all."
"I'll tell you...First...I need some food. Got any gems? Anything will do." Spike groaned, rubbing his stomach.
Minutes later, Brawly brought Spike, Axew and Salamence back to his home, letting them rest while he went off to get them something to eat. While Rayquaza was still in the cart, the others would rest, enjoying the shade. In the meantime, Brawly would return, holding some bowls filled with fruit and berries for the Pokemon, letting them eat their fill.
"Thank you so much, Brawly." Spike said, eating a few berries.
"Don't mention it. Brawly said, sitting down. "Seeing you with Rayquaza put me on full alert. By now, if I see a Legendary Pokemon around any of you and the others, something might be up. I mean, just last night, there was that whole Nightmare Rarity thing that happened."
"Huh?" Spike was unaware of the events that took place last night since his dreams were intact. He had no idea what had happened and was oblivious to it all. Only focused on getting Rayquaza to Lilycove. "What are you talking about?"
"Well, long story short, Nightmare Rarity came and tried to conquer all of our dreams and our world. Same old, same old. Thankfully, it was all resolved and the Nightmares have been dealt with, so it's A-Okay."
"Wow...I've really missed out on a lot." Spike uttered while stuffing his face with food. "Plus, there was a Nightmare version of Rarity I didn't get to see? Ooh...I bet she's so beautiful. Scary, but beautiful."
"Seriously?" Brawly lowered his eyes as Spike's crush on Rarity seemed to apply to alternate versions. Good or Evil. Spike grinned, laughing nervously as Brawly just sighed, shaking his head. "So, what's your deal with Rayquaza? Why is he here? And why does he look so beat up? What happened to him?"
"I don't know, but I'm kinda looking after him. Well, all of Ponyville is right now, until he gets back to full strength. Princess Celestia told us to do so. And I'm only here because I'm trying to get him to Lilycove's Waters. There's a massive hole somewhere out there that's apparently gonna mess things up a lot."
"You can understand Rayquaza? I get that you're a Dragon but..."
"Hehe!" Spike puffed his chest out, looking proud. "That's a bonus of having someone like Drayden as your mentor. I'm getting used to the perks of being a Dragon Trainer."
"Well, I know what you're talking about. That hole that showed up at sea made news fast across Hoenn. You shuuld see the size of it. It's crazy. I don't know what happened, but it's really big. It's gonna be a pain to fix." Brawly chuckled. "Well, I guess that's why Rayquaza's around. That hole also forced some Dragon Matter out and that just messed things up a lot more. But can Rayquaza even fix it in that state?"
"I don't think so. He's still so weak right now, but he really wanted to go there to fix things up." Spike explained. "Won't Kyogre sort it out? It's the Guardian of the Sea, isn't it?"
"I bet you were wondering that when Rayquaza asked you to bring him along. But I'm guessing it's because if you're not a Dragon-Type, you can't handle Dragon Matter energy. And right now, that hole is brimming with that stuff. I wouldn't wanna surf that." Brawly laughed nervously.
"Oh...I guess that makes sense." Spike nodded. "Do I just wait for Rayquaza to get enough strength? We're already here at Hoenn but...What am I supposed to do while we wait?"
"Hmm..." Brawly would start thinking as well. He crossed his arms, laying back on his chair for a while before coming up with something. Something simple. "I got something. You made it this far, but I bet it's not gonna get any easier for you. If you come across that Dragon Matter, even if it won't affect you, it can still be dangerous. Plus that hole's way too big to approach, believe me. You're gonna have to get stronger than you are now, Spike."
"Huh? But I'm not battling anyone. I'm just heading to Lilycove's Waters with Rayquaza."
"That's true, but what if you encounter some more trouble along the way? I mean, you're dragging Rayquaza along, so you're gonna run into trouble while making sure he's safe. Rayquaza's a powerful Pokemon after all and you and I both know what some will do just to get their hands on such awesome power, even if he's weak right now."
Spike nodded. He was already aware of how some people might go crazy to get their hands on something as powerful as Rayquaza. So much so that they could end up hurting him to do so. The chances of Spike losing Rayquaza were definitely there. He needed to make sure that didn't happen at all.
"So, I'll tell you what. Get a bit stronger right now until Rayquaza's got some amount of strength to keep going and fix this. Plus, I can help you work on your stamina. You look like you've been walking for a long time after all."
"You can train my stamina? seriously? Do you even have huge stamina yourself?"
"Well, it's not like I have a huge chunk of stamina, but I can teach you how to increase your endurance over time." Brawly smiled, standing up with a beaming grin. "As the Fighting-Type Gym Leader, I can make that happen. Everything I do in life is like a battle. Even surfing. That's how I roll and get stronger. I'm sure you can too."
"Huh...Well, I'm used to being helped by Dragon Trainers like Drayden or Drake, but I guess I can do this! Yeah, I'll go for it! Anything to make this way easier on me!" Spike exclaimed, feeling motivated.
"Woah, dude. Don't go thinking it's gonna get easier." Brawly wagged his finger. "Even if you get stronger, you're gonna come across something or someone tougher than you. You just gotta be ready for the worst. You're not going back out there until you're all geared up."
"Tell me something I don't know..." Spike sighed, lowering his head. "I went out without any food at all. I thought it was gonna be a quick trip. Boy, was I wrong?"
"Don't worry, Spike. I'll get you back on your feet in no time. For now, chow down as much as you want and come over to my Gym." Brawly gave a thumbs-up. "As a former Pokemon School Teacher, consider this a lesson, alright?"
Equestria. Lapras Lake. The Sea Temple. Samiya.
Back at the Sea Temple, Ash was brought to the throne room, where he was immediately seated on the throne. Alo would step forward, speaking to him. "Your Majesty. If you could please give us your assistance in upgrading the Sea Temple." Alo requested, getting on his knees and bowing to him. Entering the room were the guards who all held the Crystals, removing them from their pedestal and bringing them here.
"The crystals? All of them?" Ash leaned forward when seeing each and every crystal appearing here, except for the ones that belonged to the People of the Vale and the one Luna created herself.
"Indeed. For this, we will need all the Crystals to be present. The First King of the Sea also played a part in creating the temple in the first place, so you have a part in this as well." Alo explained. "You will be given the power to upgrade it and make it stronger. We shall do the rest."
Ash looked down at the Crystals, observing them all. They were then placed around Ash in a circle, encircling the entire throne. "Huh. Well, how am I gonna do it? Are we gonna change the way it looks or something?"
"A little bit. For the most part, it will retain its natural appearance, but the evolution will give it new things to help it grow in strength. Now, this is rather risky since you are not a Samiyan, your majesty, even though are the King of the Sea. We Samiyans can easily craft the temple's upgrades but only the King of the Sea is involved."
"Oh dear. Is he going to get hurt?" Fluttershy asked, stepping forward.
"No. Not at all. But you will feel something strange. Just know that we're not doing anything harmful." Alo said before looking at Ash. "Now, if you will, please start with the crystals. We have surrounded you with them so that you may link with all of them. Use one of the crystals as a main conduit and we'll begin the process. It is not different from when we call for the Sea Crown."
"Got it." Ash would go for the crystal right in front of him, grabbing the middle one. The Samiyans, every single one of them would start putting their hands together in a praying motion, preparing themselves to begin. Alo would do the same, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes.
"I'm ready." Ash said, holding onto the crystal tightly.
"Then let us begin." Alo announced before all the Samiyans began chanting in unison. Ash would see the crystals starting to glow as he felt a strange energy enter his body. He would close his eyes, trying to focus on his breathing as the chant grew louder.
The chant would become more audible as Ash could feel the power of the Sea Crown flowing through him, giving him the energy he needed to continue. While the chant was in a foreign language, Ash could feel a powerful sensation within him, making his heart pump faster. The power of the Sea Crown was now flowing through his veins.
Ash would tighten his grip on the crystal as the chants got louder and louder. Ash could feel the power of the Sea Crown entering his body, the golden aura flaring out his body. The Samiyans would continue chanting, each of them using the power of the Sea Crown to give Ash the energy he needed.
"Come on, Ash! Make some magic happen!" Pinkie Pie cheered, holding up a flag of Ash's face while his friends all stood by, watching this happen. They had no idea what to expect as the chants continued.
"You can do this, my descendant!" Lena cheered too, being just as invested as everyone else.
The chanting would reach a certain volume as the energy would reach its peak. Ash would be ready, the chanting reaching its peak. And right as it was reaching its zenith with all of the crystals lighting up, Ash's eyes would open. But instead of finishing the process, Ash would see something else. In a flash, no longer was he seeing the Sea Temple. Instead, he was in some sort of space, with an absolutely captivating sight.
A sea of light.
It was glorious, the light being bright enough to almost blind him. But he would watch, feeling the energy continue to flow into his body. He could feel it moving throughout his entire body, giving him a warm sensation. "Oho...Awesome!" Ash gasped while feeling his body float in this space, looking around.
He was absolutely awestruck by the sight, amazed at how beautiful this place was. Ash was unable to stop staring at it, finding it to be one of the most incredible things he's ever seen. But he had to wonder how this would help him upgrade the temple. So far, he wasn't getting any clues. "But...how do I upgrade it like this? And am I the only one who can see this stuff?"
"Only you can, fellow King." Ash gasped, turning around and seeing someone right behind him.
"Huh?!" Ash gawked, seeing another human. He looked rather young, much like Ash himself, but his true appearance was masked. Masked by the same bright light that came from the crystals as his entire body was just energy itself. But despite his form, Ash could feel the power coming from him. Not just from the power in his body, but also the power that he was giving off. Depsite being energy, some of his appearance could be made out as Ash could spot an energy cape and long hair made out of that same light along with a semblance of clothing.
"Who are you?" Ash questioned.
"I am the First King of the Sea. It''s been far too long since I've seen anyone else." He spoke, his voice powerful yet welcoming.
"The First King of the Sea?! I'm talking to you right now?!" Ash exclaimed, his mouth wide open. He couldn't believe it, standing face to face with the First King of the Sea, who he's only heard little about. All he knew was that he was Safia's father and that he helped make the temple a reality.
"That's right." The First King of the Sea nodded. "And you're my successor, even though you are not a Samiyan. My name is Sanctire. It is nice to finally meet you, Ash Ketchum. It has been many, many years since I last saw any other humans or even Pokemon. You are the first one I've seen in years."
"Really? You don't look too old to me. I mean you're just energy right now, so I can't tell." Ash commented. "And you've been here the whole time? Seriously? But everyone from the Sea Temple got freed just 17 Years Ago after I helped them. I came back to the Sea Temple and saw that all the Samiyans weren't sealed anymore and could be out in the world again. But...I never saw you. Are you still sealed?"
"No. I'm free like the others, but I remain here. This is a sacred place for the King of the Sea. This place was created long ago and it's my home. Well...This space was created by our ancestors and I chose to stay here, unlike the others. My time as King had long since passed, so I am forever present in this space."
"Oh...Wait? What about the Queen of the Sea? Safia's mom? Is she here too? What's her name?" Ash asked, remembering the story he was told.
"She is present here too. Only those who are the Kings and Queens of the Sea can be here. But since we wee the first of them you are the second King that has ever shown up. If all of us Samiyans were never sealed away in the first place, we would have had multiple Kings and Queens by now, bu we had to conceal ourselves and the temple from those who wanted the crystals for themselves." Sanctire explained. "An example being the one known as Phantom that you stopped."
"I gotcha. So, how am I gonna upgrade this place from here? I don't see anything." Ash questioned.
"For me, it was a simple as it could be since I am a Samiyan. But for you, it's a little different. It is why you were brought here all of a sudden. Ash Ketchum. Or should I say, King Ash?"
"Nah. Ash is fine with me." Ash grinned, not caring for the formalities. He just referred to everyone by their natural names, even when they were royalty. It didn't matter to him.
"Very well. Ash. For you to evolve the Sea Temple, you must harness the full extent of the Sea itself. Beyond what you've experienced."
"Beyond what I've experienced?" Ash repeated with his eyes lighting up with wonder.
"So far, you have harnessed the power of the Sea multiple times, but never to its fullest extent. The true extent of the People of the Water is both our melody and our power to create. And for you, it will be creating from the Sea itself." Sanctire said before holding his hand out, showing Ash something. In his hand, there was some water, which he controlled. He would then move the water around, making shapes and structures with it.
It was strikingly similar to Water Weaving but on a far more advanced and grander scale that amazed Ash even more. "Awesome...!"
"It is our ability to shape things with the power of water. As a King of the Sea, you possess this same ability deep down. You have been able to command the Sea, but not fully shape it. But it can only be used in this instance when necessary.
"Oh. I think I get it now. I can't just do it myself, so I need a lot of help to pull it off. And it's like that Water Weaving stuff that they do! You make stuff out of water, that's so sweet!" Ash exclaimed.
"You've heard or seen an example of Water Weaving and how it is done with those who are not Samiyans. Use that as a basis and go from there. You will know what to do. But this will be the temple's first-ever upgrade, so it will require more assistance than ever. Even when the temple was being made for the first time. I trust that all of you and your friends can make it a possibility."
"It is not a problem. Your body will return to the world right away. And when you are there, let my daughter know that her parents are well and that we love her." Sanctire said with a smile as Ash nodded, waving goodbye to him before disappearing. Sanctire would wave back before taking a deep breath, sitting down.
He would stare at the sea of light before closing his eyes, resting on the floor. "We did it. A new King of the Sea has been found and he's already doing a fine job. I was right to leave it all in the hands of the people of the future. How much the world has changed since then...If only the People of Celestica could see it now."
Equestria. Lapras Lake. The Sea Temple. Samiya. Day.
Back in the real world, Ash had returned. Ash would find himself back in his seat, feeling his entire body with the energy still within him. His eyes would glow brightly as the golden aura of the Sea Crown flared out from him. The Samiyans would all take a deep breath, having used the full extent of the Sea Crown's power to make this possible.
"How do you feel, your Majesty?" Alo questioned, standing up.
Ash would be breathing heavily, holding onto the crystal tightly while the chant stopped. He could still feel the brimming energy of the Sea within him, active and ready to be used. "Better than ever." He answered, more than ready to help upgrade the Sea Temple while he still had this power within him.
"Excellent. Then we shall begin the evolution process. You must now use the power you have acquired to craft the Sea Temple." Alo announced. "By moulding from the seas themselves, you may craft the temple with the power of the Sea. We can use the water in this nearby lake to make it possible.
"I gotcha. It'll be just like Water Weaving." Ash replied, staring out into the lake with all the Pokemon residing there. "Okay. All I gotta do is use the water from that lake and then shape it. And I know what it's gonna look like!" Ash proclaimed, already having a vision of what the upgrade will be. Ash would then hold his hand out, having a golden glow emerge from them as he marvelled at the light coming from it.
"So, what's it gonna be, Your Majesty?!" Enola excitedly asked along with the young Samiyans, getting all giddy. The Sea Temple was about to receive its first-ever upgrade and they were more than eager to see the outcome realized.
"Check this out." Ash would make his way off the throne, stepping into the lake. He would stand in the centre, the Samiyans all watching in anticipation. Ash would then focus on his breathing, calming his mind and body as he closed his eyes. He would take a deep breath before reopening his eyes.
Ash then placed his hands into the water, the water starting to glow brightly. Ash would focus his thoughts on the image he had in his head, his hands glowing too. He would focus on the image in his head, focusing on how the Sea Temple would look. As he continued to do that, the Samiyans would watch the water begin to change.
The water began to move, starting to form shapes as it took form. The water would rise, creating shapes, taking form as Ash created more and more, crafting something out of the water itself. Of course, the Samiyans would do the same, placing their hands in the water and creating some of their own to help Ash out.
Ash would continue to work on his piece of the puzzle, making the Sea Temple look even better than it has ever been. He would move the water around, creating a structure that would be far better than the Sea Temple. But Ash wasn't done yet. He would continue working on it, making sure to make it look great.
In the meantime, his friends would watch him work, seeing how well he was doing. They could see the amount of detail Ash was putting into the Sea Temple, making sure everything was the best it could be. "This is amazing!" Pinkie Pie gasped in awe, watching the Samiyans and Ash working on this project.
Ash would grin, having fun with the moulding process as he would spin some of the water around him, creating more shapes for the temple. He would even pull at the water as if it were made out of rubber. The water would flow, moving along with Ash's thoughts and imagination which made it rather bouncy and playful.
The water would take on a myriad of forms, all of them being different parts of the Sea Temple as they would start enveloping it all around it, wrapping it in a bubble of water. The entire structure would be engulfed in a sphere of water which would glow right afterwards, letting all those nearby to witness this beautiful sight, especially the Pokemon in the lake.
The walls of the temple would start changing, receiving fortification as they became even sturdier than before. Some would even change shape, becoming more cylindrical-shaped like columns while the roof of the temple would change too. It would become more dome-like with the center of it opening up.
From the bottom of the temple, it would start growing, creating more height. The base of the temple would be raised by multiple feet, increasing its height. Rarity and the others stumbled a bit, almost losing their balance due to the Sea Temple getting taller than before.
Suddenly, from the side of the temple, golden wings would start forming from it as they would grow out. The wings were majestic, resembling those of an Angel. The wings would then wrap around the temple, protecting it as the golden light shined across the entire Sea Temple. The wings would fade away as the process was complete, the Sea Temple now having received its upgrade.
"Whoa..." Ash gasped, amazed at what he and the others have done. The Samiyans were just as stunned, all of them standing back and observing the new Sea Temple. The Pokemon in the lake all observed the new look too, amazed by the outcome. "Oh, yeah. This'll do. Barely looks different but there's something new about it."
"Mm." Alo nodded. "I can feel it. The Sea Temple's strength has grown. The evolution process has worked. Thank you very much, your Majesty." Alo bowed, grateful for his help.
"No problem. I'm just happy I could help! Now that the Sea Temple's stronger than ever. Next time it gets in trouble, things are gonna be way different, I bet." Ash chuckled, feeling confident in his work.
"Yes. Now we should head off to our next destination. We will be helping your ancestor reach her next destination and see her off there, your majesty. Alo said. "Farewell, your Majesty." Alo would then bow along with the other Samiyans, grateful for his help.
"Ah! Before I go!" Ash would quickly rush over to Safia, kneeling down to her. "Your Dad says hi! And he told me to say that he and your mom love you!" Ash grinned, giving her the good news.
"H-Huh?! Father?!" Safia gasped, completely taken aback. "You saw Father? What did he look like?! What was he like?!"
"He looked pretty cool! But he was all energy, so I couldn't really see his appearance too well, but he was nice! He wanted me to tell you this. I'm sure he's been watching over you the whole time. He's probably been watching all of you the entire time."
"I see. Thank you so much, Your Majesty." Safia smiled, feeling happy to hear the news of her father. The last she heard of him was when he had her stay hidden in the temple until the day she could be awoken.
"See you soon, everyone. See ya, Grandma." Ash responded, waving goodbye to all of the Samiyans before returning to his friends. Lena would wave goodbye to her descendant, hoping she could see him again soon before she has to return to her own time. With that, the Sea Temple drifted away.
Hoenn. Dewford Town. Brawly's Gym.
Over at Dewford Town, Brawly had brought Spike over to his Gym, which he was currently using to train Spike and make him stronger. Naturally, Brawly's Gym was an actual gym, full of workout equipment and even a small battle area to fight in. There were multiple treadmills, weights, exercise machines and more, all of it for athletic use. Already, there were other people using the equipment as they worked on their bodies and fitness.
Brawly brought Spike over to an open part of the Gym, standing before him. "Okay. First things first. You need to build up some stamina if you want to travel further and faster. For a Dragon-Type, you'll need a lot more than most Pokemon do." Brawly explained.
"Got it." Spike nodded. "So, how do we start? Just push-ups or something?" He asked, already imagining himself doing push-ups on the floor. "Or maybe I can use all your stuff here?"
"Well, you're a bit too small and young for that." Brawly chuckled, pointing out how Spike was far too small to use any of the equipment. "So, you'll be starting off with something easier. Well, easy in the way it's something we're all used to. A Pokemon Battle." Brawly held out a Poke Ball, showing it off to Spike.
"A Pokemon Battle? I don't get it. How is that supposed to help my stamina?" Spike questioned.
"It's the strength part, little guy. Just to make you stronger. Plus, it's gonna help your stamina because we're gonna be battling for hours. Non-stop and across the entire gym and even outside."
"Battling for hours?! Non-stop?! You gotta be kidding me! That's crazy! There's no way I'm gonna last that long!" Spike gasped, knowing that there was no way he'd be able to do this.
"Well, it's not like you're gonna be battling all on your own. You've got your Pokemon by your side. They'll all be battling and raising their own strength and stamina. I challenged myself with that approach when I was young, so I wanna see if you can do it too. Remember, we're gonna be battling for hours, so there's barely gonna be any rest. I hope you're ready, Spike. Cause I'm not gonna go easy on you."
"I-I got this!" Spike hit his own chest, boosting his confidence. It wasn't that he didn't think he could beat Brawly, it was the fact that it would be for hours. He didn't know how long he'd last. "I can do this!"
"That's the spirit, Spike! Love to see it!" Brawly grinned. "Just think about this as if you're battling for a Gym Badge. Except, we're going to be doing this all day until nightfall." Brawly explained. "You ready?"
"Yeah!" Spike nodded, ready to battle, taking out a Poke Ball.
"Axew...!" Axew was ready to step forward, only to be stopped by Spike.
"Sorry, Axew. I'll let you battle later. Hold out for a bit, okay? We're gonna be battling for hours so I wanna save you for later." Spike said before pulling out another Poke Ball, tossing it out. "Go! Flygon!"
"Flygon!" Flygon landed, crying out and kicking up some wind in the process. Immediately, Flygon's presence got everyone's attention as they were now about to witness this incoming battle.
"I'm gonna be seeing Dragons all day. Quite the tough type to go up against, which is gonna make it all the more fun." Brawly smirked, throwing his Poke Ball into the air. "Go! Heracross!"
"Heracross!" Heracross shouted, landing on the ground as well. The two of them stared each other down, ready for battle.
"Okay. Let's begin, shall we? We'll start in here and eventually head outside. That way we can get some sun and fresh air. And just remember one thing. Battle in the way you always do even with this challenge. I'll battle how I always have. As if every battle is the biggest wave out there, waiting to be surfed. Now...let's go!"
"Alright! I'll do my best! And I think I'll make the first move! Flygon! Use Earth Power!" Spike announced, starting things off.
"Gon!" Flygon would slam his hand onto the ground, making it rumble. The Gym would shake as a series of rock pillars would emerge from the ground, all of them targeting Heracross.
"Heracross! Close Combat! Go!" Brawly commanded.
"Cross!" Heracross would approach the rocks, smashing them apart with absolute brute force, sending debris flying everywhere with each staggering blow.
"Use Dragon Claw!"
"Fly!" Flygon's hand would glow as he slashed at Heracross, with a Draconic Force. However, the slash was avoided by Heracross leaping over the attack.
"Heracross, Aerial Ace!"
"Flygon, keep it up! Dragon Claw!" Spike urged, having Flygon chase after Heracross.
"Heracross!" Heracross would meet with Flygon up-close, going for a physical clash as Flygon would catch his fist with his Dragon Claws. The two pulled away from each other before engaging in close-ranged combat, clashing with their claws as they would go back and forth, trying to overwhelm one another.
"Flygon!" Flygon would use his tail to attack Heracross, only for the Bug-Type Pokemon to grab it and flip Flygon on the ground. Flygon would then lift Heracross into the air, slamming him on the floor. "Finish this off! Use Earth Power!" Flygon slammed his hand on the floor, with the rocks emerging and striking Heracross.
"C-Cross!" Heracross groaned, tumbling and rolling across the ground.
"Flygon!" Flygon cheered, but his celebration would be short-lived as Heracross would get back up one second later. He was still standing even after that.
"Not bad, Spike! Have this! Close Combat! Go!" Brawly commanded.
"Heracross!" Heracross charged towards Flygon, his arms glowing white. Heracross yelled as he got right up in Flygon's face in a flash, smacking him with a barrage of blows.
"Flygon! Fly...!" The Ground-Dragon-Type was being struck repeatedly, each hit carrying intense power behind it. But Flygon wouldn't give up, enduring each attack until the end. He was being pushed back, being struck more and more until he was slammed against the wall. Flygon growled as his body hit the wall hard, shaking him.
"Now, use Megahorn!" Brawly yelled. Heracross' horn would light up as he rushed forward, leaving a white trail from his horn.
"Flygon! Move out of the way!" Spike shouted as Flygon, by the skin of his teeth, managed to dodge Heracross. But the force of Heracross' attack was strong enough to slam right through the wall, causing a gaping hole to appear. Heracross wasn't done as he moved his horn through the wall, ripping it apart and sending some of the debris at Flygon.
"Flygon!" Flygon was soon bombarded by the debris, stunning him a bit. This left him wide open for another Megahorn.
"Heracross! Finish this with another Megahorn!" Heracross roared, charging forward and slamming his horn against Flygon's body, striking him hard. The attack pushed him against the wall again, this time making the entire wall fall down. Spike grimaced while Brawly simply smiled, not minding that his Gym had been damaged.
"Flygon!" Spike cried as Flygon collapsed, but he wasn't out of the battle just yet. He had barely enough strength to stand back up, staring at Heracross. Flygon would roar as he tried to rush forward, but Heracross was faster than him. The Bug-Type Pokemon slammed right into Flygon with a powerful tackle, throwing him back.
"Remember, Spike! It's non-stop and there's barely any breaks! So you gotta be fast! Close Combat!" Brawly yelled.
"Hera!"
Flygon gasped as he was struck directly in the face by Heracross' fist. He would be knocked back, but he wouldn't hit the ground. Heracross would continue to pummel Flygon, striking him with blow after blow. Heracross went for another strike, building this one up which prompted Spike to finally take action.
"Quick, Flygon! Fly up!" Spike yelled.
"Fly!" Flygon would spread his wings, flying above Heracross before he could attack. "Now use Air Slash! Go!" Spike ordered. Flygon would flap his wings, creating a small whirlwind around himself. He would then send it downwards, sending it right towards Heracross.
"Hera...!" Heracross would be struck by the attack, being blown back from these super-effective blows. The blades of wind hit the floor hard as well, sending strong wind pressures throughout the area, forcing Brawly to close one eye.
"I think this is gonna get interesting. We'll be fighting for a while, Spike. And I'm sure we're only gonna get stronger from this. I can see it in your eyes and the way you battle." Brawly said, looking at Spike.
"Heh...Thanks. I don't know how long I'm gonna last, but I'll do my best. I'll keep battling you with all I got!" Spike promised.
"Flygon!" Flygon roared, getting ready for round two as Heracross stood up.
"Then let's go! Close Combat!" Brawly called. Heracross charged forward, rushing towards Flygon.
All the while, in his bag, his XTransceiver was ringing, a call from Twilight attempting to come through. But it was drowned out by the sound of the battle, with neither of them hearing it. Twilight had to know if Spike was alright, but she wouldn't know at the moment since he was having a blast battling Brawly.
Elsewhere, the massive hole in the sea was still causing some trouble for the people of Hoenn. The news of it had spread like wildfire, reaching all the corners of Hoenn in a matter of days. It was already being assessed, with the region's scientists and government making a move to figure out how they'd deal with it.
The way it affected nearby areas was still a mystery as well as why it was there at all. Some thought it was natural, others thought it was the work of a Legendary Pokemon while others thought it was an act of nature. Naturally, they were going to investigate it and try to fix it.
But the investigation was going to be delayed for a while as something strange would be occurring. Out of the massive hole in the ocean, some light would shine out as a powerful force would emerge. This energy would travel through the water and the air at a breakneck pace, moving aimlessly. It was the Dragon Matter that had escaped and now it was traveling along the ocean.
"Goodness. What's that?" One person at a nearby settlement would notice the light emerging from the ocean, watching as it sped by, traveling fast. All those from the nearby settlement would spot it as well.
"Oh? What's that?"
"What is that?! A meteor or something?!"
The light would move even faster, going even further away from the hole, traveling all over the sea. It was speeding through the ocean and the air, heading to all corners of Hoenn. The Dragon Matter had no direction or location in mind as it travelled. Not that it had a mind the first place. It was just a form of energy
It was about to reach land when it would suddenly start to change. It would come to a halt, being stopped by a strange force. A force equal to it.
The Fairy Matter
The two forms of Matter would clash, with the Fairy Matter attempting to stop the Dragon Matter from going any further. The people at the settlement would watch as the light would start changing, becoming more vibrant. It would grow brighter and brighter as the light started to clash, becoming more intense.
And while they were clashing, the two forms of matter would start talking to each other. No one else could hear them as it was conversation drowned out by their fearsome and ethereal roars.
"Out of my way, Twilight." The voice of Prisma came from the Dragon Matter, two eyes gleaming from them. "I can feel it. Very soon, I'll be able to return with my entire body and soul. Due to recent events, the chances of me reviving have gone up, especially with all 10 of my reincarnations getting closer and closer to each other.
"Prisma. You aren't going any further." Twilight Luminaria spoke from the Fairy Matter. "I promised myself wouldn't let you return. Both of our souls are within our reincarnations but they're still asleep and have yet to fully awaken. If that does happen, you know that I will be there to stop you. I cannot allow you to roam freely. Not after what happened to our universe."
"What makes this universe so different? You can feel it can't you? The hole in the sea and the damage done to the world and even the Moon? This universe is its own hazard and could meet its end much like us. Whether by vanishing from existence or by being destroyed by an outside force, this universe will perish with the way things are going."
"And do you plan to destroy it beforehand? This universe has done nothing to you."
"Who said I wanted to destroy it? If anything, I want to experience this Universe for myself the day I am revived. Plus, I have unfinished business with you as I know for a fact, you'll be revived eventually. Each of our own reincarnations may not believe that either of us can return, but we can. It's only a matter of time."
"I won't let you have your way with this universe, Prisma. It's because of the path you went down that our own universe was destroyed. This one is special. This universe is newly formed by taking two universes with such rich history and stories, merging them as one. Isn't it beautiful? It's a lot like our own universe which was always one."
"Pointless. I told you already. I've seen it all, Twilight. I've lived through 88 Billion Years in different universes. I have seen every single one of them and I can say with certainty that there isn't a single universe that hasn't been destroyed or met its end in some way. I've lived my life in all of them and have seen the truth of it all, so move aside."
The Dragon Matter would aggressively force its way past the Fairy Matter, attempting to push it out of the way. Twilight Luminaria would hold her ground, struggling against the Dragon Matter. But the Fairy Matter would soon be pushed back, giving the Dragon Matter the chance it needed. It made a hole through the Fairy Matter, continuing on its way.
"So long, Twilight." Prisma said before the Dragon Matter would disappear, going back to aimlessly roaming about. The Fairy Matter would reform itself, glaring at the Dragon Matter with two glowing eyes.
Back over at Dewford Town, Spike and Brawly's battle had continued for a while, with the two of them not stopping. As promised, they were battling non-stop, barely taking a break. They fought through the Gym and even went outside to continue the fight, the two of them showing no signs of stopping. Flying through the walls of the gym was Flygon, who had just fainted.
"Axew...!" Axew ran up to him, checking on his friend who was now exhausted. That meant Brawly won the first part of this battle. "Axew." Axew would then look at Brawly, watching as he and Heracross looked at each other.
"Alright. What next? What are you gonna throw at me, Spike?" Brawly questioned. "I'll be ready for whatever you have coming next." He grinned, keeping his guard up as he and Heracross awaited Spike's next Pokemon. "And remember. No breaks."
"Right, right!" Spike would quickly return Flygon, swapping him out for his next Pokemon. "You did great, Flygon. Now, go Druddigon!" Spike would throw a Poke Ball into the air, releasing Druddigon.
"Drud!" Druddigon would roar, eager to battle as he landed on the ground.
"Go! Druddigon!" Spike cheered. "Use Stone Edge!" Spike called.
"Druddigon!" Druddigon roared, slamming his fist against the floor and causing a series of large rocks to emerge from the floor. These rocks would be launched towards Heracross, all of them heading right for the Bug-Type Pokemon.
"Heracross, Aerial Ace!" Brawly commanded. Heracross would charge forward, using his speed to evade the rocks. Heracross would be able to jump over them and get in close to Druddigon, striking his chest with a physical blow. However, Druddigon managed to withstand it, holding his ground.
"Druddigon!" Druddigon growled, grabbing onto Heracross' arm and pushing him away.
"Now, use Metal Claw!" Spike ordered. Druddigon's hands would glow with a metallic shine before he slashed at Heracross, hitting him directly in the chest.
"Hera...!" Heracross stumbled back, taking a hit.
"Not bad. But we aren't stopping. Close Combat!" Brawly shouted. Heracross rushed forward, getting right up in Druddigon's face once more.
"Druddigon! Use Metal Claw!"
"Drudd!" Druddigon would clash with Heracross, attempting to push him back. The two of them would grab onto each other, trying to overpower one another. While Heracross was a Pokemon known for having amazing strength, Spike's Druddigon was no slouch, managing to match his physical strength. The two of them would push against one another, not letting up as they would both try to knock the other down. The ground beneath them would crack a bit due to the force of their clash.
"Druddigon!" Spike cheered, watching as his Pokemon fought valiantly against Heracross. "Keep it up!"
"Heracross! Don't let up! Use your speed!" Brawly yelled. Heracross would start moving around more, flapping his wings and evading Druddigon's attempts to grab him while still attacking. Heracross' speed was a force to be reckoned with, almost being as great as his strength. He would rush past Druddigon, going for a swift strike on his body.
"Druddigon!" Druddigon grunted, feeling the blow before getting ready to counterattack. Druddigon would grab onto Heracross, slamming his claw against his head, stunning him for a bit. Druddigon would then kick him, forcing the Bug-Type Pokemon to stumble back. Druddigon would take this chance to charge forward, going for a direct blow with his head.
"Heracross!" Brawly shouted. Heracross would move out of the way, dodging Druddigon's attack before rushing back in from the other side, but Druddigon would catch his fist. Druddigon would use his other hand to grab onto Heracross' other fist, keeping him in place.
"Now's our chance! Use Flamethrower, Druddigon!" Spike called.
"Druddigon!" Druddigon opened his mouth and unleashed a powerful blast of flames, sending it right at Heracross. The flames engulfed Heracross, burning him. This would also send him back, causing his body to crash against a large boulder, pushing it away. Heracross was now struggling to stand after being burned by flames.
"Heracross..." Heracross had fainted, falling to his knees and then on his face. The battle was over and it was tied now.
"We did it! Alright, Druddigon!" Spike exclaimed. Druddigon celebrated their victory, looking a bit winded though. "Take a seat, Druddigon. You deserve it." Spike grinned, returning Druddigon to his Poke Ball, saving him for later. Now, he'd have to decide between his next Pokemon while Brawly did the same thing.
"That's what I like to see, Spike! Let's go at it some more! I hope you're not feeling tired!" Brawly held his next Poke Ball out.
"Not at all! In fact...I feel way better!" Spike grinned. "Pokemon Battling always brightens my day and gets me in a good!" He giggled, making Brawly chuckle as the two of them would throw their Poke Balls at the same time.
The Poke Balls would connect against each other, unleashing the Pokemon from outside. In this case, it was Goodra and Medicham who would be sent out into the battle. From there, the battle would continue. The two of them would back away from one another before the battle would really start.
Goodra and Medicham would have this stare-down, the two of them not wanting to make the first move. And seeing as the two were ready, the battle would begin.
Watching this battle nearby was Rayquaza, who would raise his head from the cart. He was a bit curious since there wasn't much for him to do right now. This battle gave him something to watch, something to enjoy. His curiosity would pique as he watched Spike in action, seeing how this Baby Dragon was faring against Brawly.
It was rather impressive, to say the least, not quite masterful, but he could tell that he was going to get a lot better over time just by sensing his style. Thus, Rayquaza would continue to watch, while resting to recover more of his strength.
Equestria. Canterlot.
In the meantime, over at Canterlot, the secret hideout was no longer a secret. Nightmare Rarity's forces figured it out, meaning the next threat in the alliance would be able to know where it was. Thus, it was disbanded, reverting to the Canterlot Mines. Naturally, a new hideout would have to be made elsewhere.
All the furniture and everything else surrounding them were brought down, completely demolished, with all their things taken back in one piece. It looked far less majestic and magical, but at least any future enemies won't have to find them there.
As the hideout was being taken down, over at the castle, Celestia was currently standing before a group of ponies. Specifically, the ponies from Nightmare Rarity's Universe 5 who were once turned into decorations, now freed and walking once more
"And now that you've been freed, I can now send you back. Back to your rightful universe. It'll take a while for you to get yourselves back to how things were considering how much Nightmare Rarity has changed." Celestia said to them all. "Will any of you be alright with it?"
They all nodded, making it known that they would manage and try to rebuild it all the same. The residents of Universes 5 all looked around, making their way out of the castle, moving through the gateway that had been set up. One by one, they would all pass through the gateway, returning to their own universe and time.
It wasn't just them. Celestia would also face the three Sweetie Belles from different universes and the many versions of Rarity from other universes as well. Now that they were freed, they too could return to their own universe to which they were free to choose. Some would prefer to stay in this new and exciting universe.
With the help of Celestia, every universe's Sweetie Belle and Rarity would travel back to their respective universe and rightfully so. They were forever grateful to her. With all of them passing through the portal, they were gone. And now it was time for her to deal with something else.
"Alright...Now that that's done with. Just one more thing to do for today. The Golurk have helped us a lot, but even they won't be enough for those larger threats out there. They're great guards, but we'll need extra support. More Pokemon to help defend us.
Celestia decided to get more Pokemon than just Golurk for her guard. She wanted to make sure she was more than ready for another large attack, which wasn't out of the ordinary since this world was constantly getting attacked by forces that originated here or from other universes. One could never be ready enough. That's what Celesta believed.
The guards will no longer just stick to the Golurk. They would have more Pokemon on their side. Celestia decided to gather them all for a meeting, looking to bring everyone up to speed. The guards all arrived at the Canterlot Gardens to speak with her regarding this.
"I've called you all here to inform you of the changes around here." Celestia began. "From this point on, you won't be having just the Golurk as your partners who helped defend us all during Nightmare Rarity's attack and even before that. You will all be given new Pokemon who can help you on and off duty. This time, it can be a vast selection of them. Not just one species. I will have you all set out rather soon, supplying you with as many Poke Balls as possible."
Many Poke Balls had already been gathered, all empty with no Pokemon inside them as of yet. Each of them were handed out to each member of the guard, giving them the opportunity to choose the Pokemon they wanted.
"As I mentioned, it will all be your choice. What Pokemon you choose to become allies with is completely up to you. I would also prefer if you were as quick as possible. There is no telling when the next attack may be. It could be when you are all out there searching for your Pokemon. So for today, set out and catch a Pokemon in our forests, mountains, lakes and so on and when you all have your Pokemon partners, come back immediately."
"As you wish, your Majesty!"
With the Royal Guard having been notified, they would all head off, going through the city to make their way to the mountains, wanting to cover more ground in this large forest nearby. From there, they would dive in and find Pokemon they'll want as their partner.
"This will go well. Anything to guarantee the safety of our world. We'll be more than ready for the next threat. I just know it." Celestia smiled while wathcing them all fly off. "That'll be all from today. Tomorrow, I'll continue from there by speaking with Pegalysium."
"Voir. Gardevoir." Passion suddenly spoke up, pointing out something to Celestia. She noticed how Celestia was seemingly avoiding Luna's request. Celestia wasn't taking a rest as Luna wanted.
"It's fine, Passion. It's just a set of preparations. I promise you, I'm not overdoing it." Celestia smiled at her partner. "I'll take it easy, but I just want to keep everyone safe for the future. You understand, right?"
"Garde." Passion understood very well. The Embrace Pokemon nodded, but she wanted to make sure Celestia wasn't pushing herself at all.
"Let's do just that right now. How about we enjoy a cake together? I'll have Alcremie prepare the cream for us. We'll make your favourite while we're at it."
"Gardevoir!" Passion would very much love that, her eyes lighting up. Much like how Celestia's favourite flavour was Vanilla, Passion had her personal favourite.
After all this time, the two of them haven't had a chance to take a relaxing break all that much. It seemed as though something always needed to be done. Even now, as they took a break and did something that could be relaxing, Celestia was focused on the future. All she could think about was how she had to be prepared for anything. And she knew her sister felt the same way.
Speaking of which, with Luna, she was currently in her room, lying flat on her face and on the bed. She was still recovering from last night even with her wounds healed. The comfort of her bed drew her in, feeling like one massive hug. A massive smile formed on her face, fully immersing herself in the bed.
Her ears perked up when a knock was heard. She groaned, rolling over and getting off the bed, heading over to answer the door. She opened it up to see Darkrai, hovering there.
"Oh, Darkrai? Is something wrong?"
"N-Nothing is wrong..." Darkrai uttered with a stutter, a small sweatdrop appearing on his face. He then jittered a bit once he heard a cry nearby.
"Cresselia!" It was the cry of Cresselia moving through the halls, coming his way. Now that Cresselia was Luna's Pokemon, she would get to experience living in a castle for the first time. She's only done it when entering other's dreams to help them but now she was in the real deal. And the second she came close, Darkrai would quickly hover forward, standing behind Luna.
"Oh? Is something the matter, you two?" Luna asked, a brow raised as she looked at Cresselia while the Lunar Pokemon flew by her head, peering at Darkrai.
Darkrai grumbled, attempting to keep his distance as he hovered backwards. Darkrai was certainly acting strange. He can be rather distant due to his nature, but he's never this distant, especially with his reactions. That is until Luna remembered something. "Hold on...I remember now. Darkrai, you're afraid of Cresselia!"
"You don't have to shout it...even if it's true. I don't fear her! I'm just weary..." Darkrai crossed his arms, obviously making an excuse.
"Ah, Darkrai. What's there to worry about?" Luna slid over, nudging him. "Nothing to worry about Cresselia. You two are known as the Lunar Duo, so it's only natural that your cooperation will be amazing when needed. Cresselia and you will make a great team so you don't have to be afraid of her."
"Mmmrgh...!" Darkrai grumbled while Cresselia made jolly cry. Luna chuckled, knowing that these two would have an interesting relationship down the road. She already knew that Darkrai would have trouble getting used to being around her so much.
It turns out, Darkrai did indeed fear something after all. Creesselia herself. And from this point on, all three of them are going to be guarding the Dream Realm together, keeping it safe from any nightmares. For Luna, her friend group has grown once more.
Hoenn. Dewford Town. Afternoon.
Back at Dewford Town, the Sun was now starting to set over the sea, giving the water an orange hue as the beautiful rays of the setting sun reflected off the water. All this fighting and training had worn Spike out, giving him a massive headache and making his legs go numb. He couldn't feel them.
"Oh, man..." He fell back, letting himself go limp as he sighed heavily. "Man...that's a workout...but it sure was fun too...!" Spike laughed before the sounds of someone clapping caught his attention.
He turned his head to see Brawly, standing there and clapping his hands together. The Gym Leader walked up to him, still clapping. "Well, well, well. I'll admit. You had me worried there for a moment. We could continue from here, but let's stop. I keep forgetting we've all got limits. I get way too into it sometimes. Let's call it a day."
"Thanks...!" Spike was still in shock by the whole thing, feeling like he'd passed out for a second there. "I-I didn't think I'd be able to battle for that long."
"No problem, man. Let's meet back here tomorrow. And then, you can set off back to Lilycove's Waters to have Rayquaza patch up that hole for us. I mean, if no one does, who knows how out of control it's gonna get?"
"Uh-huh..." Spike was slowly closing his eyes as his body began to relax, getting all the sleep it could need. Brawly chuckled, deciding to carry the small Dragon-Type into the Gym so that he could rest.
"You did great today, Spike. Keep it up and you'll get to where you need to be. I'll be cheering for ya!" Right as Brawly was carrying him to his Gym, he would spot a familiar figure standing at the entrance. Present there was Roxanne.
"What? Roxanne, what're you doing here?" Brawly questioned, seeing his old friend there.
"Looks like you were being caught up in battling again. You didn't get the news at all, did you?" Roxanne questioned, her hands on her hips as she leaned forward.
"Nope. Sorry, but what's wrong?"
"That hole in the Sea? The Dragon Matter was recently spotted coming out of it and it's moving across Hoenn. Right now, we're ordered to evacuate our respective places and make sure that no one gets caught in the crossfire. I've already had to leave Rustboro City so I came here to make sure you weren't too occupied with anything. You could've been caught by the Dragon Matter without even noticing."
"Sorry about that." Brawly laughed sheepishly. "But where are we going though? Are you saying everyone in Hoenn's being evacuated?"
"Not everyone. Even though it's moving randomly, they said that it's mainly keeping to the coast. Thus, we're gonna have to keep out of the ocean, heading inland. Once it leaves, we're all allowed to come back. This should be over with within a day. The safest place to be right now is in Mauville and Slateport. Oh and Sootopolis City."
"Aw, but I was planning on a crazy training session tomorrow. And is all my stuff gonna be destroyed or something?" Brawly pouted.
"Well, so far it hasn't caused any damage like it usually does. But I can't say it for sure. There's a chance our homes may or may not be damaged. But just in case, grab all the stuff you need."
"Alright...But all my Gym Stuff too..."
"You've already caused some damage to it." Roxanne pointed out, pointing her thumb at the wall. "Even before the Dragon Matter showed up. I think your Gym will be fine."
Brawly would sigh before walking off, getting ready to grab as many things as he could before departing. As for Rayquaza, he raised his head, already sensing the presence of the Dragon Matter from afar. Rayquaza could tell where it was even from such a great distance.
But there was something different about it. Rayquaza couldn't tell, but the Dragon Matter had something about it change as of recently. It was still destructive, but it felt like there was more to it now. It made him uneasy and gave him another reason to patch that hole up as soon as possible.
Nightfall had come. And it was free from any nightmares. Across many regions, it was a peaceful night indeed. One by one, the citizens of these regions all fell asleep, safe and sound in their beds. some were heading to Mauville, Sootopolis or Slateport, knowing that they were safer there than most other places.
It would take some time to get there, but everyone will be safe. This was all according to plan, even if this was just a wild and uncontrolled move from the Dragon Matter. Most gathered in Slateport, such as Brawly and Roxanne. He carried Spike in his arms when arriving at Slateport, carrying him all the way here.
Spike was fast asleep, completely out of it after all that battling he did today. His legs felt numb and he could barely stand. It was all thanks to Brawly who carried him all the way here, now having to set him down gently at a Slateport's inn.
Brawly would lay his back on the bed, sighing while he relaxed, gazing up at the ceiling with Roxanne nearby, staring at him. "Ah, man...I hope my Gym survives. That place has a lot of memories behind it."
"Yeah. Me too." Roxanne nodded. "Hopefully we can get back to it once this is all over. It's just been a string of a lot of things happening, hasn't it? Well, it at least forces us Gym Leaders to grow stronger than ever."
"Mm. These past 4 years have been quite the experience, haven't they? Hard to believe it's been only 4 years when you think about it." Brawly thought for a moment. "4 Years of us meeting their world. Makes you think what the 5th year will be like? Or the one after that?"
"It could be many things." Roxanne strolled over to the window, gazing at the night sky as the moon's light would beam through. "You have to wonder if our world ever be the same after that?"
"Eh. We'll be fine. Sure, it's gonna be weird with new things popping up but...I'm not too worried." Brawly was rather optimistic, putting on a smile which transformed into a smirk. "It's because we're all awesome, that's why?"
"Hm." Roxane chuckled. "I guess we are. At least you're always looking to brighter things, Brawly."
"Why wouldn't I? Who cares if there's some freaky stuff out there? I mean...sometimes I look for the freaky stuff, but still. I see the world as one big wave and I love to surf it all the time. You feel the same way, don't you, Roxanne?"
"I do. Maybe not the same analogy but I get what you mean. Especially when it's around my friends. I teach so much, I barely get to spend time with them. Then again, I'm always spending time with you since you're nearest."
"Hehe!" Brawly cackled. "Yeah. Who knows? Maybe in the future, we're still hanging out and talking like this. I bet you're gonna be the same old egghead you always are and...Agh!" Brawly's sentence was cut off by Roxanne stomping on his shoes.
"And you'll still be the same musclehead years later." Roxanne grumbled, while keeping her foot there, moving it around to further harm Brawly.
"Aahaa...!" Brawly tried sitting up, flailing his arms as Roxanne was tougher than she looked. Tough even to make Brawly shake like this. Brawly tapped on the bed as if he was in a wrestling match, surrendering.
"Excuse me. We're serving a meal to everyone in the Inn tonight and-" One of the employees walked in, immediately spotting the scene between Brawly and Roxanne. Immediately, her mind jumped to the worst possible conclusion. "Oh my...I'm sorry for interrupting!
"Wait! It's not what it looks like!" Roxanne stood up, having a blush on her cheeks. But it was too late. The employee was already gone, causing Roxanne to lower her head before looking at Brawly, who formed a grin on his face.
She would remove her foot from his shoe, crossing his arms and immediately walking to another room in the inn to stay in, leaving Brawly to lay there. He would giggle, watching her leave before he laid back on the bed again. The next few minutes passed by quickly, with him snoozing right away. Brawly himself was exhausted after today.
"Strange...I feel like I forget something though." Brawly spoke in his sleep before opening his eyes. "Ah! I forgot to bring Rayquaza along!"
Dewford Town.
Outside, the Dragon Matter was still going around Hoenn, but it would suddenly slow down, stopping for a while. It wouldn't last too long since it was only going to be there for a while before continuing on its journey. Some would wonder why it stopped for so long. In fact, it didn't even damage any cities and towns when passing by. This seemed to be the least destructive version of the Dragon Matter thus far.
All that time allowed for Rayquaza to make his move. He would slither out of the cart, still lacking the proper strength to fly. The Sky High Pokemon sensed the Dragon Matter nearby. So far, Rayquaza was the only one who could manage the Dragon Matter in some capacity, but even he had limits. If the Dragon Matter was to make an incredibly drastic move, Rayquaza wouldn't be able to hold it back.
And just as Rayquaza managed to escape the cart, he looked in the distance, seeing the energy rising up from afar. It was coming closer, approaching the city in Dewford. This caused Rayquaza to let out a cry. A weak one compared to what he normally does, but still power.
He was tired, but Rayquaza had to at least make sure that the Dragon Matter didn't attack anyone. The Legendary Dragon raised his head, letting out a massive roar as he got ready to manage the Dragon Matter. Suddenly, as if hearing his cry, the Dragon Matter would fly towards Dewford Town, slowly moving towards it.
It would keep moving until it was right above it, before it suddenly came to a halt. It wouldn't move any further, instead staying right there and letting out a powerful roar in response to Rayquaza's roar. Rayquaza responded with a roar as well. The two of them would stare at each other, having a conversation without needing to say anything.
Rayquaza knew why the Dragon Matter was here and what its end goal was and urged it to cease everything it was doing. But the Dragon Matter refused, obviously seeing itself as above Rayquaza, who can't even properly control all of it. Despite Rayquaza's efforts, it wouldn't relent. Thus, the Dragon Matter would continue to cause destruction until it reached its goal.
Rayquaza could see that it was moving again, causing Rayquaza to make another loud cry, demanding the Dragon Matter to stop. But his cries would fall deaf on this form of matter. Seeing that it was rather difficult to convince it, Rayquaza decided on another option. A rather risky one. The Sky High Pokemon requested that the Dragon Matter enter his body for the time being.
Listening in, the Dragon Matter heard how Rayquaza wanted to make a deal with it. The deal was that the Dragon Matter would help restore Rayquaza's strength and allow him to utilize the full extent of it, in exchange for getting the Dragon Matter close to the 10 Counterparts. And it agreed.
The two of them clashed, both forms of Dragon Matter mixing inside Rayquaza as he felt the energy flow within his body. A huge surge of draconic power would enter him, filling him with energy as Rayquaza would start to feel a chunk of his strength returning. The Dragon Matter would rest inside of him, pulsating like a heartbeat and doing as it promised.
Restoring Rayquaza's strength. Granted, it wasn't all of his strength, but a good majority of it. Enough to have Rayquaza finally fly out of the cart. He'd look around, seeing that the Dragon Matter had disappeared. It had entered Rayquaza, as promised. Now all Rayquaza had to do was fulfill his promise.
All 10 Counterparts would have to be reunited. Ash, Red, Ethan, Brendan, Lucas, Hilbert, Nate, Calem, Elio and Victor. It didn't matter how long it would take, as long as Rayquaza sees to it.
But Rayquaza wasn't so hasty when making this deal. He gave one extra part to his side of the promise. Not only would the Dragon Matter restore his strength, but it would also help him temper all the damage done to the world, repairing it. From what Daybreaker and her forces had done, all of it would need to be dealt with.
The Dragon Matter agreed. The two of them reached a civil conclusion.
Meanwhile, rushing back to Dewford was Brawly, who remembered that Rayquaza was left behind. Quickly, he tried making it back there as soon as possible, but he wasn't alone. Joining him was Roxanne. "I can't believe you would forget about a Pokemon as important as Rayquaza! How did you even forget about that, Brawly?!" Roxanne questioned.
"My bad! I'll admit, it slipped my mind!" Brawly admitted while running as fast as he could! Let's just hope no one's tried to capture Rayquaza yet! I'd never let myself live that down!"
Up ahead, they could spot Dewford Town, which was still in one piece, undamaged by the Dragon Matter. A bright smile met Brawly's face while Roxanne sighed. There, they saw Rayquaza ascending in the air, still present and safe. It was good to know that they didn't need to worry too much about the Legendary Dragon Pokemon.
"There he is! But why is he flying now? He couldn't have already gotten his strength back." Brawly wondered as they made their way to Rayquaza. It was a surprise to see him flying since he was supposed to be too weak to do so. Rayquaza would turn his attention to Brawly and Roxanne, eyeing them down from above.
He noticed how Spike was not present with them at all. He let out a loud cry, which caused Brawly and Roxanne to stagger a bit. Rayquaza would then fly off, leaving them. He couldn't stick around too much longer. Not when there was a massive hole in the sea.
"What?! Rayquaza! Where are you going?!" Brawly asked. Rayquaza would not reply, leaving the two of them there. The two of them would be puzzled as they were left alone in Dewford, being the only one here.
Seas near Lilycove.
Rayquaza had arrived at the hole that had been created by multiple shards coming close to each other, floating there and looking down. Rayquaza could sense the chaotic energy in there, howling with the intensity of multiple storms as it rippled the water, disrupting the natural flow of the world.
Something like this obviously disrupted the Pokemon in their respective homes, especially the Water-Types who live near the hole. Rayquaza couldn't bear to see that happen, so he took action. With his amazing power and some of the Dragon Matter, he would unleash his attack on the hole, using his power to close it up.
His voice would echo all throughout the area as he would start roaring in a draconic manner. A huge ball of light would emerge in front of him as Rayquaza would summon it to the hole, using it to seal it up. This attack would send shockwaves all throughout the area, causing the water to ripple all over. It was so powerful that the waters surrounding the hole would be thrown around, leaving everything a mess.
A burst of Dragon Matter would also flow out, causing the massive hole to start closing up. Jut like that, the hole was no more, sealing itself and vanishing from existence. Rayquaza could hear howls all around the area as he stood there, recovering from using such an immense attack.
The Legendary Dragon raised his head, seeing that the waters were calming down, as they should. He could feel the energy fading as the hole was sealed up, as promised.
But now, Rayquaza knew what was coming next. His end of the deal would be soon. And it was one the Sky High Pokemon was a little hesitant on doing. For now, Rayquaza would focus on fixing the rest of the world to buy some more time.
A new day had risen. Dawn came over Hoenn as the sun rose up above the horizon. In Dewford Town, the sound of waves hitting against the coast could be heard, a normal noise that would be present all day long. Spike's eyes would open as the sun beamed down on his face, waking him up.
"Mmmgh..." Spike stretched, letting out a groan. He felt great. The rest had really helped him out, but he still needed to catch some more sleep. "Mm..." He turned around, hoping to fall back asleep, but he could smell something cooking nearby. "What is that?"
Spike got out of his bed and strolled to the door, opening it and peering outside. Here at Slateport, some food had been prepared for everyone in the morning. It was for all those who came from different places across Hoenn in response to the moving Dragon Matter. Thankfully, their homes were safe and sound, all thanks to Rayquaza making a deal with the Dragon Matter.
"Aw, nice!" Spike got a good look at the feast that was free for everyone here. He was now fully awake for this, quickly rushing to some of the choices before him. Already chowing down was Brawl, getting his daily fill. The way he ate was full of vigour. He ate as if it was his first time eating food in his life. Meanwhile, Roxanne was far more reserved in eating.
"Oh, Spike!" Brawly exclaimed while filling his mouth once more. "Mmprmh, Mrrm, mmra!" Obviously, with all that food, his voice was muffled and unclear.
"Not with your mouth full." Roxanne nudged him.
"Ah, I slept like a King last night." Spike strolled along, brighter than ever. "I needed that for sure. Walking all the way from Ponyville to here was not easy, I'll tell ya."
"Well now that you're awake. You should probably hear this, Spike." Roxanne would cut to the chase. "It's about Rayquaza. Brawly here forgot to bring him along when we were leaving Slateport."
"Guah!" Brawly swallowed the food, almost choking before facing Roxanne. "I know, I know. I said it was my bad already. Besides, he was safe and sound, wasn't he?"
"More than safe and sound. He was flying again, Spike." Roxanne leaned forward, causing Spike to gasp.
"Flying?! You mean...Rayquaza's healthy again?! Seriously?!" Spike questioned, causing Roxanne and Brawly to nod. Spike's eyes lit up at the news, thinking that Rayquaza would be healed so quickly.
"Looks like it. Not sure what happened. Maybe he just got all of his strength back in a flash or something. Either way, he went flying right after that. And I'm guessing it was straight to the hole in the sea, because that thing's completely gone." Brawly shrugged, revealing that the hole in the sea was already gone.
"Where's Rayquaza now? Is he gone?!" Spike had to know about Rayquaza's whereabouts
"Well, he was seen flying away. But I don't know where he's headed." Brawly answered. "We're probably not gonna see him again if I'm being honest. Oh, well. I was lucky enough to see Rayquaza at all, so no complaints there."
"Oh...So that's it." Spike lowered his head, realizing that his time with Rayquaza had come to an end. It was not as long as it could've been. Rather short-lived in his eyes. "Gee...I was hoping to spend some more time with him."
"Rayquaza's the Guardian of the Sky, Spike." Roxanne would walk over to comfort him. "He has an important role and can't be too distracted. For most Legendary Pokemon, that is their duty. Being a guardian. A protector."
"I guess..." Spike sighed, understanding it clearly. The Baby Dragon shook his head, not letting it get to him too much. He had to accept this fact since it was obvious from the beginning. He didn't think this would be so soon, though. "Still, it would be nice to at least have spent some more time with him."
"Yeah." Brawly nodded in agreement. "But hey...you can brag about this to everyone else. I mean, maybe they'll be impressed. Princess Celestia and Luna have Reshiram and Zekrom, so it's gonna be pretty hard to impress everyone that you got to spend time with Rayquaza. I know I'm bragging about it. Rayquaza was in my home town after all. For more than a second too!"
"Yeah, you have a point..." Spike's ears fell flat, his eyes lowering. It seemed like this was just as Brawly described. "Well, I should get going then. I'm heading back home. Twilight's probably worried sick about me. Thanks for everything, Brawly. And I guess we won't be able to train today."
"No problem. If you ever wanna train with me again, you can always come back here. But next time, don't come all the way here on foot, dude." Brawly snickered.
Spike would then wave goodbye to Brawly and Roxanne before making his way out. It was back to Equestria for him. It was about time anyways.
Equestria. On the Train.
After passing through the gateway that led him to Equestria, he would take the train this time, going to Ponyville. The only reason why it was so hard for him to make it all the way to Dewford was because Rayquaza was too big to fit in a train. No carriage could hold him. But with Rayquaza gone, Spike could take the train without any worry.
The ride was quite nice for him, relaxing. Spike could see the familiar sights as the train went through the countryside, showing the forests, mountains and fields that were part of Equestria. All of it brought some peace to his mind. He only had a few hours until this train could reach Ponyville. Until then, he was going to make sure that he was comfortable for the ride.
However, while relaxing and taking in the peaceful atmosphere, he would hear something from the outside. It sounded like something massive was moving through the air, making a lot of noise in the process. It would pass by the train, going so fast that Spike wouldn't even notice it.
"What's that...?" Spike looked out the window, seeing a massive flying creature going by the train. To his shock and surprise, it was Rayquaza.
Spike's jaw dropped as he saw the Sky High Pokemon fly by, a massive smile on his face as he saw him once more. It was wonderful seeing Rayquaza like this. He was supposed to be too weak to fly and yet, here he was, flying as if nothing ever happened.
As for where Rayquaza was going, he was following the same path as the train. Rayquaza had a new destination. Multiple of them in fact. Spike was completely unaware that it was all due to Rayquaza's deal. The deal he made with the Dragon Matter.
All 10 of those specific Pokemon Trainers were scattered across the world. Only one of them was a bit easier to find than the rest. Rayquaza was not one to break his promise. Not at all. The Dragon Matter was dangerous to the world just as much as it was helpful, causing the Sky High Pokemon to find this compromise.
But in his mind, Rayquaza knew that the next batch of actions that came his way might be the hardest he'll ever do. Not because there'll be anything strong coming his way, but because of what it would do to those surrounding the 10 Trainers. As the journey continues.
.
